MLB Game Picks - Friday: June 27, 2014

Thursday was a positive day for the Game Picks but things looked even rosier in the beginning. After the early games, the picks stood at 6-1. However, all three late games came up short. Josh Beckett out-dueled Adam Wainwright and it could have gone either way, just as I said in the picks. Mike Leake was better than Ryan Vogelsong and the Cubs took care of the Nationals in the gloaming.

Here are Friday's picks:

• The Orioles over the Rays: The O's and Rays play two games today and I'm pretty sure the O's will pick up the first one. Kevin Gausman is a much better prospect than Alex Colome. Of course, nothing is that easy in baseball, but Colome does not have command.
• The Nationals over the Cubs: Of course, this pick did not work out yesterday and the Nationals never seem to win the games they should. But I do like Tanner Roark better than Jason Hammel before Hammel gets traded.
• The Braves over the Phillies: The Phillies are playing tough and getting late heroics from its aging stars. But Kyle Kendrick is still who he is and Julio Teheran is too good if he is on. If Teheran isn't on, all bets are off.
• The Pirates over the Mets: Brandon Cumpton and Jacob deGrom are two good looking pitchers. Both pitched really well their last times out. I like Cumpton a little more and thus the pick here.
• The Orioles over the Rays: Yeah, I'm going with a sweep here. Chris Tillman is not an ace. But he wins his share of games. Jake Odorizzi is still in the rotation for some reason. Perhaps I am too hard on the guy.
• The Blue Jays over the White Sox: R.A. Dickey will either pitch well or Jose Abreu and Adam Dunn will pound him. There usually isn't much of an in between. John Danks has had a decent comeback season. But the Jays' offense is loaded. Of course, Danks does neutralize Adam Lind.
• The Athletics over the Marlins: The A's do lose the DH here, but Anthony DeSclafani has been getting beat up in the Majors. I am going with Jesse Chavez and the visiting A's.
• The Rangers over the Twins: I wrote yesterday about Kevin Correia not striking people out. That means, with his stuff, he throws batting practice. The only way he ends up with a decent game is when a lot of At-em balls are hit. Nick Tepesch does not excite me either, but I'll take my chances with him.
• The Angels over the Royals: What did I tell you about the Angels? Now that they have Pujols, Trout and Hamilton all in the lineup, look out. The Royals jumped a game and a half over the Tigers and ever since have stumbled and are now four back. Matt Shoemaker over Jason Vargas.
• The Brewers over the Rockies: You know the drill by now. I always pick Kyle Lohse at home. He is pretty much a lock there. Tyler Matzek lost to this same Brewers team at Coors his last time out.
• The Tigers over the Astros: Ugh. Justin Verlander. What is happening here? He is now 6-7 and getting raked. I keep picking him like he is the same guy. But he isn't. But I cannot help myself.
• The Padres over the Diamondbacks: Brandon McCarthy is 1-10. Would you pick the guy to win? Nope. Tyson Ross at least has a chance to win once in a while and takes advantage of it. Something is going to happen in Arizona soon.
• The Mariners over the Indians: Every time I shake my head and predict Chris Young to lose, he doesn't. He is especially hard to beat at home even though he never strikes anyone out. Trevor Bauer goes for the Indians who are a long way from home here.
• The Dodgers over the Cardinals: Hyun-jin Ryu is a lefty. The Cardinals don't like lefties. Carlos Martinez is the wild card and could come up big. But that is a long shot.
• The Giants over the Reds: This is a big time match-up between two of the best pitchers in the National League not named Kershaw. Madison Bumgarner and Johnny Cueto are both really good. This will be like the Wainwright - Beckett match-up where anything can happen.

And the Game of the Day:

• The Red Sox over the Yankees: All I need to know are two things. First, is Vidal Nuno pitching? Yes. Loss. Secondly, is Nuno pitching at home? Yes. Big time loss. Brandon Workman just needs to be decent here.

Yesterday: 6-4, June: 193-162, Games of the Day: 43-40, Season: 647-543