MLB Game Picks - Saturday: June 14, 2014

The Yankees surprised me be shutting out the A's, 7-0. Not that I am complaining, but the Yankees losing was the Game of the Day pick with David Phelps on the mound. Instead, he looked like Sonny Gray and Gray looked like him. Felix Hernandez was terrific again...and lost as the Mariners managed just two hits off of Texas starter, Nick Tepesch, and the bullpen. Both hits were by the catcher, Mike Zunino. The rest of the team had an ohfer.

There was one extra inning game and of course it went the wrong way. But the real reason the Marlins lost was Gregory Polanco who is showing the absurdity of the Pirates waiting so long to bring him up. How many games would the Pirates have won if he was up to start the season?

Anyway, it wasn't a bad day other than the Game of the Day thing as the picks were in solidly positive territory for the day.

Saturday's picks:

• The Royals over the White Sox: The Royals have been playing great baseball and I have not been acknowledging it with my picks. The one day that I do, I am nervous because Danny Duffy swings wildly from start to start. Hector Noesi is the other wild card. He was jettisoned from two different teams only to pitch really well for the White Sox.
• The Phillies over the Cubs: This pick did not work out yesterday as the Phillies could not score. Today they face the inscrutable Edwin Jackson, so who knows. David Buchanan goes for the Phillies.
• The Red Sox over the Indians: Normally, I would worry about the Red Sox facing a lefty starter. But T.J. House has not yet proven he belongs in the Majors. Jake Peavy is hardly winning baseball games, but he should be better than House.
• The Giants over the Rockies: Christian Bergman pitched well in his debut for the Rockies (at Coors no less) but still lost. Now the Rockies have lost Troy Tulowitzki. So I like Ryan Vogelsong's chances at home.
• The Orioles over the Blue Jays: To be frank, I have no clue on this one. Bud Norris was brilliant his last time out. But he is so unpredictable. R.A. Dickey is the definition of unpredictable and the Orioles have already beaten him this year.
• The Pirates over the Marlins: This is another "I have no idea" game. Charlie Morton is 3-7, though his peripherals aren't terrible. He already has 13 hit batters this season. Holy smokes. In the end, I just can't pick the Marlins with Randy Wolf starting the game for them.
• The Mets over the Padres: I really want to call Jesse Hahn, "Chaka Hahn." Can I, please? Hahn showed good power pitching numbers in the minors and struck out five in his MLB debut. But he also got roughed up too. Zack Wheeler should win this one.
• The Astros over the Bay Rays: Jarred Cosart has pitched really well in his last two starts but faces a Rays team that is starting to hit again. The real question is what Chris Archer will show up.
• The Angels over the Braves: I like the Angels' chances with Gavin Floyd pitching for the Braves. It's nice to see all their expensive pieces on the field at the same time. Garrett Richards needs to have a good game though.
• The Brewers over the Reds: First off, I like Yovani Gallardo at home. I always have. Secondly, I worry about how effective Mat Latos is going to be now that he is back.
• The Nationals over the Cardinals: There is some pitching in this series! What a performance yesterday by Lynn and Zimmermann. The same thing can happen between Stephen Strasburg and Shelby Miller. Toss up.
• The Athletics over the Yankees: Scott Kazmir has been terrific and struck out ten Yankees the last time he face him. Hiroki Kuroda can no longer be counted on to pitch well for the Yankees.
• The Dodgers over the Diamondbacks: The D-backs are reeling again after a somewhat acceptable run. Dan Haren seems a better pick than Josh Collmenter though both have been fairly consistent and acceptable.
• The Rangers over the Mariners: Joe Saunders has allowed 22 base runners in his last 11.1 innings pitched. That's ugly. But Erasmo Ramirez has been uglier. This is a tossup of ugly possibilities.

And the Game of the Day:

• The Tigers over the Twins: Samuel Deduno has not been fooling anyone and his WHIP for the season is 1.50. That won't cut it. Anibal Sanchez has shown flashes of being back on track to where he was last season.

Yesterday: 9-6, June: 94-84, Games of the Day: 35-35, Season: 547-465