Monday, August 18, 2014

MLB Game Picks - Monday: August 18, 2014

Yesterday was a tough day. With what is going on in Ferguson overshadowing baseball, or at least bringing it to the insignificance that it is at times like these, I quickly lost stomach for following along yesterday. Perhaps part of it was how poorly the day was going with the picks as well. The one thing I know about yesterday is that I didn't know anything yesterday.
The biggest mistakes made with the picks were picking the Reds to sweep a double-header from the Rockies when they themselves got swept. And except for the Orioles winning, I was zero for the AL East yesterday. Somehow I finished 8-8 but it wasn't easy and it wasn't fun.
I pray that things settle down in Ferguson and that people's lives get back in order and cooler heads prevail.
Monday's picks:
  • The Cubs over the Mets: With only eight games on the schedule today, I cannot afford to be wrong. Picking Bartolo Colon seems like a 50/50 proposition. Yeah, he might be great, but he might also be terrible. Kyle Hendricks, on the other hand, has been terrific. He beat the Brewers. He beat the Rockies going eight innings at Coors. He is a ground ball pitcher that is getting weak contact.
  • The Braves over the PiratesErvin Santana has won seven of his last eight decisions including wins against the Dodgers and Nationals in his last two starts. It's hard to pick against him in this one. Vance Worley has been really good for the Pirates who are hanging in there without McCutchen.
  • The Mariners over the PhilliesJerome Williams has been threw three teams this season and hasn't pitched well on any stop. He was a nice story a couple of years ago and I'm glad he got a few years in at the Major League level. Roenis Elias has to have a good game though.
  • The Angels over the Red SoxBrandon Workman has been learning on the job and has been given quite an education thus far. He is 1-6. I don't feel all that confident about C.J. Wilson either. I don't like either way this pick could go.
  • The White Sox over the Orioles: This pick assumes that Chris Sale will be Chris Sale and that if he does not finish the game, his bullpen will hold the Orioles and that his team will score enough off of Bud Norris for Sale to win. Those are a lot of dangerous assumptions. :::sigh:::
  • The Royals over the Twins: Things are not going well for Trevor May thus far. He has walked nine batters in four and a third innings. It was his control that I was originally worried about and that fear has come to fruition in spades. Jason Vargas is a better option here.
  • The Reds over the Cardinals: Another uncomfortable pick. Mike Leake in a small sample size has not pitched well against the Cardinals but has pitched well in two starts at Busch Stadium. So who knows. Justin Masterson seems to be a mistake addition for the Cardinals at this point. We'll see.
And the Game of the Day:
  • The Nationals over the Diamondbacks: The Nationals are rocking it right now and are a walk-off machine lately. Jordan Zimmermann only has a few bats to worry about in the D-backs' lineup. Vidal Nuno might slow them down a little, but that seems unlikely.
Yesterday: 8-8, August: 133-102, Games of the Day: 74-55, Season: 1027-849

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