Three straight great picking days crashed down in a pile of goo yesterday. That's the way it goes sometimes. I was too silly to think the Royals would beat the Tigers with their best pitcher on the mound. The Giants lost again. The Mariners got crushed by the Astros and I should have listened to myself about Dallas Keuchel. The Yankees lost. The Pirates lost while their best player acted as a bulls-eye all game. I picked the wrong young pitcher as T.J. House beat Trevor May (easily). It just wasn't a good day.
A week left to go in the regular season! Sunday's picks:
- The Yankees over the Blue Jays: How can you call this one? Masahiro Tanaka hasn't pitched in forever, so how can he be picked. At the same time...what if he is his brilliant old self? Hmm... Drew Hutchison gets the start for the Blue Jays.
- The Nationals over the Marlins: How long will Stephen Strasburg pitch? What will happen after. Can the frustrating Nathan Eovaldi put together a great game? Will he? I have nothing but questions this morning.
- The Red Sox over the Orioles: Joe Kelly might be the best Red Sox' starter left. Heaven knows their other starters aren't doing anything. Miguel Gonzalez goes for the Orioles. Does he fit into their post season plans? If not, will he go longer than the other starters?
- The Brewers over the Pirates: Wily Peralta has had a very good season and his last two starts have been quality. The Pirates have to be concerned about how many times Andrew McCutchen is getting hit. Vance Worley starts for the Bucs.
- The Mets over the Braves: Jacob deGrom cements his ROY credentials while the Braves still can't hit a lick right now. Ervin Santana has had a nice season, but he needs support. He won't get it.
- The Indians over the Twins: The match-up of Corey Kluber and Anthony Swarzak should end all questions here. But baseball is played on the field and not in the mind or on paper.
- The Tigers over the Royals: I'm sorry to say this, Royals' fans, but goodnight. Rick Porcello will take advantage of aggressive-swinging Royals and Jeremy Guthrie is a offensive charge waiting to happen.
- The Astros over the Mariners: The Astros were a bad team for the Mariners to run into right now and Collin McHugh is the wrong pitcher for their offensively-challened team. If Hisashi Iwakuma can hang with McHugh for six innings, the M's have a chance.
- The Cubs over the Dodgers: Jamey Wright is starting for the Dodgers!? Did I read that right? Uh. Okay. He is a good relief pitcher, I'll say that. Jacob Turner continues to try and make progress with his new home.
- The Angels over the Rangers: Cory Rasmus gets stretched out a little bit more with each start and is doing quite well. Nick Tepesch has been the better of a really weak Rangers' rotation (until Derek Holland came back).
- The Athletics over the Phillies: I have no confidence in this pick. If A.J. Burnett is sharp, then the A's offense will be the same old crap one it has been for weeks now. And Scott Kazmir has begun to walk people again, which is frightening. But I can't give up on the A's as they have been too resilient over the years.
- The Rockies over the Diamondbacks: I'll be glad when this series is over. I haven't picked one game right yet. Christian Bergman goes for the Rockies and Wade Miley goes for the D-backs. Your guess is as good as mine.
- The Padres over the Giants: It seems like no contenders want to actually win these days and the Giants are no different. Ryan Vogelsong has been awful lately and that isn't promising. Ian Kennedy is my pick today.
- The Cardinals over the Reds: Remember when Alfredo Simon was an All Star pitcher? Yeah, me too. What happened with that? He is 2-7 with a 4.46 ERA since. Lance Lynn, meanwhile, is becoming an ace for the Cardinals.
And the Game of the Day:
- The Rays over the White Sox: Nate Karns was great in his first start, but I still can't believe it. Except the Rays are brilliant with turning around pitchers. Either way, John Danks can't be counted on for anything.
Yesterday: 6-9, Sept.: 163-113, Games of the Day: 100-63 (+8), Season: 1293-1047
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