MLB Game Picks - Saturday: May 9, 2015

The numbers were good, getting ten out of fourteen correct with one postponement. But the Pick of the Day was Matt Harvey and he got beat by Cole Hamels. And I shouldn't have picked against those plucky Twins. But overall, a good day of picking. I hope David Price isn't injured seriously. Oh. and I still can't figure the Indians out. Why are they so bad?

Saturday's picks:

• The Yankees over the Orioles: I do worry about Warren and Chase Whitley being featured back to back. They are too similar. But at this point, the Yankees are tough to pick against the way they are playing. Wei-Yin Chen will try to even the series for the O's.
• The Blue Jays over the Red Sox: Both Drew Hutchison and Joe Kelly are struggling. I like the match-up of the Blue Jay batters against Kelly's fastball.
• The Tigers over the Royals: These two teams really play tough and the margin for error is small for either team. Anibal Sanchez is really throwing well now and Jeremy Guthrie can give up three or four runs.
• The Nationals over the Braves: Bryce Harper is out of his mind right now. Doug Fister is in a groove and I'm not sure even a great performance by Julio Teheran would beat the Nats.
• The Reds over the White Sox: The two teams will play two today after yesterday's cancellation. In the first game, Johnny Cueto should beat Hector Noesi.
• The White Sox over the Reds: I'm going with young phenom, Carlos Rodon over Jason Marquis in the second game.
• The Twins over the Indians: I'm done picking the Indians and against the Twins. That combination just isn't working for me. Phil Hughes showed promise in his last start that April is over and he'll be good now. Bruce Chen lives to fight another day for the Indians.
• The Rangers over the Rays: I have a good feeling that Ross Detwiler is better than he has pitched thus far and being in a big park will help him. Matt Andriese is an unknown for me as just another young Rays pitcher.
• The Phillies over the Mets: I will not pick against Aaron Harang. I will not pick against Aaron Harang. Even though I love Jon Niese against the Phillies. Hmmm...
• The Cardinals over the Pirates: What is this fatigue thing with Carpenter? What's that all about? He is a key player for the Cards. But I still think they win as Carlos Martinez has been really good and Vance Worley shows that the Pirates are too think in their rotation.
• The Cubs over the Brewers: Travis Wood relies on contact being fielded. That is troublesome. But it often works. Kyle Lohse is pretty much the same. This might be fun for the batters today. Whatever happened to Ryan Braun?
• The Dodgers over the Rockies: I'm not sure about Clayton Kershaw at Coors Field. But I also know that Jorge De La Rosa hasn't looked good so far. It looks like Puig is going to be out a while.
• The Diamondbacks over the Padres: The Padres are so hard to read. Great offense on paper. No defense. It's such a different mold for them. I like Chase Anderson today in a match-up against Tyson Ross.
• The Angels over the Astros: As one of my favorite commenters said the other day, It's weird when Dallas pitches for Houston. And Dallas Keuchel is very good. But he has to lose some time and to Matt Shoemaker seems like the right time to pick against him.
• The Mariners over the Athletics: I like this match-up for the Mariners when they are at home. I'm not sure I like J.A. Happ being their pitcher today. But then again, Jesse Hahn hasn't been great either.

And the Pick of the Day:

• The Giants over the Marlins: David Phelps has pitched really well for the Marlins but has little to show for it. I don't seem him winning a head to head with Madison Bumgarner.

Yesterday: 10-4, May: 61-49, Season: 225-214, Picks of the Day: 18-15

MLB Game Picks - Friday: May 8, 2015

Sheesh! Another negative night and it took a real bad blown save by Huston Street to keep it from being worse. Of course, his meltdown hurt my fantasy team. That's four par or subpar days in a row now and I need to get on track!

Friday's picks:

• The Nationals over the Braves: Gio Gonzalez sort of confuses me. He is not as good as he was before the suspension, but not as bad as I keep thinking he is. I think he does well against the Braves and the Nats hit Eric Stults.
• The Yankees over the Orioles: Adam Warren will have to have a good night to have this pick hold out, especially since the Yankees can never seem to hit Miguel Gonzalez, which is really weird since he's not a world beater. Caution as this is a wishful thinking pick.
• The Cardinals over the Pirates: I am a huge Michael Wacha fan and so this pick is for him. Francisco Liriano is a hit or miss kind of guy and I never seem to hit it correctly. This pick was certainly wrong yesterday.
• The Blue Jays over the Red Sox: This is an interesting game. The Red Sox fired their pitching coach and we will have to see how that works out. Both Wade Miley and Aaron Sanchez have struggled, so I can only see through this glass darkly.
• The Tigers over the Royals: David Price has only had the one bad start. Otherwise he has been brilliant. Yordano Venture will try not to stir up any trouble tonight.
• The Indians over the Twins: Neither Mike Pelfrey nor Trevor Bauer have lost a game this year. That's sort of weird, but it is still early. I have no idea what to make of the Indians. I'll pick them at home, but the Twins sure have been playing well.
• The Rays over the Rangers: I have to check on the Rangers. I don't even know who plays for them anymore besides third base and shortstop. The Rays' lineup is kind of bad, but I have a feeling Nathan Karns will have a good night and better Yovani Gallardo.
• The Cubs over the Brewers: Jimmy Nelson has had a couple of real clunkers for outings lately and the Brewers are still offensively challenged. I'm going with the Cubs who start Jason Hammel tonight.
• The Reds over the White Sox: The White Sox rarely win a game that Hector Noesi starts, so I can't go there. Jason Marquis just keeps rolling along. The Reds get an extra bat with the DH.
• The Dodgers over the Rockies: I don't expect Brett Anderson to pitch as well as he did his last time out, especially at Coors. But I think the Dodgers' offense will explode again tonight starting with a short outing by Eddie Butler.
• The Diamondbacks over the Padres: Okay. The Diamondbacks have been picked against for three straight games and have made me look stupid each time. So I give in and pick them to win even with  the mediocre Jeremy Hellickson on the mound. James Shields be darned.
• The Astros over the Angels: Jered Weaver is averaging 83 MPH on his fastball this season. His arm must be Swiss cheese and he is 0-4. Not that I am a big fan of Roberto Hernandez, but let's go thatway in this one.
• The Mariners over the Athletics: I always pick Sonny Gray, but not tonight. He is simply due to lose. A lot will depend on if Tiajuan Walker is over his early season funk and pitches like he is capable.
• The Giants over the Marlins: The Fish are a long, long way from home and Tim Lincecum has turned back the clock and looks terrific. Jarred Cosart will try to prove me wrong. He is a fiery guy.

And the Pick of the Day:

• The Mets over the Phillies: I cannot in good conscience ever pick against Matt Harvey even if he is facing Cole Hamels. Even if the two pitchers cancel each other out, the Mets win late.

Yesterday: 5-6, May: 51-45, Season: 215-210, Picks of the Day: 18-14

MLB Game Picks - Thursday: May 7, 2015

I have gotten bogged down lately not only in life, but in my picks. The last three days have been very uninspiring! But then again, when a pitcher like Mark Buehrle beats a team you know he hasn't beaten since 2004, what are you going to do? As the old expression says, "You can't predict ball."

Thursday's picks:

• The Twins over the Athletics: This is a series that has been all over the place. I'm going by pitching match-ups today and think that Ricky Nolasco will be better than Drew Pomeranz. But picking Nolasco is enough to give me heartburn.
• The Cubs over the Cardinals: Jake Arrieta gave the Cardinals fits the last time he faced them. John Lackey might give up a bomb or two to the baby Cubbies (which is kind of redundant).
• The Indians over the Royals: Every time I pick against a pitcher who is 0-4, I get burned. But if you look at the Sabathia pick yesterday, the opposite isn't any better. I just can't win with 0-4 guys. Corey Kluber is 0-4. I never expected that this season. Edinson Volquez goes for the Royals.
• The White Sox over the Tigers: I didn't see those first two White Sox wins and I'll probably pay for this as an overreaction. But I sincerely think Jose Quintana is better than Kyle Lobstein.
• The Yankees over the Orioles: I've gone in big this season for Nathan Eovaldi, so I need to back him. Everything will depend on which Chris Tillman shows up.
• The Reds over the Pirates: Anthony DeSclafani hit his first bump in the road in his last start. I think he'll get back on track against the Pirates. Who ever knows what AJ Burnett is going to do.
• The Rays over the Rangers: Chris Archer is the best 3-3 pitcher in baseball. However, Nick Martinez has been very strong himself. Martinez does not strikeout people, so he is always a bad BABIP game away from getting beat.
• The Padres over the Diamondbacks: I picked against the D-backs in both games of yesterday's double-header and they won both. Since I never learn my lessons, I'll pick against them today too. Odrisamer Despaigne vs. Rubby De La Rosa.
• The Astros over the Angels: I have to ride Collin McHugh. He has been my good luck charm for a year and a half now. I've got to stay with it. Hector Santiago goes for the Angels.
• The Marlins over the Giants: Tim Hudson will be a 50/50 proposition for the rest of his career. So it's always a guess with him. Dan Haren is pitching really well and going back home, or at least near home.

And the Pick of the Day:

• The Dodgers over the Brewers: Carlos Frias blanked the D-backs in his first start (for five innings). The Brewers don't hit better than the D-backs. Mike Fiers won his last time out though.

Yesterday: 8-8, May: 46-39, Season: 210-204, Picks of the Day: 17-14

MLB Game Picks - Wednesday: May 6, 2015

Tuesday was not a very good day. Stephen Strasburg finally pitched well, but for only two innings and couldn't get any run support. I shouldn't ever pick against Bartolo Colon and I should never pick FOR Scott Feldman. I would say, "Live and Learn," but I never do.

Wednesday's picks:

• The Nationals over the Marlins: See? I never do live and learn. But I believe that Max Scherzer will get the run support his teammate did not get as the Nationals score four or so against Tom Koehler.
• The Rockies over the Diamondbacks: If they ever play a game in this series after two straight postponements. I'm still sticking with Tyler Matzek over Josh Collmenter like I did two days ago.
• The Rockies over the Diamondbacks: Robbie Ray gets his first start of the year for the D-Backs. I'm not expecting that to go well. I'm not sure how much better Jordan Lyles will be, but that's the pick.
• The Giants over the Padres: Ian Kennedy used to be the Giant killer. But not so much anymore. "Charlton" Chris Heston has had all good starts except the one at Coors and you can throw that out.
• The Pirates over the Reds: If Gerrit Cole keeps pitching like he has been, that should be a win. Mike Leake will leak at least a little.
• The Yankees over the Blue Jays: The Yankees have made Mark Buehrle's career miserable. That said, he faces CC Sabathia, of who I have no confidence in at this point. This should be interesting.
• The Mets over the Orioles: Jacob deGrom bounced back nicely from his Yankees' fiasco and has a decent overall record in interleague play. I like his chances better than Ubaldo Jimenez, though the latter looks a lot better this year.
• The Braves over the Phillies: The Phillies are REALLY bad this year. The Braves were supposed to be bad but haven't been. Mike Foltynewicz has an impossible name to spell but makes his second start of the season. Jerome Williams goes for the Phillies.
• The Red Sox over the Rays: The Rays don't hit that much, which helps Justin Masterson quite a bit. Alex Colome is a bit of a wild card and I don't know how he will do. He was great his first time out.
• The Indians over the Royals: Yeah, this hasn't been a good pick for me, but I believe (still) in Carlos Carrasco and think he will do just fine. Danny Duffy is so unpredictable. He could be great or not.
• The White Sox over the Tigers: Chris Sale should win. That doesn't mean he will. Alfredo Simon seems like the real deal after I poo-poohed him so much.
• The Dodgers over the Brewers: I should not pick the Dodgers because they are starting Joe Weiland, who has never really made it in the Majors. Wily Peralta is 0-4. That's pretty scary.
• The Athletics over the Twins: Scott Kazmir is my guy and I hate picking against him. Kyle Gibson seems to win his share despite not striking too many people out. In other words, I have no idea here.
• The Rangers over the Astros: I'm not sure about this pick. I don't really trust Colby Lewis. But then again, neither do I trust the Astros' bullpen as starter, Samuel Deduno will be lucky to last five innings.
• The Cubs over the Cardinals: I really love Lance Lynn. But I also love how Jon Lester is getting better each time out. I think Lester corrals the high-flying Cards.

And the Pick of the Day:

• The Angels over the Mariners: I feel so much more comfortable with C.J. Wilson than I do with Roenis Elias. And that's the tune I'm singing here.

 Yesterday: 6-8, May: 38-31, Season: 202-196, Picks of the Day: 16-14

MLB Game Picks - Tuesday: May 5, 2015

Happy Cinco De Mayo. I started early by going 5-5 yesterday. And, the Pick of the Day was wrong. Ugh. I guess I went with the wrong ace.

I'm in a time bind this morning, so with apologies, I just give you my picks and the pitching lines:

• The Pirates over the Reds: Michael Lorenzen vs. Jeff Locke
• The Nationals over the Marlins: Stephen Strasburg vs. Mat Latos.
• The Yankees over the Blue Jays: Michael Pineda vs. Marco Estrada
• The Orioles over the Mets: Bud Norris vs. Bartolo Colon.
• The Braves over the Phillies: Chad Billingsley vs. Shelby Miller
• The Red Sox over the Rays: Drew Smyly vs. Rick Porcello
• The Indians over the Royals: Danny Salazar vs. Jason Vargas
• The Tigers over the White Sox: Shane Greene vs. Jeff Samardzija
• The Dodgers over the Brewers: Zack Greinke vs. Matt Garza
• The Twins over the Athletics: Trevor May vs. Jesse Chavez
• The Astros over the Rangers: Scott Feldman vs. Wandy Rodriguez
• The Cardinals over the Cubs: Tyler Lyons vs. Kyle Hendricks
• The Rockies over the Diamondbacks: Tyler Matzek vs. Josh Collmenter
• The Padres over the Giants: Andrew Cashner vs. Ryan Vogelsong

And the Pick of the Day:

• The Angels over the Mariners: Garrett Richards vs. James Paxton

Yesterday: 5-5, May: 32-23, Season: 196-188, Picks of the Day: 15-14