MLB Game Picks - Saturday: May 16, 2015

The picks struggled to finish a game above .500 yesterday, but I'm okay with that. They were way down after the Yankees got trounced and I think it was like 2-6 at that point. Bartolo Colon had his clunker. I should have gone with the Orioles. But the day finished with a flourish of correct picks to go 6-1 for the late games to save the day. I had a big day in my fantasy league too.

Saturday's picks:

• The Marlins over the Braves: Yeah, I know. This pick did not work out yesterday. But I like it today despite Mat Latos starting. Alex Wood goes for the Braves.
• The Twins over the Rays: Trevor May has surprised me. Heck, the Twins period have surprised me. I'm going with them again today as Alex Colome is coming off a bad start against the Yankees.
• The Tigers over the Cardinals: I got this one right yesterday and I think the Tigers will score another ten runs (for the third straight day) against Tyler Lyons and company. Besides, David Price is pitching today.
• The Cubs over the Pirates: I hate to pick against Gerrit Cole right now. But the Cubs have been hot and Jon Lester is coming on to be what they expected.
• The Diamondbacks over the Phillies: The Phillies are winning too many games lately. That has to end. Jerome Williams is as good a pick at making that happen as anyone. And Archie Bradley looks really good at times.
• The Orioles over the Angels: Ubaldo Jimenez has resurrected himself and I like his chances at home. The Angels go with Matt Shoemaker who hasn't gelled into last year's form yet.
• The Brewers over the Mets: The Brewers have gotten hot since the managerial change (maybe sometimes it works) and the Mets have skidded a bit. Jacob deGrom has been spotty and (heaven help me) I'm going with Matt Garza.
• The Yankees over the Royals: This is probably the Yanks' best chance this series with Danny Duffy pitching. CC Sabathia will need a good BABIP day though.
• The Reds over the Giants: Assuming there will be no more fires today except in the Reds' bats against Ryan Vogelsong, the Reds should win this one behind Mike Leake.
• The Astros over the Blue Jays: The key question in today's match-up is which pitcher, Marco Estrada or Scott Feldman will give up more homers than the other. I'm thinking Feldman will give up less.
• The Indians over the Rangers: If Danny Salazar pitches like he is capable, the Indians should win. If not, woo boy, this pick is going to be embarrassing. Colby Lewis goes for the Rangers.
• The Nationals over the Padres: The Nats are mashing right now and Max Scherzer is pitching. I suppose Andrew Cashner could put his impressive stuff together for a start, but I'm not going to pick that way.
• The Mariners over the Red Sox: Will Felix Hernandez continue is really impressive pitching? Probably. Can Rick Porcello keep up with him and make it a bullpen game? Maybe. We'll see.
• The Dodgers over the Rockies: Zack Greinke has not lost this season and he makes a great one-two punch with Kershaw. Jorge De La Rosa has not pitched well for the Rockies.

And the Pick of the Day:

• The White Sox over the Athletics: It's hard to believe that the A's are ten games under .500 right now. Wow. One of their big problems as a team is the inability to hit left-handed pitching. They have a .544 OPS against lefties this season. John Danks is no great shakes. But he is a lefty. Jesse Chavez goes for the A's.

Yesterday: 8-7, May: 100-80, Season: 264-245, Picks of the Day: 21-17

MLB Game Picks - Friday, May 15, 2015

Alas, my streak is over. As the Cal Ripken of bloggers, I hadn't missed a game during the season for over four years. But the wifi at the hotel I stayed (The Senator Inn) was wofo and was unusable during the times I needed to get my posts done.  I was proud of that streak. Oh well.

Friday's picks:

• The Cubs over the Pirates: The Cubbies are hot and just swept the Mets. I'm not sure how well Kyle Hendricks will do, but I think the big bats of the Cubs will get to Jeff Locke.
• The Diamondbacks over the Phillies: Chase Anderson has been pitching very well and although I root hard for comeback kids like Chad Billingsley, I think the D-Backs with this game.
• The Orioles over the Angels: Jered Weaver tried to tell me his last time out that he was not done as a MLB pitcher. I'm not convinced. Wei-Yin Chen needs to pitch well to keep this pick on track.
• The Marlins over the Braves: David Phelps has been holding his own and I'm sure he likes that big ballpark compared to Yankee Stadium. Julio Teheran is a tough customer though.
• The Mets over the Brewers: The Legend of Shrek...er...Bartolo Colon continues, especially at home. Kyle Lohse will feel the Mets' wrath after they were swept by the Cubs.
• The Giants over the Reds: I have to go with Madison Bumgarner here even if he is pitching in that little band box in Cinci. Jason Marquis goes for the Reds.
• The Rangers over the Indians: If you pitch with your left hand, you can pitch forever if you want to. Take Wandy Rodriguez and Bruce Chen. They still have jobs after throwing soft junk for years.
• The Yankees over the Royals: Two undefeated pitchers who are both very tall. Michael Pineda versus Chris Young. There will be two Chris Youngs at the game. Confusing.
• The Twins over the Rays: There are former Yankees everywhere! Too bad they can't develop ballplayers and pitchers (sarcasm). Phil Hughes at home and not in April is a good pick here. Jake Odorizzi has been pitching pretty well.
• The Astros over the Blue Jays: This pick isn't against R.A. Dickey because last time I did that, he won and I was stupid. This is more a pick for Dallas Keuchel who has become one of the league's best starters.
• The Tigers over the Cardinals: The Tigers go flat once in a while, but when their offense is clicking (read Miguel Cabrera), they are pretty unstoppable. I think they will get to Carlos Martinez and Shane Greene will be good enough to win.
• The White Sox over the Athletics: Carlos Rodon sure was impressive in his first start. I am excited about him. I am not as excited about Chaka Jesse Hahn. I'm going with the White Sox.
• The Red Sox over the Mariners: The Red Sox have been playing well since their players only meeting. And Clay Buchholz pitched well his last time out. Besides, I think they will hit J.A. Happ.
• The Dodgers over the Rockies: Clayton Kershaw pitching in Coors is one thing. Him pitching at home is another. He has to be the pick here. Eddie Butler has been hit or miss in his starts.

And the Pick of the Day:

• The Nationals over the Padres: Jordan Zimmermann should have a good day and Odrisamer Despaigne is still one of the hardest names to spell.

The other day: 9-6, May: 91-74, Season: 255-239, Picks of the Day: 20-17

MLB Game Picks - Tuesday: May 12, 2015

Yesterday was a decent day at 6-4. But the Pick of the Day was wrong....again. The Yankees have won four straight this year at Tropicana Field. Has that happened in the last half dozen years? I shouldn't have picked against them. The Nationals are blasting the ball right now and it looks like they are ready to charge to where they were predicted to be before a slow start made people question them. It's a long season.

Tuesday's picks:

• The Cardinals over the Indians: Carlos Carrasco is a tough customer, but so is Lance Lynn. Lynn, despite his 1-3 record, has only had one bad outing and he's dealt with a lot of bad luck. I think the Cardinals win.
• The Pirates over the Phillies: Sean O'Sullivan has been a fringe MLB pitcher for several years now. He's never bad enough to count out and never good enough to stick. A.J. Burnett is a total wild card every time he pitches. The Pirates have put together a little winning streak here and I expect that to continue.
• The Orioles over the Blue Jays: I have serious misgivings over both starters in this one. Chris Tillman has not started the season well after a great year last year. Mark Buehrle had a good outing last time out after getting blasted twice in a row. Which big offense takes advantage of a struggling pitcher tonight?
• The Tigers over the Twins: Alfredo Simon has looked good, but I still have a hard time buying it over the long season. Kyle Gibson has to have perfect location to succeed. Both pitchers are capable. The Tigers at home.
• The Reds over the Braves: The Reds are playing really well. But this one is hard to pick with the worst to spell pitching match-up ever. Anthony DeSclafani goes for the Reds against Mike Foltynewicz. Come on, guys, what's with that!?
• The Rays over the Yankees: Chris Archer always pitches the Yankees tough and despite two clunkers in a row in his last two outings, I expect him to do it again tonight. Nathan Eovaldi has not lost a game, but he certainly looks shaky.
• The Royals over the Rangers: I was wrong about this pick yesterday, but I'll keep going with the better team. Nick Martinez hasn't lost a start yet, which is amazing. Edinson Volquez pitching in Texas is a bit frightening. But I'll stick with my pick.
• The Cubs over the Mets: Mets fans will get their first chance to watch Noah Syndergaard, another tough name to spell. The kid makes his MLB debut tonight. I still go with Jake Arrieta gentille Arrieta.
• The White Sox over the Brewers: This same pick blew up in my face yesterday. But Chris Sale is a whole different story. The Brewers' offense has come alive, but I'm going with Sale to slow them down. Mike Fiers goes for the Brewers and he has not been good thus far.
• The Astros over the Giants: Collin McHugh is my guy and I have to go with him nearly every time. It has certainly paid off thus far this season. "Charlton" Chris Heston goes for the Giants. Will Heston come out with guns blazing? Sorry, I couldn't resist.
• The Nationals over the Diamondbacks: I am worried about going with the Nats here with Stephen Strasburg on the mound. For one, I am concerned about his health. Secondly, he doesn't pitch well on the road. But I think the Nats will knock Rubby De La Rosa all over the place.
• The Red Sox over the Athletics: The A's have played really poorly thus far in May and the Red Sox are playing better. Much will depend on Justin Masterson. Drew Pomeranz will go for the A's and he has struggled in his last few starts.
• The Marlins over the Dodgers: There are two reasons I'm going this way with this pick. First, Dan Haren has been really good and is home in California to pitch this one. Secondly, the Dodgers are forced to start Mike Bolsinger due to some attrition.
• The Mariners over the Padres: James Paxton has been much better his last two starts but has little to show for it. Ian Kennedy has looked pretty good thus far, but I think the Mariners will get to him.

And the Pick of the Day:

• The Angels over the Rockies: I have a hard time ever picking the Rockies on the road. C.J. Wilson has been solid for the Angels. Kyle Kendrick should keep the Rockies in the game.

Yesterday: 6-4, May: 82-68, Season: 246-233, Picks of the Day: 19-17

MLB Game Picks - Monday: May 11, 2015

On a full day of baseball, I consider nine correct picks a good day and ten a great day. That designation hung in the balance last night until midnight with the Royals - Tigers game. It was 1-1 going into the ninth and the home field advantage of the Tigers was somewhat nullified by the great Royals' bullpen. The bullpen won out and I didn't have a great day. I had a good day.

Monday's picks:

• The Pirates over the Phillies: The Pirates came alive a little bit against the Cards. Gerrit Cole pitches and he has been great. Jerome Williams goes for the Phillies and he will pitch well about a third of the time. I'm counting on this not being one of those thirds.
• The Orioles over the Blue Jays: I don't think the AL East has played anyone but each other for the first six weeks of the season. And anything can happen in any match-up. I don't think the Orioles will have trouble with Marco Estrada. A lot will depend on how well Ubaldo Jimenez pitches.
• The Reds over the Braves: It's so weird seeing the Braves have such a bad bullpen. When is the last time it was like that? Considering this pick, Shelby Miller has been great for the Braves. But Mike Leake has been great for the Reds, I know as I have picked against him several times.
• The Rays over the Yankees: CC Sabathia has thrown a goose egg thus far and is 0-5. That streak has to end some time. Will today be that day? Alex Colome has had two very good outings and has yet to walk a batter. I'm going with the Rays at home.
• The White Sox over the Brewers: The White Sox have come alive and have started winning regularly. They will lose the DH today, but should still have more offense than the Brewers. Jeff Samardzija versus Wily Peralta.
• The Cubs over the Mets: I love me some Jacob deGrom and it pains me to pick against him. But he loves his fastball and the Cubs have all these young guys who can club fastballs. Meanwhile, Jon Lester is rounding into form after a slow start.
• The Nationals over the Diamondbacks: I'm still waiting for Max Scherzer to get all commando on the National League. It hasn't happened yet. Perhaps it will start today against his old team. Josh Collmenter will try to keep up.
• The Red Sox over the Athletics: The A's have yet to get it together this season. Neither have the Red Sox for that matter. But the Red Sox will win their second in a row and everyone will talk about how important that players-only team meeting was. Gag me. Rick Porcello versus Scott Kazmir.
• The Dodgers over the Marlins: Zack Greinke has been about as money as money can get this season. Tom Koehler should be good in a big ballpark. It might be a squeaker but the Dodgers will prevail.

And the Pick of the Day:

• The Royals over the Rangers: Even now, I have a hard time believing that the Royals are a world class team. Some day it will sink in. Danny Duffy goes today against Colby Lewis and it may not be pretty for the Rangers.

Yesterday: 9-6, May: 76-64, Season: 240-229, Pick of the Day: 19-16

MLB Game Picks - Sunday: May 10, 2015

Happy Mothers Day everyone.

I picked both ends of a double-header correctly and was 5-2 with the first seven picks. Then the toilet flushed. I went 1-7 the rest of the way for a really bad day and another Pick of the Day down the tube. I don't know if they will ever play in Denver again as the Rockies were postponed again.

Sunday's picks:

• The Yankees over the Orioles: It seems the only team Bud Norris pitches well against is the Yankees. It's just like Wei-Yin Chen, who turns into Kershaw against the Yankees. But I'm still picking the Yankees because of Michael Pineda.
• The Blue Jays over the Red Sox: I don't know what to make of Clay Buchholz other than how I can't watch him because of that greasy hair. It's disgusting. He has been such a bust so far this year. R.A. Dickey is hard to trust as well. But he has had only one bad start in his last six, so I'll go with the hot Jays over the cold Red Sox.
• The Indians over the Twins: It's hard to pick against the Twins right now. They are playing amazing. But the match-up of Danny Salazar vs. Trevor May seems too much on the Indians' side.  It's still tough picking against the Twins...
• The Rays over the Rangers: The Rays are another team playing pretty well. They are two games back of the Yankees. Jake Odorizzi should have a good day and Wandy Rodriguez will have trouble.
• The Nationals over the Braves: Like I said yesterday, Bryce Harper is out of his mind right now and the Nats are making their move. Jordan Zimmermann needs some run support and to have a good day, but that should happen against Alex Wood.
• The Mets over the Phillies: I really am rooting for Clay Billingsley. I am a sucker for comeback stories. But picking against Bartolo Colon has been unproductive lately for obvious reasons.
• The Pirates over the Cardinals: Jeff Locke has pitched pretty well against the Cards in his career. I am not overly confident that Tyler Lyons is an MLB pitcher and Matt Reynolds is a poor substitute for a highly missed Matt Carpenter.
• The Brewers over the Cubs: The Brewers are suddenly hitting. Or, the Cubs have stopped pitching. Whatever the combination, I have been slow on the uptake. I'll go with Matt Garza (heaven help me) over Kyle Hendricks.
• The Reds over the White Sox: Michael Lorenzen has looked pretty good for the Reds and I think Todd Frazier will have a big day against John Danks.
• The Marlins over the Giants: Mat Latos was better his last time out and might be figuring it out. His five walks bother me though when he beat the Nationals. Ryan Vogelsong is what he is and will probably keep the Giants in the game at least.
• The Dodgers over the Rockies: Maybe they will get the game in today. Who knows. If they do (and I think the East Coast games will be more of a weather problem today), then Clayton Kershaw still beats Jorge De La Rosa.
• The Mariners over the Athletics: Do you want to pick against Felix Hernandez at home? I don't.  Jesse Chavez goes for the A's.
• The Padres over the Diamondbacks: Andrew Cashner is 0-3 in his recent starts against the Diamondbacks. However, today, the D-backs don't have a starting pitcher and from all accounts I've seen, are going with a bullpen day where the bullpen will pitch the entire game. That doesn't sound very appetizing.
• The Tigers over the Royals: Oy. This series has become as unpredictable as they come. Shane Greene had a great start to his season, but has had three bad starts in a row. Chris Young gives up nothing but fly balls but that is a good thing the way the Royals' outfielders can fly around. I have no idea...

And the Pick of the Day:

• The Angels over the Astros: This pick went bad yesterday. But I have to go with what looks right each day and try to forget about yesterday. Garrett Richards has looked strong and his knee is holding up thus far. I think he will be much better than Scott Feldman.

Yesterday: 6-9, May: 67-58, Season: 231-223, Picks of the Day: 18-16