MLB Game Picks - Wednesday: June 26, 2013

Well that's better. Only four incorrect picks out of fifteen last night, so I had a much better day than I have had in a while. Of the four, the Phillies win stands out the most to me. I did not expect Jason Marquis to finally pitch like...well...Jason Marquis. Nor did I expect Kyle Kendrick to have that good a game. I did not expect the Yankees to win, though I did call it in e-mail thread of IIATMS writers. There I said that Hiroki Kuroda would last an inning more than Yu Darvish and the Yankees would have a chance in a bullpen game. I should have said that here.

Elsewhere, I was dead wrong on the Tigers. I did not think they would have such an ugly night. And I expected Bronson Arroyo to be much better than he was. But those were the only four picks that went wrong, so I am quite pleased for a change.

Wednesday's picks:

• The Blue Jays over the Rays: I am quite torn about this one. The Jays have gone from a winning streak to a losing streak. But they will have Jose Reyes back tonight. It all depends on R.A. Dickey and what kind of night he has. Roberto Hernandez will be who he is and give up four or so runs. If Dickey can be better than that, the Jays win.
• The Twins over the Marlins: The Marlins have won six of their last ten, which is great for them. And since Logan Morrison and Giancarlo Stanton have returned, things are better. But I prefer Scott Diamond over Tom Koehler when push comes to shove.
• The Athletics over the Reds: Homer Bailey has been inconsistent and always seems to lose when I pick him. A.J. Griffin is much tougher at home than on the road. I am going with the A's on this one.
• The Mariners over the Pirates: I am a little concerned about Felix Hernandez. His velocity is not there as it once was and he is a bit more beatable than before. But he is still the Mariners' best pitcher and gives them the best chance to win a game. On the other hand, Jeanmar Gomez is leading a charmed pitching life.
• The Red Sox over the Rockies: The only question in this one is who John Lackey will yet at while on the mound. Other than that, I expect him to pitch a better game than Roy Oswalt will against the Red Sox lineup.
• The Nationals over the Diamondbacks: Two of my favorite pitchers go in this one in Jordan Zimmermann and Wade Miley. The pick has to be Zimmermann as he has the superior stuff. However, if Miley is fine, he can win. So it is a tough call.
• The Indians over the Orioles: Am I picking Scott Kazmir again? OoOo Yeaheeah. I hear Robert Plant singing in my ear, but that's the pick. Jason Hammel is coming off an injury and I never trust those scenarios anyway.
• The Yankees over the Rangers: This pick is expecting Andy Pettitte to be a little tighter than he has been lately. If he is, the Yankees can take the game from Justin Grimm. If Pettitte is not sharp like his last three outings, this pick blows up.
• The Tigers over the Angels: Jose Alvarez has been quite impressive since the Tigers called him up. It looks like he was ready for the prime time. Also leading to this pick was my total disbelief that Tommy Hanson's stuff has deteriorated so much.
• The Braves over the Royals: The Royals just never seem to get past being the Royals, you know? They should have won yesterday, but did not. I do not think they will be in this game as Mike Minor should shut them down and Luis Mendoza is not a strikeout guy against a strikeout lineup.
• The Brewers over the Cubs: Both Yovani Gallardo and Scott Feldman are 6-6. What are the odds of that? Feldman would have a better record on a better team as he has been quite good. But picking against Gallardo at home is usually not a good idea.
• The Mets over the White Sox: Oh, gosh, this is an ugly pick. John Danks is 1-4. Shaun Marcum is 0-9. What the heck do you do with that mess? Marcum has to win a game sooner or later. I have to keep picking him until he does.
• The Padres over the Phillies: Yes, after eleven times, I am sick of picking Cole Hamels to win when he does not. Enough already. Of course, then he will win tonight. You watch. I like lefties against the Phillies lineup though and Robbie Erlin is that. Erlin has good control and whose strikeouts should come around starting tonight.
• The Dodgers over the Giants: This pick is simply a belief that Clayton Kershaw is a better pitcher right now than Tim Lincecum. On any given night, that could go wrong, but that is how the game has to be picked.

And the Game of the Day:

• The Cardinals over the Astros: This game seems so much like a lock, that it is downright frightening of how shocked I will be if the Cardinals lose. Lance Lynn is the bomb. Erik Bedard gives up bombs. That is the big difference in the game. They ought to put some bubble wrap around Justin Maxwell. Sheesh.

Yesterday: 11-4

Week: 20-14

Month: 175-163

Season: 640-512

Games of the Day: 48-36

MLB Game Picks - Thursday: June 20, 2013

Finally! A good day of picking! Oh, man, did I need that. There were only four incorrect picks out of sixteen. They were: The Yankees second game, where they were as limp as a noodle; The Marlins, which was a stupid pick; The Pirates (and that took thirteen innings to go wrong) and the Red Sox, who had their hands full with the Rays. Otherwise, spot on. There were two blown saves last night. One helped me when Jonathan Papelbon blew one and the other was the Pirates Jason Grilli, which was unusual, and led to that pick going bad.

There are twelve games on the schedule tonight, which is a lot for a Thursday. Here are the picks:

• The Reds over the Pirates: This early afternoon game should see two tired teams after a thirteen inning game yesterday. The Reds have the advantage with experience in Homer Bailey over the inexperience of Brandon Cumpton.
• The Twins over the White Sox: John Danks has not been pitching badly for the White Sox since his return and his left arm causes problems for some of the lefty bats of the Twins. But I will still pick the Twins though it is with some Scott Diamond reservations.
• The Athletics over the Rangers: The Rangers needed to win this series but the A's should finish it with a 2-2 tie. A.J. Griffin will hold the Rangers to just a few runs and the A's should score often against Josh Lindblom, who has not looked like he can get Major League hitters out thus far.
• The Brewers over the Astros: Yovani Gallardo looks like he is rounding into mid-season form, which is not good news for the Astros. Lucas Harrell will keep his team in the game, as always, but the Brewers squeak by.
• The Nationals over the Rockies: At least Roy Oswalt's 2013 debut will not happen at Coors. I just cannot imagine him being overly effective. Jayson Werth has been hot lately and will factor in here somehow. And my man, Jordan Zimmermann, will bounce back after a rare bad outing.
• The Bay Rays over the Yankees: It would seem just right for Matt Moore to regain his footing against a terrible Yankees' lineup. The Yankees do not hit lefties at all and Joe Girardi insists on not only playing Vernon Wells, but batting him cleanup. Strange. Andy Pettitte will keep it close.
• The Tigers over the Red Sox: The Tigers lead the world in Venezuelan ball players. Rookie, Jose Alvarez, is yet another. Alvarez has a good left arm and his first start of his career went very well. The Red Sox are a tough team though. John Lackey runs into Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder and should be shouting on the mound by the fourth inning.
• The Braves over the Mets: Mike Minor has sort of been stuck a little bit lately, but he should have little trouble from the Mets. Jonathon Niese never seems to win. And I am thinking tonight will be no different.
• The Cardinals over the Cubs: I have loved what Scott Feldman has brought to the Cubs this season. I knew he had it in him. But the Cardinals have the best lineup in the National League and Lance Lynn is 9-1. Yeah, that will work. Doesn't it seem that the Cardinals are always home?
• The Mariners over the Angels: As I have stated before, just because Felix Hernandez is pitching, it does not mean his team is going to win. But at least they have a better chance to win and that is what this pick is about. I think Tommy Hanson gives up two runs and King Felix, one.
• The Padres over the Dodgers: The Dodgers played two games against the Yankees and then flew all the way to San Diego overnight. I would imagine they could be flatter than flapjacks. Plus, I am not a big Stephen Fife fan and Jason Marquis has been tough at home.

And the Game of the Day!

• The Giants over the Marlins: My problem with this one is that the Chad Gaudin I remember was the Yankees' version. And he caused nightmares there he was so bad. But he has been good for the Giants and I should stop being surprised. Of course, I will pick him here and he will turn back into a pumpkin. Tom Koehler gets another loss.

Yesterday: 12-4

Week: 36-23

Month: 136-125

Season: 599-475

Games of the Day: 46-32