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 - Sunday: June 2, 2013

Finally! A good day. I was right about May. I just needed to get out of that month because on the first day of June, only five picks were incorrect out of sixteen games. Those five were the Yankees...hehe...yeah, that was a good pick, the Pirates (Liriano pitched great, Leake was better), the Angels (to Houston again!?), the Cubs (all good things come to an end), and Texas (a tip of the cap to James Shields). I will take that. I called both games of the Cards - Giants double-header. I called the Marlins over the Mets. I called Ubaldo Jimenez over the Rays. So, yeah, it was a good day.

Sunday's picks:

• The Indians over the Bay Rays: I went back and forth on this one. Zach McAllister has pitched well against weak-hitting teams and really struggled against good teams. He did beat the Rays in his first start of the season. He and Jeremy Hellickson are pretty similar. I am going with the home team.
• The Mets over the Marlins: You know that Matt Harvey is going to pitch well. The only question is whether the Mets will get him any runs. Harvey has no-decisions in half of his starts. Kevin Slowey is of the "crafty" pitching variety, so this is a big contrast in pitching styles.
• The Reds over the Pirates: Jeanmar Gomez is giving me fits this season. He really has become a ground ball pitcher and really has not had a bad outing since he joined the Pirates' rotation. But the pick has to go to the big stud, Mat Latos. Joey Votto has to figure into this one somehow.
• The Tigers over the Orioles: This is a bit of a tough one. Rick Porcello is coming off probably his best outing as a Tiger. But the Orioles could really whack him hard. But on the other hand, Kevin Gausman has not been able to get Major League hitters out in his two starts.
• The Braves over the Nationals: I am not too impressed by either of the team's starters. Nathan Karns was just barely passable in his first start. Paul Maholm is a contact guy who needs the balls to be hit at somebody. The Braves have not been giving the Nats any room to breathe thus far this season, so that is the pick.
• The Twins over the Mariners: The Mariners are starting Jeremy Bonderman. Holy cow! Bonderman has not pitched in the majors since 2010. Now that is a cool kind of thing. But picking him to pitch well would be another thing. Scott Diamond goes for the Twins. Jeremy Bonderman...wow...
• The Cardinals over the Giants: I thought Bonderman was a surprise until I got to this pick. The Giants are listing Chad Gaudin as today's starter. Chad Gaudin? Yeesh. Tyler Lyons tries to keep his stunning early success in the big leagues going.
• The Diamondbacks over the Cubs: This pick is a bit troubling. First, Edwin Jackson has to win a game sooner or later. Second, as good as he has been, Patrick Corbin has to lose a game eventually. Will these two events happen today? Unlikely.
• The Rangers over the Royals: The Rangers should hit like five homers today since Ervin Santana is pitching. Yu Darvish is confusing. Does anybody have better stuff than him? And yet, him winning a game is never a guarantee.
• The Angels over the Astros: Hey, if I keep picking this outcome, it has to happen eventually. I am a bit stubborn that way. C.J. Wilson needs to live up to his Head and Shoulders commercials. And Jordan Lyles still sounds like a country singer or some soap opera name.
• The White Sox over the Athletics: I do not know how healthy Chris Sale is. If he is healthy, he should dominate. If not, then the pick will blow up. Jarrod Parker has had a troubling season for the A's.
• The Rockies over the Dodgers: I am not sure how well Hyun-Jin Ryu's stuff will translate at Coors Field. And Jorge De La Rosa is just a better option pitching in that wild place than Ryu. He is more of a know entity there.
• The Red Sox over the Yankees: The Red Sox are just a better team right now. Their infield defense is spectacular with Iglesias at third. Clay Buchholz and his health are a bit of a concern. The only way this pick goes awry is if Buchholz is not healthy and if Hiroki Kuroda pitches at the top of his game.
• The Padres over the Blue Jays: Edinson Volquez's biggest problem is his command and control. But that is less of a problem against a Blue Jays' team that is undisciplined at the plate (except for Bautista and Encarnacion). Also, Ramon Ortiz starting for the Jays is just to unfathomable.

And the Game of the Day!

• The Phillies over the Brewers: Mike Fiers will not be able to go deep in the game as he has not pitched longer than four-plus innings all season. Cliff Lee, on the other hand, is having a great season. Domonic Brown has been killing the ball.

Yesterday: 11-5

Last week: 55-48

Month: 11-5

Season: 473-355

Games of the Day: 37-23