MLB Game Picks - Saturday: May 30, 2015

Another up and down day that saw my picks finish a pick above .500 with an incorrect Pick of the Day. Blah.

Saturday's Picks:

• The Twins over the Blue Jays: Kyle Gibson has his share of very good outings and not so good outings. I never seem to be on top of when each will occur. So I'll probably be wrong with this one again too. Aaron Sanchez goes for the Jays.
• The Rockies over the Phillies: This is my reverse Aaron Harang theory. Since Harang always messed me up last year, I pick him every time to win now. But in this case, if last night's game shows a Troy Tulowitzki getting hot, then the shortstop can carry this team all by himself for a while. Jorge De La Rosa starts for the Rockies.
• The Orioles over the Bay Rays: I'll take Wei-Yin Chen over Erasmo Ramirez just about any day of the week.
• The Brewers over the Diamondbacks: Jeremy Hellickson got mad at me and had a good outing last time out (about time!). Can he repeat it? I'll believe it when I see it. I like Kyle Lohse at home.
• The Astros over the White Sox: Two words: Dallas Keuchel. Two more words. Jose Quintana
• The Mets over the Marlins: I have often said that Jon Niese was better than people thought. Then he goes out and throws three stinkers in a row. Come on, Jon, I can't keep defending you until you have a good game. Tom Koehler goes for the Marlins.
• The Nationals over the Reds: Now that we have Strasburg out of the way, the Nats can start another win streak. Gio Gonzalez should be better than Raisel Iglesias and last longer.
• The Cubs over the Royals: This pick was dumb yesterday and is probably dumb today. But I like the Tsuyoshi Wada match up against the Royals' hitters. Yordano Ventura might really make the pick look stupid.
• The Cardinals over the Dodgers: Say what you want about the money the Dodgers spent, but their offense has been kind of toothless lately. So I like Michael Wacha here to continue his win streak. Carlos Frias has had two good starts and one disaster thus far.
• The Giants over the Braves: It does not appear that the Giants will lose another game this season. That's just how it seems. Tim Lincecum over Williams Perez.
• The Tigers over the Angels: I don't have a lot of confidence in either Jered Weaver or Shane Greene at this point. But somebody has to win the game.
• The Yankees over the Athletics: Sooner or later, the Yankees have to win a road game. Today might be the day as it will be Nathan Eovaldi versus Jesse Hahn. The Yankees have done a nice job so far of making this awful A's team look mighty good.
• The Mariners over the Indians: Another game where I don't like either pitcher to win. Roenis Elias versus Shaun Marcum. :::shrug:::
• The Padres over the Pirates: I do like Tyson Ross at home. Charlie Morton against Justin Upton will be a key match up.

And the Pick of the Day

• The Red Sox over the Rangers: Wade Miley goes for the Red Sox. Chi Chi Gonzalez goes for the Rangers. Chi Chi?

Yesterday: 8-7, May: 198-172, Season: 365-337, Picks of the Day: 29-23

MLB Game Picks - Sunday: April 26, 2015

Not a good day yesterday. There were two postponements and two more extra-inning games that both went against me. That means I am 0-6 in extra-inning games in the last three days. What are the odds of that?

I don't have much time this morning, so I will have to cut short my normal commentary and just give you the pitching match-ups and my picks for Sunday:

• The Indians over the Tigers: Carlos Carrasco vs. Kyle Lobstein
• The Reds over the Cubs: Anthony DeSclafani vs. Jake Arrieta
• The Rays over the Blue Jays: Mark Buehrle vs. Chris Archer
• The Marlins over the Nationals: Dan Haren vs. Gio Gonzalez
• The Braves over the Phillies: Trevor Cahill vs. Jerome Williams
• The Red Sox over the Orioles: Wade Miley vs. Bud Norris
• The Royals over the White Sox: Edinson Volquez vs. John Danks
• The Cardinals over the Brewers: Lance Lynn vs. Mike Fiers
• The Angels over the Rangers: Hector Santiago vs. Nick Martinez
• The Athletics over the Astros: Drew Pomeranz vs. Asher Wojciechowski
• The Padres over the Dodgers: Brandon Morrow vs. Scott Baker
• The Mariners over the Twins: Roenis Elias vs. Kyle Gibson  The Pick of the Day
• The Pirates over the Diamondbacks: Francisco Liriano vs. Jeremy Hellickson
• The Rockies over the Giants: Tyler Matzek vs. Tim Lincecum
• The Yankees over the Mets: Nathan Eovaldi vs. Jon Niese

Yesterday: 5-8, Season: 131-133, Picks of the Day: 11-9

MLB Game Picks - Friday: April 10, 2015

I am off to such a brutally bad start. Man, I couldn't pick Al Capone out of a lineup of women at this point. At least I did finally get a Pick of the Day correctly. But other than that, I was terrible.  Again.

At least everyone is playing new teams today. Perhaps that will help. I need to believe in something! Heh. Without further ago...

...here are today's picks:

• The Blue Jays over the Orioles: Mark Buehrle usually starts out his season pretty well and should be sage enough to keep the ball away from the O's offense. I do have the feeling that the Jays' offense will nail Bud Norris. The Jays are looking mighty impressive.
• The Rangers over the Astros: These two teams will be battling each other all season for the bottom spot in the AL West. That's the way I see it anyway. I like Derek Holland's chances here if he is healthy. Collin McHugh is pretty good himself, however.
• The Rockies over the Cubs: The Rockies are looking good thus far and it is nice to see their stars healthy. The Cubs' offense might get a boost being in Denver. Tyler Matzek goes for the Rockies and Travis Wood goes for the Cubs.
• The Indians over the Tigers: We'll see how it goes, but the Alfredo Simon signing by the Tigers seemed misguided. However, Zach McAllister will have to have a good game against the Tigers' offense. Alex Avila and Jose Iglesias have both started off really well.
• The Twins over the White Sox: I believe Tommy Milone was a very good pickup by the Twins. But the Twins need some answers on offense. I am a bit stunned that Hector Noesi made the opening rotation for the White Sox.
• The Red Sox over the Yankees: Wade Miley is going to be a good starter for the Red Sox. Nate Eovaldi will be good for the Yankees too, but the Red Sox offense is too much better than the Yankees' right now and this will be their first game with the DH.
• The Reds over the Cardinals: The Reds are off to a great start and their offense looks healthy and happy. Jason Marquis just goes on forever. John Lackey will get beat and will look all surly about it.  Heh.
• The Marlins over the Bay Rays: One of these teams has to get off of the deck this weekend in the battle for Florida. I think it will be the Marlins. Dan Haren goes for the Fish and Steve Geltz, who has a big arm and very little experience, goes for the Rays.
• The Mets over the Braves: Jon Niese has always been better than most people think. If he is healthy, he is fine. Eric Stultz had a bad year last year and has to be very fine to win with his stuff. Both lineups are hampered a bit by lefties, but the combo of David Wright and Michael Cuddyer will shine.
• The Brewers over the Pirates: I am very anxious about the Brewers' offense at this point. But I really like Mike Fiers a lot more than I like Jeff Locke.
• The Dodgers over the Diamondbacks: It is a battle of Andersons today as Brett Anderson gets his first start for the Dodgers and faces Chase Anderson of the Diamondbacks. I like Chase better than Brett, but am double-reversing myself on this pick.
• The Angels over the Royals: This is a really tough one. Hector Santiago is a fly ball guy to the extreme (o.44 last year!). Jason Vargas has to be well-located to do well. I like the Angels at home and the Royals will lose a game at some point this season.
• The Mariners over the Athletics: This is a really good match-up pitting Drew Pomeranz against Taijuan Walker. The A's have really straightened out Pomeranz after years of frustration and Walker has been lights out. It could go either way. I like where the M's bullpen is right now compared to the A's.
• The Padres over the Giants: I am really rooting for Brandon Morrow because I am a sucker for comeback stories. Tim Lincecum is a mystery. The Giants haven't looked as dead as people where predicting. The Padres haven't looked as offensive-minded as advertised. Interesting game.

And the Pick of the Day:

• The Nationals over the Phillies. The Phillies are a bad team and facing a lefty is their worst case scenario. Gio Gonzalez had sort of an off year last year and I'm expecting him to bounce back. Jerome Williams usually has about three good starts a year.

Yesterday: 3-6, Season: 19-27, Picks of the Day: 1-3

MLB Game Picks - Sunday: August 10, 2014

Saturday was a train wreck of a day for picking. First of all, there were five extra-inning games. Five! One went nineteen innings. The longest one was the only one that went my way. All the others caused incorrect picks. One of those was a blown save by Joe Nathan. The guy has nothing left as a closer, in my humble opinion.

But the game that causes me the most disbelief was that Brad Penny won a start against the Reds. He wasn't great in his five innings. But he got a W. And I'm eating crow because I didn't think there was a chance in the world that he could pull that off. Penny didn't pitch in the Majors at all in 2013 and hadn't started a game since 2011. His FIP in 2011 and 2012 were both over five. And he won a game. Baseball.

Sunday's picks:

• The Yankees over the Indians: Yes, I should have stuck with Corey Kluber yesterday. I outwitted myself there. I will think long and hard about doing that again. But today is a different story. If Hiroki Kuroda cannot beat Carlos Carrasco in a day game at YS3, then I should just give up doing this.
• The Tigers over the Blue Jays: The Tigers have lost four of their last six games despite their ace rotation. For one thing, they can't finish out a game. And for another, those aces have to perform. David Price has his turn today and should beat a really struggling Mark Buehrle.
• The Reds over the Marlins: The Reds have really fallen on hard times. Once a contender, the team is only a game over .500. But don't blame Johnny Cueto for any of that. He's been just great and should be so today to beat Brad Hand and the Marlins.
• The Mets over the Phillies: Zack Wheeler has really figured it out and has been really, really hard to beat over the last month or two. Kyle Kendrick has been pitching better of late as well. I will take the young power over the junk-in-the-trunk pitcher just about always.
• The Padres over the Pirates: The Padres have won seven of their last ten games. And the Pirates really miss Andrew McCutchen. You just can't miss a guy like that in your lineup. Besides all of that, Tyson Ross is a better pitcher than Charlie Morton. Look for Seth Smith to have a big game.
• The Orioles over the Cardinals: I've been fried nearly every time I pick against the Orioles. They just never lose. Kevin Gausman over Lance Lynn.
• The Dodgers over the Brewers: I like picking the Brewers at home. And I like Jimmy Nelson and the way he has responded in the Majors. But picking against Clayton Kershaw is usually not a good idea.
• The Royals over the Giants: This is one pick that has been correct all weekend, so I don't want to mess it up. Danny Duffy will have to be the good version and Tim Lincecum will have to be the bad version. It could happen.
• The Astros over the Rangers: I couldn't even get a win from the Rangers with Yu Darvish pitching. Sheesh, they are a mess. Nick Martinez probably won't help and Dallas Keuchel will probably get another win.
• The Angels over the Red Sox: The Red Sox are a proud team and they should be. They are the World Champs. But in yesterday's game in nineteen innings, they only compiled six hits. They went six for sixty. Man. Rubby De La Rosa has his moments and I sure wish that Hector Santiago's profile picture on MLB.com would change. I hate that thing.
• The Twins over the Athletics: I'm getting all jiggy with this pick. I like Phil Hughes at a big park like in Oakland. I don't like what I am seeing from the A's' lineup. And Jason Hammel should have been flipped when they got him from the Cubs. Of course, I could just be an idiot.
• The Mariners over the White Sox: What do you do when you don't like either starting pitcher? I mean, how can you pick between Erasmo Ramirez and John Danks?
• The Diamondbacks over the Rockies: You can clearly see in this series that the D-backs are a better team than the Rockies. The Rockies, meanwhile, are full of unhappy players. Guys who are hurt all the time saying they are sick of losing seems like a bit of a stretch, don't you think? Wade Miley and Franklin Morales are the starters.
• The Braves over the Nationals: Gio Gonzalez bothers me. He is another one of those supposed aces that never wins when you expect him to. His left-hand throwing won't be a problem for the Braves with their power right-hand bats. The only question left will be how good Alex Wood will be.

And the Game of the Day:

• The Rays over the Cubs: The Rays keep throwing good pitching at the Cubs and the Cubs are helpless to respond. Alex Cobb should keep that going and poor Travis Wood just hasn't had a good season.

Yesterday: 5-10, August: 68-57, Games of the Day: 69-52 (-1), Season: 962-804

MLB Game Picks - Friday: July 25, 2014

Corey Kluber deserved better. The only run that scored while he was pitching was this stupid play by Ryan Raburn who failed to catch a sliding attempt at the ball in the eighth inning and then inexplicably spiked the ball in the ground allowing that same runner to score. Kluber should have won pitching nine innings of two-hit ball as he struck out ten. Instead, the game went into extra innings with a 1-1 tie and his team eventually lost. Along the way, my Game of the Day pick went with it.

But otherwise, it was a good day as the picks went 7-4. I got all the afternoon games correct but the later games gave me some problems. Maybe the picks were up past their bedtime.

Friday's picks:

• The Cardinals over the Cubs: Travis Wood simply isn't throwing the ball well and while the Cards never like going to Chicago, I think they will get this one with Joe Kelly on the mound. They should have kept Tavares up though.
• The Diamondbacks over the Phillies: Wade Miley has been on a roll and the Phillies don't handle lefty pitching well. Besides, Kyle Kendrick has been pitching and he has been on the opposite of a roll.
• The Yankees over the Blue Jays: Mark Buehrle has always had trouble with the Yankees and with Yankee Stadium. The Yankees can stack up a lot of right-handed bats including their new third baseman, Chase Headley. Hiroki Kuroda will need to have a good night.
• The Rays over the Red Sox: This one may well be decided by the bullpens but I think David Price is just a smidge above Jon Lester and David Ortiz hurt himself yesterday so that isn't good for the Red Sox.
• The Nationals over the Reds: Let's see if Alfredo Simon is beginning to turn back into a pumpkin as the Yankees beat him last time out. Tanner Roark is one of my favorite picks if you haven't noticed.
• The Braves over the Padres: I have to pick against one of my favorite pitchers here in Jessie Hahn (Chaka Hahn, Chaka Hahn). But the Braves are a better team and Alex Wood has been really good lately.
• The White Sox over the Twins: You watch, I'll make this pick and the White Sox will trade John Danks to somebody today. That's always the danger this time of year. Either way, the White Sox should beat Kevin Correia and the Twins.
• The Royals over the Indians: Are these two teams difficult to figure out or what? Take this game (please!). Josh Tomlin hasn't been great and Yordano Ventura can go from brilliant to brutal in any given game. Plus the two teams played fourteen innings yesterday and combined for thirteen hits. Nice.
• The Astros over the Marlins: I have no idea who will win this game. Brad Hand versus Dallas Keuchel. Your guess is as good as mine.
• The Mets over the Brewers: I've really burnt my brain on this one going back and forth. Yovani Gallardo is tough to beat at home. But he hasn't been so much so this season. Zack Wheeler has given up exactly one run in each of his last four starts. So basically, the decision was to go with Wheeler.
• The Pirates over the Rockies: Oh dear. It's another of those "who knows" picks. Charlie Morton at Coors Field sounds frightening. But not quite as frightening as Brett Anderson pitching there for the Rockies. Yeesh. And Tulowitzki is on the disabled list.
• The Angels over the Tigers: Tyler Skaggs has been roughed up a bit in his last two starts, but I still like the guy's stuff. I like it more than The Emoticon, Drew Smyly's stuff. And in case you haven't been following along, a smyly face is an emoticon.
• The Mariners over the Orioles: Felix Hernandez has been so good that it's scary to pick him. You figure every pitcher has a hiccup once in a while and he seems due. But then if he pitches as great as he is, the Orioles won't have a chance. Kevin Gausman can bring it too, so the M's have to score to win.
• The Dodgers over the Giants: This game comes down to who has a better chance to stop the opposition, Zack Greinke or Tim Lincecum. I would have to go with Greinke. If the Dodgers don't get this division done, Mattingly might not survive.

And the Game of the Day:

• The Athletics over the Rangers: Desperate for any pitching whatsoever, the Rangers picked up Jerome Williams, which is fine for Oakland because they are very familiar with him from his days with the Angels. Yeah, that was a good idea. Jason Hammel with the win.

Yesterday: 7-4, July: 161-124, Games of the Day: 59-47, Season: 844-699