MLB Game Picks - Thursday: September 25, 2014

At one point during last night, the picks were sitting at 3-7 and I was thinking, "Uhhh...." and then (thankfully) all the rest of the games went the picks' way and I finished dead even at 7-7 with one cancellation. Normally, I wouldn't be happy with such a record, but considering where the day was, I'll take it.

So what if the last game of Derek Jeter's career at home in Yankee Stadium is rained out today? That will bite. The game won't be made up either as it would not affect the outcome of anything. The weather isn't looking good.

But let's look at that game and the rest of the picks today:

• The Brewers over the Reds: I picked against Lohse last night and regretted it. If I pick against Yovani Gallardo today, I know I'll regret it too. The Brewers are the better team, but both teams have nothing to play for. David Holmberg goes for the Reds.
• The Nationals over the Mets: The two teams will play two today to make up for the rain out yesterday. But it does change the pitching lines. I'll take Blake Treinen in the first game. The kid looks impressive. Dillon Gee goes for the Mets.
• The Mets over the Nationals: Zack Wheeler will probably face a lineup of irregulars. So that influences the pick. Gio Gonzalez will audition for the playoffs though and he will want to do well.
• The Blue Jays over the Mariners: The M's sure blew it for the wild card. I mean, they were right there. Starting relief pitchers like Tom Wilhelmsen is certainly confusing. Daniel Norris had a big year in the minors. A lefty, Norris has a big arm and some control problems.
• The Marlins over the Phillies: This pick did not work out yesterday. That darned Kendrick did it to me again. I still like Tom Koehler over David Buchanan.
• The Yankees over the Orioles: If the game is played, the Yankees have to win on Derek Jeter's last day in New York, right? Any other outcome is unacceptable. If the game is cancelled, the Yankees will have to refund all those tickets. Hiroki Kuroda could be making his last start for the Yankees. Kevin Gausman goes for the Orioles. If I were the O's, I would rest the kid for the playoffs.
• The Tigers over the Twins: The Tigers still need to clinch the division. Max Scherzer will get the job done. Trevor May or may not have a good game. Ha! I kill me.
• The Red Sox over the Rays: My favorite prospect, Garin Cecchini, hit his first Big League home yesterday and I want him to go five for five tonight. I want him at third base for the Red Sox. Make it happen. Love this kid. Oh, the game. Allen Webster over Jeremy Hellickson.
• The Rangers over the Athletics: The A's can pretty much coast as everyone else gave them the wild card by default. But it's not like they have earned it. And they won't clinch it today. Colby Lewis over Jason Hammel.
• The Royals over the White Sox: Big Game James Shields really makes his living against so-so teams, not the really big games. He should beat Jose Quintana because as good as Quintana is, he just doesn't catch any breaks.
• The Giants over the Padres: The wild card is your consolation prize, Giants. Enjoy it. Yusmeiro Petit over Andrew Cashner.

And the Game of the Day:

• The Pirates over the Braves: The Braves won yesterday, which threw me all off. Whut? But I'm pretty sure the Pirates will come back today. They are still not eliminated for the division title and have something to gun at. David Hale goes for the Braves. Meh. Edinson Volquez goes for the Pirates.

Yesterday: 7-7, Sept.: 197-135, Games of the Day: 102-65 (+2), Season: 1327-1069

MLB Game Picks - Saturday: September 20, 2014

The Game Picks are on a nice little roll. After last night's 13-2 tally, the picks aer 30-10 for the last three days. The only two incorrect picks from yesterday were the Orioles, who obviously do not have any urgency right now, losing to the Red Sox in extras and the Rangers pouncing on the equally devoid of urgency Angels. In the former game, David Ortiz did his thing with a homer in the tenth with a man on, his second homer of the day.

Clayton Kershaw won his 20th game, which is cool. The Royals continue to fall flat against the Tigers when it counts. The Cardinals rode a good performance by John Lackey while his former partner, Jon Lester was doing his thing to keep the A's in the hunt. And Derek Jeter had two more hits in his final homestand.

Saturday's picks:

• The Royals over the Tigers: I am really questioning myself here. James Shields is pitching for the fourth time against the Tigers this year. His peripherals are excellent in those four games but nearly every base runner he's put on has scored somehow. That's unlucky and it reverses today against Max Scherzer. This is the Royals' best chance to win a game this series.
• The Cubs over the Dodgers: Roberto Hernandez better not be on the Dodgers' post season roster. I don't see him winning today as Felix Doubront has gotten his mojo back with the Cubs.
• The Athletics over the Phillies: Drew Pomeranz has come a long way and should be fine against the Phillies. The A's are very familiar with Jerome Williams and that will help their offense.
• The Yankees over the Blue Jays: As always, it all depends on how well the pitchers do. Marcus Stroman has been great at times, but he is young and a guy the Yankees can push into pitch count trouble. Chris Capuano has to be so fine to be good that it's stupid. I think the Yankees are going to roll in Jeter's last homestand.
• The Diamondbacks over the Rockies: Ugh. These two teams again. And the pitching match-up. Blech. Trevor Cahill has been awful. And in Eddie Butler's first start, he wasn't treated very kindly. This could go either eay.
• The Orioles over the Red Sox: Chris Tillman is a quality pitcher and I have a feeling that the Orioles' offense will have a fun day off of Rubby De La Rosa and that's what he gets for having four names.
• The Pirates over the Brewers: Matt Garza has been very good in three of his last four starts. But even if he is good today, tha bullpen will need to get nine outs and I don't see it. Edinson Volquez has had a very solid season.
• The Rays over the White Sox: The Rays' offense hasn't been doing much, but they at least get their best bats in the lineup against Hector Noesi and thus have a chance. Whether they win the game or not depends a lot on Chris Archer, who has not been sharp in the second half.
• The Twins over the Indians: I have picked consistently against Trevor May since he had such an odious start to his big league career. But he has been coming on strong and it is time to switch gears. The problem is that the same can be said for T.J. House.
• The Mets over the Braves: Gosh, the Braves. Jon Niese should be able to hold down a nonexistent Braves' offense and will scratch enough off of Mike Minor to continue to keep the Braves in free fall.
• The Mariners over the Astros: While I still don't believe in Chris Young, especially away from his home park, the Astros have been posing little resistance. Dallas Keuchel has had a decent year though.
• The Marlins over the Nationals: Jordan Zimmermann will only go five or so innings and then the Marlins can win the game if Jarred Cosart pitches as well as I think he will at home.
• The Giants over the Padres: It's one thing to beat a beat-up, old Tim Hudson. It is another to do the same thing against a young arm like Yusmeiro Petit. He will shut the Padres down and the Giants will get just enough against Andrew Cashner.
• The Angels over the Rangers: The Angels have been lollygagging around since they clinched. I think the offense will have a fun day against Colby Lewis and Jered Weaver gets his 18th win.

And the Game of the Day:

• The Cardinals over the Reds: The Cardinals are still hoping Michael Wacha can gather it together before the playoffs start. Today will be watched closely. The Cardinals should jump on Mike Leake for four or five runs.

Yesterday: 13-2, Sept.: 157-104, Games of the Day: 99-63 (+7), Season: 1287-1038

MLB Game Picks - Tuesday: September 9, 2014

Nine of twelve picks were correct yesterday, which is a good day. Of the three incorrect picks, one went extra innings as the A's blew another save and then lost to the White Sox. I did not anticipate how far the Brewers have fallen as they lost to the Marlins. And it appeared that Danny Salazar was just teasing when his was so good in his last start. He was terrible on Monday and sank that pick like a torpedo.

I would take a day like yesterday pretty much every day. Let's see what I can do with a full schedule. Tuesday's picks:

• The Nationals over the Braves: The Nats can smell blood now and can put the Braves in their rear view mirror for good with another win. Jordan Zimmermann is certainly capable of shutting the Braves down and the Nats' offense can handle Ervin Santana.
• The Indians over the Twins: I almost got cute and picked the Twins. After all, Trevor May was much better his last time out. But in the all Trevor game, Trevor Bauer should have a good day at home.
• The Pirates over the Phillies: You can't stop these Pirates right now. They look pretty solid in the wild card spot. Edinson Volquez has been a big part of the team's success all season. David Buchanan has pitched respectably for the Phillies.
• The Yankees over the Rays: I'm grasping the last sign of Yankee life with this pick. Hiroki Kuroda has pitched well of late. The one thing bugging me is that Chris Archer always seems to shut the Yankees down.
• The Blue Jays over the Cubs: This year has been an adventure with Mark Buehrle. Early on, I could not believe he was doing so well and should have picked him more. Then I couldn't believe he would get so bad and I picked him too often and now he has pitched well again and I haven't picked him at all. Jake Arrieta gentille Arrieta goes for the Cubs.
• The Orioles over the Red Sox: The O's have a magic number now (12) and it will at least come down to eleven as Chris Tillman should beat Anthony Ranaudo. Man, the Orioles are good.
• The Mets over the Rockies: Jacob deGrom is one of my favorite young pitchers. He reminds me of a young Jered Weaver with a power arm. Christian Bergman pitched well his last start but zero strikeouts tell me he was probably lucky.
• The Cardinals over the Reds: Michael Wacha has come back at the perfect time and makes the Cardinals that much more formidable. He should handle the scuffling Reds and the Cards should hit Mike Leake.
• The Angels over the Rangers: I haven't thrived picking against Colby Lewis. But every time I watch him pitch, he looks ripe to be had. Hector Santiago goes for the Angels who are on a hitting frenzy of late.
• The Marlins over the Brewers: Is it fair to say that I have never liked Matt Garza. It goes way back to his days with the Rays. He's like that guy at the bar that thinks he is better than others even if you prove him wrong a hundred times. So this is personal as he loses to Tom Koehler.
• The Athletics over the White Sox: John Danks is terrible. He has a decent start once in a great while to give you hope, but for as young as he still is, it just isn't there. Jon Lester is easily the pick here.
• The Astros over the Mariners: Roenis Elias is not King Felix and I have already written about how good I think Collin McHugh has been. My only fear with this pick is the Astros' bullpen.
• The Dodgers over the Padres: I'm not thrilled to be picking Roberto Hernandez here. The pick is more for the Dodgers as a whole being better than the Padres. Of course there is also Andrew Cashner who cannot seem to harness his ability.
• The Giants over the Diamondbacks: Wade Miley has been pretty good in the second half. I just don't like him against the Giants' offense as it is going now. Yusmeiro Petit has been great for the Giants.

And the Game of the Day:

• The Tigers over the Royals: Say it ain't so. The Royals are the team under pressure here and not the Tigers. The Royals have never had to close the deal. The Tigers have done it often. Max Scherzer over Jason Vargas.

Yesterday: 9-3, Sept.: 61-47, Games of the Day: 91-60 (+6), Season: 1191-981

MLB Game Picks - Tuesday: September 2, 2014

Labor Day started out sort of weird when I had to take a "loss" from the continuation of a suspended game from way back to May 22. I had to go to the archives all the way to when that game was started to see what I picked and sure enough, the team I picked (Rockies) did not win the game finished yesterday.

To compound matters, the Giants and the Rockies played their regularly scheduled game and I had Tim Hudson with a 7-2 lead in the fifth inning. That fell apart quickly as things can in Coors Field and the Rockies roared back to win. So one pick and two incorrect tallies.

Fortunately, the rest of the day went 6-3 to give me a positive score. I was worried about picking against Cole Hamels, but I had no idea he would be part of a six-pitcher no-hitter. Who could predict that! And those Cubs are hotter than a pistol and beat the Brewers! Man. Jacob Turner was great for the Cubs.

Tuesday's picks:

• The Yankees over the Red Sox: Even without Dustin Pedroia, the Red Sox have some weapons that can hurt young Shane Greene. But he has been pitching well and Joe Kelly would have to be really good for this to go wrong. But picking the Yankees this year has never been safe. Ever.
• The Orioles over the Reds: Both Bud Norris and Mat Latos have similar "stuff." The difference is that the Reds cannot match the Orioles' lineup. The O's have to keep Billy Hamilton off the bases, which hasn't been all that difficult to do.
• The Indians over the Tigers: The last time I picked against Kyle Lobstein, he made me look stupid (which isn't hard to do). But it was completely a BABIP game as he struck out no one. Even with Miguel Cabrera coming back with a monster game yesterday, I am going with Carlos Carrasco at home.
• The Marlins over the Mets: Brad Penny. Am I really picking the Marlins with Brad Penny starting? My thinking is that the Marlins' lineup will not be bothered by the left-handed tosses of Jon Niese, but perhaps I have lost my marbles.
• The Braves over the Phillies: Let's try this again with a resurgent Mike Minor and the rotation filler of Kyle Kendrick. The Braves are in a bit of trouble as the division slides away and there are a lot of contenders for the wild card.
• The Blue Jays over the Rays: Another battle of the 'Ays. The Rays usually win the battle, but my thought here is that the Jays' big boppers will get to Jeremy Hellickson and R.A. Dickey will pitch just fine in the Trop.
• The Brewers over the Cubs: I've gone back and forth on this ten times. Jake Arrieta gentile arrieta has had a good season but was awful his last time out. Yovani Gallardo hasn't been his old dominant self. The Cubs have been on fire, but the Brewers are fighting for the division title. Oy.
• The White Sox over the Twins: Hector Noesi has won six of his last nine decisions covering ten starts. He has been quite the remarkable story. The White Sox will miss Adam Dunn but even so, Tommy Milone has been awful for the Twins.
• The Royals over the Rangers: The Rangers get a reprise of the long ago lost Derek Holland. I never know what to do with when a quality pitcher comes back off of a long, long absence. Picking the Royals means I have to pick Jeremy Guthrie. Ugh.
• The Cardinals over the Pirates: This is a rematch of the same pitching line of Jeff Locke and Adam Wainwright. Locke won last time but that was in Pittsburgh. Wainwright has not been an ace for the last month but claims he is getting over a dead arm period. We'll see.
• The Giants over the Rockies: Who knows in Coors. I would think that I would have to pick Yusmeiro Petit after his last performance over Jordan Lyles even if Lyles is 6-2 on the season.
• The Athletics over the Mariners: I love James Paxton and I hate to pick against him, but the Mariners' offense can go to sleep faster than the A's has lately and the Mariners face Sonny Gray. Gray has gotten a bit of his mojo back in his last two starts.
• The Padres over the Diamondbacks: Odrisamer Despaigne has been a bit confusing with good starts and really bad starts inter-mixed. He should be fine tonight at home against a struggling D-backs team. Wade Miley is a concern for this pick though as he has put some nice starts together and forces guys like Seth Smith to sit.
• The Dodgers over the Nationals: Oh man, this is quite the match-up! Doug Fister and Clayton Kershaw are a combined 28-8. One of them has to win. Kershaw at home is just too difficult for the Nationals to overcome.

And the Game of the Day:

• The Angels over the Astros: I am still quite shocked and upset about Bo Porter. Despite all the losing with little talent, the Astros always played hard, or so it seemed. And Porter made me root for his team. Now I am just angry and think they deserve to have the Angels kicked their team butts. C.J. Wilson over Brad Peacock.

Yesterday: 8-5, Sept.: 8-5, Games of the Day: 85-59 (+2), Season: 1138-939

MLB Game Picks - Thursday: August 28, 2014

Holy cow am I on a losing streak! Wednesday was the fourth straight negative day and this one was really negative. At one point, I was 0-6 and then 1-8. How can you be that wrong that often? What the heck happened in Philadelphia to the Nationals? The Yankees....the Yankees got nine straight hits off of David Price. Whuh!? The Brewers' bullpen blows a lead and then loses in extras. Liam Hendriks only gives up four base runners in seven innings!? Adam Wainwright lost again!? Man. What a tough day.

This gig isn't fun when you have days (and a week) like this.

Thursday's picks:

• The Cubs over the Reds: Dylan Axelrod had a good first outing after getting recalled by the Reds. That makes this pick more challenging. Jake Arrieta gentille arrieta is a better pick if he can get some offense behind him.
• The Yankees over the Tigers: This pick all depends on how well Hiroki Kuroda pitches. The Yankees' bullpen should be in good shape for this one so if the team from the Bronx can do some damage on Kyle Lobstein, they should win.
• The Giants over the Rockies: Yusmeiro Petit has not allowed a hit or a walk in his last 12.1 innings of work covering five relief outings. Can that translate to a start? Time will tell. Jordan Lyles has pitched decently for the struggling Rockies.
• The Orioles over the Rays: The Rays are better now that they have Wil Myers back. That deepens their lineup. I think, though, that the Orioles will hit Jeremy Hellickson more than the Rays will hit Bud Norris.
• The Indians over the White Sox: Adam Eaton changes how the White Sox look. That said, Carlos Carrasco has filled in very nicely for the Indians in the rotation and should give them a chance to win over John Danks.
• The Royals over the Twins: Tommy Milone has gotten his shoes shined in his last three outings. I mean, he hasn't been able to get anyone out. I will take Jeremy Guthrie instead, though with reservations.
• The Astros over the Rangers: Nick Tepesch had been doing much better until he ran into the Royals. So now I'm not sure about him. Collin McHugh is a strikeout machine that doesn't go deep enough often enough in games. The Astros' bullpen is messy if that happens today.
• The Angels over the Athletics: Sonny Gray was as much of a lock as there was earlier in the season. Now he is a big question mark. Has he hit a wall? Is his arm tired? Have batters found something on him? In order for this pick to work, C.J. Wilson has to have a good day.

And the Game of the Day:

• That Braves over the Mets: Mike Minor has been a different pitcher in his last two outings and should be a lot more challenging for the Mets than the last time they saw him on July 1. Jon Niese is a good pitcher, so this game will be close.

Yesterday: 5-10, August: 201-166, Games of the Day: 81-58 (+2), Season: 1095-915