Now that is the kind of day a game picker was looking for. Eleven correct out of fifteen picks ended the week with style points. It was truly an underdog night as teams like the Royals, Pirates, Astros, Athletics and Angels all won. The Royals and Athletics wins were two of the few incorrect picks however. And to think the day could have been a twelve-correct-day if not for a certain meltdown by closer, Jose Valverde.
This picker is going to chalk up such a good day to finally being able to get on the golf course for the first time this spring. Amazing how that will change the mindset. The golf didn't go too badly either. The first nine holes was predictably brutal, but two pars and a birdie on the back nine whet the appetite for more!
Tee time is set for an hour and a half from now, so forgive this picker from getting right into Sunday's picks:
- The Tigers over the White Sox: Rick Porcello was back to his ground ball ways in his last start and the White Sox have moved Chris Sale from the rotation back to closer. That's a shame because Sale was pitching well. Dylan Axelrod will start instead.
- The Rangers over the Indians: Yu Darvish will go to 5-0 here as Ubaldo Jimenez simply isn't the same pitcher he used to be.
- The Diamondbacks over the Mets: Trevor Cahill will give the Mets' lineup some problems. R.A. Dickey will bend enough to give the D-backs another win on the road.
- The Reds over the Pirates: Tough game to call. If Charlie Morton is on his game, he is a ground ball machine. But when he's not, it gets ugly. Mat Latos historically has bad Aprils and good Mays. It's now May.
- The Red Sox over the Orioles: The Red Sox' offense will come alive against Tommy Hunter and Clay Buchholz has shown better results of late if he can avoid that late inning meltdown. These bullpens will be gassed though.
- The Rays over the Athletics: Two good young pitchers in Tommy Milone and Matt Moore. The Rays have the better offense and are at home, thus the pick.
- The Cardinals over the Astros: The Cards are having problems down in Houston. And J.A. Happ is pitching well. But the Cards' bats will wake up and pull a win out behind Adam Wainwright, who won his last outing for his first win of the season.
- The Yankees over the Royals: The Royals look much more balanced in their last ten games then the did in the previous ten. Luke Hochevar can be good. And Phil Hughes has not been good for the Yankees. So why pick the Yankees then? As a parent would say, "Because I said so."
- The Cubs over the Dodgers: Aaron Harang has given up sixteen homers in Wrigley Field in just 78 innings. Ouch. Travis Wood gets the start for the Cubs since Matt Garza is sick. He is not a bad option in this one.
- The Braves over the Rockies: This one won't be the offensive-minded game of yesterday. Juan Nicasio has been the Rockies best pitcher and Brandon Beachy is filthy at times. Going with the Braves who were riled up yesterday.
- The Angels over the Blue Jays: You simply have to root for Jerome Williams every time he pitches. But it goes deeper than just wishes. He can be really good too. Drew Hutchinson has struggled with his control.
- The Giants over the Brewers: Matt Cain keeps losing these 2-1 games. Perhaps he will win one of them today. Shaun Marcum has been pitching well though. It will be a low scoring game.
- The Mariners over the Twins: Hector Noesi rhymes with messy and Nick Blackburn rhymes with heartburn. But one of these teams have to win. Do not think it will be the Twins.
- The Phillies over the Nationals: The Nats refuse to score when Jordan Zimmermann pitches and with Cole Hamels going for the Phillies, that won't change today.
And the Game of the Day!
- The Marlins over the Padres: The Marlins complete their second straight West Coast sweep as Ricky Nolasco has little problems with the Padres' lineup and the Marlins get to Joe Wieland, who has yet to win this season. The home run bats of the Marlins are heating up.
Yesterday: 11-4
Last week: 52-42
Month: 38-30
Season: 227-179
Games of the Day: 18-12
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