MLB Game Picks - Monday: September 15, 2014

Sunday ended up being a 10-5 day which erased some of the bad taste of Saturday. The Orioles moved closer to the inevitable division crown as did the Dodgers, Cardinals, Tigers and Nationals. With "magic numbers" now on the standings, it won't be long until some of these teams can start resting people and set up their post season runs.

Clayton Kershaw continued his fantastical season. The A's and Jon Lester took care of the Mariners with ease. Three blown saves actually helped my picks in two of them. Things are becoming clearer all the time with only two weeks left in the season.

I forgot one thing yesterday. Every win streak has been stopped at ten games. The Angels headed into yesterday at ten games. I should have known.

Twelve games are on the Monday schedule. Let's get to them:

• The Orioles over the Blue Jays: The O's have been swatting aside pretenders all season and Wei-Yin Chen has had a great season. The last time he faced the Blue Jays, however, he got cuffed around a little bit. But here is my final logic on the way the game goes: Marcus Stroman, who has been terrific, pitched a complete game his last time out. I have noticed all season that pitcher who do so have little success in their very next outing.
• The Mets over the Marlins: Jacob deGrom and Jarred Cosart have been very successful in their last two months. So who to go with? My rule has always been when both offenses cancel each other out and the pitching match-up cancels each other out, go with the home team.
• The Rays over the Yankees: Chris Capuano has fallen on hard times. Alex Colome is nothing great shakes, but he will look like Roger Clemens against the Yankees' offense. The Yankees hate playing in that trash dome.
• The Braves over the Nationals: Stephen Strasburg never pitches well in Atlanta. Never. Plus, he is weaker on the road than at home. Double whammy. Ervin Santana has had a nice season.
• The Reds over the Cubs: This game all depends on how well Alfredo Simon pitches. You know Travis Wood will give up three or four runs or more. So Simon is the key to the game.
• The Royals over the White Sox: I can't ever pick the White Sox with John Danks pitching. The guy sure is a mystery and he has been bad for a long time. How much longer will he keep getting the ball? James Shields needs to pitch well.
• The Astros over the Indians: I have had good success with Collin McHugh and if he can pitch through the sixth or seventh, he has been golden. Zach McAllister has not fared as well.
• The Rockies over the Dodgers: The Dodgers are likely to have a bit of a letdown after their big series against the Giants. Besides, Roberto Hernandez in Coors is scary. Christian Bergman goes for the Rockies.
• The Giants over the Diamondbacks: The Giants aren't dead despite their series loss to the Dodgers. They are only three back and also in the wild card hunt. Ryan Vogelsong is a weak link in their rotation, though. Wade Miley is unpredictable.
• The Angels over the Mariners: Hisashi Iwakuma is very good. But so is Matt Shoemaker and the Angels have the better offense. I'm going Angels here.
• The Phillies over the Padres: Andrew Cashner cannot seem to put it together after the Padres counted on him so heavily. Jerome Williams is just a fill-in pitcher for the Phillies, but if his sinker is on, he can be too.

And the Game of the Day:

• The Tigers over the Twins: Max Scherzer should have a good day today and Anthony Swarzak has spent most of the season in the Twins' bullpen. That's not a good combination.

Yesterday: 10-5, Sept.: 115-79, Games of the Day: 94-63 (+2), Season: 1245-1013

MLB Game Picks - Monday: June 9, 2014

It would have been an 11-4 day if the Tigers could close out a ninth inning. But once again, they couldn't. It wasn't Joe Nathan this time, but Joba Chamberlain. Gosh, New York Yankee fans knows how that feels. And so it was a 10-5 day. Nothing to sneeze at with even a Game of the Day correct pick to add to the party. If only the Tigers could finish a win.

As for the Manny Machado thing...what a pure punk move, eh? He should be suspended for a long time and get drug tests every day for three years. That was pathetic and bush and has no place in the game.  I believe those back swings against the catcher's head was intentional too. Gosh, that's so out of control, it is breathtaking.

Monday's picks:

• The Rays over the Mariners: The Rays finish up their series with Seattle today in the afternoon. They are now sixteen games under .500. Unbelievable. David Price should be better than Erasmo Ramirez, right? Right!?
• The Red Sox over the Orioles: What could the rest of the Orioles be thinking? Stick up for their guy? Be mad and all get out? I would think the latter. In either case, the Red Sox should score against Bud Norris and Jake Peavy take the win.
• The Pirates over the Cubs: Edwin Jackson is all over the place. How can you predict what he is going to do? You can't. I hate when he pitches. Because of that, I am going to go with Charlie Morton, which just goes to show you how messed up Jackson makes me.
• The Reds over the Dodgers: Tony Cingrani seemed to gather himself a bit in his last start. If so, his arm could shut down the Dodgers and be better than Dan Haren. This could go either way though, to be honest.
• The Rangers over the Indians: T.J. House is a lefty. The Rangers have killed lefties this season. T.J. House is inexperienced. I don't think he lasts long today. I'm a little concerned about the Rangers starting Nick Martinez though.
• The Tigers over the White Sox: Hector Noesi has been pitching well. I am still confounded by that. So I want to pick him here, especially since the Tigers can't close out wins. But I cannot do it. I cannot pull the trigger. I have to go with Rick Porcello.
• The Royals over the Yankees: Words cannot describe how depressed I am about the Yankees. They can't do anything right these days. They can't hit. They don't have enough starters. The defense leaks. I can't even watch anymore. Jason Vargas over Vidal Nuno.
• The Rockies over the Braves: I think the Rockies will score big off of Gavin Floyd. That said, how well with the Rockies' pitcher pitch? I have no idea because an unheralded rookie is making his MLB debut. His name is Christian Bergman and he is not a power arm, but he has excellent control. He has survived pitching at Colorado Springs and if he can pitch there, perhaps he can pitch at Coors.
• The Diamondbacks over the Astros: The Astros have been killing the ball. But they lose the DH, and perhaps they have an off day against Josh Collmenter. I don't think Jarred Cosart will pitch badly and will keep his team in the game.
• The Angels over the Athletics: Garrett Richards was shelled his last time facing the A's. But that seemed more flukish than anything and he was terrific in his next game. I like him over Jesse Chavez.
• The Nationals over the Giants: Stephen Strasburg has pitched very well at AT&T Park and his last couple of starts have been totally dominant. The Giants are very good, however, and Ryan Vogelsong has been pitching much better.

And the Game of the Day:

• The Blue Jays over the Twins: It is unfathomable that the Blue Jays got only seven hits and no runs against the Cardinals in the last two games of that series. But they are back to having a DH and back against familiar foes. R.A. Dickey should be okay and better than Ricky Nolasco.

Yesterday: 10-5, June: 60-49, Games of the Day: 32-33, Season: 516-427