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 - Monday: October 4, 2014

Mediocrity continues with another 8-7 day. The Astros surprised me all weekend. Scott Kazmir lost. The most laughable incorrect pick was the White Sox. What the heck was that!? They did not have a relief pitcher that could get anyone out no matter who they put out there. After Jose Quintana threw too many pitches through five, but had a 3-1 lead when he left, the White Sox bullpen gave up 15 runs with 23 base runners in four innings. Nice. Way to make me look totally stupid.

In one of the slowest days since the All Star Break, Monday only features seven games. That makes little room for error today. The picks:

• The Giants over the Mets: This first one is a tough call. Dillon Gee has really struggled in his last three starts. But he is a much better pitcher than that. Tim Hudson is one of the best pitchers of his generation, but can have a bad game occasionally at his age. Tough one.
• The Nationals over the Orioles: This is a make-up game from earlier in the season. And two good, young pitchers are matched up. I've rarely gone wrong picking Tanner Roark this season, but the Orioles' lineup and Kevin Gausman make it difficult to be confident about any pick here.
• The Indians over the Reds: Corey Kluber has been terrific and Alfredo Simon has been fading. But the Reds have gotten hot and get an extra bat in the lineup. This isn't easy today! I like the Indians better without Asdrubal Cabrera.
• The Tigers over the Yankees: The Yankees' lineup has gotten deeper with the additions and Brandon McCarthy has been really good. But Max Scherzer is hard to beat and Miguel Cabrera loves Yankee Stadium III.
• The White Sox over the Rangers: How can I go back to the White Sox well after Sunday's debacle? It was just a game. I have no faith in either starter today. Hector Noesi goes for the White Sox and Nick Martinez for the Rangers. It's hard to understand the Rangers throwing Martinez out there game after game with his results. I don't get it.
• The Rays over the Athletics: All of these games are tough today! Alex Cobb has been unbelievable his last two outings. I mean big-time great. I am worried about the A's offense without Cespedes. His OBP might have been low, but his presence in the middle of the lineup just made a difference. Jeff Samardzija goes for the A's.

And the Game of the Day:

• The Dodgers over the Angels: I love Garrett Richards. But he has faced two tough teams in a row and he did not hold up against either. This will be his third one in a row and I think Zack Greinke will best him. The Angels losing the DH hurts them less than most since they have a weakness there anyway.

Yesterday: 8-7, August: 23-22, Games of the Day: 65-51 (-1), Season: 917-769

MLB Game Picks - Saturday: March 17, 2014

I laughed out loud this morning when I looked at yesterday's results. I have been stuck on the 8-7 mark for full schedule days for a week now and after tallying up yesterday, I finished at 8-6. The only reason I did not finish 8-7 was because of a rain out in New York. The same thing happened on Wednesday when I finished 8-5 because of two rained out games. Call this the Groundhog Day of picking.

Drew Hutchison really has thrown me for a loop this season. When he is good, he is good enough to beat Yu Darvish. When he is not, he is out of the game by the fifth inning. How do you predict which will happen when? And the other close loss was Max Scherzer out-dueling Jon Lester. A match-up of aces that could have gone either way. And it should have been a draw if Will Middlebrooks hadn't been Will Middlebrooks in the first inning in the field.

Saturday's picks:

• The Cardinals over the Braves: Shelby Miller believes he knows what his problem has been in his mechanics this season. I believe him and he will have a good day. Aaron Harang is starting to meet himself at his statistical mean.
• The Brewers over the Cubs: To be honest, I have no clue in this one. I suspect that the Cubs will be gunning for Matt Garza for what he said to Samardzija. I also suspect that Edwin Jackson will get all of Samardzija's run support. But I still think the Brewers win. I know. Weird.
• The Nationals over the Mets: The Mets have lost three in a row and Bartolo Colon has been hit hard of late. I like Gio Gonzalez in this one.
• The Yankees over the Pirates: This is the same pitching line that was supposed to happen yesterday. That said, I am surprised the Yankees did not skip David Phelps here. But I still think the Yankees will hit a few of Edinson Volquez's offerenings over the wall.
• The White Sox over the Astros: I have been surprised at how the White Sox have turned around Hector Noesi. They have a really good pitching coach there. I don't think Noesi will ever be great, but he will win today over Jarred Cosart.
• The Reds over the Phillies: That whooshing sound you are hearing is that Phillies sinking to the depths of the NL East. Cole Hamels can't get a break to save himself and Homer Bailey is starting to own his stuff.
• The Athletics over the Indians: Scott Kazmir is a secret elder of a gentle race and is 5-1. I like his chances over Josh Tomlin today. Tomlin has been very good too though. The A's are amazing.
• The Royals over the Orioles: Danny Duffy has walked too many batters in his two starts, but has otherwise been tough to hit. I like him today against the Orioles since he is left-handed. I've never been a big Bud Norris fan, though the pitcher did have a good outing last time out.
• The Red Sox over the Tigers: My instinct was telling me that the Tigers would hit John Lackey. But Lackey likes pitching in Boston and as well as Rick Porcello has been pitching, the Red Sox should find him a treat after Scherzer yesterday.
• The Mariners over the Twins: How could the M's go get Robinson Cano and then stop there? The man needs help. I do like the way Roenis Elias pitches though and I think he will be better than Sam Deduno.
• The Blue Jays over the Rangers: It is hard to argue with the roll Mark Buehrle has been on. Buehrle has always been more steady than great. So what is different this year? I don't know, but I'm sticking with him until he goes back to his old self. Robbie Ross goes for the Rangers.
• The Dodgers over the Diamondbacks: Clayton Kershaw has a 3.00 ERA at Chase Field with 10.6 strikeouts per nine. But he is 3-5 there in eight decisions. I think he still wins today over young Chase Anderson.
• The Giants over the Marlins: I do think that Tim Lincecum will give up a bomb to Giancarlo Stanton. But I still think he wins a low scoring game against Tom Koehler and the Marlins.
• The Angels over the Bay Rays: I was wrong with this pick yesterday as Chris Archer had a really good day. But Cesar Ramos is not Chris Archer and C.J. Wilson should be good at home.

And the Game of the Day

• The Rockies over the Padres: Yeah, Jordan Lyle's 5-0 record is hard to fathom and reality doesn't seem to fit here. But I do think the Rockies will out hit the Padres who start Robbie Erlin. Robbie Days aren't the same without Robbie Ray.

Yesterday: 8-6, May: 111-94, Games of the Day: 20-22, Season: 352-272