MLB Game Picks - Sunday: September 14, 2014

Yesterday I was complaining because of having two great days but having the Game of the Day feature come up empty. I should have kept my mouth shut. I got the Game of the Day feature correct (the Cardinals hung on to win) but had a crappy day overall. I think the great day / bad Game of the Day is preferable.

How about Mike Trout with two big flies? How about Zack Greinke with a double an a homer? Tim Hudson and Tim Lincecum have both had great success pitching in the Major Leagues. The Dodgers destroyed them both. Hudson's string of winning seasons is surely going to be ended now.

I didn't think the Twins could lose another double-header. I was wrong. King Felix was not clutch as he gave up the game-tying homer to Josh Donaldson and the A's eventually won a game the Mariners had to have. I have no idea what Fernando Rodney was doing in the tenth, but needless to say, he did not shoot any arrows. The Yankees did their patented "score-early-and-then-die" offense but still hung on two win. That bullpen is terrific. The Blue Jays beat the Rays in the battle of the Ays. I got all those games wrong.

Here we go, Sunday, treat me right:

• The Blue Jays over the Rays: This is a scary pick because you never know with Mark Buehrle. But he has been on one of his good streaks again and Chris Archer has not been as effective in the last month or so. The Blue Jays at home.
• The Tigers over the Indians: Justin Verlander is no longer an ace. But he can still be good enough to beat the Indians at home. Trevor Bauer simply doesn't do much for me at any time--even less today.
• The Nationals over the Mets: Again, I like Jon Niese. I like him a lot. The Nationals are just too hot at the plate right now and Jordan Zimmermann really shouldn't have any trouble with the Mets' lineup.
• The Pirates over the Cubs: This pick did not work out yesterday, which was a huge shock to me. Edinson Volquez needs to come up big. Jacob Turner is starting to turn it around for the Cubs. Scary pick.
• The Marlins over the Phillies: This is another pick that did not work out yesterday. It is another pitching match-up that makes me go this way. Tom Koehler is a better pick than David Buchanan. The Marlins' offense is pretty dead without Stanton though.
• The Red Sox over the Royals: I just like Joe Kelly. Is that okay? Jason Vargas would not survive the Boston lineup in the past, but this is a different Boston lineup. In other words, it's not any good. But I'm still going with Joe Kelly.
• The Reds over the Brewers: I will admit that I have no idea which team will win this game. Mike Leake is so unpredictable and Matt Garza can look so ugly at times that I have no idea. None.
• The White Sox over the Twins: Who would have ever thought three months ago that I would be picking Hector Noesi to win a game? How strange is baseball. But there it is. I like him over Trevor May.
• The Cardinals over the Rockies: I have no delusions of Marco Gonzalez pitching great for the Cardinals. The pick is based on the belief that the Cardinals will score eight runs on Jordan Lyles and company.
• The Rangers over the Braves: The Braves are terrible now. They simply don't win very often. I don't know, frankly, how they have won 75 games. Colby Lewis over Mike Minor. Of course, I said all that and the Braves will win...
• The Angels over the Astros: I think it is going to be the Orioles and the Angels in the ALCS and that's going to be a great series. The Angels just don't lose these days no matter if Hector Santiago or anyone else is pitching. Dallas Keuchel will try to stop the streak. Good luck, young man.
• The Dodgers over the Giants: After scoring 17 runs yesterday, I'm not sure the Dodgers are all tuckered out or not. I do know that Yusmeiro Petit might give the Dodgers problems. But would you ever pick against Clayton Kershaw? No, me neither.
• The Padres over the Diamondbacks: If I keep picking the Padres, they have to win sooner or later, right? I'm not thrilled with picking Odrisamer Despaigne in Arizona's hot air, but Trevor Cahill is even more of an uncomfortable pick.
• The Orioles over the Yankees: I hate Sunday night games. They are un-American, especially when the game doesn't even start until an hour after the two teams usually start night games. Chris Tillman over Hiroki Kuroda.

And the Game of the Day:

• The Athletics over the Mariners: The Mariners had their chance yesterday and didn't get it done. Both teams are still challenged offensively. But you have to go with Jon Lester over Chris Young in this one. Young was a nice story for most of the year, but if you pin your playoff hopes on him, I don't know...

Yesterday: 7-9, Sept.: 105-74, Games of the Day: 93-63 (+1), Season: 1235-1008

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 - Thursday: July 10, 2014

My second day back in Maine turned once again into a negative day. I'm starting to get a complex about being back in my state. Hmm. And the negative day included both extra-inning games falling my way.

What did not help were two games that were blown by bullpens in the ninth inning. They included the White Sox ralphing the eighth and finally the ninth on the Red Sox. They were up, 5-1, going into the eighth. And then the Tampa Bay Rays had a nice lead going into the ninth against the Royals only to cough up a three-run homer to Salvatore Perez in the ninth to lose it.

Thursday's picks:

• The Reds over the Cubs: I don't believe this will be an easy win for the Reds, who lost Brandon Phillips yesterday to injury. Homer Bailey should pitch well, but the Reds will face Kyle Kendricks making his Major League debut. Kendricks is not big on folks' prospect lists, but he has good numbers in the PCL, a tough league and he has excellent control. More of a tough call than you would think.
• The Brewers over the Phillies: I've been wrong picking the Phillies for two games in a row, but I'm nothing if not stubborn. I simply think Matt Garza will be better than David Buchanan.
• The Giants over the Athletics: This one is very interesting. Scott Kazmir has been terrific for the A's. But the Giants actually hit lefties better than the other way around, which is unusual. And Tim Hudson is not going to walk into Oakland's trap of working up his pitch count.
• The White Sox over the Red Sox: This one could go either way. Jose Quintana and Jon Lester are among the best lefty starters in the game. It depends who bends the most and which one gets support. And of course, it depends on if the White Sox can close out a game.
• The Yankees over the Indians: It's not that I have uber-confidence in David Phelps. I don't. But I have even less in T.J. House. Both bullpens will be gassed. Phelps could get deeper in the game to save his. The Yankees showed resilience last night after the news about Tanaka.
• The Nationals over the Orioles: Two more lefties on a night that seems full of them. Gio Gonzalez has been terrific and so has Wei-Yin Chen. So how do you pick? The Orioles have a similar OPS against pitchers from either arm side. But the Nationals are significantly better against southpaws. So that's the pick.
• The Braves over the Mets: Bartolo Colon doesn't mess around and is around the plate. The Braves have no patience, so that suits them just fine. Aaron Harang has kept winning despite my ridicule, so there's that.
• The Cardinals over the Pirates: The Cardinals are making their move. I can feel it. After dallying all season, they are putting it together. Of course, Shelby Miller hasn't been great though. But then again, neither is Edinson Volquez. Sweep time?
• The Angels over the Rangers: The Rangers are only a game ahead of the Astros in the AL West. Let that sink in a second and were just swept by those Astros. The Angels, on the other hand, are as good as I thought they would be this year. The one caveat here is that Hector Santiago is pitching for the Angels. Ugh. But the Angels will hit Colby Lewis. So it will be an 8-6 win or something.
• The Tigers over the Royals: The Emoticon, Drew Smyly, has not been very good this season. But one of his best starts was against the Royals. Jeremy Guthrie has had two bad outings in a row, but one of his best starts of the year was against the Tigers. Heh. Pick 'em.
• The Twins over the Mariners: Wait. Tom Wilhelmsen is starting for the Mariners!? Wasn't he their closer? Has he ever gone more than a couple of innings? I am still rooting for Yohan Pino to get his first MLB win.

And the Game of the Day:

• The Dodgers over the Padres: Yeah, I know this Odrisamer Despaigne is good, but Yasiel Puig will know all about him, which helps. AND Clayton Kershaw is going for the Dodgers. That is killer and I can't wait to see what he does this time.

Yesterday: 7-8, July: 73-56, Games of the Day: 51-44, Season: 756-631

MLB Game Picks - Monday: April 14, 2014

Yesterday was a very good day when almost everything went right except the Game of the Day. The Tigers are a very confusing team. Then again, they always have been. They never seem to win as many games as their talent level and that has been true for years. But then just when you expect them to lose, they win. But anyway, it was a good day. There are nine games on the schedule. They should go thusly:

• The Braves over the Phillies: This game features two fairly warm teams and two pitchers I have never been comfortable picking in Roberto Hernandez and Ervin Santana. I will go with the Braves based on Santana's first performance of the season.
• The Orioles and the Rays: I have no idea which team will win this one. Wei-Yin Chen has been so so and Chris Archer can be great at times. But the O's are at home so I will go with them.
• The Reds over the Pirates: Wandy Rodriguez looks really flat this season and I don't know if he will offer the Pirates anything this year. Homer Bailey is much better than he has pitched thus far.
• The Nationals over the Marlins: Boy has Jordan Zimmermann been disappointing thus far this season. What is up with him? I have to pick him over the Marlins and Brad Hand should only be good for five innings if that.
• The Mariners over the Rangers: I would love for Colby Lewis to have a very good comeback. But am I going to risk a pick that will happen? No. Instead I will go with Roenis Elias to keep the Rangers' bats cold. Robinson Cano will hit his first homer in this series.
• The Cardinals over the Brewers: I am picking way too many visiting teams to win today. I hate that. Among all the great things happening so far for the Brewers, Matt Garza has been the hard luck guy. He has pitched well and has nothing to show for it. Today, Lance Lynn will out pitch him and end the Brewers win streak.
• The Mets over the Diamondbacks: Here I go again with the visiting team. Josh Collmenter has never been reliable as a starter. And Zack Wheeler is going to put it all together one of these days.
• The Angels over the Athletics: The Angels are starting to kill the ball and Hector Santiago is a lot better than he has shown thus far. Jesse Chavez has pitched really well though and has not had any run support.
• The Padres over the Rockies: Jordan Lyles is 2-0. That is surprising. Will he win today? Maybe. But I am going with Eric Stults to pitch better than he has so far this year with a little home cooking.

Yesterday: 11-4, Games of the Day: 6-5, Season: 109-76

MLB Game Picks - Saturday: May 18, 2013

Ten correct picks out of fifteen is nothing to sneeze at. But I still have to laugh at picking the Marlins to win. Heh. What a dope. The logic behind that pick was that the Marlins--as bad as they are--are still going to win 50 games this season. So you have to pick them once in a while. Yesterday was not that day.

A lot of the correct picks were sort of lucky. The Astros coughed up their game to the Pirates with two errors in the ninth and a collision in the outfield that allowed the winning run to score. The Red Sox, Indians and Nationals all won in extra innings. But hey, they all count against you when they go wrong, so I will take them all.

It is time to look at Saturday baseball, which features six day games. There should be something for everybody today. The picks:

• The Cubs over the Mets: Scott Feldman has been grooving and as long as he keeps grooving and not grooving fastballs in the zone, he should win today over Jeremy Hefner, who is not having a good season. David Wright is on fire though, so watch out for him.
• The Indians over the Mariners: The Indians are tied for first place in the AL Central. That seems sort of incredible. But there it is. Zach McAllister has been decent, particularly in his last three or four starts. Joe Saunders for the M's can be great or terrible depending on the day.
• The Yankees over the Blue Jays: This is the Blue Jays' best chance to win a game in this series with David Phelps starting for the Yankees. But the Yankees seem to have the Jays' number thus far this season. If Phelps can keep the big boys in the yard and Brandon Morrow does not pitch well, the Yankees will win.
• The White Sox over the Angels: My gosh, the Angels are in this endless funk. Albert Pujols is batting .242. Josh Hamilton is at .210. They keep insisting that Aybar is a lead-off batter. Ugh. Joe Blanton is 0-7. What are the odds of him winning? Like zero? Hector Santiago with the win.
• The Phillies over the Reds: The Phillies are going to win just enough games this season to force them to keep everybody when what they really need is a trade or three to rebuild. Kyle Kendrick is a pitcher I always mock, but he always wins. So what does that tell me? The Reds are confusing and Bronson Arroyo is at the head of that class.
• The Bay Rays over the Orioles: Jair Jurrjens makes his first start for the Orioles. Those situations always scare me. I picked against Ramon Hernandez (I miss Fausto) last time and he was quite good. So I will go with the Rays with Longoria in the middle of it.
• The Diamondbacks over the Marlins: Man, D-back fans are totally surrealistic sometimes. Pick against their team and they take it totally personal. I am just picking games over here. One called me ignorant yesterday. Sheesh. Okay, okay, I will never pick against your team again. Brandon McCarthy over a kid named Tom Koehler.
• The Twins over the Red Sox: I think I am zero for Scott Diamond this season. Pick against him and he throws a gem. Pick with him and he gets knocked out early. He has a chance if he pitches well today since Ryan Dempster is going for the Red Sox.
• The Braves over the Dodgers: Los Angeles is not having much baseball fun this season is it. Between the Angels and the Dodgers, which is more disappointing? Today will not be any better as the Dodgers run Chris Capuano out there and the Braves have enough power to make that hurt. The only problem with this pick is Kris Medlen, who has not pitched well for the Braves.
• The Cardinals over the Brewers: This pick sounds easy. Lance Lynn has been unbelievable. The Cardinals' offense has been on fire. Matt Holliday is quietly having a great season. It should be an easy pick. Nothing is ever easy with the Cardinals. I would suggest they walk Aramis Ramirez today. That guy loves him some Cardinals. Marco Estrada goes for the Brewers.
• The Rangers over the Tigers: This is a really good series and they have split their first two games. The Rangers have to be the pick at home, though Justin Grimm is no lock by any means. Anibal Sanchez is capable of a shut down game anytime he takes the mound. Rangers at home.
• The Giants over the Rockies: Tim Lincecum at Coors Field does not sound fun. But then again, neither does Tyler Chatwood. This game will be like 10-8 with the Giants coming out on top.
• The Nationals over the Padres: My man! Jordan Zimmermann! Got to go with him and ride him like the horse he is. Eric Stults is totally baffling to me and I do not think I have picked one of his starts correctly.
• The Royals over the Athletics: The Coliseum should keep Ervin Santana's gopher balls in the park and when he is not giving them up, he is okay. Tommy Milone can be tough at home. This game will be low scoring like last night's. Either team can win, to be honest with you.

And the Game of the Day!

• The Pirates over the Astros: Wow, was last night the ultimate disaster for the Astros? What a way to lose a ballgame. A.J. Burnett will get a win and Erik Bedard will not remind anyone of the stuff he used to have.

Yesterday: 10-5

Week: 47-33

Month: 132-93

Season: 361-257  First time over the 100+ mark.

Games of the Day: 33-13

MLB Game Picks - Monday: May 13, 2013

Picking baseball games is a humbling thing. I was celebrating two mornings ago to one of the best days of picking ever. And since then, the picks have gone 13-17. That's the way it goes it seems. You cannot predict that Scott Feldman would throw a gem and that the Nationals bullpen would blow the game at the same time. You cannot predict that Ryan Dempster would yield three homers and his bullpen two more. You cannot predict that Bronson Arroyo would not allow any homers in a game. It is just baseball and that is the beauty of it all.

There are eleven games on the schedule due to a make-up double-header between the Yankees and the Indians. And it is an old fashioned double-header with one game right after the other. That is kind of cool--totally difficult to predict. But cool.

Monday's picks:

• The Indians over the Yankees: The first game of the double-header seems to give the Indians a slight advantage with Justin Masterson pitching at home against David Phelps. Phelps is pretty decent, but the Indians are hitting well these days and just had a big series against the Tigers.
• The Yankees over the Indians: The truth is that anything can happen in these two games. Either team could sweep depending on the bullpens, the line-ups and how well young starters do in a special chance to shine. The latter is the case as Vidal Nuno gets his first start for the Yankees and Trevor Bauer goes for the Indians. This Yankees lineup is not the same patient lineup as the regulars who are all on the DL. Bauer's biggest problem is control. Can this Yankees' makeshift lineup be patient enough to wait Bauer out? How well will Nuno do? Who knows.
• The Pirates over the Brewers: A.J. Burnett is pitching really, really well. But he gets no support from the Pirates when he pitches. Marco Estrada is a serviceable pitcher, just nothing spectacular. The Pirates' lineup has to help AJ out.
• The Tigers over the Astros: It seems the Astros always play the best teams in the American League. That is kind of unfair with their young and inexperienced roster. Bud Norris, if he is on, gives the Astros a fighting chance. But Anibal Sanchez should get the win.
• The Cubs over the Rockies: The Rockies have really hit the skids lately. The Cubs are playing decent ball. Travis Wood over Juan Nicasio.
• The White Sox over the Twins: Hector Santiago is quietly putting together a good start to his season. His K/BB ratio is over three and he is striking out nearly a batter an inning. Pedro Hernandez is your typical Twins' pitcher who will need the BABIP gods to win.
• The Diamondbacks over the Braves: The Braves are such an all or nothing club. They will either club you to death or strike out a dozen times. The pitching is what saved them last year and does not appear to be as strong this year. Mike Minor will try to reverse that. But I think he will be out-pitched by Wade Miley.
• The Angels over the Royals: Joe Blanton is 0-6. Something has to give there. The Angels were one-hit yesterday by Chris Sale and will be frothing to hit Luis Mendoza. These are two very unpredictable teams.
• The Athletics over the Rangers: The A's have fallen on hard times and are now below .500. A.J. Griffin makes the Yankees look silly but has been ordinary every other time out. Justin Grimm is still feeling his way. The Rangers have opened such a large lead in the division that the A's have to sweep to stay in the same zip code.
• The Nationals over the Dodgers: The Dodgers had a good weekend at the Marlins' expense. The Nats continue to disappoint. But Jordan Zimmermann has not disappointed anyone. He is the man. Josh Beckett used to be the man. "Used to be," the key words.

And the Game of the Day!

• The Cardinals over the Mets: I would really be surprised if this game did not go to the Cardinals. Lance Lynn has been blowing people away and Jeremy Hefner is just barely holding on in the majors. Allen Craig is heating up. I said I would never pick the Cards again for the Game of the Day. Ugh.

Yesterday: 6-9

Week: 6-9

Month: 91-69

Season: 320-233

Games of the Day: 29-12