4-11 Predictions

Need to keep the momentum going! Time for some picks!

Away	Home	Time (ET)	Away Probable	Home Probable
White Sox	Indians	12:05pm	Danks (0-1)	Masterson (0-0)
Cardinals	Reds	12:35pm	Garcia (1-0)	Cueto (1-0)
Red Sox	Blue Jays	12:37pm	Lester (0-0)	Romero (0-0)
Rays	Tigers	1:05pm	Shields (0-0)	Verlander (0-0)
Nationals	Mets	1:10pm	Strasburg (0-0)	Santana (0-0)
Brewers	Cubs	2:20pm	Gallardo (0-1)	Dempster (0-0)
Royals	Athletics	3:35pm	Chen (0-0)	McCarthy (0-1)
D-backs	Padres	6:35pm	Saunders (0-0)	Luebke (0-1)
Marlins	Phillies	7:05pm	Johnson (0-1)	Halladay (1-0)
Yankees	Orioles	7:05pm	Sabathia (0-0)	Arrieta (1-0)
Braves	Astros	8:05pm	Delgado (0-0)	Rodriguez (0-0)
Mariners	Rangers	8:05pm	Millwood (0-0)	Lewis (1-0)
Angels	Twins	8:10pm	Weaver (1-0)	Pavano (0-1)
Giants	Rockies	8:40pm	Lincecum (0-1)	Guthrie (1-0)
Pirates	Dodgers	10:10pm	Bedard (0-1)	Billingsley (1-0)

White Sox (Danks) vs Indians (Masterson)

With the game being called yesterday due to weather both teams can have their opening day starters go on normal rest and skip the #5 starter.  For Chicago that means turning to Danks and for Cleveland that means Masterson.  Last year Masterson had an ERA under 2 against the White Sox and I think he continues his success today.

Pick: Indians

Cardinals (Garcia) vs Reds (Cueto)

The Cardinals are continuing to roll right through the two toughest division opponents they have.  After beting the Brewers in a series last weekend they are now looking to sweep aside the Reds.  The reason behind the hot start has been the torrid pace that Carlos Beltran and David Freese are hitting the ball.  I like the Cardinals to get the win here.

Pick: Cardinals

Red Sox (Lester) vs Blue Jays (Romero)

The Red Sox continue th e trend they have had the last few years of starting seasons very poorly.  Last year they lost the first 8 games of the season and so far this year has not been much better.  Lester takes to the mound after pitching very well opposite Verlander in the opener and I think that today he pitches well enough to get the win.

Pick: Red Sox

Rays (Shields) vs Tigers (Verlander)

I know that Justin Verlander will not go undefeated this year and I know that this game is as good of any as one he will lose.  But I also know that I will not pick against him unless he is going up against one of the elite starters in all of baseball and while James Shields is very good he is not elite.  I think the Tigers win this game and stay undefeated.

Pick: Tigers

Nationals (Strausburg) vs Mets (Santana)

I knew that there would be one team I wouldn't be able to get right for the life of me.  I thought it would be the Marlins but after 5 games it is clearly the New York Mets.  I am going to pick the Nationals here because Strausburg is on the hill and it is too early for him to get injured.  We will see if I can finally pick one right involving this team.

Pick: Nationals

Brewers (Gallardo) vs Cubs (Dempster)

Ryan Dempster is an absolute stud against the Brewers at Wrigley Field, going 7-0 with a 2.42 ERA.  He looks to stay unbeaten against them as the Cubs try to snap out of this 1-4 funk they are in.  The main reason why they are struggling is because the bullpen has not been able to hold a lead, but I think today Dempster gets them the lead and the bullpen holds on.

Pick: Cubs

Royals (Chen) vs Athletics (McCarthy)

The starting rotation for the Kansas City royals has been the best in baseball so far and Bruce Chen looks to keep it going against the Athletics.  Meanwhile Oakland's offense has only scored 3 runs in the 2 starts by Brandon McCarthy so far.  Normally these 2 facts would lead me to pick the royals but I am going to go against the grain and say the Athletics got the win. Also the Cespedes strike out watch continues.

Pick: Athletics

Diamondbacks (Saunders) vs Padres (Luebke)

The Diamondbacks are 4-0 for the first time in franchise history.  They got to lose sometime right?  Meanwhile Cory Luebke looks to bounce back after a disastrous first start against the Dodgers.  I think that Luebke bounces back today and the Padres hand the Diamondbacks their first loss of the season.  The Padres just need to actually score a few runs and they will be ok with this guy on the mound.

Pick: Padres

Marlins (Johnson) vs Phillies (Halladay)

This should be a very good pitching matchup as Josh Johnson and Roy Halladay duel in Philadelphia.  I normally wouldn't pick against Josh Johnson in the month of April but he is going against the best pitcher in the National League.  I think that Halladay helps the Phillies get back on track and he gets the win against Miami in a low scoring affair.

Pick: Phillies

Yankees (Sabathia) vs Orioles (Arrieta)

The Yankees continue the mastery they have over the Orioles in winning in extra innings yesterday.  Now they turn to the big horse C.C Sabathia to win their third in a row against this team.  The Orioles are giving the ball to Jake Arrieta actually pitches well against the Yankees but Sabathia dominates the Orioles and I think that continues.  In fact this is my lock of the day.

Winner: Yankees. This is my lock of the day.

Braves (Delgado) vs Astros (Rodriguez)

Randall Delgado makes his 2012 debut against as the Braves look to win their second in a row against the Astros.  The Astros are countering with ace Wandy Rodriguez, Rodriguez is 3-0 with an ERA under 2 against the Braves at home and the Braves are struggling to hit left handed pitching. i think that continues and for the first time this year I am picking the Braves to lose.

Pick: Astros

Mariners (Millwood) vs Rangers (Lewis)

The Mariners are looking to win a game in a place that has been a house of horrors for them lately.  They turn to Kevin Millwood after Blake Beavan shut down the Rangers last night but they still lost 1-0.  The Rangers will give the ball to Colby Lewis who dominates the Mariners in Arlington.  I don't see that changing as the Rangers win for the third straight game

Pick: Rangers

Angels (Weaver) vs Twins (Pavano)

On paper this is the best team in the American League against the worst team in the American League.  the Twins are off to a horrendous start and it doesn't get any easier going against the ace of the Angels.  The Twins have never started 0-5 before but that will happen today after Weaver gets done with them.  This would be my lock of the day but Sabathia over the Orioles rates a little bit higher on my automatic meter.

Pick: Angels

Giants (Lincecum) vs Rockies (Guthrie)

The Colorado Rockies offense has stumbled out of the gate and now all they have to do is face 2-time Cy Young award winner Tim Lincecum.  Barry Zito stymied the Rockies offense so I shudder at what Lincecum could do to this team.  I think he comes out firing after a lackluster first start against the Diamondbacks and the Giants win.

Pick: Giants

Pirates (Bedard) vs Dodgers (Billingsley)

The Dodgers are looking to start 5-1 for the first time this millennium and they are giving the ball to the right person.  Billingsley was lights out in his first start against the Padres, and he fares even better against the Pirates.  In 3 starts at home against Pittsburgh he is 3-0 with a 2.81 ERA.  I don't think anything different happens today as the Dodgers win.

Pick: Dodgers