4-10 Predictions

Now that we are over .500 it is time to stay there.  April is a month where we are still getting a feeling for everything, I mean how many people would have guessed the first complete game in the majors would go to Barry Zito.

Away	Home	Time (ET)	Away Probable	Home Probable
Rays	Tigers	1:05pm	Moore (0-0)	Porcello (0-0)
Pirates	Dodgers	4:10pm	Correia (0-0)	Kershaw (0-0)
White Sox	Indians	7:05pm	Humber (0-0)	Gomez (0-0)
Yankees	Orioles	7:05pm	Garcia (0-0)	Chen (0-0)
Red Sox	Blue Jays	7:07pm	Bard (0-0)	Drabek (0-0)
Cardinals	Reds	7:10pm	Lohse (1-0)	Leake (0-0)
Nationals	Mets	7:10pm	Detwiler (0-0)	Gee (0-0)
Braves	Astros	8:05pm	Hanson (0-1)	Weiland (0-0)
Brewers	Cubs	8:05pm	Narveson (0-0)	Maholm (0-0)
Mariners	Rangers	8:05pm	Beavan (0-0)	Feliz (0-0)
D-backs	Padres	10:05pm	Cahill (0-0)	Volquez (0-1)
Royals	Athletics	10:05pm	Duffy (0-0)	Godfrey (0-0)

Rays (Moore) vs Tigers (Porcello)

Both of these teams got off to fast starts, sweeping away the Yankees and Red Sox respectively.  I expect that both teams will be in the hunt for the playoffs and the reason why is because they both have good depth in the pitching department.  Matt Moore might win Rookie of the Year and Rick Porcello has always been a guy the Tigers can rely on.  If these 2 are your #4 starters you are doing something right.  I like Moore a little better today though because I think he has more stuff.

Winner: Rays

Pirates (Correia) vs Dodgers (Kershaw)

Clayton Kershaw had to leave his first start early after having the flu and he only pitched 3 2/3 innings because of it.  It looks like he is healthy now and when he is healthy he is a top 5 pitcher in all of baseball.  I think that Clayton and the Dodgers continue to have a hot start and win today.  In fact this game is the lock of the day.

Winner:  Dodgers. This is the lock of the day

White Sox (Humber) vs Indians (Gomez)

Both of these offenses have gotten off to sluggish starts in 2012 but both have had good starting pitching to open the season.  Jeanmar Gomez beat out Kevin Slowey for the fifth spot in the Indians rotation and he earned that spot with a fantastic spring.  Humber struggled last year against the Indians, going 1-3 with an ERA over 7.  I think Gomez continues to his hot start and Humber continues to struggle.

Winner: Indians

Yankees (Garcia) vs Orioles (Chen)

Since the start of the 2009 season the Yankees are 40-15 against the Orioles including a 6-2 win last night.  Today they turn to Freddie Garcia who only got a spot in the rotation because of the injury to Michael Pineda.  The Orioles are countering with Wei-Yen Chen who is making his major league debut.  I think the Yankees continue to dominate the Orioles and win today.

Winner: Yankees

Red Sox (Bard) vs Blue Jays (Drabek)

After winning last night in dramatic fashion the Red Sox are turning to Daniel Bard today with a chance to win the series.  Bard has been a reliever the last 3 years and his making his first career start in the Major Leagues.  The Blue Jays are having promising young starter Kyle Drabek start today and I think he will out pitch Bard.  A fun little fact about the Red Sox as well is they haven't won back to back games since last August, a span of 34 games.  I think that streak continues today.

Winner:  Blue Jays

Cardinals (Lohse) vs Reds (Leake)

Kyle Lohse is going again for the Cardinals after shutting down the Marlins on the 2nd opening day of the season.  David Freese has been hitting the cover off the ball for the Cardinals and the offense has not been missing Albert Pujols at all.  I think the Cardinals will continue to hit off of Leake and they will take this game and the series.

Winner: Cardinals

Nationials (Detwiler) vs Mets (Gee)

I am quite a quandary here with the Mets.  I know as soon as I jump on the bandwagon and pick them to win a game they will lose, but it also looks like if I pick them to lose every game they will go 162-0.  I said I would pick this game based on matchups and they favor the Mets.  Dillon Gee is 3-0 with an ERA of 3.6 against the Nationals and Ross Detwiler is 0-1 with an 8.31 ERA against the Mets.  Let it be heard that I am finally picking the Mets!

Winner: Mets

Braves (Hanson) vs Astros (Weiland)

The Braves are the other team that I haven't predicted correctly this year.  They are the anti-Mets, going 0-4 while I have predicted them to win every game this year.  While I went against the grain in picking the Mets today I am sticking with my guns and picking the Braves again.  I think Tommy Hanson pitches well and this team finally starts to hit!

Winner: Braves

Brewers (Narveson) vs Cubs (Maholm)

Paul Maholm makes his Chicago Cubs debut and it couldn't be against a worse team for him.  Both Ryan Braun and Corey Hart both hit Maholm well and both are off to good starts this year as well.  Chris Narveson is 6-1 in his career against the Cubs with an ERA under 3.  I think I know who I am going to pick in this one.  

Winner: Brewers

Mariners (Beavan) vs Rangers (Feliz)

Neftali Feliz makes his starting debut for the Rangers after Yu Darvish made his American debut last night.  I  think that Neftali was perfect for the closer role but I just don't see him keeping his velocity in the late innings or having the command to be a consistent starter.  He will be opposed by Blake Beavan who pitched well down the stretch for the Mariners.  This might be a shock but I am going with Seattle today.

Winner: Mariners

Diamondbacks (Cahill) vs Padres (Volquez)

Trevor Cahill is going to be a very good #5 starter for the Diamondbacks, and he will show that today.  It was only 2 years ago that he won 18 games for the Oakland Athletics and while he slipped a little last year he is on a much better team now.  Volquez gets the start for the Padres and he needs to improve on his control as he walked 4 in 5 innings of the opener.  

Winner: Diamondbacks

Royals (Duffy) vs Athletics (Godfrey)

Neither the Royals nor the Athletics offense looked particularly good yesterday but that is usually what happens in a 1-0 game.  Now Kansas City is turning to youngster Danny Duffy while the Athletics are countering with Graham Godfrey.  Half of Duffy's 4 career wins have come against the Athletics and I think he gets #3 today.

Winner: Royals