4-12 Predictions

After a having a full slate of games yesterday we go down to 9 today as most of the American League has today off.  Going to do better today.  Just got to keep telling myself that.  Going to do better today.

Away	Home	Time (ET)	Away Probable	Home Probable
Reds	Nationals	1:05pm	Latos (0-1)	Gonzalez (0-0)
Rays	Tigers	1:05pm	Niemann (0-0)	Smyly (0-0)
Angels	Twins	1:10pm	Haren (0-1)	Liriano (0-1)
Mariners	Rangers	2:05pm	Vargas (1-0)	Holland (0-0)
Brewers	Cubs	2:20pm	Greinke (1-0)	Garza (0-0)
Giants	Rockies	3:10pm	Bumgarner (0-1)	Moyer (0-1)
Marlins	Phillies	7:05pm	Buehrle (0-1)	Blanton (0-1)
D-backs	Padres	10:05pm	Kennedy (1-0)	Bass (0-1)
Pirates	Dodgers	10:10pm	Karstens (0-0)	Capuano (0-0)

Reds (Latos) vs Nationals (Gonzalez)

Both starting pitchers in this game were part of big trades that makes these 2 teams think they were contenders.    Latos struggled in his first start but that was in Cincinnati where the ball tends to fly.  Gio Gonzalez makes his home debut for the Nationals, who have not won an opener at home in 2007.  I think Latos gets his first win in a Reds uniform and the Nationals continue that streak.

Pick: Reds

Rays (Niemann) vs Tigers (Smyly)

With Doug Fister landing on the disabled list rookie Drew Smyly is making his Major League debut.  Smyly is a highly touted left handed prospect who is being thrust into duty with Fister injuring his side.  Jeff Niemann is making his first of the season for the Rays, who handed the Tigers their first loss of the season.  I think they hand them #2.

Pick: Rays

Angels (Haren) vs Twins (Liriano)

Both of these pitchers are talented and both of them got off to inconsistent starts in 2012.  I think that Haren's start was a little bit of a fluke but I am worried about Liriano.  I think he is too tumultuous of a pitcher and he has more bad days than good.  I think that today is another one of those bad days as the Angels take the game and the series.

Pick: Angels

Mariners (Vargas) vs Rangers (Holland)

The Mariners finally killed the demon last night by scoring 1 in the 8th and 3 in the 9th to steal a game from the Rangers.   Now they send Vargas to the mound trying to get a split of the series which would be huge for this young team.  Derek Holland is throwing for the Rangers and he has had a lot of success against the Mariners, going 5-1 against them in his career.  I think Holland and the Rangers take this game and the series.

Pick: Rangers

Brewers (Greinke) vs Cubs (Garza)

This is good pitching matchup between N.L Central rivals but with the way Greinke is throwing right now I won't pick against him.  The list of pitchers I won't pick against unless they are facing each other is Kershaw, Halladay, Felix, and Greinke.  I consider him to be an elite pitcher and unless he proves me wrong I will continue to ride the wave.

Pick: Brewers. This is my lock of the day.

Giants (Bumgarner) vs Rockies (Moyer)

Now that is the Coors Field I am used too.  The Rockies looked like the Broncos in scoring 17 runs last night, lighting up Tim Lincecum and the Giants bullpen in the process.  Now the Giants turn to youngster Madison Bumgarner while the Rockies turn to the ageless one. Jamie Moyer once again tries to become the oldest pitcher to win a game in Major League History.  I don't think he gets it today as the Giants bounce back and win.

Pick: Giants

Marlins (Buerhle) vs Phillies (Blanton)

Mark Buerhle is 3-0 in his career against the Philadelphia Phillies, with all of those wins coming as a member of the Chicago White Sox.  He is going to face them a lot more now as amember of the Marlins and it starts today.  I think that Buerhle gets his first win as a member of the Marlins today as Miami beats Philadelphia and Joe Blanton.

Pick: Marlins

Diamondbacks (Kennedy) vs Padres (Bass)

The Diamondbacks suffered loss #1 of the 2012 season last night at the hand of Cory Leubke and the San Diego Padres.  Now they turn to ace Ian Kennedy to get back on track.  Kennedy has been nails against the Padres and their feeble offense and I think he continues to carve them up.

Winner: Diamondbacks

Pirates (Karstens) vs Dodgers (Capuano)

The Pirates have struggled the last 2 nights against Billingsley and Kershaw so seeing Chris Capuano has got to come as a welcome surprise.  The Pirates have the highest batting average against Capuano of any team in the National League and I think that they break out of the doldrums they have been in the last two nights and take one from the Dodgers.

Winner: Pirates