4-13 Predictions

My back is against the wall after another losing day put me just one game over .500. I need to respond with a solid day here as all 30 teams are in action.

Away	Home	Time (ET)	Away Probable	Home Probable
Angels	Yankees	1:05pm	Santana (0-1)	Kuroda (0-1)
Rays	Red Sox	2:05pm	Price (1-0)	Beckett (0-1)
Tigers	White Sox	2:10pm	Scherzer (0-0)	Peavy (0-0)
Cubs	Cardinals	3:15pm	Samardzija (1-0)	Wainwright (0-1)
Indians	Royals	4:10pm	Lowe (1-0)	Hochevar (1-0)
Pirates	Giants	4:35pm	McDonald (0-0)	Cain (0-0)
Reds	Nationals	7:05pm	Arroyo (0-0)	Zimmermann (0-1)
Mets	Phillies	7:05pm	Dickey (1-0)	Lee (0-0)
Orioles	Blue Jays	7:07pm	Hunter (1-0)	Morrow (0-0)
Astros	Marlins	7:10pm	Harrell (1-0)	Nolasco (1-0)
Brewers	Braves	7:35pm	Wolf (0-1)	Jurrjens (0-1)
Rangers	Twins	8:10pm	Harrison (1-0)	Swarzak (0-1)
D-backs	Rockies	8:40pm	Hudson (1-0)	Nicasio (0-0)
Athletics	Mariners	10:10pm	Colon (1-1)	Hernandez (1-0)
Padres	Dodgers	10:10pm	Richard (1-0)	Harang (0-1)

Angels (Santana) vs Yankees (Kuroda)

The Angels have slogged their way through the first two series against the Royals and Twins, going 2-4 in that stretch.  Now they are playing a good team in the Yankees, who have Hiroki Kuroda making his home debut.  The 3 big sluggers on these 2 teams are off to slow starts, as Teixera, Rodriguez, and Pujols haven't hit a home run and have 3 RBI's between them.  I look for the Yankees to get an emotional lift in the home opener and win this game today.

Pick: Yankees

Rays (Price) vs Red Sox (Beckett)

Things just don't get any easier for the Red Sox who now have to face the team that stole the wild card spot from them a year ago.  David Price against Josh Beckett has all the makings of a pitchers duel and I don't think a lot of runs will be scored in this one.  I do think that Tampa Bay is playing good baseball and will score more runs and win this game.

Pick: Rays

Tigers (Scherzer) vs White Sox (Peavy)

The White Sox are playing for the first at home today, a game they haven't lost since 2007.  The Tigers are looking very good in the early going so one of those trends is going to stop.  Jake Peavy is on the mound for the White Sox and he is looking to build on a solid first start.  Max Scherzer is opposing Peavy and he is looking to forger his.  I like the White Sox and Peavy to continue the home opener streak and win this game.

Pick: White Sox

Cubs (Samardzjia) vs Cardinals (Wainwright)

Adam Wainwright gets the ball for the Cardinals in the hope opener for the World Series Champions.  Everyone knows that a show unveiling the World Series banner will happen and the Cardinals will be amped up for that.  Add that to the fact that Jeff Samardjzia can't find the plate when he pitches against them, having allowed 20 walks in 22 innings and I like the Cardinals to take the opening game in the series.

Pick: Cardinals

Indians (Lowe) vs Royals (Hochevar)

The Indians offense has struggled in the early going and now they face a team that has the best starting rotation ERA in the major leagues.  The Royals have gotten very good pitching and now turn to ace Luke Hochevar.  Even though the Indians signed free agent Johnny Damon to help the offense, I still predict that Hochevar and the Royals come out on top.

Pick: Royals

Pirates (McDonald) vs Giants (Cain)

The Pirates have scored 2 runs or less in all but 1 game so far this season and now have to deal with the richest right handed in baseball history in Matt Cain.  The Giants come home after winning 2 low scoring affairs against the Rockies and getting blasted 17-8 in the other game of the series.  I think Matt Cain and the Giants continue to frustrate Pirates hitters and win this game.

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

Reds (Arroyo) vs Nationals (Zimmerman)

The Washington Nationals are 5-2 and off to the best start since they moved from Montreal.  They have done this despite not having Michael Morse to start the season and Ryan Zimmerman struggling to find his stroke at the plate.  The reason behind the hot start is starting pitching and it will continue today as Zimmerman will shut down the the Reds.

Pick: Nationals

Mets (Dickey) vs Phillies (Lee)

Cliff Lee gets the nod for the Phillies as he looks to continue his success against the Mets at Citizen Bank Ballpark.  He is 3-0 in his career against the Mets with an absurd ERA of .43.  He has only allowed 1 run in 21 innings and with the way the Phillies offense is going right now he can't allow much more than 1 if he wants to win.  Fortunately for the Phillies he is up to the challenge and will get the win.

Pick: Phillies

Orioles (Hunter) vs Blue Jays (Morrow)

After winning the first 3 games of the season the Orioles thought they might have something special.  And they do when they are playing the Twins but against the rest of the American League they will struggle to win games.  That includes Toronto, who haven't lost a series at home to the Orioles since 2008.  They will take a step in keeping that streak alive today as Brandon Morrow will get the win.

Pick: Blue Jays

Astrost (Harrell) vs Marlins (Nolasco)

Miami is coming home for the first series in the new ballpark and it will come just in time.  This team is struggling out of the gate and a series against the Astros might be just what the doctor ordered.  The Marlins have won 14 out of the last 16 games against the Astros at home and that streak will continue today as Nolasco and the Marlins win.

Pick: Marlins

Brewers (Wolf) vs Braves (Jurrjens)

Chipper Jones knows that this will be the last time he will play in a home opener for the Atlanta Braves.  The 40 year old future hall of famer has decided to call it a career after this season.  I think that since this will be an emotional day for the Braves and Randy Wolf is clearly a step back from the first 3 in the rotation for the Brewers, the Braves will come out and win this day for Chipper.

Pick: Braves

Rangers (Harrison) vs Twins (Swarzak)

Minnesota's new stadium has been anything but fun for the Rangers, who are 1-9 at Target Field since it opened 2 years ago.  Even though the Twins are clearly behind the Rangers in terms of talent I think the stadium will have a say in the outcome of this game.  While I don't think the Twins will sweep this series I can see them winning one or even two games.  I think that they get win #1 today and Texas continues to struggle at Target Field.

Pick: Twins

Diamondbacks (Hudson) vs Rockies (Nicasio)

Minus the one game where they scored 17 runs against the Giants on Wednesday the Colorado Rockies have struggled to score runs.  Now they have to deal with the stellar starting pitching of the Arizona Diamondbacks so it doesn't get any easier.  I think Hudson and the Diamondbacks continue to carve up the Rockies and win this game.

Pick: Diamondbacks


Athletics (Colon) vs Mariners (Hernandez)

Felix Hernandez is making his third start against the Athletics already in 2012.  The Mariners won both of the other games he started and I think the Mariners will win his third start as well.  Even though Felix has seen a decrease in his velocity he still is a pitching well and with it being the home opener in Seattle will continue to win.

Pick: Mariners


Padres (Richard) vs Dodgers (Harang)

The Dodgers won 3 out of 4 games against the Padres last week, but the one win was when Clayton Richard beat Aaron Harang.  They meet again as the Dodgers look to continue the best start they have had since 1981.  Richard is 5-1 against the Dodgers and I think he continues to pitch well and I think the Padres will win this game.

Pick: Padres