Saturday, April 21, 2012

4-21 Predictions

With the game yesterday between the Tigers and the Rangers postponed due to rain we have our first doubleheader of the season today and thus have 16 games to predict.  Lets get started!


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Reds (Leake) vs Cubs (Maholm)

Both of these pitchers have struggled out of the gate so far in 2012, especially Maholm.  I never have had that much faith in Maholm. probably because he was pitching for the Pirates before this year, and he hasn't shown me anything this year to show me otherwise.  Mike Leake is a better pitcher and the Reds have a better offense.  Reds win.

Pick: Reds

Marlins (Sanchez) vs Nationals (Strasburg)

The Washington Nationals general manager says that Strasburg is on a strict innings limit and even if they are in the playoff hunt he will be shut down once he reaches his threshold.  He says that now but if the Nationals keep playing like they are right now they are goingto need him for the playoffs and I don't think anyone believes that Strasburg would be shut down come October.  He gets the win today and keeps right on going.

Pick: Nationals

Rangers (Harrison) vs Tigers (Porcello)          Game 1

This is the makeup game from yesterday.  I picked the Tigers in this game yesterday and my reasons haven't changed for picking them today.  if you want to know wy scroll down and you can see it.

Pick: Tigers

Giants (Vogelsong) vs Mets (Pelfrey)

The New York Mets.  I just do not know what to do with you guys.  I might as well flip a coin and I think I will have better luck picking this team.  The Giants are playing good baseball right now, having won 6 out of 8 games, while the Mets are backsliding.  I am picking the Giants in this one so that means everyone in Vegas go bet the farm on the Mets to win.

Pick: Giants

White Sox (Humber) vs Mariners (Beavan)

The White Sox have now won 17 of their last 20 games against the Seattle Mariners and 6 in a row at Safeco Field.  They look to continue their dominance over the Mariners but might have a tough time doing it.  Blake Beavan has pitched very well in his first 2 starts of 2012, and he looks to stop the bleeding for Seattle against the Sox.  He will continue to pitch well and the Mariners will get the win.

Pick: Mariners

Yankees (Garcia) vs Red Sox (Doubront)

After hitting 5 home runs yesterday the Yankees now face a pitcher who has never started against them.  Meanwhile they are throwing Freddie Garcia, who has been terrible with his control so far this year.  I picked against Garcia when he was pitching against the lowly Twins so I am definitely going to pick against him when he pitches against a much better offense in the Red Sox.  Boston wins.

Pick: Red Sox

Dodgers (Kershaw) vs Astros (Weiland)

Clayton Kershaw against the Astros?  Looks like lock of the day material to me.

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

Cardinals (Westbrook) vs Pirates (Correia)

The Pittsburgh Pirates haven't been able to score any runs at all so far this year.  In 13 games they have only scored 27 runs.  Now they are facing Jake Westbrook, who has an ERA under 1 so far this year.  So why am I picking the Pirates to win?  Because Westbrook is winless against the Pirates in his career and because Kevin Correia is an underrated pitcher.  I think it will be a low scoring game but the Pirates will win

Pick: Pirates

Rangers (Feliz) vs Tigers (Verlander)          Game 2

What a pitching matchup this should be.  You have the reigning MVP in Justin Verlander going against a filthy young gun in Neftali Feliz.  I am picking Verlander to win this game in a highly entertaining night cap.  I know that I am picking the Rangers to get swept and thus doubling their loss total for the year, but I think it is going to happen.

Pick: Tigers

Rockies (Pomeranz) vs Brewers (Estrada)

With Chris Narveson injured the Brewers are turning to Marco Estrada to try and right the ship.  The Rockies are countering with Drew Pomeranz, and I think everyone who reads this blog regularly knows how I feel about this kid.  He had a rocky first outing in 2012 but he will bounce back today and the Rockies will win.

Pick: Rockies

Twins (Pavano) vs Rays (Shields)

James Shields looked dominant in his last start, a 1-0 win in Boston in which he went 8 1/3 innings and had everything working.  Carl Pavano also was good in his last start as he fought the demons he has with Yankee Stadium to beat New York for his first win of the year.  Now that they are facing each other I like Shields and the Rays to beat the Twins today.  

Pick: Rays

Blue Jays (Hutchison) vs Royals (Mendoza)

21 year old Drew Hutchison is making his major league debut today and this is a perfect team for him to do it against.  The Kansas City Royals have been really bad to start the year, currently on an 8 game losing streak and they are 0-7 at home.  I predict that they will get that elusive first win in Kansas City tonight as they beat Hutchison and the Blue Jays.

Pick: Royals

Braves (Hanson) vs Diamondbacks (Saunders)

The Braves have won 9 of 10 since starting 0-4 and now face Arizona righty Joe Saunders.  Saunders has an ERA under 1 this year and an ERA under 1 in his career against the Braves. I predict both of those streaks continue as Saunders shuts down the Braves and gets the Diamondbacks back over .500 for the year.

Pick: Diamondbacks

Phillies (Halladay) vs Padres (Leubke)

I think Cory Leubke is an outstanding pitcher but he faces one of the best in the game in Roy Halladay today.  When you combine Halladay with the fact that the Phillies have won 13 straight games in San Diego you get a recipe that equals a Phillies win.

Pick: Phillies

Orioles (Arrieta) vs Angels (Weaver)

Now that is the Angels team everyone has been waiting for!  Even though Albert Pujols still hasn't hit a home run the Angels got enough offense and good starting pitching to win.  Now they hand the ball to Jerad Weaver as they try to win back to back games for the first time in 2012.  They will end that drought today.  

Pick: Angels

Indians (Gomez) vs Athletics (McCarthy)

Brandon McCarthy has pitched well enough for the Athletics to get a win but he has nothing to show for it as Oakland can't score any runs when he is on the mound.  Now they have to try and stop a surging Cleveland team that is 6-1 on the road so far this year.  Granted those wins have come against the Royals and Mariners but 6-1 is still 6-1.  I think they will fall to 6-2 today as Brandon McCarthy will finally get his first win of 2012.

Pick: Athletics



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