5-19 Predictions

We had a great day yesterday!   Let's get to the predictions for today and keep the momentum going!

Away	Home	Time (ET)	Away Probable	Home Probable
Reds	Yankees	1:05pm	Bailey (1-3)	Nova (4-1)
Mets	Blue Jays	1:07pm	Batista (1-1)	Morrow (4-2)
Marlins	Indians	4:05pm	Sanchez (2-1)	Gomez (2-2)
Athletics	Giants	4:05pm	Ross (2-3)	Vogelsong (1-2)
Pirates	Tigers	4:05pm	Burnett (1-2)	Smyly (1-0)
Braves	Rays	4:10pm	Delgado (2-3)	Cobb (0-0)
Twins	Brewers	4:10pm	Pavano (2-3)	Gallardo (2-4)
Mariners	Rockies	4:10pm	Vargas (4-3)	Friedrich (1-0)
D-backs	Royals	7:15pm	Kennedy (3-3)	Chen (2-4)
Orioles	Nationals	7:15pm	Hammel (4-1)	Detwiler (3-2)
Red Sox	Phillies	7:15pm	Lester (2-3)	Blanton (4-3)
White Sox	Cubs	7:15pm	Danks (2-4)	Dempster (0-1)
Rangers	Astros	7:15pm	Holland (3-2)	Harrell (2-3)
Angels	Padres	10:05pm	Haren (1-4)	Stults (0-0)
Cardinals	Dodgers	10:10pm	Westbrook (4-2)	Kershaw (3-1)

Reds (Bailey) vs Yankees (Nova)

The New York Yankees are sending out Ivan Nova to the mound and that means they will score a lot of runs.  They get to hit against a pitcher named Homer.  Doing the math here I think that means the Yankees will win this game pretty handily.  The amount of run support that Ivan Nova has gotten has been absurd and I think that will continue today.

Pick: Yankees

Mets (Batista) vs Blue Jays (Morrow)

Brandon Morrow against Miguel Batista?  Two former Mariners are going at it today and one is a young up and comer while the other is Miguel Batista.  The Blue Jays pounded the Mets yesterday and I think that they will win again today.  I can't see Miguel Batista having back to back quality starts so I am going to go with Toronto once again.

Pick: Blue Jays

Marlins (Sanchez) vs Indians (Gomez)

Anibal Sanchez is pitching very well this year but the Marlins have not scored very many runs for him.  They have scored only 12 runs in his last 5 starts.  The Marlins will score enough runs to win this game for Sanchez and they will continue their dominance of the Indians.  Miami has gone 7-3 since the Marlins won the 1997 World Series against the Indians.

Pick: Marlins

Athletics (Ross) vs Giants (Vogelsong)

Ryan Vogelsong has pitched outstanding in May and he is going against Tyson Ross and the Oakland Athletics today.  The Giants have won 10 straight home games against Oakland and look to make it 11 today.  I predict that they will get to win #11 as they will get the win today. 

Pick: Giants

Pirates (Burnett) vs Tigers (Smyly)

A.J Burnett has notoriously struggled in his career against the Tigers in his career and now faces them for the first time as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates.  Burnett also isn't doing very well this year and Drew Smyly is pitching well for Detroit.  The Tigers will continue their dominance of Burnett and the Pirates and will get the win today.

Pick: Tigers

Braves (Delgado) vs Rays (Cobb)

Alex Cobb is making his first start of the 2012 season and he won't be facing Chipper Jones.  Chipper got hit by a line drive yesterday and has a bruise on his leg and will be sitting out the next couple days.  Cobb against Delgado will be a good matchup between 2 young pitchers and I like the Braves and Delgado to come out on top.

Pick: Braves

Twins (Pavano) vs Brewers (Gallardo)

Yovani Gallardo has not pitched this well but has pitched fantastic against the Minnesota Twins in his career.   Pavano has struggled in his last 2 outings and against the Milwaukee Brewers in his career.  The Milwaukee Brewers will get the win here and snap the Twins 3-game winning streak.  In fact this is my lock of the day for today.

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

Mariners (Vargas) vs Rockies (Friedrich)

After Kevin Millwood's surprising performance yesterday, the Jason Vargas and the Seattle Mariners look to keep the momentum going against the Colorado Rockies in the middle game of the series today.  I don't think Vargas will throw a 2-hitter but I do  like the Mariners to keep their interleague success going against Colorado and win again today.

Pick: Mariners

Diamondbacks (Kennedy) vs Royals (Chen)

Ian Kennedy has had a lot of success on the road this year and now gets to face the Kansas City Royals.  He is being opposed by Bruce Chen who has won his last 2 starts.  He will not make it a third.  The Arizona Diamondbacks will win this game today and the Royals will continue to struggle at home.

Pick: Diamondbacks

Orioles (Hammel) vs Nationals (Detwiler)

This game was very entertaining yesterday and it almost seemed like a playoff game.  Good pitching and good defense were the name of the game yesterday and now both teams are sending quality pitchers to the mound again today.  I predict another low scoring game between these 2 teams but I think the other teams is going to win today as the Nationals will take it.  

Pick: Nationals

Red Sox (Lester) vs Phillies (Blanton)

In his last start Jon Lester threw a complete game and looked like the pitcher the Red Sox have been hoping for all year long.  He has had a lot of success against the Phillies in his young career and will do so again today.  Even though Blanton has been pitching well I still think that Lester and the Red Sox will get the job done today.

Pick: Red Sox

White Sox (Danks) vs Cubs (Dempster)

Can the Cubs score a couple of runs for Ryan Dempster please?  Dempster is 0-1 this year but has a 1.74 ERA and he just needs some help from his offense.  He will get his help today as the Cubs will get their offense going against John Danks.  Danks gets a lot of offenses going because he isn't very good, and today will be no different.

Pick: Cubs

Rangers (Holland) vs Astros (Harrell)

I am going to pick the Rangers every time in this series until the Astros make me pay for it. 

Pick: Rangers

Angels (Haren) vs Padres (Stults)

Any other year this would be a slam dunk pick for Haren and the Angels.  With the way Haren is pitching right now it makes me pause for just a second and think that the Padres could win.  Then I realize that the San Diego Padres offense is awful and Dan Haren still is a very talented individual who will get the win today.

Pick: Angels

Cardinals (Westbrook) vs Dodgers (Kershaw)

Clayton Kershaw is going for the Dodgers and he has pitched like the Cy Young winner he is.  This is going to be a low scoring game between the 2 division leaders and I do like Jake Westbrook on most nights.  Just not against Clayton Kershaw.  I am going to predict that Kershaw will outpitch Westbrook and the Dodgers will get the win.

Pick: Dodgers