1) Seattle Mariners vs Cleveland Indians - Seattle Mariners pick. PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (5-2, 1.53 ERA) vs. Indians RH Justin Masterson (6-2, 3.14)
Runs figure to be at a premium, however, as staff ace Justin Masterson squares off against Seattle’s Felix Hernandez, who leads the American League with a 1.53 ERA. Hernandez is 6-4 with a 2.90 ERA in 13 outings against the Indians and will get the tall task of halting Cleveland’s 16-4 run over its last 20 games after leaving his last start with a sore back. He’ll also try to help the Mariners avoid their first three-game slide since April 19-21. Hernandez, who has allowed one run or less in six consecutive starts, dominated the Yankees for six innings in Tuesday’s 4-3 loss in New York, leaving after his back tightened up. The 2010 American League Cy Young Award winner settled for the no-decision despite yielding one run on five hits while striking out eight. The three-time All-Star is 4-1 with a 1.29 ERA in six road outings this season, but is 3-4 with a 4.02 ERA in eight career starts at Progressive Field.
Masterson has won three straight decisions, shutting down the Yankees the day before Hernandez faced them in a 1-0 victory. The Indians’ ace tossed a four-hitter Monday – his second shutout this season – and struck out nine to improve to 3-1 with a 2.95 ERA at home. The sinkerballer has induced at least 10 groundouts in six of his nine starts and also enjoyed great success against the Mariners in nine appearances (six starts), going 3-0 with a 3.67 ERA. Mariners have the edge in pitching with the Indians having a slight edge in hitting with relief swinging towards the Mariners. – Mariners but not dominant
2) Jays vs Yanks - Yanks underdog pick. PPD PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH R.A. Dickey (3-5, 4.83 ERA) vs. Yankees LH CC Sabathia (4-3, 3.19)
Dickey is over his earlier neck and back soreness, and his recent performances suggest he may be turning the corner after a dreadful start to the campaign. The National League Cy Young Award winner is coming off back-to-back quality starts against Tampa Bay and San Francisco, highlighted by a season-high 10-strikeout effort in his win over the Giants five days ago. Dickey is 3-2 with a 3.25 ERA in 44 1/3 career innings against the Yankees, including a loss earlier this season.
Sabathia’s path to his 200th career victory has veered off course this month. The 32-year-old has a loss and two no-decisions in May, though he deserved a better fate in each start. He’s coming off a 6 1/3-inning stint against Seattle in which he allowed two earned runs while striking out a season-high 10, but wasn’t around for the Yankees’ come-from-behind 4-3 victory. Sabathia, still stuck on 195 wins, is 14-4 with a 3.00 ERA in 19 career starts against the Blue Jays.- Yanks for pitching and relief and hitting for the Jays – Yanks by
3) Rays vs Orioles – Rays pick. PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH Matt Moore (7-0, 2.44 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Chris Tillman (3-1, 3.40)
Moore has been mediocre in his last three starts, allowing nine runs in 16 innings, but he has not stopped winning. The 23-year-old was dominant his first five outings, giving up four runs over 32 frames. Moore beat Baltimore on April 17, yielding two runs over 6 2/3 innings, and is 3-2 with a 2.60 ERA in six appearances (five starts) against the Orioles. Matt Wieters is 6-for-11 with two homers against Moore.
Tillman lost his only game against Moore and the Rays, surrendering four runs on six hits in five innings. Since then, the 25-year-old has allowed two runs or fewer in four of five starts and is 3-0. Tillman has struck out 37 and walked 20 while giving up six homers in 47 2/3 frames. The right-hander is 1-4 in eight starts against Tampa Bay with a 5.06 ERA. Evan Longoria is 7-for-15 with three blasts against Tillman. Pitching edge to Rays, hitting Rays and relief swinging to Rays – Rays
4) Arizona Diamondbacks vs Miami Marlins - Arizona Diamondbacks – pick. PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Wade Miley (3-2, 3.75 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Ricky Nolasco (2-5, 4.39)
Miley allowed seven runs – the second-highest total in his career – and two homers over five innings in Arizona’s 10-1 loss to Atlanta on Monday. The 26-year-old has issued 19 walks in 48 innings after yielding 37 over 194 2/3 frames in 2012. Miley recorded four straight quality starts to begin the season before walking seven in 4 1/3 scoreless innings against Colorado. Miley never has pitched against Miami, but the Marlins players he has faced are 1-for-24 against him.
Nolasco has excellent control with 13 walks in 53 1/3 innings, but two of those helped ruin his last start. He walked consecutive batters with the bases loaded before yielding a three-run double to the next hitter in Miami’s 6-2 loss to Cincinnati on Tuesday. The 30-year-old allowed one run and four hits in his previous start, but the offense fired blanks in a 1-0 loss at San Diego on May 8. Nolasco is 5-2 with a 4.62 ERA in eight career starts against Arizona. Martin Prado is 14-for-40 versus Nolasco. Dbacks for pitching but close, Dbacks for hitting and relief small edge for Marlins - D back close
5) Dodgers vs Braves – Dodgers pick. PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Matt Magill (0-0, 6.92 ERA) vs. Braves LH Mike Minor (5-2, 2.75)
Magill is still in search of his first win as he makes his fourth major-league start. He posted a quality start in his major-league debut against Milwaukee before a disastrous outing May 4 at San Francisco. He was somewhere in the middle his last time out, allowing three runs over five innings against Miami. His control has been an issue, as he has walked 10 and hit a batter in 13 innings.
Minor has won two straight starts and recorded three consecutive quality starts since his lone poor outing of the season April 28 at Detroit. He worked out of trouble last time out at Arizona, allowing one run on eight hits over 6 2/3 innings. Minor has suffered from tough luck against the Dodgers, going 0-1 despite a 2.37 ERA in three outings – all quality starts. Looks like the Braves have it for everything but hitting close… solid
6) Cincinnati Reds vs Philadelphia Phillies - Cincinnati Reds – pick. PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Homer Bailey (2-3, 3.51 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Jonathan Pettibone (3-0, 3.41)
Bailey turned in his best start of the season in Tuesday’s 6-2 victory over Miami, tossing a complete game and matching a career high with 10 strikeouts. The right-hander held the Marlins to two runs on six hits, collecting his first win since his season debut April 5. Bailey was dominant in his first start against the Phillies on April 16 but settled for a no-decision, striking out 10 over eight frames in a 1-0 win. However, he is 0-3 with a 4.24 ERA in seven all-time starts against Philadelphia.
Pettibone remained undefeated over his first five major-league starts while filling in for the injured John Lannan, getting a win for the third time in four outings during Tuesday’s 6-2 victory over Cleveland. The 2008 third-round selection gave up two runs on four hits over 6 2/3 innings – the longest outing of his career – and has yet to surrender more than three runs in a start. Pettibone, who will see the Reds for the first time, is 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA at Citizens Bank Park. Pitching looks like the edge goes to the Phillies, hitting and relief swinging towards the Reds – Reds
7) Houston Astros vs Pittsburgh Pirates - Pittsburgh Pirates – pick. PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Lucas Harrell (3-4, 5.11 ERA) vs. Pirates LH Jeff Locke (3-1, 3.15)
Harrell finished April with a solid run, going 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA in his final three starts of the month. May has been a different story for the 27-year-old. After getting knocked around to the tune of five runs in five innings at Detroit on Tuesday, he was 0-2 with an 8.79 ERA in three outings this month. Included in that stretch is an unsightly five strikeouts against 13 walks in 14 1/3 innings. Harrell is 1-0 with a 5.91 ERA in two career starts against Pittsburgh.
Locke is winless in his last three starts, but not necessarily by his own doing. He has allowed seven earned runs and 13 hits in those outings and was solid in what resulted in a 4-3 victory over Milwaukee on Tuesday. In six frames against the Brewers, the left-hander gave up three runs and struck out six while posting his fourth quality start in the last five overall. Locke lost to Houston twice last September, giving up eight runs over 10 innings. Pirates all the way pitching could get dicey as hitting is launching for the Astros and relief should compensate for the Pirates – Pirates
8) Milwaukee Brewers vs St.Louis Cardinals - St.Louis Cardinals pick. PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Kyle Lohse (1-4, 3.49 ERA) vs. Cardinals LH John Gast (1-0, 6.00)
Lohse has lost three straight decisions and the Brewers have dropped the last four games he has started. He didn’t factor in the decision last time out but couldn’t get out of the sixth, allowing two runs on five hits over 5 2/3 innings with a season-high five walks.
Gast picked up the win in his major-league debut Tuesday, allowing four runs over six innings but getting plenty of support in a 10-4 victory over the New York Mets. The 24-year-old lefty held the Mets scoreless for five innings before they got to him in the sixth. Pitching and relief close but hitting for the Cardinals – Cardinals by a bit
9) NY Mets vs Chicago Cubs - Cubs - favourite pick. PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Dillon Gee (2-5, 6.13 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Travis Wood (4-2, 2.03)
Gee has been impressively inconsistent in the early going, with three starts in which he has allowed one or no runs and five in which he has surrendered at least four. One of the bad ones came last time out, when the 27-year-old was reached for six runs (five earned) and nine hits in four innings to suffer a loss at St. Louis. Gee has made three career starts against Chicago and owns a 2-1 record with a 4.26 ERA. Rizzo is 3-for-6 against Gee.
Wood has yet to allow more than three runs in a start and is coming off a win over Colorado in which he yielded two hits in seven scoreless innings. He beat St. Louis with one run in 6 2/3 frames in his previous turn and is 2-0 with a 2.55 ERA in three career starts against the Mets. Wright is 3-for-9 with a triple off Wood, who has never faced Murphy or Ankiel.The Pitching is for the Cubs plus their recent performance in hitting and relief puts it their way.. Cubs today
10) Boston Red Sox vs Minnesota Twins - Boston Red Sox – pick PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Ryan Dempster (2-4, 3.75 ERA) vs. Twins LH Scott Diamond (3-3, 4.08)
Dempster suffered through his worst start of the season last time out, when he was reached for six runs and seven hits – three homers – in five innings to absorb a loss against Toronto. The veteran right-hander has surrendered two earned runs or fewer in five of his eight turns. He yielded four runs (two earned) and five hits in seven innings while striking out eight against Minnesota on May 7 but suffered the loss.
Diamond got the better of Dempster at Fenway Park 11 days ago, surrendering three hits in seven scoreless innings to pick up the win. He was not nearly as sharp against Baltimore on Sunday, when the left-hander was lit up for six runs and nine hits – three homers – in 5 2/3 innings. That snapped a string of four straight quality starts for the 26-year-old. Red Sox resurgent with pitching and narrowed the relief and the s have solid hitting and relief – Red Sox
11) White Sox vs LAA Angels - White Sox – underdog pick. PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Jake Peavy (5-1, 2.96 ERA) vs. Angels LH Jason Vargas (2-3, 4.03)
Peavy has strung together five solid starts, even while skipping one due to back spasms. He first experienced back issues while pitching against the Angels in July 2010, walking off the field in the second inning after suffering a detached muscle in his back – which required season-ending surgery. The 2007 National League Cy Young Award winner with the San Diego Padres has struggled against the Angels overall in his career, posting an 0-3 record and a 6.08 ERA. Two of those losses came at Angel Stadium, most recently last September, when he allowed five runs and eight hits in five innings of a 6-2 loss.
Vargas has managed to lower his ERA from 6.75 a month ago by giving the Angels four quality starts in his last five outings. His most recent gem came Tuesday, when he surrendered two runs and five hits in seven innings of a 6-2 victory against the Kansas City Royals. Vargas is also looking for his first career win against his opponent. He’s 0-1 with a 7.85 ERA in six appearances against the White Sox. Vargas has allowed nine home runs in 28 innings against Chicago. In his most recent outing against the White Sox, he allowed two homers to Dunn and another to Alexei Ramirez in four innings of a 9-8 loss last August. White Sox for pitching but very close with relief and hitting – White Sox soft
12) Kansas City Royals vs Athletics- Athletics- pick. PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Luis Mendoza (1-2, 6.00 ERA) vs. Athletics RH A.J. Griffin (4-3, 3.48)
Mendoza finally broke into the win column in his last outing, limiting the Los Angeles Angels to three runs on six hits in six innings. That matched the longest stint of the year for Mendoza, who struck out six and did not walk a batter for the first time in his six appearances (five starts). Mendoza had struggled with his control in five outings (two starts) against Oakland, going 0-2 with a 3.48 ERA and permitting six walks in only 10 1/3 innings.
Griffin has turned a corner following back-to-back rocky outings at the end of April. He has won two of his last three starts, surrendering a total of four runs and pitching at least 6 2/3 innings in each. Griffin was outstanding in his last turn, limiting Texas to one run on six hits while matching his season high of eight strikeouts. He has had trouble keeping the ball in the park, giving up seven home runs in his last five starts. Pitching for the Athletics hitting recently for the Royals plus relief for Athletics - Athletics
13) San Francisco Giants vs Colorado Rockies – Colorado Rockies - pick. PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Barry Zito (3-2, 3.40 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Juan Nicasio (3-1, 5.13)
Zito was lit up for eight runs (five earned) and 12 hits in 5 2/3 innings in San Francisco’s 10-6 loss at Toronto on Tuesday to fall to 0-2 with an 11.25 ERA in three road starts. The odds of the Las Vegas native pitching well improve greatly, though, when he faces Colorado. Zito is 8-2 with a 2.47 ERA in 21 games – 19 starts – against the Rockies, including seven shutout innings in a 10-0 victory April 10. Troy Tulowitzki, who had four hits Saturday, is 7-for-44 against Zito.
The good news for Nicasio is he pitched six innings in his last start for the first time since his season opener. The bad news? He allowed five runs in suffering his first loss of the season – a 9-1 setback against the Cubs in Chicago on Monday. Nicasio has struggled with his command, leading to an average of 18 pitches per inning. He has faced the Giants twice in his career, including April 9 when he received a no-decision after yielding four runs in five innings in the Rockies’ 9-6 loss. The pitching will be very close with maybe 0.5 -1 run between the pitchers, Giants for relief and hitting Giants but very close
14) Detroit Tigers vs Texas Rangers – Detroit Tigers- pick. PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Doug Fister (5-1, 3.06 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Derek Holland (3-2, 2.93)
Fister bounced back from his worst start by going seven strong innings and holding Houston to two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and zero walks. He had lasted only three innings against the Washington Nationals in his previous outing as he was knocked around for five runs and eight hits. Fister has had his struggles against the Rangers, logging a 2-4 record and 5.61 ERA in seven career starts. Texas pummeled him for eight runs in 4 1/3 innings last year.
Holland is coming off a shaky effort at Oakland in which he permitted four runs and eight hits in a season low-tying 5 2/3 innings. He had given up one run while striking out 15 and walking one in his previous two starts against Milwaukee and Boston. Holland has pitched at least seven innings in six of his eight outings and curbed his propensity for serving up the long ball, surrendering only two in 55 1/3 frames after yielding 32 a year ago. He has a 1.54 ERA in two career starts vs. Detroit. Tigers for pitching but hitting and relief a mess – edge to Detroit but close
15) Washington Nationals vs San Diego Padres – San Diego Padres pick. PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Jordan Zimmermann (7-1, 1.69 ERA) vs. Padres LH Eric Stults (3-3, 4.57)
Stephen Strasburg draws all the buzz, but Zimmermann is the Nationals’ leading contender for the Cy Young Award. The 26-year-old right-hander is riding a four-start winning streak with a 0.95 ERA along with 24 strikeouts and five walks over that span. Zimmermann, who is tied for the major-league lead with seven wins, owns a 0.69 ERA in two career starts at Petco Park. He has allowed three runs or fewer in each of his eight outings.
After working into the seventh inning in each of his previous two starts, Stults gave up three runs over 5 1/3 innings in a loss at Tampa Bay on Sunday. His five walks matched the total from his previous three outings combined. The 33-year-old Stults, who is making his first appearance against Washington, is 1-1 with a 5.87 ERA in three starts at Petco Park this season and 5-2 in his career at Petco Park with a 4.11 ERA in 10 starts. Pitching, relief and hitting very close – watch out here
