Picks for Wednesday August 6, 2008

These are my favorite 2 games from the first set of research last night and this morning. The Twins game is set for an early start.

Min/Sea – This series has been a crazy one, as Minnesota has essentially tanked in the first two games, with their bullpen imploding in both. The Mariners, and especially Raul Ibanez, have come to life, and look to sweep the series. The Twins starter, Nick Blackburn, will give the Twins a chance to salvage the series though. Here’s another rookie, but you’d never know it by the way he’s been playing. “He appears to be getting stronger as the season goes on. The 26-year-old had a 2.45 ERA in July and he started off August with a brilliant seven-inning, six-hit, one-run showing against Cleveland, Aug. 1. Control is this young pitcher’s greatest strength; he’s walked just six batters in his last 10 starts.” Seattle’s starter Washburn has a 3.90 ERA in his past 5 starts, but is only 1-3 in that span and has only struck out 13 batters in the past 32.1 IP. The Twins are clearly the better team, and they need this game to stay on pace with Detroit and the White Sox. They get back in the win column today, Twinkies -135.

DET/CHW – This is a clash of two of the best offenses in the AL, against 2 above-average starting pitchers. “Verlander does have a nine-inning one-run gem against Chicago this season but consider this: in four starts against the White Sox this year, including the complete-game gem, Verlander has a 6.15 ERA. Besides that good outing, he's allowed 17 earned runs (22 total) in 17 1/3 innings.” On the other side, “ John Danks has only been average at home this season, with a 4.04 ERA in 11 starts at U.S. Cellular Field (2.63 ERA on the road).” He also has a streak of 3 straight non-quality starts. Not the type of confidence you’d want in your SP, despite his talent level. Both teams have played over in 3 straight games, and the bullpens are a little overworked (Detroit’s is in shambles). “Tigers relievers are 22-for-42 in save situations and have yielded 17 runs in 21 innings during the team's skid.” I think this game goes over 9.5 relatively easily.

pj20

A couple more games later...