It's time for Sunday's MLB Picks of the Day. I'm going to focus on some of the late games and then lead into the best matchup of the season, the so-called Subway Series meeting between the New York Mets and New York Yankees.
San Francisco Giants vs. Oakland Athletics
The Oakland A's have held their own this season (34-38) and look to salvage the final of a 3 game series with S.F. We already know that the Giants are the better baseball team, and they do it with pitching. In this game, from a pure pitching perspective, the San Francisco Giants have a major edge as Matt Cain (9-2, 2.34) takes the mound opposed by first time starter A.J. Griffin. What a way to start your career, facing the powerhouse Giants and Matt Cain, a man who's on the exclusive perfect game list.
Since then, Cain faced the Los Angeles Angels in a less inspiring showing, giving up 3 runs on 6 hits in 5 innings, picking up the victory nonetheless. Matt Cain has somewhat of an unusual statline in his career against Oakland, mostly due to lack of run support. He's a career 3-5 with a 2.19 ERA in 9 starts with 3 complete games.
Oakland's one legitimate threat is outfielder Josh Reddick. Reddick has been one of the emerging major league stars this season with 17 HR, 37 RBI and a .269 batting average. In his last 2 games against the Giants, Reddick is a red hot 5 for 7 with 2 HR and 4 RBI.
Pick: San Francisco -120 (The odds are very desirable with a superior team and with Cain taking the mound against a first time starter)
Colorado Rockies vs. Texas Rangers Very undesirable odds indeed if you're a Texas bettor as they're
coming off of an 11-7 loss to a really poor Rockies team. At one point in the game, Colorado had an 11-1 lead and, although this is one of the worst teams in the majors, they do have firepower with Gonzalez, Pacheco, Cuddyer, and Colvin who could go off at any time. And, that's exactly what they did yesterday as they sent Texas starter Colby Lewis packing after just 4 innings, having given up 8 runs on 12 hits.
Tonight the Rockies face a tougher pitcher in Matt Harrison (9-3, 3.41). In Harrison's last 6 starts, he's been brilliant, giving up just 7 runs in 44 innings.
Outfielder Nelson Cruz is coming off of a 2 homer game and, with a powerful Texas offense and poor Rockies pitching, this is a slam dunk for the Rangers.
3 Individual Picks in this game: Texas -1.5 (-125), Texas moneyline (-235), and UNDER 11 ( Harrsion will keep the Rockies in check, enough to keep this game under the total).
New York Yankees vs. New York Mets
The Yankees are already up on the Mets 4-2 in the season series as yesterday's victory assured the Bombers that they wouldn't get swept. Tonight's game features the story of the year in R.A Dickey (11-1, 2.00) for the Mets facing C.C. Sabathia (9-3, 3.55).
The Yankees (42-28) have played out of this world lately, but how do you bet against the knuckleballer Dickey? R.A. has pitched back to back 1 hitters this season (the Mets claimed that in the latter Dickey had actually thrown a no-hitter). Dickey has broken the Mets record for consecutive innings without giving up a run. He's pitched about as good as a pitcher can.
In his last 48 2/3 innings, R.A. Dickey has given up just 1 earned run while striking out 63 batters. We're talking about a 37 year old, career .500 pitcher. Dickey will start the All Star Game.
C.C. hasn't pitched his best baseball but is coming off of a complete game in which he gave up just 2 runs on 7 hits while striking out 10 Atlanta batters. Sabathia is a workhorse who can match Dickey pitch for pitch and can pitch well over 100 pitches in this game.
NO RESPECTFor all R.A. Dickey has done this season, he's at home, and his team is the underdog. C.C. Sabathia has had the better career and the Yankees are the better team, but
how do the MLB odds makers declare the Yankees the betting favorite in this matchup?
The Yankees' offense overshadows a developing Mets offense, but CitiField isn't a hitter's best friend. This game comes down soley to the starting pitching. The Yankees have already declared supremacy over the Mets, but this can really put the final nail in the coffin if they can hit a red hot Dickey.
Take the UNDER in this game. One mistake can decide the outcome of the game.
Pick: Mets/Yankees UNDER 6.5
Purely from a fan's perspective, I can't wait for the Mets-Yankees dream matchup. Good luck, everyone.