Saturday MLB Pick

The Boston Red Sox may be 2-7 to start the season but don’t forget, they are are the World Champions and for a reason, they are really good. This early temporary setback will not last long. You can count on that. Tonight they will try to even the score with the Arizona Diamondbacks when the two clubs play the second game of a 3-game set at Chase Field. David Price is expected to get the nod for Boston and he was not sharp in his season debut against Oakland, yielding 4 runs, including 3 homers in 6 innings of work, but chalk that up to rust. Last year the veteran southpaw won 16 games including 3 in the post-season. Price has fared well against Arizona, going 2-0, with a 2.81 ERA, and the Red Sox are 7-0 in his last 7 starts in inter-league play. Luke Weaver is expected to take the bump for Arizona. Weaver’s season debut is one I’m sure he would like to forget. He gave up 5 runs on 6 hits over 4-1/3 frames in a losing cause to the Dodgers. Despite last night’s loss, the Sox have won 10 of the last 12 meetings with the Snakes and Arizona is just 2-6 in their last 8 games against left-handed starters. I like Boston’s chances in this one.
TONIGHT’S PICK: BOSTON RED SOX

Friday MLB Pick

The Miami Marlins have lost 3 straight, allowing 19 runs during their skid and that won’t bode well when they travel to SunTrust Park tonight to open a 3-game set against the red hot Atlanta Braves. Atlanta is coming off a 3-game sweep of a very talented Chicago Cubs team, outscoring them 23-8. The ex-Oriole, Kevin Gausman, is expected to make his season debut tonight for the Braves. Since being acquired from the Orioles last year, Gausman was a solid 5-3 with an ERA of 2.87 and was lights out in the month of August, going 4-1 with an ERA of only 1.69. The Marlins are expected to give the nod to the young right hander, Pablo López. He was 2-4 last year, with an ERA of 4.14, and was winless against Atlanta, going 0-2 with an ERA of 4.91. The Braves have owned the Marlins in recent history, winning 8 of the last 10, 15 of the last 18 at home, and with the way Nick Markakis is hitting, a consideration on Atlanta is warranted.
TONIGHT’S PICK: ATLANTA BRAVES

Thursday MLB Pick

The Los Angeles Angels’ season has not started the way they would have liked, going 1-5 on the road and mustering just 13 runs over that span. Tonight they will try to right the ship when they host the Texas Rangers in their home opener. If there was a bright spot in their first 6 games, it was hurler Matt Harvey. Harvey was solid in his first outing as an Angel, yielding just 2 runs on 4 hits in 6 innings of work, resulting in a 6-2 victory over the Oakland A’s. If Matt Harvey’s stuff is working, he is as good as anyone in the Majors. Texas is expected to counter with Edinson Vólquez, who was shaky at best in his first turn against the Cubs. He gave up 4 runs on 6 hits with 4 walks in only 4 innings of work. Vólquez has not pitched well against the Angels in his career. He is 1-4 with a bloated ERA of 10.71 and the Rangers are 1-7 in his last 8 road starts. Los Angeles has won 7 of the last 10 meetings against Texas, including the last 5 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. It’s just a matter of time before the Angels’ bats wake up and tonight should be that night.
TONIGHT’S PICK: LOS ANGELES ANGELS

Wednesday MLB Pick

The Cleveland Indians will go for a 2-game sweep over the Chicago White Sox when they play an early one today at Progressive Field. The Indians’ bats finally came alive late in Monday’s contest and hitting is contagious. The Tribe are expected to send the two time American League Cy Young winner to the hill, Corey Kluber. Kluber has dominated the White Sox in his career, going 13-4 with an ERA of 2.80, and last year he was 4-0 against Chicago with a nasty ERA of only 0.96. The White Sox are expected to give the nod to Carlos Rodón. Rodón was 0-2 last year against Cleveland and the White Sox are 1-4 in his last 5 starts at Progressive Field. The Indians have won 38 of the last 55 meetings and will notch another one today.
TODAY’S PICK: CLEVELAND INDIANS

Tuesday Men’s NCAA Basketball Pick

The Kress Events Center will be electric tonight when the Green Bay Phoenix host the Texas Southern Tigers in the CIT Tournament semi-final match-up. Green Bay is riding high after throttling the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners, 80-65, in their last outing. The Phoenix have been a force to deal with on their home turf, with a record of 14-3, where they are averaging 83.9 points per game and allowing an average of 77.3. The Tigers had to go to overtime to take care of the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks in their last outing and their road record has not been stellar. They are 13-10 on the road, where they have averaged 78.1 points per game and allowed an average of 80.8. The crowd will give the Phoenix extra motivation and they will get it done tonight.
TONIGHT’S PICK: GREEN BAY PHOENIX M/L

Monday MLB Pick

It was evident the Houston Astros had some early season rust when they went 1-3 against the Tampa Bay Rays to start the season. That rust should be shed tonight and they will be in top form when they travel to Globe Life Park to face the Texas Rangers. The Astros are expected to give the nod to Brad Peacock and when he takes the rubber, good things happen. Houston is 4-1 in Peacock’s last 5 starts and 13-5 in his last 18 starts on the road. To say Houston has dominated Texas would be an understatement. The Astros are 8-3 in the last 11 meetings overall and 17-4 in their last 21 trips to Arlington. The Rangers are expected to send the lefty, Drew Smyly, to the rubber and that could mean an early exit for the southpaw because the Astros crush lefties, going 13-5 in their last 18 against them.
TONIGHT’S PICK: HOUSTON ASTROS