Monday MLB Pick

If the Pittsburgh Pirates want to stay in a playoff hunt, they better start turning things around in a hurry. Tonight they will try to get back on track when they open a 3-game set at PNC Park against the Houston Astros. Jameson Taillon gets the call for the Bucs and he has been delivering. Over last 3 outings he is 1-0, with an ERA of 1.80 and a WHIP of 0.95. The ‘Stros will counter with Doug Fister. He is 1-1 over his last 3 starts, with an ERA of 5.29 and a WHIP of 1.71. Houston is 5-14 in their last 19 meetings with the Pirates, and 7-20 in their last 27 in Pittsburgh. The Bucs are 7-1 in Taillon’s last 8 starts. I’m taking McCutchen and company tonight.

Tonight’s pick:

Pittsburgh Pirates

Sunday MLB Pick

The Pittsburgh Pirates avoid the sweep today when they send Ryan Vogelsong to the hill, to face José Ureña and the Miami Marlins. Vogelsong has been delivering. Over his last 3, he is 1-1 with a 2.55 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. That can’t be said for José Ureña. Over his last 3, he is 0-3 with a 7.71 ERA and a WHIP of 1.59. Miami is 1-8 in Ureña’s last 9 starts and they are 0-5 in his last 5 starts against the National League Central. Chris Conroy is calling it today and the home teams are 4-1 when he is behind the dish.

Today’s pick:

Pittsburgh Pirates

Saturday MLB Pick

Tulowitzky and Donaldson are expected to return for the Blue Jays today. With Aaron Sanchez on the bump at 12-2, I’m taking the Jays over Cleveland.

Today’s pick:

Toronto Blue Jays

Friday CFL Pick

The #2 seed in the West, the British Columbia Lions play host the #1 seed, the Calgary Stampeders tonight at BC Place. On the road, the Stamps are 2-1-1, averaging 24.0 points per game and giving up just 18.5. The Lions are 2-1-0 at home, averaging 26.3 points per game but allowing an average of 27.0. Both quarterbacks have similar numbers, with the Stamps’ Bo Levi Mitchell throwing for 2,194 yards, with a 65.4% completion rate, 12 TDs and 4 INTs. The Lions’ Jonathon Jennings has thrown for 2,048 yards, with a 64.2% completion rate, 11 TDs and 5 INTs. Calgary is 11-4 ATS in their last 15 in BC, and 5-2 ATS in their last 7 meetings overall. I like the road dog here, +3 points.

Tonight’s Pick:

Calgary Stampeders +3

Thursday MLB Pick

Two of the best arms in the Majors will face off tonight at AT&T Park, when the New York Mets send deGrom to the mound to face the lefty Bumgarner and the San Francisco Giants. Jacob deGrom is 7-5 on the season, with a 2.30 ERA, a 1.05 WHIP and is 2-3 with an ERA of 2.38 in 9 road starts. New York has had trouble hitting lefties, going 1-6 in their last 7. On the flip side, Madison Bumgarner is 11-7, with a 2.11 ERA, a WHIP of 1.00 and in 5 career starts against the Mets, he is 4-0 with an ERA of just 1.03. Jay Bruce and James Loney have struggled against the Bum, with Bruce going 3 for 18 and Loney 2 for 13. I like the Giants in this one.

Tonight’s pick:

San Francisco Giants

Wednesday MLB Pick

The Los Angeles Dodgers racked up 15 runs last night against the Philadelphia Phillies and will try to keep that momentum going when they play game 2 of a 3-game set tonight at Citizens Bank Park. The Dodgers’ Chase Utley was on fire last night against his old club, belting a solo home run and topping that off with a grand slam. Los Angeles sends Scott Kazmir to the mound and he is 9-6, with an ERA of 4.44, and the Dodgers are 4-1 in his last 5 road starts. The rookie Jake Thompson will make his third Big League start and he is 1-1 on the season, with an ERA of 8.68, and has yielded 5 walks in 9-1/3 innings of work. The Dodgers are 5-1 in their last 6 meetings with the Phillies and 4-1 in their last 5 at Citizens Bank Park. The Dodgers’ bats stay hot.

Tonight’s pick:

Los Angeles Dodgers