MLB Picks and Predictions for Friday April 17
Our team of writers and handicappers hand out their MLB picks and predictions for Friday April 17.
Kansas City Royals at Texas Rangers, 8:05PM ET
Ian Kinsler has had some big games at the plate against the Kansas City Royals. None of those performances came anywhere close to matching his last effort for the Texas Rangers.
After the game of his career, Kinsler looks to help the Rangers continue their success against the Royals in the opener of a three-game series Friday night.
Kinsler hit for cycle and went 6-for-6 as Texas (4-5) beat Baltimore 19-6 on Wednesday. The 26-year-old second baseman became the first player with both a cycle and six hits in a game since Aug. 12, 1890, when Farmer Weaver did it for the Louisville Colonels.
"That was just a monster game. It's one thing to hit for the cycle, that's a once-in-a-lifetime type of game," Rangers shortstop Michael Young said. "But to add a couple of more hits to it too, it's an incredible game."
Kinsler had the fourth cycle in team history while matching club records for hits and runs (five) as Texas snapped a five-game losing streak.
MLB Free Pick: Texas | Best Line: -105 SBG Global
Los Angeles Angels at Minnesota Twins, 8:10PM ET
A win on Friday night against the Minnesota Twins would be a nice way to open a three-game set at the Metrodome, but it would be hard to fault Dustin Moseley if his thoughts were elsewhere.
After attending fellow pitcher Nick Adenhart's funeral services in Maryland on Thursday with manager Mike Scioscia, teammates and team officials, Moseley makes his third start of the season for the Los Angeles Angels and first of his career against Minnesota.
Adenhart was killed, along with two friends, last Thursday after the Angels' 6-4 loss to Oakland as the car he was a passenger in was struck by a driver whom police say was drunk.
"To see someone lose their life at such a young age takes you out of that bowl you think you're in and you say, 'Tomorrow could be my last day and what kind of impact am I making?''' Moseley said following last Friday's 6-3 win over Boston. "Nick made a huge impact. I'm proud to know him. I'm sure God's proud to know him right now, too.''
In his first start following the crash, Moseley (1-0, 3.86 ERA) allowed three runs and six hits in 5 2-3 innings in a 5-4 win over the Red Sox on Sunday.
MLB Free Pick: Los Angeles | Best Line: +105 SBG Global
Detroit Tigers at Seattle Mariners, 10:10PM ET
Coming off a difficult 2008, Justin Verlander is still looking for his first win of 2009.
Considering the right-hander's career success against Seattle, that could happen Friday night in the series opener at Safeco Field.
Verlander makes his third start of the season as the Detroit Tigers (5-4) open their nine-game trip and three-game set against the surprising Mariners.
Verlander (0-1, 9.35 ERA) last pitched Saturday in a 4-3 win over Texas as he allowed two hits and one run in five innings. This was a far improvement from the Tigers' season opener against Toronto on April 6, when he surrendered eight runs and eight hits in 3 2-3 innings.
"If I throw the ball like that all season, I'll be very successful," Verlander said following Saturday's game.
Verlander, 11-17 with a 4.84 ERA last season, is 6-1 with a 2.91 ERA lifetime against the Mariners. He'll try to improve to 4-1 at Safeco Field.
In his last outing in Seattle, Verlander gave up two runs and eight hits in six innings as Detroit won 8-4 on July 3.
MLB Free Pick: Seattle | Best Line: -120 SBG Global