MLB Picks and Predictions for Sunday
Our team of writers and handicappers hand out their MLB picks and predictions for Sunday, April 26.
Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals, 2:15PM ET
The St. Louis Cardinals didn't have a player reach 80 RBIs the last time they started off as strongly at home as they have this year. At his current pace, Albert Pujols may reach that mark by the All-Star break.
With Pujols coming off a milestone game, the Cardinals look to extend a nine-game home winning streak as they complete a three-game set with the NL Central rival Chicago Cubs Sunday.
St. Louis (13-5) has a chance to win 10 in a row at home for the first time since 2004, when it finished 105-57 en route to the NL pennant.
Winners of 10 of 12 at home and five straight overall, the Cardinals have jumped out to an early lead in the NL Central. St. Louis is off to its best start at home since winning 12 of its first 14 in 1968.
The Cardinals managed to win the NL pennant that season even though Mike Shannon was their top run producer with 79 RBIs. Pujols already has 25.
He hit his second grand slam of the year Saturday, surpassing 1,000 RBIs for his career in St. Louis' 8-2 victory over Chicago.
The veteran first baseman's four RBIs gave him 1,002 in his career. Only five other Cardinals players have reached that milestone: Stan Musial, Enos Slaughter, Jim Bottomley, Rogers Hornsby and Kenny Boyer.
MLB Free Pick: Chicago | Best Line: -120 SBG Global
Toronto Blue Jays at Chicago White Sox, 2:05PM ET
Alexei Ramirez's surprising rookie campaign was one reason why the Chicago White Sox captured the American League's Central Division last season.
To get back on track and defend their title, the White Sox could use more performances like the one Ramirez had Saturday night against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Ramirez will try to continue his climb out of an early season slump as the teams complete their three-game series Sunday in Chicago.
After finishing second in the AL rookie of the year voting to Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria in 2008, the Cuban shortstop was hitting .167 through his first 15 games. In Saturday's 10-2 victory, though, he smacked his fifth career grand slam and drove in a career-high five runs to help his team rebound from a 14-0 drubbing Friday.
MLB Free Pick: Toronto | Best Line: -135 SBG Global
New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox, 8:00PM ET
When Andy Pettitte takes the mound Sunday night at Fenway Park, he'll be looking to help the New York Yankees rebound from a pair of devastating losses to the rival Boston Red Sox.
He'll also be attempting to become a part of major league history.
Pettitte and the Yankees try to avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of the Red Sox, who will be looking to win their 10th straight when the teams complete their first series of the season.
New York (9-8) lost 5-4 in 11 innings in the series opener Friday night after Mariano Rivera allowed Jason Bay's tying two-run homer with two outs in the ninth.
On Saturday, the Yankees gave A.J. Burnett a 6-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth before the Red Sox (11-6) rallied for a 16-11 victory behind a career high-tying six RBIs from Mike Lowell.
It was Boston's biggest comeback win against New York since 1968 as the teams swapped leads four times in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings.
MLB Free Pick: NY Yankees | Best Line: +130 SBG Global