MLB Picks and Predictions for Thursday April 23
Our team of writers and handicappers hand out their MLB picks and predictions for Thursday April 23.
Kansas City Royals at Cleveland Indians, 12:05PM ET
Solid starting pitching has been a big reason for the Kansas City Royals' early success in 2009.
Gil Meche hopes to continue that trend and help the Royals to a second straight victory Thursday in the decisive contest of a three-game road set with the Cleveland Indians.
On Wednesday, Kansas City (8-6) received a strong six innings from recently called-up starter Brian Bannister in a 2-0 win to avoid a third straight loss and even the series after falling 8-7 on Tuesday.
After their starters as a group finished in the bottom half of the AL with a 4.62 ERA last season, the Royals' rotation is among the best in majors early in 2009 with a 3.09 ERA.
Paced by talented arms like Meche, Zack Greinke and Kyle Davies, Kansas City's starters have not allowed a run in six of the 14 games, while helping the club move to the top of the Central standings.
Meche (1-0, 2.25 ERA) takes the ball after allowing six hits and striking out six in six scoreless innings of a 12-3 win at Texas on Friday.
MLB Free Pick: Kansas City | Best Line: -105 SBG Global
Milwaukee Brewers at Philadelphia Phillies, 1:05PM ET
Cole Hamels was the 2008 World Series MVP while leading the Philadelphia Phillies to their first championship in nearly three decades. All he's been so far in 2009, is the biggest disappointment on a struggling pitching staff.
Perhaps facing the Milwaukee Brewers will help turn him around.
Hamels' dominant postseason run began with a nearly unhittable outing against Milwaukee, a performance he'll hope to channel Thursday afternoon in the decisive third game of the Phillies' series with the visiting Brewers.
Hamels (0-1, 11.17 ERA) was one of the best pitchers in the NL during the 2008 regular season, but cemented himself as an ace in the postseason, when he went 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA to guide the Phillies (6-7) to their first World Series title since 1980.
His best performance in the playoffs was his first, when he limited the Brewers (5-9) to two hits and a walk while striking out nine over eight innings of a 3-1 victory in Game 1 of the NL division series.
Hamels, though, experienced elbow tightness during spring training, and though team doctors found no damage, he's looked like a different - and far less effective - pitcher. The left-hander gave up seven runs over 3 2-3 innings in a loss at Colorado on April 10, then gave up five runs - including three homers - over six innings Friday against San Diego, not factoring in the decision of an 8-7 loss.
MLB Free Pick: Philadelphia | Best Line: -105 SBG Global
Chicago White Sox at Baltimore Orioles, 7:05PM ET
Stretches of poor play on the road were a problem last year for the Chicago White Sox, but their first road trip of 2009 has provided reason for optimism.
The White Sox can earn a series victory and finish with a 6-3 record on its swing Thursday night by beating the reeling Baltimore Orioles, whose struggling starting rotation will rely on Adam Eaton to turn its fortunes.
Chicago was just 3-3 on its opening homestand, but it responded by splitting a rain-shortened series in Detroit before taking three of four from Tampa Bay, the team that eliminated the White Sox in last year's AL division series.
Manager Ozzie Guillen's club lost both playoff games in St. Petersburg going 35-46 on the road in the regular season. The White Sox were 54-28 at home.
A robust offense has helped them start this season differently. Chicago (8-6) has scored at least eight runs in four of its eight road games, getting three hits each from Chris Getz and Josh Fields in Wednesday's 8-2 win over the Orioles (7-8).
Getz and Fields also combined for four runs scored and five RBIs in support of John Danks, who gave up one run in seven innings. The White Sox are now hitting .296 with 14 home runs on the trip.
MLB Free Pick: Baltimore | Best Line: +110 SBG Global