MLB Picks and Predictions for Tuesday
Our team of writers and handicappers hand out their MLB picks and predictions for Monday, April 27.
Seattle Mariners at Chicago White Sox, 8:10PM ET
A rainout Monday has created a clash of two of the best young pitchers in the game as the Chicago White Sox and Seattle Mariners play a twilight doubleheader Tuesday at U.S. Cellular Field.
The second game of the twinbill pits Chicago's 24-year-old left-hander John Danks versus Seattle's 23-year-old righty Felix Hernandez.
Danks (2-0, 0.95 ERA) was scheduled to start Monday's series opener, but has no problem waiting until Tuesday night to take the mound.
"It doesn't matter to me one bit,'' said Danks, 0-3 with a 7.31 ERA in three career starts against Seattle. "It doesn't really change anything. I'll take the ball whenever they give it to me."
And the White Sox (9-9) will gladly keep giving him the ball the way he's been pitching. The lefty has won his last two starts - both on the road - and given up just nine hits in 19 innings overall. In Wednesday's 8-2 win over Baltimore, Danks conceded just one run and four hits in seven innings, but grinded through the last four frames of his 103-pitch outing.
MLB Free Pick: Seattle | Best Line: +115 SBG Global
Washington Nationals at Philadelphia Phillies, 7:05PM ET
The rocky beginning to Cole Hamels' season got a little bit worse in his latest start, when he took a line drive off his left shoulder and was forced to leave yet another Philadelphia Phillies loss.
The reigning World Series MVP won't miss a start, though, and considering his next opponent, he certainly doesn't want to.
Hamels has owned the Washington Nationals recently, a trend he'll hope to continue Tuesday night when the Phillies continue their three-game set with the visiting Nationals trying to extend their winning streak to five.
Hamels (0-2, 9.69 ERA) experienced some tightness in his left elbow in spring training, just five months after he led the Phillies (10-8) to their first World Series title in 28 years. Though no damage was found, the left-hander hasn't looked 100 percent on the mound.
MLB Free Pick: Philadelphia | Best Line: -175 SBG Global
Pittsburgh Pirates at Milwaukee Brewers, 8:05PM ET
There's at least a glimmer of optimism around the Pittsburgh Pirates these days after they've raced out to their fastest start in seven years. Things might look even brighter for the Pirates if they could find a way to avoid the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Pirates have lost 13 straight to the Brewers overall and 16 in a row at Miller Park, a pair of troublesome streaks they'll try to snap Tuesday night when they continue their three-game set in Milwaukee.
Pittsburgh (11-8) tied the major-league record with its 16th consecutive losing season in 2008, and with much of the same roster around for 2009, it figured to be a shoo-in to break that infamous mark.
What no one anticipated, though, was a drastic improvement by the Pirates' pitching staff, which last season sported an NL-worst 5.08 ERA. Pittsburgh entered its first series of the year with the Brewers (9-10) boasting a 2.97 ERA - the best in baseball.
MLB Free Pick: Pittsburgh | Best Line: +140 SBG Global