MLB Picks and Predictions for Wednesday April 22
Our team of writers and handicappers hand out their MLB picks and predictions for Wednesday April 22.
Detroit Tigers at Los Angeles Angels, 10:05PM ET
The Los Angeles Angels may be off to a slow start, but don't try telling that to the Detroit Tigers.
The Angels will send Joe Saunders to the mound Wednesday night when they continue a three-game set against the Tigers.
Los Angeles (5-8) returned home after a 1-5 trip, and may have found the perfect opponent. Gary Matthews Jr. doubled in Torii Hunter in the eighth inning to put the Angels ahead for good Tuesday in a 4-3 victory - their 12th in their last 15 games at home versus Detroit.
The Tigers (7-6) haven't won a series in Anaheim since taking two of three May 6-8, 2005, and have also lost 10 of 13 overall against the Angels.
"They're an outstanding baseball team, and there's no question they're definitely going to come out of it because they compete too good," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "I would still say that they're the odds-on favorite to win their division because they can do it a lot of different ways. And their manager's tremendous."
MLB Free Pick: LA Angels | Best Line: -110 SBG Global
Kansas City Royals at Cleveland Indians, 7:05PM ET
Last season was undoubtedly Cliff Lee's finest, and the Cleveland Indians' pitcher was at his best when facing the Kansas City Royals.
Following a slow start this year, the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner will look to continue his turnaround Wednesday night against the visiting Royals and help the Indians build on their own recent momentum.
Finishing 22-3 with a 2.54 ERA in 2008, Lee helped himself by going 5-0 against Kansas City and allowed just 11 earned runs. His 12 career wins over the Royals are also five more than against any other opponent, and the left-hander has recorded five straight home wins against them.
After beginning last season by winning six consecutive starts, 2009 hasn't started out well. Lee (1-2, 6.75 ERA) gave up 11 runs in his first two outings, but bounced back Thursday by allowing one over six innings in a 10-2 win over the Yankees in New York's first game at its new $1.5 billion stadium.
MLB Free Pick: Kansas City | Best Line: +175 SBG Global
Chicago White Sox at Baltimore Orioles, 7:05PM ET
John Danks is doing his best to assert himself as the ace of the Chicago White Sox pitching staff.
The 24-year-old looks for another strong outing Wednesday night while trying to help the White Sox even their three-game road set with the Baltimore Orioles, who snapped a five-game losing streak by winning the series opener.
While veteran Mark Buehrle drew the opening-day start and is 2-0, Danks (1-0, 0.75 ERA) continues to show flashes of dominance that has many in the organization believing he is on path to be the gem of the club's pitching staff sooner rather than later.
After throwing six scoreless innings against in a 2-1 loss to Kansas City in his 2009 debut, Danks allowed one run and two hits while striking out eight in six innings of a 3-2 win at Tampa Bay on Thursday.
MLB Free Pick: Chicago | Best Line: -105 SBG Global