MLB Picks and Predictions for Wednesday April 8
Our team of writers and handicappers hand out their MLB picks and predictions for Wednesday, April 8.
Cleveland Indians at Texas Rangers, 8:05PM ET
The Cleveland Indians had to like their chances to win their season opener with the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner starting and a healthy and dynamic offense backing him up.
The Indians, however, couldn't keep up with the Texas Rangers on the mound or at the plate.
The Rangers look to build on a strong performance across the board in their opener and start 2-0 for the first time since 2000 when they continue a three-game series against the Indians on Wednesday night.
Cleveland's Cliff Lee was the AL's best pitcher last season with a 22-3 record and a 2.54 ERA, but he was rocked for seven runs in five innings of a 9-1 loss at Texas in the season opener Monday.
Lee didn't get much help from his offense, which managed only five hits against Texas ace Kevin Millwood despite having Victor Martinez and Travis Hafner back after injury-plagued seasons in 2008. The Indians' Nos. 3 and 4 hitters combined to go 2-for-8 with one run scored.
As disappointing as that game was for the Indians, the Rangers are feeling pretty good after recording their highest run total in an opener since they beat the Chicago White Sox 10-4 in 2000. It was also the lowest run total they've allowed in an opener since a 4-0 win over Detroit on April 4, 1989.
MLB Free Pick: Cleveland | Best Line: +100 SBG Global
Kansas City Royals at Chicago White Sox, 8:11PM ET
The Chicago White Sox relied heavily on power hitting in 2008. A home run by Jim Thome helped them start this season with a victory.
The White Sox look to win their fifth straight at home over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night when the clubs continue a three-game series.
Chicago led the majors with 235 home runs last season when it won the AL Central title. Thome was tied with Jermaine Dye for second on the team with 34, two behind Carlos Quentin.
The veteran slugger hit career home run No. 542 in a 4-2 win over the Royals on Tuesday in the season opener, which had been delayed a day because of a forecast of bad weather. The White Sox trailed 2-1 before Thome's three-run shot off reliever Kyle Farnsworth in the eighth.
MLB Free Pick: Chicago | Best Line: -110 SBG Global
Milwaukee Brewers at San Francisco Giants, 10:15PM ET
His statistics, awards and accomplishments are simply too long to list. Randy Johnson, though, isn't ready to end his Hall of Fame career.
The Big Unit makes his San Francisco debut against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night when he looks to take one step closer to win No. 300.
San Francisco hopes that Johnson, a five-time Cy Young Award winner, will perform a little better than its reigning Cy Young winner did in Tuesday's 10-6 season-opening win.
Johnson (11-10, 3.91 ERA in 2008), who spent the last two seasons with Arizona, signed a one-year, $8 million deal with the Giants in December. He's in San Francisco not only to post victories, but also to mentor young right-handers Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum, last season's Cy Young winner.
Lincecum, who had a Major League-best 265 strikeouts in 2008, struck out five Tuesday, but allowed three earned runs and four hits in just three innings.
MLB Free Pick: Milwaukee | Best Line: +125 SBG Global