The 2008 MLB Season rolls on with a full list of games on Monday. Our team of writers and handicappers gathered three of their top picks for the day.
New York Yankees (63-55) at Minnesota Twins (65-52)
Less than a month ago, the New York Yankees dominated the Minnesota Twins during a series at home. The Twins hope to return the favor as the playoff contenders open a three-game set Monday night at the Metrodome.
Minnesota (65-52) was outscored 25-7 while being swept in the Bronx from July 21-23. The Twins, though, are 10-6 since and battling for the AL Central and wild card leads.
New York could be in good shape Monday with Sidney Ponson (7-2, 4.23 ERA) on the mound. He'll make his second consecutive start against a former team after allowing three runs in 6 1-3 innings of a 5-3 win at Texas on Wednesday.
Ponson, 3-1 with a 4.73 ERA since signing with New York after being released by Texas in June, is 11-2 with a 2.58 ERA against Minnesota. He went 2-5 with a 6.93 ERA in seven starts for the Twins during the 2007 season.
The right-hander is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA in three starts versus Minnesota in 2008, including a complete-game 10-1 win May 21 while with Texas.
Pick: NY Yankees - Best line +110 SBG Global
St. Louis Cardinals (65-55) at Florida Marlins (62-56)
The Marlins continue a stretch of 13 straight games against teams with winning records when they host the Cardinals in the opener of a four-game series on Monday.
St. Louis has lost three of four overall, scoring two or fewer runs in each of the losses. Even more painful during Sunday's defeat was the loss of starter Chris Carpenter, who left in the sixth inning with a triceps strain.
The former NL Cy Young award winner was making only his third appearance of the season after elbow surgery. He's part of a slew of injured St. Louis starters this season, as Adam Wainwright, Mark Mulder and Joel Pineiro have also spent significant time on the disabled list.
Pineiro (4-5, 5.04 ERA) has been healthy lately, but has struggled. The right-hander beat the Los Angeles Dodgers after allowing four runs in seven innings of a 9-6 win on Wednesday, but he has a 6.61 ERA in his last eight starts, allowing at least 10 hits six times over that span.
Florida will send Anibal Sanchez to the mound for his third start after shoulder surgery. Sanchez (1-1, 4.22) hasn't gotten out of the sixth inning in his first two outings, giving up 11 hits and walking five in 10 2-3 innings.
Pick: St. Louis - Best line +110 SBG Global
Pittsburgh Pirates (53-64) at New York Mets (62-55)
Although the New York Mets haven't been very consistent since the All-Star break, their success at home continues to please manager Jerry Manuel and keep the team competitive in a tight NL East race.
The Mets (62-55) close their seven-game homestand with a makeup game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday.
New York and Pittsburgh (53-64) played a three-game series at Shea Stadium in April, but the opener was postponed because of rain. They split the next two games, with the Mets winning the second game 5-4 in 11 innings and the Pirates winning the finale 13-1.
New York hands the ball on Monday to Pedro Martinez (3-3, 5.79 ERA), as he makes his third start since being reinstated from the bereavement list. Martinez pitched 6 1-3 innings on Wednesday against the Padres, allowing three runs and four hits in a 4-2 loss.
Martinez, who also has had two stints on the disabled list this season because of a hamstring strain, has just one win since June 15. He's 1-3 with a 6.06 ERA in the seven starts since, and has given up a total of five homers in his last two outings.
The right-hander is 9-4 with a 2.97 ERA in 15 starts and four relief appearances against the Pirates. This is his first time facing them since 2006.
Pick: New York Mets - Best line -190 SBG Global
http://www.thespread.com/mlb-baseball-top-stories-500/mlb-picks-and-predictions-for-monday-augu.html