Friday’s MLB Picks
Our team of writers and handicappers hand out their MLB picks and predictions for Friday, May 8.
Florida Marlins at Colorado Rockies, 9:10PM ET
Coming off a career year in 2008, Ricky Nolasco hasn’t approached that level of success this season.
Facing a Colorado Rockies club he’s never lost to may be what the right-hander and the Florida Marlins need to return to their winning ways.
Nolasco takes the mound Friday night at Coors Field as the slumping Marlins open a three-game set against the Rockies.
Florida (15-14) looks to get back on track as it begins a six-game road trip following a 1-3 homestand. The Marlins lost 4-2 to Atlanta on Thursday, with Anibal Sanchez yielding four runs in 4 2-3 innings before leaving with right shoulder discomfort.
The Marlins have gone a franchise-record 20 consecutive games without a victory from a starter.
MLB Free Pick: Florida – View Game Matchup | Best Line: +100 SPORTSBETTING
Pittsburgh Pirates at New York Mets, 7:10PM ET
The New York Mets have gotten outstanding starting pitching during their longest winning streak of the season. Now it’s up to 22-year-old Jonathon Niese to continue that momentum.
Winners of four straight, the Mets send Niese to the mound to face the Pittsburgh Pirates and their struggling lineup Friday night in the opener of a three-game series.
New York (14-13) is coming off two victories over NL East rival Philadelphia, winning 7-5 on Thursday night to move above .500 for the first time since it was 3-2. The Mets are within a half-game of the Phillies for first place.
New York’s starting pitchers have powered the team’s season-high run, earning wins in all four games and posting a 2.39 ERA. Niese will get his chance to extend the win streak in place of Oliver Perez (knee), who went on the 15-day disabled list Thursday.
MLB Free Pick: NY Mets – View Game Matchup | Best Line: -165 SPORTSBETTING
Seattle Mariners at Minnesota Twins, 8:10PM ET
The Seattle Mariners and Minnesota Twins have a lot in common right now and none of it is good.
A pair of offensively slumping teams look to end losing streaks Friday night in the opener of a three-game series at the Metrodome.
While Seattle (15-14) has lost four straight and eight of 11 after opening the season 12-6, Minnesota (13-16) has dropped three in a row and five of six to fall three games under .500, matching a season high.
Another strong outing by a Mariners starter went to waste Thursday as Jarrod Washburn pitched seven effective innings in a 3-1 loss at Kansas City.
Seattle had its leadoff batter on base in four innings and scored in none of them. Ichiro Suzuki had three hits and Ken Griffey Jr. had a pair, but the rest of the lineup managed only four hits and struck out 11 times.
MLB Free Pick: Minnesota – View Game Matchup | Best Line: -150 SPORTSBETTING
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Posted: 5/8/09 1:30AM ET
