Monday MLB Picks
Our team of writers and handicappers hand out their MLB picks and predictions for Monday, April 27.
Florida Marlins at New York Mets, 7:10PM ET
The Florida Marlins’ only loss over their first 12 games was against the New York Mets. They’re proving to be much more vulnerable than that stretch suggested.
Now mired in their longest skid since 2007, the Marlins look to regroup against a struggling Mets team Monday night in the opener of a three-game set.
Florida (11-7) began the season 11-1, including two wins in three games against New York (8-10) from April 10-12, but has since dropped six in a row. It’s the Marlins’ longest losing streak since an eight-game slide from Aug. 15-22, 2007.
"We’re not an 11-1 team, and we’re not an 0-6 team – we’re somewhere in the middle," Florida manager Fredi Gonzalez said.
The Marlins had perhaps their worst performance of the season in their latest defeat, losing 13-2 to Philadelphia on Sunday. With the game out of hand, Florida outfielder Cody Ross pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
MLB Free Pick: Florida – View Game Matchup | Best Line: +130 SBG Global
St. Louis Cardinals at Atlanta Braves, 7:10PM ET
After having their nine-game home winning streak halted, the St. Louis Cardinals look for some improved play on the road.
The NL Central leaders open a seven-game trip Monday night when they face the Atlanta Braves in the opener of a three-game series.
The Cardinals (13-6) had their run at home end with a 10-3 loss to Chicago in Sunday’s finale of a three-game set.
"We got really good results," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said of his club’s 5-1 homestand. "The way we look at it is what we put into it. Now we’ve got Atlanta and Washington and just keep doing what we’re doing as far as the effort and keep getting better."
St. Louis will now attempt to rebound on the road, where it’s 3-3 with a 5.20 ERA. The team didn’t fare well away from Busch Stadium last season, winning only three of its last 16 to finish 40-41. Those struggles also contributed to the Cards missing the playoffs for a second consecutive year after winning their 10th World Series title in 2006.
MLB Free Pick: Atlanta – View Game Matchup | Best Line: -140 SBG Global
Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco Giants, 10:15PM ET
The San Francisco Giants were two outs away from riding their first six-game winning streak in more than a year into a meeting with the NL West rival Los Angeles Dodgers.
A late collapse doesn’t bode well for their second series against the reigning division champs in 2009.
The Giants look to bounce back from their first loss in six games and get a measure of revenge for a three-game sweep in Los Angeles two weeks ago as they open a three-game home series against the Dodgers on Monday night.
San Francisco (8-9) rebounded from a slow start with five straight wins last week. The Giants were on the verge of extending that streak Sunday before they allowed three runs in the ninth inning in an eventual 5-4, 12-inning loss at Arizona.
The Giants, which took the lead on Pablo Sandoval’s three-run homer in the eighth, missed a chance to win six straight for the first time since Aug. 23-28, 2007.
MLB Free Pick: San Francisco – View Game Matchup | Best Line: +120 SBG Global
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Posted: 4/27/09 12:25 AM ET
