Monday’s MLB Picks
The MLB Season continues to wind down as teams fight for playoff spots. Our team of writers and handicappers hand out three picks for Monday’s games.
Tampa Bay Rays (92-62) at Baltimore Orioles (67-87)
David Price is a going to be a very big part of the Tampa Bay Rays’ future. It is the present, however, that is of utmost concern to the highly touted prospect and his playoff-bound team.
Price, the top overall pick in the 2007 draft, makes his first major league start for the Rays as they try to move closer to an AL East title Monday night in the opener of a four-game series against the Baltimore Orioles.
A strong rotation is arguably the biggest reason why the Rays (92-62) have gone from perennial last-place team to potential division champion this season. Scott Kazmir, James Shields, Matt Garza, Andy Sonnanstine and Edwin Jackson comprise a formidable starting staff that has helped Tampa Bay rank second in the AL with a 3.78 ERA.
Price (0-0, 3.00 ERA) should become a fixture in that group in the very near future after the Rays made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft out of Vanderbilt. He was dominant at three minor league levels this season, going 12-1 with a 2.30 ERA.
Baltimore hasn’t done a very good job in the spoiler role, losing five straight and 22 of its last 27 games.
Brian Bass (3-4, 5.15) makes his third start of the season for the Orioles. The right-hander was recently thrust into Baltimore’s tattered rotation, failing to record a decision in his first two starts. He gave up five runs and seven hits over 4 1-3 innings at Toronto on Wednesday as the Orioles squandered a six-run lead in an 8-7 loss.
This will be his first career start and second appearance against Tampa Bay.
Pick: Tampa Bay – View game matchup | Best line -140 SBG Global
Florida Marlins (81-74) at Cincinnati Reds (72-83)
On May 15, Florida was the surprise leader of the NL East. Now set to make up a game originally scheduled for that day, the Marlins’ postseason hopes are virtually done.
The low-budget Marlins, who became unexpected contenders, seem resigned to missing the playoffs again as they face the Cincinnati Reds on Monday in a makeup game.
Florida’s meeting with Cincinnati (72-83) on May 15 was postponed because of poor weather, called two hours before it was supposed to start because of steady showers. The Marlins (81-74), who had by far the lowest opening-day payroll at $22 million, were in first place in the NL East after games that day.
But Philadelphia and the New York Mets – two high spenders – pulled away late, and Florida is now 6 1/2 games behind the NL East-leading Phillies with seven games remaining. The Marlins, who haven’t made the playoffs since 2003, also trail the Mets by five games in the wild-card race.
Florida made a strong push late, tying a team record with nine straight wins before losing two in a row to surging Philadelphia. The Marlins lost the finale of a three-game series with the Phillies 5-2 on Sunday.
Ricky Nolasco (15-7, 3.52 ERA), whose breakout season has played a large role in Florida’s success, will start Monday. He has won his last four decisions, and is 5-1 with a 2.67 ERA in his last 10 starts.
The right-hander gave up two runs and six hits in seven innings as Florida beat Houston 14-2 on Wednesday night.
Nolasco is 0-1 with a 6.94
Aaron Harang, though, has gone 1-1 with an 8.03 ERA in two starts versus the Marlins this season, surrendering five home runs. He is 2-2 with a 6.98 ERA in seven career starts against them.
Pick: Florida – View game matchup | Best line -105 SBG Global
Cleveland Indians (78-77) at Boston Red Sox (91-64)
For the Boston Red Sox, it’s not a case of if, but when with regards to making the playoffs.
Needing only a victory or a loss by the New York Yankees to lock up a playoff berth, the Red Sox begin a four-game series against the Cleveland Indians on Monday at Fenway Park.
The reigning World Series champions moved a step closer to their fifth playoff appearance in six years with a 3-0 victory at Toronto on Sunday. Daisuke Matsuzaka picked up his 18th victory, and the Red Sox (91-64) remained 1 1/2 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East race.
Despite the win, the mood toward waiting for the outcome of Sunday night’s game between the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles – eventually won by the Yankees – to see if the Red Sox clinched a spot in the postseason leaned towards indifference. That isn’t surprising given a veteran-laden team that knows October baseball is more important than September.
Zach Jackson (0-3, 6.48) is coming off his worst outing of the year for the Indians. He was tagged for season highs of seven runs and nine hits in 5 1-3 innings by Minnesota on Tuesday as he failed to protect a seven-run lead, but did not get a decision in Cleveland’s 12-9, 11-inning victory.
The left-hander has not won since pitching for Milwaukee in 2006, and he pitched 1 2-3 scoreless innings against the Red Sox on May 18 in his only career appearance against them.
Pick: Boston – View game matchup | Best line -130 SBG Global
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