Sunday’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 Sunday’s games.
San Diego Padres (60-95) at Washington Nationals (58-96)
Dominance isn’t a word that would be used to describe the San Diego Padres’ road play this season, but you’d have a hard time trying to convince the Washington Nationals otherwise.
The Padres go for a sweep of the Nationals on Sunday, when the National League’s worst teams meet for the last time this season.
Less than 24 hours after a painstaking 11-6 victory in 14 innings, San Diego (60-95) routed Washington 6-1 on Saturday. The win improved the Padres to 12-1 in their last 13 road games against the Nationals franchise since 2004 with the loss being a one-run decision.
San Diego’s uncanny success has come in three ballparks, including Montreal’s Olympic Stadium and RFK Stadium in Washington. The Nationals will wrap up their first season in their new downtown ballpark with a three-game series against Florida starting on Monday.
After leaving early due to injury his last time out, Cha Seung Baek (5-10, 5.06 ERA) is scheduled to start for San Diego.
The right-hander lasted only two innings last Sunday against San Francisco, allowing one run with two hits and two walks before leaving with a strained right triceps muscle. San Diego lost 8-6.
Pick: San Diego – View game matchup | Best line +110 SBG Global
Boston Red Sox (90-64) at Toronto Blue Jays (83-72)
The Boston Red Sox haven’t been at their best on the road this season, but it’s looking more and more like that’s where they’ll have to begin the postseason.
First, they’d like to guarantee that they’ll be there.
With a win and some help, the Red Sox could secure a playoff berth on Sunday, when they close their 2008 road schedule with the decisive game of their series at Toronto.
While Boston has won more than 70 percent of its games at Fenway Park this season, the club’s 38-42 road record hasn’t helped its cause as the defending World Series champions chase their second straight AL East title. That includes a 6-3 loss on Saturday at Toronto, where they’re 3-5 this year.
Boston (90-64) now trails division-leading Tampa Bay by 2 1/2 games – three in the loss column – with eight Red Sox games and nine Rays games remaining. After losing the season series with Tampa Bay, however, Boston would be the wild card team in the event of a tie, forcing them to open the playoffs in Anaheim.
The Blue Jays (83-72) will counter with rookie Scott Richmond, who’s filling Shaun Marcum’s spot in the rotation. The team announced this week that Marcum needs Tommy John surgery and isn’t expected back until 2010.
Richmond (0-2, 5.06) has spent most of this season in the minors, going 1-3 with a 3.56 ERA in eight starts for Triple-A Syracuse. The 29-year-old right-hander hasn’t pitched for Toronto since Aug. 10, when he lost after allowing three runs in five innings to Cleveland in his third major league start.
Marco Scutaro and Alex Rios each had two hits and two RBIs in Saturday’s victory, but the Blue Jays need another win Sunday in order to remain mathematically alive in the wild-card race.
Pick: Boston – View game matchup | Best line -175 SBG Global
New York Mets (86-68) at Atlanta Braves (68-87)
Mike Pelfrey has played a large role in getting the New York Mets back into playoff contention. He’s even been able to earn a win against the Atlanta Braves along the way.
With the Mets back out of first place in the NL East, Pelfrey looks to win his second straight start against the Braves when the teams play the decisive game of a three-game series Sunday.
New York (86-68) lost 4-2 to Atlanta (68-87) on Saturday night, falling one-half game behind Philadelphia in the division race after the Phillies beat Florida 3-2. But the Mets lead Milwaukee by 2 1/2 games in the wild-card race.
With eight games remaining in the regular season, New York is expected to be jockeying with Philadelphia the rest of the way. At the All-Star break, it didn’t appear the Mets would be in this position, but performances from players such as Pelfrey (13-10, 3.67 ERA) have turned their season around.
Pelfrey has blossomed this year, giving up two runs or less in four of his last five starts. But he struggled in his first two starts against the Braves this season, posting a 10.61 ERA en route to losing both contests, before earning a complete-game win versus them on Aug. 20.
The right-hander allowed three hits as New York beat Atlanta 6-3. He is 2-3 with a 5.74 ERA in five starts and one relief appearance all-time versus the Braves. In his last outing, Pelfrey gave up one run and seven hits in seven innings, but was a hard-luck loser as New York lost 1-0 to Washington on Tuesday night.
Pick: NY Mets – View game matchup | Best line -130 SBG Global
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