Sunday’s MLB Picks
The 2008 regular season in the MLB has finally come to an end. Our team of writers and handicappers hand out three picks for Sunday’s final games.
Los Angeles Dodgers (84-77) at San Francisco Giants (71-90)
The Los Angeles Dodgers will face some tough pitchers in the postseason. A matchup with Tim Lincecum gives them an ideal tune-up.
In their final regular-season game, the Dodgers face a strong NL Cy Young Award candidate when they conclude a three-game set with the San Francisco Giants on Sunday.
The NL West champion Dodgers (84-77) have often struggled at the plate this season, ranking near the bottom of the majors with 4.4 runs per game, and they’ll be seeing plenty of quality starters in the playoffs. Cole Hamels of NL East champion Philadelphia will be in the postseason along with the Central-winning Chicago Cubs’ Ryan Dempster.
Meanwhile, the eventual winner of NL wild card will boast its own stopper. Milwaukee and CC Sabathia are tied with the New York Mets and Johan Santana for the wild card. Both of those pitchers are Cy Young Award candidates, as is Lincecum (17-5, 2.66 ERA).
Facing San Francisco’s ace just prior to the postseason ace gives Los Angeles an excellent chance to gear up for what’s ahead. Lincecum is just behind Santana (16-7, 2.53) for the NL ERA lead.
Lincecum may have had a better chance to beat out Santana in that category if not for his last start, which was his worst of the season. He gave up six runs and six hits in 4 1-3 innings as San Francisco (71-90) lost 9-4 to Colorado on Tuesday night.
But the 24-year-old right-hander struck out nine to set the Giants single-season record with 252 strikeouts. The Giants discussed shutting down Lincecum after that start, but he didn’t want to end his spectacular season with a frustrating loss.
Lincecum is 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA in one start and one relief appearance versus the Dodgers.
Pick: San Francisco – View game matchup | Best line -165 SBG Global
New York Yankees (88-72) at Boston Red Sox (94-66)
The Boston Red Sox are looking ahead to the playoffs, which should give the New York Yankees’ Mike Mussina a better chance at reaching 20 wins for the first time in his career.
Mussina will try to notch the elusive milestone on the final day of the season for the Yankees on Sunday, when they play a day-night doubleheader against the Red Sox.
The Red Sox (94-66) will begin the postseason on the road as the AL wild card on Wednesday against the West champion Los Angeles Angels. Obviously, they won’t be going all-out during Sunday’s two games, with a big week in front of them.
Right-handers Tim Wakefield (10-11, 4.24) for Boston and Sidney Ponson (8-5, 5.21) for New York will start the nightcap.
Wakefield will likely pitch out of the bullpen for Boston in the playoffs because he’s been ineffective in September, going 2-2 with a 8.50 ERA in four outings. The knuckleballer is 1-1 with a 6.48 ERA in three starts against the Yankees this year.
Pick: NY Yankees – View game matchup | Best line -135 SBG Global
Texas Rangers () at Los Angeles Angels ()
If the Los Angeles Angels hope to establish another milestone before the regular season ends, they will have to avoid another home loss.
The AL West champions, searching for their 100th victory, will try to prevent being swept at Angel Stadium for the first time this year on Sunday as they conclude a three-game set against the Texas Rangers.
Los Angeles (99-62) has faltered in its first two attempts to secure the franchise’s first 100-win season, choosing to focus on preparing for its division series opener against Boston on Wednesday. The Angels have lost the first two contests of this series against Texas (79-82), including Saturday’s 8-4 defeat.
The Angels haven’t been swept at home since June 25-27, 2007 against Kansas City. The Rangers haven’t swept three games in Anaheim since June 28-30, 1999.
But Los Angeles is still assured of the best record in baseball and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Washington hopes those improvements on the mound can start with Kevin Millwood (9-9, 5.03), who is 0-2 with a 6.12 ERA in four September starts. The right-hander held Oakland to two earned runs and eight hits, while fanning six over seven innings in a 4-3, 11-inning home loss on Monday.
Millwood seeks better results versus the Angels. He is 3-3 with a 3.61 ERA in 10 all-time matchups, including 1-1 with a 3.66 ERA in three starts this year.
Pick: Texas – View game matchup | Best line +115 SBG Global
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