Tuesday MLB Picks
Our team of writers and handicappers hand out their MLB picks and predictions for Tuesday April 21.
Minnesota Twins at Boston Red Sox, 7:05PM ET
For teams with playoff aspirations, neither the Boston Red Sox nor Minnesota Twins got off to impressive starts to the season. Neither panicked, though, and they’re starting to get things turned around.
Both teams look to carry some momentum from their weekend sweeps into the opener of a two-game series at Fenway Park on Tuesday, when the Red Sox look to win their sixth straight game and the Twins go for their fourth in a row.
After winning only two of its first eight games, Boston (7-6) is finally starting to resemble the team that advanced to last season’s ALCS.
The Red Sox have won five straight and are coming off a four-game sweep of Baltimore, capped by Monday’s 12-1 victory. Boston, which had season highs in runs and hits (15) Monday, is averaging 7.6 runs and batting .318 during the winning streak after averaging only 3.6 runs and hitting .237 in its first eight.
MLB Free Pick: Boston – View Game Matchup | Best Line: -160 SBG Global
Detroit Tigers at Los Angeles Angels, 10:05PM ET
Armando Galarraga’s dominance through two starts in 2009 is proving his emergence as the Detroit Tigers’ top pitcher last season wasn’t a fluke.
The right-hander looks to improve to 3-0 for the first time in his career Tuesday night when the Tigers open a three-game road set against the Los Angeles Angels.
Galarraga (2-0, 0.68 ERA), who was acquired from Texas in February 2008, went 13-7 with a 3.73 ERA in 30 games – 28 starts – as a rookie last season. He led the Tigers (7-5) in wins while posting the lowest ERA of any member of the rotation.
Galarraga has followed up that impressive season by turning in two strong outings to start 2009. He scattered four hits with five strikeouts in 6 1-3 innings of a 9-0 win over Chicago on Wednesday. That came five days after he starred in Detroit’s home opener, allowing one run and five hits while fanning eight in a 15-2 win over the Rangers.
MLB Free Pick: Detroit – View Game Matchup | Best Line: +100 SBG Global
Tampa Bay Rays at Seattle Mariners 10:10PM ET
Faced with high expectations this season, the struggling Tampa Bay Rays might be pressing.
The Seattle Mariners don’t have the burden of anticipated success, perhaps helping them get off to a good start.
Coming off a terrible homestand that featured constant reminders of last season’s run to the World Series, the Rays open a nine-game, three-city road trip against the Mariners on Tuesday night.
Tampa Bay (5-8) enters this three-game set after losing five of seven at home, a stretch marked by daily promotions celebrating the club’s stunning 2008 playoff run.
The Rays, who lost to Philadelphia in the World Series after failing to finish with more than 70 wins in any of their previous 10 seasons, hope getting away from Tropicana Field will help them get back on track.
MLB Free Pick: Tampa Bay – View Game Matchup | Best Line: -110 SBG Global
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Posted: 4/21/09 12:54PM ET
