Pick: Atlanta Braves
“Well looky here…Mr. Folger’s.” For a 3rd time this summer I am tested with the fate of the Philadelphia Phillies. In our first bout, I gushed over their imperial day record, in the second, Rhys Hoskins historical tear at the plate. BUT I’M DONE WITH YOUR SILLY GAMES PHIL’S! Two picks, two losses?? You’re disgracing the #BPS name. I will be fooled no more. Your trash record no longer gets the benefit of the doubt. This afternoon, our “Fighting Phil’s” go head-to-head against knuckleballer, R.A. Dickey; a pitcher Philadelphia has yet to figure out all season. Dickey went 7 strong against the Phillies a month ago, with 0 earned runs and 8 K’s. I expect no less today, especially after an extra day of rest due to yesterdays rain out. Atlanta wins the first of today’s doubleheader.
Pick: Cleveland Indians
This one’s big, really big. The Yankees recent slide has their fans nervous of a possible collapse come playoff time as the Indians are evolving into their post season form. This double header (do I dare say it?) could mean everything for the bombers. They need to prove their worth against a legitimate AL team; but it won’t be easy. Jamie Garcia has struggled since coming to the Big Apple and has not acquired a win yet in the pinstripes. Trevor Bauer? The complete opposite. The 26 year old has been nothing but flames in the month of August, plowing through every one in his sight to the tune of a 2.20 ERA (including two shutouts), and a whopping 45 strikeouts in 6 starts. Sorry New York, but this one’s simple physics- an object in motion (i.e. Trevor Bauer) stays in motion unless an external force (the Yanks) acts on it. Ain’t no stopping this tractor; just curl up and hope you don’t get hurt. Cleveland takes game 1 of today’s doubleheader.
Pick: St. Louis Cardinals
This may be my favorite game of the afternoon. Two staunch NL Central rivals duking it out on a #BPS Wednesday afternoon with the playoffs on the line. LOVE IT! Both Carlos Martinez & Chase Anderson are both very reliable arms, so my normal metrics of pitching to decide games doesn’t completely apply here. I need to look at the entagibles. The one that sticks out right away? Heart. After the devestating effects of Hurricane Harvey in Houston, Cardinals All Star, Matt Carpernter made a pledge to donate $100k to the Red Cross Hurricane relief fund for every homerun he hits the remainder of the season. This may not mean much too some of you in terms of picking a winner of a baseball game, but for all my fellow athletes out there you know that when your team plays for a purpose, everything changes. With two teams that are so similar, and two pitchers with an equal competive edge, I’m betting on Carpenter’s rally cry to become contagious amongst the Cardinals’ clubhouse. St. Louis with the win.
Pick: Baltimore Orioles
Boooyy is the #BPS lineup for today really testing my patience… First the Phillies, and now this? If you’ve read my articles in the past you know that I (clap) Am (clap) Not (clap) A (clap) Fan (clap) of Ublado Jimenez… I think he sticks. He’s wildly inconsistant, he waste’s way too many pitches, and he’s a risk to any team he plays for because of the human hitting machine that he is... But I’m going with him today…and not necessarily him exactly, but the team around him. The Orioles are hot. Machado is playing some of his best baseball all season (including two homeruns last night), and the defense has powered the O’s to 7 wins in their last 10. They have their eyes on a playoff spot (just 1.5 games behind), and are feening at the chance to jump (watch out Yanks). But an important stat has me ignoring the mess that is Ubaldo Jimenez- the Orioles home record. Out of the 15 teams in the American League, the Baltimore Orioles sport the best record at home- 40-26. For game predictors such as myself, this is an ace in the deck. Add that with the fact the O’s are playing a west coast team in the Seattle Mariners who are on a slide of their own (losses in 6 of their last 10 including a shutout last night against the Orioles) and you have a recipe for success. Best home record, hot team, great defense, I’m going with Baltimore.
Pick: Detroit Tigers
My upset senses are tingling here. At first glance, the Tigers should be the clear cut losers. They’re at the bottom of the AL Central whereas the Rockies hold the second wildcard spot in the NL. Two teams at different ends of the baseball spectrum. But pitching trumps all in today’s baseball world and this afternoon, Detroit wins that battle. Justin Verlander may not be the man he used to be but boy is he still dangerous. In the month of August, Verlander is 3-1, with a 2.0 ERA, including an 8 inning, 9K win against the MLB’s best, LA Dodgers and a 7 inning, 10K stomping of those hot Baltimore Orioles I just mentioned. He’s playing too dominant to ignore. Chad Bettis is progressing as an MLB pitcher but is too prone to giving up the long ball to trust. Coors field is a homerun park, and Detroit is a homerun team. Detroit upsets the Rockies in our #BPS finale