7/1/2009: Razor Free MLB Picks

Thank you Tigers. The week is back on track now. Zumaya was hitting 103 on the gun in Oakland. 103!!!! That's some sick stuff. Rodney tried his best to F it all up in the ninth but luckily the line drive went right to short for a game ending double play. I knew there was going to be trouble when they introduced him as 17 for 17 in save opportunities. Jinx the guy more. Of course this wasn't a save opportunity since the Tigers were up 4. Stupid announcers. So yeah Tigers and on with the show.

I'm going to the well again. Verlander is going tomorrow for the Tigers and I just can't pass up one of the most dominant pitchers this year against one of the most impotent offenses. Oakland is throwing Dallas Braden who has been brilliant for most of this year, but this line really stood out to me.

DATE

OPP

RESULT

IP

H

R

ER

HR

BB

SO

GB

FB

TBF

#Pit

Dec.

Rel.

ERA

05/16

@DET

L 1-9

5.0

9

6

6

1

2

5

12

7

26

107

L(3-5)

--

3.64

Yes it was over a month ago but that's a pretty nice thrashing by Detroit. Also, here are the numbers the Tigers have put up against Braden:

OPPOSING HITTER	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
Placido Polanco	14	7	1	0	0	0	0	0	.500	.500	.571	1.071
Magglio Ordonez	10	4	1	0	2	5	3	0	.400	.538	1.100	1.638
Ryan Raburn	10	5	2	0	1	4	0	1	.500	.500	1.000	1.500
Brandon Inge	9	1	0	0	0	2	1	2	.111	.200	.111	.311
Gerald Laird	9	4	1	0	0	1	1	0	.444	.500	.556	1.056
Marcus Thames	8	4	2	0	1	5	0	1	.500	.500	1.125	1.625
Curtis Granderson	6	1	1	0	0	0	0	3	.167	.167	.333	.500
Miguel Cabrera	4	1	0	0	0	1	2	0	.250	.500	.250	.750
Carlos Guillen	3	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	.333	.500	.333	.833
Clete Thomas	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	.000	.000	.000	.000
Adam Everett	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	.000
Ramon Santiago	2	2	1	1	0	0	0	0	1.000	1.000	2.500	3.500
Totals	80	30	9	1	4	18	8	10	.375	.432	.663	1.094

Me likey. By contrast, here are Verlander's numbers vs. the A's:

OPPOSING HITTER	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
Orlando Cabrera	26	6	2	0	1	1	1	5	.231	.286	.423	.709
Mark Ellis	17	4	1	0	0	0	0	5	.235	.235	.294	.529
Jason Giambi	10	3	0	0	1	2	0	4	.300	.273	.600	.873
Eric Chavez	9	1	0	0	0	0	0	3	.111	.111	.111	.222
Adam Kennedy	9	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	.222	.300	.222	.522
Jack Cust	8	2	1	0	0	1	1	5	.250	.333	.375	.708
Bobby Crosby	8	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	.000	.000	.000	.000
Kurt Suzuki	8	3	1	0	0	2	1	2	.375	.444	.500	.944
Travis Buck	4	2	0	0	0	1	3	0	.500	.714	.500	1.214
Matt Holliday	2	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	.500	.667	.500	1.167
Jack Hannahan	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	.000	.667	.000	.667
Totals	102	24	5	0	2	7	10	28	.235	.307	.343	.650

The only guys with decent number have hardly any at bats against him. I'm taking Verlander and the Tigers at this nice price.

For my second game of the day, I'm taking Cole Hamels and the Phillies. This is going to be a great pitchers duel and in pitchers duels I always go with the better offense and you don't get a much better offense than the phillies.

RK	TEAM	R	2B	3B	HR	TB	RBI	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
1	NY Yankees	415	153	12	112	1221	393	.271	.354	.468	.822
2	Tampa Bay	438	165	16	102	1245	417	.277	.357	.465	.822
3	Boston	395	163	14	90	1154	376	.268	.352	.446	.798
4	Philadelphia	387	146	13	104	1139	373	.258	.337	.448	.785

As for the Braves:

27	Atlanta	308	143	9	58	987	293	.256	.326	.387	.713
28	San Francisco	305	139	15	51	985	286	.261	.313	.388	.700
29	San Diego	287	116	14	72	954	277	.236	.315	.379	.694
30	Oakland	317	120	7	61	925	303	.239	.312	.363	.676

The Phillies are just sick on the road and after the loss yesterday they'll get back in step today. I'm goin Phils and Hamels.