Another stacked lineup of great baseball action awaits to welcome the weekend tonight. Here are the five best games of the bunch.
The A’s and Angels needed extra innings to settle their series opener last night. In the end, the Angels prevailed to establish a two-game lead on Oakland. The A’s come back tonight with their newly-acquired ace, Jon Lester, on the mound. But can he outduel the Halos’ Jered Weaver, who hasn’t experienced defeat too often in recent starts?
Read on for more on this crucial AL West showdown, as well as the other four fantastic games on tonight’s slate.
[sc:MLBArticles ]MLB Picks and Predictions for Friday, August 29, 2014
New York Yankees vs. Toronto Blue Jays (7:00 PM ET)
Line: New York Yankees (+105) at Toronto Blue Jays (-115); total 9.0 – see all MLB lines
[sc:MLB240banner ]Mark Buehrle’s season has fallen apart since July. In his last nine starts, the Blue Jays lefty has an ERA of 5.72. One of those starts came against his kryptonite, the Yankees, on July 25. He gave up six runs in a disastrous three-inning outing. Buehrle is now an astonishing 1-14 in his last 15 starts against New York.
Writer’s Prediction: Buehrle bows to the Bronx Bombers again as the Yankees win.
Cleveland Indians vs. Kansas City Royals (8:00 PM ET)
Line: Cleveland Indians (+120) at Kansas City Royals (-130); total 7.5 – see all MLB lines
The last time Royals pitcher Jason Vargas pitched at home in Kansas City, he delivered a shocking three-hit complete game shutout of none other than the Oakland Athletics. That was Vargas’ fourth win in five home starts. His latest start against tonight’s opponents, the Indians, also came at home and he was also victorious.
Writer’s Prediction: Vargas and the Royals scalp the Indians.
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Washington Nationals vs. Seattle Mariners (10:00 PM ET)
Line: Washington Nationals (+145) at Seattle Mariners (-160); total 6.0 – see all MLB lines
So King Felix is human after all. Since having his major-league record of 16 straight starts of at least seven innings and two or fewer runs allowed snapped, Hernandez now has a new streak of consecutive starts of less than six innings. Nevertheless, the Mariners are still 7-3 in Hernandez’s last 10 starts. Seattle lost two of those games despite Felix giving up just two earned runs total.
Writer’s Prediction: Felix flexes his pitching muscles for a Mariners win.
Milwaukee Brewers vs. San Francisco Giants (10:00 PM ET)
Line: Milwaukee Brewers (-102) at San Francisco Giants (-108); total 7.0 – see all MLB lines
The Giants are in the drivers’ seat for one of the two NL wild card places, but they face a tough visitor in the Brewers. NL Central-leading Milwaukee is 7-3 in its last 10 meetings against San Francisco. Furthermore, the Giants have gone 3-7 in the last 10 starts of pitcher Ryan Vogelsong. In his last two outings, Vogelsong walked six total batters and failed to reach the 6th inning on both occasions.
Writer’s Prediction: The Brewers beat up Vogelsong for a Milwaukee win.
Oakland A’s vs. Los Angeles Angels (10:00 PM ET)
Line: Oakland A’s (-113) at Los Angeles Angels (+103); total 7.0 – see all MLB lines
Jon Lester has so far met the A’s expectations when they traded for him earlier this month. Oakland is 4-1 in his first five starts. He most recently beat tonight’s opponent, the Angels, on August 23 as he went seven innings with just one earned run. But he’ll be locked in a pitcher’s duel with the Angels’ Jered Weaver, who has helped LA to an 8-2 record in his last 10 home starts. The total has also gone under in his last five home starts.
Writer’s Prediction: With the aces on the mound, the A’s and Angels go under 7.0 runs.
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