Saturday’s MLB Picks
Several division rivals lock horns on Saturday as the 2008 MLB Season rolls on. Our team of writers and handicappers gathered three of their top picks for Saturday.
St. Louis Cardinals (64-54) at Chicago Cubs (70-46)
Carlos Zambrano often finds a way to excel when facing St. Louis. The Chicago Cubs ace’s latest gem against the Cardinals sparked one of his best runs of the season.
Zambrano looks to win his fifth straight decision against the Cardinals and remain unbeaten at Wrigley Field this season when he takes the mound Saturday in the middle game of this series between the longtime rivals.
Zambrano’s run began against the Cardinals on July 4, when he allowed four hits while striking out five in six shutout innings to lead the Cubs to a 2-1 win. It was his fourth straight win over St. Louis, posting a 1.32 ERA during that stretch.
Zambrano has also won eight straight decisions versus the Cardinals, giving up two earned runs or less in 11 starts over that span. Overall, he is 9-4 with a 2.26 ERA in 19 starts and one relief appearance against them.
Pick: Chicago Cubs – View game matchup | Best line -190 SBG Global
Texas Rangers (60-57) at Baltimore Orioles (55-59)
As the highest-scoring team in the majors, the Texas Rangers expect to be carried by their potent offense. Lately, though, that offense has been shut down. The result is Texas’ first three-game losing streak in nearly three months.
The Rangers look to get back into the win column on Saturday night when they continue a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.
Texas’ Vicente Padilla (12-5, 4.59 ERA) hopes for better results in his second start this season against the Orioles. The right-hander lasted a season-low 2 2-3 innings in a 10-4 loss at Camden Yards on July 4, allowing eight runs and nine hits. He has only one quality outing in five career starts versus Baltimore, going 1-4 with an 8.51 ERA.
Padilla gave up four runs and six hits over six innings against the Yankees on Monday, leaving without a decision in the Rangers’ 9-5 victory.
Daniel Cabrera (7-7, 4.97) takes the mound for Baltimore. The right-hander was unable to build off a strong performance in a win over the Yankees in his last start, as he allowed seven runs and seven hits over six innings in an 8-4 loss Sunday at Seattle.
Pick: Texas – View game matchup | Best line +105 SBG Global
Oakland A’s (54-61) at Detroit Tigers (56-59)
Behind one of their best pitching performances of the second half of the season, the Oakland Athletics were able to end their longest losing streak in 14 years.
The Athletics look to win their sixth straight over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday when the teams continue a three-game series.
Oakland (54-61) snapped a 10-game losing streak and improved to 4-0 against the Tigers (56-59) this season with a 4-2 win on Friday. The A’s are 10-4 against Detroit since the star of last season.
Detroit looks to bounce back when it gets its first-ever look at Dan Meyer (0-0, 0.00 ERA), who makes his first start in nearly a year for Oakland on Saturday.
The left-hander has made two relief appearances since being recalled from the minors on Aug. 3. He’s pitched a combined five innings, allowing four hits while striking out four.
Meyer takes the mound on Saturday in place of Sean Gallagher, who has been bothered by irritation in his throwing elbow and had his start pushed back. Meyer made three starts for Oakland last season, going 0-2 with an 11.12 ERA.
Pick: Oakland – View game matchup | Best line +180 SBG Global
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