Hey there guys,
It has been just over 3 weeks since I last posted my picks but I have since finished with my exams and am now back to picking some baseball, watching the NHL and NBA playoffs, and impatiently waiting the start of this upcoming football season. Let's see if I have any rust in me.
*for Games only; Games in COLOR are recommended games to watch; my pick are in CAPS and Bold
SEC Baseball
5/7 Preview and Picks
Well heading into this weekend there are are still 8 teams fighting for playoff spots, with Vanderbilt and Alabama needing more help than they other 6 teams but LSU (3 games back) and Auburn (2 games back) are battling behind Ole Miss and Arkansas, who are tied for first in the West, while South Carolina is a game ahead of Florida in the East. Speaking of #6 South Carolina and #4 Florida both head on the road this weekend as South Carolina heads to Kentucky, who is fighting for positioning as well, as the Wildcats are 2 games back from the 8th, and final, seed in the SEC overall standings with 3 weekends to go; the Gators head on the road to take on Alabama, the team that currently holds that 8th seed, and at 5 games back is still holding out for a possible, albeit very small, chance to still win the west. Both of those series are really important to all 4 of those games which makes them very interesting. Tennessee is only a game back of Alabama in the overall bracket and they head on the road to face Georgia, dead last in the SEC, meaning that the Volunteers are in the best position, of the 4 teams currently out of the SEC Tournament, to make a move this weekend. In a very interesting series Vanderbilt heads to Baton Rouge to take on #24 LSU. LSU has lost their last 6 conference games (swept on the road by Florida and Ole Miss) and 3 of their last 4 conference series. Vanderbilt did lost a series to Tennessee before playing a rain shortened one game blowout series with Georgia (17-5 Vandy). But the Commodores bring one of the best pitching staffs in the SEC to Baton Rouge which may be the key to the series as LSU has not been able to slow down opposing offenses as of late. Friday Starter Anthony Ranaudo, preseason Baseball America Player of the Year, has been chased early in every conference start this season. Mississippi State and #19 Auburn also meet this weekend, where the Tigers have quietly moved two games behind the tie between Ole Miss and Arkansas, making themselves legitimate SEC West contenders. They take on an ice cold Miss State team that is on an 8 game losing streak. Speaking of streaks, they should play a fairly interesting part in my SERIES OF THE WEEK, as #14 Arkansas heads to #11 Ole Miss to challenge the Rebels 10 game win streak, including a 7 game win streak in the conference. Both of these teams are tied for first in the SEC West and winner of this series will have the lead with 2 weekends to go. Should be fun to watch.
*Series of the Weekend*
#14 Arkansas 35-10 (14-7) @ #11 Ole Miss 33-13 (14-7)
7:oo PM
TV: ESPNU
Starting Pitchers
Ark: Drew Smyly, 7-0 2.19 era
Miss: Drew Pomeranz, 6-0 1.85 era
Preview: Two of the best pitchers in the entire country, with Pomeranz even being named Baseball America's Midseason Player of the Year, go head to head in Oxford. These two teams are very good and there are no major weaknesses or strengths that should determine a winner in this game. Except one. Homefield advantage. And Pomeranz. Sat-Sun may be a different story for the Rebels. But the Rebels have been a monster on Friday's (6-1 on Friday in the SEC; avg allowing 3.1 runs allowed per Fri)
My Pick: Ole Miss 7-6
The Rest
Tennessee 24-21 (8-13) @ Georgia 13-30 (3-16)
5:30 PM
Starting Pitchers
Tenn: Stephen McCray, 4-3 3.01 era
UGA: Justin Grimm, 2-6 6.00 era
My Pick: Tennessee 8-4
#6 South Carolina 35-9 (16-5) @ Kentucky 24-20 (7-14)
6:00 PM
TV: BBSN
Starting Pitchers
SC: Blake Cooper, 8-0 2.92 era
Kent: Taylor Rogers, 4-6 5.63 era
My Pick: South Carolina 7-6
#4 Florida 31-11 (15-6) @ Alabama 28-17 (9-12)
6:30 PM
TV: CSS
Starting Pitchers
Flo: Hudson Randall, 5-3 3.30 era
Bama: Adam Morgan, 5-2 5.79 era
My Pick: Florida 7-6
Mississippi State 20-25 (5-16) @ #19 Auburn 30-15 (12-9)
6:30 PM
Starting Pitchers
MSU: Tyler Whitney, 0-2 4.84 era
Aub: Corey Luckie, 5-2 6.23 era
My Pick: Auburn 9-6
Vanderbilt 33-12 (10-9) @ #24 LSU 33-13 (11-10)
7:00 PM
Starting Pitchers
Vandy: Sonny Gray, 6-4 2.22 era
LSU: Anthony Ranaudo, 2-2 7.01 era
My Pick: Vanderbilt 7-6
MLB
5/7 Picks
*Game(s) of the Day*
cardinals (-1.5) @ PIRATES 5-4 <----- UPSET
C. Carpenter vs. Z. Duke
YANKEES 5-4 @ red sox (-1.5) <----- UPSET
P. Hughes vs. J. Beckett
GIANTS 4-3 @ mets (-1.5) <----- UPSET
J. Sanchez vs. M. Pelfrey
The Rest
braves @ PHILLIES (-1.5) 6-4
D. Lowe vs. J. Moyer
TIGERS (-1.5) 4-3 @ indians
J. Bonderman vs. D. Huff
marlins (-1.5) @ NATIONALS 5-4 <----- UPSET
C. Volstad vs. C. Stammen
cubs @ REDS (-1.5) 5-4
C. Silva vs. H. Bailey
royals @ RANGERS (-1.5) 5-2
Z. Greinke vs. C. Wilson
PADRES (-1.5) 6-3 @ astros
M. Latos vs. B. Norris
BLUE JAYS 5-3 @ white sox (-1.5) <----- UPSET
S. Marcum vs. M. Buehrle
BREWERS (-1.5) 6-5 @ diamondbacks
Y. Gallardo vs. E. Jackson
DEVIL RAYS (-1.5) 5-3 @ athletics
D. Price vs. G. Gonzalez
angels @ MARINERS (-1.5) 4-3
J. Weaver vs. F. Hernandez
rockies @ DODGERS (-1.5) 6-3
E. Rogers vs. H. Kuroda
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If you have any questions, comments, or ideas just let me know by either leaving a comment below, or emailing us at wherethelandsharksare@gmail.com
Thank you for Reading
Batteman
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