Picks And Parlays

The Red Sox aren't a very good team this year and taking a bat out of the lineup and throwing them in against Cole Hamels on the road isn't going to help them out any either. The Phillies are heating up playing against mostly bad teams and they face another bad team here in this battle of the highest paid last place teams more than likely in the history of baseball. Mitch's Pick: Philadelphia Phillies

The Yankees are just a very tough team to beat at home and though the Reds are improving I don't see them having the guns with Arroyo to get the win in this spot. Pettitte didn't look at the top of his game in his first start this year but he has won a lot of game sin his career and knows how to win and I like his chances here. Mitch's Pick: New York Yankees

The Marlins are one of the hottest teams in baseball and while the Indians squeaked by Seattle I am less than confident they have the bullpen to withstand what the Marlins are going to throw at them in the late innings here. We get Big Z at price and we'll take it. Mitch's Pick: Miami Marlins

The Rays and Braves are very similar teams and while I haven't looked ahead in the pitching match ups I can see this series being split. In this game we have two gamers going at it in Hanson and Shields but Shields is just a shade tougher and it gives him the edge here in game one of what should be the best series of the weekend. Mitch's Pick: Tampa Bay Rays

The Rangers haven't been at their best of late but they get well here as they play in a stadium that loves the longball and does anyone really pound the ball like Texas? Mitch's Pick: Texas Rangers

We have found a stinker this year and coming off of a strong performance on the road it makes playing against them an even more attractive play., Taking a bat out of a lousy lineup, well they get even worse. Mitch's Pick: Milwaukee Brewers

The St. Louis Cardinals are a team that just gets up for the big series and while we have two teams here who aren't taking part in interleague play this could be a preview of the NLCS or at least a playoff series. The Dodgers have been better overall but you need to beat the champs to become champs and I don't like their chances here. Mitch's Pick: LA Dodgers