MLB Tonight and Picks

[jtsneaks]

Take a look at some of these numbers for tonight!!!

Weekend highlights include a four-game series between the White Sox and Twins in Minnesota. The Twins had won three straight AL Central titles before the White Sox won the Central last year on their way to the team's first World Series win in 88 years. The White Sox (23-10) own MLB's best record so far, while The Twins are just 15-19. Also in the AL Central, the Tigers (21-13) visit the Indians (17-18) for a three-game series.

The weekend kicks off this afternoon in Wrigley Field (2:20 ET) when the Cubs host the Padres. Talk about two teams heading in opposite directions! The Padres have won 11 of their last 12 while the Cubs have lost 11 of 13, scoring just 24 runs in the 13 games. The NL's two worst teams meet in Pittsburgh for a three-game series starting tonight, as the 9-23 Marlins take on the 10-25 Pirates.

The Dodgers/Giants rivalry is one of MLB's best but the two teams head into this weekend's three-game series with identical 17-18 marks. Of course the "Barry watch" is still on, as the ever-lovable slugger 'sits' at 713 and counting. The Phillies, who have won 10 of 11, are in Cincinnati to play the Reds for three games. Cincy owns the NL's best record at 23-12 and have been in first place (NL Central) for the last 14 days.

Two pitchers to watch tonight are Philadelphia rookie Cole Hamels who will be making his first ML start in Cincinnati and veteran Jose Lima, who goes for the Mets tonight in Milwaukee. Here's why.

The left-handed Hamels posted a 1.54 ERA in three previous minor league seasons heading into 2006. In three starts this year (Triple-A), he's allowed just 10 hits and one ER in 23 innings (0.39 ERA) with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 36-1!

As for Lima, the man who once went 16-8 and 21-10 in back-to-back seasons for the Astros (1998-99), tonight will be his second start of 2006. Lima followed his 21-win year of 1999 by going 7-16 (6.65) in 2000 and 17-34 (6.40) from 2000 through 2002 (team went 26-46 in his starts). He then went 8-3 for the Royals in 2003 which got him a deal with the Dodgers in 2004.

In 2004, Lima went 13-5 for LA in the regular season, making 36 appearances, including 24 starts (team was 17-7). He also won a memorable game in the NLDS that year, a complete game five-hit shut out of the Cardinals (4-0) . He returned to the Royals last year and went 5-16 with a 6.99 ERA, as the Royals went 8-24 in his 32 starts.

In his first start this year for the Mets (last Sunday at Shea against the Braves), Lima allowed seven hits and five ERs in five innings of a 13-3. So why pay attention tonight? Here's why. In 14 career appearances against the Milwaukee Brewers, Lima is 10-0 with an ERA of 1.92!


I like the Phillies tonight with this kid!!


JT