MLB Day Five Predictions

First of all, all of our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Angels' pitcher Nick Adenhart as well as the entire Angels organization.  This is a time where baseball, and sports in general, takes a back seat and when we all realize how precious life really is.

After finishing at 6-9 on Wednesday, I was pleased with a 7-3 recovery yesterday and I look for the same today.  A lot of good games on the schedule, so let's get to it.

Texas Rangers 3-0   (Kris Benson)

Detroit Tigers 1-3   (Armando Galarraga)

1:05pm EST - Comerica Park - Detroit, MI

Pre-game note:  The Rangers are off to their best start in 13 years.  Kris Benson, the newest Ranger addition, looks to keep the team rolling.

Todd's pick:  Detroit has not looked impressive whatsoever and I don't think returning home is going to change anything.  Rangers continue their hot start.

Chicago Cubs 2-1   (Rich Harden)

Milwaukee Brewers 1-2   (Braden Looper)

4:05pm EST - Miller Park - Milwaukee, WI

Pre-game note:  Cubs look to ride Fukudome's best game to date (4/5, HR, four runs scored) as they head to Milwaukee

Todd's pick:  I'll take Rich Harden over Braden Looper.  Cubs win.

Toronto Blue Jays 3-1   (Scott Richmond)

Cleveland Indians 0-3   (Scott Lewis)

4:05pm EST - Progressive Field - Cleveland, OH

Pre-game note: The Indians return home after being swept by the Rangers to open the season.

Todd's pick:  The Jays got good pitching against Detroit, which may not be all that hard.  I can't imagine the Indians falling to 0-4 to start the season.  Indians win.

Philadelphia Phillies 1-2   (Cole Hamels)

Colorado Rockies 2-1   (Jason Marquis)

4:10pm EST - Coors Field - Denver, CO

Pre-game note:  Hamels makes his season debut after taking a few extra days to get ready for the season.

Todd's pick:  Even though Hamels makes his debut, the Rockies are always tough at home.  Rockies win a close one.

New York Yankees 1-2   (Andy Pettitte)

Kansas City Royals 2-1   (Sidney Ponson)

4:10pm EST - Kauffman Stadium - Kansas City, MO

Pre-game note:  Sidney Ponson makes his Royals debut

Todd's pick:  Pettitte against Ponson?  No brainer, Yankees win.

Tampa Bay Rays 2-1   (Andy Sonnanstine)

Baltimore Orioles 2-1   (Mark Hendrickson)

7:05pm EST - Camden Yards - Baltimore, MD

Pre-game note:  Two teams that took two of three from the Yankees and Red Sox respectively not match up against each other.

Todd's pick:  I think the Rays are the more talented team, but the Orioles could surprise here as well.  I'll take the Rays in game one.

Pittsburgh Pirates 2-2   (Jeff Karstens)

Cincinnati Reds 1-2   (Johnny Cueto)

7:10pm EST - The Great American Ballpark - Cincinnati, OH

Pre-game note:  Reds' outfielder Joe Votto is 7-for-13 with 2 HR's and 7 RBI's in his first three games.

Todd's pick:  Cueto outpitches Karstens.  Reds win.

New York Mets 2-1   (John Maine)

Florida Marlins 3-0   (Anibal Sanchez)

7:10pm EST - Dolphin Stadium - Miami, FL

Pre-game note:  The Marlins play their last road series before they open their brand new ballpark on Monday April 13th against San Diego.

Todd's pick:  The Marlins have been playing so well to open the season, don't look for that to end now.  Marlins win.

Washington Nationals 0-3   (Shairon Martis)

Atlanta Braves 2-1   (Derek Lowe 1-0 0.00 ERA)

7:35pm EST - Turner Field - Atlanta, GA

Pre-game note:  Derek Lowe makes his second start after a masterful Opening Day performance against the Phillies

Todd's pick:  Lowe dominated the Phillies, he'll do the same against the Nationals.  Braves win big.

Minnesota Twins 2-2   (R.A. Dickey)

Chicago White Sox 1-2   (Jose Contreras)

8:11pm EST - US Cellular Field - Chicago, IL

Pre-game note:  The two teams face each other for the first time since their one-game playoff to decide the AL Central Champion.

Todd's pick:  The White Sox won that one-game playoff, look for them to do the same today.  Sox win.

Houston Astros 1-2   (Mike Hampton)

St. Louis Cardinals 2-2   (Joel Pineiro)

8:15pm EST - Busch Stadium - St. Louis, MO

Pre-game note:  Mike Hampton makes his long awaited Astros debut after going through injury setbacks the previous few years.

Todd's pick:  Hampton isn't the same dominant pitcher he once was.  Cardinals roll.

Los Angeles Dodgers 2-2   (James McDonald)

Arizona Diamondbacks 1-2   (Jon Garland)

9:40pm EST - Chase Field - Phoenix, AZ

Pre-game note:  James McDonald makes his starting debut for the Dodgers after appearing in four games as a reliever in 2008.

Todd's pick:  Unless LA's offense can put runs up against Garland, they won't stand a chance.  Arizona wins.

Seattle Mariners 2-2   (Ryan Rowland-Smith)

Oakland A's 2-1   (Brett Anderson)

10:05pm EST - Cisco Field - Oakland, CA

Pre-game note:  Anderson will make his major league debut for the Oakland A's

Todd's pick:  Smith was impressive through his 12 starts for the Mariners in 2008.  The M's have played better than I expected to start the season.  That will continue today.  Mariners win.

San Francisco Giants 2-1   (Barry Zito)

San Diego Padres 2-2   (Shawn Hill)

10:05pm EST - Petco Park - San Diego, CA

Pre-game note:  Padres riding a high after a come from behind 4-3 win over LA yesterday afternoon.

Todd's pick:  Hill will make his Padres debut tonight and there's no telling if he's going to be effective.  I think Zito will be too much for San Diego.  Giants win.

Boston Red Sox 1-2   (Tim Wakefield)

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 1-2   (Jered Weaver)

10:05pm EST - Edison Field - Anaheim, CA

Pre-game note:  The Angels enter tonight's game with a heavy heart after they learned their young right-hander, Nick Adenhart, was killed in a car accident just hours after he pitched six scoreless innings against Oakland.

Todd's pick:  Angels have the memory of Adenhart to fuel them tonight and with Weaver on the mound, will be enough to keep them in front of Boston.  Angels win.

Enjoy the games tonight!