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MLB Odds and Picks
By: Micah Roberts
Sportingnews
LAS VEGAS - The Pittsburgh Pirates have had some of the best outfields in baseball history, and based on the way this new version is starting out, there is plenty of reason to be excited about what lies ahead. In the immediate future -- today's game at Miami -- the Pirates can reach .500 on the season for the first time since being 8-8. They're currently in the middle of a 15-7 run and will rely on Charlie Morton this afternoon to get the job done.
Based on what we have been seeing with the Bucs' outfield lately, it should be expected that Morton will have plenty of support. Pittsburgh's top prospect Gregory Polanco has hit safely in all four of his games since being called up from Triple-A Indianapolis, where he hit .347 with 49 RBIs. Last night, the right fielder had his coming out party with a 5-for-7 night, including the deciding two-run homer in the 13th inning. The victory was their third in a row.
The buzz around Polanco has been infectious and gave just the type of nudge needed to get left fielder Starling Marte going. Last season, Marte was instrumental in getting the Pirates to their first playoff appearance since 1992, but prior to Monday, he had been mired in an 0-for-23 slump and was hitting only .230. Since news of Polanco being called up, Marte has hit .522 over his last five games.
Mix in the production of center fielder and reigning NL MVP Andrew McCutchen who has hit .408 this month, and there's plenty of reason to be excited about the Pirates' chances of not only getting to .500 today, but also making a major run for the division.
When looking over the production of the Pirates outfield over the past four days, it's hard not to be reminded of some of the greats that have patrolled the allies in the Steel City. The 1927 Pirates had Hall of Famers Lloyd and Paul Waner, known as 'little poison' and 'big poison'. The 1971 outfield had Hall of Famers Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell, along with Al Oliver, who deserves more consideration for the Hall than he ever got. And then there's the group from 1990-91 that had Barry Bonds, Andy Van Slyke and Bobby Bonilla.
We'll have to wait to see how this outfield turns out before we realistically start putting them into the greats category, but the potential is definitely there.
Last season the Pirates got a major boost for their playoff run when they called up then-top prospect Gerrit Cole in June and he contributed immediately. Polanco could have that same effect this time around, and with the NL Central not looking nearly as tough as it was last season, the Bucs have a great shot to take control which makes 50-to-1 to win the World Series very attractive at this juncture.
Morton (3-7, 3.14 ERA) is coming off one of his better outings of the season where he allowed one run through seven innings in a 6-2 win against the Cubs. The right-hander has been baffling hitters of late, giving him a high strikeout total. Through his first 11 starts of the season, he was averaging only 4.1 strikeouts per game. In his last two starts -- both wins -- he's whiffed 16 batters. He hasn't allowed more than two runs in any of his past four turns.
This is a spot where the Pirates really need Morton to step up and shoulder the load with Francisco Liriano and Cole both on the disabled list. And so far, he's done just that.
Randy Wolf will be making his fourth start of the season for the Marlins. The 37-year-old left-hander has given up four runs each during two losses and allowed only one run against a struggling Rays squad on June 2. The Marlins 22-12 home record is the best in baseball, but they're currently on a two-game losing streak.
Saturday selections:
Pirates (Morton) -110 at Marlins
Nationals (Strasburg) -121 at Cardinals
Red Sox (Peavy) -133 vs. Indians
Royals (Duffy) -105 at White Sox
Reds (Latos) +118 at Brewers
Yankees (Kuroda) +160 at A's
By: Micah Roberts
Sportingnews
LAS VEGAS - The Pittsburgh Pirates have had some of the best outfields in baseball history, and based on the way this new version is starting out, there is plenty of reason to be excited about what lies ahead. In the immediate future -- today's game at Miami -- the Pirates can reach .500 on the season for the first time since being 8-8. They're currently in the middle of a 15-7 run and will rely on Charlie Morton this afternoon to get the job done.
Based on what we have been seeing with the Bucs' outfield lately, it should be expected that Morton will have plenty of support. Pittsburgh's top prospect Gregory Polanco has hit safely in all four of his games since being called up from Triple-A Indianapolis, where he hit .347 with 49 RBIs. Last night, the right fielder had his coming out party with a 5-for-7 night, including the deciding two-run homer in the 13th inning. The victory was their third in a row.
The buzz around Polanco has been infectious and gave just the type of nudge needed to get left fielder Starling Marte going. Last season, Marte was instrumental in getting the Pirates to their first playoff appearance since 1992, but prior to Monday, he had been mired in an 0-for-23 slump and was hitting only .230. Since news of Polanco being called up, Marte has hit .522 over his last five games.
Mix in the production of center fielder and reigning NL MVP Andrew McCutchen who has hit .408 this month, and there's plenty of reason to be excited about the Pirates' chances of not only getting to .500 today, but also making a major run for the division.
When looking over the production of the Pirates outfield over the past four days, it's hard not to be reminded of some of the greats that have patrolled the allies in the Steel City. The 1927 Pirates had Hall of Famers Lloyd and Paul Waner, known as 'little poison' and 'big poison'. The 1971 outfield had Hall of Famers Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell, along with Al Oliver, who deserves more consideration for the Hall than he ever got. And then there's the group from 1990-91 that had Barry Bonds, Andy Van Slyke and Bobby Bonilla.
We'll have to wait to see how this outfield turns out before we realistically start putting them into the greats category, but the potential is definitely there.
Last season the Pirates got a major boost for their playoff run when they called up then-top prospect Gerrit Cole in June and he contributed immediately. Polanco could have that same effect this time around, and with the NL Central not looking nearly as tough as it was last season, the Bucs have a great shot to take control which makes 50-to-1 to win the World Series very attractive at this juncture.
Morton (3-7, 3.14 ERA) is coming off one of his better outings of the season where he allowed one run through seven innings in a 6-2 win against the Cubs. The right-hander has been baffling hitters of late, giving him a high strikeout total. Through his first 11 starts of the season, he was averaging only 4.1 strikeouts per game. In his last two starts -- both wins -- he's whiffed 16 batters. He hasn't allowed more than two runs in any of his past four turns.
This is a spot where the Pirates really need Morton to step up and shoulder the load with Francisco Liriano and Cole both on the disabled list. And so far, he's done just that.
Randy Wolf will be making his fourth start of the season for the Marlins. The 37-year-old left-hander has given up four runs each during two losses and allowed only one run against a struggling Rays squad on June 2. The Marlins 22-12 home record is the best in baseball, but they're currently on a two-game losing streak.
Saturday selections:
Pirates (Morton) -110 at Marlins
Nationals (Strasburg) -121 at Cardinals
Red Sox (Peavy) -133 vs. Indians
Royals (Duffy) -105 at White Sox
Reds (Latos) +118 at Brewers
Yankees (Kuroda) +160 at A's
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