Minnesota Twins vs. Oakland A's (Radken/Haren) 4:05 EST
A factor that has me siding with the 'Over' is the fact that home plate umpire Mike Everitt had a very small strike zone this season, and saw his games average 11+ runs on the year. The 'Over' was a perfect 4-0 this year when the posted 'total' fell on 9 runs. The Twins bats have been silent this entire series when it's mattered most, but I foresee that changing this afternoon in this crucial Game 3 match-up with the A's.
Danny Haren really floundered to close out the season, and his ERA paid a stiff price for it. He's 0-2 with a bloated 8.10 Era his L/3 starts, and he's given up 24 hits (5 HR's)in only 16 innings of work during that stretch. Haren's wildness just might be the cure to what's been ailing the Twins bats the first two games of this series.
Look for both offenses to flourish as the 'Over' cashes for the first time in this series.
Detroit Tigers vs. NY Yankees (Rogers/Johnson) 8:05 EST
The Tigers put forth a game effort yesterday afternoon in the Bronx to even up this series at one game apiece. Now they get to go back home with home field advantage in their back pocket. It's up to them to use it to their advantage, and I foresee these next two games in Motown being all out wars. Kenny Rogers flat out loved pitching in Comerica this season. He went 7-3 overall and sported a solid 3.26 ERA. The Tigers won 12 of the 16 games he started at home.
Randy Johnson has been having problems with his back, and I foresee that playing a major role in his effectiveness this evening. His effectiveness wavered to close out the year anyway (7.64 ERA & 24 hits in 17 innings of work L/3), and a bad back will only make maters worse for him and the Yanks. That's exactly what I'm expecting, and I also love the fact that the Tigers went 33-20 against southpaws this season.
Detroit was only a dog this size three times this year, and they went 2-1 overall. This was the best team in baseball at one point this year, and Comerica will be unlike anything the Yanks have experienced in quite some time (Remember the rally monkey?). Look for them to feed off the enthusiasm of their crowd and crash as nice sized dawgs for the second day in a row.
Free MLB Picks: Take the Detroit Tigers +145
