Game Day: Sunday, June 28th
There are a pair of games that look interesting this afternoon. I like Drew Rasmussen and the Rays at home over the Diamondbacks and I also like Jesus Luzardo and the Phillies on the road in New York (NYM). Both games post at 12:40 PM CDT. I'm not going to have time to research the games and get the pick in.
I spent most of my morning addressing my personal hygiene. A shave, washing of the face, a cleaning of the ear canals and the nostrils. I cleaned up my hands, fingernails, cuticles and such. I scrubbed the filth from my teeth, my tongue and gums and the roof of my mouth. It is exhilirating. I feel a heck of a lot better.
I also cleaned up my space and my camp. I call it a "Four Corners" clean. There is an old superstition that says you have to clean all four corners of a room and if you don't, the Babadook will hide in the corner that you left unclean. The Babadook or a bad spirit. I believe in this wives' tail. It really puts a spook in me when I attempt to be lazy. As a result, I'm always thorough with my effort when it comes to cleaning and clearing my space.
It's a late start for the Pickstreak Blog. Hygiene, health and cleanliness take precedent.
What it means is that there won't be a pick today. Most of the games start early in the afternoon. I looked at the schedule of games in the late afternoon and at first glance, there isn't a pick that I like.
I'm following the sweeps today. Six potential sweeps this afternoon and that is exciting. Here are the six series to watch if you have interest in following the sweeps into next week.
Cincinnati Reds (39-42) at Pittsburgh Pirates (41-42)
A win this afternoon and the Reds sweep the Pirates in a three-game series at PNC Park. The NL Central rivals are neck and neck this season, albeit at the bottom of the division standings, 10+ games back of the Brewers. Both teams are in the NL Wild Card race and have a lot on the line in this game.
The Reds haven't hit the ball well in June but Elly De La Cruz is back in the lineup and his bat will certainly improve the offense. This team hasn't played up to its’ potential this season. Suarez and McClain left their bats in spring training. Brady Singer, Nick Lodolo and Rhett Lowder haven't thrown the ball all that well this season but this is a team that could turn it around yet.
A sweep over the Pirates would have the Reds primed for July and they will need the momentum. Cincinnati opens a four-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday.
As far as the Pirates go, Konnor Griffin is back in the lineup. Oneil Cruz is out until after the All-Star break. If the Pirates can remain around .500 into the end of July, with a Wild Card spot within reach and small window of opportunity, I'd expect Pittsburgh to add some pitching at the trade deadline for a run at the playoffs this season.
Update: Pittsburgh wins 9-4 and escapes the sweep.
Texas Rangers (41-42) at Toronto Blue Jays (39-44)
Blue Jays have dropped five games in a row. The Rangers can really put them down today. A four-game sweep at the Rogers Centre would be a devastating blow. The Rangers are a soft ball club. Toronto is losing games to the Astros and the Rangers and it isn't looking all that good for the Canadian contingent heading into July.
Perhaps they can get the Mets to leave Bo Bichette behind next week. The Blue Jays open a three-game series with New York on Monday.
The Rangers, despite their losing record, are only a 0.5 game back of Seattle in the AL West. The Guardians are on-deck and they are still without Jose Ramirez. With a sweep this afternoon and a win on Monday, the Rangers can move their record above .500 for the first time since April 25th.
Are they good enough to eclipse Seattle for the division title? Can they hold on to claim a Wild Card spot in the AL at the end of September? They are the epitome of a .500 baseball team. If .500 is good for a Wild Card, the Rangers are in contention.
Update: Rangers sweep! It's a 3-2 Rangers win.
Tampa Bay Rays (47-33) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (41-41)
The Rays are winners of four-straight and are looking to sweep the Snakes out of St. Petersburg. That is a difficult task. St. Petersburg is loaded with reptilians.
The Rays are taking care of business this week. The Diamondbacks are wounded and hobbling and Tampa pushed them over. The are trying to get up. A win and a sweep this afternoon and the Rays will have kicked them to the ground again.
The Yanks are facing the brooms tonight (see below). A Rays' win coupled with a Yankees' loss has this Tampa team back atop the AL East standings and that is rather surprising heading into July.
I don't think they have the pitching to win the division but they are looking like a playoff team. I thought they were going to fade down the stretch. It might not matter. The Rays may have already played themselves into the playoffs.
The Diamondbacks will be enjoying the fall weather in Arizona in October. They could shock and awe and buy at the trade deadline but I expect them to be well under .500 before the end of July.
Update: Rays Sweep! It's a 5-1 Rays' win in the clincher.
Chicago White Sox (43-38) vs. Kansas City Royals (34-50)
The Southsiders have continued to win games into the end of June and they have done it, for the most part, without Munetaka Murakami, Kyle Teel and Austin Hays.
Teel returned to the lineup last week and had a big game in Friday's shallacking of a Royals' team that is likely to bow out of the race. The White Sox bombed them for 22 runs in Friday's game at Rate Field in Chicago, IL.
A sweep this afternoon at the hands of their AL Central rivals will have KC planted firmly at the bottom of the AL standings. Cole Ragans is out for the remainder of the season. Michael Wacha and Kris Bubic are both strong trade chips. Expect the Royals to open up discussions as early as next week.
The White Sox can win the division. Their offense has been outstanding and this team is still without outfielder Austin Hays and designated hitter Munetaka Murakami. They seemingly have a stack of trade chips to add some pitching at the trade deadline.
White Sox begin a six-game road trip on Monday. They play the Orioles, the Guardians, the Athletics and the Red Sox into the All-Star break. No matter how they sit on July 13th, they will have greatly outplayed most pundits' expectations.
Update: Royals escape the broom with a 5-4 win.
Miami Marlins (44-39) at St. Louis Cardinals (42-38)
Miami has three aces and not much else. I don't see how this team is five games above .500 but here they are taking it to the Cardinals at the tail-end of June. They have a knack for manufacturing runs on the base paths and putting wins on the board.
If the Marlins sweep the Red Birds this afternoon, they will have an opportunity to win 20 games in June. To win 20 games in a calender month is an amazing accomplishment for a team. It is a double-up of momentum.
The Fish travel to Colorado on Monday and visit the most raucous diamond in MLB for a series against the A's next weekend. The best games in MLB are played at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, CA.
Miami is in contention but do they really want to be? Or, do they want to trade Sandy Alcantara? It's going to be interesting to see how Miami approaches the trade deadline. They should be adding a starter or two for a playoff run. They should make Alcantara a Marlin for the remainder of his career.
A sweep represents five straight losses for the Cardinals who travel to Atlanta for a three-game series with the Braves. The Cardinals have an off-day on Monday but that's the last day this team has off into the All-Star break. St. Louis plays as difficult of a schedule over the next two weeks as any team in MLB with six games against the first-place Braves and a four-game series with the first-place Brewers.
Update: Cardinals escape the broom with a 2-1 win.
Boston Red Sox (35-46) vs. New York Yankees (48-34)
The Red Sox poked the bear this weekend. A four-game sweep at the hands of their most vaunted division rival will have "the Cashman" working overtime next week.
The Yankees will be seeking to plug some holes in their ship as soon as possible. I had thought Tarik Skubal to be out of the question for this Yankees' team but a sweep at the hands of the Red Sox could cause delirium and madness.
The Red Sox are Stayin' Alive like John Travolta. Micks don't dance disco do they? I thought their step was the jig. A four-game sweep of the Yankees will have all of Boston doing a Riverdance.
It will be loud tonight. A win and a sweep over the Yankees is a proper reason to celebrate.
Update: Red Sox sweep in dramatic fashion with three runs in the bottom of the 10th for a 5-4 win!
That's it for Game Day today. It was difficult writing today. It was a difficult topic in someway but I pushed through the struggle and got it done.
Writing is sometimes very easy and the words and ideas stream without resistance. On other days, it is a real fight.