We are now on a 12-5 MLB POD run and 48-31 on the season for mlb sports picks. Thursday's card has just three pitchers with ERA's over 6.00 over their last three starts mainly due to the fact that we have 6 pitchers either making their 2012 debut or have not started in three games yet. On the flip side we have plenty of red hot pitchers going tomorrow, eight to be exact with ERA's under 3.00 over their last three.

Tigers +122 (1.5* FREE PLAY)
Max Scherzer is anything but ordinary or lucky. A funny fact is that Scherzer has two different colored eyes. If you think that is weird how about the fact that he is averaging 11.42 K/9 and nobody is talking about him as an elite pitcher because of his ERA. However, he's been extremely unlucky with opponents posting a .366 BABIP. His ERA is starting to come back down considering he has posted a 2.70 ERA over his last three starts. His xFIP at 3.18 is a better indication on what you should expect from him and the Rays should have plenty of trouble as they are top 10 members of the strikeout club and top 5 in June where they are 29th with a .633 overall OPS. They truly miss Evan Longoria, but Scherzer really does not even need that benefit as he has held the Rays to a .523 OPS and a .119 average despite going 0-3 in his career against them. Again just some bad luck which is about to turn on Thursday.

Speaking of bad luck, James Shields was our poster boy for bad luck over the last few weeks, but getting beat a few times by his team creating errors and his bullpen not supporting him we decided to give that plea up. Tiger hitters post a combined .837 OPS against him with Cabrera and Peralta a combined 19-41. The Tigers have not been exactly raking the ball, but compared to the Rays they should have the advantage. After all the Tigers are 9-2 in the last 11 meetings between the two clubs.

Notable Hot Starters:
A.J. Burnett (3-0, 1.10 WHIP, 1.80 ERA)
Edwin Jackson (2-1, 1.08 WHIP, 2.21 ERA)
Yai-Wen Chen (2-1, 1.36 WHIP, 2.95 ERA)
James Shields (1-2, 1.32 WHIP, 2.84 ERA)
Johny Cueto (3-0, 0.74 WHIP, 0.78 ERA)
Madison Bumgarner (2-1, 1.02 WHIP, 2.49 ERA)


Cold Starter Of The Day:
Though this is not going to be any sort of a sports pick that is backed by our sports monitor we still like to give out the cold pitcher with the best shot at winning because often times there is a lot of value. Today's pitcher is Josh Outman of the Colorado Rockies. You may be scratching your head since he goes up against a very good Nationals team and a fellow hot pitcher in Edwin Jackson. However, Jackson has struggled against the Rockies who have a 1.096 OPS against him in 90 career at bats. Also Outman's 8.64 ERA is no indication on how well he's pitched considering his xFIP being at 3.46.

Notable Cold Starters:
Kyle Kendrick (1-2, 2.02 WHIP, 8.16 ERA)
Jair Jurrjens (2-1, 1.70 WHIP, 6.14 ERA)

5/19/13 Top Sports Picks

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