Free Major League Picks: MLB Friday Night

I won a game and lost a game on Wednesday as the Rays won late and the A’s fell to a new and improved Derek Holland. I have three games on tap for Friday’s MLB action, and all three boast great pitching match-ups. Here’s what I have in mind…

Boston Red Sox (-125) @ Detroit Tigers (5-14: 7:05 PM ET) (Buchholz vs. Scherzer): Beckett was supposed to get the start for Boston, but his ailing life has him on the mend. That moves Clay Buchholz into the starting slot, and he’s been a little better than the Red Sox’ ace this season. Scherzer has shown some of his normal flashes of brilliance, but brilliance alone isn’t what has him rocking a 6.81 ERA and a 1.68 WHIP. Max started off the season well, but he’s been killed lately, and they haven’t been the best offenses doing the damage, either. Boston has taken 6 of the last 7 match-ups against Detroit, and a win here would give them a 3-1 win in this series. I expect that to happen.

Minnesota Twins (+170) @ New York Yankees (5-14: 7:05 PM ET) (Liriano vs. Burnett): I’m pretty sure Burnett pooped in a paper bag, crunched it up, lit it on fire, then threw it on his own porch last time out. After allowing just 9 earned runs over his first 6 starts, Burnett allowed the Red Sox to smash him for 8 earned over just over 4 innings on the bump. The bag was smelly, and no matter how much he tried to stomp it out, it kept smoldering… A.J. has been a streaky pitcher in the past, and Liriano has been close to unhittable this season, posting a 2.36 ERA in his 6 starts. The Twins are 5-1 with Francisco on the mound, and even against the almighty Yankees, a win in New York is where I have my money.

Washington Nationals @ Colorado Rockies (-1.5; -120) (5-14: 7:05 PM ET) (Hernandez vs. Jimenez): Talk about one unlikely hero and another guy with all the crazy elite talent in the world – and both are straight dealing on the bump this season. Say what you want about how Livan Hernandez has been pitching for the last 236 years, but the guy is on his game. Ubaldo Jimenez already has a no-hitter on his resume this season, and the kid is lightening in a uniform for the Rockies. Both have allowed fewer walks and hits than innings pitched, this season, and that’s ridiculous. Ubaldo is responsible for 6 of the Rockies 16 wins this season. Dirty. I can’t bet against the powerful righty, even against a surprising Hernandez on the mound for Washington. If one of these guys is bound to come back to earth, it’s Livan.