FREE BASEBALL PICKS
Minnesota Twins (100)
Thu May 26 '05 7:05p
Both of these starting pitchers have similar statistics this season, but their recent performance vs. their opponent tonight gives the Twins a nice edge as a small underdog in this spot.
Radke may be just 4-4, but he has a fine 3.65 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. More importantly, he has simply owned the Indians in his last 6 starts against them, every single one of them Quality Starts. Radke has a 1.43 ERA and an outstanding 0.93 WHIP over those outings, covering 44 innings. He held Cleveland scoreless in three of those efforts, including a Complete Game 3-hit shutout the last time he faced them May 5, and he also allowed just two earned runs in two of the others starts and three earned runs in the other!
Now Sabathia is a similar 3-3 with a 3.48 ERA and 1.27 WHIP on the season. However, the Twins have lit him up in two of his last three starts against them. Minnesota reached him for 5 earned runs on 9 hits the last time he faced them while Sabathia lasted just 4 1/3 innings. Also, the last time he faced the Twins last season, they pummeled him for 7 earned runs on 10 hits in 5 2/3 frames! Given that he has a smaller margin for error given the struggles of the Cleveland offense this year, we simply do not trust Sabathia as small chalk here vs. a team that has dominated him for the most part.