3 Picks: Snakes in the Field

Wednesday, June 6: Matt Morris (6-2)(SF) vs. Brandon Webb (5-3)(ARI)

After pitching a real gem in New York last week it's time to see what Webb can do at home against a key division rival. The Giants go with Morris against the defending NL Cy Young Award winner.(Win Probability graphing by Fangraphs)
Matt Morris: 8.0IP, 7H, 1R, 1ER, 2BB, 6SO, 1HR - L

Brandon Webb: 7.0IP, 6H, 0R, 0ER, 4BB, 7SO, 0HR - W
Brandon Lyon: 1.0IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 2SO, 0HR - H
Jose Valverde: 1.0IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 2SO, 0HR - SV

Eight complete innings with only one run allowed is a long way to go for a loss. Webb is pitching in real Cy Young form so far this June.

Thursday, June 7: Cole Hamels (8-2)(PHI) vs. John Maine (6-3)(NYM)

Hamels has been the Philly stud this year. And pairing off against Maine makes this one compelling... on paper anyway.(Win Probability graphing by Fangraphs)
Cole Hamels: 7.0Ip, 10H, 3R, 3ER, 1BB, 5SO, 3HR - ND
Mike Zagurski: 1.0IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 1SO, 0HR - W
Antonio Alfonseca: 1.0IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 0SO, 0HR - SV

John Maine: 7.0IP, 6H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, 2SO, 0HR - ND
Pedro Feliciano: 0.2IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 0SO, 0HR - H
Billy Wagner: 1.1IP, 1H, 1R, 1ER, 1BB, 3SO, 1HR - BS
Scott Schoenweis: 0.1IP, 2H, 3R, 3ER, 1BB, 0SO, 0HR - L

It took 10 innings, but the Phillies got the sweep at Shea that they needed at this point. We'll see if they have any pitching left going into interleague play against the dreaded (er... dreadful) Royals. Congratulations to Mike Zagurski for recording his career first major league win.

Friday, June 8: Josh Beckett (8-0)(BOS) vs. Doug Davis (4-6)(ARI)

Beckett takes his "undefeated" status and his bat into the National League West where he'll need to take some at bats and keep snakes off the base paths.(Win Probability graphing by Fangraphs)
Josh Beckett: 8.0IP, 5H, 3R, 2ER, 0BB, 8SO, 1HR - W

Doug Davis: 4.0IP, 6H, 5R, 5ER, 5BB, 2SO, 2HR - L

No walks in 8 innings of work and 8 strikeouts. That's outstanding! Beckett goes to 9-0 with a rout of the D-Backs. Newsflash: excellent offensive American League team with great pitching beats anemic hitting National League team.