Baseball Weekend Preview 4/23/2010

Let's do the Baseball Weekend Preview 4/23/2010:

Most intriguing series: New York Yankees (11-4) at Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (8-9) Friday through Sunday. Game times are 8:05 p.m. MT (MLB Extra Innings, mlb.tv), 2:10 p.m. MT (FOX) and 1:35 p.m. MT (MLB EI, mlb.tv). The Halos are off to a bit of a slow start, but could really make a statement that they're still the top dog out west with a strong performance this weekend in a rematch of last year's ALCS. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say the Angels take two out of three behind strong starting pitching and timely hitting. I still think they're a good team and will ultimately win the West. They are a bit fortunate in that they don't have to face CC Sabathia this weekend as well. It should be a good series.

Another intriguing series: This was a close one and I almost went with Rays (12-4)-Blue Jays (9-7), but I'm going to take Chicago Cubs (6-10) at Milwaukee Brewers (8-7) Friday through Sunday. Game times are 6:10, 5:10 and 12:10 p.m. MT (all on MLB EI and mlb.tv., Sunday's game also available on TBS). The Cubs have a lot of talent but are really struggling to gel so far this year and the spotlight has largely been on left fielder Alfonso Soriano and pitcher Carlos Zambrano, both of whom are off to rough starts. It was announced this week that manager Lou Piniella will move "Big Z" and his 7.45 ERA to the bullpen for a while. The Brewers are coming off a three game pounding of the Pirates and in yesterday's game star first baseman Prince Fielder finally hit his first home run of the year. I think these two teams are really in the race for second behind the St. Louis Cardinals (10-5), but could still make some noise in the playoff race. I think the Brewers really found their stride in the Pittsburgh series and will continue to play well, taking two of three from the Cubs, who will continue to struggle for now.

Least intriguing series: To me this is easy, it's the Pittsburgh Pirates (7-8) at the Houston Astros (5-10). Game times are 6:05, 5:05 and 12:05 p.m. (all on MLB EI and mlb.tv). The Pirates recent struggles have been chronicled in this blog and the Astros were the last team in the Majors to win a game, dropping their first 8. Neither of these teams is going to be very good this year and they really have to focus on the future. The Astros have been playing better since their awful start and given that they are at home I will pick them to win two out of three from the struggling Pirates.

San Francisco Giants (8-7) Weekend Preview: At home vs. the St. Louis Cardinals (10-5). See below.