Must See Sports – fourth Weekend of June 2011

Slim pickings this week, Hat Trick readers!

Thursday, June 23

2011 NBA Draft

Time to see which moves your favorite team will make to get one step closer to the 2012 NBA Championship. Who will go first? Will it be Duke’s Kyrie Irving? Will it be Arizona’s Derrick Williams? Who will get traded? Steve Nash, Lamar Odom, or Tony Parker? Find out at 6:00 pm tonight!


Friday, June 24

Toronto Blue Jays at St. Louis Cardinals
Brandon Morrow (3-4, 5.02 ERA) – Blue Jays vs Jake Westbrook (6-4, 5.16 ERA) – Cardinals

Westbrook has won four of his last five decisions and will need to continue to be at his best if the Cardinals are to stay near or at the top of a tight National League Central race. Only three games separate the first place Milwaukee Brewers from the fourth place Pittsburgh Pirates.

The bright, early spring star of the Blue Jays is fading quickly. After a competitive start, the Jays have fallen behind the New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, and Boston Red Sox in the tight American League East race. They will not have to face the Cardinals’ slugger, Albert Pujols (.279, 17 HR, 45 RBI), who is out for at least the next month with a wrist injury. Still, the Cards are at home and playing well.

Advantages – Game: Cardinals Series: Cardinals


Saturday, June 25

Colorado Rockies at New York Yankees
Aaron Cook (0-2, 4.67 ERA) – Rockies vs C.C. Sabathia (9-4, 3.39 ERA)

Aaron Cook will be taking the mound for only the fourth time this season. He faces C.C. in Yankee Stadium. Any questions?

Advantages – Game: Yankees, Series: Yankees


Sunday, June 26

Cleveland Indians at San Francisco Giants
Fausto Carmona (4-9, 6.17 ERA) – Indians vs Madison Bumgarner (3-9, 4.06 ERA) - Giants

I would not expect a repeat of Bumgarner’s catastrophic start against the Minnesota Twins, in which he gave up 8 earned runs, but recorded only one out. The Indians have cooled off significant after a hot start and have to travel a long way for this interleague contest with the Giants, who are neck-and-neck with the Arizona Diamondback for the lead in the National League West.

Advantages – Game: Giants, Series: Giants


Wednesday, June 29

Boston Red Sox vs Philadelphia Phillies
John Lackey (5-6, 7.36 ERA) – Red Sox vs Roy Oswalt (4-5, 3.38 ERA) – Phillies

I don’t need to tell you that this could be a preview of the World Series. Unlike the days before interleague play, you can get a preview. John Lackey has won three of his last four starts after starting the year in a horrific fashion. Roy O, on the other hand, has been steady on the mound. The fact that the Phillies have won 10 of their last 12 and are at home doesn’t hurt the National League pennant contender, either.

Advantages – Game: Phillies, Series: Phillies