Don Best Today's Free Picks

REASON FOR PICK: While Tigers starter Doug Fister is enjoying a good start to the 2013 season with a 5-1 record, his recent performances in Arlington suggest a different outcome tonight when facing the host Rangers. Fister has made only two starts at Texas, but he's lost both while allowing 14 runs and 19 hits (including five homers) in nine combined innings. And not sure that he'll get much support from his offense that has bogged down in this series and has batted just .215 and totaled 13 runs while losing three of four. Meanwhile, Texas lefty Derek Holland is 1-1 with a 1.57 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in three home starts this season. Play Rangers on Run Line

REASON FOR PICK: No question Kyle Lohse will want to pitch well for the Brewers today as they close out their weekend set with the Cardinals. This is the first trip back to St. Louis for Lohse and I'm sure he would love to send a message to Redbirds management that they should have tried a little harder to hang onto him. Unfortunately for Lohse, that figures to be easier said than done. The veteran pitcher has not been especially sharp lately and he's facing a team that has been tearing up righties.

John Gast gets his second start for the Redbirds, and the lefty was not too bad in his debut. I'm not sold that Gast is entirely ready for this level just yet, but on the other hand I've always liked playing on rookie southpaws in their first trip around the loop against hitters unfamiliar with them.

The main catalyst for playing the Cardinals here, however, is the team data. The Brewers have been a terrible team thus far. Take out that one big surge where they won nine straight, and the Brew Crew is a disastrous 8-24 in their other 32 games. As usual, they're a bad road team. Contrast that with St. Louis, which has the second best record in all of baseball, and you're looking at a number that is somewhat of a bargain. I'll try my luck with the Cardinals to close out this series with a win.

REASON FOR PICK: Not really sure how they have done it, but the Yankees are in first place in the AL East. They have accomplished this without most of their star players, who remain on the injured list. One thing is for sure, it's not a dominant hitting attack, as the Yankees are sixth from the bottom of the AL in runs/game (4.21) and below the league average in batting average (.252). Pitching has been good for the Yankees, ranked 2nd in the league in ERA (3.74) and fifth in WHIP (1.258). Still the injuries mount for NY. With Kevin Youklis (15 dl), Derek Jeter (60 day DL), Alex Rodriquez (60 day DL), Mark Teixeira (60 day DL) all still missing from the lineup. Now the pitching staff has seen Andy Pettitte (Trap) and IVan Nov (Tricep) also land on the 15-day DL. Meanwhile, Toronto is in last place in the AL East, 10 games back of the Yankees. Despite trading in the offseason for todays starter, R.A. Dickey, the staff is second worst in the AL in ERA (4.77) and 2nd worst in WHIP (1.461). Dickey has had a rough time since coming over from the Mets in the offseason, posting a 3-5 record with a 4.83 ERA). However, Dicky is coming off a fine performance last time out, allowing just two earned runs over six innings. CC Sabathia starts for the Yankees with a 4.3 mark and 3.19 ERA. I'm still not a believer in this Yankee club. And one thins is for sure, they won't blow out a lot of clubs. Dickey is better than his record has shown and I look for the knuckleballer to come around. Good value here on Sunday with the dog and Dickey. Take the Blue Jays as your free play.

REASON FOR PICK: The Rangers are 8-2 in their last 10 games overall, and they're 37-18 in their last 55 Sunday games. The Detroit Tigers do not fair too well down south as they're 3-10 in their last 12 meetings vs. Texas. The Rangers are up in the series 2-1 and will look to complete the series win on Sunday in prime time on ESPN. Play the Rangers.

REASON FOR PICK: Play On: L.A. Dodgers vs Minor Note: The struggling Dodgers close out a three game set the Braves when they face Mark Minor in Atlanta Sunday afternoon. That's good news for Los Angeles considering Minor is 0-4 with a 6.36 ERA at home in his career team starts during the month of May. In addition, Minor is also 0-2 at home in his career team starts in this series. With that look for L. A. to catch a break here today. We recommend a 1-unit play in the Dodgers. Thank you and good luck as always. Check this out: No less than three awesome angles are inside Sunday's Round Three Game One showdown between the Grizzlies and the Spurs. Best of all Marc has it - and you can, too - if you act now!