It is a busy sports day this Saturday giving me a plethora of options over both streak games. I will be doubling down in both offering coming off a pair of different results on Friday. Without further ado, let's get to the picks.
I don't know what I've done to Mike Trout to make him so aggravated at me on Beat the Streak. He has gone hitless in three of the five times I've picked him now. That is a much less than acceptable return from the reigning AL MVP. Instead of resting on past laurels, today I'll be doubling down on two of the most locked in hitters in the American League. Josh Donaldson has brought the rain north of the border this year. The Jays as a team may be in limbo, but Donaldson is raking to the tune of a .311 batting average. He faces off with Houston's Brett Oberholtzer today. Donaldson tattooed the Astros' lefty last year (both were in the AL West) with a .400 BA (6 for 15) with five of the six hits going for extra bases (4 doubles, 1 home run). Fielder has a slightly smaller sample size against Kansas City's Yordano Ventura, but has been even more effective. He went 3-for-4 with a homer in their only previous meeting on May 13th, a Rangers victory.
My two picks on Streak for the Cash for today come from the end of one prestigious tournament and the beginning of another. The UEFA Champions League Final is early this afternoon pitting the Italian Serie A's Juventus FC against the Spanish La Liga's FC Barcelona. (CHEAP PLUG: Here's a last second primer for the game) Juventus took down the defending champions, Real Madrid, in the semi-finals. Barcelona ousted the 2013 champion Bayern Munich in the other final four matchup. Even though I think the game may turn on its head if Juve can get on the board first (and early), Barca will be too much for the Italian giants and the Blaugrana will be taking home their 5th UCL crown. While a tournament on the men's side ends, the woman's game begins their biggest spectacle. The Women's World Cup begins today across Canada as the month long showcase features the best the female game has to offer. The 2015 edition kicks off as the hosts take on 1999 runners-up China. The game is a Streak staple, WIN vs WIN/DRAW. I will be taking the WIN option paired up with Canada. Like Brazil showed on their home turf with the men, the home team is at a distinct advantage on the opening day of the tournament. While Canada may not want to suffer the same fate as the Brazilians last summer, I think they'll copy them in winning their opening match. HAPPY STREAKING EVERYBODY!!!!
Image Credits: Donaldson/Fielder BTS (mlb.com), Streak picks (espn.com)