Good Torii Hunter

Torii Hunter blasts three home runs against the Padres in a 9-1 victor for the home Angels. Hunter smacks two of the three against Padres starter Josh Geer, hardly an ace, but this is looking like Hunter's career year - no matter whom he's facing.

Fantasy Impact: Hunter's always been a nice fantasy player, but never a first-two round pick. This season, however, he's on pace to destroy his career high in homers of 31. He's also on pace to go over 100 runs for the first time in a single season. Breaking his career-high of 23 stolen bases is also in reach. He's a sell-high candidate who is prone to slumps historically, but this hot streak is going on three months now without stopping. Ride the wave. It just might last a full season.

ALCS - game six going Rays way

Forget a Rays collapse. I'm picking Tampa Bay over Boston tonight. The reason is two-fold. James Shields dominates at home (9-2, 2.59 ERA at the Trop in the regular season; 1-0, 3.29 ERA in the postseason), and Josh Beckett hasn't been his dominant self since September 16th (11.57 ERA, .400 BAA in the postseason).

There are, however, a couple of caveats in this prediction. Beckett's last dominant start came at Tampa Bay, going eight innings with seven strike outs and one earned run in a no-decision. Beckett went 2-1 with a 2.09 ERA against the Rays this season. Shields struggled twice against the BoSox in Boston this year (5.85 ERA), but pitched well against the Sox the two times he faced them at home (15.1 IP, 2 ER, 2 W). Don't forget his solid performance in game one of the ALCS (7.1 IP, 2 ER), when he was simply outperformed by Daisuke Matsuzaka in a 2-0 Boston win.

Sticking with Shields, I think. Yes, Shields and the Rays it is.

Update: Daisuke can pitch tonight if needed. This is going to be a great night of baseball.