In this new series, MLB Weekly Forecast, I look to the week ahead in Major League Baseball, through a Game of the Week pick and a Series of the Week pick.

Game of the Week

(4-7) Chicago White Sox (Jeff Samardzija, 0-1, 4.29 ERA) vs. (4-7) Cleveland Indians (Corey Kluber, 0-1, 2.49 ERA), Wednesday.

It’s hard not to pick an ace matchup such as this one. Yes, both teams are struggling, and yes, both pitchers had tough first outings, but these are two aces that could be considered in the top five in the AL, no matter how they started the season. This is a pitching matchup to watch, and that’s why it’s my pick for game of the week.
My pick: Samardzija prevails, White Sox win.

Series of the Week

(6-7) Washington Nationals vs. (8-3) St. Louis Cardinals, Tuesday-Thursday.
The pitching dominates in this series, but big bats provided by both squads could quite easily turn that around. The probable pitchers should includeLance Lynn, John Lackey and Michael Wacha pitted against Gio Gonzales,Doug Fister and Max Scherzer. Watch for Matt Holliday in this series, as he has hit .285 against the Nationals in the last two years.

My pick: St. Louis takes it 2-1 behind the bat of Holliday.