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Thursday’s Diamond Notes
By Kevin Rogers
Hottest team: Cubs (7-1)
Coming into the season, Chicago had high expectations following last season’s run to the National League Championship Series. The Cubs are living up to the lofty hopes early by winning seven of the first eight games, including a pair of home victories over the Reds. Chicago scored five runs in the first inning of Wednesday’s 9-2 blowout of Cincinnati, as Joe Maddon’s squad has plated at least five runs in six of eight games this season.
Things are setting up nicely for Chicago the remainder of April, as the Cubs host the Rockies this weekend, followed by a seven-game road trip at St. Louis and Cincinnati, then home for six games against Milwaukee and Atlanta. The amazing part of Chicago’s early success is the Cubs have overcome slow starts by two of its young stars with third baseman Kris Bryant (.212) and first baseman Anthony Rizzo (.207) each struggling at the plate.
Coldest team: Twins (0-8)
Minnesota is one two winless teams remaining in baseball along with Atlanta, as the Twins were shut out at home by the White Sox on Wednesday, 3-0. The Twins haven’t hit an ‘over’ yet this season in eight games, while plating only one run through the first 18 innings of their series against Chicago.
The pitching hasn’t been terrible for Minnesota, as the Twins have allowed more than four runs in a game just once this season. Ervin Santana is making his third start of the season as his first outing at Baltimore was cut short due to a rain delay. The veteran right-hander scattered six hits and yielded two earned runs in six innings of work in his last outing at Kansas City, a 4-3 defeat last Friday.
Hottest pitcher: Cole Hamels, Rangers (2-0, 2.08 ERA)
Texas returns home from a 4-3 road trip against Baltimore, who suffered its first loss following a 7-0 start. The Rangers send out their ace to the mound in tonight’s opener as Hamels has been solid in two victories against the Mariners and Angels. Hamels allowed a pair of solo homers in his first outing against Seattle, but the Rangers’ southpaw settled down and gave up just four hits in a 3-2 victory. The former Phillies’ ace silenced the Angels by yielding four hits in six innings of a 4-1 triumph as a short underdog against the Rangers as Texas improved to 13-1 in his past 14 starts since last August.
Coldest pitcher: Chris Archer, Rays (0-2, 7.20 ERA)
It’s been a rough start for Tampa Bay’s standout right-hander, as Archer has failed to pitch past the fifth inning in losses to the Blue Jays and Orioles. In his last outing at Baltimore, Archer was lit up for six earned runs in five innings of work, while getting touched up for four home runs in a 6-1 defeat as a -125 road favorite. Archer didn’t face the Indians last season, but lost twice to Cleveland in the 2014 campaign, including a 6-5 home defeat as a -130 home favorite.
Biggest OVER run: Cardinals (5-0 last five)
After starting the season at 2-1 to the ‘under,’ St. Louis has run off five consecutive ‘overs,’ including a pair against Milwaukee. The Cardinals woke up after getting swept at Pittsburgh in the opening series by scoring at least seven runs during each contest of a four-game winning streak. St. Louis was limited to four runs in last night’s 6-4 defeat to Milwaukee, as the Cards plated three runs in the first inning before scoring only once in the final eight frames. The Cardinals beat Wily Peralta four times last season, as the Brewers’ right-hander has allowed 11 runs through two starts this season.
Biggest UNDER run: Padres (4-0 last four)
The Twins own the longest ‘under’ run at eight, but today’s spotlight will shine on San Diego. The Padres were blanked in their first three games against the Dodgers prior to busting out at Colorado with 32 runs. Heading to Philadelphia was definitely a buzz-kill following their successful weekend at Coors Field as the Padres have scored five runs in the first three games against the Phillies. In the past two defeats, San Diego has crossed home plate just once, but the Padres have held the inept Phillies’ offense to eight runs in three games.
Matchup to watch: Royals vs. Astros
Kansas City goes for the series victory after winning each of the two nights at Minute Maid Park. The Astros drilled the Royals in Monday’s opener, 8-2 in the first meeting since Kansas City eliminated Houston in last season’s ALDS. The Royals rebounded with a pair of low-scoring wins, while limiting the Astros to two runs in each of those victories. Ian Kennedy is coming off a strong Kansas City debut by tossing 6.2 scoreless innings in a 7-0 triumph over Minnesota last Saturday, as the right-hander takes the ball tonight. Dating back to last season (including playoffs), the Royals have won 11 of their last 16 road contests.
Betcha didn’t know: After losing each of his first two starts to the Dodgers last season, Arizona southpaw Robbie Ray didn’t allow a run in his final two outings against Los Angeles, both Diamondbacks victories. Since last September, the D-backs own a 5-1 record when Ray takes the mound, including handing the Cubs their only loss this season in a 3-2 win last Saturday.
Biggest public favorite:
Cardinals (-190) vs. Brewers
Biggest public underdog:
White Sox (+105) at Twins
Biggest line move:
Padres (+130 to +120) at Phillies
Thursday’s Diamond Notes
By Kevin Rogers
Hottest team: Cubs (7-1)
Coming into the season, Chicago had high expectations following last season’s run to the National League Championship Series. The Cubs are living up to the lofty hopes early by winning seven of the first eight games, including a pair of home victories over the Reds. Chicago scored five runs in the first inning of Wednesday’s 9-2 blowout of Cincinnati, as Joe Maddon’s squad has plated at least five runs in six of eight games this season.
Things are setting up nicely for Chicago the remainder of April, as the Cubs host the Rockies this weekend, followed by a seven-game road trip at St. Louis and Cincinnati, then home for six games against Milwaukee and Atlanta. The amazing part of Chicago’s early success is the Cubs have overcome slow starts by two of its young stars with third baseman Kris Bryant (.212) and first baseman Anthony Rizzo (.207) each struggling at the plate.
Coldest team: Twins (0-8)
Minnesota is one two winless teams remaining in baseball along with Atlanta, as the Twins were shut out at home by the White Sox on Wednesday, 3-0. The Twins haven’t hit an ‘over’ yet this season in eight games, while plating only one run through the first 18 innings of their series against Chicago.
The pitching hasn’t been terrible for Minnesota, as the Twins have allowed more than four runs in a game just once this season. Ervin Santana is making his third start of the season as his first outing at Baltimore was cut short due to a rain delay. The veteran right-hander scattered six hits and yielded two earned runs in six innings of work in his last outing at Kansas City, a 4-3 defeat last Friday.
Hottest pitcher: Cole Hamels, Rangers (2-0, 2.08 ERA)
Texas returns home from a 4-3 road trip against Baltimore, who suffered its first loss following a 7-0 start. The Rangers send out their ace to the mound in tonight’s opener as Hamels has been solid in two victories against the Mariners and Angels. Hamels allowed a pair of solo homers in his first outing against Seattle, but the Rangers’ southpaw settled down and gave up just four hits in a 3-2 victory. The former Phillies’ ace silenced the Angels by yielding four hits in six innings of a 4-1 triumph as a short underdog against the Rangers as Texas improved to 13-1 in his past 14 starts since last August.
Coldest pitcher: Chris Archer, Rays (0-2, 7.20 ERA)
It’s been a rough start for Tampa Bay’s standout right-hander, as Archer has failed to pitch past the fifth inning in losses to the Blue Jays and Orioles. In his last outing at Baltimore, Archer was lit up for six earned runs in five innings of work, while getting touched up for four home runs in a 6-1 defeat as a -125 road favorite. Archer didn’t face the Indians last season, but lost twice to Cleveland in the 2014 campaign, including a 6-5 home defeat as a -130 home favorite.
Biggest OVER run: Cardinals (5-0 last five)
After starting the season at 2-1 to the ‘under,’ St. Louis has run off five consecutive ‘overs,’ including a pair against Milwaukee. The Cardinals woke up after getting swept at Pittsburgh in the opening series by scoring at least seven runs during each contest of a four-game winning streak. St. Louis was limited to four runs in last night’s 6-4 defeat to Milwaukee, as the Cards plated three runs in the first inning before scoring only once in the final eight frames. The Cardinals beat Wily Peralta four times last season, as the Brewers’ right-hander has allowed 11 runs through two starts this season.
Biggest UNDER run: Padres (4-0 last four)
The Twins own the longest ‘under’ run at eight, but today’s spotlight will shine on San Diego. The Padres were blanked in their first three games against the Dodgers prior to busting out at Colorado with 32 runs. Heading to Philadelphia was definitely a buzz-kill following their successful weekend at Coors Field as the Padres have scored five runs in the first three games against the Phillies. In the past two defeats, San Diego has crossed home plate just once, but the Padres have held the inept Phillies’ offense to eight runs in three games.
Matchup to watch: Royals vs. Astros
Kansas City goes for the series victory after winning each of the two nights at Minute Maid Park. The Astros drilled the Royals in Monday’s opener, 8-2 in the first meeting since Kansas City eliminated Houston in last season’s ALDS. The Royals rebounded with a pair of low-scoring wins, while limiting the Astros to two runs in each of those victories. Ian Kennedy is coming off a strong Kansas City debut by tossing 6.2 scoreless innings in a 7-0 triumph over Minnesota last Saturday, as the right-hander takes the ball tonight. Dating back to last season (including playoffs), the Royals have won 11 of their last 16 road contests.
Betcha didn’t know: After losing each of his first two starts to the Dodgers last season, Arizona southpaw Robbie Ray didn’t allow a run in his final two outings against Los Angeles, both Diamondbacks victories. Since last September, the D-backs own a 5-1 record when Ray takes the mound, including handing the Cubs their only loss this season in a 3-2 win last Saturday.
Biggest public favorite:
Cardinals (-190) vs. Brewers
Biggest public underdog:
White Sox (+105) at Twins
Biggest line move:
Padres (+130 to +120) at Phillies
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