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**TheGame** · 05-30-2016, 07:43 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 5/30

MLB roundup: Castro's homer only hit for Yanks in win
By The Sports Xchange

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Tampa Bay Rays starter Jake Odorizzi took a no-hitter into the seventh, but the Yankees' only hit was a two-run homer by Starlin Castro, enough for New York to pull out a 2-1 victory on Sunday at Tropicana Field.
The Yankees hadn't won a game while getting just one hit since July 1914.
New York took two of three from the Rays, getting another strong outing from Nathan Eovaldi (6-2), who won his fifth straight start. The Rays outhit the Yankees 6-1 but took their seventh loss in nine games as they head into a 10-game road trip.
The Yankees' hit came with one out in the bottom of the seventh as Castro followed a walk to Brett Gardner with a two-run shot to left-center, his seventh home run of the season. Odorizzi stayed in for the final two outs of the inning, leaving the game after throwing 108 pitches.

Nationals 10, Cardinals 2
WASHINGTON -- Stephen Strasburg remained unbeaten as he allowed one run in six innings and Wilson Ramos had three hits and four RBIs as Washington routed St. Louis to earn a split of the four-game series.
Strasburg (9-0), now tied for the league lead in wins, gave up six hits and two walks with four strikeouts and lowered his ERA to 2.69.
Jayson Werth helped put the game out of reach with a pinch-hit grand slam in the seventh off Dean Kiekhefer to give the Nationals an 8-2 lead. It was his first career pinch-hit grand slam and sixth career slam overall. Ramos hit a two-run homer in the ninth to make it 10-2 off Tyler Lyons.

Dodgers 4, Mets 2
NEW YORK -- Adrian Gonzalez's two-run single in the top of the ninth inning Sunday night snapped a tie and lifted Los Angeles to a win over New York at Citi Field.
The Dodgers won the final two games of the three-game series and have won six of their last seven. The Mets fell out of a first-place tie with the Washington Nationals in the National League East.
The Mets tied the game in stunning fashion in the bottom of the eighth, when rookie Dodgers manager Dave Roberts lifted three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw with two out and the tying run at second.

Orioles 6, Indians 4
CLEVELAND -- Hyun Soo Kim's first major league home run broke a 4-4 tie in the seventh inning as Baltimore beat Cleveland.
Kim sent a two-out, 2-2 pitch from Jeff Manship (0-1) into the seats in right field for his first career home run.
Reliever Zach Britton pitched the ninth to earn his 14th save. Three of the Indians' eight hits, and all of their runs, came on home runs by Carlos Santana, Mike Napoli and Jason Kipnis.

Cubs 7, Phillies 2
CHICAGO -- John Lackey allowed four hits over seven innings while his teammates supplied ample offensive support as the Cubs recorded their first three-game Wrigley Field sweep of the Phillies since 1995.
Lackey (5-2) earned his first win since May 6 as he struck out six, walked four and gave up a seventh-inning solo home run. Miguel Montero homered and added an RBI single, Ben Zobrist slammed a three-run home run while Kris Bryant went 2-for-3 and scored twice to pace the Cubs' offense.
The Cubs (34-14) have now won five straight and own the best record in the major leagues. The Phillies (26-24) have dropped three in a row and five of their last six. Phillies starter Vince Velasquez (5-2) worked just 4 2/3 innings.

Royals 5, White Sox 4
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Lorenzo Cain homered and Cheslor Cuthbert singled home the winning run for Kansas City, which completed a series sweep and took over first place in the American League Central.
Chicago lost a six straight game and fell for the 14th time in 18 game. The White Sox's bullpen spoiled a solid outing by Chris Sale, who limited the Royals to two runs on seven hits, six of them singles, and two walks two in seven innings.
Nate Jones (2-1) replaced Sale and gave up three runs on three hits, including Cain's homer and an Eric Hosmer double, and two walks, while retiring only one batter. Jones walked Brett Eibner with the bases loaded in the eighth to tie the score. Matt Albers relieved Jones and yielded Cuthbert's infield single that scored pinch runner Jarrod Dyson with the go-ahead run.

Red Sox 5, Blue Jays 3 (11 innings)
TORONTO -- Dustin Pedroia drove in the go-ahead run with a double in the 11th inning to help Boston get the victory.
Clay Buchholz (3-5) entered the game in the 10th in his first relief appearance since being removed from the rotation and pitched around a single to earn the win as the Red Sox salvaged one win from the three-game series to end Toronto's four-game winning streak.
Drew Storen gave up Pedroia's RBI ground-rule double in the 11th, and Xander Bogaerts, who earlier in the game extended his hit career-high streak to 22 games, added a run on an RBI groundout. Koji Uehara pitched the bottom of the 11th to earn his first save of the season.

Brewers 5, Reds 4
MILWAUKEE -- Jonathan Villar and Jonathan Lucroy collected two hits apiece to lead the Milwaukee victory.
Villar reached base all four times up and scored three runs. Lucroy reached three times and drove in three runs for the third consecutive game.
Their offense provided plenty of support for Jimmy Nelson (5-3) who gave up two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five and worked into the eighth for the third time in his last four starts.
Cincinnati's Jay Bruce hit his ninth home run of the season in the second inning.

Rangers 6, Pirates 2
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Martin Perez pitched out of trouble in the top of a pivotal fourth inning, and Prince Fielder and Mitch Moreland hit home runs in the bottom of the inning to help Texas top Pittsburgh.
The Pirates already led 2-0 when they put runners on second and third with no outs in the fourth. Perez got two groundouts and threw a called third strike to Jordy Mercer to end the threat.
Fielder led off the Rangers' half of the inning against Francisco Liriano (4-4) with his third homer, his first in 35 games. After two walks, Moreland got his sixth homer of the season. He has homered in consecutive games after a 15-game drought.

Twins 5, Mariners 4
SEATTLE -- Miguel Sano and Joe Mauer homered for the third time in as many games as Minnesota completed its first series sweep in more than a month.
Seattle fell out of first place in the American League West for the first time in two weeks, while the Twins matched their season-long winning streak of four games.
Mauer and Sano went back-to-back to open the fourth for a 4-2, and Juan Centeno added an RBI double two outs later. The Twins still led 5-2 in the ninth before a two-out, two-run shot from Seattle's Franklin Gutierrez brought the Mariners to within a run. Minnesota closer Kevin Jepsen struck out Chris Iannetta on five pitches to thwart the rally and earn his sixth save.

A's 4, Tigers 2
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Pinch hitter Billy Butler blooped a two-out, two-run single to cap a three-run sixth inning, and Oakland rallied to beat Detroit for the second consecutive day.
Rich Hill (8-3) won his fifth consecutive start despite having to leave in the seventh inning with a mild groin strain. Hill allowed two runs on five hits in 6 1/3 innings, with his ERA rising to 2.25, second in the American League. Sean Doolittle recorded his third save with a 1-2-3 ninth.
All three Oakland runs in the decisive sixth inning were unearned due to a two-out error by Ian Kinsler.

Diamondbacks 6, Padres 3
PHOENIX -- Paul Goldschmidt had two hits and drove in two runs, and Archie Bradley had a career-high nine strikeouts to help Arizona top San Diego.
Goldschmidt's two-run double capped a five-run second inning for a 6-1 lead off Drew Pomeranz (4-5), who had given up only three earned runs in 31 innings in five previous May starts.
Bradley, recalled from Triple-A Reno earlier in the day, gave up four hits and three runs in 7 1/3 innings. Bradley (2-0) retired 15 of 16 batters after Jon Jay's one-out single in the third inning before leaving after issuing his only walk, to Brett Wallace in the eighth inning.

Giants 8, Rockies 3
DENVER -- Johnny Cueto won his fifth consecutive decision as San Francisco won for the 15th time in 17 games.
Cueto (8-1) allowed two runs, one earned, and six hits in six innings to lower his ERA to 2.31. He is the first Giants pitcher since Shawn Estes in 1997 to win at least eight of his first 11 starts.
Hunter Pence had three hits and three RBIs for the Giants. Denard Span's three hits included a home run, and Gregor Blanco and Buster Posey added three hits apiece.

Marlins 7, Braves 3
ATLANTA -- Derek Dietrich had a career-best four RBIs, and Tom Koehler took a two-hitter into the eighth inning as the Marlins avoided going 0-6 against the Braves.
Dietrich hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the sixth inning and added a two-run double in the seventh. Koehler (3-5) ended up being charged with three runs (two earned) after the Braves scored twice in the eighth inning.
Marcell Ozuna hit his 10th homer of the season in the ninth. The Marlins center fielder was 2-for-4 with an intentional walk while extending his hitting streak to 11 games and his on-base streak to 36 games. He scored three runs.

Astros 8, Angels 6 (13 innings)
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Carlos Correa's pinch-hit, three-run home run in the 13th inning lead Houston to a win over Los Angeles.
Jose Altuve contributed four hits and Jake Marisnick hit his first homer, as the Astros tied a season high with 14 hits while earning their fifth win in six games.
Kole Calhoun hit his fourth home run and Albert Pujols had three hits for Los Angeles. Calhoun scored in the bottom of the 13th on a wild pitch. Angels third baseman Yunel Escobar left the game in the top of the second inning when Marisnick hit a line drive off his left wrist, causing a contusion. Escobar is day-to-day.

**TheGame** · 05-30-2016, 07:44 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 5/30

Preview: Giants (32-20) at Braves (14-35)

Game: 1
Venue: Turner Field
Date: May 30, 2016 1:10 PM EDT

While the pitching staff played a key role in starting an impressive surge, the San Francisco Giants' offense has picked up recently.

They could put it all together when Jeff Samardzija chases his fourth straight victory and tries to lead the visiting Giants to their 16th win in 18 games Monday against the MLB-worst Atlanta Braves.

San Francisco starters posted a 1.53 ERA to make up for a lineup that averaged just 3.4 runs over the first 15 games during this stretch.

That changed in the last two games at Coors Field as the Giants totaled 18 runs and 33 hits to take two of three in the series. Denard Span, Buster Posey, Hunter Pence and Gregor Blanco each had three hits in a season high-tying 17-hit attack in Sunday's 8-3 victory.

Posey went 5 for 9 with two home runs, a double and six RBIs in the last two games, while Pence was 5 for 10 with three doubles and three RBIs and Blanco has gone 10 for 21 with three RBIs in his last five.

San Francisco (32-20) hopes to continue its high-scoring ways with Samardzija (7-2, 2.54 ERA) on the hill. The right-hander has a chance to match Sunday's winner Johnny Cueto for the team lead in victories.

The team's loaded rotation also includes left-handed ace Madison Bumgarner, who has a 6-2 record to go along with a 2.12 ERA.

"To come here every day and watch each guy pitch has been great," Samardzija told MLB's official website. "To see the success that especially Johnny and Bum have had fuels you to go out and do your part."

Samardzija also looks to win four consecutive starts for the first time in his career after he surrendered one run and struck out seven over 6 2/3 innings in Tuesday's 8-2 home win over San Diego. He's been particularly stellar in May, going 4-1 with a 1.41 ERA in five starts.

The 31-year-old has gone 2-1 with a 2.10 ERA in four career starts against the Braves (14-35), though he hasn't faced them since 2014. Gordon Beckham is 3 for 10 with a home run off him, but Freddie Freeman has gone 0 for 9 with four strikeouts in this matchup.

Atlanta has averaged 3.1 runs and hit .233 while dropping 21 of 25 at Turner Field. The Braves, off to their worst record through 49 games since the 1911 Boston team, only had three hits in Sunday's 7-3 loss to Miami.

They'll hope to do better for Mike Foltynewicz (1-2, 3.95) in the opener of this four-game series. He's shown some promise by limiting opponents to two runs or less in three of his last four starts.

Foltynewicz overcame four walks Wednesday when he allowed one run and struck out seven over 5 2/3 innings in a 3-2 loss to Milwaukee.

After giving up two runs over 6 2/3 innings in a 4-2 loss at San Francisco on May 29, 2015, he surrendered six runs and nine hits - including four homers - over six innings in a 9-8 home win in August.

Brandon Crawford should be happy to see him after hitting a pair of home runs in that contest, while Posey and Brandon Belt also went deep.

The Giants have won five of the last six meetings at Turner Field.

**TheGame** · 05-30-2016, 07:44 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 5/30

Preview: White Sox (27-24) at Mets (28-21)

Game: 1
Venue: Citi Field
Date: May 30, 2016 1:10 PM EDT

Jose Quintana has lost his last three starts, yet his ERA remains in the top 10 in all of baseball. Matt Harvey has lost his last three starts and seen his ERA balloon to an embarrassing level.

The Chicago White Sox's impressive No. 2 and the New York Mets' former No. 1 square off Monday with Chicago looking to end a crippling six-game losing streak.

After Sunday's 5-4 loss in Kansas City, the White Sox (27-24) have been swept in consecutive series and their once formidable pitching staff is failing them. They've posted a 6.10 ERA and given up at least five runs in five of the six on the skid with the bullpen at 7.79.

Ace Chris Sale isn't yet concerned after watching the bullpen blow another lead Sunday.

"We're too good of a team,' Sale said. 'I can't tell you enough that this is nothing but a speed bump. ... This was as bad of a series as you could possibly have, and there's still no doubt in our minds that we're going to push through this and figure it out and find a way to get back and win some ballgames.'

Onto Quintana (5-4, 2.22 ERA), whose personal losing streak has come with a 4.19 ERA. The left-hander gave up three runs and five hits with eight strikeouts in Wednesday's 4-3 home loss to Cleveland.

He was given one run of support for a third straight start, which is the same formula that turned him into an under .500 pitcher over the previous two seasons despite a 3.34 ERA.

Quintana has never faced the Mets, but Yoenis Cespedes is 9 for 15 with four home runs, a triple and two doubles against him. Asdrubal Cabrera is 2 for 19.

Harvey (3-7, 6.08) hasn't made it through six innings on his skid. The right-hander has a 10.80 ERA in his last three outings after giving up five runs and eight hits â?? three home runs â?? in Tuesday's 7-4 loss in Washington.

The club has apparently been able to find something that's off mechanically as he works deeper into games, though they weren't specific when addressing it after working with manager Terry Collins, pitching coach Dan Warthen and a few players on Friday.

"The second time through the order, we're seeing things he's doing that are keeping him from having the ability to make the pitches he needs to make," Collins said. "We're seeing a velocity drop, and there is a reason for that. We're seeing a lack of a feel for his breaking ball."

His one start against the White Sox had no such issues as Harvey gave up a hit and struck out 12 in a shutout on May 7, 2013. He was perfect until an infield single in the seventh inning.

Longtime NL East foe Jimmy Rollins is 5 for 19 with two home runs and two doubles off Harvey.

New York (28-21) will be happy to face anyone other than Clayton Kershaw after Sunday's 4-2 loss in which they managed five hits. Over a 2-3 span, the Mets are batting .172.

**TheGame** · 05-30-2016, 07:44 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 5/30

Preview: Red Sox (30-20) at Orioles (28-20)

Game: 1
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: May 30, 2016 1:35 PM EDT

The Baltimore Orioles were happy to complete a losing road trip with a series victory as they head home for a major challenge.

They'll start a four-game series Monday against the Boston Red Sox in a matchup of the AL East's top two teams.

Baltimore (28-20) went all the way across the country and back in a 4-5 trip that included stops in Anaheim, Houston and Cleveland. The Orioles won 6-4 over the Indians on Sunday to enter with some momentum.

They'll need it because Boston (30-20) holds a one-game lead in the division and features AL batting leader Xander Bogaerts, who is at .351 with a .398 mark in a 22-game hitting streak that is the second longest in the majors this year to the 29-game one by teammate Jackie Bradley Jr. that was snapped last week.

"It's no treat playing Boston but it's good going home," manager Buck Showalter said. "We've had some people being in some real unfriendly environments and it'll be a quick turnaround with another day game tomorrow."

The Orioles will get a break if David Ortiz sits out a second straight game. The slugger was scratched from Sunday's 5-3, 11-inning victory at Toronto with a sore left foot after he was hit there by a pitch the day before.

"I had him in the lineup originally but then, when he tried to run, it was not feeling good," manager John Farrell said. "Didn't want to push it. We're hopeful he'll be back in the lineup tomorrow."

The Red Sox got an RBI double in the 11th inning from Dustin Pedroia to avoid a three-game sweep. The Blue Jays took the first two games of the series by scoring in their final at-bats.

"On the heels of two really tough days up here I thought we battled back, took the lead, gave it up and kept coming," Farrell said. "I couldn't be more proud with the energy and effort."

Pedroia is 10 for 24 with five doubles in his last six games, with four RBIs in his last two.

He and the Red Sox will see Tyler Wilson (2-3, 3.80 ERA) for the second time after the Orioles starter worked three scoreless innings of relief against them in a 4-2 loss at Boston on April 13. Baltimore took two of three in that series - the first between these clubs.

Wilson is 2-3 with a 4.41 ERA in six starts, yielding four runs in six innings of Wednesday's 4-3 loss to Houston. He also had two errors.

The Red Sox will start knuckleballer Steven Wright (4-4, 2.52) after he gave up three runs in seven-plus innings of Wednesday's 10-3 rout of Colorado.

Wright has a 1.73 ERA on the road.

He has allowed two runs over 5 2/3 innings of relief in two career appearances versus Baltimore. No Orioles hitter has more than three at-bats against him.

Wright's batterymate will once again be Ryan Hanigan, who leads the majors with 13 passed balls.

Orioles slugger Mark Trumbo went 6 for 12 with a homer, three doubles and five RBIs over the weekend while Manny Machado was 6 for 13 with three doubles.

**TheGame** · 05-30-2016, 07:45 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 5/30

Preview: Cardinals (26-25) at Brewers (23-27)

Game: 1
Venue: Miller Park
Date: May 30, 2016 2:10 PM EDT

As the calendar approaches June, Carlos Martinez likely can't wait to turn the page on May.

The St. Louis Cardinals pitcher hopes to end a rough month on a positive note in Monday's opener of a three-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Martinez (4-5, 4.25 ERA) seemed on the verge of taking a major step forward after posting a 1.93 ERA in winning each of his four April starts. It's been an entirely different outcome in May, as he's lost five straight outings while producing a 6.84 ERA.

The 24-year-old struggled again Wednesday, allowing six runs in five innings of a 9-8 loss to the Chicago Cubs. It's the third consecutive start that Martinez has surrendered at least four runs and fourth straight in which he hasn't lasted beyond five innings.

Martinez's inconsistency has mirrored the first two months for St. Louis (26-25), which continues to hover around .500 and lose ground to the NL Central-leading Cubs. The Cardinals appeared to be making headway with consecutive wins in Washington that preceded Sunday's 10-2 loss and resulted in a four-game series split.

The Nationals broke open the game with a five-run seventh inning against a bullpen that didn't have key members Seung Hwan Oh and Kevin Siegrist available due to heavy usage over the past week.

"We can't just keep using the same guys every night. We're going to blow them out," manager Mike Matheny told MLB's official website.

A matchup in Milwaukee (23-27) could bode well for Martinez, as he dominated in two starts at Miller Park last season and owns a 1.75 ERA there. He limited the Brewers to a run over eight innings last September and struck out eight over seven in a 3-0 win on April 24, 2015.

The Brewers also may not have their best hitter available with Ryan Braun having missed two straight games with a stiff neck.

Milwaukee has been getting production from other spots during a stretch in which it's won five of six. Jonathan Lucroy went 6 for 11 with two homers and nine RBIs in this weekend's series with Cincinnati, Aaron Hill is 8 for 13 with two homers over his last four games and Jonathan Villar is 9 for 19 with seven runs scored over the past five.

Villar went 2 for 2 and scored three times in Sunday's 5-4 win over the Reds, raising his average to .373 since May 9.

'That's the kind of guy you want in the leadoff spot," said Lucroy, who had three RBIs in all three games. "He's got speed, he's hitting for average, he's walking and he's making good decisions. It's nice to get up there and have a guy on base every time you get up to hit.'

Junior Guerra (3-0, 3.30) has also provided an unexpected lift, with the Brewers having won all of the 31-year-old rookie's five starts since he joined the rotation May 3. He's yielded three runs and recorded 21 strikeouts in 18 innings over his last three.

Guerra followed an 11-strikeout effort to defeat the Cubs on May 19 by tossing five scoreless innings in Wednesday's 3-2, 13-inning win at Atlanta.

St. Louis took two of three at home from the Brewers from April 11-14 and have won 11 of 15 in the series. The Cardinals are 9-2 in their last 11 visits to Miller Park.

**TheGame** · 05-30-2016, 07:45 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 5/30

Preview: Twins (15-34) at Athletics (22-29)

Game: 1
Venue: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Date: May 30, 2016 4:05 PM EDT

The AL's lowest-scoring team finally woke up over the weekend and next draws a matchup against the team with the league's next highest ERA to its own.

The last-place Minnesota Twins hope to keep improving their own dismal numbers when they visit the Oakland Athletics on Monday seeking their longest winning streak of the season.

Minnesota (15-34) has won four straight for the second time, capping the run with a weekend sweep at Seattle. The Twins seek their first five-game run since winning six in a row from Aug. 20-26, and they can do so by snapping a two-game skid against the Athletics (22-29).

They averaged only 3.56 runs through their first 45 games but have totaled 25 and batted .288 during the win streak. Of their 40 hits, 11 are home runs, and they belted three in a game three times - a number they reached only twice previously.

Miguel Sano has been the biggest contributor, homering in each game on the streak to raise his team-leading total to 11. Joe Mauer has gone deep three times, Eduardo Nunez hit two and Brian Dozier and Robbie Grossman one each.

The Twins' lineup will try to keep raising its AL-low 3.77 scoring average against Oakland, which just took the final two games of a three-game set versus Detroit. The Athletics' ERA of 4.76 is the league's second worst, ahead of only Minnesota's 4.98.

Oakland received a scare in Sunday's 4-2 win when starter Rich Hill left in the seventh inning with what was termed a slight groin strain. Manager Bob Melvin said Hill didn't want to leave the game, so he made the decision to replace him out of caution.

'He was still pitching effectively,' Melvin said. 'I didn't want to take a chance it would get worse.'

The A's will send the struggling Kendall Graveman to the mound for this series opener. Graveman (1-6, 5.36 ERA) hasn't won since April 20, losing five straight starts before allowing two runs and seven hits over 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision at Seattle on Tuesday.

The right-hander has struggled to a 6.57 ERA in May, surrendering 36 hits in 24 2/3 innings while walking 12 and striking out 17.

Minnesota's Ervin Santana (1-3, 4.17) also took a big step backward in his latest outing, Tuesday's 7-4 loss to Kansas City.

The 12-year-veteran was tagged for season highs of six runs and nine hits over 3 2/3 innings, as his ERA jumped more than a run from 3.13.

"My command was not good," Santana told MLB's official website. "Everything was up in the zone."

The right-hander may have a prime opportunity to get back on track against a team he has dominated. Santana is 15-6 with a 2.07 ERA in 27 career starts versus Oakland. His 15 wins are his most against any opponent, while his ERA is lower than any team he has faced more than four times.

Santana's 1.93 ERA at Oakland Coliseum is lower than any venue he has pitched in more than twice. Oakland's Billy Butler bats just .235 in the matchup, but five of his eight hits are home runs.

**TheGame** · 05-30-2016, 07:45 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 5/30

Preview: Reds (16-34) at Rockies (23-26)

Game: 1
Venue: Coors Field
Date: May 30, 2016 4:10 PM EDT

Carlos Gonzalez is riding the kind of hot streak that the Colorado Rockies dream about. They only wish it was leading to more wins.

Given his recent success against the struggling Cincinnati Reds, Gonzalez figures to keep knocking the ball around Monday when the Rockies hope to avoid their third straight loss on this homestand.

The 2015 Silver Slugger Award winner went 2 for 4 with his eighth home run in Sunday's 8-3 home loss to San Francisco. He's 14 for 29 with three homers over a seven-game hitting streak, though Colorado (23-26) has dropped five of those contests and eight of its last 11.

Trevor Story provided one of the few highlights with his 14th homer, but Colorado went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position. The club lost a series at Cincinnati from April 18-20, though it has won six of the last eight home meetings with the last-place Reds (16-34).

Gonzalez has played a key role, going 14 for 28 with four home runs and 11 RBIs in his last seven home games against the Reds. He's 13 for 28 with four homers and nine RBIs in his past seven matchups overall.

The two-time All-Star, however, went 0 for 2 when facing right-hander Dan Straily in a 5-1 win at Great American Ball Park on April 18. Now Straily (2-2, 2.98 ERA) will try to put forth a similar effort after allowing one run and two hits over five innings in that contest.

The right-hander hasn't given up more than three runs since joining the rotation in that meeting. He owns a 2.72 ERA over his last six starts after limiting the Dodgers to three runs while striking out a career high-tying 11 over seven innings in Wednesday's 3-1 road defeat.

"There's some natural deception and movement," manager Bryan Price told the league's official website. "He's got a slider that's a swing-and-miss pitch, has a really nice changeup, so he's got a nice three-pitch mix. He uses his curveball, mixes that in a little bit."

Straily will try to pick up a Cincinnati pitching staff that has posted a 6.85 ERA during the team's 1-12 stretch.

Jay Bruce hit his ninth home run for the Reds on Sunday and he's batting .354 with three homers over his last 11 against the Rockies.

Bruce and Adam Duvall homered off Monday's starter Chad Bettis in a 6-5 win April 20. The right-hander allowed three runs over six innings in that contest, but since then he has two quality starts in his last six.

Bettis (4-3, 4.90) looks to regroup in the opener of this four-game series at Coors Field after he surrendered a season-high seven runs and seven hits over 4 2/3 innings in Wednesday's 10-3 loss at Boston.

The Reds, 4-19 on the road, have averaged 3 runs and hit .191 over the past 12 games. Eugenio Suarez is mired in a career-worst 0-for-27 slump, while Joey Votto has hit .155 with two homers over his past 16.

Brandon Phillips could be sidelined after appearing to jam his left leg and ankle while trying to make a play in foul territory Sunday.

'We'll see how he comes out of it tomorrow,' Price said.

**TheGame** · 05-30-2016, 07:46 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 5/30

Preview: Padres (20-31) at Mariners (28-21)

Game: 1
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: May 30, 2016 4:10 PM EDT

It hasn't been an enjoyable holiday weekend for the Seattle Mariners, and if it ends on a similar note, they're going to be looking at their longest losing streak since the first eight games of the season.

Home struggles are complicating their otherwise promising year in the AL West, which they'll try to begin correcting Monday in the first of four games against the San Diego Padres.

The Mariners (28-21) suffered a three-game sweep at the hands of the lowly Minnesota Twins and haven't gone beyond that since dropping five straight from April 8-12. That also came entirely at home, and Seattle has fallen to 10-14 at Safeco Field.

Sunday's 5-4 loss came with a two-run ninth-inning rally falling just short. Franklin Gutierrez and Robinson Cano at least stayed hot. Gutierrez's two-run homer got Seattle within a run in the ninth and was his third in six games while going 8 for 20. Cano hit his third home run in five games and is 8 for 21 with five extra-base hits in that time.

"I'm just trying to be ready for the first pitch," Cano told MLB's official website. "I don't want to be taking a strike and then have to swing at whatever they throw. I'm just trying to take advantage of anything over the plate."

It hasn't taken much to beat the Padres (20-31) since the middle of the month. They fell 6-3 in Arizona on Sunday and are 3-10 with 3.5 runs per game and a .206 team average dating to May 15. The current eight-game road trip is off to a 1-5 start after dropping two of three in Arizona and being swept in San Francisco.

They'll have to turn it around against Nathan Karns, whose first season in Seattle has been mostly strong since he lost his debut. Karns (4-1, 3.53 ERA) is 4-0 with a 3.13 ERA in eight starts since, though he's been limited to five innings in each of his last two.

The right-hander gave up three runs and five hits in Tuesday's 6-5 home win over Oakland but settled for a no-decision.

Alexei Ramirez is 1 for 8 against him, but Melvin Upton Jr. (1 for 2) and Adam Rosales (1 for 3) have both homered off Karns.

He's up against Andrew Cashner, whose return from the disabled list was adequate but shorter than he'd probably like due to control issues. Cashner (2-4, 4.87), who missed time with a strained right hamstring, pitched for the first time since May 8 in Tuesday's 8-2 loss in San Francisco.

The right-hander gave up three runs and four hits with four walks in six innings. He's walking 3.98 batters per nine innings and hasn't gone beyond six innings so far this year.

"He battled well," Padres manager Andy Green said. "I think his ball-strike ratio probably wasn't what it normally is for him. He typically commands the zone very well. I chalk that up to first time back on the mound in competition in 15 days. I thought he battled well, got off the mound well, fielded bunts well."

Cashner is 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA in two starts and a relief appearance against the Mariners.

Seattle took three of four in last season's matchup of home-and-home two-game series while holding the Padres off the board in the last two for a scoreless innings streak of 19.

**TheGame** · 05-30-2016, 07:46 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 5/30

Preview: Astros (22-29) at Diamondbacks (23-29)

Game: 1
Venue: Chase Field
Date: May 30, 2016 4:10 PM EDT

Maybe the latest turn through the Houston Astros' rotation will be the one that fixes the top end.

Their ace finally looked like it over the weekend and their No. 2 option Collin McHugh hopes to fix his own issues to help the Astros to their sixth win in seven games when they open a home-and-home set with Monday's visit to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Houston (22-29) is amidst its best stretch of the season after sweeping Baltimore and taking the final two games of three against the Los Angeles Angels.

Ace Dallas Keuchel ended his lousy stretch with seven quality innings in Saturday's 4-2 win, and the Astros won the series with Sunday's 8-6, 13-inning victory. Carlos Correa had the day off but was used as a pinch hitter in the 13th and delivered a three-run homer.

'Best day off ever,' he said.

It was Correa's eighth home run and first since May 15. He was 1 for 11 his previous three games.

'I wanted to stay away from him,' manager A.J. Hinch said. 'But a hit like that in an at-bat like that could do wonders for him down the road.'

McHugh hopes to help Houston beat the Diamondbacks for the seventh time in their last nine meetings.

McHugh (4-4, 5.13 ERA) won both his 2015 starts against Arizona behind a 1.29 ERA on the way to a 19-win season that planted him in Houston's No. 2 starter spot. This season's opening two months have uncovered some doubt about his place there.

The right-hander had a chance to log back-to-back quality starts for the first time Wednesday but fell two outs short in a 4-3 win over Baltimore. He gave up eight hits and three runs in 5 1/3 innings while walking one and striking out a season-high 10.

"We made a couple mistakes they made us pay for, a couple extra-base hits that come back to haunt you, but I think we did a pretty good job," McHugh told MLB's official website. "Overall, we executed our game plan well."

Arizona followed a 4-11 stretch by taking the final two games of a three-game set against San Diego over the weekend.

The Diamondbacks will have a new face on the mound to open this series after calling up Edwin Escobar from Triple-A Reno. The 24-year-old left-hander was claimed off waivers from Boston on April 29 after making two relief appearances for the Red Sox in 2014.

He went 2-1 with a 4.68 ERA in five starts at Reno, pitching six shutout innings in his last start. He made three appearances, one start, and had a 3.86 ERA with Triple-A Pawtucket before going on waivers.

Another pitcher was called up to start Sunday's 6-3 win over the Padres. Archie Bradley tossed 7 1/3 solid innings, ending the Diamondbacks' poor pitching stretch.

They posted an 8.57 ERA in their previous five games, surrendering 68 hits - nine of them home runs - in 42 innings.

On Sunday, Arizona scored five runs in the second inning for the second straight day.

'Impressive to score early, and then especially with a young pitcher like Archie to give him some confidence,' manager Chip Hale said.

**TheGame** · 05-30-2016, 07:46 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 5/30

Preview: Dodgers (27-24) at Cubs (34-14)

Game: 1
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: May 30, 2016 5:05 PM EDT

Once again, there seems to be no slowing down the Chicago Cubs. The same can be said about their catalyst, Ben Zobrist.

Zobrist's batting average continues to climb just like Chicago's record, and the 11-year veteran looks to extend his 15-game hitting streak and the Cubs' five-game run when they open a four-game series against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night.

Chicago (34-14) regrouped from a 4-8 stretch with five consecutive victories, capped by a weekend sweep of Philadelphia to open a 10-game homestand.

The Cubs became baseball's first team to improve to 20 games over .500.

'Now the next goal is 25,' manager Joe Maddon said.

That seems like a cinch with the Cubs hitting again. They have recorded double-digit hits in four of their last five games while averaging 7.6 runs.

Zobrist was in the middle of it, extending his hitting streak to 15 games with a three-run home run in Sunday's 7-2 win. He's reached base safely in his last 34 starts and collected 40 hits in May - more than in any month of his career.

Zobrist became the first Cubs player with 40 May hits since Alfonso Soriano in 2008. He is batting .463 over his last 22 games, and his overall .351 average sits behind only Washington's Daniel Murphy (.387) in the NL.

'I'm trying to figure out myself if I can keep this up, to be honest,' Zobrist said. 'I don't think I've ever had a month where I've hit this well.'

Chicago has scored just eight runs in its last six games against the Dodgers (27-24), who took four of the last five in 2015.

Monday starter Jason Hammel went 0-1 despite a 2.13 ERA in two starts last season against Los Angeles.

Hammel (6-1, 2.17 ERA) has a 5.00 ERA in 12 career starts against the Dodgers. Chase Utley (5 for 9 with a home run) and Howie Kendrick (7 for 16 with two doubles) have seen him well.

Hammel, though, is off to the best start of his 11-year career. Though he admittedly struggled with command, the right-hander tossed a season-high 7 1/3 innings in Tuesday's 12-3 win over St. Louis and held the Cardinals to a run and four hits.

He will face a lineup that has averaged 5.57 runs during a 6-1 stretch. The Dodgers were mostly stifled in Sunday's 4-2 win over the New York Mets, but Adrian Gonzalez won it with a two-run single in the ninth inning.

Clayton Kershaw struck out 10 in 7 2/3 innings, meaning he won't face the Cubs.

'Bummer, man,' Maddon said, smiling.

Instead, it will be Alex Wood (1-3, 4.03) for the opener. The left-hander had his start pushed back three days because of irritation in his left triceps from hitting, though it didn't keep him from striking out a career-high 13 in his last start.

Wood gave up two runs and four hits over six-plus innings in a 3-2 loss at San Diego on May 21. He has a 1.96 ERA and 27 strikeouts in his last three starts, though he is still seeking his first win since April 13.

"It's the consistency of all my pitches, to get ahead and throw all three when and where I want them," Wood told MLB's official website. "When I can do that, it turns into punchouts and more importantly keeps guys off the bases."

Wood has a 4.76 ERA in his two career starts against the Cubs, but he held them to two runs in six innings of a 2-0 loss on Aug. 30.

**TheGame** · 05-30-2016, 07:46 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 5/30

Preview: Rangers (29-21) at Indians (26-22)

Game: 4
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: May 30, 2016 6:10 PM EDT

The Cleveland Indians have been nearly unbeatable the last two years with Josh Tomlin on the mound.

They have won 16 of the last 17 starts by Tomlin, who looks to improve to 8-0 on Monday night in the opener of a three-game set against the visiting Texas Rangers.

Cleveland (26-22) is 16-2 in starts by Tomlin since he returned last year after right shoulder surgery, with victories in all eight in 2016. He cruised through eight innings by allowing two runs in Tuesday's 6-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox and Chris Sale, who suffered his first loss.

"I was able to throw strikes and mix it up enough to where they put the ball in play and the guys made the plays," Tomlin said.

Tomlin (7-0, 3.35 ERA) has benefited from generous run support with an average of 6.88. The Indians have scored at least five runs in all but one of his eight outings.

He is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in two career starts against the Rangers. Adrian Beltre has the most at-bats against Tomlin among Texas hitters, going 3 for 7.

One hitter who is hoping to face Tomlin is the Rangers' Ryan Rua - and not because he relishes the matchup. The outfielder grew up in the Cleveland area as an Indians fan and said that the only game he played at Progressive Field came in high school.

"It is a big deal," Rua told the Rangers' official website. "Growing up 20-25 minutes outside the city, I'm sure I'll have a lot of family and friends there."

Another Ohio native will be on the mound for Texas in Derek Holland (3-4, 5.21), who is 2-0 with a 1.16 ERA in three starts at Cleveland with the Rangers winning all of them.

The Indians have some hitters who have enjoyed success versus Holland. Carlos Santana is 7 for 18 in this matchup, Jason Kipnis is 5 for 15 and Mike Napoli 4 for 12.

Holland has one of baseball's worst road ERAs at 6.41. The left-hander yielded two runs in 6 2/3 innings of Monday's 2-0 home loss to the Los Angeles Angels.

Texas (29-21) has won seven of nine after seeing Prince Fielder and Mitch Moreland homer in Sunday's 6-2 victory over Pittsburgh.

Fielder ended a career-long homer drought at 34 games with his third of the season. Moreland went deep again after he stopped a 1-for-27 skid with a home run Saturday.

"They know that the stroke is still there, they know that the power is there," manager Jeff Banister said. "I believe in the impact that they have on our lineup, and our players in that clubhouse believe in the impact in those players and what they're going to be able to do for us this year."

Beltre homered twice in the weekend series, going 4 for 10.

Napoli will face the Rangers for the first time since playing 35 games for them last year after coming over from Boston on Aug. 7.

These teams split six meetings in 2015.

**TheGame** · 05-30-2016, 07:47 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 5/30

Preview: Nationals (30-21) at Phillies (26-24)

Game: 1
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: May 30, 2016 7:05 PM EDT

Mother Nature may be the only one capable of preventing Bryce Harper from producing more fireworks in Philadelphia on Memorial Day.

Harper looks to extend a six-game home run streak at Citizens Bank Park when the Washington Nationals open a three-city trip Monday night, though the expected arrival of Tropical Storm Bonnie could put those plans on hold.

A forecast of steady rain threatens the opener of this three-game series, though the Phillies may not mind a day off to recover from losing five of six on a rough week-long trek. The offense continued its season-long struggles in the second leg, managing five runs in dropping all three games to the Chicago Cubs over the weekend.

After being held to five hits by Kyle Hendricks in Saturday's 4-1 defeat, Philadelphia (26-24) mustered six in Sunday's 7-2 loss to fall to 2-7 over its last nine.

'The Cubs have a very good team, probably the best team in baseball right now and they beat us fair and square,' manager Pete Mackanin said. "We didn't string any hits together.'

The slump could continue if Tanner Roark (3-4, 2.71 ERA) duplicates his performance against the Phillies on April 28, when the right-hander yielded two hits over seven scoreless innings in a 3-0 Philadelphia win at Nationals Park. He's been sharp in his past two starts as well, limiting Miami to a run over 6 2/3 innings in a victory May 20 and allowing one earned run through seven of Wednesday's 2-0 loss to the Mets.

Roark hasn't fared as well at Citizens Bank Park, where he's 1-4 with an 8.27 ERA in four starts and one relief appearance. He surrendered career highs of eight runs and 12 hits in 3 1/3 innings in an 8-5 loss there on June 28.

Harper has had no problems hitting in Philadelphia. The reigning NL MVP owns a .325 average and 11 homers in 31 games at Citizens Bank Park and is 14 for 24 with seven homers and 13 RBIs over his past six visits. He went 7 for 11 with six RBIs while homering in each game as the Nationals took two of three in Philadelphia from April 15-17.

After scoring eight runs in losing three of four, Washington (30-21) experienced an offensive breakout in Sunday's 10-2 win over St. Louis. Wilson Ramos went 3 for 3 with a homer and four RBIs and Jayson Werth had a pinch-hit grand slam to help Stephen Strasburg move to 9-0 and win his 12th straight decision since September.

Anthony Rendon added a solo homer and finished 2 for 4 to increase his average to .381 since May 10.

"It was good to get (production) from all the guys," manager Dusty Baker said. "We played a good game."

Harper is 3 for 6 with five walks against Jeremy Hellickson (4-3, 3.97), who aims for a fourth consecutive quality start. After allowing two earned runs over 13 innings in home wins over Cincinnati and Miami, the former AL Rookie of the Year permitted three while fanning seven over seven in Tuesday's 3-1 loss in Detroit.

Hellickson was reached for five earned runs in a season-low three innings in a 9-1 home loss to Washington on April 15, but allowed two hits and struck out eight over seven in a 3-0 win at Nationals Park on April 27, part of a three-game Phillies' sweep.

Tommy Joseph homered for Philadelphia on Sunday and is hitting .310 with three homers over his last nine games. The rookie has taken over at first base for the slumping Ryan Howard, who's 6 for 66 since April 30.

**TheGame** · 05-30-2016, 07:47 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 5/30

Preview: Yankees (24-25) at Blue Jays (26-26)

Game: 1
Venue: Rogers Centre
Date: May 30, 2016 7:07 PM EDT

The New York Yankees made the most of limited opportunities in their last game, and they may not have many in their next.

Coming off their first victory in over a century in which they were held to one hit, the Yankees now face one of the AL's stingiest pitchers in Monday night's opener of a three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Yankees managed only one baserunner off Tampa Bay's Jake Odorizzi before Brett Gardner walked with one out in the seventh inning. Starlin Castro followed with a home run to spoil the no-hit bid and lift New York to a 2-1 victory for its eighth win in 11 games.

New York's lone other win with a single hit occurred in a six-inning game against Cleveland on July 10, 1914.

'We really weren't doing much,' manager Joe Girardi said. 'We get a huge hit from Starlin.'

The Yankees (24-25) recorded just four hits in a 4-1 win over the Rays on Friday, scoring three runs on homers from Alex Rodriguez and Carlos Beltran. They're batting .170 but have homered eight times over their last six.

New York homered twice off Marco Estrada (2-2, 2.76 ERA) in Wednesday's home matchup with Toronto, but registered just two other hits during the right-hander's seven innings in the Blue Jays' 8-4 victory.

Estrada hasn't permitted more than five hits while working at least six innings in each of his last six starts, and his .184 batting average against is the lowest among AL hurlers. He hadn't won since April 13, however, receiving 10 runs of support over a seven-start drought.

The 32-year-old is 2-2 with a 3.79 ERA in six starts against New York since the start of last season, though he's 0-2 with a 4.15 ERA in three at Rogers Centre.

Estrada faces a Yankee lineup that's hoping to have both Beltran and Mark Teixeira back in it. Teixeira hasn't started the last five games due to recurring neck soreness, though he entered Sunday's contest as a defensive replacement after Dustin Ackley exited with a shoulder injury that's likely to send him to the disabled list.

Beltran, batting .333 with four homers and 12 RBIs over his last nine, was held out of Sunday's game with a sore back.

Toronto (26-26) won the final two of last week's three-game set at Yankee Stadium, the beginning of a season-high four-game streak that ended with Sunday's 5-3, 11-inning loss to Boston. Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion each homered but the Blue Jays finished 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position.

"I don't think anybody in here is discouraged," said R.A. Dickey, who didn't allow a hit through five innings but gave up three runs in the sixth. "We had a chance at another great win, just couldn't push one across when we had to."

Bautista is batting .308 with four homers and nine RBIs over a nine-game hitting streak since being inserted into the leadoff spot May 19.

Toronto amassed 28 runs during the winning streak and reached Ivan Nova (3-2, 3.65) for four in 6 2/3 innings in Wednesday's victory. The right-hander had yielded three over 16 1/3 innings in his first three starts since returning to the rotation and entered off consecutive wins over the White Sox and Oakland.

The Blue Jays have posed problems for Nova of late, as he's 1-4 with a 7.24 ERA in six appearances against them since the start of last season.

Toronto took two of three from New York at home from April 12-14 and has won 10 of the last 14 meetings.

**TheGame** · 05-30-2016, 07:47 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 5/30

Preview: Pirates (28-21) at Marlins (26-24)

Game: 1
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: May 30, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

Aside from one subpar outing, Jeff Locke has put together a stretch manager Clint Hurdle feels might be his best since joining Pittsburgh.

The left-hander might not have to deal with Giancarlo Stanton on Monday night, but he'll try to contain hot-hitting Marcell Ozuna as the Pirates open a four-game road series against the Miami Marlins.

While he allowed six runs over 5 1/3 innings in an 8-2 road loss to the Chicago Cubs on May 14, Locke (3-3, 5.08 ERA) has gone 3-0 with a 3.34 ERA in his other six starts during this solid stretch.

Now the 30-year-old will try to win three consecutive starts for the first time in his six-year career with Pittsburgh (28-21) after giving up four runs over 6 1/3 innings in Wednesday's 5-4 victory over Arizona.

"Maybe I'm preparing myself a little bit better for these starts than I have in the past," he told MLB's official website. "I'm making sure I do my homework before the outing, three or four days before the start, and then you know what you want to do against these guys."

Given his success in this series, Locke might be able to help the Pirates avoid their first three-game losing streak since dropping four straight from May 1-4. He's 3-0 with a 2.28 ERA in his four starts versus Miami - all Pittsburgh wins - since the start of 2014.

Stanton has gone 7 for 14 with two home runs lifetime when facing Locke, but he's missed the past five games due to soreness in his side. The star slugger took batting practice before Sunday's 7-3 win at Atlanta and is expected to return at some point during this series.

Chris Johnson is 7 for 15 with two homers and Ozuna has gone 4 for 11 in the matchup. Ozuna went 2 for 4 with his 10th long ball Sunday, leaving him with a .488 average over an 11-game hitting streak.

The center fielder also has reached safely in 36 straight games.

Derek Dietrich went 3 for 3 with a home run, double and four RBIs for Miami (26-24), which seeks its second back-to-back wins since May 16. He's gone 12 for 23 over a six-game hitting streak, but won't play in this one after getting hit on the head by a foul ball in his own dugout.

'Hopefully it's just a headache," pitcher Tom Koehler said.

Justin Nicolino (2-2, 4.37) hopes to build on Wednesday's effort in which he snapped a two-game losing streak. He allowed three runs and struck out a season-high six over 5 2/3 innings in a 4-3 win at Tampa Bay.

In his only start versus Pittsburgh, the left-hander gave up two runs despite walking four over six innings in a 2-1 loss Aug. 27. Andrew McCutchen singled and walked twice when facing him in that contest.

Since averaging 8 runs over a five-game winning streak, the Pirates have totaled four in consecutive losses. Starling Marte and Francisco Cervelli had four of the team's eight hits in Sunday's 6-2 loss at Texas.

McCutchen has hit .426 over his last 19 games against the Marlins, while Gregory Polanco is batting .419 with 10 RBIs in his 11 meetings.

Pittsburgh has outscored Miami 44-20 while winning eight of the last nine matchups and has won the season series the last four years.

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MLB Betting Info. 5/30

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