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**TheGame** · 08-14-2016, 08:02 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 8/14

MLB roundup: Austin, Judge homer in first major league at-bats
By The Sports Xchange

NEW YORK -- Tyler Austin and Aaron Judge became the first pair of teammates to hit home runs in their first major league at-bats and the New York Yankees began the post Alex Rodriguez era with an 8-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday.
Starlin Castro hit a solo home run, Aaron Hicks hit a tiebreaking three-run home run and Didi Gregorius added a two-run home run as the Yankees matched a season high by going four games over .500 and hit five home runs for the second time this season.
The story of the day for the Yankees was Austin and Judge, who were promoted from Triple-A Scranton Wilkes/Barre and batted seventh and eighth, respectively, while playing first base and right field.
Austin became the fourth Yankee to homer in his first career at-bat when he drove a 2-2 fastball from Matt Andriese (6-4) over the right field wall. Four pitches later, Judge drove a 1-2 breaking ball well over the center-field wall.

Blue Jays 4, Astros 2
TORONTO -- Russell Martin hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning and Aaron Sanchez struck out six in seven innings as Toronto defeated Houston.
Josh Donaldson also homered for the Blue Jays, who stopped a four-game winning streak by the Astros.
Sanchez (12-2) allowed two runs, five hits and three walks in seven innings. The right-hander struck out six.

Cardinals 8, Cubs 4
CHICAGO-- The Cardinals scored six runs in the eighth inning to beat the and snap their 11-game winning streak.
Randal Grichuk hit his first grand slam on his 25th birthday in the eighth to cap the Cardinals' rally. St. Louis took a one-run lead on a wild pitch when Yadier Molina struck out with the bases loaded against Carl Edwards Jr.
Edwards walked the next two batters to bring in another run. Joe Smith replaced Edwards and allowed the grand slam, Grichuk�s 14th home run. Edwards walked four in the inning.

Dodgers 8, Pirates 4
LOS ANGELES -- Despite another erratic start by Brandon McCarthy, Los Angeles used its offense to recover in a win over Pittsburgh.
Joc Pederson homered and helped key a 17-hit attack as the Dodgers rallied past the Pirates before an announced crowd of 40,563 at Dodger Stadium.
Pederson, who went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, was one of seven Dodgers with at least two hits. His two-run homer to left field in the sixth inning off reliever Jared Hughes was his 17th of the season. Corey Seager was 3-for-5 with an RBI for his fifth multi-hit game in a row. Chase Utley, Josh Reddick, Adrian Gonzalez, Howie Kendrick and Rob Segedin each had two hits.

Twins 5, Royals 3
MINNEAPOLIS -- Robbie Grossman had three hits, including a home run, and Tyler Duffey pitched seven solid innings to lead Minnesota to a win over Kansas City.
Grossman knocked in a run with an RBI single in the first and homered in the fifth as Minnesota snapped a four-game losing streak.
Duffey (8-8) allowed two runs on six hits and a walk while striking out six in seven innings of work. The right-hander has back-to-back quality starts for the first time since early May and has won each of his past three outings. He also became the first Twins starter to complete seven innings since Ricky Nolasco did it on July 29; Nolasco now plays for the Los Angeles Angels.

Nationals 7, Braves 6
WASHINGTON -- Daniel Murphy smacked a two-run homer and drove in four runs, rookie Reynaldo Lopez pitched seven innings for his first win and Washington held on to defeat Atlanta Braves.
Trea Turner homered and finished a double short of the cycle for Washington and Ben Revere had two triples.
Lopez (1-1), who won a matchup of 22-year-old rookie starters, blanked the Braves after Freddie Freeman's first-inning homer. Called up from Triple-A Syracuse for his third start, he allowed five hits, walked two and struck out two.

Red Sox 6, Diamondbacks 3
BOSTON -- Sandy Leon and Brock Holt homered and Brad Ziegler pitched out of a bases loaded, nobody out eighth-inning jam with three strikeouts to lead Boston to an interleague victory over Arizona.
Ziegler, acquired from the Diamondbacks on July 9 and already 0-3 with his new team, came on after Matt Barnes walked the bases loaded. He struck out the next three batters on 10 pitches -- all strikes, with only two foul balls.
Craig Kimbrel, the sixth Boston pitcher, worked a perfect ninth for his 19th save.

Phillies 6, Rockies 3
PHILADELPHIA -- Maikel Franco hit a three-run homer and Jerad Eickhoff won his second straight start as Philadelphia beat Colorado.
Cesar Hernandez, who has reached base in 20 consecutive games, went 2-for-4 and scored twice for the Phillies, who won their third straight game.
Daniel Descalso and Tony Wolters homered for the Rockies, who lost for the sixth time in seven games.
Eickhoff (8-12) went 5 2/3 innings and allowed three runs and 10 hits while striking out three and walking two. He beat San Diego in his previous start.

Mets 3, Padres 2 (11 innings)
NEW YORK -- Neil Walker raced home from third base on a grounder to second by Wilmer Flores in the 11th inning to lift New York to a victory over San Diego at Citi Field.
The Mets snapped a four-game losing streak by winning for only the second time in their last eight games and the 11th time in the last 31. New York is 2 1/2 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the race for the second wild card in the National League.
The Padres have lost six of 10.

Reds 11, Brewers 5
MILWAUKEE -- Dan Straily struck out six and Cincinnati's offense exploded for eight runs in the sixth inning in a victory over Milwaukee at Miller Park.
Joey Votto went 4-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs for the Reds. Billy Hamilton, Zach Cozart, Adam Duvall, Brandon Phillips and Eugenio Suarez each had two hits, with Suarez belting a three-run home run in the decisive sixth inning.
Scooter Gennett had four hits while Ryan Braun and Martin Maldonado homered for the Brewers, who had 15 hits but lost for the seventh time in the last 10 games.

White Sox 8, Marlins 7
MIAMI -- Dioner Navarro scored from third base in the eighth inning on a strikeout/wild pitch, leading Chicago to a win over Miami at Marlins Park.
Rookie Jason Coats started the two-run, eighth-inning rally with a single. After a walk by Navarro, pinch-hitter Justin Morneau, facing reliever Kyle Barraclough (6-3), doubled off the fence in right to tie the score 7-7.
With two outs and the less-than-speedy Navarro at third, Barraclough bounced a 2-2 pitch to a swinging Melky Cabrera. The ball caromed off catcher J.T. Realmuto, rolling to his left. With no chance to get Cabrera at first, Realmuto tossed to Barraclough at the plate, but the pitcher could not make the grab and the go-ahead run scored.

Tigers 2, Rangers 0
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Matt Boyd outdueled Cy Young candidate Cole Hamels and Detroit snapped a five-game losing streak by shutting out Texas at Globe Life Park.
The Tigers also remained 1 1/2 games out of the second American League wild-card spot behind Boston and put the brakes on a six-game skid against Texas dating back to last season.
Detroit wouldn't have beaten the American League West leaders without a masterful performance by Boyd. The lefty stymied a club that's given him fits in his young career.

Mariners 4, Athletics 3
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Robinson Cano hit a two-run homer and Nelson Cruz hit a solo shot, powering Seattle to a victory against Oakland at the Oakland Coliseum.
Cruz hit his 29th homer of the season in fourth inning, and Cano launched his 26th in the fifth, increasing the Mariners' home run total to 162, third most in the major leagues.
After dropping the series opener to Oakland, the Mariners won for the seventh time in their past eight games as they continued their playoff push.

Giants 6, Orioles 2
SAN FRANCISCO -- Madison Bumgarner shut out Baltimore over seven innings and Denard Span accumulated four RBIs with a pair of two-run singles, propelling San Francisco to an interleague victory.
Joe Panik laced two ground-rule doubles and Brandon Belt smacked a two-run homer, helping the Giants even the three-game series at 1-1 and the all-time series between the teams at 7-7.
The win allowed the Giants to retain a one-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West.

Indians 5, Angels 1
CLEVELAND -- Francisco Lindor had three hits and former Angels farmhand Mike Clevinger took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and won his first major league game as Cleveland beat Los Angeles at Progressive Field.
Clevinger and four relievers combined on a one-hitter.
The Indians have won the first three games of the four-game series while the Angels have lost nine in a row, their longest losing streak since losing 11 in a row in July of 1999.

**TheGame** · 08-14-2016, 08:02 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 8/14

Preview: Rays (46-69) at Yankees (60-56)

Game: 3
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: August 14, 2016 1:05 PM EDT

NEW YORK -- The last time the New York Yankees were four games over .500, they could not sustain it and altered their roster.

Now they have a more youthful roster and are in better position in the standings than over two weeks ago.

The Yankees can get their fifth straight win on Sunday when they conclude a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium.

Before five home runs in Saturday's 8-4 victory, the only other time the Yankees were four over this season was July 26, when they moved to 52-48 following a 6-3 win at Houston.

That win came a day after Aroldis Chapman was traded to the Chicago Cubs for three prospects and Adam Warren, and what followed were four straight losses which led to the Yankees dealing Andrew Miller, Carlos Beltran and Ivan Nova for seven more prospects.

After getting to four over the first time, the Yankees were 6 1/2 games out of first place and four games out in the wild card race.

Since the non-waiver trade deadline, Gary Sanchez has been added along with Tyler Austin and Aaron Judge, and the Yankees have won eight of their last 12 games to get slightly closer in the wild card race.

"I've seen our team be much looser," general manager Brian Cashman said Saturday. "It seems to be more exciting. We're obviously still in this thing, which is tremendous."

Since July 26, eight players who were on the active roster are no longer with the team. Other than the traded players, the most notable is Alex Rodriguez, who was officially released on Saturday after his emotional final game for the Yankees on Friday.

Among the newcomers are Austin and Judge, who became the first set of teammates to homer in their first career at-bats during the second inning Saturday.

Austin started at first base and homered on the fifth pitch he saw, while Judge was the starting right fielder and homered on the fourth pitch he saw.

"You can't draw it up any better when you call up two young players," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.

The Rays have lost eight of 12 games since sweeping the Yankees two weekends ago in Tampa Bay.

Brad Miller homered twice for the Rays and is batting .350 (21-for-60) with seven home runs and 15 RBIs in his last 16 games since July 27.

Evan Longoria also had two hits but the rest of the Rays had four hits and struck out nine times on Saturday.

"That's kind of what it is," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "It seems like we are running out of steam a little bit towards the back half of our lineup."

Another key to the Yankee attempts to get younger will be on the mound when Luis Severino takes the mound Sunday. A year ago, Severino was two starts into a promising two-month debut but this season has been a struggle on the major league level.

Severino was initially demoted Wednesday after struggling through a start Tuesday in Boston, but when Nathan Eovaldi went on the disabled list, the Yankees brought him back to start.

This season is a drastic contrast in numbers for Severino on the major and minor league levels as a starting pitcher. He is 0-7 with a 7.78 ERA in eight starts for the Yankees and with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre, he is 7-1 with a 3.25 ERA in 10 starts.

Jake Odorrizi has been the AL's best starter since the All-Star break in terms of ERA and looks to continue it Sunday. Before the All-Star break, he was 3-5 with a 4.47 ERA in 19 starts, but in his last five starts he is 3-0 with a 1.13 ERA.

Odorizzi has allowed four earned runs in 32 innings since the break and two were Monday in Toronto when he allowed solo home runs to Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion in the first inning during a no-decision.

Odorizzi has his worst start since the break as he allowed four runs (two earned) and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings during Tampa Bay's 7-5 loss.

The right-hander is 4-5 with a 4.23 ERA in 11 career appearances against the Yankees. He is 1-1 with a 1.32 ERA in two starts against New York this season.

Odorizzi lost a no-hitter when Starlin Castro hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning May 29 and two months later he threw 6 2/3 innings in Tampa Bay's 5-1 win at home.

Those starts were at home and Odorizzi has struggled at times in New York, going 1-3 with a 6.00 ERA in six games.

**TheGame** · 08-14-2016, 08:02 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 8/14

Preview: Astros (61-56) at Blue Jays (66-51)

Game: 3
Venue: Rogers Centre
Date: August 14, 2016 1:07 PM EDT

TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays and the Houston Astros will not meet again this season after Sunday -- unless it is in the postseason.

The Blue Jays are in the American League East and the Astros are in the AL West, but each of the seven games between them in the regular season has postseason implications.

Toronto sits in a wild-card spot and entered Saturday a half game behind the Baltimore Orioles for first in the Al East.

The Astros entered Saturday two games removed from a wild-card spot.

The Blue Jays won three of four from the Astros last week in Houston and the teams will be playing a rubber match Sunday in a three-game series at Rogers Centre,

Toronto stopped the Astros' four-game winning streak on Saturday when they prevailed 4-2 on the strength of Aaron Sanchez's strong seven innings and a three-run home run by catcher Russell Martin.

Martin also threw out Jose Altuve trying to steal second base in the third inning. He caught Altuve trying to steal third Friday in Houston's 5-3 win.

Martin has thrown out three of the last six runners who tried to steal in the last six games, Before that, he had thrown out only five of 46 runners in his first 85 games of the season.

"Russ had a huge day on a day when we needed it," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said.

Martin, who struggled at the plate earlier in the season, could be a key player for the Blue Jays down the stretch.

Since May 25, he has hit .340 (18-for-53) with runners in scoring position.

"Every game's different," Martin said after the game Saturday. "It's a long, grueling season. Some days you feel great and you don't do so well. Some days you don't feel good and you do pretty well. I didn't feel good waking up this morning. But I feel much better now."

Gibbons said the reason Martin played Saturday afternoon after a Friday night game is that Thursday was a day off.

Martin's home run came on a 3-and-2 slider from James Hoyt. The Astros are short in the bullpen with Ken Giles missing the series on paternity leave to be with his expectant wife.

"Well, he's got to pitch," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "A lot of times when you lose some guys, you've got to slot guys in some roles that are unaccustomed. He's more than equipped to get those guys out. He made one bad pitch today and it cost us three runs."

The Astros also will probably again be without outfielder Jake Marisnick who missed his third straight game with a right groin strain.

The will be sending out right-hander Mike Fiers (8-5, 4.46 ERA) to start the series finale on Sunday at Rogers Centre.

Fiers has faced Toronto once this season, taking the loss Aug. 4 after allowing five hits and two runs while striking out seven in six innings. Five days later he earned the win over the Minnesota Twins. He allowed three home runs among his five hits and was charged with four runs.

In three career outings, including two starts, against the Blue Jays, he is 1-1 with a 1.93 ERA.

The Blue Jays will counter with right-hander Marcus Stroman (8-5, 4.76 ERA) who will be trying for his first win since July 20. In the three starts since, he is 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA. He took the loss in Kansas City last Sunday when he allowed seven hits, two walks and three runs in five innings. The Royals won 7-1. In two career starts against the Astros, he is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA.

**TheGame** · 08-14-2016, 08:03 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 8/14

Preview: Padres (50-66) at Mets (58-58)

Game: 3
Venue: Citi Field
Date: August 14, 2016 1:10 PM EDT

NEW YORK -- All the New York Mets have to do in order to produce their first winning streak in more than a month is get the best of a pitcher whose most extensive "start" came against high schoolers.

The Mets will look for that elusive second straight win Sunday, when they host the San Diego Padres in the finale of a three-game series at Citi Field. New York snapped a four-game losing streak Saturday night with a 3-2, 11-inning win.

Mets left-hander Steven Matz is scheduled to oppose Padres left-hander Clayton Richard, who took a decidedly unique path to his first major league start of the season, Richard made 25 relief appearances with the Chicago Cubs before being designated for assignment on July 26.

In hopes of keeping sharp for his next club, Richard took the mound the very next day, when he threw 65 pitches against an All-Star team of 15- and 16-year-olds in his hometown of Lafayette, Ind. The Padres signed Richard, who pitched for the club from 2009 through 2013, on Aug. 5.

"He didn't tell me if he dominated them or not, so I didn't get the full game report," Padres manager Andy Green said with a grin. "He didn't show me the video or the boxscore, so I just kind of assume he did well. If (Sunday) doesn't go well, we'll have to ask him for the box score."

Richard allowed one run in 1 1/3 innings over two relief appearances before moving into the rotation for the Padres (50-66), who are trying to limit the innings of their starters during a stretch of 16 games in as many days. Only two current San Diego starters, Christian Friedrich and Luis Perdomo, have made 10 starts for the club this season and only one, right-hander Jarred Cosart, started a game in the majors last season.

"Where we are right now, it's about their health moving forward," Green said. "This 16-day stretch, late in the season where guys like Christian Friedrich (are) way past their innings limits from the previous year, it just makes sense."

Richard will be limited to about 75 pitches in his first major league start since Aug. 2, 2015.

The Mets are hoping to build on the momentum they've generated over the last two days. New York nearly came back from a six-run deficit in an 8-6 loss on Friday night, when a trio of relievers combined to retire the Padres' final 19 batters.

On Saturday, right-hander Jacob deGrom carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning -- extending the Padres' hitless streak to 10 2/3 innings -- and allowed just one run on three hits over seven innings on a hope Matz can follow in the footsteps of right-hander Jacob deGrom, who allowed one run on three hits over seven innings on a night when the first pitch temperature was 91 degrees.

"Hopefully this is the start of something and we just kind of relax and continue to get big hits and continue to pitch," Mets manager Terry Collins said, "Jake was good and (Sunday) we need 'Matzie' to step up."

The defending National League champion Mets (58-58) have not won consecutive games since July 6-7. They are 11-20 since that "winning streak" but are still only 2 1/2 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the race for the NL's second wild card.

"Every win is big, especially now," deGrom said. "We're trying to make it to the playoffs. We need to win as many as we can."

**TheGame** · 08-14-2016, 08:03 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 8/14

Preview: Angels (49-67) at Indians (66-48)

Game: 4
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: August 14, 2016 1:10 PM EDT

CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Indians on Sunday will attempt to complete a four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels in Cleveland for the first time in 17 years. The Indians have won the first three games of the series while outscoring the Angels 32-8.

The last time Cleveland swept a four-game series from the Angels in Cleveland was Aug. 30-Sept. 2, 1999.

The Indians have dominated the first three games of this series, averaging more than 10 runs per game, and almost no-hitting the Angels in Saturday night's game. In the Angels' 5-1 loss on Saturday, the Angels' only hit was an infield single by Andrelton Simmons in the sixth inning. The Angels were outhit 14-1 in the game.

In Sunday's series finale, the Indians will send Trevor Bauer (8-5, 3.88 ERA) to the mound against the Angels' Jered Weaver (8-9, 5.19). Bauer is coming off one of his best starts of the season in his last start on Aug. 9 in Washington. In that game, Bauer pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings on four hits.

Sunday will be the southern California native Bauer's fourth career start against the Angels. In the first three, he has gone 2-0 with a 2.38 ERA.

The veteran Weaver has made 20 career starts against the Indians and is 9-5 with a 3.73 ERA. He has been particularly effective at Progressive Field, where in 12 career starts he is 7-2 with a 2.99 ERA.

The Indians are expected to have designated hitter Carlos Santana back in the lineup on Sunday. Santana has missed the last two games after getting hit in the head by a line drive while sitting in the dugout during Thursday's game.

Santana was given concussion tests on Friday, passed them all and was cleared to play Saturday, but manager Terry Francona decided to give Santana one more day off as a precaution.

"He's been completely cleared to play and could have played tonight," Francona said before Saturday's game. "I just felt another night off wouldn't hurt."

Santana is having a big year for the Indians. With 25 home runs and 62 RBI he's headed for career highs in both categories. His career high for homers is 27 in 2011 and 2014. His career high in RBIs is 85, done in each of the last two years.

Santana and the Indians other hitters have done a good job of closing ranks after the loss of All-Star left fielder Michael Brantley, who has missed most of the season with complications in his rehab from offseason shoulder surgery.

On Saturday, the Indians announced Brantley will have season-ending shoulder surgery on Monday. He only played 11 games this year, hitting .231, but the team hasn't missed a beat offensively, ranking second in the American League in runs scored.

The Angels, meanwhile, would just like to win a game. Saturday's loss extended their losing streak to nine games. That's their longest losing streak since they lost 11 in a row in July 1999.

Angels starters have been clobbered in the first three games of the Cleveland series. The best of the three was Matt Shoemaker, who gave up five runs and 12 hits in six innings Saturday night.

Scioscia would also like to see more out of his offense, which almost got no-hit on Saturday.

"I thought we hit a lot of balls hard, but you look up at the end of the game and we only had one hit," he said. "We hit the ball better than the linescore looks."

**TheGame** · 08-14-2016, 08:03 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 8/14

Preview: White Sox (56-60) at Marlins (60-56)

Game: 3
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: August 14, 2016 1:10 PM EDT

MIAMI -- Sunday at Marlins Park would've been a great pitching matchup ... and it still might be, just without the marquee billing.

The originally scheduled duel between the Miami Marlins and the Chicago White Sox called for a pair of All-Stars -- right-hander Jose Fernandez for the home team and left-hander Chris Sale for the visitors.

But when the Marlins decided to rest Fernandez -- skipping him until next Friday to afford him more rest -- the marquee was trashed.

Fernandez, who is 26-2 with a 1.62 ERA at Marlins Park, would have been a tough matchup for Sale. But Fernandez, who is on pace for 185 innings in this his first full year after elbow surgery, was held back. The goal is to keep him at about 180 innings this year.

Instead of Fernandez, Sale will match pitches with Marlins right-hander Tom Koehler, who has been dominant in his past four starts, going 3-0 with a 0.67 ERA.

"He's been our best starter the past month," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said of Koehler.

The White Sox (56-60) will go for a three-game sweep over the Marlins (60-56) on Sunday. With Saturday's loss, the Marlins moved a half-game behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the race for the second and final NL wild-card playoff berth.

Making matters tougher for the Marlins will be Sale, who will be making his fourth start since his behavior cost him a five-day suspension.

On July 23, while the rest of the team was taking batting practice, Sale used a knife to cut up several of his team's throw-back uniforms.

Since coming back, Sale is 0-2 with a 3.00 ERA.

He is better than that, historically, in terms of winning games, posting a career record of 71-45 with a 2.95 ERA.

It will be interesting to see how he does in his first game at Marlins Park. Sale is a native Floridian, and his hometown of Lakeland is a four-hour car-ride away.

Sale, 27, still has nasty stuff. At 6 feet 6, 180 pounds, his fastball gets on hitters in a hurry, which is why he was a first-round pick -- No. 13 overall -- in 2010.

He made it to the majors that same year and started a dominant run in 2012. Since that season, he is a five-time All-Star. He has also finished in the top 10 in the American League in ERA and strikeouts four years in a row. This year, he could extend both streaks.

The White Sox are confident that Sale can turn things around.

"We have a good clubhouse right now," White Sox catcher Dioner Navarro said after Saturday's 8-7 victory over Miami. "We're confident in Chris. We're confident in all our guys."

Sale's job Sunday could be made easier because of an apparent groin injury suffered by Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton, who had three hits -- including a homer -- and three RBIs on Saturday.

Stanton pulled up lame on the final out of the game, grabbing his left side.

"They're looking at something in his groin area," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said.

**TheGame** · 08-14-2016, 08:04 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 8/14

Preview: Rockies (56-61) at Phillies (55-63)

Game: 3
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: August 14, 2016 1:35 PM EDT

PHILADELPHIA -- Colorado Rockies right-hander Tyler Chatwood has made himself at home on the road this season.

The same cannot be said for the Rockies of late.

Chatwood (10-7, 3.58 ERA) gets the start opposite Adam Morgan (1-7, 6.65) when the Rockies and Phillies wrap up their three-game series on Sunday afternoon.

The Phils have won the first two games of the series, piling up 16 runs in the process.

Ryan Howard's fifth-inning grand slam off Colorado starter Jon Gray was pivotal in Philadelphia's 10-6 victory on Friday, and Maikel Franco hit a three-run shot off Rockies left-hander Tyler Anderson in the first inning to jump-start the Phillies in their 6-3 victory on Saturday night.

The Rockies have dropped three of their last four on the road and six of seven in all.

Chatwood is 6-0 with a 1.30 ERA away from home this season but is looking to regain the form he flashed before he went on the disabled list from June 19 to July 5 with a mid-back strain. He is 2-3 with a 4.54 ERA in eight starts since his return, and his last time out he went 5 2/3 innings in a no-decision against Texas, yielding two runs on five hits while striking out eight, his highest total since July 26, 2013.

Chatwood did not walk a batter, the first time that has happened since a May 27 outing against the San Francisco Giants.

"I always like to attack with fastballs," Chatwood said, according to Major League Baseball's official web site. "I've pitched against those guys a couple times when they went to the World Series, so just knowing them and knowing if you fall behind, that's when they start kind of licking their chops up there. That's when they do their damage, so I was just trying to get ahead as much as I could and try to keep making pitches and keep us in the game."

Chatwood is 2-1 with a 3.27 ERA in four career starts against the Phillies, but he lost his July 10 start against them in Coors Field, allowing four runs and eight hits in five innings while striking out two and walking three.

Morgan was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to make the start in place of rookie right-hander Zach Eflin, who is on the disabled list with soreness in both knees. An MRI administered Friday also showed he has a broken foot, and manager Pete Mackanin said it is "unlikely" Eflin will pitch again this season.

Morgan, 6-1 with a 3.04 ERA in eight games in the minors (seven starts), last pitched for the parent club on July 7, against the Rockies at Coors Field. He lasted five innings and gave up six runs and nine hits. It is his only career appearance against the Rockies to date.

Franco was hit on the knee by a pitch from Anderson in his next at-bat after homering Saturday in the fourth inning, leading to the ejection of the Colorado starter and Rockies manager Walt Weiss.

Weiss and Anderson both insisted after the game that it was not intentional.

"We don't hit people because they hit home runs," Weiss said. "I don't allow our guys to do it."

Weiss said his pitcher told Franco he meant no harm, and Franco said after the game that Anderson immediately apologized.

"I don't know whether he hit him on purpose or not," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "It kind of looked like it."

**TheGame** · 08-14-2016, 08:04 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 8/14

Preview: Braves (44-73) at Nationals (68-47)

Game: 3
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: August 14, 2016 1:35 PM EDT

WASHINGTON -- Tanner Roark has rewarded Washington for returning him to the starting rotation this season and he'll go for his 13th win when the Nationals and Braves close out their three-game series on Sunday.

After posting a 15-10 mark as a starter in 2014, Roark was shuffled back and forth between starting and relieving a year ago. This year, he's become a vital part of the rotation.

Roark (12-6, 2.88 ERA) has won his last three starts and has allowed one earned run or less in four of six. Last time out, he went seven innings in a 1-0 win over the Giants.

On Sunday, he'll face an Atlanta lineup that's scored 14 runs in the first two games of this series, including Saturday night's 7-6 loss, when they rallied for four runs in the ninth but fell just short.

"We kind of put ourselves in a hole so we had nothing to lose," Freddie Freeman said. "We came out swinging and put together a rally and came up a little too short."

Freeman homered for the second straight game, matching his career high of 23.

Washington built a 7-1 lead behind rookie starter Reynaldo Lopez, who picked up his first win.

"As an offense, we grinded out some at-bats tonight, got traffic on the base paths and kept pressure on the Braves," said Daniel Murphy, who hit a two-run homer and drove in four runs.

Roark is 4-1 with a 1.78 ERA in 13 games, including eight starts, against the Braves. He's allowed one run or fewer in six of those starts.

Freeman is hitting .360 against Roark in 36 at-bats. A.J. Pierzynski is 7-for-10 with two homers and five RBIs, while Matt Kemp is 3-for-6 with two homers and five RBIs, and Nick Markakis is 1-for-10.

Atlanta right hander Tyrell Jenkins (2-2, 3.92 ERA) looks for his third straight win when he makes his first career start against the Nationals.

In his last three starts, Jenkins, 24, has given up three runs -- two earned -- on 10 hits over 18 innings. His control has been a problem as he's walked 11 and struck out nine in that span.

Washington picked up 11 hits, including three triples and two homers off Atlanta pitching Saturday night.

Twenty-three year-old second baseman Trea Turner finished a double short of the cycle. Along with Murphy and Ben Revere (two triples), the first three hitters in the lineup finished 6-for-12.

"Just put the ball in play, get on base and let the guys behind you have some success and we did that tonight," Turner said.

Washington got some good news on right fielder Bryce Harper on Saturday. Though he missed his fifth straight game with a stiff neck, an MRI came up clean so he hasn't been placed on the disabled list and remains day-to-day.

Atlanta, which continues to do more than just play out the string, has won five of its last eight.

"That's kind of what we've been doing. We're never out of the game," Snitker said after watching his club battle back on Saturday night. "It was a really good rally. A lot of really good at-bats. Guys battling to the very end as they always do."

**TheGame** · 08-14-2016, 08:04 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 8/14

Preview: Diamondbacks (48-68) at Red Sox (63-52)

Game: 3
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: August 14, 2016 1:35 PM EDT

BOSTON -- An oblique injury may have cost Zack Greinke his chance of winning a second Cy Young Award in the first year of a six-year, $206.5 million contract.

While he was gone, fellow right-hander Rick Porcello, in the first year of his five-year, $82.5 million extension, burst onto the American League Cy Young picture with 15 wins and victories in nine of his last 10 decisions.

On Sunday, the right-handers match up at Fenway Park when Greinke's Arizona Diamondbacks finish their three-game interleague series with Porcello's Boston Red Sox, who are going for a sweep.

Greinke, who was placed on the disabled list June 24, returned Tuesday and rescued the beleaguered Diamondbacks' pitching staff with six strong innings against the Mets in New York for his ninth consecutive victory.

"It just gets guys invigorated," manager Chip Hale said that night in New York. "They know he's out there and is going to give us a quality start pretty much every time he goes out there. Guys are excited to play behind him."

The win raised Greinke's record to 11-3 -- 30-6 over the last two seasons.

Meanwhile, Porcello defeated the New York Yankees the same night to go to 15-3, including 11-0 in 12 starts at Fenway. He tries to become the first Red Sox pitcher to begin a season 12-0 at home since Dave Ferriss started 1946 at 13-0.

He has a 3.40 ERA overall, but a 2.90 over his last 10 starts (eight wins). He is aiming to become Boston's first 20-game winner since Josh Beckett in 2007 and has plenty of starts left to get there.

Last month, Porcello, when asked if he might be crawling into the Cy Young picture, said: "I have no idea and honestly, I don't care. If we win the division, if we win the World Series, that's all that I care about. I'm sorry to shoot that question down, but that's not on the forefront of my mind."

Greinke was upbeat after his return start.

"It felt good, the oblique is healthy, just building up arm strength and pitch count," Greinke told MLB.com. "Got into the low 90s today and felt pretty good. Still was making pretty good pitches that last inning."

Greinke has a 2.47 ERA and has allowed only 49 hits in 65 2/3 innings in his last 10 starts -- walking 10 and striking out 53.

He is 2-4 with a 2.83 ERa against the Red Sox lifetime, but current Red Sox David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia are 2-for-13 and 2-for 12 against him, respectively. He is 0-1 with a 1.17 ERA in two games (one start) at Fenway.

Greinke is 20-11 with a 3.65 ERA in 45 interleague games (39 starts).

Porcello is 0-1 with a 5.11 ERA in two career starts against the Diamondbacks in 2010 and 2014 with the Detroit Tigers.

He is 15-8, 4.11 in 31 interleague games (29 starts).

**TheGame** · 08-14-2016, 08:05 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 8/14

Preview: Reds (48-67) at Brewers (51-64)

Game: 3
Venue: Miller Park
Date: August 14, 2016 2:10 PM EDT

MILWAUKEE -- Even a starting pitcher, the self-proclaimed "worst hitter" in the Cincinnati Reds' clubhouse, couldn't help but admire Joey Votto's latest big night.

Votto had four hits Saturday, propelling the Reds to an 11-5 rout of the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park, and as a result, moved his average above the .300 mark -- .301, to be exact -- for the first time this season.

"It's honestly been one of the more impressive hitting displays I've gotten to see in person," Saturday starter Dan Straily said. "You saw earlier in the year when he was struggling just how patient he was with himself.

"I feel like any ballplayer can learn from that. You just have to be patient and keep working at it. We're all in this room for a reason. He's obviously a great talent. Being able to watch him the last couple months has really been enjoyable to watch."

Votto went into the break batting .252 but since then, he's been red-hot, batting .442 with four home runs and 15 RBIs.

"The first couple of months were really frustrating," Votto said. "I felt like I dug myself a pretty big hole. I still feel like I am coming out of it."

Votto will try to keep it going Sunday when the Reds wrap up their three-game series with the Brewers in Milwaukee.

Left-hander Cody Reed gets the start, in search of his first victory this season. The rookie joined the Reds' rotation on June 18 and has made nine starts in all, going 0-8 with a 6.36 ERA.

He's coming off his best showing of the season though, having thrown six shutout innings while striking out four but took no decision in Cincinnati's 5-4 loss at St. Louis on Aug. 8.

Going six innings was an important step for Reed, manager Bryan Price said.

"I think a feel-good for starting pitchers -- five innings doesn't feel so good," Price said. "You do what you have to, if his pitch count suggested he needed to come out or if he looked like he was done -- the last inning he was definitely done. They put the barrel on the ball and took some good swipes at him, comfortable swings at him there in the sixth. That was definitely it. I felt like after five, we knew we'd have someone up behind him so he wouldn't let the game slip away if he got in trouble."

The Brewers will turn to right-hander Wily Peralta, who will make his second start since being demoted to Triple-A Colorado Springs in mid-June.

Peralta went six innings Tuesday against the Braves, holding them to two runs on four hits while striking out six.

"There was a lot of emotion," Peralta said. "I felt like I was making my debut today. It's been like two months since the last time I pitched here so I was excited. My last three starts, I find a good rhythm. I executed pretty good down there and being able to do it today ... throwing off-speed, I think I'm in good shape."

Peralta has faced the Reds 11 times in his career, going 4-4 with a 3.14 ERA.

**TheGame** · 08-14-2016, 08:05 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 8/14

Preview: Royals (56-60) at Twins (47-70)

Game: 3
Venue: Target Field
Date: August 14, 2016 2:10 PM EDT

MINNEAPOLIS -- For two months, Minnesota Twins second baseman Brian Dozier has been among the hottest hitters in baseball.

Dozier was at it again on Saturday night, cranking his 25th homer of the season -- and 100th of his major league career -- in a 5-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals.

Each team will go for the series win on Sunday, although finding a way to slow down the red-hot Dozier might prove difficult for the defending World Series champions.

Dozier's 18 home runs since June 19 are the most in baseball, and the fifth-year player is suddenly on track for career highs in nearly every major offensive category.

"I think everything, for a while now, has just been feeling good and clicking on all cylinders," Dozier said. "Everything feels really comfortable. Hitting is never easy, but the more you simplify it, it makes it a lot easier."

Besides home runs, Dozier has hit safely in 21 of his last 22 games and has an extra-base hit in five straight.

"Dozier's just been incredible for us," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "It's been fun to watch."

Minnesota has made a habit of hitting home runs lately. They are among the best in the league during the last month and hit three more off Royals starter Dillon Gee on Saturday.

Gee was doing a nice job of navigating through the Twins' lineup until back-to-back homers in the sixth inning ended his night and put the game out of reach.

"He was throwing the ball well," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "He was one hitter away from having a really, really good outing."

Kansas City will send right-hander Edinson Volquez to the mound in an attempt to get back on track. Volquez has been shelled in each of his last three outings, allowing four or more runs each time out. He has allowed 11 runs and 21 hits in his last 11 innings.

Volquez has been solid against Minnesota in two starts this season, however, giving up two earned runs, six hits and three walks in 6 2/3 innings and getting the win at Target Field on May 24.

The Twins will send left-hander Hector Santiago to the mound in search of his first win since being traded to Minnesota on Aug. 1. Santiago was burned for five runs (four earned), seven hits and a walk in 5 1/3 innings in a loss to Houston on Tuesday.

**TheGame** · 08-14-2016, 08:05 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 8/14

Preview: Tigers (62-54) at Rangers (69-49)

Game: 3
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: August 14, 2016 3:05 PM EDT

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Detroit Tigers stopped the bleeding by beating the Texas Rangers on Saturday night. Now, the Tigers are after a series win.

The 2-0 shutout victory in the second of a three-game set snapped a five-game losing streak for the Tigers, who are third in the American League wild-card standings.

Detroit (62-54) had also lost six in a row to the Rangers dating to last season.

"Whenever you've had a string of losses like we had earlier in the season or we had these past five days, it definitely feels better to get the monkey off your back," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said.

The Tigers can return to Comerica Park for a seven-game homestand starting Monday with momentum back on their side by capturing the series finale on Sunday afternoon in what promises to be a sun-scorched Globe Life Park.

Getting their first win the series was a start.

"At the end of the day, it's just one game," Tigers fill-in third baseman Casey McGehee said. "We're trying to make a playoff push. Every game is important."

McGehee was a big part of Saturday's win, even though he wasn't expected to be a big part of the club this season. The 33-year-old veteran was signed by Detroit to a minor-league contract in February, released the next month and signed again.

After the injury to Nick Castellanos earlier this month, McGehee was called up. He has hit safely in five of six games since being recalled, capped by a 4-4 performance in the 2-0 win. The four hits tied a career high.

"I wouldn't have continued to play if I didn't think I could do it," McGehee said.

Ausmus has not been surprised by McGehee's contributions since joining the team.

"I was never concerned," Ausmus said. "Casey McGehee looks like a big league player."

The Tigers are sending rookie Michael Fulmer (9-3, 2.43 ERA) to the hill. The right-hander is making his 19th start of the season and gunning for his fourth consecutive quality start.

He did lose his last outing on Aug. 8 at Seattle after allowing two runs and five hits in seven innings. The 23-year-old rookie of the year candidate is facing Texas for the first time.

The Rangers counter with A.J. Griffin (5-1, 4.38) in the rubber game. The 28-year-old veteran is hoping to fare well against the predominately right-hand-hitting Tigers. Griffin has held right-handed batters to a .194 (27-139) average this season, the fifth lowest in the American League.

He does have a 6.39 ERA in this last six starts beginning July 20 but is 2-1 in that span. The Rangers have won his last four starts. Griffin took a no-decision on Aug. 9 at Colorado, a 7-5 come-from-behind Texas win. He is 1-1 in three career starts against the Tigers.

Despite scoring only two wins, the Tigers did rack up 13 hits Saturday against Cole Hamels and 14 total.

"There's potential danger up and down their lineup," Texas manager Jeff Banister said.

**TheGame** · 08-14-2016, 08:05 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 8/14

Preview: Mariners (61-54) at Athletics (52-65)

Game: 3
Venue: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Date: August 14, 2016 4:05 PM EDT

OAKLAND, Calif. -- What the Seattle Mariners saw from Oakland A's rookie right-hander Zach Neal on May 25 at Safeco Field is probably not what they'll get Sunday in a rematch at Oakland Coliseum.

Neal gave up seven runs and eight hits in four innings in his first major-league start and second appearance that night in Seattle.

"That was so long ago," Neal said of the 13-3 loss. "I feel like I'm a completely different player now. That was my second game ever. Everything feels different now than it did, just as far being here more and being more comfortable. It's hard to even pull anything from that."

Since then, Neal has gone 2-0 with a 2.01 ERA and one save in 10 appearances, including his second career major-league start on Tuesday against Baltimore. Neal has struck out eight, walked one and allowed 19 hits in 22 1/3 innings during that stretch.

Neal gave up one run and two hits, struck out one and walked none in 5 1/3 innings in a 2-1 victory over the Orioles.

In his start against Seattle at Safeco, Neal gave up two home runs to Adam Lind, a solo shot in the second inning and a two-run blast during a six-run third.

"I've been a starter long enough to know you can't live and die by one game," Neal said. "It's a long season, and if you do that, then it's going to be an even longer season. I've been through those many a time in my career and learned from them. I think that's part of growing up as a baseball player. Mentally being able to handle those situations is key."

Mariners left-hander Wade LeBlanc, who will make his seventh start of the season, knows plenty about handling adversity. LeBlanc, 31, played the 2015 season for the Seibu Lions of Japan's Pacific League because he couldn't find a job in the major leagues. This year, he signed with Toronto and was pitching for Triple-A Buffalo until the Mariners acquired him in a trade on June 22.

LeBlanc has gone 1-0 with a 4.71 ERA in seven appearances, including six starts for the Mariners. Seattle is 6-1 in his seven outings.

"He's had some good games for us," Mariners manager Scott Servais said before Seattle's 4-3 victory over the A's on Saturday. "He's had some other ones where he was on the edge. His last time out he could have fallen apart, and he hung in there and gave us five innings, which allowed us to come back in the game.

"He has to live on the edges of the strike zone to be effective, and he's done a pretty good job for us. We have a pretty good idea of what we're going to get out of him every time out there. He's going to throw strikes, he's not going to beat himself."

In his last start, LeBlanc gave up four runs and 10 hits in five innings and got a no-decision in Seattle's 6-5 victory over Detroit on Tuesday. He struck out two, walked three and allowed two home runs.

**TheGame** · 08-14-2016, 08:06 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 8/14

Preview: Orioles (65-51) at Giants (66-50)

Game: 3
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: August 14, 2016 4:05 PM EDT

SAN FRANCISCO -- Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop gets a chance to face his favorite pitcher Sunday when the San Francisco Giants send right-hander Johnny Cueto to the mound in the finale of a three-game interleague series.

Schoop had never faced Cueto in his career before they hooked up twice over the course of 19 days in August and September last season.

Suffice it to say, it's a five at-bat stretch the 24-year-old will never forget.

Schoop belted three homers and a single in those two games, leading the Orioles to 8-5 and 8-2 wins over Cueto and his team at the time, the Kansas City Royals.

The three homers were one-fifth of Schoop's entire season total of 15, and were three of the seven the Orioles smacked off Cueto in 11 1/3 innings.

Cueto is the only pitcher against whom Schoop has as many as three homers in his career.

Cueto, meanwhile, has allowed more than three career home runs to only three players -- Aramis Ramirez (six in 50 at-bats), Andrew McCutchen (four in 75) and Alfonso Soriano (four in 46).

Schoop, a fourth-year Oriole, has pounded out 17 home runs already this season. But more than anything else, he's known for his consistency.

Schoop played all nine innings in Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Giants. He is the only major-leaguer to have played every inning of every one of his team's games this season.

Schoop has started 116 consecutive games, the second-longest active streak in the majors. Only Cueto's former teammate, Alcides Escobar of the Royals, has started more consecutive games (125).

Chris Davis (two), Manny Machado and Adam Jones added to Cueto's miseries with homers last season. The veteran right-hander walked away from those two starts with a 10.32 ERA in his only two career starts against the Orioles.

Cueto might not have to worry about Jones on Sunday. The veteran outfielder injured a finger on a bunt attempt in Saturday's loss and was last seen icing it after the game.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter was concerned to the point of telling reporters, "We're pretty thin if we lose Adam. Basically, we have Adam or Adam (to play center field)."

Cueto has made 27 other interleague starts and has ranked among baseball's best in those games. He's gone 14-4 with a 2.08 ERA in those games.

Even counting the Baltimore debacles, Cueto has logged a 2.59 ERA in interleague games, the best among all active pitchers who have made more than 27 such starts.

Cueto has made just one interleague start this season. He did not allow an earned run over six innings in a 2-1 win over the New York Yankees.

The Orioles will counter with left-hander Wade Miley, who will be making his 22nd interleague start. He's gone 9-5 with a 5.27 in his first 21.

A former member of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Miley will be facing the Giants for the 11th time in his career. He's gone 4-4 with a 3.23 ERA in those games.

Miley hasn't faced the Giants since 2014, when he went 3-1 in four starts against the National League West rival.

He will be facing a team coming off what manager Bruce Bochy considered to be a crucial win on Saturday night.

"Good bounce-back for us," said Bochy, whose club lost the series opener 5-2. "We needed a win tonight."

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MLB Betting Info. 8/14

MLB Betting Info. 8/14

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