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**TheGame** · 06-07-2016, 07:58 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/7

MLB

Tuesday, June 7

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Trend Report
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4:05 PM
NY METS vs. PITTSBURGH
NY Mets are 0-4-1 SU in its last 5 games ,when playing on the road against Pittsburgh
NY Mets are 2-3-1 SU in its last 6 games ,
Pittsburgh is 1-5-1 SU in its last 7 games ,
Pittsburgh4-0-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against NY Mets

7:05 PM
KANSAS CITY vs. BALTIMORE
Kansas City is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Kansas City is 12-5 SU in its last 17 games when playing Baltimore
Baltimore is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Baltimore's last 6 games at home

7:05 PM
CHI CUBS vs. PHILADELPHIA
Chi Cubs are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing Philadelphia
Chi Cubs are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 6 games
Philadelphia is 2-4 SU in their last 6 games when playing at home against Chi Cubs

7:05 PM
LA ANGELS vs. NY YANKEES
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of LA Angels's last 6 games when playing on the road against NY Yankees
The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Angels's last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of NY Yankees's last 6 games when playing at home against LA Angels
NY Yankees are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games when playing at home against LA Angels

7:10 PM
ST. LOUIS vs. CINCINNATI
The total has gone OVER in 16 of St. Louis's last 23 games on the road
St. Louis is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Cincinnati's last 7 games
Cincinnati is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing St. Louis

7:10 PM
TORONTO vs. DETROIT
Toronto is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Detroit
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Toronto's last 5 games when playing on the road against Detroit
Detroit is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
Detroit is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games

8:05 PM
HOUSTON vs. TEXAS
Houston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Houston's last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Texas's last 7 games when playing at home against Houston
Texas is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home

8:10 PM
MIAMI vs. MINNESOTA
Miami is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Miami's last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Minnesota's last 7 games at home
Minnesota is 3-14 SU in its last 17 games at home

8:10 PM
WASHINGTON vs. CHI WHITE SOX
Washington is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Washington's last 9 games
Chi White Sox are 1-5 SU in their last 6 games when playing Washington
Chi White Sox are 2-5 SU in their last 7 games at home

8:10 PM
OAKLAND vs. MILWAUKEE
Oakland is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Milwaukee
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Oakland's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Milwaukee's last 6 games
Milwaukee is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Oakland

9:40 PM
TAMPA BAY vs. ARIZONA
Tampa Bay is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Arizona
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Tampa Bay's last 8 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Arizona's last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Arizona's last 6 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay

10:10 PM
ATLANTA vs. SAN DIEGO
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Atlanta's last 5 games when playing San Diego
Atlanta is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
San Diego is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Atlanta
The total has gone OVER in 5 of San Diego's last 7 games at home

10:10 PM
COLORADO vs. LA DODGERS
Colorado is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games
Colorado is 4-8 SU in its last 12 games on the road
LA Dodgers are 13-4 SU in their last 17 games when playing at home against Colorado
The total has gone OVER in 10 of LA Dodgers's last 15 games when playing at home against Colorado

10:10 PM
CLEVELAND vs. SEATTLE
Cleveland is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Cleveland is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Seattle
Seattle is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Seattle's last 13 games

10:15 PM
BOSTON vs. SAN FRANCISCO
Boston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against San Francisco
Boston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing San Francisco
San Francisco is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
San Francisco is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Boston

**TheGame** · 06-07-2016, 08:00 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/7

National League

Cubs @ Phillies
Hendricks is 2-0, 1.59 in his last two stats; five of his last seven starts stayed under. .

Eickhoff is 1-2, 2.75 in his last three starts; six of his last seven starts stayed under. .

Cubs are 11-2 in last 12 games; six of their last eight games stayed under. Philly is 4-13 in last 17 games; five of their last six games went over.

Mets @ Pirates
Matz is 7-0, 1.51 in his last eight starts; three of his last four stayed under. deGrom is 0-0, 3.06 in his last five starts (over 5-4).

Niese is 2-0, 2.25 in his last four starts (over 7-4). Nicasio is 1-2, 6.92 in his last five starts (over 5-5).

Mets are 4-6 in last ten road games, 6-3 in road series openers. Over is 7-4-1 in their last 12 games. Pittsburgh lost seven of last nine games; 5-4 in home series openers; their last seven home games went over.

Cardinals @ Reds
Leake is 4-1, 1.59 in his last five starts; six of his last eight went over.

Lamb is 1-3, 7.84 in his last four starts (under 3-2-1).

St Louis won six of its last nine games (over 6-3); they're 3-5 in road series openers. Reds won five of last seven games; nine of their last ten games went over. Reds are 4-6 in home series openers.

Braves @ Padres
Blair is 0-4, 8.13 in seven starts; four of his last five went over.

Rea is 0-1, 7.05 in his last three starts; four of his last five went over.

Atlanta is 10-18 on the road; four of their last six road games stayed under. Padres lost ten of last 15 games; ten of their last 13 games went over the total.

Rockies @ Dodgers
Butler is 0-2, 8.40 in his last three starts (over 3-3).

Urias is 0-1, 10.56 in his first two MLB starts (over 2-0).

Dodgers won ten of last 14 games; six of their last seven games stayed under total. Colorado lost ten of its last 14 games (over 9-5).

American League

Angels @ New York
Huff is making first '16 start; he is 25-28, 5.01 in 118 big league games (55 starts). He is 1-2, 4.58 in 15 AAA games this year (three starts).

Pineda is 1-3, 7.27 in his last five starts (over 3-0-2).

Bronx lost eight of last 13 games; under is 7-3-1 in their last 11 games. Angels are 8-5 in last 13 road games, with four of last five going over the total.

Royals @ Orioles
Ventura is 0-1, 5.68 in his last three starts; five of his last six starts went over.

Jimenez is 0-3, 12.42 in his last four starts; his last five starts went over.

Royals lost their last five games; over is 9-3-2 in their last 14. Baltimore won five of its last six games (over 4-2).

Blue Jays @ Tigers
Sanchez is 4-0, 3.00 in his last seven starts (under 5-2).

Boyd is 0-2, 5.56 in his two starts (over 1-0-1).

Toronto won nine of its last 12 games; under is 7-4v in its last 11 road games. Detroit won five of last six games; over is 16-5-2 in their last 23 home games.

Astros @ Rangers
Keuchel is 0-3, 6.61 in his last five starts (over 5-3-1 in his last nine).

Hamels is 0-1, 6.94 in his last two starts; his last five starts went over.

Astros are 11-3 in last 14 games, but lost 11 in row in Arlington; seven of their last nine games went over. Texas is 13-3 in its last 16 games, six of their last seven games went over the total.

Indians @ Mariners
Anderson is 1-3, 6.94 in his seven starts (over 5-2). .

Miley is 1-0, 11.05 in his last three starts; over is 5-0-1 in his last six. .

Indians won their last six games; over is 7-3-1 in their last 11 games. Seattle lost eight of its last 11 games- over is 11-2 in its last 13 games.

Interleague

A's @ Brewers
Manaea is 1-2, 4.34 in his last three starts; three of his last four stayed under.

Davies is 3-0, 3.86 in his last five starts; four of his last six went over total.

Oakland lost its last five road games (over 4-1). A's are 6-3 in road series openers. Milwaukee is 8-5 in its last 13 games, 4-6 in home series openers; over is 8-3 in its last 11 games.

Nationals @ White Sox
Ross is 2-0, 1.29 in his last two starts; his last four stayed under.

Latos is 1-1, 7.06 in his last four starts; four of his last five went over.

Washington won eight of last 11 road games; seven of its last nine games went over the total. White Sox lost 10 of last 12 games; under is 7-2 in their last nine home games. Nationals are 6-4 in road series openers. chicago is 4-4 in home series openers.

Marlins @ Twins
Conley is 1-2, 4.56 in his last five starts (over 3-2-1 in his road starts).

Dean is 1-1, 4.00 in his three starts (under 2-1).

Marlins are 5-3 in their last eight games; over is 11-6-1 in their last 18 road games. Miami is 6-2 in road series openers. Minnesota lost six of last seven games; six of their last seven home games went over. Twins are 4-5 in home series openers.

Rays @ Diamondbacks
Moore is 1-1, 7.34 in his last six starts (over 5-0-1).

Greinke is 4-0, 2.57 in his last four starts (under 6-5-1).

Arizona.lost six of last eight games; four of last five Diamondback games stayed under the total. Tampa Bay won last four games; over is 15-2-1 in their last 18 road games.

Red Sox @ Giants
Porcello is 1-1, 6.17 in his last four starts; four of his last five went over.

Suarez allowed three runs in five IP (76 PT) in his first MLB start.

Boston lost four of its last five games; they're 5-4 in road series openers. Over is 4-2-1 in their last seven road games. Giants won their last five home games; six of their last nine games went over. SF is 4-4 in home series openers.

Teams won-lost records when this pitcher starts:

Chi-Phil-- Hendricks 5-5; Eickhoff 3-8
NY-Pitt-- Matz 7-2 deGrom 5-4; Niese 7-4 Nicasio 5-5
StL-Cin-- Leake 6-5; Lamb 1-5
Atl-SD-- Blair 1-6; Rea 5-5
Col-LA-- Butler 2-4; Urias 0-2

LA-NY-- Huff 0-0; Pineda 4-7
KC-Balt-- Ventura 7-4; Jimenez 5-6
Tor-Det-- Sanchez 7-4; Boyd 0-2
Hst-Tex-- Keuchel 4-8; Hamels 7-4
Cle-Sea-- Anderson 2-5; Miley 8-3

A's-Mil-- Manaea 3-4; Davies 4-5
Wsh-Chi-- Ross 6-4; Latos 8-2
Mia-Minn-- Conley 6-5; Dean 2-1
TB-Az-- Moore 4-7; Greinke 8-4
Bos-SF-- Porcello 7-4; Suarez 0-1

Starting pitchers allowing 1+ runs in first inning:

Chi-Phil-- Hendricks 2-10; Eickhoff 4-11
NY-Pitt-- Matz 7-2 deGrom 2-9; Niese 7-4 Nicasio 3-10
StL-Cin-- Leake 3-11; Lamb 4-6
Atl-SD-- Blair 3-7; Rea 5-10
Col-LA-- Butler 3-6; Urias 1-2

LA-NY-- Huff 0-0; Pineda 6-11
KC-Balt-- Ventura 3-11; Jimenez 4-11
Tor-Det-- Sanchez 2-11; Boyd 0-2
Hst-Tex-- Keuchel 4-12; Hamels 3-11
Cle-Sea-- Anderson 4-7; Miley 5-11

A's-Mil-- Manaea 1-7; Davies 3-9
Wsh-Chi-- Ross 1-10; Latos 4-10
Mia-Minn-- Conley 3-11; Dean 1-3
TB-Az-- Moore 3-11; Greinke 2-12
Bos-SF-- Porcello 2-11; Suarez 0-1

Umpires

Chi-Phil-- Over is 4-1-1 in last six Winters games.
Atl-SD-- Favorites won five of last six Barksdale games.
Col-LA-- Six of last nine Joyce games stayed under.

LA-NY-- Over is 4-2-2 in last eight Bellino games.
KC-Balt-- Six of last seven Gonzalez games went over.
Tor-Det-- Three of last four Rackley games went over; his last two games went 13, 17 innings- favorites won his last five.
Hst-Tex-- Last three Emmel games stayed under; favorites won his last five.
Cle-Sea-- Over is 7-1-1 in BWelke games

TB-Az-- Eight of ten Ripperger games stayed under.

**Satch** · 06-07-2016, 10:07 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/7

June Pitchers Report
By Marc Lawrence

You know the saying, “May flowers bring June showers.”

For Major League Baseball pitchers hurling during the month of June, showers are hopefully not in their immediate plans. Instead, it’s the hope of all MLB starting pitchers to stay around long enough in their starts to avoid having to clean up and go home early.

Listed below are hurlers that have enjoyed a two-to-one or better success ratio in team-starts over the course of the last three seasons during the month of June. On the flip side, we've also listed pitchers that struggle in June, winning 33% percent or less of their team-start efforts.

To qualify pitchers must have made a minimum of 10 starts, with at least one start each June over the last three years. And for your convenience alongside each record we break down each pitcher’s greatest success or greatest failure rate either home (H) or away (A) within his good or bad month.

Note: * designates a categorical repeat appearance by this pitcher, maintaining status quo from last season’s June list.

GOOD MONTH PITCHERS:

Arrieta, Jake - 8-4 (6-2 A)

Only Clayton Kershaw has been in Arrieta's stratosphere since 2015. The right-hander is in the right organization which has allowed his abundant talents to flourish and this season opposing batters are hitting a mere .168 against him. His effortless delivery and mid-90's fastball causes a lot of swings and misses as does his breaking pitches.

Cole, Gerrit - 10-2 (6-0 A)

Cole is now the ace of the Pittsburgh staff and expertly commands a two and four-seam fastball in the mid to upper 90's which he can sink or have riding action. After a sluggish start to season, his ERA is down to close to 2.50 and expect him to have another fine month. Note: Cole’s numbers above reflect his career team mark during June.

*Colon, Bartolo - 10-5 (7-0 H)

The 43-year old right-hander just keeps churning along on staff that is very talented and youthful. Colon knows how and where to spot his fastball, which he tosses 70 or more percent of the time and blends in a quick slider that has excellent depth. The fact is Colon understands his craft and wins.

Lackey, John - 11-5 (6-1 H)

Remember for years no pitcher in his right mind would want to pitch at Wrigley Field, now they line up for the chance. Being a talented young team helps and Lackey is the right fit, with fastball he keeps low in the zone and sinker opposing hitters cannot elevate. Through two months, the batter's Lackey has faced are at a lowly .209 batting average and his WHIP is sick 0.97.

Sanchez, Anibal - 9-4 (8-3 H)

The Detroit hurler has gotten off to a rugged start with ERA over 6 as June began. Sanchez's problems revolve around lack of pitch placement, not even having 2-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio and giving up more than a hit an inning. Of the 58 hits allowed, 11 have left the yard and if the Tigers are going to be contenders in the AL Central, Sanchez will have to throw like previous June's.

*Scherzer, Max - 11-4 (6-2 A)

If you research Mad Max's numbers, many are at or below career norm, yet he begins this month with an ERA over 4. The problem is too many pitches right down the middle, which is why he on pace to give up 45 home runs (15 thru May). If Scherzer solves this, he will have a great rest of the year.

Tillman, Chris - 11-3 (4-1 A)

After an off year in 2015, the Orioles righty has come back in a big way. When he's at his best like he has been this year, Tillman works his low 90's heater at the knees on both sides of the dish and his curve and changeup have sharp downward motion. He starts this month with hitters at .203 batting average versus his tosses.

Volquez, Edinson - 11-5 (7-1 A)

The Royals right-hander is doing what he does best, as in nine of his 11 starts for Kansas City he has induced double digit groundball outs. Volquez is still thought to be a power pitcher and gets numerous weak swings with tilted curve and deluxe changeup he will throw on any count.

*Zimmermann, Jordan - 12-5 (8-3 H)

After an unbelievable start, Zimmermann has drifted back to the previous career numbers. He pulled a groin late last month, but is expected to make start on June 3rd and continue from that point. His strengths include four pitches he trusts to throw for strikes and he has shown greater durability thus far in the AL.

BAD MONTH PITCHERS:

Miller, Shelby - 6-12 (2-6 A)

After disastrous start with Arizona, having ERA over 7, maybe a trip to the DL with bad finger on throwing hand will settle Miller down, who looks like he is trying to throw a no-hitter on every pitch and is getting hammered. The talent has always been in place, just not the execution as this record shows. Note: Miller’s numbers above reflect his career team mark during June.

Verlander, Justin - 4-10 (2-5 H)

No longer equipped with high 90's fastball, Verlander tends to give up runs in bunches these days. He can be sailing along for three to five innings and then give up three or four runs in single inning. Without the necessary secondary pitches, he's become easier to hit a third time through the lineup.

Weaver, Jered - 5-10 (1-6 A)

It is sometimes tough to watch former aces who were among the best in the game, as their stuff is in decline and they are not close to what they used to be. This is the case of Weaver, whose fastball barely reaches 85 MPH, which makes his breaking ball and assortment of change-ups less effective. It is no accident at this juncture hitters are clocking him for .311 BA.

**Satch** · 06-07-2016, 10:07 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/7

MLB roundup: Fulmer extends scoreless streak in Tigers' rout
By The Sports Xchange

DETROIT -- Michael Fulmer stretched his scoreless streak to 22 1/3 innings and James McCann and Justin Upton homered as the streaking Detroit Tigers pounded the Toronto Blue Jays 11-0 on Monday at Comerica Park.
Fulmer allowed just two hits -- singles by Darwin Barney -- while tossing six scoreless innings in Detroit's fourth straight victory. He walked three and struck out five while winning his fourth consecutive start.
Fulmer's streak is the third longest by a rookie pitcher in franchise history. John Hiller tossed 28 2/3 scoreless frames in 1967 and Victor Santos had a 25-inning streak in 2001.
Toronto starter J.A. Happ allowed six runs on six hits in five innings. It was just the second time in 12 starts that he allowed more than three runs. The Blue Jays had won 10 of their last 13 games.

Orioles 4, Royals 1
BALTIMORE -- Baltimore's Mark Trumbo and Matt Wieters each hit solo homers in the decisive seventh inning to support a solid performance by starter Mike Wright, leading the O's past Kansas City.
Manny Machado got his 15th home run of the season for the Orioles, who have won five of six and sit atop the American League East. The Royals, meanwhile, lost their fifth straight after enduring a four-game weekend road sweep by the Cleveland Indians.
Wright allowed one unearned run on five hits with four strikeouts and two walks over seven innings. Despite the loss, Royals starter Danny Duffy continued a string of effective performances since rejoining the rotation in mid-May. He allowed two runs on five hits and tied a career-high with nine strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.

Yankees 5, Angels 2
NEW YORK -- Carlos Beltran hit a three-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning and New York rallied for a victory over Los Angeles.
The Yankees had little going against Matt Shoemaker through the first 6 2/3 innings as they struggled to hit his changeup. New York was finally able to connect on Shoemaker's changeup in a span of three pitches in the seventh. Masahiro Tanaka allowed two runs and six hits over seven innings for his eighth no-decision of the season.
Shoemaker allowed four runs and eight hits in 7 2/3 innings. He struck out six without a walk, giving him 39 strikeouts since his last free pass. Pujols had an RBI single in the first and Kole Calhoun lifted a sacrifice fly for the Angels, who have dropped 12 of their last 15 visits to New York.

Cubs 6, Phillies 4
PHILADELPHIA -- Jon Lester pitched eight shutout innings and Jason Heyward homered as Chicago held on to beat Philadelphia.
Dexter Fowler and Kris Bryant had three hits apiece and Anthony Rizzo drove in two runs for the Cubs, who won for the fifth time in six games to improve their major league-best record to 40-16.
Philadelphia's Freddy Galvis hit a three-run homer off reliever Justin Grimm in the ninth, and Tommy Joseph followed with a solo shot off Hector Rondon. Rondon, who earned his 11th save, retired the next two hitters but allowed a single to pinch hitter Odubel Herrera. Another pinch hitter, Ryan Howard, grounded out to end the game, as the Phillies fell for the ninth time in 11 games.

Rangers 6, Astros 5
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Rougned Odor's walk-off double scored Adrian Beltre from first base in the ninth inning as Texas squeaked past Houston.
Odor was 2-for-4 with three RBIs, including a third-inning home run and a game-tying sacrifice fly in the seventh as Texas held off Houston. Right-hander Sam Dyson earned the victory, pitching a scoreless ninth for the Rangers, who extended their winning streak to seven games over Houston this season. Texas has won 11 consecutive over Houston at Globe Life Park, dating to 2015.
Houston's Jose Altuve was 3-for-5 with a three-run home run that erased Texas' early lead. Luis Valbuena and Jason Castro each had two hits for the Astros.

Rockies 6, Dodgers 1
LOS ANGELES -- Local product Tyler Chatwood effectively silenced the Los Angeles bats, pitching Colorado to a win at Dodger Stadium.
Chatwood, who grew up in the Redlands -- a suburb of Los Angeles in the Inland Empire region, and was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in 2008, limited the Dodgers to one earned run on one hit in eight innings, walking four and striking out five. It was Chatwood's fifth straight road win and he's still undefeated away from Coors Field.
Rookie Trevor Story broke the game open with a three-run home run in the sixth inning. Despite his struggles as of late, Story still made it a little harder for the Dodgers' Corey Seager to catch up to him in the rookie home run race, belting his 16th of the season.

Indians 3, Mariners 1
SEATTLE -- Cleveland's Rajai Davis hit his sixth home run of the season on a night when starter Trevor Bauer controlled the Seattle bats on the way to a win.
With a dominating curveball and a fastball that touched 97 miles per hour, Bauer (4-2) allowed just one run off five hits over 7 2/3 innings to lead the Indians to their sixth consecutive win, Cleveland's longest streak of the season.
Seattle suffered its fourth loss in a row to fall four games behind Texas in the American League West.

Padres 7, Braves 2
SAN DIEGO -- Yangervis Solarte broke a 1-1 tie with a three-run homer in the third inning and left-handed starter Christian Friedrich allowed two runs on six hits over 6 2/3 innings as San Diego defeated Atlanta at Petco Park in the opener of a three-game series between the last-place teams in the National League's East and West divisions.
The loss was the fifth straight and sixth in seven games for the 16-41 Braves. The win was the Padres' fourth in six games on their current homestand.
Braves right-handed starter Williams Perez suffered the loss. The right-hander allowed six runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings before leaving the game with triceps soreness.

Rays 6, Diamondbacks 4
PHOENIX -- Desmond Jennings had three hits, including a solo homer, and Chris Archer struck out 12 in six innings to lead Tampa Bay to a victory over Arizona at Chase Field.
Archer gave up bases-empty homers to Ray and David Peralta among his five hits allowed while tying a season high in strikeouts he set on Opening Day against the Toronto Blue Jays. He yielded three runs, walked three and threw 115 pitches.
D-backs starter Robbie Ray had two hits for Arizona, which has lost 17 of its last 25 games after the team was 17-18 on May 10.

Mets,Pirates postponed
PITTSBURGH -- The Mets-Pirates game was postponed by rain following a delay of about one hour, 35 minutes. A makeup date was not immediately announced. The scheduled starting pitchers were pushed pack to Tuesday -- left-handers Steven Matz for the Mets and ex-Met Jonathon Niese for the Pirates.

**Satch** · 06-07-2016, 10:07 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/7

Dodgers' Urias set for home debut vs. Rockies
By The Sports Xchange

Julio Urias did not succeed in his first two major league starts, both on the road.
The 19-year-old Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander gets a chance to turn it around Tuesday when he makes his Dodger Stadium debut against the Colorado Rockies.
"To get him a start here at home is great for him and great for us," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told the Los Angeles Times last weekend. "He deserves it. He didn't get the results he would have liked the first two starts, but the way he threw the ball, the way he competes and the way he handled himself in New York and Chicago, we want to see him again."
Urias, one of baseball's highest-rated prospects, endured a rocky debut against the New York Mets, allowing three runs and walking four in 2 2/3 innings on May 27. He was briefly optioned back to Triple-A Oklahoma City, then was called back up to start Thursday at Wrigley Field.
In five innings against the Chicago Cubs, Urias allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits and took the loss, leaving him 0-1 with a 9.39 ERA.
"Every day he takes the mound up here, it's a learning lesson," Roberts said.
The Dodgers are awaiting the arrival of the form Urias displayed while dominating the Pacific Coast League early this season. He was 4-1 with a 1.10 ERA in eight games (seven starts) for Oklahoma City, striking out 44 and walking eight in 41 innings.
Since signing for Los Angeles out of Mexico in August 2012, Urias is 11-8 with a 2.63 ERA in 69 minor league outings (63 starts).
"We believe in the player, in the person," Roberts told the Times. "He can follow a game plan. It's just more of getting his feet wet, continuing to calm his nerves and make pitches. ... We just want Julio to be Julio, because if he's executing pitches, he can get anyone out."
Urias' mound opponent Tuesday also sports an ugly ERA. Rockies right-hander Eddie Butler, 25, is 2-3 with a 5.65 ERA, and he is coming off a Thursday start against the Cincinnati Reds in which he gave up eight runs on 11 hits in four innings.
In six starts, Butler has a 6.25 ERA. He allowed just one run in five innings during two relief appearances.
"I need to improve in the first couple of innings," Butler told the Denver Post. "That's when I've been hurt a lot."
In the first two innings of his six starts, opponents are batting .292 against him.
Rockies catcher Nick Hundley told the Post, "I think he needs to continue to perfect his five-day routine. I think he's in the process of finding out what will make him consistent. Obviously, his stuff is there and he's thrown the ball well at times, but the consistency hasn't been there yet.
"That's true of most young players. It's not a matter of talent, it's about doing it every fifth day and giving us a chance to win every fifth day. He doesn't have to go out and throw eight scoreless, but he has to put us in a chance to win."
The Rockies hope Butler can back up the series-opening starting performance by Christian Friedrich, who pitched eight one-hit innings Monday in Colorado's 6-1 win over Los Angeles.
The teams conclude the series Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium.

**Satch** · 06-07-2016, 10:08 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/7

Preview: Mets (31-24) at Pirates (30-26)

Game: 2
Venue: PNC Park
Date: June 07, 2016 7:35 PM EDT

PITTSBURGH -- Neil Walker's comeback to Pittsburgh -- his previous, current and future home -- was months in the making, so one more day probably won't make that much of a difference.

Walker, the Pirates' starting second baseman the previous six seasons and now a key member of the New York Mets at the same position, planned for weeks and weeks for his first trip back home to Pittsburgh on Monday.

He secured dozens of tickets for friends and family members. He prepared to hold a news conference at PNC Park -- an almost unheard-of event for a visiting player.

However, after receiving a standing ovation from hundreds of PNC Park employees as he entered the field for batting practice, well before fans were admitted to the park, Walker had to push back his preparations for a day. The Mets-Pirates game was postponed by rain following a delay of about 1 hour, 35 minutes.

The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Tuesday.

The scheduled starting pitchers for Monday were pushed pack to Tuesday's first game -- left-handers Steven Matz (7-1) for the Mets and ex-Met Jonathon Niese (5-2) for the Pirates. In the second game, right-hander Jacob deGrom (3-1) will pitch for New York, while Pittsburgh's tentative starter is lefty Francisco Liriano (4-5).

The Mets no doubt will welcome back center fielder Yoenis Cespedes after a sore hip prevented him from starting for two days in Miami. He was in the scheduled lineup Monday. Likewise, Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen (sore right thumb) and catcher Francisco Cervelli (bruised right foot) were in the planned lineup Monday after being bothered by injuries for several days.

Walker, a native of suburban Pittsburgh, was with the Pirates since being a first-round draft pick out of Pine-Richland High School in Gibsonia, Pa., in 2004. But the Pirates, apparently intent on playing Jung Ho Kang at third and Josh Harrison at second, chose to trade him to the Mets in December for Niese rather than to risk losing him in free agency next winter.

With the Mets, he has been so valuable offensively -- with a .279 average, 13 homers and 25 RBIs -- that was scheduled to bat cleanup Monday, a spot he filled only occasionally in Pittsburgh.

Because he was so closely watched in his hometown, Walker might be one of the few players who undergoes less media scrutiny in New York than he did with his previous team.

"My daily routine has been a little less packed than in the past, and that hasn't been something I've had since I was in Triple-A," he said. "I've been able to have a little bit less stress with what's going on. ... I've been able to blend in, whether it's been in Manhattan or at the ballpark."

With the Pirates, he was the unofficial spokesman in the locker room, the go-to man for the Pittsburgh media when they need insight or a comment or a player for an off-day event.

"I bled black and gold for a long time," he said at the pregame news conference. "But I don't need to retell any tales about the business (of baseball). Here I am now, in a Mets uniform, and they've embraced me with open arms. I couldn't be happier with where I've landed."

Walker also is popular in New York, even though he's filling the role of 2015 postseason star Daniel Murphy, who is now playing second base for the Washington Nationals.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle remains close with Walker and his dad, former Expos pitcher Tom Walker, and he talked with the elder Walker in advance of Neil's first major league game in Pittsburgh in anything but a Pirates uniform.

"It sure is a good time for everybody in the (Walker) house," Hurdle said.

And a new house it is. Walker recently sold the home he occupied while with the Pirates, yet rather than move to his new big league city, he bought another house near his family in Pittsburgh.

No wonder why Walker said he is happy with both of his new homes.

"By the end of spring training, it was like I'd been with the Mets for a long, long time," Walker said.

**Satch** · 06-07-2016, 10:08 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/7

Preview: Cubs (40-16) at Phillies (28-30)

Game: 2
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: June 07, 2016 7:05 PM EDT

PHILADELPHIA -- Kyle Hendricks has gained the trust of Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon.

Ryan Howard, meanwhile, must regain the trust of Philadelphia Phillies boss Pete Mackanin.

Hendricks, a 26-year-old right-hander, will seek to run his personal winning streak to three games when he takes the mound Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park against right-hander Jerad Eickhoff (2-8, 3.93).

Hendricks (4-4, 2.84) went the distance against the Phillies two starts ago, the second complete game of his three-year career, allowing one run and five hits in a 4-1 victory. His last time out he worked eight innings to beat the Dodgers, allowing two runs and three hits while striking out six and walking one.

"He is really learning his craft," Maddon told reporters after the latter victory. "Of course he can get better. There are other things he will be able to learn how to do as he gains experience. Just the way he pitched right now, with the weapons he has, hitters don't like that."

The victory over the Dodgers marked the first time Hendricks went at least eight innings in back-to-back games in his career.

"We take pride in going out there every fifth day," he told reporters. "Lately, I have been able to make it simple and focus on making good pitches."

The 36-year-old Howard, hitting just .150 this season, has just four hitless at-bats this month while Mackanin and Co. take a look at rookie first baseman Tommy Joseph. Joseph has shown promise, hitting .311 with five homers and eight RBIs in 19 games to date, but Mackanin said before Monday's 6-4 loss to the Cubs that he plans to start Howard on Tuesday.

"I'm just going to get a look at him, see how he looks," Mackanin said, "and I'll probably make a decision on how I'm going to handle the whole thing in the near future."

It is obviously a situation that requires some finesse. Howard, in his 13th season, is a former MVP and three-time All-Star. With catcher Carlos Ruiz, he is a link to the club's glory days.

To date Howard has said and done all the right things. Mackanin is trying to do the same.

"The whole thing is delicate, and a lot of it concerns me," he said. "I'm sure he's not happy about the position he's in. I'm not happy about it. We've got to do something at some point, see what happens. It's not a lot of fun."

He has gone so far as to seek the advice of a former major league manager on how to handle the situation.

"He said basically the best way to handle it is to tell the player you've got to hit better," Mackanin said. "If it comes to that point, that's basically what I'm going to tell (Howard)."

**Satch** · 06-07-2016, 10:08 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/7

Preview: Royals (30-27) at Orioles (33-23)

Game: 2
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: June 07, 2016 7:05 PM EDT

BALTIMORE -- The Kansas City Royals will turn to one of their most dependable pitchers to get back on track and slow the surging Baltimore Orioles in the second of their three-game series Tuesday at Camden Yards.

The Orioles won the series opener 4-1 with a solid performance by starter Mike Wright and solo home runs by Mark Trumbo and Matt Wieters in a decisive seventh inning. The Royals tied a season high with their fifth straight loss.

The Royals hope to get a boost with Yordano Ventura, who has been especially dominant against Baltimore. He is 4-1 with 37 strikeouts in five starts against them. His 1.91 ERA versus the Orioles is the third best among active pitchers behind Tampa Bay's Drew Smyly (1.82) and Alex Cobb (1.84).

"Our guys are really good at picking themselves up," Kansas City manager Ned Yost said. "You understand that you're going to go through these things. You want to try to break out of it sooner than later."

Ventura (4-3, 4.82 ERA) was solid in his last start Thursday against Cleveland, allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits with three strikeouts over six innings. He already beat Baltimore on April 24, when he allowed just one run on three hits over seven innings.

Baltimore will counter with Ubaldo Jimenez, who is looking to get on track. Jimenez is 0-3 with a 9.97 ERA with 16 walks in his past five starts. He ranks 102 among major league pitchers with a 1.85 WHIP.

In his last outing Thursday against Boston, Jimenez (2-6, 6.59 ERA) started strong and allowed just one hit over the first five innings. However, he unraveled in the sixth when he allowed five runs on six hits, including a three-run homer to David Ortiz.

Still, the Orioles have won five of six and sit atop the American League East. They've been able to overcome some shaky starts by their starters.

One of the keys for the Orioles all season has been their ability to hit late in the game against some of the league's top bullpens.

"There aren't many bad ones in the big leagues anymore," catcher Matt Wieters said about the opposing relievers his team has faced. "It seems like everybody throws 97, 98. So you better be getting ready to go. As a hitter, you feel like you can get a hit off anybody that you go up there against, and we've just been fortunate enough to find the barrel and drive some balls."

The Royals are optimistic third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert will be available after he was hit on the right arm sliding into second base Monday. Cuthbert left the game with a contusion and is day-to-day.

"I didn't see it," Cuthbert said. "When I slide, I feel a shock. I couldn't feel anything. I got really nervous. Then I started moving my fingers. Everything's going to be OK."

Yost understands the challenge of playing hot-hitting Orioles, especially at the friendly confines of Camden Yards. However, he is confident the Royals will break out of their recent slide.

"Baltimore is tailor-made for this park," Yost said. "It's a power-hitting group. It's a smaller ballpark. They can drive the ball out of the ballpark. We are kind of tailor-made for driving the gaps. We're not going to put the ball out of the ballpark like these guys do. So, we have to bunch together two and three and four hits to produce a rally, where they can get a walk and boom, they have two runs. It's just a different style. When we are swinging the bats good, we feel like we can win anywhere in any park."

**Satch** · 06-07-2016, 10:08 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/7

Preview: Angels (26-31) at Yankees (27-30)

Game: 2
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: June 07, 2016 7:05 PM EDT

NEW YORK -- Michael Pineda's season as a No. 2 starter has mostly been a disaster for the New York Yankees.

Five days ago, Pineda deviated from his disappointing season with an effective outing in Detroit and Tuesday night, the Yankees hopes the right-hander can follow it up when he faces the Los Angeles Angels.

Pineda takes an underwhelming 2-6 record and a 6.41 ERA into Tuesday's meeting but may have given the Yankees some form of encouragement when he allowed one earned run and seven hits during 5 2/3 innings of a 5-4 victory at Detroit on Thursday.

"I made adjustments and kept the ball down the whole game and had a good outing," Pineda said. "My confidence was never low. I'm a pitcher that wants to do good and help the team and I was a little sad that I wasn't helping the team. But you've got to keep working hard. That's how you get out of it."

By being able to have a decent outing, Pineda put some of the talk about sending him to the minors on hold.

"That's the Michael that we've seen and we know what he's capable of doing," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "We've seen glimpses of it this year."

The problem is the glimpses have been few and far between and Pineda's fifth season as a Yankee and third on the mound has been a maddening one at times.

While he has held opponents to three runs or less in six of 11 starts and leads the Yankees with 67 strikeouts, he also has produced his share of clunkers, most notably April 25 when he struck out nine but allowed four home runs to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Among the litany of frustrating statistics for Yankees fans are a 13.09 earned-run average in the first inning, a .440 opponent batting average after two outs, a .300 average after reaching an 0-2 count to go along with hitters posting a .320 average and a .929 OPS against him.

Meanwhile, the Yankees will hope Pineda can start getting them out of their two-week slump. The Yankees reached .500 at 22-22 exactly two weeks ago but have lost eight of their last 13 games.

New York seemed headed for another loss Monday but rallied for a 5-2 victory. Brian McCann and Starlin Castro hit back-to-back solo home runs in the seventh and Carlos Beltran slugged the tiebreaking three-run homer in the eighth.

Beltran's home run sent the Angels to their 12th loss in the last 15 visits to New York but the good news is nobody else landed on the DL for Los Angeles.

The Angels have 10 players on the disabled list and their extensive injury list includes Nick Tropeano, who landed on the DL Saturday with right shoulder tightness. Tropeano was scheduled to start Tuesday but instead David Huff will pitch and the Angels hope it goes as well as it did for Matt Shoemaker during the first 6 2/3 scoreless innings Monday.

Huff signed a minor league deal with the Angels in mid-May. With Triple-A Salt Lake, he is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in three starts after opening this season with Triple-A Omaha.

"He's been throwing the ball well," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He has experience. He'll get an opportunity and see if he can fill in tomorrow."

Other experienced arms in Triple-A for the Angels include Tim Lincecum and Kyle Kendrick. Lincecum is starting Tuesday for Salt Lake and Kendrick has a 5.21 ERA in eight appearances.

The 31-year-old Huff briefly made 41 appearances with the Yankees in 2013 and 2014. Since leaving the Yankees, Huff has made three appearances for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tuesday will be his first appearance in the majors since June 3, 2015.

**Satch** · 06-07-2016, 10:09 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/7

Preview: Cardinals (30-27) at Reds (21-36)

Game: 1
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: June 07, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

CINCINNATI -- The St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds resumes on Tuesday night at Great American Ball Park, but it likely will have a different feel this time around.

The Reds are in the midst of a rebuild while the Cardinals are trying to establish some consistency in order to keep pace with the first-place Chicago Cubs, who have distanced themselves from their National League Central rivals.

Trading Mike Leake to the San Francisco Giants was among the key moves made last season by Cincinnati in an effort to cut payroll and build for the future.

Leake signed a 5-year free-agent contract with the Cardinals (30-27) in December and will face many of his former Reds teammates for the first time Tuesday.

Leake is 4-4 with a 3.82 ERA in 11 starts with 42 strikeouts and only 14 walks in 68 1/3 innings. He's produced five straight quality starts with a 1.59 ERA during that stretch.

"He's been what we had hoped for, someone who would come in and give us a quality start," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny told MLB.com. "Someone who would give our team a chance."

Among the initiatives for the Reds' rebuilding process was to find an everyday left fielder, and it appears they've accomplished that goal with Adam Duvall, who they got from San Francisco in exchange for Leake.

Duvall is batting .273 with three home runs and six RBIs in June. His 16 home runs rank second in the NL. Duvall also has developed into a solid defensive outfielder, but it's his power to this point in the season, which is surprising.

"I don't know if anyone could have expected (16) homers in the first third of the season from a guy who was a platoon outfielder to start the year," manager Bryan Price said.

"He's really not changed his approach. He's not trying to lift everything to hit homers. He's shown his power from right-center to the pull field. Ball just jumps off his bat."

Interestingly, Duvall's first career home run, which also was his first career hit with the Giants, came against Leake in 2014.

They will be matched up again on Tuesday with left-hander John Lamb, who is coming off his best outing of the season allowing one earned run over seven innings at Colorado, on the hill for Cincinnati.

Since losing 11 straight games, the Reds have won six of nine, including two of three from first-place Washington over the weekend.

"They played us tough," Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. "They're a hot club right now. They came out of Colorado hot, swinging the bats."

The Reds (21-36) will be looking to reverse recent history against the Cardinals, who took two of three from them in mid-April at Busch Stadium.

Cincinnati went 4-17 against St. Louis last season and is only 3-7 against the Cards in the last 10 series played at Great American Ball Park.

Reds fans still enjoy booing Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, who was at the center of a brawl between the clubs in 2010 at Cincinnati. Molina snapped a 0-for-21 skid with an eighth-inning single on Sunday.

The Cardinals are expected to reinstate shortstop Jhonny Peralta from the disabled list on Tuesday. He'll be making his season debut after injuring his thumb in Spring Training.

**Satch** · 06-07-2016, 10:09 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/7

Preview: Blue Jays (31-28) at Tigers (29-28)

Game: 2
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: June 07, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

DETROIT -- Matt Boyd gets a second chance to beat his former team on Tuesday.

Boyd was dealt during his rookie season from the Toronto Blue Jays to the Detroit Tigers at last year's trade deadline. The Blue Jays received perennial All-Star ace David Price but that turned out to be a half-year rental when Price signed with Boston during the offseason.

Boyd got a chance to face his old club at Toronto last Aug. 28. He took the loss, allowing five runs on seven hits in six innings. He will oppose Aaron Sanchez in the second game of a three-game series at Comerica Park.

"It was fun to go back and pitch in the place I made my debut," Boyd said. "How is it different (now)? That first year you don't know anything -- everything is new. I feel like, I don't want to say I'm comfortable, but there is more familiarity now. You develop a routine. I've been here a few more months now."

The 25-year-old left-hander started the season with Triple-A Toledo and worked his way back to the majors. He has a tenuous hold on the No. 5 spot in the rotation after making two starts in which he took a no-decision and a loss. He held the New York Yankees hitless through five innings on Thursday, but their veteran lineup solved him the third time through the order as Boyd wound up allowing four runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Detroit manager Brad Ausmus doesn't want Boyd thinking that every start is an audition.

"He's not dangling over a cliff," Ausmus said.

Boyd doesn't want to think that way, either.

"If they want me to relieve three days from now, I will do it," he said. "If they want me to start four days after that, I'll gladly do it. Just give me the ball and let me get the job done."

Sanchez has been getting the job done for the Blue Jays, recording quality starts in nine of his 11 outings this season. He's 5-1 with a 2.99 ERA and has pitched at least 6 2/3 innings in his last seven starts.

He's never started against the Tigers, though he has thrown five innings of scoreless relief against them in three career appearances.

The Blue Jays could use a quality start after getting clobbered by the Tigers 11-0 on Monday night. They managed just three hits while getting shut out for the third time this season.

"We laid an egg. You just move on and come back tomorrow," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. "It's one of those games where in every phase, we weren't very good. You wash that one off when you walk up the stairs."

Toronto had won 10 of its last 13 prior to Monday's debacle.

"You just move on to the next day," shortstop Darwin Barney said. "This (Detroit) is a good club right here. They have guys swinging the bats pretty good and their starting pitching is more than adequate. We'll be ready to go. I don't think there will be any hangover for us."

**Satch** · 06-07-2016, 10:09 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/7

Preview: Astros (28-31) at Rangers (35-22)

Game: 2
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: June 07, 2016 8:05 PM EDT

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Don't be surprised if the Houston Astros break out some sort of black magic in trying to overcome the spell the Texas Rangers seem to have on them.

The Astros have lost all seven games with Texas this season and are on an 11-game losing streak in Arlington, dating to 2015.

"We've got to play complete games here," manager A.J. Hinch said. "It's really not that complicated how things have gone for us at this ballpark. We've had some close games. The reality is when you play good games, no matter where they are or what the opponent is, you've got to play complete games."

Houston didn't do that in losing 6-5 on Monday.

Charged with the task of ending the skid is reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel, who has looked more like himself over the past two starts, despite a disappointing and inconsistent 3-7 beginning to the 2016 season. Keuchel, who has a 5.50 ERA, has had success against the Rangers. In a career-high 16 starts against Texas, he has four victories, tied for most by any pitcher against the Rangers in franchise history. RHP Collin McHugh (4-0), RHP Roy Oswalt (4-6), LHP Wandy Rodriguez (4-3) are the other Astros pitchers with four victories.

The chore won't be easy.

Going for Texas is lefty Cole Hamels, who is 4-0 with a 2.75 ERA against the AL West. Hamels has limited Houston to three runs -- two earned -- in two victories this season.

Texas hitters, meanwhile, have hammered Keuchel in two previous starts this season, battering the lefty for 13 runs on 22 hits.

Hamels, 5-1 with a 3.39 ERA this season, is also seeking a career landmark. With six strikeouts, he would reach 2,000 for his career, just the 77th player in history to reach the mark and seventh active player to do it.

Hamels received a no-decision in his last outing, giving up three runs on six hits over seven innings against Cleveland. Texas has lost three of its last four games in which Hamels has started after going on a winning streak of 16-1 in his previous 17 starts.

The two teams are among the hottest in baseball.

Despite losing on Monday, Houston is 8-2 in its last 10 while trying to overcome a terrible start. Texas is 10-2 in its last 12 games and appearing poised to assert itself in the AL West.

Texas is four games up on Seattle and eight on Houston with a lot of baseball yet to be played.

"The guys battle their butts off," said Texas closer Sam Dyson. "We're playing hard on defense and our pitching is showing up every day."

Rangers pitchers are 7-0 in the team's last nine games with a 2.96 ERA during that span.

Intrigue continues to surround Jurickson Profar, called up to play second base while Rougned Odor served his suspension for punching Jose Bautista in a brawl last month.

His stay at this point appears anything but temporary as the Rangers don't dare consider sending him back to Triple-A Round Rock.

Profar has hit safely in each of his 10 games, including multiple hits in five. He's hitting .370 with starts at second base and designated hitter.

Don't be surprised to see him at first, perhaps as soon as Tuesday, as Mitch Moreland continues to struggle. Profar was getting work there on Monday.

**Satch** · 06-07-2016, 10:09 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/7

Preview: Athletics (25-32) at Brewers (26-31)

Game: 1
Venue: Miller Park
Date: June 07, 2016 8:10 PM EDT

MILWAUKEE -- It will be hard for Zach Davies to top his last performance, when he spun eight shutout innings in a 3-1 victory over the Cardinals, but he'll take a shot Tuesday when the Milwaukee Brewers host the Oakland A's in an interleague matchup at Miller Park.

Davies posted an 8.78 ERA in his first three starts this season but since his record is 3-0 with a 2.97 in six outings while setting a career-high with nine strikeouts his last time out.

"It's hard to get much better than that," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said of Davies' outing against St. Louis. "That's certainly what he's capable of, against a very good offensive team; he has the ability to pitch like that. It's fun to watch when a guy pitches like that."

Milwaukee also expects to have left-fielder Ryan Braun back in the lineup Tuesday. Braun got a maintenance off-day Sunday and received treatment on his back and neck, which had kept him out of action for a stretch of seven out of eight games last month.

"It (was) preventive as much as anything,"Counsell said. "So we can get him to play 6-7 (games) in a row."

Braun's next hit will be the 1,500th of his career.

He'll try and get that hit against Oakland left-hander Sean Manaea (2-3, 6.16 ERA), whose rookie season has been quite a struggle. He showed improvement his last time out, holding the Twins to a run over six innings to earn his second victory of the season.

"The first couple of starts of the season, I wasn't comfortable at all," Manaea told the San Francisco Chronicle after that outing. "But as the season has gone on, I realize it's just baseball. ... The hitters are better, but I can still get them out with the stuff I have."

The game marks a homecoming of sorts of A's left fielder Khris Davis, who took over when Braun was suspended for the remainder of the 2013 season and spent two-and-a-half seasons in Milwaukee's starting lineup.

He hit 33 of his 74 career home runs at Miller Park, where he posted a .269 average with 91 RBIs while with the Brewers, who dealt the 28-year-old to Oakland in February for catching prospect Jacob Nottingham.

"It was a good steppingstone for me, but at the same time, I moved on," Davis told the San Francisco Chronicle. "It's going to be a fun series, as long as we win."

Also returning to Milwaukee will be A's reliever John Axford, who spent his first four big league seasons with the Brewers and led the majors with 46 saves as Milwaukee won the NL Central and advanced to the NLCS in 2011.

The short interleague series is sandwiched between two off-days for the A's, who were swept over the weekend in Houston and will travel on to Cincinnati when they leave Milwaukee.

The Brewers split two of four in Philadelphia last weekend, return home to kick off a week-long home stand that will include four games with the defending National League Champion New York Mets.

**Satch** · 06-07-2016, 10:10 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/7

Preview: Nationals (34-23) at White Sox (29-28)

Game: 1
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: June 07, 2016 8:10 PM EDT

CHICAGO -- Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura understands the challenge awaiting his players as they returns to U.S. Cellular Field on Tuesday to face the Washington Nationals.

At 34-23, the Nationals lead the National League East by two games ahead of the New York Mets. Meanwhile, the White Sox (29-28) have staggered in the opposite direction, losing 18 of their past 24.

"It is a tough stretch," Ventura said Sunday after the Detroit Tigers swept Chicago in three games. "But there's nowhere to go but up. I think right now, you take this blow, and you've got to push back. You get a day off, and you go ahead and regroup."

Right-hander Mat Latos (6-1, 4.02 ERA) will take the ball for the White Sox as the team opens a nine-game homestand. Latos has allowed at least four earned runs in four of his past six outings, but he has enjoyed success against the Nationals. In nine career starts against Washington, Latos is 4-2 with a 2.53 ERA, and he has compiled 48 strikeouts in 53 1/3 innings.

Latos needs a good start to solidify his role in Chicago's rotation. The White Sox acquired veteran right-hander James Shields from the San Diego Padres on Saturday, which bumped Latos to the role of fifth starter and moved fellow right-hander Miguel Gonzalez to the bullpen. If Latos' recent struggles continue, Ventura could opt to reinstate Gonzalez into the starting rotation.

Washington will counter with right-hander Joe Ross (5-4, 2.37 ERA). Ross has limited opponents to one earned run in seven innings in each of his past two starts. He never has faced the White Sox.

The Nationals scored 10 runs on Sunday to avoid a three-game sweep against the Cincinnati Reds. Despite dropping a pair of games at Cincinnati, the Nationals have won five of the past seven games.

One reason for Washington's sustained success is a reinvigorated offense led by Bryce Harper and supplemented by steady contributions from players such as Wilson Ramos, Daniel Murphy and Anthony Rendon. In his past 30 games, Rendon is hitting .314 and has posted a remarkable OPS of .967.

"I feel like I've been hitting the ball hard, relatively hard throughout the whole season," Rendon told the Washington Post. "Balls are starting to go a little further in warmer weather and starting to find some holes in the outfield."

Interleague play has served the Nationals well. They are 7-2 against American League opponents this season, including a 3-0 mark against the Minnesota Twins and 2-1 marks against the Tigers and the Kansas City Royals. In nine interleague games, the Nationals have outscored opponents 49-29.

The White Sox are 2-1 in interleague play after edging the New York Mets at Citi Field.

Left fielder Melky Cabrera is expected to rejoin the White Sox in time for Tuesday's series opener. Cabrera missed all three games against Detroit as he dealt with an undisclosed family emergency. The 31-year-old switch hitter is batting .275 this season with four home runs and 24 RBIs.

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MLB Betting Info. 6/7

MLB Betting Info. 6/7

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