MLB Betting Info. 6/24

[TheGame]

MLB roundup: Tigers win wild one in 10th
By The Sports Xchange


DETROIT -- Steve Cishek's wild pitch to Ian Kinsler with the bases loaded and two outs in the 10th inning scored pinch runner Cameron Maybin from third base to give the Detroit Tigers a 5-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday and a sweep of their four-game series.
The first pitch to Kinsler from Cishek (2-4) was away and in the dirt, with Maybin scoring when the ball eluded catcher Chris Ianetta.
Kyle Ryan (3-2) picked up his second win in as many games with one inning of scoreless relief.
Nelson Cruz's second home run of the game and 18th of the season came off Bruce Rondon's first pitch in relief of Daniel Norris to open the sixth and tied the score 4-4.


Red Sox 8, White Sox 7 (10)
BOSTON -- Craig Kimbrel pitched out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the top of the 10th inning, and Xander Bogaerts singled home the winner in the bottom half as Boston averted a four-game sweep.
The White Sox were gunning for their first four-game sweep at Fenway Park since 1927 and handed the game away both offensive and defensively.
After Kimbrel (1-3) performed his magic act, striking out the last two hitters, Marco Hernandez led off the bottom of the 10th with a walk against Matt Purke (0-1) and was forced at second by Mookie Betts. Dustin Pedroia worked a walk, and Bogaerts ended the game by dropping his fourth career walk-off hit into short right-center field.
Jose Abreu cracked a three-run homer to give the White Sox a 7-5 lead in the seventh, but the Red Sox scored runs in the seventh, eighth and 10th to escape.


Athletics 5, Angels 4
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Anaheim's Tim Lincecum lasted only three innings, giving up four runs on seven hits and two walks, in Oakland's victory.
Lincecum, who signed with the Angels on May 20 and made three minor league starts after recovering from hip surgery performed last September, beat the Athletics on June 18 with a solid performance over six innings, giving up one run and four hits.
Oakland tagged him for six hits in the second inning alone Thursday, including a three-run homer by Marcus Semien that set the tone for the game.
Khris Davis added a solo homer in the fifth inning for the Athletics, who got at least one hit from everybody in the starting lineup.


Giants 5, Pirates 3
PITTSBURGH -- Joe Panik had a bases-clearing triple in the third inning that propelled San Francisco over Pittsburgh at PNC Park.
Mac Williamson also drove in a run in the third and another in the fifth with his second career home run.
San Francisco took three of four in the series and has won 11 of their past 12 games.


Phillies 7, Twins 3
MINNEAPOLIS -- Freddy Galvis had a career-high five RBIs to lead Philadelphia over Minnesota at Target Field. The win snapped a nine-game losing streak for the Phillies, giving them their first win since June 13.
Galvis knocked in a run on a safety squeeze in the second inning and an RBI triple in the sixth. He capped his day with a three-run homer off Kevin Jepsen in the eighth.
Ryan Howard also homered and had his first two-hit day since the end of April. Cesar Hernandez contributed four hits and a walk and scored three times.


Braves 4, Mets 3
ATLANTA -- Adonis Garcia celebrated his return to the starting lineup with a game-winning, two-run homer in Atlanta's victory over New York.
Garcia started for the first time since June 16, when he injured his left ankle against the Reds. After going hitless in his first three at-bats, he slammed a two-run homer, his fourth, against Addison Reed (1-2) in the eighth inning to put the Braves ahead for the first time.
Jim Johnson (1-4) pitched a perfect eighth inning for the win. Arodys Vizcaino threw a scoreless ninth to earn his ninth save.


Marlins 4, Cubs 2
MIAMI -- Giancarlo Stanton homered and hit a go-ahead single in the eighth inning to lift Miami over suddenly slumping Chicago.
The Cubs own the best record in baseball, but they have lost four games in a row, their longest skid of the season.
Miami broke a 2-2 tie with two runs in the eighth. Christian Yelich walked, advanced on a wild pitch by reliever Pedro Strop (1-2) and scored on Stanton's two-out, opposite-field single to right. J.T. Realmuto doubled to drive in Stanton.


Diamondbacks 7, Rockies 6
DENVER -- Nick Ahmed's single with two outs in the ninth inning gave Arizona the victory over Colorado.
The hit came off closer Carlos Estevez, who started the inning by striking out the first two batters he faced including Paul Goldschmidt on a 100 mph fastball. But Jake Lamb singled and Chris Herrmann lined a single off the glove of Estevez (1-4) to set the stage for Ahmed, who entered the game in the eighth.
Ahmed was 7-for-31 with runners in scoring position and two outs when he grounded a first-pitch 99 mph fastball up the middle, scoring Lamb from second.


Padres 7, Reds 4
CINCINNATI -- Derek Norris hit a three-run home run and Matt Kemp added a solo shot, lifting San Diego to a victory over Cincinnati in the opener of a four-game series.
The Padres trailed 4-3 in the seventh before Norris connected for his three-run shot off J.C. Ramirez (1-3). It was the 54th home run allowed by the Reds' bullpen this season.
Melvin Upton Jr. went 2-for-4 and scored twice for San Diego. Adam Duvall had two hits, including a homer, for Cincinnati.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/24

Preview: Dodgers (41-33) at Pirates (34-39)


Game: 1
Venue: PNC Park
Date: June 24, 2016 7:05 PM EDT


PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates are mired in their toughest stretch in quite some time.


Rookie right-hander Jameson Taillon might give Pittsburgh something to look forward to Friday, when the Pirates face the Los Angeles Dodgers at PNC Park. In three MLB starts, Taillon has gone 1-1 with a 3.50 ERA.


Taillon's most impressive performance came in his second start, when he pitched eight scoreless innings while allowing two hits in a 4-0 win against the New York Mets on June 14. He didn't fare as well against the Chicago Cubs five days later and suffered his first loss, allowed four runs while lasting just four innings.


The Dodgers will prove a tough test. Los Angeles has won six straight and nine of their past 10 games.


The Pirates could help Taillon by scoring early, but even that hasn't been a recipe for success. They took a 6-1 lead over the San Francisco Giants through three innings Wednesday and held a 1-0 lead early again Thursday.


Pittsburgh lost each game. On Thursday, the Pirates had a chance to build a cushion in the second inning after scoring one run in the first, but didn't take advantage of having runners on the corners with no outs.


"We left one out there in the second," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said after a 5-3 loss Thursday. "First and third and nobody out after we had scored one. A couple switches early in the game that we didn't capitalize on and they caused the separation."


Taillon is expected to face right-hander Nick Tepesch, who the Dodgers are expected to promote from Triple-A Oklahoma City. He would replace right-hander Mike Bolsinger, who was optioned to Oklahoma City after going just 2 2/3 innings in his start against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday.


Tepesch is not currently on the Dodgers' 40-man roster. Los Angeles would have to make a roster move to clear a spot for him.


He last pitched in 2014, when he went 5-11 with a 4.36 ERA for the Texas Rangers. He has never faced the Pirates.


In Los Angeles' last game, a 4-3 win against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday, right fielder Yasiel Puig scored the winning run on a walk-off inside-the-park home run.


"There's something about Yasiel that's very fascinating," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, according to the Los Angeles Times. "You love him but sometimes he leaves you scratching your head. You do not want to take your eyes off him because something might happen, good or not so good."


Puig has had three hits in two games since coming off the disabled list. While running the bases Wednesday, Puig said he pushed his ailing hamstring to see how far it could go.


"I was ready for the hit, and nobody thought that the ball would go through," Puig said through an interpreter, per ESPN.com. "So when I did see the ball go through, I had to talk to my hamstring so I can figure out how far I could go on the bases."

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/24

Preview: Rays (31-39) at Orioles (41-30)


Game: 1
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: June 24, 2016 7:05 PM EDT


BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Orioles will get a boost when third baseman Manny Machado returns to the lineup for the beginning of a four-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday at Camden Yards.


Machado was suspended the previous four games for charging the mound and punching Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura on June 7. The Orioles went 2-2 without Machado in the lineup.


The series with the Rays includes a doubleheader Saturday and Baltimore manager Buck Showalter is already making plans for a roster move.


"We get to add a pitcher for both games of the doubleheader on Saturday, so we got through this four-game stretch without Manny," Showalter said after a 7-3 victory over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday.


On Friday, Yovani Gallardo will make his second start for Baltimore since coming off the disabled list on June 18 from right shoulder biceps tendinitis. In his previous outing, Gallardo (2-1, 6.26 ERA) allowed two runs, five hits and five strikeouts in five innings of a 4-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.


The Rays will counter with left-hander Matt Moore (3-4, 4.90), who has given up nine homers in his past seven starts. That does not bode well for Moore against the powerful Baltimore lineup, which has hit 42 home runs in the past 20 games.


Tampa Bay has lost seven straight and have matched a season worst by falling eight games below .500 (31-39). Manager Kevin Cash is hoping the off-day Thursday will help him and his players regain a positive mindset.


"It's definitely frustrating," Cash told reporters after the 6-1 loss to Cleveland on Wednesday. "We've got a couple frustrating things going on right now. I don't think it's a mystery at all. We kind of see what's taking place.


"When you're falling behind and we're facing big-league hitters, they take advantage when they have the count in their favor. And they're not missing very hittable pitches."


Baltimore also enjoyed a rare off-day on Thursday after playing 29 games in 30 days. Despite the tough stretch, the Orioles sit atop the American League East.


Mark Trumbo broke out from an 8-for-46 slump with three hits, including his 21st homer, against the Padres on Wednesday. It was his first home run since June 7, but he is still tied for the AL lead with Todd Frazier of the Chicago White Sox.


"It's fun to watch him hit a line drive," Showalter said about Trumbo. "You talk about hanging laundry on that line. You can do a whole month's worth of laundry. Some of the same pitches he was missing, he squared up tonight. That was good."


Baltimore second baseman Jonathan Schoop also enters the series on a roll. Showalter moved Schoop into the third spot in the lineup for the first time Wednesday and he responded by going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.


Schoop has hit safely in 17 of his 21 games in June, batting .320 with seven doubles, four home runs, 16 runs and 14 RBIs during that stretch.


"I want to help this team win," Schoop said. "If it's the bottom of the lineup, top of the lineup, wherever they put me I will compete and I will do everything I can possibly to do help us win."


However, Machado will provide both a physical and emotional boost to the lineup. He is batting .317 with 17 homers and 42 RBIs. Machado leads all AL third baseman in the All-Star voting.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/24

Preview: Twins (23-49) at Yankees (35-36)


Game: 1
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: June 24, 2016 7:05 PM EDT


The .500 mark is something the New York Yankees would like to stop discussing.


Every time the Yankees get there, they have not been able to put together a long stretch of wins.


New York gets another opportunity to even its record Friday night when it hosts the Minnesota Twins in the opener of a three-game series.


On May 24, the Yankees evened their record at 22-22 with a 6-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.


At the time, third baseman Chase Headley said: "It's a milestone for us. When things are going bad, you set your sights to get back to .500 and then you go from there. We've had to play really good baseball to get back here, but we're here and now we've got to keep going, keep building. "


The Yankees fell into a slump instead, losing eight of 12 to fall to 26-30. They won five straight to get to 31-30 with a 4-0 win over Detroit on June 10 and followed it up by losing four in a row to drop back to 31-34.


The latest chance was Saturday in Minnesota, when New York came back from an early four-run deficit for a 7-6 win. The next day, the Yankees were unable to complete the sweep to get over .500 and followed it up with an 8-4 loss Tuesday to Colorado, which one New York tabloid described as "did not compete ".


New York was two innings away from dropping to three games under .500 again but scored five times in the final three innings Wednesday and copped a 9-8 victory. Starlin Castro capped a game that saw the Yankees blow an early four-run lead with a game-winning home run to start the ninth, putting the Yankees within one game of .500 for the eighth time in the last month.


"It's getting that time of year where we need to start putting some good baseball together," Headley said after Wednesday's win. "It seems like every time we've put a good stretch together, we've kind of backed that up with three or four losses in a row. We needed to stop the bleeding today. "


New York has not done much bleeding against the Twins recently. The Yankees have won seven of the last 10 meetings, including three straight at home.


Masahiro Tanaka will be on the mound and will make his ninth start with at least five days' rest. He is 3-0 with a 1.66 ERA pitching on extended rest after allowing one earned run and seven hits over eight innings in last Friday's 8-2 win.


Minnesota had a three-game winning streak stopped with Thursday afternoon's 7-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies, which manager Paul Molitor viewed as a setback after the team scored 27 runs and batted .352 during the streak.


"We've seen some positive things," Molitor said. "Guys are starting to swing the bats a little bit better. Maybe a little bit of a step back for us today overall. "


Ricky Nolasco allowed four runs and 10 hits over 6 2/3 innings while the bullpen gave up three more runs. The Twins' bullpen leads the league with 130 runs allowed, including 20 by Kevin Jepsen. Minnesota had six hits Thursday, marking the 31st time the Twins were held to three runs or fewer.


Tommy Milone will begin his second stint of the season Friday for the Twins and hopes it goes better than his first. efore going 4-0 with a 1.66 ERA in seven starts for Triple-A Rochester, Milone was 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA in five appearances (four starts), leading to his demotion to the minors.


Milone's last start was April 25 against Cleveland when he allowed two runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings.


He is 9-7 with a 4.56 ERA in 32 starts and three relief appearances for Minnesota since being acquired from Oakland at the 2014 non-waiver trade deadline.


Millone is 0-1 with a 2.75 ERA in three career starts against the Yankees.


The Twins may be without third basemanTrevor Plouffe on Friday due to a mild right groin strain. He exited Thursday's game in the seventh inning and is listed as day-to-day.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/24

Preview: Padres (31-43) at Reds (28-45)


Game: 2
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: June 24, 2016 7:10 PM EDT


CINCINNATI -- Cody Reed made his major league debut Saturday in Houston. On Friday night, the heralded left-handed pitching prospect makes his first start at Great American Ball Park with family in attendance and before what is anticipated to be a near-sellout crowd to witness Pete Rose being enshrined into the franchise's hall of fame.


"It will be a different atmosphere," Reed said. "Hopefully, there will be a nice crowd. It will be awesome. I'm glad I'm finally getting it out of the way. I'll just try to go out there and throw strikes."


Throw strikes is what the 23-year old has done for most of his fledgling career, and what prompted the Reds to insist the Kansas City Royals include him in the package for Johnny Cueto last July.


Reed will be opposed riday by San Diego Padres right-hander Colin Rea, who makes his 14th start of the season and fifth on the road.


Manager Bryan Price said Reed has a knack for staying in the moment and remaining focused on the mound. It's a quality that might come in handy Friday night when Reds fans get to see first-hand one of the integral parts of their team's rebuilding effort.


"I think pitching in front of the home crowd will be another hurdle to jump over," Price said. "He's certainly a well-known prospect in our system. He compartmentalizes pretty well."


On Saturday against the Astros, Reed allowed four earned runs and two homers, but pitched seven innings and struck out nine.


Cincinnati has stacked three straight left-handers against San Diego which has been without center fielder Jon Jay, who's been out since being hit by a pitch on Sunday. Jay historically has been tough on lefties.


"You'd like him in there being the catalyst for the offense," Padres manager Andy Green said. "The Reds have some really good young arms that the organization should be excited about."


The Reds were batting .258 in June and averaging 5.15 runs per game before they went 7-for-34 in Thursday night's 7-4 loss to the Padres.


San Diego, meanwhile, has scored 116 runs in June -- most in the National League and fourth-most in the majors.


"We've been swinging it well all through June," Green said.


Despite being without Jay, the Padres have gotten power production from catcher Derek Norris, who hit a three-run homer in Thursday's victory -- his third in five games.


Norris was batting .167 on May 10 but has hit better than .300 in June.


Unlike the Reds' bullpen which has allowed 54 homers this season, Padres' relievers have been pitching well, especially closer Fernando Rodney. He has 16 saves with one earned run allowed this season.


Cincinnati hasn't won a season series against the Padres since 2012, going 6-13 aqainst them since.


The Reds hope having friends and family in the stands Friday night might actually help calm some initial jitters for Reed who needs a solid outing to provide a respite for the relief corps.


"I think it will be more relaxing," Reed said. "They've been watching me since I was seven. I'm 23 now, but I think it will be just as awesome."

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/24

Preview: Cubs (47-24) at Marlins (39-34)


Game: 2
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: June 24, 2016 7:10 PM EDT


MIAMI -- There's really only one of two ways this can end for the Chicago Cubs this year.


They can become the baseball version of the NBA's Golden State Warriors, enjoying a brilliant regular season but ultimately failing to win the championship.


Or they can become the baseball version of the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers, ending an epic championship drought.


With the Cubbies' history -- most of it bad -- the smart money is on them coming up short again.


Then again, the Cavaliers and Boston Red Sox are among teams to end frustratingly long droughts in recent years.


Entering Friday's game against the Miami Marlins, the Cubs are facing the most adversity they have all year. They have lost four games in a row, the longest skid of their otherwise outstanding season.


The Cubs have scored nine runs in those four losses and are dealing with some injuries, most notably to catcher Miguel Montero (knee) and first baseman Anthony Rizzo (back). Both sat out Thursday but are not on the disabled list.


That means they could return soon to help a lineup that suddenly seems vulnerable after the top three of Ben Zobrist, Jason Heyward and Kris Bryant.


Rookie Wilson Contreras is a great prospect, but may not be quite ready to hit cleanup as he did Thursday.


The Cubs also have center fielder Dexter Fowler on the disabled list along with valuable hitters Jorge Soler and Tommy La Stella.


Chicago, though, has the type of starting pitching that should prohibit long losing streaks. Kyle Hendricks (5-6, 2.94 ERA) takes the ball Friday and opposes Miami's Tom Koehler (6-6, 3.92 ERA).


Don't expect this losing streak to last long.


"We're just not scoring runs lately," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said after a 4-2 loss to Miami on Thursday. "We played a great game until we made some mistakes in the eighth.


"But while we are getting healthy, some guys are getting opportunities. We are just not as formidable offensively up and down the lineup."


Other story-lines to look for on Friday:


--Marlins outfielder Ichiro Suzuki has 2,983 career hits, four behind Sam Rice for 30th place on the career list. Suzuki, a backup, was not in Thursday's lineup.


--Dating to last season, Marlins RHP A.J. Ramos has 32 consecutive saves, one behind Steve Cishek for the franchise record. Ramos was rested Thursday but should be ready Friday.


--The Marlins are 4-1 when shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria leads off as he did on Thursday.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/24

Preview: Indians (41-30) at Tigers (38-35)


Game: 1
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: June 24, 2016 7:10 PM EDT


DETROIT --The Cleveland Indians visit the Detroit Tigers for a weekend series beginning Friday night -- and not just to say "Thanks" for helping them take first-place in the American League Central.


Cleveland will enter the series with a 6-0 record against Detroit, having swept a pair of three-game series earlier this season.


After the last sweep, Tigers' manager Brad Ausmus said he hoped his players would remember how the Indians have handled Detroit so far this season.


"I guarantee if you ask the players," Ausmus said on the eve of the series, "they will answer they are aware we haven't beaten Cleveland this year."


"First off," catcher James McCann said, "we have our team together. (Cameron) Maybin wasn't there at all; the first series I wasn't there and it was just my first series back off the DL, the second time we faced them.


"(Michael) Fulmer hadn't really become the Michael Fulmer that we've seen here lately. A lot of the same guys (are here) but there's a different feel in the clubhouse. Roles have been established in the bullpen and it's just a different ... swag, if that makes sense.


"I don't really know the right word other than just the way that guys walk around. Just a different swag about our team."


The Indians will enter the series on a six-game winning streak that has taken them past Kansas City into first place. They won all 11 of their home games in June, the first month Cleveland went undefeated at home (more than nine home games) in team history.


"I think when we play, we play whoever we're supposed to," Indians manager Terry Francona told MLB.com. "Part of that streak was like three weeks ago. I think if we play good, we give ourselves a chance. If we don't, we give the other team a better chance."


Corey Kluber and Trevor Bauer finished the homestand with complete games to mark the first time two Cleveland hurlers had back-to-back complete games of three or fewer hits since Aug. 21-22, 1977.


"They're all pulling for each other and wanting to outdo each other at the same time," pitching coach Mickey Callaway said. "It's really fun right now."


The series will begin with Detroit pitching right-hander Jordan Zimmermann (9-3, 3.24 ERA) against Cleveland's Danny Salazar (8-3, 2.23 ERA).


Zimmermann faced Cleveland just once, on June 15, 2013, with Washington. He was tagged for six runs on eight hits including a pair of home runs.


Salazar has made 10 career starts against the Tigers, logging a 4.55 ERA and a 2-4 record.


The Tigers have pulled Anibal Sanchez out of the bullpen for Saturday's late afternoon game against the Indians' Carlos Carrasco. Justin Verlander opposes Josh Tomlin in the Sunday windup.


Cleveland brought up shortstop Francisco Lindor in mid-season a year ago and he brought some fresh enthusiasm with him to the franchise. The Indians have focused on developing their own talent in recent seasons with better drafts and some good foreign talent coming into the organization.


Some of that talent may surface as the season moves along, or next spring.


The Sanchez start is part of Detroit's plan to firm up its rotation while giving rookie Michael Fulmer some mid-season rest. The Tigers want to keep his workload down to avoid a heavy year-to-year increase.


"No one really knows that the ideal amount is," Ausmus said. "People like to say 20 or 25 percent more the following year in terms of innings. But people are still getting hurt all the time.


"There's no perfect answer. This is a fuzzy science. People have been trying to control innings and guys are still getting injured.


"I'm sure we'll play a little by ear and a little bit will be what we think Fulmer's body can take. He's a little bit stronger guy. He's not 6-4 185 pounds. He's not real stringy and whippy.


"We're going to try and be careful now and hopefully he's good through the entire season.


"I don't think anyone has anything concrete."

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/24

Preview: Mets (38-33) at Braves (25-47)


Game: 2
Venue: Turner Field
Date: June 24, 2016 7:35 PM EDT


ATLANTA -- New York manager Terry Collins can take heart in the fact that there's not an injury issue regarding the starting pitcher for Friday's game.


The Mets send left-hander Steven Matz (7-3, 2.74 ERA) to the mound to face Atlanta Braves rookie Aaron Blair (0-4, 7.19) in the second game of the four-game series.


Matz is completely healthy as opposed to Noah Syndergaard, Bartolo Colon and Zack Wheeler.


Syndergaard left with discomfort in his right elbow after throwing six innings Wednesday. An MRI revealed no structural damage and Syndergaard is expected to take his next turn Monday against Washington.


Wheeler, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, received a cortisone injection after sensory nerve irritation in his right elbow. No structural damage was detected and Wheeler was given the OK to return to baseball activity as tolerated.


Colon took a line drive off his thumb Tuesday, but is expected to make his scheduled start Sunday in Atlanta.


"A lot of young guys know what's in their best interest," Collins said. "It's in our best interest to protect them."


When you throw in the injuries to center fielder Yoenis Cespides (wrist), outfielder Juan Lagares (left thumb), first baseman Lucas Duda (stress fracture, lower back) and third baseman David Wright (neck surgery), there's no question why Collins is tired of talking about injuries.


Said second baseman Neal Walker: "We've just got to keep grinding, we've got to go with what we have. This is no different than what we've kind of been going through, especially with David and Duda and (Juan) Lagares. We can't worry about what's going on there. We're just going through a stretch right now where guys are dinged up. It's a tough time of summer. We're certainly scratching and clawing to get back to playing the baseball we know we're capable of."


One guy who won't miss seeing the New York regulars is Blair, who is winless in 10 major league starts. The rookie looked better in his last start, when he allowed three runs in six innings and received no decision against the Mets.


The Braves hope to get a similar performance to the one turned in by rookie John Gant on Wednesday in Miami. He allowed three runs over 5 2/3 innings and retired 13 straight batters after surviving a rough start.


"With the exception of one inning, he did a great job," Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. "He did a good job of keeping us in the ball game. He keeps pounding it in the strike zone."


Blair, however, has suffered from high pitch counts and the inability get pitch deep in the game. He has yet to pitch past the sixth inning. Opponents are batting .298 against the big right-hander.


The Braves have won the last four meetings against the Mets after Thursday's 3-2 comeback victory at Turner Field. Atlanta has won seven of its last eight games and snapped New York's seven-game winning streak at Turner Field.


"They're playing very good right now," Collins said. "We're having a tough time with them."

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/24

Preview: Red Sox (40-32) at Rangers (47-26)


Game: 1
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: June 24, 2016 8:05 PM EDT


ARLINGTON, Texas -- No team in baseball is hotter than the Texas Rangers. They own the best record in the American League and went into Thursday's off day with a 10-game West division lead.


That cushion could be tested in the near future.


The Rangers (47-26) currently are down three starting pitchers and head into a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox with a makeshift rotation.


Colby Lewis was the latest to go down. The veteran workhorse was off to a career-best 6-1 start, but he's lost for at least two months with a strained right lat muscle.


Lewis joins Yu Darvish (shoulder) and Derek Holland (shoulder) on the shelf. Darvish is about a week away from throwing in a rehab/simulated game, while Holland is out at least two weeks.


"Obviously we are cutting deep into our depth," Texas manager Jeff Banister said. "It's not perfect. We're at the stage of the year in baseball where things can happen. You build yourself for these types of situations. These times are a great opportunity for somebody to step up."


Moving into the rotation this weekend are right-hander Nick Martinez (Friday) and right-hander A.J. Griffin (Saturday). Griffin (3-0, 2.94 ERA) was in the rotation earlier this season before missing six weeks with shoulder inflammation.


Martinez (1-1, 5.14) is making his second spot start, both coming in Darvish's normal slot. The Rangers do get back on a familiar track with left-hander Martin Perez (6-4, 3.57) going Sunday.


Boston will send lefty David Price (8-4, 4.24), right-hander Steven Wright (8-4, 2.01) and righty Clay Buchholz (3-7, 5.83) to the hill in order over the next three days.


Texas has given itself some breathing room by winning eight of the last nine, 10 of 12 and going a MLB-best 16-5 in June. Included in that stretch is a 16-4 run over a stretch of 20 games in 20 days that ended with Wednesday's 6-4 win over Cincinnati.


"Anytime that you put a 16-4 stretch, whether it's 20 straight or inside of some off days, it puts you in a position where we can go into every game with a lot of confidence," Banister said. "It creates energy, which creates that momentum. The confidence that allows us to go out and play relaxed."


The Rangers are off to the best start in club history and are 10-0-1 in their last 11 series overall, 11-0-1 in last 12 series at home.


Boston (40-32) has hit a rough patch during a particularly challenging part of the schedule. The Red Sox are 11-15 since May 26, but snapped a three-game losing streak and avoided a series sweep by beating the Chicago White 8-7 in 10 innings Thursday.


Red Sox manager John Farrell made several unorthodox moves in an effort to avoid the club's first four-game skid this season.


Farrell used closer Craig Kimbrel for two full innings for the first time in more than five years, played Travis Shaw in the outfield for the second time in his career and went without a backup catcher from the seventh inning on.


"We're staring at a four-game sweep at home, and that's never a good thing," Farrell said. "You find a way to pull out all the stops."


The Red Sox are in a stretch in which 35 of 41 games are against teams that entered Thursday with at least a .500 record. Boston is 19-19 so far in those games.


Boston had a scare Thursday as left fielder Chris Young left the game with in the second inning after straining his right hamstring running the bases. Ryan LaMarre came in as a pinch-runner and stayed in the game in left.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/24

Preview: Nationals (43-30) at Brewers (32-40)


Game: 1
Venue: Miller Park
Date: June 24, 2016 8:10 PM EDT


MILWAUKEE -- A day off and a cross-country flight might be just what the Washington Nationals need.


The NL East leaders extended their losing streak to five games Wednesday night, losing in heart-breaking fashion -- a walk-off single and a three-base, two-run error for Yasiel Puig -- but will try and turn things around Friday when they open a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.


Washington remains firmly atop its division, but the Nationals' lead over the second-place Mets has shrunk to 3 1/2 games. Taking care of business against Milwaukee, which went 2-8 on its recent West Coast road swing, could go a long way in making that cushion a little more comfortable.


Max Scherzer will try and right the ship. His last trip to Miller Park was a memorable one; he was perfect though six innings and carried a no-hitter into the seventh then finished with 16 strikeouts in a 4-0 victory over the Brewers last June.


Scherzer has been every bit an ace in his last three outings, going 0-2 with a microscopic 0.90 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 20 innings of work.


He took a no-decision his last time out, striking out 10 through six innings as the Nationals blew a late lead for a 7-3 loss at San Diego.


"They had a good game plan against me," Scherzer said. "They were able to go out there and grind some (at-bats) out and really play the foul ball game. They really seemed to have a number on what I was doing and lay off some pitches and foul other pitches off. I tip my hat to how they approached me. That was a tough game for me to go out there and continue to make pitches."


In four career appearances -- three starts -- against the Brewers, Scherzer is 1-0 with a 1.64 ERA.


Milwaukee, meanwhile, will turn to its hottest starter, rookie right-hander Zach Davies. Since starting the season 0-3 with an 8.78 ERA, Davies has been lights-out ever since, going 5-0 with a 2.40 ERA.


He's been fantastic in June, allowing just three earned runs in 28 innings of work over four starts, including seven innings of one-run ball in his last outing, a 3-2 loss to the Dodgers in Los Angeles.


Manager Craig Counsell attributes much of Davies' success to his growing relationship with catchers Jonathan Lucroy and Martin Maldonado, which has given him a better grasp of his four-pitch arsenal, as well as the ability to lean from his mistakes and put those lessons to use his next time out.


"It's just learning how hitters react to his stuff," Counsell said. "He has to get feedback to that. That's part of being out there, getting feedback. It's the same for the catchers. He's different from our other guys.


"A young guy, a new guy, a guy who has the ability to locate the baseball; he's using all of his weapons right now. He's locked in on executing pitches."


The Nationals have won four of the last five meetings with the Brewers, six of the last 10 at Miller Park and four straight season series.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/24

Preview: Blue Jays (40-34) at White Sox (36-37)


Game: 1
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: June 24, 2016 8:10 PM EDT


TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays could again be catching the Chicago White Sox when they are hot.


The teams meet for the second time this season in a three-game series starting Friday at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago.


The Blue Jays start right-hander Aaron Sanchez (7-1, 3.35 ERA) against White Sox left-hander Carlos Rodon (2-6, 4.16 ERA).


The first time they met, the White Sox swept the Blue Jays in a three-game series at Rogers Centre from April 25-27 and outscored them 21-6.


The White Sox were surging at the time. The sweep of the Blue Jays gave them a 16-6 record.


Chicago has a 20-31 record since but showed signs of revival by taking three of four games from the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.


Boston salvaged one game with an 8-7 win in 10 innings Thursday, while the Blue Jays enjoyed their second day off of the week.


"Winning three out of four is pretty good, so get excited about that," White Sox outfielder Adam Eaton said. "You've got to be happy taking three out of four from a good ballclub like that."


The Blue Jays fell to 10-13 after being swept by the White Sox in April and are 30-21 since.


By winning the series against the Red Sox, the White Sox did the Blue Jays a favor. Boston and Toronto are American League East rivals. The White Sox players also showed something to their manager Robin Ventura.


"They just continue to grind," Ventura said after they won their third in a row Wednesday. "You can sit there and feel sorry for yourself, and it's not going to get you anywhere. You take the abuse and everything else of what that record did to you (after a 23-10 start), but they've weathered it. They're getting a little momentum back and a little of the spark we had early."


The White Sox on Friday start a run of 12 of 15 games at home that will lead them into the All-Star break.


The availability of White Sox closer David Robertson might be in question after he appeared Thursday -- his fourth appearance in the past five games. He sat out only Wednesday's game.


Edwin Encarnacion hit his 19th homer of the season in the Blue Jays' 5-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday and entered Thursday leading the majors with 62 RBIs with 22 coming in June.


He is hitting .303/.440/.758 with nine home runs in June.


"I feel good right now," Encarnacion said. "It's impressive but I just feel good at the plate right now."


Troy Tulowitzki and Russell Martin also homered Wednesday as they begin to come around after slow starts.


Tulowitzki has hit two homers since coming off the disabled list Saturday, a day after Jose Bautista -- a key hitter in the lineup -- went on the DL with turf toe.


"You've got to have guys step up," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "Eddie's just doing his normal thing, you can't ask for anything more. He does enough as it is. No doubt it's a big hole (losing Bautista), he's one of the better players in the game, but you've got to overcome that, and all it means is it's an opportunity for someone else.


"When guys start thinking, 'I've got to do a little bit more to cover up for this,' it doesn't work. The game's tough enough as it is. It's added pressure and you don't need that. Guys have been stepping up."


Sanchez makes his first career start against the White Sox. In two relief appearances against them, he has allowed one hit while striking out two in 2 2/3 innings.


Rodon is facing the Blue Jays for the first time.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/24

Preview: Astros (37-36) at Royals (38-33)


Game: 1
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: June 24, 2016 8:15 PM EDT


KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Disneyland might claim to be "The Happiest Place on Earth," but the Kansas City Royals beg to differ.


Kauffman Stadium is the happiest place on the planet for the Royals. They are 25-8 at home, a .758 winning percentage that ranks as the best in the majors.


The Royals return home Friday, opening a five-game homestand with the first three against the Houston Astros, a rematch of the 2015 American League Division Series that Kansas City won in five games with the decisive victory at Kauffman Stadium.


Where else?


The Royals are 12-1 in their past two homestands with the only loss to Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers.


On the road, the 2015 World Series champion Royals are mediocre at best. They are 13-25 in away games, leading the American League in road losses.


"I don't think any different of my team than I did when we lost eight in a row," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "We've got a good team."


Kansas City is great at home but poor on the road. The Royals were swept in a two-game abbreviated road trip to New York, losing both games by one run to the Mets.


Right-hander Edinson Volquez, who has won his past two starts, will take the ball in the series opener against the Astros. He's 5-2 with a 2.61 ERA at The K, compared with 2-4 with a 6.82 ERA on the road.


Volquez is tied for third in the AL for most home victories (13) since the start of the 2015 season. The AL leader with 16 home victories is Astros left-hander Dallas Keuchel, who will oppose Volquez in the series opener.


Volquez has never lost to the Astros, posting a 6-0 record with a 2.70 ERA in nine matchups.


Volquez has a 2.70 ERA with opponents hitting .220 against him in the first four innings. From the fifth inning on, Volquez owns a 6.82 ERA, with opposing batters averaging .323.


Keuchel, the 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner, is 3-1 with a 3.82 ERA in six career games, five of them starts, against Kansas City.


Keuchel had his ups and downs against the Royals in the ALDS. He pitched a jewel in Game 3, allowing one run in seven innings at Houston but yielded a three-run homer to Kendrys Morales in Game 5 in one inning in relief.


"There's a special atmosphere in the playoffs you can't duplicate in the regular season, so it's going to be business as usual," Keuchel told mlb.com. "We know they're a good team at home and we look forward to playing them in a weekend series.


"I know it's going to be packed because I was trying to get a suite for my family and friends there, but they're all sold out. That's what happens when you win the world championship."


The Royals won three of four at Minute Maid Park in their first road trip in April. Second baseman Jose Altuve went 8-for-17 with three doubles, two home runs, two walks, six runs and four RBIs in the series. He had a 1.000 slugging percentage and a 1.526 OPS in the four games.


Altuve enters the series hitting .343, reaching base in 26 straight games, the longest active streak in the majors and the second longest of his career. He had a 29-game streak last year from Aug. 1 to Sept. 1.


The Astros have won five straight to improve to 37-36, matching their high-water mark of the season. They were 1-0 after winning their opener at the New York Yankees. A 30-19 record since May 1 has put the Astros back above .500 again.


The Royals will likely get All-Star left-fielder Alex Gordon back this weekend. He has been on the disabled list with a fractured right wrist but has been rehabbing in the minors since Sunday.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/24

Preview: Diamondbacks (35-40) at Rockies (34-38)


Game: 2
Venue: Coors Field
Date: June 24, 2016 8:40 PM EDT


DENVER -- Two former first-round picks chosen in the same draft will oppose each other when the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks meet Friday in the second game of a four-game series.


Arizona right-hander Archie Bradley, the seventh overall pick in the 2011 draft, will make his eighth start of the season. Left-hander Tyler Anderson will make his third start of the season -- and his career -- for the Rockies. Colorado selected him 20th overall in 2011.


Bradley is 3-3 with a 4.83 ERA but has allowed 34 hits and 20 walks in 41 innings. He has 44 strikeouts. In his last start, Bradley allowed one unearned run in six innings at Philadelphia on June 19 and won 5-1.


The Diamondbacks are 3-1 in Bradley's four road starts, and he is 2-1 with a 4.03 ERA in those games.


In two career starts against Colorado, Bradley is 1-0 with a 6.14 ERA. He earned a win at Coors Field on May 9, pitching six innings of four-run ball as Arizona rolled to a 10-5 victory.


Anderson is 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA, having allowed 10 hits and three runs in 12 innings with no walks and 10 strikeouts.


He made his major league debut June 12 at Coors Field against San Diego and allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings. Anderson took the loss in his last start, Sunday at Miami, when the Rockies fell 3-0. He yielded two runs and four hits in 5 2/3 innings with one walk and four strikeouts.


Anderson has not allowed a home run in his first two career starts.


He missed the entire 2015 season after a second stress fracture in his left elbow was detected following the 2014 season, during which he was selected the Texas League Pitcher of the Year after going 7-4 with a 1.98 ERA in 23 starts.


Anderson threw 92 pitches in his major league debut and 102 pitches in his start at Miami. He is not working with a strict pitch count, but manager Walt Weiss said Anderson's injury history is a consideration.


"It's not a hard number or anything like that," Weiss said, referring to a pitch count for Anderson. "We do keep in mind that he's had a pretty unique injury, and we don't lose sight of those things when he takes the mound.


"I felt like he held his command, held his velocity through 100 pitches (at Miami). So that's a good sign."


The Diamondbacks are 6-5 against the Rockies this season and 6-1 on their current three-city trip to Philadelphia (4-0), Toronto (1-1) and Colorado (1-0). After watching a three-run lead vanish in the eighth inning but scoring in the ninth to beat the Rockies 7-6 on Thursday night, the Diamondbacks are 8-4 in their last 12 games at Coors Field, including 3-1 this season.


"It's very difficult here," Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said. "It just seems like no lead is safe. That's why as the game goes on, you try to add on -- one, two (runs) here or there. You need to get up by more than three."

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/24

Preview: Athletics (30-42) at Angels (31-42)


Game: 2
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Date: June 24, 2016 10:05 PM EDT


ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Jered Weaver threw a three-hit shutout the last time he faced the Oakland Athletics on June 19. You can bet the A's hitters will make adjustments when they face him again Friday night at Angel Stadium.


Weaver's transformation to finesse pitcher is ongoing. Not only is he adjusting to pitching with a fastball that ranges typically from 83-86 mph, but opposing teams are adjusting to hitting it, too.


Weaver's fastball looks so much like a batting practice fastball, hitters often try to kill the ball and wind up making poor contact. Or Weaver might throw a 68 mph changeup and make them look silly.


According to A's catcher and No. 3 hitter Stephen Vogt, he and his teammates will have a different approach Friday.


"He's the kind of guy that feeds off aggression," Vogt said. "And a guy like him, every pitch looks like you can hammer it, and that's just not the case."


With or without his fastball, Weaver has pitched well against the A's throughout his career. He is 14-11 with a 2.62 ERA in 34 career starts against them. Only one other pitcher (minimum 200 innings pitched) has a better ERA against the A's since the club moved to Oakland in 1968 -- Luis Tiant with a 2.37 ERA.


In 14 starts overall this season, Weaver is 6-6 with a 5.10 ERA.


While the A's offense tries to figure out Weaver, Oakland manager Bob Melvin will try to find a way to get starting pitcher Eric Surkamp a victory. The lefty is 0-5 with a 7.20 ERA in eight starts this season, and he hasn't won a game as a starting pitcher for nearly five years -- the last win coming in September 2011 while he was with the San Francisco Giants.


Surkamp did win two games as a reliever with the Chicago White Sox in 2014.


There is some optimism, though, considering Surkamp matched a career best when he went six innings against the Angels last Sunday in the same game in which Weaver threw the shutout. Surkamp held Los Angeles to two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five.


"That's the best he's pitched for us, and we needed it, to get deeper in the game and stay away from some (relievers) who have been taxed," A's manager Bob Melvin told MLB.com.


In two career starts against the Angels, Surkamp is 0-2 despite a 3.38 ERA.


Playoff hopes for both the Angels and A's look bleak. Los Angeles (31-42) is a season-worst 11 games under .500, but a half-game ahead of Oakland (30-42) Only the Minnesota Twins (23-49) have a worse record than the A's in the American League.


A's general manager David Forst, though, told MLB.com that it is too early to consider dealing major league players for young talent with the trade deadline a little more than a month away.


"There's still a long way to go before deciding exactly what your strategy will be," Forst said. "We made some deals at the deadline last year which set us up with guys like (Sean) Manaea and (Daniel) Mengden. So you know there's the possibility of that. At the same time, if you play better over the next month and get healthier, you still want to leave room for that. So we'll take some time to decide."

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/24

Preview: Cardinals (38-33) at Mariners (36-37)


Game: 1
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: June 24, 2016 10:10 PM EDT


SEATTLE -- Two teams heading in different directions take the field for a three-game interleague series when the Seattle Mariners host the St. Louis Cardinals beginning Friday.


St. Louis appears ready to make a move in the National League Central, while Seattle could be falling out of the race in the American League West.


The Cardinals (38-33) went into Thursday's off day on a high, having swept the division-leading Cubs to pull closer -- but still not close -- in the Central standings. St. Louis, which is nine games behind Chicago, has a new-found confidence that it can make a push and challenge the Cubs for the Central pennant.


"I don't think there's anybody in here who doesn't think we can compete with them or the Pirates," Cardinals first baseman Brandon Moss told MLB.com after Wednesday's win.


If St. Louis fans aren't over-the-moon confident about the Cardinals' chances of getting back in the division race, it might have to do with the fact that St. Louis lost all five of its games against AL West competition leading up to the Cubs series.


This time around, though, the Cardinals face an AL West opponent that is in a freefall. Thursday's loss left Seattle at 36-37, marking the first time since April 23 -- at 8-9 -- that the Mariners were below .500. Seattle enters Friday's game on a six-game losing streak -- the Mariners' longest skid of the season -- and 11 games behind Texas.


Seattle's slump has been all about pitching. The team's rotation has been plagued by injuries, with two starters (Felix Hernandez and Wade Miley) on the disabled list and a third (Taijuan Walker) nursing a sore ankle that will cause him to skip Friday's start. Wade LeBlanc, acquired from the Blue Jays on Wednesday, is expected to fill in for Walker on Friday. LeBlanc marks the seventh different Mariners' starter in a span of seven games -- none of those starters is named Felix Hernandez, who has been out since late May.


Seattle's starting pitching woes found new depths Thursday, when scheduled starter Adrian Sampson, a recent Triple-A call-up to fill the Mariners' ever-widening void, suffered an injury while throwing his warm-up pitches in the bottom of the first inning at Detroit. Reliever Vidal Nuno became the starter and Seattle ended up using six other pitchers in the 10-inning loss to the Tigers, leaving the bullpen in shambles heading into the St. Louis series.


"We're a trainwreck," manager Scott Servais told MLB.com. "We'll have to figure that out."


The only good news to come out of Detroit was Servais telling reporters that Miley should be back by Tuesday to return to the starting rotation. Until then, the Mariners will try to patch together enough healthy arms to get through the weekend series with St. Louis.


The Cardinals open the series with 24-year-old right-hander Carlos Martinez (7-5, 3.17 ERA). Over his past four starts, Martinez is 3-0 with a 1.23 ERA.