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  • MLB Betting Info. 7/20

    MLB roundup: Surging Red Sox defeat Peavy, Giants
    By The Sports Xchange


    BOSTON -- David Ortiz slugged a three-run homer off old friend Jake Peavy as the Boston Red Sox beat the San Francisco Giants 4-0 Tuesday night at Fenway Park.
    Ortiz's homer was No. 526 of his career, bringing him within eight of Jimmie Foxx for 18th place on the all-time list. It was the 40-year-old slugger's 994th extra-base hit with the Red Sox.
    Peavy, making his first start at Fenway since Boston traded him to San Francisco on July 26, 2014, lasted six innings, allowing four runs on three hits and a walk with six strikeouts.
    Peavy (5-8) was a member of the Red Sox's 2013 World Series championship team and the Giants' 2014 World Series championship squad. He received a standing ovation from the Fenway faithful while throwing his second-inning warm-up pitches.
    Brock Holt added a solo homer for Boston, which is a season-high-tying 13 games above .500. The Red Sox (52-39) won their fifth consecutive home game and improved to 10-3 in the month of July.


    Blue Jays 5, Diamondbacks 1
    PHOENIX -- Edwin Encarnacion hit a three-run homer, and Aaron Sanchez won his American League-high ninth consecutive decision in Toronto's interleague victory over Arizona at Chase Field.
    Encarnacion hit his 25th homer of the season with two outs in the third inning to give the Blue Jays a 3-1 lead in support of Sanchez, who has not lost in his last 15 starts.
    Josh Donaldson added three hits and an RBI, and Devon Travis had two hits, scored twice and drove in a run as the Blue Jays (53-42) won for the 10th time in 14 games.


    Pirates 3, Brewers 2
    PITTSBURGH -- Josh Harrison tripled in the bottom of the ninth inning and scored on the play after second baseman Scooter Gennett's throwing error as Pittsburgh rallied to beat Milwaukee.
    Harrison drove the second pitch by reliever Tyler Thornburg (3-4) off the top of the wall in right-center field as center fielder Kirk Nieuwhenhuis failed to make a leaping catch, then kept on going as Gennett's throw sailed wide of third.
    Pirates closer Mark Melancon (1-1) got the win but blew a save opportunity for the second time in as many games -- he's 27 of 30 -- when, with Milwaukee down to its final strike in the top of the inning, Hernan Perez singled to make it 2-all in the ninth. Ryan Braun walked to start the inning and Jonathan Lucroy singled.


    Twins 6, Tigers 2
    DETROIT -- Tommy Milone took a shutout into the ninth inning while winning his third consecutive start, and Eduardo Nunez drove in three runs as Minnesota held off Detroit at Comerica Park.
    Milone (3-2) allowed two runs on four hits over 8 1/3 innings in Minnesota's first victory over the Tigers in eight meetings this season. James McCann's third-inning single was the only hit he gave up until the ninth. Milone walked two and struck out four.
    It was his longest outing since he tossed 8 1/3 innings against the Kansas City Royals on July 5, 2013. His only nine-inning complete game came against the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 20, 2012.


    Yankees 7, Orioles 1
    NEW YORK -- Starlin Castro drove in four runs and New York moved over the .500 mark for the first time in over three weeks with a victory over Baltimore.
    Castro had his second game with at least four RBI and homered for the first time in 22 games since June 22.
    The second baseman began his big night with a second-deck, two-run home run in the second inning off Vance Worley (2-1) and padded New York's lead with a two-run double in the sixth off Odrisamer Despaigne.


    Dodgers 8, Nationals 4
    WASHINGTON -- Chase Utley had three hits and three RBIs, including a leadoff homer, and crafty left-hander Scott Kazmir gave up just one run and four hits in seven innings as Los Angeles beat Washington.
    Utley had an RBI single in the eighth inning off reliever Blake Treinen to boost the lead to 7-1. But Washington's Trea Turner had a two-run triple in the bottom of the eighth off Chris Hatcher to make it 7-3 before left-hander Adam Liberatore came on to pitch for the Dodgers.
    Liberatore gave up an RBI double to Daniel Murphy -- who just missed a homer -- with one out as the Nationals trimmed the margin to 7-4, but he then retired Jayson Werth and Bryce Harper.


    Mets 2, Cubs 1
    CHICAGO -- Rene Rivera singled in a go-ahead run in the top of the ninth inning as New York held on to beat Chicago.
    Rivera, who went 3-for-4, laced a two-out single to right off Cubs closer Hector Rondon to score Neil Walker from second base to give the Mets their first lead of the night.
    New York closer Jeurys Familia then pitched a shaky but ultimately successful ninth despite loading the bases. He was rescued by a play at the plate that prevented Addison Russell from scoring a tying run followed by a game-ending double play that snuffed out a potential walk-off rally to collect his 33rd save.


    Indians 7, Royals 3
    KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Danny Salazar pitched effectively into the seventh inning, and Mike Napoli and Francisco Lindor homered as Cleveland defeated Kansas City.
    Salazar (11-3) gave up three runs, two earned, on eight hits and a walk in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out seven.
    Salazar is 3-0 with a 1.21 ERA in three starts this season against the World Series champion Royals, having allowed 15 hits while striking out 25 in 22 1/3 innings.


    Marlins 2, Phillies 1 (10 innings)
    PHILADELPHIA -- Christian Yelich, who homered earlier in the game, drove in the decisive run with a single in the top of the 10th inning as Miami beat Philadelphia.
    It was Miami's second extra-inning victory over the Phillies in as many days. The Marlins won 3-2 in 11 innings on Monday night.
    Mike Dunn (2-1) picked up the victory by pitching a scoreless inning in relief for Miami, which won for the seventh time in eight games to maintain a one-game lead in the race for the National League's second wild-card berth.


    Braves 5, Reds 4 (11 innings)
    CINCINNATI -- Atlanta and Cincinnati both reside in last place in their respective divisions and are in full rebuilding mode.
    So, while an 11-inning, three-hour, 38-minute marathon resulted in a win for the Braves, both clubs came away feeling good about a few young pitchers who will factor heavily in their future plans.
    Ender Inciarte's sacrifice fly in the 11th inning drove home Nick Markakis with the go-ahead run, lifting Atlanta over Cincinnati at steamy Great American Ball Park.


    White Sox 6, Mariners 1
    SEATTLE -- Melky Cabrera broke a 1-1 tie with a leadoff home run in the seventh inning and Todd Frazier added a two-run shot in the ninth as Chicago snapped a five-game losing streak with a win over Seattle.
    Cabrera and shortstop Brett Lawrie each hit a solo homer, and J.B. Shuck's RBI single in the seventh gave Chicago (46-47) a 3-1 lead before Frazier broke the game open with his 27th home run of the season and his second of the series.
    Frazier's two-run shot off Seattle reliever Joaquin Benoit opened a 5-1 lead after Chicago closer David Robertson, who gave up the game-winning homer on Monday night, had started warming up in the bullpen. Robertson sat back down after the Frazier homer.


    Angels 8, Rangers 6
    ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Albert Pujols went 3-for-3 with a pair of three-run homers to lift suddenly hot Los Angeles to a win over Texas at Angel Stadium.
    Though still 10 games under .500 and battling with the Oakland A's to stay out of last place in the American League West, the Angels have won a season-best five games in a row coming out of the All-Star break.
    Pujols continued his assault on the record book, his two homers Tuesday -- Nos. 18 and 19 on the season -- giving him 579 for his career and moving him within four of Mark McGwire for 10th on the all-time list.


    Rays 10, Rockies 1
    DENVER -- Blake Snell dominated Colorado in his Coors Field debut and Tampa Bay scored five runs in the third inning on its way to a win.
    Evan Longoria hit a mammoth two-run homer in the third-inning uprising when the Rays batted around, pounded out four extra-base hits and scored five runs as Tampa Bay took a 6-0 lead.
    The victory ended the Rays' 11-game losing streak on the road, the third longest in franchise history. The win was just the fifth in their past 30 games for the Rays, who will try to win consecutive games for the first time since June 14-15 in the rubber game of the series Wednesday.


    A's 4, Astros 3 (10 innings)
    OAKLAND, Calif. -- Josh Reddick hit a walk-off infield single with two outs in the bottom of the 10th, lifting Oakland past Houston.
    Pat Neshek (2-2) gave up a two-out single to Marcus Semien in the 10th and was replaced by left-hander Tony Sipp. Semien stole second base, and Sipp walked Yonder Alonso, bringing the left-handed-hitting Reddick to the plate. Reddick hit a ground ball that shortstop Carlos Correa fielded deep the hole as Semien raced around third and headed home. Correa's off-balance throw was late, and Semien scored the game-winning run.
    The Astros took a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth with closer Will Harris on the mound. Harris was a perfect 9-for-9 in save opportunities, but the A's pulled even Stephen Vogt and Coco Crisp hit back-to-back doubles with one out.


    Padres-Cardinals (rained out)
    ST. LOUIS -- Once a heavy thunderstorm finally reached Busch Stadium, Tuesday night's scheduled game between San Diego and St. Louis didn't stand a chance.
    Delayed before the start, the game was finally called after a wait of an hour and 32 minutes due to rain, and it was rescheduled as the day portion of a day-night doubleheader Wednesday.
    Carlos Martinez (8-6, 2.85 ERA) is expected to work the opener for St. Louis against Colin Rea (5-3, 4.95). In the nightcap, the Cardinals will pitch left-hander Jaime Garcia (6-6, 4.11) against Paul Clemens (1-0, 4.73).
    The Cardinals (48-44) opted not to start the game as planned Tuesday when the storm was detected less than 30 minutes before the scheduled first pitch. Neither Martinez or Rea even started his warmups, and the field was covered shortly after the national anthem.

  • #2
    Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/20

    Preview: Braves (33-61) at Reds (35-59)


    Game: 3
    Venue: Great American Ball Park
    Date: July 20, 2016 12:35 PM EDT


    CINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati Reds figured that when the starting rotation got healthy, the bullpen would stabilize itself. That's been the case of late.


    The return of Raisel Iglesias and Michael Lorenzen, who were projected starters prior to beginning the season on the disabled list, has given manager Bryan Price a lot more flexibility.


    "We have different pieces now with Iglesias and Lorenzen," Price said. "We're not constantly using the (Tony) Cingrani-(Ross) Ohlendorf-(Blake) Wood trio. It gives us a bigger pool to pull from in the late innings. Josh Smith has been a nice addition, too, and we've got 90 games under our belt. We're starting to figure things out."


    The numbers, up until Tuesday night's hiccup, bear that out.


    Cincinnati's bullpen posted a 6.21 ERA in April then 7.25 in May. But, that dropped to 4.77 in June and was 2.20 through 49 innings in July.


    Reds relievers had a season-high 13-inning scoreless streak snapped on Tuesday night when the Braves' Gordon Beckham hit a go-ahead, two-run home run off Lorenzen in the seventh inning. The Braves eventually won the game 5-4 in 11 innings.


    The Reds bullpen could get a respite on Wednesday with right-hander Anthony DeSclafani on the mound for the finale of a three-game series against Atlanta.


    DeSclafani is making his fourth career start against the Braves, coming in with a 1-2 record and 5.27 ERA in three prior outings against them.


    He was among the young pitchers who began the season on the DL. Since coming off, he's produced quality starts in six of seven appearances and in his past five starts has gone 4-0 with a 2.67 ERA with 10 earned runs allowed in 33 2/3 innings.


    DeSclafani was projected to be the Reds' starter on Opening Day before suffering an oblique injury in his last start of Spring Training. He made his season debut on June 10 in a 2-1 win over the Oakland A's.


    Right-hander Lucas Harrell will start Wednesday for the Braves. He's 1-1 with a 3.63 ERA after being signed to a minor league contract in May.


    Harrell is 0-1 with a 3.90 ERA in six appearances including four starts against the Reds.


    Atlanta is looking forward to getting healthy as well. There was some good news on Tuesday when right-handed reliever Shae Williams came through his simulated game on Monday with no issues. Williams who's coming off Tommy John surgery, is expected to start for the Gulf Coast Braves in two days.


    "He had normal soreness," said manager Brian Snitker. "He threw 28-29 pitches, and his velocity was good. It's hard to get excited about a simulated game in the Gulf Coast League. We'll start his program and go from there."


    The Braves still are without closer Arodys Vizcaino, who's on the DL with an oblique injury. Jim Johnson, who's been sharing closer duties, blew a two-run lead in the ninth inning Tuesday night, but the Braves rallied for a 5-4 win in 11 innings to earn Mauricio Cabrera his first career win.


    "This team never gives up," said Atlanta right-hander Tyrell Jenkins, who turns 24 on Wednesday. "They just keep fighting."

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/20

      Preview: Twins (34-59) at Tigers (49-45)


      Game: 3
      Venue: Comerica Park
      Date: July 20, 2016 1:10 PM EDT


      DETROIT -- Justin Upton has established a reputation for being a streaky hitter. He's still waiting for one of those big hot streaks to come along in a Detroit Tigers uniform.


      Upton, who signed a six-year, $132 million contract as a free agent during the offseason, has endured arguably the toughest offensive year of his career. He has shown signs recently of breaking out, including a home run against Minnesota on Monday that turned out to be a game-winner in a 1-0 shutout.


      He nearly had another Tuesday, but his 415-foot shot was caught at the center field wall. Upton did have a single, nudging his season average to .237.


      Upton has 10 homers in 88 games. He has averaged 27.3 homers in the last three seasons, so a power binge during the second half could be on the horizon.


      "History says it's a possibility," Upton said. "When those things happen, you never know they're coming, so I don't anticipate it or search for it. I go out every day and compete. That's all I can do."


      He'll get another shot on Wednesday, when the Tigers play the finale of the three-game against Minnesota. The Twins collected a 6-2 victory on Tuesday.


      If the pressure of living up to a big contract has weighed down Upton, he hasn't felt it.


      "Coming in here and going into spring training, I went about my business the way I've always done," he said. "Things haven't worked out. It's a new league and I'm trying to find my way. I feel like day in and day out I've tried to do things to help the ballclub. At the end of the day, I can hang my hat on that."


      Justin Verlander, Detroit's starter for Wednesday's matinee, has been hanging up some impressive stats lately. He has won seven of his last nine decisions, including his first start after the All-Star break when he struck out 10 Kansas City batters.


      He'll be opposed by another veteran, Ervin Santana. He's pitched well of late, going 2-1 with a 2.18 ERA in his last five starts. The loss came in his last outing, when he gave up three earned runs in 5 1/3 innings to Cleveland and was struck in the left arm by a line drive.


      Santana said Tuesday he's fine while pointing toward the bruised area.


      "I have a lot of positive things from the last few outings," said Santana, who is 3-8 with a 4.12 ERA. "I threw a lot of strikes and kept the ball down for the most part."


      He has been sharp historically against Detroit, going 9-3 with a 3.27 ERA in 16 career starts.


      "I know they're a very aggressive team," he said. "I just try to keep the ball down because if you miss, you know where it's going to go. You have to be careful from the leadoff (man) to the ninth."


      Manager Paul Molitor is trying to be more aggressive to spark his team's often punchless offense. The Twins scored eight runs in their first four games after the break before Tuesday's six-run outburst.


      "You look for it, but you don't want to force it," Molitor said. "I'm trying to put people in motion. We still have some guys who can steal bases, but you have to have the right customers. I'd like to jump-start it if I can."

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/20

        Preview: Indians (55-38) at Royals (47-46)


        Game: 3
        Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
        Date: July 20, 2016 2:15 PM EDT


        KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Indians lineups may have some different faces Wednesday.


        Not only is it an afternoon game after a night game, but the temperature is forecasted to reach 97 degrees with a heat index of close to 110 and a humidity of 60 percent.


        An extreme hot and humid day will likely force managers Ned Yost of the Royals and Terry Francona of the Indians to rest some usual starters.


        "You almost have to because the heat is stifling and the heat index is going to be even worse," Yost said. "At least when the sun goes down, it's bearable out here.


        "But you can see you have to be prepared. You saw what happened to (Corey) Kluber last (Monday) night. He just got dehydrated and started suffering cramps."


        Kluber left after some warmup pitches in the eighth inning with his right calf cramping.


        "We're going to have to look and see who needs a break, probably Salvy for sure," Yost said.


        Salvador Perez not only started the All-Star Game, but has caught the first five games after it. Expect Drew Butera to be behind the plate for the first pitch Wednesday.


        In addition, left-fielder Alex Gordon could use a break. He is 2-for-17 since the All-Star break, dropping his average to .200. He has struck out four times in seven at-bats against the Indians, bringing his strikeout total to an alarming 72 in 215 at-bats.


        Plus, Gordon is a .154 hitter, 4-for-26, off Indians right-hander Carlos Carrasco, who starts Wednesday. However, two of Gordon's hits off Carrasco are home runs.


        Rookie Brett Eibner, who has sat out the past four games after playing Friday, will almost certainly start Wednesday somewhere in the outfield. Christian Colon will likely start somewhere in the infield.


        Outfielder Michael Brantley not only will not be in the Indians lineup Wednesday, but could be out for the remainder of the season after another setback on his shoulder while rehabbing with Double-A Akron.


        "We're not to that point, yet," Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said. "We want to try to first understand what's going on. What is causing this to continue to happen? What is the root of the soreness he is experiencing now? And, how do we help him through that?"


        Brantley, who has been limited to 11 games this season because of the shoulder issues, will have an MRI Wednesday. He hit .327 with 20 home runs and 97 RBIs in 2014 and .310 with 15 home runs and 84 RBIs in 137 games last season, but had shoulder surgery in November.


        "There has been a couple times where he's come up to me and apologized," Francona said. "His effort has been incredible. All the reasons we want him back, and the admiration we have for him, doesn't go away when his shoulder hurts."


        Eric Hosmer has a .333 average, 7-for-21, off Carrasco, which is the best of any of the Royals' hitters with at least 14 at-bats. Rookie Whit Merrifield went 2-for-3 with a home run earlier this season in his only time seeing Carrasco.


        The Royals will start right-hander Ian Kennedy, who will be facing the Tribe for the fourth time this season. He is 2-1 with a 4.12 ERA in his first three starts. He is 3-3 with a 4.02 ERA in eight starts against American League Central clubs this season.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/20

          Preview: Padres (41-52) at Cardinals (48-44)


          Game: 2
          Venue: Busch Stadium
          Date: July 20, 2016 8:15 PM EDT


          ST. LOUIS -- Once a heavy thunderstorm finally reached Busch Stadium, Tuesday night's scheduled game between the San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals didn't stand a chance.
          Delayed before the start, the game was finally called after a wait of an hour and 32 minutes due to rain, and it was rescheduled as the day portion of a day-night doubleheader Wednesday.
          Carlos Martinez (8-6, 2.85 ERA) is expected to work the opener for St. Louis against Colin Rea (5-3, 4.95). In the nightcap, the Cardinals will pitch left-hander Jaime Garcia (6-6, 4.11) against Paul Clemens (1-0, 4.73).
          The Cardinals (48-44) opted not to start the game as planned Tuesday when the storm was detected less than 30 minutes before the scheduled first pitch. Neither Martinez or Rea even started his warmups, and the field was covered shortly after the national anthem.
          The first raindrop didn't fall until around 8:45 p.m. CDT, but before it did, the fans scurried for cover as they were encouraged to leave the seating area. The storm featured frequent claps of thunder, lightning and sheets of rain blowing from left to right.
          With this being San Diego's only trip into St. Louis this year, a day-night doubleheader was the only option to make it up. The teams have no mutual off days for the season's remainder, and they already played their series in San Diego.
          Martinez will be pitching on 11 days of rest, his last outing coming on July 9 in an 8-1 win at Milwaukee that saw him match a career high by fanning 11 in five innings. He is 0-1 with a 5.51 ERA in five career games against the Padres, two of them starts.
          Rea will be facing the Cardinals for the third time in his short major league career, but the first time in St. Louis. Rea absorbed a 10-3 loss to them last August and got a no-decision on April 24 in an 8-5 loss. He hasn't pitched since a no-decision July 6 in Arizona, when he was hooked one out shy of a win in San Diego's 13-6 victory.
          In the nightcap, Garcia will make his first start against the Padres since Sept. 10, 2012, when he ate an 11-3 loss. He wasn't involved in the decision Friday night in a 7-6 loss against the Miami Marlins, pitching 6 1/3 innings and allowing four runs.
          Clemens will replace Wednesday night's scheduled starter, Andrew Cashner, who will be pushed back to Thursday night's series finale. Clemens, who was picked up off waivers from Miami on June 28, has no record and no ERA in three relief appearances with San Diego.
          Had the game been played Tuesday, the Padres' lineup would not have included shortstop Alexei Ramirez. Manager Andy Green planned to give Ramirez a rest, and he intends to do the same with all of his regulars in upcoming games.
          "It's going to be 100 degrees the next couple days here, 100 degrees and over every day in Washington, (10-day) road trip right after the All-Star break," Green said, according to MLB.com. "It's probably wise to try to find everybody a day down during that stretch to make sure we're not running everybody into the ground early in the second half."
          The Cardinals will head into the doubleheader without third baseman Jhonny Peralta, who went on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday, retroactive to Monday, due to a strained ligament in his left thumb. Peralta left Sunday's game in the fifth inning after injuring himself while hitting.
          "We were trying to be patient through this," St. Louis general manager John Mozeliak said. "We were hoping giving it a couple days when we were back in Milwaukee, this would be something he could play through. He was just not feeling right, so ultimately we put him on the DL."
          Peralta was replaced on the roster by outfielder Jeremy Hazelbaker, who was recalled from Triple-A Memphis.
          In other roster moves, the Cardinals recalled right-hander Miguel Socolovich from Memphis while designating catcher Michael McKenry for assignment.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/20

            Preview: Mets (50-43) at Cubs (56-37)


            Game: 3
            Venue: Wrigley Field
            Date: July 20, 2016 2:20 PM EDT


            CHICAGO -- A player sidelined for the season and rehabbing a wrecked knee is nonetheless drawing a surprising amount of interest as the major league trading deadline approaches.


            Kyle Schwarber, the Chicago Cubs' 23-year-old slugger, is the subject of trade rumors and conjecture even though he has not stepped up to home plate and swung a bat since April 7.


            One rumor with traction on social media has the New York Yankees offering relievers Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman, who unleashed a 105 mph fastball on Monday, in exchange for Schwarber, who had 16 homers in 69 regular-season and playoff games in 2015.


            One former general manager suggested the Cubs swap Schwarber for Texas Rangers ace Cole Hamels, who beat the Cubs in a 4-1 decision on Sunday.


            Chicago, which concludes a three-game series with the New York Mets on Wednesday at Wrigley Field, may indeed need some relief or starting pitching help down the stretch.


            But there's no current evidence that Schwarber is part of any trade talks and Cubs officials reportedly have no desire to part with their versatile young catcher/outfielder.


            In fact, Cubs manager Joe Maddon said he has had no conversations with any players about potential trades.


            "It's always tough -- the rumor mill," Maddon said this week. "If I feel it's really getting hot with one guy, we'll say something to him. But I'll only say something to him to him if I know exactly what I'm saying.


            "No conversations yet."


            Schwarber suffered the a season-ending injury in early April in an outfield collision with teammate Dexter Fowler. Schwarber had a torn ACL and an LCL in his left knee plus a left ankle sprain.


            The Cubs have made a point to keep Schwarber around and involved as he rehabs. He takes part in meetings, is in the dugout and got a big hand when he snared a foul ball in the dugout this week.


            "I like the fact that he comes out, he's staying involved," Maddon said. "He's in the greeting line every time we win. It's very important to have him stay connected like that for next year and the guys love having him around."


            Schwarber was the subject of a humorous video on the Wrigley Field board as the Cubs uncovered a 2015 video of Schwarber performing in a high school choir.


            Several current teammates donned gray suits, purple shirts and pink ties -- similar to what Schwarber wore -- and were spliced into the video and danced along with the high school Schwarber.


            The Cubs send RHP Kyle Hendricks (8-6, 2.41 ERA) against Mets right-hander Bartolo Colon (8-4, 3.11) in Wednesday's series finale.


            Hendricks is 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA in two career regular-season starts against the Mets, both at Citi Field. He started Game 3 of the NLCS last season at Wrigley Field, allowing two runs and five hits in four innings.


            Colon beat the Cubs for his seventh victory of the season on July 3, throwing six innings while allowing two runs and four hits. He struck out five and walked three.


            Michael Conforto, called up Monday from Triple-A Las Vegas, was in the starting lineup on Tuesday in left field, but Mets manager Terry Collins said this week that he'll likely see time in center as Yoenis Cespedes moves over to left field after playing 61 games in the middle this season.


            "We're taxing his body pretty heavily by putting him in center field," Collins told reporters. "I just think if he's in left field where he's comfortable, and there's not so much emphasis on the defensive side, that he'll go back and do what we hope he can do -- and that's be a big production guy."


            Conforto played 56 games in left during an earlier stint with the Mets before being sent down to Triple-A Las Vegas.


            Wednesday afternoon's game concludes the seven-game regular-season series between the teams. The Cubs swept all seven meetings last year. The Mets took four straight in New York in the first 2016 meetings.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/20

              Preview: Rays (36-57) at Rockies (43-50)


              Game: 3
              Venue: Coors Field
              Date: July 20, 2016 3:10 PM EDT


              DENVER -- Jorge De La Rosa will try to continue his successful run since he returned to the Colorado Rockies' rotation, and Tampa Bay Rays starter Chris Archer will look to break a losing streak when the pitchers oppose each other in the rubber game of a three-game series Wednesday.


              De La Rosa is 4-2 with 2.68 ERA in his past six starts since rejoining the rotation June 14 after working in relief for three games.


              "I mix my pitches more, much better now," said De La Rosa, who is 6-6 with a 5.50 ERA overall in 15 games, 12 starts.


              He began the season 1-4 with an 11.41 ERA in six starts, the last on May 24 after a month-long stay on the disabled list due to a left groin strain. De La Rosa was moved to the bullpen after that May 24 start in Boston, where he gave up seven runs on nine hits in 3 1/3 innings.


              In the bullpen, he worked extensively with bullpen coach Darren Holmes. De La Rosa used to have a pause in his delivery but scrapped that in his work with Holmes and pitching coach Steve Foster during the two weeks he spent as a reliever.


              "Throwing more quality strikes than the beginning of the year," De La Rosa said. "My tempo is better. I think that was the key. I think I feel like more loose with this windup. They changed my mechanics, and it helped me to get better rhythm and throw the ball wherever I want to throw it.


              "At the beginning (of the year), I just was fastball-changeup. That's why I'm pitching much better now. I started throwing my curveball more and I'm using my cutter more, too."


              Archer (4-13, 4.68 ERA) has dropped his past six decisions since June 11, one shy of Drew Smyly's current losing streak for the longest by a Rays pitcher this season. Archer is one shy of matching his career-high, seven-game losing streak from Sept. 9, 2015-April 20, 2016. He has lost nine of his past 10 decisions, and his loss total leads the major leagues.


              "You look at my numbers and the ERA is higher, but the swing-and-miss rates and the strikeout rates and a bunch of other things are (moving) in the right direction, especially if you remove the first month when I had a 6.70 ERA," Archer said. "I'm not saying that I'm pitching to my capability by any means."


              Archer said he lacked his normal command early in the season but feels much better lately. He has 136 strikeouts and 49 walks in 117 1/3 innings and has yielded 20 home runs.


              "I've been giving up a few extra runs than I'd like, but if you look at the overall numbers since probably the middle of May, they're better," Archer said. "Not great by any means ... but I feel a lot better than I did the first six weeks of the season, for sure."


              While Archer will be facing the Rockies for the first time in his career, De La Rosa will oppose the Rays for the third time. He lost to Tampa Bay in a 2007 start and beat the Rays in a 2009 start, allowing a total of nine runs on 13 hits in eight innings.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/20

                Preview: Astros (50-44) at Athletics (42-52)


                Game: 3
                Venue: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
                Date: July 20, 2016 3:35 PM EDT


                OAKLAND, Calif. -- There should be few secrets when Houston Astros right-hander Doug Fister is on the mound Wednesday afternoon, pitching against the Oakland A's in the finale of a three-game series at the Oakland Coliseum.


                Fister (9-6, 3.64 ERA) will start against Oakland for the fourth time this season, all in a span of 80 days.


                "I don't think it really changes anything," said Fister, who will try to prevent the A's from sweeping the three-game series. "This game's really a game of chess anyway, but no matter what you do prior, it all comes down to execution. I can throw the same pitch three different times, and three different times I get three different results.


                "I'm still going to attack with the same game plan, and obviously there's minute changes that happen, but for the most part, everything's going to stay the same. I'm just going to attack and let the defense work."


                Based on Fister's numbers this year against the A's, there is no reason for him to make drastic alterations. He is 2-1 with a 1.31 ERA vs. Oakland He allowed one run over 6 2/3 innings in a 2-1 victory on May 1 at the Coliseum and no runs over six innings in a 12-2 win on June 3 in Houston. In his third start against the A's, Fister gave up two runs over eight innings in a 3-1 loss on July 7 at Houston.


                The latter game was Fister's third consecutive defeat, but he snapped his skid Friday at Seattle, allowing three runs over five innings in a 9-6 victory.


                "I've felt pretty good for a while now," Fister said. "I've had a couple hiccups, but at the same time, those guys are pretty good. I've got to come back and execute every fifth day, and that's the road we're trying to get back on."


                A's rookie right-hander Daniel Mengden (1-4, 5.54 ERA) will make his eighth career start and try to get back on track after three straight rough starts. Mengden gave up a combined eight earned runs over his first four starts but allowed 16 earned runs in his past three.


                Mengden yielded six earned runs in 4 2/3 innings and got a no-decision in a 10-9 loss to the Astros on July 8 at Houston. Then in his first start after the All-Star break, he allowed six earned runs in 3 1/3 innings and got a no-decision in an 8-7 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday at the Coliseum.


                "Last start, my control might have been a little off," Mengden said. "I think my arm slot was a little different. Trying to find it a little bit."


                Mengden acknowledged that he has never experienced such a rough stretch of games in his career.


                "But I'm in the big leagues now, and it's not as easy as in the minors," Mengden said. "Just in a little funk. I'm not too worried about it. The past is the past. I'm trying to stay looking forward, and I'm looking forward to pitching against the Astros again on Wednesday."

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/20

                  Preview: White Sox (46-47) at Mariners (47-47)


                  Game: 3
                  Venue: Safeco Field
                  Date: July 20, 2016 3:40 PM EDT


                  SEATTLE -- He's never pitched in a postseason game, and 30-year-old Felix Hernandez has lost some of the zip on his fastball, but the Seattle Mariners' ace was a huge part of his team's improbable ascent to the top of the American League West over the first two months of the 2016 season.


                  How huge? The Mariners' once-promising season went up in smoke when Hernandez went down.


                  When Hernandez took the mound for a May 27 game against the Minnesota Twins, Seattle was 28-18 and sitting atop the AL West standings. He went on the disabled list three days later, and the Mariners have gone 19-28 over their past 47 games.


                  On Wednesday, Hernandez is scheduled to be back on the mound for the first time in 7 1/2 weeks, and the big question is whether he can lead Seattle back into the postseason hunt.


                  Hernandez (4-4) is expected to make his first start since May 27, when he struggled against the Twins and eventually landed on the disabled list with a strained calf muscle, when the Mariners host the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday afternoon.


                  "I want to get back out there and help my team win," Hernandez told reporters after making his final rehab start in Tacoma last Friday night. "That's all I want to do."


                  Mariners manager Scott Servais couldn't hide his excitement Tuesday afternoon.


                  "I'm looking forward to it," he told reporters. "I'm sure (Hernandez is) looking forward to it too."


                  The White Sox (46-47) go into the game with a little momentum after snapping a five-game losing streak with a 6-1 win at Safeco Field on Tuesday night. Chicago scored more runs in that game than the White Sox had scored during the entirety of their five-game losing streak.


                  Manager Robin Ventura was most impressed with the three runs Chicago scored in the top of the ninth to put the game away.


                  "To put some on late and separate is the best thing we did," he said after watching his team manage just four total runs over the previous five games. "It shows some fight."


                  White Sox starter Jose Quintana turned in Chicago's second consecutive solid start with six innings that saw him give up just one run off six hits. Over the first two games of the series, Seattle (47-47) has scored just one run off seven hits over 14 innings against White Sox starters.


                  "We needed this game," Quintana said after Chicago snapped its five-game losing streak. "(Monday) we'll come back and try to win the series."


                  The Mariners still need to make a roster move before Wednesday's game to clear a spot for Hernandez on the roster. Left-handed reliever David Rollins seems most likely to be sent to Triple-A, but veteran reliever Joaquin Benoit has also been struggling lately. Benoit, who turns 39 next week, has a 5.40 ERA and has allowed seven earned runs over his past 5 2/3 innings dating back to late June. Benoit served up a two-run homer to Chicago slugger Todd Frazier in Tuesday's ninth inning.


                  "He made a mistake," Servais said, "and that's what happens when you make a mistake to the guy who's leading the league in home runs."

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/20

                    Preview: Blue Jays (53-42) at Diamondbacks (40-54)

                    Game: 2
                    Venue: Chase Field
                    Date: July 20, 2016 3:40 PM EDT

                    PHOENIX -- Toronto first baseman Edwin Encarnacion has made a living out of driving baseballs out of Chase Field in the few opportunities interleague play has provided, and he will have one more chance Wednesday.

                    His potent bat and the strong arm of Aaron Sanchez halted the Diamondbacks and their two-game winning streak in a 5-1 victory Tuesday, but Arizona will retaliate with left-hander Patrick Corbin in an attempt to get a split in the short two-game set. Corbin beat the Jays in Toronto on June 21.

                    Encarnacion, who leads the major leagues with 84 RBIs, has nine homers in 66 plate appearances in 16 career games at Chase Field. His three-run homer in the third inning Tuesday gave Sanchez a 3-1 lead that he never lost.

                    He hit five homers in a three-game series here in 2010, including three in one game, and had two homers in a three-game series in 2013, the last times Toronto has been in Arizona. He has 16 RBIs in 16 games at Chase Field.

                    "I see the ball real well and I feel confident in this ball park, so it works out," Encarnacion said. "Maybe it's the hitter's eye, I don't know."

                    Encarnacion will be a free agent when his four-year, $37 million contract expires this winter, and Chase Field might provide a welcome home, except for the fact that four-time All Star Paul Goldschmidt is a fixture at first.

                    "If they had average Joe, they might sign (Encarnacion)," Toronto manager Jon Gibbons said. "I don't know what it is, but he likes hitting here."

                    Hitters on both sides often have talked about the good visibility provided by the 40-foot green fence in dead center field.

                    Toronto right-hander Marcus Stroman will oppose Corbin on Wednesday as the Jays look to win for the 11th time in 15 games. Stroman is 7-4 with a 5.15 ERA in his first full season in the rotation. He missed most of last season with a knee injury suffered in spring training.

                    The series matches Encarnacion and Arizona third baseman Jake Lamb, two of the hottest hitters in the majors. Since June 10, Encarnacion is hitting .333 with nine doubles, 13 homers, 37 RBIs and a .765 slugging percentage. Only Lamb has a higher slugging percentage (.844) in the same span. Lamb, the reigning NL player of the week, was 0-for-4 Tuesday.

                    Sanchez commanded both sides of the plate with his fastball and made his best pitchers when it was most appropriate, although that is not unusual for him this season. The D-backs were 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position, scoring their lone run on a groundout.

                    Opponents are hitting .189 against him with runners in scoring position, best on a stingy staff. Opponents are hitting .198 against both R.A. Dickey and J.A. Happ.

                    Sanchez has thrown 125 1/3 innings this season, eight short of his career high at several levels in 2014, and it seems to only a matter of time until the Jays move him to the bullpen in an attempt to save his innings.

                    "It's something I can't control," Sanchez said. "I'm going to go out there and take the ball every five days until they tell me not to. That's all I'm worried about really. When the time comes, then we'll have to worry about it. For now, just continue to do what I have been doing."

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/20

                      Preview: Brewers (39-52) at Pirates (48-45)


                      Game: 2
                      Venue: PNC Park
                      Date: July 20, 2016 7:05 PM EDT


                      PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates, once again in the running for the National League wild-card playoff game they've played host to the last three seasons, still haven't solidified a starting rotation 93 games into the 2016 season.


                      Left-hander Jeff Locke (8-5) tries to add a bit of clarification on Wednesday night as he takes on another struggling starter, right-hander Chase Anderson (4-10), in the second game of a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers.


                      The Pirates come in with two straight wins and 11 in their 15 games. The Brewers have dropped five of six.


                      Locke's record looks OK - he is 3-0 in his last four starts and 7-2 in his last 10 -- but he has a 5.26 ERA and yielded a troubling 27 earned runs in 31 1/3 innings. And despite being a left-hander who has shown he can win consistently in the majors, he hears rumors nearly every time he starts that he's on the trading block.


                      The Pirates haven't done much to quiet the talk, as they hold in-season auditions for their rotation that, of late, added right-hander Jameson Taillon from Triple-A and auditioned right-hander Chad Kuhl -- who pitched six innings of one-hit shutout ball on Sunday in Washington -- and right-hander Tyler Glasnow, who is expected to return from Triple-A Indianapolis to start Saturday against the Dodgers. Taillon held the Brewers to one run in six innings on Tuesday night.


                      In all, eight Pirates made their major league debuts in the first half of the season, prompting manager Clint Hurdle to say Tuesday, "The scenario (for that) had to be crazy, and it was."


                      More young pitching could be on the way, too, making this start even more important for Locke as the trading deadline approaches.


                      What the Pirates want is more offense. They've been held to six runs in 44 innings in their last four games, one lasting 18 innings, and were held to five hits in their 3-2, last at-bat win over the Brewers on Tuesday night.


                      Josh Harrison hustled his way to a triple on a ball hit high off the wall in right-center field to start the bottom of the ninth, then scored on the play when second baseman Scooter Gennett's throw skipped past Harrison.


                      "This offense is just battling, playing through every day," Harrison said after the Pirates' second successive win. "Hitting is contagious, not hitting is contagious, regardless of what people say. ... That's the name of the game -- just keep plugging away. Just try to push across as many runs as possible."


                      Locke gave up plenty -- eight earned runs and 11 hits in nine innings in his last two starts -- while going only four innings against the St. Louis Cardinals on July 6 and five innings against the Oakland Athletics on July 1, but the Pirates combined for 14 runs while winning both games.


                      Anderson will start against Pittsburgh for the first time this season after going 0-4 with a 9.61 ERA in his last five starts, walking a career-high five in each of his last two outings. His last one was an 8-1 loss to St. Louis on July 9.


                      And not only is Anderson not winning, the Brewers aren't winning consistently when he goes to the mound, either. With opponents batting .266 with 18 home runs against Anderson, the Brewers are 5-12 in his 17 starts.


                      Anderson is 0-1 with a 5.65 ERA in three career starts against the Pirates, who are 3-1 against the Brewers this season -- with 15 games remaining.


                      The Brewers lost in the final inning in each of their last two games, including a 1-0 loss on Sunday in Cincinnati. Reliever Tyler Thornburg (3-4) took the loss in each.


                      "It's not fun when get walked off on, but for the most part we're playing good baseball," Gennett said. "We're in these games, and we've got to keep grinding and eventually we'll run into some win streaks."


                      The Brewers haven't won more than three straight since winning four in a row May 24-27.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/20

                        Preview: Marlins (51-42) at Phillies (43-52)


                        Game: 3
                        Venue: Citizens Bank Park
                        Date: July 20, 2016 7:05 PM EDT


                        PHILADELPHIA -- Jeremy Hellickson pitches against the Miami Marlins on Wednesday night.


                        The Philadelphia Phillies right-hander might very well be pitching for the Marlins in the near future.


                        Hellickson (6-7, 4.03 ERA) continues to be the subject of trade speculation, with the Aug. 1 non-waiver deadline approaching. MLB.com Marlins writer Joe Frisaro tweeted Monday that Miami is one of the teams that has expressed an interest in the veteran righty, who faces left-hander Wei-Yin Chen (5-3, 4.90) on Wednesday.


                        Hellickson, 29, has been hearing the scuttlebutt for a while now.


                        "Yeah, it's on my mind," he admitted after losing to the Mets last Friday, "just when I see it on Twitter and talk to you (media) guys about it. Other than that, I'm focused every day on doing what I have to do for the next start. Like I've said all along, I love it here and would love to be here the rest of the year, but obviously I've been through it before and know that side of the game. My focus is here and on my next start right now."


                        Hellickson, who gave up four runs over six innings in that loss to New York, was 2-0 with 1.50 ERA in his three previous starts. He is 1-1 with a 3.97 ERA in six career outings against Miami.


                        The Marlins, 51-42 and owners of a one-game lead in the race for the National League's second wild-card berth, are looking to solidify their rotation behind All-Star right-hander Jose Fernandez.


                        Chen, who went 46-32 in four years with the Baltimore Orioles, has had his ups and downs after signing with the Marlins as a free agent in January.


                        He took a no-decision in his last start, at St. Louis, allowing four runs on six hits in six innings, and he has yielded at least four earned runs in five of his last seven outings. Chen is 2-1 in that stretch despite a 6.00 ERA.


                        He is 1-1 with a 2.84 ERA in three career starts against Philadelphia.


                        The Marlins have won seven of their past eight games, taking each of the first two games in this four-game series against the Phillies in extra innings. Christian Yelich drove in the winning run Tuesday in a 2-1 victory with a 10th-inning single off reliever Daniel Stumpf.


                        "To be a good team, you have to win those close ones, games like tonight and last night," Yelich said Tuesday. "We know we're going to have to continue to do that in the second half if we want to go where we think we're headed. It's a good start. You just have to build on it."


                        Tommy Joseph hit his second homer in as many nights for Philadelphia, which lost for the fourth time in five games.


                        The Phillies managed just five hits Tuesday, and over their past three games (all losses), they have generated three runs and 10 hits while striking out 34 times. They fanned 11 times against five Marlins pitchers Tuesday.


                        "We're in that hitting funk again," manager Pete Mackanin said. "We're just not swinging the bats. Too many bad at-bats. We're not grinding out at-bats, and we need to do that. ... Too many called third strikes with men in scoring position. That's a pet peeve of mine, and we're going to address that."


                        He plans to do that in a team meeting.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/20

                          Preview: Dodgers (53-42) at Nationals (56-38)


                          Game: 2
                          Venue: Nationals Park
                          Date: July 20, 2016 7:05 PM EDT


                          WASHINGTON -- It is July and so roster moves are common and attrition takes its toll on the pitching staffs of major league teams.


                          That is certainly the case for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals, who continue their three-game series on Wednesday at Nationals Park.


                          Bud Norris will make the start for the Dodgers, who had originally listed Hyun-Jin Ryu as the starter for the second game of the series.


                          But the South Korean native went on the 15-day disabled list before Tuesday's game, retroactive to July 9, with elbow tendinitis.


                          And there was more bad news Tuesday. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Clayton Kershaw, who is on the disabled list, suffered a setback and it is not certain when he will pitch again.


                          "After he threw that live session, the next day, Sunday, (he) didn't feel great," Roberts told reporters. "I think at that point in time it let us know we had to be a little more on the cautious side. So right now with Clayton, I don't know if it's a step back, but we're going to let this back pain subside and see where we go. As far as his return -- uncertain."


                          Norris is 2-3 in six career starts against the Nationals and has also made three outings out of the bullpen, with a 5.58 ERA.


                          "We have Bud going tomorrow," Roberts said Tuesday. "We will try to win a ballgame."


                          Washington's Wilson Ramos, who was off Tuesday, is hitting .474 in 19 at-bats with one homer against Norris.


                          Daniel Murphy is batting .333 with homers in 18 at-bats against Norris, who pitched earlier this season for the Atlanta Braves.


                          Stephen Drew has one homer in 25 at-bats against Norris, with a .360 average. Jayson Werth is hitting .143 against Norris in 21 at-bats.


                          The Nationals are slated to start veteran left-hander and former Oakland pitcher Gio Gonzalez, who had pitched better of late after a bad patch in June. He has a 1.73 ERA in four career starts against the Dodgers.


                          Gonzalez will try to right the ship after rookie Reynaldo Lopez was hit hard in his big league debut on Tuesday against the Dodgers.


                          The Nationals are without starter Joe Ross, who has been on the disabled list since July 3 with right shoulder inflammation. Ross did throw before Tuesday's game and could make a minor league rehab appearance later this week.


                          "He looked very good today. He threw 35 consecutive pitches today. He had good velocity, good slider. Barring setbacks, he may go out and pitch somewhere this weekend," Nationals manager Dusty Baker said Tuesday.


                          Gonzalez last pitched July 10 in New York against the Mets and picked up the win in a 3-2 game.


                          Chase Utley is hitting .150 in 20 at-bats against Gonzalez and Justin Turner is batting .154 in 13 trips to the plate against the Miami-area native.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/20

                            Preview: Orioles (53-39) at Yankees (47-46)


                            Game: 3
                            Venue: Yankee Stadium
                            Date: July 20, 2016 7:05 PM EDT


                            NEW YORK -- One of the biggest indications of how inconsistent the New York Yankees have been is their inability get more than one game over .500.


                            Since May 22, the Yankees have gone one game over .500 on two occasions only to slide back into wandering around and below the break-even mark.


                            The Yankees will get their next chance at going two games over .500 Wednesday night when they continue a four-game series with the Baltimore Orioles.


                            The Yankees (47-46) have won seven of their last 11 games and are 3-2 on a crucial homestand that many believe will determine their plans at the Aug. 1 non-waiver trade deadline.


                            After getting to .500 with Monday's 2-1 win, New York went one game over for the first time since June 24 with Tuesday's 7-1 win. Starlin Castro homered for the first time in 22 games and drove in four runs while Nathan Eovaldi allowed one run in 5 1/3 innings and Anthony Swarzak highlighted 2 2/3 perfect innings by getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth.


                            The performances by Castro and Swarzak helped ensure New York's late-inning trio of hard-throwers Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman will be available for the final two games of the series.


                            Since starting to hover around .500 in mid-May, the Yankees went one game at 31-30 following a 4-0 win over Detroit on June 10. New York then dropped four straight and did not get over .500 again until a 2-1 win over Minnesota left them at 37-36 on June 24.


                            New York then lost seven of its next 11 before closing the All-Star break with three wins in Cleveland.


                            "It's been frustrating this year because we've been here so many times and we haven't been able to break through for a number of different reasons," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Sometimes it's been offense, sometimes it's been pitching. It hasn't just been one reason but it's been frustrating because I feel like if we can get over that mark, we can build on it."


                            The last three wins have shaved Baltimore's lead over the fourth-place Yankees to 6 1/2 games. It is the first time the Yankees trail by less than seven games since June 24.


                            Baltimore has lost three straight for the second time this month. The Orioles also lost their first four games of July as part of a five-game losing streak.


                            The Orioles offense is batting .268. During their first five games, the Orioles are batting .193 (31-for-161).


                            "We don't say, well this is just que sera, something that comes about," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "You can't live in that world. We're better than that. I know our guys are frustrated but you also got to tip your hat to their pitching."


                            Since the break, Adam Jones is 3-for-20, Manny Machado is 2-for-17 and Mark Trumbo is 4-for-19. The Orioles have played the last two games without first baseman Chris Davis (stomach virus) and also played Tuesday without Matt Wieters (sore right foot).


                            Both might play Wednesday but losing while shorthanded is not an excuse for the Orioles.


                            "We've been without people all year just like the Yankees have and just like everybody has," Showalter said. "It's part of the gig. You don't stomach it and find an excuse. We don't live in those worlds."


                            After getting effective outings from Masahiro Tanaka, Ivan Nova and Nathan Eovaldi, the Yankees will send Michael Pineda (3-9, 5.56) to the mound. The Yankees will hope Pineda has better fastball command this time around after allowing three home runs in 5 2/3 innings to the Boston Red Sox in Friday's 5-3 loss.


                            "They've all done a good job and it needs to start over with Michael tomorrow," Girardi said. "That's how you put long streaks together."


                            Pineda is winless in his last six starts and Friday's loss dropped him to 0-3 with a 4.46 ERA in those outings.


                            The right-hander has defined inconsistency by allowing two earned runs or less in eight starts and five runs or more in seven other outings.


                            Pineda has not faced the Orioles this season and is 3-2 with a 4.10 ERA in nine outings against Baltimore. In New York, he is 2-0 with a 1.98 ERA in four matchups against the Orioles, including a career-high 16 strikeout game May 10, 2015.


                            Yovani Gallardo will get the start for Baltimore and will make his seventh start since returning from missing two months due to a right shoulder injury. Since returning June 18, Gallardo is 2-0 with a 6.04 ERA and, in those starts, the Orioles have averaged 5.6 runs per game.


                            Gallardo is 1-1 with a 5.60 ERA in three starts against the Yankees. He last played New York at Yankee Stadium May 24, 2015 for the Texas Rangers when he allowed two runs and four hits over six innings during a 5-2 win.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/20

                              Preview: Giants (57-37) at Red Sox (52-39)


                              Game: 2
                              Venue: Fenway Park
                              Date: July 20, 2016 7:10 PM EDT


                              BOSTON -- Drew Pomeranz insists he's ready for whatever the Boston Red Sox ask him to do, but the task at hand is one that's relatively new to the 27-year-old southpaw.


                              The assignment? A shutdown pitcher for a big-market team in a hitter-friendly ballpark.


                              "I've done literally everything there is to do on a baseball field as a pitcher," he said after being traded to Boston from San Diego last Thursday. "You could shove me out there in any situation, I've done it."


                              He's started games, he's closed them -- and everything in between.


                              One thing Pomeranz hasn't done yet is pitch in a Red Sox uniform, but he'll get the chance in Wednesday's series finale against the San Francisco Giants at Fenway Park.


                              "Pretty excited to go to Boston," Pomeranz said. "It's a great city, great team. They've been doing well all year. They're right there in the race.


                              "They want to win here, and I want to win, too."


                              Pomeranz (8-7, 2.47 ERA) faces a familiar foe in his Red Sox debut, a Giants team he's already faced three times this season and was scheduled to start against last Sunday before the trade.


                              Boston (52-39) earned a 4-0 victory over the league-leading Giants (57-37), which has never won in four tries at Fenway Park since moving to San Francisco in 1958.


                              The Giants suffered a three-game sweep at Fenway in 2007.


                              Pomeranz, a first-time All-Star, is 0-2 with a 2.60 ERA in three starts against San Francisco this season and 1-4 with a 4.54 ERA over nine appearances (seven starts) lifetime.


                              Buster Posey is 6-for-13 (.462) with two homers and three RBIs against Pomeranz. The only Giants player who has hit Pomeranz harder is Hunter Pence (4-for-14, four homers, eight RBIs).


                              Pence, however, won't be a factor, as he was held out of a rehab game with Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday for precautionary reasons. He's been out since June 1 with a right hamstring strain.


                              Second baseman Joe Panik (concussion) rehabbed with Sacramento on Tuesday as he recovers from being hit in the head by a pitch June 18 at Tampa Bay.


                              Pomeranz's debut with the Red Sox is poised to overshadow the return of San Francisco's Matt Cain (1-5, 5.34 ERA), who will be making his first start since returning from the disabled list.


                              Cain hasn't pitched since June 13, when he sustained a right hamstring strain. He was 1-1 with a 9.00 ERA over three minor-league rehab starts, allowing 13 runs and 14 hits in 13 innings.


                              "He's ready to go," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "He's got no issues with the hamstring. We just hope he's sharp and gives his team a chance to win."


                              The three-time All-Star has faced Boston once, giving up a run on three hits with three strikeouts over seven innings during the Giants' only prior trip to Fenway in June 2007.


                              Hanley Ramirez, who spent three seasons in the National League West with the Los Angeles Dodgers, has hit Cain well, going 13-for-47 with two homers and five RBIs.


                              Aaron Hill, a utility infielder the Red Sox also recently acquired, is 9-for-32 (.281) with two triples, a homer and three RBIs against Cain.


                              Boston may be without another late-inning reliever, as Koji Uehara departed Tuesday's appearance after throwing just seven pitches in the ninth inning.


                              He was diagnosed with a pectoral strain.


                              The Red Sox are already without Junichi Tazawa (right shoulder impingement), but he threw all of his pitchers in Tuesday's simulated game and is likely to return Friday.

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