MLB Betting Info. 4/8

[TheGame]

Preview: Phillies (0-3) at Mets (1-1)


Game: 1
Venue: Citi Field
Date: April 08, 2016 1:10 PM EDT


NEW YORK (AP) - The last recollection the New York Mets have from Citi Field is losing the World Series after squandering a late lead in Game 5.


Time to make some new memories.


Eager to celebrate a scintillating 2015 season with their rejuvenated fans, Curtis Granderson, David Wright and the rest of the Mets face Philadelphia in their home opener Friday afternoon. Former pennant-winning stars Rusty Staub, John Franco and Edgardo Alfonzo will be on hand to hoist the National League championship banner during a pregame ceremony.


'I can't wait,' catcher Travis d'Arnaud said. 'To be in front of the best fans in the world and to be able to share a great year last year with all of them and to see that flag go up is going to be pretty magical.'


Once all the pomp and festivities are finished, the Mets finally get to play someone other than Kansas City. They're just not sure who's going to pitch.


Jacob deGrom was scheduled to start, a fitting choice after he won 17 games last season - including three in the playoffs. But his wife was due this week with their first child, and deGrom planned to head for home in Florida whenever she went into labor.


'I'm still getting ready to pitch the home opener, but I'm excited about both,' he said. 'I think it's going to be a lot of fun. I'm definitely looking forward to it. The energy was unbelievable in the playoffs. I didn't get to pitch any home games in the playoffs last year. I'm looking forward to getting back home and making that first start at home.'


If the All-Star right-hander is unavailable, New York will turn to 42-year-old Bartolo Colon. He pitched 1 1-3 innings of scoreless relief Sunday after being a regular part of the rotation last year, going 14-13 with a 4.16 ERA.


Noah Syndergaard and three relievers combined on a 2-0 shutout Tuesday, giving the Mets a split at Kauffman Stadium before they enjoyed consecutive days off - a rarity during the regular season.


'With the crazy days off and the intros, the ceremonies and this and that, as a player you want to get into a routine and with the ceremonies you can't do that,' Wright said. 'The wackiness of the first week. It'll be nice to get home, get settled into our places to live, go to work out on Thursday and get ready to take care of business at home.'


While the Mets were in Kansas City, they watched the Royals raise their World Series banner two days before receiving their glittering rings. New York was practically forced to relive some of the most painful moments from last fall as the reigning champs played highlights on the stadium video boards.


Now, the Mets get a chance to relish their own success in front of a packed house of cheering fans.


'I know they are excited,' manager Terry Collins said. 'We saw it in spring training - big crowds wherever we went. We're anxious to get home.'


Jerad Eickhoff is slated to pitch for the rival Phillies, who dropped their first three games in Cincinnati this week after finishing with the worst record in the majors last year at 63-99.


The right-hander was called up on Aug. 21 and went 3-3 with a 2.65 ERA in eight major league starts last season. Three came against the Mets and he pitched pretty well, going 1-2 with seven shutout innings and 10 strikeouts in a victory Oct. 1.


New York reliever Hansel Robles, who riled up the Phillies by quick-pitching last year, returns from a two-game suspension for throwing near the head of Philadelphia catcher Cameron Rupp in September.


---


AP freelancer Alan Eskew contributed to this report from Kansas City, Missouri.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 4/8

Preview: Yankees (1-1) at Tigers (2-0)


Game: 1
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: April 08, 2016 1:08 PM EDT


DETROIT (AP) - In Detroit, Kirk Gibson is remembered for much more than his famous home run off Dennis Eckersley.


Four years before that 1988 homer that propelled the Los Angeles Dodgers to a World Series title, Gibson homered three times in the postseason for the Tigers. The championship Detroit won in 1984 is still the team's most recent World Series title, and those memories linger in Motown as the Tigers prepare for this season's home opener Friday against the New York Yankees. Gibson will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.


Gibson, who announced last year that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, does some broadcasting now for Fox Sports Detroit. He was at spring training with the Tigers this year as a guest instructor.


'Gibby is one of the greatest Tigers of all-time,' Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said. 'He's got probably one of the top-10 best video highlights ever recorded in major league baseball history. He's a great guy and he's been a big help to me this spring.'


Detroit returns home after opening the season with two wins at Miami. The Tigers are eager to put their last-place finish of 2015 behind them and return to the form that won them the AL Central the previous four years, but they have plenty of questions this season. On the mound for Detroit on Friday will be Jordan Zimmermann, making his first start for the Tigers after signing a $110 million, five-year deal this past offseason.


Detroit's offense has been impressive so far, with Victor Martinez homering twice in two at-bats and the Tigers scoring 15 runs in two games. There were some anxious moments, however, such as when newly acquired closer Francisco Rodriguez blew a three-run lead in the ninth inning of the opener - a game Detroit eventually won 8-7 in 11.


The Yankees opened by taking two of three at home against Houston. Starlin Castro went 7 for 12 with two homers and eight RBIs, Didi Gregorius and Brian McCann each went 5 for 11 with a home run and Mark Teixeira hit two homers and drove in seven.


Castro is the first player in the majors with at least eight RBIs in his first three games for a new team since Calvin Pickering had 11 for Kansas City in 2004.


'This is the whole package. The Yankees are the whole package,' Teixeira said. 'I mean once you play for the Yankees, you've kind of reached the Pinnacle of Major League Baseball.'


Manager Joe Girardi said New York sent right-hander Luis Severino ahead early to Detroit. He'll make Friday's start.


Severino went 5-3 with a 2.89 ERA in 11 starts last season, when he made his big league debut. The 22-year-old struck out 25 in exhibition play, tops among Grapefruit League pitchers.


'I think for a lot of us, when you're the visiting team on opening day, all the pageantry can kind of throw off your routine,' Yankees reliever Andrew Miller said. 'But it's a nice accomplishment for guys who made the roster for the first time, those Tigers who will line up for the first time and be introduced.'


Perhaps the cold air in Michigan will help keep both offenses under control. Temperatures are expected to be in the high 30s around game time Friday, and the rest of the weekend might be even colder.


'It'll be cold. But whatever the weather, those fans show up,' said Miller, who pitched for the Tigers from 2006-07. 'It's a historical place for baseball, a good stadium.'


The Yankees won five of seven meetings last season, with Brett Gardner batting .400. J.D. Martinez hit .444 with three homers, four doubles and nine RBIs for Detroit.


Severino has never faced the Tigers, while Zimmermann is 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts against the Yankees. Gregorius is 3 for 8 with a homer when facing Zimmermann, while Castro is 5 for 25 and Teixeira 0 for 6 with three strikeouts.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 4/8

Preview: Padres (0-3) at Rockies (2-1)


Game: 1
Venue: Coors Field
Date: April 08, 2016 4:10 PM EDT


DENVER (AP) Trevor Story willingly donated his helmet and batting gloves to the Hall of Fame as mementos of his historic start.


His bat? Now that was completely off limits. Sorry, Hall of Fame, the Colorado Rockies' rookie shortstop is too superstitious to surrender that piece of lumber.


Story made major-league history in Arizona on Wednesday by becoming the first player to hit a homer in each of his first three games.


Now, he's taking his long ball show to an unfamiliar place - home. Coors Field figures to be a suitable fit for him, even if the team did raise the fences this spring to keep more baseballs from flying out of the yard.


These days, it seems like nothing can prevent Story from going deep. All four of hits this season are for homers.


'It's nice to get off to a hot start,' said Story, whose team is 2-1 heading into the home opener Friday against San Diego. 'I couldn't really have dreamt this any better.'


Maybe the most pertinent question is which happens first: Story being held without a homer for a game or San Diego scoring a run in one?


The Padres lost track of home plate in their season-opening series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, becoming the first major league team to be shut out in its first three games. The Padres set the MLB mark with 27 straight scoreless innings to open a season. The old mark was 26 by the 1943 St. Louis Browns, according to STATS.


Two remarkable streaks - for vastly different reasons.


Story's power surge may be somewhat of a surprise, given that he had 20 combined homers last season in stints with Double-A New Britain and Triple-A Albuquerque.


He leads the National League in home runs, RBIs (7) and total bases (16).


'It's just kind of surreal right now,' Story said. 'I can't really put words to it.'


Carlos Gonzalez sure can.


'Special,' the outfielder said. 'Never seen anything like this before. Every day, a new record. It's nice to see a teammate of yours play the way he played in Arizona. Hopefully, that's just the beginning.'


To think, Story could've been looking at a trip back to the minors this spring to gain more seasoning. He got the chance to earn the job in the absence of Jose Reyes, who remains under investigation in accordance with baseball's new domestic violence policy. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred expects to rule soon on a possible discipline for Reyes.


Story has certainly run with his opportunity. He's taking over a spot that this time last year belonged to fan favorite Troy Tulowitzki, who was traded to Toronto last July. The 23-year-old Story was a first-round pick of Colorado in 2011 and has steadily progressed through the system.


Now, after the team spent the last two months in Arizona, he's eager to arrive at 20th and Blake.


'I'm just excited to get there and get out on the field and get familiar with and play in front of the Rockies fans,' Story said.


The park underwent some alterations as the team installed higher outfield fences in two locations. In one area along right-center, it was raised 8 feet, 9 inches. In another spot near the left field foul pole by 5 feet.


Gold Glove third baseman Nolan Arenado isn't worried about the new configuration.


'It's pretty tall,' said Arenado, who hit 20 of his 42 homers at Coors Field last season. 'But I don't really hit balls that way anyway. It doesn't really mess me up. Denver's still a good place to hit.'


Perhaps not exactly the friendliest place to pitch, though. The Rockies are anxious to see how right-hander Jordan Lyles bounces back Friday after missing a chunk of last season with a left big toe injury that required surgery.


'Fastball command is critical for Jordan,' manager Walt Weiss said.


The Padres will counter with righty Colin Rea, who threw one inning Monday in the Padres' 15-0 loss to the Dodgers. More than anything, the Padres are trying to give their pitchers some offensive support.


So far, they're hitting a combined .120 with just one extra base hit.


'There is still perspective here, not to be lost,' rookie manager Andy Green said Wednesday after his team was outscored by the Dodgers 25-0 in the three-game series. 'We still do have 159 games left and we will score runs this year.'

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 4/8

Preview: Indians (1-1) at White Sox (2-1)


Game: 1
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: April 08, 2016 4:10 PM EDT


CHICAGO (AP) - The Chicago White Sox expected to give their fans plenty to cheer about last year, and they believe they are finally ready to do that.


Chicago faces the Cleveland Indians in its home opener Friday, hoping to deliver on the promise of last season when some big moves had the team eyeing even bigger things.


The season did not go the way the White Sox anticipated. The early returns this time are at least encouraging.


'There's a certain amount of confidence that's in there with all these guys coming together,' manager Robin Ventura said. 'They seemed to hit it off pretty early in spring training as far as getting work in, getting the right kind of work in, gaining confidence. Until you win games, it only goes so far. But so far, we like the way it feels.'


The White Sox (3-1) thought they had a playoff contender a year ago after a series of high-profile acquisitions, only to stumble to a 76-86 record.


Now, after finishing fourth in the AL Central and posting their third straight losing season, they hope to deliver on the promise of 2015.


They send John Danks to the mound Friday, with the promising Danny Salazar starting for Cleveland, after opening with a four-game series at Oakland. The White Sox won the first two before Carlos Rodon got outpitched by Sonny Gray in a 2-1 loss Wednesday, and they won 6-1 behind newcomer Mat Latos the following day - a solid start for a team that never could pick itself up after struggling early on a year ago.


The offseason additions of third baseman Todd Frazier, shortstop Jimmy Rollins, catchers Alex Avila and Dioner Navarro, and outfielder Austin Jackson seem to be helping. They have added to the batting order and defense while providing leadership qualities that were missing last season. The veterans have also taken some of the load off key returning players such as Adam Eaton and Jose Abreu.


'You've got veteran guys,' Ventura said. 'You're starting to learn how to stay with an at-bat, how to take an at-bat late in the game. They've been through a lot of those things. For young guys, you can learn from it. ... And they're willing to take the time and talk baseball. These guys get along fairly well. I think that's part of it - the trust factor.'


Eaton is off to a strong start, going 9 for 16 with an RBI. That's a big change from a year ago, when he struggled in a big way early on and took about five weeks before he drove in a run.


He has also been playing right field over the shaky Avisail Garcia with Jackson in center, tightening the outfield defense. Garcia, the designated hitter for the first three games, did start in right Thursday as Melky Cabrera rotated into the DH spot.


The White Sox figure to be tested by a Cleveland team that also has eyes on a playoff spot after struggling early and coming up short down the stretch a year ago. The Indians (1-1), rained out at home Thursday against Boston, boast one of the deepest rotations in baseball.


Can they close the gap in the AL Central on World Series champion Kansas City?


That hinges on whether they can score after ranking 11th in the AL in runs, 13th in homers and stranding more runners than any AL team but New York.


They had no trouble against Danks, who went 0-3 with a 6.43 ERA in four starts against Cleveland last year. The left-hander would finish with a career-high 15 losses and a fourth straight season with an ERA above 4.70.


Salazar had a much different 2015 season, his third in the majors. He went 14-10 with a 3.45 ERA in 30 starts and finished seventh in the AL with 195 strikeouts in 185 innings. The right-hander struck out 16 in 12 2-3 innings against the White Sox, yielding two runs.


Abreu, though, has two homers and two singles in 11 at-bats against Salazar. He's hit safely in all four games after homering and driving in three runs Thursday.


Carlos Santana is off to a hot start for the Indians, going 3 for 6 with a homer, a double and two walks. However, he's 6 for 35 (.171) against Danks.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 4/8

Preview: Rays (2-2) at Orioles (2-0)


Game: 1
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: April 08, 2016 7:05 PM EDT


Steven Souza Jr. demonstrated some power in the minors, but it was never quite clear if it would translate to the big leagues.


His bat is leading the way for Tampa Bay thus far in 2016.


Souza looks to continue his power surge Friday night as the Rays visit the Baltimore Orioles.


Tampa Bay salvaged a home split of a season-opening series with Toronto after dropping the first two games. Souza went 6 for 15 with three home runs, including two in Wednesday's 5-3 win.


A third-round pick by Washington in 2007, Souza is flashing the promise that helped persuade the Rays to relinquish the highly touted Wil Myers in a three-team, 11-player deal in December 2014.


Souza hit 16 homers in 110 games while still holding rookie status in 2015, but also struck out 144 times. He homered 56 times in the minors from 2012-14.


"I'm just staying within myself," Souza said. "Letting the ball take its course."


He batted .137 in 16 games against Baltimore last season, though three of his seven hits were home runs.


Tampa Bay tied for 18th over the last two seasons with 284 homers, but has scored nine of its 14 runs on six home runs. The Rays' 18 straight games with at least one home run are a club record.


Chris Archer gets the nod after striking out 12 in five innings in Sunday's opener, though he also walked three while throwing 107 pitches and allowing three runs in a 5-3 defeat.


"I always want to go more than five innings," said Archer, who is 2-4 with a 4.44 ERA in eight starts against the Orioles. "But I understand that you can't be perfect every inning, every game."


The Orioles completed a three-game sweep of Minnesota with Thursday's 4-2 comeback victory.


Jonathan Schoop singled in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh after a 21-minute rain delay. Manny Machado and rookie Joey Rickard, hitting atop the order for the first time after going 4 for 7 in his first two games, both homered.


Baltimore is chasing its second 4-0 start in 20 years and has won 13 of 17 at home dating back to a 7-6, 11-inning win against Tampa Bay on Sept. 2. Star outfielder Adam Jones sat out Thursday due to sore ribs, though manager Buck Showalter expects him to be back Friday.


"I just thought it would be smart to give him a day," Showalter said.


Jones could be in for a rough return, though, as he's 2 for 22 with seven strikeouts against Archer. Machado is 8 for 19 off the right-hander.


Chris Tillman retired all six batters he faced before a rain delay ended his opening day outing after only two innings. He'll look to win for the first time in six starts against Tampa Bay after three straight victories previously. He owns a 5.52 ERA in 11 career games against the Rays at Camden Yards.


Evan Longoria, 5 for 17 thus far, is a .327 hitter with six home runs in 49 at-bats against Tillman.


Baltimore won last season's series 10-9.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 4/8

Preview: Red Sox (1-1) at Blue Jays (2-2)


Game: 1
Venue: Rogers Centre
Date: April 08, 2016 7:07 PM EDT


Following a rough end to their opening series, the Toronto Blue Jays are ready to begin play at home.


Whether Josh Donaldson is healthy enough to be in their lineup remains to be seen.


The reigning AL MVP hopes to be available Friday night when the Blue Jays host the Boston Red Sox.


Donaldson went 4 for 16 with two homers and four RBIs as Toronto (2-2) split its series at Tampa Bay, but left Wednesday's 5-3 loss with a strained right calf muscle. Though Donaldson didn't work out Thursday, the Blue Jays are optimistic he'll be ready for the home opener.


"To be honest, I think he'll be out there (Friday) night," manager John Gibbons told MLB's official website. "If it's worth giving him a day or two, if he needs that, it would be smart to do that, but I don't think that's going to happen."


Donaldson, who hit .333 with four homers and 11 RBIs in 19 games against Boston (1-1) in 2015, dealt with the same injury last season and again during spring training.


"He played through it, that's part of it," Gibbons said.


Nine of Toronto's 15 runs at Tampa came off five homers, but its bullpen blew late leads while yielding five runs to lose the last two contests.


The Blue Jays hope their fortunes will be better at Rogers Centre, where they went 53-28 to tie for the AL's best home record but were 4-6 against Boston. Including three postseason starts in 2015, Marcus Stroman is 10-2 with a 2.20 ERA in 16 at home.


The right-hander pitched into the ninth and was charged with three runs in Sunday's 5-3 victory over the Rays.


'I want to finish games," said Stroman, who has one complete game in 28 starts. "That's the mentality. That's the motto. It didn't work out, but I look forward to getting out there the next time and going nine.'


He's lasted at least seven innings in each while posting a 1.26 ERA to win all four starts - three at home - against the Red Sox.


"When Stro takes the mound, it's different," said teammate Troy Tulowitzki, who is 2 for 13 with a homer and seven strikeouts. "He raises the bar that (he) wants you to match his energy and just the swag that he has."


Though last-place Boston finished 15 games behind the AL East champion Toronto in 2015, these two are the predicted frontrunners for this season's division title. The Blue Jays won't face former teammate and new Boston ace David Price, who went 9-1 with a 2.30 ERA in 11 regular-season starts for them after coming over from Detroit in July.


After splitting a weather-shortened two-game set at Cleveland, the Red Sox begin a stretch of 13 straight against division opponents - seven opposite Toronto.


"We're looking forward to this run," manager John Farrell said. "We're looking forward to the challenge."


David Ortiz hit two of Boston's five homers against the Indians, but only that many while batting .162 in nine games at Toronto last season. He's 2 for 11 without a home run when facing Stroman.


Teammate Dustin Pedroia is 4 for 7 against Stroman. He's hit safely in 14 straight games against the Blue Jays, and is batting .330 with 16 RBIs in his last 21 meetings.


Scheduled starter Joe Kelly went 2-6 with a 5.94 ERA in his first 16 starts for Boston last season but 8-0 with a 3.00 ERA in the last nine. The right-hander is 1-1 with a 5.52 ERA in five starts against Toronto.


Donaldson is 8 for 14 against Kelly.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 4/8

Preview: Pirates (3-0) at Reds (3-0)


Game: 1
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: April 08, 2016 7:10 PM EDT


Three consecutive postseason appearances take the luster out of a 3-0 start that ultimately won't mean much come October, when the Pittsburgh Pirates truly hope to shine.


They didn't put too much emphasis on last year's opening series either after being swept in Cincinnati. They went on to finish with the second-best record in the majors while watching the Reds lose 98 games despite winning their first four.


Pittsburgh has a long way to go before it starts celebrating, but it surely wouldn't mind beginning 4-0 for the first time in 13 years in Friday night's series opener at Cincinnati.


The Pirates finished 98-64 in 2015 before losing the NL wild-card game to Chicago, which marked a disappointing end to an otherwise successful season that began with them scoring eight runs in three losses to the Reds.


They're hoping a different start to 2016 leads to an even better year and perhaps some postseason success. Andrew McCutchen (5 for 11), Gregory Polanco (3 for 7, five walks) and Francisco Cervelli (4 for 11, three RBIs) led the way in a three-game sweep of St. Louis as the Pirates scored 15 runs without a homer.


'We've reached a point now where we're no longer surprised when we play well,' manager Clint Hurdle said.


The Pirates held the Cardinals to four hits in Wednesday's 5-1 win that brought Pittsburgh to the brink of winning its first four for the first time since 2003. John Jaso tripled to give the Pirates a three-bagger in their first three games for the first time since 1910.


'It was a good first series, a good example of teamwork,' Jaso said. 'The pitching was great and everyone in the lineup, one through eight, contributed.'


Francisco Liriano opened the season by striking out 10 over six scoreless innings of Sunday's 4-1 victory, and he'll get the ball in this one. Liriano went 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in three starts against the Reds last season and has a 4.12 ERA in seven starts in Cincinnati.


Jay Bruce is 4 for 24 with seven strikeouts against the left-hander, but he's gotten off to a hot start. Bruce went 6 for 12 in a three-game sweep of Philadelphia, hitting a three-run homer in the fourth, an RBI single later that inning and a solo shot in the seventh of Thursday's 10-6 win.


His five RBIs tied a career high, and his start is especially encouraging after he hit .217 in 2014 and .226 last year.


'He put a lot of work in to close some holes in his swing,' manager Bryan Price said. 'I know he was disappointed in his last two seasons.'


Eugenio Suarez hit his first career grand slam in the eight-run fourth Thursday. The Reds acquired Suarez from Detroit in December 2014 in exchange for Alfredo Simon, who went 13-12 with a 5.05 ERA with the Tigers.


Simon is back, though, after signing a one-year deal last month and will get the call against the Pirates. The right-hander faced Pittsburgh twice last season, going eight innings of a 1-0 win April 15 before allowing six runs and a career-high 15 hits in a 9-3 loss July 1.


Cincinnati went 11-8 against the Pirates in 2015 despite finishing last in the Central Division. It's unclear if it will have Brandon Phillips in this matchup after he sat out Thursday with a stomach virus.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 4/8

Preview: Cardinals (0-3) at Braves (0-2)


Game: 1
Venue: Turner Field
Date: April 08, 2016 7:35 PM EDT


Though they're in the midst of their worst start in nine years, the defending NL Central champions insist there's no reason to panic three games into the season.


A lack of scoring has been partly to blame for the St. Louis Cardinals, who must now return to a venue where they've struggled offensively in recent seasons.


Matt Wisler will try to extend his early career mastery of St. Louis and lead the Atlanta Braves to their first win Friday night in the series opener at Turner Field.


The Cardinals certainly didn't have many offensive highlights in Pittsburgh, batting .168 while also going 3 for 22 with runners in scoring position en route to the club's worst start since it last finished below .500 in 2007.


Matt Carpenter (1 for 11), Matt Holliday (1 for 10) and Randal Grichuk (1 for 10) are among those off to slow starts. Grichuk is expected to return to the lineup after sitting out Wednesday's 5-1 loss so he could work through some timing issues.


"It's too early to be concerned with anything," Carpenter told the team's official website. "We just didn't hit... But we will, and once we hit, we'll be fine."


The Cardinals will try to avoid getting blanked in four straight by the same opponent for the first time after they managed 12 hits over the final three games in Atlanta last season. They're also looking to stave off their first 0-4 start since dropping the first six in 1997.


"It's early," Wednesday's losing pitcher Mike Leake said. "We're all right. We're three games into it. I think we just need to slow down and play competitive baseball."


Wisler was dominant in the 2015 finale, allowing four hits and walking one while coming within one out of his first complete game in a 2-0 win. The right-hander had a 1.19 ERA in winning his last three starts after going 0-7 with a 8.08 mark over his prior nine.


Wisler, who worked on his changeup with former star Tom Glavine in the offseason, has given up two runs over 15 2/3 innings in winning two career starts versus St. Louis.


"When I came up I felt good and was going after guys, then August hit and I was terrible," Wisler said. "I lost some confidence in myself and got it back in September."


Jaime Garcia will try to pick up a St. Louis rotation that has allowed 23 hits, seven walks and 11 earned runs over the first 14 2/3 innings. The left-hander finished an injury-plagued 2015 strong by going 7-2 with a 2.74 ERA over his last 12 starts.


One of those losses came at Turner Field on Oct. 2 when he surrendered two runs and six hits over four innings of a 4-0 defeat. Drew Stubbs, who has hit .310 over 29 at-bats versus Garcia, is expected to join Tyler Flowers and Gordon Beckham in the Braves' lineup.


Freddie Freeman is 4 for 7 with two homers off Garcia. Freeman, Adonis Garcia (two RBIs) and A.J. Pierzynski drove in Atlanta's four runs in two home losses to Washington.


The Braves haven't dropped their first three since an 0-4 start in 2012, but they've won four in a row overall and nine of the past 11 home meetings with the Cardinals.


Yadier Molina can become St. Louis' all-time leader for games caught with 1,440.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 4/8

Preview: Astros (1-1) at Brewers (1-2)


Game: 1
Venue: Miller Park
Date: April 08, 2016 8:10 PM EDT


After watching the Houston Astros give up 27 runs in the first three games of the season, manager A.J. Hinch is rightfully concerned about how many batters are reaching base against his pitchers.


On the other hand, Hinch is encouraged by the early season performance of rookie Tyler White.


The Astros will continue their season-opening road trip when they begin a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night.


The Astros started the season by dropping two of three to the New York Yankees. Starter Mike Fiers gave up five runs and nine hits in five innings in Thursday's 8-5 loss, but the Astros lost the game after he came out.


Hard-throwing right-hander Ken Giles relieved loser Will Harris in the seventh inning and gave up a go-ahead three-run homer. Giles has allowed a home run in each of his two appearances after surrendering three over the previous two seasons with Philadelphia.


"I think the worrisome trend is more how much traffic we're allowing as a team on the bases," Hinch told MLB's official website. "Obviously, you look at that inning and it's the middle part of their order and they did a lot of damage, and we had held their middle of the order in check pretty well most of the series."


Astros starters gave up 10 earned runs over the last two games of the series after ace Dallas Keuchel mostly held the Yankees at bay in a 5-3 win on opening day. Collin McHugh was rocked for six runs in one-third of an inning in the second game, a 16-6 Astros loss.


Right-hander Scott Feldman will get the ball for the Astros on Friday. Feldman, entering the final year of a three-year contract, is 2-1 with a 2.12 ERA in three starts against Milwaukee - none with Houston - while striking out 15 in 17 innings.


White had three hits and four RBIs on Thursday, including his first career home run. He is 6 for 9 in his first three major league games.


"I think that's the key for him is he looks like he's a guy that's in every at-bat, certainly so far in his young career," Hinch said. "That's encouraging to watch him keep his heart rate down, keep the at-bats going, have really good at-bats, doesn't try to do too much, but yet does do damage and has contributed quite well."


Astros shortstop Carlos Correa was hitless in the finale but had three homers in the series.


Right-hander Chase Anderson will make his Milwaukee debut after being acquired from Arizona in January. Anderson, who will face the Astros for the first time, went 6-6 with a 4.30 ERA in 27 starts last season.


The Brewers (1-2) had a day off after beating San Francisco 4-3 on Wednesday as former Astro Chris Carter hit his first homer and added a go-ahead sacrifice fly. Carter, signed to a one-year deal in the offseason, slugged 90 homers over the past three seasons for Houston.


"It's not too often a big guy like him has such a short, compact swing," Milwaukee third baseman Aaron Hill said. "I don't want to say he's perfected it, but he's done a great job of knowing his strength. He continues to get better and wants to get better. It will be fun to see what he's able to do this year with a new team."

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 4/8

Preview: Twins (0-2) at Royals (1-1)


Game: 1
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: April 08, 2016 8:15 PM EDT


The last time the Kansas City Royals faced the Minnesota Twins, they locked up home-field advantage throughout the 2015 postseason.


This week they collected their rings as World Series champions.


The Royals meet the Twins for the first time as reigning champions when the AL Central rivals start a three-game series on Friday night in Kansas City.


The Royals had two days off after splitting two games in three days against the New York Mets in a rematch of the Fall Classic they won in five games.


They got their jewel-encrusted championship rings prior to Tuesday's game, then were shut down by World Series villain Noah Syndergaard, the towering right-hander who beat them in Game 3 last October after throwing at leadoff man Alcides Escobar.


Escobar tripled to lead off the bottom of the first inning Tuesday but the Royals managed only two more hits as they struck out nine times against Syndergaard in six innings.


"We've got our rings now, so the whole process is over now," Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain said. "So it's time to turn the page, move on and get better playing baseball and winning baseball.'


The Royals were 12-7 against the Twins last year, including a three-game sweep to end the season. They secured home-field advantage with a 6-1 win at Minnesota in the Oct. 4 season finale.


Right-hander Yordano Ventura was Kansas City's opening day starter last year and will make his first start of 2016 on Friday. Ventura pitched much better over the second half of 2015, going 9-2 with a 3.56 ERA in 15 starts after the All-Star break. He was 13-8 with a 4.08 ERA overall and is 2-3 with a 3.90 ERA in five career starts versus the Twins.


Minnesota was swept in Baltimore to start the season, scoring six total runs in a tight three-game series marred by its lack of hitting in key spots.


Joe Mauer hit his first home run Thursday but the Twins couldn't hold onto a two-run lead in a 4-2 loss. Minnesota hit .216 in the series, went 2 for 21 with runners in scoring position, left 20 men on base and struck out 35 times.


Leadoff hitter Brian Dozier is in the middle of Minnesota's woes, opening the season 0 for 11.


"The one thing we were able to do last year was capitalize on opportunities, comparably when we didn't have as many as some other teams," Minnesota manager Paul Molitor said. "I think it's one of those things that builds early. Guys get up there and they are grinding, almost too hard even though we are only three games in."


Ervin Santana will make his second start after the right-hander's first career opening day start was cut short by a 70-minute rain delay. He threw two scoreless innings in Monday's 3-2 loss, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out three.


Santana, who spent 2013 with Kansas City, is 5-7 with a 4.63 ERA in 16 career starts against his former team, including an 0-1 mark with a 2.40 ERA in two starts last season.


Escobar is 7 for 21 lifetime against Santana and cleanup hitter Eric Hosmer is 4 for 12 with two homers and four walks.


Twins shortstop Eduardo Escobar is 5 for 10 against Ventura but Mauer has one hit in 10 career at-bats against him with five strikeouts.


Dozier, who led the Twins with 28 homers and 39 doubles last season, hit .179 with no home runs and four doubles in 18 games against Kansas City in 2015. He went 1 for 6 against Ventura.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 4/8

Preview: Athletics (1-2) at Mariners (2-1)


Game: 1
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: April 08, 2016 10:10 PM EDT


SEATTLE (AP) - For the second straight season, young Seattle Mariners right-hander Taijuan Walker will make his season debut against the Oakland Athletics.


Almost any result will be better than Walker's first start against the A's to begin last year. He gave up nine earned runs, nine hits and didn't make it through the fourth inning.


'I definitely want to go out there and have a good outing against them, because last year they got me pretty well. I guess a little payback this time,' Walker said.


The Mariners return to the Pacific Northwest on Friday night to kick off their home slate with a three-game series against the A's. Friday will include all pomp and circumstance of a traditional opening day - including new Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. throwing out the first pitch - plus some curiosity about this year's Mariners.


Can the power surge Seattle displayed in Texas, led by four home runs by Robinson Cano, continue at home?


The Mariners hit nine home runs in the three-game series in Texas, where Seattle won two of three and likely should have swept. Cano was the instigator of the power surge, becoming the 29th player in major league history to homer in each of the first three games of the season.


It'll be the task of Oakland lefty Eric Surkamp to try to slow the Mariners. Surkamp is replacing Felix Doubront, who suffered an elbow sprain in his final spring training start last week.


Surkamp appeared in one game last season for the Los Angeles Dodgers, allowing four runs in 3 1-3 innings, and his last start came in 2013 for San Francisco.


"At the beginning of the spring, we didn't see him in the rotation, but he earned it," manager Bob Melvin told MLB's official website.


He'll be opposed by Walker, who finished last season with an 11-8 mark and a 4.56 ERA. The Mariners didn't want to overwork his arm so he didn't pitch in late September after reaching 169 innings.


Walker admitted at times last season to pitching with the worry of being sent to the minors if he struggled, but said he's more comfortable with his position this year.


'I feel pretty good where I'm at right now,' Walker said. 'I know (James) Paxton's down there waiting, and he's really good and any time he can come up here. I know I have to go out there and get my work in, and pretty much do my job and do what I can to help my teammates.'


New Seattle manager Scott Servais said the key for Walker on Friday and throughout the season is going to be his secondary pitches and not always relying on his fastball.


'I think he will be juiced up, but I think you'll see a really good fastball,' Servais said. 'The thing with Taijuan is the secondary stuff, can he harness it, can he get it in the strike zone and be the complete pitcher, and doesn't get locked into one pitch. I'm excited for him to get that opportunity and I think he's ready for it.'


Friday will also be the home debut for Servais as manager. He won over many of his players and fans with a fiery display in Tuesday's 10-2 win when he yelled and pointed at the Texas bench after Chris Iannetta was hit by a pitch.


'I know the city is excited, a lot of change, a lot of good vibe around our organization,' Servais said. 'Rightly so, and I think they're going to like watching us play.'


The fans enjoyed watching them play the A's in 2015, as the Mariners went 13-6 in the series.


Nelson Cruz spurred that success, hitting .333 with five homers and 12 RBIs. A matchup against Surkamp will be favorable to the slugger, whose 14 homers against lefties last season were tied for the most in the majors and .357 average versus southpaws was fourth-best.


The A's opened 2016 by dropping three of four at home to the Chicago White Sox. Offense was their biggest problem as they scored 10 runs while batting .212 with six extra-base hits.


Mark Canha has hit Oakland's lone home run and went 3 for 3 with a homer against Walker last season.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 4/8

Preview: Dodgers (3-0) at Giants (2-1)


Game: 2
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: April 08, 2016 10:15 PM EDT


If this year's first meeting between the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers is any indication, the rivals could be in for a wild and entertaining season series.


After the Giants handed the visiting Dodgers their first defeat, the teams continue their four-game set Friday night.


'It's special,' said first-year Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts, who played for both teams, of the rivalry. 'It's real. These are two amazing franchises. Both teams need one another. They came over to the West Coast together. It's great for baseball.'


While the Dodgers (3-1) have claimed three straight NL West titles, San Francisco won three of the last six World Series - all in even years - and expects to be a contender again this season. After Los Angeles outscored San Diego 25-0 to sweep its opening three-game set, its 31-inning streak without yielding a run - one shy of the major league record to start a season - ended when the Giants (3-1) scored three times in the fifth Thursday and overcame a 4-0 deficit to win 12-6.


'You play all nine innings and you keep going no matter what,' said Hunter Pence, whose grand slam highlighted San Francisco's five-run eighth.


'Things turn around.'


Joe Panik had three hits and three RBIs for the Giants, who recorded 17 hits while scoring 12 runs for the second time this week.


'We can beat you in many different ways,' said Panik, who is 8 for 16 in his last four home games against the Dodgers. 'We never think that we're done.'


San Francisco likely needs to remain productive at the plate with Matt Cain on the mound. Various injuries have limited the veteran right-hander to 26 starts while going 4-11 with a 4.74 ERA the past two seasons.


Cain, who went 1-2 with a 7.71 ERA in three spring training starts, is 0-3 with a 5.27 ERA in his last five against the Dodgers but has not faced them since May 2014.


Yasiel Puig, 4 for 11 with two doubles and a home run against Cain, is 8 for 15 with two triples, a homer, six runs scored and four RBIs through four games.


Though Los Angeles pitchers were battered Thursday, it's hitters are batting .313 with 13 doubles thus far.


Adrian Gonzalez is 7 for 14 with three doubles and four RBIs, and hitting .400 with seven RBIs in his last nine against the Giants.


The Dodgers look to regroup on the mound while handing the ball to 26-year-old Ross Stripling, who makes his major league debut two years after undergoing Tommy John surgery. The right-hander, who never pitched in Triple-A, went 3-6 with a 3.66 ERA pitching for Double-A Tulsa and Class-A Great Lakes last year.


He beat out established major league pitchers Carlos Frias and Zach Lee for the fifth spot in the rotation.


'For me it's just kind of telling him to enjoy the moment, go out there and be himself and compete," Roberts said. "You're here because you belong here."


It appears Stripling won't have to face Buster Posey, who had three hits with two RBIs on Thursday, to start this contest as the veteran catcher is expected to be rested.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 4/8

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Friday, April 8, 2016, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews


The most interesting game on Friday's schedule? Believe it or not, It's probably Colorado's home opener against San Diego. Yes, those two teams are likely to finish in the bottom two spots of the NL West, but they have been big stories early this season. That's because the Padres were just shut out three straight games by the Dodgers. No team had ever gone scoreless over the first 27 innings of a season. The Padres had all of 11 hits with 28 strikeouts. Just an awful lineup. Meanwhile, Rockies rookie shortstop Trevor Story is the first player since 1900 to homer in each of his first three big-league games. He has four of them total, hitting two off Diamondbacks ace Zack Greinke on Monday. Tuesday it was off Shelby Miller and Wednesday off Patrick Corbin -- so three pretty darn good pitchers.




Yankees at Tigers (-115, 8)


It's Detroit's home opener with a 1:10 p.m. ET start and the Tigers unveil their big offseason pitching acquisition in former Washington Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmermann. He was one of the most consistent pitchers in the National League the past four seasons, making at least 32 starts in each and with an ERA no worse than 3.66. Really the only worry about the guy was he already had Tommy John surgery, but it was back in 2009 and it certainly hasn't seemed to affect him since. Zimmermann did beat the Yankees last season while with Washington, allowing two runs in seven innings. Didi Gregorius is 3-for-8 with a homer off him. It's Luis Severino for New York. He's the team's top pitching prospect and was 5-3 with a 2.89 ERA in 11 late-season starts in 2015. He didn't face the Tigers. They will get DH Victor Martinez back in the lineup here as he came off the bench in the two interleague games in Miami to start the week. And Martinez hit a pinch-hit homer in both games. Martinez is the first player since 1914 with a pinch-hit dinger in each of his team's first two games of a season.


Key trends: The Yankees are 0-4 in their past four road games. They are 1-5 in their past six series openers. The Tigers are 5-2 in their past seven after an off day. New York is 5-1 in the past six meetings. The "over/under" has gone under in four of the past five in Motown.


Early lean: Tigers and under.


Phillies at Mets (-215, 7.5)


Shown on the MLB Network. It's New York's home opener with another 1:10 p.m. ET first pitch. The Mets will raise/post/whatever their National League pennant banner before the game. I was reading somewhere this is the second-most expensive Opening Day ticket in the majors. New York's starter is expected to be Jacob deGrom, but his wife is expecting any day now and he will leave for Florida if it happens. DeGrom was 14-8 with a 2.54 ERA last year and great in three starts in the NL playoffs (not so good in his one World Series start). DeGrom was 1-0 with a 4.41 ERA in three starts vs. the Phillies last year. It's not clear who would start if deGrom is called away. It's likely to be either lefty Steven Matz or 90-year-old Bartolo Colon. The Phillies counter with Jerad Eickhoff. He was part of the haul acquired in the Cole Hamels trade from Texas last July and was 3-3 with a 2.65 ERA in eight starts with the Phillies as a rookie. He faced the Mets three times and was 1-2 with a 2.70 ERA. Michael Conforto was 4-for-8 with a homer off him.


Key trends: The Phillies are 4-13 in their past 17 series openers. The Mets are 5-0 in their past five on Friday. New York is 1-7 in its past eight vs. the NL East. The under is 5-1 in deGrom's past six at home. The Phillies are 3-13 in their past 16 at the Mets.


Early lean: Mets on runline if deGrom starts and under regardless.


Padres at Rockies (-145, 11)


Another matinee at 4:10 p.m. ET. By the way, the three Dodgers starting pitchers in that Padres series combined to go 2-for-9 (.222) with a homer at the plate. San Diego's lineup hit a combined .120 and obviously without an RBI. The Padres were outscored a combined 25-0. They face Rockies right-hander Jordan Lyles here. He was limited to only 10 starts last season due to injury and was 2-5 with a 5.14 ERA. One of his best starts of the year was against San Diego, allowing one run in 6.2 innings. Matt Kemp is 3-for-8 with a homer off him. San Diego goes with Colin Rea. Last year as a rookie, he was 2-2 with a 4.26 ERA in 31.2 innings. His best start was his last, Sept. 8 vs. Colorado when he shut the Rockies out on two hits over seven innings. Rea did pitch one inning of relief against the Dodgers on Monday and allowed a run.


Key trends: The Padres are 1-5 in their past six road games. The Rockies are 8-3 in their past 11 series openers. But Colorado has dropped five straight Lyles series openers. The over is 5-1 in the past six meetings in Colorado.


Early lean: Rockies and under -- highest total of early season and I'm not sure Padres can still score much.


Rays at Orioles (+110, 8)


Tampa goes with ace Chris Archer in this series opener. He was pretty strong in Sunday's season opener against the Blue Jays, allowing two earned runs and five hits in five innings and striking out a whopping 12 in a loss. Archer was already at 107 pitches through five and thus pulled. He became the first pitcher to whiff 12 batters on Opening Day since Felix Hernandez accomplished the feat in 2007. Chris Davis is 4-for-13 off Archer with a homer and five RBIs. Baltimore originally had scheduled Mike Wright here but has shuffled things up and will go with ace Chris Tillman. He pitched Opening Day against Minnesota and looked great early, shutting out the Twins over two innings and striking out five. However, a long rain delay then ended his night. The Orioles wanted to have their best guy against Archer instead of the fairly inexperienced Wright. Tillman wasn't great vs. Tampa last year, though, going 1-3 with a 4.79 ERA in six starts. Evan Longoria is a .327 hitter off him with six homers in 49 at-bats.


Key trends: The Rays are 3-7 in Archer's past 10 on the road. The Orioles are 4-1 in Tillman's past five starts. The O's are 1-4 in Tillman's past five vs. Tampa. The under is 8-0 in his past eight series openers.


Early lean: Rays and under.


Rangers at Angels (-125, 8.5)


I'm not a fan of either Texas or the LA Angels, but I'll be rooting personally for Rangers starter A.J. Griffin here. He was very good as a rookie in 2012 with Oakland and then went 14-10 with a 3.83 ERA in 2013 in 32 starts with the A's. He looked like a future star. But Griffin hasn't pitched in the majors since then due to Tommy John surgery in 2014 and a major shoulder injury last year. He was signed to a minor-league deal by Texas in December and has won the No. 5 spot in the rotation for now. Good for him. The Halos go with Matt Shoemaker. He was great in 2014, going 16-4 with a 3.04 ERA and finishing second in the AL Rookie of the Year voting. Last year, he was just 7-10 with a 4.46 ERA. He allowed three runs in 6.1 innings in his lone start vs. Texas. Shin-Soo Choo is 1-for-9 with five strikeouts off him but that hit was a homer. Shoemaker was rocked this spring so he might not be long for the rotation.


Key trends: The Angels are 7-1 in their past eight in Game 2 of a series. They are 2-9 in Shoemaker's past 11 at home. L.A. is 4-0 in his past four at home vs. Texas. The over is 7-3-2 in Shoemaker's past 12 vs. the AL West.


Early lean: Rangers and over.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 4/8

StatFox Super Situations


MLB | ST LOUIS at ATLANTA
Play Against - Any team (ATLANTA) after 2 straight losses by 2 runs or less against opponent after a loss by 4 runs or more
189-129 since 1997. ( 59.4% | 65.6 units )




StatFox Situational Power Trends


MLB | TEXAS at LA ANGELS
TEXAS is 47-37 (+27.0 Units) against the money line in Road games in road games over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was: TEXAS (4.3) , OPPONENT (4.3)

[Satch]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 4/8

Preview: Yankees at Tigers
GAME: New York Yankees (2-1) at Detroit Tigers (2-0)
DATE/TIME: Friday, April 08 – 1:10 PM EST
WHERE: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
The return of a familiar face and a new addition have provided plenty of thump to the lineup for the New York Yankees, who venture onto the road for a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers starting Friday afternoon. Mark Teixeira and Starlin Castro are off to torrid starts for New York, which scored 27 runs in taking two of three from the Houston Astros.
Teixeira belted 31 homers in 111 games in 2015 before a broken bone in his leg ended his season, but he is showing no rust with a pair of three-run blasts in back-to-back games, including a tiebreaking shot in Thursday’s 8-5 win. “When we don’t have him, we miss him,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi told reporters of Teixeira. “We’re glad to have him back.” New York is also thrilled with the acquisition of Castro, who went 7-for-12 with two homers, two doubles and eight RBIs against Houston. The Tigers swept a two-game set at the Miami Marlins and will send Jordan Zimmermann, a pricey free-agent signing, to the mound in the home opener.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, YES (New York), FSN Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Luis Severino (2015: 5-3, 2.89 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Jordan Zimmermann (2015: 13-10, 3.66)
Severino did not receive a promotion to the majors until early August in 2015 but quickly showed he was not overmatched at the major-league level, permitting three earned runs or fewer in 10 of his 11 starts. The 22-year-old Dominican did have some control issues at times, walking at least three batters in five straight turns, but he only allowed more than six hits in two outings. He was 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA in six road starts.
The Tigers signed Zimmermann to a five-year deal worth a reported $110 million after he won 58 games over the previous for years with the Washington Nationals, including a 19-9 campaign in 2013. Zimmermann struggled with the long ball last season, allowing a career-high 24 homers, but he walked only 39 batters in 201 2/3 innings. Zimmermann has limited Castro to five hits and zero homers in 25 at-bats.
WALK-OFFS
1. Yankees CF Jacoby Ellsbury is a career .314 hitter versus Detroit.
2. Tigers 2B Ian Kinsler went 5-for-11 with three runs scored, a homer and four RBIs in Miami.
3. New York won the season series 5-2 in 2015 while outscoring Detroit 46-26.
PREDICTION: Yankees 4, Tigers 3