MLB Betting Info. 4/9

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Re: MLB Betting Info. 4/9

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MLB | MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY
KANSAS CITY is 74-42 (+33.6 Units) against the money line vs. AL teams allowing 4.2 or less runs/game on the season over the last 3 seasons.
The average score was: KANSAS CITY (4.5) , OPPONENT (3.6)

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Preview: Red Sox at Blue Jays
GAME: Boston Red Sox (2-1) at Toronto Blue Jays (2-3)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 09 – 1:07 PM EST
WHERE: Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
The Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox figure to have two of the best offenses in the American League this season, and it certainly looked like they were rounding into form in Friday’s series opener. Both clubs will try to get a little more from their starting pitchers when the Blue Jays host the Red Sox in the middle contest of their three-game series on Saturday.
Reigning AL MVP Josh Donaldson shook off a calf injury and gave Toronto what appeared to be a solid lead when his fourth-inning grand slam put the team up 7-2. But not even Blue Jays ace Marcus Stroman could keep Boston at bay and Brock Holt belted a grand slam of his own before RBI singles by David Ortiz and Hanley Ramirez put the Red Sox back in front. Ortiz and Ramirez each are off to strong starts for Boston while Holt already has matched his last season’s total with two home runs. The Blue Jays managed a total of five runs in dropping the final two of their four-game set in Tampa Bay to open the season but exceeded that number in the fourth inning alone on Friday against Boston’s suspect pitching staff.
TV: 1:07 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), Sportsnet (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Rick Porcello (2015: 9-15, 4.92 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH R.A. Dickey (1-0, 5.40)
Porcello was one of several disappointments on Boston’s staff last year after signing an $82.5 million extension before throwing a regular-season pitch. The 27-year-old struggled under the weight of those expectations and carried a 5.81 ERA into late July before missing nearly a month and performing better upon his return in late August. Porcello was rocked for seven runs on as many hits – three home runs – in two innings at Toronto on July 1 and is 4-7 with a 5.29 ERA against the Blue Jays in his career.
Dickey took the ball in the second game of the regular season at Tampa Bay and scattered three runs and six hits over five innings while picking up a win. The 41-year-old knuckleballer shows no sign of slowing down with at least 208 2/3 innings pitched in each of the last five seasons and managed a 3.91 ERA in 2015. Dickey went 0-3 with a 4.62 ERA in six starts against Boston last season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Donaldson (calf) made the start at DH on Friday but is expected to return to 3B this weekend.
2. Toronto RHP Drew Storen has allowed a total of two runs and three hits in 1 1/3 innings during his first two outings with the team after coming over from Washington.
3. Boston 3B Travis Shaw, who won the job over Pablo Sandoval in spring training, is 4-for-9 with three runs scored.
PREDICTION: Red Sox 6, Blue Jays 5

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Preview: Yankees at Tigers
GAME: New York Yankees (2-2) at Detroit Tigers (3-0)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 09 – 1:10 PM EST
WHERE: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
CC Sabathia makes his return to the mound when he leads the New York Yankees into the second of three straight at the Detroit Tigers on Saturday. Sabathia left the Yankees late last season to enter alcohol rehab, putting a stamp on another tough year for the veteran left-hander, who was given the last spot in the 2016 rotation despite posting a 5.51 ERA during spring training.
“There was a lot of discussion,” New York manager Joe Girardi told reporters after choosing Sabathia over Ivan Nova. “A lot of it came down to CC’s September last year. He’s been there so many times.” Each of the first four Yankees starters have failed to last six innings and their bats have been incredibly inconsistent so far, recording a total of three runs in two losses and 24 runs in two wins. They managed three hits – all singles – in Friday’s 4-0 loss in the series opener. Miguel Cabrera slugged his first home run of the season for Detroit, which improved to 3-0 for the third straight year.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, YES (New York), FSN Detroit Plus
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH CC Sabathia (2015: 6-10, 4.73 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Mike Pelfrey (2015: 6-11, 4.26)
Sabathia was 2-1 with a 2.17 ERA in five September starts before electing to enter rehab, allowing one earned run or fewer in four of those outings. His longest start of the year was an eight-inning effort at Detroit on April 20, when he let up two runs in a hard-luck loss. The 35-year-old is 10-6 with a 3.88 ERA all-time at Comerica Park, but has been roughed up by Cabrera (10-for-32 with two homers and 12 RBIs) and shortstop Jose Iglesias (6-for-13).
Pelfrey, who signed a two-year deal in December, made 30 starts with Minnesota last year, the first time he reached that mark since 2011. He was 2-7 with a 5.93 ERA after the All-Star break while giving up 123 hits in just 82 innings. The Wichita State product, who had a 2.66 ERA in five Grapefruit League outings, is 1-4 with a 5.91 ERA in six career starts in Detroit.
WALK-OFFS
1. Tigers 2B Ian Kinsler is 7-for-15 with four runs scored and four RBIs on the season.
2. New York DH Alex Rodriguez was given the day off in the series opener.
3. The Yankees are 62-38 in the last 100 meetings and 16-4-4 in the previous 24 seasons series.
PREDICTION: Yankees 7, Tigers 6

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Preview: Pirates at Reds
GAME: Pittsburgh Pirates (4-0) at Cincinnati Reds (3-1)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 09 – 1:10 PM EST
WHERE: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
Pittsburgh Pirates ace Gerrit Cole is eager for his season debut, but the opponent is one he hasn’t enjoyed facing in his young career. Cole searches for his first career win against the Cincinnati Reds when the Pirates continue a three-game series against their National League Central rivals Saturday.
Cincinnati has roughed up Cole, who is 0-4 with a 5.23 ERA in six career meetings, accounting for one-fifth of his career losses. The Reds swept a three-game series from Philadelphia to open the season, but the bullpen melted down in a 6-5 loss in the series opener against Pittsburgh. The Pirates rallied for four runs in the eighth to remain undefeated after sweeping St. Louis earlier in the week. Pittsburgh is 4-0 for the first time since 2003 and hasn’t won five straight to start a season since 1983.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Pittsburgh), FSN Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Gerrit Cole (2015: 19-8, 2.60 ERA) vs. Reds RH Raisel Iglesias (0-0, 3.00)
Cole was slowed by a rib injury in the spring, taking him out of the running for the Opening Day nod, but the Pirates say he is at full health heading into his 2016 debut. The 25-year-old was a legitimate Cy Young Award contender last season, but he had more than his share of trouble against Cincinnati, going 0-3 with a 5.95 ERA in four meetings. Cole is prone to starting the season strong, as he is 6-2 with a 2.51 ERA in 10 career starts in March and April.
Iglesias put together a solid outing on Opening Day against Philadelphia, allowing two runs on six hits over six innings with seven strikeouts in a no-decision. The 26-year-old Cuban did not allow a walk and repeatedly worked out of trouble. Iglesias went 1-1 with a 6.52 ERA in two starts against the Pirates last season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Reds 2B Brandon Phillips, who returned to the lineup Friday after missing two games with a stomach virus and went 2-for-2 with a homer and two RBIs, is 6-for-14 against Cole.
2. Pirates RHP Mark Melancon has appeared in all four of the team’s games and earned saves in each of the past two.
3. Four batters were hit by pitches Friday, following a trend over the past three seasons – Pirates pitchers hit 36 Reds batters and Cincinnati pitchers hit 33 Pittsburgh batters over that span.
PREDICTION: Pirates 4, Reds 2

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Preview: Indians at White Sox
GAME: Cleveland Indians (2-1) at Chicago White Sox (3-2)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 09 – 2:10 PM EST
WHERE: U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago, Illinois
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
Chicago ace Chris Sale won his first start of the season and the left-hander looks to make it two straight victories when the White Sox host the Cleveland Indians on Saturday. Sale gave up three runs in seven innings while defeating the Oakland Athletics on Monday as he begins a run at his fifth straight season of double-digit victories.
Sale will look to get his team back in the win column after Chicago lost 7-1 to the Indians in a rough showing in Friday’s home opener. Third baseman Todd Frazier homered and had two of the White Sox’s three hits on a cold afternoon in which Chicago was 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position. Cleveland fared better with four extra-base hits while designated hitter Carlos Santana and catcher Yan Gomes each had two RBIs. The Indians have scored seven runs in each of their two victories this season.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), WGN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Cody Anderson (2015: 7-3, 3.05 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Chris Sale (1-0, 3.86)
Anderson closed last season with five consecutive victories and is hoping to carry the momentum over into this season. He allowed two or fewer runs in each of his six September starts and defeated the White Sox on Sept. 18 when he gave up one run and five hits in 6 2/3 innings. The 25-year-old Anderson adjusted to seeing road ballparks for the first time as he compiled a 2.40 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in seven away outings.
Sale went 1-2 in four 2015 starts against Cleveland despite a stellar 2.17 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. He struck out 31 Indians in 29 innings but was touched up for five homers. Sale has struggled against Santana (.333 with one homer in 36 at-bats) and outfielder Rajai Davis (.381 in 21 at-bats) but has easily handled first baseman Mike Napoli (1-for-13, six strikeouts).
WALK-OFFS
1. White Sox CF Adam Eaton was hitless in four at-bats on Friday after having two or more hits in each of his first four games.
2. Cleveland OF Lonnie Chisenhall (wrist) was slated to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Columbus on Friday and could return to the majors around the middle of next week.
3. Chicago SS Jimmy Rollins is just 2-for-16 while starting four of the first five games.
PREDICTION: White Sox 4, Indians 3

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Preview: Dodgers at Giants
GAME: Los Angeles Dodgers (3-2) at San Francisco Giants (4-1)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 09 – 4:05 PM EST
WHERE: AT&T Park, San Francisco, California
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
One day after watching 26-year-old Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Ross Stripling take a no-hitter into the eighth inning, fans at AT&T Park figure to enjoy another impressive pitching display Saturday as three-time Cy Young award winner Clayton Kershaw faces off against the San Francisco Giants’ Madison Bumgarner. The Giants improved to 4-1 with Friday’s 3-2 victory when Brandon Crawford homered off Joe Blanton to start the 10th inning.
Crawford is hitting .333 with two home runs for the Giants, who have won 10 of their last 12 games against the rival Dodgers in San Francisco. Enter Kershaw, who has made himself at home in the Bay Area with a 9-3 record and 1.16 ERA in 14 starts at AT&T Park, where the Giants have sold out their last 410 regular-season games. The Dodgers opened the season with a dominant three-game sweep of the San Diego Padres but have received a much tougher test from the Giants, who won Friday’s contest despite managing just two hits. Dodgers left fielder Carl Crawford was out of the starting lineup for the first two games of the series with soreness in his lower back and replaced by Scott Van Slyke, who has one hit in his first eight at-bats but could continue to start in favor of the ailing Crawford this weekend.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (1-0, 5.40)
Kershaw was in midseason form on Opening Day as he struck out nine and held San Diego scoreless over seven innings in a 15-0 victory. The Texas native is 16-7 with a 1.54 ERA in 30 career starts against the Giants, including six complete games and five shutouts. Kershaw has caused trouble for multiple Giants, especially Brandon Belt (3-for-37 with 21 strikeouts), Hunter Pence (5-for-56 with 15 strikeouts) and Crawford (1-for-21).
Bumgarner pitched through flu-like symptoms on Opening Day in Milwaukee on Monday and earned the win despite allowing three runs and five walks over five frames. “I just never really felt like I could get dialed in,” he told reporters. “Sometimes days like that are more rewarding than when you go out with your best stuff.” Yasiel Puig is 7-for-24 with two homers against the 2014 World Series MVP, who is 13-7 with a 2.45 ERA in 22 career games (21 starts) against the Dodgers.
WALK-OFFS
1. Puig has reached base safely in 13 of his first 22 plate appearances.
2. Kershaw and Bumgarner are facing each other for the eighth time, and the Giants have won three of the last four matchups.
3. Dodgers 2B Howie Kendrick (calf) went 1-for-3 in his minor league rehab game with High-A Rancho Cucamonga on Friday and could be activated in time for Tuesday’s home opener.
PREDICTION: Dodgers 4, Giants 2

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Preview: Marlins at Nationals
GAME: Miami Marlins (1-2) at Washington Nationals (2-1)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 09 – 4:05 PM EST
WHERE: Nationals Park, Washington, District of Columbia
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
Bryce Harper is sure to pass plenty of milestones in his career, and the reigning National League Most Valuable Player has a good shot at hitting one Saturday. Harper takes aim at his 100th career home run when the Washington Nationals continue their three-game series with the visiting Miami Marlins.
The Marlins claimed the series opener 6-4 on Thursday despite Harper’s 99th career blast. After a scheduled off day Friday, the NL East rivals are back at it Saturday with Miami right-hander Tom Koehler taking the mound against Washington right-hander Joe Ross. Harper is 7-for-24 with five homers against Koehler. Both teams needed Friday’s off day to reset their bullpens after a rain delay contributed to ending both starters’ nights early Thursday.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FSN Florida (Miami), MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Tom Koehler (2015: 11-14, 4.08 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Joe Ross (2015: 5-5, 3.64)
Koehler has recorded double-digit wins each of the past two seasons and emerged as a solid big-league starter. The 29-year-old is 3-6 with a 4.64 ERA in nine starts against Washington. He has been hit hard in five outings at Nationals Park, going 1-4 with a 6.21 ERA.
Ross was called up to make a couple of spot starts last season and worked his way into the rotation with his impressive performance. The 22-year-old eventually hit the wall and wound up in the bullpen but earned a starting role this spring heading into his first full major-league season. Ross was excellent at home last year, going 4-2 with a 2.44 ERA in nine games (seven starts).
WALK-OFFS
1. Harper could become the eighth-youngest player to hit 100 homers and the third Nationals player to do so.
2. Miami OF Christian Yelich has hit safely in six straight road games against Washington.
3. Marlins 1B Justin Bour has a 10-game hitting streak against the Nationals, including a 2-for-4 performance Thursday.
PREDICTION: Marlins 5, Nationals 4

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Preview: Rays at Orioles
GAME: Tampa Bay Rays (2-3) at Baltimore Orioles (4-0)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 09 – 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, Maryland
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
The Baltimore Orioles flaunted their power in the series opener and can match the franchise record for consecutive victories to open the season when they host the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday. The Orioles, who belted three homers in the three-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins, registered four solo blasts in a 6-1 victory over the Rays on Friday to start with four wins for the eighth time.
Manny Machado and Chris Davis, who have combined for 20 total bases, each went deep in the first of a three-game set and left-hander Drew Smyly gets the job of trying to keep Baltimore from matching its 5-0 start in 1970 when the Orioles won the World Series. Smyly, who will oppose Mike Wright, surrendered three blasts in his first start of the year as the Rays went 2-2 in their season-opening series against the Toronto Blue Jays. Evan Longoria hit his first home run of the season in the first inning Friday, but it was one of just five hits for Tampa Bay. The Rays attempt to extend their club-record streak to 20 games with at least one home run, dating back to last year.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSN Sun (Tampa Bay), MASN (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH Drew Smyly (0-1, 6.75 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Mike Wright (2015: 3-5, 6.04)
Smyly had some good moments in his season debut, but he gave up two of the homers against left-handed batters and five runs over 6 2/3 innings in the loss. The 26-year-old Arkansas native posted a 2.54 ERA with a 5-0 record in his final eight starts last season, including a pair of wins against the Orioles. Davis is 2-for-16 with two homers against Smyly, who is 4-0 lifetime versus Baltimore with a 1.82 ERA.
Wright won the No. 4 spot in the rotation after making his major league debut last season and posting a 2-2 record with a 4.79 ERA in 20 2/3 innings during the spring. The 26-year-old East Carolina product, who will face Tampa Bay for the first time, struggled while allowing a .322 batting average against left-handed hitters in 2015. Wright was 9-1 with a 2.22 ERA in 15 games (14 starts) at Triple-A Norfolk last year.
WALK-OFFS
1. Baltimore C-DH Matt Wieters had two hits Friday and is batting .321 with 15 homers and 56 RBIs in 84 career games against the Rays.
2. Tampa Bay 1B Logan Morrison notched his first hit for the team Friday as he went 1-for-4 after coming up empty in 10 at-bats during the opening series.
3. Baltimore OF Joey Rickard, a former Tampa Bay farmhand, has hit safely in his first four major league games and is 7-for-15 overall.
PREDICTION: Rays 5, Orioles 3

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Preview: Astros at Brewers
GAME: Houston Astros (1-3) at Milwaukee Brewers (2-2)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 09 – 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Miller Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
After a down year in Washington, Doug Fister makes his debut for the Houston Astros when they continue a three-game series against the host Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday. Fister was 51-38 with a 3.11 ERA from 2011-14 with Seattle, Detroit and Washington, but suffered a downturn with the Nationals last year and finished the season out of the bullpen.
The Astros inked the 32-year-old to a one-year deal and he is hoping for a bounce-back effort, but could find himself in a relief role once Lance McCullers (shoulder) returns from a rehab assignment. Fister will be trying to pick up a rotation that has given up 14 earned runs in 9 1/3 innings over the last three games, all losses. Former Astro Chris Carter homered for the second straight game and Ryan Braun slugged his first of the year in Milwaukee’s 6-4 win in the series opener on Friday. Scooter Gennett also homered and is 5-for-13 with two home runs and four walks on the season.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ROOT Southwest (Houston), FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Doug Fister (2015: 5-7, 4.19 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Wily Peralta (0-1, 9.00)
Fister was 2-1 with a 2.87 ERA through his first six starts last season before a rocky outing in San Diego and a stint on the disabled list sent him down a different path. He only saw the Brewers one time in relief and was lit up for four runs (three earned) in 1 1/3 innings. The California native, who has an 8.27 ERA in five starts during spring training, also surrendered four runs in four frames in his only previous start in Miller Park.
Another player looking to bounce back after a rocky 2015, Peralta got off to a shaky start by allowing five runs (four earned) in a loss to San Francisco earlier in the week. He is 4-6 with a 5.68 ERA in 12 starts since last year’s All-Star break. The 26-year-old has never faced the Astros but has had good success against third baseman Luis Valbuena (3-for-18) and active Houston hitters are 4-for-26 versus the Dominican Republic native.
WALK-OFFS
1. Astros rookie 1B Tyler White went deep Friday and is 9-for-13 with a pair of long balls and seven RBIs in his first four games.
2. Even after going 2-for-4 on Friday, Carter is a career .189 hitter in March and April.
3. Brewers RF George Springer is hitless in eight at-bats with four strikeouts in the last two contests.
PREDICTION: Astros 5, Brewers 4

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Preview: Phillies at Mets
GAME: Philadelphia Phillies (0-4) at New York Mets (2-1)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 09 – 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Citi Field, New York City, New York
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
Vince Velasquez will make his Philadelphia Phillies debut Saturday on the mound at Citi Field, where he’ll attempt to help the Phillies avoid an 0-5 start for the first time since 1934. The New York Mets opened the weekend series at home with a 7-2 triumph on Friday, shortly after they raised their National League championship banner.
New York will look to ride the momentum into Saturday’s game, where Bartolo Colon will get the ball for his first start of 2016. The veteran right-hander pitched in relief on opening day in Kansas City – a game the Mets lost before posting victories in their next two outings. The Phillies, meanwhile, have scored exactly two runs in three of their four games, and they’ve been outscored 26-12 on the season. “We’re not the best hitting team in the league, but we’re certainly better than we’re showing,” manager Pete Mackanin told reporters. “We’ve got to get everybody going. It seems like they’re trying too hard.”
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, CSN Philadelphia, WPIX (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Vince Velasquez (2015: 1-1, 4.37 ERA) vs. Mets RH Bartolo Colon (0-0, 0.00)
Velasquez, who came over from Houston last winter in the Ken Giles trade, made his major league debut in 2015 and went on to make seven starts and 12 relief appearances for Houston. The 23-year-old Californian held lefties to a .214 average and limited opponents to a .240 average overall. “He pitched very well this spring,” Mackanin said last month of Velasquez, who logged a 2.25 ERA in 20 Grapefruit League innings. “We like Velasquez’s power arm. We want to see him in the big leagues.”
Colon gave up a hit over 1 1/3 scoreless innings last Sunday following a solid 2015 season in which he went 14-13 with a 4.16 ERA. The former Cy Young Award winner, who turns 43 next month, has faced six different members of the Phillies at least 10 times. Ryan Howard is just 5-for-24 with two homers against him, while Darin Ruff is the only other Philadelphia player with a lifetime homer against the burly right-hander.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mets 2B Neil Walker has driven in a pair of runs in each of the last two games.
2. New York OF Curtis Granderson is 1-for-13 with five strikeouts on the young season.
3. Colon may only be in the rotation until late June or early July, when RHP Zack Wheeler (elbow) is expected to return from the disabled list.
PREDICTION: Mets 7, Phillies 1

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Preview: Cardinals at Braves
GAME: St. Louis Cardinals (1-3) at Atlanta Braves (0-3)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 09 – 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Turner Field, Atlanta, Georgia
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
The St. Louis Cardinals finally found a way into the win column Friday and look to make it two in a row against the winless Atlanta Braves in the second game of a weekend set Saturday in Atlanta. The Cardinals, who came into the series 0-3, showed plenty of moxie in rallying from an early 4-0 deficit in Friday’s 7-4 victory, getting three pinch-hit homers – the first time ever a team has hit three pinch-hit homers in the same game – to earn their first victory of 2016.
And it was not the big names on the Cardinals roster who made the difference in the series-opening victory, as Jeremy Hazelbaker hit the game-tying homer in the seventh inning, and Aledmys Diaz slugged the go-ahead homer in the eighth before Greg Garcia added a pinch-hit blast in the ninth. The Braves are 0-3 and wasted a decent start from Matt Wisler in the series opener, Atlanta’s bullpen surrendering three runs on four hits in 2 1/3 innings. The Braves collected all five of their hits Friday in the third inning but mustered just three walks in the final six innings. Atlanta has held a lead in the seventh inning or later in each of its first three games.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN Midwest (St. Louis), FSN South (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Carlos Martinez (2015: 14-7, 3.01 ERA) vs. Braves RH Julio Teheran (0-0, 3.00)
Martinez was one of the NL’s breakout pitchers last season, earning an All-Star berth in his first year in the rotation while finishing sixth in the league in winning percentage, seventh in wins and 10th in ERA. He beat Atlanta on July 25 in St. Louis, giving up six hits across eight shutout innings. Martinez was outstanding away from home in 2015, posting a 2.54 ERA while going 8-3 in 15 games (14 starts).
Teheran surrendered two solo homers but otherwise pitched effectively in the Braves’ season opener, allowing five hits with three walks and four strikeouts across six innings in his third consecutive opening day start. The 25-year-old posted a 2.01 ERA in 22 1/3 innings in spring training and has won 11 or more games each of the past three seasons. Teheran beat the Cardinals in his only appearance against them in 2015, pitching six scoreless innings Oct. 2 in Atlanta.
WALK-OFFS
1. Atlanta CF Ender Inciarte left after his first at-bat Friday with left hamstring tightness; he is day-to-day.
2. St. Louis matched its run output (seven) from its three-game sweep in Pittsburgh in Friday’s victory.
3. Hazelbaker, who played 751 minor-league games before making his major-league debut Sunday, is 3-for-6 with two homers, a double, two runs scored and two RBIs in four games.
PREDICTION: Cardinals 4, Braves 1

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Preview: Twins at Royals
GAME: Minnesota Twins (0-4) at Kansas City Royals (2-1)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 09 – 7:15 PM EST
WHERE: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
The Minnesota Twins remain in search of their first win of the season as they visit the reigning world champion Kansas City Royals on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game series. Minnesota was swept by Baltimore in its season-opening three-game set and dropped the opener versus Kansas City, allowing two runs in the eighth inning en route to a 4-3 loss.
Eduardo Escobar has been a bright spot during the Twins’ early struggles, going 6-for-15 with four doubles and two RBIs. Minnesota got a look at the power of Byung Ho Park, who belted his first home run in the major leagues after hitting 105 over the previous two seasons in his native South Korea. Salvador Perez was the hero for the Royals on Friday, delivering an RBI double to forge a tie and scoring on Omar Infante’s sacrifice fly as he finished 2-for-4 after notching one hit in six at-bats over his first two games. Mike Moustakas appears to be finding his stroke at the plate as he recorded two hits in three at-bats Friday after beginning the season 0-for-8.
TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, FSN North Plus (Minnesota), FSN Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins LH Tommy Milone (2015: 9-5, 3.92 ERA) vs. Royals RH Ian Kennedy (2015: 9-15, 4.28)
Milone was forced to compete for a job in Minnesota’s rotation in spring training despite being one of the club’s best pitchers last season. The 29-year-old Californian, who posted a 2.57 ERA in five spring outings, had his season debut pushed back a day in order to allow Ervin Santana another turn after he was limited to 39 pitches opening day. Milone has had success against Kansas City in his career, going 5-2 with a 3.55 ERA in 11 starts.
Kennedy returns to the American League for the first time since 2009 as he signed a five-year, $70 million contract with the Royals after spending the last 2 1/2 seasons with San Diego. The 31-year-old Californian had trouble keeping the ball in the park last campaign, serving up a career-high 31 homers in 168 1/3 innings. Kennedy yielded eight runs over 14 1/3 frames while going 1-1 in two career starts against Minnesota.
WALK-OFFS
1. Royals OF Jarrod Dyson (strained oblique) is slated to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Saturday.
2. Minnesota C Kurt Suzuki went 2-for-4 with a double and a triple Friday after going hitless in his first six at-bats of the year.
3. Kansas City RHP Kris Medlen is expected to make his season debut Tuesday at Houston after being skipped over the first week of the season because of a number of off-days.
PREDICTION: Royals 5, Twins 2

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Preview: Cubs at Diamondbacks
GAME: Chicago Cubs (3-1) at Arizona Diamondbacks (2-3)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 09 – 8:10 PM EST
WHERE: Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
The Chicago Cubs appeared unstoppable with three straight wins to open the season, but a major injury to one of their young stars has tempered that early optimism. The Cubs, who continue their four-game series against the host Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday, will be without left fielder Kyle Schwarber for the rest of the season after the 23-year-old suffered full tears to the ACL and LCL in his left knee during a collision in Thursday’s contest.
Schwarber won’t have surgery until the swelling subsides in a few weeks, and his rehabilitation is expected to last longer than six months since there are multiple ligaments involved. “We’re going to pick him up,” third baseman Kris Bryant told the Chicago Tribune. “We have some guys who hopefully can fill his place. He’s a tough one to fill. He’s good in the clubhouse. He’s a fun guy to be around.” In Friday’s 3-2 loss to the Diamondbacks, the Cubs started Jorge Soler in left field, but Bryant could also see time there with Tommy La Stella receiving more opportunities at third base. Arizona bounced back from a 14-6 loss in the series opener thanks to a walk-off single from Yasmany Tomas and three hits from second baseman Jean Segura, who became the first Diamondbacks player to open a season with five multi-hit games.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, CSN (Chicago), FSN Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Kyle Hendricks (2015: 8-7, 3.95 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Zack Greinke (0-1, 15.75)
Hendricks is easily overshadowed in the Cubs’ rotation by Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester, but the 26-year-old is primed for a solid season after posting a 2.73 ERA in seven games (six starts) during spring training. The California native tossed 180 innings last season as the Cubs won 19 of his 32 starts. Hendricks received a no-decision against Arizona on Sept. 6, 2015, when he allowed one run on three hits in five innings at Wrigley Field.
After signing a $206 million deal during the offseason, Greinke yielded seven runs over four innings Monday against Colorado in his much-anticipated Arizona debut. The 32-year-old, who allowed three home runs in a game for the first time since Aug. 19, 2009, recorded a major league-best 1.66 ERA with the Dodgers last season. Miguel Montero is 8-for-26 with two homers against Greinke, who is 4-2 with a 3.78 ERA in eight career starts against the Cubs.
WALK-OFFS
1. Arizona has won seven of its last nine games against the Cubs at Chase Field.
2. Chicago recalled INF Munenori Kawasaki from Triple-A Iowa to replace Schwarber on the roster.
3. Diamondbacks 1B Paul Goldschmidt is a career .375 hitter with seven home runs and 26 RBIs in 26 games against the Cubs.
PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 5, Cubs 2

[Satch]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 4/9

Preview: Padres at Rockies
GAME: San Diego Padres (1-3) at Colorado Rockies (2-2)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 09 – 8:10 PM EST
WHERE: Coors Field, Denver, Colorado
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
Playing in Coors Field helped San Diego ended a dismal scoreless streak, and the Padres look for another round of solid offense when they visit the Colorado Rockies on Saturday. San Diego extended its record of consecutive scoreless innings to start a season to 30 on Friday before breaking through with six fourth-inning runs en route to a 13-6 victory.
While the Padres finally started hitting, Colorado shortstop Trevor Story continued one of the most impressive starts in major-league history by clubbing two homers to raise his total to six. Story is the first player to homer in each of the first four games of his career and joins Willie Mays (1971), Mark McGwire (1998), Nelson Cruz (2011) and Chris Davis (2013) as the only major leaguers to open a season with a blast in four consecutive contests. “It’s pretty crazy,” Story said after hearing the names. “I’ve said it before, but I’m not trying to hit home runs. Sometimes it just happens. But to be on a list with those kind of guys is special.” San Diego’s Matt Kemp led his club’s stunning offensive assault by going 4-for-6 with a homer and four RBIs.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN San Diego, ROOT (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Drew Pomeranz (2015: 5-6, 3.66 ERA) vs. Rockies LH Jorge De La Rosa (0-0, 9.64)
Pomeranz, who won the final spot in San Diego’s rotation, will make the 50th start of his career as he returns to Coors Field. Thirty of them came for the Rockies – including a career-high 22 in 2012 – as he went 4-14 over parts of three seasons with the franchise before being dealt to Oakland. Pomeranz started 19 games for the Athletics over the last two seasons, but most of his appearances came as a reliever.
De La Rosa struck out eight in 4 2/3 innings against Arizona on Monday but also gave up five runs and eight hits in a no-decision. He is attempting to rebound from a lackluster 9-7 record last season after posting a total of 30 victories over the previous two campaigns. De La Rosa is 8-6 with a 4.87 ERA in 27 career appearances (23 starts) against the Padres and struggles against Kemp, who is hitting .458 with five homers, six doubles and 18 RBIs in 48 career at-bats.
WALK-OFFS
1. San Diego recorded 18 hits on Friday after notching just 11 while being outscored 25-0 in a season-opening three-game set against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
2. Colorado 1B Mark Reynolds is 1-for-12 with five strikeouts.
3. Padres 3B Yangervis Solarte (four RBIs) and 1B Will Myers (two runs scored) were each 3-for-5 in the series opener.
PREDICTION: Rockies 12, Padres 9

[Satch]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 4/9

Preview: Rangers at Angels
GAME: Texas Rangers (2-3) at Los Angeles Angels (1-3)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 09 – 9:05 PM EST
WHERE: Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, California
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
Cole Hamels traditionally struggles in April and the Texas left-hander can match his first-month victory count of the last three years when the Rangers visit the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday. Hamels went 2-7 with a 4.42 ERA in 13 April starts from 2013-15 but won his season debut when he defeated the Seattle Mariners on Monday.
Hamels allowed two runs and four hits and struck out eight in seven innings in the tidy effort against Seattle. He will be looking to help Texas post its second straight victory after the Rangers produced a 7-3 victory over the Angels in Friday’s contest. Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor is just 2-for-18 but one of his hits was a two-run homer in Friday’s game and five of his 26 career homers have come against the Angels. Los Angeles designated hitter Albert Pujols delivered the game-winning hit in Thursday’s series opener but was hitless in four at-bats Friday and is just 2-for-16.
TV: 9:05 p.m. ET, FSN Southwest (Texas), FSN West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH Cole Hamels (1-0, 2.57 ERA) vs. Angels RH Garrett Richards (0-1, 5.40)
Hamels is 8-1 in 13 regular-season starts for Texas since being acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies shortly before last season’s trading deadline. He tossed a complete game against the Angels on Oct. 4 when he allowed two runs and three hits in a 9-2 victory that clinched the American League West crown. Hamels has held Pujols to a .185 batting average in 27 at-bats but three of Pujols’ five hits are homers.
Richards struck out seven in his season debut but lasted just five innings and allowed three runs and six hits while losing to the Chicago Cubs. He has typically fared well against the Rangers, compiling a 9-2 record and 3.20 ERA in 18 career appearances (14 starts) despite losing to Hamels in last October’s outing. Richards has struggled against designated hitter Prince Fielder (8-for-20) but has dominated Odor (1-for-17, seven strikeouts).
WALK-OFFS
1. Angels CF Mike Trout is 3-for-15 with no extra-bases hits, no runs scored, no RBIs and no stolen bases.
2. Texas CF Delino DeShields went 2-for-4 and scored twice with two stolen bases in Friday’s contest.
3. Los Angeles OF Daniel Nava (cut left index finger) departed Friday’s game and is questionable for Saturday.
PREDICTION: Rangers 5, Angels 2