MLB Betting Info. 5/11

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Preview: Pirates at Reds

Current Conditions - Cincinnati

P/SUNNY 75 °F
Wind: WSW 12
5-Day Forecast
GAME: Pittsburgh Pirates (17-15) at Cincinnati Reds (14-19)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, May 11 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

The Cincinnati Reds finally got a strong performance from their bullpen and ended up with a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday, and then received an unscheduled extra day of rest for the overworked relief corps. The bullpen will try to put together back-to-back solid games when the Reds host the Pirates on Wednesday in the finale of a now two-game series, following a rainout on Tuesday.

Cincinnati’s bullpen, which owns a 6.43 ERA, is the worst in the majors and a big reason why the team is five games under .500. Reds starter Dan Straily handed the relievers a 3-2 lead on Thursday and watched J.C. Ramirez and Blake Wood each toss a hitless inning before Tony Cingrani gave up a leadoff double in the ninth only to hold the runner and record the team’s third save in nine chances. The Pirates took two of three from the St. Louis Cardinals over the weekend but managed only five hits on Monday to suffer their sixth loss in the last eight contests. Pittsburgh managed two or fewer runs in four of those setbacks and need to gets the bats moving again before visiting the first-place Chicago Cubs over the weekend.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Pittsburgh), FSN Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Juan Nicasio (3-3, 3.16 ERA) vs. Reds RH Alfredo Simon (1-3, 9.86)

Nicasio logged a quality start in each of his three wins but failed to go more than five frames in any of his three losses. The 29-year-old Dominican was reached for four runs – one earned – on eight hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings against the Chicago Cubs last time out. Nicasio had no such issues against Cincinnati on April 29, when he scattered three hits and struck out eight over seven scoreless innings.

Simon earned his first win since returning to the Reds when he held the Milwaukee Brewers to three runs and seven hits in a season-high 7 2/3 innings. The Dominican Republic native allowed at least three runs in each of his last five appearances and had not gotten into the sixth inning until Thursday against the Brewers. Simon was not sharp at Pittsburgh on April 30, yielding three runs on six hits and four walks in four innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Reds bullpen allowed at least one run in 27 of the last 29 games.

2. Pittsburgh LF Starling Marte is 9-for-18 in the last four games.

3. Cincinnati 1B Joey Votto drove in at least one run in each of the last four games and homered twice in that span.

PREDICTION: Pirates 5, Reds 3

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Preview: Brewers at Marlins

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GAME: Milwaukee Brewers (14-19) at Miami Marlins (17-15)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, May 11 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Marlins Park, Miami, Florida
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Ryan Braun looks to continue his run of success in South Florida as the Milwaukee Brewers vie for a series victory over the Miami Marlins on Wednesday. The former University of Miami standout recorded the first of his two RBI singles in Tuesday's 10-2 rout to extend both his hitting streak to 22 games in the city and current stretch to 10 consecutive contests with at least one base hit.

The 32-year-old Braun attempts to add to the torrid runs on Wednesday versus left-hander Wei-Yin Chen, against whom he drove in a run in Milwaukee's 7-5 setback on April 30 and is 3-for-6 in his career. While the Brewers are entering the finale of their seven-game road trip by winning three of four following a three-game skid, the Marlins have cooled off by dropping three of four following a sizzling 11-1 run. Miami's Marcell Ozuna has pieced together seven multi-hit performances during his 10-game hitting streak, with four homers, eight RBIs and nine runs scored highlighting that impressive stretch. The 25-year-old Dominican isn't likely to slow down versus Wednesday starter Chase Anderson if history is any indication, as he is 5-for-12 against the right-hander.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FSN Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Chase Anderson (1-4, 6.44 ERA) vs. Marlins LH Wei-Yin Chen (2-1, 4.66)

A promising start to the season has turned around in a hurry for Anderson, who did not allow an earned run in his first two starts before permitting 21 on 34 hits - including eight homers - during his four-game losing skid. The 28-year-old was battered by Miami on April 30, yielding six runs on nine hits in 4 1/3 frames. Anderson has also struggled with his control, issuing 10 walks in his last three outings after allowing just two free passes in his first three.

Chen was staked to an early four-run lead but was unable to post his third straight victory on Friday, as he recorded a no-decision after being touched for four runs on 11 hits in five innings. The 30-year-old Taiwan native pitched significantly better in defeating Milwaukee on April 30, permitting three runs on four hits in 6 2/3 frames. Chen has yet to taste victory at home this season, losing his lone decision while his 5.40 ERA is nearly one run higher than his sum total while allowing opponents to bat a staggering .323 against him.

WALK-OFFS

1. Miami has only three stolen bases since 2B Dee Gordon's suspension began on April 29 (11 games).

2. Milwaukee has an opportunity to win its first road series, having posted an 0-3-2 mark in its previous five.

3. The Marlins placed Nefi Ogando (fractured rib) on the 15-day disabled list and recalled fellow RHP Nick Wittgren from Triple-A New Orleans.

PREDICTION: Marlins 4, Brewers 2

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Preview: Padres at Cubs

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GAME: San Diego Padres (13-20) at Chicago Cubs (25-6)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, May 11 - 8:05 PM EST
WHERE: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A


The Chicago Cubs have rolled to eight straight victories to continue their torrid start to the season, and they’ll have a chance to run the streak to double digits with a doubleheader against the visiting San Diego Padres on Wednesday. The Cubs extended their best start in more than a century with an 8-7 win in the series opener and are 12-3 at Wrigley Field, where they’ve won eight of their last nine games.


The Cubs own the best record in the majors at 25-6, their best start since the 1907 World Series champions had the same mark through 31 games. It’s the best start by any team since the 1984 Detroit Tigers – another World Series champion – won 26 of their first 31 contests. Red-hot Ben Zobrist fueled the latest victory, going 4-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and scoring three times Tuesday to improve to 13-for-29 with four homers and 17 RBIs during an eight-game hitting streak. The last-place Padres’ last 10 games have been decided by three runs or fewer with four one-run games during that stretch.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, FSN San Diego, CSN Chicago


PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Drew Pomeranz (3-3, 2.12 ERA) vs. Cubs RH John Lackey (4-1, 4.02)
Pomeranz has been San Diego’s most consistent starter, allowing three or fewer earned runs in all six of his outings. The 27-year-old former first-round pick tossed five one-hit innings to beat the New York Mets last time out but ran up his pitch count with three walks and five strikeouts. Pomeranz has lost his last three road starts, as the Padres have totaled just four runs in those games including two shutouts.
Lackey has been terrific in three home starts as a Cub, going 2-0 with a 2.49 ERA. The 37-year-old matched his season high with 11 strikeouts last time out, limiting Washington to two runs and six hits over seven innings to earn the win. Lackey is 1-2 with a 4.44 ERA in four starts against the Padres and was roughed up for five runs (four earned) in six innings in the only meeting last season.


WALK-OFFS
1. Cubs starting pitchers have gone at least five innings in 39 consecutive regular-season games dating to Sept. 27 of last season, the club’s longest streak since a 41-game stretch from 1926-27.
2. Padres RF Matt Kemp entered the series with a .610 slugging percentage at Wrigley Field – the fourth-highest among active players with at least 100 plate appearances there – but was 0-for-5 with two strikeouts Tuesday.
3. Chicago 1B Anthony Rizzo, a former Padres prospect, has reached base safely in 22 straight games, the longest active streak in the National League.


PREDICTION: Cubs 4, Padres 3

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Preview: Cardinals at Angels

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GAME: St. Louis Cardinals (17-16) at Los Angeles Angels (13-19)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, May 11 - 10:05 PM EST
WHERE: Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, California
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

The Los Angeles Angels continue their quest for the first victory of their six-game homestand when they face the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday in the middle contest of their three-game interleague series. Los Angeles was swept of a three-game home set by Tampa Bay before suffering an 8-1 setback in the opener against St. Louis.

Mike Trout continues to hit with regularity, as he has been held without a hit in only eight of his 31 games. St. Louis kicked off its six-game road trip with a 14-hit attack that featured a three-hit performance by Matt Holliday. The slugger belted his third home run of the season Tuesday, ending his 16-game drought, and drove in a pair of runs to match his RBI total from the previous 11 games. Holliday added a pair of doubles, giving him three extra-base hits in a contest for the first time since July 11, 2014.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, FSN Midwest (St. Louis), FSN West (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals LH Jaime Garcia (2-2, 3.05 ERA) vs. Angels RH Matt Shoemaker (1-4, 9.15)

Garcia halted his three-start winless streak on Thursday, limiting Philadelphia to two hits while striking out five in seven scoreless innings. It was the second scoreless outing of the season for the 29-year-old Mexican, who recorded 13 strikeouts while tossing a one-hitter against Milwaukee on April 14. Garcia, who never has faced Los Angeles, has posted a 5.73 ERA and 1.73 WHIP in two road starts this year but has escaped without a decision each time.

Shoemaker has struggled mightily of late, losing each of his last three starts while surrendering seven runs in each of the last two. The 29-year-old native of Michigan has worked more than three innings only twice in his five turns and has served up at least one homer in all but one outing. Shoemaker, who will be facing St. Louis for the first time in his career, has been awful at home this season as he has yielded 13 runs - 12 earned - on 13 hits and six walks over six frames in a pair of losses.

WALK-OFFS

1. After learning SS Andrelton Simmons would require thumb surgery that likely would sideline him for a minimum of two months, the Angels acquired SS Brendan Ryan from Washington on Tuesday for a player to be named or cash considerations.

2. St. Louis RHP Carlos Martinez will have his scheduled start pushed back to Saturday as he recovers from an illness that affected him in his previous two outings.

3. Los Angeles DH Albert Pujols is three home runs away from tying Rafael Palmeiro (569) for 12th place on the all-time list and needs one blast in the series against his former team to become the ninth active player to have gone deep versus all 30 clubs.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 6, Angels 2

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Preview: Mets at Dodgers

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GAME: New York Mets (20-12) at Los Angeles Dodgers (17-16)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, May 11 - 10:10 PM EST
WHERE: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Noah Syndergaard attempts to halt a three-start winless streak when the New York Mets visit the Los Angeles Dodgers in Wednesday's finale of a three-game set. Syndergaard has allowed nine earned runs over his past three starts after giving up just two over his first three outings.

Syndergaard lost a start at Dodger Stadium during last season's National League Division Series despite striking out nine in 6 1/3 innings. The teams have split the first two games of the series with Los Angeles recording a 3-2 victory Tuesday when pinch hitter Trayce Thompson hit a game-winning homer in the bottom of the ninth inning. Thompson, the brother of Golden State Warriors All-Star guard Klay Thompson, has two homers in the series and three in his past five games. New York leads the majors with 49 homers but managed just five singles in Tuesday's loss after slugging two long balls in Monday's 4-2 victory.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (2-2, 2.58 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Kenta Maeda (3-1, 1.66)

Syndergaard has struck out 49 and walked just eight in 38 1/3 innings while dominating most hitters. He received a no-decision against the Dodgers in the regular season last year when he gave up one run and two hits in six innings. Syndergaard has fared well on the road this season, going 2-1 with a 1.42 ERA and striking out 22 in 19 innings.

Maeda received a no-decision in his last turn when he gave up two runs and two hits in six innings against Toronto. He is just 1-1 in three starts at Dodger Stadium despite having a 2.29 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. Maeda has pitched at least six innings in all six of his starts but he has gone seven innings just once.

WALK-OFFS

1. Dodgers 1B Adrian Gonzalez is mired in a 16-game homerless drought and all his hits are singles during the stretch.

2. New York 2B Neil Walker (shin) sat out the first two games of the series and is hitless in 20 at-bats over his past seven contests.

3. Los Angeles LF Carl Crawford was hitless in four at-bats Tuesday and is 4-for-28 over his last nine games.

PREDICTION: Mets 4, Dodgers 0