MLB Betting Info. 5/29

[TheGame]

MLB roundup: Utley, Dodgers slam Mets
By The Sports Xchange


NEW YORK -- The New York Mets' Noah Syndergaard was ejected in the third inning for throwing at Chase Utley, who broke a scoreless tie with a homer leading off the sixth and busted the game open with a grand slam in the seventh of the Los Angeles Dodgers' 9-1 victory Saturday.
Los Angeles (26-24) won for the fifth time in six games. New York (28-20) lost for only the second time in their last eight games.
After stirring 40-minute ceremony honoring the 1986 World Series champion Mets, the teams played two uneventful innings. With one out and nobody on in the third, the game turned interesting when Syndergaard's first pitch sailed behind Utley. It appeared to be an attempt to exact revenge for the National League Division Series last October when former New York shortstop Ruben Tejada suffered a broken leg after a hard slide into second base by Utley.
Home plate umpire Adam Hamari immediately ejected Syndergaard and eventually tossed Mets manager Terry Collins after a long argument.
Utley capped his heel-turn evening in the seventh when he laced a 1-0 pitch by Hansel Robles over the right-center field wall for the sixth grand slam of his career.


Royals 8, White Sox 7
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Brett Eibner capped an improbable Kansas City comeback with a walk-off single with two outs in the ninth as the Royals scored seven runs in the final inning to defeat Chicago.
The Royals trailed 7-1 entering the ninth but sent 10 batters to the plate and scored four runs with two outs, sending the White Sox to their fifth straight loss.
Tyler Saladino hit a three-run homer and Avisail Garcia blasted a two-run shot as the White Sox jumped out a 7-1 lead.


Cubs 4, Phillies 1
CHICAGO -- Right-hander Kyle Hendricks snapped a two-game losing streak with an impressive nine-inning effort as Chicago beat Philadelphia.
The Cubs posted their fourth straight win and 11th series victory of the season. The Phillies dropped their second straight and fourth in five games.
Hendricks scattered five hits and allowed one run, struck out seven and walked none. It was his first complete game since a 3-0 win over San Diego on May 21, 2015.
Dexter Fowler homered and Jason Heyward and Ben Zobrist each collected RBI doubles for Chicago.


Blue Jays 10, Red Sox 9
TORONTO -- Devon Travis beat out an infield hit with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and Toronto came back twice to defeat Boston.
The Blue Jays tied the game on a single by Jose Bautista to cap a four-run eighth, then David Ortiz hit his 13th homer of the season with one out in the top of the ninth against right-handed reliever Gavin Floyd (2-3), who finished the inning to get the win.
Russell Martin, who also had a homer and a single, tied the game in the bottom of the ninth with a double, took third on a wild pitch and scored the winning run on the hit to third by Travis. Martin had three RBIs as Toronto made it two in a row over the Red Sox, who have lost three straight.


Indians 11, Orioles 4
CLEVELAND -- Yan Gomes had two hits and three RBIs and Danny Salazar pitched six strong innings as Cleveland beat Baltimore.
The Indians (26-21) moved past the Chicago White Sox (27-23) into first place in the American League Central.
Gomes, who came into the game hitting .177, had a two-run single in the first inning and an RBI single in the fifth.
Salazar (5-3) held the Orioles to two runs and six hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked two.


Reds 7, Brewers 6
MILWAUKEE -- Adam Duvall had two hits, including a game-tying, three-run home run the eighth, and drove in the go-ahead run on a groundout in the ninth as Cincinnati snapped an 11-game losing streak.
Aaron Hill and Jonathan Lucroy had two hits apiece for Milwaukee, which saw its four-game winning streak come to an end despite a 6-1 lead.
Duvall's home run was his second in as many games.


Cardinals 9, Nationals 4
WASHINGTON -- Adam Wainwright won his fifth straight decision and added a two-run double, and Greg Garcia had three hits and scored twice as St. Louis defeated Washington.
The Cardinals (26-24) defeated the Nationals (29-21) for the second day in a row after losing the previous five outings to Washington.
Ryan Zimmerman was 4-for-4 for Washington, including two homers. His solo shot in the seventh pulled the Nationals to within 6-4.


Giants 10, Rockies 5
DENVER -- Buster Posey put San Francisco ahead early and gave them the lead again in the late innings with a pair of three-run homers in a victory over Colorado.
The win was the 14th in 16 games for the Giants, who trailed 5-4 before erupting for six runs in the eighth inning.
After Posey's second three-run shot and seventh homer of the season, the Giants pounded Gonzalez Germen for four hits and three runs. Jarrett Parker singled home the first run, and pitcher Cory Gearrin (1-0), who worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings, singled in his first plate appearance to load the bases before Gregor Blanco singled home two runs against Justin Miller.


Rangers 5, Pirates 2
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Yu Darvish allowed one run over five innings in his first big-league start since 2014 as Texas topped Pittsburgh.
Darvish (1-0) missed the 2015 season after having Tommy John surgery last March. Darvish, who was on a 90-pitch limit, struck out seven and threw 81 pitches. He walked one and his fastball topped out at 98 mph on the Globe Life Ballpark radar.
The Rangers made Darvish's first start a triumphant one by touching Pirates starter Juan Nicasio (3-3) for five runs in 4 2/3 innings.


Braves 7, Marlins 2
ATLANTA -- Gordon Beckham hit a three-run homer and Jeff Francoeur also had two hits as Atlanta roughed up Miami's bullpen.
The Braves are 9-34 against everyone else, but 5-0 versus the Marlins after sweeping an April series in Miami and taking the first two games of this set at Turner Field, where Atlanta is 4-20.
The Marlins (25-24) wasted a 2-0 lead as the Braves scored three times in the sixth against reliever Jose Urena and added three more on Beckham's homer in the seventh off Edwin Jackson.


Rays 9, Yankees 5
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Tampa Bay broke out of a weeklong slump, jumping out to a big lead en route victory over New York.
The Rays (22-25) had dropped six of their seven previous games but got a quality start from starter Matt Moore (2-3), who held the Yankees to three runs in six-plus innings. Tampa Bay continued to swing the bat with power as Evan Longoria hit a two-run homer and Hank Conger doubled his season RBI total with a three-run blast.
The Yankees (23-25) lost for the third time in four games.


Athletics 12, Tigers 3
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Oakland bombed the Detroit bullpen for nine runs and 11 hits in the sixth and seventh innings, breaking away from a tie en route to an easy victory.
Billy Butler, Danny Valencia and Khris Davis homered for the Athletics, who averaged 2.9 runs in their previous eight games, seven of which they had lost.
After Victor Martinez's two-run homer off Oakland starter Jesse Hahn (2-2) rallied the Tigers into a 3-3 tie in the top of the sixth, the Oakland offense teed off on Detroit reliever Warwick Saupold (1-1), who hadn't allowed a run in any of his three previous appearances this season.


Twins 6, Mariners 5
SEATTLE -- Minnesota used three home runs and an incredible game-ending double play in the ninth inning to hold on in Seattle.
Seattle had runners at the corners and one out in the ninth when Minnesota catcher Juan Centeno started an unexpected two-out caught stealing on the bases.
Centeno threw to second baseman Brian Dozier, who ran down base-runner Kyle Seager between first and second base and then turned and threw to third, catching pinch-runner Shawn O'Malley with a throw to Eduardo Nunez at the bag. Nunez then threw back to shortstop Eduardo Escobar at second, resulting in the game-ending tag of Seager.
The Mariners challenged the tag at second base, but it was upheld after just over a minute replay review to give Minnesota a delayed victory. Nunez, Miguel Sano and Joe Mauer all homered as Minnesota won its third straight game for the first time since winning four in a row between April 15 and April 18.


Astros 4, Angels 2
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Jason Castro hit a two-run homer in the top of the sixth inning to lift Houston over Los Angeles in front of 38,176 at Angel Stadium.
Dallas Keuchel posted his first win since April 15. Keuchel (3-6) retired the final 18 Angels he faced, permitted two runs and just three hits in seven innings, issued no walks and collected five strikeouts.
Mike Trout and Albert Pujols each homered, with Pujols getting the 571st of his career. But after Johnny Giavotella singled in the bottom of the second, Keuchel and two relievers retired the final 24 batters. Luke Gregerson pitched a perfect ninth for his 11th save.

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Preview: Red Sox (29-20) at Blue Jays (26-25)


Game: 3
Venue: Rogers Centre
Date: May 29, 2016 1:07 PM EDT


Before becoming a brief fan favorite in Toronto, David Price was a longtime nemesis of the Blue Jays.


Making his first appearance at Rogers Centre since joining the rival Boston Red Sox, Price looks to reprise his previous role and deny a three-game sweep by his former club in Sunday's finale.


Price's stay in Toronto was short but highly successful, with the five-time All-Star amassing a 9-1 record and a 2.30 ERA in 11 regular-season starts after being acquired from Detroit in late July to help the Blue Jays end a 22-year postseason drought. He's making a similar impact so far in Boston, winning seven of his first eight decisions in the first year of a lucrative seven-year contract.


Price (7-1, 5.34) began his Red Sox tenure with a 6.75 ERA through seven starts but is 3-0 with a 2.57 ERA over his past three. He extended the streak by holding Colorado to three runs over seven innings of Tuesday's 8-3 victory.


The 31-year-old did face the Blue Jays at Fenway Park on April 16, striking out nine and allowing two runs in seven innings to improve to 17-2 in 22 starts against Toronto. Price is 8-0 with a 2.84 ERA in 10 meetings since last losing to the Jays with Tampa Bay on Sept. 23, 2011.


Price's next assignment will be preventing the Red Sox' first four-game skid of 2016 and putting Saturday's difficult loss behind. After tying the game with a four-run rally in the eighth inning, the Blue Jays scored twice more in the ninth to pull out a 10-9 win for their fourth consecutive victory.


After David Ortiz sent Boston back ahead with a solo homer in the top of the ninth, Russell Martin drew Toronto (26-25) back even with a two-out RBI double off Craig Kimbrel and scored the deciding run on Devon Travis' infield single.


'With the potency in our lineup, I feel like no lead is really big enough,' said Martin, who finished 3 for 3 with a homer and three RBIs.


Boston's Xander Bogaerts also homered among his three hits to extend his hitting streak to 21 games. He's batting .402 with five homers, 14 RBIs and 21 runs scored over that span.


Ortiz homered in a second straight game and has three with 12 RBIs over his last five. The retiring slugger is 13 for 24 with 10 extra-base hits in his past six.


'Papi going out there and hitting the home run that was huge for us,' Kimbrel said. 'It was very disappointing that I wasn't able to close the door after that.'


Boston (29-20) should have an opportunity to bounce back if it can continue its recent success against R.A. Dickey (2-6, 4.60). The veteran knuckleballer is 0-5 with a 5.21 ERA in eight matchups with the Red Sox since the start of last season, with two of those losses coming last month.


Dickey also has had his problems at Rogers Centre, where he was reached for six earned runs in five innings of an 8-4 loss to Boston on April 9. The 41-year-old is 0-4 with a 5.64 ERA in five home starts.


Dickey was dealt a second straight loss after allowing four runs in 6 2/3 innings in Tuesday's 6-0 road defeat to the Yankees.


Ortiz is 10 for 36 with three homers off Dickey and Bogaerts is hitting .364 in the matchup.

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Re: MLB Betting Info. 5/29

Preview: Orioles (27-20) at Indians (26-21)


Game: 3
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: May 29, 2016 1:10 PM EDT


A road trip that started out so well for the Baltimore Orioles can't end soon enough.


Having their most reliable starting pitcher on the mound with the potential for a series win should make them feel a little better.


Chris Tillman seeks a sixth consecutive win Sunday as the Orioles and first-place Cleveland Indians meet at Progressive Field.


A second straight victory over the Los Angeles Angels last Saturday moved the Orioles a season-best 11 games over .500, but they dropped the series finale behind another dismal start from Ubaldo Jimenez. They then struck out 52 times - a major league record for a three-game series - and were swept in Houston.


Baltimore (27-20) took Friday's series opener 6-4, but Jimenez couldn't make it out of the second inning in Saturday's 11-4 defeat, the Orioles' fifth in six games.


'We did some things that didn't help him,' manager Buck Showalter said. 'We had some throwing errors. When you're so deep in the count and 30-something pitches in the first inning, got everybody kind of on their heels there.'


There is plenty of blame to go around for the team's current malaise. The rotation has compiled a 6.30 ERA with just two quality starts in the 1-5 stretch, the usually stellar defense has committed 10 errors, including four on Saturday, and the offense is batting .189 with runners in scoring position.


With all those facets struggling, Tillman's turn in the rotation is coming at an opportune time. The right-hander has quietly been one of the best starting pitchers in the AL, going 5-0 with a 1.94 ERA in his last seven starts while completing at least six innings in each.


Tillman (6-1, 2.61 ERA) was very good again Tuesday against the Astros, yielding two runs and three hits in seven innings of a 3-2, 13-inning loss.


He won both starts last season against the Indians, allowing two runs over 13 1/3 innings.


Cleveland (26-21) put Saturday's game away early, scoring four runs in the first and building a 7-0 lead after three innings. Yan Gomes drove in three runs and Mike Napoli added two RBIs to help the Indians move into first in the AL Central for the first time since they won on opening day in 2014. They are there despite missing outfielder Michael Brantley and right-hander Carlos Carrasco because of injuries.


'There's people filling in,' Napoli said. 'It's going to take all of us to do this. We've done a good job of sticking together.'


Mike Clevinger (0-1, 8.71) tries a third time for his first major league victory. The 25-year-old's first two starts came on the road and weren't particularly impressive. After allowing four runs over 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision at Cincinnati on May 18, Clevinger gave up six runs and seven hits - including two homers - in 5 1/3 innings of a 7-6 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Monday.


"Early, I felt like I had a lot of stuff," Clevinger said. "I felt like all four pitches were working. I just kind of made some mistakes in high-leverage situations."


Right-handed batters are 8 for 19 against Clevinger, which could bode well for Baltimore's Mark Trumbo, who is 7 for 17 with two homers in his past four games.


Indians right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall was removed from Saturday's game in the fifth inning due to blurred vision. His status is uncertain.

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Preview: Yankees (23-25) at Rays (22-25)


Game: 3
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: May 29, 2016 1:10 PM EDT


Amid one of his best stretches, Nathan Eovaldi no longer needs to rely on his blazing fastball while trusting his other pitches.


The right-hander has won a career-best four straight starts going in the New York Yankees' decisive series finale Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.


Eovaldi (5-2, 3.95 ERA) is among the major league leaders with a fastball averaging 96.9 mph. Blowing hitters away was important to Eovaldi for most of his career, but lately he has learned to have faith in the rest of his repertoire.


"I think the days that he pitches well (happen) when he mixes (his pitches)," manager Joe Girardi told MLB's official website. "You can't just rely on (the) fastball in this league, because guys will catch up and make adjustments."


Since going 1-2 with a 5.46 ERA in his first five starts, Eovaldi has a 2.16 ERA while winning the last four. He allowed two hits in six-plus innings of a 6-0 victory over Toronto on Tuesday.


"Something's working," catcher Andy Romine said. "When you talk to the guy, it's whatever you need to throw to get a guy out is what we're going to throw.


"I know people are saying he throws 100 and stuff like that, but I think he's just (thinking) along the lines of, 'Let's get everybody out and let's do it quick.'"


Eovaldi hopes to fare batter this year against the Rays (22-25) after posting a 4.97 ERA in losing both 2015 matchups.


He will try to give New York (23-25) more of a chance than Michael Pineda did while yielding six runs and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings of Saturday's 9-5 defeat.


Hank Conger had a three-run homer for one of his three hits and Evan Longoria belted a two-run shot as Tampa Bay snapped a three-game losing streak to win for the second time in eight contests.


The Rays also matched their run total from the previous four games.


"This is what we're capable of,' Longoria said. 'We've shown it in spurts. The thing for us is continue to believe we're capable of afternoons like (Saturday).'


Longoria's two hits Saturday matched his total over 19 at-bats from his previous five games.


Jake Odorizzi (2-2, 3.46) has allowed two runs while winning his last two starts but completed only five innings in each and walked a combined seven. The right-hander overcame three walks by yielding only two hits and fanning seven during a scoreless effort in Tuesday's 4-3 victory at Miami.


Despite failing to reach the sixth inning for a third consecutive start, Odorizzi was pleased with his overall effort earlier this week.


"The way I felt after five innings, regardless of the pitch count, I felt like my stuff didn't drop off from pitch 1 to 107," he said.


Odorizzi, 3-4 with a 5.40 ERA in eight starts against the Yankees, pitches at home for the first time since allowing five runs on three homers in four innings of a 6-3 loss to Oakland on May 13.


Brian McCann is 12 for 20 with three home runs, three doubles and a triple against him. McCann, though, is hitless over 12 at-bats in four games and 2 for 24 in his last seven.


Carlos Beltran is 2 for 12 against Odorizzi, but he's homered in back-to-back games and four times while recording 12 RBIs in his last nine.

[TheGame]

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Preview: Cardinals (26-24) at Nationals (29-21)


Game: 4
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: May 29, 2016 1:35 PM EDT


The Washington Nationals have set a franchise record by winning Stephen Strasburg's last 14 starts. Now he'd like to break a pair for himself.


The longest winning streak and best start to a season are those club marks within reach for Strasburg on Sunday when he faces the visiting St. Louis Cardinals.


The Nationals have dropped five of their last eight games, including two straight, but haven't lost one started by Strasburg since Sept. 9. His dominance dates back even further because since coming off the disabled list June 23, his 2.22 ERA is topped only by Jake Arrieta (1.18) and Clayton Kershaw (1.40).


Strasburg now can match Arrieta for the best record in baseball at 9-0, something no pitcher in his franchise's history has achieved. Pedro Martinez had been the last to begin 8-0 in 1997. Strasburg also can break a tie for the franchise-record winning streak, having won 11 consecutive decisions just as Dennis Martinez did in 1989 and Livan Hernandez in 2005.


'It means he's one of the best out there and he's pitching like it,' manager Dusty Baker said. 'A lot of people say the wins don't matter, but they matter to the guys on the team and matter to the person getting the wins.'


A big reason the wins keep coming is Washington has averaged 6.7 runs in his 10 starts. Strasburg certainly has done his part, posting a 2.79 ERA while his 11.44 strikeouts per nine innings rank second in baseball.


He had 21 strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings in his last two starts, beating the New York Mets in both while allowing three runs.


"Adjectives are tough to describe how well he's thrown the ball this year," second baseman Daniel Murphy told MLB's official website. "I'm glad he's on my side. And he's just been unbelievable."


The Cardinals have already seen it. They got two runs and four hits off Strasburg in the first inning April 29, but he held them to no runs and four hits through the next six in a 5-4 victory.


'That's their M.O. They're going to come out hacking and hunting the heaters,' Strasburg said after his first win in five starts versus St. Louis despite a 2.76 ERA.


The Cardinals lead the NL with 68 homers and are among the leaders with 176 walks after drawing four apiece off Max Scherzer and Gio Gonzalez in the last two days and defeating both. Matt Holliday, 6 for 12 against Strasburg, homered in Saturday's 9-4 win and Matt Carpenter had an RBI double after missing two games for the birth of his first child.


Carpenter started at first instead of his usual third base as Greg Garcia remained there. Garcia has reached base in eight of 10 plate appearances, including three hits Saturday, since being called up when Carpenter was put on the paternity list.


"I had these visions of, 'What can you do to stay?'" Garcia said Saturday after Ruben Tejada was designated for assignment rather than him being sent down.


Michael Wacha (2-5, 5.04) is pitching like he belongs in the minors. A 17-game winner in 2015, Wacha is the first St. Louis pitcher to lose five straight decisions since Joel Pineiro in 2009 and the first to allow at least six runs in three consecutive starts since Mike Maroth in 2007. He's given up 20 runs and 24 hits in 12 innings during that span.


The right-hander allowed a career-worst eight runs in four innings of a 12-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday.


'I feel like I'm on time for an inning, two innings, and then, you know, something gets out of whack,' he said. 'I don't know if I'm trying too hard.'


The good news for Wacha is he has an 0.79 ERA in three matchups with the Nationals, striking out 22 in 22 2/3 innings.


Washington has hit six homers through three games of this series, including two by Ryan Zimmerman and one by Bryce Harper on Saturday. Zimmerman tied a career high with four hits to break an 0-for-11 slump, and Harper hit his second homer in three games after going 11 straight without one.

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Preview: Reds (16-33) at Brewers (22-27)


Game: 3
Venue: Miller Park
Date: May 29, 2016 2:10 PM EDT


Poised to keep their frustration in check, the Cincinnati Reds rallied to end their lengthy slide and deliver something positive to build on.


Following their first victory in almost two weeks, the Reds can claim their initial winning road series of the season Sunday against the Milwaukee Brewers.


In a game that featured six hit batters and the ejection of Cincinnati starter Alfredo Simon, the Reds (16-33) overcame a 6-1 deficit to snap an 11-game losing streak with Saturday's 7-6 victory. Cincinnati scored five runs in the seventh inning and went ahead in the ninth after an inning-ending double play was overturned by a review.


"It takes a weight off your back, it's fun when you can do that," outfielder Adam Duvall told MLB's official website. "Hopefully we can keep things rolling."


Though both clubs said nobody was intentionally thrown at, it would be easy for Cincinnati to unravel considering its current state. However, the Reds maintain they haven't become consumed by losing.


"The record doesn't show how much effort and hard work we put in and how we pick each other up," said outfielder Tyler Holt, who had two hits with a RBI. "With that being said, it's day to day, and we know we have to get better as a team and some things will happen for the good."


Duvall has seven RBIs while homering in two straight games, and four in his last six. He's gone deep in three straight against the Brewers, and has 11 RBIs over his last six in the series.


Though Brandon Finnegan (1-3, 3.97 ERA) hasn't won since April 16, he gave up a run in eight innings of a 1-0 loss against Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday. The Reds have scored three runs in the last three with the left-hander on the mound.


Despite the defeat, Reds manager Bryan Price knows Finnegan's effort was progress made.


"We talk about how we're building our team, Price said. "The first thing we've got to do is get the building blocks here."


Finnegan allowed five runs - three earned - with four coming off home runs by Ryan Braun, Jonathan Lucroy and Aaron Hill over five-plus innings of a 13-7, 10-inning home loss to Milwaukee (22-27) on May 7.


Hill, who homered twice in Friday's 9-5 win, is 7 for 10 in three games. He's 12 for 23 with five home runs and 11 of his 20 RBIs in six against the Reds this season.


Lucroy has a homer with three RBIs in each of the first two of the set, and should be behind the plate to catch Jimmy Nelson (4-3, 2.92).


The right-hander has been brilliant while posting a 1.27 ERA in his last three starts, but is 0-1 while receiving two runs of support in those contests. He gave up a run and struck out eight in six innings of Tuesday's 2-1 win at Atlanta.


"I've always taken pride in battling and giving us a chance to win no matter how good or bad I feel," Nelson said.


Though the outcome was positive for Milwaukee, Nelson didn't really do so opposite Finnegan on May 7. He allowed six runs and eight hits over five innings of that contest.


Jay Bruce, who had two hits Saturday, is 7 for 17 against Nelson.

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Preview: White Sox (27-23) at Royals (26-22)


Game: 4
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: May 29, 2016 2:15 PM EDT


If last year's postseason didn't prove that no lead is safe against the Kansas City Royals, the last two games unquestionably have.


After delivering the largest ninth-inning comeback in franchise history, the ever-resilient Royals look to continue their mastery over the reeling Chicago White Sox in Sunday's finale of a three-game series.


Kansas City overcame a four-run deficit after 5 1/2 innings to win Friday's opener 7-5, then topped that feat with a incredible late rally Saturday. Trailing by six entering the ninth, the Royals scored seven times to come away with an improbable 8-7 victory.


Four of the runs came with two out, with Brett Eibner's bases-loaded single completing the comeback. The rookie collected his first major league hit with a seventh-inning double that sparked Friday's rally.


The clubhouse mood wasn't entirely jovial, however, after the Royals were dealt another injury to a key player. Catcher Salvador Perez exited with a knee injury after colliding with teammate Cheslor Cuthbert on a foul popup in the top of the ninth.


Perez, who went 0 for 3 to have a 12-game hitting streak end, underwent an MRI following the game. His injury comes less than a week after Kansas City lost third baseman Mike Moustakas to a season-ending torn ACL from a collision with Alex Gordon, who broke a bone in his right wrist and is expected to miss a month.


'We won the game, but that will be the more important win if we find out nothing serious with him happened," first baseman Eric Hosmer said. "Salvy is our guy. He's the leader of this team. He's an All-Star. He's everything. When you see a guy like that goes down, it fires you up."


Kansas City (26-22), which recorded eight comeback wins during last year's run to a World Series title, also has been without designated hitter Kendrys Morales for the last three games due to a sprained finger.


Another hurdle awaits in the finale in the form of Chris Sale (9-1, 2.26 ERA), though the Royals may be catching the Chicago ace at the right time. The standout left-hander had his season-opening nine-start winning streak snapped when he was tagged for six runs in 3 1/3 innings in Tuesday's 6-2 loss to Cleveland.


Sale had allowed six earned runs total over his previous seven outings and yielded two in complete games against the Yankees and Houston in his two prior starts.


He hasn't fared particularly well recently against Kansas City, nor have the White Sox as a team. They've lost six of the last seven meetings and are 14-29 in the series since 2014.


Sale is 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA over his last three meetings with Kansas City and several Royals have hit him well. Alcides Escobar is hitting .385 off him and Lorenzo Cain .349 with three homers.


Chicago (27-23) has lost a season-high five straight and 13 of its last 17.


'It's tough, especially after (Friday),' manager Robin Ventura said. 'As difficult as (Friday) was, you get yourself some runs and get into a position where you can earn a win. Then that last inning, a couple walks, a tipped ball, things like that. You can't close it out, and you get punished like that."


Edinson Volquez (5-4, 3.67) tries to extend Chicago's misfortune and earn a third win in four starts. He's coming off Tuesday's 6 2/3-inning stint at Minnesota in which he allowed two earned runs in a 7-4 victory.


Volquez went 1-2 with a 1.80 ERA in four 2015 starts against the White Sox, receiving nine runs of support in those games.

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Preview: Phillies (26-23) at Cubs (33-14)


Game: 3
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: May 29, 2016 2:20 PM EDT


The Chicago Cubs are hitting with authority again following a temporary slump. It's a trend John Lackey would like to see continue.


Chicago hopes to provide Lackey with the support he hasn't had lately when the NL leaders attempt to sweep the offensively challenged Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday.


After mustering six runs during a season-high three-game losing streak May 21-23, Chicago (33-14) has returned to its heavy-hitting ways in winning its last four. The Cubs are batting .307 with six homers and 31 runs during the surge while posting a .529 slugging percentage, compared to .332 during the skid.


Chicago homered three times in a 6-2 win in Friday's opener of this three-game set, then put up three early runs en route to Saturday's 4-1 victory. Dexter Fowler delivered a leadoff homer, and Ben Zobrist added an RBI double in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to 13 games.


Lackey (4-2, 3.38 ERA) has not had the luxury of significant offensive help during a three-start winless stretch in which opponents have hit .162 against him. The veteran right-hander threw eight sharp innings in a 1-0 loss to San Diego on May 11 and took a no-decision in a 2-1 win at Milwaukee a week later, though he couldn't hold a 3-1 lead in his most recent outing.


The former Cardinal limited St. Louis to one run over six innings Monday, but surrendered a game-tying two-run homer to Matt Adams in the seventh that helped send the Cubs to a 4-3 loss.


'When you're playing tight and close games, low-scoring games like that, one pitch can be the difference and it was (Monday) for sure,' said Lackey, who struck out nine while yielding just four hits.


Lackey has produced a 2.25 ERA over a stretch of five straight quality starts and could be in line for another against Philadelphia (26-23), which has scored two or fewer runs in five of its last eight games while going 2-6. The Phillies are second-to-last in the majors in runs and homers.


They were held to five hits Saturday in Kyle Hendricks' second career complete game, a near-shutout spoiled by Freddy Galvis scoring from third when Ryan Howard struck out on a pitch in the dirt in the ninth.


'I don't want to take anything away from Hendricks because he is a damn good pitcher and I like him a lot,' manager Pete Mackanin said. 'But I feel like we took pitches we should've hit and we swung at pitches we shouldn't have swung at.'


Philadelphia fell to 1-4 on a six-game trip that began with Vince Velasquez's shortest start of the season, four-plus innings in which the talented right-hander surrendered three solo homers and a season-high nine hits Monday at Detroit.


Velasquez (5-1, 2.75) had allowed three homers over his first eight starts and was coming off a strong outing against Miami on May 17, recording 10 strikeouts over five scoreless innings in a 3-1 win.


The 23-year-old enters his first meeting with Chicago sporting a 4.50 ERA on the road compared to 0.74 at Citizens Bank Park.


Velasquez will face a red-hot hitter in Zobrist, batting .451 over his streak following Saturday's 2-for-4 effort.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 5/29

Preview: Pirates (28-20) at Rangers (28-21)


Game: 3
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: May 29, 2016 3:05 PM EDT


While Francisco Liriano hopes to clean up his road issues to get the Pittsburgh Pirates back on track, Martin Perez hopes his home dominance leads to another series win for the Texas Rangers.


The Rangers will go for their seventh victory in nine games one day after ending the Pirates' five-game winning streak when they close this interleague series Sunday.


Pittsburgh (28-20) came within one game of matching a season-high run with Friday's 9-1 victory, but Texas (28-21) evened the series with Saturday's 5-2 win and ended a four-game skid to the Pirates.


Yu Darvish struck out seven in five strong innings in his first start in the majors in almost 22 months, and Adrian Beltre belted a two-run homer to become the fourth third baseman with at least 1,500 RBIs. Beltre has five RBIs and five hits over the last three games.


Though Liriano takes the ball with momentum from his last two starts, he also carries in a five-game road resume that includes a 1-2 record and 7.00 ERA.


After a dismal outing against the MLB-leading Chicago Cubs in which he gave up eight runs in 4 2/3 innings May 13, Liriano (4-3, 4.30 ERA) regrouped at home. Between a 3-1 loss to Atlanta on May 18 and Tuesday's 12-1 win over Arizona, he surrendered just nine hits and three runs in 12 2/3 innings.


He gave up two hits and a run in 5 2/3 innings against the Diamondbacks, though he did walk five.


"The chase rates he's been able to create over the last three years with his changeup and slider are off the charts, because it looks like a strike," manager Clint Hurdle told MLB's official website. "I think this year there's been times where it just doesn't look like as much of a strike as the other times, and they're backing off."


Liriano's misstep against the Cubs was his only start of his last five allowing more than two runs.


The southpaw has won his last four starts against Texas with a 1.63 ERA but hasn't faced them since 2013. Beltre is the only current Rangers hitter with a home run off Liriano along with three doubles while batting .300 in 30 at-bats.


While Liriano has struggled on the road, Perez is 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA in five starts in Arlington.


Perez (2-4, 3.13) got his first win of May with another strong start Tuesday, tossing six innings in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels.


The left-hander had been 0-2 for the month despite a 2.59 ERA in four starts, and he dropped that number to 2.08 as he struck out six. He stranded the bases loaded in the sixth inning while facing the middle of the Angels' order.


'It was probably as calm as we've seen him in those type of situations all year long,' manager Jeff Banister said. 'Early on in the season, those type of situations he let speed up on him and seemed to get out of control and would lose the strike zone.'


Perez, whose run support average of 2.39 is the AL's worst, made his only career start against Pittsburgh in September 2013 when he gave up nine hits and four runs in five innings of a 5-4 loss.


Jordy Mercer (3 for 3, two doubles), Andrew McCutchen (2 for 3) and David Freese (3 for 9, double, triple) have fared well in the matchup.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 5/29

Preview: Astros (21-29) at Angels (22-27)


Game: 3
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Date: May 29, 2016 3:35 PM EDT


Nick Tropeano has improved steadily this month and hopes to keep climbing against the team that parted ways with him prior to last season.


The right-hander seeks his third straight win to lift the Los Angeles Angels to a series victory over the visiting Houston Astros on Sunday.


Los Angeles (22-27) won Friday's opener 7-2 before Houston (21-29) evened the set with Saturday's 4-2 victory. Dallas Keuchel pitched seven strong innings to snap a personal five-game skid and Jason Castro hit a go-ahead two-run homer as the Astros snapped a three-game losing streak to the Angels.


The Astros will try for their fifth victory in six games against a pitcher that made his MLB debut with them two seasons ago.


Tropeano (3-2, 2.86 ERA) made his first four big-league starts with Houston in 2014 but was traded to Los Angeles that November. After some success with the Angels following his call-up last September, the 25-year-old is starting to fit into their rotation nicely.


He's given up fewer runs with every start this month and allowed just one run in 13 2/3 innings over the last two, earning his first victories since his April 11 opener.


'I think in my past, I was trying to be too fine with my pitches," Tropeano said. "Trying to throw that perfect pitch instead of a quality pitch down in the zone early in the count.'


Tropeano held Texas to four hits over 6 2/3 scoreless innings in Monday's 2-0 win, striking out six. He has held opponents to two runs or fewer in seven of his nine starts.


'That's a great effort by Nick (Monday),' manager Mike Scioscia said. 'He has good stuff, and his stuff was consistent.'


He faced his former team Sept. 23, taking a no-decision in a 6-5 Angels win. He gave up four hits and two unearned runs in 4 1/3 innings, walking two and striking out five.


Houston will send out Doug Fister (4-3, 4.12), who fell one out short of his seventh consecutive quality start Tuesday. He held Baltimore to three hits and two runs in 5 2/3 innings of a 3-2, 13-inning win.


That victory opened a three-game winning streak for the Astros before they split the opening two games of this series.


In his last five starts, all Houston wins, Fister is 3-0 with a 3.09 ERA. He has a 2.86 ERA in nine career starts against the Angels, though the last was in 2013.


Mike Trout is 4 for 10 with a double against Fister, and Albert Pujols' lone hit in eight at-bats was a home run. Both Trout and Pujols went deep Saturday, but the Angels had only one other hit.


George Springer matched them with three hits and is batting .450 in five games since being moved into Houston's leadoff spot.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 5/29

Preview: Tigers (24-24) at Athletics (21-29)


Game: 3
Venue: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Date: May 29, 2016 4:05 PM EDT


While Rich Hill continues to pile up victories for the Oakland Athletics, Mike Pelfrey will try for a 10th time to earn his first win with the Detroit Tigers.


Hill looks to win a career-high fifth straight start in Sunday's decisive series finale against Pelfrey and the visiting Tigers.


One of the early feel-good stories of 2016, Hill (7-3, 2.18 ERA) has been the most productive member of Oakland's rotation in his first year with the team and first beginning a season as a starter since 2008.


'It's tough to even put into words,' manager Bob Melvin said. 'Every game right now that he goes out there, we have a great feeling we're going to win no matter what we're going through.'


The 36-year-old left-hander has yielded more than two earned runs in just two starts and only two home runs over 57 2/3 innings. His best outing of the season came Monday at Seattle when he didn't allow a walk in eight innings of a 5-0 victory.


Hill has a 1.61 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 44 2/3 innings over his last seven outings.


"He was outstanding," catcher Stephen Vogt told MLB's official website after Monday's performance. "He's given us a chance to win in every one of his starts this year."


Hill's first true gem of 2016 came April 26 at Detroit (24-24), allowing four hits and striking out eight in seven innings of a 5-1 win.


In that same contest, Pelfrey (0-4, 5.55) was tagged for five runs and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings to fall to 0-3 with an 11.05 ERA against the A's (21-29).


That was Pelfrey's fourth consecutive loss to begin the season, and though he's avoided losing since then, he hasn't had a quality start in seven straight outings. He gave up four runs and 11 hits in six innings of Monday's 5-4 victory over Philadelphia.


The right-hander will try to contain an Oakland group that broke out for its highest-scoring game of 2016 in Saturday's 12-3 rout. Danny Valencia and Josh Phegley each had three hits and Khris Davis clubbed a three-run homer for the A's, who had lost three straight and seven of eight.


'Hopefully this will be a huge momentum carrier for us,' winning pitcher Jesse Hahn said. 'Maybe this is the game from where our season takes off.'


Valencia was 2 for 23 in six games prior to Saturday.


Davis, who has hit all but three of his 14 home runs this month, is 6 for 15 with two home runs and five RBIs in the last four games.


'He's had a nice month,' Melvin said. 'And maybe he's not done yet. I had 11 in a year once, so I have nothing to compare it to.'


Davis is batting .346 in six games against the Tigers this season and went 2 for 3 off Pelfrey last month.


With a two-run homer for one of his two hits Saturday, Detroit's Victor Martinez is batting .435 with two home runs and seven RBIs in the past six. He is 1 for 8 against Hill.


Tigers manager Brad Ausmus returned to the team Saturday after missing the previous two games following the death of his mother then attending his daughter's high school graduation.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 5/29

Preview: Padres (20-30) at Diamondbacks (22-29)


Game: 3
Venue: Chase Field
Date: May 29, 2016 4:10 PM EDT


Though he barely made San Diego's rotation out of spring training, Drew Pomeranz has been one of the team's most pleasant surprises.


Now the left-hander will try to continue one of the best starts to a season in franchise history Sunday when the visiting Padres look to bounce back and take two of three from the Arizona Diamondbacks.


San Diego manager Andy Green took a chance on Pomeranz (4-4, 1.70 ERA) at the end of a shaky spring performance, naming him the fifth starter even though most believed he'd work out of the bullpen.


The 2010 first-round draft pick has since made his skipper look like a genius, leading the Padres (20-30) in wins and strikeouts (60). His ERA is second to Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers and only former San Diego Cy Young Award winners Randy Jones and Jake Peavy have posted lower marks through their first nine starts.


Pomeranz has allowed three runs over 31 innings in his last five outings. He gave up two hits and overcame a season-high four walks over seven shutout innings in Monday's 1-0 loss at San Francisco.


"Seven very strong innings - there's nothing more you can ask for," Green told MLB's official website. "(He) gave us an opportunity to win the baseball game. That's what you want out of your starting pitching."


Pomeranz seeks his fourth scoreless effort in five starts as the Padres try to avoid their 10th loss in 13 games. Their rally from a six-run deficit fell short in Saturday's 8-7 loss that evened the series.


The 27-year-old is 0-2 with a 7.91 ERA in seven appearances against the Diamondbacks, though this will be his first start since 2013.


Welington Castillo has gone 2 for 4 with a home run off him, while slugger Paul Goldschmidt is 4 for 9 with a homer and two doubles.


Goldschmidt had a two-run home run and a double Saturday and Michael Bourn went 3 for 4 with a triple and two RBIs as Arizona (22-29) held off San Diego in the ninth inning to end a four-game skid.


The Diamondbacks seek only their second back-to-back victories since a season high-tying five-game winning streak from May 6-10.


The offensive outburst was a welcome sign after they totaled 11 runs and went 4 for 32 with runners in scoring position during the slide.


Arizona hopes to continue that production for right-hander Archie Bradley (1-0, 7.84), who manager Chip Hale announced would be recalled from Triple-A Reno to replace the injured Shelby Miller.


Bradley ranks among Pacific Coast League leaders with a 1.99 ERA, but he's given up nine runs over 10 1/3 innings in two MLB starts.


The Padres had totaled 15 runs and hit .173 in losses in their previous 11 games before Yangervis Solarte and Melvin Upton Jr. teamed for four of the team's 10 hits Saturday.


Solarte has found a nice groove at the plate, going 6 for 14 with three homers, two doubles and seven RBIs in his last three games.


Matt Kemp went deep for the second straight contest and he's 6 for 16 with three homers in his last four meetings. His 33 homers versus Arizona are second among active players behind Adrian Gonzalez.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 5/29

Preview: Giants (31-20) at Rockies (23-25)


Game: 3
Venue: Coors Field
Date: May 29, 2016 4:10 PM EDT


After an offensive surge helped them get back to winning, the San Francisco Giants should feel confident about finally taking a series against the Colorado Rockies in Sunday's finale.


As the visiting Giants seek their 15th victory in 17 games, Johnny Cueto will try to extend an outstanding three-week stretch as well as a 19-inning scoreless streak against the Rockies.


San Francisco (31-20) fell to 3-5 in the season series with a 5-2 series-opening loss before scoring six runs in the eighth inning Saturday en route to a 10-5 victory at Colorado (23-25).


Brandon Belt went 3 for 5 with two doubles and Buster Posey hit a pair of three-run homers, including a tiebreaking shot in the eighth. Belt is batting .429 over a nine-game hitting streak against the Rockies, while Posey is batting .385 with 11 homers in 49 games at Coors Field.


'This is a park that allows you to (hit for power)," Posey said. 'Sometimes at home, those balls are tracked down in the gap.'


The NL West-leading Giants now hope to provide a similar outburst for Cueto (7-1, 2.38 ERA) as they seek their 12th win in 14 road games and first series victory over Colorado in three tries.


The right-hander has struck out 26 and walked five while going 3-0 with an 0.81 ERA over his last four starts. He also tied for the major league lead with his third complete game Monday when he threw a two-hitter in a 1-0 home victory over San Diego.


"If you look at his history, the guy's had a nice career. A great career," manager Bruce Bochy said. "He's got great savvy out there, along with great stuff."


The 30-year-old Cueto will try to become the ninth Giant to win at least eight of his first 11 starts of the season since the franchise moved to San Francisco and first since Shawn Estes in 1997.


He's 2-0 with a 1.11 ERA in his last four starts against the Rockies, including two at Coors. He gave up no runs and scattered eight hits over 8 1/3 innings in a 2-1, 13-inning home win May 7.


Gerardo Parra, Charlie Blackmon and Trevor Story each had two hits off him in that contest. Parra is hitting .344 with two home runs and three doubles in 32 career at-bats in the matchup.


Carlos Gonzalez went 3 for 5 with his seventh home run and Nolan Arenado was 2 for 5 with a double Saturday but Colorado's five-game home winning streak came to an end. Gonzalez is 12 for 25 with two homers over his last six.


Chris Rusin (1-2, 3.93) hopes to fare better than he did earlier this month against the Giants. He allowed seven runs and a career-high 13 hits over 4 1/3 innings, but received plenty of run support in a 17-7 win May 5.


He's shown improvement of late, giving up two runs over 10 2/3 innings in his last two games - including one relief appearance.


Posey is 5 for 11 lifetime off Rusin, while Gregor Blanco is 4 for 6, Brandon Crawford is 4 for 10 with a home run and Kelby Tomlinson is 5 for 10 with a homer and two doubles.


Denard Span's status is uncertain due to a sore right hip.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 5/29

Preview: Twins (14-34) at Mariners (28-20)


Game: 3
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: May 29, 2016 4:10 PM EDT


Neither Ricky Nolasco nor Taijuan Walker has picked up a victory in May, though the latter seems to be far closer to earning one.


Nolasco hopes to shake out of his month-long slump to lift the last-place Minnesota Twins to a series sweep of Walker's first-place Seattle Mariners on Sunday at Safeco Field.


Minnesota (14-34) took the first two games of this series, 7-2 on Friday and 6-5 on Saturday, and now seeks its 10th win in its last 13 games against Seattle (28-20).


Saturday's loss was especially excruciating for the Mariners after a wild finish. After having runners on first and third with nobody out in the ninth, Dae-Ho Lee hit a popup to right field that was not deep enough to score Shawn O'Malley from third. Seattle then ran itself into a game-ending double play with O'Malley caught off third base and Kyle Seager tagged out trying to advance to second.


The Twins will try to keep rolling against Nolasco, who has struggled mightily in May after posting a 3.25 ERA in April.


Nolasco (1-3, 5.54 ERA) is 0-3 with an 8.14 ERA in five starts this month, and his latest was an all-around disaster. The right-hander gave up a season-high six runs and eight hits in 2 2/3 innings of Monday's 10-4 loss to Kansas City.


It was the fourth time in three seasons with the Twins that Nolasco failed to make it out of the third inning, but the first time this year he didn't get through five.


'There was just no consistency with anything,' Nolasco said. 'Obviously that loss is on me. I feel healthy and I feel good and that's all I can ask for.'


Nolasco has faced the Mariners just twice during his 11-year career, the last meeting coming in 2014. He lost both with a 4.50 ERA.


Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz, Seth Smith and Chris Iannetta combine to hit .429 against Nolasco. Cruz has homered twice in seven at-bats against him and Smith has also taken Nolasco deep.


Walker (2-4, 2.70) hasn't won since April 25, and Seattle's defense didn't provide him any favors in Monday's 5-0 loss to Oakland. The 23-year-old held the Athletics scoreless for six innings before giving up a leadoff homer in the seventh, then two Mariners errors led to four unearned runs in the eighth.


'It's baseball. It's going to happen,' said Walker, who allowed only four hits and a walk in 7 1-3 innings. 'People are going to make errors. People are going to walk, get base hits."


Walker has lost four of his five starts in May with a 3.96 ERA. He has given up six home runs in his last four outings.


However, he was dominant in his lone career start against the Twins, a 6-1 victory July 31. Walker's only mistake in the complete-game effort was a home run by Miguel Sano. He matched a career high with 11 strikeouts while walking only one.


Sano leads Minnesota with 10 home runs and has gone deep in the last three games with six RBIs.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 5/29

Preview: Marlins (25-24) at Braves (14-34)


Game: 3
Venue: Turner Field
Date: May 29, 2016 5:05 PM EDT


As poor as the Atlanta Braves have played this season, they've somehow been at their best against the Miami Marlins.


Looking to give ace Julio Teheran his first home win of 2016, the Braves try to complete a second consecutive three-game sweep of the Marlins on Sunday.


Gordon Beckham hit a three-run homer and Nick Markakis had two RBIs as Atlanta secured its first winning home series by overcoming an early 2-0 hole to win 7-2 on Saturday.


The Braves (14-34) are averaging 3.2 runs on the season but 5.8 while going 5-0 against the Marlins, who won the final seven meetings of 2015.


"It's 0-5," Miami manager Don Mattingly told MLB's official website. "It tells you you're not playing good enough in those games to win games."


Markakis is 8 for 19 with eight RBIs against the Marlins in 2016, and Beckham is 6 for 16 with six RBIs.


Saturday marked the first time this season the Braves won two in a row at Turner Field, where they are 4-20.


"We show up every day and come to the park and work hard," Beckham said. "So we're not putting more pressure on ourselves than we already put on it.'


Teheran (1-4, 2.57 ERA) has a remarkable 0.89 ERA despite going 1-2 over his last six starts. During that stretch, he's allowed three earned runs over 19 innings in three games at Turner but has gone 0-1 while his teammates have totaled three runs. Atlanta has lost all six of his home starts in 2016.


The only run the right-hander has yielded in his last two starts overall came on a homer Tuesday, when he gave up two other hits and struck out 12 in seven innings of a 2-1 home loss to Milwaukee.


'I'm feeling confident right now,' he said. 'Everything is going the right way and the way that I want it to go. It's good when you feel like that.'


Facing the Marlins (25-24) for the first time this season, Teheran is 5-2 with a 2.71 ERA in 12 starts against them - 1-0 with a 2.53 ERA in five at home.


Marcell Ozuna is 10 for 27 with a home run against Teheran and batting .430 while hitting safely in 26 of 27 games. He's also reached base in a major league-leading 35 straight games.


Giancarlo Stanton is 4 for 27 off Teheran but homered twice, though he could miss a fifth consecutive contest with right side soreness.


Tom Koehler (2-5, 4.79) was roughed up for six runs and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings of a 6-4 loss to Atlanta on April 16. However, he has a 3.06 ERA in six starts at Turner Field.


Walks have plagued the right-hander of late, issuing five in each of his last three starts.


'Unacceptable,' he said after giving up three runs in five innings of Tuesday's 4-3 loss to Tampa Bay. 'It's something that we're looking at and seeing if we're just missing on pitches or if there's something in the delivery."


Koehler is 0-3 with a 5.00 ERA while the Marlins have lost all five of his May starts.


Markakis is 9 for 14 with two doubles against Koehler while A.J. Pierzynski is 8 for 17.