MLB Betting Info. 6/26

[TheGame]

Let the home plate umpire be your guide when wagering on baseball
By JOE FORTENBAUGH


On April 10, 2016 at the pitcher-friendly confines of AT&T Park, southpaw Scott Kazmir of the Los Angeles Dodgers and World Series champion Johnny Cueto of the San Francisco Giants took the mound for their respective clubs in an N.L. West blood feud that featured an over/under of 7.5 runs.


The 32-year-old Kazmir, who had posted an incendiary 2.38 ERA in 18 starts with the Oakland Athletics last summer before being shipped to Houston at the trade deadline, entered his April 10 showdown against Cueto with a 1-0 record thanks to a 3-0 victory in San Diego just five days prior in which the lefty blanked the Padres for six innings while surrendering only one hit.


Cueto, who signed a six-year, $130 million deal with San Francisco last December, also entered that April 10 matchup with a 1-0 record due to a brilliant Orange & Black debut in Milwaukee in which he limited the Brewers to just one run on six hits over seven solid innings of work en route to a 2-1 victory.


So the stage has been set: Two talented and accomplished starting pitchers taking the mound on a Sunday afternoon in a ballpark that allowed fewer home runs than any other venue in baseball last season with a Las Vegas over/under of 7.5. This sort of feels like a game in which we might lean to the under, doesn’t it?


Hopefully all of you passed on that instinct because over bettors were celebrating a win after just three innings of baseball in which Kazmir and Cueto both allowed five runs to cross home plate in what eventually became a wild 9-6 victory for the Giants.


So how exactly did two of the game’s more accomplished starting pitchers find themselves so bruised and battered in the box score so quickly while playing at AT&T Park?


There are several reasons, actually, for what went down on April 10 ranging from Cueto’s potential nerves in his home debut for the Giants to Kazmir’s issues with consistency to two talented and highly productive lineups.


But the one reason that tends to slip between the cracks when trying to explain an anomaly game such as this one has to do with the man in the mask behind home plate.


Yes, I’m talking about the umpire.


When betting on baseball, whether it be the side, run line or total, it is essential to research and evaluate the man tasked with differentiating balls and strikes. On April 10 in San Francisco, that man was Alan Porter, who was behind the plate for 29 games during the 2015 Major League Baseball season. And in those 29 games, the over went 15-11-3 with an average of 8.79 runs scored per contest. But for those of you who are willing to go the extra mile, your research would have indicated that in games featuring an over/under of exactly 7.5 runs during the 2015 season with Porter behind the plate, the over went 6-3.


So far during the 2016 campaign, the over is 9-5 with an average of 9.86 total runs scored per game with Porter behind the plate.


This isn’t to suggest that Porter’s presence on April 10 was the sole reason the over hit in such immediate fashion, but it does help to partially explain why a matchup between Johnny Cueto and Scott Kazmir at AT&T Park could go from being viewed as a pitcher’s duel to a shootout in such a short span of time. More importantly, however, it helps to reinforce the point of how essential it is to study the umpire assignments before placing each and every MLB bet you consider.


Entering Saturday’s slate of action, with the 2016 MLB regular season approximately 46% complete, here’s a breakdown of some key umpire date that will prove useful in your baseball handicapping:


TOP FIVE OVER UMPIRES


Brian Gorman: 7-2 (.778), 9.8 runs per game
Jerry Meals: 10-3 (.769), 10.7 runs per game
Bill Welke: 10-3 (.769), 9.4 runs per game
Bill Miller: 12-4 (.750), 9.3 runs per game
Jerry Layne: 8-3 (.727), 9.3 runs per game


TOP FIVE UNDER UMPIRES


Eric Cooper: 9-2 (.818), 5.9 runs per game
Mark Ripperger: 11-3 (.786), 5.6 runs per game
Todd Tichenor: 10-3 (.769), 6.0 runs per game
D.J. Reyburn: 8-3 (.727), 5.7 runs per game
Larry Vanover: 8-3 (.727), 7.9 runs per game


TOP FIVE HOME UMPIRES


Bill Welke: 11-2 (.846), 9.4 runs per game
Clint Fagan: 10-2 (.833), 11.7 runs per game
Fieldin Culbreth: 10-3 (.769), 8.8 runs per game
Ted Barrett: 12-4 (.750), 10.1 runs per game
Bill Miller: 12-4 (.750), 9.3 runs per game


TOP FIVE ROAD UMPIRES


Adam Hamari: 11-2 (.846), 9.0 runs per game
Tom Hallion: 10-3 (.769), 7.9 runs per game
Jim Reynolds: 10-3 (.769), 9.1 runs per game
Ryan Blakney: 10-4 (.714), 9.1 runs per game
Andy Fletcher: 9-5 (.642), 9.1 runs per game

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/26

MLB roundup: Indians extend win streak to eight
By The Sports Xchange


DETROIT -- Carlos Carrasco pitched a four-hit shutout while getting two home runs from Francisco Lindor and one each from Carlos Santana and Yan Gomes on Saturday to help the surging Cleveland Indians to a 6-0 victory that was their eighth straight win overall and eighth in as many games with the Detroit Tigers.
Carrasco (3-2) only saw two Detroit runners get as far as second base -- on doubles in the first and fifth innings -- as he struck out seven and walked one. He threw 117 pitches in his third career shutout.
Cleveland jumped on Detroit starter Anibal Sanchez right away, getting two solo home runs in the first inning en route to a 4-0 lead. Santana whacked a hanging 0-1 slider for his 16th home run of the season and third from the leadoff spot. Two batters later, Lindor ambushed a flat 2-1 spitter for his ninth home run of the year.
Lindor added his second of the game and 10th this season in the eighth, a long fly ball to right off Mark Lowe. Lowe also gave up Gomes' home run, his eighth of the season, with one out in the ninth.


Mets 1, Braves 0 (11 innings)
ATLANTA -- Pinch hitter Kelly Johnson hit a solo home run to lead off the 11th inning and give New York a shutout win over Atlanta at Turner Field.
Johnson, who was acquired from the Braves on June 8, hit a 3-1 pitch from reliever Dario Alvarez off the top of the right-field fence to break a scoreless tie. It was Johnson's third homer of the year, his second with Mets.
Jeurys Familia pitched a scoreless bottom of the 11th to earn his league-leading 26th save.


Marlins 9, Cubs 6
MIAMI -- Giancarlo Stanton and Justin Bour drove in three runs each as Miami defeated Chicago at Marlins Park.
The Marlins entered the fifth inning trailing 4-3 but took control with a four-run inning. Martin Prado had a tying single, Stanton had a go-ahead single and Bour had an RBI double.
Marlins closer A.J. Ramos, who inherited one runner in the ninth, got the last two outs for his 24th save of the season. Dating to last season, he has 33 consecutive saves, which ties Steve Cishek for the franchise record.
Miami has won two of three games in the series, which concludes Sunday. Chicago has suddenly slumped, losing five of its past six games.


Brewers 6, Nationals 5
MILWAUKEE -- Chris Carter hit a three-run homer and Matt Garza picked up his first victory of the season as Milwaukee extended Washington's losing streak to a season-high seven games.
Jonathan Villar had three hits and stole his 26th base of the season and Aaron Hill had two hits for the Brewers, who won their third in a row.
Milwaukee inflicted most of its offensive damage against Nationals right-hander Gio Gonzalez (3-7), who lasted just three innings and allowed six runs on six hits and a walk while striking out five. Back-to-back singles by Villar and Hill set the stage for Carter's first-inning blast -- his 19th of the year -- that gave Milwaukee a 3-0 lead.


Yankees 2, Twins 1
NEW YORK -- Starlin Castro's ground ball off shortstop Eduardo Escobar's glove allowed the tiebreaking run to score with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, lifting New York over Minnesota.
The Yankees went ahead in the eighth against Ryan Pressly (2-4). Alex Rodriguez, who heard boos for two strikeouts and flied out to right on a 3-and-0 count for the final out of the fifth, opened the inning with a slow roller that went for an infield hit when third baseman Eduardo Nunez could not make a play.
Brian McCann's single into right field put runners at first and third for Mark Teixeira. Batting from the left side of the plate, Teixeira fouled off four straight full count pitches before hearing boos for a strikeout on the 10th pitch. On the next pitch with the Twins playing the infield in, Castro hit a hard grounder that deflected off the front of Escobar's glove for an error, allowing pinch runner Aaron Hicks to score the tiebreaking run.


Orioles 5, Rays 0 (Game 1)
BALTIMORE -- Kevin Gausman pitched 7 2/3 innings of four-hit ball to pick up his first win this season as Baltimore extended Tampa Bay's losing streak to nine games in the first game of a doubleheader.
Gausman (1-5) struck out seven without a walk, tying a career-high with 113 pitches. He lowered his ERA from 4.37 to 3.93.
J.J. Hardy, Manny Machado, Adam Jones and Jonathan Schoop each had two hits for the Orioles.


Orioles 8, Rays 6 (Game 2)
BALTIMORE -- Chris Davis homered and later singled in the go-ahead run, and Matt Wieters banged out two homers as Baltimore hit four blasts overall en route a victory over Tampa Bay to complete a sweep.
The Orioles have won four straight games, including the first three of this series and sit a season-high 14 games over .500. Tampa Bay has dropped 10 in a row.
It's a big victory for the Orioles, who head out on a long West Coast trip after Sunday's series finale.


Blue Jays 10, White Sox 8
CHICAGO -- Edwin Encarnacion drove in four runs as Toronto outlasted Chicago.
The Blue Jays earned just their second victory in six games despite the White Sox's season-high seven home runs, all solo blasts. R.A. Dickey (5-8) gave up five runs -- four earned -- in 5 1/3 innings. Roberto Osuna earned his 15th save.
Miguel Gonzalez (1-3) allowed a season-high eight runs and 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings.


Rockies 11, Diamondbacks 6
DENVER -- Tony Wolters went 3-for-3 with a double and his first career home run to lead Colorado over Arizona.
Wolters had a career-high four RBIs and tied his career high with three hits as the Rockies broke a three-game losing streak and won for just the third time in nine games. The Diamondbacks lost for just the second time in nine games and fourth time in their past 14 games.


Padres 3, Reds 0
CINCINNATI -- Drew Pomeranz starred at the plate and on the mound, hitting a homer, driving in two runs and pitching seven shutout innings to lift San Diego over Cincinnati at Great American Ball Park.
Pomeranz (7-7) allowed three hits as the Padres took the first three games of the four-game weekend series.


Pirates 6, Dodgers 1
PITTSBURGH -- Andrew McCutchen led a five-run sixth inning that powered Pittsburgh to a win against Los Angeles at PNC Park.
After the Pirates surrendered a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth, McCutchen cracked his second home run of the game, his 11th of the season, over the left-field wall with two men on and no outs in the bottom half of the inning. Right-hander Kenta Maeda, who allowed two hits in his previous five innings, served up a four-seam fastball that McCutchen turned into a 4-1 lead to chase Maeda from the game.
Saturday marked McCutchen's 11th career multi-home run game and his second of the season, with the other coming April 26 against the Colorado Rockies. McCutchen, the 2013 National League MVP, has struggled this season and particularly in recent weeks, as have the Pirates.


Astros 13, Royals 5
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Jose Altuve homered and had two doubles in his career 15th four-hit game as Houston blasted Kansas City.
It was the second straight game the Astros scored 13 runs. They have won seven consecutive games and are 19-7 in their past 26 games.
The Royals used catcher Drew Butera in the ninth for the final two outs. It was the fourth time Butera has pitched in the majors, the previous being May 17, 2014 while with the Los Angeles Dodgers at Arizona.


Phillies 3, Giants 2
SAN FRANCISCO -- Cameron Rupp capped a three-run seventh inning against San Francisco Giants ace Madison Bumgarner with a two-run home run, propelling the Philadelphia Phillies into a 3-2 victory Saturday night.
Right-hander Jeremy Hellickson (5-6) and three relievers combined to limit the Giants to six hits, helping the Phillies beat the Giants for just the second time in their last 10 meetings.
The loss denied manager Bruce Bochy an 800th win in his Giants career. He was attempting to become just the third in Giants history to achieve the milestone.
Bumgarner, who lost a 1-0 decision to Pittsburgh in his previous start, took a two-hit shutout and 2-0 lead into the seventh inning before the Phillies rallied.


Rangers 10, Red Sox 3
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Texas jumped on Boston starter Steven Wright and shaky defense for eight runs on the way to a victory over the Red Sox.
Wright (8-5), the American League ERA leader entering the game, was tagged for eight runs (three earned) in 4 2/3 innings as the Rangers broke open the game by scoring five unearned runs in the fifth inning.
Texas took a 3-1 lead against Wright in the bottom of the fourth on a homer from Ian Desmond and a two-run single from Mitch Moreland.


Mariners 5, Cardinals 4
SEATTLE -- Seattle jumped out to a big early lead and held on to beat St. Louis.
Six singles over the first two innings allowed Seattle to pull out to a 5-0 lead before the Cardinals rallied to get within a run in the fifth.
Seattle relievers Mike Montgomery, Edwin Diaz and Steve Cishek finished off the game with four shutout innings to make the lead hold up as St. Louis managed only three hits after chasing Seattle starter Nathan Karns (6-2) after the fifth.
Cishek gave up a one-out double in the ninth but got the final two outs to earn his 17th save of the season.


Athletics 7, Angels 3
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Coco Crisp collected three hits, including two doubles, drove in two runs and scored four times to lead Oakland to a victory over Los Angeles in front of 40,643 at Angel Stadium.
Danny Valencia added three hits and three RBIs with a two-run homer and a run-scoring single as the A's posted their third successive win and their fourth in five games.
Left-hander Dillon Overton won his major league debut despite allowing three home runs. In 5 2/3 innings, Overton permitted three runs, seven hits and two walks while collecting three strikeouts and throwing 108 pitches.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/26

Preview: Twins (23-51) at Yankees (37-36)


Game: 3
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: June 26, 2016 1:05 PM EDT


NEW YORK -- The New York Yankees went over the .500 mark by getting big performances from their electrifying late-inning relief trio of Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman.


Now comes the difficult part, keeping a winning record when those three might be unavailable.


The Yankees will look to score enough runs to avoid making it an issue as they go for the three-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium.


The Yankees have opened the series with 5-3 and 3-2 victories and each member of the trio dubbed "No Runs DMC" on T-shirts and the "Holy Trinity of Smoke" by one New York tabloid has pitched. They are 12-0 when using those pitchers in the same game and 26-36 in all other games.


In the two games, they have combined to throw 67 pitches and retire 18 of 19 hitters.


"When you get to the bullpen you are basically done," said Minnesota shortstop Eduardo Escobar, who homered off Chapman last weekend.


They also have pitched in three straight games as manager Joe Girardi began using them Wednesday when the Yankees faced an 8-4 deficit before getting a 9-8 win over the Colorado Rockies.


Girardi has often shied away from using them in three straight games with this being an exception and it seems possible neither will pitch in a close game Sunday.


"You have to win today," Girardi said. "Tomorrow doesn't really mean anything. It does now when you look forward to it but obviously you have to win today."


The Yankees can make it a non-issue if their offense produces a big enough lead but, regardless of the score, they will be looking to get to two over at 38-36. New York went over the .500 mark for the second time this month when Carlos Beltran had an RBI single and Starlin Castro drove in a run by reaching on an eighth-inning error.


"We're confident in our team, we're confident that we're going to start playing better baseball," New York catcher Brian McCann said.


"I think we've had this conversation like four or five times this year," Beltran said. "Right now, honestly, what we want to do is be consistent, honestly. I think the .500 thing is something we're not paying attention. We just want to be out there and play consistent baseball and hopefully we can continue to win ballgames and continue to gain ground in our division."


The Yankees will have someone on the mound looking to improve on some recent performances when Nathan Eovaldi pitches.


Eovaldi is 6-4 with a 5.02 ERA and takes a 9.82 ERA over his last three starts in his second straight outing against the Twins. It is the highest ERA Eovaldi has posted in any month during his career which began in 2011 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. During his three starts this month, Eovaldi has allowed 26 hits in 14 2/3 innings and hitters are batting .356 (32-for-90) against him.


Eovaldi will be facing the Twins for the fourth time in his career. On Aug. 19 in New York, he took a perfect game into the sixth and allowed three runs and four hits in seven innings of a 4-3 win.


Joe Mauer had a two-run single against Eovaldi in that game and Trevor Plouffe had a run-scoring infield single.


Last Sunday when Eovaldi faced the Twins in Minnesota, he allowed four earned runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. He began the game with four scoreless innings before allowing a home run to Max Kepler, a two-run triple to Eduardo Escobar and a run-scoring single to Kurt Suzuki.


Besides trying to generate offense off Eovaldi, the Twins will hope to play better defense after making five errors in the first two games. Escobar had made three of those miscues and one by Mauer at first base Friday was compounded by Tommy Milone not covering first, marking the third time in a week Minnesota has seen a pitcher not cover first.


"It is frustrating. It shouldn't happen," Minnesota GM Terry Ryan said before Saturday's game. "It shouldn't happen once but it's happened three times in the same week. It's one of the reasons we are where we are, extra outs and too many pitches."


Minnesota right-hander Tyler Duffey will make his 12th start Sunday and hopes it goes longer than his last outing. On Tuesday, he allowed six hits on seven hits, including three home runs in three innings but did not get a decision when the Twins beat Philadelphia 14-10.


It marked the seventh straight start Duffey has allowed at least four earned runs and during those outings, he has a 9.17 ERA.


"If we have to get him back out there, we're going to have to figure out a way to get better," Twins manager Paul Molitor said.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/26

Preview: Cubs (48-25) at Marlins (40-35)


Game: 4
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: June 26, 2016 1:10 PM EDT


MIAMI -- There's no panic in the Chicago Cubs.


The Cubs are off to a great start overall at 48-25. Visions of ending their long championship drought are dancing in the hearts and minds of Cubbies fans everywhere.


But this current dry spell -- five losses in six games -- be cause for concern?


"No, not at all," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "If we were playing at full strength, with everybody out there, and things were normal, you could possibly get a little concerned. We're not a normal group right now. We'll get the guys back.


"In the meantime, if we can split a series, I'll take it."


Sure they will, given that they have already lost two of three to the Miami Marlins in this four-game set.


But getting a split will be more than difficult considering that the Marlins will be throwing ace Jose Fernandez (9-3, 2.36 ERA) at them Sunday.


Fernandez is good everywhere, but is nearly untouchable here with a 23-1 record and a 1.48 ERA at Marlins Park.


The Cubs start right-hander Jason Hammel (7-3, 2.55 ERA) in one of those rare games this year when Chicago is not the likely favored team.


Chicago, though, is still dangerous.


The Cubs entered Saturday with a 2.36 ERA for starting pitchers, which is far and away the best in the majors. The next-best rotation is that of the New York Mets (3.32).


Chicago also leads the NL in runs scored per game (5.25) and leads the majors in run differential (plus-160).


But as Maddon said, there are some concerning injuries. There are 10 Cubs players on the disabled list, including their starting outfield -- from left to right, Kyle Schwarber, Dexter Fowler and Jorge Soler.


Two starters -- catcher Miguel Montero and first baseman Anthony Rizzo -- came back from minor injuries Saturday. Both had missed two games.


As for the Marlins, they seem to play better against the good teams while struggling against some struggling squads such as the Atlanta Braves.


Miami on Sunday will likely be without star centerfielder Marcell Ozuna, who has a sore left wrist.


Other storylines to follow Sunday:


--Marlins closer A.J. Ramos will be looking for his 34th consecutive save, which would break the franchise record. He is tied with Steve Cishek at 33.


--Marlins outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, who had one hit Saturday, needs 16 to reach 3,000. Suzuki, 42, is hitting .345 and leads the team with seven steals.


--Marlins first baseman Justin Bour has homered in three games in a row, his best streak of the year. It's the fourth time he has done that in his career.


--Last year, the Marlins (40-35) didn't win their 40th game until July 22.


--Cubs shortstop Addison Russell, who hit a three-run homer on Saturday, is hitting .471 during a five-game hitting streak. He has seven homers this season.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/26

Preview: Padres (33-43) at Reds (28-47)


Game: 4
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: June 26, 2016 1:10 PM EDT


CINCINNATI -- The San Diego Padres are without center fielder Jon Jay, one of their better hitters against left-handed pitching throughout this weekend's series in Cincinnati.


But, no matter. Despite facing a trio of left-handers in each of the first three games, the Padres scored 23 runs.


On Friday night, Andy Green's club became the first team in franchise history to score runs in each of the first eight innings in a 13-4 victory. Saturday, they needed only three runs to shut out the Reds, assuring them of a series victory.


San Diego hasn't lost a season series against the Reds since 2012, going 15-6 against them since.


On Sunday, the Padres get a reprieve from lefties with right-hander Anthony DeSclafani making his fourth start since coming off the disabled list.


He'll be opposed by rookie right-hander Luis Perdomo (2-2, 9.00 ERA) as the Padres go for the sweep. He is making his fifth career start and 20th career appearance Sunday.


Green said as first baseman Wil Myers and right fielder Matt Kemp go, so go the Padres.


"We've always been driven by Matt and Wil," Green said. "When those guys are swinging the bats well, they kind of drive the bus for us."


Lately, it's been everyone up and down the lineup.


Catcher Derek Norris, who was batting .167 in mid-May, has hit safely in 14 of 19 games. Left fielder Melvin Upton Jr. is on pace for 23 homers and 34 stolen bases.


"Melvin Upton has been outstanding," Green said. "Those numbers are a rare feat."


Over 23 games this month, the Padres have hit .281 and averaged 5.7 runs while posting a 13-10 record.


San Diego's average is the best in the National League and second-best in the major leagues this month behind only the Detroit Tigers. The Padres' 132 runs also rank first among NL clubs and second in baseball behind only the Orioles.


DeSclafani will be looking to reverse that trend Sunday. DeSclafani, among the key elements in the Reds' rebuilding process, is 1-0 with a 2.30 ERA since returning from an oblique injury suffered late in spring training.


"He was such a big part of our rotation last year," said manager Bryan Price. "He was scheduled to be our Opening Day starter this year. It's good. He's put in a lot of hard work."


It will be another day of pomp and circumstance at Great American Ball Park on Sunday as the Reds continue the festivities honoring Pete Rose and the 1976 World Series championship club.


Prior to Sunday's game, the Reds plan to retire Pete Rose's No. 14. He is being inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in a gala Sunday night. Twenty members of the Reds Hall of Fame are participating in the weekend's festivities.


Rose is not eligible for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., because of his lifetime banishment for gambling on baseball.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/26

Preview: Indians (43-30) at Tigers (38-37)


Game: 3
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: June 26, 2016 1:10 PM EDT


DETROIT -- There isn't anything mysterious about it.


The Cleveland Indians are dominating the Detroit Tigers this season with their pitching.


Manager Terry Francona's team is getting a good start from just about everyone he sends out to face the Tigers this season.


And the starters manager Brad Ausmus is sending out to face the Indians haven't measured up.


Look at the scores:


--Cleveland took the first series from Detroit by scores of 2-1, 10-1 and 6-3. The second series was 7-3, 4-0, and 9-4.


The first two this weekend have been 7-5 and 7-0 with a matchup Sunday that features Detroit's Justin Verlander (7-5, 3.78 ERA) against Cleveland's Josh Tomlin (8-1, 3.32 ERA).


"When you run up against good pitching," Ausmus said, "it doesn't matter how well you're swinging the bats. Good pitching always trumps good hitting, simple as that."


The name recognition for Sunday's matchup goes to Verlander but the stat recognition belongs to Tomlin, who bested Verlander on May 3 in the 7-3 game.


Ausmus was reminding folks prior to the series that he believed his team would remember how Cleveland had handled it through their first six games. Now that run is up to eight.


"No, I wouldn't say it happens a lot," Ausmus said. "I agree with you. It doesn't happen a lot.


"Sometimes it just happens to be when you catch a team. I can't really explain it, but we do play them nine more times, so we'll see how it goes the rest of the way."


"We've got a lot of confidence," Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis said. "The guys are loose. One guy picks another guy up."


Francisco Lindor, who hit two home runs Saturday and has 10 this season, noted the quick-strike offense has helped Cleveland.


"Whenever we have our starters out there and we score in the first inning, it's huge for every single starter that we have,' Lindor said. "For the whole team. The chances of us winning, because of how good they are, how long they can go in the games, it's huge."


Carlos Carrasco pitched a four-hit shutout at Detroit on Saturday -- Cleveland's third complete game in its last four contests.


Said Lindor: "The thing about our starters is how consistent, how positive they are with each other. They push each other. They compete with each other. They want each other to be better."


Meantime, Detroit is holding open auditions among its starters to see if it can't get some consistent quality outings from the last two spots in the rotation.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/26

Preview: Mets (40-33) at Braves (25-49)


Game: 4
Venue: Turner Field
Date: June 26, 2016 1:35 PM EDT


ATLANTA -- When the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves finish their four-game series Sunday at Turner Field, they'll do it without a couple of their most highly prized prospects.


The Mets optioned outfielder Michael Conforto to Triple-A Las Vegas and the Braves optioned right-handed pitcher Aaron Blair to Triple-A Gwinnett. Each had been a regular contributor to the team, but both had suffered through a lack of success that threatened to strip away their confidence.


The starting pitchers for the final game of the four-game series features Atlanta right-hander Bud Norris (2-7, 4.69 ERA) against ageless New York right-hander Bartolo Colon (6-3, 3.00). New York has won two of the three games in this series.


Norris has pitched well since returning to the rotation. In his last four games, the veteran is 1-1 with a 2.82 ERA and has pitched at least five innings in each start. Norris has appeared in nine games (seven starts) against New York, going 1-3 with a 4.47 ERA in 48 1/3 innings.


Colon left his last start after throwing four pitches when he was struck in the thumb by a line drive. Colon declared himself fit and able to take his regular turn. Colon has been a nemesis to Atlanta, going 9-2 with a 2.44 ERA in 12 career starts against the Braves.


Much of the talk Saturday night, though, centered around the demotion of Conforto and Blair.


Conforto, the team's first-round draft pick in 2014, hit .270 with nine home runs in 56 games as a rookie in 2015 and was named to the Topps Rookie All-Star team. He started nine games in the postseason and hit three home runs.


"It's very tough ... upsetting," Conforto said. "I'm not having the success I know I can have."


Conforto had a great start in April, hitting .365 with four homers and 18 RBIs, but has struggled since. He has struggled for a month, going 8-for-75 in 25 games since May 24. He was 0-for-20 against left-handed pitchers dating to May 14. For the season Conforto was hitting .222 with 10 homers and 30 RBIs.


"I know I can play here. I know I've had success," Conforto sad. "I've got to find it again."


Blair was 3-0 and pitched seven-innings of no-hit ball in his last start at Triple-A Gwinnett before being promoted to Atlanta. He was acquired in a preseason trade with Arizona that sent Shelby Miller to the Diamondbacks and was considered to be major league ready.


Blair was shipped out after allowing eight runs in 4 1/3 innings against the Mets on Friday. Blair (0-5, 7.99) became the first Braves starter to lose the first five decisions of his career since Don Collins did it in 1977.


"He probably needs to take a step back and slow things down," Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. "He's got a pretty good idea of what he needs to do."


Opposing hitters were batting .305 against Blair, who had 29 strikeouts and 29 walks in 50 2/3 innings.


"He's not the first guy who has done this," Snitker said "We love the kid and he's going to be a big part of what we're doing here. He just needed to take a step back and evaluate where he's at."

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/26

Preview: Rays (31-42) at Orioles (44-30)


Game: 3
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: June 26, 2016 1:35 PM EDT


BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Orioles are looking to complete a four-game sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday before embarking on an extended West Coast road trip.


The Orioles took both games of a doubleheader on Saturday, handing the Rays a season-high 10th straight loss. The Orioles dominated first game 5-0 and then overcame a four-run deficit in the nightcap for an 8-6 win.


"Sometimes you go into it just hoping your pitching staff stays intact and you're able to split and live to fight another day," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "The tough part of it is, after you've won a game and you're kind of playing with house money."


Baltimore travels to San Diego on Tuesday to open the nine-game road trip that also includes games against the Mariners and Dodgers. Baltimore will enter that tough stretch confident after another successful homestand. The Orioles are a season-high 14 games over .500 (44-30).


"Playing nine innings," said Orioles catcher Matt Wieters, who had two homers in the second game Saturday. "It doesn't matter if we're up early or down early. We're going to play nine innings and see where we're at the end."


The Rays can attribute some of their woes to a roster that has been hampered with injuries. Tampa Bay has seven players currently on the disabled list, including four outfielders -- Brandon Guyer, Kevin Kiermaier, Mikie Mahtook and Steven Souza Jr.


Still, third baseman Evan Longoria insisted the team should be playing better.


"It's tough. There's no way around it right now," Longoria said. "We're not swinging the bats. We're asking a lot of some guys who don't have a whole lot of experience at the major league level. Obviously, it's about winning. We want to win. We come to the ballpark every day expecting to win. In this moment, we just have to trust in the process and trust it's going to get better.


The Rays are looking to get a boost with left-hander Drew Smyly, who has been dominant against the Orioles. Smyly has been especially effective at Camden Yards, where he is 2-0 with 0.82 ERA in four games (three starts). Over 22 innings in Baltimore, Smyly has allowed 12 hits, two earned runs, five walks and 25 strikeouts.


"I enjoy pitching everywhere," Smyly said. "I've had good success here. Hopefully, I can keep it going. It's always a pretty good atmosphere that gets the adrenaline going. It's usually a fun place to pitch."


Smyly will face another challenge from Baltimore's powerful lineup. The Orioles have slugged a major league-best 117 home runs this season. Smyly plans to remain aggressive.


"Most outs usually come down to one or two at-bats, a pitch here, a pitch there can change the outcome of the game," Smyly said. "This game changes quick. You just have to keep attacking and hope the ball falls your way."


The Orioles will counter with Tyler Wilson, who is looking to build on what has been a promising rookie campaign. Wilson is 3-5 with a 4.19 ERA, but has allowed just three runs over his past two outings (14 innings).

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/26

Preview: Nationals (43-32) at Brewers (34-40)


Game: 3
Venue: Miller Park
Date: June 26, 2016 2:10 PM EDT


MILWAUKEE -- The Washington Nationals will try to end their 10-game road trip on a high note and look to snap a seven-game losing streak Sunday afternoon when they wrap up a three-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.


They'll have to do it, though, without right-hander Stephen Strasburg, who will miss his second consecutive start with tightness in his upper back.


The Nationals originally announced that Strasburg would return to the rotation Sunday, but he experienced discomfort during warm-ups Saturday afternoon. After Washington's 6-5 loss to Milwaukee, Baker said Strasburg would be scratched.


"He went down to warm up and felt it again, (in the) same area," Baker said.


Instead, right-hander Tanner Roark (6-5, 3.18 ERA) will make his 15th start of the season. He's coming off his first loss in nearly a month after allowing three runs, six hits and a walk with five strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings in a 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers last week.


"I felt strong throughout the whole entire game," Roark said. "It was one pitch, so usually it boils down to one or two pitches, and it was one pitch tonight."


Roark was on a roll before that, going 4-1 with a 3.19 ERA in his previous six starts.


Milwaukee will counter with right-hander Jimmy Nelson (5-6, 3.80 ERA), who showed signs of snapping out of a June funk by holding the Oakland A's to a run, six hits and a walk in five innings in a 5-3 loss.


"I thought he got going there in the last couple of innings," Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. "The first three innings, he really had to work hard. He was behind a lot of hitters. But he made pitches when he to tonight. I thought he did a nice job. His command wasn't quite there yet but he got his way through it."


Nelson had been Milwaukee's best starter through the first two months of the season, going 5-3 with a 2.88 ERA in his first 11 outings. But in his first three June starts, he went 0-3 with a 9.69 ERA, allowing 14 earned runs in 13 innings.


After losing seven of eight to open a nine-game West Coast swing, the Brewers have won three straight overall. At home, they've won a season-high four straight and are fourth in the National League with 21 home victories this season.


"I think we've done a pretty good job here at home," Counsell said. "But we continue to do a nice job against starters -- particularly early in the game. Putting pressure on them and never letting them settle in. We've been good about that all year, at home and on the road."


A victory Sunday would give Milwaukee its first sweep of the Nationals since taking a three-game series at Miller Park on May 23-25, 2011.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/26

Preview: Blue Jays (41-35) at White Sox (37-38)


Game: 3
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: June 26, 2016 2:10 PM EDT


CHICAGO -- Chris Sale of the Chicago White Sox will try for a major leagueÂ*leading 13th victory when he takes the mound on Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays.


The leftÂ*hander tops the majors with 12 victories, ahead of Jake Arrieta of the Chicago Cubs, Johnny Cueto of the San Francisco Giants and Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who all have 11.


Sale went 13Â*11 with a 3.41 ERA last season. His careerÂ*best total for victories is 17, set in 2012, his first season as a starter.


Sale (12Â*2, 2.83 ERA) pitched one of his best outings of the season in his last start. He held the Boston Red Sox to a run and four hits in seven innings Tuesday at Fenway Park.


The White Sox (37Â*38) are 12Â*3 when their ace pitches. They were feeling good about the possibility of taking the threeÂ*game series with him starting.


"Big day, lot of pressure," starting pitcher Miguel Gonzalez said. "We've got Sale on the mound and have a pretty good chance of winning the ballgame."


The White Sox will try to bounce back after hitting seven home runs -- all solo shots -- in a 10Â*8 loss on Saturday.


"You were hoping there'd be a couple guys on (base)," manager Robin Ventura said. "I figured hopefully we could get some guys on there in the ninth and get one up in the wind and see what happened.


"I'm just glad the way the guys keep battling back offensively, and that's a good sign."


Sale allowed a run in eight innings on April 26 in his other start against Toronto this season, and he is 3Â*2 with a 2.25 ERA in four career starts against the Blue Jays.


Marcus Stroman (6Â*3, 5.23 ERA) is expected to start for Toronto (41Â*35) and will try to finish the month on a positive note. The rightÂ*hander has struggled in June, going 1Â*2 with a 7.89 ERA.


Stroman allowed seven runs in a seasonÂ*worst 3 2Â*3 innings Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles in his last start. He has given up at least six runs in four of his last seven starts.


"I just lost the feel a little bit," Stroman told MLB.com after his last start. "I'm just waiting for it to click. I feel like when it clicks again, I'll get rolling.


"It has been just kind of in and out lately the last few starts, just kind of searching for it. It's in there, it's just a matter of finding it and being way more consistent with it."


In terms of injuries, the Blue Jays hope first baseman Justin Smoak will soon return to the lineup. He was out Saturday for the second consecutive game after fouling a ball off his left knee on


Wednesday.


Reliever Gavin Floyd exited Saturday's game due to right shoulder tightness after throwing four pitches.


"I just felt uncomfortable out there," Floyd said. "I tossed a ball, and it felt like something I needed to do and take myself out. We'll get images (Sunday) and find out what's going on."

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/26

Preview: Astros (39-36) at Royals (38-35)


Game: 3
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: June 26, 2016 2:15 PM EDT


KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Alex Gordon is back in the Kansas City lineup after missing 30 games with a right wrist fracture and is expected to be there again when the Royals try to salvage the finale of their three-game series with the Houston Astros on Sunday.


Manager Ned Yost immediately inserted Gordon in the second hole in the batting order, while dropping shortstop Alcides Escobar from two to eight.


"His best numbers have been in the two spot, (although) it's only 125 at-bats," Yost said. "Esky's best spot traditionally has been the eighth spot. Both guys seem to be comfortable in those respective spots. We'll see how it looks for a while."


Gordon has 126 plate-appearances and 111 at-bats in starting 28 games batting second. He has a .342 average with a .421 on-base percentage and .532 slugging percentage. Gordon has batted in every position in the order with the most as a leadoff -- 1,265 at-bats for a .280 batting average.


Before the injury this season, Gordon had batted in the sixth slot 28 games, 13 games batting fifth and one game batting second.


In six rehab games, Gordon hit .364 with Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha.


"Timing was great," Gordon said. "I was seeing the ball good. My swing actually felt good, that was a plus. I came out of it with all good stuff."


Gordon was welcomed back to a standing ovation and responded by homering and doubling in his final two at-bats of a 13-5 loss to the Astros.


Escobar went 1-for-5 batting eighth. He entered the game with a .280 batting average in 183 games (182 as a starter) batting eighth.


In last year's magical run to winning the World Series, Escobar was the Royals' primary leadoff hitter despite a .259 batting average and .296 on-base percentage while hitting first. The Royals, however, went 82-49 with Escobar leading off.


"Gordy's been swinging the bat well here lately," Yost said. "You try to get a configuration that gives you the most production in the lineup. Looking at strict numbers, Esky's numbers weren't great in the one, but our won-loss record was great with him in the one."


The Astros, who have a seven-game winning streak and are 32-19 since May 1, have scored 26 runs in demolishing the Royals in the first two games of this series. The Astros have right-hander Doug Fister going Sunday and they are 10-0 in his past 10 starts. Eric Hosmer is 10-for-26 with a home run and six RBIs off Fister.


"To win the first two games in the fashion we have sets us up nicely for a chance at the sweep," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said.


The Royals will be more than happy not to see again Houston second baseman Jose Altuve again this year unless it is in postseason. Altuve went 4-for-5 on Saturday and is batting .481 this season against Kansas City.


Royals right-hander Ian Kennedy, who starts the series finale, has permitted 10 home runs in his first four June starts.


On the flip side, the Astros have homered in 10 straight games, matching their longest streak since June 14-23, 2015.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/26

Preview: Red Sox (41-33) at Rangers (48-27)


Game: 3
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: June 26, 2016 3:05 PM EDT


ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox have already established themselves as two of the best teams in baseball heading into their series finale on Sunday at Globe Life Park.


And both teams are on the verge of getting even better because of health as they head into the rubber game of their three-game matchup.


Two key Texas pitchers -- right-handers Yu Darvish and Keone Kela -- will throw bullpens Sunday as they continue to make strides to returning to the Rangers' roster. And Boston catcher Ryan Hanigan and do-it-all man Brock Holt are also close to getting back to the Red Sox.


Holt could join the Red Sox on Monday after missing more than a month because of a concussion. The former All-Star was batting .239 with three homers and 29 RBIs before getting hurt.


"Brock's weighing in is a key part of this, how he feels from the symptoms he's been dealing with," Boston manager John Farrell said. "Optimistically, he'll be in Tampa (Monday-Wednesday series), but we've got to see how he gets through this weekend."


Hanigan could also be ready to play sometime next week, but his return from a neck strain that has had him sidelined since June 5 will give the Red Sox an abundance at the catcher spot. Sandy Leon would seem like the best bet to lose his spot, but he's out of options and is also batting .545 in his nine games with the Red Sox this season.


While the Red Sox might have too much of a good thing at catcher, the Rangers need Kela to get back as soon as possible to help a bullpen that gave up four runs with two outs in the ninth inning in Friday's 8-7 loss to Boston.


Sunday's bullpen session will be the second for Kela, who had surgery to remove bone spurs in April and has missed 60 games. Getting Kela back would ease some of the burden on closer Sam Dyson (39 appearances) and Jake Diekman (34).


Kela feels great, especially after his Friday bullpen session.


"I felt great," Kela said. "I'm hitting my spots. I added a two-seam (fastball). My curveball is still sharp. I'm throwing it for strikes and an out pitch. I'm very excited."


The Rangers, who have highest bullpen ERA in the American League at 4.73, could use Kela as soon as possible, but he knows he still has work to do.


"I'm getting downhill, getting my arm out there and getting extended," Kela said. "Staying within myself is the biggest thing right now because I don't want to just throw as hard as I can when my arm is not conditioned."

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/26

Preview: Athletics (32-42) at Angels (31-44)


Game: 4
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Date: June 26, 2016 3:35 PM EDT


ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Last year at this time, the Oakland Athletics' Sonny Gray and the Los Angeles Angels' Hector Santiago were performing at an All-Star level. Now, both find themselves struggling mightily, and each seeks to reverse course at the other's expense when their respective teams meet Sunday at Angel Stadium.


Gray made the American League's All-Star team in just his second full season before finishing 14-7 with a 2.73 ERA, good for third place in the league's rankings. The right-hander also led the league with two shutouts and finished third in voting for the Cy Young Award.


This year, however, Gray is trying to end a five-game losing streak that began before a strained right trapezius muscle put him on the disabled list. During that losing streak, a career worst, Gray has compiled a 6.41 ERA. For the season, Gray leads the majors with 11 wild pitches.


But in his last start Tuesday night against the Milwaukee Brewers, Gray conceded only one earned run and one walk in six innings while scattering seven hits and collecting seven strikeouts for his first quality start since April 22, the date of his last victory.


A's manager Bob Melvin believes Gray has turned a corner since returning from the disabled list June 5.


"Every start he's had since he's come back, less really one inning, has been really good," Melvin said. "His stuff's been there. Everything has been really crisp. Everybody goes through a period of struggle at some point in their career. Since he's been back, he's much more like the old Sonny Gray we're used to seeing."


Meanwhile, Santiago struggles to find the consistency that enabled him to compile a 2.33 ERA at the All-Star break and join Gray at the All-Star Game. This season, the left-hander saw his ERA swell to 5.64 before he threw quality starts in his last two appearances.


"Hector's been hot and cold," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He's thrown some games where you just go, 'Wow!' Everything's working for him; the velocity's there and he's got his command. Then there are some games where he came out not having the stuff you just saw the start before.


"But the last couple of starts, you're seeing what we saw earlier in the season. He's throwing fewer pitches behind in the count. He's getting into the strike zone early with good stuff and letting all his pitches play off of each other."


The Angels' and Athletics' pitching staffs have more in common than two struggling former All-Stars. Three of Los Angeles' projected starters are on the 60-day disabled list. Oakland, meanwhile, has two on the 15-day disabled list, two on the 60-day disabled list and two out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery earlier this year.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/26

Preview: Phillies (32-44) at Giants (48-28)

Game: 3
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: June 26, 2016 4:05 PM EDT

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Philadelphia Phillies' quest to figure out what's gone wrong with right-hander Aaron Nola continues when they wrap up a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants on Sunday at AT&T Park.

The 23-year-old will be opposed by 11-game winner Johnny Cueto, who will take some unresolved issues of his own to the mound for the Giants.

Nola appeared to be the Phillies' clear-cut All-Star favorite when, on the heels of a 6-2 rookie campaign, he limited nine of his first 12 opponents to two or fewer runs this season, compiling a 2.65 ERA.

A July call-up from the minors last summer, his 3.59 ERA after the All-Star break ranked 22nd in the National League among pitchers with 10 or more starts.

He was even better than that in May, sporting a 2.31 ERA that was the league's 14th best.

But after throwing six shutout innings against Milwaukee on June 6, things have gone south in a hurry for the former LSU standout. He was pulled in the fourth inning at Washington on June 11, then lasted only three innings in his next two starts against Toronto and Minnesota.

All of a sudden, his ERA has mushroomed to 4.11, and now he faces arguably his toughest assignment of the season -- the Giants in a stadium where they have won 12 of their last 15 games.

"He'll get that back," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin predicted to reporters after the debacle in Minnesota on Tuesday. "But something is missing right now."

Nola has never faced the Giants in his fledgling career.

In an effort to get things turned around, Mackanin announced Saturday that he is going to have veteran Carlos Ruiz catch Nola on Sunday. Cameron Rupp, hero of Saturday's 3-2 win, had been behind the plate for all 28 of Nola's previous starts.

"If you have Johnny Bench on your team and he's your team's best hitting catcher," Mackanin said before Saturday's game, using the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Famer as his example. "It doesn't matter who you want catching you. You better get used to having Bench as your catcher."

Cueto, meanwhile, has seen the Phillies plenty in his career. More often than not, the experience has not been a pleasant one.

The former Reds right-hander has faced the Phillies nine times and has just one win. And that was six years ago.

He's 1-4 in the nine starts with an ERA (5.05) that's the highest among teams he has seen five or more times.

But he's 11-1 with a 2.06 ERA as a Giant, and San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy assured Saturday night he's more interested in the recent past -- Cueto has won eight in a row -- than ancient history.

"This team has played us tough," Bochy said of the Phillies, whose 3-2 win Saturday came on the heels of a 5-4 loss on Friday. "It's important for us to get another good pitching performance and win a series."

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 6/26

Preview: Diamondbacks (36-41) at Rockies (35-39)


Game: 4
Venue: Coors Field
Date: June 26, 2016 4:10 PM EDT


DENVER -- The Colorado Rockies will try for a split of their four-game series with Arizona and the Diamondbacks will attempt to complete a 10-game road trip with an 8-2 record when the teams meet Sunday.


Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt has a chance to tie a notable record. He has reached base safely in 47 straight games against the Rockies. That is a franchise record against any opponent and one game shy of the longest on-base streak against the Rockies.


Mike Piazza reached base safely in 48 consecutive games against Colorado from July 1, 1995 to Sept. 13, 1999.


In the past 18 games, Goldschmidt is hitting .408 (29-for-71) with six doubles, four homers, 14 RBIs and 11 walks. He has reached base via a hit or a walk in 17 of his past 19 road games, going 24-for-71 (.338) during that span with four doubles, two homers, 11 RBIs and 17 walks.


That surge has left Goldschmidt with an overall average of .300, 14 doubles, 14 homers, 47 RBIs, 43 runs, 63 walks, a .436 on-base percentage and .517 slugging percentage.


"I think he's hitting the ball well, and he's putting into play the balls that are in the zone for him," Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said. "Early in the year, the pitches that he could handle were being fouled back. Now they are going out into fair territory for hits. So Paul is getting better pitches, putting them into play, and if they are not coming into the zone, he is taking walks."


While Goldschmidt is a middle-of-the-order force and slugging his way toward another robust season, Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu, who typically bats second, has made more subtle offensive strides.


LeMahieu hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning Saturday that completed the scoring in Colorado's 11-6 win and gave closer-for-the-day Gonzalez Germen an ample cushion in the ninth.


LeMahieu, who went 2-for-4, is hitting .328 -- the highest his average has been since April 17 -- with 19 doubles, five triples, five homers, 29 RBIs and 46 runs. He has a .392 on-base percentage and a .500 slugging percentage.


LeMahieu is one homer shy of the career-high six he hit last year when he batted a career-high .301, raising his lifetime average to .284. He has reached base safely in 34 of his past 37 games, and his 29 extra-base hits this season are three shy of his 2015 total.


"He's really evolved into an offensive threat," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "I feel like he's using his back side to hit. That allows him to drive the ball. I just think he's growing as a hitter. He understands the timing, rhythm and balance throughout the swing.


"I see the lower half much more involved this year than I did in the past. I always felt a couple years ago his on-base and his slugging (percentages) would increase because of his ability to adapt, his feel for the game, his instints, his baseball IQ."