Cnotes Best Bets For Friday June 12th - MLB - NBA -NHL !

[CNOTES]

Preview: Braves (29-31) at Mets (32-29)
Game: 1
Venue: Citi Field
Date: June 12, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

A walk-off victory following two disheartening losses gave the New York Mets a badly needed boost to their spirits.


Handing the ball to the dependable Bartolo Colon should give them a good chance to make the positive vibes more enduring.


Colon will try to beat the Atlanta Braves for the third time in as many matchups this year as the Mets go for their longest winning streak in the series in 26 years Friday night.


After getting no-hit by San Francisco rookie Chris Heston on Tuesday and watching struggling ace Matt Harvey get pounded the next night, New York (32-29) defeated the Giants 5-4 on Thursday to avoid the sweep. Michael Cuddyer singled home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth.


'It's huge morale-wise for us,' said manager Terry Collins, whose team has gone 3-6 in its last nine with the rotation posting a 5.50 ERA in that stretch. 'Today was a big one.'


After a pair of rough outings May 15 and 20, Colon (8-4, 4.52 ERA) has regained his steady form in his last three, going 2-1 with a 3.60 ERA. He worked seven innings and struck out seven Saturday but suffered a 2-1 loss to Arizona, allowing a two-run homer in his final inning.


The veteran right-hander will be looking to tie Pittsburgh's Gerrit Cole for the NL lead in victories.


"He's been outstanding. You can't say enough about him," Collins told MLB's official website. "The guy does everything you want him to do. He's professional about the way he goes about his job."


Colon won his first four starts of the season with a 2.77 ERA, and two of those came against Atlanta (29-31). He allowed three runs in six innings of a 6-3 home victory in the most recent April 23.


The Mets have won four straight and seven of nine against the Braves after sweeping three games at Citi Field from April 21-23. They haven't won five in a row against Atlanta since 1989.


Cuddyer also had an RBI double Thursday and has batted .382 with seven RBIs in his last nine home games. However, he's 2 for 21 with a home run in six meetings with Atlanta this year.


The Braves have lost six of nine after falling 6-4 in 11 innings to San Diego on Thursday.


Alex Wood (4-3, 3.36), who had won three straight starts with a 1.23 ERA, was ejected after the fifth inning Sunday on his way to the dugout for arguing balls and strikes in a 3-0 home loss to Pittsburgh.


"I think it was a combination of everything," Wood said. " ... I think the frustration of the whole game leading up to that and then the three runs they scored that inning, too."


The left-hander's previous three starts had come on the road, where he's 4-0 with a 2.15 ERA in seven games. He allowed three runs in 6 2-3 innings of a 4-3 home loss to New York on April 12 and didn't get the decision.


Wood is 0-2 with a 4.09 ERA in six starts in the series. Cuddyer is 3 for 5 with a home run off him.


Freddie Freeman, who's batted .390 with five homers and 12 RBIs in his last 11 games, is 3 for 23 in the six meetings with the Mets this season. However, he's 7 for 16 with three doubles against Colon.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Braves at Mets
Fri, Jun 12 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 2
Braves at Mets
Sat, Jun 13 - 4:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Braves at Mets
Sun, Jun 14 - 1:10PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: White Sox (28-30) at Rays (32-29)
Game: 1
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: June 12, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

The Chicago White Sox's inconsistent season resembles that of starter John Danks, who especially has been up and down over the last month.


He's been solid at Tropicana Field in recent years, though, and he'll take the mound there Friday night as the White Sox open a five-game road trip against the Tampa Bay Rays.


Chicago (28-30) moved above .500 by capping a six-game winning streak May 18, but then dropped 13 of its next 20. The White Sox bounced back this week, sweeping a three-game set against AL West-leading Houston with Wednesday's 4-1 victory.


Danks (3-5, 5.17 ERA) has experienced similar peaks and valleys. He gave up three runs in 14 innings in wins over Cincinnati on May 10 and Oakland on May 16, then gave up 11 runs in 10 1-3 innings in losses to Cleveland on May 21 and Toronto five days later.


After tossing his first shutout in four years against Houston on May 31, Danks pitched four scoreless innings before giving up five runs and getting removed with two outs in the fifth of Saturday's 7-1 loss to Detroit.


"I felt good," Danks said. "For whatever reason, the ball got up. They were able to put the bat on the ball and find some holes."


The left-hander has pitched well at Tropicana Field in his latest visits, though, going 1-2 with a 3.15 ERA in his last three starts there after allowing two runs in six innings of a 10-5 win Sept. 21.


Manager Robin Ventura won't get to witness this outing in person, as bench coach Mark Parent will guide the club with Ventura missing the entire series to attend his daughter's college graduation.


The White Sox still will have Jose Abreu, who went 2 for 4 with a two-run homer in each of the final two games against the Astros. He hit .385 with three homers last season to help Chicago win five of seven meetings with the Rays (32-29), who dropped two of three to the Los Angeles Angels after Thursday's 6-2 defeat.


Steven Souza Jr. hit a two-run homer in the second, but Tampa scored three runs or fewer for the sixth time in seven games. Manager Kevin Cash went to the bullpen in the sixth inning, and five relievers combined to allow five runs and 10 hits.


Following the game, rookie reliever Andrew Bellatti was placed on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis.


'Brought our guys in and it just didn't work out tonight,' Cash said. 'We'll still take those chances anytime we get them with our bullpen. We have a ton of confidence in them.'


The entire staff is in flux now, though, especially because of the absence of Jake Odorizzi, who is on the 15-day DL after leaving last Friday's start in the fifth inning because of a strained left oblique.


With Odorizzi out, Cash will turn to Matt Andriese, who will make his eighth appearance and fourth start after being recalled from the minors following Thursday's contest.


Cash likely will be going to his bullpen early, as Andriese (0-1, 4.79) has pitched fewer than four innings in each of his three starts. The right-hander hasn't appeared in the majors since May 14, when he allowed one run in four innings of relief and earned a save in a 6-1 win over the New York Yankees.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
White Sox at Rays
Fri, Jun 12 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 2
White Sox at Rays
Sat, Jun 13 - 4:10PM EDT


GAME 3
White Sox at Rays
Sun, Jun 14 - 1:10PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Twins (33-26) at Rangers (31-29)
Game: 1
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: June 12, 2015 8:05 PM EDT

The Minnesota Twins' surprise 20-7 mark in May that sent them into first place in the AL Central has begun to unravel with a 3-7 record to start June.


The swoon hasn't lasted long enough yet to truly test the team's resolve, but they'll try to sidestep any impending stress by coming around Friday night in the opener of a three-game road series with the Texas Rangers.


The Twins (33-26), after all, lost an average of 96 games over the last four years. They were outscored 45-16 while losing six of their first seven to start 2015.


Finishing 1-5 on a homestand with Wednesday's 7-2 loss to Kansas City was hardly a major setback for a team that's been trying to rediscover a winning way for most of this decade.


"I don't have any particular issue when you go through periods like this," manager Paul Molitor said. "It's unfortunate it came at a time when the games seemed to be, at least externally, a lot bigger. It's just kind of the nature of how your season's going, to have ebbs and flows."


In his address to the players after the loss to the Royals that left the Twins two games behind Kansas City in the division, Molitor reminded them of the date.


'You don't determine the fate of your season in June. That just never happens, one way or another," Molitor said.


Even if their roster doesn't prove to be good enough over the balance of the summer to stay in the chase for a spot in the postseason, the intangible improvements alone ought to translate to a more competitive club down the stretch.


"Coming out of the gate we were realistic. I think we knew that we were going to have to kind of get off to a good start and then weather those bad times," right-hander Phil Hughes said. "I think we've done those things remarkably well. Anytime we've lost a couple tough games, it seems like we bounce back and have done a good job of putting those things behind us."


Despite being in the bottom third in the majors in home runs, steals and on-base percentage, the Twins only fell out of the top third in runs this week after scoring three times in three games while being swept by the Royals.


Their pitching staff is last in the majors in strikeouts. They've been charged with the seventh-most errors in baseball, and most of the analytics used to measure defense don't favor the Twins.


Yet here they are, still seven games over .500 despite their recent struggles, which Tommy Milone (2-1, 4.55 ERA) will try to end.


Milone, however, hasn't been dependable since winning his first two starts, going 0-1 with a 6.75 in his last three. In his first back from the minors to fill in for Ricky Nolasco on June 4 at Boston, the left-hander gave up four runs - two earned - and nine hits in five innings before the Twins rallied for an 8-4 win.


He saw plenty of Texas in his days with Oakland, going 2-4 with a 4.95 ERA in eight starts. Shin-soo Choo is 1 for 10 in their meetings.


Texas (31-29) is also looking to bounce back after losing a series for the first time in seven tries this week. The Rangers not only fell 7-0 in Oakland on Thursday, but they were also victims of a one-hitter. Over the last eight games, they're batting .228 and averaging 2.63 runs.


Wandy Rodriguez (3-2, 3.25) has been capable of making that kind of support hold up lately. After surrendering a run and six hits in seven innings of Saturday's 4-2 win in Kansas City, the left-hander is 2-0 with a 2.55 ERA in his last four starts.


"Stabilizer," manager Jeff Banister told MLB's official website. "He has taken on a front end of the rotation type of attitude, shouldering a lot of innings and being a veteran presence. He is a guy who has been through a lot of battles and significant games."


Rodriguez is 1-0 with a 1.98 ERA in two starts against the Twins, but the most recent was in 2009. He's held Joe Mauer to one hit in six at_bats and Mauer enters in a 1-for-14 slump over the last four games.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Twins at Rangers
Fri, Jun 12 - 8:05PM EDT


GAME 2
Twins at Rangers
Sat, Jun 13 - 4:05PM EDT


GAME 3
Twins at Rangers
Sun, Jun 14 - 3:05PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Nationals (31-28) at Brewers (22-38)
Game: 2
Venue: Miller Park
Date: June 12, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

Scooter Gennett went hitless in his last 18 at_bats for the Milwaukee Brewers before they gave him a 17-game stint in the minors to sort out his issues at the plate.


That remains a work in progress even though he's back with the big league club, but at least he ended his drought in the majors in exciting fashion.


Gennett looks to get into more of a groove when the Brewers and Washington Nationals play the second of a four-game set at Miller Park on Friday night.


The second baseman was sent to Triple-A Colorado Springs on May 17 after hitting just .154 in 21 games for the Brewers (23-38). Recalled to start Thursday, he was 0 for 3 before his go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning gave Milwaukee a 6-5 victory over struggling Washington (31-29).


"You need to have a little fortune once in a while. Sometimes, that's what creates confidence," manager Craig Counsell said. "Your first night back, you get the game-winning hit, that's a big deal."


Gennett's big hit helped the last-place Brewers win for the fifth time in seven tries, with reliever Will Smith picking up the victory after finishing a scoreless eighth by picking off Bryce Harper. Smith was making his first appearance since serving a six-game suspension for having a foreign substance on his arm.


Carlos Gomez sat out a second straight game because of leg soreness, but Counsell hopes he'll be in the lineup for this contest. Gennett is 0 for 4 and Gomez 0 for 12 with eight strikeouts lifetime against Jordan Zimmermann, who takes the mound trying to help Washington avoid its 11th defeat in 14 games.


Zimmermann (5-3, 3.18 ERA) went 3-0 with a 0.96 ERA over his previous four starts before allowing four runs and 10 hits in five innings of Sunday's 6-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs. The right-hander gave up one more run that he did during his entire hot stretch.


"I just wasn't locating," Zimmermann said. "My breaking pitches were terrible. It's going to happen when you don't have all your pitches, and I just wasn't sharp."


Zimmermann hasn't run into much trouble against the Brewers, though, going 4-0 with a 2.35 ERA in five career starts. He struck out nine while allowing two runs in six innings of Washington's 4-2, 16-inning victory the last time he faced them June 24.


Mike Fiers will oppose Zimmermann looking to overcome a rough start of his own.


Fiers (2-6, 4.06) hasn't allowed more than two runs in any of his last six outings, going 1-2 with a 2.78 ERA in that stretch. However, he walked three and threw 91 pitches in just 4 1-3 innings of Sunday's 2-0 loss to Minnesota.


"It was just a struggle," Fiers said. "One of those games where I just had to battle through. Just felt like I battled all day. Like I had to battle every pitch."


The right-hander pitched 6 1-3 scoreless innings in his only start against the Nationals in 2012 before allowing two runs in five innings over two relief appearances against them last season.


The only Washington player with multiple hits off Fiers is Ryan Zimmerman, but he was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with plantar fasciitis.


Denard Span is coming off back-to-back three-hit games after going 3 for 24 over his previous six.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Nationals at Brewers
Thu, Jun 11 Final 5 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Nationals at Brewers
Fri, Jun 12 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Nationals at Brewers
Sat, Jun 13 - 4:10PM EDT


GAME 4
Nationals at Brewers
Sun, Jun 14 - 2:10PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Mariners (27-33) at Astros (34-27)
Game: 1
Venue: Minute Maid Park
Date: June 12, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

At some point, the young Houston Astros were going to struggle.


That time has arrived, and facing Felix Hernandez certainly won't do them any favors as the flailing AL West leaders host the Seattle Mariners on Friday night.


After overachieving for the first two months of the season - including a 6-1 mark against Seattle - a June swoon has rocked Houston (34-27). The Astros have lost a season-worst seven straight, scoring 16 runs while batting .201 with 68 strikeouts.


"It's a difficult trip to say the least," manager A.J. Hinch said after Wednesday's 4-1 defeat to the White Sox capped an 0-6 swing through Toronto and Chicago. "I think it's time for us to go home and rid ourselves of this last week."


Houston was held to four runs in three games in Chicago. George Springer had five singles in the leadoff spot Wednesday, but 2-3-4 hitters Jose Altuve, Preston Tucker and Evan Gattis went a combined 0 for 13. The Astros are 4 for 47 (.085) with runners in scoring position during their skid after going hitless in seven chances Thursday.


"We hit some balls hard again that got caught," Springer told MLB's official website. "... We've got to go out and keep playing hard and grinding out these games."


Springer is 11 for 28 during Houston's losing streak, but the rest of the team is hitting .174 and facing Hernandez (9-2, 2.51 ERA), trying to become the majors' first 10-game winner, is hardly enticing.


Hernandez limited Tampa Bay to one run and two hits in seven innings of Saturday's 2-1 win, his major league-leading fifth victory when backed by three or fewer runs. Additionally, he's 4-0 in his last five road starts, yielding four runs in 29 2-3 innings.


He hasn't lost to an AL West opponent since Texas beat him June 13 of last year, going 8-0 with a 1.53 ERA in his last 13 intradivision starts with 97 strikeouts in 88 innings.


Hernandez hasn't faced the Astros this season, but he's 3-1 with a 1.18 ERA in six matchups since they joined the AL West in 2013. Altuve is 8 for 18 with three doubles against the right-hander, but Springer and Gattis are a combined 0 for 9.


Seattle (27-34) is fighting its own offensive doldrums, and now it tries to avoid becoming the first team since the 2004 Montreal Expos to score three or fewer runs 15 times in a 16-game stretch following Thursday's 6-0 loss to Cleveland. The Mariners, who were denied a three-game sweep but have lost 10 of 14, have hit only two homers in their last 11 games.


Nelson Cruz, who leads the AL with 18 homers, missed the last two games due to back spasms but is expected to play Friday. Robinson Cano has only two homers and is batting .238, but manager Lloyd McClendon thinks he's coming around after collecting three doubles in the series.


"That's the best way you're going to come out of this funk, is stay in the middle of the field," McClendon said. "I think he's doing a nice job of it."


Brett Oberholtzer (0-1, 3.75) again seeks his first win after giving up four runs - two earned - in 3 2-3 innings of a 7-2 loss at Toronto on Saturday. The left-hander has won both of his starts versus the Mariners and his lone shutout came against them in 2013.


Houston, which has won six straight at home over Seattle, will see highly touted rookie shortstop Carlos Correa make his Minute Maid Park debut after going 4 for 12 with a homer and three RBIs versus Chicago.


Gattis is batting .161 in his last eight games without a homer, but he hit four and drove in 10 runs in Houston's four-game home sweep of Seattle from April 30-May 3 in the teams' last series.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Mariners at Astros
Fri, Jun 12 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 2
Mariners at Astros
Sat, Jun 13 - 4:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Mariners at Astros
Sun, Jun 14 - 2:10PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Royals (34-23) at Cardinals (39-21)
Game: 1
Venue: Busch Stadium
Date: June 12, 2015 8:15 PM EDT

For the first time in more than 70 years, baseball's two best teams reside in Missouri this late into a season.


The St. Louis Cardinals dropped two of three in Kansas City last month but managed to defeat Royals staff ace Yordano Ventura.


With their offense sputtering a bit, especially when Jaime Garcia starts, the Cardinals look to get to the struggling Ventura early in Friday night's I-70 Series opener at Busch Stadium.


Kansas City (34-23) took over first place in the AL Central by sweeping a series from Minnesota to push their winning streak to four following a 2-9 stretch. Alex Gordon hit a three-run homer in Wednesday's 7-2 victory while Salvador Perez singled twice to improve to 8 for 19 in his last five games.


"To get out of town sweeping the series is a good feeling," manager Ned Yost said.


Pulling off another sweep will be a tall order since the Cardinals (39-21) are a major league-best 22-7 at home.


Ventura's struggles are another cause for concern in the first matchup between Missouri teams holding baseball's top two records this late into the season since Aug. 18, 1944, when the Cardinals and St. Louis Browns were atop the standings.


Ventura gave up four runs and six hits in a season-low three innings in Saturday's 4-2 loss to Texas.


'He has to continue to develop, to understand that with power stuff, you still have to be able to locate and execute your pitches," Yost said.


Ventura (3-5, 4.62 ERA) got off to another shaky start, allowing four runs in the first two innings. In six outings since the start of May, the right-hander has a 7.50 ERA in the first two innings. Opponents are batting .333 off him in the first on the season.


Against the Cardinals on May 24, Ventura walked Kolten Wong and Matt Carpenter to lead off the game and both came around to score. He ended up allowing two more runs on a Carpenter homer and was lifted after the seventh in a 6-1 loss.


St. Louis' offense, though, hasn't exactly been clicking, averaging 2.8 runs while batting .205 over a 2-3 stretch. Wong is 3 for 19 with no walks in the last five and Carpenter snapped an 0-for-13 slump by going 2 for 5 Wednesday as St. Louis defeated Colorado 4-2 to avoid a sweep.


"We've got the kind of lineup that's going to be able to put some runs across, but overall, we know that our sustained success begins with our starting pitching," manager Mike Matheny said.


The Cardinals lead the majors with a 2.71 ERA. No team has finished a season with a better ERA since Houston had a 2.66 in 1981.


Garcia (1-3, 2.67) has been sharp since coming off the disabled list but has received no runs of support in three of four starts. He gave up two runs and six hits in seven innings of Saturday's 2-0 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The left-hander hasn't issued a walk in his last 22 innings.


Kansas City has regularly frustrated, Garcia, however, knocking him around for six runs and eight hits in five innings last June. He is 0-1 with an 8.31 ERA in four starts in the series.


The Royals had been going through a slump of their own before Wednesday, averaging 2.1 runs and hitting .173 with runners in scoring position in their previous nine games.


'You're going to have slumps throughout the season. It's how you respond to it,' Gordon said.


The Royals are 5-2 against the Cardinals since the start of last season and have won five of seven in St. Louis.


Gordon has hit safely in the last seven meetings, batting .381 with three homers and a .519 on-base percentage. He is 4 for 9 with a home run and double against Garcia.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Royals at Cardinals
Fri, Jun 12 - 8:15PM EDT


GAME 2
Royals at Cardinals
Sat, Jun 13 - 4:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Royals at Cardinals
Sun, Jun 14 - 2:15PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Athletics (25-37) at Angels (30-30)
Game: 1
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Date: June 12, 2015 10:05 PM EDT

The Los Angeles Angels finally seem to have started taking advantage of the tear Albert Pujols has been on lately.


With the veteran slugger in position for another milestone, the Angels look to continue their recent success against the Oakland Athletics in the opener of a three-game series Friday night.


Pujols is hitting .373 with nine homers, 15 RBIs and 13 runs over the past 13 games, a stretch that has bumped his season batting average 32 points to .267.


"I'm catching more breaks, I guess," Pujols said. "I've been swinging the bat well all year long and if you stay with that approach, sooner or later they're going to fall. I'm not going out there and trying to hit a home run every time, just trying to put on a good swing and let the rest take care of itself."


Pujols had a two-run shot among his two hits and Los Angeles (30-30) rallied for a 6-2 victory over Tampa Bay on Thursday - only its second win in eight games.


His hot hitting is now coinciding with some history. Pujols' homer against the Rays marked the 537th of his career - moving him past Mickey Mantle for 16th all-time - and his 1,635 RBIs are one shy of tying Ernie Banks for 29th on that list.


Pujols has a .325 average against the A's (25-37) in Anaheim and he's 7 for 16 (.438) with a home run off scheduled starter Jesse Chavez.


Los Angeles has won 11 of its last 15 against Oakland, which ended a four-game skid with Wednesday's 5-4 win over Texas before capping the three-game set with a 7-0 victory.


Chavez (2-6, 2.51 ERA) would appreciate a similar offensive effort since he's getting an average of 1.39 runs of support this season - the lowest in the majors by over a run.


He's been backed by five total runs while losing four of five road starts despite a 3.48 ERA. The venue hasn't made a difference in four career starts against the Angels, with the right-hander going 0-3 with a 3.00 ERA with two total runs of support prior to receiving no runs while losing both meetings this season.


Chavez only had himself to blame Saturday, giving up four runs and 10 hits in five innings of a 4-2 loss at Boston after going 16 innings without allowing an earned run while splitting his previous two starts.


"The only small difference I saw was he was a little bit up," catcher Stephen Vogt told MLB's official website. "Typically, if he makes a mistake over the plate, it's down, and he made a couple out and over the plate that he doesn't do, so that was a little different. But if you go back and watch, he still made some good pitches."


Los Angeles is turning to Hector Santiago (4-3, 2.55), who's 3-0 with a 1.01 ERA in six career starts against the A's. The left-hander yielded one run and three hits with a season-high eight strikeouts in six innings of a 14-1 home victory April 21.


Santiago was knocked around in his most recent start June 3, surrendering five runs and two homers while hitting two batters in five innings of a 6-5 loss in 10 to Tampa Bay.


He allowed one of two inherited runners to score in 3 2-3 innings of relief in Saturday's 8-2 loss to the New York Yankees.


Santiago has allowed Josh Reddick to go 4 for 9 off him. The right fielder is 9 for 18 with one homer and three doubles in five games and is 9 for 19 (.474) in his last five meetings with Los Angeles.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Athletics at Angels
Fri, Jun 12 - 10:05PM EDT


GAME 2
Athletics at Angels
Sat, Jun 13 - 10:05PM EDT


GAME 3
Athletics at Angels
Sun, Jun 14 - 3:35PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Dodgers (35-25) at Padres (31-31)
Game: 1
Venue: PETCO Park
Date: June 12, 2015 10:10 PM EDT

Clayton Kershaw is enjoying his best stretch of the season as he gets ready to face a familiar strikeout-prone opponent.


The Los Angeles Dodgers starter looks to win his fourth straight outing Friday night in the opener of a three-game road series against the San Diego Padres.


Kershaw (5-3, 3.36 ERA) has yielded two runs and 10 hits with 28 strikeouts over 22 innings in his last three starts after he pitched eight innings of one-hit ball with 11 strikeouts in Saturday's 2-0 home win over St. Louis.


"I just executed some fastballs away that were pretty well located and tough to put a bat on," he said. "This was probably the best slider-curveball combination I've had in a while."


Kershaw is third in the majors with 101 strikeouts as he gets another look at San Diego (31-31), which has struck out 510 times for baseball's third-highest total. The Padres are the team he has faced the third-most in his career, going 12-6 with a 2.33 ERA in 25 starts.


The left-hander is 4-0 with a 1.42 ERA in his last five outings against San Diego, failing to win in a 6-3 victory on opening day in which he gave up three runs in six innings with nine strikeouts.


That marked his first look at former teammate Matt Kemp, who was 2 for 3 off him. Justin Upton is 4 for 36 with 12 strikeouts in this matchup, Will Venable is 4 for 16 and lefty-swinging Yonder Alonso - who bats .429 off southpaws - has one hit in nine at_bats.


Batters swing at Kershaw's first pitch 39.3 percent of the time for baseball's highest mark.


This will be the third time that Kershaw will square off with Odrisamer Despaigne (3-4, 4.72), who went 0-2 with a 6.35 ERA last year in his lone starts against Los Angeles. Kershaw allowed two earned runs in 17 innings in those games.


Despaigne is 1-4 with a 5.82 ERA in six outings since joining the rotation May 7 but has a 2.42 ERA in the last four. He gave up four runs over six innings in Sunday's 4-0 defeat at Cincinnati.


No Dodgers hitter has more than five at_bats against the right-hander, with Cuban compatriot Yasiel Puig going 2 for 5.


Puig went 4 for 4 with a three-run homer and scored the winning run in the ninth inning as Los Angeles (35-25) beat Arizona 7-6 on Wednesday to complete a three-game home sweep. The right fielder missed more than a month with a strained left hamstring before returning Saturday.


'It's tough to fill the shoes of a guy like that when he can do so much,' second baseman Howie Kendrick said.


Third baseman Justin Turner could return to the lineup after missing two games because he fouled a pitch off his left kneecap in Monday's 9-3 win.


San Diego capped a 4-3 trip by rallying from three runs down in Thursday's 6-4 win over Atlanta. Yangervis Solarte hit a two-run single in the 11th inning in a game that featured a benches-clearing incident involving Kemp and the ejection of manager Bud Black.


'That just shows how good of a team we have,' Kemp said. 'We have to win those games. That was a good comeback.'


Cory Spangenberg, who has never faced Kershaw, went 7 for 16 with four RBIs in the four-game series.


Los Angeles has captured six of nine meetings.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Dodgers at Padres
Fri, Jun 12 - 10:10PM EDT


GAME 2
Dodgers at Padres
Sat, Jun 13 - 10:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Dodgers at Padres
Sun, Jun 14 - 4:10PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Diamondbacks (27-32) at Giants (34-27)
Game: 1
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: June 12, 2015 10:15 PM EDT

It's been over seven years since the San Francisco Giants lost six straight at home.


They'll try to avoid that fate behind Madison Bumgarner, who puts his personal four-game win streak on the line Friday night in the opener of a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.


San Francisco (34-27) dropped the final five of a seven-game homestand before rebounding to win four of six on the road against Philadelphia and the New York Mets. The Giants failed to protect a late lead Thursday and lost 5-4 to the Mets on a walkoff hit.


'Hard-fought series. Good road trip,' manager Bruce Bochy said. 'You'd like to get greedy and get this one, but we just couldn't hold the lead.'


Bochy's club has already had two five-game home losing streaks this season. San Francisco hasn't had a longer slide there since a seven-game skid from May 14-31, 2008.


Bumgarner (7-2, 3.38 ERA) failed to record a quality start for just the second time in 10 outings Saturday, but struck out a season-high 11 over eight innings in a 7-5 win over the Phillies. He allowed a grand slam and a solo homer after posting a 2.41 ERA in his previous eight starts.


"If we were able to win 7-5 every time I go out there, I'd dang sure take it," Bumgarner told MLB's official website. "The numbers might not be too sexy. But it's about winning games, not putting up numbers."


The left-hander is 4-0 with a 3.48 ERA over his last five starts and he's reached the seventh in four of them.


Bumgarner is 4-1 with a 2.04 ERA in his last 11 starts against the Diamondbacks (27-32).


Paul Goldschmidt is 6 for 31 against Bumgarner but did hit a three-run homer off him on April 16.


The Arizona slugger is batting .408 with seven homers and 17 RBIs in his last 21 games, going 4 for 5 with a two-run shot in Thursday's 7-6 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.


"We didn't play very well those first two games, but we came out and played better, and that's what we wanted to do," Goldschmidt said. "If you play consistently like that, you're going to win games."


It was a season high-tying fourth consecutive defeat for the Diamondbacks, who are batting .192 with runners in scoring position during that stretch while their starting pitchers have posted an 8.86 ERA.


Chase Anderson (1-1, 3.12) will be tasked with helping Arizona get back on track, but that will be difficult if his teammates struggle again to produce with him on the mound.


The right-hander gets an average of 2.85 runs of support, ranking among the lowest in the majors, and has received no runs in four of his past seven starts.


He's certainly pitched well enough to win more, going 1-0 with a 2.51 ERA during that span. Anderson allowed one run and eight hits with six strikeouts in 5 2-3 innings while not figuring in the decision of a 2-1 win over the Mets on Saturday.


Nori Aoki has never faced Anderson, but is batting .486 (17 for 35) with eight runs during an eight-game hitting streak. Aoki is hitting .433 in his last 23 contests.


Another Giants player swinging a hot bat is Joe Panik, who is hitting .397 with three homers and 10 RBIs during a career-best 15-game streak. He's reached base safely in 23 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the majors.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Diamondbacks at Giants
Fri, Jun 12 - 10:15PM EDT


GAME 2
Diamondbacks at Giants
Sat, Jun 13 - 7:15PM EDT


GAME 3
Diamondbacks at Giants
Sun, Jun 14 - 4:05PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Pitchers to Watch - NL


June 11, 2015




NL Starting Pitcher Rankings – through 6.10.15

Starting pitching is critical to the result of any baseball game and there are many ways to evaluate the numbers. Here are my current top 15 pitchers in the National League through June 10. This is an objective list based on a combination of 2015 statistics and does not factor in any of the strengths and weaknesses of the respective teams these players pitch for, nor any previous season results.

1) Clayton Kershaw – Los Angeles Dodgers: While April was a forgettable month for the Dodgers ace and 2014 MVP winner the prized left-hander has re-gained his form with three excellent outings in a row including his best start of the season last week. Kershaw owns the lowest xFIP in the NL and the highest strikeout rate in the NL and his conventional numbers should only continue to improve. While his average Game Score is only the ninth best in the NL at this point in the season he ranks tied for second in the league over his last five starts. Kershaw will face plenty of lines priced above -200 moving forward but he remains on a historically great run.


2) Jacob deGrom – New York Mets: Over his last five starts Jacob deGrom owns an average Game Score of 74.2 for an incredibly dominant run of starts. His xFIP is the fifth best in the NL and while he doesn’t have quite the strikeout rate of some of the other top starters he has one of the lowest home run rates in the league and opponents are batting just .219 against him as he has picked up wins in six of his last seven starts. Just like his team, deGrom has not pitched nearly as well on the road this season however where his ERA is 4.06 compared to a 1.34 ERA at Citi Field.


3) Max Scherzer – Washington Nationals: Even with back-to-back shaky outings for tough start to June Scherzer’s arsenal has translated well back in the NL this season. He owns the highest average Game Score in the NL and the highest median Game Score in the league as well by a wide margin. He has a top 5 strikeout rate and a top 5 ERA in the league though he has a significantly lesser groundball percentage than most of his peers on this list. The Nationals have lost his last two starts but Scherzer will remain a hefty favorite most nights and rightfully so.

4) Gerrit Cole – Pittsburgh Pirates: It has been a breakout season for the former #1 pick leading an outstanding Pirates rotation. Cole leads the NL with a 1.73 ERA and while that mark is nearly a full run lower than his xFIP at this point he has been a bit unlucky with a .317 BABIP. Cole has done a great job at stranding base runners this season which will be worth keeping an eye on as the season goes on. Cole has been very consistent with a Game Score of 57 or higher in all but two of his 12 starts this season.

5) Jason Hammel – Chicago Cubs: Perhaps the biggest surprise on this list and a pitcher that potentially could regress the rest of the season, Hammel has posted great numbers to help the Cubs stay in contention in the NL. He is in the league’s top 9 in ERA and xFIP while currently holding the lowest WHIP in the league at 0.89. Hammel has walked just nine batters in 75 innings and opponents are batting just .211 against him. A .255 BABIP is a concern moving forward as Hammel has had some favorable bounces but it is hard to argue with his results with a Game Score of 64 or higher in six of his last eight outings.


6) Johnny Cueto – Cincinnati Reds: On a struggling Reds team with a terrible bullpen Cueto continues to do fine work on the mound. He has had just one start with a Game Score below 50 this season and he owns the second lowest WHIP in the NL at 0.94. His 4-4 record is disappointing but he has done his job as the Reds have scored a combined total of two runs in his four defeats. His 3.21 xFIP is significantly higher than his 2.64 ERA and he doesn’t have the elite strikeout rate of some of his peers but Cueto remains a very reliable option, particularly at home.

7) Carlos Martinez – St. Louis Cardinals: The Cardinals are 10-2 behind Martinez this season and he would be even higher on this list if not for two rough consecutive outings in early May with seven runs allowed in each outing. Martinez has allowed just three runs and 21 hits over his last five outings spanning nearly 34 innings including beating the Dodgers in back-to-back outings. He is striking out nearly 10 batters per nine innings and is in the NL’s top 12 in both ERA and xFIP. A high walk rate is a bit concerning but Martinez has the stuff to continue to dominate.

8) Francisco Liriano – Pittsburgh Pirates: Liriano has been somewhat erratic throughout his career and this season has been no exception. Liriano owns a misleading 3-5 record which hides his potential with the third best strikeout rate in the NL and the fourth lowest xFIP. Liriano owns a .242 BABIP which could climb upward as opponents are batting just .184 against him but his command has been sharp this season with a 1.02 WHIP. Liriano has eight starts this season with a Game Score of 65 or higher as he remains capable of high end outings and he is certainly one of the NL’s most feared left-handers.

9) Zack Greinke – Los Angeles Dodgers: With a glowing 1.92 ERA Greinke is a quality start machine. His strikeout rate has not reached his past success averaging fewer than 7.7 strikeouts per nine innings however and his xFIP is nearly a run and a half higher than his ERA. No team would complain about the numbers Greinke is putting up but he has pitched more than seven innings just twice in 12 starts which hurts his standing on this list and he has benefitted from a .248 BABIP. Greinke will remain one of the highest priced pitchers in the game with the first place Dodgers behind him though he has not been quite as dominant as it looks.

10) Cole Hamels – Philadelphia Phillies: Lowly Philadelphia is 7-6 with Hamels starting this season he will remain the top pitching trade target for contenders looking to add a quality arm to the rotation. Hamels has been around for a while but at just 31 years old he is having another strong season with numbers in line with his past track record even pitching for another losing Phillies team. Hamels has had three marginal starts this season but his median Game Score is the fifth best in the NL at 64.5 and he is on pace to have his highest strikeout rate since his rookie season in 2006.

11) A. J. Burnett – Pittsburgh Pirates: Everyone has always felt that Burnett has had the stuff to be one of the top starters in baseball. After several good but rarely great seasons Burnett has put it all together in the first half in 2015 even at age 38. He owns the fourth lowest ERA in the NL and he has allowed just three home runs in 12 starts, spanning nearly 77 innings. Burnett’s career track record often features the occasional awful outing sprinkled in every handful of starts and he has avoided that fate this season so far.

12. Shelby Miller – Atlanta Braves: Miller nearly had a no-hitter earlier this season but in his four starts since that game he has been much less effective. His season ERA is just 1.84, second best in the NL but his xFIP is more than two runs higher at 3.94, certainly a concern moving forward as his current .218 BABIP is likely unsustainable. With a struggling bullpen backing him up Miller has just five wins but with a 0.98 WHIP and opponents batting just .188 against him it has been an incredible first two months of the season for the still just 24-year old.

13) Matt Harvey – New York Mets: One rough mid-May outing in Pittsburgh spoiled his numbers a bit but in his return from surgery Harvey has not disappointed for the surprising Mets. After starting the season 5-0 he is just 1-4 since but a 3.06 xFIP is among the better marks in the league and his strikeout and walk rates are outstanding. Seven of his 12 starts have featured a Game Score of 64 or higher and he is starting to go deeper into games with two eight-inning outings in his last five starts and nine or more strikeouts in four of his last six starts.

14) Jake Arrieta – Chicago Cubs: Arrieta has made 12 starts for the Cubs this season but few of them have been bad outings and Arrieta owns the second lowest xFIP in the NL behind only Kershaw. He has a better than 5:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio and he has been a bit unlucky with a .320 BABIP. He is a big reason why the Cubs could hang around the playoff chase all season long.

15) Michael Wacha – St. Louis Cardinals: Wacha has not pitched quite as well as his record and reputation as the Cardinals opened the season with wins in his first nine starts of 2015. A 3.79 xFIP is much higher than his ERA and he is producing fewer than seven strikeouts per nine innings. Wacha has not had many dominant starts with his highest Game Score this season being just 67 but he has been consistently good to very good though he is starting to be a bit overpriced.

Next Five: James Shields – San Diego Padres, Dan Haren – Miami Marlins, Madison Bumgarner – San Francisco Giants, Lance Lynn – St. Louis Cardinals, Chris Heston – San Francisco Giants.

Newcomers to Watch: Mike Bolsinger – Los Angeles Dodgers, Chad Bettis – Colorado Rockies, Williams Perez – Atlanta Braves.

Stock Sliding: Chase Anderson – Arizona Diamondbacks, Aaron Harang – Philadelphia Phillies, Tim Lincecum – San Francisco Giants.

 

[CNOTES]

LEADING OFF: Price vs Salazar; Pence plan; Pineda's turn


June 11, 2015




TOP OF THEIR GAME


Tigers left-hander David Price is coming off a complete game victory over the White Sox. He matches up against Cleveland righty Danny Salazar, who had 10 strikeouts in seven-plus innings of a 2-1 win over Baltimore in his last start.


PENCE PLAN


The San Francisco Giants should finally make a decision on whether to put outfielder Hunter Pence on the disabled list. A minor leaguer was ready to fly to New York on Thursday but manager Bruce Bochy said the team decided to hold off for one more day. Pence was injured making a diving catch on June 2.


BIG BREAK


Michael Pineda makes his first start after 11 days of rest, when the Yankees open a series in Baltimore. New York skipped the right-hander's last outing in order to manage his innings this year. The Orioles' Ubaldo Jimenez tries for his first win since May 11.


ON THE MEND


Oakland's Ike Davis is going to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville. He's been out with a strained left quadriceps since May 14. The first baseman is hitting .282 with two homers and 11 RBIs in 103 at_bats.


BACK IN THE SHOW


Signed on Monday by the Philadelphia Phillies, Kevin Correia is set to make his first major league start of the season, against Pittsburgh. Correia pitched for San Francisco's Triple-A team in Sacramento this season, going 0-1 with a 3.58 ERA. He was released on May 29 after exercising an opt-out provision in his contract.


HALL'S OPEN

The Baseball Hall of Fame was dedicated at Cooperstown, N.Y., in 1939, and the first induction ceremony was held that day. All 11 living electees were on hand.

 

[CNOTES]

Braves designate Cahill for assignment

June 11, 2015


ATLANTA (AP) - The Braves have designated right-hander Trevor Cahill for assignment and selected the contract of lefty Dana Eveland from Triple-A Gwinnett.


Cahill went 0-3 with a 7.52 ERA in 15 games. He made three starts before getting demoted to the bullpen on April 30.


Atlanta acquired Cahill from Arizona for minor league outfielder Josh Elander on April 2. Arizona agreed to pay the Braves $6.8 million to cover the majority of the $12.3 million Cahill was owed: $12 million in 2015 salary and a $300,000 buyout of his 2016 option.


Eveland, 31, will be the 18th reliever to work this season out of a Braves bullpen that ranks last in the majors with a 4.75 ERA. Atlanta is Eveland's ninth team. He is 20-26 with a 5.27 in 144 major league games.


Cahill has gone 64-72 with a 4.16 ERA in 173 big league starts and 28 relief appearances.

 

[CNOTES]

Reds' Cozart has torn knee ligaments


June 11, 2015


CHICAGO (AP) - Reds shortstop Zack Cozart has torn a torn tendon and ligaments in his right knee and will need reconstructive surgery, leaving him with a nine-month rehabilitation.


Cozart hurt the knee when he slipped on first base while trying to beat out a grounder during a 5-2 win over Philadelphia on Wednesday. The team hadn't received results of tests on the knee when it headed to Chicago for the start of a four-game series.


It's a stinging setback for the Reds. Cozart is among the NL's top shortstops in numerous offensive categories, with nine homers and 28 RBIs.


He also was the Reds' second-leading candidate for the All-Star Game that will be played in Cincinnati. Only third baseman Todd Frazier has gotten more fan votes.

 

[CNOTES]

Orioles RHP Gonzalez goes on DL


June 11, 2015


BALTIMORE (AP) - Orioles right-hander Miguel Gonzalez was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with a right groin strain.


The injury occurred during Baltimore's game against Boston on Tuesday night. Two days later, Gonzalez still experienced discomfort.


''I understand that it's the right thing to do,'' he said of the move. ''It's not feeling any better. It's still sore. As I walk I feel it.''


Gonzalez is 5-4 with a 3.33 ERA in 12 starts.


By being sidelined for no less than two weeks, he won't feel compelled to rush back.


''If I feel ready, I'm going to go out there and compete,'' Gonzalez said. ''We don't want to rush it. Right now there's no point in doing it.''


Baltimore recalled right-hander Mike Wright from Triple-A Norfolk to fill out the roster, which is now at 24 players because lefty Brian Matusz is serving an eight-game suspension for using a foreign substance while on the mound.


Earlier this season, Wright became the second pitcher in Orioles history to begin his career with two consecutive scoreless starts. He has made four starts, going 2-1 with a 2.96 ERA.


Wright will be in the bullpen for the next few days. If he is not used, Wright probably will fill in for Gonzalez as Baltimore's starter Sunday against the New York Yankees.

 

[CNOTES]

Nats get RHP Carpenter from Yankees


June 11, 2015


MILWAUKEE (AP) - The Washington Nationals have acquired right-handed reliever David Carpenter from the New York Yankees for minor league second baseman Tony Renda.


The Nationals announced the deal Thursday before their game at the Milwaukee Brewers.


Washington also transferred outfielder Nate McClouth from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL and the team said it would make another move later Thursday to make room on the 25-man roster for Carpenter.


Carpenter was designated for assignment by the Yankees on June 3, after going 0-1 with a 4.82 ERA in 22 games this season.


He is 11-11 with a 2.73 ERA in 210 career appearances for four major league clubs.


Renda was a second-round draft pick in 2012

 

[CNOTES]

Blue Jays putting up ridiculous numbers during streak


The Toronto Blue Jays have won eight consecutive games and the offensive numbers have been otherworldly. The Jays have outscored their opponents 57-21 during their tear, which equals an average scoring margin of +4.5 runs per game.


Though the 7.1 runs per game is impressive, the Jays ability to stop opposing offenses has been great. Toronto has allowed 1.6 less runs per game during their winning streak compared to their season average.


The Blue Jays start a weekend series with the Boston Red Sox Friday.

 

[CNOTES]

Though rare, Locke has dominated the Phillies


Jeff Locke has owned the Philadelphia Phillies in his infrequent starts against the team, with the Pittsburgh Pirates winning each of the lefties' past four starts against the Phils.


Locke has pitched 26.2 innings while only allowing four runs through those four games, spread across the past two seasons. The left-hander has struggled this season though, as he has posted a 5.37 ERA with a 1.53 WHIP.

 

[CNOTES]

Weekend Primer


June 12, 2015




Cincinnati Reds at Chicago Cubs | 4:05 p.m. ET

Game two of this four-game series at Wrigley Field between two NL Central rivals consists of arguably the best pitching matchup of the day. On one side, you have perennial NL Cy Young candidate Johnny Cueto (4-4, 2.64 ERA), who, despite hearing increased noise about being available for trade, is having another one of his stellar seasons for the Reds in 2015. He’s been an under’s best friend, owning a 6-2-3 record towards under bets, this only one year after being 21-12-1 for unders a season ago. He’s as reliable as they get, and is carrying a streak of four straight quality starts into this assignment, while punching out nine batters in two of them. The reigning NL strikeouts champion has 73 punch-outs, compared to just 14 walks, in 78.1 innings this season.

He’ll be taking on a pitcher that, very surprisingly, has actually been just as effective this year, Jason Hammel (5-2, 2.76 ERA). Believe it or not, the veteran right-hander is well on his way en route to a berth in the All Star Game, and dare I say it, may even be in contention to start the Midsummer Classic for the National League. If you take a look at his impressive season, you’ll see why this is so. Hammel has been remarkably consistent, going at least six innings in all but one of his 11 starts, while allowing three runs or less in nine of them. In the other two instances, Hammel allowed four runs so he hasn’t really had a bad outing yet in ’15. Most impressive of all, he has an outstanding 76/9 K/BB ratio in his 75 innings of work. The over/under is unsurprisingly 6.5 with winds expected to considerably be blowing in. At the moment, Hammel is a -115 favorite opposing Cueto at home.

Cleveland Indians at Detroit Tigers | 7:08 p.m. ET

If you were able to bet on the game that would feature the most total strikeouts on tonight's slate, this would probably be the wisest pick. That's because Danny Salazar (6-1, 3.50 ERA) and David Price (5-2, 2.70 ERA) are set to do battle this evening at Comerica Park in the opener of this three-game set.

Price enjoying his usual success should come as no surprise, being one of the most consistent starting pitchers in all of Major League Baseball over the past handful of seasons. He's been especially stingy after his worst start of the year on April 22 against the Yankees, pitching into the seventh inning or beyond in all eight of his outings since, while registering a quality start in seven of them. His 78 strikeouts on the year don't rank higher than his counterpart, however, as Salazar possesses an outstanding 81/17 K/BB ratio in his 61.2 innings this season. The 25-year-old is in the midst of a breakout campaign (as I detailed and predicted early last season), after exhibiting significant shades of dominance following his call-up in 2013. This could be quite the duel and carries an over/under line of 7.5, with the talented Salazar being an intriguing +125 road 'dog.

New York Yankees at Baltimore Orioles | 7:05 p.m. ET

Despite being one of the most wildly inconsistent teams in baseball, the Yankees still find themselves atop the erratic AL East, including being above the reigning division champion Orioles by four games. The key for New York is that when they get hot, they keep it going for extensive stretches that easily outlast their cold spells. They'll turn to continually-emerging ace Michael Pineda (7-2, 3.33 ERA ) in the first game of this three-game series, as the overpowering right-hander has seemingly picked up where he left off from a season ago when he finished with a 1.89 ERA in 13 starts. He has an unbelievable 76/7 K/BB ratio in 70.1 innings this year and always commands a look from a betting perspective whenever he toes the rubber.

At one point in his career, Ubaldo Jimenez (3-3, 3.02 ERA) displayed the same type of notable dominance, specifically circa 2010 when he was with the Rockies, and although he's declined since then, Jimenez has been enjoying a renaissance year in 2015. The main reason for Jimenez' return to success largely has to do with being able to cut down on his number of walks, issuing 22 free passes in 62.2 innings this season compared to a whopping 77 in 125.1 innings a year ago. The linesmakers have attached an over/under line of 8 to this pitching matchup, which may drop leading up to first pitch.

Other Friday Notes

-- It's always a noteworthy event when Clayton Kershaw (5-3, 3.36 ERA) is scheduled for an assignment, especially when he's in his usual form like he is now. In fact, after a dominant eight-shutout-inning performance versus his arch-nemesis, the Cardinals, last Saturday, the reigning NL Cy Young and MVP has recorded three straight starts of lasting seven innings or more while yielding two runs or less. Historically, he’s always been good against the division rival Padres, and as a result, is a -230 favorite. He draws San Diego right-hander Odrisamer Despaigne (3-4, 4.72 ERA) in tonight’s matchup, and as usual for a Kershaw game at home, the over/under line is an unforgiving 6. Also of note, the Padres are 4-7 in games started by their second-year righty.

-- You can say the same thing as above whenever Felix Hernandez (9-2, 2.51 ERA) takes the hill for the Mariners. The former AL Cy Young winner bounced back nicely from a horrific effort against the Yankees on June 1, tossing seven innings of one-run ball against the Rays, while allowing just two hits. This evening, he makes his first start of the year against the division-leading Astros, who counter with left-hander Brett Oberholtzer (0-1, 3.75 ERA). The southpaw has logged just 12 innings in his three starts, and will be facing a club that ranks fifth in team OPS (.751) against lefties.

-- On MLB Network tonight, the Royals and Cardinals will begin their second and final Interleague series opposite one another. Jaime Garcia (1-3, 2.67 ERA) gets the nod for St. Louis in the opener, seemingly having come fresh out of a time machine from 2012, the last time he was able to hit the 20-start plateau. Injuries have derailed his once-promising career, but four starts into ’15, the lefty looks as healthy and as great as he’s ever been. He’s impressively gone six innings or more in all four of his outings, producing a quality start in each effort. In the process, the under has gone 3-1 in his starts. He’ll face Royals ace Yordano Ventura (3-5, 4.62 ERA), who snapped his streak of four consecutive seven-inning performances his last time out, but has improved dramatically since a rough stretch he endured at the end of April and beginning of May. The over/under is wisely set at 7 for this affair, with Ventura being a +105 road ‘dog.

 

[CNOTES]

MLB
Long Sheet

Friday, June 12

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CINCINNATI (27 - 31) at CHICAGO CUBS (31 - 26) - 4:05 PM
JOHNNY CUETO (R) vs. JASON HAMMEL (R)
Top Trends for this game.
CINCINNATI is 27-54 (-22.4 Units) against the money line in road games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
CINCINNATI is 699-793 (+35.4 Units) against the money line in road games since 1997.
CINCINNATI is 508-574 (+30.6 Units) against the money line in road games against right-handed starters since 1997.
CHICAGO CUBS are 1418-1579 (-278.7 Units) against the money line in all games since 1997.
CHICAGO CUBS are 759-737 (-164.8 Units) against the money line in home games since 1997.
CHICAGO CUBS are 152-192 (-57.6 Units) against the money line when playing with a day off since 1997.
CHICAGO CUBS are 359-345 (-88.8 Units) against the money line in home games against division opponents since 1997.
CHICAGO CUBS are 754-799 (-152.5 Units) against the money line in day games since 1997.
CHICAGO CUBS are 1361-1492 (-253.5 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field since 1997.
CHICAGO CUBS are 1042-1175 (-212.5 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters since 1997.
CHICAGO CUBS are 692-695 (-158.9 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record since 1997.
HAMMEL is 3-10 (-10.5 Units) against the money line in home games in day games over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
HAMMEL is 4-14 (-13.8 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO CUBS is 4-1 (+2.6 Units) against CINCINNATI this season
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=-0.1 Units, Under=-0.3 Units)

JOHNNY CUETO vs. CHICAGO CUBS since 1997
CUETO is 9-8 when starting against CHICAGO CUBS with an ERA of 3.24 and a WHIP of 1.221.
His team's record is 11-11 (-1.3 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 12-9. (+2.0 units)

JASON HAMMEL vs. CINCINNATI since 1997
HAMMEL is 0-1 when starting against CINCINNATI with an ERA of 5.68 and a WHIP of 1.105.
His team's record is 3-1 (+2.3 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-2. (-0.1 units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PHILADELPHIA (22 - 39) at PITTSBURGH (32 - 27) - 7:05 PM
KEVIN CORREIA (R) vs. JEFF LOCKE (L)
Top Trends for this game.
PHILADELPHIA is 7-23 (-13.7 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 7-23 (-13.7 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field this season.
PITTSBURGH is 217-173 (+28.7 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 3 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 21-6 (+14.2 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 8 to 8.5 over the last 3 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 40-22 (+19.6 Units) against the money line in June games over the last 3 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 14-2 (+11.9 Units) against the money line in home games when playing on Friday over the last 2 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 111-84 (+31.1 Units) against the money line in home games when playing with a day off since 1997.
PITTSBURGH is 149-104 (+31.4 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 3 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 98-58 (+26.8 Units) against the money line in home games against right-handed starters over the last 3 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 122-73 (+33.1 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 123-109 (+26.8 Units) against the money line in road games when playing on Friday since 1997.
PHILADELPHIA is 355-379 (+50.8 Units) against the money line in road games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.
CORREIA is 106-109 (+20.0 Units) against the money line in all games since 1997. (Team's Record)
CORREIA is 61-54 (+23.5 Units) against the money line after a loss since 1997. (Team's Record)
PITTSBURGH is 57-56 (-31.9 Units) against the money line as a home favorite of -150 to -175 since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
PHILADELPHIA is 2-2 (+0.3 Units) against PITTSBURGH this season
3 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+2.0 Units)

KEVIN CORREIA vs. PITTSBURGH since 1997
CORREIA is 3-1 when starting against PITTSBURGH with an ERA of 3.77 and a WHIP of 1.256.
His team's record is 4-1 (+2.9 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-4. (-3.1 units)

JEFF LOCKE vs. PHILADELPHIA since 1997
LOCKE is 4-0 when starting against PHILADELPHIA with an ERA of 1.35 and a WHIP of 0.787.
His team's record is 4-0 (+4.5 units) in these starts. The OVER is 3-1. (+2.1 units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ATLANTA (29 - 30) at NY METS (31 - 29) - 7:10 PM
ALEX WOOD (L) vs. BARTOLO COLON (R)
Top Trends for this game.
ATLANTA is 106-112 (-16.5 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 85-92 (-15.9 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
NY METS are 59-49 (+11.6 Units) against the money line against division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
NY METS are 63-43 (+18.0 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
COLON is 46-28 (+16.7 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
COLON is 12-2 (+10.0 Units) against the money line when playing on Friday over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
COLON is 46-28 (+16.7 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
COLON is 25-9 (+12.0 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
ATLANTA is 18-12 (+8.8 Units) against the money line when the total is 7 or less this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
NY METS is 4-2 (+2.0 Units) against ATLANTA this season
5 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+4.1 Units)

ALEX WOOD vs. NY METS since 1997
WOOD is 0-2 when starting against NY METS with an ERA of 4.09 and a WHIP of 1.424.
His team's record is 2-4 (-3.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 2-3. (-1.6 units)

BARTOLO COLON vs. ATLANTA since 1997
COLON is 6-2 when starting against ATLANTA with an ERA of 2.48 and a WHIP of 1.052.
His team's record is 6-2 (+4.3 units) in these starts. The OVER is 4-3. (+1.2 units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

COLORADO (27 - 31) at MIAMI (24 - 36) - 7:10 PM
KYLE KENDRICK (R) vs. JOSE URENA (R)
Top Trends for this game.
COLORADO is 35-73 (-28.4 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons.
COLORADO is 35-73 (-28.4 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
COLORADO is 57-89 (-29.9 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
COLORADO is 23-55 (-26.5 Units) against the money line in road games against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
COLORADO is 74-94 (-29.7 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons.
KENDRICK is 81-62 (+24.7 Units) against the money line in night games since 1997. (Team's Record)
MIAMI is 24-36 (-14.0 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
MIAMI is 2-8 (-9.0 Units) against the money line as a home favorite of -125 to -150 this season.
MIAMI is 17-31 (-16.1 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
MIAMI is 2-1 (+0.9 Units) against COLORADO this season
2 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+1.0 Units)

KYLE KENDRICK vs. MIAMI since 1997
KENDRICK is 13-3 when starting against MIAMI with an ERA of 3.29 and a WHIP of 1.209.
His team's record is 16-6 (+10.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 11-10. (+0.3 units)

JOSE URENA vs. COLORADO since 1997
URENA is 0-0 when starting against COLORADO with an ERA of 1.50 and a WHIP of 0.833.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 1-0. (+1.1 units)

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WASHINGTON (31 - 28) at MILWAUKEE (22 - 38) - 8:10 PM
JORDAN ZIMMERMANN (R) vs. MICHAEL FIERS (R)
Top Trends for this game.
WASHINGTON is 16-21 (-13.3 Units) against the money line when playing on Friday over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 2-8 (-8.2 Units) against the money line in road games when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
WASHINGTON is 35-13 (+17.8 Units) against the money line when playing with a day off over the last 3 seasons.
ZIMMERMANN is 38-14 (+20.4 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
ZIMMERMANN is 54-24 (+23.0 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record since 1997. (Team's Record)
MILWAUKEE is 22-38 (-14.7 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
MILWAUKEE is 9-20 (-13.1 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
MILWAUKEE is 22-38 (-14.7 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
MILWAUKEE is 5-14 (-10.0 Units) against the money line in home games in night games this season.
MILWAUKEE is 16-32 (-15.8 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

JORDAN ZIMMERMANN vs. MILWAUKEE since 1997
ZIMMERMANN is 4-0 when starting against MILWAUKEE with an ERA of 2.35 and a WHIP of 1.206.
His team's record is 5-0 (+5.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-3. (-1.3 units)

MICHAEL FIERS vs. WASHINGTON since 1997
FIERS is 1-0 when starting against WASHINGTON with an ERA of 0.00 and a WHIP of 1.106.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-1. (-1.1 units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

LA DODGERS (35 - 25) at SAN DIEGO (30 - 31) - 10:10 PM
CLAYTON KERSHAW (L) vs. ODRISAMER DESPAIGNE (R)
Top Trends for this game.
LA DODGERS are 66-64 (-15.4 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 2 seasons.
LA DODGERS are 0-9 (-10.5 Units) against the money line in road games after 3 or more consecutive wins over the last 2 seasons.
SAN DIEGO is 63-48 (+16.0 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
LA DODGERS is 6-3 (+2.4 Units) against SAN DIEGO this season
5 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+1.2 Units)

CLAYTON KERSHAW vs. SAN DIEGO since 1997
KERSHAW is 12-6 when starting against SAN DIEGO with an ERA of 2.33 and a WHIP of 1.111.
His team's record is 17-8 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 13-12. (+0.3 units)

ODRISAMER DESPAIGNE vs. LA DODGERS since 1997
DESPAIGNE is 0-2 when starting against LA DODGERS with an ERA of 6.35 and a WHIP of 1.589.
His team's record is 0-2 (-2.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-1. (-0.0 units)

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ARIZONA (27 - 32) at SAN FRANCISCO (34 - 26) - 10:15 PM
CHASE ANDERSON (R) vs. MADISON BUMGARNER (L)
Top Trends for this game.
ARIZONA is 91-130 (-34.1 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 91-130 (-34.1 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 36-72 (-31.3 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 134-105 (+22.8 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 211-104 (+44.2 Units) against the money line as a home favorite of -150 to -175 since 1997.
SAN FRANCISCO is 134-105 (+22.8 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 1045-871 (+122.6 Units) against the money line in night games since 1997.
SAN FRANCISCO is 94-71 (+15.9 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 5-15 (-13.8 Units) against the money line in home games in June games over the last 2 seasons.
BUMGARNER is 4-9 (-12.1 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
ARIZONA is 4-3 (+2.1 Units) against SAN FRANCISCO this season
4 of 7 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+0.8 Units)

CHASE ANDERSON vs. SAN FRANCISCO since 1997
No recent starts.

MADISON BUMGARNER vs. ARIZONA since 1997
BUMGARNER is 7-4 when starting against ARIZONA with an ERA of 2.80 and a WHIP of 1.160.
His team's record is 12-7 (+2.3 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 10-9. (-0.2 units)

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CLEVELAND (27 - 31) at DETROIT (31 - 29) - 7:05 PM
DANNY SALAZAR (R) vs. DAVID PRICE (L)
Top Trends for this game.
CLEVELAND is 27-31 (-10.8 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
CLEVELAND is 27-31 (-10.8 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
PRICE is 67-28 (+29.5 Units) against the money line against division opponents since 1997. (Team's Record)
DETROIT is 60-53 (-15.0 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 2 seasons.
DETROIT is 60-53 (-15.0 Units) against the money line in home games in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
DETROIT is 13-21 (-10.5 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
DETROIT is 38-43 (-21.9 Units) against the money line in home games against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
DETROIT is 48-54 (-20.6 Units) against the money line after a loss over the last 2 seasons.
DETROIT is 54-55 (-17.8 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
DETROIT is 5-1 (+4.0 Units) against CLEVELAND this season
5 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+4.0 Units)

DANNY SALAZAR vs. DETROIT since 1997
SALAZAR is 2-1 when starting against DETROIT with an ERA of 2.92 and a WHIP of 1.175.
His team's record is 3-3 (+0.6 units) in these starts. The OVER is 4-2. (+1.9 units)

DAVID PRICE vs. CLEVELAND since 1997
PRICE is 7-1 when starting against CLEVELAND with an ERA of 2.40 and a WHIP of 1.209.
His team's record is 8-2 (+5.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 6-3. (+3.1 units)

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NY YANKEES (33 - 26) at BALTIMORE (28 - 30) - 7:05 PM
MICHAEL PINEDA (R) vs. UBALDO JIMENEZ (R)
Top Trends for this game.
BALTIMORE is 128-100 (+33.4 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 66-52 (+12.0 Units) against the money line when the total is 8 to 8.5 over the last 2 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 71-46 (+18.4 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 2 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 65-46 (+20.7 Units) against the money line against division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 114-88 (+29.6 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 87-60 (+30.8 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 99-73 (+30.8 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 60-48 (+18.7 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
NY YANKEES are 25-17 (+7.5 Units) against the money line in night games this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
NY YANKEES is 4-3 (+0.8 Units) against BALTIMORE this season
3 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+1.0 Units)

MICHAEL PINEDA vs. BALTIMORE since 1997
PINEDA is 3-0 when starting against BALTIMORE with an ERA of 2.56 and a WHIP of 0.879.
His team's record is 3-3 (-0.6 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-2. (-0.2 units)

UBALDO JIMENEZ vs. NY YANKEES since 1997
JIMENEZ is 2-4 when starting against NY YANKEES with an ERA of 5.50 and a WHIP of 1.752.
His team's record is 2-5 (-2.5 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 5-2. (+2.7 units)

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TORONTO (31 - 30) at BOSTON (27 - 33) - 7:10 PM
DREW HUTCHISON (R) vs. JOE KELLY (R)
Top Trends for this game.
TORONTO is 22-39 (-18.1 Units) against the money line when playing on Friday over the last 3 seasons.
KELLY is 18-9 (+11.3 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
BOSTON is 27-33 (-12.3 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
BOSTON is 602-543 (-80.7 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 since 1997.
BOSTON is 11-22 (-14.7 Units) against the money line at home with a money line of -100 to -125 over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 49-62 (-30.4 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 10-17 (-10.0 Units) against the money line against division opponents this season.
BOSTON is 25-29 (-10.1 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
BOSTON is 68-88 (-29.5 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 68-87 (-26.3 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 47-67 (-23.6 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
TORONTO is 3-3 (+0.2 Units) against BOSTON this season
3 of 5 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+0.9 Units)

DREW HUTCHISON vs. BOSTON since 1997
HUTCHISON is 3-1 when starting against BOSTON with an ERA of 5.34 and a WHIP of 1.747.
His team's record is 4-2 (+2.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 4-2. (+2.0 units)

JOE KELLY vs. TORONTO since 1997
KELLY is 0-1 when starting against TORONTO with an ERA of 6.62 and a WHIP of 1.358.
His team's record is 1-2 (-1.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 2-1. (+1.0 units)

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CHI WHITE SOX (28 - 30) at TAMPA BAY (32 - 28) - 7:10 PM
JOHN DANKS (L) vs. CHRIS ARCHER (R)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

JOHN DANKS vs. TAMPA BAY since 1997
DANKS is 7-5 when starting against TAMPA BAY with an ERA of 4.02 and a WHIP of 1.215.
His team's record is 7-6 (+0.8 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 9-4. (+4.5 units)

CHRIS ARCHER vs. CHI WHITE SOX since 1997
ARCHER is 1-0 when starting against CHI WHITE SOX with an ERA of 2.92 and a WHIP of 1.217.
His team's record is 1-1 (-0.4 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-1. (+0.0 units)

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MINNESOTA (33 - 26) at TEXAS (31 - 28) - 8:05 PM
TOM MILONE (L) vs. WANDY RODRIGUEZ (L)
Top Trends for this game.
TEXAS is 31-28 (+13.7 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
TEXAS is 29-26 (+12.7 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
TEXAS is 23-20 (+10.9 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
TEXAS is 14-5 (+15.3 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
MINNESOTA is 33-26 (+13.4 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
MINNESOTA is 33-26 (+13.4 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
MINNESOTA is 15-8 (+10.5 Units) against the money line against left-handed starters this season.
MINNESOTA is 15-10 (+8.4 Units) against the money line after a loss this season.
MINNESOTA is 19-10 (+12.5 Units) against the money line after 3 or more consecutive losses over the last 2 seasons.
MILONE is 56-33 (+23.5 Units) against the money line in all games since 1997. (Team's Record)
MILONE is 29-19 (+14.4 Units) against the money line in road games since 1997. (Team's Record)
MILONE is 54-31 (+23.1 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field since 1997. (Team's Record)
MILONE is 39-18 (+22.4 Units) against the money line in night games since 1997. (Team's Record)
TEXAS is 29-52 (-22.8 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 over the last 2 seasons.
TEXAS is 44-63 (-20.8 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 2 seasons.
TEXAS is 18-43 (-27.2 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 9 to 9.5 over the last 2 seasons.
TEXAS is 4-11 (-11.7 Units) against the money line in home games when playing with a day off over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

TOM MILONE vs. TEXAS since 1997
MILONE is 2-4 when starting against TEXAS with an ERA of 4.95 and a WHIP of 1.420.
His team's record is 3-5 (-2.3 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 4-4. (-1.1 units)

WANDY RODRIGUEZ vs. MINNESOTA since 1997
RODRIGUEZ is 1-0 when starting against MINNESOTA with an ERA of 1.98 and a WHIP of 1.024.
His team's record is 2-0 (+2.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-2. (-2.1 units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SEATTLE (27 - 32) at HOUSTON (34 - 27) - 8:10 PM
FELIX HERNANDEZ (R) vs. BRETT OBERHOLTZER (L)
Top Trends for this game.
SEATTLE is 27-32 (-9.2 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
SEATTLE is 22-31 (-13.7 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
SEATTLE is 19-25 (-9.9 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
HOUSTON is 104-119 (+6.6 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
HOUSTON is 53-52 (+15.0 Units) against the money line against division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
HOUSTON is 34-24 (+8.1 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
HOUSTON is 22-14 (+9.1 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
SEATTLE is 60-48 (+18.0 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons.
SEATTLE is 12-3 (+13.0 Units) against the money line in road games in June games over the last 2 seasons.
SEATTLE is 17-7 (+11.0 Units) against the money line when playing with a day off over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
HOUSTON is 6-1 (+6.1 Units) against SEATTLE this season
4 of 7 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+0.6 Units)

FELIX HERNANDEZ vs. HOUSTON since 1997
HERNANDEZ is 3-2 when starting against HOUSTON with an ERA of 1.84 and a WHIP of 1.250.
His team's record is 4-3 (-1.7 units) in these starts. The OVER is 4-2. (+1.9 units)

BRETT OBERHOLTZER vs. SEATTLE since 1997
OBERHOLTZER is 2-0 when starting against SEATTLE with an ERA of 1.20 and a WHIP of 0.800.
His team's record is 2-0 (+2.5 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-1. (+0.0 units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OAKLAND (24 - 37) at LA ANGELS (29 - 30) - 10:05 PM
JESSE CHAVEZ (R) vs. HECTOR SANTIAGO (L)
Top Trends for this game.
OAKLAND is 24-37 (-19.6 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
OAKLAND is 6-18 (-11.3 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +100 to +125 over the last 2 seasons.
OAKLAND is 54-61 (-14.8 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons.
OAKLAND is 12-19 (-11.1 Units) against the money line against division opponents this season.
OAKLAND is 22-35 (-20.1 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
OAKLAND is 75-69 (-17.0 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
OAKLAND is 4-11 (-9.1 Units) against the money line against left-handed starters this season.
OAKLAND is 8-20 (-15.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
LA ANGELS are 279-204 (+52.1 Units) against the money line when playing on Friday since 1997.
LA ANGELS are 102-71 (+16.6 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
LA ANGELS are 70-39 (+19.5 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
SANTIAGO is 21-37 (-17.8 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
SANTIAGO is 13-21 (-11.7 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
LA ANGELS is 4-3 (+0.6 Units) against OAKLAND this season
6 of 7 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+5.0 Units)

JESSE CHAVEZ vs. LA ANGELS since 1997
CHAVEZ is 0-3 when starting against LA ANGELS with an ERA of 3.00 and a WHIP of 1.125.
His team's record is 1-3 (-2.3 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 3-1. (+2.1 units)

HECTOR SANTIAGO vs. OAKLAND since 1997
SANTIAGO is 3-0 when starting against OAKLAND with an ERA of 1.01 and a WHIP of 1.038.
His team's record is 4-2 (+3.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 3-3. (-0.4 units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

KANSAS CITY (34 - 23) at ST LOUIS (39 - 21) - 8:15 PM
YORDANO VENTURA (R) vs. JAIME GARCIA (L)
Top Trends for this game.
ST LOUIS is 39-21 (+15.8 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
ST LOUIS is 22-7 (+12.6 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
ST LOUIS is 21-4 (+15.5 Units) against the money line in home games when playing with a day off over the last 3 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 39-21 (+15.8 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
ST LOUIS is 32-14 (+16.5 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
ST LOUIS is 48-23 (+17.3 Units) against the money line in home games after a win over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 61-44 (+14.9 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
KANSAS CITY is 34-23 (+9.2 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
KANSAS CITY is 44-27 (+15.4 Units) against the money line when the total is 7 or less over the last 2 seasons.
KANSAS CITY is 23-13 (+12.6 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +100 to +125 over the last 2 seasons.
KANSAS CITY is 67-48 (+22.0 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons.
KANSAS CITY is 12-2 (+11.5 Units) against the money line in road games in June games over the last 2 seasons.
KANSAS CITY is 24-13 (+10.9 Units) against the money line when playing on Friday over the last 2 seasons.
KANSAS CITY is 22-8 (+13.8 Units) against the money line when playing with a day off over the last 2 seasons.
KANSAS CITY is 34-23 (+9.2 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
KANSAS CITY is 96-67 (+19.1 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
KANSAS CITY is 77-58 (+12.3 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 2 seasons.
KANSAS CITY is 30-15 (+14.6 Units) against the money line after 3 or more consecutive wins over the last 2 seasons.
KANSAS CITY is 68-49 (+17.1 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 10-16 (-12.5 Units) against the money line in home games in an inter-league game over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
KANSAS CITY is 2-1 (+0.7 Units) against ST LOUIS this season
2 of 2 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+2.0 Units)

YORDANO VENTURA vs. ST LOUIS since 1997
VENTURA is 1-1 when starting against ST LOUIS with an ERA of 4.15 and a WHIP of 1.231.
His team's record is 1-1 (-0.3 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-1. (-1.0 units)

JAIME GARCIA vs. KANSAS CITY since 1997
GARCIA is 0-1 when starting against KANSAS CITY with an ERA of 8.31 and a WHIP of 1.673.
His team's record is 2-2 (-0.6 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 0-4. (-4.8 units)

 

[CNOTES]

MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Friday, June 12


National League
Reds @ Cubs
Cueto is 1-1, 2.33 in his last four stats; under is 5-2-1 in their last eight.

Hammel is 3-1, 2.47 in his last six starts; seven of his last nine stayed under.

Cincinnati lost eight of last nine games with the Cubs. Reds won four of last five games overall; nine of their last 11 games went over. Cubs won four of their last five games.

Phillies @ Pirates
Correia is making first '15 start; he's made 216 MLB starts, was 5-13, 4.94 in 23 starts for the Twins last season.

Locke is 1-1, 6.66 in his last five starts.

Phillies lost seven of last ten games with Pittsburgh, but won last two; Phils lost six of last seven games overall- eight of their last nine went over the total. Pirates won six of last nine games; last four stayed under.

Braves @ Mets
Wood is 3-1, 2.33 in his last four starts; under is 2-0-1 in his last three.

Colon is 2-1, 3.60 in his last three starts; over is 5-3-1 in his last nine.

Atlanta lost its last four games with the Mets; six of last seven series games went over. Braves lost six of last nine games- seven of the nine went over the total. Mets lost six of last nine; three of last four went over.

Rockies @ Marlins
Kendrick is 1-2, 5.54 in his last four starts, three of which went over.

Urena is 0-2, 4.86 in his three starts, all of which stayed under; Marlins scored total of five runs in those three games.

Colorado lost four of last five games in Miami; three of last four series games stayed under. Rockies lost last two games, scoring two runs; four of last five games stayed under. Marlins lost four of last six; under is 7-3-1 in their last 11 games.

Nationals @ Brewers
Zimmerman is 3-1, 1.91 in his last five starts; three of his last four went under.

Fiers is 1-2, 2.78 in his last six starts, all of which stayed under, but he lasted total of only 32.1 innings in those six games.

Washington won seven of last 11 games with Milwaukee; four of last five went over total. Nationals lost seven of their last nine games. Brewers won five of last seven games; five of their last six games stayed under.

Dodgers @ Padres
Kershaw is 3-0, 0.82 in his last three starts; four of his last six went over.

Despaigne is 1-2, 2.42 in his last four starts, three of which stayed under.

Dodgers won seven of last ten games with San Diego; three of last four series games stayed under. LA won four of its last five games; four of its last six went under total. Padres won six of last nine; over is 8-2 in their last ten.

Diamondbacks @ Giants
Anderson is 1-0, 2.51 in his last seven starts; four of his last five went under.

Bumgarner is 4-0 3.74 in his last five starts; five of his last six went over.

Arizona won three of last four games with Giants; they lost last four games overall, allowing 25 runs- three of rhose four went over. SF won four of their last six games; over is 6-1-1 in their last eight. Giants lost their last five home games- this is their first home game in nine days.

American League
Indians @ Tigers
Salazar is 2-0, 2.63 in his last four starts, three of which stayed under.

Price is 2-1, 1.90 in his last three starts (under 2-1).

Detroit won nine of last ten games with Cleveland; nine of those ten got over the total. Indians lost three of last four games; under is 6-2-1 in their last nine. Tigers won three of last four- three of those four went over.

Bronx @ Orioles
Pineda is 2-0, 2.13 in his last two starts; over is 4-1-1 in his last six.

Jimenez is 1-1, 3.50 in his last six starts; five of his last seven stayed under.

Bronx won three of last four games with Baltimore; over is 6-2-2 in last ten series games. Bronx won seven of last eight games overall. Orioles won last four games, allowing ten runs; six of their last eight stayed under.

Blue Jays @ Red Sox
Hutchison is 2-0, 2.18 in his last three starts; over is 7-3 in his last ten.

Kelly is 1-2, 4.50 in his last five starts; five of his last six stayed under.

Blue Jays won last their eight games, scoring 57 runs; over is 3-1-1 in their last five. Toronto-Boston split last ten meetings; under is 3-0-1 in last four. Red Sox lost last three games, scoring seven runs; under is 4-2 in last six.

White Sox @ Rays
Danks is 1-2, 6.00 in his last four starts; four of his last six stayed under.

Andriese is 0-1, 6.75 in his three starts (over 2-1).

Chicago won four of last five games with Tampa Bay; over is 3-1-1 in the five games. White Sox won last three games, allowing four runs; five of their last seven games stayed under. Rays won six of last nine games; five of their last seven stayed under the total.

Twins @ Rangers
Milone is 0-2, 7.98 in his last three starts; his last four went over.

Rodriguez is 2-0, 2.92 in his last four starts; eight of his last nine went under.

Minnesota lost four of last five games with Texas; under is 8-1-1 in last ten series games. Twins lost five of last six games; four of last five stayed under total. Rangers lost three of last four; six of last seven stayed under total.

Mariners @ Astros
Hernandez is 3-1, 2.93 in his last four starts; under is 8-1-1 in his last ten.

Oberholtzer is 0-4, 5.40 in his last six starts; four of his last five went under.

Seattle lost eight of last nine games with Houston; seven of last ten got over total. Mariners are 3-2 in last five games; seven of their last eight went under total. Houston lost its last seven games; six of last eight stayed under.

A's @ Angels
Chavez is 1-3, 2.67 in his last four starts; under is 6-0-1 in his last seven.

Santiago is 2-1, 2.36 in his last seven outings; five of his last six starts stayed under the total.

Oakland lost six of last nine games with the Angels; seven of last eight series games went over. A's are 8-5 in last 13 games; four of last six stayed under. Angels lost six of last eight games; five of last seven went over.

Interleague
Royals @ Cardinals
Ventura is 0-2, 4.76 in his last three starts; under is 4-0-1 in his last five.

Garcia is 1-4, 3.66 in his last five starts; six of his last seven stayed under- he has a 1.93 RA in his last two starts.

Royals won six of last eight games with St Louis; under is 3-0-1 in last four in series. KC won its last four games, allowing six runs; under is 8-1-1 in last 10 games. Redbirds won six of last nine games; five of last six stayed under.

Win-loss records this year for team with this starting pitcher:
Cin-Chi-- Cueto 6-5; Hammel 6-5
Phil-Pitt-- Correia 0-0; Locke 5-6
Atl-NY-- Wood 4-8; Colon 8-4
Col-Mia-- Kendrick 3-9; Urena 1-2
Wsh-Mil-- Zimmerman 7-5; Fiers 5-7
LA-SD-- Kershaw 7-5; Despaigne 4-4
Az-SF-- Anderson 3-8; Bumgarner 8-4

Clev-Det-- Salazar 8-2; Price 10-2
NY-Balt-- Pineda 8-3; Jimenez 5-6
Tor-Bos-- Hutchison 7-5; Kelly 5-6
Chi-TB-- Danks 5-6; Andriese 2-1
Min-Tex-- Milone 3-2; Rodriguez 6-3
Sea-Hst-- Hernandez 10-2; Oberholtzer 2-1
A's-LA-- Chavez 2-7; Santiago 5-6

KC-StL-- Ventura 4-7; Garcia 1-3

Times this starting pitcher allowed a run in first inning:
Cin-Chi-- Cueto 4-11; Hammel 2-11
Phil-Pitt-- Correia 0-0; Locke 3-11
Atl-NY-- Wood 4-12; Colon 3-12
Col-Mia-- Kendrick 7-12; Urena 2-3
Wsh-Mil-- Zimmerman 5-12; Fiers 1-12
LA-SD-- Kershaw 3-12; Despaigne 3-8
Az-SF-- Anderson 4-11; Bumgarner 2-12

Clev-Det-- Salazar 4-10; Price 3-12
NY-Balt-- Pineda 3-11; Jimenez 1-11
Tor-Bos-- Hutchison 3-12; Kelly 6-11
Chi-TB-- Danks 4-11; Andriese 1-3
Min-Tex-- Milone 2-5; Rodriguez 4-9
Sea-Hst-- Hernandez 2-12; Oberholtzer 2-3
A's-LA-- Chavez 2-9; Santiago 2-11

KC-StL-- Ventura 4-11; Garcia 2-4