Friday 4/28/17 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

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NBA

Friday, April 28

Friday’s NBA Playoffs Betting Preview and Odds

The Boston Celtics have climbed out of an early hole and look to finally put away the Chicago Bulls in their first-round series when the teams meet in the Windy City for Game 6 on Friday.

Washington Wizards at Atlanta Hawks (-3, 210)

Wizards lead series 3-2

ABOUT THE WIZARDS (52-35 SU, 44-42-1 ATS, 53-33-1 O/U): Washington, which would host a potential Game 7, used solid defense and questionable decision-making by the other team to keep the Hawks from scoring over the final 68 seconds to earn a 103-99 win on Wednesday in Game 5. Washington guard Bradley Beal struggled with consistency in his shooting stroke over the first five games of the series but found ways to score despite a 1-of-9 effort from 3-point range in Game 5 and scored a team-high 27 points in the win. "It's playoff time," Beal told reporters. "It's winning time, and we’re going to do whatever it takes to get a win. We know that we can’t do it unless we get a stop. Whatever it takes, whether it’s rebounding, getting steals, blocking shots. Everybody plays a role. Everybody plays a part." Beal dug in on the defensive end in Game 5 and recorded three steals and three blocks.

ABOUT THE HAWKS (45-42 SU, 42-45 ATS, 34-50-3 O/U): Atlanta had its sense of urgency questioned after not fouling and letting time run off the clock in the final minute on Wednesday, and the team intends to fix those issues at home. Atlanta had a chance to win Game 5 in the end because of the play of point guard Dennis Schroder, who scored a game-high 29 points on 10-of-18 shooting to go along with 11 assists. "I think we were right there," Schroder told reporters of the closing minute of Game 5. "We had a chance to win. We missed a couple of rebounds. We missed a couple layups, shots. It’s tough. In crunch time we have to make those plays." Schroder is averaging 24.4 points in the series - up from a season mark of 17.9 - and went 5-of-6 from 3-point range in Game 5.

LINE HISTORY: The Hawks opened as three-point home favorites at home with their backs against the wall. The total hit the board at 210.

INJURY REPORT:

Wizards - PF J. Smith (Questionable, calf), C I. Mahinmi (Out Indefinitely, calf).

Hawks - No injuries to report.

TRENDS:

* Wizards are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 Friday games.
* Hawks are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 home games.
* Under is 4-1-1 in Wizards last 6 games playing on 1 days rest.
* Under is 8-1-1 in Hawks last 10 games playing on 1 days rest.
* Home team is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.




Boston Celtics at Chicago Bulls (+2, 203.5)

Celtics lead series 3-2

ABOUT THE CELTICS (56-31 SU, 43-42-2 ATS, 42-41-4 O/U): The Boston Celtics have climbed out of an early hole and look to finally put away the Chicago Bulls in their first-round series when the teams meet in the Windy City for Game 6 on Friday. Bradley matched fellow guard Isaiah Thomas with 24 points in Game 5 but he was much more efficient, shooting 11-of-19 from the floor, compared to 6-of-17 for Thomas. "Even the stat sheet doesn't explain how good of a player he is sometimes," Thomas told the media of Bradley. "When he's not scoring or rebounding, he's doing a lot of things to help out everybody else on this team, whether that be help-side defense, whether that be making the right play on offense. He’s a complete basketball player." Center Al Horford has been making a bigger impact as the series drags on, averaging 18 points, nine rebounds, 6.3 assists and two steals in Boston's three victories.

ABOUT THE BULLS (43-44 SU, 44-43 ATS, 35-51-1 O/U): The Bulls will enter a do-or-die contest looking for more from one of their remaining stars. Jimmy Butler was held to a series-low 14 points in Game 5 and is shooting 38.5 percent in Chicago's three straight losses.Butler took just two shots during Boston's decisive 20-4 run in the fourth quarter, prompting Hoiberg to insist that the team needs to get its All-Star the ball a bit more down the stretch. Some wondered if a nagging knee issue was the reason Butler lacked his usual aggressiveness but he downplayed questions about the knee and said he will be fine for Game 6. While Butler sagged in Game 5, Dwyane Wade had his best outing since returning from an elbow injury late in the regular season, finishing with 26 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists.

LINE HISTORY: The Bulls opened as one-point home favorites but that line jumped the fence Thursday afternoon and the Celtics are now listed as two-point road favorites. The total hit the board at 203.5 and has yet to move.

INJURY REPORT:

Celtics - SF J. Brown (Questionable, illness).

Bulls - PG R. Rondo (Out, thumb).

TRENDS:

* Celtics are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games.
* Bulls are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games following a straight up loss.
* Under is 11-3-2 in Celtics last 16 road games.
* Under is 10-1 in Bulls last 11 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
* Under is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings in Chicago.



Los Angeles Clippers at Utah Jazz (-6, 192.5)

Jazz lead series 3-2

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (53-34 SU, 41-45-1 ATS, 46-40-1 O/U): Los Angeles has its back against the wall and being sent home in the opening round would leave a bitter taste in the mouths of players who were predicting a spot in the conference finals. "This team is not going to quit, I can tell you that," Clippers coach Doc Rivers told reporters. "You could see it in the locker room." Los Angeles was mighty dismayed with the Game 5 showing in which it scored only 58 points through three quarters before succumbing 96-92 on its home floor. "It's no secret our back's against the wall, down 3-2," point guard Chris Paul told reporters after scoring 28 points. "Fortunately we've got a lot of guys in the locker room who had to do this a couple of years ago. We've got to do what we've got to do." The loss of power forward Blake Griffin (toe) was magnified further when Marreese Speights tallied one point while starting in Griffin's place.

ABOUT THE JAZZ (54-33 SU, 40-43-4 ATS, 44-43 O/U): The Utah Jazz haven't won a playoff series in seven years and they look to end the drought when they host the Los Angeles Clippers in Friday's Game 6 of the Western Conference first-round playoff series. The Jazz hold a 3-2 series lead and are aiming to close out their first postseason series since downing the Denver Nuggets in a first-round clash in 2010. Veteran swingman Joe Johnson averaged 9.2 points in the regular season but has increased that to 18.2 while leading a young squad toward a second-round clash with the top-seeded Golden State Warriors. Johnson has been a force in a series in which the Jazz didn't have standout center Rudy Gobert (knee) for nearly all of three consecutive games and All-Star small forward Gordon Hayward (food poisoning) was a non-entity in Game 4 before being sent home at halftime. Hayward was back on his game in Tuesday's victory as he contributed 27 points and eight rebounds while Gobert recorded 11 points, 11 rebounds, five steals and two blocked shots. "We have to treat this one as a must-win," Hayward told reporters. "We want to close it out in Salt Lake City. We definitely don't want to come back (to Los Angeles) for Game 7."

LINE HISTORY: The Jazz opened as six-point home favorites as they look to finish off the Clippers at home and that point spread came down slightly to -5.5 on Thursday afternoon. The total hit the board at 192 and was bet up slightly to 192.5.

INJURY REPORT:

Clippers - PF B. Griffin (Out For Season, toe), C D. Stone (Out Indefinitely, knee).

Jazz - SG A. Burks (Doubful, knee).

TRENDS:

* Clippers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
* Jazz are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 vs. NBA Pacific.
* Under is 13-3 in Clippers last 16 games playing on 2 days rest.
* Over is 4-0 in Jazz last 4 home games.
* Over is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in Utah.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Larry Ness

Pittsburgh vs. Miami
Pick: Miami

The Pittsburgh Pirates are are hoping Wednesday's 6-5 win over the Cubs (Pirates had 10 hits) is what the team needed to get its bats untracked. The Pirates are last in the NL (29th of 30 MLB teams, overall) in runs scored with 71 (3.38 per). Pittsburgh opens a three-game series tonight in Miami against the 10-10 Marlins, looking to post back-to-back wins. The Marlins were swept in a rain-shortened two-game series at Philadelphia to finish a 3-5 road trip but the much bigger news this week is that a group fronted by future Hall of Famer Derek Jeter and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush are in line to buy the franchise.

The pitching matchup will feature Pittsburgh Jameson Taillon (1-0, 2.13 ERA) and Miami's Adam Conley (1-1, 3.00 ERA). Taillon gave up just two ERs in 20 innings over his first three starts (team was just 1-2 despite his 0.90 ERA in that span) but was then reached for four runs in 5.1 innings against the New York Yankees last Saturday. The former No. 2 overall draft pick issued three walks and yielded five hits to the Yankees but did not factor in the decision. This marks Taillon's first career appearance against Miami.

Conley has yet to allow more than three runs in an appearance this season and is coming off a strong start at San Diego last Friday in which he allowed one run in a season high-matching six innings (settled for a no-decision). Conley made his first three appearances of the season - two starts - against the New York Mets and allowed a total of five runs in 12 innings. Conley struck out nine and scattered two hits over six scoreless innings in his lone previous start against the Pirates.

The Pirates rank last statistically in team defense. The team is tied for the most errors (20) and has allowed the most unearned runs (15) in the NL. In sharp contrast, Miami's .992 fielding percentage, .738 defensive efficiency rating and six errors top the NL's defensive stats chart. Making life even more difficult for Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle is he recently lost All-Star outfielder Starling Marte to an 80-game suspension for a failed drug test. Take Miami in this one.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Power Sports

Phillies vs, Dodgers
Pick: Dodgers

Looking over only recent results, one might (falsely) conclude that the Dodgers seem overvalued on the money line here. But, given preseason projections for both clubs, the price seems about right to me. Sure, the Phillies have won six straight. But they're not a team I expect to do a whole lot of winning in 2017. It should also be pointed out that the last five wins all came at home, against either Atlanta or Miami. Meanwhile, the Dodgers may still be a game below .500 (did win yday), but their overall run differential of +15 indicates better play than that.

If starter Kenta Maeda can get his act together, then LA will be in a real good shape for tonight's series opener. Maeda did not fare well his last time out, giving up four home runs, but that was in the bandbox known as Chase Field down in Arizona. The Phillies lineup is far less formidable. Believe it or not, but the Dodgers have allowed the fewest number of runs in the entire Senior Circuit. Their bullpen has been a lot better at home and the Phils are batting a collective .223 on the road so far. Maeda has beaten Philly both times he has faced them in his career.

The visitors counter w/ Jerad Eickhoff, who has pitched surprisingly well to this point. Dodger Stadium is known for being pitcher friendly and I don't expect a ton of runs tonight, but it will be Eickhoff giving up the majority of them. Similar to last year, visiting teams simply aren't scoring much here in Chavez Ravine. They are averaging just 2.8 rpg w/ a batting average of .204. Meanwhile, the Dodgers are averaging 5.2 rpg here at home.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Buster Sports

Pittsburgh Pirates at Miami Marlins
Play: Pittsburgh Pirates -102

The Miami Marlins are back home off of a long 8 game road trip where they went 3-5. They are not even getting a chance to kiss the wife and hug the kids as they are right back in action today. Usually after a long trip like that the club will get a day off but not in today's MLB. This gives us a great situation tonight and we also believe we have the advantage on the hill. The starters for tonight are for the Pirates RH Jameson Taillon (1-0, 2.13 ERA) and he faces the Marlins LH Adam Conley (1-1, 3.00 ERA) Taillon in his second year is a young gun who has a great career ahead of him. We rode him a few times early last year with great success. In this situation we will be more than happy to ride him again tonight. Conley has pitched well to start the year but that early success has been on the road. At home in a couple of appearances he is sporting a nasty 5.14 ERA. At the time of this writing we are laying only 102 with the Pirates and we will side with the visitor here against the tired home club.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Jeff Allen Sports

Friday's Free Selection is on the Anaheim Ducks

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Easy Money Sports

Lee's Free Friday Selection

Toronto w/Stroman -137

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Teyas Sports

FREE PICK 4/28 CUBS -119

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Free Selection from Kenny Towers

Un 9 Bal/NYY - MLB -

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Orioles at Yankees
GAME: Baltimore Orioles (14-6) at New York Yankees (13-7)
DATE/TIME: Friday, April 28 - 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York

Baltimore Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman hit the nail on the head while summing up his performance in April. "Not very good," Gausman told the Baltimore Sun ahead of his final start of the month on Friday as the Orioles begin a seven-game road trip with the first of three contests against the New York Yankees.

"Pretty frustrating, especially being the guy who they gave the ball to Opening Day," Gausman told reporters. "It seems like everybody else is really throwing the (heck) out of the ball really well right now. And I'm kind of scuffling along. I'll figure it out. .... But obviously, my first five starts are not very good." The American League East-leading Orioles took two of three from Tampa Bay this week to improve to 6-2 in their last eight overall while boasting a 12-5 mark against their division foes. New York improved to 7-4 versus the East after sweeping a rain-shorted two-game series against Boston on Thursday, with Starlin Castro capping the scoring with an RBI single. The 27-year-old Dominican has hit safely in 15 of his last 17 contests, including an RBI single among his two hits against Gausman on April 8.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MASN (Baltimore), YES (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Kevin Gausman (1-2, 7.50 ERA) vs. Yankees LH CC Sabathia (2-1, 2.70)

Gausman's season has taken a turn for the worse with back-to-back rough outings, as the 26-year-old surrendered eight runs on as many hits over 2 2/3 innings of 9-3 setback at Cincinnati on April 18 before getting ravaged by Boston in a four-run first inning on Sunday. Gausman yielded three homers against the Red Sox and four over his last two games after keeping the ball in the park in his first three contests. Gausman sports an impressive 6-3 career mark with a 2.24 ERA versus New York, although he was fortunate to walk away with a no-decision on April 8 after permitting four runs on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Sabathia sustained his first setback of the season after allowing a pair of homers and four runs total over five innings in a 6-3 loss at Pittsburgh on Friday. The 36-year-old kept the ball in the park in his last encounter with Baltimore, but four walks elevated his pitch count as he settled for a no-decision on April 9. J.J. Hardy had an RBI single in that contest and is batting .326 in 43 career at-bats versus Sabathia, although the hurler has kept Jonathan Schoop (5-for-22) under wraps.

WALK-OFFS

1. New York SS Didi Gregorius is expected to make his season debut after sustaining a right shoulder injury at the World Baseball Classic.

2. Baltimore (14-6) is eight games over .500 despite only sporting a plus-9 run differential.

3. Yankees INF Ronald Torreyes is 10-for-23 during his six-game hitting streak and went 5-for-11 with four RBIs in the first series with the Orioles.

PREDICTION: Orioles 4, Yankees 3

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mets at Nationals
GAME: New York Mets (8-13) at Washington Nationals (16-6)
DATE/TIME: Friday, April 28 - 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: Nationals Park, Washington, District of Columbia

The Washington Nationals are kicking off a six-game homestand on Friday against visiting New York but have to be a little disappointed to leave the road after going 9-1 on the trip, including a three-game sweep at the Mets last weekend. The Nationals pounded out 42 runs in the final three games at Coors Field in Colorado this week, including a 16-5 drubbing in Thursday's series finale.

Bryce Harper continued his prolific first month with a three-run homer on Thursday but it was shortstop Trea Turner who enjoyed the most success in the three wins over the Rockies. The 23-year-old went 10-for-17 with two home runs, 11 RBIs, nine runs scored, three doubles and a triple in the three wins to lift his batting average from .219 to .347 and is enjoying a six-game hitting streak that began last weekend at New York. While the Nationals (16-6) lead the majors in wins and runs scored (139), the Mets (8-13) sit last in the NL East and are averaging three runs during a six-game slide. New York will try to string some hits together on Friday against Washington ace Max Scherzer, who opposes fellow righty Jacob deGrom.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SNY (New York), MASN2 (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Jacob deGrom (0-1, 2.55 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Max Scherzer (3-1, 1.95)

DeGrom struck out 10 but issued six walks and eight hits in a season-low 5 2/3 innings and could not get any support from his offense in a 3-1 loss to Washington on Saturday. The Stetson product struck out 13 and walked one over seven frames in his previous start, April 15 at Miami, but could not find his way into the win column. DeGrom is 2-3 with a 3.33 ERA in eight career starts against the Nationals while notching 55 strikeouts in 46 total innings.

Scherzer allowed a season-high three earned runs at New York on Sunday but struck out nine in eight innings and got plenty of support from his offense in a 6-3 win. The reigning Cy Young Award winner yielded a total of three earned runs in his first three starts and owns 33 strikeouts in 27 2/3 innings. Scherzer had little trouble with the Mets in 2016, posting a 2-1 record with a 0.87 ERA in three starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mets LF Yoenis Cespedes (hamstring) left Thursday's game and could be placed on the 10-day DL.

2. Washington 2B Daniel Murphy is 8-for-16 with two home runs and 11 RBIs in the last three games.

3. New York RHP Noah Syndergaard (tired arm) was scratched from his scheduled start on Thursday and will be evaluated again on Friday.

PREDICTION: Nationals 4, Mets 1

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rays at Blue Jays
GAME: Tampa Bay Rays (11-12) at Toronto Blue Jays (6-16)
DATE/TIME: Friday, April 28 - 7:07 PM EST
WHERE: Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario

The Tampa Bay Rays have had a tough time holding on to leads lately and hope to turn around their fortunes when they visit the struggling Toronto Blue Jays on Friday for the opener of their three-game series. The Rays have been ahead in each loss during a 1-3 stretch - including Wednesday's setback at Baltimore in which they battled back from a three-run deficit to move in front in the 11th inning, only to give up two runs in the bottom of the frame.

“We have to win those games like that, especially on the road in the division,” Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria told reporters. “We’ve got to be able to close that one out somehow.” The Rays look to grab the lead again when Blake Snell takes the mound in search of his first victory while Toronto counters with Marcus Stroman. The Blue Jays return home after dropping both ends of a doubleheader at St. Louis on Thursday, with closer Roberto Osuna suffering his third blown save in four opportunities in the opener. Toronto owns the worst record in the major leagues (6-16), winning only two of its nine home games, and lost three of four at Tampa Bay earlier this month.

TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, FSN Sun (Tampa Bay), Sportsnet One (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH Blake Snell (0-2, 3.38 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Marcus Stroman (2-2, 3.10)

Snell worked only five innings in a no-decision against Houston last time out, matching his career high with five walks. The 24-year-old, who is limiting opponents to a .192 batting average, was victimized by Kendrys Morales' grand slam in a loss to the Blue Jays on April 6, when he worked a season-high 6 2/3 frames. Devon Travis is 3-for-4 versus Snell, who is 1-2 with a 4.40 ERA in three career starts against Toronto.

Stroman recorded his second complete game of the season on Sunday, allowing two runs - one earned - and seven hits in a victory over the Los Angeles Angels. The Duke product, who has recorded 18 strikeouts and five walks in 29 innings, also went the distance in a setback against Milwaukee on April 12. Longoria is 9-for-24 with a pair of homers against Stroman, who defeated Snell and the Rays on April 6 by holding them to one run and six hits in 6 1/3 frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tampa Bay INF Tim Beckham is 11-for-27 with two homers and five RBIs over the last seven games, raising his average from .208 to .280.

2. Toronto RHP Aaron Sanchez (blister) is scheduled to throw a side session on Friday and could start the series finale.

3. Rays CF Kevin Kiermaier is 0-for-17 over his last five games but batted .338 with 12 RBIs versus Toronto last year.

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 5, Rays 3

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: White Sox at Tigers
GAME: Chicago White Sox (11-9) at Detroit Tigers (11-10)
DATE/TIME: Friday, April 28 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan

It's feast or famine for the Detroit Tigers' offense, and right now they're starving. The Tigers managed a total of one run in the last two contests to drop a series to the Seattle Mariners and will try to turn things around on their 10-game homestand when they host the Chicago White Sox in the opener of a three-game set on Friday.

Detroit pounded out 37 runs during a three-game winning streak, capped by a 19-9 triumph in the series opener against the Mariners on Tuesday but were blanked 8-0 on Wednesday and dropped a 2-1 decision in Thursday's finale when closer Francisco Rodriguez surrendered the winning run in the ninth. "People want to focus on the bullpen. We scored one run," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus told reporters. "You're not going to win many games when you score one run." The White Sox are thriving on both sides of the ball during a four-game winning streak in which they've outscored opponents by a combined 33-10. Chicago's bats will try to stay hot against lefty Matthew Boyd while the White Sox counter with veteran right-hander Mike Pelfrey.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), FSN Detroit

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Mike Pelfrey (0-1, 4.15 ERA) vs. Tigers LH Matthew Boyd (2-1, 3.86)

Pelfrey, who went 4-10 with a 5.07 ERA as a member of Detroit in 2016, made his Chicago debut on Saturday and allowed four runs - two earned - and four hits in 4 1/3 innings against Cleveland. The veteran is keeping the rotation spot warm for righty James Shields, who is on the disabled list with a shoulder injury. Pelfrey is with his third straight AL Central team and is 3-5 with a 4.19 ERA in 10 career starts against the Tigers.

Boyd allowed a total of three runs in 16 1/3 innings over his last three starts to bring his ERA back down following a terrible season debut against Chicago. The White Sox knocked the Oregon State product around for five runs on five hits and four walks over 2 1/3 innings in a loss on April 6. Boyd is still searching for his first win against Chicago and enters Friday 0-2 with a 6.55 ERA in five career starts against the division rivals.

WALK-OFFS

1. White Sox CF Leury Garcia is 7-for-11 with a homer, three RBIs and four runs scored in the last three games.

2. Detroit CF Tyler Collins is 6-for-8 with three runs scored and three doubles in his last two starts.

3. Chicago 1B Jose Abreu (hip flexor) left Wednesday's game and is day-to-day.

PREDICTION: Tigers 6, White Sox 5

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mariners at Indians
GAME: Seattle Mariners (10-13) at Cleveland Indians (12-9)
DATE/TIME: Friday, April 28 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio

The Seattle Mariners are starting to turn around a disastrous stretch on the road while the Cleveland Indians are beginning to piece it together at home. The Mariners vie for their third straight win away from the Pacific Northwest on Friday when they open a three-game series against the Indians at Progressive Field.

Seattle improved to 4-10 on the road after recording back-to-back wins over Detroit to claim a series victory, with Kyle Seager returning from a sore hip to collect an RBI single before scoring the go-ahead run in Thursday's 2-1 triumph. The 29-year-old looks to extend his hitting streak to four games when he faces right-hander Carlos Carrasco, against whom he has belted a solo homer among his two hits in six career at-bats. While the Mariners have won three of their last four on a 10-game road trip, Cleveland won its second straight versus visiting Houston on Thursday to improve to 7-2 in its last nine overall and 4-5 at home this season. Jose Ramirez recorded three singles in Thursday's 4-3 victory to improve to 8-for-20 during his five-game hitting streak, although the 24-year-old Dominican is batting just .190 against Seattle in his career.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Seattle), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH Ariel Miranda (1-2, 4.35 ERA) vs. Indians RH Carlos Carrasco (2-1, 1.65)

Miranda answered a brilliant outing with a difficult one, as the Cuban permitted four runs on seven hits for the second time in three outings in Saturday's 4-3 setback at Oakland. The 28-year-old surrendered two homers in just three innings against the Athletics and has been taken deep five times already in just 20 2/3 frames. Miranda, who has yet to face the Indians in his career, sports just a 1-3 mark with a 5.59 ERA in seven road contests.

Carrasco has pitched into the sixth inning and allowed two or fewer runs in each of his first four starts this season. The 30-year-old Venezuelan scattered three hits over eight frames in Saturday's 7-0 rout of the Chicago White Sox, fanning eight to increase his strikeout total to 27 in 27 1/3 innings this season. Robinson Cano has gotten the better of Carrasco in his career by going 6-for-14 with a homer, however Nelson Cruz (.214) and Jarrod Dyson (.188) have struggled mightily in 14 and 16 at-bats respectively.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cruz is 13-for-27 with three homers, 11 RBIs and eight runs scored during his eight-game hitting streak.

2. Cleveland SS Francisco Lindor, who belted a go-ahead homer on Thursday, has gone deep twice and scored four runs in his last four contests.

3. Struggling Seattle CF Leonys Martin was outrighted to Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday after batting just .111 in his first 58 plate appearances, one season removed from recording career highs in homers (15) and runs scored (72).

PREDICTION: Indians 5, Mariners 1

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Pirates at Marlins
GAME: Pittsburgh Pirates (9-12) at Miami Marlins (10-10)
DATE/TIME: Friday, April 28 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Marlins Park, Miami, Florida

The Pittsburgh Pirates are last in the National League and 29th in the majors with 71 runs scored but are hoping a 6-5 win over the defending World Series champs on Wednesday was what the team needed to get the bats going consistently. The Pirates will try to post back-to-back wins when they visit the Miami Marlins on Friday for the opener of a three-game series.

Pittsburgh (9-12) scored two or fewer runs in five of eight games and was shut out 1-0 on Tuesday before Josh Harrison led off the bottom of the first with a home run on Wednesday and Josh Bell added a key solo blast in the sixth inning in the win. Harrison is batting .400 with one home run in 15 at-bats out of the leadoff position and .280 with one blast anywhere else in the lineup. The Marlins (10-10) were swept in a rain-shortened two-game series at Philadelphia to finish out a 3-5 road trip and are being overwhelmed by rumors that a group fronted by future Hall of Famer Derek Jeter and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush are in line to buy the franchise. The Marlins will try to get back into the win column behind left-hander Adam Conley while the Pirates counter with righty Jameson Taillon on Friday.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Pittsburgh), FSN Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Jameson Taillon (1-0, 2.13 ERA) vs. Marlins LH Adam Conley (1-1, 3.00)

Taillon surrendered a total of two earned runs in 20 innings over his first three starts but was reached for four runs in 5 1/3 frames against the New York Yankees on Saturday. The former No. 2 overall draft pick issued three walks and yielded five hits to the Yankees but did not factor in the decision. Taillon is making his first career appearance against Miami.

Conley has yet to allow more than three runs in an appearance this season and is coming off a strong start at San Diego last Friday in which he allowed one run in a season high-matching six innings but did not earn a decision. Conley made his first three appearances of the season - two starts - against the New York Mets and yielded a total of five runs in 12 innings. Conley struck out nine and scattered two hits over six scoreless innings in his lone previous start against the Pirates.

WALK-OFFS

1. Marlins OF Christian Yelich drove in a run in each of the last three games and has 15 RBIs in 20 contests.

2. Miami LHP and former Pirate Jeff Locke (shoulder) is throwing simulated games and could make his team debut next month.

3. Pittsburgh 2B Gift Ngoepe became the majors' first African-born player when he made his debut on Wednesday.

PREDICTION: Pirates 4, Marlins 2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Cubs at Red Sox
GAME: Chicago Cubs (12-9) at Boston Red Sox (11-10)
DATE/TIME: Friday, April 28 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts

Interleague play provides a gem this weekend, as the Chicago Cubs travel to Fenway Park for a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox beginning Friday. It’s the first meeting of the storied franchises since 2014, when the Cubs swept three games at Fenway.



It’s also a homecoming for Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein, who guided the Red Sox to an elusive World Series crown after a long drought before doing the same for Chicago last season. The Cubs are back atop the National League Central, while the Red Sox are third in the competitive American League East. "It's going to be a lot of fun," Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. told reporters. "They are a big, competitive team, and I think coming in there's going to be a lot of fan hype, and that's going to bring a lot of excitement." The Cubs have won six of their last eight, while Boston has dropped four of five.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, CSN Chicago Plus, NESN (Boston)



PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Jake Arrieta (3-0, 3.65 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Drew Pomeranz (1-1, 4.60)

Arrieta has won three of his first four starts in 2017, but he has needed strong run support to offset somewhat shaky performances in his last two outings. The 31-year-old allowed five runs (four earned) over six innings in a 12-8 win at Cincinnati on Saturday, surrendering two home runs for the second straight start. Arrieta is 1-3 with a 4.66 ERA in seven games (six starts) against the Red Sox, but he hasn’t faced them since 2014.

Pomeranz has recorded just one quality start in his first three outings of the season, and that came in his season debut. The 28-year-old bounced back from a rough outing against Tampa Bay to limit Baltimore to two runs over 5 1/3 innings last time out, but he was on the wrong end of a 2-0 decision. Pomeranz is 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA in three starts against the Cubs, including six shutout innings last season.



WALK-OFFS

1. Boston has scored just 13 runs over the past seven games, including three shutouts over that span.

2. Cubs 3B Kris Bryant is 13-for-33 during an eight-game hitting streak but has only two home runs this season, both on April 15 versus Pittsburgh.

3. Red Sox RHP Matt Barnes will miss the first two games of the series while completing his four-game suspension for throwing at Baltimore 3B Manny Machado’s head on Sunday.



PREDICTION: Cubs 3, Red Sox 1

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Angels at Rangers
GAME: Los Angeles Angels (12-12) at Texas Rangers (10-12)
DATE/TIME: Friday, April 28 - 8:05 PM EST
WHERE: Globe Life Park in Arlington, Arlington, Texas

The Los Angeles Angels have matched a season-best four-game winning streak and shoot for their sixth victory in seven games when they open a three-game series against the host Texas Rangers on Friday. The Angels are fresh off a three-game home sweep of Oakland and will strive to improve on their woeful 3-8 road record.

Mike Trout has registered five multi-hit performances during his 11-game hitting streak and has reached base in 23 of the Angels' 24 contests this season. Albert Pujols delivered a run-scoring single in Thursday's 2-1 victory over Oakland for the 1,835th RBI of his career, tying Rafael Palmeiro for 16th place on the all-time list and moving within one of Ken Griffey Jr. for 15th. The Rangers have won five of their last seven games and established a season best for runs in Wednesday's 14-3 trouncing of Minnesota. Texas misses injured third baseman Adrian Beltre (calf) and is waiting for Mike Napoli (.150, three homers, 27 strikeouts in 80 at-bats) to get rolling.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, FSN West (Los Angeles), FSN Southwest (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels LH Tyler Skaggs (1-1, 4.44 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Nick Martinez (0-0, 1.29)

Skaggs has pitched well in his last two starts, blanking Kansas City on four hits over seven innings in a no-decision on April 16 and following up by allowing two runs and seven hits in seven frames of a win over Toronto. The 25-year-old escaped with a no-decision against Texas earlier this month after yielding five runs and eight hits in five innings. He is 2-1 with a 6.20 ERA in five career starts versus the Rangers and has experienced difficulties with Elvis Andrus (5-for-10, one homer).

Martinez is making his second start in place of the injured A.J. Griffin (ankle) after excelling in the first. The 26-year-old defeated Kansas City, allowing one run and four hits over seven innings for his 14th career victory. Martinez is 2-3 with a 2.51 ERA in eight career appearances (six starts) against the Angels and has struggled with Kole Calhoun (8-for-14, one homer) and C.J. Cron (6-for-12, two homers).

WALK-OFFS

1. The Rangers took two of three from the Angels earlier this month at Angel Stadium.

2. Los Angeles 3B Yunel Escobar is 2-for-29 over his last seven games.

3. Texas 2B Rougned Odor recorded two hits on Wednesday for his first multi-hit performance since April 7.

PREDICTION: Rangers 5, Angels 4

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Athletics at Astros
GAME: Oakland Athletics (10-12) at Houston Astros (14-8)
DATE/TIME: Friday, April 28 - 8:10 PM EST
WHERE: Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas

The Oakland Athletics' five-game winning streak seems like a distant memory, as the club has dropped four straight contests - and been held to one run in three of them. Oakland looks to end the slide and record the first victory on its nine-game road trip when it visits the Houston Astros on Friday for the opener of their three-game set.

Jed Lowrie is 10-for-28 over his last seven games after recording one of the three hits registered by the Athletics, who have been outscored 23-8 during their skid, including Thursday's 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. Houston is looking to avoid a third consecutive loss after completing its 3-3 road trip with a pair of one-run setbacks at Cleveland. Marwin Gonzalez was a bright spot in the defeats as he went 4-for-7 with a home run and three RBIs. Jose Altuve (shoulder) and George Springer (hamstring) were kept out of the starting lineup Thursday, but the former singled as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning before being thrown out while attempting to steal second.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, NBC Sports California (Oakland), ROOT (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Jharel Cotton (2-2, 4.76 ERA) vs. Astros RH Charlie Morton (1-2, 4.29)

Cotton is coming off a victory over Seattle on Saturday in which he allowed two runs and six hits over six innings. The 25-year-old native of the Virgin Islands had his best outing of the young season in his only road start on April 10, when he limited Kansas City to a pair of hits in seven scoreless frames. Cotton settled for a no-decision in his only career turn against Houston on Sept. 19 despite giving up just one run and two hits over six innings.

Morton looks to bounce back from a rough outing at Tampa Bay on Saturday, when he was tagged for five runs and eight hits in five innings. The 33-year-old from New Jersey pitched well in his two home starts this year, going 1-0 while allowing two runs over 11 frames. Morton has made 165 starts and one relief appearance in his career but will be facing Oakland for the first time.

WALK-OFFS

1. Athletics RHP Sonny Gray (lat) worked six scoreless innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Nashville on Thursday.

2. Altuve had been successful on his first seven stolen-base attempts this season.

3. Oakland optioned OF Matt Olson to Nashville to make room on the roster for RHP Kendall Graveman (shoulder), who was activated from the disabled list and suffered a hard-luck loss on Thursday after allowing two runs in six innings.

PREDICTION: Athletics 6, Astros 4

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Braves at Brewers
GAME: Atlanta Braves (8-12) at Milwaukee Brewers (12-11)
DATE/TIME: Friday, April 28 - 8:10 PM EST
WHERE: Miller Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Eric Thames has been the biggest story in baseball this season, and the Milwaukee Brewers expect their slugging first baseman to return to the lineup Friday in the opener of a three-game home series against the Atlanta Braves. Thames, who already has set club records for homers (11) and runs scored (27) in April while hitting .370 with a .489 on-base percentage, left Wednesday’s victory against Cincinnati with a tight left hamstring.

“It’s just the wear and tear of playing every day,” Thames told reporters after Wednesday’s game, adding with Thursday’s off day he anticipates being on the field Friday. The Brewers scored 29 runs in sweeping a three-game series from the Reds, while Atlanta enters the series after scoring 15 runs in a two-game sweep of the Mets in New York. The Braves have a hot-hitting first baseman of their own in Freddie Freeman, who is batting .440 over his past 15 games with seven homers. Atlanta's rookie shortstop Dansby Swanson is struggling, hitting just .138 on the season with 22 strikeouts in 80 at-bats.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN South (Atlanta), FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Bartolo Colon (1-2, 4.50 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Chase Anderson (2-0, 1.13)

The results have been mixed for the 43-year-old Colon in his first season with Atlanta as baseball’s oldest player allowed one run each in two of his starts and a combined 10 runs in his other two outings. The Dominican Republic native surrendered four runs on 11 hits in seven innings Friday at Philadelphia, five days after holding San Diego to one run on one hit with six strikeouts in seven innings. Colon, who has allowed 11 runs in 17 innings in three road starts, beat the Brewers in his only appearance against them last season (one run given up in seven innings).

The 29-year-old Anderson has flourished early in his fourth major-league season, leading the National League in ERA while allowing one earned run or fewer in three of his first four starts. He got a no-decision Saturday against St. Louis despite surrendering only one unearned run and one walk with six strikeouts in six innings, and has walked only six against 22 strikeouts in 24 frames. Anderson, who posted a 4.39 ERA while going 9-11 in 2016 with Milwaukee, is 2-0 with a 2.92 ERA in two career starts against Atlanta.

WALK-OFFS

1. Atlanta 2B Brandon Phillips, who owns an 11-game hitting streak, is expected to play Friday after missing Thursday’s contest with a left groin strain.

2. The Brewers have jumped on the opposition early, outscoring teams 27-8 in the first inning this season.

3. The Braves promoted 34-year-old RHP Jason Motte, who recorded 42 saves with St. Louis in 2012 and has just six since missing all of 2013 with Tommy John surgery, Thursday from Triple-A Gwinnett.

PREDICTION: Brewers 3, Braves 2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Reds at Cardinals

GAME: Cincinnati Reds (10-12) at St. Louis Cardinals (11-11)
DATE/TIME: Friday, April 28 - 8:15 PM EST
WHERE: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri

Lance Lynn sat out the entire 2016 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, but he's starting to show the form that produced 60 victories over a four-year span from 2012-15. Lynn takes the mound Friday, when the St. Louis Cardinals host the skidding Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a three-game series.

The Cardinals got back to the .500 mark by completing a doubleheader sweep of Toronto on Thursday, getting a tying two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning from Randal Grichuk and a walk-off grand slam from Matt Carpenter in the 11th in the opener of the twinbill. Winners of eight of its last 10, St. Louis has seen its offense come alive during a 5-1 stretch as it has amassed 35 runs. The Reds have dropped seven of eight and their pitching staff took a beating during a three-game sweep in Milwaukee, allowing at least nine runs in each loss and 29 in total. While offense hasn't been the biggest issue for Cincinnati, which homered four times in Wednesday's 9-4 setback, it will get a key cog back as All-Star catcher Devin Mesoraco is set to make his season debut.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati), FSN Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Tim Adleman (0-0, 2.70 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Lance Lynn (2-1, 2.70)

After getting hit hard in spring training, Adleman has been solid in his first two starts despite lasting only four innings in his season debut versus Milwaukee - an outing in which he gave up one run and two hits. He followed that up with six strong frames against the Chicago Cubs, allowing a pair of solo homers while striking out seven. The long ball was an issue last year for Adleman, as he served up 13 in as many starts.

Lynn set a season high with seven strikeouts while yielding one run and three hits over six innings to win at Milwaukee in his last start. He also permitted three hits over seven scoreless frames in his previous turn versus Pittsburgh to bounce back from his lone loss at Washington in which he surrendered three homers. Lynn has held Zack Cozart to six hits in 31 at-bats, but Joey Votto is 10-for-22 against him.

WALK-OFFS

1. Reds OF Scott Schebler is 6-for-15 with four homers and eight RBIs over his last four games.

2. Grichuk has hit safely in six straight contests (9-for-22) and has scored a run in seven in a row.

3. Mesoraco hit 25 homers in 2014 but has been limited to 39 games over the last two years.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 5, Reds 4

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Twins at Royals
GAME: Minnesota Twins (10-11) at Kansas City Royals (7-14)
DATE/TIME: Friday, April 28 - 8:15 PM EST
WHERE: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Reeling from a miserable road trip, the Kansas City Royals will try to get back on track when they open a 10-game homestand with the first of three against the Minnesota Twins on Friday night. The lowest-scoring team in the majors, the Royals dropped all seven games on its recent trek while managing to push across a total of 13 runs.

Kansas City's road woes started in a season-opening series at Minnesota, in which it was outscored 21-5 in a three-game sweep. “I don’t know why we’ve had trouble on the road,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “We had trouble on the road a little bit last year, too. But there’s definitely a comfort level at home.” The Twins rebounded from a dismal 2-7 homestand by winning two of three in Texas to improve to 5-4 on the road. Third baseman Miguel Sano is coming off consecutive three-hit games and went 4-for-9 with a homer, five RBIs and six runs scored in the earlier sweep of Kansas City.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FSN North (Minnesota), FSN Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Kyle Gibson (0-3, 9.00 ERA) VS. Royals RH Ian Kennedy (0-2, 2.08)

Gibson was rocked in his last outing, giving up seven runs (six earned) in only 2 2/3 innings against Detroit to lose his third consecutive start. Gibson has surrendered five homers in his four starts, including a pair in a no-decision in his season debut versus the Royals in which he yielded three runs over five innings. Alcides Escobar (12-for-34) and Alex Gordon (10-for-31) have fared well against Gibson.

Kennedy has been among the biggest victims of Kansas City's stagnant offense, which has produced a combined three runs in his four starts. Since allowing three runs over five innings in his season debut at Minnesota, Kennedy has permitted only three runs on 10 hits over 21 innings in his last three turns with nothing to show for it. Eduardo Escobar has been a nemesis for Kennedy, going 7-for-16.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Royals, who dropped eight in a row last June, have been limited to two runs or fewer in nine of their last 10 games.

2. Twins CF Byron Buxton was 3-for-7 with five walks in Texas after starting the season 6-for-55.

3. Royals 3B Mike Moustakas, who had an 11-game hitting streak snapped Wednesday, homered twice against Minnesota earlier this month.

PREDICTION: Royals 5, Twins 2