Friday 5/13/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Yonkers: Friday 5/13 Analysis
By Brewster Smith

DRF HARNESS

MEET STATS: 117 - 491 / $745.50

BEST BETS: 12 - 51 / $51.40

Best Bet: OPEN WATER (3rd)

Spot Play: MARINER SEELSTER (5th)


Race 1

(3) J C KINGDOM is 0 for 13 this year however this gelding is knocking at the door based on his two sharp efforts in a row; gets the call. (1) ART FOR ARTS SAKE gets post relief and that should help his chances. (7) OR was sharp from the rail last out to miss glory by only 3/4 length; post hurts but is capable.

Race 2

(7) EXPRESSIVE ACTION makes his return to Yonkers where he has done his best running. With a return to his April 26th trip the rest will have to settle for place money. (4) HYWAY MARCUS moves down in class and gets a cozy post to boot. (2) LATOKA makes his second start on the dropdown and raced evenly for the show spot last time around; not out of this.

Race 3

(4) OPEN WATER was flashing good speed in his last two trips to the post. Clearly this gelding fits well in here and could boss these at his best. (1) ROSE RUN QUEST has been very game in his last two tries and could have a say in the outcome. (7) WAYNE THE LEFTY was on the lead most of the way but did not have enough gas in the tank to grab the victory last time out.

Race 4

(5) DOJEA SOLO Gelding showed he can win at the Hilltop with a pocket rocket score on May 7th. With a favorable trip this 4-year-old can greet the cameraman again for pictures. (2) SPORTING THE LOOK was first up at the 3/4 pole and lost the victory by only a half of length. (1) EVERY INTENTION has flashed speed in his last two tries so the rail should help his cause tonight.

Race 5

(1) MARINER SEELSTER gets serious post relief and moves down in class. Gelding appears to be ready for a sharp effort against these if given the right trip. (3) MAXI BON has scored in his last two starts and might show more speed against these. (7) TITUS SEELSTER has been facing open foes upstate. Post hurts but based on his last two he should contend in here.

Race 6

(1) KID PK tucked in the pocket at the 1/4 pole and showed good speed but could not get to winner Nassau County last out. Now this 6-year-old moves to the fence and has every right to top these down the road. (5) GOTTA LAUGH AGAIN was very game in the pocket and was second best in his last try. (2) IDEALBEACH HANOVER get post relief, has speed and Brennan with the call; not out of this.

Race 7

This seems to be a battle from last week with the top three. (2) TESSA SEELSTER led from start to finish holding on by a neck last out. Pacing mare seems to be sharp right now and another fine effort is not out of the question. (1) MACH IT A PAR did put in a nice run but could not get to the winner Tessa Seelster in her latest. (7) KRISPY APPLE came charging down the center of the track but came up short to lose to the top pick by a by a long neck.

Race 8

(3) TOTALLY RUSTY Mare moves down in class and did show speed against better stock last out. She has a chance to get back to the winner’s circle with a fine-timed drive. (2) GROUNDED is back in the 2-hole where this 8-year-old miss was sharp losing the victory by a neck on April 29th; big threat. (1) LYONS SHADOW left the cones at the 1/2 mile pole, got the lead but could not hold on in deep stretch last time around.

Race 9

(5) FOR THE LADIES N for what it's worth this mare did show signs of life in her latest and there's an indication she will return to her winning ways given a favorable trip; playable. (1) ALHAMBRA was late on the scene and almost got the job done missing glory by 3/4 length. (7) LOOKOUT STOKK ZONE has put in two solid efforts and most likely will be in the mix with these.

Race 10

(5) WILD SMILE raced evenly for the fourth spot in his last start. Gelding has hit the board 6 of 13 trips this year so he does know how to get back to the winner's circle but will need a covered up trip to make that happen; possible. (7) STIRLING CADET Speedy gelding was facing open foes at Vernon; main danger. (1) SKATES N PLATES should be right in the hunt from the fence with his early zip.

Race 11

(2) NARCIAN JEWEL Sharp performance from this 5-year-old mare last time around. Was on the lead until the 1/2 mile pole, overtaken by two others then came up the cones and re-rallied to get the job done; not out of the question for the repeat. (1) STRINGS has scored in her last two tries and makes her return to the fence; main danger. (4) HERETIC FRANCO N was going the long mile most of the way, had a brief lead and tired in the stretch drive in her last trip to the post; watch out.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

SPOT PLAYS

For Friday


TRACK (RACE) HORSE, MORNING LINE


Arlington Park (3rd) Fort Lewis Rivers, 7-2
(7th) Do Not Enter, 8-1

Belmont Park (5th) Castaway, 3-1
(8th) Pegasus Red, 6-1

Belterra Park (1st) Walkers Sentry, 5-1
(7th) Always Love April, 7-2


Churchill Downs (4th) Yodel, 6-1
(5th) Carolina Dreams, 9-2


Emerald Downs (2nd) Outdidya, 4-1
(6th) Wups, 7-2


Golden Gate Fields (5th) Bountiful Desert, 8-1
(7th) Colorado Strong, 7-2


Gulfstream Park (4th) Professor Jak, 3-1
(8th) Amaluna, 7-2


Indiana Grand (3rd) Logan Creek, 5-1
(7th) Union Bowman, 5-1


Lone Star Park (4th) Texas Flygirl, 5-1
(5th) Choose Easy, 7-2


Louisiana Downs (5th) Comisky's Sister, 7-2
(7th) Chewys Doll, 6-1


Penn National (6th) Ohdu Ohdu, 9-2
(8th) Boot the Boss, 3-1


Pimlico (7th) Key d'Oro, 7-2
(9th) Airlie's Diamond, 3-1


Prairie Meadows (6th) Release, 7-2
(7th) No Holds Barred, 9-2


Santa Anita (2nd) High Class Taste, 4-1
(5th) Cindys Secret, 6-1


Thistledown (3rd) Flat River, 6-1
(7th) Put Up With It, 9-2


Woodbine (4th) Saved Thru Faith, 4-1
(5th) Into the Mystic, 5-1

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Pirates (18-15) at Cubs (25-8)

Game: 1
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: May 13, 2016 2:20 PM EDT

Jason Hammel admittedly wasn't at his sharpest when he faced the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier this month, but he was good enough to get the Chicago Cubs moving toward a road sweep of their NL Central rivals.

Hammel tries for a better performance Friday while allowing the Cubs to rebound from their first set of back-to-back defeats this season, but he might have to outduel Francisco Liriano, who has usually shined at Wrigley Field.

Hammel (4-0, 1.85 ERA) failed to make it through six innings and gave up more than one run for the first time this season May 2 against the Pirates. The Cubs, though, had enough offense for a 7-2 victory and would outscore Pittsburgh 20-5 in the three games.

"I didn't have my best command. They extended some at-bats and had some pitches to hit and just missed them," Hammel said. "The ultimate goal is to win. That's all that really matters."

Hammel didn't claim a victory for the first time in five starts Saturday against Washington, allowing a season-high three runs in five innings in an 8-5 victory.

That run production was lacking in the finale of a doubleheader against San Diego on Wednesday, a 1-0 defeat. The Cubs (25-8) had their best start since 1907 and an eight-game win streak snapped when they blew a two-run lead in the opener, a 7-4 loss.

"We don't like it, but it's probably inevitable in the course of a baseball season," manager Joe Maddon said. "It's unfortunate it happened in the same day. ... I think we all need a day off (Thursday) before we come back to play that series against the Pirates."

Maddon's club will attempt to deny Liriano's bid to win a third straight start in his first matchup with Chicago this season. The left-hander has yielded three runs in 13 2/3 innings in his back-to-back victories and gave up two over a season-high seven innings in a 4-2 win in St. Louis last Friday.

He also fanned 10 batters - matching a season high - in his first victory in four road starts.

Liriano (3-1, 3.60) is 4-1 with a 1.56 ERA in five career games at Wrigley and carries a 13 2/3-inning scoreless streak into this one after picking up a 4-0 victory Sept. 26. He's 5-2 with a 2.27 ERA in 11 overall matchups.

The Pirates (18-15), who trail Chicago by seven games in the division, are coming off a 5-4 comeback win against Cincinnati on Wednesday that featured four ejections and six batters hit by pitches.

Manager Clint Hurdle and outfielder Starling Marte were tossed after arguing a play at second base, Pittsburgh's first ejections this season. The Pirates tallied one run in each of the final three innings, with Jordy Mercer's single bringing home the go-ahead score.

"It was an interesting game in a lot of different ways," said Hurdle, whose team is 3-2 on its eight-game trip. "A lot went on, and I'm proud of our club for battling."

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo went 8 for 14 with five doubles and a home run in three games in Pittsburgh. He is batting .388 with 15 doubles and six homers in his last 32 matchups, but is 4 for 23 with eight strikeouts lifetime versus Liriano.

Kris Bryant is 3 for 6 with two doubles against the left-hander.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Marlins (18-15) at Nationals (21-13)

Game: 1
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: May 13, 2016 7:05 PM EDT

Gio Gonzalez has the enormous task of following one of the best pitching performances in major league history.

The Washington Nationals left-hander was hardly at his sharpest in his latest outing but seeks a return to form Friday night against the Miami Marlins.

The Nationals (21-13) have gotten a day to revel in Max Scherzer's MLB record-tying 20 strikeouts in a 3-2 win against Detroit on Wednesday while preparing for the second series in their seven-game homestand.

Gonzalez (2-1, 2.19 ERA) will try to get this four-game set and Washington's third series against Miami this season off to a strong start by rebounding from his performance in Chicago on Saturday. He was charged with a season-high five runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings, but avoided taking the loss in an 8-5 defeat.

Gonzalez, who had a 1.15 ERA in his first five starts, left with two runners on and both scored after he exited.

"It was tough for our bullpen," he said. "I put them in a very tough situation. I should have done a better job finishing my job."

Gonzalez is 6-3 with a 2.38 ERA in 10 career starts against the Marlins (18-15) but was 0-1 with a 6.10 ERA in his two matchups last season. He incurred most of that damage in a 6-2 loss in Miami on April 26, 2015, in which he gave up six runs and 10 hits in five innings.

Gonzalez is 4-1 with a 1.64 ERA in five home starts against Miami since joining the Nationals in 2012.

He will likely have Bryce Harper to support him in his first matchup with the Marlins this season. Harper was given a one-game suspension for his actions in a 5-4 victory against Detroit on Monday night but has appealed the penalty, leaving him still eligible to play.

Harper is 9 for 28 lifetime with six homers - his most against any pitcher - versus Tom Koehler (2-3, 5.83). He hit one of those in a 5-1 loss in Miami on April 21.

The Marlins right-hander gave up one other hit and one walk in his five innings in that game, but has been up and down in this early season. That was most evident in his past two starts.

Koehler gave up one run and two hits over seven innings in Saturday's 4-3 loss to Philadelphia after getting tagged for eight runs in 2 1/3 innings in a 14-5 drubbing in Milwaukee on May 1.

'(I) just tried to do everything that I had been doing and tried to get back to attacking the zone, getting into a good rhythm, work the game plan, and not try to get four outs with one pitch," Koehler said.

Koehler is 1-1 with a 2.38 ERA in his two starts against Washington this season, and the NL East teams have split their six matchups.

The Marlins have won seven of eight on the road and concluded a 6-3 homestand Wednesday with a 3-2 victory against Milwaukee.

Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy, currently batting a major league-best .409, is hitting .429 against the Marlins this season and has two singles in his three at-bats versus Koehler. He went 3 for 4 with two RBIs after being moved into the cleanup spot behind Harper and ahead of a struggling Ryan Zimmerman on Wednesday.

Ben Revere is 10 for 22 lifetime versus Koehler.

Ichiro Suzuki has faced Gonzalez more than any other batter, going 13 for 38. Christian Yelich is batting .455 in his last 10 games versus Washington, and Martin Prado is hitting .406 in his past nine.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Reds (14-20) at Phillies (20-15)

Game: 1
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: May 13, 2016 7:05 PM EDT

It was the Cincinnati Reds who opened the season with a sweep over the Philadelphia Phillies, but the latter has surprised everyone since.

While the Phillies hope to continue opening eyes, the visiting Reds seek their eighth straight win in this series in Friday night's opener of a three-game set.

Cincinnati (14-20) opened the season 5-1 starting with a sweep of Philadelphia (20-15) to extend its winning streak over the Phillies to seven, but while the Reds have sunk toward the bottom of the NL Central, the Phillies remain in the thick of the East.

Philadelphia picked up its 20th win nearly a month earlier than last season with Thursday's 7-4, 10-inning victory over Atlanta. Cameron Rupp's double in the 10th drove in three runs, and Odubel Herrera matched his career high with four hits - the last a triple to start the winning rally.

"To come up and pick up your teammates ... it was kind of a big game for us," Rupp said. "To get that hit was pretty exciting."

The offensive outburst was a welcome sight after the Phillies averaged just 2.8 runs over their previous 10 games. They will try to keep it going to back starter Jeremy Hellickson.

Hellickson (2-2, 4.91 ERA) suffered a tough-luck loss in the season opener against the Reds despite not allowing an earned run. He gave up one unearned run and three hits in six innings while striking out six without a walk.

Hellickson has since been up and down. After holding Washington scoreless over seven two-hit innings in a 3-0 win April 27, the right-hander was rocked for 15 hits and nine runs in 10 2/3 over his last two starts. He gave up five home runs in those outings.

Philadelphia lost both of Hellickson's career starts against the Reds - the first in 2011 - even though he struck out 15 in 12 innings.

Zack Cozart has hits in all three of his at-bats and two doubles in the machup, while Brandon Phillips is 2 for 5 with a double and two RBIs. However, Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Eugenio Suarez, Adam Duvall and Billy Hamilton are a combined 1 for 18.

Cincinnati will counter with Brandon Finnegan, who already has one win over Philadelphia in his back pocket.

Finnegan (1-1, 4.15) picked up an April 6 victory against the Phillies, holding them to three hits and two runs in six innings while walking one and striking out nine.

After giving up four earned runs in his first three starts, Finnegan has surrendered 14 in his last four. The left-hander gave up seven hits and five runs - three earned - in five innings of Saturday's 13-7 loss to Milwaukee. Four runs came on three homers.

"I just didn't have my best stuff," Finnegan told MLB's official website. "I tried to battle through with what I had. I did well for the most part but they got a couple of balls in the air and they flew. That's what happens."

Maikel Franco is the only current Philadelphia hitter to homer off Finnegan.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: White Sox (23-12) at Yankees (14-19)

Game: 1
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: May 13, 2016 7:05 PM EDT

It's easy to understand why Chris Sale feels like a kid again. Being one of the best pitchers in baseball on one of its best teams affords him that luxury.

The left-hander looks to win his eighth straight start to begin the season Friday night in the opener of a three-game series against the New York Yankees.

Sale (7-0, 1.79 ERA) has been remarkable in helping the White Sox (23-12) to the AL's best record, logging at least seven innings in six of his seven starts with 47 strikeouts and only 29 hits allowed over 50 1/3 innings.

He's surrendered only three homers, is one of nine starters with a sub-2.00 ERA and opposing hitters are batting .165 against him - the third-lowest average in MLB.

"We are just having fun," Sale told MLB's official website. "I've said it before. We are playing baseball like we did when we were kids. Coming in, having fun, keeping it loose. And giving it everything we've got."

Sale bounced back from a shaky first inning his last time out to post another quality start. He needed 36 pitches and gave up two runs in the first but wound up tossing seven innings and allowing three hits in a 7-2 win over Minnesota on Saturday.

It was the second time he finished with nine strikeouts, and it seems he's not looking to punch everyone out after a 2015 in which he had double-digit Ks 13 times and tied Pedro Martinez's record with eight consecutive starts of 10 or more.

"I had a good breaking ball (Saturday) and that was about it. My fastball was all over the place," said Sale, who retired 19 of 20 after allowing five straight batters to reach in the first. "My changeup wasn't there for the most part ... I didn't need to strike everyone out. (The defense) got my back behind me."

His resilient effort made him the fifth White Sox pitcher since 1913 to win his first seven-plus starts. Sale joined Eddie Cicotte (12-0 in 1919), John Whitehead (8-0 in 1935), Jon Garland (8-0 in 2005) and Jack McDowell (7-0 in '93).

Sale has put in a quality start every time he's started against the Yankees, going 3-1 with a 1.31 ERA in six outings with 50 strikeouts in 41 1/3 innings.

He's had his way with a few of New York's lefty swingers, holding Dustin Ackley, Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner to a combined 2 for 26 with 15 strikeouts. Ellsbury has whiffed five of the six times he's faced Sale.

The White Sox as a team haven't fared so well against New York in recent seasons, losing 13 of the last 17 meetings. Chicago, which has dropped two in a row after a four-game win streak, hasn't taken a series against the Yankees since August 2013.

Luis Severino (0-5, 6.12) will try to maintain that dominance and pick up his first win of 2016 after showing flashes of his potential in his last outing.

The right-hander has had trouble with the longball and gave up three homers in his last start - two to David Ortiz - but he struck out nine in 6 2/3 innings while allowing four runs in a 5-1 loss to Boston on Sunday.

It hasn't helped that New York has scored only four runs for him this season.

"If he's throwing the ball like tonight, I think he's going to win games if we score runs," manager Joe Girardi told MLB's website.

"We really haven't given him much to work with."

The Yankees (14-19) took three of four against Kansas City with Monday's 7-3 victory and have won six of nine since a six-game losing streak.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Tigers (15-19) at Orioles (21-12)

Game: 2
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: May 13, 2016 7:05 PM EDT

Justin Verlander backed up his strong words on social media with his best performance of the season. But even that wasn't enough for the slumping Detroit Tigers to earn a victory.

He hasn't had much success against Baltimore in recent years, though, and he'll try to move past those struggles and help snap the Orioles' five-game winning streak Friday night at Camden Yards.

Verlander (2-3, 5.40 ERA) allowed at least three runs in five of his first six starts while appearing out of sorts. He bounced back Sunday, allowing three hits and striking out nine in seven scoreless innings before getting a no-decision in Detroit's 8-3 loss to Texas. He gave up seven runs in a loss to Cleveland in his previous outing, after which he posted on Twitter: 'I'm going to dominate soon! I'm close. Doubt me if you want... We'll see.'

'Obviously, one start doesn't dictate dominating, especially when we don't win,' Verlander said. 'I sent that out because that's the way I felt. I feel like every start's getting better and better. The numbers didn't show it.'

The right-hander certainly hasn't dominated the Orioles in recent years, going 2-3 with a 6.20 ERA in his last seven starts against them, including one in the postseason. Adam Jones and Jonathan Schoop homered off Verlander as he allowed seven runs over 3 2/3 innings the last time he faced them July 19.

Schoop hit a tiebreaking two-run triple in the seventh inning of Thursday's series opener, helping Baltimore win 7-5 to send Detroit (15-19) to its ninth loss in 10 games. The Tigers jumped out to a five-run lead on a homer from Jarrod Saltalamacchia and two RBIs apiece from Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez but couldn't hold on.

'If anyone's doubting that we're going out there and giving our best, I'm going to invite them and have them put on a big league uniform and go out there every single day,' said Martinez, 10 for 13 in his last three games and batting .469 since April 29. 'Our energy, effort level is there. What else can we do? Just keep playing the game.'

The Orioles (21-12) are rolling and completed their comeback without homering after hitting 12 over their previous three. Schoop drove in three runs, Chris Davis brought in two and Jones added an RBI.

Baltimore is outscoring opponents 37-15 during its streak, and Davis is 9 for 14 with five extra-base hits and six RBIs in his last three games.

'It was very unusual for us," Davis said about 10 of the Orioles' 12 hits being singles. "I'm proud of the way we've been going about our at-bats and not just giving in or going up there and hacking when we get down."

Chris Tillman gets the ball in this one. Tillman (4-1, 3.05) has a 1.80 ERA while winning his last three starts, overcoming 10 walks in 20 innings during that stretch. He issued four while giving up three runs - all in the first - in 6 1/3 innings of Sunday's 11-3 win over Oakland.

"It was a grind early. I think I made some pitches I wanted to make," Tillman said. "We had to make some adjustments to get through that game."

The right-hander hasn't had many problems against the Tigers, winning four straight starts - one in the postseason - and posting a 1.27 ERA over the last three. Tillman allowed a hit in the first and no more over the next seven of a 3-0 victory the last time he faced them July 18.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Twins (8-25) at Indians (16-15)

Game: 1
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: May 13, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

An off day couldn't have come at a better time for a taxed Cleveland Indians pitching staff.

The Indians may be getting another break from the schedule when the floundering Minnesota Twins enter Progressive Field on Friday night to begin a three-game series.

Cleveland received a fortuitous day of rest following a 16-inning game Wednesday in Houston, where it used its entire bullpen in a 5-3 loss. Nine relievers, including usual starter Cody Anderson, combined for 11 innings after Danny Salazar was lifted after throwing 106 pitches through five.

'I feel like I pitched (Tuesday),' Salazar said. 'That was awesome, though. Cody wasn't even supposed to pitch (Wednesday). He made that sacrifice there and he saved a few arms.'

Cleveland (16-15) should be in good shape as it opens a stretch of 14 games in 13 days, provided Josh Tomlin resumes his trend of pitching well off a loss. The right-hander has emerged as the rotation's unheralded stopper since returning from shoulder surgery in August, compiling a 12-0 record with a 2.82 ERA following an Indians' defeat.

Tomlin (5-0, 3.72 ERA) allowed four runs over six-plus innings in Sunday's 5-4 victory over Kansas City to extend his season-opening win streak to five starts. The Indians have won each of his last eight and he's 12-1 with a 3.26 ERA in 14 outings since Aug. 20.

That run figures to have a good chance of continuing considering the Twins' multitude of problems, particularly on the road. Minnesota (8-25) is 2-15 as the visitor and lost its seventh straight overall with Wednesday's 9-2 home defeat to Baltimore.

The Twins aren't hitting, either, batting .192 and scoring eight runs over the last four losses. They did reach Tomlin for four earned runs in 5 1/3 innings in a 6-5 loss at Target Field on April 27.

Byung Ho Park homered off Tomlin that night but is 0 for 11 with six strikeouts over his last three games. Joe Mauer is in a 4-for-24 slump despite having two hits Wednesday in his second career start batting leadoff. Miguel Sano homered but is 3 for 27 during the seven-game skid.

Phil Hughes surrendered three homers and five runs in four innings in another poor showing by a Twins' starter. The rotation has produced an 8.69 ERA while receiving just one quality start over the losing streak.

'It's a snowball effect,' Hughes said. 'When things aren't going right, every little thing is magnified. Every guy in here wants to be the one that gets us going in the right direction. You tend to press a little bit and that's not going to help anything either.'

Ricky Nolasco (1-1, 4.70) takes the mound seeking to end a three-start winless stretch in which he's posted a 7.00 ERA. He permitted seven runs in five innings of Friday's 10-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

The veteran right-hander was better in a 6-5 win over Cleveland on April 26, striking out a season-high nine while allowing four runs over 7 1/3 innings, but he's 0-2 with a 5.45 ERA in six games against the Indians.

Jason Kipnis homered off Nolasco last month and matched a career high with five hits in Wednesday's marathon. Mike Napoli finished 3 for 7 with a solo home run.

Napoli has four homers and 14 RBI in 16 games this season at Progressive Field, where the Indians have won five of six.

Michael Brantley is expected back in the lineup after sitting out the last two games to rest his surgically repaired right shoulder.

Cleveland lost two of three at Minnesota last month and has dropped nine of 12 in the series.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Astros (14-22) at Red Sox (22-13)

Game: 2
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: May 13, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

The Steven Wright most synonymous with the Boston area is the Cambridge-born deadpan comedian whose Red Sox connections begin and end with his unwavering support.

Stating before the season that Steven Wright the knuckleballer would be Boston's most effective starter certainly would've elicited some laughs, too, but he's quickly making a name for himself with how well he's pitched.

Heading into Friday night's start against the visiting Houston Astros, Wright (3-3, 1.52 ERA) has continued to impress with a quality start in each of his six outings, joining Rogers Clemens (1991 and '93) and Clay Buchholz (2013) as the only Red Sox pitchers in the last 50 years with such a start to a season.

His first career complete game came Sunday with a three-hitter in a 5-1 win over the New York Yankees. The only run he gave up was a homer with two outs in the ninth.

This is the right-hander's first opportunity in four years to be in the rotation full-time after making a career-high nine starts in 2015.

"He's been extremely dependable," manager John Farrell said. "You have a pretty good sense of what he's going to give you each time he walks to the mound, and (Sunday), as good as he's pitched, he was in complete control."

Wright walked five but allowed only an unearned run in 6 2/3 innings of a 6-2 win over the Astros on April 22.

"It's fun," Wright said. "I just want to pitch. As long as I can get an opportunity to pitch, I'm going to enjoy every minute of it and just go out there and try to attack the zone."

Lance McCullers hasn't been a fan of watching the Astros (14-23) underachieve. He went 6-7 with a 3.22 ERA as a rookie last season while helping them reach the AL Division Series, but he began 2016 on the disabled list after suffering a shoulder injury during spring training.

Manager A.J. Hinch didn't want to rush him back, but McCullers said he's ready.

"I really didn't know when I was going to go, if I was going to go this weekend in Boston," McCullers told MLB's official website. "I told (Hinch) whenever he was ready that I was ready, too, so I'm excited."

The right-hander made two starts against the Red Sox last season, allowing three runs, 13 hits and walking six in 10 innings. Boston (22-13) seems poised for much more against McCullers this time given how well it has performed at the plate lately.

The Red Sox have scored in double figures in each of their last four games, a stretch during which they've outscored opponents 51-16. They've won five in a row after taking Thursday's series opener 11-1 behind three RBIs apiece from Xander Bogaerts and Mookie Betts, who both homered.

Jackie Bradley Jr. is hitting .412 during an 18-game hitting streak that ties the longest in the majors this season. Hanley Ramirez had three hits and is 8 for 15 with a homer and five RBIs during a four-game streak, and Bogaerts extended his streak to seven and is batting .406 in that time.

Jose Altuve and George Springer had two hits apiece for Houston, which had won three of its previous four but dropped to 4-12 on the road.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Athletics (14-21) at Rays (15-17)

Game: 1
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: May 13, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

The Oakland Athletics sorely need a reprieve on a road trip in which they've been knocked around by two of the AL's best offensive teams.

One may come Friday night against the lighter-hitting Tampa Bay Rays, who'll face Oakland's most consistent pitcher in the opener of this three-game series.

The A's enter Tropicana Field staggering from five straight losses to Baltimore and Boston. They've been outscored by a whopping 51-18 margin over the last four, permitting 11 or more runs in each for the first time in franchise history.

"It's certainly embarrassing," outfielder Josh Reddick told MLB's official website following Wednesday's 13-3 trouncing by the Red Sox. "You look at early in the year, our pitching was doing well and we weren't swinging the bats, and now it seems the tables have turned on us."

Oakland's beleaguered rotation produced a 2.88 ERA over its 10-7 start, but the starters have gone 3-13 with a ghastly 8.40 ERA and .327 batting average against as the A's have lost 14 of 18 since. In the Boston series, Oakland (14-21) became the first team to allow 13 or more runs in three straight games since the White Sox in May 1999.

Rich Hill (4-3, 2.39 ERA) has been the one outlier during the brutal stretch, going 3-1 with a 1.46 ERA while holding opponents to a .133 average over his last four starts. The left-hander limited the Orioles to a run and two hits over 5 2/3 innings in Saturday's 8-4 victory, the A's lone win in their last 10 games.

Hill, who is 4-0 with a 1.09 ERA on the road, faces a Tampa Bay team that's hitting .224 and ranks near the bottom of the AL in runs. The Rays were 2 for 18 with runners in scoring position in losing three straight in Seattle on a West Coast trip they began with a three-game sweep of the Angels.

Tampa Bay (15-17) has hit 18 home runs in its last eight games - second only to Boston over that span - and owns a .454 slugging percentage against left-handed pitchers. Steve Pearce, who's homered four times in his last six games, is hitting .400 off southpaws and Logan Forsythe .367.

Forsythe hopes to return from a two-game absence after being hit in the shoulder by a pitch Monday.

The Rays homered twice more in Wednesday's finale, receiving a grand slam from Corey Dickerson and Kevin Kiermaier's game-tying solo shot in the ninth, but were dealt a 6-5 loss on a homer in the 11th.

"Home runs are encouraging when we're hitting them. They're not encouraging when we're giving them up," manager Kevin Cash said.

Hill could present a tough matchup for Tampa's feast-or-famine lineup, as he's allowed four homers in 66 2/3 innings since returning to the majors with Boston in September.

Low-scoring games are nothing new for Jake Odorizzi (0-1, 3.10), who's received 16 runs of support in his seven starts and three in four at Tropicana Field. He recorded a fifth consecutive no-decision despite holding the Angels to two runs in six innings Saturday.

The right-hander has allowed one earned run or less in each of his home starts.

Oakland could have Danny Valencia back Friday. The third baseman has missed two games after aggravating a hamstring injury that previously sent him to the disabled list.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Blue Jays (18-18) at Rangers (20-15)

Game: 1
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: May 13, 2016 8:05 PM EDT

The Toronto Blue Jays have dropped six straight starts by R.A. Dickey, although he mixed in a solid effort against the Texas Rangers in that span.

He'll try for his first victory since April 4 on Friday night in a three-game series opener that marks the Blue Jays' first visit to Arlington since last year's postseason.

Dickey (1-4, 5.18 ERA) seeks to avoid his first seven-start winless stretch since 2011 with the New York Mets. The former Rangers right-hander has lasted at least six innings in four straight outings.

His best effort of the year came May 2 when he gave up one run over 6 1/3 innings in a 2-1 home defeat to Texas. It was his first start versus the Rangers (20-15) since he made his postseason debut in Game 4 of last year's division series in Arlington, allowing one run in 4 2/3 innings in an 8-4 victory.

Texas took a 2-0 series lead before dropping both home games and the decisive fifth game in Canada. The Rangers also dropped three of four in Toronto from May 2-5 as Blue Jays slugger Edwin Encarnacion had two homers and eight RBIs.

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus is 0 for 14 against Dickey, including two at-bats in the playoffs. That's the most he has faced someone without getting a hit.

Prince Fielder is 4 for 18 against him and is struggling this year with a .198 average. He had gone seven straight games without an extra-base hit before doubling twice Wednesday, including one that drove in two runs in a series-deciding 6-5 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

Texas battled back from down two runs, one day after rallying from five down in the eighth inning for a 13-11 victory.

"We had a goal to win that series and we came out and did it," outfielder Ian Desmond said. "It's a good sign."

Desmond is batting .379 with seven RBIs in a seven-game hit streak, although he is 6 for 28 off Dickey.

The Blue Jays (18-18) plan to give Russell Martin a second straight day off after Thursday's off day with backup catcher Josh Thole set to work again as Dickey's batterymate. Martin could use the rest after catching all 13 innings in Wednesday's 5-4 loss at San Francisco, not to mention he's in a 1-for-19 slump.

Josh Donaldson had four hits with a double that ended his nine-game drought without an extra-base hit as Toronto rallied from down three runs after seven innings only to fail to complete a three-game sweep.

"Your whole goal is to try to win series, on the road especially," said Michael Saunders, who delivered a tying pinch-hit homer in the ninth. "All season long, you win the first two and you try to get greedy, get the third one. It just didn't go our way."

The Rangers' Martin Perez (1-2, 3.51) has a 2.12 ERA in his last three outings, including five scoreless innings versus Toronto on May 3 in a 10-inning loss. The left-hander also was on the mound to start Game 3 of the division series and was charged with four runs over five-plus innings in a 5-1 defeat.

Perez has never faced the Blue Jays at home, where he is 4-0 with a 2.39 ERA in his last eight regular-season starts.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Padres (16-20) at Brewers (14-21)

Game: 2
Venue: Miller Park
Date: May 13, 2016 8:10 PM EDT

The San Diego Padres brought their confidence from the Windy City to Milwaukee and are riding their first three-game winning streak of the season.

The last two victories can be attributed to solid pitching, but it'll be Christian Friedrich and not Andrew Cashner taking the mound Friday night against the Brewers.

San Diego (16-20) swept Wednesday's doubleheader from the baseball-best Chicago Cubs, winning the matinée 7-4 before recording its second shutout of the season with a 1-0 victory in the nightcap.

James Shields then struck out nine over seven innings to help beat the Brewers 3-0 in Thursday's series opener. Melvin Upton Jr. homered and had three of the Padres' seven hits.

Cashner was slated to start this contest, but manager Andy Green decided to scratch him because of soreness in both hamstrings. The injuries likely occurred in the fifth inning Sunday, when Casher tried to score from first base on a double and was thrown out at the plate against the New York Mets. He was expected to come out for the sixth but had to leave.

Green said he hopes Cashner will be ready Saturday but said 'we'll see if he's capable of making that start.'

Friedrich gets the ball in this one for his season debut and first start since July 1, 2014. He went 0-4 with a 5.25 ERA in 68 appearances with Colorado last season before being waived and signing a minor league deal with the Padres on March 3.

The left-hander went 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA over four starts in the minors and last took the mound Sunday for Triple-A El Paso, allowing two runs, six hits and walking two in 4 2/3 innings.

Two of Friedrich's last three starts came against the Brewers in 2014, giving up 14 runs over 10 innings in those outings. He'll get another crack at Milwaukee (14-21), which counters with Junior Guerra.

Guerra (1-0, 6.00 ERA) will be making his third career start after allowing four runs in six innings in each of his first two. He walked two and gave up a homer in a no-decision Sunday as the Brewers beat Cincinnati 5-4.

The 31-year-old right-hander had only three games of major league experience coming into this season after pitching in relief for the Chicago White Sox in 2015.

Guerra tries to help the Brewers avoid a third straight defeat. Scooter Gennett had been on the disabled list since April 26 because of right oblique tightness and had two hits in Thursday's return.

Ryan Braun singled and is hitting .431 during a 12-game hitting streak.

The Padres announced earlier Thursday that second baseman Jemile Weeks' hamstring strain suffered Saturday will keep him out two to three weeks.

'We're going to reevaluate at the end of that and see what kind of progress he's made,' Green said. 'He played tremendous defense. As far as I'm concerned, Gold Glove-caliber defense. It hurts for him, hurts for us to have him out that much longer.'

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Braves (8-25) at Royals (16-18)

Game: 1
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: May 13, 2016 8:15 PM EDT

While the Kansas City Royals are just happy to return home, the Atlanta Braves might be OK with getting away from theirs.

After a dismal road stretch, the Royals hope to get back on track when they open a six-game homestand Friday night against the lowly Braves.

Kansas City (16-18) closed a 2-5 trip with Thursday's 7-3 loss at the New York Yankees. The Royals dropped three of four games in the series and fell to 4-12 since April 25, including a 3-10 mark away from home.

Kansas City is 9-5 at Kauffman Stadium.

"I'll just be happy to get home," manager Ned Yost said. "It seems like we haven't been home in a year. We have a real comfort level there and enjoy playing at home."

An inability to score runs has plagued Kansas City during its slump, and the finale in New York was no different. Alex Gordon hit a solo homer and finished with two RBIs, but the Royals were held to fewer than four runs for the ninth time in 16 games.

Kansas City has averaged 3.25 runs during that stretch, the fewest in the AL. Baseball's lowest-scoring team in that span by a landslide is Atlanta (8-25) at 2.67 runs per game.

While the Royals have lost their last five series, the Braves were denied their first series win since mid April with Thursday's 7-4, 10-inning loss to Philadelphia - falling to 2-17 at home.

Atlanta trailed 4-0, but Gordon Beckham's bases-loaded double as part of a four-run seventh tied it. However, Philadelphia's Cameron Rupp also cleared the bases with a double in the 10th, handing the Braves their sixth loss in seven games.

The positive for Atlanta was a second consecutive game with more than three runs after it failed to do so while totaling 13 in its previous seven.

The Braves will try to keep their offensive momentum rolling against Edinson Volquez, who wrapped two miserable starts around one of his best his last three times out.

After holding Washington to two runs over 7 2/3 innings in his longest outing of the year May 2, Volquez (3-3, 3.89 ERA) posted his shortest in Sunday's 5-4 loss at Cleveland. The right-hander gave up seven hits and five runs in 4 1/3 innings for his third straight loss.

Volquez has a 3.18 ERA in seven career starts against the Braves, and he surrendered just one run against them in 14 innings over his last two.

Atlanta will counter with Julio Teheran, who is still searching for his first win.

After a rough start, Teheran (0-3, 3.48) has held opponents to four earned runs over 24 1/3 innings his last four starts. He lasted just five innings in Saturday's 4-2 loss to Arizona, though he held the Diamondbacks to five hits and two runs - one earned.

"I didn't have my best stuff," Teheran told MLB's official website. "I did what I could to battle. It's a battle we're all going through."

The right-hander has struck out 22 while opponents have batted .188 in his last three starts.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mets (21-13) at Rockies (16-18)

Game: 1
Venue: Coors Field
Date: May 13, 2016 8:40 PM EDT

The first four innings have been no problem for Matt Harvey, but the New York Mets' right-hander is out to solve his issues later in games.

The location for his next start is baseball's toughest place to pitch - no matter what inning it is.

Harvey will try to help the Mets to their 12th straight win over the Colorado Rockies when they open a series at Coors Field on Friday night.

New York (21-13) is 4-4 on its season-high 11-game trip after a Thursday's 5-0 loss while that gave the Mets a four-game split against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The game before that series in Los Angeles, Harvey (3-4, 4.50 ERA) held San Diego to two runs in six innings of a 4-3 win - his third in his last four starts. Harvey allowed just four hits while striking out a season-high 10.

His velocity consistently reached 97 mph, and he struck out six of the first eight batters he faced.

"It's definitely a difference from my last couple starts," Harvey told MLB's official website. "I felt good on the mound and executed pitches when I needed to."

But both charged runs against him came in the fifth, moving his post-fourth inning ERA to 11.25. Harvey holds a sparkling 1.61 mark from innings one through four. He hopes to reach the seventh for the first time this season in his career debut at Coors Field.

Colorado (16-18) might be the toughest place for a pitcher to find a rhythm. Coors' 6.28 ERA is baseball's highest and the only stadium with one north of 6.00. Hitters also hold MLB's highest batting average (.303), on-base percentage (.365) and slugging percentage (.518) there.

Not surprisingly, Jon Gray has had opposite luck at and away from Colorado. The right-hander has given up 11 runs in 8 2/3 innings over his two starts at Coors and two runs in 13 innings away from home.

Gray (0-1, 5.40) posted the best start of his brief career with seven one-hit innings in Saturday's 2-1 loss at San Francisco. The right-hander walked two and struck out five, giving him 16 punchouts his last two starts. He extended his scoreless streak to 12 innings but remained winless in 13 career starts.

The Rockies salvaged a game from a series with Arizona and avoided setting the longest home losing streak in franchise history with Wednesday's 8-7 victory over the Diamondbacks.

Colorado had tied the club mark for consecutive defeats at Coors with seven and was within two of the mark for home losses in Denver set in 1993 at Mile High Stadium.

"That's not like us," Nolan Arenado said. "We're way better than that."

Arenado hit a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning and finished with three hits. He is batting .377 with six homers and 14 RBIs in his last 15 games.

"He's so clutch," manager Walt Weiss said. "He rises to the occasion almost all the time. We get spoiled watching him. Big-time player."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Giants (19-18) at Diamondbacks (17-20)

Game: 2
Venue: Chase Field
Date: May 13, 2016 9:40 PM EDT

Chase Field has been problematic for more than one Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher this season, but Shelby Miller's struggles probably top the list.

The Arizona newcomer will try to get it together at his new home park Friday night against the San Francisco Giants, whose own offseason addition attempts to make it through six innings at the park for the first time.

After Thursday's 4-2 series-opening loss, the Diamondbacks' starting ERA at home stands at 7.03 and has led to a 5-13 record. Robbie Ray's 8.31 ERA is highest among the staff, but that's come with one loss in three starts. Miller (1-3, 7.36 ERA) is 0-3 with an 8.24 in four and has walked eight over 8 2/3 innings of the last two.

He's already given up six home runs in his first four starts at his new park after giving up five in 17 at Turner Field with Atlanta last season. He made one start at Chase in 2015 - a no-decision - so he's still looking for his first career win there.

The right-hander is coming off his first win with his new team after giving up two runs and four hits in six innings of Saturday's 4-2 win in Atlanta. Walks, however, remain an issue. He handed out two and a hit batter against the Braves and is averaging 6.44 per nine innings. He feels strides have been made.

"It was definitely nice to get here and get back on track," Miller told MLB's official website. "But even my last bullpen session I felt like I figured something out a little bit, just kind of slowing down through my mechanics and stopped rushing a little bit. I think that helped a ton."

He may feel confident a home win against the Giants is the next step. Miller is 2-1 with a 2.22 ERA in five starts against them, though he did last just two innings and give up two runs, a hit and five walks in a no-decision of a 6-2 win in San Francisco on April 21.

Hunter Pence (1 for 12), Brandon Belt (1 for 12), Buster Posey (1 for 10), Gregor Blanco (1 for 7) and Denard Span (3 for 16) have all struggled against him.

Jeff Samardzija (4-2, 3.17) is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA and seven walks in 10 2/3 innings in two starts at Chase Field, but the right-hander has been far more effective with his new club than Miller. However, limiting Colorado to two runs and eight hits in 7 2/3 innings of Sunday's 2-0 home loss wasn't enough. He struck out a season-high nine for a second straight game and threw 123 pitches.

"Samardzija is a competitor - he came back out for that eighth inning with 115 pitches. He's a horse," Colorado's Nolan Arenado said.

That also applies against Arizona slugger Paul Goldschmidt, who's 2 for 10 with six strikeouts against Samardzija.

He'll be out to continue San Francisco's improving starting pitching. The Giants (19-18) have a 2.16 ERA from the rotation over a 4-3 span, which comes after posting a 5.04 mark over their first 30 games.

It ended Arizona's season-opening four-game winning streak over the Giants, but the Diamondbacks have still won eight of the last 11 the series.

Arizona (17-20) has lost consecutive games after a five-game winning streak, and it's batting .299 with 5.7 runs per game over those seven games. Jean Segura extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a .395 average.

Giants outfielder Angel Pagan missed his 11th consecutive game with a hamstring strain, but he could be in the starting lineup Friday.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Cardinals (19-16) at Dodgers (18-17)

Game: 1
Venue: Dodger Stadium
Date: May 13, 2016 10:10 PM EDT

Ross Stripling got back on track in his latest start, and so much so that he was nearly as unhittable as he was in his hitless debut. He just still doesn't have a win to show for it.

The rookie will give it another shot Friday night at home as the Los Angeles Dodgers open a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Stripling (0-2, 3.82 ERA), who famously made his MLB debut by carrying a no-hitter through 7 1/3 innings before being pulled with it still going, began May by giving up a run and a hit in six innings of Sunday's 4-2 win in Toronto.

It was a fourth no-decision in six starts, though it came after consecutive losses in which the right-hander gave up eight runs in 10 innings.

He had a longer layoff than normal between starts and didn't issue a walk after posting 4.00 walks per nine innings in his first five.

"With eight days off, just wanted to attack," Stripling told MLB's official website. "Last few outings, I feel I've been average and just been begging for strikes instead of attacking. Had some walks, and that's uncharacteristic for me. Yeah, these guys are great hitters, but I don't want to give them anything. Just pump strikes."

He's up against Michael Wacha, who's finding wins tougher to come by after racking up 17 in 30 starts last season. Wacha (2-3, 3.12) has lost his last three starts despite a 3.43 ERA, though the worst of them was a 10-5 home loss to Pittsburgh on Sunday. The right-hander gave up four runs and six hits in six innings yet remained positive.

"Today, I had good stuff early on," Wacha said. "I just need to make good pitches down in the zone not only with my fastball but with the offspeed pitches as well."

His only career game at Dodger Stadium was a 7-1 win in June in which he limited Los Angeles to a run and seven hits in seven innings to earn the decision.

The Dodgers (18-17) salvaged a split of their four-game home series against the New York Mets with Thursday's 5-0 win behind a dominant performance from Clayton Kershaw and three hits from Chase Utley. Yasiel Puig, however, was 0 for 3 and is 3 for 24 in his last seven games.

The bullpen got plenty of rest with Kershaw throwing a complete game, though the Los Angeles relievers have been in fine form with an unearned run allowed in 15 innings of the last five games in which the Dodgers have needed the bullpen.

St. Louis (19-16) concluded a three-game sweep at the Angels with Thursday's 12-10 win. The bats broke out with 18 hits as every player in the lineup had at least one, and the Cardinals are averaging 7.2 runs and batting .323 over a 4-1 span.

Yadier Molina was 7 for 12 in the series, Matt Holliday was 7 for 14 with three home runs, and Matt Carpenter is 8 for 19 with four home runs in his last five.

The Cardinals have won the last four series with the Dodgers, including the postseason with victories in 10 of the last 14 games. The Dodgers have averaged 1.7 runs per game over the last nine.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Angels (13-21) at Mariners (21-13)

Game: 1
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: May 13, 2016 10:10 PM EDT

(AP) - When new general manager Jerry Dipoto went about rebuilding the Seattle Mariners in the offseason, he bet heavily on the rebound.

Dipoto believed the Mariners could be revamped without spending heavily in free agency through shrewd acquisitions of players who struggled in 2015 or had perhaps fallen out of favor with their former clubs.

Through the first six weeks of the season, that bet is paying off.

Seattle looks to match a season best four-game winning streak Friday night when it opens a three-game series against the reeling Los Angeles Angels.

"The game is about a series of five- , six-week pockets. Where we are on May 11 is we have 20 more wins that we won't have to accrue later. They're all important," Dipoto said. "The season is long and what you're doing is building up equity because sometimes in this league it's feast or famine."

After completing a three-game sweep of Tampa Bay, the Mariners are 21-13 - their best start since 2003. They find themselves in the rare position of being in first place in the AL West into the middle of May and are starting to energize a fan base that's grown apathetic during the longest playoff drought of any team in baseball.

Making the start even more impressive was a five-game losing streak the opening week of the season that did its part to create the perception that these were going to be the same old Mariners.

For now, the losing streak has been the exception and good starting pitching, timely hitting and a stellar bullpen the norm. Take away those shaky first eight games and Seattle has the best record in the American League since April 13.

"Some adversity helps too because you see what people are made of," catcher Chris Iannetta said. "We definitely had some adversity with that. Anytime you lose five in a row it's not fun."

No player has defined Seattle's rebound more than Robinson Cano. After scuffling through the first half of last season, Cano has started 2016 on a tear. He leads baseball in RBIs with 33 and is second in home runs with 12. Last year, Cano didn't record his 12th homer until Aug. 7.

"As a player you go home, you prepare yourself for a good season and the best thing is when you start early," Cano said. "You look at my start last year, it was a tough first half. ... But you want to start from the first game of the year. ... We've played a different game this year. Hopefully it continues."

While Cano's been the offensive star, Seattle's rotation has - as expected - been one of the top starting units in the AL thanks to the emergence of young right-hander Taijuan Walker.

The bullpen has also been a major key to the early success. Manager Scott Servais said over the winter that a good bullpen would cover up many of the flaws for a first-year manager, and while there haven't been many mistakes to point at, Seattle's relievers have helped their manager look good.

The bullpen is first or tied for first in the majors in seven categories, including ERA and opponent batting average. Not surprising, the Mariners are 8-6 in one-run games already after going 28-29 last year.

"We're just going to have to be comfortable being in them. Our starting rotation is going to keep us in games, our bullpen has been very consistent, is going to keep it tight, we're going to be in those games," Servais said.

Nathan Karns (3-1, 3.38 ERA) has added depth to the rotation and has been especially good in his last three starts. He's 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings in those games. Karns struck out nine over 6 1/3 innings while limiting Houston to one run in Saturday's 3-2, 10-inning win.

The right-hander faced the Angels twice last season in a seven-day span with Tampa Bay and was roughed up for a 6.75 ERA. Albert Pujols (3 for 6) and Mike Trout (2 for 6) both homered off him.

The team Karns will see in this one has lost six straight despite finally generating some offense in Thursday's 12-10 defeat to St. Louis.

Los Angeles (13-21) had totaled just eight runs in five games before breaking out against the Cardinals. Pujols homered as part of a 15-hit attack and Kole Calhoun drove in three, but the rotation's ERA jumped to 8.65 during the slide.

The Angels send Nick Tropeano (1-2, 3.69) to the mound hoping to avoid their first seven-game skid since April 30-May 6, 2010.

Tropeano hasn't won since his season debut, going 0-2 with a 4.39 ERA in five starts. He hasn't completed six innings in any of his outings this season and has done so just four times in 17 career starts.

The right-hander allowed three runs and seven hits over 5 1/3 innings in a 3-1 loss to Tampa Bay on Sunday, walking two and striking out 10.

Each of his three starts against the Mariners have been strikingly similar, pitching at least five innings and no more than 5 1/3 while yielding two runs in each.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Friday, May 13, 2016, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews

Quite a night for two pitchers in the National League on Wednesday for very different reasons. Washington's Max Scherzer became the fourth pitcher (Roger Clemens twice, Kerry Wood and Randy Johnson) in MLB history to strike out 20 batters in a game, doing it against his former Detroit Tigers teammates. Scherzer had a chance to break the record with two outs in the ninth and against light-hitting Tigers catcher James McCann, who had struck out three times already on just 10 pitches, at the plate, but McCann was able to ground out. Meanwhile, Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard hit two homers against the Dodgers. He was just the second pitcher in franchise history (Walt Terrell) to do that. The Boston Braves' Jim Tobin holds the modern-day big league record for pitchers with three home runs in a game against the Cubs on May 13, 1942. I am confident in saying we aren't likely to see 20 Ks or a pitcher go deep twice again this season.


Tigers at Orioles (-135, 8.5)

I'm actually a tad surprised that Detroit's Justin Verlander never struck out 20 back when he was in his Cy Young/MVP prime. He was every bit as dominating for a few years as those four guys listed above. Verlander (2-3, 5.40) gets the call here and he comes off easily his best start of the season, throwing seven shutout innings against Texas, allowing three hits and striking out nine. Verlander also clearly gets fired up for Detroit's annual trip to Baltimore as he's from the area and went to Old Dominion. He is 7-0 with a 2.84 ERA in his career at Camden Yards. Adam Jones is 8-for-35 off him with two homers and six RBIs. Chris Davis is 6-for-25 with 11 strikeouts. Baltimore's Chris Tillman (4-1, 3.05) beat Oakland in his last start, allowing three runs over 6.1 innings. The Birds have won his past four overall, all quality starts by Tillman. Detroit's Miguel Cabrera is 5-for-13 off him with a homer and four RBIs.

Key trends: The Tigers are 1-8 in Verlander's past nine vs. the AL East. The Orioles are 6-0 in Tillman's past seven at home. Baltimore is 6-0 in Tillman's past six vs. Detroit. But the Tigers are 8-1 in Verlander's past nine in Baltimore. The "over/under" is 5-1 in Verlander's past six there.

Early lean: Tigers and under.

Marlins at Nationals (-156, 8)

Keep in mind that Washington's Bryce Harper was suspended one game for confronting an umpire following his ejection from Monday's night's game vs. Detroit. Harper is appealing for now and can play until that's heard, but it's possible that he simply drops it during this series and takes a game off. The teams play a doubleheader on Saturday, so that might be a good time. Miami starts Tom Koehler (2-3, 5.83) here. He had his best start of the season last time out against Philadelphia, allowing a run and two hits over seven innings in a no-decision. He is 1-1 with a 2.38 ERA in two starts this year against the Nats. Harper kills the guy, going 9-for-28 with six homers and 11 RBIs. Ben Revere is 10-for-22 against him. It's lefty Gio Gonzalez (2-1, 2.19) for the Nationals. He comes off his worst outing of the young season, allowing five runs and seven hits over 5.2 innings at the Cubs. He hasn't faced Miami this season. Giancarlo Stanton is 4-for-16 off him with five strikeouts.

Key trends: The Marlins are 2-6 in Koehler's past eight following a quality start in his most recent appearance. The Nats are 1-4 in Gonzalez's past five on Friday. Washington is 4-0 in Gonzalez's past four at home vs. Miami. The under is 3-1-1 in his past five in D.C. vs. the Marlins

Early lean: Nationals and over.

White Sox at Yankees (+128, 7.5)

Chicago avoided disaster on Wednesday when third baseman Todd Frazier was hurt after diving into the stands. He quickly ran off the field and it looked bad at first, but it wasn't a hand or wrist injury. Instead, some of Frazier's teeth apparently came through his lower lip when he hit his face on a seat. He needed five stitches but should play here. Frazier is among the AL leaders with 11 homers and 31 RBIs. It's Sox ace and Cy Young leader Chris Sale (7-0 1.79) here in an apparent huge pitching mismatch. He beat the Twins on Saturday, allowing two runs and three hits over seven innings, whiffing nine. Sale allowed three runs in seven innings in his lone 2015 start vs. the Yanks. Chase Headley is 4-for-9 with a homer against him. New York's Luis Severino (0-5, 6.12) hasn't been able to match his rookie year success yet. He was tagged for four runs (three homers) over 6.2 innings last time out vs. Boston but did strike out a season-high nine. He beat the White Sox in his lone start against them last season, throwing six shutout innings.

Key trends: The Sox are 5-0 in Sale's past five vs. teams with a losing record. The Yankees are 1-4 in Severino's past five at home. The under is 3-0-1 in Sale's past four in Game 1 of a series.

Early lean: White Sox and under.

Astros at Red Sox (-136, 9)

Houston's struggling rotation should get a boost here with the season debut of Lance McCullers. He was excellent in 22 starts as a rookie last season, going 6-7 with a 3.22 ERA. McCullers did face Boston twice, not earning a decision and allowing 13 hits and three runs over 10 innings. The Sox hit .325 off him. McCullers began this season on the DL with shoulder stiffness. He allowed two hits and struck out seven over five scoreless innings in his last rehab start Saturday with Triple-A Fresno and then threw a bullpen session Tuesday in Houston and was declared ready to go. It's Boston knuckleballer Steven Wright (3-3, 1.52), who is surprisingly among the AL ERA leaders. He has gone at least six innings in all six starts this season and not allowed more than two earned. On April 22 in Houston, he didn't allowed an earned run over 6.2 innings but walked five. Carlos Correa is 2-for-2 off him.

Key trends: Houston is 1-10 in McCullers' past 11 road starts. The under is 5-2 in his past seven starts. The under is 5-1 in Wright's past six.

Early lean: Red Sox and under.

A's at Rays (-111, 7.5)

Oakland is lacking offensively as it is this season and now the A's have lost one of their leading hitters, second baseman Jed Lowrie, to the 15-day disabled list with a right shin contusion. Lowrie took a hard foul tip off his shin in the seventh inning Monday. He was hitting .302 with 17 RBIs. The A's start lefty Rich Hill (4-3, 2.39) here, and I wouldn't be surprised if he's traded soon while his value is high. The 36-year-old journeyman has allowed more than two earned runs only once in 2016. No Rays batters have seen him a ton. Steve Pearce has the most, going 2-for-8. Evan Longoria is 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. Tampa's Jake Odorizzi (0-1, 3.10) has allowed four combined runs over his past three starts but is getting no offensive help. He is 0-1 with a 4.22 ERA in two career starts vs. the A's. Coco Crisp is 2-for-3 with two doubles off him. Chris Coghlan, who probably gets most of Lowrie's playing time, is 2-for-6 with a double.

Key trends: The A's are 3-8 in their past 11 after an off day. The Rays are 5-2 in Odorizzi's past seven at home. The under is 5-0 in his past five there.

Early lean: Rays and under.

 

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North - South Side Good Bets

On the North Side of Chicago the Cubs better than most expected look like a team that will not be denied. The Cubbies ranked first in scoring (5.9 runs/game) along with superb pitching from the likes of Jake Arrieta (6-0, 1.12 ERA), Jason Hammel (4-0, 1.85 ERA), Jon Lester (4-1, 1.96 ERA) are tops in the Majors at 25-8 stuffing +$1025 into betting accounts split between 12-5 (+$79) at Wrigly Field 13-3 (+$946) in enemy territory.

On the South Side of Chicago the White Sox ranked fifth in scoring (4.4 runs/game) are second best in the league at 23-12 earning backers +$1186 at the betting window showing the ability to win / earn anywhere going 10-5 (+$442) within the confines of U.S. Cellular Field, 13-7 (+$734) in an opposing park. Chris Sale (7-0, 1.79 ERA), Jose Quintana (5-1, 1.38 ERA) and Mat Latos (5-0, 3.4 ERA) lead Pale Hose hurlers.

 

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'Punchless Yankees in Tough Versus White Sox'

Chicago White Sox at New York Yankees May 13, 7:05 EST

Are the New York Yankees at the end of their rope? Baseball's most storied franchise is off to a disappointing start this year at 13-19, dropping 8.08 betting units along the way. Things will only get tougher this Friday when the Yankees host the Chicago White Sox (23-12, +11.75 units) in the opening game of a three-game series. First pitch is at 7:05 PM ET on the MLB Network.

Not only will the Yankees face the top team in the American League standings, they'll also have to face Chicago's top pitcher. Chris Sale (2.76 FIP) is slated to take the mound for the White Sox; the perennial All-Star has already racked up seven units in profit on a record of 7-0, giving up just four earned runs in his last five starts combined.

New York responds with Luis Severino (4.91 FIP), a blue-chip prospect who's struggled this season after showing promise in 2015. The Yankees are 0-6 in Severino's six starts for a loss of 6.93 units – the worst performance of any pitcher in the majors against the moneyline. Severino's teammates have hung him out to dry, scoring a total of seven runs in those six games.