Friday 6/5/15 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Giants (30-25) at Phillies (21-33)
Game: 1
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: June 05, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

While streaks have to be getting a little old for the San Francisco Giants, when the good ones outweigh the bad, the ups and downs probably become more tolerable.

With each loss on the current skid, the bad moves closer to canceling out the good, something the Giants will try to end Friday night in a visit to the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Giants (30-25) have three winning steaks and two losing streaks of at least five games, including one eight-game surge as well as an eight-game slide.

Wednesday's 5-2 loss to Pittsburgh was its fifth straight to conclude a seven-game homestand, though they're riding a three-game road win streak. They've also won their last four series at Citizens Bank Park with nine wins in their previous 12 games there.

Last season, they wouldn't have had the confidence in Tim Lincecum being a stopper the way they might this time, though the two-time Cy Young winner has fallen off of late.

Lincecum (5-3, 3.00 ERA) started the skid by allowing four runs and eight hits in 4 1-3 innings of Saturday's 8-0 loss to Atlanta, and the right-hander has surrendered eight runs and 13 hits in 9 1-3 over his last two starts.

Even so, his ERA entering June is his lowest since 2011.

"When I get a chance to go out there and compete, it's fun for me," Lincecum said. "The way things are going right now, it's something I want to keep going, obviously, try to ride it out and continue reiterating what I've been doing."

Most of that success has come at home. On the road, he's 1-1 with a 4.79 ERA. That hasn't held true in Philadelphia, where Lincecum is 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA in five starts and one relief appearance. Ben Revere is 5 for 9 against him and enters the three-game series with hits in five of his last six at_bats and a career .373 average against the Giants.

A 3-for-4 effort with a triple and a double wasn't enough in Thursday's 6-4 loss in Cincinnati that left the Phillies (21-34) just shy of a three-game sweep. Those two wins stand as Philadelphia's only victories in 10 games. The offense improved in the series with 14 runs after scoring 12 in the previous seven, but pitching remains a concern.

The Phillies haven't held an opponent below four runs over their last 10 with the starting staff's ERA a robust 5.16 in that time.

Jerome Williams seems unlikely to send that back in the right direction. Williams (3-5, 5.49) has given up at least three runs in 10 straight starts since his first. After surrendering four runs and eight hits in five innings of Sunday's 4-1 loss to Colorado, he's 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA and .400 opponent on-base percentage in his last three outings.

The first time through the lineup, opponents are batting .247; after that it's .355.

"Sometimes it's a combination of elevating the ball as the game goes on and then missing with location," manager Ryne Sandberg told MLB's official website.

The right-hander, who began his career with San Francisco in 2003, is 0-2 with a 4.35 ERA in two starts versus the Giants, but those came in 2005 and 2012.

San Francisco leads the majors in road batting average (.286), OBP (.342) and slugging percentage (.442), with leadoff hitter Nori Aoki batting .386 to help the club average an NL-leading 5.08 runs.

Buster Posey is in a 4-for-28 slump, but he's a .392 hitter in 12 career games at Citizens Bank - his highest average at any park where he's played more than 10 games other than Coors Field.


SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Giants at Phillies
Fri, Jun 5 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 2
Giants at Phillies
Sat, Jun 6 - 3:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Giants at Phillies
Sun, Jun 7 - 1:35PM EDT

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Athletics (23-33) at Red Sox (24-30)
Game: 1
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: June 05, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

Manager Bob Melvin isn't fretting over the Oakland Athletics possessing the worst record in the AL, especially with his club in the midst of a hot stretch.

The A's could find themselves out of the cellar soon if the starting rotation continues its solid pace.

Oakland looks for a fifth straight victory when it sends Scott Kazmir to the mound in the opener of a three-game series with the Boston Red Sox on Friday night at Fenway Park.

Melvin isn't exactly guaranteeing a fourth consecutive playoff appearance for the A's (23-33), but he seemed optimistic they can turn things around after Thursday's 7-5 victory completed a three-game sweep at Detroit.

Billy Butler and Josh Phegley drove in two runs for Oakland, which has won six of seven.

'We're just trying to play good (and) win as many games as we can,' Melvin said. 'We're about trying to climb toward .500, and then worry about where we are in the standings.'

Oakland's longest winning streak of the season has been anchored by the starting rotation, which has a 1.36 ERA over a 9-3 stretch. Its 3.10 ERA on the season is the best in the AL after Jesse Hahn gave up one run in seven innings Thursday.

"Certainly, the starting pitching was good again. We got some big hits, added on when we needed to," Melvin said. "That's our first sweep this year, so it feels good."

What hasn't been good is Oakland's defense, which has committed a major league-high 54 errors that have led to a baseball-worst 31 unearned runs. The A's haven't committed one in three games during their winning streak, though, a trend Kazmir hopes continues in his return.

Kazmir (2-3, 2.93 ERA) hasn't started since leaving after three scoreless innings of a 3-2 loss to Detroit on May 27. He's been experiencing tightness in his left shoulder, but an MRI revealed no structural damage.

Kazmir has allowed more than three earned runs once in 10 starts but hasn't picked up a victory since winning his first two outings. He allowed two runs and four hits in six innings against Boston on May 11 before the A's fell 5-4 in 11.

Kazmir has pitched well in each of his last two starts against the Red Sox, though both were in Oakland. He's 0-1 with an 8.16 ERA in his last three outings at Fenway Park, which was the site of the Red Sox's latest blunder Thursday.

Boston (24-31) fell 8-4 to Minnesota, as Pablo Sandoval's error in the top of the ninth led to four runs that broke the tie. The Red Sox have committed three errors three times in their last six games.

'That was a poor display of baseball today," manager John Farrell said. "Those situations are addressed individually, it's addressed collectively, and we will continue to do so.'

Wade Miley (4-5, 4.97) committed an error Saturday and allowed six runs - five earned - in four-plus innings of an 8-0 loss to Texas. Miley had won his previous three outings with a 1.25 ERA, a stretch that began when he gave up five hits in 6 2-3 innings of a 2-0 win at Oakland on May 13.

'My tempo wasn't good,' the left-hander said. 'I tried to slow myself down to make some adjustments. Just was never able to.'

Oakland catcher Stephen Vogt hopes to play after leaving in the ninth inning Thursday with a right leg cramp suffered chasing a foul pop while playing first base for the fifth time this season.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Athletics at Red Sox
Fri, Jun 5 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Athletics at Red Sox
Sat, Jun 6 - 4:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Athletics at Red Sox
Sun, Jun 7 - 1:35PM EDT

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Orioles (24-29) at Indians (25-27)
Game: 1
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: June 05, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

With their latest losing streak now in the past, the Baltimore Orioles hope the return of Matt Wieters from Tommy John surgery will help begin a run in a positive direction.

The three-time All-Star will see his first major league action in more than a year Friday night in the opener of a road series with the Cleveland Indians.

Catching on an every-other-day basis for the time being, Wieters will be in the lineup for the first time since May 10 of last season. He was hitting .308 with five homers and 18 RBIs before his 2014 season was cut short after 26 games.

Wieters went 5 for 16 in five minor league games, hitting a home run for Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday.

Adam Jones hit a tiebreaking solo homer - his first in 84 at_bats - in the eighth inning to help Baltimore (24-29) snap a five-game slide with Thursday's 3-2 victory at Houston.

"I don't talk about streaks and slumps ... what's it mean tomorrow?" manager Buck Showalter told MLB's official website. "We will take it."

Jones had three of the eight hits recorded by the Orioles, who collectively continue to struggle while totaling 17 runs and batting .200 in the last seven games.

"We haven't been playing as well as we can," reliever Darren O'Day said. "We know that we're better than the team that's been out there."

Chris Tillman (2-7, 5.94 ERA) believes he can pitch much better than he's shown while going 0-6 with a 6.10 ERA in his last seven starts.

One of his better efforts during that stretch came May 26 when he allowed two runs in seven innings of a 4-1 loss to Houston. However, the right-hander followed by yielding six runs, nine hits and three walks over 4 2-3 innings of Sunday's 9-5 defeat to Tampa Bay.

Despite that rough outing, both Tillman and Showalter still feel it's a matter of time before the 27-year-old breaks out of his funk and returns to the form that won him 29 games the past two seasons.

'I've had my ups and downs,' said Tillman, whose 28 walks rank among the most in the majors. 'I feel like we are headed in the right direction. I saw a lot of positives (Sunday). I think the negatives kind of overwhelm it, but I think we are getting somewhere. I just got to make the last big step and we will be all right.'

He's 2-2 with a 5.19 ERA in five starts against the Indians (26-27), but last faced them in 2013.

Jason Kipnis is 2 for 6 with a double and a home run versus Tillman.

After leading the majors with a .429 average and 51 hits in May, Kipnis went 2 for 12 while his club took two of three at Kansas City to open this month. One of those hits came Thursday, as the Indians won for the 12th time in 16 games, 6-2 in a rain-shortened contest against the Royals.

A victory in the series opener would put the Indians at .500 for the first time since they were 2-2.

Trying to further secure the fifth spot in Cleveland's rotation, Shaun Marcum (2-0, 5.49) looks to win his first three decisions for the first time after he allowed a two-run homer over 5 1-3 innings in Saturday's 4-3 victory at Seattle.

"To be able to go out there and give these guys a chance to score some runs, and give us a chance to win, is the most important thing," said Marcum, who has allowed eight of his 12 runs this season on six homers. "Hopefully I can go out and continue to do that."

The right-hander hasn't faced the Orioles since 2010.

Jones hasn't seen Marcum since that season, but is batting .381 (8 for 21) with a triple and a home run against him.


SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Orioles at Indians
Fri, Jun 5 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Orioles at Indians
Sat, Jun 6 - 4:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Orioles at Indians
Sun, Jun 7 - 1:10PM EDT

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Padres (27-28) at Reds (22-29)
Game: 1
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: June 05, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

The San Diego Padres' offense seems to be finally rounding into the form many envisioned when it was assembled this offseason, and there still is plenty of room for improvement.

Coming off an impressive series victory, the Padres open a seven-game road trip Friday night against the Cincinnati Reds.

San Diego (27-28) put its offensive potency on display with consecutive seven-run outbursts against the New York Mets, as Derek Norris continued his excellent season with his 33rd and 34th RBIs Tuesday and Will Venable drove in two runs in each victory.

Will Middlebrooks knocked in three runs Wednesday and is batting .321 with 11 RBIs in his last 15 games.

Matt Kemp and Justin Upton have been less productive, although they combined for three runs on Wednesday. Kemp has no RBIs in his last seven games and has not homered in his last 43 games, three shy of his career worst, while Upton has not driven in a run in his last six.

"The offense the last two nights is more of what we expect," manager Bud Black said. "I still think there's some more power to come from our guys."

Black's club has won seven of 11 since losing seven of eight, batting .275 and averaging 5.2 runs per game.

The Reds (23-29) ended a nine-game road losing streak with a 6-4 win over Philadelphia on Thursday and now return home where they scored 22 runs during a three-game sweep of Washington last weekend.

Raisel Iglesias (1-1, 5.11 ERA) looks to bounce back from the worst of his four major league starts. The right-hander had a season-high eight strikeouts, but allowed five runs and nine hits in 5 2-3 innings of an 8-5 win over the Nationals on Saturday.

He had surrendered six runs over 16 innings in his first three starts.

Iglesias will oppose San Diego's Tyson Ross (2-5, 3.76). During his impressive 2014 campaign, in which he ranked among the top 20 qualifying pitchers in both ERA (2.81) and strikeouts (195), Ross was perhaps at his best against Cincinnati, allowing one run and striking out 17 over 16 innings in two wins.

His ERA has suffered a slight hit this season, but the strikeout numbers have only improved. Ross has a career-best 9.88 strikeout per nine innings despite managing only two in six innings of a 5-2 loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday.

"There's been a little bit of inconsistency from inning to inning," Black said. "They're have been stretches during the course of the game where you have seen flashes of last year's performances. This year, there's been probably not the consistent number of innings strung together. The stuff is the same.

"If that consistency shows up, then you're going to see a lot of wins and lot of low-run games against Tyson."

Brandon Phillips is 1 for 10 against Ross, Joey Votto is 1 for 7, and Zack Cozart and Billy Hamilton are both hitless. Ross has struck out those four Reds a combined 10 times.

Phillips enters Friday's meeting on a tear, going 10 for 20 with six runs and six RBIs in his last four games. He has stolen a base in his last two games, and has a double in each of his last three.

'He's been great,' manager Bryan Price said. 'He's had a really good start. I asked him to be a leadoff man and he's handled that well. I like the way the lineup is shaping out.


SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Padres at Reds
Fri, Jun 5 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Padres at Reds
Sat, Jun 6 - 4:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Padres at Reds
Sun, Jun 7 - 1:10PM EDT

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Pirates (29-24) at Braves (26-27)
Game: 1
Venue: Turner Field
Date: June 05, 2015 7:35 PM EDT

The Pittsburgh Pirates are hitting and pitching better, becoming one of baseball's hottest teams.

They'll try to win for the 12th time in 14 games Friday night when they visit the Atlanta Braves.

Pittsburgh (29-24) comes off a road sweep of San Francisco, capped by a 5-2 victory Wednesday to bounce back after dropping two of three.

"We don't let one game roll into the next. We've been going to work here for three days," manager Clint Hurdle said. "I just like the fact we've been able to turn our season in a much better direction than we were almost two weeks ago Friday."

The Pirates are slugging .449 over the last 13 games compared to .368 previously, and Andrew McCutchen is at the forefront of that improvement. He's batting .467 with 10 extra-base hits and 11 RBIs in that span after hitting .194 in April with more strikeouts (15) than RBIs (13). He has hit .350 with three homers and 12 RBIs in his last 11 games at Turner Field.

Pittsburgh has a 2.18 ERA during the 11-2 stretch, including a 1.64 mark by the bullpen.

Charlie Morton has won both of his starts behind a 1.93 ERA since coming back from hip surgery. He knocked off San Diego 5-2 on the road Saturday, allowing three hits in seven innings and retiring the final 11 batters he faced.

"I expected to do well. That's why I'm here," he told MLB's official website. "I really didn't have expectations per se. Just expectations that I'm going to go out there and make good pitches and let the chips fall where they may."

Morton is 0-2 with a 2.57 ERA in three starts against the Braves, whom he hasn't faced since 2011.

Atlanta (26-27) is trying to avoid a third straight loss after falling 9-8 in Arizona on Wednesday. The bullpen allowed seven runs over six innings in the back-to-back defeats, and its 4.81 ERA is the highest in baseball.

"Some areas of our bullpen got exposed a little bit," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "We need to fix that. I need to figure out a combination to get the ball to (Jason) Grilli's hands somehow. It's tough losing games like that."

Freddie Freeman is 9 for 24 with five homers and 10 RBIs in his last six games, including three home runs against the Diamondbacks.

"I felt good all series," said Freeman, who has only homered twice in 87 career at_bats against Pittsburgh. "Hope I can carry that over after the next series."

Williams Perez (1-0, 2.66) has been a pleasant surprise since sliding into the rotation last month, limiting opponents to two runs over 18 innings in his first three big league starts. He earned his first win Saturday, yielding four hits and four walks over seven innings of an 8-0 victory in San Francisco.

"From the first pitch, I felt in command," Perez said through an interpreter.

Pittsburgh won four of seven meetings last year, with the Braves totaling five runs in their losses.


SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Pirates at Braves
Fri, Jun 5 - 7:35PM EDT

GAME 2
Pirates at Braves
Sat, Jun 6 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Pirates at Braves
Sun, Jun 7 - 1:35PM EDT

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Brewers (18-36) at Twins (31-21)
Game: 1
Venue: Target Field
Date: June 05, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

The Minnesota Twins have performed well offensively during an impressive run at home, though they're not likely to need much scoring with one of the AL's hottest pitchers taking the ball.

Kyle Gibson will try to lead the Twins to their 15th win in 18 home games Friday night when they open a three-game series against the MLB-worst Milwaukee Brewers, who could again be without Ryan Braun.

Minnesota (32-21) has batted .297 - 78 points higher than its season road average - while scoring 5.8 runs per game over its last 17 at Target Field. Eddie Rosario (.387) and Eduardo Escobar (.327) are leading that effort.

The Twins should be confident in the opener of a six-game homestand after splitting a four-game series at Fenway Park with Thursday's 8-4 win. Torii Hunter finished with three hits, including his 200th homer with Minnesota.

Since allowing six runs over 3 2-3 innings in his season debut April 9, Gibson is 4-2 with a 1.85 ERA - third-lowest in the AL - over his last nine starts.

The right-hander has also gone 3-1 with a 1.44 ERA in five home starts. He held an opponent to three runs or less for a ninth straight outing Saturday, allowing one earned run over 5 2-3 innings in a 3-2 win against Toronto.

Gibson (4-3, 2.61 ERA) limited the damage despite struggling with his command and issuing four walks.

"There are times when he's gotta figure out how to get out of innings and (his) pitch count goes up - and we just take what we can get," manager Paul Molitor told MLB's official website.

Molitor will be going up against his old friend in Milwaukee skipper Craig Counsell. Counsell grew up around County Stadium because his dad worked in the Brewers' front office while Molitor was a star infielder for the team.

Gibson gave up four runs over six innings in a 6-2 road loss the only time he faced Milwaukee on June 2, 2014. Jonathan Lucroy went 2 for 3 off him and he's 4 for 9 in his last two games entering this matchup.

The Brewers (18-36) will try to avoid their 10th loss in 12 games following Wednesday's 7-4 defeat at St. Louis. Gerardo Parra went 4 for 5 with his third home run, while Adam Lind added two hits and two RBIs.

Braun, the team leader with 12 homers and 38 RBIs, did not play and could remain sidelined after undergoing a procedure on his bothersome right thumb Wednesday. Counsell said he expects Braun back during the series.

Milwaukee has batted .232 while averaging 2.8 runs during its 2-9 stretch, but it'll likely need to end that slump with former Twins right-hander Kyle Lohse (3-6, 6.50) on the mound.

Lohse yielded seven runs and a season-high 11 hits over 3 1-3 innings in Saturday's 7-3 home loss to Arizona, leaving him with the majors' second-highest ERA among qualifying starters. Opponents are batting .284 with 13 home runs against him.

"He's not the aggressor right now," Counsell said. "It's like he's playing defense the whole game."

Lohse was knocked around in his only start against the Twins, allowing six runs over 4 2-3 innings in an 8-6 loss at Target Field on May 30, 2013. Dozier, 8 for 19 in his last five games, and Joe Mauer homered off him.

The Twins have won seven of the last nine meetings.


SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Brewers at Twins
Fri, Jun 5 - 8:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Brewers at Twins
Sat, Jun 6 - 2:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Brewers at Twins
Sun, Jun 7 - 2:10PM EDT

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Marlins (22-32) at Rockies (24-28)
Game: 1
Venue: Coors Field
Date: June 05, 2015 8:40 PM EDT

D.J. LeMahieu and Nolan Arenado have played a significant role in Colorado's recent success. They've also shined against the Rockies' next opponent, a team they'll face seven times in the next 10 games.

Colorado will first welcome the Miami Marlins to Coors Field for a three-game set that begins Friday night.

LeMahieu is batting .379 in his last 17 games and is among the NL leaders with a .339 average. Arenado has six homers and 18 RBIs while batting .378 in his last 11.

Arenado's sacrifice fly in the ninth inning Wednesday gave the Rockies a 7-6 walk-off victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was their ninth win in 12 games.

"I told the guys that the game will reward you for playing it the right way and competing like we are," manager Walt Weiss said. "Guys kept fighting. We've been fighting until the last out of every game."

Troy Tulowitzki also is on a tear after having a season-high five RBIs in that comeback win, going 10 for 20 with four homers and 10 RBIs in the past five games.

Tulowitzki and Arenado have keyed the Rockies (24-28) homering in 15 consecutive games, two shy of the club record. They haven't homered in 16 straight since 2005.

Charlie Blackmon had four hits Wednesday as Colorado reached double digits for the 10th time in 15 games. The Rockies are averaging 5.9 runs in that span after previously scoring 3.9 per game. They totaled 21 runs and 37 hits in the last three against the Dodgers.

They could stay hot against the Marlins behind Arenado, who owns a .339 average in 14 games against them, and LeMahieu, who is batting .328 in 18 matchups. These teams also play a four-game set next week in Miami.

LeMahieu is 6 for 9 lifetime against Tom Koehler (3-3, 4.01 ERA), Tulowitzki is 3 for 5 with a homer off him and they could have another advantage with this matchup coming in Denver.

Whereas Koehler has a 1.57 ERA at home, he's 0-2 with an 8.68 ERA in his last four road starts after giving up five runs in 3 1-3 innings Saturday in a 9-5 win over the New York Mets. He was 1-0 with a 0.95 ERA in his prior three starts - all at home - and is 1-0 with a 2.14 ERA in three career outings against the Rockies.

Koehler will try to lead Miami (22-32) to its first three-game win streak since a four-game run April 28-May 2.

"We've got to win a lot more series to get back to where we want," pitcher Dan Haren told MLB's official website after Wednesday's 7-3 win over the Chicago Cubs. "The goal is to get somewhere around .500 by around the All-Star break or a little bit after and go from there."

Giancarlo Stanton has homered in back-to-back contests, giving him 17 this season and four in the past five games. He has a .358 career average at Coors but has one homer in his last eight contests there after hitting one in each of his first six. He hit .400 with 12 RBIs in last season's seven games against Colorado.

Dee Gordon, the NL batting leader at .368, has hit .431 in his past 15 matchups with the Rockies and Marcell Ozuna is a .469 hitter in eight lifetime meetings.

Gordon is 3 for 5 with two triples against Eddie Butler (3-5, 4.22), who will seek to build on one of his best starts in his first against Miami. The right-hander yielded one run in six innings in Saturday's 5-2 victory in Philadelphia after going 0-4 with a 6.00 ERA in his prior five outings.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Marlins at Rockies
Fri, Jun 5 - 8:40PM EDT

GAME 2
Marlins at Rockies
Sat, Jun 6 - 4:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Marlins at Rockies
Sun, Jun 7 - 4:10PM EDT

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

BIG AL

Minnesota

The Twins winning record might be one of the most surprising things in the league so far this season, but one thing that wouldn't really be surprising for this club is if it won the majority of its inter-league games this year. That's because since play between the AL and NL began in 1997, Minnesota's .557 win percentage vs. the National League ranks them as the fifth-best inter-league performer in the Majors. Tonight, they will try to further improve on that win percentage against the struggling Brewers and their even more struggling RHP, Kyle Lohse. After posting 24 wins with an ERA around 3.4 runs in his first two seasons in Milwaukee, Lohse has taken a major step back this year, going 3-6 with a 6.50 ERA in 11 starts. Never a hard-thrower, it may be that Father Time has just caught up to Lohse and it certainly doesn't help his cause that he has an injury riddled offense backing him up right now. OFs Ryan Braun and Khris Davis are out with injuries and there isn't a lot of other pieces to give you run support in the lineup when you take those away. The Crew is 2-7 in the last nine meetings.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Angels at Yankees

GAME: Los Angeles Angels (28-26) at New York Yankees (29-25)
DATE/TIME: Friday, June 05 - 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
LINE: 107, -116 TOTAL: 8

The first-place New York Yankees host the Los Angeles Angels for a three-game series beginning Friday and third baseman Chase Headley knows what it will take for them to stay on top. "If you don’t have starting pitching, it’s really difficult to win, and having a couple dominating guys at the top of the rotation is huge,” New York third baseman Chase Headley told reporters after the Yankees completed a three-game sweep in Seattle with a 3-1 victory that completed a 4-3 road trip.

While New York's rotation - led by Michael Pineda and a healthy Masahiro Tanaka - will likely determine whether the Yankees reach the postseason after a one-year hiatus, the back end of the bullpen is unhittable. Closer Andrew Miller is the first in franchise history to convert his initial 17 save opportunities with the team and set-up man Dellin Betances hasn't permitted a run in 29 1/3 innings this season. However, the pinstriped pitchers may not throw to their usual batterymate for a period of time as Brian McCann underwent an MRI on Thursday to examine a foot problem he's been dealing with since Sunday after leaving Wednesday's game in the second inning. Los Angeles has dropped two straight following a five-game win streak and gives the ball to red-hot Jered Weaver, who opposes Nathan Eovaldi.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FSN West (Los Angeles), YES (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Jered Weaver (4-4, 4.08 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Nathan Eovaldi (4-1, 4.40)

Weaver, who was 0-4 with a 6.29 ERA in his first six turns of the season, continues to benefit from an adjustment made in his delivery early last month as he has uncorked five consecutive quality starts. The 32-year-old Californian is 4-0 with a 1.98 ERA during that stretch, including an 8-6 victory over Detroit on Saturday when he yielded three runs in 6 1/3 innings. Weaver is 7-4 with a 5.47 ERA in 14 career starts versus New York - 1-2, 8.17 in four outings at Yankee Stadium - and has trouble with Alex Rodriguez (9-for-26, five home runs, six walks, nine strikeouts).

Eovaldi received a no-decision after yielding a season-high 11 hits and three runs in 4 2/3 innings of New York's 5-3 victory at Oakland on Saturday to run his unbeaten streak to three outings. The 25-year-old Texan recorded only three quality starts among his 10 turns this season, including a 14-1 victory over Kansas City on May 25 when he allowed one run in seven innings. Eovaldi, who has permitted 26 hits in his last 16 innings covering three turns, is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in two starts against Los Angeles while with Miami and struggled against Albert Pujols and Mike Trout (each 4-for-6).

WALK-OFFS

1. New York (29-25) is 12-10 at Yankee Stadium - the worst record in home games among division leaders.

2. Pujols, who is two home runs shy of matching Yankees Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle for 16th on the all-time list with 536, is 14-for-36 with six home runs and 11 RBIs in his last nine games to raise his average 30 points to .258.

3. The Angels last won a series with New York in 2008 and are 22-27 versus the Yankees since.


PREDICTION: Angels 3, Yankees 2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Cubs at Nationals

GAME: Chicago Cubs (28-24) at Washington Nationals (29-25)
DATE/TIME: Friday, June 05 - 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: Nationals Park, Washington, District of Columbia
LINE: 116, -126 TOTAL: 7.5

The Chicago Cubs continue their nine-game road trip Friday, when they visit the Washington Nationals for the second contest of their four-game set. Chicago evened its record to 2-2 on the trek with a 2-1 triumph in Thursday's series opener.

The Cubs plated runs on a bases-loaded walk and a double-play grounder in the first inning of a contest that had its start delayed nearly two hours by rain and held on after losing two of three to Washington at home last week. Michael Taylor collected three of his team's eight hits and Bryce Harper drove in the lone run for the Nationals, who have lost three games in a row and six of their last seven. Anthony Rendon made his season debut for Washington and went 2-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts. The infielder missed the team's first 53 contests with a sprained left MCL and a strained oblique.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, CSN Chicago, MASN, WUSA 9 (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Tsuyoshi Wada (0-0, 2.30 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Tanner Roark (1-2, 2.59)

Wada remains in search of his first win after coming off his third no-decision in as many starts this season, a 5 2/3-inning effort against Kansas City on Sunday in which he allowed one run and two hits. It was the longest outing of the year for the 34-year-old native of Japan, who has yielded a total of four runs and 10 hits with five walks and 19 strikeouts in 15 2/3 frames. Wada made his only career start versus Washington on May 25, when he gave up a run and four hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Roark will make his third straight start in place of Doug Fister, who is sidelined with a right forearm injury. The 28-year-old Roark's first outing was against the Cubs in Chicago on May 25, when he allowed one run and three hits over five innings en route to a victory. Roark, who settled for a no-decision at Cincinnati on Sunday after yielding two runs in six frames, is 2-2 with a 5.03 ERA in four career games (three starts) versus Chicago.

WALK-OFFS

1. Nationals 3B Yunel Escobar exited the series opener after one inning reportedly due to a right wrist injury.

2. Chicago OF Chris Denorfia, who is on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring, went 2-for-3 with an RBI in his first rehab game with Double-A Tennessee on Thursday.

3. Fister and Washington LHP Sammy Solis (shoulder) threw bullpen sessions Thursday without problems.

PREDICTION: Nationals 5, Cubs 2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Giants at Phillies

GAME: San Francisco Giants (30-25) at Philadelphia Phillies (21-34)
DATE/TIME: Friday, June 05 - 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
LINE: -126, 116 TOTAL: 8

After making their third trip to the White House in five years, the San Francisco Giants hope that they can return to their winning ways when they open a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday. The Giants were honored by President Barack Obama on Thursday for their 2014 World Series title, but the team has been inconsistent at best this season - with its current five-game skid coming on the heels of a five-game winning streak.

San Francisco has mustered just 2.8 runs and a .184 batting average with runners in scoring position during the losing skid, but it has enjoyed considerable success on the road (5.08 runs, .286 batting average). The Giants have won five of their last seven versus the Phillies and would be wise to close the door on the pesky club, which used a pair of late rallies to win two straight contests versus Cincinnati before its last comeback bid fell short in a 6-4 setback on Thursday. Philadelphia's Ben Revere had an RBI double among his three hits in the series finale and is 5-for-9 in his career versus Friday starter Tim Lincecum. Chase Utley, who is batting .350 versus the two-time National League Cy Young Award winner, had a sacrifice fly and a run scored on Thursday.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, CSBA (San Francisco), WCAU (Philadelphia)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Tim Lincecum (5-3, 3.00 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Jerome Williams (3-5, 5.49)

Lincecum saw his four-game winning streak halted in emphatic fashion, surrendering four earned runs for the second time in as many starts en route to an 8-0 loss to Atlanta on Saturday. The 30-year-old has handcuffed Philadelphia in his career, posting a 6-3 career mark while limiting the Phillies to a .225 batting average. Lincecum picked up the save in his last appearance versus Philadelphia, wrapping up the 14th inning in a 9-6 victory on July 22.

Williams fell to 1-4 with a gaudy 6.62 ERA in his last seven starts after yielding four runs in five innings in a 4-1 setback to Colorado on Sunday. A former San Francisco first-round draft pick, the 33-year-old Williams has lost both of his career starts versus the Giants - yielding six runs on 14 hits in 10 1/3 innings. Williams has struggled with allowing home runs, as he has been taken deep six times in his last six starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. San Francisco RF Hunter Pence, who has four hits and two runs scored in his last two games, is batting .325 versus the team with which he played from 2011-12.

2. Philadelphia 3B Maikel Franco went 5-for-13 with two homers, six RBIs and three runs scored in his last three contests.

3. Giants 2B Joe Panik is 13-for-35 during his nine-game hitting streak and 6-for-12 in his career versus the Phillies.

PREDICTION: Giants 6, Phillies 1

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Astros at Blue Jays

GAME: Houston Astros (34-21) at Toronto Blue Jays (25-30)
DATE/TIME: Friday, June 05 - 7:07 PM EST
WHERE: Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario
LINE: 116, -126 TOTAL: 9

Owners of the best record in the American League, the Houston Astros kick off a six-game road trip Friday in the opener of a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Astros were denied in their bid for a four-game sweep of Baltimore, dropping a 3-2 decision in the series finale, but are still off to the best start in franchise history at 34-21.

Houston scored 24 runs in a four-game sweep of the Blue Jays last month and has won seven straight meetings between the teams, although all of them were at home. Toronto can match a season high with its third straight victory after taking the final two of a three-game set at Washington. The Blue Jays are 6-4 over their last 10 games, scoring at least six runs in each of the victories. "That's one thing we do is score runs, so it's a good team to pitch for," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. "Limit the damage, damage control and you've got a shot."

TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, ROOT (Houston), SportsNet (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Roberto Hernandez (2-4, 4.92 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Aaron Sanchez (4-4, 3.88)

Hernandez is coming off his second straight shaky performance, giving up five runs (four earned) and eight hits over 5 2/3 innings against the White Sox. He was rocked for seven runs in five innings at Detroit in his previous outing but escaped with a no-decision when the Astros put up 10 runs. Hernandez is 3-3 with a 4.38 ERA versus Toronto and has struggled against Jose Bautista, who is 7-for-17 with two homers.

Despite his third straight quality start, Sanchez did not factor in the decision after permitting two runs on seven hits over six innings at Minnesota last time out. The 22-year-old Sanchez has served up one homer in each of his last three turns, although his innings are up and his walks are down during that span. He is 3-2 with a 2.84 ERA in five home starts, holding the opposition to a .204 batting average.

WALK-OFFS

1. Blue Jays 3B Josh Donaldson, who has hit safely in nine straight games, is a .345 career hitter against Houston.

2. Astros C Hank Conger is 4-for-9 with a homer and two doubles in his last three games.

3. Blue Jays OF Chris Colabello has the longest active hitting streak in the majors at 14 games.

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 6, Astros 4

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Orioles at Indians

GAME: Baltimore Orioles (24-29) at Cleveland Indians (26-27)
DATE/TIME: Friday, June 05 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio
LINE: 116, -126 TOTAL: 8.5

Catcher Matt Wieters is expected back in the lineup for the first time in nearly 13 months on Friday as the Baltimore Orioles continue their seven-game road trip with the first of three games against the Cleveland Indians. A three-time All-Star, Wieters has been sidelined since undergoing Tommy John surgery last June.

Wieters' return comes at the perfect time for the Orioles, who snapped a five-game losing streak with a 3-2 victory at Houston on Thursday. Shortstop J.J. Hardy, who entered as a defensive replacement Thursday, is also expected to make his first start since Sunday after dealing with soreness in his side. The Indians have won 12 of 16 and can reach the .500 mark for the first time since the fourth game of the season. Cleveland capped a 5-2 road trip by winning two of three at Kansas City.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN (Baltimore), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Chris Tillman (2-7, 5.94 ERA) vs. Indians RH Shaun Marcum (2-0, 5.49)

Tillman has already matched his career high for losses after allowing six runs (five earned) on nine hits over 4 2/3 innings in a 9-5 setback versus Tampa Bay on Sunday. Tillman won 29 games over the past two seasons but is 0-6 over his last seven turns and is seeking his first victory since April 18. The 27-year-old Tillman has made five starts against the Indians, posting a 2-2 mark and a 5.19 ERA.

Marcum rebounded from an ugly outing to earn the victory at Seattle on Saturday, giving up a pair of runs on five hits over 5 1/3 innings. The 33-year-old veteran lasted only 2 2/3 innings in his previous turn, surrendering seven runs and two homers in a loss to the Texas Rangers. Marcum is 4-2 with a 4.33 ERA in 14 appearances (12 starts) versus Baltimore, but has had trouble against Jones, who is 8-for-21 against him.

WALK-OFFS

1. Orioles CF Adam Jones went 5-for-8 in the final two games at Houston, including a tiebreaking homer in Thursday's win.

2. Indians RF Brandon Moss is 10-for-21 with two homers and four RBIs during a five-game hitting streak.

3. Orioles RHP Darren O'Day has not allowed a run in 19 of 22 appearances, including his last seven.

PREDICTION: Indians 5, Orioles 4

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Athletics at Red Sox

GAME: Oakland Athletics (23-33) at Boston Red Sox (24-31)
DATE/TIME: Friday, June 05 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
LINE: -106, -102 TOTAL: 8

The Oakland Athletics are not ready to start selling yet and are trying to jump back into the race in the American League West with a successful road trip. The A’s aim for a fifth straight victory when they visit the struggling Boston Red Sox for the opener of their three-game series on Friday.

Oakland owns the worst record in the AL but can relinquish it to the Red Sox with a successful weekend. The A’s dropped to 14-30 with a loss at Tampa Bay on May 22 but have since won nine of 12 after sweeping a three-game series from the Detroit Tigers to begin their six-game road trip. Boston had a chance to clinch a winning series over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday but continues to find new ways to lose, squandering a four-run lead in an 8-4 loss that saw the Twins erupt for four in the ninth. The setback gave the Red Sox eight losses in their last 11 games.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, CSN California (Oakland), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics LH Scott Kazmir (2-3, 2.93 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Wade Miley (4-5, 4.97)

Kazmir is set to return after exiting his outing on May 27 with shoulder tightness and is looking to snap an eight-start winless streak. The 31-year-old did not go more than six innings in any of his last six turns and issued at least three walks in each of the last four. That stretch includes a start against Boston on May 11 in which Kazmir was charged with two runs on four hits and four walks in six frames without factoring in the decision.

Miley had his run of three straight wins come to an end at Texas on Saturday, when he was knocked around for six runs - five earned - on nine hits and two walks in four innings. The abbreviated outing snapped a string of five straight starts in which Miley worked at least six frames. The Louisiana native began his winning streak at Oakland on May 13 as he scattered five hits over 6 2/3 scoreless innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox 3B Pablo Sandoval made a pair of errors on Thursday and went 0-for-4 at the plate to drop to 1-for-20 in his last six games.

2. A’s C/1B Stephen Vogt exited Thursday’s game in the ninth inning due to leg cramps but plans to play Friday.

3. Boston took two of three in Oakland from May 11-13.

PREDICTION: Athletics 5, Red Sox 2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Padres at Reds

GAME: San Diego Padres (27-28) at Cincinnati Reds (23-29)
DATE/TIME: Friday, June 05 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
LINE: 101, -109 TOTAL: 8

The San Diego Padres look to continue their recent success on the road when they begin a seven-game trek with the opener of a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday. San Diego has won three of its last four away from home, salvaging the finale of a three-game set with the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 24 before taking two of three from the Los Angeles Angels.

The Padres hit the road after a 4-3 homestand that concluded with a pair of convincing victories over the New York Mets. Cincinnati salvaged the finale of its three-game series at Philadelphia, holding on for a 6-4 triumph on Thursday. Brandon Phillips went 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs as the Reds finally protected a lead after squandering one late in each of the first two games of the set. The victory was just the fifth in 17 overall contests for Cincinnati, which snapped its nine-game road losing streak.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN San Diego, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Tyson Ross (2-5, 3.76 ERA) vs. Reds RH Raisel Iglesias (1-1, 5.11)

Ross is winless in his last three starts, including a loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday in which he yielded three runs - two earned - and seven hits in six innings. The 28-year-old has won only one of his last nine outings but has surrendered more than three earned runs just once in that span. Ross has dominated Cincinnati over his career, going 3-0 with one shutout while allowing two runs in 25 frames for a miniscule 0.72 ERA in four games (three starts).

Iglesias will be making his third consecutive start and fifth overall this season. The 25-year-old Cuban rookie escaped with a no-decision against Washington on Saturday after surrendering a season-high five runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings. Iglesias also recorded a career-best eight strikeouts in the outing and has fanned at least five in three of his starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Phillips' three-hit performance Thursday was his second in a row and fourth straight multi-hit effort. He has recorded two RBIs three times during the streak.

2. San Diego scored seven runs in each of its last two games against New York after being shut out in the series opener.

3. Cincinnati OF Marlon Byrd, who is on the disabled list with a fractured right wrist, is expected to wear a soft brace for seven-to-10 days before being re-evaluated.

PREDICTION: Padres 5, Reds 3

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Pirates at Braves

GAME: Pittsburgh Pirates (29-24) at Atlanta Braves (26-27)
DATE/TIME: Friday, June 05 - 7:35 PM EST
WHERE: Turner Field, Atlanta, Georgia
LINE: -117, 108 TOTAL: 7.5

The surging Pittsburgh Pirates look for their fourth straight victory when they visit the Atlanta Braves in the opener of a three-game series Friday. The Pirates are winners of 11 of their last 13 games as they scratch to keep the St. Louis Cardinals within shouting distance in the National League Central.

Pittsburgh split four games in San Diego to open its 10-game trip but picked it up by sweeping the defending champion San Francisco Giants – coming from behind in each of the three games - before heading across the country. "We played a very good ballclub and they were able to get ahead of us three days in a row," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle told reporters, “but we were able to scratch back and play a little better than them.” The Braves have had a little trouble holding onto their own leads of late and squandered a six-run lead in a 9-8 loss at Arizona on Wednesday. "We need to fix that," Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez told reporters. "We need to figure out a way - I need to figure out a way, a combination - to get the ball to (closer Jason) Grilli's hands somehow. It's tough losing games like that.”

TV: 7:35 p.m. ET, ROOT (Pittsburgh), FSN South (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Charlie Morton (2-0, 1.93 ERA) vs. Braves RH Williams Perez (1-0, 2.66)

Morton had his sinkerball working in two starts since being activated from the disabled list, generating a total of 36 groundballs over 14 innings. The 31-year-old scattered three hits at San Diego on Saturday to pick up his second win. Morton, who was drafted and developed by Atlanta, is still looking for his first win against his original franchise and owns a 0-2 record with a 2.57 ERA in three starts against the Braves.

Perez earned his first major-league win at San Francisco on Saturday, yielding four hits and walking four in seven scoreless innings. The Venezuela native has yet to allow more than one run in three starts since moving to the rotation. Perez struck out seven and walked one while surrendering one run over five innings against Tampa Bay in his lone home start May 20.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Braves’ bullpen surrendered 22 runs in 22 innings during a 4-6 road trip.

2. Pittsburgh closer Mark Melancon has not issued a walk in any of his last nine appearances.

3. Atlanta 1B Freddie Freeman is 7-for-15 with four home runs, eight RBIs and seven runs scored in the last four games.

PREDICTION: Pirates 4, Braves 3

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Brewers at Twins

GAME: Milwaukee Brewers (18-36) at Minnesota Twins (32-21)
DATE/TIME: Friday, June 05 - 8:10 PM EST
WHERE: Target Field, Minneapolis, Minnesota
LINE: 116, -126 TOTAL: 8

The Minnesota Twins have righted the ship following a horrific start to the season, winning 23 of their last 32 games to insert themselves into the conversation among the best teams in the American League. The Twins vie for their third win in a row on Friday when they open a three-game interleague series against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers.

Kurt Suzuki had an RBI single among his three hits and reached base five times on Thursday as Minnesota posted an 8-4 triumph over Boston to salvage a split of its four-game series. Suzuki, who went 0-for-11 entering the afternoon tilt, is 4-for-11 (.364) in his career versus Friday starter Kyle Lohse. While the Twins open a six-game homestand with an AL-best 19-7 mark at Target Field, the National League Central cellar-dwelling Brewers have only won 18 games all season - including just two of their last 11 overall. Ryan Braun left the team Wednesday to undergo a second cryotherapy procedure on his right thumb, but manager Craig Counsell told reporters that he expects the slugger to return to the lineup in this series - potentially as early as Friday.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FSN North (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Kyle Lohse (3-6, 6.50 ERA) vs. Twins RH Kyle Gibson (4-3, 2.61)

Lohse was battered in his second straight start on Saturday, allowing seven runs on 11 hits in 3 1/3 innings en route to a 7-3 setback to Arizona. The slumping 36-year-old hopes to rebound against his former team, with which he spent parts of his first six seasons in the majors. Lohse was shelled in his lone outing versus the Twins, permitting four homers and six runs on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings to take the loss.

Gibson limited the damage despite yielding an early solo homer and four walks to accept a no-decision after 5 2/3 innings against Toronto on Saturday. The 27-year-old owns a 3-1 mark with a stingy 1.36 ERA in his last six starts, allowing just six earned runs and 33 hits in that stretch. Gibson lost his lone career appearance versus Milwaukee, with All-Star catcher Jonathan Lucroy collecting two of the six hits he permitted during his six innings of work.

WALK-OFFS

1. Veteran OF Torii Hunter, who belted his 200th homer with Minnesota on Thursday, has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games.

2. Milwaukee 3B Hector Gomez was sporting a sizable mark on his head on Thursday, one day after crashing into the seats while chasing a foul ball. Gomez told reporters that he didn't have a concussion and expects to play on Friday.

3. Twins RHP Ricky Nolasco was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right ankle injury.

PREDICTION: Twins 5, Brewers 2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Tigers at White Sox

GAME: Detroit Tigers (28-27) at Chicago White Sox (24-28)
DATE/TIME: Friday, June 05 - 8:10 PM EST
WHERE: U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago, Illinois
LINE: 117, -127 TOTAL: 8.5

The slumping Detroit Tigers attempt to end a seven-game losing streak when they open a three-game series against the host Chicago White Sox on Friday. Detroit's skid matches its longest since a seven-game streak in 2011 and the Tigers last lost eight straight contests in 2005.

Detroit lost three consecutive home games to Oakland earlier this week and has fallen five games off the pace in the American League Central. "Everything is under a microscope when you are losing like this but there has been no change to our daily routine and no change in the guys' attitudes," Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler told reporters. "We come ready to play but right now the ball is not rolling in our direction." Chicago is also struggling and Thursday's 2-1 loss in 11 innings to Texas was its 11th in the last 17 games. The last-place White Sox are beginning a six-game homestand but their struggling offense has scored the second-fewest runs (191) in the majors.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN Detroit, CSN Chicago-Plus

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers LH Kyle Ryan (1-0, 3.00 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Jose Quintana (2-6, 4.33)

Ryan makes his second big-league start after excelling in his first one last season against Chicago. He blanked the White Sox on five hits over six innings in his major-league debut last Aug. 30 when he walked two and struck out one. Ryan was recalled on May 27 and picked up the win in relief later that day by allowing one run in three innings against Oakland.

Quintana has lost three consecutive starts and six of his last seven decisions. He did pitch well in his last turn against Houston but suffered the loss despite giving up one run and five hits in 6 1/3 innings. Quintana is 0-2 with an 11.00 ERA in two 2015 starts against Detroit and is 4-3 with a 4.30 ERA in 10 career outings versus the Tigers.

WALK-OFFS

1. Kinsler went 2-for-3 against Oakland on Thursday after being 3-for-42 over his previous 11 games.

2. Chicago RF Avisail Garcia, who played 53 games for the Tigers in 2012-13, was hitless in 11 at-bats in the Texas series.

3. Detroit LF Yoenis Cespedes (flu) left Thursday's game after two innings and is uncertain for the opener.

PREDICTION: White Sox 8, Tigers 7

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rangers at Royals

GAME: Texas Rangers (28-26) at Kansas City Royals (30-21)
DATE/TIME: Friday, June 05 - 8:10 PM EST
WHERE: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
LINE: 144, -156 TOTAL: 8

The Kansas City Royals are mired in their first slump of the season and attempt to get back on track when they host the Texas Rangers on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series. Kansas City kicked off its six-game homestand by losing two of three to Cleveland to fall to 2-7 over its last nine and drop one game behind first-place Minnesota in the American League Central.

Offense has been the biggest issue for the Royals, who have recorded 21 runs over the past nine games while failing to score more than two in their seven defeats. during that span The feel-good story of Josh Hamilton's return to Texas came to a crashing halt when he suffered a hamstring strain on Sunday that is expected to sideline the outfielder for a month. The Rangers took two of three from the Chicago White Sox without Hamilton to improve to 12-3 over their last 15 games. Right-hander Chi Chi Gonzalez makes his second career start Friday and will oppose Royals righty Edinson Volquez.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN Southwest (Texas), FSN Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Chi Chi Gonzalez (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Royals RH Edinson Volquez (4-3, 2.95)

Gonzalez has a tough act to follow after a stellar major-league debut in which he limited the Boston Red Sox to two hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings. Although the 2013 first-round draft pick did not allow a hit through five innings, he does have room for improvement after surrendering five walks versus two strikeouts. Gonzalez was 3-5 with a 4.15 ERA at Triple-A Round Rock before he was summoned to the majors.

Volquez did not factor in the decision last time out but stretched his unbeaten streak to five starts by striking out a season-high nine and giving up three runs in 5 2/3 innings at the Chicago Cubs. He won his previous two starts - both at home - in impressive fashion, permitting a combined two runs and seven hits over 13 innings. Volquez gave up four runs and six hits over five innings in a no decision against Texas on May 12.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rangers DH/1B Prince Fielder has hit safely in 11 of 12 games to boost his average to an AL-leading .358.

2. Royals RF Alex Rios is 1-for-15 over his last five games.

3. Rangers OF Shin-Soo Choo capped a 5-for-11 series versus Chicago with an 11th-inning walk-off single.

PREDICTION: Royals 4, Rangers 3

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Marlins at Rockies

GAME: Miami Marlins (22-32) at Colorado Rockies (24-28)
DATE/TIME: Friday, June 05 - 8:40 PM EST
WHERE: Coors Field, Denver, Colorado
LINE: 104, -113 TOTAL: 10.5

Troy Tulowitzki is getting hot at the plate and dragging the rest of the Colorado Rockies along with him. The Rockies will try to put together back-to-back wins when they host the Miami Marlins in the opener of a three-game series Friday.

Tulowitzki has four homers in the last five games after belting only two in the first 43 contests, and the Rockies are winners of nine of their last 12. Tulowitzki homered and drove in five runs in Wednesday’s 7-6 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers, which earned Colorado a split of the four-game series and a positive start to the 10-game homestand. The Marlins picked up their second straight series win when they took the rubber match of a three-game set 7-3 over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. "It feels good,” Miami right-hander Dan Haren told reporters of the second straight winning series. “But we've got to win a lot more series to get back to where we want to (be). The goal is to get somewhere around .500 by around the All-Star break or a little bit after and go from there.”

TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, FSN Florida (Miami), ROOT (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Tom Koehler (3-3, 4.01 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Eddie Butler (3-5, 4.22)

Koehler was knocked around for five runs on seven hits and four walks at the New York Mets on Saturday but avoided a loss when Miami surged to a 9-5 victory. The 28-year-old allowed a total of two earned runs in 22 innings in his previous four appearances. Koehler is undefeated in three previous chances against Colorado, posting a 1-0 record with a 2.14 ERA despite 22 hits allowed in 21 innings.

Butler snapped a five-start winless streak at Philadelphia on Saturday when he scattered one run and four hits over six innings. The 25-year-old rookie struck out three and walked one in that outing, giving him 26 strikeouts and 28 walks in 49 total innings this season. Butler lasted three innings in his last home start and is 1-2 with a 5.02 ERA in three starts in Colorado.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rockies RHP Jordan Lyles will undergo season-ending surgery to repair ligament damage in his left big toe next week.

2. Miami RF Giancarlo Stanton is batting .358 with seven home runs, six doubles and 18 RBIs in 14 career games at Coors Field.

3. Colorado 3B Nolan Arenado recorded 18 RBIs in the last 11 games.

PREDICTION: Rockies 6, Marlins 5