MLB Betting Info - Monday 5/23

[NewYorkKnight]

GAME: Los Angeles Angels (20-24) at Texas Rangers (25-19)
DATE/TIME: Monday, May 23 - 8:05 PM EST
WHERE: Globe Life Park in Arlington, Arlington, Texas
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

The Los Angeles Angels cruised to the American League West title in 2014 in part due to their domination of the Texas Rangers, who claimed the division last year despite further struggles against their West Coast counterpart. The Rangers are off to an early lead in the rivalry this season, however, and eye their fourth straight victory overall Monday when they host the first of three games against the Angels.


Texas dropped 14 of 19 against Los Angeles en route to a last-place finish in 2014 and improved only incrementally during its AL West title run a season ago, going 7-12 while getting outscored 114-76 in the season series. The Rangers have done a much better job at keeping the Angels' bats in check this time around, holding Los Angeles to three runs or fewer five times while taking four of the seven meetings. Texas bounced back from getting swept at Oakland early last week by taking three straight from Houston over the weekend, riding an 11-strikeout performance from Cole Hamels en route to Sunday's 9-2 win, wrapping up a series in which the Rangers allowed only four runs. The Angels avoided a sweep at home against Baltimore with a 10-2 victory on Sunday and have scored at least seven runs six times while winning seven of their last 10.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Nick Tropeano (2-2, 3.30 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Derek Holland (3-3, 5.63)

Tropeano ended a six-game winless drought and worked past the sixth inning for the first time this season Wednesday, yielding only one run on seven hits over as many innings to get the decision in an 8-1 victory over the Dodgers. The 25-year-old Stony Brook product did not allow a homer after surrendering seven over his previous four turns and has given up more than three runs only once in 2016. Tropeano has lost both of his previous starts against the Rangers, surrendering a total of eight runs in 12 2/3 innings.

Holland bounced back with a quality start after getting pounded for 16 runs (15 earned) across five innings over his previous two turns, but he still took the loss after yielding two runs in six frames at Oakland last Monday. The Ohio native has fanned only four hitters over his last 17 innings, resulting in a minuscule 4.7 strikeouts per nine innings - more than a full strikeout below his previous career low. Holland shut down the Angels in his last start against them on April 30, allowing only four hits over six scoreless innings.

WALK-OFFS
1. Angels DH Albert Pujols enters the series with 568 career home runs and needs one more to tie Rafael Palmeiro for 12th all-time.
2. Texas LF Ian Desmond is hitting .340 with three homers and 13 RBIs over his last 12 games.
3. The Rangers have scored at least five runs in an inning 10 times this season, the most in the majors.

PREDICTION: Angels 5, Rangers 4

 

[NewYorkKnight]

GAME: Kansas City Royals (22-21) at Minnesota Twins (11-32)
DATE/TIME: Monday, May 23 - 8:10 PM EST
WHERE: Target Field, Minneapolis, Minnesota
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

The Kansas City Royals look to build off consecutive series victories against two of the top teams in the American League when they visit the AL-worst Minnesota Twins on Monday for the opener of their three-game set. The Royals won two of three versus both Boston and the Chicago White Sox last week and are 6-3 in their last nine contests overall.

Kansas City could be without left fielder Alex Gordon, who is day-to-day with a sprained wrist after colliding with third baseman Mike Moustakas while tracking a foul pop-up in Sunday’s 3-2 setback at Chicago. Salvador Perez brings an eight-game hitting streak into the series for the Royals while Lorenzo Cain is 6-for-16 in his last four contests. The Twins have lost six of their last seven after managing just three hits in a 3-1 loss to Toronto on Sunday. Kurt Suzuki’s 1,000th career hit knocked in the only run for Minnesota while Danny Santana notched one to improve to 6-for-14 over his last four games.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN Kansas City, FSN North (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Ian Kennedy (4-3, 3.24 ERA) vs. Twins RH Ricky Nolasco (1-2, 4.74)

Kennedy permitted two runs over 5 2/3 innings last time out against Boston in a no-decision – the sixth time he has allowed two or fewer runs in eight starts this season. The 31-year-old USC product has struck out 50 in as many frames but served up four homers in his last two outings. Trevor Plouffe is 4-for-9 with a homer against Kennedy, who is 2-1 with a 3.43 ERA in three career starts versus the Twins.

Nolasco has gone five games without a victory, yielding at least four runs in each outing and 35 hits over 29 total innings. The 33-year-old Californian opened the season by holding Kansas City to one run and three hits over seven frames without receiving a decision. Eric Hosmer is 5-for-14 and Moustakas has homered twice versus Nolasco, who is 2-3 with a 3.83 ERA in seven career starts against the Royals.

WALK-OFFS

1. Kansas City OF Paulo Orlando is 12-for-22 with a homer and seven RBIs in his last six appearances.

2. Minnesota 1B Joe Mauer is batting .304 at home, hitting safely in 15-of-19 games, and just .222 on the road.

3. Royals RHPs Wade Davis (11 saves) and Kelvin Herrera have combined for 41 strikeouts and four runs allowed in 38 innings out of the bullpen.

PREDICTION: Royals 5, Twins 2

 

[NewYorkKnight]

GAME: Chicago Cubs (29-13) at St. Louis Cardinals (23-21)
DATE/TIME: Monday, May 23 - 8:15 PM EST
WHERE: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

The Chicago Cubs attempt to turn things around on their road trip as they begin the final leg against the National League Central-rival St. Louis Cardinals on Monday. Chicago began its nine-game trek by dropping two of three at both Milwaukee and San Francisco and enters the series versus St. Louis after managing only three hits in a 1-0 loss to the Giants on Sunday.

Ben Zobrist notched one of those hits to extend his streak to nine games — a stretch during which he is 13-for-34 but has driven in just one run. St. Louis has been mediocre thus far during its nine-game homestand, winning two of three against Colorado while finishing 1-2 versus Arizona after Sunday's 7-2 setback. The Cardinals have lost four of their last six home series, including a three-game set against Chicago from April 18-20 during which they totaled one run on a pair of losses before avoiding a sweep with a 5-3 victory in the finale. Stephen Piscotty look to continue his torrid month at the plate, as he has recorded three multi-hit performances during his five-game streak and has hit safely in 17 of his last 19 contests.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, CSN Plus Chicago, FSN Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH John Lackey (4-2, 3.31 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (4-3, 5.92)

Lackey hopes for a repeat performance in his second start of the season — and his career — opposing St. Louis, where he called home the previous two years, as he scattered four hits and struck out 11 over seven scoreless innings in a victory April 18. The 37-year-old Texan has allowed fewer than three earned runs in each of his last four outings but has notched just one victory in that span. Lackey has had mixed results on the road this year, allowing six runs in two separate starts while yielding a total of one run in his other two turns.

Wainwright is coming off his fourth consecutive victory, a triumph over Colorado on Wednesday in which he scattered six hits over 6 2/3 scoreless innings. It was a complete turnaround performance for the 34-year-old native of Georgia, who was tagged for seven runs — six earned — and 11 hits in five frames by the Los Angeles Angels six days earlier but still managed to record a road victory. Wainwright is 12-7 with a 3.95 ERA in 37 career games (28 starts) against Chicago.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cubs RF Jason Heyward likely will miss at least some of the series because of a bruised rib cage suffered while making a diving catch Friday.

2. St. Louis RHP Alex Reyes, the organization's No. 1 prospect, returned from his 50-game suspension Sunday to notch eight strikeouts and give up two hits over four scoreless innings for Triple-A Memphis.

3. Chicago has lost seven of its last 11 overall games, including two straight on the road for the first time this season.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 4, Cubs 3

 

[NewYorkKnight]

GAME: Cleveland Indians (22-19) at Chicago White Sox (26-18)
DATE/TIME: Monday, May 23 - 8:40 PM EST
WHERE: U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago, Illinois
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

The Chicago White Sox were able to put a temporary stop to their recent losing ways with a key American League Central win in their last time out and probably would like nothing more than to increase their working margin against their closest competitor. The White Sox will attempt to do exactly that beginning Monday when they host a doubleheader to begin a four-game series with the Cleveland Indians.


Chicago has dropped two out of three in each of its last four series since racing out to a 23-10 record following a win in Texas on May 9, losing most of the six-game lead it once held in the division over the last two weeks. The White Sox avoided getting swept for the first time this season with Sunday's 3-2 win over Kansas City, keeping the defending world champions in third place in the AL Central. The second-place Indians trail Chicago by 2 1/2 games and appeared to be on the verge of inching closer following their fifth straight win on Friday, but they were outscored 14-3 in its final two games at Fenway Park against Boston over the weekend. Monday's doubleheader is being played as a result of the clubs' rainout on April 10 in the rubber match of their first series.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), CSN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Cody Anderson (0-3, 7.99 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Erik Johnson (0-1, 7.20)

Anderson will be recalled from Triple-A Columbus in time to make a spot start and serve as the 26th man for the back end of the doubleheader, a full week after surrendering six runs in 4 1/3 frames in a no-decision versus Cincinnati. The 25-year-old has yielded at least one home run in each of his seven outings (six starts), surrendering a total of 10 in 32 2/3 innings. Anderson's best effort of the year came in his season debut on April 9 against Chicago, holding the White Sox to two runs over six frames.

Johnson will see his first major-league action in the nightcap since May 5, when he permitted four runs on eight hits and three walks in a loss to the Boston Red Sox. The 2011 second-round selection is 1-0 with a 3.29 ERA in two turns since his return to Triple-A Charlotte, although he has handed out five free passes and allowed three homers in those outings. Johnson is 3-2 with a 3.94 ERA in nine career starts at home entering his first-ever meeting against the Indians.

WALK-OFFS
1. White Sox LF Melky Cabrera is batting .347 with six doubles, 10 RBIs, seven walks and eight multi-hit efforts over 19 games in May.
2. Indians 1B Mike Napoli has struck out 11 times and is hitless in 19 at-bats over his last four games.
3. Chicago went 1-for-23 with runners in scoring position against Kansas City.

PREDICTION: Indians 8, White Sox 7

 

[NewYorkKnight]

GAME: Cincinnati Reds (15-29) at Los Angeles Dodgers (22-23)
DATE/TIME: Monday, May 23 - 10:10 PM EST
WHERE: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

It's a good thing the Los Angeles Dodgers have their dominant ace on the mound when they begin a three-game series with the visiting Cincinnati Reds on Monday. The Dodgers used nine pitchers in Sunday's 17-inning, 9-5 victory at San Diego and will look for some length out of Clayton Kershaw, who has thrown two complete games this month.

Kershaw actually appeared as a pinch-hitter in the 15th inning Sunday but was not involved in the four-run rally that helped Los Angeles snap its four-game losing streak. Yasiel Puig recorded three hits and a pair of RBIs in the win and has driven in five runs in his last three games, showing signs of breaking out of a season-long slump. The Reds have dropped a season-high seven straight contests after being swept by Seattle over the weekend. They've managed nine runs in their last four games while the pitching staff has surrendered 60 during the skid.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati), SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds LH Brandon Finnegan (1-2, 4.44 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (6-1, 1.67)

Since opening the season 1-0 with a 2.04 ERA in his first three starts, Finnegan has allowed at least three runs in six consecutive outings - each of them losses for Cincinnati. He has failed to get through six innings over his last three appearances, falling one out shy while giving up four runs (three earned) in a no-decision against Cleveland on Wednesday. The 23-year-old, who owns a 3.27 ERA in four road starts, never has faced the Dodgers.

Kershaw entered Sunday leading the NL in shutouts (two), innings (70), strikeouts (88), WHIP (0.70) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (22.0). He has a remarkable 48 strikeouts against one walk in four starts this month while posting a 0.82 ERA. The three-time Cy Young Award winner, who has recorded a 2.90 ERA in nine career starts against the Reds, enters with a 2.05 mark in 132 lifetime appearances at Dodger Stadium.

WALK-OFFS

1. Reds 3B Eugenio Suarez went 0-for-11 with 10 strikeouts in the series with Seattle.

2. Dodgers 1B Adrian Gonzalez is batting .171 at home and .373 on the road.

3. Cincinnati scored a total of 12 runs in dropping the final six games of the 2015 season series.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 5, Reds 1

 

[NewYorkKnight]

GAME: Oakland Athletics (19-26) at Seattle Mariners (26-17)
DATE/TIME: Monday, May 23 - 10:10 PM EST
WHERE: Safeco Field, Seattle, Washington
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

The Oakland Athletics looked like they were turning things around by sweeping the Texas Rangers to begin the week but dropped right back down with four consecutive losses. The Athletics will try to pick themselves back up when they begin a brief road trip by visiting the Seattle Mariners on Monday.

Oakland earned a three-game sweep at Seattle from April 8-10 but was swept by the Mariners at home earlier in May while beginning the month with losses in nine of 10. The Athletics picked themselves up with wins in five of six against Tampa Bay and Texas but could not come up with the key hits and totaled nine runs while dropping four in a row to the New York Yankees at home over the weekend. The Mariners sit in first place in the American League West and are riding a four-game winning streak after picking on the stumbling Cincinnati Reds over the weekend. Seattle improved to 18-7 on the road with Sunday’s 5-4 win at Cincinnati but is just 8-10 at home.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, CSN California (Oakland), ROOT (Seattle)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics LH Rich Hill (6-3, 2.54 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Taijuan Walker (2-3, 2.95)

Hill has yet to allow more than three earned runs in an outing and is thriving in his first full season as a major league starter since he was with Baltimore in 2009. The Massachusetts native earned his third straight win on Wednesday against Texas, when he surrendered one run on three hits in six innings. Hill started at Seattle on April 9 and struck out 10 over six innings while yielding one run to pick up the win.

Walker is winless in his last four starts and failed to complete six innings in any of those four turns. The 23-year-old is having some trouble keeping the ball in the park with five home runs allowed in 12 2/3 innings over his last three turns. Walker went up against Oakland on April 8 and yielded two runs on seven hits and no walks in six innings but did not factor in the decision.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Athletics placed RHP Sonny Gray (strained trapezius muscle) on the 15-day disabled list.

2. The Mariners placed SS Ketel Marte (thumb) on the 15-day DL.

3. Seattle CF Leonys Martin is 10-for-16 with three home runs in the last five games.

PREDICTION: Athletics 6, Mariners 2

 

[NewYorkKnight]

GAME: San Diego Padres (19-26) at San Francisco Giants (27-19)
DATE/TIME: Monday, May 23 - 10:15 PM EST
WHERE: AT&T Park, San Francisco, California
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

The San Francisco Giants couldn't ask for a better opponent to continue their winning ways as they aim for their 11th victory in 12 contests when they host the San Diego Padres on Monday in the opener of their three-game series. San Francisco had won eight in a row before being trounced by Chicago on Friday but rebounded to win the three-game set by posting a 1-0 triumph Sunday.

Joe Panik recorded two of the Giants' four hits in the win and is 8-for-16 over his last four contests. San Francisco has gone 6-0 against the National League West-rival Padres this season, limiting San Diego to one run in each contest en route to a three-game sweep on the road last week. The Padres bounced back to post a pair of one-run victories over the Los Angeles Dodgers before dropping a 9-5 decision in 17 innings Sunday. Matt Kemp's slump continued as he went 0-for-7 in the marathon, dropping him to just one hit in 28 at-bats over his last seven games.

TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FSN San Diego, CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Drew Pomeranz (4-4, 1.96 ERA) vs. Giants RH Johnny Cueto (6-1, 2.70)

Pomeranz has allowed a total of three runs in his four starts this month but is only 2-2 in that span after yielding two on Wednesday in his second loss to San Francisco this season. The 27-year-old native of Tennessee has surrendered fewer than three earned runs in seven of his eight outings in 2016 and has served up only three home runs in 46 innings. Pomeranz is just 1-4 with a 5.51 ERA in eight career games — six starts — versus the Giants, including a loss at San Francisco on April 25.

Cueto is 3-0 over his last five starts, allowing two runs or fewer on four occasions. San Francisco's bullpen could receive another night off Monday, as the 30-year-old Dominican has recorded both of his complete games this season — and his lone shutout — against San Diego, registering 19 strikeouts and three walks while yielding only one run and 11 hits. Cueto improved to 6-3 with a 3.04 ERA in 10 career starts versus the Padres after giving up one run and four hits at San Diego on Wednesday.

WALK-OFFS

1. Giants RF Hunter Pence (hamstring) has sat out the last two games but figures to return to the lineup during this series.

2. San Diego RHP Andrew Cashner (hamstring) is expected to be activated from the disabled list Tuesday.

3. San Francisco RHP Sergio Romo (elbow) is slated to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento on Monday.

PREDICTION: Giants 3, Padres 1

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Adam Wainwright's last 3 starts vs. the Cubs:


6 IP, 0 R, 6 K - Win
7 IP, 0 R, 8 K - Win
7 IP, 0 R, 3 K - Win

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Tonight's starters for A's / Mariners (Hill and Walker) have been steamed 6 times each this year, behind only Chatwood (7) for most in MLB.


Interestingly the OAK / SEA line has not moved a single cent since opening at Pinnacle yesterday afternoon.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Miguel Cabrera is in the Tigers' starting lineup on Monday night against the Phillies.

Cabrera made an early exit Sunday after taking a pitch off his left knee, but tests came up negative. He'll start at first base and bat third versus Vince Velasquez.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Christian Yelich (back) is out of the Marlins' lineup again on Monday against the Rays.

Ichiro Suzuki will start in left field and bat leadoff versus Rays left-hander Matt Moore. J.T. Realmuto is batting third in the series opener at Marlins Park.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Mikie Mahtook is starting in center field and batting second Monday versus the Marlins.

He should see regular starts in center while Kevin Kiermaier recovers from a fractured hand. Mahtook posted a .970 OPS in 41 games last season for the Rays and he was slashing .333/.416/.487 with one homer and four steals this in 20 games season at Triple-A Durham. There's reason for interest in deeper mixed fantasy leagues, especially if he's going to bat second.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Kole Calhoun is out of the Angels' starting lineup on Monday night against the Rangers.

It's the first day off this season for Calhoun, who's slashing .290/.368/.407 with three home runs and 21 RBI in 44 games. Rafael Ortega will start in right field and Shane Robinson is in left versus Derek Holland.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Jason Heyward (ribs) is out of the Cubs' starting lineup on Monday night in St. Louis.

Heyward bruised the right side of his rib cage Friday on a diving catch attempt in San Francisco. Kris Bryant is starting in right field and batting second Monday versus Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright. Javier Baez will start at third and bat seventh.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Brian Dozier is on the bench for Monday's game against the Royals.

Dozier has just four hits in his last 38 at-bats and is batting .199/.284/.318 overall this season. Perhaps a day off will do him some good. Eduardo Nunez will fill in at second base and bat leadoff.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

The Dodgers are 28-2 in Kershaw's last 30 reg season starts

 

[champb21]

There the great info

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Alex Gordon (wrist) is out of Monday's lineup against the Twins.

Gordon suffered a right wrist sprain in a collision with teammate Mike Moustakas on Sunday. Fortunately, he passed a concussion test. The Royals are calling him day-to-day. Jarrod Dyson will start in left field.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Mike Moustakas is not in Monday's lineup against the Twins.

Moustakas was in the original lineup, so perhaps something is ailing him from Sunday's collision with teammate Alex Gordon. Whit Merrifield will fill in at third base.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Update: Its Raining in Minnesota ... Tarp is coming on to the field.