MLB Betting Info - Thursday 4/21

[NewYorkKnight]

Preview: Angels (6-9) at White Sox (10-5)


Game: 4
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: April 21, 2016 2:10 PM EDT


John Danks is the weakest link in a Chicago White Sox rotation that has been dominant. The Los Angeles Angels roughed him up last summer as part of a dismal stretch for the left-hander.


Danks looks to avoid dropping his first three starts for the first time in his career Thursday when the White Sox and Angels conclude a four-game series at U.S. Cellular Field.


Chicago (10-5) is among the major league leaders with nine wins and a 2.88 ERA from its starters after Chris Sale allowed an unearned run and two hits over seven-plus innings of a 2-1 victory Wednesday to become the first four-game winner in the majors.


The White Sox are off to their best start since also opening 10-5 in 2006.


"I think it's important, individually and as a team, to try to get off on the right foot," Sale said. "To start out with some momentum, that's important. We're just going to try to ride this out as long as we can."


The numbers for the rotation would be even better if not for Danks' struggles. He owns a 7.94 ERA in a pair of losses after allowing five runs over 6 1/3 innings against Tampa Bay on Saturday.


"I threw the ball a lot better than my line will show," Danks told MLB's official website. "Threw some good pitches down. Didn't swing. Didn't get a call. It just didn't matter. That's the way it goes. It's part of it. It's baseball."


Danks lost his last three starts in 2015 behind a 6.19 ERA and is 1-9 with a 5.06 ERA in his past 12 outings.


"This thing is about wins and losses," Danks said. "It's disappointing."


One of the losses during that poor 12-start stretch came against Los Angeles (6-9) on Aug. 18. Danks allowed five runs over seven innings of a 5-3 defeat, dropping him to 0-2 with a 4.33 ERA in his last four matchups.


Surprisingly, Mike Trout has gone 0 for 8 with four strikeouts when facing Danks. Yunel Escobar is 6 for 14, Johnny Giavotella 5 for 14 and Albert Pujols 3 for 10 with a homer.


The Angels are struggling at the plate with 18 runs and a .206 average while losing five of six. Trout, however, ended a 3-for-18 slump by having three of his team's four hits Wednesday, while Pujols fell to 0 for 11 in the first three games of this series.


Los Angeles lost 5-0 on Tuesday after a 7-0 win Monday.


"These guys are proven hitters. These guys are going to come around," said Garrett Richards, who took the loss Wednesday. "Our offense is going to click. It's inevitable. We have to hang in there and grind together."


The Angels will send Jered Weaver (1-0, 4.35 ERA) to mound, and he's probably looking forward to facing Chicago. The right-hander has won each of his last six starts against the White Sox behind a 2.35 ERA and is 10-2 with a 1.99 ERA - his best against any AL team - in 13 matchups.


Weaver, though, struggled Saturday as he allowed four runs and eight hits over 4 1/3 innings of a 6-4 loss at Minnesota. His lone strikeout gave him 1,500 for his career, the third-most in franchise history behind Nolan Ryan (2,416) and Chuck Finley (2,151).


"Guys had a pretty good approach against me early on," Weaver said. "I didn't quite mix my pitches as I should."

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Preview: Diamondbacks (8-8) at Giants (7-9)


Game: 4
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: April 21, 2016 3:45 PM EDT


Johnny Cueto couldn't ask for a better beginning to his San Francisco Giants' tenure. Shelby Miller's short time with the Arizona Diamondbacks couldn't have started much worse.


As Miller seeks an elusive first win with his new team, Cueto aims for his fourth while attempting to prevent the streaking Diamondbacks from a four-game series sweep Thursday.


Signed in December to provide a proven No. 2 starter behind Madison Bumgarner, Cueto (3-0, 3.38 ERA) has instead emerged as an early season stopper for struggling San Francisco (7-9). The colorful right-hander has won each of his first three starts and been dominant in two, giving a needed lift to a rotation whose other members have a combined 5.40 ERA.


Cueto did struggle in his lone AT&T Park start, surrendering six runs and 10 hits through seven innings of a 9-6 victory over the Dodgers on April 10. He rebounded with a brilliant 7 1/3-inning effort in Saturday's rematch at Los Angeles, retiring the first 13 hitters and yielding one run and three hits in a 4-3 win.


"I told myself I need to be aggressive," Cueto told MLB's official website through an interpreter. "I felt more aggressive and I felt a lot better than the other starts."


The Giants may need another big performance from their big-ticket acquisition, as they've managed one run off Arizona pitching in the last two games. After Robbie Ray threw six sharp innings in Tuesday's 3-0 win, Zack Greinke outdueled Bumgarner as the Diamondbacks dealt San Francisco a fourth straight loss and seventh in eight games with Wednesday's 2-1 result.


Welington Castillo broke a scoreless tie with a two-run homer off Bumgarner in the seventh, and Brad Ziegler stranded the tying run at third in the ninth to seal Arizona's fourth consecutive win.


Greinke allowed a run over 6 2/3 innings to earn his first win with Arizona (8-8), now 11-2 in its last 13 at AT&T Park. Diamondbacks starters have posted a 1.71 ERA over that stretch.


Miller (0-1, 8.53) hopes to continue that trend and reverse his difficult start. The 2015 All-Star with Atlanta allowed five homers and 10 runs over his first two outings, then exited Saturday's game at San Diego in the second inning after cutting his right finger from scraping the mound on his follow through.


'Just some poor mechanics more than anything,' said Miller, who walked three and permitted two runs in Arizona's 5-3, 14-inning loss. "I wouldn't say (the injury) was the reason I was walking guys. I just couldn't locate. After that, I just kind of fell out of sync."


Miller also had some hard luck in two 2015 matchups with the Giants. He threw seven innings in a 1-0 loss in San Francisco on May 28 and exited with a 3-2 lead after seven in an 8-3 loss in Atlanta on Aug. 4.


He'll face an offense that went 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position Wednesday and is 3 for 30 in those situations during the losing streak.


'We got a great pitching effort, we're just missing some timely hits,' manager Bruce Bochy said. 'We finally got one late in the game but we had a couple chances early.'


Cueto last faced Arizona in May 2014 with Cincinnati, but he's 6-1 with a 2.54 ERA in eight career starts. He's held Castillo, a .318 hitter with three home runs in 12 games at AT&T Park, to 2 for 13 in their matchups.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Preview: Athletics (8-7) at Yankees (5-8)


Game: 3
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: April 21, 2016 7:05 PM EDT


The first two starters for the Oakland Athletics in this three-game series entered it with 10 career wins, although that didn't prevent them from helping stifle the stumbling New York Yankees.


With that in mind, there's no reason to think a pitcher with six victories over the last seven seasons can't do something similar.


Rich Hill is next in line for the Athletics on Thursday night when they seek to complete their first sweep in the Bronx in 10 years.


Oakland (8-7) sent Eric Surkamp and Kendall Graveman to the mound in the first two games and is now within its first sweep at the current Yankee Stadium, having last swept a series in the Bronx from June 9-11, 2006.


Those unheralded pitchers were good enough to help the Athletics limit the Yankees (5-8) to two runs in each of the first two games. New York has totaled 15 runs while batting .209 in losing six of seven after Wednesday's 5-2 defeat.


Jacoby Ellsbury is mired in a 2-for-18 slump, Brian McCann a 1-for-18 slide and Mark Teixeira a 1-for-15 rut while also going 0 for 8 against left-handers. Alex Rodriguez is batting .163 and Chase Headley has a .182 average.


'We have to focus on doing the little things. Every at-bat is life or death. Got to relax, get a good pitch to hit and hit it,' Rodriguez said.


The Yankees batted .372 with runners in scoring position in their first five games but are hitting .074 in their last eight.


That's what Hill (1-2, 4.15 ERA) will be up against as he looks to provide length after failing to get through the fifth inning in two of three starts. He yielded three runs in 4 1/3 innings in Friday's 4-2 defeat at Kansas City.


The left-hander pitched for the Yankees in 2014 and started against them with Boston on Oct. 1, giving up two runs in six innings in a 4-1 defeat. McCann has the most experience among New York hitters against Hill, going 1 for 9.


Both teams have regulars who are hurting.


Brett Gardner, one of the few Yankees hitting well with a .308 average, was scratched from Wednesday's lineup with a stiff neck. He was replaced in left field by switch-hitter Aaron Hicks, who batted ninth and went 0 for 3 as his average dropped to .050.


Hicks had a role in the injury to Oakland third baseman Danny Valencia, who strained his left hamstring when he was thrown out at the plate on the outfielder's rocket throw from medium-deep left field. Manager Bob Melvin said Valencia won't play in this contest.


'Felt it when I popped up after the slide,' Valencia said. 'He has to make a perfect throw - almost unheard of throw - to get me there and he did.'


The Yankees will start Luis Severino (0-2, 5.91), who has allowed opponents to bat .383 in his first two outings. He gave up four runs in 5 2/3 innings in Friday's 7-1 defeat to Seattle.


The right-hander has never faced Oakland or any of its hitters.


The A's have taken 20 of the last 28 meetings.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Preview: Blue Jays (8-8) at Orioles (9-4)


Game: 3
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: April 21, 2016 7:05 PM EDT


Chris Tillman usually doesn't fare too well against the Toronto Blue Jays. He took it to a whole new level last season.


Tillman tries to end a six-game losing streak to the Blue Jays and help the Baltimore Orioles to a second straight victory over their division rival Thursday night.


While the Blue Jays are capable of knocking around any pitcher, they seem to particularly relish facing Tillman. In six 2015 starts against Toronto, the right-hander went 0-4 with an unsightly 11.72 ERA. He served up 10 homers and 40 hits in 25 1-3 innings while walking 11 and striking out 15.


Kevin Pillar went 6 for 13 with three homers in last season's matchups, while Edwin Encarnacion was 5 for 12 with a homer and Ryan Goins went 6 for 9.


In his last eight starts in the series, Tillman is 0-6 with a 9.39 ERA.


The Orioles (9-4) can at least point toward the majority of the damage being done at Rogers Centre. Tillman is 2-4 with a 3.70 ERA in nine home starts against Toronto, completing at least six innings in all but one of those appearances.


After solid performances in his first two outings - the first cut to two innings due to a rain delay - Tillman (1-1, 5.11 ERA) was done in by a five-run sixth in Thursday's 6-3 loss at Texas. He allowed six runs and nine hits before departing with one out in the big inning.


"They didn't hit that many balls hard off him," manager Buck Showalter said. "I've been so impressed with how crisp he's been since the first day of spring, really his second outing of spring. He's going to be a real contributor for us."


Baltimore avoided a third straight loss with Wednesday's 4-3, 10-inning victory despite failing to homer for the first time since opening day. Caleb Joseph doubled with two outs, moved up on rookie Joey Rickard's third hit and raced home on a passed ball.


'Scoring runs is scoring runs,' Showalter said. 'It's always important to have different ways to do it.'


Manny Machado went 2 for 3 with two walks to extend his hitting streak to 13 games, raising his average to an AL-best .407. He remains the only player in the majors to hit safely in each of his team's games.


Josh Donaldson homered and Encarnacion had two RBIs for Toronto (8-8), which had a three-game win streak snapped after going 2 for 12 with runners in scoring position.


'A lot of lost opportunities,' manager John Gibbons acknowledged.


The Blue Jays send Marco Estrada (1-1, 2.77) to the mound hoping this start more resembles his season debut than his most recent outing. After tossing seven innings in a 3-0 home win over Boston on April 10, the right-hander was charged with four runs - all in the third inning - and eight hits over six innings in a 4-2 loss at Fenway Park on Saturday.


Estrada went 2-1 with a 3.33 ERA in four starts against the Orioles last season, posting a 4.38 ERA in two at Camden Yards.


Few of the Orioles have had success in this matchup, with Pedro Alvarez (3 for 21), J.J. Hardy (0 for 8) and Adam Jones (0 for 7) struggling mightily. Ryan Flaherty, though, is 2 for 7 with a pair of homers.


Alvarez, 4 for 32 this season, could find himself on the bench with Flaherty getting a rare start.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Preview: Cubs (11-4) at Reds (8-7)


Game: 1
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: April 21, 2016 7:10 PM EDT


There are Jake Arrieta's 23 straight regular-season quality starts. Bob Gibson once did that. And Arrieta's 16 consecutive starts resulting in wins for the Chicago Cubs. Kris Medlen was the last to get there.


Of those three pitchers, the only with the stuff to get away with walking more than three batters in any game of any of their streaks was the one largely credited with the lowering of the mound nearly 50 years ago.


Brandon Finnegan should take notice. The Cincinnati Reds left-hander has been more unhittable than even Arrieta this season, but the control hasn't been there. It figures to take that and more to be the one to end the Cubs' winning streak with their ace on the mound Thursday night in Cincinnati.


Gibson, the last to go beyond Arrieta, recorded 26 straight quality starts from 1967-68 and walked as many batters as he pleased - sometimes none, sometimes five. Atlanta won 23 straight Medlen starts from 2010-12 with the right-hander never issuing more than two free passes.


In Saturday's 6-2 home win over Colorado, Arrieta (3-0, 1.23 ERA) gave up five hits in eight scoreless innings as the Cubs (11-4) won 16 straight consecutive starts by one pitcher for the first time in data starting with the 1913 season. They did so in 15 with Rick Sutcliffe on the mound in 1984.


The reigning NL Cy Young winner, who has the longest quality-start streak on the present-day mound, is 19-1 with a 0.91 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and .156 opponent batting average in those 23 starts. Those numbers have all gotten better in the last 16 - 14-0, 0.70, 0.69 and .152.


"I just try and execute each time I go out," Arrieta said. "The results are hard to control. Just try and continue to go on the path I'm (on) right now, force contact and be aggressive in the zone, and good things will happen."


The right-hander hasn't faced the Reds since before both streaks started, but both of his outings against them last season were quality starts. Arrieta has, however, allowed eight runs in 10 career innings at Great American Ball Park.


That provides a little hope for Finnegan (1-0, 2.04), who's posted a .129 OBA through three starts. He won 9-8 in St. Louis on Saturday despite giving up four unearned runs, four hits and four walks in five innings.


"You're not going to have your best stuff every day, so you're going to have to go out there and you're going to have to battle and give it all you've got for as long you can," Finnegan told MLB's official website.


Finnegan has walked nine in 11 2/3 innings over his last two starts, and the one before the Cardinals was a 5-3 loss at Wrigley Field. He gave up two runs and a hit with five walks over 6 2/3, and the Cubs roster is 1 for 23 against him.


Chicago swept that three-game series, as well as the last of 2015 in Cincinnati for a six-game winning streak over the Reds.


Cincinnati (8-7) won the last two of a three-game set with Colorado, and Wednesday's 6-5 victory came in walk-off fashion after blowing a three-run lead. Tucker Barnhart hit a game-ending single, while Brandon Phillips went 6 for 8 in the last two games of the series.


Phillips is 4 for 11 with two doubles against Arrieta.


Chicago failed to complete a sweep at St. Louis with Wednesday's 5-3 loss. The Cubs averaged 7.1 runs while winning eight of the first nine but 2.8 in splitting the last six.


Anthony Rizzo went 2 for 4 with a homer Wednesday but is batting .189. He was 0 for 11 against the Reds last week.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Preview: Tigers (8-5) at Royals (9-5)


Game: 3
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: April 21, 2016 7:15 PM EDT


Edinson Volquez had his share of problems last season against the Detroit Tigers, who have added another hitter who troubles him.


Justin Upton has the highest average among Tigers with at least 10 at-bats versus Volquez, who will start Thursday night as the Kansas City Royals seek to capture a three-game home series.


Volquez (2-0, 2.04 ERA) went 0-2 with a 6.55 ERA in four 2015 outings against Detroit, which batted .313 off of him. Miguel Cabrera was 4 for 7 against him in those games, Anthony Gose was 5 for 11 with a homer and Ian Kinsler 4 for 11.


The Tigers (8-5) signed Upton in the offseason to a six-year deal, and he's 8 for 17 against the right-hander. Upton has had issues in his first season in the AL, leading the league with 24 strikeouts while batting .241. He has struck out in every game, with nine in his last four.


Kansas City (9-5) has won all three starts by Volquez, who allowed two runs in six innings in Friday's 4-2 victory at Oakland.


The Royals have enjoyed a strong series from Salvador Perez, who is 5 for 7 with two homers and six RBIs. Perez will be bidding to go deep in three straight games for the first time.


The catcher is 5 for 15 in his career off Detroit starter Mike Pelfrey (0-2, 2.79), who has yet to receive a single run of support in losing his first two starts. Pelfrey gave up one run with a career high-tying six walks over six innings in Friday's 1-0 defeat at Houston.


"He had trouble throwing strikes," manager Brad Ausmus said. "He walked six guys, but somehow with the sinker, he was getting ground balls, getting double plays, getting out of jams."


The right-hander went 1-0 with a 2.20 ERA last year in three starts against the Royals with Minnesota, which won all of them - all at Kansas City. He limited Perez to one hit in seven at-bats last season, with Kendrys Morales faring the same.


Pelfrey had more trouble with Lorenzo Cain, who was 4 for 7, and Alcides Escobar, who went 4 for 9. Second baseman Omar Infante is a .415 hitter off Pelfrey in 41 at-bats.


Kansas City took Tuesday's series opener 8-6 before Detroit responded the next night with a 3-2 win, holding on after closer Francisco Rodriguez surrendered back-to-back homers to Alex Gordon and Perez in the ninth inning.


Rodriguez notched his 390th save, matching Dennis Eckersley for sixth on baseball's career list.


'It was his to save or lose,' Ausmus said.


Kinsler is batting .361 during an eight-game hitting streak, going 4 for 9 in this series. Jarrod Saltalamacchia saw his streak of homering in three straight games end Wednesday, although he's 7 for 15 with six RBIs in the last four.


Cabrera has been limited to a single and a double in 10 at-bats in this series. The slugger, who has homered once this season, came into Wednesday with a flyball percentage of 20.6 after being in the 30s in each of his previous eight seasons with the Tigers.


The Royals' Eric Hosmer is batting .333 over a 10-game hit streak.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Preview: Astros (5-10) at Rangers (9-6)


Game: 3
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: April 21, 2016 8:05 PM EDT


Dallas Keuchel was back to his Cy Young form the last time out for the Houston Astros. He hasn't always been sharp in Arlington.


Then again, neither have his Houston Astros of late.


As the left-hander tries to build on his latest performance, he'll look to help the Astros avoid a 10th consecutive road loss to the Texas Rangers in Thursday night's series finale.


In Keuchel's second 2016 start, he allowed three runs, six hits and matched a career high with six walks in 5 2/3 innings of a 3-2 loss at Milwaukee on April 10. Five days later, he found his dominance while yielding five hits and one walk in eight innings of a 1-0 victory over Detroit.


"He was filling up the strike zone with his stuff," Houston manager A.J. Hinch said. "When he does that and he's controlling contact and we play good defense behind him, that's a good combo.'


Including the postseason, Keuchel is 18-0 with a 1.46 ERA in his last 23 home starts. He's 2-0 with a 1.24 ERA in this last four against the Rangers (9-6) at home, but 1-2 with a 6.35 ERA in six overall at Texas.


Perhaps the worst outing of Keuchel's career came in Arlington on Sept. 16, when he gave up a career-high nine runs and 11 hits - three homers - in 4 2/3 innings of a 14-3 loss.


Houston (5-10) is 3 for 24 with runners in scoring position over the first two of this three-game set. Rookie Tyler White homered for the fifth time in Wednesday's 2-1 loss for the Astros, who are one game ahead of Minnesota for the worst record in the AL.


"There's not one obvious solution," Houston general manager Jeff Luhnow told MLB's official website. "Our pitching hasn't been as good as we'd hoped. Our timely hitting hasn't been there. There (are) enough bright spots and enough good players that I'm optimistic we're still going to have a very productive summer."


Looking for a fourth straight victory, Texas won its 14th consecutive regular season contest with Cole Hamels on the mound Wednesday.


"It's big to have it for the team," Hamels said. "If it shows up on my record, fine, but we have had some really good wins lately, and that's something to build on.


"Ultimately, I'm winning games for the team."


A.J. Griffin (1-0, 3.27) hasn't faced the Astros since he went 3-0 despite a 4.88 ERA in four 2013 starts against them for Oakland.


Making his home debut for the Rangers, the right-hander allowed two runs - one earned - and walked four in five innings of a 4-2, 10-inning loss at Seattle last Wednesday.


Rougned Odor went 1 for 10 against Keuchel last season, but that hit left the park. Odor's two-run homer in the second inning was the difference Wednesday.


The second baseman is 11 for 33 with 10 RBIs in the last eight games after going 3 for 23 with three RBIs in the first seven. Odor is hitting .370 with three home runs and 13 RBIs in his last 14 against the Astros.


His six home runs and 24 RBIs lifetime against Houston are Odor's most opposite any opponent.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Preview: Pirates (7-8) at Padres (6-9)


Game: 3
Venue: PETCO Park
Date: April 21, 2016 9:10 PM EDT


Gerrit Cole may like his chances of finally earning his first win in his third attempt.


The Southern California native has won five straight road outings against NL West foes and looks to help the Pittsburgh Pirates avoid a three-game sweep by the San Diego Padres on Thursday night.


Cole (0-2, 4.22 ERA) is from up the coast in Newport Beach and has yet to receive a single run of support in his first two starts, giving up two runs in six innings in last Thursday's 7-4 defeat to Detroit.


The right-hander has posted a 2.14 ERA in winning his last five starts on the road versus the West. He's 2-1 with a 2.04 ERA in three starts against the Padres, who he did not face last season.


Cole has some history facing former Cardinal Jon Jay, who is 3 for 11 in this matchup. No other hitter for San Diego (6-9) has more than four at-bats off him.


Jay is 5 for 8 in this series for the Padres, who cruised to an 8-2 rout Wednesday. They've scored 13 runs in the last two games after totaling 11 in the previous six.


'I think everything was solid,' said right fielder Matt Kemp, who homered for the second time in four games. 'We've had a couple of good wins but I think this by far was the best one we've had. We need to have more of those. That would be nice.'


Pirates star Andrew McCutchen is hitting .237 with one hit in 17 at-bats with runners in scoring position to go along with seven walks. He was fifth in the majors with a .361 average in 2015 with runners in scoring position.


"I'm not assessing it too much," McCutchen told MLB's official website. "Just taking it at-bat by at-bat. ... I'm going to go out, keep doing what I've been doing, keep working and all those at-bats will come together."


Shortstop Jordy Mercer is 5 for 8 in this series for Pittsburgh, which is 4 for 23 with runners in scoring position in the first two games.


The Pirates (7-8) have struck out 11 times each night to mark the first time they have finished in double digits in consecutive games. Now they face a pitcher who tied for ninth in the majors a year ago with 216 strikeouts.


James Shields (0-2, 4.05) hasn't been quite as effective in that department so far this season with 14 strikeouts in 20 innings with the Padres losing all three of his starts. The right-hander has received a total of five runs of support, surrendering two runs in seven innings in Friday's no-decision in a 3-2 loss to Arizona.


Shields faced the Pirates for the first time last year, posting a 1.38 ERA in two no-decisions. Sean Rodriguez is hitless in eight at-bats against him, John Jaso is 0 for 7 and McCutchen has a double in four at-bats.


Jaso is batting .421 during a career-high, 10-game hitting streak. He should be back in the lineup after not starting Wednesday since San Diego started left-hander Drew Pomeranz.


The Padres' last three-game sweep of the Pirates was at home from Aug. 20-22, 2012.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Thursday, April 21, 2016, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews


If the Cincinnati Reds have a lead in the top of the ninth inning of Thursday's home series opener against the Chicago Cubs, it's not clear who might close things out. Cincy's closer has been J.J. Hoover, but he nearly blew a lead in the ninth inning Tuesday against Colorado, allowing a two-run home run to inflate his ERA to 15.19. Hoover has a WHIP of 2.25 and is giving up five home runs per nine innings. He has walked as many as he's struck out. So Manager Bryan Price has admitted he's thinking about a change. If so, it's likely to be a combination of right-hander Caleb Cotham or lefty Tony Cingrani. The Reds had no such closer worries the past few years with Aroldis Chapman around. Of course he was traded to the Yankees this offseason.




Dodgers at Braves (+233, 6.5)


On the MLB Network. I'm obviously not in the business of predicting no-hitters because that's nearly impossible to do. But I will say that it wouldn't surprise me even a little if Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw throws one here against a very non-descript Atlanta offense. And it's a getaway early start of 12:10 p.m. ET, so Atlanta might not even start the few guys you have heard of like Freddie Freeman. Kershaw (2-0, 1.64) has yet to allow more than two earned runs in his three starts and just 10 total hits in 22 innings. Kershaw threw seven scoreless innings vs. Atlanta in 2015. Freeman is 2-for-9 off him with a homer and five strikeouts. Erick Aybar is 3-for-21 with four strikeouts. It's Matt Wisler (0-1, 4.61) for Atlanta. He was originally to pitch Tuesday but had to be used in relief on Sunday. Wisler allowed four runs over six innings in his lone start vs. the Dodgers last year. Adrian Gonzalez is 1-for-3 with a homer and two RBIs off him.


Key trends: The Dodgers are 5-0 in Kershaw's past five on the road. The Braves are 3-7 in Wisler's past 10 vs. teams with a winning record. The "over/under" has gone under in 11 of Kershaw's past 12 vs. the NL East.


Early lean: Dodgers and under.


Nationals at Marlins (+166, 7)


Washington leads the majors in ERA, and that figures to drop a bit here with Max Scherzer (2-0, 3.15) on the mound in a 1:10 p.m. ET getaway game. Scherzer allowed a run and five hits over seven innings last time out against the Phillies. Scherzer faced the Marlins more than any team in 2015, going 3-1 with a 2.75 ERA in five starts. He struck out 36 in 36 innings, allowing 29 hits. Only three current Marlins are hitting over .250 in their careers: Martin Prado, Christian Yelich and Dee Gordon. Prado is 9-for-19 off him. It's Tom Koehler (0-2, 6.30) for Miami. He pitched in Washington to open the season and allowed two runs in 6.1 innings. But he was hit hard last time out vs. Atlanta. Bryce Harper, off to a red-hot start, is 8-for-26 off Koehler with five homers and 10 RBIs. Ryan Zimmerman is 6-for-20 against him with two homers. The Nats hit four seventh-inning homers vs. the Marlins on Tuesday, going back-to-back twice. The last time Washington went deep four times in an inning was as Montreal in 1986.


Key trends: The Nats are 6-0 in Scherzer's past six vs. the NL East. The Marlins are 2-6 in Koehler's past eight vs. teams with a winning record. The under is 4-1 in Scherzer's past five road starts vs. teams with a losing record.


Early lean: Nationals and under.


Rays at Red Sox (-165, 8)


Another getaway game at 1:35 p.m. ET. Will the real David Price (2-0, 4.50) stand up? The lefty and former Tampa Bay pitcher hasn't been terrible but hasn't certainly lived up to his massive free-agent contract yet. The Red Sox need him to because the rest of their rotation is very shaky. Price pitched well last time out against another former team, Toronto, allowing two runs over seven innings and striking out nine. Price has made three career starts against the Rays, going 1-2 with a 4.26 ERA. Evan Longoria is 0-for-9 off him. Curt Casali is 3-for-6 with two homers. Tampa's Jake Odorizzi (0-1, 2.41) shut out the White Sox over seven innings on four hits last time out but took a no decision. Odorizzi retired the final 11 batters he faced. He was 1-0 with a 2.29 ERA in three starts vs. Boston in 2015. Big Papi is 3-for-18 off him with five strikeouts. Xander Bogaerts is 5-for-14 with two RBIs.


Key trends: The Rays are 4-1 in their past five vs. a lefty. The under is 4-0 in Tampa's past four on Thursday and 12-2 in Boston's past 14 at home.


Early lean: Red Sox and under.


Diamondbacks at Giants (-172, 7)


Another getaway game at 3:45 p.m. ET. When Arizona was able to sign free-agent Zack Greinke this past offseason, the Giants turned to Plan B and inked Johnny Cueto -- he may well have been a Diamondback if Greinke signed elsewhere. Cueto (3-0, 3.38) has sandwiched two excellent starts around one bad one. He hasn't allowed a homer in his 21.1 innings and only 19 hits. One more victory will give Cueto 100 for his career. He is 6-1 with a 2.54 ERA in eight career starts against Arizona. Paul Goldschmidt is 3-for-9 off him with a homer. Jean Segura is 3-for-20. It's another new Diamondback on the mound in Shelby Miller (0-1, 8.53), and he has been flat-out lousy. Miller lasted only 1.2 innings last time out against the Padres, allowing two runs and leaving with a lacerated finger. He has allowed 17 hits and five homers in 12.2 innings. Buster Posey, Hunter Pence and Brandon Belt are a combined 3-for-32 off him.


Key trends: The Snakes are 1-4 in their past five Thursday games. The under is 13-3 in the past 16 meetings.


Early lean: Giants and under.


Cubs at Reds (+202, 7)


This could be a bit of a letdown series for the Cubs off their potential sweep in St. Louis depending on what happened in Wednesday's finale. Either way, really, that was an emotional series for the Cubs. I might expect a potential loss here if ace and reigning NL Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta (3-0, 1.23) wasn't on the mound. He has had two starts this season where he has gone at least seven innings and not allowed a run. Arrieta, who has made a franchise-record 23 straight quality starts, was 1-1 with a 3.55 ERA in two starts last year vs. the Reds. Brandon Phillips is 4-for-11 off him with two doubles. Jay Bruce is 2-for-11 with six strikeouts. It's lefty Brandon Finnegan (1-0, 2.04) for Cincinnati. He was roughed up for four runs over five innings last time out in St. Louis but no-hit the Cubs for 6.2 innings at Wrigley the start before that.


Key trends: The Cubs are 9-0 in Arrieta's past nine vs. the NL Central. The under is 5-2-1 in his past eight on the road. The Cubs have won four straight in Cincinnati.


Early lean: Let's complete the home/under sweep with Cubs and under.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

MLB


Thursday's games


National League games


Nationals @ Marlins
Scherzer is 2-0, 3.15 in three starts this month (over 3-0).


Koehler is 0-2, 8.00 in two starts this year (under 1-1).


Washington won nine of its last 11 games (under 3-0-1 in last four). Miami lost six of its last seven games; they're 1-7 at home (over 5-2-1).


Dodgers @ Braves
Kershaw is 2-0, 2.05 in his three starts this month (over 2-1).


Wisler is 0-1, 4.97 in two starts this month (over 1-1).


Dodgers won five of their last seven games; under is 6-3-2 in their last 11. Atlanta won four of last five games after an 0-9 start; over is 9-2-1 in their last 12 games.


Cubs @ Reds
Arrieta is 3-0, 1.23 in three starts this month (over 3-0).


Finnegan is 1-0, 4.08 in three starts this month (over 2-1).


Cubs won eight of their last 11 games; four of their last six games stayed under total. Cincinnati lost six of last nine games but is 7-2 at home; six of their last nine games went over the total. .


Pirates @ Padres
Cole is 0-2, 4.22 in two starts this month (over 1-1).


Shields is 0-2, 4.05 in three starts this month (under 3-0).


Pirates lost five of last six road games; eight of their last nine games went over the total. San Diego won three of its last four games (over 4-0).


Diamondbacks @ Giants
Miller is 0-1, 8.53 in three starts this month (over 3-0).


Cueto is 3-0, 3.38 in three starts for the Giants (over 1-1-1).


Arizona won five of its last six games; under is 6-3 in their road games. Giants lost seven of their last eight games (under 3-1 last four).




American League games


Mariners @ Indians
Karns is 1-1, 4.50 in two starts this month (under 2-0).


Anderson is 0-2, 5.91 in two starts this month (over 2-0).


Seattle won four of last six games; under is 8-2-1 in its last 11. Cleveland lost three of its last five games; its last three games stayed under.


A's @ Bronx
Hill is 1-2, 5.54 in three starts this month (under 2-0-1).


Severino is 0-2, 5.91 in two starts this month (under 2-0)


Oakland won its last four games; they're 5-0 on road- under is 11-2 in their last 13 games. Bronx lost six of last seven games; under is 5-0-1 in their last six


Blue Jays @ Orioles
Estrada is 1-0, 2.77 in two starts this month (under 2-0).


Tillman is 1-1, 4.85 in three starts this month (under 2-1).


Toronto won three of its last four games; its last eight road games stayed under. Orioles are 6-1 at home; over is 5-2-1 in their last eight games.


Rays @ Red Sox
Odorizzi is 0-1, 2.89 in three starts this month (under 3-0).


Ex-Ray Price is 2-0, 4.50 in three starts for Boston (over 2-1) .


Tampa Bay won three of its last four games; under is 9-2-1 in their last 12 games. Boston is 4-6 in its last ten games- they're 4-5 at home, with six of last seven games staying under the total.


Tigers @ Royals
Pelfrey is 0-2, 6.52 in two starts this month (over 1-1).


Volquez is 2-0, 2.04 in three starts this month (under 3-0).


Detroit is 6-3 on the road; under is 8-3-2 in their games. Kansas City won eight of its last 12 games; under in 6-1 in Royal home tilts.


Astros @ Rangers
Keuchel is 2-1, 2.18 in three starts this month (under 2-1)


Griffin is 1-0, 4.09 in his first two Texas starts (over 1-1).


Houston lost ten of its last 14 games; over is 6-2 in its road games. Texas won eight of its last 11 games; six of its last seven home games went over.


Angels @ White Sox
Weaver is 1-0, 4.35 in two starts this month (over 1-1).


Danks is 0-2, 9.53 in two starts (over 1-1).


Chicago lost three of its last five games (under 10-2-1 in last 13). Angels lost five of last six games; under is 10-4 in their last fourteen games.




Interleague


Twins @ Brewers
Nolasco is 0-0, 3.21 in two starts this month (over 1-1)


Jungmann is 0-2, 9.69 in three starts this month (under 2-1).


Milwaukee won four of last five home games; nine of its last 12 games went over. Twins won four of their last six games after an 0-9 start.




Umpires


Wsh-Mia-- Lentz is a rookie umpire; I know nothing about him.
LA-Atl-- Last four Hernandez games stayed under the total.
Pitt-SD-- Three of last four Wolcott games stayed under.
Az-SF-- Under is 6-3-1 in last ten Hoberg games.


LA-Chi-- Underdogs are 7-6 in last thirteen Nauert games
Sea-Clev-- Seven of last nine Barksdale games stayed under.
A's-NY-- Over is 6-3-1 in last ten Nelson games
Tor-Balt-- Home side won five of last six Bellino games
TB-Bos-- Five of last six Hoye games stayed under.
Det-KC-- Under is 4-1-2 in last seven Vanover games.
Hst-Tex-- Five of last six BWelke games went over the total.


Mil-Min-- Visiting team won nine of last eleven Baker games.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

The roof is closed for Thursday's game in Milwaukee

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Dodgers are 11-2 in Kershaw's last 13 starts, 5-0 in last 5 on the road, and 6-1 in last 7 vs ATL

 

[NewYorkKnight]

D-Backs have won 9 of the last 10 vs the Giants at AT&T.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Yasiel Puig, Rest - is not in the starting lineup Thursday (4/21) at Atlanta

 

[NewYorkKnight]

from Top Bet ...



Most popular afternoon MLB Bet is Nats -185 (87% of cash) followed closely by Dodgers -300 (86%)

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Marlins are 1-7 in last 8 vs righties.


Scherzer is a righty and Nats have won 7 of his last 8 (last 5 on the road)

 

[NewYorkKnight]

5 Cy Young winners starting today:


Clayton Kershaw at ATL
Max Scherzer at MIA
David Price vs TOR
Jake Arrieta at CIN
Dallas Keuchel at TEX

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Giants - Buster Posey, Rest - is not in the starting lineup Thursday (4/21) vs. Arizona

 

[seer]

thanks for the info

 

[NewYorkKnight]

No problem