Hottest team: Red Sox (13-4 last 17)
Boston’s offense exploded against Oakland in a three-game sweep at Fenway Park, scoring 14, 13, and 13 runs. The Red Sox begin tonight’s action tied for first place in the AL East with the Orioles, as Boston has won seven of its past eight home contests. Boston grabbed two of three matchups with Houston at Minute Maid Park last month, while David Price toes the rubber in the series opener. Price has allowed at least five earned runs in four starts for Boston, while the Sox are 2-2 in his four home outings.
Boston’s offense exploded against Oakland in a three-game sweep at Fenway Park, scoring 14, 13, and 13 runs. The Red Sox begin tonight’s action tied for first place in the AL East with the Orioles, as Boston has won seven of its past eight home contests. Boston grabbed two of three matchups with Houston at Minute Maid Park last month, while David Price toes the rubber in the series opener. Price has allowed at least five earned runs in four starts for Boston, while the Sox are 2-2 in his four home outings.
Coldest team: Angels (0-5 last five)
Things are not looking up for the Halos, who are trying to avoid a winless homestand. Los Angeles has been limited to two runs or less in all five losses to Tampa Bay and St. Louis, while the Angels have lost nine of their past 11 games overall. Jered Weaver looks to stop the bleeding for Los Angeles, as the Angels are 2-1 in his three home outings. The task for ending their skid won’t be easy, facing St. Louis ace Adam Wainwright in the finale, even though the right-hander has allowed at least three runs in all seven starts.
Things are not looking up for the Halos, who are trying to avoid a winless homestand. Los Angeles has been limited to two runs or less in all five losses to Tampa Bay and St. Louis, while the Angels have lost nine of their past 11 games overall. Jered Weaver looks to stop the bleeding for Los Angeles, as the Angels are 2-1 in his three home outings. The task for ending their skid won’t be easy, facing St. Louis ace Adam Wainwright in the finale, even though the right-hander has allowed at least three runs in all seven starts.
Hottest pitcher: Ian Kennedy, Royals (4-2, 2.13 ERA)
The veteran right-hander is making his fifth road start of the season, as Kennedy is coming off a pair of victories at Seattle and Cleveland. Kennedy tossed seven scoreless innings in a 7-0 victory over the Indians his last time out, while the former Yankee has allowed two earned runs or less in five of six starts. The Royals are on a nice ‘over’ run of late, cashing in seven of the last eight games, but Kansas City is 4-0-2 to the ‘under’ in Kennedy’s six outings.
The veteran right-hander is making his fifth road start of the season, as Kennedy is coming off a pair of victories at Seattle and Cleveland. Kennedy tossed seven scoreless innings in a 7-0 victory over the Indians his last time out, while the former Yankee has allowed two earned runs or less in five of six starts. The Royals are on a nice ‘over’ run of late, cashing in seven of the last eight games, but Kansas City is 4-0-2 to the ‘under’ in Kennedy’s six outings.
Coldest pitcher: James Shields, Padres (1-5, 3.60 ERA)
Besides getting taken deep by Mets’ hurler Bartolo Colon in his last start, nothing much has gone right for Shields this season. The Padres’ right-hander has won just once in seven outings, while San Diego’s offense has scored no more than three runs in any of his starts this season. Dating back to last season, the Padres own a 1-7 record in Shields’ last eight starts as a road underdog as San Diego heads to Milwaukee.
Besides getting taken deep by Mets’ hurler Bartolo Colon in his last start, nothing much has gone right for Shields this season. The Padres’ right-hander has won just once in seven outings, while San Diego’s offense has scored no more than three runs in any of his starts this season. Dating back to last season, the Padres own a 1-7 record in Shields’ last eight starts as a road underdog as San Diego heads to Milwaukee.
Biggest UNDER run: Orioles (11-5 at home)
Baltimore is coming off consecutive ‘overs’ in a two-game road sweep of Minnesota, but the Orioles have been one of the top ‘under’ squads at home. The O’s are 4-2 to the ‘under’ in six home series openers, as Baltimore starts a four-game series with Detroit. The Tigers have scored four runs or less in seven of the past nine games, while Orioles’ starter Ubaldo Jimenez is 5-1 to the ‘under’ in six starts this season.
Baltimore is coming off consecutive ‘overs’ in a two-game road sweep of Minnesota, but the Orioles have been one of the top ‘under’ squads at home. The O’s are 4-2 to the ‘under’ in six home series openers, as Baltimore starts a four-game series with Detroit. The Tigers have scored four runs or less in seven of the past nine games, while Orioles’ starter Ubaldo Jimenez is 5-1 to the ‘under’ in six starts this season.
Biggest OVER run: Yankees (4-1 last five)
New York’s offense has woken up since a horrible April by scoring at least six runs in five of the last 10 contests. All three games against the Royals have finished ‘over’ the total, including Wednesday’s 7-3 victory by Kansas City as the Royals plated four runs in the first inning. Nathan Eovaldi takes the mound for New York in the series finale, as the Yankees have scored 15 runs in his past two starts, both games that sailed ‘over’ the total.
New York’s offense has woken up since a horrible April by scoring at least six runs in five of the last 10 contests. All three games against the Royals have finished ‘over’ the total, including Wednesday’s 7-3 victory by Kansas City as the Royals plated four runs in the first inning. Nathan Eovaldi takes the mound for New York in the series finale, as the Yankees have scored 15 runs in his past two starts, both games that sailed ‘over’ the total.
Matchup to watch: Giants vs. Diamondbacks
San Francisco salvaged the final game of its homestand by edging Toronto in extra innings on Wednesday. The Giants travel to the desert to begin a four-game set with the Diamondbacks, looking to avenge a four-game sweep by Arizona at AT&T Park last month. Arizona returns home following a 5-4 road trip, as two fantastic pitchers take the mound tonight. Zack Greinke has pitched better since a slow start as the D-backs are 4-1 in his past five outings, while Johnny Cueto searches for his fifth victory for San Francisco.
San Francisco salvaged the final game of its homestand by edging Toronto in extra innings on Wednesday. The Giants travel to the desert to begin a four-game set with the Diamondbacks, looking to avenge a four-game sweep by Arizona at AT&T Park last month. Arizona returns home following a 5-4 road trip, as two fantastic pitchers take the mound tonight. Zack Greinke has pitched better since a slow start as the D-backs are 4-1 in his past five outings, while Johnny Cueto searches for his fifth victory for San Francisco.
Betcha didn’t know:
The Astros are 0-4 in Dallas Keuchel’s last four starts, as the reigning Cy Young award winner was listed as a favorite of -150 or higher in each of those defeats. Keuchel is listed as an underdog for the first time this season as Houston travels to Boston to open a four-game series with the Red Sox. The Astros are a +140 underdog against another former Cy Young winner, David Price, as Houston posted a 4-0 record last season when Keuchel was a road underdog.
The Astros are 0-4 in Dallas Keuchel’s last four starts, as the reigning Cy Young award winner was listed as a favorite of -150 or higher in each of those defeats. Keuchel is listed as an underdog for the first time this season as Houston travels to Boston to open a four-game series with the Red Sox. The Astros are a +140 underdog against another former Cy Young winner, David Price, as Houston posted a 4-0 record last season when Keuchel was a road underdog.
