Saturday 4/29/17 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Will Rogers

Oakland vs. Houston
Pick: Houston -152

The set-up: The Astros took last night's game 9-4 and sit at 15-8, tops in the AL West. The A's suffered a fifth straight loss last night and at 10-13, are tied with the Rangers for last place in the division. The Astros just split a six-game road trip through Tampa Bay and Cleveland, despite numerous minor injuries. Houston lost a pair of outfielders (George Springer and Jake Marisnick) plus All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve to injury, along the way. However, Altuve and Springer were in the lineup last night. The Athletics know something about injuries, as eight players on the DL. However, when Sonny Gray pitched exceptionally well in his second rehab start, throwing six shutout innings for Triple-A Nashville on Thursday night. Gray has yet to pitch for Oakland this season but could return to the rotation as early as Tuesday against the Minnesota Twins.

The pitching matchup: Andrew Triggs (3-1 & 2.42 ERA) will start for Oakland and Joe Musgrove (1-1 & 5.91 ERA) for Houston. Triggs will make his fifth start of the season and 11th of his career. He allowed just three runs in his first three outings (all unearned), over 17 2/3 innings. However, after opening 3-0, he lasted just 4 2/3 innings in his last start, allowing six runs on five hits and two walks in an 11-1 defeat. His only two career appearances against the Astros have both come in relief in 2016. Musgrove has not pitched well so far in 2017 (1.45 WHIP and .298 opponents' BA to go along with a near-6.00 ERA) but this marks his third career appearance against Oakland, against whom he is 1-0 with a 0.84 ERA with 11 strikeouts over 10 2/3 innings.

The pick: Triggs has not started against Houston but his ERA is 9.00 ERA in six innings of relief work against the Astros. Meanwhile, is his eight career appearances at Minute Maid Park, Musgrove is 3-2 with a 2.74 ERA. Oakland is 3-7 on the road, while the Astros are 8-4 here in Houston. Stick with the home team.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Power Sports

Colorado vs. Arizona
Pick: Arizona -138

Last night's 3-1 victory aside, I'm still not buying that Colorado as a true contender National League West. Sure, they're in first place (15-9), but that's on the backbone of an extremely fortunate 7-0 record in one-run games. Last night's pitching performance was certainly a shocker given that they had just allowed 42 runs in the previous three games. While those three games took place at Coors Field, it's not as if Chase Field here in Arizona has been any kind of haven to pitchers. The D'backs are averaging 6.8 runs per game here, a major reason why their home record is still 11-4. Take them w/ Greinke on the bump tonight.

Greinke comes off B2B dominant efforts against San Diego. He allowed just one run (a solo HR) in 14 innings of work where he struck out 17 batters and walked just one. He's now allowed two runs or fewer in four of his five starts and has a 2.93 ERA/1.174 WHIP overall. At home, those numbers are 2.04/0.962. He has a 7-4 career record vs. Colorado in 19 starts. The team has won every home series so far this season.

The Rockies will go w/ Tyler Anderson in this spot. He has a 7.10 ERA and 1.50 WHIP, not good when coming into this environment. Arizona hitters are batting a collective .312 at home this year. Anderson has allowed at least four runs in every start this season, so it's surprising that his TSR is 2-3. In two starts LY vs. the D'backs, his ERA was 6.30.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: NY Rangers at Ottawa
When: 3:00 PM ET, Saturday, April 29, 2017
Where: Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, Ontario

Coach Guy Boucher has been trumpeting his team in the role of underdog in advance of its postseason series against the New York Rangers, but the play of the Ottawa Senators may force him to adopt a different tactic. The Senators look to hold serve at home and take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals series in Saturday's Game 2 against New York.

Star defenseman Erik Karlsson's goal from a near-impossible angle was the difference in Ottawa's 2-1 victory in the series opener -- the Senators' seventh one-goal decision in as many playoff games. "The players didn’t want to get swept in four,” Boucher said while rattling off a checklist of the ominous challenges presented by New York. “We expect them to bounce back with a game that’s even better, so we know how tough it’s going to be.” The possibility of falling into a 2-0 series deficit is not weighing too heavily on the Rangers, who owned the league's best road record with 27 wins and roared back to take the final three games in the first round. “I think we just have to forget about this,” ex-Ottawa center Mika Zibanejad said. “We were down in the Montreal series, as well, 2-1. It’s 1-0. A lot of hockey left to play.”

TV: 3 p.m. ET, NBC, CBC, TVAS

ABOUT THE RANGERS: New York needs to focus on a better start in Game 2 after Ottawa forced netminder Henrik Lundqvist to make 21 of his 43 saves in the first 20 minutes -- his highest save total ever for one period in the postseason. “Obviously we want to play fast, but we can’t rush it up with one guy trying to break through, give it away and have them come back and shove it up our (butt),” forward Mats Zuccarello told the New York Post. “It’s important for us to be patient with the puck against their trap." Leading goal scorer Chris Kreider remains stuck on one assist through seven playoff games.

ABOUT THE SENATORS: Karlsson missed five games down the stretch because of a pair of stress fractures in his heel, but he once again delivered with his first goal of this postseason to go along with his six assists, leaving Boucher grasping for superlatives. "I think our fans have to appreciate what we have here," Boucher marveled. "It's more than a star right now. That's what I think is unbelievable. He's a skilled player that became a star and now he's a winner." That also applies to goaltender Craig Anderson, who has won his last four against New York with a staggering .984 save percentage.

OVERTIME

1. Ex-Ranger F Derick Brassard had a five-game point streak halted Thursday but tied Karlsson with a game-high five shots on goal.

2. Kreider's seven-game goal drought is the longest of his career in one postseason. He has 20 goals in 72 playoff contests.

3. Senators F Tom Pyatt (upper body), out the past three games, is ready to return but Boucher said he likely will stick with the same lineup.

PREDICTION: Rangers 3, Senators 1

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Pittsburgh at Washington
When: 8:00 PM ET, Saturday, April 29, 2017
Where: Verizon Center, Washington, District Of Columbia

With David Letterman rocking quite the playoff beard rinkside at the Verizon Center, the host Washington Capitals were trying to turn in a performance that would have been worthy of the former late-night talk show host's Top 10 after the opener of the Eastern Conference second-round series. Alas, the joke once again could be on the Presidents' Trophy-winning Capitals in Saturday's Game 2 should the perennial playoff underachievers fall to the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins again.

"It's not going to be easy, especially against the defending Stanley Cup champions," Washington captain Alex Ovechkin said on the heels of Thursday's 3-2 setback. "So we have to dictate the game. From the first minute of the game, we have to make a statement." The Capitals did so to the tune of an 83-41 advantage in attempted shots - and 35-21 in actual ones - in the series opener, but Ovechkin's second-period goal came after arch-rival Sidney Crosby tallied twice in a 52-second span for his franchise high-tying 51st career multi-point postseason performance. Crosby, who is riding a five-game point streak (four goals, five assists), has collected 17 points (10 goals, seven assists) in 14 playoff contests against the Capitals while Ovechkin has recorded 22 (11 goals, 11 assists) in the same stretch versus the Penguins.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBC, CBC, TVAS

ABOUT THE PENGUINS: Nick Bonino continues to be a thorn in the side of Washington, ending last year's second-round series with the overtime winner in Game 6 and scoring and setting up a goal during the regular season before converting on a breakaway with 7:24 remaining in the third period on Thursday. "'Bones' is a guy that's a high-stakes player," coach Mike Sullivan said of the 29-year-old Connecticut native. "He brings his best game when the games are most important, and we've got a lot of guys on our roster that we can say that about." Marc-Andre Fleury falls into that category after making 15 of his 33 saves in the third period Thursday to improve to 5-1 in the playoffs with an impressive .934 save percentage.

ABOUT THE CAPITALS: Ovechkin used some colorful language to express his displeasure with the officials failing to call any penalties against Pittsburgh in Game 1, while fellow teammate and former Penguin defenseman Matt Niskanen offered the more politically correct take of "no comment." While several members of Washington were pointing the finger at the officials, Braden Holtby had his directed at himself - with Crosby's first goal 12 seconds into the middle session as a sticking point. "I thought I got there in plenty of time," the reigning Vezina Trophy winner told the Washington Post. "... I just didn't keep my glove in the right position. It's just you leave that one little space and it goes right there. It's one that I'm capable of stopping and will next time."

OVERTIME

1. Washington RW T.J. Oshie has recorded at least a point in eight of his last nine playoff games dating back to last year and has seven points (five goals, two assists) in his last seven postseason contests versus Pittsburgh.

2. Penguins LW Carl Hagelin participated in a full-contact practice Friday and will be a game-time decision for Game 2 after being sidelined since March 10 with a lower-body injury.

3. Capitals' superstars traditionally come to play in Game 2 of a playoff series, with Ovechkin (10 goals, six assists) and C Nicklas Backstrom (seven goals, eight assists) excelling in the contest while Holtby owns a 1.63 goals-against average and a .950 save percentage in his career in that tilt.

PREDICTION: Capitals 4, Penguins 2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Trends - NY Rangers at Ottawa


W/L Trends


NY Rangers
•Rangers are 26-12 in their last 38 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Rangers are 21-10 in their last 31 games playing on 1 days rest.
• Rangers are 35-17 in their last 52 Saturday games.
• Rangers are 3-7 in their last 10 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Rangers are 2-6 in their last 8 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Rangers are 2-6 in their last 8 road games.
• Rangers are 2-6 in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.



Ottawa
•Senators are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
• Senators are 5-1 in their last 6 overall.
• Senators are 5-1 in their last 6 games playing on 1 days rest.
• Senators are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. Eastern Conference.
• Senators are 11-4 in their last 15 games following a win.
• Senators are 8-3 in their last 11 vs. Metropolitan.
• Senators are 8-3 in their last 11 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
• Senators are 5-2 in their last 7 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Senators are 5-2 in their last 7 home games.


OU Trends


NY Rangers
•Under is 3-0-1 in Rangers last 4 games playing on 1 days rest.
• Under is 4-0-1 in Rangers last 5 overall.
• Under is 4-0-1 in Rangers last 5 Saturday games.
• Under is 4-0-1 in Rangers last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
• Under is 4-0-1 in Rangers last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
• Under is 5-1-1 in Rangers last 7 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Under is 5-1-1 in Rangers last 7 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Under is 4-1-1 in Rangers last 6 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Under is 4-1-1 in Rangers last 6 road games.
• Under is 4-1-1 in Rangers last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
• Under is 17-5-7 in Rangers last 29 Conference Semifinals games.
• Under is 18-7-2 in Rangers last 27 vs. Atlantic.



Ottawa
•Under is 2-0-2 in Senators last 4 overall.
• Under is 2-0-2 in Senators last 4 vs. a team with a winning record.
• Under is 4-1 in Senators last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
• Under is 7-2-1 in Senators last 10 games following a win.
• Under is 7-2-2 in Senators last 11 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Under is 3-1-2 in Senators last 6 games playing on 1 days rest.
• Under is 3-1-2 in Senators last 6 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Under is 60-25-2 in Senators last 87 vs. Metropolitan.
• Under is 36-16-2 in Senators last 54 home games.
• Under is 9-4-2 in Senators last 15 Conference Semifinals games.
• Under is 35-16-4 in Senators last 55 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Under is 37-17-4 in Senators last 58 vs. Eastern Conference.


Head to Head


•Home team is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
• Under is 33-10-9 in the last 52 meetings.
• Under is 17-6-7 in the last 30 meetings in Ottawa.
• Rangers are 1-4 in the last 5 meetings.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Trends - Pittsburgh at Washington


W/L Trends


Pittsburgh
•Penguins are 5-0 in their last 5 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Penguins are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
• Penguins are 5-1 in their last 6 overall.
• Penguins are 5-1 in their last 6 Conference Semifinals games.
• Penguins are 12-4 in their last 16 games following a win.
• Penguins are 43-16 in their last 59 vs. Metropolitan.
• Penguins are 53-21 in their last 74 games playing on 1 days rest.
• Penguins are 65-28 in their last 93 vs. Eastern Conference.
• Penguins are 52-23 in their last 75 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.



Washington
•Capitals are 7-1 in their last 8 vs. Metropolitan.
• Capitals are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
• Capitals are 39-12 in their last 51 games playing on 1 days rest.
• Capitals are 38-13 in their last 51 home games.
• Capitals are 50-19 in their last 69 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
• Capitals are 39-16 in their last 55 overall.
• Capitals are 63-28 in their last 91 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Capitals are 9-4 in their last 13 Saturday games.
• Capitals are 35-16 in their last 51 vs. Eastern Conference.
• Capitals are 51-25 in their last 76 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Capitals are 1-5 in their last 6 Conference Semifinals games.


OU Trends


Pittsburgh
•Under is 3-1-2 in Penguins last 6 Conference Semifinals games.
• Over is 14-5-1 in Penguins last 20 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
• Over is 8-3 in Penguins last 11 Saturday games.
• Over is 5-2 in Penguins last 7 road games.
• Over is 41-18-7 in Penguins last 66 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Over is 29-14-1 in Penguins last 44 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Over is 33-16-2 in Penguins last 51 games playing on 1 days rest.



Washington
•Under is 5-0 in Capitals last 5 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Under is 8-0-3 in Capitals last 11 vs. Metropolitan.
• Under is 5-0 in Capitals last 5 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
• Under is 7-1 in Capitals last 8 home games.
• Under is 6-1 in Capitals last 7 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
• Under is 4-1-1 in Capitals last 6 vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
• Under is 12-3-6 in Capitals last 21 Conference Semifinals games.
• Under is 14-4-2 in Capitals last 20 vs. Eastern Conference.
• Under is 8-3-1 in Capitals last 12 overall.


Head to Head


•Home team is 8-1 in the last 9 meetings.
• Over is 4-1-1 in the last 6 meetings.
• Penguins are 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Pro Hockey Trend Report

NY RANGERS (52-30-0-7, 111 pts.) at OTTAWA (49-30-0-10, 108 pts.) - 4/29/2017, 3:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NY RANGERS are 16-30 ATS (+46.1 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5 or less over the last 2 seasons.
OTTAWA is 49-40 ATS (+91.1 Units) in all games this season.
OTTAWA is 29-24 ATS (+54.2 Units) second half of the season this season.
OTTAWA is 25-15 ATS (+43.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
OTTAWA is 13-8 ATS (+22.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
NY RANGERS are 52-37 ATS (+4.4 Units) in all games this season.
NY RANGERS are 16-10 ATS (+27.2 Units) in road games second half of the season this season.
NY RANGERS are 12-4 ATS (+7.4 Units) on Saturday games this season.
NY RANGERS are 25-13 ATS (+9.3 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent this season.
NY RANGERS are 12-2 ATS (+9.8 Units) after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
OTTAWA is 5-5 (+0.7 Units) against the spread versus NY RANGERS over the last 3 seasons
OTTAWA is 5-5-0 straight up against NY RANGERS over the last 3 seasons
7 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+4.9 Units)

PITTSBURGH (55-22-0-11, 121 pts.) at WASHINGTON (59-21-0-9, 127 pts.) - 4/29/2017, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PITTSBURGH is 29-39 ATS (-22.0 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5.5 over the last 3 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 121-62 ATS (+48.0 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 38-16 ATS (+10.1 Units) second half of the season this season.
WASHINGTON is 71-38 ATS (+22.2 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 3 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 15-3 ATS (+9.4 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
PITTSBURGH is 119-75 ATS (+6.8 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 17-6 ATS (+9.4 Units) in April games over the last 2 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 76-43 ATS (+12.7 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 25-11 ATS (+8.8 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
PITTSBURGH is 50-26 ATS (+11.2 Units) after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 39-24 ATS (+10.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
PITTSBURGH is 11-9 (+1.6 Units) against the spread versus WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
PITTSBURGH is 11-9-0 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
8 of 16 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=-0.7 Units, Under=-1.0 Units)

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Orioles at Yankees
GAME: Baltimore Orioles (14-7) at New York Yankees (14-7)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 29 - 1:05 PM EST
WHERE: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York

After watching the Baltimore Orioles make themselves at home during the first 5 1/2 innings in the Bronx, the New York Yankees erased an eight-run deficit and flexed their muscle in a glorified version of home run derby in the series opener. The American League East rivals will look to provide an encore on Saturday afternoon after combining for 25 runs and eight homers in the Yankees' wild 14-11 victory in 10 innings.

Starlin Castro belted a two-run homer to cap both a three-run outburst in the ninth inning and his third three-hit performance of the season, giving the 27-year-old Dominican hits in 16 of his last 18 games. Matt Holliday ended the slugfest with a dramatic three-run blast, improving to 5-for-8 with five RBIs and three runs scored in his last two contests on the heels of a woeful 2-for-27 stretch in his previous 10 games. New York has won three in a row and 13 of its last 16 to pull into a tie for first place with Baltimore, which ventured into the extra innings for the second straight contest and fell for the third time in five outings overall. Manny Machado launched a 470-foot home run in the series opener for the Orioles and collected five hits in his last two outings heading into the matchup with Saturday starter Michael Pineda, against whom he owns a .333 batting average.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, MASN (Baltimore), YES (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Ubaldo Jimenez (1-0, 5.95 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Michael Pineda (2-1, 3.86)

Talk about your ends of the spectrum as Jimenez answered his best start of the season with his worst on Monday. After scattering two hits over 7 2/3 scoreless innings to record the win versus Cincinnati, the 33-year-old Dominican responded with a clunker as he issued a season-high five walks to go along with three runs in 3 1/3 innings of a no-decision against Tampa Bay. Jimenez owns a 4-5 mark with a 6.35 ERA in 12 career outings against New York, but was fortunate to walk away with a no-decision on April 7 after being was blitzed for five runs in 4 1/3 innings.

Pineda continues to struggle with the home-run ball, as he has been taken deep in a career-high six straight starts dating to last season after surrendering two blasts in five innings of a no-decision at Pittsburgh on Saturday. The 28-year-old Dominican fanned six batters for the third time in four outings this season and effectively has averaged that total (79) in 12 career starts versus Baltimore. Pineda received mixed results in three outings against the Orioles last season, fanning eight over six scoreless innings on July 20 and receiving a no-decision on Sept. 4 before getting blitzed for two homers and five runs in an 8-1 rout on Sept. 30.

WALK-OFFS

1. Baltimore CF Adam Jones has five hits and as many runs scored in four games versus New York this season.

2. The Yankees and Orioles have identical 14-7 records, although the former has scored 22 more runs.

3. New York OF Aaron Judge, who recorded his first multi-homer performance of his career Friday, has gone deep six times in his last nine outings.

PREDICTION: Orioles 5, Yankees 4

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mets at Nationals
GAME: New York Mets (9-13) at Washington Nationals (16-7)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 29 - 1:05 PM EST
WHERE: Nationals Park, Washington, District of Columbia

The Washington Nationals just enjoyed a 9-1 road trip that included a three-game sweep of the New York Mets, but the start of the homestand is proving to be more difficult. The Nationals will try to even the series when they host the Mets in the second of a three-game set on Saturday.

New York totaled seven runs in three losses to Washington last weekend but got a huge boost from catcher Travis d'Arnaud in a 7-5 win at the Nationals on Friday. D'Arnaud, who was 0-for-16 in his last eight appearances entering the series, belted a two-run homer off Washington ace Max Scherzer in the second inning and added a three-run blast in the fourth. Washington scored 42 runs in three wins at Coors Field before heading home and ended up with 13 hits on Friday but left seven runners on base and wasted a pair of home runs from Ryan Zimmerman, who boosted his season total to 10 blasts. Zimmerman will try to continue his surge against New York righty Zack Wheeler while d'Arnaud and the Mets will take their chances against Stephen Strasburg.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, WPIX (New York), MASN2 (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Zack Wheeler (1-2, 5.40 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (2-0, 2.89)

Wheeler is easing his way back into the *****s of a major-league season after sitting out the last two campaigns following Tommy John surgery and posted an encouraging start last time out. The 26-year-old allowed four runs - all on a first-inning grand slam by Daniel Murphy - and four hits but went a season-high seven innings and struck out six on Sunday against Washington. Bryce Harper is 4-for-16 with a home run and seven strikeouts against Wheeler in his career.

Strasburg worked seven innings and allowed three or fewer earned runs in each of his four starts and is back with the team following a paternity leave. The former No. 1 overall pick struck out a season-high 10 and surrendered two runs and six hits at Atlanta in his last start on April 20. Strasburg is 7-3 with a 2.53 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 74 2/3 total innings over 12 career starts against New York.

WALK-OFFS

1. Nationals LHP Sammy Solis was diagnosed with nerve inflammation in his arm after an MRI on Friday.

2. Mets RHP Noah Syndergaard (biceps) is scheduled to start Sunday after having his scheduled outing on Thursday pushed back.

3. Washington OF Adam Eaton had to be helped off the field after injuring his ankle on Friday.

PREDICTION: Nationals 6, Mets 2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rays at Blue Jays
GAME: Tampa Bay Rays (12-12) at Toronto Blue Jays (6-17)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 29 - 1:07 PM EST
WHERE: Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario

The Tampa Bay Rays look to grab another road victory and extend the Toronto Blue Jays’ misery when the American League rivals meet for the second of a three-game set on Saturday afternoon. The Rays belted four home runs in the final two innings to rally for a 7-4 triumph on Friday to hand the major league-worst Blue Jays their fourth loss in the first five of the season series.

Corey Dickerson, who is 5-for-12 in the last three games, recorded his sixth homer of the year to ignite Tampa Bay (12-12) in the eighth inning as it erased a 5-3 deficit to win for just the third time in 11 road contests in 2017. Right-hander Matt Andriese will try to clinch the series victory for the Rays against lefty Francisco Liriano, who did not make it through the first inning against Tampa Bay earlier in the month. Injury-plagued Toronto (6-17) is near the bottom in runs scored with 82 and in ERA as it tries to weather the storm before Troy Tulowitzki (hamstring) and Josh Donaldson (calf) can return to the lineup. Kevin Pillar was 4-for-4 in the first game of the series and has posted eight hits in 19 at-bats over his last four contests.

TV: 1:07 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FSN Sun (Tampa Bay), Sportsnet (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Matt Andriese (1-0, 3.86 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH Francisco Liriano (1-2, 4.58)

Andriese allowed one run over six innings in two straight starts before giving up three in five frames last Sunday versus Houston without factoring in the decision. The 27-year-old Californian has permitted at least one home run in all four starts, including a pair of blasts last time out. Justin Smoak is 3-for-4 with a homer versus Andriese, who opened the season by yielding five runs (four earned) on seven hits against the Blue Jays on April 7.

Liriano has pitched well since his first start of the season against Tampa Bay when the veteran retired just one batter while allowing five runs on three hits and four walks. The 33-year-old, acquired from Pittsburgh in 2016, gave up four runs over his last three starts which totaled 17 1/3 innings. Evan Longoria is 7-for-20 with two homers - including one on April 7 - against Liriano, who is 2-3 with a 5.85 ERA in his career versus Tampa Bay.

WALK-OFFS

1. Toronto INF Darwin Barney registered multiple hits in three of his last four contests, going 6-for-14 in that span.

2. Tampa Bay SS Tim Beckham tripled Friday to extend his hitting streak to eight games (12-for-30, five RBIs).

3. The Rays have scored 25 times in the first inning and the Blue Jays have managed just eight runs in the opening frame.

PREDICTION: Rays 6, Blue Jays 4

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: White Sox at Tigers
GAME: Chicago White Sox (12-9) at Detroit Tigers (11-11)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 29 - 1:10 PM EST
WHERE: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan

The Chicago White Sox are the hottest team in the American League Central and are ripping their way through their division rivals with five straight wins. The White Sox will try to make it six in a row and clinch a series win when they visit the Detroit Tigers for the second of a three-game set on Saturday.

Chicago, which earned a win over Cleveland before sweeping a three-game set from Kansas City and winning the opener on Friday, is outscoring its division rivals 40-13 over the last five games and found their offense late on Friday with two runs in the eighth inning and two more in the ninth to earn a 7-3 win. The bullpen has been a yearly point of concern for Detroit and 2017 is proving to be no different with closer Francisco Rodriguez (6.23 ERA) struggling and Alex Wilson along with Joe Jimenez failing to keep the team in the game on Friday. The Tigers will try to take the ball out of the hands of the relief corps by getting some length on Saturday from Michael Fulmer, who gets the start opposite Chicago's Derek Holland.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, CSN Chicago, FSN Detroit

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH Derek Holland (2-2, 1.99 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Michael Fulmer (2-1, 2.88)

Holland was reached for seven runs - two earned - and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings of a loss at the New York Yankees on April 17 but bounced right back against Cleveland on Sunday. The 30-year-old scattered one run and three hits over six innings and struck out a season-high six to pick up the win. Holland is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA in four career starts against the Tigers but has not faced them since July 13, 2013.

Fulmer followed up his Rookie of the Year campaign in 2016 with four quality starts to begin 2017. The 24-year-old enjoyed his longest outing of the young season at Minnesota on Sunday, when he allowed two runs and four hits while striking out seven in as many frames to pick up the win. Fulmer is looking for his first career win over Chicago after going without a decision in two starts against the division rivals last season.

WALK-OFFS

1. White Sox 1B Jose Abreu (hip) did not start on Friday but expects to return to the lineup on Saturday.

2. Detroit SS Jose Iglesias is 0-for-7 in two games since coming off the seven-day concussion disabled list.

3. Chicago RF Avisail Garcia is 7-for-14 with two home runs, five RBIs and five runs scored in the last three games.

PREDICTION: Tigers 4, White Sox 3

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Reds at Cardinals
GAME: Cincinnati Reds (10-13) at St. Louis Cardinals (12-11)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 29 - 2:15 PM EST
WHERE: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri

Mike Leake has been one of the top pitchers in baseball this month and looks to avenge his lone loss of the season when the St. Louis Cardinals host the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday afternoon. The National League ERA leader (1.32), Leake allowed one run in eight innings when St. Louis suffered a 2-0 loss to the Reds on April 7 but has won three straight starts since.

Leake, who pitched for the Reds from 2010-15, has struggled against his former club as he is 0-3 with a 5.64 ERA in five career starts. He will be looking to pitch the Cardinals to their 10th victory in 12 games after they posted a 7-5 win on Friday in the opener of the three-game series. Cincinnati is spiraling in the other direction with eight defeats in its last nine contests and has given up 36 runs while starting 0-4 on a six-game road trip. Scott Schebler homered in the opener and is 8-for-18 with five blasts and nine RBIs over his last five contests.

TV: 2:15 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati), FSN Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Bronson Arroyo (2-2, 6.86 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Mike Leake (3-1, 1.32)

Arroyo has won consecutive outings against Baltimore and the Chicago Cubs after enduring a rocky start. He was pounded for six runs and six hits in four innings by the Cardinals in his first turn on April 8 and surrendered five runs and seven hits in six frames against Milwaukee. Arroyo is 8-18 with a 4.84 ERA in 40 career appearances (38 starts) against St. Louis and has fared well against Yadier Molina (12-for-57).

Leake has allowed just four runs and struck out 20 against only four walks during his splendid start. The 29-year-old has limited opposing batters to a .204 average - 63 points below his career mark. Leake has experienced issues with Billy Hamilton (7-for-11), Zack Cozart (5-for-10) and Adam Duvall (5-for-16, two homers) but has fared well against Joey Votto (3-for-14).

WALK-OFFS

1. Votto hit his 22nd career homer - and second this season - against the Cardinals in the opener.

2. St. Louis CF Dexter Fowler is 9-for-18 with two homers over his last four games.

3. Cincinnati C Devin Mesoraco (hip/shoulder) made his 2017 debut and went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 4, Reds 2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Cubs at Red Sox
GAME: Chicago Cubs (12-10) at Boston Red Sox (12-10)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 29 - 4:05 PM EST
WHERE: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts

The home-field advantage of Fenway Park has been pronounced when the Boston Red Sox have hosted National League teams in recent years. The Red Sox have won nine straight interleague games at home – and 18 of their last 20 – heading into the second of three games against the visiting Chicago Cubs on Saturday.



Boston continued its interleague dominance at home with a 5-4 win Friday, as Craig Kimbrel struck out the side in the ninth to strand the tying run at second base. The Cubs continued an alarming trend of falling behind early, as the Red Sox tagged Jake Arrieta for a five-run first inning, and saw their comeback fall short despite home runs from Kris Bryant and Albert Almora Jr. Former Red Sox right-hander John Lackey takes the mound for the Cubs in the middle game of the series, facing Boston for the first time since 2008. The Cubs could use a deep outing from Lackey after needing three relievers to combine for 3 2/3 innings of scoreless work Friday.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FS1, ABC 7 (Chicago), NESN (Boston)



PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH John Lackey (1-3, 4.88 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Steven Wright (1-2, 8.66)

Lackey has lost three straight starts and the 38-year-old has been plagued by slow starts. He surrendered runs in the first and second innings of his last outing Sunday at Cincinnati, before the wheels fell off in a four-run sixth inning. Lackey has surrendered five home runs over his last three starts.

Wright has been hit hard in three of his four starts this season, allowing seven home runs in 17 2/3 innings. The 32-year-old was tagged for four runs and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings in a loss at Baltimore last time out and has just one quality start. Opponents are hitting .413 against Wright.



WALK-OFFS

1. Bryant is 14-for-37 during a nine-game hitting streak.

2. Kimbrel has retired 21 of the last 23 batters he has faced, including 15 strikeouts.

3. Boston has won five straight games decided by one run.



PREDICTION: Cubs 7, Red Sox 5

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mariners at Indians
GAME: Seattle Mariners (11-13) at Cleveland Indians (12-10)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 29 - 4:10 PM EST
WHERE: Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio

The Seattle Mariners have seen their pitching regain its form after being taken to task earlier in the week in a lopsided loss. Winners of three in a row, the visiting Mariners look to add to the Cleveland Indians' troubles at Progressive Field on Saturday when the clubs play the second contest of their three-game series.

Seattle answered a 19-9 shellacking by Detroit on Tuesday by outscoring the opposition 13-2 over the last three contests, highlighted by registering a season-high 14 strikeouts in a 3-1 series-opening victory over Cleveland. A key injury notwithstanding, the Mariners' pitching staff will look to keep rolling as veteran right-hander Yovani Gallardo will face the Indians for the first time in nearly eight years. While Seattle improved to 4-4 on their 10-game road trip, Cleveland fell to 4-6 at home after going 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position on Friday to drop to 5-for-28 through the first four contests of its six-game homestand. Jose Ramirez belted his team high-tying sixth homer to extend his hitting streak, during which he is 9-for-24 with two blasts and three RBIs.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Seattle), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Yovani Gallardo (1-2, 4.84 ERA) vs. Indians RH Danny Salazar (1-2, 4.37)

Gallardo answered three mediocre starts with a stellar one on Sunday, allowing one run on four hits while striking out seven in 6 1/3 innings of an 11-1 rout of Oakland. The 31-year-old offseason acquisition recorded the win in his lone career outing versus Cleveland in 2009 by overcoming six walks to permit two runs in five frames while pitching for Milwaukee. Gallardo has limited experience against the Indians' lineup, however Edwin Encarnacion has had his number to the tune of batting .348 with three homers in 23 career regular-season at-bats.

Salazar continues to rack up strikeouts, although winning decisions have been hard to come by for the 27-year-old Dominican. Salazar struck out nine to raise his season total to 36 and an MLB-best 14.29 per nine innings in Sunday's 6-2 setback at the Chicago White Sox. Salazar has kept the Mariners in check with a .159 batting average in two career starts (12 1/3 innings), however he has just an 0-1 mark with a 3.65 ERA to show for it.

WALK-OFFS

1. Seattle SS Jean Segura has hit safely in four straight contests and owns three-hit performances in three of his last seven outings.

2. Cleveland SS Francisco Lindor is 4-for-10 with three extra-base hits, two RBIs and three runs scored during his last three games.

3. The Mariners announced ace RHP Felix Hernandez (bursitis in right shoulder) and promising rookie RF Mitch Haniger (Grade 2 strain of right oblique muscle) will be sidelined three to four weeks.

PREDICTION: Indians 4, Mariners 2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Braves at Brewers
GAME: Atlanta Braves (9-12) at Milwaukee Brewers (12-12)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 29 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Miller Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The Atlanta Braves hope to continue their offensive surge when they visit the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game series. The Braves have posted 25 total runs during a three-game winning streak and trailed by four twice in the opener before rallying to win 10-8 on Freddie Freeman’s two-run homer in the ninth inning.

Freeman is batting .368 with a team-best eight blasts while Matt Kemp has recorded six RBIs in his last four games and Jace Peterson has posted a pair of hits in three consecutive contests for the Braves, who have gone seven straight games without an error. Jaime Garcia goes for his first win with Atlanta as he opposes Jimmy Nelson of the Brewers, who saw their three-game winning streak come to an end on Friday. Milwaukee belted three more homers in the first game of the series to maintain their major-league lead with 43, and one of them was launched by Ryan Braun - who is 5-for-10 in his last two games. Eric Thames leads the league with 11 blasts and Hernan Perez has been red-hot for the Brewers, going 9-for-15 over his last four games.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN South (Atlanta), FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves LH Jaime Garcia (0-1, 4.24 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Jimmy Nelson (1-1, 4.56)

Garcia gave up two runs on five hits and one walk last time out at Philadelphia in his second straight quality start without factoring in the decision. The 30-year-old Mexican has been better in each outing - striking out a season-high six last Saturday - since opening the season by yielding four runs in six innings. Braun is just 10-for-58 but has a homer and seven RBIs versus Garcia, who is 11-6 with a 2.88 ERA in 21 career appearances (20 starts) against Milwaukee.

Nelson has permitted 11 runs - 10 earned - and 14 hits over 10 2/3 innings in his last two appearances after beginning the season with two quality outings. The 27-year-old Alabama product allowed one run in each of his first two starts of 2017, including a 5-1 victory at Cincinnati on April 13 in which he completed a season-best seven frames. Brandon Phillips is 8-for-21 with two homers against Nelson, who limited Atlanta to one run and four hits over six innings of a no-decision last year.

WALK-OFFS

1. Milwaukee has held the lead in each of its last 17 contests, going 10-7 in that stretch, and 22 of 24 games overall in 2017.

2. Phillips (groin), who owns an 11-game hitting streak, was available to pinch-hit in the opener and could return to the lineup Saturday.

3. The Brewers have outscored opponents 27-8 in the first inning this season but were kept off the board on Friday.

PREDICTION: Brewers 5, Braves 4

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Athletics at Astros
GAME: Oakland Athletics (10-13) at Houston Astros (15-8)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 29 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas

The Houston Astros attempt to extend their home winning streak to four games when they host the Oakland Athletics on Saturday for the middle contest of their four-game series. Houston posted a 9-4 victory in Friday's opener to avoid a three-game slide and improve to 3-0 versus the Athletics this season.

George Springer (hamstring) and Jose Altuve (shoulder) returned to the starting lineup for the Astros, with the former going 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. While Houston squashed its skid, Oakland's reached five games as it fell to 0-4 on its nine-game road trip. The Athletics managed only seven hits on Friday and have been outscored 32-12 during their losing streak. Khris Davis ended his six-game homer drought in a big way, belting a pair of shots that accounted for all four of Oakland's runs.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, NBC Sports California (Oakland), ROOT (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Andrew Triggs (3-1, 2.42 ERA) vs. Astros RH Joe Musgrove (1-1, 5.91)

Triggs hopes to bounce back from his first loss of the season, a setback against Seattle on Sunday in which he was tagged for six runs in 4 2/3 innings. The 28-year-old native of Tennessee was superb in winning his first three starts of 2017, allowing three unearned runs and 11 hits over 17 2/3 frames. Triggs did not fare well versus Houston last year as he surrendered six runs and 10 hits over six innings in two relief appearances.

Musgrove began the campaign with back-to-back starts against Seattle in which he gave up five runs over 10 1/3 innings but matched that total in his following outing versus the Los Angeles Angels. The 24-year-old Californian worked a season-high six frames at Tampa Bay on Sunday but yielded four runs and five hits in a no-decision. Musgrove will be making his third career start against Oakland after going 1-0 with a 0.84 ERA in two turns last season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Athletics 2B Jed Lowrie recorded two hits in the opener and is 12-for-32 over his last eight games.

2. Houston OF Jake Marisnick could join Double-A Corpus Christi for a rehab assignment this weekend and be activated from the 7-day concussion list on Monday.

3. Oakland RHP Sonny Gray (lat) is likely to be activated from the disabled list and start at Minnesota on Tuesday in place of LHP Sean Manaea, who is battling tightness in his throwing shoulder.

PREDICTION: Athletics 5, Astros 3

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Pirates at Marlins
GAME: Pittsburgh Pirates (10-12) at Miami Marlins (10-11)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 29 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Marlins Park, Miami, Florida

The Pittsburgh Pirates scored one run fewer in the last two games than they totaled in the previous eight, and the explosion in offense is putting the team back in the win column. The Pirates will try to make it three straight victories when they visit the Miami Marlins for the second of a three-game series on Saturday.

Josh Harrison's return to the leadoff spot provided a spark to the Pittsburgh offense in a 6-5 win over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, and he continued to rake with three hits, two RBIs and a run scored in Friday's series-opening 12-2 triumph. The Pirates pounded out 18 hits in the win and got a 3-for-3 effort with a triple from rookie infielder Gift Ngoepe, who became the first African-born major leaguer on Wednesday and made his first start on Friday. The Marlins are trending in the opposite direction with three straight losses and will need some length on Saturday from starter Dan Straily after Adam Conley was knocked out in the second inning on Friday. The Pirates will counter with righty Ivan Nova.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Pittsburgh), FSN Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Ivan Nova (2-2, 2.00 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Dan Straily (1-1, 3.92)

Nova had trouble getting run support in back-to-back losses but received just enough to earn a win over his former team on Sunday, when he allowed one run and four hits in seven innings to beat the New York Yankees in a 2-1 final. The Dominican Republic native was on the losing end of a 2-1 final in his previous start, surrendering two runs and five hits over eight innings at St. Louis on April 17. Nova spent the first 6 1/2 seasons of his career in the American League and is making his first career start against Pittsburgh.

Straily showed off dominant stuff at San Diego last Saturday, striking out a career-high 14 without walking a batter, but did not factor in the decision in a game the Marlins went on to win 6-3 in extra innings. The 28-year-old was held out of the decision in his previous outing as well despite tossing 5 1/3 hitless innings against the New York Mets. Straily made six appearances - five starts - against Pittsburgh as a member of the Cincinnati Reds last season and went 2-2 with a 3.38 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 32 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Marlins OF Christian Yelich went 4-for-5 on Friday to mark his sixth multi-hit performance in the last nine contests.

2. Pirates 3B David Freese (hamstring) sat out the last three games and is day-to-day.

3. Pittsburgh rookie 1B Jose Osuna doubled his major-league hit total by going 4-for-5 on Friday.

PREDICTION: Marlins 2, Pirates 1

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Angels at Rangers
GAME: Los Angeles Angels (13-12) at Texas Rangers (10-13)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 29 - 7:15 PM EST
WHERE: Globe Life Park in Arlington, Arlington, Texas

The Los Angeles Angels ride a five-game winning streak into the middle contest of their three-game series against the host Texas Rangers on Saturday, and the two biggest reasons for their recent success can be found in the middle of the lineup. Los Angeles's Mike Trout and Albert Pujols each homered in Friday's 6-3 victory to extend their hitting streaks to 12 and eight games, respectively, while Pujols continues to climb Major League Baseball's career RBI list.

Pujols, who is batting .371 with a home run and 10 RBIs during his hitting streak, moved past Ken Griffey Jr. and into 14th all-time with 1,838 RBIs - one shy of Ted Williams for 13th. Trout, who has reached base safely in 24 of 25 games this season, is hitting .336 with 22 homers and 78 RBIs in 106 games versus the Rangers and is batting .372 with four blasts, seven RBIs and 11 runs during his hitting streak. Los Angeles's Jesse Chavez snapped a personal three-game slide in his last start and opposes Yu Darvish, who has won two of his last three outings - with a victory over Los Angeles among them. Angels' starting pitchers have surrendered fewer than three runs in 13 of their last 14 games, recording a 2.09 ERA during that span after Tyler Skaggs permitted a run in five innings Friday before leaving with tightness in his right side.

TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Jesse Chavez (2-3, 4.13 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Yu Darvish (2-2, 3.03)

Chavez allowed one run, four hits and four walks while striking out seven in six innings of a 2-1 victory over Toronto on Monday. The 33-year-old Californian, who owns the lowest ERA among regular Los Angeles starters, has recorded two straight quality starts - including a 3-0 setback at Houston on April 17 in his only previous road outing this season. Chavez is 2-4 with a 6.00 ERA in 17 games (four starts) versus Texas after allowing five runs in 4 1/3 innings of an 8-3 loss on April 12.

Darvish yielded two runs, five hits and one walk while striking out eight in Sunday's 5-2 victory over Kansas City. "I felt like I could go more," the 30-year-old native of Japan told reporters after pitching eight innings for the first time since 2014 prior to Tommy John surgery. "I wanted to show them I can go and be durable and could pitch." Trout is 12-for-39 with four home runs, seven walks and 13 strikeouts versus Darvish, who is 8-2 with a 3.48 ERA in 14 starts against Los Angeles after striking out 10 over seven scoreless innings of an 8-3 road victory on April 13.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rangers LF Delino DeShields is 4-for-7 with five runs scored and three walks in two games since being moved to the leadoff spot.

2. Los Angeles 3B Yunel Escobar is 3-for-34 over his last eight games after hitting a solo home run in five at-bats Friday, marking the second straight game in which he has recorded a hit.

3. Texas CF Carlos Gomez hit a sacrifice fly on Friday, snapping Texas's 49-game stretch without one. It equaled the longest drought since the statistic was re-introduced in 1954 previously set by the 1967 California Angels, according to baseball-reference.com.

PREDICTION: Rangers 3, Angels 2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Twins at Royals
GAME: Minnesota Twins (11-11) at Kansas City Royals (7-15)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 29 - 7:15 PM EST
WHERE: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Minnesota's Joe Mauer is a bona fide thorn in the side of the Royals and he'll try to inflict more damage when the Twins visit Kansas City on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game series. Mauer's tiebreaking two-run double in the eighth inning gave Minnesota a 6-4 victory on Friday, giving him a .318 average with 39 doubles and 114 RBIs in 194 games versus the Royals, who have lost eight in a row.

The Twins (11-11), who were 7-15 after 22 games last season, have won five straight against Kansas City - their longest winning streak versus the Royals since 2011. The red-hot Miguel Sano is 8-for-12 with two home runs and six RBIs in his last three games after belting a two-run shot and preceeding Mauer's hit with a two-run double of his own. Kansas City, which was swept in a three-game series by Minnesota to start the season and outscored 21-5 in the process, is last in the majors with 58 runs and also has the worst average with runners in scoring position at .159. The Twins' Phil Hughes is 3-0 with a 3.57 ERA in three road starts this season and opposes Jason Hammel, who still is looking for his first victory in a Royals uniform.

TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, FSN North (Minnesota), FSN Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Phil Hughes (3-1, 4.71 ERA) vs. Royals RH Jason Hammel (0-2, 5.30)

Hughes allowed two runs and six hits in six innings of a 3-2 victory at Texas on Monday and also has defeated Detroit and the Chicago White Sox on the road this season. The 30-year-old Californian, who is 10-21 with a 5.53 ERA in 42 April starts, has recorded only 13 strikeouts in 21 innings this season. Hughes is 7-5 with a 4.91 ERA in 14 games (13 starts) versus Kansas City, including 4-3, 5.49 in seven turns at Kauffman Stadium.

Hammel yielded three runs, four hits and three walks in three innings of a 5-2 loss at Texas on Sunday after his only quality start of the season versus San Francisco on April 18, when he settled for a no-decision after permitting one run in six frames of a 2-1 loss. It is an uncharacteristically slow start for the 34-year-old South Carolina native, who is 21-12 with a 3.87 ERA in 48 April appearances (45 starts). Hammel is 2-1 with a 3.98 ERA in eight games (seven starts) versus Minnesota.

WALK-OFFS

1. Twins LF Eddie Rosario owns a 10-game hitting streak during which he is hitting .368 after going 2-for-4 with a run scored in the series opener.

2. Royals 1B Eric Hosmer is 5-for-12 in his last three games, raising his average to .224, and recorded his first RBI in 11 games on Friday.

3. Mauer ranks sixth all-time in batting average against the Royals (minimum 500 at-bats), trailing Rod Carew (.345), Ivan Rodriguez (.337), Wade Boggs (.332), Alex Rodriguez (.329) and Derek Jeter (.322).



PREDICTION: Twins 3, Royals 2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rockies at Diamondbacks
GAME: Colorado Rockies (15-9) at Arizona Diamondbacks (15-10)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 29 - 8:10 PM EST
WHERE: Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona

Zack Greinke was superb in his last outing and looks to follow it up with another strong start when the Arizona Diamondbacks host the Colorado Rockies on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game series. Greinke struck out 11 without issuing a walk while allowing one run in six innings of a victory over San Diego on Monday.

Greinke will be aiming to help the Diamondbacks bounce back after Colorado recorded a 3-1 victory in the series opener. A bullpen that was torched for 25 runs over the previous three games - all losses - combined for three hitless innings in the Rockies' victory. Charlie Blackmon is soaring with a 13-game hitting streak while Arizona's Paul Goldschmidt has collected 13 RBIs over his last seven starts after contributing a run-scoring single on Friday. The Diamondbacks recorded just six hits - all singles - in the opener after scoring 53 runs over their previous seven games.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Colorado), FSN Arizona

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Tyler Anderson (1-3, 7.11 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Zack Greinke (2-2, 2.93)

Anderson has dropped three straight decisions and hasn't pitched six innings in any of his five starts. The 27-year-old is 1-6 with a 5.29 ERA in 10 career road outings. Anderson struck out 15 in 10 innings and posted a 6.30 ERA in two starts against Arizona last year as he struggled with Yasmany Tomas (4-for-6, two doubles).

Greinke has allowed one run in three of his five starts and has struck out 31 while walking six this season. The 33-year-old struggled against Colorado last season, going 0-1 with a 6.48 ERA in three starts to drop to 7-4 with a 4.09 ERA n 20 career appearances (19 starts). Greinke has been roughed up by Carlos Gonzalez (13-for-34, four homers) and also struggles with Blackmon (10-for-33).

WALK-OFFS

1. The Rockies halted a five-game slide against the Diamondbacks with Friday's victory.

2. Arizona RF David Peralta was hitless in four at-bats in the opener after going 20-for-37 over his previous 11 games.

3. Colorado SS Trevor Story, who recorded six homers and 18 RBIs against the Diamondbacks last season, hit a solo shot in the series opener.

PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 5, Rockies 3