Sunday 5/22/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rays (20-20) at Tigers (20-22)

Game: 3
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: May 22, 2016 1:10 PM EDT

The early season numbers of Chris Archer and Jordan Zimmermann provide a perfect contrast. Their recent performances don't bear much resemblance to each other's, either.

As Archer looks to continue his turnaround, Zimmermann tries to recapture his previous success when his Detroit Tigers host the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.

After being hit hard in four losses to begin the season, Archer (3-4, 4.38) has regained the form that made him one of the AL's premier pitchers in 2015. The Tampa Bay ace has gone 3-0 with a 2.43 ERA over his last five starts, throwing five scoreless innings at Toronto on Tuesday after allowing a two-run homer to Jose Bautista in the first.

'Being able to pitch five scoreless innings after how it started is something I can hang my hat on,' said Archer, who posted a 7.32 ERA during the losing streak.

Zimmermann (6-2, 2.45) has endured an opposite kind of reversal. The free-agent addition has posted a 5.32 ERA over a three-start stretch after opening his Detroit tenure with five straight wins and 24 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings.

Despite halting a two-start skid and striking out a season-high nine Monday, Zimmermann wasn't sharp in a 10-8 victory over Minnesota. Boosted by an eight-run first inning, he was reached for seven earned runs and 11 hits in seven innings.

'It wasn't the prettiest game I've ever pitched,' said Zimmermann, who entered with a 1.50 ERA. 'It was crazy, but we survived.'

The Tigers have certainly supported their pitchers of late, batting .327 with 11 homers and scoring 33 runs as Detroit (20-22) has won five of six.

The club homered three times in Saturday's 5-4 win, with James McCann's two-run shot in the seventh inning snapping a 1-all tie.

J.D. Martinez went deep for the fourth time in six games and Cameron Maybin hit his first home run of the season while finishing 3 for 4. Maybin is 11 of 17 in five games since returning from a fractured left wrist.

Detroit's big bats have been held mostly in check by Archer, who sports a 2.08 ERA in four career meetings and struck out 11 in seven innings of a hard-luck 2-1 defeat July 29. Victor Martinez is 1 for 9 against him and Ian Kinsler 1 for 15 with six strikeouts, while Miguel Cabrera has two singles in eight at-bats.

Archer won't have one of most valuable defenders behind him for the finale of this three-game set, as Gold Glove center fielder Kevin Kiermaier fractured his left hand attempting to make a diving catch Saturday.

'My glove kind of caught the ground and made my hand go a way that it's never gone before,' he said. 'It's just really unfortunate. I was really starting to feel good at the plate.'

After scoring 38 runs and homering 10 times in winning the first four of this road trip, Tampa Bay (20-20) was held to six hits and struck out 15 times Saturday.

Evan Longoria did connect for a solo home run to extend his hitting streak to nine games. He's hitting .342 over the run.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mariners (25-17) at Reds (15-28)

Game: 3
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: May 22, 2016 1:10 PM EDT

On a weekend when both Seattle and Cincinnati celebrate future Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr., the Mariners have continued to have their way in this interleague series.

The Mariners can sweep the three-game set by handing the Reds a seventh consecutive defeat Sunday.

With Griffey, who spent all but a brief part of his stellar career with Seattle and Cincinnati, set to be inducted into Cooperstown this summer, the Reds chose to honor him while the Mariners are in town.

Though both franchises can equally celebrate Griffey's career, the all-time series between these clubs has been one-sided. Franklin Gutierrez hit a long three-run homer and Felix Hernandez threw six strong innings to help the Mariners (25-17) improve to 12-2 against the Reds with Saturday's 4-0 victory.

Seattle has hit nine home runs while outscoring Baltimore and Cincinnati 31-10 to go 4-1 on a six-game trip. At 17-7, the Mariners have the best road record in the AL.

After going 1 for 14 in his previous seven contests, Gutierrez had two hits and imitated Griffey with his estimated 473-foot home run.

'That was unbelievable, man,' Hernandez said. 'If I hit a home run like that, I would be so happy.'

Wade Miley (4-2, 4.32 ERA) would certainly be happy to earn a fifth consecutive winning decision. The left-hander looks to build on Tuesday's effort against the Orioles in which he allowed two hits over six innings of the 10-0 victory.

"Wade's got four or five different pitches," manager Scott Servais told MLB's official website. "Sometimes it takes an inning or two to see which ones he's going to work out. Good fastball location, in and out with the fastball."

While pitching for Arizona, Miley went 2-2 with 3.90 ERA in five starts against the Reds, last facing them in 2014.

A loser of 11 of 13, Cincinnati has been outscored 55-19 during a six-game slide. The Reds managed four singles Saturday.

"We didn't put too much pressure on them from an offensive standpoint," manager Bryan Price said.

His lineup might remain thin if outfielder Jay Bruce misses a second straight game because of a sore knee. Bruce was 11 for 17 during a five-game stretch prior to going 0 for 8 in his last two. His only hit in six at-bats against Miley left the park.

Alfredo Simon (1-4, 10.34) looks to bounce back from another rough outing Tuesday, when he gave up a career-high 10 runs and 14 hits over 4 1/3 innings of a 13-1 loss at Cleveland. It was a disappointing result for the right-hander, who allowed three runs in each of his previous two starts that covered 13 2/3-plus innings.

'I tried to throw the ball down as much as I can,' Simon said. 'It's not happening right now. It's frustrating for me.'

He went 1-0 in two starts against the Mariners last season with Detroit, but posted a 7.15 ERA in those contests.

Robinson Cano is 5 for 12 with a home run against Simon.

It seems unlikely Cano's double-play partner Ketel Marte will be available after he sprained his left thumb Saturday. X-rays were negative.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rockies (21-21) at Pirates (23-19)

Game: 3
Venue: PNC Park
Date: May 22, 2016 1:35 PM EDT

The Colorado Rockies can finally take a series from the Pittsburgh Pirates, and they can do it against a pitcher very familiar to them.

The Pirates send out former Rockie Juan Nicasio for Sunday's finale, looking to deny the visitors their first series victory at Pittsburgh in more than five years.

Colorado (21-21) won 5-1 on Saturday to snap its eight-game losing streak against Pittsburgh (23-19). The Rockies haven't won a series against the Pirates since taking two of three July 25-27, 2014, and they can capture their first series victory at PNC Park since April 2011.

Two of Pittsburgh's three errors Saturday came in Colorado's four-run ninth inning, with closer Mark Melancon suffering his first loss since Sept. 28. He allowed three runs - none of them earned.

'Obviously, the whole inning was a little screwy,' Melancon said. 'But it's why this game's so beautiful. You have to play until the end of every game. You have to get the last out and there's no clock, so you can't run it out. You have to play every out.'

Nicasio (4-3, 4.46 ERA) has seen his ERA increase by more than a run over his last three starts as he's posted a 6.46 mark in that span. He gave up five runs - three earned - in five innings of Tuesday's 12-9 win over Atlanta but earned the win.

In terms of control, his last two starts were a step in the right direction with the right-hander totaling two walks after issuing 15 in his previous five starts.

Nicasio has posted a 2.70 ERA in six games against his former team - all but one of them coming in relief. Daniel Descalso (4 for 6 with a triple), Nick Hundley (4 for 13 with a home run) and Gerardo Parra (4 for 14 with four doubles) have had success against him.

Colorado will send Chad Bettis to the mound for the second time against Pittsburgh. Bettis (4-2, 4.18) opened a bit of a rough stretch with his last start opposite the Pirates, allowing four runs in 6 2/3 innings of a 6-1 loss April 25.

The right-hander recorded a 5.76 ERA in the four-start span that began with that one, but bounced back by limiting St. Louis to one run in 6 2/3 innings of Tuesday's 3-1 win.

He induced 11 ground-ball outs in getting the Rockies' nine-game road trip off to a good start, though they're 2-3 in the stretch.

"Something that I try make sure I do every time I go out is keep the ball down and make them roll over to our infielders," Bettis told MLB's official website.

Bettis has a 3.86 ERA in three career starts against Pittsburgh, lasting at least six innings each time - something he's done in his last eight starts overall. Starling Marte (4 for 6), Andrew McCutchen (3 for 6) and Matt Joyce (2 for 5 with a home run) have had success in the matchup.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Braves (12-30) at Phillies (24-19)

Game: 3
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: May 22, 2016 1:35 PM EDT

The Philadelphia Phillies have been one of baseball's biggest surprises but this weekend series against the NL's worst team hasn't gone as planned.

Neither has most of the year for starter Jerad Eickhoff.

He's dropped his last five decisions and will be out to help the Phillies avoid a three-game home sweep by the Atlanta Braves on Sunday.

Philadelphia (24-19) has been battling for the East lead in the early season after consecutive last-place finishes but has now gone 17 innings without scoring after losing the first two games of this series, 7-1 on Friday and 2-0 on Saturday. The Phillies have totaled eight hits with 17 strikeouts and four walks, and failed to bat with a runner in scoring in position Saturday.

It's not surprising that offense is an issue since this series pits baseball's worst offenses, with Atlanta averaging 3.3 runs and Philadelphia 3.2.

While the Phillies' bats need to wake up, Eickhoff (1-6, 4.44 ERA) also needs to show improvement. He's 0-5 with a 5.45 ERA in his last six outings, with opponents bating .293 against him.

The right-hander had a quality start Monday, yielding three runs over six innings in a 5-3 defeat to Miami while suffering from a migraine headache.

'Just trying to make little adjustments from last outing,' Eickhoff said. 'Curve was not effective, two-seamer had good life. Slider is a big pitch for me.'

Eickhoff's previous outing to that one was a 5-1 loss to the Braves in which he surrendered four runs over 4 1/3 innings May 11.

Kelly Johnson is 4 for 8 against him and Freddie Freeman is 3 for 5 with a homer. They will be eager to face a pitcher who is allowing left-handed hitters to bat .324.

Freeman is 3 for 8 in this series and leadoff hitter Chase d'Arnaud is 5 for 8 after he had a career-high three hits Saturday. This weekend represents D'Arnaud's return to Philadelphia after he played 11 games for the Phillies in 2015.

'Everybody wants to contribute,' D'Arnaud said. 'I feel really locked in.'

Atlanta (12-30) has captured its second series of the year and is expected to call up Casey Kelly (0-0, 3.00) from Triple-A Gwinnett for his first start of the year and first with the club. He was with the Braves between April 20-22, making one relief appearance in which he allowed one run in three innings.

The right-hander is taking the place in the rotation of Aaron Blair, who was demoted Tuesday after going 0-3 with a 7.59 ERA in five starts.

Kelly is 2-5 with a 6.81 ERA in eight career starts - all with San Diego over the previous two seasons. He has never faced Philadelphia or any of its hitters.

Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera is hitless in 11 at-bats, Ryan Howard is hitless in 15 and Carlos Ruiz is 0 for 10 in his last three games.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Indians (22-18) at Red Sox (26-17)

Game: 3
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: May 22, 2016 1:35 PM EDT

No pitcher in the American League has been tougher to hit than Danny Salazar, but no team has collected more than the Boston Red Sox.

An intriguing three-game series between the Red Sox and Cleveland Indians concludes Sunday when Salazar puts a string of strong starts on the line against the majors' best offense.

Boston's formidable lineup was held in check by Corey Kluber as the Indians won Friday's opener 4-2, but returned to its heavy-hitting ways in Saturday's 9-1 victory. The Red Sox recorded 13 hits - six for extra-bases - to raise their MLB-leading average to .295 and halt Cleveland's season-high five-game winning streak.

Mookie Betts had a grand slam and a solo homer among three hits and Jackie Bradley Jr. singled in the sixth inning to extend his hitting streak to 26 games, the longest by a Red Sox player in the same season since Manny Ramirez hit in 27 straight in 2006.

Bradley is batting .411 with eight home runs and 29 RBIs over the run and is 2 for 3 lifetime against Salazar (4-2, 1.80 ERA), though reaching safely against the hard-throwing right-hander has been more of a challenge this season. He's limited opposing hitters to a .157 average through eight starts, trailing only Jake Arrieta for the lowest mark among qualified pitchers.

Salazar also ranks among the AL leaders with 61 strikeouts and has eight or more in four consecutive starts. He notched eight while holding Cincinnati to a run on five hits over 7 1/3 innings in Tuesday's 13-1 rout, improving to 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA over his last three outings.

"He's a stud. He's definitely taken the next step forward," Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis told MLB's official website. "He's pitching like a top-of-the-rotation guy, which he is. He's not just a thrower anymore. He's not just a guy coming out, throwing 97. You're seeing him work really well off of his changeup and his slider, and he's really figuring out what he is as a pitcher. It's fun to watch."

Salazar was equally as good in two wins over the Red Sox last season, yielding two runs and eight hits over 12 1/3 innings.

Boston (26-17) counters with Rick Porcello (6-2, 3.51), who's taken a step back after opening his 2016 campaign with five consecutive wins. He's 1-2 with a 4.82 ERA in three starts since and allowed four earned runs over a season-low five-plus innings in Tuesday's 8-4 loss at Kansas City.

Porcello has won each of his four home starts and is 4-1 with a 1.42 ERA in his last five meetings with the Indians.

After amassing 43 runs and hitting .346 during its four-game sweep of the overmatched Reds, Cleveland (22-18) has had its bats cooled off in this series. Joe Kelly carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning in his return from the disabled list and the Indians managed two total in Saturday's defeat.

'Squared up a few balls, but they made plays defensively,' manager Terry Francona said.

Carlos Santana accounted for Cleveland's lone run with a ninth-inning homer, his third in three games. He's hitting .308 with three homers in 39 at-bats against Porcello.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rangers (24-19) at Astros (17-27)

Game: 3
Venue: Minute Maid Park
Date: May 22, 2016 2:10 PM EDT

While the Texas Rangers' Cole Hamels is set to again try for a record-tying win that has eluded him, fellow ace Dallas Keuchel of the Houston Astros is searching for his first victory since mid-April.

Keuchel looks to deny Hamels that win and the visiting Rangers a series sweep Sunday.

Texas (24-19) won the first two games of the set by 2-1 scores to extend its winning streak in the series to five. The Rangers have taken 13 of their last 15 against Houston (17-27).

Hamels (4-0, 3.10 ERA) can tie the club mark with a 12th consecutive winning decision. He was unable to reach the milestone in his last two starts despite pitching reasonably well in both, surrendering three earned runs each time over 12 1/3 innings.

Home runs hurt the left-hander in those starts, as he surrendered five after giving up four in his first six outings. He'll try to avoid the long ball as he tries to match Bobby Witt's franchise-record 12-0 stretch in 1990.

Hamels beat Houston 2-1 at home April 20 with 6 2-3 innings of one-run ball.

Evan Gattis, Jose Altuve, Colby Rasmus and Tyler White have combined to bat .375 against Hamels with five home runs. Gattis hit two of those homers while Altuve has one while going 5 for 9.

Houston has dropped three straight and is last in the AL West, due in large part due to a floundering rotation that's produced a 4.85 ERA. Keuchel (2-5, 5.43) has been one of the primary culprits, failing to duplicate the precision that earned him the Cy Young Award last year.

After issuing 1.98 walks per nine innings during that 20-win season, the left-hander has more than doubled that mark through his first eight starts of 2016. The lack of command has made him far more hittable, as evidenced by a six-start winless streak in which he's 0-4 with a 7.32 ERA.

The Astros had lost his previous five outings before winning 6-5 in his most recent Tuesday, with Keuchel holding the Chicago White Sox to three runs in 6 1/3 innings. He walked three for the second straight start.

"Overall, I felt really good, command-wise," Keuchel told MLB's official website. "Before that seventh inning, got a little tired."

Keuchel's winless stretch started with a 7-4 loss at Texas on April 21 in which he gave up six runs and a season-high 13 hits in six innings. He's been hammered in two of his last three starts in the series, giving up 15 runs over 10 2/3 innings in those games.

After scoring 32 runs in their previous five games, the Astros have managed one in each of their last three. The top four batters in the lineup were 1 for 14 with five strikeouts Saturday with leadoff hitter Jose Altuve going 0 for 4 to end a 12-game hitting streak.

'They are keeping us off the barrel a little bit, and the ones we are hitting aren't finding the holes,' outfielder Colby Rasmus said.

Elvis Andrus and Adrian Beltre have faced Keuchel more than anyone else in the major leagues, with Andrus hitting .227 in 44 at-bats and Beltre at .256 in 43 ABs with three doubles and a home run.

Ian Desmond, Prince Fielder and Rougned Odor have also homered off Keuchel.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Royals (22-20) at White Sox (25-18)

Game: 3
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: May 22, 2016 2:10 PM EDT

The Chicago White Sox are still atop the AL Central, but the Kansas City Royals have showed this weekend why they are defending World Series champions.

The Royals can sweep a road series for the first time Sunday, although starter Yordano Ventura has struggled away from home and has never won at U.S. Cellular Field.

Chicago (25-18) has been atop the division for most of the first two months thanks to an AL-best 3.18 ERA. This series is its first look at the best team in the AL Central from a season ago and the results haven't been pretty, with the White Sox totaling two runs in losing the first two games.

'It's our first real kind of test in the division and the Royals are doing their job and we basically are not,' third baseman Todd Frazier said.

Kansas City (22-20) posted a 2-1 victory Saturday as Danny Duffy and four relievers scattered seven hits. Lorenzo Cain homered for the Royals' only extra-base hit.

'We win on pitching and defense and this was another good example of it,' said manager Ned Yost.

Chicago is 0 for 12 with runners in scoring position in this series.

'You could see it as far as getting in those situations trying to probably hit a seven-run homer,' manager Robin Ventura said. 'You can't get out of it that way. You've got to be able to relax and get through it. We'll be there for him.'

The White Sox will try for better results against Ventura (4-2, 4.85 ERA), who is 3-0 with a 3.57 ERA in four home starts but has a 6.30 ERA in four on the road. Ventura is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in three career outings at U.S. Cellular.

Avisail Garcia may sit for the second straight game for Chicago as he's 0 for 12 against Ventura. Adam Eaton is 12 for 34 in an eight-game hit streak.

Ventura went 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA in two starts against the White Sox last year. He's looking to win a third straight outing after yielding four runs in 5 2/3 innings of Tuesday's 8-4 victory over Boston.

The Royals activated Mike Moustakas off the disabled list Saturday after the third baseman was out for more than two weeks with a left thumb injury. Moustakas went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts.

White Sox left-hander Carlos Rodon (1-4, 4.73) has never faced Kansas City or any of its hitters.

Rodon is 0-3 with a 6.06 ERA in his last six outings after giving up three runs in six innings of a 6-5 defeat to Houston. He didn't get the loss, but the White Sox have dropped his last four starts.

Kansas City's Paulo Orlando could be back in the lineup after he rested Saturday. He's 10 for 18 in a six-game hit streak.

Chicago's Jimmy Rollins didn't start Saturday but is expected back in the lineup for the finale.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Blue Jays (21-24) at Twins (11-31)

Game: 4
Venue: Target Field
Date: May 22, 2016 2:10 PM EDT

Pitching isn't considered the Toronto Blue Jays' greatest strength, and it's become a major liability over the past week.

Marcus Stroman attempts to bounce back from his rough outing as the slumping Blue Jays conclude a four-game series with the lowly Minnesota Twins on Sunday.

Toronto hurlers have a combined 5.94 ERA over a 2-6 stretch it began by permitting 44 runs over five consecutive losses. Strong starts by Marco Estrada and Aaron Sanchez over this series' first two games appeared to stabilize things, but the problems returned during the late stages of Saturday's matchup.

After J.A. Happ lost a shutout bid by surrendering a game-tying two-run double to Danny Santana in the eighth inning, Gavin Floyd yielded a three-run homer to Eduardo Nunez that propelled the Twins to a 5-3 victory that halted an eight-game home losing streak.

Minnesota (11-32), which had lost five straight overall and six in a row to Toronto, entered the contest 1-23 when trailing after seven innings.

'It's hard to say they were better than us (Saturday), but that's the fact of the matter,' said Happ, who allowed one hit prior to the eighth. 'A groundball, and a walk and a slap hit, and that's the game. It's tough to take.'

Stroman (4-1, 4.23 ERA) has had his issues of late, with opponents batting .358 off him over his last three starts after he held them to a .191 mark through his first six. He allowed career highs of 13 hits and seven runs over 5 2/3 innings in Tuesday's loss to Tampa Bay.

"They definitely took advantage of me falling behind in counts and did some damage," he told MLB's official website.

The Twins don't figure to pose quite the threat of the hot-hitting Rays, as they rank near the bottom of the majors with a .234 average and 151 runs scored. They've received a spark of late from Santana, who's 5 for 11 for the series and hitting .372 at Target Field, while Robbie Grossman is 4 for 7 with a home run and three RBIs since being promoted from the minors Thursday.

Toronto (21-24) continues to get production from Jose Bautista and Michael Saunders, both of whom homered Saturday. Bautista's two-run shot was his 13th in 20 games at Target Field, the most by any visiting player, and he's driven in 11 runs over his last seven overall.

Saunders owns a .333 career average at the venue and is hitting .444 with three homers over an eight-game span.

Minnesota aims to win consecutive games for only the second time this month, and Phil Hughes (1-6, 5.70) looks to build off his best performance of 2016. The struggling right-hander held Detroit to one run on three hits over 6 1/3 innings Tuesday, though he was denied a victory when the Twins' troublesome bullpen allowed six in a 7-2 defeat.

Hughes had allowed 17 runs over 18 innings in losing his four previous starts and is 2-9 with a 6.07 ERA over his last 12, a stretch that began with a 3-1 loss at Toronto on Aug. 4. He's been dealing with a sore shoulder that limited him to 75 pitches Tuesday.

'I've had the shoulder fatigue for about four starts now," he said. "Once I get to about 60 or 70 pitches, I'm losing a couple ticks off my fastball. That's why I told them to watch me in the seventh."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Diamondbacks (20-25) at Cardinals (23-20)

Game: 3
Venue: Busch Stadium
Date: May 22, 2016 2:15 PM EDT

With Stephen Piscotty playing a leading role during an offensive surge, the St. Louis Cardinals are on the verge of winning back-to-back series to open a nine-game homestand.

That run would normally seem to be in jeopardy against Arizona Diamondbacks ace Zack Greinke, but St. Louis was responsible for one of the right-hander's worst performances last month.

As left-hander Jaime Garcia opposes him again, the Cardinals hope to get to Greinke again Sunday when they go after their fourth win in five games in the series finale at Busch Stadium.

Piscotty went 2 for 3 with a double and Yadier Molina, Matt Adams and Jedd Gyorko homered as St. Louis (23-20) evened this series with Saturday's 6-2 victory. Piscotty has heated up with nine hits - including four doubles - and five runs scored over his last four games.

Since totaling 11 runs and hitting .197 over their previous four games, the Cardinals have turned things around offensively by averaging 8.7 runs and batting .308 in the last three.

Piscotty and Aledmys Diaz had two hits apiece and Matt Carpenter and Jeremy Hazelbaker both homered off Greinke in a 12-7 loss at Arizona on April 25. That came while the 2015 NL Cy Young candidate was 2-2 with a 6.16 ERA over his first five outings for Arizona.

However, Greinke has since pulled it together by going 2-1 with a 3.81 ERA over his last four starts. He allowed three runs over seven innings in Tuesday's 5-3 home win over the Yankees.

"He used his changeup and kept it down," manager Chip Hale told the league's official website. "It was a knockout pitch for him. He was able to get ahead with the fastball. When he knew guys were swinging he used his changeup early in the count. Slider, curveball."

Greinke (4-3, 5.08 ERA) had been dominant against the Cardinals prior to last month's meeting, going 8-2 with a 2.20 ERA over his previous 11 starts. Carpenter is 6 for 18 with two home runs and a double lifetime in the matchup, though Gyorko has just one hit in 16 career at-bats.

Garcia (3-3, 2.86) surrendered three earned runs and eight hits while opposing Greinke in April, but couldn't make it out of a nine-run sixth inning that turned the game around for Arizona. Jean Segura had three hits off Garcia, while Welington Castillo and David Peralta each added two.

Paul Goldschmidt and Nick Ahmed had four of the team's eight hits Saturday and Rickie Weeks Jr. finally got Arizona on the board with a two-run homer in the ninth inning.

"(We) got a little moment back," Hale said. 'Hopefully it will translate into a good start tomorrow, but we have to be ready to go.'

The Diamondbacks (20-25), who have dropped seven of 10, have totaled 11 runs and batted .228 in losses but have scored 28 and hit .360 in wins over the past nine.

Segura is hitting .346 in 26 career at-bats versus Garcia and newcomer Michael Bourn has gone 7 for 14. After allowing no earned runs over 14 innings in winning two consecutive starts, he gave up three and walked four over five innings in Tuesday's 3-1 home loss to Colorado.

Garcia is 5-0 with a 2.94 ERA in six career starts against the Diamondbacks.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Yankees (20-22) at Athletics (19-25)

Game: 4
Venue: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Date: May 22, 2016 4:05 PM EDT

The New York Yankees have stifled the Oakland Athletics so far in this four-game series but expecting something similar out of Michael Pineda may be wishful thinking.

Pineda is winless in his last seven starts with five defeats as he looks to get on track Sunday and help the Yankees complete a four-game road sweep.

New York (20-22) has captured 11 of 16 to move out of last place in the AL East while Oakland (19-25) is sliding closer to the cellar in the West by going 6-13 this month to match baseball's second-worst record.

The Yankees can complete their first four-game road sweep in this series since July 6-8, 1979. Their starters have each yielded one run in the first three games, with Masahiro Tanaka going seven innings in Saturday's 5-1 victory.

Saturday marked the second straight contest that New York rested top relievers Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman. There's little doubt manager Joe Girardi will go right to the dominating trio if he gets an opportunity in this contest with an off day Monday.

The issue will be getting six effective innings out of Pineda (1-5, 6.60 ERA), whose losing streak of five is a career worst. His ERA in his last seven outings moved to 6.05 after he gave up five runs in five innings with nine strikeouts in Tuesday's 5-3 loss at Arizona.

'I know I am better than that,' Pineda said. 'I am struggling again. I need to keep working hard and be better.'

The right-hander faced the Athletics three times in his 2011 rookie season with Seattle and never again until he yielded two runs over six innings April 19 in a 3-2, 11-inning home defeat. Billy Butler is 1 for 12 against him, Danny Valencia is 2 for 10 and Coco Crisp 0 for 8.

One factor against Pineda is that the Yankees have totaled 10 runs of support for him in his last seven outings.

Oakland, though, has some banged-up hitters. Stephen Vogt sat out Saturday after he was hit by a pitch on his left wrist the day before by CC Sabathia while Khris Davis left Saturday in the seventh with tightness in his right forearm.

The Athletics got a much-needed 6 2/3 innings Saturday out of starter Sean Manaea to rest their bullpen.

"We needed a deep outing out of him today, we had very few guys available today," manager Bob Melvin said. "That's why we're using (John) Axford and (Sean) Doolittle in a game where we're behind so in that respect he did get us deep enough into the game so we didn't have to go to somebody we didn't want to use."

Melvin should have a stronger bullpen Sunday to back right-hander Jesse Hahn (1-1, 3.38), who yielded three runs in 6 2/3 innings in a no-decision Tuesday in an 8-5 victory over Texas.

Hahn's lone start versus New York was a 5-3 loss May 30, 2015, in which he allowed four runs in six innings.

Carlos Beltran is 7 for 14 with a homer, four doubles and seven RBIs in this series for New York while Mark Teixeira is hitless in 17 at-bats.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Cubs (29-12) at Giants (26-19)

Game: 3
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: May 22, 2016 8:05 PM EDT

After evening their series with the top team in the majors, the San Francisco Giants turn to their ace to help win it.

The Giants look to win a sixth straight start made by Madison Bumgarner on Sunday against the visiting Chicago Cubs.

Bumgarner (5-2, 2.45 ERA) has posted a 1.69 ERA while going 4-1 in his last six starts. The best effort of that stretch came Tuesday when the left-hander struck out 11 and yielded a ninth-inning homer in a 5-1 victory at San Diego.

"He's got to be where he wants to be right now, the way he has thrown the ball the last (six) starts," manager Bruce Bochy told MLB's official website.

Bumgarner, who has struck out at least 10 in two of three outings, believes he can be better.

"I feel like there's about 10 different things that's different than the way I want it," he said. "Obviously, it's working well the way it is. I'm about to give it up and stick with what I'm doing now. It seems to be working better anyway.

"I mean, the body feels good and my command's good, so ultimately that's all that matters."

Since the start of the 2013 season, Bumgarner hasn't had much to complain about while going 3-0 with a 1.95 ERA in four starts against Chicago. He allowed a run and two hits while striking out 12 in six innings of a 9-1 home victory over the Cubs on Aug. 27.

Chicago (29-12) owns the best record in baseball but has dropped six of 10 following Saturday's 5-3 defeat and is in danger of losing a second consecutive road series.

Though the Cubs broke out for an 8-1 victory that snapped San Francisco's eight-game winning streak Friday, they've been held to three or fewer runs in the other five of the last six.

They managed one run off struggling Matt Cain on Saturday, coming on Kris Bryant's second home run in as many games.

Bryant, 6 for 17 in four contests, went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts against Bumgarner last season. Ben Zobrist is 5 for 6 with a double and a triple against him.

Kyle Hendricks (2-3, 3.51) looks to improve on a 1-2 road record that includes a 5.19 ERA. The right-hander gave up four runs in 5 1/3 innings of a 4-2 loss at Milwaukee on Tuesday.

"I relied on my fastball a little too much,' Hendricks said. 'Just got to mix up speeds some more, throw in my curveball and my four-seam fastball.'

He went 1-1 with a 5.56 ERA against the Giants (26-19) last season, with the loss coming at AT&T Park.

Buster Posey, 2 for 6 with a double against Hendricks, hit a two-run homer Saturday. He's 10 for 30 in his last eight games against the Cubs.

Chicago right fielder Jason Heyward will be out three to five days with a side contusion suffered while making a diving catch in Friday's 8-1 victory.

"It's encouraging," manager Joe Maddon said. "When I went out there, I saw him crunched against the wall, laying on the ground. I was not too optimistic. When he stood up, that told us a lot."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Cubs, Giants conclude series

CHICAGO CUBS at SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

First pitch: Sunday, 8:00 p.m. ET
Line: Giants -125, Cubs +105, Total 7 (Over -110, Under -110)

Game 1: Cubs 8 Giants 1
Game 2: Giants 5 Cubs 3

Kyle Hendricks and the Cubs take on Madison Bumgarner and the Giants in the series finale at AT&T Park on Sunday night.

The first-place Cubs are the best team in baseball right now, but as talented as they are, they’ll have their work cut out for them when they face Giants ace Madison Bumgarner (5-2, 2.45 ERA, 71 SO, 18 BB, 6 HR in 58 2/3 IP) on Sunday night in San Francisco.

The 26-year-old is coming off a complete-game win over the Padres in which he allowed just one run on five hits and struck out 11 without walking a batter.

The left-hander has won four of his last five decisions, and the Giants have won all five of those games. In nine starts this season, Bumgarner has allowed two earned runs or less seven times. He hasn’t allowed more than four runs in a start all season.

He’ll be opposed by Cubs RHP Kyle Hendricks (2-3, 3.51 ERA, 37 SO, 9 BB, 2 HR in 41 IP) in the finale. Hendricks struggled in his last start, allowing four earned runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings pitched against the Brewers.

He’s been very solid for the most part, however, having only allowed four earned runs in two of his seven starts. Neither Bumgarner nor Hendricks have faced these teams in 2016.

The Cubs have had trouble hitting Bumgarner—just as the rest of the league has since he made his major league debut in 2009.

CF Dexter Fowler has gone 8-for-31 with a triple and an RBI against him, RF Jason Heyward has gone 3-for-15 with a homer and five RBIs, C Miguel Montero has gone 6-for-32 with a double, two RBIs and eight strikeouts, and 1B Anthony Rizzo has gone 3-for-13 with six strikeouts. The only Cub with really good numbers against the former World Series MVP?

2B Ben Zobrist, who is 5-for-6 lifetime against him with a double, a triple, an RBI and a walk. Bumgarner beat the Cubs in his lone start against them last year, on August 27.

He allowed one earned run on two hits in six impressive frames, striking out 12 and walking two.

Righties are hitting .240 against Bumgarner, while lefties are hitting just .171. In five home starts this season, Bumgarner is 2-1 with a 2.14 ERA in 33 2/3 innings pitched.

No one on the Giants’ roster has more than six career at-bats against Hendricks. 1B Brandon Belt has seen the ball well against him, going 3-for-5 with a homer, a triple and two RBIs.

RF Hunter Pence is 2-for-2 lifetime with a walk against the 26-year-old, and C Buster Posey and CF Denard Span each have a pair of hits off him in six at-bats.

Hendricks faced the Giants twice last season. In his first start against them, on August 8 at Wrigley Field, he earned the win after allowing three earned runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings.

The Dartmouth alum faced San Francisco later that month at AT&T Park and didn’t have as much success. He gave up four earned runs on five hits and three walks in six innings and took the loss.

Lefties are hitting .234 against Hendricks; righties are hitting .221. In three road starts this season, Hendricks is 1-2 with a 5.19 ERA in 17 1/3 innings pitched.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Previews, Streaks, Tips, Notes

Inter-League 'Over' gamblers cashing

MLB 'Over' gamblers are cashing at a healthy 59.1% clip when American League clubs take on National League teams. The 'Over' has been the correct choice in 39 games vs 23 'Under', 4 'Push'

In the Junior Circuit, the Detroit Tigers (8-1 O/U), Los Angeles Angels (8-3-1), Cleveland (6-3-1), Minnesota (5-1-1) lead the way. In the Senior Circuit it's Milwaukee Brewers (7-1-2 O/U), Washington Nationals (6-3), Cincinnati (5-1), Pittsburgh Pirates (4-0) cashing consistently for 'Over' gamblers.

Sunday, Seattle and Cincinnati will try to keep 'Over' bettors happy.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MLB

Sunday's games

National League games

Rockies @ Pirates
Bettis is 2-2, 4.83 in his last six starts (under 5-3 in his last eight).

Nicasio is 1-1, 7.63 in his last three starts (over 5-2 in his last seven).

Pirates won five of their last seven games (over 11-6-1 in last 18). Rockies won six of last nine games; ten of their last 13 games stayed under.

Braves @ Phillies
Kelly is making first '16 start; he is 2-5, 6.44 in eight MLB starts, 2-1, 2.63 in five AAA starts this season.

Eickhoff is 0-5, 5.71 in his last six starts; three of his last four stayed under.

Atlanta is 3-2 since changing managers; four of its last six games went over. Phillies lost four of last six games (under 8-3 in last eleven).

Nationals @ Marlins
Scherzer is 1-2, 4.87 in his last three starts; under is 3-1-2 in his last six.

Conley is 3-1, 1.99 in his last four starts (over 3-1-1 in his last five).

Washington won three of its last four games; under is 6-3-1 in their last 10. Marlins are 5-9 in last 14 games; under is 4-2-1 in their last seven home games.

Brewers @ Mets
Anderson is 1-5, 8.70 in his last six starts but almost threw no-hitter in his last start; over is 5-2-1 in his starts this year.

Syndergaard is 2-1, 1.71 in his last three starts; four of his last six went over total.

Milwaukee lost four of last five road games; under is 7-2-1 in their last ten games. Mets are 11-4 in last 15 home games; nine of their last 13 games stayed under.

Diamondbacks @ Cardinals
Greinke is 2-0, 2.25 in his three road starts; under is 5-2-1 in his last eight starts.

Garcia is 2-1, 2.37 in his last three starts, which all stayed under.

St Louis won three of last four games; over is 8-4-1 in their last 13 games. Arizona lost seven of last ten games; under is 5-2-2 in their last nine.

Cubs @ Giants
Hendricks is 2-3, 4.19 in his last six starts (under 5-2).

Bumgarner is 4-0, 2.02 in his last five starts, four of which went over.

Giants won nine of their last ten games; under is 11-3 in their last 14. Cubs are 4-6 in their last ten games (under 3-2-1 last six).

Dodgers @ Padres
Maeda is 0-3, 5.82 in his last four starts, three of which went over.

Rea is 2-1, 3.75 in his last four starts; four of his last six starts went over.

Padres lost five of last eight games but won last two; eight of their last ten games stayed under total. Dodgers lost six of their last seven games; six of their last nine games went over the total.


American League games

Rays @ Tigers
Archer is 3-0, 2.42 in his last five starts (under 5-4).

Zimmerman is 1-2, 5.73 in his last three starts; three of his last four stayed under.

Tampa Bay won eight of its last 12 road games; eight of its last ten games went over total. Detroit won five of last six games; over is 10-3-1 in their last 14 home games.

Indians @ Red Sox
Salazar is 2-1, 1.33 in his last four starts (under 5-2-1). .

Porcello is 1-2, 5.30 in his last three starts (over 4-4).

Indians won five of last six games; over is 11-4-1 in their last 16 games. Boston won ten of last 12 home games; nine of their last ten home games went over.

Rangers @ Astros
Hamels is 5-0, 3.65 in his eight starts; three of his last four went over.

Keuchel is 0-4, 7.32 in his last six starts (over 4-1-1).

Houston lost seven of last nine games, last four of which stayed under. Rangers won 10 of last 14 games; over is 9-4 in their last thirteen games.

Royals @ White Sox
Ventura is 2-2, 7.78 in his last four starts, last three of which went over.

Rodon is 0-2, 6.31 in his last four starts, three of which went over.

Royals won five of their last six games- six of their last nine road games went over. White Sox lost eight of last ten games; their last four games stayed under.

Blue Jays @ Twins
Stroman is 0-1, 6.27 in his last three starts (over 5-4). .

Hughes is 0-4, 6.66 in his last five starts (over 3-0-1 in last four).

Blue Jays lost seven of last ten games, seven of which went over the total. Minnesota lost eight of last nine home games; over is 11-5-1 in their last 17 games overall.

Bronx @ A's
Pineda is 0-5, 6.28 in his last seven starts (over 4-3-1).

Hahn is 1-1, 3.86 in his three starts (under 2-1).

Oakland is 6-13 in its last 19 games, but lost last two; nine of their last 13 games went over. Bronx won its last four games; three of its last four games stayed under.

Orioles @ Angels
Jimenez is 1-3, 7.07 in his last five starts; three of his last four went over. .

Weaver is 0-3, 8.59 in his last four starts (over 4-4).

Baltimore won ten of its last 13 games; seven of its last 10 road games stayed under. Angels won eight of last ten home games; seven of their last ten games went over.


Interleague

Mariners @ Reds
Miley is 4-0, 2.62 in his last five starts (over 4-1)

Simon is 1-4, 11.52 in his last six starts (over 5-1-1).

Reds lost 11 of their last 13 games; six of their last seven games went over. Seattle won four of last five games; over is 6-3-1 in their last ten games.


Teams won-lost records when this pitcher starts:

Col-Pitt-- Bettis 5-4; Nicasio 5-3
Atl-Phil-- Kelly 0-0; Eickhoff 2-6
Wsh-Mia-- Scherzer 5-4; Conley 5-3
Mil-NY-- Anderson 3-5; Syndergaard 5-3
Az-StL-- Greinke 5-4; Garcia 4-4
Chi-SF-- Hendricks 3-4; Bumgarner 6-3
LA-SD-- Maeda 3-5; Rea 5-3

TB-Det-- Archer 4-5; Zimmerman 6-2
Cle-Bos-- Salazar 4-4; Porcello 6-2
Tex-Hst-- Hamels 6-2; Keuchel 3-6
KC-Chi-- Ventura 6-2; Rodon 2-6
Tor-Min-- Stroman 5-4; Hughes 1-7
NY-A's-- Pineda 2-6; Hahn 2-1
Balt-LAA-- Jimenez 4-4; Weaver 3-5

Sea-Cin-- Miley 6-2; Simon 1-6


Starting pitchers allowing 1+ runs in first inning:

Col-Pitt-- Bettis 2-9; Nicasio 2-8
Atl-Phil-- Kelly 0-0; Eickhoff 3-5
Wsh-Mia-- Scherzer 5-9; Conley 2-8
Mil-NY-- Anderson 3-8; Syndergaard 1-8
Az-StL-- Greinke 2-9; Garcia 1-8
Chi-SF-- Hendricks 2-7; Bumgarner 2-9
LA-SD-- Maeda 2-8; Rea 4-8

TB-Det-- Archer 4-9; Zimmerman 1-8
Cle-Bos-- Salazar 0-8; Porcello 2-8
Tex-Hst-- Hamels 2-8; Keuchel 3-9
KC-Chi-- Ventura 3-8; Rodon 3-8
Tor-Min-- Stroman 2-9; Hughes 4-8
NY-A's-- Pineda 4-8; Hahn 0-3
Balt-LAA-- Jimenez 3-8; Weaver 2-8

Sea-Cin-- Miley 2-8; Simon 3-7


Umpires

Az-StL-- Last three Wegner games went over total.
Atl-Phil-- Under is 4-0-1 in last five Drake games.
Col-Pitt-- Under is 3-1-2 in last six Nelson games.
Mil-NY-- Three of last four Cederstrom games stayed under.
Wsh-Mia-- Favorites won five of last six Timmons games.
Chi-SF-- Over is 8-4 in last twelve Hickox games.
LA-SD-- Five of last seven Rackley games stayed under.

KC-Chi-- Underdogs are 10-9 in last 19 Barry games.
Tor-Minn-- Six of seven Ripperger games stayed under.
NY-A's-- Over is 4-2-2 in last eight Knight games.
Cle-Bos-- Under is 10-6 in last sixteen Hudson games
TB-Det-- Four of last five Nauert games stayed under.
Tex-Hst-- Under is 3-1-1 in last five Culbreth games.
Blt-LAA-- Five of seven Davidson games stayed under.

Sea-Cin-- Underdogs won three of last four Bellino games.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

StatFox Super Situations

MLB | SEATTLE at CINCINNATI
Play On - Home teams (CINCINNATI) below average NL hitting team (AVG <=.255) against a decent AL starting pitcher (ERA=4.20 to 4.70), with an on base percentage of .310 or worse over their last 20 games
40-18 since 1997. ( 69.0% | 24.5 units )
1-1 this year. ( 50.0% | 0.7 units )


StatFox Situational Power Trends

MLB | TEXAS at HOUSTON
TEXAS is 80-59 (+35.4 Units) against the money line vs. good fielding teams - averaging <=0.6 errors/game over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was: TEXAS (4.4) , OPPONENT (4.3)

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Sunday's six-pack

Six of the my favorite baseball announce teams to listen to on the baseball package

-- Brian Anderson/Bill Schroeder, Brewers

-- Victor Rojas/Mark Gubicza, Angels

-- Don Orsillo/Mark Grant, Padres

-- Dick Bremer/Bert Blyleven, Twins

-- Drew Goodman/Jeff Huson or Ryan Spliborghs, Rockies

-- Jason Bennetti/Steve Stone, White Sox

Other analysts I think are very good: Ron Darling (Mets), Bob Brenly (Arizona) and Ray Fosse (A's). Not that fond of their play-by-play partners, though.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

#1 Sports

Sunday's Free Selection: Los Angeles Dodgers - 160

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Mike Wynn

Bonus Play: MLB Cleveland w/Salazar +100 Over Boston

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Razor Sharp

FREE PICK FOR SUNDAY:Take ARIZONA (Greinke) +115 over St Louis

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Totals4U

Sunday's Free Selection: New York Yankees/Oakland Athletics under 8