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

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rangers at Astros


Weather information is currently unavailable. 5-Day Forecast
GAME: Texas Rangers (24-19) at Houston Astros (17-27)
DATE/TIME: Sunday, May 22 - 2:10 PM EST
WHERE: Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A


The Texas Rangers are making a mockery of their Lone Star Series rivalry with the Houston Astros, winning 13 of the previous 15 meetings between the clubs. Following a pair of 2-1 victories, the Rangers attempt to complete their second three-game sweep of the season against the host Astros on Sunday.



Texas improved to an American League-best 9-3 in one-run affairs following Saturday's win and has collected three of those victories at the expense of Houston. The Rangers opened their six-game road trip against the bottom two teams of the AL by losing three in a row to Oakland, but they find themselves on the verge of doing the same to the Astros this weekend. Houston has dropped three straight 2-1 decisions and is scuffling on offense after averaging 6.6 runs over its previous five contests. Marwin Gonzalez hit a solo homer Saturday, but Jose Altuve went hitless in four at-bats to end his 12-game hitting streak, and the top four hitters in the Astros' lineup went a combined 1-for-14 to prolong their recent offensive misery.


TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FSN Southwest (Texas), ROOT (Houston)


PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH Cole Hamels (4-0, 3.10 ERA) vs. Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (2-5, 5.43)


Although his 11-game regular-season winning streak remained intact, Hamels failed to factor in the decision for the second straight time after permitting four runs (three earned) and nine hits over 6 2/3 innings Tuesday at Oakland. The three-time All-Star has struggled to keep the ball in the park in his two most recent no-decisions, surrendering five homers after allowing four over his first six turns. Hamels got the win at home versus the Astros on April 20, allowing one run in 6 2/3 frames to improve to 5-3 with a 4.50 ERA against Houston in 12 career starts.


Keuchel remained winless over his last six trips to the mound Tuesday, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks over 6 1/3 innings in a no-decision against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. Last year's AL Cy Young Award winner is 0-4 with a 7.31 ERA since tossing eight scoreless frames in a win over Detroit on April 15, giving up at least five runs four times during that stretch. The first of those outings came at Texas on April 21, when Keuchel yielded six runs and a season-high 13 hits in a loss.


WALK-OFFS


1. Texas SS Elvis Andrus, who was one of nine AL players with at least 100 at-bats and no home runs this season, hit his first shot in Saturday's win.


2. Astros RF George Springer is on a 10-game hitting streak but has failed to drive in a run over his last six contests after recording eight RBIs in his previous two.


3. Rangers RHP Matt Bush allowed his first two baserunners in four games since his promotion last weekend but has yet to yield a run and has fanned six over 4 2/3 innings.

PREDICTION: Rangers 6, Astros 2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Blue Jays at Twins


Weather information is currently unavailable. 5-Day Forecast
GAME: Toronto Blue Jays (21-24) at Minnesota Twins (11-31)
DATE/TIME: Sunday, May 22 - 2:10 PM EST
WHERE: Target Field, Minneapolis, Minnesota
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A


The Toronto Blue Jays look to avoid splitting a four-game road series with the American League-worst Minnesota Twins on Sunday when they meet for the finale. The Blue Jays won the first two games of the set before coughing up a two-run lead Saturday when Minnesota scored five in the eighth inning to end a five-game losing streak.

Jose Bautista homered for the Toronto on Saturday to give him 13 in 20 career games at Target Field and fellow outfielder Michael Saunders hit his third in his last four games overall. The Blue Jays send ace Marcus Stroman to the mound in search of his first victory since May 1 against Twins right-hander Phil Hughes, who has won once in eight starts in 2016. Eduardo Nunez belted a three-run homer and Danny Santana added a two-run double in Minnesota’s big rally Saturday. Former AL MVP Joe Mauer, who has hit safely in 15 of 18 home games, was rested Saturday by the Twins and should return to the lineup.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, Sportsnet (Toronto), FSN North (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Marcus Stroman (4-1, 4.23 ERA) vs. Twins RH Phil Hughes (1-6, 5.70)

Stroman is winless in his last three outings after allowing seven runs and 13 hits over 5 2/3 innings to suffer his first regular-season loss in 15 outings last time out. The 25-year-old Duke product did not give up a homer in his last three starts and has surrendered only four blasts in 61 2/3 innings overall. Mauer and Oswaldo Arcia are each 2-for-3 against Stroman, who gave up three runs in six innings in his only meeting with the Twins in 2014.

Hughes comes in off his best start of the season on Tuesday when he limited Detroit to one run and three hits over 6 1/3 innings without being involved in the decision. It was the first time in four starts that Hughes went more than five innings, but he has still gone winless in five straight outings. Edwin Encarnacion is 15-for-42 with five doubles and a homer versus Hughes, who is 6-8 with a 4.69 ERA in 30 games (23 starts) against Toronto.

WALK-OFFS

1. Minnesota C Kurt Suzuki went 0-for-3 on Saturday, leaving him one hit short of 1,000 for his career.

2. Encarnacion boasts 30 homers in 79 games during the month of May since 2014 – six this season.

3. Twins 3B Trevor Plouffe is 0-for-12 in the series after recording seven hits in his previous four contests.

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 4, Twins 1

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Diamondbacks at Cardinals

Current Conditions - St. Louis

P/SUNNY 71 °F
Wind: W 13

GAME: Arizona Diamondbacks (20-25) at St. Louis Cardinals (23-20)

DATE/TIME: Sunday, May 22 - 2:15 PM EST
WHERE: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

The Arizona Diamondbacks displayed a feast or famine offense in the first two games at St. Louis and will try to find the hits again when they visit the Cardinals for the rubber match on Sunday. The Diamondbacks pounded out 11 runs and 15 hits to take the series opener on Friday but were blanked through the first eight innings in the second game on Saturday.

Arizona is enduring a six-game road trip against a pair of playoff contenders from the National League Central, starting with St. Louis, and could use some positive momentum before heading off to Pittsburgh. All-Star slugger Paul Goldschmidt got off to a sluggish start with the bat but is starting to turn things around on the road trip and followed up a 2-for-3 performance in Friday’s opener with two more hits in Saturday’s 6-2 loss. The Cardinals offense has been in fine form with at least six runs in each of the last three games and got some big hits from the bottom part of the order in Saturday’s win. Nos. 7 and 8 hitters Matt Adams and Jedd Gyorko each homered and combined for four runs scored and four RBIs.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Zack Greinke (4-3, 5.08 ERA) vs. Cardinals LH Jaime Garcia (3-3, 2.86)

Greinke appears to be settling in after a rocky start in his first season with Arizona and is aiming for his fifth win in six decisions. The former Cy Young Award winner, who signed a six-year, $206.5 million contract with the Diamondbacks in the offseason, held the New York Yankees to three runs in seven innings without walking a batter to pick up a win on Tuesday. Greinke endured one of his worst starts of the young season against St. Louis on April 25, when he was rocked for seven runs on 11 hits in 6 2/3 innings but somehow pulled out the win in a 12-7 final.

Garcia did not allow an earned run in back-to-back starts but lost the strike zone against Colorado on Tuesday and issued four walks to go along with five hits and three runs in five innings. The Mexico native walked one and struck out a total of 13 in 14 innings over his two previous turns. Garcia was on the other end of that wild affair with Greinke on April 25 but was not part of the decision after allowing four runs – three earned – on eight hits and three walks in five innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Arizona leadoff hitter 2B Jean Segura went 0-for-5 on Saturday after going 7-for-18 in the previous four contests.

2. St. Louis CF Randal Grichuk (back) returned to the starting lineup on Saturday after being limited to pinch-hitting duty in the previous two games.

3. Arizona SS Nick Ahmed recorded multiple hits in three of his last four games to lift his average from .175 to .197.

PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 5, Cardinals 2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Orioles at Angels

Weather information is currently unavailable.

GAME: Baltimore Orioles (26-15) at Los Angeles Angels (19-24)

DATE/TIME: Sunday, May 22 - 3:35 PM EST
WHERE: Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, California
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Matt Wieters has cranked up the bat of late and put the Baltimore Orioles in position to complete a three-game sweep of the host Los Angeles Angels on Sunday. Wieters belted a three-run homer with two outs in the top of the ninth inning of Saturday's 3-1 win over the Angels and is 13-for-28 with three homers and eight RBIs over his last eight games.

Wieters' hot streak has raised his average to .283 and he has four homers while attempting to regain his 2011-13 form as one of the best power-hitting catchers in the majors. Weiters, who turned 30 on Saturday, averaged 22.3 homers over that three-year stretch but a season-ending elbow injury in 2014 also diminished his effectiveness last season when he had just eight blasts in 258 at-bats. Baltimore has won 10 of its last 13 games and possesses the best record in the American League, while the Angels had won six of seven contests before being outscored 12-5 in the first two games of this series. Los Angeles' Mike Trout is batting .355 in May but is just 2-for-9 in this series.

TV: 3:35 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Baltimore), FSN West (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Ubaldo Jimenez (2-4, 5.60 ERA) vs. Angels RH Jered Weaver (3-3, 5.76)

Jimenez was rocked for six runs and five hits over 4 1/3 innings in his last turn - a 10-0 loss to Seattle. He has allowed six runs in two of his last four starts and given up 55 hits in 45 innings this season as part of a mediocre 1.76 WHIP. Jimenez is 1-5 with a 4.28 ERA in six career starts against Los Angeles and has struggled with Yunel Escobar (8-for-23, one homer).

Weaver has dropped his last three decisions while giving up seven or more runs in two of them. He is 0-3 with a 7.77 ERA in May as opposing batters are hitting .367 with six homers against him during the month. Weaver is 8-4 with a 3.29 ERA in 14 career starts against Baltimore and has kept Chris Davis (7-for-38) in the ballpark.

WALK-OFFS

1. Orioles CF Adam Jones continues to struggle and is 1-for-19 over his last five games.

2. Los Angeles journeyman INF Gregorio Petit was 3-for-3 with a walk on Saturday and is 6-for-11 over his last three contests.

3. Baltimore DH Pedro Alvarez was hitless in four at-bats on Saturday and is 2-for-19 over his past seven games.

PREDICTION: Angels 9, Orioles 7

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Yankees at Athletics

Weather information is currently unavailable.

GAME: New York Yankees (20-22) at Oakland Athletics (19-25)

DATE/TIME: Sunday, May 22 - 4:05 PM EST
WHERE: Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, California
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

The New York Yankees did themselves no favors by opening the season 9-17, digging themselves as much as an eight-game hole in the highly competitive American League East. The Yankees have won 11 of their last 16 to climb out of the division cellar, however, and will attempt to move within one game of .500 for the first time in over a month Sunday as they look to complete a four-game sweep of the host Oakland Athletics.


New York (20-22) was swept at home by Oakland in a three-game series from April 19-21 during a stretch in which the 27-time world champions dropped 15-of-20 contests, but Saturday's 5-1 victory was the team's season-high fourth straight and helped it move past disappointing Toronto in the division. Carlos Beltran has been on a tear in this series (7-for-14, homer, four doubles and seven RBIs), complementing a rotation that has allowed one earned run in each of the first three contests. The Athletics entered this series on a four-game winning streak of their own, but the loss of Josh Reddick in the opener has contributed to their inability to score runs (five) against New York. Oakland's most recent loss was a microcosm of its recent offensive struggles - the Athletics loaded the bases with one out twice on Saturday but produced only one run.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, YES (New York), CSN California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Michael Pineda (1-5, 6.60 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Jesse Hahn (1-1, 3.38)

Pineda remained winless in seven tries since his season debut Tuesday in Arizona despite matching a season high with nine strikeouts, as he surrendered five runs and nine hits over five innings in a loss to the Diamondbacks. The 27-year-old Dominican is 0-5 with a 6.05 ERA over that stretch and has yet to work more than six frames all season while recording only three quality starts. One of Pineda's more productive outings came on April 19 versus Oakland, which reached him for two runs in six innings.

Hahn surrendered two homers among 10 hits and a walk in 6 2/3 innings against Texas on Tuesday but managed to hold the Rangers to three runs following his recall from Triple-A Nashville. The Virginia Tech product hasn't been particularly effective in keeping runners off the bases in his three outings this season, allowing 21 hits and seven walks over 18 2/3 frames. Hahn lost his only career start versus the Yankees last May, yielding four runs (three earned) in six innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Yankees can complete their first four-game road sweep since 1979 with a win on Sunday.

2. Oakland LF Khris Davis (right forearm tightness) left Saturday's game and is questionable to play in the finale.

3. Since going 3-for-4 on Monday, New York 1B Mark Teixeira is hitless in 17 at-bats.

PREDICTION: Yankees 6, Athletics 4

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Dodgers at Padres

Current Conditions - San Diego
CLOUDY 59 °F
Wind: WSW 12

GAME: Los Angeles Dodgers (21-23) at San Diego Padres (19-25)

DATE/TIME: Sunday, May 22 - 4:40 PM EST
WHERE: Petco Park, San Diego, California
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

The San Diego Padres notched back-to-back walk-off victories to start the series and look to finish off a three-game sweep when they host the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday. Los Angeles has dropped four consecutive contests and fallen 4 1/2 games behind first-place San Francisco in the National League West.

Yangervis Solarte (hamstring) was activated from the disabled list prior to Saturday's game and drew a bases-loaded walk in the 11th inning to give San Diego a 3-2 win. In Friday's series opener, Melvin Upton Jr. was the hero when he turned a possible defeat into a 7-6 victory with a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning. Los Angeles slugger Adrian Gonzalez was back in the starting lineup on Saturday after missing four consecutive starts due to back soreness and went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Trayce Thompson hit a two-run homer to account for the Dodgers' offense and has belted six shots this month.

TV: 4:40 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), FSN San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Kenta Maeda (3-3, 2.87 ERA) vs. Padres RH Colin Rea (3-2, 4.37)

Maeda defeated the Padres in his major-league debut on April 6, when he allowed five hits over six scoreless innings. He has lost his last three decisions and given up four runs in three of his last four outings. Maeda is 2-0 with a 0.98 ERA in three road starts, beginning with the earlier victory in San Diego.

Rea lost to San Francisco in his last turn after winning his previous three decisions. He has allowed two or fewer runs in four of his eight starts but has lasted just five innings in each of his last two outings. Rea is 1-0 with a 3.75 ERA in three career appearances (two starts) against the Dodgers and has shut down Gonzalez (0-for-6).

WALK-OFFS

1. Padres RF Matt Kemp is 1-for-21 over his last six games and is batting just .169 in May.

2. Los Angeles C Yasmani Grandal was hitless in four at-bats on Saturday and is 2-for-29 over his last seven contests.

3. San Diego 1B Wil Myers is 5-for-10 with two runs scored in the series.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 5, Padres 3

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Cubs at Giants

Current Conditions - San Francisco

SUNNY 72 °F
Wind: NW 12

GAME: Chicago Cubs (29-12) at San Francisco Giants (26-19)

DATE/TIME: Sunday, May 22 - 8:05 PM EST
WHERE: AT&T Park, San Francisco, California
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A


The San Francisco Giants have a chance to send a message to the presumptive National League favorites – the road to the World Series still goes through AT&T Park. The Giants, who have won three straight championships in even-numbered years, host the Chicago Cubs on Sunday in the rubber match of their three-game series.



The clash of division leaders is even after Matt Cain ended a drought that lasted nearly a year and Buster Posey homered in a 5-3 win on Saturday. It was the ninth victory in 10 games for San Francisco, while the Cubs have lost six of their last 10 and are in danger of dropping back-to-back series for the first time this season. Chicago's Kyle Hendricks looks to find some success on the road, where he has struggled to a 5.19 ERA in three starts this year. Hendricks will oppose Giants ace Madison Bumgarner, who continues to pitch well in his home park as he is 2-1 with a 2.14 ERA in five starts there this season.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ESPN



PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Kyle Hendricks (2-3, 3.51 ERA) vs. Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (5-2, 2.45)

Hendricks has recorded four quality starts and has not allowed more than four runs in any of his seven turns this season. The 26-year-old endured one of his rockiest outings of the year on Tuesday at Milwaukee, yielding four runs and five hits over 5 1/3 innings in a loss. Hendricks is 1-1 with a 5.56 ERA in two career starts against the Giants.

The Giants have won each of Bumgarner’s last five starts, and he has notched the victory in four of them. The 26-year-old is coming off his best outing of the year as he struck out a season-high 11 and limited host San Diego to one run and five hits en route to a complete game on Tuesday. Bumgarner is 6-2 with a 2.44 ERA in 10 career starts against the Cubs and hasn’t lost to them since 2012.



WALK-OFFS

1. Chicago is is 21-for-55 with the bases loaded this season while opponents are just 1-for-28 in those situations.

2. San Francisco has scored five runs or fewer in 14 consecutive games, averaging 2.7, but still has won 10 of those contests.

3. Cubs 2B/OF Ben Zobrist, who is riding an eight-game hitting streak, is 5-for-6 with a double and a triple versus Bumgarner.



PREDICTION: Giants 4, Cubs 2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MLB MONEYLINE

MLB > (973) TORONTO@ (974) MINNESOTA | 2016-05-22 14:10:00 - 2016-05-22 14:10:00
Play AGAINST MINNESOTA using money line in all games
The record is 10 Wins and 31 Losses for the this season (-20.3 units)

MLB > (973) TORONTO@ (974) MINNESOTA | 2016-05-22 14:10:00 - 2016-05-22 14:10:00
Play AGAINST MINNESOTA using money line in All games in games played on a grass field
The record is 10 Wins and 31 Losses for the this season (-20.3 units)

MLB > (961) LA DODGERS@ (962) SAN DIEGO | 2016-05-22 16:40:00 - 2016-05-22 16:40:00
Play AGAINST SAN DIEGO using money line in Home games in day games
The record is 6 Wins and 20 Losses for the last two seasons (-17.8 units)

MLB > (979) SEATTLE@ (980) CINCINNATI | 2016-05-22 13:10:00 - 2016-05-22 13:10:00
Play AGAINST CINCINNATI using money line in All games when playing on Sunday
The record is 7 Wins and 26 Losses for the last two seasons (-19.8 units)

MLB > (959) ARIZONA@ (960) ST LOUIS | 2016-05-22 14:15:00 - 2016-05-22 14:15:00
Play ON ARIZONA using money line in All games as a road underdog of +100 to +125
The record is 23 Wins and 10 Losses for the last two seasons (+15.9 units)

MLB > (977) NY YANKEES@ (978) OAKLAND | 2016-05-22 16:05:00 - 2016-05-22 16:05:00
Play AGAINST OAKLAND using money line in Home games when playing against a team with a losing record
The record is 12 Wins and 26 Losses for the last two seasons (-19.95 units)

MLB > (967) CLEVELAND@ (968) BOSTON | 2016-05-22 13:35:00 - 2016-05-22 13:35:00
Play AGAINST BOSTON using money line in Home games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 30 Wins and 55 Losses for the last three seasons (-34.75 units)

MLB > (961) LA DODGERS@ (962) SAN DIEGO | 2016-05-22 16:40:00 - 2016-05-22 16:40:00
Play AGAINST LA DODGERS using money line in All games when playing against a team with a losing record
The record is 7 Wins and 13 Losses for the this season (-13.2 units)

MLB > (963) CHICAGO CUBS@ (964) SAN FRANCISCO | 2016-05-22 20:05:00 - 2016-05-22 20:05:00
Play ON SAN FRANCISCO using money line in All games in May games
The record is 53 Wins and 24 Losses for the last three seasons (+28.35 units)

MLB > (977) NY YANKEES@ (978) OAKLAND | 2016-05-22 16:05:00 - 2016-05-22 16:05:00
Play AGAINST OAKLAND using money line in Home games when playing with a day off
The record is 6 Wins and 14 Losses for the last three seasons (-16.45 units)

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MLB RUNLINE

MLB > (963) CHICAGO CUBS@ (964) SAN FRANCISCO | 2016-05-22 20:05:00 - 2016-05-22 20:05:00
Play ON CHICAGO CUBS in All games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 16 Wins and 4 Losses for the this season (+14 units)

MLB > (967) CLEVELAND@ (968) BOSTON | 2016-05-22 13:35:00 - 2016-05-22 13:35:00
Play AGAINST BOSTON in All games when playing with a day off
The record is 5 Wins and 19 Losses for the last two seasons (-18.1 units)

MLB > (957) ATLANTA@ (958) PHILADELPHIA | 2016-05-22 13:35:00 - 2016-05-22 13:35:00
Play AGAINST ATLANTA in Road games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 19 Wins and 33 Losses for the last two seasons (-25.55 units)

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MLB TOTALS

MLB > (965) TAMPA BAY@ (966) DETROIT | 2016-05-22 13:10:00 - 2016-05-22 13:10:00
Play OVER DETROIT on the totalin All games in day games
The record is 49 Overs and 23 Unders for the last two seasons (+25.45 units)

MLB > (955) COLORADO@ (956) PITTSBURGH | 2016-05-22 13:35:00 - 2016-05-22 13:35:00
Play OVER PITTSBURGH on the totalin All games when the total is 8 to 8.5
The record is 10 Overs and 1 Unders for the this season (+8.95 units)

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

TOP POWER LINES

MLB > (979) SEATTLE @ (980) CINCINNATI | 2016-05-22 13:10:00 - 2016-05-22 13:10:00
Line: SEATTLE BTB PowerLine: SEATTLE216
Edge On: SEATTLE (61)

MLB > (953) MILWAUKEE @ (954) NY METS | 2016-05-22 13:10:00 - 2016-05-22 13:10:00
Line: MILWAUKEE BTB PowerLine: MILWAUKEE-186
Edge On: MILWAUKEE (24)

MLB > (965) TAMPA BAY @ (966) DETROIT | 2016-05-22 13:10:00 - 2016-05-22 13:10:00
Line: TAMPA BAY BTB PowerLine: TAMPA BAY-102
Edge On: TAMPA BAY (6)

MLB > (951) WASHINGTON @ (952) MIAMI | 2016-05-22 13:10:00 - 2016-05-22 13:10:00
Line: WASHINGTON BTB PowerLine: WASHINGTON146
Edge On: WASHINGTON (11)

MLB > (955) COLORADO @ (956) PITTSBURGH | 2016-05-22 13:35:00 - 2016-05-22 13:35:00
Line: COLORADO BTB PowerLine: COLORADO134
Edge On: COLORADO (64)

MLB > (967) CLEVELAND @ (968) BOSTON | 2016-05-22 13:35:00 - 2016-05-22 13:35:00
Line: CLEVELAND BTB PowerLine: CLEVELAND107
Edge On: CLEVELAND (20)

MLB > (957) ATLANTA @ (958) PHILADELPHIA | 2016-05-22 13:35:00 - 2016-05-22 13:35:00
Line: PHILADELPHIA-145 BTB PowerLine: PHILADELPHIA-177
Edge On: PHILADELPHIA (32)

MLB > (969) TEXAS @ (970) HOUSTON | 2016-05-22 14:10:00 - 2016-05-22 14:10:00
Line: TEXAS BTB PowerLine: TEXAS101
Edge On: TEXAS (32)

MLB > (971) KANSAS CITY @ (972) CHI WHITE SOX | 2016-05-22 14:10:00 - 2016-05-22 14:10:00
Line: KANSAS CITY BTB PowerLine: KANSAS CITY-107
Edge On: KANSAS CITY (11)

MLB > (973) TORONTO @ (974) MINNESOTA | 2016-05-22 14:10:00 - 2016-05-22 14:10:00
Line: TORONTO BTB PowerLine: TORONTO164
Edge On: TORONTO (14)

MLB > (959) ARIZONA @ (960) ST LOUIS | 2016-05-22 14:15:00 - 2016-05-22 14:15:00
Line: ST LOUIS-125 BTB PowerLine: ST LOUIS-133
Edge On: ST LOUIS (8)

MLB > (977) NY YANKEES @ (978) OAKLAND | 2016-05-22 16:05:00 - 2016-05-22 16:05:00
Line: OAKLAND+112 BTB PowerLine: OAKLAND-123
Edge On: OAKLAND (35)

MLB > (961) LA DODGERS @ (962) SAN DIEGO | 2016-05-22 16:40:00 - 2016-05-22 16:40:00
Line: LA DODGERS BTB PowerLine: LA DODGERS164
Edge On: LA DODGERS (13)

MLB > (963) CHICAGO CUBS @ (964) SAN FRANCISCO | 2016-05-22 20:05:00 - 2016-05-22 20:05:00
Line: CHICAGO CUBS BTB PowerLine: CHICAGO CUBS123
Edge On: CHICAGO CUBS (37)

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Golden State At Oklahoma City

When: 8:00 PM ET, Sunday, May 22, 2016
Where: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

The Oklahoma City Thunder accomplished one goal by taking Game 1 at Golden State to begin the Western Conference finals but saw a different Warriors team in a Game 2 loss. The Thunder will try to protect home court when the series shifts to Oklahoma City for Game 3 on Sunday.

The Thunder dominated on the glass and at the free-throw line in Game 1, effectively keeping Golden State out of its offense in the second half as they surged to a 108-102 victory. The Warriors were the more aggressive group in Game 2 and made the necessary adjustments on the glass and on the offensive end to free up Stephen Curry for a third-quarter barrage that stunned Oklahoma City and propelled Golden State to a 118-91 triumph. "We've got to deal in the reality and the truth," Thunder coach Billy Donovan told reporters. "The reality and the truth is, OK, here are the things that went wrong (in Game 2). Here are the corrections we need to make. Here are the adjustments we need to make. Here's what we need to do and the series right now is 1-1. That's the truth right now coming out of it.” Oklahoma City star Kevin Durant bounced back from a tough shooting performance in Game 1 by going 11-of-18 from the field on Wednesday but watched most of the fourth quarter from the bench with the game already decided.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, TNT

ABOUT THE WARRIORS: Curry dove into the stands trying to save a loose ball in the first quarter of Game 2 and landed hard on his right elbow, leaving a giant knot that swelled out during the game. The knot didn’t seem to bother him much as he was scoring 15 points in under two minutes in the third quarter to finish with 28 points in 30 minutes for the game, and Curry doesn’t believe the injury will hamper his shooting moving forward. "It's sore, just because of the impact, but the spot it's at doesn't affect the range of motion, so I can shoot and dribble and do all I need to do," Curry told reporters after practice on Friday. "It's uncomfortable, but it's not necessarily painful."

ABOUT THE THUNDER: Oklahoma City was demolished 124-92 at San Antonio in Game 1 of its second-round series before bouncing back to win the series in six games, and the team fully believes it will recover against the Warriors. “It helps with our confidence knowing that we’ve been in this position before,” Durant told reporters. “It’s not foreign land to us. But the last series, we can’t really worry about that too much, we’ve got to focus on who we’ve got in front of us right now. We know it’s easier said than done. Just because we did it last time doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed to happen again. We’ve got to make it happen.” Durant will try to “make it happen” by cutting down on the turnovers after committed eight of the team’s 16 in the Game 2 setback.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Warriors SG Klay Thompson is 5-of-16 from 3-point range in the series after connecting on at least five from beyond the arc in each of the previous seven postseason games.

2. Oklahoma City PG Russell Westbrook is 12-of-35 from the floor in the series.

3. Golden State received 50 points from its reserves in Game 2 after getting 16 points from the bench in Game 1.

PREDICTION: Warriors 116, Thunder 111

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Tampa Bay at Pittsburgh

When: 8:00 PM ET, Sunday, May 22, 2016
Where: Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The Tampa Bay Lightning rebounded from their worst performance of the postseason to even the Eastern Conference finals and look to seize control of the series when they visit the Pittsburgh Penguins for Game 5 on Sunday. The Lightning gave up 48 shots Wednesday before scoring the first four goals of Game 4 two days later and holding on for a 4-3 triumph.

Tampa Bay catalyst Ryan Callahan told reporters the change was more about energy than X's and O's and the Lightning hope to carry that emotion over on the road. “The bottom line is get a good rest tonight and make sure we refocus and get ready for a tough game,” Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman told reporters after assisting on two goals Friday. “They’re a really good team, but so are we, and it’s going to be a battle all the way.” Pittsburgh could draw positives out of a three-goal third period Friday, but lost defenseman Trevor Daley (left leg) indefinitely and gave up more than three goals for the first time in nine games. “We knew this was going to be a hard game,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said on Friday. “. … We didn’t play the way we’ve been playing that has allowed us the results that we’ve gotten here over the postseason.”

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

ABOUT THE LIGHTNING: Right wing Nikita Kucherov has yet to score a goal in the series, but totaled four assists in the last two games and leads the team with 16 points in the playoffs – one better than Tyler Johnson. Kucherov played with Vladislav Namestnikov and Alex Killorn on Friday while coach Jon Cooper put Johnson between Ondrej Palat and Jonathan Drouin, who recovered from a rough game with a big power-play goal – his 12th point of the postseason. Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy could get his fourth straight start in place of Ben Bishop (left leg) and owns a .928 save percentage in the series.

ABOUT THE PENGUINS: Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury made seven saves in the third period Friday after replacing Matt Murray, making his first appearance in net since March 31, and Sullivan told reporters he would make a decision on his Game 5 starter Sunday. Defenseman Olli Maatta could move back in the lineup for Daley, who left the arena on crutches Friday. “(Daley) is a hard guy to replace," Sullivan said. "He plays a lot of minutes. He plays in key situations.” Right wing Phil Kessel leads the team with 17 points in the playoffs after notching his fifth goal in the last five games Friday.

OVERTIME

1. Pittsburgh C Evgeni Malkin snapped an eight-game goal drought with a tally in the third period Friday.

2. Hedman, who has 12 points in the last nine games, can tie Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier (63) for the most playoff games in franchise history Sunday.

3. Penguins D Kris Letang played at least 30 minutes for the sixth time in the playoffs Friday and is averaging 29:14 overall this postseason.

PREDICTION: Lightning 3, Penguins 2