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Preview: Brewers (8-12) at Cubs (15-5)

Game: 3
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: April 28, 2016 2:20 PM EDT

Amid a remarkable stretch of dominance that now includes a second no-hitter over his last 11 regular-season starts, Jake Arrieta continues to remain confident and humble.

That won't change against the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday, when Arrieta takes the mound after a rainout looking to extend his historic Wrigley Field scoreless-inning stretch while the Chicago Cubs try to win a franchise-record 18th straight start by the right-hander.

A day after becoming the third Cub to throw more than one no-hitter in last Thursday's 16-0 rout of Cincinnati, Arrieta (4-0, 0.87 ERA) admitted that he probably won't become the first pitcher since Johnny Vander Meer in 1938 to accomplish that feat in back-to-back outings.

'I don't expect that,' he said. 'I try to be good, but that's a little much.'

Then again, the way Arrieta has pitched since the end of June, anything seems possible.

'Every time he goes out there, he's got no-hit stuff,' Reds outfielder Jay Bruce said. 'He's arguably the best pitcher in the game today.'

Arrieta is 20-1 with an 0.86 ERA while recording 24 consecutive regular-season quality starts - a team record and the longest run since Bob Gibson went 26 straight in 1967-68. He's struck out 173, walked 33 and served up four homers while posting an 0.70 WHIP during that span.

The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner has 15 wins in 17 starts - all Cubs victories - since he was on the mound July 25 when Cole Hamels no-hit the Cubs (15-5). A victory Thursday would equal the team mark for consecutive wins from a starter set by Rick Sutcliffe in 1984-85.

That loss opposite Hamels was also the last time Arrieta allowed a run in the regular season at Wrigley, where he's pitched 48 2/3 scoreless innings. It's the longest streak at the historic ballpark and the longest at any home field since Ray Herbert's 54 straight for the White Sox in 1962-63.

'It's crazy, man, what he's done,' manager Joe Maddon said.

"He's kind of matter of fact, 'Yeah, I can do this, I believe it. I'm not here to brag at it, I know I can do this.' And he does it."

Arrieta also managed to stay calm and collected while addressing recent rumors from other major leaguers that he's used performance enhancing drugs to turn around a sagging career.

'I think it's funny because I've always been in good shape,' the 30-year-old confirmed health nut said. 'I just sucked early in my career."

Arrieta didn't allow a run in his last 18 innings while going 2-0 with an 0.86 ERA in three post-All-Star break starts against Milwaukee (8-12). He struck out 11 in a three-hit, 4-0 victory over the Brewers at Wrigley on Sept. 22.

Chicago beat Milwaukee 4-3 on Tuesday for their 13th win in 14 meetings, then Wednesday's contest was postponed by rain. Addison Russell delivered a go-ahead two-run triple in the seventh of Tuesday's win for the Cubs, who are off to their best 20-game start since 1907.

After batting .196 in his first 14 games, Russell is 5 for 13 with four RBIs in four contests. He is 3 for 4 against Taylor Jungmann (0-3, 8.47).

The right-hander allowed an earned run over five innings of his first start, but 15 in 12-plus to lose three straight. He yielded three runs and walked six in four-plus innings of last Thursday's 8-1 loss to Minnesota.

"He's got to throw strikes, and I think he's just really making it hard on himself,' manager Craig Counsell said.

He went 0-2 with a 4.32 ERA against the Cubs last season.

Aaron Hill and Ryan Braun are a combined 11 for 27 with a homer each against Arrieta.
 
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Preview: Phillies (10-10) at Nationals (14-5)

Game: 3
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: April 28, 2016 4:05 PM EDT

Backed by some solid pitching and enough offense, the Philadelphia Phillies can record their first road sweep of the Washington Nationals in seven years.

If Tanner Roark's early inconsistency continues for Washington, the Phillies might have a good chance to accomplish that feat Thursday.

A night after holding on for a 4-3 victory, Philadelphia (11-10) got seven innings of two-hit ball from Jeremy Hellickson and single-run innings from the sixth through eighth to win 3-0 on Wednesday. Winners in five of six, the overachieving Phillies are poised to sweep a set in Washington for the first time since May 2009.

"They're pretty tough right now," Nationals manager Dusty Baker said after his team was blanked for the first time.

Philadelphia has held the Nationals (14-6) to nine hits combined, two for extra bases, and struck out nine in each contest. Offensively, it's come through enough to prevail after being outscored 19-5 while dropping two of three to visiting Washington earlier this month.

'(Manager) Pete (Mackanin) has been preaching to us since Day 1 that he believes in us," Hellickson said. "We all believe in each other."

If his first four starts are any indication, it's possible the Phillies are catching Roark (2-2, 2.63 ERA) at the right time even though he's coming off one of the most dominant efforts of his career.

The right-hander has alternated losses and wins, posting a 6.30 ERA in the defeats but yielding a combined six hits and striking out 19 while throwing seven scoreless innings in each victory. A career-high 15 of those strikeouts came while Roark allowed two hits in Saturday's 2-0 win over Minnesota.

It was only the second time in 52 starts that he fanned at least 10.

'On a given day, anybody can be world beater," Washington pitching coach Mike Maddux said. "(It) was Tanner's day to do that. Just to have that special moment.'

Roark has hardly been special while going 1-4 with a 7.18 ERA as a starter against Philadelphia. He dropped his third straight to the Phillies after giving up career highs of eight runs, 12 hits and not striking out anybody in a career-low 3 1/3 innings of an 8-5 loss in June.

Maikel Franco and Odubel Herrera were a combined 5 for 7 against Roark last season. Herrera is batting .357 with nine runs scored and nine walks in the last eight games.

Aaron Nola (1-2, 4.50) hopes to be better than April 16 when he gave up a career-worst seven runs, seven hits and walked three in five innings of an 8-1 loss to Washington. The right-hander should at least have the confidence that he can improve on that effort after yielding a run, four hits and striking out seven in seven innings of a 5-2 victory at Milwaukee on Friday.

"After the last outing, I felt I really needed to command the baseball inside a lot more," said Nola, who has lasted seven innings in three of his four starts.

He will finally try to get the best of Bryce Harper, who is 5 for 7 with two homers against him.

After Harper homered in all three games at Philadelphia, the Phillies haven't allowed him to hurt them. He's walked five times and has one hit this week.
 
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Preview: White Sox (15-6) at Orioles (11-8)

Game: 1
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: April 28, 2016 7:05 PM EDT

The Chicago White Sox decided to give John Danks $65 million dollars despite underwhelming numbers that didn't seem to warrant that type of reward even when he signed the contract five years ago.

Danks has massively underperformed since the ink dried on that deal, and now he's simply fighting to keep his spot in the rotation in its final year.

The White Sox haven't lost since Danks' latest subpar effort and hope to get enough from him Thursday night against the Baltimore Orioles to extend their winning streak to seven.

Danks is the highest paid player on the team at $15.75 million this season, but he's lost all three of his starts with a 6.23 ERA. He received his lucrative extension in December 2011 after posting a 4.33 ERA that was his worst since his rookie year, and since signing he's had shoulder surgery, made only nine starts in '12 and has gone 25-47 with a 4.87 ERA.

The left-hander has lost each of his last six starts with a 6.21 ERA and opponents' batting average on balls in play of .358. His control issues caught up with him again last Thursday when he issued five walks and threw 100 pitches in six innings of a 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.

Chicago (16-6) moved him from Monday's scheduled start to later in the week because of his struggles, and he's running out of opportunities to remain in the rotation.

"At this point, I'm not worried about how it looks," Danks told MLB's official website. "I'm pleased to keep us in the game. But certainly need to be sharper than that, and I will. There's certainly a ways to go, but it's definitely getting there. Maybe without the walks it's a different ballgame."

One of Danks' best starts over the last season-plus came against the Orioles on July 3, when he allowed five hits in seven innings of a 1-0 home victory. He's given up nine runs in 12 innings over his last two starts in Baltimore, though, and Nolan Reimold is 8 for 19 in his career off Danks.

Chicago starters have a 1.70 ERA over the last nine, a stretch during which the club's only loss came in Danks' last outing. Jose Quintana pitched six effective innings and Dioner Navarro's two-run triple in the seventh put the White Sox ahead for good in Wednesday's 4-0 win over Toronto.

They improved to 10-3 on the road and are 10 games above .500 for the first time since September 2012 while leading the majors in victories.

"We've got a great team here and I think we've got a great shot at doing great things," Navarro said.

Baltimore (12-8) snapped a three-game losing streak with Wednesday's 3-1 win over Tampa Bay, scoring once more than it did throughout its skid despite recording a season-low three hits. Joey Rickard's homer in the fifth accounted for each run.

Tyler Wilson will get the ball for the Orioles to open this four-game set. Wilson (1-0, 2.77) came out of the bullpen in his first three appearance before getting the start Saturday, allowing three runs in five innings of an 8-3 win over Kansas City. He threw 70 pitches in his sixth career start and earned another with Yovani Gallardo on the disabled list.

"Things don't seem to bother him mentally. He's very mentally strong and that bodes well up here," manager Buck Showalter said. "That's what you like about him. That's why winning has followed him around. He likes to compete."

The right-hander made one start against the White Sox in his brief time with the Orioles last season and allowed two runs in six innings of a 3-2 loss May 28.
 
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Preview: Braves (4-16) at Red Sox (11-9)

Game: 4
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: April 28, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

That Atlanta Braves finally hit a home run. They still lost, so some things haven't changed.

The worst team in baseball's losing streak now stands at eight heading into Thursday night's series finale with the Boston Red Sox, who can finish the sweep by winning a fifth straight game.

Freddie Freeman's solo homer in the eighth inning Wednesday snapped a 15-game drought, the Braves' longest since the franchise was located in Boston in 1946. It came much too late in a 9-4 loss, though, as Atlanta (4-17) continued its dismal start.

It is tied with Philadelphia for the fewest runs in the majors and has been relying on singles and doubles given its lack of power and being one of the league's few teams still without a triple.

The Braves' four homers are 20 fewer than they've allowed, and they've been outscored by 44 runs.

'It's really hard to put into words. You lose the first nine, then win four, then lose eight in a row,' said Freeman, who has hit half of Atlanta's homers. 'It's a weird start to our season. It's the start we didn't want. But we've just got to start playing better baseball and hopefully start winning some games. It's not fun right now.'

Atlanta hopes to have better luck against Clay Buchholz, who hasn't been shy about allowing runs.

Buchholz (0-2, 6.33 ERA) has given up five in three of his four outings, including Saturday when he tossed 106 pitches in just 5 2/3 innings of an 8-3 loss to Houston. He pitched 6 2/3 scoreless against Toronto in his previous outing April 18 but couldn't build on that effort.

The right-hander set down eight straight going into the sixth, then issued a walk, a single and hit a batter before serving up a grand slam.

'I thought he had excellent feel for his secondary pitches,' manager John Farrell said. 'He kept a very good fastball-hitting team off stride for the most part, (except for) the grand slam. Granted, you're going to look at the line score and it's going to say five runs, but I thought the way he threw the ball coming off the start against Toronto he was making very good progress.'

Buchholz looked good against Atlanta last season, giving up a pair of unearned run in seven innings of a 5-2 win June 18. An effective outing like that could be plenty with how often the Red Sox (12-9) are scoring lately.

They're averaging 7 runs during their winning streak with help from Dustin Pedroia, who is batting .441 with eight extra-base hits over his last seven. He hit a grand slam and added a solo homer Wednesday, while David Ortiz drove in two runs with three doubles.

The 40-year-old Ortiz moved past Ted Williams and Jimmie Fox on MLB's all-time extra-base hit list and into a tie with George Brett for 16th.

'I did? Good for me,' said Ortiz, who is 7 for 15 over his last four. 'That's what happens when you play for a long time. Man, I'm old.'

Atlanta's starters have a 6.99 ERA over the last six, and Boston will look to stay hot against Jhoulys Chacin, whose strong start is a thing of the past. Chacin (0-1, 3.18) has allowed seven runs in his last 6 2/3 innings after beginning the season with an 11-inning scoreless stretch. He walked two and surrendered seven hits in Saturday's 8-2 loss to the New York Mets.

The right-hander last faced the Red Sox in 2013 while with Colorado, giving up seven runs in four innings of a 15-5 defeat.
 
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Five to Follow MLB Betting: Thursday, April 28, 2016, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews

Let me preface this by saying I doubt it, but could we see something in baseball this season that we haven't since 2004? The last qualifying player (so 502 plate appearances) to finish a season with more home runs than strikeouts was Barry Bonds that year with 45 bombs and 41 whiffs. Before that, the last to do it was Hall of Famer George Brett in 1980. Two pretty good players. Since 1901, only 65 qualifying hitters have managed more home runs than strikeouts over a full season. I mention this because entering Wednesday, Washington's Bryce Harper has nine homers and nine strikeouts and Colorado's Nolan Arenado has eight dingers and six whiffs. Harper finished 2015 at 42/131 and Arenado at 42/110 so that's why I doubt it. But worth keeping an eye on.


Brewers at Cubs (-255, TBA)

A 2:20 p.m. ET getaway game for the Brewers; the Cubs get to stay home Friday. This is clearly the most lopsided pitching matchup of an abbreviated Thursday schedule. For Milwaukee, it's Zach Davies (0-2, 9.72), who might be sent back down if he struggles again. He has allowed 10 runs and 17 hits over 8.1 innings in his two starts. Things could get ugly against the high-scoring Cubs, although Davies allowed no runs in six innings against them last year. It's lefty Jon Lester (2-1, 1.98) for Chicago. He looks more comfortable in the National League these days as Lester has allowed more than one run in just one of his four starts. Lester was 2-0 with a 1.38 in two starts against the Brewers last season. Aaron Hill is 4-for-35 career off him with nine strikeouts. Ryan Braun is 5-for-13 with a double. You may see a lot of NFL types (media, etc.) at this game and all weekend at Wrigley with the NFL Draft in town.

Key trends: The Brewers are 1-6 in their past seven road games vs. a lefty. The Cubs are 4-0 in Lester's past four vs. teams with a losing record. The "over/under" has gone under in 13 of Lester's past 20 at home.

Early lean: Cubs and under if wind not blowing out.

Pirates at Rockies (-105, 11.5)

A 3:10 p.m. ET getaway game. Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen had his second career three-homer game on Tuesday night, coming in Colorado. McCutchen, who also hit three homers Aug. 1, 2009, against the Nationals, had a chance to become the first Pirate to hit four in a game, but he grounded out to short in the eighth. McCutchen became the fourth Pirate to have a three-homer game more than once, joining Hall of Famers Ralph Kiner (four times), Willie Stargell (four) and Roberto Clemente (two). McCutchen hadn't even had multiple hits in a game since April 6 before Tuesday. It was the 19th three-homer game at Coors Field since the ballpark opened in 1995, the most in the majors since that time (no surprise). McCutchen will tee it up against Rockies starter Tyler Chatwood (2-2, 3.47). He has alternated strong starts with bad ones. Not coincidentally, both lousy ones have been at home. McCutchen has never faced him. Pittsburgh goes with former Rockie Juan Nicasio (2-2, 4.50), who is 13-9 with a 5.23 ERA in 48 appearances at Coors Field. Gerardo Parra is 4-for-14 off him with four doubles.

Key trends: The Rockies are 4-1 in Chatwood's past five vs. the NL Central. The under is 4-0 in his past four.

Early lean: Rockies and under.

Phillies at Nationals (-160, 8)

What will Washington's Tanner Roark do for an encore after the best start of his career? Roark (2-2, 2.63) struck out a career-high 15 Twins last time out, shutting them out on two hits over seven innings. He became the first pitcher in franchise history (including Expos) to strike out 15 or more batters in fewer than nine innings. Roark threw 121 pitches - the most he has thrown in his four-year major league career. So that's something to monitor here if it took a toll. Roark was 0-2 with a whopping 22.09 ERA last season in 3.2 innings vs. the Phillies. Ryan Howard is 3-for-9 with a homer and six RBIs off him. The Phillies go with Aaron Nola (1-2, 4.50). He allowed a career-high seven runs in five innings vs. Washington on April 16 but bounced back last time out to hold the Brewers to one run over seven innings. Harper loves facing the guy, going 5-for-7 with two homers and four RBIs.

Key trends: The Phillies are 0-6 in Nola's past six vs. teams with a winning record. The Nats are 1-6 in Roark's past seven vs. the NL East. The under is 5-1 in Nola's past six. The over is Roark's past seven on Thursday.

Early lean: Phillies and over -- call it a hunch that Roark might struggle.

White Sox at Orioles (-130, 9)

Chicago has had the best rotation in the American League thus far, but the clear weak link of that group goes in this series opener in lefty John Danks (0-3, 6.23). If he wasn't making $15 million or so, he wouldn't be in the rotation. Danks does actually come off a quality start, allowing two runs and five hits in six innings in a loss to the Angels. The White Sox would take that every time out for sure. Danks is 1-2 with a 4.25 ERA in five career starts at Camden Yards. J.J. Hardy is 9-for-25 off him with four doubles and a homer. Matt Wieters has two homers in 27 at-bats against Danks. With Yovani Gallardo on the DL, Tyler Wilson (1-0, 2.77) is back in the Baltimore rotation. He was decent in his first start, allowing three runs in five innings Saturday in Kansas City. Not many White Sox have faced him. Jose Abreu is 0-for-3.

Key trends: The Sox are 0-6 in Danks' past six starts. The over is 5-1 in his past six on the road. The over is 5-0 in Wilson's past five.

Early lean: Orioles and over.

Marlins at Dodgers (-140, 6.5)

Clearly the marquee pitching matchup of the night. It's Jose Fernandez (1-2, 4.37), probably a Dodger at some point in the future via trade, for Miami. He wasn't too sharp last time out, allowing four runs and seven hits in six innings in San Francisco. Fernandez is 2-0 in his career against the Dodgers with a 2.84 ERA. Carl Crawford, just activated off the DL, is 4-for-8 against him with two RBIs. Adrian Gonzalez has a homer in seven at-bats vs. Gonzalez. Meanwhile, it's the biggest pitching story of the National League thus far in Japanese rookie Kenta Maeda (3-0. 0.36) for Los Angeles. Let's be clear, the Dodgers thought this guy might be a good No. 3 or No. 4, not an ace. Only three other pitchers since 1900 have allowed one combined run in their first four career starts, including former Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela. Maeda has pitched at least six innings in all four starts. He's the fifth pitcher in the live-ball era to begin his career with four straight games of at least six innings and one run or fewer allowed. Obviously no Marlins have faced him yet.

Key trends: The Marlins are 1-4 in Fernandez's past five road starts. The over is 6-2 in his past eight on the road.

Early lean: Dodgers and under.
 
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Sharp Bettor

Sharp Bettor's Free Pick for Thursday, April 28, 2016, NBA.

Play the Hawks/Celtics Under the total.
 
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Roz Wins

Roz's Thursday, April 28, 2016, Free MLB Pick: 04/28 10:10 PM

(959) MIAMI MARLINS (J FERNANDZ - R) VS (960) LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Play the (959) MIAMI MARLINS.
 
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Jim Feist

Jim Feist's Comp MLB Pick, Thursday, April 28, 2016 7:10 PM

(965) ATLANTA BRAVES VS (966) BOSTON RED SOX

Take: Over the total

Reason: Your Bonus Play for Thursday, April 28, 2016 is in baseball as the Atlanta Braves and the Red Sox clash at Fenway Park in Boston. Fenway is a small park, great for hitters, and the Atlanta defense is terrible in the field, second worst in baseball in errors. Atlanta is 20-7-1 over the total on the road, plus 19-6-1 over the total away against a right-handed starter. Jhoulys Chacin goes here and the Red Sox smacked him around when they last saw him for 9 hits and 7 runs in 4 innings (15.75 ERA). Boston is No. 7 in baseball in runs scored and the over is 19-7 in the Red Sox's last 26 games vs. a team with a winning percentage below .400. Clay Buchholz goes for Boston with a 6.33 ERA with the team 3-1 over when he starts. Buchholz allowed five runs on six hits and a walk while striking out six in Saturday's 8-3 loss to the Astros. And the over is 13-6-1 in Buchholz's last 20 starts with 4 days of rest. Play Atlanta/Boston Over the total.
 

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