Thursday 5/28/15 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Red Sox (21-24) at Rangers (22-23)
Game: 1
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: May 28, 2015 8:05 PM EDT

The last time Josh Hamilton played at home for the Texas Rangers, he was booed as the club was eliminated from the playoffs.

The Rangers haven't been back to the postseason since, while Hamilton is finally back for them.

He'll make his home debut Thursday night as unbeaten starter Nick Martinez looks to set a club record with an impressive streak in the opener of a four-game series against the Boston Red Sox.

Hamilton closed his first stint with Texas (23-24) by going 0 for 4 with two strikeouts in a 5-1 loss to Baltimore in the 2012 AL wild-card game. He was booed in his final two at_bats in a season in which the Rangers were swept over the final weekend in Oakland to blow the AL West title.

The left fielder had a self-reported alcohol and cocaine relapse last offseason that led to the end of his two-year tenure with the Los Angeles Angels. He was a five-time All-Star in his first stint with Texas and sparked the Rangers to the World Series in 2010 and 2011.

Hamilton was mostly booed in his Angels returns to Arlington, though he batted .389 during a 14-game hitting streak as a visiting player there heading into 2015.

'I'm looking forward to being back in the area and in the ballpark and playing in front of Rangers fans again,' he said. 'I don't think any nerves will be there, but you never know."

He went 1 for 11 in his first series in Cleveland, with his first hit coming in Wednesday's 12-3 defeat that ended the Rangers' season-high, seven-game win streak.

Martinez (4-0, 1.96 ERA) could get Texas right back on track. He's third in the AL in ERA and among three pitchers to not have a loss after making at least nine starts.

The right-hander, who has never faced Boston, allowed two runs over seven innings to win his second straight outing in a 15-4 rout of the New York Yankees on Saturday.

That was the 15th straight start in which Martinez has allowed three or fewer earned runs to match Rich Hand's 1972 club record. Martinez benefits from the fourth-highest run support average in baseball at 8.18.

Having Prince Fielder helps, as the AL batting leader has a .368 average. Fielder is 15 for 28 with five homers and 15 RBIs in a six-game hitting streak.

Boston (21-26) will give the ball to highly touted Eduardo Rodriguez, who looks to become the first Red Sox starter to win his big league debut since Daisuke Matsuzaka in 2007.

Rodriguez is a 22-year-old left-hander who went 4-3 with a 2.98 ERA in eight starts with Triple-A Pawtucket. Catcher Blake Swihart has caught him the last two years.

"He's not scared to go after guys," Swihart told MLB's official website. "He's very confident out there on the mound and he goes out there with the confidence that he's going to win the battle. To just have a guy who goes out there and competes like that is nice."

The Red Sox began a seven-game trip by getting swept in three by Minnesota. Dustin Pedroia went 5 for 12 in the series, including a pair of two-run homers in Wednesday's 6-4 defeat.

Texas and Boston combined for 14 runs from May 19-21 when the Rangers took two of three at Fenway Park.


SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Red Sox at Rangers
Thu, May 28 - 8:05PM EDT

GAME 2
Red Sox at Rangers
Fri, May 29 - 8:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Red Sox at Rangers
Sat, May 30 - 7:15PM EDT

GAME 4
Red Sox at Rangers
Sun, May 31 - 3:05PM EDT

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Yankees (23-22) at Athletics (17-30)
Game: 1
Venue: O.co Coliseum
Date: May 28, 2015 10:05 PM EDT

The New York Yankees are happy to have Alex Rodriguez, especially lately.

After sparking a sweep over what had been the AL's top team, Rodriguez will try to help the Yankees match their longest winning streak of the season Thursday night against the league-worst Oakland Athletics.

New York (25-22) wasn't entirely thrilled to have Rodriguez back after he sat out all of last season serving a suspension for a banned substance.

Last week, owner Hal Steinbrenner called Rodriguez "a great asset."

The 39-year-old designated hitter is 10 for 22 (.455) in the past six games, collecting six hits and scoring four runs in a three-game sweep of reigning AL champion Kansas City after the Yankees had lost 10 of 11. The Royals entered that series with the majors' best record but fell into a tie atop the AL Central while New York took over the East lead.

Rodriguez hit a three-run shot for his 11th homer of the season in Wednesday's 4-2 victory, giving him 1,995 RBIs to pass Lou Gehrig's 1,993 for the most in AL history. He's one back of Barry Bonds for second all-time, while Hark Aaron leads with 2,297 for a statistic that didn't become official until 1920.

"I haven't played a lot of baseball in the last two years, but I feel like I'm in a good place, I'm happy. I'm having fun," said Rodriguez, limited to 44 games in 2013 due to hip surgery.

"I think for me in a weird way the time off was a blessing in disguise. I was able to get some rest, change my workout regimen a little bit. I just feel like I'm in a better place and more explosive than I've been."

He has a .375 average in his last 13 meetings with the A's (17-32) but hasn't faced them since 2012.

Strong pitching also has New York in position to equal its season-high four-game win streak from April 21-24, having yielded four runs in three games against the Royals, but its starter Thursday has one of the AL's worst ERAs among qualifying pitchers.

CC Sabathia (2-6, 5.47 ERA) is coming off his worst performance of the season and shortest without an injury in nine years. He was pulled with one out in a third inning in which he was charged with six of Texas' 10 runs in a 15-4 loss Saturday.

The six-time All-Star, though, had won his two previous starts on the road, where owns a 3.48 ERA in six starts compared to 11.77 at home.

Sabathia has a 6.00 ERA while losing his last two starts against the A's, both in 2013.

The Yankees have dropped seven of eight on the road and nine of 10 in Oakland, but the A's own the majors' worst home record at 6-16. They've lost six of seven at home after falling 3-2 to Detroit on Wednesday.

Oakland is turning to Kendall Graveman (2-2, 6.04) after he allowed three hits and had a season-high six strikeouts in six innings of a 5-0 win at Tampa Bay on Saturday, hours after being recalled from Triple-A Nashville.

The right-hander, who has never faced the Yankees, was on the opening-day roster but went 1-2 with an 8.27 ERA in four starts before being sent down.

"I located the fastball well, had good movement and changed speeds when I needed to, so I think that was a positive," Graveman told MLB's official website. "I felt comfortable out there."

That hasn't been the case at O.co Coliseum, as he's lost both of his starts there while surrendering 14 runs and 16 hits - three homers - in eight innings.


SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Yankees at Athletics
Thu, May 28 - 10:05PM EDT

GAME 2
Yankees at Athletics
Fri, May 29 - 10:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Yankees at Athletics
Sat, May 30 - 10:05PM EDT

GAME 4
Yankees at Athletics
Sun, May 31 - 4:05PM EDT

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: White Sox at Orioles

GAME: Chicago White Sox (20-24) at Baltimore Orioles (21-23)
DATE/TIME: Thursday, May 28 - 4:35 PM EST
WHERE: Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, Maryland
LINE: 136, -148 TOTAL: 8

The last time the Chicago White Sox played in Baltimore, no one came to see the game. The Orioles hope to fit in a few more fans when they host the White Sox in a straight doubleheader on Thursday to make up for games missed during the riots in Baltimore last month.

The Orioles earned an 8-2 win in front of a stadium full of empty seats on Apr. 29 after two days of waiting around with the White Sox in town, and then played a “home” series in Tampa Bay as the violence died down in Baltimore. The only issue for the Orioles at home now is whether they can put together a winning homestand after taking two of three from the Houston Astros to begin an eight-game stay this week. The White Sox suffered a crushing 10-9 loss at Toronto on Tuesday night but found their offense in that game and carried it over to a 5-3 victory on Wednesday. That marked just the second win in the last nine games for Chicago.

TV: 4:35 p.m. ET, CSN Chicago, MASN2 (Baltimore)

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Chris Beck (NA) vs. Orioles RH Mike Wright (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

Beck will be making his major-league debut in the nightcap after sailing through the Chicago system. The Georgia native was a second-round pick in 2012 and topped out at Triple-A in 2014 before returning to the level to start this season. Beck went 3-2 with a 3.30 ERA for the Charlotte Knights to earn the spot start.

Wright has yet to allow a run in two major-league starts, spanning 14 1/3 innings. The 25-year-old surrendered a total of seven hits while striking out 10 against the Angels and the Marlins. Wright was held out of the decision at Miami on Saturday, when Baltimore suffered a 1-0 loss in 13 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Orioles signed Cuban LHP Ariel Miranda to a minor-league contract.

2. Chicago OF Avisail Garcia (sore right knee) sat out the last two games and is day-to-day.

3. Baltimore 1B Chris Davis snapped a 13-game homerless drought with a pair of blasts on Wednesday.

PREDICTION: Orioles 7, White Sox 3

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Red Sox at Rangers

GAME: Boston Red Sox (21-26) at Texas Rangers (23-24)
DATE/TIME: Thursday, May 28 - 8:05 PM EST
WHERE: Globe Life Park in Arlington, Arlington, Texas
LINE: 100, -108 TOTAL: 9

The Texas Rangers had little trouble with the Red Sox on the road last week and will try to ease their way past visiting Boston again in the opener of a four-game series on Thursday. The Red Sox began their road trip by dropping three straight at Minnesota and will turn to a rookie in an effort to upgrade their starting pitching.

Highly touted left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez soared to the top of Boston’s list of pitching prospects and will give everyone else in the beleaguered rotation an extra day off during a stretch of 20 consecutive games by making the spot start. "He's a competitor," Boston catcher Blake Swihart, who was with Rodriguez at Triple-A to begin the season, told reporters. "He's going to come out and compete. He thinks he's going to get the guy out whenever he's on the mound. That's what we want." The Rangers have not been easy to retire of late and began a seven-game winning streak with two against the Red Sox before finally falling 12-3 at Cleveland on Wednesday. Texas is returning home after a 7-2 road trip that brought the team within a game of .500 (23-24).

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NESN (Boston), FSN Southwest (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Eduardo Rodriguez (NA) vs. Rangers RH Nick Martinez (4-0, 1.96 ERA)

Rodriguez came to the Red Sox in the deal that sent reliever Andrew Miller to Baltimore at the 2014 trade deadline and has breezed through the upper levels of the Boston system. The 22-year-old boasts a 2.98 ERA while notching 44 strikeouts and seven walks in 48 1/3 innings at Triple-A this season. Rodriguez is expected to be returned to Pawtucket following Thursday’s start but will be on alert should No. 5 starter Joe Kelly continue to struggle.

Martinez surrendered a pair of solo home runs at New York on Saturday but did not allow another runner to cross the plate over seven innings in a win. The 24-year-old has allowed three or fewer earned runs in each of his nine starts this season and is coming off back-to-back wins. Martinez missed the series in Fenway Park last week and will be making his first career start against Boston.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rangers LF Josh Hamilton will make his first home appearance since rejoining the club last month.

2. Boston acquired OF Carlos Peguero from the Rangers for cash considerations on Wednesday.

3. Texas DH Prince Fielder is 15-for-28 with 15 RBIs in the last six games.

PREDICTION: Rangers 6, Red Sox 2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Tigers at Angels

GAME: Detroit Tigers (28-20) at Los Angeles Angels (23-24)
DATE/TIME: Thursday, May 28 - 10:05 PM EST
WHERE: Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, California
LINE: 128, -139 TOTAL: 7.5

The slumping Los Angeles Angels have dipped below .500 and attempt to get back to the break-even point when they host the Detroit Tigers in Thursday's opener of a four-game series. Los Angeles has dropped four of its last five games and has scored just 12 runs during the stretch while Detroit has won back-to-back contests following a three-game skid.

Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera was hitless in four at-bats in Wednesday's loss against Oakland and that snapped his 13-game hitting streak. On the other side of the spectrum is cold-hitting second baseman Ian Kinsler, who is just 3-for-32 over the last eight games and is still homerless through Detroit's first 48 games. Los Angeles also has some slumping batters as center fielder Mike Trout has just one homer over the last 11 games and first baseman Albert Pujols has just five RBIs over his past 19 contests. The Angels went 1-of-9 with runners in scoring position during back-to-back losses to the San Diego Padres after taking the series opener.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, FSN Detroit, FSN West (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RHP Buck Farmer (NR) vs. Angels LH C.J. Wilson (2-3, 3.36 ERA)

Farmer is being recalled from Triple-A Toledo to pitch with the Tigers short on starters due to Justin Verlander’s injury and Alfredo Simon’s leave to tend to his ailing father. He was 5-1 with a 2.98 ERA in nine starts at Toledo with 50 strikeouts in 51 1/3 innings. Farmer went 0-1 with an 11.57 ERA in four major-league appearances (two starts) for Detroit in 2014.

Wilson lost to Boston in his last turn when he gave up four runs and seven hits in six innings. He is 1-3 over his last eight starts despite allowing two runs or fewer in five of them. Wilson is 2-3 with a 5.49 ERA in 12 career appearances (six starts) against Detroit.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tigers SS Jose Iglesias (knee) has missed four consecutive games.

2. The Angels acquired OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis from the New York Mets for cash considerations Wednesday.

3. Kinsler is 8-for-21 against Wilson, his former teammate on the Texas Rangers.

PREDICTION: Angels 7, Tigers 6

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Yankees at Athletics

GAME: New York Yankees (25-22) at Oakland Athletics (17-32)
DATE/TIME: Thursday, May 28 - 10:05 PM EST
WHERE: O.co Coliseum, Oakland, California
LINE: -114, 105 TOTAL: 8

After righting the ship at home with an impressive showing against the defending American League champs, the New York Yankees look to keep their momentum in the first of four straight at Oakland on Thursday. The Yankees dipped out of first place in the AL East with a recent 1-10 swoon before taking three straight over Kansas City to begin the week.

Alex Rodriguez lined a three-run homer to back 6 2/3 solid innings from Michael Pineda in Wednesday's 4-2 win, which coincided with a Tampa Bay loss to give New York (25-22) the only winning record in the division. Rodriguez was 6-for-11 in the series sweep, owns a six-game hitting streak (.455) and with the blast surpassed Lou Gehrig for the all-time AL lead with 1,995 RBIs, one behind second-place Barry Bonds since the stat became official in 1920, according to Elias. Oakland dropped two of three against Detroit to open a seven-game homestand, including a 3-2 loss on Wednesday in which starter Scott Kazmir left after three innings with shoulder tightness. The lefty was unscored upon prior to the injury, giving the Athletics' starting staff a 2.59 ERA over the last 15 games.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, YES (New York), CSN California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH CC Sabathia (2-6, 5.47 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Kendall Graveman (2-2, 6.04)

Sabathia had lasted at least six innings in four straight starts before he was knocked out following 2 1/3 rocky frames against Texas on Saturday. The veteran allowed six runs and seven hits to see his home ERA soar to 11.77. Sabathia owns a 3.48 mark in six road outings and is 5-3 with a 3.22 ERA in 12 starts versus Oakland since joining the Yankees in 2009.

Graveman had an 8.27 ERA in four starts before a trip to the minors but returned in impressive fashion at Tampa Bay on Saturday, limiting the Rays to three hits in six scoreless innings. He struck out six and walked two after posting just seven punchouts against nine walks in his first stint with the A's this season. Like Sabathia, Graveman has been pounded at home, giving up 14 runs (13 earned) in eight frames spread over two starts at O.co Coliseum.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rodriguez has 1,946 career runs scored, three shy of tying Stan Musial for eighth place on the all-time list.

2. A's C Stephen Vogt was 5-for-11 in the Detroit series and is batting .339 at home.

3. Oakland has won nine of the last 10 meetings at home.

PREDICTION: Yankees 5, Athletics 4

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Indians at Mariners

GAME: Cleveland Indians (21-25) at Seattle Mariners (23-23)
DATE/TIME: Thursday, May 28 - 10:10 PM EST
WHERE: Safeco Field, Seattle, Washington
LINE: -126, 116 TOTAL: 6.5

Corey Kluber has been sensational over his last three outings and looks to extend his dominance when the Cleveland Indians open a four-game series against the host Seattle Mariners on Thursday. Kluber has struck out 37 and allowed two runs in 25 innings over his last three starts.

The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner didn’t own a victory through seven starts before winning twice during the recent hot stretch. He has yet to win on the road – 0-3 with a 4.00 ERA in five attempts – and is pitching at Safeco Field for the first time in his career. Cleveland won for the seventh time in nine games when it routed Texas 12-3 on Wednesday and second baseman Jason Kipnis (3-for-5 versus the Rangers) is batting a scorching .447 in May to raise his average to .342. Seattle, which is beginning an 11-game homestand, has won five of its last six games as major-league home-run leader Nelson Cruz (18) hit a three-run shot in the ninth inning and Felix Hernandez tossed a four-hit shutout in a 3-0 win over Tampa Bay on Wednesday.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Corey Kluber (2-5, 3.49 ERA) vs. Mariners LH James Paxton (3-2, 3.52)

Kluber has faced Seattle once in his career and pitched a three-hitter for his lone major-league shutout in a 2-0 victory last July 30. He has gone at least eight innings in each of his last three starts, allowing 15 hits and only one walk. Kluber has fanned 10 or more batters three times this season, topped by a career-best 18 in eight innings against St. Louis on May 13.

Paxton has won his last three starts and has put together five consecutive strong outings. He allowed two runs and four hits in six innings while beating Toronto in his last turn and is 3-0 with a 1.59 ERA over the five-start stretch. Paxton, who has never faced Cleveland, hasn’t been scored upon in 14 innings over his last two home starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cleveland 1B Carlos Santana hit his 104th career homer on Wednesday to tie Carlos Baerga for the franchise lead for most by a switch-hitter.

2. Seattle CF Austin Jackson struck out in all four at-bats on Wednesday in his second game back from an ankle injury.

3. Kipnis has 20 extra-base hits in May after having only three in April.

PREDICTION: Indians 6, Mariners 0

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Pirates at Padres

GAME: Pittsburgh Pirates (24-22) at San Diego Padres (23-25)
DATE/TIME: Thursday, May 28 - 10:10 PM EST
WHERE: Petco Park, San Diego, California
LINE: -121, 112 TOTAL: 6.5

Two teams eager to leave their slow starts behind meet Thursday as the surging Pittsburgh Pirates visit the San Diego Padres for the start of a four-game series. The Padres have won three of four following a four-game losing skid while Pittsburgh is riding a season-high six-game winning streak.

“We've got our swag back out there,” Pirates catcher Chris Stewart told reporters. “You can’t foresee it, but we’re as good as any team in baseball, especially the way we’re playing right now. We feel like we can keep it going.” Pittsburgh’s resurgence has been led by its starting pitching along with closer Mark Melancon, who has allowed a run in just one of his last 15 appearances and is 12-for-13 in save chances. Padres closer Craig Kimbrel has worked the last three straight days and could be unavailable Thursday as the team begins a seven-game homestand. San Diego's offense has struggled in recent weeks, but center fielder Will Venable has provided a spark defensively in place of Wil Myers, who has missed the last 15 games due to left wrist tendinitis.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Pittsburgh), FSN San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH A.J. Burnett (4-1, 1.37 ERA) vs. Padres RH Ian Kennedy (2-4, 6.11)

Burnett lowered his major league-best ERA to 1.37 after holding the Mets to one run with 10 strikeouts over seven innings last Saturday. The 38-year-old has recorded eight straight quality starts and brings a four-game winning streak into Thursday’s contest. Justin Upton is 6-for-14 with two home runs against Burnett, who is 3-7 with a 4.23 ERA in 11 career starts against the Padres, including a no-hitter with the Marlins in San Diego on May 12, 2001.

Kennedy lost his third straight game last Saturday despite throwing six strong innings against the Dodgers. Left-handed hitters are batting .333 against the Southern California native, who missed two weeks early in the season due to a strained left hamstring. Kennedy is 3-3 with a 3.66 ERA in eight career starts against Pittsburgh, and he's had trouble containing second baseman Neil Walker (8-for-18, two home runs).

WALK-OFFS

1. Pittsburgh’s bullpen has allowed four earned runs over its last nine games covering 29 innings.

2. San Diego 1B Yonder Alonso (shoulder) will join Triple-A El Paso on Friday and could be activated from the disabled list as soon as Monday.

3. Pirates INF Jung Ho Kang is 14-for-36 during his nine-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Pirates 5, Padres 3

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Braves at Giants

GAME: Atlanta Braves (23-23) at San Francisco Giants (28-20)
DATE/TIME: Thursday, May 28 - 10:15 PM EST
WHERE: AT&T Park, San Francisco, California
LINE: 118, -128 TOTAL: 6.5

The spotlight figures to be on third base Thursday as the Atlanta Braves visit the San Francisco Giants for the start of a four-game series. Matt Duffy is set to make his home debut as the regular starter at the hot corner for the Giants, who have bounced back from a slow start by going 19-7 in May.

The Braves added to their infield depth Wednesday by trading infielder Alberto Callaspo to the Dodgers for veteran Juan Uribe, who will share time at third base with Chris Johnson. Uribe, a former Giant, received the start Wednesday as the Braves avoided a three-game sweep against the Dodgers and likely will be in the lineup against right-handed starters while Johnson gets the nod against lefties. The Giants decided against a platoon at third base earlier in the week as they released struggling Casey McGehee and named Duffy the everyday starter. Duffy is batting .301 overall and is 9-for-25 during his six-game hitting streak.

TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, SportSouth (Atlanta), CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Shelby Miller (5-1, 1.50 ERA) vs. Giants RH Chris Heston (4-3, 4.33)

Miller has entered the Cy Young award discussion after holding opponents to a .144 batting average over his last four starts. The 24-year-old recorded his seventh straight quality start Saturday as he held Milwaukee to two runs over six innings. Nori Aoki is 7-for-18 with a home run against Miller, who made two starts against the Giants as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals and posted a 2-0 record and 1.46 ERA.

Heston owns a 12.91 ERA over his last two outings, including Saturday when he allowed six runs in 5 2/3 innings at Colorado. The 27-year-old rookie opened the season with three quality starts for the Giants, who added him to the rotation following injuries to Jake Peavy (back) and Matt Cain (flexor tendon strain). Heston, set to make his first career appearance against Atlanta, has a 2.77 ERA in four home starts this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Giants C Buster Posey has reached base safely in 27 consecutive games.

2. Atlanta C A.J. Pierzynski, who played for the Giants in 2004, has seven hits in his last 51 at-bats.

3. Peavy allowed six runs in 4 2/3 innings Wednesday in his second minor league rehab start for Triple-A Sacramento.

PREDICTION: Braves 5, Giants 1

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

CAPPERS ACCESS

W.Sox(GM#1)-140
Red Sox+104

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Pirates (23-22) at Padres (22-25)
Game: 1
Venue: PETCO Park
Date: May 28, 2015 10:10 PM EDT

Clint Hurdle seems to be considerably happier now that the Pittsburgh Pirates are winning consistently, and giving the ball to A.J. Burnett isn't likely to alter his mood.

Burnett looks to continue his masterful final season and keep the Pirates rolling in the opener of their 10-game road trip Thursday night against the San Diego Padres.

Pittsburgh (24-22) was four games under .500 following a 4-3, 13-inning loss to Minnesota on May 20, and Hurdle called the team the "definition of insanity," according to MLB's official website.

"If you want more, you've got to do more," Hurdle said.

The Pirates are outscoring opponents 35-9 during a six-game winning streak, their longest since taking nine straight from June 20-30, 2013.

"We're headed in the right direction," Hurdle said after Pittsburgh's 5-2 win over Miami on Wednesday. "You've got to take ownership of your season. You've got to take ownership of your club. These guys know we have talent. For way too long, we were a good team playing mediocre baseball. So you're not a good team, really. You've got to connect the dots. You've got to put the parts of the game in play."

Burnett (4-1, 1.37 ERA) owns the lowest qualifying ERA in the majors, and the right-hander has a 1.29 mark while winning four consecutive starts for the first time since a career-best eight straight from May 19-June 28, 2012, during his first stint with Pittsburgh.

"He's like a kid in the backyard out there that's having some fun that is being aggressive and very, very purposeful on the mound," Hurdle said. "He's pitching as well as I've ever seen him pitch. He's doing more."

The 38-year-old right-hander, who plans to retire at season's end, was superb Saturday, allowing one run with a season-high 10 strikeouts while outpitching Matt Harvey in an 8-2 win over the New York Mets.

"I just look at leaving it all out on the field, knowing it's my last go around," Burnett said. "It's fun to pitch for (my teammates), to be around them. They bring so much out of me."

Burnett is 2-3 with a 3.96 ERA in six starts over the last three seasons against the Padres (23-25).

San Diego has won three of four games, matching its win total from the previous 12. They Padres have yet to win more than three straight, which they can do for a fifth time after taking their final two on the road against the Los Angeles Angels.

Ian Kennedy (2-4, 6.11) takes the mound looking to avoid matching a career-high five straight losing starts from May 3-25, 2012, with Arizona. He has a 7.47 ERA over his last three outings but was solid Saturday at Dodger Stadium, holding Los Angeles to two runs with six strikeouts in six innings of a 2-0 loss.

The right-hander was 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA last season against the Pirates, though Josh Harrison went 4 for 5 with three extra-base hits and Gregory Polanco was 3 for 3.

Kennedy will get his first look at rookie Jung Ho Kang, who is hitting .389 (14 for 36) in his past nine games after connecting for a two-run single Wednesday.

San Diego's Justin Upton is 7 for 16 with a homer and seven RBIs over the last four games, and he's 6 for 14 with two homers and two doubles versus Burnett.


SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Pirates at Padres
Thu, May 28 - 10:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Pirates at Padres
Fri, May 29 - 10:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Pirates at Padres
Sat, May 30 - 10:10PM EDT

GAME 4
Pirates at Padres
Sun, May 31 - 9:10PM EDT

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Tigers (27-20) at Angels (23-23)
Game: 1
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Date: May 28, 2015 10:05 PM EDT

Although their rotation has been decimated and their offense has hit a dry spell, the resourceful Detroit Tigers are aiming for their third consecutive victory on a seven-game western trip.

They'll try to erase some bad memories on the next stop at Angel Stadium, which has been their own house of horrors.

The Tigers are looking to avoid their 10th defeat in 11 road games against the slumping Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night when left-hander C.J. Wilson sets out to continue his own success at home.

Justin Verlander has yet to throw a pitch because of a strained right triceps, and Detroit (28-20) is now having to scramble to fill more holes in the rotation. Alex Wilson worked three effective innings in his emergency start ahead of five others in Wednesday's 3-2 win at Oakland after Alfredo Simon left the club to see his ailing father.

"It felt like a long relief outing for me," Wilson told MLB's official website.

Next, the Tigers will call on right-hander Buck Farmer to make his season debut. He's replacing injured left-hander Kyle Lobstein, who had been starting in place of Verlander.

Farmer went 0-1 with a 15.63 ERA in two August starts before allowing one run in three innings in two relief appearances in September. He's been pitching well at Triple-A Toledo, posting a 2.98 ERA over 51 1-3 innings.

The Tigers hope he can help turn around their fortunes at Angel Stadium, where they've gone 15-41 since 2002. Detroit totaled two runs while dropping the last three of a four-game series there in July.

The Angels have dropped four of five heading into this meeting after Wednesday's 5-4 home loss to San Diego. However, they appear to be turning to the right pitcher as Wilson (2-3, 3.36 ERA) has gone 10-2 with a 3.56 ERA in his last 18 home starts.

The two-time All-Star is also 2-2 with a 2.23 ERA in seven night games this season.

After going 1-1 with a 2.10 ERA over a five-start stretch, Wilson hasn't been as sharp in allowing eight runs and 17 hits over 11 innings in his last two. He gave up four runs and needed 119 pitches to make it through six in Saturday's 8-3 loss at Boston.

"That's what I was most upset about, was being inefficient with my pitches, even though I had a good plan," Wilson said.

Wilson is 2-2 with a 5.45 ERA in six regular-season starts versus Detroit, though he's 1-0 with a 1.98 mark in the two at home. Ian Kinsler is 8 for 21 off his former Texas teammate, but he's 3 for 32 in his last eight games.

Yoenis Cespedes, 6 for 18 with four walks in the matchup, keyed Detroit's series-clinching win over the A's by going 2 for 3 with a three-run home run in the fifth inning. He has seven RBIs over a six-game hitting streak at Los Angeles.

Miguel Cabrera has gone just 4 for 16 with five strikeouts and one home run when facing Wilson. The superstar was batting .400 with five homers over a 13-game hitting streak before going 0 for 4 with three strikeouts Wednesday.

Detroit batted .202 while totaling just four runs in the three games in Oakland, though Los Angeles (23-24) hasn't exactly lit up the scoreboard either in batting .228 and plating 12 runs in its past five.

Mike Trout, who had two hits Wednesday, is just 2 for 22 over his past six meetings with the Tigers.


SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Tigers at Angels
Thu, May 28 - 10:05PM EDT

GAME 2
Tigers at Angels
Fri, May 29 - 10:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Tigers at Angels
Sat, May 30 - 10:05PM EDT

GAME 4
Tigers at Angels
Sun, May 31 - 8:05PM EDT

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Braves (22-23) at Giants (27-20)
Game: 1
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: May 28, 2015 10:15 PM EDT

The San Francisco Giants return to AT&T Park, where their pitching staff appears more comfortable after surviving some rough efforts on the mound during an ultimately successful road trip.

Shelby Miller continues to pitch well no matter his surroundings.

The Giants seek a fifth consecutive home victory in the opener of a four-game series against Miller's Atlanta Braves on Thursday night.

San Francisco starters finished with a 6.10 ERA on a seven-game trip, a mark that looks much better after Ryan Vogelsong allowed one run over six innings of Wednesday's 3-1 win to cap a sweep of Milwaukee.

The Giants (28-20) went 5-2 on the trip largely due to a .299 average and 25 extra-base hits. Joe Panik hit a two-run homer Wednesday and Nori Aoki had two hits to finish 11 for 17 over the final four games.

Thursday begins a seven-game stretch at home, where the Giants have won 13 of their last 16.

'This is one of the toughest road trips I've been on,' manager Bruce Bochy said. 'I think we were only able to get on the field (for batting practice) twice, but these guys never complained and they came out ready to go every day.'

San Francisco's staff ranks 26th in the majors with a 4.60 ERA on the road, but its 2.73 mark at home is the second-best in baseball.

It hasn't seemed to matter where Miller (5-1, 1.50 ERA) pitches. The right-hander lost a no-hitter with one out in the ninth and finished with a two-hit shutout at Miami on May 17, then gave up two runs in six innings of Atlanta's 3-2, 11-inning win over Milwaukee on Saturday.

Miller, who allowed a first-inning run for the first time this season against the Brewers, is 2-0 with a 0.87 ERA and two shutouts in four May outings while holding opponents to a .144 average.

The Braves (23-23) have won eight of Miller's nine starts, and in that defeat he allowed only two earned runs to Cincinnati on April 30.

"It's always a grind," Miller said. "I just try to go out there every inning and battle and put up zeros."

Miller has a 1.46 ERA while winning both of his regular-season starts against the Giants, but they roughed him up for three runs and six hits in just 3 2-3 innings in Game 4 of last year's NL championship series as San Francisco beat St. Louis 6-4.

Hunter Pence is 4 for 9 with a homer off Miller, who opposes Chris Heston as the Giants' starter looks to snap out of his funk.

Heston (4-3, 4.33) went 2-1 with a 0.87 ERA over his first three starts, but he has a 6.48 ERA since while allowing at least five runs in four of six inconsistent outings.

The right-hander struck out a career-high 10 and allowed two hits in a complete-game 8-1 win at Houston on May 12, then gave up five runs in just two innings of the Giants' 9-8 loss at Cincinnati on May 17.

Heston struggled again while allowing six runs in 5 2-3 innings of a 10-8 win at Colorado on Saturday, but should be happy to return to San Francisco, where he's posted a 2.77 ERA in four starts.

He'll be making his first career appearance against the Braves, who salvaged the finale of a three-game set with the Los Angeles Dodgers with Wednesday's 3-2 victory.

Cameron Maybin homered and is hitting .351 over his last 11.

"It's a huge win,' Maybin said. "... To leave here getting a win, we got to be excited about it. It was a good team win and it was a good way to finish up.'

Atlanta has lost nine of the last 12 meetings.


SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Braves at Giants
Thu, May 28 - 10:15PM EDT

GAME 2
Braves at Giants
Fri, May 29 - 10:15PM EDT

GAME 3
Braves at Giants
Sat, May 30 - 10:05PM EDT

GAME 4
Braves at Giants
Sun, May 31 - 4:05PM EDT

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Chalk could be costly


April and May means that many novice sports bettors may look at the matchups and lean toward ace pitchers and lay the big price. But let me give you three words of advice: Don't do it. Baseball is unique from football and basketball in that there is no point spread. Instead you bet merely on which team will win the game and this translates into a money-line wager.

When betting baseball, most professional handicappers look for prices that are close to even money (for example, -120, -135 favorites or +105, +130 underdogs). Or bettors will play baseball totals where, like NFL and NBA totals, there is a point spread set on each game and the line is usually minus-110 OVER or UNDER.

The reason is simple: You need to pay serious attention to money-management when wagering on sports. You may like to bet on Clayton Kershaw, Felix Hernandez and David Price because they are big name win a lot, but you end up laying roughly three dollars for every one you hope to win and, over the long haul, you are very likely to lose money. This is why you rarely find professional handicappers giving out ace pitchers that are priced as a two-dollar or more favorites.

And what happens when ace pitchers have an injury or a bad season? Former dominant aces CC Sabathia, Tim Lincecum and R.A. Dickey have struggled this year. Lincecum stopped throwing his slider for stretches in 2012 and ended up 10-15. He’s been up and down a lot since, while Dickey had one monster season then changed leagues, struggling in the hitter friendly AL East ever since.

Betting the big favorites on a regular basis is dangerous and there is little value in it. Think about the value: You have to win 2 out of every 3 of those wagers just to break even. That is roughly a 66% winning percentage just to stay afloat, or in the case of Kershaw at –240, an even higher percentage. This 2015 baseball season the Dodgers started 2-4 in Kershaw’s first six starts! It is not worth it to get hooked on the big favorites because you may get away with it once and a while, but over the long haul, your bankroll will get wiped out.

There are so many factors that can come into play in baseball. For example, the wind could be blowing out, making both starting pitchers vulnerable to a lot of runs and a lot of pitches. This could mean that your ace would throw 100 pitches in five innings. If that is the case, he would be prone to tire around the 100-pitch mark, and/or the game would be turned over the bullpen, something you hadn't counted on. Then, all of a sudden the game is in the relief pitcher's hands, rather than the staff ace that you were counting on to go 8 innings.

Or, a team may fall apart defensively. A couple of ill-timed errors with two outs and two men on base via walks, and you are down 3-0. You had not factored in the errors, only the great starting pitcher. One season Roy Halladay was a three-dollar favorite at home against the Pirates (as he should have been). He pitched great, allowing 2 runs in a complete game, but lost 2-1 as the Phillies mustered only six hits while committing three errors. In 2011, Justin Verlander was outstanding, even throwing a no-hitter. Yet, the Tigers started 3-5 in his first eight starts – all as chalk!

Sometimes teams get pumped up to face an ace, particularly at home, and want to get a win. Another factor is that in the first half of the baseball season, lines are often set on what the pitcher did last year, not the current season. The Red Sox, Angels and Reds have been big disappointments and even the high profile Cubs and Nationals haven't been as good as expected.

Meanwhile, the Padres, Giants, Astros and Twins have overachieved. Some of those teams disappointing teams will get better, but the point is, you can't go on last year's stats from these starters, as 2015 is a brand new season.

Also, what if the starting pitcher gets injured? Or there is a rain delay, and the big favorite pitcher only goes 3 innings? If you had known this before the game started, you probably wouldn't have taken the big price. In baseball, look for spots with big dogs rather than the big favorites; the percentages are in your favor.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Thursday's Late Tips

May 28, 2015

Yankees at Athletics – 10:05 PM EST

New York is closing May pretty much how it started the month, picking up three consecutive victories. The Yankees dominated the Royals in a three-game home sweep, outscoring the defending American League champs, 23-4. Joe Girardi’s club travels to the West Coast for the first time this season, as the Bronx Bombers have dropped seven of their last eight road games.

The Athletics are mired in last place of the AL West at 17-32, while owning the worst record in the American League. Oakland’s modest three-game winning streak earlier in the week is now a memory after the A’s lost the final two contests of their three-game set with the Tigers at home. The A’s plated just two runs in the last two defeats, while cashing the ‘under’ in all three games, a stark contrast from the 16-3 ‘over’ mark Oakland owned in its first 19 home contests.

Bay Area native CC Sabathia (2-6, 5.47 ERA) takes the mound against an Oakland lineup that is batting just .210 against left-handed pitching. The Yankees have won three of Sabathia’s past four road starts, but has lost his last two outings at the Coliseum since 2012. Kendall Graveman (2-2, 6.04 ERA) is winless in two home starts for Oakland, but the A’s are 3-0 in his three outings in the underdog role.

Tigers at Angels – 10:05 PM EST

Detroit remains out west following its series victory at Oakland as the Tigers travel to Orange County for a four-game set with the Angels. Since a 9-1 start, Detroit has won three consecutive games three times, as the Tigers go for another three-game hot streak following a pair of one-run victories over the A’s. The Tigers own a 2-4 record in the last six road series openers, as Detroit has been listed as an underdog five times in this span.

The Angels have played better at home recently, winning seven of the past 11 games in Anaheim, while going ‘under’ the total in eight of the last 10 home contests. C.J. Wilson (2-3, 3.36 ERA) is coming off a pair of shaky starts for the Angels, allowing eight earned runs and 17 hits in last two outings, both losses. Los Angeles has won three straight home outings by Wilson, while the Halos have scored at least four runs in each of those games.

Indians at Mariners – 10:10 PM EST

All Seattle needed was to get away from the Pacific Northwest for a while, as the M’s finished off a 6-3 East coast swing with a three-game sweep of the Rays. Now, the Mariners are back at .500 and back at home to host an Indians’ squad that avoided a sweep at home by busting up the Rangers, 12-3 on Wednesday. Cleveland had won a season-high six straight games prior to consecutive losses to Texas to begin its series on Memorial Day.

Corey Kluber (2-5, 3.49 ERA) is less than one season from winning the AL Cy Young Award, as the Indians lost the right-hander’s first seven starts this season. Kluber has bounced back of late by posting a 2-0 record in his previous three trips to the mound, while striking out 37 and walking just one batter in this stretch. However, the Indians have struggled with Kluber on the hill away from Progressive Field, posting an 0-5 record, while the Cleveland offense scored two runs or less four times.

The Indians have compiled a solid 5-1 record in their last six road games against left-handed starting pitchers, as the Tribe faces southpaw James Paxton (3-2, 3.52 ERA) in the series opener. For as good as Kluber has been recently, Paxton isn’t too far off, winning three straight starts, including a pair of scoreless efforts in home victories over the Padres and Red Sox. Paxton has never faced the Indians in his short career, while the Mariners have cashed the ‘under’ in five straight games at Safeco Field.

Pirates at Padres – 10:10 PM EST

Following a pair of ugly home losses to the Twins, the Pirates finished up their homestand with six consecutive wins after sweeping the Mets and Marlins. Pittsburgh forged above the .500 mark thanks to allowing a total of nine runs in the six victories, while riding a three-game ‘under’ streak. Since sweeping Arizona in late April, the Bucs have struggled on the highway by posting a 4-9 in their last 13 away games, including five losses by one run apiece.

The Padres finished off their six-game Los Angeles road swing on a winning note by taking the final two games against the Angels, as San Diego pulled off a 5-4 victory on Wednesday as +150 underdogs. Bud Black’s team begins a seven-game homestand as the Padres have dropped five of their last six contests at Petco Park.

Two pitchers going in different directions of late take the mound in the series opener as A.J. Burnett squares off against Ian Kennedy. Burnett (4-1, 1.37 ERA) has won four consecutive starts, while tossing seven innings in each of those victories for the Pirates and allowing a total of five earned runs. Pittsburgh has cashed the ‘under’ in four of Burnett’s five road starts, as the Bucs have scored three runs or less four times. Kennedy (2-4, 6.11 ERA) is winless in his last three outings, while the Padres own just a 1-3 record in his four home starts this season.

Braves at Giants – 10:15 PM EST

Atlanta continues its road swing through California after avoiding a sweep in a 3-2 triumph at Los Angeles on Wednesday as +170 underdogs. In spite of losing the series to the Dodgers, the Braves have won eight of their last 12 contests, while sending out right-hander Shelby Miller to the mound in the opener at AT&T Park. Miller (5-1, 1.50 ERA) has turned into the most impressive arm in the Braves’ rotation this season, two starts removed from a two-hit shutout over the Marlins as a short road underdog. The Braves have won eight of Miller’s nine starts, including a perfect 5-0 record away from Turner Field.

The Giants stumbled out of the gate with a 4-10 record, but the defending World Champions have put together a 24-10 mark in the past 34 games. San Francisco finished off a seven-game road trip with a 5-2 mark, topped off by a three-game sweep over the slumping Brewers at Miller Park. Thirteen of the last 16 games for the Giants have been played on the highway, as San Francisco’s lone three home games in this stretch were all victories in the underdog role against Los Angeles last week. Christopher Heston (4-3, 4.33 ERA) is 2-0 in his last three starts for the Giants, but the righty has allowed 11 earned runs in the last two games following a complete-game, two-hitter at Houston.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

White Sox winless in last five versus Orioles

The Chicago White Sox will try to snap a five-game losing streak against the Baltimore Orioles in the first game of a doubleheader Thursday.

The clubs met once this season - yes once - with the Sox losing 8-2 on April 29.

The Sox are scheduled to start Chris Sale in the opener and Chris Beck in the second game at Camden Yards Thursday.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

O's Tyler Wilson to make first MLB start Thursday

The Baltimore Orioles will give Tyler Wilson his first start in the Major Leagues against the Chicago White Sox in the first game of a doublheader Thursday afternoon.

Wilson has worked two innings out of the bullpen so far this season. He's allowed five hits and one earned run while striking out one batter. He went 2-4 with a 3.29 ERA in eight starts for the Triple-A Norfolk Tides.

The O's are presently +122 home dogs while the Pale Hose, who counter with ace Chris Sale, are -132.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Free Silver Key Pick for Thursday ML Baseball

Under 7 Total Runs, Cleveland at SEATTLE (10:10 et)

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

1. NSA(The Legend) MLB - Rangers over 9

2. Ray "The Playmaker" Bowden MLB - Rangers -100

3. VegasSI MLB - Pirates -120


5. Gameday Network MLB - Angels -140

6. Vegas Line Crushers MLB - Orioles GM2 -155

7. Gerry "Big Cat" Andino MLB - Orioles GM1 +120

8. Lou Panelli MLB - Angels -140

9. Steve "Scoop" Kendall MLB - Pirates -120

10. BettingOnlineUSA MLB - Angels over 8

11. William E. Stockton MLB - Braves under 6.5


13. International Sports Syndicate MLB - Angels -140

14. SCORE MLB - Pirates -120

15. East Coast Line Movers MLB - Indians under 6.5

16. Tony Campone MLB - Rangers over 9

17. Chicago Sports Group MLB - Yankees -110

18. Hollywood Sportsline MLB - Mariners +115

19. VIP Action MLB - Yankees over 8

20. South Beach Sports MLB - Rangers -100

21. Z Code System MLB - Angels -140

22. Sports Cash System MLB - Orioles GM2 -150


24. Sports Betting Professor MLB - Braves +120

25. 100 Percent Winners MLB - Pirates -120


27. Las Vegas Private CEO Club MLB - Rangers -100

28. Michigan Sports MLB - Braves +120

29. Charlies Sports MLB - Mariners +115

30. Fred Callahan MLB - Yankees -110

31. PointSpreadReport MLB - Mariners +115

32. FreeSportsPicksParlays MLB - Orioles GM2 under 8

33. Las Vegas Sports Commission MLB - Orioles GM2 -155