Tuesday 4/5/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mets (0-1) at Royals (1-0)

Game: 2
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: April 05, 2016 4:15 PM EDT

New York right-hander Noah Syndergaard drew the ire of the Kansas City Royals during last year's World Series.

Now he'll try to put a damper on their championship ring ceremony on Tuesday when the Mets and Royals conclude their season-opening two-game series at Kauffman Stadium.

Much was made of how comfortable the Royals' lineup looked through the first two games of last year's World Series in Kansas City against the Mets. Syndergaard, though, took matters into his own hands when the series shifted to New York, as he fired a 97 mph fastball near the head of Kansas City leadoff batter Alcides Escobar to start Game 3.

Syndergaard offered no apologies after the game. In fact, he may have made things worse inside the Royals' clubhouse, while becoming a hero to his own fan base.

"If they have a problem with me throwing inside, then they can meet me 60 feet 6 inches away," Syndergaard said after the contest. "I've got no problem with that."

Syndergaard defeated the Royals that night, limiting them to three runs and seven hits over six innings, while striking out six in the Mets' only win of the series.

The Royals apparently still harbor some ill will toward the 23-year-old fireballer.

"I don't think they're too fond of me, but as far as retaliation goes, I really don't know what they're going to retaliate against," Syndergaard told MLB's official website. "All I did was establish the inner part of the plate. So I don't know what this whole retaliation talk is all about. But it's going to be an interesting time."

Kansas City picked up right where it left off in Sunday's opener - the first-ever between the previous World Series combatants - as it raced out to a four-run lead before Wade Davis struck out David Wright and Yoenis Cespedes with two runners on in the ninth to preserve a 4-3 victory.

The Royals raised their world championship banner prior to the game.

"It was just strange, the pregame ceremony. I think I would have enjoyed it more if we played another team," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "For them torelive that, it's a little awkward."

It likely won't be any less uncomfortable on Tuesday when the Royals receive their championship rings. After that, they will hand the ball to right-hander Chris Young, who pitched twice in last year's Fall Classic, picking up the win in relief in Game 1 before failing to record a decision in his Game 4 start.

Young was a big part of the Royals' success last season, going 11-6 with a 3.06 ERA in 18 regular-season starts. The 36-year-old continued to excel in the postseason, posting a 2.87 ERA in four appearances - including two starts.

Young, who pitched for the Mets from 2011-12, is 0-1 with a 6.05 ERA in four career regular-season starts against them.

He's been especially tough on Cespedes and Wright, holding them to a combined 2 for 20.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Cardinals (0-1) at Pirates (1-0)

Game: 2
Venue: PNC Park
Date: April 05, 2016 7:05 PM EDT

With a fine opening day performance and a new contract reportedly ready for a signature, Gregory Polanco has had an eventful couple of days.

The Pittsburgh outfielder will try to revel in that new-found security while aiding Jonathon Niese in his Pirates debut Tuesday night against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Polanco went 2 for 3 with a double and scored a pair of runs in a 4-1 victory over St. Louis on Sunday, supporting Francisco Liriano's stellar outing. The left-hander tied a franchise opening day record with 10 strikeouts in six scoreless innings.

During Pittsburgh's off day Monday, news came out that the Pirates had given Polanco a five-year deal worth at least $35 million that begins in 2017 and could net him $60 million. He is making $535,000 this season.

David Freese, the 2011 World Series MVP for the Cardinals, went 2 for 4 in his first game versus his former club Sunday and made a handful of sterling defensive plays. He got the opening day start at third base because Jung Ho Kang is still recovering from last season's knee injury.

"I'm just going to come in ready to go. That's what we have to do. That's how the Pirates go about it," Freese said. "I'm going to follow their lead. Whatever is asked of me, I'm going to do it."

He'll try to support another new Pirates player in Niese, acquired from the Mets in December in a deal that sent second baseman and Pittsburgh native Neil Walker to New York.

The Pirates are hoping to turn the left-hander into their latest successful reclamation project like Liriano and the now-retired A.J. Burnett.

Niese signed his own five-year extension in April 2012 and won a career-high 13 games while posting a 3.40 ERA in 30 starts that season. He was kept to single-digit victories in each of the past three campaigns and went 9-10 with a 4.13 ERA in 2015, his highest in four years.

He made six appearances out of the bullpen in the playoffs with four in the World Series.

Niese didn't have the best spring for Pittsburgh, going 0-2 with an 8.40 ERA in four starts. He's also 0-2 with a 5.30 ERA in his last three starts against the Cardinals after going 4-1 with a 1.87 ERA in his first six.

Niese will match up against Michael Wacha, who rebounded nicely last season following an injury-shortened 2014. The right-hander went 17-7 with a 3.38 ERA in 30 starts and earned his first trip to the All-Star Game.

The 2013 NL championship series MVP was limited to 19 starts in 2014 because of a stress reaction in his pitching shoulder.

Some of his teammates aren't healthy to start this season and Tommy Pham was the latest to head to the disabled list Monday because of a strained left oblique suffered in Sunday's defeat. Matt Holliday, making his first career start at first base, moved back to his usual spot in left field in Pham's place.

He joins Lance Lynn (elbow), Mitch Harris (elbow), Brayan Pena (knee), Jhonny Peralta (thumb), Ruben Tejada (quad) and Jordan Walden (shoulder) on the shelf.

"We don't want it to happen, obviously, and don't necessarily plan on it, but we adjust to it," manager Mike Matheny told the team's official website. "We just keep going."

Wacha went 4-0 with a 1.89 ERA in his first six starts against the Pirates - including a win in Game 4 of the 2013 Division Series - but gave up six runs in four innings in his most recent matchup, an 8-2 loss in Pittsburgh on Sept. 30.

Andrew McCutchen went 6 for 10 with three extra-base hits, including a home run, against him last season. Polanco was 6 for 12 with two doubles.

Jedd Gyorko is 5 for 9 with two doubles lifetime against Niese and Matt Carpenter is 4 for 8 with two doubles. Holliday has gone 3 for 17 in their matchups.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Blue Jays (2-0) at Rays (0-2)

Game: 3
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: April 05, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

Jose Bautista finally busted out of a slump at Tropicana Field just in time to face a pitcher who has been extremely tough on him.

He's never gotten a hit off Tampa Bay Rays starter Jake Odorizzi and will try to change that Tuesday night and help the Toronto Blue Jays improve to 3-0 for the first time in 20 years.

Bautista went 2 for 4 on Monday in Toronto's second straight 5-3 victory to open this four-game set. He had gone 2 for 22 in his previous seven games at Tampa Bay.

He's hitless in 13 at-bats against Odorizzi, matching his futility against another Jake in reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta for his worst mark against a pitcher.

Odorizzi went 9-9 with a 3.35 ERA in 28 starts a season ago. The right-hander was 1-2 with a 5.71 ERA in three outings against Toronto in 2015, allowing a pair of homers to Josh Donaldson.

He went 1-2 with a 6.92 ERA in five spring starts, allowing eight runs over one-plus inning last Thursday in a 13-8 loss to Pittsburgh.

"That's going to happen sometimes," manager Kevin Cash said. "The important thing is he got his 50-something pitches in, gets it out of his system, and he'll be ready to pitch Game 3."

Odorizzi will have to be conscious of keeping the Blue Jays in the ballpark after they connected three times Monday. Donaldson, Michael Saunders and Josh Thole all had their first homers and center fielder Kevin Pillar provided the game's defensive highlight by falling into the wall after a spectacular catch off the bat of Steve Pearce in the seventh inning.

Kevin Kiermaier went 3 for 3 with a walk and Steven Souza Jr. homered for Tampa Bay, which went 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position.

The Rays will look to ruin Aaron Sanchez's 12th career start. He began last season in the rotation, going 5-4 with a 3.55 ERA in 11 outings before getting injured and pitching the remainder of the year out of the bullpen.

The right-hander has added muscle to his frame and went 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA in spring training in five appearances, with three starts.

"What I had last year was right in my delivery wasn't necessarily right," Sanchez said. "This year, being more stable, stronger, it's easier to get to those positions without thinking about it."

Sanchez yielded three runs over 5 1-3 innings in his lone start against the Rays in a 4-2 defeat April 16, 2015. He has also worked nine scoreless innings of relief over eight appearances as he looks to make this rotation stay more permanent.

"I'm going to go out there and do my thing," Sanchez said. "I can't control that decision. They've watched, they've seen what I'm doing."

The Rays released James Loney on Sunday after he was their regular first baseman the previous three years. They are looking for their first hit from that position, with Logan Morrison going 0 for 6 and Pearce 0 for 2.

Toronto first baseman Chris Colabello is 0 for 7 with four strikeouts.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Tigers (0-0) at Marlins (0-0)

Game: 1
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: April 05, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

MIAMI (AP) Giancarlo Stanton is excited about the revamped outfield wall at Marlins Park, and not just because the changes make it easier for him to hit home runs.

It'll be easier for him to prevent them, too. The Miami Marlins right fielder is now taller than the 6-foot wall behind him.

'We're going to have some dang fun out there and rob some homers,' Stanton said. 'It'll be cool and a new dynamic.'

The new dimensions will be tested Tuesday when the Marlins open the season against Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers.

The center field wall was moved 11 feet closer to home plate and is now 407 feet away. Much of the outfield fence was also lowered.

Marlins Park has been pitcher-friendly since it opened in 2012, and Wei-Yin Chen hopes it stays that way. The Marlins newcomer is making his first opening day start.

'I've been called a flyball pitcher,' he said through a translator, 'but I don't want to think about it.'

Verlander is more of a strikeout pitcher, but he's trying to bounce back from a subpar season. The former AL Cy Young Award and MVP winner made only 20 starts because of injuries and went 5-8 with a 3.38 ERA.

Verlander didn't pitch until June last year and watched the Tigers' 2015 opener from his home in Lakeland, Florida, which he said was 'a little weird.'

He said he's anxious to kick things off this season.

'No matter how many times you do it, there's always that excitement, anticipation, the not knowing what's going to happen,' Verlander said Monday. 'You really just want to get out there and deliver that first pitch. Once that is out of the way, things are about as calm as they can be.'

Like most teams, the Tigers and Marlins go into their opener brimming with optimism. Detroit added Justin Upton and Jordan Zimmermann in the offseason, while Miami's most notable additions are Chen, new manager Don Mattingly and new hitting coach Barry Bonds, who is back in the majors for the first time since retiring in 2007 as baseball's steroids-tainted home run king.

Chen was a surprise choice for the opening day assignment over ace Jose Fernandez, but the Marlins are counting on the durable Taiwanese left-hander to be a workhorse. He made 117 starts in four seasons with Baltimore before signing an $80 million, five-year contract with Miami.

'I came here and tried to interact with everybody here,' Chen said through a translator. 'Luckily we have a great manager, great coaches and very nice teammates, so everything was easy for me. I'm very happy they trust me for the opening day start, and I'm really happy to be a part of this team.'

At 30, Chen is one of the oldest players in the roster.

'I will be happy to be with all these young players who will help make me feel like I'm still young,' Chen said.

Miami's starting lineup includes Stanton, 26, left fielder Christian Yelich, 24, center fielder Marcell Ozuna, 25, shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria, 25, and catcher J.T. Realmuto, 25, and second baseman Dee Gordon, 27, who won the NL batting and stolen base titles in 2015.

All return from last year's team that lost 91 games - the Marlins' sixth consecutive losing season. They haven't been to the playoffs since 2003, the longest drought in the NL.

Mattingly, who led the Dodgers to the playoffs each of the past three years, said he joined the Marlins in large part because of the chance to help their young players develop.

'It's all about taking the next steps, right' he said. 'With these guys, are we going to get better and better, or this is it?'

The Tigers have a big payroll and are eager to show 2015 was an off year after four consecutive division titles. The Marlins are widely expected to improve on last year's record, but their payroll is modest as usual, and few anticipate they'll challenge the Nationals or Mets in the NL East.

'I like the pressure being off,' Gordon said. 'It's better to sneak up on people.'

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mariners (0-1) at Rangers (1-0)

Game: 2
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: April 05, 2016 8:05 PM EDT

One of the most productive teams in baseball last season, the Texas Rangers only needed one hit to get 2016 off to a positive start.

The Rangers will try to get the offense going in order to start a season 2-0 for the first time in five years Tuesday night against the Seattle Mariners.

Texas was third in the majors last season in runs per game at 4.64, and fifth in the AL with a .257 average. The offense played a big part in the Rangers winning the AL West, and it didn't need to do much in Monday's season-opening 3-2 win over Seattle.

Rougned Odor led off the fifth with a walk, stole second and ended up on third on an error by Kyle Seager. He scored on Shin-Soo Choo's bases-loaded walk before Prince Fielder blooped a single to shallow left to tie the score. Adrian Beltre followed with a sharp grounder that Ketel Marte couldn't handle at short, scoring Delino DeShields from third.

"I've never won like this," Fielder said. "Only way you can go is up."

Martin Perez surely shares that sentiment as he tries to help Texas win the first two games of a season for the first time since going 6-0 in 2011.

The left-hander is also entering what he hopes to be a breakout season - and his first full one in the majors. Perez, who turned 25 on Monday, was once considered one of the Rangers' top prospects but underwent Tommy John surgery in 2014 and returned last July, going 3-6 with a 4.46 ERA in 14 starts. He has started 48 of 54 games over four years.

"This is the year, this is the time for me to do what I have to do and be what people expect," Perez told the team's official website. "This is going to be my year.

"If I stay healthy, I can give this team a chance to win the game. I feel good and my arm is strong. I'm going to have a good year. That's my mindset."

Perez is 2-2 with a 4.05 ERA in six career starts against the Mariners, and he was hammered for five runs and two homers in five-plus innings of a 6-0 loss Sept. 9.

The Mariners haven't opened a season with consecutive losses since losing the first five games of 2004.

Sending Hisashi Iwakuma (9-5, 3.54 ERA in 2015) to the mound against the Rangers gives them a good chance to avoid such a fate.

He's 6-0 with a 2.79 ERA over his last seven starts against the Rangers, winning all four in Arlington over that stretch. However, he's had trouble with Odor, who is 5 for 11 off him.

Iwakuma had a rough start to 2015, going 0-1 with a 6.61 ERA in three starts before missing nearly three months with a right lat strain. He was 9-4 with a 3.10 ERA in 17 starts after returning.

The right-hander made four starts during spring training, but his most recent came March 21, giving up three runs and eight hits in 4 1-3 innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He's started two minor league games since with the most recent coming Thursday.

"I'm satisfied with where I'm at right now," Iwakuma told the team's website through an interpreter. "I'm ready to go for the season. I just wanted to make some adjustments, tuning up a few of the pitches. And I was able to do that, so I'm very happy with that."

Seager and Robinson Cano homered in the opener, but only Seager has managed to do that off Perez. He's 10 for 20 with three homers in the matchup.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Giants (1-0) at Brewers (0-1)

Game: 2
Venue: Miller Park
Date: April 05, 2016 8:10 PM EDT

The San Francisco Giants made a point of bolstering their rotation this winter.

The priciest of those acquisitions gets the call Tuesday night, as right-hander Johnny Cueto makes his Giants debut in the middle test of a three-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.

In an effort to ease the burden of ace Madison Bumgarner, the Giants went out and signed Cueto to a six-year, $130 million deal and Jeff Samardzija to a five-year, $90 million pact.

Cueto, the NL Cy Young runner-up in 2014, finished last season with Kansas City after being acquired from Cincinnati at the trade deadline. Though he struggled after switching leagues, Cueto posted a 3.44 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 176 strikeouts and an 11-13 record in 212 innings over 32 starts split between the Reds and Royals.

He threw a two-hitter in Game 2 of the World Series, helping Kansas City win its first championship since 1985.

Still, it was a far cry from that '14 campaign when he had a 2.25 ERA and led the league with 242 strikeouts.

Cueto was scratched from his first scheduled spring training start because he hadn't built up enough strength after throwing an additional 25 innings in the 2015 postseason. But he finished strong, striking out six while walking none over six innings in his final spring start.

Having spent the majority of his career pitching in the NL Central, the Brewers are certainly no stranger to Cueto, who has gone 9-3 with a 2.87 ERA in 18 lifetime starts against Milwaukee. He has a 1.80 ERA in winning his last six starts against the Brewers, but has struggled at Miller Park, where he's 1-3 with a 4.19 ERA in seven outings.

Ryan Braun is batting .205 with a homer and 13 strikeouts in 44 at-bats against Cueto while Jonathan Lucroy is hitting .217 in 23 at-bats.

Samardzija is slated to go in Wednesday's finale.

The Giants can only hope Cueto and Samardzija endear themselves to their new team as well as Denard Span. Another offseason pickup, Span, homered and had five RBI in Monday's opener, as the Giants overcame a shaky start from Bumgarner in a 12-3 rout.

Span, who signed a three-year, $31 million deal with the Giants this winter, hit the first of back-to-back-to-back home runs in the eighth, as Joe Panik and Buster Posey followed suit, making them the first trio in Giants history to connect on three straight on opening day.

It was the first time any team had done it in an opener since San Diego in 1997. The only other time a team hit three straight homers on opening day was the 1948 Boston Red Sox.

"That inning we hit the three homers that says it right there," said third baseman Matt Duffy, who helped out with a homer and four RBIs. "I'd say contagious is a good word right there."

Hoping to slow down that lineup will be Milwaukee's best pitcher from a year ago, righty Jimmy Nelson. He led the Brewers in starts (30), wins (11), innings (177 1-3) and strikeouts (148) and continued to thrive this spring, going 2-1 with a 1.17 ERA in four starts.

That was evident in his final spring tune up against Houston, as he scattered two hits over 5 1-3 scoreless innings.

"I felt good, for sure," Nelson said after that outing. "I used all my pitches, defense played great behind me. They squared up some balls but it was right at guys. Overall, it was nice."

San Francisco has won nine of its last 10 against Milwaukee.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rockies (1-0) at Diamondbacks (0-1)

Game: 2
Venue: Chase Field
Date: April 05, 2016 9:40 PM EDT

After their big-ticket addition flopped in his anticipated debut, the Arizona Diamondbacks are hoping for better results from their other newly acquired All-Star pitcher.

Shelby Miller hopes to make a better first impression as well with his new team when the Diamondbacks continue what's been a rough week in Tuesday night's game against the Colorado Rockies.

Chase Field went from buzzing to bummed in Monday's season opener after the Rockies knocked Zack Greinke around in the high-priced free agent's first start as a Diamondback. Greinke, signed to a club-record six-year, $206.5 million contract to anchor a revamped Arizona rotation, surrendered three homers - two to rookie Trevor Story - and seven runs over four disappointing innings of a 10-5 loss.

Story, who hit .340 with six homers in the spring to win Colorado's starting shortstop job, became the first player in MLB history to homer twice while making his big league debut on opening day. The 23-year-old had a three-run shot during a six-run third inning and a solo blast in the fourth.

'It is unbelievable,' Story said. 'It is something you don't even dream of or something that I never dreamed of. It is a really, really special moment.'

Carlos Gonzalez also homered off Greinke and Nolan Arenado added a three-run shot later on for Colorado, which dropped eight of 10 at Arizona during a 94-loss 2015 campaign.

The Diamondbacks, a trendy sleeper pick as a playoff contender following the offseason pickups of Greinke and Miller, lost its third straight opener three days after leadoff hitter and Gold Glove center fielder A.J. Pollock fractured his right elbow in a spring training game.

Miller will attempt to reverse Arizona's recent misfortune as well as turn around his own string of bad luck. Receiving the lowest run support in the majors, the right-hander went 6-17 for Atlanta during a 2015 season in which he lost 16 consecutive decisions over a 24-start stretch.

That ghastly record belied Miller's actual performance. The 25-year-old posted a 3.02 ERA and 21 quality starts and earned his first All-Star appearance.

The Diamondbacks paid a high price to get him, trading 2015 No. 1 overall pick Dansby Swanson, speedy outfielder Ender Inciarte and well-regarded pitching prospect Aaron Blair to the Braves in December.

Miller looks to improve on his lone career start at Chase Field, where he walked six and permitted four runs over 4 1-3 innings last June.

Chad Bettis draws the assignment for Colorado and aims to build off an encouraging first year as a full-time starter. After recording a 6.88 ERA in 37 appearances primarily as a reliever over his initial two seasons, the 26-year-old finished 8-6 with a 4.23 ERA in 20 starts as one of the few positives on a mostly dismal pitching staff.

Bettis was dealt a loss at Chase Field in his final 2015 outing despite allowing one earned run over six innings of a 3-1 defeat on Sept. 30. He yielded four runs and 11 hits through six innings against Arizona Aug. 31 in Colorado.

David Peralta is 4 for 5 against Bettis and collected three hits in the opener. Jake Lamb had a two-run homer for Arizona and Yasmany Tomas went 2 for 4 with two RBIs.

"The home runs will come," Tomas said. "My main focus is driving in runs and helping the teams win. The ball will go over the fence if you hit the ball hard and I'm just trying to hit the ball hard. Singles and doubles with runners on base are good, too. I'm just happy when we score."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: White Sox (1-0) at Athletics (0-1)

Game: 2
Venue: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Date: April 05, 2016 10:05 PM EDT

The Oakland Athletics had the AL's worst record a season ago and 2016 got off to a familiar start without their ace available.

They'll have to move another starter up to pitch Tuesday night when Chris Bassitt gets the ball as they continue a four-game home series with the Chicago White Sox.

Oakland went 68-94 a season ago for its worst season since 1997. The Athletics went 19-35 in one-run games in 2015 for the majors' second-worst record.

They were on the short end of such a decision in Monday's 4-3 loss in the opener without Sonny Gray, scratched from his opening day start because of food poisoning that sent him to the emergency room Monday morning for intravenous fluids. Gray will now start Wednesday.

Rich Hill, originally slated to start Tuesday, filled in and the 36-year-old was charged with all four runs in 2 2-3 innings in his club debut.

Oakland committed a major league-high 126 errors last year and had two on opening day, with Chicago capitalizing with two unearned runs.

'That's what happens when you give extra outs,' manager Bob Melvin said. 'Can't do that. We learned that last year, we've learned it this spring. In close games it typically ends up being a play like that, a play or two defensively that you should make."

Now former White Sox right-hander Bassitt, who was 1-8 with a 3.56 ERA last year in 18 games - 13 starts for the Athletics, will face Chicago for the first time. Oakland dropped his last six outings, with Bassitt going 0-4 with a 5.40 ERA and getting a total of seven runs of support.

Bassitt went 1-1 with a 3.94 ERA in six games - five starts for Chicago as a rookie in 2014.

Melvin had to adjust his opening day lineup without Gray, inserting Stephen Vogt at catcher after Josh Phegley was originally going to catch the right-hander. The righty-swinging Phegley, who spent his first two seasons with the White Sox, will likely start Tuesday since Chicago is starting left-hander Jose Quintana.

The White Sox have won five straight at Oakland after a seven-game slide there.

All of Monday's scoring came in the third inning. Adam Eaton hit an RBI triple and Oakland native Jimmy Rollins drove in a run in his White Sox debut.

Jed Lowrie responded with a two-run single in the bottom half and scored on a hit by Danny Valencia before the Athletics managed three hits over the final six innings.

"The team today fought and clawed," Eaton said. "We had that big inning and then our pitching staff came in late in the ballgame and shut them down and that's all we can ask for."

Quintana had baseball's sixth-worst run support average at 3.62 a year ago as he went 9-10 with a 3.36 ERA. He was ninth in the AL with 177 strikeouts.

The left-hander has a 3.60 ERA in three starts against Oakland with no decisions. Billy Butler is 5 for 30 with 12 strikeouts against him and Valencia is 2 for 17.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Cubs (1-0) at Angels (0-1)

Game: 3
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Date: April 05, 2016 10:05 PM EDT

It might have brought a familiar feeling to Chicago Cubs fans who are constantly listening for the other shoe to hit the floor, but Jon Lester insists last month's revelation that he has at least one bone chip in his pitching elbow isn't a cause for hand wringing.

The veteran left-hander can do his part to put minds at ease with a better start to this season beginning Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Angels than in his first campaign in the Windy City.

The clearest sign that the Cubs were ready to contend came ahead of last season when they signed Lester to a six-year, $155 million deal. He was a largely solid performer with 21 quality outings in 32 starts for a 97-win team that reached the NLCS and set a franchise record for a left-hander with 207 strikeouts, but he had some hiccups while going 11-12 with a 3.34 ERA.

That included an 0-2 record with a 6.89 ERA in his first three games, but he went 4-1 with a 1.76 ERA in six starts in May. There were also his peculiar difficulties/hesitancy in executing pickoff attempts to first base, and Lester gave up a major league-worst 44 stolen bases as a result.

The report that Lester has a bone chip floating in his elbow appeared to provide fodder to those looking for a reason. The Cubs and their pitcher are banking on it staying put or he might have to undergo surgery.

Lester appeared to have no issues in spring training, allowing one earned run in his final 15 innings. He yielded one hit and one walk over five innings while striking out 10 on Saturday against Colorado.

"I've been pitching a long time. I've dealt with different minor and bigger things through my years. I think you can go back and look. I haven't missed any time for any elbow problems," Lester said. "I know for a fact it's been there for a while. It is what it is. You can take any pitcher who's been in this game for a while and stick him in a tube, and you'll find something."

Lester wasn't aided last season by a 3.78 run support average that was sixth-worst among NL qualifying starters and the lowest in his career. He got one run in his two postseason starts while going 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA.

The Cubs would appear ready to change that after their potent lineup cranked out a 9-0 victory in Monday's opener against the Angels. Dexter Fowler had three of his team's 11 hits while Miguel Montero and Matt Szczur drove in three runs apiece.

"We've prepared for this for a long time," said reigning NL Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta, who went seven innings. "The last game we played was in the NLCS. We were ready for this moment. Guys came into camp ready, with a game plan. Everybody executed appropriately."

Andrew Heaney will try to quell the Cubs' bats while helping Los Angeles avoid a two-game interleague sweep. The left-hander went 6-4 with a 3.49 ERA in 18 starts for the Angels last season.

Heaney has never faced the Cubs or any of their current hitters.

"Each time out (in spring training), I felt a lot better. I'm ready to go. I'm ready to get this thing going," he said after going 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in five spring starts.

Lester will see the Angels for the first time since Sept. 24, 2014. He went 0-3 with a 3.54 ERA in his final four matchups while in the AL, receiving seven runs of support in a combined 28 innings.

Lester was 5-2 with a 3.26 ERA in his first 10 matchups, including three in the postseason, and got a 4.60 run-support average.

Albert Pujols is 5 for 12 with two doubles lifetime against him, and Andrelton Simmons is 4 for 10 with a double.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Dodgers (1-0) at Padres (0-1)

Game: 2
Venue: PETCO Park
Date: April 05, 2016 10:10 PM EDT

Scott Kazmir has the gargantuan task of replacing Zack Greinke as the Los Angeles Dodgers' No. 2 starter.

If his teammates can provide him even a portion of the support they gave ace Clayton Kershaw in the opener, he could rack up plenty of wins as well.

The veteran left-hander will try to do his part to earn a victory in his first NL start Tuesday night against the San Diego Padres.

Greinke's departure for Arizona after going 19-3 with a major league-best 1.66 ERA left the Dodgers with a massive hole in their rotation. Barring a spectacular turnaround, the 32-year-old Kazmir likely won't duplicate those numbers, but he's not far removed one of the best seasons of his career.

He went 15-9 with a 3.55 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP for Oakland in 2014. He was 5-5 with a 2.38 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP in his first 18 starts last season for the A's before being dealt to Houston on July 23.

Kazmir was lackluster in his hometown, going 2-6 with a 4.17 ERA in 13 starts, but was hardly aided by a 2.95 run support average. The Dodgers (1-0) appear poised to increase that mark for their new teammate, who spent his first 11 seasons in the AL, following a record-breaking 15-0 win over San Diego on Monday.

A.J. Ellis, Adrian Gonzalez and Chase Utley combined for seven hits and eight RBIs in the most-lopsided opening day shutout in MLB history, topping Pittsburgh's 14-0 victory against Cincinnati in 1911.

Every starter hit safely, including Kershaw in his seven innings of work. He also yielded one hit and fanned nine in Los Angeles' seventh consecutive win over San Diego (0-1).

"It was a good day," manager Dave Roberts said following his first major league victory. "There were a lot of good things that happened. Obviously it starts with Kersh and the tone that he sets, him going out there and getting after guys. When you've got No. 1s going against each other, you don't expect to get that many hits and score that many runs."

San Diego finished with four hits in its worst opening loss in its 48 seasons and worst at Petco Park, which opened in 2004.

"Opening day is special. No one wants to come out and lay an egg on opening day and get beat 15-0," first-year manager Andy Green said. 'But it's one of 162. Everybody gets smoked like this during the season. It's not a big deal in the long run."

James Shields will attempt to help the Padres rebound in his opener to his second season with the club. The right-hander went 13-7 with a 3.91 ERA in 33 starts, his first NL campaign after nine in the AL and his ninth in a row with at least 10 wins.

Shields went 1-0 with a 3.24 ERA in four starts against the Dodgers in 2015 and gave up two runs or fewer while pitching at least six innings in two matchups. He had particular difficulty keeping the ball in the yard last season, but his five homers allowed to the Dodgers were his fewest against any NL West opponent.

Shields gave up 33 overall, tied for the most in the majors, and 19 in his 16 starts in normally pitcher-friendly Petco.

The Padres are one of three teams Kazmir hasn't defeated in his career, posting no record and a 4.91 ERA in two starts. He hasn't faced the other two, Atlanta and Milwaukee.

Alexei Ramirez is 8 for 22 with four extra-base hits lifetime against Kazmir, including one homer.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Tuesday, April 5, 2016, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews

Welcome to my first Opening Line Report of the 2016 baseball season. I will give you the early lines on five specific games every Tuesday-Saturday -- not Mondays because that's usually the lightest day of the week and no Sundays as the games are all early except for the ESPN Sunday night matchup -- with occasional exceptions. Needless to say, it will focus on the starting pitchers for the games, their recent history and guys who might hit them well or poorly. Any potential injury news available at the time of the early lines moving will also be included. I will try to do national TV games where possible because those almost always have live betting at sportsbooks. Sometimes you can really find some good early value if paying attention. I almost always bet against teams in a getaway day game at the end of a long road trip, for example. And I generally like hitting the under totals early on as hitters are usually behind pitchers.

Mets at Royals (+105, 7.5)

Early start at 4:15 p.m. ET, which could mean some shadow problems for the hitters. Interleague game in an AL park, so Mets get to add designated hitter. On Sunday, the Royals got their World Series rings and then beat the Mets 4-3. Noah Syndergaard gets the call here and I think he's a legit Cy Young contender and is the nastiest guy on that stellar Mets rotation. He was great value at +1800 to win the Cy when the season opened. "Thor" was 9-7 with a 3.24 ERA and 166 strikeouts in 150 innings as a rookie. He was largely unhittable at home and a bit shaky on the road, however. New York's lone World Series win over the Royals was behind Syndergaard in Game 3 as he allowed three runs and struck out six over six innings. He also sent a message pitch on his first throw, buzzing the head of Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar. The K.C. players very much remember that -- it's a good thing Syndergaard isn't batting here because he'd get drilled. I still think a Mets player will. Kansas City was to start its big free-agent addition, former Padre Ian Kennedy. But he's dealing with a hamstring issue so it's Chris Young instead. The 6-foot-10 Young was 11-6 with a 3.06 ERA last year. He got the win in relief in Game 1 of the World Series.

Key trends: The Mets are 4-9 in Syndergaard's past 13 road starts. The Royals are 5-0 in Young's past five starts. The "over/under" is 10-3 in Syndergaard's past 13 overall.

Early lean: Royals and under.

Cardinals at Pirates (-105, 7.5)

These two played the first game of the 2016 season Sunday afternoon and the Pirates won 4-1 behind a dominating effort from Francisco Liriano. St. Louis goes with Michael Wacha here. He was 17-7 with a 3.38 ERA last season but did fade late because of heavy innings. He had a 7.88 ERA in September and then was roughed up in his lone NLDS start against the Cubs. Wacha was 2-1 with a 3.97 ERA in four starts against the Pirates in 2015. Andrew McCutchen is 8-for-16 with a homer career off him. Gregory Polanco, who just got a five-year, $35 million extension, is 6-for-12. Pittsburgh counters with lefty Jonathon Niese, who was acquired from the Mets this winter for second baseman Neil Walker. Niese went 9-10 with a 4.13 ERA in 33 appearances (29 starts) for the Mets in 2015. New Cardinal Jedd Gyorko is 5-for-9 career off Niese. Matt Carpenter is 4-for-8 with two doubles.

Key trends: The Cards are 5-2 in Wacha's past seven vs. Pittsburgh. The under is 6-1 in the Pirates' past seven after a win. The under is 4-1 in the Cards' past five after an off day.

Early lean: Cardinals and under.

Tigers at Marlins (+100, 7.5)

Detroit won't have its DH for the teams' season opener, meaning Victor Martinez will be relegated to pinch-hitting. Justin Verlander gets the call for the Tigers, his eighth career Opening Day start. Verlander started last season late off injury and struggled at first but posted a 2.27 ERA and allowed a .207 batting average over his final 14 starts, surrendering 74 hits over 99 1/3 innings. His was just 5-5 over those because the Tigers scored two runs or fewer in seven of the 14 starts. Not too many Marlins have seen him. Giancarlo Stanton, the betting favorite to lead the majors homers, is 0-for-3 with three punchouts against Verlander. I'm not sure why new Marlins manager Don Mattingly is starting free-agent acquisition Wei-Yin Chen over Jose Fernandez on Opening Day. Well, it's actually tied to getting Fernandez more rest over the course of the season. Chen was 11-8 with a 3.34 ERA last year with Baltimore. He allowed six runs and 10 hits over 3.1 innings in his lone 2015 start vs. Detroit.

Key trends: The Tigers are 4-1 in their past five interleague games vs. lefty starters. The Marlins are 2-7 in their past nine interleague games. The under is 5-2-1 in Detroit's past seven against lefties.

Early lean: Tigers and under.

Giants at Brewers (+125, 8)

It's the San Francisco debut for Johnny Cueto, who got a six-year, $130 million free-agent deal this offseason. He was generally regarded as the No. 3 pitcher on the market after David Price and Zack Greinke -- both those guys got more than $200 million. Cueto was 11-13 with a 3.44 ERA overall last season with Cincinnati and Kansas City. But he was just 4-7 with a 4.76 ERA in 13 starts with the Royals in the tougher AL, although he was very good in the postseason. Against NL teams last year, Cueto had a 2.30 ERA and a WHIP of just 0.86. He doesn't seem to like Miller Park, however, going 1-3 with a 4.19 ERA in seven starts there. I have little positive to say about the Brewers, but 26-year-old starter Jimmy Nelson (11-13, 4.11) could be a keeper. He was either great or terrible last year. He had 13 quality starts in which he recorded a 1.08 ERA. In all his other starts, he had a 7.32 ERA. Nelson didn't face the Giants and only a few have faced him in regular-season action.

Key trends: The Brewers are 1-4 in Nelson's past five starts. The over is 6-0 in his past six.

Early lean: Giants and over.

Rockies at Diamondbacks (-155, 8.5)

Chad Bettis (8-6, 4.23 in 20 starts) is sadly Colorado's No. 2 starter. He did look very good this spring with a 2-0 record and 1.21 ERA in 17.1 innings. And Bettis had a solid 3.35 ERA away from Coors Field in 2015. He was 0-1 with a 3.75 ERA in two starts vs. Arizona. MVP candidate and 2015 runner-up Paul Goldschmidt is 3-for-7 career off Bettis with two doubles. A.J. Pollock is 2-for-6 with a homer. It's the Arizona debut of Shelby Miller, and he better be good because the Snakes paid a fortune to get him from Atlanta -- nearly every expert said it was a robbery for the Braves. Miller was an All-Star last season and had a career-best 3.02 ERA. Forget that 6-17 record as no team was worse in the second half of last season than the Braves. Miller's worst ERA against any team in 2015 was his 6.94 mark in two starts vs. the Rockies. Nolan Arenado is just 1-for-9 off him.

Key trends: The under is 6-1 in Bettis' past seven starts. Colorado is 1-5 in its past six Tuesday games.

Early lean: Diamondbacks and under.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MLB

Tuesday's games

National League games

Giants @ Brewers
Cueto is 2-1, 5.40 in his last four starts; eight of his last ten starts went over total. He was 2-0, 1.69 in two starts vs Milwaukee LY.

Nelson is 1-4, 7.66 in his last five starts; he allowed three runs in seven IP in winning his only career start against the Giants.

Giants won six of last seven games with Milwaukee.

Cardinals @ Pirates
Wacha is 1-3, 3.85 in his last four starts; his last eight starts went over. He was 2-1, 397 in four starts against Pittsburgh LY.

Niese is 1-0, 2.25 in his last two starts. This is his Pirate debut. Niese is 0-1, 5.68 in two career starts against the Cardinals.

St Louis/Pittsburgh split their last 20 games.

Rockies @ Diamondacks
Bettis is 2-1, 1.88 in his last four starts; six of his last seven starts stayed under. He is 0-1, 3.75 in two starts against Arizona.

Miller was 1-8, 5.86 in his last nine starts for Atlanta; this is his Arizona debut. Four of his last six starts went over the total. He was 0-2, 6.94 against Colorado LY.

Colorado is 7-13 in its last 20 games against the Diamondbacks.

Dodgers @ Padres
Kazmir is 0-1, 9.53 in his last four starts (over 3-0-1). This is his Dodger debut. He is 0-0, 4.91 in two career starts against San Diego.

Shields is 4-1, 4.03 in his last six starts; nine of his last ten starts went over. LY, he was 1-0, 3.24 in four starts against the Dodgers.

Dodgers are 15-5 in their last 20 games against San Diego.


American League games

Astros @ Bronx
Keuchel is 5-0, 1.34 in his last five starts; three of his last four starts stayed under. He has a career mark of 2-1, 1.13 in three starts against the Bronx Bombers.

Tanaka is 1-2, 2.61 in his last five starts (under 4-1). He allowed six runs in five IP in his only start against the Astros.

Astros beat Bronx in Wild Card Game LY, they were 4-3 in the seres LY.

Blue Jays @ Rays
Sanchez is 2-0, 2.61 in his last three starts, last of which was June 5, 2015. He is 0-1, 3.12 in five appearances vs Tampa Bay (one start).

Odorizzi is 3-1, 3.64 in his last five starts; against Toronto; he is 2-2, 3.96 in his six career starts against Toronto.

Jays won first two games of this series, both by 5-3 scores.

Red Sox @ Indians
Price makes his Boston debut here; he is 1-2, 6.17 in his last four starts. He is 9-2, 2.19 in 13 career starts against Cleveland.

Kluber is 1-4, 4.57 in his last seven starts; his last three starts stayed under. He is 1-2, 4.91 in six career starts against Boston.

Boston lost four of six games with Cleveland LY.

Mariners @ Rangers
Iwakuma is 4-2, 2.36 in his last seven starts; five of his last six stayed under the total. starts against Texas LY. He was 2-0, 3.21 against the Rangers LY.

Perez is 0-2, 4.91 in his last four starts; eight of his last ten starts stayed under. He is 2-2, 3.49 in six career starts against Seattle.

Seattle is 12-8 in its last 20 games against the Rangers. .

White Sox @ A's
Quintana is 2-0, 1.75 in his last five starts; seven of his last ten starts went over. He is 0-0, 3.60 in three career starts vs Oakland.

Gray is 2-2, 6.61 in his last six starts; six of his last seven starts went over. He is 0-0, 8.10 (nine ER in 10 IP) in two career starts against the White Sox. Gray was scratched with food poisoning Monday, will throw at some point this week. Former White Sox Bassitt is 0-4, 6.08 in his last five starts; three of last four went over.

Chicago won six of last eight games against the A's.


Interleague games

Mets @ Royals
Syndergaard is 2-1, 2.88 in his last four starts; six of his last nine starts went over the total. He allowed three runs in six IP in winning his only start vs KC, in World Series.

Young is 1-0, 2.25 in his last four starts; he is 0-1, 6.05 in four career starts against the Mets, whom he played for in 2012-13.

Royals won five of last six games against the Mets.

Tigers @ Marlins
Verlander is 2-0, 2.60 in his last four starts; he has never faced the Marlins. In his last six starts, over is 4-1-1.

Chen was 3-1, 2.45 in his last four starts for Baltimore; five of his last seven starts went over total. He is 1-0, 7.53 in three career starts vs Detroit.

Season opener for both teams, who didn't meet LY.

Cubs @ Angels
Lester is 1-4, 3.60 in his last five starts; under is 4-1-1 in his last six. He is 4-4, 3.93 in 11 career starts against the Angels.

Heaney is 0-2, 4.44 in his last five starts; his last three starts stayed under. He has never faced the Cubs.


Umpires- We'll start with umpires in a couple weeks, after we have some numbers to go over.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Previews, Streaks, Tips, Notes


Houston Astros at New York Yankees April 5, 1:05 EST

When the Houston Astros visit the New York Yankees Monday afternoon 'Under' gamblers may well rejoice in cashing another ticket. In the past seventeen meetings 'Under' has been the right choice thirteen times with four 'Over'. Another positive for 'Under' gamblers. The 'Under' has paid dividends in four of five Yankee games with Tanaka hurling, in eight of ten Yankees home games and in five of eight Houston road games w/Dallas Keuchel on the mound.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Dave Cokin

Bonus Play Tuesday

61 PANTHERS at 62 CANADIENS

Take: Montreal Canadiens +125

Montreal is playing out the string, with just three games remaining before the Habs put away the equipment till next fall. This has been a bitterly disappointing campaign for a team that started the season 9-0 and looked to be in great shape. But when goalie Carey Price went down, the hopes for the Canadiens went with him.

It’s just the opposite scene for the Florida Panthers. They won again on Monday night, clinching home ice advantage for the opening round and also seeing a franchise mark for most wins. This franchise has been playing in front of lots of fans dressed as empty seats for a long time. But the faithful have returned, along with those toy rats and this Florida team could be a real handful come playoff time.

There’s no question about which is the stronger team here, and the Panthers can still improve their seed with more wins. But I think this might be a tough spot for them. Give the Habs credit for continuing to play with effort in what has been a succession of meaningless games.

Assuming that Montreal team shows up at home tonight, they should have a good chance to get a win against Florida. Considering what was accomplished in the win at Toronto last night, this qualifies as a bit of a flat spot for the Panthers. Montreal has shown me enough in the last few games to be convinced they’ll play hard tonight, and I believe they have a very good shot to grab a couple of points in the process. I’ll take the Canadiens as a decently priced home underdog.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Jim Feist

Jim Feist's Comp NBA Pick, Tuesday, April 5, 2016 8:05 PM ET

(709) CHICAGO BULLS VS (710) MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

Take: (710) MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

Reason: Your Bonus Play for Tuesday, April 5, 2015 is in the NBA scheduled contest between the Chicago Bulls and Memphis Grizzlies. The Chicago Bulls almost have to win out their last five games to get that last playoff spot. The Bulls are two back of both the Pistons and Pacers with five to play. The Bulls do hold one of the two tiebreakers, against Indiana. The Bulls have had to play the last few games without star PG Derrick Rose, who has a sore elbow. Chicago has won three of their last four games, but that one loss was a big one to Detroit last Saturday. That loss is what put them two games back of the Pistons. The Bulls have also covered four of their last five games. Memphis has the fifth slot in the NBA West right now, but mathematically they could finish anywhere from fifth to out of the playoffs. Only three games separate the Grizzlies from 9th place Houston right now. So lots to play for here with the Grizzlies. Unfortunately for the Grizzlies, they have been in a free fall of late. Memphis has now lost six straight games and 10 of the last 12. They have done a bit better against the number, going 5-4 ATS the last nine games. The Grizzlies have no easy road left with Golden State twice, the Clippers, Mavericks and Bulls. They need tonight's contest badly. Take Memphis here.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Marc Lawrence

Red Sox vs Indians

Play - Cleveland Indians w/Kluber

Edges - Indians: Corey Kluber 2-0 with 2.52 ERA home team starts in this series. Red Sox David Price just 8-8 away team starts during April. With Kluber in sharp form with a 2.19 ERA and 26 K’s and 4W’s this spring. In a re-scheduled matchup from yesterday, we recommend a 1* play on Cleveland. Thank you and good luck as always.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

#1 Sports

Tuesday's Free Selection: Los Angeles Angels + 115

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Razor Sharp

FREE PICK FOR TUESDAY:Take PHOENIX/ATLANTA OVER the total of 208½

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Totals4U

Tuesday's Free Selection: Toronto/Tampa Bay under 8

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Easy Money Sports

Lee's Tuesday Free Selection St Louis w/Wacha -101