Tuesday 6/7/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Blue Jays (31-28) at Tigers (29-28)

Game: 2
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: June 07, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

DETROIT -- Matt Boyd gets a second chance to beat his former team on Tuesday.

Boyd was dealt during his rookie season from the Toronto Blue Jays to the Detroit Tigers at last year's trade deadline. The Blue Jays received perennial All-Star ace David Price but that turned out to be a half-year rental when Price signed with Boston during the offseason.

Boyd got a chance to face his old club at Toronto last Aug. 28. He took the loss, allowing five runs on seven hits in six innings. He will oppose Aaron Sanchez in the second game of a three-game series at Comerica Park.

"It was fun to go back and pitch in the place I made my debut," Boyd said. "How is it different (now)? That first year you don't know anything -- everything is new. I feel like, I don't want to say I'm comfortable, but there is more familiarity now. You develop a routine. I've been here a few more months now."

The 25-year-old left-hander started the season with Triple-A Toledo and worked his way back to the majors. He has a tenuous hold on the No. 5 spot in the rotation after making two starts in which he took a no-decision and a loss. He held the New York Yankees hitless through five innings on Thursday, but their veteran lineup solved him the third time through the order as Boyd wound up allowing four runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Detroit manager Brad Ausmus doesn't want Boyd thinking that every start is an audition.

"He's not dangling over a cliff," Ausmus said.

Boyd doesn't want to think that way, either.

"If they want me to relieve three days from now, I will do it," he said. "If they want me to start four days after that, I'll gladly do it. Just give me the ball and let me get the job done."

Sanchez has been getting the job done for the Blue Jays, recording quality starts in nine of his 11 outings this season. He's 5-1 with a 2.99 ERA and has pitched at least 6 2/3 innings in his last seven starts.

He's never started against the Tigers, though he has thrown five innings of scoreless relief against them in three career appearances.

The Blue Jays could use a quality start after getting clobbered by the Tigers 11-0 on Monday night. They managed just three hits while getting shut out for the third time this season.

"We laid an egg. You just move on and come back tomorrow," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. "It's one of those games where in every phase, we weren't very good. You wash that one off when you walk up the stairs."

Toronto had won 10 of its last 13 prior to Monday's debacle.

"You just move on to the next day," shortstop Darwin Barney said. "This (Detroit) is a good club right here. They have guys swinging the bats pretty good and their starting pitching is more than adequate. We'll be ready to go. I don't think there will be any hangover for us."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Astros (28-31) at Rangers (35-22)

Game: 2
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: June 07, 2016 8:05 PM EDT

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Don't be surprised if the Houston Astros break out some sort of black magic in trying to overcome the spell the Texas Rangers seem to have on them.

The Astros have lost all seven games with Texas this season and are on an 11-game losing streak in Arlington, dating to 2015.

"We've got to play complete games here," manager A.J. Hinch said. "It's really not that complicated how things have gone for us at this ballpark. We've had some close games. The reality is when you play good games, no matter where they are or what the opponent is, you've got to play complete games."

Houston didn't do that in losing 6-5 on Monday.

Charged with the task of ending the skid is reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel, who has looked more like himself over the past two starts, despite a disappointing and inconsistent 3-7 beginning to the 2016 season. Keuchel, who has a 5.50 ERA, has had success against the Rangers. In a career-high 16 starts against Texas, he has four victories, tied for most by any pitcher against the Rangers in franchise history. RHP Collin McHugh (4-0), RHP Roy Oswalt (4-6), LHP Wandy Rodriguez (4-3) are the other Astros pitchers with four victories.

The chore won't be easy.

Going for Texas is lefty Cole Hamels, who is 4-0 with a 2.75 ERA against the AL West. Hamels has limited Houston to three runs -- two earned -- in two victories this season.

Texas hitters, meanwhile, have hammered Keuchel in two previous starts this season, battering the lefty for 13 runs on 22 hits.

Hamels, 5-1 with a 3.39 ERA this season, is also seeking a career landmark. With six strikeouts, he would reach 2,000 for his career, just the 77th player in history to reach the mark and seventh active player to do it.

Hamels received a no-decision in his last outing, giving up three runs on six hits over seven innings against Cleveland. Texas has lost three of its last four games in which Hamels has started after going on a winning streak of 16-1 in his previous 17 starts.

The two teams are among the hottest in baseball.

Despite losing on Monday, Houston is 8-2 in its last 10 while trying to overcome a terrible start. Texas is 10-2 in its last 12 games and appearing poised to assert itself in the AL West.

Texas is four games up on Seattle and eight on Houston with a lot of baseball yet to be played.

"The guys battle their butts off," said Texas closer Sam Dyson. "We're playing hard on defense and our pitching is showing up every day."

Rangers pitchers are 7-0 in the team's last nine games with a 2.96 ERA during that span.

Intrigue continues to surround Jurickson Profar, called up to play second base while Rougned Odor served his suspension for punching Jose Bautista in a brawl last month.

His stay at this point appears anything but temporary as the Rangers don't dare consider sending him back to Triple-A Round Rock.

Profar has hit safely in each of his 10 games, including multiple hits in five. He's hitting .370 with starts at second base and designated hitter.

Don't be surprised to see him at first, perhaps as soon as Tuesday, as Mitch Moreland continues to struggle. Profar was getting work there on Monday.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Athletics (25-32) at Brewers (26-31)

Game: 1
Venue: Miller Park
Date: June 07, 2016 8:10 PM EDT

MILWAUKEE -- It will be hard for Zach Davies to top his last performance, when he spun eight shutout innings in a 3-1 victory over the Cardinals, but he'll take a shot Tuesday when the Milwaukee Brewers host the Oakland A's in an interleague matchup at Miller Park.

Davies posted an 8.78 ERA in his first three starts this season but since his record is 3-0 with a 2.97 in six outings while setting a career-high with nine strikeouts his last time out.

"It's hard to get much better than that," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said of Davies' outing against St. Louis. "That's certainly what he's capable of, against a very good offensive team; he has the ability to pitch like that. It's fun to watch when a guy pitches like that."

Milwaukee also expects to have left-fielder Ryan Braun back in the lineup Tuesday. Braun got a maintenance off-day Sunday and received treatment on his back and neck, which had kept him out of action for a stretch of seven out of eight games last month.

"It (was) preventive as much as anything,"Counsell said. "So we can get him to play 6-7 (games) in a row."

Braun's next hit will be the 1,500th of his career.

He'll try and get that hit against Oakland left-hander Sean Manaea (2-3, 6.16 ERA), whose rookie season has been quite a struggle. He showed improvement his last time out, holding the Twins to a run over six innings to earn his second victory of the season.

"The first couple of starts of the season, I wasn't comfortable at all," Manaea told the San Francisco Chronicle after that outing. "But as the season has gone on, I realize it's just baseball. ... The hitters are better, but I can still get them out with the stuff I have."

The game marks a homecoming of sorts of A's left fielder Khris Davis, who took over when Braun was suspended for the remainder of the 2013 season and spent two-and-a-half seasons in Milwaukee's starting lineup.

He hit 33 of his 74 career home runs at Miller Park, where he posted a .269 average with 91 RBIs while with the Brewers, who dealt the 28-year-old to Oakland in February for catching prospect Jacob Nottingham.

"It was a good steppingstone for me, but at the same time, I moved on," Davis told the San Francisco Chronicle. "It's going to be a fun series, as long as we win."

Also returning to Milwaukee will be A's reliever John Axford, who spent his first four big league seasons with the Brewers and led the majors with 46 saves as Milwaukee won the NL Central and advanced to the NLCS in 2011.

The short interleague series is sandwiched between two off-days for the A's, who were swept over the weekend in Houston and will travel on to Cincinnati when they leave Milwaukee.

The Brewers split two of four in Philadelphia last weekend, return home to kick off a week-long home stand that will include four games with the defending National League Champion New York Mets.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Nationals (34-23) at White Sox (29-28)

Game: 1
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: June 07, 2016 8:10 PM EDT

CHICAGO -- Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura understands the challenge awaiting his players as they returns to U.S. Cellular Field on Tuesday to face the Washington Nationals.

At 34-23, the Nationals lead the National League East by two games ahead of the New York Mets. Meanwhile, the White Sox (29-28) have staggered in the opposite direction, losing 18 of their past 24.

"It is a tough stretch," Ventura said Sunday after the Detroit Tigers swept Chicago in three games. "But there's nowhere to go but up. I think right now, you take this blow, and you've got to push back. You get a day off, and you go ahead and regroup."

Right-hander Mat Latos (6-1, 4.02 ERA) will take the ball for the White Sox as the team opens a nine-game homestand. Latos has allowed at least four earned runs in four of his past six outings, but he has enjoyed success against the Nationals. In nine career starts against Washington, Latos is 4-2 with a 2.53 ERA, and he has compiled 48 strikeouts in 53 1/3 innings.

Latos needs a good start to solidify his role in Chicago's rotation. The White Sox acquired veteran right-hander James Shields from the San Diego Padres on Saturday, which bumped Latos to the role of fifth starter and moved fellow right-hander Miguel Gonzalez to the bullpen. If Latos' recent struggles continue, Ventura could opt to reinstate Gonzalez into the starting rotation.

Washington will counter with right-hander Joe Ross (5-4, 2.37 ERA). Ross has limited opponents to one earned run in seven innings in each of his past two starts. He never has faced the White Sox.

The Nationals scored 10 runs on Sunday to avoid a three-game sweep against the Cincinnati Reds. Despite dropping a pair of games at Cincinnati, the Nationals have won five of the past seven games.

One reason for Washington's sustained success is a reinvigorated offense led by Bryce Harper and supplemented by steady contributions from players such as Wilson Ramos, Daniel Murphy and Anthony Rendon. In his past 30 games, Rendon is hitting .314 and has posted a remarkable OPS of .967.

"I feel like I've been hitting the ball hard, relatively hard throughout the whole season," Rendon told the Washington Post. "Balls are starting to go a little further in warmer weather and starting to find some holes in the outfield."

Interleague play has served the Nationals well. They are 7-2 against American League opponents this season, including a 3-0 mark against the Minnesota Twins and 2-1 marks against the Tigers and the Kansas City Royals. In nine interleague games, the Nationals have outscored opponents 49-29.

The White Sox are 2-1 in interleague play after edging the New York Mets at Citi Field.

Left fielder Melky Cabrera is expected to rejoin the White Sox in time for Tuesday's series opener. Cabrera missed all three games against Detroit as he dealt with an undisclosed family emergency. The 31-year-old switch hitter is batting .275 this season with four home runs and 24 RBIs.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Marlins (30-27) at Twins (16-40)

Game: 1
Venue: Target Field
Date: June 07, 2016 8:10 PM EDT

MINNEAPOLIS -- Good news is hard to come by for the Minnesota Twins these days, with the team off to a historically bad start (16-40) and on pace for more than 100 losses.

So the fact that they won't have to face Miami Marlins right-hander Jose Fernandez during their upcoming series at Target Field is a small victory.

Coming off a 1-0 home win over the New York Mets on Sunday in which he struck out a career-high 14 batters, Fernandez will give way to left-hander Adam Conley (3-3, 3.72 ERA), left-hander Wei-Yin Chen (3-2, 4.25 ERA) and right-hander Tom Koehler (3-6, 4.50 ERA) to face Minnesota in a three-game series which starts on Tuesday evening.

It's the beginning of a nine-game road swing for the Marlins, who will also visit Arizona and San Diego for three games in each place before their next home game.

The Marlins (30-27) are in the thick of the fight in the National League East, sitting four games behind the Washington Nationals in third place as of Monday, despite losing two of three to the Mets last weekend in Miami.

They're getting help offensively and defensively from Ichiro Suzuki, who continues his steady march toward 3,000 hits (he has 2,966 entering the series) and continues to chase down balls, 42-year-old legs and all.

On Sunday Ichiro helped preserve Fernandez's shutout in the fifth inning, making a fully extended running catch of a ball that the Mets' Michael Conforto blasted to the warning track.

"He told me it was a routine catch," said Fernandez, with a laugh.

In Minnesota, the summer sun is shining, but the baseball picture is much less bright.

The Twins opened a recent four-game home series with the Tampa Bay Rays by winning the opener and providing some optimism, but then slid back into recent patterns, losing three in a row.

Minnesota will send left-hander Pat Dean (1-2, 4.15 ERA) to the mound to face the Marlins on Tuesday, followed by right-handers Ricky Nolasco (2-4, 4.93 ERA) and Ervin Santana (1-5, 4.50 ERA) on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.

Since it opened in 2010, Target Field has never been known as an overly power-friendly park, but the Marlins may have opportunities to test the fences if recent trends hold.

Sunday's loss to the Rays was the second consecutive game in which Minnesota has allowed four home runs.

But the Twins hit three homers of their own, holding a 4-1 lead at one point before Tampa Bay rallied for a 7-5 win.

With closer Glen Perkins still on injured reserve, the role has been handed to Kevin Jepsen, who took the loss on Sunday and looks to bounce back versus the Marlins.

"I know where I need to get to," Jepsen said. "Stuff-wise, it's coming, the velocity's coming. Mechanically, getting out there, I feel great as far as stuff's going. Now it's just putting it together."

The Twins have won nine home games this season, which is worst in the American League. Only the Atlanta Braves, with six home wins, have a worse record in their own park.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rays (26-30) at Diamondbacks (25-35)

Game: 2
Venue: Chase Field
Date: June 07, 2016 9:40 PM EDT

PHOENIX -- Not much is certain these days.

One thing that is known as Tampa Bay enters the second game of a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Tuesday is that Rays closer Alex Colome will not pitch.

Probably won't pitch.

Still wants to pitch.

Colome recorded his fourth save in as many games in a 6-4 victory over Arizona on Monday, throwing a 1-2-3 ninth inning while retiring the 2-3-4 hitters in the lineup, all on groundouts. He hit 97 mph with his fastball.

"I want to throw every day," Colome said. "I work on my shoulder every day, working hard. Maybe they'll give me tomorrow off, but if I have to pitch, I can pitch."

Rays manager Kevin Cash had a joking solution.

"Maybe we should fly him out so I can't use him," Cash said. "Four days in a row is difficult, no doubt. We're not trying to start a trend here by any means."

Colome, in his first season as the Rays' primary closer, threw 34, eight and nine pitches in the final three games of the weekend series at Minnesota, saving all three.

"I love his heart," said Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer, whose win Colome preserved Monday. "I love that he is willing."

The four-game winning streak for Tampa Bay (26-30) ties a season high. With two homers Monday, the Rays brought their major-league-leading total to 85.

Desmond Jennings and Tom Beckham went deep for the Rays, and Jennings had three hits and a walk while finishing a triple short of the cycle.

Arizona (25-35) has lost three of four and 17 of its past 25 games since getting within one game of .500 at 17-18 on May 10.

Rays left-hander Matt Moore will face Arizona right-hander Zack Greinke on Tuesday. Greinke is 4-0 with a 2.57 ERA in his last four starts. He is 3-6 with a 3.42 ERA in 15 career appearances, 12 starts, against Tampa Bay. Moore will make his first career appearance against Arizona.

Arizona got middle-of-the-order bat David Peralta back into the lineup for the first time in a month on Monday, and it did not take him long to adjust to major league pitching. Peralta singled in his second at-bat and homered in his third before being removed for a pinch hitter against a left-hander in the seventh inning.

The addition of Peralta gives the Diamondbacks an excess of corner outfielders, and manager Chip Hale indicated that Peralta may get some time off against left-handers in the near future.

The Diamondbacks struggled to make contact in the past two games, although it did not hurt them in a 3-2 victory over Chicago Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta on Sunday. Arizona struck out a franchise-record 18 times Sunday and 15 more times Monday, when Archer had 12 K's in six innings.

"Some of it is pitching, but we have to make a better adjustment," Hale said. "We know that. It is one of those things that you talk about a lot, then guys start thinking about it too much."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Indians (32-24) at Mariners (31-26)

Game: 2
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: June 07, 2016 10:10 PM EDT

SEATTLE -- The red-hot Cleveland Indians shook up their rotation Monday, opening the door for right-hander Cody Anderson to get another shot at proving himself.

Anderson (1-3, 6.81 ERA) provided plenty of reasons for doubt while starting eight games in April and May, but he went out on a good note. His most recent start at the major-league level, which came on May 23, saw Anderson give up just one run off five hits over seven innings in a 5-1 win over the White Sox. But that start came as the designated 26th roster player in a doubleheader, meaning he had to go back to Triple-A after the game.

He's back because the Indians are skipping Danny Salazar's turn in the rotation because the 26-year-old right-hander has tightness in his shoulder.

The Indians initially had veteran righty Carlos Carrasco as the Tuesday starter, but they announced midway through Monday's win over the Mariners that Carrasco would move back one day to fill Salazar's Wednesday spot. The change gives Cleveland a little more roster flexibility in case the Indians want to activate reliever Joba Chamberlain from the disabled list after Tuesday's game.

Anderson will face a Seattle Mariners team that dropped its fourth consecutive game to fall four games back in the American League West standings. The Mariners (31-26) went into a three-game series with Texas last Friday with a share of the division lead but have fallen on hard times.

"We need to get back to how we played," manager Scott Servais said before Monday's loss.

The Mariners have fallen in large part because of starting pitching, but they got pretty good back-to-back outings from Hisashi Iwakuma and James Paxton on Sunday and Monday -- only to see the bats go quiet.

"Unfortunately we couldn't get anything going offensively," Servais said after Monday's 3-1 loss to the Indians.

Cleveland's Anderson will have a tough act to follow after Indians starter Trevor Bauer threw 7 2/3 solid innings in the 3-1 win Monday night.

"Today he did most of the work," teammate Rajai Davis said late Monday night. "He had his stuff working. You could see the confidence he had."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Red Sox (33-24) at Giants (35-24)

Game: 1
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: June 07, 2016 10:15 PM EDT

SAN FRANCISCO -- With a showdown of potential World Series Game 1 aces David Price and Madison Bumgarner looming Wednesday, the Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants will focus on outfield issues when they open a two-game interleague series Tuesday night.

Red Sox right-hander Rick Porcello (7-2) and Giants righty Albert Suarez (1-1) are scheduled to pitch the series opener, which will be the first meeting of the recent World Series winners since 2013. Boston leads the all-time series 8-4, having won seven of the last nine.

The Red Sox (33-24) began the week tied with the Baltimore Orioles for first place in the American League East. A 5-2 record in interleague play bolstered their winning percentage.

However, Boston flew west to begin a five-game trip on the heels of losing four of five to the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays, and with both their regular left fielders (Brock Holt and Blake Swihart), out due to injuries.

The Red Sox have plugged veteran Chris Young into the left field void, and early returns are good. He had a home run and a single Sunday in Boston's 5-4 loss at Toronto.

"To his credit, he has stayed ready when he has not had everyday at-bats or regular at-bats," Red Sox manager John Farrell said of Young while addressing the media after Sunday's game in Boston. "We're able to turn to a quality big-leaguer in the role that he's in."

The Giants are quite familiar with Young, having faced him a whopping 426 times over 10 seasons while he was a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Oakland Athletics, New York Mets and New York Yankees. He brings just a .224 lifetime average against the Giants into AT&T Park.

He has never faced Suarez, who will be making just his second start in right-hander Matt Cain's No. 5 spot in the San Francisco rotation. Cain is on the disabled list because of a strained hamstring.

Suarez has never pitched against Boston, nor has any Red Sox hitter ever batted against him in a major league game.

The 26-year-old is coming off a decent outing (five innings, three hits, three runs) in his first major league start Wednesday at Atlanta. He did not get a decision.

The Giants (35-24), who completed a 5-5 trip with a 6-3 loss at St. Louis to Sunday night, have injury issues at two outfield positions.

Super-sub Gregor Blanco has filled in admirably for right fielder Hunter Pence (hamstring surgery), but the club has struggled to get consistent production in left since Angel Pagan (strained hamstring) exited the lineup on May 23.

The recent flavor of the day has been left-handed-hitting Jarrett Parker, who was in a 2-for-19 slump with nine strikeouts before hitting a two-run homer in the Sunday loss.

Righty swinger Mac Williamson likely will get the start Wednesday against Price. He has fallen behind Parker in the pecking order after a 3-for-17 (.176) start to the season.

Utility man Kelby Tomlinson is a third option, but Giants manager Bruce Bochy prefers to have him available off the bench, especially now with Blanco starting.

"They'll all get a shot," Bochy said Sunday when discussing the situation with reporters in St. Louis. "Their play will determine who plays."

The Giants haven't seen Porcello since lighting him up for 10 hits and five runs in just three innings in a game at Detroit in 2014. They also got a brief glimpse at the 27-year-old in the 2012 World Series, when the Tigers brought him out of the bullpen for one inning of Game 1 during the Giants' 4-0 sweep.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Tuesday, June 7, 2016, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews

Could this year be 1912 all over again? That season, the Red Sox beat the (New York) Giants in the World Series. It was the only best-of-seven World Series to ever go eight games. How'd that happen? Game 2 at Fenway Park was declared a 6-6 tie, called after 11 innings due to darkness. Not sure why they couldn't pick it up the next day. The Red Sox won the series 4-3. I mention this because it's the only time the Red Sox and Giants have played in the Fall Classic. But that could certainly happen again this fall. Boston is the clear betting favorite to win the AL pennant with MLB's top offense. San Francisco is behind the Cubs to win the NL pennant, but we all know what the Giants do in even-numbered years this decade. Boston visits San Francisco on Tuesday night to open a terrific interleague series. The teams last played in 2013 -- the year Boston won its last World Series.


Mets at Pirates (+123, 7.5)

ESPN2 game so should have live betting at sportsbooks. I could easily see these teams playing in a wild-card game this fall. As expected and as I predicted, the Mets put third baseman David Wright on the DL late last week with that herniated disc in his neck, and he will miss at least 6-8 weeks -- and that's if he doesn't need surgery, which is still possible. I doubt we see Wright again in 2016. In fact, his career is in some jeopardy. At least the Mets have insurance on Wright's bloated contract. It first kicks in if he misses 60 days. New York starts Jacob deGrom (3-1, 2.62) here as he looks for a first win since April 30. DeGrom deserved one Wednesday against Chicago in allowing a run and striking out 10 in seven innings, but his bullpen blew it. Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen is 3-for-5 off him. Jordy Mercer is 1-for-5 with two RBIs. The Pirates' Juan Nicasio (4-4, 4.75) also comes off a no-decision, giving up three runs in six innings in Miami. The Mets' Asdrubal Cabrera is 2-for-6 off him with a homer. Neil Walker is 3-for-10 with two extra-base hits.

Key trends: The Mets are 7-1 in deGrom's past eight road starts vs. teams with a winning record. The Pirates are 0-4 in Nicasio's past four against teams with a winning record. The "over/under" has gone under in six of deGrom's past eight road starts.

Early lean: Mets and under.

Cardinals at Reds (+158, 9)

St. Louis is set to activate shortstop Jhonny Peralta from the disabled list, and he should make his season debut in this game. However, Peralta won't be playing shortstop for the time being. Because rookie Aledmys Diaz has played so well in Peralta's place, he will keep that job. Peralta apparently will move to third most days and Matt Carpenter to second, where he formerly played. That means current second baseman Kolten Wong loses his full-time job. As he should with his offensive performance. That excellent Cardinals offense just got stronger. St. Louis starts former Red Mike Leake (4-4, 3.82) here -- Cincinnati traded him to San Francisco last summer. This will be his first time back. Leake had a fifth straight quality start last Tuesday in Milwaukee, allowing two runs in six innings. It's lefty John Lamb (1-3, 5.58) for Cincinnati. He might have saved his rotation spot on Wednesday in holding the Giants to a run in seven innings in earning the win. The Reds had been 0-5 this season when he started. Peralta is 2-for-6 career off Leake.

Key trends: The Cardinals are 4-0 in Leake's past four against teams with a losing record. The Reds are 0-5 in Lamb's past five at home. The over is 6-2 in Leake's past eight.

Early lean: Cardinals and over.

Astros at Rangers (-112, 9)

I keep thinking that Cole Hamels won a Cy Young in the National League and was going to say this is a matchup of former Cy winners, but Hamels never did. But he was the 2008 NLCS and World Series MVP. Hamels (5-1, 3.39) took a no-decision Wednesday in Cleveland, allowing three runs and six hits over seven innings. He has made three starts against Houston since being acquired from the Phillies and is 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA. He beat the visiting Astros on April 20, allowing a run in 6.2 innings. Jose Altuve is 5-for-13 off him with a homer and two RBIs. Evan Gattis is 7-for-20 with three solo homers. Carlos Correa is 1-for-11. Reigning AL Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel (3-7, 5.50) of Houston faced a former Cy Young winner last time out in Arizona's Zack Greinke. I took Houston and the under in that one and was only right on the total. Keuchel had a second straight quality start in giving up three runs in six innings, but Houston lost 3-0. Keuchel has had his troubles against Texas this season, going 0-2 with a 9.75 ERA in two starts. The Rangers are hitting .407 against him. Ian Desmond is 4-for-8 off Keuchel with a homer and five RBIs. Prince Fielder is 8-for-30 with two doubles, a home run and four RBIs.

Key trends: The Astros are 1-5 in Keuchel's past six vs. teams with a winning record. The Rangers are 10-2 in Hamels' past 12 at home. The over is 7-0 in Keuchel's past seven in Texas.

Early lean: Rangers and over.

Rockies at Dodgers (-149, 8)

Los Angeles designated high-priced outfielder Carl Crawford for assignment over the weekend, meaning it will have to eat the remaining $35 million left on his contract that runs through 2017. You may not remember how good that guy once was with Tampa Bay, but he never recaptured that after signing with Boston and then was even worse, and usually injured, after being traded to the Dodgers in 2012. Someone will give him another shot after he clears waivers. L.A. is giving arguably the top pitching prospect in baseball, left-hander Julio Urias (0-1, 9.39), another shot here. He hasn't been good in his first two big-league starts, getting roughed up for six runs over five innings Thursday at the Cubs. The Dodgers were expected to send Urias back down. Colorado goes with one of its top pitching prospects in Eddie Butler (2-3, 5.65). He was knocked around in his last start, allowing eight runs and 11 hits over four innings against Cincinnati. The Dodgers' Justin Turner feasts off Butler in his career, going 8-for-11 with three doubles and two RBIs.

Key trends: The Rockies are 2-10 in Butler's past 12 vs. teams with a winning record. The under is 5-2 in his past seven on the road.

Early lean: Dodgers and under.

Red Sox at Giants (+110, 8.5)

Will Boston manager John Farrell use AL MVP candidate David Ortiz at first base in this series to keep his big bat in the lineup since the Sox lose the DH? Reportedly Ortiz will start only one of these two games in San Francisco at first. The better matchup for him would be Tuesday against right-hander Albert Suarez (1-1, 3.18) instead of Wednesday against Giants ace lefty Madison Bumgarner. Suarez made his sixth appearance of the season last Wednesday in Atlanta but his first career start, allowing three runs in five innings. Boston goes with Rick Porcello (7-2, 4.00). He wasn't very sharp for a second straight start Thursday, allowing five runs in six innings in Baltimore. Porcello allowed a season-high three homers. Denard Span has faced him more than any Giant, going 11-for-29 with four RBIs. Gregor Blanco is 4-for-11 with a double and triple.

Key trends: The Red Sox are 4-9 in Porcello's past 13 vs. teams with a winning record. The over is 4-1 in his past five.

Early lean: Red Sox and over.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

'Inter-League 'Over' gamblers cashing'

Heading into Tuesday's interleague play 'Over' gamblers are cashing at a healthy 61.1% clip when American League clubs take on National League teams. The 'Over' has been the correct choice in 58 games vs 32 'Under', 5 'Push'.

In the Junior Circuit, the Detroit Tigers (10-2 O/U), Los Angeles Angels (11-3-1), Cleveland (6-3-1) lead the way. In the Senior Circuit it's Milwaukee Brewers (7-1-2 O/U), Washington Nationals (6-3), Pittsburgh Pirates (8-2), Padres (4-0) cashing consistently for 'Over' gamblers.

Over the next few days, Tampa Bay-Arizona, Miami-Minnesota, Oakland-Milwaukee, Washington-Chicago White Sox, Boston-San Francisco will be trying to keep 'Over' bettors happy.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

'Rangers look to continue dominance over Stros'

Houston Astros at Texas Rangers June 7, 8:05 EST

The Texas Rangers and Houston Astros get ready to duel again after the Rangers held on for a 6-5 victory last night. According to opening odds the Rangers are -$1.20 home favorites with the total set at 9.0 runs.

Rangers reeling off an 8-1 streak, 13-3 stretch over the last sixteen games look to keep the monmentum going handing the ball to Cole Hamels carrying a 5-1 record, 3.39 ERA. In his last effort, the southpaw tossed 7 inning of 6 hit 3 run ball getting tagged with a no-decision in the teams extra inning loss vs. Cleveland. Hamels 12-3 since joining Texas last August in twenty-five starts (18-7 TSR) is 2-0 in three games vs Houston since joining the club (3-0 TSR).

Astros in the midst of an 11-3 streak counter with lefty Dallas Keuchel, who has a 3-7 record, 5.50 ERA entering tonight's contest. Keuchel off a loss vs Arizona heads to the hill saddled with 1-6 skid, 2-7 teams start record his last nine on the mound. An opposing park has been an obstacle recently for Houston with Keuchel. In his last eight road starts vs a division opponent the Stros are 2-6 and in his last seven June road starts Houston is 1-6 including 0-4 in an underdog roll. Keuchel has a career 4-6 record vs Texas over 16 starts (7-9 TSR).

Sometimes in sports a team just has another team's number and that's the case for the Texas when it comes to Houston. The Rangers have won seven straight vs Stros this season, 15 of the past 17 in this Lone Star State rivalry including a sparkling 11-0 streak at Globe Life Park.

 

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MLB

Tuesday's games

National League games

Cubs @ Phillies
Hendricks is 2-0, 1.59 in his last two stats; five of his last seven starts stayed under. .

Eickhoff is 1-2, 2.75 in his last three starts; six of his last seven starts stayed under. .

Cubs are 11-2 in last 12 games; six of their last eight games stayed under. Philly is 4-13 in last 17 games; five of their last six games went over.

Mets @ Pirates
Matz is 7-0, 1.51 in his last eight starts; three of his last four stayed under. deGrom is 0-0, 3.06 in his last five starts (over 5-4).

Niese is 2-0, 2.25 in his last four starts (over 7-4). Nicasio is 1-2, 6.92 in his last five starts (over 5-5).

Mets are 4-6 in last ten road games, 6-3 in road series openers. Over is 7-4-1 in their last 12 games. Pittsburgh lost seven of last nine games; 5-4 in home series openers; their last seven home games went over.

Cardinals @ Reds
Leake is 4-1, 1.59 in his last five starts; six of his last eight went over.

Lamb is 1-3, 7.84 in his last four starts (under 3-2-1).

St Louis won six of its last nine games (over 6-3); they're 3-5 in road series openers. Reds won five of last seven games; nine of their last ten games went over. Reds are 4-6 in home series openers.

Braves @ Padres
Blair is 0-4, 8.13 in seven starts; four of his last five went over.

Rea is 0-1, 7.05 in his last three starts; four of his last five went over.

Atlanta is 10-18 on the road; four of their last six road games stayed under. Padres lost ten of last 15 games; ten of their last 13 games went over the total.

Rockies @ Dodgers
Butler is 0-2, 8.40 in his last three starts (over 3-3).

Urias is 0-1, 10.56 in his first two MLB starts (over 2-0).

Dodgers won ten of last 14 games; six of their last seven games stayed under total. Colorado lost ten of its last 14 games (over 9-5).


American League games

Angels @ New York
Huff is making first '16 start; he is 25-28, 5.01 in 118 big league games (55 starts). He is 1-2, 4.58 in 15 AAA games this year (three starts).

Pineda is 1-3, 7.27 in his last five starts (over 3-0-2).

Bronx lost eight of last 13 games; under is 7-3-1 in their last 11 games. Angels are 8-5 in last 13 road games, with four of last five going over the total.

Royals @ Orioles
Ventura is 0-1, 5.68 in his last three starts; five of his last six starts went over.

Jimenez is 0-3, 12.42 in his last four starts; his last five starts went over.

Royals lost their last five games; over is 9-3-2 in their last 14. Baltimore won five of its last six games (over 4-2).

Blue Jays @ Tigers
Sanchez is 4-0, 3.00 in his last seven starts (under 5-2).

Boyd is 0-2, 5.56 in his two starts (over 1-0-1).

Toronto won nine of its last 12 games; under is 7-4v in its last 11 road games. Detroit won five of last six games; over is 16-5-2 in their last 23 home games.

Astros @ Rangers
Keuchel is 0-3, 6.61 in his last five starts (over 5-3-1 in his last nine).

Hamels is 0-1, 6.94 in his last two starts; his last five starts went over.

Astros are 11-3 in last 14 games, but lost 11 in row in Arlington; seven of their last nine games went over. Texas is 13-3 in its last 16 games, six of their last seven games went over the total.

Indians @ Mariners
Anderson is 1-3, 6.94 in his seven starts (over 5-2). .

Miley is 1-0, 11.05 in his last three starts; over is 5-0-1 in his last six. .

Indians won their last six games; over is 7-3-1 in their last 11 games. Seattle lost eight of its last 11 games- over is 11-2 in its last 13 games.


Interleague

A's @ Brewers
Manaea is 1-2, 4.34 in his last three starts; three of his last four stayed under.

Davies is 3-0, 3.86 in his last five starts; four of his last six went over total.

Oakland lost its last five road games (over 4-1). A's are 6-3 in road series openers. Milwaukee is 8-5 in its last 13 games, 4-6 in home series openers; over is 8-3 in its last 11 games.

Nationals @ White Sox
Ross is 2-0, 1.29 in his last two starts; his last four stayed under.

Latos is 1-1, 7.06 in his last four starts; four of his last five went over.

Washington won eight of last 11 road games; seven of its last nine games went over the total. White Sox lost 10 of last 12 games; under is 7-2 in their last nine home games. Nationals are 6-4 in road series openers. chicago is 4-4 in home series openers.

Marlins @ Twins
Conley is 1-2, 4.56 in his last five starts (over 3-2-1 in his road starts).

Dean is 1-1, 4.00 in his three starts (under 2-1).

Marlins are 5-3 in their last eight games; over is 11-6-1 in their last 18 road games. Miami is 6-2 in road series openers. Minnesota lost six of last seven games; six of their last seven home games went over. Twins are 4-5 in home series openers.

Rays @ Diamondbacks
Moore is 1-1, 7.34 in his last six starts (over 5-0-1).

Greinke is 4-0, 2.57 in his last four starts (under 6-5-1).

Arizona.lost six of last eight games; four of last five Diamondback games stayed under the total. Tampa Bay won last four games; over is 15-2-1 in their last 18 road games.

Red Sox @ Giants
Porcello is 1-1, 6.17 in his last four starts; four of his last five went over.

Suarez allowed three runs in five IP (76 PT) in his first MLB start.

Boston lost four of its last five games; they're 5-4 in road series openers. Over is 4-2-1 in their last seven road games. Giants won their last five home games; six of their last nine games went over. SF is 4-4 in home series openers.


Teams won-lost records when this pitcher starts:

Chi-Phil-- Hendricks 5-5; Eickhoff 3-8
NY-Pitt-- Matz 7-2 deGrom 5-4; Niese 7-4 Nicasio 5-5
StL-Cin-- Leake 6-5; Lamb 1-5
Atl-SD-- Blair 1-6; Rea 5-5
Col-LA-- Butler 2-4; Urias 0-2

LA-NY-- Huff 0-0; Pineda 4-7
KC-Balt-- Ventura 7-4; Jimenez 5-6
Tor-Det-- Sanchez 7-4; Boyd 0-2
Hst-Tex-- Keuchel 4-8; Hamels 7-4
Cle-Sea-- Anderson 2-5; Miley 8-3

A's-Mil-- Manaea 3-4; Davies 4-5
Wsh-Chi-- Ross 6-4; Latos 8-2
Mia-Minn-- Conley 6-5; Dean 2-1
TB-Az-- Moore 4-7; Greinke 8-4
Bos-SF-- Porcello 7-4; Suarez 0-1


Starting pitchers allowing 1+ runs in first inning:

Chi-Phil-- Hendricks 2-10; Eickhoff 4-11
NY-Pitt-- Matz 7-2 deGrom 2-9; Niese 7-4 Nicasio 3-10
StL-Cin-- Leake 3-11; Lamb 4-6
Atl-SD-- Blair 3-7; Rea 5-10
Col-LA-- Butler 3-6; Urias 1-2

LA-NY-- Huff 0-0; Pineda 6-11
KC-Balt-- Ventura 3-11; Jimenez 4-11
Tor-Det-- Sanchez 2-11; Boyd 0-2
Hst-Tex-- Keuchel 4-12; Hamels 3-11
Cle-Sea-- Anderson 4-7; Miley 5-11

A's-Mil-- Manaea 1-7; Davies 3-9
Wsh-Chi-- Ross 1-10; Latos 4-10
Mia-Minn-- Conley 3-11; Dean 1-3
TB-Az-- Moore 3-11; Greinke 2-12
Bos-SF-- Porcello 2-11; Suarez 0-1


Umpires

Chi-Phil-- Over is 4-1-1 in last six Winters games.
Atl-SD-- Favorites won five of last six Barksdale games.
Col-LA-- Six of last nine Joyce games stayed under.

LA-NY-- Over is 4-2-2 in last eight Bellino games.
KC-Balt-- Six of last seven Gonzalez games went over.
Tor-Det-- Three of last four Rackley games went over; his last two games went 13, 17 innings- favorites won his last five.
Hst-Tex-- Last three Emmel games stayed under; favorites won his last five.
Cle-Sea-- Over is 7-1-1 in BWelke games

TB-Az-- Eight of ten Ripperger games stayed under.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Tuesday's six-pack

From MSN, six things I didn't know about M&M's..........

-- M&M stands for Mars and Murrie, the partners who invented the candy.

-- M&M's were invented in 1941, but the public couldn't buy them until 1947.

-- During World War II, M&M's were sold exclusively to the US military as part of their food rations.

-- M&M's originally came in five colors: red, orange, yellow, green and violet.

-- The "M" didn't appear on the candy until 1950; it was a black "M" until 1954, when it was changed to white.

-- Red M&M’s disappeared for a decade from 1976 because a Russian study linked red food dye to cancer in humans. An undergrad at the University of Tennessee is responsible for that being found false, which brought the red M&M's back in '87.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

#1 Sports

Tuesday's Free Selection: Colorado Rockies + 150

 

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Mike Wynn

Bonus Play: MLB Washington w/Ross -140 Over Chicago Wsox

 

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Razor Sharp

FREE PICK FOR TUESDAY: Take KANSAS CITY/BALTIMORE UNDER the total of 9 runs

 

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Totals4U

Tuesday's Free Selection: Boston/San Francisco over 8

 

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Atlantic Sports

Tuesday's Free Selection from Atlantic Sports: Tampa Bay + 155

 

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Platinum Plays

Free Pick: Arizona Diamondbacks w/Greinke -165 over Tampa Bay

 

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Hawkeye Sports

Tuesday's Free Selection: St Louis Cardinals - 170