Tuesday 7/19/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Orioles (53-38) at Yankees (46-46)

Game: 2
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: July 19, 2016 7:05 PM EDT

Orioles-Yankees preview
NEW YORK -- The New York Yankees have spent more than a month depending on others to beat the Baltimore Orioles.
On Monday, they had their first opportunity to collide head-on with the team which has held at least a share of first place in the American League East since June 5.
In that sense, the series opener was a success as the Yankees will look to get another win over the Orioles on Tuesday night when the four-game series continues at Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees opened the series with a 2-1 win and are 2-2 on a crucial 10-game homestand despite scoring 10 runs in 34 innings. Alex Rodriguez homered for the first time in a month, Carlos Beltran had three hits and Ivan Nova pitched six effective innings.
"We really haven't scored a lot of runs on this home stand yet but we're 2-2," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Hopefully we start swinging better we were swinging really good before the break, and it's important that we get a number of our guys going at once."
New York faced the prospect of being 10 1/2 games behind the Orioles following Saturday's 5-2 loss to Boston. It gained a game Sunday with a 3-1 win, and instead of being 11 1/2 out, the Yankees enter Tuesday with a 7 1/2 game deficit and the non-waiver trade deadline less than two weeks away.
"Every game is so important right now," Rodriguez said. "We definitely want to keep all the guys around, keep this team together. We feel like the best baseball is ahead of us."
Since a 9-6 loss to Texas on June 27, New York's deficit has been between 7 1/2 to 9 1/2 games.
To inch closer to the Orioles, the Yankees will turn to right-hander Nathan Eovaldi. Eovaldi has lowered his ERA to 5.11 by pitching a trio of scoreless relief outings totaling 7 2/3 innings.
"There's no doubt he was helpful down there," Girardi said. "That's a piece we've struggled to find since June, but it wasn't necessarily hard because we think he's a starter and we're going to put him back in the rotation."
He was moved to the bullpen to give the Yankees depth in that department and also because of recent ineffectiveness. Eovaldi is 0-4 with a 9.20 ERA in his last six starts. During that stretch, he has allowed 45 of his 104 hits.
Eovaldi's ineffective stretch began the last time he faced the Orioles. On June 3, he did not get a decision but during New York's 6-5 loss Eovaldi allowed five runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings and it ended a span of five starts where the right-hander held a 2.03 ERA.
The Orioles were without Chris Davis on Monday and their offense was held to one run for the first time since getting blanked against Seattle on May 17. Davis was under the weather with a stomach virus and was so sick he did not leave the team hotel.
Baltimore's only offense Monday was Jonathan Schoop's 16th home run. The Orioles have a .269 team average but are hitting .206 (27-for-131) in their last four games.
"We're giving our efforts, just coming up a little short right now." center fielder Adam Jones said.
After Kevin Gausman allowed two runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings, Vance Worley will get the opportunity to start Tuesday for Baltimore.
Worley is 2-0 with a 2.87 ERA in 20 appearances and in his two starts, he has a 5.06 ERA.
Worley's two starts took place April 10 and 15 against Tampa Bay and Texas. Since those starts he has a 2.15 ERA in his last 18 outings.
The right-hander has made three multi-inning appearances since returning from a groin injury over two weeks ago. He threw 16 pitches during Sunday's 5-2 loss in preparation for the start.
"We think of all our options, he was the best one and we'll see," Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said. "He's certainly capable of pitching well."
Besides Davis, Baltimore might be without Matt Wieters. Wieters stayed in Monday's game after getting hit on the right foot in the first inning, but the soreness increased and he had X-rays after the game.
New York will likely be without Mark Teixeira. Teixeira sat out a second straight game with a sore left foot and it is unclear if he will appear in any game this series.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Braves (32-61) at Reds (35-58)

Game: 2
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: July 19, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

CINCINNATI -- Cody Reed is taking his lumps at the major league level, but it is all part of the process.
The 23-year-old Cincinnati Reds left-hander, who came into this season ranked as the second-best prospect in the organization, owns an 8.39 ERA through five starts with 23 earned runs allowed in 24 2/3 innings.
Some flashes of brilliance are embedded in the rust, however. Reed (0-4) has fanned 29 batters, including nine in his big league debut to become the first Reds pitcher to reach that total in his first career start since Johnny Cueto in 2008.
Reed was among a trio of heralded left-handed pitching prospects acquired from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Cueto last July. On Tuesday, Reed will again search for his first win when he faces the Atlanta Braves, a club he has yet to face. Cincinnati is hoping for a more extended outing from Reed, who hasn't pitched past the fifth inning since going seven in his debut.
Rookie right-hander Tyrell Jenkins (0-1, 4.50 ERA) will start for Atlanta, and he will be facing the Reds for the first time. It will be Jenkins' second career start, with his other four major league appearances coming out of the bullpen this season.
In his only previous start, Jenkins threw 4 2/3 innings of one-run ball on July 6 at Philadelphia. He hasn't pitched since.
With the left-handed Reed on the mound for Cincinnati, the Braves are expected to go with Anthony Recker behind the plate. The rotation between Recker and A.J. Pierzynski is something that still is developing.
"We'll let Recker get the left-handers the next couple of days and see what we've got," Braves interim manager Brian Snitker said Monday. "I thought he did a good job (Sunday). He was in synch with Julio (Teheran), and he can swing the bat. They'll both play. A.J. was a big addition for us."
Speaking of catching, the big news Monday from the Reds' side is that Devin Mesoraco underwent surgery repair a torn labrum in his right hip. The procedure was performed in New York by hip specialist Bryan Kelly, who also repaired Mesoraco's hip impingement in June 2015.
Mesoraco had his second shoulder surgery after undergoing a procedure on a torn left labrum in May. He is expected to begin catching drills in mid- to late January.
In 2014, Mesoraco, 28, became the first Reds catcher since Hall of Famer Johnny Bench to hit 25 homers and drive in 80 runs in a season.
"We certainly would like him to stay healthy and keep him on the field," manager Bryan Price said. "It's always a crapshoot with any player. Hopefully, what he's doing is putting all this behind him so he can string together some healthy seasons."
Tucker Barnhart has been getting the bulk of the playing time with Ramon Cabrera serving as an able backup.
Reds first baseman Joey Votto will be looking to continue his hot streak on Tuesday after going 2-for-3 with a homer and three RBIs in an 8-2 win over the Braves in the series opener. Votto who batted only .200 in May, is off to a blistering start after the All-Star break, 8-for-15 (.533).
"I've had seasons where I've started off really well, poorly, everything in between," Votto said. "You have to take every challenge that comes your way. Early in the season, I struggled hitting fastballs over the plate. That's step one, and go from there.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Twins (33-59) at Tigers (49-44)

Game: 2
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: July 19, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

DETROIT -- The firing of longtime executive Terry Ryan on Monday looms as the first of several changes in store for the woeful Minnesota Twins. A managerial switch won't be one of them.
Twins owner and CEO Jim Pohlad cut ties with Ryan and hired assistant GM Rob Antony to replace him on an interim basis. The news sent shockwaves through the visiting clubhouse as the Twins began a three-game road series in Detroit.
Ryan was the team's GM from 1994-2007, served as a special assistant for four years, then returned as the GM in November 2011. Ryan wasn't able to recapture past glory, as the team failed to make the playoffs during his second stint.
The Twins have been dismal virtually since Opening Day this season and dropped 26 games below .500 with a 1-0 loss on Monday night. They'll play the second game of the three-game series on Tuesday night.
Manager Paul Molitor received assurances from Pohlad that he'll retain his job the rest of this season and into next season, regardless of whether Antony has the interim tag removed.
"I'm grateful because I want to keep doing this," Molitor said. "I want to help try to be part of the solution of our team getting better and finding a way to do some things we haven't been able to do for quite a while."
Antony was privy to all the trade discussions that Ryan had with other GMs. Antony was given the green light by his owner to do whatever he wants to improve the team. The non-waiver trade deadline arrives on Aug. 1.
"They've put me in a good position," Antony said. "They're not hamstrung in any way. There are no financial problems or issues where we need to dump players or save money. We're going to have some different ideas, different approaches. ... There are some things we need to tweak."
There are several veterans who could be on the move, including 29-year-old left-hander Tommy Milone, the scheduled starter on Tuesday. Milone has boosted his trade value this month by winning his last two outings after failing to collect a victory in his first seven starts. He's pitched well against the Tigers in the past, going 3-1 with a 3.86 ERA in seven career outings.
He'll be opposed by struggling right-hander Anibal Sanchez. Detroit manager Brad Ausmus was forced to reinsert Sanchez into the rotation when Jordan Zimmermann and Daniel Norris were sidelined by injuries.
Sanchez, who is 5-10 with a 6.75 ERA, has lost both his July starts while surrendering 12 earned runs in 8 1/3 innings.
The Tigers could be in the market for another starter, even when Zimmermann and Norris come off the 15-day disabled list. By winning three of their first four games since the break, the Tigers greatly decreased the possibility of selling off assets before the trade deadline.
"Hopefully, we force the team's hand to be buyers. You don't want to be sellers," ace right-hander Justin Verlander said. "Obviously, we went through that last year and it was tough for everybody. It wasn't fun the last couple of months. We're a good club and we've just got to go out there and prove it."
The Tigers have gotten solid starting pitching in their last three victories, as well as stellar bullpen outings. They have allowed only four runs in those games.
"That's definitely the recipe," said left fielder Justin Upton, who provided the only offense on Monday with a solo homer. "If the starters go out and pitch six strong innings, we can put some runs on the board and our bullpen comes out sharp, we're going to have a chance to win a lot of ballgames.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Giants at Red Sox

Game: 1
Date: July 19, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

Jake Peavy is well-versed in the challenges of winning at Fenway Park, something the San Francisco Giants have never done entering their two-game series with the Boston Red Sox.
Peavy, who won a World Series title with Boston in 2013, has as many victories (three) as the Giants have games played at the 104-year-old relic known as "America's Most Beloved Ballpark."
The majors-best Giants are entrusting their crafty 35-year-old veteran with the task of subduing the league's most prolific offense in Tuesday night's series opener in Boston.
San Francisco (57-36) has traveled to Fenway only once since interleague play began in 1997, enduring a three-game sweep June 15-17, 2007, during home run king Barry Bond's final season.
Before moving to the Bay Area, the Giants played five games at Fenway while facing the Red Sox in the 1912 World Series, which Boston won in the ballpark's inaugural season.
Peavy has gone 3-3 with a 4.47 ERA in 14 starts at Fenway -- his seventh-most at a single ballpark. In two seasons with the Red Sox, Peavy owns a 5-10 record with a 4.48 ERA in 30 starts.
This year, the 2007 National League Cy Young Award winner and three-time All-Star is 5-7 with a 5.09 ERA in 18 starts. On the road, Peavy is 1-5 with a 6.64 ERA in eight starts.
David Ortiz is 3-for-10 with an RBI and two strikeouts while Hanley Ramirez has gone 4-for-22 with a double and an RBI against Peavy. Dustin Pedroia is 1-for-7 with a pair of RBIs.
The Giants are coming off a surprising three-game sweep at San Diego, where Peavy spent the first eight seasons of his career while becoming the Padres' all-time strikeouts leader.
Peavy was nearly called on as an emergency starter Sunday, a 5-3 defeat, as Johnny Cueto, who started last Tuesday's All-Star Game at Petco Park, dealt with an illness.
"I'm always looking to play," Peavy told MLB.com, after joking that he initially reacted with "straight, utter panic" to manager Bruce Bochy's request. "I got ready."
Peavy wasn't needed, but Cueto gave up four runs. San Francisco surrendered 16 runs -- more than it had in its previous seven games combined -- and hit .204 in the series.
"We've got to reboot and reset," Bochy said. "We had the right guys up there with a couple of guys on base. We just couldn't get it done."
Boston (51-39) is 1 1/2 games behind the first-place Baltimore Orioles in the American League East after winning two of three road games against the Yankees over the weekend. New York won the finale 3-1 Sunday.
"After we got through the month of June, we've been able to turn the page," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "We're going back home, where we've played particularly well of late. We're set up pretty good right now."
Rick Porcello (11-2, 3.66 ERA) aims to put the Red Sox in line for their fifth straight home win. Boston is 7-2 in July -- all at Fenway -- after stumbling to a 10-16 mark in June.
Porcello is a perfect 8-0 at home this season, but 1-1 with a 6.19 ERA in three career starts against the Giants.
Conor Gillaspie is 10-for-24 (.417) with a homer and six RBIs against Porcello. Denard Span is 12-for-32 (.375) with four RBIs against him, and is 16-for-53 (.302) lifetime at Fenway.
San Francisco and Boston split a two-game set June 7-8 at AT&T Park. The Red Sox took the opener 5-3 in 10 innings, but lost a 2-1 pitchers' duel the following day.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Padres (41-52) at Cardinals (48-44)

Game: 2
Venue: Busch Stadium
Date: July 19, 2016 8:15 PM EDT

ST. LOUIS -- Jedd Gyorko has just about chomped off the hand that once fed him.
The former San Diego Padre has feasted on his old team's pitching in four meetings this year, going 9-for-14 with three homers and five RBIs. He was 3-for-3 with a solo homer and two runs Monday night in the St. Louis Cardinals' 10-2 win.
However, Gyorko downplayed the concept of getting up a little more for games with San Diego.
"It's just one of those things," he said. "I'm seeing the ball well and that's what it comes down to."
Based on those numbers, Gyorko might be back in the lineup for Tuesday night's game, even though the Padres will trot out a right-hander in Colin Rea (5-3, 4.95). Gyorko has homered in three straight games against San Diego, making him the first St. Louis hitter to do so since Rick Ankiel went yard in four straight games from 2007-08.
Gyorko's homer Monday night came a pitch after Randal Grichuk belted a two-run shot, marking the ninth straight game in which the Cardinals homered. That's their longest streak since cracking homers in 11 straight games in May 2009.
Rea could be a candidate to make that 10 in a row. Although his nine homers in 87 innings is a respectable figure, Rea is also allowing the opponents to bat .259 and has allowed a team-high 37 walks.
And it's not like St. Louis needs the help. It has belted 126 homers this year, only 11 fewer than it hit all last year, and is on pace to finish with more than 200.
But the Cardinals are just 48-44 even though they've outscored opponents by 98 runs, in large part because of poor fielding and inconsistent pitching. However, their best starter takes the mound Tuesday night.
Carlos Martinez (8-6, 2.85 ERA) is coming off an 11-strikeout performance July 9 in Milwaukee that tied a career high. Martinez has been especially murderous on right-handed hitters, allowing them just one extra-base hit and limiting them to a .189 slugging percentage.
However, Martinez will face three powerful right-handed bats at the top of the San Diego lineup in Melvin Upton, Jr., Wil Myers and Matt Kemp, who have combined for 55 homers.
Kemp's fourth inning homer Monday night extended the Padres' franchise-record streak with a long ball to 16 straight games, the National League's longest since the 2010 Milwaukee Brewers homered in 16 consecutive games.
"With the first four guys, the ball can leave the yard at any time," San Diego manager Andy Green said.
But Kemp's homer was the only offensive highlight for the Padres (41-52) Monday night as they fanned 15 times. Myers punched out in all four of his at-bats, the first time in his career he's done that.
"I don't know about being surprised," Green said. "I mean, it's baseball. There are games during a season where you have games like that. This game is gone. I'm not happy about it.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Indians (54-38) at Royals (47-45)

Game: 2
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: July 19, 2016 8:15 PM EDT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Brian Flynn will get an opportunity to fill a Kansas City Royals' gaping hole -- the No. 5 starter.
The Royals have tried right-handers Chris Young and Dillon Gee in that slot, but without much success. Left-hander Flynn gets his turn on Tuesday night against the division-leading Cleveland Indians.
"We know what we've got in Chris Young. We know what we have in Dillon Gee," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "It's just seeing what we've got in Brian Flynn. He's been throwing the ball extremely well out of the pen and we want to give him an opportunity to start.
"We want to see what he can do as a starter. We know where he is as a reliever. And he's put up really, really good numbers. So, we're going to find out."
Flynn is 1-0 with a 2.39 ERA in 13 relief appearances. He is 0-3 with a 9.00 ERA in five career starts, all with the Marlins. He has not started in the majors since Aug. 7, 2014 and threw only two-thirds of an inning in 2015 because of a left lat muscle injury.
"I'm ready to go," Flynn said. "I've been hopeful to get a shot at it. I feel like I can help this team as a starter. But it's been a long time especially with the injury. It's a long time since I've had a start. I've matured a lot since then, so I'm really ready for that.
"Not getting too caught up in the bright lights. I think my first stint up with Miami, I was a little caught up with everything. And just the biggest thing is proving to myself that I can pitch up here, my stuff plays, especially after the injury. Just getting to play, playing and enjoy it has been huge for me. Just treat it like a game and having fun."
He said pitching coach Dave Eiland talked to him about the start.
"Not a whole lot is going to change for me," Flynn said. "The first thing Dave talked to me about is I've had some success so far in the bullpen, just carry it over and take it batter-by-batter. If you start looking ahead at too many innings you won't get to the next inning."
He said pitching out of the bullpen "simplifies things"
"Breaking it down to two pitches out of the bullpen," Flynn said. "I might add some going back to starting. Knowing you can have some success on two pitches makes it easier on your life."
Yost said Flynn will be on a 60-to-70 pitch limit.
The Indians will counter with American League earned run leader Danny Salazar, who is 6-5 with a 3.71 ERA in 11 career starts against the Royals. He is 2-0 against the Royals this season, holding them two one run over 15 2/3 innings.
Salazar is 5-2 with a 2.66 ERA in nine road starts, holding foes to a .196 batting average.
The Indians lost the opener of this three-game series with the Royals sending 10 men to the plate in a seven-run eighth inning off relievers Bryan Shaw and Jeff Manship.
Shaw gave up hits to the first three batters he faced, including a two-run pinch double to Christian Colon, who attempted to bunt on the first two pitches.
"He was obviously working behind in the count," Francona said. "First hitter (Alcides Escobar) of the inning, that ball, if he lets it go, he probably gets an out. And then things, they're trying to give us an out on the bunt and he falls behind. Fall behind like that, you're just trying to get the ball over the plate and he did a nice job of pulling back and hitting one all the way to the wall that completely changed the game right there. We just couldn't stop the bleeding.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rays (35-57) at Rockies (43-49)

Game: 2
Venue: Coors Field
Date: July 19, 2016 8:40 PM EDT

DENVER -- Corey Dickerson, a former Colorado Rockies outfielder, will try to help the Tampa Bay Rays end their road skid Tuesday when he faces his former team.
Tampa Bay is riding an 11-game road losing streak following a 7-4 defeat against the Rockies on Monday night. The Rays dropped a franchise-record 13 consecutive road games in 2013, and they lost 12 straight away games in 2006.
Dickerson, who began his career with the Rockies and was traded to the Rays on Jan. 28 in the four-play deal that brought reliever Jake McGee to Colorado, will start for the Rays. The left-handed-hitting Dickerson, who has made 27 starts in left field, one in right field and 41 at designated hitter, wasn't in Tampa Bay's lineup Monday against Rockies left-hander Tyler Anderson.
Dickerson pinch-hit in the eighth after Evan Longoria's leadoff triple and struck out against Jason Motte -- the first of three consecutive batters Motte fanned to preserve a 5-4 lead. Dickerson is hitless in his past 11 at-bats following a season-high six-game hitting streak during which he hit .429 with a .478 on-base percentage and a .571 slugging percentage. He was 9-for-21 with three doubles and one RBI in that span.
In 122 games with the Rockies at Coors Field, Dickerson hit .355 (142-for-400) with 24 homers and 78 RBIs and a .675 slugging percentage.
Overall, Dickerson is hitting .223 in 81 games for the Rays with 14 doubles, 13 homers and 35 RBIs. He has a .274 on-base percentage and a .438 slugging percentage.
"I think it's been a learning process for him," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "I think over the last three weeks or so, he's done a nice job. He's made some adjustments. He's gotten some more hits. His average has spiked up.
"It's not an easy thing to do to come to a new league, especially the American League East and be in that division and learn a bunch of new pitchers. They attack you a little differently than maybe they do here in the National League. It's been a challenge for him, but we have all the confidence in the world that Corey is going to continue to have success and figure things out.
"(He is) much more on the upswing than not. He'll get his opportunities to hit in his old ballpark. We know he has a lot of success in this park, and hopefully we'll use it to our advantage."
On Tuesday, Dickerson will face Tyler Chatwood. The Colorado right-hander is 8-5 with a 3.29 ERA in 16 starts, 10 of which the Rockies have won. He will be making his third start since coming off the disabled list July 5 following a mid-back strain.
Chatwood pitched five innings July 5 at San Francisco, allowing three hits and two runs, one earned, in five innings but walking four and striking out four in a no-decision as the Rockies beat the Giants 7-3.
On July 10, Chatwood was the losing pitcher as the Rockies fell 10-3 to the Phillies. He threw five innings and gave up eight hits and four runs with three walks and two strikeouts.
"I just didn't have command," Chatwood said of his outing against the Phillies. "I fell behind a lot of people, so I was kind of battling myself. You're going to have games like that, and you got to get through it. I don't think I exploded in that game. I think I gave up eight singles."
Chatwood threw a light bullpen session when the Rockies held a workout Thursday in Atlanta, where they began play after the All-Star break. He then threw a full-go bullpen session Saturday.
Chatwood said he lowered his sight line in his side work and felt good about the results. That minor adjustment, Chatwood said, was made to help him get ahead in counts.
"That's the biggest thing," he said. "I've been falling behind. It's hard to pitch like that. You can't pitch up in the zone."
After undergoing his second Tommy John surgery in July 2014, Chatwood began throwing a cutter in lieu of a slider, because the former pitch puts less strain on his elbow. For the most part, Chatwood has had good results with the cutter.
"I felt like it's a pitch I could command pretty well (to) both sides of the plate," he said. "My last start, I didn't have command of it. I didn't throw very many for a strike. And if I did, I left it up. It was kind of getting big and (I was) not staying through it. It's hard to throw when you fall behind; it's a contact pitch. Fall behind and try to get back even (in the count) with the fastballs and they were hitting it."
Chatwood will be opposed by Rays rookie Blake Snell (1-4, 3.69 ERA).
Snell lost each of his past two starts, including a home defeat to the Los Angeles Angels in his most recent outing, when he gave up two runs on four hits in six innings on July 7. He has never faced the Rockies.
Chatwood is 0-1 with a 7.36 ERA in two career starts against Tampa Bay, both of them in 2011.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Blue Jays at Diamondbacks

Game: 1
Date: July 19, 2016 9:40 PM EDT

PHOENIX -- Twenty-eight days and 2,214 or so miles later, the Arizona Diamondbacks and Toronto Blue Jays will complete their home-and-home interleague series with a pair of games at Chase Field, starting Tuesday.
The teams split two contests at the Rogers Centre on June 21-22 and will play another two-game set, this time without the designated hitter.
Both teams have a bit of momentum going their way -- the Diamondbacks took two out of three from the Los Angeles Dodgers when play resumed after the All-Star break, with third baseman Jake Lamb supplying much of the offense and the starting pitching providing quality starts in the final two games: both victories.
Toronto lost two of three in Oakland over the weekend but has won seven of its last 11 to stay within close range of Baltimore and in third place in the AL East. The strong pre-break surge included a sweep of World Series champion Kansas City at the Rogers Centre.
Lamb will enter the series as the NL Player of the Week after his strong showing against the Dodgers, when he was 7-for-12 with two doubles, a triple, a homer and four RBIs. His RBI double with two outs in the ninth inning tied Saturday's game at 1, and he tripled and scored the winning run in the 12th inning of a 2-1 victory. With a single and a home run in his first two plate appearances of a 6-5 victory Sunday, Lamb hit for the cycle in four consecutive at-bats.
"He's playing with a lot of confidence," Arizona manager Chip Hale said.
Lamb led the National League and was second in the majors in both slugging percentage (.635) and OPS (1.015) entering the week, trailing only Boston's David Ortiz. Since 2000, Lamb was the only one of the 42 players with an OPS above .960 that did not make an All-Star team.
The series matches two of the top third basemen in the majors, with the Blue Jays' Josh Donaldson third in the majors in OPS and fourth in slugging.
The Diamondbacks are expected to recall right-hander Zack Godley from Triple-A Reno to make the start Tuesday as he fills in for Zack Greinke, who has not pitched since suffering a strained left oblique muscle while warming up for the third inning of his start against Philadelphia on June 28.
Greinke (10-3) has only begun playing catch at 90 feet, and the D-backs are expected to err on the side of caution before bringing him back.
"We should," general manager Dave Stewart said.
Godley (2-0) is to face right-hander Aaron Sanchez (9-1) in the opener, while Arizona left-hander Patrick Corbin is to oppose Marcus Stroman on Wednesday afternoon. Corbin gave up two runs in 6 1/3 innings in 4-2 victory in the first game of the series in Toronto on June 21
The Blue Jays will play their third series of the season without the DH, but it has not seemed to have hurt them. The Jays won two of three games in San Francisco from May 9-11 and swept a two-game series at Philadelphia on June 15-16. They scored 31 runs in those five games, including 20 against the Phillies.
Edwin Encarnacion played first base in all five games in NL parks and had three homers and eight RBIs while hitting safely in four.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Astros (50-43) at Athletics (41-52)

Game: 2
Venue: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Date: July 19, 2016 10:05 PM EDT

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Dallas Keuchel's rough start to the season is now a fading memory.
Keuchel, the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, will try to extend his three-game winning streak when he and the Houston Astros face the Oakland A's and rookie left-hander Dillon Overton on Tuesday night in the second game of a three-game series.
Keuchel (6-9, 4.80 ERA) has made five consecutive quality starts and owns a 2.78 ERA during that stretch. In his first 14 starts, the left-hander went 3-9 with a 5.54 ERA.
"He has kind of worked his way back into form," catcher Jason Castro said Monday before Houston's 7-4 loss in the series opener. "I think the way baseball is, you play so much, you can kind of hit patches where you lose your rhythm. He went back to some video and watched the rhythm and the timing of his delivery and his windup and tried to tighten that back up. I think that's helped him be a little more consistent with his release point."
Keuchel went 20-8 with a 2.48 ERA last season, and he is starting to show that Cy Young Award-winning form again.
In his previous start on July 10, Keuchel gave up one run on four hits over seven innings and got a no-decision in Houston's 2-1 victory against Oakland. He struck out five and walked two. Before that outing, he allowed two runs and five hits over six innings in a 5-2 victory against the Seattle Mariners. He struck out six and walked one.
"It's mostly about command and control with him," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "When he repeats his delivery and can make the ball do whatever he wants, he's as efficient and good as anybody in the league. That's why he won the Cy Young. The execution part of his game has taken a nice leap forward.
"He's been better at inducing soft contact, things that replicate the success he's had in this league. The last couple starts he's missed bats, and he's gotten ground balls."
Overton will be recalled Tuesday from Triple-A Nashville for his second stint this season with the A's. Left-hander Sean Manaea was initially slotted to pitch, but he was forced into action Sunday against Toronto. Starter Rich Hill lasted only five pitches because a blister on the middle finger of his left hand popped, and then right-hander Andrew Triggs was hit by a line drive on his left calf and exited after the first inning. Manaea pitched five innings.
Overton went 1-1 with an 11.42 ERA in his first two major league starts in June before being sent down to Nashville on July 1. In his second start, he gave up eight runs on eight hits over three innings in a 12-6 loss to the San Francisco Giants and lefty Madison Bumgarner.
"The last game I was up here, we kind of switched some things up, which obviously didn't work out very well," said Overton, who won his two starts at Nashville after being sent down. "I just stuck to what I've been doing and everything's been working out.
"I wasn't working in to as many hitters as much as I wanted to (against San Francisco), so I wasn't able to open up the outside of the plate with my changeup. And usually I like to throw way into hitters and use the changeup on the other side, but that last game up here I wasn't able to do that. I just went back to that when I went back down, and everything was going good."
A's manager Bob Melvin said the reports from Triple-A on Overton have been good throughout the season.
"He's been throwing pretty consistent for them all year," Melvin said. "We got a short sample up here. He had one pretty good game and one where he struggled a little bit. It's great that he'll get another opportunity.
"Obviously, the reason for it's not great, but this is a guy we talked about in spring training and we felt that at some point in time this year he'd get an opportunity, and this will his second one.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rangers (55-39) at Angels (41-52)

Game: 2
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Date: July 19, 2016 10:05 PM EDT

Rangers-Angels preview
ANAHEIM -- A former Cy Young Award winner likely will pitch with his career on the line when the Los Angeles Angels and the Texas Rangers meet Tuesday night at Angel Stadium.
Right-hander Tim Lincecum, once the mainstay of the San Francisco Giants' rotation, will face the Rangers' Kyle Lohse with his spot in the rotation -- and perhaps on the roster -- in jeopardy.
Lincecum, who won two Cy Young Awards while helping the Giants win three World Series, underwent hip surgery in September and had not pitched in 11 months when the Angels signed him May 20 to bolster their beleaguered rotation. His season debut followed a script that screenwriters for the Hallmark Channel could have produced.
At the O.co Coliseum in Oakland on June 18, Lincecum earned a 7-1 victory over the Athletics in his first appearance since June 27, 2015. The right-hander threw six innings and allowed one run, two walks and four hits while adding two strikeouts.
Since then, however, the fairy tale has turned ugly.
Not only has Lincecum failed to win any of his four ensuing starts but the former ace has pitched just 17 2/3 innings and failed to last longer than 5 2/3 innings during any single appearance. During that stretch, the right-hander permitted four home runs among the 34 hits he allowed and compiled a 9.17 earned-run average.
With left-hander Tyler Skaggs close to returning after missing nearly two years because of Tommy John surgery, Lincecum has little margin for error.
"I think for any player on a major league field, it's performance based," Angels manager Mike Scioscia told MLB.com. "He needs to perform well, and nobody is immune to that. But we have a lot of confidence that he is going to do what he needs to do to be one of those five guys who are going to give us a chance to win games as a starting pitcher."
Lohse finds himself in a similar situation. After going 5-13 with a 5.85 ERA for the Milwaukee Brewers last year, Lohse languished on the free-agent market until May 13, when he signed a minor league contract with the Rangers. The right-hander made 10 starts at Triple-A Round Rock before being promoted to make his season debut July 9.
But in that game against the Minnesota Twins, Lohse surrendered six runs on nine hits while throwing 99 pitches in just five innings. Worse, Lohse sustained a mild strain in his right oblique muscle that forced him to begin an immediate program of accelerated recovery.
"I didn't have that fun of an All-Star break, doing two-a-day treatments to see how good we can get this thing going quickly," Lohse told MLB.com. "It didn't feel like it was going to be something short. But we have been making progress every day."
That progress culminated Saturday, when Lohse threw a bullpen session before the Rangers' game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field and felt no ill effects.
"I came out of the bullpen session feeling good with minimal soreness," Lohse told MLB.com. "We did a lot of work on it and feel good where it's at."
Had Lohse been unable to pitch Tuesday night, right-hander Nick Martinez would have been recalled from Round Rock to make the start. Martinez had been optioned July 8 but made one start for the Express, making him eligible to return quickly.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: White Sox (45-47) at Mariners (47-46)

Game: 2
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: July 19, 2016 10:10 PM EDT

SEATTLE -- The Chicago White Sox finally got a little offense Monday night, and they got a typically dominant performance from starter Chris Sale.
And yet Chicago carries a five-game losing streak into Tuesday's game against the Seattle Mariners.
On a night when the hits finally started coming ... well, the hits kept on coming. Chicago closer David Robertson gave up four runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning as Seattle extended the White Sox's frustration by rallying for a 4-3 win.
"(Sale) did what an ace does -- he threw eight innings and didn't give up any runs," a frustrated Robertson said after the game. "I went in and just blew it."
White Sox manager Robin Ventura wasn't quite as emotional after the loss, but he was still dissatisfied with an offense that hit two home runs and piled up 11 hits.
"We got a couple home runs to get us going," Ventura said with a shrug. "We've still got a ways to go, though."
The White Sox, who have now scored four runs over a span of five games dating back to the final game before the All-Star break, will go up against struggling Seattle starter Wade Miley on Tuesday.
Miley (6-6) is seeking his first win since June 7. He is 0-4 with a 6.00 ERA over his past four starts.
Until the ninth inning Monday, Seattle (47-46) wasn't providing much offense for its pitchers. The Mariners had scored two total runs over 26 innings before breaking out with four when down to their last out Monday.
Whether that will carry over to Tuesday is still to be determined, but the Mariners probably will go into the game on a high.
"That's why you play," Seattle first baseman Adam Lind said after hitting a pinch-hit, three-run homer with two outs in the ninth to give the Mariners their most improbable win of the year. "Moments like that are the best part of the season."
Seattle's offense remained in a funk for the first eight innings, but manager Scott Servais didn't seem too concerned. Sale, he said, was a huge factor in the lack of hitting as the Mariners fell behind 3-0 before the ninth-inning rally.
"He's about as good as it gets," Servais said of Sale. "He's a special pitcher, no doubt about it."
The White Sox (45-47) will send another left-hander to the mound on Tuesday, Jose Quintana (7-8).
In six career games against Seattle, five of them starts, Quintana is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA.
Miley is 1-2 with a 6.52 career ERA in three starts against the White Sox.
Chicago is mired in a five-game losing streak for the third time this season. The White Sox also lost five in a row in early June, days after they snapped a season-worst, seven-game slide. After jumping out to a 23-10 record by May 9, Chicago has fallen on hard times. A three-game sweep against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim last weekend that saw the White Sox score just one total run looked like the low point, but Monday night's ninth inning added a new nadir.
Seattle is looking for its first back-to-back wins since sweeping the Baltimore Orioles in a three-game series July 1-3.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Tuesday, July 19, 2016, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews

Atlanta's Fredi Gonzalez was the first manager fired in Major League Baseball this season. Could Minnesota's Paul Molitor be next? That question has to be asked as the Twins are a disastrous 33-58, the second-worst record in the majors. They expected to contend this season in the AL Central after staying in the wild-card race until the end last year in Molitor's first season. One domino already has fallen in the Twin Cities as long-time General Manager Terry Ryan was axed on Monday. The Twins haven't reached the postseason since 2010, the year before Ryan returned as the team's GM. The former scout rebuilt the Twins once before, after being named general the first time manager in November 1994. Assistant GM Rob Antony will replace Ryan on an interim basis. Any new GM might want to find his own manager. Thus I think Molitor probably is safe at least the rest of this year. Plus the fact he has the cache of being a Hall of Famer and played for the Twins carries weight.


Mets at Cubs (-155, TBA)

An ESPN national TV game and will feature live betting. The Mets entered Monday's series opener having won eight straight vs. the Cubs, four in last year's NLCS sweep and then four a couple of weeks ago at Citi Field. Great matchup of All-Stars on the mound in New York's Noah Syndergaard and Chicago's Jake Arrieta, although both appeared to hit a wall to close the first half and neither pitched in last Tuesday's game. Syndergaard (9-4, 2.56) has admitted he has a bone spur in his pitching elbow but apparently can't make it worse by pitching through it. His velocity was down, however, in his last start on July 8 and he made it only 4.2 innings against the Nationals, allowing three runs. Maybe all that time off will help him. Syndergaard dominated the Cubs on June 3, allowing one run over seven innings with eight strikeouts. Kris Bryant is 2-for-5 career off him with a triple. Jason Heyward is 3-for-6 with a double and triple. Arrieta (12-4, 2.68) allowed six runs and nine hits over six innings in his last start on July 8. He was hit around for four runs and eight hits by the Mets on July 2. Asdrubal Cabrera is 5-for-11 career off him with two homers and four RBIs. Curtis Granderson is 10-for-30 against him with three homers and nine RBIs.

Key trends: The Mets are 7-0 in Syndergaard's past seven vs. the NL Central. The Cubs are 11-3 in Arrieta's past 14 at home. The "over/under" has gone under in five of Syndergaard's past six on Tuesday. The under is 3-1-2 in Arrieta's past six vs. the Mets.

Early lean: Mets

Orioles at Yankees (-125, 9.5)

Any day now could be the last for Carlos Beltran in a Yankees uniform as I believe he'll be traded. Reports out of New York are that the Royals have inquired about bringing Beltran back. He played there from 1998-2004 and then just got too expensive for the small-market club to keep. Luke Hochevar was one of the players the Royals offered New York in return. The Yanks start another trade candidate here in Nathan Eovaldi (7-6, 5.11). The Pirates are really looking hard at him, although his value isn't great at the moment. He had been demoted to the bullpen for a while but is back in the rotation for now. Eovaldi was roughed up in Baltimore on June 3, allowing five runs over 5.1 innings. Chris Davis is 2-for-11 career off him with a homer and six strikeouts. Manny Machado is 1-for-8 with a homer off him. The Birds are giving Vance Worley (2-0, 2.87) a spot start here. He has allowed a run and three hits in two-thirds of an inning vs. the Yanks in 2016. Beltran is 3-for-12 off him with two doubles.

Key trends: The Yankees are 0-4 in Eovaldi's past four. The over is 5-1 in his past six.

Early lean: Yankees and over.

Dodgers at Nationals (-120, 8.5)

Los Angeles expects to activate outfielder Joc Pederson from the disabled list on Tuesday. He has been out since suffering a bruised AC joint when he crashed into a wall on June 28. Pederson is hitting .236 with 13 homers and 33 RBIs this season. He will face off against Washington's Reynaldo Lopez. He's the team's No. 5 overall prospect making his big-league debut. Guy can hit triple digits on his fastball and had a 3.19 ERA combined in Double-A and Triple-A this season. Manager Dusty Baker said Sammy Solis will be placed on the 15-day disabled list because of right knee soreness to make room for Lopez on the 25-man roster. The Dodgers go with lefty Scott Kazmir (7-3, 4.52). He last pitched on July 8 against the Padres and lasted only three innings, giving up three runs and six hits. Kazmir took a no-decision vs. Washington on June 21, giving up two runs and eight hits over six innings. Bryce Harper is 1-for-3 off him with a homer. Jayson Werth is 5-for-7 with a dinger.

Key trends: The Dodgers are 1-4 in Kazmir's past five series openers. The Nats are 4-0 in their past four vs. a lefty. The under is 6-0 in Washington's past six games.

Early lean: Nationals and under.

Indians at Royals (TBA)

Cleveland has lost catcher Yan Gomes perhaps for the season after he separated his shoulder in Sunday's win over the Twins. Gomes suffered the injury when he fell and landed awkwardly on his shoulder while running to first base. He used to be a pretty good hitter but was batting just .165 this season with eight homers and 32 RBIs. It remains to be seen whether this puts the Tribe in the trade market for a catcher. Cleveland starts All-Star Danny Salazar (10-3, 2.75), although he wasn't able to pitch in the game due to arm fatigue. He was roughed up a bit in his last outing on July 9, giving up six runs and eight hits over 5.2 innings vs. the Yankees. Salazar is 2-0 with a 0.57 ERA in two starts this year against the Royals. Alex Gordon is 5-for-25 against Salazar career with 15 strikeouts. Eric Hosmer is 8-for-24 with two homers. The Royals go with Chris Young (2-8, 6.79). He had been demoted to the bullpen. Young is 0-1 with a 7.00 ERA in two starts this year vs. Cleveland. Francisco Lindor is 7-for-18 off him with a homer. Carlos Santana is 4-for-16 with two homers against him.

Key trends: The Indians are 7-1 in Salazar's past eight. The Royals are 1-4 in their past five on Tuesday. The under is 9-2-2 in Salazar's past 13 on the road.

Early lean: This is TBA because Young hasn't been made official yet but all indications are it will be him. Go Tribe.

Rays at Rockies (-155, 12)

Tampa Bay will lose the DH for this interleague matchup. The Rays are listening to almost every pitcher on their roster in trade talks other than top prospect and lefty Blake Snell (1-4, 3.69), who goes here. It's Snell's seventh big-league start and he'll get his first chance to hit. He last pitched on July 7 against the Angels and allowed two runs and four hits over six innings in a loss but did strike out a career-high seven. No Rockies have seen him. Colorado goes with ace Tyler Chatwood (8-5, 3.29). He has struggled in his two starts since coming off the 15-day disabled list with a mid-back strain. Chatwood hasn't lasted more than five innings in either of them. He's night and day different at home and away as Chatwood is 3-5 with a 5.32 ERA at Coors Field and 5-0 with a 1.30 ERA on the road. Only one Rays player has seen him: Logan Forsythe is 0-for-3 against him with three walks.

Key trends: The Rays are 1-10 in their past 11 in Game 2 of a series. The Rockies are 0-6 in their past six interleague home games vs. a lefty. The under is 4-1 in Chatwood's past five at home.

Early lean: Rays and under.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

'Astros in good hands'

Houston Astros at Oakland Athletics July 19, 10:05 EST

Houston southpaw Dallas Keuchel gets his second straight start vs Oakland. In the previous effort he spun seven innings of 1-run ball in Astros' 2-1 victory. The lefthander 3-0 with a 2.78 ERA in his last five starts, Houston 5-0 in those games expect Stros to improve to 8-1 vs Oakland with Keuchel while A's fall to 0-7 at home vs a portside starter.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

'Peavy faces old team'

San Francisco Giants at Boston Red Sox July 19, 7:10 EST

Boston Red Sox host San Francisco in the opener of a mini two game Interleague set at Fenway Park. Red Sox one of the hottest teams in the league this July posting a 9-3 record behind 5.6 runs/game count on Rick Porcello carrying a 11-2 record, 3.66 ERA to the hill including a perfect 8-0 in front of the home audience where his KW ratio is an eye-popping 49-7.

The Giants hitting a rough patch getting swept in San Diego try to get back on track with X-Red-Sox Jake Peavy heading to the mound sporting a 5-7 record, 5.09 ERA. San Francico handing the ball to Peavy does serve as an alarm, since the Giants are 3-5 in his eight road starts this season, 0-9 in his last nine road starts facing a team with a winning record.

Oddsmakers have open Red Sox -$1.60 home favorites with the total set at 10.5 runs. As always, a higher price on a game is cause to ratchet up the tension. However, in this case with Porcello in great form, Giants 0-5 last five times the team has found itself opening a road series with Peavy, the numbers add up well enough to conclude Boston is the right choice.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MLB

Tuesday's games

National League

Marlins @ Phillies
Urena is making his first MLB start; he is 1-1, 7.52 in 16 MLB games (20.1 IP) and 1-3, 3.99 in 10 AAA starts this season.

Velasquez is 3-0, 2.12 in his last three starts; over is 7-3 in his last ten. Phillies are 5-2 in his home starts.

Marlins won six of last seven games; over is 17-6 in their last 23 true road games. Philly lost three of last four games, under is 10-2-1 in its last 13 at home.

Brewers @ Pirates
Guerra is 3-1, 1.61 in his last four starts; under is 8-2-1 in his last 11. Milwaukee is 6-0 in his road starts.

Taillon is 2-1, 3.86 in five starts this year (over 4-1).

Brewers lost four of their last five games; they're 5-10 in road series openers. Under is 5-2-2 in their last nine games. Pittsburgh won 10 of its last 14 games; they're 9-5 in home series openers. Last five Pirate home games went over the total.

Dodgers @ Nationals
Kazmir is 2-0, 4.05 in his last four starts; five of his last seven starts went over. Dodgers are 4-4 in his road starts.

Lopez is making first MLB start; he was 4-5, 3.19 in 16 minor league starts this year, mostly in AA Eastern League.

Dodgers are 6-9 in last 15 road games, 5-10 in road series openers. Five of LA's last seven road games went over total. Washington won five of its last six games; they're 10-4 in home series openers. Last six National games stayed under the total.

Braves @ Reds
Jenkins allowed one run in 4.2 IP (64 PT) in his first '16 start. .

Reed is 0-4, 10.22 in five MLB starts (over 5-0). .

Atlanta is 4-8 in its last 12 games; under is 11-4 in their last 15 road games. Cincinnati lost eight of last 12 home games, over is 15-7-1 in Reds' last 23 games.

Mets @ Cubs
Syndergaard is 1-2, 5.52 in his last three starts; over is 6-1-1 in his last eight. Mets are 5-2 in his road starts.

Arrieta is 1-3, 7.17 in his last four starts (over 3-0-1). Cubs are 5-3 in his home starts.

Mets lost nine of last 13 road games; under is 15-4 in New York's last 19 road games. Cubs won four of last five games; last six games at Wrigley Field stayed under.

Padres @ Cardinals
Rea is 2-0, 4.91 in his last four starts; nine of his last 11 went over. San Diego won five of his six road starts.

Martinez is 4-1, 1.49 in his last eight starts; under is 5-0-1 in his last six. Cardinals lost six of his last seven home starts.

Padres won three of last four games; their last three games went over. St Louis lost five of last eight home games; three of their last four games went over.


American League

Orioles @ New York
Worley is 1-0, 6.75 in two starts (over 1-1), last of which was April 15.

Eovaldi is 0-4, 9.61 in his last four starts; five of his last six went over. New York is 5-2 in his home starts.

Orioles won six of last nine games, their last six games stayed under. New York won four of its last six games, their last four games stayed under.

Twins @ Tigers
Milone is 2-0, 2.45 in his last two starts; five of his last seven went over. Minnesota lost four of his five road starts.

Sanchez is 0-6, 8.14 in his last eight starts (over 7-3 in his last 10). Detroit is 2-4 in his home starts.

Minnesota lost three of last four games; six of Twins' last seven road games went over. Detroit won five of last six home games, ten of its last 13 games stayed under the total.

Indians @ Royals
Salazar is 3-1, 2.54 in his last four starts; five of his last six went over. Cleveland split his 10 road starts.

Flynn is making first MLB start; he is 2-1, 3.04 in nine AAA games (four starts) this year. He is 1-0, 2.39 in 13 MLB games (26.1 IP), but no starts

Indians won 10 of last 14 road games; under is 5-3-1 in Tribe's last nine road games. Kansas City lost eight of last 12 games; six of last nine KC stayed under the total. Cleveland lost its last five games in Kansas City.

Astros @ A's
Keuchel is 3-0, 3.34 in his last five starts; six of his last nine stayed under. Houston is 4-6 in his road starts.

Overton is 1-1, 11.42 in two starts (over 2-0).

Astros won nine of last 12 road games; four of their last five road games went over. Oakland is 15-23 in last 38 games overall, 6-11 in last 17 at home. Five of their last seven home tilts went over the total.

Rangers @ Angels
Lohse allowed six runs in five IP (109 PT) in his first '16 start.

Lincecum is 0-3, 8.66 in his last four starts (under 3-2).

Texas lost 12 of last 16 games; over is 9-3-1 in their last 13 games. Angels won eight of last ten games, four of their last six stayed under the total.

White Sox @ Mariners
Quintana is 2-0, 3.46 in his last two starts; under is 15-2 in his last 17 starts. Chicago split his ten road starts.

Miley is 0-4, 6.00 in his last four starts; over is 7-2-2 in his last 11. Seattle is 3-4 in his home starts.

White Sox lost their last four games, scoring one run; three of their last four games stayed under. Seattle lost seven of last ten games; four of their last five home games went over.


Interleague

Giants @ Red Sox
Peavy is 4-1, 3.51 in his last six starts (under 5-1). Giants are 3-5 in his road starts.

Porcello is 3-0, 2.84 in his last three starts; Red Sox are 9-0 in his home starts. Over is 6-2-1 in his last nine starts.

Giants lost their last three games; over is 5-1-1 in their last seven road games. Giants are 8-7 in their road series openers. Boston won eight of last ten games; they're 9-7 in home series openers. Last five Boston games stayed under the total.

Rays @ Rockies
Snell is 1-4, 5.74 in his last five starts (under 4-2). .

Chatwood is 0-1, 6.94 in his last three starts (over 3-0); Colorado is 3-5 in his home starts.

Tampa Bay lost its last 11 road games; Rays' last six games stayed under total. Colorado is 10-6 in last 16 home games, eight of last 12 games at Coors Field went over the total.

Blue Jays @ Diamondbacks
Sanchez is 3-0, 2.18 in his last five starts; Jays are 6-4 in his road starts. Last four Sanchez starts stayed under the total.

Godley is 2-0, 4.91 in his last two starts (over 2-0).

Toronto is 4-7 in its last 11 road games, 9-6 in road series openers. Over is 5-2-1 in their last eight road games. Arizona lost 13 of last 17 games but won last two; they're 3-13 in home series openers. Over is 8-1-1 in their last ten home games.


Teams won-lost records when this pitcher starts:

Mia-Phil-- Urena 0-0; Velasquez 10-5
Mil-Pitt-- Guerra 10-3; Taillon 3-2
LA-Wsh-- Kazmir 10-8 (4-0 last 4); Lopez 0-0
Atl-Cin-- Jenkins 0-1; Reed 0-5
NY-Chi-- Syndergaard 11-6; Arrieta 13-5 (3-5 last 8)
SD-StL-- Rea 10-6; Martinez 8-9

Balt-NY-- Worley 2-0; Eovaldi 8-8 (0-4 last 4)
Min-Det-- Milone 4-4; Sanchez 3-10 (0 of last 8)
Cle-KC-- Salazar 11-6; Flynn 0-0
Hst-A's-- Keuchel 9-10 (5-0 last 5); Overton 1-1
Tex-LAA-- Lohse 0-1; Lincecum 2-3
Chi-Sea-- Quintana 9-9; Miley 9-7 (0-4 last 4)

SF-Bos-- Peavy 10-8; Porcello 14-4 (7-0 last 7)
TB-Colo-- Snell 1-5; Chatwood 10-6
Tor-Az-- Sanchez 11-7; Godley 2-0


Starting pitchers allowing 1+ runs in first inning:

Mia-Phil-- Urena 0-0; Velasquez 3-14
Mil-Pitt-- Guerra 2-13; Taillon 1-5
LA-Wsh-- Kazmir 10-18; Lopez 0-0
Atl-Cin-- Jenkins 0-1; Reed 4-5
NY-Chi-- Syndergaard 4-17; Arrieta 3-18
SD-StL-- Rea 9-16; Martinez 1-17

Balt-NY-- Worley 0-2; Eovaldi 4-16
Min-Det-- Milone 0-8; Sanchez 5-13
Cle-KC-- Salazar 1-17; Flynn 0-0
Hst-A's-- Keuchel 4-19; Overton 1-2
Tex-LAA-- Lohse 0-1; Lincecum 2-5
Chi-Sea-- Quintana 4-18; Miley 7-16

SF-Bos-- Peavy 4-18; Porcello 7-18 (5 of last 6)
TB-Colo-- Snell 2-6; Chatwood 6-16
Tor-Az-- Sanchez 3-18; Godley 1-2


Umpires

Mia-Phil-- Favorites won 10 of last 12 Hallion games.
Atl-Cin-- Six of last nine Barksdale games stayed under.
NY-Chi-- Nine of 12 Cooper games stayed under total.
SD-StL-- Over is 6-3-2 in last eleven Vanover games.

Balt-NY-- Six of last eight Tichenor games stayed under.
Min-Det-- Last eight Layne games went over the total.
Cle--KC-- Over is 5-3-1 in last nine Eddings games.
Hst-A's-- Last five Gonzalez games stayed under.
Tex-LA-- 12 of last 13 Wegner games went over total.
Chi-Sea-- Last four Danley games stayed under.

TB-Colo-- Home side won 11 of last 12 Fagan games.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Tuesday's six-pack

-- Lot of Republicans hate Donald Trump; someone planted blatant plagiarism into Melania Trump's speech last night, mirroring a Michelle Obama speech from 2008 to make the candidate look bad. This year, making people look bad isn't so hard.

-- No actual politician would be stupid enough to plagiarize and thinking you can get away with it, not in this day and age. Unless it was intentional.

-- Mariners 4, White Sox 3-- Chris Sale threw eight shutout innings on 100 pitches, but was lifted after the 8th with a 3-0 lead. Aaron Lind hit a 3-run walkoff homer.

-- It is July 19 and the Jets haven't signed their starting quarterback yet.

-- Twins fired GM Terry Ryan; not only does Minnesota stink, they owe Hughes and Mauer a total of $86M, after this season.

-- RIP Marion Campbell. Known as the Swamp Fox, the former NFL coach was a defensive wizard who played for the 1960 Eagles' title team.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

#1 Sports

Tuesday's Free Selection: San Francisco Giants + 145

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Mike Wynn

Bonus Play: MLB LA Angels w/Lincecum -120 Over Texas

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Razor Sharp

FREE PICK FOR TUESDAY: Take DETROIT (Sanchez) -145 over Minnesota

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Totals4U

Tuesday's Free Selection: San Diego/St Louis over 8 1/2