Wednesday 4/20/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rockies (8-5) at Reds (6-7)

Game: 3
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: April 20, 2016 12:35 PM EDT

The Cincinnati Reds are having more success at home than on the road, and that's especially true on the basepaths.

After their aggressive base running led to another home win, the Reds look to cap this three-game series with a second straight victory Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies.

Cincinnati (7-7) tied Milwaukee and Oakland for the worst home record in baseball last year at 34-47. The Reds, though, are showing signs of avoiding a similar fate in 2016, winning six of eight games. However, that's been undermined by a 1-5 road record.

They continued their success at Great American Ball Park in bizarre fashion Tuesday, stealing five bases in a four-run second inning to beat Colorado 4-3. The steals were the most by Cincinnati in an inning in at least a century.

"A rarity, like an eclipse," said right fielder Jay Bruce, who matched his career high with two steals.

The Reds have 11 steals on the season - nine coming at home - to rank only behind the New York Yankees and Houston, both with 13.

Brandon Phillips was caught stealing Tuesday, but he made an impact by going 4 for 4 and falling a home run shy of the cycle. He's 9 for 21 in six home games compared to 6 for 24 on the road.

Raisel Iglesias (1-1, 3.24 ERA) takes the mound for the first time against Colorado. The right-hander has a 2.94 ERA over his last six home starts, but he only has a 1-2 record to show for it since he's been backed by seven total runs.

He had his worst performance of the season in Thursday's 8-1 loss to the Cubs, yielding three runs and six hits in five innings. He gave up that many runs with 12 strikeouts over 11 2-3 innings during his first two games, which both resulted in Reds' home wins.

The Rockies try to end this six-game trip with four victories as they hand the ball to Chad Bettis (2-0, 2.95), who has a chance to win three straight starts for the first time.

He's limited his last two opponents to two runs - one earned - over 13 innings. The right-hander tossed three-hit ball over six scoreless innings Friday in a 6-1 win at Wrigley Field.

However, Bettis wasn't happy with issuing three walks.

"I would have liked to have been more efficient than I was - three walks for me through six innings is not where I want to be right now," Bettis told MLB's official website. "That being said, I did feel very comfortable with my tempo and how my pitches were moving, and there were some great plays behind me."

Mark Reynolds hit his first home run of the season Tuesday, his third in 30 games in Cincinnati. He's batting .174 in his last 14 contests there.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Angels (6-7) at White Sox (8-5)

Game: 3
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: April 20, 2016 2:10 PM EDT

Even though he saw his team wait until the fifth inning for its first hit in another loss, Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia wasn't too impressed with the Chicago White Sox's starter.

Perhaps he'll have praise when he gets a look at Chris Sale.

The White Sox ace can capture his first four starts for the first time and improve to 5-0 as a starter against the Angels in Wednesday's matchup at U.S. Cellular Field.

Los Angeles (6-8) was held hitless through four innings by Mat Latos and registered only an infield hit through six in Tuesday's 5-0 defeat that evened this four-game series. Scioscia, whose team has dropped four of five, didn't seem too enthralled that Latos pitched 6 1-3 innings of two-hit ball.

'I didn't think he was doing anything special,' Scioscia said. 'He obviously hit the spots but we had chances and he made some pitches to get out of jams."

Things won't get any easier for the Angels against Sale (3-0, 2.35 ERA), who started 5-0 in 2014 with a no-decision in his fourth start. He fired a two-hitter with nine strikeouts and no walks in Friday's 1-0 victory at Tampa Bay.

"He just seemed to be on his game," manager Robin Ventura told MLB's official website. "I think throwing strikes early in counts, too, you get a guy like him, and you can kind of see the strategy of getting after it early."

Sale is 4-0 with a 1.73 ERA in five starts against the Angels and has limited Albert Pujols to two hits in 15 at-bats and Mike Trout to three in 13. Pujols and Trout combined for six hitless at-bats Tuesday.

Yunel Escobar is 2 for 4 versus Sale and 11 for 20 with a homer and five doubles off southpaws this year.

One factor against Sale is that he is 3-5 with a 4.26 ERA in his last eight day starts.

The Angels have totaled five runs in losing all three outings by Garrett Richards (0-2, 3.57), who was in line for a victory Friday before his bullpen blew a two-run lead as he gave up two runs in six innings in a 5-4 loss to Minnesota.

'I can't worry about that stuff,' Richards said. 'I need to take the ball every fifth day and give us a chance to win. That's pretty much my only goal.'

The right-hander has won both career starts against Chicago (9-5) with a 3.00 ERA. Jose Abreu is 4 for 6 with a homer against him and Avisail Garcia is 3 for 4.

Abreu ended an eight-game homerless drought Tuesday and Todd Frazier also went deep as the White Sox ended a season-high, three-game slide. Melky Cabrera hit a two-run triple during a three-run eighth that provided the final margin.

'A total, complete game for us,' right fielder Adam Eaton said.

Trout is in a 3-for-18 slide and Pujols a 1-for-16 slump for the Angels, who have lost five of their last six on the road against the White Sox.

The Angels are playing a day game at U.S. Cellular Field for the first time in four years.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mariners (5-7) at Indians (5-5)

Game: 2
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: April 20, 2016 6:10 PM EDT

Throughout his brief career, Danny Salazar has proven he can pitch with power. While he's had some hiccups with control early this year, he's learning to be more of a pitcher who has power heading into Wednesday night's game for the Cleveland Indians against the Seattle Mariners.

Salazar (2-0, 0.79 ERA) has averaged 9.95 strikeouts per nine innings over his 62 major league starts, including a 12.71 mark in winning his first two outings of 2016 by fanning 16 in 11 1-3 innings. The right-hander has issued more walks (6) than hits allowed (5) in those victories but has been aggressively contesting hitters.

"If you work hard, and every time you go out there you try to give 100 percent," he told MLB's official website, "it doesn't matter if you are throwing a ball, and then you come next pitch and are throwing hard and try to execute that pitch - that is going to make you feel more confident."

Nearly 32 percent of batters have swung at the first pitch of their at-bat, which ranks 12th in the AL, and his 37.2 percent mark of pitches swung on and missed is third-best in the majors through Monday's games. Salazar stifled Tampa Bay on Thursday, scattering three hits and three walks while striking out nine in six innings of a 6-0 victory.

'Being aggressive,' Salazar said after the win. 'They were swinging a lot, so I mixed in my fastball and changeup for the first pitch.'

Salazar yielded three runs and four hits with four walks in 5 1/3 innings of Cleveland's 6-3, 12-inning win over Seattle on May 31, his only start versus the Mariners.

Cleveland (6-5) opened the series Tuesday night with a 3-2 victory as Carlos Carrasco allowed a solo homer and little else in 6 1/3 innings while Francisco Lindor had three hits and an RBI. The second-year shortstop is 5 for 10 with three doubles and two RBIs in his last three games, bumping his average to .326.

Lindor and the Indians will try to keep Taijuan Walker (0-0, 2.25) winless, though his lack of wins is due to his bullpen more than a lack of quality.

Seattle (5-8) lost his first start in the ninth inning against Oakland on April 8, and after he limited to Texas to one run in six innings last Wednesday, the bullpen allowed the tying run in the eighth before the Mariners posted a 4-2, 10-inning victory.

Walker had his way with the Indians last year, winning two starts in a 12-day span while conceding only one run in 14 innings with 14 strikeouts.

"He's got a chance to have a big year for us," manager Scott Servais said of Walker after his last outing. "It took him a little while. We didn't see the big fastball until real late, and he kind of dug deep and got a little extra, which was nice to see."

Kyle Seager, who had a solo homer in his first multihit game of the year, snapped an 0 for 16 slump and is batting .152. He is 28 for 67 (.418) with four homers and 10 RBIs in 17 games at Progressive Field.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mets (6-6) at Phillies (6-8)

Game: 3
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: April 20, 2016 7:05 PM EDT

The New York Mets traded for Neil Walker after losing Daniel Murphy via free agency. So far, Walker is proving to be a fitting replacement.

With homers for each of his last five hits, Walker has a chance to become the first Mets second baseman to homer in three straight games in 22 years Wednesday night against the Philadelphia Phillies.

New York's run to last year's World Series was highlighted by Murphy's seven homers, including a playoff-record six-game streak. The Mets (7-6) made a qualifying offer to keep him, but Murphy opted to sign with division rival Washington for three years and $37.5 million.

In search of a replacement, New York acquired Walker from Pittsburgh for Jonathon Niese.

The move is paying off with Walker leading the Mets with six homers, and his 11 RBIs are just one back of Yoenis Cespedes' team high.

His power surge has come in 20 at-bats over the last five games, the longest such streak for the Mets since Lucas Duda hit eight in a row from July 25-Aug. 1. Walker, though, can become the first Mets second baseman to hit one out in three consecutive games since Jeff Kent in April 1994.

He connected for two solo shots while New York had a season-high six homers in Tuesday's 11-1 win at Philadelphia (6-9). The Mets hit four out in a 5-2 win in the opener of this three-game set a day earlier.

"Consistency is the most important thing," Walker said. "Squaring balls up and driving them in the seats is a pretty good sign. I'm real confident now."

The same could be said of the offense, which has scored 35 runs while hitting .280 with 17 homers during a 5-1 stretch after totaling 18 with a .187 average and two homers during the first seven games.

"We've got a lot of guys who can hit it over the fence," manager Terry Collins said. "There's no easy guy in that lineup. That's really tough on the opposition, when they know they've got to make quality pitch after quality pitch."

Bartolo Colon (1-1, 2.13) would surely like to get some help from the lineup after getting no support while giving up one run with seven strikeouts in six innings of a 1-0 loss to the Phillies on April 9. The right-hander followed that up six days later by yielding two runs in 5 1/3 innings of a 6-5 win at Cleveland.

Colon's 219 wins tie him with Pedro Martinez for second among pitchers born in the Dominican Republic, 24 behind Juan Marichal.

"He's a class act, a pro," manager Terry Collins said. "He always takes the ball and he gives you all he's got. If you give him something to work with he keeps you in the game."

Colon is 4-1 with a 2.73 ERA in his last five starts in Philadelphia. He was charged with a 4-3 loss in the most recent visit Sept. 29, allowing three runs in five innings.

The Phillies are the lowest scoring team in the majors with 2.47 runs per game, and their .211 average is the worst in the NL. They've been outscored 35-8 while losing four of their last five games.

They're turning to Jeremy Hellickson (1-1, 4.30), who was roughed up in Friday's 9-1 loss to Washington. The right-hander gave up five runs in the first inning before allowing one more and leaving after three innings. He had allowed two earned runs over 11 2-3 during his first two starts.

"I just didn't command like I needed to," Hellickson told MLB's official website.

He's won his last two starts against the Mets with a 3.09 ERA, yielding two runs in 5 2-3 innings of a 5-2 road win April 10.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Athletics (6-7) at Yankees (5-6)

Game: 2
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: April 20, 2016 7:05 PM EDT

Jacoby Ellsbury is expected to return to the New York Yankees lineup, although he's not the only one slumping for them at the moment.

Ellsbury and the Yankees are scuffling at the plate having lost five of six ahead of Wednesday night's contest with a visiting Oakland Athletics club that has won three straight.

The center fielder was out of the lineup in Tuesday's 3-2, 11-inning defeat, entering as a pinch runner in the ninth inning. The move came after a series of defensive mistakes during the first two weeks of the season and because the Yankees (5-7) were facing left-hander Eric Surkamp.

'I don't think he's played as well as he's capable of playing. It just seems like he's misjudged the ball a couple times,' manager Joe Girardi said.

Aaron Hicks started in center and went 0 for 5 in the opener of the three-game series.

Ellsbury is also mired in a 1-for-15 slump, with those woes emblematic of New York's recent production. The Yankees have totaled 13 runs while batting .211 in the last six games.

Brian McCann is hitless in 15 at-bats, Mark Teixeira is in a 1-for-11 slide, Alex Rodriguez is still batting .154 despite three hits in his last two games and Chase Headley has a .200 average.

'We're just not executing,' Girardi said. 'We are getting runners on, but we are having a hard time getting them in. That's going to change, but while you're going through it, it's pretty frustrating.'

Ellsbury has never faced Oakland starter Kendall Graveman (0-1, 2.38 ERA), who will meet the Yankees for the second time after allowing three runs in a no-decision in a 5-4 victory May 28.

Graveman is making his first road start and first in the Bronx after losing his final four road outings a season ago with a 9.60 ERA. No Yankee hitter has more than three at-bats against him.

The right-hander gave up one run in six innings and was in line for his first victory before the bullpen blew a three-run lead in last Tuesday's 5-4 defeat to the Los Angeles Angels.

The Yankees will counter with Nathan Eovaldi (0-1, 6.94), who allowed four runs in 6 2/3 innings in Thursday's 4-2 loss at Toronto. He is 0-2 with a 6.35 ERA in his last three starts after going 9-0 with a 3.32 ERA in his previous 13.

Eovaldi has allowed four homers with 15 strikeouts over 11 2-3 innings.

The right-hander is 0-1 with a 5.09 ERA in four starts versus Oakland. The Athletics have some left-handed hitters who trouble him, with Josh Reddick 4 for 9 and Yonder Alonso and Stephen Vogt each going 3 for 7. Switch-hitter Billy Burns is 3 for 6.

Jed Lowrie is 0 for 3 against Eovaldi and will try to successfully follow up a career high-tying four-hit performance Tuesday. Lowrie scored on Mark Canha's go-ahead single in the 11th.

"I was just trying to stay short and make contact and put it in play honestly and I got a barrel onto it," Canha said.

Oakland (7-7) has matched its longest win streak of 2016 thanks in part to a bullpen effort that has yielded one unearned run over 10 1-3 innings in the last three games.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Blue Jays (7-7) at Orioles (8-3)

Game: 2
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: April 20, 2016 7:05 PM EDT

It's very difficult for any pitcher to keep Toronto sluggers Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Josh Donaldson in check, but Ubaldo Jimenez seems to have found the formula.

Jimenez looks to continue his effectiveness against the Blue Jays on Wednesday night as the Baltimore Orioles try to rebound from their first home loss.

The Bautista, Encarnacion and Donaldson trio was the best in baseball last season, accounting for 120 homers and 348 RBIs in leading Toronto to its first playoff appearance since 1993.

Virtually none of that production, however, came in four games against Jimenez, who went 3-1 with a 2.55 ERA in those starts and allowed just two homers in 24 2-3 innings. The Blue Jays' sluggers were a combined 1 for 24 with nine strikeouts in those matchups.

Bautista is 2 for 30 lifetime against Jimenez, while Encarnacion (6 for 32) and Donaldson (2 for 17) have also struggled mightily.

Bautista's seventh-inning RBI single extended the Blue Jays' lead, and they held on for a 4-3 victory in Tuesday's series opener. Troy Tulowitzki had a two-run double for Toronto (8-7), which has won three straight and five of seven.

Tulowitzki entered the game batting .140.

'Like everybody else, it's just a matter of time,' manager John Gibbons said. 'He really hasn't hit his stride but when he gets hits, they're big ones.'

Manny Machado hit a solo home run and Matt Wieters added a two-run shot for Baltimore (8-4), which lost for the fourth time in five games since a 7-0 start and had won 10 in a row at home dating to last season.

Machado, who also doubled, is the only player in the majors to hit safely in every one of his team's games this season. His fifth homer tied him for the AL lead.

Baltimore has homered in 11 consecutive games, hitting 25 total in that span.

Outstanding in his season debut, Jimenez (1-1, 3.75 ERA) tries to bounce back after a poor performance in his last outing. The right-hander gave up four runs and six hits with four walks over five innings Wednesday in a 4-2 loss at Boston. The lack of control was disappointing after Jimenez didn't issue a walk in seven innings of his first start.

In two home starts last season against the Blue Jays, he allowed two runs in 14 innings while walking three and striking out 17.

Also coming off a rough outing is R.A. Dickey (1-2, 6.75), who allowed four runs - two earned - and six hits with four walks over 4 2/3 innings in Fridays' 5-3 loss to the Red Sox.

'I'm not disappointed in my knuckleball. I'm disappointed in the result, obviously,' he said. 'My knuckleball has been pretty good. It's moving late, I'm keeping the ball in the ballpark.'

Dickey has a 7.45 ERA in his past two starts and hasn't pitched past the fifth inning in any of his three outings.

However, he's been very good in his past four games against the Orioles, posting a 2.28 ERA despite losing his only two decisions.

Chris Davis is 6 for 25 with two homers and eight strikeouts lifetime against Dickey, while Machado is 5 for 16 with two doubles.

Orioles center fielder Adam Jones left after the sixth inning with a stomach virus, according to the team. He was sidelined earlier this month with soreness in his ribs.

'He was battling it a little bit right after batting practice,' manager Buck Showalter said.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Dodgers (8-5) at Braves (3-9)

Game: 2
Venue: Turner Field
Date: April 20, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

After an unlucky beginning to his major league career, Ross Stripling appears to be catching his next opponent at the wrong time.

The Los Angeles Dodgers rookie takes the mound Wednesday night to face an Atlanta Braves team that's heating up offensively after a dreadful start.

Atlanta hit .196 while totaling 24 runs in losing its first nine games, but it's scored 26 in winning four straight since. The Braves are batting .429 with runners in scoring position during the streak following a 5-for-12 effort in Tuesday's 8-1 rout of Los Angeles.

Tyler Flowers and Mallex Smith each had three RBIs to help Atlanta take the opener of this three-game set, with Flowers finishing 4 for 4. Nick Markakis is 8 for 20 with six RBIs over a five-game hitting streak and Freddie Freeman 5 for 15 during a four-game run after starting 2 for 25.

Atlanta's resurgent offense gets its first look at Stripling (0-0, 2.03 ERA), who tossed 7 1-3 no-hit innings at San Francisco in his April 8 debut and held Arizona to two runs over six on Thursday.

'I think (the San Francisco) game gave him the confidence that he could pitch up here,' catcher A.J. Ellis said. 'He was the same guy (Thursday). He had the same poise, the same composure and was very unflappable on the mound.'

Despite those impressive showings, Stripling has yet to be rewarded with his first major league win. The 25-year-old left with a 2-0 lead the bullpen blew against the Giants and he received no run support in the Dodgers' 5-2 win over the Diamondbacks.

The latter scenario could play out again, as Los Angeles (8-6) hasn't recorded more than six hits in three straight games. The Dodgers were held to five by five Atlanta pitchers in Tuesday's opener.

Williams Perez, starting on three days' rest with Julio Teheran pushed back by a fever, threw 3 1-3 scoreless innings and Ryan Weber allowed one run over 3 2-3 to earn his first major league win.

Teheran (0-2, 6.35) will start Wednesday as the 2014 All-Star attempts to reverse his early struggles. He's allowed 10 earned runs over 11 innings in losing two straight starts.

The right-hander did work seven innings Thursday in Washington, where he served up Bryce Harper's first career grand slam en route to a 6-2 defeat.

Teheran owns a 6.08 ERA in losing all four previous starts against Los Angeles, though he did match a career high with 11 strikeouts over seven innings in a 3-1 setback at Turner Field on July 22.

Yasiel Puig is 4 for 6 with a home run off Teheran, while Yasmani Grandal has gone 3 for 7 with two doubles and Adrian Gonzalez is 4 for 12 with a home run.

Puig is batting .379 with four homers and nine RBIs in 15 career games against Atlanta and .347 this season, though he's knocked in just one run over his last 11 games.

The Dodgers lost two of three in last season's visit to Atlanta and four of the series' last five meetings.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rays (5-7) at Red Sox (6-6)

Game: 2
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: April 20, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

Chris Archer has admittedly not helped himself with his inefficiency, but the Tampa Bay Rays right-hander has also received paltry run support while adding to a winless stretch that dates back to September.

The Boston Red Sox's Rick Porcello hasn't experienced that issue so far this season and will seek to improve to 3-0 on Wednesday night.

Archer (0-3, 5.87 ERA) hasn't made it though the sixth inning in any of his first three starts, with a 1.96 WHIP and a 4.70 rate of walks per nine innings not aiding his cause. He's given up three runs in two of those games, including his latest outing Thursday against Cleveland.

Archer was on the wrong end of a 6-0 defeat and has gotten a combined two runs of support so far this season.

"Obviously, there is room for growth, but the one thing I want to do, beyond not give up the two (earned) runs, is pitch a little deeper into the game," he told MLB's official website. "And if you eliminate those walks, those are three potential outs."

Archer hasn't won since a 6-3 victory in Baltimore on Aug. 31 and is 0-6 with a 5.83 ERA in his last nine starts, including two against Boston. He gave up a combined four runs in 10 innings in those games.

Since winning his first matchup with the Red Sox, Archer is 0-6 with a 5.12 ERA in his last 10 starts in the series and has gotten 13 runs of support.

The Rays (6-7) have totaled 13 runs in three straight victories after pushing across one over three consecutive defeats but waited until the 10th inning before getting on the board in a 3-0 victory in Tuesday's opener at Fenway Park.

Kevin Kiermaier ended the scoreless game with his first home run of the season, and Desmond Jennings had a two-run double in Tampa Bay's fourth consecutive win in Boston, matching its longest streak there.

After starter Joe Kelly was forced to leave in the first, four Red Sox relievers combined for 8 1-3 scoreless innings until Matt Barnes gave up Kiermaier's homer. Kelly is expected to head to the disabled list with a right shoulder impingement

The Red Sox's lineup registered just one hit,, Jackie Bradley Jr.'s third-inning single, after averaging nearly 4.9 runs in their previous 12 games.

"We're in a game where we get one opportunity in that third inning, where we've got bases loaded nobody out and can't convert," manager John Farrell said.

Boston (6-7) has given Rick Porcello (2-0, 5.11) a combined 13 runs of support in his first two starts, both against Toronto. He gave up three runs - on a pair of Edwin Encarnacion homers - in his 6 1-3 innings in a 5-3 victory Friday.

Porcello allowed four runs in six innings in an 8-4 win April 9, and it's the first time he's won the first two decisions in a season. He is 3-1 with a 2.00 ERA in his last five starts against Tampa Bay but suffered a 6-2 loss at Fenway in his most recent matchup Sept. 23, getting charged with three runs and 11 hits in seven-plus innings.

Brad Miller has homered in each of his two at-bats against the right-hander but is batting .128 this season.

David Ortiz is 9 for 26 with two homers lifetime against Archer, while Bradley is 1 for 12 with five strikeouts.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Tigers (7-4) at Royals (8-4)

Game: 2
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: April 20, 2016 7:15 PM EDT

Jordan Zimmermann and Ian Kennedy are making the seemingly difficult transition to a new team and league appear remarkably easy.

Both attempt to continue their excellent early results when the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals resume a three-game series Wednesday night.

The free agent acquisitions have each won their first two starts in impressive fashion, with Zimmermann delivering 13 scoreless innings and Kennedy yielding one run over a combined 13 2/3. The latter carried a no-hitter into the sixth and a shutout into the seventh of Thursday's 6-2 victory at Houston.

'I've been very impressed with him,' Royals manager Ned Yost said of Kennedy. 'It's kind of what we expected. He is a guy that competes well and pitches down in the zone.'

Kennedy (2-0, 0.66 ERA) was just as good in a 7-0 win over Minnesota in his April 9 debut, helping to justify a signing that was largely panned by observers following a 9-15 season with San Diego.

Zimmermann has more than done his part to bolster a Tigers rotation that placed last in the AL with a 4.78 ERA in 2015. The two-time NL All-Star limited the Yankees to two singles over seven innings in a 4-0 win on April 8, then worked his way out of two bases-loaded jams in Thursday's 7-4 win at Pittsburgh.

The former Washington pitcher will be asked to provide another lift after the Royals reached Shane Greene for seven runs in 4 1-3 innings en route to an 8-6 win in Tuesday's opener. Kansas City scored all of its runs with two out to halt its first two-game skid of the season.

'We're going to play hard until the last out,' said catcher Salvador Perez, who had a career-high five RBIs on a three-run homer and a double. 'We're always going to play hard.'

Jarrod Saltalamacchia homered in his third consecutive game, hitting a three-run shot in the seventh, but Detroit (7-5) left the bases loaded against Kelvin Herrera in the eighth and stranded 12 total to lose its second straight.

'We're fighting back, but we're not quite getting it,' said Saltalamacchia, who has five home runs and 14 RBIs in 30 at-bats. 'At the same time, we're not quitting.'

Saltalamacchia is 0 for 4 with three strikeouts against Kennedy, though several other Tigers have had success in the matchup. Ian Kinsler is 5 for 7 with three doubles, Miguel Cabrera 3 for 7 and Justin Upton 3 for 8 with a home run.

Kinsler went 2 for 5 on Tuesday and is hitting .344 with three homers over a seven-game hitting streak. Upton - a teammate of Kennedy's in San Diego last season - is 4 for his last 26, however, and has struck out 22 times in 53 at-bats.

Kennedy is 0-2 with a 5.71 ERA in three starts against Detroit but did beat Zimmermann while with Arizona on Aug. 23, 2011, throwing seven innings and going 2 for 3 off his counterpart in a 2-0 win at Washington.

Kansas City's Eric Hosmer is batting .342 in a nine-game hitting streak and owns a .395 average in his last 30 meetings with Detroit.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Astros (5-8) at Rangers (7-6)

Game: 2
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: April 20, 2016 8:05 PM EDT

Cole Hamels needed a hand from his Texas Rangers teammates last week to keep a streak alive and now has a chance for a personal mark.

The left-hander seeks the first 3-0 start of his career and his 10th victory in a row in the regular season Wednesday night against the Houston Astros.

Hamels (2-0, 2.95 ERA) gave up three runs in 5 1-3 innings Thursday against Baltimore and exited with Texas trailing 3-1. The Rangers scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth for a 6-3 victory and a no-decision for their starter.

"It's huge when guys are able to come through like they did," Hamels told MLB's official website.

Hamels hasn't suffered a regular-season loss since a 4-3 defeat in Seattle on Aug. 7, but did take a 6-3 loss in Toronto in Game 5 of last year's AL Division Series. He is 9-0 with a 3.16 ERA in his last 13 regular-season starts with Texas (8-6) winning all of those games, the Rangers' longest such streak since they prevailed in Bobby Witt's 14 starts in 1990.

Hamels did not get a decision in his only start against Houston last season, allowing three runs in seven innings in a 5-3 victory Sept. 14.

The Astros (5-9) have totaled 10 runs in their past two games, matching their previous five contests combined, but fell 7-5 in Tuesday's series opener in Texas.

"Obviously you want to start hot, but it's early. We're going to be all right, we're going to keep grinding," outfielder Jake Marisnick said.

The Rangers never trailed after Prince Fielder's two-run homer in the first inning and registered double-digit hits for the seventh time in 10 games with 12. They have won each of those and are 1-6 when they've failed to reach that mark.

Ian Desmond registered his first two-hit game for Texas, raising his average to .140.

"Obviously in the most humble way I can say it, I've got no doubt I'm going to hit," he said. "I feel like I've been, maybe in self-evaluation and being too hard on myself, I feel like I've kind of been a little bit of an anchor."

Doug Fister (1-1, 7.59) will seek to stifle the Rangers' lineup but will need a better effort than in a 6-2 loss to Kansas City on Thursday. The right-hander allowed six runs in 5 2-3 innings after yielding three in five innings in his Astros' debut, a 6-4 victory in Milwaukee on April 9.

"I'm just not getting my job done there," Fister said. "My job is to get the guy out at the plate no matter what happens. I've got to execute and I didn't execute."

Fister is 5-4 with a 5.08 ERA in 11 career starts against the Rangers, with the most recent on May 31, 2014, and is 0-2 with an 11.85 ERA in three lifetime games in Texas.

Hamels is 6-0 lifetime in Arlington and has five wins in his nine home starts for the Rangers. With a victory Wednesday, he would tie Yu Darvish and Alexi Ogando for the second-longest unbeaten streak at Globe Life Park to begin a career.

Barry Zito won his first eight decisions in that stadium.

Jose Altuve is 4 for 8 with a solo homer lifetime against Hamels while Carlos Gomez, currently batting .196, is 4 for 18.

Adrian Beltre is 8 for 23 in his career against Fister. Fielder has homered and doubled in his two at-bats.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Twins (4-9) at Brewers (5-8)

Game: 3
Venue: Miller Park
Date: April 20, 2016 8:10 PM EDT

Jimmy Nelson has done enough in his last two starts to earn victories. He just feels he should be doing more to preserve the bullpen.

Those outings have been limited to six innings each because of walks, something he'll try to get under control Wednesday night as the Milwaukee Brewers and Minnesota Twins switch venues to begin a two-game series at Miller Park.

The clubs split two in Minnesota, and Tuesday's 6-5 Milwaukee victory ended the Twins' four-game winning streak and the Brewers' three-game skid. Ryan Braun was 4 for 6 with three RBIs in the two games, while Scooter Gennett was 4 for 8 with three doubles and four runs hitting in front of him. The second baseman also drove in the winning run in the top of the ninth.

The Brewers (6-8), who have won six of the last nine meetings, took a step in the right direction with nine hits, but they're still batting .205 without a home run in the last four games. Though that looks pretty good compared to Nelson's opposition.

Nelson (2-1, 2.79 ERA) has given up two earned runs in all three of his starts and is limiting opponents to a .176 batting average. He gave up three runs and four hits in six innings of Friday's 8-4 win in Pittsburgh but issued four walks for a second straight game. Combined with the four home runs he's allowed, it seems only a matter of time before control catches up with the right-hander if it's not fixed.

"My responsibility is to provide innings and we shouldn't have had to use the bullpen tonight but I ran my pitch count up with the walks," Nelson said. "I'm not happy about it, but it's awesome that we won."

The Twins (4-10) have picked it up offensively over their 4-1 span, averaging 5.2 runs and batting .305. They rallied to tie Tuesday's game at 5-all with three runs in the eighth as Byung Ho Park homered for the third time in four games. The rookie has consecutive two-hit games after batting .167 through his first 10.

If Minnesota is to keep it up, it'll have to happen without hot-hitting third baseman Trevor Plouffe, who as expected landed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with a right intercostal strain. Eduardo Nunez has played there the last two days and is 13 for 26 to start the season.

The Twins called up infielder Jorge Polanco for some options heading into five straight games in NL parks. They've even given Miguel Sano some reps in the infield.

"I don't really want to go there," manager Paul Molitor told MLB's official website. "But with Danny (Santana) going down as my utility man and Nunez in the lineup, it puts us in a bit of a precarious situation."

The Twins counter Nelson with Tommy Milone, who's been hit harder by the home run in his first two starts. Milone (0-1, 5.06) has given up four in 10 2-3 innings, including two in Friday's 5-4 home win over the Los Angeles Angels.

The left-hander gave up four runs and eight hits in six-plus innings but didn't allow a run until the sixth. After the Twins gave him the lead, he lost it in the seventh on two homers sandwiched around a walk.

Milone is 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA and .152 OBA in two starts against the Brewers with both coming in Milwaukee. Jonathan Lucroy (0 for 6), Braun (0 for 4) and Chris Carter (2 for 13) haven't figured him out.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Wednesday, April 20, 2016, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews

The Baltimore Orioles have been a nice early-season surprise, but I don't believe they have the starting pitching to stay atop the AL East, no matter how much they mash. Thus it seems like a wise gamble to sign free-agent right-hander Kyle Lohse, who is likely to agree to terms soon with the Birds. Lohse was pretty bad last year in Milwaukee with a 5.58 ERA but he was a very good pitcher from 2011-14 and is definitely worth a shot. At worst he's Baltimore's No. 5 guy who eats six innings per start. Only one current Orioles starter has an ERA under 5.06, and that's the unpredictable Ubaldo Jimenez, so they need to do something. Note: again no MLB trends available as of this writing.


Rockies at Reds (-137, 8)

This is a getaway day game at 12:35 p.m. ET so I can all but guarantee you that a few regulars on each side don't start. It's Chad Bettis (2-0, 2.95) for Colorado and he has been very good his past two starts. The Rockies might actually be dangerous if guys like Bettis keep pitching well because they are going to hit. Last time out, Bettis shut out the high-scoring Cubs on three hits over six innings at Wrigley Field. Bettis has never faced the Reds. Cincinnati goes with Opening Day starter Raisel Iglesias (1-1, 3.24), which tells you all you need to about that rotation. Iglesias was tagged for three runs over five innings last time out at the Cubs. He has never faced the Rockies.

Early lean: Reds and under.

Cubs at Cardinals (-125, 8)

You also are likely to see some regulars get this game off on both sides with a 1:45 p.m. ET start after a night game. Kyle Hendricks (1-1, 2.84) gets the ball for Chicago. He has allowed exactly two runs in each of his first two starts but has yet to make it past 6.2 innings. Hendricks made one start against St. Louis last season and took a no-decision after allowing four runs and six hits in five innings. He has a 4.91 career ERA at Busch Stadium. Matt Holliday, who hasn't done much yet this season, is 6-for-12 with two homers and four RBIs off Hendricks. Matt Carpenter is 6-for-10 with a homer. So I'm guessing those two stay in the lineup. The Cards' Carlos Martinez (2-0, 3.46) has gotten the best run support in the majors thus far. St. Louis has scored 14 and 12 runs in his two starts. Martinez was 2-0 with a 5.24 ERA in five appearances (four starts) last year vs. the Cubs. Red-hot Dexter Fowler is 4-for-12 off him. Struggling Anthony Rizzo is 3-for-12 with a homer and five RBIs.

Early lean: Cardinals and under.

Tigers at Royals (-115, 7.5)

ESPN national TV game and should have live betting at sportsbooks. Detroit's big free-agent deal with Jordan Zimmermann (2-0, 0.00) has certainly paid off so far. He hasn't allowed a run over 13 innings with just eight hits allowed. He has pitched on two very cold days, it should be noted. That benefits pitchers. Zimmermann had spent his entire career with Washington so he hasn't faced a ton of Royals. Kendrys Morales is 2-for-3 with an RBI off him. Mike Moustakas and Alcides Escobar are each 1-for-3. The Royals also lured Ian Kennedy (2-0, 0.66) from the National League on a fat free-agent deal this offseason and that has worked out well thus far too. He has allowed one run and seven hits over 13.2 innings. Kennedy looks more like the 2014 version of himself with San Diego than last year's. Detroit's Miguel Cabrera is 3-for-7 off him with two RBIs. Ian Kinsler is 5-for-7 with three doubles. Justin Upton has three hits, including a homer, in eight at-bats off him.

Early lean: Tigers and over.

Twins at Brewers (-132, 8.5)

Keep in mind that the Twins lose the DH here. Minnesota has placed third baseman Trevor Plouffe on the disabled list to join closer Glen Perkins. Plouffe was diagnosed with a right intercostal strain shortly after being removed from Sunday's game against the Angels. Not many Twins are hitting yet but Plouffe was batting .302 with two homers and a team-leading six RBIs. Eduardo Nunez will generally take over at third. Minnesota goes with lefty Tommy Milone (0-1, 5.06) here. He has allowed four runs in each of his two starts spanning 10.2 innings. He also has allowed two homers in each game. Only a few Brewers have seen him. Ryan Braun is 0-for-4. Chris Carter is 2-for-13 with a homer. Jonathan Villar is 3-for-6. Milwaukee's Jimmy Nelson (2-1, 2.79) has opened the season with three quality starts and has allowed only 12 hits over 19.1 innings. Nelson has never faced the Twins.

Early lean: Brewers and under.

Diamondbacks at Giants (-130, 6.5)

Giants ace Madison Bumgarner (1-1, 4.50) had to face Dodgers three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw in his past two starts. And Bumgarner's Giants lost both. Now Bumgarner has to face another former Cy Young winner and a guy who was even better on the Dodgers than Kershaw last year, new Diamondback Zack Greinke. Bumgarner was 2-2 with a 2.06 ERA in five starts vs. Arizona in 2015. Paul Goldschmidt is a career .316 hitter off him with two homers and six RBIs in 38 at-bats. As for Greinke (0-2, 6.75), he has gotten progressively better if not dominant yet in his three starts. He held the weak-hitting Padres to two runs and six hits over 7.1 innings last time out. Greinke was 2-0 last year with a 2.66 ERA in three starts with the Dodgers against the Giants. Hunter Pence has two homers off him in 24 at-bats. Denard Span hits .303 against him with four RBIs.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Marc Lawrence

Mets vs Phillies

Play - N.Y. Mets w/Colon

Edges - Mets: Bartolo Colon 4-1 last five team starts in Philadelphia; and 9-3 last twelve away team starts during April. Phillies: Jeremy Hellickson 3-8 last eleven April team starts, including 0-3 at home. With the Phillies just 6-14 as a host in this series, we recommend a 1* play on the N.Y. Mets. Thank you and good luck as always.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Mike Lundin

Cubs vs Cardinals

5* MLB Free Pick St. Louis Cardinals

The Chicago Cubs have not swept the Cardinals in St. Louis since Sept. 13-15, 2010, and I don't think it will happen today either. Chicago has won the first two games of this series 5-0 and 2-1, but the Cards have been fairly unlucky going 0-for-14 with runners in scoring position.

That luck could change today against Kyle Hendricks (1-1, 2.84 ERA) who is 0-1 in four starts against the Cardinals and has compiled a 4.91 ERA in two outings at Busch Stadium. Matt Holiday is 6-for-10 with a home run in previous meetings with the right-hander and Matt Holiday 6-for-12 with a pair of homers.

The Cardinals will turn to Carlos Martinez (2-0, 3.46) who is 2-0 with a 4.55 ERA in 14 games (four starts) against the Cubs and the Cards have won each of the four starts.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Matt Josephs

COL vs CIN

Bonus Play UNDER 8

Raisel Iglesias makes his fourth start of the season and it's against a team who has not faced him before. Iglesias is 1-1 with a 3.24 ERA and a WHIP of 1.440. The righty has pitched better at home where he has 12 K's to just two walks. Only Mark Reynolds has seen the Reds pitcher before so that should help. I have to think the Rox will not be starting all their starters as they wrap up a six game road trip on Wednesday afternoon. Cincy's bullpen is rough so that's a worry, but I think Iglesias can go deep enough to nullify their impact. Chad Bettis is also facing a team for the first time in his career. The righty hasn't pitched awful outside of a rough first start at Arizona. Bettis has given up one earned run and nine hits in his last two outings. The Reds aren't exactly crushing the ball right now. They were hitting .233 in their past seven before Tuesday night. Cincy's lineup won't have all regulars either. I just think we're getting a good value here with weakened lineups and not awful starters.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Red Dog Sports

Independiente Santa Fe vs Cerro Porteno

Bonus Play Draw +225

I like the draw when these two play on Wednesday. I think it ends 1-1.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Jim Feist

Jim Feist's Comp MLB Pick, Wednesday, April 20, 2016 7:10 PM EST

(973) TAMPA BAY RAYS VS (974) BOSTON RED SOX

Take: Over the total

Reason: Your Bonus Play for Wednesday, April 20, 2016 is in baseball as the Tampa Bay Rays and the Red Sox battle at Fenway Park in Boston. Fenway is a great offensive park and Tampa Gay goes with struggling Chris Archer (0-3, 5.87 ERA). Even last year when he was better he struggled against Boston, 0-2 with a 3.74 ERA. In fact, the last three years he is 0-6 against the Red Sox with a 5.12 ERA. Tampa Bay is on a 10-4-1 run over the total when Archer takes the mound. The over is also 16-5-3 in the Rays last 24 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15. Boston is No. 9 in baseball in runs scored, 10-3-1 over the total at home against a team with a road winning percentage of less than .400. Boston has a lousy arm going in Rick Porcello (5.11 ERA), with a 4.50 ERA at Fenway the last 3+ years. And the Over is 4-1 in Archer's last 5 starts vs. the Red Sox. Play Tampa Bay/Boston Over the total.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Roz Wins

Roz's Wednesday, April 20, 2016, Free MLB Pick: 04/20 7:10 PM

(961) PITTSBURGH PIRATES (J LOCKE - L) VS (962) SAN DIEGO PADRES

Play UNDER the total

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Sharp Bettor

Sharp Bettor's Free Pick for Wednesday, April 20, 2016, MLB. 4/20 7:15 PM

(963) ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS VS (964) SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (M BUMGARNR - L).

PLay (964) SAN FRANCISCO

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by The Walker Group at Will Rogers Downs
Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.

Race 2 - Claiming - 8.3f on the Dirt. Purse: $13750 Class Rating: 88

FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON THREE RACES. THREE YEAR OLDS, 116 LBS.; OLDER, 122 LBS. NON-WINNERS OF A RACE AT A MILE OR OVER SINCE MARCH 19, 2016 ALLOWED 2 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $15,000


RECOMMENDED CHOICES
The Walker Group Picks

# 4 BIG CREEK ROAD 9/2

# 5 MAN OF QUALITY 5/2

# 3 CLOCK ME NOW 3/1

BIG CREEK ROAD is the best wager in this race. This lot is much softer than the last one he faced. Has longshot possibilities and could prove victorious at a big price. Will likely be one of the leaders of the bunch going into the halfway point of the race. MAN OF QUALITY - Earnings per start in dirt route races is formidable for this racer. His 81 average has this gelding with among the most favorable Equibase Speed Figs in here. CLOCK ME NOW - Offolter has a strong win percentage with horses racing in dirt route races. Has competitive early speed and will most likely fare admirably against this group.