Wednesday 5/18/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Braves (9-29) at Pirates (21-17)

Game: 3
Venue: PNC Park
Date: May 18, 2016 7:05 PM EDT

Francisco Cervelli wasted little time living up to his contract extension Tuesday, while the Atlanta Braves looked exactly like the club that got its manager fired.

Now Cervelli will try to help the Pittsburgh Pirates continue their offensive dominance in this series Wednesday night when they look to complete their first three-game home sweep of the major league-worst Braves in 22 years.

Shortly after inking a $31 million, three-year deal Tuesday that runs from 2017-19, Cervelli had an RBI single and an RBI double in his first two at-bats before adding a single and a stolen base as the Pirates held on for a 12-9 victory.

'The most important thing is what we have in the clubhouse: coaches, teammates. It's just special,' said Cervelli, who has four RBIs in the series.

Gregory Polanco also had a special day with three doubles, while John Jaso and Andrew McCutchen contributed three hits and two RBIs apiece as Pittsburgh (21-17) matched a season high in runs and reached a new mark with 21 hits.

With Polanco going 6 for 8, the Pirates have totaled 20 runs and 35 hits while moving in position for their first home sweep of Atlanta since April 29-May 1, 1994.

However, things could get more difficult as they go after their fourth straight victory. Braves right-hander Julio Teheran has a 1.44 ERA over his last five starts.

Teheran, though, is still searching for his first victory thanks in part to a 2.79 run-support average that ranks among the worst in the majors.

"You just try to keep going forward," he told the league's official website. "Just try to concentrate on my job. I'm glad about the way I've been pitching."

Teheran (0-4, 3.17 ERA) will try to pick up an overworked bullpen after Aaron Blair allowed nine runs over 1 1/3 innings Tuesday in the team's first game since manager Fredi Gonzalez was fired after five-plus seasons earlier in the day.

The Braves (9-29), led on an interim basis by former Triple-A Gwinnett manager Brian Snitker, are on pace for the franchise's worst season in nearly 30 years.

'We all assume a lot of responsibility," director of baseball operations John Hart explained. "That being said, we do think we're better than what we've played.'

Atlanta finished with season highs in runs and hits (15) after averaging just 2.7 runs over its previous 24 games. Mallex Smith had the first two-homer game of his career, while Gordon Beckham had his first three-hit game of the season.

"It seems like when our pitching is there our bats haven't been and then vice versa," Smith said. "Right now we're just waiting for it all to click.'

The Braves hope to keep Francisco Liriano (3-2, 4.99) scuffling after he surrendered eight runs and nine hits - including three homers - over 4 2/3 innings in Friday's 9-4 loss at Wrigley Field. It was the second-most earned runs he's given up behind a 10-run, 12-hit dud over 2 1/3 at Coors Field in August 2013.

"You can't make that many mistakes at this level," Liriano said.

The left-hander has gone 2-1 with a 3.60 ERA while limiting the Braves to two runs or less in three of his four career meetings. Freddie Freeman is 3 for 4 in the matchup, but Jeff Francoeur and Beckham are a combined 4 for 39.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mariners (22-16) at Orioles (23-14)

Game: 2
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: May 18, 2016 7:05 PM EDT

The Baltimore Orioles have experienced one three-game losing streak this season, and that came nearly three weeks ago.

Another one seems unlikely given the way Chris Tillman has pitched lately.

Tillman seeks a fifth consecutive winning start when the Orioles and Mariners continue their three-game series at Camden Yards on Wednesday night.

With the Orioles seemingly forever in search of an ace, Tillman (5-1, 2.58 ERA) appears capable of filling that role this season. Since losing at Texas on April 14, the right-hander has gone 4-0 with a 1.64 ERA in five starts while striking out 36 over 33 innings.

He's allowed one home run this year and none in his last six starts.

Tillman's latest performance was his best of the year. He outdueled Detroit's Justin Verlander in a 1-0 victory Friday, yielding five hits in seven innings with seven strikeouts and two walks.

"I feel good right now," Tillman told the team's official website. "I think mechanically I'm in a good place and I'm able to execute all my pitches when I need to, not necessarily throwing fastballs in a fastball count, but I'm able to throw some other things that I'm not used to doing. It's fun right now, and I'll try to keep it going."

Tillman, drafted by Seattle in 2006, is 6-0 with a 2.98 ERA in eight starts against his former organization. He was, however, tagged for five runs and eight hits over 2 1/3 innings of a 6-5, 10-inning loss at Safeco Field on Aug. 11.

Robinson Cano went 2 for 2 against Tillman in that game and is 14 for 31 with two homers in their matchups.

Cano and Nelson Cruz have always hit the Orioles well and that continued in Tuesday's series-opening 10-0 rout. Cano had three hits and Cruz went 3 for 3 with a homer and five RBIs against his former team as Seattle (22-16) snapped a three-game skid and improved the AL's best road record to 14-6.

'It was good to get the road trip off to a great start,' said third baseman Kyle Seager, whose three-run homer made it 7-0 in the fifth inning.

Cano has a 10-game hitting streak at Baltimore and is a lifetime .367 hitter there.

'Robbie was locked in,' Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "Seager had the big home run as well. It was a well-played game by us.'

Cruz has reached base in 43 of 46 career games against the Orioles, including 41 with at least one hit. He's 10 for 20 with three home runs and nine RBIs in six games against them since leaving following the 2014 season.

Baltimore (23-14) managed two hits in its second straight loss following a seven-game win streak.

The Orioles have yet to lose three in a row at home this season, a fate they'll try to avoid against Taijuan Walker (2-2, 2.63). After posting a 1.44 ERA through his first four starts, the right-hander has gone 0-2 with a 4.97 ERA in his past three.

He cruised through the first five innings last Wednesday against Tampa Bay, but yielded two walks and a double before giving up Corey Dickerson's grand slam in the sixth in the Mariners' 6-5, 11-inning victory. Walker finished with nine strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.

He went 1-1 with a 5.59 ERA in two starts against the Orioles last season. Walker allowed four runs, seven hits and four walks over 3 2/3 innings of a 9-4 road loss to Baltimore on May 19.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rays (18-19) at Blue Jays (19-22)

Game: 3
Venue: Rogers Centre
Date: May 18, 2016 7:07 PM EDT

An offensive surge has the Tampa Bay Rays in position to sweep a three-game road set from the struggling Toronto Blue Jays.

Looking to maintain that production, the Rays can accomplish the feat by handing the Blue Jays a fifth straight loss Wednesday night.

A night after pounding out a season-high 17 hits in Monday's 13-2 rout of Toronto (19-22), Tampa Bay matched that total with a 12-2 victory. The Rays (18-19), who last swept a series at Toronto in July 2013, scored at least 10 in three consecutive games against Baltimore from Aug. 29-31, 2008.

"Guys are not trying to do too much," said first baseman Logan Morrison, who is 3 for 6 in two games. "We're taking advantage of the pitches that we're getting."

Steve Pearce is 4 for 7 with four RBIs in the series while Steven Souza Jr. is batting .324 in nine games against the Blue Jays in 2015.

Toronto starters have an 11.07 ERA and walked 11 in four games since R.A. Dickey (2-4, 4.31 ERA) allowed three hits in eight innings of Friday's 5-0 victory at Texas.

"He was tremendous," said manager John Gibbons, who began serving his one-game suspension for his role in Sunday's brawl with the Rangers. "That was as good as I've seen him."

The right-hander went 1-3 with a 6.75 ERA in his first five starts but is 1-1 with a 1.27 ERA in the last three. Dickey yielded a solo homer to Souza and two other runs over five-plus innings of a 5-3 win at Tampa Bay on April 4.

Souza is 3 for 8 with that home run against Dickey.

Appealing a one-game suspension for his part - most notably taking a punch to the jaw - in Sunday's fight, Jose Bautista belted a two-run homer in the first inning.

"I think I have good enough reasons," said Bautista, hitting .320 with two home runs and five RBIs in nine games against the Rays this season. "I'm not just appealing it for the sake of appealing it."

He is 1 for 17 with seven walks and six strikeouts against Jake Odorizzi (0-2, 3.83), who allowed two earned runs and struck out 16 over 12 2/3 innings in two starts against the Blue Jays this season. However, he faces them again after yielding five runs on three homers in four innings of Friday's 6-3 loss to Oakland.

"It's baseball," said Odorizzi, who matched his home run total allowed through his first seven starts. "They get hits and you make a couple of bad pitches, and it costs you runs."

The right-hander equaled the second-longest winless start to a season in team history, but is still well shy of Tanyon Sturtze's 15 straight that opened 2002.

Odorizzi, 0-1 with a 6.19 ERA in three road starts, wasn't completely upset with his stuff from that last outing.

"I was around the zone and trying to get as quick of outs as possible," he said. "I thought I did a good job of commanding the zone. ... Fastball location wasn't the greatest overall. But I thought my curveball and slider were pretty good."

Josh Donaldson is 1 for 21 in five games, and 1 for 6 with a home run against Odorizzi this season.

Toronto reliever Jesse Chavez is also appealing his three-game suspension for his part in the altercation with the Rangers.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Nationals (23-16) at Mets (22-16)

Game: 2
Venue: Citi Field
Date: May 18, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

The first showdown of the season between the Washington Nationals and New York Mets was dominated by the starting pitchers. A similar result could be in store Wednesday night with a pair of hurlers who have excelled at Citi Field set to take the mound.

The Mets try to clinch this three-game series between NL East contenders and move atop the division when they send Bartolo Colon to the mound to oppose Gio Gonzalez.

Noah Syndergaard struck out 10 in seven innings, Curtis Granderson homered on Max Scherzer's first pitch and New York beat Washington 2-0 on Tuesday to stop a four-game skid.

"It always helps when you have a horse you can ride on that mound," manager Terry Collins told MLB's official website. "We played good, but we pitched great."

Scherzer, coming off a major league record-tying 20-strikeout performance in his previous start, fanned 10 in 6 1/3 innings but the Nationals managed only five hits. Washington has scored two runs in a three-game losing streak that's left it a half-game ahead of New York and Philadelphia.

The highly anticipated meeting between the top two teams in the NL East also featured the Citi Field return of Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy, who left the Mets as a free agent after last season. The major leagues' leading hitter went 1 for 3 to see his average drop to .399.

'It took a little getting used to, coming out of the third base dugout,' Murphy said. 'I have been coming out of the other side a couple more times.'

Ending its offensive struggles could prove tough for Washington against Colon (3-2, 3.53 ERA), who's 1-1 with a 1.89 ERA in three home starts this season. He went eight scoreless innings to beat Atlanta 4-1 on May 2 in his most recent outing at Citi Field.

The right-hander, however, is coming off his worst start of 2016, allowing five runs in five innings of a 5-0 road loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday. The poor performance was surprising after the right-hander gave up three runs over 14 2/3 innings to win his previous two starts.

"Balls were up, balls were over the plate," Collins said. "Didn't really have that good life that he's normally had. I told (pitching coach Dan Warthen), he's had two tremendous outings in a row. ... tonight he just wasn't looking real sharp."

As good as Colon has been in his three starts in Queens this season, Gio Gonzalez (2-1, 1.93 ERA) has been even better throughout his career there. The left-hander has gone 6-1 with a 1.54 ERA in 11 starts at Citi, giving him a 9-4 record and 2.66 ERA with 104 strikeouts in 101 1/3 innings over 17 career starts against the Mets.

Gonzalez rebounded from his worst start of the season May 7, when he allowed five runs in 5 2-3 innings of an 8-5 loss to the Chicago Cubs, by throwing five innings and allowing no earned runs in a 5-3 victory over Miami on Friday.

Ben Revere is batting .381 (8 for 21) against Colon, while Jayson Werth is 4 for 9 with a pair of doubles in the matchup.

The Mets' Juan Lagares is 10 for 26 with three doubles, a triple and a homer against Gonzalez.

New York first baseman Lucas Duda didn't start Tuesday because of a stiff back, and Collins said he would probably sit Wednesday. The Mets also lost third baseman David Wright when his back acted up during batting practice and he's day to day.

The Mets have won eight of 10 in this series.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Indians (19-17) at Reds (15-24)

Game: 3
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: May 18, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

Cody Anderson's 15 starts last year gave the Cleveland Indians hope for a productive back end of the rotation after the promising trio of Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar.

After six starts and a relief appearance, his struggles have led the club to switch gears and call up Mike Clevinger, who's set to make his big league debut Wednesday night in Cincinnati as the Indians try to keep beating the Reds at a different venue.

Anderson is headed to Triple-A Columbus after going 0-3 with a 7.99 ERA in 32 2/3 innings, a drastic fall from his 7-3 record and 3.05 mark during his rookie season.

Insert Clevinger, who was 5-0 with a 3.03 ERA in seven starts for Columbus. The right-hander, who led Indians minor leaguers last year with 145 strikeouts, is 14-8 with a 2.79 ERA in 33 starts and a relief appearance since the start of last season with Double-A Akron.

The 25-year-old's last four starts have been particularly impressive, as he earned the win in each with a 2.11 ERA and .218 opponent batting average.

"We're really excited to watch him," manager Terry Francona told MLB's official website. "I don't think tomorrow's start is going to define his career, and I do think he's still developing. But there's a lot to like with a kid with that kind of breaking ball, that kind of velocity, that kind of competitiveness. I think you can still develop and win, and we're looking forward to it."

He's up against Brandon Finnegan, whose first shot at a full season in the big leagues has been part Anderson circa 2015, part 2016 Anderson. Finnegan (1-2, 4.40 ERA) has allowed more than three earned runs in only one start, but walks are hindering his ability to make it deep into games.

The 23-year-old gave up three runs and four hits with five walks in four innings of Friday's 3-2 loss in Philadelphia.

"I've been throwing the ball great," Finnegan said. "Obviously today I didn't throw the ball too well. There's going to be walks. That's baseball. You can't control that. I'm just worried about going up there and getting outs."

In reality, the walks are what he has more control over. With a .234 batting average on balls in play, he's probably getting away with the walks a little more than he will with his 4.81 walks per nine innings projected out over an entire season. His acting manager agrees.

"He knows he can't walk five in four innings and have success," Jim Riggleman said.

The left-hander has made four relief appearances against the Indians and allowed three runs with four walks in 5 2/3 innings with a 1-1 record.

The Indians (19-17) won the two games in Cleveland with consecutive huge offensive nights. Tuesday's 13-1 win followed a 15-6 victory with Cleveland totaling 36 hits.

Rajai Davis is 5 for 7 in the series after going 0 for 18 in his previous four games, while Francisco Lindor is 6 for 11.

The Reds (15-24) have lost seven of nine while allowing 13 or more runs three times. Opponents have averaged 7.1 runs in that time and are batting .312.

The Indians have won four straight matchups and seven of eight as the series shifts to Great American Ball Park.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Cubs (27-10) at Brewers (17-22)

Game: 2
Venue: Miller Park
Date: May 18, 2016 8:10 PM EDT

The Chicago Cubs are the second-highest scoring team in the majors and own the best record in baseball. However, their potent lineup has been relatively quiet over the past two contests.

Looking to avoid a season-high third straight defeat, the visiting Cubs try to bounce back from a rare loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night.

Chicago (27-10) has scored an NL-leading 216 runs and at least eight 12 times, yet it's totaled three and seven hits while dropping two straight for the second time in less than week. The Cubs didn't get their first hit off Chase Anderson until Ben Zobrist's double opened the eighth inning of Tuesday's 4-2 loss to Milwaukee (17-22).

"When we play anybody right now, outside of the teams that already have targets on their backs, we're going to see that kind of performance,' Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. '(Anderson) pitched well, but I was not displeased with our at-bats.'

Jason Heyward and Kris Bryant hit back-to-back homers in the ninth for the Cubs, whose seven-game winning streak at Miller Park came to an end.

It was only Chicago's second defeat in 16 games against the Brewers, who will try to win three in a row for the second time.

'Those guys are in first place,' Anderson said. 'They have a heck of a record.

"When you execute pitches, I feel like you can get anybody out, no matter who it is."

Heyward is 11 for 32 in eight games to raise his average from .202 to .237.

He's 3 for 8 with a double against Jimmy Nelson (4-3, 3.51 ERA), who has been the best of Milwaukee's starters. The right-hander was solid Thursday when he gave up two runs in eight innings of a 3-0 loss to San Diego.

"That's probably our best start of the year by someone," Brewers manager Craig Counsell told MLB's official website.

Nelson is 0-4 with a 3.72 ERA in six starts against the Cubs. The lone earned run he's yielded over 12 1/3 innings of his last two against them came while walking four over 5 1/3 in a 4-3 defeat April 26.

In position to homer in four straight games for the first time in his career, Milwaukee's Jonathan Lucroy is 6 for 16 with six runs scored in four games.

He is 4 for his last 12 against John Lackey (4-2, 3.54 ERA), who went 3-0 with a 1.85 ERA in five starts against the Brewers last season with St. Louis.

Lackey, though, was on the wrong end of a 1-0 decision to San Diego last Wednesday. He yielded a homer and two other hits while striking out seven in eight innings.

"Johnny was outstanding," Maddon said of Lackey, 1.96 ERA in three May starts after posting a 4.97 ERA in four April outings.

Chris Carter's only hit in six at-bats against Lackey left the park. Carter has six RBIs in four games, and is 4 for 7 in the last two after going 0 for 22 with 11 strikeouts in his previous seven.

"I try to take every at-bat as a new at-bat and keep going from there," said Carter, who delivered a two-run double Tuesday.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Astros (16-24) at White Sox (24-15)

Game: 2
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: May 18, 2016 8:10 PM EDT

The Houston Astros aren't getting nearly the level of starting pitching they did a season ago, and the results have dipped accordingly. The Chicago White Sox's staff has been far better this year, and they're atop the AL Central.

While Chris Sale and Jose Quintana are having fantastic seasons, another reason for Chicago's improvement is the success of unbeaten Mat Latos. The problem is he's slipping.

The right-hander will try to overcome three straight questionable outings Wednesday night as the White Sox play the second of a three-game home series with the Astros.

Latos (5-0, 3.40 ERA) carried a 4-0 record and 0.74 ERA through his first four starts with the White Sox. After last Wednesday's 6-5 loss in Texas, though, he has a 7.63 mark in his last three.

Latos gave up five runs and seven hits with five walks in 5 1/3 innings as Chicago lost for the first time in his seven starts.

"The offspeed was inconsistent with strikes today, a lot of high sliders today, really wasn't finishing," Latos told MLB's official website. "I've got to get back to having the slider over for strikes and keep pounding the zone. A couple of mistakes where balls were supposed to be away, I left them a little bit more over the plate."

Latos is 4-1 with a 3.86 ERA in seven career starts against the Astros, last facing them when he was with Cincinnati in 2012 and Houston was in the NL Central.

Colby Rasmus (6 for 11) and Jose Altuve (4 for 8) have hit him best.

Doug Fister's numbers might not look as good as Latos', but he's been steadier lately. Fister (3-3, 4.22) gave up six runs in 5 2/3 innings in his second start of the season but is 2-2 with a 3.09 ERA in five straight quality starts since.

The right-hander allowed two runs in a season-high seven innings of last Wednesday's 5-3, 16-inning home win over Cleveland.

"It's where I want to be right now, but obviously still some things I want to clean up," Fister said.

Fister is 1-2 with a 4.32 ERA in four career starts at U.S. Cellular Field, and he's given up nine runs â?? eight earned â?? in 10 innings over the last two. Melky Cabrera is 5 for 14 against him, but Austin Jackson is 2 for 14.

The series began with Tuesday's 6-5 Astros' win in 11 innings. For the White Sox (24-15), extra innings weren't ideal as they started a 10-game, nine-day homestand and are in danger of losing four straight for the first time this season.

Houston (16-24) is trying to win two in a row for just the third time this season and is yet to go beyond that. The Astros have been solid offensively over a 2-2 span with 6.8 runs per game.

Tyler White homered twice and doubled Tuesday, while Evan Gattis was 2 for 4 with a game-winning two-run homer after going 2 for 21 in his previous seven. It was his first game back from a stint with Double-A Corpus Christi.

Chicago's Adam Eaton was 2 for 5 and is batting .364 in his last 11 games.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rockies (20-18) at Cardinals (20-19)

Game: 2
Venue: Busch Stadium
Date: May 18, 2016 8:15 PM EDT

No matter what others may think of Adam Wainwright's rough start, no one is taking it harder than him. His disappointment is understandable following an offseason of getting his stamina back after having most of his 2015 wiped out because of injury.

Now he's trying to wipe the slate clean.

The right-hander's success against the Colorado Rockies isn't something he'll want to forget when he takes the mound Wednesday night looking to help the St. Louis Cardinals avoid a fourth loss in five games.

Wainwright (3-3, 6.80 ERA) struggled again Thursday as he allowed seven runs - six earned - and a season-high 11 hits in a season low-tying five innings against the Los Angeles Angels, but the Cardinals provided enough offense for him to pick up a 12-10 win.

Opponents are hitting .330 in his eight starts.

"I'm starting over," Wainwright said. "I'm putting all this crap that's happened this year for me behind me, and I'm going to move forward knowing that my stuff is pretty dang good right now. The only way I can move on from that is I have to start over. It's a new season for me from now on."

He might want to look back on how well he's pitched against the Rockies, though. Wainwright is 6-1 with a 1.56 ERA in eight career starts against them, including wins in his last five while going at least into the eighth in each of the last three.

Another effort like that could help the Cardinals (20-19) snap out of their slump. They dropped two of three at the Los Angeles Dodgers before beginning a nine-game homestand with Tuesday's 3-1 loss to the Rockies.

St. Louis' Nos. 1-4 hitters - Matt Carpenter, Stephen Piscotty, Matt Holliday and Matt Adams - went a combined 0 for 14. Carpenter is 1 for 12 over his last four.

"(Bettis) was in control," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "An outstanding job. There were a lot of ground balls, a lot of poor swings."

Carpenter homered twice the last time Chris Rusin started against the Cardinals, and he'll be back on the hill for this one looking to help Colorado (20-18) win its sixth straight.

Rusin (1-1, 4.85) is getting a fourth straight start despite coming off back-to-back rough outings. He gave up seven runs and 13 hits in a loss to San Francisco on May 5 before giving up four runs and 10 hits through 5 2/3 innings of a 5-1 loss to Arizona on May 10.

The left-hander allowed six runs and 10 hits in five innings in his only start against the Cardinals last season July 30. He hit a two-run homer but couldn't overcome Carpenter's blasts.

Colorado hasn't needed the long ball lately, homering only four times during its longest win streak of the season. Dustin Garneau had two hits and drove in a run, while Nolan Arenado and winning pitcher Chad Bettis also added RBIs in the series opener.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Yankees (16-22) at Diamondbacks (19-23)

Game: 3
Venue: Chase Field
Date: May 18, 2016 9:40 PM EDT

One of the Arizona Diamondbacks' offseason additions took an encouraging step forward in their second game against the New York Yankees to help secure their first series win against the AL club since the 2001 World Series.

They're hoping another new arm can do the same Wednesday night at home as the Diamondbacks try to secure a three-game sweep.

Zack Greinke led Arizona (19-23) to Tuesday's 5-3 win by allowing three runs in seven innings and trimming his ERA from 5.26 to 5.08.

Shelby Miller is next up having turned in a few starts that haven't been great but have at least dropped his ERA. Miller (1-4, 6.94 ERA) gave up three runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings of Friday's 3-1 home loss to San Francisco.

The right-hander has gone 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in his last two starts and limited himself to four walks in 11 2/3 innings. That's not ideal, but it's better than the absurd 11.68 walks per nine innings he'd averaged over his previous four starts.

Even so, falling behind caught up to him again as Joe Panik hit a 3-0 pitch for a three-run homer in the sixth inning.

"I thought he threw the ball well," manager Chip Hale said. "Panik ambushed him there 3-0. Other than that, he threw the ball well."

Miller had all sorts of problems in his only career start against the Yankees, surrendering seven runs and nine hits in five innings of a 7-4 loss on May 28, 2014. Jacoby Ellsbury is 3 for 3 against him, but newcomer Starlin Castro (1 for 11 with four strikeouts) and Brian McCann (1 for 8) have struggled.

Miller faces Nathan Eovaldi, whose last start was quite a bit like his counterpart's but ended with a victory. Eovaldi (3-2, 4.85) gave up three runs and eight hits in five innings of Thursday's 7-3 home win over Kansas City.

The right-hander is 3-0 with a 3.96 ERA in his last four starts and felt the numbers in his latest weren't indicative of his stuff.

"I felt really good out there," Eovaldi told MLB's official website. "I felt I got hit around when I was ahead in the counts tonight, but overall I'm really pleased with the outing. I thought our guys did a great job offensively and on defense."

He's 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA in four starts against the Diamondbacks, all of which have come in Arizona with Paul Goldschmidt going 2 for 10 with four strikeouts.

Arizona has won the first two games to secure its first ever regular-season series win over the Yankees. The Diamondbacks beat New York in the World Series 15 years ago, but their regular-season record stands at 6-11 with three straight wins.

The Diamondbacks had lost five straight before the start of this series. Goldschmidt was 2 for 3 after going 2 for 18 in his previous five games. Jean Segura and Nick Ahmed are 4 for 9 in the series. The latter entered with a .125 average in his prior 20 games.

New York (16-22) will again have to wait for its first road series win. The Yankees are 4-12 away from home with 2.7 runs per game and a .215 average.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Dodgers (21-19) at Angels (17-22)

Game: 3
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Date: May 18, 2016 10:05 PM EDT

The Los Angeles Angels appear close to adding some veteran help to a makeshift rotation, but their immediate focus is to rebound from a loss in the Freeway Series.

They can do so Wednesday night when this four-day series with the Los Angeles Dodgers moves to Anaheim.

The Angels (17-22) are reportedly nearing a deal with two-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum, who could aid a rotation that has a 4.72 ERA and is without C.J. Wilson (shoulder), Garrett Richards (elbow) and Andrew Heaney (flexor muscle).

"His best days are behind him," one scout told MLB's official website of Lincecum. "But he could be serviceable."

The addition of Lincecum, who last pitched in the majors June 27 and is coming off hip surgery, could provide an emotional boost whenever it happens. For now, the Angels must regroup after their four-game winning streak ended with Tuesday's 5-1 loss at Dodger Stadium.

The Angels averaged 7.2 runs in five games prior to managing Shane Robinson's RBI single and three other hits against Clayton Kershaw and Kenley Jansen.

Albert Pujols, who scored that lone run, is 10 for 30 in seven contests. However, Mike Trout's run of three straight two-hit games ended with an 0-for-4 night Tuesday.

The Angels will get their first look at Mike Bolsinger, who will be activated from the disabled list to start this contest in his 2016 debut and give the other Dodgers starters some extra rest. After suffering a strained oblique muscle during spring training, the right-hander posted a 2.25 ERA in two starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City this month.

"We're optimistic that he'll get us, for sure, through five (innings) and hopefully beyond," manager Dave Roberts said. "At that point in time, it's nice when you have Kershaw going the day prior."

Bolsinger, whose role beyond this outing is undetermined, went 6-6 with a 3.62 ERA in 21 starts for Los Angeles (21-19) in 2015.

The Angels' Nick Tropeano (1-2, 3.68 ERA) has yielded two or fewer runs in five of his seven starts but hasn't completed six innings, averaging 97.4 pitchers in his outings.

He allowed two runs over five innings while not getting a decision in a 7-6 win at Seattle on Friday. The right-hander has walked 20 in 36 2/3 innings this season and allowed all seven of his home runs in the last four starts.

Tropeano walked one and did not give up a homer while yielding three runs over 4 1/3 innings of a 7-5 loss to the Dodgers on Sept. 7. He didn't get the decision.

It's possible Tropeano won't have to face Adrian Gonzalez, who could miss a second consecutive game with lower-back tightness that surfaced in Monday's 7-6 defeat. Gonzalez is second on the team with 20 RBIs.

"We're going to give it a couple days and see where we're at," Roberts said.

Howie Kendrick, who started at first base in place of Gonzalez on Tuesday, is 7 for 17 in his last four games.

Shortstop Corey Seager is batting .412 with five home runs and seven RBIs in eight games, and he's hit .368 in five career contests against the Angels.

The Angels placed pitcher Cory Rasmus and outfielder Daniel Nava, both nursing groin injuries, on the 15-day DL. That gives them 10 players on the disabled list.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Giants (23-18) at Padres (17-23)

Game: 2
Venue: PETCO Park
Date: May 18, 2016 10:10 PM EDT

Stellar starting pitching has been the main reason for the San Francisco Giants' winning streak, and it's no surprise that Johnny Cueto owns one of the best outings in that stretch.

It didn't top his start against the San Diego Padres last month, though.

Drew Pomeranz has been great in his own right, and he'll try to prevent the Giants from winning a seventh straight game Wednesday night.

San Francisco's starters have a 1.44 ERA during the streak, helped by Cueto (5-1, 2.97 ERA) allowing two runs in seven innings of Thursday's 4-2 win at Arizona.

It marked his second straight solid outing after he pitched 8 1/3 scoreless and got a no-decision against Colorado on May 7.

"He's been so consistent and done a great job of giving us quality innings," manager Bruce Bochy said. "He's fun to watch. He pitches out there and did a great job against a tough lineup."

The right-hander had his best start of the season against the Padres on April 26, pitching a seven-hitter while striking out 11 in a 1-0 victory. Cueto improved to 3-1 with a 0.84 ERA in his last four starts against San Diego, which was swept in that April series and has lost 10 of the last 12 meetings with the Giants.

Pomeranz's worst start of the season came in the opener of that three-game set, when he allowed four runs - three earned - in 4 1/3 innings of a 5-4 defeat one day prior to Cueto's masterpiece.

Pomeranz (4-3, 1.80) has been great since then, posting a 0.50 ERA in three starts. He's allowed four hits in 11 scoreless innings over his last two and tied his season high with 10 strikeouts in last Wednesday's 1-0 win over the Chicago Cubs in the nightcap of a doubleheader.

The left-hander's success is a bit surprising given this is his first season as a full-time starter since 2012 with Colorado.

"In pro ball, this is the best I've ever felt," Pomeranz said. "I felt strong and I was almost getting better as the game went along. That's a positive for me. Early in my career, I'd kind of burn out early and taper off."

He's had some trouble with Buster Posey, who is 5 for 8 with two homers off Pomeranz. Brandon Crawford is 0 for 3 with two strikeouts in their matchups, but he finished with a three-run homer, RBI double and a sacrifice fly in a 5-1 win in Tuesday's series opener.

Hunter Pence had three hits and scored twice for the Giants (23-18).

San Diego (17-23) avoided being shut out for the 10th time when Matt Kemp led off the ninth with a homer. It has lost three of four, scoring a combined three runs in the defeats.

Wil Myers returned to the lineup and went 1 for 4 after being scratched Sunday with forearm tightness, but he exchanged words with Madison Bumgarner after striking out in the third inning and the benches cleared, though it didn't appear punches were thrown.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Wednesday's Diamond Notes
By Tony Mejia

Hottest team: Giants (6-0 last six)
Madison Bumgarner continued San Francisco’s fantastic run of quality pitching, going the distance in a 5-1 win at San Diego where he lost the shutout in the 9th thanks to a Matt Kemp homer. He struck out 11 hitters, got into it with Wil Myers and pitched comfortably thanks to Brandon Crawford’s second-inning 3-run homer providing cushion. The Giants shortstop drove in all five runs while going 2-for-3, cashing in as Brandon Belt and Hunter Pence reached base safely 5-of-8 times in front of him.

The Giants have given up just eight runs in the last five games will have seen the ‘under’ prevail in nine of the last 10 games. Johnny Cueto (5-1, 2.97 ERA) will look to continue that streak and has given up two runs or fewer in five of his eight starts this season, including two of the last three. He pitched his only shutout of the season against the Padres on April 26, going the distance and striking out 11, both also season-bests. Lefty Drew Pomeranz (4-3, 1.80), who has been San Diego’s best pitcher thus far, had his worst outing in a 5-4 loss in San Francisco the previous day, surrendering what remain season-highs in hits (7) and earned runs (3), lasting a season-low 4.1 innings. Pence homered off him. These NL West foes get together next week at AT&T Park after the Giants host the Cubs this weekend.

Coldest team: Braves (2-10 last 12)
After firing Fredi Gonzalez on Tuesday, the Braves fell behind 9-0 as rookie Aaron Blair got rocked by the Pirates failing to get out of the second inning. It was a nasty welcome to the big leagues for interim manager Brian Snitker, getting a 125-game tryout to keep the gig. The Pirates pounded out a season-high 21 hits in a 12-9 win, though Atlanta was encouraged by young CF Mallex Smith hitting two more home runs, becoming the first player on the roster besides Freddie Freeman with more than one.
We’ll see if things can go any better as the team sends staff ace Julio Teheran (0-4, 3.17) out to the mound in order to slow down the Bucs bats, which have produced 20 runs over the first two contests of the four-game series. It’s not exactly reassuring that the Braves have averaged just 2.1 runs per game in Teheran’s starts. Pittsburgh is countering with Francisco Liriano (3-2, 4.99). The teams conclude this set Thursday before Atlanta ventures to Philly for the weekend.

Hottest pitcher: Chris Tillman (5-1, 2.58 ERA)
Tillman has always been better at Camden Yards than on the road, so he’s been fortunate since this will his seventh start in nine outings this season. He’s 4-0 with a 1.89 ERA at home and will be looking to help the Orioles bounce back from a 10-0 loss to Seattle on Monday, their second loss in a row after seven consecutive wins. Baltimore has lost three straight just once this season (April 24-26). It’s worth pointing out that Mariners star Robinson Cano is 14-for-31 (.452) against Tillman throughout his career, homering twice.

Coldest pitcher: Shelby Miller (1-4, 6.94 ERA)
Miller finally broke through with his first win on May 7 – about five months too late for hopeful, exasperated Diamondbacks fans – but that breakthrough came against the lowly Braves, his former team. In Atlanta, too. He lost again in his last outing against San Francisco, so he’s now 0-4 with a 7.46 ERA in Phoenix as he steps in to try and help sweep New York. Miller gave up seven runs in five innings in his only career outing against the Yankees and will try to overcome the pressure that follows him since most Arizona fans felt the team grossly over-spent for him, dealing Dansby Swanson, the 2015 MLB Draft’s top pick, in addition to Ender Inciarte and the aforementioned Blair.

Biggest UNDER run: Rockies (6-2 last eight)
The Giants own this distinction too, but what Colorado has done may actually be more impressive since four of those 'under' results have come in at Coors Field. Chad Bettis kept the run going on Tuesday in St. Louis, holding down the Cardinals in a 3-1 upset to help start a nine-game road trip in style. Lefty Chris Rusin, making just his fourth start after initially coming out of the bullpen, has yet to get out of the sixth inning this season and has never had a winning season in the majors. He'll be opposed by Adam Wainwright, who has helped the Cards win each of the last four times he's taken the mound.

Biggest OVER run: Red Sox (8-0 last eight)
Boston was rained out in Kansas City on Monday and will play a day-night doubleheader here, hoping to continue a run that has seen them win seven of nine despite Tuesday's 8-4 loss. The Royals did the heavy lifting in extending the streak last night after the Red Sox scored 73 runs on their most recent seven-game homestand to start this flurry. They'll return home after the night portion of this twinbill for a six-game set against the Indians and Rockies. Extending this streak could prove difficult given the pitching matchups on Wednesday, as Boston sends Steven Wright (3-3, 2.36) out for the opener against solid veteran Ian Kennedy (4-3, 3.25), while David Price (5-1, 6.00) squares off against Edinson Volquez (4-3, 3.51) in the nightcap.

Matchup to watch: Astros at White Sox
Chicago is looking to avoid its first four-game losing streak of the season as they send unbeaten Mat Latos (5-0, 3.40) to the mound. After falling just short in a 6-5, 11-inning loss to Houston in the first of a 10-game homestand, the White Sox have to be aware that Cleveland, Kansas City and Detroit are on winning streaks and charging hard while they've dropped five of six. Latos, despite his unbeaten mark, has failed to get out of the sixth inning in his last three starts, which is one reason why an ERA that was at 0.74 through four starts now looks ordinary. The Astros remain in last place in the AL West, but have won in Doug Fister's last three starts. They're without OF Carlos Gomez (ribs), who has gone on the DL. Chicago is hoping to have home run leader Todd Frazier back from a bout with the flu.

Betcha didn’t know: Cleveland is sending out Mike Clevinger for his big league debut after an impressive 5-0 mark in Triple-A. He's of Native American descent and had the second-lowest WHIP and third-most strikeouts in all of Double-A last year, earning organizational Player of the Year honors. Clevinger is undoubtedly hoping to get some of the same run support he's seen his offense put together of late since the Indians have outscored the Bengals, er, Reds, 28-7 over a two-game stint at Progressive Field to open this series, which shifts to Cincinnati for these next two games.

Biggest public favorite: Cubs (-180) at Brewers

Biggest public underdog: Rockies (+155) at Cardinals

Biggest line move: Yankees (-120 to -140) vs. Diamondbacks

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Wednesday, May 18, 2016, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews

The Chicago Cubs have built their young powerhouse team around hitting. The New York Mets have built their young powerhouse team around pitching. The one worry with doing it that way is that pitchers are so much more likely to suffer major arm/shoulder injuries that can cost them at least a season. For the most part, everyday players don't suffer those types of career-threatening injuries. I mention this because the Mets apparently avoided disaster on young lefty Steven Matz. He missed his last start due to forearm soreness but has no ligament issues in that arm after visiting a specialist on Monday. He might miss another start, however. This comes on the news that Mets fire-baller Noah Syndergaard got his arm checked out secretly early this month but also apparently was fine. I realize you need pitching to win, but this is why I'm not paying pitchers $20 million-plus a season if I ever own or run a team (not looking good for me in that regard).


Twins at Tigers (-164, 9)

A 1:10 p.m. ET getaway game. If you want to be entertained, go YouTube the video of Tigers manager Brad Ausmus losing his mind after being ejected in Monday's game with the Twins. It's like Ausmus is asking the front office to fire him, and he might have been late Monday night if the Tigers had lost that game because they were up 8-0, blew that but then still won. Detroit goes with Justin Verlander here, and I've just about given up on forecasting what he will do in a given start. Verlander (2-4, 4.71) has been very good in his past two, allowing one run and seven hits over 15 innings, but Detroit lost them both. Verlander also has two starts this season where he allowed seven runs. He hasn't faced Minnesota in 2016. Joe Mauer is a career .353 hitter off him with three homers and 10 RBIs in 68 at-bats. Minnesota's Ricky Nolasco (1-1, 4.87) has regressed to his level of the previous two years, allowing at least four runs in four straight starts. He gave up five runs over 5.2 innings on May 1 vs. Detroit in a no-decision. Nick Castellanos is 3-for-11 off him with two homers and eight RBIs.

Key trends: The Twins are 4-10 in Nolasco's past 14 on the road. The Tigers are 5-0 in Verlander's past five on Wednesday. The "over/under" has gone under in three of his past five at home vs. Minnesota.

Early lean: Tigers and over.

Red Sox at Royals (TBA)

This is Game 1 of a day-night doubleheader, starting at 2:15 p.m. ET, necessitated by a postponed game on Monday. Both teams are off Thursday and could have made it up then but the Red Sox didn't want to lose their day off. Both teams must agree. The Sox are expected to go with knuckleballer Steven Wright (3-3, 2.36) here. He had been fantastic but was hit around Friday by Houston, allowing five runs and nine hits over 4.1 innings in easily his worst start of the year. It snapped a streak of six straight outings of six-plus innings and two or fewer earned runs for Wright. It was apparently a wet night in Boston, and Wright was having trouble getting a grip on the ball. The Royals are likely going with Ian Kennedy (4-3, 3.25). He comes off his worst start of the year, allowing seven runs and five hits (three homers) at the Yankees last Thursday. Boston's Hanley Ramirez is 4-for-24 off him career. Dustin Pedroia is 2-for-2.

Key trends: The Sox are 3-7 in their past 10 in Game 1 of a doubleheader. Kansas City is 5-0 in its past five in that situation. The under is 4-0 in Wright's past four on the road. It's 4-1-2 in Kennedy's past seven overall.

Early lean: I probably should have known better than to preview a game in a doubleheader because the managers could opt to switch their pitchers around to Game 2. If it stays this way, I like Kansas City.

Nationals at Mets (TBA)

ESPN game so should have live betting at sportsbooks. The Nationals start lefty Gio Gonzalez (2-1, 1.93), who is among the NL ERA leaders. He allowed two unearned runs over five innings Friday against Miami but again took a no-decision. Gonzalez has allowed only two homers in 42 innings this season. He was 2-0 with a 1.14 ERA in four starts last season against the Mets. Curtis Granderson struggles against him, going 4-for-30 with 10 strikeouts. David Wright is 6-for-21 with a homer and four RBIs. The Mets will go with Bartolo Colon (3-2, 3.53). He was hit hard at the Dodgers in his last start, allowing five runs and seven hits (two homers) over five innings. He was 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA in seven innings vs. Washington last year. Bryce Harper is 3-for-13 off him with a homer. Jayson Werth is 4-for-9 with two doubles.

Key trends: The Nats are 14-4 in Gonzalez's past 18 on Wednesday. The Mets are 1-4 in their past five against a lefty. The under is 4-0-1 in Gonzalez's past five in New York.

Early lean: This is TBA because it's not 100 percent that Colon will go but he should. Part of the uncertainty was due to Matz. I like the Nats in this matchup.

Astros at White Sox (-115, 8.5)

That Carlos Gomez trade Houston made with Milwaukee last July looks worse and worse by the day. Gomez was being threatened with a benching because he's not hitting. Gomez didn't do much after coming over from the Brewers in 2015, either, and Milwaukee got some good prospects for him and pitcher Mike Fiers. Instead of benching Gomez, the team put him on the DL Tuesday. He is batting .182, has yet to hit a homer and has driven in only five runs. He also has struck out 46 times. Houston starts Doug Fister (3-3, 4.22) here. He has been getting better each time out it seems. Last Wednesday, he gave up two runs and six hits over seven innings against the Indians as the Astros won his third straight outing. The White Sox's Melky Cabrera is 5-for-14 off him with a double. Austin Jackson is 2-for-14. It's Mat Latos (5-0, 3.40) for Chicago, and he has been brought soundly back to earth after a great start. Latos had a third straight start of 5.1 innings or less and at least four earned runs allowed last time out vs. Texas. The Pale Hose now might have to think about trading for an arm. Gomez does hit Latos well, going 10-for-24 with two homers and eight RBIs.

Key trends: The Sox are 4-0 in Latos' past four vs. teams with a losing record. The under is 3-0-3 in Fister's past six.

Early lean: Astros and over.

Giants at Padres (+133, 6.5)

Thus far, San Francisco is getting its money's worth from big free-agent addition Johnny Cueto (5-1, 2.97) as returning to the National League clearly agrees with him. The Giants won his fourth start in a row Thursday in Arizona as Cueto allowed two runs over seven innings and struck out nine. His top start of the year was April 26 at home vs. San Diego, throwing a complete-game seven-hitter with 11 strikeouts. Matt Kemp is 7-for-20 off him with two homers. Jon Jay is 13-for-33 with three dingers and seven RBIs. If the Padres were willing to listen on offers for lefty Drew Pomeranz (4-3, 1.80), they could do pretty well. He hasn't allowed a run over his past two starts, spanning 11 innings vs. the Cubs and Mets. Pomeranz lost April 25 in San Francisco, giving up four runs and seven hits in 4.1 innings. Hunter Pence is 3-for-11 with three homers and six RBIs against him. Buster Posey is 5-for-8 with two homers.

Key trends: The Giants are 4-0 in Cueto's past four on the road. The under is 4-1 in his past five vs. teams with a losing record.

Early lean: Giants and under.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Previews, Streaks, Tips, Notes

New York Yankees at Arizona Diamondbacks May 18, 9:40 EST

Things haven't started well for Shelby Miller with his new club. The right-hander is 1-4 with a 6.94 ERA in eight trips to the mound for Diamondbacks. Looking back to his days with Atlanta, the hurler has managed just two wins in 33 starts for Arizona/Atlanta with the teams 7-26 over the span. Shelby Miller not a peg to hang your hopes on, D-backs a consistent money burner at Chase Field (7-16) along with ridding a 3-9 skid in front of its friendly crowd the lean is New York with Nathan Eovaldi carrying a 4-1 team start record in May, 8-2 team start record away from the Bronx.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Wednesday's six-pack

Odds on random football games this coming fall..........

-- Week 2: Colts @ Broncos (-4)

-- Week 3: Bears @ Cowboys (-6)

-- Week 4: Dolphins @ Bengals (-6.5)

-- Week 5: Giants @ Packers (-7)

-- Week 6: Falcons @ Seahawks (-9.5)

-- Week 7: Patriots @ Steelers (-1.5)

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

#1 Sports

Wednesday's Free Selection: New York Yankees - 130

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Mike Wynn

Bonus Play: MLB Toronto w/Dickey -135 Over Tampa Bay

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Razor Sharp

FREE PICK FOR WEDNESDAY:Take OAKLAND (Hill) -140 over Texas

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Totals4U

Wednesday's Free Selection: Seattle Mariners/Baltimore Orioles under 8

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Platinum Plays

Free Pick: Chicago Cubs w/Lackey -180 over Milwaukee