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Preview: Pirates at Marlins


Current Conditions - Miami


P/SUNNY 80 °F
Wind: CLM 0
5-Day Forecast GAME: Pittsburgh Pirates (29-22) at Miami Marlins (27-25)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, June 01 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Marlins Park, Miami, Florida
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A


The Pittsburgh Pirates could not find a way around the Miami Marlins ace on Tuesday and ended up falling for the third time in the last four games. The Pirates will try to string some hits together and take the lead in the series when they visit the Marlins for the third of the four-game series on Wednesday.

Pittsburgh went down 3-1 on Tuesday while going up against Jose Fernandez and has totaled five runs in the last three losses. The inconsistency on offense is glaring in the current series, with the Pirates pounding out 14 hits in a 10-0 win on Monday before scraping out five in Tuesday’s setback. The Marlins were just as helpless against Pittsburgh ace Gerrit Cole for the first six innings before a single, a walk, a wild pitch and a groundout contributed to a three-run seventh inning. Miami is just 11-14 in its own ballpark and is in the midst of a tough homestand with four against the Pirates followed by three against the New York Mets.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Pittsburgh), FSN Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates LH Jonathon Niese (5-2, 4.42 ERA) vs. Marlins LH Adam Conley (3-3, 4.15)

Niese is enjoying a string of four straight quality starts and surrendered a total of two runs in his last two outings. The Ohio native allowed one run and seven hits in six innings at Texas on Friday to pick up a win after being left out of the decision following seven dominant innings against Colorado on May 21. Niese has plenty of experience against Miami from his time with the New York Mets and is 6-5 with a 4.18 ERA in 18 career starts against the Marlins.

Conley was ripped for six runs on seven hits and seven walks against Washington on May 22 but at least managed to keep the ball in the strike zone in his next outing. The 26-year-old was charged with two runs on eight hits and one walk over 4 1/3 innings at Atlanta on Friday without factoring in the decision. Conley is seeing Pittsburgh for the first time in his career and is 1-3 with a 5.91 ERA in four home starts this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Marlins activated LHP Mike Dunn (forearm) from the 15-day disabled list and designated RHP Edwin Jackson for assignment on Tuesday.

2. Pittsburgh 3B Jung Ho Kang is 1-for-13 with four strikeouts in the last three games.

3. Miami RHP Bryan Morris will undergo back surgery to repair a herniated disc.

PREDICTION: Pirates 5, Marlins 3

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Dodgers at Cubs


Current Conditions - Chicago


P/SUNNY 69 °F
Wind: CLM 0
5-Day Forecast GAME: Los Angeles Dodgers (28-25) at Chicago Cubs (35-15)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, June 01 - 8:05 PM EST
WHERE: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A




Dominant pitching has been the key to the first two games between the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Each team has tossed a combined one-hitter while splitting the first two contests, and Los Angeles right-hander Mike Bolsinger and Chicago lefty Jon Lester try to continue the trend when the four-game set continues Wednesday at Wrigley Field.



The Dodgers beat the Cubs in a game ace Jake Arrieta started Tuesday – the first team to do so in 24 starts dating to last July. Los Angeles did all its damage in the 5-0 victory against the Cubs’ bullpen, which was depleted after pitching seven perfect innings in a 2-0 victory in Monday’s series opener. The loss snapped a six-game winning streak for Chicago, which was shut out for the fourth time this season and the second in the past nine games. The Dodgers continue to ride strong pitching as they’ve won seven of their last nine and allowed two or fewer runs in seven of their last eight contests.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ESPN, SportsNet Los Angeles, CSN Chicago



PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Mike Bolsinger (1-1, 4.50 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Jon Lester (5-3, 2.48)

Bolsinger makes his third start since being called up to fill out the injury-riddled rotation. The 28-year-old pitched well last time out, holding Cincinnati to two runs and three hits over 5 2/3 innings to pick up his first win since Sept. 4. Bolsinger has faced the Cubs twice – both at Wrigley Field – going 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 11 1/3 innings.

Lester bounced back from his first poor outing of the season to beat Philadelphia last time out, allowing two runs – one earned – over 6 1/3 innings. The 32-year-old has posted quality starts in eight of his 10 outings this season and has surrendered one or zero earned runs in seven turns. Lester is 1-2 with a 5.19 ERA in three meetings with the Dodgers.



WALK-OFFS

1. Cubs 2B/OF Ben Zobrist went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts Tuesday to snap a 16-game hitting streak and a streak of reaching base in 35 consecutive starts.

2. Dodgers SS Corey Seager went 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs Tuesday and has multiple hits in four of his last five games.

3. Chicago starting pitchers have gone 4-0 with a 0.86 ERA over the past five games, allowing three earned runs in 31 1/3 innings.



PREDICTION: Cubs 5, Dodgers 3

 

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Preview: Diamondbacks at Astros


Weather information is currently unavailable. 5-Day Forecast
GAME: Arizona Diamondbacks (23-31) at Houston Astros (24-29)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, June 01 - 8:10 PM EST
WHERE: Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A


The Houston Astros were 11 games below .500 and headed toward a lost season when the decision was made to move right fielder George Springer into the leadoff spot. The ascension to the top of the order has jump-started the Astros as Springer has gone 16-for-35 with three homers and Houston has won seven of eight games since the move entering Wednesday's third contest of a home-and-home, four-game series against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks.

Springer went 6-for-8 with four runs scored and five RBIs in two wins in Phoenix and he finished a triple shy of the cycle with four RBIs in Tuesday's 8-5 victory over the Diamondbacks. Springer has four three-hit outings during the stretch plus one two-hit game while raising his batting average 34 points to .288. Arizona has lost six of its last eight games and has given up eight or more runs in five of the six defeats. Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt had three hits on Tuesday as he continues to recover from a slow start by batting .404 with three homers and 13 RBIs over the past 14 contests.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN Arizona, ROOT (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Robbie Ray (2-4, 4.67 ERA) vs. Astros RH Mike Fiers (3-3, 5.20)

Ray has lost four of his last five decisions after losing to San Diego in his last start. He struck out eight in just 4 2/3 innings but was touched up for five runs and nine hits, including two homers. Ray is 1-1 with a 4.30 ERA in three career starts against Houston and has struggled with Jose Altuve (4-for-8), Springer (3-for-4) and Jason Castro (3-for-8).

Fiers was pounded for seven runs and eight hits in 3 2/3 innings while losing to the Los Angeles Angels in his last turn. The runs were the most he has allowed this season and the short stint marked the third time in five starts that he worked less than five innings. Fiers is 1-2 with a 5.63 ERA in three career outings against the Diamondbacks and he has experienced issues with Goldschmidt (3-for-8, one homer and two doubles).

WALK-OFFS

1. Astros 2B Altuve is 8-for-16 over the past three games after failing to have a multi-hit outing in the previous nine contests.

2. Arizona OF Brandon Drury is 1-for-11 over the last four contests.

3. Houston CF Carlos Gomez (ribcage) was activated from the disabled list and went 1-for-3 with a run scored on Tuesday.

PREDICTION: Astros 9, Diamondbacks 5

 

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Preview: Rays at Royals


Current Conditions - Kansas City


SUNNY 66 °F
Wind: CLM 0
5-Day Forecast GAME: Tampa Bay Rays (22-28) at Kansas City Royals (29-22)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, June 01 - 8:15 PM EST
WHERE: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A


The Kansas City Royals are red-hot with the bats and look to extend their winning streak to six games when they host the struggling Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday. The Royals have recorded 36 runs during their victorious stretch after a 10-5 victory on Tuesday as Lorenzo Cain and Eric Hosmer continued to provide heroics for their surging offense.

Hosmer is 14-for-26 with 14 RBIs during a six-game hitting streak and Cain is 7-for-17 with eight RBIs over his last four contests while Paulo Orlando has hit safely in 14 consecutive games for Kansas City. Danny Duffy will try to complete the second straight sweep for the Royals as he opposes struggling Tampa Bay ace Chris Archer. The Rays have dropped nine of their last 11 games after matching their season high with four straight victories – yielding at least six runs five times during their 2-9 stretch. Corey Dickerson and Evan Longoria each have recorded six RBIs in the last four games for Tampa Bay.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FSN Sun (Tampa Bay), FSN Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Chris Archer (3-6, 4.62 ERA) vs. Royals LH Danny Duffy (0-0, 3.23)

Archer gave up just four hits over eight innings last time out against the New York Yankees, but two were homers that led to a 4-1 defeat. The 27-year-old has lost two in a row after going 3-0 in his previous five outings and walked 12 in his last four starts (22 innings). Kendrys Morales (7-for-11, three doubles, homer) and Alcides Escobar (7-for-9) have hit well against Archer, who is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA in three career starts versus Kansas City

Duffy makes his fourth straight start after struggling in his last outing, allowing five runs and five hits – two homers – in a no-decision versus the Chicago White Sox. The 27-year-old Californian pitched 7 1/3 scoreless innings in his previous two starts after coming out of the bullpen 16 times to start the season. Brandon Guyer is 3-for-3 with a homer versus Duffy, who is 0-1 with a 3.75 ERA in two career starts against the Rays.

WALK-OFFS

1. Royals 2B Whit Merrifield is 14-for-37 during his eight-game hitting streak and is batting .356 in his first 11 major-league contests.

2. Tampa Bay RHP Brad Boxberger, making his first appearance after returning from the disabled list Tuesday, departed in the sixth inning with a left side muscle strain.

3. Kansas City OF Brett Eibner left Tuesday’s game with an ankle injury after starting his career 6-for-13 and will be evaluated on Wednesday.

PREDICTION: Rays 4, Royals 3

 

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Preview: Reds at Rockies


Current Conditions - Denver


M/SUNNY 50 °F
Wind: SSW 10
5-Day Forecast GAME: Cincinnati Reds (17-35) at Colorado Rockies (24-27)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, June 01 - 8:40 PM EST
WHERE: Coors Field, Denver, Colorado
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A


The Colorado Rockies need to start winning at home if they are to entertain thoughts of remaining in shouting distance in the National League West race, and Carlos Gonzalez appears to be aware of the situation. Gonzalez tries to continue tormenting Cincinnati while looking to extend his hitting streak to 10 games and homer in a career-high fifth straight contest when the Rockies host the Reds on Wednesday in the third contest of their four-game series.

Colorado tied a club record with seven home runs - the first time it hit that many at Coors Field - to snap a three-game losing streak both overall and against Cincinnati with a 17-4 victory Tuesday that improved the Rockies to 10-13 in Denver. Gonzalez, who is 19-for-37 with five home runs and nine RBIs during his hitting streak, is batting .325 with 14 blasts and 35 RBIs against the Reds - .388 with seven homers, 21 RBIs and 20 runs scored in 67 at-bats at home. Cincinnati has lost 18 of its last 22 contests and owns the worst ERA in baseball at 5.82 while allowing 13 or more runs five times this season. Colorado's Tyler Chatwood is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in his last three starts and opposes John Lamb, who has lost three consecutive turns.

TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati), ROOT (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds LH John Lamb (0-3, 6.85 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Tyler Chatwood (6-3, 2.69)

Lamb allowed six runs, seven hits and three walks in a 9-5 loss in Milwaukee on Friday and is 0-2 with a 15.26 ERA in two road starts this season. The 25-year-old Californian recorded a pair of no-decisions while posting a 1.80 ERA in his first two starts of 2016 but yielded 17 earned runs in 13 2/3 innings over his last three outings. Lamb, who never has faced Colorado, was 1-5 with a 5.80 ERA over 10 starts in his rookie season of 2015.

Chatwood permitted an unearned run and four hits in seven innings of a 5-2 victory over San Francisco on Friday, improving to 2-3 with a 5.10 ERA at Coors Field this season. “I feel like I’ve been throwing the ball well all year,” the 26-year-old Californian told reporters. “And right now, the results are there.” Chatwood, who has pitched at least six innings in six straight starts and in eight of nine turns this season, is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two starts versus Cincinnati.

WALK-OFFS

1. Gonzalez has hit home runs in four consecutive games three times in his career.

2. Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado, who was given Monday off after playing every game this season, has 16 home runs after belting a pair Tuesday and is tied for the major-league lead with the Chicago White Sox's Todd Frazier.

3. Colorado CF Charlie Blackmon (.301), who is the first player in franchise history to hit a leadoff homer in two straight contests, extended his career-high on-base streak to 26 games with a pair of home runs while matching a personal best with five RBIs on Tuesday in his 500th career game and has hit safely in nine straight.

Blackmon has lead-off homers in two straight games to become the first Rockies' player to do so.

PREDICTION: Rockies 9, Reds 8

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mariners at Padres


Current Conditions - San Diego


CLOUDY 61 °F
Wind: CLM 0
5-Day Forecast GAME: Seattle Mariners (30-21) at San Diego Padres (20-33)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, June 01 - 10:10 PM EST
WHERE: Petco Park, San Diego, California
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A


Felix Hernandez seeks to continue his dominance at Petco Park when the Seattle Mariners visit the San Diego Padres on Wednesday. Hernandez is 5-0 with a 1.51 ERA in seven career starts at San Diego's ballpark and had to be envious of the 25 runs the Mariners scored in Seattle in the first two contests of the home-and-home, four-game set.

Hernandez will be attempting to rebound from one of his worst outings of the season after he gave up a season-worst six runs in six innings in a loss to the Minnesota Twins last Friday -- his second defeat in a three-start span. He will be facing the fast-crumbling Padres, who finished a 1-7 road trip by being shellacked 16-4 on Tuesday when the Mariners set a season best for runs scored. Seattle blasted a season-high five homers in the contest -- left fielder Seth Smith hit two for his seventh career multi-homer game -- to take over the major league lead with 77 homers. "I'm looking for a pitch to hit and hoping I can recognize the ones I can hit well and the ones I can't," Smith said after the solid contest leaves him 9-for-20 over the past six games.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Seattle), FSN San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (4-4, 2.86 ERA) vs. Padres LH Christian Friedrich (1-1, 1.65)

Hernandez struggled in May with a 4.45 ERA in five starts after a dazzling April in which he posted a 1.38 ERA and limited opposing batters to a .165 average. He struck out only 25 hitters in May and has fanned more than six just twice in 10 starts this season. Overall, Hernandez is 6-3 with a 2.90 ERA in 12 career starts against San Diego and has shut down Melvin Upton Jr. (3-for-31, 11 strikeouts) and Derek Norris (0-for-12, seven strikeouts).

Friedrich is making his fourth start for San Diego and was brilliant in his last outing. The 28-year-old journeyman allowed just three hits over seven scoreless innings while defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks for his second strong showing since being recalled by the Padres. Friedrich is 0-2 with a 13.50 ERA in four career appearances (one start) against Seattle and has been roughed up by Kyle Seager (5-for-6, two homers).

WALK-OFFS

1. The Padres, who have lost eight of their last nine games, have allowed 39 runs during a four-game skid.

2. Seattle 2B Robinson Cano has reached base in 29 consecutive games after walking three times on Tuesday.

3. San Diego RF Matt Kemp has three homers in the past five games, all solo shots.

PREDICTION: Mariners 5, Padres 1