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**StarDust Bum** · 05-21-2015, 03:10 AM

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NBA > (505) HOUSTON@ (506) GOLDEN STATE | 05/21/2015 - 09:05 PM
Play ON HOUSTON using the money line in All games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game - 2nd half of the season
The record is 26 Wins and 10 Losses for the this season (+13.85 units)

NBA TOTALS

NBA > (505) HOUSTON@ (506) GOLDEN STATE | 05/21/2015 - 09:05 PM
Play OVER HOUSTON on the total in Road games after scoring 105 points or more
The record is 19 Overs and 6 Unders for the this season (+12.4 units)

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NBA > (505) HOUSTON @ (506) GOLDEN STATE | 05/21/2015 - 09:05 PM
Line: GOLDEN STATE -10.5 BTB PowerLine: GOLDEN STATE -8
Edge On: GOLDEN STATE (2.5)

**StarDust Bum** · 05-21-2015, 03:11 AM

NHL MONEYLINE

NHL > (61) ANAHEIM@ (62) CHICAGO | 05/21/2015 - 08:05 PM
Play ON ANAHEIM using the money line in All games
The record is 14 Wins and 5 Losses for the this season (+10.95 units)

**StarDust Bum** · 05-21-2015, 03:15 AM

Preview: Diamondbacks (17-21) at Marlins (16-24)
Game: 4
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: May 21, 2015 12:10 PM EDT

The man guiding the Miami Marlins might be different, but the results remain the same.

Still searching for their first victory under new manager Dan Jennings, the offensively challenged Marlins try to avoid a seventh consecutive defeat and first home sweep at the hands of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 16 seasons Thursday.

Miami (16-25) was competitive in the first two games of this series since Jennings moved from the front office to the dugout, but trailed by three runs after two innings and didn't get its first hit until the fifth of Wednesday's 6-1 loss.

Losers in nine of 10, the Marlins are batting .198 while being outscored 29-11 over the last six contests.

'This is going to turn, but we're in a storm right now,' Jennings said. 'It's frustrating.'

Jennings tried to mix things up Wednesday by having Marcell Ozuna hit second and Martin Prado down at the cleanup spot. Though each had a hit, Justin Bour recorded the Marlins' other two hits.

'Sometimes you've got to move pieces here or there until you get the right formula,' Jennings said. 'I'm sure the colonel tried a lot of recipes before he came up with his secret one for the chicken so we're going to keep working it until we find ours.'

Miami should at least be pleased Mat Latos (1-4, 5.54 ERA) will start after leaving Saturday's outing against Atlanta in the fourth inning, when he took a line drive to the shin. Though the right-hander is sore, X-rays were negative.

Latos allowed two runs and nine hits over 13 1-3 innings to go 1-0 in his first two May starts before yielding five runs and eight hits in three-plus innings of that 5-3 loss to the Braves. He is 4-1 with a 2.61 ERA in eight starts against the Diamondbacks but last faced them in 2013.

Trying to sweep its first road series from the Marlins since 1999, Arizona (18-21) hopes Archie Bradley (2-1, 3.27) can bounce back after he gave up four runs, five hits and three walks in two-plus innings of Saturday's 7-5 loss at Philadelphia in his first outing since taking a batted ball to the face April 28.

Bradley, who went 2-0 with a 1.45 ERA in his first three career starts before lasting 1 1-3 innings in the game he was injured, said he's not taking a tentative approach to pitching after the incident.

'No, not at all," he said. 'It's kind of out of my mind right now. ... I prepared myself to get ready for (his last start)."

Manager Chip Hale is confident the Diamondbacks' prized prospect can successfully move forward.

"It's just hard to keep your stuff sharp not pitching in games, and he needs to pitch," Hale said. "He's a young guy that needs to be on schedule, and hopefully next time out he'll throw better.

"It's part of the development. He's not a finished product at all.

Fourth-year Arizona outfielder A.J. Pollock went 0 for 6 in Monday's series opener but is 4 for 5 with five runs scored in the last two.

Miami's Dee Gordon is 1 for 12 during the set, and saw his average drop to .395 and below .400 for the first time since April 27.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Diamondbacks at Marlins
Mon, May 18 Final 3 to 2
Boxscores

GAME 2
Diamondbacks at Marlins
Tue, May 19 Final 4 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Diamondbacks at Marlins
Wed, May 20 - Final 6 - 1
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 4
Diamondbacks at Marlins
Thu, May 21 - 12:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 05-21-2015, 03:20 AM

Preview: Mariners (17-21) at Orioles (17-19)
Game: 3
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: May 21, 2015 12:35 PM EDT

J.A. Happ is certainly exceeding expectations for the Seattle Mariners.

Happ goes for his longest single-season winning streak in six years Thursday night when the Mariners try to conclude this three-game set with back-to-back wins over the Baltimore Orioles.

Happ (3-1, 2.98 ERA) was acquired from Toronto in exchange for outfielder Michael Saunders in December after spending his first eight seasons with Philadelphia, Houston and the Blue Jays.

The left-hander, though, only had one winning season, going 12-4 with a 2.93 ERA with the Phillies in 2009 and was runner-up in NL Rookie of the Year voting.

Happ has been impressive with Seattle (18-21), compiling the second-best qualifying ERA on the staff behind Felix Hernandez's 2.30, and his 1.79 walks per nine innings is among the best in the AL.

He's 3-0 over his last five starts while allowing two or fewer runs in four of them, and he hasn't put together a longer winning streak since reeling off six in a row from May 15-July 19, 2009.

Happ used his changeup to limit Boston to one run in seven innings before Nelson Cruz's walkoff single in Friday's 2-1 win.

"He has his confidence back in that pitch," pitching coach Rick Waits told MLB's official website. "It wasn't working early in the game, but he got it going. He understands he has to have that fourth pitch in his arsenal, and he has enough confidence in it that he kept throwing it."

Happ is 2-3 with a 2.93 ERA in eight games - seven starts - against the Orioles, giving up five runs and two homers in a 6-1 loss at Baltimore (17-20) on Sept. 17.

The Mariners beat the Orioles 4-2 on Wednesday for just their second win in nine road games.

Cruz has been productive in his return to Baltimore, going 4 for 7 with one homer, one double and three RBIs in two games. He's hitting .409 over the past 12 games, lifting his season average 24 points to .351 to rank among baseball's leaders.

Justin Ruggiano also has four hits in this series after connecting for a two-run homer and a double Wednesday. He's 8 for 16 in four games at Camden Yards.

The Orioles are turning to Chris Tillman (2-5, 6.34), who has a 2.03 ERA while winning all six of his starts against the Mariners - four at home.

The right-hander, though, has lost a career-high four straight starts with a 6.85 ERA, and he'll try to overcome stiffness in his lower back that's sidelined him since a 10-2 loss to Toronto on May 12. He gave up five runs and nine hits in 6 2-3 innings.

"I'm not all that concerned about it," Tillman told MLB's official website. "I've had it before. It kind of happened in my bullpen. Trying to be careful with it and not make it worse than it has to be."

Tillman has lost both of his home starts, surrendering 12 runs and 16 hits - three homers - in 9 1-3 innings.

He's held Cruz to 1 for 8 with a homer, but Robinson Cano is 12 for 28 (.429) with two home runs off him.

Baltimore's Adam Jones has a .377 average at home after going 6 for 13 in the last three games there. However, he went 2 for 14 with a homer versus Happ last year.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Mariners at Orioles
Tue, May 19 Final 4 to 9
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Mariners at Orioles
Wed, May 20 - Final 4 - 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Mariners at Orioles
Thu, May 21 - 12:35PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 05-21-2015, 03:22 AM

Preview: Astros (26-14) at Tigers (23-17)
Game: 1
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: May 21, 2015 1:08 PM EDT

The Houston Astros have reclaimed the AL's best record with their latest surge, and much of it has come without significant contributions from their top hitter.

They'll try to get Jose Altuve going and keep rolling for Thursday's series opener against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.

Houston (27-14) has won seven of eight while averaging 5.1 runs with 15 homers, including at least two each by six different players.

The back end of the run has come despite Altuve, who leads Houston with a .310 average, going 2 for 20 in his last five games. The reigning AL batting champion could be poised to break out after going 9 for 14 in these teams' last series, when Detroit lost two of three in Houston from June 27-29.

Plus, Altuve went 3 for 4 last season against David Price, who starts for Detroit and is coming off two subpar outings.

Houston's rotation, meanwhile, has turned in a quality start in four of five, and Wednesday's 6-1 win over Oakland gave the Astros the best 41-game start in franchise history. They haven't led a division this late since May 22, 2004.

"It's the most fun I've had in a long time," said Dallas Keuchel, who recorded his team-leading sixth victory. "There's absolutely no panic. They took the first game here and we continued to grind and make adjustments. So when we do that it's fun here and I think the guys here are expecting to win now."

Houston's 12-4 road start also matches its best ever, though it has lost nine of 11 in Detroit.

The Tigers (24-17) scored four runs during a three-game losing streak but avoided a sweep against Milwaukee by winning 5-2 on Wednesday. J.D. Martinez is batting .410 during an 11-game hitting streak after a 2-for-4 night, while Yoenis Cespedes went 3 for 3 and Nick Castellanos was 2 for 4 with four RBIs.

Detroit didn't homer for a fourth straight game, however, matching its longest drought of the season. The club tied for fourth in the AL last year with 155 home runs but is tied for 11th this season with 34.

Price (3-1, 3.40 ERA) could partially blame an early 80-minute rain delay for his shakiness Saturday at St. Louis, where he gave up three homers over 6 2-3 innings in a 4-3, 10-inning win. His previous start was worse, allowing a career-high 13 hits and five runs in 6 1-3 innings against Kansas City.

The left-hander owns a 5.58 ERA over his last five outings and has had a rough time in his last two at Comerica, giving up 12 earned runs and 23 hits over 8 2-3 innings.

He's been stellar in his last four versus the Astros, though, posting a 1.97 ERA and striking out 35 in 32 innings.

Houston's Scott Feldman (3-4, 5.06) hasn't done nearly as well against Detroit, going 1-3 in 12 games with a 7.34 ERA - his worst versus any AL team. However, he's coming off a second straight quality start, striking out a season-high 10 and allowing three runs over 6 2-3 innings to beat Toronto in a 6-5 win Saturday.

Miguel Cabrera, who has hit safely in eight straight games, is 9 for 16 off Feldman with two home runs and two doubles.

George Springer had two hits Wednesday following a 3-for-20 slump in his first seven games after returning from a concussion. He hit .375 in seven games versus Detroit last season. He's 1 for 8 lifetime off Price with a homer and six strikeouts.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Astros at Tigers
Thu, May 21 - 1:08PM EDT

GAME 2
Astros at Tigers
Fri, May 22 - 7:08PM EDT

GAME 3
Astros at Tigers
Sat, May 23 - 4:08PM EDT

GAME 4
Astros at Tigers
Sun, May 24 - 1:08PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 05-21-2015, 03:24 AM

Preview: Cardinals (26-13) at Mets (23-17)
Game: 4
Venue: Citi Field
Date: May 21, 2015 1:10 PM EDT

Adam Wainwright may be out for the season, but the St. Louis Cardinals still have the best pitching staff in baseball - and the best record.

Now, Jaime Garcia is back to try and earn a spot in the rotation.

Garcia takes the mound for the first time in 11 months as the Cardinals go for a third straight win over the New York Mets in the finale of this four-game set Thursday.

St. Louis' 2.72 ERA as a team and its rotation's 3.08 mark are the lowest in the majors, and that comes despite Wainwright suffering a torn left Achilles last month.

The starters have a 1.30 ERA while the Cardinals (27-13) have won three of four games, and Carlos Martinez went 6 1-3 innings while combining with two relievers on a four-hitter in Wednesday's 9-0 win over New York (23-18).

St. Louis is expected to activate Garcia from the disabled list for his first start since undergoing thoracic outlet surgery in July, alleviating numbness and tingling in his pitching arm and hand. The left-hander had a setback in his return during spring training after going 3-1 with a 4.12 ERA in seven starts in 2014.

He allowed seven runs in 8 2-3 innings over two rehab starts in the minors this month.

"If it doesn't work, next man. Who's going to take it? That's what it is right now," manager Mike Matheny said of finding a replacement for Wainwright.

Garcia is 2-0 with a 0.96 ERA in four career starts against the Mets, but he hasn't faced them since a victory in 2012.

Matt Adams had a three-run homer among his two hits Wednesday, and he's 4 for 10 in this series after going 2 for 33 in 11 prior games.

The Mets are trying to avoid a season-high three-game slide at home, and giving the ball to Jacob deGrom (4-4, 3.21 ERA) should help since he's 9-1 with a 1.32 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 75 innings over his last 11 starts there. The right-hander has won his last two games at Citi Field while yielding two runs and fanning 15 in 13 innings.

He gave up one run in six innings of Saturday's 14-1 win over Milwaukee and was also effective with the bat. DeGrom became just the second pitcher since at least 1914 to have three hits while batting eighth, driving in one run and scoring another.

DeGrom, last year's NL Rookie of the Year, is 5 for 8 in his last three games.

"We talk about it every spring," manager Terry Collins told MLB's official website. "We talk to the pitchers about doing the little things like handling the bat. I'm not saying get a lot of hits but put the ball in play, move runners along. Be able to bunt.

"Those things help you win games."

DeGrom's only meeting with the Cardinals came on the road June 16, when he gave up six runs and 12 hits before being pulled with one out in the fifth of a 6-2 loss. He allowed Adams to go 2 for 3 with a triple, while Jason Heyward is 3 for 6 lifetime against him.

Heyward is 6 for 17 with two homers and four RBIs in five games, connecting for a solo shot and a single Wednesday.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Cardinals at Mets
Mon, May 18 Final 1 to 2
Boxscores

GAME 2
Cardinals at Mets
Tue, May 19 Final 10 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Cardinals at Mets
Wed, May 20 Final 9 to 0
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 4
Cardinals at Mets
Thu, May 21 - 1:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 05-21-2015, 03:25 AM

Preview: Phillies (17-24) at Rockies (14-22)
Game: 4
Venue: Coors Field
Date: May 21, 2015 3:10 PM EDT

Ryan Howard is a big reason why the Philadelphia Phillies are turning things around, but their rotation is also helping.

Howard looks to continue his offensive resurgence while Jerome Williams goes for his first road victory Thursday against the Colorado Rockies in the finale of a four-game set.

Philadelphia (18-24) had a .229 average while scoring 2.8 runs per game and owned the worst record in baseball following a 7-2 loss to Pittsburgh on May 12. The Phillies, though, have since won seven of eight games, batting .293 and averaging 4.6 runs.

Howard has keyed the turnaround, hitting .444 with two homers, three doubles and five RBIs in the past seven games. He batted .211 through the first 31 games as he was the subject of trade rumors with Philadelphia rebuilding.

"I'm not really doing a whole lot different from the first month," said Howard, hitting .328 with four homers and 10 RBIs in May. "I'm just finding some real estate out there."

He was a triple shy of the cycle Tuesday, including a towering solo homer as the Phillies won 4-2 at Colorado (14-23) after their season-high six-game winning streak ended with a 6-5 loss a day earlier.

"It just looks like he's real comfortable at home plate and getting really good contact on his pitches," manager Ryne Sandberg said. "That ball was hit a long way. With these conditions, that ball was crushed."

Howard is hitting .412 over his last eight games at Coors Field.

Pitching has also been vital for Philadelphia, as the starters have combined for a 1.43 ERA and 6-0 record in the past eight games. They have nine walks and 39 strikeouts in that span.

The worst performance in that span came from Williams (3-3, 5.02 ERA) even though he won, yielding three runs - two earned - and seven hits in five innings of Saturday's 7-5 home win over Arizona. However, he's 0-2 with an 8.16 ERA over three starts on the road, failing to reach the sixth inning in any of them.

The right-hander is facing the Rockies for the first time since a relief appearance with San Francisco in 2005.

The Rockies, losers of seven of eight at home, are turning to Jorge De La Rosa (1-2, 6.56), who is 45-15 with a 4.16 ERA in 84 games at Coors and holds the record for the most wins there. However, he's been dreadful in Colorado this year, going 0-1 with an 11.45 ERA in three starts - all Rockies losses.

He's trying to shake off any lingering effects of a groin injury suffered in Saturday's 7-1 road victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"Just don't try to do too much," De La Rosa told MLB's official website. "If you do too much, it's probably going to be worse."

De La Rosa, though, was superb before being forced to leave Saturday, allowing two hits in 7 1-3 scoreless innings and lowering his ERA by three runs in by far his best performance of the season.

"The guy's a great pitcher, and if we're going to do something special, he'll have to be a big part of it," right fielder Carlos Gonzalez said.

De La Rosa has a 1.77 ERA in his last three matchups with the Phillies - all in Philadelphia - and won the last two.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Phillies at Rockies
Mon, May 18 Final 4 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Phillies at Rockies
Tue, May 19 Final 5 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Phillies at Rockies
Wed, May 20 Final 4 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 4
Phillies at Rockies
Thu, May 21 - 3:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 05-21-2015, 03:28 AM

Preview: Angels (20-19) at Blue Jays (18-23)
Game: 4
Venue: Rogers Centre
Date: May 21, 2015 7:07 PM EDT

R.A. Dickey is at a loss when trying to explain the reason for his current rough stretch with the struggling Toronto Blue Jays.

The right-hander hopes he'll have an answer in time to avoid losing a third straight start Thursday night against a visiting Los Angeles Angels team that could be without Albert Pujols.

Despite going 0-1 in his first two starts, Dickey (1-5, 5.76 ERA) posted a 2.19 ERA and didn't allow a home run. However, his knuckleball hasn't been sharp while going 1-4 with a 6.93 ERA and yielding nine homers in the last six.

"Truth of the matter is, I'm searching right now," he told MLB's official website. "Searching for answers, searching for consistency of (movement)."

Since allowing a run over eight innings of a 3-1 win over the New York Yankees on May 4, Dickey has been tagged for 13 runs and 17 hits over 11 innings in his last two starts. He served up two homers in each of them.

"I'm not able to execute," said the 40-year-old Dickey, whose 94 home runs allowed since 2012 are the most in baseball. "It's been the longest where I haven't had the consistent movement that I'd like. I've had stretches like this before, and I'm confident it's going to turn."

Perhaps against the Angels (21-19), whom Dickey held to four hits over seven innings of a 4-0 victory in his only matchup with them in 2014.

Albert Pujols is 0 for 8 versus Dickey and might sit out after suffering a hand contusion from being hit by a pitch in Wednesday's 4-3 victory. Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto sent a text after the game that X-rays were negative.

"He's OK," Dipoto texted. "He'll be day to day with a bruised hand."

Pujols is batting only .231 with seven homers and 15 RBIs.

Marc Krauss, who replaced Pujols, hit a go-ahead two-run double in the seventh to help Los Angeles win for the 10th time in 14 contests. Krauss is 2 for 16 since being called up May 12, but he's 3 for 8 with two doubles and a home run against Dickey.

The Blue Jays (18-24) have dropped nine of 11 and are 2-8 in one-run contests. They've been held to five runs and nine hits in back-to-back losses after pounding out 17 hits in Monday's 10-6 series-opening victory.

"We're just in a little rough patch right now," manager John Gibbons said. "But these are our guys and we'll ride it out with them."

Sluggers Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion are a combined 0 for 12 after totaling five hits Monday.

They'll look to break out against Matt Shoemaker (3-3, 5.63), who gave up fewer than three runs for the first time in seven starts last time out. The right-hander allowed a homer but only two other hits and struck out seven without a walk in seven innings of a 6-1 victory at Baltimore on Saturday.

"I felt like I was almost casual the last few starts, not in my attack aggressive mode, (not) making quality pitches," he said. "I need to have that bulldog mentality that I usually have."

Shoemaker is 7-0 with a 3.00 ERA in his last nine starts on the road - all Angels victories. He's never pitched in Toronto but did win his only appearance against the Blue Jays despite allowing two runs and five hits over 3 2-3 innings of relief July 7 in a 5-2 victory.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Angels at Blue Jays
Mon, May 18 Final 6 to 10
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Angels at Blue Jays
Tue, May 19 Final 3 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Angels at Blue Jays
Wed, May 20 Final 4 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 4
Angels at Blue Jays
Thu, May 21 - 7:07PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 05-21-2015, 03:29 AM

Preview: Rangers (16-23) at Red Sox (19-20)
Game: 3
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: May 21, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

Clay Buchholz has dropped his last five home starts and is winless in his last five overall against the Texas Rangers.

The Rangers may find a resurgent Buchholz more difficult to hit than those facts would indicate, however, as they seek to capture this three-game series Thursday night against the Boston Red Sox.

Buchholz (2-4, 4.93 ERA) has posted a 6.28 ERA during his home losing streak which goes back to last season. The Texan is 0-4 with a 5.40 ERA in his last five outings against the Rangers.

The right-hander has pitched well on the road in his last two starts, however. He yielded three runs in 6 1-3 innings to beat Toronto on May 10, then allowed one run with a season-high 11 strikeouts over eight innings in Friday's 2-1 loss to Seattle in which he did not factor in the decision.

"I've felt pretty good all year," Buchholz told MLB's official website. "There's been two lopsided games that just haven't worked out. Other than that, I felt like the stuff is good."

Buchholz can also take confidence from his past results against several Rangers stars. He has limited Shin-Soo Choo to a double in 12 at_bats, Adrian Beltre to two doubles in 11 at_bats and Prince Fielder to two singles in eight. Elvis Andrus is 5 for 11 in this matchup.

These clubs split one-run games to start this series. Boston won 4-3 on Tuesday before Texas (17-23) responded with a 2-1 victory.

The Red Sox (19-21) have baseball's worst average against left-handers at .199 as they face southpaw Wandy Rodriguez (1-2, 3.86), who has never faced them.

Rodriguez allowed a season-high five runs over 4 2-3 innings in Friday's 8-3 loss to Cleveland after a stretch over his previous two starts in which he set a Texas record by retiring 34 straight batters. He is 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA in three road outings.

Numerous Boston hitters have faced Rodriguez, with Hanley Ramirez going 10 for 24, Shane Victorino 6 for 18 and Pablo Sandoval 2 for 9.

Sandoval is day to day after he sat out Wednesday with a sore left knee. He has three singles in 26 at_bats in his last eight games and is 2 for 41 off left-handers for an .049 average that is baseball's worst.

"I want to play," Sandoval said. "I don't know what the situation (will be)."

Mookie Betts is hitting .158 against left-handers, Dustin Pedroia .200 and David Ortiz is at .136.

Boston lamented leaving 12 runners on base Wednesday, including eight in the last four innings.

"There were a number of times where guys squared the ball up and you'd see either someone running in the gap or someone was standing right there to field it," manager John Farrell said.

Mike Napoli is 4 for 8 in this series and 11 for 28 in eight home games against the Rangers since leaving them and joining the Red Sox as a free agent before 2013.

Fielder is hitting .400 with three homers and nine RBIs during a nine-game hitting streak. He is second in the AL with a .348 average.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Rangers at Red Sox
Tue, May 19 Final 3 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Rangers at Red Sox
Wed, May 20 Final 2 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Rangers at Red Sox
Thu, May 21 - 7:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 05-21-2015, 03:32 AM

Preview: Brewers (15-25) at Braves (18-20)
Game: 1
Venue: Turner Field
Date: May 21, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

Just when Matt Garza seemed to be rolling, he turned in one of the worst starts of his career.

He'll try to bounce back Thursday night against a team he's never beaten when the Milwaukee Brewers visit the Atlanta Braves.

Garza (2-5, 5.72 ERA) is hoping to recover from a disastrous showing in Saturday's 14-1 loss to the New York Mets. He yielded a career-worst 10 runs and 10 hits in a season-low 3 1-3 innings.

A failure to buckle down with runners in scoring position plagued the right-hander, who gave up four hits in eight at_bats in those situations. Opponents had been 8 for 45 on the season against Garza with runners in scoring position.

He had recorded four straight quality starts after giving up one run and three hits over seven innings in his previous outing.

"It's a head-scratcher but you just keep going," he said. "It's a weird game. The ball bounces one way and another way on another night. You just flush it and go."

Garza continues to walk batters at a troubling frequency, issuing three bases on balls for the third straight game. He's averaging 4.3 per nine innings after not finishing above 2.9 since 2009 (3.5).

He hasn't had great luck against Atlanta, either, going 0-3 with a 4.76 ERA in five matchups. The only teams Garza has faced more and hasn't beaten are the Los Angeles Angels (eight) and Washington (six).

The Brewers (15-26) failed to sweep Detroit on Wednesday, falling 5-2. The game was tied before Jonathan Broxton gave up three runs in the eighth inning - the same total Milwaukee allowed in taking the series' first two games.

It was a quiet offensive night with only six hits, though Ryan Braun remained productive, hitting his 10th home run and second in as many days. He has nine homers in his last 21 games while collecting 24 of his 28 RBIs, tying Paul Molitor for third on the club's all-time list (790).

The Braves (19-20) defeated Tampa Bay 2-1 on Wednesday. They had lost 12 of 13 when getting held to three runs or fewer.

"We didn't do much, but we did just enough. Hopefully, we keep doing just enough for the rest of the season," shortstop Andrelton Simmons told MLB's official website.

Atlanta has homered only twice in its last 11 games and now must rely on Julio Teheran (3-1, 4.33), who has had a difficult time keeping the ball in the park.

The right-hander has given up nine home runs over his last six starts while posting a 5.40 ERA. He hadn't allowed a homer in his first two games and won both, yielding two earned runs. Teheran was better Friday, though, limiting Miami to two runs - the only earned one came on a Giancarlo Stanton homer - over 5 2-3 innings.

He has surrendered one home run over 21 1-3 innings in three starts versus Milwaukee, going 1-2 with a 1.69 ERA. He received no run support in either loss. Braun is 1 for 7 against him.

Both clubs' top hitters have struggled against the opponent. Freddie Freeman, hitting .303, is at .185 in 25 career meetings with Milwaukee. Gerardo Parra (.306) is 5 for 32 over his last nine versus Atlanta, and he's 2 for 11 versus Teheran.

Nick Markakis is 9 for 24 in six games against the Brewers, though he's just 6 for 38 against Garza.

Atlanta won five of the last six meetings in 2014.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Brewers at Braves
Thu, May 21 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Brewers at Braves
Fri, May 22 - 7:35PM EDT

GAME 3
Brewers at Braves
Sat, May 23 - 4:10PM EDT

GAME 4
Brewers at Braves
Sun, May 24 - 1:35PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 05-21-2015, 03:33 AM

Preview: Athletics (14-27) at Rays (22-18)
Game: 1
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: May 21, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

The Oakland Athletics open this four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays with the starter who has a substantially lower ERA, though there's reason to believe that won't give them that big an advantage.

That's because the Athletics are baseball's worst defensive team while the Rays are one of the best heading into Thursday night's matchup in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Oakland (14-28) owns the game's worst record and starts Jesse Chavez opposite Alex Colome (2-1, 6.05 ERA).

Chavez (1-3, 2.63) will have to worry about a defense that has committed a major league-worst 44 errors - 16 by shortstop Marcus Semien, who has 10 in his last 11 games.

Tampa Bay (22-19), in contrast, is tied for the fewest in the majors with Detroit with 15. The Rays have allowed an AL-low six unearned runs while the Athletics have yielded the most in baseball with 28.

Oakland has lost 12 of 14 overall and seven of its last eight on the road.

'There's a lot of frustration that builds up when we don't win and that's where we are as a team right now,' manager Bob Melvin said. 'We're going to have to play our way out of it.'

Former Texas manager and Oakland base coach Ron Washington will be brought in as a special instructor to work with Semien and other infielders on defense during this series.

The Athletics are uncertain whether Coco Crisp will play in this series since he sat out Wednesday's 6-1 loss at Houston with tightness in his neck. Crisp, who is 2 for 45 this year, is slated to see a neck specialist.

Tropicana Field is the closest major league stadium to the hometown of designated hitter Billy Butler, who is from the Jacksonville area. Butler's .227 average at Tampa Bay is his second-worst in an AL city.

'At this point we're definitely not where we thought we'd be," Butler said. "We have plenty of time to redeem ourselves.'

Catcher Stephen Vogt is expected to be back in Thursday's lineup after giving way to Josh Phegley in Wednesday's day game. Vogt is third in the AL with a 1.018 OPS.

Chavez is 1-3 with a 3.19 ERA in five starts, limiting the Chicago White Sox to two runs in six innings Saturday as he did not get a decision in a 4-3 defeat. He has made three relief appearances and no starts against Tampa Bay, with James Loney going 1 for 6 against him.

Fellow right-hander Colome has never faced Oakland. Colome gave up three runs in 3 1-3 innings in Saturday's 6-4 defeat at Minnesota.

The Rays capped a 2-3 trip by stranding nine runners in Wednesday's 2-1 loss to Atlanta.

"It's tough to win ballgames when you leave that many guys on and only get one run," manager Kevin Cash told MLB's official website.

Evan Longoria will play his 1,000th game Thursday. His .219 average against Oakland is his worst against an AL club.

Semien is batting .364 during an eight-game hitting streak for Oakland, which went 4-2 against Tampa Bay last year.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Athletics at Rays
Thu, May 21 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Athletics at Rays
Fri, May 22 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Athletics at Rays
Sat, May 23 - 4:10PM EDT

GAME 4
Athletics at Rays
Sun, May 24 - 1:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 05-21-2015, 03:35 AM

Preview: Indians (15-23) at White Sox (18-18)
Game: 4
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: May 21, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

John Danks might be turning around his season following a rough start if his recent results are any indication.

He'll try to help the Chicago White Sox salvage a series split with the visiting Cleveland Indians on Thursday night.

Danks (2-3, 4.66 ERA) has been lackluster for a few seasons now, going 18-29 with a 4.88 ERA from 2012-2014. This year also began in equally unpromising fashion with a 1-3 record and 6.20 ERA in his first five outings.

The left-hander has given Chicago reason for optimism in his last two starts, though, giving up three runs and nine hits over 14 combined innings versus Cincinnati and Oakland.

"To get the last one and follow up with this one, it's good," Danks told MLB's official website after picking up his second win Saturday against the A's. "Hopefully it becomes a nice extended streak and helps us win some ballgames."

He'll be looking to buck a bad history versus Cleveland (16-23), against whom he is 5-12 with a 5.16 ERA in 24 career meetings. He allowed seven runs in two matchups spanning 10 2-3 innings last month, losing once. The 12 losses are his second-most against one club, trailing his 14 to Minnesota.

The White Sox (18-19) had won eight of nine before dropping the last two. They were held in check in Wednesday's 4-3 defeat by Cleveland's Shawn Marcum, who won in his first start in nearly two years after thoracic outlet syndrome threatened his career.

"Maybe after the season I'll sit back and reflect on it, but right now we've got to keep grinding away and trying to get better each and every day," Marcum said.

Michael Brantley drove in two runs to cap Cleveland's three-run seventh and Jose Ramirez was 2 for 3 with an RBI.

Cleveland gives the ball to Danny Salazar (4-1, 4.06 ERA). He allowed season worsts of seven runs - five earned - and two homers over 4 2-3 innings Saturday at Texas, though Cleveland rallied for a 10-8 victory. The right-hander didn't seem to have his best stuff, striking out a season-low four after fanning nine or more in four of his first five outings.

"He didn't have his changeup," manager Terry Francona told MLB's official website. "It looked like he was trying to get the fastball down to the wrong hitters early on."

Salazar has struggled in four career starts versus Chicago, going 2-1 with a 5.09 ERA, and is winless in two trips to U.S. Cellular Field.

Alexei Ramirez is batting just .235 but has owned Salazar, going 8 for 10 with a home run and double.

The Indians expect to have Carlos Santana back in their lineup Thursday after he missed his fourth straight game with back spasms.

"He was much, much better," Francona told MLB's official website. "I actually held the lineup out for a while because he was feeling pretty good."

Santana is third on the team with 20 RBIs, though he is 0 for 14 over his last four games and 2 for 17 versus Chicago this season.

Adam Eaton is batting .350 during a nine-game hitting streak after hitting his first homer in 144 games Wednesday, while Jose Abreu extended his streak to 15 games.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Indians at White Sox
Mon, May 18 Final 1 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Indians at White Sox
Tue, May 19 Final 3 to 1
Boxscores

GAME 3
Indians at White Sox
Wed, May 20 Final 4 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 4
Indians at White Sox
Thu, May 21 - 8:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 05-21-2015, 03:39 AM

Preview: Dodgers (24-14) at Giants (21-18)
Game: 3
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: May 21, 2015 3:45 PM EDT

Madison Bumgarner, Clayton Kershaw and anybody associated with the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers know what to expect when the star left-handers square off.

Two of baseball's best meet for a third time this season Thursday when the Giants try to improve to 6-0 at home against the Dodgers, who are in danger of being shut out in a three-game series by their archrival for the second time in four seasons.

"As much as anything you like to see guys rise up," Los Angeles manager Don Mattingly said of Kershaw facing Bumgarner. "It's fun watching those guys."

It's been fun for San Francisco (22-18), which is 6-2 in the season series and has outscored the Dodgers 18-6 while winning all five at AT&T Park. The Giants were the last team to blank Los Angeles in three straight from June 25-27, 2012.

Though Kershaw (2-2, 4.24 ERA) went 0-1 while the Dodgers lost his April 22 and 28 starts versus San Francisco by one run apiece, he posted a 2.77 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 13 innings. Bumgarner (4-2, 3.20) went 1-0 with a 1.88 ERA in those contests while the clubs combined for eight runs.

"I think when pitchers go up against a certain pitcher, they know they'd better pitch well because they don't expect a lot of runs," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.

Bumgarner is 3-1 and Kershaw is 1-3 in five matchups against each other.

"It's going to bring out the best in you, for sure," said Bumgarner, 8-3 with a 1.94 ERA in his last 12 starts versus Los Angeles. "There's no way around that."

Beginning with those back-to-back starts against the Dodgers (24-15), Bumgarner is 3-1 with a 2.14 ERA in his last five outings. He topped the 1,000-inning mark Friday by lasting seven and giving up two homers in a 10-2 win at Cincinnati.

That same night, Kershaw earned his first victory in five starts and 100th overall after giving up three runs and striking out 10 in 6 2-3 innings of a 6-4 win over Colorado.

"It's cool. I don't know if it means a whole lot, but it's something to celebrate, I guess," he said. "Hopefully, I'm just getting started."

Kershaw has enjoyed pitching at San Francisco, where he's 8-2 with an 0.98 ERA in 12 starts. Though the Dodgers fell 3-2 there April 22, he gave up two runs and three hits over six innings while striking out nine and not factoring in the decision.

Bumgarner yielded a two-run homer to pinch-hitter Alex Guerrero in 6 1-3 innings of that contest.

A loser in five of seven, Los Angeles doesn't face an easy task trying to break out after totaling two runs and 19 hits in the last four.

"It's very difficult, especially when we're not getting guys on base," said Yasmani Grandal, who is 1 for 23 in this season series. "It's going to happen. It might as well happen right now. It's early in the season still."

Adrian Gonzalez ranks among the major league leaders in batting (.345) and RBIs (32), but he's hitting .190 with two RBIs in his last six games and is 2 for 16 at San Francisco in 2015. He's 4 for 35 against Bumgarner, and Mattingly kept Gonzalez out of the lineup in both games he started last month.

After Buster Posey belted a two-run homer for one of his three hits in Wednesday's 4-0 win, the Giants try for a season-high sixth consecutive victory.

Posey is batting .371 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in the last eight games. He's 2 for 5 with a homer versus Kershaw this season.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Dodgers at Giants
Tue, May 19 Final 0 to 2
Boxscores

GAME 2
Dodgers at Giants
Wed, May 20 Final 0 to 4
Boxscores

GAME 3
Dodgers at Giants
Thu, May 21 - 3:45PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 05-21-2015, 03:58 AM

Preview: Cubs (21-17) at Padres (20-20)
Game: 3
Venue: PETCO Park
Date: May 21, 2015 9:10 PM EDT

Two well-pitched games have resulted in a split in this series between the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres.

There won't be a low-scoring game in Thursday night's finale if San Diego's Odrisamer Despaigne turns in a start similar to his last two.

The Padres starter has nowhere to go but up after getting ripped for 15 runs over his last two outings heading into his first career start against the visiting Cubs.

San Diego (20-21) posted a 4-3 victory in Tuesday's opener, as the Padres' James Shields and Cubs' Jason Hammel each received no-decisions after seven stellar innings for each.

Chicago (22-17) won 3-2 the next night with 4 1-3 innings of scoreless relief after starter Tsuyoshi Wada struck out a career-high nine over 4 2-3 innings in his season debut after being out with a left groin strain. Tyson Ross absorbed the loss after he allowed three runs and struck out eight in seven innings.

The Cubs have struck out 24 times in this series - increasing their major league-high total to 387 - but they may like their chances of making solid contact Thursday.

That's because Despaigne (2-2, 6.75 ERA) surrendered eight runs in five innings in an 11-0 loss at Arizona on May 7 and seven over three in Friday's 10-0 home defeat to Washington.

"I think my control has been a little inconsistent," the Cuban right-hander said through a translator. "One time it's my fastball that's not working and the next time it's my curveball that's not working. It's just a matter of consistency."

Those outings are in stark contrast to Despaigne's first two starts April 14 and 20 in which he went 2-0 with a 1.98 ERA.

The only available Chicago hitter he has faced in the past is Miguel Montero, who is 3 for 10 with a homer.

The Cubs will start Kyle Hendricks (0-1, 5.15), who earned his first career victory with seven innings of five-hit ball in a 6-0 victory over San Diego on July 22. The right-hander faced the Padres most recently April 18 when he gave up two runs over six innings with eight strikeouts in a 7-6, 11-inning win.

Matt Kemp has the most at_bats among San Diego hitters versus Hendricks, going 1 for 6 with a homer.

Hendricks has failed to get through the sixth inning in his last five starts, giving up five runs in 5 2-3 in Friday's 11-10, 12-inning home win over Pittsburgh. The Cubs have dropped his last three road starts.

University of San Diego product Kris Bryant is 12 for 29 with three homers and nine RBIs during a nine-game hitting streak in which the Cubs are 7-2.

Chicago has won the most one-run games in baseball with a 12-7 mark.

Kemp is 0 for 8 with four strikeouts in this series to drop to 4 for 20 against the Cubs this year.

Justin Upton homered Wednesday, going deep for the third time in his last three games.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Cubs at Padres
Tue, May 19 Final 3 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Cubs at Padres
Wed, May 20 Final 3 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Cubs at Padres
Thu, May 21 - 9:10PM EDT

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