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**StarDust Bum** · 05-24-2015, 11:20 PM

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NBA > (513) GOLDEN STATE@ (514) HOUSTON | 05/25/2015 - 09:05 PM
Play ON HOUSTON using the against the spread in All games off a upset loss as a favorite
The record is 12 Wins and 2 Losses for the this season (+9.8 units)

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NBA > (513) GOLDEN STATE@ (514) HOUSTON | 05/25/2015 - 09:05 PM
Play ON HOUSTON using the money line in All games off a upset loss as a favorite
The record is 13 Wins and 1 Losses for the this season (+12.6 units)

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NBA > (513) GOLDEN STATE @ (514) HOUSTON | 05/25/2015 - 09:05 PM
Line: HOUSTON 4.5 BTB PowerLine: HOUSTON 6
Edge On: HOUSTON (1.5)

**StarDust Bum** · 05-24-2015, 11:23 PM

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NHL > (69) CHICAGO@ (70) ANAHEIM | 05/25/2015 - 09:05 PM
Play ON ANAHEIM using the money line in All games in a home game where where the total is 5 or less
The record is 15 Wins and 2 Losses for the this season (+11.9 units)

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NHL > (69) CHICAGO@ (70) ANAHEIM | 05/25/2015 - 09:05 PM
Play ON ANAHEIM using the in All games in a home game where where the total is 5 or less
The record is 15 Wins and 2 Losses for the this season (+11.9 units)

**StarDust Bum** · 05-24-2015, 11:28 PM

Preview: Warriors (67-15) at Rockets (60-29)
Date: May 25, 2015 9:00 PM EDT

HOUSTON (AP) - Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors aren't worried about a letdown in Game 4 after taking a 3-0 lead over the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference finals.

'It's easy for us to stay hungry because none of us have really experienced this before or accomplished really anything,' Curry said.

The Warriors are one win away from reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since they won the 1975 title after Curry poured in 40 points in a 115-80 win in Game 3 on Saturday night. The MVP made seven 3-pointers in the victory to set an NBA record for most 3s in a postseason with 64.

Coach Steve Kerr doesn't believe anything will change for his team now that the Warriors are on the cusp of advancing heading into Monday night's game in Houston.

'They know that the most important thing is just the next play,' Kerr said. 'Keying in on competing and paying attention to all the little details, focusing on the mission and not the result, that's always been our mantra and it's especially true in moments like these. Just keep going, keep pushing.'

The Rockets are hoping to turn the page after an embarrassing showing in front of their home crowd that came after playing well in two close losses to start the series in Oakland. The Warriors controlled Game 3 from beginning to end and Houston looked listless and overmatched in the blowout.

'We've got to stay positive,' Houston center Dwight Howard said. 'It's that negative energy that can go from one person to the next, and we just seemed to fold. We don't want to be the team that folded under pressure.'

Houston has experience in rebounding from a series deficit this postseason after falling behind 3-1 to the Clippers in the conference semifinals before reeling off three straight victories to advance. They're undaunted by the fact that no team in NBA history has won a series after trailing 3-0.

'The rest of the series is about pride,' Houston point guard Jason Terry said. 'It's about coming out and establishing that you are a tough team, and we've been doing that throughout this postseason. There's no doubt in my mind that will be the case (Monday) night.'

Some things to know heading into Game 4.

HOWARD THE LEADER

Howard has emerged as Houston's leader in its playoff run and discussed the team's plight at length on Sunday when fellow star James Harden was unavailable to the media. Howard, who missed half of the regular- season games with injuries and who is playing through a knee injury suffered in Game 1, was upset about how the Rockets responded when they got down early Saturday night.

He was asked if he saw quit from his teammates in that game.

'I saw quit from everybody in the arena,' he said. 'We can't have that ... no matter how far you fall you're never out of the fight. That's the way you've got to look at it. We may be down 3-0, but we've got to continue to fight. That's the only way. If we don't believe, then who else will?'

CURRY'S REBOUND

For all of his great attributes, Curry isn't known for his rebounding. But the 6-foot-3 point guard got some love for that skill after jumping in front of the almost-7-foot tall Howard on Saturday to grab an offensive rebound. Curry shook his head when told it was one of the top 10 plays on ESPN's SportsCenter on Saturday night and said it was a stretch for that play to make the list.

'It's probably unexpected and surprising for most people,' he said. 'Right place, right time.'

Howard, who led the Rockets with 14 rebounds, downplayed the moment.

'I didn't even see Curry,' he said. 'My man was out on the perimeter, so I just thought nobody was there, and I turned around, and Steph Curry ... got a rebound. It happens. It's basketball.'

INSIDE GAME

The Warriors dominated inside Saturday night, grabbing 21 more rebounds than Houston and outscoring the Rockets 58-42 in the paint. Houston coach Kevin McHale was particularly unhappy with his team's offensive rebounding as they had just nine to 17 by Golden State.

'If we don't win the points in the paint, don't win the rebound battle, we don't win a lot of games,' McHale said. 'You can look at our record throughout the course of the year. We've got to win at least one of those, and if we win both of those, we do pretty well.'

THE WOW FACTOR

Kerr has had a front row seat to Curry's heroics all season, but said there are still times he is wowed by the things the superstar can do.

'(Saturday) night I had a few of those moments,' Kerr said. 'Third quarter when we're kind of sputtering and he makes a few 3s in transition. He's a special player. He's the MVP for a reason and guys like that they sort of lift you up when you most need it and he continues to do it.'

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Rockets at Warriors
Tue, May 19 Final 106 to 110

GAME 2
Rockets at Warriors
Thu, May 21 Final 98 to 99

GAME 3
Warriors at Rockets
Sat, May 23 Final 115 to 80

GAME 4
Warriors at Rockets
Mon, May 25 - 9:00PM EDT

GAME 5
Rockets at Warriors
Wed, May 27 - 9:00PM EDT

GAME 6
Warriors at Rockets
Fri, May 29 - 9:00PM EDT

GAME 7
Rockets at Warriors
Sun, May 31 - 9:00PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 05-24-2015, 11:32 PM

Preview: Blackhawks (48-28) at Ducks (51-24)
Date: May 25, 2015 9:00 PM EDT

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - After 17 grueling periods crammed into just four games, the Anaheim Ducks have no doubt they can play at hockey's highest level with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Heading into a pivotal Game 5 on Monday in the Western Conference finals, the Ducks also realize their two gut-wrenching overtime losses were missed opportunities to take out their veteran, playoff-tested opponents - and they can't afford two more.

Chicago evened the series at two games apiece on Saturday night with Antoine Vermette's goal in double overtime. The 5-4 win was the Blackhawks' fourth OT victory of an increasingly charmed postseason.

Anaheim still hasn't lost in regulation in the entire Stanley Cup playoffs, but Chicago has a knack for big moments that the Ducks haven't matched in this series.

So the Ducks will keep hitting hard, skating well and hoping the late-game bounces - and a few more whistles - start going against Chicago.

'I think (the Blackhawks) know they're in a series,' Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said Sunday. 'I mean, I don't think they think they've had it very easy. It's our job to continue to make them feel that way.'

Both teams spent Sunday flying to the West Coast and resting up for the next collision in an already draining series. The Ducks have followed through on their plan to batter the Blackhawks' short-staffed defense with relentless checking and hard hits, but Chicago is surviving so far.

'We're just going to keep with our game plan,' said Ducks center Ryan Kesler, who has been matched against Chicago captain Jonathan Toews all series. 'I think it will wear them down. It's going to wear them down. No human can withstand that many hits. We're going to keep banging out there and going after them.'

The Blackhawks were credited with 52 hits of their own in Game 4, but that shaky defense also allowed three goals in 37 seconds in the third period, blowing a late two-goal lead. The defensemen playing heavy minutes don't acknowledge any damage from Anaheim's cumulative pressure: Brent Seabrook dismissed the idea with a shrug and a smile.

'I think it's both ways,' Chicago winger Bryan Bickell said. 'They are wearing us down, but they're getting tired from wearing us down.'

And for all the entertainment value of the first four games, one other aspect of this series is clear from the franchises' first playoff meeting: These West powers have already learned to dislike each other.

Chicago goalie Corey Crawford exemplified the growing mutual distaste late in regulation of Game 4 when he delivered an unpenalized, two-handed slash to Matt Beleskey's chest, nearly letting in a winning goal in the process. Afterward, Beleskey said he is 'sick of' the Blackhawks.

'This series is pretty amazing,' Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. 'Every game is very close, very competitive. The road to trying to win the Cup has some amazing swings and highs, lows and twists and turns. The deeper you get in series, it is all the more challenging. Our group's experience and know-how and the will to find ways, last night was a great demonstration of that.'

A five-goal performance in Game 4 was a boost to the Blackhawks, who managed just three even-strength goals in the first 14 periods of this series against Ducks goalie Frederik Andersen.

'I thought the last game was a big step to find the back of the net against Andersen,' Bickell said. 'You see that he is kind of human, because he's been standing on his head as of late.'

The Blackhawks also have benefited from a distinct advantage in penalties, with just 22 minutes in the box compared to 38 for Anaheim. The Ducks are trying desperately not to criticize the officiating, hoping they'll be rewarded later.

The Ducks realize the stakes at Honda Center on Memorial Day, but Boudreau ordered his players to spend their Sunday thinking about anything but hockey. They hope their season-long knack for winning one-goal games will show up again late in a series being decided by thin margins in every aspect.

'It's about responding,' Anaheim captain Ryan Getzlaf said. 'Everything that we designed this team around this year, I think, was our ability to put things past us and move on and keep playing, and not let things affect us outside the game, or from game to game. So I think we get right back at it again, anxious to get back on the ice after a disappointing loss. We've been able to do that so far.'

NOTES: Quenneville said lineup changes are 'not likely,' while Boudreau is considering a shuffle in his forward lines. Tomas Fleischmann or Chris Wagner could get back into the lineup, Boudreau said.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Blackhawks at Ducks
Sun, May 17 Final 1 to 4

GAME 2
Blackhawks at Ducks
Tue, May 19 Final 3 to 2

GAME 3
Ducks at Blackhawks
Thu, May 21 Final 2 to 1

GAME 4
Ducks at Blackhawks
Sat, May 23 Final 4 to 5

GAME 5
Blackhawks at Ducks
Mon, May 25 - 9:00PM EDT

GAME 6
Ducks at Blackhawks
Wed, May 27 - 8:00PM EDT

GAME 7
Blackhawks at Ducks
Sat, May 30 - 8:00PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 05-24-2015, 11:38 PM

Preview: Phillies (19-26) at Mets (24-20)
Game: 1
Venue: Citi Field
Date: May 25, 2015 1:10 PM EDT

While the Philadelphia Phillies' latest addition to the rotation could be showing promise, the relic of the New York Mets' staff is displaying some wear.

Two pitchers separated by nearly 20 years in age square off Monday in New York with the Mets trying to shake another losing streak with a little offense.

New York (24-21) was swept in three games in Pittsburgh with Sunday's 9-1 loss dropping it to 4-10 since its 20-11 start, running its road losing streak to seven. The Mets return to a 17-6 home record, but that'll be tough to add to if they can't improve on production that's amounted to 1.83 runs and a .207 average while dropping five of six overall.

They struck out 36 times against the Pirates with at least 10 in each game. It's been 193 games since they last did it in four straight.

'We're just not executing,' said Mets manager Terry Collins, who addressed his team behind closed doors after Sunday's loss. 'For five years, the effort has never been a question. We've just gotta go back and start doing the little things.'

Improvement will have to come against a pitcher they've never faced, though its far from a proven one. Severino Gonzalez, who is filling the injured Chad Billingsley's rotation spot, had his best start in his return to the rotation on Wednesday. The 22-year-old Gonzalez (2-1, 7.11 ERA) allowed a run and five hits in five innings of a 4-2 victory in Colorado.

The right-hander has won the last two of his three big league starts, but the first win came back on May 3 after a miserable debut on April 28. His stay in the rotation figures to be a little longer this time around with Billingsley expected to be sidelined for at least four weeks.

"My first outing wasn't that good," Gonzalez said through translation. "I was nervous. I kind of feel more settled down now with a few more starts. I feel like the jitters are gone so I'm looking forward to it."

He'll be up against Bartolo Colon, who was signed by Cleveland a matter of months after Gonzalez was born.

Colon (6-3, 4.85), conversely, has really fallen off in consecutive losses with a 12.54 ERA and .383 opponent batting average. He established a franchise record with 48 1-3 innings without a walk before issuing two free passes in Wednesday's 9-0 loss to St. Louis, but the mark came at great cost as the 42-year-old allowed nine runs and 11 hits in 4 1-3 innings.

It followed a 7-0 loss to Milwaukee on May 15 in which he surrendered six runs and seven hits in five innings. Both defeats have come at home while yielding four home runs.

"I don't think I've ever seen him struggle so much with command," Collins said.

During his two seasons in New York, the right-hander is 4-1 with a 3.71 ERA in five starts against the Phillies. He's held Ryan Howard to 3 for 17, but two of those hits were home runs. Ben Revere is 7 for 18 against him.

Philadelphia (19-27) missed out on a series win with Sunday's 4-1 loss in Washington accounting for its fourth loss in six games following a six-game winning streak.

Howard was out of the lineup, but the first baseman is batting .425 with four home runs and five doubles in his last 10 games. He's batting .160 in his last 20 games against the Mets.

The Mets have won five of six in the season series, including a three-game sweep in New York from April 13-15 to give them wins in eight of 10 home meetings.

New York's Juan Lagares (arm discomfort) and Lucas Duda (hamstring) were out of the lineup Sunday.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Phillies at Mets
Mon, May 25 - 1:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Phillies at Mets
Tue, May 26 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Phillies at Mets
Wed, May 27 - 1:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 05-24-2015, 11:40 PM

Preview: Rockies (16-25) at Reds (18-24)
Game: 1
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: May 25, 2015 1:10 PM EDT

Both the Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies enter Monday's contest with some desperation.

One team can't find a win, the other can't avoid the rain.

Looking to snap the league's longest active losing streak, the Reds welcome the Rockies to Great American Ball Park, where inclement weather could again be a problem.

Cincinnati (18-25) fell 5-2 in Cleveland on Sunday for its eighth straight loss to match the franchise's longest skid since 2009. The Reds haven't endured a longer slide since dropping 11 straight in 1998.

They are hitting .207 over their last five games with a .531 OPS, and including a 9-8 loss to San Francisco on May 17, have averaged 2.4 runs per game during the skid while allowing 6.8.

Sunday's loss proved especially ugly, as Cincinnati committed a season-high three errors and Raisel Iglesias, filling in for the injured Johnny Cueto, lasted only three innings.

"We saved our very worst when we needed our best," manager Bryan Price told MLB's official website. "It was the worst game of the series, the worst game of the road trip, the worst game of the season. We needed a good game and we didn't show up today.

"I apologize for anybody that drove up from Cincinnati to come out and watch us play because this was brutal. … We're all brutal right now."

Colorado (17-25) has enjoyed a relative upswing following an 11-game losing streak, winning six of 12.

A more demanding challenge than winning for the Rockies, however, has been simply taking the field.

This month, Colorado has had seven home games delayed by rain and three postponed. The Rockies fought through delays in both games of a double-header Saturday, and endured a two-hour, 10 minute wait Sunday before beating the Giants 11-2.

Should they be able to play through the possibility of thunderstorms Monday, the Rockies will turn to Eddie Butler (2-5, 4.38 ERA). The 24-year-old has a 6.00 ERA in losing each of his last four starts.

The right-hander has struggled to limit baserunners since making his major league debut last season and possesses a 1.89 WHIP in 53 career innings - the highest among the 198 pitchers with at least 10 starts since 2014.

"I used to just throw inside," Butler said. "'Here you go. Here's my fastball. Let's see if you can hit it.' That was college, high school, first couple years of pro ball. ... These guys can hit a 95 mph fastball inside; I understand you can't just live doing that."

Jason Marquis (3-4, 6.91) takes the mound for Cincinnati hoping for improvement from several dreadful outings. The 36-year-old has allowed 15 runs and five homers over his last 12 1-3 innings, going 0-3 in that span.

Marquis has the league's worst ERA among pitchers with at least 40 innings, and Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez are a combined 7 for 22 with four extra-base hits against the right-hander.

Tulowitzki has excelled at Great American Ball Park, hitting .395 with nine home runs and a 1.237 OPS in 22 career games. He is 9 for 20 with five homers in his last five contests in Cincinnati.

Nolan Arenado went 4 for 5 with four RBIs Sunday and finished a double shy of the cycle.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Rockies at Reds
Mon, May 25 - 1:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Rockies at Reds
Tue, May 26 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Rockies at Reds
Wed, May 27 - 12:35PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 05-24-2015, 11:42 PM

Preview: Astros (28-16) at Orioles (19-21)
Game: 1
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: May 25, 2015 1:35 PM EDT

Dallas Keuchel had a difficult time finding his way early in his career, but those struggles seem like long ago.

Off to the best start for a Houston Astros pitcher in 11 years, the early Cy Young Award candidate looks to win his fourth consecutive start Monday in the opener of a three-game road series with the Baltimore Orioles.

Keuchel, a 2009 seventh-round draft pick, went a combined 9-18 with a 5.20 ERA after coming up with the Astros in 2012-13. Then, something clicked with the left-hander in the middle of last season.

Keuchel has gone 9-3 with a 2.06 ERA over his last 20 starts. He's also won eight straight decisions since a 3-0 loss to the New York Yankees on Aug. 21, 2014, posting an AL-best 1.79 ERA over that span.

After giving up eight runs over 12 2-3 innings in his previous two starts, Keuchel returned to his dominant form Wednesday when he did not allow an earned run over seven innings in a 6-1 home win over Oakland.

"The perfectionist he is, he's probably going to be a little harder on himself than I am, but I love the way he found ways not to break," manager A.J. Hinch told the team's official website.

Keuchel, the AL Pitcher of the Month for April, owns a league-low 1.67 ERA for AL West-leading Houston (29-16) and is the team's first pitcher to begin a season 6-0 since Roger Clemens won his first nine in 2004.

He'll try to help the Astros claim their third straight win on this seven-game trip following Sunday's 10-8 victory that earned them a split of a four-game series at Detroit. Evan Gattis went 3 for 4 with a home run and a triple, while Preston Tucker hit his second game-tying pinch-hit home run of the series.

Keuchel has yielded four runs over 12 innings while splitting two career home starts against the Orioles. Baltimore sluggers Chris Davis, Adam Jones and Steve Pearce have gone a combined 2 for 14 with five strikeouts off him.

Former Astro Jimmy Paredes went 5 for 11 in the first two games before going hitless in three at_bats Sunday, when Baltimore fell 5-2 at Miami in the decisive finale of that three-game series. Paredes ranks among the AL leaders with a .344 average.

Paredes and the Orioles (19-22) won't have it easy against Keuchel as they begin the second homestand of a stretch with 17 of 20 at Camden Yards. They ended a streak of 19 consecutive scoreless innings in the sixth inning Sunday.

'Offensively it's been a challenge for us here,' manager Buck Showalter said.

He doesn't have to remind Wei-Yin Chen (1-3, 2.90 ERA). The lefty has gone seven innings in his last two outings at home without a run of support, though he allowed season highs of four runs and eight hits in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to Seattle.

"Being able to get through seven innings (is) the only thing I can say is good," Chen said through his interpreter. "Maybe in my next bullpen try to make adjustments, and hopefully I can do better (versus Houston)."

Chen is 3-0 with a 2.75 ERA - striking out 19 in 19 2-3 innings - while winning each of his three career starts against the Astros. Jose Altuve has gone 4 for 10 when facing Chen, but he has just three hits in his last 33 at_bats.

The Astros dropped four of seven matchups last season and have lost 10 of 12 at Camden Yards.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Astros at Orioles
Mon, May 25 - 1:35PM EDT

GAME 2
Astros at Orioles
Tue, May 26 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Astros at Orioles
Wed, May 27 - 4:35PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 05-24-2015, 11:44 PM

Preview: Giants (25-19) at Brewers (16-28)
Game: 1
Venue: Miller Park
Date: May 25, 2015 2:10 PM EDT

The San Francisco Giants fired on all cylinders during a long winning streak, but several poor outings from their starting rotation has left them staring at a potential three-game skid.

Following the worst of those starts, San Francisco tries to avoid a seventh loss in eight games at Miller Park on Monday when it opens a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Giants (25-20) enjoyed eight straight wins prior to Saturday's 5-3 loss in Colorado. They scored 7.63 runs per game over the streak and had several outstanding pitching performances, including a three-game scoreless streak against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

That momentum was completely derailed Sunday in an 11-2 loss to the Rockies as Tim Hudson surrendered eight runs in 3 2-3 innings. San Francisco's starters have posted a 10.57 ERA in the last three games.

Tim Lincecum (4-2, 2.08 ERA) looks to put the Giants back into the win column after notching scoreless outings in three of his last four starts. Outside of allowing three runs in 4 2-3 innings May 14 against Cincinnati, Lincecum has surrendered nine hits and no runs while striking out 16 in 21 innings this month.

The right-hander tossed three-hit ball over seven innings Wednesday in a 4-0 victory over the Dodgers.

For a pitcher that followed four dominant seasons with three subpar ones, Lincecum hopes to have finally settled in with his new approach.

"I have come to grips with the pitcher I am this year," Lincecum told MLB's official website. "I don't know what I'll be next year, but I know that along the way I can make adjustments. ... As time goes on, you find different ways to get outs. You come to grips you are not the same guy you once were."

Lincecum is 3-1 with a 2.84 ERA in his last six starts against the Brewers, but Ryan Braun is 8 for 25 with three home runs in their matchups. Braun is hitting .311 with 12 homers in 50 games against San Francisco.

Milwaukee (16-29) fell 2-1 in Atlanta on Sunday for its fourth loss in five games. Braun and Aramis Ramirez were both rested and the Brewers managed only three hits - one from pitcher Jimmy Nelson - to wrap up their 4-6 road trip.

'That's not good enough. We're going to have to score more than that,' manager Craig Counsell said. 'We've got to find ways to get men on base. We've got to get our pitch and can't miss it.'

The Brewers have had success in Milwaukee against the Giants, winning six of the last seven meetings, but sit at the bottom of the NL with only eight home victories.

Kyle Lohse (3-4, 5.53) takes the mound following two solid outings to rebound from a difficult start to the season. After posting a 7.03 ERA through seven starts, Lohse has allowed two runs and nine hits over his last 14 innings.

The right-hander was shelled by San Francisco on Aug. 31, yielding nine hits and seven runs in 5 2-3 innings. Hunter Pence went 4 for 5 with three runs and two RBIs in that contest, and has eight runs and seven RBIs in nine games since returning from injury this season.

Pence is 16 for 50 (.320) with four doubles and a triple against Lohse, while Angel Pagan is 6 for 14.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Giants at Brewers
Mon, May 25 - 2:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Giants at Brewers
Tue, May 26 - 8:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Giants at Brewers
Wed, May 27 - 1:40PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 05-24-2015, 11:45 PM

Preview: Red Sox (20-23) at Twins (24-18)
Game: 1
Venue: Target Field
Date: May 25, 2015 2:10 PM EDT

Scoring first has been a mantra behind the Minnesota Twins' revival. An autograph from a child seems to have sparked Mike Napoli's surge.

The surging Twins look for another fast start Monday when they host Napoli and the Boston Red Sox in the opener of this three-game set.

Minnesota (25-18) has turned around its season with a 16-6 stretch, scoring first in 12 of those victories. The Twins have tallied the opening run in seven straight games, winning five after scoring the first five runs in an 8-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.

"We always preach that, whether that's a leadoff homer or whatever, score first," said Brian Dozier, who hit a leadoff homer and added a three-run shot in the seventh.

The second baseman has eight of his nine homers and 18 of his 24 RBIs in that 22-game stretch, but he's 4 for 32 with 10 strikeouts in his past nine against Boston (21-23).

The Twins are 15-6 in May after they went 10-12 in April and have won six of their past seven series.

'We've got a lot of confidence in here,' pitcher Kyle Gibson said.

Confidence should be less of a problem now for Napoli, who is 5 for 9 with four homers and eight RBIs in three games - all with a bat he had signed by a child. He had a two-run homer and drove in another pair on a double, spurring the Red Sox's 6-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday.

"Sometimes there's kids in the dugout (pregame) and I go up and have them sign my bat," said Napoli, who only knows the child's first name - Ethan. "It's kind of crazy, the first home run I hit the other day I hit right where he signed it. That was pretty cool."

Napoli's hot stretch comes after he had a .178 average with four homers and 13 RBIs through his first 36 games.

The Red Sox will try to make it eight wins in 10 tries against the Twins as Joe Kelly (1-3, 5.13 ERA) takes on the mound.

The right-hander is winless in seven starts since beating the New York Yankees in his season debut, but has allowed three runs over 13 1-3 innings in his last two. That's in stark contrast to his previous four outings, during which he posted an 8.86 ERA.

Kelly was a hard-luck loser in Wednesday's 2-1 defeat to Texas, yielding two runs with seven strikeouts in seven innings.

"Used his curveball a little bit more. He started to elevate his fastballs for strikeouts," manager John Farrell told MLB's official website.

The Twins are turning to Ricky Nolasco (4-1, 6.00), who is trying to win five consecutive starts for the first time. The right-hander has won four straight since returning from elbow inflammation that landed him on the disabled list for nearly a month.

Nolasco has benefited from an offense that has supported him with 10.7 runs during his win streak, while he's posted a 4.29 ERA in that span.

He's failed to complete six innings in any of his five starts, falling one out short in Tuesday's 8-5 win at Pittsburgh. Nolasco gave up four runs and set season highs with 10 hits and eight strikeouts.

He's 2-2 with a 5.08 ERA in five career starts against Boston, particularly struggling against David Ortiz, who is 4 for 10 with three homers in their matchups.

Pablo Sandoval is 10 for 21 with three homers and four doubles versus Nolasco, but he's nursing a bruised left foot that has kept him out of the lineup for five straight games.

He had an RBI single as a pinch-hitter Sunday.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Red Sox at Twins
Mon, May 25 - 2:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Red Sox at Twins
Tue, May 26 - 8:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Red Sox at Twins
Wed, May 27 - 1:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 05-24-2015, 11:47 PM

Preview: Nationals (25-18) at Cubs (24-18)
Game: 1
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: May 25, 2015 2:20 PM EDT

A poor pitching performance led to the end of a lengthy winning streak for the Washington Nationals, but it didn't take long for the NL East leaders to get back on track.

Following their eighth consecutive series victory, the Nationals hit the road Monday to take on the Chicago Cubs.

Washington (26-18) had won six in a row and 12 of 14 prior to Saturday's 8-1 loss to Philadelphia in which Stephen Strasburg failed to escape the fourth inning.

Gio Gonzalez righted the ship Sunday with 6 1-3 strong innings while the bullpen allowed just one baserunner in Washington's 4-1 victory. The Nationals are a major league-best 19-5 since April 28.

"Being able to get the 'W' was huge," Bryce Harper told MLB's official website. "What we did today to get that 'W' - going on the road right now - I'm just glad we ended it on a good note in this homestand."

Tanner Roark (0-2, 2.66 ERA) takes the mound Monday in his first start of the season. The right-hander impressed as a key member of the Nationals' rotation last season, winning 15 games behind a 2.85 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 31 starts. However, he was forced from the starting staff following the offseason acquisition of Max Scherzer.

Roark takes the place of Doug Fister, who is sidelined with a strained flexor muscle in his forearm. He won his final three starts of 2014 with a 1.83 ERA, never topping 89 pitches, and is expected to last around 70 against Chicago (24-19).

"Hopefully, I can talk those guys into letting me go a little longer," Roark said. "It's all dependent on how I feel. They can see what I look like out there on the mound if I'm tired or not."

Roark will have the benefit of pitching during Harper's torrid month, which continued Sunday with two RBIs. The right fielder is batting .491 with a 1.798 OPS, 11 home runs and 26 RBIs since May 6.

Chicago's Kris Bryant has impressed as well, although the third baseman saw his 12-game hitting streak end in Sunday's 4-3 loss to Arizona. Bryant has 16 RBIs and a .953 OPS in his last 15 games.

Both natives of Las Vegas, Harper and Bryant have a head-to-head rivalry that dates back to high school.

"The thing that stands out to me is just how good he was and how much better he was than the competition," Bryant said of growing up with Harper. "He's obviously younger than I am, but watching him play, I was amazed. I knew he'd be doing what he's doing at this level someday."

Coming off its first series defeat in the last four, Chicago will turn to Tsuyoshi Wada in his second start. The left-hander pitched effectively in his season debut, striking out nine and allowing two runs while throwing 69 pitches over 4 2-3 innings in Wednesday's 3-2 win against San Diego.

Chris Coghlan hit his seventh home run of the year Sunday and is 5 for 10 against Roark.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Nationals at Cubs
Mon, May 25 - 2:20PM EDT

GAME 2
Nationals at Cubs
Tue, May 26 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Nationals at Cubs
Wed, May 27 - 8:05PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 05-24-2015, 11:49 PM

Preview: Tigers (26-18) at Athletics (15-30)
Game: 1
Venue: O.co Coliseum
Date: May 25, 2015 4:05 PM EDT

While the Oakland Athletics expected Ben Zobrist to provide a versatile glove and reliable bat, he hasn't been around the past month as things turned south.

The veteran may give the disappointing A's a lift should he return from the disabled list Monday when Yoenis Cespedes plays his first game in the Bay Area since joining the Detroit Tigers.

Zobrist had a .270 average with 99 home runs and 95 stolen bases while playing seven different positions for Tampa Bay from 2009-14 before Oakland (16-30) picked him up in a January trade.

The two-time All-Star batted .303 over his first eight games with the A's before going 2 for 15 over his next five. He then underwent arthroscopic knee surgery April 28 and has missed most of an 8-22 stretch after Oakland had split its first 16 games.

The A's put up just 2.3 runs per game during a 1-8 span before totaling 12 to take the last two of a four-game series at Tampa Bay. Billy Burns, Josh Reddick and Mark Canha homered in Sunday's 7-2 win.

"To turn it around the last two, it was some big wins for sure," said winning pitcher Sonny Gray, who was OK after leaving the game with a bruised right ankle.

One day shy of his 34th birthday, Zobrist now hopes to chip in well ahead of his initially projected mid-June return. It certainly seems like a good spot since Zobrist went 11 for 25 (.440) in his last six meetings with the Tigers (26-19) in 2014.

"That's the plan," manager Bob Melvin, whose club hasn't won three straight since Aug. 7-9, told MLB's official website. "You want to sit down with him and make sure he feels good about it, too."

Cespedes will be playing in Oakland for the first time since spending his first two-plus seasons with the A's. The slugging outfielder went 2 for 5 with a double and an RBI in Sunday's 10-8 home loss to Houston.

The Tigers now hit the road for seven games after splitting the series with the Astros to conclude a 3-4 homestand.

Shane Greene (4-2, 4.05 ERA) has pitched well in his last three starts, going 1-0 with a 1.40 ERA. He seemed fine Wednesday in his first outing since ulnar neuritis forced him out after five innings against St. Louis on May 15.

The right-hander allowed two runs and three hits over 6 1-3 innings but did not get a decision in a 5-2 home victory. He's never faced the A's, but Zobrist went 1 for 3 with two strikeouts against the former Yankee in their AL East matchups.

Oakland probable starter Jesse Hahn would like to turn things around after going 0-3 with a 5.96 ERA over his last four outings. The right-hander allowed three runs over six innings in Wednesday's 6-1 loss at Houston.

Hahn (1-4, 4.43) will have to deal with a red-hot Miguel Cabrera in his first look at the Tigers. Cabrera, who hit his 11th home run Sunday, is batting .413 with five homers over a 12-game hitting streak.

J.D. Martinez is also seeing the ball well, batting .400 over his last 12 games.

Shortstop Jose Iglesias will likely be a game-time decision due to a knee contusion, while A's third baseman Brett Lawrie could return after missing two games with an undisclosed injury.

The Tigers went 5-2 versus Oakland last season, winning the last four meetings.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Tigers at Athletics
Mon, May 25 - 4:05PM EDT

GAME 2
Tigers at Athletics
Tue, May 26 - 10:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Tigers at Athletics
Wed, May 27 - 3:35PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 05-24-2015, 11:51 PM

Preview: White Sox (19-21) at Blue Jays (19-26)
Game: 1
Venue: Rogers Centre
Date: May 25, 2015 7:07 PM EDT

Drew Hutchison's record is almost entirely the work of the Toronto lineup, masking what could be a hefty loss total if it weren't for an MLB-high 9.55 run-support average.

The Blue Jays just seem to be relying on that lineup a little too much, and things have more often than not failed to work out as the team labors through a 4-11 stretch.

Hutchison and the Jays will try to turn the page on some of those concerns and win consecutive games for the first time in that span Monday night as they begin a three-game series against the visiting Chicago White Sox.

Jose Reyes (ribs) may give Toronto another bat on which to lean, as he's expected to return from the disabled list, but Jose Bautista could remain out for a second straight game after receiving a cortisone shot in his ailing right shoulder.

After dodging a home sweep at the hands of Seattle with Sunday's 8-2 victory, the Blue Jays' last six wins have come with the club scoring at least seven runs - something that would represent a promising trend if there weren't 11 losses sprinkled in.

Edwin Encarnacion homered for the third time in four games and eighth time in 16 after opening the year with four in 30.

It was the first time in eight games that a starting pitcher for Toronto (20-26) allowed fewer than three runs.

With Hutchison (3-1, 6.06 ERA) on the mound, three runs weren't enough in Wednesday's 4-3 home loss to the Los Angeles Angels for the right-hander's first defeat after he allowed four in 6 2-3 innings.

"The offense did their job again and we're not doing ours," Hutchison said. "We need to do a better job."

In his lone start against the White Sox, Hutchison allowed seven runs in seven innings of a 7-5 loss on Aug. 17 that included a Conor Gillaspie grand slam in a six-run first.

Hutchison will face Hector Noesi, who is returning to the rotation after a pair of relief efforts as the club rests rookie Carlos Rodon.

Noesi (0-3, 5.60) is 0-3 with a 6.06 ERA in four starts, the last coming on May 9 in a 10-4 loss to Cincinnati. He allowed three hits and two walks while throwing 46 pitches in 1 2-3 innings before departing after being hit by a line drive.

The White Sox have lost all six games he's pitched in.

"I want to be a starter," Noesi told MLB's official website. "I came here to be a starter,"

The right-hander's only start against Toronto came in the same series as Hutchison's against Chicago, with Noesi allowing five runs and eight hits over five innings but earning an 11-5 victory on Aug. 15. Combined with five relief efforts, he's 1-0 with a 6.06 ERA against the Blue Jays. Josh Donaldson (0 for 6), Encarnacion (0 for 5) and Danny Valencia (0 for 5) haven't had any success against Noesi, but Munenori Kawasaki is 4 for 4.

About the only positive the White Sox (19-22) have entering this matchup is road success. They haven't lost a series in Toronto since 2011, going 8-4 since with wins in 15 of the last 22 overall meetings.

Sunday's 8-1 home loss to Minnesota was their fifth in six games, but they're embarking on an 11-game road trip with a five-game road winning streak. Chicago last won six in a row away in August 2013.

Continuing that run will take some hitting. The White Sox are batting .196 in their last seven games.

"It's embarrassing," Adam LaRoche said.

Melky Cabrera has been at the center of that, heading into his return to Toronto in a 2-for-24 slump.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
White Sox at Blue Jays
Mon, May 25 - 7:07PM EDT

GAME 2
White Sox at Blue Jays
Tue, May 26 - 7:07PM EDT

GAME 3
White Sox at Blue Jays
Wed, May 27 - 12:37PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 05-24-2015, 11:52 PM

Preview: Marlins (17-27) at Pirates (20-22)
Game: 1
Venue: PNC Park
Date: May 25, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

The Pittsburgh Pirates' pitching staff turned in an impressive weekend, and their next man in line has more at stake than continuing the club's recent form.

Charlie Morton makes his season debut Monday night trying to prove he belongs in the rotation after a disquieting spring as the Pirates conclude an eight-game homestand with three against the Miami Marlins.

Morton has been on the disabled list all season after spring training struggles followed offseason hip surgery. The right-hander made three rehab starts, going 2-1 with a 1.33 ERA with Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis. He struck out 22 and walked six over 20 1-3 innings.

He last pitched with the big league club on April 4, surrendering five runs and six hits with five walks in 1 2-3 innings of his final spring game against Philadelphia.

The right-hander replaces Vance Worley in the rotation, and he's probably pleased the debut is coming at home. Over the past two seasons, Morton was 6-6 with a 2.59 ERA in 21 starts at PNC Park and 7-10 with a 4.34 in 25 road starts.

He's been strong regardless of location against Miami in that time, going 3-0 with a 2.77 ERA in four starts, though Giancarlo Stanton is 7 for 15 lifetime against him.

The Pirates (21-22) completed a three-game sweep of the New York Mets with Sunday's 9-1 victory, surrendering four runs in the series and putting themselves in position to get back to .500 after dropping six of seven.

They've had three straight starters strikeout at least 10 batters for the first time since 1969, but a fourth, which would be an MLB first dating to 1914, seems unlikely considering Morton has done it once in 134 starts.

Pittsburgh also got it together offensively, scoring 21 runs for its top production in any series this season, including four-game sets.

"We needed this weekend. We needed to play some ball," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle told MLB's official website. "We played good team baseball this weekend. Everyone threw something in."

Josh Harrison is batting .468 on an 11-game hitting streak and was 10 for 22 against the Marlins last season. More importantly for Pittsburgh, Andrew McCutchen is as hot as he's been this year, going 9 for 15 with three homers and two doubles in four games. Since the start of 2012, he's batting .438 against Miami - his best mark against any NL team.

The Marlins (18-27) are also hinting at getting back on their feet, though their recent struggles were far more substantial with 11 losses in 12 games. That was before consecutive wins to conclude a three-game series with Baltimore.

Sunday's 5-2 victory came despite Stanton going 0 for 3 and dipping to 3 for 30 in his last eight. Martin Prado went 2 for 4 with a home run and has a nine-game hitting streak against the Pirates.

Dan Jennings improved to 2-5 since taking over managerial duties.

"Wins are like doughnuts," Jennings said. "You like them so much you want to keep eating them."

David Phelps will try to continue feeding his boss. Phelps (2-1, 3.21 ERA) is coming off his worst start after allowing four runs and five hits with three walks in five innings in Wednesday's 6-1 home loss to Arizona. The right-hander had gone his first six starts with a 1.75 ERA. Most of his success has come on the road, where he's 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in four starts.

His only start against Pittsburgh went better, limiting it to five hits in five scoreless innings of a victory with the New York Yankees last May.

Dating to 2012, the Pirates have won 12 of 17 in the series, including eight of nine in Pittsburgh.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Marlins at Pirates
Mon, May 25 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 2
Marlins at Pirates
Tue, May 26 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Marlins at Pirates
Wed, May 27 - 12:35PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 05-24-2015, 11:54 PM

Preview: Mariners (20-22) at Rays (24-20)
Game: 1
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: May 25, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

The Seattle Mariners can't count on Kyle Seager's torrid stretch lasting as they prepare to open a series at a venue where he's had trouble hitting.

The All-Star third baseman will try to keep swinging a hot bat when the Mariners look to deal the Tampa Bay Rays their longest losing streak in five weeks Monday night at Tropicana Field.

Seager went 2 for 4 with his second home run in as many games in Sunday's 8-2 loss at Toronto. He's batting .378 with three homers while striking out just six times during a 10-game hitting streak.

The 27-year-old has become accustomed to lengthy hot stretches. He had hitting streaks of 13, 15 and 16 games two years ago and went 19 for 36 (.528) with three homers and 12 RBIs from June 23-July 2, 2014.

Seager, however, could have a tough time trying to help the Mariners (20-23) move above .500 through the first seven of a nine-game trip. He's 1 for 32 in his last eight at Tropicana and his .194 average there is his second worst among AL ballparks.

After totaling two runs while losing the last two of a four-game series with MLB-worst Oakland, the AL East-leading Rays (24-21) can bounce back by avoiding their longest skid since dropping four straight April 17-21.

Seager doesn't have much experience facing Tampa Bay's Jake Odorizzi (3-4, 2.43 ERA), going 0 for 1 with a walk. Odorizzi has put up a quality outing in eight of nine starts, but he's received just 15 total runs of support.

"You feel for him because he's pitched really well all year," manager Kevin Cash told MLB's official website. "At the same time, he's a pro. He gets it. He just keeps going out there giving us what we need."

The right-hander will try to avert his third straight loss after giving up two runs over six innings in Wednesday's 2-1 loss at Atlanta. He had two walks after issuing none over his previous four outings.

In his only career start versus Seattle, Odorizzi allowed one hit over six innings in a 2-0 road win May 14, 2014. Nelson Cruz is just 1 for 10 lifetime when facing him, though Justin Ruggiano is 2 for 3 with a home run.

The Mariners have batted .226 while averaging 3.0 runs over their last 11 games. Robinson Cano (5 for 32), Mike Zunino (4 for 24), Seth Smith (4 for 23) and Logan Morrison (5 for 35) are among those scuffling.

They've only scored 10 runs for Roenis Elias (1-1, 2.76) over his five outings. The left-hander picked up his first victory in a fourth straight quality start Wednesday when he gave up one run over 7 2-3 innings in a 4-2 win at Baltimore.

"He's been outstanding," manager Lloyd McClendon said. "He's been very consistent since his recall from Triple-A."

Elias surrendered four runs and five hits over 7 2-3 innings in a 7-4 win at Tropicana on June 7. Evan Longoria and James Loney each took him deep in that contest, and Longoria is 10 for 31 (.323) over an eight-game hitting streak.

The Rays could be without outfielder Steven Souza Jr. after he sprained his left wrist Sunday on a swing. Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera's status is uncertain after he left with a strained left groin, as is that of Loney, who sprained his middle finger on a slide.

Tampa Bay dropped four of seven meetings in 2014, including the last three at Tropicana by a combined 15-4 score.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Mariners at Rays
Mon, May 25 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Mariners at Rays
Tue, May 26 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Mariners at Rays
Wed, May 27 - 1:10PM EDT

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