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**StarDust Bum** · 05-29-2015, 01:46 AM

Game 7 - Lightning at Rangers

May 28, 2015

The Rangers are no strangers to a Game 7 in the playoffs, as New York looks to close out its second consecutive Eastern Conference title with a victory over Tampa Bay on Friday night. In this back-and-forth series, only once has a team won consecutive games as the Lightning grabbed Games 2 and 3 to take a 2-1 edge. The Rangers evened the series at 3-3 with a resounding 7-3 blowout at Tampa Bay in Game 6, the fourth ‘over’ in the last five contests.

New York heads into the decisive Game 7 as a -155 home favorite (Bet $155 to win $100) at Sportsbook.ag, while Tampa Bay is back in the road underdog role at +135. The Lightning has won in two of three tries at Madison Square Garden in this series, as the Rangers have been limited to just four goals in three home contests. The total remains steady at 5 heading into Game 7, with the ‘under’ going 2-1 at MSG.

The Rangers edged the Capitals, 2-1 in Game 7 of the conference semifinals, extending their winning streak to six games in the deciding contest of a playoff series since 2012. Each of the last three Game 7’s played by New York since the 2014 playoffs have all been decided by 2-1 counts.

Tampa Bay is making its second Game 7 appearance in this postseason, shutting out Detroit, 2-0 in the opening round at home. The Lightning took part in a pair of Game 7’s on the road in 2011, as both games were decided by 1-0 counts. Tampa Bay ousted Pittsburgh in the conference quarterfinals, but fell short of the Stanley Cup Final in a loss at Boston.

There have been 156 Game 7’s in the NHL Playoffs and the home squad owns a 97-59 (62.1%) record. In this season’s playoffs, the home team is 3-0 in Game 7’s, which is in stark contrast to the 1-6 mark put up by the home squads in 2014.

Recent Game 7 History

New York

2015 – Washington Capitals 1 at New York Rangers 2 (Conference Semifinals)
2014 – New York Rangers 2 at Pittsburgh Penguins 1 (Conference Semifinals)
2014 – Philadelphia Flyers 1 at New York Rangers 2 (Conference Quarterfinals)

Tampa Bay

2015 – Detroit Red Wings 0 at Tampa Bay Lightning 2 (Conference Quarterfinals)
2011 – Tampa Bay Lightning 0 at Boston Bruins 1 (Conference Finals)
2011 – Tampa Bay Lightning 1 at Pittsburgh Penguins 0 (Conference Quarterfinals)

NHL Game 7 Playoff History (2012-2014)

As mentioned above, road teams won 85 percent (6-1) of the Game 7’s in last year’s NHL Playoffs and that shouldn’t be surprising. In the previous three playoff campaigns, the road team has been competitive, going 10-6 in the previous 16 decisive battles. Five of the 16 went to an extra session but none of this year’s Game 7’s have seen overtime.

2014
Los Angeles Kings 5 at Chicago Blackhawks 4 (OT)
Los Angeles Kings 6 at Anaheim Ducks 2
Montreal Canadiens 3 at Boston Bruins 1
New York Rangers 2 at Pittsburgh Penguins 1
Philadelphia Flyers 3 at New York Rangers 4
Minnesota Wild 5 at Colorado Avalanche 4
Los Angeles Kings 5 at San Jose Sharks 1

2013
New York Rangers 5 at Washington Capitals 0
Toronto Maple Leafs 4 at Boston Bruins 5 (OT)
Detroit Red Wings 3 at Anaheim Ducks 2
Detroit Red Wings 1 at Chicago Blackhawks 2 (OT)
San Jose Sharks 1 at Los Angeles Kings 2

2012
Ottawa Senators 1 at New York Rangers 2
Washington Capitals 2 at Boston Bruins 1 (OT)
New Jersey Devils 3 at Florida Panthers 2 (2OT)
Washington Capitals 1 at New York Rangers 2

**StarDust Bum** · 05-29-2015, 01:47 AM

Lightning, Rangers looking to advance

May 28, 2015

GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) - It's one game for a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals and the chance to play for hockey's biggest prize.

That's what Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers face Friday night at Madison Square Garden in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Picking a winner at this point is pure speculation. Every game has been different and each team has its advantages.

The Lightning have the `Triplets' line of Tyler Johnson, Nikita Kucherov and Ondrej Palat, a hot captain in Steven Stamkos, an outstanding defenseman in Victor Hedman and goaltender Ben Bishop, who has stepped up whenever the season has been on the line.

The Presidents' Trophy winning Rangers had the NHL's best regular-season record, a 42-goal scorer in Rick Nash, a shutdown defensive duo of Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi and the experience of having been to the finals just a year ago.

The difference maker also belongs to the Rangers: goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. No one is better in Game 7s than the Swede.

Lundqvist has won his last six Game 7s, posting a 0.81 goals against average, a .973 save percentage and one shoutout. The six consecutive Game 7 wins are an NHL record and his Game 7 wins are tied with Martin Brodeur and Patrick Roy for the most in NHL history.

''I don't know if I'm comfortable,'' Lundqvist said after practice Thursday at the Rangers' Westchester facility. ''I just try to go out and do my job. You're definitely nervous, but it comes down to teamwork. I feel comfortable when we're in the right place, when we're doing good things out there.

''I feel like it's easier for me to focus on my game, and that's a big part of winning these games, too. You focus on the team concept and the things that brought you to this moment.''

Lundqvist was special in the Rangers' 7-3 win in Game 6 on Tuesday night, stopping 36 shots in helping the Rangers win for the 15th time in the last 18 playoff games when they faced elimination.

''He is our best player,'' defenseman Marc Staal said. ''When you are in situations like this, you know he is going to be there competing and throwing his best game on the ice.''

New York did get a scare on Thursday late in the workout when forward J.T. Miller ripped a shot in a one-on-one drill with Lundqvist that caught the goaltender either on the shoulder or the mask.

Lundqvist immediately bent over, drawing concern that he had been hit again in the neck. He missed seven weeks and 25 games with a vascular injury after being hit by shot.

Miller quickly apologized, and Lundqvist later said he was not hurt.

''Obviously you don't want to hit him in the head with the shot,'' Miller said.

Bishop comes into the game somewhat as a question mark. He has given up 15 goals in the three games in Tampa, Florida. However, he posted a 2-0 shutout in the last game at the Garden on Sunday.

''Just another game. You don't change anything,'' Bishop said Thursday before the Lightning left for New York. ''You prepare the same way. You do the same things you've been doing all year since training camp. Obviously it has a little more meaning to it, but you can't look at it like that.''

The Lightning have won two of the three games in New York, and Bishop has given up just two goals in the three games there.

''It comes down to one game,'' said Tampa Bay forward Ryan Callahan, a former Rangers captain. ''It's for the conference finals, it doesn't get much more exciting than this. It's an opportunity for us to go in there and advance to the finals. We're excited about it and we're excited about the chances.''

The difference in this series has been capitalizing on opponent's mistakes. Lundqvist helped the Rangers win the last two games in Florida by playing well early and allowing the team to settle into the games.

Now it's the Lightning who need a big effort.

''I think history is a little bit irrelevant. It's all different,'' said Johnson, who has scored 12 goals in the postseason and has seen his line combine for 27. ''You're not playing against the same teams. You're not playing the same situations. We've had some success there this series. Hopefully, we continue to do so. Focus on what we need to do.''

It should be a night for both teams to remember.

''Obviously, you want to play in these games,'' Rangers center Dominic Moore said. ''They are stressful, but you would not want to go through a hockey career and not ever have played in a game like this. So I think you have to embrace it at the same time.''

NOTES: McDonagh did not practice Thursday, electing to rest. ... Lightning C Cedric Paquette, who sat out Game 6 with an undisclosed injury, took part in Thursday's practice. ... Rangers' coach Alain Vigneault's post-practice news conference was popular, with nearly 50 media members squeezing into a room meant for about 25.

**StarDust Bum** · 05-29-2015, 01:48 AM

Stanley Cup Final begins Wednesday

May 28, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) - The Stanley Cup Final will open on Wednesday with Game 1 in New York, Tampa or Anaheim.

The NHL announced Thursday that Game 1 will be at Madison Square Garden if the Rangers beat the Lightning in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final on Friday night.

If the Lightning win, they'll have home-ice advantage in the Cup final if the Blackhawks beat the Ducks in Game 7 of the West final. If the Ducks and Lightning win, Anaheim has home ice.

Game 2 will be held on June 6, with games on June 8 and June 10.

If necessary, Game 5 will be June 13, followed by games on June 15 and June 17.

It's the first time since 2000 and third time in NHL history that the two conference finals went seven games.

**StarDust Bum** · 05-29-2015, 01:55 AM

Preview: Rays (24-24) at Orioles (21-24)
Game: 1
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: May 29, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

The last time the Baltimore Orioles were supposed to host the Tampa Bay Rays, unrest in the city shifted the series to Florida, and the Orioles took two of three to begin May.

The clubs will also close the month against each other with a three-game series, this time remaining in Baltimore for Friday night's opener as the Rays try to avoid a six-game losing streak.

After Thursday's doubleheader with the Chicago White Sox, Baltimore (22-24) is caught up on games effected on April 27-28 by riots that followed the funeral of Freddie Gray. The Orioles dropped the first game 3-2 and won the second 6-3 on a day originally scheduled to be a day off for both the Orioles and White Sox. As a result, Baltimore is playing 21 games in 20 days from May 19-June 7.

"In the big leagues, you can win, split, whatever and the ramifications last for a long, long time," Orioles manager Showalter said. "We're going to have to make adjustments."

Chris Davis figures to remain in the lineup after going 2 for 6 with a home run, double and three RBIs for the day and is 4 for 10 with three homers in the last three games.

"It would mean a lot for us, for him, to get it going for a while," Showalter told MLB's official website.

Tampa Bay (24-24) was probably grateful for the rest after being swept in three games against Seattle and losing the last five of a seven-game homestand. After Wednesday's 3-0 loss, the Rays have scored nine runs on the season-worst skid.

The lineup could have some help with manager Kevin Cash hopeful shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera (groin) and right fielder Steven Souza Jr. (left wrist) will be back Friday. The duo was hurt Sunday and neither has been in the starting lineup since. Without them, banged-up Tampa Bay had four hits in the finale against the Mariners.

"The hope is (they'll return on) Friday to start," Cash said.

Both Miguel Gonzalez and Nathan Karns are making their third starts in the season series, and the Orioles might have the upper hand on the mound.

Gonzalez (5-3, 3.83 ERA) is 1-1 with one run allowed in 13 1-3 innings over his starts to improve to 3-1 with a 2.57 ERA in five starts against the Rays since the beginning of last season.

Despite limiting the White Sox to six runs in the two Thursday games, the bullpen logged seven innings of work, so Showalter could be looking for Gonzalez to go deep. He wasn't able to do that in Sunday's 5-2 loss in Miami, surrendering five runs and 10 hits with three walks in four-plus innings.

The right-hander has been better at home with a 3-0 record and 2.93 ERA in four starts.

Karns (3-2, 3.71) is 0-1 with a 5.06 ERA in his starts against Baltimore this season. He's never pitched at Camden Yards, though J.J. Hardy (2 for 2), Davis (2 for 5) and Steve Pearce (2 for 6) have all homered off him.

The right-hander is also coming off a loss, though his ERA remains in decline after allowing two runs and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings of Saturday's 5-0 home loss to Oakland. His ERA was at 5.32 on April 22, and it's dropped in each of his five starts since.

Only two of his nine starts have come on the road, but they've resulted in a 1-0 record and 1.54 ERA.

The Orioles have won four of six in the season series.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Rays at Orioles
Fri, May 29 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 2
Rays at Orioles
Sat, May 30 - 4:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Rays at Orioles
Sun, May 31 - 1:35PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 05-29-2015, 01:58 AM

Preview: Marlins (18-30) at Mets (27-21)
Game: 1
Venue: Citi Field
Date: May 29, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

Matt Harvey had been his dominant self since returning this season from Tommy John surgery, though he finally looked vulnerable his last time out.

He'll try to bounce back from the worst outing of his career when the New York Mets host the struggling Miami Marlins on Friday night.

Harvey (5-2, 2.91 ERA) surrendered seven runs over four innings, both career highs, in an 8-2 loss at Pittsburgh on Saturday. He allowed two home runs, just the third time in 45 starts he's given up multiple homers.

"Everything was kind of all over the place," he said. "I wasn't locating obviously. My arm feels fine, my body feels fine. It was one of those days where if I tried to spin it, it was over the middle. If I tried to throw a fastball in, it was away and vice versa. It's just a pretty terrible outing."

Harvey had posted a 1.23 ERA in his previous five starts.

"You still have to realize, he's first back from the operation," manager Terry Collins said. "He's looked so good and we just get so carried away that he's never going to have a bad day that when he does, it's shocking for us all."

Harvey beat Miami 7-6 on April 19, giving up four runs over six innings. Lack of offense has plagued him recently, as he's gone winless in his last four starts with the Mets providing him one run of support in five straight.

He went without a victory in five straight outings once, from May 22-June 13, 2013.

The Mets (27-21) look capable of backing him more effectively after scoring 18 runs in a three-game sweep of Philadelphia following a 1-5 slump in which they totaled 11. Daniel Murphy is 13 for 25 during a seven-game hitting streak and Lucas Duda has five home runs in his last six games. Michael Cuddyer was 5 for 10 with five RBIs and three walks against the Phillies.

New York has won five of seven meetings with Miami this year and 13 of 17 matchups at home.

The Marlins (18-30) have dropped 14 of 17 overall and six of seven on the road, scoring three or fewer runs in those six defeats. They're 2-9 under manager Dan Jennings.

The bullpen allowed all of Miami's runs in the seventh inning of Wednesday's 5-2 loss at Pittsburgh, squandering five strong innings by spot starter Brad Hand.

"I still believe in these guys," Jennings said. "There's a heck of a lot of talent out there that's showing positive things. But you have to execute pitches in situations to get the outs and shut down innings like that when they're getting away from you."

Giancarlo Stanton, 6 for 40 with 13 strikeouts in his last 11 games, is 1 for 9 with four strikeouts against Harvey.

Dan Haren (4-2, 3.09) comes off a strong outing, yielding six hits over six innings of a 1-0 victory over Baltimore on Saturday.

The right-hander has pitched at least six-plus innings while yielding one or no runs in three of his last four starts against the Mets, going 3-1.

Cuddyer has batted .407 in his last 16 meetings with the Marlins, though he's 6 for 31 against Haren.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Marlins at Mets
Fri, May 29 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Marlins at Mets
Sat, May 30 - 4:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Marlins at Mets
Sun, May 31 - 1:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 05-29-2015, 01:59 AM

Preview: Nationals (28-19) at Reds (19-27)
Game: 1
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: May 29, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

Stephen Strasburg isn't reporting any physical issues anymore, which is no doubt making his struggles all the more frustrating.

The Cincinnati Reds finally ended their lengthy losing streak this week only to have another frustrating defeat result in a team meeting.

The Reds look to add to Strasburg's woes in the opener of a three-game series against the visiting Washington Nationals on Friday night.

Strasburg (3-5, 6.50 ERA) allowed six runs over 3 2-3 innings in Saturday's 8-1 home defeat to Philadelphia, leaving him at 1-3 with a 10.20 ERA in his last four outings. He has failed to pitch through the fourth inning in all three losses.

The poor four-start stretch began with Washington (28-19) saying that Strasburg had shoulder problems before later stating he was suffering from lower back tightness. Now it seems that he is healthy, though still pitching poorly.

"Yeah, it's frustrating," Strasburg said. "I'm not pitching to my ability, but I've got to keep grinding."

The right-hander has gone 1-1 with a 5.50 ERA in three career starts against Cincinnati. Marlon Byrd has faced him the most among the Reds, going 6 for 19 with a home run.

Cincinnati (19-27) ended its longest losing streak in 17 years at nine with Tuesday's 2-1 win over Colorado. The Reds fell 6-4 to the Rockies the next day and held a closed-door meeting afterward.

'Nobody likes talking about the last 11 games,' manager Bryan Price said. 'Nobody in there is bringing in any dancing girls.'

Brandon Phillips struck out as a pinch hitter after not starting for the second straight day because of a sore left foot. Cincinnati has lost the last 10 games he's played.

"Brandon hits leadoff if he's healthy and he's a little gimped up with the foot and I'm hoping that by just having him hit today one time, having tomorrow off, getting more treatment, getting in here on Friday that he'll be good to go," Price said.

The Reds average 3.70 runs to rank second to last in the NL while the Nationals are first at 4.66.

Bryce Harper has homered in the last two games for Washington after hitting a solo shot in Wednesday's 3-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs. He leads the majors with 43 RBIs and a .745 slugging percentage.

The slugger also tops the NL with 18 home runs, with the Reds' Todd Frazier second with 14. Frazier homered twice in three games against the Rockies this week.

Washington leadoff hitter Denard Span is batting .429 on the road this month to match San Francisco's Nori Aoki for the NL lead.

No National has more than two at_bats against the Reds' Anthony DeSclafani (2-4, 3.46), who gave up one run in seven innings of Saturday's 2-1 loss at Cleveland. The right-hander, who didn't get the decision, had gone 0-3 with a 7.58 ERA in his previous four starts.

DeSclafani's only three appearances against Washington have been in relief.

The Nationals, winners of 21 of 27, split six meetings with the Reds in 2014.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Nationals at Reds
Fri, May 29 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Nationals at Reds
Sat, May 30 - 4:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Nationals at Reds
Sun, May 31 - 1:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 05-29-2015, 02:01 AM

Preview: Red Sox (21-26) at Rangers (23-24)
Game: 2
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: May 29, 2015 8:05 PM EDT

Josh Hamilton found his stroke in his Texas homecoming, but it wasn't nearly enough to punctuate the occasion with a victory.

The next preferable step would be beginning to put an end to the Rangers' home struggles Friday night as they play the second of a four-game set with the Boston Red Sox.

Boston (22-26) won the series opener 5-1 Thursday behind three-hit efforts by Dustin Pedroia and Mookie Betts and a home run from Hanley Ramirez to end a three-game losing streak. Pedroia is batting .424 on an eight-game hitting streak.

Hamilton's return didn't go as well as it could have, but the left fielder did manage his first extra-base hit in four games with a second-inning double in his first home at-bat since being traded back to Texas from the Los Angeles Angels last month. He followed that up in the bottom of the ninth with a run-scoring single for his first RBI. He's batting .397 on a 15-game hitting streak at Globe Life Park.

"It just makes you feel good," Hamilton said of the return. "I hope the fans know that I'm giving them everything I've got being back, just like I did when I was here before."

Those are welcome numbers for the Rangers (23-25), who have lost two straight after a seven-game winning streak that began in Boston. All of that success came on the road, and they're just 6-14 at home with a 0-5-1 series record.

Boston has won three straight in Texas, and the clubs have split four games this season. Dating to the start of a three-game series between the two on May 19, the Red Sox are batting .287 in their last 10, and that includes a win over Yovani Gallardo.

Gallardo (4-6, 4.13 ERA) had struggled with a 1-5 record and 4.63 ERA in six starts prior to Sunday's 5-2 win at the New York Yankees after allowing two runs and four hits in six innings.

His previous start came at Boston, where he allowed four runs and 10 hits in five innings of a 4-3 loss. That dropped the right-hander to 1-2 with a 5.52 ERA in three starts against the Red Sox. David Ortiz (4 for 7), Pedroia (4 for 9) and Mike Napoli (2 for 6) have homered once against him, and Ortiz and Napoli did so this month.

That might give Ortiz some confidence if he returns to the lineup after sitting out Thursday, but manager John Farrell stated before Thursday's game that Ortiz might receive more than one day off. The slugger is in a 1-for-20 slump and batting .216, though Farrell could have to rethink sitting him if Xander Bogaerts is out. The shortstop left the opener after being hit with a pitch on his left forearm.

Whoever is in the Boston lineup will try backing Steven Wright.

Wright (2-1, 3.68) is coming off his longest start in the majors, surrendering two runs and four hits in 6 1-3 innings while throwing only 75 pitches in Saturday's 8-3 victory over the Angels to earn his first career victory as a starter.

"He's unique, obviously, and the beauty of what he's done in both roles is he just goes out and pitches," Farrell told MLB's official website. "He hasn't worried about, 'Am I a reliever or am I a starter?' He's done a great job of staying ready and stretched out, so the ability to go up to 100-plus pitches is there."

The success against the Angels came at Fenway Park, where the knuckleballer is 2-1 with a 2.67 ERA in six career games. Away, the right-hander has the same record but a 4.60 ERA in eight games.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Red Sox at Rangers
Thu, May 28 Final 5 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Red Sox at Rangers
Fri, May 29 - 8:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Red Sox at Rangers
Sat, May 30 - 7:15PM EDT

GAME 4
Red Sox at Rangers
Sun, May 31 - 3:05PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 05-29-2015, 02:03 AM

Preview: Diamondbacks (21-25) at Brewers (16-32)
Game: 1
Venue: Miller Park
Date: May 29, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

The Arizona Diamondbacks didn't have quite enough to win any of their three games against baseball's top team. They'll try for better results versus the majors' worst as they visit the slumping Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night.

Arizona (21-25) had won six of seven before getting swept in St. Louis this week, though two of those defeats came in the Cardinals' final at-bat. Brad Ziegler gave up Jason Heyward's tying home run in the ninth inning Wednesday and catcher Jordan Pacheco's throwing error allowed the final run to score in the 4-3 defeat.

"We definitely know we can play with one of the best teams in the league, for sure," Ziegler told MLB's official website. "We were right there every game. I think it shows some areas where we can grow as a team, try to win some of those close games instead of losing them. We were real close."

The Diamondbacks will try to apply those lessons against Milwaukee (16-32), which owns the worst record in baseball after losing five in a row. The Brewers have been held to 11 runs during that skid while batting .193.

They've also dropped five straight at Miller Park, hitting .181 with 12 runs, after a 3-1 loss to San Francisco on Wednesday.

Adam Lind scored the lone run and singled for his only hit in his last 17 at_bats. Ryan Braun is 3 for 16 during the overall five-game skid, Carlos Gomez is 1 for 15 in his last four and Martin Maldonado is hitless in his last 18 at_bats at home.

"It is not like we aren't trying. We're trying," Gomez said. "Friday is another game, another series. We have to start from there and not think about the past."

Rubby De La Rosa (4-2, 4.27 ERA) will seek to add to those woes. He's 2-0 with a 2.10 ERA in his past four starts. The right-hander had one poor inning Saturday against the Chicago Cubs, giving up four runs in the fifth, and allowed one hit in his five scoreless ones in a 9-6 loss.

De La Rosa will face the Brewers for the first time, and Jimmy Nelson (2-5, 3.67) will make his first start against Arizona.

Nelson didn't get enough support in his attempt to win back-to-back starts Sunday, yielding two runs in 5 2-3 innings of a 2-1 loss in Atlanta. Five days earlier, he gave up one run in eight in an 8-1 win in Detroit.

Walks were an issue in both outings, however. The right-hander issued four against the Tigers before matching a career high with five versus the Braves, and one of those baserunners scored the go-ahead run in the sixth inning.

Nelson has never faced any Diamondbacks hitter and likely won't relish his first chance to see Paul Goldschmidt, who has often been at his best against Milwaukee. Goldschmidt, among the NL leaders with a .329 average, is hitting .386 in 19 career matchups - his best versus any NL opponent - and .459 with four homers in nine contests at Miller Park.

Lind is 4 for 11 with two home runs and a double in five games against Arizona. He's 2 for 5 lifetime versus De La Rosa, and Gerardo Parra is the only other Brewers hitter to have faced him, hitting a homer in two at_bats.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Diamondbacks at Brewers
Fri, May 29 - 8:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Diamondbacks at Brewers
Sat, May 30 - 4:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Diamondbacks at Brewers
Sun, May 31 - 2:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 05-29-2015, 02:06 AM

Preview: Blue Jays (22-27) at Twins (28-18)
Game: 1
Venue: Target Field
Date: May 29, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

Josh Donaldson is enjoying a tremendous surge power as he gets ready to face a team he has tormented in the past.

The Toronto Blue Jays slugger owns a 17-game hitting streak against the streaking Minnesota Twins heading into Friday night's three-game series opener at Target Field.

Donaldson went 7 for 11 with four homers, nine runs and seven RBIs to help Toronto take two of three at home from the Chicago White Sox this week. He's batting .424 during his run against Minnesota.

The Blue Jays (22-27) look to end a five-game road slide and the Twins' five-game win streak. Minnesota is a major league-best 15-5 when facing left-handed starters and will see a familiar face Friday in Mark Buehrle.

Buehrle (5-4, 5.13 ERA) owns 28 wins against Minnesota for his most against any opponent, and he's 2-2 with a 1.20 ERA in four outings at Target Field.

He has faced Torii Hunter more than any batter but one, with the outfielder a .247 hitter in this matchup. Joe Mauer bats .203 versus Buehrle, though he's a .314 hitter against lefties this year.

Minnesota (28-18) may find Buehrle easier to face now since his .312 opponent batting average is one of baseball's worst marks. He dropped a second straight start Saturday by allowing three runs in 7 1-3 innings in a 3-2 loss to Seattle.

The Twins have been one of baseball's biggest surprises in moving into a first-place tie with Kansas City atop the AL Central. Hunter is 9 for 27 with eight RBIs during a seven-game hitting streak.

'We're battling at the plate, going first to third, coming up with some big hits when we need them and playing great defense right now," Hunter said. "This is the best I've seen in a long time. It's good to be in first, now you've just got to hold on to it.'

Aaron Hicks hit a two-run homer for his first RBIs in Wednesday's 6-4 victory over Boston that completed a three-game sweep.

The Twins have one of the majors' best averages with runners in scoring position at .299, with Mauer hitting .413 in those situations.

Toronto comes to town leading the majors with 5.20 runs per game and an AL-best .434 slugging percentage. Wednesday's 5-3, 10-inning loss to Chicago capped a 5-5 homestand.

"We're feeling pretty good right now, it's a long way to go but we're feeling pretty good," manager John Gibbons said.

The Blue Jays are 12-5 at Target Field, where sluggers Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion have fared very well. Bautista owns the most homers among visiting players there with 11 in 14 games, while Encarnacion is a .357 hitter with six homers and 16 RBIs in 16 contests.

Toronto will get its first look at starter Trevor May (3-3, 4.95), who owns a 3.99 home ERA compared to 6.91 on the road. The right-hander yielded three runs in seven innings to earn Saturday's 4-3 road victory over the White Sox.

Blue Jays right fielder Chris Colabello returns to Minnesota for the first time after spending his previous two seasons with the Twins. He is batting .419 over an eight-game hitting streak.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Blue Jays at Twins
Fri, May 29 - 8:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Blue Jays at Twins
Sat, May 30 - 2:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Blue Jays at Twins
Sun, May 31 - 2:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 05-29-2015, 02:10 AM

Preview: White Sox (21-24) at Astros (30-18)
Game: 1
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: May 29, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

Considering how well the Houston Astros are playing at home, they have little reason to fret about their recent losing road trip.

Looking to win for the eighth time in nine home games, the Astros can get back on track Friday night against the Chicago White Sox.

Houston (30-18) still has the AL's best record despite going 3-4 at Detroit and Baltimore. Three of those defeats were decided by one run.

"You want to have a winning road trip. It's too bad we didn't," manager A.J. Hinch told MLB's official website. "We battled hard in every game.

"We didn't play perfectly; we don't have to. I love the way our guys compete and I'm proud of the effort of our guys. Get home to Houston and continue playing well."

The Astros have won 13 of 18 at Minute Maid Park, and are 7-1 since losing four in a row there. Baseball's leaders with 66 home runs, Houston hit five on the recent road stretch but belted 15 of their 38 at Minute Maid over the last eight.

It's 18-0 overall when hitting at least two homers.

Evan Gattis has hit seven of his 10 home runs at home but also delivered a two-run shot during a three-run seventh that helped erase a 4-1 deficit in Wednesday's 5-4 loss at Baltimore.

"If we haven't figured this out by now, our guys are going to fight to the end and they're going to play the whole game," Hinch said.

Though the Astros are second in the majors with 437 strikeouts, they've also shown patience while ranking among baseball's leaders with 157 walks.

They should be picky against Carlos Rodon (1-0, 4.03 ERA), who has walked 15 and fanned 17 over 16-plus innings in his first three career starts for Chicago (21-25).

'(I) just gotta throw strikes,' he said. 'When it comes down to the nitty-gritty, that's it right there.'

The left-hander hasn't pitched since he walked five and allowed four hits but one run over six innings of a 4-3 loss to Cleveland on May 20.

Houston also hands the ball to a highly touted young pitcher in Lance McCullers (1-0, 2.53), who makes his third career start. The right-hander gave up two runs and struck out six in six innings of Saturday's 3-2 win at Detroit.

It's uncertain if McCullers will face Avisail Garcia, who hasn't played since tweaking his sore knee during Monday's 6-0 loss at Toronto. Garcia is batting .406 with all but one of his four homers and 11 of his 18 RBIs in 19 road games.

Though he hasn't faced the Astros since 2013, Garcia is 8 for 16 with two homers and seven RBIs in his last four against them.

After splitting Thursday's doubleheader at Baltimore that was scheduled after the first two of last month's series there were postponed by the riots, the White Sox (21-25) enter 2-3 on an 11-game trip.

'Supposed to be an off day for us," manager Robin Ventura said. 'It is what it is. ... Now we're all tired.'

Chicago, which 10 seasons ago swept the Astros to win its first World Series in 88 years, has dropped five of the last seven at Houston.

Houston's Jose Altuve is 2 for 20 in the last five home games but went 10 for 29 overall against the White Sox in 2014.

Chicago's Adam LaRoche is 8 for 15 with a homer and four RBIs in the last four contests.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
White Sox at Astros
Fri, May 29 - 8:10PM EDT

GAME 2
White Sox at Astros
Sat, May 30 - 4:10PM EDT

GAME 3
White Sox at Astros
Sun, May 31 - 2:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 05-29-2015, 02:12 AM

Preview: Dodgers (28-18) at Cardinals (31-16)
Game: 1
Venue: Busch Stadium
Date: May 29, 2015 8:15 PM EDT

The St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers are well acquainted following back-to-back postseason matchups, but upstart Dodgers right-hander Mike Bolsinger is getting his first chance to participate in the head-to-head series.

Bolsinger looks to send the Cardinals to a rare home loss while extending his scoreless streak and remaining unbeaten Friday night.

St. Louis (31-16) has eliminated Los Angeles (28-18) in the playoffs the last two years and will meet the Dodgers for the first time since a 3-2 win over Clayton Kershaw in Game 4 of the NLDS on Oct. 7.

The Cardinals are off to the best home start in team history at 18-5 and have won four straight overall after taking three from visiting Arizona this week.

They've won twice in their last at-bat during the win streak, picking up a 4-3 walkoff victory on a Diamondbacks throwing error Wednesday.

St. Louis, which has scored 19 runs in the last four games, faces a challenge in Bolsinger, who's won each of his three starts with a 0.71 ERA since being recalled from the minors May 12 and is coming off the finest outing of his brief career.

Bolsinger retired 23 in a row after allowing a leadoff single and struck out eight in Saturday's 2-0 win over San Diego. He hasn't given up a run in his last 18 2-3 innings.

"Something just clicked in my head. People ask me how I'm feeling and I'm just locked in now," Bolsinger said.

Bolsinger has benefited from starting at home each time since being called up again, but he's 1-5 with a 5.75 ERA in seven road starts in his two seasons. He yielded one run in 5 2-3 innings in his lone road game this year, a 3-2 loss in 10 innings to San Francisco on April 23.

Bolsinger will face a team that's averaged 5.1 runs in its last 16 home games while batting .296 overall and .305 with runners in scoring position.

Cardinals slugger Matt Holliday has reached base in a team-best 43 consecutive games to start this season, trailing only Derek Jeter's record of 53 straight in 1999.

"There are some great pitchers out there, and we've faced a lot of them," Holliday told MLB's official website. "To find your way on base in that many games in a row in the National League is pretty good."

The Dodgers were shut out in their three most recent road games May 19-21 against San Francisco. They've never been blanked in four straight and their 28-inning scoreless streak away from home matches their sixth-longest since 1912.

Los Angeles, 7-11 on the road, went 4-2 on a subsequent homestand and a 3-2 loss Wednesday kept it from a three-game sweep of Atlanta.

The Dodgers will face John Lackey (2-3, 3.18) for the first time since his Game 3 win in St. Louis on Oct. 6, in which he gave up one run in seven innings while striking out eight. That was the only 2014 matchup with Los Angeles for Lackey, who's 6-3 with a 1.89 ERA in 11 career starts against the Dodgers, including postseason.

Lackey has received only two runs of support in his last three starts - all on the road - as he's gone 0-2 despite a 3.12 ERA. The right-hander, who gave up three runs in five innings of a rain-shortened 3-2 loss in Kansas City on Saturday, had allowed two or fewer runs in his previous four starts.

Lackey is 2-1 with a 1.63 ERA in four home starts.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Dodgers at Cardinals
Fri, May 29 - 8:15PM EDT

GAME 2
Dodgers at Cardinals
Sat, May 30 - 7:15PM EDT

GAME 3
Dodgers at Cardinals
Sun, May 31 - 2:15PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 05-29-2015, 01:28 PM

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Pirates at Padres
Thu, May 28 Final 11 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Pirates at Padres
Fri, May 29 - 10:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Pirates at Padres
Sat, May 30 - 10:10PM EDT

GAME 4
Pirates at Padres
Sun, May 31 - 9:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 05-29-2015, 01:30 PM

Preview: Braves (23-24) at Giants (29-20)
Game: 2
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: May 29, 2015 10:15 PM EDT

Tim Hudson helped the Atlanta Braves reach the postseason four times in nine years before aiding a World Series title run in his first season with the San Francisco Giants in 2014.

As the Georgia native faces his former team for the first time, Hudson will have to bounce back from a rocky outing Friday night if he hopes to extend San Francisco's historic scoreless streak at AT&T Park.

Hudson (2-4, 5.04 ERA) went 113-72 with a 3.56 ERA while with Atlanta from 2005-13, making an All-Star appearance in 2010 and claiming his 200th career win April 30, 2013.

Born in Columbus, Georgia, and growing up a Braves fan in Alabama, he'll face some of his former mates for the first time since signing a two-year contract with the Giants (29-20) in November 2013.

"It was nine really good years over there, so it's still really special to me," the right-hander told MLB's official website. "I think anyone who plays this game would enjoy playing for his childhood team that he pulled for."

San Francisco matched a franchise record with 37 consecutive scoreless innings at home with Thursday's series-opening 7-0 victory. Now Hudson will try to help the Giants become the first team to record five straight shutouts at home since the 1981 Texas Rangers.

Hudson is 2-3 with a 4.64 ERA in five home starts, but tossed 6 1-3 scoreless innings in his last start there on May 19 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He wasn't nearly as sharp Sunday in Colorado, yielding eight runs over 3 2-3 innings in an 11-2 loss. It was the most runs he's surrendered since May 20, 2011, against the Angels.

Hudson is on pace for career worsts in ERA, strikeout-to-walk ratio at 1.73 and home runs allowed per nine innings at 1.3.

"I just wasn't very good," he said. "I have to put it behind me."

Hudson could be seeing the Braves at an opportune time after they finished with just four singles Thursday. Atlanta (23-24) has dropped three of four to begin a 10-game trip and is batting .189 while totaling 11 runs over its last seven.

Freddie Freeman (10 for 54) and Jace Peterson (6 for 37) are among those scuffling, but Cameron Maybin is 10 for 25 with a home run against Hudson and Nick Markakis has four hits in five at_bats off him.

They'll try to turn things around for Mike Foltynewicz (3-1, 4.25), who looks to build on the best performance of his career. He allowed one run and three hits over a career-high 7 2-3 innings in Sunday's 2-1 home win over Milwaukee.

"He was dominating really the whole game," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "It's a good start to build on for the next one."

Foltynewicz, who features a fastball that reaches the upper 90s, has struck out seven in each of his last four outings.

The right-hander hopes to cool a San Francisco team that has hit .312 with 17 home runs and averaged 6.4 runs during a 12-2 stretch. Brandon Belt homered in the seventh inning to break open a scoreless tie Thursday, before Joe Panik added a two-run double and Hunter Pence had a two-run triple in a sixth-run eighth.

Nori Aoki finished with two hits in the team's fourth straight victory, leaving him 13 for 21 over his last five games.

The Giants have won six of the past seven meetings with the Braves.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Braves at Giants
Thu, May 28 Final 0 to 7
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Braves at Giants
Fri, May 29 - 10:15PM EDT

GAME 3
Braves at Giants
Sat, May 30 - 10:05PM EDT

GAME 4
Braves at Giants
Sun, May 31 - 4:05PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 05-29-2015, 01:32 PM

Preview: Yankees (25-23) at Athletics (18-32)
Game: 2
Venue: O.co Coliseum
Date: May 29, 2015 10:05 PM EDT

The last time Sonny Gray pitched, he was removed without allowing a run after being tagged on the right ankle by a batted ball. Now that the injury concern has passed, the Oakland Athletics are just hoping the scare will in no way throw off his impressive season.

The right-hander returns to the mound Friday night at home against the New York Yankees as Alex Rodriguez hopes to pass Barry Bonds for second on the all-time RBI list.

Gray (5-2, 1.77 ERA) earned the decision in Sunday's 7-2 win in Tampa Bay, despite being limited to five innings because of the injury. He allowed four hits and has the AL's lowest ERA, as well as the fifth-lowest by an Oakland pitcher through 10 starts during the designated hitter era. Dan Haren was the last to better him with a 1.74 ERA in 2007, and only Steve Ontiveros' seven earned runs in his first 10 starts in 1994 were fewer than Gray's 13.

The rest of the A's staff has closed the gap. After Thursday's series-opening 5-4 win, Oakland (18-32) has won four of six overall, 15 of 20 against the Yankees (25-23) and 10 of 11 against them in Oakland. The three runs allowed by Kendall Graveman are the only earned runs the starting staff has allowed in 36 2-3 innings over the A's last six games. The rotation hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in 17 games for an MLB-best 2.42 mark dating to May 11.

What hasn't improved is their fielding. Another error Thursday padded their MLB lead to 51, nearly doubling the 26 their opponents have committed.

That was overshadowed offensively as Billy Burns and Brett Lawrie homered to help overcome a 3-0 deficit.

"We played the game the right way tonight," Lawrie said.

Gray's one career start against the Yankees resulted in a 7-0 home loss on June 13 after yielding three runs and seven hits in six innings.

His opposition, Chris Capuano, has allowed as many home runs in two starts as Gray has all season - two - and it hasn't been only the long ball that's plagued his return to the rotation. Filling in for the injured Chase Whitley, the left-hander has lasted just 7 1-3 innings in those outings. Capuano (0-2, 7.36) allowed three runs and eight hits with a home run in 4 1-3 innings of Sunday's 5-2 home loss to Texas.

"My No. 1 goal going out there was to get deep in the game and take pressure off the bullpen," Capuano told MLB's official website. "Going 4 1-3 innings, I'm not happy with that. I need to pitch better."

Since joining the Yankees in late July, his best work has come on the road with a 2-3 record and 3.67 ERA in six starts as opposed to a 0-2 mark with a 5.35 ERA in eight starts at Yankee Stadium.

He faced the A's three times last season in relief with Boston and allowed four runs and five hits in 1 1-3 innings.

The Yankees had won three in a row before Thursday, but they've still lost 11 of their last 15. That includes four straight road losses and defeats in eight of nine after beginning the season 12-5 in opposing parks. They haven't dropped five straight on the road since June 11-15, 2013, which included three losses in Oakland.

Rodriguez matched Bonds with his 1,996th RBI Thursday on a sacrifice fly.

Brian McCann homered for a third straight game and has at least a hit and an RBI in six straight while going 8 for 19 with 10 RBIs.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Yankees at Athletics
Thu, May 28 Final 4 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Yankees at Athletics
Fri, May 29 - 10:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Yankees at Athletics
Sat, May 30 - 10:05PM EDT

GAME 4
Yankees at Athletics
Sun, May 31 - 4:05PM EDT

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