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**StarDust Bum** · 06-03-2015, 02:20 AM

NHL TOTALS

NHL > (1) CHICAGO@ (2) TAMPA BAY | 06/03/2015 - 08:05 PM
Play UNDER CHICAGO on the total in All games in non-conference games
The record is 7 Overs and 20 Unders for the this season (+12.75 units)

**StarDust Bum** · 06-03-2015, 11:37 AM

Preview: Brewers (18-35) at Cardinals (34-18)
Game: 3
Venue: Busch Stadium
Date: June 03, 2015 1:45 PM EDT

John Lackey has been more than comfortable at Busch Stadium since the St. Louis Cardinals acquired him at last year's trade deadline.

Then again, he's often pitched well no matter where he's taken the mound this season.

The right-hander looks to help the Cardinals improve the best home record in the majors Wednesday by taking two of three from the Milwaukee Brewers in a series during which runs have been scarce.

Lackey (3-3, 2.83 ERA) has gone 6-1 with a 1.78 ERA in 10 regular-season starts and one playoff outing at Busch since joining the Cardinals (34-18) after a trade with Boston. He had another solid effort Friday, striking out nine over seven innings of a 3-0 home win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The 36-year-old improved to 3-1 with a 1.30 ERA in five starts at home this season and finished 2-2 with a 1.89 ERA in six May outings.

'We're talking an elite-style pitcher for a long period of time,' manager Mike Matheny said. 'As far as what we saw at the end of last year and how well he's throwing right now, it's just much better stuff.'

Lackey beat the Brewers 4-0 on April 16 in St. Louis, striking out eight over seven innings. He is 3-1 with a 3.86 ERA in four career starts against Milwaukee (18-35), which dealt St. Louis a rare home loss with a 1-0 victory in Monday's series opener.

St. Louis is 21-7 at home after winning by the same score Tuesday, as Mark Reynolds' single in the second inning plated Randal Grichuk.

Matt Holliday went 0 for 3 before being ejected for arguing a called third strike in the seventh, snapping his NL-record 45-game streak of reaching base to start a season. It marked the longest such streak since Derek Jeter's major league-record 53-game run in 1999.

The Brewers outhit the Cardinals 7-4 but lost for the eighth time in 10 tries. Adam Lind, who is batting .484 (15 for 31) with six doubles in his career off Lackey - the best average for any of the 84 hitters that have faced the 13-year veteran at least 30 times - had a hit and is 7 for 17 over his last six.

Milwaukee pitchers had a 19-inning scoreless streak snapped despite Tyler Cravy's seven solid innings in his major league debut against St. Louis, which has scored five runs over its last four. The Cardinals haven't had much trouble scoring against the Brewers when Jimmy Nelson is on the mound, though.

Nelson (2-5, 3.90) walked four, gave up 13 runs and 16 hits in 9 2-3 innings and took the loss in all three of his appearances - two starts - against the Cardinals last season.

The right-hander faces St. Louis looking to bounce back after a rough outing. He gave up four runs, two homers and hit two batters over six innings of Milwaukee's 7-5 loss to Arizona on Friday.

He struck out eight and didn't issue a base on balls after walking nine over his previous two starts, but he also threw his fourth wild pitch of the season and increased his number of hit batsmen to five, which is tied for third-most in the majors.

'You can be wild within the zone, too. Your command can still be off,' Nelson said. 'A lot of times it can be deceiving to just look at straight strikes and balls. I feel like I fell behind too many guys.'

Jhonny Peralta is 1 for 6 in this series, but he went 4 for 7 with a double off Nelson last season.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Brewers at Cardinals
Mon, Jun 1 Final 1 to 0
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Brewers at Cardinals
Tue, Jun 2 Final 0 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Brewers at Cardinals
Wed, Jun 3 - 1:45PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 06-03-2015, 11:39 AM

Preview: Yankees (28-25) at Mariners (24-28)
Game: 3
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: June 03, 2015 3:40 PM EDT

The New York Yankees finally have Masahiro Tanaka back, but questions remain as to whether the ace will immediately return to top form.

The Seattle Mariners' pitching situation Wednesday should be equally unpredictable as they look to avoid a three-game sweep behind Taijuan Walker.

Tanaka (2-1, 3.22 ERA) had been on the disabled list since April 29 with a strained forearm and tendinitis in his right wrist. After allowing nine runs in as many innings over his first two starts, the right-hander gave up only a run and five hits over 13 1-3 innings in his next two starts before hitting the DL.

Tanaka, who was limited to 20 games in 2014 due to a tear in his right elbow, threw 62 pitches in his most recent rehabilitation start and is expected to last around 80 pitches Wednesday.

"Obviously my body is feeling good, being healthy," Tanaka told MLB's official website through an interpreter. "I'm feeling good right now, but there are always going to be ups and downs when you go out on the mound. All I'm thinking is just trying to go out there and trying to be my best."

One of Tanaka's three complete games last season came at Seattle on June 11, when he struck out 11 in a 4-2 victory.

He'll oppose Walker (2-5, 6.18), who has been perhaps the most erratic pitcher in baseball. The 22-year-old is the only player this season to have both two starts where he allowed seven or more runs in fewer than four innings and two others where he allowed no earned runs in seven or more innings.

Walker exhibited the positive side of that inconsistency Friday with eight shutout innings and eight strikeouts while limiting Cleveland to two hits in a 2-1 win.

"It was one of those starts that shows you a glimpse of the future," manager Lloyd McClendon said. "It was a tremendous outing. Something to really build on for his next start."

Prior to that outing, Walker had posted a 7.71 ERA over two starts in which he issued eight walks in 9 1-3 innings.

Both Tanaka and Walker will pitch without the comfort of rested bullpens, as New York (28-25) and Seattle (24-28) each used six relievers Tuesday as the Yankees won 5-3 in 11 innings. Stephen Drew hit a game-tying RBI double in the ninth off struggling closer Fernando Rodney, and Garrett Jones smacked a three-run home run.

Austin Jackson went 4 for 4 with a walk in the losing effort to extend his hitting streak to six. He is 11 for 27 over that span, but has scored only one run despite batting leadoff in five of those contests.

The Mariners, who have lost four straight games for the third time this season, have not scored more than three runs in their last seven contests.

Nelson Cruz's struggles have played a major role in that lack of production. The slugger finally snapped a season-high five-game RBI drought Tuesday but struck out with two on and two out in the 11th.

He's 0 for 6 with three strikeouts against Tanaka.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Yankees at Mariners
Mon, Jun 1 Final 7 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Yankees at Mariners
Tue, Jun 2 Final 5 to 3
Boxscores

GAME 3
Yankees at Mariners
Wed, Jun 3 - 3:40PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 06-03-2015, 11:42 AM

Preview: Braves (26-26) at Diamondbacks (24-27)
Game: 3
Venue: Chase Field
Date: June 03, 2015 3:40 PM EDT

As A.J. Pollock continues to fare well at the plate, the Arizona Diamondbacks find themselves in position to win yet another series.

They can do so for the fourth time in the last five Wednesday against the visiting Atlanta Braves.

Arizona (24-27) had dropped five of seven, including an 8-1 loss in Monday's series opener. After blowing an early three-run lead Tuesday, the Diamondbacks appeared headed for another defeat until Pollock belted a two-run, go-ahead homer into the Chase Field swimming pool in the seventh inning of a 7-6 victory.

Tuesday marked the third time in five games Arizona scored seven runs, and 10th in the last 11 in which it's homered. Pollock is batting .397 with three homers, nine RBIs and 13 runs scored in his last 14 contests.

'Definitely All-Star caliber,' teammate and two-time All-Star Paul Goldschmidt said. 'He does it all.'

Pollock is 7 for 16 with two home runs and five RBIs in his last four versus Atlanta (26-26), which needs a win Wednesday to finish its 10-game road trip at .500.

With three runs and four walks allowed in 3 2-3 innings Tuesday, Atlanta's bullpen has posted an 8.69 ERA and walked 12 on the trek.

Atlanta hopes Mike Foltynewicz (3-2, 3.96 ERA) can remain effective after he allowed three runs, eight hits and struck out 15 while walking two over 14 1-3 innings to split his last two starts. The right-hander yielded two of those runs on a first-inning homer Friday at San Francisco, then looked strong to last 6 2-3 innings in a 4-2 defeat.

'I'm keeping the walks down and just going out there and attacking guys,' he said. 'Everything is coming along pretty well.'

This will be his first appearance against the Diamondbacks, who will give the ball to Rubby De La Rosa (4-2, 4.50) for his first start against Atlanta.

The right-hander has allowed four runs in three of his last four outings. Three came on a pair of homers while De La Rosa lasted five innings and didn't factor in the decision of a 7-5 win at Milwaukee on Friday. He's given up a team-high 10 home runs but three have come at Chase Field and only one in his last four starts there.

He'll likely find Cameron Maybin back in the Braves' lineup after the center fielder missed the first two games of the series with a sore quad and groin. Maybin is batting .305 with 10 RBIs in his last 16 games.

"He came in (Tuesday) and we actually sat in my office and he said after treatment he felt pretty good," manager Fredi Gonzalez told MLB's official website. "But I still wanted to give him another day. If he continues to improve like he did from treatment (Tuesday) morning, I don't see any reason why he wouldn't be back in there."

Arizona's David Peralta also missed the first two with a hand injury, but his availability is less certain. He's 4 for 22 in his last seven at home but is 10 for 25 lifetime against the Braves.

Atlanta's Freddie Freeman is batting .407 in 14 games at Chase Field.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Braves at Diamondbacks
Mon, Jun 1 Final 8 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Braves at Diamondbacks
Tue, Jun 2 Final 6 to 7
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Braves at Diamondbacks
Wed, Jun 3 - 3:40PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 06-03-2015, 11:44 AM

Preview: Pirates (28-24) at Giants (30-24)
Game: 3
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: June 03, 2015 3:45 PM EDT

Andrew McCutchen was still a top prospect with the Pittsburgh Pirates 22 months away from making his debut the last time they swept a road series from the San Francisco Giants.

Now an All-Star in the midst of a hot streak that has keyed their resurgence, he'll try to lead the Pirates to their 11th win in 13 games Wednesday when they again look to take three straight at AT&T Park.

Pittsburgh was a season-worst four games below .500 on May 20 following a 13-inning loss to Minnesota. McCutchen was batting .225 entering that contest, but went 3 for 5 with a game-tying home run in the eighth.

The Pirates (28-24) followed with a seven-game winning streak and haven't lost two in a row in their last 12 games, while McCutchen has batted .489 with 12 RBIs and a 1.416 OPS in his past 13.

The 2013 NL MVP continued his tear Tuesday with a season-high four hits - including a triple, double and two RBIs - in a 7-4 victory. He's gone 31 for 72 (.431) in his last 18 meetings with the Giants.

'I was fed up,' McCutchen said of his slow start. 'That's still how I feel and I'm not done yet."

He'll try to help Pittsburgh complete its first three-game sweep in San Francisco since Aug. 10-12, 2007. That might not be easy since he's 3 for 19 lifetime off scheduled starter Tim Hudson (3-4, 4.62 ERA).

The right-hander looks to help the Giants (30-24) avoid their fifth straight loss in the finale of this seven-game homestand.

He allowed eight runs over 3 2-3 innings in an 11-2 loss at Colorado on May 24, before yielding one run over seven in Friday's 4-2 home win over Atlanta. Hudson has given up one run in 13 1-3 innings in winning his last two home starts.

However, he's 1-5 with a 4.50 ERA in his last six starts against the Pirates.

Neil Walker has gone 5 for 16 in the matchup, while Pedro Alvarez is 4 for 13 with a home run. Walker and Alvarez went a combined 4 for 9 with three RBIs and Jordy Mercer hit his first home run Tuesday.

Pittsburgh's Francisco Liriano has regrouped since allowing seven runs in two innings in an 8-5 home loss to the Twins on May 19, winning his last two starts while giving up one run and striking out 23 over 12 innings.

Liriano (2-4, 3.47) surrendered three hits in six shutout innings Friday before he was pulled after 96 pitches and watched as the bullpen blew his lead in a 6-2 loss at San Diego.

The left-hander has been at his best on the road, going 1-1 with a 1.57 ERA in five starts. He's 2-1 with a 4.76 ERA versus San Francisco after allowing one run with 11 strikeouts over seven innings in a 3-1 road win July 29.

Buster Posey - who is expected to play first base - has gone 5 for 9 in the matchup, while Hunter Pence is 3 for 7 with two doubles. Posey had two RBIs, Pence had three hits and Brandon Crawford hit a two-run homer Tuesday.

San Francisco has batted .129 with runners in scoring position and totaled 12 runs during its longest losing streak since an eight-game slide in mid-April.

"That's what wins ballgames, is getting those timely hits," manager Bruce Bochy said.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Pirates at Giants
Mon, Jun 1 Final 4 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Pirates at Giants
Tue, Jun 2 Final 7 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Pirates at Giants
Wed, Jun 3 - 3:45PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 06-03-2015, 11:48 AM

Preview: Athletics (21-33) at Tigers (28-25)
Game: 2
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: June 03, 2015 7:08 PM EDT

Bob Melvin says it's the "same old story" every time Sonny Gray takes the mound, but that doesn't mean the Oakland Athletics manager will ever get tired of seeing the performance.

The right-hander looks to continue his dominance as the A's go after an eighth win in 11 games Wednesday night against the reeling Detroit Tigers.

Since owning the majors' worst record at 14-30 on May 22, Oakland (21-33) has turned things around over its last 10 games behind a starting rotation that has posted an impressive 1.53 ERA.

'We're fighting and battling to try and get back to the kind of team we know that we are," said Ben Zobrist, whose seventh-inning grand slam keyed Tuesday's series-opening 5-3 victory.

Gray (6-2, 1.82 ERA) has been outstanding most of the way, allowing two runs or less in nine of 11 starts. He has the AL's second-best ERA in only his second full season in the big leagues.

After a liner off the ankle forced him out after five scoreless innings in a 7-2 win at Tampa Bay on May 24, Gray gave up two runs and four hits over eight innings in Friday's 6-2 home win over the New York Yankees.

"He gives you a chance every time he's on the mound," catcher Josh Phegley told MLB's official website. "We're in the game every time he's on the mound, if not winning when he comes out. He's been that anchor in the starting rotation."

Gray is 9-4 with a 2.45 ERA - the AL's third-best mark - in 21 road starts over the past two seasons. He did not get a decision in his only start versus Detroit on May 27, 2014, when he allowed four runs over six innings in a 6-5 home loss.

Miguel Cabrera went 2 for 3 with a home run off him, while J.D. Martinez went 2 for 3 with a double. Cabrera, however, is 3 for 18 in his last five games versus Oakland after going 1 for 4 in the opener.

After Detroit hit .208 while totaling 14 runs on a 2-5 trip that included three games in Oakland, Nick Castellanos had a two-run single in a three-run fourth inning Tuesday but the Tigers were blanked in the other eight.

Detroit (28-25), losers in a season-high five in a row, hopes to avoid its worst slide since dropping seven straight in 2011.

Following a two-start stretch in which he allowed 14 runs over 9 1-3 innings, Anibal Sanchez (3-6, 5.75) will try to build on his outing Friday when he yielded two runs over seven innings in a 2-0 road loss to the Los Angeles Angels.

"You could tell there was kind of a different look in his eyes," manager Brad Ausmus said.

The right-hander has 20 strikeouts over his last two starts, but he's also allowed six home runs and issued six walks in his last three. He'll try to turn around his fortune at Comerica Park, where he's 2-3 with a 6.81 ERA in seven outings.

Sanchez yielded three earned runs over 15 1-3 innings but did not record a decision in his two meetings with the A's last season. Zobrist (3 for 16) and Josh Reddick (0 for 8) haven't hit well off him, but Brett Lawrie is 4 for 8.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Athletics at Tigers
Tue, Jun 2 Final 5 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Athletics at Tigers
Wed, Jun 3 - 7:05 EDT

GAME 3
Athletics at Tigers
Thu, Jun 4 - 1:08PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 06-03-2015, 11:52 AM

Preview: Blue Jays (24-30) at Nationals (29-23)
Game: 3
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: June 03, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

The Toronto Blue Jays had gone 12 innings without scoring before Kevin Pillar ended that drought, and Pillar came through again two at_bats later to rescue his club from a multi-run deficit.

Facing Taylor Jordan might enable the Blue Jays to start stringing together some wins.

Following a doubleheader against two of the NL's best pitchers, the Blue Jays' offense should have an easier task Wednesday night against the less-imposing Jordan and the Washington Nationals.

Toronto (24-30) couldn't do much against Jordan Zimmermann in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader, tallying only six singles in a 2-0 defeat.

The Blue Jays solved their offensive woes by inserting Pillar into the lineup. The center fielder came through against Max Scherzer with a solo homer in the second inning and a three-run shot in the sixth to break open the floodgates in a 7-3 victory Tuesday night.

Scherzer had previously allowed only three homers in 71 2-3 innings.

'We need some wins,' manager John Gibbons said. 'Doubleheaders are tough simply because you're hanging around all day. This is where you've got to be mentally tough and our guys were.'

It was a much-needed performance for Pillar following a dismal first few months. He posted a .781 OPS in his final 27 games of last season, but had a .585 mark entering Tuesday.

Jordan (0-1, 5.79 ERA), making his first start since April 27, 2014, doesn't quite pose the same threat as Zimmermann and Scherzer. Jordan made his season debut Friday with three runs allowed in 4 2-3 innings of relief after Stephen Strasburg exited with a neck injury that put him on the 15-day DL.

Jordan had a 5.61 ERA in five starts with the Nationals last season.

Washington (29-23) has lost four of five and is in danger of dropping consecutive series for the first time since late April.

Toronto, looking to earn its first road series win since April 10-12, will go with Mark Buehrle (6-4, 4.97). The left-hander allowed four runs in the first inning Friday before settling in to allow just one hit over the final eight in a 6-4 win at Minnesota, his first complete-game victory since July 25, 2013.

Buehrle hasn't faced the Nationals since he did so three times in 2012 while with Miami. Bryce Harper hit a home run off Buehrle in the most recent of those outings on Sept. 8, 2012, Harper's only hit in eight career at_bats in their matchups.

Josh Donaldson failed to hit a home run in either of Tuesday's contests, marking his first back-to-back homerless stretch since a five-game drought May 20-24. He did, however, manage three hits over the twinbill to extend his hitting streak to eight games.

Denard Span has 33 at_bats against Buehrle - most among Washington's active roster - but may not play after missing both games Tuesday with a right knee injury.

"He's just sore," manager Matt Williams said. "I'm not going to push him in that regard. We'll see how he is (Wednesday). A couple days off should be good for him."

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Blue Jays at Nationals
Mon, Jun 1 - 7:05PM EDT ( RAIN OUT )

GAME 2
Blue Jays at Nationals
Tue, Jun 2 Final 7 to 3 / 0 - 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Blue Jays at Nationals
Wed, Jun 3 - 7:05PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 06-03-2015, 11:53 AM

Preview: Reds (22-28) at Phillies (20-33)
Game: 2
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: June 03, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

Amid swirling trade rumors, Cole Hamels isn't expected to finish his 10th season with the Philadelphia Phillies.

A start against the Cincinnati Reds figures to only increase the asking price.

Hamels looks to continue his dominance of the Reds as the Phillies go for back-to-back wins for the first time in over two weeks Wednesday night.

Last-place Philadelphia (20-33) is expected to be active dealing away veterans in the hopes of improving for the future, with Hamels (5-4, 2.91 ERA) the team's most valuable trade chip.

The left-hander is 4-1 with a 1.69 ERA in his last five starts, striking out 38 and walking six in 37 1-3 innings over that stretch.

"Everything that I go out and do is to be comfortable, and try to justify that everything I'm doing is the right way and that there's not going to be anything holding me back ... there's not going to be any questions about whether I had been able to do a little bit more or be a little bit better," Hamels told MLB's official website.

Hamels couldn't be much better against the Reds (22-28), going 10-0 with a 1.36 ERA in 13 career starts, including one in the 2010 division series.

He was even impressive in Friday's 4-1 loss to Colorado. The only runs Hamels allowed came on a pair of solo homers by Troy Tulowitzki, and he matched his season high with nine strikeouts in eight innings opposite Chad Bettis, who carried a no-hitter into the eighth.

"I think he rises to the occasion," manager Ryne Sandberg said. "He definitely had the opportunity to win the game with some runs anywhere in the game right until the end while he was in there, but I think he rises to that challenge."

The Phillies are 3-10 since a season-high six-game winning streak. However, they ended a seven-game slide Tuesday, overcoming a three-run deficit and getting a walkoff single from pinch-hitter Darin Ruf in a 5-4 win over the Reds.

"You have to continue to fight like a team," said Maikel Franco, who had a game-tying two-run homer in the eighth. "It's awesome for the team."

The loss was the 11th in 15 games for Cincinnati, which had a three-game win streak stopped.

Bouncing back behind Mike Leake (2-4, 4.66) won't be easy since he's lost three straight starts with a 12.86 ERA. The right-hander has surrendered six homers and eight walks in 14 innings during that span after yielding one run over 22 innings in his three previous outings.

He was tagged for six runs and nine hits over five innings in a 6-4 loss to Colorado last Wednesday.

"He's off the edges of the plate a little bit early in the at_bats," manager Bryan Price said. "At this level of play, it's finding your way. He'll get back there. It's frustrating certainly for him and our ballclub because it doesn't resemble the guy that we're used to seeing."

Leake usually struggles against the Phillies, going 1-3 with a 7.41 ERA in six starts. Ryan Howard is 6 for 15 with two homers in this matchup.

Howard, another potential player to be traded, is 2 for 24 in his last six games. He's also 11 for 62 (.177) with one RBI in his past 17 contests against the Reds.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Reds at Phillies
Tue, Jun 2 Final 4 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Reds at Phillies
Wed, Jun 3 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Reds at Phillies
Thu, Jun 4 - 7:05PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 06-03-2015, 11:56 AM

Preview: Twins (30-20) at Red Sox (23-29)
Game: 3
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: June 03, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

John Henry's candid remarks failed to spark a Boston Red Sox offense that the 65-year-old owner called "painful to watch."

Maybe he lit a fire under the pitching staff instead.

Eduardo Rodriguez looks to build on a stellar major league debut when he takes the mound Wednesday in the first game of a day-night doubleheader against the visiting Minnesota Twins.

The Red Sox (23-29) acquired Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval to add pop to a lineup that ranked 22nd in the majors with a .244 average, contributing to a second last-place finish in three seasons.

Ramirez (.255) and Sandoval (.249) are hitting well below their career averages, though, as Boston again ranks near the bottom of the majors with a .241 mark.

'Did this whole team become a collection of poor hitters? I don't think so," Henry said while expressing disappointment with the club's overall performance. "I think the production has been poor, and there are adjustments that need to be made.'

Tuesday spelled much of the same offensively, but Clay Buchholz's eight solid innings helped Rusney Castillo's RBI single in the seventh hold up in a 1-0 win over the Twins (30-20) in the series opener after Monday's rainout.

The Red Sox had lost six of seven, and no starter pitched more than 5 2-3 innings during a three-game skid that was snapped.

'We all share in where we are today,' manager John Farrell said.

Farrell plans to stick with a six-man rotation at least through Sunday, leaving Rodriguez to take the mound. Rodriguez gave up three hits in 7 2-3 innings of a 5-1 win over Texas on Thursday in his first major league outing.

"It looks like he's a guy who's been here for five or six years, the way he pitched and the way he went about his work," Farrell told MLB's official website.

The 22-year-old left-hander now faces the Twins, who completed a three-game home sweep of the Red Sox last Wednesday in Phil Hughes' last start.

Hughes (4-4, 4.59 ERA) will oppose Rodriguez after giving up four runs in 6 2-3 innings of the 6-4 victory. He allowed a pair of two-run homers to Dustin Pedroia, increasing Hughes' total to 12 homers allowed over 64 2-3 innings after he gave up 16 in 209 2-3 last season.

The right-hander is off to a disappointing start after going 16-10 with a 3.52 ERA in his debut season for the Twins in 2014 - the best of his career as a full-time starter. Hughes' ERA while going 4-0 over his last five starts (4.64) is worse than when he went 0-4 over his first five (4.55).

Pedroia is hitting .342 with five homers - his most off any pitcher - and three doubles lifetime against Hughes, who went 2-3 with a 7.06 ERA in six starts at Fenway Park through 2012 while with the Yankees before allowing two runs in eight innings of a 2-1 loss there June 17.

Minnesota has scored just twice during a four-game skid in Boston it hopes to snap before Trevor May takes the mound in the second game.

May (3-3, 5.07) gave up one run in the first five innings Friday against Toronto, then allowed a three-run homer to Josh Donaldson in his sixth and final inning of a 6-4 loss.

The right-hander is 1-1 with a 6.08 ERA over his last four outings.

'Kind of being behind guys, not really getting ahead or commanding anything very well," May said. "Those are the things that happen eventually when you kind of don't really get any flow going.'

May has never faced the Red Sox, who will counter with Rick Porcello in Game 2.

Porcello (4-4, 5.37) is coming off back-to-back rough starts, allowing seven runs in 4 1-3 innings of a 12-5 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on May 22 before giving up six runs in seven innings of Wednesday's loss to the Twins.

The right-hander allowed a two-run homer to Aaron Hicks in the fourth and a solo shot to Eddie Rosario in the sixth. Porcello has allowed five homers and has walked seven over his last three starts.

Porcello is 1-3 with a 6.17 ERA over his last six starts against the Twins.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Twins at Red Sox
Mon, Jun 1 - 7:10PM EDT ( RAIN OUT )

GAME 2
Twins at Red Sox
Tue, Jun 2 Final 0 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Twins at Red Sox
Wed, Jun 3 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 4
Twins at Red Sox
Thu, Jun 4 - 4:05PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 06-03-2015, 11:58 AM

Preview: Cubs (27-23) at Marlins (21-32)
Game: 3
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: June 03, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

Jon Lester's winning stretch might be over but he's still throwing the ball well for the Chicago Cubs.

Miami's Dan Haren has been at his best at Marlins Park.

Both veterans look to continue their respective success during Wednesday night's series finale.

After going 0-2 with a 6.23 ERA in four April starts, Lester (4-3, 3.30 ERA) went 4-1 with a 1.76 ERA over six last month. He suffered that defeat after yielding an earned run and striking out 10 over seven innings while being outpitched by Max Scherzer during a 3-0 loss to Washington last Wednesday.

"He can absolutely deal," Scherzer told MLB's official website about Lester. "You know how good he is, and you just know that you have to match him."

After Lester yielded one homer through his first five outings, half of the 12 runs he's allowed in his last five have come on solo home runs. He's served up two of those long balls to All-Stars Paul Goldschmidt and Bryce Harper.

'The thing that makes really good hitters is when you make mistakes, they don't miss them,' the left-hander said.

He'll get his first look at Giancarlo Stanton, who hit his 16th home run to help Miami (21-32) even the set with Tuesday's 5-2 victory. Stanton's hit half of the Marlins' 14 homers at home.

Lester hasn't faced the Marlins since 2009, but Ichiro Suzuki has homered twice while batting .340 (18 for 53) against him. Teammate Martin Prado has not gone deep versus Lester, but is 5 for 7 with three doubles.

Haren (5-2, 3.03) allowed a pair of solo homers and two other hits over seven innings of a 4-3 road win over the New York Mets on Friday.

"He doesn't throw real hard, but he locates well and he mixes well," New York's Lucas Duda said.

The right-hander, who turns 35 in September, has done quite well while going 2-0 with a 1.45 ERA in five home starts. He gave up two runs over 20 innings there in three May outings.

However, while pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season, Haren was tagged for seven runs in 4 1-3 innings of an 8-2 loss to the Cubs on Aug. 1.

Dexter Fowler is 1 for 10 versus Haren, but 3 for 8 with three runs scored in the series.

Fowler and Junior Lake each had two hits Tuesday for the Cubs (27-23), who are 6-8 since winning a season-high six in a row. Chicago committed its 44th error in the field and a mental one on the bases when rookie Addison Russell was caught taking a big turn off second with one out and the bases potentially loaded in the ninth.

'We did not deserve to win," manager Joe Maddon said.

Lake could see more time in place of right fielder Jorge Soler, who is day to day with a sore ankle. Soler leads all rookies with 50 hits.

"It could be day to day or it could be longer than that, I'm not sure," Maddon said. "If it's going to be relatively short, I don't think it's wise to DL him. A guy like him, one or two days at the most might be plenty."

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Cubs at Marlins
Mon, Jun 1 Final 5 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Cubs at Marlins
Tue, Jun 2 Final 2 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Cubs at Marlins
Wed, Jun 3 - 7:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 06-03-2015, 11:59 AM

Preview: White Sox (23-27) at Rangers (27-25)
Game: 2
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: June 03, 2015 8:05 PM EDT

With two former All-Stars out of the lineup, the Texas Rangers looked like they might have a difficult time extending the offensive surge that has played a big role in their turnaround.

That's because no one could have imagined the performance Joey Gallo would give in his big league debut.

The surging Rangers hope to see more from their top prospect with runs likely to be a premium Wednesday night when they face Chris Sale and the Chicago White Sox in Arlington.

Gallo, the 39th pick in the 2012 draft, wasted little time making an impact upon joining Texas (27-25) on Tuesday after the club placed Adrian Beltre on the disabled list with a sprained left thumb.

The 21-year-old third baseman - the fourth-youngest to appear in the majors this season - had a two-run single in the first inning, a 418-foot, two-run homer in the third and a double in the fifth in a 15-2 rout.

'I definitely did not think this was going to happen the first game,' said Gallo, whose four RBIs set a team record for a debut. 'I was just going to be happy to get on base the first game, so I definitely over-achieved my goals there.'

Even with Josh Hamilton also out and now day to day with a sore hamstring, the Rangers matched their season-high run total while setting a new high with 19 hits in the series opener. Shin-Soo Choo went 3 for 5 with his eighth home run.

Carlos Corporan homered and knocked in a career-best five after filling in behind the plate for Robinson Chirinos, who had to leave two innings after he was hit by a pitch on the right hand in the first. The Rangers said X-rays were negative.

Texas has batted .307 with 18 home runs and averaged 7.5 runs in the last 11 games of an 11-2 stretch, though the team could have a much tougher time as it goes after its fifth consecutive victory.

Since allowing 14 runs and 16 hits over 8 1-3 innings in consecutive starts April 30 and May 6, Sale (4-2, 3.66 ERA) has gone 2-1 with a 1.71 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 31 2-3 innings over his last four.

The left-hander put together his first scoreless outing of the season Thursday when he yielded four singles and fanned a season-high 12 over 7 2-3 innings in a 3-2 win at Baltimore.

However, Sale's 4.62 ERA in nine games against the Rangers is highest versus any AL opponent. Adam Rosales has given him all kinds of trouble, going 6 for 11 with three home runs.

"The way our guys are going, I'm confident we're going to be in a battle," starter Nick Martinez told MLB's official website.

Martinez (4-1, 2.03) had won four straight decisions before allowing two runs over seven innings in Thursday's 5-1 home loss Boston. He extended his team record by giving up three earned runs or less for the 16th consecutive start.

The right-hander has yielded four home runs in 62 innings, but three have come in his last two starts. That might not be an issue facing the White Sox (23-27), who rank last in the AL with 33 homers.

Chicago, though, could get slugger Jose Abreu back from a three-game absence due to a swollen finger. Abreu, who has a team-high eight homers, went 2 for 3 against Martinez in a 5-3 home win Aug. 4, 2014.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
White Sox at Rangers
Tue, Jun 2 Final 2 to 15
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
White Sox at Rangers
Wed, Jun 3 - 8:05PM EDT

GAME 3
White Sox at Rangers
Thu, Jun 4 - 8:05PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 06-03-2015, 12:01 PM

Preview: Indians (25-26) at Royals (29-20)
Game: 2
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: June 03, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

The Kansas City Royals were responsible for two of Corey Kluber's losses during a disastrous stretch a month ago.

He enters this meeting once again resembling the pitcher that dazzled his way to the AL Cy Young Award in 2014.

Kluber looks to win a third straight start Wednesday night and help the visiting Cleveland Indians get back to .500 for the first time in two months in a matchup with a Royals team struggling offensively.

Kluber (3-5, 3.52 ERA) lost four consecutive starts while posting a 7.43 ERA from April 22-May 7, the last of which came in Kansas City when he allowed five runs and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings of a 7-4 defeat.

The right-hander bounced back with three remarkable outings, allowing only two runs and striking out 37 over 25 innings. He followed by yielding three runs with 13 strikeouts in Thursday's 5-3 win at Seattle. His 1.41 ERA since May 13 ranks as the best in the majors among those with at least 30 innings.

"I have no words for it," Indians right fielder Brandon Moss told MLB's official website of Kluber's current run. "I'm surprised it's not being talked about more throughout baseball. I know he gets his credit, but I've never seen anything like it. And, I mean, I really haven't."

Jason Kipnis has followed Kluber's lead with an outstanding run of his own, hitting .415 with 31 runs and a 1.179 OPS in his last 30 games. He failed to get a hit Tuesday but scored the game-winning run on Michael Brantley's eighth-inning single in a 2-1 victory. It was the third straight win and 11th in 14 games for the Indians (25-26), who are on the verge of getting back to .500 for the first time since they were 2-2 on April 10.

'It's baseball. This is a tough game,' said Brantley, who had gone 8 for 38 (.211) over his previous nine games. 'But I don't think about the past. I just think about today and getting the win for our team.'

Tuesday's contest featured only 11 total hits and none from the Royals past the fourth inning. Kansas City (29-20) has lost six of seven, plating seven runs while batting .174 in the defeats.

Eric Hosmer had an RBI single Tuesday but reliever Wade Davis, who previously had not allowed a run, could not maintain the tie.

The Royals' bullpen now has a 3.60 ERA in 25 innings over the last seven games after posting a 1.58 through the first 41.

Jason Vargas (3-2, 5.16) takes the mound looking for his third solid outing against the Indians this season. He gave up two runs, three hits and five walks in five innings in a 6-2 win at Cleveland on April 27 and permitted two runs, two hits and two walks in six innings in a 5-3 home victory over the Indians on May 5.

After a stint on the disabled list due to a left flexor strain, Vargas returned to suffer the loss Tuesday to the New York Yankees, striking out six and allowing two runs in four innings.

"I thought coming back off the DL, he was pretty down sharp," manager Ned Yost said. "He made one (bad) pitch ... But six punchouts, pretty darn good. Came back in good fashion."

Mike Moustakas has found success against Kluber, going 13 for 27 with a home run and five doubles. He is 5 for 6 in this season's matchups.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Indians at Royals
Tue, Jun 2 Final 2 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Indians at Royals
Wed, Jun 3 - 8:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Indians at Royals
Thu, Jun 4 - 8:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 06-03-2015, 12:03 PM

Preview: Orioles (23-28) at Astros (33-20)
Game: 3
Venue: Minute Maid Park
Date: June 03, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

The Houston Astros' dismal team batting average is offset by prodigious power and an offense that is very adept at coming from behind.

Whatever the recipe, it has them atop the American League.

Houston looks to ride the red-hot bat of Evan Gattis to another win over the struggling Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night.

Houston (33-20) hasn't had this many wins after 53 games since owning the same record in 1998, and a victory in this one would set a franchise record for the most after 54.

The Astros' rise has come despite hitting .239. However, their 71 homers are the most in the league and Gattis' 12 tie him with Luis Valbuena for the team lead.

Gattis hit a three-run shot and Valbuena followed with a solo blast in a five-run third inning en route to a 6-4 victory over Baltimore on Tuesday.

It was Houston's major league-leading 17th comeback win and improved it to 20-0 in multi-homer games.

"There have been good comebacks, (we've) come back from a lot. I'm just glad we could get (starter Collin McHugh) some runs and we've got a potent offense," said Gattis, who has a team-high 36 RBIs.

Gattis is batting .444 during a nine-game hitting streak with four homers, four doubles, one triple and 11 RBIs. He's 8 for 21 with two home runs and seven RBIs in five meetings with Baltimore (23-28) during that stretch.

Valbuena, meanwhile, has homered on two of his three hits in five at_bats during this series, adding four runs.

Lance McCullers (1-0, 2.40 ERA) is getting another chance to prove he's worthy of a regular spot in the rotation with Scott Feldman (knee) and Brad Peacock (lat) out.

The 21-year-old has struck out at least five batters in each of his first three starts to become the first Astros rookie to do so since J.R. Richard in 1971.

McCullers had the shortest of his three outings Friday, allowing two runs and five hits over 4 1-3 innings against the Chicago White Sox.

Despite McCullers' solid start to his career, the Astros are evaluating the possibility of adding depth to the rotation behind McHugh and emerging ace Dallas Keuchel.

"We're going to look at it," general manager Jeff Luhnow told MLB's official website. "We're going to look at all available options, but McCullers has been pitching well."

He'll face an Orioles team that has scored 11 runs and batted .208 during a four-game slide, one shy of their season high from April 20-24.

"Nothing really seems to go our way right now, but you look at the division and we're still three, four games back, so it's not time to hit the panic button yet," Steve Pearce told MLB's official website. "We haven't gotten hot yet as a team, and it's still early."

Adam Jones has been one of the main culprits, going 7 for 48 (.146) with one RBI in his last 12 games. He's 5 for 36 (.139) in nine career games at Houston.

Baltimore tries to avoid another loss behind Miguel Gonzalez (5-3, 3.48), who was brilliant in his last outing. He limited Tampa Bay to a solo homer and two other hits over eight innings Friday before leaving without a decision in a 2-1 victory.

The right-hander, though, has been roughed up for 10 runs and 15 hits over eight innings in losing his past two road starts.

Gonzalez is 1-1 with a 2.13 ERA in two career starts in Houston, but Jason Castro is 4 for 10 with a homer and three doubles in their matchups.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Orioles at Astros
Mon, Jun 1 Final 2 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Orioles at Astros
Tue, Jun 2 Final 4 to 6
Boxscores

GAME 3
Orioles at Astros
Wed, Jun 3 - 8:10PM EDT

GAME 4
Orioles at Astros
Thu, Jun 4 - 2:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 06-03-2015, 12:07 PM

Preview: Dodgers (31-21) at Rockies (23-28)
Game: 3
Venue: Coors Field
Date: June 03, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

Joc Pederson has a chance to do something no rookie throughout the storied history of the Los Angeles Dodgers has ever accomplished.

The talented slugger can be the franchise's first to homer in five consecutive games Wednesday night against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

Pederson ranks among the major league leaders with 63 strikeouts but his 16 home runs lead all rookies and are tied for third overall. As Los Angeles (31-21) split Tuesday's doubleheader, Pederson homered in each game with both estimated to have traveled at least 470 feet.

Baltimore's Caleb Joseph was the last rookie to homer in five straight from Aug. 2-9.

'We knew the talent was there, the swing was there,' manager Don Mattingly said of Pederson, who has eight RBIs in four games and is batting .342 in his last nine.

'The best is yet to come.'

Fellow rookie Alex Guerrero belted his 10th in 39 games this season with a go-ahead, pinch-hit grand slam in the ninth inning of Tuesday's nightcap that lifted the Dodgers to a 9-8 win. Leading the majors with 73 home runs, Los Angeles has gone deep nine times while taking two of three in this series.

Pederson went 0 for 3 versus Chad Bettis (2-0, 2.96 ERA) on May 14, when the right-hander allowed four runs, seven hits and walked four in five innings of a 5-4 loss in his season debut.

Bettis, however, has improved in each of the three starts that followed.

He gave up two runs in 8 1-3 innings of an 11-2 win over San Francisco on May 24, then yielded his only two hits in the eighth and final scoreless inning of a 4-1 victory at Philadelphia on Friday.

"The guy's got great stuff, he works hard and does a lot of homework - watched a lot, making sure he's mentally and physically ready," teammate Brandon Barnes said.

Mike Bolsinger (3-1, 1.15) has perhaps been more impressive for the Dodgers after going 1-6 with a 5.47 ERA in nine starts for Arizona during his first season in 2014.

The right-hander allowed only two runs in his first four starts, and although he matched that over six innings in Friday's 3-0 loss at St. Louis, Bolsinger continues to turn heads.

'Teams are going to look at film, they're going to try and figure him,' Mattingly said of Bolsinger, who has been recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City twice this season. 'But time tells you the more he pitches like this, he can do it.'

Bolsinger gave up three hits over six innings of a 1-0 win May 17 to improve to 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA in two starts versus Colorado (23-28) - both at Chavez Ravine.

Troy Tulowitzki is 2 for 3 with a home run versus Bolsinger, and batting .368 with six home runs and 22 RBIs while hitting safely in 24 of his last 26 home games against the Dodgers. He is 8 for 17 with three home runs, six runs scored and five RBIs in his last four contests overall.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Dodgers at Rockies
Mon, Jun 1 Final 11 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Dodgers at Rockies
Tue, Jun 2 Final 9 to 8 / 3 - 6
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Dodgers at Rockies
Wed, Jun 3 - 8:10PM EDT

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