Announcement

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

NHL TOTALS

NHL > (3) CHICAGO@ (4) TAMPA BAY | 06/06/2015 - 07:15 PM
Play UNDER CHICAGO on the total in Road games in non-conference games
The record is 2 Overs and 12 Unders for the this season (+9.8 units)

**StarDust Bum** · 06-06-2015, 03:22 AM

Game 2 - Stanley Cup Final

June 5, 2015

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (61-32-7) at TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (62-33-8)

Stanley Cup Finals Game 2
Sportsbook.ag Line: Chicago +110, Tampa Bay -130, Total: 5.0

The Lightning look to even up the series when they host the Blackhawks in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Saturday.

In Game 1, the Lightning struck fast and decided to play cautiously the rest of the way. That did not work for them as they would blow their 1-0 lead and end up losing the game 2-1. They will need to open it up a little bit in Game 2 or they are in great danger of falling behind 2-0 heading into Game 3 in Chicago.

With the victory for the Blackhawks, the team is now 2-1 both SU and ATS against the Lightning on the season. They have split wins both SU and ATS in Tampa Bay as well. The Blackhawks are 15-5 ATS in road games when playing only their second game in five days this season and 13-5 ATS in the playoffs overall. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, is 13-3 ATS after two or more consecutive Unders this season. The total has gone Under in three of the past four Lightning games and that could continue if the team continues to try to win games with a defensive mentality.

D Trevor Van Riemsdyk (Wrist) and LW Bryan Bickell (Upper Body) are both questionable for Chicago and Tampa Bay enters this game at close to full strength.

The Blackhawks were able to steal Game 1 in Tampa Bay and G Corey Crawford (10-4, 2.46 GAA, 92.1% SV% in playoffs) played very well. Crawford settled down after allowing an early goal and stopped 22 of the 23 shots he faced. He’ll need to continue to be a sturdy presence for his team moving forward.

Offensively it was LW Teuvo Teravainen (3 G, 5 A, 9 PTS in playoffs) who stepped it up for Chicago. He had a goal and an assist in the game and really came through when the Blackhawks were desperate for some firepower. C Antonie Vermette (3 G, 3 A, 6 PTS in playoffs) also scored a goal for the Blackhawks. He has been clutch throughout the postseason, but Chicago will need its usual suspects to get it going in this series.

If RW Patrick Kane (10 G, 10 A, 20 PTS in playoffs), D Duncan Keith (2 G, 17 A, 19 PTS in playoffs) and C Jonathan Toews (9 G, 9 A, 18 PTS in playoffs) are unable to make their marks in this series then it is extremely likely that the Lightning will be hoisting a trophy when it’s all over. These Blackhawks superstars must be aggressive in Game 2, as it’s unlikely that the team will win if they are pointless once again.

The Lightning got off to a fast start on a beautiful goal by C Alex Killorn (8 G, 9 A, 17 PTS in playoffs) in Game 1, but they sat on their lead and were not aggressive enough. This was the most explosive team during the regular season and it will need to try to win games with its fast-paced offense the rest of the way.

One guy who absolutely must show up for the Lightning is C Steven Stamkos (7 G, 10 A, 17 PTS in playoffs). The Lightning captain has just seven shots on goal over the past three games and has really been invisible at times throughout those games. He is one of the most potent goal scorers in the entire NHL and has to find the back of the net at some point. It would give his team a huge boost if he is to find his game in Game 2.

G Ben Bishop (12-9, 2.14 GAA, 91.9% SV% in playoffs) is going to have to be ready to stand on his head in this series. His team seemed perfectly content with playing a defensive oriented game and if that is the case then he will likely have to allow one or less goals moving forward. He was solid in Game 2 and it’s unfair to ask much more of him, as this Lightning offense should be able to provide some more scoring.

**StarDust Bum** · 06-06-2015, 03:24 AM

Cheat Sheet - Stanley Cup

June 3, 2015

The Stanley Cup Finals begin Wednesday June 3 from Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay as the Lightning and Blackhawks begin their best-of-seven series. Even though Tampa Bay has home ice, Chicago has been installed as the betting favorite.

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Series Price: Blackhawks -160, Lightning +140

Exact Games Odds - 7 Game Series (2-2-1-1-1)
4 Games Lightning Win 15/1
5 Games Lightning Win 6/1
6 Games Lightning Win 5/1
7 Games Lightning Win 9/2

4 Games Blackhawks Win 10/1
5 Games Blackhawks Win 4/1
6 Games Blackhawks Win 3/1
7 Games Blackhawks Win 9/2

Odds to win Conn Smythe Trophy

Jonathan Toews (Blackhawks) 3/1
Duncan Keith (Blackhawks) 13/4
Tyler Johnson (Lightning) 4/1
Patrick Kane (Blackhawks) 9/2
Ben Bishop (Lightning) 13/2
Steven Stamkos (Lightning) 7/1
Corey Crawford (Blackhawks) 12/1
Nikita Kucherov (Lightning) 18/1
Marian Hossa (Blackhawks) 20/1
Patrick Sharp (Blackhawks) 20/1

Odds provided by Sportsbook.ag

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Playoff Record: 12-8 Straight up, 10-10 Puck-Line, 9-10-1 Over/Under
Home Record: 5-5
Road Record: 7-3

- Beat Detroit in 7 Games (4-3 SU, 3-4 PL, 2-4-1 O/U)
- Beat Montreal in 6 Games (4-2 SU, 3-3 PL, 3-3 O/U)
- Beat NY Rangers in 7 Games (4-3 SU, 4-3 PL, 4-3 O/U)

Lightning: First Stanley Cup Finals since 2004 (Beat Calgary in 7 games)

Power-Play: 22.2% (16 for 72)
Penalty Kill: 81.1% (56 for 69)

Leading Scorers
Tyler Johnson (12 Goals, 9 Assists = 21 Points)
Nikita Kucherov (9 Goals, 10 Assists = 19 Points)
Steven Stamkos (7 Goals, 10 Assists = 17 Points)

Starting Goaltender
Ben Bishop (12-8, 2.15 G.A.A; .920 Sv% with 3 SO's & 3 Assists)

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

Playoff Record: 12-5 SU, 9-8 PL, 11-3-3 O/U
Home Record: 7-1
Road Record: 5-4

- Beat Nashville in 6 Games (4-2 SU, 2-4 PL, 5-1 O/U
- Beat Minnesota in 4 Games (4-0 SU, 3-1 PL, 2-1-1 O/U)
- Beat Anaheim in 7 Games (4-3 SU, 4-3 PL, 4-1-2 O/U)

Blackhawks: 8-4 SU & O/U Last 12 Stanle Cup Finals Games (2010 & 2013)

Power-Play: 19.6% (10 for 51)
Penalty Kill: 75.5% (37 for 49)

Leading Scorers
Patrick Kane (10 Goals, 10 Assists = 20 Points)
Jonathan Toews (9 Goals, 9 Assists = 18 Points)
Duncan Keith (18 Points; Leads League with +13 & 31 Mins/Game)

Starting Goaltender
Corey Crawford (9-4, 2.56 G.A.A; .919 Sv% with 1 shutout)

Head-to-Head (Last 2 Seasons)
2/27/15 - Tampa Bay (-155) 4 vs. Chicago 0 (Under 5.5)
11/11/14 - Chicago (-145) 3 vs. Tampa Bay 2 (Under 5.5)
10/24/13 - Tampa Bay (+105) 6 vs. Chicago 5 (Over 5.5)
10/5/13 - Tampa Bay (+185) 3 at Chicago 2 (Under 5.5)

STANLEY CUP FINALS BETTING TRENDS

- Home Favorites in Game 1 are 6-0 SU, 1-5 PL, 2-3-1 O/U
- 5 of the Last 6 Stanley Cup Winners clinched on Road
- Home Teams are 27-9 SU Last 6 SCF's
- Puck-Line Underdogs are 12-5 PL
- Game 1 Winners have won the Stanley Cup in 4 of the last 6 SCF
- Favorites are 8-3 SU Last 11 OT Games

STANLEY CUP FINALS NOTES (2009-2014)

2014 - LA Kings vs NY Rangers (Kings win in 5)
4-1 Favorites, 4-1 Home, 1-4 PL Favorites, 1-2-2 O/U
3 Games in OT. Series ends in OT with Home Win
1st Game: Home Favorite Wins, Total Pushes 5

2013 - Chicago vs Boston (Blackhawks win in 6)
3-3 Favorites, 3-3 Home, 2-4 PL Favorites, 3-3 O/U
3 Games in OT, Series ends with Road Dog Win
1st Game: Home Favorite Wins, Total OVER 5

2012 - LA Kings vs NJ Devils (Kings win in 6)
4-2 Favorites, 3-3 Home, 2-4 PL Favorites, 1-5 O/U
2 Games in OT, Series ends with Road Favorite Win
1st Game: Home Favorite Wins, Total UNDER 5

2011 - Vancouver vs Boston (Bruins win in 7)
6-1 Favorites, 6-1 Home, 3-4 PL Favorites, 2-4-1 O/U
One OT Game, Series ends with Road Underdog Win
1st Game: Home Favorite Wins, Total UNDER 5.5

NOTE: 2011 Game 1 is the Last SCF game to have a 5.5 total
(23 game streak with 5 - Record: 7-13-3 O/U)

2010 - Chicago vs Philadelphia (Blackhawks win in 6)
6-0 Favorites, 5-1 Home, 2-4 PL Favorites, 5-1 O/U
2 OT Games, Series ends with Road Favorite Win
1st Game: Home Favorite Wins, Total OVER 5.5

2009 - Detroit vs Pittsburgh (Penguins win in 7)
6-1 Favorites, 6-1 Home, 5-2 PL Favorites, 2-5 O/U
No OT Games*, Series ends with Road Underdog Win
1st Game: Home Favorite Wins, Total UNDER 6

**StarDust Bum** · 06-06-2015, 03:26 AM

Tampa is rare Sun Belt hockey town

June 5, 2015

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Phil Esposito swells with parental pride when he sees the Tampa Bay Lightning chasing the Stanley Cup in an arena largely packed with Florida fans who have converted to his beloved game.

The Hall of Famer who co-founded the franchise 23 years ago realizes just how unlikely it was for this team in this city to reach this magical moment. Outside the sold-out Amalie Arena, thousands more brave the June humidity to watch playoff games on an oversize screen, gathering around a bronze statue of Esposito in the plaza.

Every bit of it never fails to amaze the two-time NHL MVP.

''I did a lot of things in hockey as a player, but there's nothing that can compare to this,'' Esposito told The Associated Press. ''This, to me, is my greatest thrill. If you've had kids, you know what I'm talking about. I gave birth to this team. I gave every penny I ever had in the world. I even sacrificed a marriage because of it. To be in Tampa to see this, it makes me so happy.''

While Sun Belt hockey teams from Phoenix to Miami struggle to stay solvent or relevant, the Lightning are alive and thriving. Their second trip to the Stanley Cup Final is the next peak of a revival under owner Jeff Vinik, whose money has fueled the cold-weather sport's growth in a warm-weather town.

A franchise with a few incredible highs - including a 2004 title - and many more years of weird lows is now stable and entrenched in the Tampa Bay area. With renovations to the arena, an aggressive approach to community involvement and a first-class product on the ice, the Lightning are even better off than when Dave Andreychuk raised that Stanley Cup 11 years ago.

''When I first got here, let's face it, this franchise had some really down times,'' said Andreychuk, now the Lightning's vice president of corporate and community affairs. ''But we had a commitment, and we saw the opportunity here. We're still in a market where it's new to a lot of people. That's fun for me, but we've built something here. People realize what we are.''

The team's revival culminated with an Eastern Conference title and a showdown with the Chicago Blackhawks, but general manager Steve Yzerman's success is the foundation of a larger project.

Vinik has spent freely to provide top-notch experiences in every off-ice aspect of the Lightning, renovating its arena to world-class status - and even adding an impressive pipe organ that rocks its foundations. The Lightning do innumerable public appearances. They've started a high school hockey league and give out $50,000 community hero grants at every game.

It's all paying off: The Lightning have said they're barely losing money, which is never a given for a warm-weather hockey club. After dropping to an average of 11,510 fans in 1998-99, the Lightning have averaged at least 17,000 fans per game in nine of the last 11 years, including a robust 18,823 this year.

The Lightning's work in the past decade has cemented their reputation not only in Florida, but around the sport. Scotty Bowman, the winningest coach in NHL history and a 13-time Stanley Cup champion, moved to Sarasota, Florida, a year after Tampa Bay's championship.

''Nobody in my area ever talked hockey, even living in a condo complex with five buildings and 400 people, but now there's a lot of fans there,'' Bowman told the AP. ''I think it's because they had a good run in the playoffs there, and now there are more rinks. The kids are starting to play, but it's not so much about finding players. It's about creating fans.''

So many hockey men - and goalie Manon Rheaume, who suited up for exhibition games in the 1990s - have failed where Vinik and Yzerman are succeeding. The Lightning's first decade was an extended comedy featuring three arenas, empty seats, retread players, oddball owners - including one, Takashi Okubo, who never saw a game - and lawsuits.

The Lightning attracted weirdness from their very first home game at Expo Hall on the Florida State Fairgrounds: When Chris Kontos completed a hat trick, his godfather threw his hat on the ice - and was nearly thrown out of the building by an angry usher.

Everything changed in their 12th season of existence in 2004 when the Lightning shockingly assembled a championship team. When the 40-year-old Andreychuk lifted the Cup after Game 7, Tampa Bay was forever changed.

''This community won, and when those players come into this room, they know there's been a championship won in that room,'' Andreychuk said. ''Not every city can say that. And all those young kids in `04 that were watching, they're now buying seats, and they want to be part of it. They've been fans since then.''

Brad Richards, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy with Tampa Bay in 2004, believes the Lightning's biggest advantage over the Panthers, the Coyotes and other warm-weather teams is that Stanley Cup title. Anyone driving by Amalie Arena can see the statue depicting Andreychuk raising the trophy.

Richards, now playing for Chicago, said Tampa ''came alive with hockey.''

''We talked about that when we won, that it was something special to do in this market and that it's probably going to last a long time,'' Richards said. ''I know friends here that have kids that play hockey and watched that Cup run, and they understand it when they go to games now. When I first got here, I'm not so sure they understood what was going on. Now they're passionate. They know the height, and how special it is. It's good to see this town back in form.''

**StarDust Bum** · 06-06-2015, 03:29 AM

Preview: Cubs (28-24) at Nationals (29-25)
Game: 3
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: June 06, 2015 12:05 PM EDT

After breaking out to end their latest slide, the Washington Nationals could face a difficult time building on that needed victory while trying to tarnish Jason Hammel's perfect record against them.

The Chicago Cubs right-hander looks to continue his success overall and against the host Nationals on Saturday.

After totaling 15 runs during a 1-6 stretch, Washington (30-25) got an early three-run homer from Danny Espinosa and pounded out 12 hits to snap a three-game skid with Friday's 7-5 win.

"Nice job through the lineup," manager Matt Williams said. "It's a good win for us. We needed that one."

Looking to win two in a row for the first time since May 24-25, the Nationals don't have much time to exhale with Hammel (4-2, 2.82 ERA) awaiting.

He's 8-0 in 10 starts versus Washington, and has a 2.87 ERA with 46 strikeouts and seven walks while winning seven in a row. Five of those overall victories have come in six starts at Nationals Park.

He's also looked extremely strong while going 2-1 with a 2.02 ERA over his last five starts. During that stretch, opponents are batting .180 and Hammel has struck out 42 and walked five. He gave up a run and fanned a career-high 11 without a walk in 6 2-3 innings of Monday's 5-1 win at Miami.

'I'm not really trying to strike guys out,' Hammel said. "When I'm missing, my misses are better,' he said. 'That's about it. When I've made mistakes this year, it hasn't hurt me.'

Ryan Zimmerman is batting .355 with three doubles and a homer versus Hammel, but Bryce Harper is 0 for 10 with five strikeouts against him.

Needing a spot starter due to a doubleheader earlier in the week, the Nationals hand the ball to Joe Ross for his major league debut.

Among the club's top prospects and brother of San Diego's Tyson Ross, the right-hander has the potential to be a fixture in Washington's rotation as early as 2017. Acquired from the Padres as part of a three-team trade that sent outfielder Steven Souza Jr. to Tampa Bay and Wil Myers from the Rays to San Diego, Ross was 2-2 with a 2.81 ERA in nine starts for Double-A Harrisburg.

"Like a lot of 22-year-old pitchers, (they) just have to get a feel for their craft, and the only way you can get that is pitching innings," Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo told MLB's official website. "He's in an important stage of his career, because he's got really good stuff and he's performed admirably at each level he's at, and that's one of the reasons we felt he'd be the guy, at least until some of our veteran starters get ready."

Ross will try to contain Anthony Rizzo, batting .361 during a hitting streak that reached 10 games after he homered twice Friday as the Cubs (28-25) fell to 2-3 on a seven-game trip.

It's uncertain if Washington shortstop Yunel Escobar will play after sitting Friday with a sore wrist.

"We have to keep evaluating him and see where he is at," Williams said. "It's still a little swollen."

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Cubs at Nationals
Thu, Jun 4 Final 2 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Cubs at Nationals
Fri, Jun 5 Final 5 to 7
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Cubs at Nationals
Sat, Jun 6 - 12:05PM EDT

GAME 4
Cubs at Nationals
Sun, Jun 7 - 4:05PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 06-06-2015, 03:31 AM

Preview: Astros (34-21) at Blue Jays (25-30)
Game: 2
Venue: Rogers Centre
Date: June 06, 2015 1:07 PM EDT

As the Toronto Blue Jays look to bolster their roster for the future, their recent play should have them feeling good about the present.

The Blue Jays will try for a season-high fourth consecutive victory Saturday against the visiting Houston Astros.

Prior to Friday's 6-2 series-opening victory, Toronto general manager Alex Anthopoulos mentioned free-agent closer Rafael Soriano is on the club's radar to help bolster a bullpen that's recorded a major league-low six saves and blown nine opportunities.

Though it's uncertain if or when the Blue Jays (26-30) will actually make a move on the veteran, their immediate goal is to get back to .500 and keep pace in the tight AL East.

'The fortunate thing for us is no one really took off in the division,' Anthopoulos said. 'When I look at the club overall and I look at the division, where we're positioned and the upside, I still think we've got a very good team and a chance to make a run.'

Toronto has outscored its last three opponents 21-5 while batting .280 and posting a 1.04 ERA. Aaron Sanchez gave up an earned run over eight-plus innings as the Blue Jays snapped a seven-game skid to the AL West leaders.

'Our game plan was to go and attack these guys,' Sanchez said. 'They're a very aggressive team."

Jose Bautista homered for a second straight contest and Chris Colabello had three hits to extend his hitting streak to 15 games. It's the longest active streak in the majors and longest by a Blue Jay since Scott Rolen's 25-gamer in 2009. Colabello is batting .366 with 17 RBIs in 29 games since he was called up to make his season debut May 5. He's hitting .406 in his last eight against the Astros.

Bautista has batted .371 with nine RBIs in the last nine games.

Teammate Drew Hutchison (4-1, 5.26 ERA) won his only decision while posting a 7.80 ERA in six road starts but has a 2.97 ERA to go 3-1 in five at Rogers Centre. He tossed a four-hitter and struck out eight without a walk during a 6-0 home win over the Chicago White Sox on May 25, then gave up four runs in 5 1-3 innings of Sunday's 6-5 loss at Minnesota.

One of the right-hander's better road outings came while yielding two runs and striking out nine over six innings of a 6-4 loss to Houston on May 14.

Jose Altuve and Preston Tucker went a combined 4 for 5 with two doubles versus Hutchison in that contest. That duo was 1 for 8 on Friday as the Astros were held to three or fewer runs for the sixth time while splitting their last eight contests.

Fresh off his second stint on the disabled list because of a blister, Houston's Brett Oberholtzer (0-0, 3.24) allowed two runs and seven hits in 5 1-3 innings of a 5-2 win over Baltimore on Monday in his second start of 2015.

The left-hander went 1-1 with a 3.65 ERA against the Blue Jays last season.

Batting .381 during a 10-game hitting streak, Josh Donaldson is 6 for 15 with four doubles and a home run versus Oberholtzer.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Astros at Blue Jays
Fri, Jun 5 Final 2 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Astros at Blue Jays
Sat, Jun 6 - 1:07PM EDT

GAME 3
Astros at Blue Jays
Sun, Jun 7 - 1:07PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 06-06-2015, 03:33 AM

Preview: Rangers (28-26) at Royals (30-21)
Game: 2
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: June 06, 2015 2:10 PM EDT

The fact that one team in a matchup between the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers is going for a sixth consecutive series win and the other is trying to avoid dropping a fourth straight isn't necessarily surprising.

The Rangers being in the favorable position probably is.

Texas tries for its 14th win in 17 games Saturday in Kansas City, while the slumping Royals attempt to get their offense going to avoid a ninth loss in their last 11.

The Rangers (29-26) opened the series with Friday's 4-0 victory, and with seven hits it was a comparatively modest offensive showing considering they're batting .286 with 5.94 runs per game in their last 16.

Mitch Moreland was 2 for 3 with a home run to extend his road hitting streak to 12 games. He's batting .344 away from Arlington with homers in four of his last eight road games.

Recent infield callups Hanser Alberto and Joey Gallo each went without a hit for the first time, but they're collectively 13 for 44.

"I'm seeing the ball better so I have a better (strike) zone," Alberto told MLB's official website. "The umpires up here are better, but now I'm looking for my pitch until I get two strikes."

The Rangers haven't won six straight series since Aug. 17-Sept. 9, 2012, with that stretch also concluding in Kansas City and the season resulting in their last playoff appearance. The clubs split four from May 11-14, so Texas can also secure this season's overall series.

Kansas City (30-21) was shut out for the first time in 37 games with a season-low three hits. Over the 2-8 stretch, the Royals are batting .192 and averaging 2.10 runs.

Salvador Perez was 0 for 3 Friday, extending his slump to 2 for 26 overall and 2 for 15 in the season series.

Yordano Ventura will be charged with slowing down the Rangers.

Ventura (3-4, 4.26 ERA), who turned 24 on Wednesday, has completed seven innings in each of his last four starts, but the quality of those outings has fluctuated. The right-hander held the Chicago Cubs to a run and four hits in seven innings of Sunday's 2-1 loss and wasn't stuck with the decision.

"He just had everything going," manager Ned Yost said. "Had a really good curveball. Good command with his fastball and mixed in some changeups. He was really good."

The next step is repeating it. Prior to facing the Cubs, he allowed four runs in a 6-1 home loss to St. Louis on May 24, and he hasn't posted consecutive starts yielding under four runs since his first two of the year.

Ventura pitched in a 5-2 loss in Texas on May 13, surrendering five runs and a season-high 10 hits in seven innings to drop to 2-1 with a 3.72 ERA in three career starts against the Rangers.

Delino DeShields is 3 for 3 and Prince Fielder 3 for 4 with a homer in their matchups.

Ventura will be opposed by Wandy Rodriguez, who posted a 3.22 ERA in six May starts after a 4.82 in two during April. June, however, has traditionally been his worst month with a 5.01 mark and .820 opponent OPS.

Rodriguez (2-2, 3.55) gave up three runs - two earned - and a season-high nine hits in 5 2-3 innings of Sunday's 4-3 win over Boston and didn't earn the decision.

That came at home, but on the road he's gone 2-0 with a 2.03 ERA in five starts. The left-hander has never pitched in Kansas City but is 0-2 with a 4.15 ERA in two starts against the Royals.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Rangers at Royals
Fri, Jun 5 Final 4 to 0
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Rangers at Royals
Sat, Jun 6 - 2:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Rangers at Royals
Sun, Jun 7 - 2:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 06-06-2015, 03:35 AM

Preview: Brewers (18-36) at Twins (32-21)
Game: 2
Venue: Target Field
Date: June 06, 2015 2:10 PM EDT

Matt Garza trudged through three straight rough starts for the Milwaukee Brewers, a stretch that shook the veteran after feeling as if he had found his groove.

An unexpected relief outing seems to have brought back his confidence.

Garza takes the mound Saturday looking to help the Milwaukee Brewers take the first two of a three-game set with the host Minnesota Twins.

The right-hander originally was scheduled to start Monday against St. Louis, but he was called into relief action during Sunday's 7-6, 17-inning win over Arizona.

Garza (3-7, 5.52 ERA) allowed three hits in five scoreless innings and earned the victory after posting an 11.66 ERA while dropping three consecutive starts. He had a 3.16 ERA over his previous four starts.

"I got back to being me," Garza said after his outing against the Diamondbacks. "Win or lose, the way I felt out there, I was pumped."

That's a good sign heading into this start against the Twins (32-22), with whom Garza began his career in 2006. He's 1-0 with a 1.77 ERA in three starts against his former team, most recently beating Minnesota 6-2 while throwing 6 1-3 scoreless innings on June 2 of last season.

Joe Mauer doubled twice off Garza in that contest, and he went 2 for 3 with a three-run homer in a five-run fifth inning that tied Friday's series opener. The Brewers (19-36), though, capitalized on misplayed flyballs by Torii Hunter and Kurt Suzuki in the eighth and added three more runs in the ninth for a 10-5 victory.

Adam Lind hit a three-run homer in the third, an RBI double in the eighth and a two-run single in the ninth to finish with his most RBIs since having a career-high eight against Texas on Aug. 31, 2009.

'Obviously they're a good team, so you can't ease up,' Lind said. 'Because they scored the five and tied it up, they make us lock it in and keep playing.'

Lind hasn't eased up at all over his last seven, hitting .478 with no strikeouts. Manager Craig Counsell is most impressed with Lind going 6 for 8 with two homers with runners in scoring position in the last four games he's had opportunities.

'He came up in some big spots with runners on base and he delivered,' Counsell said. 'That's what we want. We want him hitting with runners in scoring position.'

The Twins dropped to 19-8 at home, still the fewest home losses in the AL. Mauer's solid night came after going 0 for 9 over his previous three.

'The first couple innings I felt like we were flat,' Hunter said. 'We got a burst of energy and a little adrenaline and got something going. And then we just fell apart in the eighth.'

Minnesota looks to bounce back with help from J.R. Graham, who will be making his first career start after the rookie made 14 appearances out of the bullpen.

Graham (0-0, 3.10) allowed an unearned run in three innings of Sunday's 6-5 win over Toronto and might not go much more than that in this contest.

The right-hander will likely be the first of multiple relievers to eat up innings after starter Ricky Nolasco was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with a right ankle injury.

"More than likely, it's going to be one of those games where we're going to have to piece it together with the bullpen," manager Paul Molitor told MLB's official website.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Brewers at Twins
Fri, Jun 5 Final 10 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Brewers at Twins
Sat, Jun 6 - 2:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Brewers at Twins
Sun, Jun 7 - 2:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 06-06-2015, 03:36 AM

Preview: Giants (30-25) at Phillies (21-34)
Game: 2
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: June 06, 2015 3:05 PM EDT

Brandon Belt inexplicably remains hitless in his career at Citizens Bank Park.

San Francisco's first baseman seems to have a good chance to change that Saturday given Philadelphia Phillies rookie Severino Gonzalez's struggles with left-handed hitters.

After dropping the final five of a seven-game homestand, the Giants (31-25) opened a six-game trip Friday with a 5-4 win. It was the ninth victory in 11 road games for San Francisco, which got homers from Buster Posey, Matt Duffy and Justin Maxwell.

"It was a good win because we've come off a tough skid at home," manager Bruce Bochy said. "It's always good to get that first game of a road trip."

Belt entered this series on a bit of a tear, totaling three homers and three doubles while hitting safely in eight of nine games. That surge abruptly ended as he went hitless in three at_bats Friday, dropping to 0 for 14 lifetime in Philadelphia.

Despite Belt's struggles in Philadelphia, the Giants have found success there on account of Posey. The star catcher hit the go-ahead home run in the seventh and is batting .400 with nine extra-base hits in 13 games in Philadelphia, where the Giants have won six of seven. His .382 career average against the Phillies is his best against any NL team.

Belt, however, may have the advantage in a matchup with Gonzalez (2-1, 6.88 ERA), who is limiting right-handed hitters to a .268 average while lefties are batting .536 (15 for 28). That mark is easily baseball's worst for those that have faced at least 30 lefties.

That also bodes well for left-handed bats Brandon Crawford and Joe Panik, who had two hits and is batting .385 during a 10-game hitting streak. He is 8 for 15 in his last four in Philadelphia.

The Giants could get Nori Aoki back after he was out of the starting lineup Friday due to the flu but was available to pinch hit. He is 11 for 17 in his last four games away from AT&T Park and leads the majors with a .386 road batting average.

Ryan Howard and Maikel Franco homered Friday for the Phillies (2-9), who lost for the ninth time in 11 games.

Franco is 7 for 17 with three homers, two doubles and seven RBIs in four games this month after going 2 for 27 in his final seven May contests.

"Franco continues to show pop in his bat," manager Ryne Sandberg said.

Howard entered Friday mired in a 2-for-32 slump and is 1 for 9 with five strikeouts against Madison Bumgarner (6-2, 3.12).

Leadoff hitter Ben Revere, who is 6 for 9 in his last three games but had a bad baserunning blunder Friday, has fared much better, going 4 for 8 with a double in their matchups.

In two starts against the Phillies last season, Bumgarner gave up a run and nine hits with 15 strikeouts and no walks in 15 innings. He has a 2.57 ERA in five career games versus Philadelphia.

Bumgarner retired the first 12 Atlanta batters Saturday and ended up allowing three runs and five hits in 6 1-3 innings of a 7-5 loss.

Gonzalez, who had his last start skipped due to off days, has shown some glimpses of excellence but hasn't been able to put it all together.

Against the New York Mets on May 25, the right-hander struck out eight but also allowed two homers and three runs overall in 4 1-3 innings of a 6-3 loss. He was pulled after 69 pitches and has not lasted longer than five innings in any of his four starts.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Giants at Phillies
Fri, Jun 5 Final 5 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Giants at Phillies
Sat, Jun 6 - 3:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Giants at Phillies
Sun, Jun 7 - 1:35PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 06-06-2015, 03:38 AM

Preview: Athletics (23-33) at Red Sox (24-31)
Game: 2
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: June 06, 2015 4:05 PM EDT

Dustin Pedroia has been much better at home than on the road, but the venue doesn't seem to matter against the Oakland Athletics.

Pedroia looks to continue pounding the A's as the Boston Red Sox attempt to beat them for the sixth time in eight meetings at Fenway Park on Saturday.

Pedroia is hitting .366 at home compared to .264 as the visitor. He's 11 for 21 with six runs while Boston (25-31) has gone 3-2 on this seven-game homestand. He has a nine-game hitting streak at Fenway, during which he's 17 for 37 (.459).

The four-time All-Star collected three hits - one double - and scored twice in Friday's 4-2 win over the A's, snapping Oakland's four-game winning streak.

Pedroia's success against the A's (23-34) hasn't been limited to Boston, as he's batting .370 in his past 30 overall meetings - .404 during a 12-game hitting streak.

Oakland is hoping Jesse Chavez (2-5, 2.11 ERA) can slow him down again since he's held Pedroia to one hit in five at_bats.

Chavez, though, is looking for some help again since he gets an average of 1.36 runs of support, the lowest qualifying mark in the majors by nearly one run.

"I don't look at that every time I go out there," Chavez told MLB's official website. "I just look at trying to get the offense back in as soon as possible and watch them do their thing."

The right-hander went 25 innings without getting a run of support before Stephen Vogt's two-run homer in the sixth of Sunday's 3-0 win over the Yankees. Chavez went eight innings without allowing an earned run for the second straight start.

"It wears on you to keep going out there knowing you have to put up zeroes," manager Bob Melvin said. "The two-run homer felt like a five-run homer. ... It's great that we could finally reward him."

Chavez allowed three hits in seven scoreless innings of a 2-1 win in 10 in his only career start against Boston on June 21.

Vogt, however, may not be available after being limited to a pinch-hit appearance Friday due to leg cramps. The catcher leads the team with a .308 average, while he's tied with Marcus Semien for the most runs at 27.

The Red Sox are turning to Joe Kelly (1-4, 5.83), who hasn't won since allowing one run and one hit with eight strikeouts in seven innings of an 8-4 win over the Yankees in his season debut April 11.

The right-hander has allowed two runs or fewer in three of his last four games, yielding one earned in five innings while not getting a decision in Sunday's 4-3 loss at Texas.

Kelly's only meeting with the A's came with St. Louis on June 28, 2013, when he allowed one run in 5 1-3 innings of relief.

Friday's opener was marred by a fan being hit by the A's Brett Lawrie's broken bat in the second inning. She was transported to a local hospital with apparent life-threatening injuries.

"Any time anybody's taken off the field on a stretcher you have your fingers crossed," Melvin said. "You realize that that's a lot more important than a baseball game."

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Athletics at Red Sox
Fri, Jun 5 Final 2 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Athletics at Red Sox
Sat, Jun 6 - 4:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Athletics at Red Sox
Sun, Jun 7 - 1:35PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 06-06-2015, 03:40 AM

Preview: Orioles (24-29) at Indians (26-27)
Game: 2
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: June 06, 2015 4:10 PM EDT

Matt Wieters provided a spark for the offensively challenged Baltimore Orioles in his return, while the Cleveland Indians couldn't capitalize on another solid pitching effort in the series opener.

Danny Salazar will try to help the Indians bounce back as he goes after a career high-tying sixth win Saturday against the visiting Orioles, who haven't had a three-game winning streak since late April.

Wieters picked up where he left off last season, going 2 for 3 with a double and two RBIs in Friday's 5-2 win in his first game since May 10, 2014 following Tommy John surgery.

The All-Star catcher was hitting .308 with five home runs in 26 games before getting shut down. He spent time at extended spring training and on a minor league rehab assignment before finally re-joining the Orioles.

'I felt like I was back to what I love doing,' said Wieters, who started behind the plate. 'It was a great feeling. It makes you think of all the hard work and that had to go into just getting back here.'

Wieters' anticipated return provided a lift for a Baltimore team that had totaled 17 runs while hitting .200 over its previous seven games. Adam Jones homered for a second straight game and is 7 for 12 in his last three.

The Orioles (25-29) hope to keep it going as they try to win three consecutive games for the first time since April 25-29.

Cleveland starters have a 2.93 ERA while opponents are batting just .226 over their last 18 starts, but the Indians (26-28) scored two runs for the third time in four games Friday. They lost for only the fifth time in 17 games since May 19, but have one of the majors' worst home records at 10-15.

Mike Aviles started his third straight game at shortstop in place of the slumping Jose Ramirez (.184).

'I thought he was coming out of it 10 days ago, but he's struggling now," manager Terry Francona said.

Salazar (5-1, 3.79 ERA) is one of three Indians with at least five wins, but he's allowed three runs or more in five of his last seven starts. The right-hander has benefited from the majors' third-best run-support average at 7.90.

The Indians, though, have only provided five runs in Salazar's last two starts. He allowed three runs over 5 2-3 innings but did not factor in a 4-3 loss to Texas on May 26, before giving up three over 5 1-3 in Sunday's 6-3, 12-inning win at Seattle.

Since issuing six walks over his first six starts, he's walked 10 over his last three. Salazar, who hasn't lost in five starts, yielded two runs over five-plus innings in a 4-1 home loss to Baltimore on Aug. 17.

Former Indian Ubaldo Jimenez (3-3, 3.12) gave up two runs with eight strikeouts over six-plus innings in Monday's 5-2 loss at Houston. The right-hander had allowed seven runs and 17 hits over 11 innings in his previous two starts.

He hasn't fared well against his former team, posting an 11.88 ERA while the Orioles lost two meetings by a combined 15-0 score last season. Carlos Santana has a three-run home run and three walks in four plate appearances in the matchup.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Orioles at Indians
Fri, Jun 5 Final 5 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Orioles at Indians
Sat, Jun 6 - 4:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Orioles at Indians
Sun, Jun 7 - 1:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 06-06-2015, 03:45 AM

Preview: Padres (27-28) at Reds (23-29)
Game: 2
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: June 06, 2015 4:10 PM EDT

In Andrew Cashner's last start, hittable and unhittable came together in a manner unseen in more than 100 years of baseball, and the results weren't favorable.

The right-hander will try following up that baffling outing with more positive results Saturday in a visit to the Cincinnati Reds as the San Diego Padres go for a season-best fourth straight win.

Cashner (2-8, 3.46 ERA), flipped in the rotation with Odrisamer Despaigne, gets a chance a day early to forget about Monday's 7-0 home loss to the New York Mets. Cashner became the first pitcher dating to 1914 to allow 10-plus hits while striking out at least 10 batters and failing to make it through five innings. In all, his 11 hits and 12 strikeouts marked career highs while allowing six runs - five earned - in 4 2-3 innings.

"We thought it would be good to give (Despaigne) a few extra days and we thought it would be good to get Cashner back on the mound as soon as possible," manager Bud Black told MLB's official website.

Cashner, the only pitcher in the majors with eight losses, probably agrees with the decision after feeling short changed.

"I thought I had some of the best stuff I've had this season," said Cashner, who didn't issue a walk. "Some balls just fell in."

He's 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA in two starts against the Reds. Brandon Phillips is 4 for 9 against him and Joey Votto is 3 for 5.

The Padres (28-28) opened the series with Friday's 6-2 win and got at least a hit from all eight position players. Will Venable, Derek Norris and Will Middlebrooks all homered after the club had managed seven in its previous 16 games. Venable was 2 for 5 for a third straight game, and Norris' homer was his third in six games and second in seven career at_bats against Cincinnati.

San Diego has also won three straight on the road, which it hasn't topped since Sept. 15-18, 2013, and five straight against the Reds while limiting them to five runs.

Over the last 17 games, the Padres have a 2.97 ERA, and they've allowed a big-league low two home runs in seven games along with the New York Yankees.

"It starts with pitching and defense, and that's what we were able to do," Yonder Alonso said.

The Reds (23-30) have dropped three of four and are 5-13 dating to May 15. In that span, the starting pitching has an MLB-worst 6.01 ERA.

Votto knocked in both runs Friday and is batting .370 with nine RBIs in seven games after going 12 games without driving in a run.

Reds starter Michael Lorenzen has been far less hittable than Cashner lately, but he's muddled that with walks. Lorenzen (1-1, 3.06) gave up two runs and one hit in 6 1-3 innings of Sunday's 8-2 home win over Washington, but he walked six.

Over 13 1-3 innings in his last two starts, he's given up three runs and three hits with nine walks and failed to earn a decision. The rookie right-hander is 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA in his five starts, but the 5.22 walks per nine innings figures to catch up with him before long.

"We talk about learning experiences," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "Lorenzen is learning to manage a 2-0 lead, when you know a home run won't beat you, and challenging the hitters instead of making perfect pitches. He was just missing the plate."

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Padres at Reds
Fri, Jun 5 Final 6 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Padres at Reds
Sat, Jun 6 - 4:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Padres at Reds
Sun, Jun 7 - 1:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 06-06-2015, 03:47 AM

Preview: Pirates (29-24) at Braves (26-27)
Game: 2
Venue: Turner Field
Date: June 06, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

Both Julio Teheran and Jeff Locke have been All-Stars within the past two years, but neither can be particularly happy with the way things have gone through the first two months of 2015.

Yet Teheran's had plenty of success at home, while Locke has been a disaster on the road.

The Pittsburgh left-hander can't be too thrilled that Saturday night's game is at Turner Field, while the more comfortable surroundings Teheran is pitching in might not make a difference against the red-hot Pirates.

Teheran (4-2, 4.87 ERA) had a 3.20 ERA as a rookie in 2013 and a 2.89 ERA during his All-Star second season, but nothing's come easy for the right-hander through May.

His strikeout-to-walk rate (3.65) was 11th in the NL last season, and that's been cut nearly in half (1.88). He allowed 0.90 homers per nine innings in 2014, a rate that's nearly doubled to 1.77. And his 5.60 FIP - second-worst in the NL - suggests things could be even worse.

After allowing eight runs in a road loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 26, Teheran settled down to give up three over six innings Sunday at San Francisco before the Braves (26-28) rallied for a 7-5 win. But he surrendered two homers, walked four and only struck out one, leaving manager Fredi Gonzalez quite concerned.

"I didn't feel comfortable the whole game with Julio," Gonzalez told MLB's official website. "I know the numbers showed different, but it wasn't the normal Julio Teheran outing that you feel pretty good about.

"Health-wise, he's fine. But it's not the same Julio Teheran from a year ago, when you gave him a lead and it was over."

Folks who have only seen him pitch at Turner Field might not share those concerns. Teheran is 3-0 with a 1.82 ERA in four starts in Atlanta, where his 2.06 ERA since 2014 is baseball's sixth-best at home.

He's 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA in two career home starts against Pittsburgh (30-24), striking out 17 in 13 innings, but the Pirates team he'll see Saturday seems rather locked in at the plate.

Pittsburgh has been baseball's best team the past two weeks, with Friday's 10-8 win - in which it overcame four errors - registering as Clint Hurdle's club's 12th in 14 games over that stretch.

'We're capable of a lot of things,' Hurdle said. 'We just don't look back. We don't like making mistakes, especially on the defensive side. ... We're making more than our share (of errors).'

Andrew McCutchen has led the charge, bumping his average from .185 on May 6 to .295 exactly one month later. He's been especially excellent for the latter half of that stretch, posting the majors' best average (.473) and second-best OPS (1.348) after another two-hit game in the opener.

The Pirates have averaged the third-most runs in baseball (5.71) during this 14-game stretch, and they might need to surpass that with Locke pitching away from home.

His All-Star first half of 2013 looking more and more like an aberration, Locke (3-3, 5.34) had his third start of four innings or fewer on Sunday. He recorded 12 outs and allowed 11 baserunners leading to seven runs in a 7-1 loss in San Diego.

Each of those short outings has come on the road, where his 9.35 ERA is the worst for any NL pitcher with at least four starts, but Hurdle is keeping him in the rotation.

'He's not throwing enough strikes to be effective,' Hurdle said. 'He threw out of the stretch 75 percent of his pitches. When you're not throwing strikes, and with his ball-strike ratio, you have no safety net.'

Locke is 1-1 with a 6.20 ERA in four starts in this series after allowing 13 baserunners and six runs in four innings of a 6-2 road loss to Teheran and the Braves on Sept. 24.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Pirates at Braves
Fri, Jun 5 Final 10 to 8
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Pirates at Braves
Sat, Jun 6 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Pirates at Braves
Sun, Jun 7 - 1:35PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 06-06-2015, 03:49 AM

Preview: Angels (28-26) at Yankees (29-25)
Game: 2
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: June 06, 2015 7:15 PM EDT

Alex Rodriguez is closing in on some major milestones and one could arrive as early as this weekend.

Coming off his first four-hit game in over four years, Rodriguez and the Yankees seek a season-best fifth straight win Saturday night against the Los Angeles Angels.

Something of an unknown entering this season after sitting out all of 2014 due to a drug suspension and closing in on his 40th birthday, Rodriguez has been better than expected in the first two months.

He ranks second on the Yankees (30-25) with a .284 average, 11 homers and 31 runs, and is third with 28 RBIs. Rodriguez went 4 for 5 with a run-scoring single in the fifth and Stephen Drew hit a pair of homers before New York allowed six ninth-inning runs then held on for an 8-7 series-opening victory Friday.

"That would've been a really hard game to swallow if you lose," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.

It was Rodriguez's first four-hit game since May 22, 2011, and the RBI was the 1,997th of his career, moving him past Barry Bonds into second place on the all-time list. He should soon join Hank Aaron (2,297) as the only players to reach 2,000.

Rodriguez's big night left him nine hits shy of becoming the 29th player with 3,000. He also scored his 1,950th run, breaking a tie with Stan Musial for eighth place.

"Just means I'm getting older every day," said Rodriguez, who is 14 for 27 during a seven-game home hitting streak. "I think I'm in a good place."

While the ending wasn't what the Yankees had in mind, Friday's win was their fourth straight and eighth in 11 after a six-game skid. They've hit 18 home runs in that 11-game stretch, though it's the starting pitching that has keyed the turnaround.

New York's rotation has compiled a 2.96 ERA and recorded six quality starts, with Saturday's starter, Adam Warren, responsible for two.

Warren (3-4, 3.75 ERA) has posted a 2.70 ERA during four consecutive quality starts and has pitched shutout ball into the sixth inning in his last two outings.

The right-hander lasted a career high-tying seven innings in Sunday's 3-0 loss at Oakland, making his only mistake on Steven Vogt's two-run homer in the sixth.

"He made one mistake and unfortunately it cost the game," Girardi said.

Warren has never started against the Angels, throwing 4 1-3 scoreless innings in three relief appearances.

Kole Calhoun had three hits, including an RBI single in the six-run ninth, but Los Angeles (28-27) lost its third straight following a five-game win streak.

The Angels try to avoid matching their longest skid of the season behind Garrett Richards (5-3, 3.26), who seeks his first road win. The right-hander is 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA in three starts away from Anaheim but has allowed four runs over 15 innings in his past two.

He's alternated wins and losses in his last five starts, a trend he hopes to stop after allowing three runs over six innings in Monday's 7-3 victory over Tampa Bay.

Richards has a 2.40 ERA in his past two starts against the Yankees. He limited them to two runs and three hits in seven innings before leaving without a decision in a 3-2 road loss April 27, 2014.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Angels at Yankees
Fri, Jun 5 Final 7 to 8
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Angels at Yankees
Sat, Jun 6 - 7:15PM EDT

GAME 3
Angels at Yankees
Sun, Jun 7 - 1:05PM EDT

Announcement

The Bum's Best Bets For Satu8rday June 06th - MLB - NBA -NHL !

The Bum's Best Bets For Satu8rday June 06th - MLB - NBA -NHL !

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment