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**StarDust Bum** · 06-26-2015, 02:28 AM

Preview: Indians (33-38) at Orioles (37-34)
Game: 1
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: June 26, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

Corey Kluber is on the verge of his longest string of losing starts in his career and his attempt to avoid that unwanted streak will come against a Baltimore Orioles lineup that's been one of the best in the majors for the past two weeks.

While trying to add to Kluber's woes, the Orioles also seek their 16th win in 21 contests in Friday night's opener to a three-game series.

Kluber (3-9, 3.65 ERA) has been inconsistent in his first season after winning the AL Cy Young Award and is 0-4 with a 4.00 ERA in his last four starts. He gave up four runs and a season-high four walks in seven innings in a 4-1 defeat to Tampa Bay on Saturday.

Kluber's teammates have hardly aided him with a combined three runs of support during his losing streak, and his 2.17 run-support average is the lowest in the majors among qualifying players. He also lost four consecutive starts April 22-May 7 while opening the season 0-5.

"It'd be one thing if his ERA was a 6.00 or something like that right now, but he's got pretty solid numbers," outfielder David Murphy told MLB's official website. "His record looks bad, but (that's) because baseball is a team game when it comes to that.

The Indians (33-38) will try to help their ace with a performance like Wednesday's 8-2 win over Detroit. They had 13 hits in that game and totaled 25 in their final two against the Tigers after batting .219 in their previous nine.

Jason Kipnis extended his hit streak to 19 games, tying Washington's Wilson Ramos for the longest in the majors this season, and went 5 for 10 with two doubles versus Baltimore earlier this month. He'll next try to provide some more assistance against the Orioles (38-34), who are batting .300 while averaging 6.7 runs in its last 15 contests.

They had 14 hits in an 8-6 win in Boston on Thursday with seven coming in a six-run fourth.

Manny Machado was among eight starters who hit safely and is batting .427 with six homers and 17 RBIs in his last 18 games, beginning with two in Cleveland from June 6-7. Machado had two hits in each of the final two games in that series, and Baltimore took two of three from the Indians.

The Orioles have alternated wins and losses in their last seven home matchups with Cleveland.

Wei-Yin Chen (3-4, 2.89) played a part in one of those defeats, giving up five runs in 6 2-3 innings May 22, 2014. He yielded one run in seven innings in his most recent start against the Indians, a 2-1 loss in 11 innings Aug. 15.

Chen is 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA in his three starts this month and fanned nine in eight innings in a 4-0 win over visiting Philadelphia on June 15. Chen was then sent to Class A for a start - a move criticized by the left-hander and reportedly agent Scott Boras - and manager Buck Showalter said it was because he complained of being tired in his prior start.

"I am in excellent physical shape. I feel great and I am ready for my next start. I just pitched 8 innings of shutout baseball ... I am disappointed my routine is being interrupted," Chen tweeted on Monday, two days after pitching three scoreless innings for the Frederick Keys.

Kluber went 1-0 with a 0.61 ERA in his two starts against Baltimore last season and pitched seven scoreless innings in his lone game at Camden Yards on May 24.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Indians at Orioles
Fri, Jun 26 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 2
Indians at Orioles
Sat, Jun 27 - 7:15PM EDT

GAME 3
Indians at Orioles
Sun, Jun 28 - 1:35PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 06-26-2015, 02:30 AM

Preview: White Sox (31-40) at Tigers (37-35)
Game: 2
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: June 26, 2015 7:08 PM EDT

Anibal Sanchez has won three straight starts and thrown 20 2-3 consecutive scoreless innings at home, where he has never beaten the Chicago White Sox.

He'll look to end a four-start slide against Chicago and help the Detroit Tigers even this four-game set Friday night.

Sanchez (6-7, 4.59 ERA) has posted a 1.14 ERA in his win streak, yielding three runs in seven innings in Sunday's 12-4 win over the New York Yankees.

The right-hander has registered an 8.20 ERA at home against Chicago in losing all five starts. His last four outings versus the White Sox have been at Comerica Park, including a 12-3 defeat April 18 when he was tagged for a career-high nine runs in 3 1-3 innings.

Melky Cabrera is 14 for 27 against Sanchez, Jose Abreu is 5 for 8 with a homer and Geovany Soto is 5 for 10 with two doubles.

Chicago (32-40) opened this series with Thursday's 8-7, 10-inning victory. Carlos Sanchez tripled in three runs in the top of the 10th before closer David Robertson allowed two runs in the bottom half before stranding the bases loaded by striking out Josh Wilson to end the game.

Robertson intentionally walked Miguel Cabrera to get to Wilson, who entered as a two-out pinch-runner for Victor Martinez in the bottom of the ninth.

'I've seen enough of Miggy to realize he's the best hitter in the game,' Chicago manager Robin Ventura said. 'He's going to get me at some point, but he didn't get me today.'

Detroit (37-36) fell to 18-19 at home, with losses in nine of its last 13 there.

"No I can't really explain it, to be honest with you," manager Brad Ausmus said. "I don't know what the reason is, I don't know that it will remain that way the rest of the season."

Cabrera is one of many Detroit hitters who excels against White Sox starter Jose Quintana (3-7, 3.92), going 9 for 27. Martinez is 12 for 24 in this matchup, Yoenis Cespedes is 8 for 12 with four homers and Rajai Davis is 12 for 35 (.343).

Quintana is 0-2 with a 7.88 ERA in three starts against the Tigers this year, with Martinez 5 for 6 and Cespedes 4 for 6 with two homers in those games.

The left-hander has won once in his last seven outings and owns one of baseball's worst run-support averages at 2.47. He gave up two runs in seven innings in Sunday's 3-2, 11-inning victory over Texas.

In contrast, Sanchez owns one of the majors' better run-support averages at 6.15.

Struggling Chicago shortstop Alexei Ramirez did not start Thursday, going 1 for 2 after entering as a pinch-hitter. Ramirez is in a 5-for-38 slide and has four hits in 20 at_bats versus Sanchez.

Martinez went 3 for 4 to improve his average to .222 at home, where he played for the first time since May 18 after being out due to left knee inflammation.

J.D. Martinez is 2 for 14 against Quintana. His two-run homer Thursday gave him five in his last four games and eight in his last 11.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
White Sox at Tigers
Thu, Jun 25 - Final 8 to 7
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
White Sox at Tigers
Fri, Jun 26 - 7:08PM EDT

GAME 3
White Sox at Tigers
Sat, Jun 27 - 4:08PM EDT

GAME 4
White Sox at Tigers
Sun, Jun 28 - 1:08PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 06-26-2015, 02:32 AM

Preview: Rangers (37-35) at Blue Jays (39-35)
Game: 1
Venue: Rogers Centre
Date: June 26, 2015 7:07 PM EDT

Mark Buehrle has been excellent in four starts this month but has just one win to show for it.

The Toronto Blue Jays left-hander will try to change that in his final start in June when he faces the scuffling Texas Rangers on Friday night.

Buehrle's 1.55 ERA in June is one of the best in the majors, but he's gotten a combined five runs of support and didn't get much help from the Blue Jays' bullpen in his latest game.

He yielded two runs in seven innings Saturday against Baltimore, but Aaron Loup and Ryan Tepera combined to allow three in the ninth in a 5-3 defeat that snapped Toronto's nine-game home winning streak.

"Buehrle was great. He's been on a nice little roll," manager John Gibbons said.

Toronto (39-35) is heading home after taking two of three against Tampa Bay and Buehrle (7-4, 3.90 ERA) will try to follow up Marco Estrada's spectacular effort. Estrada took a perfect game into the eighth inning in a 1-0 victory in 12 on Wednesday.

Texas, meanwhile, saw its skid reach a season-high five with Thursday's 6-3 defeat to Oakland. The Rangers (37-36) had 10 hits after batting .201 in their previous six games but are hitting .186 with runners in scoring position in their last seven.

Buehrle was charged with five runs in six innings in his most recent start against Texas, a 9-6 win July 20, after going 1-0 with a 1.31 ERA in his first three with the Blue Jays. In this meeting, he'll try to drop the Rangers to the .500 mark for the first time since they were 25-25 on May 30.

Nick Martinez (5-3, 2.77) will try to keep that from happening while bouncing back from his first loss in seven road starts this season. The right-hander, 3-1 with a 1.69 ERA away from home, gave up three runs in six innings against the Chicago White Sox on Saturday and tied a team record by hitting three batters in a 3-2 defeat.

"I battled my tail off," Martinez told MLB's official website. "It could have gone really bad on my part, but I didn't give in. That's A-plus."

Martinez, who has a 3.89 ERA at home, did not get a decision in his only start against Toronto on May 18, 2014, after allowing one run in five innings.

Toronto has won 10 of 13 meetings overall with Texas and seven of 11 at home. The Blue Jays went 4-2 in last season's series, taking two of three at Rogers Centre from July 18-20.

Josh Donaldson has hit .337 with five homers, nine doubles and 14 RBIs in his last 24 games against the Rangers, but is 2 for 11 lifetime against Martinez.

Shin-Soo Choo is batting .417 (15 for 36) versus Buehrle but is hitting .143 in his last nine games while reportedly playing with a sore back.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Rangers at Blue Jays
Fri, Jun 26 - 7:07PM EDT

GAME 2
Rangers at Blue Jays
Sat, Jun 27 - 1:07PM EDT

GAME 3
Rangers at Blue Jays
Sun, Jun 28 - 1:07PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 06-26-2015, 02:34 AM

Preview: Nationals (39-33) at Phillies (26-48)
Game: 1
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: June 26, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

A Cy Young Award winner and the owner of four straight 15-win seasons, Max Scherzer still strives to better himself.

Considering how dominant he's been over his last two starts, Scherzer might have what it takes to be perfect as he follows up his no-hitter by trying to help the visiting Washington Nationals to a season-high seventh consecutive victory Friday night against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Fresh from signing a seven-year, $210 million deal, Scherzer (8-5, 1.76 ERA) spoke in spring training of how he wanted to justify that payday from his new team.

"It's a never-ending process," he told MLB's official website this spring. "You're always looking for ways to get better."

There haven't been many better of late than Scherzer, who has allowed one hit, struck out 26 and walked one while retiring 54 of 57 batters to go the distance in his last two outings. His only blemish during Saturday's 6-0 win over Pittsburgh came when Jose Tabata appeared to lean into a pitch with two outs in the ninth.

"My last two starts, this is some of the best baseball I've thrown, best pitching I've done," said the right-hander, whose only hit allowed in those two came during the seventh inning of a 4-0 win at Milwaukee on June 14.

"I just feel like I'm executing all of my pitches. I just continue to keep getting better."

Opponents are hitting a major league-low .181 against Scherzer, who also has the lowest WHIP in baseball at 0.80.

"He's nasty. He's perfected his craft," teammate Denard Span said. "He knows what he wants to do. He's our horse. I've never seen any other pitcher work (as hard) as he does. ... He's working with a purpose. That's why he's so confident."

In position to be the first to throw consecutive no-hitters since Johnny Vander Meer in 1938, Scherzer also can become the first pitcher since Cliff Lee in June 2011 to record three straight shutouts.

He's 2-0 with a 1.23 ERA in three starts versus Philadelphia (26-48) this season, and can extend Washington's franchise-record streak of 41 1-3 scoreless innings by its starters after Doug Fister contributed seven in Thursday's 7-0 victory over Atlanta. It's the longest run since Cleveland's starters went 44 1-3 innings in 2008.

"There's a lot been written,' said Nationals manager Matt Williams, whose team owns a 31-5 run advantage during its win streak. "But they've got to out and pitch well, and we've got to score runs behind them to get them to this point."

Paced by Scherzer, Nationals starters have a 2.22 ERA while the club's won six of 10 from Philadelphia this season.

Bryce Harper, meanwhile, has hit four of his 24 home runs against the Phillies. He's 10 for 22 with one homer versus Aaron Harang (4-9, 3.41).

Mired in a career-high six-start losing streak, Harang has a 7.61 ERA in four June outings after allowing a three-run homer and one other run over six innings of Saturday's 10-1 loss to St. Louis.

'Sometimes when you're going out there, you're trying to executive that perfect pitch and you try to put too much pressure on yourself,' the right-hander said. "That's where it hurts.'

Harang's posted a 3.75 ERA while splitting his two starts versus Washington in 2015.

Ryan Howard is 1 for 10 with seven strikeouts versus Scherzer, but he doubled twice in Wednesday's 10-2 loss to the New York Yankees that snapped Philadelphia's three-game winning streak.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Nationals at Phillies
Fri, Jun 26 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 2
Nationals at Phillies
Sat, Jun 27 - 3:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Nationals at Phillies
Sun, Jun 28 - 1:35PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 06-26-2015, 02:36 AM

Preview: Dodgers (40-33) at Marlins (30-43)
Game: 1
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: June 26, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

With a middling .255 average and some serious scoring droughts, it's fair to say the Los Angeles Dodgers have at times struggled offensively.

It can also be said it has something to do with some holes in production at the top of the order.

And heading into Friday night's opener in Miami, it's imperative to say they might be wondering what their lineup would be doing with Dee Gordon leading off.

The .338 on-base percentage Los Angeles (41-33) has received from the top spot in the order is respectable and not terribly far off of the Marlins' .368 mark. The Dodgers' 39 runs scored from the leadoff spot are far from suitable, but Miami has only produced 40.

The difference comes in when shifting attention to raw hitting, where the Marlins lead the majors with 111 hits and a .346 average from the top of the order. The Dodgers, contrarily, have an MLB-low 62 hits from the leadoff spot and a .218 average, bringing to doubt whether they'll be able to continue their comparatively high OBP in that slot without some more balls dropping in. The hitting has trended the other way over 20 games with their table-setters batting .183.

Gordon had 62 hits in 34 games through May 16, four of which came in 13 at_bats when the clubs met for three games in Los Angeles from May 11-13. The Dodgers took two of three and now visit their former second baseman in Miami for the first time having won seven of 11 there.

Los Angeles, seeking a third straight road win for only the second time this year, managed a split of four games in Chicago with Thursday's 4-0 win after dropping the first two.

Jimmy Rollins had two hits, is 7 for 19 in five games and is batting .327 in his last 12 at Marlins Park. If he's able to get going, he could be the answer at the top of the order.

"He's looked good," manager Don Mattingly told MLB's official website. "He's been working on things with his swing, using different parts of the field."

The Dodgers didn't start Yasiel Puig for both wins because of an open callus on his left hand, and it's unclear if he'll play Friday.

The Dodgers have limited opponents to nine runs in five games, and that span began with Brett Anderson holding San Francisco to a run and five hits in six innings of Sunday's 10-2 home win.

Anderson (3-4, 3.29 ERA) has his season ERA matching the low he established on June 5, and after posting a 5.49 mark through four starts, the left-hander is 2-3 with a 2.60 ERA in 10 since the start of May.

He's up against Justin Nicolino, whose MLB debut went glowingly in Saturday's 5-0 win in Cincinnati. The left-hander limited the Reds to four hits while needing only 84 pitches to get through seven innings.

The 23-year-old got his shot because Tom Koehler has been experiencing neck and back stiffness, and Koehler is expected to follow him in the second game of the series..

"You know, these are good problems," manager Dan Jennings said. "That's what we've talked about this winter, is hopefully we have some of our young guys step forward with these veterans and somewhere over the course of this season. It will create tough decisions. That's a good position to be in."

Those comments, however, have been followed by four losses in large part due to a struggling lineup. After Thursday's 5-1 home loss to St. Louis, the Marlins (30-44) have dropped seven of eight while averaging 2.1 runs and batting .202.

Even Gordon's average has fallen in that span - from .357 to .351.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Dodgers at Marlins
Fri, Jun 26 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Dodgers at Marlins
Sat, Jun 27 - 4:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Dodgers at Marlins
Sun, Jun 28 - 1:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 06-26-2015, 02:38 AM

Preview: Red Sox (32-41) at Rays (41-33)
Game: 1
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: June 26, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

Rick Porcello has been one of baseball's most disappointing pitchers in 2015 considering his play a year ago.

With the heart of the lineup now on the disabled list, the Red Sox could use a good start from the struggling right-hander.

Porcello tries to avoid the longest losing streak of his career Friday night as Boston visits the first-place Tampa Bay Rays.

Of the 35 other pitchers to record a 3.43 ERA or lower last year, only Chris Tillman (6.22) and Stephen Strasburg (5.90) have worse marks than Porcello (5.61) this season in at least five starts. He's posted a 7.50 ERA while losing six straight outings for the second time in his career.

Porcello allowed six runs and eight hits - including two homers - over five innings of a 7-4 loss at Kansas City on Saturday, dropping to 4-8.

"There's nothing physically," manager John Farrell told MLB's official website. "... But as far as removing out of the rotation, that hasn't been discussed."

A less effective changeup might be a big reason for Porcello's drop-off. Opponents hit .248 against that pitch in 2014 but are batting .341 this year.

Porcello's second-to-last victory came against Tampa Bay on May 5 when he gave up eight hits over seven innings in a 2-0 home victory. He improved to 4-3 with a 2.80 ERA in eight matchups with the Rays.

Besides hoping Porcello gets right, the Red Sox (32-42) have to be worried about Dustin Pedroia after he went on the disabled list Thursday. The second baseman strained his right hamstring while rounding first base in the sixth inning of Wednesday's 5-1 win over Baltimore.

Pedroia is hitting a team-best .306 with nine homers and 33 RBIs, and had been batting .355 in his last 18 games.

"The way he plays, what he means in the clubhouse, and what he means on the field with his performance, probably having a career year to date," Farrell said. "Hopefully, this is on the shorter end of time missed. There's no projected date."

It's a tough hit for a team seemingly just beginning to gain some traction, as Boston had won five of eight prior to Thursday's 8-6 loss to the Orioles. The Red Sox had 12 hits but allowed 14 and committed two errors.

The Rays (41-33) have dropped three of four, getting shut out twice, and had four hits in Wednesday's 1-0, 12-inning loss to Toronto. Logan Forsythe broke up Marco Estrada's bid at a perfect game with one out in the eighth inning.

"Anytime you lose 1-0, those are tough," said Kevin Kiermaier, who had two hits. "You need to score to win and we didn't do that today."

Alex Colome (3-3, 4.50) comes off his best outing of the season, yielding one hit and two walks over seven innings Sunday at Cleveland, though the Rays lost 1-0.

Colome, still seeking his first quality start at home, allowed two runs over five innings in a 5-3 win at Boston on May 6.

David DeJesus, who went 6 for 10 when Tampa Bay took two of three in Boston from May 4-6, is 10 for 25 off Porcello.

Tampa Bay has won four of six meetings this year and 10 of the last 14 at Tropicana Field.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Red Sox at Rays
Fri, Jun 26 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Red Sox at Rays
Sat, Jun 27 - 4:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Red Sox at Rays
Sun, Jun 28 - 1:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 06-26-2015, 02:39 AM

Preview: Twins (39-33) at Brewers (27-46)
Game: 1
Venue: Miller Park
Date: June 26, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

Paul Molitor played the majority of his 21-year career with Milwaukee, and though the Brewers weren't exactly a baseball power in those years, they never finished with a winning percentage as bad as the current club.

The Hall of Famer returns to Milwaukee on Friday night for the first time as a manager with his Minnesota Twins in the far more favorable position as the midway point nears in Molitor's first season at the helm.

"It's always a reminder of a large chapter of your life," Molitor told MLB's official website. "But not a lot of faces have carried over since I was there. It was 22 years ago, so time changes how you look at it. But I'm sure it'll be busier than some cities for me. But that's OK."

The Twins (39-33) have been sliding since moving a season-best 11 games over .500 on May 31, but they're second in the AL Central while Milwaukee (27-47) has the second-worst record in the majors.

Wednesday's 6-1 win over the Chicago White Sox gave Minnesota a series win in which its bats broke out for 21 runs and 35 hits in three games.

Brian Dozier had two hits and is a .375 batter in seven games at Miller Park.

Molitor encountered his former club for the first time June 5-7 at Target Field with the Brewers taking two of three to begin a 1-7 span for the Twins, but Minnesota is 5-2 in its last three series at Miller Park.

The Brewers settled for winning two of three against the New York Mets after Thursday's 2-0 home loss. Their 13-25 home record is baseball's worst and they're averaging 2.3 runs in their last seven at Miller Park.

Ryan Braun was 0 for 4 and is batting .156 in his last 12 games.

The pitching staff probably deserved a sweep after limiting the Mets to five runs and a .183 average, but Milwaukee shouldn't count on Kyle Lohse to keep that going.

Lohse (3-9, 6.30 ERA) has lost three straight starts and is 0-5 with a 7.59 ERA in his last six. The only game in which he didn't get a decision was a 10-5 win in Minnesota on June 5. He surrendered five runs and eight hits in six innings.

The right-hander gave up three runs and four hits over six in Saturday's 5-1 loss at Colorado. He wasn't displeased with the effort, but he allowed another home run and has given up 17 in 15 starts. That's tied for second in the majors, but his manager was also focused on the larger body of work.

"He can definitely gain some confidence from it because he pitched well," Craig Counsell said. "It's a National League game, otherwise he's probably throwing a complete game."

Lohse, who began his career with the Twins, is 0-1 with a 9.28 ERA in two career starts against them while yielding five home runs in 10 2-3 innings. Joe Mauer is 4 for 6 with two homers, Kurt Suzuki is 6 for 14 and Dozier 2 for 6 with a home run.

The Twins counter with Trevor May, whose four June starts mark the best stretch in his two big league seasons. May (4-5, 4.03) held the Cubs to a run and seven hits with seven strikeouts in six innings of Saturday's 4-1 loss.

The 25-year-old right-hander wasn't stuck with the decision and is 1-2 with a 1.88 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 24 innings over four starts. He is on the verge of dropping his season ERA under 4.00 for the first time at any point in his 23-game career.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Twins at Brewers
Fri, Jun 26 - 8:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Twins at Brewers
Sat, Jun 27 - 2:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Twins at Brewers
Sun, Jun 28 - 2:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 06-26-2015, 02:41 AM

Preview: Yankees (39-33) at Astros (42-32)
Game: 2
Venue: Minute Maid Park
Date: June 26, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

Continued success at home would be an ideal way for the Houston Astros to successfully move on from a frustrating finish to their recent road trip.

They'll look for a fifth consecutive victory at Minute Maid Park on Friday night against the struggling New York Yankees.

Dallas Keuchel struck out 12 while throwing a six-hitter and Jose Altuve had three hits Thursday to help Houston win for the 16th time in its last 21 home games, 4-0 over New York (39-34). The Astros (43-32) are 24-14 at Minute Maid and regrouped after dropping two of three each to Seattle and the Los Angeles Angels to conclude a 4-4 trip.

Houston, which has recorded three shutouts in its last six at home, hopes Vincent Velasquez (0-0, 4.15 ERA) will be more efficient than his first three major league starts. The right-hander allowed one run and two hits but walked four while throwing 93 pitches in 3 1-3 innings of a 6-2 win at Seattle on Sunday.

"I just have to do a better job of executing on those put-out pitches," he said.

In 13 innings, Velasquez has thrown 284 pitches while striking out 17 and walking 10.

"It's just another part of the learning curve," manager A.J. Hinch told MLB's official website of Velasquez, who is the first pitcher since Hideo Nomo in 1995 to last five or fewer innings yet strike out five or more in his first three starts.

"He's going to learn to be more efficient and find a way to end at_bats favorably for him rather than put extra base runners on the base."

Velasquez faces a Yankees club that managed six singles while losing for the fourth time in five games.

"We got a few hits but we never put anything together," said New York manager Joe Girardi, whose team averaged 8.3 runs and 13.9 hits in the previous seven contests.

With a hit in the opener, Alex Rodriguez is batting .438 while hitting safely in nine straight contests. Rodriguez, who is two hits shy of matching Wade Boggs' 3,010 for 26th all-time, got his first look at Houston rookie shortstop Carlos Correa, who has often been compared to the Yankee veteran.

Correa is hitting .194 in his last seven games after batting .349 in his first 10.

Altuve didn't seem hindered by a nagging hamstring issue while doubling twice, stealing a pair of bases and scoring three times.

He and the Astros take on Nathan Eovaldi (6-2, 4.95 ERA), who grew up not far from Houston in Alvin, Texas. Though the right-hander faced the Astros as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2011, this will be his first appearance near his hometown.

He'll try to build on Saturday's effort versus Detroit, when he gave up two runs in six -plus innings of 14-3 victory to bounce back from yielding eight in two-thirds of an inning at Miami on June 16.

"Just went out there and tried to attack the zone," the right-hander said.

Houston's Evan Gattis had two hits Thursday and has six RBIs in his last six games, but is 3 for 14 with a home run and four strikeouts versus Eovaldi. Luis Valbuena is 0 for 6 against him.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Yankees at Astros
Thu, Jun 25 Final 0 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Yankees at Astros
Fri, Jun 26 - 8:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Yankees at Astros
Sat, Jun 27 - 4:10PM EDT

GAME 4
Yankees at Astros
Sun, Jun 28 - 2:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 06-26-2015, 02:43 AM

Preview: Cubs (39-31) at Cardinals (47-24)
Game: 1
Venue: Busch Stadium
Date: June 26, 2015 8:15 PM EDT

Joe Maddon knows that if his Chicago Cubs want to be considered a serious postseason contender, they must prove themselves against the best teams in baseball.

They'll get another chance starting Friday night on the road against the major league-leading St. Louis Cardinals.

Chicago (39-32) already took the season series from NL East-leading Washington and prevailed over Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke while splitting a four-game home set with the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers this week.

"Pretty good showdown this weekend," St. Louis pitcher Lance Lynn said.

The Cubs, however, have dropped four of the first six meetings with the Cardinals (48-24) ahead of returning to Busch Stadium, where they won only once despite leading in two other contests during a four-game series last month.

"The gap is repetition and experience," Maddon said after that May series. "They out-competed us in a sense, experience-wise, and that's it. We will make that up."

Sitting third in the Central, Chicago is 8 1/2 games behind the Cardinals, who beat Miami 5-1 on Thursday for their 21st victory in 29 contests. They can improve to 27-7 at home with a seventh consecutive win there.

"When you're playing them head up, you definitely want to make some noise," Maddon told MLB's official website. "But I don't want our guys to approach it any differently. I don't want them to think they have to play any harder, any better - just go play."

Looking to avoid a third straight defeat, Chicago has totaled three runs in as many games and faces a stiff challenge against John Lackey (6-4, 3.41 ERA), who is 5-1 with a 1.81 ERA in seven home starts and is seeking his fifth consecutive win at Busch Stadium.

That streak began May 7 when Lackey gave up a run and struck out 10 in 7 2-3 innings of a 5-1 victory over the Cubs.

The right-hander has been about as tough while yielding three runs in 15 innings to win his last two overall. He has also completed seven or more innings in four of his last five outings.

"I take pride in throwing innings for sure," Lackey said after giving up a run through seven of Saturday's 10-1 win at Philadelphia. "That's something I've taken pride in my whole career."

Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant are a combined 0 for 9 with five strikeouts versus Lackey.

Mired in a 3-for-23 slump, Bryant will look to get back on track if he's healthy enough to play after leaving Thursday's 4-0 loss to Los Angeles because of the flu. Rizzo, who had three hits, is batting .385 with six homers and 13 RBIs in his last 13 road games.

Jake Arrieta (7-5, 3.07) allowed three hits in seven innings of a 2-0 victory April 8 to improve to 3-0 with an 0.74 ERA in his first six starts against the Cardinals. He then yielded five runs in 5 1-3 innings while opposing Lackey last month.

Arrieta, however, can build on the four-hitter he recorded while throwing a career-high 122 pitches in Sunday's 8-0 win at Minnesota.

Jason Heyward has gone 5 for 12 against the right-hander and is batting .458 (11 for 24) versus Chicago this season.

Teammate Kolten Wong has four hits in two games and seven RBIs during his last five. He's batting .364 with eight RBIs during a 12-game home hitting streak against the Cubs.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Cubs at Cardinals
Fri, Jun 26 - 8:15PM EDT

GAME 2
Cubs at Cardinals
Sat, Jun 27 - 7:15PM EDT

GAME 3
Cubs at Cardinals
Sun, Jun 28 - 8:15PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 06-26-2015, 02:45 AM

Preview: Mariners (33-40) at Angels (37-36)
Game: 1
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Date: June 26, 2015 10:05 PM EDT

Taijuan Walker and Matt Shoemaker's seasons began in rough fashion.

Walker seems to have turned things around while Shoemaker may be regressing even further.

Walker aims for a fourth straight victory Friday night when the Seattle Mariners visit Shoemaker and the Los Angeles Angels.

Walker is 4-1 with a 2.04 ERA in his last five starts. He struck out a career-high 11 over 6 1-3 innings of a 6-3 victory over Houston on Saturday, giving up three runs.

The right-hander owned a 7.33 ERA prior to this five-start stretch, walking 23 in 43 innings. He has since walked three in 35 1-3 innings.

"That's the biggest thing, not giving anything away, any free passes," said Walker (5-6, 4.94 ERA), who didn't walk any Astros. "I felt like I was really getting ahead, and after the second inning kind of just got into a nice groove."

Walker has never faced the Angels.

Shoemaker (4-5, 5.20) continues to have a tough time replicating his 2014 success after winning a franchise rookie-record 16 games. He hasn't recorded a quality start in four of six and lasted just four-plus innings Friday at Oakland, giving up five runs and a season worst-matching eight hits in the team's 12-7 loss.

Shoemaker was scratched from his originally scheduled start Wednesday versus Houston, with the hope that extra time off would help his command. He's been marginally better on six days' or more rest this year, going 3-1 with a 4.50 ERA in five such outings.

The righty has split two starts versus Seattle, winning a 5-3 decision on the road April 8, and losing a 3-2 final at home May 4. He gave up six runs - all on five homers - over 13 1-3 innings. He struck out a season-high 10 in the second outing.

Home runs have been a big part of Shoemaker's struggles, as his 1.86 homers allowed per nine innings are twice as many as he allowed last year.

Shoemaker won his final four home starts in 2014, but is 0-4 in six games at Angel Stadium this year. Walker is 3-4 with a 7.03 ERA in eight road outings.

The Angels (37-36) have totaled 12 runs while losing three of five and won 2-1 in 13 innings against the Astros on Wednesday. Rookie Taylor Featherston had the walkoff hit with Erick Aybar scoring the decisive run. Aybar is 10 for 25 during a six-game hitting streak.

Los Angeles received seven scoreless innings from its bullpen, which had given up six earned runs over 8 2-3 innings in the series' first two games.

Seattle (33-40) hasn't been producing much offensively either, dropping three of four and scoring two runs or fewer in each loss. Hitting an AL-worst .209 with runners in scoring position, the Mariners are batting .152 in those situations during a 6-8 stretch and were 0 for 5 in Wednesday's 8-2 loss to Kansas City.

Nelson Cruz was 0 for 4, striking out twice to fall to 5 for 35 over his last 11 games. He is one of the AL leaders with 19 home runs but has just one in his last 25 contests.

Albert Pujols leads the league with 23 homers and is batting .318 with two home runs in six games against the Mariners this season.

Mike Trout, who has 18 homers but none in the last 12 games, is hitting .217 with a pair of home runs in the season series. The Angels have won four of the meetings.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Mariners at Angels
Fri, Jun 26 - 10:05PM EDT

GAME 2
Mariners at Angels
Sat, Jun 27 - 7:15PM EDT

GAME 3
Mariners at Angels
Sun, Jun 28 - 3:35PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 06-26-2015, 02:47 AM

Preview: Royals (41-28) at Athletics (33-41)
Game: 1
Venue: O.co Coliseum
Date: June 26, 2015 10:05 PM EDT

It's time to see whether the bad blood between the Kansas City Royals and Oakland Athletics from more than two months ago has carried over.

These clubs open a three-game set Friday night in Oakland, meeting for the first time since a melee-filled weekend back in April.

Kansas City (41-28) took two of three at home from Oakland from April 17-19 in the teams' first matchup since last year's AL wild-card game. The series also marked Billy Butler's return to face his former team.

None of that became the story, though, as the teams cleared the benches in all three games. The issues started when Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar was run over by the Athletics' Brett Lawrie covering second base in the series opener.

Lawrie was plunked the next day in what Oakland (34-41) saw as retaliation. Kansas City's Lorenzo Cain was then hit by a pitch from Scott Kazmir in a series finale in which Escobar, Kelvin Herrera, manager Ned Yost, pitching coach Dave Eiland and bench coach Don Wakamatsu were all tossed for Kansas City.

Herrera drew a five-game ban for throwing behind Lawrie in the 4-2 win in the finale.

The Royals, who started this nine-game trip by taking two of three over Seattle, insist there won't be a repeat of such behavior on their end.

"You know, for me, it's over," Escobar told MLB's official website. "I have no trouble with them. I just want to go there and play baseball."

Lawrie called it "probably the worst series of baseball that I've ever played."

'Water under the bridge. Just play baseball, that's the way I look at it,' Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. 'That was an uncomfortable three-game series to have to play through.'

Kansas City has taken eight of 11 from Oakland since the start of 2014, including the playoff game. The Athletics seek their first six-game win streak since July 3-8, 2014.

Cain is expected to return to the lineup after missing Wednesday's 8-2 win with a hamstring strain.

Mike Moustakas is hitting .389 with 10 RBIs in a nine-game hitting streak. Escobar is batting .439 with eight runs scored in his last 10 games.

Oakland's lone victory in the previous series against Kansas City came courtesy of Jesse Hahn (5-5, 3.40 ERA), who pitched 5 1-3 innings of three-hit ball in the 5-0 win April 18 in his first career outing against the Royals.

The right-hander improved to 3-0 with a 2.52 ERA in his last four starts by giving up one run over 7 2-3 innings in Saturday's 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.

Royals starter Edinson Volquez (7-4, 3.33) moved to 3-0 with a 3.63 ERA in his last three outings that same day by yielding four runs in 5 1-3 innings in a 7-4 win over Boston.

The right-hander hasn't faced the A's since 2007. The Oakland hitter he has faced the most is Ike Davis, who is 2 for 9 in this matchup.

The A's completed a three-game sweep at Texas with a 6-3 victory Thursday. Stephen Vogt went 3 for 5 to improve to 14 for 28 in a seven-game hitting streak.

Rookie Billy Burns, who wasn't with Oakland in April, is batting .362 during a 15-game hitting streak.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Royals at Athletics
Fri, Jun 26 - 10:05PM EDT

GAME 2
Royals at Athletics
Sat, Jun 27 - 4:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Royals at Athletics
Sun, Jun 28 - 4:05PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 06-26-2015, 02:49 AM

Preview: Diamondbacks (35-36) at Padres (35-39)
Game: 1
Venue: PETCO Park
Date: June 26, 2015 10:10 PM EDT

Tyson Ross' last start was one of the best of his career. Just ask the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Hoping to right the ship for a San Diego Padres team fresh off yet another series defeat, Ross will look to similarly dominate the Diamondbacks on Friday night at Petco Park.

Ross (4-7, 3.61 ERA) pitched the third complete game of his career Saturday, limiting Arizona to four hits in a 8-1 win. The right-hander issued only one walk - his fewest in five starts - and matched a season high with nine strikeouts.

"I was just trying to attack hitters with an emphasis on getting the leadoff guy out," Ross told MLB's official site. "I've had trouble with command and walking guys and I really wanted to challenge guys tonight."

Arizona didn't have any answers for Ross, who now takes the mound at Petco, where he has a 1.61 ERA in four starts against the Diamondbacks.

"If his slider's on like that and he's spotting his fastball, he's going to be hard to hit, period," Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale told MLB's official website. "You try to get guys to lay off the ball down low because it's going to break out of the zone, but it was just really good. He controlled the game from the first pitch on."

The Padres (35-40) have dropped three of four since that outing and have not won a series since June 5-7 in Cincinnati. James Shields suffered the most recent loss, surrendering seven runs in only four innings Thursday while San Diego's bullpen didn't fare much better in a 13-8 loss at San Francisco.

San Diego's starters have a 6.16 ERA in their last four games but had received very little offensive support prior to Thursday's eight-run performance. Matt Kemp homered in the loss but was held hitless as the Padres totaled five runs in their three previous games.

'There are no moral victories,' manager Pat Murphy said of the offensive improvement. 'We're sputtering along and there is a lot of tension and frustration. We'll get it right.'

Robbie Ray (2-2, 1.78) will take the mound for Arizona (35-37) after losing to Ross, yielding four runs in 5 2-3 innings. The left-hander entered that game with a 1.09 ERA while holding opponents to a .195 average.

Ray has been excellent away from home this season with a 1.37 ERA in three starts, and pitched seven scoreless innings on June 15 against the Los Angeles Angels.

Continuing a season-long trend, Arizona failed to get back to .500 in Thursday's 6-4 loss at Colorado. Paul Goldschmidt picked up his 60th RBI but the Diamondbacks lost two of three despite scoring 17 runs.

Arizona has dropped all 11 games that would have given it an even win-loss record since it was last .500 on April 24.

"Our goal isn't to be .500," Goldschmidt said. "So we may get there, but that's not where we want to be, we want to be above it and making a push for the playoffs. So it's not like we're (saying), 'Gosh we've got to get to .500.' I don't think anyone inside this clubhouse is thinking about it whatsoever."

Goldschmidt has three home runs and nine RBIs in 33 at_bats against San Diego this season. Justin Upton also has three homers in those matchups while Kemp is hitting just .184.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Diamondbacks at Padres
Fri, Jun 26 - 10:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Diamondbacks at Padres
Sat, Jun 27 - 10:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Diamondbacks at Padres
Sun, Jun 28 - 4:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 06-26-2015, 02:51 AM

Preview: Rockies (31-40) at Giants (39-34)
Game: 1
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: June 26, 2015 10:15 PM EDT

Despite their place at the bottom of the NL West, the Colorado Rockies have shown some fight following a lengthy stretch of losses.

After finding their offense within the favorable confines of Coors Field at the back end of a homestand, the Rockies look to maintain that potency in Friday night's opener of a three-game road series against the San Francisco Giants.

The Rockies (32-40) made the most of their home field's offensive advantages by averaging 7.6 runs while winning four of five after losing three in a row to begin an eight-game stay at Coors.

Nolan Arenado and Troy Tulowitzki each homered in a 6-4 win over Arizona on Thursday, and Arenado now has 20 home runs and 60 RBIs - both ranking toward the top of MLB.

Colorado had dropped five straight and nine of 10 before its home surge. The Rockies have four losing streaks of four or more this season, including an 11-game skid April 28-May 13. Most of the damage done on those slides came on the road, where the Rockies have gone 9-18 since sweeping San Francisco (40-34) at AT&T Park from April 13-15.

"We've done it several times this year - after a tough loss or a tough stretch, we find a way to get back off the canvas and win a game," manager Walt Weiss told MLB's official website. "We turned the momentum around, so it's a great win. We win the series with that one. Some guys had some big contributions today."

The solid stretch began with a strong outing from Chad Bettis (3-2, 3.44 ERA), who will again take the mound Friday. The right-hander struggled with five runs allowed in two innings against Houston on June 15 before settling in for three shutout innings, then carried that into a five-hit performance in a 5-1 win against Milwaukee on Saturday.

"I felt I had really good stuff (against Houston) and wanted to build off that," Bettis said. "I didn't want to go completely back to the whiteboard and rewrite everything. Working on the side in between the starts was productive."

Bettis posted a 6.88 ERA and 1.83 WHIP through the first 69 1-3 innings of his career, but he's enjoyed an emergence in 2015 with a 1.23 WHIP and 2.87 strikeout-to-walk ratio, which both mark career bests.

He'll oppose Tim Hudson (5-6, 4.52), who has a 3.56 ERA in five starts since he was shelled by Colorado for eight runs in 3 2-3 innings on May 24. Bettis earned the win in that matchup with seven strikeouts in 8 1-3 innings of an 11-2 victory.

Hudson allowed only two runs in a 6-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday, but has a 7.13 ERA and 0-2 record in three outings against Colorado this year.

Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez have each taken the right-hander deep, while Arenado has a double and a triple. Gonzalez was held out the starting lineup for three straight games with a sprained hand, but expects to return against San Francisco.

Hudson has received six or more runs of support in two of his last three outings and will pitch in front of an offense that broke out for a 13-8 win Thursday over San Diego.

Angel Pagan, Buster Posey and Brandon Belt notched three hits apiece, and Gregor Blanco drove in three runs.

"We needed it," manager Bruce Bochy said after the Giants posted season bests in both runs and hits with 19. "We haven't had a game like this for a while."

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Rockies at Giants
Fri, Jun 26 - 10:15PM EDT

GAME 2
Rockies at Giants
Sat, Jun 27 - 4:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Rockies at Giants
Sun, Jun 28 - 4:05PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 06-26-2015, 03:08 AM

Preview: Reds (33-37) at Mets (36-37)
Game: 1
Venue: Citi Field
Date: June 26, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

After six straight years finishing under .500, most of the New York Mets are new to the whole idea of contending in the NL East.

While the group hasn't quite put it together on the road, as was evident on their eight-game trip, they're one of two clubs with a home winning percentage over .700.

Home success has also been key for Noah Syndergaard, who faces the visiting Cincinnati Reds on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series.

The Mets (37-37) are trying to turn things around after ending a seven-game skid with Thursday's 2-0 win in Milwaukee. They amassed 10 hits for the first time in 10 games, but they're still averaging 1.8 runs and batting .186 in that span.

Curtis Granderson is 8 for 18 over five games, but Michael Cuddyer (5 for 35) and Lucas Duda (4 for 29) are slumping. Even so, Cuddyer was upbeat about salvaging a win after dropping the first seven on the trip.

"There's definitely some relief, there's no question about that," he told MLB's official website. "I think for everyone involved, there's definitely some relief. A big, collective deep breath. Hopefully, we can continue and play well tomorrow."

New York hasn't been bad on the mound in the same 10-game stretch, though its 3.60 ERA is twice its run production.

Syndergaard (2-4, 4.03 ERA) has been well north of that lately, going 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA in four June starts after posting a 1.82 mark over his first four in the majors.

The right-hander gave up four runs - three earned - and six hits in four innings of Saturday's 6-4 loss in Atlanta but wasn't stuck with the decision. He's been much better at home, going 2-1 with a 2.13 ERA and .226 opponent batting average in four starts as opposed to 0-3 with 6.52 and .333 marks in four away.

The Mets are right there with him, going 26-11 with 4.3 runs per game at home and 11-26 with a 2.8 scoring average on the road.

New York has taken six of eight against the Reds (34-37), who left Pittsburgh on Thursday after a 5-4 victory in 13 innings secured their first win in seven road series.

Cincinnati has won six of eight with the lineup batting .302. Todd Frazier was 3 for 6 with a home run and three RBIs, and he's batting .324 with six homers and 13 RBIs on the eight-game hot stretch.

Brandon Phillips was a double shy of the cycle after sitting Wednesday because of a thumb injury. The second baseman has hit safely in all 29 road games he's played against the Mets while batting .350.

He'll be looking to help Johnny Cueto, who's gone 2-3 with a 4.01 ERA and .249 OBA in seven road starts opposed to 2-1 with 1.74 and .161 marks in six at home.

The right-hander enters this start having received some extra rest to deal with elbow stiffness. Cueto (4-4, 2.98) last pitched June 17 in an 8-4 home win over Detroit, yielding three runs and three hits in 5 1-3 innings without factoring into the decision.

"Everything is on schedule. I'm hoping that there is some noticeable difference when he gets to his pregame," manager Bryan Price told MLB's official website.

"When he's in competition, there really haven't been any issues with fatigue and getting loose. More than anything, it's been the time in between his outings. We're trying to get him back to feeling normal in between starts."

In five career starts in Queens, Cueto is 2-2 with a 5.02 ERA.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Reds at Mets
Fri, Jun 26 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Reds at Mets
Sat, Jun 27 - 4:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Reds at Mets
Sun, Jun 28 - 1:10PM EDT

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