The Bum's Sports Page For Tuesday July 7th Best Bets-Trends-News !

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Preview: Angels (44-38) at Rockies (35-47)
Game: 1
Venue: Coors Field
Date: July 07, 2015 8:40 PM EDT

The Los Angeles Angels' first two games with the Colorado Rockies this season ended in the same fashion as nearly every meeting of the past five years - with a victory.

The surging Angels will turn to Andrew Heaney to continue that dominance Tuesday night against a Rockies team fresh off a disappointing road trip.

Los Angeles (44-38) has won seven straight versus Colorado (35-47) - tied for its second-longest active winning streak against any opponent, trailing only Philadelphia (9) - and last dropped a meeting at Coors Field in 1999. The Angels extended that run with two May victories over the Rockies, allowing three runs.

Heaney (1-0, 1.38 ERA) has been similarly stifling in two starts with Los Angeles, earning his first career victory last Tuesday with seven innings of two-hit ball in a 2-1 win over the New York Yankees.

The left-hander, who posted a 6.93 ERA in five starts last season while with Miami, has limited opposing batters to .136 average in his two outings this year since joining the rotation in place of the injured Jered Weaver.

"I was kind of fighting my own mechanics, fighting myself on the mound (in spring training)," Heaney told MLB's official website. "Here I've felt comfortable, and I've felt like I'm able to go out there and for the most part execute a game plan."

One of Heaney's primary challenge will be with Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez, who combined to go 3 for 17 in the two losses to Los Angeles, yet enter Tuesday's contest after each hitting a home run in Colorado's 6-4 win Sunday against Arizona.

The Rockies entered the 10-game trip averaging 4.6 runs, but reached that number only three times en route to a 3-7 record.

"You look at any team, when you look at the middle of their lineup and both guys hit, the team's record is probably real good," said Tulowitzki. " ... I hope the power stroke shows up."

For the most part, Tulowitzki has upheld his end of that bargain. Despite only two home runs since June 9, the shortstop has an 18-game hitting streak with a .371 average and .907 OPS in that span.

Gonzalez, however, had slumped prior to Sunday's three-hit performance, batting .103 in his previous eight games.

Generating offense hasn't been an issue lately for the Angels, who scored 33 runs and had 47 hits in a three-game sweep of Texas. Los Angeles rolled to a 12-6 victory Sunday for its seventh win in eight games, as Albert Pujols hit his AL-best 25th home run and Kole Calhoun had four RBIs.

Calhoun has three straight two-hit games, knocking in 10 runs in that span.

The Angels' starting pitching also performed well, notching a quality start in each of the three wins.

"We really broke out this series, no doubt," manager Mike Scioscia said. "I think what I'm going to carry away from this series is really how well we pitched against a team that can really swing it. I thought we pitched really well this series and gave us a chance, and our offense blossomed."

Chad Bettis (4-3, 3.67) will try to slow Los Angeles' bats in his first appearance against the team. The right-hander fell just shy of a third straight quality start Wednesday, allowing three runs and seven hits over 5 2-3 innings in a 4-1 loss at Oakland.

Bettis has been far better at Coors Field this season, touting a 2.84 in five starts compared with a 4.55 mark on the road.


SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Angels at Rockies
Tue, Jul 7 - 8:40PM EDT

GAME 2
Angels at Rockies
Wed, Jul 8 - 8:40PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Tigers (42-40) at Mariners (38-45)
Game: 2
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: July 07, 2015 10:10 PM EDT

The only way Taijuan Walker has been stopped lately was by his own manager, who won't be around to do that this time.

J.D. Martinez and Nick Castellanos may be capable of enjoying success in their first look at the emerging youngster.

Walker looks to win a sixth straight start Tuesday night and he'll face some red-hot Detroit Tigers hitters in Martinez and Castellanos as the Seattle Mariners seek to even this three-game home set.

The 22-year-old right-hander is 5-0 with a 1.67 ERA in his last five outings after yielding one hit in six innings in Wednesday's 7-0 victory at San Diego in which he was lifted after 76 pitches for a pinch-hitter. Walker (7-6, 4.34 ERA) had thrown at least 92 pitches in his previous seven outings.

"He may not like it, but 12 years from now when he's still pitching, he'll thank me," manager Lloyd McClendon said. "He'll say, `The old man knew what he was doing.'"

McClendon is not with the team for this series since he is attending a funeral for his sister. Bench coach Trent Jewett is in charge in his absence.

Walker has gone 27 1-3 innings without issuing a walk with 34 strikeouts in that span. Only one of the outings in his streak has been at home, where he is limiting batters to a .182 average.

He is 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA in two starts against the AL Central this year, though he has never faced the Tigers.

Martinez and Castellanos both enter on seven-game hitting streaks after they helped Detroit (42-40) to a 12-5 victory Monday.

Martinez, second in the AL with 58 RBIs, was 3 for 5 with his 24th homer and two RBIs with three runs scored to improve to 14 for 29 with five homers and 12 RBIs in his streak. Castellanos homered as part of a season-high four hits and matched a season best with four RBIs to improve to 12 for 29 in his run.

The Tigers finished one hit shy of their season-high 20 in a 13-1 rout of Minnesota on May 14. Victor Martinez was 4 for 5 with three runs scored as Detroit improved to 2-1 since Miguel Cabrera was lost Friday to a calf injury.

'I'm a firm believer hitting is always contagious,' said J.D. Martinez, who has 11 homers in his last 13 games. 'You get a couple good guys in the lineup, a couple good at-bats, all of a sudden the pitcher starts losing confidence and everybody else just keeps feeding off of it.'

Detroit may debut Marc Krauss at first base after he was claimed off waivers from Tampa Bay on Monday. Krauss is expected to help the Tigers in Cabrera's absence.

'Gives us another first-base option and a left-handed bat,' manager Brad Ausmus said.

Logan Morrison hit a three-run homer for Seattle (38-45), which led 5-3 after five innings. The Mariners' bullpen was charged with a season-high seven runs in four innings.

All-Star Nelson Cruz was 0 for 4 and is hitless in his last 16 at-bats at home.

Cruz and the Mariners will get their first look at Tigers left-hander Kyle Ryan (1-2, 4.55), who is 0-2 with a 4.71 ERA in four starts this year. Ryan gave up two runs and issued a career-high five walks in four-plus innings as he suffered Thursday's 8-4 loss to Pittsburgh.


SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Tigers at Mariners
Mon, Jul 6 Final 12 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Tigers at Mariners
Tue, Jul 7 - 10:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Tigers at Mariners
Wed, Jul 8 - 3:40PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Phillies (28-57) at Dodgers (47-37)
Game: 2
Venue: Dodger Stadium
Date: July 07, 2015 10:10 PM EDT

One night after a Los Angeles Dodgers hitter faced his former team for the first time, a Philadelphia Phillies pitcher will get to do the same.

After struggling in his return from the disabled list, Chad Billingsley would appear to have a stiff challenge in his attempt to beat the Dodgers with a red-hot Brett Anderson trying to add to his own comeback story Tuesday night.

Jimmy Rollins, the Phillies' all-time hits leader with 2,306 in 2,090 games, went 2 for 4 with the go-ahead two-run single and scored two runs in his first matchup against them since asking for a trade in December, a 10-7 victory Monday. Yasmani Grandal hit a three-run homer while helping send Philadelphia to its 10th loss in 12 games and 16th in 19 road contests.

Billingsley (0-2, 7.71 ERA) is next on the reunion tour and will face the team he won 81 games for in eight seasons before undergoing a pair of surgeries on his right elbow. The Dodgers (47-37) declined to pick up his option in October, and he was signed by the Phillies (28-57) to a one-year deal in January.

On May 5, the right-hander made his first major league start in 25 months, a 9-0 loss in Atlanta, and went back on the disabled list two weeks later because of a strained right shoulder.

He gave up seven runs and 10 hits in five innings in his return Thursday against Milwaukee, but avoided the loss when the Phillies rallied to force extra innings in an 8-7 defeat.

"He's struggling because he's coming back from issues that he's had. I thought he threw OK, but it's a work in progress," interim manager Pete Mackanin said.

Billingsley - seeking his first win since April 10, 2013 - will not only face a team that had 15 hits in the opener but also have to pitch opposite Anderson (5-4, 3.00), who is in the midst of a stirring resurgence.

Like Billingsley, the Dodgers left-hander endured a Tommy John surgery - in 2011 - along with foot, finger and back ailments since winning 11 games as a rookie with Oakland in 2009.

He's been in magnificent form lately, going 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA in his last three starts, and gave up one run in seven innings while fanning seven in a 4-3 win in Arizona on Wednesday.

"He's been a godsend," catcher A.J. Ellis told MLB's official website. "I don't know where we'd be without him as our No. 3 (starter), and at times he's been a No. 1 or 2."

Anderson will face Philadelphia for the first time and only two Phillies hitters have seen him previously, Ben Revere (1 for 6) and Andres Blanco (1 for 1).

The Dodgers' Howie Kendrick, batting .452 (19 for 42) in his last 10 games, is 4 for 11 (.364) against Billingsley. Rollins is 9 for 26 (.346) including the playoffs.

Philadelphia's Cesar Hernandez is hitting .468 (22 for 47) in a career-best 11-game hit streak.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Phillies at Dodgers
Mon, Jul 6 Final 7 to 10
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Phillies at Dodgers
Tue, Jul 7 - 10:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Phillies at Dodgers
Wed, Jul 8 - 10:10PM EDT

GAME 4
Phillies at Dodgers
Thu, Jul 9 - 10:10PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Mets (43-41) at Giants (42-42)
Game: 2
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: July 07, 2015 10:15 PM EDT

Matt Cain's return to the San Francisco Giants did not go as hoped for the veteran right-hander, but a long-awaited appearance at home could set him on the right track.

Taking the mound Tuesday night at AT&T Park for the first time in nearly a year, Cain will face the New York Mets looking to help end San Francisco's long losing streak.

Cain allowed five runs over five innings in a 5-4 loss at Miami on Thursday in his first start since undergoing right elbow surgery on July 21. He surrendered two homers, had two strikeouts and lasted 89 pitches.

"I think he should be encouraged," manager Bruce Bochy told MLB's official website. "His first four innings, I thought he was pretty good. He's going to get better, building up his strength and stamina. He looks healthy, I'll say that."

The three-time All-Star last pitched in San Francisco (42-42) on July 9 when he beat Oakland. He's 3-2 with a 2.31 ERA in his last eight starts against the Mets (43-41).

San Francisco's losing streak reached seven with Monday's 3-0 loss to New York. Chris Heston allowed three hits in 7 1-3 scoreless innings but Sergio Romo and Santiago Casilla combined to yield all three runs in the ninth inning.

The loss dropped the Giants to .500 for the first time since they were 18-18 on May 15, and another defeat would match their season-worst eight-game skid April 10-17.

With their slumping offense seemingly on the upswing, the Mets have a chance to win their second straight series against the NL West after taking two of three from the Dodgers over the weekend.

'We don't play well on the West Coast, so to get off to a great start on this road trip is huge for us,' manager Terry Collins said. 'It looks like we're starting to get some breaks.'

Collins' team has batted .266 and scored 16 runs in the last four games after hitting .173 and totaling 17 runs in the previous 10 contests.

Wilmer Flores is 12 for 20 with five RBIs in his last five games.

New York's rotation has also been very good lately, posting a 1.34 ERA since June 25. Bartolo Colon (9-6, 4.55 ERA) contributed to that with seven scoreless innings in a 2-0, 11-inning loss to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday.

The right-hander compiled an 8.71 ERA in his two previous starts.

Colon is 2-0 with a 2.70 in three career starts in San Francisco, but was roughed up for six runs over 4 2-3 innings in a 9-0 loss Aug. 3 at Citi Field in his most recent matchup with the Giants.

San Francisco' Joe Panik, who was named to his first All-Star team Monday, did not play in the series opener, but is 9 for 18 with four runs in his last four meetings with the Mets.

Jenrry Mejia expects to return to the Mets' bullpen on Tuesday. The right-hander was New York's projected closer entering the season, but was given an 80-game suspension after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

[StarDust Bum]

Rays-Royals Preview
Game Time 2:10 EST
Game # 1 of 2

(AP) -- Chris Young is enduring some home woes for the Kansas City Royals, while the Tampa Bay Rays' Matt Moore needs to put a wild season debut behind him.

Kansas City's Edinson Volquez can relate to desiring a bounce-back effort after arguably his worst outing of the season.

Volquez will get the start in the nightcap of a day-night doubleheader after Young and Moore meet in Tuesday's opener in Kansas City.

Tornado warnings Monday postponed the opener of this four-game set. The clubs re-arranged their rotations, with Young (7-4, 2.64 ERA) and Moore (0-0, 7.71) matching up to start this series before Volquez (8-4, 3.48) faces the Rays' Matt Andriese (3-2, 3.24).

Young had been slated to start Tuesday night after Volquez's originally scheduled turn Monday.

"It was the preference of both of them," manager Ned Yost said.

Alex Colome, who was scheduled to start Monday, will work out of the Rays' bullpen. Andriese will be summoned from Triple-A Durham to start Game 2 instead.

"The thought behind that is the way our bullpen is in check right now, we need Matt to increase his innings and have Colome available going forward," manager Kevin Cash said. "If he doesn't pitch first game, he will be available for second game (in relief)."

Young had an 8.40 ERA in losing his last three home outings but was OK in Thursday's 2-0 defeat to Minnesota while being charged with one run in 5 1-3 innings.

The right-hander is 1-2 with a 7.71 ERA in three starts against the Rays (43-41), though one came in 2005. James Loney has the most experience against him among Tampa Bay hitters with a .364 average.

Moore made his first start since undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2014 and allowed four runs over 4 2-3 innings in Thursday's 5-4, 10-inning defeat to Cleveland. He threw three wild pitches for the second time in his career.

"I thought there might have been more nervous body-control type issues, but really it felt normal," he said.

The left-hander is 0-2 with a 5.29 ERA in three starts against the Royals. Alcides Escobar is 4 for 8 against him, but Kansas City may want to rest Alex Gordon, who is 0 for 8.

Volquez again seeks his fifth consecutive victory after he allowed five runs - three coming on two homers - and eight hits in five-plus innings Wednesday before the Royals rallied to get him off the hook in a 6-5 loss to Houston. He posted a 2.96 ERA in winning his previous four outings.

The right-hander is 2-0 with a 2.66 ERA in three starts against the Rays. Tampa Bay shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, who is 13 for 35 in his last 10 games, is 3 for 8 with a homer against Volquez, while Loney is 2 for 15.

Andriese has never faced the Royals or any of their hitters. He is 2-2 with a 3.90 ERA in six starts this year for Tampa Bay.

The Royals (46-33) have taken 14 of the last 19 meetings, including four of six last year and eight of the last nine at home. They enter this series coming off a four-game home split with the Twins.

Lorenzo Cain is Kansas City's hottest hitter, going 11 for 22 in his last six games. No other batter has more than five hits in that span.

Tampa Bay ended a seven-game slide with Sunday's 8-1 rout of the New York Yankees.

Rookie outfielder Steven Souza Jr. exited after he was hit by a pitch on his right hand, but X-rays were negative.


SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Rays at Royals
Mon, Jul 6 - 8:10PM EDT ( post pone rain )
Recaps

GAME 2
Rays at Royals
Tue, Jul 7 - 8:10PM EDT ( game 1 of 2 )

GAME 3
Rays at Royals
Wed, Jul 8 - 8:10PM EDT

GAME 4
Rays at Royals
Thu, Jul 9 - 2:10PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Tuesday's Tip Sheet

July 7, 2015

Tigers at Mariners – 10:10 PM EST

Detroit’s offense is looking just fine without former MVP Miguel Cabrera in the lineup, scoring 33 runs in the last four games. The Tigers have won three times in this stretch, including last night’s 12-5 triumph over the Mariners to cash as +150 underdogs. The ‘over’ has been extremely friendly to backers of Tigers’ contests of late, hitting for the 17th consecutive time on Monday, with the last ‘under’ cashing in a home loss to the Reds on June 16.

The Mariners have alternated wins and losses in each of their last six games as they search for some consistency with Taijuan Walker (7-6, 4.34 ERA) taking the mound. The Seattle right-hander is riding a five-start winning streak, which includes four victories away from Safeco Field. Walker has allowed one earned run or less four times in this stretch, including six scoreless innings in a 7-0 victory at San Diego in his last outing. This will be the third time Walker is listed as a favorite of at least -120 this season, as the Mariners have lost each of his first two times in this role, falling at home to the Padres and Astros.

The Tigers send out southpaw Kyle Ryan (1-2, 4.55 ERA) to the hill, making his fifth start of the season. Ryan lasted just four innings in his last outing against the Pirates, allowing two earned runs in four innings of an 8-4 home defeat. Ryan has split a pair of road starts, including an 8-5 win at Cleveland last month, even though he lasted less than four innings. Detroit has fared well on the road coming off a series opening win, posting a 3-1 record in Game 2’s following an away victory.

Phillies at Dodgers – 10:10 PM EST

Philadelphia continues to languish on the highway, dropping to 10-32 away from Citizens Bank Park following Monday’s 10-7 defeat at Los Angeles. The Dodgers erased a 6-3 deficit to actually aid run-line backers at -115 by scoring seven runs in the fifth through seventh innings, while cashing chalky tickets at -260. Los Angeles went through seven pitchers last night to record only their fourth home win in its last nine tries.

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Brett Anderson (5-4, 3.00 ERA) seeks his fourth consecutive victory for the Dodgers, coming off three impressive starts in which the southpaw allowed exactly one earned run in each win. Anderson struggled on the road to start the season, but picked up wins at Arizona and Miami in his last two outings, while striking out 17 and walking three. The former Athletics hurler has been especially solid at Chavez Ravine, as the Dodgers own a solid 6-2 mark in his eight home outings.

Since winning three straight in late June over the Cardinals and Yankees, the Phillies have stumbled to a 2-10 record the past 12 games to fall deeper into the NL East basement. Former Dodger Chad Billingsley (0-2, 7.71) faces his old mates tonight, attempting to turn around his recent woes. Billingsley has allowed at least five earned runs in three of his four starts since entering the Phillies’ rotation, while giving up a season-high seven runs in his previous outing against Milwaukee.

Mets at Giants – 10:15 PM EST

San Francisco owned the best road record in the National League during June, but the Giants lost all six games at Miami and Washington on their recent trip. To make matters worse, the defending champions traveled cross-country following Sunday night’s loss to the Nationals to host the Mets, who were already out on the West coast after taking two of three from the Dodgers. New York broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the top of the ninth inning to blank San Francisco last night, 3-0 to send the Giants back to the .500 mark at 42-42.

Matt Cain (0-1, 9.00 ERA) makes his second start of the season for the Giants, as the former All-Star allowed five earned runs in five innings of his season debut at Miami in a 5-4 loss last Thursday. Cain is taking the mound at AT&T Park for the first time since last July, when he beat Oakland as a short underdog, while facing the Mets for the first time since beating them last June, 4-2 as a -145 home favorite.

The Mets haven’t won consecutive games to start a road series all season, while going for their third straight shutout tonight. Bartolo Colon (9-6, 4.55 ERA) is winless in his past three starts, as the Mets’ offense has provided the veteran a total of two runs in this stretch. Colon didn’t face the Giants when they visited Citi Field last month, as the right-hander is seeking his first road victory since May 10 at Philadelphia, a span of four starts.

[StarDust Bum]

Sale strikeout streak ends, pitches White Sox past Toronto

CHICAGO (AP) Wins haven't come as easily as strikeouts for Chris Sale this season. That's why the left-hander had no regrets about losing his bid to break a strikeout streak record in one of the Chicago White Sox's more rousing wins.

Sale pitched a six-hitter that led the White Sox past the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 Monday night in the fastest major league game in almost four years.

Sale (7-4) had struck out at least 10 batters in eight straight starts, matching the major league mark set by Pedro Martinez in 1999.

Sale fanned six in a complete game, outpitching former mentor Mark Buehrle (9-5), who also went the distance.

"I'll take this outcome over that any day," Sale said. "I mean, it's one of those things, it's cool, it's fine. But we won the game, and I'm not gonna pout at all."

There were no walks in a game that took only 1 hour, 54 minutes. It was the speediest big league game since Tampa Bay and Kansas City took 1:53 on Aug. 9, 2011, according to STATS.

"It was fantastic. Both of them were fantastic," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "It was a great ballgame. Got away there at the end."

All of Chicago's runs were unearned. An error by shortstop Jose Reyes leading off the eighth helped the White Sox score three times and overcome a 2-1 deficit.

"I need to make that play," Reyes said. "The ball didn't do anything. It was right to me. That have to be out right there. That's why we lost the game."

Josh Donaldson and Chris Colabello hit solo home runs for Toronto.

Sale began the game pitching more like Buehrle, getting five outs on grounders in the first two innings. In fact, Sale allowed a homer - a solo shot to Colabello leading off the third inning - before recording his first strikeout when he got Devon Travis looking for the second out in the third.

The Blue Jays, the top-scoring team in the majors, were aggressive at the plate and didn't work many deep counts, opting to put the ball in play before getting two strikes.

Chicago tied the score at 1 in the fourth inning with an assist from the Toronto defense. Melky Cabrera singled with one out and advanced to third base when Avisail Garcia followed with another single.

Right fielder Jose Bautista decided to throw to first base behind Garcia, who didn't take a particularly wide turn around the bag. The ball bounced away from Colabello at first base and rolled far enough away to allow Cabrera to score on Bautista's first error of the season.

Donaldson hit his 20th homer in the sixth.

Buehrle had retired nine straight batters before Reyes committed the error on Gordon Beckham's routine grounder to start the eighth.

Buehrle retired the next two batters, but then the White Sox put together three straight hits. Jose Abreu tied it with an RBI single and Cabrera followed with a two-run double.

"It was good for the lineup to do that and pick him up," Chicago manager Robin Ventura said, "because he's done his work before and not gotten much out of it."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Blue Jays: RHP Roberto Osuna, who felt discomfort on the lower right side of his back on Sunday against Detroit, reported no lingering problem on Monday.

White Sox: RHP Nate Jones (Tommy John surgery) threw a simulated game at U.S. Cellular Field and likely will begin a rehab assignment this week. "Nate looked great," Ventura said. "Velocity-wise, he could probably go pitch now."

UP NEXT

The second of the four-game series is Tuesday night. LHP Felix Doubront (0-0, 3.86 ERA) will make his first start (and second appearance) for the Blue Jays this season. The White Sox counter with LHP Jose Quintana (4-7, 3.81), who has made seven straight quality starts.

[StarDust Bum]

Lackey outduels Lester, leads Cardinals to 6-0 win over Cubs

CHICAGO (AP) John Lackey beat one of his good friends. He also got some timely help from one of his teammates.

Lackey threw seven scoreless innings and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 6-0 on Monday night despite Jon Lester taking a no-hitter into the seventh.

Lackey, who was a teammate of Lester's in Boston from 2010-2014, struck out four and gave up six hits while walking one and getting enough support from a Cardinals offense that scored more than three runs for the first time since June 28.

The Cubs had a good chance in the sixth when Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant started the inning with singles. Miguel Montero struck out before Kolten Wong made a diving play on a sharp Starlin Castro grounder to start a double play and end the inning.

Wong making that play didn't surprise Lackey (7-5).

"Things like that happen," Lackey said. "He made a great play."

It's the second time in as many days Wong has made a highlight-reel play to save a run. Sunday against San Diego, Wong made a diving grab on a Yonder Alonso pop-up in shallow center field, a play he rated higher than what he did Monday.

"Making the dive, I knew there would be a chance to be a double play and the rest was just reaction," Wong said.

The Cardinals needed that play because at the time, they had not been able to muster a hit against Lester.

Signed to a six-year, $155 million deal over the offseason, Lester (4-7) remained winless in nine straight starts since beating Pittsburgh on May 16. He allowed two hits and two unearned runs while striking out eight for Chicago, which had won five of six but was shut out for the seventh time.

Lester's bid for his second career no-hitter ended with one out in the seventh when Bryant couldn't handle Jhonny Peralta's sharp grounder in back of third base, which also ended Lester's streak of 18 batters retired.

"I had pretty good command of everything," Lester said.

The Chicago defense then let Lester down when Bryant's throw to second on a Jason Heyward grounder went into right field. That was followed by Yadier Molina's run-scoring sacrifice fly to right, and Wong's RBI single to left that put St. Louis ahead 2-0.

Lackey and two relievers combined on a six-hit shutout, helping St. Louis win its third straight and 16th in 23 while improving to 8-2 this season against Chicago.

"They've had our number. I definitely admit to that," Chicago manager Joe Maddon said. "There's a long way to go yet."

The Cardinals beat Chicago again despite Lester getting the first hit of his career on an infield single in the second. He had been 0 for 66 lifetime and 0 for 30 this season, though Lester getting the hit didn't seem to bother Lackey much.

"I'll autograph (the ball)," Lackey quipped, "and I'll put you lost, too."

The game was delayed by rain for more than an hour in the middle of the eighth inning.

VOTING POWER

In an attempt to get RHP Carlos Martinez on the All-Star team in the final vote, the Cardinals have offered to partner with the Kansas City Royals, who also have a candidate in 3B Mike Moustakas. The Cardinals are hoping to utilize some of the voting power that saw four Royals voted in as starters.

BACK IN IT

Rizzo was back in the Chicago lineup one day after getting his first rest of the season. He went 1 for 4 and has reached base in 62 of his last 69 games.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Cardinals: OF Jon Jay (left wrist) has been told to do nothing for the next week in hopes the inaction will help the healing.

Cubs: RHP Rafael Soriano joined Double-A Tennessee after a brief time in Mesa, Arizona. Soriano was signed June 9 and had been in the Dominican Republic waiting for his immigration situation to clear up.

UP NEXT

Cardinals LHP Tyler Lyons (2-0, 5.09) faces Chicago RHP Jake Arrieta (8-5, 2.80) in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader. In the nightcap, St. Louis LHP Tim Cooney (0-0, 5.40) will oppose Cubs RHP Dallas Beeler, who is expected to be called up from Triple-A Iowa before the game.

[StarDust Bum]

Castellanos has 4 RBIs, Tigers win 12-5

SEATTLE (AP) Detroit manager Brad Ausmus doesn't think hitting is contagious. J.D. Martinez disagrees, and has significant proof to point to after Monday's win over the Seattle Mariners.

Martinez got three of the Tigers' 19 hits, as Detroit scored nine runs in the sixth and seventh innings to pull away for a 12-5 win over the Mariners.

"I'm a firm believer hitting is always contagious," said Martinez, whose solo home run in the fourth gave him 11 in his last 13 games. "You get a couple good guys in the lineup, a couple good at-bats, all of a sudden the pitcher starts losing confidence and . everybody else just keeps feeding off of it."

The Tigers lost Miguel Cabrera to a strained left calf when he went on the disabled list on Saturday. Without the All-Star first baseman, Ausmus wondered where the offensive production would come from.

The results from Monday's romp are a good way to cover the hole left in the lineup with Cabrera's absence, even if it's not sustainable. Nick Castellanos led the way with four hits - a season high - and four RBI, which ties a season high.

"It's not something that's going to happen every day," Martinez said. "That would be the best team in history, offensively."

After Cespedes' home run in the sixth cut the Mariners lead to 5-4, Victor Martinez singled to chase Seattle starter Hisashi Iwakuma.

Mayckol Guaipe (0-1) was unable to record an out in three attempts and was bounced from the game by a two-run single from Castellanos that gave the Tigers a 6-5 lead.

The Tigers went on to score five runs in the sixth to take an 8-5 advantage. Detroit tacked on another four in the seventh to put the game out of reach.

"We hit the ball well, we took advantage of opportunities with men in scoring position," Ausmus said.

The offensive outburst was enough to give Alfredo Simon (8-5) the win. Simon allowed five runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings to earn the win.

Mariners starter Hisashi Iwakuma allowed five runs on eight hits in five-plus innings. He struck out three in his return from a strain in his back and right shoulder area that sent him to the disabled list in April.

He threw strikes and he was healthy," interim Mariners manager Trent Jewett said. "Those are important factors. I don't think he commanded the ball probably the way he prefers, but he came out of it healthy."

Dustin Ackley hit an RBI triple and Brad Miller followed immediately with a run-scoring double in the fourth to cut the Tigers' lead to 3-2. Logan Morrison hit a three-run home run in the fifth to put the Mariners up 5-3.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Tigers: With first baseman Miguel Cabrera on the disabled list with a left calf strain, Detroit has had to look elsewhere at the position. On Monday, the team claimed Marc Krauss off waivers from Tampa Bay. Krauss is expected to split time at the bag with Jefry Marte, as well as Andrew Romine.

Mariners: Iwakuma made his return from the disabled list Monday. The right-hander hadn't appeared in a major league game since April 20 due to the strain.

CLEAN BULLPEN WORK

Blaine Hardy, Ian Krol and Bruce Rondon combined to pitch 3 2/3 scoreless innings in relief for the Tigers. Only Krol allowed a hit and he erased the single with a double play.

HOME RUN HAPPY

Castellanos started the scoring with a solo home run in the second. Victor Martinez and J.D. Martinez hit back-to-back home runs in the fourth and Yoenis Cespedes added a solo shot to lead off the deciding sixth.

MORRISON'S POWER SURGE

Morrison hit 11 home runs last season. His three-run shot in the fifth gave him 11 this year with half the season to play.

UP NEXT

Tigers: Rookie Kyle Ryan gets the nod. Ryan, who has started and come out of the bullpen this season, holds a 4.55 ERA and hasn't had a scoreless outing in seven attempts.

Mariners: Taijuan Walker attempts to follow up one of his best career starts Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers. The young right-hander allowed one hit in six shutout innings to pick up the win at San Diego on July 1.

[StarDust Bum]

Astros All-Star Keuchel stops Indians 9-4

CLEVELAND (AP) Dallas Keuchel was keeping a secret.

Keuchel, no secret in baseball circles, found out Monday afternoon he had been chosen for the American League All-Star team. He then allowed three runs in six innings in Houston's 9-4 win over the Cleveland Indians.

The left-hander (11-3), who leads the league in wins and is second with a 2.14 ERA, is a strong candidate to start next Tuesday's game in Cincinnati.

Keuchel was relaxing in his hotel room when got the news in a phone call from Astros manager A.J. Hinch. He had to keep it to himself because the formal announcement wasn't being made until Monday night.

"Everybody in my family has loose lips," he said. "It's not something I put out there. I was instructed not to. I didn't want it to leak out and get myself in trouble."

Keuchel, who allowed nine hits and struck out eight, admitted he wasn't at his best, but his offense picked him up.

An anticipated pitching duel between Keuchel and Carlos Carrasco never materialized. Carrasco, who came within one out of a no-hitter against Tampa Bay on Wednesday, allowed five runs in four innings. The right-hander (10-7) gave up four runs in the first and Preston Tucker's solo homer in the fourth.

"I was struggling the whole night," Keuchel said. "I wasn't expecting four runs off Carrasco. That was nice to see, but I had to grind it out."

Tucker had a career-high four hits and added an RBI single. Jose Altuve, Houston's All-Star second baseman, matched his career-high 14-game hitting streak with two hits, including an RBI double. Marwin Gonzalez homered and drove in two runs, while Colby Rasmus also had two RBIs.

Jason Kipnis, selected to the All-Star team as a reserve at second base, was 1 for 3 with a sacrifice fly for Cleveland and extended his home hitting streak to 29 games.

Cleveland scored in the third, breaking Keuchel's scoreless innings string at 19. He's 3-0 with a 1.86 ERA in four career starts versus Cleveland.

Hinch would like to see Keuchel start the All-Star Game and has expressed his opinion to AL manager Ned Yost.

"I think Dallas is stating his own case, I'm not sure he needs my help," Hinch said. "Multiple guys have the qualifications. I just don't know if anyone's been better."

Keuchel won't argue with his manager.

"I'd like to, but it's nothing I'm going to fret over," Keuchel said. "There are plenty of deserving candidates. There are guys a lot more nasty than I am. I'm just happy to be at the game."

Carrasco had last week's no-hit bid broken up with two outs in the ninth on Joey Butler's single. There was no drama this time. Altuve led off the game with an infield hit to deep shortstop.

Evan Gattis put Houston ahead with an RBI single. Rasmus' ground-rule double bounced over the center field wall for a 2-0 lead. Chris Carter's sacrifice fly and Gonzalez's RBI single added the other runs.

Carrasco allowed five hits and threw 39 pitches in the inning.

Carrasco, who had a perfect game through 7 1-3 innings and struck out a career-high 13 against the Rays, gave up 10 hits and struck out five.

"He went away from the things that make him good," manager Terry Francona said. "You could see it was a struggle right in the first. There are days you aren't going to feel your best, but you've got to find a way."

HAIL TO THE ALL-STAR

Hinch said he told Houston's players following the game that Keuchel made the All-Star team.

"I'm sure guys saw it during the game, but we had a nice little toast for Dallas," Hinch said. "The team was very excited for Dallas."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Astros: 3B Luis Valbuena, who leads the team with 19 homers, missed the game with a sprained big left toe.

UP NEXT

Astros: RHP Vince Velasquez has no-decisions in each of his first five big league starts, tying the record shared by RHP Hideo Nomo (1995), RHP Marc Valdez (1995-1996) and RHP Chris Brock (1997).

Indians: RHP Corey Kluber looks for his first win since May 28. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner went 7 1-3 innings in a 2-0 loss at Houston on opening day.

[StarDust Bum]

Rollins rallies Dodgers past his old Phillies team, 10-7

LOS ANGELES (AP) Jimmy Rollins saw a gaping hole in left field and visualized hitting the ball right there. Then he did just that, teeing off on a sinker left up for the go-ahead runs in the seventh inning.

That rallied the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers to a 10-7 win Monday night over Rollins' old team, the last-place Philadelphia Phillies, who lost for the seventh time in eight games.

"When you get a hit like that it feels good no matter who you're playing," Rollins said. "If you don't, it's `damn it.' I definitely don't want to have a `damn it' moment against my former team."

With one out, Jeanmar Gomez gave up consecutive singles to Yasiel Puig and Andre Ethier, who moved up on pinch-hitter Alberto Callaspo's groundout to the pitcher. Rollins followed with a two-run single to left-center, and Cody Asche's throw home pulled catcher Carlos Ruiz away from the plate. He stretched in an effort to tag Ethier, but lost the ball in the process.

Rollins came home on a double by All-Star rookie Joc Pederson, giving the Dodgers a 10-7 lead in a game that lasted 4 hours, 13 minutes. It was 3 minutes short of the longest nine-inning game in the majors this season.

"The pace was bad," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "Using a lot of pitchers, throwing a lot of pitches. That's a long time for a nine-inning game."

Batting ninth, Rollins finished 2 for 4 with two runs while facing the Phillies for the first time since requesting a trade last December after 14 years in Philadelphia.

"He's always been that guy who wants to be up there in that situation, in that moment, and he loved coming through for his team," former teammate Ryan Howard said. "I saw by the way he took that first pitch that he was locked in."

Gomez (0-2) allowed three runs and six hits in 1 2-3 innings. He had his career-best scoreless streak snapped at 13 2-3 innings.

J.P. Howell (4-1) got the victory in relief, striking out the only batter he faced. Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth for his 14th save in 15 chances.

All-Stars Adrian Gonzalez and Yasmani Grandal each hit a first-pitch homer for the Dodgers, who blew three leads. Gonzalez hit his 16th with two outs in the first, and Grandal added a three-run shot that tied the game 6-all in the fifth.

The Dodgers went ahead 7-6 on Howie Kendrick's RBI single that scored Rollins, who singled. Kendrick went 4 for 5 and finished a home run shy of the cycle with a triple, double and two singles.

Howard hit a three-run homer that gave the Phillies a 5-3 lead in the third. Freddy Galvis had a two-run shot in the second and Odubel Herrera added a solo homer in the fourth, when the Phillies led 6-3.

They tied the game 7-all in the seventh on Galvis' sacrifice fly.

Phillies starter Sean O'Sullivan allowed eight hits and seven runs - six earned - in 5 1-3 innings on a career-high 123 pitches. After the game, he was sent outright to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, having gone winless in his last nine starts.

"I thought I had settled in about the third inning, but the three-run shot by Grandal was really the dagger there," O'Sullivan said. "I need to be down in the zone better. The hits I've been giving up have been on balls that have been elevated."

Yimi Garcia made his first start since 2011 in the minors for the Dodgers in place of Carlos Frias, who went on the disabled list last week. Garcia lasted just two innings, giving up two runs and four hits.

CUBAN PIPELINE

Cuban right-hander Yadier Alvarez will receive a $16 million signing bonus as part of the minor league contract he agreed to with the Dodgers last week. The Dodgers have committed more than $180 million to Cuban players in recent years, also agreeing to major league contracts with Puig ($42 million from 2012-18) and infielders Hector Olivera ($62.5 million from 2015-20), Alex Guerrero ($28 million from 2014-17) and Erisbel Arruebarrena ($25 million from 2014-18) plus a minor league deal with right-hander Pablo Fernandez that included an $8 million signing bonus.

ROAD WOES

The Phillies fell to a major league-worst 10-32 on the road.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Dodgers: Los Angeles transferred LHP Paco Rodriguez to the 60-day DL and optioned LHP Daniel Coulombe to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Rodriguez isn't eligible to return until July 28, but is expected to be sidelined until at least mid-September following surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow.

UP NEXT

Phillies: RHP Chad Billingsley (0-2, 7.71 ERA) faces the team that drafted him. He was with the Dodgers from 2006-13, going 81-61 in 219 games, including 190 starts.

Dodgers: LHP Brett Anderson (5-4, 3.00) will face the Phillies for the first time in his career. He is 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA in his last three starts, after going 0-3 with a 3.38 ERA over his previous seven.

[StarDust Bum]

Suarez's homer breaks deadlock, Reds beat Nationals 3-2

WASHINGTON (AP) Eugenio Suarez could only watch and hope as the baseball headed toward the left-field foul pole.

"My first reaction was that I popped it up," he said. "I hit it in front. I didn't hit it well."

The Reds' shortstop got enough of it, though, to send it over the wall for a tiebreaking eighth-inning homer that provided Cincinnati with a 3-2 victory over the Washington Nationals on Monday night.

Suarez went 3 for 4 with two RBIs to help the Reds snap a three-game skid and improve to 4-0 against Washington this year, clinching the season series.

With the score knotted at 2, Suarez hit a liner off Casey Janssen (0-2) that barely stayed fair inside the pole that stands 336 feet from home plate.

Recalled from the minors on June 11 after an injury sidelined starting shortstop Zack Cozart, Suarez is batting .329 with three homers and 13 RBIs in 21 games.

"He's been a run-producer, not just getting hits but timely hits, driving in runs. He's shown a little bit of power," manager Bryan Price said. "That was a big one there."

Manny Parra (1-1) worked the seventh and Aroldis Chapman got three outs for his 17th save. One of Chapman's fastballs was clocked at 103 mph.

Danny Espinosa homered for the Nationals, who had won 12 of 15 overall and were unbeaten at home over nine games since June 18.

Washington starter Doug Fister gave up at least one hit in every one of his six innings but allowed only one earned run.

"For me, there's some inconsistency there on the mound," the right-hander said. "I'm not making quality pitches at times that are needed. Just fighting with myself a lot, trying to get the ball down, really trying to get in a rhythm, and it's a battle for me."

Nationals manager Matt Williams replaced the top two players in his starting lineup, center fielder Denard Span in the third inning and third baseman Yunel Escobar in the fifth.

"Denard left the game with a back spasm and Yunel left the game with left hamstring tightness," said Williams, who was unwilling to speculate on the severity of the injuries.

Cincinnati went up 2-1 in the sixth. Marlon Byrd led off a with a drive off the top of the right-field wall that was initially called a double, then switched to a home run, then ruled a double again after a replay review. It didn't matter much, because Suarez followed with an RBI single.

Espinosa tied it in the bottom half with his ninth home run, a shot to right on a 2-1 count.

After a 29-minute rain delay interrupted the first inning, the Reds scored an unearned run in the second on a two-out RBI double by starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani, the No. 8 hitter.

Washington pulled even in the third when Matt den Dekker came home on a two-out wild pitch. He entered in the top half for Span.

ROSTER MOVES

Reds: Cincinnati called up OF Yorman Rodriguez from Triple-A Louisville and optioned RHP Josh Smith to Double-A Pensacola. Because the Reds currently employ a four-man rotation, "it could be a short stay," Price said.

Nationals: Washington recalled LHP Sammy Solis from Double-A Harrisburg and placed RHP David Carpenter on the paternity list. Carpenter's wife gave birth to a son, Darrell, on Monday.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Reds: RHP Raisel Iglesias (left oblique strain) will likely make one more rehab start after he threw 68 pitches Sunday for Triple-A Louisville, Price said. ... LHP Sean Marshall (shoulder surgery) was expected throw from 75 feet as he recovers from a May procedure. "I'm hoping he comes back and is able to help this organization before the year is out," Price said.

Nationals: RHP Aaron Barrett (biceps strain) was scheduled to pitch for Class A Potomac following a day off. The next step is to pitch on successive days, Williams said.

UP NEXT

Reds: Johnny Cueto (5-5, 2.84 ERA) brings a 6-3 lifetime record against the Nationals to the mound on Tuesday night.

Nationals: Max Scherzer (9-6, 1.82) faces the Reds for the first time since 2008 with Arizona.

[StarDust Bum]

Niese gets 1st win since May 9, Mets top skidding Giants 3-0

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Jonathon Niese had been waiting almost two months to earn a win. So when it took nine innings for the New York Mets to build a lead Monday night, that was just fine with him.

Niese pitched eight sharp innings for his first victory since May 9, and the Mets beat the San Francisco Giants 3-0 to hand the slumping World Series champions their seventh straight defeat.

"Guys persevered today," Niese said. "They pushed some runs across. It was a good feeling."

Johnny Monell snapped a scoreless tie with a two-run double in the ninth against his former team.

"It just felt great to be able to come through for the team," Monell said. "When he pitches that well he deserves to win."

Michael Cuddyer had two hits, including a single that started the winning rally, to help the Mets improve to 3-1 on a six-game West Coast trip.

It was New York's second consecutive shutout, including an 8-0 victory Sunday at Dodger Stadium behind rookie Steven Matz.

"We don't play well on the West Coast, so to get off to a great start on this road trip is huge for us," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "It looks like we're starting to get some breaks."

Juan Lagares added an RBI single to make it 3-0, and Jeurys Familia closed for his 23rd save. Mets pitchers have allowed exactly three hits in each of their last three wins.

Niese (4-8) retired 15 of his first 16 batters before running into a little bit of trouble in the sixth, when he lost his command momentarily. The Giants loaded the bases with two outs on Joaquin Arias' single and walks to Ehire Adrianza and Matt Duffy.

Niese retired All-Star slugger Buster Posey on a grounder to third to end the threat.

"I lost my feel for everything for a few batters," Niese said. "I wanted to slow the game down and stay calm to pitch against Posey."

The left-hander did not permit a run for the first time all season, ending a six-game losing streak and a nine-start winless streak. He allowed three hits, walked two and struck out four.

"He deserved it a lot," Collins said. "He's been pitching well lately and he had another tremendous outing."

Chris Heston, facing the Mets for the first time since throwing a no-hitter against them on June 9 in New York, gave up three hits in 7 1-3 shutout innings. He walked four and struck out two.

"I wish I would have not walked so many people and just tighten the zone a little better," Heston said. "But other than that I thought it went pretty well."

Cuddyer singled off Sergio Romo (0-4) to start the ninth and went to third on a double by Kirk Nieuwenhuis, called up from the minors before the game. Monell doubled against Santiago Casilla to drive in the go-ahead runs.

Heston was pulled after hitting Lagares with a pitch and walking Ruben Tejada sandwiched around a forceout on a ball that fell amid three players in short left field. Gregor Blanco threw to second to force Lagares.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Mets: Right-handed reliever Jenrry Mejia made his final rehab appearance Sunday and is expected to be activated in time for Tuesday night's game. Mejia completed his 80-game suspension for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

Giants: OF Hunter Pence (soreness in left wrist) took batting practice the past two days, and manager Bruce Bochy said Pence could return this week.

UP NEXT

Mets: RHP Bartolo Colon (9-6, 4.55 ERA) threw seven shutout innings in his last start. Colon is 2-2 with a 5.46 ERA in five starts against the Giants. He has not won in San Francisco in three years.

Giants: RHP Matt Cain (0-1, 9.00) will make his second start of the season Tuesday night. He made his first start in nearly a year on Thursday, taking the loss against Miami. Cain is winless in his last four starts against the Mets and is looking for his first win against them in four years

[StarDust Bum]

Braves win 5-3 to end Brewers' 8-game winning streak

MILWAUKEE (AP) Braves rookie Matt Wisler made his second career road start Monday night. He fared much better this time around against the hottest team in the majors.

Wisler allowed three runs and seven hits while pitching into the sixth inning, and Atlanta ended the Milwaukee Brewers' eight-game winning streak with a 5-3 victory.

Wisler had pitched well in two home starts since being called up in mid-June, allowing one run over 15 1-3 innings. In his only other start on the road, he gave up four earned runs and nine hits over four innings at Washington.

Staked to an early lead on Kelly Johnson's two-run homer in the first, Wisler served up a leadoff shot in the bottom half to Gerardo Parra but then got into a groove.

"I just missed my location but after that I settled in for the most part," said Wisler, who went 5 2-3 innings. "Early on my slider wasn't as good as it was last game. I had to battle a bit in the fifth and sixth innings and make some pitches."

The game was held up for about nine minutes in the top of the ninth while an injured fan received medical attention after getting hit by a line drive off the bat of Atlanta's Eury Perez.

The woman, sitting several rows behind Milwaukee's dugout, was helped to her feet before medical workers placed her on a stretcher and carried her up a flight of stairs to the stadium's first-level concourse. Her face appeared to be covered with a towel.

After the game, there was no immediate update from the Brewers on the fan's condition.

"That's just awful. Our prayers go out to her, for sure," Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. "You hate to see it. Hope she's able to recover and enjoy a game again. It's scary. Very scary."

Johnson drove in three runs and Wisler's batterymate, A.J. Pierzynski, had four hits - including two doubles.

"He ran out of gas a bit in the sixth inning but he threw the ball well," Pierzynski said. "He threw all of his pitches for strikes. It was a good outing. His last road outing didn't go so well."

Jason Grilli pitched a scoreless ninth for his 23rd save in 24 chances.

Johnson launched a two-run homer to right field in the first off Kyle Lohse. Milwaukee avoided further damage when Juan Uribe was caught in a rundown after attempting to score on a grounder to third later in the inning.

A double by Nick Markakis drove in a run, and Johnson followed with a run-scoring single as Atlanta built its lead to 4-1 in the second. Uribe grounded into an inning-ending double play, stranding a runner at third.

A bloop single by Shane Peterson, pinch-hitting for Lohse, drove in a run to pull the Brewers within two in the fifth. Peterson was thrown out at the plate attempting to score from first on Parra's double.

Lohse (5-10) gave up four runs and 11 hits in five innings. He struck out four and walked one.

Uribe came through in the sixth with a two-out single to drive in a run, making it 5-2.

The Braves left 12 runners on base.

"We had people on base all game long and I'm thinking it's going to come back and haunt us," manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

A two-out, run-scoring single by Carlos Gomez got the Brewers back within two in the bottom of the sixth.

INSULT TO INJURY

Brewers shortstop Scooter Gennett swung and missed at a pitch from Braves reliever Luis Avilan that then struck him flush on the hip. Gennett squirmed on the ground for a few seconds before a sheepish smile crossed his face. "I tried not to laugh but then the umpire is laughing and (Gennett's) kind of laughing. I've done it. It's just more of an embarrassment thing," Pierzynski said. "You're not really hurt, you just know everybody's going to ride you about it."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Braves: Atlanta has scored just 39 runs in the 16 games missed by 1B Freddie Freeman, on the disabled list with a bruised right wrist. The team has averaged four runs per game with Freeman in the lineup.

Brewers: RHP Matt Garza was placed on the 15-day DL, retroactive to July 3, with right shoulder tendinitis. "This was just a good spot for the doctor to have his say," Garza said. "He wanted me to skip a start a while back and I didn't want to. He thought it was a good time to just step back and give it a rest." Relief pitcher Corey Knebel was recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs. ... Gomez, who sat out Sunday with a bruised left wrist after getting hit by a pitch Saturday, returned to the starting lineup. ... OF Khris Davis, recovering from right knee surgery, is expected to rejoin the team Tuesday or Wednesday. He's on a rehabilitation assignment with Class A Wisconsin.

UP NEXT

Braves: Manny Banuelos will make his second career start. He pitched 5 2-3 shutout innings in his major league debut Thursday before leaving with cramping and dehydration.

Brewers: Tyler Cravy will start in place of Garza. Cravy, recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs on Friday, is in his second stint with the Brewers this season. The rookie made his major league debut in a start on June 2 at St. Louis, giving up one run and four hits in seven innings

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Tuesday, July 7


National League
Reds @ Nationals
Cueto is 2-1, 2.75 in his last six starts; under is 4-3 in his last seven. .

Scherzer is 3-1, 1.05 in his last four starts; four of his last five stayed under.

Cincinnati won five of last six games with Washington; six of last eight in series stayed under. Reds lost seven of last ten games overall; five of their last eight went over. Nationals won four of last five games, allowing ten runs; six of their last seven games stayed under.

Padres @ Pirates
Ross is 2-0, 2.57 in his last three starts; three of his last four went over.

Liriano is 4-2, 1.98 in his last eight starts; over is 5-3-1 in his last nine.

San Diego won four of last seven games with Pittsburgh; over is 4-1-1 in last six series games. Padres lost six of last eight games; under is 5-1-1 in their last seven. Pirates won six of last seven games (over 4-3).

Cardinals @ Cubs
Cooney is 0-0, 6.48 in his two starts- they both went over. Lyons is 2-0, 5.87 in his five starts; three of his last four stayed under. .

Arrieta is 2-0, 0.75 in his last three starts; under is 2-1-1 in his last four starts at Wrigley. Beeler was 0-2, 4.09 in two starts LY; they both stayed under. He is 1-5, 6.33 in 13 AAA starts this season.

St Louis won seven of last eight games with the Cubs; home side won eight of last 11 series games- four of last five stayed under. Cardinals won six of last seven on road; under is 6-2 in their last eight games overall. Chicago won five of last seven games, allowing 11 runs; under is 6-2 in their last eight.

Braves @ Brewers
Banuelos threw 5.2 shutout innings (75 PT) in his MLB debut, but left with cramping in fingers/legs.

Cravy allowed one run in seven IP (87 PT) in his first MLB start.

Braves won five of last six games (under 4-1-1). Atlanta won nine of last 11 games with Milwaukee, which has won eight of last nine games, scoring 45 runs in its last six (over 5-1-2 in last eight).

Phillies @ Dodgers
Former Dodger Billingsley is 0-2, 8.57 in his four starts, three of which went over the total.

Anderson is 3-0, 1.61 in his last four starts; four of his last five home starts went over.

Philly lost seven of last eight games; over is 6-2-1 in their last nine . Phillies are 5-4 in last nine games with Dodgers; under is 7-3-1 in last 11 series games. LA is 4-5 in last nine home games; five of last seven home games went over. .

Mets @ Giants
Colon is 1-3, 4.45 in his last five starts; five of his last six stayed under.

Cain allowed five runs in five IP (89 PT) in his first '15 start.

Mets start out 3-1 on this road trip; 11 of their last 14 games stayed under the total. Giants lost last seven games; eight of their last 11 games went over. SF won eight of last 11 games against Mets; over is 3-2-1 in last six series games.

American League
A's @ Bronx
Gray had salmonella poisoning last week, missed two starts/was in hospital. He is 5-1, 2.70 in his last seven starts; over is 5-1-2 in his last eight.

Eovaldi is 3-0, 2.08 in his last three starts; seven of his last nine went over.

Oakland won five of last six games with Bronx; four of last five went over total. A's are 4-6 in last ten games; five of their last six games stayed under. Bronx is 3-1 in last four games; under is 5-1-1 in their last seven.

Astros @ Indians
Velasquez is 0-0, 4.21 in his five starts; three of his last four went over.

Kluber is 0-4, 4.07 in his last six starts (under 4-2).

Houston lost seven of last ten games with Cleveland; 10 of last 11 series games stayed under. Astros are 9-17 in last 26 road games; four of their last five overall went over. Indians lost last three games; six of their last eight went over the total.

Orioles @ Twins
Gausman is 0-0, 1.59 in his two starts- they both stayed under.

Gibson is 2-0, 1.23 in his last two starts; under is 3-0-1 in his last four.

Baltimore lost six of last eight games- five of their last six stayed under. Twins are 4-5 in their last nine; under is 5-0-1 in their last six games. Home side won six of last seven Oriole-Twin games (Twins 4-3).

Rays @ Royals
Moore allowed four runs in 4.2 IP (81 PT) in his first '15 start. Andreise is 2-1, 3.48 in his last four starts, three of which went over.

Volquez is 4-0, 3.99 in his last five starts (over 4-0-1). Young is 1-1, 2.38 in his last two starts; under is 5-2-1 in his last eight.

Tampa Bay lost six of last eight games with Kansas City; over is 5-3-2 in last ten series games. Rays lost seven of last eight games (over 6-1-1). Royals lost five of last seven games; under is 4-1-1 in their last six.

Blue Jays @ White Sox
Doubront is making first '15 start; he is 28-23, 4.78 in 73 MLB starts, 1-3, 2.44 in nine AAA starts this season.

Quintana is 2-1, 2.81 in his last five starts; seven of his last ten starts stayed under the total.

Toronto lost six of last eight games; five of their last six went over total. Jays lost seven of last ten games with Chicago; under is 6-3 in last nine series games. White Sox won five of last six games; three of their last four stayed under the total.

Tigers @ Mariners
Ryan is 0-2, 4.71 in his four starts (under 2-2).

Walker is 5-0, 1.67 in his last five starts; under is 4-2-1 in his last seven.

Detroit lost four of last six games with Seattle; Tigers lost four of their last seven games overall- their last 16 games went over. Mariners won four of last seven games; under is 7-2-1 in their last ten.

Interleague
Marlins @ Red Sox
Haren is 0-3, 4.88 in his last four starts; four of his last five stayed under.

Miley is 3-1, 3.04 in his last four starts; four of his last five went over.

Marlins lost nine of last 11 road games; four of their last six games overall went over total. Boston won six of its last eight games; four of its last five went over. Miami lost last five games with Red Sox (over 3-0-1 in last four).

Diamondbacks @ Rangers
Ray is 0-3, 5.60 in his last three starts; five of his last seven stayed under.

Gallardo is 2-0, 0.69 in his last six starts; he hasn't allowed a run in his last four starts (26.1 IP); eight of his last ten starts stayed under.

Arizona won three of its last four games; over is 6-2-1 in its last nine. Texas lost last three games, outscored 33-8; all three went over. D'backs lost three of last four games with the Rangers.

Angels @ Rockies
Heaney is 1-0, 1.38 in his two starts- they both stayed under.

Bettis is 2-1, 3.50 in his last three starts; over is 6-4 in his last ten.

Angels won their last seven games with Colorado; under is 5-3 in last eight series games. Halos won seven of last eight games, scoring 33 runs in their last three. Rockies lost seven of their last nine games.

Win-loss records this year for team with this starting pitcher:
Cin-Wsh-- Cueto 9-6; Scherzer 10-6
SD-Pitt-- Ross 8-9; Liriano 6-10
StL-Cubs-- Cooney 1-1 Lyons 3-2; Arrieta 9-7 Beeler 0-0
Atl-Mil-- Banuelos 1-0; Cravy 0-1
Phil-LA-- Billingsley 1-3; Anderson 9-7
NY-SF-- Colon 9-7; Cain 0-1

A's-NY-- Gray 9-7; Eovaldi 10-6
Hst-Clev-- Velasquez 3-2; Kluber 4-13
Balt-Minn-- Gausman 1-1; Gibson 8-8
TB-KC-- Moore 0-1 Andreise 4-2; Young 7-4 Volquez 11-5
Tor-Chi-- Doubront 0-0; Quintana 7-9
Det-Sea-- Ryan 1-3; Walker 8-8

Mia-Bos-- Haren 9-7; Miley 9-7
Az-Tex-- Ray 2-5; Gallardo 9-8
LAA-Colo-- Heaney 2-0; Bettis 7-3

Times this starting pitcher allowed a run in first inning:
Cin-Wsh-- Cueto 5-15; Scherzer 1-16
SD-Pitt-- Ross 5-17; Liriano 2-16
StL-Cubs-- Cooney 0-2 Lyons 2-5; Arrieta 4-16 Beeler 0-0
Atl-Mil-- Banuelos 0-1; Cravy 0-1
Phil-LA-- Billingsley 2-4; Anderson 4-16
NY-SF-- Colon 4-16; Cain 0-1

A's-NY-- Gray 1-16; Eovaldi 6-16
Hst-Clev-- Velasquez 2-5; Kluber 9-17
Balt-Minn-- Gausman 1-2; Gibson 3-16
TB-KC-- Moore 0-1 Andreise 0-6; Young 1-11 Volquez 11-5
Tor-Chi-- Doubront 0-0; Quintana 8-16
Det-Sea-- Ryan 1-4; Walker 4-16

Mia-Bos-- Haren 1-16; Miley 4-16
Az-Tex-- Ray 2-7; Gallardo 6-17
LAA-Colo-- Heaney 2-0; Bettis 2-10

Umpires
Cin-Wsh-- Underdogs are 10-4 in Knight games.
SD-Pitt-- Four of last five Meals games went over.
StL-Chi-- Favorites won four of last five Conroy games. Hernandez
Atl-Mil-- Home side won ten of last thirteen Cooper games.
Phil-LA-- Four of five May games stayed under the total.
NY-SF-- Under is 5-2-2 in last nine Eddings games.

Hst-Clev-- Ten of last twelve Demuth games went over.
Tor-Chi-- Five of last six Gibson games stayed under.
Balt-Minn-- Underdogs won last three Blaser games.
Det-Sea-- Over is 7-4 in Danley games this season.