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[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Tigers (9-7) at Angels (5-10)
Game: 2
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Date: April 20, 2013 3:05 PM EDT


The Los Angeles Angels are playing much better at home, and Albert Pujols is playing a key role.

The venue hasn't mattered when the nine-time All-Star faces the Detroit Tigers.

Pujols looks to continue pounding Tigers pitching in order to help the Angels win their fourth straight at home on Saturday.

Los Angeles (5-10) has been one of the early disappointments of the season, but it's trying to begin reversing its sluggish start on this six-game homestand.

The Angels began that stretch with an 8-1 victory over Detroit, winning a fourth straight at home versus the Tigers.

"I don't feel like anyone has panicked in this clubhouse," said Tommy Hanson, who tossed six scoreless innings Friday. "We know we're a good team, and we're going to play well. I feel like we just need to get rolling, and I don't think anybody is second-guessing our team in this clubhouse."

They're starting to string together some success at home, winning three in a row while scoring 17 runs after mustering 11 while dropping the first four.

Pujols is providing some pop with a .407 average at home compared to .214 on the road. He went 3 for 5 with two RBIs in the opener of this three-game series, giving him a career .458 average in 21 regular-season meetings with Detroit.

Mike Trout is 9 for 20 with four doubles, one homer and six RBIs over the past five games after getting a double and two RBIs on Friday.

The reigning AL Rookie of the Year is 4 for 15 with four RBIs in four home meetings versus Detroit, but two of those hits are doubles while the other two are homers.

Garrett Richards (0-0, 4.22 ERA) is scheduled to get another turn in the rotation with Jered Weaver on the disabled list.

Richards yielded four runs in 6 1-3 innings last Saturday before the Angels rallied with four in the last two frames to pull out a 5-4 win over Houston.

He's 1-1 with a 2.53 ERA in five games against the Tigers, winning his only start by allowing three hits in seven innings of a 13-0 away victory on July 17.

Torii Hunter, who leads Detroit with a .418 average, has put together a 12-game hitting streak after going 2 for 4 with a double Friday in his return to Anaheim. He's batting .453 over that stretch.

Rick Porcello (0-1, 5.11) is expected to return to the rotation after making his most recent appearance out of the bullpen. The right-hander capped Sunday's 10-1 victory at Oakland by tossing two perfect innings.

Porcello wasn't nearly that effective in his latest start April 10, when he surrendered four runs and eight hits in five innings of an 8-6 loss to Toronto.

He's 3-2 with a 5.80 ERA in seven career starts against the Angels, losing 6-5 in his only appearance in Los Angeles on April 20, 2010. He was tagged for six runs and eight hits in 4 1-3 innings.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Nationals (9-7) at Mets (8-7)
Game: 2
Venue: Citi Field
Date: April 20, 2013 3:05 PM EDT


Superb pitching has been vital to the New York Mets' early success at Citi Field.

They may need another strong performance on the mound if they're going to beat Gio Gonzalez and the Washington Nationals on Saturday.

New York (8-7) has won five of seven home games thanks in large part to a 2.14 ERA - 1.87 from the rotation. That's a dramatic difference from the Mets' 6.42 ERA in eight road games.

They got another strong performance in the opener of this series Friday, when Matt Harvey outpitched Stephen Strasburg in a 7-1 victory, ending their eight-game home slide to Washington (9-7). Harvey allowed one run and four hits with seven strikeouts in seven innings.

"He pitched great, but that's the mark of a true ace," manager Terry Collins said. "Games like that can spread to great seasons."

Gonzalez (1-1, 4.50 ERA) pitched plenty of great games last season for the Nationals in finishing third in the Cy Young Award voting, and he certainly had his way with the Mets in his final three starts. The left-hander won all three while posting a 0.96 ERA.

That includes limiting New York to a .116 average in two road outings.

Gonzalez will try to continue that dominance while rebounding from Sunday's 9-0 loss to Atlanta. He was tagged for seven runs and seven hits - two homers - with three walks in five innings after compiling an 0.82 ERA over his first two starts.

"Our job is to make sure we keep them as close as possible, and I didn't do that," Gonzalez said.

Jeremy Hefner (0-2, 7.20) hasn't come close to doing that, either.

The right-hander has surrendered seven runs and four homers in four innings over his last two games - one start. Rain and snow postponed two games and have kept him from starting since a 7-3 loss at Philadelphia on April 10.

Hefner, however, was impressive in his only home start so far, yielding one run in six innings of a 7-5 loss to Miami on April 5.

Hefner's recent troubles may only continue since he lost all three starts versus the Nationals as a rookie last year while compiling a 5.29 ERA. Bryce Harper went 3 for 9 with a double, a triple and a homer in their matchups.

The Mets have 12 homers at Citi Field after going deep four times Friday, and they've hit at least one in each of their first seven home games for the first time since 2002.

They haven't put together a longer season-opening string at home since homering at least once in the first 14 games of their inaugural season of 1962.

Ike Davis and Lucas Duda hit two each Friday, and all three of Davis' have come at home. The first baseman is hitting .173 while tying Marlon Byrd with a team-high 15 strikeouts, but at 4 for 10 he's one of the few Mets who has had some success against Gonzalez.

Duda, 1 for 2 against Gonzalez, is 7 for 17 with four solo homers and seven runs over the past six games.

New York last won back-to-back home meetings with the Nationals when it swept a two-game set from May 18-19, 2011.

[StarDust Bum]

Recap: Dodgers , Orioles
Game: 1
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: April 19, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


BALTIMORE (AP) - The rainout of Friday night's game between the Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles provided slumping Los Angeles with a second straight day off, although it didn't feel that way to manager Don Mattingly.

Los Angeles got in batting practice before the rain started. The game never got under way and was finally called after a delay of nearly two hours.

The Dodgers arrived in Baltimore on Thursday, so they've gone two straight days without playing a game.

``Today really wasn't really a day off,' Mattingly said.

Given that the Dodgers arrived at the clubhouse around 3:30 and didn't leave until shortly before 9, he had a point.

This is the Dodgers' only visit to Camden Yards this season, so the teams will play a split-doubleheader on Saturday. The first game will start at 1:05 p.m. and the second at 7:05 p.m.

Los Angeles hasn't visited Camden Yards since 2002. The teams also met in California in 2004.

The Dodgers entered the game mired in a four-game losing streak. Los Angeles scored only seven runs during the skid, which included a three-game sweep by the visiting San Diego Padres.

Hyun-Jin Ryu, who was scheduled to start for the Dodgers on Friday night, will start Saturday afternoon against Baltimore's Jason Hammel. Josh Beckett will start for the Los Angeles in the nightcap against left-hander Wei-Yin Chen.

``Puts guys on the same time,' Mattingly said. ``Gives Ryu an extra day, so he will be on regular rest.'

The Dodgers are mired in a four-game losing streak. Los Angeles scored only seven runs during the skid, which included a three-game sweep by the visiting San Diego Padres.

Baltimore is in the midst of a nine-game homestand that began with a series win over Tampa Bay. After facing AL East foes Boston, the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay in succession, getting ready for the Dodgers and interleague play was quite a change for the Orioles.

``It's a real challenge for your time,' manager Buck Showalter. ``We were here until well after midnight (Thursday) and today spent the whole day trying to gather the information our players need to know. It was one of those days where you close your door from noon to 3 trying to get everything done.'

The Orioles are quite familiar with two of the hottest Dodgers, Adrian Gonzalez (.407 batting average) and Carl Crawford (.375), both of whom played with Boston last season.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Dodgers (7-8) at Orioles (8-7)
Game: 2
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: April 20, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


Highly touted rookie Hyun-Jin Ryu has provided some consistent efforts in his first three starts with the Los Angeles Dodgers. They could use another such performance Saturday when he faces the Baltimore Orioles in the opener of a split doubleheader at Camden Yards.

The scheduled series opener Friday was postponed by rain, forcing the teams to play a doubleheader in Los Angeles' only visit to Baltimore this season.

Ryu will try to earn a third consecutive win while helping the Dodgers avoid a fifth straight defeat.

The Dodgers paid $25.7 million just to negotiate a six-year, $36 million deal with Ryu, a star left-hander in Korea, and so far, it's been money well spent.

Ryu (2-1, 2.89 ERA) has pitched at least six innings and allowed three or fewer runs in each of his three starts. He recorded nine strikeouts and helped himself with three hits in his latest outing, a 7-5 victory at Arizona last Saturday.

``Puts guys on the same time,' manager Don Mattingly said of the rainout. "Gives Ryu an extra day, so he will be on regular rest.'

The Dodgers (7-8), though, haven't won since that contest, getting outscored 23-7 during a four-game skid. They had 10 hits in the series finale against San Diego on Wednesday but went 2 for 9 with runners in scoring position and lost 7-2.

Los Angeles is batting .171 in those situations this year.

"We have to move forward," said Mattingly, who played under Baltimore manger Buck Showalter during his career with the New York Yankees. "We're 7-8, and that's not good enough. But also it's not like we're throwing up the white flag yet. We talk about what's acceptable and what's not acceptable and how do we turn it around.

"We're not going to sit and feel sorry for ourselves."

The Dodgers have also traditionally had lackluster performances in interleague play, going 115-139, but they'll get to face a team that's fared even more poorly. Baltimore's 126-157 mark is the worst in the AL, and the Orioles (8-7) enter this series having alternated losses and wins in their last six games.

Baltimore, though, produced a resilient 10-6 victory in 10 innings over Tampa Bay on Thursday. The Orioles rallied from an early three-run hole and erased two other one-run deficits before blowing a one-run lead in the eighth.

Matt Wieters' grand slam gave Baltimore its 17th consecutive extra-inning win, the longest such streak since Pittsburgh's 21 straight from June 1959-July 1960.

Showalter said getting ready for the Dodgers and interleague play was quite a change after facing AL East foes Boston, the Yankees and Tampa Bay in succession.

``It's a real challenge for your time," he said. ``We were here until well after midnight (Thursday) and today spent the whole day trying to gather the information our players need to know. It was one of those days where you close your door from noon to 3 trying to get everything done.'

Jason Hammel (2-1, 4.34) will oppose Ryu, looking to lead the Orioles to back-to-back wins for the third time this season. The right-hander will also attempt to win consecutive starts for the first time since June.

Hammel gave up three runs over six innings of a 5-2 win over the Yankees on Saturday, but he's 2-4 with a 5.63 ERA in nine career starts against the Dodgers and 0-3 with a 10.66 ERA in the last three.

Josh Beckett (0-2, 3.26 ERA) is scheduled to start the nightcap for the Dodgers. The veteran right-hander is no stranger to the Orioles, having gone 7-7 with a 4.36 ERA in 20 starts against them.

He hasn't enjoyed any success in recent meetings, losing four straight outings while compiling a 6.75 ERA and giving up six home runs.

Beckett had by far his best performance of the season Sunday at Arizona, allowing one run and six hits over 8 1-3 innings of a 1-0 loss. He walked one and struck out nine in his longest start since a shutout for Boston on June 15, 2011, against Tampa Bay.

Wei-Yin Chen (0-2, 4.00) aims to end a long winless streak for Baltimore. The left-hander turned in his second consecutive quality start in a 3-0 loss at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, getting little or no offensive help from his teammates again.

Chen is 0-6 with a 4.37 ERA in 10 starts since his last win Aug. 19 against Detroit, receiving 15 runs of support in those games.

Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford are the only current Dodgers to face Chen, going a combined 4 for 12 in their matchups.

The Dodgers have won five straight over the Orioles, with the latest series taking place June 15-17, 2004.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Cardinals (9-7) at Phillies (7-10)
Game: 3
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: April 20, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


With their offense possibly awoken, the Philadelphia Phillies are hoping to parlay a win over the St. Louis Cardinals into more success.

The sturdy Cliff Lee should give them a chance to do so as he takes the mound Saturday night against the visiting Cardinals.

Philadelphia's 8-2 win Friday in the second of a four-game set snapped a four-game slide. Though it was shortened by rain after 6 1/2 innings, that came well after the batting order provided more than enough offense for the Phillies (7-10).

Granted, they received some help with a throwing error by St. Louis' Ty Wigginton, leading to four unearned runs in the first inning. But Philadelphia, which finished with five runs total off of Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia in the opening frame, would take any production it could find after its bats had recently gone quiet.

The Phillies went four games without drawing a walk before Chase Utley ignited the first-inning onslaught with a two-out walk.

Philadelphia totaled seven runs over the four straight losses, recording six hits or fewer three times. The Phillies also hadn't scored a run earlier than the sixth inning over the previous seven games, but all of Friday's eight runs - which tied a season high - came before the end of the third.

Roy Halladay threw a complete game in the win, enjoying the ample run support. Philadelphia starters pitched at least seven innings while allowing three runs or fewer on three occasions during the four-game skid, but the team's offense hung them out to dry until Friday.

"It's a big difference with a nice lead," Halladay said. "You can be aggressive and attack hitters."

Lee (2-0, 1.52) ERA) will likely take a similar approach as he carries a streak of 20 starts with at least six innings while issuing no more than one walk. He limited Cincinnati to two runs on five hits over seven innings in his last start, though Philadelphia took a 4-2 loss as its bullpen faltered.

"That's baseball," said Lee, 3-2 with a 2.44 ERA in six outings against St. Louis. "It happens."

Defense generally hadn't been an issue for the Cardinals (9-7), as Wigginton's mishap was the club's eighth error. Even then, St. Louis' offense allowed little chance for a comeback, with the only runs coming on solo homers by Carlos Beltran and Matt Holliday.

"He just couldn't make the throw," manager Mike Matheny said. "But we've got to be able to pick each other up when we make mistakes."

Lance Lynn (2-0, 5.40) received plenty of support in his last start. He yielded four runs and seven hits over five innings against Pittsburgh on Monday, still good enough for a win in a 10-6 victory.

"I wish I could have went deeper, but when you have a 10-run lead you're just trying to get quick outs and not have long innings and I wasn't able to do that," Lynn said. "That was the most frustrating part."

The righty has been inconsistent to start the year, as he limited Cincinnati's potent lineup to one run in six innings in his previous outing.

He didn't fare well in his only career outing against Philadelphia, giving up four runs and four hits over five innings in an 8-7 loss on Aug. 12.

Allen Craig is 3 for 7 off of Lee with two doubles while Holliday is 4 for 12 with four RBIs and six walks.

Michael Young owns a 10-game hitting streak for the Phillies, going 13 for 34 (.382) over that span.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Braves (13-3) at Pirates (8-8)
Game: 3
Venue: PNC Park
Date: April 20, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


Paul Maholm showed occasional flashes of excellence, but never lived up to his potential in seven years with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

If his first three starts of 2013 are any indication, he's finally doing it in his first full season with the Atlanta Braves.

Maholm has yet to allow a run in three convincing victories, a streak he'd love to continue Saturday night at PNC Park against the club that drafted him.

The left-hander was the eighth pick in the 2003 draft by Pittsburgh but was unable to establish himself as a front-line starter with the Pirates (8-8), going 53-73 with a 4.36 ERA from 2005-11.

After signing with the Cubs in 2012, Maholm was shipped to Atlanta in late July and posted a 3.54 ERA in his final 11 starts.

His beginning to 2013 has been spotless. He went 7 2-3 innings in his latest impressive outing, limiting Washington to four hits and striking out seven in a 9-0 victory Sunday.

Maholm (3-0, 0.00 ERA) is the sixth pitcher since 1920 to begin a season with three straight scoreless starts of at least five innings, and only the third since 1966 - joining Woody Williams (2003) and Zack Greinke (2009).

"Pauly has been outstanding, unbelievable," center fielder B.J. Upton told the Braves' official website.

Heading to the visitors' clubhouse at PNC on Saturday won't seem that odd for Maholm since he started there three times last season, going 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA. Maholm gave up two runs and five hits - including a homer to Starling Marte - over seven innings of a 2-1 loss Oct. 1, his lone outing in Pittsburgh with Atlanta.

Marte got a night off Friday after striking out five times in the series opener, but the Pirates' offense was just fine without its leadoff hitter. Pedro Alvarez homered for the second night in a row, one of his team's five extra-base hits in a 6-0 win.

"The last few days have been pretty good for me. I'm getting in some kind of rhythm now and I'm stringing some good at_bats together," said Alvarez, who may find things tougher Saturday as he's 1 for 24 with 13 strikeouts against lefties since Sept. 23. "Hopefully, things are starting to turn for me. I feel good at the plate.'

Pittsburgh's bats may have been overshadowed Friday by a pitching staff that allowed two hits and faced the minimum 27 hitters for the first time since July 25, 1982 - also against the Braves.

Atlanta (13-3) has been shut out in all three of its defeats, but another off night at the plate Saturday may be unlikely.

That's because the Braves will be facing James McDonald (1-2, 5.27), who gave up eight runs - three earned - and eight hits in 1 2-3 innings of a 10-6 loss to St. Louis on Monday.

McDonald fell to 4-7 with a 7.11 ERA in 16 games - 15 starts - since the All-Star break. With Francisco Liriano and Charlie Morton due back in May, the right-hander's rotation spot may be on the line.

"I don't want to speculate right now," manager Clint Hurdle told the team's official website. "... I need to sit down and really talk to the guy. I haven't seen anything glaring, but we saw what you saw as far as velocity, finish and command."

McDonald, though, might actually be happy to see the Braves. He's 3-0 with a 1.73 ERA against Atlanta in four starts as a Pirate, striking out 28 in 26 innings.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Cubs (5-10) at Brewers (7-8)
Game: 2
Venue: Miller Park
Date: April 20, 2013 7:10 PM EDT


After adding to their recent home dominance of the Chicago Cubs, the Milwaukee Brewers will try to keep rolling in Hiram Burgos' major league debut.

The 25-year-old right-hander will try to make his first start a successful one while leading the Brewers to a sixth straight win and their seventh in a row at Miller Park against the Cubs on Saturday night.

After putting behind a miserable 2-8 start with a three-game home sweep of San Francisco earlier this week, Milwaukee opened its series against Chicago by holding on for a 5-4 victory Friday night.

Ryan Braun hit a three-run homer in the first inning - his fourth of the season and second in as many games - and Carlos Gomez added a key solo shot in the seventh.

Needing a fifth starter for the first time since April 6, the Brewers (7-8) will turn to Burgos, their minor league pitcher of the year in 2012. The right-hander went 10-4 with a 1.95 ERA and registered 153 strikeouts with 49 walks in 28 games at three different levels last season.

He was 0-2 with a 2.70 ERA in three starts at Triple-A Nashville this year.

"At this time last year, I was in High-A in Brevard (County, Florida)," Burgos said. "That's the good thing about baseball. You've got to keep working hard to get people out, and in less than a year, I'm here."

Burgos will pitch opposite a struggling Edwin Jackson (0-2, 6.06 ERA). After a hard-luck loss in his Cubs debut, the right-hander has given up five runs in back-to-back outings.

Control problems haven't helped. Jackson has issued nine walks over his past two starts and combined with reliever Michael Bowden for a major league record-tying five wild pitches in the sixth inning of a 10-7 loss to San Francisco on Sunday.

"It's inexcusable to let your team down like that when you self-implode in an inning like that and not make an adjustment to regain control of your pitches," he told the team's website. "I let a flaw pretty much detonate the inning and ruin the game."

Jackson, signed to a four-year $52 million contract before this season, also allowed five runs to Milwaukee in a 7-4 defeat April 8. He gave up four of those runs in the opening inning with Martin Maldonado driving in three on a bases-loaded double.

Jackson was 3-2 with a 3.06 ERA in his seven previous regular-season matchups against the Brewers. He also made two starts at Miller Park in the 2011 NLCS while with St. Louis.

Jackson will be asked to help the Cubs (5-10) snap a four-game road losing streak. Chicago, though, has dropped 16 of its last 18 at Miller Park.

Including the postseason, Braun is 9 for 26 (.346) all-time against Jackson but has never homered off the right-hander. Rickie Weeks, meanwhile, is 5 for 15 (.333) with three homers, tied for the most he's allowed to any player.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Indians (5-10) at Astros (5-11)
Game: 2
Venue: Minute Maid Park
Date: April 20, 2013 7:10 PM EDT


It's fitting that Scott Kazmir's return to the major leagues comes in his hometown of Houston.

The veteran left-hander takes the mound for the first time in a little more than two years when he tries to help the Cleveland Indians avoid a sixth straight loss Saturday night against the Astros.

Kazmir last pitched in the majors for the Los Angeles Angels on April 3, 2011. He was placed on the disabled list with lower back tightness shortly after and spent time rehabbing in the minors before the Angels released him in June of that year.

After Kazmir spent 2012 pitching near his home in suburban Houston for the Sugar Land Skeeters of the independent Atlantic League, Cleveland (5-10) signed him to a minor league contract in December. He went 1-0 with a 3.46 ERA in four spring training games to earn a spot in the Indians rotation.

"I had to prove more to myself than anything, being out for so long," he told the team's official website. "I was able to do that. It seemed like every day my game was starting to come together, starting to click."

Kazmir's return was delayed after he suffered an oblique injury prior to the season, but he's finally ready to take a major league mound - and for the first time in his hometown.

"You go out there the first time you want to show out, you want to do real (well)," Kazmir said. "At the same time, you don't want to overthrow. You want to stay within yourself and get your game. You have to slow back on that adrenaline."

He allowed three runs and two homers while striking out seven in 5 2-3 innings of a 3-2 loss to Houston with Tampa Bay in 2008.

Kazmir hopes to help the Indians get back on track after they were outscored 25-11 during a five-game skid. Lonnie Chisenhall hit a two-run homer but Cleveland stranded nine and went 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position in a 3-2 loss Friday.

"We did have opportunities,' manager Terry Francona said. "I think what happens sometimes is, guys try too hard. We had a couple of chances, and we rolled over."

Asdrubal Cabrera went 1 for 3, but struck out in a seventh consecutive contest. The star shortstop is batting .138 (8 for 58) with 18 strikeouts.

He's 4 for 10 with a double against Philip Humber (0-3, 2.89), who hopes to finally get some decent offensive support.

The right-hander has seen the Astros score one run in his three starts. He gave up two runs in seven innings of a 4-1 loss to the Angels on Sunday.

"As a pitcher, you can't really control wins and losses," Humber said. "You just go out there and try to give the team a chance to win when it's our turn. There are times when I go out there and don't deserve to win and my teammates have picked me up.

"That's happened a lot in the past, so you just keep going."

Humber is 0-2 with an 8.31 ERA in five starts versus Cleveland.

J.D. Martinez and Rick Ankiel homered Friday as the Astros (5-11) snapped a five-game slide. Martinez, however, is day to day after spraining his right knee in the fourth inning.

Four of Ankiel's six hits in 31 at_bats are home runs.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Athletics (12-5) at Rays (6-10)
Game: 2
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: April 20, 2013 7:10 PM EDT


Evan Longoria's power surge has helped the Tampa Bay Rays get off to a good start to their homestand.

The star third baseman looks to continue his home run binge when the Rays try for a second straight victory over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday night.

Longoria hit a two-run homer Friday as Tampa Bay (6-10) scored four times in the first inning of an 8-3 win over Oakland.

The A's (12-5) had a six-game road winning streak to start the season snapped as the Rays pounded out 10 hits and matched a season high for runs. Tampa Bay opened a six-game home stretch against Oakland and the New York Yankees that followed a 2-7 road trip.

Tampa Bay averaged 3.0 runs in its first 13 games, but 6.7 while winning two of the last three.

"It's still not there," manager Joe Maddon said. "We still need to improve in certain areas, but it's wins like this that can get you going in the right direction. It's all about confidence.'

Longoria has six hits in 25 at_bats, but four have been homers in the last five games. He has reached base in all 16 contests, with only two players in franchise history recording longer such streaks to begin a season - Rocco Baldelli with 24 in 2003 and Jorge Cantu with 20 in 2005.

"I think Longo is definitely getting toasty,' Maddon said

The Rays hand the ball to Jeremy Hellickson (0-1, 4.91 ERA), who gave up two runs and three hits in seven innings while striking out nine in a 3-2 loss at Boston on Monday. He didn't get a decision.

The right-hander is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in four starts versus Oakland, which scored twice in the first inning Friday but did little else against four Rays pitchers.

With 11 hits in the series opener, the A's have posted double-digit hit totals in each road contest, though they scored fewer than six runs in a game away from home for the first time in 2013.

Shortstop Jed Lowrie went 4 for 4 to raise his average to .413.

"He's been as about as consistent as you can be,' Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. "Up over .400 now at this time of year is pretty good.'

Coco Crisp homered and extended his hitting streak to 12 games, during which he's batting .392 with five home runs and nine RBIs. He's 3 for 9 with a double against Hellickson.

The A's hope Jarrod Parker (0-2, 10.80) can regroup after lasting 3 1-3 innings in each of his last two outings. He gave up eight runs and nine hits in a 10-1 loss to Detroit on Sunday.

"I made a couple of good pitches, and they hit them," said Parker, who has walked eight and struck out four in three starts. "And I made a couple of bad pitches and they hit them. I'm just a tick away. I feel fine.'

The right-hander went 0-1 in two starts against the Rays in 2012, allowing three runs in six innings in both.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Mariners (7-11) at Rangers (10-6)
Game: 2
Venue: Rangers Ballpark in Arlington
Date: April 20, 2013 8:05 PM EDT


The offenses of the Rangers and Mariners appear to be trending in opposite directions, with Texas' lineup breaking out in a series-opening victory while Seattle's continued to scuffle.

Both will turn to rookie hurlers - facing each other for the second time this season - as this three-game set continues Saturday night in Arlington.

The Rangers (10-6) led the majors with 808 runs last year but were expected to see their offense take a hit after losing key players in the offseason. However, most likely didn't expect them to dip as drastically as the 3.7 runs per game they've averaged heading into Friday's contest.

But Texas busted out for a 7-0 victory, matching a season high for runs, and its six runs in the fifth were twice as many as the team had scored in a single inning this year.

Three batters broke out of ugly individual slumps. David Murphy had been 4 for his last 31, A.J. Pierzynski was 4 for 25 and Craig Gentry halted a 2-for-16 skid.

"We know what we're capable of as an offense. You can't do that every night," said Ian Kinsler, who leads Texas with five home runs and 11 RBIs. "I think we all want to get it going earlier."

Meanwhile, the Mariners (7-11) remain mired in inconsistency and haven't strung together two victories since starting 2-0. A big problem has been the lack of run production, with Seattle averaging 2.1 runs over its last nine games while going 3-6.

The Mariners have struck out 44 times in their last three, including 10 times against Texas' Yu Darvish on Friday. The others were against Detroit's Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, meaning they've faced three of baseball's top strikeout artists in order. But manager Eric Wedge wasn't necessarily buying that excuse.

"We have faced good pitchers. But we're a lot better than that," Wedge said. "The one thing is hitting with two strikes. We gotta do a better job. There's certain things we need to do prior to that to create damage. We're capable and we should do a better job."

Looking to follow Darvish's masterful outing - it was the first time Seattle has been shut out - will be right-hander Nick Tepesch, who is 1-1 with a 3.46 ERA through the first two starts of his career. The loss came in a 4-3 defeat at Seattle last Sunday as he surrendered four runs on nine hits over 5 2-3 innings.

"The bottom line is he kept us in the game and gave us a chance," manager Ron Washington told the team's official website. "We just didn't get the hit that would have made a difference."

Seattle starter Brandon Maurer picked up his first career victory in that game, holding the Rangers to three runs on five hits over six innings.

Maurer, who is 1-2 with a 9.95 ERA after he was shelled in his first two starts, said he believes the experience against the same club should help Saturday.

"I'll just go out there and do the same thing," the 22-year-old told the Mariners' official website. "I don't have to tweak anything. Just go out there and make pitches."

Mariners center fielder Franklin Gutierrez was held out of the starting lineup for the second straight game and for the fifth time in seven days Friday as he continues to deal with groin tightness. Wedge said the team would continue to monitor his status.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Diamondbacks (9-7) at Rockies (12-4)
Game: 2
Venue: Coors Field
Date: April 20, 2013 8:10 PM EDT


Jorge De La Rosa missed well over a year after suffering a significant injury against the Arizona Diamondbacks two seasons ago.

The left-hander, though, appears to be back to his old self if his latest outing is any indication.

De La Rosa looks to build on an impressive performance as the surging Rockies go for an eighth consecutive win Saturday night in the second of three against the visiting Diamondbacks.

After recording a 6.10 ERA in his first two starts, De La Rosa (1-1, 3.86 ERA) allowed two hits and struck out seven over six scoreless innings Sunday in a 2-1 victory at San Diego. De La Rosa earned his first win since May 13, 2011 - 11 days before he tore the collateral ligament in his throwing arm versus Arizona.

"That's nothing new to us," Padres manager Bud Black told MLB's official website. "We've seen Jorge throw that way before, prior to his Tommy John surgery."

A 16-game winner in 2009, De La Rosa could have a big impact this season as long as his arm holds up.

"It was real special,' he said of Sunday's win. "It was a very hard time last year and the year before. I have to keep focus in every game I pitch and try to be the same guy as I was before."

Despite that forgettable day nearly two years ago, De La Rosa is surely looking forward to facing the Diamondbacks. He's gone 6-2 with a 2.28 ERA over his last 10 starts in the series while striking out 57 in 59 1-3 innings. De La Rosa has limited Gerardo Parra to two hits in 12 at_bats in their matchups and Martin Prado is 0 for 5.

De La Rosa will look to follow Jhoulys Chacin's strong effort in Friday's 3-1 series-opening win. Chacin pitched effectively into the seventh inning before leaving with left oblique tightness. He became the first Rockies starter to throw 100 pitches since June 12, a stretch of 117 games - the longest such streak since records started being kept in 1988.

"We hope it's nothing serious," third baseman Chris Nelson said. "But when you see your pitcher walk off the mound like that, it's a rough one for the whole team."

Despite going 0 for 2 with runners in scoring position, Colorado (12-4) is batting .359 in such situations during its run. The Rockies haven't posted eight consecutive victories since a 10-game winning streak Sept. 3-12, 2010.

Colorado is also a franchise-best 7-0 at home, where it's outscored opponents 51-22.

Arizona (9-7), meanwhile, has hit just .221 while opening 1-3 on its nine-game road trip. Prado, Paul Goldschmidt, Miguel Montero and Cody Ross - the team's 2-3-4-5 hitters Friday, went a combined 0 for 16. Goldschmidt had reached base in all 15 games before coming up empty.

The Diamondbacks try to get back on track behind Trevor Cahill (0-2, 3.50), who threw 7 1-3 innings of six-hit ball Sunday in a 1-0 walkoff win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"Cahill was outstanding - he's tough, he pounds the strike zone, as tough as anybody we face," Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis said. "He has movement on the ball and deception."

Cahill, in contrast, hasn't been very sharp over five career starts against the Rockies, going 1-3 with a 5.65 ERA. Dexter Fowler is 4 for 5 with two triples against him, but Michael Cuddyer is 1 for 14.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Padres (5-11) at Giants (10-7)
Game: 2
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: April 20, 2013 9:05 PM EDT


It appears all the San Francisco Giants needed to get back on track was a visit from the San Diego Padres.

Looking to build on a thrilling walkoff win, the Giants try to continue their recent success against the Padres as these NL West rivals play the second of three Saturday night.

After suffering a three-game sweep at Milwaukee, San Francisco (10-7) returned home to beat San Diego 3-2 in Friday's series opener. Angel Pagan came through with a game-ending double with one out in the ninth inning, sending the Giants to their fourth consecutive home win.

"It's one of those situations you want to be the guy," Pagan said. "I wanted to be in that situation. I wanted to get the hit. We needed that win after getting swept in Milwaukee."

San Francisco improved to 24-9 over the last 33 matchups in the series, including a 13-4 mark at home while posting a 2.35 ERA.

The Giants now turn to Tim Lincecum (1-0, 5.63 ERA), who after allowing six runs in as many innings against Colorado on April 9, gave up a pair of two-run homers in the first Sunday in a 10-7 road win over the Chicago Cubs. The right-hander went on to throw four scoreless frames before being removed.

"It just comes down to focus, executing your pitches when you need to. I could have ended that inning with two runs maybe. I guess I just didn't focus the way I should have," he said.

"I didn't have a good rhythm. Everything seemed a little off, especially with the offspeed pitch. After that I kind of settled down and everything started working again."

While opponents are hitting just .217 against Lincecum, he's walked 12 in 16 innings.

Lincecum had gone 10-4 with a 1.84 ERA over his first 19 starts against the Padres (5-11) before getting hit hard in each of the last three. He's 0-1 with a 7.02 ERA over that stretch despite striking out 20 in 16 2-3 innings.

Yonder Alonso is 1 for 12 with five strikeouts against Lincecum. Chase Headley, though, is 7 for 20 with two home runs since the start of 2010.

Headley, who made his season debut Wednesday after missing the first 14 games due to a broken left thumb, went 1 for 3 with a homer and two RBIs on Friday. Alonso, Jedd Gyorko, Kyle Blanks and Nick Hundley - the team's 5-6-7-8 hitters - however, were a combined 0 for 13.

San Diego gives the ball to Clayton Richard (0-1, 5.28), who's compiled a 1.64 ERA over his last two starts. The left-hander gave up two hits and overcome four walks to throw six scoreless innings in Sunday's 2-1 loss to Colorado.

"You'd like to see a solid pitching effort supported by enough runs to get by, but our offense couldn't get going," manager Bud Black told MLB's official website.

Richard is 6-4 with a 3.29 ERA in his last 11 outings versus San Francisco. He had dropped three consecutive starts in the series before surrendering one unearned run and five hits over eight innings of a 7-1 victory Aug. 19.

Richard has struggled against Buster Posey, who's 6 for 17 with a homer in their matchups. While the reigning NL MVP went 1 for 2 with an RBI on Friday, he's batting .150 over his last seven games.

"It's a matter of keep on grinding and keep working," he said.

[StarDust Bum]

Armadillo: Saturday's six-pack

-- Chicago gets an average of 3.38 inches of rain a month; they had 4.69 in one day this week. That not good.

-- PGA golfers get drug tested? Seriously? I had no idea.

-- Speaking of golf, there are just under 1,500 golf courses, just in Florida alone. Thats a lot of grass seed and fertilizer.

-- Big Dozen becomes the Big 14 in 2014; they'll have two divisions with seven teams in each. Can't wait for those Indiana-Rutgers rivalry games.

-- Of the three rainouts Friday night, only the Dodgers-Orioles will play a doubleheader Saturday. No word on rescheduling the other two games.

-- If I want that bomber kid in Boston tortured on national TV every week for a year, then executed, does it make me a bad person? I hope not.


*****

Armadillo: Saturday's List of 13: Random thoughts on a spring Saturday.....

13) Thanks to Ken Thomson and Sportsxradio for having me on as a guest Friday night; you can check the archive here. If you're interested in being a better bettor, this show is a great place to get the education to improve your handicapping. I know it helps me.

12) So while I'm on the air, I'm watching Colorado-Arizona, and Jhoulys Chacin is throwing a shutout for the Rockies and my fantasy team; then he pulls an oblique, and I have to bite my damn tongue so I don't curse into the phone. Baseball players get hurt an awful lot.

11) Stumbled across this fact today and it hit me; this is how great Lebron James is: four years ago, the Cavaliers were 66-16. Now? Not so much. In last three years, thats three years, they're 64-166.

10) When you see a game with no walks, 19 strikeouts, you know the umpire helps the pitchers. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr Doug Eddings. Under is 13-8 in his last 21 games behind the plate.

9) Dwight Howard is a free agent this summer; there is no way on God's green earth I would pay him max money to be the best player on my team. My best player has to make his teammates better, has to be coachable, and in a perfect world, would make at least half his free throws.

8) I'm a little behind with my movie watching, because all I watch are games and CSI reruns, but saw The Bucket List while I was writing tonight, and it is a very good movie. Well worth two hours of your time. OK, so its a six-year old movie, I told you I was behind on my movie watching.

7) Cleveland Browns have been around for 14 years since NFL gave them an expansion team; they're been 1-0 once. Once. 2004. I'm thinking they can beat the Dolphins this year and make it twice, but we'll see how they draft next week. New OC Norv Turner will improve their quarterback play.

6) Cam Cameron is the offensive coordinator at LSU? NFL guys are way ahead of college coaches, right? Zach Mettenberger for the Heisman?

5) Duke promoted Nate James to replace Chris Collins as assistant coach of the basketball team; all of Coach K's assistant coaches are former Duke players, except for his Director of Ops, who is his freakin' son-in-law. Is this a good idea? Who would ever say no to him if it was necessary?

Before you tell me it would never be necessary, I'll point you to State College and Penn State-- Joe Paterno needed a strong voice to point him in the right direction and he didn't have one when he needed one most.

4) Good grief, ESPNU has run out of decent programming; they're actually showing Duke's spring football game. Would be better TV if they showed the Manning brothers working out at Duke with Wes Welker this spring.

3) At risk of being Captain Obvious, policemen/firemen are extremely courageous humans. Imagine being the guys who found the bomber hiding in that boat in Boston? Quite a story they have to tell.....

2) Speaking of that boat, if the people who own it wanted to sell it to a collector, how much you think they could get for it? Its a piece of American history, for sure-- I'm thinking they could get a small fortune for it.

1) The poor people who lost relatives/friends this week, both in Boston and west Texas, how do you come to grips with all this? Why does it happen? Who does stuff like this? I mean, an 8-year old died, for the love of Pete.

Its been a wild week, and I hope I never see another one like it.
Reply With Quote

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Dunkel

Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee
The Cubs look to bounce back from last night's loss to the Brewers and take advantage of Milwaukee's 1-4 record in its last 5 during Game 2 of a series. Chicago is the pick (+105) according to Dunkel, which has the Cubs favored by 1/2 a run. Dunkel Pick: Chicago Cubs (+105). Here are all of today's picks.

SATURDAY, APRIL 20

Game 951-952: Miami at Cincinnati (1:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Miami (LeBlanc) 13.577; Cincinnati (Arroyo) 15.765
Dunkel Line: Cincinnati by 2; 8
Vegas Line: Cincinnati (-220); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Cincinnati (-220); Under

Game 953-954: Washington at NY Mets (3:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Washington (Gonzalez) 15.452; NY Mets (Hefner) 14.891
Dunkel Line: Washington by 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: Washington (-150); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Washington (-150); Over

Game 955-956: St. Louis at Philadelphia (7:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: St. Louis (Lynn) 15.580; Philadelphia (Lee) 15.263
Dunkel Line: St. Louis by 1/2; 7
Vegas Line: Philadelphia (-150); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: St. Louis (+130); Under

Game 957-958: Atlanta at Pittsburgh (7:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Atlanta (Maholm) 17.191; Pittsburgh (McDonald) 15.468
Dunkel Line: Atlanta by 1 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: Atlanta (-145); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (-145); Over

Game 959-960: Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee (7:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Cubs (Jackson) 15.838; Milwaukee (Burgos) 15.106
Dunkel Line: Chicago Cubs by 1/2; 9
Vegas Line: Milwaukee (-125); 8
Dunkel Pick: Chicago Cubs (+105); Over

Game 961-962: Arizona at Colorado (8:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Arizona (Cahill) 16.167; Colorado (De La Rosa) 17.224
Dunkel Line: Colorado by 1; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Colorado (-130); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Colorado (-130); Under

Game 963-964: San Diego at San Francisco (9:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: San Diego (Richard) 16.085; San Francisco (Lincecum) 15.382
Dunkel Line: San Diego by 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: San Francisco (-175); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: San Diego (+155); Over

Game 965-966: NY Yankees at Toronto (1:07 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: NY Yankees (Kuroda) 16.053; Toronto (Buehrle) 14.438
Dunkel Line: NY Yankees by 1 1/2; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Toronto (-110); 9
Dunkel Pick: NY Yankees (-110); Under

Game 967-968: Kansas City at Boston (1:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Kansas City (Shields) 15.637; Boston (Buchholz) 15.298
Dunkel Line: Kansas City by 1/2; 9
Vegas Line: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A

Game 969-970: Minnesota at Chicago White Sox (3:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota (Worley) 14.136; White Sox (Peavy) 15.734
Dunkel Line: Chicago White Sox by 1 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A

Game 971-972: Detroit at LA Angels (3:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit (Porcello) 15.946; LA Angels (Richards) 14.666
Dunkel Line: Detroit by 1 1/2; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: LA Angels (-115); 9
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (-105); Under

Game 973-974: Oakland at Tampa Bay (7:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Oakland (Parker) 16.574; Tampa Bay (Hellickson) 15.226
Dunkel Line: Oakland by 1 1/2; 9
Vegas Line: Tampa Bay (-125); 8
Dunkel Pick: Oakland (+105); Over

Game 975-976: Cleveland at Houston (7:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Cleveland (Kazmir) 13.586; Houston (Humber) 14.593
Dunkel Line: Houston by 1; 9
Vegas Line: Cleveland (-115); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Houston (-105); Over

Game 977-978: Seattle at Texas (8:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Seattle (Maurer) 15.065; Texas (Tepesch) 14.827
Dunkel Line: Seattle by 1/2; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Texas (-185); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Seattle (+165); Under

Game 979-980: LA Dodgers at Baltimore (7:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: LA Dodgers (Beckett) 13.776; Baltimore (Chen) 15.985
Dunkel Line: Baltimore by 2; 9
Vegas Line: Baltimore (-130); 8
Dunkel Pick: Baltimore (-130); Over

Game 981-982: LA Dodgers at Baltimore (1:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: LA Dodgers (Ryu) 15.989; Baltimore (Hammel) 15.360
Dunkel Line: LA Dodgers by 1/2; 7 1/2
Vegas Line: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Long Sheet

Saturday, April 20

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MIAMI (4 - 13) at CINCINNATI (9 - 8) - 1:10 PM
WADE LEBLANC (L) vs. BRONSON ARROYO (R)
Top Trends for this game.
MIAMI is 22-38 (-17.5 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 2 seasons.
MIAMI is 72-104 (-31.0 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
MIAMI is 97-136 (-34.8 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 3 seasons.
MIAMI is 66-109 (-30.1 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
MIAMI is 73-106 (-31.9 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
MIAMI is 12-27 (-15.4 Units) against the money line in April games over the last 2 seasons.
CINCINNATI is 326-298 (-72.1 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a losing record since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
MIAMI is 1-1 (+1.3 Units) against CINCINNATI this season
1 of 2 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+0.0 Units)

WADE LEBLANC vs. CINCINNATI since 1997
LEBLANC is 2-0 when starting against CINCINNATI with an ERA of 2.25 and a WHIP of 0.917.
His team's record is 2-0 (+2.5 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-1. (+0.0 units)

BRONSON ARROYO vs. MIAMI since 1997
ARROYO is 1-4 when starting against MIAMI with an ERA of 4.22 and a WHIP of 1.422.
His team's record is 4-6 (-2.9 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 4-6. (-3.2 units)

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WASHINGTON (9 - 7) at NY METS (8 - 7) - 3:05 PM
GIO GONZALEZ (L) vs. JEREMY HEFNER (R)
Top Trends for this game.
WASHINGTON is 186-156 (+27.6 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 3 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 40-24 (+16.4 Units) against the money line in road games against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 90-75 (+23.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 109-74 (+21.7 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 42-34 (+17.4 Units) against the money line in road games against division opponents over the last 3 seasons.
GONZALEZ is 27-10 (+14.9 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
GONZALEZ is 15-4 (+10.8 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
GONZALEZ is 30-15 (+15.6 Units) against the money line in day games since 1997. (Team's Record)
GONZALEZ is 27-10 (+14.9 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
NY METS are 75-94 (-33.0 Units) against the money line in home games in games played on a grass field over the last 3 seasons.
NY METS are 23-41 (-17.3 Units) against the money line against left-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
NY METS are 25-46 (-22.1 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
NY METS are 75-94 (-33.0 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 3 seasons.
NY METS are 270-278 (-76.8 Units) against the money line in home games against division opponents since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
NY METS is 1-0 (+1.0 Units) against WASHINGTON this season
1 of 1 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+1.2 Units)

GIO GONZALEZ vs. NY METS since 1997
GONZALEZ is 3-1 when starting against NY METS with an ERA of 2.79 and a WHIP of 1.207.
His team's record is 3-2 (+0.6 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-4. (-3.1 units)

JEREMY HEFNER vs. WASHINGTON since 1997
HEFNER is 0-3 when starting against WASHINGTON with an ERA of 5.29 and a WHIP of 1.412.
His team's record is 0-3 (-3.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 2-0. (+2.0 units)

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ST LOUIS (9 - 7) at PHILADELPHIA (7 - 10) - 7:05 PM
LANCE LYNN (R) vs. CLIFF LEE (L)
Top Trends for this game.
PHILADELPHIA is 28-32 (-14.3 Units) against the money line in home games against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 42-53 (-19.5 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 88-91 (-20.9 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 44-45 (-15.7 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 88-88 (-17.9 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
LEE is 14-19 (-12.5 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
PHILADELPHIA is 1-1 (+0.1 Units) against ST LOUIS this season
1 of 1 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+1.0 Units)

LANCE LYNN vs. PHILADELPHIA since 1997
LYNN is 0-0 when starting against PHILADELPHIA with an ERA of 7.20 and a WHIP of 1.200.
His team's record is 0-1 (-1.2 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 0-1. (-1.2 units)

CLIFF LEE vs. ST LOUIS since 1997
LEE is 3-3 when starting against ST LOUIS with an ERA of 3.04 and a WHIP of 1.371.
His team's record is 4-3 (-0.5 units) in these starts. The OVER is 3-4. (-1.3 units)

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ATLANTA (13 - 3) at PITTSBURGH (8 - 8) - 7:05 PM
PAUL MAHOLM (L) vs. JAMES MCDONALD (R)
Top Trends for this game.
PITTSBURGH is 472-443 (+57.7 Units) against the money line in home games in night games since 1997.
PITTSBURGH is 319-338 (+40.3 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.
PITTSBURGH is 19-9 (+12.5 Units) against the money line when playing on Saturday over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 13-3 (+10.1 Units) against the money line in April games this season.
ATLANTA is 13-3 (+10.1 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
ATLANTA is 72-39 (+27.7 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 13-3 (+10.1 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
ATLANTA is 53-36 (+20.0 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
PITTSBURGH is 1-1 (+0.1 Units) against ATLANTA this season
1 of 2 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+0.0 Units)

PAUL MAHOLM vs. PITTSBURGH since 1997
MAHOLM is 1-1 when starting against PITTSBURGH with an ERA of 2.25 and a WHIP of 1.100.
His team's record is 1-2 (-0.8 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-3. (-3.2 units)

JAMES MCDONALD vs. ATLANTA since 1997
MCDONALD is 3-0 when starting against ATLANTA with an ERA of 1.73 and a WHIP of 1.231.
His team's record is 3-1 (+4.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-3. (-2.5 units)

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CHICAGO CUBS (5 - 10) at MILWAUKEE (7 - 8) - 7:10 PM
EDWIN JACKSON (R) vs. HIRAM BURGOS (R)
Top Trends for this game.
CHICAGO CUBS are 27-59 (-24.2 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO CUBS are 920-1013 (-183.7 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters since 1997.
CHICAGO CUBS are 16-43 (-20.1 Units) against the money line in road games after a loss over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO CUBS are 28-49 (-20.0 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO CUBS are 66-111 (-30.1 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO CUBS are 4-19 (-14.7 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +100 to +125 over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO CUBS are 25-63 (-26.5 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO CUBS are 6-23 (-16.5 Units) against the money line when playing on Saturday over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO CUBS are 66-111 (-30.1 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
JACKSON is 12-23 (-13.6 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
JACKSON is 2-12 (-11.8 Units) against the money line against division opponents over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
JACKSON is 11-23 (-15.1 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
JACKSON is 2-12 (-11.1 Units) against the money line after a loss over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
JACKSON is 4-11 (-9.4 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
MILWAUKEE is 63-22 (+29.5 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 116-63 (+33.8 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 3 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 59-25 (+24.1 Units) against the money line in home games against division opponents over the last 3 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 116-63 (+33.8 Units) against the money line in home games in games played on a grass field over the last 3 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 88-43 (+31.0 Units) against the money line in home games against right-handed starters over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
MILWAUKEE is 2-1 (+1.0 Units) against CHICAGO CUBS this season
3 of 3 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+3.2 Units)

EDWIN JACKSON vs. MILWAUKEE since 1997
JACKSON is 3-3 when starting against MILWAUKEE with an ERA of 4.10 and a WHIP of 1.433.
His team's record is 5-5 (+0.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 5-4. (+0.7 units)

HIRAM BURGOS vs. CHICAGO CUBS since 1997
No recent starts.

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ARIZONA (9 - 7) at COLORADO (12 - 4) - 8:10 PM
TREVOR CAHILL (R) vs. JORGE DE LA ROSA (L)
Top Trends for this game.
COLORADO is 12-4 (+8.7 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
COLORADO is 10-1 (+9.3 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
COLORADO is 12-4 (+8.7 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
COLORADO is 12-4 (+8.7 Units) against the money line in April games this season.
ARIZONA is 64-52 (+20.3 Units) against the money line in road games in night games over the last 3 seasons.
CAHILL is 18-7 (+13.7 Units) against the money line in road games against division opponents since 1997. (Team's Record)
CAHILL is 44-31 (+20.0 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997. (Team's Record)
COLORADO is 7-20 (-14.0 Units) against the money line when playing on Saturday over the last 2 seasons.
COLORADO is 63-92 (-30.3 Units) against the money line against division opponents over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
COLORADO is 1-0 (+1.0 Units) against ARIZONA this season
1 of 1 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+1.0 Units)

TREVOR CAHILL vs. COLORADO since 1997
CAHILL is 1-3 when starting against COLORADO with an ERA of 5.65 and a WHIP of 1.500.
His team's record is 2-3 (-2.8 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 3-2. (+0.7 units)

JORGE DE LA ROSA vs. ARIZONA since 1997
DE LA ROSA is 6-3 when starting against ARIZONA with an ERA of 2.57 and a WHIP of 1.214.
His team's record is 7-5 (+1.4 units) in these starts. The OVER is 5-7. (-2.4 units)

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SAN DIEGO (5 - 10) at SAN FRANCISCO (9 - 7) - 9:05 PM
CLAYTON RICHARD (L) vs. TIM LINCECUM (R)
Top Trends for this game.
SAN DIEGO is 21-44 (-20.0 Units) against the money line in April games over the last 3 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 114-80 (+28.0 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 187-91 (+41.2 Units) against the money line as a home favorite of -150 to -175 since 1997.
SAN FRANCISCO is 50-28 (+19.1 Units) against the money line against division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 114-80 (+28.0 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 72-43 (+27.0 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 43-20 (+24.1 Units) against the money line against left-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
SAN DIEGO is 432-484 (+46.5 Units) against the money line in road games against right-handed starters since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

CLAYTON RICHARD vs. SAN FRANCISCO since 1997
RICHARD is 6-5 when starting against SAN FRANCISCO with an ERA of 3.86 and a WHIP of 1.286.
His team's record is 7-5 (+4.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 6-5. (+0.8 units)

TIM LINCECUM vs. SAN DIEGO since 1997
LINCECUM is 10-5 when starting against SAN DIEGO with an ERA of 2.44 and a WHIP of 1.174.
His team's record is 15-7 (+5.7 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 11-11. (-1.5 units)