The Bum's MLB April's News-Notes-Trends & Best Bets !!

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Nationals (12-11) at Mets (10-11)

Game: 3
Venue: Citi Field
Date: April 21, 2013 1:10 PM EDT


The last time the Washington Nationals had a pitcher win his first four starts of a season, it was 16 years ago and they were the Montreal Expos.

Bryce Harper may have a big role in Jordan Zimmermann accomplishing that feat.

Coming off his second two-homer game of the season, Harper will try give Zimmermann some help at the plate, as the Nationals go for a second straight win over the New York Mets in Sunday's finale.

Zimmermann (3-0, 2.45 ERA) is off to the best start of his career, and his win total is just one shy of the rest of the rotation.

Matching that total Sunday would make the right-hander the first member of the Nationals franchise to win his first four starts of a season since Pedro Martinez won his first eight of 1997, en route to the NL Cy Young Award.

Zimmermann was impressive again Monday, tossing 103 pitches to complete a six-hitter in a 10-3 win at Miami.

"It means a lot," Zimmermann said of his second career complete game and first since 2011. "It means I'm doing my job staying in the game and putting up zeros. It's the kind of pitcher I want to be. I want to be a workhorse and someone who can eat up innings."

He's also been helped by the lineup, which has backed him with 18 total runs through three games, scoring six in the first inning.

"It's a lot easier to pitch when you get runs early in the game," Zimmermann said.

Harper and the offense may be primed for another big performance after all seven of Washington's hits during Saturday's 7-6 win went for extra bases, including four homers.

Harper doubled and had two homers with three RBIs on Saturday after going 0 for 4 in Friday's 7-1 loss to open this series. He also went deep twice in a 2-0 season-opening win over Miami on April 1.

"He beats you in many ways, not just home runs," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "If he gets on base he can steal a base or two as well. He's a dangerous player."

Last year's NL Rookie of the Year, Harper is hitting .371 with seven homers and 14 RBIs this season, and he owns a .333 average with three homers and seven RBIs in eight visits to Citi Field.

The Nationals (10-7) have also enjoyed visiting Flushing, winning 13 of the last 15 there thanks in large part to a 2.01 ERA while limiting New York to .194 at the plate.

Each of Zimmermann's last five starts against the Mets have ended in wins for Washington, while he's 1-0 with a 1.55 ERA.

The Mets (8-8) are looking to take a three-game series from the Nationals for the first time since winning two of three in the nation's capital from Sept. 2-4, 2011.

They're scheduled to give the ball to Dillon Gee (0-3, 8.36), who is 0-1 with a 6.19 ERA in his last three starts against Washington after winning the first three of his career with a 1.27 ERA.

The right-hander, who will be facing Harper for the first time, is also on the verge of becoming the first Met to lose his first four starts in April since Steve Trachsel in 2001.

Gee's struggles continued Tuesday, when he was tagged for five runs and seven hits in 4 2-3 innings of an 8-4 loss at Colorado.

Daniel Murphy is batting .355 with 12 RBIs and 17 runs after getting three hits in this series. The second baseman is 7 for 21 with two doubles and a homer off Zimmermann.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Marlins (5-18) at Reds (13-11)

Game: 4
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: April 21, 2013 1:10 PM EDT


It's been an up-and-down start thus far for the Cincinnati Reds, who will try to stay on the "up" end Sunday by taking a third of four games from the Miami Marlins in Sunday's finale

The reigning NL Central champions raced to a 5-2 start, averaging 7.3 runs, and promptly dropped five in a row. Cincinnati (10-8) has since regrouped to win five of six, this time on the strength of strong pitching as it has posted a 1.40 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 58 innings.

Manager Dusty Baker's bullpen provided five shutout innings in Saturday's 3-2, 13-inning victory, helping the Reds overcome stranding 17 runners and going 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position. Baker credited starter Bronson Arroyo for giving his relievers a chance to be effective after throwing eight innings.

"Bronson pitched a heck of a game,' said Baker, whose pitchers have allowed two runs or fewer in six consecutive games, the longest stretch since a six-game streak from July 10 through July 19, 2010. "He kept some pretty good hitters off balance.'

Homer Bailey (1-1, 3.32 ERA) has contributed a solid outing as well during this run, scattering two singles around a season-high 10 strikeouts in 89 pitches over eight innings Tuesday against Philadelphia. The right-hander, though, had nothing to show for it as the game was suspended in the middle of the ninth tied at zero and eventually won by the Reds the following night.

"When you're on the same page as your catcher, I can kind of sit back and almost go into cruise control, where all I have to think about is executing pitches," Bailey told the Reds' official website. "Being able to go out there and just execute pitches if that's your only mindset makes something very hard a little bit easier. Trying to make pitches is extremely hard."

Bailey, who did not face the Marlins last year, is 1-1 with a 2.84 ERA in four lifetime starts against them.

Marlins counterpart Alex Sanabia (2-1, 4.24) has a similar track record to Bailey in the early part of the season with two strong starts around a terrible one. The right-hander limited Washington to two runs and six hits in six innings of an 8-2 victory on Tuesday and has half of Miami's four wins.

Sanabia has essentially had one bad inning thus far, yielding six of his eight runs in an 8-0 loss to Atlanta on April 10. He has struggled getting the first out of the inning, allowing leadoff hitters to go 8 for 17 thus far.

The Marlins (4-14) have been held to three or fewer runs in 15 of 18 games, partly due to the on-going struggles of slugger Giancarlo Stanton. He had an infield single in six at_bats Saturday, raising his average by a point to .163, and has no RBIs and 17 strikeouts in 12 games.

"He is an unbelievable player. He is going to hit,' manager Mike Redmond said. "He's our big bat. He's just in a funk and we've got to get him out of it.'

Stanton, who has gone eight games without an extra-base hit, is 1 for 5 lifetime versus Bailey.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Dodgers (11-11) at Orioles (14-9)

Game: 3
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: April 21, 2013 1:35 PM EDT


Playing in AL ballparks has presented plenty of problems for the Los Angeles Dodgers in recent years, and Camden Yards has been no exception this weekend.

Los Angeles tries to avoid matching its longest losing streak from last season and notch a rare road interleague win Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles.

Favored by many to win their first NL West title since 2009, the high-priced Dodgers have fallen short of expectations early on.

They won seven of their first 11 games but have been unable to maintain that success, losing six straight by a combined 36-13 score.

The skid continued with a pair of losses Saturday, as Los Angeles (7-10) squandered a four-run lead in a 7-5 loss in the opener of a split doubleheader before falling 6-1 in the nightcap.

Those defeats dropped the Dodgers to 7-19 in road interleague games since the start of 2010. They've lost seven of eight overall against the opposite league.

"There is a time when you feel like you just need a win,' manager Don Mattingly said. "Really, this feels like one of those times. We just need to put a win on the board and get out of this.'

Los Angeles, which lost seven in a row June 24-30, went 2 for 10 with runners in scoring position in the doubleheader and is 7 for 43 (.163) during the losing streak.

Manny Machado matched career highs with three hits and four RBIs Saturday night, falling a triple shy of the cycle for the Orioles (10-7), winners of a season-high three straight and seven of 10.

Baltimore has won 11 of 16 in interleague play.

"We've got to come out and be greedy and get the sweep,' center fielder Adam Jones said.

Chris Davis hit his seventh homer - a 448-foot shot - in the nightcap and is 7 for 15 in his last four games. He leads the AL with seven homers and 21 RBIs.

Davis will get his first look at Chad Billingsley (1-0, 3.00 ERA), who was effective in two starts against San Diego since he was activated from the disabled list April 10 due to a bruised right index finger. He gave up a three-run homer to pitcher Eric Stults and six other hits over six innings Monday before leaving without a decision in a 6-3 loss.

The righty is 7-7 with a 4.24 ERA in 20 interleague starts, yielding 11 runs and 18 hits over 11 innings in losing the last two.

This will be his first appearance against the Orioles.

Baltimore's Jake Arrieta (1-0, 5.40) will try to build on his first win of the season, though he hopes to be far more efficient. The right-hander surrendered a home run on the first pitch he threw, walked five and needed 112 pitches to complete five innings but still beat Tampa Bay 5-4 on Tuesday. He allowed just the one run and struck out seven to earn his first victory since June 13.

"The win is the biggest part of the night,' said Arrieta, who has pitched five innings in each of his three starts - all Baltimore victories. "I would have liked to be out there a little bit longer but the pitch count got up."

He went 1-2 with a 4.65 ERA in five starts against the NL last season, but allowed one run in three of those outings.

Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford have fared very well against Arrieta. Gonzalez is 5 for 11 and Crawford is 4 for 7, with both hitting a home run.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Royals (11-8) at Red Sox (16-7)

Game: 3
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: April 21, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


The Boston Red Sox not only made their emotional return to Fenway Park on Saturday, they did so in winning fashion against the Kansas City Royals.

Boston can match its longest winning streak in two years by sweeping Sunday's split doubleheader from Kansas City.

The twin bill was scheduled to make up for Friday's game, which was postponed as authorities continued to search for and eventually found the second suspect from Monday's bombings at the Boston Marathon.

Saturday marked the first home game for the Red Sox (12-4) since Monday's events, with Fenway playing host to pregame ceremonies to honor the victims. Those ceremonies included a passionate speech from David Ortiz, who then went 2 for 4 in his season debut as he helped Boston to a 4-3 victory.

The win was the Red Sox's seventh straight, their longest streak since they won nine in a row June 3-12, 2011.

Ortiz's RBI single tied the game at one in the sixth before Daniel Nava's three-run homer in the eighth off Kelvin Herrera eventually paved the way for the victory.

"Driving around and looking around at people's faces, it was a very emotional day here just looking at those guys that were injured by those bombs going off and watching the news nearly every day, it was painful, very painful," said Ortiz, who played in his first major league game since Aug. 24 as he dealt with a right Achilles tendon injury. "Today I could see people opening their chest and letting it go."

While the Royals (8-7) have lost four of six, being a part of Saturday's emotional festivities seemed to take precedent over defeat.

"To go through and see everybody getting into it and what this city went through, just to be a part of it was amazing," said Lorenzo Cain, who went 4 for 4 with a solo homer off of closer Andrew Bailey in the ninth.

The Red Sox will send Ryan Dempster to the mound in Sunday's opener while the Royals will answer with Ervin Santana, with both teams seeking a continuation of strong pitching after solid outings Saturday. James Shields gave up one run on four hits over six innings for Kansas City while Clay Buchholz held the Royals to two runs on eight hits in eight innings.

Dempster (0-1, 2.65 ERA) will also look to continue Boston's streak of starters giving up three or fewer runs in all 16 contests so far. Though he's yet to record a victory with his new team, Dempster is coming off his best outing of the season as he limited Tampa Bay to a run on two hits in seven innings while striking out 10 in a 3-2 victory Monday. A blown save by Bailey squandered Dempster's bid for his first win with Boston, though he wasn't deterred.

"Anytime I can start a ballgame and we win that ballgame, that's all that matters," Dempster, 2-0 with a 4.00 ERA in three starts against the Royals, told the team's official website.

Santana (1-1, 2.45) is also fresh off a good showing, throwing eight innings against Toronto while giving up two runs on seven hits in a 3-2 victory last Sunday. He is 3-3 with a 4.13 ERA in 11 starts against the Red Sox.

Boston will send 23-year-old Allen Webster to the mound in the nightcap in his major league debut. Webster, who will be recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket, was acquired from the Dodgers in last year's trade that sent Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett and Carl Crawford to Los Angeles. The right-hander owns a 0.90 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 10 innings over two outings for Pawtucket.

Webster will be opposed by the much more experienced Jeremy Guthrie (2-0, 3.20), who is 3-7 with a 4.96 ERA in 18 starts against the Red Sox, though two of those victories have come in the last three.

Ortiz will likely feel comfortable facing Guthrie, as he's 13 for 38 (.342) with five doubles and three homers against him. Meanwhile, Kansas City's Chris Getz has 10 hits in 23 career at_bats against Santana.

Outfielder Shane Victorino left Saturday's game with tightness in his lower back after trying to lay down a bunt, and he'll be reevaluated prior to the doubleheader, Boston manager John Farrell said.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Braves (15-7) at Pirates (13-10)

Game: 4
Venue: PNC Park
Date: April 21, 2013 1:35 PM EDT


The Atlanta Braves are still tied for baseball's best record, but they find themselves in an unfamiliar spot thanks to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Pittsburgh handed Atlanta its first consecutive losses of the season and will look to extend the Braves' slide to three straight games Sunday at PNC Park in the finale of a four-game set.

The Pirates (9-8) have won six of eight and inched above the .500 mark for the first time this season with Saturday's 3-1 victory. Starters James McDonald and Paul Maholm were locked in a pitchers' duel until the Pirates broke through in the sixth. Maholm had surrendered two hits while throwing five shutout innings before allowing three runs, including a two-run homer to Gaby Sanchez - his first of the season. Sanchez had come in struggling, batting .174 with four hits in 12 games.

"It was a matter of our hitters sticking with the game plan," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said.

The Braves' 13-4 mark is tied with Colorado for the best in the majors, but their powerful offense has been somewhat halted of late. They were shut out in two of three prior to Saturday and the club produced just six hits in two losses to the Pirates.

Atlanta was 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position Saturday, didn't have an at-bat in such a situation in Friday's 6-0 loss and was 1 for 7 in a 6-4 win on Thursday.

The Braves only came away with one run in Friday's second inning in which they drew three walks against McDonald, who fanned two in a row to end the threat.

"It's been a couple of days where we can't get the big hit," said Chris Johnson, who is 21 for 45 (.467) over his last 11 games after starting the season 2 for 10. "We just have to focus in and get some hits with some guys on base. We'll be fine. We've proven we can score runs."

Pittsburgh starter Jonathan Sanchez (0-2, 12.96 ERA) will hope to pick up some good mojo from the rest of the starting staff, which has been dealing of late. McDonald struck out nine over six innings and Wandy Rodriguez allowed one hit in seven scoreless innings Friday. A.J. Burnett shut out St. Louis over seven innings of one-hit ball in a 5-0 win Wednesday.

Sanchez, however, was tagged for nine runs, eight hits and four walks in 3 1-3 innings in a 10-2 loss at Arizona on April 10. The left-hander's first chance for redemption was thwarted as Tuesday's game against the Cardinals was rained out after two innings.

He'll be opposed by Kris Medlen (1-1, 1.42), who has only received five runs of support in three starts. Though Atlanta won each of his last two, he wasn't credited with a victory in the Braves' 6-3 win over Kansas City on Tuesday. Medlen yielded two runs and six hits with no walks in seven frames.

Medlen is 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in two starts against Pittsburgh, while Sanchez is 1-2 with a 5.06 ERA over seven starts versus Atlanta. Sanchez's only victory over the Braves came on May 25, 2009, with San Francisco.

Atlanta second baseman Dan Uggla told the team's official website he hopes to return Monday against the Rockies after leaving Saturday's game in the fourth inning with tightness in his left calf.

[StarDust Bum]

Am sorry ignore the all the previews its from april 21th i missed the date................

[StarDust Bum]

Philadelphia Phillies @ New York Mets

1:05 PM Game Time Record Open Line Current Line Betting Trend

Teams Pitchers Win-Loss Streak ML O/U ML O/U Run Money O/U

901 Philadelphia (R) Pettibone, J (0-0) (10-14) (4-6 A) W-1 +122 7.5 +125 8 3% 58% 32%

902 N.Y. Mets (R) Marcum, S (0-0) (10-11) (7-6 H) L-2 -132 -145 97% 42% 68%

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Cincinnati Reds @ Washington Nationals

1:05 PM Game Time Record Open Line Current Line Betting Trend

Teams Pitchers Win-Loss Streak ML O/U ML O/U Run Money O/U

903 Cincinnati (R) Leake, M (1-0) (13-11) (1-7 A) L-2 +106 8.0 -105 8 0% 36% 76%

904 Washington (R) Haren, D (1-3) (12-11) (8-6 H) W-2 -116 -105 0% 64% 24%

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Pittsburgh Pirates @ St. Louis Cardinals

4:15 PM Game Time Record Open Line Current Line Betting Trend

Teams Pitchers Win-Loss Streak ML O/U ML O/U Run Money O/U

905 Pittsburgh (R) Burnett, A (1-2) (13-10) (5-6 A) L-1 +123 7.5 +110 7 0% 37% 16%

906 St. Louis (R) Westbrook, J (1-1) (14-8) (5-2 H) W-4 -133 -120 0% 63% 84%

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Chicago Cubs @ Miami Marlins

7:10 PM Game Time Record Open Line Current Line Betting Trend

Teams Pitchers Win-Loss Streak ML O/U ML O/U Run Money O/U

907 Chi. Cubs (L) Wood, T (1-1) (8-14) (5-9 A) W-2 -121 7.5 -122 7.5 n/a n/a n/a

908 Miami (R) Sanabia, A (2-2) (5-18) (2-9 H) L-2 +111 +112 n/a n/a n/a
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Colorado Rockies @ Arizona Diamondbacks

8:10 PM Game Time Record Open Line Current Line Betting Trend

Teams Pitchers Win-Loss Streak ML O/U ML O/U Run Money O/U

909 Colorado (L) Francis, J (1-2) (15-8) (6-5 A) W-1 +155 9.0 +140 9 n/a n/a n/a

910 Arizona (L) Miley, W (2-0) (13-10) (6-5 H) L-1 -165 -160 n/a n/a n/a

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San Francisco Giants @ San Diego Padres

8:40 PM Game Time Record Open Line Current Line Betting Trend

Teams Pitchers Win-Loss Streak ML O/U ML O/U Run Money O/U

911 San Francisco (L) Zito, B (3-1) (13-10) (5-6 A) L-3 -113 7.0 -110 7.5 n/a n/a n/a

912 San Diego (L) Stults, E (2-2) (7-15) (3-7 H) W-2 +103 +100 n/a n/a n/a

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Milwaukee Brewers @ Los Angeles Dodgers

9:10 PM Game Time Record Open Line Current Line Betting Trend

Teams Pitchers Win-Loss Streak ML O/U ML O/U Run Money O/U

913 Milwaukee (R) Peralta, W (1-1) (11-10) (4-5 A) L-2 +123 8.0 +120 7.5 n/a n/a n/a

914 L.A. Dodgers (R) Fife, S (0-0) (11-11) (5-5 H) W-2 -133 -130 n/a n/a n/a

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Baltimore Orioles @ Oakland Athletics

4:05 PM Game Time Record Open Line Current Line Betting Trend

Teams Pitchers Win-Loss Streak ML O/U ML O/U Run Money O/U

915 Baltimore (R) Tillman, C (0-1) (14-9) (7-4 A) W-2 +129 8.0 +125 8 n/a n/a n/a

916 Oakland (R) Griffin, A (2-1) (13-11) (6-6 H) L-3 -139 -145 n/a n/a n/a

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Toronto Blue Jays @ New York Yankees

4:05 PM Game Time Record Open Line Current Line Betting Trend

Teams Pitchers Win-Loss Streak ML O/U ML O/U Run Money O/U

917 Toronto (L) Happ, J (2-1) (9-15) (4-7 A) L-2 +153 8.0 +150 7.5 n/a n/a n/a

918 N.Y. Yankees (L) Sabathia, C (3-2) (13-9) (7-4 H) W-2 -163 -160 n/a n/a n/a

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Texas Rangers @ Minnesota Twins

4:10 PM Game Time Record Open Line Current Line Betting Trend

Teams Pitchers Win-Loss Streak ML O/U ML O/U Run Money O/U

919 Texas (L) Holland, D (1-1) (16-7) (9-5 A) W-3 -145 8.5 -140 8.5 n/a n/a n/a

920 Minnesota (L) Hernandez, P (0-0) (9-10) (5-6 H) L-3 +135 +130 n/a n/a n/a

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Houston Astros @ Boston Red Sox

7:10 PM Game Time Record Open Line Current Line Betting Trend

Teams Pitchers Win-Loss Streak ML O/U ML O/U Run Money O/U

921 Houston (R) Peacock, B (1-2) (7-16) (3-8 A) L-2 +225 9.0 +245 9.5 n/a n/a n/a

922 Boston (L) Doubront, F (2-0) (16-7) (9-5 H) W-3 -245 -265 n/a n/a n/a

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Tampa Bay Rays @ Chicago White Sox

7:10 PM Game Time Record Open Line Current Line Betting Trend

Teams Pitchers Win-Loss Streak ML O/U ML O/U Run Money O/U

923 Tampa Bay (L) Moore, M (4-0) (10-13) (2-9 A) L-2 -105 7.5 -125 7 n/a n/a n/a

924 Chi. White Sox (R) Floyd, G (0-3) (10-12) (7-5 H) W-3 -105 +105 n/a n/a n/a

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Cleveland Indians @ Kansas City Royals

7:10 PM Game Time Record Open Line Current Line Betting Trend

Teams Pitchers Win-Loss Streak ML O/U ML O/U Run Money O/U

925 Cleveland (L) Kazmir, S (0-0) (8-11) (6-5 A) L-1 +132 8.5 +145 8.5 n/a n/a n/a

926 Kansas City (R) Santana, E (2-1) (11-8) (4-2 H) W-1 -142 -155 n/a n/a n/a

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Los Angeles Angels @ Seattle Mariners

9:10 PM Game Time Record Open Line Current Line Betting Trend

Teams Pitchers Win-Loss Streak ML O/U ML O/U Run Money O/U

927 L.A. Angels (R) Blanton, J (0-3) (9-13) (3-7 A) W-1 +141 7.0 +140 7 n/a n/a n/a

928 Seattle (R) Hernandez, F (2-2) (9-16) (5-7 H) L-1 -151 -150 n/a n/a n/a

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Atlanta Braves @ Detroit Tigers

1:05 PM Game Time Record Open Line Current Line Betting Trend

Teams Pitchers Win-Loss Streak ML O/U ML O/U Run Money O/U

929 Atlanta (R) Medlen, K (1-2) (15-7) (9-5 A) L-2 -120 7.5 -120 8 92% 68% 55%

930 Detroit (R) Porcello, R (0-2) (11-10) (6-3 H) W-1 +110 +110 8% 32% 45%

Updated Sat Apr 27 10:04 AM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Phillies (10-14) at Mets (10-11)

Game: 2
Venue: Citi Field
Date: April 27, 2013 1:05 PM EDT


Ryan Howard may be on a tear, but Michael Young is the Philadelphia Phillies' top hitter.

Facing the New York Mets may keep them both hot.

Howard and Young look to continue pounding Mets pitching while helping the Phillies to a fifth straight win at Citi Field on Saturday.

Howard is hitting .345 over the past 15 games, increasing his season average 134 points to .282. He has two homers and six RBIs in his last three games.

Young's production has been much more consistent, leading the Phillies (10-14) with a .333 average and providing them with a strong presence at third base after starting seven players there last year.

The duo was responsible for all of the scoring in Friday's 4-0 win in the opener of this three-game set. Young went 3 for 4, hitting an RBI single in the sixth inning before Howard followed with a three-run shot.

"Power stroke's always been there. You can't control where the ball goes," said Howard, who has two of his three homers on the season against the Mets (10-11).

He's homered four times and driven in 12 runs in the past six meetings with New York. Three of his four hits over the last three games at Citi Field have been homers, and he has 10 RBIs in those contests.

That power display may continue since Howard is 4 for 8 with three homers against Shaun Marcum, New York's scheduled starter.

Young owns a .415 average with five homers and 12 RBIs in 13 career meetings with the Mets.

The Phillies have won seven of eight against New York, including four straight on the road for their longest streak since a seven-game run at Shea Stadium bridging the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

Jonathan Pettibone will get a chance to keep that run going after he impressed in his major league debut Monday.

The right-hander, filling in for the injured John Lannan, allowed two runs and struck out six before leaving with one out in the sixth inning and not getting a decision in a 3-2 home win over Pittsburgh.

"My game plan was to be aggressive, go after guys," Pettibone said. "I have to pitch to my strengths. Once I got on the mound, the nerves were flying. Once I settled down, I got in a rhythm."

The Mets are looking to rebound from a season-low three hits - all singles - while being shut out for the first time Friday.

David Wright had one of those hits, but he's 3 for 16 with one RBI in four meetings with Philadelphia this season.

Marcum is scheduled for his 2013 debut after starting the season on the disabled list with a neck injury. The right-hander was signed after going 7-4 with a 3.70 ERA in 21 starts with Milwaukee last year, missing 10 weeks with elbow tightness.

"Obviously, it's all about the health issues. He says he's feeling great," manager Terry Collins told the team's official website. "We know he's going to sink it, he's going to change up, he's going to work the corners. He's one of those guys - even though we're going to watch him pretty close pitch-count wise - he's going to get us to the fifth or sixth inning easy."

Marcum is 2-1 with a 3.51 ERA in five starts against the Phillies. He hasn't faced them since giving up five runs, nine hits and four walks in 6 2-3 innings of a 5-3 loss with the Brewers on Sept. 9, 2011.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Braves (15-7) at Tigers (11-10)

Game: 2
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: April 27, 2013 1:05 PM EDT


While the Detroit Tigers silenced the Atlanta Braves in the opener of this three-game set, a repeat performance could be hard to come by with Rick Porcello on the hill.

Porcello looks to get on track opposite Kris Medlen as the Tigers and Braves square off again Saturday at Comerica Park.

Anibal Sanchez struck out a franchise-record 17 and allowed five hits over eight innings as Detroit (11-10) cruised to a 10-0 win Friday.

"He was pretty good and we weren't," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "That does it boys. That's all I got for you."

The Tigers backed Sanchez with four runs in the third inning and six in the fourth. Matt Tuiasosopo homered and drove in a career-high five runs while Victor Martinez and Torii Hunter combined for six hits and three RBIs

After going 2 for 2, Miguel Cabrera is batting .415 with a homer and 10 RBIs during a 10-game hitting streak. He's 2 for 3 lifetime against Medlen (1-2, 2.16).

The Braves (15-7) dropped to 2-5 over their last seven games, hitting .186 with runners in scoring position over that stretch - including an 0-for-5 effort Friday.

Despite their recent efforts, the Braves could be in for a big day at the plate against Porcello (0-2, 11.08 ERA), who's posted an ugly .383 opponent batting average to rank second-worst in the AL among pitchers with at least three starts.

The right-hander was especially bad last Saturday in a 10-0 road loss to the Los Angeles Angels, allowing nine runs and nine hits before being removed with two outs in the first inning.

"He was obviously a little rusty, a little wild, a little unlucky, and that pretty much sums it up," manager Jim Leyland said. "I'm sure he wasn't a happy camper, and I don't blame him."

Porcello, who allowed an AL-worst 226 hits last season, was the first Tiger since Hank Borowy in 1951 to allow nine earned runs without getting out of the first inning.

"I struggled a little bit with my command, but it wasn't all that bad," he said. "I was keeping the ball down in the zone and throwing good sinkers. If I'm going to be inducing contact, that's my goal."

Making his first appearance against Atlanta, Porcello is 2-3 with a 7.90 ERA in his last seven interleague outings.

Medlen had allowed three earned runs in his first three starts before giving up three over six innings Sunday in a 4-2 loss at Pittsburgh.

"I was leaving pitches out over the plate, pulling off, and everything was flat," he told MLB's official website.

Medlen had compiled a 0.64 ERA in winning each of his previous six road starts. In his only appearance against Detroit, Medlen scattered six hits and struck out five over 6 2-3 innings of one-run ball in a 3-1 home win June 25, 2010.

Medlen will try to add to Prince Fielder's recent woes. The slugging first baseman has struck out 15 times during a 5-for-35 slump.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Reds (13-11) at Nationals (12-11)

Game: 3
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: April 27, 2013 1:05 PM EDT


As unimpressive as the Washington Nationals' starting pitchers had been lately, their performances against the Cincinnati Reds this week couldn't have been much better.

Dan Haren, looking to turn around his own struggles, gets the next shot at Cincinnati's recently anemic offense Saturday in the nation's capital.

Washington's rotation was 2-7 with a 4.78 ERA in its previous 10 outings entering this four-game set.

The Nationals (12-11) ended a four-game skid with a series-opening 8-1 win Thursday as Gio Gonzalez gave up one hit through eight innings. Their offense didn't break out in similar fashion Friday, but it didn't need to as Jordan Zimmermann limited the Reds to one hit in a 1-0 victory.

Zimmermann needed only 91 pitches to record his first career shutout, as the Reds (13-11) were held to one hit in back-to-back games for the first time since July 5-6, 1900, against Brooklyn.

"My guys, if they attack hitters like the last two days, it's going to be a problem," manager Davey Johnson said of his pitchers. "I don't care, good hitting team, bad hitting team."

Johnson would like to see Haren (1-3, 7.36 ERA) take the same approach, as he walked as many batters in his last start - three - as Gonzalez and Zimmermann in the last two days combined.

Haren did yield a season-low six hits Monday in a loss to St. Louis, but he still hasn't gone longer than five-plus innings this year and is averaging a career-worst 20.2 pitches per inning.

"I have to just stay positive," Haren told the team's official website. "It's been eating at me, it really has. This week, I tried to make a conscious effort to have more fun out there and not to put so much stress on myself. I want to do well more than anybody."

Haren was already blasted by Cincinnati for six runs and nine hits, including a career worst-tying four homers, in four innings of a 15-0 loss in his season debut April 5.

But the Reds, 1-7 on the road, don't currently appear capable of producing anything close to that. They've lost three of four while totaling four runs and 16 hits. Cincinnati averaged 5.6 runs in 20 games prior to that stretch.

Brandon Phillips, the team leader with 21 RBIs, was hitless for the fourth straight game Friday. Shin-Soo Choo, leading the majors in on-base percentage at .505, didn't reach base for the first time this season.

"Things go in streaks and sometimes there's no explaining why," manager Dusty Baker said. "We went through this last year. There was a streak when you couldn't buy a run and another streak when you get all the runs you need or want, or even more than you want. Right now we're in that can't buy a run phase."

Cincinnati hopes to pick up its offense in support of Mike Leake (1-0, 3.81), who posted two subpar starts to begin the season but has since had two good ones as he allowed two runs over 14 innings.

Leake will need to turn around his recent struggles against the Nationals, who scored 11 runs in 9 1-3 innings against him last season. He wasn't much better against Washington on April 6, giving up four runs - all on two homers - and walking four over six innings in a 7-6, 11-inning loss.

Bryce Harper homered off Leake in that game and is 3 for 6 with three extra-base hits in this series.

Jayson Werth is 6 for 15 off Leake, including 2 for 3 earlier this month.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Blue Jays (9-15) at Yankees (13-9)

Game: 3
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: April 27, 2013 4:05 PM EDT


CC Sabathia will be forced to have a new batterymate Saturday for the New York Yankees.

Sabathia hasn't been caught by anyone this year besides Francisco Cervelli, whose long-term injury is the latest blow for the Yankees heading into this home matchup against surging Edwin Encarnacion and the Toronto Blue Jays.

New York (13-9) has taken the first two of this four-game set, but the injury-plagued club will now have to carry on without its starting catcher. Cervelli will miss a minimum of six weeks after breaking his right hand in Friday's 6-4 victory.

"It's disappointing, and I know it's really disappointing for him because of all that he's been through to get to this point,' manager Joe Girardi said.

Starter Ivan Nova also left with pain in his right elbow. He and Cervelli could join a long list of Yankees on the disabled list that may soon also include Kevin Youkilis, who was not available for the sixth straight game because of lower back tightness.

Chris Stewart replaced Cervelli on Friday. The Yankees will bring up catching prospect Austin Romine from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday.

Sabathia (3-2, 3.34 ERA) will work with one of them as he tries to improve to 9-1 over an 11-start span against Toronto (9-15). He is 6-1 with a 2.43 ERA in eight starts against the Blue Jays since joining the Yankees.

The left-hander had a three-game win streak snapped Monday when he gave up season highs of three homers and five runs over seven innings in a 5-1 defeat at Tampa Bay.

Encarnacion will try to homer for a fifth straight game for the first time. He's 8 for 32 with no homers and seven strikeouts against Sabathia.

The slugger has eight RBIs in his last four games, with three homers and four RBIs in this series in which the teams have combined to go deep nine times.

Toronto's Jose Bautista, meanwhile, is 1 for 19 with eight strikeouts against Sabathia. The struggling Bautista hit his sixth homer Friday and is batting .185.

The Blue Jays have dropped four of five, with every defeat by one or two runs.

"Basically what's happening is we're playing good enough to lose, we're not playing good enough to win,' manager John Gibbons said.

Toronto is 1-4 when opponents start left-handers. Maicer Izturis is 7 for 18 against Sabathia while Adam Lind is 7 for 15, but he's been away on paternity leave the past three games.

The only current Blue Jays batter to homer off Sabathia is former Yankees outfielder Melky Cabrera.

Toronto third baseman Brett Lawrie is 8 for 20 against New York this year and 0 for 19 against other teams. He's 1 for 7 against Sabathia.

The Yankees have won three straight when opponents start left-handers after victories in this series with Mark Buehrle and fill-in starter Aaron Laffey going for the Blue Jays ahead of fellow southpaw J.A. Happ (2-1, 3.68) on Saturday.

Happ went 2-0 despite a 6.75 ERA in two 2012 starts against New York, although he limited Robinson Cano to a homer in six at_bats.

Cano is batting .474 during a nine-game hitting streak against Toronto, which issued a season-high 10 walks Friday.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Orioles (14-9) at Athletics (13-11)

Game: 3
Venue: O.co Coliseum
Date: April 27, 2013 4:05 PM EDT


The Baltimore Orioles continue to roll forward with solid pitching. The Oakland Athletics would like to recapture the same power they displayed in a red-hot start to the season.

Baltimore will try to stick to the same formula as it seeks an eighth win in 10 games Saturday in Oakland.

The Orioles (14-9) claimed a 3-0 victory Friday, quieting the Athletics' bats for a second straight night after a 10-2 win Thursday. Baltimore has a 1.91 ERA over the last five games, including a masterful performance Friday from Wei-Yin Chen, who gave up three hits in eight innings.

His outing helped drop the Orioles' opponent batting average to .228. That's among the best in baseball as is the bullpen's 2.31 ERA. Closer Jim Johnson improved to 9 for 9 in save opportunities by closing out Friday's win.

The Athletics (13-11), meanwhile, have lost seven of eight. Behind the slide has been a serious drop in power production. They hit 19 home runs during a 9-2 start, the most in the majors during that span, but have just five homers while going 4-9 since. They're homerless in five of the last seven.

Jed Lowrie hasn't homered since hitting three in his first seven contests, and Coco Crisp has one over his last 13 games after going deep in four straight games from April 5-9.

The loss of Yoenis Cespedes, who had three home runs before succumbing to a strained left thumb April 12, also hasn't helped, though he's likely to be activated for Sunday's game.

Oakland received a good pitching performance Friday from Tommy Milone, who gave up only an unearned run over 6 2-3 innings. But the defense didn't lend much help as the Athletics committed a season-high three errors.

"When you are in close games like that - defensive miscues end up really costing you," manager Bob Melvin said. "It's maddening for us."

Chris Tillman (0-1, 5.23 ERA) will try to continue the Orioles' strong pitching. Though his numbers aren't impressive, he's coming off his best outing of the year, holding Toronto to one run and four hits over 6 2-3 innings in a 2-1 win.

"I was able to get ahead with my pitches early and my secondary stuff was there for me," he said. "I was able to pound the strike zone early and kind of make the pitches when I needed to."

Oakland starter A.J. Griffin (2-1, 4.50 ERA) will face Baltimore for the first time as he tries to shake off the worst performance of his young career. Griffin saw his ERA double after he surrendered a career-worst nine runs - seven earned - and eight hits over four innings in a 9-6 loss at Boston on Monday.

He hadn't surrendered more than five runs in his first 18 major league starts.

"It humbles you a little bit," Griffin said. "Obviously not going to go out there and be lights out every time."

Tillman didn't record a decision in his only previous start against the Athletics, giving up two runs and six hits in 4 1-3 innings May 27, 2011.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Rangers (16-7) at Twins (9-10)

Game: 3
Venue: Target Field
Date: April 27, 2013 4:10 PM EDT


The Texas Rangers have used dominant back-to-back outings from rookie starters to take the first two of a four-game set from the Minnesota Twins, who have seen their top sluggers neutralized.

Both teams send left-handers to the mound Saturday at Target Field as Texas aims for its eighth win in nine tries while Minnesota tries to snap a three-game skid.

After a 2-1 win in the opener Thursday, Texas (16-7) followed that with a 4-3 victory Friday. While the offense produced just enough runs to scrape by both times, it was strong showings from first-year pitchers Nick Tepesch, who gave up one run in 6 2-3 innings Thursday, and Justin Grimm, who threw seven shutout innings Friday, leading the way.

Grimm and Tepesch are in the rotation primarily only because of injuries to Colby Lewis and Matt Harrison.

"They know they have the potential to get guys out and that's what they're doing," said Elvis Andrus, who was 2 for 5 and one of five Rangers to record a double. "We trust in every guy who comes here and pitches."

The Rangers will give the ball to Derek Holland (1-1, 3.25 ERA) as they seek their 12th win over the Twins in 14 games.

Holland carried a 1.64 ERA into Monday's road start against the Angels, but surrendered six runs on six hits in 5 2-3 innings. He issued four walks after totaling that number in his first three outings.

The 26-year-old will try to keep the big bats of the Twins (9-10) at bay. The combination of Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau and Josh Willingham is 5 for 23 (.217) to start the series, with Mauer going hitless in both games. It's just the second time he's gone hitless in consecutive games and he's 2 for 17 over his last five after starting the season 24 for 61 (.393).

Holland is 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA versus Minnesota, with those three batters only 8 of 34 (.235) against him.

The Twins' only runs the last two games have come from homers - a solo shot by Willingham Thursday and a three-run shot from rookie Oswaldo Arcia off Joe Nathan on Friday. The Twins hit .320 with runners in scoring position during a five-game winning streak but are 5 of 24 (.208) in such situations during their three-game skid.

"Hopefully we'll heat up here as an offense," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We've been a little inconsistent."

Nelson Cruz stayed hot for the Rangers, driving in a run for the sixth straight contest. Cruz is 13 of 33 (.394) over his last nine games with 14 RBIs.

He'll dig in against Pedro Hernandez (0-0, 3.48), who makes his second start for the Twins. He gave up three runs in five innings in his first start April 7 and has allowed one run over 5 1-3 innings of relief since. The long drought between starts is due to how the Twins' schedule has unfolded with four postponements.

"Ultimately things happen," Gardenhire told the team's official website. "He'll get innings in, he'll get to pitch. We've got to find innings for him."

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Pirates (13-10) at Cardinals (14-8)

Game: 2
Venue: Busch Stadium
Date: April 27, 2013 4:15 PM EDT


The Pittsburgh Pirates' A.J. Burnett was at his best against the St. Louis Cardinals last week, but his most recent outing at Busch Stadium was definitely one to forget.

The veteran right-hander seeks a better performance in St. Louis on Saturday as he faces the only team he's beaten this season, looking to prevent the Cardinals from matching their longest win streak of the past year.

Burnett (1-2, 2.79 ERA) took a no-hitter into the seventh inning against St. Louis on April 17 before giving up a two-out double to Carlos Beltran. He retired the next batter and did not return for the eighth in the 5-0 victory, recording what remains his longest outing of the season.

"My goal every time out is to throw a no-hitter. I know they are major league hitters that I'm facing and I respect them, but my job is not to give up hits. You should go to the mound with that mindset," said Burnett, who threw his only no-hitter in 2001.

Burnett did not get a decision in his ensuing start at Philadelphia on Monday, yielding two runs over five innings in a 3-2 loss. He had seven strikeouts and leads the NL with 42.

"He threw everything but the kitchen sink at them," manager Clint Hurdle told the team's website. "It's a sign of a pretty good pitcher when he doesn't have his best stuff and he doesn't do that well, and he leaves the game and it's 2-2 in the fifth."

Burnett was far from good in his latest start at Busch Stadium, giving up a career-high 12 runs and 12 hits over 2 2-3 innings in a 12-3 loss May 2. Beltran had two three-run homers and an RBI single in that matchup against Burnett, who was 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA in his first three starts in St. Louis.

Beltran is coming off another two-homer game, hitting one from both sides of the plate in a 9-1 rout in Friday's series opener. St. Louis is 26-7 when Beltran homers since the start of last season, including 4-1 this year.

"Every time you hit a homer and you do something positive to help the team win, it feels great," Beltran said. "Today I was able to do that twice."

His performance Friday helped end the Pirates' win streak at three and extend the Cardinals' run to four. The only longer winning streak St. Louis (14-8) has had over the last year was a five-game run June 22-26.

Allen Craig matched a season high with three RBIs, and he's batting .421 with 12 RBIs in a 10-game home hitting streak against the Pirates (13-10). Craig also was hit in the helmet by a Jonathan Sanchez pitch in first inning Friday, leading to the Pittsburgh starter and Hurdle getting ejected.

Jake Westbrook (1-1, 1.25) will try again for his 100th career victory.

After pitching a five-hit shutout in Cincinnati on April 10, the right-hander was skipped in the rotation when his scheduled start against Pittsburgh on April 16 was rained out. Working on plenty of rest, Westbrook gave up three runs over six-plus innings Sunday in Philadelphia and did not get a decision as the Cardinals lost 7-3.

He hasn't been nearly as effective in nine career starts against the Pirates, going 1-7 with a 5.91 ERA. He was tagged for seven runs and 11 hits over five innings in his most recent matchup, a 9-0 drubbing in Pittsburgh on Aug. 28.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Astros (7-16) at Red Sox (16-7)

Game: 3
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: April 27, 2013 7:10 PM EDT


At 37 years old, David Ortiz isn't getting any younger. The eight-time All-Star, though, still has plenty left in the tank.

Ortiz looks to continue his recent surge as the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros play the third of four meetings Saturday night at Fenway Park.

While an Achilles injury kept him sidelined for most of the second half of 2012 and the start of this year, it hasn't taken long for Ortiz to heat up. The slugging designated hitter has hit safely in each of his six games since returning from the disabled list last Saturday, collecting 12 hits in 24 at_bats.

Ortiz kept things going Friday with his second homer in as many nights, helping lead Boston to a 7-3 win.

"I've been working, just like to stay short and quick to the ball, not trying to do too much," said Ortiz, batting .460 during an 18-game hitting streak dating to July 2. "And I always tell you guys, I'm old enough to know what it takes for me to be what I want to be."

Besides Ortiz, backup catcher David Ross went deep twice and Will Middlebrooks added his sixth homer as Boston collected a season-high 17 hits.

"It seems like with this team, it's been somebody else every night," Ross said. "I'm excited to be part of this team."

Batting .355 during a three-game winning streak, Boston (16-7) - which has taken 11 of 14 - is two wins shy of tying the club record for April. The Red Sox, who are 12-0 when scoring first, posted 18 wins in April 1998 and 2003.

The Astros (7-16) went 0 for 12 with runners in scoring position Friday while suffering their seventh consecutive road loss. Houston, which has been outscored 45-20 during its skid, is a major league-worst 23-68 as the visiting team since the start of 2012.

"Never have I seen, and I don't think we will see, these guys fold at any point," manager Bo Porter said as Houston dropped to 0-5 all-time at Fenway. "They're resilient all the way to the end."

Looking to add to the Astros' woes is Felix Doubront (2-0, 4.32 ERA), who's on the verge of winning a career best-tying third consecutive start. After giving up two runs over five innings in a 7-2 victory at Cleveland on April 16, the left-hander yielded three in a season-high 6 2-3 innings during Monday's 9-6 win over Oakland.

While Doubront struck out 15 and allowed seven hits in those outings, he issued nine walks - including a career worst-tying five Monday.

"I feel good. I was throwing the ball real good. My arm feels a lot easier throwing the ball," Doubront, who won three consecutive starts May 7-17, told MLB's official website.

Doubront will be making his first appearance against the Astros, who counter with Brad Peacock (1-2, 7.50). The right-hander is coming off an outing to forget, surrendering career highs of seven runs, nine hits and three homers over 4 1-3 innings of Monday's 7-1 loss to Seattle.

"I didn't have it," he said. "I was getting behind in the count. I've got no excuses. I just have to keep working. I need to get ahead. I fell behind on almost everybody."

Boston outfielder Shane Victorino is expected to miss a third straight game due to lower back troubles.