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

[StarDust Bum]

YESTERDAY SUCKED BIG TIME BUT THERE WILL BE DAY'S LIKE THIS...

Date WLT Pct Net Units Record

04/26/13 6-*21-*1 22.22% -*8355 Detail
04/25/13 11-*10-*3 52.38% +*995 Detail
04/24/13 13-*15-*0 46.43% -*1595 Detail
04/23/13 14-*12-*1 53.85% +*790 Detail
04/22/13 12-*10-*0 54.55% +*720 Detail
04/21/13 16-*15-*1 51.61% -*265 Detail
04/20/13 17-*15-*0 53.13% +*555 Detail
04/19/13 9-*3-*0 75.00% +*3030 Detail
04/18/13 11-*6-*1 64.71% +*2720 Detail
04/17/13 10-*13-*1 43.48% -*1265 Detail
04/16/13 14-*11-*1 56.00% +*1560 Detail
04/15/13 12-*4-*0 75.00% +*3650 Detail
04/14/13 15-*13-*0 53.57% +*530 Detail
04/13/13 14-*16-*0 46.67% -*1510 Detail
04/12/13 10-*6-*0 62.50% +*2555 Detail
04/11/13 5-*6-*1 45.45% -*460 Detail
04/10/13 15-*10-*1 60.00% +*2240 Detail
04/09/13 14-*14-*0 50.00% -*440 Detail
04/08/13 12-*7-*1 63.16% +*2080 Detail
04/07/13 15-*13-*2 53.57% +*840 Detail
04/06/13 11-*18-*0 37.93% -*4805 Detail
04/05/13 17-*12-*0 58.62% +*2035 Detail
04/04/13 15-*7-*0 68.18% +*4160 Detail
04/03/13 15-*15-*0 50.00% -*350 Detail
04/02/13 8-*6-*0 57.14% +*1305 Detail
04/01/13 10-*13-*0 43.48% -*1935 Detail

Totals 321-*291-*14 52.45% +8785


Saturday, April 27

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Atlanta - 1:05 PM ET Atlanta -106 500
Detroit - Over 8 500

Cincinnati - 1:05 PM ET Washington -103 500
Washington - Under 8 500

Philadelphia - 1:05 PM ET Philadelphia +129 500 POD # 2
NY Mets - Over 8 500

Baltimore - 4:05 PM ET Oakland -145 500
Oakland - Under 8 500

Toronto - 4:05 PM ET NY Yankees -158 500
NY Yankees - Over 7.5 500

Texas - 4:10 PM ET Texas -141 500
Minnesota - Over 8.5 500

Pittsburgh - 4:15 PM ET St. Louis -116 500
St. Louis - Over 7 500

Houston - 7:10 PM ET Boston -260 500
Boston - Over 9.5 500

Tampa Bay - 7:10 PM ET Tampa Bay -113 500
Chi. White Sox - Under 7 500

Chi. Cubs - 7:10 PM ET Chi. Cubs -115 500
Miami - Over 7.5 500

Cleveland - 7:10 PM ET Kansas City -156 500
Kansas City - Under 9 500

Colorado - 8:10 PM ET Arizona -160 500
Arizona - Over 9 500

San Francisco - 8:40 PM ET San Francisco -115 500
San Diego - Under 7.5 500

Milwaukee - 9:10 PM ET Milwaukee +120 500 POD # 3
LA Dodgers - Over 8 500

LA Angels - 9:10 PM ET LA Angels +143 500 POD # 1
Seattle - Under 7 500

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Saturday, April 27

Hot pitchers
-- Leake is 1-0, 1.29 in his last two starts.
-- Burnett is 1-1, 2.31 in his last four starts.
-- Wood is 1-1, 2.42 in four starts this season.
-- Miley is 2-0, 2.81 in four starts this season.
-- Zito is 3-1, 3.42 in four starts, but his only road start was a disaster.

-- Medlen is 1-1, 2.70 in his last three starts.

-- Oakland won both of Griffin's home starts (1-0, 3.00).
-- Sabathia is 3-1, 3.00 in his last four starts.
-- Holland is 1-1, 3.25 in four starts this season.
-- Red Sox are 3-0 in Doubront's starts (2-0, 4.32), scoring 22 runs.
-- Moore is 4-0, 1.04 in four starts this season.
-- Royals won last three Santana starts (2-0, 1.96).
-- Hernandez is 1-0, 0.71 in his last couple starts.

Cold pitchers
-- Marcum is making first '13 start; he was 2-0, 2.25 in his last three starts LY. Pettibone allowed two runs in 5.2 IP in his MLB debut.
-- Haren is 1-3, 9.00 in his four starts this season.
-- Westbrook is 0-0, 7.88 in his last two starts.
-- Sanabia is 1-2, 6.88 in his last three starts.
-- Francis is 0-2, 15.75 in his last three starts.
-- Peralta is 1-1, 5.96 in four starts this season. Fife is 1-3, 4.74 in his last four starts.
-- Stults is 1-2, 6.00 in his last three starts.

-- Porcello is 0-2, 13.09 in three starts this season.

-- Tillman is 0-1, 3.64 in his last three starts.
-- Happ has a 5.49 RA in four starts this season.
-- Hernandez allowed three runs in five IP in his first '13 start.
-- Floyd is 0-3, 5.40 in four starts this season.
-- Kazmir allowed six runs in 3.1 IP in his first '13 start.
-- Blanton is 0-3, 8.27 in four starts this season.

Totals
-- Five of last six Washington games stayed under the total.
-- Ten of last thirteen Cub games stayed under the total.
-- Ten of last fourteen Met games went over the total.
-- Last three Pittsburgh games went over the total.
-- Ten of last twelve Arizona games stayed under the total.
-- Last five games at Dodger Stadium went over the total.
-- Five of last seven San Diego games stayed under the total.

-- Eigt of last eleven Detroit games went over the total.

-- 10 of last 14 Toronto games stayed under the total.
-- Over is 8-2-1 in last eleven Boston games.
-- Under is 11-4-1 in last sixteen Texas games.
-- Under is 7-1-2 in last ten White Sox games.
-- All four Santana starts stayed under the total.
-- 19 of last 23 Oakland games went over the total.
-- 14 of last 17 Angel games went over the total.

Hot teams
-- Pirates won 12 of their last 17 games. St Louis won five of last six.
-- Washington won its last two games; they've allowed 12 runs in last six.
-- Rockies won nine of their last thirteen games. Arizona won four of six.
-- Brewers won nine of their last eleven games.

-- Red Sox won 11 of their last 14 games.
-- Bronx won 12 of its last 17 games.
-- Texas won eight of its last ten games.
-- White Sox won last three games, allowing eight runs.
-- Indians won three of their last four games. Royals won four of last six.
-- Orioles won seven of their last nine games.

Cold teams
-- Phillies lost eight of their last twelve games. Mets lost seven of last ten.
-- Dodgers lost seven of their last eleven games.
-- Reds have one run, two hits in their last two games.
-- Miami lost nine of its first eleven home games. Cubs lost 12 of their last 18 games overall.
-- Padres lost seven of their ten home games. San Francisco lost their last four games on foreign soil.

-- Detroit, Atlanta both lost five of its last seven games.

-- Houston lost nine of its last twelve games.
-- Blue Jays lost eight of their last eleven games.
-- Twins lost last three games, scoring nine runs.
-- Tampa Bay lost three of its last four games.
-- Oakland lost seven of its last eight games.
-- Angels lost four of last five on road. Mariners lost 12 of their last 17 games.

Umpires
-- Phil-NY-- Under is 20-4 in last 24 Culbreth games.
-- Cin-Wsh-- Underdogs won last five Drake games.
-- Pitt-StL-- Favorites won eight of last nine Winters games.
-- Chi-Mia-- Underdogs are 6-5 in last 11 Blaser games; over is 8-4 in his last twelve games behind plate.
-- Col-Az-- Over is 4-1-1 in last six Cederstrom games.
-- SF-SD-- Underdogs won six of last seven Wendelstedt games.
-- Mil-LA-- Home team is 9-4 in last thirteen Eddings games.

-- Atl-Det-- Under is 8-4 in last twelve Knight games.

-- Blt-A's-- Six of last eight Hoye games went over the total.
-- Tor-NY-- 12 of last 14 Kellogg games stayed under the total.
-- Tex-Min-- Six of last eight Marquez games stayed under total.
-- Hst-Bos-- Home team won nine of last twelve Hudson games.
-- TB-Chi-- Home side won last seven Guccione games.
-- LA-Sea-- Visitors are 9-4 in last thirteen Bell games.
Reply With Quote

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Short Sheet

Saturday, April 27

National League

Philadelphia at NY Mets, 1:05 ET FOX
Pettibone: Philadelphia 11-19 SU off a combined score of 4 runs or less
Marcum: Mets 17-9 SU after having 0 extrabase hits last game

Cincinnati at Washington, 1:05 ET FOX
Leake: Cincinnati 20-8 Under off 3+ games scoring 4 runs or less
Haren: 6-12 TSR in home games

Pittsburgh at St Louis, 4:15 ET
Burnett: Pittsburgh 9-2 SU after winning 2 of their last 3 games
Westbrook: 2-7 TSR vs. Pittsburgh

Chicago Cubs at Miami, 7:10 ET
Wood: Cubs 17-5 Under after winning 3 of their last 4 games
Sanabia: Miami 15-35 SU as a home underdog of +125 or less

Colorado at Arizona, 8:10 ET
Francis: Colorado 15-5 Over after the bullpen allowed 0 runs in BB games
Miley: Arizona 2-11 SU at home off 3+ games scoring 4 runs or less

San Francisco at San Diego, 8:40 ET MLB
Zito: 14-2 TSR vs. division opponents
Stults: San Diego 3-13 SU as an underdog of +150 or less

Milwaukee at LA Dodgers, 9:10 ET MLB
Peralta: Milwaukee 13-32 SU as a road underdog
Fife: Dodgers 22-8 SU on Saturdays


American League

Baltimore at Oakland, 4:05 ET
Tillman: Baltimore 14-4 Under off a combined score of 3 runs or less
Griffin: 13-3 TSR with a total of 7 to 8.5 runs

Toronto at NY Yankees, 4:05 ET
Happ: Toronto 27-50 SU off BB road games
Sabathia: 14-5 Over as a favorite of -125 to -175

Texas at Minnesota, 4:10 ET
Holland: Texas 33-12 SU in April
Hernandez: Minnesota 17-35 SU at home with a total of 7 to 8.5 runs

Houston at Boston, 7:10 ET
Peacock: Houston 9-39 SU as a road underdog of +175 to +250
Doubront: Boston 10-2 Over in night games

Tampa Bay at Chicago White Sox, 7:10 ET
Moore: 1-7 TSR as a road favorite
Floyd: White Sox 32-18 SU off BB wins

Cleveland at Kansas City, 7:10 ET
Kazmir: 23-11 TSR on Saturdays
Santana: 12-3 Under in April

LA Angels at Seattle, 9:10 ET
Blanton: Angels 4-11 SU in night games
Hernandez: Seattle 26-8 SU after losing 6 or 7 of their last 8 games


Interleague

Atlanta at Detroit, 1:05 ET FOX
Medlen: 12-0 TSR pitching on 5 or 6 days rest
Porcello: 2-11 TSR pitching on 5 or 6 days rest
Reply With Quote

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Blue Jays (9-16) at Yankees (14-9)

Game: 4
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: April 28, 2013 1:05 PM EDT


Toronto Blue Jays knuckleballer R.A. Dickey admits he's not feeling his best. There are quite a few New York Yankees who could say the same thing.

Dickey, the 2012 NL Cy Young winner with the Mets, makes his return to the Big Apple on Sunday when the Yankees go for the four-game sweep.

After leaving his previous start on April 18 with tightness in his neck and back, Dickey (2-3, 4.66 ERA) went six innings in Tuesday's 4-3 loss at Baltimore, yielding four runs and walking a season-high five.

The right-hander never issued more than four free passes last season when he went 20-6 with a 2.73 ERA and 230 strikeouts with the Mets.

"I'm definitely not 100 percent,' Dickey said. "I'm giving everything I can possibly give but it feels like going to battle with a three-shooter instead of a six-shooter. You just don't have what you normally have. You feel like what you have is good enough to keep your team in it. But it's frustrating because you want to give more.'

The Blue Jays (9-16) need all they can get from Dickey as they try to finish their seven-game trip with two wins. Toronto has dropped six straight and 17 of 20 in the Bronx following Saturday's 5-4 defeat.

"You know what, right now we're not good enough. It's that simple,' said manager John Gibbons, whose team has lost a season-high three in a row.

The Yankees (14-9), meanwhile, can win a season high-tying fourth straight, a day removed from putting two more players on the disabled list. Catcher Francisco Cervelli, who broke his right hand in Friday's 6-4 win, and Ivan Nova (right triceps) were the latest additions, joining Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixiera.

The Yankees, though, did get Kevin Youkilis (lower back) back following a six-game absence. He went 0 for 3 with a walk.

"There's an expectation here, and I think a lot of guys feed off of that," said manager Joe Girardi, whose team rallied from a pair of deficits to improve to 5-1 against Toronto this season.

Newcomers Travis Hafner and former Blue Jay Vernon Wells are doing just that. Hafner had a three-run homer - his sixth - and a run-scoring triple on Saturday, while Wells knocked in a run for the fourth consecutive game.

"It seems like a different group of guys are stepping up every night," Hafner said.

The Yankees would like to see Phil Hughes (0-2, 5.14) do that Sunday. The right-hander has settled down nicely following two rough outings to open the season, throwing seven innings of two-run ball with six strikeouts in each of his last two appearances, most recently a 4-3 loss at Tampa Bay on Tuesday. Hughes, though, did not earn a decision in either of those outings.

He went 2-2 with a 5.73 ERA in six starts against Toronto last season.

Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista, who have hit five of the Blue Jays' seven homers this series, have both gone deep off Hughes once. First baseman Adam Lind, who has two home runs against the right-hander to lead active Blue Jays, is expected to return from the paternity list on Sunday.

Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano, who's batting .476 (20 for 42) during a 10-game hitting streak against Toronto, is 3 for 10 off Dickey.

Wells is 7 for 13 with two doubles against the knuckleballer.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Cubs (9-14) at Marlins (5-19)

Game: 4
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: April 28, 2013 1:10 PM EDT


Based on the way Carlos Villanueva has thrown the ball for the Chicago Cubs, they would appear to have a good chance to complete their first four-game series sweep in almost two years.

The veteran right-hander looks to continue his strong start while trying to help the visiting Cubs sweep the lowly Miami Marlins on Sunday.

Originally expected to be a stop-gap while starters Matt Garza and Scott Baker recovered from injuries, Villanueva (1-0, 1.53 ERA) has likely found a permanent home in Chicago's rotation. He's allowed five runs - four off solo homers - and struck out 21 with six walks in 29 1-3 innings over four starts.

However, he's been let down by a bullpen that failed to hold leads in three of those outings. That was the case in Tuesday's 4-2, 10-inning win at Cincinnati when Villanueva left with one out in the ninth but was charged with the tying run after Carlos Marmol allowed an RBI single.

"He's been outstanding," manager Dale Sveum told the Cubs' official website. "To stick with a game plan is the ultimate dream for a pitching coach and a manager to be able to say, 'Just do this and you'll get these guys out,' and he's able to pull it off."

Villanueva last faced the Marlins (5-19) out of the bullpen in 2010, but his last start against them came in 2008. He's 0-1 with a 7.36 ERA in two starts versus Miami.

He will try to help the Cubs (9-14) complete their first four-game sweep since Aug. 1-4, 2011, at Pittsburgh. Chicago has scored 11 runs in the first three of the set but allowed seven and won two by one run, including 3-2 on Saturday.

The Cubs have yielded 10 runs while winning four of five. That suspect bullpen has not been charged with a run over 12 innings during that stretch.

"The bullpen's been unbelievable this entire road trip,' said Sveum, whose club is 4-5 on a 10-game trek.

David DeJesus had two hits, including a tiebreaking single in the seventh, to help Chicago to a fifth straight win over Miami. DeJesus is batting .324 (11 for 34) with four RBIs in his last 11 games.

Giancarlo Stanton hit an estimated 472-foot homer, his first of the season, for Miami.

The Marlins were last swept in a four-game home set by St. Louis from Aug. 4-7, 2011.

"We did some good things,' manager Mike Redmond said, "but I feel like I'm saying the same thing every single night, and I really am, we're right there.'

Stanton, who hit 71 homers the last two seasons, is batting .209, but has recorded all five of his RBIs in the last six contests.

Former Cubs prospect and scheduled Miami starter Ricky Nolasco (1-2, 3.81) is 3-2 with a 2.98 ERA in seven starts against the team that drafted him in 2001, then traded him in a deal for Juan Pierre in 2005.

The right-hander yielded three runs in five innings of an 8-5 victory in the nightcap of a doubleheader on a chilly night at Minnesota on Tuesday for Miami's most recent victory.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Phillies (11-14) at Mets (10-12)

Game: 3
Venue: Citi Field
Date: April 28, 2013 1:10 PM EDT


A matchup with the struggling New York Mets may provide Cole Hamels with the perfect opportunity to earn his elusive first win.

Hamels and the Philadelphia Phillies will try for their sixth straight victory at Citi Field and ninth win in 10 games overall against the Mets on Sunday.

The Phillies (11-14) continued their recent dominance in this series Saturday as Domonic Brown and John Mayberry Jr. hit consecutive home runs in the fifth inning en route to a 9-4 victory.

Philadelphia has finally come through with some timely hitting this weekend. After scoring three or fewer runs in 11 of their previous 14 games, the Phillies have totaled 13 in the past two victories.

"That's definitely good. It's what we've been waiting for. We've got to make it more often,' manager Charlie Manuel said. "We haven't been hitting in those right situations to knock those runs in, and today we did.'

Following a three-game skid, Manuel's club looks for its third straight win behind Hamels (0-3, 5.40), who has started to show signs of returning to form.

Since allowing 13 runs over 10 2-3 innings in his first two starts, the left-hander has posted a 2.57 ERA in his last three with 19 strikeouts in 21 innings. He surrendered two runs and struck out six with one walk over eight innings of a 2-0 loss to Pittsburgh on Tuesday.

"Just being able to really get in a groove and go deep in the ballgame was something I was pleased with,' said Hamels, who has received three runs of support over his last three starts.

Hamels is 5-10 with a 4.33 ERA in 21 starts against the Mets, but went 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA in four outings against them last season. He'll be facing a New York team that's managed 17 runs and batted .186 over its last six games.

After scoring three times in five innings off rookie Jonathan Pettibone on Saturday, the Mets (10-12) have totaled 23 runs in their last nine against the Phillies.

David Wright, who went 2 for 4 with an RBI on Saturday, is batting .327 with four home runs and three doubles in his career against Hamels.

Catcher John Buck hit his eighth home run Saturday, but he's 2 for 22 with eight strikeouts versus Hamels.

The Mets, looking to snap a three-game skid, will send Jonathon Niese (2-1, 3.81) to the mound. The left-hander will make his first start since departing after 2 1-3 innings when he was hit by a ball on his right leg against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday.

Niese has posted a 3.38 ERA while winning five of his last six decisions. He's gone 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA in his past four home starts against the Phillies.

Michael Young has six hits in his last eight at_bats in this series, giving him a .439 average with five homers and 12 RBIs in 14 career meetings with the Mets.

Ryan Howard knocked in two runs Saturday and has 21 RBIs in his last 12 games in this series. He's batting .343 during a nine-game hitting streak, but is 1 for 15 with seven strikeouts against Niese.

Philadelphia has outscored New York 29-5 in the last three matchups at Citi Field.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Astros (7-17) at Red Sox (17-7)

Game: 4
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: April 28, 2013 1:35 PM EDT


The Boston Red Sox believe John Lackey is ready to put his recent physical problems behind him.

Lackey will return after being out with a right biceps strain as he tries to help the Red Sox complete a four-game home sweep of the Houston Astros with a fifth straight win Sunday.

Lackey (0-1, 4.15 ERA) suffered the injury in his season debut April 6 against Toronto in his first outing in two years after Tommy John surgery.

The right-hander threw 67 pitches over 3 2-3 innings Monday for Double-A Portland, and the Red Sox (17-7) feel he will be fine Sunday.

"Based on the game pitched, and the bullpen that followed, there's been no symptoms that have reoccurred," manager John Farrell told the Red Sox's official website. "The fact is, when he felt it up in Toronto, I think it was just getting to an arm speed and a velocity that he hasn't experienced in probably two years."

Farrell said that Lackey will be on a pitch count, and the starter probably isn't expected to go past five innings at the most.

"The stress of each of the pitches thrown are going to have some impact on the decision of how deep he can go into tomorrow's game," Farrell said.

Lackey's lone start against Houston (7-17) came in 2007. Only one current Astros hitter has more than one at-bat against him - Carlos Pena, who is 8 for 30 with three homers and nine walks.

David Ortiz is hitting .519 with two homers nine RBIs in seven games since returning last Saturday from a heel injury. He owns a 19-game hit streak dating to 2012, after finishing with two hits and three RBIs in Saturday's 8-4 victory.

"He's doing things that look to him to be very easy, but its hard to imagine or even script out that he'd have this kind of performance considering the layoff,' Farrell said.

Ortiz has never faced Astros starter Bud Norris (3-2, 4.13), who takes the mound Sunday to try to improve on his poor road record. Norris has the most road defeats in the majors since the start of 2012 with a 4-13 mark and a road ERA of 6.95 compared to 1.90 at home in that span.

Norris allowed one run in five innings Tuesday to earn a 3-2 home win over Seattle.

The Red Sox hitter with the most experience against the right-hander is Stephen Drew, who is 5 for 9. Drew is hitting just .136 this year.

Boston, which can match the club record for April victories from 1998 and 2003, is batting .355 with five homers among 23 extra-base hits in this win streak. The Red Sox are off to their best start since 2002.

Dustin Pedroia is 8 for 16 over the last four games for Boston. Fellow second baseman Jose Altuve of the Astros is 5 for 24 in his last six games with his average dropping to .340.

Only Miami has a worse record than Houston, which has lost eight straight on the road.

"I don't get caught up in the record,' manager Bo Porter said. "I deal with each day, each game, one game at a time."

[StarDust Bum]

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

Game: 4
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: April 28, 2013 1:35 PM EDT


It's been feast or famine at home for the Washington Nationals throughout April, and they have the chance to post their third sweep at Nationals Park on Sunday as they close out a four-game series versus the Cincinnati Reds.

Each of Washington's previous four series at home have resulted in sweeps. The Nationals (13-11) took three games from both Miami and the Chicago White Sox in their first six home games before dropping three-game sets to Atlanta and St. Louis.

Washington has reversed its fortunes at the Reds' expense in the first three games, outscoring them 15-4 in those wins following Saturday's 6-3 victory. Dan Haren pitched six solid innings and Bryce Harper went 2 for 3 with a two-run homer.

Harper has been a fairly accurate bell weather of Washington's success at home. In the nine wins, he is batting .531 (17 for 32) with five homers, but just .158 (3 for 19) in the six losses. He is 5 for 9 with two homers, a triple and a double in this series and his 18 RBIs this month has set a team record.

``And if you know him, he probably (thinks) he's having an off-year right now,' manager Davey Johnson said of Harper. ``He expects lot of himself and that's a good trait.'

Tony Cingrani (1-0, 2.25) looks to slow down Harper and continue his impressive start since being called up from Triple-A earlier this month. The 23-year-old rookie has struck out 17 in 12 innings in his first two starts, including nine Tuesday over seven innings before Cincinnati eventually lost 4-2 in 10 innings.

"I was a lot more comfortable," Cingrani told the team's official website after not walking a batter in his last outing. "The tempo was a little bit slower to me, so it was good. I was trying to make first pitches and make sure I was getting ahead of people. I was just trying to give them a good quality start."

The left-hander has never faced the Nationals.

Cincinnati (13-12) has dropped eight straight on the road and is trying to avoid its worst skid there since losing nine in a row from June 7-19, 2004. The Reds have been shut out twice during these struggles and held to one run on three other occasions in that span, batting .187 and scoring 18 runs.

Nationals scheduled starter Ross Detwiler (1-1, 1.38) will try to extend those struggles while hoping for better offensive support. He has given up two or fewer runs in each of his four starts but was on the short end of a 2-0 defeat to St. Louis on Tuesday after giving up two runs in six innings.

The left-hander saw his bullpen blow a 5-1 lead versus Cincinnati on April 6 after he limited the Reds to an unearned run and six hits over six innings of 7-6, 11-inning victory. Detwiler is 0-3 in five lifetime starts versus the Reds despite a 2.48 ERA.

Joey Votto, who has scored two of Cincinnati's runs in this series and homered in Thursday's loss, is 1 for 8 with a solo homer lifetime against Detwiler.

Washington's last four-game sweep at home came against the Chicago Cubs from Sept. 3-6, and the Reds have not been swept in a four-game road series since Philadelphia accomplished the feat July 8-11, 2010.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Rays (11-13) at White Sox (10-13)

Game: 4
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: April 28, 2013 2:10 PM EDT


David Price capped his AL Cy Young Award-winning 2012 season by defeating the Chicago White Sox, but that remains the Tampa Bay Rays left-hander's last victory.

Price will try to end that drought with another strong performance against the host White Sox in Sunday's series finale in Chicago.

Price became Tampa Bay's first 20-game winner with a 6-2 victory at U.S. Cellular Field on Sept. 30, but he'll likely have a very tough time reaching that mark this season. A combination of lack of run support and subpar pitching has resulted in the left-hander finding himself on the verge of failing to win in April.

Price (0-2, 5.52 ERA) gave up three runs over eight-plus innings against the New York Yankees on Tuesday but suffered a 4-3 defeat.

"If he throws the ball like that and we had scored four runs tonight, he walks away and feels like he was fantastic. But we don't score enough runs and he doesn't feel as good about himself," manager Joe Maddon said. "That's just how this baseball thing works."

The Rays (11-13) have lost in five straight starts by Price for the first time and are the second team to lose in the first five starts by a reigning Cy Young winner. The Minnesota Twins lost in Frank Viola's first seven games in 1989.

Price might have a good chance to end that skid Sunday as he's posted a 1.20 ERA in back-to-back wins over the White Sox (10-12).

Price will also try to help his team earn a four-game split of this series. Tampa Bay ended the White Sox's season-high three-game win streak with a 10-4 victory Saturday.

The Rays had a season-best 19 hits, including four apiece from Evan Longoria and Kelly Johnson. Desmond Jennings and Ben Zobrist homered, giving Tampa Bay at least one home run in 13 straight games.

That's tied for the second-longest such streak in club history and two shy of the team record set July 25-Aug. 10, 2009.

"Offensively it was a pretty good night up and down," Maddon said. "A lot of guys had great nights. ... It was a really interesting offensive night and hopefully we're going to gain some confidence from it."

Dylan Axelrod (0-1, 3.80) will try to help the White Sox bounce back with another strong start at U.S. Cellular Field. The right-hander is among the major league leaders with a 0.77 home ERA in his two outings there.

Axelrod, who has never started versus Tampa Bay, gave up one run and three hits over six innings against visiting Cleveland on Monday but the White Sox lost 3-2.

"I can't ask myself to do anything else but keep us in it and be ahead coming out of the game,' he said.

Paul Konerko and Alex Rios will try to continue their success versus Price. Konerko is 9 for 18 against him while Rios is 8 for 16 with five extra-base hits, including a pair of homers.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Indians (8-12) at Royals (12-8)

Game: 3
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: April 28, 2013 2:10 PM EDT


The starting pitchers who will begin the first day-night doubleheader in Kauffman Stadium history will be chasing some of their own.

Jeremy Guthrie will try to tie a Kansas City Royals record with his 16th consecutive start without a loss, while Justin Masterson can become the first Cleveland Indians pitcher to earn five wins in April for a second time.

Kauffman has never hosted a day-night twinbill since opening in 1973, and Masterson (4-1, 1.85 ERA) and Guthrie (2-0, 3.86) will help kick it off as their teams continue a four-game series Sunday.

Guthrie hasn't lost since Aug. 3 and is 7-0 with a 2.60 ERA over his last 15 starts. By avoiding a defeat in this game, the right-hander would match Paul Splittorff's team record set Aug. 13, 1977-Aug. 22, 1978.

Guthrie nearly had his streak snapped in his most recent outing last Sunday, but Kansas City scored a run in the eighth inning in Boston and won 5-4 in 10. He gave up four runs over six innings.

"Guthrie wasn't his sharpest, but he did a great job of keeping us in the game," manager Ned Yost told the team's website.

Guthrie has gone 0-2 with a 10.80 ERA in his last two starts against Cleveland, his former team.

Masterson became the fourth Indians pitcher to win at least five games in April in 2011, and put himself on the verge of an unprecedented feat with a 3-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Monday. No Cleveland pitcher has accomplished the feat twice, and only seven pitchers have reached five wins in April since 1969.

"He's good, and he's backing it up," manager Terry Francona told the team's website. "That's the biggest thing in our game, is being consistent and he's backing it up at a pretty high rate."

Masterson will try to deny the Royals their fifth win in six games, although he went 0-2 with an 8.25 ERA in two starts against them last season.

After Friday's series opener was washed out, Kansas City held on for a 3-2 victory Saturday. Cleveland's Michael Brantley hit a two-run triple with two outs in the ninth but Greg Holland struck out Jason Kipnis to end the game.

Salvador Perez hit his first home run of the season for the Royals (12-8), a two-run shot in the second.

The Indians (8-12) will give Corey Kluber (1-0, 1.80) his first start of the season in the nightcap. The right-hander gave up six runs over 4 1-3 innings in his only start against the Royals on Aug. 2, not getting a decision in a 7-6 loss.

Kansas City is expected to call up Will Smith from Triple-A Omaha to make his season debut Sunday. The left-hander was 6-9 with a 5.32 ERA in 16 starts for the Royals in 2012 and went 2-1 with a 5.63 ERA in his three against Cleveland.

The Indians' Nick Swisher is 13 for 29 with two home runs and five doubles against Guthrie.

Kansas City's Alex Gordon is batting .407 (11 for 27) with three doubles, a homer and a triple off Masterson. Gordon has gone 8 for 18 with two home runs during a four-game hitting streak.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Rangers (16-8) at Twins (10-10)

Game: 4
Venue: Target Field
Date: April 28, 2013 2:10 PM EDT


The Texas Rangers have yet to lose two straight this season, and they'll try to keep it that way when they close out a four-game series with the host Minnesota Twins on Sunday.

Winners of seven of eight after taking a pair of one-run games to open this set, the Rangers (16-8) are looking to get back on track following a 7-2 defeat Saturday. Texas had won five in a row at Minnesota.

"We got hits, but we didn't swing the bat the way we're capable of,' said manager Ron Washington, whose team avoided getting shut out for the second time this season with Mitch Moreland's two-run double in the ninth inning.

The Rangers will try to end their seven-game trip on a better note with Alexi Ogando (2-1, 3.12 ERA) making his first start versus Minnesota. The converted reliever has faced the Twins seven times, posting a 1.50 ERA over a six-inning span.

The right-hander had his longest outing of the season Tuesday, going seven-plus innings and giving up four runs - two earned - in a 5-4, 11-inning loss to the Los Angeles Angels. Ogando has gone 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in his last two starts.

The Twins, who ended a three-game losing streak Saturday, will send Kevin Correia (2-1, 2.86 ERA) to the mound. The right-hander has given his team length in his four starts this season after joining the Twins on a two-year deal in the offseason.

The right-hander has pitched at least seven innings in each game, allowing three or fewer runs in all of them.

"It's nice to get off to a good start," Correia told the Twins' official website. "I'm sure I'm going to have some outings where I don't get through seven so it's nice to get off to a good start and get those innings piled up. That's kind of the goal for me."

If he goes at least seven Sunday, he'll be the first Twin to reach that mark in his first five appearances since Carlos Silva did it in his first 10 in 2005.

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus should return to the lineup after rookie Leury Garcia replaced him Saturday. Andrus has gone 10 for 28 during a six-game hitting streak.

Adrian Beltre, who homered in a 4-3 victory Friday, should be back at third base after taking over for Lance Berkman at designated hitter Saturday. Beltre has four hits, including two homers and a double, in 10 at_bats off Correia.

"I've been hitting the ball hard, but this last week or so I haven't been getting a lot of luck," Beltre told the team's official site. "That's what I want to do. I want to keep hitting the ball hard and it'll start falling. I don't want to change anything right now."

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire could also tweak his lineup after sitting Trevor Plouffe, Chris Parmelee and Justin Morneau on Saturday. It was Morneau's first off day of the season.

"He could've played," Gardenhire said. "But it's one of those things where we wanted to mix things around here."

Joe Mauer needs to change something, as the three-time AL batting champ has no hits in three games and is 2 for 21 in the last six. Mauer has never faced Ogando.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Pirates (14-10) at Cardinals (14-9)

Game: 3
Venue: Busch Stadium
Date: April 28, 2013 2:15 PM EDT


Shelby Miller is a big reason why St. Louis Cardinals starters own the best ERA in baseball.

The rookie will look to gain a measure of revenge against the only team to ever beat him Sunday when the Cardinals and visiting Pittsburgh Pirates complete this three-game set.

St. Louis starters have a 2.06 ERA, with the entire rotation allowing two earned runs over 33 2-3 innings in the last five games. Jake Westbrook completed that run with six scoreless innings Saturday, but the Cardinals' bullpen couldn't hold a two-run lead in a 5-3 defeat that ended a four-game win streak.

"Any time you lose a game in the last third, it can be extremely frustrating," manager Mike Matheny said. "When the starter gives you a great chance like that, you hate to see it slip away.'

Now it's Miller's turn to help St. Louis (14-9) bounce back. He's struck out 19 and yielded three hits over 15 career scoreless innings at home, and yielded two unearned runs over 6 2-3 innings Monday to earn a 3-2 victory at Washington his last time out.

"He's got a different look than the majority of the guys we have on our staff, and a lot of other guys in the league," Matheny said. "He's keeping people off balance with that."

Pittsburgh (14-10) has the advantage of seeing Miller (3-1, 1.44 ERA) before. The right-hander allowed two runs over six innings April 17 in a 5-0 road loss to the Pirates.

Neil Walker went 2 for 3 against Miller in that contest, but the second baseman is out with a hand injury. Right fielder Travis Snider is day to day after being scratched Saturday with discomfort on his left side.

The Pirates scored one run through their first 15 innings in this series before using a four-run rally in the seventh Saturday in their fourth win in five games. Russell Martin hit a two-run homer in that frame and scored Pittsburgh's final run in the eighth on Gaby Sanchez's sacrifice fly.

Outfielder Jose Tabata has hit safely in 20 of his 22 career games at Busch Stadium, batting .308 in those contests with hits in the last seven.

The Cardinals look to improve to 5-1 when opponents start left-handers as they face Jeff Locke (2-1, 3.74) for the first time. Locke enters off his best 2013 effort, yielding two hits over six innings Tuesday to gain a 2-0 victory at Philadelphia.

"The big thing is I was able to get ahead, something I've stressed the last few starts," said Locke, who was the Pirates' Minor League pitcher of the year in 2012. "It's great to compete and get through it and know that you can do it."

He'll face challenges against Yadier Molina, who is hitting .438 against left-handers, and Allen Craig, who is batting .389 against southpaws and is a career .358 hitter versus Pittsburgh.

David Freese, who is hitting .190, will likely return to the Cardinals lineup. Matheny rested the third baseman Saturday, saying that Freese was pressing.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Orioles (15-9) at Athletics (13-12)

Game: 4
Venue: O.co Coliseum
Date: April 28, 2013 4:05 PM EDT


The Baltimore Orioles haven't swept a four-game series visiting the Oakland Athletics in 26 years. If that's going to change on Sunday, they'll have to get past veteran right-hander Bartolo Colon, and possibly slugger Yoenis Cespedes.

The Orioles (15-9) earned their first set of back-to-back wins at Oakland since 2005 on Thursday and Friday, and a 7-3 victory on Saturday puts them in position for their first four-game sweep at Oakland since May 22-25, 1987.

"We have struggled and our record has not been very good here, but winning the first three is a good way to start the (11-game) road trip,' said Nick Markakis, who hit one of the team's three homers Saturday. "We've got a good lineup, and when we're going good we're as good as anybody.'

The A's (13-12), losers of four straight and eight of nine, are lacking that confidence.

"We are just pressing right now and trying to do too much,' manager Bob Melvin said.

Oakland is on the verge of getting swept at home in a four-game set for the first time since April 26-29, 1999, versus Cleveland.

Colon (3-0, 2.42 ERA), who was on that Indians team, could help the A's get back on track as he's enjoying one of his best starts in years. The 39-year-old right-hander struck out a season-high seven and walked his first batter of the season on Tuesday, a 13-0, rain-shortened seven-inning complete game victory at Boston.

"That's the perfect guy to have on the mound in games like that,' Melvin said, "a guy who's going to throw strikes, doesn't let the conditions affect him and keeps everybody on their toes because they know, potentially, the ball's going to be in play very quickly.

"He was the right man for the job.'

Colon has done the job in his last five starts versus Baltimore, going 2-1 with a 1.56 ERA.

The A's might need a similar effort from the right-hander the way they've been struggling at the plate. Over the last nine games, they're batting .218 with four homers, none in this series.

Third baseman Josh Donaldson has been one of the few bright spots. He's batting .579 (11 for 19) with eight RBIs over the last six games after matching a career high with four hits and driving in two on Saturday.

The possible return of Cespedes from a strained left thumb could add some much-needed pop to an A's lineup that hit a major league-best 19 homers during its 9-2 start. He's been rehabbing at Triple-A Sacramento and could be activated on Sunday.

Sunday's scheduled starter Miguel Gonzalez (2-1, 4.13) has never faced Cespedes or anyone else on the Athletics. He'll take the mound for the first time since going six innings in Tuesday's 4-3 victory over Toronto. The right-hander picked up the win after allowing just three hits and no runs until his final frame.

Gonzalez will likely be throwing to Matt Wieters after Taylor Teagarden dislocated his left thumb on Saturday. Manager Buck Showalter expects Teagarden to be placed on the DL.

Orioles center fielder Adam Jones, who homered on Saturday - his first in Oakland - will try to extend his team-best hitting streak to nine and hit safely in his 10th straight road game against the A's.

Jones is 6 for 23 off Colon. Markakis is 7 for 26 with four doubles against the right-hander.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Angels (9-14) at Mariners (10-16)

Game: 4
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: April 28, 2013 4:10 PM EDT


Albert Pujols and Mike Trout have been fairly quiet for the Los Angeles Angels in this four-game series against the Seattle Mariners, and it doesn't figure to get any easier against Hisashi Iwakuma in the finale.

Iwakuma went 4-0 against the Angels last season and has baffled hitters in 2013 heading into Sunday's contest, which also features Jason Vargas' return to Safeco Field to face his former team.

The lack of production from Pujols and Trout has been a theme in the first month for Los Angeles (9-14). Pujols is hitting .256, Trout is at .274 and they are being pitched to very carefully, combining for as many walks (25) as RBIs.

Seattle (10-16) has taken two of three in this series, with Pujols going 2 for 11 with two RBIs and no walks while Trout is 3 for 10 with no runs scored and one RBI. Trout led the majors with 129 runs in 2012.

Neither has fared well against Iwakuma (2-1, 1.99 ERA). Pujols has two doubles and no walks in 13 at_bats and Trout is 2 for 12 with one walk and three strikeouts.

Iwakuma posted a 1.37 ERA in winning all four starts against the Angels last season, with 13 1-3 scoreless innings in two at home. Los Angeles batted .227 with one homer, 22 strikeouts and three walks against him in 2012.

The Japanese right-hander struck out a season-high 11 and allowed three runs in Tuesday's 3-2 defeat at Houston - his first loss in eight outings. He has been bothered by a blister on his throwing hand, although opponents are batting .164 against him.

"It's still an issue," manager Eric Wedge told the Mariners' official website. "We'll have to make his next start on regular rest, then after that we'll have an opportunity to maybe give him a couple days, working with the off days."

Vargas (0-2, 5.82) was traded from Seattle to Los Angeles in the deal for Kendrys Morales as he makes his first start against the Mariners - the only team he has never faced. He went 36-42 with a 4.09 ERA over his last four seasons for Seattle, going 14-11 with a 3.85 ERA in 2012.

The left-hander said he was surprised to be dealt.

"I thought that I was going to be a part of it, but they had other plans," he told the Angels' official website. "And baseball changes quick, man. To be able to be a part of this (with Los Angeles), you couldn't ask for a better situation. Things happen the way they happen."

Vargas turned in his longest outing of the season Tuesday, giving up three runs over seven innings in a 5-4, 11-inning victory over Texas.

It's not surprising that the Seattle hitter he has faced the most is Morales, who is 5 for 12 with two homers against him.

Morales started the first two games of this series before delivering a go-ahead, pinch-hit RBI single in the seventh inning of Saturday's 3-2 victory.

"It was a matter of having Kendrys Morales on the bench," Wedge said.

The Mariners are trying to capture a series for the first time in 2013.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Brewers (12-10) at Dodgers (11-12)

Game: 3
Venue: Dodger Stadium
Date: April 28, 2013 4:10 PM EDT


While he's often shined at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles ace Clayton Kershaw has also struggled in recent games there against the Milwaukee Brewers.

The left-hander will try to end those woes while Milwaukee's ailing Kyle Lohse is hoping to continue his success in Los Angeles in Sunday's series finale against the Dodgers.

Kershaw (2-2, 2.14 ERA) is 36-18 with a 2.32 ERA in 82 starts in his home stadium, but he's 0-3 with an 8.47 ERA in four all-time matchups there against the Brewers and 0-2 with a 15.43 ERA in his last two.

In his only game against Milwaukee last season, he gave up five runs, eight hits and four walks over 5 2-3 innings in a 6-3 loss in Los Angeles on May 30.

Kershaw allowed two runs and three hits to the New York Mets on Tuesday but he also matched a season high with four walks and needed 111 pitches to get through five innings in a 7-2 victory. Kershaw, who did not get a decision, has received a combined four runs of support from the Dodgers (11-12) in his last four outings but put the blame squarely on himself.

"I just beat myself. I was awful," Kershaw said. "The team won in spite of me, not because of me. I did everything wrong, just a lot of cardinal sins."

Lohse (1-1, 2.52) has done quite a bit right in his last three starts at Dodger Stadium, going 2-0 with a 2.37 ERA. He gave up three runs over 5 2-3 innings in his only visit there in 2012 while with St. Louis, but the Cardinals fell 6-5 on May 20.

Lohse allowed two runs over seven innings to Los Angeles on July 25 but did not get a decision in a 3-2 win.

Lohse, signed to a three-year deal by Milwaukee on March 26, has given up two runs or fewer in three of his first four starts with the Brewers. He allowed one run over five innings in San Diego on Monday before having to leave a 7-1 win with a dislocated left pinky.

The right-hander suffered the injury while running to first base in the sixth but earned his first victory for Milwaukee (12-10).

"You never feel really 100 percent out there, anyway," Lohse told the team's website about his upcoming start. "If someone says they do, they're lying."

After having a four-game win streak at Dodger Stadium snapped in the series opener, the Brewers bounced back for a 6-4 victory Saturday. Carlos Gomez hit the go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh, and Jim Henderson earned his sixth save in as many chances by getting A.J. Ellis to ground out with runners on second and third in the ninth.

"It was a really good game for Gomey," manager Ron Roenicke said. "He's been really hot. I think what I like also is he's not out there just swinging at everything like he does at times. There are times when he'll have a great at-bat."

Gomez, batting .500 (20 for 40) with three home runs over his last 12 games, is 3 for 4 all-time against Kershaw and Rickie Weeks is 3 for 6 with two doubles.

Adrian Gonzalez, limited to a backup role Saturday due to a skin infection on his leg, is 8 for 21 (.381) with four doubles and a home run lifetime against Lohse. Andre Ethier is 6 for 17 (.353).