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Preview: Cardinals (20-12) at Cubs (13-20)

Game: 2
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: May 08, 2013 2:20 PM EDT


Jake Westbrook owns the lowest ERA in baseball, but a visit to Wrigley Field could put that in jeopardy.

Westbrook looks to give the St. Louis Cardinals another strong effort on the mound in order to help them salvage a split of this two-game set with the archrival Chicago Cubs on Wednesday.

The Cardinals (20-12) have the best rotation in baseball with a 2.22 ERA, and Westbrook (2-1, 1.07 ERA) is a big reason for that.

The right-hander, however, is 2-1 with a 6.14 ERA while allowing the Cubs to hit .305 over three starts at Wrigley. Overall, he's 5-2 with a 4.14 ERA in eight starts and won the most recent matchup on July 21, when he yielded three hits in seven innings of a 12-0 home victory.

Westbrook enters this matchup after yielding one run in 12 innings over his last two starts, earning a 6-5 win in the latest one at Milwaukee on Thursday. That marked the sinkerballer's 100th career victory.

"One of the luxuries I have is that my ball still moves," the 13-year veteran told the team's official website. "Lot of times, whether it goes where I want it to or not, it still runs down in the zone. It still can be good, and I can have some success."

The Cubs (13-20) may be at the bottom of the NL Central, but they've won four of six at home against the Cardinals. They beat them again Tuesday, when Nate Schierholtz's two-run homer in the fourth provided the difference in a 2-1 victory.

"Any time we come in here, it's tough," manager Mike Matheny said. "This team plays us tough any time we come into Wrigley."

Chicago is trying for a third straight win at home for the first time since July 28-30, a stretch that included two wins over St. Louis.

Alfonso Soriano, who had two hits and a run Tuesday, has hit the Cardinals hard of late with a .327 average in 14 meetings. Much of that damage has come in nine home games, during which he's batting .389 (14 for 36) with seven extra-base hits.

Soriano, though, is 3 for 30 versus Westbrook, who has held the current Cubs roster to .218 at the plate.

Carlos Villanueva (1-2, 2.85) is slated to get the ball in an effort to avoid losing three straight starts for the first time in his eight-year career.

He'll try to draw some inspiration from Travis Wood's impressive performance Tuesday after he yielded one run with eight strikeouts in 6 2-3 innings to outpitch Lance Lynn.

Villanueva has lost back-to-back-outings, surrendering eight runs with 12 strikeouts in 11 2-3 innings.

"In my last two starts, I'm one pitch away from two quality outings," Villanueva said. "You know, the good part is I'm close to where I want to be. I'm just not putting that guy away when I need to."

The right-hander is 2-0 with a 4.00 ERA in his last three starts against the Cardinals, but he hasn't faced them since June 25, 2011.

He's held Yadier Molina to 3 for 18, but the Cardinals catcher is hitting .452 over his last eight games. He had two hits Tuesday, but killed a potential rally in the eighth by being picked off between second and third.

Matt Holiday has homered on two of his three hits in 10 at_bats versus Villanueva, but he's 3 for 20 over the last six games at Wrigley.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Marlins (10-24) at Padres (15-18)

Game: 3
Venue: PETCO Park
Date: May 08, 2013 3:40 PM EDT


The San Diego Padres are the latest team to take advantage of the light-hitting Miami Marlins offense.

Jason Marquis takes the mound as San Diego seeks a fourth straight victory and a three-game sweep of visiting Miami on Wednesday afternoon.

The Padres (15-18) began the season 5-15 but have since won 10 of 13 since, outscoring the Marlins 10-1 in this series after Tuesday night's 5-1 win.

Will Venable homered, went 2 for 4 and drove in three runs after going 2 for his last 21. Chase Headley also had two hits and is batting .391 during a 12-game hitting streak for San Diego, which has won eight of nine at home.

Miami, meanwhile, has reverted to its low-scoring ways after hitting double digits for the only time this season in a 14-2 win at Philadelphia on Sunday. The Marlins (10-24), owners of the second-worst record in baseball and hitting an NL-worst .226, have scored two or fewer runs 21 times, and their 99 runs are the fewest in the majors.

No player who has appeared in more than nine games for Miami is hitting better than Placido Polanco's .256 average, which may bode well for Marquis, who has been stingy at times this season.

Aside from allowing seven runs in 4 2-3 innings of a 7-1 loss to Milwaukee on April 22, Marquis (3-2, 4.25 ERA) has been rather solid. He's allowed three earned runs or fewer in his other five starts, including giving up three in six innings of a 7-6 win over Arizona on Friday.

``Jason did his job,' manager Bud Black said. ``He hung in there, battled and made some pitches. He's a veteran pitcher with moxie who knows how to work his way through a game.'

Marquis, however, may need to have better control moving forward. He walked a season-worst five Friday and has issued at least four free passes four times. He's walked only two, though, while going 1-1 with a 2.84 in his last three starts against the Marlins.

Miami's lack of offense has been especially difficult on its pitching staff, though Ricky Nolasco (2-3, 4.14) didn't have his best stuff in his most recent outing.

Miami has lost five of Nolasco's seven starts, including Friday when he allowed four runs and a season-worst eight hits - including three solo homers - in six innings of a 4-1 defeat at Philadelphia. He's received only 15 runs of support in 41 1-3 innings and two or fewer in each of Miami's losses when Nolasco starts.

``I thought Ricky did a nice job, kept us in the game,' manager Mike Redmond said. "We've got to do a better job of putting some runs up. It's tough for our pitching when we're just scoring one run a night. We've got to find a way to put some crooked numbers on the scoreboard.'

The right-hander hasn't needed much help in his last four starts in San Diego, winning each of them while pitching at least into the seventh inning and posting a 1.82 ERA.

Some of the Padres have had success against Nolasco, though. Headley is 4 for 12 with a homer and Yonder Alonso is 3 for 5 with a homer run off the Miami hurler.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Phillies (16-18) at Giants (19-14)

Game: 3
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: May 08, 2013 3:45 PM EDT


Strong starting pitching and a solid approach at the plate have the Philadelphia Phillies in position to complete their first three-game sweep at San Francisco in almost 29 years.

Rookie Jonathan Pettibone can help the Phillies achieve that feat when he tries to continue the strong start to his career Wednesday against the Giants.

One night after Cliff Lee allowed two runs in eight innings of a 6-2 win, Kyle Kendrick gave up two in seven frames Tuesday to help Philadelphia (16-18) beat San Francisco by the same score.

The Phillies have totaled 22 hits in the series after they were held to five and outscored 16-2 in two straight losses to lowly Miami.

"We've played two solid games," manager Charlie Manuel said. "We were really working on moving the runners and scoring the runs. Everything was very good."

Philadelphia, which dropped four of six before starting a seven-game road trip this week, last swept a three-game set in San Francisco from May 18-20, 1984.

Pettibone (2-0, 3.24 ERA) has been solid through his first three major league starts while filling in for the injured John Lannan. The 22-year-old Southern California native allowed a homer and four other hits in 6 1-3 innings of a 4-1 win over the Marlins on Friday.

The right-hander has walked two and struck out 13 through 16 2-3 innings.

"He's pitched real good," said Manuel, whose team is 3-0 in Pettibone's starts. "I like that he can take his fastball and hit both sides of the plate with it."

Chase Utley and Ryan Howard each homered and had two RBIs on Tuesday for the Phillies.

Howard is 6 for 18 with three homers in the last six games and reached base four times Tuesday. Utley had his first three-hit game since the season opener, and he's batting .360 with two home runs and five RBIs in his last six against the Giants (19-14).

While Utley is 7 for 17 (.412) with two doubles, a triple and a home run against scheduled San Francisco starter Barry Zito (3-1, 3.06), Howard has gone 1 for 10 with five strikeouts.

Zito allowed six hits, walked four and put the leadoff batter on base in each of his five innings Friday, but managed to yield only a run while not factoring in the decision of a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Though Zito was not satisfied with his effort, it was a better performance than his previous start when he gave up six runs - one earned - in 3 2-3 innings at San Diego on April 27.

"From a personal standpoint I'm not happy with the way I pitched at all (Friday)," Zito told the Giants' official website. "But baseball is like that sometimes. I kept trying to make pitches throughout the night and was able to make pitches when I needed."

The left-hander is 0-2 with a 6.16 ERA in his last three starts versus Philadelphia.

Marco Scutaro and Brandon Crawford each had two hits Tuesday for San Francisco, which in the last three weeks has enjoyed winning streaks of four and six games and endured slides of three, five and now two in a row.

"We just have to get those bats going," said manager Bruce Bochy, whose team has 12 hits over the last two games without drawing a walk. "It makes it tough when you aren't doing a lot offensively."

The Giants were last swept at home July 27-29 by the Dodgers.

Scutaro is hitting .462 in his last seven games.

Ex-Phillie Hunter Pence was 11 for 24 in the previous six games before going 0 for 4 on Tuesday.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Royals (17-12) at Orioles (20-13)

Game: 2
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: May 08, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


Chris Tillman had one of the best performances of his career in his last start.

He's also had some of his worst against the Kansas City Royals.

Tillman will try to pitch the Orioles to a season-best fourth straight win Wednesday night against the visiting Royals.

After going 0-1 with a 7.07 ERA in his first three starts this season, Tillman (2-1, 3.63 ERA) is 2-0 with a 1.31 mark in his past three outings.

He was dominant in a 5-1 victory over his hometown Los Angeles Angels on Thursday. The right-hander allowed three hits in eight scoreless innings, struck out three, walked two and retired 20 of his last 21 batters.

``I think he had something like 23 out of 29 first-pitch strikes, and that was the difference,' manager Buck Showalter said. ``You could tell early on he had a crisp fastball.'

Success against the Royals (17-12), however, has been elusive. In three starts versus Kansas City, Tillman is 0-2 with a 10.93 ERA, giving up six homers and 23 hits in 14 innings.

Baltimore (20-13) played its first home game in two weeks Tuesday, winning the opener of this three-game series 4-3. Matt Wieters had a two-run double in the first inning and a tiebreaking RBI double in the eighth to score Adam Jones, who drove in the other run.

``When you don't walk people and you catch the baseball the way we did tonight, you give yourself a chance to win those types of games,' said Showalter, whose team turned three double plays but committed its first error in eight games.

With their third straight win and 13th in 19 tries, the Orioles moved a season-best seven games over .500.

``This team grinds it out,' said winning pitcher Tommy Hunter, who extended his scoreless streak to 12 1-3 innings. ``This team is fun to watch for everybody. Nobody should ever leave the stadium, I'll tell you that much, under any circumstances.'

Jones is batting .330 with three homers, 13 RBIs and 13 runs during a 21-game hitting streak against Kansas City.

Alex Gordon hit a tying two-run homer for the Royals, losers of two in a row following a four-game win streak.

Gordon is 9 for 22 with four home runs in his last five games against Baltimore and 2 for 6 with a homer off Tillman.

Kansas City, which has yet to drop three straight, will send Luis Mendoza (0-1, 7.00) to the mound hoping he can rebound from his worst outing of the season.

In his first start in almost three weeks, the right-hander was tagged for six runs and seven hits - including three homers - over four innings but escaped without a decision in a 9-8 win over Tampa Bay on Wednesday.

That was his first appearance since pitching 2 1-3 scoreless innings at Detroit on April 24.

Mendoza beat the Orioles in his first start against them in four years on Aug. 11, allowing three runs and seven hits in six innings of a 7-3 victory over Tillman at Camden Yards.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Athletics (18-16) at Indians (16-14)

Game: 3
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: May 08, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


After struggling with the Oakland Athletics last season, the Cleveland Indians have fared well against them in 2013.

While the surging Indians try for a third straight victory over the A's, Justin Masterson hopes to avoid a third consecutive rough outing and end his recent struggles against the visitors Wednesday night at Progressive Field.

Cleveland (16-14) dropped eight straight to Oakland before winning the first two of this four-game set. Zach McAllister and two relievers held the A's (18-16) to six hits and Yan Gomes delivered a sacrifice fly as it won for the eighth time in nine games, 1-0 on Tuesday.

"When you pitch you have a chance to win the game,' Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. "We didn't do a whole lot offensively."

The Indians have allowed an average 2.3 runs and recorded three shutouts during those nine contests.

Masterson (4-2, 3.64 ERA) allowed one run over 22 innings to win his first three starts, but is 1-2 with a 6.48 ERA in the last four. He's yielded 12 runs in 13 innings of the last two, including five and eight hits over 6 2-3 frames while not factoring in the decision of a 7-6 win over Minnesota on Friday.

The right-hander is 1-5 with a 10.36 ERA as a starter against the A's. He allowed 19 runs, 23 hits - six homers - and walked nine in 14 2-3 innings in losing all three starts versus Oakland in 2012.

Though the A's took two of three at Yankee Stadium over the weekend, they've totaled 16 runs while losing four of six since scoring 29 during a three-game winning streak. John Jaso had two hits Tuesday for Oakland, which did not have a runner reach second base.

Yoenis Cespedes was thrown out trying to steal second with one out in the ninth. Brandon Moss struck out on a 3-2 pitch to end the game.

"You've got to try it,' Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. "Cespedes had to take that chance. If I didn't want him to go, I'd have put a red light on him.'

Shortstop Jed Lowrie went hitless in three at_bats, and is 5 for 33 in eight games to see his average drop from .360 to .303.

He's 0 for 5 versus Masterson.

Oakland hopes for another strong effort from scheduled starter A.J. Griffin (3-2, 3.79), who allowed six hits and walked one in seven innings of a 2-0 win at Yankee Stadium on Friday.

"You expect him to have a good start all the time based on what we've seen since we called him up last year,' Melvin said about the free-spirit Griffin, who serenaded his teammates in the clubhouse in English, Spanish and French while playing the guitar prior to that contest.

This will be the right-hander's first appearance against the Indians.

The A's are without outfielder Josh Reddick, who received a cortisone shot before the game on his sore right wrist after an MRI revealed inflammation in the joint. He is batting .129 (4 for 31) in his last 12 games.

``The last few days have been pretty rough and I've been having a lot of trouble,' Reddick said. ``I don't want to be a guy rotting on the bench, taking up a roster spot and not helping this team. We'll sit out here, maybe (the next series in) Seattle, or even take a trip to the disabled list.'

Cleveland second baseman Jason Kipnis had two hits Tuesday, and is batting .314 (11 for 35) in his last eight games.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Tigers (19-11) at Nationals (17-15)

Game: 2
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: May 08, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


The Detroit Tigers are rolling after a four-game sweep, though they may face a stiffer challenge in their next series as they look to continue their winning ways.

The Tigers go for their fifth straight victory as they start a two-game set against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night. The opener of the series was postponed Tuesday because of rain and will be made up Thursday.

Detroit swept woeful Houston to close last week to give it nine wins in 10 games, outscoring opponents 74-25 in that stretch. Justin Verlander didn't allow a hit into the seventh inning of a 9-0 victory Sunday and four Tigers homered.

Detroit (19-11) has batted .316 with 19 homers in the last 10 while posting a 2.27 ERA with 117 strikeouts in 95 innings.

"Any time you score a lot of runs, it is fun, and plus our pitching has been outstanding, so everything is working really well right now," said first baseman Prince Fielder, whose home run Sunday gave him a team-best eight to go with 32 RBIs.

The Tigers will send Anibal Sanchez (3-2, 1.82 ERA) to the mound to face a team he's baffled throughout his career. The right-hander went 8-0 with a 1.97 ERA in 19 starts against Washington while with the Marlins.

Sanchez followed up a 17-strikeout, eight-inning performance in his previous start by allowing three runs in six innings with nine strikeouts in a 6-2 loss to Minnesota last Wednesday.

"I think Sanchy was just too excited at the start," manager Jim Leyland said. "He was throwing too hard, and it hurt his command."

Sanchez will be opposed by Jordan Zimmermann (5-1, 1.64), who will look to lead the Nationals (17-15) to their fifth win in six games. The right-hander hasn't given up a run in 18 innings, allowing three hits and two walks in that span.

"He's obviously got everything working right now," catcher Kurt Suzuki told the team's official website after Zimmermann threw eight innings in a 2-0 victory over Atlanta last Wednesday. "He's pitching up in the zone, down in the zone, in and out, he's really mixing it up with his breaking balls, he's throwing breaking balls for strikes."

Outfielder Jayson Werth missed his third game in a row Sunday due to a strained right hamstring but expects to play Wednesday.

Werth is among several key Nationals who have had trouble against Sanchez. Ryan Zimmerman, Adam LaRoche and Werth are batting a combined .206 versus the pitcher.

Zimmermann could benefit from the Tigers' unfamiliarity with him. Only two Detroit position players have faced him, with second baseman Omar Infante going 3 for 14 as the Tigers player with the most at_bats versus Zimmermann.

The Nationals franchise has lost six straight in this series, its last win coming June 12, 2002, when the club was the Montreal Expos.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Twins (14-15) at Red Sox (21-12)

Game: 3
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: May 08, 2013 7:10 PM EDT


David Ortiz's hitting streak is rolling along even if the Boston Red Sox are not, and manager John Farrell has decided to make some changes.

Ortiz looks to extend his hitting streak to 28 games while staying hot against his former team as rookie Allen Webster makes his second career start against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night at Fenway Park.

Boston (21-12) had won seven of eight before being swept in a three-game series at Texas over the weekend. After a 6-5, 11-inning win over Minnesota in Monday's series opener, the Red Sox's offense was held in check during a 6-1 loss Tuesday that ended a six-game home winning streak.

They've scored only 11 runs over their last five games, and third baseman Will Middlebrooks and catcher David Ross each left Tuesday's contest early after colliding with each other. They are both uncertain for this game.

Ortiz went 1 for 4 and is hitting .423 during his streak that dates back to July 2. He's hitting .414 in 15 games this season after returning from an Achilles injury that sidelined him for the end of 2012.

The designated hitter, who was with the Twins from 1997-2002, is hitting .433 with three homers and eight RBIs in his last eight versus his former team.

Boston is slumping, though, despite Ortiz's hot hitting. Felix Doubront gave up six runs and 12 hits in just 3 2-3 innings of Friday's 7-0 loss to Texas, and Webster (0-0, 3.00 ERA) was called up from Triple-A on Tuesday after reliever Joel Hanrahan was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right forearm strain. Webster is starting in place of Doubront, who has a disappointing 5.67 ERA.

Farrell had high praise for Webster, who is rated as one of Boston's top prospects after coming over in last season's blockbuster trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The right-hander gave up three runs in six innings of Boston's 5-4, 10-inning loss to Kansas City in his major league debut April 21.

"I think everyone looks forward to seeing that guy on the mound," Farrell told the team's official website. "He's got great stuff. He showed he's got very good poise in the first outing that he made for us."

Minnesota will counter with a youngster of its own in 24-year-old Pedro Hernandez, who hopes this outing goes better than his last trip to Fenway.

Hernandez (1-0, 3.92), set to make his fifth career start, earned his first major league win after allowing five hits in five scoreless innings of a 7-2 victory over Texas on April 27, but he followed that up by giving up five runs and walking four over 5 1-3 innings of Friday's 7-6 loss to Cleveland.

The left-hander will be returning the site of his first career start July 18, when he gave up eight runs and 12 hits in four innings of a 10-1 defeat while pitching for the Chicago White Sox.

Jacoby Ellsbury, hitting just .161 in his last eight versus Minnesota, went 3 for 3 off Hernandez in that contest.

The Twins (14-15), though, have won four of their last six at Fenway after Ryan Doumit went 2 for 4 and hit his first homer of the season Tuesday. They improved to 3-5 on a 10-game road trip that concludes with Thursday's series finale.

Joe Mauer, hitting .368 over his last 10 against the Red Sox, has hit safely in six straight games.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: White Sox (13-18) at Mets (13-16)

Game: 2
Venue: Citi Field
Date: May 08, 2013 7:10 PM EDT


After surrendering one hit in nine scoreless innings, Matt Harvey might be wondering what it takes to pick up a win. Jeremy Hefner certainly can sympathize.

Hefner tries to follow Harvey's stellar effort with another one of his own and notch his first victory of the season Wednesday night at Citi Field as the New York Mets try to spoil Jake Peavy's return for the Chicago White Sox.

The Mets have lost all six games Hefner (0-3, 4.34 ERA) has pitched, including five starts, but the right-hander wasn't to blame for the last two. He allowed a combined three runs and seven hits over 15 innings in those two starts but received only one run of support in each.

Hefner held Miami scoreless through eight innings last Tuesday, notching a career-high eight strikeouts, but left with two runners on in the ninth and was ultimately charged with both runs in the 2-1 defeat.

"That guy was manhandling us for eight innings," Marlins outfielder Juan Pierre said.

Harvey was the one manhandling the opposition in the opener of this two-game set, retiring the first 20 Chicago batters and giving up only an infield single while recording 12 strikeouts. Bobby Parnell took over in the 10th and would get the win later in that inning when pinch-hitter Mike Baxter lined an RBI single to give New York a 1-0 victory.

That was one of just five hits - all singles - by the Mets (13-16), who had been 1-10 when scoring fewer than four runs.

Chicago (13-18) has scored only seven in its last four games, losing three, and has struck out 90 times over the past nine while going 3-6.

With their offensive struggles putting a premium on good pitching, the White Sox will be glad to welcome Peavy (3-1, 3.38) back into their rotation. The right-hander missed his last scheduled starts Thursday and Monday due to back spasms that he said resulted from reaching for his glove following stretching exercises.

"I've never had anything like this happen," said Peavy, who missed significant time from 2009-11 with ankle, shoulder and groin injuries.

With Gavin Floyd out for the season and John Danks still working his way back from shoulder surgery in June 2012, Chicago desperately needs Peavy to pick up where he left off. He went 2-0 with a 2.18 ERA in his last three starts before getting hurt.

"I think every day you go through the list and figure out who's available, and the training room's full," manager Robin Ventura said. "It's just part of playing the game. You just deal with it."

Peavy last pitched April 16 when he beat Tampa Bay, giving up three runs and one walk in 6 2-3 innings of a 5-4 victory.

He's started 10 games against the Mets, posting a 5-2 record and 3.48 ERA, but hasn't faced them since 2009 while with San Diego.

John Buck has homered twice off Peavy in six career at_bats - all in 2010 - and leads New York with 10 homers but is hitless in his last two games.

White Sox slugger Paul Konerko, hitting .184 in his last 12, is expected back in the lineup after getting a night off Tuesday. Among the other struggling Chicago hitters are Tyler Flowers, in a 3-for-31 slump, and Adam Dunn, 5 for 59 on the road this season.

None of them have faced Hefner, whose last win came Oct. 3 at Miami.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Blue Jays (13-21) at Rays (14-18)

Game: 3
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: May 08, 2013 7:10 PM EDT


The Toronto Blue Jays will not lose an 18th consecutive series at Tropicana Field.

Winning a third straight game there is far less certain with Matt Moore taking the ball for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Toronto will try to extend its season-best winning streak to four - and clinch its first series win at St. Petersburg in six years - Wednesday night when Moore could tie the major league lead with a sixth victory.

With no series wins visiting the Rays (14-18) since April 6-8, 2007 - that skid was the third-longest in an opponent's park in AL history - the Blue Jays (13-21) will at least split this four-game set after rallying to win each of the first two. After J.P Arencibia's two-run ninth-inning homer capped a seven-run comeback in Monday's 8-7 win - which ended Toronto's eight-game skid at Tropicana Field - Maicer Izturis hit the go-ahead solo shot in a two-run ninth in Tuesday's 6-4 victory.

The win was the Blue Jays' season-best third in a row, but their only concern was starter J.A. Happ, who was hit on the head by Desmond Jennings' line drive in the second inning and had to be wheeled off on a stretcher. He was taken to a hospital where he was listed in stable condition.

"It's devastating. ... I could barely watch it," Toronto pitcher R.A. Dickey said. "... It's really, really scary. I just started praying in the spot. That's all I knew to do."

Happ will still be in their thoughts, but the Blue Jays have to turn their attention to Moore (5-0, 1.95 ERA) as they go for their first four-game win streak since Sept. 5-9.

The young left-hander has a chance to become the first Rays starter since Jeff Niemann in 2010 to win his first six decisions. Moore failed to do that in a 7-4, 10-inning victory at Colorado on Friday when he yielded season highs of four runs and seven hits in five innings while walking four.

"Overall command of all my pitches (was the issue)," he told the Rays' official website. "I figured something out there with the breaking ball, but it didn't turn into a weapon for me until I was ahead in the count."

The left-hander has gone 1-1 with a 3.26 ERA against Toronto in four starts - all last season.

The Blue Jays will give the ball to Ricky Romero (0-1, 6.75) as they go for a season-best third straight road win. The left-hander, an All-Star in 2011, makes his second appearance of the season after getting called up to replace Josh Johnson (triceps soreness) on Friday. Romero retired the first nine he faced before giving up three runs in the fourth inning of a 4-0 loss to Seattle.

The southpaw took a one-hopper to the forearm in that frame and didn't return for the fifth inning. X-rays were negative.

"Nothing to hang my head about," said Romero, who has won once in his last 15 decisions. "Just looking forward to getting some rest and preparing for my next outing."

Ben Zobrist, 1 for 4 on Tuesday in his return from the bereavement list, leads active Tampa Bay players with nine hits - including two homers - off Romero in 30 at_bats.

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria, 7 for 24 with a triple and a double against him, is batting .450 with two homers and 10 RBIs in his last six games versus Toronto.

Blue Jays center fielder Colby Rasmus has a two-run homer in each of the last two games, but he's hitless in seven at_bats versus Moore.

Toronto hasn't won three in a row at Tampa Bay since a four-game run May 13-June 3, 2006.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Rangers (20-13) at Brewers (15-16)

Game: 2
Venue: Miller Park
Date: May 08, 2013 8:10 PM EDT


The Texas Rangers have played one team that currently possesses a winning record this season, earning a recent three-game sweep against one of the best teams in baseball.

They've been pretty average against the rest.

Texas sends Derek Holland to the mound looking to avoid a third consecutive defeat as it concludes its two-game interleague series with the host Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night.

The Rangers (20-13) have played mostly contests versus clubs that have gotten off to tough starts to the season, though they took all three matchups from MLB-best Boston over the weekend.

After that impressive series, Texas fell 9-2 in a makeup road game against the Chicago Cubs, who had lost four straight, before losing 6-3 in Tuesday's series opener to a Milwaukee team that had dropped five in a row.

Mitch Moreland, hitting .421 over his last five games, went 2 for 4 and homered for the Rangers, who have lost six of their last seven versus sub-.500 teams and gave up five first-inning runs Tuesday.

``We really shouldn't have been in that hole,' manager Ron Washington said.

They'll look to get back on track with help from Holland (2-2, 2.74 ERA), who is coming off one of his better outings.

After giving up 10 runs over his previous two starts, Holland returned to form and struck out a season-best nine in eight innings of Friday's 7-0 win over Boston. It marked the fourth time in six starts he's given up two or fewer runs.

"Derek was at his best," Washington told the team's official website. "He has been pitching well; he just hasn't been getting the results. I thought he had already won three or four ballgames. Since spring training, he has been throwing the ball well, and it was another example of what he can do."

The left-hander has never faced the Brewers. He had lost his previous three interleague starts white posting a 10.03 ERA before throwing seven scoreless innings in a 4-2 win over the Cubs on April 16.

Milwaukee (15-16) had won 12 of 15 before losing its first five in May, but Yuniesky Betancourt's team-best eighth homer and Aramis Ramirez's first of the year Tuesday helped snap that skid.

Ryan Braun went 1 for 2 with two walks and is hitting .429 during a nine-game hitting streak.

``After a rough five games, it was a good start,' said Carlos Gomez, who is batting .449 with four homers during a career-best 13-game hitting streak after hitting a two-run double Tuesday. ``It brought the energy back to the team.'

Kyle Lohse hopes to feed off that energy when he takes the hill Wednesday looking to bounce back from a rough outing.

Lohse (1-3, 3.16) gave up three runs in 12 combined innings over his previous two starts before giving up four and 11 hits in five innings of Friday's 6-1 loss to St. Louis.

"It was really a battle for me all night,' Lohse said "I felt good starting out but then it just kind of got away from me. I wasn't getting my off-speed pitches over enough.'

The right-hander is 3-3 with a 7.16 ERA in nine career starts versus the Rangers, but he hasn't faced them since 2006. Lohse has seen some of Texas' lineup, though, as former Minnesota Twins batterymate A.J. Pierzynski is 2 for 10 against him.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Angels (11-21) at Astros (9-24)

Game: 2
Venue: Minute Maid Park
Date: May 08, 2013 8:10 PM EDT


The Los Angeles Angels couldn't end their road woes in their first game at Minute Maid Park in nine seasons.

There's no guarantee the Angels' fortunes will change with Joe Blanton on the hill.

The winless right-hander will try to help the Angels avoid a fourth straight defeat Wednesday night when the Houston Astros try to build off their first victory in seven tries.

Losers of nine of 12 heading into this series - the first between these new AL West foes in Houston since June 2004 - the Angels (11-21) fell 7-6 in Tuesday's opener as Houston (9-24) ended its lengthy skid while evening the season series at two games apiece.

The Angels, who have matched their worst start in franchise history, are now tied with the Astros with a major league-worst 4-12 road record.

"Tonight, it just came down to a couple of incidents for the most part,' said Hank Conger, who became the first Angels catcher with three errors in a game.

It's uncertain if manager Mike Scioscia will give Conger another start, or if Chris Iannetta will be behind the plate with Blanton (0-5, 5.97 ERA) trying to build on two quality starts.

The veteran right-hander surrendered six runs in 14 innings in those outings, but the Angels plated three total runs in those contests to keep Blanton winless through six starts for the second time in his 10-year career. He was 0-5 in his first 10 starts with Oakland eight years ago.

"Sometimes that happens," said Blanton, who yielded three runs in a season-high eight innings of Thursday's 5-1 loss to Baltimore. "It went a couple of games longer than I hoped it would."

The Angels can only hope Blanton improves his performance on the road, where he's 0-3 while opponents are batting .352.

Blanton is 1-0 with a 4.15 ERA in two starts in Houston, the last coming four years ago while with Philadelphia.

The Astros, who last strung together two straight wins on April 23 and 24, will counter with Bud Norris (3-3, 3.89), who has surrendered two or fewer runs in each of his four Minute Maid Park starts. The right-hander struck out a season-high seven in seven innings of Friday's 4-3 home loss to Detroit.

"Bud Norris did what a No. 1 starter does," manager Bo Porter told the Astros' official website. "When his team is light in the bullpen after a 14-inning game (a 7-3 loss on Thursday), he goes seven innings and held one of the best offensive teams in our league to two runs."

Norris limited the Angels to three singles in seven innings of a 5-0 win in Anaheim on April 12 that capped Houston's season-high three-game win streak.

Mark Trumbo has just one hit in three at_bats off the right-hander, but the Angels slugger has homered in six of the last eight games and in a career-best four straight outside Anaheim.

Astros first baseman-DH Chris Carter, who hit a three-run shot on Tuesday - his team-leading seventh - has gone deep four times in his last eight games versus Los Angeles. He's never faced Blanton.

Neither has rookie center fielder Robbie Grossman, who carries a team-best eight-game hitting streak into Wednesday's contest.

Los Angeles' Erick Aybar, who has hit safely in 10 straight, will get his first look at Norris after missing last month's series with a bruised left heel.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Yankees (18-13) at Rockies (19-13)

Game: 2
Venue: Coors Field
Date: May 08, 2013 8:40 PM EDT


The weather may be the only thing that keeps Troy Tulowitzki on the bench again.

With thunderstorms in the forecast Wednesday night, Tulowitzki is hoping to be back in the lineup as the Colorado Rockies try to send the New York Yankees to a third consecutive shutout defeat on the road for the first time in 84 years.

Colorado (19-13) opened this three-game series with Tuesday's 2-0 win, as Carlos Gonzalez's two-run homer proved to be enough.

Tulowitzki, the NL's second-leading hitter with a .348 average, missed the game with lingering soreness in his left leg, but the Rockies are expecting him back Wednesday.

"It would have to be pretty severe weather to hold him out again," manager Walt Weiss said. "For the most part, it's just going to be based on how he feels."

The weather could make the decision for Weiss and Tulowitzki, as the forecast calls for 50-60 percent chance of rain and scattered thunderstorms throughout the day after the Rockies overcame steady rain and lightning plus the Yankees on Tuesday.

They've also dealt with snow, bitter cold and winds at Coors Field this season.

"Hopefully in two months we'll play in good weather here," said Gonzalez, also among the league leaders with a .322 average.

The left fielder has been on a tear of late, batting .429 with three doubles, three homers and six RBIs in his last seven games.

"I always have a good feeling when CarGo's in the box," Weiss said. "He can change the game with one swing."

Colorado, though, hasn't won two straight since a season-high eight-game winning streak April 12-20.

Juan Nicasio (3-0, 4.91) is expected to get a chance to change that.

The right-hander has failed to complete five innings in two of his last three starts, and he was lifted after four in last Wednesday's 7-3 road win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. He allowed three runs and five hits with two walks while throwing 92 pitches.

Nicasio didn't get a decision in his only meeting with the Yankees on June 26, 2011. He tossed four scoreless innings before giving up three runs and two homers while exiting after the fifth in a 6-4 loss at New York.

The Yankees (18-13) will try to get to Nicasio again after losing their last two road games via shutouts. They haven't been blanked in three straight away from home since Aug. 22-24, 1929.

New York, which was limited to four singles Tuesday, has dropped four of five on the road, batting .191 in those games.

"It's hard to win games when you get four hits and don't put any runs on the board," said Vernon Wells, who is 1 for 12 in his last three road games.

Robinson Cano is 0 for 8 over the past two contests away from the Bronx, but is hitting .365 as a visitor on the season.

Scoring may also be key with David Phelps (1-1, 5.56) scheduled to get a second turn in the rotation in place of Ivan Nova, who is on the disabled list with right triceps inflammation.

Phelps' first start resulted in a 5-4 win over Houston last Wednesday, but he wasted a four-run lead by surrendering that many in the top of fourth before leaving two outs in the sixth and the score tied. He also surrendered eight hits while plunking two batters.

"I know he expected more of himself but I was pretty pleased," manager Joe Girardi said.

Phelps has surrendered five runs - three earned - with five strikeouts in four innings of relief over two interleague appearances.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Diamondbacks (18-15) at Dodgers (13-19)

Game: 3
Venue: Dodger Stadium
Date: May 08, 2013 10:10 PM EDT


Paul Goldschmidt looks right at home at Chavez Ravine. The Los Angeles Dodgers have to be pleased that he won't be there much longer.

Goldschmidt and the Arizona Diamondbacks go for the sweep Wednesday night when the last-place Dodgers try to avoid a season-worst seventh straight loss.

After going 4 for 5 with a two-run homer and three RBIs in Monday's 9-2 victory, Goldschmidt drove in three in Tuesday's 5-3 win, including a tie-breaking two-run shot in the ninth.

He's batting .457 (16 for 35) with four homers and 11 RBIs in his last nine games visiting the Dodgers (13-19).

"(Goldschmidt has) been great since I put him in the No. 3 spot - he's done an exceptional job," said manager Kirk Gibson, whose team has won 14 of 19 at Dodger Stadium and 14 of 17 overall in this NL West matchup.

Goldschmidt, though, is 1 for 14 with seven strikeouts - his most against any pitcher - versus Wednesday's scheduled starter Clayton Kershaw (3-2, 1.66 ERA).

The only NL pitcher with more than 44 2-3 innings pitched and nine runs allowed or fewer, the left-hander has to be in the early discussion for Cy Young honors. Kershaw, the 2011 winner, may have delivered his best performance of the season in Friday's 2-1 loss at San Francisco, throwing seven innings of one-run ball just five days after his father passed away.

"It was good to get back and have everything and commemorate his life," he said. "But it was good to get back to baseball, too."

Kershaw, though, would probably appreciate a bigger cushion to work with. His 2.03 run-support average is among the lowest in baseball.

Including a 3-0 road loss on April 12 when the southpaw struck out nine in 7 1-3 innings, Los Angeles has been shut out in each of Kershaw's last three starts against Arizona.

The injury-plagued Dodgers need to end that trend after falling six games below .500 for the first time since Aug. 30, 2011.

They'll try to salvage the series finale as they face Wade Miley (2-1, 3.06) for the first time this season.

The left-hander, who went 2-1 with a 2.89 ERA in four starts against the Dodgers a year ago, is coming off two rocky starts. Miley walked a career-high seven in a 3-2, 10-inning win over Colorado on April 27 then yielded season highs of four runs and nine hits in Friday's 7-6 loss at San Diego.

"I felt all right, I just wasn't executing pitches," Miley told the Diamondbacks' official website. "I've got to watch some video tomorrow and go from there."

Matt Kemp, 3 for 6 with two homers off Miley, has hit safely in a season-high seven straight, but his lack of power is a big concern. He and teammate Nick Punto each have one homer after the Dodgers' utility-man hit a solo shot on Tuesday. Punto added an RBI double to improve his batting average against Arizona this season to .545 (6 for 11).

Adrian Gonzalez is a .474 hitter (9 for 19) off Diamondbacks pitching in 2013.

Arizona's Didi Gregorius, who had a career high-tying three hits on Tuesday, will try to extend his hitting streak to 11. The 23-year-old shortstop has also committed just one error in 47 total chances since getting called up last month.

"He's really doing it all," Goldschmidt said.

[StarDust Bum]

Date WLT Pct Net Units Record

05/08/13 2-*2-*0 50.00% -*115 Detail
05/07/13 15-*12-*0 55.56% +*985 Detail
05/06/13 8-*10-*0 44.44% -*1870 Detail
05/05/13 15-*11-*1 57.69% +*1790 Detail
05/04/13 11-*16-*1 40.74% -*2375 Detail
05/03/13 12-*16-*0 42.86% -*2225 Detail
05/02/13 6-*7-*0 46.15% -*1090 Detail
05/01/13 19-*11-*0 63.33% +*4395 Detail

Totals 88-*85-*2 50.87% -*505



Wednesday, May 8

Game Score Status Pick Amount

St. Louis 5 Bot 8 St. Louis -113 500
Chi. Cubs 4

Miami 0 Top 6 Miami +136 500
San Diego 0 Under 7 500

Philadelphia 1 Bot 5 Philadelphia +140 500
San Francisco 1 Under 7.5 500

Kansas City - 7:05 PM ET Baltimore -141 500
Baltimore - Under 8.5 500

Oakland - 7:05 PM ET Cleveland -113 500
Cleveland - Under 8.5 500 POD # 2

Detroit - 7:05 PM ET Detroit -110 500
Washington - Over 7 500

Chi. White Sox - 7:10 PM ET Chi. White Sox -109 500
NY Mets - Under 7 500 POD # 3

Toronto - 7:10 PM ET Tampa Bay -180 500
Tampa Bay - Under 7.5 500

LA Angels - 8:10 PM ET Houston +126 500 POD # 1
Houston -

Texas - 8:10 PM ET Milwaukee -115 500
Milwaukee - Under 8 500

NY Yankees - 8:40 PM ET Colorado -131 500
Colorado - Over 10 500

Arizona - 10:10 PM ET LA Dodgers -173 500
LA Dodgers - Over 6 500

[StarDust Bum]

Armadillo: Wednesday's six-pack

Odds for this weekend's PLAYERS Championship in soggy Florida.....

5-1-- Eldrick Woods-- When time comes, will Eldrick play on Senior Tour?

12-1-- Adam Scott-- Masters champ is probably still on Cloud Nine

12-1-- Luke Donald-- Best professional athlete ever from Northwestern?

12-1-- Phil Mickelson-- Fell apart with lead Sunday at Quail Hollow.

12-1-- Rory McIlroy-- Need to find out how much Nike is paying him.

15-1-- Matt Kuchar-- Guy that won last week's tournament was ranked #1,207 in the world; how many people actually get ranked?


*****

Armadillo: Wednesday's List of 13: Doing some thinking out loud........

13) February 1, 2008, Marc Gasol was traded by the Lakers with Kwame Brown, Jarvaris Crittendon (indicted on nurder charges last month), a 2008 1st round pick (Donte Greene) and a 2010 1st round pick (Greivis Vasquez) to Memphis for Pau Gasol and a 2010 2nd round pick (Devin Ebanks).

No one thought that the Grizzlies got the better of this trade, but they did; they traded Vasquez for Quincy Pondexter, and the younger Gasol might be the best center in the NBA. Who knew?

12) You don't see many 30-2 runs in NBA games, especially ones that start late in the third quarter with the team that is losing going on the run, but the Knicks did that and evened their series by crushing the Pacers 105-79. It was so one-sided Carmelo Anthony even had three assists.

11) Phil Jackson said he had no interest in the Nets' job. No, really? He's not coaching again unless the Heat come calling, and that ain't happening. He is 67, and isn't going to coach a team that is struggling to win a title.

10) Phoenix Suns hired 33-year old Ryan McDonough as their GM; he is the son of the late sportswriter Will McDonough, and the brother of ESPN voice Sean McDonough. Not entirely sure the Suns' owner knows what he is doing. They've gone in the dumper since they canned Mike D'Antoni.

9) UNLV star Michael Bennett has to have shoulder surgery before the draft; if his stock were to slip out of the first half of the first round, then he made a big mistake not going back to school for his sophomore year.

8) The Angels are 11-21, 2-8 in their last ten games- they've got a huge payroll, and you wonder how long before they change managers. Losing to the Astros in Houston ain't good for your job security.

7) Going to be a long summer in Vancouver, after the Canucks got swept by the San Jose Sharks, going 0-7 this season vs San Jose. Not often a team has home ice advantage and loses a series 4-0.

6) KL Wheat was at the Penguin-Islander game on Long Island Tuesday night and reports it was the most fun he's ever had at a hockey game. Series is tied 2-2 heading back to Pittsburgh.

5) ESPN shouldn't be showing a kid dunking in an AAU tournament, and then mocking the kid he dunked on; whatever nitwit aired this should pretend it was their son getting dunked on, and see if they would think it was funny then. These are high school kids; find your highlights somewhere else.

4) Matt Harvey's first seven starts for the Mets: 4-0, 1.28, with 22 hits allowed in 49.1 IP. He's going to be in the All-Star Game at CitiField.

3) After three nights of the second round of NBA playoffs, underdogs are 5-1 against the spread, with dogs 3-3 SU.

2) Golden State has now lost its last 30 games in San Antonio; 30!!!! In order to win this playoff series, Warriors have to go 3-0 at home, and win one game in the Alamo. When you're up 18 with under 5:00 to go and lose, it gets really, really difficult to win a short series. Damn near impossible.

1) When you come to Las Vegas, I strongly advise you to eat at Battista's, which is across Flamingo from Bally's, behind where Bill's Gambling Hall used to be. Old-fashioned Italian restaurant. Excellent.