CnoThe Bum's MLB May's News-Notes-Trends & Best Bets !!

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Twins (19-28) at Brewers (19-28)

Game: 1
Venue: Miller Park
Date: May 27, 2013 2:10 PM EDT


The Minnesota Twins and Milwaukee Brewers both continue to struggle, worsening records that were already two of the worst in baseball.

But each team's star - Joe Mauer and Ryan Braun - have done anything but struggle in recent meetings against each other's team. Each will look to get their respective clubs back on track Monday as Minnesota and Milwaukee meet in a four-game series, beginning with two contests at Miller Park.

The Twins (19-28) enter having lost 11 of 12 while struggling on the mound and at the plate. Their pitchers own a 6.11 ERA during that stretch and the offense has scraped together only 2.7 runs per game while batting .214.

Minnesota was limited to three hits and starter Mike Pelfrey was charged with five runs and five hits over 5 2-3 innings in a 6-1 loss at Detroit Sunday.

Despite an 0-for-4 performance Sunday, Mauer will try to give Minnesota a lift as he often has against Milwaukee. A .359 career hitter versus the Brewers, he's batting .456 with six three-plus hit games over the last 16.

The Brewers (19-29) lost for the ninth time in 12 games with a 5-4 defeat to Pittsburgh Sunday. They're also experiencing a severe run shortage of late, scoring 18 over their last seven contests.

Manager Ron Roenicke met with general manager Doug Melvin for about an hour prior to Sunday's defeat, according to the team's official website.

"Nobody's happy about how we're playing," Roenicke said. "We need to figure out what we can do to try to get it back on track again. There are no clear answers."

Braun, who drove in three of Milwaukee's runs with a fifth-inning double, is 17 for 38 (.447) with five homers and 16 RBIs in his last nine versus Minnesota.

The slugger hasn't always had a ton of success against Monday's Twins starter Kevin Correia, however, going 8 for 31, though he homered twice.

Correia (4-4, 3.90 ERA) forged a solid start to the season with a 3-1 record and 2.23 ERA in his first five outings. The last four have been forgettable though as he's 1-3 with a 6.75 ERA.

The most recent was his toughest yet, with Correia giving up five runs and eight hits over a season-low four innings in a 5-1 loss at Atlanta last Monday.

"I didn't throw the ball real great tonight," Correia said. "As far as this season, I think that was the only start that I didn't feel like I had good command of something I could go with."

Starting for Milwaukee will be Wily Peralta (3-5, 6.45), who has also been hit hard lately. He's lost three straight starts while surrendering 13 earned runs in 12 2-3 innings.

The Brewers didn't back him up well defensively in those games, committing five errors.

"I'm leaving too many pitches up, right down the middle, up in the zone," Peralta said. "Things are not happening my way."

Correia is 4-6 lifetime versus the Brewers but went 2-0 with a 2.50 ERA against them last year in four games, including two starts.

--------------------------------------------------------

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Twins at Brewers
Mon, May 27 - 2:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Twins at Brewers
Tue, May 28 - 8:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Brewers at Twins
Wed, May 29 - 8:10PM EDT

GAME 4
Brewers at Twins
Thu, May 30 - 8:10PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Rockies (27-22) at Astros (14-36)

Game: 1
Venue: Minute Maid Park
Date: May 27, 2013 2:10 PM EDT


After a rough start to their current trip and some struggles already during interleague play, the Colorado Rockies won't take anything for granted against the lowly Houston Astros.

The Rockies look to avoid a third straight loss while trying to hand the Astros a fourth consecutive defeat Monday.

Colorado (27-23) won six of seven before losing two straight in San Francisco. One day after the Rockies blew a 4-0 lead in a 6-5, 10-inning loss to the Giants, they lost an early two-run advantage in Sunday's 7-3 defeat.

The Rockies are 11-14 away from home and have not won a road series this month.

They're also 2-4 in interleague play this season, and though Houston (14-36) has the AL's worst record, it's won nine of 14 over the Rockies at Minute Maid Park.

"This is still the big leagues, and you've got to respect whoever lines up against you," manager Walt Weiss told the Rockies' official website. "Houston might be struggling now, but if we don't go down there and play the game hard, play the game right, we'll go down there and get beat twice."

Colorado's Carlos Gonzalez is batting .400 (20 for 50) with six homers and 15 RBIs during an 11-game hitting streak versus Houston. He posted three straight multi-hit games before going 0 for 5 with three strikeouts Sunday.

Three big innings have cost scheduled Rockies starter Jhoulys Chacin (3-3, 4.10 ERA) in his last two outings.

Staked to a 6-0 lead, the right-hander allowed five runs in the fourth and three in the sixth of an 8-6 loss to San Francisco on May 16. He then failed to hold a 4-0 advantage and gave up four runs in the seventh inning of a 5-4, 10-inning win over Arizona on Tuesday.

Chacin was 3-0 with a 1.46 ERA in his four starts before missing two weeks with a lower back strain. Since returning, he's 0-3 with a 6.85 ERA in four outings.

Eleven of the 17 walks Chacin has issued have come over those last four.

"If they're going to get on base, they have to be hitting the ball," he said. "Even if I have to throw it right in the middle."

Chacin is 1-1 with a 3.46 ERA against the Astros, who appear confident Bud Norris (4-4, 3.86) will start Monday despite lingering back problems.

Norris allowed five hits through six scoreless innings before back tightness forced him to leave Tuesday's 7-3 home loss to Kansas City.

"It's just making sure you're stretched and loose so that your body isn't cold when you get out there so you don't pull something," he told the Astros' official website.

The right-hander is 1-3 with a 7.71 ERA on the road, but 3-1 with a 1.93 ERA in six home starts.

He's 0-1 with a 17.55 ERA in two starts at Colorado, but allowed a two-run homer and three other hits while striking out eight in seven innings of a 3-2 win last season - his only home appearance against the Rockies.

With four hits in Sunday's 6-2 loss to Oakland, Houston catcher Jason Castro is 10 for 12 with two homers and four RBIs in four games.

It's uncertain if Colorado's Michael Cuddyer will play after he left Sunday's game with a bruised right forearm. He was activated off the disabled list Friday from a back injury.

After two games in Houston, the clubs play Wednesday and Thursday in Colorado

-----------------------------------------------------------

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Rockies at Astros
Mon, May 27 - 2:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Rockies at Astros
Tue, May 28 - 2:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Astros at Rockies
Wed, May 29 - 8:40PM EDT

GAME 4
Astros at Rockies
Thu, May 30 - 8:40PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Marlins (13-37) at Rays (25-24)

Game: 1
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: May 27, 2013 3:10 PM EDT


The Miami Marlins have been punchless over the previous two seasons against the Tampa Bay Rays.

It only figures to get worse for them in 2013.

The Rays look to take advantage of baseball's worst team in the first of four straight against Miami on Monday.

These in-state foes play two games at Tropicana Field before a pair in Miami on Wednesday and Thursday.

The Marlins (13-37) are off to the worst start in franchise history and the poorest in the majors since the 2006 Kansas City Royals had the same record. No NL team has started this slowly since the 1987 San Diego Padres were 11-39.

They averaged 3.0 runs in losing nine of 12 over the last two years to Tampa Bay (25-24) in the 'Citrus Series.'

Those Marlins teams were poor offensively, with the 2011 club averaging 3.9 runs and last year's 3.8. That's a far cry from what Miami is producing this year - 2.6 runs per game.

The last teams to average fewer than three runs were the 1972 Texas Rangers (2.99) and 1972 California Angels (2.93).

Miami has been particularly bad offensively while losing 15 of 18, batting .207 with just six homers and averaging 1.9 runs.

Tampa Bay was scuffling for runs with 11 total during a three-game slide before breaking out in Sunday's 8-3 victory over the Yankees. Sean Rodriguez and James Loney each hit a two-run homer.

"You put up eight runs against the Yankees, definitely something good, but the `W' is all that matters," Rodriguez said.

Evan Longoria had a quiet weekend series with three hits in 13 at_bats, and he's gone five straight games without an RBI. He has never enjoyed much success against the Marlins, hitting .227 in 24 games.

Longoria and the Rays will get their first look at Miami starter Jose Fernandez (2-2, 3.31), a right-hander who is limiting hitters to a .215 average.

Fernandez is 2-0 with a 2.48 ERA over his last five starts, yielding one run over five innings Tuesday in a 7-3 home defeat to Philadelphia.

"Every time I can go out there and give the team a chance to win and a chance to stay in the ballgame, I'm happy," Fernandez said.

Tampa Bay will also start a rookie right-hander in Jake Odorizzi (0-0, 5.40), who gave up three runs over five innings last Monday in his club debut in a 7-5 loss at Toronto.

Odorizzi, whose previous big-league experience consists of two starts for Kansas City in 2012, is taking the place in the rotation of the injured David Price.

One young player who may have some extra incentive for the Marlins is Derek Dietrich, drafted in the second round by the Rays in 2010. Dietrich was traded to Miami on Dec. 4, 2012, in a deal that brought Yunel Escobar - acquired by the Marlins a month earlier in the Josh Johnson deal - to Tampa Bay.

Dietrich, hitting .232 overall but with two homers in his last three games, was promoted to the major leagues on May 8 for Miami.

The Marlins have dropped five straight after scoring seven runs over the weekend in a three-game set against the White Sox.

-------------------------------------------------------

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Marlins at Rays
Mon, May 27 - 3:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Marlins at Rays
Tue, May 28 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Rays at Marlins
Wed, May 29 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 4
Rays at Marlins
Thu, May 30 - 7:10PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Rangers (32-17) at Diamondbacks (27-22)

Game: 1
Venue: Chase Field
Date: May 27, 2013 3:40 PM EDT


The Texas Rangers have ace Yu Darvish lined up to pitch the second game of a doubleheader, and they'll look to continue their hot hitting on the road as they take on the Arizona Diamondbacks in that twinbill Monday.

Darvish will be looking to tie for the major league lead with his eighth win when he opposes Trevor Cahill in the evening. The Diamondbacks were supposed to start another high-profile pitcher in Ian Kennedy in one game of the doubleheader, but a freak accident will leave the first contest in the hands of a pair of spot starters.

The AL-best Rangers (32-18) have won eight of 10 on the road, though they had a four-game winning streak snapped with a 4-3, 13-inning loss at Seattle on Sunday.

Before that defeat, Texas had scored 55 runs in its previous nine contests away from home. The Rangers have hit 20 homers in their last 10 road games.

Darvish (7-2, 2.84 ERA) leads the major leagues with 8.24 runs of support per game, but he didn't get any help in his last start Tuesday. The right-hander gave up one run in six innings but lost 1-0 to Oakland, snapping his six-game winning streak.

"I've been really pampered with all the run support I've been getting,' said Darvish, who leads the majors with 91 strikeouts in 66 2-3 innings.

The Rangers need Darvish and first-game starter Martin Perez to give them some length with relievers Neal Cotts, Joe Nathan and Tanner Scheppers likely unavailable following Sunday's extra-inning contest.

Nathan had converted 36 straight save opportunities on the road dating to 2011 before blowing a one-run lead in the 11th inning against the Mariners.

"Hopefully (Martin) Perez and (Yu) Darvish can give us nine innings in each game and everything works out good," manager Ron Washington said.

Arizona, tied with San Francisco for the NL West lead, seeks its fifth win in six home games after beating San Diego 6-5 on Sunday.

Cahill (3-5, 2.81) has given Texas a tough time throughout his career, going 9-4 with a 2.78 ERA in 15 starts. He's tied with Kansas City's James Shields for the lowest ERA against the Rangers among active pitchers with at least 10 starts.

The right-hander has also allowed four or fewer earned runs in 28 straight starts, the longest active streak in baseball.

Cahill kept that run going Wednesday, but he wasn't at his best as he gave up four runs over six innings of a 4-1 loss to Colorado. He had gone 3-1 with a 1.64 ERA in his previous five outings.

Texas' Adrian Beltre is 9 for 26 with two homers versus Cahill, while Nelson Cruz is 4 for 23 against him.

Former 21-game winner Kennedy was scheduled to start one of the games Monday, but he was scratched after cutting his right index finger while doing the dishes. Tyler Skaggs will instead make his season debut in the opener.

After a slow start at Triple-A Reno this season, the left-hander has posted a 2.66 ERA and 22 strikeouts over his last 20 1/3 innings. He went 1-3 with a 5.83 ERA in six starts for Arizona as a rookie last year.

"He's throwing the ball better," manager Kirk Gibson told the team's official website. "I can't tell you exactly what the deciding factor was for picking him, but we made the decision as an organization."

Perez also makes his season debut after going 1-4 with a 5.88 ERA in six starts in 2012. The left-hander pitched seven shutout innings in his last outing with Triple-A Round Rock, but he's posted a 6.05 ERA in four minor league starts this season.

The Rangers have won 17 of 25 overall meetings with the Diamondbacks.

----------------------------------------------------------

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Rangers at Diamondbacks
Mon, May 27 - 9:40PM EDT

GAME 2
Diamondbacks at Rangers
Wed, May 29 - 8:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Diamondbacks at Rangers
Thu, May 30 - 2:05PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Giants (27-22) at Athletics (28-23)

Game: 1
Venue: O.co Coliseum
Date: May 27, 2013 4:05 PM EDT


The Oakland Athletics hope the confidence they've gained during their current surge will help them turn it around against their Bay Area rivals.

Coming off a stellar road trip, the A's try to reverse their recent fortunes against the visiting San Francisco Giants on Monday.

Oakland (28-23) is 47-45 versus San Francisco during the regular season, but the A's have seen their dominance of the series come to an end in the past five years. They've dropped 17 of the last 26 meetings and have not won a season series from the Giants (28-22) since 2008.

San Francisco took two of three at both ballparks in 2012 and also snapped a six-game slide in Oakland.

With each team playing well after both won 94 games last season and the Giants a World Series title, the 2013 installment could be more intense than the others.

These four games will be the only matchups between the teams this year, with two contests in Oakland followed by two in San Francisco on Wednesday and Thursday.

"I've often said that people in the Bay Area, it's an exciting time in the baseball season for them, because everyone's watching," A's manager Bob Melvin told the team's official website.

"You can say all you want that it's just another team, another four games, and it is another team and another four games, but in the Bay Area it takes on more importance than that," he added.

"Everyone's watching. Stands are packed, whether it's our place or their place. It's a raucous crowd, our side and their side. It's kind of cool."

The A's have won eight of nine overall and capped a 5-1 trip to Texas with a three-game sweep of Houston. Rookie Nate Freiman homered and had three RBIs while Yeonis Cespedes added two hits in a 6-2 win Sunday.

Oakland scored 23 runs against the Astros.

Cespedes has recorded at least a hit in eight straight games, but went 2 for 12 with seven strikeouts at home against the Giants last year.

San Francisco scored 13 runs to win its last two versus Colorado after totaling a run in back-to-back losses to Washington and the Rockies. Brandon Belt hit a tiebreaking, two-run double in the fifth and Buster Posey added his seventh homer in a 7-3 victory Sunday.

Posey is batting .421 with two homers and five RBIs during a 10-game hitting streak. He's hit .308 with two home runs and seven RBIs over his last eight versus Oakland after going 1 for 12 in his first three.

San Francisco's Madison Bumgarner (4-2, 2.89 ERA) has been inconsistent in four May starts. In losing his first and third outings of the month, he allowed 14 runs and 16 hits in 10 2-3 innings. In each of the other two, the left-hander yielded a run and four hits over seven innings, most recently during a 2-1, 10-inning loss to Washington on Wednesday.

"He's an incredible pitcher," Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper told the Giants' official website. "He knows what he's doing out there, and the Giants are very lucky to have him."

Bumgarner allowed four runs and 11 hits, including two homers, in six innings of a 9-8 win at Oakland on June 23.

The A's Dan Straily (2-2, 5.73) makes his first appearance against the Giants after he allowed two hits without a walk in seven innings of a 1-0 victory at Texas on Tuesday.

"The best pitching performance we've seen out of him to date,' manager Bob Melvin said of the right-hander, who allowed 11 runs and walked eight in 9 1-3 innings to lose his previous two starts. "I think he just gained confidence as the game went along. Early in the game, he's throwing strikes, he's getting outs, they're not hitting any balls hard really, and you just kind of grow from that.'

----------------------------------------------------------

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Giants at Athletics
Mon, May 27 - 4:05PM EDT

GAME 2
Giants at Athletics
Tue, May 28 - 10:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Athletics at Giants
Wed, May 29 - 10:15PM EDT

GAME 4
Athletics at Giants
Thu, May 30 - 3:45PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Padres (22-26) at Mariners (20-29)

Game: 1
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: May 27, 2013 4:10 PM EDT


Now that the Seattle Mariners' losing streak is over, former San Diego Padre Aaron Harang hopes his struggles are also about to end.

Harang could be pitching for his spot in the rotation Monday in the start of a four-game series with the Padres, beginning with two contests at Safeco Field.

Losers of eight straight heading into Sunday's matchup with AL West-leading Texas, the Mariners (21-29) won 4-3 in 13 innings with Jason Bay delivering the game-winning single. He was robbed of a game-winning homer in the 11th by David Murphy after Raul Ibanez' solo shot tied the game to lead off that frame.

"It feels great. Not just for me but for everybody," Bay said after helping Seattle end its longest slide since a 17-game stretch July 6-26, 2011. "That was a big sigh of relief for a lot of people."

The Mariners will conclude their five-game homestand with two against the Padres (22-27) before this series shifts to San Diego for games on Wednesday and Thursday.

The Padres, who have dropped four of five following Sunday's 6-5 loss at Arizona, won five of six in this matchup a year ago, including their first sweep in Seattle from June 12-14.

Harang (1-5, 8.58 ERA), 1-2 with a 6.43 ERA in three home starts, is trying to rebound from a pair of road losses. The right-hander, pitching for the first time in two weeks due to lower back stiffness, was charged with seven runs and a season-high nine hits in 3 2-3 innings of Tuesday's 12-0 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.

"About the only good thing that came out of tonight was the fact that the back wasn't an issue,' he said.

Another rough outing from Harang, who'll make his 300th start, could force manager Eric Wedge's hand in making a switch with his rotation.

"You can't keep putting this kind of heat on the bullpen," Wedge told the Mariners' official website.

Harang, who finished 14-7 with a 3.64 ERA for San Diego in 2011, went 2-1 with a 3.09 ERA in six starts against the Padres last season while with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

San Diego is expected to push back Edinson Volquez and remove Clayton Richard (0-4, 8.54) from the disabled list to start Monday. The left-hander was placed on the DL with an intestinal virus May 5, a day after permitting seven runs - five earned - in 3 2-3 innings of an 8-1 loss to Arizona.

Richard, a loser of three consecutive starts, has since been working on improving his arm slot at Triple-A Tucson, where he went 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA in 12 innings.

Richard has won his last five interleague starts after yielding three earned runs over 6 2-3 innings in a 9-5 home win over Seattle on June 22.

He could get his first look at Kendrys Morales, who went 6 for 14 with a homer, two doubles and a team-best five RBIs in the three-game set against Texas. Morales or Michael Morse could be at first base Monday if Justin Smoak sits out a second game with a strained oblique.

Left fielder Carlos Quentin should be the Padres' DH in at least one of the next two games. He's 6 for 11 with a homer, three doubles, two RBIs in the last three contests. Quentin's one hit in six at_bats off Harang left the park.

San Diego has won six of eight in Seattle.

----------------------------------------------------------

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Padres at Mariners
Mon, May 27 - 4:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Padres at Mariners
Tue, May 28 - 10:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Mariners at Padres
Wed, May 29 - 10:10PM EDT

GAME 4
Mariners at Padres
Thu, May 30 - 3:40PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Phillies (24-26) at Red Sox (31-20)

Game: 1
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: May 27, 2013 7:10 PM EDT


Tyler Cloyd, a lifelong Boston Red Sox fan, always wanted to see a game at Fenway Park.

His ninth career major league start will come there Monday night when he takes the ball for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Boston won't have the luxury of turning to Clay Buchholz, who has been scratched for the opener of the first four games between these teams.

The Phillies (24-26) failed to pull even with Washington for second place in the NL East on Sunday as they allowed five runs in the seventh in a 6-1 loss to the Nationals. Cole Hamels fell to 1-8 as he received one or no runs of support for the fourth time in five starts.

Cloyd (1-0, 2.70 ERA) will hope for better backup from his offense as he continues to fill in for the injured Roy Halladay. Cloyd grew up a Red Sox fan though he was born and raised in Nebraska, but has never seen a game at Fenway.

"To go there and actually be able to pitch, it's going to be fun," he told the team's official website. "I'm definitely looking forward to it. Hopefully I'll go there and keep going with this success."

The right-hander was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday to make his second start of the season. He limited Miami to two runs and eight hits over seven innings in a 7-3 victory.

Despite his obvious excitement, Cloyd doesn't believe he'll have a problem focusing on his job once he steps on the rubber.

"Every game, you've got to just cool your emotions and just go out and pitch," he said. "It's just another baseball game, just a different atmosphere."

The Red Sox (31-20) won for the ninth time in 12 games Sunday with Jacoby Ellsbury's two-run double concluding a four-run ninth in a 6-5 victory over Cleveland. Having gone 9-1 with Buchholz on the mound, Boston figured to have a good shot for a fourth straight victory Monday, but he will be skipped because of irritation in the AC joint of his right shoulder.

"The doctors said I could throw and it wouldn't affect my delivery. It was my call," Buchholz said. "If it was September, I'd throw."

Instead, Boston will turn to Alfredo Aceves (1-1, 8.20), who hasn't made a start since April 23, when he gave up eight runs and seven hits in 3 1-3 innings in a 13-0 loss to Oakland.

He's made just one relief appearance since, throwing a scoreless inning in Friday's 8-1 victory over the Indian. The right-hander has thrown 2 1-3 scoreless innings over two relief appearances versus Philadelphia.

Monday could mark closer Jonathan Papelbon's first game at Fenway as a visitor. Papelbon, who left the Red Sox as a free agent after 2011, is Boston's all-time saves leader with 219.

The Phillies' bullpen should also be bolstered by the return of Mike Adams, who was activated from the 15-day disabled list Sunday. Adams, who owns a 3.00 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 15 innings, hasn't pitched since May 10 due to a strained back.

Dustin Pedroia is batting .394 with eight doubles over his last 18 games, though he was 0 for 2 with two walks Sunday.

The Red Sox have won eight of the last 10 meetings in Boston.

--------------------------------------------------------

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Phillies at Red Sox
Mon, May 27 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Phillies at Red Sox
Tue, May 28 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Red Sox at Phillies
Wed, May 29 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 4
Red Sox at Phillies
Thu, May 30 - 7:05PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Cubs (18-30) at White Sox (24-24)

Game: 1
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: May 27, 2013 7:10 PM EDT


This week's Crosstown Classic will have a different format - one that seems odd to both the Chicago White Sox's and Chicago Cubs' managers.

In the past, these rivals played separate three-game sets in their parks that captivated the Windy City, but as part of the "prime rivals" portion of interleague play, all four of the teams' 2013 matchups take place this week beginning Monday night at U.S. Cellular Field.

The White Sox (24-24) have won four of six in each of the four previous seasons against the Cubs, but three victories will be enough to capture bragging rights this time. The first two games are on the South Side before contests Wednesday and Thursday at Wrigley Field.

"It's nice that we've got four days that we're going to be at home but as far as two and two, that's just the way the schedule is," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said.

Cubs manager Dale Sveum echoed a similar theme.

"It's such a strange circumstance to play four games in, obviously, the same city but in two different parks," Sveum told the Cubs' official website. "There's no other way to do it now, and there's nothing you can do about it. But it's kind of funny how it comes that way with the crosstown rivals."

The White Sox are probably more excited about this week, having won nine of 12 to reach .500 for the first time since April 10.

"They're fun games, I think the fans enjoy them, it's great for the city so we're looking forward to it," Ventura said.

The Cubs (19-30) return to Chicago on a positive note after ending a season-high six-game slide with a 5-4, 10-inning victory over Cincinnati on Sunday. Alfonso Soriano hit a tying two-run homer in the eighth inning and Welington Castillo had a go-ahead double in the 10th as the Cubs rallied from a 4-0 deficit after six.

Soriano has been productive as a visitor in this rivalry, hitting .316 with five homers to help the Cubs win eight of their last 15 at U.S. Cellular Field.

The White Sox's Adam Dunn, by contrast, is 4 for 35 with two solo homers and 17 strikeouts in his 11 games in this series, although he's still looking forward to it.

"I think it's fun for everyone," Dunn said. "It's fun for the fans, but it's a lot of fun for us. I know that the stadium will have electricity and it will be pretty much of a playoff atmosphere."

The Cubs' Jeff Samardzija (2-6, 3.25 ERA) has gone 0-3 with a 7.71 ERA in three career interleague starts, including a 3-2 loss to the White Sox on May 18, 2012 in which he gave up three runs in 7 1-3 innings. The right-hander has posted a 4.40 ERA and received seven runs of support in losing his last five road outings.

The Cubs are 4-10 against left-handed starters as they face Jose Quintana (3-1, 3.48) for the first time. Quintana pitched 6 1-3 scoreless innings to earn a 3-1 home victory over Boston on Tuesday.

Cubs slugger Anthony Rizzo will take part in this rivalry for the first time. Rizzo went 4 for 8 in his last two games and leads the club with 10 home runs and 33 RBIs.

--------------------------------------------------------

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Cubs at White Sox
Mon, May 27 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Cubs at White Sox
Tue, May 28 - 8:10PM EDT

GAME 3
White Sox at Cubs
Wed, May 29 - 2:20PM EDT

GAME 4
White Sox at Cubs
Thu, May 30 - 2:20PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Angels (22-27) at Dodgers (20-27)

Game: 1
Venue: Dodger Stadium
Date: May 27, 2013 8:10 PM EDT


Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia's job was in jeopardy earlier this month, but that's no longer the case.

The focus on a managerial job in Southern California these days is squarely on the Los Angeles Dodgers' Don Mattingly.

Scioscia's Angels can record their first nine-game win streak in nine seasons Monday when they visit the Dodgers, with Zack Greinke facing his former team for Mattingly.

The Angels (23-27) owned the second-worst record in the AL at 15-24 when Scioscia received a vote of confidence from owner Arte Moreno.

Confidence isn't lacking for the Angels now. They rallied from a two-run deficit in the seventh inning for a 5-2 victory at Kansas City on Sunday, putting them in position to win nine straight for the first time since Aug. 18-27, 2004.

"We're rolling right now," said left fielder J.B. Shuck, 7 for 11 in his last three games.

Dodgers team president Stan Kasten said this weekend that Mattingly isn't in immediate danger of being fired. The club is in last place in the NL West, seven games behind first-place Arizona.

Matt Kemp is struggling with a .260 average and career-low .343 slugging percentage, and was benched in a 5-3 loss to St. Louis on Sunday.

"Today, Matt not playing is the best thing for him, it's the best thing for us," Mattingly told the Dodgers' official website.

Andre Ethier was benched three times by Mattingly during a six-game trip last week before he was reinstated to the lineup for all three games this past weekend. He went 1 for 10 as the Dodgers (20-28) lost twice to fall to 7-15 in May.

Mattingly knows the next four days against the Angels won't be any easier.

"We all know they have a talented club and they were going to put it together," he said. "I wish they would have just waited a little longer before they put it together."

Greinke (2-1, 3.48 ERA) went 6-2 with a 3.90 ERA for the Angels last year after being acquired from Milwaukee on July 27.

The free agent was considered the top arm on the market this offseason, with interest from the Dodgers, Angels and Texas. He said at his introductory Dodgers press conference that the Angels "never really got into it when the details came" to re-sign him, and he chose the $147 million, six-year deal with Mattingly's club.

The right-hander has pitched twice since returning from a broken left collarbone suffered April 11. This is the second straight outing he will face a former team after he allowed five runs over four-plus innings of a 5-2 defeat to the Brewers on Tuesday.

Greinke has dominated Josh Hamilton, who is 1 for 19 with nine strikeouts against him. He has never faced Mike Trout, 12 for 26 with 10 runs during a six-game hitting streak.

The Dodgers' Adrian Gonzalez has gone 5 for 7 with two homers and six RBIs over his last two contests and is 4 for 10 against C.J. Wilson (4-3, 3.39), who starts Monday for the Angels.

The left-hander ended a three-start losing streak Wednesday by giving up one run over eight innings with 10 strikeouts in a 7-1 win over Seattle.

The Angels have won 13 of their last 18 against the Dodgers, taking nine of the past 12 meetings on the road.

-----------------------------------------------------------

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Angels at Dodgers
Mon, May 27 - 8:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Angels at Dodgers
Tue, May 28 - 10:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Dodgers at Angels
Wed, May 29 - 10:05PM EDT

GAME 4
Dodgers at Angels
Thu, May 30 - 10:05PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

MLB's best and worst Memorial Day bets

The Memorial Day schedule features 16 MLB games – 10 of those getting underway in the afternoon. We take a look back over the past 10 years and see which major league clubs are the best and worst bets on the holiday Monday:

Most profitable – Cincinnati Reds (6-2 for +5.61 units on Memorial Day since 2003)

The Reds have made the most green for MLB bettors on Memorial Day and just so happen to be hosting the Indians - on off the worst teams on the holiday - this Monday.

Most costly – Houston Astros (1-6 for -6.16 units on Memorial Day since 2003)

Honestly, if you’ve been betting the Astros on the holiday each year, you need to cut back on that suitcase of Memorial Day beers. Houston hosts Colorado this year.

Best record – Toronto Blue Jays/Miami Marlins (6-3 on Memorial Day since 2003)

Funny enough, one of best teams on Memorial Day lives north of the border, where they don’t celebrate the final Monday in May. The other happens to be one of the worst teams in baseball this season. The Marlins visit Tampa Bay in a Sunshine State showdown Monday.

Worst record – Kansas City Royals/Cleveland Indians/Houston Astros (1-6 on Memorial Day since 2003)

Not a big surprise here, with the Royals, Tribe and Astros being among baseball’s bottom feeders for some time now. However, there could be value in going against K.C. and Cleveland since they turned the corner.

Best home record – Toronto Blue Jays (6-0 at home on Memorial Day since 2003)

With Memorial Day just another Monday north of the border, perhaps the Jays don’t feel the pressure to excel in front of their home fans. Toronto hosts Atlanta Monday.

Worst home record – Kansas City Royals (0-4 at home on Memorial Day since 2003)

The Royals have ruined more than a few Memorial Day memories for their loyal backers and host the Cardinals on the holiday Monday this year.

Best road record – Chicago White Sox (4-2 on the road on Memorial Day since 2003)

The ChiSox have a 5-2 overall record for +4.21 units on Memorial Day, many of those units coming courtesy of beefy road lines. The Southsiders host the Northsiders – the Chicago Cubs – Monday.

Worst road record – Cleveland Indians (0-4 on the road on Memorial Day since 2003)

The Tribe are hoping to turn around their road luck on the holiday this year. Cleveland, which has cooled off a bit, is visiting Cincinnati Monday.

Best over – Chicago White Sox (7-0 over/under on Memorial Day since 2003)

The White Sox not only kick butt on the road on Memorial Day but keep the crowds happy with some high-scoring games. They host the Cubs, who are 3-5 over/under on the holiday.

Best under – Seattle Mariners (2-5 over/under on Memorial Day since 2003)

The Mariners have kept scores low on Memorial Day and bring the 26th ranked offense in Monday’s game with San Diego, which is 3-4 over/under on the holiday Monday since 2003.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Rangers (32-18) at Diamondbacks (28-22)

Game: 1
Venue: Chase Field
Date: May 27, 2013 3:40 PM EDT


The Texas Rangers have ace Yu Darvish lined up to pitch the second game of a doubleheader, and they'll look to continue their hot hitting on the road as they take on the Arizona Diamondbacks in that twinbill Monday.

Darvish will be looking to tie for the major league lead with his eighth win when he opposes Trevor Cahill in the evening. The Diamondbacks were supposed to start another high-profile pitcher in Ian Kennedy in one game of the doubleheader, but a freak accident will leave the first contest in the hands of a pair of spot starters.

The AL-best Rangers (32-18) have won eight of 10 on the road, though they had a four-game winning streak snapped with a 4-3, 13-inning loss at Seattle on Sunday.

Before that defeat, Texas had scored 55 runs in its previous nine contests away from home. The Rangers have hit 20 homers in their last 10 road games.

Darvish (7-2, 2.84 ERA) leads the major leagues with 8.24 runs of support per game, but he didn't get any help in his last start Tuesday. The right-hander gave up one run in six innings but lost 1-0 to Oakland, snapping his six-game winning streak.

"I've been really pampered with all the run support I've been getting,' said Darvish, who leads the majors with 91 strikeouts in 66 2-3 innings.

The Rangers need Darvish and first-game starter Martin Perez to give them some length with relievers Neal Cotts, Joe Nathan and Tanner Scheppers likely unavailable following Sunday's extra-inning contest.

Nathan had converted 36 straight save opportunities on the road dating to 2011 before blowing a one-run lead in the 11th inning against the Mariners.

"Hopefully (Martin) Perez and (Yu) Darvish can give us nine innings in each game and everything works out good," manager Ron Washington said.

Arizona, tied with San Francisco for the NL West lead, seeks its fifth win in six home games after beating San Diego 6-5 on Sunday.

Cahill (3-5, 2.81) has given Texas a tough time throughout his career, going 9-4 with a 2.78 ERA in 15 starts. He's tied with Kansas City's James Shields for the lowest ERA against the Rangers among active pitchers with at least 10 starts.

The right-hander has also allowed four or fewer earned runs in 28 straight starts, the longest active streak in baseball.

Cahill kept that run going Wednesday, but he wasn't at his best as he gave up four runs over six innings of a 4-1 loss to Colorado. He had gone 3-1 with a 1.64 ERA in his previous five outings.

Texas' Adrian Beltre is 9 for 26 with two homers versus Cahill, while Nelson Cruz is 4 for 23 against him.

Former 21-game winner Kennedy was scheduled to start one of the games Monday, but he was scratched after cutting his right index finger while doing the dishes. Tyler Skaggs will instead make his season debut in the opener.

After a slow start at Triple-A Reno this season, the left-hander has posted a 2.66 ERA and 22 strikeouts over his last 20 1/3 innings. He went 1-3 with a 5.83 ERA in six starts for Arizona as a rookie last year.

"He's throwing the ball better," manager Kirk Gibson told the team's official website. "I can't tell you exactly what the deciding factor was for picking him, but we made the decision as an organization."

Perez also makes his season debut after going 1-4 with a 5.88 ERA in six starts in 2012. The left-hander pitched seven shutout innings in his last outing with Triple-A Round Rock, but he's posted a 6.05 ERA in four minor league starts this season.

The Rangers have won 17 of 25 overall meetings with the Diamondbacks.

-----------------------------------------------------

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Rangers at Diamondbacks
Mon, May 27 - 9:40PM EDT

GAME 2
Diamondbacks at Rangers
Wed, May 29 - 8:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Diamondbacks at Rangers
Thu, May 30 - 2:05PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Braves (30-19) at Blue Jays (21-29)

Game: 1
Venue: Rogers Centre
Date: May 27, 2013 7:07 PM EDT


The Atlanta Braves' lengthy winning streak is over. The NL East leaders will look to bounce back by ending their longest interleague road skid.

Atlanta faces the Toronto Blue Jays and Mark Buehrle, the all-time interleague wins leader, in the opener of a four-game series Monday night.

After outscoring opponents 47-21 in winning eight in a row, Atlanta (30-19) fell 4-2 to the New York Mets on Sunday. The Braves allowed three eighth-inning runs after Dan Uggla hit a two-run shot in the previous inning - his third homer in six games.

The Braves can get back on track by stopping a five-game slide in AL parks. Their last interleague road series didn't go well, as they were outscored 25-7 in three losses to Detroit from April 26-28.

Atlanta has dropped eight of 10 in Toronto, but none of those games came in the four seasons prior to this one. The Braves have won eight of the past nine matchups, though Toronto took the latest one 12-4 on June 10.

Buehrle (1-3, 5.90 ERA), eyeing a 26th interleague victory, will face the Braves for the first time in a Blue Jays uniform. He went 1-2 with a 5.91 ERA in four starts against them last season while with Miami.

The left-hander is looking for his first win in eight starts, though he turned in an encouraging outing Wednesday in a 4-3, 10-inning victory over Tampa Bay, pitching seven innings and allowing two runs.

Toronto (21-29) has only lost once in his last four outings.

"Listen, I'd like to be 5-1 right now. I'm not, I'm 1-3," Buehrle said. "But as long as we're winning my starts, I'm going out there giving our team a chance to win, that's all I can ask for."

The Braves can't ask for much more from their rotation, which has posted a 1.66 ERA during the past nine games. That performance has been especially important with a bullpen that will be without Eric O'Flaherty and Jonny Venters for remainder of the season, and is waiting for the return of Jordan Walden and Luis Ayala.

Tim Hudson (4-3, 4.98) is the lone member of the rotation that has struggled lately, going 0-2 with an 8.56 ERA in his last three starts. The right-hander did manage to work around a 76-minute rain delay to pitch five innings Tuesday in a 5-4, 10-inning win over Minnesota, allowing two runs.

Hudson may have a good chance to get back on track Monday, as he's gone 11-3 with a 2.79 ERA in 16 starts against the Blue Jays.

Colby Rasmus, older brother of Braves rookie reliever Cory Rasmus, is 5 for 11 with a home run off Hudson.

Teammate Jose Bautista has gone 14 for 25 with two homers and five RBIs in the past six games. Bautista had a team-best two homers in three games against Atlanta in 2012.

The Braves lead the NL with 65 home runs, while Buehrle's 11 homers allowed are among the most in the major leagues.

--------------------------------------------------------

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Braves at Blue Jays
Mon, May 27 - 7:07PM EDT

GAME 2
Braves at Blue Jays
Tue, May 28 - 12:37PM EDT

GAME 3
Blue Jays at Braves
Wed, May 29 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 4
Blue Jays at Braves
Thu, May 30 - 7:10PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Yankees (30-19) at Mets (18-29)

Game: 1
Venue: Citi Field
Date: May 27, 2013 7:10 PM EDT


Though the New York Yankees have all but lost their division lead during an inconsistent road trip, a date with the crosstown rival New York Mets may be what they need to get it back.

The Yankees look to win for the 12th time in 15 meetings as this year's version of the Subway Series begins Monday night at Citi Field.

Unable to complete a three-game sweep at Tampa Bay with Sunday's 8-3 loss after losing two of three at Baltimore, the Yankees (30-19) conclude their trip with this brief two-game stay in Queens.

Sunday's defeat and Boston's win over Cleveland drew the Red Sox into a virtual tie with New York atop the AL East.

If their recent performance in the Subway Series is any indication, the Yankees should have a good chance to maintain at least a share of the division lead.

They won five of six from the Mets last season and have outscored them 70-38 during an 11-3 run in the series dating to 2010.

For the first time, the clubs will play four games in four days with the series moving to Yankee Stadium on Wednesday and Thursday.

The Mets, who have hit .179 with runners in scoring position while dropping 12 of 16, snapped an eight-game home losing streak with a 4-2 victory over Atlanta on Sunday.

Ike Davis busted out of a 2-for-44 slump with two hits, including a go-ahead two-run single in a three-run eighth inning, as the Mets ended a five-game skid overall.

"Usually (the Yankees) are one of the premier teams in baseball, so I guess it's a good measuring stick as far trying to win a series against those guys, or beat those guys," third baseman David Wright told the team's official website.

Scheduled Yankees starter Phil Hughes (2-3, 5.51 ERA) seeks a third consecutive winning start against the Mets.

He'll attempt to get the ball to closer Mariano Rivera, who will play in his final regular season Subway Series.

"They've become like another team in our division, because we play them every year," said Rivera, who notched his 500th career save at Citi Field in 2009 and is perfect in 18 opportunities this year.

Hughes is 2-1 with a 4.26 ERA in three career starts versus the Mets after allowing two runs and six hits - two homers - over 6 1-3 innings in a 4-2 win June 9.

Wright took the right-hander deep in that contest, and is 7 for 20 with a home run and three RBIs in his last five games against the Yankees.

Lucas Duda went 3 for 4 with a homer Sunday and is batting .351 during a career-best 10-game hitting streak. He's also hit safely in eight straight games versus the Yankees.

The Mets will give the ball to struggling left-hander Jonathon Niese (3-5, 4.80), who is 1-5 with a 5.40 ERA over his last seven starts.

Niese, though, has lasted at least six innings and allowed three runs or less in each of his three career starts against the Yankees, going 1-1 with a 2.33 ERA.

He led the Mets to their only win versus the Yankees last season, yielding two runs and eight hits over 6 1-3 innings in a 6-4 victory at Citi Field on June 22.

Robinson Cano is 4 for 9 lifetime against Niese and hitting .382 with four homers and 10 RBIs in his last nine games versus the Mets.

--------------------------------------------------------

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Yankees at Mets
Mon, May 27 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Yankees at Mets
Tue, May 28 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Mets at Yankees
Wed, May 29 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 4
Mets at Yankees
Thu, May 30 - 7:05PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Armadillo: Monday's six-pack

-- Wild rallies in both Boston/Toronto, as Indians/Orioles both gave up four runs in bottom of 9th and had bitter losses.

-- CC Sabathia has allowed 28 hits in his last 19.1 IP, and hasn't won in his last five starts.

-- Ike Davis, who somehow is still in the big leagues, got the game-winning hit as the Mets rallied to beat Atlanta 4-2.

-- Clay Buchholz has been scratched from Monday's start (collarbone); in his place, Alfredo Aceves gets the start.

-- Patrick Corbin is 8-0 for the Diamondbacks. Good young pitcher.

-- Thanks to the garbage guys for coming thru my neighborhood at 5:10am on a day off; luckily, I was still writing and not asleep yet.


*****

Armadillo: Monday's List of 13: Wrapping up a sports weekend..........

13) If I had my way, baseball would lose the DH; placate players' union by expanding big league rosters to 27 guys, just get rid of the DH. Union likes the DH because DH's generally make more money than the average player.

12) Pretty big day in Indianapolis Sunday, with the Indy 500 and the Pacers' game; too bad Indiana forgot to play defense-- Miami had 70 points at the half, committing just one first half turnover.

11) St Louis Cardinals are 14-3 this season in game following a loss.

10) Redbirds won World Series two years ago; only nine of the 25 players from that team still play for St Louis.

9) Cincinnati's Shin-Soo Choo has been hit by a pitch 13 times this season; thats what happens when you crowd the plate. He has been a very good leadoff man, with an OB% of .441 this season.

8) If you had Phillies-Nationals under 6.5 Sunday, thats a bad beat, as game was 0-0 after 6.5 innings, before Nationals scored five times in bottom of 7th on their way to a 6-1 win. Cole Hamels is 1-8 this season.

7) A's haven't had a position player make All-Star team since Ramon Hernandez did way back in 2003.

6) Minnesota Twins have been outscored 52-21 in first inning this year.

5) Memphis transfer Antonio Barton stays in-state, will play for the Tennessee Volunteers, where he could be an upgrade over the previous PG, Trae Golden.

4) Memo to Oriole manager Buck Showalter; Do not bat JJ Hardy behind Chris Davis. Toronto walked Davis intentionally three times Sunday to get to Hardy, who responded with three outs. Not sure I've ever seen the same guy walked intentionally three times in one game, other than Barry Bonds, and Davis is certainly no Bonds.

3) Last season the Buffalo Bills allowed 14.7 ppg in their six wins, 34.7 ppg in their ten losses.

2) After 50 games, the Pittsburgh Pirates are 31-19; this is third year in row they've gotten off to a good start, but their rotation looks sturdier this time around. They might contend all season.

1) Full slate of interleague play the next four days, with two-game series in all 30 cities. Interesting new twist on interleague play this season.

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Dunkel

Chicago Cubs at Chicago White Sox
The White Sox look to take advantage of a Cubs team that is 0-5 in Jeff Samardzija's last 5 starts as a road underdog. The White Sox are the pick (-120) according to Dunkel, which has the White Sox favored by 1 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Chicago White Sox (-120). Here are all of today's picks.

MONDAY, MAY 27

Game 901-902: Baltimore at Washington (1:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Baltimore (Hammel) 16.335; Washington (Gonzalez) 15.480
Dunkel Line: Baltimore by 1; 8
Vegas Line: Washington (-140); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Baltimore (+120); Over

Game 903-904: Pittsburgh at Detroit (1:08 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Pittsburgh (Liriano) 15.179; Detroit (Verlander) 16.084
Dunkel Line: Detroit by 1; 6
Vegas Line: Detroit (-175); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (-175); Under

Game 905-906: Cleveland at Cincinnati (1:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Cleveland (Jimenez) 15.126; Cincinnati (Leake) 16.134
Dunkel Line: Cincinnati by 1; 8
Vegas Line: Cincinnati (-140); 9
Dunkel Pick: Cincinnati (-140); Under

Game 907-908: Minnesota at Milwaukee (2:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota (Correia) 14.645; Milwaukee (Peralta) 13.814
Dunkel Line: Minnesota by 1; 10
Vegas Line: Milwaukee (-130); 9
Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (+110); Over

Game 909-910: St. Louis at Kansas City (2:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: St. Louis (Wainwright) 15.094; Kansas City (Shields) 15.933
Dunkel Line: Kansas City by 1; 8
Vegas Line: St. Louis (-120); 7
Dunkel Pick: Kansas City (+100); Over

Game 911-912: Colorado at Houston (2:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Colorado (Chacin) 15.319; Houston (Norris) 13.387
Dunkel Line: Colorado by 2; 8
Vegas Line: Colorado (-155); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Colorado (-155); Under

Game 913-914: Miami at Tampa Bay (3:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Miami (Fernandez) 13.389; Tampa Bay (Odorizzi) 15.863
Dunkel Line: Tampa Bay by 2 1/2; 6
Vegas Line: Tampa Bay (-165); 7
Dunkel Pick: Tampa Bay (-165); Under

Game 915-916: Texas at Arizona (3:40 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Texas (Perez) 16.170; Arizona (Skaggs) 15.050
Dunkel Line: Texas by 1; 9
Vegas Line: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A

Game 917-918: Texas at Arizona (9:40 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Texas (Darvish) 15.570; Arizona (Cahill) 15.309
Dunkel Line: Texas by 1/2; 7
Vegas Line: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A

Game 919-920: San Francisco at Oakland (4:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: San Francisco (Bumgarner) 15.432; Oakland (Straily) 16.014
Dunkel Line: Oakland by 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: San Francisco (-120); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Oakland (+100); Over

Game 921-922: San Diego at Seattle (4:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: San Diego (Richard) 14.476; Seattle (Harang) 15.521
Dunkel Line: Seattle by 1; 9
Vegas Line: Seattle (-115); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Seattle (-115); Over

Game 923-924: Atlanta at Toronto (7:07 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Atlanta (Hudson) 16.764; Toronto (Buehrle) 15.282
Dunkel Line: Atlanta by 1 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: Atlanta (-120); 9
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (-120); Under

Game 925-926: Philadelphia at Boston (7:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia (Cloyd) 15.461; Boston (Aceves) 14.946
Dunkel Line: Philadelphia by 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: Boston (-200); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (+170); Under

Game 927-928: NY Yankees at NY Mets (7:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: NY Yankees (Hughes) 14.789; NY Mets (Niese) 15.285
Dunkel Line: NY Mets by 1/2; 9
Vegas Line: NY Yankees (-120); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: NY Mets (+100); Over

Game 929-930: Chicago Cubs at Chicago White Sox (7:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Cubs (Samardzija) 14.160; White Sox (Quintana) 15.479
Dunkel Line: Chicago White Sox by 1 1/2; 7
Vegas Line: Chicago White Sox (-120); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Chicago White Sox (-120); Under

Game 931-932: LA Angels at LA Dodgers (8:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: LA Angels (Wilson) 16.714; LA Dodgers (Greinke) 14.940
Dunkel Line: LA Angels by 2; 8
Vegas Line: LA Angels (-120); 7
Dunkel Pick: LA Angels (-120); Over
Reply With Quote