The Bum's July's MLB POD'S-Stats-News

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday FOX Tips

July 19, 2013


The All-Star break is finally behind us following a four-day hiatus for baseball bettors. The Saturday FOX card reverts back to afternoon action, with a three-pack of entertaining contests. Five of the six teams getting showcased on FOX sit above .500 and are all teams threatening to qualify for the postseason. We'll begin at Fenway Park with the league's most intense rivalry brewing between a pair of AL East foes.

Yankees at Red Sox - 4:05 PM EST

Amazingly, New York started the second half in fourth-place inside its division, while finding out that shortstop Derek Jeter will be headed back to the 15-day disabled list with a quad injury. Even though the Bombers are a few days away from the return of Alex Rodriguez to the lineup, the Yanks will depend on the right arm of Hiroki Kuroda to pick up a road victory.

Kuroda (8-6, 2.65 ERA) hasn't allowed a single run in each of his last two trips to the mound, including five scoreless innings in a 2-0 victory over the Twins last Friday as a $1.70 home favorite. The right-hander has turned into one of the better 'under' pitchers this season, cashing the 'under' in eight of his last nine starts, including each of his past four away from the Bronx.

The Red Sox send out John Lackey (7-6, 2.78 ERA), who has rebounded after a slow start by putting together six consecutive quality outings. The former Angels’ righty grabbed a road victory in his previous start at Oakland, tossing seven strong innings, while allowing three hits and two earned runs in a 4-2 triumph.

Boston is riding a healthy ‘under’ run in Lackey’s appearance, posting an 8-1 mark to the ‘under’ since late May. Boston owns a 4-2 record against New York this season, with all six games being played in the Bronx. Last season, the Yankees took seven of nine meetings at Fenway Park, while the Sox compiled a 1-5 record as a home favorite.

Pirates at Reds - 4:05 PM EST

The two clubs chasing the Cardinals atop the NL Central continue their set at Great American Ballpark. Pittsburgh holds the upper-hand over Cincinnati early in the season series by capturing six of the first 10 matchups, while splitting a four-game series in the Queen City last month.

A.J. Burnett (4-6, 3.06 ERA) makes his third start since coming off the disabled list in late June, as the Pirates' right-hander has won just once in his last nine outings. Pittsburgh is 2-7 in this span, as Burnett has lost three of his previous four starts on the road, including in division matchups against the Cubs and Brewers. Burnett received a no-decision the last time he faced the Reds at PNC Park in April, as the Pirates staved off Cincinnati, 6-5 as short home favorites.

The Reds closed the first half by alternating wins and losses in each of their final six games, including losing series to Milwaukee and Seattle. Cincinnati tries to get on track with Mat Latos (8-3, 3.52 ERA) toeing the rubber, as the tall righty has won only two of his previous six starts. One of those defeats came as a substantial home favorite against the Pirates in June, falling 4-0 in spite of allowing just three hits in five innings of work. Cincinnati has won six of Latos' eight starts at Great American Ballpark, but the Reds are 0-3 in his three outings against Pittsburgh.

Braves at White Sox - 4:05 PM EST

It's a battle of first and last-place clubs on the South Side of Chicago, as the Sox get their veteran ace back on the hill. Former Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy makes his first start since early June when the right-hander suffered a rib injury at Seattle. Peavy (6-4, 4.30 ERA) allowed six earned runs in each of his last two outings before getting hurt at Safeco Field, as he lasted just 2.1 innings in a 7-4 defeat to the Mariners as a $1.40 underdog.

The White Sox have won three of Peavy's four home starts this season, while delivering quality outings each time at U.S. Cellular Field. After sweeping Miami in late May, Chicago has dropped seven of its past nine interleague contests, including a 1-3 home mark against the Cubs and Mets.

Chicago is hitting just .226 against left-handed pitching this season, as southpaw Paul Maholm takes the mound for the Braves. Maholm (9-8, 3.98 ERA) ended the first half with consecutive road defeats at Philadelphia and Miami, giving up a total of nine runs in those losses. The Braves have cashed the 'over' in each of Maholm's last four road contests, while losing to the White Sox last season as a member of the Cubs, 6-0.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Rays (55-41) at Blue Jays (45-49)
Game: 2
Venue: Rogers Centre
Date: July 20, 2013 1:07 PM EDT


The Tampa Bay Rays showed no signs of slowing down in their first game after the All-Star break, relying on a power surge as they picked right up where they left off.

After tying a season high with four home runs, they'll seek their 16th win in 18 games when they face the host Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday.

Four Rays homered in an 8-5 victory Friday, one of them being Wil Myers, who finished with three hits to make him 7 for his last 13.

Kelly Johnson also homered and is 5 for his last 8 with four runs, while Ben Zobrist, who came in batting .180 in July with one home run, had a third-inning shot among his three hits.

``We were playing the best ball we had up to this point of the year leading up to the All-Star break,' left-hander David Price said. "To have that four-day break, you don't want it to mess up the momentum that the team has and just the winning feeling we have in the clubhouse and in the dugout. That was a big win for us tonight. We hit on all cylinders.'

Tampa Bay's hitters took advantage of a Toronto team that has struggled to keep the ball in the park at Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays (45-50) have given up 77 home runs at home, the highest total in baseball.

In contrast, the Rays (56-41) have been led by superb pitching during their hot streak, posting a 2.09 ERA in the past 17 games.

Jeremy Hellickson (8-3, 4.67 ERA) is one of the Tampa Bay pitchers that has been on a roll, going 4-0 with a 1.97 ERA in his last five starts. The right-hander allowed 12 home runs in his first 11 starts but has given up three in his last eight.

"I don't think it's confidence in myself; it's confidence in throwing a fastball down and away 2-1," Hellickson told the Rays' official website. "Earlier in the year, I would have bounced a changeup. I just have a lot of confidence in my fastball right now."

The right-hander was unable to win a career-high fifth straight start in a 4-3 victory over Minnesota on July 10. He surrendered three runs and struck out eight in six innings.

Hellickson has a 2.25 ERA in three starts against Toronto this year, including a 4-1 win June 24 in which he allowed one hit in seven scoreless innings.

Mark Buehrle (5-6, 4.89), in contrast, is coming off his worst start of the season, allowing a season-high eight runs - three homers - in an 8-5 loss at Baltimore on July 12.

"What do you do? You've just got to get ready for the next start," Buehrle said.

The left-hander, who has a 6.44 ERA on the road, will try to rebound at home, where he is 4-1 with a 3.30 mark.

Tampa Bay's bullpen has posted a 0.81 ERA in the last seven games. Joel Peralta has pitched 5 1-3 straight scoreless innings in that stretch, allowing a hit and a walk, while Fernando Rodney has not allowed a run in 12 appearances and has converted 13 saves in a row.

Toronto slugger Jose Bautista is in a 4-for-37 (.108) slump but ended an eight-game home run drought Friday.


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


SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Rays at Blue Jays
Fri, Jul 19 Final 8 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Rays at Blue Jays
Sat, Jul 20 - 1:07PM EDT

GAME 3
Rays at Blue Jays
Sun, Jul 21 - 1:07PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Phillies (48-48) at Mets (41-50)
Game: 2
Venue: Citi Field
Date: July 20, 2013 1:10 PM EDT


Cole Hamels has seemingly found an answer to his struggles. Now he'll try to correct his recent inconsistency against the New York Mets.

Hamels looks to win a third straight decision while the Philadelphia Phillies' lineup hopes for yet another big game at the Mets' expense Saturday at Citi Field.

Much of the season's first half saw Hamels (4-11, 4.05 ERA) put up uncharacteristically poor results. He lost six straight starts at one point and recorded a 4.58 ERA through his first 17 outings while throwing at least seven innings only five times.

But he owns a 1.57 ERA over his last three starts, going at least seven innings in each.

The left-hander gave up two runs over eight innings Sunday and would have claimed a victory for the third straight start if not for Jonathan Papelbon's blown save in a 4-3 win over the Chicago White Sox.

Hamels has also issued one walk over his last 23 innings after previously averaging 2.8 per nine.

"To put the team in situations where we win, that's ultimately the big idea," he said. "(Earlier in the season) I was a little wild and not able to pitch deep in ballgames."

Hamels saw mixed results while splitting two outings versus New York, giving up one run and six walks over six innings in a 5-1 road victory April 28 and four runs in six innings in a 4-3 home loss June 21.

He's 4-4 with a 5.26 ERA in his last 11 starts against the Mets. Hamels held them to two runs or fewer five times during that stretch but also gave up four runs or more six times.

Poor run support was also part of the reason for Hamels' 2-11 start, as he received an average of 3.1 runs in his first 17 games. However, he won't have anything to worry about if the Phillies continue to hit the Mets like they have been this year.

Friday's 13-8 win marked the fifth time Philadelphia has scored seven or more runs in the teams' 10 meetings, with the Phillies (49-48) winning seven times. The series-opening victory was their seventh straight at Citi Field and pushed them above .500 for the first time since a 31-30 mark June 6.

Philadelphia is slugging .490 with 17 homers in the season series with the Mets (41-51), including one each from Domonic Brown, Chase Utley and Michael Young on Friday.

Eleven of the Phillies' runs came in the first three innings.

"After four days off, to see the bats come alive like that, that was good to see," said Brown, whose 24th home run tied him with Pedro Alvarez for the NL's second-most.

Trying to keep Philadelphia in check will be rookie Zack Wheeler (3-1, 3.54), who's won two straight starts while allowing two earned runs in 12 innings. In his last outing he knocked off San Francisco, the team that originally drafted him in 2009 before he was traded in 2011, by yielding one run and three hits over seven innings July 10.

"That's the best all-around stuff I've seen," manager Terry Collins said of Wheeler, who retired 14 of the first 16 batters he faced.

David Wright is 19 for 57 off Hamels, trailing only former teammate Jose Reyes (22) for the most hits against him. Wright was 2 for 5 on Friday with his 14th homer.


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


SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Phillies at Mets
Fri, Jul 19 Final 13 to 8
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Phillies at Mets
Sat, Jul 20 - 1:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Phillies at Mets
Sun, Jul 21 - 1:10PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Yankees (51-44) at Red Sox (58-39)
Game: 2
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: July 20, 2013 4:05 PM EDT


The Boston Red Sox opened this three-game home set with the New York Yankees with a low-scoring victory, and runs could be at a premium in the second matchup.

Boston's John Lackey and New York's Hiroki Kuroda are among the AL's ERA leaders, and they meet for the first time Saturday with the Red Sox in search of a sixth straight home win.

Boston (59-39) won 4-2 on Friday. All the runs were charged to starters Felix Doubront and Andy Pettitte, who both went 6 1-3 innings with Doubront earning the victory.

It figures to be a tight duel between right-handers Saturday. Kuroda (8-6, 2.65 ERA) is second in the AL in ERA and Lackey (7-6, 2.78) is fourth.

Lackey, who missed all of 2012 due to elbow surgery and was on the disabled list in April with a biceps injury, is 4-1 with a 1.32 ERA in six home starts. He has yielded two runs or fewer in a six-outing stretch in which he is 4-1 with a 2.30 ERA since June 15.

That ERA since that date matches Kuroda's in the same span over five outings. Kuroda enters with a scoreless innings streak of 12, but his ERA on the road (3.65) is far worse than his home mark (1.74).

Kuroda is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA in two starts against Boston this year, although one outing was cut short when he left in the second inning with a bruised middle finger on his throwing hand.

Dustin Pedroia is 8 for 18 with a homer against Kuroda, and David Ortiz is 4 for 6 and has gone deep once.

Lackey hasn't faced the Yankees (51-45) this year. He's 3-2 with a 4.74 ERA against them in seven starts since joining the Red Sox in 2010.

He has faced Ichiro Suzuki more than any player, with the Yankees outfielder hitting .304 in 102 at_bats. Robinson Cano is a .302 hitter against him.

Cano went 1 for 3 with a walk Friday as he showed no ill effects after leaving Tuesday's All-Star game with a bruised quadriceps. The second baseman is 3 for 22 against Boston this year, with New York losing five of seven.

Boston center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury went 2 for 3 with a homer Friday and is batting .396 over his last 23 games.

"It seems like he's been hitting .700," manager John Farrell said. "His timing has been much more Jacoby-like. And his ability to get on base speaks for itself with the havoc he can create."

New York has lost three straight and six of nine after the opener of a 10-game stretch that includes games against Tampa Bay and Texas.

"You can't take too much of it, but obviously this is an important stretch for us that we are in," manager Joe Girardi said. "We understand that. The next three teams we play are all in front of us. We need to play well."

Red Sox outfielder Shane Victorino exited in the third inning Friday with left hamstring tightness, and New York's Zoilo Almonte came out in the fifth with a left ankle sprain. Almonte, who was wearing a boot and using crutches after the game, will be placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday.


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


SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Yankees at Red Sox
Fri, Jul 19 Final 2 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Yankees at Red Sox
Sat, Jul 20 - 4:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Yankees at Red Sox
Sun, Jul 21 - 8:05PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Braves (54-41) at White Sox (37-55)
Game: 2
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: July 20, 2013 4:05 PM EDT


Jake Peavy is back for the Chicago White Sox.

It's possible he could get his first look at Atlanta Braves slugger Jason Heyward.

Peavy will start for the first time since June 4 on Saturday when the White Sox host the Braves, who could have Heyward back in the lineup.

Chicago (37-56) activated Peavy (6-4, 4.30 ERA) from the disabled list Friday. He was out with a fracture of the left fourth anterior rib, but there won't be many restrictions on him after a stint in the minors.

"As long as his rib is doing fine, he can stay in there,' manager Robin Ventura said. "If it was something with an elbow or shoulder or something like that, you'd be a little more sensitive to him being out here in this heat and doing things. For Peav, you just let him go.'

Peavy expects to be limited to around 100 pitches Saturday. He allowed one run in five innings of a start for Double-A Birmingham on Sunday.

"I threw about 85 (pitches) in the rehab start in Alabama," he said. "I did get a little tired in that start, but it's something I've addressed with the skipper and we'll monitor closely."

Peavy, 3-0 with a 1.88 ERA in four home starts, went 2-4 with a 3.97 ERA in seven outings versus Atlanta (55-41) between 2003-08 for San Diego.

The right-hander has never faced Heyward, who began his career in 2010 and has missed four straight games with a strained right hamstring. Heyward says he is close to returning.

"Every day it feels better once I get to the field and get loose," he told the Braves' official website. "It feels that much better, so soon … real soon."

Justin Upton is 4 for 6 with a homer and a triple against Peavy. The outfielder went 2 for 4 with two runs in a 6-4 victory Friday that opened this three-game set, returning after missing two games with a sprained left calf.

The Braves ended a five-game slide to the White Sox - all on the road. Brian McCann had the big blow as he homered for the third straight game, hitting a three-run shot in the sixth inning.

The White Sox are an AL-worst 7-16 against left-handed starters as they get set to face Paul Maholm (9-8, 3.98). He's 1-2 with a 4.66 ERA in three outings against them and has never pitched at U.S. Cellular Field.

Maholm owns a 5.37 ERA on the road compared to 1.93 at home. The Braves have dropped five of his last seven outings.

He has plenty of experience facing Adam Dunn, who is 4 for 31 with one homer and 13 strikeouts against him.

Ventura pulled Alex Rios in the seventh inning Friday after the outfielder didn't hustle on a double-play ball. Rios is 2 for 20 since his career-high, six-hit effort July 9 against Detroit.

"There is just expectations and we are not starting the second half off that way," Ventura said. "It was simple, he will be back in (Saturday). Tonight, that's what happens when you don't run.'

The White Sox, losers of 14 of 19, are an AL-worst 6-12 in interleague play.

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


SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Braves at White Sox
Fri, Jul 19 Final 6 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Braves at White Sox
Sat, Jul 20 - 4:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Braves at White Sox
Sun, Jul 21 - 2:10PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Pirates (56-37) at Reds (53-42)
Game: 2
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: July 20, 2013 4:05 PM EDT


The Cincinnati Reds wouldn't mind a repeat of last year's performance out of the All-Star break.

Backed by excellent pitching, the Reds will look to move a step closer to the second-place Pittsburgh Pirates when they play host to their division rivals Saturday afternoon.

The Reds, who won 19 of 22 out of the break last season to take over first place in the NL Central, got off to a solid start Friday night, beating the Pirates 5-3.

"That's a great win to start the second half of the season,' All-Star second baseman Brandon Phillips said. "We're playing a great team. It's time to have some fun and wipe out the mistakes of the first half.

The Reds (54-42) have stayed afloat in the division race through strong pitching. They have a 2.83 ERA over their last 16 games with a .206 average against. That has helped compensate for an offense that has been held to three runs or fewer in eight of those 16 games.

Mat Latos (8-3, 3.53 ERA) is one of the few Cincinnati pitchers who haven't pitched well of late, yielding four-plus runs in consecutive starts for the first time this season. He allowed six runs and nine hits in a season-low four innings of a 6-5 loss to Atlanta on July 11.

"He got a few balls in the heart of the plate,' Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "That's probably the worst outing Mat's had since he's been here.'

The right-hander will attempt to earn his first win in four tries against Pittsburgh this season. The Pirates (56-38) had lost all six games facing Latos entering 2013, but they have won all three of Latos' starts this season. Most recently, on June 18, Latos suffered his first loss against the Pirates, surrendering three runs in five innings, despite nine strikeouts.

Latos has dominated several of the Pirates' key cogs, holding Garrett Jones to 3 for 22 with nine strikeouts, while also faring well against Andrew McCutchen (1 for 9) and Starling Marte (2 for 8 with four strikeouts) in 2013.

Pittsburgh will counter with A.J. Burnett (4-6, 3.06), who has pitched well but has yet to win since missing nearly a month with a tear in his right calf. Burnett has a 2.53 ERA in two starts back from the disabled list, but the lack of run support that plagued him before his injury has continued. He has just one victory over his last nine starts, with only 16 runs of support during that span.

Burnett wasn't terribly sharp Saturday against the Mets, allowing seven hits and four walks in 5 2-3 innings, but was able to minimize the damage by allowing two runs in a 4-2 win.

Pittsburgh, which has averaged 2.6 runs per game while losing six of nine, hit three solo homers in the sixth inning Friday, but failed to score a run on five hits in the other eight frames. They can at least take solace in Russell Martin's home run, however. The catcher entered the All-Star break mired in a 2-for-21 (.095) slump before recording his first long ball since June 25 and his first multi-hit game since July 3.

Phillips, meanwhile, has knocked in 13 runs in his last six games, including a bases-clearing double Friday.

"It's my job to try to drive men in," Phillips said. "I've been doing it all year. That's what it's all about.'

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


SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Pirates at Reds
Fri, Jul 19 Final 3 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Pirates at Reds
Sat, Jul 20 - 4:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Pirates at Reds
Sun, Jul 21 - 1:10PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Dodgers (47-47) at Nationals (48-47)
Game: 2
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: July 20, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


Zack Greinke finds himself on the verge of career victory No. 100 after winning each of his last five outings.

Gio Gonzalez has shined bright during a four-start winning streak of his own.

In what sets up as a pitchers' duel, Greinke takes the mound opposite Gonzalez when the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers continue a three-game set against the Washington Nationals on Saturday night.

While it took some time to find his groove after missing over a month with a broken left collarbone, Greinke (8-2, 3.49 ERA) proved unbeatable toward the end of the first half. The right-hander has posted a 2.50 ERA and limited opponents to a .208 average during his winning streak.

"I think the last few starts are more vintage Greinke. He's as tough a pitcher as you're going to find in the game," teammate Skip Schumaker told MLB's official website.

"It's a lot of fun to play behind (him), because you don't have a lot of time to think about anything else besides what he's trying to do to get outs. Greinke is one of the smartest pitchers I've been around. He's pretty tough when he's on his game."

Greinke was at his best last Saturday in a 1-0 win over Colorado, pitching a two-hitter and striking out nine for his first complete game of the year.

"I stayed good all the way through, I haven't done that in a while," said Greinke, who won a career-high nine straight starts Sept. 13, 2008-May 4, 2009, while with Kansas City. "I felt good out there. It was a fun game."

Greinke has compiled a 1.86 ERA in winning each of his three career outings against the Nationals (48-48). He yielded one run and five hits in 5 1-3 innings of a 3-1 victory May 15.

Gonzalez (7-3, 3.03) also enters this marquee matchup on a roll, posting a 2.00 ERA during his run. In his final start before the All-Star break, Gonzalez surrendered one run and six hits over seven innings in a 5-1 victory at Philadelphia on July 10.

The left-hander, who has been backed by 29 runs of support during his winning streak, had received a combined 13 while going winless in his previous eight outings.

"I have the same focus and trying to attack the strike zone," he said.

In his only matchup versus Los Angeles, Gonzalez yielded two runs, three hits and five walks in six innings in a 2-0 road loss April 29, 2012.

The surging Dodgers (48-47) picked up right where they left off before the break, winning 3-2 on Friday. Hanley Ramirez hit a two-run homer and Andre Ethier delivered a tiebreaking solo shot in the ninth as Los Angeles improved to an NL-best 18-5 since June 22.

"It's weird how confidence can really sometimes sway things, and that feeling can really sway things either way," said Ethier, whose club was 12 games below .500 on June 21. "It was really tough to get that confident, good feeling going. Hopefully we can keep it going."

Ramirez is batting .420 with eight homers, 24 RBIs and 23 runs in his last 27 games. The Dodgers have won 13 straight and are 16-3 when Ramirez drives in a run.

The Nationals' loss was their sixth in eight games, a stretch during which they have gone 5 for 55 with runners in scoring position. Washington went 1 for 9 in such situations Friday, dropping to 5-13 in its last 18 meetings against Los Angeles.


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

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Dodgers at Nationals
Fri, Jul 19 Final 3 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Dodgers at Nationals
Sat, Jul 20 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Dodgers at Nationals
Sun, Jul 21 - 1:35PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Tigers (52-42) at Royals (43-49)
Game: 2
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: July 20, 2013 7:10 PM EDT


Justin Verlander has continued his domination of the Kansas City Royals this season but has yet to earn a win against them.

Verlander will try to change that while helping the Detroit Tigers start turning around their lackluster record in this year's series Saturday night.

Verlander is 15-2 with a 2.56 ERA in 25 career starts against Kansas City and has posted a 0.64 ERA in his two matchups this season. The Tigers' bullpen, though, has failed to hold on to leads in both games, and he's received a total of five runs of support.

Verlander pitched seven scoreless innings and struck out eight in his most recent meeting with the Royals on June 12, but Drew Smyly and Jose Valverde combined to give up two runs in the ninth in a 3-2 loss in 10 innings.

In the final game before the All-Star break Sunday, Verlander (10-6, 3.50 ERA) took a no-hitter into the seventh inning in a 5-0 win over Texas.

He's hoping a change in routine will help him earn another victory. Verlander has had only one throwing session since his last start in order to help him rest.

"I think it's going to rejuvenate him," pitching coach Jeff Jones told the team's website. "It's been a battle for him. He's worked as hard as you can work trying to figure some things out.

"We've spent a lot of time in the video room working on various things that he's gotten away from that he's done in the past. I think he's starting the throw the ball really well."

The Tigers (52-43) were shut out for the seventh time this year in their return from the break Friday. They produced a season-low two hits in a 1-0 defeat to Kansas City (44-49).

Billy Butler's RBI single in the first inning was all the Royals needed to snap a five-game skid. After going 13-5 in last season's series, the Tigers are 2-4 against Kansas City in 2013.

"I did not know that was going to be enough," Butler said. "It was a pitcher's duel, old-fashioned."

Jeremy Guthrie (8-7, 4.25) will try to help his team win consecutive games with another strong home start against Detroit. The right-hander is 3-0 with a 2.29 ERA in his last three matchups with the Tigers at Kauffman Stadium.

Guthrie gave up two runs over 6 1-3 innings in a 3-2 win there June 10, his only meeting with Detroit this season.

Unlike Verlander, Guthrie wasn't sharp in his final start before the break. He gave up five runs over seven innings in a 5-3 loss in Cleveland last Saturday.

Four of those runs came on one swing from Lonnie Chisenhall in the sixth inning. The grand slam was the 22nd homer that Guthrie has allowed this season.

"Jeremy was really good, really good tonight," manager Ned Yost said. "I thought that inning just kind of developed."

The performance dropped the right-hander to 1-4 with a 5.80 ERA in his last six starts. Guthrie is 0-1 with an 11.42 ERA in his last two home outings after going 5-1 with a 2.79 ERA in his first six this season.

Butler has more hits off Verlander than any other batter, going 24 for 57 (.421) with two homers and 10 RBIs.

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


SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Tigers at Royals
Fri, Jul 19 Final 0 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Tigers at Royals
Sat, Jul 20 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Tigers at Royals
Sun, Jul 21 - 2:10PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Marlins (35-58) at Brewers (38-56)
Game: 2
Venue: Miller Park
Date: July 20, 2013 7:10 PM EDT


While Yovani Gallardo is still on the trade market, his disappointing first half may have scared some teams away.

Another dominant performance against the Miami Marlins could perhaps boost his value.

Gallardo aims to get on track and continue his mastery of the visiting Marlins, who try to snap their recent woes against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday night.

The All-Star break couldn't have come at a better time for Gallardo (7-8, 4.83 ERA), who struggled through the season's first 3 1/2 months. Besides posting the highest ERA of his career, Gallardo has recorded a career-low 7.21 strikeouts per nine innings and is already one loss away from matching his total from all of 2012.

In his final start before the break, Gallardo allowed three runs and four hits in six innings but didn't factor in the decision of a 5-3 loss at Arizona last Thursday.

"It's just frustrating," Gallardo, who was backed with an early three-run lead, told MLB's official website. "But that's how things are going. ... It just seems like not the right time for me.

"I felt good, I had a good curveball, a good slider, it was just the little things. I get into trouble on my own and I try to do too much, try to make that perfect pitch to get out of it."

Gallardo, in contrast, was at his best in a 6-1 win at Miami on June 10, yielding four hits over a season-high eight scoreless innings. The right-hander improved to 4-0 in six starts against the Marlins (35-59) with a 1.29 ERA, his lowest mark against any team he has faced more than once.4

Logan Morrison is 0 for 11 with four strikeouts in their matchups, and Placido Polanco is 0 for 5.

The Brewers (39-56) have handled the Marlins with relative ease lately, hitting 29 homers during a 15-5 stretch in the series. Carlos Gomez and Juan Francisco provided all the offense with their 15th and 12th homers, respectively, as Milwaukee took Friday's opener 2-0.

"It felt good to get the second half started this way," winning pitcher Kyle Lohse said. "We just to keep playing some clean games and just keep it going."

Ryan Braun went 0 for 3 in his return to the lineup after coming off the bereavement list Monday. The slugging left fielder is hitting .246 with no homers over an 18-game stretch.

Losers in 12 of 15 at Miller Park, Miami has hit .186 and been limited to seven runs during a four-game road losing streak.

The Marlins will try to bounce back behind Nathan Eovaldi (2-0, 2.93), who has produced five quality starts in as many tries since his season debut June 18 due to inflammation in his shoulder. The right-hander walked a season-high four last Friday but managed to limit the damage, yielding three runs and three hits in six innings in an 8-3 victory over Washington.

Eovaldi has posted a 3.00 ERA but dropped all three of his starts against the Brewers, two of which came while with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He received one run of support in each of those outings.

Braun is 3 for 7 with a homer and a double in their matchups. Eovaldi will also need to be careful against Francisco, who is batting .310 with five homers and nine runs in his last nine home games.


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


SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Marlins at Brewers
Fri, Jul 19 Final 0 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Marlins at Brewers
Sat, Jul 20 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Marlins at Brewers
Sun, Jul 21 - 2:10PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Indians (51-44) at Twins (39-53)
Game: 2
Venue: Target Field
Date: July 20, 2013 7:10 PM EDT


Kevin Correia likely needs to cut down on walks to end his recent struggles.

It's an issue the Minnesota Twins hope Correia resolves as they look for a fourth straight victory when they face the visiting Cleveland Indians on Saturday night.

Correia (6-6, 4.23 ERA) has been Minnesota's most reliable starter this season, posting a team-leading nine quality starts. He's been plagued by control problems lately, however, issuing 13 walks over 22 1-3 innings of his last four starts, in which he's gone 0-2 with a 5.64 ERA.

The right-hander walked the same number of batters in 88 1-3 innings over his first 14 starts, during which he went 6-4 with a 3.87 ERA.

The Indians (51-45) might not be the ideal opponent against which to find his control, as they average a walk every 10.8 plate appearances, among the best rates in the major leagues.

Cleveland drew four walks but lost 3-2 on Friday after Joe Mauer's go-ahead single in the eighth. The All-Star catcher is 12 for 26 during a seven-game hitting streak.

"It was good that they pitched to Joe and gave him a chance," said Glen Perkins, who converted his 22nd save in 24 chances this season. "So thanks for that."

Correia allowed three runs over 5 1-3 innings of a 4-3 road loss to Tampa Bay on July 10, walking five for the first time since April 29, 2012. He also surrendered a two-run homer.

The Indians have gone 1-6 in their last seven games in Minnesota, but may have a good chance for a victory Saturday with Corey Kluber (7-5, 3.88) on the mound. Cleveland has won six of his last seven starts with the right-hander going 4-1 with a 3.15 ERA in that span.

Kluber has struck out 18 in 14 innings over his last two starts. He threw 7 2-3 innings in a 3-0 victory over Kansas City on July 12.

"He certainly stays composed," manager Terry Francona said. "For a young pitcher, that's a big compliment."

Correia gave up four runs and walked two in five innings of a 7-3 loss at Cleveland on May 4.

Kluber has gone 1-1 with a 4.67 ERA in five career starts against Minnesota, both decisions coming this season as he allowed three runs in 5 2-3 innings in both outings.

Michael Bourn continued to hit Minnesota hard Friday, going 2 for 4 and driving in both of Cleveland's runs to make him 10 for 17 in four games against the Twins this year.

Jason Kipnis had been 12 of 24 with 12 RBIs in six games versus Minnesota this season before going 0 for 3 on Friday.


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


SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Indians at Twins
Fri, Jul 19 Final 2 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Indians at Twins
Sat, Jul 20 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Indians at Twins
Sun, Jul 21 - 2:10PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Padres (42-54) at Cardinals (57-36)
Game: 2
Venue: Busch Stadium
Date: July 20, 2013 7:15 PM EDT


It's been almost a year since the St. Louis Cardinals' Lance Lynn last dropped a regular-season home start.

San Diego Padres starter Edinson Volquez probably wishes he was pitching somewhere else other than Busch Stadium on Saturday night.

Lynn has won 10 straight home regular-season decisions, and his Cardinals will look to beat Volquez again and hand the Padres an 11th consecutive road loss.

Lynn (11-4, 4.00 ERA) is 10-0 with a 2.51 ERA in his last 11 regular-season outings at home. His most recent regular-season loss at Busch came Sept. 7 in a relief appearance, and he last lost a start there Aug. 7.

The right-hander has been shaky in going 1-3 with a 6.12 ERA in his last four outings, yielding six runs over 4 1-3 innings in last Saturday's 6-4 defeat to the Cubs.

Lynn owns one of baseball's best run support averages at 6.38, and he has to like his chances of getting back on the winning track if the Cardinals (58-36) again treat Volquez rudely.

Volquez (6-8, 5.74) has posted a 6.35 ERA in losing his last three starts in St. Louis.

He probably doesn't have pleasant memories of his only other outing at Busch Stadium on June 1, 2009. Volquez left after one inning with what was originally called numbness in his pitching hand, but he didn't pitch again until July 2010 after elbow surgery.

The right-hander owns the majors' second-worst ERA and has allowed 12 runs over 10 1-3 innings in consecutive defeats. Carlos Beltran is 6 for 15 against Volquez.

Lynn won his lone career start against San Diego (42-55) by yielding three runs over six innings in a 6-3 victory May 23, 2012.

Matt Holliday is 8 for 20 with two homers against Volquez, but he could miss a fifth straight game with a hamstring injury. He will likely be available to pinch-hit Saturday at the very least.

"We're going to see how (Saturday) goes and go from there," he told the Cardinals' official website.

The Cardinals had plenty of offense without him with a 14-hit attack in Friday's 9-6 victory that opened this weekend set.

Matt Carpenter continued his strong season with three hits and three RBIs. He's hitting .368 with 23 RBIs and 21 runs over his last 23 games.

"I'm just trying to have good at_bats, play good defense and do whatever I can to get on base," Carpenter said.

Allen Craig is hitting .425 with 21 RBIs in his last 22 games for St. Louis, which has 47 hits over its last three.

The Padres weren't able to keep up Friday despite a late rally after trailing by seven runs after seven innings. Everth Cabrera had two hits and two RBIs.

"We got 13 hits and we put some stress on them," manager Bud Black said. "We forced them to bring in their closer and we started hitting the ball with some authority."

The Cardinals can win seven in a row at home for the first time since July 24-Aug. 6, while the Padres are trying to avoid their first 11-game road slide since April 29-May 14, 2009.


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


SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Padres at Cardinals
Fri, Jul 19 Final 6 to 9
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Padres at Cardinals
Sat, Jul 20 - 7:15PM EDT

GAME 3
Padres at Cardinals
Sun, Jul 21 - 2:15PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Orioles (53-43) at Rangers (54-41)
Game: 2
Venue: Rangers Ballpark in Arlington
Date: July 20, 2013 8:05 PM EDT


Although Miguel Gonzalez wasn't the Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher named to the All-Star team, he's clearly been the most reliable member of their rotation the past two months.

Gonzalez has produced seven straight quality starts in an impressive stretch he'll try to continue Saturday night as the visiting Orioles face the Texas Rangers.

Chris Tillman became the fifth Orioles All-Star earlier this week when he was named as a late replacement for Justin Verlander. While Tillman ranks among the AL leaders with 11 wins, Gonzalez (7-3, 3.48 ERA) is better in ERA, opponents' batting average, WHIP and innings per start. The biggest difference between the two is run support, with Tillman receiving 6.29 per game compared to 4.46 for Gonzalez.

The Rangers (54-42) saw just how effective Gonzalez has been lately in a 3-1 loss July 11 at Camden Yards, as they were limited to four hits and one run over 6 2-3 innings.

"His mechanics are so smooth it doesn't look like he's getting it up there very fast, but he must have, because we couldn't square him up," Texas manager Ron Washington said.

Gonzalez held the Rangers' No. 2-5 hitters to one single in 12 at_bats as he moved to 5-1 with a 2.49 ERA in seven starts since the beginning of June.

Baltimore has won all of the right-hander's eight home starts this season, but is 2-6 in his road appearances despite Gonzalez posting a 3.14 ERA in those games.

After losing two straight to the Rangers last week, the Orioles have rebounded with three consecutive wins in the series, including a 3-1 victory Friday. Wei-Yin Chen pitched into the seventh inning and Matt Wieters hit a solo homer to lift Baltimore (54-43) to its fifth win in six contests.

A victory Saturday would move the Orioles a season-best 12 games over .500, but they may have to do it without any production from slugger Chris Davis, who went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts Friday and continues to struggle against his former team. He's 4 for 38 (.105) with 23 strikeouts versus Texas.

The Rangers' loss was their fifth in six games, a stretch during which they have gone 4 for 37 with runners in scoring position. They were hitless in 10 attempts Friday.

Texas failed to homer after going deep at least twice in each of its previous five home games. Nick Markakis robbed Adrian Beltre of a home run with a leaping catch in the fourth inning and added an RBI double in the fifth.

``That was a great play. ... He had a big part in the game tonight,' teammate Nate McLouth said. ``As far as right fielders, he's about as good as they come. He can swing the bat a little, too.'

Ross Wolf (1-2, 2.14) faces the Orioles for the second straight start and third appearance in a row. Pressed into his second career start after an injury to Yu Darvish, Wolf was very good opposite Gonzalez on July 11, giving up solo homers to Brian Roberts and Davis and one other hit in six innings.

Those home runs were the first allowed this season by Wolf, who pitched five innings of one-run ball to beat Oakland 3-1 on May 22 in his first start.

The right-hander, who had a short stint in the Baltimore organization in 2012, retired the only batter he faced in relief against the Orioles on July 8.


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

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Orioles at Rangers
Fri, Jul 19 Final 3 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Orioles at Rangers
Sat, Jul 20 - 8:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Orioles at Rangers
Sun, Jul 21 - 7:05PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Cubs (42-51) at Rockies (46-50)
Game: 2
Venue: Coors Field
Date: July 20, 2013 8:10 PM EDT


Junior Lake and Alfonso Soriano will try to team up again to help the Chicago Cubs earn another rare road win over the Colorado Rockies.

Lake will seek to build on his stellar big league debut and Soriano will attempt to keep his power surge going when the Cubs continue their three-game series Saturday night.

Lake had three hits in his first major league game, including a double on the first pitch he saw. He also stole a base in a 3-1 victory in Friday's series opener.

"Since I've been here, that's the first kid that's come up and looked like a major leaguer, aggressive, aggressive on the bases," manager Dale Sveum said. "He did a great job and swung the bat really nice."

Soriano, meanwhile, hit his 10th homer since June 27, a solo shot in the fourth inning. The win was only the Cubs' fourth in their last 18 games at Coors Field.

Carlos Villanueva (2-5, 3.59 ERA) aims to lead Chicago (43-51) to another win while building on a solid outing before the break. The right-hander, though, took the loss in a 3-2 defeat to St. Louis on July 12.

Villanueva gave up two runs and four hits over six innings in his second start since rejoining the rotation.

"I don't want to say it's like a light switch, but when it comes to (going between starting and relieving) I can adapt real quick," Villanueva said. "I felt good, my arm's been feeling strong. Maybe my time in the bullpen helped me rest it a little bit. Hopefully I can continue to give the boys a chance to win in the second half."

Villanueva, however, struggled mightily in his only start against Colorado (46-51) on May 14. He was tagged for seven runs and a career-high 12 hits in five innings of a 9-4 defeat, prompting his removal from the rotation.

Likewise, the Rockies' Juan Nicasio (5-4, 4.89) performed poorly in his only start against the Cubs, a 9-1 defeat May 13. The right-hander gave up five runs and eight hits over six innings.

Like Villanueva, Nicasio had a strong showing before the break, earning his first victory since May 19. Following a 15-day stint at Triple-A Colorado Springs, he gave up three hits and one walk over seven innings in a 3-0 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 12.

Nicasio was 0-3 with a 6.90 ERA in his previous six major league outings.

"It was a clutch performance," manager Walt Weiss told the team's website. "To shut down a team like that when they are really rolling is very impressive. His fastball was really good, and possibly the best changeup he's had all year."

Carlos Gonzalez, batting .476 in 10 career home games against the Cubs, was a triple shy of the cycle versus Villanueva in the win in May.

Soriano hit a two-run homer and a double against Nicasio in that same series at Wrigley Field.

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

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Cubs at Rockies
Fri, Jul 19 Final 3 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Cubs at Rockies
Sat, Jul 20 - 8:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Cubs at Rockies
Sun, Jul 21 - 4:10PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Diamondbacks (50-45) at Giants (43-51)
Game: 2
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: July 20, 2013 9:05 PM EDT


The All-Star break may have come at just the right time for Matt Cain, who wasn't able to find his form during a forgettable first half.

His efforts could prove crucial down the stretch if San Francisco hopes to catch the NL West-leading Arizona Diamondbacks.

Cain tries to avoid a fourth consecutive loss as the Giants try to make up more ground on the visiting Diamondbacks on Saturday night.

Named to the All-Star team in three of the previous four seasons, Cain (5-6, 5.06 ERA) hasn't come close to pitching at that level thus far. The right-hander owns the highest home ERA in the major leagues at 5.94 and has surrendered 16 homers - six shy of his career high.

Cain went 0-3 with a 7.94 ERA in his final four starts before the break, and the last two were especially alarming. After yielding eight runs in 2 1-3 innings of a 10-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 5, Cain failed to make it out of the first inning for the first time in his career in a 7-2 loss to the New York Mets last Wednesday.

"To go out there and have an outing like that is really disappointing," he said. " It's kind of hard to swallow, but you have to get over it."

Cain, who threw 36 pitches, surrendered three runs and walked three while recording two outs.

"I didn't want it to become a health issue," manager Bruce Bochy told MLB's official website, "He's fine. I had some concern there because he was a little off. I'll be honest. You want to win every game, but you don't want to risk someone to win a game. That's why I got him."

Despite his struggles, Cain insists he's healthy. He threw a bullpen session last Saturday without any complications.

"It gives you a sense of comfort with the fact that he felt really good," Bochy said.

Cain has gone 3-0 with a 2.43 ERA in his last six starts versus Arizona (50-46). Paul Goldschmidt, Eric Chavez and Cody Ross are a combined 12 for 59 (.203) against him, while Miguel Montero is 10 for 51 with 15 strikeouts.

San Francisco (44-51) posted its sixth victory in seven games in the series Friday, 2-0. Hunter Pence and Buster Posey each drove in a run as the fourth-place Giants climbed to within 5 1/2 games of the Diamondbacks.

"It's huge," winning pitcher Chad Gaudin said. "Any win in our division is huge."

The Giants, 4-1 in their last five overall, have allowed two or fewer runs in each of those wins.

Arizona, in contrast, has hit .230 and been outscored 67-38 in dropping 11 of 14 on the road. Second baseman Aaron Hill, mired in a 2-for-21 funk, is hitless in his last 13 at_bats in this series.

"We had no offense going on at all," said manager Kirk Gibson, whose team was limited to five singles Friday. "They just shut us down."

The Diamondbacks will try to bounce back behind Wade Miley (6-7, 4.01), who has gone 2-0 with a 1.66 ERA in three starts this month. The left-hander allowed three runs in eight innings to beat Milwaukee 5-3 last Thursday.

Miley is 0-2 with a 4.08 ERA in three career starts versus San Francisco. Posey is 5 for 10 with a homer and two doubles in their matchups, and Andres Torres is 5 for 9 with two extra-base hits.


--------------------------------------------------------
SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Diamondbacks at Giants
Fri, Jul 19 Final 0 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Diamondbacks at Giants
Sat, Jul 20 - 9:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Diamondbacks at Giants
Sun, Jul 21 - 4:05PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Athletics (56-40) at Angels (45-49)
Game: 2
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Date: July 20, 2013 9:05 PM EDT


C.J. Wilson has his sights set on starting the second half the same way he ended the first - in dominant fashion.

The potential absence of Yoenis Cespedes could make things a little easier for Wilson as he seeks his sixth victory in seven starts when the Los Angeles Angels host the Oakland Athletics on Saturday night.

Wilson (9-6, 3.37 ERA) went 5-1 in his last six outings prior to the All-Star break, posting a 2.04 ERA over that stretch.

The left-hander has also been outstanding against division foes, posting a 6-2 record and 2.43 ERA in nine starts, including two against Oakland. He didn't record a decision in a 9-5 loss to the A's on April 9, allowing four runs in six innings, but won 5-4 at Oakland on May 1 after limiting the A's to two runs in 6 1-3 innings.

Wilson would love to see his team put together another big offensive output after it gave him 12 runs of support in his last start, matching his career high. He held the Chicago Cubs to one run and four hits over seven innings of a 13-2 road win July 10.

"Offense is kind of a streaky thing sometimes," Wilson said. "You have instances where you score 13 runs, which is kind of a fluke no matter how good your offense is. I feel like our offense is capable of scoring six runs a night."

Wilson might not need that many if Oakland (56-40) is again without Cespedes, who sat out Friday's 4-1 loss. The Home Run Derby winner was a late scratch due to a sore left wrist and was replaced by Chris Young, who went 1 for 4 with an RBI double in the ninth.

"It came up (Friday) in batting practice," manager Bob Melvin said of the injury. "When he was taking some swings in the cage, he still felt it, so we pulled him out."

Melvin said he didn't think it was related to the home run contest, and he won't know until Saturday if Cespedes can play.

Cespedes' .364 average versus Wilson is the highest by any current Oakland player with more than three at_bats against him.

Mike Trout, who entered the break batting .397 with 13 RBIs over his last 16 games, was one of three Angels to connect for a solo homer Friday, joining Albert Pujols and Erick Aybar. Pujols had been without an extra-base hit in his previous eight home games.

Trout will try to stay hot for the Angels (45-49) against Oakland's Dan Straily (6-2, 4.28), who is 1-0 with a 7.88 ERA in three starts versus Los Angeles. Trout is 5 for 10 off of him.

Straily also entered the break on a high note, however, winning his last two starts while yielding a run and three hits over 13 1-3 innings. He was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento following his last start - in which he threw 6 1-3 innings in a 2-1 win at Pittsburgh on July 9 - as Oakland temporarily didn't need a fifth starter because of a scheduling oddity.

"I could have thrown a perfect game and I was going to get optioned out," Straily said. "It's nothing personal. It's the situation we're in. It is what it is.'

Despite Friday's defeat, Oakland has won 10 of 13 at Angel Stadium. The A's, though, have scored 13 runs in their last seven games.


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

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Athletics at Angels
Fri, Jul 19 Final 1 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Athletics at Angels
Sat, Jul 20 - 9:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Athletics at Angels
Sun, Jul 21 - 3:35PM EDT