Cnotes Best Bets For Sunday April 26th - MLB - NBA -NHL !

[CNOTES]

MLB MONEYLINE


MLB > (907) ST LOUIS@ (908) MILWAUKEE | 04/26/2015 - 02:10 PM
Play AGAINST MILWAUKEE using the money line in All games in April games
The record is 3 Wins and 14 Losses for the this season (-12.2 units)


MLB TOTALS


MLB > (925) HOUSTON@ (926) OAKLAND | 04/26/2015 - 04:05 PM
Play OVER OAKLAND on the total in All games in April games
The record is 50 Overs and 23 Unders for the last three seasons (+27.1 units)


MLB TOP POWERLINES


MLB > (917) TORONTO @ (918) TAMPA BAY | 04/26/2015 - 01:10 PM
Line: TAMPA BAY -150 BTB PowerLine: TAMPA BAY 120
Edge On: TAMPA BAY (50)


MLB > (919) BOSTON @ (920) BALTIMORE | 04/26/2015 - 01:35 PM
Line: BALTIMORE +105 BTB PowerLine: BALTIMORE -144
Edge On: BALTIMORE (49)


MLB > (907) ST LOUIS @ (908) MILWAUKEE | 04/26/2015 - 02:10 PM
Line: MILWAUKEE +125 BTB PowerLine: MILWAUKEE 194
Edge On: MILWAUKEE (49)


MLB > (909) PITTSBURGH @ (910) ARIZONA | 04/26/2015 - 04:10 PM
Line: ARIZONA +125 BTB PowerLine: ARIZONA 216
Edge On: ARIZONA (71)

 

[CNOTES]

NBA MONEYLINE


NBA > (503) LA CLIPPERS@ (504) SAN ANTONIO | 04/26/2015 - 03:35 PM
Play ON SAN ANTONIO using the money line in Home games second half of the season
The record is 13 Wins and 1 Losses for the this season (+11.95 units)


NBA > (507) HOUSTON@ (508) DALLAS | 04/26/2015 - 09:05 PM
Play AGAINST DALLAS using the money line in All games when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season
The record is 9 Wins and 19 Losses for the this season (-17.5 units)


NBA > (505) TORONTO@ (506) WASHINGTON | 04/26/2015 - 06:35 PM
Play ON WASHINGTON using the money line in All games in April games
The record is 17 Wins and 6 Losses for the last two seasons (+14.4 units)


NBA > (501) CLEVELAND@ (502) BOSTON | 04/26/2015 - 01:05 PM
Play AGAINST BOSTON using the money line in All games on Sunday games
The record is 2 Wins and 10 Losses for the this season (-11.2 units)


NBA FIRST HALF


NBA > (503) LA CLIPPERS@ (504) SAN ANTONIO | 04/26/2015 - 03:35 PM
Play ON SAN ANTONIO in the first half in Home games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game
The record is 21 Wins and 5 Losses for the this season (+15.5 units)


NBA > (507) HOUSTON@ (508) DALLAS | 04/26/2015 - 09:05 PM
Play AGAINST HOUSTON in the first half in Road games vs. division opponents
The record is 0 Wins and 9 Losses for the this season (-9.9 units)


NBA > (501) CLEVELAND@ (502) BOSTON | 04/26/2015 - 01:05 PM
Play AGAINST CLEVELAND in the first half in Road games when playing against a team with a losing record
The record is 14 Wins and 34 Losses for the last two seasons (-23.4 units)


NBA TOTALS


NBA > (501) CLEVELAND@ (502) BOSTON | 04/26/2015 - 01:05 PM
Play UNDER BOSTON on the total in All games versus the first half line in all games
The record is 26 Overs and 57 Unders for the this season (+28.4 units)


NBA > (503) LA CLIPPERS@ (504) SAN ANTONIO | 04/26/2015 - 03:35 PM
Play UNDER SAN ANTONIO on the total in All games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game - 2nd half of the season
The record is 7 Overs and 22 Unders for the this season (+14.3 units)


NBA > (505) TORONTO@ (506) WASHINGTON | 04/26/2015 - 06:35 PM
Play OVER TORONTO on the total in Road games after allowing 105 points or more
The record is 23 Overs and 7 Unders for the last two seasons (+15.3 units)


NBA TOP POWERLINES


NBA > (501) CLEVELAND @ (502) BOSTON | 04/26/2015 - 01:05 PM
Line: BOSTON 7 BTB PowerLine: BOSTON -1
Edge On: BOSTON (8)


NBA > (503) LA CLIPPERS @ (504) SAN ANTONIO | 04/26/2015 - 03:35 PM
Line: SAN ANTONIO -6 BTB PowerLine: SAN ANTONIO -10
Edge On: SAN ANTONIO (4)


NBA > (505) TORONTO @ (506) WASHINGTON | 04/26/2015 - 06:35 PM
Line: WASHINGTON -5.5 BTB PowerLine: WASHINGTON -5
Edge On: WASHINGTON (0.5)


NBA > (507) HOUSTON @ (508) DALLAS | 04/26/2015 - 09:05 PM
Line: DALLAS 2.5 BTB PowerLine: DALLAS 3
Edge On: DALLAS (0.5)

 

[CNOTES]

Team Open Line Movements Current Moneyline Halftime Scores


1:00 PM EDT
501 CLEVELAND CAVALIERS -7 -7.5 -15 / -8 / -7.5 -7 -330
502 BOSTON CELTICS 203.5 203.5 202.5 +270
TV: ABC
FREE MATCH UP5-STAR PICKSTOP POWER LINESVEGAS ODDSFREE PICKSBOX SCORERECAPPROJECTIONSBET NOW


3:30 PM EDT
503 LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS 202 201 / 199.5 / 199.5o15 199.5 +200
504 SAN ANTONIO SPURS -6 -6 -15 / -6.5 / -6 -6 -05 -240
TV: ABC
FREE MATCH UP5-STAR PICKSTOP POWER LINESVEGAS ODDSFREE PICKSBOX SCORERECAPPROJECTIONSBET NOW


6:35 PM EDT
505 TORONTO RAPTORS 198 198 +195
506 WASHINGTON WIZARDS -6 -5.5 / -5.5 -05 / -5.5 -08 -5.5 -235
Time-change to 06:35pm EDT | TV: TNT, DTV: 245
FREE MATCH UP5-STAR PICKSTOP POWER LINESVEGAS ODDSFREE PICKSBOX SCORERECAPPROJECTIONSBET NOW


9:05 PM EDT
507 HOUSTON ROCKETS -3.5 -3 / -3 -05 / -2.5 -2.5 -05 -140
508 DALLAS MAVERICKS 220.5 220.5 +120
Time-change to 09:05pm EDT | DAL-F-Chandler Parsons-OUT | TV: TNT, DTV: 245
FREE MATCH UP5-STAR PICKSTOP POWER LINESVEGAS ODDSFREE PICKSBOX SCORERECAPPROJECTIONSBET NOW

 

[CNOTES]

Team Pitcher Open Line Movements Current Runline Scores


1:10 PM EDT
901 WASHINGTON NATIONALS (L) Gonzalez, G 7o20 -102 -111 +1.5(-217)
902 MIAMI MARLINS (R) Haren, D -106 7o37 / 7.5u20 / 7.5u24 7.5u25 -1.5(+198)
TV: FS-Florida, MASN2, DTV: 641, 654
FREE MATCH UP5-STAR PICKSTOP POWER LINESVEGAS ODDSFREE PICKSBOX SCORERECAPLINEUPSPROJECTIONSBET NOW


1:10 PM EDT
903 CHICAGO CUBS (R) Arrieta, J -125 -125 / -115 -120
904 CINCINNATI REDS (R) Desclafani, A 8o20 8o20 7u20
Overnight Pitching Change: Cincinnati - A. DeSclafani for J. Marquis | TV: FS-Ohio, WGN, DTV: 307, 661
FREE MATCH UP5-STAR PICKSTOP POWER LINESVEGAS ODDSFREE PICKSBOX SCORERECAPLINEUPSPROJECTIONSBET NOW


1:35 PM EDT
905 ATLANTA BRAVES (R) Cahill, T 8.5u20 8.5u20 / 8.5u39 8 +1.5(-193)
906 PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (R) Williams, J -118 -118 -1.5(+177)
TV: FS-South, DTV: 646
FREE MATCH UP5-STAR PICKSTOP POWER LINESVEGAS ODDSFREE PICKSBOX SCORERECAPLINEUPSPROJECTIONSBET NOW


2:10 PM EDT
907 ST LOUIS CARDINALS (R) Lynn, L -145 -145 / -148 -149 -1.5(+112)
908 MILWAUKEE BREWERS (R) Fiers, M 8u20 8u20 +1.5(-121)
MIL-CF-Carlos Gomez-OUT | TV: FS-Midwest, FS-Wisconsin, DTV: 669, 671
FREE MATCH UP5-STAR PICKSTOP POWER LINESVEGAS ODDSFREE PICKSBOX SCORERECAPLINEUPSPROJECTIONSBET NOW


4:10 PM EDT
909 PITTSBURGH PIRATES (L) Liriano, F -145 -145 -1.5(+120)
910 ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (R) Hellickson, J 8 8 +1.5(-130)
TV: FS-Arizona, ROOT-Pittsburgh, DTV: 659, 686
FREE MATCH UP5-STAR PICKSTOP POWER LINESVEGAS ODDSFREE PICKSBOX SCORERECAPLINEUPSPROJECTIONSBET NOW


4:10 PM EDT
911 SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (R) Lincecum, T 10o20 10o20 +1.5(-163)
912 COLORADO ROCKIES (L) Matzek, T -130 -130 -1.5(+150)
TV: CSN-Bay, ROOT-Rocky Mountain, DTV: 683, 696
FREE MATCH UP5-STAR PICKSTOP POWER LINESVEGAS ODDSFREE PICKSBOX SCORERECAPLINEUPSPROJECTIONSBET NOW


4:10 PM EDT
913 LOS ANGELES DODGERS (R) Baker, S
914 SAN DIEGO PADRES (R) Morrow, B
TV: FS-San Diego, DTV: 694
FREE MATCH UP5-STAR PICKSTOP POWER LINESVEGAS ODDSFREE PICKSBOX SCORERECAPLINEUPSPROJECTIONSBET NOW


1:05 PM EDT
915 CLEVELAND INDIANS (R) Carrasco, C -115 -115 / -114 -123 -1.5(+146)
916 DETROIT TIGERS (L) Lobstein, K 8o20 8o20 / 8o23 8.5u15 +1.5(-159)
TV: FS-Detroit, SportsTime Ohio, DTV: 662, 663
FREE MATCH UP5-STAR PICKSTOP POWER LINESVEGAS ODDSFREE PICKSBOX SCORERECAPLINEUPSPROJECTIONSBET NOW


1:10 PM EDT
917 TORONTO BLUE JAYS (L) Buehrle, M 7.5u15 7.5u15 +1.5(-161)
918 TAMPA BAY RAYS (R) Archer, C -150 -150 -1.5(+148)
TOR-RF-Jose Bautista-? | TV: SunSports, DTV: 653
FREE MATCH UP5-STAR PICKSTOP POWER LINESVEGAS ODDSFREE PICKSBOX SCORERECAPLINEUPSPROJECTIONSBET NOW


1:35 PM EDT
919 BOSTON RED SOX (L) Miley, W -125 -125 -1.5(+139)
920 BALTIMORE ORIOLES (R) Norris, B 9u20 9u20 +1.5(-151)
TV: MASN, NESN, DTV: 628, 640
FREE MATCH UP5-STAR PICKSTOP POWER LINESVEGAS ODDSFREE PICKSBOX SCORERECAPLINEUPSPROJECTIONSBET NOW


2:10 PM EDT
921 KANSAS CITY ROYALS (R) Volquez, E -130 -130 -1.5(+134)
922 CHICAGO WHITE SOX (L) Danks, J 8 8 +1.5(-145)
TV: CSN-Chicago, FS-Kansas City, DTV: 665, 672
FREE MATCH UP5-STAR PICKSTOP POWER LINESVEGAS ODDSFREE PICKSBOX SCORERECAPLINEUPSPROJECTIONSBET NOW


3:35 PM EDT
923 TEXAS RANGERS (R) Martinez, N 8 8 +1.5(-165)
924 LOS ANGELES ANGELS (L) Santiago, H -150 -150 -1.5(+152)
TEX-P-Yu Darvish-OUT | TV: FS-Southwest, FS-West, DTV: 676, 692
FREE MATCH UP5-STAR PICKSTOP POWER LINESVEGAS ODDSFREE PICKSBOX SCORERECAPLINEUPSPROJECTIONSBET NOW


4:05 PM EDT
925 HOUSTON ASTROS (R) Wojciechowski, A 8 8 8u15 +1.5(-157)
926 OAKLAND ATHLETICS (L) Pomeranz, D -160 -160 -1.5(+145)
TV: CSN-California, ROOT-Southwest, DTV: 674, 698
FREE MATCH UP5-STAR PICKSTOP POWER LINESVEGAS ODDSFREE PICKSBOX SCORERECAPLINEUPSPROJECTIONSBET NOW


4:10 PM EDT
927 MINNESOTA TWINS (R) Gibson, K 8 8 +1.5(-168)
928 SEATTLE MARINERS (L) Elias, R -160 -160 -158 -1.5(+155)
TV: FS-North, ROOT-Northwest, DTV: 668, 687
FREE MATCH UP5-STAR PICKSTOP POWER LINESVEGAS ODDSFREE PICKSBOX SCORERECAPLINEUPSPROJECTIONSBET NOW


8:05 PM EDT
929 NEW YORK METS (L) Niese, J 8u20 8u20 +1.5(-178)
930 NEW YORK YANKEES (R) Eovaldi, N -130 -130 -135 -1.5(+164)
TV: ESPN, DTV: 206
FREE MATCH UP5-STAR PICKSTOP POWER LINESVEGAS ODDSFREE PICKSBOX SCORERECAPLINEUPSPROJECTIONSBET NOW

 

[CNOTES]

Team Open Line Movements Current Puck Line Scores


3:05 PM EDT
9 NEW YORK RANGERS
10 PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
FREE MATCH UP5-STAR PICKSTOP POWER LINESVEGAS ODDSFREE PICKSBOX SCORERECAPBET NOW


3:05 PM EDT
11 ST. LOUIS BLUES 5u25 5u25 +1.5(-255)
12 MINNESOTA WILD -140 -140 -1.5(+210)
TV: NBC
FREE MATCH UP5-STAR PICKSTOP POWER LINESVEGAS ODDSFREE PICKSBOX SCORERECAPBET NOW


6:05 PM EDT
13 MONTREAL CANADIENS 5u25 5u25 +1.5(-285)
14 OTTAWA SENATORS -125 -125 -1.5(+235)
TV: NBCS, DTV: 220
FREE MATCH UP5-STAR PICKSTOP POWER LINESVEGAS ODDSFREE PICKSBOX SCORERECAPBET NOW


3:00 PM EDT
15 ANAHEIM DUCKS
16 WINNIPEG JETS
FREE MATCH UP5-STAR PICKSTOP POWER LINESVEGAS ODDSFREE PICKSBOX SCORERECAPBET NOW

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Clippers (56-26) at Spurs (55-27)


Date: April 26, 2015 3:30 PM EDT

The San Antonio Spurs have experienced their share of double-digit losses and poor shooting performances during their five playoffs runs that ended with an NBA title.


Their response to such an effort in Game 1 has the Spurs leading their first-round series, though they're expecting the Los Angeles Clippers to come out with something to prove Sunday after suffering a blowout defeat in Game 3.


San Antonio lost by at least 10 points a combined nine times during its championship runs in 1999, 2003, '05, '07 and last year, never letting a single loss - no matter how bad - derail its championship march.


Last Sunday, the Spurs shot 36.6 percent from the field and fell 107-92 to the Clippers. In typical fashion, they bounced back to win 111-107 in overtime behind 28 points and 11 rebounds from Tim Duncan before Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard scored a playoff career-high 32 in Friday's 100-73 rout.


San Antonio shot 52.6 percent while holding Los Angeles to 34.1 from the floor.


"We're not that good, and they're not what you saw (Friday) without a doubt," coach Gregg Popovich said. "We just had one heck of a night, and that's all it is is one night. You throw it out and start all over again, and they'll do the same thing."


The Clippers will have to do just that if they hope to even this series. The only time Los Angeles has rallied from a series deficit in team history was last year when it came back after losing Game 1 to Golden State.


Chris Paul shot just 3 of 11 and scored seven points after netting 32 in Game 1 and 21 in Game 2. Los Angeles scored its fewest points in a playoff game in franchise history, and the 11 it put up in the third marked its fewest in any quarter this season.


"We beat them Game 1, they beat us Game 2," Paul said. "They came out, did what we did in Game 1 against us here. Now we've got to show some resolve."


Clippers coach Doc Rivers believes Paul's tough night was a credit to Danny Green's defense. Paul averaged 24 points and shot 56 percent over his previous five against San Antonio, including the postseason.


Duncan also got the better of Blake Griffin, who had 14 points after averaging 27.7 and shooting 52 percent in his previous six against the Spurs, including this series.


"This game can't dictate how we play in Game 4," Griffin said. "We just gotta forget about it and move on. Games like this happen. Whether we lose by one or lose by two or whatever it is, it doesn't matter. It's a loss. We gotta move on and get the next one."


Los Angeles has had championship aspirations since Paul was acquired from New Orleans before the 2011-12 season, but it has yet to reach the Western Conference Finals.


The Clippers, who were swept by the Spurs in the second round in Paul's first season in Los Angeles, now are in danger of falling into a bigger hole despite San Antonio guard Tony Parker not playing at full strength.


Parker aggravated a right Achilles injury in Game 2 and scored just six points while shooting 3 of 11 on Friday. He said he was able to move better in Game 3 and hopes the tightness will subside even more by tipoff, when he's expecting the Clippers to come out with a chip on their shoulders.


Rivers will be looking for more out of J.J. Redick and Jamal Crawford, who combined for 14 points on 5-of-18 shooting. They combined for 27 points in each of the first two games.

 

[CNOTES]

Home-ice overrated in Wild-Blues series


April 25, 2015


ST. LOUIS (AP) - NHL teams play all season for home-ice advantage. Only to give it away.


It hasn't meant much at all in the Wild-Blues first-round Western Conference series. The teams have traded victories the first five games, three of them coming on the road, sending overflow crowds home grumbling.


The so-called advantage has been iffy throughout the playoffs. The Rangers won twice on the road while eliminating the Penguins, whose lone win came on the road. Anaheim's first-round sweep of Winnipeg included two road wins, Calgary seized the advantage by winning the opener at Vancouver, and every other series featured at least one triumph by the invaders, including Ottawa's victory at Montreal to stay alive Friday night.


Wild-card Minnesota has a 3-2 series edge against St. Louis, the Central champions, and can advance to the second round for the second straight season with a victory on Sunday.


The Blues dominated the last time they were in the Twin Cities, chasing goalie Devan Dubnyk from the net in a 6-1 rout. Two days later, Dubnyk was the star with 36 saves in a 4-1 victory.


It's the only series with no games decided by a single goal.


''Well, I don't think I can explain the lopsided wins,'' Dubnyk said. ''I don't think either team would have expected that. I think both sides aren't surprised by the going back and forth.


''We knew it was going to be a long tough series and I'm sure they did too, and that's when it becomes important to put games behind you, win or lose.''


Blues forward Steve Ott believes the way to eliminate gaps in their game is to rigidly stick to the relentless, physical style that earned them 109 points and the second seed in the West.


''We have to get rid of the lulls. We have to continue to be very robotic at times or almost methodical,'' Ott said. ''When we're methodical, we're very hard to play against.''


A look at Sunday's games. All times EDT:


---


St. Louis at Minnesota. Wild lead 3-2. Game 6, 3 p.m., NBC, TVA, SN


Game 5 was the first time in the series the team that scored first did not win. Vladimir Tarasenko put St. Louis up early with his playoffs-leading sixth goal and the Blues were up 8-0 in shots before momentum abruptly shifted. Marco Scandella scored on a shot from the top of the left circle that goalie Jake Allen couldn't handle, the puck popping out of his glove and into the net.


The Blues outshot the Wild 12-3 in the first period but the score was tied and Minnesota gained momentum over time.


Dubnyk instilled more confidence when he twice stoned Alexander Steen in the second period, kicking his pad into the air to bat away one close chance.


''The fireworks were going off in the building,'' Wild coach Mike Yeo said. ''Obviously, when you're on the bench your heart kind of sinks. All of a sudden, you're going down the other way on the rush. It's a big lift for your group.''


The Wild were resilient, shaking off the 6-1 Game 4 rout at home, and now it's the Blues' turn.


''We've still got two games to play,'' St. Louis defenseman Alex Pietrangelo said. ''We're not going to hang our heads, we know we've got to play better. We'll take a hard look at ourselves and get ready for Game 6.''


Since 1986, the Blues have lost 11 of 12 best-of-seven series when tied at two games apiece, with the lone victory coming in the first round in 2001 against the Sharks. Game 7 would be Wednesday in St. Louis.


---


Montreal at Ottawa. Canadiens lead 3-2. Game 6, 6 p.m., CBC, NBCSN, TVA


The Senators stayed alive with a surprising 5-1 rout in Game 5, getting 45 saves from Craig Anderson and goals from five players. They're trying to become just the fifth team in NHL history to win a series after trailing 3-0.


Anderson was a key to the Senators' first-round upset of the Canadiens in 2013 and has been a difference-maker again since replacing Andrew Hammond for Game 3. He's given up just three goals on 123 shots in three starts, and was targeted a bit late in Game 4.


''There's certainly frustration on their part,'' Ottawa coach Dave Cameron said. ''A sure sign is when they're taking cheap shots at your goaltender. Extremely cheap.''


Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty put it simply: ''We're trying to make it hard on their goalie.''


Montreal needs more offense, totaling just three goals the last three games and going 1 for 19 on the power play in the series. Tom Gilbert had the lone goal in Game 4, and Carey Price made 20 saves.


''I don't think we have time to be frustrated,'' said P.K. Subban, who drew a 10-minute misconduct along with Ottawa's Eric Gryba for a lively wrestling match. ''We have to wipe the slate clean.''


Montreal is 27-0 in best-of-seven series in which they have led 3-1, according to STATS. Twenty-one series wins came in Game 5, five in Game 6 and one - against the Bruins in 2008 - came in a Game 7.

 

[CNOTES]

Isles beat Caps 3-1 to force Game 7


April 25, 2015


UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) - Nikolay Kulemin scored the go-ahead goal with 9:27 left and the New York Islanders beat the Washington Capitals 3-1 on Saturday to force Game 7 in the first-round playoff series.


Islanders captain John Tavares had a goal and assist, and Nick Leddy had two assists in what could still be the franchise's final game at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Cal Clutterbuck then got the loud crowd on its feet to seal the win with an empty-net goal with 53 seconds remaining.


John Carlson scored for the Capitals, who will host the deciding game Monday night. The series winner advances to face the Presidents' Trophy-winning New York Rangers, who finished off the Pittsburgh Penguins in five games Friday night.


Jaroslav Halak made 38 saves - including 13 in the final period - and bounced back from a 5-1 loss in Game 5 on Thursday night.


Kulemin's goal came during a frantic stretch in which officials allowed the play to continue despite players from both teams tangling in front of their benches.


Tavares started the play by driving into the Capitals' zone and attempting to split two defenders. He failed to get a shot off and then was bowled over heavily in the left corner by Alex Ovechkin and Karl Alzner.


No one seemed to notice that the puck squirted to Leddy at the left boards. He then fed Kulemin, who was all alone in front. Kulemin went across the top of the crease and wrapped the puck inside the left post.


Capitals forward Jay Beagle missed on a golden opportunity to tie it with 5:33 left.


Halak stopped Troy Brouwer's initial shot, and the rebound dribbled into the slot. Beagle got to it and lifted a shot over Halak but bounced it off the crossbar. The puck landed in the crease, where Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk shoveled it under Halak to stop the play.


Tavares opened the scoring 7 minutes in. After Islanders forward Ryan Strome was checked off the puck by Brooks Orpik, Tavares followed up and drove the zone up the right wing. With Carlson backing in, Tavares took advantage by cutting into the middle a snapping a shot in.


The Islanders were called for three penalties in the opening period, and the third one cost them. Carlson tied it at 1 with 5 seconds left and Tavares in the box for slashing Evgeny Kuznetsov.


Brouwer started the play by getting a lengthy pass at the Islanders blue line, and driving to the net. Jaroslav Halak stopped Brouwer, and then shoveled the puck to his right, and directly to Ovechkin in the circle. Ovechkin fed a pass across to Carlson, who took a few steps in and snapped it through a crowd and in off Halak.


The Islanders have a 3-4 record in Game 7s. The Capitals are 3-9, and 2-7 when hosting a seventh game.


Unless the Islanders advance, the Game 6 victory will be their final game at the arena. The franchise that won consecutive Stanley Cup championships from 1980-93 and produced such stars as Mike Bossy, Denis Potvin and Billy Smith, is moving to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for the start of next season.


The Islanders are leaving Long Island after 43 seasons.


NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on Friday said the move was long overdue because the arena was outdated, and placed the blame on local politicians for failing to approve several proposed plans for a new arena.


One fan carried a sign that read: ''This Is Home, Not Brooklyn.''


After the second period, fans inside the arena booed a commercial pitching season tickets for next season.


The Islanders and the NHL stepped up security inside and outside the arena, including having officers patrolling the surrounding parking lots on horseback.


Capitals fans complained they had their cars - bearing District of Columbia and Virginia license plates - vandalized last weekend. And even Islanders fans can't get along. A fight between two fans wearing Islanders jerseys erupted in the stands a few moments before Nicklas Backstrom scored in overtime of a 2-1 win in Game 4.


Orpik had beer spilled on him while celebrating Backstrom's winner Tuesday.


Ovechkin made a joke to CSN Washington-TV that he might consider taking a chair home as a souvenir.


It was a very chippy game that even had both captains - Tavares and Ovechkin - get tangled up and exchange shoves at center on their way to their respective benches for a line change in the first period.


Ovechkin, who is well known for his willingness to throw checks, lined up Islanders forward Cal Clutterbuck along the boards that sent both players flying in the second period.


NOTES: The Islanders were minus another defenseman after Calvin de Haan was hurt during the third period of Game 5. Matt Donovan made his playoff debut stepping in for Griffin Reinhart, who struggled on Thursday. Rookie Scott Mayfield, who spent all this season in the minors, took over for de Haan. ... The Isles also sat C Anders Lee, who was replaced by Colin McDonald. ... Carlson scored just the second power-play goal of the series - both by Washington. The teams entered the game having converted just one of 22 chances.

 

[CNOTES]

Sunday's NHL Playoffs betting cheat sheet


St. Louis Blues at Minnesota Wild (-135, 5)
Wild lead series 3-2


With home ice not presenting much of an advantage, the St. Louis Blues hope to continue that trend and stave off elimination when they visit the Minnesota Wild on Sunday afternoon in Game 6 of their Western Conference first-round series. The Wild bounced back from a 6-1 drubbing at home in Game 4 with a 4-1 victory in St. Louis to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.


"Game 6 is obviously going to be a great challenge," Minnesota coach Mike Yeo said. "I think we're very aware that home ice has not been a huge advantage in this series. That's going to be a great challenge." The Blues, champions of the Central Division, are trying to avoid their third consecutive first-round ouster after blowing 2-0 series leads in the playoffs in each of the past two seasons. “This thing’s going to push you right to the brink multiple times,” St. Louis defenseman Alex Pietrangelo said, “so it’s a good test for us to regroup here and bring this thing back to home ice in Game 7.” The teams have alternated wins and losses in the first five games, with the last four contests decided by at least three goals.


TRENDS:


*Blues are 13-6 in the last 19 meetings.
*Wild are 1-4 in their last 5 games following a win.
*Over is 4-1-2 in the last 7 meetings.
*Over is 5-1-2 in Wild last 8 Conference Quarterfinals games.


Montreal Canadiens at Ottawa Senators (-120, 5)
Canadiens lead series 3-2


Although the Ottawa Senators were lovin' "The Hamburglar" during the regular season, they seem to be pretty fond of Craig Anderson as well. Anderson, who has stopped 73 of the last 74 shots he faced to help the Senators twice stave off elimination, will need to be at his best on Sunday as the team hosts the Montreal Canadiens in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.


"He has a history of being a real good goalie in crucial games in the playoffs," Ottawa coach Dave Cameron said of Anderson, who trimmed Montreal's series lead to 3-2 after making 45 saves in Ottawa's 5-1 triumph in Game 5 on Friday. "I don't know why anyone's surprised." The Senators have played well with their backs against the wall in 2014-15, posting a 23-4-4 season-ending run to qualify for the playoffs. Defenseman Tom Gilbert scored early in the third period of Game 5 for the Atlantic Division-champion Canadiens, ending Anderson's shutout streak at nearly 102 minutes.


TRENDS:


*Home team is 18-8 in the last 26 meetings.
*Canadiens are 4-1 in their last 5 games following a loss of 3 or more goals.
*Over is 8-3-2 in the last 13 meetings.
*Over is 7-3 in Senators last 10 home games.

 

[CNOTES]

Indians a hot Under play with Carrasco pitching


The Over/Under count as gone 1-13 in Carlos Carrasco's previous 14 starts for the Cleveland Indians making the AL Central club a hot Under wager when the Venezuelan gets the ball.


Those 14 games have seen Carrasco allow an average of only 1.2 runs per outing while registering 7.3 K's per game. Hell, teams can't even hit Carrasco, as he has only given up four hits per game during that span while only allowing more than four hits 21 percent of the time.


The Indians have already proven to be a solid under play as the team has posted a 5-10 O/U mark overall this season, but an even better 2-8 away from Cleveland. You can thank Cleveland's lack of offense this season, as the team has averaged a mere 3.80 runs per game, good for twenty-first in the majors.


Carrasco is slated to get the start when the Indians visit the Detroit Tigers Sunday.

 

[CNOTES]

Buehrle the Blue Jays luck charm versus Rays


The Toronto Blue Jays will send veteran Mark Buehrle to the mound to face the Tampa Bay Rays Sunday. The leftie has meant wins when the Jays and Rays meet, with Toronto winning six of Buehrle's past seven starts against Tampa.


Buehrle has only allowed 2.4 runs per outing in those seven games, while twice leaving a zero in the runs column.


The Rays are expected to start Chris Archer opposite Buehrle Sunday.

 

[CNOTES]

Under Popovich, Spurs are dynamite when leading 2-1


The San Antonio Spurs hammered the Los Angeles Clippers 100-73 in Game 3 of their first-round series Friday night, putting the reigning champions up 2-1 in the process.


Under head coach Gregg Popovich, the Spurs have won 84 percent of their best-of-seven playoff series (16-3) when leading 2-1.


Game 4 is set to get underway in the Lone Star State on Sunday. The line for the tilt is currently off the board.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Indians (6-9) at Tigers (11-6)
Game: 3
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: April 26, 2015 1:08 PM EDT

Making the Cleveland Indians pay for pitching around Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez helped the Detroit Tigers snap their longest skid since August and even the series with their AL Central rivals.


Martinez could find himself in a similar position Sunday given how well Cabrera has handled Carlos Carrasco, who will try to reverse his fortune at Comerica Park - the only place he's struggled of late.


Cabrera entered Saturday 12 for 18 with two home runs against the Indians (6-10), who chose to walk the slugger four times - three intentional - in Saturday's 4-1 defeat.


Martinez followed up two of those free passes with singles and knocked in three runs as Detroit (12-6) went 4 for 12 with runners in scoring position to halt a four-game losing streak. Rajai Davis added two hits and scored three runs.


Cleveland manager Terry Francona must now decide whether to pitch to Cabrera on Sunday with the two-time AL MVP going 5 for 11 with a home run and double off Carrasco since the start of the 2013 season.


Cabrera is also batting .457 with 16 RBIs in 24 games against the Indians over the past two seasons.


"He's an unusual hitter,' Francona said.


Carrasco (2-1, 2.38 ERA), meanwhile, hopes to rediscover his groove after his last two starts ended in unfortunate fashion.


The right-hander left in the fifth inning of Tuesday's 6-2 road win over the Chicago White Sox because he was "tight" in the cold weather. In his previous outing April 14, he sustained a bruised jaw after getting hit in the face with a first-inning comebacker.


"He came in (Wednesday) morning and said he felt really good," Francona told MLB's official website. "I don't think that (trainer James Quinlan) thinks there's anything (wrong). Maybe I overreacted."


Carrasco has the league's lowest ERA (1.46) since Aug. 10 among those with at least five starts. However, the only time he allowed more than two runs during that stretch was when he gave up four over 6 1-3 innings in a 7-2 loss at Detroit on Sept. 12.


Carrasco is 1-5 with an 8.18 ERA in seven starts against the Tigers. He's also 0-3 with a 10.80 mark in three at Comerica.


Detroit's Kyle Lobstein (1-1, 3.27) will make his third start in place of the injured Justin Verlander after giving up one run and three hits while scattering four walks in Tuesday's 5-2 home loss to the New York Yankees.


"I'd like to throw more strikes than that, try to get deeper in the game," the left-hander said.


Lobstein allowed three runs and eight hits over five innings in Detroit's 8-5 win at Progressive Field on April 12. He's 1-0 with a 5.28 ERA in three starts versus Cleveland since last September.


Although they had some success in the first meeting against Lobstein, the lefty-heavy Indians are batting just .211 with two home runs in 209 at_bats versus left-handers this season.


Carlos Santana is 3 for 7 with a home run when facing Lobstein, while Michael Brantley is 2 for 5 with a homer. Brantley is 13 for 20 in his last five games at Comerica after going 4 for 4 with two doubles Saturday.


Detroit's Ian Kinsler went 2 for 4 on Saturday and is batting .411 over a 13-game hitting streak against the Indians.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1


Indians at Tigers
Fri, Apr 24 Final 13 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2


Indians at Tigers
Sat, Apr 25 Final 1 to 4
Boxscores


GAME 3


Indians at Tigers
Sun, Apr 26 - 1:08PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Nationals (7-10) at Marlins (6-11)
Game: 3
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: April 26, 2015 1:10 PM EDT

An offensive slump has the defending NL East champion Washington Nationals nearing their worst skid in 21 months, but they may not need much scoring with Gio Gonzalez facing the Miami Marlins.


The Miami-area native will try to end Washington's four-game slide Sunday by continuing his dominance of the Marlins, who look to extend their longest winning streak since last July.


Since hitting .333 with runners in scoring position and averaging 6.0 runs over a six-game stretch, the Nationals have batted .167 in those situations while scoring 2.0 per contest in their last five. They finished with seven hits and failed to deliver in three spots with runners in scoring position in Saturday's 8-0 defeat.


Danny Espinosa is hitting .182 after going 0 for 3, though Jayson Werth hopes to build on his first two-hit performance after he had batted .152 in his previous nine games back from shoulder surgery.


"We're going through a bad stretch right now that's for sure, but it's going to turn," Werth said. "It always does."


The Nationals (7-11) appear to be handing the ball to the right pitcher as they try to avoid dropping five straight for the first time since a six-game losing streak July 19-24, 2013.


Gonzalez (1-1, 3.45 ERA) has been masterful during a five-start win streak versus Miami, posting a 1.13 ERA with 26 strikeouts and nine walks 32 innings. He's 6-2 with a 1.67 mark in eight starts against the Marlins dating to his time with Oakland.


The left-hander, however, hasn't been as sharp in his first three starts this season. He worked around eight hits and four walks Tuesday against St. Louis, needing 107 pitches to complete six innings in a 2-1, 10-inning victory.


Since the start of the 2013 season, Gonzalez is 1-6 with a 4.35 ERA when he walks four or more and 21-13 with a 3.25 mark when he issues fewer.


Giancarlo Stanton has gone 2 for 10 off Gonzalez since the start of 2013, but he went 3 for 3 with his fifth home run Saturday as the Marlins (7-11) won their fourth in a row for the first time since a six-game run July 24-29.


Adeiny Hechavarria hit a three-run homer and is 9 for 16 with six RBIs over his last four games. Ichiro Suzuki has gone 7 for 19 while hitting safely in each of the past five games while filling in for injured left fielder Christian Yelich.


"The mood changes when you win," said manager Mike Redmond, whose club has bounced back from a 3-11 start. "When you're losing games, nobody is happy about losing. It's all about wins."


After allowing three runs and seven hits over 13 innings in his first two outings, Miami's Dan Haren (1-1, 3.32) gave up four runs and two homers with seven strikeouts in a 7-3 loss at Philadelphia on Tuesday.


The right-hander, who went 10-14 with a 4.67 ERA for the Nationals in 2013, allowed three runs over six innings in a 3-2 road loss May 7 in his only start versus Washington last season, while with the Los Angeles Dodgers.


Denard Span could be back in the lineup after getting Saturday off since he's 7 for 18 lifetime versus Haren. Werth has gone 5 for 10 with a home run and double all-time in the matchup.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1


Nationals at Marlins
Fri, Apr 24 Final 2 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2


Nationals at Marlins
Sat, Apr 25 Final 0 to 8
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3


Nationals at Marlins
Sun, Apr 26 - 1:10PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Cubs (9-7) at Reds (8-9)
Game: 3
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: April 26, 2015 1:10 PM EDT

Cincinnati Reds rookie Anthony DeSclafani hasn't allowed a run since his season debut, beginning a scoreless inning streak at Wrigley Field last week.


The Chicago Cubs' Jake Arrieta is also off to a solid start to the season, though his worst outing came opposite DeSclafani.


DeSclafani looks to continue his dominance in a rematch with Arrieta and the Cubs on Sunday at Great American Ball Park after Saturday's scheduled contest was postponed by rain.


Eight starts into his professional career, DeSclafani (2-0, 0.86 ERA) is one of the majors' leaders with a 0.62 WHIP and has allowed only two extra-base hits in 76 batters faced.


The right-hander threw eight shutout innings in Monday's 6-1 victory over Milwaukee, holding the Brewers to two hits and a walk to extend his scoreless innings streak to 15. He also yielded two hits while shutting down the Cubs for seven innings in a 3-2 win on April 14.


"In my mind, I haven't thrown any shutout innings," he told MLB's official website Monday. "It's just going to be the same approach. Just take it inning by inning and just try to put up zeros. That stat doesn't really cross my mind. I don't care about that. I just want to put up zeros. As long as the team wins, then I'm happy."


The Reds (8-9), who have won all three of his starts, fell to the Cubs 7-4 in 11 innings in Friday's opener.


Anthony Rizzo homered, doubled, singled and scored the go-ahead run on Jonathan Herrera's single as the Cubs (9-7) bounced back after losing back-to-back games for the first time this season.


Chicago now has a chance to complete a shortened six-game trip with four wins after Saturday's contest was its second this season to be postponed because of rain. The Cubs still have to make up an April 7 game against St. Louis.


The Reds, meanwhile, have had four of their eight home games affected by rain, with the delays totaling 8 hours, 36 minutes.


'It looked like we were going to get to play at 1:30, then at 2:30,' Reds manager Bryan Price said. 'We thought we were going to play at 4:35, but by the time we got out there and got the pitchers stretched out, it was still raining.


'We didn't have a desire to keep the players or the fans here for four hours.'


Rizzo is 10 for 19 during a five-game hitting streak and batting .379 with six home runs and nine walks in his last eight contests in Cincinnati. However, he is hitless in six career at_bats against DeSclafani.


The teams combined for 30 strikeouts Friday, and the Reds stranded eight runners and went 0 for 14 with runners in scoring position.


'We had opportunities to pull it out,' said Jay Bruce, who went 0 for 5 and left six men on. 'We just couldn't come through. The writing was on the wall.'


Bruce is 0 for 11 with seven strikeouts in the last three games and has struck out six times while going 2 for 11 against Arrieta (2-1, 1.74).


Arrieta has a 0.64 ERA in his two wins but gave up three runs in 6 2-3 innings to take the loss against the Reds last week. Joey Votto, who is 0 for 7 in his last two contests after four straight two-hit games, was 2 for 3 against the righty.


Arrieta bounced back by allowing one run and four hits while striking out seven and walking none over seven innings in Monday's 5-2 victory at Pittsburgh, improving to 5-1 with a 1.29 ERA over his last seven starts. This stretch began immediately after he permitted six runs in four innings in his only start at Cincinnati on Aug. 28.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1


Cubs at Reds
Fri, Apr 24 Final 7 to 3
Boxscores


GAME 2


Cubs at Reds
Sat, Apr 25 - 1:10PM EDT


GAME 3


Cubs at Reds
Sun, Apr 26 - 1:10PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Blue Jays (9-8) at Rays (9-8)
Game: 3
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: April 26, 2015 1:10 PM EDT

The Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays' series has been free of confrontations to this point, but that could change when Chris Archer and Mark Buehrle take the mound 10 days after a heated exchange.


Archer looks to lead Tampa Bay to a fifth straight victory Sunday at Tropicana Field while Buehrle tries to move to 4-0 for the second straight year.


Archer (2-2, 1.07 ERA) shut down Toronto in a 4-2 road victory on April 16, striking out 11 while giving up two hits in seven scoreless innings. He got the Blue Jays' attention by hitting Russell Martin and Edwin Encarnacion, though he said both were accidents.


Toronto seemed to retaliate by hitting Evan Longoria in the eighth inning, and Buehrle and Archer shouted at each other from their dugouts afterward. Tampa Bay reliever Steve Geltz also hit Josh Donaldson.


Only one player has been hit by a pitch through two games in this series. A knuckleball got away from R.A. Dickey and struck Brandon Guyer in the Rays' 12-3 win Friday.


Archer said he doesn't anticipate any fireworks Sunday.


"I hope not," he told MLB's official website. "Because it seemed more like a misunderstanding than anything else."


The right-hander hasn't given up an earned run in his last three starts spanning 19 2-3 innings, though an unearned run cost him in Tuesday's 1-0 loss to Boston. He is 3-1 with a 2.98 ERA in 10 career starts versus Toronto, but was crushed in his last two home matchups in 2014, allowing 11 runs over 11 innings.


Buehrle (3-0, 4.00) can become the first Blue Jay to win his first four starts in two straight seasons and the first player since Jack McDowell of the Chicago White Sox from 1992-93. Buehrle also won each of his first four outings in 2002.


Despite that potential achievement, the left-hander hasn't been dominant, giving up eight runs and 23 hits through 18 innings. He allowed three runs - all on homers by Steven Souza Jr. and Mikie Mahtook - over six innings in Toronto's 12-7 home win a day before exchanging words with Archer, improving to 3-0 with a 2.89 ERA in seven matchups since the start of last season.


Buehrle has received 11 runs of support in each outing thus far, becoming the first pitcher to be backed by at least 33 runs in his first three starts since the Chicago Cubs' Jeff Pico had 34 runs of support in 1990.


Toronto (9-9), in danger of dropping three in a row for the first time after Saturday's 4-2 loss, might not be capable of another explosive offensive effort, however. Three of the Blue Jays' five runs in the series have come on solo homers, and Jose Bautista missed his fourth straight game due to a sore shoulder, though he could return Sunday. He's just 2 for 24 against Archer for an .083 average, his second-lowest versus any of the 28 pitchers against whom he has at least 20 at_bats.


Jose Reyes is 9 for 21 against Archer, but 2 for his last 21 overall.


Devon Travis was 2 for 4 Saturday to improve to 18 for 44 (.409) during a 12-game hitting streak.


Longoria was 4 for 4, doubling for the third straight game and moving to 8 for 16 in his last four after hitting .186 previously. Tampa Bay (10-8) is 10 for 32 (.313) with runners in scoring position during its winning streak.


"There are guys top to bottom in the lineup coming through with big hits," Longoria said. "Really just never giving up."


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


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1


Blue Jays at Rays
Fri, Apr 24 Final 3 to 12
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2


Blue Jays at Rays
Sat, Apr 25 Final 2 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3


Blue Jays at Rays
Sun, Apr 26 - 1:10PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Braves (8-8) at Phillies (6-11)
Game: 3
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: April 26, 2015 1:35 PM EDT

The Atlanta Braves opened the season with five straight wins, but they have yet to match that total in two weeks since.


After ending a four-game slide, the Braves will try to conclude this three-game series with back-to-back wins Sunday against the Philadelphia Phillies.


Atlanta (9-8) has gone 4-8 after its unexpected fast start to 2015. The Braves have followed each of their victories since with a loss, a trend they'll try to break after rallying for a 5-2 win at Philadelphia on Saturday.


Andrelton Simmons got the comeback started with a leadoff homer to spark a three-run seventh after Atlanta was blanked for 20 straight innings over three games, including a 1-0 loss in Friday's series opener.


"No runs (Friday), none through six (Saturday), you might see some hanging heads there," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "But they stayed in there and battled."


Gonzalez will be looking for the same from Trevor Cahill (0-2, 9.95 ERA), who hasn't completed six innings in eight straight starts dating to last season.


He appeared to be on his way Tuesday, tossing four scoreless before giving up four runs and leaving without getting an out in the fifth of a 7-1 loss to the New York Mets.


That can be considered an improvement after he lasted 2 1-3 innings and gave up four runs and three walks in an 8-2 loss to Miami a week earlier.


"Your goal every time out there is to put up a quality start," Cahill told MLB's official website. "I was a little bit better than last time, but at the same time, you'd like to at least get through six. Through the first four, I had the pitch count and I was going well enough that I was thinking I could go past that, but then I kind of let things unravel there."


Cahill is 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA in two career starts at Philadelphia, but his most recent came in 2012.


Saturday's loss was the 10th in 13 games for the Phillies (6-12), who have totaled five runs and batted .214 over the past four.


Ryan Howard has been one of the biggest culprits, going 1 for 10 over his last three games to drop his average to .189. His last two hits, however, have been two-run homers.


Howard is 0 for 9 with six strikeouts against Cahill.


Jerome Williams (1-1, 3.71) gets the ball seeking to win consecutive starts. He allowed three runs with six strikeouts over six innings of Tuesday's 7-3 victory over Miami. That came six days after he was tagged for five runs and two homers in five innings of a 6-1 loss to the Mets.


"It was good going out there, throwing and locating pitches where they needed to be," Williams said.


The right-hander is 0-3 with a 7.50 ERA in his last four starts against the Braves.


Nick Markakis, who is batting .471 (16 for 34) during a 10-game stretch, is 6 for 13 against Williams.


Kelly Johnson also has fared well in this matchup, going 8 for 21 (.381).


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


GAME 1


Braves at Phillies
Fri, Apr 24 Final 0 to 1
Boxscores


GAME 2


Braves at Phillies
Sat, Apr 25 Final 5 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3


Braves at Phillies
Sun, Apr 26 - 1:35PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Royals (12-4) at White Sox (6-9)
Game: 4
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: April 26, 2015 3:10 PM EDT

Insisting they're not a dirty team, the Kansas City Royals are eager to move on from their latest benches-clearing incident but won't change the way they play the game.


After the teams had an extra day to cool off, the visiting Royals don't expect any further confrontation with the White Sox as they resume Friday's suspended contest before playing their scheduled meeting Sunday.


Rain forced the postponement of Saturday's game, which has yet to be rescheduled, after the clubs played without incident Friday before the 2-2 game was suspended after eight innings due to rain.


In the series opener Thursday, a brawl erupted that resulted in the ejection of five players. Six players were suspended Saturday as a result of the incident, including Kansas City's Edinson Volquez, who will start this matchup as he appeals a five-game ban.


Fellow Royals starter Yordano Ventura was suspended seven games after his heated exchange with Chicago outfielder Adam Eaton sparked the melee.


Kansas City outfielder Lorenzo Cain and reliever Kelvin Herrera were each given two-game bans, while White Sox pitchers Chris Sale and Jeff Samardzija got five games apiece. Herrera is already awaiting an appeal on a five-game suspension handed down after he threw a pitch behind Oakland third baseman Brett Lawrie last weekend.


All the players who were suspended are appealing.


"We understand that Major League Baseball has to do what they think is fair in situations like this," Royals manager Ned Yost said in a team statement. "Now, we just have to wait for the appeals process to play out."


Kansas City coaches and players feel they are not totally to blame for dust-ups with Oakland, the Los Angeles Angels and the brawl with Chicago (6-9).


White Sox manager Robin Ventura, though, feels differently.


"This game's emotional and it seems to follow them around. It's happened often enough," he said. "Everybody gets emotional and reacts to things and that's what happened."


The Royals (12-4), paced by the same hard-nosed, gritty style that helped them win the AL pennant in 2014, believe they've become a target for opponents but won't back down from anyone.


"We're a team that plays hard, plays with emotion," said Cain, one of the players ejected from Thursday's 3-2, 13-inning victory. "Maybe we do need to tone that down a little bit. But at the same time, we're gonna play hard for each other because that's just how we play. That's how we do things."


One-time White Sox prospect Paulo Orlando had three hits for the Royals, who led 2-1 when the rain started in the sixth before Chicago tied it on Melky Cabrera's sacrifice fly in the seventh. David Robertson was warming up and had been announced to pitch for the White Sox in the suspended game, and Chris Young was pitching for the Royals.


Kansas City has won five straight and 15 of 18 against the White Sox. It's also held Chicago to an average of 2.1 runs while taking 16 of the last 19 at U.S. Cellular Field.


After going 13-7 with a 3.04 ERA last year for Pittsburgh, Volquez (2-1, 1.99 ERA) is off to a strong start with Kansas City. That tenure began April 9 when he gave up a run and four hits in eight innings of a 4-1 victory over Chicago.


"It feels good because the way I'm pitching, I'm carrying over everything," said the right-hander, who allowed a run in seven innings of a 7-1 victory over Minnesota on Monday. "Just trying to do what I did last year."


John Danks (0-2, 6.06) opposed Volquez earlier this month and yielded four runs and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings. He went 7-0 with a 2.43 ERA in his first 16 starts against the Royals.


The left-hander, who last dropped his first three decisions in 2011, is coming off perhaps the best of his three outings Monday when he allowed three runs in six innings of a 4-3 victory over Cleveland.


Eric Hosmer is batting .364 against Danks.


Despite being shaken up after falling during a rundown Friday, Chicago's Jose Abreu was 2 for 4 when play was halted. He entered that contest 11 for 25 with 11 RBIs in the previous six games.


Abreu went 1 for 3 with a double against Volquez earlier this month.


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


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1


Royals at White Sox
Thu, Apr 23 Final 3 to 2
Boxscores


GAME 2


Royals at White Sox
Fri, Apr 24 - 8:10PM EDT
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3


Royals at White Sox
Sat, Apr 25 - 3:10PM EDT


GAME 4


Royals at White Sox
Sun, Apr 26 - 3:10PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Cardinals (11-4) at Brewers (3-14)
Game: 3
Venue: Miller Park
Date: April 26, 2015 2:10 PM EDT

Losing one's staff ace to injury obviously isn't ideal, but with the way St. Louis' starting rotation has looked, the Cardinals seem to be equipped to handle this setback.


Lance Lynn looks to continue his dominance over the Milwaukee Brewers as the Cardinals go for a three-game sweep Sunday.


St. Louis (12-4) leads the majors with a 1.97 ERA from its starters, with the rotation yielding a run or less in the team's nine wins in the last 10 games. The Cardinals have not had a smaller ERA from their starters in their first 16 games since it was at 1.78 in 1943.


Adam Wainwright shut the Brewers down for the first four innings Saturday to lower his ERA to 1.44 but suffered an ankle injury while stumbling out of the batter's box leading off the fifth and had to be helped off the field. He was wearing a walking boot after the 5-3 win and will be re-evaluated when the Cardinals return to St. Louis.


'It's something in the back of my ankle so we'll see what it is on Monday,' said Wainwright, baseball's leader with 41 wins since 2013. 'Everything right now is just all speculation.'


The next man up for St. Louis is Lynn (1-1, 1.56 ERA), who leads the majors in April wins since 2012, going 13-2 with a 2.58 ERA in 18 starts.


He has allowed one earned run in each of his first three starts but was a little shaky Tuesday, issuing four walks in 6 1-3 innings of a 2-1, 10-inning loss in Washington.


He was better against the Brewers six days earlier, yielding six hits in five innings of a 4-2 win to improve to 4-0 with a 1.49 ERA in his last seven starts in the series. He has allowed one earned run or less in five of his six starts at Miller Park, posting a 0.93 ERA in winning his last three there.


The Cardinals are 17-5 in Milwaukee since 2013, but winning at Miller Park these days isn't particularly notable - unless it's the Brewers (3-15).


Milwaukee, 2-10 at home, is last in the NL with eight homers and a .317 slugging percentage and is 2 for 18 with runners in scoring position in the first two games of this series.


A couple of Brewers have given Lynn trouble, though, with Jean Segura 9 for 20 with a double and triple and Gerardo Parra 9 for 19 with two homers, three doubles and two triples.


Segura had three hits Saturday and is 9 for 21 with two doubles against the Cardinals this season.


St. Louis' Matt Holliday, batting .358, hit his first homer Saturday while Matt Carpenter doubled again and extended his hitting streak to 12 games. Carpenter is batting .423 with 10 doubles and 10 RBIs during his run and is 10 for 23 with six doubles against the Brewers this year.


Neither has enjoyed much success against Mike Fiers (0-3, 6.75), however, with Holliday 1 for 11 and Carpenter 2 for 14.


Fiers gave up two runs and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings in a 4-0 loss to the Cardinals on April 16, but has a 9.00 ERA in losing his other two outings - both at home. Against Cincinnati on Tuesday, the right-hander permitted eight runs - four earned - on a pair of grand slams in four innings of a 16-10 loss.


'Things definitely haven't been going my way," he said. "I need to be better. I don't know what else to say.'


Another matchup with the Cardinals could help. In five career starts versus St. Louis, Fiers has a 1.72 ERA.


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


GAME 1


Cardinals at Brewers
Fri, Apr 24 Final 3 to 0
Boxscores


GAME 2


Cardinals at Brewers
Sat, Apr 25 Final 5 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3


Cardinals at Brewers
Sun, Apr 26 - 2:10PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Astros (9-7) at Athletics (8-10)
Game: 3
Venue: O.co Coliseum
Date: April 26, 2015 4:05 PM EDT

While Jose Altuve isn't showing signs of slowing down during his remarkable hitting streak, the Oakland Athletics aren't getting much from their short-handed offense during their losing streak.


Altuve looks to hit safely in a 29th consecutive game in this series as the Houston Astros go for the sweep Sunday against the A's, who are three games under .500 for the first time since July 2012.


Altuve, who hit a major league-best .341 in 2014, went 2 for 5 with his second home run and three RBIs in Saturday's 9-3 win that moved Houston (10-7) to a 6-1 since dropping six of its first 10.


The All-Star second baseman continues to feast on Oakland pitching with a .375 average over his impressive hitting streak, which is the longest by a Houston player against one team. He's 10 for 22 with two homers in five meetings this season.


'It's nothing extra special against the A's because he hits against everybody, but certainly that's a long time to play against one opponent and continue to have success,' Houston manager A.J. Hinch said.


The Astros have won a franchise-best three in a row in Oakland after dropping 16 of the previous 21. They're also off to their best start since winning 12 of 17 games in 2006.


The slumping A's (8-11) are batting .208 with seven runs during a three-game losing streak.


Brett Lawrie is among those struggling with a .158 average and 15 strikeouts in his last 10 games. Ben Zobrist was batting .240 and had started at three different positions before landing on the disabled list Saturday.


"At this point, we're not doing anything too terribly right," manager Bob Melvin said.


Trying to avoid a five-game home losing streak, Oakland turns to Drew Pomeranz (1-2, 4.24 ERA).


Since allowing two hits over seven shutout innings in his season debut, the left-hander has given up nine runs and 14 hits over 10 innings in consecutive road defeats.


One of those outings came in Houston on April 15, when Pomeranz surrendered four runs and six hits over five-plus innings in a 6-1 loss. He is 0-2 with a 7.30 ERA in three career starts against the Astros.


Altuve went 2 for 3 with a double when facing Pomeranz in the first meeting, while former A's infielder Jed Lowrie had a home run, double and three RBIs. Lowrie is also 8 for 15 with four RBIs in his last four starts.


George Springer, who hit his second home run Saturday, is 4 for 11 with three extra-base hits in this series after hitting .167 with three extra-base hits over his first 15 games.


Batting .350 with a .400 on-base percentage, Houston's Jake Marisnick has not been ruled out after missing two games due to leg soreness.


Asher Wojciechowski (0-1, 6.00) will make his third start after allowing eight hits and four runs over four innings in each of his first two. He struck out six in Monday's 7-5 win at Seattle.


The rookie right-hander made a relief appearance against the A's on April 13, giving up two hits over four scoreless innings in an 8-1 home defeat.


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


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1


Astros at Athletics
Fri, Apr 24 Final 5 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2


Astros at Athletics
Sat, Apr 25 Final 9 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3


Astros at Athletics
Sun, Apr 26 - 4:05PM EDT