Cnotes Best Bets For Sunday June 14th - MLB - NBA -NHL !

[CNOTES]

MLB MONEYLINE


MLB > (975) MINNESOTA@ (976) TEXAS | 06/14/2015 - 03:05 PM
Play ON TEXAS using the money line in All games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 15 Wins and 5 Losses for the this season (+16.32 units)


MLB > (967) CHI WHITE SOX@ (968) TAMPA BAY | 06/14/2015 - 01:10 PM
Play AGAINST TAMPA BAY using the money line in All games at home when the total is 7 or less
The record is 2 Wins and 12 Losses for the this season (-11.95 units)


MLB > (971) TORONTO@ (972) BOSTON | 06/14/2015 - 01:35 PM
Play AGAINST BOSTON using the money line in Home games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 20 Wins and 40 Losses for the last two seasons (-27.95 units)

MLB > (957) WASHINGTON@ (958) MILWAUKEE | 06/14/2015 - 02:10 PM
Play AGAINST WASHINGTON using the money line in Road games when playing against a team with a losing record
The record is 2 Wins and 10 Losses for the this season (-10.35 units)

MLB > (959) ARIZONA@ (960) SAN FRANCISCO | 06/14/2015 - 04:05 PM
Play AGAINST SAN FRANCISCO using the money line in Home games in June games
The record is 9 Wins and 21 Losses for the last three seasons (-18.55 units)

MLB > (977) OAKLAND@ (978) LA ANGELS | 06/14/2015 - 03:35 PM
Play AGAINST OAKLAND using the money line in All games in games played on a grass field
The record is 23 Wins and 36 Losses for the this season (-20.05 units)

MLB > (979) KANSAS CITY@ (980) ST LOUIS | 06/14/2015 - 02:15 PM
Play ON ST LOUIS using the money line in Home games against right-handed starters
The record is 108 Wins and 44 Losses for the last three seasons (+44.35 units)


MLB RUNLINE


MLB > (955) PHILADELPHIA@ (956) PITTSBURGH | 06/14/2015 - 01:35 PM
Play AGAINST PHILADELPHIA using the in Road games when playing on Sunday
The record is 7 Wins and 22 Losses for the last three seasons (-22.5 units)


MLB > (979) KANSAS CITY@ (980) ST LOUIS | 06/14/2015 - 02:15 PM
Play ON ST LOUIS using the in Home games when playing with a day off
The record is 19 Wins and 7 Losses for the last three seasons (+15.65 units)

MLB > (975) MINNESOTA@ (976) TEXAS | 06/14/2015 - 03:05 PM
Play ON TEXAS using the in All games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 17 Wins and 3 Losses for the this season (+12.25 units)


MLB TOTALS


MLB > (973) SEATTLE@ (974) HOUSTON | 06/14/2015 - 02:10 PM
Play UNDER HOUSTON on the total in All games against left-handed starters
The record is 6 Overs and 19 Unders for the this season (+12.3 units)

MLB > (951) ATLANTA@ (952) NY METS | 06/14/2015 - 01:10 PM
Play OVER ATLANTA on the total in All games in all games
The record is 38 Overs and 20 Unders for the this season (+16.95 units)


MLB > (961) LA DODGERS@ (962) SAN DIEGO | 06/14/2015 - 04:10 PM
Play OVER SAN DIEGO on the total in All games in games played on a grass field
The record is 40 Overs and 22 Unders for the this season (+17.5 units)

MLB > (977) OAKLAND@ (978) LA ANGELS | 06/14/2015 - 03:35 PM
Play OVER OAKLAND on the total in All games against division opponents
The record is 22 Overs and 9 Unders for the this season (+13.15 units)


MLB > (979) KANSAS CITY@ (980) ST LOUIS | 06/14/2015 - 02:15 PM
Play UNDER ST LOUIS on the total in All games in June games
The record is 9 Overs and 26 Unders for the last two seasons (+15.75 units)


MLB TOP POWERLINE


MLB > (965) CLEVELAND @ (966) DETROIT | 06/14/2015 - 01:05 PM
Line: DETROIT +120 BTB PowerLine: DETROIT -103
Edge On: DETROIT (23)


MLB > (951) ATLANTA @ (952) NY METS | 06/14/2015 - 01:10 PM
Line: NY METS -120 BTB PowerLine: NY METS -154
Edge On: NY METS (34)


MLB > (967) CHI WHITE SOX @ (968) TAMPA BAY | 06/14/2015 - 01:10 PM
Line: TAMPA BAY +120 BTB PowerLine: TAMPA BAY 111
Edge On: TAMPA BAY (9)


MLB > (971) TORONTO @ (972) BOSTON | 06/14/2015 - 01:35 PM
Line: BOSTON -120 BTB PowerLine: BOSTON 112
Edge On: BOSTON (12)


MLB > (973) SEATTLE @ (974) HOUSTON | 06/14/2015 - 02:10 PM
Line: HOUSTON -140 BTB PowerLine: HOUSTON -163
Edge On: HOUSTON (23)


MLB > (979) KANSAS CITY @ (980) ST LOUIS | 06/14/2015 - 02:15 PM
Line: ST LOUIS -135 BTB PowerLine: ST LOUIS -124
Edge On: ST LOUIS (11)


MLB > (975) MINNESOTA @ (976) TEXAS | 06/14/2015 - 03:05 PM
Line: TEXAS -127 BTB PowerLine: TEXAS -117
Edge On: TEXAS (10)


MLB > (977) OAKLAND @ (978) LA ANGELS | 06/14/2015 - 03:35 PM
Line: LA ANGELS +100 BTB PowerLine: LA ANGELS 111
Edge On: LA ANGELS (11)


MLB > (959) ARIZONA @ (960) SAN FRANCISCO | 06/14/2015 - 04:05 PM
Line: SAN FRANCISCO -150 BTB PowerLine: SAN FRANCISCO -130
Edge On: SAN FRANCISCO (20)


MLB > (963) CINCINNATI @ (964) CHICAGO CUBS | 06/14/2015 - 08:05 PM
Line: CHICAGO CUBS -160 BTB PowerLine: CHICAGO CUBS -196
Edge On: CHICAGO CUBS (36)

 

[CNOTES]

NBA MONEYLINE


NBA > (709) CLEVELAND@ (710) GOLDEN STATE | 06/14/2015 - 08:05 PM
Play ON CLEVELAND using the money line in All games versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game - 2nd half of the season
The record is 28 Wins and 9 Losses for the this season (+18.3 units)


NBA FIRST HALF


NBA > (709) CLEVELAND@ (710) GOLDEN STATE | 06/14/2015 - 08:05 PM
Play AGAINST CLEVELAND in the first half in Road games after scoring 85 points or less
The record is 0 Wins and 11 Losses for the last three seasons (-12.1 units)


NBA TOTALS


NBA > (709) CLEVELAND@ (710) GOLDEN STATE | 06/14/2015 - 08:05 PM
Play UNDER CLEVELAND on the total in All games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game
The record is 18 Overs and 35 Unders for the this season (+15.2 units)


NBA TOP POWERLINE


NBA > (709) CLEVELAND @ (710) GOLDEN STATE | 06/14/2015 - 08:05 PM
Line: GOLDEN STATE -8.5 BTB PowerLine: GOLDEN STATE -7
Edge On: GOLDEN STATE (1.5)

 

[CNOTES]

Game 5 - Cavaliers at Warriors


June 13, 2015


The NBA Finals has turned from a best-of-seven series down to a best-of-three set after Golden State cruised past Cleveland in Game 4 on Thursday, 103-82. The Warriors return to electric Oracle Arena for Sunday’s pivotal Game 5, as Steve Kerr’s team looks to put down the hammer on a Cavaliers’ squad that started fast in Game 4, but faded quickly.


Kerr’s biggest move of the series paid off when the first-year head coach went small and started Andre Iguodala for the first time this season, in place of the ineffective Andrew Bogut. In spite of falling behind 7-0 out of the gate, the Warriors rallied back to capture a 31-24 lead after one quarter, busting the 20-point mark in the opening period for the first time in the series. Golden State seized control by building a 12-point halftime advantage, 54-42, as the Warriors didn’t reach the 55-point mark in Game 3 until the end of the third quarter.


Besides Golden State’s offense finally coming together, thanks to Iguodala’s 22 points, LeBron James suffered several cuts on his head after colliding with a camera underneath the basket following a foul. James remained in the game, but was mostly ineffective after three tremendous performances, scoring just 20 points on 7-of-22 shooting, while managing to pull down 12 rebounds and dish out five assists. Stephen Curry is coming back to MVP form following his massive scoring run in the second half of Game 3, as the Warriors’ All-Star put up 22 points, including four three-pointers.


The Cavaliers fell to 5-3 straight-up and against the spread as an underdog in the playoffs after dropping Game 4, while suffering only their second defeat in the past 11 games. Golden State returns to the Bay Area in a fade spot, as teams coming off a road win in Game 4 to tie the series at 2-2 since 2012 owns a 3-7 ATS and 5-5 SU record in Game 5 at home.


VegasInsider.com NBA analyst Chris David believes Cleveland should be given strong consideration in Game 5 just based on its production off two days of rest.


He said, “I fell into the eye-ball trap in Game 2 and expected the Warriors to dominate the Cavaliers, especially after the injury to Kyrie Irving. What I failed to acknowledge is Cleveland’s domination off two days of rest. Including the postseason, the Cavaliers are 15-0 SU and 11-4 ATS in this situation, which including the outcome from the second game in this series. The extra day of rest should not only help the players but the coaching staff as well. I know all things usually balance out at the betting counter but this angle is hard to ignore, definitely when you’re catching close to nine points.”


David also noted another trend that our Editorial team put together in our Fast Facts column prior to the start of the NBA Finals.


“For what it’s worth, we logged the records for specific days for each team in the regular season and postseason. Including the outcome from Game 2 in the finals, the Cavaliers are 13-5 SU and 9-9 ATS on Sundays this season and they’re a perfect 5-0 SU (3-2 ATS) in the playoffs. Meanwhile, Golden State is 9-4 SU and 4-9 ATS in games played on the first day of the week. Would you rather back a team getting points that’s winning at a 72% clip on Sunday’s or lay the wood with a club that’s 30 percent ATS? If these angles are part of your handicapping, then you should be leaning to the ‘dog,” said David.


The ‘under’ has gone 3-1 in the first four games of this series and the total for Game 5 is listed at 195 ½, which is a tad higher than the two games played in Cleveland. David weighed in on the move for Sunday.


“The adjustment back up is correct but make a note that it’s still lower than the first two games played at Oracle Arena (204, 199). I think the number could go up since it’s a primetime game on Sunday and the public leans to ‘over’ bets but based on tendencies that we’ve seen from Cleveland, it’s hard to argue for a shootout. Cleveland has seen the ‘under’ go 7-2 on the road in the playoffs and it could be 9-0 if it wasn’t for a Derrick Rose buzzer beater and Game 1 of this series that got help from overtime. The Cavaliers know they can’t play fast to beat Golden State and I would expect a very slow methodical approach from LeBron and company in this spot.”


Even though this situation didn’t pop up when James played for the Heat from 2010-14, the Cavaliers posted an impressive 2-1 SU and 3-0 ATS record in Game 5’s of a playoff series tied at 2-2 as a road underdog from 2006-08. The Warriors are playing their third Game 5 of this postseason, as they have performed well in this scenario by beating Memphis by 20 points in the second round and Houston by 14 points in the conference finals.


VI NBA expert Tony Mejia weighs in with his Game 5 thoughts, “Although the difference in 3-pointers made between these teams will be the determining factor in Game 5, the other number to watch is rebounds. Kerr has already conceded that his team will go through stretches where they'll be at a major disadvantage on the glass, but the Warriors managed to hang within 49-44 despite going small on Thursday. This includes a 16-6 Cavs edge on the offensive boards that was rendered obsolete. Since you can presume Golden State will do the most damage from beyond the arc, it will probably be in good shape if it can hang within 10 boards here. Cleveland comes off its first loss this postseason in which it won the rebounding battle."


Heading into Game 4, the Warriors were listed at -115 (Bet $115 to win $100) to capture the championship, according to Sportsbook.ag. With Thursday’s victory at Cleveland, Golden State jumped back up to -380 favorites to win two of the next three games. If you think the Cavaliers can steal two of the next three contests, Cleveland is listed at +300 (Bet $100 to win $300) on the series price.

 

[CNOTES]

Finals MVP race packs intrigue


June 13, 2015


Over the past week, LeBron James has talked about this secret extra motivation he has in chasing an NBA title this year.


While we’ve heard it referenced enough after he dropped the tease post-Game 2 that it now elicits eye rolls, many have speculated that it has to do with his displeasure over finishing third in the MVP voting. He admitted to Dwyane Wade on national television that he goes out expecting to be the most valuable player every time he takes the floor, so that’s probably it.


It could also be that Stephen Curry dropped the following nugget before the series started, telling ABC of being born in Akron, “No disrespect to LeBron, (but) I want to be the first to bring the championship to that area.”


A Finals MVP earned over the regular-season MVP would certainly be gratifying, even if some might feel that sounds trite to be harping on for an additional boost. We all know how James feels about Northeast Ohio, specifically his hometown. That playful little dig likely didn’t go over well. For the record, Sportsbook.ag lists Curry as the current favorite (-180), while offering James up at (+200).


Personal slights could certainly be his secret motivation. There are so many of those someone might wind up creating a prop if we could be certain the answer will be revealed.


From wanting to spite Miami Heat president Pat Riley for questioning his “guts” to wanting to prove this underdog role was nonsense, James has been bombarded with indignities, both perceived and real.


LeBron also wasn’t thrilled with the notion that the Warriors put out there after Game 1’s OT win, that they were going to let him get his 40-point nights and stop everybody else, cutting off his supporting cast from getting in sync via open looks.


"You don't let me have 40. I go get 40. It's not like they're just getting out of the way,” James declared after a 44-point effort on a season-high 38 shots. “So those guys aren't saying ‘we're okay with letting him have 40’. You don't let me have 40… I'm making those shots."


He scored 39 and 40 points in Games 2 and 3, respectively, relishing in the victories. He faded alongside the rest of his teammates on Thursday, managing just 20 points, his third-lowest figure these playoffs.


Andre Iguodala started Game 4 and won the individual matchup with LeBron, so while he’s not the reason James would’ve volunteered there was additional fuel to his fire last Sunday, there’s now more on his plate. He understands something that doesn’t happen very often, people rightfully saying he was just outplayed, follows him into a critical Game 5.


“He’s one of the x-factors,” James said of Iguodala on Thursday night. “He came to play, shot the ball extremely well, hit 4 3s and was in attack (mode). He got a couple of dunks in transition early on in the game which got him going. He was really good for them.”


Iguodala has been so effective that head coach Steve Kerr called him, “our best player through four games.” While averages of 14.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists don’t sound overwhelming, he’s been the key to both GSW victories. Iguodala is shooting 57.5 percent for the series, and most important, has held James to 18-for-54 (33 pct.) from the field when defending him one-on-one.


If you’re going to back a Golden State player at this point, I’d ride with Iguodala at excellent odds (+260) over Curry, especially since his work against James will be such a critical factor going forward.


Sure, Curry leads the Warriors in scoring (23.5 ppg) these NBA Finals and is a threat to do his thing the rest of the way and break Ray Allen’s 3-point record for a six-game series (22) or Danny Green’s (27) all-time best should it go the distance. But for him to be the favorite when he shot 4-for-21 from 3-point range in Games 1 and 2 involves more of a projection than anything currently merited.


Iguodala’s work as the difference-maker at both ends has definitely been noticed by media, which will ultimately cast the deciding votes.


While the Warriors are favored to win it all and were my pre-series pick to win in 7 games, I see the most value in backing LeBron in the Finals MVP race at this point. He might just become the second player to win the award on a losing team, doubling your investment by doing so.


Keep in mind, this would be no small feat. Jerry West won the inaugural award in 1969 despite his Lakers losing to Boston 4-3 because he averaged 38 points per game during the series and dropped a triple-double in Game 7 (42-13-12). No one has come up short in the Finals and still been honored as the best player in the series since, but if there’s a year it’s going to happen, you may be watching it unfold.


There’s no denying Golden State is the superior team. In James, Cleveland has the best player, who just happens to be putting up monster numbers and is certainly capable of squeezing out a least one more win to ensure this goes the distance. Despite the 20-point night on Thursday, he was still all over the place in grabbing 12 rebounds and dishing out eight assists, so his series averages remain incredibly eye-popping.


Due to overtime games, LeBron is averaging 45.8 minutes, 35.8 points, 12.0 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 1.3 steals. He probably won’t break Michael Jordan’s 41.0 scoring average or reach the 284 total points Elgin Baylor dropped 53 years ago, but the fact he’s put himself in that class is a feat in and of itself. James should continue to flirt with triple-doubles in every game left and has a chance to overwhelm any Warriors performances that might be deemed worthy of winning an award named after Bill Russell.


Add that to the list of secret motivation for James. If he manages to win his third Finals MVP, it would place him in the company of Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Duncan as three-time winners. Only Jordan has more with his six, though it should be noted they didn’t give out the award in Russell’s day.


Legends like Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, Willis Reed and Kobe Bryant won twice, so James might be interested in passing them.


Motivation lies everywhere for LeBron. That’s why it wasn’t a good idea that Andrew Bogut called him out for flopping into that camera in Game 4, subsequently resulting in a deep gash to his head. He wasn’t the only one thinking that, but you usually don’t see players on other teams be so candid in their analysis, especially when there’s a vengeful superstar involved. The New York Daily News plastered him on its back page as the King of Flop.


Slights galore. He can’t be happy.


At this point, paying off so nicely and given the real possibility he can do something that hasn’t been done in 46 years even if Cleveland’s Finals end in failure, James is a solid bet to back in the MVP race.


If he wins it, maybe he’ll come clean and divulge his big mystery. Hopefully, it’s worth the build-up.


NBA Finals MVP Odds
(Odds per Sportsbook.ag, June 13)


Stephen Curry (Warriors) 5/9


LeBron James (Cavaliers) 2/1


Andre Iguodala (Warriors) 13/2


Draymond Green (Warriors) 50/1


Klay Thompson (Warriors) 50/1


Timofey Mozgov (Cavaliers) 100/1


Matthew Dellavedova (Cavaliers) 200/1

 

[CNOTES]

James ready for whatever Cavs need


June 13, 2015


OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - LeBron James casually swished a jumper from the corner, an otherwise ordinary shot with a higher degree of difficulty given the backpack hanging over his shoulders.


In the NBA Finals, James might have to carry something much heavier than a backpack.


He might have to put the Cleveland Cavaliers on his back.


''Well, I'm in a spot where I have to be very productive, and that's just the spot I've always been in,'' James said Saturday.


He's certainly been in this very spot in the finals, Game 5 of a tied series, the game that has historically foretold who would win the title. So it's all about the next game, with no reason to get hung up on what happened in the last one - no matter how bad things appeared.


''I think when you get to a championship-level type game with it being 2-2, I don't think anyone has the momentum,'' James said. ''Obviously, everyone would say them because they're coming back home, and then after the game they had the other night, but the momentum starts once the game starts.''


Golden State contained James and won big for the first time in Game 4. The Cavaliers don't have an obvious lineup adjustment like the Warriors made, so Cleveland's best chance - maybe only chance - could be for James to score Sunday the way he did in the first three games.


James appeared rested and relaxed before practicing at the Warriors' training center, surely helped by the extra day between games when the series moved west. He scored only 20 points on 7-of-22 shooting in Game 4 after averaging 41 through the first three.


Coach David Blatt believes the break will benefit not only James but his whole team, which after a quick start Thursday was a step behind the rest of the night trying to keep up with the deeper, quicker Warriors in a 103-82 loss.


''We've had a couple of days here to recover. I believe that's going to be helpful,'' Blatt said. ''This is a tough series for both teams, a lot of things happening. It's the best-of-three to win the NBA championship, the world championship. So I like the situation we're in. I like the challenge that's in front of us, and I can't wait to play tomorrow.''


Neither can the Warriors, who weren't particularly impressive while splitting a pair of overtime contests in Games 1 and 2. But now that they have regained home-court advantage, they will win the NBA title as long as they don't lose a second game in an arena where they lost only twice all season.


They did lose twice in the playoffs at home, against Memphis and Cleveland.


''I think if you look at the entire playoffs, the first two games at home have been a struggle,'' said coach Steve Kerr. ''Part of that is just trying to adapt to your opponent and get a feel for what they're doing. Easing into the series. Not easing in, but trying to get a grasp on what you're wanting to accomplishment. So I think we should be better tomorrow because we have a feel for our opponent, and I'm looking for a better game at home.''


He wouldn't say if he would stick with the small lineup the Warriors unveiled in Game 4, with swingman Andre Iguodala starting in place of center Andrew Bogut. But given Golden State's success in speeding up the tempo, there seems little reason to switch back.


James acknowledged after the game that the Cavaliers don't have many lineups they can go to, but Blatt isn't so sure a change is necessary given the way the first three games went.


''If you look at the one game, it makes you think, `OK, we've got to change this, that and the other thing,'' he said. ''If you look at the four games, in three out of four of those games we were pretty good doing the things that we did. So I think you'll see a combination of both of those possibilities.''


Teams that won Game 5 when the finals are tied have gone on to win 20 of 28 times, according to STATS, though not last time it happened. Miami fell behind San Antonio 3-2 in 2013, then James led the Heat to two wins.


So he knows not to overreact to anything this time of year.


''We're going to play our game,'' he said. ''We've gotten to this point by playing the way we play, and we're not going to change.''

 

[CNOTES]

LeBron's 'slight' headache a big deal


June 12, 2015


CLEVELAND (AP) - LeBron James called it a ''slight'' headache, though nothing involving the game's best player is ever minor.


So when James got a cut on his head after falling into a TV camera during Game 4 of the NBA Finals, it led to questions about everything from how the NBA treats head injuries to whether someone taking pictures should be close enough to cause one.


The league tried to deal with both issues long before Thursday night.


Baseline photography and TV positions were already reduced last summer, and a concussion protocol was previously in place. But according to the league's policy, a cut on the head alone is not a trigger for it.


The protocol requires concussion evaluation when a player is suspected of having a concussion or exhibits signs or symptoms of one. Based on the player's response, teams make the clinical judgment call whether to evaluate.


James was bleeding but not showing concussion symptoms. He was thinking clearly, saying he was aware he needed to stay in the game to shoot his free throws after being fouled by Andrew Bogut, or he wouldn't have been able to re-enter, according to league rules.


''No, I didn't have to go through any concussion protocol. I had a slight headache, which I think every last one of you guys would probably have if you ran into a camera. You might have a little bit more than that,'' James said during his postgame news conference.


''But I didn't go through any protocol. I'm fine. Like I said, I got a few stitches and I got a little slight headache right now, but I'll be fine with that.''


The Warriors dealt with the concussion questions in their last series. Both Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson suffered head injuries in the Western Conference finals, with Thompson diagnosed with a concussion following their Game 5 victory over Houston and having to be cleared to play in the NBA Finals.


Commissioner Adam Silver said last week during his finals news conference that he was confident in the league's protocol and in the way it was followed with the Warriors.


''Right now we talked to the other leagues. We've talked to medical advisers everywhere about the best way to approach this,'' he said. ''As I said, we think the best way we're approaching it now is best in class in terms of medical and science information that's available to us. But we'll continue to look at it.''


The league had already been looking at player safety behind the baselines over the previous five years.


New rules last summer mandated an extra foot of open space on both sides of the basket stanchion. The ''escape lanes,'' the unoccupied area on either side of the stanchion to the closest photographer spot, increased from 3 to 4 feet, and only 20 camera positions, 10 on each baseline, remained, down from 24 in 2013-14 and 40 during the 2010-11 regular season.


Social media was already flooded with cries to move the photographers and TV cameramen further even before James' bleeding had stopped. But at least one person seems to believe enough space had already been created.


Bogut, adding insult to injury, indicated James' actions after the foul caused the injury.


''I think he jumped into the cameraman,'' Bogut said. ''I think he came down and took two steps and then fell on the cameraman.''

 

[CNOTES]

Warriors believe title wait almost over


June 12, 2015


OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Gary Liss still has the ticket from Game 2 of the 1975 NBA Finals in his wallet. The seat cost just $10, but watching the Golden State Warriors win the title remains a priceless memory.


''World champions? That's a hard thing to do,'' said Liss, who has been a season-ticket holder since the Warriors moved from Philadelphia in 1962.


For many loyal fans like Liss, it has been a long and grueling wait to experience that moment again.


The Warriors will play their biggest game in a generation when they host LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. The best-of-seven series is tied at two games apiece, and the anticipation is equally exciting and exhausting in Oakland.


It has been 40 years - the longest span between finals appearances in league history - since the franchise's long-suffering fans could feel such a rush. After decades of bad drafts, terrible trades and lots of losses, the most hardened Warriors supporters are soaking in every second of this run.


''It's just magical. There's never going to be another season like it,'' said Leslie Sosnick, a 61-year-old fan from Oakland. ''All I've ever wanted is to have a good product on the court.''


Sosnick first saw a good product when her father, Peter, took her to a Warriors game in San Francisco to celebrate her 9th birthday. She watched Wilt Chamberlain from the upper deck and thought the Big Dipper looked slow and small.


She eventually found her way behind the basket when the team warmed up before the second half and got an up-close look at the size and speed of NBA players. Sosnick has been hooked ever since.


Her father died in 1978 and her mother passed away about 15 years ago, but she has held on to a cherished family heirloom for more than 50 years: Warriors season-tickets.


''I just feel that I have each of my parents on my shoulders and we're going through this together and celebrating it with them. It's extremely emotional for me,'' she said, her voice cracking. ''But in the very best way.''


For Mark and Jan Wilson, the Warriors are a personal love affair.


One of their first dates was at a game on Valentine's Day in 2007. They sat in section 214 - a buy-one-get-one special on Feb. 14 - and watched the Warriors beat the New York Knicks.


The ''We Believe'' Warriors, as they became known, went on to upset the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs. The couple bought season-tickets the following year and continued to commute from their home in Santa Cruz, about a 90-minute drive without traffic.


''This is like our vacations coming out here,'' said Mark Wilson, now 65.


Liss, 72, went to his first game during the team's inaugural season in the Bay Area. He sat courtside and became friends with players and management over the years, and he sits in the first row behind the Warriors' bench now.


Every game he attended brought new memories, and that was enough to keep him coming back - even when the team was terrible.


''Each time that I went, the games always started zero-zero. They always had a chance,'' Liss said, chuckling.


While it's easy to root for the Warriors now, they have tested the faith and fortitude of fans.


The Warriors missed the playoffs nine straight years after the 1976-77 season. Chris Mullin led the franchise to the postseason five times between 1987 and 1994, including the brief but exciting Run TMC teams coached by Don Nelson, but the Warriors made the playoffs just once in the next 19 years.


''These fans have been through it,'' current Warriors owner Joe Lacob said. ''They've been through hell. I know it. I was a fan for a long time. I'm just extremely happy for them now.''


Oracle Arena, nicknamed ''Roaracle,'' has long been considered one of the league's loudest venues. The low roof and concrete surfaces send sound waves bouncing at ear-splitting decibels, giving the Warriors a home-court advantage few franchises can match.


The Warriors are a league-best 47-4 at home this season, including 8-2 in the playoffs, and players routinely credit the raucous crowds for willing them to wins.


''Every time I think it can't get louder, it does,'' forward Draymond Green said.


As the Warriors have improved the past three years, going to games has become a tough ticket in the basketball-united Bay Area, where fans of the 49ers, Giants, Raiders and Athletics come together to support the market's only NBA team.


The Warriors have sold-out 133 straight games entering Sunday's contest. The waitlist for season tickets surpassed 10,000 earlier this year. And despite an increase in price, that number is only expected to rise.


The Warriors are planning to move to a new arena in San Francisco as early as the start of the 2018-19 season. Fans have expressed concern that the team's famed home atmosphere and blue-collar culture could change in tech-savvy San Francisco.


Warriors President Rick Welts, who is spearheading the arena effort, has said the franchise needs a new facility to be financially viable long-term and is doing all it can to duplicate Oracle's electric environment.


And in the end, that's what keeps their legion of loyal fans coming back.


''Whenever the season is over, I always have this withdrawal,'' Sosnick said. ''And then we walk back into the arena at the end of October or early November, and it feels like I'm home.'

 

[CNOTES]

Warriors believe they've found formula to beat James, Cavs


June 13, 2015


OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - The media crush that descended upon the Golden State Warriors' practice facility Saturday forced Stephen Curry to shoot on the far court, where a billboard that honors the 1974-75 championship team hangs on the wall.


As if Curry and the Warriors needed a reminder, the giant yellow sign served as a symbolic notice: Never has another title been so close.


Two wins from ending the franchise's 40-year championship drought, the Warriors are looking increasingly comfortable in front of all the cameras. They head into Sunday night's Game 5 of the knotted-up NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers confident that they have found the formula to win.


''You can't necessarily say you've gotten over the hurdle until you win the series, but I think we've adjusted to it and we're ready for it now,'' Warriors forward Draymond Green said. ''We're ready to take that jump.''


Golden State has gotten better every time it has been tested.


Dropping Games 2 and 3 to the Cavs was the sixth time the Warriors lost two straight this season. The previous five times they rolled off winning streaks of 16, eight, three, nine and six in a row, the latter coming after falling behind 2-1 to the Memphis Grizzlies in the second round.


''They get a little angry when they lose a couple in a row and they've responded all season long,'' Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. ''Hopefully we can get on a nice little run here, too.''


Whether it's making adjustments, learning opponents or rediscovering rhythm, the Warriors have worn down teams as each series has progressed.


Kerr's decision to play small - suggested by 28-year-old assistant Nick U'Ren - made a big difference in Golden State's 103-82 win at Cleveland on Thursday night. Kerr likely will stick with the lineup full of 3-point shooters - starting swingman Andre Iguodala instead of Andrew Bogut and sliding the 6-foot-7 Green to center - that spread the floor and sped up the pace in Game 4.


Of course, Kerr's not revealing his next move. He even joked that he has ''established my penchant for lying'' about lineups so nobody should believe him.


What the Warriors believe is they have a well-established record of responding to adversity.


The change against the Cavs followed a pattern of problem solving that helped hamper Houston's James Harden, nullify Memphis' Tony Allen and negate New Orleans' Anthony Davis previously in these playoffs. The Warriors believe they're too deep, too talented and too smart to let anything negative linger.


''Every series is like a puzzle. You just try to figure it out,'' forward Harrison Barnes said.


''We usually get to that third game, for some reason, it lights a fire under us and we get pretty good stuff coming out,'' Bogut said. ''I'm not sure what it is, but we've got a resilient group that wants to win.''


Some adjustments, such as the lineup change, have been systematic. Others have been individual issues.


Curry thought he rushed shots early in the series. Klay Thompson said he wasn't setting his feet. Green admitted that the bright lights and swarming attention on the finals bothered him.


''I kind of just let the whole experience and everything kind of drag me down,'' Green said. ''And I didn't necessarily have that energy and couldn't find it with just all of this, everything that's going on. I let it affect me and it affected my play. I just had to get away from that, get all that stuff out my head and just play basketball and be who I am.''


Same goes for the rest of Golden State.


The Warriors are back at home - where they are 47-4, including 8-2 in the playoffs, though they never looked very sharp in splitting overtime games with the Cavs to start the series - and back in a better mind frame than when they left.


If they can follow through with another winning streak of at least three games, they'll have another banner to hang soon.

 

[CNOTES]

Some extra exposure for LeBron James


June 12, 2015


NEW YORK (AP) - His team getting clobbered in the NBA Finals and his head bloodied in a collision with a camera was bad enough for LeBron James. Now he's trapped in the endless online loop of the moment he got caught with his pants down on national television.


James' wardrobe adjustment - briefly lowering his compression pants in the moments before his Cleveland Cavaliers took on the Golden State Warriors Thursday - was another example of television not moving fast enough to stop a moment best left off the air.


The moment flashed by so quickly, with James' body partially obscured by an onscreen graphic, that many viewers probably missed it in real time.


''You needed to have a really good DVR and a microscope, I think,'' said Tim Winter, president of the Parents Television Council. His watchdog group frequently encourages its members to file complaints to the federal government for violations of indecency standards but in this case he advised followers to stand down, calling it ''much ado about nothing.''


The Federal Communications Commission would not comment Friday on whether anyone had formally complained about James' unexpected exposure.


Dating back to Janet Jackson's exposed breast on a Super Bowl halftime show and even before, directors of sports and entertainment events have long been on guard to stop such moments from slipping through. Often, telecast of live events are delayed several seconds to enable someone backstage to press a button to stop offensive language.


Success is mixed at best: A week earlier, bilingual jockey Victor Espinoza could be heard offering swear words in English and Spanish after guiding American Pharoah over the finish line for the Triple Crown.


A director is usually backstage watching several different camera feeds and ordering which one goes out over the air, and will head to another shot if something untoward is shown. Generally, there's not enough time to edit out something that happens so quickly, said Ross Greenburg, an independent sports producer and former president of HBO Sports.


''Something like this is very rare, is next to impossible to prevent, and to my knowledge there is no video delay in effect that could prevent it from going out live,'' said Marc Payton, a recently retired sports television director who was in charge for national baseball, football and boxing telecasts.


Don't just blame TV, Greenburg said. A star like James in a big event like the NBA Finals should be aware that a camera is going to be trained on him from the moment he walks out of the locker room.


ABC Sports would not comment on James' extra exposure, and the Cavaliers star was traveling West on Friday.


Twitter was alight with followers only too happy to fill in the breach, though.

 

[CNOTES]

Cavs-Warriors NBA Finals sees historic adjustment in Over/Under betting


The 2015 NBA Finals has undergone the biggest adjustment in betting totals from Game 1 to Game 4 in any championship series over the last 24 years, with a 10.5-point difference between the opening game total and fourth installment of the series.


Going back to the 1991 NBA Finals (as far back as Covers’ NBA betting database allows), the most a total has jumped between Game 1 and Game 4 is 6.5 points. That adjustment occurred in the 1991 championship between Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls and Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers (Game 1: 201.5, Game 4: 195), and the 1998 finals featuring Chicago and the Utah Jazz (Game 1: 186, Game 4: 179.5).


Game 1 of the 2015 NBA Finals closed with a lofty total of 203.5 points, only playing Over due to an added overtime period that saw Golden State edge Cleveland 108-100 last Thursday. Game 2 closed with an Over/Under of 199 points, with the Cavaliers stealing a 95-93 OT win in Oracle Arena and playing Under despite the extra frame. That led to a 194.5-point closing total for Tuesday’s Game 3 in Cleveland, in which the home side won 96-91 for another easy Under winner.


That takes NBA bettors to the opening total for Thursday’s Game 4 of the NBA Finals, which sits at 193 points – a more than 10-point difference from the series opening number. With such a gap between the Over/Under for Game 1 and Game 4, were oddsmakers completely wrong when it came to this series?


Well, no. While scoring has been at a premium in this series, and all three games fell Under the total in regulation by a combined 40 points, sportsbooks make their adjustments based on two factors: 1. Game outcomes. 2. Betting patterns. And as far as the basketball betting public is concerned, every game should be going Over.


“We’d get Over money tomorrow if we set the total at 232,” Jimmy Vaccaro, veteran linesmaker for South Point Las Vegas, tells Covers.


According to books in Nevada and online, the Over has been the popular pick with the recreational bettors while the sharps have swooped in and taken the Under. That’s just fine by bookmakers, who have not only been big winners with those Under results the past two games but also with plenty of Over plays parlayed to the Warriors.


“You just make adjustments, that’s all,” John Avello, director of race and sports at the Wynn Las Vegas, tells Covers. “Golden State isn’t shooting the ball well. So just like their coach has to make adjustments, the books have to make adjustments.”


The NBA Finals have been a breeding ground for Under paydays in recent seasons. Since the 2006 NBA Finals, championship games have gone 19-29-3 Over/Under (60.4 percent Under) and Game 4 situations have produced a 2-7 O/U mark in that span – the most profitable situation for Under bettors in the best-of-seven format for the finals.


That’s not to say the totals won’t climb back towards 200-plus points for the remaining games of the series, especially with a Game 5 in Golden State on the schedule. Cleveland’s defense is getting the bulk of the praise for this downtick in offensive production but the Cavs’ clock-sucking offense and just plain poor shooting from the Warriors – specifically Stephen Curry – is having a big impact on how the totals trickle down.


“I think the Cavs are making it difficult but the Warriors are just missing wide-open shots,” says Avello, pointing to Golden State's 41.4 percent shooting in the finals. “They’re just missing. (Matthew) Dellavedova is OK, but they’re (the media) making him out to be the next great defensive stopper. But it’s more about Curry missing open shots, going 2 for 15. You have no chance to go Over the total when he’s shooting that way.”


Looking back over the past nine NBA Finals, Game 4 has seen an average closing total of 189.72 points against an average total of 185 points scored. However, Game 5 totals jump to an average of 191.31 with 202 points scored, producing a 5-3 O/U record.


Game 3 winners


Game 3 is a pivotal matchup for any playoff series, with one team taking a 2-1 edge or putting a 3-0 chokehold on their opponent. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Game 3 winners - when the series is tied 1-1 - have gone on to win the NBA title in 31 of the past 37 situations. One of those six exceptions was LeBron James and the 2013 Miami Heat, who dropped Game 3 to San Antonio but rallied to win the series.


Looking back to the 1991 NBA Finals, the winner of Game 3 has gone on to a collective 13-11 SU and 13-10-1 ATS record in Game 4 of the series. As for LeBron, he’s 2-3 SU, ATS, and O/U in Game 4 of the NBA Finals for his career, averaging 24 points, 6.4 assists, and nine rebounds in those contests.


Finals home dogs


Cleveland was just the 18th finals home underdog since the 1991 NBA Finals, covering the spread as a 2-point pup in Game 3 Tuesday. In that span, home dogs have finished 6-12 SU, 8-10 ATS, and 11-9 Over/Under.


It was also just the fourth time all season the Cavaliers were getting the points at home, and the first time they’ve won and covered in that rare role. Cleveland is once against the underdog in Game 4, set at +3 Thursday.


LeBron MVP no matter what


Not since Jerry West in the 1969 NBA Finals has the Finals MVP award gone to a player on the losing team. In fact, that’s the only time it’s happened.


LeBron James is making a case for the now-labelled Bill Russell Award, averaging 41 points, 12 rebounds and more than eight assists in the 2015 finals, and entered the series priced at +180 to win Finals MVP. Despite pushing the Cavs to a 2-1 series lead, oddsmakers still have Golden State as a -115 favorite to win the NBA championship, with Cleveland coming back at -105.


Win or lose, James should get major MVP consideration, and has already won over one Las Vegas bookmaker (even though you can’t wager on MVP odds in Nevada - yet).


“If you take LeBron off the court and you take that group of guys they have right now (no Kevin Love, no Kyrie Irving), they wouldn’t win five games all year,” says Avello.


The Westgate Superbook in Las Vegas has set James’ Game 4 scoring total at 35.5 points (-110 either side). Curry has a conservative scoring total prop of 28.5 points (-110 either way).

 

[CNOTES]

Cavs, James ready to fight back


LeBron James and the banged-up Cleveland Cavaliers will try to bounce back from a sluggish performance when they face the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night.


The Warriors tied the best-of-seven series at 2-2 on Thursday night with a 103-82 victory over the out-of-gas Cavs, who seemed to be desperate for rest and help for James.


Warriors coach Steve Kerr went to a perimeter-heavy offense in Game 4, with swingman Andre Iguodala in for center Andrew Bogut.


Iguodala gave the Warriors some big points -- 22 in 39 minutes. Known for his defense, Iguodala drained four 3-pointers.


"He's our most experienced player and he's one of the smartest players I've ever been around," Kerr said of Iguodala. "The guy is brilliant at both ends. He sees the game. If he wants to coach someday, he'd be a great coach. Although he says he would be too impatient, so I don't know if he's got the patience. But he's got a great basketball mind."


The Warriors' small lineup spread the floor, created mismatches and sent the Cavs scurrying to cover all of the shooters. Golden State point guard Stephen Curry scored 22 points and passed for six assists after two sub-par games, and Draymond Green had 17 points, seven rebounds and six assists after shifting to center in the new-look smaller starting lineup.


"I was pretty much gassed, either from driving, creating opportunities for my teammates, getting to the free-throw line, getting (to the) offensive glass, just trying to make that push," James said Thursday night.


The Cavaliers nearly lost James when he crashed into a camera along the baseline, leaving him with a headache and a bloody gash on his head that required stitches.


In addition, Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova went to the hospital to be treated for dehydration following Tuesday's Game 3 and guard Iman Shumpert has been battling a painful shoulder bruise.


The Cavaliers already are without two All-Stars due to injuries -- losing guard Kyrie Irving in the opening game of the NBA Finals and power forward Kevin Love early in the playoffs.


Cavs coach David Blatt played only seven players in Game 4 before clearing the bench in the fourth quarter when the game turned into a blowout.


"(It) was the third game in five days, including the trip back from the West Coast, and it seemed to have an impact on us," Blatt said after the 21-point Game 4 loss. "We're thinner now than we were, but that's not an excuse. We haven't used it as an excuse yet, and we won't start now. We've just all got to pick it up."


James was asked about the need to expand the rotation to help him and others get some more rest.


"That's the coach's decision if he decides he wants to go deeper in the bench," James said. "We haven't played many guys throughout this playoff run. I think it would help some of the guys that are playing some high minutes, for sure. Just give guys a couple minutes here, a couple minutes there. But I think the coaching staff will try to do what's best to help us be physically and mentally prepared for Sunday."


The Warriors, facing the prospect of falling behind 3-1 in the series, came out energized from the start Thursday night and finished off the Cavs with a dominant fourth quarter.


"We really picked up our intensity level," Green said. "We contested shots. We got on loose balls, and we rebounded. We battled."


With 4:43 left in the second quarter in Game 4, James drove to the basket and was fouled by Bogut.


Play was halted temporarily after James crashed into the row of cameras across the baseline, cutting open his head. James lost his balance and went tumbling head first. He smashed into a television camera and immediately grabbed his head while he writhed around in front of the Cavs' owners.


"I was just trying to regain my composure, and I was holding my head; it was hurting," James said after the game. "I was just hoping I wasn't bleeding. But obviously the camera cut me pretty bad. Our medical staff did a great job of stopping the bleeding."


The training staff covered James' head, behind his right ear, with a towel to stop the bleeding and he didn't have to leave the game.


James quickly returned to shoot two free throws. He finished with 20 points on 7-for-22 shooting, 12 rebounds and eight assists in 41 minutes.


"I knew I had to shoot the free throws or I wasn't going to be able to come back into the game, so it didn't matter what was going on with my head at that point in time," said James, who received stitches after the game. "I had to go up there and shoot those free throws and continue to play."


James said he didn't go through the concussion protocol after hitting his head.


"No, I didn't have to go through any concussion protocol," he said. "I had a slight headache, which I think every last one of you guys would probably have if you ran into a camera. You might have a little bit more than that. But I didn't go through any protocol. I'm fine. Like I said, I got a few stitches and I got a little slight headache right now, but I'll be fine with that."


Bogut told reporters after the game that James was to blame for the injury.


"I think he jumped into the cameraman, yeah," Bogut said. "I think he came down, took two steps and fell on the cameraman. I definitely, definitely didn't hit him that hard."


With James getting stiches in the training room, Dellavedova had his now-standard postgame full-body ice bath and Shumpert had a large ice bag wrapped around his left shoulder.


Meanwhile, Kerr admitted to lying before Game 4 when he said at the morning shootaround that there would be no changes in the starting lineup.


Kerr then shuffled his starting lineup, inserting Iguodala for the first time this season and removing Bogut.


"I lied," Kerr said after the game.


Iguodala kept pressure on James throughout the game.


"Make him work as hard as possible," Iguodala said of his plan on James. "Make him take tough shots. You look at his strengths, you look at his weaknesses, and you try to take him out of his comfort zone. Sounds easier said than done, but we all have a lot of talent and when we go out there we want to make our stamp on the game."


James had praise for what Iguodala gave the Warriors.


"He's one of the X-factors, and he came to play," James said. "He shot the ball extremely well. He hit four 3s. He was in attack. He got a couple dunks in transition early on in the game, which got him going, and he was really good for them."


James dismissed the idea that Game 5 would be his most challenging because of other big moments in his career.


James cited his Game 6 in the 2012 conference finals against the Celtics in Boston. With the Miami Heat trailing 3-2, he had 45 points and 12 rebounds to lift Miami to wins that night and again in Game 7.


"Game 5 at Golden State is not that big when it comes to going to Boston and you lose multiple times in that arena, and the franchise that I was with at the time had never won a playoff game in Boston," James said. "Now that's pretty challenging. So I've been through a little bit in my pretty cool career."

 

[CNOTES]

Warriors big faves for pivotal Game 5


With the Finals tied at two and heading back to Oracle Arena in Oakland the Warriors have opened as 8.5-point home favorites over the Cavaliers for Game 5.


The Warriors easily covered as 4-point road faves in Cleveland Thursday night 103-82. Both the Warriors and the Cavs are 2-2 against the spread so far in the series.


The total for Game 5 has opened at 195.5, with the under having a 3-1 edge so far.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Indians (28-32) at Tigers (32-29)
Game: 3
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: June 14, 2015 1:08 PM EDT

Corey Kluber has been routinely left hanging out to dry by the Cleveland Indians, leading to a lackluster record that belies his performance.


He'll have to focus on keeping Miguel Cabrera in check, however, in Sunday's series finale with the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.


Kluber (3-7, 3.53 ERA) is well off the 18-victory pace of his 2014 Cy Young season, and a 2.45 run-support average - the second-lowest in the majors - has played a big role.


He gave up two runs in seven innings Tuesday versus Seattle, but received one run of support in a 3-2 loss. It was the 12th time in 13 starts that he's been backed by three runs or fewer.


"I don't think you can let it get frustrating," he said. "I think everybody is going to go through times when they don't get run support. I think if you start to worry about that, it probably gets in the way of pitching and makes pitching harder."


Kluber fanned 10 and allowed two runs over 6 1-3 innings in a 9-6 home loss to Detroit on April 11, though he wasn't charged with the defeat. He's 1-5 with a 4.55 ERA in 10 matchups with the Tigers since winning his first career start against them in 2012.


Cabrera has given Kluber fits, going 19 for 33 (.576) with four homers and two doubles, and he's 11 for 16 in the matchup since the start of last season. He's also tormented the Indians recently, batting .513 with seven home runs, six doubles and 20 RBIs in his last 20 meetings dating to last June.


"Miggy is one of the most special hitters in the game," Indians manger Terry Francona told MLB's official website. "There's no way to get around it."


Cabrera went 2 for 4 on Saturday, but Detroit (32-30) lost for the second time in three games, falling 5-4 in Justin Verlander's season debut.


Verlander gave up two runs in five innings before relievers Blaine Hardy and Ian Krol were charged with a combined three runs in 1 1-3 innings.


Cleveland (29-32) had lost four of five and scored three runs or fewer in eight of 10 prior to Saturday. Michael Brantley extended his hitting streak to 11 games and has hit safely in 31 of his last 34 meetings with Detroit while batting .434.


On the mound for the Tigers will be Alfredo Simon (6-3, 2.76), who has alternated decisions in his last four starts. He won a 6-4 final against the Chicago White Sox last Sunday after giving up four runs in a season high-matching eight innings, though only one was earned, and retired the final 12 batters he faced.


"His pitches came around the second half of his outing," manager Brad Ausmus said.


Simon is 3-1 with a 1.80 ERA in five home starts, including a 4-1 victory against the Indians on April 25 in which he limited them to one run in 6 2-3 innings. He also won 8-4 at Cleveland on April 10, allowing three runs in 5 1-3 innings, and is 3-1 with a 4.13 ERA in four career starts versus the Indians.


Brantley is 10 for 15 with four doubles against Simon.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Indians at Tigers
Fri, Jun 12 Final 0 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Indians at Tigers
Sat, Jun 13 -Final 5 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Indians at Tigers
Sun, Jun 14 - 1:08PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Rockies (27-33) at Marlins (26-36)
Game: 4
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: June 14, 2015 1:10 PM EDT

The Miami Marlins have rode solid starting pitching to their longest home winning streak of the season.


Dan Haren looks to continue that run Sunday as the Marlins try for a sixth consecutive home victory and first sweep there of the slumping Colorado Rockies in 11 seasons.


Mat Latos yielded a run and struck out 11 in seven innings of Saturday's 4-1 victory, giving the Marlins' starters a 1.89 ERA in their last five at home. Miami's rotation has posted a 1.92 mark as the team has gone 7-1 in its past eight at Marlins Park.


The Marlins (27-36) have outscored opponents 27-7 during their five-game run and turn to Haren (6-2, 3.12 ERA) as they try for their first home sweep of Colorado since August 2004.


In six home starts, the right-hander is 3-0 with a 1.96 ERA that ranks among the best in the NL. His last outing came at Toronto on Tuesday when he gave up two runs and struck out seven without a walk over seven innings. He was in line for the victory until the Blue Jays scored twice in the ninth for a 4-3 victory.


"It's the same as usual," Haren told MLB's official website. "I just take every game as its own entity. Whether my last start was good or bad, I try to not think about it."


Haren has dropped four consecutive decisions to the Rockies and has a 9.68 ERA while going 1-5 in his last seven against them. Colorado (27-34), however, has totaled four runs during a four-game skid.


'We're certainly having a difficult time right now,' said manager Walt Weiss, whose team has scored twice through the first three of this four-game series.


Troy Tulowitzki had one of Colorado's five hits and the lone RBI in the sixth inning Saturday.


"This is one of the worst hitters' parks in baseball in my opinion,' Colorado catcher Michael McKenry said.


Corey Dickerson is 5 for 7 with three doubles and two home runs against Haren, but could sit after re-aggravating a left foot injury Saturday.


'I'm not exactly sure how serious it is, but it is a chronic thing,' Weiss said. 'Hopefully, it didn't flare up too much.'


Colorado's Jorge De La Rosa (3-2, 5.53) can set the club record for wins after allowing two runs and striking out eight in seven innings of a 4-3 victory over St. Louis on Tuesday. De La Rosa, 3-0 with a 2.92 ERA over his last four starts, has 72 wins to tie him with former All-Star Aaron Cook.


"It feels really good to be tied with Aaron Cook," De La Rosa said. "He was a really good pitcher for this franchise, and I'm glad to be there."


The left-hander has gone 1-1 with a 7.71 ERA in his first two trips to Marlins Park this season.


Giancarlo Stanton is 1 for 8 with a double against De La Rosa, but he's hit eight of his major league-leading 23 homers in the past 11 games. He's 12 for 22 with five home runs and 12 RBIs in the last six.


'Just finally feeling comfortable, not being tense up there, and staying relaxed,' said Stanton, who's batted .377 with four home runs and 21 RBIs in his last 15 against Colorado.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Rockies at Marlins
Thu, Jun 11 Final 0 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Rockies at Marlins
Fri, Jun 12 Final 1 to 5
Boxscores


GAME 3
Rockies at Marlins
Sat, Jun 13 - Final 1 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 4
Rockies at Marlins
Sun, Jun 14 - 1:10PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Braves (29-32) at Mets (33-29)
Game: 3
Venue: Citi Field
Date: June 14, 2015 1:10 PM EDT

Even tough Dillon Gee will be taking the mound for the New York Mets, the club is not going back to a six-man rotation.


Gee's outing Sunday will be a spot start in which he'll try to cool hot-hitting Cameron Maybin in the finale of this three-game set against the Atlanta Braves.


Gee's return from a groin injury and Noah Syndergaard's emergence put the Mets (33-30) in a quandary concerning the rotation. Their solution was to use six starters in hopes of easing the burden on Syndergaard, reigning NL Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom and ace Matt Harvey, who missed all of 2014 recovering from Tommy John surgery.


The brief experiment didn't last long once Gee (0-3, 4.50 ERA) was demoted to the bullpen after being hammered in his first start in over a month June 3. He surrendered seven runs - four earned - and eight hits in four innings of a 7-3 loss at San Diego.


Gee may be tossing the first pitch in this contest, but manager Terry Collins insists it's not a return to six starters.


"I didn't like the looks of it. I didn't like the feeling in the clubhouse that was going on, I didn't like the feeling in here (the interview room). I just didn't like it," Collins said of the reaction to the six-man rotation.


"So it's not a six-man rotation, it's a five-man rotation, but we're going to slip somebody in because we think maybe a day here is an extra day that will help out."


Gee made one relief appearance after being demoted, yielding one run and three hits in 1 2-3 innings while New York was no-hit by Chris Heston in Tuesday's 5-0 loss to San Francisco.


The right-hander is 6-5 with a 3.09 ERA in 16 career starts against the Braves (30-32), going 2-0 with a 1.63 ERA in his last four at Citi Field. He's also allowed Maybin to go just 1 for 9, but that came prior to him joining Atlanta this year.


The center fielder is hitting .444 with 10 RBIs in 10 games to increase his average nearly 50 points to .303. He has four hits in this series and his third Saturday was a go-ahead, two-run single in the 11th inning of a 5-3 win that ended the Braves' five-game slide against the Mets.


"It's just fun to win, man," Maybin said.


The key to that could be the bullpen, which is among the worst in the majors with a 4.53 ERA. However, the relievers have allowed two runs in 15 2-3 innings during Atlanta's 3-2 stretch, and six of them combined to throw 4 2-3 scoreless Saturday.


"We believe in these guys every time they come in," Maybin said. "They continue to go out there and they continue to compete."


The Braves may need another strong effort from the bullpen with Mike Foltynewicz (3-2, 4.72) getting the nod. The rookie has surrendered 10 runs in 11 1-3 innings while not getting a decision in his last two starts after going 1-1 with a 1.88 ERA in two outings prior to that.


His only appearance against New York came in Queens and he gave up three runs and a homer to Lucas Duda in 2 1-3 innings of relief in a loss while with Houston on Sept. 28.


Duda had a pair of doubles and an RBI on Saturday, snapping out of a 3-for-32 slump over the previous 10 games. The first baseman is 13 for 27 (.481) in his last eight meetings with the Braves.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Braves at Mets
Fri, Jun 12 Final 3 to 5
Boxscores


GAME 2
Braves at Mets
Sat, Jun 13 - Final 5 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Braves at Mets
Sun, Jun 14 - 1:10PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: White Sox (28-31) at Rays (33-29)
Game: 3
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: June 14, 2015 1:10 PM EDT

Chris Sale won't make too much of his personal accomplishments during a recent run of dominance.


Trying to win a fourth straight start, the left-hander's main focus is helping the visiting Chicago White Sox avoid being swept by the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.


It would be easy for Sale (6-2, 3.04 ERA) to pat himself on the back for allowing one run and 12 hits in 22 2-3 innings over his last three outings. With 49 strikeouts in his last four, Sale became the first White Sox pitcher to fan at least 10 in as many contests.


Despite also having a chance to become the first pitcher to strike out at least 12 in four straight starts since Pedro Martinez in 2001, Sale isn't much for self-praise.


"I don't pay attention to any of that. I just try to come in and do my job," he said after yielding a run while striking out a season-high 14 over eight innings of a 3-1 win against Houston on Monday.


"I'm just a pitcher," he told MLB's official website. "I'm a baseball player. I want to go out and play baseball and do the best I can. That's all I've ever done and all I'm ever going to do. All the extra stuff is cool and fine, but I'll stick to being a baseball player."


Though Sale would rather be modest, manager Robin Ventura has no problem holding his ace in even higher regard after he became the first pitcher since 1900 to fan at least 10 in four straight while increasing his strikeout totals in each contest.


"He's really been on a roll and some of the numbers he's starting to rack up are impressive, especially how long this organization has been here," Ventura said prior to missing this series to attend his daughter's college graduation.


It was a year ago this month that former Rays pitcher David Price became the last to strike out at least 10 in five consecutive starts. As Sale tries to match that feat, he'll look to help Chicago (28-32) salvage a win in this three-game set.


Sale is 1-1 with a 1.88 ERA at Tampa Bay, but last pitched there in 2013.


"He's got a lot of things working in his favor," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "The delivery and stuff combination, I don't know if there are many (pitchers) that are much tougher."


Conor Gillaspie came on as a pinch hitter and launched a go-ahead two-run homer in the top of the eighth, but the Rays (34-29) scored twice with two outs in the bottom half to win for the 10th time in 14 games, 5-4 on Saturday.


"This shows you why we're in the position we're in," Tampa Bay's Chris Archer said after he allowed three runs in seven-plus innings. "We pitch well enough and we get timely hitting."


With two more hits, Rays outfielder Joey Butler is batting .411 in his last 14 games.


Evan Longoria, who had two RBIs on Saturday, is 1 for 8 with four strikeouts versus Sale.


Teammate Nathan Karns (3-3, 3.86) went 2-1 with a 1.89 ERA during a six-start stretch that he's followed by going 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in two outings that came against the Los Angeles Angels. The right-hander gave up five runs and nine hits in 5 2-3 innings of Tuesday's 8-2 defeat.


In his only start versus Chicago on Sept. 21, Karns was tagged for six runs and three homers over five innings of a 10-5 loss.


Avisail Garcia homered twice off Karns but is 1 for 19 with six strikeouts in five away games this month.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
White Sox at Rays
Fri, Jun 12 Final 5 to 7
Boxscores


GAME 2
White Sox at Rays
Sat, Jun 13 - Final 4 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
White Sox at Rays
Sun, Jun 14 - 1:10PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Yankees (33-27) at Orioles (30-30)
Game: 3
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: June 14, 2015 1:35 PM EDT

The Baltimore Orioles are on the brink of their longest winning streak in 10 years, and they can point to a red-hot Manny Machado and the return of Matt Wieters as big reasons why.


The Orioles attempt to complete a sweep of this three-game set with the visiting New York Yankees on Sunday.


Baltimore (31-30) has won six in a row and eight of nine after a 9-4 victory Saturday. The Orioles haven't put together a longer winning streak since taking eight straight from April 22-May 1, 2005.


"We finally got pieces coming back and the team's playing well," Machado said. "We are finally playing as a team."


Wieters is 8 for 23 (.348) with five extra-base hits and four RBIs in six games after starting the season on the disabled list while recovering from Tommy John surgery.


Machado has gone 14 for 30 with three homers and seven RBIs in seven games after collecting five hits in the first two of this series. The third baseman has batted .400 in his last 14 meetings with New York (33-28), delivering a two-run homer among his three hits and matching a career high with four RBIs on Saturday.


Wieters added a pair of doubles and scored twice.


The Orioles are hitting .325 with 10 homers and averaging 6.5 runs over their last six. They've scored 20 runs and recorded 31 hits - five homers - in this series.


"Guys are in a little bit of a flow," manager Buck Showalter said. "You've got a lot of different guys contributing."


Showalter is looking for rookie Mike Wright (2-1, 2.96 ERA) to become another as he takes the mound in place of Miguel Gonzalez, who is on the DL with a groin strain.


Wright was demoted to Triple-A Norfolk on June 5 after surrendering eight runs and 14 hits - four homers - in 10 innings while splitting his last two starts with Baltimore. He was recalled Thursday.


The right-hander will face the Yankees (33-28) for the first time as the Orioles go for their first sweep in the series since June 28-30, 2013. New York has followed a season-high seven-game winning streak by losing three straight.


Adam Warren (4-4, 3.64) has won two of his past three starts with a 2.25 ERA, but a pair of days off this week means he hasn't started since an 8-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels last Saturday. The right-hander yielded two runs and four hits in 6 2-3 innings, reaching the seventh for a fifth straight start.


"I feel comfortable going deeper in the game," said Warren, who switched from the bullpen to the rotation this year. "Early on, the game just seemed so much longer to me."


Warren gave up two runs and seven hits with three walks in 4 2-3 innings of a 5-4 win in his only career start against Baltimore on May 8. Machado is 6 for 7 off him after going 3 for 3 in that game.


Alex Rodriguez is five hits shy of 3,000. His two-run homer Saturday gave him 2,001 RBIs, joining Hank Aaron (2,297) as the only players to reach 2,000.


"You want to do these things and help the team win," said Rodriguez, 8 for 21 (.381) with three homers and seven RBIs in his last six games against the Orioles.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Yankees at Orioles
Fri, Jun 12 Final 3 to 11
Boxscores


GAME 2
Yankees at Orioles
Sat, Jun 13 Final 4 to 9
Boxscores


GAME 3
Yankees at Orioles
Sun, Jun 14 - 1:35PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Blue Jays (32-30) at Red Sox (27-35)
Game: 3
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: June 14, 2015 1:35 PM EDT

The Boston Red Sox were unable to slow down Toronto's surging lineup and the Blue Jays rolled to a 10th straight victory. They're hoping rookie sensation Eduardo Rodriguez has better luck against the hottest team in baseball Sunday at Fenway Park.


Toronto (33-30), which last won 11 in a row in June 2013, beat the Red Sox 5-4 in 11 innings Saturday. Russell Martin put the Blue Jays ahead for the second straight game with a home run in the 11th, his 10th of the season and third in five games.


They were 4 for 8 with runners in scoring position and the double-digit hit total was the club's 12th in 18 games. Toronto is averaging 6.8 runs during the winning streak and has scored 6.5 per game while taking five of eight meetings in the season series.


Rodriguez (2-0, 0.44 ERA) will try to rise to the challenge as he looks to continue the excellent start to his career, having allowed one run in 20 2-3 innings over three outings.


"Through three starts, we're looking at a pretty special young man," manager John Farrell said.


The left-hander is making Boston look brilliant for acquiring him from Baltimore for reliever Andrew Miller in July. He's given up eight hits and seven walks with 21 strikeouts, and the lone run came on a homer by Minnesota's Brian Dozier on June 3.


However, with a major league-leading .308 average and .498 slugging percentage against left-handers, Toronto could give Rodriguez problems. Josh Donaldson is hitting .419 against lefties, though he was 0 for 5 overall Saturday.


The Red Sox (27-36) are a season-worst nine games below .500 after dropping a season-high five straight, giving up 29 runs in the last four. David Ortiz is 2 for his last 30 with runners in scoring position.


"We've got to show up tomorrow and play," said second baseman Dustin Pedroia, batting .373 over his last 12 games. "That's all you can do. We're all grown men. We can't start crying."


They'll face Marco Estrada (3-3, 3.78), who is looking to win a third straight start after knocking off Washington and Miami. Toronto helped him out by scoring 18 runs in those games after he had received one or no runs of support in nine of his first 11 outings.


"It's awesome watching these guys swing the bat," Estrada said. "It's impressive."


He was a winner in relief in his first appearance against Boston, walking two over three scoreless innings in an 11-8 road victory April 28. He didn't record a decision in his only start against the Red Sox, giving up one earned run over 5 2-3 innings of a 6-2 victory April 4, 2014, with Milwaukee.


Boston's lineup could be stretched thin after Pablo Sandoval departed Saturday due to a tight right quadriceps. He is day to day.


Mookie Betts is also expected to miss another game after crashing into the wall in Friday's loss, spraining his lower back. Farrell said no personnel moves were likely, however.


Rusney Castillo moved from right field to Betts' center field spot Saturday while Alejandro De Aza played right.


"With Brock Holt being able to move all over the field, we're covered," Farrell told MLB's official website. "So we're not looking to make any kind of roster change, right now."




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Blue Jays at Red Sox
Fri, Jun 12 Final 13 to 10
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Blue Jays at Red Sox
Sat, Jun 13 Final 5 to 4
Boxscores


GAME 3
Blue Jays at Red Sox
Sun, Jun 14 - 1:35PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Phillies (22-40) at Pirates (33-27)
Game: 3
Venue: PNC Park
Date: June 14, 2015 1:35 PM EDT

Starling Marte is on a tear and it shouldn't come as a surprise that he's hammering the lowly Philadelphia Phillies.


Marte looks to continue his hot hitting as the Pittsburgh Pirates give the ball to A.J. Burnett, who will try to send his former team to a 10th straight road defeat Sunday.


Marte is 11 for 33 with nine RBIs in eight games, and he routinely pounds the Phillies. He's hitting .385 in 78 at_bats against them for his highest average against any opponent with at least 20.


He has recorded three hits and one RBI in three consecutive matchups, including Saturday's 4-3 win that came roughly 16 hours after delivering a walkoff single in a 1-0, 13-inning victory.


The Pirates (34-27) are 21-11 since May 9 for the best record in the majors in that span.


"We didn't really just turn it on," Gerrit Cole said after becoming baseball's first 10-game winner Saturday. "We grinded through awhile of some pretty bad baseball. It wasn't like it was a one-game turnaround. It speaks to how we go about our business and you know weather the storm."


Pittsburgh will try to take six in a row at home over Philadelphia for the first time since 1993-95 behind Burnett (6-2, 2.11 ERA). The right-hander has been one of the biggest surprises in the major leagues this season after going 8-18 with a 4.59 ERA with the Phillies last year.


His first meeting with them May 12 resulted in a 7-2 victory in which he allowed two runs - one earned - in seven innings.


That was part of Burnett's six-start winning streak, during which he compiled a 2.79 ERA. However, he gave up eight earned runs in 10 2-3 innings over the last two in that stretch before bouncing back with seven innings of one-run ball in a 2-0 loss to Milwaukee on Monday.


Burnett has posted a 1.60 ERA in five home starts but is 2-2 in them, having been backed by one or no runs in three of those outings.


He'll face a Phillies team that's averaging 2.1 runs while hitting .190 with runners in scoring position during the nine-game road losing streak, its longest since an 11-gamer July 20-Aug. 11, 2013.


The rotation has posted a 6.10 ERA in the road skid and has been charged with six of the losses.


Cole Hamels (5-5, 3.19) took one Monday, surrendering five runs in six innings of a 6-4 defeat to Cincinnati. The left-hander had gone 4-1 with a 1.83 ERA in his six previous starts, which included striking out nine Pirates while allowing two runs in seven innings of a 3-2 win May 13.


He's 1-1 with a 1.50 ERA in four career starts at Pittsburgh, winning the most recent July 4, 2013.


Hamels held Marte hitless in three at_bats in May.


Ben Revere continues to be a rare offensive bright spot for the Phillies (22-41), batting .381 in 10 contests. He has four hits in this series, extending his road hitting streak to 11 games with a .346 average.


He's never faced Burnett despite this being his sixth season in the majors.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Phillies at Pirates
Fri, Jun 12 Final 0 to 1
Boxscores


GAME 2
Phillies at Pirates
Sat, Jun 13 Final 3 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Phillies at Pirates
Sun, Jun 14 - 1:35PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Nationals (31-30) at Brewers (24-38)
Game: 4
Venue: Miller Park
Date: June 14, 2015 2:10 PM EDT

Max Scherzer has lost consecutive starts twice this season, something he didn't do all of last year. Another defeat Sunday will give the former Cy Young Award winner only the second three-start losing streak of his career.


While that outcome might seem unlikely in the finale of a four-game series in Milwaukee, it's the Brewers that are having the better month than Scherzer's Washington Nationals.


The Nationals (32-30), who got their first win of the series in Saturday's 7-2 final, are 5-12 since last winning consecutive games May 24 and 25. Washington has picked it up offensively with 5.3 runs per game in its last four after averaging 2.5 in a 17-game span through Scherzer's last start.


Bryce Harper was 3 for 3 with two RBIs on Saturday and is 11 for 19 against the Brewers since the start of last year, while Yunel Escobar homered and has batted .347 in his last 13 games. Ian Desmond, though, is in a 2-for-25 slump.


"We're a great team. I think everybody knows that. I've been preaching all year in the media, in the clubhouse, that we've got one of the best lineups in baseball," Harper said. "When we do the things we need to do, we're going to score a lot of runs."


The Brewers (24-39) have won eight of 13. Shortstop Jean Segura is 5 for 12 in the series and has batted .350 over his last 14. Second baseman Scooter Gennett is also 5 for 12 in the series, his first three games back from Triple-A Colorado Springs, after failing to have a multihit game and batting .154 in 21 contests before going down.


Carlos Gomez returned from a hip injury that cost him three games but was 0 for 4 on Saturday and is batting .176 in his last 14 games against Washington.


The Nationals haven't lost a series with the Brewers since being swept in three at Milwaukee in May 2011. They're 14-10 since with four series victories and two splits.


The only time Scherzer (6-5, 2.13 ERA) lost three straight starts was in May 2010. After surrendering four runs in 6 2-3 innings of Tuesday's 6-1 road loss to the New York Yankees, the right-hander has given up eight runs over 12 2-3 in two defeats after posting a 0.62 ERA in his previous four outings, part of a five-start winning streak.


Scherzer's latest start also marked the first time this season he's allowed more than one run on the road, where he is 3-2 with a 1.55 ERA in six starts. Milwaukee is among four teams he hasn't defeated, going without a decision and recording a 2.77 ERA in two starts and a relief appearance. He hasn't faced them since his second season of 2009.


Ryan Braun is 0 for 7 with four strikeouts against Scherzer while Adam Lind is 1 for 8 with a home run in the matchup.


Scherzer will be opposed by Taylor Jungmann, whose major league debut went glowingly in a 4-1 win at Pittsburgh on Tuesday. The right-hander allowed a run and three hits in seven innings.


"I thought he'd respond to the stage, and he did," manager Craig Counsell told MLB's official website. "He was very poised out there and in control of everything really."


That was anything but a certainty after Jungmann went 2-3 with a 6.37 ERA in nine starts and two relief appearances for Colorado Springs.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Nationals at Brewers
Thu, Jun 11 Final 5 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Nationals at Brewers
Fri, Jun 12 Final 4 to 8
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Nationals at Brewers
Sat, Jun 13 Final 7 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 4
Nationals at Brewers
Sun, Jun 14 - 2:10PM EDT