Cnotes Best Bets For Tuesday April 28th - MLB - NBA -NHL !

[CNOTES]

MLB MONEYLINE


MLB > (905) MILWAUKEE@ (906) CINCINNATI | 04/28/2015 - 07:10 PM
Play AGAINST MILWAUKEE using the money line in All games in night games
The record is 1 Wins and 11 Losses for the this season (-11.1 units)


MLB > (921) CHI WHITE SOX@ (922) BALTIMORE | 04/28/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play ON BALTIMORE using the money line in All games in night games
The record is 78 Wins and 46 Losses for the last two seasons (+36.95 units)


MLB > (923) SEATTLE@ (924) TEXAS | 04/28/2015 - 08:05 PM
Play AGAINST TEXAS using the money line in All games at home when the total is 9 to 9.5
The record is 15 Wins and 37 Losses for the last two seasons (-24.15 units)

MLB > (915) KANSAS CITY@ (916) CLEVELAND | 04/28/2015 - 06:05 PM
Play ON KANSAS CITY using the money line in Road games in night games
The record is 42 Wins and 22 Losses for the last two seasons (+22.85 units)


MLB RUNLINE


MLB > (923) SEATTLE@ (924) TEXAS | 04/28/2015 - 08:05 PM
Play AGAINST TEXAS using the in All games as a home underdog when the run line price is -155 to -130
The record is 9 Wins and 20 Losses for the last two seasons (-19.5 units)

MLB > (901) WASHINGTON@ (902) ATLANTA | 04/28/2015 - 07:10 PM
Play AGAINST ATLANTA using the in All games when playing on Tuesday
The record is 6 Wins and 21 Losses for the last two seasons (-18.35 units)


MLB TOTALS


MLB > (927) LA ANGELS@ (928) OAKLAND | 04/28/2015 - 10:05 PM
Play OVER OAKLAND on the total in All games after a loss
The record is 10 Overs and 1 Unders for the this season (+9.35 units)


MLB > (913) SAN FRANCISCO@ (914) LA DODGERS | 04/28/2015 - 10:10 PM
Play OVER LA DODGERS on the total in All games in home games
The record is 56 Overs and 31 Unders for the last two seasons (+25.1 units)


MLB TOP POWERLINES


MLB > (915) KANSAS CITY @ (916) CLEVELAND | 04/28/2015 - 06:05 PM
Line: CLEVELAND -145 BTB PowerLine: CLEVELAND 101
Edge On: CLEVELAND (26)


MLB > (917) TORONTO @ (918) BOSTON | 04/28/2015 - 06:10 PM
Line: BOSTON -130 BTB PowerLine: BOSTON 107
Edge On: BOSTON (17)


MLB > (921) CHI WHITE SOX @ (922) BALTIMORE | 04/28/2015 - 07:05 PM
Line: BALTIMORE -115 BTB PowerLine: BALTIMORE -181
Edge On: BALTIMORE (66)


MLB > (919) TAMPA BAY @ (920) NY YANKEES | 04/28/2015 - 07:05 PM
Line: NY YANKEES -115 BTB PowerLine: NY YANKEES -130
Edge On: NY YANKEES (15)


MLB > (903) NY METS @ (904) MIAMI | 04/28/2015 - 07:10 PM
Line: MIAMI -127 BTB PowerLine: MIAMI -118
Edge On: MIAMI (9)


MLB > (907) PITTSBURGH @ (908) CHICAGO CUBS | 04/28/2015 - 08:05 PM
Line: CHICAGO CUBS -125 BTB PowerLine: CHICAGO CUBS 161
Edge On: CHICAGO CUBS (66)


MLB > (923) SEATTLE @ (924) TEXAS | 04/28/2015 - 08:05 PM
Line: TEXAS +115 BTB PowerLine: TEXAS 134
Edge On: TEXAS (19)


MLB > (925) DETROIT @ (926) MINNESOTA | 04/28/2015 - 08:10 PM
Line: MINNESOTA +135 BTB PowerLine: MINNESOTA 168
Edge On: MINNESOTA (13)


MLB > (927) LA ANGELS @ (928) OAKLAND | 04/28/2015 - 10:05 PM
Line: OAKLAND -160 BTB PowerLine: OAKLAND -114
Edge On: OAKLAND (21)


MLB > (929) HOUSTON @ (930) SAN DIEGO | 04/28/2015 - 10:10 PM
Line: SAN DIEGO -160 BTB PowerLine: SAN DIEGO -150
Edge On: SAN DIEGO (10)

 

[CNOTES]

NBA ATS


NBA > (517) DALLAS@ (518) HOUSTON | 04/28/2015 - 08:00 PM
Play AGAINST DALLAS using the against the spread in Road games when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season
The record is 1 Wins and 11 Losses for the this season (-11.1 units)


NBA MONEYLINE


NBA > (517) DALLAS@ (518) HOUSTON | 04/28/2015 - 08:00 PM
Play AGAINST DALLAS using the money line in Road games when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season
The record is 1 Wins and 11 Losses for the this season (-11.3 units)


NBA FIRST HALF


NBA > (521) SAN ANTONIO@ (522) LA CLIPPERS | 04/28/2015 - 10:30 PM
Play ON SAN ANTONIO in the first half in All games revenging a loss vs opponent
The record is 20 Wins and 6 Losses for the this season (+13.4 units)


NBA TOTALS


NBA > (521) SAN ANTONIO@ (522) LA CLIPPERS | 04/28/2015 - 10:30 PM
Play UNDER SAN ANTONIO on the total in Road games after scoring 105 points or more
The record is 15 Overs and 51 Unders for the last three seasons (+34.5 units)

NBA > (517) DALLAS@ (518) HOUSTON | 04/28/2015 - 08:00 PM
Play UNDER HOUSTON on the total in Home games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game
The record is 6 Overs and 19 Unders for the this season (+12.4 units)


NBA TOP POWERLINE


NBA > (517) DALLAS @ (518) HOUSTON | 04/28/2015 - 08:00 PM
Line: HOUSTON -7 BTB PowerLine: HOUSTON -7
Edge On: HOUSTON (0)


NBA > (521) SAN ANTONIO @ (522) LA CLIPPERS | 04/28/2015 - 10:30 PM
Line: LA CLIPPERS -2 BTB PowerLine: LA CLIPPERS 0
Edge On: LA CLIPPERS (2)

 

[CNOTES]

NBA notebook: Cavs' Smith suspended, Love sidelined


The NBA on Monday suspended Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith for the first two games of the Eastern Conference semifinals, and Cavaliers forward Kevin Love will miss the Eastern Conference semifinals because of a dislocated shoulder.


The league also suspended Boston Celtics center Kelly Olynyk for the first game of next season.


The suspensions are the result of incidents during Cleveland's 101-93 victory over Boston on Sunday. The Celtics were eliminated from the playoffs and the Cavaliers moved on to the conference semifinals, where they will face the Chicago Bulls or Milwaukee Bucks.


The league also upgraded Cavaliers center Kendrick Perkins' Flagrant Foul 1 to a Flagrant Foul 2 and fined him $15,000. Perkins' foul came with 1:44 remaining in the second quarter.


Smith was issued a Flagrant Foul 2 and ejected with 10:24 left in the third quarter after he hit Celtics forward Jae Crowder in the head with his arm.


Olynyk was suspended after he became entangled with Cavaliers forward Kevin Love and yanked his arm down with 5:22 left in the first quarter.


-- Love, who was injured when he got tangled up with Olynyk, was diagnosed with "an acute anterior inferior glenohumeral dislocation with the corresponding ligament/labrum tearing and humeral head bone bruising."


The team said it would update his status "over the next several days."


--Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley had facial surgery in Memphis. He previously had been ruled out of Monday night's Game 4 between the Grizzlies and Portland Trail Blazers.


Conley left Saturday's game with 3:04 left in the third quarter after he was inadvertently hit in the head by an elbow from Portland guard C.J. McCollum.


--Ever want to walk in Michael Jordan's shoes?


One bidder at a weekend auction now can do exactly that. A pair of Nikes -- the earliest NBA-worn shoes by Jordan -- sold for $71,553 at auction over the weekend.


The buyer, according to the auction house, wants to remain anonymous, according to ESPN.


Saturday's price tag is the second-highest price paid for game-worn Jordan shoes. The shoes he wore in the 1997 NBA Finals "flu game" sold for $104,765 in 2013.


-- The National Basketball Players Association said it will present the Basketball Players Awards in Las Vegas in July.


Awards will be based on a vote of the players, and in addition to standard awards such as MVP, top rookie and top defender, the Basketball Player Awards will honor a Man of the Year, Global Impact Player, Hardest to Guard, Clutch Performer, Coach You Would Want to Play For, Best Home Court Advantage and Player You Secretly Wish Was on Your Team.


--The Golden State Warriors recalled center Ognjen Kuzmic and forward James Michael McAdoo from the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA Development League.

 

[CNOTES]

Early-season numbers that MLB bettors need to know

The Sean Doolittle-less Oakland Athletics once again found a way to chalk one up in the loss column Sunday.

The A's were leading 6-5 in the top of the ninth inning and trying to avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of the visiting Houston Astros when offseason acquisition Tyler Clippard surrendered a two-run, game-winning double to Astros catcher Evan Gattis. The defeat was the latest in a string of meltdowns served up by an Oakland bullpen that ranked third in ERA last season (2.91).

Most MLB insiders feel that Doolittle’s return to the Oakland bullpen will help to steady a ship that has been taking on an exorbitant amount of water through the first month of the season. But try telling that to Athletics backers, who have sat idly by on pins and needles as April lead after April lead has been blown by a unit that entered the season as one of the best in baseball.

Oakland bettors looking for a silver lining need look no further than the sportsbook offering known as the “first five innings” wager, which allows you to make a bet on which team will be winning at the conclusion of five innings, effectively eliminating bullpen consideration.

FIRST 5 INNINGS WAGERS

The beauty of a first five innings wager is that it allows bettors to focus more of their time on handicapping the starting pitchers and less on the overall quality of the bullpen. As we approach the conclusion of the first month of the 2015 MLB season, here’s a look at the Top 5 and Bottom 5 MLB teams when it comes to run differential over the first five innings of a game:

TOP 5 MLB TEAMS IN RUN DIFFERENTIAL OVER FIRST FIVE INNINGS

Toronto Blue Jays: +1.11
New York Mets: +.95
Los Angeles Dodgers: +.94
Oakland Athletics: +.84
Detroit Tigers: +.84

Don’t be surprised by the fact that Oakland currently ranks in the Top 5. Aces Sonny Gray and Scott Kazmir currently spearhead a five-man rotation that ranks seventh in baseball in team ERA at 3.42. That speaks volumes as to how bad the Athletics bullpen has been.

BOTTOM 5 MLB TEAMS IN RUN DIFFERENTIAL OVER FIRST FIVE INNINGS

Milwaukee Brewers: -1.61
Philadelphia Phillies: -1.56
Seattle Mariners: -.89
Minnesota Twins: -.83
Tampa Bay Rays: -.83

As it pertains to the current Bottom 5, pay particular attention to Tampa Bay. While it comes as no surprise to see struggling franchises like the Brewers (4-15), Phillies (7-12), Twins (8-10) and Mariners (7-11) in this group, the Rays finished Sunday tied for the AL East lead with the Yankees. Clearly, this Rays team knows how to erase an early lead.

RESILIENCY

MLB handicappers will want to consider a team’s ability to bounce back when coming off a loss. Square bettors have a tendency to lock in on a team that won the night before against a specific opponent and just assume that the same result will take place a second night in a row. Don’t fall victim to this illogical line of thinking.

Through three weeks, here are the best and worst MLB teams when coming off a loss:

TOP 5 MLB TEAMS OFF A LOSS

Chicago Cubs: 6-1
St. Louis Cardinals: 3-1
New York Mets: 3-1
Houston Astros: 5-2
Arizona Diamondbacks: 6-3

Fireworks should explode in the sky above you with the Arizona Diamondbacks, who are just 8-10 overall in 2015. This team may be destined for another sub-.500 season, but through three weeks, Arizona knows how to bounce back off a loss.

BOTTOM 5 MLB TEAMS OFF A LOSS

Cincinnati Reds: 2-7
Milwaukee Brewers: 4-11
Miami Marlins: 3-8
Colorado Rockies: 2-5
Seattle Mariners: 3-7

Interesting to see the 10-8 Rockies listed above, who have outperformed preseason expectations so far. Whether it’s early-season luck or a sign of things to come, the bottom line is that when this team finds a way to lose (or win), it tends to follow it up with the exact same result the following night.

INTERLEAGUE TOTALS

Twenty-three interleague baseball games found their way into the history books as of the close of business Sunday. And while the American League currently holds a slim 12-11 edge against NL, take careful note of the fact that Overs in these games are now 15-7-1 with an average of 9.65 runs scored per game – that’s more than a full run higher than the 8.0-run MLB average.

It’s a small sample size, but it’s worth paying attention to when wagering on MLB interleague totals in 2015.

 

[CNOTES]

Game of the Day: Tuesday's NBA Playoff action


Dallas Mavericks at Houston Rockets (-7, 222)


Rockets lead series 3-1


Raymond Felton got the first chance to start in place of Rondo at the point in Game 3 but Carlisle decided to go with more energy in Game 4 and pushed Barea into the first unit. The veteran responded with 17 points and 13 assists in 36 minutes. “I'm trying to push it every time," Barea told reporters. “I'm trying to be aggressive and my teammates, people around me are ballin'. I'm just trying to attack and do my job. If I do my job and I create problems for their defense, then I think everybody else plays a lot looser and more open.”


Houston missed 17 straight shots in a 10-minute span that bridged the half and never recovered in Game 4. “We got slow offensively, the ball stuck,” Rockets coach Kevin McHale told reporters. “We didn’t do very well for that stretch. All that being said, it was our offensive rebounding and our lack of being able to contain the ball that ended up beating us. Our offense sucked for a while. That was a fatal blow, more of our effort overall I think.” MVP candidate James Harden went 1-of-7 from 3-point range in the loss while handing out a series-low five assists.


LINE HISTORY: The Rockets opened as 6-point favorites, while the total opened at 222.
TRENDS:


* Over is 8-1 in Rockets last nine home games.
* Mavericks are 0-4 ATS in the last four meetings in Houston.
* Rockets are 7-1 ATS in their last eight Conference Quarterfinals games.
* Over is 9-1 in Mavericks last 10 vs. Western Conference.




San Antonio Spurs at Los Angeles Clippers (-2, 205)


Series tied 2-2


Coach Gregg Popovich was highly disappointed with his club’s Game 4 performance, particularly when you factor in the important of the game. “In general, we lacked a lot of discipline,” Popovich told reporters. “We didn’t execute sharply enough in what we wanted to do strategy-wise or just in general basketball play. I’m just more disappointed in the lack of focus than anything else, and not being as sharp in a lot of situations.” Small forward Kahwi Leonard continued his strong play with 26 points, seven rebounds and five assists and is averaging 24.8 points in the series.


Though Chris Paul had a huge game and power forward Blake Griffin stood out with 20 points and 19 rebounds, backup guard Austin Rivers might have provided the biggest impact with 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting. Rivers has been much-maligned throughout his three-year NBA career and the criticism has increased since he joined the club coached by father Doc Rivers. “This is something I know I can do,” Rivers told reporters. “It wasn’t a surprise for me. Obviously it is to you guys but I’ve been working so hard and this team has been working so hard.”


LINE HISTORY: The Clippers opened as 2-point home faves while the total opened at 205.
TRENDS:


* Over is 9-4 in the last 13 meetings.
* Spurs are 2-5 ATS in their last seven vs. Western Conference.
* Clippers are 1-6 ATS in their last seven home games.
* Clippers are 1-4-1 ATS in their last six games following a S.U. win.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Blue Jays (9-10) at Red Sox (10-9)
Game: 2
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: April 28, 2015 6:10 PM EDT

Pablo Sandoval has played a significant role in getting the Boston Red Sox past their recent difficulties at the plate but it's unclear if he'll be healthy enough to contribute in the next game.


If Sandoval can't go, Clay Buchholz might have to duplicate his latest performance if he wants to earn his first win in four starts Tuesday night against the slumping Toronto Blue Jays.


Boston (11-9) has generated 24 runs in its last four games while batting .266 but is 2-2 because its had trouble keeping opponents off the scoreboard. The Red Sox had that problem early in Monday's series opener against the Blue Jays (9-11), allowing five runs through four innings, but rallied for a 6-5 victory.


Mookie Betts hit the game-ending single in the ninth to finish off a 3-for-4 night.


"We've hit the ball hard in some situations, where we've made outs," Betts said. "I think we'll turn the corner and today was a really good showing."


Sandoval homered and drove in three runs for the second straight game before exiting after the fifth. The third baseman, 5 for 11 in his last four contests, was hurt when he made a diving catch in the fourth.


"There was a little bit of a whiplash injury type of thing," manager John Farrell said. "We're hopeful he'll be ready (Tuesday)."


Even with Sandoval healthy, the Red Sox have scored one run in each of Buchholz's last two outings. The right-hander has a 2.25 ERA in those games after giving up a career-high 10 runs in a 14-4 loss to the New York Yankees on April 12.


"Step by step, everything's coming along as planned," he said.


Buchholz (1-2, 4.84 ERA) yielded one run and two hits in six innings against Tampa Bay on Thursday while striking out 10, but the Red Sox lost 2-1.


Buchholz went 1-0 with a 3.07 ERA in his final two starts against Toronto in 2014 - far lower than his 5.54 season mark - and will face a team that's batted .177 in an 0-4 start to its 10-game road trip.


The Blue Jays made the most of their six hits even with Jose Bautista providing little in his return from an ailing right shoulder. Bautista went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts and a walk in his first game since April 21.


Rookie Devon Travis hit his sixth homer and third in the last six games while driving in a pair of runs.


Bautista is limited to serving as designated hitter for the near future, and it's unclear when he'll resume playing in the outfield.


"I haven't even attempted to throw a baseball," Bautista told MLB's official website. "I don't even have a timeline on that. I would be guessing if I were to tell you that I know when I'm going to be able to play defense."


If he starts again, Bautista will try to give a boost to Drew Hutchison's attempt to build on one of his best starts of the season. The right-hander took a perfect game into the sixth and gave up two runs in eight innings while fanning seven in Thursday's 7-6 win against Baltimore.


Hutchison (2-0, 5.48) went 1-1 with a 6.28 ERA in his three starts against Boston in 2014 but that was skewed by a 14-1 loss in Toronto on July 21 in which he gave up six runs in 2 2-3 innings. He was 1-0 with a 3.09 ERA in his two outings at Fenway Park.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Blue Jays at Red Sox
Mon, Apr 27 Final 5 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Blue Jays at Red Sox
Tue, Apr 28 - 6:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Blue Jays at Red Sox
Wed, Apr 29 - 6:10PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Royals (12-6) at Indians (6-11)
Game: 2
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: April 28, 2015 6:10 PM EDT

A home-heavy stretch of games would be good news for most teams looking to shake off a slow start.


The Cleveland Indians seem to be a rare exception.


The Indians try to avoid their second four-game skid of the season Tuesday night against the Kansas City Royals.


Returning to Progressive Field following a disappointing road trip didn't help the Indians (6-12), who committed three errors and lost the series opener 6-2 as reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber fell to 0-3. Cleveland was limited to four hits, with all its offense coming from Mike Aviles' two-run homer.


Monday started a stretch where the Indians play 13 of 16 games at home after 12 of their first 17 came on the road. However, they've lost five of six in Cleveland for the team's worst start there since opening 1-7 in 1991.


'In an ideal world, we would've won more games than we have already, but I think we'll refrain from reading too much into just a handful of games,' Indians general manager Chris Antonetti said. 'I continue to believe in the roster we have, and we'll play better than we have so far.'


Indians starters have a 7.88 ERA with two quality starts at home, the most recent courtesy of Trevor Bauer, who takes the mound following an eight-day layoff.


Bauer (2-0, 0.95 ERA) was scheduled to start Saturday against Detroit but had to be scratched after warming up due to food poisoning.


The right-hander was outstanding in his most recent appearance, tossing four-hit ball over seven scoreless innings against the Chicago White Sox on April 20 before closer Cody Allen faltered in the ninth of a 4-3 loss.


Bauer has yet to allow a home run while striking out 26 in 19 innings this season.


He went 0-1 with a 4.11 ERA in three starts against the Royals last year.


A loss in either of the next two games would give the Indians five series losses and one split since opening the season by winning two of three in Houston. They are already assured of finishing April with a losing record for the third consecutive year.


Mike Moustakas matched a career high with four hits and Alex Gordon had two RBIs to help Kansas City improve to 13-6 after coming within one game of winning the World Series last season.


'Teams can go one of two ways when they get a taste of winning,' Indians manager Terry Francona said. 'You can go on the banquet circuit and kind of dig yourself or you can come back with a `Hey, we got there and we want to do it again.' They seem to be in that mode. I wish they weren't.'


Moustakas entered Monday in a 1-for-28 slump against the Indians, but improved to 11 for 26 in his last six games overall.


He'll look to stay hot in support of Jeremy Guthrie (1-1, 5.50), who faces the team he's struggled the most against in his career. The right-hander is 5-5 with a 6.06 ERA in 13 career appearances - including 11 starts - against Cleveland. That ERA is his highest against any opponent he's faced more than five times.


Several Indians have fared very well in this matchup. Carlos Santana is 10 for 21 with two homers and three doubles against Guthrie, Jason Kipnis is 11 for 20, also with two home runs and three doubles, and Lonnie Chisenhall is 8 for 15 with a homer.


Guthrie struggled with his control against Minnesota on Wednesday, matching a career high with six walks and allowing three runs over five innings in a 3-0 loss.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Royals at Indians
Mon, Apr 27 Final 6 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Royals at Indians
Tue, Apr 28 - 6:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Royals at Indians
Wed, Apr 29 - 6:10PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: White Sox (8-9) at Orioles (9-10)
Game: 2
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: April 28, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

(AP) - After their series opener was postponed because of safety concerns after riots broke out near Camden Yards following the funeral of Freddie Gray, the Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles are hoping to get back on the field.


Where Tuesday night's game will be played is still up in the air.


Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, at the stadium for a previously planned visit, said the game could be moved - possibly to Nationals Park in Washington - if safety continued to be an issue.


Rioters looted stores and threw rocks and bricks at Baltimore police about three miles from the stadium Monday in the wake of the mysterious death of Gray. He died April 19 after suffering a severe spinal injury in police custody.


The Orioles (9-10) announced the postponement about 40 minutes before gametime. About 1,000 fans were inside the stadium at the time, and many gates already had been closed.


The team said the game was called off after consultation with police.


'We feel like we made the decision that would provide us the greatest possible security in terms of protecting the fans, the players, the umpires, everybody involved in the game,' Manfred said. 'I don't know what more I can say about it at this point.'


Prior to the game, Orioles players gathered around a television in the clubhouse and watched the violence unfold. Police blocked off several streets near Camden Yards.


'There's so many things that go on that you get challenged with, obviously this is a different level,' Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. 'There's not a lot of experience with it.


'So you try to take each moment as it comes and I know there were a lot of calls to some guys' families about making sure they knew what was going on from a safety standpoint. But guys are watching it. They are all aware of what's going on.'


Manager Robin Ventura said Chicago (8-9) was aware of the escalating situation.


'I mean we're definitely keeping tabs on it. If there's anything to do, to go ahead and respond to it. But you know, it's concerning to anybody, I think, any time it becomes a violent protest, everybody is on high alert and you're trying to do what's best for the game and the players,' he said.


Major League Baseball has postponed and shifted games in the past because of unrest.


In 1992, the Dodgers had four games postponed in Los Angeles following the Rodney King verdict.


In 1967, the Orioles and Tigers had a game postponed because of riots in Detroit. The next two games were shifted to Baltimore.


If this game does get played, Jeff Samardzija (1-1, 3.33 ERA) will get the ball for the White Sox against Ubaldo Jimenez (1-1, 2.30).


Samardzija is appealing a five-game suspension handed down after Thursday's brawl with Kansas City. The right-hander had a 6.23 ERA after his first two starts but then allowed one run in 14 innings over his next two.


Chicago completed two wins over Kansas City on Sunday - the regularly scheduled 5-3 win and a 3-2 victory from Friday's suspended game - and is 8-5 since dropping its first four.


"Over the last five or six games we've played a really good brand of baseball," reliever Zach Duke said.


Baltimore is batting .310 and averaging 6.11 runs over its last nine after Sunday's 18-7 home win over Boston. The Orioles got five RBIs from Delmon Young, who is 13 for 29 in his last eight games. He's hit Chicago at a .333 clip, which is his best average versus any team he has at least 50 at_bats against.


"It was one we kind of needed; we had been playing sloppy baseball," Young told MLB's official website. "So it was good to get out of the rut. We've been swinging the bats well. We just haven't been playing on the other side of the ball well."


Jimenez allowed four runs and six hits in five innings of last Wednesday's 4-2 loss in Toronto, and while he's held opponents to a .135 average, he's walked six in 8 2-3 innings over his last two starts.


Still, 4.02 walks per nine innings is an improvement over a 4.68 mark over the previous three seasons. The right-hander is 1-2 with a 5.45 ERA in six starts against the White Sox in that time. Conor Gillaspie is 5 for 11 against Jimenez, Adam Eaton is 3 for 4 and Jose Abreu is 1 for 3 with a home run.






SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
White Sox at Orioles
Mon, Apr 27 - 7:05PM EDT


GAME 2
White Sox at Orioles
Tue, Apr 28 - 7:05PM EDT


GAME 3
White Sox at Orioles
Wed, Apr 29 - 7:05PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Rays (11-8) at Yankees (11-8)
Game: 2
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: April 28, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

A stretch of 30 games in 31 days has caused the New York Yankees to alter their pitching rotation, meaning ace Masahiro Tanaka's turn will be pushed back to the series finale against the Tampa Bay Rays.


That's probably fine with the Rays, who get an extra day to prepare after Tanaka dominated them just over a week ago.


Tampa Bay will instead face Chase Whitley on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium as it looks to avoid a sixth straight loss to New York.


The Yankees (12-8) have one off day from April 17-May 17 - this Thursday - so they want to give an extra day of rest to Tanaka, who allowed two hits and walked none while striking out eight over seven innings of a 9-0 win in Tampa on April 18.


Jake Odorizzi (2-1, 1.65 ERA) took the loss for the Rays (11-9) that day, and he'll get another shot at the Yankees on Tuesday. The right-hander allowed three runs in six-plus innings after becoming the third AL pitcher in the last 100 years to start the season by winning consecutive starts of six-plus innings while giving up two hits or fewer and one run or less.


Odorizzi got back on track Thursday, allowing one run and three hits over 6 2-3 innings of a 2-1 walk-off win over Boston. He's 2-2 with a 5.19 ERA in five starts against the Yankees, with Brian McCann going 8 for 13 with two homers, a double and a triple in their matchups.


McCann hit a tiebreaking homer in Monday's series opener as the Yankees won 4-1 to end the Rays' five-game winning streak. New York has won nine of 11, a stretch that began with a three-game sweep in Tampa from April 17-19, and is alone in first place in the AL East.


'It's better than the alternative,' manager Joe Girardi said. 'We're playing a lot better baseball than the first time we were (home). That's a good thing.'


Whitley is making his season debut after going 4-3 with a 5.23 ERA in 24 appearances in 2014. He made 12 starts and was 3-0 with a 2.56 ERA in the first seven but went 0-3 with a 9.00 ERA over the last five.


The right-hander made two relief appearances against Tampa Bay in September, allowing one hit over four scoreless innings.


Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira was hitless in four at_bats Monday after going 8 for 24 with five homers and 10 RBIs in the previous seven games to earn AL player of the week honors. He's 0 for 16 during the five-game win streak against the Rays.


Alex Rodriguez went 0 for 3 to remain one homer shy of tying Willie Mays for fourth place all-time with 660. He's gone hitless with two strikeouts in four at_bats against Odorizzi.


Evan Longoria had two of Tampa Bay's six hits and is 9 for 11 over the last three games. He's batting .565 (13 for 23) during a six-game hitting streak after batting .186 in the first 14 contests.


Rays outfielder Desmond Jennings could return to the lineup after sitting out the last two days with left knee soreness. Jennings is 5 for 15 over his last four games, and he hit .360 with two homers in six games at Yankee Stadium last season.


"I think he's feeling better," manager Kevin Cash told MLB's official website. "He's a big part of what we're doing, and we need to get him healthy and back in the lineup. We don't want to rush anything right now."


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Rays at Yankees
Mon, Apr 27 Final 1 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Rays at Yankees
Tue, Apr 28 - 7:05PM EDT


GAME 3
Rays at Yankees
Wed, Apr 29 - 1:05PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Nationals (7-12) at Braves (9-9)
Game: 2
Venue: Turner Field
Date: April 28, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

The Washington Nationals are hopeful Max Scherzer will only have to miss one start, but even one turn in the rotation may be crucial for a club that has dug itself an early hole in the standings.


They'll now turn to A.J. Cole, making his big league debut in Scherzer's place, to help put an end to their losing streak Tuesday night against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field.


Scherzer is having his start skipped because of a sprained right thumb suffered during an at-bat against St. Louis on Thursday. Manager Matt Williams is hopeful the Nationals' $210 million man can pitch within a few days.


"I would think that before another five days he'd be OK to go," Williams said. "We have to get him on a (mound) and make sure he can throw all his pitches. So that may happen tomorrow."


Despite his 1-2 record, Scherzer has easily been Washington's best starter, posting a 1.26 ERA in four outings.


Tanner Roark was also considered for the spot start, but he may have not been stretched out enough after throwing 12 pitches or fewer in four of his six appearances. Cole will be called up from Triple-A Syracuse, where he has no record and a 2.40 ERA in three starts.


The 23-year-old right-hander was 13-3 in 25 games between Double- and Triple-A in 2014 and had a 4.22 ERA in four games this spring.


Washington (7-13) is in dire need of a strong start with its rotation going 0-4 with a 5.55 ERA during the club's six-game slide. Doug Fister gave up five runs, including four earned, and 10 hits over 5 2-3 innings of Monday's 8-4 loss.


The Nationals were one of the most popular picks in any division entering the season, but face baseball's second-biggest deficit with eight games separating them from the first-place New York Mets. They haven't dropped seven straight since losing eight in a row from Aug. 28-Sept. 5, 2009.


Washington is also struggling offensively, batting .189 and totaling 14 runs during its skid.


Atlanta starter Julio Teheran (2-1, 4.64 ERA) is 3-2 with a 3.06 ERA in eight career starts against the Nationals, but Bryce Harper could be a catalyst. He is 7 for 16 off the right-hander with two homers and two doubles.


Teheran took his first defeat in Thursday's 6-3 loss to the Mets, giving up four runs in 4 1-3 innings. His five walks matched a career high, with three coming in the first four at_bats.


"I don't like to make excuses but (the weather) was affecting me a little bit," he told MLB's official website.


Teheran already has 12 walks in 21 1-3 innings after issuing 51 in 221 innings last year.


Kelly Johnson hit a three-run homer Monday for the Braves (10-9), while A.J. Pierzynski extended his hitting streak to 10 games and drove in two runs.


The Nationals could be without infielder Yunel Escobar, who leads the club with a .284 average but left Monday after a hard slide by Andrelton Simmons. Simmons was hit with a pitch by Rafael Martin to open the seventh, and Atlanta's Jonny Gomes was ejected after charging from the dugout afterward.


Monday's opener was sloppy defensively - Washington committed four errors while Atlanta's Jace Peterson had two.The Nationals rank among baseball's worst with 22 errors, and the Braves have eight in their last four games.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Nationals at Braves
Mon, Apr 27 Final 4 to 8
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Nationals at Braves
Tue, Apr 28 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Nationals at Braves
Wed, Apr 29 - 7:10PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Mets (14-5) at Marlins (8-11)
Game: 2
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: April 28, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

The New York Mets own the best record in baseball and are off to their best start since 1986.


Daniel Murphy is finally contributing.


After hitting a clutch game-winning homer, Murphy will try to help the Mets to another victory over the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night.


Murphy hasn't done much to spur New York's 15-5 record, but that's starting to change after driving in five runs with a homer and two doubles in the last two games, boosting his season average 29 points to .174.


"I'm just focusing on the at-bat at hand," Murphy said. "No matter what I do, I'm not going to wake up tomorrow and be hitting .290, so one at-bat at a time is all I can control."


That mentality seemed to work Monday, when the second baseman connected for a go-ahead three-run homer in the ninth inning of a 3-1 win in the opener of this three-game series in Miami.


"Murf-a-licious," manager Terry Collins said of Murphy, who has nine of his 14 RBIs over the past five games.


The Mets have won 13 of 16 against the Marlins (8-12), including all five meetings this season. They haven't put together a longer winning streak in the series since taking seven in a row Aug. 9-Sept. 23, 2012.


Center fielder Juan Lagares is batting .404 in his last 13 games against Miami, going 8 for 19 this year after collecting a double and a single while scoring on Murphy's homer Monday.


The Mets will recall Rafael Montero (0-1, 4.15 ERA) from Triple-A Las Vegas to make a spot start in order to give the rotation an extra day of rest. Collins is planning to limit ace Matt Harvey and 41-year-old Bartolo Colon to 30 starts apiece.


Montero made four relief appearances before being sent to the minors April 17. The right-hander was 1-3 with a 3.98 ERA in eight starts as a rookie last year.


Both of his previous meetings with the Marlins came out of the bullpen, as he yielded one unearned run in 1 2-3 innings.


Miami had six singles Monday after hitting .324 with 32 runs while winning the previous five games.


Dee Gordon is 10 for 17 over the past four, and he has a .441 average in his last eight meetings with the Mets. The second baseman is 8 for 13 over the past three matchups after getting two hits in the series opener.


The Marlins are giving David Phelps (1-0, 3.55) a third turn in the rotation with Henderson Alvarez on the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation.


Phelps' first start was a 4-1 loss to the Mets on April 17, yielding one run and one hit with three walks in 4 2-3 innings. He was even better at Philadelphia on Thursday, tossing seven scoreless innings and allowing three hits in a 9-1 victory.


"He's a guy that has to hit his spots," manager Mike Redmond said. "Put the ball on the corners, and he was able to do that. When he missed, he missed away from contact."


Phelps hasn't done that in two home games, giving up four runs with two walks in one inning of relief.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Mets at Marlins
Mon, Apr 27 Final 3 to 1
Boxscores


GAME 2
Mets at Marlins
Tue, Apr 28 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Mets at Marlins
Wed, Apr 29 - 7:10PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Brewers (4-15) at Reds (8-10)
Game: 2
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: April 28, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

Bryan Price is willing to give Johnny Cueto a large margin of error as Cincinnati's staff ace.


He just doesn't make many mistakes against the Milwaukee Brewers, who he will try to beat for the second time in six days on Tuesday night.


Cueto (1-2, 1.86 ERA) has won five straight starts over Milwaukee, posting a 1.70 ERA and limiting its hitters to a .172 batting average while striking out 33 in 37 innings. Five of the seven runs he's allowed in those victories have come on solo homers, and Cueto battled his way to the most recent one at Miller Park last Wednesday.


Working on a high pitch count, Price trusted Cueto to overcome a leadoff double to Logan Schafer in the eighth inning, and the right-hander delivered with strikeouts of Elian Herrera and Adam Lind to preserve a tie game he won when the Reds (9-10) scored in the top of the ninth of their 2-1 victory.


"When I go to the top step, he was looking at me like, 'Please don't come out and take me out of the ballgame,'" Price told MLB's official website after Cueto finished with a career-high 125 pitches. "I kind of gave him the thumbs up, 'Hey, I'm not gonna, so don't panic out there.' I never wavered. I never thought I'd be taking him out in that situation."


Cueto has made life miserable for Ryan Braun, who's 8 for 41 with 12 strikeouts in their matchups and could return after missing the last two games with soreness in his right side. Aramis Ramirez is one of the few Brewers who has given Cueto fits, hitting .354 with five homers and four doubles in 48 at_bats.


The righty has been near-invincible at home versus Milwaukee (4-16), going 7-0 with a 2.12 ERA in 10 starts. That bodes well for Cincinnati, which opened this three-game set with a 9-6 victory Monday to snap a three-game losing streak.


Jay Bruce hit a two-run homer in a four-run second and the Reds took advantage of nine walks by Brewers pitchers - the most by Milwaukee since August 2013. That plate discipline helped Cincinnati end its funk with runners in scoring position, going 4 for 14 after failing to deliver in 21 at_bats during its losing streak.


'It all boils down to the pitches you swing at,' said Bruce, who ended an 0-for-12 slump. 'I figured I wasn't going to hit .160 all year.'


Milwaukee's slow start - the worst in franchise history - is doubly damaging since all but three of its games have been against division opponents. The Brewers were denied a chance to win back-to-back games for the first time and have dropped six straight on the road.


'You hope that win from yesterday carries over and you have a good offensive performance and you pitch well, and neither one went well. And the fielding didn't go well," manager Ron Roenicke said.


'So that's what we're battling. We're not stringing together one good game after another.'


Kyle Lohse (1-3, 7.94) picked up the Brewers after Cueto shut them down, allowing a two-run homer to Marlon Byrd and two other hits in seven innings of a 4-2 victory Thursday. The crisp 89-pitch effort was a welcome relief to the veteran right-hander, who had been drilled for 18 runs and 24 hits in 15 2-3 innings in losing his first three starts.


'When I'm on, I want them to swing early. I want them to get those quick outs,' said Lohse, whose last start at Cincinnati was a two-hit shutout on Sept. 24.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Brewers at Reds
Mon, Apr 27 Final 6 to 9
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Brewers at Reds
Tue, Apr 28 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Brewers at Reds
Wed, Apr 29 - 12:35PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Pirates (11-8) at Cubs (10-7)
Game: 2
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: April 28, 2015 8:05 PM EDT

Much of Kris Bryant's early success has come at the Pittsburgh Pirates' expense, but he didn't have enough to push the Chicago Cubs to a series win in last week's meeting.


Bryant will try to change that Tuesday night while leading the Cubs to a fourth consecutive victory.


Bryant is batting .351 with nine RBIs, all but one coming in five games against the Pirates. He's 8 for 19 versus Pittsburgh and 5 for 18 against the two other teams he's faced.


"He is a big kid with a good swing that looks like he is going to have every opportunity to be a qualified major league player," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said.


Bryant went 2 for 4 with a two-run single in a 4-0 victory in Monday's series opener at Wrigley Field. Anthony Rizzo drove in the other two runs to help end the Pirates' five-game win streak.


"We preached it in spring training - we've got to survive April," Rizzo said. "We can't put ourselves in a hole like we've done in years past and we're doing a good job of coming to the park every day, playing with a lot of energy, having fun and really playing with a purpose."


Bryant totaled five hits and five RBIs when Chicago (11-7) won its first two games at Pittsburgh last week but was 1 for 7 with four strikeouts in the next two as the Cubs settled for a split.


Travis Wood (1-1, 3.24 ERA) will try to build on his solid showing against the Pirates last Tuesday. The left-hander gave up three runs and four hits in five innings but most of the scoring in that 9-8 win took place after his departure.


Wood didn't fare nearly as well in his final two home starts against Pittsburgh (11-9) in 2014, going 0-2 with a 14.21 ERA. He was tagged for seven runs in 1 2-3 innings in a 10-4 loss Sept. 7 and dropped to 0-4 with a 5.28 ERA in his six matchups at Wrigley Field since joining the Cubs in 2012.


He'll pitch opposite Jeff Locke, who failed to get a decision Thursday for the first time in three starts. Locke (2-0, 3.32) gave up four runs in five innings against the Cubs and was in line for a loss until the Pirates rallied for a 5-4 victory.


Bryant went 0 for 2 with a bases-loaded walk and one strikeout in his three plate appearances against the left-hander. Jonathan Herrera hit a two-run triple, and rookie Addison Russell registered his first major league RBI with his first double.


Rizzo, batting .426 in last 15 games against Pittsburgh and owner of an eight-game hit streak in the series, has one hit in his last seven at_bats versus Locke.


Andrew McCutchen has five hits in his last 11 at_bats against Wood, including a pair of homers, but is 1 for 21 in his last seven games following an 0-for-4 effort Monday. He's 0 for 12 in his last four contests versus the Cubs after batting .353 previously.


"He continues to go out there and work," Hurdle said. "He's being very professional about his approach, trying to be stubborn with it and I think he's getting very, very close."


Pittsburgh second baseman Neil Walker, riding a 10-game hit streak, is 7 for 20 (.350) lifetime against Wood and is batting .333 (16 for 48) while hitting safely in 11 of his last 12 contests versus Chicago.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Pirates at Cubs
Mon, Apr 27 Final 0 to 4
Boxscores


GAME 2
Pirates at Cubs
Tue, Apr 28 - 8:05PM EDT


GAME 3
Pirates at Cubs
Wed, Apr 29 - 8:05PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Tigers (13-6) at Twins (8-10)
Game: 2
Venue: Target Field
Date: April 28, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

A return to Target Field appears to be just what Detroit's Yoenis Cespedes needed to break out of a mini slump.


Cespedes looks to continue to feast on Minnesota pitching and help the Tigers to a fifth win in as many games against the Twins this season Tuesday night.


The Tigers (14-6) outscored the Twins 22-1 in sweeping a three-game series to open the season, with Cespedes going 5 for 13. He arrived in Minnesota amid a 2-for-13 slump before hitting a three-run homer and a double in Monday's 5-4 win, Detroit's third straight following a four-game losing streak.


Cespedes has hit safely in 18 of 19 career games against the Twins, batting .380 - his best average against any AL team - with five home runs, seven doubles and 24 RBIs. Most of that damage has come in 10 games at Target Field, where he is hitting .452 with three homers, six doubles and 17 RBIs.


The slugger is also 3 for 5 with a double against Mike Pelfrey (1-0, 2.65 ERA).


Cespedes isn't the only Tiger to frustrate the Twins (8-11) with Anibal Sanchez (1-2, 5.96) also regularly giving them fits.


The right-hander allowed three hits over 6 2-3 innings in an 11-0 win April 8, improving to 3-1 with a 1.72 ERA in his last nine starts in the series. He has a 1.53 ERA without a decision in his past four at Target Field.


After shutting down Minnesota in his season debut, Sanchez posted a 13.03 ERA in losing his next two starts. He rebounded Thursday, permitting a run and a hit while striking out eight and walking four in 6 1-3 innings of a 2-1 loss to the New York Yankees.


'He used all his pitches and he mixed things up," manager Brad Ausmus said. "He's been trying to be less rotational and come directly to the plate, and he was very good.'


Sanchez has done an exceptional job against Brian Dozier, limiting him to one hit in 17 at_bats for an .059 average - his worst against any of the 20 pitchers he's faced at least 15 times.


Dozier doubled in Monday's opener and is 2 for 19 in his last five games against the Tigers.


Detroit's Jose Iglesias had a homer and a triple among his three hits to raise his average to .397. He is 9 for 16 against the Twins this season and 2 for 2 against Pelfrey.


'He's our spark plug,' Monday's winner David Price said. 'It's awesome what he's been able to do for us. ... He's been a good pick-me-up.'


Pelfrey tossed seven innings of five-hit ball in Wednesday's 3-0 win over Kansas City in his third start after missing most of last season because of elbow surgery. It marked his first victory since beating Detroit on Aug. 20, 2013, a span of 14 starts, and the first time he went at least seven innings without allowing a run since Aug. 27, 2010.


"It's just one start so I don't want to make a big deal about it," the right-hander told MLB's official website. "But I hope to build off it."


Pelfrey, who pitched five innings in each of his first two outings, is 2-3 with a 4.54 ERA in six starts against the Tigers, last facing them Sept. 23, 2013.


Miguel Cabrera is 5 for 20 with no extra-base hits and seven walks against Pelfrey.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Tigers at Twins
Mon, Apr 27 Final 5 to 4


Boxscores
GAME 2
Tigers at Twins
Tue, Apr 28 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Tigers at Twins
Wed, Apr 29 - 1:10PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Phillies (7-12) at Cardinals (12-5)
Game: 2
Venue: Busch Stadium
Date: April 28, 2015 8:15 PM EDT

As if the bad news regarding Adam Wainwright's injury wasn't enough for St. Louis, the club still hasn't won since losing its ace.


Michael Wacha appears capable of ending the Cardinals' brief slump and possibly anchoring the rotation with Wainwright sidelined.


He looks to cap an impressive first month Tuesday night against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies.


The Cardinals (12-6) announced Monday that Wainwright would undergo surgery for a torn left Achilles tendon and miss the entire season. He was injured Saturday against Milwaukee.


Wainwright's absence leaves a large void considering his 94 wins since 2009 are tied for the third-most in baseball. His teammates, though, weren't necessarily deterred as it seeks a third straight division title.


"I feel like we're very capable, and a very fortunate group to have a pitching staff that can kind of slide in and do their thing," said Jason Heyward. "I think we're still going to have a lot of fun and do a lot of good things."


St. Louis is in danger of losing its third straight overall after it had a five-game home winning streak snapped in Monday's 4-1 loss. Wacha (3-0, 1.33 ERA) will try to get the Cardinals on track while becoming the franchise's first pitcher 23 years old or younger to win each of his first four starts to a season since Fred Frankhouse opened 5-0 in 1927.


While Wacha's strikeouts are down with 12 in 20 1-3 innings, he also owns a 55.7 groundball percentage, up from a 43.3 mark over his first two seasons.


"He's just becoming a more versatile pitcher and that makes him less predictable," manager Mike Matheny told MLB's official website.


Facing Johnny Cueto and Max Scherzer in his first three outings brought out the best in Wacha, who has given up three runs in 20 1-3 innings. Tuesday's matchup may have less pressure in that regard with Severino Gonzalez making his major league debut for Philadelphia,


"I think he's doing a nice job of not being distracted by who he's facing," Matheny said.


Gonzalez is 1-1 with a 3.57 ERA through three starts for Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He tossed three scoreless innings versus Atlanta in his lone spring training appearance.


"I love Severino," assistant general manager Benny Looper told MLB's official website. "He's got a real good feel for the baseball -- where it's going with all of his pitches. He can't get by with mistakes - he's not a power guy - but he can pitch."


Philadelphia (8-12) has been baseball's lowest-scoring team with 2.7 runs per game, though it has nine runs in the last two after scoring two or fewer in four straight. Carlos Ruiz entered Monday's contest batting .196 but was 4 for 4 and has hit safely in three straight games.


St. Louis got Yadier Molina back after a two-game absence due to a sore right knee, but he was 0 for 4 and the Cardinals struck out 13 times. They're 4 for 32 (.125) with runners in scoring position over the last four games.


Heyward was limited to bench duty due to a strained left groin and struck out as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning. He's expected to be back in the lineup Tuesday.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Phillies at Cardinals
Mon, Apr 27 Final 4 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Phillies at Cardinals
Tue, Apr 28 - 8:15PM EDT


GAME 3
Phillies at Cardinals
Wed, Apr 29 - 8:15PM EDT


GAME 4
Phillies at Cardinals
Thu, Apr 30 - 1:45PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Angels (9-10) at Athletics (8-12)
Game: 1
Venue: O.co Coliseum
Date: April 28, 2015 10:05 PM EDT

Jered Weaver is winless through the first four starts of a season for the first time in part because Sonny Gray bettered him less than a week ago.


For Gray, it was an extension of an impressive start to his second full season, while Weaver limited damage but continued getting hit at a clip he's not quite used to.


The right-handers square off again as the Oakland Athletics host the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night to open a three-game series, with some additional buzz surrounding the Angels after the departure of Josh Hamilton in a trade with Texas.


Gray (2-0, 1.91 ERA) held Los Angeles to a run and two hits while striking out seven in seven innings of Wednesday's 9-2 Athletics victory at Anaheim.


"For the most part, he's basically pitched the same game every time this year," manager Bob Melvin said. "He gets a strikeout when he needs one, gets the ball on the ground when he needs it, and his competitiveness shows up every time. He kicks it into another gear."


Gray moved to 3-1 with a 2.45 ERA in seven career games against the Angels (9-10). Of his six starts, two have come against Weaver and Gray has won both.


Albert Pujols' 1-for-16 mark highlights the Angels' offensive shortcomings against him, while Kole Calhoun (2 for 18 with seven strikeouts), Matt Joyce (2 for 11) and Chris Iannetta (0 for 7) have also struggled. Mike Trout is 4 for 16 with two home runs and seven strikeouts.


Weaver (0-2, 5.25) allowed a run and eight hits in six innings of the last matchup before the bullpen let things get out of hand. He didn't surrender a home run for the first time this season, but hasn't lasted more than six innings in any of his four starts.


"I've just got to prove to (manager Mike Scioscia) that I can get deeper in games," Weaver said. "I'm still trying to find my way, and it's getting better each and every time."


Limited offense has also been a factor, as Los Angeles has supplied Weaver with 2.42 runs of support per game.


Weaver has gone 7-2 with a 1.79 ERA in his last 11 starts against the Athletics (8-12), though he hit a rough patch in Oakland last season, going 1-1 with a 5.68 ERA in two starts.


The clubs split four games last week. Oakland dropped the series finale and has lost four in a row after being swept by Houston at home over the weekend.


The A's longest skid last year was five games and they're four under .500 for the first time since July 1, 2012, but they aren't panicking.


Oakland's off day Monday - just its second - provided a tired bullpen with some rest. The relievers have posted a 7.91 ERA in six games and have pitched 25 1-3 innings in the past seven - among the most in baseball in that span.


"With the state of our bullpen right now, we need a day off," manager Bob Melvin said. "We're one of the few teams that's only had one, if not the only one. We did a lot of good things right today, but we're doing just enough to lose games right now."


Los Angeles has been more concerned with its lineup after entering Sunday's matchup with Texas with a .219 average. Despite a 15-hit day, the Angels fell 5-4 to snap their three-game win streak.


Pujols bumped his average to .200 with two hits while Calhoun had three and is 12 for 25 over six games. C.J. Cron entered the series batting .154 but went 8 for 12.


Hamilton will no longer be a part of that lineup, though he hadn't made an appearance for Los Angeles this year anyway. The talented but troubled slugger was returned to the Rangers on Monday for a player to be named or cash.


Hamilton endured two troublesome seasons with the Angels on a $125 million, five-year contract, suffering a relapse of alcohol and cocaine abuse this past offseason and spending all of this season on the disabled list after shoulder surgery. However, he was an All-Star each year for the Rangers from 2008-12 and was the 2010 AL MVP.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Angels at Athletics
Tue, Apr 28 - 10:05PM EDT


GAME 2
Angels at Athletics
Wed, Apr 29 - 10:05PM EDT


GAME 3
Angels at Athletics
Thu, Apr 30 - 3:35PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Mariners (7-11) at Rangers (7-11)
Game: 2
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: April 28, 2015 8:05 PM EDT

The Texas Rangers got Josh Hamilton back, but he's not going to help their anemic offense just yet.


With Hamilton's arrival not expected until next month, the Rangers try to avoid their longest single-season losing streak to the Seattle Mariners in eight years Tuesday night.


Texas (7-12) has the majors' lowest batting average at .213 and is averaging 2.8 runs while going 4 for 34 with runners in scoring position during a 1-4 stretch. In an effort to improve those dreadful numbers, the Rangers finally landed Hamilton in a trade with the Los Angeles Angels on Monday in exchange for a player to be named or cash.


General manager Jon Daniels said Hamilton is "a player we feel can be productive and help us win games."


It'll be awhile until he can do that since Hamilton - the 2010 AL MVP with Texas - is recovering from shoulder surgery and will report Tuesday to the Rangers' spring training facility in Arizona. He's expected to be activated by the second half of May.


Hours after re-acquiring Hamilton, Texas had eight hits and went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position in Monday's 3-1 home loss to Seattle.


"I believe that these guys are, they're continuing to grind it out. They're obviously not getting the results that we want," manager Jeff Banister said. "We're talking about controlling the at_bats, controlling the emotions."


Texas' best offensive showing of the season came in Ross Detwiler's last start on April 19, albeit in an 11-10 loss at Seattle. The Rangers are trying to avoid losing four straight meetings with the Mariners (8-11) in a season for the first time since 2007.


Detwiler (0-2, 10.95 ERA) was hammered for five runs and three homers before being pulled with one out in the third inning in his first meeting with the Mariners.


A pair of off days since then allowed Texas to give the left-hander extra time to regroup since he's surrendered five runs in each of his three starts this season.


"It gives (Detwiler) extra rest, and it gives him an opportunity to work on getting an extra bullpen and getting some extra time with (pitching coach Mike Maddux and bullpen coach Andy Hawkins)," Bannister told MLB's official website.


Detwiler served up two homers to Nelson Cruz earlier this month, and the right fielder leads the majors with nine homers and 21 RBIs after getting a run-scoring single Monday. He's 8 for 18 with six RBIs in four meetings with his former team this season.


The Mariners turn to J.A. Happ (1-1, 2.61), who has been a pleasant surprise through three starts. The left-hander is coming off another strong outing, yielding two runs before leaving with one out in the eighth of a 3-2 win over Houston on Wednesday.


"Just being aggressive and trying to get ahead of guys is big for me," Happ said. "Been able to throw strikes and get ahead of guys. That's the way I'm successful."


Happ has allowed three runs in 13 innings while splitting his last two starts against the Rangers. He was the hard-luck loser April 17, yielding two runs in seven innings in a 3-1 home defeat.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Mariners at Rangers
Mon, Apr 27 - 8:05PM EDT
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Mariners at Rangers
Tue, Apr 28 - 8:05PM EDT


GAME 3
Mariners at Rangers
Wed, Apr 29 - 8:05PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Rockies (11-8) at Diamondbacks (8-11)
Game: 2
Venue: Chase Field
Date: April 28, 2015 9:40 PM EDT

Archie Bradley has so far lived up to his billing as one of the top pitching prospects in the majors, and the Arizona Diamondbacks could use another superb effort from their young right-hander.


They haven't won since Bradley's latest start and will try again to snap their skid Tuesday night against the Colorado Rockies.


The 22-year-old Bradley has gone 2-0 with a 1.45 ERA in his first three games while pitching opposite Clayton Kershaw, Madison Bumgarner and Yovani Gallardo. He took an 8-5 win over Texas on Wednesday by yielding one run and two hits in six innings.


Bradley also kept five walks from damaging his outing and has the lowest ERA for a Diamondbacks starter after his first three major league contests.


"That's what I'm most proud of ... to grind through six innings and leave with my team winning," Bradley told MLB's official website. "I think that's where you've seen some of the growth in me out there. Even though it still wasn't pretty, and I still had the walks and the high pitch count (92), I was able to make some quality pitches and put some balls on the ground for the guys up the middle to make plays."


The Diamondbacks (8-11) have dropped four in a row since that game - all at Chase Field - and not even an improved effort at the plate could get them past the Rockies (11-8) in Monday's opener. Arizona had nine hits in the 5-4 defeat after batting .189 and getting outscored 14-2 in being swept by Pittsburgh last weekend.


Colorado never trailed after Justin Morneau's three-run homer in the first inning, his first longball in 14 games.


"We made a little tough on ourselves, but wins in this league are gold and wins on the road are even more gold," manager Walt Weiss said.


Colorado has won five in a row over Arizona for the first time since a seven-game streak in 2004.


Kyle Kendrick (1-2, 6.85) will seek to add to that run while attempting to regain the splendid form he showed in the Rockies' opener April 6, a 10-0 win in Milwaukee in which he lasted seven innings.


The right-hander went seven innings again Wednesday versus San Diego, but gave up four runs and only avoided a loss when Colorado rallied for a 5-4 victory. He's 0-2 with a 9.72 ERA in his last three outings.


Kendrick is 1-2 with a 5.61 ERA in eight career starts against the Diamondbacks but earned that lone win in his most recent matchup July 25.


Aaron Hill is 8 for 12 with four doubles lifetime against Kendrick but 3 for 36 in his last 11 games.


Paul Goldschmidt had three hits Monday and is now batting .451 with five homers and 23 RBIs in his last 18 games against Colorado. He's 16 for 32 in the last seven, posting six multihit games in that span.


Troy Tulowitzki, who went 1 for 3, is hitting .435 with 11 homers and 31 RBIs in his past 31 versus Arizona.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Rockies at Diamondbacks
Mon, Apr 27 Final 5 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Rockies at Diamondbacks
Tue, Apr 28 - 9:40PM EDT


GAME 3
Rockies at Diamondbacks
Wed, Apr 29 - 9:40PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Astros (12-7) at Padres (11-10)
Game: 2
Venue: PETCO Park
Date: April 28, 2015 10:10 PM EDT

Jose Altuve and Jake Marisnick may be the Houston Astros' top hitters, but it may be time to add Colby Rasmus to that list.


Rasmus looks to continue his hot hitting and help the Astros to a ninth win in 10 games Tuesday night against the San Diego Padres.


Houston (12-7) is unexpectedly atop the AL West, but Altuve's success at the plate isn't a surprise since he led the majors with a career-best .341 average last year.


The All-Star second baseman is batting .325 in 2015, going 11 for 29 (.379) with eight RBIs during a six-game hitting streak.


While Altuve is expected to produce in the leadoff spot, Marisnick is providing the Astros with some offense at the bottom of the order. The center fielder is hitting .362, 118 points above his career average.


Rasmus has heated up after a slow start, going 10 for 29 (.345) with two homers, two doubles and five RBIs in seven games. The left fielder has two hits in each of the last three games, connecting for a two-run homer and an RBI single in Monday's 9-4 series-opening win.


'Rasmus had the separation home run, and that's sort of who we are,' manager A.J. Hinch said. 'We lay in the weeds and then we do it. It's an interesting offense.'


Roberto Hernandez (0-2, 3.57) will try to pitch the Astros to their fifth straight win following his best outing of the season. The right-hander allowed three runs over the first four innings before completing seven in a 3-2 loss at Seattle on Wednesday.


"In the first few innings the ball was kind of flat, but I was able to keep the ball down and started moving more and got comfortable," Hernandez said through an interpreter.


Hernandez is 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in three career starts against the Padres, losing both last season while surrendering nine runs in eight innings.


He'll be facing a San Diego (11-10) team that's batting .219 and averaging 3.3 runs while dropping five of six games after winning nine of the previous 11 behind a .304 average and 6.0 runs.


Yonder Alonso is a major culprit, going 1 for 14 in four games after hitting .400 through the first 16.


Tyson Ross (1-1, 3.97) starts for the Padres seeking better command. The right-hander has walked nine in his last two starts and needed 106 pitches to complete five innings in a 2-1 loss at Colorado on Thursday. He loaded the bases and walked in a run in the opening inning before settling down and allowing one run over the next four innings.


"He threw some pitches that I thought from the side looked real close," manager Bud Black said. "Some real borderline pitches that didn't go his way. But at the end of the day he gave us a chance to win, even though he wasn't at the top of his game."


A change of venue could be just what Ross needs in his first meeting with Houston. He's 6-0 with a 1.55 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 46 1-3 innings over his last seven home starts, and they've all ended in Padres victories.


Astros shortstop Jed Lowrie homered Monday before leaving in the eighth inning after injuring his right thumb on a slide. He will return to Houston on Tuesday and have an MRI.


'It's swollen. It doesn't feel good,' he said.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Astros at Padres
Mon, Apr 27 Final 9 to 4
Boxscores


GAME 2
Astros at Padres
Tue, Apr 28 - 10:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Astros at Padres
Wed, Apr 29 - 3:40PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Tuesday's Tip Sheet


April 28, 2015


Mavericks at Rockets – 8:05 PM EST – TNT
Game 5 – Houston leads 3-1


Addition by subtraction seems like the best for Dallas, even though the Mavericks still have a long way to go if they want to advance to the second round. Since point guard Rajon Rondo has been out of the lineup the last two games, Dallas has been much more competitive against Houston, finally getting over the hump with a 121-109 home victory in Game 4 as three-point underdogs to avoid a first round sweep.


Dallas erased an early 12-point deficit by outscoring Houston, 36-19 in the second quarter to grab a 61-53 halftime advantage. The Rockets struggled from the outside in Game 4, converting just 7-of-31 shots from three-point range, including a 1-for-7 effort from MVP candidate James Harden. The insertion of J.J. Barea into the starting lineup at point guard paid dividends for the Mavs, scoring 17 points and dishing out 13 assists in place of the injured Rondo. Monta Ellis paced Dallas by putting up at least 30 points for the second straight contest, scoring a game-high 31 points on 13-of-21 shooting.


Now, the Mavericks need to keep up this scoring pace at a venue that hasn’t been friendly to Rick Carlisle’s team this season. Dallas is 0-4 SU/ATS at the Toyota Center this season, while busting the 100-point mark just once in four visits to Houston, coming in the Game 1 loss of this series when the Mavs posted 108 points. Since the end of March, the Mavs are on an impressive 11-2 run to the ‘over,’ which includes 3-1 in this series.


VegasInsider.com NBA analyst Chris David checks in with his thoughts on Game 5, “When it comes to laying a healthy amount of points, I’ve learned that you should only feel confident when you’re backing a team that plays defense and neither of these clubs do. The Mavericks (103 PPG) were ranked last in scoring defense amongst all 16 teams and the Rockets were the 13th. With that being said, you’re betting on which team can score more and my lean would be Houston based on its depth and I doubt the Mavericks can keep up again without Rondo and Chandler Parsons suited up.”


From a totals standpoint, it’s obvious this teams can light up the scoreboard, but David isn’t afraid to lean ‘over’ again, “You can argue that the total is a tad inflated at 222 for Game 5 but this number is very doable just on the pace and the ridiculous amount of 3-pointers and free throws attempted by both clubs. To put things in perspective, the pair have played 16 quarters thus far and only four have seen combined points or 50 or less posted. All you need is to average 55 or 56 a quarter to go ‘over’ Tuesday’s number and I certainly wouldn’t go against the trend now.”


Prior to this series, the Mavericks owned an impressive 5-1 ATS record from 2012 through 2014 as a road underdog in the playoffs, but have failed to cover in two opportunities against Houston. Since late January, Dallas has been the ultimate fade team as an away ‘dog, compiling a dreadful 2-11 SU/ATS record in this role. The Rockets are looking to advance to the conference semifinals for the first time since 2009, when the Lakers eliminated Houston in seven games.


Spurs at Clippers – 10:35 PM EST – TNT
Game 5 – Series tied 2-2


As expected, this series between San Antonio and Los Angeles has gone back and forth with each team winning a home game and stealing one on the road. The Clippers bounced back from an embarrassing Game 3 effort in a 100-73 setback to grab Game 4 at the AT&T Center on Sunday, 114-105 to cash as six-point underdogs. L.A. controlled the pace pretty much the whole way, as San Antonio’s largest lead was just three points, as the Clippers shot 53% from the floor for their second road win against the Spurs this season. Chris Paul took over for the Clippers with a 34-point effort, while fellow All-Star Blake Griffin put up an impressive line of 20 points and 19 rebounds to head back west tied at 2-2.


The Spurs struggled from long distance, knocking down just 6-of-25 attempts from three-point range, which includes an 0-for-6 showing from Danny Green. San Antonio’s frontcourt of Kawhi Leonard and Tim Duncan kept the Spurs in the game by combining for 48 points, but the defending champions couldn’t duplicate the Game 3 effort as they dropped to 2-4 ATS as a home favorite in first round action since 2014.


However, San Antonio is flipped back to the road underdog role for tonight’s pivotal Game 5, as the Spurs own a solid 10-5 ATS record when receiving points on the highway since 2013. On the flip side, the Clippers have covered just three of their past 14 playoff games when listed as a favorite, which includes five outright losses at Staples Center.


David has been high on Los Angeles entering this series and still believes in Los Angeles to advance, “Great win by the Clippers in Game 4 and if you’ve read our coverage in this year’s playoffs, then you know I’m not surprised. I picked Los Angeles to win in six games and even though they looked horrible on Friday, it bounced back strong on Sunday and I feel the momentum will carry over in this spot. The oddsmakers are expecting a tight affair in Game 5 and I believe the number is directly attributed to the public’s perception on the Spurs off a loss. For those backing San Antonio, make a note that it did lose back-to-back games twice in last year’s championship run, which tells you nothing is guaranteed.”


Looking ahead in the playoffs, David says it’s not a bad idea to back the Clippers, “If you’re a future bettor, I would invest on the Clippers at 6/1 odds to win the Western Conference and sprinkle a couple dollars on the NBA Finals at 14/1 too. If Los Angeles gets past San Antonio, it will likely meet Houston and the Clippers have won six of their last eight against the Rockets. If L.A. reaches the Western Conference Finals, you buy out of your wager or hope the Clippers defeat the Warriors, something they did in last year’s playoffs.”


Since the 2013 playoffs, home teams in a series tied at 2-2 have put together a 9-3 SU and 7-5 ATS record in Game 5, as the Clippers knocked off the Warriors in this situation last season, 113-103 as seven-point favorites. The Spurs won all three times in this situation during this span, but each game was played at the AT&T Center.