Cnotes Best Bets For Wednesday April 23rd - MLB - NBA -NHL !

[CNOTES]

MLB MONEYLINE


MLB > (967) BALTIMORE@ (968) TORONTO | 04/23/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play ON BALTIMORE using the money line in All games in night games
The record is 77 Wins and 43 Losses for the last two seasons (+39.1 units)

MLB > (963) ST LOUIS@ (964) WASHINGTON | 04/23/2015 - 04:05 PM
Play AGAINST ST LOUIS using the money line in Road games when playing with a day off
The record is 5 Wins and 19 Losses for the last three seasons (-16.5 units)


MLB > (971) BOSTON@ (972) TAMPA BAY | 04/23/2015 - 07:10 PM
Play AGAINST TAMPA BAY using the money line in All games in games played in a dome
The record is 37 Wins and 51 Losses for the last two seasons (-31.7 units)

MLB > (973) KANSAS CITY@ (974) CHI WHITE SOX | 04/23/2015 - 08:10 PM
Play ON KANSAS CITY using the money line in Road games in night games
The record is 41 Wins and 21 Losses for the last two seasons (+22.45 units)


MLB RUNLINE


MLB > (973) KANSAS CITY@ (974) CHI WHITE SOX | 04/23/2015 - 08:10 PM
Play AGAINST CHI WHITE SOX using the in All games as a home favorite when the run line price is +135 to +160
The record is 3 Wins and 27 Losses for the last three seasons (-22.45 units)


MLB TOTALS


MLB > (969) OAKLAND@ (970) LA ANGELS | 04/23/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play OVER OAKLAND on the total in All games in April games
The record is 48 Overs and 22 Unders for the last three seasons (+26.1 units)


MLB > (959) SAN DIEGO@ (960) COLORADO | 04/23/2015 - 03:10 PM
Play OVER SAN DIEGO on the total in All games in road games
The record is 8 Overs and 0 Unders for the this season (+8.1 units)


MLB TOP POWERLINE


MLB > (967) BALTIMORE @ (968) TORONTO | 04/23/2015 - 07:05 PM
Line: TORONTO -137 BTB PowerLine: TORONTO 128
Edge On: TORONTO (43)

 

[CNOTES]

NBA ATS


NBA > (737) GOLDEN STATE@ (738) NEW ORLEANS | 04/23/2015 - 09:35 PM
Play ON GOLDEN STATE using the against the spread in All games when playing with 2 days rest
The record is 15 Wins and 3 Losses for the last two seasons (+11.7 units)

NBA > (735) CHICAGO@ (736) MILWAUKEE | 04/23/2015 - 08:05 PM
Play AGAINST MILWAUKEE using the against the spread in Home games versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game
The record is 16 Wins and 38 Losses for the last three seasons (-25.8 units)


NBA MONEYLINE


NBA > (735) CHICAGO@ (736) MILWAUKEE | 04/23/2015 - 08:05 PM
Play AGAINST MILWAUKEE using the money line in All games when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season
The record is 9 Wins and 49 Losses for the last three seasons (-37.85 units)


NBA > (737) GOLDEN STATE@ (738) NEW ORLEANS | 04/23/2015 - 09:35 PM
Play ON NEW ORLEANS using the money line in Home games when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season
The record is 8 Wins and 2 Losses for the this season (+11.4 units)


NBA > (733) CLEVELAND@ (734) BOSTON | 04/23/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play ON BOSTON using the money line in All games second half of the season
The record is 24 Wins and 14 Losses for the this season (+14 units)


NBA FIRST HALF


NBA > (733) CLEVELAND@ (734) BOSTON | 04/23/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play AGAINST CLEVELAND in the first half in Road games when playing against a team with a losing record
The record is 13 Wins and 34 Losses for the last two seasons (-24.4 units)



NBA > (737) GOLDEN STATE@ (738) NEW ORLEANS | 04/23/2015 - 09:35 PM
Play ON NEW ORLEANS in the first half in All games after a loss by 10 points or more
The record is 25 Wins and 9 Losses for the last two seasons (+15.1 units)


NBA TOTALS


NBA > (733) CLEVELAND@ (734) BOSTON | 04/23/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play UNDER BOSTON on the total in All games versus the first half line in all games
The record is 25 Overs and 57 Unders for the this season (+29.5 units)


NBA > (737) GOLDEN STATE@ (738) NEW ORLEANS | 04/23/2015 - 09:35 PM
Play UNDER NEW ORLEANS on the total in All games versus the first half line in all games
The record is 30 Overs and 52 Unders for the this season (+19 units)


NBA TOP POWERLINE


NBA > (733) CLEVELAND @ (734) BOSTON | 04/23/2015 - 07:05 PM
Line: BOSTON 4.5 BTB PowerLine: BOSTON -3
Edge On: BOSTON (7.5)


NBA > (735) CHICAGO @ (736) MILWAUKEE | 04/23/2015 - 08:05 PM
Line: MILWAUKEE 3 BTB PowerLine: MILWAUKEE 1
Edge On: MILWAUKEE (2)


NBA > (737) GOLDEN STATE @ (738) NEW ORLEANS | 04/23/2015 - 09:35 PM
Line: NEW ORLEANS 5 BTB PowerLine: NEW ORLEANS 3
Edge On: NEW ORLEANS (2)

 

[CNOTES]

NHL MONEYLINE


NHL > (79) CALGARY@ (80) VANCOUVER | 04/23/2015 - 10:05 PM
Play ON CALGARY using the money line in Road games vs. division opponents
The record is 11 Wins and 5 Losses for the this season (+10 units)


NHL PUCKLINE


NHL > (79) CALGARY@ (80) VANCOUVER | 04/23/2015 - 10:05 PM
Play ON CALGARY using the in Road games vs. division opponents
The record is 11 Wins and 5 Losses for the this season (+10 units)


NHL TOTALS


NHL > (77) CHICAGO@ (78) NASHVILLE | 04/23/2015 - 09:35 PM
Play OVER NASHVILLE on the total in All games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season
The record is 16 Overs and 5 Unders for the this season (+11.6 units)

 

[CNOTES]

Game of the Day: Thursday's NBA playoff action


Apr 22, 2015


Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics (+4, 203.5)
Cavaliers lead the series 2-0


The Cleveland Cavaliers are two wins away from a trip to the Eastern Conference semifinals and appear to have the Boston Celtics on the ropes. The Celtics will try to steal a game in the best-of-seven series when they host the Cavaliers in Game 3 on Thursday.


Boston showed flashes of being able to keep up with No. 2 seed Cleveland in the first two games but has had no answer for LeBron James and Kyrie Irving down the stretch. “I’ve been in this moment before and a lot of our guys haven’t, so I felt like it was important for me to just try to put a staple on the game the best way I know how and that’s by being aggressive,” James told reporters. “I was able to make a few plays to help our team get the win and that’s what’s very important for me – just to be there for my team when they need it.” James and Irving combined to score all of the Cavaliers’ 24 fourth-quarter points in Game 2. The Celtics were 21-20 at home during the regular season, including a 117-78 win over Cleveland on Apr. 12 in which the Cavaliers rested their starters.


TRENDS:


*Cavaliers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 vs. Eastern Conference.
*Celtics are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. NBA Central.
*Under is 4-0 in Cavaliers last 4 vs. a team with a losing S.U. record.
*Under is 4-0 in Celtics last 4 games playing on 1 days rest.


Chicago Bulls at Milwaukee Bucks (+2.5, 187)
Bulls lead series 2-0


Jimmy Butler is terrorizing Milwaukee and looks for a third consecutive strong game when the Chicago Bulls visit the Bucks in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first-round series on Thursday. Butler is averaging 28 points while lifting Chicago to a 2-0 lead and he set a personal playoff high with 31 points in Monday’s 91-82 win.


Butler was at his best in the fourth quarter of Monday’s game as he scored 14 points in the final stanza. Milwaukee knows it faces a near must-win situation but remains confident it can get back into the series. “We lose these two but we are going to fight to get his series back,” shooting guard Khris Middleton told reporters. “We are going to defend our home court Thursday.” Middleton averaged 20 points in the first two games but the Bucks averaged just 86.5 as a team.


TRENDS:


*Bulls are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
*Home team is 5-0 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
*Under is 8-2 in Bulls last 10 vs. NBA Central
*Under is 5-1 in Bucks last 6 vs. a team with a winning S.U. record


Golden State Warriors at New Orleans Pelicans (+5, 203)
Warriors lead series 2-0


The Golden State Warriors put up the best road record in the NBA this season at 28-13, but the most recent of those 13 setbacks came at New Orleans on Apr. 7. The Pelicans will try to turn that trick again and climb back in the series when they host the top-seeded Warriors in Game 3 of their first-round Western Conference series on Thursday.


New Orleans was surprisingly pesky in the first two games of the series but did not have quite enough to get over the hump in the fourth quarter of either contest and heads home in an 0-2 hole. “Hopefully for the fans watching (Game 2), our crowd can be like (the boisterous Warriors home crowd),” Pelicans guard Tyreke Evans told reporters. “When we’ve got our crowd behind us, we’re going to perform, play hard and do a good job.” New Orleans went 28-13 in its own arena during the regular season but Golden State won’t be intimidated. Warriors star Stephen Curry poured in 56 points in the first two games and averaged 25.5 points on the road in the regular season.


TRENDS:


*Warriors are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games following a S.U. win.
*Pelicans are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 home games.
*Under is 5-1 in Warriors last 6 road games.
*Under is 8-2-1 in the last 11 meetings.

 

[CNOTES]

Team Open Line Movements Current Moneyline Halftime Scores




7:05 PM EDT
733 CLEVELAND CAVALIERS -4 -05 -4.5 -05 / -4 / -4.5 -4.5 -05 -190
734 BOSTON CELTICS 204 203.5 / 204 / 204u14 203.5 +161
TV: TNT, DTV:245
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8:05 PM EDT
735 CHICAGO BULLS -3.5 EVEN -3 -05 / -2.5 / -3 -3 -05 -145
736 MILWAUKEE BUCKS 188 187.5 / 187 / 187u14 187 +125
TV: NBA, DTV: 216
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9:35 PM EDT
737 GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS -5 -05 -5 -05 / -4.5 -15 / -5 -5 -05 -215
738 NEW ORLEANS PELICANS 203 203 / 203.5 203 +180
NWO-G-Jrue Holiday-? | TV: TNT, DTV:245
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[CNOTES]

Team Pitcher Open Line Movements Current Runline Scores




12:35 PM EDT
951 CHICAGO CUBS (R) Hendricks, K 8u15 8u25 +1.5(-208)
952 PITTSBURGH PIRATES (L) Locke, J -115 -115 -1.5(+190)
TV: CSN-Chicago, ROOT-Pittsburgh, DTV: 659, 665
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1:05 PM EDT
953 MIAMI MARLINS (R) Phelps, D -120 -120
954 PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (R) Mcgowan, D 8.5 8.5
Overnight Pitching Change: Philadelphia - D. McGowan for S. O'Sullivan | TV: CSN-Philadelphia
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1:10 PM EDT
955 ATLANTA BRAVES (R) Teheran, J 7u20 7u20 / 7u22 7u25 +1.5(-205)
956 NEW YORK METS (R) Colon, B -140 -140 / -138 / -136 -125 -1.5(+188)
TV: SNY, SportsSouth, DTV: 639, 646
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1:40 PM EDT
957 CINCINNATI REDS (R) Bailey, H -125 -125 -1.5(+138)
958 MILWAUKEE BREWERS (R) Lohse, K 8.5u15 8.5u15 +1.5(-150)
MIL-CF-Carlos Gomez-OUT | TV: FS-Ohio, DTV: 661
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3:10 PM EDT
959 SAN DIEGO PADRES (R) Ross, T 10.5 -108 / -113 / -121 -120 -1.5(+139)
960 COLORADO ROCKIES (R) Lyles, J -108 10.5 +1.5(-151)
TV: FS-San Diego, DTV: 694
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3:45 PM EDT
961 LOS ANGELES DODGERS (R) Bolsinger, M
962 SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (R) Vogelsong, R
TV: CSN-Bay, DTV: 696
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4:05 PM EDT
963 ST LOUIS CARDINALS (R) Wacha, M 6.5u20 6.5u20 +1.5(-194)
964 WASHINGTON NATIONALS (R) Scherzer, M -140 -140 -1.5(+178)
TV: FS-Midwest, MASN, MLB, DTV: 213, 640, 671
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1:05 PM EDT
965 NEW YORK YANKEES (R) Tanaka, M 8u15 8u15 8u20 +1.5(-210)
966 DETROIT TIGERS (R) Sanchez, A -130 -130 / -128 / -119 -115 -1.5(+192)
TV: FS-Detroit, MLB, YES, DTV: 213, 631, 663
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7:05 PM EDT
967 BALTIMORE ORIOLES (R) Tillman, C 9 9 9u20 +1.5(-171)
968 TORONTO BLUE JAYS (R) Hutchison, D -125 -125 / -137 -130 -1.5(+157)
TOR-RF-Jose Bautista-? | TV: MASN2, DTV: 641
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7:05 PM EDT
969 OAKLAND ATHLETICS (R) Chavez, J 8o15 8o15
970 LOS ANGELES ANGELS (R) Tropeano, N -130 -130
Overnight Pitching Change: LA Angels - N. Tropeano for C. Wilson | TV: CSN-California, FS-West, DTV: 692, 698
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7:10 PM EDT
971 BOSTON RED SOX (R) Buchholz, C -104 7.5o20 +1.5(-205)
972 TAMPA BAY RAYS (R) Odorizzi, J 7.5o20 -104 -110 -1.5(+188)
TV: NESN, SunSports, DTV: 628, 653
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8:10 PM EDT
973 KANSAS CITY ROYALS (R) Ventura, Y 7o15 7o15 / 7o13 7u15 +1.5(-177)
974 CHICAGO WHITE SOX (L) Sale, C -140 -140 / -144 -145 -1.5(+163)
TV: FS-Kansas City, MLB, DTV: 213, 672
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[CNOTES]

Team Open Line Movements Current Puck Line Scores




7:05 PM EDT
73 TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING -105 5o35 +1.5(-110)
74 DETROIT RED WINGS 5o35 -105 / -109 -115 -1.5(-110)
TV: NBCS, DTV: 220
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7:05 PM EDT
75 NEW YORK ISLANDERS 5o35 5o35 +1.5(-110)
76 WASHINGTON CAPITALS -135 -135 -1.5(-110)
TV: CNBC, DTV: 357
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9:35 PM EDT
77 CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS 5o35 5o35 +1.5(-305)
78 NASHVILLE PREDATORS -115 -115 -1.5(+250)
TV: NBCS, DTV: 220
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10:05 PM EDT
79 CALGARY FLAMES 5o30 5o30 +1.5(-230)
80 VANCOUVER CANUCKS -150 -150 -1.5(+195)
TV: CNBC, DTV: 357
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[CNOTES]

Preview: Cubs (8-5) at Pirates (6-8)
Game: 4
Venue: PNC Park
Date: April 23, 2015 12:35 PM EDT

Although the club's latest comeback attempt fell short, the Chicago Cubs' dangerous new-look lineup isn't making things easy on opposing pitching staffs all the way until the final out.


Chicago, however, could be missing a key piece if its speedy leadoff man can't play in the series finale at PNC Park.


With Dexter Fowler's status uncertain, the Cubs will try to bounce back by taking three of four in this series Thursday when Jeff Locke goes after his third straight win for the Pittsburgh Pirates.


Chicago (8-6) has two wins when trailing entering the ninth inning this season after going 0-79 a year ago. After scoring three in the ninth in Tuesday's 9-8 victory, the Cubs nearly pulled off another late rally.


Trailing 4-1 in the eighth inning Wednesday, they scored twice after loading the bases with nobody out but failed to take the lead as Pittsburgh reliever Tony Watson got the final two outs.


Anthony Rizzo singled in the ninth inning before Watson fanned Kris Bryant to end Chicago's four-game road win streak.


'They got us,' manager Joe Maddon said. 'We just couldn't get a hit when we needed to. If we keep playing with that kind of intensity and effort on a nightly basis we're going to win a lot of games this year.'


Bryant doubled for the fourth straight contest and reached base two more times. The third baseman is 9 for 18 with six RBIs and a .640 on-base percentage since going 0 for 4 in his debut against San Diego last Friday.


The Cubs, though, could be minus Fowler after he left Wednesday's game due to tightness in his right groin. The center fielder has scored 10 runs and stolen four bases over his last 11 games.


Pittsburgh (7-8) will try to build a safer cushion as it looks to wrap up a 6-4 homestand.


After allowing two runs over six innings in a 6-2 win at Milwaukee on April 10, Locke again baffled the Brewers on Saturday when the left-hander surrendered one run and four hits with six strikeouts over eight innings in a 6-2 home victory.


"You've just got to attack guys. Keep the ball down," Locke, who retired 23 of his last 25 batters, told MLB's official website.


Locke (2-0, 1.93 ERA) has pitched particularly well at PNC Park, going 5-2 with a 2.77 ERA in his last 11 starts while Pittsburgh has won nine of those games. He's 1-1 with a 2.95 mark in three home outings versus Chicago.


After allowing five runs over 4 1-3 innings in a 6-5 win at Colorado on April 12, Kyle Hendricks (0-0, 6.10) worked five scoreless innings after giving up a first-inning two-run home run in Saturday's 7-6 home win over San Diego.


The right-hander has gone 7-2 with a 2.88 ERA in 15 career starts, but he'll get his first look at the Pirates.


Gregory Polanco, who hit his first home run Wednesday, is 8 for 21 over his past six games. Andrew McCutchen and Josh Harrison have yet to get on track in this series, going 3 for 24 with seven strikeouts.


Jordy Mercer will likely be a game-time decision after missing three games with a bruised chest, while Starling Marte's status is uncertain after he was hit by a pitch on his right hand Wednesday.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Yankees (7-7) at Tigers (11-3)
Game: 4
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: April 23, 2015 1:08 PM EDT

Masahiro Tanaka's first strong start of the season last week has helped the New York Yankees put an end to some early season struggles - and more importantly, at least temporarily allayed fears that his fragile elbow had left him a shell of the pitcher he was last year.


He'll look to put the Yankees more at ease and extend their surge as they try to win their four-game series with the host Detroit Tigers on Thursday.


Tanaka (2-1, 3.94 ERA) went seven innings and allowed two hits Saturday in a 9-0 victory over Tampa Bay, striking out eight and walking none. The right-hander had given up nine runs over nine innings in his first two starts.


Pitching with a partially torn right elbow ligament that limited his outstanding 2014 season to 20 starts, Tanaka's velocity seemed diminished in those two outings, but he hit 93 mph against the Rays.


"I thought he put it all together his last outing," manager Joe Girardi told MLB's official website. "He had all his pitches, so I feel good when he takes the mound."


The sense of relief will of course be short-lived if that's not the case Thursday, but Tanaka, who has never faced Detroit, doesn't seem worried about his health.


'I'm happy with the results,' Tanaka said through a translator Saturday. 'I'm happy with the way I pitched. I think it's all about the mechanics. The mechanics was working well.'


His victory was the second in a row for New York (8-7), which has won five of six to move above .500 for the first time this season. The Yankees dropped the opener against the Tigers 2-1 on Monday before winning 5-2 the next night and 13-4 on Wednesday.


New York scored six runs off David Price in the first inning and Mark Teixeira added a three-run homer in the seventh. Chris Young was 3 for 6 and has gone 6 for 9 in the past two games.


Teixeira's fifth homer was his second in three contests and he's driven in eight runs in the last five games. The Yankees have scored 37 runs in their past five wins and are tied with Toronto for the major league lead with 21 home runs.


The Tigers have averaged 3.1 runs in the last eight contests after scoring 7.8 per game over the first six. Yoenis Cespedes has gone 6 for 13 with two home runs and nine RBIs in a four-game hitting streak, but Victor Martinez is 3 for his last 17 and Ian Kinsler is 4 for 27.


Detroit (11-4), which has lost consecutive games for the first time this season, sends Anibal Sanchez (1-2, 7.71) to the mound. The right-hander was pounded in his last start, allowing a career-high nine runs in 3 1-3 innings of a 12-3 home loss to the Chicago White Sox on Saturday. He's given up 14 runs and five homers in his last two starts.


Sanchez surrendered four home runs in 126 innings last year, the fewest for any pitcher with at least 100 innings.


'It's happened the last two starts, but it's done soon,' Sanchez said.


He threw two bullpen sessions in four days between starts this week, working with pitching coach Jeff Jones on his lower-body delivery.


"My back leg was a little bit off and my front leg was a little bit straight," Sanchez told MLB's website. "It's just little things that happen during the season. The important thing is I am healthy and I think I am ready for (Thursday)."


He last faced the Yankees on Aug. 10, 2013, giving up two runs and four hits in seven innings of a 9-3 road win.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Marlins (3-11) at Phillies (5-9)
Game: 3
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: April 23, 2015 1:05 PM EDT

The Miami Marlins are desperate for any sort of momentum to wrap up their 10-game road trip, and the Phillies will try not to give them any more as the teams conclude their series Thursday.


The Marlins took two of three from Atlanta to start their road swing before dropping the next five. They finally righted themselves Wednesday - with plenty of help from the Phillies - in a 6-1 victory as they took advantage of three errors and a balk that contributed to five unearned runs.


'We haven't gotten a lot of breaks,' manager Mike Redmond said. 'We got a few tonight and took advantage.'


Adeiny Hechevarria had two singles and scored two runs for Miami, while Martin Prado had two hits and the only RBI. The Marlins (4-11) now have a chance to win consecutive games for the second time and can earn their second series victory of the young season.


'Right now, we'll take anything,' winning pitcher Jared Cosart said. 'We're trying to scratch out wins any way we can. It worked out for us today.'


David Phelps (0-0, 7.94) will take his second turn in the rotation. The right-hander limited the New York Mets to one run and one hit while walking three in 4 2-3 innings Friday.


A part-time starter in each of his previous three seasons, Phelps is facing the Phillies for the first time.


Left fielder Christian Yelich, a lifetime .299 hitter against Philadelphia, has missed the first two games of this series due to a stiff back - a similar injury to the one that landed him on the disabled list last year - and his availability is uncertain.


"I think it's still kind of the same and he's day to day," Redmond told MLB's official website before Wednesday's game. "We'll evaluate him accordingly (Thursday)."


Philadelphia (5-10) has committed two or more errors in five games, and its 15 are among the most in the majors. Chase Utley's fielding miscue Wednesday keyed Miami's four-run eighth that broke open the game and put more pressure on a team that's scuffling offensively. The Phillies are 1-9 when scoring three or fewer runs.


'When you're not putting some runs on the board, every little thing adds up and becomes a big thing," manager Ryne Sandberg said.


Dustin McGowan (1-0, 2.57) will make his first start of the season, but he isn't expected to last long. The Phillies put scheduled starter Sean O'Sullivan on the disabled list Wednesday with a knee injury, and McGowan hasn't thrown more than 42 pitches or logged more than two innings in any of his five relief appearances. The right-hander has also walked seven in his seven innings.


McGowan, who has never faced the Marlins, allowed one run and two hits in one inning at Washington on Sunday.


Ichiro Suzuki, 18 for 48 lifetime against the Phillies, picked up his 2,845th hit Wednesday, leaving him three shy of tying Brooks Robinson for 46th on MLB's all-time list. The 41-year-old outfielder has a 10-game hitting streak versus Philadelphia.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Braves (8-5) at Mets (11-3)
Game: 3
Venue: Citi Field
Date: April 23, 2015 1:10 PM EDT

The New York Mets' stunning start has them on the verge of matching the team record for consecutive victories.


Looking for their 11th straight, they can also match the 1986 team's 16-game start when they host the Atlanta Braves on Thursday.


Lucas Duda delivered a go-ahead single in the eighth inning, Wilmer Flores hit a tying homer in the seventh inning and Juan Lagares extended his hitting streak to nine games as the Mets beat the Braves 3-2 on Wednesday.


The Mets (12-3) last won 11 in a row in June 1990, and their 13-3 burst out of the gate in '86 led to their last World Series title. New York's start is its best since that season.


"It's unbelievable, coming to the ballpark every day. Just a great feeling when you walk in the doors. It's just fun. There's no other word to describe it,' a smiling Duda said. 'It's pretty special. It's hard to do.'


The ageless Bartolo Colon (3-0, 2.25 ERA) also has milestones in his sights, as he'll try to be the first pitcher in the majors to four wins. Far removed from his early flamethrowing days, the right-hander can also become the sixth starter 40 years or older to start 4-0 since 1914.


Roger Clemens was the last to do it for Houston in 2004.


"Now I'm a better pitcher because I can command the situation a lot better than when I used to," the 41-year-old Colon told MLB's official website.


After allowing four runs over 13 innings to win a pair of road outings, Colon surrendered one run in seven innings of Friday's 4-1 home victory over Miami. He's walked one and struck out 18.


Colon faces the Braves for the second time in three outings after giving up three runs over seven innings of a 4-3 victory at Turner Field on April 12. He's 5-2 with a 2.25 ERA in seven career meetings.


Andrelton Simmons and Freddie Freeman have both gone 6 for 13 against Colon over the past two years. Jonny Gomes hit a solo home run off him in the first meeting this season and is 8 for 21 with three homers lifetime in the matchup.


A.J. Pierzynski was 3 for 3 with a double Wednesday and has gone 9 for 23 while recording at least one hit in his six contests. Atlanta, however, has totaled three runs in the first two games of the series.


The Braves (8-6) turn to Julio Teheran (2-0, 3.71) as they try to avoid getting swept in three straight at Citi Field for the first time since April 2012. Teheran is looking to regroup after allowing five runs and seven hits - including a career-high four homers - in a come-from-behind 8-7 win at Toronto on Friday.


"He's better than that," manager Fredi Gonzalez said after Teheran allowed his most earned runs in 11 outings.


The right-hander was the last pitcher to beat the Mets on April 11, giving up one earned run, two hits and four walks over six innings of a 5-3 home win. He's 4-2 with a 2.45 ERA in eight career starts against New York.


Duda went 2 for 3 off Teheran and has gone 6 for 16 with two homers in the matchup since the start of 2013.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Reds (7-7) at Brewers (2-12)
Game: 4
Venue: Miller Park
Date: April 23, 2015 1:40 PM EDT

The reeling Milwaukee Brewers have provided Cincinnati with an opportunity to successfully rebound from a rough eight-game stretch.


Attempting to sweep their first series at Miller Park in six seasons, the Reds try to hand the major league-worst Brewers a ninth consecutive defeat Thursday.


Cincinnati (8-7) lost seven of eight, including five of its first six on a 10-game trip, before winning three straight at Milwaukee. The Reds haven't swept a road set from the Brewers since Aug. 25-27, 2009, or taken all four in a series there since 2002.


Milwaukee (2-13), meanwhile, is mired in the worst start in club history and in danger of losing nine straight for a second consecutive season. Since owning a 2 1/2-game lead in the NL Central on Aug. 19, the Brewers are 13-38.


'It's brutal,' Milwaukee owner Mark Attanasio said. 'You turn on the TV every night and expect to see something different, and I know one of these nights we will.'


One night after the teams combined for 25 hits and three grand slams in Cincinnati's 16-10 win Tuesday, they totaled nine hits while Johnny Cueto and Jimmy Nelson each allowed a run over eight innings before Billy Hamilton scored the go-ahead run on a ninth-inning wild pitch in the 2-1 victory.


Batting .386 with 14 RBIs, Cincinnati's Joey Votto recorded his fourth straight two-hit game and drove in his fourth run of the series Wednesday. He's batting .424 with 10 RBIs in his last eight games at Miller Park.


Teammate Homer Bailey looks for a better effort after he allowed five runs, nine hits and walked three over 5 2-3 innings during Saturday's 5-2 loss at St. Louis in his season debut. Back from forearm surgery, Bailey admitted he's not 100 percent and likely needs some time to find a comfort zone.


"It's good to get back out there, being with the guys playing," he told the Reds' official website. "We definitely need to sharpen up some things."


Bailey is 4-8 with a 4.94 ERA in 20 starts against the Brewers.


Ryan Braun is batting .355 with two homers and four doubles versus Bailey while Khris Davis is 7 for 18 with three home runs and two doubles against him.


Braun and Davis, however, were a combined 0 for 7 with three strikeouts Wednesday for the Brewers, who rank near the bottom of the majors with 42 runs and a .212 average.


After opening with three straight losing starts for the first time, ex-Red Kyle Lohse (0-3, 10.34 ERA) has the highest ERA among all major league starters and also ranks near the bottom of the majors with a .353 opponent batting average. The right-hander yielded six runs in six innings of a 6-2 loss at Pittsburgh on Saturday.


'I've fought in my career not doing too much and that might be the case now,' Lohse said. 'I'm just trying to do too much."


Though Lohse hasn't given Milwaukee much of a chance in those three starts, his teammate have totaled four runs.


'It's frustrating because we have some good pieces in here," Lohse said. "We just haven't put it together.'


He's looked solid while going 7-5 with a 2.69 ERA in 20 starts against the Reds. Lohse tossed a two-hitter in a 5-0 win at Cincinnati on Sept. 24.


Votto is hitting .333 with a homer and four doubles versus Lohse.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Padres (10-5) at Rockies (7-7)
Game: 4
Venue: Coors Field
Date: April 23, 2015 3:10 PM EDT

With two of their top bats back in the lineup, Colorado responded to San Diego's late rally a day earlier with a comeback victory of its own to end its slide.


Corey Dickerson and Nolan Arenado will try to power the Rockies to a series split Thursday against the visiting Padres.


The Padres racked up 17 hits while winning 14-3 in the first of this four-game set, then scored four runs in the eighth inning of Tuesday's 7-6 victory. The Rockies (8-7) showed a flair for the dramatic Wednesday, scoring the tying run in the eighth on the second of Dickerson's two solo shots before winning 5-4 on Daniel Descalso's pinch-hit single in the ninth, snapping a five-game losing streak.


Dickerson, who only pinch hit Tuesday after leaving Monday with plantar fasciitis, also went deep on the first pitch he saw and leads the team with 12 RBIs. Arenado was 2 for 4 with his seventh double after missing two games with a sore wrist and has driven in 11 runs. Both are among the NL's top 10 in slugging percentage at .623 and .653.


"I want to be out there no matter what," said Dickerson, who has hit .380 with five home runs and nine RBIs in his last 14 meetings. "If I can play through it, I'm going to play through it."


Thursday's matchup features two pitchers looking to throw more strikes.


Jordan Lyles (1-1, 3.50 ERA) is 1-3 with a 6.30 ERA in six career starts against San Diego, walking 18 in 30 innings. He has walked nine already through 18 innings in three outings this year and gave up four runs with five bases on balls over six innings in Saturday's 6-3 defeat to the Los Angeles Dodgers.


"It's the walks, and a lot of them scored," he said. "If they're going to score, make them earn it ... I've got to do a better job of attacking them early."


Tyson Ross (1-0, 4.08) is fanning hitters at a high rate with 21 strikeouts in 17 2-3 innings, though he has also walked 12.


Ross is another winless road start shy of matching the longest drought in his career, going 0-4 with a 4.46 ERA in his last six road outings. He's yet to beat Colorado, posting an 0-3 record and 3.21 ERA in five starts. The Padres backed him with only six runs of support in 28 innings in those starts.


Dickerson is 3 for 9 against Ross while Arenado is 1 for 11.


The Padres (10-6) had won nine of 11 and three in a row, but their seven hits were their fewest in 11 games. Yonder Alonso continued his impressive start, though, lifting his average to .365 with a 2-for-4 night. He's 6 for 8 off Lyles with two homers and two doubles.


Colorado's bullpen took a hit with the club placing LaTroy Hawkins on the 15-day disabled list due to biceps tendinitis, though the Rockies reinstated reliever John Axford from the family medical emergency list. Axford, whose two-year-old son returned home after being treated in a hospital for rattlesnake bites suffered during spring training, worked a perfect eighth inning Wednesday.


The only time San Diego has captured a four-game series at Coors Field was July 10-13, 1997.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Cardinals (8-4) at Nationals (7-7)
Game: 3
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: April 23, 2015 4:05 PM EDT

The St. Louis Cardinals have gotten the better of Washington in recent years, and Matt Adams has been one of the biggest reasons why.


Adams looks to keep tormenting the Nationals in Thursday's series finale, though he'll dig in against Max Scherzer, who has been dominant for his new club.


The Cardinals fell 2-1 in Tuesday's opener in D.C. with Adams going 0 for 1 as a late substitute. He was back in the lineup Wednesday, though, doubling and hitting his second homer of the season in a 7-5 victory.


St. Louis (9-4) is 13-3 in the series since its Game 5 win of the 2012 division series and 9-2 when Adams plays. The first baseman has hit .375 with five home runs and 10 RBIs versus Washington, going deep four times in the last five.


Adams is batting just .225 on the season, though another matchup with the Nationals (7-8) might send him into this weekend's series at Milwaukee on a roll.


He'll have to contend with Scherzer, who is living up to his seven-year, $210 million deal thus far. Scherzer (1-1, 0.83 ERA) has allowed two earned runs while striking out 25 in 21 2-3 innings.


He didn't pick up his first victory until his third outing Friday against Philadelphia after getting three runs of support in his first two starts. He was backed by seven runs while allowing one in eight innings against the Phillies.


"I feel like I'm pounding the zone," Scherzer, who has walked four, told MLB's official website. "As long as you pound the zone and don't allow any free passes, it's usually a good sign of what you're doing."


Scherzer is 0-1 in two starts versus the Cardinals, whom he hasn't faced since 2009.


St. Louis won for the sixth time in seven games, though it allowed more than two runs for the first time in seven. Michael Wacha (2-0, 1.35) looks capable of a shutdown performance after two solid outings against Cincinnati. He's 2-0 for the third straight season after limiting the Reds to two runs on solo homers over 13 1-3 innings, shaking off a rough end to 2014. He was 0-2 with a 7.71 ERA over his final four appearances including the playoffs.


Wacha could be poised for another strong outing given his brief but impressive track record against Washington. He has allowed one earned run over 15 2-3 innings while striking out 16 in two starts, going 1-1. Nationals Nos. 2-4 hitters Ian Desmond, Jayson Werth and Bryce Harper are a combined 2 for 18 against him, and Harper could have a particularly tough time considering left-handed hitters are 2 for 21 off Wacha.


That trio was 2 for 9 Wednesday with Harper going 0 for 2, though he walked twice to raise his on-base percentage to .415. Desmond is batting 15 for 34 (.441) with eight runs during an eight-game hitting streak.


St. Louis' Matt Carpenter is 16 for 38 (.421) with 10 RBIs while hitting in nine straight, while Kolten Wong is 6 for 8 in the series.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Orioles (7-7) at Blue Jays (7-7)
Game: 3
Venue: Rogers Centre
Date: April 23, 2015 7:07 PM EDT

The Toronto Blue Jays should be thrilled to have 14 games remaining against the Baltimore Orioles.


Another matchup Thursday night gives the Blue Jays a chance to continue pounding Baltimore pitching and complete a three-game sweep.


Toronto (8-7) has won four of five meetings with the Orioles, batting .307 while totaling 40 runs with 54 hits - 26 for extra bases. In their other 10 games, the Blue Jays have batted .240 and averaged 4.7 runs with 25 extra-base hits.


After starting a 10-game homestand with five losses in seven contests, Toronto has taken the first two of this series. Edwin Encarnacion's two homers keyed Tuesday's 13-6 victory and Justin Smoak and rookie Devon Travis hit two-run shots in a 4-2 win Wednesday.


Travis had three hits in his return to the lineup after sitting out the past two games with sore ribs. He's batting .424 with three homers and 11 RBIs during an eight-game hitting streak.


'I don't know what's happening,' Travis said of his power surge. 'That's just a blessing because I don't know where the heck that's coming from.'


Wednesday's win came without slugger Jose Bautista, who has a strained right shoulder that will prevent him from playing the outfield. Bautista, though, could serve as the DH in the finale.


Jimmy Paredes hit a two-run homer for the Orioles (7-8), who failed to capitalize on seven walks issued by starter Aaron Sanchez.


'We didn't take advantage of the walks,' manager Buck Showalter said.


Baltimore has gone 3 for 26 with runners in scoring position during a three-game losing streak.


The clutch hitting has been about as bad as the rotation, a group that has failed to complete six innings in seven consecutive games with a 5.87 ERA.


Chris Tillman (2-1, 5.52 ERA) will try to put a stop to that and atone for a dismal performance against the Blue Jays earlier this month. The right-hander allowed seven runs and two homers with three walks over 2 2-3 innings of a 10-7 loss April 12.


He was much sharper Saturday at Boston, yielding one run in 5 1-3 innings while striking out five and walking two in a 4-1 victory.


'After starts like that, it's not fun,' Tillman said. 'You just want to get back out there and help the team.'


Tillman has gone 1-3 with an 8.86 ERA in his last four overall starts against the Blue Jays, and has a 6.57 ERA in four career outings at Rogers Centre.


Jose Reyes is 9 for 24 (.375) with a homer and three doubles against him.


Drew Hutchison (1-0, 7.20) is looking to rebound from two consecutive disappointing outings, giving up 12 runs and 14 hits over nine innings in that span after a solid season debut.


The first of those appearances came opposite Tillman on April 12 and the right-hander failed to earn the win after allowing seven runs in 4 1-3 innings.


Hutchison is 3-0 with a 1.69 ERA in four home starts against Baltimore, walking six and striking out 34 in 26 2-3 innings.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Red Sox (9-5) at Rays (6-8)
Game: 3
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: April 23, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

A breakout performance at the plate spelled the end of their losing streak, but the Tampa Bay Rays are likely to have a difficult time building on the effort against one of their rivals.


Clay Buchholz looks to extend his 23-inning road scoreless streak against the Rays on Thursday night when the Boston Red Sox try to get back on track and claim their third consecutive road series win.


Tampa Bay batted .172 and went 0 for 15 with runners in scoring position while totaling three runs in the final three of a four-game home losing streak before collecting 12 hits in Wednesday's 7-5 victory.


Steven Souza led the way with a home run and a double before departing due to a right forearm cramp. He's hopeful to play after batting .364 with four homers and nine RBIs over his last eight games.


Asdrubal Cabrera, Evan Longoria and Desmond Jennings also had two hits apiece as Tampa Bay (7-8) rallied from a four-run deficit by scoring four in the seventh inning and two in the eighth.


'We needed that one,' manager Kevin Cash said. 'For the guys to come back from that deficit against that team, it just keeps impressing all of us, showing what they're about.'


The Red Sox (9-6), however, are giving the ball to the right pitcher as they seek their sixth win in nine road games. Buchholz has scattered 10 hits over a scoreless streak that spans three regular-season starts at Tropicana Field.


The right-hander is 5-3 with a 1.95 ERA in 10 career regular-season starts in Tampa after firing a three-hitter in a 3-0 victory last August. He also had a streak of 30 1-3 consecutive scoreless innings overall against the Rays before allowing five runs in the eighth inning of a 6-2 home defeat last September.


Since limiting Philadelphia to three hits over seven innings in a season-opening 8-0 road win, Buchholz (1-2, 6.06 ERA) has allowed 20 hits over 9 1-3 innings in back-to-back defeats. He gave up 11 on Saturday, but limited the damage and yielded two earned runs over six innings in a 4-1 home loss to Baltimore.


Cabrera has fared well versus Buchholz, going 4 for 9 with two homers over the previous four seasons. Longoria, however, is 3 for 20 and Jennings is 4 for 17 in the matchup since 2012.


The Rays will try to clinch their first home series win as Jake Odorizzi goes after his fourth consecutive quality start.


He allowed one run and four hits over a combined 14 2-3 innings to beat Baltimore and Toronto before receiving no run support while giving up three runs over six innings in Saturday's 9-0 home loss to the New York Yankees.


Odorizzi (2-1, 1.74), who has an AL-best 0.68 WHIP, surrendered one run and five hits over 13 innings in a pair of home starts versus Boston in 2014. He's focused on throwing strikes as the Red Sox rank near the top of the AL with 67 walks.


'They work at_bats,' the right-hander said.


Dustin Pedroia hit his fourth home run and David Ortiz smacked his third Wednesday. Ortiz, still awaiting word on the appeal of his one-game suspension, has 30 homers and 76 RBIs at Tropicana, the most for any visiting player.


Shane Victorino will not start after leaving Wednesday's game due to tightness in his hamstring.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Royals (11-3) at White Sox (5-8)
Game: 1
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: April 23, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

If the Chicago White Sox are to become serious contenders in the AL Central, they likely must find a way to end their struggles against the Kansas City Royals.


Looking to avenge a season-opening sweep at the hands of the reigning AL champs, Chris Sale and the White Sox open a four-game home set against the Royals on Thursday night.


Eager to begin after a busy offseason of personnel changes, Chicago (6-8) was outscored 21-7 while opening with three losses at Kansas City. The White Sox have averaged 2.6 runs while losing 14 of 17 to the Royals, and 2.1 in dropping 15 of the last 18 meetings at home.


Kansas City (11-4) returns to Chicago, where it clinched the franchise's first playoff berth in 29 years with a 3-1 victory over the White Sox on Sept. 26.


"(The Royals) play the game hard," Chicago center fielder Adam Eaton told MLB's official website.


After taking of two three from Cleveland, the White Sox have some momentum while trying to avoid a fifth consecutive defeat to the Royals.


"You're doing something right," Eaton said after Wednesday's 6-0 victory. "Hopefully that can continue."


A fractured right foot prevented Sale (2-0, 2.25 ERA) from opening at Kansas City, but he'll try to win his first three starts for a second straight season. The left-hander, who has struck out 14 and walked two over 12 innings, yielded two runs in six innings of a 12-3 win at Detroit on Saturday.


"I feel great," he said.


Though Sale is 6-6 in 13 starts against the Royals, he's posted a 2.61 ERA and received an average 2.31 runs of support. He improved to 4-3 at home versus Kansas City and dropped his ERA to 2.25 ERA after allowing a run in seven innings of a 3-1 victory July 21 in his only 2014 series start at U.S. Cellular Field.


The Royals, meanwhile, look to bounce back after falling 3-0 to Minnesota on Wednesday. Alcides Escobar had two of the six hits for Kansas City, which ranks among the major league leaders with 81 runs but was blanked for the second time in five games.


Escobar is hitting .444 with 11 runs scored in his last nine games versus Chicago, and .400 (18 for 45) against Sale.


Kansas City's Yordano Ventura (2-1, 4.80) pitched six-plus innings and allowed Jose Abreu's homer in the seventh and three other hits before leaving with a finger cramp in the season-opening 10-1 victory over Chicago.


Ventura exited his next start because of cramping in his calf and was ejected in the fourth inning of Saturday's 5-0 loss to Oakland for hitting Brett Lawrie just above the left elbow - likely in retaliation for an incident between the teams the previous night. The right-hander, who allowed five runs in 3 1-3 innings, was fined by MLB but not suspended.


"He's got some learning to do," manager Ned Yost said about Ventura, who turns 24 in June. "But you got to understand, he's a young guy. And I wouldn't say he's emotional, but he's got a real edge to him."


Abreu's home run is his only hit in five at_bats versus Ventura, but he's homered in back-to-back games and is 9 for 21 with 10 RBIs in the last five contests.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Dodgers (9-5) at Giants (6-10)
Game: 3
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: April 23, 2015 3:45 PM EDT

A visit from the archrival Los Angeles Dodgers has helped the San Francisco Giants generate some modest but much-needed success amid a rough start.


The Giants can complete their first series sweep of the Dodgers in almost two years Thursday.


San Francisco (6-10) lost nine of 10 before snapping Los Angeles' seven-game winning streak with Tuesday's 6-2 victory, then won 3-2 on Wednesday. The Giants, who dropped six of the final seven home meetings with the Dodgers (9-5) in 2014, last swept them May 3-5, 2013 at AT&T Park.


In Wednesday's marquee matchup between Clayton Kershaw and Madison Bumgarner, each allowed two runs and didn't get a decision. Alex Guerrero's pinch-hit two-run homer off Bumgarner in the seventh tied it, but Joe Panik's sacrifice fly in the ninth gave the Giants the victory and a sense that they might have left their early struggles behind.


'Hopefully this is something that lifts the guys up and just gets us on track,' manager Bruce Bochy said.


Though San Francisco's 46 runs rank near the bottom of the majors, its starting pitchers have allowed one run twice and two once in its three wins over the last four games.


Ryan Vogelsong (0-1, 10.45 ERA), however, needs a strong outing as he makes his second start in place of the injured Jake Peavy. With Peavy scratched April 7 at Arizona, Vogelsong allowed a pair of three-run homers, gave up seven runs and walked four in 4 2-3 innings of a 7-6 defeat.


The right-hander went back to the bullpen and yielded seven runs - five earned - and 14 hits with five walks in 5 1-2 innings over two outings.


Vogelsong has gone 4-3 with a 3.35 ERA in 14 starts against the Dodgers, who will send Mike Bolsinger to the mound in his Los Angeles debut to give the rotation some extra rest.


Acquired from Arizona in November, the right-hander went 1-6 with a 5.47 ERA in nine starts as a rookie for the Diamondbacks last season.


"It's not like the first time you got called up," Bolsinger told the Dodgers' official website. "But in a way, it kind of was because you're playing for the Dodgers. There's only a few teams in Major League Baseball that you can really be blown away with, and Dodgers (are) one of (them)."


Bolsinger allowed three hits and struck out 17 over 11 scoreless innings to win both starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City this season. He went 0-2 with a 4.26 ERA against the Giants in 2014.


Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford are each 2 for 3 against him.


Belt is 4 for 10 in his last three games after going 2 for 26 while dealing with a groin injury in his first eight contests. He's hit .391 in his last six home games against Los Angeles.


Adrian Gonzalez was rested before pinch hitting late Wednesday. The first baseman hit .523 with five homers and 14 RBIs in the first 11 games but is 0 for 9 over the last three. He's gone 5 for 14 with three doubles and a home run against Vogelsong in the last two seasons.


Teammate A.J. Ellis could sit after leaving Wednesday's game in the ninth with a hand injury.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Athletics (8-8) at Angels (6-9)
Game: 4
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Date: April 23, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

Contributions from up and down the lineup helped Oakland turn the tables on the Los Angeles Angels.


The Athletics hope Jesse Sanchez can serve as an effective stopgap in the rotation and help them to a series victory Thursday night against the Los Angeles Angels.


Oakland (8-8) pounded out 18 hits, including 16 singles, in Wednesday's 9-2 win, a day after allowing 15 in a 14-1 loss. Seven A's had two or more hits, including Billy Butler, who hit his third homer, drove in four runs and improved his average to .377. He has hit safely in all but one game this season and is batting .408 with five homers and 22 RBIs in his last 13 at Angel Stadium.


The Athletics also stole four bases and have been successful on all 11 attempts in their last eight games after not attempting a steal in their first eight.


Chavez (0-0, 0.00 ERA) is making his first start of the season, filling in for Jesse Hahn, who is skipping a turn to let a blister on his middle finger heal.


"Jesse Chavez is a good guy to have in your pocket when something like that happens," manager Bob Melvin told MLB's official website.


The right-hander has thrown 6 2-3 scoreless innings with nine strikeouts over four appearances and converted his lone save opportunity. He was 8-7 with a 3.44 ERA in 21 starts last season, but was beaten out for the final spot in the rotation by Drew Pomeranz this spring.


Chavez is 1-3 with a 3.99 ERA in 13 career appearances against the Angels, going 0-1 and giving up three earned runs over 13 innings in two starts last year.


Nick Tropeano will make his Angels debut after being recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake to fill in for C.J. Wilson. Wilson was pushed back to Saturday against Texas because of a stiff elbow.


Tropeano was 1-3 with a 4.57 ERA in four starts last season for Houston before being traded in November along with Carlos Perez in exchange for Hank Conger. The 24-year-old didn't have a decision in two outings for the Bees, giving up five runs in 11 innings while striking out 12.


The right-hander was 0-1 with a 4.41 ERA in four spring games, including three starts.


"First of all, he has really good stuff," manager Mike Scioscia said. "Nick is a guy that has a sneaky fastball, good command in and out, and he's got really good secondary pitches - his change-up and breaking ball. And he competed really well in the spring. So we're excited to give him the ball (Thursday)."


Los Angeles (6-9) came up empty with runners in scoring position for the third time in five games, going 0 for 5 to fall to 7 for 42 with 13 strikeouts in that span. Matt Joyce is 0 for 16 in his last five games and 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position on the season while Erick Aybar is 1 for 11.


Oakland is capping the first of two 10-game trips within its first 33 contests.

 

[CNOTES]

APRIL RATED PLAYS:




MLB




*****...........................18 - 16..................- 1.65
DOUBLE PLAY.................25 - 28..................- 9.66
TRIPLE PLAY...................20 - 18..................- 3.46
GRAND SLAM..................13 - 13..................- 0.91








NBA PLAYOFFS




*****..................................3 - 3
double play...........................3 - 6
triple play.............................1 - 3
slam dunk.............................1 - 1




NHL PLAYOFFS




*****.............................. 3 - 6 ........,..... - 3.14
double play........................9 - 3 - 1 ..........+ 10.84
triple play..........................4 - 3............... - 0.64
hat trick.............................5 - 3.............. + 6.68