Cnotes Best Bets For Wednesday June 17th - MLB - WNBA !

[CNOTES]

Tigers' Verlander looking forward to batting


Jun 17, 2015


DETROIT -- Justin Verlander wants to help his own cause in a big way Thursday.


The Detroit Tiger flame thrower makes his second start of the season in a National League park, which means he'll be coming to bat. He got the first two hits of his major league career last season, both of them singles. Now, he's dreaming of going for extra-bases at Cincinnati.


"I've gotten the hit," he said. "Now we're looking on to bigger and better things."


Verlander and David Price, who pitches on Wednesday, have been taking batting practice over the past week to prepare for their plate appearances. Neither has done much damage in their careers. Verlander is 2-for-32 with 10 sacrifices. Price is 2-for-31 and hasn't had a hit since 2010.


Getting his first victory of the season would be a more meaningful accomplishment for Verlander, who was activated from the disabled list last week after recovering from a right triceps strain. His first outing was promising, as he allowed two runs on three hits in five innings against Cleveland on Saturday. He even felt his four-seam fastball had more life on it than in past seasons.


Now, he's got to get used to pitching every five days. He made two rehab starts with Triple-A Toledo before returning to the rotation.


"It's gotten better after each start," he said. "After my first rehab start, I was pretty doggone sore. After the second one, a little bit better, after this one, a little bit better. It's all trending in the right direction, so I don't think that's a mental hurdle to get over. That's a physical hurdle, especially going back on five days for the first time. The first start I had six days, the second I had seven days."


Verlander has a 3.30 career ERA when he's had four days' rest. He's also thrown five of his six career shutouts on four days' rest. He has a 3.91 ERA with one extra day of rest and 3.33 ERA going on at least six days' rest.


"I feel I've always pitched my best once I get back in the rhythm of things and pitch on five days and occasionally, six days," he said. "But I like the feeling of going out there every five days. Historically, I've pitched my best baseball on regular rest."

 

[CNOTES]

Nationals' offense busts out in 16-run explosion


Jun 16, 2015


ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- For a Washington Nationals team that hovered around the .500 mark much of this season, a 16-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday was a chance to enjoy the gluttony of a 23-hit offensive explosion.


"I feel like we looked like an American League team tonight," said right fielder Bryce Harper, who had three hits, including his 22nd home run, before being pulled for a pinch hitter in the seventh inning. "We had a lot of fun as a team. ... We were able to put some runs up on the board for (starter Tanner Roark) early, and I think that was huge for us tonight."


Washington hit four home runs -- three of them monster blasts longer than 440 feet, including first baseman Clint Robinson's 449-foot blast off one of support rings in the roof of Tropicana Field.


"That was a bomb," Harper said. "Being able to put something up there, a little 'Natural'-esque with the thunder and lightning on the outside. That was truly incredible. I went up to him and told him congrats and you know, 'You punished the ball.' It was good to see."


Second baseman Danny Espinosa set a career high with five hits, and Robinson set a career best with four, while catcher Wilson Ramos had two home runs and four RBIs. The bottom four in the Nationals' lineup went a combined 13-for-20, and every starter had at least one hit.

 

[CNOTES]

Orioles cashing interleague matchups as favorites


The Baltimore Orioles have won their last six interleague matchups as favorites heading into Wednesday's meeting with the Philadelphia Phillies.


In the first two games against the Phillies, the O's were pegged as favorites of -235 and -193 and won 4-0 and 19-3 respectively.


The O's are presently -165 road favorites with Ubaldo Jimenez probable to get the start. Kevin Correia is the expected to get the ball for the Phils.

 

[CNOTES]

A pair of low totals on Wednesday's board


Both the matchup between the San Francisco Giants and Seattle Mariners and the meeting between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Texas Rangers feature a total of 6 Wednesday.


The Giants-Mariners game features Madison Bumgarner toeing the rubber for the Giants and Felix Hernandez expected to get the ball for Mariners.


In Los Angeles, ace Clayton Kershaw gets the ball for the Ddgers while Wandy Rodriguez is scheduled to start for the visiting Rangers.

 

[CNOTES]

Tolleson officially anointed as Rangers' closer


Jun 17, 2015




ARLINGTON, Texas -- Jeff Banister spent the past three weeks saying there are no set roles in the Texas Rangers' bullpen.


That changed Tuesday when instead of referring to Shawn Tolleson as his ninth-inning man he called him his closer.


"He's closed enough games out for us to be called a closer," Banister said. "No one else has gone out in that situation. I'm comfortable with giving Tolly the closer's position."


Tolleson has converted all nine of his save opportunities since recording his first career save May 20.


Tolleson, who has a 2.67 ERA on the season, was used as the setup man earlier this year before Neftali Feliz faltered in the ninth-inning role. While Tolleson is fine with having the title of closer, it is not something he is getting worked up about.


"It's fun just to win," said Tolleson, who came on in the ninth and picked up a victory as Texas beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2. "Yeah, it's fun to close, but part of that is just winning in general."

 

[CNOTES]

Dodgers demote Rollins to No. 9 in batting order


Jun 17, 2015


ARLINGTON, Texas -- The offensive struggles plaguing Jimmy Rollins resulted in a first of the shortstop's career Tuesday night.


The Los Angeles Dodgers veteran, a career National Leaguer, batted ninth for the first time in the majors. While batting ninth normally isn't an option in NL games because the pitcher occupies that slot, his place at the bottom of the order Tuesday has everything to do with the way Rollins is playing right now.


"He's hit seventh, he's hit eighth, Jimmy's struggled," manager Don Mattingly said. "I felt like he was swinging the bat good a couple of weeks ago, but he's kind of hit another skid. If a guy's hitting .200, he's probably not adapting that much."


The move didn't help Rollins get out of his slump, though. He went 0-for-3 but did reach base on a fifth-inning walk in Los Angeles' 3-2 loss to the Texas Rangers.


Rollins batted leadoff for the Dodgers 11 times this season and has also hit in the second, sixth, seventh and eighth spots in the batting order.


Rollins has just seven hits in his last 35 at-bats and is batting .198 on the season. And while hitting ninth didn't work out for him or the Dodgers on Tuesday, Mattingly was trying to put a positive spin on the spot.


"Second leadoff," Mattingly said. "In the American League, you use it a lot like that. You'll put a guy there that's kind of a leadoff guy in the ninth spot. Hopefully he's another guy getting on base."

 

[CNOTES]

NBA Finals Game 6 Recap


J.R. Smith kept making heroic 3-point heaves to provide a false glimmer of hope.


That’s how 68 points came to be scored in the final quarter of the 2015 NBA Finals, where the Golden State Warriors asserted their season-long superiority one last time. The Cavs racked up 36 points in a never-say-die showing that speaks volumes about their own resilience, but it was sad because the last gasp ended up misrepresenting what really went down in the Game 6 clincher.


Never mind that the 105-97 final killed my UNDER play. Although it was a particularly painful beat, it’s basketball posterity we’re most concerned with here. The Warriors ended a 40-year championship drought because they balanced having an explosive, wonderfully dynamic offense that combined forces with a stingy resistance. They were historic. Not only did they become the first team in nearly a quarter century to win an NBA title without a single player with previous Finals experience on the roster, they also joined the 1995-‘96 and ’96-’97 Bulls as the only teams to win 83 combined games on their championship journey. You could never write this group off as a team that won it all by employing gimmicks.


Yes, they shoot a ton of 3-pointers, but these newly crowned champs aren’t the 7-seconds-or-less Suns. At best, the Warriors are a distant cousin of that group. Although Mike D’Antoni got some post-game love from both Steve Kerr and Alvin Gentry as a pioneer for smallball and the idea that the unconventional could indeed yield a title, their team has been a hybrid. Somehow, they’ve been able to impose their will on both ends of the floor despite Draymond Green and Harrison Barnes often running into bigger forwards almost nightly.


“There’s a lot of different styles that can work. You have to base it on your own personnel, but I think what was probably overlooked all year long was that what really wins is a combination of great offense and great defense,” Kerr said. “We had the No. 1 defense in the league. We had the highest-scoring team in the league. We were No. 1 in assists. We were No. 1 in field goal percentage defense.”


The balance was the key.


Golden State was controlling the Cavs through three quarters, surrendering just 61 points and leading by a dozen despite being grossly outrebounded. Game 6 appeared headed for the 100-88 result the Warriors deserved, a delicious showing that highlighted their scoring punch and still held Cleveland under 90. Then Smith stepped in, draining three 3-pointers in a 41-second span that actually trimmed the score to 101-97 with 33 ticks left.


Considering J.R. so often came up short when the Cavs needed perimeter firepower in the series, it was an unbecoming and completely misleading way for the Finals to culminate. Andre Iguodala struggled at the free-throw line all quarter to leave the door just slightly ajar, enticing Cleveland to keep fighting and extending the game while the Warriors simply tried to run out the clock.


So, yeah, the ending wasn’t perfect, which, frankly, this bunch deserved. The UNDER didn’t make it. Those of us in that camp deserved that, too. Smith and his wild 3-pointers attempted to play Grinch on Christmas night, but it was hard to dwell too much on that disappointment because the surprise announcement soon came down that Iguodala had been named Finals MVP.


For posterity’s sake, that was a saving grace. He won the accolade by a 7-4 vote over LeBron James. Regular-season MVP Stephen Curry, Golden State’s leading scorer in the series, didn’t receive a single first-place nod.


Since we didn’t get a Game 6 score indicative of what the Warriors overcame in turning around a 2-1 deficit, the fact a 100-to-1 shot to be named Finals MVP when the series began ended up receiving the trophy named for the legendary Bill Russell rescued the day.


Inserting Iguodala into the starting lineup in Game 4 changed the series. The Cavs never won after that tweak. He defended James better than anyone. He made shots that Cleveland was daring him to take.


“Their plan was to take Steph away taken Klay away and force Draymond and Andre to beat them,” said Kerr. “And Andre did.”


In Game 5, with the result still hanging in the balance with 3:48 to play, Iguodala tracked a Klay Thompson 3-pointer from his own vantage point at the top of the key. James, Tristan Thompson and Iman Shumpert were all physically in the paint as he took off, bolting in ahead of everybody and winding up with possession after Barnes knocked the rebound loose. He muscled in the board over Thompson and the Warriors really weren’t threatened again the entire series.


In Game 6, he tied Curry with a team-high 25 points, adding five rebounds and five assists. He took 20 shots because the Cavs left him open and ended up making three huge 3-pointers. For the series, he wound up with averages of 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 37.0 minutes, becoming the first player in NBA history to win the Finals MVP after not having started a regular-season game.


“It could’ve gone to Steph, it could’ve gone to LeBron, but for us, it’s really fitting that the award went to Andre because he sacrificed his starting role from the first game of the season. He had never come off the bench once in his entire career and he sacrificed that job to make Harrison better, to make our bench better and that set the tone for our whole season,” said Kerr. “An All-Star, an Olympian, saying ‘ok, I’ll come off the bench.’ It set the tone for everything we were able to accomplish, so it feels like full circle to me that Andre received the award.”


Iguoldala wasn't exactly selfless. He didn't love the move, but he accepted it. He bought in. In that sense, the fact that regular-season defensive anchor Andrew Bogut didn't even play in Game 6 and David Lee got just one minute speaks volumes. Festus Ezeli played ahead of both and delivered 10 big points. Barnes could play a larger role anywhere else. Klay Thompson struggled most of the series. It didn't matter. Everyone happily doused one another with champagne when it was over. Everyone will get their first championship ring.


LeBron said he wasn’t out chasing individual accolades when chasing basketball’s greatest team prize, but he was obviously brilliant. His averages in the series, 35.8 points, 13.3 rebounds and 8.8 assists, will be recited for the rest of time. His work getting a team that lost Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love and Anderson Varejao along the way will never be forgotten. He’s 2-4 in NBA Finals, but this loss joins his first back in ’07 as one that can’t really be held against him. Based on what they had left, Cleveland overachieved.


“If I could’ve gave more I would’ve done it. I gave everything I had,” said James. “It was a great series up until they blew the game open in the fourth in Game 5, but we had our chance there. Tonight, we had our chances, but, you know, we ran out of talent. We ran out of talent tonight. We gave everything we had. The guys played as hard as they could for as long as we could, but that team across the way, you tip your hats to them.”


If not for Smith’s flurry, it would’ve been the perfect evening. Somehow, I think the Warriors will survive despite the late near-collapse. A parade is scheduled for Friday. A banner is set to hang at ORACLE Arena in late October. Come to think of it, Golden State’s place in history is going to be just fine.


As for the UNDER bettors? Mourning is allowed. So bitter.


Game 6 Betting Notes
1st Quarter: Warriors covered as a 1-point favorite, total went under 48.5 (28-15)


1st Half: Warriors covered as 1.5-point favorite or pushed, depending on when you got it. Total stayed under 97 (45-43)


2nd Half: Warriors covered as 1.5-point favorites, total went over 96.5 (60-54)


Team Totals: The Warriors (98.5) and Cavs (95.5) each went over their posted total (105-97)


Series Update
(Opening Odds per Sportsbook.ag before Game 1 in parentheses)


NBA Finals
Golden State vs. Cleveland (Warriors win 4-2)
Warriors (-205) -390 before Game 6
Cavaliers (+175) +310 before Game 6


Odds to win 2015-16 NBA Finals
Per Sportsbook.ag


Cleveland Cavaliers 5/2
Golden State Warriors 6/1
Oklahoma City Thunder 8/1
Chicago Bulls 15/1
Los Angeles Clippers 15/1
San Antonio Spurs 15/1
Houston Rockets 25/1
Atlanta Hawks 30/1
New Orleans Pelicans 30/1
Dallas Mavericks 40/1
Indiana Pacers 40/1
Memphis Grizzlies 40/1
Miami Heat 40/1
Washington Wizards 40/1
Portland Blazers 50/1
Toronto Raptors 50/1
Los Angeles Lakers 75/1
Boston Celtics 80/1
Denver Nuggets 100/1
Detroit Pistons 100/1
Milwaukee Bucks 100/1
New York Knicks 100/1
Phoenix Suns 100/1
Sacramento Kings 100/1
Utah Jazz 100/1
Brooklyn Nets 150/1
Charlotte Hornets 300/1
Minnesota Timberwolves 300/1
Orlando Magic 300/1
Philadelphia 76ers 300/1

 

[CNOTES]

LeBron can't deliver title to Cleveland


June 16, 2015


CLEVELAND (AP) - LeBron James pulled off his sunglasses, and there was no hiding the hurt in his eyes.


He had given everything he had, the best player turning into a better teammate, and it wasn't enough.


''If I could have gave more, I would have done it, but I gave everything I had,'' he said Tuesday after Cleveland's 105-97 loss to Golden State in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.


And that's more than just points, rebounds and assists. Throughout the year he had proven what it meant not just to be the star but to be the leader, even more during the NBA Finals.


''Well, I think that what's evident to everyone is what a spectacular basketball player that LeBron is. But he has become a great leader of his team,'' coach David Blatt said. ''He's become a guy that has evolved in terms of his role within the team and within the whole concept of what it is that we want to be about.''


James believed he could will Cleveland to a championship, with a confidence that turned almost defiance. Even as the Golden State Warriors had asserted themselves as the series went on, James said he didn't doubt the Cavaliers could win until the clock reached zero.


He was on the bench by then, walking off the court for the final time this season with a booming sound following.


''MVP! MVP!''


He didn't win the award, and he didn't win the championship.


But Cleveland fans made it clear just how much they love the player who had once broken their hearts.


James finished with 32 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists in another tremendous individual effort, but his outmanned Cavaliers lost the final three games.


His fourth loss in six NBA Finals trips left him wondering briefly if he'd be better off just missing the playoffs entirely, so it would hurt less. But eventually he acknowledged that things weren't so bad.


''I didn't win a championship,'' he said, ''but I've done a lot of good things in this first year back and hopefully I can continue it.''


No, he couldn't end Cleveland pro sports' lengthy title drought, a 51-year stretch that's been so tough even some local fans believe in the so-called Cleveland Curse.


But they also believe in James, the 30-year-old Northeast Ohio son who came home from Miami last summer and brought life back to the Cavaliers franchise.


He couldn't bring them their first title, not with what he had left around him in these NBA Finals. Kevin Love had been lost to a dislocated left shoulder in the first round. Then Kyrie Irving went down with a fractured left kneecap in Game 1 of this series.


James still willed the Cavaliers to a 2-1 lead and was so good there was even talk that he could join Jerry West as the only NBA Finals MVPs from losing teams.


Cavaliers fans sure believed he should have, the ones who remained to watch the award celebration booing loudly when Golden State's Andre Iguodala was announced as the winner.


Yes, things have changed.


His departure for Miami in 2010 had turned the locals against him, led them to burn his jerseys in the streets. There was anger, hurt, even hatred in their voices when they jeered him when he came back for the first time with the Heat.


He became a two-time champion in Miami, but more importantly grew up, learned what it would take to lead a team. He returned last summer much more mature than when he left, announcing his decision with a thoughtful essay, a sharp contrast to his widely criticized TV special in 2010.


He became a more assertive leader. He was already the best player.


It was a little surprising to hear him call himself that after Game 5, when he said he was still confident because he was the best player in the world. He usually leaves talking about his greatness to others.


But having belief is one thing; having sufficient help is another.


James didn't, and the effort in trying to carry a team was too much even for one of sports' most gifted athletes. He stood with his hands on his hips often in the second half, trying desperately to catch his breath while playing nearly 47 minutes.


The effort took its toll but there wasn't much more he could do in these finals. He had two triple-doubles, tied for most ever, and averaged 35.8 points, 13.3 rebounds and 8.8 assists.


He checked out with 10.6 seconds remaining, not before first shaking hands with the Warriors players on the floor and walking over to their bench to offer his congratulations.


James - and the Cavaliers - will have to wait for their turn.


''For me, it's never a success if you go out losing,'' James said. ''But I think we put ourselves back where this franchise needs to be, being a contender. But we've still got a lot of work to do.''

 

[CNOTES]

Warriors show how to build a champion


June 17, 2015


CLEVELAND (AP) - Andre Iguodala was more than just a key player on a team that beat LeBron James and Cleveland.


Turns out he used to beat up on Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.


''We beat the first unit more times than they beat us, and I think it was by a landslide,'' Iguodala said.


So good, so deep that the MVP of the NBA Finals never started a game all season, the Warriors built the kind of squad that can compete for many NBA titles.


And when they were in trouble trying to win this one, down 2-1 in the series, they inserted Iguodala into the lineup. He responded with the same defensive effort he had been providing against James along with unsuspected offense, including 25 points Tuesday in the Game 6 clincher.


''He was great the entire series. But he saved this season for us,'' Warriors forward Draymond Green said. ''I always say Andre's a pro's pro. He's a professional guy, and it showed, and that's why he's the MVP of this series, and that's why we're champions.''


One of the reasons, anyway.


There's also Curry, the regular-season MVP who delivered a couple of big 3-pointers in the fourth quarter that helped the Warriors build a big enough lead to withstand Cleveland's late comeback. And there was Green, the Defensive Player of the Year runner-up who bounced back from a poor start to the series to finish with 16 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists Tuesday.


Throw in 10 points apiece off the bench from Shaun Livingston and Festus Ezeli, or David Lee re-emerging earlier in the series after falling out of the rotation, and the Warriors still had plenty of firepower off the bench even once Iguodala was no longer part of it.


Iguodala was the primary defender on James, but as James said, ''It's never 1-on-1.''


''But I think his ability to play multiple positions for their team along with some of those other guys allowed their team to be so dynamic,'' James added.


Iguodala was a former No. 1 option in Philadelphia who won gold with the U.S. Olympic team in 2012. Lee has made multiple All-Star teams. Livingston was a one-time No. 4 pick in the draft who has become a valuable and versatile player after overcoming a devastating knee injury earlier in his career.


''Well, it speaks to the character of the players more than anything. (General manager) Bob Myers and his staff have done an incredible job of putting together this roster,'' coach Steve Kerr said. ''I was well aware of the versatility that the roster had, but as I got to know the players I realized they had what it took spiritually, emotionally. They were united. They wanted to win.''


They are good enough to do it again, provided they keep Green and Harrison Barnes once they are eligible for free agency, and if they can find a way to overcome the rugged Western Conference. Plenty of teams that looked great one year couldn't do it the next on the stronger side of the NBA bracket.


But not many of those teams had what these Warriors had, a team that ultimately won 83 games, more than any team other than Michael Jordan's Bulls.


''I think we definitely are a great team, and a team that should go down in history as one of the best teams from top to bottom,'' Curry said. ''We have a lot of things to be proud of this season.''


Including, perhaps, showing how the NBA is won nowadays. The old ideas about teams that play small and rely on outside shooting not being able to win an NBA title - the ones Charles Barkley has promoted for years - are gone now. Golden State shot them down with 67 wins in the regular season and a powerful run through the postseason.


Maybe now a team built in that style will show other teams how they have to construct their rosters.


''Well, I mean, we'll see,'' Curry said. ''We found a recipe for success, and that's the most important thing for us.''

 

[CNOTES]

Cavs fans must wait again for next year


June 17, 2015


CLEVELAND (AP) - Frustration and disappointment could be heard in the murmurs and shouts from Cleveland Cavaliers fans who watched the decisive Game 6 of the NBA finals until the bitter end in a plaza outside the city's downtown arena.


But even as their long-held hopes for a title in any major professional sport once again slipped away Tuesday night, this time to the ultra-talented Golden State Warriors, fans clung to the belief that with the Cavaliers' LeBron James leading the way, next year - next season - that a shiny championship trophy might find a home in Cleveland after five decades of futility.


''I believe next year they'll have a better chance,'' said Jeff Bentley, 46, who added with a chuckle: ''We're used to next year anyway.''


No one quite knew what to expect when James announced last summer that he would be returning to play for the Cavaliers after four seasons and two NBA titles with the Miami Heat. Yet there was an expectation that with James, the kid from Akron who grew up to become the best basketball player on the planet, that the Cavaliers would surely compete once again.


A rocky start to the season became transformative as James got the help he needed and the Cavaliers served notice that they were among the league's elite teams. Despite key injuries during the team's playoff run, James rose to the occasion and seemingly carried the Cavs on his broad shoulders. But it still wasn't enough.


''One man can't beat five guys,'' said Aaron Edwards as the final seconds of Game 6 ticked away. ''LeBron wanted this more than anybody.''


Several thousand fans gathered in the plaza between Quicken Loans Arena, where Tuesday's game was played, and Progressive Field, home of baseball's Cleveland Indians. They watched the game on giant, high-definition televisions with the smells of barbecued meat and fried foods wafting overhead.


Many in the crowd wore jerseys and T-shirts of different vintages with James' No. 23 emblazoned on the back. While James' departure to South Beach in 2007 was seen as a betrayal to some fans, others, like Denise Jackson, 49, said her admiration for James as a basketball player and a person would follow him wherever he might go.


''That's my son,'' she said with a smile.


Jackson's daughter, Shariyka, 21, said she understands how people were upset by how James handled his departure from the Cavs, but she also knows why James left. ''He had to go somewhere else to prove himself before he came back.''


Nate Nagle, 22, said he was heartbroken when James left for Miami. He said his bedroom was adorned with posters of James and the Cavaliers. The announcement of his return, Nagle said, ''meant everything in the world.'' He had no complaints Tuesday night.


''There's not much more we could have asked from LeBron,'' Nagle said. ''He gave everything he could. And we'll be back next year.''

 

[CNOTES]

GSW fans celebrate title with street party


June 17, 2015


OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Warriors' fans honked their horns and danced in streets throughout the San Francisco Bay Area to celebrate their team's first NBA title in 40 years.


The party began as soon as the Golden State Warriors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers to claim the title in six games Wednesday night.


A rowdy crowd gathered in an Oakland intersection and some were running through the streets of San Francisco's Mission District waving the team's blue and gold flags. There were no immediate reports of any violence, vandalism or arrests.


''Is this real? Is this real?'' said 40-year-old Peter Boyd, a fourth-generation Oakland resident who was practically a newborn when the team won its last title. On Tuesday night he celebrated in the streets outside an Oakland sports bar.


''I sat through decades of awful garbage,'' Boyd told the Los Angeles Times. ''This is for Oakland.''


The game was more than 2,000 miles away in Cleveland, but it made little difference to local fans, thousands of whom had gathered at Oracle Arena in Oakland to watch the win on a big screen.


San Francisco Bay Area fans have been able to take to the streets to celebrate multiple Super Bowl and World Series winners, but for the first time in four decades they can throw a party for basketball. The Warriors last won a title in 1975, before many of their loudest and rowdiest fans were born.


In San Francisco, the city hall building was lit blue and gold.


''The San Francisco Bay Area is awash in Blue and Gold as we congratulate our hometown heroes on their spectacular victory!'' Mayor Ed Lee said.


Oakland announced a parade and rally for the Warriors at 10 a.m. Friday.


Police hoped to avoid a scene like the one that followed the San Francisco Giants' World Series victory in October. That celebration started off peaceful but turned raucous and violent, as revelers vandalized police cars and businesses and pelted officers with bottles.


The Oakland Police Department tweeted out congratulations to the team and urged revelers to celebrate safely and responsibly.


''(hash)Believe teamwork wins championships! Let's all work to keep (hash)Oakland safe! Celebrate safely and responsibly,'' the department tweeted.

 

[CNOTES]

Wednesday's Tip Sheet


June 17, 2015




Tampa Bay Rays at Washington Nationals | 7:05 p.m. EST (ESPN2)


On ESPN2 tonight, a couple of first-place clubs resume their four-game Interleague home-and-home set at Nationals Park. The Nats are hoping to get a rebound performance from veteran Jordan Zimmermann (5-4, 3.74 ERA), who was roughed up by the last-place Brewers in his last assignment on Friday. Even so, Zimmermann has been mostly steady, as he’s surrendered three runs or less in 10 of his 13 starts, while lasting six innings or more in 10 of them as well.


On the opposite end of the spectrum is Tampa Bay's starter for this evening, Matt Andriese (1-1, 3.76 ERA), who is making just his fourth career start. The right-hander has looked decent overall in his rookie campaign, and is coming off an outing in which he held the White Sox to zero earned runs in 5.2 innings. He’ll look to keep it going as he continues to get acclimated as a starter in the big leagues. In this affair, he’s a +140 road 'dog going up against the much more accomplished Zimmermann and a very tough Nationals lineup. Budding star Bryce Harper has yet to cool off, smashing yet another home run last night at The Trop.


Detroit Tigers at Cincinnati Reds | 7:10 p.m. EST


It’s quite a surprise to see a matchup featuring two of baseball’s best aces in a National League setting feature an over/under line as high as 7, but alas, that’s exactly the case we have here tonight, when David Price (6-2, 2.44 ERA) takes on Johnny Cueto (4-4, 2.85 ERA) in Cincinnati. The two teams split the first two games of this series in Detroit, and now shift over to Great American Ballpark for the final pair.


What’s not to like about this pitching matchup? Aside from the outstanding track records each hurler has, they’re also both in a really tremendous groove at the moment. On one hand, you have Price, who is coming off back-to-back complete game efforts, including a shutout of the division rival Indians in his last start. He’s gone seven or more innings in four consecutive outings, racking up 28 strikeouts in 32-plus innings over that span. Then there is Cueto, who has been as remarkably consistent as he always is. In fact, he’s registered at least six innings in all 12 of his starts, and is currently on a streak where he’s struck out nine batters in three of his past five. He’ll also be working from his comfort zone, as the perennial NL Cy Young candidate has a 1.25 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, and a .161 BAA in five home starts this season. It’s a big reason why he’s 6-3-3 for under bets this season, and this looks like a favorable opportunity to add another under tally. If this matchup is anything like their duel from April of last season, when Price was still with the Rays, there will be some real quality pitching on display this evening.


St. Louis Cardinals at Minnesota Twins | 8:10 p.m. EST


You'd be hard-pressed to find a starting pitcher that's hotter than Carlos Martinez (7-2, 2.93 ERA) right now, as the fiery right-hander has been absolutely locked in over the past month. In fact, since the middle of May, Martinez has made six starts, and in all of them, he gave up two runs or less, while going six innings or deeper in five of the six. In the process, the 23-year-old has helped cash four straight unders, as the Cardinals have won his past five starts. Martinez is a -125 road favorite for this affair.


He'll square off with Twins southpaw Tommy Milone (2-1, 1.45 ERA), who is trying to get Minnesota its first win of this four-game home-and-home set. Milone recently came back up after a surprising stint in the minor leagues, where he actually dominated as much as a pitcher possibly could (4-0 in five outings at Triple-A Rochester with a 0.70 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, .182 BAA, and an astounding 47/3 K/BB ratio in 38.2 IP!), and in his first two starts back, he's amassed a nice 3.00 ERA in outings against the Rangers and Red Sox. The Cards obviously have one of the more efficient lineups in the league, but struggle versus left-handed pitching (.226 team batting average is fourth-worst opposing lefties), giving this matchup potential for a possible under. The line is currently 8.


San Francisco Giants at Seattle Mariners | 10:10 p.m. EST


The great Felix Hernandez (9-3, 3.38 ERA) might be recognized as The King, but he was abused like a peasant his last time out, when he recorded the worst start of his Hall-of-Fame career by getting only one out against the Astros, while allowing eight runs on five hits and two walks, including two homers. Without question, it was one of the most shocking beatdowns of a starting pitcher in recent memory. He's now allowed four or more runs in three of his last six starts, leading his ERA to jump up more than a full run.


The King welcomes another ace, Madison Bumgarner (7-3, 3.16 ERA), into his court this evening at Safeco Field, which certainly has the promise of an entertaining pitcher's duel. Bumgarner is having his usual standout season leading the Giants' pitching staff, and has been extra stingy as of late, churning out a quality start in five of his last six tries. The Mariners have the fifth-highest slugging percentage (.417) opposite left-handers, which potentially could spoil Mad Bum's recent string of terrific outings. The over/under, as you'd expect for such a star-studded pitching matchup in a pitcher's park, is 6.


Texas Rangers at Los Angeles Dodgers | 10:10 p.m. EST


I don’t know about you but it is very fascinating to me that in 2015, Wandy Rodriguez (3-2, 3.03 ERA) is involved in a pitching matchup that has drawn the rare over/under line of 6. Of course, the majority of that reasoning has much to do with his counterpart being reigning NL Cy Young and MVP Clayton Kershaw (5-3, 3.21 ERA), who has been at his best over his past handful of starts.


Kershaw, in fact, has surrendered just three runs combined over his past four starts, while totaling 39 strikeouts in his 28.2 innings of work over that span, compared to just six walks. He’ll seemingly be in a favorable spot to continue that, considering his best work is generally done at home, while the Rangers have been worse against left-handed pitching as opposed to righties. Rodriguez, meanwhile, has been enjoying a renaissance year out of nowhere, and will also be in a favorable position, being 3-0 in six starts on the road this year with a 1.89 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and a tremendous .182 BAA. Like Kershaw, he, too, will be facing a club that struggles against left-handers, as the Dodgers are 24th in team OPS (.361) versus southpaws. This could be a duel after the first pair of games in Arlington both went under. Additionally, Kershaw is laying a lot of chalk, as he normally does in any matchup at Dodger Stadium, being a -250 favorite.

 

[CNOTES]

Despite historic Finals effort, LeBron James falls short again


CLEVELAND -- It was one of the most dominant NBA Finals the sport has ever seen, and for the fourth time it ended in defeat for LeBron James.


In a reflective postgame news conference, the man himself openly wondered whether all the sacrifice has been worth it.


"Of course you question it," James said after a 32-point, 18-rebound, nine-assist performance wasn't enough to stop the Golden State Warriors from eliminating the Cavs with a 105-97 victory in Game 6 on Tuesday night.


"I always look at it: Would I rather not make the playoffs or lose in the Finals?" he said. "I don't know. I don't know. I've missed the playoffs twice; I've lost in the Finals four times. I'm almost starting to be like, 'I'd rather not even make the playoffs than lose in the Finals.' "


In his return to the Finals with the Cavaliers team he left in 2010, James was as brilliant as anyone has ever been on this stage -- and more shorthanded, too. So without All-Stars Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving -- not to mention a third starter, Anderson Varejao -- this one doesn't go down so much as a failure for James, but as a one-man stand for the ages.


"Tried as much as I could to try to make up for those guys," James said. "But it's a lot of talent sitting in suits."


In a failed effort to force a seventh game and keep alive Cleveland's hope of ending the city's 51-year championship drought, James was dominant again -- but as he put it, "non-efficient." He was 13 for 33 in Game 6 and 78 for 196 (.398) in the series.


"I enjoy the competition," he said. "And whatever it takes throughout the competition, I'm fine with. I don't enjoy being as non-efficient was I was. I don't enjoy that. I don't enjoy dribbling the ball for countless seconds on the shot clock and the team looking at me to make a play. We had 14 assists tonight; I had nine of them. I did not enjoy that. That's not winning basketball."


He finished one assist shy of his third Finals triple-double, to go with three 40-point games and a 39-point game -- falling one point shy of equaling the record for most 40-point games in the Finals (Jerry West in 1969 and Michael Jordan in '93).


"I wish I could've given more," he said. "I would've done it, but I gave everything I had."


So dominant was the man who called himself the "best player in the world" after Game 5, he was as strong a contender for series MVP as anyone on the winning team deep into the fourth quarter of Game 6. In fact, James was the only player besides Iguodala to receive MVP votes in a panel of 11 media members, including yours truly. Iguodala got seven votes, including mine; James received four.


Now, James will go deep into a summer of soul searching, having made five straight Finals appearances with only two championships to show for it. Overall, James fell to 2-4 in the Finals.


"You lose in the Finals, they're all disappointing," James said. "Doesn't matter if I'm playing in Miami or playing in Cleveland or playing on Mars. You lose in the Finals, it's disappointing."


Irving, who suffered a fractured kneecap in the overtime period of Game 1 and was lost for the series, joined Love on the sidelines as James delved far outside his basketball character to become a one-man show, averaging 35.8 points on 32.7 attempts in the Finals, to go with his 13.3 rebounds and 8.8 assists.


Irving, locked up with a long-term contract, will be back next year to once again serve as James' wingman. But Love, a surprisingly awkward fit with this Cavs roster since he was acquired from Minnesota in a deal that included 2014 No. 1 pick Andrew Wiggins, has a player option for next season. Love has said he plans to be back, but could his future be any more in doubt after the Cavs made it all the way to the Finals -- and came within one victory of forcing a seventh game -- without him?


James himself has a player option for next season, and an interesting decision to make. But that decision will be strictly a financial one. No one has the slightest expectation that James would leave his native Northeast Ohio a second time, but he has the choice of opting out and signing another short-term deal or opting in and reeling in a historically massive max contract in 2016, when the NBA's $24 billion TV deal hits the league's free-agent system.


James was absolutely brilliant in these Finals, scoring 44 points in a losing effort in Game 1 and then overwhelming the 67-win Warriors with 39 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists in a Game 2 victory -- just one day after learning that Irving was lost for the series.


He backed it up with a 40-point, 12-rebound, eight-assist performance in a 96-91 victory in Game 3 that gave the Cavs a 2-1 series lead, but temporarily ran out of gas two days later with a series-low 20 points in the Warriors' 103-82 victory in Game 4.


A 40-point triple-double (14 rebounds, 11 assists) followed in Game 5, but it was a 104-91 victory for the Warriors. Scoring in the post with just under four minutes left in Game 6 on Tuesday night, James reached the 30-point plateau for the fifth time in the six games.


He checked out with 10 seconds left, walking toward the Warriors' bench to embrace Stephen Curry and point respectfully toward the Golden State players and coaches who'd denied him.


"It's never a success if you go out losing," James said. "But I think we put ourselves back where this franchise needs to be, being a contender. But we've still got a lot of work to do."


And now, he'll ponder how much more he could possibly do to secure that elusive third championship. It was a one-man show for the ages, the kind of repeat that James most assuredly doesn't want.

 

[CNOTES]

Warriors cap historic turnaround, defeat Cavaliers to win NBA title


CLEVELAND -- From an unpopular coaching change to unprecedented franchise success. Through sacrifices made in training camp to a strategic gamble in the middle of the NBA Finals.


After a 40-year wait, the Golden State Warriors can finally call themselves champions.


"We found a recipe for success," said Stephen Curry, who wasn't at his best in the clinching game but found plenty of support from unlikely sources as the Warriors clinched their first championship since 1975 with a 105-97 victory Tuesday night over the Cleveland Cavaliers.


They had to do it with only 30 combined points from their Splash Brothers backcourt of Curry and Klay Thompson, and under the weight of another ruthless performance from the one and only LeBron James.


In the end, it was Finals MVP Andre Iguodala and the Warriors' role players who capped a historic, 67-win season in Game 6, delivering a 4-2 series victory. Iguodala, moved into the starting lineup in Game 4 and assigned the impossible task of guarding James, had 25 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals in the clinching game.


"For Andre to sacrifice and then get thrown into the starting lineup and not miss a beat, that's hard," Steph's father, 16-year NBA veteran Dell Curry, told CBSSports.com. "He didn't start a game until the Finals; that's difficult to do. And for him not to put any pressure on himself and understand he would have the ball in his hands and be forced to make shots and then make them, only a veteran could do that."


At about 12:30 a.m. ET, Iguodala emerged from a champagne-soaked locker room, cap on backwards and goggles perched on his forehead -- to protect against the spraying fury of a championship celebration that was a long time coming. The Finals MVP trophy was cradled in his left arm.


"I had no nap today," Iguodala said. "I usually get a nap, but I couldn't sleep because I just kept thinking about the game and what do I need to do to win, how to guard LeBron."


James, meanwhile, capped a truly historic Finals with 32 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists, but it wasn't enough to give the city of Cleveland a chance to see its excruciating 51-year wait for a major pro sports championship end. The Cleveland Browns delivered the city its last title with the NFL championship in 1964.


Not even James' greatness could stop Curry and the Warriors from realizing what seemed to be their destiny during a joy-riding season of wire-to-wire domination that culminated with some shaky moments against the Cavs. Curry, the regular season MVP, had 25 points on 8-of-19 shooting (only 3 for 11 from 3-point range) with eight assists Tuesday night, and Thompson was ineffective and in foul trouble with only five points on 2-of-7 shooting.


Of course, that didn't stop Thompson from skipping down the hallway, smiling and reeking of champagne, at 1:20 in the morning.


"It feels good to say we're the best team in the world with the best player in the world," Thompson said.


But thanks to roles that were established and relationships built in training camp, the Warriors didn't need Curry to be at his best to finish the job.


Their improbable journey began last summer, with key locker-room leaders, including Curry, opposing GM Bob Myers' decision to fire Mark Jackson after a 51-win season and back-to-back playoff appearances. But the choice to hire Steve Kerr was pure gold, as the former Suns GM and broadcaster led the Warriors to a franchise-record 67 wins -- the most for a first-year head coach in NBA history.


In the 18 seasons before Jackson leading them to the playoffs in 2013, the Warriors had been to the postseason only once. But to become champions, the Warriors needed Kerr, with his steady hand, no-nonsense style and willingness to change things up on the fly.


"Every decision he made," Curry said, "I think everybody bought into it. Whether you understood it or not, you bought into it because he's a champion."


The 16-win regular season improvement under Kerr ranks among the most impressive one-year jumps in league history for a team that won 50 games the previous season. More notably, it was the first time since the 1981-82 Lakers that a team went from a first-round playoff exit to winning the NBA title the following season without a major roster overhaul. The only other team to make such a jump during that 33-year span was the 2010-11 Dallas Mavericks, who added key contributors Tyson Chandler and Peja Stojakovic.


That Dallas team also stopped James in the Finals, during his first season with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami after he'd left his native Ohio as a free agent. James' fifth consecutive Finals appearance ended in defeat and with fellow All-Stars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love sidelined with injuries -- and dropped him to 2-4 in the Finals.


"I'm almost starting to think I'd rather not make the playoffs than lose in the Finals," James said.


With strategic tweaks implemented by offensive assistant Alvin Gentry and defensive assistant Ron Adams, the Warriors were the No. 2 offensive team in the league and the No. 1 defensive team (both on a 100-possession basis). They also led the league in 3-point field goals, percentage and attempts, plus field-goal percentage and assists.


It was the best basketball show on Earth, until the Warriors ran into James in the Finals and had to adjust.


Despite a success story that included a franchise record for road victories and only four home losses all season (including the playoffs), the Warriors entered the series against the Cavs with no Finals experience on the roster. They faced their toughest challenge in James, and had to re-imagine themselves midway through the series to finish the job.


James was so dominant -- three 40-point games, a 39-point game and two triple-doubles -- that he was a strong contender for series MVP, win or lose, entering Game 6. The only player to win Finals MVP from the losing team remains the Lakers' Jerry West in 1969.


"He played out of this world," Dell Curry said.


The Warriors' seeds of change were planted months ago, when Kerr had to get Iguodala and David Lee, two former All-Stars, to accept bench roles -- paving the way for the emergence of Draymond Green and Harrison Barnes.


"Andre sat on the bench for an entire season and for three quarters of the playoffs," GM Bob Myers said. "Didn't complain, stayed humble, stayed hungry, and when he was called upon to start, all he did was go out and win MVP of the Finals. What a lesson in life; what a great lesson in sacrifice."


With James and the Cavs slowing the pace and taking a 2-1 lead in the Finals, Kerr called on Iguodala to return to the starting lineup in Game 4. After starting every game he'd played in the NBA for 10 seasons and coming off the bench in 95 consecutive games (including playoffs) this season, Iguodala helped the Warriors' small lineup prevail in Games 4 and 5 to set up the championship-clinching game on Tuesday night in Cleveland.


Lee, a $15 million player who didn't play at all in Games 1 and 2, also made key contributions as a reserve as the series wore on -- just as he'd done against Memphis after the Grizzlies had taken a 2-1 lead over Golden State in the second round.


Kerr, a five-time champion as a player with the Bulls and Spurs, borrowed schemes and philosophies from Phil Jackson and Gregg Popovich to mold the Warriors in his image -- and earned command over the locker room with an easy-going but forthright style.


"The guy always keeps his composure," Thompson said. "... The way he balanced everybody and let us know what our roles are, he's been great for us."


Curry rode the wave from rising but injury-prone star to regular season MVP, receiving 100 first-place votes ahead of the Rockets' James Harden and James. After the Cavs lost Irving for the rest of the series with a fractured kneecap in Game 1 -- on top of the absence of Love -- Curry struggled in a 95-93 home loss in Game 2 (5 for 23 from the field and 2 for 15 from 3-point range). But he came alive with 17 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter of Game 3, before the Warriors succumbed to a dominant 40-point game from James that gave the shorthanded Cavs an improbable 2-1 lead over the best team in basketball.


Kerr implemented the bold lineup change in Game 4, sending Andrew Bogut to the bench in favor of Iguodala. The Warriors took advantage of an exhausted James to tie the series at 2-2. Then came Curry's signature moment in Game 5 -- a 37-point barrage that included 7-of-13 shooting from beyond the 3-point line, helping the Warriors overcome a 40-point triple-double from the incomparable James and move to the brink of a championship.


For the Warriors, it's rare air that was a longer time coming than their incredible one-year turnaround would indicate.


Forty years, to be exact.


And nobody knew it better than the man who made the roster moves that completed the team, and hired the coach who made it all work. So how was that guy, who grew up in Danville, Calif., as a die-hard Warriors fan, feeling after tasting his team's first championship since he was 3 months old?


"That guy's drinking a beer," Myers said.


A Stella Artois in hand, the ticket stub from the first Warriors game he attended in 1983 in his wallet back at the team hotel, Myers said it was still sinking in.


"I remember when I first got the GM job watching the championship and wondering, 'Why can't we do that?' " Myers said. "And everyone around you is saying you can't. The Warriors can't."


Ah, but they can. And they did.

 

[CNOTES]

MLB
Long Sheet

Wednesday, June 17

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


BALTIMORE (33 - 31) at PHILADELPHIA (22 - 44) - 7:05 PM
UBALDO JIMENEZ (R) vs. KEVIN CORREIA (R)
Top Trends for this game.
BALTIMORE is 3-13 (-10.3 Units) against the money line in road games in night games this season.
CORREIA is 106-110 (+19.0 Units) against the money line in all games since 1997. (Team's Record)
CORREIA is 61-55 (+22.5 Units) against the money line after a loss since 1997. (Team's Record)
BALTIMORE is 133-101 (+37.4 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 70-53 (+14.8 Units) against the money line when the total is 8 to 8.5 over the last 2 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 57-54 (+15.0 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 119-89 (+33.7 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 102-74 (+32.8 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 72-59 (+14.7 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 2 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 60-39 (+20.4 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 22-44 (-18.4 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 21-39 (-18.9 Units) against the money line when playing on Wednesday over the last 3 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 22-44 (-18.4 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 18-36 (-15.5 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.


Head-to-Head Series History
BALTIMORE is 2-0 (+2.0 Units) against PHILADELPHIA this season
1 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=-0.1 Units, Under=-0.1 Units)



UBALDO JIMENEZ vs. PHILADELPHIA since 1997
JIMENEZ is 0-3 when starting against PHILADELPHIA with an ERA of 6.82 and a WHIP of 1.747.
His team's record is 1-5 (-4.5 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 2-3. (-1.5 units)



KEVIN CORREIA vs. BALTIMORE since 1997
CORREIA is 2-1 when starting against BALTIMORE with an ERA of 4.26 and a WHIP of 1.368.
His team's record is 2-1 (+1.2 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-2. (-1.2 units)




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TAMPA BAY (36 - 30) at WASHINGTON (34 - 31) - 7:05 PM
MATT ANDRIESE (R) vs. JORDAN ZIMMERMANN (R)
Top Trends for this game.
TAMPA BAY is 113-115 (-22.4 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 25-9 (+13.5 Units) against the money line when playing on Wednesday over the last 2 seasons.
ZIMMERMANN is 38-15 (+19.3 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)


Head-to-Head Series History
WASHINGTON is 1-1 (+0.2 Units) against TAMPA BAY this season
1 of 1 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+1.2 Units)



MATT ANDRIESE vs. WASHINGTON since 1997
No recent starts.



JORDAN ZIMMERMANN vs. TAMPA BAY since 1997
ZIMMERMANN is 0-0 when starting against TAMPA BAY with an ERA of 1.80 and a WHIP of 1.200.
His team's record is 0-1 (-1.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 0-1. (-1.2 units)




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MIAMI (29 - 37) at NY YANKEES (34 - 30) - 7:05 PM
JOSE URENA (R) vs. MICHAEL PINEDA (R)
Top Trends for this game.
MIAMI is 175-159 (+32.5 Units) against the money line in an inter-league game since 1997.
NY YANKEES are 51-57 (-17.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
MIAMI is 2-0 (+2.3 Units) against NY YANKEES this season
1 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+0.1 Units)



JOSE URENA vs. NY YANKEES since 1997
No recent starts.



MICHAEL PINEDA vs. MIAMI since 1997
No recent starts.




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NY METS (36 - 30) at TORONTO (34 - 32) - 7:05 PM
JON NIESE (L) vs. DREW HUTCHISON (R)
Top Trends for this game.
NY METS are 4-16 (-12.2 Units) against the money line in road games in night games this season.
TORONTO is 52-32 (+16.7 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 over the last 2 seasons.
TORONTO is 11-3 (+8.9 Units) against the money line in June games this season.
TORONTO is 29-15 (+12.1 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
NY METS are 115-113 (+7.4 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
NY METS is 2-0 (+2.0 Units) against TORONTO this season
2 of 2 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+2.0 Units)



JON NIESE vs. TORONTO since 1997
NIESE is 0-1 when starting against TORONTO with an ERA of 24.00 and a WHIP of 3.333.
His team's record is 0-1 (-1.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 0-1. (-1.1 units)



DREW HUTCHISON vs. NY METS since 1997
No recent starts.




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CHICAGO CUBS (34 - 28) at CLEVELAND (30 - 33) - 7:10 PM
TSUYOSHI WADA (L) vs. SHAUN MARCUM (R)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


Head-to-Head Series History
CLEVELAND is 1-0 (+1.3 Units) against CHICAGO CUBS this season
1 of 1 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+1.0 Units)



TSUYOSHI WADA vs. CLEVELAND since 1997
No recent starts.



SHAUN MARCUM vs. CHICAGO CUBS since 1997
MARCUM is 4-1 when starting against CHICAGO CUBS with an ERA of 3.93 and a WHIP of 1.091.
His team's record is 4-2 (+1.3 units) in these starts. The OVER is 4-2. (+2.0 units)




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BOSTON (28 - 38) at ATLANTA (31 - 34) - 7:10 PM
JOE KELLY (R) vs. ALEX WOOD (L)
Top Trends for this game.
BOSTON is 28-38 (-17.5 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
BOSTON is 13-20 (-12.3 Units) against the money line when the total is 8 to 8.5 this season.
BOSTON is 26-34 (-15.3 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
BOSTON is 17-25 (-13.1 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
BOSTON is 10-17 (-10.0 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
BOSTON is 41-50 (-17.5 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
KELLY is 1-10 (-10.3 Units) against the money line when playing on Wednesday since 1997. (Team's Record)
ATLANTA is 128-116 (-37.3 Units) against the money line in home games in June games since 1997.
ATLANTA is 108-116 (-17.4 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 87-95 (-15.8 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 56-67 (-23.6 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
WOOD is 11-18 (-13.5 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)


Head-to-Head Series History
ATLANTA is 1-1 (+0.6 Units) against BOSTON this season
1 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+0.2 Units)



JOE KELLY vs. ATLANTA since 1997
KELLY is 1-0 when starting against ATLANTA with an ERA of 1.46 and a WHIP of 1.541.
His team's record is 1-1 (+0.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-2. (-2.1 units)



ALEX WOOD vs. BOSTON since 1997
No recent starts.




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DETROIT (34 - 31) at CINCINNATI (29 - 35) - 7:10 PM
DAVID PRICE (L) vs. JOHNNY CUETO (R)
Top Trends for this game.
DETROIT is 15-22 (-9.8 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
DETROIT is 50-54 (-18.2 Units) against the money line after a loss over the last 2 seasons.
DETROIT is 57-57 (-16.7 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
PRICE is 25-29 (-20.8 Units) against the money line when the total is 7 or less since 1997. (Team's Record)
CUETO is 18-5 (+11.9 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
CUETO is 18-5 (+11.9 Units) against the money line in home games in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
CUETO is 10-0 (+10.0 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
PRICE is 63-36 (+20.5 Units) against the money line in road games since 1997. (Team's Record)
CINCINNATI is 110-127 (-36.8 Units) against the money line in home games in June games since 1997.
CINCINNATI is 8-22 (-14.9 Units) against the money line in an inter-league game over the last 2 seasons.
CINCINNATI is 365-385 (-90.9 Units) against the money line in home games after a win since 1997.


Head-to-Head Series History
CINCINNATI is 1-1 (+0.2 Units) against DETROIT this season
2 of 2 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+2.0 Units)



DAVID PRICE vs. CINCINNATI since 1997
PRICE is 1-0 when starting against CINCINNATI with an ERA of 1.69 and a WHIP of 0.750.
His team's record is 2-0 (+2.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 1-0. (+1.0 units)



JOHNNY CUETO vs. DETROIT since 1997
No recent starts.




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MILWAUKEE (24 - 42) at KANSAS CITY (36 - 25) - 8:10 PM
MICHAEL FIERS (R) vs. JOE BLANTON (R)
Top Trends for this game.
MILWAUKEE is 24-42 (-16.9 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
MILWAUKEE is 22-37 (-18.1 Units) against the money line when playing on Wednesday over the last 3 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 24-42 (-16.9 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
MILWAUKEE is 18-36 (-18.0 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
MILWAUKEE is 52-68 (-22.1 Units) against the money line after a loss over the last 2 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 3-11 (-9.2 Units) against the money line after 3 or more consecutive losses this season.
KANSAS CITY is 36-25 (+9.2 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
KANSAS CITY is 29-10 (+17.3 Units) against the money line at home with a money line of -100 to -125 over the last 2 seasons.
KANSAS CITY is 36-25 (+9.2 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
KANSAS CITY is 98-68 (+20.1 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
KANSAS CITY is 26-15 (+9.7 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
KANSAS CITY is 78-59 (+12.3 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 2 seasons.
KANSAS CITY is 302-321 (-72.0 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a losing record since 1997.
BLANTON is 4-16 (-16.9 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
BLANTON is 4-16 (-16.9 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
BLANTON is 2-12 (-14.2 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)


Head-to-Head Series History
KANSAS CITY is 2-0 (+2.0 Units) against MILWAUKEE this season
2 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+2.2 Units)



MICHAEL FIERS vs. KANSAS CITY since 1997
No recent starts.



JOE BLANTON vs. MILWAUKEE since 1997
BLANTON is 3-1 when starting against MILWAUKEE with an ERA of 4.42 and a WHIP of 1.215.
His team's record is 4-2 (+1.6 units) in these starts. The OVER is 4-2. (+1.9 units)




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


PITTSBURGH (37 - 27) at CHI WHITE SOX (28 - 35) - 8:10 PM
JEFF LOCKE (L) vs. JOHN DANKS (L)
Top Trends for this game.
PITTSBURGH is 40-90 (-38.8 Units) against the money line in road games in an inter-league game since 1997.
CHI WHITE SOX are 190-145 (+41.0 Units) against the money line in an inter-league game since 1997.
CHI WHITE SOX are 70-72 (+11.2 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 222-173 (+33.7 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 3 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 28-13 (+13.6 Units) against the money line in June games over the last 2 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 220-172 (+32.2 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 3 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 88-63 (+15.5 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 71-41 (+20.9 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
DANKS is 31-46 (-21.6 Units) against the money line in home games in night games since 1997. (Team's Record)


Head-to-Head Series History
PITTSBURGH is 2-0 (+2.0 Units) against CHI WHITE SOX this season
1 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+0.0 Units)



JEFF LOCKE vs. CHI WHITE SOX since 1997
No recent starts.



JOHN DANKS vs. PITTSBURGH since 1997
DANKS is 1-0 when starting against PITTSBURGH with an ERA of 2.25 and a WHIP of 0.875.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-0. (+1.0 units)




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


ST LOUIS (43 - 21) at MINNESOTA (34 - 30) - 8:10 PM
CARLOS MARTINEZ (R) vs. TOM MILONE (L)
Top Trends for this game.
ST LOUIS is 78-107 (-43.4 Units) against the money line in road games after 3 or more consecutive wins since 1997.
MINNESOTA is 34-30 (+10.4 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
MINNESOTA is 20-12 (+9.8 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
MINNESOTA is 34-30 (+10.4 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
MILONE is 56-34 (+22.5 Units) against the money line in all games since 1997. (Team's Record)
MILONE is 54-32 (+22.1 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field since 1997. (Team's Record)
MILONE is 39-19 (+21.4 Units) against the money line in night games since 1997. (Team's Record)
ST LOUIS is 43-21 (+19.8 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
ST LOUIS is 43-21 (+19.8 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
ST LOUIS is 28-14 (+11.6 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
ST LOUIS is 21-9 (+11.9 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
MARTINEZ is 15-4 (+11.3 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
MARTINEZ is 15-4 (+11.3 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
MINNESOTA is 35-67 (-26.5 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
ST LOUIS is 2-0 (+2.0 Units) against MINNESOTA this season
2 of 2 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+2.0 Units)



CARLOS MARTINEZ vs. MINNESOTA since 1997
No recent starts.



TOM MILONE vs. ST LOUIS since 1997
MILONE is 1-0 when starting against ST LOUIS with an ERA of 6.00 and a WHIP of 1.500.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-0. (+1.0 units)




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


HOUSTON (38 - 28) at COLORADO (28 - 36) - 8:40 PM
BRETT OBERHOLTZER (L) vs. KYLE KENDRICK (R)
Top Trends for this game.
COLORADO is 23-15 (+10.2 Units) against the money line as a home underdog of +100 to +125 over the last 2 seasons.
KENDRICK is 81-63 (+23.7 Units) against the money line in night games since 1997. (Team's Record)
HOUSTON is 38-28 (+7.9 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
HOUSTON is 38-25 (+11.0 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
HOUSTON is 24-14 (+11.3 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
COLORADO is 94-132 (-32.4 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
COLORADO is 12-32 (-23.6 Units) against the money line in an inter-league game over the last 3 seasons.
COLORADO is 94-132 (-32.4 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
COLORADO is 57-92 (-32.9 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
HOUSTON is 2-0 (+2.0 Units) against COLORADO this season
2 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+2.1 Units)



BRETT OBERHOLTZER vs. COLORADO since 1997
No recent starts.



KYLE KENDRICK vs. HOUSTON since 1997
KENDRICK is 0-3 when starting against HOUSTON with an ERA of 4.80 and a WHIP of 1.200.
His team's record is 2-3 (-2.6 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 4-1. (+2.7 units)




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


LA ANGELS (33 - 32) at ARIZONA (31 - 33) - 9:40 PM
HECTOR SANTIAGO (L) vs. CHASE ANDERSON (R)
Top Trends for this game.
SANTIAGO is 22-37 (-16.8 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
SANTIAGO is 21-37 (-17.9 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
LA ANGELS are 764-745 (+66.9 Units) against the money line in road games since 1997.
LA ANGELS are 138-115 (+35.7 Units) against the money line in road games in June games since 1997.
LA ANGELS are 94-74 (+27.9 Units) against the money line in road games in an inter-league game since 1997.
LA ANGELS are 639-626 (+59.6 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field since 1997.
LA ANGELS are 106-72 (+19.2 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
LA ANGELS are 73-41 (+20.1 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 95-131 (-29.9 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 759-670 (-88.6 Units) against the money line in home games since 1997.
ARIZONA is 95-131 (-29.9 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 40-72 (-26.1 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
ARIZONA is 1-1 (+0.3 Units) against LA ANGELS this season
1 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+0.0 Units)



HECTOR SANTIAGO vs. ARIZONA since 1997
No recent starts.



CHASE ANDERSON vs. LA ANGELS since 1997
No recent starts.




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


SAN DIEGO (32 - 35) at OAKLAND (28 - 39) - 10:05 PM
ODRISAMER DESPAIGNE (R) vs. JESSE CHAVEZ (R)
Top Trends for this game.
OAKLAND is 158-81 (+62.7 Units) against the money line in home games in June games since 1997.
OAKLAND is 108-54 (+41.7 Units) against the money line in home games in an inter-league game since 1997.
OAKLAND is 28-39 (-17.6 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
OAKLAND is 11-18 (-13.3 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
OAKLAND is 7-12 (-11.6 Units) against the money line in home games when playing on Wednesday over the last 2 seasons.
OAKLAND is 26-37 (-18.0 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
OAKLAND is 76-71 (-18.0 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
OAKLAND is 85-76 (-15.5 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
OAKLAND is 10-17 (-10.3 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
OAKLAND is 10-20 (-13.1 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record this season.


Head-to-Head Series History
OAKLAND is 2-0 (+2.1 Units) against SAN DIEGO this season
2 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+2.0 Units)



ODRISAMER DESPAIGNE vs. OAKLAND since 1997
No recent starts.



JESSE CHAVEZ vs. SAN DIEGO since 1997
No recent starts.




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


SAN FRANCISCO (35 - 31) at SEATTLE (29 - 36) - 10:10 PM
MADISON BUMGARNER (L) vs. FELIX HERNANDEZ (R)
Top Trends for this game.
SAN FRANCISCO is 15-25 (-15.0 Units) against the money line in June games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 135-110 (+17.5 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 67-54 (+20.1 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 26-13 (+14.1 Units) against the money line when playing on Wednesday over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 135-110 (+17.5 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 1045-874 (+118.9 Units) against the money line in night games since 1997.
SAN FRANCISCO is 49-34 (+19.8 Units) against the money line in road games against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 78-56 (+21.7 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 2 seasons.
BUMGARNER is 21-6 (+16.6 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
BUMGARNER is 21-6 (+16.6 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
BUMGARNER is 38-22 (+17.4 Units) against the money line in road games in night games since 1997. (Team's Record)
BUMGARNER is 24-7 (+16.2 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
SEATTLE is 29-36 (-11.4 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
SEATTLE is 17-28 (-21.6 Units) against the money line as a home favorite of -125 to -150 over the last 3 seasons.
SEATTLE is 13-19 (-11.8 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
SEATTLE is 6-13 (-10.1 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 7 or less this season.
SEATTLE is 8-20 (-18.4 Units) against the money line in home games when playing on Wednesday over the last 3 seasons.
SEATTLE is 24-35 (-16.0 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
SEATTLE is 20-26 (-10.1 Units) against the money line in night games this season.


Head-to-Head Series History
SEATTLE is 1-1 (-0.0 Units) against SAN FRANCISCO this season
1 of 2 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+0.0 Units)



MADISON BUMGARNER vs. SEATTLE since 1997
BUMGARNER is 0-0 when starting against SEATTLE with an ERA of 1.13 and a WHIP of 0.500.
His team's record is 0-1 (-1.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-1. (-1.1 units)



FELIX HERNANDEZ vs. SAN FRANCISCO since 1997
HERNANDEZ is 2-0 when starting against SAN FRANCISCO with an ERA of 2.57 and a WHIP of 1.143.
His team's record is 3-0 (+3.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 1-2. (-1.1 units)




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


TEXAS (35 - 30) at LA DODGERS (37 - 28) - 10:10 PM
WANDY RODRIGUEZ (L) vs. CLAYTON KERSHAW (L)
Top Trends for this game.
LA DODGERS are 63-33 (+20.4 Units) against the money line after a loss over the last 2 seasons.
TEXAS is 35-30 (+16.0 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
TEXAS is 20-14 (+16.1 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
TEXAS is 33-28 (+15.0 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
TEXAS is 26-20 (+14.3 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
TEXAS is 38-27 (+17.2 Units) against the money line in road games against left-handed starters over the last 3 seasons.
TEXAS is 18-6 (+18.6 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
RODRIGUEZ is 5-0 (+7.1 Units) against the money line after a win this season. (Team's Record)
LA DODGERS are 226-236 (-58.4 Units) against the money line when playing on Wednesday since 1997.


Head-to-Head Series History
TEXAS is 2-0 (+2.5 Units) against LA DODGERS this season
2 of 2 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+2.0 Units)



WANDY RODRIGUEZ vs. LA DODGERS since 1997
RODRIGUEZ is 5-5 when starting against LA DODGERS with an ERA of 2.68 and a WHIP of 1.284.
His team's record is 5-7 (-1.9 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 3-7. (-5.1 units)



CLAYTON KERSHAW vs. TEXAS since 1997
No recent starts.

 

[CNOTES]

MLB
Short Sheet

Wednesday, June 17

Baltimore at Philadelphia, 7:05 PM
Baltimore: 59-45 SU after one or more consecutive overs
Philadelphia: 3-20 SU as an underdog of +150 or more

Tampa Bay at Washington, 7:05 PM
Tampa Bay: 46-54 SU after 2 or more consecutive home games
ZIMMERMANN: 22-4 TSR as a home favorite of -150 to -200

Miami at NY Yankees, 7:05 PM
Miami: 119-92 SU after allowing 2 runs or less 2 straight games
NY Yankees: 18-33 SU after allowing 8 runs or more

NY Mets at Toronto, 7:05 PM
NY Mets: 4-18 SU after 2 straight games where they stranded 5 or less runners on base
Toronto: 42-25 SU after 2 straight one run losses

Chicago Cubs at Cleveland, 7:10 PM
Chicago Cubs: n/a
Cleveland: n/a

Boston at Atlanta, 7:10 PM
KELLY: 11-4 SU as an underdog of +100 or higher
Atlanta: 22-39 SU after 10 straight games where they failed to hit more than one HR

Detroit at Cincinnati, 7:10 PM
Detroit: 50-54 SU after a loss
CUETO: 21-5 TSR when the total is 7 to 8.5

Milwaukee at Kansas City, 8:10 PM
Milwaukee: 13-4 SU after allowing 7 runs or more 2 straight games
BLANTON is 1-8 TSR as a home favorite of -110 or higher

Pittsburgh at Chicago White Sox, 8:10 PM
LOCKE is 2-10 TSR as a road favorite of -110 or higher
Chicago White Sox: 14-7 SU after batting .200 or worse over a 5 game span

St Louis at Minnesota, 8:10 PM
St Louis: 4-15 SU in road games after a one run win
MILONE: 56-34 TSR in all games

Houston at Colorado, 8:40 PM
Houston: 12-3 SU against NL West opponents
Colorado: 17-39 SU after having lost 4 of their last 5 games

LA Angels at Arizona, 9:40 PM
LA Angels: 61-48 SU when the money line is +125 to -125
Arizona: 9-26 SU after having won 3 of their last 4 games

San Diego at Oakland, 10:05 PM
San Diego: 18-8 SU revenging 2 straight home losses vs opponent
Oakland: 10-15 SU as a favorite of -125 to -175

San Francisco at Seattle, 10:10 PM
BUMGARNER: 18-4 TSR on the road when the total is 7.5 or less
Seattle: 10-23 SU when the money line is -100 to -150

Texas at LA Dodgers, 10:10 PM
RODRIGUEZ is 5-0 TSR after a win
LA Dodgers: 137-172 SU after scoring 2 runs or less 2 straight

 

[CNOTES]

Diamond Trends - Wednesday


June 17, 2015




SU TREND OF THE DAY:


-- The Padres are 12-0 SU since Sep 28, 2013 as a dog and vs a team that has won at least their last three games and it is not the first game of a series.


PITCHER TREND OF THE DAY:


-- When Johnny Cueto starts the Reds are 0-11-2 OU since July 04, 2011 vs a team that won their starters last two starts, if the Reds allowed at least three runs in Cueto’s last start.


MLB BIBLE ACTIVE TREND:


-- The Red Sox are 9-0 (+$1,030) since May 27, 2011 as a dog after a 5+ run win when it is not the first game of a series and they are not playing the Yankees.


CHOICE TREND:


-- The Pirates are 10-0 SU since Jul 31, 2013 after shutting out their opponent and it is not the first game of a series.


ACTIVE TRENDS:


-- The Padres are 0-13-2 OU (-3.20 ppg) since Jul 13, 2014 after a one run loss and in not the first game of a series.

 

[CNOTES]

Rays, Nationals clash


June 17, 2015




TAMPA BAY RAYS (36-30) at WASHINGTON NATIONALS (34-31)


Sportsbook.ag Line: Washington -156, Tampa Bay +141, Total: 7.5


The Tampa Bay Rays look to hold on to their first place standing in the AL East when they head to Washington to take on the Nationals for two games on the road.


The Rays have been able to take over the lead in the AL East after going 10-5 to start the month of June. In that time they have allowed a mere 2.1 runs per game in the victories and they are 9-4 in their last 13 road games. After a solid Monday victory, Tampa Bay was embarrassed on Tuesday in the 16-4 loss, getting eight hits but having a mere six runners in scoring position with hits twice in those situations. OF Joey Butler (.336) has been a nice injection of production for this offense and in his last nine games has gone 13-for-35 (.371) with three doubles and six RBI.


The Nationals certainly have tons of talent, but it doesn’t always translate to wins on a consistent basis as they are now just 6-9 in the month of June. They have won three of the last four, and after being defeated by the Rays in Tampa on Monday, they went off on them in game two on the road, winning 16-4 and have scored 28 runs in the last four contests. In Tuesday’s victory, Washington had 23 total hits with four leaving the park and were 7-for-17 with RISP. OF Bryce Harper (.346) had another huge game, going 3-for-3 with a homer, double and a RBI.


The starting pitching matchup for this contest will put RHP Jordan Zimmerman (5-4, 3.74 ERA) of the visiting Nationals up against RHP Matt Andriese (1-1, 3.76 ERA) of the Rays. On the year, Tampa Bay has been tremendous on the road, posting a record of 18-13 as they take on this Washington group which is 16-12 on its home turf. The two games that these teams played in the past couple of days are their only recent meetings, with the Nationals tallying 31 hits in the two contests.


Trends show that the Rays are 44-27 (.620) in road games after having won four or five of their last six games in the past three seasons as the Nationals are 32-6 (.842) when Zimmerman is pitching as a favorite of -150 or more in the same timeframe.


Still on the DL for Tampa Bay is 2B Tim Beckham (Hamstring), 1B James Loney (Finger) and OF Desmond Jennings (Knee) while OFs Ryan Zimmerman (Foot) and Jayson Werth (Wrist) remain out for the home team.


Andriese has put in the time in the minors and earned a spot with a major league club after starting this year with a 2.70 ERA over five games (4 starts) with Tampa Bay’s triple-A affiliate. He did not allow a homer while getting a strikeout per inning in his 20 innings over that stretch and through eight games (4 starts) with the Rays, the 25-year-old has a solid 3.76 ERA with good control (2.1 BB/9). He has struggled somewhat in the four starts, though, with a 4.41 ERA in the outings as he has a 10:5 K/BB ratio. His team is 3-1 when he starts, but he has yet to get further than 5.2 innings into a game; which he did in his last time out against the White Sox with two runs (0 ER) allowed on six hits and five strikeouts (1 walk).


Andriese has not met with Washington in his very young career and as a result has not had the chance at facing any of its players, but will need to tread lightly with OF Bryce Harper (.346) who ranks in the top-three in the NL at average, home runs (22), RBI (52), runs (49), walks (54) and OPS (1.216). On the other hand, SS Ian Desmond (.227) has struck out in 28.4% of his at-bats and is 4-for-37 (.108) with 17 strikeouts in his last 10 games.


The Tampa Bay bullpen has gone 12-11 with a 3.80 ERA (1.32 WHIP) and are 29-for-36 (81%) in save opportunities. Brad Boxberger (3.04 ERA, 15 saves) has 32 strikeouts in his 23.2 innings, but has allowed at least one run in four of his last eight appearances.


Zimmerman has been one of the more dominant, under-the-radar starters in the league over the past few seasons and after a rough start to the 2015 campaign, has been able to turn it around. Through his 13 starts (77 IP), the righty has seen his strikeouts drop (6.1 K/9), but has continued with his great control (2.1 BB) and has allowed a mere three homers on the year (0.35 HR/9). The craziest part about all of this is he is putting up solid numbers despite batters hitting .337 BABIP against him as a mere 68.4% of runners have been left on base.


After four consecutive starts of six or more innings and two or fewer runs allowed, Zimmerman has struggled in his last two outings, going a combined 8.1 innings with 10 runs allowed on 19 hits as he took a loss each time. He has had just one start against the Rays in his career and it came back in 2009 when he earned a no-decision after going five innings and allowing one run on four hits with six strikeouts (2 walks).


The only player on Tampa Bay with a hit against the righty is 1B James Loney (1-for-3, 1 RBI), who is currently on the DL, while OF David DeJesus is hitless in his six career at-bats in the matchup.


The Nationals relievers have gone 9-9 with a 3.71 ERA (1.29 WHIP) and have successfully saved 21-of-30 (70%) games. Drew Storen (2.16 ERA, 19 saves) is coming off a rough appearance (0.2 IP, 3 ER, 2 H) on Tuesday but has a 33:4 K/BB ratio in his 25 frames this year.

 

[CNOTES]

This Date In Baseball


June 17, 2015


1916 - Rube Foster of the Red Sox pitched a 2-0 no-hitter against the New York Yankees. Foster struck out three and walked three and pitched the first no-hitter at Fenway Park.


1941 - Lefty Grove's 20-game consecutive win streak at Fenway Park ended with a 13-9 loss to the St. Louis Browns. The streak spanned from May 3, 1938, to May 12, 1941.


1956 - In a rare double one-hitter, Chicago's Jack Harshman outdueled Connie Johnson and George Zuverink of Baltimore as the White Sox beat the Orioles 1-0.


1964 - Jim Bunning of the Philadelphia Phillies pitched a perfect game against the New York Mets on Father's Day. The no-hitter gave Bunning one in each league. The Phillies' Gus Triandos became the first catcher to handle no-hitters in both leagues.


1970 - Detroit Tigers shortstop Cesar Gutierrez had seven hits in seven times at bat in a 9-8, 12-inning victory over the Cleveland Indians. Gutierrez had six singles and a double.


1989 - Carlton Fisk set an American League record for homers by a catcher and drove in three runs to lead the Chicago White Sox to a 7-3 victory over the New York Yankees. Fisk hit his 307th homer as a catcher to pass the Yankees' Yogi Berra.


2000 - Eric Chavez hit for the cycle in Oakland's 10-3 win over Baltimore. Chavez doubled in the second inning, singled in the fourth, tripled in the fifth and finished off the cycle with a homer in the seventh.


2002 - Luis Castillo singled in the third inning to extend his hitting streak to 35 games, tying Ty Cobb and two others for the 10th-longest streak in baseball history.


2005 - Jeff Larish matched a College World Series record with three homers, and J.J. Sferra drove in the game-winning run with a bloop single in the 11th inning as Arizona State rallied for an 8-7 victory and eliminated hometown favorite Nebraska. Larish's record-tying third homer tied it in the bottom of the ninth, and Sferra's single in the 11th punctuated the 4-hour, 7-minute game.


2005 - The New York Yankees scored 13 runs in the eighth inning, sending 16 batters to the plate, to help overcome an early eight-run deficit and defeat Tampa Bay 20-11.


2006 - Jose Reyes hit for the cycle in the New York Mets' 6-5 loss to Cincinnati.


2009 - St. Louis' Tony La Russa joined Connie Mack (3,831) and John McGraw (2,763) as the only managers with 2,500 victories following a 12-5 win over Kansas City. La Russa is 2,500-2,177 in 31 years as a big league manager with the Chicago White Sox, Oakland and St. Louis.


2011 - Minnesota tied a major league record by opening with eight consecutive hits against San Francisco's Madison Bumgarner, en route to a 9-2 win. Ben Revere had two hits and two RBIs to highlight an eight-run first inning.


Today's birthdays: Garrett Jones 34, Jeff Baker 34.


1925 - The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 24-6 with Kiki Cuyler and Pie Traynor each hitting a grand slam and Max Carey getting two hits in the first and eighth innings.


1930 - Lou Gehrig hit three home runs to lead the New York Yankees to a 20-13 victory over the Philadelphia Athletics in the second game of a doubleheader. Babe Ruth, who hit three homers in the nightcap the previous day, hit two homers in the opener and one in the nightcap for the Yankees. Ruth tied major league records for five homers in two games and six homers in three games.


1944 - Jim Tobin of the Boston Braves threw a five-inning 7-0 no-hitter in the second game of a doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies.


1947 - Cincinnati's Ewell Blackwell almost duplicated Johnny Vander Meer's double no-hit record by following up his June 18 gem over Boston. Brooklyn's Eddie Stanky singled with one out in the ninth to end Blackwell's bid. Blackwell ended up with a 4-0 two-hitter.


1962 - Baltimore Orioles first baseman Boog Powell became the first batter to hit a home run over the center-field hedge at Memorial Stadium. The 469-foot clout came off Don Schwall of the Boston Red Sox.


1982 - Philadelphia's Pete Rose doubled off St. Louis pitcher John Stuper in the third inning to move into second place on the career hit list. Rose moved ahead of Hank Aaron with hit No. 3,772.


1993 - Carlton Fisk set the major league record for most games caught as the Chicago White Sox beat the Texas Rangers 3-2. Fisk, 45, passed Bob Boone with his 2,226th game.


1994 - Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 31st home run of the season in Seattle's 12-3 victory at California, breaking Babe Ruth's record for most homers before the end of June. Ruth needed 63 games to reach 30 homers in 1928 and 68 games in 1930. Griffey did it in the Mariners' 70th game.


1997 - The Atlanta Braves, behind a four-homer, nine-run third, beat the Philadelphia Phillies 12-5. Chipper Jones, Fred McGriff, Michael Tucker and Jeff Blauser homered in the inning.


2002 - The Detroit Tigers ended Luis Castillo's 35-game hitting streak. Castillo went 0-for-4 and was left on deck when the Florida Marlins finished off a four-run, ninth-inning rally to beat the Tigers 5-4.


2006 - Anthony Reyes pitched a one-hitter in just his fourth major league start, but St. Louis fell to the Chicago White Sox 1-0. Jim Thome homered in the seventh inning for Chicago's only hit.


2008 - Atlanta's Mark Teixeira hit three home runs and finished with four RBIs in an 8-3 win over Seattle. Teixeira hit solo drives batting left-handed in the second and fourth innings, and a two-run shot from the right side in the seventh.


2011 - Leadoff hitter Chris Heisey homered three times to lead the Cincinnati Reds to a doubleheader split with the Yankees. After suffering a 4-2 loss in the opener, Heisey started the second game, a 10-2 victory, with his first career leadoff homer. He also had two-run shots off Brian Gordon and Hector Noesi in his first multihomer game.


2013 - Francisco Rodriguez earned his 300th career save, finishing off Milwaukee's second straight 2-0 victory over slumping Atlanta.


Today's birthdays: Darrell Ceciliani 25; Cesar Ramos 30; Ian Kinsler 33; Jason Motte 33.


1917 - In baseball's greatest relief effort, Ernie Shore of the Boston Red Sox relieved pitcher Babe Ruth with nobody out and a man on first. The base runner was cut down stealing and Shore retired all 26 batters he faced to gain a 4-0 victory over Washington. Ruth walked Eddie Foster to open the game and was ejected after arguing with umpire Brick Owens.


1950 - Hoot Evers' game-winning home run in the ninth inning gave the Detroit Tigers a 10-9 victory over the New York Yankees as the teams combined for 11 home runs, a major league record. The Yankees hit six and the Tigers five.


1963 - Jimmie Piersall, playing for the Mets in New York, hit his 100th career home run and celebrated by running around the bases backwards.


1971 - Rick Wise of the Philadelphia Phillies pitched a no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds and hit two homers. Wise became the first pitcher to hit two homers while throwing a no-hitter.


1973 - Pitcher Ken Brett of the Philadelphia Phillies hit a home run in the fourth consecutive game that he pitched in June. He beat Montreal 7-2.


1984 - Chicago's Ryne Sandberg hit two late-inning home runs off St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Bruce Sutter to tie the game twice as the Cubs went on to win 12-11 in 11 innings. Sandberg led off the ninth inning with a solo home run to tie the game 9-9 then hit a two-run, two-out homer in the 10th to tie the game 11-11. Willie McGee hit for the cycle and drove in six runs for St. Louis.


2000 - Bret Boone hit three home runs along with six RBIs in San Diego's 10-7, 10-inning victory over Cincinnati.


2006 - Jose Contreras won his 16th straight decision, leading the Chicago White Sox past Houston 7-4. Contreras, 16-0 in his last 21 regular-season starts, last lost to Minnesota on Aug. 15, 2005. He surpassed the club mark for consecutive wins held by LaMarr Hoyt and Wilson Alvarez.


2008 - Felix Hernandez hit the first grand slam by an American League pitcher in 37 years, then departed with a sprained ankle before he could qualify for a win in Seattle's 5-2 victory over the New York Mets. The shot to right-center off Johan Santana was the first home run by a pitcher in Mariners history, and the first slam by an AL hurler since Cleveland's Steve Dunning went deep against Oakland's Diego Segui on May 11, 1971.


2013 - David Wright homered, tripled and matched a Mets record with four extra-base hits to back Matt Harvey's splendid start in a lopsided 8-0 victory over Philadelphia. Wright went 4 for 5 with two of New York's season-high seven doubles.


1936 - Rookie Joe DiMaggio hit two homers in the fifth inning and added two doubles in the New York Yankees' 18-4 victory over the St. Louis Browns.


1950 - Wes Westrum of the New York Giants hit three home runs and a triple in a 12-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.


1955 - Harmon Killebrew hit his first major league homer, off Billy Hoeft at Griffith Stadium, but the Detroit Tigers beat the Washington Senators 18-7.


1962 - Jack Reed, a substitute outfielder, hit a homer off Phil Regan in the 22nd inning to give the New York Yankees a 9-7 win over the Detroit Tigers in a game that lasted 7 hours, 22 minutes. It was the only homer Reed hit in the majors.


1968 - Jim Northrup tied a major league record by hitting two grand slams in one game as the Detroit Tigers beat the Cleveland Indians 14-3.


1983 - Don Sutton of the Milwaukee Brewers became the eighth pitcher in major league history to strike out 3,000 batters. Sutton's 3,000th victim was Cleveland's Alan Bannister in a 3-2 win over the Indians.


1984 - Oakland's Joe Morgan hit his 265th home run as a second baseman, breaking Roger Hornsby's career home run record for that position. Morgan's homer off Frank Tanana was the 267th of his career and led the A's to a 4-2 win over Texas.


1994 - Jeff Bagwell hit three homers, two in one inning to tie a major league record, as the Houston Astros beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 16-4.


1997 - Randy Johnson of the Seattle Mariners struck out 19 batters - one short of Roger Clemens' major league record for a nine-inning game. He became the first AL left-hander to fan 19, but the Oakland Athletics won 4-1.


1998 - Sammy Sosa tied the major-league record for homers in a month, hitting his 18th of June in the first inning of the Cubs' 7-6 loss to Detroit. Sosa, with 31 homers overall, matched the mark set by Detroit's Rudy York in August 1937, and broke Willie Mays' NL record set in August 1965.


2002 - Both starters in the first game of the Anaheim-Texas doubleheader - Joaquin Benoit and Aaron Sele - threw 96 pitches, 53 strikes and 43 balls. Benoit and the Rangers won 8-5.


2003 - Brad Wilkerson hit for the cycle, going 4-for-4 with four RBIs, in Montreal's 6-4 win over Pittsburgh. It was the first cycle in the majors this season and was performed in sequence - single, double, triple and homer.


2007 - Dustin McGowan pitched a one-hitter to lead Toronto to a 5-0 victory over Colorado. Jeff Baker singled leading off the ninth inning to spoil McGowan's no-hit bid. He retired the next three batters to finish off his first career shutout. He struck out seven and walked one over 109 pitches.


2011 - A.J. Burnett became the first pitcher in New York Yankees history to strike out four batters in one inning, Burnett's major league record-tying performance came in the sixth inning of a 4-2 loss to Colorado.


2014 - Brothers B.J. and Justin Upton tied the major league record for brothers homering in the same game as teammates, accomplishing the feat for the fourth time, in Atlanta's 3-2 win over Houston. Other brothers who had homered in the same game four times were Jeremy and Jason Giambi for the Oakland A's and Vladimir and Wilton Guerrero for the Montreal Expos.


Today's birthday: Robbie Ross 26; Sam Freeman 28; Phil Hughes 28; Doug Bernier 35.


1934 - Pitcher John Broaca tied a major league record by striking out five consecutive times but pitched the Yankees to an 11-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox. Lou Gehrig had better luck at the plate, hitting for the cycle.


1937 - Augie Galan of Chicago became the first National League switch-hitter to hit home runs from both sides of the plate as the Cubs beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 11-2.


1950 - Chicago's Hank Sauer hit two home runs and two doubles to pace the Cubs to an 11-8 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.


1961 - Baltimore and California used a major league record 16 pitchers, eight by each side, as the Orioles edged the Angels 9-8 on Ron Hansen's 14th-inning homer.


1968 - Bobby Bonds, in his first major league game, hit a grand slam off John Purdin to help San Francisco to a 9-0 win over Los Angeles.


1998 - Sammy Sosa broke the major league record for homers in a month, hitting his 19th of June leading off the seventh inning of the Cubs' 6-4 loss to Detroit. Sosa passed the mark set by Detroit's Rudy York in August 1937.


1999 - Jose Jimenez, a rookie right-hander having one of the worst seasons of any NL pitcher, threw St. Louis' first no-hitter in 16 seasons, outdueling Randy Johnson in a 1-0 victory over Arizona.


2002 - History was made when Luis Pujols' Detroit Tigers took the field against Tony Pena's Kansas City Royals. Pujols and Pena became the first Dominican-born managers to oppose each other in a major league game.


2004 - Larry Walker hit three home runs - the third in the 10th inning - in Colorado's 10-8 victory over Cleveland.


2007 - A fan charged at Bob Howry during the Cubs' 10-9 win over Colorado, after the reliever helped blow an 8-3 lead in the ninth inning. Howry gave up back-to-back RBI singles to Garrett Atkins and Brad Hawpe and a three-run homer to Troy Tulowitzki. The fan then jumped onto the field from the roof of the Rockies' dugout and made it a few feet from the mound before security guards tackled him. Howry earned the victory when Alfonso Soriano hit a game-ending two-run single in the bottom of the inning.


2011 - Cleveland's Tony Sipp balked home the only run with the bases loaded in the seventh inning of a 1-0 loss to San Francisco. Sipp slightly flinched his left arm before throwing a pitch to Emmanuel Burriss, allowing Miguel Tejada to score and sending San Francisco to its fourth straight win. There also were two errors in the inning by second baseman Cord Phelps that spoiled a strong start by Justin Masterson.


2013 - Eric Filia drove in a career-high five runs, Nick Vander Tuig limited Mississippi State to five hits in eight innings, and UCLA won its first national championship in baseball, 8-0. The Bruins completed a two-game sweep in the College World Series finals and ended the season with 11 straight wins. UCLA allowed four runs in five games to set a CWS record for fewest in the metal-bat era that started in 1974.


2014 - Tim Lincecum pitched his second no-hitter against the San Diego Padres in less than a year, allowing only one runner and leading the San Francisco Giants to a 4-0 win. Lincecum strucking out six and walked one and became the second pitcher in major league history to twice no-hit the same team. Addie Joss did it for Cleveland against the Chicago White Sox in 1908 and again in 1910.


Today's birthdays: Bobby LaFromboise 29; Aramis Ramirez 37.


1916 - In a game against the Chicago White Sox, the Cleveland Indians appeared on the field with numbers on their sleeves. It marked the first time players were identified by numbers corresponding to the scorecard.


1938 - Lonny Frey of the Cincinnati Reds had eight hits in a doubleheader split with the Philadelphia Phillies. Frey had three hits in a 10-3 opening-game loss and collected five in the nightcap, which the Reds won 8-5.


1944 - In an effort to raise funds for war bonds, the New York Giants, Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Yankees played against each other in a six-inning contest at the Polo Grounds. More than 50,000 fans turned out. Each team played successive innings against the other two teams then would sit out an inning. The final score was Dodgers 5, Yankees 1, Giants 0.


1962 - Earl Wilson of the Boston Red Sox pitched a 2-0 no-hitter against the Los Angeles Angels at Fenway Park. Wilson also homered in the game.


1970 - Frank Robinson hit two grand slams for the Orioles as Baltimore defeated the Washington Senators 12-2.


1976 - Shortstop Toby Harrah played an entire doubleheader for the Texas Rangers without handling a batted ball from the Chicago White Sox.


2000 - Minor league sensation Alex Cabrera hit a two-run homer in his first major league at-bat for Arizona as the Diamondbacks beat the Houston Astros 6-1.


2006 - Oregon State beats North Carolina 3-2 for its first College World Series title.


2008 - Matt Garza struck out 10 in a one-hitter, leading Tampa Bay to a 6-1 victory over the Florida Marlins.


2009 - Andre Ethier had his first three-homer game and drove in a career-high six runs to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to an 8-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners.


Today's birthday: Michael Kohn 29.


1917 - Catcher Hank Gowdy of the Braves became the first major league player to enter military service in World War I.


1939 - The Brooklyn Dodgers and the Boston Braves played a 23-inning, 2-2 tie. Whit Wyatt pitched the first 16 innings for the Dodgers. Both clubs played a 26-inning tie in 1920 at the same Braves Field.


1958 - Billy Pierce of the Chicago White Sox retired 26 straight Washington batters before pinch-hitter Ed Fitzgerald hit a double just inside the right-field line for the only hit. Pierce then struck out Albie Pearson on three pitches and beat the Senators 3-0.


1973 - David Clyde, a $125,000, 18-year-old bonus baby with the Rangers, pitched five innings, struck out eight and allowed one hit in his first major league start. Texas beat the Minnesota Twins 4-3 before 35,698 fans - the Rangers' first home sellout at Arlington Stadium.


1980 - The Los Angeles Dodgers' Jerry Reuss pitched a no-hitter against the San Francisco Giants in an 8-0 victory at Candlestick Park. The only player to reach base was Jack Clark in the first inning on a throwing error by shortstop Bill Russell.


1986 - San Francisco rookie Robby Thompson set a major league record when he was caught stealing four times in the Giants' 7-6, 12-inning victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Catcher Bo Diaz threw out Thompson in the fourth, sixth, ninth and 11th innings.


1993 - Anthony Young of the New York Mets set a major league record by losing his 24th straight decision, 5-3 to the St. Louis Cardinals.


1999 - Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 27th homer and robbed Juan Gonzalez of a three-run shot with a spectacular over-the-fence catch as the Seattle Mariners beat the Texas Rangers 5-2 in the final game at the Kingdome.


2003 - Boston set a major league record by scoring 10 runs before the first out. The 50-minute, 91-pitch first inning came during a 25-8 victory over Florida. The Red Sox also tied an AL record with 14 first-inning runs. Johnny Damon matched a major league mark with three hits in an inning.


2007 - Ryan Howard hit his 100th career homer in his 325th game, becoming the fastest player to reach that total. Howard's three-run shot off Cincinnati's Aaron Harang gave the Phillies a 3-0 lead in the fifth inning. The 505-foot drive was the longest in the four-year history of Citizens Bank Park.


2008 - Carlos Delgado of the New York Mets homered twice, including a grand slam, and set a franchise record with nine RBIs in a 15-6 rout of the Yankees at Yankee Stadium in the opener of the teams' two-ballpark doubleheader. The Yankees beat the Mets 9-0 at Shea Stadium in the night game.


2009 - A.J. Burnett pitched a one-hitter to give the New York Yankees a 5-0 win over the New York Mets. Alex Cora got the Mets' only hit, lining a clean single to center to lead off the sixth. He had been 0 for 21 with eight strikeouts against Burnett.


2010 - Jamie Moyer surrendered his record-breaking 506th home run but was sharp otherwise, and the Philadelphia Phillies took advantage of Toronto's troubles to beat the Blue Jays 11-2. Moyer only mistake was a two-run homer by Vernon Wells in the third inning. Moyer passed former Phillies Hall of Famer Robin Roberts for the most homers allowed in a career.


Today's birthdays: A.J. Schugel 26; Abraham Almonte 26; Jim Johnson 32.

 

[CNOTES]

Plenty of quick NBA changes could come


June 17, 2015


Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors will get their championship rings. LeBron James will try yet again to end Cleveland's epic title drought. And barring a most unlikely change of heart, Kobe Bryant's illustrious NBA career will end.


That's just a smidge of what awaits next season.


So much more is TBA, though hints will soon start coming.


And once again, the NBA offseason won't be NBA down time.


Tim Duncan hasn't said if he'll retire or return to San Antonio, LaMarcus Aldridge and DeAndre Jordan hit the open market, Kevin Love's future is still unclear despite his saying that he'll stay with the Cavaliers, Dwyane Wade might be leaving Miami and Rajon Rondo surely will be moving on from Dallas.


Plus, before free agency officially starts on July 1, an intriguing draft awaits next week with Minnesota holding the No. 1 pick.


''I haven't thought about next season,'' James said early Wednesday after Golden State topped the Cavs in the NBA Finals clincher. ''At all.''


He won't be able to say that in a day or two, tops. It doesn't take long for the league to shift from Finals to frantic, and the NBA could have a very different look about a month from now.


Here's a look at some of the story lines worth watching over the next few weeks:


---


THE CHAMPS


Every indication is that the Warriors could come back relatively intact to defend their title.


Draymond Green, he who only had a triple-double in the title clincher, will get attention from other teams but the Warriors have the right to match any offers that he takes seriously. And the way Green was sounding in the championship celebration, he's got no plans at this point to seek employment elsewhere.


The Warriors aren't anywhere near being an ''old'' team yet, might be able to free up some cap space in trades and have an absolute baby-faced assassin and league MVP in Curry.


---


THE CAVS


James can (and probably will) opt out of his contract. But it would be with different goals in mind than finding a new home; rather, he and his braintrust will try to find creative ways to both maximize money and the Cavs' potential for winning.


Tristan Thompson's contract talks will be interesting, and it's likely Cleveland will need to give him a max deal or close to it to keep him. So then it's all eyes on Love, who says he wants to stay. But questions exist about Love wanting to play in Los Angeles at some point, and if this is Bryant's swan song then the Lakers would want to load up as much as they can for his final season.


Love's shoulder injury and recovery add another thorn to his future as to whether other teams will take the risk.


Though it seems coach David Blatt will be back, a potentially wild summer awaits in Cleveland.


---


POWER BROKERS


Imagine these scenarios:


Jordan leaves the Clippers and somehow ends up in Atlanta. Aldridge heads to Dallas and becomes the heir apparent to Dirk Nowitzki as the Mavericks' go-to guy. Rondo goes to the Lakers, joining a rare club alongside the likes of Don Nelson, Rick Fox and Gary Payton to play for both them and the Celtics.


It could all happen.


While the draft will generate plenty of attention, remember that of the 60 guys selected last year only 11 played in this season's playoffs - and of those, only one (Houston's Clint Capela) made more than 10 appearances in this postseason. And just four rookies finished this season averaging more than 10 points a game.


In short, the draft usually isn't where teams get real good real fast. That can happen in free agency.


Jordan, Aldridge, Wade and Rondo will be in plenty of headlines July 1, assuming Wade opts out of the second year of his Miami deal as many expect. Tyson Chandler will be on the market, alongside quite possibly Brook Lopez and Roy Hibbert. Danny Green might leave San Antonio. Paul Pierce might play one more year, and it's been whispered for months that the Los Angeles-area native could reunite with Doc Rivers and try to push the Clippers toward a title.


---


POTENTIAL MOVERS AND SHAKERS THIS SUMMER


Boston: Players around the league are enthralled with coach Brad Stevens, and the Celtics have dollars to spend.


Chicago: The Jimmy Butler situation will be interesting. If the Bulls lose him, they will have to make a huge reactive move.


Detroit: Stan Van Gundy made one of the boldest moves of the year when he waived Josh Smith. He'll have the Pistons closer to the playoffs in his second season running the ship in Auburn Hills.


Miami: Pat Riley and Micky Arison won't sit idle. Watching these playoffs hurt.


Milwaukee: Another team growing in a rapidly improving Eastern Conference. Young and with financial flexibility.


New Orleans: New coach in Alvin Gentry, best young big man in the game in Anthony Davis. It could be his league soon.


San Antonio: Don't sleep on the Spurs. They're not done. There are no shortage of players who would want to play for Gregg Popovich and a gold-standard franchise.


Utah: One of the best young cores in the NBA, a certain team on the rise out West, and Quin Snyder may be a coaching star in the making.


---


UP NEXT


June 25: NBA draft. Minnesota, the Lakers, Philadelphia, New York and Orlando hold the first five picks; Boston has four picks in all.


July 1: Free agency begins. Teams and players can start agreeing to deals, but nothing can be signed.


July 9: New contracts can be signed and become official. With that, the reshaping of the NBA would be underway.