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[CNOTES]

CFL Betting Recap - Week 2


July 5, 2015


League Betting Notes


-- Underdogs went 3-0-1 straight up in Week 2
-- Underdogs went 3-0-1 ATS in Week 2
-- Home/road teams posted a 2-2 SU record in Week 2
-- Home/road teams posted a 2-2 ATS record in Week 2
-- The 'Over/under' went 2-2 in Week 2


Team Betting Notes


-- Remember last season when the East Division got off to a terrible start in the CFL? This season, not so much, as all four teams are at or above .500, including the league's only two 2-0 clubs.


-- Toronto (2-0) dropped Saskatchewan (0-2) in a shootout on the prairie, 42-40 in double-overtime. The Argonauts improved to 7-2-1 ATS in their past 10 trips to Regina, and the total has now gone 'over' in five of the past six meetings in this series.


-- Ottawa (2-0) joined the Argos atop the East Division, winning straight-up as short 'dogs to the BCLions (0-1) in their season opener. The RedBlacks outscored the Lions 14-0 in the final stanza to win the game going away, but the 'under' still cashed for the second time in as many games for Ottawa.


-- Rookie QB Rakeem Cato, formerly a star at Marshall University in West Virginia, is already turning heads for Montreal (1-1). The Alouettes weren't expected to do much with their third-string QB in there after Jonathan Crompton and Dan LeFevour left Week 1 with shoulder injuries, but the Alous fired out to a 22-0 lead over Calgary (1-1). They held on for a 29-11 victory at home after being tripped up by Ottawa in Week 1.


-- It wasn't that Hamilton (1-1) won in Winnipeg (1-1) which was shocking, as the game was listed as a pick 'em - it was the relative ease they showed in doing so. The TiCats fired out to a 38-13 halftime lead, much to the delight of 'over' (52) bettors, and cruised to a 52-26 win.


-- The Blue Bombers will need to tighten up on defense, as they have allowed 39.0 points per game through the first two outings. Needless to say, the 'over' is 2-0 in their games so far.

 

[CNOTES]

CFL Betting Notes - Week 3


July 6, 2015


As the CFL heads into Week 3, upsets continue to be the biggest story of the new season. In last week’s action Hamilton rolled over Winnipeg 52-26 on Thursday as a two-point road underdog to get things started. On Friday night, Montreal stunned Calgary 29-11 as a heavy 9 ½-point underdog at home.


The upstart Ottawa RedBlacks have already equaled last season’s straight-up win total of just two games with a 27-16 victory against British Columbia as three-point home underdogs and this past Sunday, Toronto completed the sweep with a stunning 42-40 upset of Saskatchewan as a three-point underdog on the road.


Opening Odds provided by 5Dimes.eu.


Thursday, July 9


Ottawa RedBlacks (2-0 SU, 2-0 ATS) vs. Edmonton Eskimos (0-1 SU, 0-1 ATS)
Point-spread: Edmonton -6
Total: 46 ½


Game Overview


The RedBlacks have won their first two games behind a defense that has allowed a combined 32 points. This is a vast improvement from a unit that was ranked seventh in the league last season in points allowed. Veteran quarterback Henry Burris has also played well with a combined 559 yards passing in the two games.


Edmonton is coming off a Week 2 bye after losing its season opener to Toronto by the score of 26-11 as a 7 ½-point road favorite. The Eskimos only managed 178 yards through the air and 81 yards on the ground in that loss. Quarterback Mike Reilly injured his knee in Week 1 and he will be out until late October. Matt Nichols is expected to get the start in his place.


Betting Trends


The RedBlacks are 3-7 against the spread in their last 10 road games, while the Eskimos are a perfect 5-0 ATS in their last five games at home. Edmonton won last year’s series 2-0 SU and both games stayed UNDER the total.


Friday, July 10


Montreal Alouettes (1-1 SU, 1-1 ATS) vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1-1 SU, 1-1 ATS)
Point-spread: OFF
Total: OFF


Game Overview


Montreal bounced-back from a 20-16 loss to Ottawa in its opener as an eight-point home favorite. In last Friday’s win against Calgary at home, Rakeem Cato got the start at quarterback and made the most of the opportunity with 241 yards passing and three touchdown throws while completing an impressive 80 percent of his 25 attempts.


The Blue Bombers closed-out the 2014 season with just one SU victory in their last nine games. They appeared to revert back to that form in Week 2 after stunning Saskatchewan 30-26 in their season opener as six-point road underdogs. Brian Brohm and Drew Willy combined for less than 200 yards passing and three interceptions in this past week’s loss to Hamilton. Willy remains questionable with a hand injury.


Betting Trends


Winnipeg is a perfect 4-0 both SU and ATS in the last four meetings with the total evenly split 2-2. Montreal is just 2-6 ATS in its last eight road games against the Blue Bombers.


Saskatchewan Roughriders (0-2 SU, 0-2 ATS) vs. British Columbia Lions (0-1 SU, 0-1 ATS)
Point-spread: BC -4
Total: 47


Game Overview


Saskatchewan had to turn to Kevin Glenn as its starting quarterback after Darian Durant was lost for the season with a torn Achilles in the season-opening loss to Winnipeg. Last week in a losing cause against Montreal, Glenn threw for 477 yards and two touchdowns while completing 33-of-40 attempts.


BC came off a Week 1-bye showing some serious signs of rust in last Saturday’s loss to Ottawa. Travis Lulay was back under center and while he did throw for 254 yards and a score, he completed just 18-of-32 attempts and he was picked-off once. The Lions could only muster a total of 59 yards on the ground.


Betting Trends


The home team is 4-2 SU in the last six meetings and Saskatchewan has a slight 3-1-1 edge ATS in the last five games between these two West Division rivals. The total has stayed UNDER in nine of the last 10 meetings overall.


Monday, July 13


Toronto Argonauts (2-0 SU, 2-0 ATS) vs. Calgary Stampeders (1-1 SU, 0-2 ATS)
Point-spread: Calgary -6 ½
Total: 51 ½


Game Overview


Toronto will be gunning for a third-straight win behind an offense that has piled-up a total of 68 points in its first two games. The biggest surprise has been the play of quarterback Trevor Harris in place of an injured Ricky Ray. The four-year CFL vet has the second-most passing yards in the league with 614 and the most touchdown throws with seven. He has completed 83.1 percent of his 65 attempts.


The defending champion Stampeders lost for just the third time SU in their last 17 games and it was their worst margin of defeat since late September of last year. Running back Jon Cornish accounted for 59 of Calgary’s 68 yards of rushing in last Friday’s loss to Montreal and Bo Levi Mitchell threw for 244 yards while completing 19-of-31 throws.


Betting Trends


Toronto is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games against the Stampeders and the total has stayed UNDER in six of the last eight meetings in Calgary. The Argonauts have lost three of the last four meetings SU.

 

[CNOTES]

WNBA Betting Recap - 6/29-7/5


July 5, 2015


League Betting Notes (from Monday, June 29 through Sunday, July 5)


-- Favorites went 8-4 straight up
-- Underdogs went 8-3-1 against the spread (ATS)
-- Home teams posted a 8-4 SU record
-- Home teams posted a 7-4-1 ATS record
-- The 'over/under' went 6-6


Team Betting Notes


-- 'Dogs were barking hard in the WNBA for the fifth consecutive week. Underdogs were 8-3-1 ATS in Week 5, after going 8-5 ATS in Week 4, 8-7 ATS in Week 3, 10-4 ATS in Week 2 and 5-4-1 ATS in Week 1. If you're doing the math, that's 39-23-2 (or 69.2 percent) through 54 WNBA games.


-- Don't look now, but Phoenix (6-5) is starting to piece it together after a sluggish start. The Mercury started 3-5 (including 3-4 without superstar Brittney Griner), but they have rattled off three straight wins. Still, the Mercury has managed to cover just once in the past five games, narrowly missing a cover (-3.5 points) in a 94-91 overtime win at Los Angeles (2-8).


-- The Sparks have stumbled out of the gate, although they have showed signs of life with a 2-1 SU week. Still, the Sparks are a dismal 3-6-1 ATS overall. If you really want consistency, take the 'over' in Sparks games. It has cashed in seven straight outings heading into Wednesday's road game at San Antonio.


-- Speaking of San Antonio (2-8), the Stars were back to their losing ways going 0-2 SU/1-0-1 ATS this week after going unbeaten in the previous week of play. One interesting trend is that the 'under' hit in each of the first five for San Antonio, but the 'over' has connected in each of their past three.


-- Atlanta (5-6) won and covered against Seattle (3-9), marking just the second time all season the Dream has won back-to-back games. Atlanta is also on a season-best 3-0 ATS streak heading into Tuesday's game against Tulsa.


-- Tulsa (8-1) had a terrible week, going 0-3 SU/1-2 ATS after an amazing 8-0 ATS run to open the season. The Shock look to get back on track Tuesday in Atlanta, but as mentioned the Dream is in the midst of a season-best 3-0 ATS run. To make matters worse for the Shock, they'll be without star guard Skylar Diggins for at least two more games due to a knee injury.


-- Like the Shock, Connecticut (7-3) started the season on fire but have hit the skids. After a 7-0 ATS run to kick off the season the Sun is 1-2 ATS over their past three games overall.


-- Chicago (6-5) split their games straight up in the past week, but they continue to have trouble against the number. They went 0-2 ATS, failing to cover in three straight overall, and they're 4-7 ATS in 11 games this season.


-- New York (6-4) won their only game of the week, and they have now covered two in a row. Overall, the Liberty has managed an impressive 7-3 ATS run to open the season.


-- Indiana (5-6) is playing its best basketball of the season, winning and covering back-to-back games for just the second time this year. The Fever opened 2-7 ATS, but they look for a third straight cover Wednesday at home against the Storm.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Cardinals (54-28) at Cubs (44-37)
Game: 2
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: July 07, 2015 8:05 PM EDT

The St. Louis Cardinals continued their dominance over the Chicago Cubs even after failing to register a hit for much of their series opener at Wrigley Field.


The Cubs' scuffling lineup squandered a superb pitching effort but will try to redeem itself with Jake Arrieta attempting to produce another brilliant start against the Cardinals in Tuesday's opener to a doubleheader.


St. Louis (54-28) continued to play big brother to the upstart Cubs (44-37) with a 6-0 victory Monday, scoring all of its runs in the final three innings. The Cardinals didn't record their first hit on Jon Lester until Jhonny Peralta's grounder proved too tough for Chicago third baseman Kris Bryant to handle with one out in the seventh.


Bryant followed with a throwing error that would open the door for St. Louis to plate two runs in the inning, and the Cardinals would get four more in the ninth in improving to 8-2 in the season series. The Cubs totaled six hits - one for extra bases - and have totaled five runs in five consecutive losses to the Cardinals.


"They've had our number. I definitely admit to that," Chicago manager Joe Maddon said. "There's a long way to go yet."


Chicago is batting .204 with 30 runs in its last 14 games and has been limited to two or fewer in all but three. Anthony Rizzo, named to his second All-Star team Monday, is 4 for 32 (.125) in his last nine games and 2 for 18 in his last five against St. Louis.


That's not too shocking as the Cardinals, owners of an MLB-best 2.56 ERA, have a 1.67 mark in their last 12 games with their starters posting a 1.37 ERA. The best team in the majors, though, isn't taking this series lightly.


"(The Cubs are) definitely a talented team," pitcher John Lackey said. "They've got some young guys that have potential really good players. We've got to keep playing well."


The Cubs will seek to avoid dropping six in a row to St. Louis in one season for the first time since 2011.


Arrieta is 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA in his last three starts - while getting a combined 16 runs of support - but couldn't get a win over the Cardinals on June 26.


Arrieta (8-5, 2.80 ERA) allowed one run and three hits in seven innings while striking out seven in a 3-2 loss in 10 innings. Since joining the Cubs in July 2013, the right-hander is 3-1 with a 1.48 ERA in eight starts against the Cardinals and 3-0 with a 0.56 ERA in five matchups at Wrigley.


Arrieta also yielded three hits over seven innings in a 2-0 win there April 8, but has gone 1-4 with a 3.96 ERA in his six subsequent home starts.


He'll pitch opposite Tyler Lyons (2-0, 5.09), who is filling in for an injured Jaime Garcia. Lyons won each of his two starts after being called up from the minors June 12 and will make his third against the Cubs.


The left-hander was charged with four runs in 4 1-3 innings in a 7-4 victory against the Cubs on May 5.


Tim Cooney (0-0, 5.40) is slated to start the finale for St. Louis while right-hander Dallas Beeler is expected to be called up to make his third career start for the Cubs and first since July 9, 2014.


Cooney gave up three runs in six innings in a 5-3 loss to San Diego on Thursday, the left-hander's second MLB start. Beeler went 0-2 with a 3.27 ERA in his two last season.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Cardinals at Cubs
Mon, Jul 6 Final 6 to 0
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Cardinals at Cubs
Tue, Jul 7 - 8:05PM EDT


GAME 3
Cardinals at Cubs
Wed, Jul 8 - 8:05PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Athletics (38-47) at Yankees (44-38)
Game: 1
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: July 07, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

The New York Yankees' first matchup with the Oakland Athletics didn't go well, with Sonny Gray playing a key role.


Gray's outstanding start in that May series helped Oakland take three of four, and he'll look for a repeat performance Tuesday night against the Yankees - though it remains to be seen how strong he is after missing time due to a severe case of salmonella.


Gray (9-3, 2.09 ERA), set to make his first start at Yankee Stadium, pitched eight innings of two-run ball to beat New York 6-2 on May 29. The right-hander is among the AL leaders in ERA and could be in for another strong effort Tuesday since he's 6-1 with a 1.88 ERA in nine starts on the road.


Gray also bounced back from his worst start of the season with a solid effort his last time out, throwing six innings of three-run ball in a 6-3 victory at Texas on June 25. He allowed five earned runs in six innings of a 12-7 home loss to the Los Angeles Angels on June 19.


However, he was in the hospital last Monday-Wednesday. The A's had hoped Gray could pitch Sunday, but with Monday's off-day, he was held back for additional recovery time.


The Yankees came to Oakland in May in first place while the A's were in last, and those positions in the standings are identical going into this three-game set. New York (44-38) will try to take advantage of the cellar-dwelling A's (38-47) this time as it looks to rebound from an ugly performance.


The Yankees had a three-game winning streak snapped in an 8-1 loss to Tampa Bay on Sunday, suffering from a lack of offense, shaky pitching from Ivan Nova and three errors that led to three unearned runs.


"We had a bad day," said manager Joe Girardi, whose club has scored three or fewer runs in six of its last seven games.


Low offensive output might not be an issue with Nathan Eovaldi (8-2, 4.52) taking the hill. The right-hander has won three straight starts and given up three or fewer runs seven times in his last eight outings.


Eovaldi pitched 5 1-3 scoreless innings and allowed five hits in a 3-1 victory over the Angels on Wednesday.


"He's given us a chance to win just about every time out there, and that's great," third baseman Chase Headley said. "He's come into a new league, and the AL East is a tough division for pitching, so he's done well for us."


Eovaldi didn't get a decision while giving up three runs and 11 hits in 4 2-3 innings of a 5-3 loss to Oakland on May 30. He's 0-1 with a 5.60 ERA in three career starts in the series.


Oakland fell 2-1 to visiting Seattle on Sunday. Rookie Chris Bassitt, making his second start in place of Gray, gave up two runs in 5 2-3 innings but the A's struggled offensively for the second straight game.


"We go in streaks, where we're not so good and other streaks where we're really good," said manager Bob Melvin, whose team has scored three runs in the past two.


"We're just trying to win as many games as we can (before the All-Star) break here and try to sneak up closer to .500, more than anything."


Brett Gardner is 3 for 6 against Gray.


Ike Davis is 5 for 13 with two home runs, two doubles and three walks off Eovaldi, while Josh Reddick is 3 for 7 in the matchup.


Yankees closer Andrew Miller could return from a strained forearm that's kept him out since May 20.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Athletics at Yankees
Tue, Jul 7 - 7:05PM EDT


GAME 2
Athletics at Yankees
Wed, Jul 8 - 7:05PM EDT


GAME 3
Athletics at Yankees
Thu, Jul 9 - 1:05PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Reds (37-44) at Nationals (46-37)
Game: 2
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: July 07, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

Offense has been tough to come by all season for the Washington Nationals against the Cincinnati Reds.


Now it's the Reds who could have some trouble Tuesday night when Max Scherzer takes the mound for the Nationals.


Washington (46-37) had its home winning streak snapped at nine with a 3-2 loss in Monday's series opener. The Nationals had averaged 4.4 runs during a 12-3 stretch before again being held in check by the Reds (37-44), who snapped a three-game skid.


Cincinnati allowed just five hits and has outscored Washington 24-11 while taking all four meetings this year. The Nationals are hitting .206 in the series and the Nos. 3-5 hitters Monday were a combined 0 for 10.


Washington could be poised to turn the tables on the Reds, though, with Scherzer (9-6, 1.82 ERA) getting the ball.


The right-hander went the distance just once in 198 starts entering the season, but is second in the majors with three complete games - all coming over his last four outings. He's 3-1 with a 1.05 ERA in that span, giving up 11 hits and one walk in 34 1-3 innings.


It's that recent dominance especially - including a no-hitter against Pittsburgh on June 20 - that has Scherzer looking like the frontrunner to start for the NL in next Tuesday's All-Star Game. He leads the league in ERA, innings pitched and strikeouts.


Scherzer hasn't had a base on balls in three straight games and is walking only 1.06 batters per nine innings after never posting a rate lower than 2.35 prior to this season.


"The only thing I've done differently is that I'm attacking the strike zone even more," Scherzer told MLB's official website.


"Because I'm pounding the zone, the hitters are reacting to that and they are more aggressive earlier in the count. They are trying to put the ball in play earlier in the count. It's feeding itself, so I'm getting quicker outs. When you get quicker outs and you don't walk guys, then you are pitching deeper in the game."


Scherzer has faced Cincinnati only once, giving up one run over six innings in Arizona's 2-1 loss Sept. 14, 2008.


Washington is also in for a challenge against Johnny Cueto (5-5, 2.84), who is seeking his second consecutive All-Star nod as one of five candidates for the final NL spot.


With Cincinnati well out of contention and Cueto in the final year of his deal, speculation about a possible trade continues to swirl. If it's been a distraction for the right-hander, he hasn't shown it.


He comes off one of his best outings of the year, limiting Minnesota to one run and four hits over eight innings in a 2-1 victory Wednesday.


"Sometimes when it looks unrealistic to have a player return, I hope everyone has a chance to step back and enjoy what they're seeing," manager Bryan Price said. " ... But I do think we're seeing a really special pitcher right now. And regardless of where he ends up, if it's in Cincinnati or somewhere else, he's a special pitcher to watch."


Cueto, who hasn't won on the road since May 9, is 6-3 with a 4.06 ERA in 10 career starts against the Nationals, recording a quality start in five of the last six.


Washington's Denard Span and Yunel Escobar left Monday's game. Manager Matt Williams said Span was bothered by back spasms and Escobar was dealing with a tight hamstring, though he didn't comment on the seriousness of the injuries. Span is 5 for 10 off Cueto.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Reds at Nationals
Mon, Jul 6 Final 3 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Reds at Nationals
Tue, Jul 7 - 7:05PM EDT


GAME 3
Reds at Nationals
Wed, Jul 8 - 7:05PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Padres (39-46) at Pirates (48-34)
Game: 2
Venue: PNC Park
Date: July 07, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

The San Diego Padres are still struggling offensively, and a matchup with Francisco Liriano likely won't help matters.


They'll try to avoid matching their longest losing streak of the season Tuesday night against Liriano and the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.


Neither team was overly impressive at the plate in Monday's series opener, combining for 12 hits and going 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position. Pedro Alvarez's single with two outs in the ninth was the difference in Pittsburgh's 2-1 victory.


"Just trying to focus on the task at hand which was going up there and trying to get the job done, no matter who it was," said Alvarez, who is married to the daughter of Padres interim manager Pat Murphy.


The lackluster showing was rarer for the Pirates (48-34), who have won eight of 10 and are averaging 4.6 runs in their last nine. The Padres (39-46), meanwhile, have dropped three in a row and have scored two runs or fewer in six of seven.


All-Star Justin Upton and Matt Kemp are a combined 5 for 45 with 16 strikeouts in that span, and their history versus Liriano (5-6, 2.99 ERA) doesn't bode well. Kemp is 0 for 11 off the left-hander, while Upton is 1 for 10.


Liriano is 4-2 with a 1.98 ERA over his last eight games, completing seven or more innings in five of the last six. He put the clamps on a much better offense Thursday, limiting Detroit to five hits over seven scoreless innings in an 8-4 road victory.


The left-hander's .190 opponents' batting average is baseball's second-lowest behind Max Scherzer (.181).


Liriano struck out 11 over six scoreless innings in a 6-2 loss at Petco Park on May 29 and is 1-2 with a 1.97 ERA in five career starts against San Diego.


The Pirates put Josh Harrison on the 15-day disabled list Monday due to a left thumb injury, and it's unclear how long he'll be out. Though the third baseman has underwhelmed with a .279 batting average after hitting .315 and earning an All-Star nod last season, he was batting .333 over his past 25 games and is tied for second on the team with 20 doubles.


Gregory Polanco was 1 for 4 while hitting in Harrison's customary leadoff spot Monday, while Jung Ho Kang started at third and also went 1 for 4.


Starling Marte, who is second on the team with 44 runs, didn't play and is day to day after leaving Sunday's win over Cleveland with discomfort in his left side.


Tyson Ross (5-7, 3.63) has excelled lately for San Diego despite a generous amount of walks. He's 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA in his last three outings while walking 11 in 21 innings.


One reason he's been able to survive the walks is his ability to limit home runs. His 0.27 homers allowed per nine innings is the second-lowest rate in the majors behind A.J. Burnett (0.24), and he hasn't given up a home run in his last 12 outings, spanning 74 innings.


Ross walked five Thursday at St. Louis, but limited the Cardinals to three runs over six innings in a 5-3, 11-inning win.


Pittsburgh is one of baseball's least patient teams in terms of drawing walks, averaging one every 14.8 plate appearances. Ross is 1-2 with a 3.55 ERA in four starts against the Pirates. He allowed three runs over six innings in a 5-2 loss May 30.


Jordy Mercer, 18 for 44 over his last 11 games, is 5 for 8 off Ross.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Padres at Pirates
Mon, Jul 6 Final 1 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Padres at Pirates
Tue, Jul 7 - 7:05PM EDT


GAME 3
Padres at Pirates
Wed, Jul 8 - 7:05PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Marlins (35-48) at Red Sox (39-45)
Game: 1
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: July 07, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

Nearly two weeks without Dustin Pedroia hasn't stopped the Boston Red Sox from having one of their better offensive stretches of the season.


The Miami Marlins are beginning to have troubles without Giancarlo Stanton in their lineup.


Boston looks to stay hot at the plate while seeking a seventh victory in nine games in the opener of a two-game series with the visiting Marlins on Tuesday night.


Pedroia hasn't played since June 24 because of a hamstring injury that landed him on the disabled list, although he's increased activity recently and could return soon.


That should provide a boost for a Red Sox team whose 5.6 runs per game have been the catalyst for a 6-2 stretch. Boston (39-45) is on the verge of recording at least 10 hits in five straight games for the first time since June 21-26, 2013, after finishing with 10 in Sunday's 5-4 win over Houston.


Hanley Ramirez had a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh while Pablo Sandoval and Ryan Hanigan (two RBIs) had three hits. Hanigan played in his third game since coming off the 60-day disabled list with a fractured right hand.


"Offensively, we've been doing way better the past couple of weeks," said David Ortiz, who started a non-interleague game at first base for the first time since 2006 in place of the struggling Mike Napoli. "I think we've been kind of starting to work into that good offensive team that everybody expected us to be."


Marlins manager Dan Jennings expects more from his club despite the loss of Stanton, who leads the majors with 27 home runs. Miami (35-48) won five of six immediately after Stanton fractured his left wrist June 26, but it couldn't get much going during a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs.


The Marlins dropped the final two at Wrigley Field, 7-2 on Saturday and 2-0 on Sunday. They sent Marcell Ozuna, who was expected to help replace some of Stanton's pop in the lineup, to Triple-A New Orleans following the finale.


Ozuna was mired in a 1-for-36 slump and went hitless in his last 19 at-bats. Dee Gordon, voted an All-Star starter along with Stanton, went 0 for 4 and is batting .182 in eight games with Stanton sidelined.


Gordon led the majors with a .356 average before Stanton's injury but has dropped to .339.


'It's frustrating right now,' Jennings said. 'We were on such a good momentum run. There's enough talent in here to win. It's about executing when the opportunity presents itself.'


Facing Wade Miley (8-7, 4.53 ERA) might not help matters. The left-hander is 2-2 with a 0.93 ERA in four career starts against the Marlins after allowing one earned run and striking out nine in seven innings of a 2-1 loss Aug. 16 while with Arizona.


Miley wasn't as sharp Thursday, giving up four runs and tying a career high with seven walks in five innings of Boston's 12-6 win over Toronto. He went 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA over his previous three starts.


Dan Haren (6-5, 3.45) is 0-3 with a 4.50 ERA in his last four after giving up three earned runs in 5 2-3 innings Wednesday before Miami rallied for a 6-5 win over San Francisco.


The right-hander has thrown at least 100 pitches in each outing despite going into the seven only once.


Ortiz has three homers off Haren, who hasn't faced the Red Sox since 2011 while with the Los Angeles Angels.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Marlins at Red Sox
Tue, Jul 7 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 2
Marlins at Red Sox
Wed, Jul 8 - 7:10PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Astros (49-36) at Indians (38-44)
Game: 2
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: July 07, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

Corey Kluber has again been one of baseball's best pitchers this season, though his record doesn't show it.


The right-hander tries to break a string of tough luck and record his first victory in seven outings Tuesday night when the Cleveland Indians host the Houston Astros.


Kluber (3-9, 3.64) owns one of the majors' worst records despite being among its leaders in strikeouts, innings pitched and Fielding Independent Pitching. He's 0-4 with a 3.86 ERA in six outings since his last victory May 28.


No one has a lower ERA with more losses than Kluber, whose 2.43 run-support average is the second-lowest in baseball behind Cole Hamels' 2.38. Only four pitchers since 1993 have lost 10 games before the All-Star break while sporting a 3.64 ERA or lower. The last was San Diego's Tyson Ross, who was 7-10 with a 2.85 ERA before last season's break.


Kluber, who has been left off the AL All-Star team, struck out 14 while giving up three earned runs in eight innings in Thursday's 5-4, 10-inning win at Tampa Bay. He is 2-0 in the six games in which he has struck out 10-plus.


Kluber's walks and hits per innings pitched (1.14) is only marginally higher than last year's (1.09) when he won the Cy Young, yet he's on pace to win 12 fewer games.


"His record doesn't show anywhere near what he's been able to do," shortstop Mike Aviles told MLB's official website. "It's just we haven't been able to score runs for him. Honestly, that's really what it comes down to."


Kluber lost to Houston on opening day, giving up two runs over 7 1-3 innings in a 2-0 road defeat. He had been 3-0 with a 1.65 ERA in three previous matchups with the Astros, including two starts. He's fanned 31 in 23 2-3 innings against them.


The Astros (49-36) opened the four-game series with a 9-4 victory on Monday. Dallas Keuchel continued to make his case to start for the AL in next week's All-Star Game, notching his league-leading 11th win.


Preston Tucker was 4 for 5 with his fifth home run, while Jose Altuve went 2 for 4, extending his hitting streak to a career best-matching 14 games. Altuve is 21 for 56 (.375) with 15 runs in that stretch.


The loss for the Indians (38-44) was their third straight, though Jason Kipnis, selected as Altuve's backup on the All-Star team, extended his home hitting streak to 29 games with a single.


Vincent Velasquez (0-0, 4.21 ERA) makes his sixth career start after completing 6 1-3 innings in back-to-back outings, though he's still seeking his first win. The righty allowed four runs and matched a season high with seven strikeouts in Houston's 6-5 victory against Kansas City on Wednesday.


A sixth straight start without a decision would match the longest drought to open a career dating back to 1914, set previously by Hideo Nomo (1995), Marc Valdes (1995-96) and Chris Brock (1997).


"We'd like to reward him one of these days with a win," manager A.J. Hinch said. "He pitched well enough to win tonight but obviously the team win is more important."


Astros third baseman Luis Valbuena, who leads the club with 19 homers, is day to day after sitting out Monday. An X-ray showed a sprained left big toe, aggravated during a home plate collision Sunday at Boston.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Astros at Indians
Mon, Jul 6 Final 9 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Astros at Indians
Tue, Jul 7 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Astros at Indians
Wed, Jul 8 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 4
Astros at Indians
Thu, Jul 9 - 7:10PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Diamondbacks (40-42) at Rangers (41-42)
Game: 1
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: July 07, 2015 8:05 PM EDT

Yovani Gallardo watched as three Texas starters allowed 21 runs in 10 2-3 innings while the Rangers were swept over the weekend.


That's 21 more than he's given up in nearly triple the time.


Gallardo looks to extend the majors' longest scoreless streak of the season Tuesday night as the Rangers begin a two-game set against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks.


Texas (41-42) was outscored 33-8 in three games against the Los Angeles Angels, culminating with Sunday's 12-6 defeat as Colby Lewis gave up 10 runs in four innings.


The Rangers, who have lost six straight at home, dipped below .500 for the first time since May 29.


"We were in a very similar situation earlier in the season," manager Jeff Banister said. "You find a way to regroup, continue to play, continue to play for each other and challenge each other to get better every day."


Gallardo (7-6, 2.56 ERA) had his own early struggles, posting a 4.26 ERA through his first nine starts, but he's since gone 4-0 with a 0.88 ERA in eight outings. He hasn't surrendered a run in 29 1-3 innings after allowing an RBI groundout in the fourth against Oakland on June 10.


The right-hander gave up two hits in six innings of Thursday's 2-0 win at Baltimore, marking the fifth time in six outings he hasn't allowed an earned run.


"Early in the year I was being too fine with my pitches, trying to make the perfect pitch," Gallardo said. "Now I am being aggressive in the zone and making guys swing the bat the last month."


Arizona connected more than Gallardo would've liked on April 22, when he allowed a season-worst five runs - three earned - in five innings and took the loss in an 8-5 defeat. He went 7-0 with a 1.86 ERA in his first 10 starts against the Diamondbacks.


Paul Goldschmidt entered that contest 5 for 7 off Gallardo before going hitless in two at-bats, but he did record an RBI groundout. Goldschmidt, voted in by the fans to start the All-Star Game, failed to come through Sunday, though, striking out to end a 6-4 loss to Colorado with the tying run on first base.


Yasmany Tomas homered and drove in three runs while Nick Ahmed went 3 for 5 for the Diamondbacks (40-42), who won the first three games of the series but failed in their 12th attempt to reach .500 for the first time since they were 8-8 on April 24.


Arizona looks to bounce back as it sends the struggling Robbie Ray to the hill.


Ray (2-4, 2.55) went 1-1 with a 0.96 ERA in three starts after being recalled from the minors June 4, but he's lost his last three while posting a 4.58 ERA. He allowed four runs in six innings of Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.


"It's baseball. It's going to happen," Ray said. "This game will humble you real quick, so I'm just trying to stay even keel and know what I need to work on going into the next outing."


The left-hander might not have to face Josh Hamilton, who sat out two of three games against the Angels with a mild groin issue. Banister said Hamilton won't go on the disabled list after he returned Tuesday from a month-long stay on the DL with a strained left hamstring.


Arizona split two games with Texas in April, but it has dropped nine of 10 meetings in Arlington since 2000.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Diamondbacks at Rangers
Tue, Jul 7 - 8:05PM EDT


GAME 2
Diamondbacks at Rangers
Wed, Jul 8 - 8:05PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Cardinals (54-28) at Cubs (44-37)
Game: 2
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: July 07, 2015 8:05 PM EDT

The St. Louis Cardinals continued their dominance over the Chicago Cubs even after failing to register a hit for much of their series opener at Wrigley Field.


The Cubs' scuffling lineup squandered a superb pitching effort but will try to redeem itself with Jake Arrieta attempting to produce another brilliant start against the Cardinals in Tuesday's opener to a doubleheader.


St. Louis (54-28) continued to play big brother to the upstart Cubs (44-37) with a 6-0 victory Monday, scoring all of its runs in the final three innings. The Cardinals didn't record their first hit on Jon Lester until Jhonny Peralta's grounder proved too tough for Chicago third baseman Kris Bryant to handle with one out in the seventh.


Bryant followed with a throwing error that would open the door for St. Louis to plate two runs in the inning, and the Cardinals would get four more in the ninth in improving to 8-2 in the season series. The Cubs totaled six hits - one for extra bases - and have totaled five runs in five consecutive losses to the Cardinals.


"They've had our number. I definitely admit to that," Chicago manager Joe Maddon said. "There's a long way to go yet."


Chicago is batting .204 with 30 runs in its last 14 games and has been limited to two or fewer in all but three. Anthony Rizzo, named to his second All-Star team Monday, is 4 for 32 (.125) in his last nine games and 2 for 18 in his last five against St. Louis.


That's not too shocking as the Cardinals, owners of an MLB-best 2.56 ERA, have a 1.67 mark in their last 12 games with their starters posting a 1.37 ERA. The best team in the majors, though, isn't taking this series lightly.


"(The Cubs are) definitely a talented team," pitcher John Lackey said. "They've got some young guys that have potential really good players. We've got to keep playing well."


The Cubs will seek to avoid dropping six in a row to St. Louis in one season for the first time since 2011.


Arrieta is 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA in his last three starts - while getting a combined 16 runs of support - but couldn't get a win over the Cardinals on June 26.


Arrieta (8-5, 2.80 ERA) allowed one run and three hits in seven innings while striking out seven in a 3-2 loss in 10 innings. Since joining the Cubs in July 2013, the right-hander is 3-1 with a 1.48 ERA in eight starts against the Cardinals and 3-0 with a 0.56 ERA in five matchups at Wrigley.


Arrieta also yielded three hits over seven innings in a 2-0 win there April 8, but has gone 1-4 with a 3.96 ERA in his six subsequent home starts.


He'll pitch opposite Tyler Lyons (2-0, 5.09), who is filling in for an injured Jaime Garcia. Lyons won each of his two starts after being called up from the minors June 12 and will make his third against the Cubs.


The left-hander was charged with four runs in 4 1-3 innings in a 7-4 victory against the Cubs on May 5.


Tim Cooney (0-0, 5.40) is slated to start the finale for St. Louis while right-hander Dallas Beeler is expected to be called up to make his third career start for the Cubs and first since July 9, 2014.


Cooney gave up three runs in six innings in a 5-3 loss to San Diego on Thursday, the left-hander's second MLB start. Beeler went 0-2 with a 3.27 ERA in his two last season.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Cardinals at Cubs
Mon, Jul 6 Final 6 to 0
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Cardinals at Cubs
Tue, Jul 7 - 8:05PM EDT ( GAME # 2 OF DH )


GAME 3
Cardinals at Cubs
Wed, Jul 8 - 8:05PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Blue Jays (43-42) at White Sox (37-43)
Game: 2
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: July 07, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

Although Jose Quintana has baseball's fourth-worst run support average, he hasn't needed much in the past against the Toronto Blue Jays.


The Blue Jays own MLB's best batting average against left-handers but have a poor history against Quintana heading into Tuesday night's matchup with the Chicago White Sox.


Quintana (4-7, 3.81 ERA) has received an average of 2.72 runs of support, getting just one or two runs over seven home starts in which he's gone 1-3 with a 3.52 ERA.


The left-hander is 4-0 with a 1.59 ERA in his last five starts against Toronto, which is batting .302 against southpaws. Edwin Encarnacion is 3 for 10 with a homer against him and Jose Bautista has a homer in seven at-bats.


Josh Donaldson, batting a team-best .343 against lefties, is 2 for 6 off Quintana.


Quintana limited St. Louis to one run in six innings with eight strikeouts to earn last Wednesday's 7-1 road victory.


Chicago (37-43) is hitting an AL-worst .225 against left-handers and will face Felix Doubront (0-0, 3.86), who makes his first start since Sept. 20 for the Chicago Cubs. Doubront went 4-5 with a 4.84 ERA last year in 14 starts for Boston and the Cubs.


He pitched two innings of one-hit relief against the White Sox last season after going 2-1 with a 4.15 ERA in four starts against them over the two previous years. Melky Cabrera is 3 for 8 against him and is the only Chicago hitter with a homer in the matchup.


Toronto (43-42) faced the first of three straight lefties to begin this four-game set, losing 4-2 to Chris Sale on Monday. Sale pitched a six-hitter, though his streak of striking out at least 10 batters ended at eight straight starts.


The White Sox improved to 5-10 when facing left-handed starters with four unearned runs - three in the eighth inning - against former Chicago starter Mark Buehrle, who previously mentored Sale. Buehrle also went the distance in a contest that had no walks and lasted 1 hour, 54 minutes - the shortest game in four years.


"It was fantastic. Both of them were fantastic," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "It was a great ballgame. Got away there at the end."


An error by shortstop Jose Reyes led to Toronto's eighth-inning demise. Jose Abreu hit a tying RBI single and Cabrera followed with a two-run double.


"It was good for the lineup to do that and pick him (Sale) up," Chicago manager Robin Ventura said.


Donaldson and Chris Colabello each had solo homers to give the Blue Jays 112 - baseball's second-highest total. The White Sox are tied with Kansas City for last in the AL at 58.


"They're a powerful lineup, that lineup's not a joke, they've put some crooked numbers on a lot of people," Ventura said.


Cabrera is hitting .400 with a 1.096 OPS over his last 13 games as he continues to turn around his season. He had baseball's third-worst OPS at .557 at the end of May and the worst slugging percentage at .276.


GAME 1
Blue Jays at White Sox
Mon, Jul 6 Final 2 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Blue Jays at White Sox
Tue, Jul 7 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Blue Jays at White Sox
Wed, Jul 8 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 4
Blue Jays at White Sox
Thu, Jul 9 - 2:10PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Rays (43-41) at Royals (46-33)
Game: 2
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: July 07, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

Chris Young is enduring some home woes for the Kansas City Royals, while the Tampa Bay Rays' Matt Moore needs to put a wild season debut behind him.


Kansas City's Edinson Volquez can relate to desiring a bounce-back effort after arguably his worst outing of the season.


Volquez will get the start in the nightcap of a day-night doubleheader after Young and Moore meet in Tuesday's opener in Kansas City.


Tornado warnings Monday postponed the opener of this four-game set. The clubs re-arranged their rotations, with Young (7-4, 2.64 ERA) and Moore (0-0, 7.71) matching up to start this series before Volquez (8-4, 3.48) faces the Rays' Matt Andriese (3-2, 3.24).


Young had been slated to start Tuesday night after Volquez's originally scheduled turn Monday.


"It was the preference of both of them," manager Ned Yost said.


Alex Colome, who was scheduled to start Monday, will work out of the Rays' bullpen. Andriese will be summoned from Triple-A Durham to start Game 2 instead.


"The thought behind that is the way our bullpen is in check right now, we need Matt to increase his innings and have Colome available going forward," manager Kevin Cash said. "If he doesn't pitch first game, he will be available for second game (in relief)."


Young had an 8.40 ERA in losing his last three home outings but was OK in Thursday's 2-0 defeat to Minnesota while being charged with one run in 5 1-3 innings.


The right-hander is 1-2 with a 7.71 ERA in three starts against the Rays (43-41), though one came in 2005. James Loney has the most experience against him among Tampa Bay hitters with a .364 average.


Moore made his first start since undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2014 and allowed four runs over 4 2-3 innings in Thursday's 5-4, 10-inning defeat to Cleveland. He threw three wild pitches for the second time in his career.


"I thought there might have been more nervous body-control type issues, but really it felt normal," he said.


The left-hander is 0-2 with a 5.29 ERA in three starts against the Royals. Alcides Escobar is 4 for 8 against him, but Kansas City may want to rest Alex Gordon, who is 0 for 8.


Volquez again seeks his fifth consecutive victory after he allowed five runs - three coming on two homers - and eight hits in five-plus innings Wednesday before the Royals rallied to get him off the hook in a 6-5 loss to Houston. He posted a 2.96 ERA in winning his previous four outings.


The right-hander is 2-0 with a 2.66 ERA in three starts against the Rays. Tampa Bay shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, who is 13 for 35 in his last 10 games, is 3 for 8 with a homer against Volquez, while Loney is 2 for 15.


Andriese has never faced the Royals or any of their hitters. He is 2-2 with a 3.90 ERA in six starts this year for Tampa Bay.


The Royals (46-33) have taken 14 of the last 19 meetings, including four of six last year and eight of the last nine at home. They enter this series coming off a four-game home split with the Twins.


Lorenzo Cain is Kansas City's hottest hitter, going 11 for 22 in his last six games. No other batter has more than five hits in that span.


Tampa Bay ended a seven-game slide with Sunday's 8-1 rout of the New York Yankees.


Rookie outfielder Steven Souza Jr. exited after he was hit by a pitch on his right hand, but X-rays were negative.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Rays at Royals
Mon, Jul 6 - 8:10PM EDT ( POSTPONE RAIN )
Recaps


GAME 2
Rays at Royals
Tue, Jul 7 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Rays at Royals
Wed, Jul 8 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 4
Rays at Royals
Thu, Jul 9 - 2:10PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Braves (41-42) at Brewers (36-49)
Game: 2
Venue: Miller Park
Date: July 07, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

It wasn't opposing hitters that ended Manny Banuelos' major league debut. It was not drinking enough water.


With Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez vowing to keep his left-hander more hydrated Tuesday night, Banuelos will seek his first win when he squares off with another rookie, the Milwaukee Brewers' Tyler Cravy.


Following 110 minor league starts, Banuelos got his first in the majors Thursday and outdueled Washington's Max Scherzer in 5 2-3 scoreless innings. He yielded two hits, fanned seven, walked none and hit two batters in a 2-1 win before being forced to leave because of cramping in his left hand and fingers brought on by dehydration.


"(Banuelos) has really got to drink some fluids the night before and if we have to think of some other things, we'll do it," Gonzalez told MLB's official website.


Banuelos will next face a team that had a season-best eight-game win streak snapped in Monday's opener at Miller Park. Milwaukee (36-49) batted .353 with 58 runs during its win streak but Atlanta had nearly twice as many hits as the Brewers, 15 to 8, in a 5-3 victory.


The Braves (41-42) have won six of eight and won for the fourth time in 14 road games.


A.J. Pierzynski had four hits - giving him seven in the past two games - while Kelly Johnson hit a two-run homer and an RBI single. Atlanta had averaged 2.2 runs over its previous 13 games, which includes scoring nine in a win over Philadelphia on Saturday.


That stretch has come while Freddie Freeman has been dealing with a bruised right wrist. The Braves averaged 4.3 runs in 66 games before the injury to Freeman, who still has team highs of 12 homers and 41 RBIs.


The Braves have taken nine of the last 11 meetings with Milwaukee (36-49) and are seeking a fourth consecutive road win in the series.


Cravy (0-1, 2.00) will try to prevent that in his second career start and third appearance. The right-hander is getting the call after Matt Garza was placed on the disabled list Monday because of right shoulder tendinitis.


Cravy allowed one run in seven innings and struck out six in his major league debut June 2 in St. Louis but took a 1-0 defeat. He pitched two innings in relief in a 12-1 rout in Cincinnati on Friday, the same day he was recalled from the minors.


"He pitched one of the better starts of the year really, the game he pitched in St. Louis, against the best team in the game. I feel good about putting him out there, for sure," manager Craig Counsell said. "He's got a lot of composure. It's a nice trait that he has, too."


Cravy might want to be careful pitching to Cameron Maybin, batting .366 in his last 11 games, and Juan Uribe, .355 in his past nine.


Milwaukee's Gerardo Parra is 13 for 26 in a string of six consecutive multihit games to begin this month. He's also batting .403 in his last 18 games, but has a .184 average in his 11 against Atlanta since the start of last season.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Braves at Brewers
Mon, Jul 6 Final 5 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Braves at Brewers
Tue, Jul 7 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Braves at Brewers
Wed, Jul 8 - 2:10PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Orioles (43-40) at Twins (44-39)
Game: 2
Venue: Target Field
Date: July 07, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

The Minnesota Twins relied solely on the home run to top the Baltimore Orioles in the opening contest of a three-game series, but now facing a red-hot Kevin Gausman, the AL Central contenders may need to seek out a different method of production.


Whatever the route, Brian Dozier figures to again be a focal point Tuesday night when the Twins try for their first consecutive wins in nearly three weeks.


Torii Hunter and Aaron Hicks each hit homers Monday, and Dozier delivered the walk-off two-run shot as Minnesota (44-39) defeated Baltimore 4-2 in 10 innings. The Twins have five home runs in their last three games, accounting for seven of their 11 total runs.


In his last four at home, Dozier has six RBIs and a 1.039 OPS. He leads the AL with 46 extra-base hits and his 17 home runs are the most among second basemen. Those numbers were not enough to include him in the AL's initial All-Star game roster, although Dozier could still be added courtesy of the Final Vote.


"He's been the best second baseman in baseball for the last year and a half," closer Glen Perkins told MLB's official website. "He's an All-Star player."


Dozier's powerful display could be difficult to replicate against Gausman (1-0, 3.09 ERA), who has not allowed a home run in his last 17 1-3 innings - a streak that dates back to April 19.


The right-hander impressed in his second start of the season, tossing 6 1-3 shutout innings and matching a career high with seven strikeouts in a 2-0 loss to Texas on Thursday. He has similarly excelled in his last four relief appearances, tallying six scoreless innings before landing on the DL May 8 with right shoulder tendinitis.


Gausman has a 2.04 ERA over six starts dating back to Sept. 6, and following his most recent performance, manager Buck Showalter opted to keep the 24-year-old in the rotation and move Bud Norris to the bullpen.


"We like Kevin and we think he's a guy on a given night that gives us a good chance to win," Showalter said. "As evidenced by his last outing and a lot of outings, he's been doing it for a while. Obviously, we are all about this year and today's game and tomorrow's game, but you are thinking down the road, too."


He shouldn't count on much run support from his teammates, with the Orioles totaling 24 runs - nine coming in one game - during a 2-6 stretch. Baltimore (43-40) is 6 for 53 (.113) with runners in scoring position in that eight-game span after going hitless in eight opportunities Monday.


Monday's victory was the third straight at home for Minnesota, which has won't won two in a row overall since a three-game run June 17-19.


Kyle Gibson (6-6, 3.04) looks to continue a string of solid outings for the Twins.


The right-hander tossed four-hit ball over eight innings and struck out seven in a 2-0 win at Kansas City on Thursday. It was the second straight win for Gibson, who has a 2.45 ERA in his past four starts.


"He's had a couple really good starts after a couple that were less in terms of command and things like that," manager Paul Molitor said. "But he's developed a really good mentality about how he goes out there and the way he wants to perform to give our team a chance."


Joe Mauer is 17 for 40 (.425) with 12 RBIs in his last 11 games against the Orioles.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Orioles at Twins
Mon, Jul 6 Final 2 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Orioles at Twins
Tue, Jul 7 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Orioles at Twins
Wed, Jul 8 - 1:10PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Angels (44-38) at Rockies (35-47)
Game: 1
Venue: Coors Field
Date: July 07, 2015 8:40 PM EDT

The Los Angeles Angels' first two games with the Colorado Rockies this season ended in the same fashion as nearly every meeting of the past five years - with a victory.


The surging Angels will turn to Andrew Heaney to continue that dominance Tuesday night against a Rockies team fresh off a disappointing road trip.


Los Angeles (44-38) has won seven straight versus Colorado (35-47) - tied for its second-longest active winning streak against any opponent, trailing only Philadelphia (9) - and last dropped a meeting at Coors Field in 1999. The Angels extended that run with two May victories over the Rockies, allowing three runs.


Heaney (1-0, 1.38 ERA) has been similarly stifling in two starts with Los Angeles, earning his first career victory last Tuesday with seven innings of two-hit ball in a 2-1 win over the New York Yankees.


The left-hander, who posted a 6.93 ERA in five starts last season while with Miami, has limited opposing batters to .136 average in his two outings this year since joining the rotation in place of the injured Jered Weaver.


"I was kind of fighting my own mechanics, fighting myself on the mound (in spring training)," Heaney told MLB's official website. "Here I've felt comfortable, and I've felt like I'm able to go out there and for the most part execute a game plan."


One of Heaney's primary challenge will be with Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez, who combined to go 3 for 17 in the two losses to Los Angeles, yet enter Tuesday's contest after each hitting a home run in Colorado's 6-4 win Sunday against Arizona.


The Rockies entered the 10-game trip averaging 4.6 runs, but reached that number only three times en route to a 3-7 record.


"You look at any team, when you look at the middle of their lineup and both guys hit, the team's record is probably real good," said Tulowitzki. " ... I hope the power stroke shows up."


For the most part, Tulowitzki has upheld his end of that bargain. Despite only two home runs since June 9, the shortstop has an 18-game hitting streak with a .371 average and .907 OPS in that span.


Gonzalez, however, had slumped prior to Sunday's three-hit performance, batting .103 in his previous eight games.


Generating offense hasn't been an issue lately for the Angels, who scored 33 runs and had 47 hits in a three-game sweep of Texas. Los Angeles rolled to a 12-6 victory Sunday for its seventh win in eight games, as Albert Pujols hit his AL-best 25th home run and Kole Calhoun had four RBIs.


Calhoun has three straight two-hit games, knocking in 10 runs in that span.


The Angels' starting pitching also performed well, notching a quality start in each of the three wins.


"We really broke out this series, no doubt," manager Mike Scioscia said. "I think what I'm going to carry away from this series is really how well we pitched against a team that can really swing it. I thought we pitched really well this series and gave us a chance, and our offense blossomed."


Chad Bettis (4-3, 3.67) will try to slow Los Angeles' bats in his first appearance against the team. The right-hander fell just shy of a third straight quality start Wednesday, allowing three runs and seven hits over 5 2-3 innings in a 4-1 loss at Oakland.


Bettis has been far better at Coors Field this season, touting a 2.84 in five starts compared with a 4.55 mark on the road.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Angels at Rockies
Tue, Jul 7 - 8:40PM EDT


GAME 2
Angels at Rockies
Wed, Jul 8 - 8:40PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Tigers (42-40) at Mariners (38-45)
Game: 2
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: July 07, 2015 10:10 PM EDT

The only way Taijuan Walker has been stopped lately was by his own manager, who won't be around to do that this time.


J.D. Martinez and Nick Castellanos may be capable of enjoying success in their first look at the emerging youngster.


Walker looks to win a sixth straight start Tuesday night and he'll face some red-hot Detroit Tigers hitters in Martinez and Castellanos as the Seattle Mariners seek to even this three-game home set.


The 22-year-old right-hander is 5-0 with a 1.67 ERA in his last five outings after yielding one hit in six innings in Wednesday's 7-0 victory at San Diego in which he was lifted after 76 pitches for a pinch-hitter. Walker (7-6, 4.34 ERA) had thrown at least 92 pitches in his previous seven outings.


"He may not like it, but 12 years from now when he's still pitching, he'll thank me," manager Lloyd McClendon said. "He'll say, `The old man knew what he was doing.'"


McClendon is not with the team for this series since he is attending a funeral for his sister. Bench coach Trent Jewett is in charge in his absence.


Walker has gone 27 1-3 innings without issuing a walk with 34 strikeouts in that span. Only one of the outings in his streak has been at home, where he is limiting batters to a .182 average.


He is 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA in two starts against the AL Central this year, though he has never faced the Tigers.


Martinez and Castellanos both enter on seven-game hitting streaks after they helped Detroit (42-40) to a 12-5 victory Monday.


Martinez, second in the AL with 58 RBIs, was 3 for 5 with his 24th homer and two RBIs with three runs scored to improve to 14 for 29 with five homers and 12 RBIs in his streak. Castellanos homered as part of a season-high four hits and matched a season best with four RBIs to improve to 12 for 29 in his run.


The Tigers finished one hit shy of their season-high 20 in a 13-1 rout of Minnesota on May 14. Victor Martinez was 4 for 5 with three runs scored as Detroit improved to 2-1 since Miguel Cabrera was lost Friday to a calf injury.


'I'm a firm believer hitting is always contagious,' said J.D. Martinez, who has 11 homers in his last 13 games. 'You get a couple good guys in the lineup, a couple good at-bats, all of a sudden the pitcher starts losing confidence and everybody else just keeps feeding off of it.'


Detroit may debut Marc Krauss at first base after he was claimed off waivers from Tampa Bay on Monday. Krauss is expected to help the Tigers in Cabrera's absence.


'Gives us another first-base option and a left-handed bat,' manager Brad Ausmus said.


Logan Morrison hit a three-run homer for Seattle (38-45), which led 5-3 after five innings. The Mariners' bullpen was charged with a season-high seven runs in four innings.


All-Star Nelson Cruz was 0 for 4 and is hitless in his last 16 at-bats at home.


Cruz and the Mariners will get their first look at Tigers left-hander Kyle Ryan (1-2, 4.55), who is 0-2 with a 4.71 ERA in four starts this year. Ryan gave up two runs and issued a career-high five walks in four-plus innings as he suffered Thursday's 8-4 loss to Pittsburgh.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Tigers at Mariners
Mon, Jul 6 Final 12 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Tigers at Mariners
Tue, Jul 7 - 10:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Tigers at Mariners
Wed, Jul 8 - 3:40PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Phillies (28-57) at Dodgers (47-37)
Game: 2
Venue: Dodger Stadium
Date: July 07, 2015 10:10 PM EDT

One night after a Los Angeles Dodgers hitter faced his former team for the first time, a Philadelphia Phillies pitcher will get to do the same.


After struggling in his return from the disabled list, Chad Billingsley would appear to have a stiff challenge in his attempt to beat the Dodgers with a red-hot Brett Anderson trying to add to his own comeback story Tuesday night.


Jimmy Rollins, the Phillies' all-time hits leader with 2,306 in 2,090 games, went 2 for 4 with the go-ahead two-run single and scored two runs in his first matchup against them since asking for a trade in December, a 10-7 victory Monday. Yasmani Grandal hit a three-run homer while helping send Philadelphia to its 10th loss in 12 games and 16th in 19 road contests.


Billingsley (0-2, 7.71 ERA) is next on the reunion tour and will face the team he won 81 games for in eight seasons before undergoing a pair of surgeries on his right elbow. The Dodgers (47-37) declined to pick up his option in October, and he was signed by the Phillies (28-57) to a one-year deal in January.


On May 5, the right-hander made his first major league start in 25 months, a 9-0 loss in Atlanta, and went back on the disabled list two weeks later because of a strained right shoulder.


He gave up seven runs and 10 hits in five innings in his return Thursday against Milwaukee, but avoided the loss when the Phillies rallied to force extra innings in an 8-7 defeat.


"He's struggling because he's coming back from issues that he's had. I thought he threw OK, but it's a work in progress," interim manager Pete Mackanin said.


Billingsley - seeking his first win since April 10, 2013 - will not only face a team that had 15 hits in the opener but also have to pitch opposite Anderson (5-4, 3.00), who is in the midst of a stirring resurgence.


Like Billingsley, the Dodgers left-hander endured a Tommy John surgery - in 2011 - along with foot, finger and back ailments since winning 11 games as a rookie with Oakland in 2009.


He's been in magnificent form lately, going 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA in his last three starts, and gave up one run in seven innings while fanning seven in a 4-3 win in Arizona on Wednesday.


"He's been a godsend," catcher A.J. Ellis told MLB's official website. "I don't know where we'd be without him as our No. 3 (starter), and at times he's been a No. 1 or 2."


Anderson will face Philadelphia for the first time and only two Phillies hitters have seen him previously, Ben Revere (1 for 6) and Andres Blanco (1 for 1).


The Dodgers' Howie Kendrick, batting .452 (19 for 42) in his last 10 games, is 4 for 11 (.364) against Billingsley. Rollins is 9 for 26 (.346) including the playoffs.


Philadelphia's Cesar Hernandez is hitting .468 (22 for 47) in a career-best 11-game hit streak.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Phillies at Dodgers
Mon, Jul 6 Final 7 to 10
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Phillies at Dodgers
Tue, Jul 7 - 10:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Phillies at Dodgers
Wed, Jul 8 - 10:10PM EDT


GAME 4
Phillies at Dodgers
Thu, Jul 9 - 10:10PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Mets (43-41) at Giants (42-42)
Game: 2
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: July 07, 2015 10:15 PM EDT

Matt Cain's return to the San Francisco Giants did not go as hoped for the veteran right-hander, but a long-awaited appearance at home could set him on the right track.


Taking the mound Tuesday night at AT&T Park for the first time in nearly a year, Cain will face the New York Mets looking to help end San Francisco's long losing streak.


Cain allowed five runs over five innings in a 5-4 loss at Miami on Thursday in his first start since undergoing right elbow surgery on July 21. He surrendered two homers, had two strikeouts and lasted 89 pitches.


"I think he should be encouraged," manager Bruce Bochy told MLB's official website. "His first four innings, I thought he was pretty good. He's going to get better, building up his strength and stamina. He looks healthy, I'll say that."


The three-time All-Star last pitched in San Francisco (42-42) on July 9 when he beat Oakland. He's 3-2 with a 2.31 ERA in his last eight starts against the Mets (43-41).


San Francisco's losing streak reached seven with Monday's 3-0 loss to New York. Chris Heston allowed three hits in 7 1-3 scoreless innings but Sergio Romo and Santiago Casilla combined to yield all three runs in the ninth inning.


The loss dropped the Giants to .500 for the first time since they were 18-18 on May 15, and another defeat would match their season-worst eight-game skid April 10-17.


With their slumping offense seemingly on the upswing, the Mets have a chance to win their second straight series against the NL West after taking two of three from the Dodgers over the weekend.


'We don't play well on the West Coast, so to get off to a great start on this road trip is huge for us,' manager Terry Collins said. 'It looks like we're starting to get some breaks.'


Collins' team has batted .266 and scored 16 runs in the last four games after hitting .173 and totaling 17 runs in the previous 10 contests.


Wilmer Flores is 12 for 20 with five RBIs in his last five games.


New York's rotation has also been very good lately, posting a 1.34 ERA since June 25. Bartolo Colon (9-6, 4.55 ERA) contributed to that with seven scoreless innings in a 2-0, 11-inning loss to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday.


The right-hander compiled an 8.71 ERA in his two previous starts.


Colon is 2-0 with a 2.70 in three career starts in San Francisco, but was roughed up for six runs over 4 2-3 innings in a 9-0 loss Aug. 3 at Citi Field in his most recent matchup with the Giants.


San Francisco' Joe Panik, who was named to his first All-Star team Monday, did not play in the series opener, but is 9 for 18 with four runs in his last four meetings with the Mets.


Jenrry Mejia expects to return to the Mets' bullpen on Tuesday. The right-hander was New York's projected closer entering the season, but was given an 80-game suspension after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

 

[CNOTES]

Rays-Royals Preview
Game Time 2:10 EST
Game # 1 of 2


(AP) -- Chris Young is enduring some home woes for the Kansas City Royals, while the Tampa Bay Rays' Matt Moore needs to put a wild season debut behind him.


Kansas City's Edinson Volquez can relate to desiring a bounce-back effort after arguably his worst outing of the season.


Volquez will get the start in the nightcap of a day-night doubleheader after Young and Moore meet in Tuesday's opener in Kansas City.


Tornado warnings Monday postponed the opener of this four-game set. The clubs re-arranged their rotations, with Young (7-4, 2.64 ERA) and Moore (0-0, 7.71) matching up to start this series before Volquez (8-4, 3.48) faces the Rays' Matt Andriese (3-2, 3.24).


Young had been slated to start Tuesday night after Volquez's originally scheduled turn Monday.


"It was the preference of both of them," manager Ned Yost said.


Alex Colome, who was scheduled to start Monday, will work out of the Rays' bullpen. Andriese will be summoned from Triple-A Durham to start Game 2 instead.


"The thought behind that is the way our bullpen is in check right now, we need Matt to increase his innings and have Colome available going forward," manager Kevin Cash said. "If he doesn't pitch first game, he will be available for second game (in relief)."


Young had an 8.40 ERA in losing his last three home outings but was OK in Thursday's 2-0 defeat to Minnesota while being charged with one run in 5 1-3 innings.


The right-hander is 1-2 with a 7.71 ERA in three starts against the Rays (43-41), though one came in 2005. James Loney has the most experience against him among Tampa Bay hitters with a .364 average.


Moore made his first start since undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2014 and allowed four runs over 4 2-3 innings in Thursday's 5-4, 10-inning defeat to Cleveland. He threw three wild pitches for the second time in his career.


"I thought there might have been more nervous body-control type issues, but really it felt normal," he said.


The left-hander is 0-2 with a 5.29 ERA in three starts against the Royals. Alcides Escobar is 4 for 8 against him, but Kansas City may want to rest Alex Gordon, who is 0 for 8.


Volquez again seeks his fifth consecutive victory after he allowed five runs - three coming on two homers - and eight hits in five-plus innings Wednesday before the Royals rallied to get him off the hook in a 6-5 loss to Houston. He posted a 2.96 ERA in winning his previous four outings.


The right-hander is 2-0 with a 2.66 ERA in three starts against the Rays. Tampa Bay shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, who is 13 for 35 in his last 10 games, is 3 for 8 with a homer against Volquez, while Loney is 2 for 15.


Andriese has never faced the Royals or any of their hitters. He is 2-2 with a 3.90 ERA in six starts this year for Tampa Bay.


The Royals (46-33) have taken 14 of the last 19 meetings, including four of six last year and eight of the last nine at home. They enter this series coming off a four-game home split with the Twins.


Lorenzo Cain is Kansas City's hottest hitter, going 11 for 22 in his last six games. No other batter has more than five hits in that span.


Tampa Bay ended a seven-game slide with Sunday's 8-1 rout of the New York Yankees.


Rookie outfielder Steven Souza Jr. exited after he was hit by a pitch on his right hand, but X-rays were negative.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Rays at Royals
Mon, Jul 6 - 8:10PM EDT ( post pone rain )
Recaps


GAME 2
Rays at Royals
Tue, Jul 7 - 8:10PM EDT ( game 1 of 2 )


GAME 3
Rays at Royals
Wed, Jul 8 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 4
Rays at Royals
Thu, Jul 9 - 2:10PM EDT