MLB Betting Info - Thursday 4/21

[NewYorkKnight]

Seattle Mariners (5-8) at Cleveland Indians (6-5)

DATE/TIME: Thursday, April 21 - 12:10 PM EST

WHERE: Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio



The Seattle Mariners are showing improvement on the mound this season and starter Nathan Karns hopes to continue that trend Thursday, when he takes on the host Cleveland Indians in the rubber match of their three-game series. Seattle owns a 2.35 ERA on the road this month after Taijuan Walker and three relievers gave up one unearned run and three hits to edge Cleveland 2-1 on Wednesday.

The Mariners finished 22nd in the majors last year with an overall ERA of 4.16 and especially struggled on the road (4.63), but they have allowed just 13 runs while winning four of their last six contests. The Indians came into the season with a highly regarded pitching staff but have yet to string together more than two victories and Thursday starter Cody Anderson must rebound from a rough start last time out. Cleveland managed only a sacrifice fly from Jason Kipnis on Wednesday as it went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position. The Indians are just 3-4 at home to open the season and take off for a nine-game road trip that begins Friday.

TV: 12:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Seattle), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Nathan Karns (1-1, 4.50 ERA) vs. Indians RH Cody Anderson (0-1, 5.91)

Karns held the New York Yankees to one run and five hits on Friday for his first victory with the Mariners but lasted only five frames after issuing four walks. The 28-year-old Texas Tech product has struck out 13 in 10 innings this season and went 3-1 with a 3.05 ERA on the road in 2015 with Tampa Bay. Kipnis is 4-for-6 with a pair of doubles versus Karns, who was 1-1 with a 2.38 ERA against Cleveland last year.

Anderson struggled last time out against the New York Mets, allowing five runs and nine hits over 4 2/3 innings to take the loss after a strong season debut. The 25-year-old Californian limited the Chicago White Sox to two runs in six frames on April 9, but his first two opponents have batted a combined .319 against him. Adam Lind is 2-for-4 with a homer versus Anderson, who faces Seattle for the first time.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cleveland OF Lonnie Chisenhall, who has been out with a wrist injury, went 0-for-3 Wednesday in his first game of the season.

2. Seattle 3B Kyle Seager has two hits in the series and is 48-for-129 (.372) lifetime against the Indians.

3. Indians 3B Juan Uribe is 6-for-14 in his last five games after going 1-for-19 in his first six of the campaign.

PREDICTION: Indians 5, Mariners 4

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Los Angeles Dodgers (8-6) at Atlanta Braves (4-9)

DATE/TIME: Thursday, April 21 - 12:10 PM EST

WHERE: Turner Field, Atlanta, Georgia



The Los Angeles Dodgers wrap up a three-game road series against the Atlanta Braves on Thursday, and Adrian Gonzalez once again will look to continue his strong work away from home. Los Angeles’ first baseman slugged a game-tying two-run homer in the sixth inning of Wednesday’s 5-3 victory in 10 frames, and is 15-for-35 with eight RBIs in nine road contests this season.

Thriving on the road is nothing new for the 33-year-old Gonzalez, who ranks 10th among active players with 1,500-plus plate appearances in away batting average (.301), and the Dodgers enter the series finale looking to win for the sixth time in eight games overall. Atlanta’s four-game winning streak ended Wednesday and the Braves need a good effort from starter Matt Wisler in the finale after using seven relievers in Wednesday’s loss. Daniel Castro, who got a spot start at third base when Adonis Garcia was a late scratch with a knee bruise, went 2-for-5 with two RBIs. First baseman Freddie Freeman struck out four times in five at-bats, dropping his average to .156.

TV: 12:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SportsNet Los Angeles, FSN South (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (2-0, 1.64 ERA) vs. Braves RH Matt Wisler (0-1, 4.61)

Kershaw is off to a fantastic start as the three-time National League Cy Young award winner enters his fourth start of the season with just two walks and 20 strikeouts in 22 innings. He beat San Francisco on Friday, giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits in seven innings just six days after limiting the Giants to two runs on four hits in a no-decision. Kershaw has dominated the Braves in six career starts, posting a 1.79 ERA and a 5.4 strikeouts-to-walks ratio while going 2-0.

With Atlanta’s bullpen stretched heading into extra innings Sunday in Miami, Wisler came on in relief to record his first career save -- and even though he only needed six pitches, he was pushed back from his scheduled rotation turn Tuesday. Wisler gave up two homers in an otherwise strong performance in his last start April 13 at Washington, giving up three runs on four hits in six innings. Wisler started the season by allowing four runs on seven hits in a no-decision against the St. Louis Cardinals.

WALK-OFFS

1. Atlanta C A.J. Pierzynski collected two hits Wednesday, moving within four of 2,000 for his career.

2. Dodgers 2B Chase Utley stole his 144th career base in the 10th inning Wednesday and he has been caught stealing 18 times, a percentage of 88.9 percent.

3. Braves SS Erick Aybar snapped a 1-for-28 slump with a fourth-inning double Wednesday.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 4, Braves 1

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Washington Nationals (10-3) at Miami Marlins (4-8)

DATE/TIME: Thursday, April 21 - 1:10 PM EST

WHERE: Marlins Park, Miami, Florida



The Washington Nationals entered play Wednesday with a major league-leading 1.98 ERA from their starting rotation, but a stellar performance from their bullpen has them in position to make it three straight victories over the Miami Marlins. Ace Max Scherzer takes the mound for Washington on Thursday afternoon in the finale of a four-game set at Marlins Park.

Scherzer turned in a pair of dominant outings in Miami last year, picking up a pair of victories with 15 scoreless innings. The Nationals could use a strong performance from Scherzer after Joe Ross exited Wednesday's game with a blister, forcing the bullpen to pick up the slack with seven innings of one-run ball. Tom Koehler will oppose Scherzer for the Marlins, who are 1-7 at home and have dropped six of their last seven overall. Koehler must contend with a red-hot Bryce Harper, who is 8-for-26 with five home runs and 10 RBIs against him and has knocked in 16 runs during his current seven-game RBI streak.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), FSN Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Max Scherzer (2-0, 3.15 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Tom Koehler (0-2, 6.30)

Staked to a three-run lead before he even took the mound, Scherzer dominated Philadelphia with seven innings of one run ball, striking out seven and allowing a solo homer among five hits on Saturday. He struggled in his previous turn versus Atlanta but still notched the victory despite permitting four runs on six hits over six innings. Scherzer was 3-1 with a 2.75 ERA in five starts against Miami last season, although he must be wary of Dee Gordon (8-for-26).

Koehler struggled with his control against the Nationals in his season debut, walking four batters while being charged with two runs and eight hits over 6 1/3 innings. The 29-year-old New Yorker was shelled in his next outing against Atlanta, lasting only 3 2/3 innings while giving up six runs (five earned) on nine hits. He has labored in 10 starts against Washington, logging a 3-7 mark and 4.45 ERA while surrendering 12 homers in 60 2/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Nationals 2B Daniel Murphy is riding a 12-game hitting streak to lift his batting average to .429.

2. Marlins LF Christian Yelich has reached safely in all 13 games and has multiple hits in five of his last nine contests.

3. Nationals LF Jayson Werth left Wednesday's game in the fifth inning due to tightness in his hamstring.

PREDICTION: Nationals 6, Marlins 2

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Tampa Bay Rays (6-7) at Boston Red Sox (6-7)

DATE/TIME: Thursday, April 21 - 1:35 PM EST

WHERE: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts



Rick Porcello did his part to save the bullpen on Wednesday and set the Boston Red Sox up for a series win. The Red Sox will try to take the rubber match of the three-game series when they send David Price to the mound against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday.

Boston’s bullpen was forced to log 9 1/3 innings in Tuesday’s 3-0 series-opening loss after starter Joe Kelly was pulled in the first inning with a shoulder injury. Porcello saved the relievers with seven solid innings and the Red Sox found their offense again in Wednesday’s 7-3 victory after totaling six runs during a three-game slide. The Rays are still searching for a consistent offensive attack and have scored three or fewer runs in 11 of their 14 games. Steven Souza Jr. (.256) was the only batter in the Tampa Bay lineup to finish Wednesday’s game with a batting average above .250.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, FSN Sun (Tampa Bay), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Jake Odorizzi (0-1, 2.41 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH David Price (2-0, 4.50)

Odorizzi is still looking for his first win despite going seven scoreless innings while allowing four hits and striking out six against the Chicago White Sox last week. The 26-year-old struck out 10 over 5 2/3 innings in his first start on April 5 and suffered his lone loss in his only road start at Baltimore on April 10. Odorizzi is 2-2 with a 3.43 ERA in eight career starts against Boston, including four quality starts in 2015.

Price is making his first start against his original franchise since moving to the former rival Red Sox in the offseason and is going for his second straight win against a former team. The No. 1 overall pick of the Rays in 2007, Price was traded to Detroit at the deadline in 2014 and moved to Toronto at last season’s deadline before landing a seven-year, $217 deal with Boston. Price struck out nine and allowed two runs in seven innings against Toronto to earn a win on Saturday and is 1-2 with a 4.26 ERA in three starts against Tampa Bay.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox SS Xander Bogaerts was removed from Wednesday’s game with a tight left quad and is day-to-day.

2. Rays 1B Logan Morrison is 0-for-8 in the series and 2-for-40 on the season.

3. Kelly had an MRI on his right shoulder come back showing no structural damage, but there is no timetable for his return.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 4, Rays 1

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Minnesota Twins (4-10) at Milwaukee Brewers (6-8)

DATE/TIME: Thursday, April 21 - 1:40 PM EST

WHERE: Miller Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin



The familiar confines of Miller Park put a jolt in the offense of the Milwaukee Brewers, who wrap up a four-game, home-and-home interleague series against the visiting Minnesota Twins on Thursday afternoon. Milwaukee rolled up a season-high run total in a 10-5 victory over the Twins on Wednesday after returning from an eight-game road trip.

The middle of Brewers' lineup did the bulk of the damage in their second straight win over Minnesota, with the Nos. 3-6 hitters accounting for eight hits, six runs and seven RBIs. Ryan Braun is 6-for-9 with four RBIs, four runs and four walks in the three games against the Twins while Chris Carter has recorded five RBIs in the last two contests. Oswaldo Arcia is heating up for Minnesota, going 8-for-20 with two homers and five RBIs over his last five games, while Eddie Rosario has gone deep in back-to-back contests. Ricky Nolasco looks to salvage a split for the Twins when he opposes struggling Milwaukee right-hander Taylor Jungmann.

TV: 1:40 p.m. ET, FSN North (Minnesota), FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Ricky Nolasco (0-0, 3.21 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Taylor Jungmann (0-2, 9.00)

Although he was not as sharp as in his impressive season debut, Nolasco managed to go seven innings while giving four runs -- all in the second frame - and nine hits in a no-decision against the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday. The 33-year-old Californian also worked seven frames on the road versus reigning World Series champion Kansas City on April 10, permitting only one run and five hits. Nolasco is 3-3 with a brutal 7.20 ERA and .328 batting average against in nine career starts versus the Brewers.

Following a decent season debut against San Francisco in which he did not factor in the decision, Jungmann has been knocked around in consecutive road losses to National League Central rivals St. Louis and Pittsburgh. The 26-year-old native of Texas was tagged for four runs and eight hits over six innings versus the Pirates last time out after getting shelled for eight runs over two-plus frames in his previous turn. Jungmann was superb at home as a rookie in 2015, posting a 5-2 record and 2.21 ERA in nine starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Twins DH Joe Mauer has reach base in all 15 games this season.

2. Carter is making the most of his 12 hits on the season - four have left the park and five have gone for doubles.

3. Minnesota OF Danny Santana (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment Friday and is eligible to come off the disabled list three days later.

PREDICTION: Twins 7, Brewers 5

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Los Angeles Angels (6-9) at Chicago White Sox (10-5)

DATE/TIME: Thursday, April 21 - 2:10 PM EST

WHERE: U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago, Illinois



The Chicago White Sox are off to their best 15-game start since they opened the 2006 season with a 10-5 record. The current White Sox contingent also boasts a 10-5 mark and will vie for its third straight victory to conclude a four-game series against the visiting Los Angeles Angels on Thursday afternoon.

Starting pitching has been the calling card for Chicago, which saw ace Chris Sale become the majors' first four-game winner in Wednesday's 2-1 triumph. John Danks is singing a vastly different tune as the left-hander has been blitzed in his first two outings this season and boasts a 1-9 mark with a gaudy 5.06 ERA in his past 12 turns dating to 2015. The Angels have struggled to find their offense of late, scoring just 18 runs en route to losing five of their last six. Mike Trout collected three of his team's four hits on Wednesday, but is 0-for-8 with four strikeouts against Danks.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FSN West (Los Angeles), CSN Chicago

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Jered Weaver (1-0, 4.35 ERA) vs. White Sox LH John Danks (0-2, 7.94)

Weaver has dominated Chicago in his career, winning his last six starts en route to posting a 10-2 mark with a 1.99 ERA while limiting the club to batting .207 against him. The 33-year-old scattered five hits over 6 1/3 scoreless frames in his last encounter with the White Sox. Weaver could use a feel-good performance after being touched for four runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings of a no-decision versus Minnesota on Saturday.

Danks hasn't just stumbled out of the blocks this season, he's nearly fallen on his face after yielding 12 runs on 14 hits to take the loss in his first two starts. The 31-year-old allowed five runs and was taken deep twice in a 7-2 setback to Tampa Bay on Saturday, matching the totals of his last performance against Los Angeles on Aug. 18. Veteran slugger Albert Pujols is mired in an 0-for-11 stretch in the series, but is 3-for-10 with a homer in his career versus Danks.

WALK-OFFS

1. Chicago is winning its close encounters this season, posting a 5-2 mark in contests decided by two or fewer runs.

2. Angels LHP Andrew Heaney (strained flexor) will not rejoin the team this weekend despite being eligible to come off the disabled list on Friday, manager Mike Scioscia told reporters.

3. White Sox RHP David Robertson is 6-for-6 in save opportunities.

PREDICTION: Angels 3, White Sox 2

 

[NewYorkKnight]

The Yankees are 5-for-68 with RISP in their last 8 games.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Roof will be closed at Marlins Park on Thursday

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Ryan Zimmerman is out Thursday versus the Marlins.

It's just a routine day of rest for the veteran first baseman. Clint Robinson will start in Zimmerman's place and bat sixth against Marlins right-hander Tom Koehler.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Jayson Werth (hamstring) is out of the Nationals' lineup Thursday afternoon against the Marlins.

As expected after he left Wednesday's game with tightness in his left hamstring. Werth is considered day-to-day. Matt den Dekker will start in left field and bat leadoff Thursday versus Marlins righty Tom Koehler.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Xander Bogaerts (quad) is back in the Red Sox starting lineup Thursday against the Rays.

Bogaerts was lifted from Wednesday's game in the bottom of the fifth inning after experiencing some tightness in his quad while rounding the bases on a David Ortiz double. He said afterward that he was planning to play Thursday, and he's in there as the starting shortstop and No. 3 hitter versus Rays right-hander Jake Odorizzi.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Giancarlo Stanton is getting the day off Thursday.

Ichiro Suzuki will start in right field and hit leadoff and Marcell Ozuna will bat cleanup as the Marlins close out a series against the visiting Nationals.



Dee Gordon is also out, with Derek Dietrich filling in at second base. Max Scherzer is on the bump for Washington.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Adonis Garcia (knee) is back in the Braves' starting lineup Thursday versus the Dodgers.

Garcia was limited to pinch-hitting duties on Wednesday night after taking a pitch off his knee on Tuesday. He only suffered a mild contusion and will return to the cleanup spot for the Braves on Thursday afternoon against Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Justin Turner is out of the Dodgers' lineup Thursday.

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal is also taking a routine day of rest in the matinee game against the Braves.



Charlie Culberson will start at third base and bat eighth versus Atlanta right-hander Matt Wisler.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

StatFox Super Situations


MLB | PITTSBURGH at SAN DIEGO
Play Against - Road teams (PITTSBURGH) with a team batting average of .275 or better on the season (NL) against opponent starting a well rested pitcher who is working on 5 or 6 days rest
51-22 over the last 5 seasons. ( 69.9% | 27.2 units )
3-4 this year. ( 42.9% | -4.0 units )




StatFox Situational Power Trends


MLB | HOUSTON at TEXAS
TEXAS is 70-52 (+33.0 Units) against the money line vs. a good bullpen whose WHIP is 1.350 or better over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was: TEXAS (4.9) , OPPONENT (4.6)

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Preview: Dodgers (9-6) at Braves (4-10)


Game: 3
Venue: Turner Field
Date: April 21, 2016 12:10 PM EDT


Clayton Kershaw has won three NL Cy Young Awards, a league MVP and been a five-time All-Star during a stellar career spanning nine seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers.


Yet, he's never started 3-0.


The left-hander can accomplish that feat in Thursday's decisive finale against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field.


For as good as Kershaw (2-0, 1.64 ERA) has been, winning his first three decisions has been elusive, though it's probably not a major point of concern for the superstar.


Kershaw has been his usual stellar self while Los Angeles (9-6) won each of his three starts in 2016. He's struck out 20 and walked two over 22 innings. On Friday, Kershaw didn't issue a free pass while yielding two earned runs in seven innings of a 7-3 victory over San Francisco.


"He gave us seven strong innings, you know what Clayton does," first-year Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told team's official website. "He didn't have his best stuff. ... I think for him, to not even have his best stuff, he can still dominate a baseball game."


Always looking to improve, Kershaw hasn't been pleased with the effectiveness of his offspeed pitches.


"I still have a lot to get better at," he said. "The consistency of it, I want to throw a good one every time, it's definitely not there right now. It's why you play, just keep working."


Including the postseason, Kershaw hasn't had trouble keeping the Braves (4-10) off balance while going 3-0 with a 1.54 ERA in eight starts against them. He fanned 10 without a walk and allowed four hits over seven innings of an 8-0 win May 26 in his only 2015 appearance against Atlanta.


The Dodgers evened this set by overcoming an early 3-0 hole to snap the Braves' four-game winning streak with Wednesday's 5-3 victory in 10 innings.


'We had a chance to win the ballgame, but we didn't score any runs after the fourth inning,' Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said.


Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-run homer and Justin Turner's double broke the tie in the 10th. Gonzalez is batting .346 with four homers and 18 RBIs in his last 20 regular-season and playoff games against Atlanta.


He clubbed a two-run homer off Matt Wisler (0-1, 4.61) on July 20 when the Atlanta right-hander gave up all four of his runs in the fifth inning of the six he lasted during a 7-5 defeat.


Wisler has been plagued by poor fourth innings in both of his two 2016 starts. Last Wednesday at Washington, he allowed a solo homer and a two-run shot in that inning of the 3-0 defeat.


'I've got to start getting through that fourth inning clean,' Wisler said.


This start was moved back after Wisler earned his first save from pitching a scoreless inning of relief in Sunday's 6-5, 10-inning victory at Miami.


Teammate Nick Markakis went 8 for 20 during a five-game hitting streak that ended with an 0 for 3 performance Wednesday. He went 2 for 3 with a double against Kershaw last season.


Atlanta's Erick Aybar is 2 for 31 in the last eight games, and 3 for 21 against Kershaw.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Preview: Mariners (6-8) at Indians (6-6)


Game: 3
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: April 21, 2016 12:10 PM EDT


Sometimes one hit is all it takes, and that's what the Seattle Mariners are hoping heading into their series finale Thursday against the Cleveland Indians.


Struggling to get clutch hits, Norichika Aoki delivered one in the form of a two-out, two-run triple in the second inning. Taijuan Walker and three relievers made it stand as the Mariners (6-8) evened this three-game set with a 2-1 win Wednesday night.


'We needed one and we got one,' said manager Scott Servais of his team's only hit in 16 at-bats with runners in scoring position in this series. 'It was huge. We were due for one, a big two-out hit.'


Delivering in such situations has been a struggle thus far for Seattle, which is batting .186 (8 for 43) with runners in scoring position with two outs and .190 overall with runners in scoring position. Aoki's triple was the last hit for the Mariners on Wednesday, highlighting an offense still scuffling with a .211 average and more strikeouts (116) than hits (100).


Despite those woes, the Mariners have a chance to win their first three road series in a season since 2002.


Nathan Karns (1-1, 4.50) looks to help reach that milestone while building on a solid outing in which he limited the New York Yankees to a solo homer and four other hits in a 7-1 road victory Friday. He struck out seven but walked four in five innings, quickly reaching 101 pitches before being lifted.


'Karns hung in there,' Servais said. 'Tight-roped a little bit.'


Catcher Chris Iannetta observed the right-hander is still trying to find a comfort zone with the Mariners, noting to MLB's official website Karns' last outing was "off-speed dominant."


Karns split two starts in an uneven fashion against the Indians last year with Tampa Bay, giving up only three runs despite allowing 15 hits in 11 1/3 innings. His win came at Progressive Field on June 19 after yielding one run and six hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 4-1 victory.


Jason Kipnis has proven to be a tough out, going 4 for 6 with two doubles against Karns.


Cleveland (6-6) has alternated wins and losses in its last six games and turns to Cody Anderson (0-1, 5.91) to extend that to seven. The right-hander is trying to bounce back after being roughed up by the New York Mets, who hit three homers off him in beating him 6-5 on Friday. He was reached for five runs and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings as his personal five-game winning streak dating back to last year ended.


'There is no excuse for the way I pitched. I felt great coming into the game,' said Anderson, who struck out five. 'A few of my pitches were up, and they definitely didn't miss them. In the past, that's been a struggle for me, just keeping the ball down, but I'm going into my next start with my head up.'


Lonnie Chisenhall could make his second start after going 0 for 3 in his season debut. The right fielder started the season on the disabled list with a wrist injury.


The Indians are trying to salvage a split of their six-game homestand before embarking on a nine-game road trip that makes stops in Detroit, Minnesota and Philadelphia.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Preview: Nationals (11-3) at Marlins (4-9)


Game: 4
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: April 21, 2016 1:10 PM EDT


The Washington Nationals' best start in franchise history has truly been a collaborative effort, though they're still getting plenty of production from their stars.


As Bryce Harper looks to continue his early-season tear, Max Scherzer attempts to follow up an outstanding last start in Thursday's series finale with the Miami Marlins.


While Harper's encore to his 2015 NL MVP campaign is off to a torrid start, Washington also has built its MLB-leading 11-3 record on a pitching staff that leads the majors with a 2.06 ERA. That depth was illustrated in Wednesday's 3-1 win, when Yusmeiro Petit threw four innings of one-run ball after Joe Ross exited after two with a blister on his right hand.


Harper again did his part, delivering a double for his seventh straight game with at least one RBI. He's knocked in 16 runs and homered five times while going 10 for 25 over that stretch.


Washington starters have combined for a 1.23 ERA in nine games since Scherzer (2-0, 3.15 ERA) was reached for four runs in six innings in an April 11 win over Atlanta. The staff ace was back in top form Saturday in Philadelphia, allowing a run on five hits and fanning seven over seven innings in an 8-1 victory.


"I didn't attack well, but I pitched well," he told MLB's official website. "I found ways to get outs. I threw some good off-speed pitches when I needed to, especially early in the game. I thought they were going to come out aggressively against me, and I was right. I was able to negate that."


Scherzer was dominant in two starts at Marlins Park last season, yielding eight hits over 15 scoreless innings while winning both.


He'll face a Marlins offense that's been shut down in two straight following a 6-1 win in Monday's series opener. After being held to three hits in Stephen Strasburg's eight innings in Tuesday's 7-0 defeat, Miami (4-9) managed five, including Derek Dietrich's solo homer in its sixth loss in seven games.


'Anytime you don't hit, you come out real flat,' said manager Don Mattingly, whose team fell to 1-7 at home. 'We're not getting guys out there.'


Christian Yelich has been one exception, recording a .372 average and .517 on-base percentage thus far. Martin Prado is batting .326 and 9 for 19 with a home run against Scherzer.


Harper could be primed for another big day, as he's homered five times in 26 at-bats against the struggling Tom Koehler (0-2, 6.30). The right-hander has walked six in 10 innings and lasted just 3 2/3 in Saturday's 6-4 loss to Atlanta, surrendering nine hits and five earned runs.


'The most frustrating part isn't even the runs. You're going to have games where you give up runs," Koehler said. "But I take a lot of pride in pitching and lasting in games and giving the team a chance to win. You never want to have a situation where you have the bullpen pick you up for that many innings."


Koehler did work 6 1/3 innings of a 4-2 defeat at Nationals Park on April 10, allowing two runs and striking out six, but lost a fourth straight start to Washington.


Daniel Murphy went 2 for 2 in that game and singled twice Wednesday to extend his hitting streak to 12 games. The offseason addition is batting .452 over the run and .429 overall.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Preview: Rays (6-8) at Red Sox (7-7)


Game: 3
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: April 21, 2016 1:35 PM EDT


Fresh off defeating one of his former AL East employers, David Price gets a chance to do the same to the other.


Price attempts to remain unbeaten during his brief time with the Boston Red Sox when he faces a few more ex-teammates in Thursday's finale of a three-game series with the visiting Tampa Bay Rays.


After delivering mixed results in his first two starts in a Red Sox uniform, Price (2-0, 4.50) looked every bit the part of an expected ace by holding a formidable Toronto lineup in check Saturday. The coveted offseason free agent struck out nine without a walk while allowing two runs over seven innings in a 4-2 victory for his first Fenway Park win with his new team.


Price, who went 9-1 in 11 starts for the defending division champion Blue Jays after being acquired from Detroit last July, bounced back from surrendering five runs in five innings in Boston's April 11 home opener against Baltimore.


"I hadn't thrown the ball the way that I know that I can the first two starts,' he said. 'To throw the baseball the way I did (Saturday) against the Blue Jays, which is an extremely good hitting team, feels good."


Price now tries to follow that sharp effort by evening his career record against Tampa Bay (6-8), where he went 82-47 and won a Cy Young Award over seven seasons before being dealt to Detroit in July 2014. He lost his first two meetings following the trade before allowing four earned runs through five innings of a 10-8 win with Toronto on Sept. 26.


The Rays, last in the majors with 40 runs scored, were shut out through five innings of Wednesday's 7-3 loss as Rick Porcello fanned nine over seven. They didn't score until the 10th of Tuesday's 3-0 win.


That's been an issue as well during Jake Odorizzi's three starts, in which he's received four runs of support while on the mound. The right-hander didn't get any while limiting the White Sox to four hits in seven scoreless innings of a 1-0 Rays' loss Friday.


Odorizzi (0-1, 2.41) also gave Boston (7-7) trouble last season, posting a 2.29 ERA in three starts and allowing a run over seven innings in a 5-1 win at Fenway on May 4. He's held David Ortiz to 3 for 18 without a home run in their matchups.


Xander Bogaerts is 5 for 14 off Odorizzi, but likely won't play after exiting Wednesday's win with a quadriceps injury suffered while scoring on Ortiz's fifth-inning double.


The Red Sox mustered one hit off Drew Smyly and two relievers Tuesday, but scored five runs on the struggling Chris Archer through two innings Wednesday to halt a three-game skid and end the Rays' three-game winning streak.


'The first inning put the team behind the 8-ball,' said Archer, now 0-4 with a 7.32 ERA in four starts. 'I didn't execute pitches very well, and they made the most of it.'


Evan Longoria had a club-record 15-game hitting streak at Fenway stopped with an 0-for-4 effort Wednesday. He's 0 for 9 against former teammate Price, but Curt Casali is 3 for 6 and homered twice off Price in a 10-2 win over Detroit on July 28.


Casali is off to a 3 for 24 start, however, and struck out in all four plate appearances Tuesday.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Preview: Twins (4-11) at Brewers (7-8)


Game: 4
Venue: Miller Park
Date: April 21, 2016 1:40 PM EDT


Back-to-back productive offensive efforts have the Milwaukee Brewers in position to take their four-game home-and-home series with the Minnesota Twins.


The Brewers can do so with a third consecutive victory over their interleague rivals Thursday at Miller Park.


A day after four doubles helped Milwaukee (7-8) to a 6-5 win at Minnesota, it homered three times in Wednesday's 10-5 home victory.


'That is huge. That is definitely our offense's game there," Wednesday's winning pitcher Jimmy Nelson said. "They came out big.'


The Brewers failed to homer in their previous four contests before Chris Carter, Aaron Hill and Domingo Santana each went deep in the club's highest-scoring game of the young season.


"Everybody loves results," Hill told the Brewers' official website. "But when you know you're doing everything right, you're swinging at good pitches, everything is there - it's just a matter of getting the consistency going and getting to the right point.


"I've liked what's happened so far this year."


Nine of Carter's 12 hits have gone for extra bases. He's hit all but one of his four home runs at Miller Park, where he is batting .280 with eight of his 13 RBIs. Carter is hitting .238 on the road.


Perhaps a return home will help Taylor Jungmann (0-2, 9.00 ERA) after struggling in two straight road starts. The right-hander gave up eight runs in two-plus innings of a 10-1 loss at St. Louis on April 11, then yielded four over six of a 5-0 defeat at Pittsburgh on Saturday.


His teammates, however, failed to score a run with him on the mound in those outings.


Jungmann is 0-8 with a 9.39 ERA in his last nine road starts, but 4-0 with a 2.29 ERA in his last six at Miller Park.


This will be his first appearance against the Twins (4-11), who have dropped two straight since a four-game winning streak followed their 0-9 start. They haven't helped matters with five errors in four games.


"We know errors are part of the game, but you like to clean that up as best as you can," manager Paul Molitor told the Twins' official website.


The Brewer great will hand the ball to Ricky Nolasco (0-0, 3.21), who has allowed five total runs while lasting seven innings each in his first two outings. He gave up four of those runs in the second inning plus nine hits overall in Saturday's 6-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.


"He definitely found his breaking ball and used all his pitches," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of the right-hander. "After the four runs, we didn't get many looks at him. ... He knows what he's doing."


Nolasco is 3-3 with a 7.20 ERA in nine starts against the Brewers, but last faced them in June 2014. Though it's been a while since Nolasco opposed Milwaukee, Jonathan Lucroy is 4 for 9 against him.


Lucroy, who had two RBIs on Wednesday, is batting .318 while hitting safely in the six home games he's played this season.


Minnesota's Miguel Sano has reached base in 10 consecutive contests and is 6 for 16 in the last four.


Teammate Oswaldo Arcia hit a two-run homer Wednesday. He's 8 for 20 with both of his home runs and all five RBIs in his last five contests.