Monday 6/27/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mets (40-34) at Nationals (44-32)

Game: 1
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: June 27, 2016 7:05 PM EDT

WASHINGTON -- The top two teams in the National League East limp into a three-game series on Monday in the nation's capital.

The biggest thorn this month for the second-place New York Mets (40-34) has been injuries, while the first-place Washington Nationals (44-32) are coming off a terrible three-city road trip to San Diego, Los Angeles and Milwaukee.

Mets manager terry Collins is looking at this as an opportunity.

"It's a tremendous situation, one we're very fortunate to be in. That's what we keep telling these guys," he said. "We're two games back in the loss column. We'll take it. That's why I say the worst-case scenario going into the All-Star break is don't lose any more ground. ... In the next 14 days we've got a lot of work ahead of us."

The Nationals had lost seven games in a row before winning 3-2 on Sunday in Milwaukee as role players Jose Lobaton and Clint Robinson hit homers in starting roles. It was the longest losing streak for Washington since the Nationals lost eight games in a row in 2009.

The Nationals, who are three games ahead of the Mets, ended the road trip with a record of 3-7 after winning the first two in San Diego.

"Go home and get ourselves together. We just have to play ball," Washington manager Dusty Baker said on 106.7 The Fan, the flagship station of the Nationals. "Tighten our belts and come together. Some day you (will) look back at this as something that unites us. Circle the wagons ... and pull for each other."

Right-hander Noah Syndergaard will start on Monday for the Mets and he brings a record of 8-2 with an ERA of 2.08 into the game. He was removed after six innings in his last start on Wednesday against Kansas City. He had a MRI on his right elbow and it showed no structural damage and he was treated with inflammatory medication to relief some pain.

The Mets roster will be a lot different from the one that appeared in Washington from May 23-25. New York has had several players either go on the disabled list or miss time of late.

On Saturday the Mets sent outfielder Michael Conforto, a postseason hitting star last year, to Triple-A Las Vegas. He was hitting .222 this year for the Mets in 216 at-bats but was hitting .128 in his last 15 games.

Also on Saturday the Mets signed shortstop Jose Reyes to a minor league contract. The former Met had been with Colorado before he was released by the Rockies following a suspension after a domestic abuse case.

On Tuesday, catcher Travis d'Arnaud came off the disabled list on the same day the Mets sent catcher Kevin Plawecki to Triple-A Las Vegas.

The Mets placed third baseman David Wright on the 15-day disabled list on June 3, retroactive to May 30, with a herniated disk in his neck.

Outfielder Yoenis Cespedes missed a game last week, before he returned to the lineup Friday, with a sore wrist that needed a cortisone shot. Mets shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and right fielder Curtis Granderson were out of the lineup for a rest Sunday. "Both needed a day," Collins told reporters in Atlanta.

The Nationals, meanwhile, are coming off a rough road trip. Washington won the first two games of the trip at San Diego, then lost the last two to split the four-game series.

Then on June 20 in Los Angeles the Nationals had to scratch starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg from his start against Clayton Kershaw with upper back tightness about 90 minutes before the game.

Washington lost that game and the next two in the series, then lost the first two games of the series in Milwaukee before winning Sunday as Shawn Kelley got the save for the Nationals after starter Tanner Roark went seven shutout innings.

Strasburg (10-0) was slated to start on Sunday in Milwaukee, but before the game he was placed on the disabled list (retroactive to June 16), and Roark made the start against the Brewers.

Jonathan Papelbon, the Nationals normal closer, has been on the disabled list since June 14 but could begin a minor league rehab stint as early as Monday, according to The Washington Post. Class A Potomac, about 30 miles south of Washington, is an affiliate of the Nationals and begins a brief three-game homestand Monday and that could be a landing spot for Papelbon.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rangers (49-27) at Yankees (37-37)

Game: 1
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: June 27, 2016 7:05 PM EDT

NEW YORK -- The Texas Rangers have 50 wins in their sight, and there's a good possibility they will reach that number sometime this week.

Monday will be the first opportunity for Texas to become the first team in the majors to reach 50 wins when it opens a four-game series with the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.

Should Texas get at least one more win, it will have 50 wins before the end of June for the second time in franchise history. The Rangers also did it 2012.

Texas has won 18 of 24 games this month to get to 49-27. Since getting swept in Oakland May 16-18 to fall to 22-19, the Rangers are 27-8.

The latest successful day was a 6-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday. Nomar Mazara, Adrian Beltre and Rougned Odor had RBI singles before Boston's Clay Buchholz recorded an out while Prince Fielder homered and Shin-Soo Choo had three hits.

"We're just going to try and keep doing what we're doing," Odor said. "Just keep playing hard, doing everything we can and win these games."

The Yankees will be trying to do everything they can to get a winning record.

New York has never been more than two games over .500 and that was back on April 12. A six-game winning streak last month got the Yankees to .500 on May 24, but they have gone over twice and each time they have fallen back to .500, where they have resided six times.

"We'll try to win (Monday night's game) and not worry about what's going to happen at the end of this month or the end of next month or later in the season," Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira said. "And if we do that, and start playing better then maybe we can make a run."

New York finished a supposedly soft stretch of 11 games against the Colorado Rockies and Minnesota Twins by winning six times. The stretch ended with Sunday's 7-1 loss to Minnesota when the first 17 hitters were retired by Tyler Duffey.

Aaron Hicks' double and Teixeira's first home run in 147 at-bats were the only hits for the Yankees, who are 12-19 against teams with winning records.

"We need to make up ground, and no matter who we're playing we need to win series and you win a series here," New York manager Joe Girardi said. "It's frustrating because we had a situation where we won three in a row there, we weren't able to win the fourth. You win two in a row, you're not able to win the third and like I said the teams in front of us are playing well."

Texas has three starting pitchers on the disabled list, although Yu Darvish said he felt fine after Sunday's bullpen session and Derek Holland will begin a throwing program this week.

The Rangers will be using their ninth starting pitcher of the season when Chi-Chi Gonzalez gets recalled from Triple-A Round Rock and makes his season debut.

Last year he was 4-6 with a 3.90 ERA in 14 appearances, including 10 starts. In those starts, he was 3-5 with a 4.03 ERA and in his final game as a starting pitcher in 2015, Gonzalez allowed one earned run and two hits in 5 1/3 innings in a 12-4 win over Oakland on Sept. 13.

With Round Rock, Gonzalez is 3-6 with a 5.04 ERA in 14 games and was scratched from his scheduled start Saturday in advance of his promotion.

Over his last seven starts since May 19, he is 2-2 with a 3.71 ERA and his ERA has decreased from 6.63.

"I'm excited I get to pitch in New York against the Yankees," Gonzalez said. "Half those guys I watched when I was little. I made my debut against Boston and this is like making another debut. It's exciting. I'm excited to join this winning team."

New York saw Nathan Eovaldi allow a career high four home runs in six innings Sunday and hope Ivan Nova does not start throwing batting practice.

Nova's performances have declined since entering the rotation last month due to CC Sabathia's groin injury.

His ERA is at 5.18 after he allowed six runs (five earned) and four hits in four-plus innings during Tuesday's 8-4 loss to the Colorado Rockies. Over his last six starts, he has a 6.88 ERA.

Texas took two of three from New York in late-April. Last year, the Rangers scored 30 runs during a three-game sweep in New York May 22-24.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Cubs (48-26) at Reds (29-47)

Game: 1
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: June 27, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

CINCINNATI -- The last time Jake Arrieta was on the mound at Great American Ball Park, he made history. On Monday night, the Cincinnati Reds will be looking to make sure history doesn't repeat itself for the Chicago Cubs ace.

On April 21, Arrieta pitched his second career no-hitter in a 16-0 victory over the Reds. Manager Bryan Price said his club is motivated for a rematch.

"Anyone with any pride at all would like to face him again," Price said. "We're champing at the bit to get another opportunity to beat him."

Arrieta, who will be opposed by right-hander Dan Straily in Monday's opener of a three-game series, has been dominant in night games.

Including his no-hitter in April, Arrieta has a major-league-leading 0.24 ERA at night, and dating to last July 19, he is 14-0 with a 0.51 ERA in 17 starts under the lights.

Since his 20-game winning streak was snapped on May 25, Arrieta hasn't been quite as sensational as he had been over the past season and a half.

In four June starts, Arrieta is 2-2 with a 2.35 ERA, still pretty good. But that won't stop the right-hander from making some adjustments heading into Monday's start.

"It's a game of adjustments," Arrieta told MLB.com. "I have to take it in stride and learn from it and go back to work tomorrow and combat the things teams have done against me recently. It's an easy fix. I think the byproduct will be very positive."

In six career starts against Cincinnati, Arrieta is 4-2 with a 2.81 ERA.

"We've had some games where we've made things tough for him," Price said.

The Cubs, who are 6-1 this season against Cincinnati, have won the past three series against the Reds and nine of the previous 10. In April, the Cubs swept Cincinnati in a three-game series for the first time since 2014.

Straily is 2-1 with a 3.21 ERA in two career starts against the Cubs. In his last outing against them, he allowed three runs in 4 2/3 innings and failed to get the victory in a 13-5 Reds' win.

Cincinnati has lost four of its past five games, but avoided a four-game sweep with a 3-0 win over the Padres on Sunday afternoon.

The first-place Cubs head to the Queen City reeling a bit. They have lost six of seven after dropping two of three to the Marlins in Miami. Chicago (48-26) still is off to its best start in nearly a century.

Arrieta, who is making his 16th start of the season on Monday night, is 2-0 with a 1.20 ERA in his past two starts at Great American Ball Park.

Overall, Arrieta is 11-2 with a 1.74 ERA this season, despite his somewhat rocky June.

"I don't think he's getting it where he wants to all the time," Cubs manager Joe Maddon told MLB.com "He has to get back to the fastball going where he wants to, and once he does, he'll be exactly the same as last year."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Red Sox (41-34) at Rays (31-43)

Game: 1
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: June 27, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Rays are reeling from an 11-game losing streak, their longest since 2009.

All of those losses have come against division-leading teams, but they'll have a chance at redemption against another one of the American League's premier teams as they open a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox.

"We'll continue to look at some positives, the way the offense battled back ... a lot of guys swung the bats well," manager Kevin Cash said after a 12-5 loss to the Orioles on Sunday to complete a sweep at Baltimore.

"We pieced together our hits. We just have to be able to prevent them from scoring runs, which we did not."

The Rays have the third-longest losing streak in franchise history, and for division rivals, Tampa Bay and Boston don't know each other well this season.

The two teams have met only three times in 2016 -- the Rays took two of three in Boston earlier this season -- while Boston has played Toronto 13 times and Baltimore 10. That means they'll be seeing plenty of each other the rest of the way.

Boston is trying to bounce back as well, having split a four-game series at Texas, including a 6-2 loss on Sunday.

"Everybody goes through ups and downs," said Boston's Clay Buchholz, who gave up five runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings during Sunday's loss. "Everybody in this clubhouse, they work as hard anybody to be good and be where they want to be. That's part of the game. You run into guys playing as well as these (Rangers) are, it's tough to make mistakes and win baseball games."

The Rays know that well -- they've allowed at least five runs in all 11 losses, with starting pitching and the bullpen struggling along the way.

They'll try to stop the skid Monday with rookie LHP Blake Snell, who is 0-2 with a 2.40 ERA in his brief time in the majors. Boston will counter with fellow lefty Eduardo Rodriguez, who is 1-2 with a 6.41 ERA.

The Rays are trying to play through a ridiculous run of injuries -- outfielders Kevin Kiermaier, Brandon Guyer, Steven Souza and Mikie Mahtook are on the disabled list, as is their batting leader in first baseman and designated hitter Steve Pearce.

The team acquired outfielder Oswaldo Arcia from Minnesota last week, and he went 3-for-7 in the weekend series with four RBIs.

That's better production in his first seven at-bats than Mahtook, who has three RBIs in 65 at-bats, or rookie Taylor Motter, who has two in 51 at-bats.

Both teams have hot bats they'll count on -- Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria has 23 RBIs in his last 26 games and Boston's Xander Bogaerts has 24 in his last 27. The Rays will see a familiar face in Wednesday's series finale with David Price (8-4, 4.68 ERA) pitching against his old team.

Boston hopes to get utility man Brock Holt back for this series as well -- he's been out since early May with a concussion, but went 3-for-4 in his last rehab game for Triple-A Pawtucket. Boston has tried seven left fielders in his absence, so his return would be a big boost for the Red Sox.

"To say that once he comes back, he's good to play five, six times a week, that might be a little aggressive right now," manager John Farrell said.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Indians (44-30) at Braves (26-49)

Game: 1
Venue: Turner Field
Date: June 27, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

ATLANTA -- Cleveland was swept in a three-game interleague series at Atlanta in 2013 and it proved costly, the Indians finishing a game back of Detroit in the American League Central standings.

That isn't the worst memory of Atlanta for Cleveland fans, though.

The Indians also lost all three games in Atlanta during the 1995 World Series, including a deciding 1-0 loss in Game 6.

Of course, that was at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, making it a painful but someone distant memory.

The Braves moved to Turner Field in 1997 and are already saying good-bye after just 20 seasons there for a move to a new suburban ballpark in 2017.

The Indians, atop of the American League Central by five games thanks to a nine-game winning streak, will make their second and final interleague visit to Atlanta for a three-game series beginning Monday night.

Cleveland manager Terry Francona juggled his rotation for the series, going to Trevor Bauer is the opener and pushing Corey Kluber back to Tuesday.

Bauer will be working on normal rest after the Indians were off last Thursday and Kluber will have two extra days after throwing 115 pitches in a three-hit shutout of Tampa Bay.

Bauer (5-2, 3.20 ERA) followed Kluber by limiting the Rays to three hits and a run in his second career complete game, striking out 10 and retiring 16 straight batters over one stretch as the Indians completed an 11-0 June at home.

"Trevor was a little upset he gave up a run because we didn't give up a run the night before," Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway told MLB.com. "It's a really good atmosphere for those guys right now. They're really pulling for each other and trying to outdo each other, which is great."

Bauer is 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA in five June starts, while Kluber is 5-2 in his last seven outings and Danny Salazer -- Wednesday's starter against the Braves -- has won five starts in a row.

"Guys are having fun," Bauer said. "Guys are playing well, which contributes to the fun. Hopefully we can keep it going."

Thanks to a 4-0 record against Ohio rival Cincinnati, the Indians are 5-5 in interleague play this season. They are 1-5 against the National League East, though, after being swept at Philadelphia and going 1-2 at home against the New York Mets.

However, those two series were before the Indians (44-30) got hot along with the weather.

Now it will be up to Braves rookie John Gant to cool them down.

Gant (1-2, 4.45 ERA) defeated the Mets for his first victory and rebounded to retire 12 straight batters after a three-run second inning at Miami in his most recent start.

"I think he just got his mix going a little better," Braves interim manager Brian Snitker said.

The Indians were just 18-18 on the road before a weekend sweep in Detroit, but the Braves (26-49) have the worst home record in the majors at 11-29.

Atlanta has won eight of his past 11 games, though, after a four-game home split with the New York Mets and is 17-21 under Snitker.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Cardinals (39-35) at Royals (39-35)

Game: 1
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: June 27, 2016 8:15 PM EDT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- When the St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals first began playing interleague games, there would be a sea of red at Kauffman Stadium.

There were nearly as many Cardinals fans in the Kansas City seats as Royals fans.

Of course, the Royals were bad -- really bad -- for more than a decade, but that has changed.

The Royals have been to the past two World Series and won it all in 2015. When the Cardinals open a four-game series with the Royals Monday night at Kauffman Stadium, there won't be much room for Cardinals fans. The stadium will be filled with mostly blue with scant red.

The Royals are averaging 33,063 fans a game and have attracted 1,190,298 for the first 36 home dates.

The inter-state rival has not been kind to the Royals. The Redbirds lead the all-time series 50-36. Royals fans, however, quickly point out, that does not include the 1985 World Series, which the Royals beat the Cardinals in seven games.

The Royals have lost 31 of 49 games at Kansas City, but hold a 13-12 advantage in new Busch Stadium.

Both clubs enter the series with identical 39-35 records and are contending to return to postseason.

The Royals snapped a four-game losing streak with a 6-1 victory Sunday over Houston, snapping the Astros' seven-game winning streak. Ian Kennedy struck out 11, one shy of his career high, while Kendrys Morales hit two home runs, his 15th career multi-homer game, but his first this season.

Rookie Cheslor Cuthbert hit a two-run homer and has three home runs in his past four games. He is hitting .340 with five home runs and 12 RBIs in his past 14 games.

Whit Merrifield, another Royals rookie, has reached base in 30 of his first 32 career starts. His 45 hits in his first 33 games are the most since Yasiel Puig recorded 54 hits in his first 33 games in 2012 with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"Very impressed," Royals manager Ned Yost said of the two newcomers, neither who made the opening day roster. Merrifield, while he can play several positions, has replaced Omar Infante as the everyday second baseman. The Royals recently released Infante, despite owing him more than $14 million this year and next.

Cuthbert has replaced Mike Moustakas, who tore his ACL and is out for the year, at third base.

"We knew he had that kind of power," Yost said. "It's not 30 home run power, but it's 15 to 20. He's still a young guy, still figuring this league out, but what a job he's done offensively for us. I've been very impressed with his at-bats. When we lost Moose, I knew Ches could handle the position, third base adequately enough and cover Moose there, but the offense has been exciting to see."

The Royals also got back Gold Glove outfielder Alex Gordon back Saturday after missing 30 games with a fractured right wrist.

While left-hander Danny Duffy will start the Monday opener, the Royals get another pitcher back Tuesday when right-hander Yordano Ventura starts after serving an eight-game suspension.

The Cardinals won 11-6 Sunday at Seattle. Matt Carpenter hit two home runs, while Matt Holliday also homered. Carpenter has 13 home runs, while Holliday has 14. The two Matts have combined for 91 RBIs.

St. Louis will start right-hander Adam Wainwright in the first game. Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar is 8-for-26, .308, off Wainwright. No other Royals player has more than 17 at-bats against Wainwright.

Wainwright has pitched at least six innings and allowed three or less runs in his past seven starts. He owns a 2.36 ERA in June.

Catcher Brayan Pena, a former Royal, is expected to make his Cardinals debut in the series. Pena has been out all season after knee surgery in spring training.

The Cardinals will have a new closer for the series with Trevor Rosenthal removed from that role after blowing a save Friday against the Mariners. He has a 14.14 ERA in June and 5.63 for the year. He is also averaging 7.9 walks per nine innings.

"We just need to figure out a way to get him right and figure out how to get him to the point of being the pitcher that he's been the last few years," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny told mlb.com. "Right now, the ninth inning is a tough ask to do that. We'll continue to watch, but right now we're going to wait and see if we can get him into some spots to get him in that good place."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Blue Jays (41-36) at Rockies (36-39)

Game: 1
Venue: Coors Field
Date: June 27, 2016 8:40 PM EDT

DENVER -- Troy Tulowitzki will return to Coors Field on Monday for the first time since the Colorado Rockies traded him to the Toronto Blue Jays on July 27.

Tulowitzki's return will spice up an interleague series between the Rockies and Blue Jays, who last played in 2013 in Toronto and last played at Coors Field in 2010.

"I'm sure it's going to be emotional for him because he played so many years here," Rockies right fielder Carlos Gonzalez said. "He did amazing things for this organization, winning Gold Gloves and Silver Sluggers, representing the organization in All-Star Games. So that's special; that's something that should be recognized and I'm sure that he's going to feel weird being on the other side.

"But other than that, it's just another game. We're not playing against Tulowitzki. We're playing against the Blue Jays. So we just got to take care of business."

Tulowitzki, 31, was the Rockies' first-round pick and seventh player taken overall in the 2005 draft. He made his major league debut Aug. 30, 2006, and was their starting shortstop from 2007 until he was traded to the Blue Jays with reliever LaTroy Hawkins for shortstop Jose Reyes and pitchers Jeff Hoffman, Miguel Castro and Jesus Tinoco.

Tulowitzki was a five-time All-Star and won two Gold Gloves and two Silver Sluggers with the Rockies. In all or parts of 10 seasons with the Rockies, Tulowitzki hit .299 with a .885 OPS and 188 home runs. In 526 career games at Coors Field, Tulowitzki has a .321 average, .951 OPS and has hit 106 home runs. It will be a huge surprise if Tulowitzki isn't warmly received by the fans.

"I'm not wondering about what the reaction will be like at all," Tulowitzki said. "I think I have a fair guess of what it will be. I think they saw a guy that gave it everything he had when he was out there, so I think it will hopefully be a warm welcome, and they'll show their appreciation for me, and I'll do the same."

Reyes was placed on a paid administrative leave in spring training and later suspended for his alleged involvement in a domestic violence incident. Rookie Trevor Story, 23, has taken over at shortstop and done well. He's hitting .271 with 19 homers, 50 RBIs and a .898 OPS.

"It's going to be cool," Story said. "I have a lot of respect for Tulo. He's been a mentor to me, and I got nothing but good things to say about him. I kind of grew up watching him play. He's a bigger shortstop, so I kind of idolized him a little bit. Yeah, it's going to be cool to play against him."

Story was speaking after Saturday's game. He was hit with a pitch in the ninth inning and suffered a bruised right middle finger, leaving his status for Monday's game uncertain.

Tulowitzki invited Story to work out with him in the offseason in Las Vegas before the 2014 season, an experience that lingers still with Story.

"He's a very intense guy, especially when it comes to baseball," Tulowitzki said. "I really just learned how to prepare and with what intensity to do so. He helped me a lot with that. I use it every day. I'm thankful that he let me come work out with him."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Phillies (32-45) at Diamondbacks (36-42)

Game: 1
Venue: Chase Field
Date: June 27, 2016 9:40 PM EDT

PHOENIX -- The last time the Diamondbacks saw the Philadelphia Phillies, Arizona was coming off a loss to Clayton Kershaw and a 4-5 homestand. That was then.

The Phillies provided a salve, and the D-backs used a four-game sweep at Citizens Bank Park as a springboard to a 7-3 road trip, tying the franchise record for the best 10-game trip in club history.

After both Arizona and Philadelphia endured walk-off losses Sunday, the teams will meet again in a three-game series that begins Monday in Phoenix, where the Diamondbacks have had much more trouble winning.

Arizona is 13-25 at home, and only Atlanta has fewer home victories (11). The Diamondbacks, however, are 23-17 on the road, and only the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals have more road wins.

The D-backs got their bats working on the road and finished on a high note at Coors Field over the weekend, setting a franchise record for a four-game set with 56 hits while spitting the series.

It started at the top.

Leadoff man Jean Segura, who started three of the four games at shortstop after spending the rest of the season at second base, was 13-for-35 (.371) with 12 runs, nine walks and six stolen bases on the road trip.

Arizona's No. 2 hitter, center fielder Michael Bourn, was 10-for-39 (.256) with six RBIs and three stolen bases. The No. 3 hitter, first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, was 16-for-37 (.432) with two homers and nine RBIs, and the cleanup hitter, third baseman Jake Lamb, was 15-for-36 (.417) with three homers and 11 RBIs.

Diamondbacks left-hander Robbie Ray (4-6) will face Phillies right-hander Vincent Velasquez (5-2) in the series opener Monday. Ray beat the Phillies with a quality start to open the trip. Velasquez was the only starter Arizona missed.

The Phillies have not had much go right since moving five games above .500 with an 8-5 victory over the Detroit Tigers on May 25. They are 6-25 since and have lost 12 of their past 14.

They ended a nine-game losing streak in the final game of a three-game series at Minnesota on Thursday, but they lost two out of three at San Francisco over the weekend despite roughing up potential All-Star starter Johnny Cueto for six runs in six innings on Sunday.

Center fielder Odubel Herrera, who appears to be the Phillies' top All-Star candidate, hit his eighth homer of the season Sunday before the Giants scored a run in the last of the ninth for an 8-7 victory.

Herrera has seven doubles and 27 RBIs, and opponents know he is the man to avoid. Herrera has 41 walks, almost twice as many as any other teammate. Third baseman Maikel Franco, who has 12 homers and 37 RBIs while batting .240, has walked 23 times.

Franco missed eight weeks after being struck in the left wrist injury on Aug. 11, the last time the Phillies were in Arizona.

Velasquez will be starting against the Diamondbacks for the first time in his career. In two relief outings against Arizona, he has allowed just one run, which was unearned, in 3 2/3 innings.

The June 17 outing at Philadelphia was Ray's first appearance against the Phillies. He allowed two runs on seven hits in six innings, striking out seven and walking one.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Astros (39-37) at Angels (32-44)

Game: 1
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Date: June 27, 2016 10:05 PM EDT

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Houston Astros hope to extend their five-week surge by once again tormenting the Los Angeles Angels when both teams begin a three-game series Monday night at Angel Stadium.

Considered a favorite for the American League West championship, the Astros owned a 17-28 record on May 22. Since then, however, Houston has won 22 of the next 31 games to move within 1 1/2 games of the Toronto Blue Jays for the final wild-card playoff spot.

The Astros' 32-19 record since May 1 is the third best in the American League, despite the fact that the Kansas City Royals' broke their seven-game winning streak Sunday. That streak was the club's longest this year.

"We've done everything we can to inch back to relevance but this isn't going to accomplish anything," Astros manager A.J. Hinch told MLB.com when his club reached .500 on Tuesday night. "It's a good milestone because of how the season started. Yes, I'm happy with how we've continued to grind. We've shown some personality and are pretty tough.

"But I want to keep it in proper perspective. If you would have told me that we would be .500 on this date at the beginning of the season, we would have said, 'We should be better.'"

Houston reached .500 by rallying in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Angels to earn a 3-2 win. The Astros' sweep of last week's three-game series against Los Angeles not only gave them a 5-1 record against the Angels' this season. It also started their upcoming opponents' six-game losing streak that ended Sunday.

"No way will we ever give up on this year," manager Mike Scioscia told the Los Angeles Times. "We have more in us, with even this group of guys. Where we are in the standings doesn't matter. We still have confidence we're going to turn this thing around and get things going in the right direction."

Right-hander Matt Shoemaker, who earned the Angels' only win against the Astros, will start Monday night against right-hander Collin McHugh.

In eight career starts against Los Angeles, McHugh owns a 4-2 record and a 2.82 earned-run average. In his last start Tuesday against the Angels at Minute Maid Park, the right-hander allowed just two runs, five hits and a walk in seven innings while amassing six strikeouts.

Shoemaker, meanwhile, is 2-2 with a 4.37 ERA in seven career appearances against the Astros, five of them being starts. Despite collecting seven strikeouts and permitting just two walks in 7 1/3 innings during his last start in Houston on Wednesday, Shoemaker took the loss after allowing three runs on eight hits.

Shoemaker will have to contain the Astros' Jose Altuve, one of the American League's most potent offensive threats. Altuve lead the league with a .347 average and ranks second with 103 hits, 18 stolen bases and a .425 on-base percentage.

Altuve extended his streak of consecutive games in which he reached base to 29, tying a career record, on Sunday. The three-time All-Star also has hits in 16 of his past 17 games at Angel Stadium, and is batting .388 during that stretch.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Athletics (32-43) at Giants (49-28)

Game: 1
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: June 27, 2016 10:15 PM EDT

SAN FRANCISCO -- Two teams that imported Jeff Samardzija for runs at a World Series title meet Monday night when the rival Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants begin their annual interleague series.

The first-place Giants (49-28), having won 13 of their last 16 at home, will host the first two games of the four-day affair.

The fourth-place A's (32-43), coming off a 3-1 series win in Anaheim against the Angels, will be the home team Wednesday and Thursday when the battle for San Francisco Bay Area bragging rights concludes in Oakland.

Samardzija joined the A's from the Chicago Cubs on July 5, 2014, at a hefty price when Oakland general manager Billy Beane agreed to part with one of the franchise's top prospects, shortstop Addison Russell.

The A's went on to capture a wild-card berth into the 2014 American League playoffs even though Samardzija went just 5-6 with a 3.14 ERA in 16 starts.

He was pitching his best ball at the end of the season, having not allowed an earned run over a 22-inning, three-game stretch during a key September sequence.

He was in line to pitch Game 2 of the AL Divisional Series had the A's, with Jon Lester on the mound, not blown a 7-3 lead in a 12-inning loss to Kansas City in the AL wild-card game.

Samardzija was dealt to the Chicago White Sox two months later, allowing the A's to acquire a new shortstop, Marcus Semien.

Semien led all of baseball with 35 errors last season as the A's went from an 88-game playoff team to a 68-win last-place club.

Semien made only eight errors in 75 games this season, but the A's winning percentage (.427) is only marginally better than last year's .420 mark.

Samardzija, meanwhile, returned to the Bay Area exactly a year after being dealt by the A's, signing a five-year, $90 million free-agent deal with the Giants.

Coupled with the addition of Johnny Cueto from Kansas City, the Giants enter play Monday with the most wins in the National League (49) in their quest for a fourth World Series championship since 2010.

Samardzija has played a role in the fast start, going 8-4 with a 3.59 ERA.

The former Notre Dame wide receiver says he will be excited about Monday's outing for more than just seeing the A's again. He's coming off the shortest start of his career -- three innings at Pittsburgh -- and admitted afterward he owes his teammates one after they bailed him out in a 7-6 win.

"It says a lot about this team, both the bullpen and the offense, when you can pitch a crummy game like I did and we were still able to come away with a win," he said afterward. "It means a lot and I'm going to remember it."

Samardzija has split decisions against the A's since his brief stint with them, including a 7-3 victory last season on May 17 in his only Bay Area return before joining the Giants.

The A's extracted a measure of revenge when they saw their old pal in Chicago on Sept. 15, bombing him for 10 runs on 11 hits over three innings in a 17-6 shellacking.

The A's have scored 10 or more runs just three times since then, but never more than 14.

Oakland will counter Monday with right-hander Daniel Mengden (0-3), a rookie who was acquired from the Houston Astros in a deal involving another of the club's key starters in the 2014 playoff run, Scott Kazmir.

Mengden has pitched a lot better than his record would indicate, A's manager Bob Melvin assured reporters after Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.

"He knows we think he's good, and he is," Melvin insisted. "He knows he's good, too. He might not tell you that, but he knows he's good."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Monday's Diamond Notes
By Joe Williams

Hottest team: Indians (9-0 past 9)

Cleveland looks for its 10th consecutive victory in an interleague series opener at Atlanta Monday. Trevor Bauer is on the bump for the Indians, and he hasn't suffered a loss in six starts dating back to May 21. Bauer has been solid overall with a 3.20 ERA this season in 17 appearances (11 starts), and he is even better on the road with a 2.84 ERA in eight outings (five starts). The Indians are 5-0 in their past five game against a right-handed starter, and they're also 4-1 in Bauer's past five outings. On the flip side, the Braves have won just two of their past 11 interleague games against a team with a winning record.

Coldest team: Rays (0-11 past 11)

The Tampa Bay Rays have been struggling tremendously, losers of 11 straight, including four in a row at home and five consecutive setbacks within the division. Perhaps they can get well against the Boston Red Sox, as they pay a visit to St. Petersburg. The Red Sox have won just once in their past six trips to Tropicana Field. Last time out it was Blake Snell spinning a quality start by allowing three runs - two earned - with seven hits over 6 2/3 innings in Cleveland last Tuesday. Tampa won two of three from Boston at Fenway Park in the first meeting between these rivals April 19-21.

Hottest pitcher: Marco Estrada, Blue Jays (5-3, 2.70 ERA)

Estrada and the Jays head to Coors Field to open up an interleague series in Denver against the Colorado Rockies. Estrada has the temperament to withstand the power bats of the Rockies and the rarified air in Denver. Over the past month Estrada has a 3-1 record with a 2.60 ERA in five starts, holding the opposition to a .128 batting average over 34 2/3 innings with a sparkling 0.84 WHIP. The Rockies strike out 7.96 times per game, and Estrada has whiffed 26 batters over the past 26 2/3 innings in four June starts.

Coldest pitcher: Francisco Liriano, Pirates (4-7, 5.17 ERA)

The Bucs have been hovering around the .500 mark, and they would likely be well above if Liriano was hitting his averages. Liriano has lost four straight decisions, and he has won just one of his past eight starts dating back to May 6. The Pirates have lost five straight starts with Liriano on the bull, and the Pirates have won just five of their past 18 games overall. They're also 0-5 in Liriano's past five outings against teams with a winning overall record.

Biggest UNDER run: Braves (8-1 past nine)

The Braves open up an interleague series against the red-hot Indians Monday night at Turner Field. The under has cashed in eight of the past nine games for the Braves. The under has also cashed in four straight interleague games while going 6-0 in their past six against right-handed starting pitching. The under is also 4-0 in the past four outings by Indians SP Trevor Bauer, the opposing pitcher. In the past six meetings in Atlanta between these interleague clubs, the under is a perfect 6-0 and the under is 8-0-1 in the past nine meetings overall.

Biggest OVER run: Phillies (5-1 past six)

Philadelphia has the worst run differential in the National League at minus-105, scoring 3.3 runs per game while allowing 4.7 runs per outing. On their current road trip they have picked up the pace offensively, averaging 6.0 runs per game while allowing 6.4 runs per outing. That has helped the over routinely cash. Vince Velasquez comes off the 15-day disabled list to start Monday's game in Arizona. He has allowed a total of 20 runs over the past 30 1/3 innings, so another over might be just around the corner.

Matchup to watch: Angels vs. Astros

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim host the Houston Astros Monday night as they look to turn things around. The Halos have won just one of their past seven games, and they're 1-4 in their past five against right-handed starting pitching. The Astros have been red hot, winning seven of their past eight games overall while posting a 4-1 record in their past five road outings against right-handed starting pitching. They turn to Collin McHugh to stay hot. The Astros are 5-1 in his past six outings, and 20-6 in his past 26 starts against American League West foes. Houston is also 5-0 in McHugh's past five assignments against the Angels, altthough Houston is just 7-15 in their past 22 trips to the Big A.

Betcha didn’t know: Oakland and San Francisco might only be separated by 12 miles, but they're extremely far apart when they get together on the diamond. The Giants have dominated the series, winning five of the past six meetings while going 16-5 in their past 21 home dates against the Athletics. The A's are also just 2-7 in their past nine interleague games, and 1-4 in their past five interleague road outings while the Giants are 4-0 in their past four interleague games while posting a stellar 48-21 record in their past 69 interleague home games.

Biggest public favorite: Cubs (-205) at Reds

Biggest public underdog: Rangers (+130) at Yankees

Biggest line move: Angels (+115 to -105) vs. Astros

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

'Reds a mess'

Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati Reds June 27, 7:10 EST

The Cincinnati Reds (29-47) are a complete mess with a losing record in just about every way imaginable. The club is 18-22 at Great American Ball Park, 11-25 in an opposing park, 15-35 under the light's, 10-15 opening a series, 11-17 after a win, 10-18 vs the division, 8-19 as home dogs. Doubt you want to take flyer on Cincinnati when they host Cubbies and Jake Arrieta. Reds carry into the contest a 1-9 skid vs their division rival, the Cubs have a 9-0 streak as road chalk opening a series w/Arrieta and 8-0 streak as road chalk vs a division opponent with their ace hurler.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

'Runs at a premium'

Toronto Blue Jays at Colorado Rockies June 27, 8:40 EST

Colorado and Toronto open a three-game interleague series at Coors Field Monday night with Rockies counting on Jon Gray and Blue Jays countering with Marco Estrada. Oddsmakers have noted the possibility of a high-scoring affair and have set the total at 12.0 to 12.5 runs.

Might be a little high, Toronto's Marco Estrada has shown that he can keep the score low. In his sixteen starts this season, the game has gone 'Under' 13 times with 3 'Over'. He also knows how to keep the Jays in a game after a loss, with 11 'Under' and 1 'Over' in twelve starts following a Blue Jay loss. The Blue Jays have also shown a habit of playing 'Under' in an opposing park. In 41 games the result has been 26 'Under', 13 'Over' and 2 'Push'. Well to note, Colorado is 3-0-1 'Under' starting a new series with Gray, 6-2 'Under' vs. a team with a winning record.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MLB

Monday's games

National League games

Dodgers @ Pirates
Kazmir is 2-0, 3.38 in his last six starts; three of his last four went over.

Liriano is 0-4, 8.31 in his last four starts; three of his last four home starts went over.

Pirates won their last three games; over is 13-6-1 in their last 20 home games. Dodgers lost their last three games; under is 18-7-1 in Dodgers' last 26 games.

Mets @ Nationals
Syndergaard is 3-0, 3.29 in his last four starts; over is 4-0-1 in his last five.

Ross is 3-0, 3.6 2 in his last six starts; three of his last four went over.

Mets are 5-7 in last 12 road games, 7-5 in road series openers. Under is 9-3 in their last 12 road games. Washington lost seven of last eight games; they're 7-3 in home series openers. Seven of Nationals' last nine home games went over.

Cubs @ Reds
Arrieta is 2-1, 2.00 in his last three starts; over is 12-3 in his starts.

Straily is 2-3, 5.06 in his last six starts; six of his last eight starts went over.

Cubs lost six of last seven games, are 7-5 in road series openers. Under is 8-5 in their last 13 games. Cincinnati lost six of last eight games, is 6-7 in home series openers. Six of Reds' last eight home games stayed under.

Phillies @ Diamondbacks
Velasquez was 0-1, 8.10 in his last four starts before the DL; all four starts went over.

Ray is 2-2, 4.30 in his last four starts; over is 6-2-1 in his last nine.

Phillies lost 14 of last 17 games; they're 4-9 in road series openers. Over is 10-2 in their last 12 road games. Arizona is 4-7 in its last 11 home games, 3-9 in home series openers. Last four Diamondback games went over.


American League games

Rangers @ Bronx
CGonzalez is making first '16 start; he is 4-6, 3.90 in 14 MLB games (10 starts), 3-6, 5.04 in 14 AAA starts this season.

Nova is 0-2, 11.00 in his last two starts; over is 3-1-1 in his home starts. .

Rangers won 10 of last 12 games; they're 6-5 in road series openers. Over is 10-4 in their last 14 road games. New York won three of last four games, they're 7-5 in home series openers. Six of their last eight hme games stayed under.

Red Sox @ Rays
Rodriguez is 0-2, 7.64 in his last four starts (under 3-2).

Snell is 0-2, 5.40 in his three starts (under 2-1).

Red Sox lost five of last seven games; they're 8-4 in road series openers. Four of last five Boston road games went over total. Tampa Bay lost its last 11 games; they're 4-8 in home series openers. Under is 7-3 in last ten games at the Trop.

Astros @ Angels
McHugh is 0-0, 1.98 in his last two starts; five of his last seven stayed under.

Shoemaker is 0-3, 2.75 in his last five starts, which all stayed under; Angels scored 10 runs total in those five games.

Houston won nine of last 11 games; they're 5-8 in road series openers. Under is 13-4 in Astros' last 17 games. Angels are 6-14 in their last 20 games; nine of their last ten home games went over. Halos are 5-8 in home series openers.


Interleague

Indians @ Braves
Bauer is 2-0, 1.71 in his last four starts, which all stayed under.

Gant is 1-2, 3.24 in three MLB starts (under 2-1).

Indians won their last nine games, they're 7-6 in road series openers. Three of last four Cleveland road games went over. Atlanta is 8-3 in its last 11 games, 5-8 in home series openers. Under is 8-1 in their last nine games.

Cardinals @ Royals
Wainwright is 1-0, 2.29 in his last three starts; his last four starts stayed under.

Duffy is 2-1, 3.54 in his last five starts (under 4-3-1).

Cardinals are 9-2 in last 11 road games, 5-7 in road series openers. Over is 11-7 in their last 18 road games. Kansas City lost four of last five games, is 10-2 in home series openers. Six of Royals' last eight home games went over.

Blue Jays @ Rockies
Estrada is 4-1, 2.81 in his last six starts; four of his last five stayed under.

Gray is 0-1, 4.76 in his last three starts; over is 5-1-1 in his last seven.

Blue Jays lost five of last seven games, are 9-4 in road series openers. Four of their last five games stayed under. Colorado won six of last eight home games, is 5-7 in first game of a home series. Five of last six games at Coors Field went over.

A's @ Giants
Mengden is 0-3, 3.50 in his three starts, which all stayed under. Oakland scored total of four runs in those three games.

Samardzija is 1-2, 6.75 in his last five starts; five of his last six went over.

A's won three of last four games, are 7-5 in road series openers- their last four games all went over the total. San Francisco won 13 of last 16 home games- they're 6-6 in home series openers. Over is 8-3-1 in their home openers.


Teams won-lost records when this pitcher starts:

LA-Pitt-- Kazmir 7-8; Liriano 6-8 (1-7 last 8)
NY-Wsh-- Syndergaard 10-4; Ross 9-5
Chi-Cin-- Arreita 12-3 (2-3 last 5); Straily 6-7
Phil-Az-- Velasquez 7-5; Ray 5-10

Tex-NY-- CGonzalez 0-0; Nova 4-5
Bos-TB-- Rodriguez 2-3; Snell 0-3
Hst-LA-- McHugh 9-6; Shoemaker 4-10

Cle-Atl-- Bauer 6-5; Gant 1-2
StL-KC-- Wainwright 10-5; Duffy 5-3
Tor-Col-- Estrada 8-6; Gray 5-7
A's-SF-- Mendgen 0-3; Samardzija 10-5


Starting pitchers allowing 1+ runs in first inning:

LA-Pitt-- Kazmir 8-15; Liriano 4-14
NY-Wsh-- Syndergaard 3-14; Ross 4-14
Chi-Cin-- Arreita 1-15; Straily 2-13
Phil-Az-- Velasquez 3-11; Ray 3-15

Tex-NY-- CGonzalez 0-0; Nova 2-9
Bos-TB-- Rodriguez 2-5; Snell 2-3
Hst-LA-- McHugh 8-15; Shoemaker 3-14

Cle-Atl-- Bauer 3-11; Gant 2-3
StL-KC-- Wainwright 5-15; Duffy 0-8
Tor-Col-- Estrada 3-14; Gray 4-12
A's-SF-- Mendgen 0-3; Samardzija 3-15

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Monday's six-pack

-- Colts' owner Jim Irsay paid $137,500 for Prince's yellow guitar that he used from 1988-94. Apparently Irsay has an extensive collection of musical instruments.

-- Over is 83-55 in interleague games this season: 46-28 in AL parks, 37-27 in NL parks, where there is no DH used. Games in AL parks have a DH.

-- New Orleans Saints defense gave up 54 first downs via penalty LY; no one else gave up more than 50.

-- Tony Stewart ended an 84-race winless streak when he won at Sonoma Sunday.

-- Mark Reynolds hit a walk-off HR for the Rockies; it was his 245th career home run but his first walk-off tater.

-- Jose Reyes played 3B in his first minor league game with the Mets Sunday.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MLB

Monday, June 27

Trend Report

12:35 PM
LA DODGERS vs. PITTSBURGH
LA Dodgers are 6-3 SU in their last 9 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of LA Dodgers's last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Pittsburgh's last 6 games when playing at home against LA Dodgers
The total has gone OVER in 14 of Pittsburgh's last 20 games at home

7:05 PM
TEXAS vs. NY YANKEES
Texas is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Texas is 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing NY Yankees
The total has gone OVER in 6 of NY Yankees's last 8 games
NY Yankees are 6-3 SU in their last 9 games

7:05 PM
NY METS vs. WASHINGTON
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of NY Mets's last 12 games on the road
NY Mets are 10-5 SU in its last 15 games when playing Washington
Washington is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against NY Mets
Washington is 5-10 SU in its last 15 games when playing NY Mets

7:10 PM
BOSTON vs. TAMPA BAY
Boston is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay
Boston is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 6 games when playing Boston

7:10 PM
CLEVELAND vs. ATLANTA
Cleveland is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Atlanta
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Cleveland's last 5 games when playing Atlanta
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Atlanta's last 5 games when playing Cleveland
Atlanta is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home

7:10 PM
CHI CUBS vs. CINCINNATI
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Chi Cubs's last 5 games
Chi Cubs are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Cincinnati's last 8 games at home
Cincinnati is 1-7 SU in their last 8 games when playing at home against Chi Cubs

8:15 PM
ST. LOUIS vs. KANSAS CITY
St. Louis is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games when playing on the road against Kansas City
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of St. Louis's last 7 games when playing Kansas City
Kansas City is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Kansas City's last 8 games at home

8:40 PM
TORONTO vs. COLORADO
Toronto is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Colorado
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Toronto's last 5 games
Colorado is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games when playing Toronto
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Colorado's last 5 games

9:40 PM
PHILADELPHIA vs. ARIZONA
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Philadelphia's last 5 games when playing on the road against Arizona
Philadelphia is 2-11 SU in its last 13 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Arizona's last 5 games
Arizona is 8-16 SU in its last 24 games at home

10:05 PM
HOUSTON vs. LA ANGELS
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Houston's last 15 games when playing on the road against LA Angels
Houston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
LA Angels are 1-6 SU in their last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of LA Angels's last 15 games when playing at home against Houston

10:15 PM
OAKLAND vs. SAN FRANCISCO
Oakland is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing San Francisco
Oakland is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of San Francisco's last 6 games
San Francisco is 13-2 SU in its last 15 games

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MLB
Dunkel

Monday, June 27


Texas @ NY Yankees

Game 959-960
June 27, 2016 @ 7:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Texas
(Gnzalez) 16.048
NY Yankees
(Nova) 13.222
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Texas
by 3
12
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
NY Yankees
-130
9
Dunkel Pick:
Texas
(+110); Over

Boston @ Tampa Bay

Game 961-962
June 27, 2016 @ 7:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Boston
(Rdriguez) 14.099
Tampa Bay
(Snell) 18.072
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Tampa Bay
by 4
7 1/2
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Boston
-115
8 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Tampa Bay
(-105); Under

Houston @ LA Angels

Game 963-964
June 27, 2016 @ 10:06 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Houston
(McHugh) 16.536
LA Angels
(Shmaker) 13.990
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Houston
by 2 1/2
11
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Houston
-115
7 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Houston
(-115); Over

Cleveland @ Atlanta

Game 965-966
June 27, 2016 @ 7:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Cleveland
(Bauer) 16.574
Atlanta
(Gant) 13.076
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Cleveland
by 3 1/2
7 1/2
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Cleveland
-180
8
Dunkel Pick:
Cleveland
(-180); Under

St. Louis @ Kansas City

Game 967-968
June 27, 2016 @ 8:15 pm

Dunkel Rating:
St. Louis
(Wnwrght) 18.435
Kansas City
(Duffy) 13.288
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
St. Louis
by 5
7
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Kansas City
-110
8 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
St. Louis
(-110); Under

Toronto @ Colorado

Game 969-970
June 27, 2016 @ 8:40 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Toronto
(Estrada) 17.008
Colorado
(Gray) 13.477
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Toronto
by 3 1/2
14 1/2
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Toronto
-140
12
Dunkel Pick:
Toronto
(-140); Over

Oakland @ San Francisco

Game 971-972
June 27, 2016 @ 10:15 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Oakland
(Mengden) 15.917
San Francisco
(Smrdzja) 14.442
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Oakland
by 1 1/2
9
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
San Francisco
-180
7 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Oakland
(+160); Over

LA Dodgers @ Pittsburgh

Game 951-952
June 27, 2016 @ 12:35 pm

Dunkel Rating:
LA Dodgers
(Kazmir) 15.612
Pittsburgh
(Liriano) 13.155
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
LA Dodgers
by 2 1/2
9
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
LA Dodgers
-115
8 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
LA Dodgers
(-115); Over

NY Mets @ Washington

Game 953-954
June 27, 2016 @ 7:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
NY Mets
(Syndrgrd) 16.980
Washington
(Ross) 15.432
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
NY Mets
by 1 1/2
5
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
NY Mets
-115
7
Dunkel Pick:
NY Mets
(-115); Under

Chicago Cubs @ Cincinnati

Game 955-956
June 27, 2016 @ 7:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Chicago Cubs
(Arrieta) 14.492
Cincinnati
(Straily) 17.488
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Cincinnati
by 3
7
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Chicago Cubs
-260
8
Dunkel Pick:
Cincinnati
(+220); Under

Philadelphia @ Arizona

Game 957-958
June 27, 2016 @ 9:40 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Philadelphia
(Velsquez) 15.072
Arizona
(Ray) 13.555
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Philadelphia
by 1 1/2
10
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Arizona
-120
8 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Philadelphia
(+100); Over

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Dodgers at Pirates

GAME: Los Angeles Dodgers (41-36) at Pittsburgh Pirates (37-39)
DATE/TIME: Monday, June 27 - 12:35 PM EST
WHERE: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

The Pittsburgh Pirates attempt to complete their eight-game homestand with a four-game sweep when they host the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday afternoon. Pittsburgh began its stretch at PNC Park with a 1-0 triumph over San Francisco but surrendered 27 runs over the next three contests - all losses - before registering 18 over three straight wins against Los Angeles.

Adam Frazier came off the bench Sunday to go 2-for-3 with an RBI single in his third major-league game and scored on David Freese's three-run double in the second inning as the Pirates built a four-run lead and held on for a 4-3 triumph. Los Angeles won the final six contests of a seven-game homestand before arriving in Pittsburgh, where ace Clayton Kershaw was outdueled by Chad Kuhl - who was making his major-league debut - on Sunday. Justin Turner recorded half of the Dodgers' four hits and drove in all three runs to improve to 4-for-10 with a homer and five RBIs over the first three games of the series. The third baseman has collected 21 of his 37 RBIs on the season over his last 20 contests.

TV: 12:35 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), ROOT (Pittsburgh)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Scott Kazmir (5-3, 4.52 ERA) vs. Pirates LH Francisco Liriano (4-7, 5.17)

Kazmir is unbeaten in his last eight starts but has not factored in the decision five times, including Tuesday's outing in which he limited Washington to two runs over six innings. The 32-year-old native of Houston has yielded three runs or fewer in each of his last six turns but failed to last more than five frames three times in that span. Kazmir has split his two career starts against Pittsburgh despite surrendering 13 runs - 12 earned - on 13 hits and five walks over 9 2/3 innings (11.17 ERA).

Liriano lost four straight starts before settling for a no-decision against San Francisco on Wednesday, when he gave up four runs on six hits and three walks in five innings. The 32-year-old Dominican has yielded at least four runs in each of his last five outings and issued a total of 24 walks over 31 2/3 frames in his last six turns. Liriano has yet to lose to Los Angeles in his career, going 4-0 with a 2.73 ERA in five starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pirates SS Jordy Mercer left Sunday's game after one inning with head and right ear discomfort suffered when he was kneed in the head by Dodgers 2B Chase Utley while attempting to break up a double play.

2. Los Angeles SS Corey Seager has gone 18-for-41 during his 10-game hitting streak.

3. Pittsburgh optioned LHP Kyle Lobstein to Triple-A and designated RHP Curtis Partch for assignment to make room on the 25- and 40-man roster, respectively, for Kuhl while releasing LHP Cory Luebke after he refused an assignment to Indianapolis.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 4, Pirates 1

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mets at Nationals

GAME: New York Mets (40-34) at Washington Nationals (44-32)
DATE/TIME: Monday, June 27 - 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: Nationals Park, Washington, District of Columbia
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

The New York Mets and Washington Nationals will look to ignite their sputtering offenses at the other's expense on Monday when the National League East rivals open a three-game series in the nation's capital. New York mustered its only offense in the ninth inning of Sunday's 5-2 setback to the Atlanta Braves, falling to 4-5 with only 24 runs scored in that nine-game stretch.

Wilmer Flores had a run-scoring single on Sunday and is 4-for-10 with two RBIs in his last three games after a 3-for-29 stretch in his previous 11. The Mets have split their first six encounters with first-place Washington, which scored just 20 runs during a season-high seven-game losing skid before collecting only four hits in a 3-2 victory over Milwaukee on Sunday. The Nationals hope their offense gets untracked by beginning a stretch of 19 of their next 23 contests in their own ballpark - starting with the opener of a 10-game homestand on Monday. Daniel Murphy went 0-for-4 in the finale versus the Brewers, but is a blistering 10-for-23 with two homers and six RBIs in six games versus his former team this season.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SNY (New York), MASN (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (8-2, 2.08 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Joe Ross (6-4, 3.11)

Syndergaard won his second straight start and improved to 6-0 in his last nine appearances on Wednesday after allowing three runs on eight hits in six innings versus Kansas City. The 23-year-old fireballer exited that contest after experiencing renewed discomfort in his right elbow, but an MRI returned clean, so manager Terry Collins and company feel Syndergaard is ready to face the Nationals for the second time this season. The Texas native improved to 2-0 versus Washington in his career after scattering five hits and striking out 10 in seven strong innings in a 2-0 win on May 17.

Ross looks to continue his strong stretch on Monday as Washington is shuffling its rotation with ace Stephen Strasburg (upper back strain) on the disabled list. The 23-year-old owns a 3-0 mark in his last six starts but settled for a no-decision versus the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday despite allowing two runs in 6 1/3 innings. The home-run ball has plagued Ross, as he has been taken deep in four straight and eight of his last nine outings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Washington OF Bryce Harper is 1-for-17 versus New York this season.

2. Mets 1B James Loney has hit safely in each of his last six games and in 20 of 23 contests in June.

3. New York RHP Zack Wheeler will participate in a long toss on Monday as he continues his recovery from right elbow discomfort.

PREDICTION: Mets 3, Nationals 1

 

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Preview: Rangers at Yankees

GAME: Texas Rangers (49-27) at New York Yankees (37-37)
DATE/TIME: Monday, June 27 - 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

The Texas Rangers are looking very much like the best team in the American League and they have the record to prove it. The Rangers just got done picking off one AL East team and will try for another when they open a 10-game road trip by visiting the New York Yankees on Monday for the first of four contests.

Texas put 23 runs up while taking two of three from the Boston Red Sox over the weekend and is 27-8 since May 20 to open up a commanding lead in the AL West. The Rangers (49-27) should have nothing but confidence heading out on the road after going 8-2 on a 10-game trip from June 10-19 and are trying to reach 50 wins before the end of June for the second time in team history. The Yankees are toiling around .500 and had a three-game winning streak come to an end with a 7-1 loss to the major-league worst Minnesota Twins on Sunday. New York is already hearing rumblings about trades and is looking at a brutal stretch leading into the All-Star break with a 10-game road trip following the series against the Rangers.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSN Southwest (Texas), YES (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Chi Chi Gonzalez (2015: 4-6, 3.90 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Ivan Nova (5-5, 5.18)

Gonzalez spent plenty of time in the majors last season and is getting another chance with three of Texas’ starters on the disabled list. The 24-year-old was 3-6 with a 5.04 ERA for Triple-A Round Rock in 14 starts but managed to hold major league hitters to a .202 batting average in 14 appearances last season. Gonzalez did not see the Yankees in 2015 and went 2-3 with a 2.87 ERA on the road.

Nova is having a hard time since taking over CC Sabathia’s spot in the rotation and failed to make it through six innings in either of his last two outings. The Dominican Republic native was ripped for a total of 11 runs – 10 earned – and 18 hits in nine innings, with both of those starts coming against Colorado. Nova is better in his career against Texas, owning a 3-2 record with a 4.85 ERA in seven games – six starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Yankees 1B Mark Teixeira hit a solo home run on Sunday to snap a career-long string of 147 straight homerless at-bats.

2. Texas OF Ian Desmond has hit safely in eight straight games and homered in three of the last six.

3. New York CF Jacoby Ellsbury is 2-for-16 in his last four starts.

PREDICTION: Rangers 8, Yankees 6