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Post your request, Comments or concerns here.
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Copa America Tu 7Jun 00:00
PanamavBolivia
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HOMEDRAWAWAY
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KEY STAT: Bolivia have won only one of their last 43 games on foreign soil

EXPERT VERDICT: Panama walloped Cuba 4-0 to qualify for the Copa but there have been just five goals in total in their six matches since then. Bolivia drew 0-0 with Mexico in last year’s Copa, do not travel well and their best results look like flukes.

RECOMMENDATION: No goalscorer
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Copa America Tu 7Jun 03:00
ArgentinavChile
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HOMEDRAWAWAY
11/1023/1011/4More markets
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KEY STAT: Six of Chile’s last eight games have seen three goals or more scored

EXPERT VERDICT: Argentina won a World Cup qualifier 2-1 in the Chilean capita and they beat La Roja 2-1 and 4-1 in 2014 World Cup qualifying. ‘Don’t lose heavily’ may well be the mantra of both coaches but Chile can’t help attacking and October’s win over Brazil is a warning to Argentina about being too cagey.

RECOMMENDATION: Both teams to score
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Pocono 400 Preview
By Micah Roberts

Wow, Martin Truex Jr., that was an impressive Sunday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway. I've never seen such a dominating performance there probably because it's never happened. The guy led 392 of the 400 laps and 588 of the 600 miles, both track records.

That is definitely strong stuff and we should have all seen if coming following his outstanding final practices Saturday. He had also led the most laps in the two previous 1.5-mile tracks at Texas and Kansas. It was his first win since last June when he led a race-high 97 laps en route to his first Pocono victory.

And that's how the stage is set this week as the tour heads to Pocono Raceway for Sunday's Axalta 400, the 14th race of the season. Can Truex keep his roll going? He finally captured victory that had eluded him several times this season, but it's in those failures to close out wins that made several bettors skeptical of him, despite the great practices, prior the Coca-Cola 600.

Truex has the benefit of having great equipment from Joe Gibbs Racing as an affiliate. When including Truex into the mix, Gibbs has now won seven of the past eight races on the schedule and eight of 13 overall. It's not hard to understand why each of the five cars will be 8-to-1 or less to win Sunday.

But what about Pocono Raceway's trick 2.5-mile triangle? The last race run there in August was won by a Gibbs driver as well with Matt Kenseth, but in the six previous races, it was all Chevrolets, including Truex's win last June when he drove a Chevrolet using Richard Childress Racing equipment.

Despite all the JGR Toyotas currently dominating, I think there is enough of a difference with the uniqueness of the track that we'll have either a Ford or Chevrolet in the winners circle this week. Before we get to them, let's take a look at what the Gibbs gang has done at Pocono.

- Prior to Kenseth's Pocono win last fall, he had never won there in 32 starts. He only had three other top-fives and has averaged a 15th-place finish.

- Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers with four Pocono wins, but the last one came in 2010. He's always been good at Pocono just because he gets in and out of the flat turn 3 the best. It suits his flat track style where he's typically been his best, places like Martinsville and Richmond. His first two wins came in a season sweep as a rookie in 2006.

- Carl Edwards is a two-time winner, but his last victory back-flip there came in 2008 while driving a Roush Fenway Racing Ford.

- The surprising piece of Pocono history is that Kyle Busch has never won there, one of only two tracks on the Cup schedule he's never won at. He hasn't had a top-five there since 2011 and in his championship season last year he finished ninth in June and 21st in August. Last fall he ran out of gas while leading with a lap to go.

So yes, JGR is currently the hottest thing going in NASCAR right now, but there may be an opportunity with the unique track that has three differing banked turns to find a few drivers elsewhere at nice prices to win. It's a dilemma with betting against JGR because you know they have the low downforce package figured out best and you know they'll be fast again Sunday, but how about a couple other candidates like the Chevy banner with Hendrick or Stewart Haas Racing or a Team Penske Ford?

If we look back at the past four Pocono race covering the past two seasons, you'll see that Dale Earnhardt Jr. has a 4.25 average finish with two wins. After that in the last four races, it's Kyle Larson (9th-place average), Greg Biffle (9.5), Jamie McMurray (9.75), and Brad Keselowski (11th). The now retired Jeff Gordon had a 7.75 average and rookie Chase Elliott gets that sweet ride. That's the top-six performers and none of them are driving Toyotas.

The driver that has done the best over the long haul has been Jimmie Johnson with three wins and a 9.5 average finish in 28 starts. His last win came in 2013, but he's been sixth or better in eight of his past 12 starts, including third and sixth last season.

The one like the most to unseat JGR this week is Joey Logano, who won there in 2012. He led a race-high 97 laps last fall, but ran out of gas with two laps to go and settled for 20th. He had finished third and fourth in his previous two races there. He's starving for his first win of the season after leading the series in that category last season with six wins.

Look for teammate Brad Keselowski also to fare well Sunday. He won in 2011 and has been runner-up twice in the last four starts there.

Maybe it's just hoping some other team wins, but there's good value if deciding to go against the JGR train this week.

That's my plan this week.

Top-5 Finish Prediction:

1) #22 Joey Logano (10/1)
2) #2 Brad Keselowski (10/1)
3) #4 Kevin Harvick (8/1)
4) #24 Chase Elliott (18/1)
5) #48 Jimmie Johnson (8/1)
 
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Drivers to Watch - Pocono

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Axalta ‘We Paint Winners’ 400
Sunday, June 5th – 1:00 p.m. ET
Pocono Raceway – Long Pond, PA

The Sprint Cup drivers head to Pocono Raceway this week for the Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400. This is the first of two races that will be held here as the athletes will make their way back in late summer for the Pennsylvania 400.

The large 2.5-mile track features three turns with banks between six and 14-degrees and features an asphalt top. There are seven different racers that have won here more than once, with Jimmie Johnson (2004, 2013) being the most recent as Jeff Gordon has the most wins here with four (1996, 1997, 2007, 2011).

Gordon is, however, retired and that will have Johnson looking to catch up to him as long as he is a Sprint Cup driver.

Last week, Martin Truex Jr. was the one that emerged victorious at the Coca-Cola 600. Truex Jr. also happens to be the last driver to win this race, as he cruised to a victory in 2:58:45.

Let’s see who in the field can knock him off this week.

Drivers to Watch

Martin Truex Jr. (9/2) - It’s very hard to pick against Truex Jr. coming into this race. He is a co-favorite to win this weekend and it’s for very good reason, as Truex Jr. won this race in 2015. He was dominant on his way to victory last year and he also happens to have won last week’s Coca-Cola 600. It’s hard to find a driver as hot as Truex Jr. right now and that is why he’s a hard person to avoid this weekend. While his payoff may not be as big as others, he’s worth putting a few units on with the way he’s been driving.

Jimmie Johnson (7/1) - As mentioned earlier, Jimmie Johnson has really been impressive on this track. He has won this race twice in his career and will certainly be ready to go out and win it a third time on Sunday. With no Jeff Gordon around, Johnson has a real chance to end up breaking the record for most wins at this track. He also happens to be coming into this race in some pretty solid form, as he finished in third place at last week’s Coca-Cola 600. At 6/1 he’s worth a couple of units, as he is going to feel comfortable at this event and those are some solid odds for a driver with his talent level.

Kyle Busch (8/1) - Busch is getting the same odds as Johnson in this race and he is yet another excellent pick this weekend. While Busch has not raced well the past two weeks, he does have three victories on the season and nine top-five finishes as well. He’s pretty much always a safe assumption to be near the top of the leaderboard and that’s why he’s always going to be a good value when playing Sprint Cup races. Busch has never won this race in his career, but he does have three top-five finishes at Pocono Raceway and should be fueled to get over the hump and finally win here.

Jamie McMurray (100/1) - McMurray has not won many Sprint Cup races in his career, but he always has a shot when he is driving at Pocono Raceway. He has been very good at this track in his career, coming in the top-10 at this race in three of the past four years. Last year was his best finish at the race, coming in seventh place. He should be able to continue his improvement here and is worth a shot at 66/1. He’d pay off huge and crazier things have happened, as he is very comfortable on this track.

Odds to win Axalta 400 -

Martin Truex Jr. 9/2
Kevin Harvick 6/1
Jimmie Johnson 7/1
Kyle Busch 8/1
Joey Logano 8/1
Denny Hamiln 8/1
Matt Kenseth 10/1
Carl Edwards 10/1
Brad Keselowski 10/1
Kurt Busch 12/1
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 18/1
Chase Elliott 20/1
Kyle Larson 30/1
Kasey Kahne 40/1
Austin Dillon 40/1
Tony Stewart 60/1
Ryan Newman 80/1
Greg Biffle 100/1
Ryan Blaney 100/1
Jamie McMurray 100/1
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 100/1
Paul Menard 200/1
Trevor Bayne 300/1
AJ Allmendinger 300/1
Aric Almirola 300/1
Clint Bowyer 300/1
Danica Patrick 500/1
Casey Mears 500/1
Chris Buescher 1000/1
 
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NASCAR race at Pocono postponed until Monday
By Amanda Vincent, The Sports Xchange

LONG POND, Pa. -- The Axalta "We Paint Winners" 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway, originally scheduled for Sunday, has been delayed until Monday because of rain and dense fog. The race now is expected to take the green flag at approximately noon ET.
NASCAR made repeated attempts to dry the race track between rain showers when visibility allowed Sunday until the determination was made that the day's weather would not improve and daylight hours became limited at the unlit track.
When the race gets underway, Team Penske teammates Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano will start on the front row, with Keselowski on the pole for the first time in 2016.
"It was a really solid effort for Team Penske to get 1-2," Keselowski said. "That is really hard to do. I can tell you that. We had great speed, obviously."
Matt Kenseth and Kevin Harvick share the second row on the starting grid.
Kyle Busch and Kurt Busch posted the fastest lap times in the one complete practice session, held Saturday. Kyle Busch turned in the fastest lap, clocked at 50.876 seconds/176.901 mph. He also was among the Sprint Cup drivers who got extra track time on Saturday by competing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race.
NOTES: Three drivers -- Greg Biffle, Kurt Busch and A.J. Allmendinger -- are without their regular crew chiefs at Pocono Raceway because of rules infractions committed the previous race weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. ... The Axalta 400 features a new tire compound for Pocono, and the race is the first at the track for the latest low-downforce aerodynamic package. Compounding those unknowns, weather issues throughout the weekend limited practice time. ... Matt Kenseth was the most recent winner at Pocono, winning at the track in August 2015. Martin Truex Jr., who dominated and won last weekend's race at Charlotte, was last year's Axalta 400 winner. ... Kyle Larson won the rain-shortened NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Pocono on Saturday, leading 27 of the 53 completed laps.


NHRA postponed by rain
Rain on Sunday forced the postponement of NHRA's New England Nationals at New England Dragway until Monday.
Racing at the Epping, N.H., track will resume at 11 a.m. ET with Top Fuel's eliminations starting the action.
Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car) and Jason Line (Pro Stock) are the No. 1 qualifiers in their respective categories.
Television coverage begins on FoxSports1 at 3 p.m. ET.
 
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Stanley Cup Final
By Alex Smith

Pittsburgh Penguins vs San Jose Sharks

2015-16 Regular Season Head-to-Head Meetings
December 1st, 2015: Penguins 5 at Sharks 1 (-125) (Over 5)
November 21st, 2015: Sharks 3 at Penguins 1 (-120) (Under 5)

Pittsburgh Penguins
-- First SCF since 2009 (Beat Detroit in 7)
-- 12-6 SU, 9-5-4 O/U, 9-9 ATS
-- Home Record: 7-3
-- Road Record: 5-3

Power Play: 23.4% (15 for 64)
Penalty Kill: 83.6% (46 for 55)

Starting Goalie:

Matt Murray: 11-4, 2.21 G.A.A; .924 Sv% with 1 Shutout
19-8 SU in 27 GS (Season & Playoffs combined)
Lifetime Record vs SJ: First-Ever Meeting

Pittsburgh Recent Trends
-- 18-7 SU Last 25 Games Overall
-- 10-3 SU Last 13 Home Games
-- 10-4 SU Last 14 Games as a Favorite
-- 9-5-4 O/U Last 18 Games Overall

San Jose Sharks
-- First Ever SCF Appearance
-- 12-6 SU, 9-5-4 O/U, 11-7 ATS
-- Home Record: 7-2
-- Road Record: 5-4

Power Play: 27% (17 for 63)
Penalty Kill: 80.4% (41 for 51)

Starting Goalie:

Martin Jones: 12-6, 2.12 G.A.A; .919 Sv% with 3 Shutouts
Lifetime Record vs PIT: 2-2, 2.37 G.A.A; .923 Sv% in 5 GP

San Jose Recent Trends
-- On a 12-6 SU Run Last 18 Games Overall
-- Over is 7-3-3 Last 13 Games Overall
-- 6-1 ATS Last 7 Games on the Puck-Line
-- 8-2 SU Last 10 Home Games
-- 12-5 SU Last 17 Road Games

STANLEY CUP FINALS BETTING TRENDS

-- Home Favorites in Game 1 are 6-1 SU, 1-6 PL, 2-4-1 O/U
-- 5 of the Last 7 Stanley Cup Winners clinched on Road
-- Home Teams are 31-11 SU Last 6 SCF's -- Puck-Line Underdogs are 17-6 PL
-- Game 1 Winners have won the Stanley Cup in 4 of the last 7 SCF
-- Favorites are 8-3 SU Last 11 OT Games

STANLEY CUP FINALS NOTES (2009-2015)

2015 - Chicago vs Tampa Bay (Blackhawks win in 6)
2-4 Favorites, 4-2 Home, 1-5 PL Favorites, 1-5 O/U
No OT Games (First Series since 2009)
Series ends with Home Favorite win
1st Game: Road Underdog wins, Total UNDER 5

2014 - LA Kings vs NY Rangers (Kings win in 5)
4-1 Favorites, 4-1 Home, 1-4 PL Favorites, 1-2-2 O/U
3 Games in OT. Series ends in OT with Home Win
1st Game: Home Favorite Wins, Total Pushes 5

2013 - Chicago vs Boston (Blackhawks win in 6)
3-3 Favorites, 3-3 Home, 2-4 PL Favorites, 3-3 O/U
3 Games in OT, Series ends with Road Dog Win
1st Game: Home Favorite Wins, Total OVER 5

2012 - LA Kings vs NJ Devils (Kings win in 6)
4-2 Favorites, 3-3 Home, 2-4 PL Favorites, 1-5 O/U
2 Games in OT, Series ends with Road Favorite Win
1st Game: Home Favorite Wins, Total UNDER 5

2011 - Vancouver vs Boston (Bruins win in 7)
6-1 Favorites, 6-1 Home, 3-4 PL Favorites, 2-4-1 O/U
One OT Game, Series ends with Road Underdog Win
1st Game: Home Favorite Wins, Total UNDER 5.5

NOTE: 2011 Game 1 is the Last SCF game to have a 5.5 total
(23 game streak with 5 - Record: 7-13-3 O/U)

2010 - Chicago vs Philadelphia (Blackhawks win in 6)
6-0 Favorites, 5-1 Home, 2-4 PL Favorites, 5-1 O/U
2 OT Games, Series ends with Road Favorite Win
1st Game: Home Favorite Wins, Total OVER 5.5

2009 - Detroit vs Pittsburgh (Penguins win in 7)
6-1 Favorites, 6-1 Home, 5-2 PL Favorites, 2-5 O/U
No OT Games*, Series ends with Road Underdog Win
1st Game: Home Favorite Wins, Total UNDER 6

Series Price
Sharks +105
Penguins -125

Exact Games - Series winner
4 Games Penguins Win 17/2
4 Games Sharks Win 14/1
5 Games Penguins Win 7/2
5 Games Sharks Win 15/2
6 Games Penguins Win 4/1
6 Games Sharks Win 4/1
7 Games Penguins Win 7/2
7 Games Sharks Win 5/1

Exact Games
4 Games 5/1
5 Games 9/4
6 Games 7/4
7 Games 9/5

Odds Subject to Change
 
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Sharks after Game 3 win: 'We can still get better'
By Alan Robinson, The Sports Xchange

The Sharks are back in the Stanley Cup finals after winning what essentially was a must-win overtime game on Saturday against the Penguins in San Jose. They also know they're going back to Pittsburgh.
But they also know going into a pivotal Game 4 on Monday night at SAP Center that they can't allow the Penguins to get back to playing the way they did in winning the first two games in Pittsburgh.
Despite giving up a one-goal lead in the third period in losing 3-2 in Game 3 on rookie Joonas Donskoi's goal 12:18 into overtime, the Penguins relied upon their speed and stable of stars to control the pace until well into the third period. Only then did the Sharks' superior size and superior group of defensemen begin to make a difference.
"They fire (the puck) from everywhere, every angle, all over the place, then cause confusion around the net," Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said Sunday, referring to the Penguins' 42-26 edge in shots. "We've got to do a better job.
"But does the fact they have 30 more shots than us (113-74 in the series) bother me? Not as much as it bothers you guys (the media)."
The Sharks' worry, of course, is that if one or two more of those abundance of shots somehow eludes goalie Martin Jones, they could be down 3-1 going into Game 5 -- and a potential Stanley Cup clincher -- Thursday night in Pittsburgh.
"We've been playing from behind too often in the series," said DeBoer, whose team's only lead so far came at the end of Game 3. "We're going to talk about that."
The Sharks again might be without top-line left winger Tomas Hertl, who missed Game 3 with an upper-body injury after being the Sharks' most effective forward in the first two games. DeBoer said only that he is day-to-day. Melker Karlsson took Hertl's place alongside Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton, and probably will again Monday if Hertl can't go.
Penguins defensemen Kris Letang, coming off one of his worst games in the playoffs, and Olli Maatta did not practice Sunday, but coach Mike Sullivan said only that they were both given a day off.
Having wasted an excellent chance to go up 3-0 in the series -- the Penguins couldn't hold leads of 1-0 or 2-1 Saturday night -- they certainly know the distinct advantages of winning Monday and being up 3-1 in the series rather than being tied at 2-all.
In 2009, after all, they dropped the first two games in Detroit, and each of the first three games in Joe Louis Arena, but came back to win the series by taking Games 6 and 7.
"Our desperation level was as high as it could be," DeBoer said.
As a result, DeBoer said he expects Game 4 to be the best of the series, and Penguins captain Sidney Crosby doesn't disagree.
"It's to be expected as the series goes on, and teams learn more and more about each other," Crosby said. "The desperation level goes higher and higher with every game."
Crosby, often the fastest and strongest skater on the ice despite not scoring a goal in the first two games, was mostly held in check in Game 3. He didn't get a goal or an assist and was limited to three shots, often going against defensemen Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Justin Braun.
The Sharks, who are mostly bigger across the board than the Penguins, also were more physical than they were in the first two games, with DeBoer saying, "I know that's part of our identity, being hard and heavy."
Just as the Penguins' identity is outskating teams and getting to the puck faster.
"Teams have been trying to outmuscle us, trying to intimidate us for three months," Penguins defenseman Ben Lovejoy said. "The Rangers did it, Washington did it. ... But we're a team that prides ourselves on being brave. Going back for pucks, winning the puck against bigger players, taking hits. And we need to continue to do that."
For the Sharks, though, their belief is Game 3 was so pivotal, it could shift the momentum of the series.
"Now we get going," Donskoi said. "We can still get better..
 
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Monday's NHL Stanley Cup finals Game 4 betting preview: Penguins at Sharks

Pittsburgh Penguins at San Jose Sharks (A: +125, H: -135, O/U: 5.5)

Penguins lead series 2-1

The San Jose Sharks look to ride the momentum of their first Stanley Cup final win in their 25-year history into Monday's Game 4 versus the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins. Home ice has served them well as the Sharks attempt to win their ninth such contest in 10 outings and even the Stanley Cup final at two victories apiece on Monday.

Martin Jones has given the SAP Center faithful a show in the playoffs, yielding just 17 tallies en route to posting an 8-2 mark with two shutouts, a 1.74 goals-against average and .938 save percentage. "Everyone knows what's at stake," Jones told CSNBayArea after his 40-save performance - in addition to rookie Joonas Donskoi's overtime goal - keyed the Sharks to a 3-2 overtime victory on Saturday. "We played well. That was our best game of the series. We can still be better. It was a good step forward for us." Pittsburgh rookie Matt Murray took a step back by permitting a pair of questionable goals, including Joel Ward's tying tally in the third period. The 22-year-old goaltender has rebounded well following a defeat in the playoffs, posting a 4-0 mark while stopping 106-of-114 shots.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBC, CBC, TVAS

PROBABLE GOALIES:

Penguins - Matt Murray (W/L: 13-5, GAA: 2.15, SAVE %: .926)

Sharks - Martin Jones (W/L: 13-8, GAA: 2.13, SAVE %: .919)

ABOUT THE PENGUINS (62-30-11, 45-40 O/U): Defenseman Ben Lovejoy didn't mince words when he talked about his teammates' readiness to put their bodies on the line. "We're ready to block shots at any time," the 32-year-old Lovejoy told reporters after Pittsburgh thwarted 38 shots on goal in Game 3 after averaging 17.5 in the first two contests - and 16.4 over the first three rounds. "I'm ready to take a Brent Burns slapshot to my face." Shot-happy Burns saw 12 of his attempts bounce off a Pittsburgh player on Saturday, with blue-liner Olli Maatta recording a career-high six blocks in the contest.

ABOUT THE SHARKS (59-34-10, 51-41 O/U): Joe Pavelski has been held off the scoresheet in the first three contests of this series after collecting 22 points (team-high 13 goals, nine assists) in the first three rounds. While Pavelski suddenly is struggling, fellow forward Ward scored his first goal of the series and fifth in his last five contests. Veteran Joe Thornton, who saw Melker Karlsson and Logan Couture platoon on his line with Pavelski for the absent Tomas Hertl (undisclosed), notched a pair of assists in Game 3 after recording 18 points (three goals, 15 assists) in 18 games during the first three rounds.

TRENDS:

* Penguins are 21-5 in their last 26 games playing on 1 days rest.
* Sharks are 8-1 in their last 9 home games.
* Under is 6-0 in Penguins last 6 Stanley Cup Finals games.
* Under is 4-0-1 in Sharks last 4 vs. Eastern Conference.
* Under is 6-1 in the last 6 meetings.
* Penguins are 1-12-1 in the last 14 meetings in San Jose.

CONSENSUS: San Jose is picking up a sizeable percentage of the Consensus action - currently sitting at 64 percent. The total is set at 5.5 and the public is pouncing on the Under at a rate of 62 percent.
 
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Preview: Penguins (48-26) at Sharks (46-30)

Date: June 06, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) This is a Stanley Cup Final filled with stars who have won the Hart Trophy, Olympic gold medals and numerous other awards.

With players like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski, the final features some of the biggest names in hockey.

The one place where those players haven't showed up so far is on the goal-scoring sheet. In a series that has featured three straight one-goal games all decided either in the final three minutes of regulation or overtime, some of the lesser-known players have delivered the goals.

'You look through these playoffs and third-line, fourth-line guys have stepped up for both teams and scored big goals,' Sharks center Logan Couture said Sunday. 'It's not necessarily that the big guns have scored the huge goals for both teams. You need that when you get to this point.'

Sharks rookie Joonas Donskoi was the latest to get on that list when he scored the overtime winner in San Jose's 3-2 victory in Game 3 on Saturday night that cut Pittsburgh's series lead to 2-1. Game 4 is Monday night in San Jose.

Donskoi matched the overtime goal scored just one game earlier by Penguins rookie Conor Sheary. Before that, it had been 30 years since a rookie had scored in overtime in the final when Montreal's Brian Skrudland did it in Game 2 against Calgary.

But Donskoi and Sheary are far from the only unusual suspects to score in the first three games. Sharks defenseman Justin Braun has two goals in the past two games, matching his total from the previous 40 contests.

'I'm happy I can finally chip in offensively,' Braun said. 'A lot of other guys have done a lot of heavy lifting to get us here. I'm just trying to do my part.'

Pittsburgh defenseman Ben Lovejoy, who has 15 goals in 334 career regular season games, scored one of the Penguins' goals in Game 3 and set up the other that was deflected in by Patric Hornqvist.

Nick Bonino got the Game 1 winner for Pittsburgh when the other goals were scored by rookies Sheary and Bryan Rust.

And after three games, players like Crosby, Malkin, Thornton, Pavelski, Kris Letang, Logan Couture and Brent Burns are all still looking for their first goals.

'You just try to worry about yourself and make sure you're doing your job and as a team you're doing the things necessary to give yourself a chance to win games,' Crosby said. 'It's tight. Like I keep seeing year after year, there's a small margin of error. Just make sure you're competing and give yourself a chance to create and ultimately produce.'

It hasn't been like those players haven't performed well. Crosby was dominant the first two games and set up a pair of goals that helped Pittsburgh take the 2-0 lead. But he got much less generated on the road when the Sharks were able to match top defensive pair Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Justin Braun against him consistently. Even a few shifts with Malkin couldn't generate many chances for Pittsburgh.

'We're playing against good defensemen,' Malkin said. 'They play so close and so tight, it's tough to shoot sometimes.'

Thornton had a few good chances late, especially after Couture joined him and Pavelski on San Jose's top line. But Pavelski, who leads the NHL with 13 playoff goals, has been mostly silent with no points and only four shots on goal through three games.

'It's tough this time of year,' Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said. 'Every round, he's getting a lot of attention, just like Brent Burns is getting a lot of attention, just like Jumbo is getting a lot of attention. That's not an easy role to play. I have no doubt he's going to break through here. He has all year for us. It's just a matter of time.'

One of the factors limiting Pavelski's effectiveness has been Pittsburgh's propensity to block shots. The Penguins blocked 38 shots alone in Game 3, including 12 from Burns. With fewer point shots getting to the net, Pavelski has been unable to utilize his elite hand-eye coordination to deflect pucks like he was so successfully the first three rounds.

'We're creating some chances,' Pavelski said. 'It's just that end result hasn't been there. You just stay with it, keep trying to have the puck and play with it and get open. Try to get a few more.'

NOTES: Sharks F Tomas Hertl remains day to day with a lower-body injury. ... Penguins D Letang and Olli Maatta were given maintenance days and did not practice.
 
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NHL

San Jose-Pittsburgh (P 2-1)
Sharks' Donskoi scored 12:18 into OT to keep series alive, after San Jose tied game 8:48 into the third period. San Jose lost four of last six games with Pittsburgh, but won eight of ten home playoff games. Seven of last 13 Shark-Penguin games went OT, four to shootout- six of last seven stayed under total. Pittsburgh is 5-4 on road in playoffs, Sharks are 6-5 on road. San Jose was 1-6 on power play in Games 1-2; Penguins 0-6. Pitt has a 113-74 edge in shots in first three games. Sharks are in Stanley Cup finals for first time; Penguins are in for first time since winning Cup in '09, its third Stanley Cup title.

Playoffs tally: 1st round-- Home: 23-24, Over: 16-17-14
2nd round-- Home: 16-9, Over: 11-5-9
Conference finals-- Home 6-7, Over 7-5-1
Home: 3-0 Over: 0-3
 
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Handicapped by Chatsworth Consortium at Harrington Raceway

Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.


Race 7 - Post: 6:42 - 1 mile. PACE - Class Rating: 91 - Purse:$10000 - H & G NW $7,501 LAST 4 STARTS OR CLAIMING $20,000 HARRINGTON RACE CONDITIONS DRIVER CHOICES:


CONSORTIUM CHOICES


Chatsworth Consortium

# 3 MAJOR UPTREND 9/5


# 8 FEEL LIKE A FOOL 7/1


# 1 TERESA'S BEACH 7/1


Look no further than MAJOR UPTREND as the bet in this event. Worth taking a close look at here given the numbers in the TrackMaster speed fig department alone. The number crunching team gives this race horse a competitive chance to take this race, class ratings are tops in the grouping. Should be in the hunt again today, looking to add to that already high lifetime winning percentage. FEEL LIKE A FOOL - Could provide us a ultimate prize based on nice recent speed figs - earning an avg of 92. The driver/horse combination statistics point out that this duo are solid in the money finishers when working their magic together. TERESA'S BEACH - The wagering panel always likes a proven performer. This horse's high winning statistic is proof of that. Horse players at Harrington Raceway will notice this fine animal's pace statistics are among the most solid in the group of horses.
 
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Handicapped by Chatsworth Consortium at Mohawk Racetrack

Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.


Race 1 - Post: 7:30 - 1 mile. PACE - Class Rating: 76 - Purse:$9000 - FILLIES & MARES, CLAIMING HANDICAP $10,000 TO $12,000. ALLOWANCES FOR AGE. ENTER IN MULTIPLES OF $1,000.


CONSORTIUM CHOICES


Chatsworth Consortium

# 6 FLOAT ON BY 10/1


# 2 NINETTE B 9/2


# 7 ADAYMER SEELSTER 3/1


FLOAT ON BY appears to be our best wagering option in this outing take a good look at that fine price on the line. Take a look at this horse's average speed statistic of 79 and compare to today's class rating. Looks like a really good bet. A very good class horse shouldn't be be glossed over. With an average class stat of 79 all signs point to yes. NINETTE B - Could be the top in the group of horses here, showing formidable rankings of late. Avg speed is a solid 76. Really liked this mare's last race. Ran a big 77 TrackMaster Speed Rating. Major contender. ADAYMER SEELSTER - Sometimes you just have to go with a vibe, favor this one's chances. Definitely the class of the pack with an average rating of 78. A nice selection.
 
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Mohawk: Monday 6/6 Analysis
By Garnet Barnsdale




Race 1 - $30,000 Guaranteed Pick Five Pool

Race 4 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool



PICK 5: 1,7/2,3,4,7,8/1,6/8/2,3,4,5 = $16

EARLY PICK 4: 8/2,3,4,5/4,6,8/3,4,6,8 = $48

LATE PICK 4: 3,4,6,8/1,9/1,2,3/3 = $24

MEET STATS: 105 - 335 / $594.50 BEST BETS: 18 - 32 / $65.60

SPOT PLAYS: 5 - 31 / $32.80

Best Bet: CAROLINA HURRICANE (10th) Spot Play: SPORTS LIGHTNING (5th)

Race 1

(1) THRILL CHASER finished well in a quick mile vs. a mare that has been a win machine lately. She rates highly vs. this group. (7) ADAYMER SEELSTER improved her overall speed in her first start off the claim and now drops back into a claimer here and should be heard from. (2) NINETTE B has hit the Super in every start since being claimed by her current connections and she figures to get a good following trip here. (3) T R LEXUS CAM won in good time off the claim in London and could better this placing here.

Race 2

(3) SUNRISE AVENUE flashed good late speed in her May 23rd qualifier. She can beat these if Zeron can hold her together for the entire mile. (4) JAGERSRO continues to come close and rates highly here. Is tonight the night for her? (8) THE MUSCLE TOUCH raced evenly and got a clean line last time. She should be close if she stays flat. (7) YAWANASEESUMMUSCLE raced well in her first start on the circuit and can take a good share here.

Race 3

(1) ONE WARRAWEE couldn’t deal with the same razor-sharp winner in his last two starts but was best of the rest both times and looks best here starting from the inside. (6) AMBLE OVER HANOVER finished just behind the choice last time and should get a good trip on or near the lead. (2) INTENDED STYLE moves inside and stands a much better chance of contending in this short field. (7) CRAFTY MASTER will likely be winding up from the back late and can close for a share.

Race 4

(8) ALWAYS A HOTSHOT was an easy and impressive debut winner and this promising gelding shouldn’t have any trouble doubling up here. (3) DERECHO raced evenly in his seasonal debut but did pace a fast last quarter. He should improve here. (6) CAMS LUCKY SAM should be closing for a slice here. (4) XPERT BAYAMA couldn’t keep pace chasing some fast fractions last time, but should benefit from that start and could sneak into the exotics here.

Race 5

(2) SPORTS LIGHTNING went a big mile in his first start for Brealey only to be nailed late. A slightly better trip gets him home first here. (5) RAYLEN GIVENS hung a bit late last time, but should benefit from that start and be a contender here. (4) SURPRISE HANOVER improved in his first start for conditioner Dean and can get closer here if he has room to race turning home. (3) MACHS BOY has good early speed which fits Henry perfectly and he should stick around for a share here.

Race 6

(4) YOURE MAJESTIC was a solid winner last week making a powerful uncovered move on the way to victory. She could bring a decent price vs. some class droppers here and provide some Pick 4 value. (8) MYSTERY BET was first-up last week, which isn’t his ideal trip. Look for him to be closing quickly late here. (6) MUSCLE MATTERS won when he last raced in this class and is an obvious contender, but may be over bet. (7) HILLSONATOR rarely misses the board and is likely to take a smaller share here.

Race 7

(9) TOPCORNERTERROR raced much better in his 2nd start for Auciello and should get a good spot near the front early here with so few leavers in this field; slight nod. (6) TIGHTEN UP was closing well late in a quick mile and now gets to drop another class here; obvious contender. (3) THEPANINSULAHOTEL raced decently in his comeback race and should get a good trip near the front; don’t discount his chances. (4) SUNNY BEACH DAY does well at this level and could start his move much earlier this time; using.

Race 8

(1) RISE UP RISE UP was a solid third in his 2016 debut and can build off that effort here. Look for him to leave more alertly this time. (9) DYNAMIC EDGE had good speed both early and late last time and keeps coming close. He will get there soon. (7) PENNIES FROM ABOVE will likely need a start or two before showing her best, but she can close for a minor share here. (4) MUSCLE AVE re-qualified okay and will be a threat if he stays flat here.

Race 9

(3) P L HERCULES lacked room until late last week but was live at the wire and can beat these if he can avoid being shuffled this time. (2) ADVERSITY made an impressive winning move down the lane last time and is a big threat to double up despite moving up one class. (1) CABERTOSS is another sharp contender that made a powerful stretch move last week; using. (4) AMITYVILLE LINDY will be closer early here and passing many of these late for a share.

Race 10

(3) CAROLINA HURRICANE faces much easier here and should be able to handle these, but he will also offer a short price. (1) MAYFIELD DUKE moves inside and should take a big share, but his winless streak is also likely to climb to 16. (9) BIG PLACE raced okay in his debut but being first up in a quick third quarter didn’t help. He can crash the exotics at a price here. (7) AZUL POOL is a logical one to use in tris, supers and high-5s. (6) LOCK AND RELOAD can be expected to improve off a decent debut and make the ticket here.
 
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Monday Horse Racing Spot Picks

SPOT PLAYS

For Monday
TRACK (RACE) HORSE, MORNING LINE

Delaware Park (1st) Southern Christmas, 6-1
(7th) Half Irish, 3-1

Finger Lakes (7th) Adonvdo, 9-2
(9th) Crackerjack Jones, 10-1

Mountaineer (8th) True Truffle, 8-1
(9th) Maybe Lily, 4-1

Parx Racing (7th) Wordplay, 3-1
(8th) Artistic Drifter, 6-1

Presque Isle Downs (2nd) Destiny's Song, 7-2
(7th) Fifty Shades, 3-1

Thistledown (1st) Irish Cheer, 7-2
(4th) Skyfirm, 7-
 
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June Pitchers Report
By Marc Lawrence

You know the saying, “May flowers bring June showers.”

For Major League Baseball pitchers hurling during the month of June, showers are hopefully not in their immediate plans. Instead, it’s the hope of all MLB starting pitchers to stay around long enough in their starts to avoid having to clean up and go home early.

Listed below are hurlers that have enjoyed a two-to-one or better success ratio in team-starts over the course of the last three seasons during the month of June. On the flip side, we've also listed pitchers that struggle in June, winning 33% percent or less of their team-start efforts.

To qualify pitchers must have made a minimum of 10 starts, with at least one start each June over the last three years. And for your convenience alongside each record we break down each pitcher’s greatest success or greatest failure rate either home (H) or away (A) within his good or bad month.

Note: * designates a categorical repeat appearance by this pitcher, maintaining status quo from last season’s June list.


GOOD MONTH PITCHERS:

Arrieta, Jake - 8-4 (6-2 A)

Only Clayton Kershaw has been in Arrieta's stratosphere since 2015. The right-hander is in the right organization which has allowed his abundant talents to flourish and this season opposing batters are hitting a mere .168 against him. His effortless delivery and mid-90's fastball causes a lot of swings and misses as does his breaking pitches.

Cole, Gerrit - 10-2 (6-0 A)

Cole is now the ace of the Pittsburgh staff and expertly commands a two and four-seam fastball in the mid to upper 90's which he can sink or have riding action. After a sluggish start to season, his ERA is down to close to 2.50 and expect him to have another fine month. Note: Cole’s numbers above reflect his career team mark during June.

*Colon, Bartolo - 10-5 (7-0 H)

The 43-year old right-hander just keeps churning along on staff that is very talented and youthful. Colon knows how and where to spot his fastball, which he tosses 70 or more percent of the time and blends in a quick slider that has excellent depth. The fact is Colon understands his craft and wins.

Lackey, John - 11-5 (6-1 H)

Remember for years no pitcher in his right mind would want to pitch at Wrigley Field, now they line up for the chance. Being a talented young team helps and Lackey is the right fit, with fastball he keeps low in the zone and sinker opposing hitters cannot elevate. Through two months, the batter's Lackey has faced are at a lowly .209 batting average and his WHIP is sick 0.97.

Sanchez, Anibal - 9-4 (8-3 H)

The Detroit hurler has gotten off to a rugged start with ERA over 6 as June began. Sanchez's problems revolve around lack of pitch placement, not even having 2-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio and giving up more than a hit an inning. Of the 58 hits allowed, 11 have left the yard and if the Tigers are going to be contenders in the AL Central, Sanchez will have to throw like previous June's.

*Scherzer, Max - 11-4 (6-2 A)

If you research Mad Max's numbers, many are at or below career norm, yet he begins this month with an ERA over 4. The problem is too many pitches right down the middle, which is why he on pace to give up 45 home runs (15 thru May). If Scherzer solves this, he will have a great rest of the year.

Tillman, Chris - 11-3 (4-1 A)

After an off year in 2015, the Orioles righty has come back in a big way. When he's at his best like he has been this year, Tillman works his low 90's heater at the knees on both sides of the dish and his curve and changeup have sharp downward motion. He starts this month with hitters at .203 batting average versus his tosses.

Volquez, Edinson - 11-5 (7-1 A)

The Royals right-hander is doing what he does best, as in nine of his 11 starts for Kansas City he has induced double digit groundball outs. Volquez is still thought to be a power pitcher and gets numerous weak swings with tilted curve and deluxe changeup he will throw on any count.

*Zimmermann, Jordan - 12-5 (8-3 H)

After an unbelievable start, Zimmermann has drifted back to the previous career numbers. He pulled a groin late last month, but is expected to make start on June 3rd and continue from that point. His strengths include four pitches he trusts to throw for strikes and he has shown greater durability thus far in the AL.


BAD MONTH PITCHERS:

Miller, Shelby - 6-12 (2-6 A)

After disastrous start with Arizona, having ERA over 7, maybe a trip to the DL with bad finger on throwing hand will settle Miller down, who looks like he is trying to throw a no-hitter on every pitch and is getting hammered. The talent has always been in place, just not the execution as this record shows. Note: Miller’s numbers above reflect his career team mark during June.

Verlander, Justin - 4-10 (2-5 H)

No longer equipped with high 90's fastball, Verlander tends to give up runs in bunches these days. He can be sailing along for three to five innings and then give up three or four runs in single inning. Without the necessary secondary pitches, he's become easier to hit a third time through the lineup.

Weaver, Jered - 5-10 (1-6 A)

It is sometimes tough to watch former aces who were among the best in the game, as their stuff is in decline and they are not close to what they used to be. This is the case of Weaver, whose fastball barely reaches 85 MPH, which makes his breaking ball and assortment of change-ups less effective. It is no accident at this juncture hitters are clocking him for .311 BA.
 
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Ben Burns
MLB | Jun 06, 2016
Blue Jays vs. Tigers Tigers
-118 at 5DIMES in 10h

Ben Burns is enjoying an AWESOME YEAR, literally winning @ EVERY sport, & its shaping up to be ANOTHER banner month.

A 9-2 mark the L3 days brings Ben to 16-7 overall in June. As per usual, his top-rated (10*) tickets have led the charge. They're 8-3 on the month. Going back further finds Ben on an INCREDIBLE $154,350 HEATER w/ ALL 10* rated plays!

The Jays have had their way with the Tigers the past couple of seasons; Toronto has won nine of the past 12 meetings, including each of the past four. The Tigers figure to have the advantage in Monday's opener though.

The Tigers paid a heavy price to get Fulmer, the centerpiece of the Cespedes trade. Now we're starting to see why. While Happ's numbers are respectable, its hard to compare to what Fulmer is currently doing. Over his last three starts, Fulmer has allowed a single earned run in 22 1/3 innings. During that span, he's allowed only nine hits and four walks, while striking out 22. He's gone 7 2/3 innings in each of his last two starts, allowing exactly ZERO runs. Fulmer will have the advantage of starting against the Jays for the first time and all signs point to continued success. Consider Detroit.
 
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MLB roundup: D-backs end Arrieta's winning streak
By The Sports Xchange

CHICAGO -- Jake Arrieta lost for the first time in 25 starts, as the Arizona Diamondbacks posted a 3-2 win over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday.
Arrieta (9-1) struck out a season-high 12 but gave up a season-worst nine hits and walked one in five innings. He last lost July 25, 2015, when the Philadelphia Phillies' Cole Hamels threw a no-hitter against the Cubs.
Arrieta had won 20 consecutive decisions, the third most in baseball since 1913. The Cubs lost for the first time in 24 starts by Arrieta on Tuesday when they fell 5-0 to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Arrieta was also trying to become the quickest Cubs pitcher to reach 10 victories since Grover Alexander in 1920.
Yasmany Tomas hit a two-run double off Arrieta in the second inning, and Paul Goldschmidt added an RBI single in the fifth. Diamondbacks lefty Patrick Corbin held Chicago to two runs in five innings.

Marlins 1, Mets 0
MIAMI -- Jose Fernandez matched his career high with 14 strikeouts and won a pitching duel against Matt Harvey as Miami defeated New York.
Fernandez (9-2) pitched seven scoreless innings for his eighth win in his past eight starts. He allowed four hits and no walks. The only time Fernandez encountered even mild trouble was the first inning when Curtis Granderson hit a two-out double. Fernandez, who has a 2.29 ERA, retired the next 15 batters in a row, striking out the side in the fourth.
Harvey (4-8) allowed four hits, no walks and one run in seven innings. He struck out three. He surrendered an RBI single to J.T. Realmuto in the fifth inning, and that was the difference.

Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 4
BOSTON -- Edwin Encarnacion belted a two-run homer and Marco Estrada took a no-hitter into the eighth inning as Toronto held on to beat Boston.
Estrada (4-2) held the Red Sox without a hit through 7 1/3 innings before Chris Young's solo homer. He gave up two hits and three walks while striking out five in eight-plus innings.
Jose Bautista, Darwin Barney and Russell Martin hit solo homers for the Blue Jays, who have won five of its last six and 12 of 16 since ending a season-worst five-game skid.
David Ortiz and Hanley Ramirez each hit RBI doubles and Jackie Bradley Jr. had an RBI single in the ninth for the Red Sox, who dropped two of three in the series and four of five overall.

Tigers 5, White Sox 2
DETROIT -- Justin Verlander held Chicago to five hits over seven innings -- two of them solo home runs -- and struggling Justin Upton negated those with a two-run double at the end of a four-run fifth inning to help Detroit complete a three-game sweep of Chicago.
Shane Greene worked his second perfect inning of relief in as many days since coming off the disabled list and Francisco Rodriguez converted his 17th straight save to help the Tigers defeat their third straight southpaw after entering the series with a 3-8 record against left-handers.
Verlander (5-5) allowed a two-out home run to Jose Abreu, his seventh, in the first and a second solo shot to Todd Frazier, his 18th, with two out in the sixth. Verlander walked one and struck out eight.

Nationals 10, Reds 9
CINCINNATI -- Daniel Murphy and Wilson Ramos hit home runs to help Washington avoid a series sweep with a victory over Cincinnati.
The Nationals' trio of Bryce Harper, Murphy and Ramos combined to go 9-for-15 with two homers and five RBIs in just the second win in the past nine meetings with the Reds.
Jay Bruce homered for the Reds, who have won six of nine since snapping an 11-game losing streak.

Angels 5, Pirates 4
PITTSBURGH -- Albert Pujols hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning to give Los Angeles a victory over Pittsburgh.
With the Angels trailing 4-3, Pujols hit an 0-2 pitch from reliever Tony Watson into the left field stands for his 12th homer. It also scored Kole Calhoun, who led off the inning with a single, giving Pujols three RBIs in the game.
It was Pujols' 30th home run at PNC Park, more than any other opposing player. He has 88 RBIs in 92 career games at the Pittsburgh ballpark.

Phillies 8, Brewers 1
PHILADELPHIA -- The long ball ruled the day for a Philadelphia team that entered the game on a 2-14 slide and ranked second to last in the majors in home runs.
For the first time since Aug. 22, 2015, the Phillies hit back-to-back homers in the fifth inning courtesy of Jimmy Paredes and Cameron Rupp en route to a win over Milwaukee.
With 13 hits to the Brewers' 11, the Phillies now move to 18-3 when out-hitting the opposition. Odubel Herrera tied his career high with four hits.

Indians 7, Royals 0
CLEVELAND -- The Indians hit four home runs and Corey Kluber pitched six scoreless innings as Cleveland completed a four-game sweep of Kansas City.
The American League Central-leading Indians won their fifth game in a row. The Royals came to Cleveland on a six-game winning streak and left with a four-game losing streak.
Mike Napoli, Tyler Naquin, Carlos Santana and Francisco Lindor all homered off Chris Young (2-6) in a span of nine batters in the fourth and fifth innings.

Orioles 3, Yankees 1
BALTIMORE -- Matt Wieters' pinch-hit single in the eighth inning off New York closer Aroldis Chapman led to three runs, lifting Baltimore to a victory.
The Orioles finally broke through in the eighth when Mark Trumbo walked and Chris Davis singled off Dellin Betances. After Betances (2-4) struck out Nolan Reimold, the game was delayed because of rain.
When play resumed after 1 hour and 37 minutes, Chapman entered for New York. He struck out Schoop before Francisco Pena lined a single to right to load the bases. Wieters then lined a single up the middle that scored two runs, and a throwing error by Jacoby Ellsbury allowed the third run to score.

Astros 5, A's 2
HOUSTON -- Lance McCullers rebounded from a rocky first inning and worked a season-best seven innings as Houston completed a three-game sweep of Oakland.
McCullers (3-1) faced seven batters and surrendered two runs in the first inning, but he didn't yield another run in his seven-inning outing. McCullers allowed eight hits and three walks while striking out seven.
Oakland right-hander Sonny Gray was as effective as McCullers in making his return off the 15-day disabled list, giving up just a solo homer by Carlos Gomez in his five innings. Houston took advantage of the A's bullpen, though, scoring four runs, including an Evan Gattis solo home run in the sixth.

Rays 7, Twins 5
MINNEAPOLIS -- Evan Longoria and Logan Morrison each hit two homers to lead Tampa Bay to a come-from-behind win over Minnesota.
Longoria hit at least one homer in all four games of the series and had five during the weekend, establishing a franchise record for home runs in a series. Morrison wasn't far behind, hitting at least one in each of the past three games and four overall.
Minnesota hit three homers Sunday, getting back-to-back solo shots from Byung Ho Park and Robbie Grossman in the third inning and a solo blast from Eduardo Nunez that tied the score at 5 in the eighth. Brad Miller's ninth-inning sacrifice fly broke the tie, and Longoria added an RBI single.

Rangers 3, Mariners 2
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Texas took advantage of two Seattle errors in the fifth inning to score three times and complete a three-game sweep.
With a runner on first and one out, Texas' Elvis Andrus hit a grounder to short that Luis Sardinas bobbled to put runners on first and second. Jared Hoying brought in the first run with a single to left-center. Bobby Wilson followed with a shallow fly ball to left off Hisashi Iwakuma (4-5), with Andrus able to sprint home to tie the game as left fielder Stefen Romero was slow to throw the ball in.
Jurickson Profar followed with a single to left that Romero couldn't come up with cleanly, and Hoying scored the go-ahead run.

Dodgers 12, Braves 6
LOS ANGELES -- Rookie Corey Seager went 3-for-5 with his two home runs to bring his total for the series to five, and Los Angeles completed a three-game sweep of Atlanta.
Seager has hit 12 home runs since May 11, the most in the league. It was the third multi-homer game of his career and second in the series.
Scott Kazmir (5-3) earned the win, limiting the Braves to three runs in five-plus innings before exiting with a left quadriceps cramp. He is not expected to miss a start.

Cardinals 6, Giants 3
ST. LOUIS -- The Cardinals scored four runs in the sixth inning to erase a 3-1 deficit, and they went on to win and take two of three from San Francisco in the weekend series.
The Cardinals cut the lead to 3-2 on back-to-back doubles by Matt Carpenter and Aledmys Diaz. After a walk and a hit batter, Matt Adams it an RBI infield single to tie the score. Yadier Molina's hard grounder up the middle was misplayed by shortstop Brandon Crawford for an error, giving the Cardinals a 4-3 lead. Greg Garcia followed with a run-scoring, fielder's choice grounder.
Carlos Martinez (6-5) was the beneficiary of the Cardinals' four-run rally. He pitched six innings of three-run ball.

Rockies 10, Padres 3
SAN DIEGO -- Carlos Gonzalez stroked a pair of two-run homers and Nolan Arenado added one, too, as Colorado beat San Diego to snap a four-game losing streak.
Gonzalez, who had five RBIs, hit his shots in the second and ninth innings, both traveling more than 400 feet. Arenado, who had three hits and reached base five times, smacked his league-leading 18th homer in the fifth.
Right-hander Jon Gray (4-2) worked seven innings, charged with two runs on five hits, with a walk. Gray, a former first-round pick, had a career-high 12 strikeouts. He was impressive from the get-go in earning his third straight win as he struck out the initial five Padres he faced.
 
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Preview: Cubs (39-16) at Phillies (28-29)

Game: 1
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: June 06, 2016 7:05 PM EDT

After one of his finest performances for the Chicago Cubs, Jon Lester will try to keep his momentum going by adding to his mastery of the Philadelphia Phillies.

The left-hander earned his latest win over Philadelphia less than two weeks ago and will seek to improve to 6-0 in eight career matchups in Monday night's series opener at Citizens Bank Park.

Lester (6-3, 2.29 ERA) pitched a four-hitter with 10 strikeouts and went the distance for the first time this season in Wednesday's 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"I really think that might have been the best I've seen Jonny since he's been here," manager Joe Maddon said.

Lester yielded two runs in 6 1/3 innings while fanning seven in a 6-2 victory over Philadelphia on May 27. With just one of those runs earned, the left-hander lowered his career ERA versus the Phillies to 1.71 and got the Cubs (39-16) started on a three-game sweep at Wrigley Field.

Chicago had won 10 of 11 until Sunday's 3-2 defeat to Arizona that was also Jake Arrieta's first loss in 21 decisions.

"I like the fact that we were upset that we lost," Maddon told MLB's official website. "I love that. None of the guys accept that. But an 8-2 homestand? I think we'll take that the rest of the summer."

Philadelphia (28-29) had dropped eight of nine until an 8-1 rout of Milwaukee on Sunday. Jimmy Paredes provided a three-run shot - his first homer for the Phillies - in a five-run fifth inning.

The Phillies matched a season high with 13 hits after batting .197 with 21 runs in their prior nine games. They homered three times in a game for the first time since April 7.

"When a pitcher gets a ball up in the zone, we want to attack it," manager Pete Mackanin said. "And up until today, we haven't done enough of that. Hopefully this is the start of something big for us."

The Phillies will send out a struggling Adam Morgan (1-4, 7.07), who was the loser in last month's matchup with Lester. Morgan gave up six runs in four-plus innings in that game and yielded another six in six innings in a 7-2 defeat to Washington on Wednesday, dropping to 0-4 with a 9.61 ERA in his last four starts.

Morgan has allowed five homers in his past two outings and gave up a season-high three to Chicago. David Ross hit a three-run shot while Kris Bryant and Jorge Soler had solo homers.

"He's got stuff. There's a lot of guys that have stuff, but in order to be successful, you can't make mistakes. You have to keep the ball down in the zone and hit the corners," Mackanin said. "That's how you become a good major league pitcher. He's got the stuff to do that, the instinct to do it. But this is a result-oriented business, especially here."

It's unclear if Mackanin will put Ryan Howard back in the lineup to open this series instead of rookie Tommy Joseph. Howard, batting .151 this season, was limited to pinch-hit appearances in the first five games this month. Joseph started at first base in his place and went 7 for 16 with a homer in the past four contests.

Chicago leading hitter Ben Zobrist went 5 for 12 with four RBIs in the sweep of the Phillies but is 0 for 13 over the past five games.
 
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Preview: Mets (31-24) at Pirates (30-26)

Game: 1
Venue: PNC Park
Date: June 06, 2016 7:05 PM EDT

If Neil Walker was disappointed by being traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the New York Mets, it hasn't shown in his performance.

Walker returns to his hometown for the first time since being dealt for Jon Niese, who'll also make his debut against his former club in Monday night's opener of a three-game series.

In need of shedding salary and adding an experienced arm to the rotation, the Pirates sent Walker to the Mets for Niese in December. The Pittsburgh native was his hometown team's first-round pick in 2004 and spent the previous six seasons as their starting second baseman.

"I feel like I gave my all in Pittsburgh with the time I was there," he told MLB's official website. "I was on a lot of winning teams, and made a lot of strides individually and as a group. Hopefully, I'll be received well."

Walker seems to be feeling at home in New York, leading all NL second basemen with 13 home runs while hitting .279 in 53 games. He enters his former park with a .366 average over his last 12.

Niese (5-2, 4.36 ERA), who compiled a 61-61 record with a 3.93 ERA in eight seasons with the Mets, got his Pirates tenure off to a rocky beginning by posting a 5.94 through his first six starts. He's been sharp of late, though, going 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA over his last four.

The left-hander struck out six while allowing two runs in five innings and not factoring in the outcome of Wednesday's 3-2 loss at Miami.

"I thought he pitched a very good game," manager Clint Hurdle said. "A solid effort."

Niese's first encounter with the Mets comes against a lineup that's been without some of its biggest bats. David Wright and Lucas Duda are on the disabled list with potentially long-term injuries, and Yoenis Cespedes didn't start the final two games of the team's series in Miami due to a sore right hip.

New York (31-25) still put up 12 runs in winning the first two games, but its depleted order was no match for Jose Fernandez in Sunday's finale. The Miami ace matched a career high with 14 strikeouts while yielding four hits in seven innings of a 1-0 win.

"Tough day at the plate," outfielder Michael Conforto said. "It's always going to be tough when you're going up against a guy like him."

Cespedes did pinch-hit Sunday and could be back in the lineup for the opener. The slugger is batting .361 with four homers in 36 at-bats against lefties but is 5 for 29 lifetime at PNC Park.

The Mets may not need much offense if Steven Matz (7-1, 2.60) regains the form he displayed during a seven-start winning streak halted when he was reached for three runs in 5 2/3 innings by the White Sox on Tuesday. The 24-year-old recorded a 1.13 ERA over the streak, working at least six innings and permitting two runs or less in each outing.

Matz still hasn't lost since April 11 and remains unbeaten on the road during his brief career, having amassed a 6-0 record and a 1.82 ERA in eight regular-season starts.

He'll be looking to stop New York's seven-game skid in this series, with the Pirates winning all six 2015 matchups.

Pittsburgh (30-26) is hitting .293 while averaging five runs per game at home, though it's lost seven of nine overall after blowing a late lead in Sunday's 5-4 defeat to the Angels. After Los Angeles scored twice off Gerrit Cole in the seventh inning to pull within 4-3, Albert Pujols hit a two-run homer off Tony Watson in the eighth.
 

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