Saturday 6/10/17 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

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[superbeets]

World Cup TODAY 17:00

Scotland

v

England

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
ITV		11/2	27/10	4/6	More markets

RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSIN SCOTLAND	RECENT FORM
AWHDALALHDHW​ Most recent​	1 - 3 0 - 2 0 - 2 0 - 0	HWADHWHDALHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Harry Kane scored 35 goals in 39 appearances this season

EXPERT VERDICT: England sauntered to a 3-0 victory over Scotland when the sides met at Wembley in November in a game that confirmed Scotland fans’ fears about the current state of the Tartan Army’s squad. The Three Lions should confirm their supremacy and Harry Kane, who had another prolific campaign with Tottenham, could run the Scots ragged.

RECOMMENDATION: H Kane first goalscorer
1

World Cup TODAY 17:00

Azerbaijan

v

N Ireland

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
SS4		3	2	5/4	More markets

RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSIN AZERBAIJAN	RECENT FORM
AWHWADALAWHL​ Most recent​	2 - 0 0 - 0	HWALHWHLHWHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Azerbaijan have lost twice twice in eight home qualifiers

EXPERT VERDICT: This should be a tight game that could see both sides settling for a share of the spoils. Northern Ireland were 4-0 winners in the reverse fixture, however, Azerbaijan won their first two qualifiers against San Marino and Norway and earned a draw in their trip to Czech Republic so should not be underestimated.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw
2

World Cup Su 11Jun 17:00

Ireland

v

Austria

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
SS1		13/10	11/5	13/5	More markets

RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSIN IRELAND	RECENT FORM
AWAWHDHLNLHW​ Most recent​	2 - 2 1 - 3 1 - 4 2 - 2	HDALHLHDHWHD​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Ireland are unbeaten at home in nine straight qualifiers

EXPERT VERDICT: Ireland are in a commanding position in Group D and can consolidate their status as likely qualifiers with a home victory over Austria. The visitors were fancied to do well at Euro 2016 before disappointing massively and have since won just two of their five World Cup qualifiers, a set of results which includes a loss to Ireland.

RECOMMENDATION: Ireland
2

World Cup Su 11Jun 19:45

Serbia

v

Wales

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
S4C		8/11	13/5	5	More markets

RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSIN SERBIA	RECENT FORM
AWHWADALADAW​ Most recent​	6 - 1	NLHWADHDHDAD​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Wales have lost only one of their last 17 World Cup or European qualifiers

EXPERT VERDICT: Wales have not yet hit the heights they reached during their incredible run to the Euro 2016 semi-finals, but Chris Coleman's men have proven hard to beat in World Cup qualifying and could gain a valuable away point despite Gareth Bale's suspension. Serbia dropped home points against Ireland and have struggled for clean sheets.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw
1

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Razor Sharp

YOUR RAZOR SHARP FREE PICK FOR SATURDAY: Take KANSAS CITY/SAN DIEGO OVER the total of 8½ runs

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Arthur Ralph Sports

Bonus Play: 24-11 run Sat Colorado w/ HOFFMAN + 110

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Teyas Sports

FREE PICK 6/10 OAKLAND GAME #1 +113

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

The Vegas Steam Line

Your free winner for Saturday: Take TORONTO/SEATTLE OVER the total of 8 runs

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Scott Spreitzer
Jun 10 '17, 2:10 PM in 5h
MLB | Oakland Athletics - Game #1 vs Tampa Bay Rays - Game #1
Play on: Tampa Bay Rays - Game #1 -120 at 5Dimes

I'm recommending a play on the Rays with Ramirez over Gray in Game 1 of their doubleheader. Oakland lost again last night to bring its road record to 8-21 while the Rays won their third straight and improved to 19-14 at home. Sonny Gray typifies the Athletics as he's 0-2 with a whopping 7.02 ERA on the road compared to 2-0 and 2.92 at home. Gray has allowed 13 runs on 19 hits in 16 2/3 innings in three road starts and last year he gave up 13 runs (10 earned) on 15 hits in 10 2/3 innings against Tampa Bay, including six runs in 5 2/3 innings at Tropicana Field. Erasmo Ramirez comes off a loss at Seattle, but the Rays won his other four starts this year and he is 3-0 with a 2.86 ERA at home. Oakland has lost nine of its last 13 games overall and 18 of Gray's last 25 starts, including 15 of his last 18 road starts. I'm recommending a play on the Rays in Game 1 on Saturday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Red Dog Sports
Jun 10 '17, 4:08 PM in 7h
Soccer | Atlanta United vs Chicago Fire
Play on: Chicago Fire -135 at Bovada

Chicago -135

Take the Chicago Fire at -135 to win in MLS action on Saturday.

Atlanta 1

Chicago 2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Marc Lawrence
Jun 10 '17, 2:10 PM in 5h
MLB | Oakland Athletics - Game #1 vs Tampa Bay Rays - Game #1
Play on: Tampa Bay Rays - Game #1 -123 at betonline

Play - Tampa Bay Rays w/Ramirez vs Gray (Game 964).

Edges - Rays: Ramirez 2.76 ERA and 1.01 WHIP home as opposed to 10.29 ERA and 2.14 WHIP away this season… Athletics: Gray 0-3 with 7.02 ERA and 1.50 WHIP away as opposed to 3-1 with 2.92 ERA and 1.01 WHIP home this season… With Gray winless in his last three away team starts in June, we recommend a 1* play on Tampa Bay. Thank you and good luck as always.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Dustin Hawkins
Jun 10 '17, 4:05 PM in 7h
MLB | Marlins vs Pirates
Play on: Marlins -117 at betonline

Bonus Play on Marlins -117

Marlins pitcher Daniel Straily is 23-13 against the money line vs. teams averaging 2.75 or less extra base hits per game over the last 2 seasons. He is also is 20-9 against the money line with a team slugging percentage .390 or worse on the season (NL) over the last 2 seasons. He is also is 9-1 against the money line when playing on Saturday over the last 2 seasons. Bonus Play on Marlins

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Cappers Club

Jun 10 '17, 4:05 PM
MLB | Twins vs Giants
Play on: Twins +145 at betonline

Twins +145

This play just missed out on our premium card. The Minnesota Twins and the San Francisco Giants face off on Saturday and with the Twins as big underdogs I think they have a lot of juice.

On the mound for the Twins is Jose Berrios who has pitched well for the Twins so far this year. He comes into this game with a 4-1 record and an ERA of 2.76.

The one thing that hurt him this year is the long ball. Good thing for him the Giants struggling hitting it out of the park. They rank dead last in the MLB in home runs this year.

On the mound for the Giants is Jeff Samardzija who has really struggled this year. He comes into this game with a 2-7 record and a 4.29 ERA. The Twins hit the ball hard and I think they will have no problem doing that in this game.

Some trends to note. Twins are 14-3 in their last 17 road games vs. a right-handed starter. Giants are 2-8 in their last 10 vs. a team with a winning record.

5* FREE MLB Play on Twins ML

Good Luck, Cappers Club.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Saturday's six-pack

Phil Steele’s top six 2018 draft-eligible QB’s in college football this season:

6) JT Barrett, Ohio State

5) Lamar Jackson, Louisville

4) Josh Allen, Wyoming

3) Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State

2) Josh Rosen, UCLA

1) Sam Darnold, USC

Cleveland 137, Golden State 116– Game was 86-68 AT THE HALF. Cavaliers made 24-45 on the arc. Game 5 is Monday in Oakland.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rangers at Nationals

GAME: Texas Rangers (28-32) at Washington Nationals (38-22)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, June 10 - 12:05 PM EST
WHERE: Nationals Park, Washington, District of Columbia
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

The Texas Rangers have a chance to clinch their first series victory in nearly three weeks when they continue a three-game set at the Washington Nationals on Saturday. The Rangers pounded out 13 hits in a 5-2 win to begin the series Friday night, just their fourth victory in the last 15 games.

Jonathan Lucroy extended his hitting streak to four games with a home run and two singles while driving in three runs for Texas, which played another game without third baseman Adrian Beltre. The hobbled veteran has missed two straight games with an ankle injury and it appears as if the club wants to give Beltre another day to test the injury before deciding if he needs to be placed on the disabled list. The National League East-leading Nationals committed three errors and left eight runners on base in Friday's loss, falling to 17-10 at home. Daniel Murphy had two of their nine hits in the setback and he is batting .442 in 10 games since May 29.

TV: 12:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FSN Southwest (Texas), MASN (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH Martin Perez (2-6, 4.64 ERA) vs. Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (5-1, 3.03)

Perez allowed three runs or fewer in four straight starts before back-to-back rocky outings, including a matchup with Houston on Sunday in which he was reached for six runs (five earned) in 3 2/3 innings. He served up three home runs in that start after giving up a total of three over his previous eight appearances. The 26-year-old, who will be pitching in his 100th career game (94th start), has never faced Washington but is 5-5 with a 4.32 ERA in 15 interleague starts.

Gonzalez has won back-to-back starts after limiting the Los Angeles Dodgers to two runs on four hits over six innings Monday on the road. The former first-round pick has a 1.69 ERA in six home starts, although he has had to work around 19 walks in 37 1/3 innings. Gonzalez is 4-2 with a 2.55 ERA in 10 career encounters (eight starts) with Texas but he has been hit hard by Beltre (8-for-19, three home runs), Lucroy (8-for-13) and Elvis Andrus (6-for-18).

WALK-OFFS

1. Texas INF Jurickson Profar got recalled on Friday and LHP Dario Alvarez was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock.

2. Nationals 3B Anthony Rendon is batting .308 with 26 RBIs in 25 home games.

3. Rangers RF Nomar Mazara boasts five multi-hit efforts in his last 10 games.

PREDICTION: Nationals 6, Rangers 4

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mets at Braves

GAME: New York Mets (25-33) at Atlanta Braves (27-32)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, June 10 - 1:00 PM EST
WHERE: SunTrust Park, Cumberland, Georgia
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

The Atlanta Braves have spent the past two years rebuilding for the future, and two key parts of that plan came through in the opener of their four-game series against the visiting New York Mets, which continues Saturday with a split doubleheader. Dansby Swanson hustled for a double in the ninth inning on Friday to set the stage for Rio Ruiz, who delivered the game-winning single to left field as Atlanta posted its third victory in a row to pull within five games of .500.

Swanson, who got off to a miserable start this season, finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs to raise his average this month to .407. New York received solo homers from Curtis Granderson and Travis d’Arnaud in the series opener, giving it blasts in 23 of its 25 road games this year, but the team's bullpen gave up three runs in four innings. After hitting .327 in winning two of three in Atlanta early last month, the Mets collected just five hits in 31 at-bats on Friday. Jay Bruce registered two of them, extending his hitting streak to six games.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SNY (New York), FSN South (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Robert Gsellman (4-3, 5.53 ERA) vs. Braves LH Sean Newcomb (NR)

Gsellman was sent to the bullpen after allowing six runs and nine hits against Milwaukee on May 13, but following two relief appearances, he has been outstanding in three starts. He beat Pittsburgh on June 3, giving up two runs in 5 1/3 frames, and has posted a 2.95 ERA in those three outings while recording 14 strikeouts and five walks in 18 1/3 innings. Gsellman pitched a scoreless inning of relief against the Braves on Opening Day and defeated Atlanta on May 1 despite allowing five runs in five frames.

The centerpiece of the traded in November 2015 that sent defensive wizard Andrelton Simmons to the Los Angeles Angels, Newcomb makes his debut for Atlanta after going 3-3 with a 2.97 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 57 2/3 innings at Triple-A Gwinnett. Newcomb, the 69th-ranked prospect by MLB.com (and fifth in the Braves’ loaded system), features an upper-90s fastball and a big breaking curveball. Control has been an issue for the 23-year-old, who has walked 5.2 hitters per nine innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Mets have dropped 10 of their last 14 road games but have homered in 12 straight away from home.

2. Braves LF Matt Kemp recorded his seventh three-hit performance of the season Friday and ranks in the top 10 in the National League in hitting (.333).

3. Granderson is one homer away from 300 for his career and four doubles shy of reaching the same total in that category.

PREDICTION: Braves 7, Mets 6

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Athletics at Rays

GAME: Oakland Athletics (26-34) at Tampa Bay Rays (32-31)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, June 10 - 2:10 PM EST
WHERE: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Mallex Smith will get plenty of playing time in center field for the Tampa Bay Rays after the injury to two-time Gold Glove winner Kevin Kiermaier, and showed how capable he can be in his first game back from the minors. Smith hopes to follow up a big performance as the Rays look to extend a three-game winning streak when they host the Oakland Athletics in a rare single-admission doubleheader Saturday.

Smith went 2-for-3 with a walk, a two-run homer, three runs scored and three stolen bases Friday in place of Kiermaier, who is out 6-8 weeks with a hip fracture, as Tampa Bay went deep five times en route to a 13-4 victory. Oakland lost its ninth game in the last 13 and dropped to 8-21 on the road overall after permitting double-digit runs for the eighth time this season. Infielder Ryon Healy is 1-for-10 in the last three outings after belting four homers and knocking in nine over a three-game span for the Athletics. It will be only the second scheduled doubleheader in two decades in the majors (the Athletics hosted the Los Angeles Angels in the last in 2011) and the second in Tropicana Field history.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, NBCSN California (Oakland), FSN Sun (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Sonny Gray (2-2, 4.57 ERA) vs. Rays RH Erasmo Ramirez (3-1, 4.09)

Gray posted his fourth quality start in seven 2017 outings last time out on Sunday when he yielded three runs and four hits over seven innings in a no-decision against Washington. The 27-year-old Vanderbilt product has completed at least six innings in five of his seven starts and gave up just two homers since surrendering three in his season debut. Tim Beckham is 2-for-2 with a homer versus Gray, who is 2-2 with a 4.22 ERA in seven games against the Rays.

Ramirez struggled in his last two starts while giving up eight runs on 13 hits over seven total innings to post a loss and a no-decision. The 27-year-old from Nicaragua, who surrendered a homer in each of the last two games, is 0-7 with a 5.04 ERA in 13 games (eight starts) versus Oakland in his career. Yonder Alonso is 4-for-6 against Ramirez, who is 3-0 with a 2.86 ERA in seven appearances (three starts) at home in 2017.

WALK-OFFS

1. Oakland OF Jaycob Brugman went 0-for-4 in his major-league debut Friday after being recalled and struggling OF Mark Canha (.191) was sent to Triple-A Nashville.

2. The Rays placed Kiermaier and INF Rickie Weeks Jr. (shoulder) on the disabled list and acquired INF Taylor Featherston from Philadelphia for cash considerations.

3. Athletics LHP Sean Doolittle (shoulder) is expected to be activated for the doubleheader Saturday after missing the last six weeks.

PREDICTION: Athletics 4, Rays 3

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Phillies at Cardinals

GAME: Philadelphia Phillies (21-38) at St. Louis Cardinals (27-32)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, June 10 - 2:15 PM EST
WHERE: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

With their disastrous road trip behind them, the St. Louis Cardinals attempt to extend their home winning streak to four games when they host the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game series. St. Louis went winless on a seven-game trek before returning home to edge Philadelphia 3-2 in Friday's opener.

Five of the Cardinals' first six batters in the lineup recorded two hits Friday - includng Aledmys Diaz, who snapped a 2-2 tie with a solo homer in the fifth inning. St. Louis hopes to regain the services of Yadier Molina on Saturday after the veteran catcher was a late scratch in the opener due to stiffness in his lower back. Philadelphia continues to struggle on its nine-game road trip, as it has lost three in a row after winning the first two contests. Aaron Altherr collected three of the Phillies' seven hits on Friday, recording two doubles and a triple for his second three-hit performance in four games, while Odubel Herrera's franchise record-tying streak of six consecutive games with a double came to a halt.

TV: 2:15 p.m. ET, CSN Philadelphia, FSN Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Nick Pivetta (1-2, 5.18 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Carlos Martinez (4-5, 3.29)

Pivetta is coming off his first major-league victory, a triumph at Atlanta on Monday in which he gave up three runs over five innings. The 24-year-old Canadian has yet to work more than five frames during his five-start career, going that distance on three occasions. Pivetta, who will be facing St. Louis for the first time, has made four of his five starts on the road.

Martinez has lost two of his last three turns, including a setback at Cincinnati on Monday in which he yielded four runs in 6 1/3 innings. The 25-year-old Dominican has pitched well at home, winning three straight decisions and going unbeaten in five outings since losing to the Reds on April 9. Martinez has yet to lose to Philadelphia, going 2-0 with a 3.21 ERA in five career appearances (two starts).

WALK-OFFS

1. Cardinals 2B Kolten Wong (elbow) went 1-for-2 with a walk after being activated from the disabled list while 3B Jhonny Peralta was designated for assignment after hitting just .204 in 21 games.

2. Philadelphia traded INF Taylor Featherston, who went 3-for-26 with an RBI in 19 games last season, to Tampa Bay for cash considerations.

3. St. Louis dismissed third-base coach Chris Maloney and replaced him with Mike Shildt, who also will be the team's primary outfield instructor.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 6, Phillies 2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rockies at Cubs

GAME: Colorado Rockies (40-23) at Chicago Cubs (30-30)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, June 10 - 2:20 PM EST
WHERE: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A


The Colorado Rockies aren’t typically known for their pitching prowess, but outstanding work on the mound has led the National League West leaders’ most recent hot streak. The Rockies look for another strong pitching performance from rookie Jeff Hoffman when they aim for a third straight win over the host Chicago Cubs – and their seventh straight overall – on Saturday.



Charlie Blackmon’s go-ahead two-run homer in the fifth inning helped lift the Rockies to a 5-3 win Friday, but it was another dominant showing on the mound that made the lead stand up. German Marquez lasted just three innings, but five relievers combined to finish off a three-hitter and quiet a Cubs lineup that was heating up before Colorado came to town. Chicago has dropped three straight following a five-game winning streak, and the Cubs have compiled only four runs and eight hits in the first two contests of the four-game set. The Rockies have won four of five against the Cubs this season and are 8-3 against them since the start of last season.

TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, ROOT Rocky Mountain (Colorado), ABC 7 (Chicago)



PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Jeff Hoffman (3-0, 2.61 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Eddie Butler (3-1, 3.75)

Hoffman has put together two straight outstanding starts, compiling 16 strikeouts while allowing one run and three hits over seven frames in each of his last two outings. The 24-year-old has 24 strikeouts in three starts this season and has issued just two walks in 20 2/3 innings. Hoffman has made one start and one relief appearance against the Cubs, allowing eight runs (seven earned) in 5 1/3 innings.

Butler has allowed two runs or fewer in four of his five starts, and he’s coming off a solid outing against Miami last time out. The 26-year-old allowed one run and three hits over 5 2/3 innings to earn the win, and he gave up a season-low one walk. Butler, a first-round pick of the Rockies in 2012, has never faced his former team.



WALK-OFFS

1. Blackmon had a streak of six straight multi-hit games snapped Friday but is 13-for-28 during a seven-game hitting streak.

2. Cubs 3B Kris Bryant is 3-for-4 with two homers against Hoffman.

3. Rockies RH Greg Holland converted his 23rd save in as many chances Friday and is three shy of Huston Street’s franchise mark for consecutive saves set in 2009.



PREDICTION: Rockies 5, Cubs 4

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Marlins at Pirates

GAME: Miami Marlins (27-33) at Pittsburgh Pirates (26-35)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, June 10 - 4:05 PM EST
WHERE: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

The Miami Marlins got the bats working recently and are beginning to pound the ball while inching their way toward .500. The Marlins will try to pull off their fourth straight win and clinch a series victory when they visit the Pittsburgh Pirates for the third of a four-game series on Saturday.

Miami won 10 of its last 13 games to improve to 27-33 and is averaging 7.1 runs in those 10 victories, capped by a 12-7 drubbing on Friday. Giancarlo Stanton bashed his 16th home run in Friday's win and the Marlins continued to get contributions from other sources on offense, with Tyler Moore knocking a pair of home runs in the win to improve to 7-for-12 with six RBIs in the last three contests. The Pirates are struggling on the mound and watched starters Gerrit Cole and Tyler Glasnow combining to allow 14 runs - 13 earned - in 8 2/3 innings over the first two games of the series. Pittsburgh will try to take some pressure off the bullpen with a better effort on Saturday from starter Trevor Williams, who opposes Marlins righty Dan Straily.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FSN Florida (Miami), ROOT (Pittsburgh)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Dan Straily (4-4, 3.59 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Trevor Williams (3-3, 4.57)

Straily had a string of three straight wins come to an end last time out, when he suffered the loss at the Chicago Cubs despite allowing three runs in seven innings. The 28-year-old yielded three or fewer earned runs in each of his last six outings and owns 69 strikeouts in 67 2/3 innings overall. Straily is making his 11th appearance - eighth start - against Pittsburgh and is 3-3 with a 3.83 ERA in his previous chances.

Williams has been immune to the Pirates' pitching woes of late and allowed three or fewer runs in each of his last five turns. The rookie out of Arizona State tossed a career-high seven innings at the New York Mets on Sunday and allowed one run and seven hits to earn the win. Williams came out of the bullpen at Miami on April 30 and allowed one run on one hit and two walks in two-thirds of an inning to suffer the loss.

WALK-OFFS

1. Marlins 2B Dee Gordon is 6-for-16 with five runs scored in the last three games.

2. Pittsburgh removed LHP Tony Watson from the closer role and will split the role between LHP Felipe RIvero and RHP Juan Nicasio.

3. Miami LF Marcell Ozuna recorded multiple hits in nine of his last 14 games.

PREDICTION: Marlins 5, Pirates 4

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Twins at Giants

GAME: Minnesota Twins (31-26) at San Francisco Giants (25-38)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, June 10 - 4:05 PM EST
WHERE: AT&T Park, San Francisco, California
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A


Another day, another injury for the San Francisco Giants, who will be without second baseman Joe Panik for the next few games due to a sprained left thumb. The struggling Giants have lost 12 of their last 17 games heading into Saturday’s contest against the visiting Minnesota Twins, who opened the three-game series Friday with a 4-0 victory.



Aaron Hill went 1-for-2 with a walk on Friday while starting in place of Panik, who is expected to avoid the disabled list. The Giants have hit a league-low 48 home runs and need more production from veterans such as Denard Span (.263), Hunter Pence (.234) and first baseman Brandon Belt, who leads the team with 10 homers but is hitting .231 after going 0-for-4 on Friday. Minnesota has received a surprising spark from catcher Jason Castro, who brings an 11-game hitting streak into Saturday’s contest. Outfielder Robbie Grossman was 3-for-4 on Friday and has made a case for more playing time with his hot hitting early this month.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FSN North (Minnesota), NBCSN Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Jose Berrios (4-1, 2.76 ERA) vs. Giants RH Jeff Samardzija (2-7, 4.29)

Berrios won for the fourth time in his first five starts last Sunday by holding the Angels to two runs on six hits over six innings. The 23-year-old native of Puerto Rico is showing flashes of his star potential after going 3-7 with an 8.02 ERA in 14 starts as a rookie last season. Berrios, who is facing San Francisco for the first time, has gone 5-2 with a 3.11 ERA and 38 strikeouts in his last eight starts dating back to last season.

Samardzija continued to impress last Monday against Milwaukee, allowing two runs (one earned) with 10 strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings. “He just pitched a terrific game,” manager Bruce Bochy told reporters. “He had good command, good velocity. Great changeup, cutter too. He had it all going on.” Samardzija, who has 59 strikeouts against one walk in his last seven starts, owns a 4-1 record and 5.21 ERA in six career outings against the Twins.

WALK-OFFS

1. Minnesota rookie RHP Nik Turley will start Sunday’s series finale in place of LHP Hector Santiago (shoulder).

2. The Giants optioned INF/OF Orlando Calixte to Triple-A Sacramento and added RHP Sam Dyson to the roster.

3. Twins 2B Brian Dozier has hit safely in 16 of his last 18 interleague games.

PREDICTION: Giants 4, Twins 3

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Angels at Astros

GAME: Los Angeles Angels (32-32) at Houston Astros (43-19)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, June 10 - 4:10 PM EST
WHERE: Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Cameron Maybin provided a major spark in his return from the disabled list, and the Los Angeles Angels again could use his energy Saturday as they enter the middle contest of their three-game series against the host Houston Astros. Maybin showed no signs of his oblique injury as he recorded a career-best four stolen bases while going 3-for-4 with four runs scored as the Angels rolled to a 9-4 win in Friday's opener.

Maybin, who missed nine games during his stint on the DL, vaulted into the American League lead with 17 steals. The Astros lost for the third time in four games, but Alex Bregman's homer extended the team's streak to 17 consecutive contests with a blast - the second-longest in franchise history behind an 18-game stretch in 2000. Houston's Brian McCann, who is 8-for-16 with two homers in his last four games, is batting .338 with eight shots and 26 RBIs in 71 career at-bats against Angels scheduled starter Ricky Nolasco. Saturday's pitchers - Nolasco and Houston's Mike Fiers - have served up 18 homers apiece, which is tied for second-most in the majors behind Cincinnati's Bronson Arroyo (20).

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FSN West (Los Angeles), ROOT (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Ricky Nolasco (2-6, 5.05 ERA) vs. Astros RH Mike Fiers (3-2, 4.84)

Nolasco has lost four consecutive starts, posting a 6.64 ERA during the slide. The 34-year-old fell to Minnesota in his last turn as he gave up three runs and seven hits over 5 2/3 innings. Nolasco is a stellar 7-1 with a 3.75 ERA in 10 career appearances (nine starts) against the Astros, including a victory on April 18 in which he gave up two runs and eight hits over six frames.

Fiers has won his last two turns, giving up two runs in each of the victories. The 31-year-old kept the ball in the park in both outings after serving up an average of two per game over his first nine starts. Fiers defeated the Angels on May 7, when he allowed three runs and four hits over five innings, and is 2-2 with a 5.30 ERA in six career starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Friday's victory was just the Angels' 10th in their last 31 games at Minute Maid Park.

2. Houston DH Carlos Beltran is just 2-for-18 over his last four contests.

3. Los Angeles OF Shane Robinson was designated for assignment to open a roster spot for Maybin.

PREDICTION: Astros 10, Angels 7