Sunday 5/1/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

SPOT PLAYS

For Sunday


TRACK (RACE) HORSE, MORNING LINE


Belmont Park (2nd) Street Fightin Man, 5-1
(5th) Shootout, 3-1

Belterra Park (3rd) Perfect Spot, 3-1
(6th) Jacksontown, 3-1

Emerald Downs (4th) Gotta Be Diet C, 3-1
(5th) Regazze Cat, 4-1


Golden Gate Fields (8th) Be a Lady, 6-1
(9th) Ihearditallbefore, 3-1


Gulfstream Park (3rd) Bluegrass Lady, 9-2
(6th) Sweet Elegance, 3-1


Laurel Park (2nd) Stormy Mistress, 6-1
(8th) Dreams Cut Short, 9-2


Lone Star Park (8th) Cactus Needles, 8-1
(10th) Gaslamp, 4-1


Los Alamitos (1st) Oh Daddy Oh, 6-1
(4th) Irish, 5-1


Mountaineer (1st) Whatsupnotmuch, 6-1
(3rd) Hollywood Hallie, 5-1


Parx Racing (2nd) Quake in My Wake, 4-1
(5th) Saratoga Jack, 7-2


Prairie Meadows (3rd) Run Hide My Girl, 3-1
(7th) Shock Hazard, 3-1


Sunland Park (5th) Sassy Silk Pet, 5-1
(6th) Pure Tera, 5-1


Woodbine (7th) Freitag, 8-1
(8th) Old Valyria, 3-1

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

May Pitchers Report
By Marc Lawrence

Horse racing fans recognize May as the month of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. For baseball purists May is simply the second month of the 2016 pro baseball season. But for die-hard baseball fans, namely those who enjoy handicapping America’s pastime, it signals our annual May Good Month/Bad Month pitchers report.

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 May. On the flip side, we've also listed pitchers that struggle in May, 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 April 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 May list.

GOOD MONTH PITCHERS:

De La Rosa , Jorge -11-3 (5-1 A)

The Colorado right-hander had a rough April and will look to find his groove this month. The normally reliable right-hander has start and stop windup and still has low 90's fastball with tail action. He will need to spot pitches better and have more control with slider and changeup to match past numbers. Update - Went on 15-day DL on 4/27 with groin.

Hernandez, Felix -11-5 (8-3 A)

Though the "King" does not have the same velocity as a few years ago, he has more pitches he throws for strikes. Thus, he's not going to be as dominant as often, but he's making the transition away from pure power pitcher to smarter hurler to get batter out.

Hughes, Phil -10-4 (6-1 H)

Never the ace many envisioned in his younger days with the Yankees, Hughes is a dependable starter for Minnesota, who commands low-90's fastball and spins a tight-curve. His walk-to-strikeout command is excellent but the biggest problem is staying focused inning after inning and has always been prone of losing concentration.

Porcello, Rick -11-5 (8-1 A)

Sinker-ball pitcher who tried to become strikeout chucker with big contract in Boston last year and failed miserably. Has gone back to what he does best so far this season, which has batters beating the ball into the ground. A true No. 3 or No. 4 starter in the rotation whose not comfortable being depended on for more.

*Sale, Chris -10-1 (5-0 A)

A true strikeout machine who, at 27, has gained the confidence to also be clubhouse leader. At 6'6 and thin, all arms and legs with funky left-side delivery, has mid to upper 90's fastball and catcher seldom has to move once target is set. Headliner of an overabundance of White Sox lefty starters.

*Scherzer, Max -13-4 (6-1 H)

Since the middle of last season, has been pedestrian performer, more like was with Arizona, with ERA over 4.25. Scherzer depends on clean mechanics for velocity and tilt on breaking pitches. It seems to come and go without warning. Washington is looking for the pitcher they had the first half of last year as right-hand version of Clayton Kershaw when he was unhittable.

*Vogelsong, Ryan -12-3 (6-1 A)

Now with Pittsburgh, lost starting job in spring training and now works in long relief or as spot starter. Not likely to change at 38 unless injuries occur.

*Weaver, Jered -10-2 (6-1 H)

After shoulder issues in the spring related to tightness, which had his fastball topping out at 81-82, Weaver got stretched out and is now serviceable mid-rotation pitcher, who knows how to works counts and change speeds. Fastball still only in mid-80's but throws so many off-speed pitches his fastball is looking quicker to hitter's thus far.

Zimmermann, Jordan -11-5 (7-1 H)

The formers Nats pitcher took an immediate liking to the American League and went 24 1/3 innings before giving up a run in 2016. Has four good pitches he can keep in the zone and is frontline hurler. For whatever reason, seldom pitches beyond the seventh inning.


BAD MONTH PITCHERS:

Hamels, Cole -5-12 (2-6 A)

Has fit in comfortably at Texas, with still good fastball that moves late when low in the zone, excellent cutter and still one of the best changes in the game. Part of poor record is he's been on some bad teams of late in Philadelphia and has thrown better when the weather heats up, which is not a problem in Dallas.

Peralta, Wily -3-12 (1-6 A)

Been hit hard thus far in 2016, not keeping fastball down and delivering too many room service sliders. Peralta lacks great stuff and even when he's at his best, not many swings and misses. Note: Figures represent career start marks.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Giants (12-13) at Mets (15-7)

Game: 3
Venue: Citi Field
Date: May 01, 2016 1:10 PM EDT

Madison Bumgarner hasn't fared particularly well in his first three chances against some of the NL's best arms. The San Francisco Giants hope the fourth goes better to end their starting pitching funk.

Bumgarner gets another marquee matchup Sunday against Noah Syndergaard, who will try to lift the New York Mets to a ninth straight win and sweep of the visiting Giants.

New York (15-7) has put a 2-5 start in the rearview mirror with its first eight-game winning streak since rattling off 11 in a row last April. The last two to open this series came at the expense of veteran starters for San Francisco (12-13).

The Mets knocked Jake Peavy out in the third during Friday's 13-1 win with a team record 12-run inning, and they tagged Matt Cain for four runs in the first two of Saturday's 6-5 victory - their fifth in the last six of this series.

Michael Conforto and Wilmer Flores homered Saturday, and Conforto tied Joe Christopher's 1964 team record with a double in his sixth straight game.

The Mets have won six in a row at Citi Field.

"It just seems relentless," said Conforto, who is hitting .365.

There might be some agreement on that from the Giants, whose starters have coughed up 17 runs the last three games, raising their ERA to 4.81.

Meanwhile, Mets starters haven't allowed an earned run in 12 innings of this series and have given up just 17 over the last dozen games to lower their ERA to 2.81.

Bumgarner (2-2, 3.64 ERA) can only control one side of that equation when he matches up against yet another big arm, adding Syndergaard to a list that includes Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw twice through his first five starts.

The 2014 World Series MVP holds only a 3.50 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in those matchups and San Francisco dropped all three consecutively.

However, the Giants avoided their first four-game skid with Bumgarner on the mound with Monday's 5-4 win over San Diego. The left-hander held the Padres to six hits and two runs in 6 2/3 innings while striking out a season-high nine.

Working in Bumgarner's favor are his career numbers against the Mets, though he didn't face them in 2015. He held them to four runs over 29 innings spanning four starts the previous three seasons. The lefty struck out 29 in the last three meetings, capped by a 10-strikeout two-hitter in August 2014 that moved his ERA at Citi Field to 0.78.

Syndergaard's only matchup against San Francisco as a rookie in 2015 was noteworthy only because of Chris Heston's no-hitter on the other side. Syndergaard (2-0, 1.69) was shelled for 10 hits and four runs in six innings while striking out a career-low two.

Buster Posey and Matt Duffy each went 2 for 3 against him, with Duffy launching a solo home run off the big right-hander.

San Francisco's lineup has been up and down, plating eight or more runs five times but two or fewer on eight occasions. The Giants loaded the bases with nobody out in the eighth Saturday but settled for a pair of deep sacrifice flies.

Jeurys Familia sealed his eighth save in as many chances in front of a Citi Field regular-season record crowd of 44,466. It was San Francisco's third straight road loss and sixth in seven games.

"That's a tough one for the guys, because they put up quite an effort there to get back in it and try to win that ballgame," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.

Syndergaard has not allowed a home run in 26 2/3 innings while striking out 38, matching Pedro Martinez's 2005 mark for most by a Mets pitcher in his first four starts.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Blue Jays (11-14) at Rays (11-12)

Game: 3
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: May 01, 2016 1:10 PM EDT

A rough final inning dampened an otherwise solid performance in Marcus Stroman's most recent start.

Despite a shaky ending to his season opener, Stroman and the Toronto Blue Jays held on to beat the Tampa Bay Rays.

Taking the mound on his 25th birthday, Stroman looks for a more complete effort while trying to continue his undefeated run Sunday against the Rays at Tropicana Field.

Stroman (3-0, 4.37 ERA) has had his issues through five outings but is 8-0 over 10 regular-season starts since last losing Sept. 15, 2014. He yielded just a first-inning run through six Monday before being changed with three more in a five-run seventh for the Chicago White Sox that led to Toronto's 7-5 defeat.

"I play the game extremely passionately, and I was just extremely frustrated with the way things played out there," the right-hander told MLB's official website. "I felt pretty good all night, and I was just really frustrated with the way things turned out.

"I felt like I didn't do my job in the end, when I felt so good, so it was pretty frustrating."

Stroman pitched into the ninth at Tampa Bay on April 3 but left after failing to retire the first two hitters. He allowed three runs and six hits in the 5-3 victory.

"I want to finish games," Stroman said after that contest. "That's the mentality. That's the motto."

Toronto (11-14) blew leads of 2-0 and 3-2 en route to Saturday's 4-3 defeat. Jose Bautista hit a two-run homer and Kevin Pillar had a solo shot as both combined for the three hits by the Blue Jays, who have lost four of five.

They've totaled 10 runs and 18 hits in the last four, and six of their 10 hits in this series have left the park.

Bautista is 2 for 13 in those four while Troy Tulowitzki is 0 for 12. Edwin Encarnacion is 0 for 11 in the last three. Bautista and Encarnacion are a combined 3 for 31 against Jake Odorizzi (0-1, 3.58).

The right-hander has allowed nine runs and 17 hits in 10-plus innings of two road starts, but two earned in 17 2/3 frames of three at home. One of those runs came along with 10 strikeouts through 5 2/3 innings of a 3-2 win over Toronto on April 5. He gave up the other over five innings of Tuesday's 3-1 victory over Baltimore.

Odorizzi, however, has thrown at least 94 pitches in each of his five starts and completed more than six innings just once.

"Yeah, my pitch count has really frustrated me," he said. "Just don't press the issue. Usually when you press the issue it gets worse."

A solo homer highlighted Logan Forsythe's three-hit night Saturday for the Rays (11-12), who avoided a third consecutive defeat when Curt Casali delivered a winning single in the ninth. Tampa Bay is 6-0 when scoring at least four runs in a game.

"It's a good win," said Casali, who is 7 for 48 on the season. "I'm just happy to contribute to a win."

Forsythe, who has gotten on base in 12 of his last 17 plate appearances, is 20 for 45 in 12 games after going 8 for 37 in his first 10. He's gone hitless in four at-bats against Stroman this year.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Reds (9-15) at Pirates (15-9)

Game: 3
Venue: PNC Park
Date: May 01, 2016 1:35 PM EDT

With an offense that's on a roll, the Pittsburgh Pirates hope Jeff Locke can take advantage and build on his outstanding performance at hitter-friendly Coors Field.

Pittsburgh will try to continue pouring in runs Sunday when it goes after a seventh straight win and a home sweep of the struggling Cincinnati Reds.

John Jaso set the tone for another surge Saturday with a leadoff home run as the Pirates scored five runs or more for the seventh time in nine games in a 5-1 victory.

'You're always hoping to get results but you never expect it that quickly,' Jaso said.

David Freese and Francisco Cervelli had two hits apiece and Sean Rodriguez also homered. Freese is batting .333 with four doubles and five RBIs in his last six games.

The Pirates (15-9) have averaged 7.2 runs while batting .296 with 15 homers during this 8-1 stretch. Josh Harrison is hitting .406 with 11 RBIs in his last 13 games and fellow infielder Jordy Mercer is batting .413 with eight RBIs in his past 12.

Now they'll try to give Locke plenty of support with designs on closing out their first home sweep of the Reds since April 2013. The left-hander, however, might not need a whole lot of offensive backing if he can replicate Monday's performance.

After giving up 11 runs and 16 hits over 7 2/3 innings in consecutive losses, Locke got on track by allowing five hits and striking out eight over six scoreless innings in a 6-1 victory at Colorado. Manager Clint Hurdle said it was the best he's seen Locke pitch since he threw eight shutout innings against Cleveland on July 4.

"He got in such a strong, aggressive rhythm," Hurdle told the league's official website. "Fastball command, the intent, the conviction, the execution. Used the changeup in offensive counts, sprinkled in some curveballs... Big for us, good for him."

Locke (1-2, 5.03 ERA) has a 3.14 ERA in 12 career starts versus Cincinnati. He gave up one run - a Eugenio Suarez homer - over six innings in a 2-1 road loss April 10.

Suarez went 3 for 3 and Adam Duvall had two doubles off him in that contest.

The Reds (9-15), though, have totaled 11 runs while hitting .181 with just three home runs in losses during this 1-8 stretch. Billy Hamilton had three of their six hits Saturday, but Duvall (2 for 18), Brandon Phillips (4 for 24), Jay Bruce (2 for 17) and Scott Schebler (4 for 46) are among those scuffling.

"It (stinks) to lose any time you lose," Phillips said. "To lose the way we've been losing is tough. We have been sloppy."

Right-hander Tim Adleman is expected to be called up from Triple-A Louisville to make his big league debut as Cincinnati tries to avoid a seventh straight defeat. Scheduled starter Raisel Iglesias was scratched due to inflammation in his shoulder.

The 28-year-old Adleman is 2-0 with a 4.24 ERA in three starts for Louisville.

"We'll try to make a decision on how much time (Iglesias) will miss," manager Bryan Price said. "We don't believe that it's considered something that will require any intrusive procedures. Surgery has been ruled out at this time. It's just some inflammation, and we hope we are able to knock it out here quickly."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: White Sox (17-8) at Orioles (14-9)

Game: 4
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: May 01, 2016 1:35 PM EDT

The Baltimore Orioles are one of the only teams to figure out the Chicago White Sox so far. Doing the same against Chris Sale would be an accomplishment in its own right.

In order to win this four-game set in Baltimore on Sunday, the Orioles will have to hand the White Sox their first loss with Sale on the mound.

Chicago (17-8) has heightened expectations by building the AL's best record through April, and they skyrocket with Sale toeing the rubber.

"Every night we come out here we expect a no-hitter and it kind of stinks for him, but that's what we expect," Adam Eaton said.

Sale (5-0, 1.66 ERA) became the 10th White Sox pitcher to win his first five starts since 1913 by holding opposing hitters to a .159 batting average in the season's opening month. The left-hander has surrendered just eight hits and one earned run in 24 innings over his last three outings, and he leads the majors with a 0.68 WHIP.

Baltimore (14-9) has already beaten up on two White Sox lefties with a 10-2 rout versus John Danks in Thursday's opener and Friday's 6-3 win over Carlos Rodon, but a repeat performance against Sale seems far-fetched.

He can become the first White Sox pitcher to win his opening six starts since Jon Garland was victorious in his first eight of 2005. Six of the 10 Chicago pitchers to open 5-0 won their sixth start.

Sale's success seems a bit different than in past seasons when he powered past opposing lineups - a prime example his 12-strikeout four-hitter in 7 2/3 innings of a 3-2 win in Baltimore last May. He set a Chicago record with 274 strikeouts in 2015, but drawing more early has allowed him to pitch at least seven innings in each start.

J.J. Hardy, Adam Jones and Mark Trumbo have combined for a .364 batting average with one home run apiece in their careers against Sale, who has a 3.42 ERA in four starts against the Orioles. However, Chris Davis, Manny Machado and Matt Wieters are 2 for 19 with six strikeouts in the matchup.

Chicago snapped a three-game skid in this series by rallying for Saturday's 8-7 victory - just the Orioles' second loss in 11 games at Camden Yards.

The White Sox, who are 11-5 on the road, trailed 5-4 entering the eighth, but Todd Frazier launched a two-run homer before Jose Abreau's go-ahead single in the ninth.

"We're going to have challenges during the year," manager Buck Showalter said. "Something happens, we'll deal with it and our club knows that. We had a lot of good things happen (Saturday night)."

Ubaldo Jimenez will try to lift Baltimore to its fourth win in five games while handing Chicago its second series loss.

Jimenez (1-2, 3.91) has battled command issues his last three starts, walking 11 in 16 innings on the way to a 5.06 ERA and 1.75 WHIP in that span.

The 32-year-old right-hander has a 4.17 ERA and 1.49 WHIP in 12 career starts against the White Sox, though he gave up just one earned run in 14 innings between two outings against them last season.

The White Sox will likely miss out on a prime matchup with Avisail Garcia expected to miss his second straight game due to a strained right hamstring. Garcia went 8 for 18 with a double, triple, home run and four RBIs in the first five games of Chicago's seven-game trip, and he is 7 for 13 lifetime against Jimenez.

Abreu's two hits in nine at-bats versus the veteran hurler were solo home runs, and Brett Lawrie and Alex Avila have also gone deep against him.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Marlins (12-11) at Brewers (8-15)

Game: 3
Venue: Miller Park
Date: May 01, 2016 2:10 PM EDT

With Giancarlo Stanton in the midst of a power surge, the Miami Marlins haven't missed a beat since losing All-Star infielder Dee Gordon to a drug suspension.

Now the star slugger will try to lead the Marlins to their first eight-game winning streak in eight years on Sunday when the club also looks to close out its first road sweep over the pitching-challenged Milwaukee Brewers since 2006.

After batting .193 over his first 15 games, Stanton has found his power stroke on this trip. According to MLB's official website, he hit a 116.8 mph homer in Saturday's 7-5 win that had the second-fastest exit velocity for a long ball this season.

The three-time All-Star has gone 9 for 22 with nine RBIs while going deep in five of the past six games and the Marlins (12-11) have won seven straight when he homers.

In his second start at second base since Gordon's shocking 80-game suspension, Derek Dietrich delivered a leadoff homer Saturday. Martin Prado, who can play at third or second, contributed two hits and has gone 14 for 27 over his last six games.

Adeiny Hechavarria matched a career high with four hits for Miami, which had 14 hits and drew nine walks despite going 0 for 12 with runners in scoring position.

'If you are always pushing and have that vibe in the dugout of `We're going to score this inning and every inning' good things will happen," Stanton said.

Dietrich has gone 5 for 10 with a home run when facing Milwaukee starter Wily Peralta (1-3, 7.40 ERA), though Marcell Ozuna and Stanton are a combined 2 for 25.

Peralta had a 10.13 ERA while dropping his first three starts, but he's made some positive strides in his last two. He surrendered two runs over five innings in a no-decision against Minnesota on April 19 before giving up three earned runs over six innings in last Sunday's 8-5 home victory over Philadelphia.

"With each start, I'm feeling better and better," the right-hander told the league's official website. "(Sunday) was a good one, better than the first four."

Peralta had been 2-1 with a 2.20 ERA in five career starts against the Marlins before allowing six runs over five innings in an 8-7 home victory Aug. 19.

He'll try to help the Brewers (8-15) avoid their fifth straight loss and eighth in nine games by picking up a rotation that owns a major league-worst 6.32 ERA.

Milwaukee had totaled eight runs and hit .152 during its losing streak before Ramon Flores knocked in two runs and Hernan Perez hit a two-run homer Saturday. Jonathan Lucroy had two of the team's seven hits and is batting .333 over his last 10 games.

Seeking his third straight winning start, Tom Koehler (2-2, 4.50) also has his sights set on leading Miami to its first sweep in Milwaukee since September 2006. The Marlins are going after their longest winning streak since a nine-game run in September 2008.

Koehler was 0-2 with a 11.02 ERA in four career meetings until he allowed two runs with a career-high 10 strikeouts over eight innings in a 5-2 home win last September.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis has a home run and a double in five career at-bats off the right-hander, though star left fielder Ryan Braun has gone 1 for 6 in the matchup.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Tigers (13-10) at Twins (7-17)

Game: 3
Venue: Target Field
Date: May 01, 2016 2:10 PM EDT

The Detroit Tigers have been on a roll since Mike Pelfrey's latest defeat, and the right-hander will try to keep that going while avoiding a dubious distinction.

Pelfrey can guarantee he won't become the first Tigers pitcher to lose his first five starts since 2003 by leading Detroit to a fifth consecutive victory and a three-game sweep of his former team, the Minnesota Twins, on Sunday.

The Tigers (13-10) have outscored their past four opponents 29-10 and have beaten the Twins by a combined 13-3. Justin Upton continued his turnaround with a three-run homer in the first inning of a 4-1 victory Saturday and Victor Martinez contributed a pair of doubles while driving in a run.

Upton is 4 for 9 in this series after batting .198 in his first 21 games with Detroit.

"I'm swinging the bat better," Upton told MLB's official website. "It's a long season, though. You're going to hit hot streaks. You're going to have some cold times. So, you just can't really look too much into it."

Martinez is batting .481 with three homers, five doubles and nine RBIs in his past seven contests. Nick Castellanos, hitting an AL-best .363, has gone 8 for 15 since Pelfrey's 5-1 defeat against Oakland on Tuesday.

Pelfrey (0-4, 4.64 ERA) gave up a season-high five earned runs and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings of Tuesday's 5-1 loss to Oakland. He has received zero runs of support in all four starts and has tied a career high by dropping eight consecutive decisions since an 11-1 win over Texas on Aug. 12 for the Twins (7-17).

"It doesn't matter if we are scoring 20 runs when I pitch or zero," Pelfrey said. "My job is to get outs and put zeroes on the board, and in four starts this year, I haven't done that."

Pelfrey is the first AL starter to receive no runs in his first four games since Mike Morgan for Toronto in 1983. The Tigers will try to change that while helping him avoid becoming their first pitcher to lose his first five starts since Mike Maroth dropped his first seven in 2003, Detroit's 119-loss season.

Detroit will also seek its first three-game sweep in Minnesota since May 25-27, 2012.

Pelfrey was 4-4 with a 2.61 ERA in 13 home starts for the Twins last season.

In his one, Pelfrey will pitch opposite former teammate Ricky Nolasco (1-0, 3.25), who has been up and down so far this season. The right-hander fanned a season-high nine on Tuesday against visiting Cleveland but gave up four runs in 7 1/3 innings while receiving a no-decision.

Nolasco has no record and a 5.02 ERA in his two home starts. He has a 1.35 ERA in his two on the road.

Nolasco was 1-1 with a 6.48 ERA in his two matchups against Detroit last season but yielded two unearned runs in 5 1/3 innings in his final one, a 6-2 victory May 13. He tossed eight scoreless innings in his only home start versus the Tigers, a 4-3 win on Sept. 16, 2014.

Martinez is 5 for 11 lifetime against Nolasco and Mike Aviles is 8 for 14.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Nationals (16-7) at Cardinals (12-12)

Game: 3
Venue: Busch Stadium
Date: May 01, 2016 2:15 PM EDT

The Washington Nationals have quickly gotten back on track after a disappointing performance earlier this week and have a chance to register their first three-game road sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals in 30 years.

The Nationals will look to pull off that feat Sunday while trying to thwart Carlos Martinez's attempt to win his first five starts.

Washington (16-7) plated just three runs while getting swept in three home games against Philadelphia but has totaled 11 in the first two of 10 straight road contests.

Jayson Werth homered in the first and drove in four runs in a 6-1 victory Saturday as the Nationals continued the franchise's best start since opening 18-7 in 1979.

"You can't win anything in April, but you can lose it," Werth said. "We've got great chemistry."

The Nationals will try to add their first three-game sweep in St. Louis since June 9-11, 1986, when they were the Montreal Expos.

"It's tough to come in here and sweep the Cardinals," manager Dusty Baker said. "I wouldn't mind a reverse sweep because we just got swept."

Standing in their way is Martinez (4-0, 1.93 ERA), who is coming off one of the best performances of his career. The 24-year-old will be looking to change the conversation after leaving the team briefly to address a legal matter.

Martinez is the object of a civil lawsuit filed against him by a woman in West Palm Beach, Florida, near the team's spring training site in Jupiter, and general manager John Mozeliak said Saturday he was aware of the case.

The right-hander yielded three hits and one walk in eight scoreless innings Tuesday in an 8-2 victory in Arizona and is looking to become the first Cardinals pitcher to win his first five starts since Lance Lynn began 6-0 in 2012.

"We've just seen different styles (from Martinez)," manager Mike Matheny said. "(In this start), he was making off-speed pitches whenever he wanted to and then all of a sudden he waits until almost pitch 100 to show 98 (mph). He has that ability."

In his first start against the Nationals, Martinez will pitch opposite Max Scherzer (2-1, 4.35), who's seeking his first win over St. Louis (12-12). The right-hander has failed to earn a win against just one other club, his former Detroit Tigers.

Scherzer is 0-2 with a 3.52 ERA in four starts against his hometown team and went 0-1 with a 2.77 ERA in two matchups in 2015. He gave up two runs and 11 hits over six innings while striking out 10 in his lone start in St. Louis, a 4-3 win Sept. 2.

Scherzer was mostly solid Tuesday after his first defeat - a 5-1 loss at Miami on April 21 - but he walked a season-high four in a 4-3 loss to Philadelphia. He allowed three runs in six innings while striking out seven for the third time in five starts.

Scherzer said his mechanics haven't been quite right in his past two outings.

"You go through funks and right now this is a funk," he told MLB's official website. "But at the end of the day, this is an easy thing to correct. This is just a minor tweak. You get through it."

St. Louis will try to avoid matching its longest losing streak, a four-game skid - all at home - from June 30-July 3.

The Cardinals will also try to avoid dropping below .500 this late into a season for just the second time since finishing 78-84 in 2007. They were 19-20 on May 12, 2014.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Braves (5-18) at Cubs (17-5)

Game: 3
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: May 01, 2016 2:20 PM EDT

Quality depth is one reason the Chicago Cubs have some lofty expectations for 2016.

They may not have to tap as deep into their reserves, however, after a rainout gave one of their stars extra time to heal.

Kris Bryant is available to start Sunday as the Cubs go for an eighth straight victory over the visiting Atlanta Braves.

Saturday's game was called about two hours before the scheduled first pitch due to rain forecasted to fall all day. No makeup date was immediately announced, but July 7 appears likely with both teams off and the Braves returning to Chicago to face the White Sox a day later.

In Friday's opener, Cubs reserve outfielder Matt Szczur hit his first grand slam to highlight a five-run eighth inning in Chicago's fourth straight win, 6-1.

Besides those heroics, backup Javier Baez doubled and scored while starting at third base in place of Bryant. With another pinch hit, Tommy La Stella improved to 6 for 9 with a homer and four doubles in his last five games.

"We just come ready to play," manager Joe Maddon said. "A couple of guys were out and the guys that stood in there for them did outstanding work.

"It's all really good stuff."

After spending the past two seasons between the majors and minors, Szczur has become an asset with slugger Kyle Schwarber on the disabled list.

"I appreciate (Maddon) giving me chances to succeed," said Szczur, who is 3 for his last 9. "I take pride in that, and I think all of our bench players take pride in that. That's why we're doing so well."

Baez has also been a key part of Maddon's ever-changing lineup, batting .310 in 29 at-bats, but he may return to the bench with Bryant cleared. Bryant suffered a mild right ankle sprain running the bases Thursday.

'He's doing really well this morning,' Maddon said Saturday. 'We'll wait to see what tomorrow looks like. I'll debate whether to play him or not. If he doesn't start, he'll be able to come off the bench.'

Veteran catcher David Ross is 5 for 16 with two homers and five RBIs in his last five games, and he's no longer relegated to the role of personal catcher for Jon Lester with Miguel Montero also on the DL.

After Lester allowed a run and struck out 10 over seven innings Friday, John Lackey (3-1, 4.97 ERA) hopes to bounce back from giving up six runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings of last Saturday's 13-5 loss at Cincinnati.

Yielding that many runs for the second time in four starts, Lackey wants to be more aggressive - especially with two strikes.

"Sometimes you can almost throw too many strikes," the right-hander told MLB's official website. "Maybe need to make some people a little more uncomfortable."

Freddie Freeman homered for one of Atlanta's seven hits Friday. Batting .339 in 14 games since going 2 for 25 in the first eight, Freeman has hit three of the Braves' five home runs this year.

Atlanta (5-18) has scored 75 runs while the Cubs' run differential is a major league-best plus-79. The Braves have been outscored 44-16 in the last seven with Chicago (17-5).

They've totaled 10 runs while losing all five starts made by Julio Teheran (0-3, 4.60). The right-hander, though, has kept his team in the last two while giving up three runs over 12 1/3 innings. One of those runs was issued over seven of Monday's 1-0 loss to Boston.

"That was the first time that I've felt like that this year," Teheran said. "I felt like I had everything working."

He's 2-0 with a 3.82 ERA in five starts against the Cubs.

Anthony Rizzo is 2 for 13 with a homer when facing Teheran, but he's batting .310 with five home runs and 13 RBIs in the last eight games.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Indians (10-11) at Phillies (14-10)

Game: 3
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: May 01, 2016 2:35 PM EDT

Danny Salazar's opponent batting average is the best in baseball, yet his opponent on-base percentage still trails the next pitcher he'll face by nearly 40 points.

Vince Velasquez has also been tough to hit and done so with a reasonable level of control, something Salazar will try to emulate Sunday to deny the streaking Philadelphia Phillies a three-game home sweep of his Cleveland Indians.

After Saturday's 4-2 win, the Phillies (14-10) are in position to match a six-game winning streak from May 13-18 of last season as their top since 2012. Odubel Herrera was 2 for 4 for a second straight game and is batting .385 on an 11-game hitting streak.

"We're on a roll right now and we hope we continue with it," said manager Pete Mackanin, whose team finished with its best April record since going 18-8 in 2011 on its way to the NL East title.

The run has come with a 1.72 ERA, while the bullpen has strung together 18 straight scoreless innings over the last six games. The winning streak began with their next starter.

Velasquez (3-1, 1.78 ERA) has started his first season in Philadelphia with plenty of promise and threw his first career shutout in his second start, but the right-hander has regressed some since with eight runs - five earned - in 10 1/3 innings over his last two starts.

He gave up three and five hits in six innings of Tuesday's 4-3 win in Washington. Velasquez's .174 OBA and .232 OBP both rank among MLB's top 10, prompting his manager to bring up a name from that 2011 team.

"I'm not comparing him to (Roy) Halladay, but I didn't like the way he pitched and he only gave up three runs," Mackanin told MLB's official website. "I remember sitting with (former Phillies coach) Sam Perlozzo after a game and I'd say, 'Boy, (Halladay) was terrible tonight and he only gave up three runs.' That's how good he was."

The 23-year-old faced Cleveland once last year with Houston and gave up two runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings of a 2-0 loss with Michael Brantley going 2 for 3 with a home run.

Salazar (2-1, 2.35) has seen his walks catch up with him a bit more in his last two starts with five runs allowed in 11 2/3 innings after working through them in his first two starts to give up one in 11 1/3. Most recently, he surrendered three runs and three hits with four walks in 4 2/3 innings of a no-decision in Monday's 4-3 loss in Minnesota.

The right-hander has walked 13 and allowed just 11 hits and never more than three for a .139 OBA. His OBP is flirting with doubling that at .269 as he's one of four pitchers issuing more than five walks per nine innings. Twenty-one of his first 40 pitches were balls against the Twins, and his 17.9 pitches per inning is up from an already-high 16.5 career mark entering the year.

"He barely got to where he was throwing more strikes than balls," manager Terry Francona said. "That's just a hard way to have sustained success, where you can go deep into a game. Because, with the stuff he has, he should get deeper."

The Indians (10-11) have dropped four of five after starting this nine-game road trip with a three-game sweep in Detroit. The rotation has a 5.74 ERA in the last five, which have all been one-run games.

At the plate, Lonnie Chisenhall was 3 for 4 Friday after going 2 for 18 in his first six games back from a wrist injury that cost him the start of the season.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Angels (11-13) at Rangers (14-10)

Game: 3
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: May 01, 2016 3:05 PM EDT

The only scheduled Cole Hamels start the Texas Rangers have lost since mid-August is the one he didn't make.

After skipping a start, the left-hander should return Sunday at home against the Los Angeles Angels to face Garrett Richards with the Rangers seeking a three-game sweep and a 15th straight victory with Hamels on the mound to match a club record.

Texas (14-10) is on the verge of a five-game streak after Saturday's 7-2 win. It secured the first series win at home against Los Angeles since a four-game sweep Sept. 26-29, 2013. The Angels (11-13) are 16-6 at Globe Life Park since the start of 2014.

Mitch Moreland hit a three-run homer in a six-run third and is 5 for 11 with six RBIs in his last three games. Prince Fielder recorded just his second multihit game and Rougned Odor had three doubles to push his average (.264) over .250 for the first time this season.

"He's a sparkplug, he's that type player, he makes a lot of stuff happen on the field," Moreland said of the second baseman.

Hamels (3-0, 2.52 ERA) didn't pitch in Monday's 3-1 home loss to the New York Yankees because of a strained left groin, and the starting staff has a 1.67 ERA in the four games since.

The Rangers have won Hamels' last 14 starts, and the streak might get a little more attention if it weren't for Jake Arrieta's 16-start run for the Chicago Cubs.

The Texas ace has gone 10-0 with a 3.03 ERA on the streak, including limiting Houston to a run and five hits in 6 2/3 innings of a 2-1 home win April 20. It's the longest winning streak of his career, and the only time Texas has won more consecutive starts by one pitcher was 15 straight by Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins from 1978-79.

"It's big to have it for the team," Hamels told MLB's official website. "If it shows up on my record, fine, but we have had some really good wins lately, and that's something to build on. Ultimately, I'm winning games for the team."

Two of the last five starts have come against the Angels with Hamels limiting them to a run and four hits over six innings in a 4-1 win in Los Angeles on April 9. He also tossed a three-hitter against them in a 9-2 victory Oct. 4 to close out 2015.

Andrelton Simmons (2 for 21), Albert Pujols (5 for 30 with three homers), Yunel Escobar (6 for 30), C.J. Cron (0 for 6) and Johnny Giavotella (0 for 5) haven't figured him out.

The early-April win came over Richards (1-3, 2.35), but the right-hander has since improved despite control issues. He gave up four runs - two earned - and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings of that loss after an equally unimpressive opener but has gone 1-1 with a 1.42 ERA in his three subsequent starts.

The victory was a 6-1 home win over Kansas City on Monday in which he gave up an unearned run and three hits in 6 2/3 innings. The problem is he's walked nine in his last two starts.

"Tonight was just a little bit shaky," Richards said. "Effectively wild, I guess."

Since the start of 2014, he's gone 7-2 with a 2.41 ERA in nine starts against the Rangers. Fielder is 9 for 23 against him, but Odor is 1 for 20 with eight strikeouts.

Richards might need to shine if the Angels can't find some run production on the road. Over a 1-4 away span, they've scored eight runs and are batting .206.

Pujols homered Saturday but hit .176 in April for his worst career month.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Astros (7-17) at Athletics (13-12)

Game: 3
Venue: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Date: May 01, 2016 4:05 PM EDT

The Houston Astros' continued struggles have allowed the Oakland Athletics to rebound from their own extended rough stretch.

With Rich Hill aiming to win a third straight start, the A's can add to the Astros' misery by completing the three-game sweep Sunday.

Less than 24 hours after Yonder Alonso's game-ending three-run homer gave Oakland (13-12) a 7-4 victory, Jesse Hahn threw 6 2/3-innings of three-hit ball in Saturday's 2-0 win. Prior to the series, the A's dropped five of six after winning six in a row.

"It's been a team effort (in the two games) of this series so far," said outfielder Billy Burns, whose two-run single in the second was the difference Saturday.

"We've just come together as a team."

Houston (7-17), meanwhile, is trying to remain positive amid the tough beginning to a season where it's expected to contend for the AL pennant.

"Like any team, you're going to have peaks and valleys," manager A.J. Hinch told MLB's official website. "Guys get frustrated. We've played OK, but this is a results-oriented game, and we have to play better. We have to focus on how we play."

The A's have held Houston to 11 hits in the series, four of which came Saturday while being shut out for the first time in 2016.

Hahn's effort was a welcome sight for Oakland after its previous three starters posted a combined 12.66 ERA. Those poor outings followed another strong performance from Hill (3-2, 2.42 ERA), who gave up four hits and struck out eight without a walk in seven scoreless innings of Tuesday's 5-1 victory at Detroit.

'He's really unpredictable in what he's throwing,' said manager Bob Melvin of Hill, who has allowed one earned run, seven hits and fanned 18 over 13 innings of his last two starts. 'Sometimes even the pitches that he throws back to back are a little bit different in how they move.'

Hill, who last won three consecutive starts for the Chicago Cubs in 2007, hasn't started a game against Houston since 2008.

The left-hander will be opposed by Doug Fister (1-3, 5.56), who is looking to avoid a fourth straight losing start after receiving two runs of support while on the mound in the last three. The right-hander didn't help his cause Monday when he gave up three runs, two homers and walked a career-high seven over six innings of a 3-2 loss at Seattle.

"I felt like I made a lot of quality pitches that were somewhere near the zone, but unfortunately put too many men on base and got in some bad counts and made some mistakes and got behind," Fister said.

"I feel like I've still got a lot of stamina and I've got to go out there and do a better job."

Fister is 5-6 with a 3.58 ERA in 13 regular-season starts against the A's, but last faced them in May 2014.

He's never opposed Burns, who has hit safely in 12 of 13 games and is batting .389 with seven RBIs in his last nine against the Astros.

Houston's Jose Altuve, who has never faced Hill, is 2 for 20 in the last five games at Oakland.

Teammate Carlos Gomez will sit a second straight game with a rib injury suffered Friday.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Padres (9-15) at Dodgers (12-13)

Game: 3
Venue: Dodger Stadium
Date: May 01, 2016 4:10 PM EDT

The Los Angeles Dodgers last dropped seven straight home games in 1993.

Never in the storied history of this franchise, has it gone winless on a homestand of at least five games.

The reeling Dodgers hope Clayton Kershaw can help prevent both from happening Sunday when he tries to continue his recent dominance of the San Diego Padres.

Whether it's the 11 runs scored on this home stretch or the 15 allowed in the last three, Los Angeles (12-13) certainly has its issues while sitting one historic defeat away from going without a victory on this seven-game stay at Chavez Ravine.

'These are our guys, and I believe in them. I know they're going to come out of it,' manager Dave Roberts said. "They're still confident and they're trying their tails off, so you've got to stick with them.'

The Dodgers certainly won't panic since they're tied for first in the weak NL West.

"I think if you had asked any one of us before the season started if we'd be happy in first place with record notwithstanding, I think we'd all sign up for that," Roberts told MLB's official website.

Still, the Dodgers hardly resemble the club that outscored San Diego 25-0 in the first three games of the season. They've batted .175, recorded 33 hits and gone 2 for 36 with runners in scoring position on a homestand.

"It's going to turn," Roberts said. "I'm not going to put too much weight into six days of not hitting."

Los Angeles should feel confident knowing Kershaw (2-1, 2.43 ERA) will likely keep things close while trying to rebound from his first defeat. The left-hander allowed five earned runs in his first four starts, but matched that total in the sixth of seven innings he lasted in Tuesday's 6-3 loss to Miami.

The big blow was a three-run homer from Giancarlo Stanton.

'That's a tough one to let get away,' Kershaw said. 'We had a 3-0 lead and my job is to keep it and I didn't do my job.

"Got to do a better job limiting the damage."

He's allowed only seven earned runs, 25 hits and struck out 75 with 13 walks in 55 1/3 innings while going 5-0 in his last eight starts against the Padres (9-15) - all Los Angeles victories. He yielded one hit and fanned nine in seven innings of a 15-0 rout at San Diego on April 4.

Matt Kemp is 2 for 8 with four strikeouts against his former Dodgers teammate, but 11 for 30 in seven games. He has six RBIs in the last three.

Wil Myers is 0 for 11 with six strikeouts against Kershaw, but batting .370 with 10 RBIs in the last 13 contests.

San Diego, which dropped five in a row prior to this set, last swept a series at Dodger Stadium in 2013.

Drew Pomeranz (2-2, 2.86) has looked fairly solid to begin his San Diego tenure, but lasted 4 1/3 innings while giving up four runs, seven hits and three walks in a 5-4 loss at San Francisco on Monday.

"I wasn't going after them like I had been the past few games,' said Pomeranz, who has struck out 31 in 22 innings. 'I got into a lot of bad counts and that drove my pitch count up.'

The left-hander faced the Dodgers in relief twice last season with Oakland, but last started against them in 2013.

Adrian Gonzalez is 3 for 7 with a double against Pomeranz, but 0 for 17 with four walks and seven strikeouts on the homestand. He was 10 for 23 with two homers and seven RBIs on Los Angeles' 4-2 trip that preceded the stay.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rockies (11-12) at Diamondbacks (12-14)

Game: 3
Venue: Chase Field
Date: May 01, 2016 4:10 PM EDT

Shelby Miller has had a bizarre start to his tenure with the Arizona Diamondbacks, but he's feeling optimistic despite another uneven performance his last time out.

Still seeking his first victory, the right-hander might not find the going easier against a Colorado Rockies team that has knocked him around in recent meetings.

Trevor Story and the Rockies look to continue their hot hitting Sunday when they chase a fifth win in six visits this season and first sweep at Chase Field in 12 years.

Miller was expected to be a key member of Arizona's revamped rotation after he was acquired in a five-player deal in December. The right-hander, however, has struggled to regain the form that led him to a 3.02 ERA and an All-Star appearance last year.

He left after 1 2/3 innings at San Diego on April 16 because he injured his hand while scraping it on the mound during his follow through. He then insisted that wasn't the reason why he lasted just two innings in a 6-2 win at San Francisco on April 21.

Though he allowed five runs and walked four over five innings in Tuesday's 8-2 loss to St. Louis, Miller and manager Chip Hale both believe he's close to getting on track.

"It was definitely a step forward from what he was dealing with," Hale said. "The ball was coming out of his hand free and easy. His cutter was good."

Miller (0-2, 8.69 ERA) hopes to keep making strides as Arizona looks to avoid its third straight loss and seventh in 10 games on a homestand that concludes Sunday.

That could be difficult against a Colorado team averaged 6.8 runs and batted .308 in the first five meetings and will try for its first sweep at Arizona since 2004.

"The truth of the matter is they're outplaying us," Hale said. "We have to come back tomorrow and try to salvage one of these games before the long road trip."

Story wasn't able to break Jose Abreu's rookie record with an 11th April home run, but he still had a triple, double and three RBIs in Saturday's 5-2 victory. Carlos Gonzalez added three hits, while Charlie Blackmon and Nolan Arenado had two apiece.

Story is 8 for 23 with five home runs and 12 RBIs in the series. Gonzalez is 12 for 29 with four homers and 10 RBIs in a seven-game hitting streak versus Arizona (12-14).

"The kid (Story) keeps doing it," manager Walt Weiss said.

Miller is 0-2 with a 7.64 ERA in his last three meetings with Colorado (11-12). He allowed six runs and three homers over six innings in an 11-6 home victory April 5.

Story, Nick Hundley and DJ LeMahieu took Miller deep in that contest. LeMahieu is 5 for 11 and Hundley 4 for 9 lifetime off him, though Arenado has gone 1 for 12.

Right-hander Chad Bettis (2-1, 3.77) will try to rebound from his first loss after allowing four runs over 6 2/3 innings in Monday's 6-1 home defeat versus Pittsburgh.

"You take what you can, learn from it and move on," he told MLB's official website.

Bettis gave up five runs over 5 1/3 innings versus the Diamondbacks on April 5. Star slugger Paul Goldschmidt homered off him and is 4 for 9 all-time in the matchup.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Royals (12-11) at Mariners (13-10)

Game: 3
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: May 01, 2016 4:10 PM EDT

With the Kansas City Royals in danger of their longest losing streak of the last three seasons, the first step in avoiding it is scoring a run.

The defending World Series champions look to avoid a winless trip and put an end to a 26-inning scoreless drought in Sunday's series finale with the red-hot Seattle Mariners.

Kansas City (12-11) is mired in a five-game skid after dropping three to the Los Angeles Angels and the first two to Seattle (13-10) on this six-game road swing. The Royals haven't dropped six in a row since losing seven straight Aug. 17-24, 2013.

The most surprising aspect of Kansas City's latest slump is a lineup suddenly incapable of scoring, getting shut out in Seattle 1-0 on Friday and 6-0 on Saturday - stretching its road skid to seven games.

The Royals haven't scored since the first inning of Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Angels and have totaled seven runs in their last five games, dropping their season average to 3.35.

Their 26-inning drought is tied for the fourth longest in franchise history and is six shy of the record set by the 2004 club, which included the franchise's only shutout streak of three games. Kansas City was last shut out in back-to-back contests Sept. 24-25, 2013 - also in Seattle.

Mike Moustakas went 2 for 4 with a double Saturday, but the rest of the lineup combined for just three singles. Eric Hosmer's league-leading 18-game hitting streak came to a close.

"I've been through this a hundred times," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "You just keep fighting to get out of it. You know our energy is good, the guys are fighting in the dugout, they're engaged. We've been through it. You fight through it."

To end their struggles, the Royals will have to figure out 23-year-old Taijuan Walker. The right-hander is off to a hot start and will try to lift the Mariners to their third straight win and 12th in 16 games, which would include victories in six of seven at Safeco Field.

Seattle is fresh off its first winning April since going 13-9 in 2009.

Walker (2-0, 1.44) matched a career high with 11 strikeouts in Monday's 3-2 win over Houston, including the final six he faced. He surrendered six hits and one run in seven innings while walking one, lowering his WHIP to 0.96.

"We've really seen that he has the ability to turn the dial up," manager Scott Servais told MLB's official website. "Later in games there's plenty in the tank. The adrenaline gets flowing, he gets a little emotional and he gets after it. He doesn't back off. He believes in himself and we certainly believe in him."

Seattle starters have tossed scoreless outings in three of the last five games, capped by Wade Miley's five-hitter Saturday.

Meanwhile, Kansas City's staff hasn't made it out of the sixth in the last four games and has a 7.71 ERA during its losing streak. Sunday starter Ian Kennedy started that slump, coughing up seven hits and five runs in six innings of Monday's 6-1 loss at Los Angeles.

Kennedy (2-2, 2.77) walked four batters and served up two home runs while striking out a season-low two.

The right-hander didn't fare well in last year's two starts against the Mariners, losing both while with San Diego. He totaled just 9 2/3 innings while allowing 12 hits and nine runs - six earned.

Seattle third baseman Kyle Seager, who homered Saturday, hit one of the Mariners' four home runs off Kennedy last season. Seth Smith, whose homer on Friday was Seattle's only hit, also hit one out Saturday and is 7 for 24 lifetime against Kennedy with four doubles, a home run and three RBIs.

Seattle has homered in nine straight games, totaling 15 in the stretch.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Yankees (8-14) at Red Sox (14-10)

Game: 3
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: May 01, 2016 8:05 PM EDT

It's not surprising David Price has won three of his first five starts with the Boston Red Sox. It is that the other two haven't stuck him with losses. The run support he got after being traded to Toronto at the deadline last season was immense, but the Red Sox are making him feel even more at home.

Next up is his first start as part of the rivalry with the New York Yankees Sunday night at Fenway Park as the Red Sox attempt a three-game sweep.

Price (3-0, 5.76 ERA) doesn't have the ERA to match his record, but the victories have been legit with a 2.57 mark, .218 opponent batting average, and 33 strikeouts in 21 innings. Breaking those wins up, however, are two no-decisions in Boston losses amounting to a 13.50 ERA and .333 OBA.

The latest was on the good side with the left-hander turning in his best start of April with two runs and six hits allowed and 14 strikeouts in eight innings of Tuesday's 11-4 win in Atlanta.

"That's as crisp and as sharp as we've seen David this year," manager John Farrell told MLB's official website.

While the lineup kept producing for him - his 8.80 RSA is up from the 8.60 mark he had in 11 starts with the Blue Jays - he was just happy to pitch beyond the seventh.

"I want to get 27 outs every five days," said Price, who now needs to level out at home, where he's gone 1-0 with an 8.62 ERA in three starts. "Twenty-four is good."

The AL East veteran has seen plenty of the Yankees, and after giving up a combined 16 runs in 4 1/3 innings of his last 2014 and first '15 start against them, he's gone 3-0 with a 1.71 ERA in his last four. Brian McCann is 10 for 29 (.345) with three home runs, but Price has held Mark Teixeira to 13 for 64 (.203) and Alex Rodriguez is 14 of 59 (.237) with 24 strikeouts.

After Saturday's 8-0 win, the Red Sox (14-10) have won six of seven overall and five of six against New York dating to last season. The Yankees (8-14) are on their second four-game losing streak of the young year.

Boston has enjoyed an 8-3 span with plenty of offense, scoring 6.09 runs per game and batting .312 with David Ortiz homering in both games of the series and hitting .423 in his last seven. No. 9 hitter Jackie Bradley Jr. had two triples, a double and three RBIs to bump his average on a seven-game hitting streak to .370 with nine RBIs.

"Obviously Jackie is swinging a very good bat right now," Farrell said. "David with a big swing to stretch it to 5-0. We did a number of things well in this game tonight."

New York's has been limited to nine runs with a .208 average over a 1-5 skid. Jacoby Ellsbury is 1 for 14 in his last four, while fellow table-setter Brett Gardner is 3 for 23 in his last six.

"It's frustrating," Gardner said. "I feel like we have a good team, a good offensive unit. ... Right now, things obviously are going more wrong than right."

The Yankees send Nathan Eovaldi to the mound. The right-hander is also coming off his best start after holding Texas to two hits over seven scoreless innings in last Sunday's 3-1 road win.

"I feel like I've gotten better each outing," Eovaldi (1-2, 4.38) said. "For it all to come together tonight, it was nice."

Eovaldi has won both of his starts in Boston with a 3.86 ERA, and he's lucky to have Pablo Sandoval's 13-for-20 career mark against him on the disabled list. Hanley Ramirez is 5 for 13, but Xander Bogaerts is 1 for 8.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MLB

Sunday's games

National League games
Braves @ Cubs
Teheran is 0-3, 5.40 in his last four starts (over 3-1-1 in starts this year).

Lackey is 3-1, 4.97 in four starts this starts; Cubs scored 33 runs for him. Three of the four games went over. .

Braves lost nine of their last ten games; five of their last seven road games went over the total. Cubs won six of last seven games; over is 5-2-1 in their last eight games. .

Reds @ Pirates
Adleman is making his MLB debut; he is 2-0, 4.24 in three AAA starts.

Locke is 1-2, 4.24 in his last three starts (over 2-2).

Reds are 1-10 on the road; their last four games stayed under. Pirates are 10-3 in their last 12 games; over is 11-5 in their last 16 games.

Giants @ Mets
Bumgarner is 1-1, 9.00 in two road starts this year (over 3-2).

Syndergaard is 2-0, 169 in four starts this year (over 2-2)

Giants lost six of their last seven road games; eight of their last nine overall went over total. Mets won their last eight games; over is 7-3 in their last ten games.

Marlins @ Brewers
Koehler is 2-0, 3.60 in his last two starts (over 2-2).

Peralta is 1-3, 8.14 in five starts this year (over 4-1).

Marlins won their last seven games; over is 6-2-1 in their last nine games. Milwaukee lost six of its last seven games; over is 5-1-2 in their last eight games.

Nationals @ Cardinals
Scherzer is 1-1, 3.79 in three road starts (over 3-1-1).

Martinez is 4-0, 1.93 in four starts this year (over 4-0); Cardinals scored 39 runs in his four starts.

Washington lost three of last five games; under is 4-1-2 in its last seven road games. Cardinals lost their last three games (over 6-0-1 in last seven).

Rockies @ Diamondbacks
Bettis is 2-1, 3.16 in his last four starts, three of which stayed under.

Miller is 0-2, 8.69 in five starts this year (over 5-0).

Colorado lost seven of its last ten games; seven of its last nine road games stayed under. Arizona is just 4-11 at home- six of their last nine games went over the total

Padres @ Dodgers
Pomeranz is 2-2, 3.63 in four starts this year (over 3-1).

Kershaw is 2-1, 2.68 in five starts this year (over 3-2). .

Dodgers lost seven of last eight home games; under is 8-3-1 in their home games. San Diego lost five of last seven games; over is 9-4 in their last 13 games.


American League games

White Sox @ Orioles
Sale is 5-0, 1.89 in five starts this season (over 2-2-1).

Jimenez is 0-2, 5.06 in his last three starts (under 4-0 this year)

Orioles are 9-2 at home- eight of their last 12 games stayed under the total. Chicago won nine of its last 12 games; five of their last six road games went over.

Bronx @ Red Sox
Eovaldi is 1-1, 2.63 in two road starts; his last three starts overall stayed under.

Price is 1-0, 8.62 in three Fenway starts (over 4-1 this year).

Bronx lost eight of its last 11 games; under is 9-4 in their last 13. Red Sox won eight of their last nine games; eight of their last 11 games stayed under the total.

Blue Jays @ Rays
Stroman is 2-0, 3.74 in his last three starts (over 3-2).

Odorizzi is 1-0, 3.38 in his last three starts (under 4-1).

Toronto lost seven of its last ten games; their last 11 road games stayed under total. Tampa Bay won five of last seven home games; under is 12-1 in its last 13 games at the Trop.

Angels @ Rangers
Richards is 1-1, 2.37 in his last three starts; his last four starts stayed under.

Hamels is 4-0, 2.52 in four starts this season (under 3-1).

Angels lost four of their last five road games; under is 10-2-1 in their last 13. Texas won eight of its last nine home games; seven of their last eight games overall stayed under the total.

Tigers @ Twins
Former Twin Pelfrey is 0-4, 7.08 in four starts this year; his last three starts stayed under the total.

Nolasco is 1-0, 3.25 in four starts this month; his last three starts went over total. .

Detroit won five of its last six games; six of their last eight games went over total. Minnesota lost six of its last seven games; over is 8-3 in their last eleven.

Astros @ A's
Fister is 0-3, 5.60 in his last three starts (under 2-1-1).

Hill is 3-1, 2.31 in his last four starts (under 3-1-1), but is 0-2, 9.00 at home.

Houston lost eight of its last nine road games; over is 10-4 in its road tilts. Oakland won its last four home games; under is 7-3 in its last ten games in Coliseum.

Royals @ Mariners
Kennedy is 2-2, 2.77 in four starts this year (under 3-0-1). .

Walker is 2-0, 1.80 in four starts this year (under 4-0).

Royals lost their last seven road games; eight of their last ten games overall stayed under the total. Mariners won eight of their last ten home games;under is 10-4 in their last fourteen games overall.


Interleague

Indians @ Phillies
Salazar is 2-1, 2.35 in four starts this year (under 4-0).

Velasquez is 3-1, 2.84 in four starts this year (under 2-1-1).

Cleveland lost four of its last five games; under is 7-4 in its last eleven road games. Phillies won eight of last nine games; their last four games all stayed under.


Teams won-lost records when this pitcher starts:

Atl-Chi-- Teheran 0-5; Lackey 3-1
Cin-Pitt--Adleman 0-0; Locke 1-3
SF-NY-- Bumgarner 2-3; Syndergaard 3-1
Mia-Mil-- Koehler 2-2; Peralta 2-3
Wsh-StL-- Scherzer 3-2; Martinez 4-0
Col-Az-- Bettis 2-3; Miller 2-3
SD-LA-- Pomeranz 2-2; Kershaw 4-1

Chi-Balt-- Sale 5-0; Jimenez 2-2
NY-Bos-- Eovaldi 2-2; Price 3-2
Tor-TB-- Stroman 3-2; Odorizzi 3-2
LA-Tex-- Richards 1-4; Hamels 4-0
Det-Min-- Pelfrey 0-4; Nolasco 3-1
Hst-A's-- Fister 1-3; Hill 3-2
KC-Sea-- Kennedy 2-2; Walker 3-1

Clev-Phil-- Salazar 2-2; Velasquez 3-2


Starting pitchers allowing 1+ runs in first inning:

Atl-Chi-- Teheran 0-5; Lackey 3-1
Cin-Pitt--Adleman 0-0; Locke 0-4
SF-NY-- Bumgarner 2-5; Syndergaard 0-4
Mia-Mil-- Koehler 3-4; Peralta 2-5
Wsh-StL-- Scherzer 4-5; Martinez 0-4
Col-Az-- Bettis 1-5; Miller 0-5
SD-LA-- Pomeranz 0-4; Kershaw 1-5

Chi-Balt-- Sale 0-5; Jimenez 1-4
NY-Bos-- Eovaldi 0-4; Price 3-5
Tor-TB-- Stroman 1-5; Odorizzi 1-5
LA-Tex-- Richards 3-5; Hamels 2-4
Det-Min-- Pelfrey 3-4; Nolasco 2-2
Hst-A's-- Fister 1-4; Hill 1-5
KC-Sea-- Kennedy 1-4; Walker 0-4

Clev-Phil-- Salazar 0-4; Velasquez 2-5


Umpires

Wsh-StL-- Five of last seven Eddings games stayed under the total.
Atl-Chi-- Five of last six Reynolds games stayed under.
SF-NY-- Five of last seven Kulpa games stayed under.
Cin-Pitt-- Under is 6-2-1 in last nine Little games.
Mia-Mil-- Five of last seven Danley games went over total.
Col-Az-- Three of last four Baker games went over the total.
SD-LA-- Three of last four Foster games stayed under the total.

Det-Min-- Four of last six Gorman games went over the total.
Hst-A's-- Last four Tichenor games stayed under the total.
Tor-TB-- Three of last four Hallion games went over
Chi-Balt-- All five Davis games this year stayed under the total.
NY-Bos-- Four of last five Porter games went over the total.
LA-Tex-- Eight of last nine Scott games went over the total.
KC-Sea-- Eight of last eleven Reyburn games stayed under.

Cle-Phil-- Under is 4-0-1 in last five Vanover games

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

'Sunday Night Baseball'

NY Yankees at Boston Red Sox May 1, 8:00 EST

The never-lacking-for-hype rivalry between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox continues at Fenway Park Sunday night. Oddsmakers have opened Boston -$1.45 to -$1.60 home favorites depending on locale.

Lefty David Price, coming off a 14-strikeout gem against the Braves makes his first start in the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry. Price is 13-7 with a 4.04 ERA lifetime against New York. On the other mound, hard-throwing Nathan Eovaldi no-hitting Rangers for six innings last time out gets the call for New York. Eovaldi is 2-1 career vs Red Sox allowing 22 hits, 8 runs over 17 innings of work with both victories here at Fenway.

The presence of David Price on the mound bodes well for Red Sox chances, since the Yankees have 3 wins, 7 losses this season vs a left-handed starter platting just 2.7 runs/game. Matching those ugly numbers, Yankees have a 1-6 skid last seven in hostile territory vs a left-handed starter. Additionally, the Yankees are just 2-8 way vs a division opponent.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Sunday's six-pack

-- SEC had the most players drafted (50) this week, followed by the Big 14 (48), Pac 12 (32) and ACC (26). 26 non-Division I players were also drafted.

-- Ohio State had most players (12) drafted, followed by Clemson (9).

-- 107 kids left school early for the draft; 30 of them were not drafted.

-- Florida State had only two players drafted; in the previous three drafts, they had 29 players selected.

-- Over last five years, Stanford had 24 kids drafted, most of any Pac-12 school.

-- Brian Hoyer signed on as a backup QB with the Chicago Bears.