Cnotes Best Bets For Friday May 1st - MLB - NBA -NHL !

MLB MONEYLINES


MLB > (975) DETROIT@ (976) KANSAS CITY | 05/01/2015 - 08:10 PM
Play AGAINST KANSAS CITY using the money line in Home games in May games
The record is 8 Wins and 21 Losses for the last three seasons (-18.75 units)

MLB > (965) TAMPA BAY@ (966) BALTIMORE | 05/01/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play ON BALTIMORE using the money line in Home games in night games
The record is 46 Wins and 20 Losses for the last two seasons (+24.1 units)

MLB > (969) NY YANKEES@ (970) BOSTON | 05/01/2015 - 07:10 PM
Play AGAINST BOSTON using the money line in All games at home with a money line of -100 to -125
The record is 7 Wins and 19 Losses for the last two seasons (-15.15 units)


MLB RUNLINE


MLB > (961) ARIZONA@ (962) LA DODGERS | 05/01/2015 - 10:10 PM
Play ON LA DODGERS using the in Home games vs. right-handed starters
The record is 9 Wins and 1 Losses for the this season (+9.8 units)


MLB > (975) DETROIT@ (976) KANSAS CITY | 05/01/2015 - 08:10 PM
Play AGAINST KANSAS CITY using the in Home games in May games
The record is 5 Wins and 24 Losses for the last three seasons (-20.6 units)


MLB TOTALS


MLB > (971) OAKLAND@ (972) TEXAS | 05/01/2015 - 08:05 PM
Play OVER OAKLAND on the total in All games against division opponents
The record is 15 Overs and 4 Unders for the this season (+11.2 units)


MLB > (961) ARIZONA@ (962) LA DODGERS | 05/01/2015 - 10:10 PM
Play OVER LA DODGERS on the total in Home games after a win
The record is 37 Overs and 17 Unders for the last two seasons (+20.45 units)


MLB TOP POWERLINE


MLB > (951) MILWAUKEE @ (952) CHICAGO CUBS | 05/01/2015 - 02:20 PM
Line: CHICAGO CUBS -170 BTB PowerLine: CHICAGO CUBS -194
Edge On: CHICAGO CUBS (24)


MLB > (965) TAMPA BAY @ (966) BALTIMORE | 05/01/2015 - 07:05 PM
Line: BALTIMORE +105 BTB PowerLine: BALTIMORE -143
Edge On: BALTIMORE (48)


MLB > (967) TORONTO @ (968) CLEVELAND | 05/01/2015 - 07:05 PM
Line: CLEVELAND -130 BTB PowerLine: CLEVELAND 130
Edge On: CLEVELAND (40)


MLB > (971) OAKLAND @ (972) TEXAS | 05/01/2015 - 08:05 PM
Line: TEXAS +115 BTB PowerLine: TEXAS 134
Edge On: TEXAS (19)


MLB > (959) PITTSBURGH @ (960) ST LOUIS | 05/01/2015 - 08:15 PM
Line: ST LOUIS -140 BTB PowerLine: ST LOUIS -120
Edge On: ST LOUIS (20)


MLB > (963) COLORADO @ (964) SAN DIEGO | 05/01/2015 - 10:10 PM
Line: SAN DIEGO -150 BTB PowerLine: SAN DIEGO 113
Edge On: SAN DIEGO (43)


MLB > (961) ARIZONA @ (962) LA DODGERS | 05/01/2015 - 10:10 PM
Line: LA DODGERS -150 BTB PowerLine: LA DODGERS -132
Edge On: LA DODGERS (18)


MLB > (979) LA ANGELS @ (980) SAN FRANCISCO | 05/01/2015 - 10:15 PM
Line: SAN FRANCISCO -118 BTB PowerLine: SAN FRANCISCO -102
Edge On: SAN FRANCISCO (16)

NBA ATS


NBA > (537) ATLANTA@ (538) BROOKLYN | 05/01/2015 - 08:05 PM
Play ON ATLANTA using the against the spread in All games in a road game where where the total is between 200 and 204.5 points
The record is 10 Wins and 1 Losses for the this season (+8.9 units)


NBA MONEYLINE


NBA > (537) ATLANTA@ (538) BROOKLYN | 05/01/2015 - 08:05 PM
Play ON ATLANTA using the money line in All games in a road game where where the total is between 200 and 204.5 points
The record is 10 Wins and 2 Losses for the this season (+9.5 units)


NBA FIRST HALF
NBA > (537) ATLANTA@ (538) BROOKLYN | 05/01/2015 - 08:05 PM
Play ON ATLANTA in the first half in Road games after scoring 105 points or more
The record is 30 Wins and 10 Losses for the last three seasons (+19 units)


NBA TOTALS


NBA > (537) ATLANTA@ (538) BROOKLYN | 05/01/2015 - 08:05 PM
Play UNDER ATLANTA on the total in All games versus the first half line in all games
The record is 30 Overs and 56 Unders for the this season (+23 units)


NBA TOP POWERLINE


NBA > (537) ATLANTA @ (538) BROOKLYN | 05/01/2015 - 08:05 PM
Line: BROOKLYN 3.5 BTB PowerLine: BROOKLYN 1
Edge On: BROOKLYN (2.5)

Game 6 - Hawks at Nets


April 30, 2015


The Atlanta Hawks will go for the kill shot Friday night at Barclays Arena in Brooklyn, where the Nets will take on the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed in Game 6 of a best-of-seven first-round series.


As of early Thursday afternoon, most betting shops had Atlanta (63-24 straight up, 51-34-2 against the spread) installed as a four-point favorite with a total of 200.5 points. Gamblers can back the Nets on the money line for a +155 return (risk $100 to win $155).


The adjusted series price at Sportsbook.ag has Atlanta at -1500. The Nets are +900 on the comeback (risk $100 to win $900).


Mike Budenholzer's club won Game 5 by a 107-97 count to hook up its backers as a nine-point home favorite. The Hawks covered the number for first-quarter bets (-3) and first-half wagers (-5 or -5.5). They raced out to a 33-16 lead at the end of the opening quarter and led 53-44 at intermission.


Alan Anderson got Brooklyn (40-47 SU, 43-42-2 ATS) back in the game in the second quarter, making any and every shot he launched. Anderson would score all of his 23 points in the first three quarters, draining 9-of-11 shots from the field and all four of his attempts from 3-point range.


Although Atlanta led the entire game and took a 12-point advantage into the fourth quarter, there were plenty of anxious moments inside Philips Arena at crunch time. Jarrett Jack, the veteran reserve point guard who has had a sensational series and enjoyed an incredible collegiate career at Ga. Tech in Midtown Atlanta, sparked the Nets in the fourth as they closed the gap.


Jack scored 12 of his 18 points in the final quarter. His layup with 4:40 remaining sliced the deficit to 90-89. Atlanta promptly built the lead back to six, but back-to-back 3-pointers from Joe Johnson made it 97-95 with 2:11 left.


But the Hawks finished the game on a 10-2 run to pull out a fortunate spread cover for its backers. Jeff Teague was huge in the clutch, scoring six points in the last 1:07. Al Horford also came up big, draining an 18-footer to build the lead back to four after Johnson's treys.


Teague finished with 20 points, eight assists and three steals. Meanwhile, Horford became just the third Hawk (Josh Smith and Moses Malone were the others) in 30 years to score 20 points, grab 15 rebounds and dish out five assists in a postseason game.


DeMarre Carroll paced the winners with 24 points, seven boards and three assists without a turnover. Kyle Korver added 17 points after burying 5-of-12 from downtown.


Deron Williams played poorly in the first three games of the series and the NYC media was all over him. The former All-Star point guard returned to old-school form in the Game 4 overtime win, carrying his team back from an eight-point fourth-quarter deficit to force the extra session. Williams would match his career postseason high with 35 points but in Game 5, he had only five points on 2-of-8 shooting.


Brooklyn has struggled for our purposes at home this season, limping to an 18-23-2 spread record. However, the Nets won outright over the Hawks in Games 3 and 4. In fact, they covered the number in the first four games of the series and Game 5 was a heartbreaker for their gambling supporters.


How have the Nets, who finished the regular season eight games under .500, been able to play such a competitive series? VI's Chris David credits Brooklyn coach Lionel Hollins for a lot of it.


David said, "The one factor that could have me leaning to the Nets is coaching. I’m well aware that Atlanta's Budenholzer is this year’s top coach but Lionel Hollins is a solid veteran and seriously underrated. He owns a 20-20 record in the playoffs over seven series, which includes this matchup against the Hawks.


"When Hollins was the coach at Memphis, he produced a 3-3 record in six series and outside of one sweep in the 2013 Western Conference Finals to the Spurs, the other losses for the Grizzlies both ended in seven games. In those two series that Memphis came up short, Hollins and company faced 3-2 deficits and they forced Game 7’s each time and you can certainly argue against better teams, too – Clippers (2012) and Thunder (2011)."


Teague briefly left Game 5 after turning his ankle. He went back to the locker room to get a fresh tape job and was obviously fine with his heroics in the final minute. Teague, the Wake Forest product who made his first All-Star Game this year along with Korver, is 'probable' on the injury report.


The 'over' is 44-43 overall for Atlanta, 23-20 in its road assignments.


The 'under' is 48-39 overall for Brooklyn, 22-21 in its home outings.


The 'under' cashed in the first three games of the series, but the 'over' has now hit in back-to-back contests. The 204 combined points in Game 5 slipped 'over' the 200-point tally.


David is bullish on the 'under' in Game 6. He said, "The line is holding steady. What that tells me is that the books know they’ve been putting up solid lines but late free throws and a 27-point overtime have helped the recent outcomes. If Brooklyn has any chance to win this game, it needs to play better defense and slow the game down. Neither team gets to the free throw line often and barring a ton of late whistles or an extra session, I doubt the winner breaks 100 points on Friday."


ESPN will have the telecast at 8:05 p.m. Eastern.

Nets try to take Hawks to seven games


April 30, 2015


NEW YORK (AP) - They were separated by 22 victories in the regular season and a mere nine points so far in the playoffs.


The Atlanta Hawks, on cruise control over the final weeks of the season, and Brooklyn Nets, who didn't even have a postseason spot until after their final game, have delivered one of the closest, most competitive series of the first round.


Now Brooklyn will try to extend it.


The Nets, who have never lost a Game 6 in the first round, host the Hawks on Friday in the only game on the NBA schedule.


''I think that this has been a thrilling series, and we hold serve at home and extend it to a seventh game and anything can happen,'' Nets coach Lionel Hollins said.


Atlanta won the first two, before the Nets answered with two victories at home and nearly rallied from a big early deficit in falling 107-97 in Game 5 on Wednesday. Showing a fighting spirit that was often absent during a 38-44 regular season, Brooklyn can push the East's No. 1 seed to a seventh game - just as the Hawks did last year when they were the No. 8 and took Indiana to the limit.


This time, the Hawks were the class of the conference after finishing 60-22. They beat the Nets four times in the regular season but have outscored Brooklyn just 500-491 in the playoffs. Atlanta outscored them by 69 (17.3 per game) in the season series sweep.


''You never underestimate any team,'' Hawks center Al Horford said. ''There's some adversity we're facing, and they're playing really good basketball. They're very confident. We just have to be able to handle that and come out and play better. They're pushing us, we're pushing them, and I feel like it's going to make us better in the end.''


A lackluster start to the playoffs has given way to a compelling second week. Only one second-round series was set entering Thursday, with top-seeded Golden State to meet No. 5 Memphis beginning Sunday in the Western Conference semifinals.


The Hawks also will play Sunday, though the opponent remains unknown. They could host No. 5 Washington, which swept Toronto in the first round, in Game 1 of the East semifinals, or face one more game against Brooklyn.


The Nets are 5-0 in Game 6 of a best-of-seven, first-round series. They fought off elimination in Game 6s the last two years, ultimately losing Game 7 to Chicago in 2013 and beating Toronto last year.


''Every game is hard and an elimination game is hard,'' Hollins said. ''It's the fourth game and it's the last one you have to win, and you have to have the right mindset and you have to go out and execute and do the same things. And the other team is a very desperate team because it's the last game if they don't win.''


A look at Friday's game:


---


Hawks at Nets, Atlanta leads 3-2, 8 p.m., ESPN


Make sure to watch the first quarter, because it's been pivotal to the series. The Hawks outscored the Nets 94-60 in Games 1, 2 and 5, while the Nets were a plus-16 in their two victories.


The Nets got big contributions off the bench in Game 5 from Alan Anderson and Jarrett Jack, who outscored Atlanta's reserves 41-16. Only Pero Antic, Dennis Schroder and Kent Bazemore played more than 10 minutes as Mike Budenholzer rode his four All-Star starters and DeMarre Carroll, who is averaging 17 points as perhaps the Hawks' most consistent player in the series.


''Our bench has been a real strength for us,'' Budenholzer said. ''I'm sure there will be an opportunity for it to be a strength again tomorrow night.''


Jack's contribution was particularly important for the Nets since starter Deron Williams was just 2 of 8 for five points after scoring 35 in Game 4.


''We've just got to come out and play better,'' Williams said of Game 6. ''We've got to get back to playing our basketball, moving the ball, sharing the ball, making extra passes, playing for each other.''

OKC reaches deal to hire UF's Donovan


April 30, 2015


GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Florida coach Billy Donovan is headed back to the NBA.


This time, he's expected to stay more than a day.


Donovan agreed Thursday to become the Oklahoma City Thunder's next coach, according to a person familiar with negotiations. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday because neither side has announced the agreement.


Donovan and Thunder general manager Sam Presti agreed to the major points of a long-term contract, the person said, and expect it to be finalized later Thursday.


Donovan replaces Scott Brooks, who was fired last week.


The 49-year-old Donovan led Florida to two national championships, four Final Fours, seven Elite Eights and 14 NCAA Tournament berths in 19 years. He signed a one-year contract extension with the Gators in December that would have paid him an average salary of $4 million through 2020.


He left Florida in 2007 to take the head coaching job with the NBA's Orlando Magic, but changed his mind the following day and returned to Gainesville.


He's not expected to have a change of heart this time around, the person said.


Though Donovan has not coached a game in the NBA, his chances at success are good. He inherits 2013-14 MVP Kevin Durant and 2014-15 scoring champion Russell Westbrook.


Presti said previously he knows he's taking a chance by replacing Brooks a year before Durant can become a free agent, but he felt the franchise could regress if a change wasn't made.


Donovan already had strong ties to the Oklahoma City franchise. Former Florida assistant Mark Daigneault was hired as Oklahoma City's D-League coach last year, while former Florida video coordinator Oliver Winterbone is a scout with the Thunder. Presti and Donovan have had a lasting relationship.


Donovan talked with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Cleveland Cavaliers about openings last season before deciding to stay at Florida. Last season, the Gators finished 16-17 and missed the postseason for the first time since 1997. Three players have already left the program in what many believed was a house cleaning.


Though it seems like an opportune time to have left Florida, the pressure will be on Donovan immediately in Oklahoma City. Brooks went 338-207 (.620) in seven seasons with the Thunder and was the 2009-10 NBA Coach of the Year. Starting in 2010-11, he led the team to the Western Conference finals three out of four years, and the franchise reached the NBA Finals in 2012.


This season, a broken right foot limited Durant to 27 games and right knee surgery kept Ibaka out for the final month of the season. Westbrook posted nine triple-doubles after the All-Star break while trying to salvage the season, but the Thunder were knocked out of the playoff race on the final night of the regular season. Durant, Westbrook and defensive stalwart Serge Ibaka spoke highly of Brooks during exit interviews.


Now, Donovan will have to prove he can coach at the NBA level, win over the fans and help Durant feel comfortable enough to re-sign.

Dogs dominate the East, Faves winning the West in NBA Playoffs betting


The differences between the NBA Eastern and Western Conferences are about as apparent as a Rick Barry granny shot compared to a Shaquille O’Neal foul-line chuck. And those differences have continued in the postseason.


Entering Thursday’s NBA playoff action, Eastern Conference favorites have gone just 6-12 ATS (10-8 SU), leaving home teams with a 7-11 ATS mark (12-6 SU). In the West, it’s almost the complete opposite with NBA playoff chalk taking care of business, going 11-7-1 ATS (14-5 SU) and Western hosts boasting a 12-6-1 ATS record (13-6 SU).


This current trend of underdogs in the East and favorites in the West goes against what many oddsmakers and sportsbook operators projected heading into the postseason. The Eastern Conference was viewed as a very top-heavy group, with a definitive gap in talent between the top and bottom teams. The Western Conference, on the other hand, was a much tighter and talent-rich group, with not much wiggle room in the standings.


Perhaps the one factor playing into this difference in conference fortunes is the average spread. With that perceived distance between the high and low seeds, the Eastern Conference has seen an average spread of 6.8 points per game. In the West, where just about any playoff team was looked at as a contender, spreads shrunk to an average of 5.5 points.


Those spreads will get tighter as basketball betting transitions into the second round in the next week.


Foul play


For NBA oddsmakers, fouls equal Overs. Teams are scoring with the clock stopped: two major things that work toward topping the total. And we’ve seen this trend in the postseason so far. Games with a lot of fouls – and typically playoff games are more physical – have leaned toward the Over, and games with fewer have stayed Under the number.


Heading into Thursday, NBA playoff games with 50 or more free-throw attempts have gone 12-4-1 Over/Under (75 percent Over) and games with fewer than 50 total foul shots have finished 5-15 Over/Under (75 percent Under).


Two of those games finished with 49 combined free throws and also went Over the total. So one more freebie in each of those contests and you’re looking at a total trend that’s paying out at a near 78 percent clip.


Round-by-Round Totals


As the NBA Playoffs transition into the conference semifinals this week, bettors should know that there’s a dynamic swing in the Over/Under frequency between rounds.


Going back to the 2006 postseason (including this year), Round 1 games have a 205-228-6 Over/Under record (17-19-1 O/U in 2015), while Round 2 has posted a 104-96-3 Over/Under count. That’s a difference between 53 percent Unders and 52 percent Overs.


This balances out in the conference finals, with Round 3 games going 52-52-0 Over/Under since 2006, and leans well Under in the NBA Finals with championship round games going 19-29-3 Over/Under over the past 10 postseason – a 60.4 percent winner for the Under.


Injury impact


Two big-name superstars went down this past week with Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love suffering a season-ending shoulder injury and Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley out indefinitely after undergoing facial surgery following an elbow to the mush.


According to Peter Korner, founder of Nevada-based odds service The Sports Club, both players are valued between 1.5 to two points to their respective teams spreads. However, Conley could be the more valuable of the two with Memphis facing Golden State in the second round.


“When it comes to Conley, you’re stepping up against two of the top guards in the league – Curry and Thompson. Conley means much more to Memphis now than Love does to the Cavaliers,” Korner tells Covers. “Without Love, you just get more of LeBron (James) and that’s trouble to whoever is guarding him.”


Memphis is a +575 series underdog against Golden State, which is priced as a -800 favorite in the conference semifinals.

Top regular season under teams meet in second round


Two of the top three under teams left in the NHL playoffs start their series Friday when thre Minnesota Wild travel to the Windy City to take on the Blackhawks. The two teams combined for a 56-81 over/under record in the regular season.


Both teams have predicated their playoff hopes on defensive hockey with the Blackhawks ranking second in defense (2.27 gpg) and the Wild sixth (2.41 gpg). Neither team has been better than average offensively though, with the teams ranking twelfth (Wild) and seventeenth ('Hawks) respectively.


Special teams also have a lean towards low scoring affairs. The teams rank in the top third of penalty kill and in the bottom third in powerplay percentage.


The current total for the Game 1 affair between the Wild and 'Hawks on Friday is 5.

Canadiens open as series faves versus Lightning


Online shop BookMaker.eu has opened the Montreal Canadiens as -115 series faves versus the Tampa Bay Lightning (-105) for their Eastern Conference matchup.


The Lightning closed out the Detroit Red Wings by a score of 2-0 in Game 7 Wednesday evening.


Tampa Bay was a perfect 5-0 in five regular season meetings with the Habs this season, outscoring them 21-8 in the process.


Here is a look at series prices at BookMaker.eu:


Calgary Flames (+205)/Anaheim Ducks (-245)
Washington Capitals (+161)/New York Rangers (-190)
Minnesota Wild (+110)/Chicago Blackhawks (-115)
Tampa Bay Lightning (-105)/Montreal Canadiens (-115)

Yankees have lost Sabathia's past seven starts


If C.C. Sabathia has been anything for the New York Yankees, it's a bad luck charm. In the large lefties past seven starts, four this season and three last season, the Yankees are winless.


Sabathia is allowing nearly four runs per outing in those past seven starts. So far on the season, Sabathia is 0-4 with a lofty 5.96 ERA.

Tillman looks to continue dominance over Rays


The Baltimore Orioles have seen the wins come easily when Chris Tillman gets the start against division-rival Tampa Bay. The O's are 4-0 in Tillman's past four starts against the Rays dating back to the start of last season.


Tillman has only surrendered five runs in those four starts and have held the Rays to just 16 hits, an average of four hits per game.

Preview: Brewers (5-17) at Cubs (12-8)
Game: 1
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: May 01, 2015 2:20 PM EDT

The Milwaukee Brewers leaned heavily on the long ball in each of their past few wins, which have been hard to come by for baseball's last-place club.


The Brewers will likely need to bring a different offensive strategy Friday against the Chicago Cubs and stingy left-hander Jon Lester.


Although their record still ranks as the worst by a National League team through 22 games since Chicago opened 4-18 in 1997, the Brewers (5-17) have won three of their last seven to somewhat turn the tide on an abysmal start.


An influx of power has spurred the success with seven home runs in the past three wins, culminating in a four-homer performance in Wednesday's 8-3 victory in Cincinnati.


"I think if anybody comes through and starts bashing the ball around and driving in runs, it's going to pick up the team," manager Ron Roenicke said.


Ryan Braun hit two in the victory, including his fourth career grand slam, Adam Lind belted his fourth of the season and Khris Davis added his first. Of Milwaukee's last 10 runs scored, nine have been driven in via homer.


"Obviously, the wins have been few and far between," Braun said. "We've been playing terribly in all facets of the game. We'll take every one we can get.


"Individually it's nice to have a good game. ... Hopefully this is something that can get me going, get us going, and get us back on the right track."


It was both a breakthrough game for Braun - whose OPS was an anemic .590 prior to Wednesday - and the Brewers' offense, which was previously tied with Philadelphia for fewest homers in the NL (11).


They'll have a harder time slugging out a victory against Lester (0-2, 6.23 ERA) considering the veteran's proven ability to keep the ball in the yard. He ranks sixth among active pitchers with 0.81 home runs allowed per nine innings and has surrendered only one through 21 2-3 innings this season.


Lester should also be at a considerable advantage as a lefty. Milwaukee is hitting .198 with no home runs in 101 at_bats against left-handers this year and averages one strikeout per 3.72 plate appearances - third-worst in baseball.


Chicago (12-8) ranks fourth-worst in that category, but will have the benefit of facing right-hander Wily Peralta (0-3, 5.04).


Peralta is 3-5 with a 3.74 ERA in nine career starts against the Cubs and had a dominant 13-strikeout outing versus Chicago on Sept. 27, allowing one run in seven innings of a 2-1 victory - his 17th and final win of 2014.


The Cubs' sole run in that defeat was driven in by Anthony Rizzo, who is 11 for 24 (.458) against Peralta in his career with five home runs and 11 RBIs.


Starlin Castro has also gone 11 for 24 against Peralta. Castro, who has a .325 average this season, is one of three Cubs with at least 20 at_bats hitting above .300, along with Rizzo (.324) and Kris Bryant (.318).


Those three went a combined 1 for 10 in an 8-1 loss to Pittsburgh on Wednesday that snapped a four-game winning streak. Still, there's little reason for concern about a Chicago offense averaging 4.45 runs - the team's most since a 97-win season in 2008.


"I think it's obvious that we've been playing really well," manager Joe Maddon said. "From what I've seen we can play with anybody I've seen so far. I feel very comfortable about that.

Preview: Rays (12-10) at Orioles (10-10)
Game: 1
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: May 01, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

After cruising to a win at Camden Yards with no fans present in their last game, the Baltimore Orioles will now play as the home team in a visiting ballpark.


The Orioles look for a fourth consecutive victory as they take on the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Friday night, when they'll bat last in each inning in what will be another bizarre on-field situation.


The silence was deafening Wednesday when Chris Davis hit a first-inning, three-run home run onto Eutaw Street in an 8-2 win over the Chicago White Sox, believed to be the first major league game played without fans.


After the first two games of the series were postponed amid the unrest in Baltimore, the contest was closed to spectators due to safety concerns following rioting sparked by Monday's funeral of Freddie Gray, a black man who died in police custody.


MLB also moved this Friday-to-Sunday series from Camden Yards to Tropicana Field. The Orioles (10-10) are making their second trip there after taking two of three to open the season.


"It's tough, everyone knows how much we like playing in front of our fans, how important baseball is to the city of Baltimore," Friday's starter Chris Tillman told MLB's official website. "It goes to show how bad this really is, that we actually have to move it. You know, better safe than sorry."


Tillman (2-2, 7.58 ERA) has alternated good and bad outings in his four starts, allowing one run apiece in two of them and seven in each of the other two. One of the rough ones came last Thursday, when he walked five and lasted 4 1-3 innings in a 7-6 loss at Toronto.


The right-hander has won three straight starts against the Rays, posting a 0.83 ERA. He'll make his second start of the season in St. Petersburg after allowing one run over 6 2-3 innings in a season-opening 6-2 win April 6.


Evan Longoria homered off Tillman in that contest and is hitting .389 with six home runs against him. James Loney and Desmond Jennings are a combined 5 for 45 in the matchup.


Jennings has not played since Saturday because of left knee soreness, but the Rays are hopeful he'll be able to return Friday. The outfielder is batting .333 during an eight-game hitting streak against Baltimore.


Loney delivered the go-ahead RBI single in the 13th inning of Wednesday's 3-2 win over the New York Yankees. Afterward, the Rays (12-10) scrambled to find a crew to fly them to Tampa in the middle of a nine-game road swing.


They'll try to take advantage of the schedule shift by notching their sixth straight victory at Tropicana.


"It's like being at your own house, but visiting," right-hander Alex Colome said of the strange circumstances.


Colome is making his season debut after dealing with a case of pneumonia. He gave up one run and two hits over 5 2-3 innings of a 5-2 road win in his only career start against Baltimore on June 27.


The Orioles have averaged 8.4 runs in their last five games. Manny Machado is 10 for 23 with three home runs in his past six, though he's 6 for 43 in his previous 12 against the Rays.


Davis has gone 6 for 15 with three homers in his last four but is 4 for 45 in his past three versus Tampa Bay.

Preview: Yankees (13-9) at Red Sox (12-10)
Game: 1
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: May 01, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

CC Sabathia isn't used to getting off to a horrendous start during an otherwise sensational career, and he won't ever be comfortable with getting booed at Yankee Stadium.


Now the left-hander will try to regroup on the road as he tries to end the longest losing streak of his career Friday night when the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox renew their rivalry at Fenway Park.


Sabathia (0-4, 5.96 ERA) has dropped his first four starts for the first time after allowing seven runs and nine hits - three home runs - in Saturday's 8-2 home loss to the New York Mets. As manager Joe Girardi went out to get him in the sixth inning, Yankees fans weren't shy about voicing their displeasure with the six-time All-Star.


"You pitch bad, you get booed," he told MLB's official website.


Sabathia was 0-3 with a 13.50 ERA in his first four starts in 2008 before finishing 17-10 with a 2.70 mark. He's hoping for a similar turnaround after going 0-6 with a 6.13 ERA over his last seven starts - the longest winless stretch of his career.


Sabathia has pitched better on the road this season. He allowed four runs over seven innings in a 4-3 loss at Baltimore on April 14 and two runs in a complete-game 2-1 loss at Detroit on April 20.


"If you were to look at the four starts, I think three of them, he's thrown the ball pretty good," Girardi said. "(Saturday), he made mistakes. He was up in the zone. So I'm going to bet on the guy in the three other starts."


Sabathia's last victory came at Fenway on April 24, 2014, when he gave up two runs and three hits over six innings in a 14-5 victory. However, he had been 2-2 with a 8.58 ERA over his previous five starts there and is 5-6 with a 6.44 ERA in his last 13 overall against the Red Sox.


The Yankees (13-9) won 10 of 12 before Wednesday's 3-2, 13-inning loss to Tampa Bay in the finale of a six-game homestand. They'll try win their fourth straight on the road while dealing Boston (12-10) its sixth defeat in nine games.


The Red Sox are hitting .284 with 11 home runs while averaging 6.0 runs over their last six games. Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz each had two hits in Wednesday's 4-1 home win over Toronto, while Hanley Ramirez hit his 10th home run to tie Ortiz for the club record before May 1.


Ramirez is hitting .441 with three homers in his last eight games against the Yankees dating to his time with Miami.


"All the work I put in in the offseason is coming through right now," Ramirez said. "I'm feeling good right now."


Although Pedroia and Ortiz went a combined 5 for 33 in the series, Boston took two of three at Yankee Stadium from April 10-12. Brock Holt (5 for 6), Daniel Nava (4 for 7) and Xander Bogaerts (7 for 16) had big series for the Red Sox.


Justin Masterson (2-0, 5.16), who did not face the Yankees then, has allowed 12 runs and 15 hits over 8 1-3 innings while dropping his last two starts versus New York.


Alex Rodriguez is 1 for 7 when facing Masterson since 2010. He's one homer shy of tying Willie Mays for fourth on the all-time home-run list, but has gone 0 for 9 with four strikeouts in his last two games.

Preview: Blue Jays (10-12) at Indians (7-13)
Game: 2
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: May 01, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

After struggling in the first two series on this 10-game trip, the Toronto Blue Jays began their final one on a positive note.


As Mark Buehrle looks to continue his success at Cleveland, the Blue Jays try to build on their latest victory Friday night against the reeling Indians.


Toronto (11-12) dropped five of the first six on the trip before Thursday's 5-1 series-opening victory. Edwin Encarnacion had two hits and Kevin Pillar added two RBIs as the Blue Jays did all their scoring in the fourth inning.


Though Toronto's offense has been inconsistent, its 122 runs lead the majors.


'Top to bottom we're a tough lineup,' said catcher Russell Martin, who had an RBI double. 'When you start getting a couple of hits in a row, guys can kind of just piggy-back off one another.'


Pillar went 0 for 10 in the first three games of the trek but is 7 for 16 with four doubles, four runs and three RBIs in the last four for a Blue Jays team that expected a better start to the season.


'That's not terrible, but still that's not good enough for us,' manager John Gibbons said.


Buehrle (3-1, 4.94 ERA) will try for a fourth straight win at Progressive Field, where he scattered four hits over seven innings of a 5-0 victory April 19 of last year in his only 2014 appearance against the Indians.


The left-hander, however, must bounce back after he allowed five runs and 13 hits - his most since yielding a career-high 15 in 2011 - in 5 2-3 innings of a 5-1 loss at Tampa Bay on Sunday. The Blue Jays scored 11 runs for Buehrle in each of his first three starts but didn't manage any with him in the game against the Rays.


Michael Brantley is 4 for 21 against Buehrle, but recorded his third game with at least three hits Thursday. Ryan Raburn also had three hits, but the Indians (7-14) stranded 10 and went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position to lose for the fifth time in six contests.


Cleveland, which posted its third straight losing record in April, is 1-8 when held to two or fewer runs.


"It's frustrating when you're in a funk, but you know you're going to come out of it,' right fielder Brandon Moss said. 'We aren't getting hits when we need them. I understand that's baseball, but it's very frustrating.'


Michael Bourn is 5 for 15 in the last four games, and 4 for 9 versus Buehrle.


Teammate Carlos Carrasco (2-2, 4.60) also looks for a better performance after he gave up five runs and nine hits in 4 1-3 innings of an 8-6 loss at Detroit on Sunday. It was the right-hander's second start since he was hit in the face by a liner against the Chicago White Sox on April 14 in his only home start.


Carrasco's only two starts against the Blue Jays came at home, where he went 0-1 with a 9.35 ERA.


Encarnacion is 5 for 13 in the last three games but 0 for 3 with two strikeouts against Carrasco.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Blue Jays at Indians
Thu, Apr 30 Final 5 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Blue Jays at Indians
Fri, May 1 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Blue Jays at Indians
Sat, May 2 - 4:10PM EDT


GAME 4
Blue Jays at Indians
Sun, May 3 - 1:10PM EDT

Preview: Phillies (8-14) at Marlins (10-12)
Game: 1
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: May 01, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

With a dazzling young core and some veteran leadership, the Miami Marlins' current hot spell is a realization of the success many envisioned heading into 2015.


An ongoing influx of offense can help the Marlins further distance themselves from last place in the NL East, a spot now owned by the offensively challenged Philadelphia Phillies as they head to Miami on Friday night.


Miami (10-12) has won seven of eight to rebound from a rough start to the season that included three losing streaks of three or more games. The Marlins have scored 5.5 runs per game over the hot stretch, up from 3.79 through April 21.


Giancarlo Stanton and Adeiny Hechavarria have paced that effort with nine RBIs and eight runs apiece over the past eight games, while Stanton has three home runs and Hechavarria is 13 for 29 (.448).


This sort of production was expected of Stanton, as evidenced by his 13-year, $325 million contract, but Hechavarria had primarily been known as a defensive standout prior to this offensive outburst.


Hechavarria hit .251 over the past two seasons while totaling 76 RBIs, but he's on pace for 118 this year and is batting .321.


"You're talking about your seven- or eight-hole guy getting better," Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill told MLB's official website. "It makes you have a deeper lineup, which ultimately will help you score more runs and win more games."


The 26-year-old is among Miami's large contingent of budding stars along with the 25-year-old Stanton. Dee Gordon (27) is hitting .409 and on pace for 58 stolen bases, Marcell Ozuna (24) is hitting .342 in his last 11 games and J.T. Realmuto (24) - Miami's No. 2 rated prospect according to MLB - has assumed full-time catching duties. Christian Yelich (23) remains sidelined with a lower back strain.


On the elder side, the Marlins have enjoyed solid production from 41-year-old Ichiro Suzuki, who hit his first home run in Wednesday's 7-3 win over the New York Mets.


"I just think he's enjoying this atmosphere," manager Mike Redmond said. "It's been great for our guys to see how much fun he has continuing to play the game and how he competes and how he prepares and how he is in huge situations."


The Phillies (8-15) dropped two of three against the Marlins from April 21-23 and enter Friday's contest following three straight losses in St. Louis. They've scored more than three runs only three times in their last nine games and rank last in the majors with 2.74 runs per game.


Chase Utley, who was rested Thursday as the Phillies lost 9-3 to the Cardinals, is batting .114 and has three hits in his last 45 at_bats. Jeff Francoeur is in an 0-for-16 drought.


Philadelphia was held to one run in each loss of the Marlins series after winning the opener 7-3.


Jerome Williams (2-1, 3.80 ERA) won that day by allowing three runs - two earned - in six innings, and he'll look to win a third straight start Friday. He defeated Atlanta with 6 2-3 innings of three-run ball Sunday.


Williams will oppose Tom Koehler (2-2, 4.50), looking to carry momentum from a strong start Saturday, when he pitched 7 1-3 innings in an 8-0 win over Washington. Koehler last faced the Phillies in 2014, going 2-0 with a 2.88 ERA in four starts.


The Marlins starting staff has surrendered 10 earned runs in its last 50 2-3 innings.


Philadelphia's Ben Revere is 8 for 16 against Koehler in his career, and Utley is 5 for 13 with two doubles.


Odubel Herrera continues to be a bright spot in the Phillies lineup. The 23-year-old rookie is batting .412 with five RBIs in his last four games.

Preview: Reds (10-11) at Braves (10-11)
Game: 2
Venue: Turner Field
Date: May 01, 2015 7:35 PM EDT

Cincinnati's lineup is driving the ball out of the park, and Joey Votto's bat might be coming back to life.


Meanwhile, Atlanta could be in more trouble against Anthony DeSclafani after a listless offensive performance in the series opener.


The Reds seek their fourth win in five games Friday night against the Braves at Turner Field.


Cincinnati (11-11) enjoyed a strong all-around showing in Thursday's 5-1 victory, getting eight scoreless innings from Mike Leake, who hit his fifth career home run. Todd Frazier and Tucker Barnhart also went deep for the second straight game and Billy Hamilton supplied a solo shot, giving the Reds 10 homers over their last three games. Their 31 this season rank second in baseball.


Votto, hitting a team-high .317, doubled twice and is 4 for 10 over his last three games after going 0 for 15 with seven strikeouts in his previous four. He also has seven doubles in his last 11 against Atlanta.


The Braves (10-12), losers of eight of 10, were held to four hits and have only four home runs in their last 11 contests.


They've never seen DeSclafani (2-1, 1.04 ERA), who has been one of the NL's toughest pitchers through the first month, though he failed to record a quality start for the first time Sunday against the Chicago Cubs. He gave up five runs over five innings in a 5-2 loss, though only one was earned as Cincinnati committed two errors behind him in the fourth inning.


Regardless of the defensive miscues, DeSclafani wasn't thrilled with his performance.


"I was missing too much over the plate," said the right-hander, who had a 16-inning scoreless streak snapped. "I didn't have a really effective slider."


Opponents are still batting just .154 against him.


With Trevor Cahill demoted to the bullpen, the Braves are giving 23-year-old Mike Foltynewicz a shot in the rotation. Cahill was 0-3 with an 8.03 ERA in his first three starts, then gave up four runs in two innings of relief in Wednesday's 13-4 loss to Washington.


Foltynewicz, one of three players acquired from Houston in January in exchange for Evan Gattis, was 0-1 with a 5.30 ERA in 16 relief appearances for the Astros last year. The 23-year-old struggled in spring training, going 0-2 with a 5.84 ERA, prompting the organization to send him to Triple-A Gwinnett.


He went 0-3 in four starts despite a 2.08 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 21 2-3 innings. The 23-year-old failed to log more than five innings in three of his four outings.


Though Atlanta's pitching wasn't hit hard again like it was in giving up 26 runs and 30 hits over back-to-back defeats to the Nationals, the bullpen struggled again. Braves relievers allowed two of Cincinnati's home runs and have surrendered 18 runs in 12 innings over the last four games.


Chris Johnson will be placed on the disabled list after breaking his hand sliding into second base in the fourth inning, freeing a roster spot for Foltynewicz.


A.J. Pierzynski didn't play Thursday but has hit safely in all 12 games, batting .422 with 14 RBIs.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Reds at Braves
Thu, Apr 30 Final 5 to 1
Boxscores


GAME 2
Reds at Braves
Fri, May 1 - 7:35PM EDT


GAME 3
Reds at Braves
Sat, May 2 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 4
Reds at Braves
Sun, May 3 - 1:35PM EDT

Preview: Athletics (9-13) at Rangers (7-14)
Game: 1
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: May 01, 2015 8:05 PM EDT

Oakland Athletics manager Bob Melvin elected to give Scott Kazmir an extra day of rest, and given the lineup he'll now face, he still might not have to overexert himself.


The in-form left-hander takes the mound Friday night as the Athletics open a three-game road series against the Texas Rangers.


Kazmir (2-0, 0.99 ERA) has contributed once already to Texas' futile offense, limiting it to a hit in seven innings of a 10-0 win in his season debut April 8. Prince Fielder was 0 for 2 and fell to 1 for 11 in their matchups, while Adrian Beltre (9 for 40 with 12 strikeouts) and Robinson Chirinos (1 for 10) have also struggled.


Kazmir struck out 10 and improved to 4-1 with a 3.18 ERA in five starts against the Rangers while with Oakland.


He's limiting opponents to a .158 average and has struck out 30 in 27 1-3 innings. The three runs he's allowed have come on the road, but his last four away starts have resulted in a 2-1 record and 1.59 ERA.


In last Friday's 5-4 loss in 11 to visiting Houston, Kazmir allowed five hits in seven innings, and his teammates recognize he probably deserves more than two wins.


"What he's done for us his first four starts has been something special," outfielder Josh Reddick told MLB's official website.


The rotation in general had been pretty special to that point, but the starters posted a 5.86 ERA in the next five games. In Thursday's 6-5 loss to the Los Angeles Angels, the A's (9-14) fell just shy of rallying from four down in the ninth.


Reddick was in on it as part of a 2-for-4 day, and he's 13 for 26 during an eight-game hitting streak. Reddick is also batting .395 with 12 RBIs in his last 12 against the Rangers.


It was Oakland's sixth loss in seven games and eighth in as many day games, during which it has a 4.81 ERA and is averaging 3.50 runs. At night, it's posted a 3.02 ERA and scored 5.47 runs per game. Every other team in the majors has won a day game, though the A's won't have to worry about that in the first two in Texas.


The season-opening series between these clubs in Oakland resulted in a four-game split, and the A's won seven of 10 in Texas last season.


Texas (7-14) is still seeking its first series win, and it wasn't even close in a three-game home sweep at the hands of Seattle. The Rangers fell 5-2 on Wednesday behind five hits, and their .210 April average was the worst in the majors. Over the previous two seasons, excluding two March games, their best month has been May at .277.


"We haven't produced," manager Jeff Banister said. "We're not where we want to be or where we're going to be. The numbers say we need to be better and we're going to be better."


The offensive shortcomings have placed plenty of pressure on Colby Lewis, who has received a 2.63 run-support average in four starts. Lewis (1-2, 3.75) yielded two runs and four hits in five innings of Saturday's 4-1 road loss to the Angels.


His win came 3-1 on April 7 in Oakland, surrendering a run and three hits in six innings. In his last 12 starts against the A's, the right-hander is 7-1 with a 2.86 ERA. Stephen Vogt is 0 for 8 against Lewis and Eric Sogard is 1 for 9.

Preview: Pirates (12-10) at Cardinals (14-6)
Game: 1
Venue: Busch Stadium
Date: May 01, 2015 8:15 PM EDT

A.J. Burnett considered retirement during his second successful season with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2013, then did so again following one the worst campaigns of his career after bolting in free agency.


What seems to be sure about Burnett, though, is that a Pirates uniform brings out the best in him.


Burnett takes the hill as Pittsburgh seeks a rare victory at Busch Stadium in the series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night.


After going 26-21 with a 3.41 ERA in two years with the Pirates, Burnett opted against retirement and instead moved his family closer to his Maryland home by signing with Philadelphia for 2014.


Burnett, who went back on his word after saying he'd re-sign with Pittsburgh or retire, discussed retirement again while going 8-18 with 4.59 ERA in Philadelphia. He then left more than $4 million on the table by declining a player option and agreeing to a one-year, $8.5 million deal to return to Pittsburgh in the offseason.


That appears to have been a wise decision. Burnett (0-1, 1.80 ERA) has allowed just five runs in four starts after giving up one in seven innings of the Pirates' 2-1 win over Arizona on Saturday.


It's the first time since Aug. 9-19, 2005, while with the Marlins that the right-hander has allowed fewer than two runs in three consecutive starts.


'It's different now than it was a couple of years ago with velocity and stuff,' Burnett said. 'I just pitch and not get stubborn thinking I can sneak some balls by the hitters. Sometimes I can set that up. Just pitch and use the movement to my advantage.'


Burnett's best start with the Phillies came against the Cardinals on June 20, when he pitched his only complete game of the season in a 5-1 victory. That win came in St. Louis, where the Pirates (12-10) have dropped 14 of 17 including the 2013 postseason.


Pittsburgh lost the first two of its series with the Chicago Cubs before salvaging Wednesday's finale. Andrew McCutchen finished April hitting just .194, but he collected his 1,000th career hit and had a two-run triple in the 8-1 victory.


"It's nice to get out of here without getting swept," winning pitcher Gerrit Cole said. "We can relax a little more on the off day, clear our minds and get ready for St. Louis this weekend."


The Cardinals (15-6) improved to 8-2 at home by taking the final three of a four-game set with Philadelphia. Matt Adams hit a two-run homer and finished with three hits in Wednesday's 9-3 victory.


Adams is just 1 for 14 in his career off Burnett, but he enters this contest 8 for 13 over his last three as the Cardinals totaled 25 runs.


'When you get this offense really going, it's one of the best in the majors, and right now everybody it seems is producing,' Adams said. 'It seems like everything is starting to really come around, not just for me but for the offense itself."


Lance Lynn went 1-1 with a 1.56 ERA over his first three outings before giving up six runs and 10 hits in five innings of Sunday's 6-3 loss to Milwaukee. Lynn (1-2, 3.63) has made just one start at home, where he's 7-3 with a 1.83 ERA over his last 13 regular-season starts.


McCutchen is 6 for 38 (.158) with 14 strikeouts lifetime against Lynn, but the right-hander is just 1-3 with a 6.34 ERA in his last seven against the Pirates.

Preview: Diamondbacks (10-11) at Dodgers (13-8)
Game: 1
Venue: Dodger Stadium
Date: May 01, 2015 10:10 PM EDT

The numbers seem to refute Jimmy Rollins' contention that Dodger Stadium is not a hitters' park as Los Angeles continues producing at home.


The Arizona Diamondbacks recently have shown they possess the ability to match any club run for run.


Former Dodger Rubby De La Rosa hopes to cool Los Angeles' bats as the clubs begin a three-game set Friday night.


Rollins hit one of the Dodgers' four home runs to help them improve to 10-2 at home with Wednesday's 7-3 victory over San Francisco. His shot leading off the third inning came after Joc Pederson, Adrian Gonzalez and Andre Ethier went deep in the first.


Los Angeles (13-8) ranks near the top of the majors with 32 homers, with 19 coming at home. The 33 long balls in all hit at Dodger Stadium also rank among the most at any stadium in baseball, and the Dodgers' .290 home average is near the top of the majors.


The most recent power surge came after manager Don Mattingly shuffled his lineup around injuries to Carl Crawford (torn oblique muscle) and Yasiel Puig, who joined Crawford on the disabled list Sunday with a left hamstring injury.


"(Baseballs) seem to go to the outfield and die here very often," Rollins said. "I don't think anybody in here worried about whether we led the major leagues in home runs, as long as we were winning our division. That's the only thing we've focused on and will focus on.'


Arizona (10-11) is hitting .260 on the road and had a .229 mark at home before registering 21 runs and 28 hits to take the final two of a three-game home series with Colorado.


Jordan Pacheco hit a three-run homer and Paul Goldschmidt finished 9 for 14 in the series after recording three hits in Wednesday's 9-1 victory. A.J. Pollock, batting .517 during an eight-game hitting streak against the Dodgers, went hitless for the first time in nine games.


"If there was something easy, we'd probably do it every game," said Goldschmidt, who has homered in his last two at Dodger Stadium. "We'll need to do that a lot more going forward."


The Diamondbacks' offense wasn't able to back De La Rosa (2-1, 4.68 ERA) in one of his best starts Saturday as Arizona fell to Pittsburgh 2-1. The right-hander matched a career best by going seven innings while allowing one run and four hits and striking out a career high-tying eight.


"What I did (Saturday), the rest of my starts I have to do it and try to get more confident and throw more strikes," De La Rosa said.


De La Rosa will be facing his former club for the first time since he was sent to Boston in October 2012 to complete the blockbuster trade that sent Gonzalez and others to the Dodgers.


The Diamondbacks acquired De La Rosa from the Red Sox for Wade Miley in December. De La Rosa will oppose Carlos Frias, who is fighting for a vacant spot in the Dodgers' rotation after Brandon McCarthy had Tommy John surgery.


Frias hasn't allowed a run in 2 1-3 innings over two relief efforts, picking up the victory in Monday's 8-3 win over the Giants. He struck out two in two hitless innings in his lone appearance against the Diamondbacks last season.


The right-hander has made two career starts, and the last one didn't go very well. He gave up eight runs and 10 hits in just two-thirds of an inning of a 16-2 loss to Colorado on Sept. 17.

Preview: Rockies (11-10) at Padres (11-12)
Game: 1
Venue: PETCO Park
Date: May 01, 2015 10:10 PM EDT

The only time the San Diego Padres flexed some offensive muscle during a dreadful eight-game stretch was squandered by Ian Kennedy's worst outing in nearly two years.


Looking to redeem himself and put the Padres back on track after a string of poor showings, Kennedy will take the hill Friday against a Colorado Rockies team that pushed San Diego into its losing ways.


The Padres (11-12) have dropped seven of their last eight games, scoring more than four runs only once in that span with an 11-8 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday. Kennedy (0-1, 10.80 ERA) allowed eight earned runs over 4 1-3 innings in his least effective start since surrendering 10 runs on June 6, 2013.


Although San Diego followed that defeat with a 3-1 win against the Dodgers, both the team's pitching and hitting have disappeared in the three games since. The Padres scored 3.0 runs per game while allowing 10.0 in a three-game sweep at home against Houston.


Andrew Cashner surrendered only two earned runs through seven innings Wednesday, but San Diego's bullpen fell apart late in a 7-2 loss.


"It's been a tough month," Cashner said. "We've hit when we haven't pitched, we've pitched when we haven't hit. It's a tough first month, but we're one game under .500. Considering the teams I've been on here, it's a positive start.


"This team's better than we've been playing, definitely. You've yet to see us pitch the way we're capable of pitching."


The opponent that sparked San Diego's poor play was Colorado (11-10), which took the last two of a four-game series April 20-23. The Rockies have treaded water since with two wins in five games after being outscored 21-6 in back-to-back losses to Arizona on Tuesday and Wednesday.


"You know, it's the cycles of a season," Rockies manager Walt Weiss told MLB's official website. "We had a period already where we lost five straight. We bounced back from that. It happens to every club. Nobody is exempt from the rough spots of the season."


Troy Tulowitzki continued his solid hitting in spite of the series loss, going 6 for 17 in his last four games with a 1.036 OPS. Charlie Blackmon is 9 for 24 (.375) over his last five. They combined for six hits - four for extra bases - in four games with San Diego but were outshined by Corey Dickerson, who went 4 for 9 with three home runs.


Eddie Butler (2-1, 3.27), who did not pitch in that series, takes the hill for the Rockies to open this three-game set. The 24-year-old tossed six innings and allowed a season-high in hits (nine) and runs (four) on April 24, yet earned the win in a 6-4 victory against San Francisco.


Colorado's bullpen, which worked three scoreless innings in that win, has been shaky in four games since, allowing 10 earned runs in 16 2-3 innings. The absence of closer Adam Ottavino figures into those struggles and he remains on the DL with right triceps inflammation.


San Diego's Wil Myers went 6 for 18 against the Rockies and is 7 for 22 with two home runs and six runs scored in his last five games overall. Justin Upton has only three hits in his last five contests - all home runs.