Cnotes Best Bets For Tuesday May 5th - MLB - NBA -NHL !

MLB MONEYLINE


MLB > (957) LA DODGERS@ (958) MILWAUKEE | 05/05/2015 - 08:10 PM
Play AGAINST MILWAUKEE using the money line in All games in night games
The record is 1 Wins and 13 Losses for the this season (-13.1 units)


MLB > (967) TAMPA BAY@ (968) BOSTON | 05/05/2015 - 07:10 PM
Play AGAINST BOSTON using the money line in Home games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 15 Wins and 34 Losses for the last two seasons (-25.05 units)


MLB > (969) TEXAS@ (970) HOUSTON | 05/05/2015 - 08:10 PM
Play ON HOUSTON using the money line in All games in games played on a grass field
The record is 18 Wins and 7 Losses for the this season (+13.32 units)


MLB > (955) PHILADELPHIA@ (956) ATLANTA | 05/05/2015 - 07:10 PM
Play AGAINST ATLANTA using the money line in Home games when playing on Tuesday
The record is 3 Wins and 12 Losses for the last two seasons (-13.1 units)

MLB > (975) CLEVELAND@ (976) KANSAS CITY | 05/05/2015 - 08:10 PM
Play AGAINST KANSAS CITY using the money line in Home games in May games
The record is 9 Wins and 23 Losses for the last three seasons (-19.75 units)


MLB RUNLINE


MLB > (957) LA DODGERS@ (958) MILWAUKEE | 05/05/2015 - 08:10 PM
Play AGAINST MILWAUKEE using the in All games in night games
The record is 2 Wins and 12 Losses for the this season (-13.4 units)


MLB > (955) PHILADELPHIA@ (956) ATLANTA | 05/05/2015 - 07:10 PM
Play AGAINST ATLANTA using the in Home games when playing on Tuesday
The record is 1 Wins and 14 Losses for the last two seasons (-14.1 units)

MLB > (975) CLEVELAND@ (976) KANSAS CITY | 05/05/2015 - 08:10 PM
Play ON KANSAS CITY using the in All games at home when the run line is (+1.5, -155) to (-1.5, +160)
The record is 20 Wins and 13 Losses for the last two seasons (+17.9 units)

MLB > (969) TEXAS@ (970) HOUSTON | 05/05/2015 - 08:10 PM
Play ON HOUSTON using the in All games vs. left-handed starters
The record is 42 Wins and 16 Losses for the last two seasons (+23.05 units)


MLB TOTALS


MLB > (971) OAKLAND@ (972) MINNESOTA | 05/05/2015 - 08:10 PM
Play OVER OAKLAND on the total in All games in all games
The record is 19 Overs and 6 Unders for the this season (+13.25 units)


MLB TOP POWERLINES


MLB > (965) NY YANKEES @ (966) TORONTO | 05/05/2015 - 07:05 PM
Line: TORONTO +100 BTB PowerLine: TORONTO 165
Edge On: TORONTO (45)


MLB > (953) CINCINNATI @ (954) PITTSBURGH | 05/05/2015 - 07:05 PM
Line: PITTSBURGH -160 BTB PowerLine: PITTSBURGH -194
Edge On: PITTSBURGH (34)


MLB > (957) LA DODGERS @ (958) MILWAUKEE | 05/05/2015 - 08:10 PM
Line: MILWAUKEE +135 BTB PowerLine: MILWAUKEE 262
Edge On: MILWAUKEE (102)


MLB > (971) OAKLAND @ (972) MINNESOTA | 05/05/2015 - 08:10 PM
Line: MINNESOTA +100 BTB PowerLine: MINNESOTA 198
Edge On: MINNESOTA (78)


MLB > (975) CLEVELAND @ (976) KANSAS CITY | 05/05/2015 - 08:10 PM
Line: KANSAS CITY -115 BTB PowerLine: KANSAS CITY -142
Edge On: KANSAS CITY (27)


MLB > (963) SAN DIEGO @ (964) SAN FRANCISCO | 05/05/2015 - 10:15 PM
Line: SAN FRANCISCO +100 BTB PowerLine: SAN FRANCISCO 147
Edge On: SAN FRANCISCO (27)

NBA ATS


NBA > (709) WASHINGTON@ (710) ATLANTA | 05/05/2015 - 08:05 PM
Play ON ATLANTA using the against the spread in All games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 25 Wins and 11 Losses for the this season (+12.9 units)


NBA MONEYLINE


NBA > (711) MEMPHIS@ (712) GOLDEN STATE | 05/05/2015 - 10:35 PM
Play ON MEMPHIS using the money line in All games against Pacific division opponents
The record is 27 Wins and 10 Losses for the last two seasons (+18.05 units)


NBA TOTALS


NBA > (711) MEMPHIS@ (712) GOLDEN STATE | 05/05/2015 - 10:35 PM
Play UNDER MEMPHIS on the total in All games versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game - 2nd half of the season
The record is 8 Overs and 23 Unders for the this season (+14.2 units)


NBA > (709) WASHINGTON@ (710) ATLANTA | 05/05/2015 - 08:05 PM
Play UNDER ATLANTA on the total in Home games in all playoff games
The record is 12 Overs and 34 Unders for the since 1992 (+20.8 units)


NBA TOTALS


NBA > (709) WASHINGTON @ (710) ATLANTA | 05/05/2015 - 08:05 PM
Line: ATLANTA -6.5 BTB PowerLine: ATLANTA 0
Edge On: ATLANTA (6.5)


NBA > (711) MEMPHIS @ (712) GOLDEN STATE | 05/05/2015 - 10:35 PM
Line: GOLDEN STATE -10.5 BTB PowerLine: GOLDEN STATE -9
Edge On: GOLDEN STATE (1.5)

NHL MONEYLINE


NHL > (71) ANAHEIM@ (72) CALGARY | 05/05/2015 - 09:35 PM
Play ON CALGARY using the money line in Home games after a division game
The record is 16 Wins and 3 Losses for the this season (+13.2 units)


NHL PUCKLINE


NHL > (71) ANAHEIM@ (72) CALGARY | 05/05/2015 - 09:35 PM
Play ON CALGARY using the in Home games after a division game
The record is 16 Wins and 3 Losses for the this season (+13.2 units)

Tuesday's Tip Sheet


May 4, 2015


**Wizards at Hawks**


-- As of early Monday night, most betting shops had Atlanta (64-25 straight up, 52-35-2 against the spread) favored by 6.5 points for Game 2 of this best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals series. The total was 197.5, while the Wizards were available on the money line for a +245 return (risk $100 to win $245).


-- Washington (51-36 SU, 38-46-3 ATS) rallied from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to capture a 104-98 win as a five-point underdog in Sunday's Game 1 at Philips Arena in Atlanta. The Wizards have now won Game 1 in four consecutive playoff series. They held Atlanta scoreless for the first 5.5 minutes of the fourth quarter to take their first lead since the first quarter, and it was one they refused to relinquish.


-- John Wall was the catalyst in the series opener, producing 18 points, 13 assists, seven rebounds and three blocked shots. Bradley Beal scored a game-high 28 points despite suffering a sprained ankle that kept him out of a good chunk of the fourth quarter. Paul Pierce added 19 points, while Drew Gooden had 12 points, five rebounds and one blocked shot in 14 quality minutes off the bench. Marcin Gortat and Otto Porter both produced double-doubles with 12 points and 12 rebounds and 10 and 11, respectively.


-- In the losing effort, Al Horford had 17 points, 17 rebounds and seven assists despite dealing with foul trouble that relegated him to just 30 minutes of playing time. DeMarre Carroll's sensational postseason play continued with a 24-point effort. He was the only Hawks starter who shot better than 50-percent from the field. Paul Millsap finished with 15 points, 12 boards, eight assists, two steals and a pair of blocked shots, but the two-time All-Star was only 6-of-17 from the field. Kyle Korver scored 13 points but was just 3-of-11 from downtown.


-- Washington went 3-5 ATS in its eight regular-season games as an underdog of six points or more.


-- Atlanta is mired in a 2-7-1 ATS slump in its last 10 games.


-- Atlanta All-Star point guard Jeff Teague sprained his ankle in a Game 5 win over Brooklyn at home last week. In Sunday's Game 2, Teague again turned the ankle but did return to the game after getting a fresh tape job. He is expected to start Tuesday night. Beal's ankle injury appeared to be worse. Beal limped to the locker room and when he tried to come back in the game, Randy Whitman quickly subbed him out after witnessing him laboring. Nevertheless, word out of the Wizards camp is that Beal will be ready to go for Game 2. Whether he's 100 percent or not remains to be seen.


-- The 'over' has hit in all five head-to-head meetings between these clubs this season. Atlanta has seen the 'over' go 3-1 in its last four games, while Washington has watched the 'over' go 7-1 in its last eight outings. The 'over' is on an 8-1 run in the last nine head-to-head encounters.


-- The 'over' is 45-44 overall for the Hawks, but the 'under' is 23-22 in their home games.


-- The 'under' is 43-42-2 overall for the Wizards, 24-19-1 in their road assignments.


-- VI's Chris David has these takes on Game 1 as we look ahead to Game 2: "I thought the Hawks would carry over their momentum from their series against the Nets into Game 1 on Sunday and they did, but for only the first 24 minutes. The NBA is a make-or-miss league and the Hawks did more of the latter in the second half. The one stat that jumped out at me in Game 1 was Atlanta’s inability to get to the free throw line, just 14 attempts. This wasn’t Atlanta’s strength during the regular season but when the jump shots aren’t falling, Teague and the backcourt need to be more aggressive and make the refs blow their whistle.


"I liked the Hawks team total ‘over’ in Game 1 (101.5) and caught myself celebrating too early after 63 points in the first half. Despite shooting 37 percent, Atlanta still put up 98 points and that was with 11 free throws. In five games this season, Atlanta is averaging 106 PPG against Washington. Including Game 1, the Hawks have hit 13 bombs from 3-point land in their last four playoff games. If Atlanta can connect on 40-45 percent of their shots in Game 2, I’m expecting a minimum of 100 and I’ll take my chances chasing with its team total ‘over’ (102) again."


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


**Grizzlies at Warriors**


-- Golden St. (72-15 SU, 49-37-1 ATS) cruised to a 101-86 win over Memphis in Sunday's Game 1 as a 10-point home 'chalk.' It was the Warriors' ninth consecutive victory. Steph Curry led the way with 22 points, seven assists and four steals, while Klay Thompson added 18 points and passed out six helpers. Draymond Green contributed 16 points, five boards, three assists and a pair of steals. Harrison Barnes was also in double figures with 11 points, while Marreese Speights had 10 points and five boards in just 12 minutes of playing time from off of the bench.


-- Golden St. reserve forward David Lee made his first postseason appearance after missing the series sweep of New Orleans in the opening round due to an injury. Lee only saw three minutes and change of action, missing all three of his shots from the field. The former All-Star had a pair of offensive rebounds.


-- Memphis (59-29 SU, 43-42-3 ATS) played Game 1 without Mike Conley, but the team's starting point guard declared himself 'probable' for Game 2 early Monday evening. Conley suffered facial fractures when he took an inadvertent elbow in Game 3 of the Portland series. He had to have surgery and there's still plenty of swelling. Nick Calathes, who has started the last three games at PG, was held scoreless in Game 1. He missed all four of his shots from the field and both of his free-throw attempts. In 20 minutes of playing time, Calathes had three steals, two assists and one rebound. He committed three turnovers. Reserve PG Beno Udrih had seven points, one rebound, one assist, one steal and one turnover in 18-plus minutes of action.


-- In the Game 1 loss, Marc Gasol had 21 points, nine rebounds, three assists and three steals. Zach Randolph finished with 20 points, nine boards and five assists, while Tony Allen had 15 points, four boards, three assists and three steals.


-- As of early Monday night, most spots had Golden St. as a 10.5-point home favorite with a total of 196.5. The Grizzlies are +540 on the money line at 5Dimes.


-- Golden St. owns a 27-16-1 spread record at home this year.


-- These teams met three times during the regular season. The Warriors won two of those three contests, but the Grizzlies went 2-1 versus the number.


-- The 'under' is 50-36-2 overall for the Grizzlies, but the 'over' is 22-21-1 in their road assignments.


-- The 'under' is 46-40-1 overall for the Warriors, but they have watched the 'over' go 22-21-1 in their home games.


-- VI's David has this to say about Game 2 with some references to Marc Lawrence's philosophy toward the Zig-Zag Theory. David said, "Based on the eye-ball test, it’s hard to make a case for Memphis at this time just based on the health factor. However, if some of your handicapping relies heavily on trends and betting angles, then I’ll give you a reason to lean Grizzlies in Game 2. According to VI handicapper Marc Lawrence, the ‘Zig-Zag Theory’ sets up strong on Memphis if it closes as a double-digit underdog."


Lawrence said, “Look to back double-digit underdogs when they are off a SU and ATS loss. They’ve stood the test of time, going 33-18-2 ATS since 1991. That’s a pretty high 64.7% winning percentage when you think about it.”


David added, "In this year’s playoffs, the results are 2-0 with Boston and New Orleans losing Game 1 to Cleveland and Golden State, respectively, and rebounding with covers in Game 2 as double-digit ‘dogs."

Wizards look to keep up their winning ways


May 4, 2015


The Washington Wizards are right at home on the road.


Over the last two years, the Wizards have been the ultimate road warriors in the playoffs, winning eight of nine games away from D.C. and becoming the first team in NBA history to capture four straight Game 1s in the other team's arena.


Their latest road victory gave the Wizards a surprising 1-0 lead over top-seeded Atlanta in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The teams meet again Tuesday night at Philips Arena, with the Hawks desperate to even things up before the best-of-seven series shifts to Washington for Games 3 and 4.


''You try to get two on the road, but most importantly try to get the first game,'' Wizards star John Wall said. ''I feel like that's the key game to try to put yourself in a good position and have an opportunity to try to get another one and go home up 2-0.''


Out West, No. 1-seeded Golden State and MVP Stephen Curry will try to keep up their rampage through the postseason when they host the Grizzlies in Game 2 of their conference semifinal.


Like Washington, the Warriors have yet to lose in the playoffs, sweeping New Orleans in the opening round before beating Memphis 101-86.


Washington, the fifth seed in the East and coming off a sweep of Toronto, extended its amazing road record by rallying from an early 11-point deficit to beat the Hawks 104-98 in Game 1.


Atlanta was playing on just a 36-hour turnaround after taking longer than expected to get past Brooklyn in the first round. The Wizards had a week between series.


It showed. The Hawks turned in the ultimate Jekyll-and-Hyde performance, shooting 64 percent in the opening quarter to lead 63-53 at the half, before stumbling to just 25 percent over the final two periods, including a dreadful 5-of-28 showing in the fourth.


On one crucial possession with just over 2 minutes remaining, the Hawks grabbed five offensive rebounds but missed six straight shots - three of them right under the basket.


''We know it's going to be totally tougher than what it was,'' Wall said. ''Those guys are probably not going to miss as many shots as they did in the fourth quarter, but I feel like we can play better.''


The Hawks had plenty of good looks throughout Game 1, providing hope that their loss was just an aberration, partly the result of a quirky schedule that forced them to play what were essentially back-to-back games from one round to the next.


While no one was using fatigue as an excuse, it was clear the Hawks felt they did plenty of things right in the series opener.


''Internally, we felt like we won the game,'' forward Paul Millsap said. ''We feel good about it. A 10-point lead going into halftime, then we come back out and miss open shots. We took some good shots, just missed.''


A look at Tuesday's game, all times EDT:


---


Wizards at Hawks, Washington leads 1-0, 8 p.m., TNT.


Bradley Beal equaled a career playoff high with 28 points in Game 1 but hobbled off with a sprained right ankle in the fourth quarter. While he was able to return for the closing minutes after getting it taped, all eyes will be on the 6-foot-5 guard to see if the ankle is bothering him.


''I'm good,'' Beal insisted after practice Monday. ''I've sprained this ankle 30 times. The swelling's never going away.''


He'll have to work hard at both ends of the court, also getting the job of shadowing Atlanta's 3-point specialist, Kyle Korver. Beal did a good job in Game 1, limiting Korver to 3-of-11 shooting from beyond the arc.


''There was a couple of times in the game I told him he had to stop moving for at least 10 seconds, let me catch my breath,'' Beal joked.


At the end, the Hawks ran out of gas.


''I think fatigue is definitely what got to them,'' Beal said.


---


Grizzlies at Warriors, Golden State leads 1-0, 10:30 p.m., TNT.


After winning the award as the league's top player, Stephen Curry will be honored beforehand during a ceremony with Commissioner Adam Silver.


Curry has certainly looked like an MVP in the playoffs, averaging 31.4 points a game in Golden State's first five games.


He had 22 points and seven assists in Game 1 against Memphis, though neither team was especially happy about the way it played.


''I thought the energy level was great,'' Curry said. ''We were a little sloppy.''


The Grizzlies certainly have their work cut out to steal a game in Golden State, where the Warriors went an NBA-best 39-2 during the regular season and have won three straight in the playoffs. Their last loss at Oracle Arena was more than three months ago, a 113-111 overtime setback to Chicago.


Memphis has been playing without point guard Mike Conley, who is recovering from broken bones in his face.


He didn't know if he'll be able to play Tuesday.


''There's no secret he makes their team better,'' Curry said.

'Hawks, Ducks could take 3-0 strangleholds


May 4, 2015


ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Although the Chicago Blackhawks and the Anaheim Ducks appear to be steamrolling toward a meeting in the Western Conference finals, they're only halfway there.


The Minnesota Wild and the Calgary Flames both must climb out of an 0-2 series hole at home Tuesday night to give themselves much of a chance to turn the tide.


Playoff-tested Chicago and talent-laden Anaheim streaked out to their second-round series leads with two strong performances at home, capped by victories on Sunday night. While veteran Minnesota has been more competitive than upstart Calgary so far, both teams seem quite capable of mounting a rally in front of their home fans.


''We're going to go into a lively building that's going to be rocking,'' Anaheim captain Ryan Getzlaf said Monday before the Ducks boarded their flight to Alberta. ''Our group does a pretty good job of calming themselves and doing the things we need to do.''


After outscoring the Flames by a combined 9-1 so far, the Ducks still haven't lost a postseason game this spring, becoming the sixth team since 1990 to go 6-0 to start a playoff run.


The Blackhawks never trailed while winning their first two games against Minnesota, which also lost the first two games of a second-round series in Chicago last season. The Wild rallied last spring to tie the series by winning twice at home, but Chicago has knocked Minnesota out of the last two postseasons.


''We can't take the foot off the gas here,'' Chicago's Patrick Kane said. ''We're not satisfied with the two wins. We want to go back and make sure we have a good Game 3. A tough building to play in. Great crowd. It seems like they excel pretty well on their ice, so it's something we've got to be ready for.''


Here's a glance at the two playoff games on Tuesday's NHL schedule:


---


Blackhawks at Wild, Chicago leads 2-0, 8 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network


HOME SWEET?


The Wild return home hoping the raucous Xcel Energy Center will give a boost to their flagging marquee players, who had an abysmal performance in Game 2.


Thomas Vanek was a minus-4, while top defenseman Ryan Suter was a minus-3 with a glaring turnover that led to Jonathan Toews' goal. The Wild's top line of Zach Parise, Mikael Granlund and Jason Pominville was completely shut out by the quicker Blackhawks.


The Wild didn't practice Monday, instead getting together for a film session to help them make some adjustments to the way the Blackhawks play. After prevailing in a six-game series against St. Louis in which the Blues tried to muck things up with physical play and intimidation after the whistle, the Wild have looked a step slow at times facing a Chicago team that relies much more on speed.


''It's a different game than St. Louis,'' Vanek said. ''They play such a fast, long pass game where I think we got trapped into thinking we have to play the same way as them to beat them. But we've got to get back to our game.''


KEEP THE PUCK


All four of the Blackhawks' goals in Sunday's 4-1 win came off careless Wild turnovers. The Blackhawks shift from defense to offense as quickly as any team in the league, and the Wild know they can't be that sloppy anymore.


''We know they're a great team, and yesterday they capitalized on the mistakes they got,'' winger Nino Niederreiter said. ''They're a good team and we need to make sure we sharpen up in those areas and make sure we don't give them any presents.''


---


Ducks at Flames, Anaheim leads 2-0, 9:30 p.m. ET, USA Network


NEVER SCARED


Most teams would be wary of venturing into a Canadian rink mobbed with fans long-starved for Stanley Cup playoff success, but the Ducks handled that daunting task flawlessly just two weeks ago.


Anaheim knows it can manage the pressure of a raucous north-of-the-border crowd after winning twice last month in Winnipeg, where fans hadn't seen an NHL playoff game in 19 years.


''We have to be focused, because our scouts told us Calgary is a lot louder than Winnipeg,'' Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau said. ''They're good Canadian fans. I don't expect we'll get a great welcome.''


The Flames ended a five-year playoff absence this spring, and they won three times at the Saddledome while dismissing Vancouver in the first round.


BOTTOM LINE


Calgary will need more than its fans to slow down the Ducks, starting with some production from the three elite scorers who recently made up their top line before coach Bob Hartley started shuffling personnel.


Top scorer Jiri Hudler has one shot in two scoreless games against Anaheim, while diminutive American star Johnny Gaudreau has no points and just two shots. Calgary has one garbage-time goal on 54 shots overall against Frederik Andersen.


''Anaheim is a good team, and we've got to make some adjustments here,'' said youngster Sean Monahan, a minus-3 with two shots and no points. ''We've got to do whatever we can to find a way to win.''

Canadiens' Prust says ref insulted him


May 3, 2015


MONTREAL (AP) - Montreal forward Brandon Prust said referee Brad Watson insulted him repeatedly in the first period after a roughing penalty in the Canadiens' 6-2 loss to Tampa Bay on Sunday night.


''I thought the original call was kind of soft and I let (Watson) know on the way to the penalty box,'' said Prust, who ended the game with 31 minutes of penalties and a game misconduct. ''He kept provoking me. He came to the box and called me every name in the book.''


Prust claims he did nothing wrong to bring on Watson's exchange of words, though he was given an extra minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.


''Said he'd drive me right out of this building,'' Prust said. ''I wasn't looking at him. He teed me up. That's the ref he is. He tries to play God. He tries to control the game and he did that tonight.''


Prust got back into penalty trouble late in the third period when he tripped Ben Bishop as the goalie played the puck behind his net. Tampa's Braydon Coburn jumped on Prust and the two dropped their gloves.


''I barely touched him,'' Prust said about Bishop. ''He flopped like he normally does. It was nothing.''


Tampa coach Jon Cooper thought Prust might have been trying to injure Bishop on the play.


''You have to kind of think (Prust) is going in there for one reason, right?,'' Cooper said. ''He wasn't going to get the puck from him. He had one thing on his mind and it was probably to make sure he injured him. Whether that's the case or not, I don't know.''


After Prust was given the game misconduct, the 31-year-old forward threw his elbow pad at Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos on his way to the dressing room. Stamkos then tossed the elbow pad into the stands.


Tampa Bay leads the series 2-0. Game 3 is Wednesday night in Florida.

Ovie can still shine despite tight checking


May 3, 2015


Even in defeat, Alexander Ovechkin produced the goal of the weekend, squeezing through two opposing players and falling to his stomach while whipping a wrist shot past New York goalie Henrik Lundqvist.


''They took as much space as they wanted. He still got it done,'' Washington coach Barry Trotz said. ''Great players will do that.''


Ovechkin and the Capitals lost 3-2 to the Rangers on Saturday, but with this second-round series tied 1-1 heading into Monday night's game in Washington, Ovechkin is looking dangerous. He now has four goals and four assists in these playoffs - a welcome sight for the Capitals after their star's postseason production had dipped a bit in his previous couple appearances.


''I think he gets an inch to shoot the puck and he can hurt you,'' Rangers defenseman Marc Staal said. ''He doesn't need a lot of room to get a shot off or a lot of time to get it off, and he's very dangerous when he does. There's nothing secretive about it. I think he can hurt you from a lot of different areas, so we've got to do our best to try and contain him.''


Washington hasn't advanced past the second round of the playoffs since well before Ovechkin joined the team - a fact that's put the game's top goal scorer under constant scrutiny at this time of year. But it's not like he's been unproductive in the postseason.


From 2008-2010, Ovechkin had 20 goals and 20 assists in 28 playoff games. After that, his output declined - and in 2013, he had only two points in a seven-game loss to the Rangers in the first round.


But those struggles may simply be a byproduct of a league-wide decrease in playoff scoring. Heading into Sunday's games, the average team was scoring 2.49 goals per game during this postseason - down from 2.99 in 2010.


It may just be easier now to contain the game's biggest stars in the playoffs, be it because of good defensive schemes - or improved shot blocking in recent years by both goalies and regular skaters.


Even Sidney Crosby - with a Stanley Cup and two Olympic gold medals to his credit - has had a rougher go of it lately. From 2007-2010, he had 82 points in 62 playoff games. Since then, 36 points in 38 games.


Ovechkin isn't the only big-name forward who is criticized when goals become scarce. Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos went without a goal through his first eight games this postseason before ending that drought Sunday at Montreal. Rick Nash of the Rangers has five points in seven games - about the same ratio he's produced over his whole career - but because only one of those points was a goal, he can expect more questions about his performance if he doesn't start putting the puck in the net more often.


Goals are hard to come by in the playoffs these days, but if you're as talented as Ovechkin - or Stamkos or Nash - opposing teams will always be wary of having to face you.


Here's a glance at the only game on the NHL slate Monday:


---


Rangers at Capitals, Game 3, tied 1-1, 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network


GOALTENDING SHOW


Lundqvist's save percentage in this postseason is .938, and Washington's Braden Holtby is at .942. To put that in perspective, the best postseason save percentage of Patrick Roy's career was .934 in 2001.


''The goalies in this league are so good now,'' Rangers defenseman Keith Yandle said. ''Any time they see it, they're going to save it. So any time you get opportunities, you have to have bodies in front of the net and use guys as screens because it's so tough to beat goalies if they can see the puck.''


HOME OR AWAY


Neither of these teams is likely to be all that intimidated when the scenery shifts in this series. The Capitals were 23-13-5 at home during the regular season and 22-13-6 on the road. The Rangers were 25-11-5 at home and 28-11-2 on the road.

Weekly Betting Notes


May 4, 2015




Upcoming Series to Watch


San Diego Padres at San Francisco Giants


With the Dodgers on a four-game winning streak and seemingly about to embark on one of their extensive runs, this is an important NL West series for two contenders looking to keep up with the reigning division champs. And they enter this first week in May each on a positive note, with the Giants coming off a sweep of the Angels in a three-game Interleague set at home, while the Padres just finished up an important three-game sweep of their own against fellow division rival Colorado.


It was an intriguing first month for both clubs. The defending world champion Giants started off 3-9, as many began to think they were in for a down start being unable to make up for the absence of the injured star Hunter Pence. Instead, San Francisco has gone 9-4 since, looking a lot like the team that won it all a year ago. The Padres, meanwhile, have enjoyed a significantly better offense than what they had in recent years, improbably leading the National League in runs scored at this juncture of the season. To truly understand how incredible that, remember that this was the team that was in last place in most major offensive categories, not just last year, but over several preceding seasons. With 131 runs, they’re also tied with Oakland for the most in all of baseball, and are an astounding 16-9-1 towards over bets after historically being one of the surefire under teams in each of the past several campaigns. This will be an intriguing series as a result, especially in the opener when World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner tangles against underrated Padres righty Tyson Ross, featuring an over/under of 6.5.


Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals


The more things change, the more things stay the same, a sentiment that can properly be associated with the masters of consistency in the National League, the St. Louis Cardinals, who find themselves in a very familiar position looking down on the rest of the division with baseball’s best record at 18-6. They hold a 4.5-game lead for division supremacy over the next-closest team, that somewhat surprisingly being the Chicago Cubs, who are out to an encouraging start at 13-10.


The Cardinals enter this slate on a six-game winning streak, having just swept the fellow NL Central-residing Pirates in three games, all coincidentally ending in walk-off victories. The Cubs, on the other hand, just lost a series at home to the MLB-worst Brewers, but have still shown enough potential in the early going to prove that they’re legitimately gunning for their longtime foe St. Louis. These two teams hooked up in the first series of the season, with the Cubs winning two of three, so it’s possible their series odds provide very good value here. With a roster chock full of young and exuberant rising talent, it seems inevitable that Chicago will get hot and ride that momentum, which perhaps may start here. We’ll see how tight the Cardinals’ clamp is on the rest of the division, or if the Cubs can begin to make their move.


New York Yankees at Toronto Blue Jays


A lot of people want to focus on the Mets as the leading New York baseball team this year, but all of a sudden, it’s the Bronx Bombers who have a better record, which also has them at the top of the AL East with the largest lead the division has seen all season -- three games. But still, it just goes to show how hot the Yankees have been, after inauspiciously starting the year 3-6, but have gone 13-3 since then, including a road sweep of their main nemesis, the Red Sox, this past weekend. Overall, they’ve captured six of seven ballgames.


The Blue Jays have been a little up-and-down to kick off 2015, as they currently find themselves at 12-14, and haven’t been up or below more than two games within .500 all year. That would seem to point to a Toronto victory in game one of this series to continue that season-long streak, but it won’t be easy pairing up against a Yankees squad that is playing its best ball. In the opener, it’s former Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey taking on Chase Whitley with an over/under 9, and these are two of the better over teams in baseball thus far. This is a big opportunity for the Blue Jays to make a statement.


Team to Watch


Houston Astros


I’ve covered the Astros in each of the past few columns because of the potential they showed in breaking out, and now here they are in the first week of May on a remarkable 10-game winning streak and an even more remarkable 7-game lead over their closest competition in the AL West. Oh, and they have the American League’s best record at 18-7. Wait, the Houston Astros??


Their firm emergence has taken off for a variety of reasons, which makes them so dangerous right now. They’re receiving terrific starting pitching from what has become a very formidable 1-2 duo of Dallas Keuchel and Collin McHugh, and the bullpen has been solid with Luke Gregerson providing a comfortable presence in his newfound closing gig. Their offense has arguably been the club’s biggest strength, getting contributions from everyone. It’s easy to focus on reigning hits champion Jose Altuve and the surging George Springer, but with everyone playing a part now, it’s why the Astros have the third-most runs scored in the AL. Jake Marisnick, for instance, is raking at an impressive .382/.427/.632 clip, coming out of nowhere after producing nothing of note following the Jarred Cosart trade that brought him to Houston last year. Jed Lowrie, Luis Valbuena, and Colby Rasmus have already proven to be useful offseason role-player additions, combining for 15 home runs up to this point. The most underrated element about this team is their speed, with Altuve, Marisnick, and Springer each swiping nine bags, and are a combined 27-for-31 (87.1%!) on the basepaths. The Astros are clicking in every way possible and a series with the slumping Rangers beginning tonight gives them an opportunity to keep it up.


Fearless Prediction


-- The Twins are hot right now but I’m going to say the Athletics take their upcoming four-game set with them, which starts tonight with my top sleeper in baseball this year, Jesse Hahn, taking on Twins Opening Day starter Phil Hughes, who hasn’t been as consistent as he was last year so far. Overall, I think the A’s are underachieving, although it’s fair to expect some type of struggles with one of their main offensive and defensive players, Ben Zobrist, landing on the disabled list. The Twins have gotten hot after disposing of the White Sox, and now find themselves above .500 after an inauspicious start. I actually had them finishing above the Royals in my MLB Preview so I’m not surprised with their recent surge, but I just think they’ll cool off a little bit, allowing a hungry A’s team that has some confidence again to capitalize and take this series.

Analyzing Early Starts


May 4, 2015


Baseball Hot and Cold Starts


More than any other sport, baseball is a game of patience. It's not how you start, but where you finish, and with a 162-game regular season, there is a LOT of baseball left. Did your team get off to a bad start? Well don't panic. There is plenty of time to make adjustments and turn things around. Did your team get off to a hot start? Don't start making World Series reservations just yet.

A year ago this week Kansas City was 14-17 and, as usual, going nowhere in the American League. Fast forward to October and the amazing Royals were hosting Game 7 of the World Series. A year ago in June the San Francisco Giants had a miserable 5-18 skid, certainly not looking like the champs they would become in October.

Two summers ago Boston had a major makeover from a last place finish and won the World Series. But hot starts don’t guarantee anything. A year ago this week the Milwaukee Brewers were 22-11, distancing itself from the pack in the NL Central. But when the season ended, there they were in third place with an 82-80 mark. Two years ago in June the Dodgers were sitting in last place with a 29-38 record, looking up at four other teams. By the time October rolled around they were in first place, 11-game ahead of Arizona!

The Giants have won three of the last five World Series but have been roughly a .500 thus far. No matter. Three years ago they were also just a .500 team, trailing the Dodgers the first week of May in 2012.

Four years ago this week Texas was a .500 team sitting in third place in AL West, but wound up as AL Champs in October. Five years ago the Giants were a mediocre 18-15 and went on to win the World Series, the same season the eventual champion New York Yankees were 15-17. Yes, that's right, they had a terrible start, before going on a 16-4 run on the way to another pennant.

Look at it another way: the only NL division leader a year ago at this time that went on to win the division was Washington. And in the AL the Angels ended up passing Oakland by 10 games. Two years ago Texas and Arizona were leading in both West divisions in May, but ended up losing out the division titles to Oakland and the Dodgers.

So don't panic if your team is stumbling and don't start thinking about printing playoff tickets if your team started 18-7 (Houston). Some of the early season disappointments have been the Indians, Mariners, Pirates and Nationals. But remember that a few years ago the Phillies started 1-7 and ended up as NL East champs, while the eventual NL Champion Rockies were 10-16, last place in the NL West at the end of April, and 45-46 at the All Star break.

In 2003, the Florida Marlins started 19-29 and ended up winning the World Series. In 2002, the Los Angeles Angels started 6-14 and wound up winning their first World Series.

Oakland GM Billy Beane once said you spend the first third of the season seeing what you have and evaluating your team. The middle third trying to acquire pieces to fill weak spots, and the final third sitting back and watching the team make a run at the postseason -- or not. We are in the first third of the season and there's a long way to go. General Managers are in the process of evaluating what they have.

In the same way GMs need patience when analyzing baseball, so do handicappers. Surprises will emerge over a long season and offer smart bettors good value for their wagering dollar, even with individual players. Pitchers are more susceptible to injuries than any other professional athletes and remember that betting numbers are made based on current and past performance. It can take a while before oddsmakers catch on to a struggling or injured pitcher.

A few years ago the Royals started 17-4, the Mariners started 40-18 and the Diamondbacks were 52-42 at the All Star break. None made the playoffs. Those examples give hope to those teams that are off to struggling starts and should provide caution to teams that are in first place.


After all, it's only May!

Preview: Marlins (12-13) at Nationals (12-14)
Game: 2
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: May 05, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

After prevailing in a variety of ways during their recent surge, the Washington Nationals will try to extend Mat Latos' longest winless streak in four years.


Washington seeks a seventh victory in eight games Tuesday night against Latos and the visiting Miami Marlins.


The Nationals (13-14) seemed to hit rock bottom during a six-game losing streak from April 22-27, but have been virtually impossible to keep down over the past week. They blew Atlanta away with back-to-back 13-run performances in two wins last week, then stymied the New York Mets, holding them to six runs in taking three of four, including consecutive shutouts over the weekend.


Monday called for a late rally, as they scored four runs in the eighth inning of a 6-4 win over Miami. Yunel Escobar had a career-high five hits including the go-ahead single, and Ian Desmond is 5 for 11 over his last three games after homering. He had been 0 for 27 in his previous seven contests.


"It gives them confidence that they're not out of a game, which is a good thing," manager Matt Williams said.


Latos (0-3, 6.86 ERA) left due to a strained hamstring in the fifth inning Wednesday against the Mets, apparently injuring himself while running out a single after giving up three runs in an eventual 7-3 Marlins victory. He was cleared to start after throwing a successful bullpen session Saturday.


"He threw and it went well," manager Mike Redmond told MLB's official website. "That's good for us."


The right-hander's seven-start winless stretch going back to last season is tied for his second-longest, trailing an 11-outing drought from Sept. 12, 2010-May 9, 2011.


Latos' lone quality start with his new club came against the Nationals as he limited them to two runs over 6 1-3 innings in Miami's 3-2 victory on April 24. He's 0-2 in his last five matchups despite a 3.18 ERA, receiving four runs of support in 28 1-3 innings.


Washington's Stephen Strasburg (2-2, 4.60) underwhelmed in April, though he comes off a better outing Thursday. He retired 10 straight after giving up two runs during a 5 1-3-inning effort in an 8-2 win against the Mets.


He was mediocre in an 8-0 loss at Miami on April 25, giving up four runs in six innings. The fireballer is 4-0 with a 1.85 ERA in nine matchups with the Marlins at Nationals Park since dropping his first career home start against them.


Miami (12-14) has given up six runs in back-to-back losses after winning nine of 10. The bullpen threw 8 1-3 scoreless innings in sweeping a home series from Washington from April 24-26, but was unreliable Monday with Bryan Morris allowing the four late runs in a blown save.


Giancarlo Stanton is 2 for 15 over his last four games after an 0-for-4 night, but he's 12 for 30 with three homers and six doubles against Strasburg. Marcell Ozuna is 7 for 16 versus the right-hander.


Dee Gordon is 21 for 35 during a nine-game hitting streak, while Washington's Wilson Ramos is 14 for 36 during his own nine-game run.


Two of Jayson Werth's three multihit games have come against the Marlins, though he's just 1 for 15 off Latos.


All three players to record a five-hit game this season played Monday: Escobar, Gordon and Denard Span.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Marlins at Nationals
Mon, May 4 Final 4 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Marlins at Nationals
Tue, May 5 - 7:05PM EDT


GAME 3
Marlins at Nationals
Wed, May 6 - 1:05PM EDT

Preview: Yankees (16-9) at Blue Jays (12-14)
Game: 2
Venue: Rogers Centre
Date: May 05, 2015 7:07 PM EDT

Marco Estrada enjoyed a successful stint in the Toronto Blue Jays' bullpen, but there's reason to believe he could run into trouble in his first start of the season Tuesday night against the New York Yankees.


A night after racking up 14 hits in an 8-5 win over Boston, the Yankees (16-10) were stymied by R.A. Dickey on Monday, finishing with three hits in a 3-1 loss. Alex Rodriguez was hitless in four at_bats and Stephen Drew fell to 0 for 17 in his last five contests for New York, which had a six-game road winning streak snapped.


Yankees infielder Chase Headley said their struggles revolved around Dickey's knuckleball.


'It's really tough because it's so much different than anything that you do,' he said. 'You can't really prepare for it.'


New York won't have to worry about facing another knuckleballer Tuesday and will get two regulars back. Mark Teixeira, hitting .202 with team highs of nine home runs and 20 RBIs, and Brian McCann, second on the team with 15 RBIs, both got Monday off to rest.


Despite Dickey's gem, the Blue Jays (13-14) still have one of baseball's worst ERAs at 4.97. In an effort to shake things up, rookie left-hander Daniel Norris was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo on Friday and Estrada (1-0, 0.84 ERA) will take his place in the rotation. Estrada was 7-6 with a 4.96 ERA in 18 starts for Milwaukee in 2014.


The right-hander has limited left-hander batters to one hit in 16 at_bats and righties haven't fared much better, going 3 for 19. He has allowed one homer, though, one season after serving up a major league-worst 29 in just 150 2-3 innings.


New York's 33 home runs are among the most in baseball.


The Yankees are also one of baseball's top teams in drawing walks with 95 and Estrada has issued five in 10 2-3 innings. New York likes to work the count, averaging 3.98 pitches per plate appearance to rank among the most in the majors. That doesn't seem to bode well for Estrada, who has not pitched more than three innings in six relief appearances this season.


Estrada's only outing against the Yankees came in a relief appearance in 2011.


Michael Pineda (3-0, 3.73) has had no problems issuing base on balls, with an AL-best 16.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He has walked two all season, with one coming against the Blue Jays in his first start. The righty allowed two runs and six hits in six innings of a 4-3 win in that one.


Pineda, who gave up two runs and six hits in 5 2-3 innings of Wednesday's 3-2, 13-inning loss to Tampa Bay, lost both starts at Toronto last season despite a 2.25 ERA.


The Blue Jays got all their runs Monday in the eighth inning off relievers Chris Martin and Dellin Betances for a fourth straight home win following a 2-5 start in Toronto. Edwin Encarnacion doubled to tie the game before pinch-hitter Russell Martin singled home the go-ahead run.


Martin is 6 for 11 with two homers and three RBIs in his last three games.


"He's a pro, nothing takes him by surprise," Dickey told MLB's official website.


Encarnacion has gone 10 for 29 during a seven-game hitting streak, raising his average 48 points to .221. He is 6 for 16 with two homers, a double and four RBIs against the Yankees this season and 4 for 16 versus Pineda.


Jose Bautista is 1 for 16 with 10 strikeouts in the season series and 2 for 17 with a homer and seven strikeouts against Pineda.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Yankees at Blue Jays
Mon, May 4 Final 1 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Yankees at Blue Jays
Tue, May 5 - 7:07PM EDT


GAME 3
Yankees at Blue Jays
Wed, May 6 - 7:07PM EDT

Preview: Reds (12-13) at Pirates (12-13)
Game: 1
Venue: PNC Park
Date: May 05, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

Although the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds haven't played their best baseball through the first month, the Reds can draw on success in the season series when the teams meet Tuesday night to open a three-game set.


Pittsburgh, on the other hand, will be playing at home - a comfort that could turn the tide for the Pirates after a disheartening road swing.


Pittsburgh (12-13) was swept at Cincinnati (12-13) in three games to open the year and is coming off its second winless series of the season, having dropped three consecutive extra-inning games to St. Louis.


Radhames Liz allowed the tying run in the 12th inning and a walk-off homer in the 14th of a 3-2 loss Sunday, capping a 1-5 trip for the Pirates.


"We're all going out there to give the team the best chance to win, and the way things are going now, we gotta keep the scoring as low as possible," right-hander Vance Worley told MLB's official website. "It's a matter of time before we all bust out of our funk."


Pittsburgh scored two or fewer runs in its five defeats on the trip. Andrew McCutchen has batted only .240 during a five-game hitting streak, but that's brought his average up to .193. He has one extra base hit in his last 12 games.


McCutchen batted .380 in 19 games against the Reds last season with six home runs, six doubles and one triple.


The Pirates will face Michael Lorenzen, who will make his second career start. The right-hander allowed three solo home runs and eight hits in five innings of an 8-3 loss to Milwaukee in his major league debut Wednesday.


"It was a first step in learning how to pitch (in the big leagues)," manager Bryan Price said afterward. "You can practice all you want in the minor leagues, but it's a new education when you get here ... I was happy with his stuff and how he composed himself in some tough spots. All in all, pretty good job."


Opposing Lorenzen is Jeff Locke (2-1, 4.76), who gave up five earned runs and eight hits in 3 2-3 innings of a 6-2 road defeat to the Chicago Cubs last Tuesday. Pirates starters have posted a 1.48 ERA in four games since.


The left-hander has given up nine earned runs in 8 2-3 innings over his past two outings. However, he's 2-1 with a 2.75 ERA in seven career starts against Cincinnati, allowing two or fewer runs in six of them.


The Reds were shut out for the second time this season Sunday, managing four singles in a 5-0 defeat to Atlanta that gave them a four-game split.


Todd Frazier went 4 for 13 with two home runs, one double, four runs and four RBIs in Cincinnati's sweep of Pittsburgh on April 6-9. He has six homers in his last 11 games against the Pirates, and is 6 for 15 (.400) with a home run off Locke in his career.


Center fielder Billy Hamilton, expected to return to the lineup Tuesday after getting the day off Sunday, is 4 for 7 against Locke.


Shortstop Zack Cosart, 6 for 13 in the three games prior to Sunday, departed with a bruised right index finger. X-rays were negative and his status is uncertain.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Reds at Pirates
Tue, May 5 - 7:05PM EDT


GAME 2
Reds at Pirates
Wed, May 6 - 7:05PM EDT


GAME 3
Reds at Pirates
Thu, May 7 - 7:05PM EDT

Preview: Phillies (9-17) at Braves (12-13)
Game: 2
Venue: Turner Field
Date: May 05, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

While rehabbing from a second surgery on his elbow, Chad Billingsley focused on getting to the moment that will happen Tuesday night.


That's when Billingsley will take the mound in a major league game for the first time in two years as he tries to deliver a third straight win for the Philadelphia Phillies and second consecutive series victory over the Atlanta Braves.


Billingsley is set to make his first MLB appearance since April 15, 2013, with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The right-hander chose not to have surgery for a partial torn ulnar collateral ligament after the 2012 season and only made two starts after getting plasma injections.


Billingsley underwent Tommy John surgery and tore a flexor tendon in his elbow during rehab. The Dodgers declined his option in October and the Phillies signed him to a one-year contract in January.


"It's going to be really fun," Billingsley told MLB's official website "I've missed that part of the game, having my mind worry about (hitters) and not worrying about this (elbow). I'm just really happy and relieved. This is all in the past now."


Billingsley is getting a chance with Cliff Lee out for the season and David Buchanan back in the minors.


"You just sit back and you think about how much fun it was to be out there competing and pitching every fifth day," Billingsley said. "That's what kind of motivated me. So I had to think like that and continue, to achieve this."


Philadelphia (10-17) registered a season-high 14 hits in a 5-2 win in Monday's series opener as former Braves outfielder Jeff Francoeur snapped an 0-for-19 slump with his first four-hit game in three years.


Francoeur, hitting .230 in his prior 35 contests against Atlanta, finished a homer shy of the cycle and drove in two runs.


"Anytime that happens it feels good but obviously in Atlanta, with my family and my daughter here, it was special," he said.


The Phillies have yet to win three straight but they've taken three of four from Atlanta (12-14) this season.


The Braves will send out their most consistent starter in Shelby Miller (3-1, 2.17 ERA). The right-hander allowed two earned runs or fewer for the fifth consecutive time Thursday and pitched a season-best seven innings but lost 5-1 against Cincinnati.


"I thought Shelby Miller was outstanding today," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "If he goes out and gives you 28 more starts like that, he's going to have a (great) year."


Miller yielded Ryan Howard's two-run homer and two other hits in six innings in his prior outing, a 5-2 road win over the Phillies on April 25. Howard has three home runs and a single in seven at_bats against him.


Billingsley is facing Atlanta for the first time since a 5-0 win at Turner Field on Aug. 19, 2012. He's 2-3 with a 3.38 ERA in eight starts against the Braves and went 2-0 with a 1.57 ERA in his last four in Atlanta.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Phillies at Braves
Mon, May 4 Final 5 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Phillies at Braves
Tue, May 5 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Phillies at Braves
Wed, May 6 - 7:10PM EDT

Preview: Orioles (12-11) at Mets (16-10)
Game: 1
Venue: Citi Field
Date: May 05, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

While the New York Mets' offense has fallen off since an 11-game win streak, the Baltimore Orioles have gone in the other direction following a five-game skid.


The clubs meet Tuesday night in New York for a quick two-game set, and the early season form of both starting pitchers could complicate those trends.


Since their impressive run gave them a 4 1/2-game lead in the NL East, the Mets (16-10) have gone 3-7 with 28 runs scored and a .217 average. Sunday's home loss to Washington was their second straight by a 1-0 score and they dropped three of four in the series.


"We haven't been able to get the big hit," Michael Cuddyer told MLB's official website. "When we were winning games last week, we were getting the big hit."


Since dipping to the bottom of the AL East at 7-10, the Orioles (12-11) are 5-1 with 39 runs scored and a .297 average. That offense leveled out some over the weekend in Tampa Bay, but Baltimore still took two of three with Sunday's 4-2 victory.


Adam Jones was a career best-matching 4 for 4 with two RBIs to bump his average to an AL-best .402. His third four-hit game tied his single-season bests (2011, 2014) and made him the first Orioles player to have four or more hits three times in the first 23 games.


In records dating to 1914, the only other player in franchise history to do it was Baby Doll Jacobson in 1924 for the St. Louis Browns.


"I've got one simple philosophy ... get the heater and try not to miss it," Jones said.


He'll put it to action against Bartolo Colon, whose four-start winning streak to begin the season ended in Wednesday's 7-3 loss in Miami. Colon (4-1, 3.31 ERA) allowed four runs and nine hits in 6 2-3 innings.


Although he was at his most hittable, he didn't issue a walk for a fourth straight start and has surrendered one in 32 2-3 innings, resulting in a 0.98 WHIP.


Colon is no stranger to the AL, but that familiarity did him no good in his first season with the Mets, going 3-2 with a 6.00 ERA. The right-hander hasn't faced the Orioles since 2013 but is 2-1 with a 2.27 ERA in his last seven games against them. Delmon Young is 4 for 8 in their matchups, while Chris Davis is 4 for 10 with a home run.


Bud Norris is no stranger to the NL, and given how his season has gone, he might welcome a change of pace in an NL park. After a disastrous first three starts, Norris (1-2, 12.18) began to right things in an 18-7 win over Boston on April 26. The right-hander allowed three runs and seven hits in 6 2-3 innings to pick up his first victory after a promising debut season in Baltimore.


"This guy won 15 games last year, and he was in attack mode today," manager Buck Showalter said. "... It was a good reminder of how good he was for us last year and will be again."


Against the NL last year, he was 2-3 with a 5.40 ERA and allowed eight runs in eight innings at NL parks. Norris is 0-1 with a 6.17 ERA at Citi Field.


The Mets, who opened interleague play by losing two of three against the Yankees from April 24-26, last finished a season under .500 against the AL in 2009, going 53-41 since despite never winning 80 games in that span.


Baltimore hasn't had a winning record in NL parks since 2009, going 19-28 since.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Orioles at Mets
Tue, May 5 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 2
Orioles at Mets
Wed, May 6 - 7:10PM EDT

Preview: Tigers (17-9) at White Sox (8-14)
Game: 1
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: May 05, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

Robin Ventura can't pick up a bat to help the Chicago White Sox's low-scoring offense produce more runs.


He can't get inside his players' heads when they're making poor baserunning decisions, and he surely won't be taking the mound to replace one of the many struggling members of the pitching staff.


Those stand as just some of the reasons the White Sox are defending their manager for the club's ugly start as they try to avoid a sixth straight defeat in Tuesday night's opener with the visiting Detroit Tigers.


Jose Abreu publicly backed Ventura hours before Chicago (8-14) laid another egg in a 13-3 loss to Minnesota on Sunday. The White Sox, who average the fewest runs in the AL and haven't homered in eight games, are being outscored 39-10 during their skid, leading outsiders to wonder if Ventura is on the hot seat.


'It's a bad week, there's no way around it,' Ventura said.


Problems at the plate are just the start. An illness circulated the clubhouse, forcing Adam Eaton to miss the last three games and Adam LaRoche to leave in the fifth inning Sunday.


Chicago also ranks near the bottom of the majors in ERA (4.56) and opponents' batting average (.278). Jeff Samardzija, one of the key acquisitions that raised the club's expectations, has allowed at least four runs in three of his five starts.


Samardzija (1-2, 4.78 ERA) gave up eight runs and 10 hits in five innings of an 8-2 loss to Baltimore on Wednesday in his first start since appealing a five-game suspension for his role in a benches-clearing brawl with Kansas City on April 23.


Performances like that won't help his value when he becomes a free agent at the end of the season.


"The better I play, the better situation I put myself in," Samardzija told MLB's official website. "That feeling of going out and having a successful eight or nine innings and giving up no runs or one run, that's what it's all about. Everything else takes care of itself."


Samardzija had his best effort in his first career start against the Tigers on April 17, allowing one run - Yoenis Cespedes' homer in the fourth - in eight innings of Chicago's 2-1 loss.


Cespedes had two hits, Miguel Cabrera had a two-run homer and Alex Avila drove in three runs as Detroit (17-9) beat Kansas City 6-4 on Sunday to take the final two of a four-game series.


The Tigers now look to beat the White Sox for the fifth time in six meetings behind Shane Greene, who has tailed off after a solid start.


Greene (3-1, 4.60) won his first three outings with a 0.39 ERA, allowing his only earned run in that stretch while going seven innings in a 9-1 win over the White Sox on April 19.


He then gave up eight runs in four innings of a 13-1 loss to Cleveland on April 24 before surrendering seven in 4 1-3 innings of Detroit's 10-7 comeback win over Minnesota on Wednesday.


Manager Brad Ausmus, a catcher for 18 seasons in the majors, caught Greene's bullpen session earlier this week to get a better understanding of why the right-hander has struggled.


"I wanted to get a view of his pitches from a perspective that I know," Ausmus said. "He looked good."


Former Tiger Avisail Garcia is 0 for 5 against Greene, but he's batting .417 during a nine-game hitting streak after going 3 for 4 on Sunday.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Tigers at White Sox
Tue, May 5 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 2
Tigers at White Sox
Wed, May 6 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Tigers at White Sox
Thu, May 7 - 2:10PM EDT

Preview: Indians (9-15) at Royals (16-9)
Game: 1
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: May 05, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

Last season, Danny Salazar may have played the largest role in the Cleveland Indians' starting staff getting off to a particularly poor start.


The rotation has been even worse this year, but the 25-year-old isn't to blame.


The right-hander will try to continue buoying the staff in his first May start Tuesday night in Kansas City, where the Indians have won four straight.


Salazar (3-0, 3.32 ERA) was called up from Triple-A Columbus on April 18, and in retrospect, it probably should have happened sooner. He wasn't at his best in Wednesday's 7-5 home win over Kansas City, surrendering four runs and six hits in six innings, but he's struck out 28 while issuing five walks in 19 innings over three starts.


The rotation as a whole has a 5.29 ERA. Last season, Salazar went 0-3 with a 6.04 ERA in five April starts as the staff struggled through its worst month with a 5.04 mark.


He points to more consistent use and execution of a curveball, which he almost never used before, as a way to avoid having starts such as his last go from trying to terrible.


"I'm trying to feel comfortable with it," Salazar told MLB's official website. "Sometimes it's going to be there, sometimes it's not going to be there. It's a new pitch that I'm trying out right now and if I feel like it's working, I'm going to use it."


Salazar is 3-3 with a 5.45 ERA in six starts against the Royals, but he's 2-1 with a 3.50 ERA at Kauffman Stadium. Eric Hosmer is 6 for 12 with a home run and three doubles against him, but Omar Infante (1 for 12), Salvador Perez (3 for 16) and Alex Gordon (3 for 15) have all struggled.


He's trying to help the Indians (9-15) to their first back-to-back wins since taking two of three in a season-opening series in Houston. They beat Toronto 10-7 on Sunday to earn a four-game split, and support has been good at 5.80 runs per game in their last 10.


Jason Kipnis was 4 for 5 with a home run and is 8 for 12 with two homers in three games and three in his last five since going 67 without leaving the yard. Michael Brantley went 2 for 3 and is 18 for 40 in his last 10.


The stretch of recent success at the plate includes dropping two of three at home to the Royals (16-9) from April 27-29.


Kansas City followed that series by splitting four at home against Detroit, but the set ended with two losses. In Sunday's 6-4 defeat, the team's six-hit effort dipped its MLB-leading on-base percentage (.349) under .350 for the first time.


Kansas City is trying to avoid it's first three-game losing streak since being swept in three by Cleveland to end August on a four-game skid.


The Royals could have All-Star closer Greg Holland (pectoral strain) back from the disabled list. He last pitched April 17 and has allowed one baserunner in four innings, so if Jason Vargas is able to get him the ball, the Royals should be in good shape.


Vargas (2-1, 5.95), however, has been a problem in the rotation along with Jeremy Guthrie and Yordano Ventura. Vargas limited Cleveland to two runs and three hits and earned the decision in a 6-2 win April 27, but he walked five.


"It's the third day of May," manager Ned Yost said after Sunday's loss. "These guys work really hard. When they're going through periods like this, they continue to work hard. They'll figure it out."


The left-hander is 4-3 with a 5.05 ERA in 10 starts against the Indians.


Lorenzo Cain is completing a two-game suspension and is eligible to return Wednesday.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Indians at Royals
Tue, May 5 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 2
Indians at Royals
Wed, May 6 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Indians at Royals
Thu, May 7 - 2:10PM EDT

Preview: Diamondbacks (10-14) at Rockies (11-13)
Game: 2
Venue: Coors Field
Date: May 05, 2015 8:40 PM EDT

Tyler Matzek got the Colorado Rockies off to a good start on their road trip by beating the Arizona Diamondbacks, but nothing went right during the remainder of it.


Matzek will try to help the Rockies end a five-game slide by beating the Diamondbacks again Tuesday night after the opener of this three-game series in Denver was postponed because of rain.


Colorado (11-13) won 5-4 at Arizona last Monday as Matzek (2-0, 2.70 ERA) yielded two runs over five-plus innings, continuing a strong start to a season in which he has given up one or two runs in every outing.


That was the only victory for the Rockies on the six-game trip, capped by a weekend sweep by San Diego in which Colorado was outscored 26-11.


"We need to get better," said third baseman Nolan Arenado, who homered three times over the weekend. "We need to do everything - pitch better, hit better with men on base. All around, we are not very good right now. We need to start changing it up because losing gets contagious and people start to get out of it. We need to start winning.'


Matzek will try to lead Colorado out of its funk after he got some extra rest last Monday, when he left his outing with cramping in his left hamstring, and when this series opener was postponed. He blamed the desert conditions for his exit after 80 pitches and has had no setbacks in two ensuing bullpen sessions.


The left-hander is 2-1 with a 2.65 ERA in three starts against the Diamondbacks, holding Ender Inciarte hitless in nine at_bats.


"He's kept the opposing team from scoring this year," manager Walt Weiss told MLB's official website. "He's had some baserunners, but he's made pitches. He keeps us in position to win games."


Arizona (10-14) has won the last four starts by Josh Collmenter (2-3, 2.76) against Colorado, with the right-hander going 1-0 with a 3.08 ERA. The victory was Wednesday's 9-1 rout in which Collmenter yielded an unearned run in eight innings and retired 12 straight at one point.


He's 0-1 with a 5.49 ERA in four starts at Coors Field, however.


Numerous Rockies have enjoyed success against him, including Troy Tulowitzki (6 for 20), Carlos Gonzalez (5 for 15), Charlie Blackmon (5 for 14) and Nick Hundley (6 for 14). DJ LeMahieu is 0 for 10 in the matchup.


Hundley was rested in Sunday's 8-6 loss. He can extend his hitting streak to a career-high 10 games after going 13 for 32 in his last nine.


Blackmon has gone 5 for 9 with three solo homers in his past two games and 14 for 33 in his last seven.


The Diamondbacks were swept over the weekend by the Los Angeles Dodgers, falling 1-0 in 13 innings Sunday. A.J. Pollock was 1 for 13 in the series and rookie Yasmany Tomas 2 for 12.


Slugger Paul Goldschmidt has gone 15 for 27 over his last six games, including 9 for 14 against Colorado. He's reached base in his last 20 against the Rockies, batting .475 with five homers, 14 walks and 27 RBIs.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Diamondbacks at Rockies
Mon, May 4 - 8:40PM EDT


GAME 2
Diamondbacks at Rockies
Tue, May 5 - 8:40PM EDT


GAME 3
Diamondbacks at Rockies
Wed, May 6 - 3:10PM EDT

Preview: Dodgers (16-8) at Brewers (7-18)
Game: 2
Venue: Miller Park
Date: May 05, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

Craig Counsell won his managerial debut with the Milwaukee Brewers and now a former teammate will try to deal him the first loss.


The Brewers go for a fourth straight win Tuesday night when they face the Los Angeles Dodgers, who again turn to Zack Greinke following a defeat.


Milwaukee (8-18), owner of the worst record in baseball, hired Counsell on Monday after dismissing Ron Roenicke a day earlier.


The Brewers responded with a three-run eighth inning to rally for a 4-3 win over Los Angeles (16-9) in the opener of this four-game series.


"It was a special energy," said Ryan Braun, who had an RBI single. "It was weird at the end of the game. It had an atmosphere we hadn't been a part of for a very long time. It is special for us to have an opportunity to get him his first victory.


"Hopefully it is a sign of things to come."


Greinke (4-0, 1.93 ERA) is looking to spoil any of those good feelings, but he has an 8.10 ERA while losing two starts at Miller Park with Los Angeles. He went 15-0 with a 2.93 ERA in 23 games there with Milwaukee, including in 2011 as Counsell's teammate.


The right-hander enters this matchup in a familiar position, as three of his victories have followed Dodgers losses, including his last two.


Greinke battled through 110 pitches in six innings of Wednesday's 7-3 win over San Francisco, allowing three runs with six strikeouts while helping himself with a sacrifice fly.


"My arm still felt good when I came out. It was just that they drove the pitch count up - and they only give you so many pitches to use," Greinke said.


Yasmani Grandal had half of the Dodgers' six hits Monday. He's 7 for 9 with a homer, two doubles and two RBIs in the past three games, increasing his average 83 points to .262.


Grandal is 7 for 12 in his last three meetings with the Brewers, while Joc Pederson hit a solo homer in his first Monday.


Pederson has homered on five of his last six hits and his seven home runs tie him with Toronto's Devon Travis for the rookie lead.


The Brewers could use a bounce-back effort from Aramis Ramirez, who went 0 for 4 on Monday after going 8 for 16 with two homers and six RBIs over his five prior games.


He's 5 for 8 over the last two years against Greinke.


Milwaukee gives the ball to Matt Garza (2-3, 4.60), who has lost both of his home starts while allowing seven runs in 11 innings. The right-hander was solid on the road Wednesday, giving up two runs in 6 2-3 innings of an 8-3 win over Cincinnati.


He's facing the Dodgers for the first time in his 10-year career, but he's held Jimmy Rollins to four hits in 23 at_bats while Howie Kendrick is 7 for 12 with a homer.


Jean Segura's status is unclear for Milwaukee after missing Monday's game due to being hit in the helmet by a pitch in Sunday's 5-3 win over the Chicago Cubs. The shortstop, 6 for 17 in his last four home games, is 1 for 6 against Greinke.


Hector Gomez started in place of Segura and had a solo homer and a triple.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Dodgers at Brewers
Mon, May 4 Final 3 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Dodgers at Brewers
Tue, May 5 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Dodgers at Brewers
Wed, May 6 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 4
Dodgers at Brewers
Thu, May 7 - 1:40PM EDT

Preview: Rays (13-12) at Red Sox (12-13)
Game: 2
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: May 05, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

A chance to face the beleaguered Boston Red Sox staff appeared to give the Tampa Bay Rays just what they needed to break out of their funk at the plate.


They'll try to keep that momentum going while giving Drew Smyly enough support to earn his first win of the season Tuesday night in a matchup with former teammate Rick Porcello, who likely won't have Hanley Ramirez available to help him.


Tampa Bay (14-12) was batting .178 and had scored 10 runs in its six games before a 5-1 win at Fenway Park on Monday night. David DeJesus, 0 for 16 in his prior five contests, had two of the Rays' 11 hits and Logan Forsythe registered two for the fifth time in six contests.


"I do like the lineup we put out there today," manager Kevin Cash said. "The fact that we're versatile with the right-left going through the lineup is pretty important."


The Red Sox's ERA remained at 5.04 after their fourth straight loss, all at home. Their starters have posted a 6.00 mark and have a 6.05 staff ERA while losing nine of the last 12.


Porcello (2-2, 5.34 ERA) kept up his end Wednesday in a 4-1 win over Toronto, yielding one run and two hits over seven innings.


While with Detroit last season, the right-hander had vastly different showings in two starts against the Rays. He tossed a three-hitter in a 6-0 road win Aug. 20 and was tagged for seven runs in 5 2-3 innings in a 7-3 home loss July 6.


The Red Sox are probably hoping to see the Porcello's form from August, Ramirez's status is unclear. The outfielder left in the first inning after running into a side wall while trying to make a catch and spraining his left shoulder.


Ramirez tied a franchise record with his 10 home runs before May 1 but hasn't added to that total or driven in a run so far this month.


"He's day to day," manager John Farrell said. "Right now obviously with the sprain to the left shoulder on the collision, we're hopeful over the next couple days there's some improvement. There's no clear-cut DL at this point."


If Ramirez has to sit, it could make it a little easier for Smyly (0-0, 3.38) to record another effective outing. The left-hander has given up two runs or fewer in eight consecutive starts dating back to Aug. 11 and pitched at least six innings in all but two of those.


He gave up a pair of solo homers and two other hits in six innings Wednesday against the New York Yankees, but Tampa Bay needed 13 innings for a 3-2 win.


Smyly is 3-1 with a 2.42 ERA in 10 starts since being acquired from Detroit on July 31. He gave up two runs and three hits in 5 2-3 innings in a 4-3 win over Boston on Sept. 1 and went 1-0 with a 2.31 ERA in his two matchups last season.


Forsythe, 10 for 24 (.417) in his last six games, is 5 for 12 in four against Boston this season and 0 for 3 lifetime against Porcello.


David Ortiz, batting .385 (10 for 26) in his last seven contests, is 4 for 7 with a home run against Smyly in his career.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Rays at Red Sox
Mon, May 4 Final 5 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Rays at Red Sox
Tue, May 5 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Rays at Red Sox
Wed, May 6 - 7:10PM EDT