Cnotes Best Bets For Friday May 8th - MLB - NBA -NHL !

MLB MONEYLINE


MLB > (925) HOUSTON@ (926) LA ANGELS | 05/08/2015 - 10:05 PM
Play ON HOUSTON using the money line in Road games in games played on a grass field
The record is 10 Wins and 2 Losses for the this season (+10.32 units)


MLB > (927) OAKLAND@ (928) SEATTLE | 05/08/2015 - 10:10 PM
Play AGAINST OAKLAND using the money line in All games on the road when the total is 7 or less
The record is 4 Wins and 17 Losses for the last two seasons (-14.1 units)

MLB > (915) KANSAS CITY@ (916) DETROIT | 05/08/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play ON KANSAS CITY using the money line in Road games in night games
The record is 44 Wins and 23 Losses for the last two seasons (+24.35 units)


MLB > (917) BALTIMORE@ (918) NY YANKEES | 05/08/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play ON BALTIMORE using the money line in All games in night games
The record is 79 Wins and 49 Losses for the last two seasons (+35.05 units)

MLB > (905) ST LOUIS@ (906) PITTSBURGH | 05/08/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play ON PITTSBURGH using the money line in Home games when playing on Friday
The record is 13 Wins and 1 Losses for the last two seasons (+11.95 units)


MLB RUNLINE


MLB > (915) KANSAS CITY@ (916) DETROIT | 05/08/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play ON KANSAS CITY using the in All games when playing with a day off
The record is 19 Wins and 6 Losses for the last two seasons (+17.1 units)


MLB TOTALS




MLB > (901) ATLANTA@ (902) WASHINGTON | 05/08/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play OVER ATLANTA on the total in All games after a win
The record is 11 Overs and 1 Unders for the this season (+10.1 units)


MLB > (927) OAKLAND@ (928) SEATTLE | 05/08/2015 - 10:10 PM
Play OVER OAKLAND on the total in All games in all games
The record is 21 Overs and 7 Unders for the this season (+14.25 units)


MLB > (919) MINNESOTA@ (920) CLEVELAND | 05/08/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play OVER CLEVELAND on the total in All games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 10 Overs and 1 Unders for the this season (+9.05 units)


MLB TOP POWERLINES


MLB > (915) KANSAS CITY @ (916) DETROIT | 05/08/2015 - 07:05 PM
Line: DETROIT -165 BTB PowerLine: DETROIT 101
Edge On: DETROIT (41)


MLB > (903) NY METS @ (904) PHILADELPHIA | 05/08/2015 - 07:05 PM
Line: PHILADELPHIA +105 BTB PowerLine: PHILADELPHIA 179
Edge On: PHILADELPHIA (54)


MLB > (921) BOSTON @ (922) TORONTO | 05/08/2015 - 07:05 PM
Line: TORONTO -120 BTB PowerLine: TORONTO -143
Edge On: TORONTO (23)


MLB > (917) BALTIMORE @ (918) NY YANKEES | 05/08/2015 - 07:05 PM
Line: NY YANKEES -125 BTB PowerLine: NY YANKEES 116
Edge On: NY YANKEES (21)


MLB > (923) TEXAS @ (924) TAMPA BAY | 05/08/2015 - 07:10 PM
Line: TAMPA BAY -115 BTB PowerLine: TAMPA BAY 128
Edge On: TAMPA BAY (23)


MLB > (927) OAKLAND @ (928) SEATTLE | 05/08/2015 - 10:10 PM
Line: SEATTLE +105 BTB PowerLine: SEATTLE 198
Edge On: SEATTLE (73)


MLB > (913) MIAMI @ (914) SAN FRANCISCO | 05/08/2015 - 10:15 PM
Line: SAN FRANCISCO -130 BTB PowerLine: SAN FRANCISCO 147
Edge On: SAN FRANCISCO (57)

NBA MONEYLINE


NBA > (717) CLEVELAND@ (718) CHICAGO | 05/08/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play ON CHICAGO using the money line in All games revenging a loss vs opponent
The record is 73 Wins and 42 Losses for the last three seasons (+43.55 units)


NBA > (719) HOUSTON@ (720) LA CLIPPERS | 05/08/2015 - 10:35 PM
Play ON LA CLIPPERS using the money line in All games revenging a loss vs opponent
The record is 20 Wins and 10 Losses for the this season (+12.05 units)




NBA TOP POWERLINES


NBA > (717) CLEVELAND @ (718) CHICAGO | 05/08/2015 - 07:05 PM
Line: CHICAGO -2 BTB PowerLine: CHICAGO -1
Edge On: CHICAGO (1)


NBA > (719) HOUSTON @ (720) LA CLIPPERS | 05/08/2015 - 10:35 PM
Line: LA CLIPPERS -4 BTB PowerLine: LA CLIPPERS -8
Edge On: LA CLIPPERS (4)

NHL MONEYLINE


NHL > (7) ANAHEIM@ (8) CALGARY | 05/08/2015 - 09:05 PM
Play ON CALGARY using the money line in Home games after a division game
The record is 17 Wins and 3 Losses for the this season (+14.4 units)


NHL PUCKLINE


NHL > (7) ANAHEIM@ (8) CALGARY | 05/08/2015 - 09:05 PM
Play ON CALGARY using the in Home games after a division game
The record is 17 Wins and 3 Losses for the this season (+14.4 units)

JR Smith joins LeBron for Gm 3 vs Bulls


May 7, 2015


The statue outside is of Michael Jordan. The court inside, come playoff time, has often belonged to LeBron James.


James is headed back to Chicago - with J.R. Smith joining him for the first time in the series - when the Cleveland Cavaliers face the Bulls on Friday night in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.


The Los Angeles Clippers host the Houston Rockets in the other game on the NBA's playoff schedule after a leaguewide night off Thursday. That series is tied 1-1.


So is the East series after James had 33 points and eight rebounds Wednesday night in Cleveland's 106-91 victory. The Cavaliers will have to win in Chicago after losing home-court advantage by dropping the series opener, and James has often been up to the task.


His teams are 5-2 at the United Center in the postseason, with James averaging 28.6 points, 9.1 rebounds and 7.3 assists, according to STATS. That includes a series victory with the Cavs in 2010 and two with Miami.


''We're looking forward to the challenge, like we do every night. We know it's going to be a tough environment,'' James said after Game 2.


''These guys don't particularly know,'' he said about his inexperienced Cavs teammates, ''but I've been there before and I know how hard it is to win in that building. Those fans are amazing and they feed off their crowd and they play exceptional basketball at home, so we have to be just as good as we were tonight.''


Smith could help with that. Suspended for the first two games of the series for striking Boston's Jae Crowder in Game 4 of the Cavs' first-round sweep, he hasn't played since April 26, though Cavs coach David Blatt isn't worried that having to reintegrate him will be a problem.


''Absolutely it's an addition and a positive one. To that, there's no negative side,'' Blatt said. ''We're getting one of our main guys back, a guy who knows how to play, a guy who's been a big contributor and a guy who fits in with us. I don't see any negative in that, only a positive.''


A look at the two games Friday:


---


Cavaliers at Bulls, tied 1-1, 8 p.m. EDT, ESPN


Blatt said Iman Shumpert, who injured his groin in Game 2, was feeling better Thursday and was hopeful of playing. He said Shumpert's health could determine if he remains in the starting lineup or if Smith reclaims his spot.


Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau seems committed to keeping his lineup as is, even with center Joakim Noah struggling. Noah is 1 for 14 from the free throw line in the postseason and Thibodeau was asked Thursday if he would consider starting backup forward Taj Gibson instead.


''Not right now,'' Thibodeau said. ''When Jo was on the floor, we were a plus. You've got to look at a lot of things. We'll see how it unfolds, but Jo brings a lot to our team.''


Noah is leading the Bulls with 10.8 rebounds per game in the postseason and said his free-throw woes haven't become a mental thing.


''It's disappointing,'' he said. ''I've just got to keep working and make them tomorrow.''


---


Rockets at Clippers, tied 1-1, 10:30 p.m. EDT, ESPN


Chris Paul tested his injured hamstring on the court Thursday, though it's still unknown if he can play Friday in the first game at Staples Center since his series-winning shot against San Antonio last Saturday in Game 7.


''My guess is it's going to come down to the eye and feel test. With hamstrings, there really is no gauge,'' Clippers coach Doc Rivers said.


The Clippers took the opener in Houston without Paul and had a nine-point lead at halftime of Game 2 before the Rockets surged ahead behind James Harden's big fourth quarter and won 115-109.


''We've got momentum,'' Harden said. ''That second half we played extremely well and we're going to take this momentum and take it into Game 3. It's going to be a great test for us.''


If Paul can't play, the pressure remains on Blake Griffin, who was dominant in the first three halves without his point guard but seemed to wear down in the second half of Game 2. He had only eight points after scoring 26 before the break.


''In the first half, he got what he wanted. In the second half, we made it a little more difficult for him,'' Rockets center Dwight Howard said. ''He's a terrific scorer, especially in the open court. We just have to do a better job of fighting for 48 minutes and not allowing him to have those big games.''

Wall has multiple fractures in left wrist


May 7, 2015


WASHINGTON (AP) - The Washington Wizards say All-Star guard John Wall suffered five non-displaced fractures in his left wrist and hand, and his playing status has not been determined.


Wall was hurt in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Atlanta Hawks. Initial X-rays were negative, but ''multiple examinations'' on Wednesday revealed the injuries, the team announced Thursday.


Washington hosts Atlanta for Game 3 on Saturday. The Hawks won Game 2 to even the series at 1-1.


Though he practiced following Sunday's series-opening win in Atlanta, Wall was a surprise inactive for Game 2 Tuesday. With his left wrist noticeably swollen, the point guard struggled with various drills during pregame warm-ups.


The Wizards added they and Wall are consulting with multiple physicians and specialists to determine the best course of action.

2015 NBA Playoffs: Series schedules, results, TV info and playoff bracket


Western Conference Semifinals




L.A. CLIPPERS
vs. HOUSTON ROCKETS


Game 1 - Monday, May 4
Los Angeles Clippers 117, Houston 101


Game 2 - Wednesday, May 6
Houston 115, Los Angeles Clippers 109 - Series tied 1-1


Game 3 - Friday, May 8
Houston at Los Angeles Clippers, 10:30 p.m. (ESPN)


Game 4 - Sunday, May 10
Houston at Los Angeles Clippers, 8:30 p.m. (TNT)


Game 5 - Tuesday, May 12
Los Angeles Clippers at Houston, (TNT)


Game 6 - Thursday, May 14
Houston at Los Angeles Clippers, (ESPN) - If necessary


Game 7 - Sunday, May 17
Los Angeles Clippers at Houston - If necessary






GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
vs. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES


Game 1 - Sunday, May 3
Golden State 101, Memphis 86


Game 2 - Tuesday, May 5
Memphis 97, Golden State 90 - Series tied 1-1


Game 3 - Saturday, May 9
Golden State at Memphis, 8 p.m. (ABC)


Game 4 - Monday, May 11
Golden State at Memphis, 9:30 p.m. (TNT)


Game 5 - Wednesday, May 13
Memphis at Golden State, TBD (TNT)


Game 6 - Friday, May 15
Golden State at Memphis, TBD (ESPN) - If necessary


Game 7 - Sunday, May 17
Memphis at Golden State, TBD - If necessary






Eastern Conference Semifinals




CHICAGO BULLS
vs. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS


Game 1 - Monday, May 4
Chicago 99, Cleveland 92


Game 2 - Wednesday, May 6
Cleveland 106, Chicago 91 - Series tied 1-1


Game 3 - Friday, May 8
Cleveland at Chicago, TBD (ESPN)


Game 4 - Sunday, May 10
Cleveland at Chicago, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)


Game 5 - Tuesday, May 12
Chicago at Cleveland, TBD (TNT)


Game 6 - Thursday, May 14
Cleveland at Chicago, TBD (ESPN) - If necessary


Game 7 - Sunday, May 17
Chicago at Cleveland, TBD (TNT) - If necessary






WASHINGTON WIZARDS
vs. ATLANTA HAWKS


Game 1 - Sunday, May 3
Washington 104, Atlanta 98


Game 2 - Tuesday, May 5
Atlanta 106, Washington 90 - Series tied 1-1


Game 3 - Saturday, May 9
Atlanta at Washington, 5 p.m. (ESPN)


Game 4 - Monday, May 11
Atlanta at Washington, 7 p.m. (TNT)


Game 5 - Wednesday, May 13
Washington at Atlanta, TBD (TNT)


Game 6 - Friday, May 15
Atlanta at Washington, TBD (ESPN) - If necessary


Game 7 - Monday, May 18
Washington at Atlanta, 8 p.m. (TNT) - If necessary

2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs second-round matchups, TV schedule


Eastern Conference


New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals


EASTERN CONFERENCE ROUND TWO


GAME DATE/SERIES LOCATION TIME NATIONAL TV


Game 1: Capitals 2, Rangers 1 Washington leads 1-0 New York 7:30 p.m. ET NBCSN


Game 2: Rangers 3, Capitals 2 Series tied 1-1 New York 12:30 p.m. ET NBC


Game 3: Capitals 1, Rangers 0 Washington leads 2-1 Washington 7:30 p.m. ET NBCSN


Game 4: Capitals 2, Rangers 1 Washington leads 3-1 Washington 7:30 p.m. ET NBCSN


Game 5 Friday, May 8 New York 7 p.m. ET NBCSN


Game 6 (if necessary) Sunday, May 10 Washington TBD TBD


Game 7 (if necessary) Wednesday, May 13 New York TBD TBD






Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning


EASTERN CONFERENCE ROUND TWO


GAME DATE/SERIES LOCATION TIME NATIONAL TV


Game 1: Lightning 2, Canadiens 1 (2OT) Tampa Bay leads 1-0 Montreal 7 p.m. ET NBCSN


Game 2: Lightning 6, Canadiens 2 Tampa Bay leads 2-0 Montreal 6 p.m. ET NBCSN


Game 3: Lightning 2, Canadiens 1 Tampa Bay leads 3-0 Tampa Bay 7 p.m. ET USA


Game 4: Thursday, May 7 Tampa Bay 7 p.m. ET NBCSN


Game 5 (if necessary) Saturday, May 9 Montreal TBD TBD


Game 6 (if necessary) Tuesday, May 12 Tampa Bay TBD TBD


Game 7 (if necessary) Thursday, May 14 Montreal TBD TBD


Western Conference


Anaheim Ducks vs. Calgary Flames


WESTERN CONFERENCE ROUND TWO


GAME DATE/SERIES LOCATION TIME NATIONAL TV


Game 1: Ducks 6, Flames 1 Anaheim leads 1-0 Anaheim 10 p.m. ET NBCSN


Game 2: Ducks 3, Flames 0 Anaheim leads 2-0 Anaheim 10 p.m. ET CNBC


Game 3: Flames 4, Ducks 3 (OT) Anaheim leads 2-1 Calgary 9:30 p.m. ET USA


Game 4 Friday, May 8 Calgary 9:30 p.m. ET NBCSN


Game 5 Sunday, May 10 Anaheim TBD TBD


Game 6 (if necessary) Tuesday, May 12 Calgary TBD TBD


Game 7 (if necessary) Thursday, May 14 Anaheim TBD TBD


Chicago Blackhawks vs. Minnesota Wild


WESTERN CONFERENCE ROUND TWO


GAME DATE/SERIES LOCATION TIME NATIONAL TV


Game 1: Blackhawks 4, Wild 3 Chicago leads 1-0 Chicago 9:30 p.m. ET NBCSN


Game 2: Blackhawks 4, Wild 1 Chicago leads 2-0 Chicago 8:30 p.m. ET NBCSN


Game 3: Blackhawks 1, Wild 0 Chicago leads 3-0 Minnesota 8 p.m. ET NBCSN


Game 4 Thursday, May 7 Minnesota 9:30 p.m. ET NBCSN


Game 5 (if necessary) Saturday, May 9 Chicago TBD TBD


Game 6 (if necessary) Monday, May 11 Minnesota TBD TBD


Game 7 (if necessary) Wednesday, May 13 Chicago TBD TBD

Preview: Royals (17-10) at Tigers (17-11)
Game: 1
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: May 08, 2015 7:08 PM EDT

The AL Central won't be decided this weekend in Detroit, but it already seems like the teams battling at Comerica Park will be vying for that title all season.


David Price matches up against one of his favorite opponents Friday night as the Tigers and Kansas City Royals meet in another early season showdown.


Detroit won its fourth consecutive Central title last season, beating out Kansas City by one game but lost to Baltimore in the division series as the Royals came within one game of winning the World Series.


This season is already shaping up to be another close race with Kansas City (18-10) entering Friday with the slightest of leads over the Tigers (18-11).


These teams split a four-game series at Kauffman Stadium last week as Detroit took the first two before Price tossed a five-hitter in a 2-1 victory Saturday. He gave up four singles prior to surrendering Lorenzo Cain's two-out home run in the ninth inning. Price (3-1, 2.93 ERA) struck out three, walked none and recorded 16 of his outs on three pitches or fewer.


'I always want to get 27 outs,' Price said. 'I want that every fifth day.'


That was the latest dominant performance by the left-hander versus the Royals. He's 2-0 with a 1.16 ERA in five appearances - four starts - for his best ERA against any opponent he's faced more than once.


Alex Gordon and Kendrys Morales are a combined 4 for 27 against Price.


The Tigers return home after salvaging a split of their 10-game trip with Thursday's 4-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox. Kyle Lobstein pitched into the eighth inning and Miguel Cabrera scored twice and drove in a run to help Detroit avoid the sweep.


"You don't want to get swept by anyone and we have Kansas City coming when we get home," third baseman Nick Castellanos said. "So to go back home on a positive note is big."


While the Tigers still rank among the league leaders with a .275 batting average, most of that damage came early in the season. They batted .303 with 14 home runs during an 11-2 start compared to hitting at a .250 clip with 11 homers during a 7-9 stretch.


Detroit's hitters aren't too familiar with Yordano Ventura (2-2, 4.94), who makes his first start since serving a seven-game suspension for his role in a brawl with the White Sox. The right-hander last appeared April 29, allowing five runs and four walks over 5 1-3 innings in a 7-5 loss at Cleveland.


Ventura won his only start against the Tigers on June 17, yielding three runs in seven innings of an 11-4 victory at Comerica Park.


Kansas City also has cooled following a fast start, going 11-10 after winning its first seven games, but it's coming off a 7-4 victory over Cleveland on Thursday. Eric Hosmer hit a three-run homer in the first inning and Mike Moustakas had three hits and two runs.


Hosmer is batting .366 with four homers and 13 RBIs in the last 10 games and is 23 for 53 (.434) over his past 14 against Detroit.


The Royals are 9-0 in series openers, tying the 1983 team mark to start a season.


Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias is unlikely to play Friday after aggravating a groin injury Wednesday.

Preview: Red Sox (13-15) at Blue Jays (14-15)
Game: 1
Venue: Rogers Centre
Date: May 08, 2015 7:07 PM EDT

The Boston Red Sox's offense ranked among the worst in the AL last season, contributing to a second last-place finish in three years.


And while the lineup again isn't producing as expected, Boston's starting rotation hasn't provide much help, either.


After firing their pitching coach, the Red Sox look to avoid a sixth defeat in seven games Friday night as they begin a three-game road series against the Toronto Blue Jays, who also have struggled on the mound.


Boston (13-15) has been outscored 25-15 over its last six and went 2 for 28 with runners in scoring position while dropping two of three to Tampa Bay. David Ortiz had his eight-game hitting streak end in Wednesday's 5-3 defeat, and Mike Napoli's average over his last eight stands at .133 after he went 1 for 4.


The Red Sox's .214 average over their last six dropped it to .239 on the season, one year after finishing 13th in the AL with a .244 mark.


"Maybe we just need to back off a little bit and stop trying so hard. I don't know," Napoli said. "(The numbers are) there in front of us. We're seeing it. We're living it. Just have to go out there and get the job done."


Boston's consistent inability to score only provides more problems with the rotation giving up runs at an alarming rate. The starters rank among the worst in the majors with a 5.54 ERA, and the Red Sox on Thursday decided they'd seen enough, firing pitching coach Juan Nieves.


Wade Miley (1-3, 7.15 ERA) has contributed to the staff's woes by allowing at least six earned runs twice. He's also walked 11 in 22 2-3 innings, but is coming off his best outing after giving up three runs in seven innings and not issuing a free pass in Saturday's 4-2 loss to the New York Yankees.


"Instead of trying to make too good of a pitch, 3-1, 3-0, I just needed to execute a pitch and get a ground-ball out rather than walk a guy," Miley said.


The left-hander also didn't have his best stuff in his only start against the Blue Jays (14-15) while with Arizona on Sept. 3, 2013. Miley allowed five runs, eight hits and walked two over 1 2-3 innings in the shortest start of his career, taking a 10-4 loss.


Walks have been a big problem as well for Aaron Sanchez, who issued six - the second time in three starts he walked at least that many - while giving up two runs in 5 2-3 innings of an 11-4 win over Cleveland on Saturday.


The right-hander's 108 pitches followed a 107-pitch outing against the Red Sox on April 27, when he walked two and gave up four runs in 5 2-3 innings before Mookie Betts' RBI single in the bottom of the ninth gave Boston a 6-5 win.


Sanchez (2-2, 4.62) ranks among the worst in baseball with an average of 17.7 pitches per inning.


"These last few starts, he's been pretty effective but he's walked a lot of guys too," manager John Gibbons said. "Over time, that's not going to work, so he's got to get in the zone better."


Blue Jays starters have a 5.40 ERA, which ranks near the bottom of the majors. Mark Buehrle pitched five solid innings Wednesday, though, helping Toronto beat the Yankees 5-1.


Russell Martin homered for the fourth time in five games and Chris Colabello had four hits. Colabello, called up from the minors on Tuesday, went 6 for 8 with two doubles in the final two games of the series.


The Red Sox took two of three from the Blue Jays at Fenway Park from April 27-29.

Preview: Braves (14-14) at Nationals (14-15)
Game: 1
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: May 08, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

Seeing Bryce Harper build on the best offensive show of his career could go a long way toward boosting the surging Washington Nationals' inconsistent lineup.


The slugger will try to lead the Nationals to their eighth win in 10 games Friday night in the series opener against the visiting Atlanta Braves.


The 22-year-old Harper became the youngest player to have a three-homer game since Joe Lahoud on June 11, 1969, in Wednesday's 7-5 win over Miami. He hit one 393 feet in the second inning, a two-run shot that sailed 442 feet in the third and a 445-foot blast in the fifth before an RBI groundout in the seventh gave him a career-high five RBIs.


Harper, whose 26 walks lead the majors, has eight home runs and 20 RBIs through 29 games after finishing with 13 homers and 32 RBIs in 100 contests in 2014.


"That's how I expect myself to play," he said. "If it's hitting homers, hitting doubles, that's what I need to do."


Wednesday's power display was a good sign for the right fielder after he had gone 1 for 17 in Washington's previous five games. The Nationals (14-15) failed to score more than one run in four of them. They're 4-8 when he goes hitless.


Washington's best offensive performances came in the final two games of a series in Atlanta from April 27-29. The Nationals lost the opener 8-4 for their sixth straight defeat overall before totaling 13 runs and 15 hits in each of the next two games, sparking the club's current 7-2 stretch.


Harper went 3 for 8 with two doubles and four walks in those two victories after going hitless in the first game, including 0 for 2 with a walk off left-hander Eric Stults - Atlanta's starter Friday. Harper is 4 for 22 versus southpaws this season.


That's the only win for the 35-year-old Stults (1-2, 4.91 ERA), who allowed two runs and four hits over 6 1-3 innings. He didn't serve up a homer that day but has allowed five in as many outings this season after surrendering 26 in 2014, tied for fifth-most in the majors. Stults gave up two homers, 11 hits and six runs over seven innings in Saturday's 8-4 loss to Cincinnati.


Danny Espinosa is 5 for 9 with a homer against Stults, including a single and a double last month as he went 7 for 11 in the series.


Atlanta (14-14) is opening a nine-game road trip after totaling 16 runs in its last two games to beat Philadelphia in both. Andrelton Simmons and Freddie Freeman each had three hits in Wednesday's 7-5 win, capping a 5-5 homestand.


Simmons has heated up this month, going 10 for 21 while hitting safely in all six games. Freeman is 9 for 16 with seven RBIs in his last four and was 8 for 13 against the Nationals last month.


"Going into Washington, you wanted to feel good with a couple wins back-to-back," said Freeman, who hit .475 in 10 games in D.C. last year.


Gio Gonzalez (2-2, 3.86) hasn't enjoyed such success in this matchup, going 0-7 with a 5.32 ERA in his last eight starts against the Braves. However, he hasn't faced them since August and is coming off his second scoreless outing in three starts, striking out nine over seven innings in Saturday's 1-0 win over the New York Mets.


Simmons has gone 5 for 14 with two homers against Gonzalez since the start of 2013.


Washington's Jayson Werth could miss a third straight game due to an achy shoulder.

Preview: Mets (18-10) at Phillies (10-19)
Game: 1
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: May 08, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

Matt Harvey's bid to become the first pitcher in the majors to six victories is coming not only against a team he's historically dominated, but also one that's been among the worst in baseball offensively.


Extending his season-opening winning streak Friday night in Philadelphia would give him a 6-0 record against the Phillies, as well as make him the first New York Mets pitcher to win his first six starts in a season since 1990.


Harvey (5-0, 2.41 ERA) matched Pedro Martinez's 5-0 mark from 2006 with last Friday's 4-0 home victory over Washington. He limited the Nationals to five hits and struck out only three, but his strikeout-to-walk ratio of 8.50 remains among the best in the majors.


He can equal Frank Viola (1990), Dwight Gooden (1988) and Dick Selma (1968) as the only pitchers in team history to win their first six starts of a season. Selma's streak had relief appearances mixed in, and only Viola won his first seven starts.


Harvey received 26 runs of support through his first four starts, but he made one run enough against Washington.


"That's what the definition of an ace is," outfielder Michael Cuddyer said.


The Phillies had three runs in six innings of a 6-5 Mets victory April 14, giving Harvey a 1.60 ERA in six starts in the series. Ryan Howard (1 for 10 with seven strikeouts), Ben Revere (1 for 7) and Carlos Ruiz (0 for 5) highlight the struggles against him.


Chase Utley figures to be back in the Philadelphia lineup after sitting out the last two games. The second baseman, batting .103 in 87 at_bats, is 6 for 15 with no strikeouts against Harvey. He homered along with Cody Asche in the April matchup against the right-hander, and Utley later went deep off reliever Sean Gilmartin.


Cole Hamels (1-3, 4.14), the only Philadelphia starting pitcher to deny Harvey a win, has had highs and lows through six starts. He allowed six runs and 10 hits in six innings of Saturday's 7-0 loss in Miami, an outing that followed two in which he allowed one earned run over 13 innings.


The left-hander is issuing 4.62 walks per nine innings.


"When I don't locate I think I get hammered," Hamels said.


Early season struggles are nothing new. Hamels' first seven starts last season resulted in a 1-3 record and 4.43 ERA before he went 8-6 with a 1.91 over the 23 that followed. His first 2014 start against the Mets was forgettable, but he was 1-0 with a 0.93 ERA in the four that followed.


Cuddyer (1 for 15) and Lucas Duda (2 for 16) have struggled against Hamels, but Curtis Granderson (5 for 11) and Juan Lagares (11 for 25) have thrived.


Granderson homered along with Dilson Herrera in Wednesday's 5-1 win over Baltimore. New York (18-10) took both games from the Orioles after dropping seven of 10. It's batting .220 in its 5-7 stretch, but Herrera's 3-for-3 day could give the banged-up club some hope after the 21-year-old went 1 for 13 in his first four games.


The Mets swept the three-game series in New York from April 13-15, giving them four straight wins over the Phillies and victories in 20 of 26. They've also gone 21-7 in Philadelphia over the previous three seasons.


The Phillies (10-19) fell 7-5 in Atlanta on Wednesday, dropping two of three in the series, though they're showing some life offensively with a .271 average in four games after hitting an MLB-worst .219 until that point. Revere was 4 for 5 with three doubles Wednesday and is 9 for 19 in four games.

Preview: Cardinals (20-7) at Pirates (12-15)
Game: 1
Venue: PNC Park
Date: May 08, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

September sweeps each of the last two years were key reasons why the St. Louis Cardinals won the NL Central and relegated the Pittsburgh Pirates to a wild-card spot.


It appears the surging Cardinals are more impatient for a third straight division title as they begin a bid for a second three-game sweep of the Pirates this month starting Friday night.


Off to the best start in franchise history in the modern era at 21-7, St. Louis just completed a 9-2 homestand highlighted by a three-game sweep of Pittsburgh last weekend. The Cardinals had walk-off wins in each game, thanks in part to a bullpen that limited the Pirates (13-15) to two runs - both coming on homers in Sunday's 3-2, 14-inning victory - over 15 1-3 innings.


That relief corps shined throughout the homestand, going 6-0 with a 1.01 ERA and four saves over 44 2-3 innings. Trevor Rosenthal put the finishing touches on a 5-1 win Thursday, striking out two in the ninth for his 10th save as the Cardinals took three of four from the Chicago Cubs.


"We just enjoy being together and seeing each other succeed," Rosenthal told MLB's official website. "I think the model we've shown through this year is that we've shown we can encourage each other and keep pushing one another to get better. We're just happy to see the guy in front of us do well and the guys behind us do well."


St. Louis already has a 6 1/2-game lead - the largest of any in the majors - on the strength of its 16-5 record versus NL Central opponents. The Cardinals have won six straight series against their division rivals after splitting a rain-shortened set at Wrigley Field to open the season.


"I saw a toughness in some big situations that you don't necessarily see," manager Mike Matheny said. "Sometimes you're waiting around to August to see that group that grinds. It's nice to see it early. That's the bar. That's what it should look like."


Michael Wacha (4-0, 1.93 ERA) has been among those setting that bar and gets his second crack at Pittsburgh in five days. Though he was denied a win Sunday, he scattered five hits and two walks in 6 2-3 scoreless innings and has a 2-0 record and 0.90 ERA in three starts against NL Central rivals this year.


Wacha is 1-0 with a 1.31 ERA in four appearances versus Pittsburgh, with the win coming in the September 2013 sweep.


Pittsburgh's hangover from its lost weekend in the Gateway City finally ended Thursday with a 7-2 win over Cincinnati that stopped a season-worst five-game skid. A.J. Burnett pitched seven solid innings and Andrew McCutchen went 3 for 4 with an RBI for the Pirates, who were 5 for 15 with runners in scoring position after going 2 for 36 during the losing streak.


'It's what we're capable of doing on a daily basis,' McCutchen said. 'We have the team capable to do it. We're just going to keep going out there. We're not right where we need to be yet and that's the great thing.'


If there are silver linings for Pittsburgh having a quick turnaround to face St. Louis, it's having won 13 of 19 at PNC Park between the teams the last two years and turning to Francisco Liriano (1-1, 1.95).


He's 3-1 with a 1.76 ERA in his last eight starts versus the Cardinals and pitched well against them Saturday, giving up one run and three hits in eight innings of a 2-1, 11-inning loss.

Preview: Twins (15-13) at Indians (10-16)
Game: 1
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: May 08, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

The Minnesota Twins know there's still a ton of time left in the season, but they can't help being excited about the way they're playing.


The same can't be said about the Cleveland Indians, whose inability to string together victories has them sitting at the bottom of the AL.


Minnesota looks for an eighth win in nine contests Friday night when it visits Cleveland to begin a three-game series.


The Twins opened with six losses in seven games and were still four games under .500 on April 24, but they've since won 10 of 13.


Minnesota took three of four from visiting Oakland and improved to 16-13 following Thursday's 6-5 victory. The Twins are three games above the break-even mark for the first time since finishing 94-68 in 2010 to win the Central title.


"We had this confidence from Week 1, it's just hard to show it with a 1-6 record," third baseman Trevor Plouffe said. "We knew we could do it. But talk is cheap. You have to go out there and win. That's what we've been doing lately."


The Twins have been doing it at home. They completed an 8-3 stretch at Target Field on Thursday and are an AL-best 12-5 at home, but they've gone 4-8 on the road.


"I've always thought that when your team is playing better, you have to keep your perspective and it should make you hungry to find those little things that can make your team better," manager Paul Molitor told MLB's official website. "So you keep pushing."


Minnesota has received a nice boost from outfielder Eddie Rosario since calling him up from Triple-A Rochester on Monday with Oswaldo Arcia going on the disabled list. Rosario homered on the first pitch he saw in his first major league at-bat in Wednesday's 13-0 win and drove in two runs Thursday.


"It's a good first couple of games for him," Molitor said. "He's kind of feeling his way, but he looks fairly confident."


Mike Pelfrey (2-0, 2.63 ERA) has one of the Twins' wins on the road but is coming off his shortest outing of the season. The right-hander was staked to a 7-0 lead Sunday but struggled with his control as he walked two and hit three batters in 3 1-3 innings of a 13-3 win over the Chicago White Sox.


"Realistically, I'm mad I had to come out of the game with a seven-run lead," he said. "I didn't give them a choice."


Pelfrey is 1-1 with a 2.67 ERA in five starts against the Indians. He faced them April 17 and gave up a run and three hits with four walks in five innings of a 3-2 win in 11.


Trevor Bauer (2-0, 3.38) is also coming off a poor start, allowing six runs and seven hits while walking three in 4 1-3 innings of a 10-7 win over Toronto on Sunday. The right-hander is 0-2 with a 5.47 ERA in four starts against Minnesota.


Cleveland (10-17) has alternated a loss and a win in the last nine games, falling 7-4 at Kansas City on Thursday. The Indians haven't posted back-to-back victories since the second and third games of the season.


"We've got to get it going soon, because you can't be here all year saying, 'We can't get it going.' It's about time where we start making it go," utilityman Mike Aviles said.

Preview: Rangers (11-16) at Rays (15-13)
Game: 2
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: May 08, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

While seeking to keep the Texas Rangers unbeaten on their road trip, Yovani Gallardo will attempt to avoid matching his longest string of losing starts.


A repeat of last season's performance against the Tampa Bay Rays would go a long way toward helping Gallardo accomplish both goals Friday night.


Texas (12-16) improved to 4-0 on its trek by holding on for a 5-4 win in Thursday's opener against Tampa Bay (15-14) and got four runs in the second after Chris Archer threw a wild pitch on what would have been an inning-ending strikeout.


The Rangers have outscored opponents 25-9 on their trip while batting .273, and their five-game road win streak is their longest since a nine-game run in August 2013. They hit .220 and scored 31 runs while dropping eight of their prior 10 games.


"Everybody did a good job tonight," closer Neftali Feliz told MLB's official website. "Everybody has been working hard, trying to get better."


Gallardo (2-4, 4.05 ERA) has only seen a combined two runs of support in dropping three consecutive starts and three of the 12 runs he's allowed in his past 17 2-3 innings have been unearned. He gave up two runs in his first six innings Sunday against Oakland but was charged with two more after he left with two outs in the seventh in a 7-1 loss.


Gallardo dropped four consecutive starts once in his career - from May 10-26, 2013, while with Milwaukee.


The right-hander took a 5-0 win in his only start against Tampa Bay on July 30, scattering four hits and one walk in seven innings at Tropicana Field.


He might not have to face Evan Longoria in this matchup after the third baseman was scratched with flu-like symptoms Thursday, ending an MLB-best streak of 270 consecutive games played. Longoria is hitting .365 in his last 14 games and has batted .351 in his last nine against Texas.


"It just didn't make sense for him to be out there," manager Kevin Cash said.


In his first start against an AL West team, Nathan Karns (1-1, 4.05) will try to snap a string of four straight winless outings. The right-hander has given up one run in each of his past two games but hasn't pitched past the fifth inning in either one.


Karns yielded two hits and one walk in five scoreless innings Sunday against Baltimore but the Rays bullpen couldn't hold a two-run lead in a 4-2 defeat. He will likely be fresher for this game since he threw 66 pitches after averaging 100.4 in his first five outings.


Logan Forsythe, batting .361 in his last nine games, is 1 for 7 with three strikeouts lifetime against Gallardo.

Preview: Reds (14-13) at White Sox (10-14)
Game: 1
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: May 08, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

The Chicago White Sox own a better record against the Cincinnati Reds than they do versus any opponent.


That means little Friday night since they are sending Hector Noesi to the mound.


Noesi has lost six straight starts for the White Sox heading into the opener of this three-game series at U.S. Cellular Field.


Chicago (10-15) is 14-3 against Cincinnati, including 4-1 at home, but these teams haven't met since 2009.


The White Sox begin the weekend by starting Noesi (0-3, 6.75 ERA), who has posted a 5.94 ERA in losing his last six outings - three this year. The right-hander gave up five runs over 4 1-3 innings in Saturday's 5-3 defeat at Minnesota.


Though Noesi hasn't pitched well in this losing streak, the White Sox haven't helped him by totaling seven runs of support.


That's been an issue all season for Chicago, one of baseball's lowest scoring teams with 3.3 runs per game and a major league-low 14 homers. The White Sox have not gone deep in 10 of their last 11 games.


Cincinnati (14-14) can't be certain of the status of Joey Votto, who was ejected and then made contact with home plate umpire Chris Conroy in Wednesday's 3-0 win at Pittsburgh. Votto, who will likely face a suspension, went 0 for 4 in Thursday's 7-2 defeat to the Pirates.


Votto, second on the team with a .311 average, has admitted that he made contact with Conroy.


The Reds will play their first interleague game after going 6-14 in such contests a year ago for baseball's second-worst mark. They went 1-9 on the road against the AL.


Shortstop Zack Cozart may be back in the lineup after missing all three games in Pittsburgh when he was hit by a pitch on the wrist Sunday in Atlanta.


"There is still inflammation in there right now, but it just feels way better," Cozart told MLB's official site. "I swung, took soft toss, and did my normal routine and it felt really good."


Cincinnati may like its chances of adding to Noesi's woes because starter Jason Marquis (3-1, 5.22) leads the NL with a run support average of 9.82. The Reds have totaled 28 runs in his three-start win streak, with the right-hander posting a 4.66 ERA.


Marquis gave up three runs over 6 1-3 innings in Saturday's 8-4 win at Atlanta.


This will be his first start against Chicago since 2008.


Adam LaRoche is a .289 hitter against Marquis in 38 at_bats and Melky Cabrera is 0 for 8. Chicago may want to use Emilio Bonifacio, who is 7 for 16 against Marquis but didn't play in this week's three-game home set against Detroit.


The White Sox, who fell 4-1 to the Tigers on Thursday, have taken two of three in every home series. Jose Abreu, homerless in his last 11 games, is hitting .356 at home compared to .212 on the road.


"You want to win every game, but taking two of three from a good team like them is a good step for us," center fielder Adam Eaton said.

Preview: Cubs (14-12) at Brewers (9-19)
Game: 1
Venue: Miller Park
Date: May 08, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

The Chicago Cubs began a seven-game road trip by missing out on a chance to gain ground on the NL Central leaders. As a result, they're now closer to the bottom of the division than the top.


A three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers could either fix that or further expose the slumping Cubs, and it begins Friday night with a rematch of a pitching matchup from less than a week ago.


After Thursday's 5-1 loss in St. Louis, the Cubs (14-13) are in danger of falling back to .500 for the first time since they were 2-2. They've dropped six of eight after losing three of four in St. Louis, are 6 1/2 games back of the Cardinals and six up on the last-place Brewers (9-20).


Thursday's loss included 12 strikeouts, and the Cubs' 263 for the season are an NL high. They're batting .209 with runners in scoring position in the last eight and leadoff hitter Dexter Fowler is 2 for 23 in his last six.


"I have zero concerns," manager Joe Maddon said. "The hitters will start figuring some of this stuff out as they get more ABs. I could not be happier with them as a group."


On the mound, Chicago has posted a 5.35 ERA in those eight games after having a 3.49 mark during its 12-7 start, but Milwaukee's lineup isn't stirring up much fear.


The Brewers had won two of three under new manager Craig Counsell before Thursday's 14-4 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers clued him in on what it's been like in the Milwaukee dugout for much of the season.


Adam Lind homered for the second straight day and is batting .400 with five homers in the past 14 games, but the rest of the lineup has done little. After hitting .227 in April, the Brewers are off to a .211 start in May and settled for a split against the Dodgers.


Jason Hammel and Jimmy Nelson met in Sunday's 5-3 Milwaukee win in Chicago, though neither recorded a decision. The Brewers took two of three in that series, though the Cubs have won eight of 12 against their neighbors to the north.


Hammel (2-1, 3.73 ERA), whose 0.57 walks per nine innings and 13.50 strikeout-to-walk ratio trail only Bartolo Colon, yielded three runs in six innings after pitching 14 scoreless against Milwaukee last season in two starts, both at Miller Park.


He's 5-0 with a 2.20 ERA in seven career starts against the Brewers. Gerardo Parra is 8 for 22 in their matchups, and Lind is 6 for 20 with two home runs.


Nelson (1-2, 4.03), the Brewers' only starter with fewer than four losses, surrendered three runs in 6 2-3 innings. All of his starts this season have come in pairs against NL Central opponents, and familiarity is siding against him. His first times facing Pittsburgh and Cincinnati resulted in one earned run allowed over 15 innings. The second times accounted for both of his losses with nine earned in 7 1-3.


"(My stuff) will still be fresh in their mind, but our hitters are also facing a guy they just saw five days ago," Nelson told MLB's official website.


He's 0-2 with a 5.82 ERA in three starts against the Cubs. Chris Coghlan and Jorge Soler are both 4 for 9 off Nelson with six extra-base hits.


Anthony Rizzo is batting .419 with a 1.468 OPS during a nine-game hitting streak against the Brewers.

Preview: Dodgers (17-10) at Rockies (11-15)
Game: 1
Venue: Coors Field
Date: May 08, 2015 8:40 PM EDT

At the bottom of the NL West are the Colorado Rockies, whose latest loss left Troy Tulowitzki despondent.


At the top are the Los Angeles Dodgers, who enter Friday night in high spirits following their best offensive performance.


The Dodgers dominated these teams' only series of the year and now visit a Rockies team mired in a seven-game losing streak.


Los Angeles (18-10) trounced Milwaukee 14-4 on Thursday as Yasmani Grandal had eight RBIs, tied for the third-highest single-game total in franchise history. The catcher is 12 for 17 (.706) in his last five games with three home runs, three doubles and a 2.162 OPS.


"He's been swinging the bat well for a few days now. It seems like he's kind of caught fire," manager Don Mattingly said.


Colorado (11-15), on the other hand, has had little to celebrate. The Rockies dropped their sixth and seventh consecutive contests in a doubleheader sweep by Arizona on Wednesday that left Tulowitzki crestfallen.


"I care," said Tulowitzki, who sat in the dugout staring toward the field even after playing for six-plus hours. "Bottom line: We haven't played good baseball."


Colorado has lost 13 of 17, a stretch that began with a three-game sweep at Dodger Stadium. The Rockies batted .170 while getting outscored 20-6 by Los Angeles, which batted .333. The Dodgers have won six straight and 14 of 17 over Colorado.


Tulowitzki and the Rockies can turn things around Friday against former teammate Brett Anderson (1-1, 4.21 ERA). Anderson was with Colorado in 2014, but a broken finger and back surgery limited the left-hander to eight starts and 43 1-3 innings.


He was effective enough in that stint - 2.91 ERA - to warrant a one-year deal with Los Angeles, and Anderson further proved his worth Sunday with his best outing of the season. He allowed five hits in six innings, throwing only 86 pitches in a 1-0, 13-inning win over Arizona.


"I was able to be efficient with groundballs, got some strikeouts," Anderson said. "It's a good stepping stone, hopefully, for starts to come."


Anderson, who has never pitched against the Rockies, is 1-2 with a 3.54 ERA at Coors Field with one home run allowed in 20 1-3 innings.


He'll take on Eddie Butler (2-2, 3.81), who has faced Los Angeles in three of his eight career outings. He's gone 0-2 with a 7.80 ERA in those matchups but didn't pitch badly in the only one this year, allowing two runs in five innings of a 7-0 defeat April 19.


The right-hander, though, has since given up nine runs and 13 hits in 10 innings against San Francisco and San Diego.


Butler will be tasked with trying to provide Colorado's first quality start in 11 tries. The Rockies' starting staff has allowed 37 runs in its last 32 1-3 innings, and opponents are hitting .331 in that span.


"There's no magic pill. We need to show up and compete," manager Walt Weiss said. "We need to pitch better, we need to take better at_bats - we need to play better."


Howie Kendrick headlined Los Angeles' success in its previous series with Colorado, going 6 for 12 with two home runs, three doubles and five RBIs. He's 6 for 13 in three career games at Coors Field.


Los Angeles' Adrian Gonzalez has 17 home runs and 71 RBIs in 69 games at Colorado.

Preview: Athletics (12-17) at Mariners (11-17)
Game: 1
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: May 08, 2015 10:10 PM EDT

Sonny Gray pitches brilliantly more often than not, but what puts him in an elite class is his ability to work himself out of jams with in-game adjustments.


He hasn't encountered too many issues at Safeco Field.


The Oakland Athletics hand the ball to Gray on Friday night as they begin the final series of their road trip by looking to deal the Seattle Mariners a seventh loss in eight games.


Gray (4-0, 1.67 ERA) entered his sixth outing of the season Sunday having walked six in 36 1-3 innings while not issuing more than four in any of his previous 48 career starts.


The right-hander struggled with control against Texas and walked seven while also hitting a batter, but also struck out 10 - two short of his career high - and surrendered two hits in 6 2-3 scoreless innings of a 7-1 victory.


'You just have some days when you pick the ball up and you know it's going to be a battle,' Gray said. 'You've just got to grind through.'


The Mariners (11-17) already had trouble solving Gray, who allowed one earned run in 7 1-3 innings before Seattle rallied for a 5-4 victory in 11 at Oakland on April 11.


Gray is 4-1 with a 2.21 ERA in eight career starts overall against the Mariners, including a 3-0 mark with a 0.98 ERA in four outings at Safeco. He gave up two runs in eight innings of a 3-2 victory the last time he took the hill there Sept. 13.


Seattle is looking forward to playing at home after dropping six of seven to end a 10-game trip. It suffered back-to-back walk-off defeats to the Los Angeles on Tuesday and Wednesday, falling 5-4 and 4-3.


The Mariners and A's (12-18) fought to the wire for the AL's second wild-card spot last season, but currently occupy the bottom two spots of the West.


"We got off to a tough start last year and were able to battle," said Kyle Seager, who hit a two-run homer Wednesday. "We've got a lot more talent in this room then we did last year. We've shown different signs throughout the season. The pitching's been good, the hitting's been good, we just have to get everything in sync."


Nelson Cruz has been the Mariners' top offensive threat, leading the majors with 14 homers and hitting .389 over his last nine. Cruz will look to improve his 1-for-9 career line against Gray as Taijuan Walker takes the mound for Seattle.


Walker (1-3, 8.74) has been extremely inconsistent, going fewer than five innings in three of his five starts but also showing signs of promise. He gave up 14 runs through 7 1-3 innings while losing his first two starts, then allowed one earned run in 12 1-3 over his next two.


But the 22-year-old right-hander had another rough outing Saturday, giving up eight runs in three innings of an 11-4 loss to Houston.


"It's not going to happen overnight," manager Lloyd McClendon said. "You see flashes of him being brilliant almost. Then you see the youngster in him. It's going to take time, but in the end, I think he's going to be pretty good."


Walker's only career start against the A's came in his season debut, when he allowed nine runs in 3 1-3 innings of a 12-0 loss April 10.


Oakland enters this series after dropping three of four to Minnesota with Thursday's 6-5 loss to fall to 3-4 on its trip.

Preview: Orioles (12-14) at Yankees (18-11)
Game: 2
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: May 08, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

The Baltimore Orioles aren't scoring enough this week in New York, and certainly not when they fail to hit homers.


Many of them have gotten untracked in the past when facing Adam Warren, who has never started against Baltimore.


The New York Yankees starter has been stingy in two home outings as he tries to hand the Orioles a fourth straight loss Friday night.


Baltimore (12-14) is spending the week in the Big Apple, losing twice to the Mets before beginning this four-game series with Thursday's 4-3 defeat. The Orioles have totaled six runs in the slide, with four solo homers.




Adam Jones is 1 for 11 in the three games while Baltimore is 2 for 16 with runners in scoring position.


"We're just not clicking where we need to be offensively yet," manager Buck Showalter said.


Chris Davis struck out all four times Thursday and is 2 for 16 with 13 strikeouts in the season series. He leads baseball with 44.


The Orioles may get well against the unheralded Warren (2-1, 4.78 ERA), who has an 8.18 ERA in 10 appearances versus them for his worst mark against any team he has faced at least five times.


Manny Machado is 3 for 4 against him, J.J. Hardy is 3 for 5, Davis is 2 for 4 and Jones is 3 for 6, though the Orioles have not homered versus the right-hander.


Warren has yet to pitch through the sixth inning, allowing four runs over 5 2-3 in Sunday's 8-5 win at Boston. He has a 1.64 home ERA compared to 7.04 on the road.


He'll hope to get support from Alex Rodriguez, who hit his 661st homer Thursday to pass Willie Mays for sole possession of fourth place on the all-time list. Rodriguez also singled and is 38 hits shy of 3,000.


'All of this is pretty crazy,' Rodriguez said. 'A year ago today I never thought I would ever get a curtain call or be hitting in the middle of the lineup for the Yankees, helping our team win.'


His effort in the No. 3 spot in the lineup came on a night when the top four hitters went 8 for 13 with all four RBIs and runs scored.


"The top guys, the four guys at the top had an awesome night," manager Joe Girardi said.


New York (18-11) will now try to fare better against Miguel Gonzalez (3-1, 2.59) than it did April 14 when he allowed one run over seven innings with a career-high 10 strikeouts in a 4-3 home victory. Gonzalez went 0-3 with a 4.22 ERA in his previous eight starts against the Yankees.


Rodriguez has a double in five at_bats against the right-hander and Mark Teixeira (1 for 12) and Brian McCann (2 for 11) have also fared poorly. Carlos Beltran, whose .227 on-base percentage is one of baseball's worst marks, is 4 for 6 with a homer and two doubles versus Gonzalez.


Gonzalez won his third straight decision Saturday with 7 2-3 innings in a 4-0 victory at Tampa Bay.


Orioles second baseman Ryan Flaherty is eligible to return from the disabled list after being out with a right groin strain. He was hitting .300 with two home runs in nine games before the injury.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Orioles at Yankees
Thu, May 7 Final 3 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Orioles at Yankees
Fri, May 8 - 7:05PM EDT


GAME 3
Orioles at Yankees
Sat, May 9 - 1:05PM EDT


GAME 4
Orioles at Yankees
Sun, May 10 - 1:05PM EDT

Preview: Padres (15-15) at Diamondbacks (13-14)
Game: 2
Venue: Chase Field
Date: May 08, 2015 9:40 PM EDT

James Shields used some help from his teammates last time out to remain unbeaten despite his worst performance of the season.


Shields might not be as fortunate should he struggle again Friday night, given the San Diego Padres' recent difficulties at the plate while facing the hot-hitting Arizona Diamondbacks.


Shields (3-0, 3.72 ERA) gave up five runs - four coming on three homers - Sunday against Colorado while failing to make it through the sixth inning for the first time in 2015, but the right-hander still picked up an 8-6 victory.


Shields has one of the NL's best run-support averages at 7.68 but had done his part with a 2.90 ERA in his prior five games.


"It seemed that he couldn't really get any consistent momentum. He seemed a little out of sorts with his delivery," manager Bud Black said. "That's going to happen when you go to the mound 33 times a year."


The Padres (15-15) have been shut out in three of their four games since Shields' start, including a 11-0 drubbing in the opener in Arizona. San Diego is batting .187 in that span and the status of first baseman Yonder Alonso, hitting a team-best .333, is unknown after he injured his right shoulder diving for a ground ball Thursday.


The Diamondbacks (13-14), meanwhile, are batting .403 with 29 runs in their first three-game win streak in 2015. Tuffy Gosewisch had three doubles and drove in a career-best four runs Thursday after batting .208 with five RBIs in his first 20 games.


"He's had really good bats all year," first baseman Paul Goldschmidt said. "I know the numbers haven't been there for him. He's hit a lot of line drives right at guys and had some tough breaks and stuff like that. We all know what he's capable of."


Goldschmidt went 2 for 4 with a home run in his seventh multihit performance in the last nine games. He's batting .463 (19 for 41) in that stretch and has three homers in his past five contests.


The Diamondbacks have produced 24 runs in two games since moving Mark Trumbo to the No. 2 spot. He has two homers and two doubles in eight at_bats.


Shields will face Arizona for the first time since June 20, 2007, while with Tampa Bay and is 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA in two career matchups. In this one, he'll pitch opposite former Rays teammate Jeremy Hellickson (1-3, 5.20).


Hellickson was in line for a win on Saturday after giving up three runs in 5 1-3 innings, but the Diamondbacks bullpen couldn't hold on to his lead in a 6-4 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.


Hellickson was charged with five runs in 6 2-3 innings in a 5-1 loss in San Diego on April 14, making him 0-1 with a 7.43 ERA in two lifetime matchups.


Justin Upton hit a solo homer in the Padres' latest meeting with the right-hander and Matt Kemp went 2 for 4 with a triple. Upton is 2 for 12 in his last four games after batting .301 in his first 25 and Kemp is 3 for 23 in his past six contests after hitting .330 in his first 24.


Goldschmidt, who has never faced Shields, has reached base safely in 19 consecutive games against San Diego. Eleven of his 22 hits during that run have gone for extra bases, including five homers.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Padres at Diamondbacks
Thu, May 7 Final 0 to 11
Boxscores • Recaps
GAME 2


Padres at Diamondbacks
Fri, May 8 - 9:40PM EDT


GAME 3
Padres at Diamondbacks
Sat, May 9 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 4
Padres at Diamondbacks
Sun, May 10 - 4:10PM EDT