Cnotes Best Bets For Sunday May 10th - MLB - NBA -NHL !

MLB MONEYLINE


MLB > (905) ST LOUIS@ (906) PITTSBURGH | 05/10/2015 - 01:35 PM
Play AGAINST ST LOUIS using the money line in Road games when playing with a day off
The record is 5 Wins and 19 Losses for the last three seasons (-16.5 units)


MLB > (925) OAKLAND@ (926) SEATTLE | 05/10/2015 - 04:10 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 > (923) HOUSTON@ (924) LA ANGELS | 05/10/2015 - 03:35 PM
Play ON HOUSTON using the money line in Road games in games played on a grass field
The record is 11 Wins and 3 Losses for the this season (+10.32 units)


MLB > (927) KANSAS CITY@ (928) DETROIT | 05/10/2015 - 08:05 PM
Play ON KANSAS CITY using the money line in Road games in night games
The record is 44 Wins and 24 Losses for the last two seasons (+23.35 units)


MLB > (903) NY METS@ (904) PHILADELPHIA | 05/10/2015 - 01:35 PM
Play ON NY METS using the money line in Road games in day games
The record is 21 Wins and 10 Losses for the last two seasons (+14.95 units)


MLB > (915) MINNESOTA@ (916) CLEVELAND | 05/10/2015 - 01:05 PM
Play ON MINNESOTA using the money line in All games when playing against a team with a losing record
The record is 13 Wins and 5 Losses for the this season (+10.7 units)


MLB RUNLINE


MLB > (927) KANSAS CITY@ (928) DETROIT | 05/10/2015 - 08:05 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 > (913) SAN DIEGO@ (914) ARIZONA | 05/10/2015 - 04:10 PM
Play AGAINST SAN DIEGO using the in All games when playing against a team with a losing record
The record is 22 Wins and 49 Losses for the last two seasons (-34.35 units)


MLB TOTALS


MLB > (925) OAKLAND@ (926) SEATTLE | 05/10/2015 - 04:10 PM
Play OVER OAKLAND on the total in All games in games played on a grass field
The record is 22 Overs and 8 Unders for the this season (+14.2 units)

MLB > (915) MINNESOTA@ (916) CLEVELAND | 05/10/2015 - 01:05 PM
Play OVER CLEVELAND on the total in Home games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 32 Overs and 15 Unders for the last two seasons (+16.6 units)


MLB TOP POWERLINES


MLB > (917) BOSTON @ (918) TORONTO | 05/10/2015 - 01:05 PM
Line: TORONTO -128 BTB PowerLine: TORONTO -177
Edge On: TORONTO (49)


MLB > (919) BALTIMORE @ (920) NY YANKEES | 05/10/2015 - 01:05 PM
Line: NY YANKEES -170 BTB PowerLine: NY YANKEES -198
Edge On: NY YANKEES (28)


MLB > (915) MINNESOTA @ (916) CLEVELAND | 05/10/2015 - 01:05 PM
Line: CLEVELAND -165 BTB PowerLine: CLEVELAND -150
Edge On: CLEVELAND (15)


MLB > (905) ST LOUIS @ (906) PITTSBURGH | 05/10/2015 - 01:35 PM
Line: PITTSBURGH -111 BTB PowerLine: PITTSBURGH -140
Edge On: PITTSBURGH (29)


MLB > (903) NY METS @ (904) PHILADELPHIA | 05/10/2015 - 01:35 PM
Line: PHILADELPHIA +131 BTB PowerLine: PHILADELPHIA 247
Edge On: PHILADELPHIA (96)


MLB > (929) CINCINNATI @ (930) CHI WHITE SOX | 05/10/2015 - 02:10 PM
Line: CHI WHITE SOX -119 BTB PowerLine: CHI WHITE SOX 143
Edge On: CHI WHITE SOX (42)


MLB > (923) HOUSTON @ (924) LA ANGELS | 05/10/2015 - 03:35 PM
Line: LA ANGELS -160 BTB PowerLine: LA ANGELS -142
Edge On: LA ANGELS (18)


MLB > (909) MIAMI @ (910) SAN FRANCISCO | 05/10/2015 - 04:05 PM
Line: SAN FRANCISCO -112 BTB PowerLine: SAN FRANCISCO 132
Edge On: SAN FRANCISCO (24)


MLB > (911) LA DODGERS @ (912) COLORADO | 05/10/2015 - 04:10 PM
Line: COLORADO +155 BTB PowerLine: COLORADO 276
Edge On: COLORADO (96)


MLB > (925) OAKLAND @ (926) SEATTLE | 05/10/2015 - 04:10 PM
Line: SEATTLE -175 BTB PowerLine: SEATTLE -107
Edge On: SEATTLE (43)

NBA MONEYLINE


NBA > (725) CLEVELAND@ (726) CHICAGO | 05/10/2015 - 03:35 PM
Play AGAINST CHICAGO using the money line in Home games after a division game
The record is 14 Wins and 14 Losses for the last three seasons (-26.9 units)


NBA TOTALS


NBA > (725) CLEVELAND@ (726) CHICAGO | 05/10/2015 - 03:35 PM
Play OVER CHICAGO on the total in Home games versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game
The record is 17 Overs and 5 Unders for the this season (+11.5 units)


NBA TOP POWERLINES


NBA > (725) CLEVELAND @ (726) CHICAGO | 05/10/2015 - 03:35 PM
Line: CHICAGO 1.5 BTB PowerLine: CHICAGO -1
Edge On: CHICAGO (2.5)


NBA > (727) HOUSTON @ (728) LA CLIPPERS | 05/10/2015 - 08:35 PM
Line: LA CLIPPERS -7.5 BTB PowerLine: LA CLIPPERS -10
Edge On: LA CLIPPERS (2.5)

NHL MONEYLINE


NHL > (15) CALGARY@ (16) ANAHEIM | 05/10/2015 - 10:05 PM
Play ON ANAHEIM using the money line in All games after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game
The record is 50 Wins and 16 Losses for the last two seasons (+29.85 units)


NHL > (13) NY RANGERS@ (14) WASHINGTON | 05/10/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play ON NY RANGERS using the money line in All games in a road game where where the total is 5 or less
The record is 20 Wins and 8 Losses for the this season (+13.7 units)


NHL PUCKLINE


NHL > (15) CALGARY@ (16) ANAHEIM | 05/10/2015 - 10:05 PM
Play ON ANAHEIM using the in All games after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game
The record is 50 Wins and 16 Losses for the last two seasons (+29.85 units)


NHL > (13) NY RANGERS@ (14) WASHINGTON | 05/10/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play ON NY RANGERS using the in All games in a road game where where the total is 5 or less
The record is 20 Wins and 8 Losses for the this season (+13.7 units)


NHL TOTALS


NHL > (15) CALGARY@ (16) ANAHEIM | 05/10/2015 - 10:05 PM
Play UNDER CALGARY on the total in All games in a road game where where the total is 5.5
The record is 5 Overs and 19 Unders for the this season (+12.65 units)


NHL > (13) NY RANGERS@ (14) WASHINGTON | 05/10/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play UNDER NY RANGERS on the total in All games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season
The record is 19 Overs and 39 Unders for the last two seasons (+19.5 units)

Preview: Orioles (12-15) at Yankees (19-11)
Game: 4
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: May 10, 2015 1:05 PM EDT

Joe Girardi summons relievers from a taxed New York Yankees bullpen more often than he would like.


He's hoping Michael Pineda can provide a much-needed break.


The right-hander gets the ball Sunday looking to help the Yankees take three of four from the visiting Baltimore Orioles.


New York's 105 2-3 innings from the bullpen rank among the most in baseball after accumulating 11 more through the first three games of this series. Relievers have come through a majority of the time, posting a 2.21 ERA that is among the best in the majors.


That amount of work could take a toll as the season progresses, though, especially with reliever Chris Martin being placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with right elbow tendinitis. Martin's 15 appearances are one off the team lead.


The Yankees (19-12) also are without starter Masahiro Tanaka (forearm).


Pineda (4-0, 2.97 ERA) has been one of New York's most consistent starters, tossing a team-high 39 1-3 innings in six outings while striking out 38 and walking three. He has a 1.27 ERA in his last three appearances after matching the longest start of his career, going eight scoreless innings in Tuesday's 6-3 win over Toronto.


His other eight-inning start was against Kansas City on Sept. 10, 2011, before tearing his right labrum, causing him to miss all of 2012 and '13. Pineda made only 13 starts last season because of a strain in the same shoulder.


"He's been as good as anyone we've got," Girardi said.


Pineda held the Orioles to one run in 12 1-3 innings over two starts in 2014, but he allowed five runs while striking out nine in 6 1-3 innings of a 6-5 win April 13 in Baltimore.


That outing came five days before the Orioles (13-15) removed Jimmy Paredes from the disabled list because of a lower back strain. Paredes is hitting .347 in 17 games and extended his hitting streak to eight after going 3 for 5 with a homer and a triple in Saturday's 6-2 win.


"Jimmy's one of those guys that's been on both sides of the fence," said manager Buck Showalter, whose club ended a four-game skid. "He wants to stay in this lineup and he's doing what it takes."


Alejandro De Aza hit a two-run homer and Chris Davis had a solo shot for the Orioles, who had dropped nine of 11 on the road.


Bud Norris (1-3, 9.75) is slated to start this contest, but he left the ballpark early Saturday because of an illness.


"We did a couple things out of our bullpen to be able to cover ourselves, if necessary," Showalter told the team's official website. "Hopefully, he will be ready to go."


Norris had a 17.42 ERA while pitching just 10 1-3 innings over his first three starts, including five innings of three-run ball in a 7-5 win over the Yankees on April 15. He's been better over his last two, allowing three runs in 6 2-3 innings to beat Boston before giving up three runs in seven innings - all in the fourth - of Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the New York Mets.


The right-hander is 4-0 with a 3.21 ERA in five career starts against the Yankees, all coming in the last two seasons.


Alex Rodriguez, who hit his 656th career homer off Norris last month, got the day off Saturday with tightness in his legs. His status for the series finale is unclear.




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 Final 4 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Orioles at Yankees
Sat, May 9 Final 6 to 2
Boxscores


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

Preview: Red Sox (13-16) at Blue Jays (15-15)
Game: 3
Venue: Rogers Centre
Date: May 10, 2015 1:07 PM EDT

After winning nine of 14 to open the season and lead the AL East, the Boston Red Sox find themselves right back where 2014 ended.


In sole possession of last place.


Clay Buchholz and the rest of the starting staff have probably been most deserving of blame, and the right-hander will try to get the Red Sox back on track Sunday in Toronto. The problem is his awful numbers from his first six starts look a whole lot like his last six against the hot-hitting Blue Jays.


After Saturday's 7-1 win, Toronto (16-15) has outscored Boston 14-1 in the first two of this three-game series and won seven of 10 in Toronto against the Red Sox (13-17).


The Blue Jays have won seven of 11, while Boston has followed a decent start by going 4-12 with a 5.87 ERA from the rotation and is in danger of losing a fifth straight on the road.


Buchholz (1-4, 6.03 ERA) showed no signs of improvement in Monday's 5-1 loss to Tampa Bay, surrendering five runs and nine hits in 6 1-3 innings. He struck out seven, but his AL-leading rate of 11.49 strikeouts per nine innings is doing him little good.


"Ideally you'd like to keep the game under control from the outset," manager John Farrell told MLB's official website. "And that's not just with Clay, that's with everyone. We can't think that going into every game we're going to put up seven or eight runs. That doesn't happen in this league. It is on our starting pitchers to create some stability."


In his last six starts against Toronto, Buchholz is 1-4 with a 6.55 ERA. He took the decision in an 11-8 home loss to the Blue Jays on April 28 after allowing five runs and six hits in 2 2-3 innings.


Russell Martin is 5 for 16 with four home runs off Buchholz, Ryan Goins is 7 for 14 and Edwin Encarnacion is 4 for 9 with two homers since the start of last season.


Martin has keyed the lineup's recent success, going 15 for 27 with four home runs and four doubles on a seven-game hitting streak. In that same span, the Blue Jays are batting .306 and scoring 6.1 runs per game.


Josh Donaldson was 3 for 5 on Saturday and is batting .403 in his first 15 home games with Toronto. Encarnacion ended a 16-game homer drought with a three-run shot and is batting .357 with 10 RBIs in 11 games after hitting .173 through his first 20.


"Hopefully that's the start of something big for him," manager John Gibbons said.


The offense bodes well for R.A. Dickey, who is seeking consecutive wins after going 0-2 with a 7.23 ERA in his final three starts of April. Dickey (1-3, 4.38) held the New York Yankees to a run and three hits in eight innings of Monday's 3-1 home win.


The right-hander, who has a 2.72 ERA over his last eight home starts, was 4-0 with a 2.23 ERA against the Red Sox last year before allowing all of their runs in seven innings of a 4-1 loss April 29 in Boston.


Pablo Sandoval (3 for 16) has struggled against the knuckleballer, but Xander Bogaerts is 7 for 14 and David Ortiz is 8 for 21 with two home runs.


The lineup as a whole has slumped through a 1-7 May, batting .200 with 16 runs, but it could have Shane Victorino (hamstring) back for the series finale. However, the right fielder is batting .143 in 12 games.


The latest letdown prompted a team meeting.


"We had a little talk," Ortiz said. "Hopefully things change."




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Red Sox at Blue Jays
Fri, May 8 Final 0 to 7
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Red Sox at Blue Jays
Sat, May 9 Final 1 to 7
Boxscores


GAME 3
Red Sox at Blue Jays
Sun, May 10 - 1:07PM EDT

Preview: Twins (17-13) at Indians (10-18)
Game: 3
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: May 10, 2015 1:10 PM EDT

Torii Hunter made a name for himself with his sweet swing and stellar defense while helping the Minnesota Twins win four Central Division titles during his younger days.


Now eight years removed from the end of his first stint with the club - and with his 40th birthday less than two months away - he's helping Minnesota succeed again.


Hunter carries a .462 average over his last nine heading into Sunday's series finale against the host Cleveland Indians, hitting four home runs in that stretch. He went 4 for 4 with a solo homer and two doubles in Friday's 9-3 victory and added another solo shot while going 3 for 5 in Saturday's 7-4 win.


The veteran, who won seven straight Gold Gloves and had six 20-homer seasons from 2001-07 with the Twins, is proving to be well worth the $10.5 million he received in a one-year deal to return to Minnesota in the offseason.


'It was a good rush,' said Hunter, whose streak of seven straight at_bats with a hit came to an end when he reached on an error in the sixth. 'I had a good swing going, good at_bats. You're only perfect for so long. You try to keep the same swing. Unfortunately they got me, but it was a lot of fun while it lasted.'


Minnesota (18-13) has won four straight and nine of 10. The Twins also rank among the major league leaders with 149 runs.


'I talk a lot about not trying to get too far ahead,' manager Paul Molitor said. 'We're playing good baseball and getting rewarded in the win column.'


Their latest offensive outburst came without Trevor Plouffe, who was tending to a family matter. Plouffe is hitting .346 over his last seven and is expected to return for this contest.


Minnesota hopes for a better effort this time against Danny Salazar, who struck out 10 while allowing two runs in six innings of a 4-2 win over the Twins on April 18.


Salazar (3-1, 3.81 ERA) gave up three runs in 13 innings while winning his first two starts, but he's given up four in each of his last two outings. He struck out nine in seven innings of a 5-3 loss to Kansas City on Tuesday.


'I think I could have done a better job in the first three innings. It was very tough, very hard,' Salazar said. 'My fastball wasn't there.'


That hasn't been the case often as the right-hander has 37 strikeouts in just 26 innings. The Indians (10-19) hope Salazar can keep the Twins' bats quiet again after being outscored 23-10 during a three-game losing streak.


Cleveland trailed 7-0 on Saturday before mounting a comeback attempt, as Daniel Murphy hit a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the seventh. Nick Swisher went 4 for 4 and Jason Kipnis added three hits to improve his average to .441 over his last eight.


Trevor May (2-2, 4.15) had his best outing of the season against the Indians on April 19, giving up one run and four hits in six innings of a 7-2 victory.


The right-hander takes the mound in this contest after allowing two runs in 5 2-3 innings over each of his last two starts, beating the Chicago White Sox 12-2 on April 30 before falling 2-1 to Oakland on Tuesday.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Twins at Indians
Fri, May 8 Final 9 to 3
Boxscores


GAME 2
Twins at Indians
Sat, May 9 - Final 7 - 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Twins at Indians
Sun, May 10 - 1:10PM EDT

Preview: Rangers (12-17) at Rays (16-14)
Game: 4
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: May 10, 2015 1:10 PM EDT

Evan Longoria is starting to come through with runners in scoring position, and with no surprise, it's leading to good things for the Tampa Bay Rays.


Tampa Bay looks for Longoria to lead it to a third straight victory Sunday against the visiting Texas Rangers.


Longoria went 2 for 3 with a three-run homer - his third in three games - in Saturday's 7-2 win. He's 8 for 18 with seven RBIs during a five-game hitting streak and has turned around his poor fortunes with runners in scoring position. He was hitting a respectable .274 overall prior to that five-game stretch, but was 1 for 16 in those situations before going 3 for 5 since Monday.


Longoria is also batting .364 at home compared to .234 on the road, and has hit .342 with nine home runs and 24 RBIs in his last 29 meetings with Texas.


Steven Souza Jr. also had a three-run shot while Asdrubal Cabrera hit a solo homer, a day after Brandon Guyer drove in three runs on one of Tampa Bay's two homers in an 8-2 victory.


The Rays (17-14) have eight home runs in four games after hitting two in the previous eight.


"We'll take those three-run homers every night, and then some," manager Kevin Cash told MLB's official website.


Texas has allowed eight home runs in its last five games.


Jake Odorizzi (3-2, 2.21 ERA) is expected to start, health withstanding. Odorizzi was pushed back from starting Saturday after being hit by a flu bug that has bothered other members of the team, including Longoria.


"We actually sent him home the last two days," Cash said. "Kind of got his medicine, got a little bit of throwing in. The good thing is he's kept his arm in shape. We'd much rather have a healthy Odo going out there than trying to force something (Saturday) and have to have people on standby behind him."


Odorizzi owns a 2.12 ERA with 11 quality starts in his last 12 home outings. He won both matchups with Texas last year, limiting the Rangers to two runs in 13 innings.


Texas (12-18) has totaled four runs in back-to-back losses after coming alive for 25 during a four-game winning streak. Carlos Peguero has been one of the few Rangers to stay hot, homering for the fourth time in five games Saturday.


They'll start Wandy Rodriguez (1-1, 3.12), who won for the first time in 11 starts Tuesday at Houston, giving up one run on a homer over eight innings with eight strikeouts in a 7-1 victory. It was his longest outing since 2012 and nearly matched the 9 1-3 innings he combined for in his first two starts.


Attacking the strike zone more aggressively was key for Rodriguez, who issued one free pass after walking eight in his previous two games.


"It's the fastball in play for strikes, but more than anything else it's the breaking balls that he threw for strikes also," manager Jeff Banister said. "He didn't waste a lot of his pitches."


The left-hander hasn't faced the Rays since 2011. Longoria is 3 for 8 off Rodriguez with a home run and double.


The Rays have won eight of the last 11 meetings.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Rangers at Rays
Thu, May 7 Final 5 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Rangers at Rays
Fri, May 8 Final 2 to 8
Boxscores


GAME 3
Rangers at Rays
Sat, May 9 - Final 2 - 7
Boxscores


GAME 4
Rangers at Rays
Sun, May 10 - 1:10PM EDT

Preview: Braves (14-15) at Nationals (15-15)
Game: 3
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: May 10, 2015 1:35 PM EDT

Bryce Harper's batting average dropped 30 points over the course of five days during a slump that included his career-best 20-game streak of reaching base coming to an end.


Then, something clicked.


Harper's most recent heroic effort pushed the Washington Nationals over .500 for the first time this season, and he'll look to continue his torrid run in Sunday's series finale against the visiting Atlanta Braves.


The 22-year-old's average dipped from .275 to .245 as he went 1 for 17 with six strikeouts during a five-game stretch that concluded with him going hitless and failing to reach base in Tuesday's 2-1 loss to Miami.


Harper, though, responded Wednesday with three homers in a 7-5 win over the Marlins and hit two more in Friday's 9-2 victory over Atlanta, becoming the youngest player in major league history to hit five in two games.


Harper then came up in the bottom of the ninth Saturday and hit a two-run walk off homer that gave Washington an 8-6 win.


'Right when I hit it, I knew it was gone," said Harper, whose six homers in a three-game stretch fell one off the major league record set by Shawn Green in 2002. "Around the bases, got to home plate, and to enjoy that with the team is huge."


The Nationals (16-15) have won nine of 11 and have scored 43 runs in four games against the Braves in that stretch. Harper is 8 for 16 in those contests against Atlanta.


'Certainly we don't expect him to hit a home run every day,' manager Matt Williams said. 'But he can get in streaks like this where he sees the ball very well.'


Harper is 5 for 11 with two doubles in his career off Alex Wood, who gave up five runs in five innings of a 13-4 loss to the Nationals on April 29 after going 3-1 with a 1.49 ERA in his previous six outings against them.


Things didn't go much better for Wood (1-2, 4.32 ERA) on Monday, as he allowed three runs and nine hits over 4 1-3 innings in a 5-2 loss to Philadelphia.


The Braves have dropped each of the left-hander's last five outings


'I've got to make an adjustment,' said Wood, who had a 2.59 ERA in 24 starts last season. 'It's a humbling game, to say the least.'


Jordan Zimmermann opposed Wood last month, giving up four runs and striking out seven in seven innings. Zimmermann (2-2, 4.15) allowed one earned run in seven innings of Washington's 6-4 win over Miami on Monday, improving to 1-1 with a 2.73 ERA in four starts since allowing eight runs in a loss at Boston on April 13.


The right-hander is 3-1 with a 2.43 ERA in his last six against the Braves (14-16), who have lost seven of eight on the road.


Pedro Ciriaco's two-run, pinch-hit double in the seventh began a rally Saturday for Atlanta, which scored three more in the eighth to tie it. Slowing Harper, however, might be the only way for the Braves to salvage the finale of this series.


"When the guy is going that good, that hot, you're almost going to have to bounce it there,' manager Fredi Gonzalez said. 'And maybe even then he could hit it out of the ballpark.'




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Braves at Nationals
Fri, May 8 Final 2 to 9
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Braves at Nationals
Sat, May 9 - Final 6 - 8
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Braves at Nationals
Sun, May 10 - 1:35PM EDT

Preview: Mets (18-11) at Phillies (11-19)
Game: 3
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: May 10, 2015 1:35 PM EDT

Bartolo Colon's at_bats may be comical, but there's nothing funny about his success on the mound.


Colon looks to become the first pitcher in the majors to reach six wins Sunday and help the New York Mets to back-to-back victories in the conclusion of this three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies.


Colon (5-1, 2.90 ERA) has become a fan favorite with New York (19-11), winning a team-high 20 games over the past two seasons. However, it's his at_bats that have only made him more endearing to Mets fans, as the career .076 hitter awkwardly swings the bat and usually loses his helmet in the process.


There's nothing clumsy about the right-hander when he's holding the ball.


Colon, who turns 42 later this month, is tied with teammate Matt Harvey and three others for baseball's wins lead. He's also put together a stretch of 34 1-3 innings without a walk, the longest active streak in the majors and the longest by a Met since Bret Saberhagen went 47 in 1994.


"He lives and dies by command. And he has to be brave," manager Terry Collins told MLB's official website. "He thinks, 'If you're going to beat me, you have to swing the bats.' Hitting is not easy, and he goes about it that way."


Colon struck out a season-high nine while giving up a solo homer and six hits overall in 7 2-3 innings of Tuesday's 3-2 win over Baltimore.


"His ball moves so much," center fielder Juan Lagares said. "You can see it from anywhere on the field."


Colon went 3-1 with a 3.21 ERA in four starts against the Phillies (11-20) last season, but he was dominant in those victories with a 1.59 ERA. He won both visits to Philadelphia, allowing three runs in 15 innings.


The Mets have won 16 of the past 21 meetings with the Phillies, including eight of 11 at Citizens Bank Park following Saturday's 3-2 victory. Lagares connected for his first homer in the season - a go-ahead, two-run shot in the seventh that snapped his 0-for-16 funk.


"He continues to show his skills every day," Collins said of Lagares, a lifetime .344 hitter against Philadelphia.


The Phillies, losers of three of four games, are looking for Chad Billingsley (0-1, 9.00) to show improvement after taking the mound for the first time in over two years due to Tommy John surgery and a procedure to repair a torn flexor tendon.


The right-hander's return didn't go well Tuesday, allowing six runs and eight hits - two homers - in five innings of a 9-0 loss at Atlanta.


"It felt good to be back out there again," Billingsley said. "It was very exciting. I just want to go back out there every fifth day and compete."


He's 2-0 with a 1.77 ERA in four games - three starts - against the Mets, but hasn't faced them since 2009.


Chase Utley's .109 season average is the lowest qualifying mark in the majors, but he did end an 0-for-19 skid with a pinch-hit single in the ninth.


"Maybe that will get him started," manager Ryne Sandberg said.


The second baseman went 4 for 9 (.444) versus Colon last year.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Mets at Phillies
Fri, May 8 Final 1 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Mets at Phillies
Sat, May 9 Final 3 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Mets at Phillies
Sun, May 10 - 1:35PM EDT

Preview: Cardinals (22-7) at Pirates (13-16)
Game: 3
Venue: PNC Park
Date: May 10, 2015 1:35 PM EDT

The Pittsburgh Pirates' offense is finally coming around, and so are the victories.


The Pirates go for another big effort at the plate as they try to conclude this three-game set with back-to-back wins over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday.


Pittsburgh (14-16) ranks toward the bottom of the majors with a .236 batting average and 3.8 runs per game. However, the Pirates are showing signs of life at the plate, batting .327 with 19 runs while winning two of three games after scoring 15 during a 1-7 stretch that included a three-game sweep by the Cardinals (22-8) last weekend.


The Pirates had five of their nine hits Saturday go for extra bases, including Jordy Mercer's go-ahead two-run double in the sixth of a 7-5 win over St. Louis.


Mercer finished with a season-high three RBIs after collecting four through his first 24 games. The shortstop is batting .191 on the season, 64 points less than in 2014.


Jung Ho Kang, however, is 10 for 22 in seven games, spiking his average 136 points to .318. The rookie is 5 for 12 with a solo homer and three runs in four meetings with the Cardinals.


Andrew McCutchen is 7 for 17 with three doubles in four games, and he's hitting .342 in his last 10 home meetings with St. Louis.


Offense could be vital with Pittsburgh turning to Jeff Locke (2-2, 4.85), who's 0-2 with a 7.47 ERA over his last three starts, getting pulled before the sixth in two of them.


The left-hander lasted seven innings Tuesday, but gave up four runs and two homers in a 7-1 home loss to Cincinnati. That was an improvement after surrendering six in 3 2-3 innings of a 6-2 loss to the Cubs on April 28.


"I think we just fell behind some guys and left some pitches over the plate, and they put good swings on them," Locke told MLB's official website.


Locke is 2-2 with a 3.76 ERA in five career starts against the Cardinals, allowing five runs and five walks in three-plus innings of a 6-4 loss at St. Louis on Sept. 2.


The Cardinals are trying to bounce back from just their second loss in 12 games.


Kolton Wong has put together a seven-game hitting streak, going 14 for 26 with right RBIs. The second baseman is 7 for 13 with two homers and four RBIs in his last three meetings with the Pirates.


Matt Holliday has hit safely in his last five games, going 10 for 21 (.476), and he's 5 for 12 with a homer off Locke.


Tyler Lyons is getting another turn in the rotation, but he's 0-7 with a 7.07 ERA in 11 starts after winning the first two of his career in May 2013.


The left-hander had seven strikeouts while allowing four runs - three earned - and six hits in 4 1-3 innings of Tuesday's 7-4 win over the Chicago Cubs.


"That was probably the most spotty my command has been all year," Lyons told MLB's official website. "Everything was just a little bit up. Fortunately, I had good command of my breaking pitches, so that bailed me out a little bit. But anytime you struggle to throw a fastball for a strike as much as I did, it makes everything a little tougher."


Lyons is 0-2 with a 4.20 ERA in three games - two starts - against Pittsburgh.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Cardinals at Pirates
Fri, May 8 Final 8 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Cardinals at Pirates
Sat, May 9 - Final 5 - 7
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Cardinals at Pirates
Sun, May 10 - 1:35PM EDT

Preview: Reds (14-14) at White Sox (10-15)
Game: 3
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: May 10, 2015 2:10 PM EDT

Though producing runs has been a struggle for the Chicago White Sox, they believe they're certainly capable of being a consistently successful offensive club.


After salvaging a doubleheader split with a solid effort at the plate in the nightcap, the White Sox conclude their home set with the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.


Chicago (11-16) totaled six hits overall and managed one run prior to the ninth inning of Saturday's 10-4 loss in Game 1. However, the AL's lowest scoring team (95 runs) homered three times and recorded 14 hits during an 8-2 victory over Cincinnati (15-15) in the second contest.


'Everybody's frustrated that's got a low average right now and it's not getting done offensively," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "But these guys, they stick together and it'll get better.'


Shortstop Alexei Ramirez entered Saturday batting .202, but went 5 for 8 - recording a home run and two RBIs in each contest.


'Hopefully, this is a good sign to turn the corner for him,' Ventura said about Ramirez, who connected for his 100th home run in Game 1.


The White Sox average 4.1 runs while going 9-5 at home compared to the road, where they're 2-11 and scoring 2.8 per contest.


Chicago also is near the bottom of the majors with 19 home runs even after hitting five Saturday.


All four runs Cincinnati's Michael Lorenzen (1-1, 3.27 ERA) has allowed through his first two career starts have come via solo homers. He yielded one in the second inning and two other hits over six of a 7-1 victory at Pittsburgh on Tuesday.


'I kind of collected myself and thought about what a young pitcher who had given up four home runs in his first two starts should do,' the right-hander said. 'I thought the answer was (to) pound the strike zone, so that's what I tried to do.'


Chicago counters with John Danks (1-3, 6.20), who needs to bounce back after allowing seven runs - three earned - and eight hits over 2 1-3 innings of last Sunday's 13-3 loss at Minnesota.


'It's pretty awful," said Danks, who also committed two errors.


Marlon Byrd has faced Danks more than any other Reds player but is 3 for 20 with a double and five strikeouts against the left-hander. Byrd hit a three-run home run while recording his fifth consecutive two-hit game in Saturday's opener.


He went 0 for 1 with three walks in the nightcap.


Teammate Joey Votto had half of Cincinnati's six hits in Game 2 after sitting the opener to serve a one-game suspension for making contact with an umpire Wednesday.


Chicago's Jose Abreu was shaken up after he fouled a ball off his lower left leg in the first inning of the opener, but homered in the ninth off Johnny Cueto and went 1 for 4 in the second game.


After going 0 for 6 in the first season's first two home games, the reigning AL Rookie of the Year is batting .383 while hitting safely in has last 12 at U.S. Cellular Field.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Reds at White Sox RAIN OUT
Fri, May 8 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 2
Reds at White Sox
Sat, May 9 Final 10 to 4/ 4 - 8 DOUBLE HEADER
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Reds at White Sox
Sun, May 10 - 2:10PM EDT

Preview: Cubs (15-13) at Brewers (9-21)
Game: 3
Venue: Miller Park
Date: May 10, 2015 2:10 PM EDT

If the Chicago Cubs are to get back on track, they must find a way to improve their collective performance on the mound.


Following a lopsided defeat, the visiting Cubs look to bounce back in Sunday's decisive finale against the Milwaukee Brewers.


Chicago (15-14) posted a 3.53 ERA and averaged 2.0 walks while winning 13 of its first 21 games, but since has a 6.49 ERA and issued 3.5 free passes per contest to go 2-6.


After Travis Wood was tagged for six runs in four innings of Saturday's 12-4 defeat, Cubs starters have a 5.68 ERA in those last eight games. The bullpen has been even worse with a 7.99 ERA during that stretch.


"You keep putting your guys out there," manager Joe Maddon said.


Rather than waste another reliever Saturday, catcher David Ross threw a scoreless eighth.


"We need to get our bullpen in order and then we can take off," Maddon told MLB's official website.


Milwaukee (10-21) has made the most of Chicago's ineffective pitching by recording 29 runs, 39 hits, including seven homers, and drawing 17 walks while winning three of the last four meetings.


Khris Davis and Gerardo Parra combined for five hits and seven RBIs as the Brewers improved to 3-3 under manager Craig Counsell.


Davis entered the series batting .209 with a homer and five RBIs, but is 7 for 8 with a home run, three doubles and six RBIs in the last two contests.


'I've been focusing on just having good at_bats,' he said. 'I am feeling good at the plate.'


Davis is 3 for 5 versus Kyle Hendricks (0-1, 5.61 ERA), who posted a 1.38 ERA while winning both career starts against the Brewers - both last season at Wrigley Field.


The right-hander has a 7.36 ERA while not factoring in the decision of his three road outings this season. He gave up a three-run homer and one other run over five innings of Tuesday's 7-4 loss at St. Louis.


Chicago's pitching woes Saturday overshadowed Kris Bryant's first home run and fellow rookie Addison Russell extending his hitting streak to 12 games. Jerome Walton was the last Cubs rookie to hit safely in 13 consecutive contests while part of a 30-game streak in 1989.


Russell, batting .326 during his streak, and Bryant will get their first look at ex-Cub Matt Garza (2-4, 4.58).


The right-hander allowed only three hits until he served up a three-run homer to Justin Turner in his sixth and final inning of Tuesday's 8-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers that dropped him to 0-3 with a 5.29 ERA at home.


Though Garza has completed at least six innings in four straight outings, he's yielded six home runs during that span.


'Home runs are hit on mistakes,' Counsell said. 'They're mistakes pitchers make. They're mistakes in execution, really. For me it's less about pitch selection than it is about pitch execution.'


Garza surrendered one home run while going 1-2 with a 5.82 ERA against the Cubs in 2014.


Counsell hopes both Carlos Gomez (hip) and former Cub Aramis Ramirez (back) will make their series debuts Sunday. Gomez has missed the last three contests.


"I think Carlos and Rami are really both in the same spots," Counsell said. "These are day-to-day injuries that happen to guys, and you want them out there for the next 120-130 games."




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Cubs at Brewers
Fri, May 8 Final 7 to 6
Boxscores


GAME 2
Cubs at Brewers
Sat, May 9 Final 4 to 12
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Cubs at Brewers
Sun, May 10 - 2:10PM EDT

Preview: Dodgers (19-10) at Rockies (11-16)
Game: 3
Venue: Coors Field
Date: May 10, 2015 4:10 PM EDT

Rain has allowed the Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies to play barely more than five innings of their scheduled three-game series thus far.


With a winter storm forecast for Denver on Sunday, snow may prove to create another scheduling headache for the NL West rivals.


The teams waited out a 64-minute rain delay before the first pitch Friday night, which ended with the Dodgers (19-10) getting a 2-1 victory since the teams completed five innings. There was also a delay of 1 hour and 40 minutes before the game was called, but the teams didn't even take the field Saturday as the umpire crew called the game two hours before the scheduled start time.


That game will be made up as part of a doubleheader in either June or September when the Dodgers return to Colorado, but giving Los Angeles the chance to simply push staff ace Clayton Kershaw back a day to potentially start Sunday's finale suits manager Don Mattingly just fine.


'You don't like to play the doubleheader later in the year, but the one thing nobody wants to do is lose a starter,' Mattingly said. 'That puts you in a tailspin. I'd rather do that than play three innings and lose a starter.'


Kershaw (1-2, 3.72 ERA) is making his fourth bid for his 100th career victory, and hitter-friendly Coors Field hasn't worn out the reigning two-time NL Cy Young Award winner. He's won his last four starts there with a 2.00 ERA and has a 1.62 mark during a six-game overall winning streak versus the Rockies.


The left-hander gave up three runs over 7 1-3 innings in Monday's 4-3 defeat at Milwaukee.


Kershaw, second in the majors with 51 strikeouts, has faced Troy Tulowitzki more than all but two hitters. The Colorado stalwart is a .255 hitter against him.


Carlos Gonzalez hasn't fared as well, going 5 for 30 with 17 strikeouts, while Wilin Rosario - called up from the minors Friday - is 7 for 23 off Kershaw.


Colorado (11-16) was able to avoid a worse logjam earlier this week by playing a doubleheader Wednesday versus Arizona to overcome two rainouts, and manager Walt Weiss - a former player with the Rockies - can't recall a time where the weather has wreaked such havoc.


'I've never seen weather like this in Denver,' he said. 'I've lived here 21, 22 years and I've never seen it stick around for a week.'


The Rockies also pushed their starter back a day, opting to stay with Jorge De La Rosa (0-2, 9.00). Though De La Rosa has lost more to the Dodgers than any opponent with 10 defeats, he is 5-2 with a 4.20 ERA in his last seven starts against them. The two losses, however, have come in the only starts in that span when he has opposed Kershaw.


Adrian Gonzalez is a .349 hitter off De La Rosa with three homers in 43 at_bats while Juan Uribe (.226) and Andre Ethier (.136) have struggled in this matchup.


The left-hander allowed three runs over five innings in last Saturday's 4-2 loss at San Diego.


Colorado's Nick Hundley is batting .432 during an 11-game hitting streak. He's 12 for 32 at home on the season.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Dodgers at Rockies
Fri, May 8 Final 2 to 1
Boxscores


GAME 2
Dodgers at Rockies
Sat, May 9 - 8:10PM EDT RAIN OUT


GAME 3
Dodgers at Rockies
Sun, May 10 - 4:10PM EDT

Preview: Royals (18-11) at Tigers (19-11)
Game: 3
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: May 10, 2015 8:05 PM EDT

After jumping on the Detroit Tigers early to even their series, the Kansas City Royals can finish the weekend set with a similar performance against a shaky starting pitcher.


With the AL Central lead on the line, Detroit will turn Sunday to Shane Greene, who has been one of the league's worst hurlers in recent weeks.


Following three starts in which he posted a 0.39 ERA and earned a win in each outing, Greene (3-2, 5.56 ERA) has allowed 20 earned runs over his last 11 innings.


The right-hander lasted only 2 2-3 on Tuesday and surrendered five runs in a 5-2 defeat to the Chicago White Sox.


"This isn't the first time this has ever happened to anybody and it probably won't be the last time," Greene said of his decline. "So I've got to keep working - it's a long season. I believe in myself, I believe in the process and we'll get 'em next time."


That next time will come against a Royals (19-11) team looking to maintain first place in the division - a position the club ceded to the Tigers (19-12) in a loss Friday before earning it back with a 6-2 win Saturday.


"I think it's going to be like that all year long," manager Ned Yost said of the back-and-forth division race. "It's just going to be give and take."


Alcides Escobar hit a leadoff home run on the first pitch of the game and Jeremy Guthrie pitched 7 1-3 strong innings in the victory.


Escobar has gone 4 for 10 with two runs and two RBIs in two games since returning from a concussion and left cheek contusion that cost him seven contests from April 30-May 7.


"He's just as tough as they come in this game," Yost told MLB's website. "A lot of times when guys get hit in the head there's a little trepidation in there when they come back. But Esky stuck his nose right back in it last night and right back at it today."


Right-hander Chris Young (2-0, 1.06) will follow Guthrie for his second start of the season, both against Detroit. Young joined the Royals' rotation in place of the injured Jason Vargas and pitched five no-hit innings against the Tigers on May 1. Kansas City's bullpen eventually blew the no-hitter in the eighth inning of a 4-1 victory.


Eric Hosmer, who scored twice in that win, went 2 for 5 with a double and two RBIs on Saturday to continue his excellent start to the season. The 25-year-old is on pace for 135 RBIs, 27 home runs and a .946 OPS - which would all mark career bests.


Lorenzo Cain raised his average to .339 with a 2-for-5 performance Saturday. He has hit safely in eight straight and is 9 for 23 (.391) against the Tigers this season.


Miguel Cabrera ranks among the league's best with a .333 average and .986 OPS despite a hitless day Saturday, but he's done little in his career against Young.


Cabrera is 2 for 16 against the 34-year-old - a .125 clip that ranks as his second-worst average against any pitcher with at least 16 at_bats, trailing only his numbers against teammate David Price (1 for 17).


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Royals at Tigers
Fri, May 8 Final 5 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Royals at Tigers
Sat, May 9 Final 6 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Royals at Tigers
Sun, May 10 - 8:05PM EDT

Preview: Astros (19-11) at Angels (14-16)
Game: 4
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Date: May 10, 2015 3:35 PM EDT

After his breakout 2014 season was cut short by a serious knee injury, Garrett Richards was determined to come back just as effective this year.


True to his words, Richards tries to earn a third straight victory Sunday against the visiting Houston Astros.


Richards (2-1. 2.52 ERA) never wallowed or felt sorry for himself while recovering from the Aug. 20 injury that ended a stellar season in which he went 13-4 with a 2.61 ERA in 26 starts. Instead, the right-hander worked hard to regain his physical form while mentally believing he would pick up where he left off.


"I worked extremely hard this offseason," Richards told MLB's official website. "I'm not surprised at anything that's going on. I knew as soon as I got hurt that I'd be able to return to my normal form. That's what I believed in my heart, and that's what I believed all offseason.


"That's the mindset I had all offseason, and now I'm starting to see the reward."


Since giving up four runs, five hits and walking four in five innings of a 4-3 loss at Houston (20-11) in his season debut April 19, Richards has allowed four runs, 12 hits and walked eight over 20 innings to go 2-0 in three starts. He yielded one run in seven innings while not factoring in the decision of a 5-4 win over Seattle on Tuesday.


Richards will try to help the Angels (14-17) earn a split of this four-game series after falling 6-5 on Saturday.


Jose Altuve hit one of three home runs for Houston, which improved to 4-2 versus Los Angeles this season. The Astros, who lead the AL with 45 home runs, had only two while dropping four of their previous five.


'That type of power is capable every single day, any pitcher, any ballpark,' Houston manager A.J. Hinch said.


Altuve is 5 for 11 in the series after going 1 for 13 in the previous four contests. The two-time All-Star second baseman and Colby Rasmus, who also homered Saturday, are each batting .364 against Richards.


Houston's Scott Feldman (2-3, 5.50) allowed three or fewer runs in four of his first five starts but was tagged for six and nine hits over three innings of a 7-1 loss to Texas on Tuesday.


'I just went out there and did terrible,' the right-hander said. 'I've got to try to iron that out in between my next start.'


Feldman is 1-1 in his last three starts against the Angels, giving up two runs over six innings of each. He yielded a two-run homer to C.J. Cron in the fourth inning while beating Richards last month.


Erick Aybar is hitting .424 (14 for 33) with three triples and two doubles versus Feldman.


Aybar drove in two runs Saturday for Los Angeles, which got within a run in the ninth before Albert Pujols' fielder's choice ended the game with two on.


'With this lineup, I don't care how many runs we're behind,' second baseman Johnny Giavotella said. 'We still feel like we have a chance to win. We have a lot of perseverance on this team, and we play hard baseball.'


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Astros at Angels
Thu, May 7 Final 3 to 2
Boxscores


GAME 2
Astros at Angels
Fri, May 8 Final 0 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Astros at Angels
Sat, May 9 Final 6 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 4
Astros at Angels
Sun, May 10 - 3:35PM EDT

Preview: Flames (45-30) at Ducks (51-24)


Date: May 10, 2015 10:00 PM EDT

Since winning the 2007 Stanley Cup, the Anaheim Ducks have experienced plenty of regular-season success. Their playoff efforts haven't lived up to those results, particularly over the past two seasons.


That trend can change Sunday night in Game 5 as they try to close out their Western Conference semifinal series, and one thing that's remained constant over the years regardless of regular or postseason setting is their home dominance of the Calgary Flames.


The Ducks, winners of three straight Pacific Division titles, haven't progressed beyond the second round since their Stanley Cup run, going 2-5 in playoff series prior to this season after triumphing over Ottawa in five games to lift the Cup.


The season before that, Anaheim opened a run to the conference finals with a seven-game, first-round win over Calgary. Game 3 of that series started a streak that's been bettered once in the history of the NHL: The Ducks have won 21 consecutive home games over the Flames, tied for second all-time behind Philadelphia's 23-game streak over Pittsburgh from 1980-87. Montreal also had 21-game streaks over the New York Rangers (1954-57) and Washington (1975-81).


Anaheim isn't letting the past disrupt its focus as it tries to improve to 8-1 this postseason.


"You never know what's going to happen," winger Matt Beleskey told the league's official website. "We love going home. We love playing in front of our home fans, but I don't think that whole streak thing matters at this point. It's Game 5 of the playoffs. We need a big effort."


Beleskey put the Ducks in a position for the return to Honda Center to be a clincher, scoring the game-winner 1:11 into the third period of Friday's 4-2 victory. He's scored in all four games and can become the first Anaheim player to ever score in five straight in one postseason. Teemu Selanne scored in five straight from 2009-11.


Beleskey and Jakob Silfverberg scored on the power play to make the Ducks 7 for 25 (28.0 percent) in the playoffs, tops among clubs still alive.


"Our power play has been working hard all year," said Beleskey, who had five goals in 22 playoff games prior to this series. "We were creating momentum all game. ... We've got to take care of business when they take a penalty like that."


The Ducks' penalty kill is 13 for 14 in the series. The Flames are 0 for 19 on the power play in their last seven games in Anaheim and were outscored 9-1 there in Games 1 and 2.


For Calgary, its shot at progressing beyond the second round for the first time since 2004 has been put on life support.


"We know our situation," coach Bob Hartley said. "Obviously we need to win. We'll be a desperate group, as always."


The Flames might need an especially strong effort from Karri Ramo, who took over for former Ducks goaltender Jonas Hiller in Game 1. Anaheim is averaging 4.11 goals in the clubs' seven meetings this season and a league-best 4.0 during the playoffs.


Hiller had a 2.61 goals-against average and .919 save percentage in seven playoff games, and Ramo hasn't matched that with 2.85 and .895 marks.


Hiller's successor in Anaheim, Frederik Andersen, has played every minute this postseason with a 1.96 GAA and .927 save percentage. The 25-year-old is 7-0 at home in his postseason career with a 1.57 GAA, and he's receiving plenty of offensive support.


Game 4 was Corey Perry's first of the series without a point, but the Anaheim right wing has a playoff-high 1.75 points per game and teammate Ryan Getzlaf is second at 1.50.


Getzlaf and Perry have played in all 21 games on the home streak over Calgary, recording 31 and 26 points, respectively.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Flames at Ducks
Thu, Apr 30 Final 1 to 6


GAME 2
Flames at Ducks
Sun, May 3 Final 0 to 3


GAME 3
Ducks at Flames
Tue, May 5 Final 3 to 4


GAME 4
Ducks at Flames
Fri, May 8 Final 4 to 2


GAME 5
Flames at Ducks
Sun, May 10 - 10:00PM EDT

Preview: Rockets (57-28) at Clippers (58-27)


Date: May 10, 2015 8:30 PM EDT

The most unique task Doc Rivers faces with the Los Angeles Clippers is balancing the roles of coach and father. It got a lot easier when his 22-year-old son Austin did his part in allowing the team to ease its star point guard back into the mix.


With Chris Paul's health improving, the younger Rivers probably won't need to duplicate his outstanding Game 3 performance when the Clippers try to take a 3-1 series lead over the Houston Rockets on Sunday night at Staples Center.


Paul missed the opening two games of this Western Conference semifinal with a strained left hamstring but returned for Saturday's 124-99 win, and the playmaker was able to limit himself to 23 minutes while Austin Rivers played as if he were the eight-time All-Star.


Rivers shot 10 of 13 from the field and scored 25 points, including 13 during an 18-0 run that closed the third quarter and slammed the door on the Rockets. It was a huge reversal for Rivers after his turnover late in Game 2 thwarted a comeback attempt.


"Austin was unbelievable," said Paul, who had 12 points and a team-high seven assists in his first game since hitting the winning bucket in Game 7 against San Antonio last weekend. "I was probably his biggest cheerleader in the third quarter. I just kept saying, 'I don't want to play anymore if I don't have to.'"


That luxury is probably not something Paul will bank on going forward. Paul shot just 36.7 percent against the Rockets during the regular season but still totaled 67 points with a 3.80 assist-to-turnover ratio and nine steals in four meetings.


Rivers started in Paul's place to begin this series, scoring a combined 27 points in the first two contests, and his sloppy mistake down the stretch in Game 2 didn't weigh him down or sour his father on giving him minutes.


"Our relationship has always been coach-player," said the younger Rivers, acquired in a trade with Boston in January. "He's hard on me, but it's because he wants the best for me."


While Rivers was magnificent off the bench Saturday, starting shooting guard J.J. Redick was also key in keeping Paul from overextending himself with 31 points on 11-of-14 shooting, including 5 of 6 from 3-point range. Los Angeles is 21-4 when he scores at least 20.


Blake Griffin added 22 points and 14 rebounds but continued to suffer from the turnover bug. His season-worst seven giveaways proved inconsequential in Friday's 25-point victory, but he has 15 total in this series.


Griffin, though, has posted 10 straight double-doubles in the playoffs. Rockets center Dwight Howard was the last to accomplish that feat in 2009, and he has one in every game of this series but has shot 16 of 41 at the free throw line.


Houston's effort in Game 3 appears balanced in the box score at first glance with six players scoring in double figures, but the Rockets shot 39.8 percent while the Clippers were at 55.4. Houston missed 12 of its final 15 3-point attempts.


"We just let go of the rope and they piled on us," coach Kevin McHale said. "We got rattled in that third quarter. Our team defense went to hell."


James Harden, averaging a playoff-best 27.4 points, scored 25 with 11 assists, but no other Rockets player had more than 14. The Clippers managed to keep Harden off the free throw line, where he was 5 of 5 after hitting all 15 attempts while scoring 32 in Game 2.


"Whenever he has big games, he gets to the free throw line a lot," Griffin said.


Houston came in averaging 112.4 points in the postseason but was held below the century mark for the first time since April 8 at San Antonio.


"It was a blowout, but it's still one game," Harden said.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Clippers at Rockets
Mon, May 4 Final 117 to 101


GAME 2
Clippers at Rockets
Wed, May 6 Final 109 to 115


GAME 3
Rockets at Clippers
Fri, May 8 Final 99 to 124


GAME 4
Rockets at Clippers
Sun, May 10 - 8:30PM EDT


GAME 5
Clippers at Rockets
Tue, May 12 - 9:30PM EDT

Preview: Marlins (14-16) at Giants (15-15)
Game: 4
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: May 10, 2015 4:05 PM EDT

The Miami Marlins expect to get their hottest hitter back, but they took care of the reigning World Series MVP and the San Francisco Giants without Dee Gordon thanks to some unlikely contributors.


Now Miami looks to get back to the .500 mark behind Mat Latos in Sunday's series finale at AT&T Park.


Gordon, hitting .560 during a 12-game hitting streak and batting a major league-best .437 on the season, missed his second straight game because of a sore right hamstring but is expected to play Sunday.


Jeff Baker, Gordon's fill in at second, had an RBI during a three-run fourth inning against Madison Bumgarner. Baker left in the bottom of the inning with a tight right oblique and is day to day, but his substitute, Donovan Solano, drove in two runs as well in a 6-2 victory.


Marcel Ozuna also homered against Bumgarner, who had given up three runs over his previous three starts.


"That's what good teams have to do," said David Phelps, who recorded his fourth straight quality start, allowing one run in six innings. "I've been around the game long enough to know that the 25 guys who start the season usually aren't the only 25 guys you use. You need guys that step up when guys go down. That's how you win games."


The Marlins (15-16) can reach .500 for a second time. They lasted a day at the break-even mark after defeating Philadelphia on May 2.


San Francisco's pitching continues to be wildly inconsistent during a 4-3 stretch. The Giants (15-16), who are capping a 10-game homestand, recorded shutouts in each of those victories but have allowed 22 runs in the three losses.


Both teams are starting pitchers who hope to be on the right track after struggling early.


Latos (1-3, 5.60 ERA) ended a seven-start winless stretch Tuesday at Washington, limiting the Nationals to one run over 6 1-3 innings, though he matched a career high with five walks.


"That was probably the best I've felt all year," he said.


Latos' tenure in South Florida started tenuously as he posted a 10.24 ERA while losing his first three outings, but he has recorded quality starts in two of three since.


Things might be looking up for Ryan Vogelsong (1-2, 6.84) as well if he can parlay the success from his last outing. He yielded three hits over seven innings in a 6-0 victory versus San Diego Tuesday. The right-hander didn't allow a home run and walked two after surrendering eight homers and 11 walks in his first 19 1-3 innings.


"I think I was trying to force balls to locations instead of just getting after every pitch and letting it do what it wanted to," Vogelsong told MLB's official website regarding his earlier struggles.


Latos hasn't faced the Giants since 2012 when he won two meetings, allowing one run in 16 innings for Cincinnati. He's 4-3 with a 2.19 ERA in 11 career starts versus San Francisco.


Vogelsong is 3-3 in nine career appearances against the Marlins, and his 1.99 ERA is his lowest against an opponent he's faced more than three times.


Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton is 2 for 12 with seven strikeouts in this series, but is 4 for 12 with two homers and two doubles against Vogelsong.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Marlins at Giants
Thu, May 7 Final 7 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Marlins at Giants
Fri, May 8 Final 0 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Marlins at Giants
Sat, May 9 Final 6 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 4
Marlins at Giants
Sun, May 10 - 4:05PM EDT

Preview: Padres (16-15) at Diamondbacks (13-15)
Game: 4
Venue: Chase Field
Date: May 10, 2015 4:10 PM EDT

Even though San Diego has struggled to be competitive in recent years, its relievers have consistently been a strength. After an array of offseason moves aimed at competing for a championship, the club's bullpen has been a weak link thus far.


The Padres visit the Arizona Diamondbacks in Sunday's series finale, hoping Justin Upton won't have to bail them out from another late collapse.


San Diego has finished at least 16 games out of first place in six of the past seven years, only coming close to reaching the playoffs in 2010. Even in an 85-loss campaign last season, the Padres' bullpen finished second with a 2.73 ERA, and hasn't finished lower than 11th since 2008. The addition of Craig Kimbrel, whose 194 saves are 50 more than any other pitcher since 2011, figured to only further bolster San Diego's relief corps.


This year, though, the relievers rank 25th with a 4.53 ERA, and Kimbrel has looked rather pedestrian at times - posting a 10.80 ERA over his last eight appearances. He blew his first save Saturday, giving up two runs in the ninth inning.


Luckily for the Padres (17-15), Upton hit a solo homer in the 12th inning of a 6-4 victory, scoring the go-ahead run for a second straight night after Friday's 6-5 win. Three of Upton's eight home runs this season have come against his former team, and he has five homers in his last 10 meetings


He downplayed any extra motivation he might have playing against the Diamondbacks, however.


"That's old hat," said Upton, whose 70 homers at Chase Field are tied with Chris Young for the third-most. "I'm just trying to cheer on my teammates and play the game."


Andrew Cashner (1-5, 3.16) could use another power display from Upton after being backed with only one run of support over 20 innings while losing three straight starts. The Padres have committed nine of their 23 errors in his starts and his 10 unearned runs allowed are the most in baseball. Among the four other pitchers tied for the most losses, Cashner is the only one with an ERA below 4.19.


He didn't help himself much in Tuesday's 6-0 defeat at San Francisco, giving up six runs and seven hits in six innings.


"It was a huge disappointment," he said. "I expect to be way better than that."


Despite nine strikeouts, Cashner lost 8-4 to Arizona on April 13 as all four of the runs he allowed over six innings were unearned. He's 0-3 in four matchups since the start of last season despite a 2.25 ERA.


This was set up to be Josh Collmenter's turn in the rotation, but he hasn't had enough rest after pitching in the first leg of Wednesday's doubleheader sweep of Colorado. Instead, Arizona (13-16) will go with a bullpen day, which could be a precarious situation. The team's relievers have thrown 28 innings over the past eight games, and six combined for five innings Saturday.


Paul Goldschmidt, who walked four times and is 22 for 47 with 11 RBIs over his last 11 games, is 5 for 11 with a home run against Cashner.




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 Final 6 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Padres at Diamondbacks
Sat, May 9 Final 6 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


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