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MLB MONEYLINE


MLB > (921) NY YANKEES@ (922) KANSAS CITY | 05/16/2015 - 07:10 PM
Play ON KANSAS CITY using the money line in All games at home with a money line of -100 to -125
The record is 26 Wins and 8 Losses for the last two seasons (+16.6 units)


MLB > (917) LA ANGELS@ (918) BALTIMORE | 05/16/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play ON BALTIMORE using the money line in All games in night games
The record is 81 Wins and 52 Losses for the last two seasons (+33.75 units)


MLB > (913) COLORADO@ (914) LA DODGERS | 05/16/2015 - 09:10 PM
Play AGAINST COLORADO using the money line in Road games in night games
The record is 19 Wins and 53 Losses for the last two seasons (-30.38 units)


MLB RUNLINE


MLB > (929) DETROIT@ (930) ST LOUIS | 05/16/2015 - 02:15 PM
Play ON DETROIT using the in All games in day games
The record is 15 Wins and 3 Losses for the this season (+15.25 units)


MLB > (921) NY YANKEES@ (922) KANSAS CITY | 05/16/2015 - 07:10 PM
Play ON KANSAS CITY using the in All games at home when the run line is (+1.5, -155) to (-1.5, +160)
The record is 21 Wins and 13 Losses for the last two seasons (+19.55 units)

MLB > (923) CLEVELAND@ (924) TEXAS | 05/16/2015 - 08:05 PM
Play AGAINST TEXAS using the in Home games when playing with a day off
The record is 1 Wins and 13 Losses for the last three seasons (-14.5 units)


MLB > (913) COLORADO@ (914) LA DODGERS | 05/16/2015 - 09:10 PM
Play AGAINST COLORADO using the in Road games vs. right-handed starters
The record is 29 Wins and 42 Losses for the last two seasons (-30.1 units)


MLB TOTALS


MLB > (925) CHI WHITE SOX@ (926) OAKLAND | 05/16/2015 - 09:05 PM
Play OVER OAKLAND on the total in Home games in games played on a grass field
The record is 14 Overs and 2 Unders for the this season (+12.15 units)


MLB > (913) COLORADO@ (914) LA DODGERS | 05/16/2015 - 09:10 PM
Play OVER LA DODGERS on the total in All games in home games
The record is 63 Overs and 33 Unders for the last two seasons (+30.2 units)

MLB > (917) LA ANGELS@ (918) BALTIMORE | 05/16/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play OVER LA ANGELS on the total in All games as a road underdog of +100 to +125
The record is 24 Overs and 9 Unders for the last two seasons (+14.5 units)

MLB > (901) ATLANTA@ (902) MIAMI | 05/16/2015 - 01:05 PM
Play OVER ATLANTA on the total in All games against division opponents
The record is 17 Overs and 6 Unders for the this season (+11 units)


MLB TOP POWERLINES


MLB > (901) ATLANTA @ (902) MIAMI | 05/16/2015 - 01:05 PM
Line: MIAMI -140 BTB PowerLine: MIAMI -127
Edge On: MIAMI (13)


MLB > (915) TAMPA BAY @ (916) MINNESOTA | 05/16/2015 - 02:10 PM
Line: MINNESOTA -115 BTB PowerLine: MINNESOTA 203
Edge On: MINNESOTA (98)


MLB > (905) ARIZONA @ (906) PHILADELPHIA | 05/16/2015 - 07:05 PM
Line: PHILADELPHIA +100 BTB PowerLine: PHILADELPHIA 178
Edge On: PHILADELPHIA (58)


MLB > (917) LA ANGELS @ (918) BALTIMORE | 05/16/2015 - 07:05 PM
Line: BALTIMORE -117 BTB PowerLine: BALTIMORE -104
Edge On: BALTIMORE (13)


MLB > (921) NY YANKEES @ (922) KANSAS CITY | 05/16/2015 - 07:10 PM
Line: KANSAS CITY -130 BTB PowerLine: KANSAS CITY -210
Edge On: KANSAS CITY (80)


MLB > (907) MILWAUKEE @ (908) NY METS | 05/16/2015 - 07:10 PM
Line: NY METS -140 BTB PowerLine: NY METS -202
Edge On: NY METS (62)


MLB > (909) SAN FRANCISCO @ (910) CINCINNATI | 05/16/2015 - 07:10 PM
Line: CINCINNATI -145 BTB PowerLine: CINCINNATI -157
Edge On: CINCINNATI (12)


MLB > (923) CLEVELAND @ (924) TEXAS | 05/16/2015 - 08:05 PM
Line: TEXAS +120 BTB PowerLine: TEXAS -110
Edge On: TEXAS (30)


MLB > (925) CHI WHITE SOX @ (926) OAKLAND | 05/16/2015 - 09:05 PM
Line: OAKLAND -160 BTB PowerLine: OAKLAND -185
Edge On: OAKLAND (25)


MLB > (927) BOSTON @ (928) SEATTLE | 05/16/2015 - 09:10 PM
Line: SEATTLE -175 BTB PowerLine: SEATTLE -133
Edge On: SEATTLE (17)
 

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NBA > (751) LA CLIPPERS@ (751) HOUSTON | 05/17/2015 - 03:05 PM
Play ON LA CLIPPERS using the money line in Road games revenging a loss vs opponent
The record is 12 Wins and 5 Losses for the this season (+12.9 units)


NBA TOTALS


NBA > (751) LA CLIPPERS@ (751) HOUSTON | 05/17/2015 - 03:05 PM
Play OVER LA CLIPPERS on the total in All games when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season
The record is 43 Overs and 21 Unders for the last two seasons (+19.9 units)


NBA TOP POWERLINES


NBA > (751) LA CLIPPERS @ (752) HOUSTON | 05/17/2015 - 03:05 PM
Line: HOUSTON 2 BTB PowerLine: HOUSTON 0
Edge On: HOUSTON (2)
 

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NHL > (53) TAMPA BAY@ (54) NY RANGERS | 05/16/2015 - 01:05 PM
Play AGAINST NY RANGERS using the money line in Home games after a 3 game unbeaten streak
The record is 39 Wins and 55 Losses for the since 1992 (-51.05 units)


NHL PUCKLINE


NHL > (53) TAMPA BAY@ (54) NY RANGERS | 05/16/2015 - 01:05 PM
Play AGAINST NY RANGERS using the in Home games after a 3 game unbeaten streak
The record is 39 Wins and 56 Losses for the since 1992 (-44.8 units)


NHL TOTALS


NHL > (53) TAMPA BAY@ (54) NY RANGERS | 05/16/2015 - 01:05 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 20 Overs and 40 Unders for the last two seasons (+19.6 units)
 

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Conference Final Odds


May 14, 2015




Home Team listed first - Best of 7 Games (2-2-1-1-1)
(Opening Odds in parentheses)


Eastern Conference


N.Y. Rangers vs. Tampa Bay
Rangers (-155)
Lightning (+135)


Western Conference


Anaheim vs. Chicago
Ducks (-105)
Blackhawks (-115)
 

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Home ice could decide conference finals


May 14, 2015


CHICAGO (AP) - The Chicago Blackhawks have a sellout streak of 323 games and counting. The New York Rangers play in the world's most famous arena, and the Anaheim Ducks are undefeated at home in the playoffs. The Tampa Bay Lightning set a franchise record with an NHL-best 32 home wins this season.


Welcome to the NHL's final four, where one road win could go a long way.


Fresh off a Game 7 victory over Washington at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers host the Lightning on Saturday in the opener of the Eastern Conference finals. In the West, the Ducks put their perfect home playoff record on the line in Sunday's Game 1 against the Blackhawks, who also are 5-0 at home in the postseason.


''It's been a good run so far at home, but every round gets harder,'' Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau said Thursday.


The four remaining teams are a combined 19-5 at home this postseason. The home team is 42-27 in this year's NHL playoffs for a winning percentage of .609 that ranks ahead of last year (56-37, .602), though way below the remarkable 59-27 home record for the 2013 playoffs after the season was shortened because of labor strife.


Of course, players credit their fans for success at home, but the NHL also gives home teams the last line change after play is stopped, and last stick on the ice for faceoffs. Savvy coaches use the last line change to get the matchups they want at critical moments, and the advantage for faceoffs can produce extra possessions or help clear the puck from the defensive zone at the end of a frantic shift.


''This time of year, especially against a team's top line, you want to be able to get the right people on the ice at that moment, but when it goes down from there, you can see people playing against anybody,'' Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler said. ''It's not a huge thing that Bruce is preaching, but I think it still is a factor for us in the first couple of games.''


There also is a pronounced advantage for faceoffs. Each of the four remaining teams is better at the dot at home compared to the road, with Tampa Bay posting the biggest split at 53.1 percent at Amalie Arena and 47.8 percent in road playoff games. The next biggest difference is 4.9 points for New York (46.8 percent at home, compared to 41.9 percent on the road), and then Chicago (53.7 and 49.1) and Anaheim (56.7 and 53.9), according to STATS.


Give stars such as Tampa Bay star Steven Stamkos or New York forward Rick Nash more time with the puck, and good things happen for their teams.


Seeking their third Stanley Cup title in the last six seasons, the Blackhawks have won 24 of their last 28 home playoff games. With Joel Quenneville behind the bench and a deep group of forwards taking the ice, they are uniquely positioned to make the most of the rules for home games, but captain Jonathan Toews thinks the crowd is the biggest reason for home success in the NHL.


''When you play well and you create things and things are going your way, the crowd's behind you,'' he said. ''I think it adds to the fact of trying to take away momentum, take away energy from the other team. Everyone wants that, especially in the playoffs.''


But Chicago needs at least one road win to move on, and top-seeded Anaheim is 11-3 at the Moda Center since Feb. 27. The Ducks outscored the Jets and Flames 18-6 at home while beginning the playoffs with eight wins in nine games.


''We also feel confident playing on the road,'' Chicago forward Patrick Sharp said. ''We know Anaheim's going to be a tough place to play, but we've gone there and won before. Hopefully we can do it again.''


New York's 2-1 overtime win against Washington on Wednesday night was the Rangers' fifth victory in seven home playoffs games this year. They also improved to 7-0 at home in Game 7.


The Lightning needed a Game 7 home win against Detroit to escape the first round, and coach Jon Cooper said that is where home ice provides the biggest advantage. Home teams are 94-65 in Game 7s in the Stanley Cup playoffs, including 3-0 this year.


''I do think it matters in Game 7, and that's why you want it,'' Cooper said. ''I think that's the one game that home ice can matter.''
 

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Ducks' Perry should play Sunday


May 14, 2015


ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Corey Perry has missed his second straight practice with the Anaheim Ducks to rest for the Western Conference finals.


Perry stuck to a stationary bike Thursday, but coach Bruce Boudreau expects him to play when the Ducks open the series Sunday against the Chicago Blackhawks.


Perry is the top scorer in the Stanley Cup playoffs with 15 points in nine games for the Ducks, who went 8-1 in the first two rounds.


Perry left Game 5 against the Flames last Sunday after a leg-on-leg hit from Calgary's Matt Stajan in the second period, but returned moments later. Perry eventually scored the series-winning overtime goal, sending Anaheim to its first conference finals since 2007.


The 2011 NHL MVP scored 55 points in 67 regular-season games for Anaheim.
 

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Rangers ready to face Lightning

May 14, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) - It would seem there are two certainties ahead for the New York Rangers.

First, they will see some very familiar faces in the lineup of their opponent in the Eastern Conference finals: Tampa Bay's Brian Boyle, Anton Stralman and, if he recovers quickly enough from an appendectomy, former captain Ryan Callahan.

Second, they will play lots of one-goal games.

The series opens Saturday at Madison Square Garden, which former Lightning players Martin St. Louis, Dan Boyle and Dominic now call home. New York has played 12 postseason games this spring and all were decided by the slimmest of margins, four in overtime, including Wednesday night's 2-1 victory in Game 7 against Washington.

The Rangers also had two one-goal outcomes at the end of the 2014 Stanley Cup finals loss to Los Angeles; the 14 straight is a record.

''You have to be smart,'' captain Ryan McDonagh said after New York capped a comeback from a 3-1 hole in the series with Washington. ''We talked about it ... to make sure shifts are short and you don't get overextended out there. We've been in situations like that before and we trust each other out there.''

It helps to have an all-world goalie like Henrik Lundqvist, who made 35 saves before Derek Stepan's goal eliminated the Capitals. It helps to have no fear of overtime, in which the Rangers are 4-0 this spring, all by 2-1 scores.

And it doesn't hurt to know you can handle the toughest situations. The Rangers, who had the NHL's best record this season, are the only team to win a series after trailing 3-1 in successive years, doing the same thing to Pittsburgh in the second round in 2014.

New York also has won six straight Game 7s.

''We have a good group that keeps their wits about them and keeps calm,'' said Stepan, who was mobbed by his teammates along the glass as Madison Square Garden shook from the cheers. ''There is no real panic. We just go out and play. We just see what happens and we just play hockey.''

They haven't played Tampa Bay since December, and the Lightning swept all three meetings. Boyle, a center and penalty-killing fiend, and Stralman, one of the NHL's most underrated defensemen, joined Tampa Bay as free agents last offseason. Callahan was dealt for St. Louis at the trading deadline last year.

Lundqvist was having few, if any, thoughts about his former teammates, and Steven Stamkos and Tyler Johnson, the Lightning's top scorers.

''I am going to enjoy this tonight and maybe tomorrow; I don't even know when we start,'' said the third goalie with six Game 7 victories, joining Patrick Roy and Martin Brodeur. ''It's a team that we obviously had some problems with during the season. If there is one thing I learned throughout the year, it's that the playoffs are a different story and I look forward to that challenge.''

The Lightning eliminated Montreal is six games. They finished five points behind New York in the overall standings.

''I think our guys stay in the moment,'' said Alain Vigneault, a finalist for NHL Coach of the Year honors. ''They stay in the present and focus on what needs to be done. They go out and play and have fun doing it.''

But they make it difficult on their fans, if not on each other.

Indeed, the Rangers weren't a dominant home team this season. The Lightning were, posting the league's best home mark at 32-8-1. But New York had the best road record, 28-11-2.

Home-ice advantage barely has existed in this postseason.

So it's on to the final four for the Rangers.

''You tell your players to focus on their job and what they need to do and you (as coaches) are doing the same thing,'' Vigneault said. ''There was a lot of atmosphere, there was obviously a tense moment, but the guys just play. It's probably more stressful for the fans watching the game than it is for us.''


 

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NHL conference finals schedules

NHL conference finals schedule, as announced by the league Wednesday night. All times are Eastern. Games will air on NBC and NBCSN in the United States, on CBC and TVA Sports in Canada.

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. New York Rangers

Game 1, Saturday, May 16, Tampa Bay at New York Rangers, 1 p.m., NBC, CBC, TVA Sports

Game 2, Monday, May 18, Tampa Bay at New York Rangers, 1 p.m., NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports

Game 3, Wednesday, May 20, New York Rangers at Tampa Bay, 8 p.m., NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports

Game 4, Friday, May 22, New York Rangers at Tampa Bay, 8 p.m., NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports

Game 5*, Sunday, May 24, Tampa Bay at New York Rangers, 8 p.m., NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports

Game 6*, Tuesday, May 26, New York Rangers at Tampa Bay, 8 p.m., NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports

Game 7*, Friday, May 29, Tampa Bay at New York Rangers, 8 p.m., NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports


WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Anaheim Ducks

Game 1, Sunday, May 17, Chicago at Anaheim, 3 p.m., NBC, CBC, TVA Sports

Game 2, Tuesday, May 19, Chicago at Anaheim, 9 p.m., NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports

Game 3, Thursday, May 21, Anaheim at Chicago, 8 p.m., NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports

Game 4, Saturday, May 23, Anaheim at Chicago, 8 p.m., NBC, CBC, TVA Sports

Game 5*, Monday, May 25, Chicago at Anaheim, 9 p.m., NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports

Game 6*, Wednesday, May 27, Anaheim at Chicago, 8 p.m., NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports

Game 7*, Saturday, May 30, Chicago at Anaheim, 8 p.m., NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports

*-if necessary
 

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NHL

Thursday, May 14


Lightning had regular season edge versus Rangers

The Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers met three times in the regular season and it was the Lightning that proved dominant in those meetings going 3-0 for the season sweep.

The Bolts were tabbed as dogs in two of those games (+100 and +101 at Madison Square Garden) and closed -153 on home ice on November 26.

Goals were plentiful in those three games and the Over cashed in each. Tampa tallied 15 goals and the Blueshirts just seven.
 

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B]Cheat Sheet - Conference Finals
[/B]
May 15, 2015




Anaheim Ducks vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Series Price: Blackhawks -115, Ducks -105


Team Trends


Ducks: 5-0 SU Last 5 Home Games
Ducks: 6-3 O/U Last 9 Games


Blackhawks: 7-2-1 O/U Last 10 Games
Blackhawks: 5-0 SU Last 5 Home Games
Blackhawks: 5 Game Winning Streak Overall
Blackhawks: 4-1 SU Last 5 vs Anaheim


Head-to-Head Trends


-- Corey Crawford (Blackhawks): 9-4-1 Record vs Ducks
-- Road Team has won Last 4 Meetings
-- Under is 8-2 Last 10 Meetings


Exact Games Odds - 7 Game Series (2-2-1-1-1)
4 Games Blackhawks Win 10/1
5 Games Blackhawks Win 5/1
6 Games Blackhawks Win 4/1
7 Games Blackhawks Win 9/2


4 Games Ducks Win 10/1
5 Games Ducks Win 9/2
6 Games Ducks Win 5/1
7 Games Ducks Win 7/2


New York Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Series Price: Rangers -150, Lightning +130


Team Trends


Lightning: 4-1 SU Last 5 Meetings
Lightning: 4-2 SU Last 6 Road Games
Lightning: 7/16 (43.7%) on the Power-Play Last 5 Games


Rangers: 1-10 ATS & 2-9-1 O/U This Postseason
Rangers: 5-2 SU Last 7 Home Games


Head-to-Head Trends


-- Underdog is 5-1 SU Last 6 Meetings
-- Over is 4-1-1 Last 6 Meetings


Exact Games Odds - 7 Game Series (2-2-1-1-1)


4 Games Lightning Win 10/1
5 Games Lightning Win 13/2
6 Games Lightning Win 7/2
7 Games Lightning Win 4/1


4 Games Rangers Win 12/1
5 Games Rangers Win 11/2
6 Games Rangers Win 9/2
7 Games Rangers Win 7/2


Odds to win Stanley Cup


New York Rangers 9/5
Chicago Blackhawks 9/4
Anaheim Ducks 5/2
Tampa Bay Lightning 5/1
 

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Playoff scoring at 3-year low in NHL


May 15, 2015


Scoring is down in the NHL playoffs.


More than half the games through the first two rounds were decided by one goal, and 15 went to overtime. More than one in every four games were decided by a score of 2-1 and the 4.88 goals per game is the lowest in an NHL postseason since 2012 (4.84).


Credit the big, talented goaltenders, better coaching and shot-blocking and the mentality of the players once they get to this stage of the season.


Among the four teams left, only the Chicago Blackhawks have allowed more than two goals a game. Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers, Anaheim's Frederik Andersen and Tampa Bay's Ben Bishop all have a 2.00 goals-against average or below.
 

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Lightning's Bishop thriving on big stage

May 15, 2015


TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - The Tampa Bay Lightning have a pretty good idea of where they'd likely be without Ben Bishop, and it's not in the NHL's Eastern Conference finals.


The league's tallest goaltender is making a name for himself, answering questions about how far he can carry his team with one stellar performance after another in the playoffs.


The 6-foot-7 Bishop won a personal-best and franchise-record 40 games in helping the Lightning to the best regular season in club history. Now, he's showing he has what it takes to not only hold his own, but thrive against hockey's elite on the game's biggest stage.


''It's just a byproduct of what we've watched for two years,'' coach Jon Cooper said Thursday before his team boarded a plane for New York, where Tampa Bay opens the best of seven conference finals against Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers on Saturday.


''We didn't get to watch him play in the playoffs last year because he was hurt. But the only reason we were in the playoffs - well, I shouldn't say the only reason, but a big reason - was because of Ben,'' Cooper added. ''I think this year, we needed Ben. But we didn't need him as much as we did the year before. But to get where we are today, through two playoff rounds, we've really needed him.''


With Bishop out with a bad back, the Lightning were swept by Montreal in the opening round a year ago. Any lingering doubts about whether he could have made a difference in that series are being dispelled.


Since allowing three goals on 14 shots to lose his playoff debut against Detroit last month, Bishop has been superb in leading Tampa Bay past the Red Wings and Canadiens to reach the conference finals.


He won Games 6 and 7 to help the Lightning overcome a 3-2 series deficit against Detroit and young goaltender Petr Mzarek.


Tampa Bay eliminated Montreal in six games, with Bishop outperforming league MVP candidate Carey Price in the clincher.


''I feel like I've been pretty consistent,'' Bishop said. ''I don't think I've played better or worse in any game, to be honest.''


Cooper agreed.


''When the pressure is at its highest is when he has stood the tallest,'' the coach said. ''You look at the four teams left, you'll probably say that about all the goaltenders. They've maybe had their struggles in the series, but at the biggest moments, they became the biggest stars.''


Lundqvist and the Rangers stand between the Lightning and the franchise's second-ever trip to the Stanley Cup final.


Tampa Bay went 3-0 against New York during the regular season, outscoring the Rangers 15-7. The Lightning have won five of six games between the teams over the past two seasons.


Bishop's teammates expect him to play well.


''Bish has been our backbone all year,'' forward Ryan Callahan said.


''Coming into the playoffs, people were questioning him because he'd never been in the playoffs before, but I think he answered that pretty quickly,'' Callahan added. ''The way he's played, the way he's performed, his calmness on and off the ice, it's been impressive to watch.''


Bishop, meanwhile, stressed it's Lightning vs. Rangers, not a personal battle between him against Lundqvist to determine how he stacks up against one of the league's top goaltenders.


''I don't think you go out there and try to prove that, but it's always fun to play against the best,'' the goalie said.


''They're a really good team, obviously,'' Bishop added. ''They're first in the conference for a reason. They have great goaltending, strong defense. ... It's going to be a tough challenge. It should be a lot of fun.''
 

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Pence on his way to rejoin Giants


May 15, 2015


CINCINNATI (AP) - Outfielder Hunter Pence was on his way to rejoin the San Francisco Giants on Friday night, fully recovered from a broken forearm.


Manager Bruce Bochy said Pence felt good after a one-week rehab assignment in the minors and was flying to Cincinnati. He could be activated on Saturday before the third game of a series against the Cincinnati Reds.


Pence's left forearm was broken by a pitch from the Cubs' Corey Black on March 5. He went 5 for 17 with two homers in five games on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento.


''The last couple of games, he said he's never felt better,'' said Bochy, who spoke with him on Friday.
 

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Preview: Braves (15-19) at Marlins (16-19)
Game: 2
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: May 16, 2015 1:05 PM EDT

Mat Latos appears to finally be comfortable - and healthy - after a terrible beginning to his first season with the Miami Marlins.


The Atlanta Braves had a lot to do with his early struggles.


The right-hander looks to bounce back from a pair of rough outings against the Braves as this three-game series in Miami continues Saturday.


Latos was acquired from Cincinnati in December and made his first start with the Marlins on April 7 against visiting Atlanta, shortly after having his knee drained. It turned out to be a memorable debut, but for all the wrong reasons.


He retired only two batters and gave up seven runs, six hits and two walks in the shortest outing by a starting pitcher making his Marlins debut. Latos got another crack at the Braves six days later and allowed three runs and five hits with three walks in four-plus innings of a 3-2 loss in Atlanta.


Latos had a 17.36 ERA after those starts and also dropped his next one, but he's since gone 1-0 with a 2.55 ERA in four outings. His last two have been the best of that bunch, with Latos (1-3, 4.72) giving up two runs while striking out 11 over 13 1-3 innings.


He was in line for the win Sunday at San Francisco after giving up one run in a season-high seven innings while not walking a batter for the first time, but the Giants scored twice in the ninth to pull out a 3-2 victory.


"Having to come back from (the knee), I didn't have a great spring and I pushed that into the season," Latos said. "For some reason April doesn't like me. It's really about getting to the point of repeating."


Alex Wood will pitch opposite Latos again after he benefited from the seven first-inning runs in the 12-2 win last month. He tossed five innings and gave up a pair of runs.


The left-hander hasn't won since, going 0-2 with a 4.37 ERA in six outings. Wood (1-2, 4.28) was also in position to pick up a victory Sunday, but Washington scored twice in the eighth to hand the Braves a 5-4 loss. He allowed three runs in 6 2-3 innings and also went 3 for 3 with an RBI.


Wood has a solid chance to get a win Saturday since he's 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in his last three starts against the Marlins and Latos is 0-3 with a 9.82 ERA in his past four versus Atlanta.


Dee Gordon is 3 for 7 when facing Wood, and that .429 average is actually below his season mark. Gordon went 3 for 5 in a 5-3 loss to open this series Friday, increasing his major league-leading average to .433.


Giancarlo Stanton homered twice to give him three solo shots in the last three games for the Marlins (16-20), who have dropped eight of 12. He tied it in the seventh before Atlanta (16-19) scored twice in its next at-bat.


Miami's relievers have a 7.53 ERA in the last five games.


"It's tough to win ballgames when you can't shut them down," manager Mike Redmond said.


Todd Cunningham had three hits in his first major league start and first appearance since 2013, including a tiebreaking single in the eighth, as the Braves won for the second time in seven games.


"We may have some shortcomings, but we don't have shortcomings in want-to and fight and battling back," manager Fredi Gonzalez said.


Atlanta has won five of seven in the season series, including all four in Miami to improve to 8-2 in the last 10 there.






SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Braves at Marlins
Fri, May 15 Final 5 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Braves at Marlins
Sat, May 16 - 1:05PM EDT


GAME 3
Braves at Marlins
Sun, May 17 - 1:10PM EDT
 

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Preview: Rays (20-16) at Twins (19-16)
Game: 2
Venue: Target Field
Date: May 16, 2015 2:10 PM EDT

The Tampa Bay Rays have pitched relatively well in their last eight games, but Alex Colome's most recent start was the lone exception.


Colome will try to get back on track Saturday while the Minnesota Twins' Trevor May will also attempt to rebound from a lackluster performance with another solid showing at home.


Tampa Bay (20-17) has allowed three runs or fewer in seven of its last eight, posting a 3.17 ERA and dropping its overall mark to 3.43. That ERA would be even lower if not for an 11-5 loss to the New York Yankees on Monday.


Colome (2-1, 5.63 ERA) was charged with eight runs - all on four homers - and 11 hits in his six innings. The right-hander hadn't given up more than four runs in any of his eight major league starts and had allowed a combined two in 10 innings in his first two since returning from a bout of pneumonia.


"We like what Alex has done. He's thrown the ball really well. Tonight wasn't maybe his sharpest, but he's had two really good starts before this," manager Kevin Cash said.


Colome will try for a better showing while helping the Rays bounce back from the end to a three-game win streak and just their fifth loss in 20 all-time games at Target Field. Danny Santana hit an RBI triple in the seventh inning Friday and scored the go-ahead run on Brian Dozer's sacrifice fly in a 3-2 victory.


Dozier also homered for the third time in six games on his 28th birthday and has hit safely in seven in a row.


"He's been swinging the bat well," manager Paul Molitor said.


May (2-3, 5.40) will try to lead Minnesota to its fourth straight home win and ninth in 10 games there by rebounding from an 8-2 loss in Cleveland on Sunday. The right-hander gave up a season-worst six runs in four innings after going 2-1 with a 3.05 ERA in his prior four outings.


May is 2-1 with a 2.60 ERA in his last three home starts and will see Texas for the first time.


In his first matchup, May will try to get through six innings for just the second time this season and first time in four starts.


"That's something that's been frustrating me (more) than anything is looking out in the bullpen and seeing a guy warm up in the fourth, fifth, sixth every single time I pitch," May said. "I don't see myself as that guy."


Torii Hunter is the only Minnesota regular to have faced Colome, going 0 for 3. The Twins outfielder is batting .316 with two homers in a nine-game hit streak against Tampa Bay.


Joe Mauer, who went 2 for 4 on Friday, is now hitting .372 in 51 career contests versus the Rays, his highest average against any AL opponent. He's batting .414 in a seven-game hit streak in the series.


Trevor Plouffe has reached base safely in 24 consecutive contests after going 1 for 4 on Friday. He's batting .344 in an eight-game hit streak against Tampa Bay.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Rays at Twins
Fri, May 15 Final 2 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Rays at Twins
Sat, May 16 - 2:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Rays at Twins
Sun, May 17 - 2:10PM EDT
 

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Preview: Tigers (21-14) at Cardinals (24-10)
Game: 2
Venue: Busch Stadium
Date: May 16, 2015 2:15 PM EDT

Like the opening lyrics to The Doors' "Break on Through," Miguel Cabrera may finally be to the other side.


Having solved his night-time hitting woes, Cabrera looks to resume destroying pitchers during the day and perhaps hit a milestone home run Saturday when the Tigers continue their series with the St. Louis Cardinals.


The two-time American League MVP has enjoyed an overall solid start to the season and appears to be on course to putting up numbers closer to his Triple Crown season of 2012 and strong follow-up in 2013 that led to his MVP honors after struggling - by his standards - last year.


Cabrera has gone 6 for 10 with three homers in his last two games, but his 3-for-5 effort in Friday night's 10-4 victory to open this series was noteworthy for two reasons. It was his 399th homer, which tied him with Andres Galarraga for the most by a Venezuelan-born player, and it boosted his average 39 points to .197 (12 for 61) in 18 games under the lights.


'He's one of the best, there's nothing else you can say about Galarraga,' Cabrera said. 'He was a big-time hitter.'


During the day, Cabrera has been scorching hot for the Tigers (22-14), who have totaled 23 runs and 37 hits in winning their last two games. He enters this contest hitting .471 with eight homers, 25 RBIs and a 1.455 OPS in 18 day games. The slugger also is locked in on the road, batting .415 with six homers, 17 RBIs, a 1.238 OPS and six three-hit games or better in 17 starts.


Cabrera has never faced Cardinals scheduled starter Tyler Lyons (0-0, 4.82 ERA), who is making his third start while fellow left-handers Marco Gonzales and Jaime Garcia are still rehabbing injuries. Lyons was serviceable at Pittsburgh on Sunday, when he gave up three runs and five hits in five innings before leaving without a decision in a 4-3 defeat.


Lyons must also deal with Tigers leadoff hitter Anthony Gose, who's 7 for 11 with two triples in the last two games and 19 for 43 in his last 10 to raise his average 66 points to .357.


The pair could help David Price (3-1, 3.30) as he tries to get back on track with two extra days of rest. The left-hander was reached for five runs and a career-high 13 hits in 6 1-3 innings before the Tigers rallied for a 6-5 walkoff win over Kansas City on May 8. Price, who was denied a third straight winning start, left the game after he tweaked his hamstring stepping on a bat while running to back up his catcher on a relay.


'It pulled on my hamstring, and when you feel something in your body that you've never felt before, you are going to be concerned," he said.


While Price is 9-10 in 22 lifetime interleague starts, he's 6-4 in 11 road starts versus NL teams and facing St. Louis for the first time.


Though the Cardinals still have the majors' best record at 24-11, they have dropped four of six. Some of those struggles can be attributed to a heavily worked bullpen, which was roughed up for season worsts of eight runs and 10 hits Friday, giving it a 5.59 ERA and .342 opponent batting average in that span.


St. Louis' relievers had a 1.61 ERA in the first 29 games, limiting opponents to a .208 average.


'It was a little bit of an oddity for us, with our bullpen not being able to do what they've been doing,' manager Mike Matheny said.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Tigers at Cardinals
Fri, May 15 Final 10 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Tigers at Cardinals
Sat, May 16 - 2:15PM EDT


GAME 3
Tigers at Cardinals
Sun, May 17 - 8:05PM EDT
 

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Preview: Pirates (17-18) at Cubs (19-15)
Game: 2
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: May 16, 2015 4:05 PM EDT

Kris Bryant and the Chicago Cubs are rolling with baseball's longest active winning streak, but they'll have to get past a right-hander who's off to a historic start in the series to extend the run.


As the host Cubs seek their sixth straight victory, the Pittsburgh Pirates' Gerrit Cole will try to become the second pitcher in more than a century to win his first seven starts against Chicago on Saturday.


Bryant hit a three-run home run in the series opener as the Cubs built a six-run lead before needing Matt Szczur's walk-off single in the 12th inning to escape with a wild 11-10 victory. Pittsburgh's Gregory Polanco looked as though he'd easily make the grab on the final play before awkwardly tumbling to the turf.


"It really would have been a sin not to have won that game," manager Joe Maddon told MLB's official website.


Bryant has gone 7 for 18 with three homers and eight RBIs while the Cubs have won the first five of their seven-game homestand. The rookie third baseman is also hitting .333 with 13 RBIs in eight games versus Pittsburgh (17-19).


The Cubs (20-15), who haven't been five games above .500 since finishing 83-78 in 2009, are seeking their first six-game winning streak since a seven-game run from July 31-Aug. 6, 2011.


They'll certainly face a difficult challenge against Cole (5-1, 2.32 ERA), who bounced back from his first loss in 11 starts Monday. He allowed two runs and six hits - all singles - over seven innings in a 4-3 win at Philadelphia.


The 24-year-old is 5-0 with a 2.36 ERA while yielding one home run over 45 2-3 innings in his last seven road starts.


Cole - the NL's Pitcher of the Month in April - picked up his second win at Wrigley Field over that stretch April 29. He didn't give up an earned run and struck out eight over six innings in an 8-1 victory.


Cole has posted a 2.92 ERA while becoming the sixth pitcher since 1914 to win each of his first six starts versus Chicago. Only Philadelphia's Bubba Church won his first seven against the Cubs from 1950-51.


Starlin Castro has five hits in 11 at_bats off Cole, while Anthony Rizzo is 3 for 8. Rizzo, who had a solo homer among his three hits Friday, is batting .387 over an eight-game hitting streak and .406 in eight versus Pittsburgh.


Since going 0-2 with a 6.89 ERA over his first three starts, Jon Lester (3-2, 4.10) has turned things around with a 3-0 record and a 2.42 mark over his last four - all Chicago victories. The left-hander allowed three runs over six innings despite issuing four walks in Monday's 4-3 win over the New York Mets to open the homestand.


In his only career start against the Pirates in 2011, Lester gave up two earned runs over six innings in a 3-1 loss. He's expected to have David Ross behind the plate in this meeting after the catcher said his abdominal injury felt better Friday.


Pedro Alvarez, Josh Harrison and Francisco Cervelli - Pittsburgh's 6-7-8 batters - totaled 10 hits - two of them homers - and six RBIs Friday. Andrew McCutchen had a three-run homer to key the comeback effort and he's batting .400 in his last nine games.


"Adversity does make you tougher," manager Clint Hurdle said. "We threw everything at them and came up short. We got to find a way to show up for Lester."


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Pirates at Cubs
Fri, May 15 Final 10 to 11
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Pirates at Cubs
Sat, May 16 - 4:05PM EDT


GAME 3
Pirates at Cubs
Sun, May 17 - 2:20PM EDT
 

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Preview: Angels (17-17) at Orioles (15-17)
Game: 2
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: May 16, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

The Baltimore Orioles are being forced to alter their rotation as they try to even this three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels.


The Orioles have won the last seven home starts by Ubaldo Jimenez, who will get the ball instead of Bud Norris on Saturday night.


Norris, who is 1-4 with a 9.88 ERA, was scheduled to pitch Saturday but has bronchitis. There's a possibility he could go Sunday.


"He (Norris) came in after everyone was on the field, (we) made sure and found out whether he was contagious," manager Buck Showalter said. "We'll see where he fits on Sunday or not, but definitely not tomorrow, it'll be Ubaldo
Jimenez (3-2, 2.41 ERA) has been much more consistent this year and is 6-0 with a 2.14 ERA in his last seven starts at Camden Yards.


That includes Monday's 5-2 win over Toronto in which the right-hander gave up two runs in seven innings with a season-high nine strikeouts. Jimenez has yielded two earned runs in 21 innings this year at home, where batters are hitting .143 against him.


Jimenez has displayed much better control this season, walking a career-low 3.21 batters per nine innings compared to 5.53 in 2014.


While Norris is 4-0 with a 0.43 ERA in six starts against the Angels, Jimenez is 0-4 with a 6.12 ERA in four starts versus them.


"It's not tough when you know how he's feeling," said Showalter when asked about how this matchup favors Norris instead of Jimenez. "He's sick, he can't pitch."


Erick Aybar is 5 for 11 against Jimenez and Albert Pujols is 6 for 19.


Those hitters helped Los Angeles (18-17) post a season-high fourth straight win, 3-1 on Friday. Aybar went 2 for 4 to improve to 11 for 21 in a six-game hitting streak while Pujols homered in the first inning to give the Angels the lead for good.


Jered Weaver allowed one run in 7 1-3 innings, as Los Angeles starters improved to 3-0 with a 1.61 ERA in this streak.


Matt Shoemaker (2-3, 6.61) gets the ball next, and he's 6-0 with a 3.26 ERA in his last eight road starts with the Angels winning all of them.


The right-hander went 2-0 with a 4.38 ERA in his first two starts before going 0-3 with an 8.05 ERA in his next four. He was tagged for six runs in three innings of last Saturday's 6-5 defeat to Houston.


"I'm just in one of those holes right now, and I've got to find a way out of it and turn it around," said Shoemaker, who won 16 games a year ago.


Shoemaker has faced the Orioles (15-18) once, yielding four runs in 5 2-3 innings in a 4-2 loss July 21. He gave up a pair of two-run homers to Adam Jones.


Jimmy Paredes went 0 for 3 with a walk on Friday after batting .347 in a 12-game hitting streak. Manny Machado is 11 for 30 during a seven-game hitting streak.


Baltimore has dropped seven of 10, and its manager had trouble finding positives after the latest defeat.


"We're trying to win here," Showalter said. "Anything that ends with an 'L' on our side is not enjoyable."




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Angels at Orioles
Fri, May 15 Final 3 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Angels at Orioles
Sat, May 16 - 7:05PM EDT


GAME 3
Angels at Orioles
Sun, May 17 - 1:35PM EDT
 

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Preview: Diamondbacks (15-18) at Phillies (13-23)
Game: 2
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: May 16, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

A little more than two weeks after being struck in the face by a line drive, Archie Bradley is ready to take the mound again for the Arizona Diamondbacks.


Having avoided any serious injuries, Bradley looks to resume the strong start to his career Saturday night while trying to help the visiting Diamondbacks keep the Philadelphia Phillies from a fourth consecutive victory.


Bradley (2-0, 1.80 ERA) gave a much-welcomed thumbs up to the home crowd as he walked off from being hit by a batted ball from Colorado's Carlos Gonzalez in the second inning of a 12-5 win April 28. Arizona's prized right-hander was placed on the disabled list the next day but wound up suffering only a slight sinus fracture and no damage to his orbital bone or jaw.


"You know it's part of the game," Bradley told MLB's official website. "Obviously you hate to see it. It hurt pretty bad. After watching it, it could have easily got me in the eye or directly in the face.


"I've got to think the Lord above is watching over me."


Bradley felt that he probably could have made his next scheduled start if the incident had happened in the postseason, instead he's had time to recover and returns healthy and confident despite a bit of a shiner still underneath his right eye.


"Everything has gone well," he said. "I've healed up even quicker than I thought I would. Now, it's just routine. Just back to normal, like it never happened."


The Diamondbacks (15-19) should be eager to see if Bradley can pick up where he left off. Prior to yielding a run in 1 1-3 innings against the Rockies, Bradley gave up three runs and seven hits over 18 2-3 innings in his first three outings. The only downside seemed to be the 11 walks he allowed.


He'll try to help Arizona avoid a third straight defeat after it blew a two-run, seventh-inning lead in Friday's 4-3 loss.


Freddy Galvis delivered a tying two-run single before Jeff Francoeur's go-ahead hit in the seventh helped Philadelphia (14-23) win a season-high third straight and improve to 4-4 on a 10-game homestand.


'We can build off it and go for four," manager Ryne Sandberg said.


Among the major league leaders with a .355 average, Galvis is batting .409 at home and is 6 for 8 with four runs in the last three.


"I just try to take a good pitch to hit and make a good swing,' he said.


Jerome Williams is 0-2 with an 8.16 ERA in three road starts but 2-1 with a 3.42 ERA in four at home. The veteran right-hander gave up a three-run homer in a 4-3 defeat to visiting Pittsburgh on Monday.


Though Williams (2-3, 5.21) faced the Diamondbacks in relief last season with Houston, this will be his first start against them since April 2007.


Arizona's Ender Inciarte is 8 for 17 in the last four games and 6 for 12 in three career contests at Citizens Bank Park




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Diamondbacks at Phillies
Fri, May 15 Final 3 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Diamondbacks at Phillies
Sat, May 16 - 7:05PM EDT


GAME 3
Diamondbacks at Phillies
Sun, May 17 - 1:35PM EDT
 

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Preview: Yankees (21-15) at Royals (22-13)
Game: 2
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: May 16, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

After failing to get out of the fourth inning in consecutive losses, Danny Duffy said he worked on a new adjustment this week.


Perhaps facing the scuffling New York Yankees will help him end his woes.


The Kansas City Royals starter will try to extend the Yankees' losing streak to five games Saturday night when he matches up with fellow struggling left-hander CC Sabathia.


Duffy (2-2, 5.67 ERA) began 2-0 with a 3.45 ERA in his first five outings before being pounded for 10 runs over 4 2-3 innings in two starts in May. He failed to make it out of the fourth inning again Monday and surrendered six runs in an 8-2 loss at Texas.


"There's going to be stretches in your career, I've heard it from a bazillion people, that you just don't have your best stuff every time you go out there," he said. "It's not for lack of confidence."


Duffy did not reveal the adjustment he made during Wednesday's bullpen session. He is 1-1 with a 8.36 ERA in four starts against New York, with Mark Teixeira enjoying the most experience against him with two hits in seven at_bats.


The Yankees (21-16) have totaled six runs and four extra-base hits in this losing streak with eight walks to 32 strikeouts. They turned in a second straight five-hit effort in Friday's 12-1 defeat to open this three-game set.


Chase Headley is 2 for 11 in this slide, Brian McCann is 3 for 14 and Teixeira has been held without an extra-base hit.


"It's just what happens with offenses," manager Joe Girardi said. "It happens, teams go through little times where they don't hit as well as others. It's no fun when you're going through it but our guys will come out."


Girardi figures to start Chris Young, who has never faced Duffy but is batting .419 against lefties.


Sabathia (1-5, 5.20) could be hard-pressed to win his second straight if the offense fizzles. He allowed four runs in seven innings in Monday's 11-5 rout at Tampa Bay - gaining his first victory and the most recent one for New York.


"That's my biggest concern, is always just trying to help the team," Sabathia told MLB's official website. "I think wins will come, and it was good to get this one."


Sabathia is 18-11 lifetime against Kansas City, including 4-1 with a 2.50 ERA in five starts with the Yankees. He didn't face the Royals last year.


The Kansas City hitters he has faced the most that he will see Saturday are Omar Infante (6 for 32) and Alex Gordon (5 for 28).


Sabathia will have to be wary since the Royals lead the majors with a .291 average and feature excellent contact hitters. The club entered the weekend putting 21.6 percent of pitches in play for baseball's best mark.


Kansas City (23-13) fell one shy of a season high with 17 hits Friday. Lorenzo Cain had three hits and a career-high five RBIs, Kendrys Morales drove in three runs and Mike Moustakas turned in his fourth career four-hit effort.


"We swung the bat well as a team tonight," Cain said. "That's all you can ask for."


Eric Hosmer is batting .367 during a 12-game hitting streak. He's 2 for 7 off Sabathia.


SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Yankees at Royals
Fri, May 15 Final 1 to 12
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Yankees at Royals
Sat, May 16 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Yankees at Royals
Sun, May 17 - 2:10PM EDT
 

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