Cnotes Best Bets For Tuesday May 19th - MLB - NBA -NHL !

MLB MONEYLINE


MLB > (967) OAKLAND@ (968) HOUSTON | 05/19/2015 - 08:10 PM
Play AGAINST OAKLAND using the money line in All games in all games
The record is 13 Wins and 26 Losses for the this season (-18.25 units)


MLB > (979) CINCINNATI@ (980) KANSAS CITY | 05/19/2015 - 08:10 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 27 Wins and 9 Losses for the last two seasons (+16.35 units)

MLB > (973) MINNESOTA@ (974) PITTSBURGH | 05/19/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play ON MINNESOTA using the money line in All games when playing against a team with a losing record
The record is 14 Wins and 6 Losses for the this season (+10.9 units)


MLB > (965) TEXAS@ (966) BOSTON | 05/19/2015 - 07:10 PM
Play AGAINST BOSTON using the money line in Home games in games played on a grass field
The record is 41 Wins and 57 Losses for the last two seasons (-30.85 units)


MLB RUNLINE


MLB > (979) CINCINNATI@ (980) KANSAS CITY | 05/19/2015 - 08:10 PM
Play ON KANSAS CITY using the in All games at home when the run line is (+1.5, -155) to (-1.5, +160)
The record is 22 Wins and 14 Losses for the last two seasons (+20.25 units)

MLB > (975) MILWAUKEE@ (976) DETROIT | 05/19/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play ON DETROIT using the in Home games in an inter-league game
The record is 15 Wins and 5 Losses for the last three seasons (+14.75 units)


MLB TOTALS


MLB > (967) OAKLAND@ (968) HOUSTON | 05/19/2015 - 08:10 PM
Play OVER OAKLAND on the total in All games in games played on a grass field
The record is 27 Overs and 10 Unders for the this season (+17.05 units)


MLB > (971) NY YANKEES@ (972) WASHINGTON | 05/19/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play OVER WASHINGTON on the total in All games after a win
The record is 16 Overs and 5 Unders for the this season (+10.95 units)


MLB TOP POWERLINES


MLB > (963) SEATTLE @ (964) BALTIMORE | 05/19/2015 - 07:05 PM
Line: BALTIMORE -125 BTB PowerLine: BALTIMORE -226
Edge On: BALTIMORE (101)


MLB > (975) MILWAUKEE @ (976) DETROIT | 05/19/2015 - 07:05 PM
Line: DETROIT -165 BTB PowerLine: DETROIT -195
Edge On: DETROIT (30)


MLB > (971) NY YANKEES @ (972) WASHINGTON | 05/19/2015 - 07:05 PM
Line: WASHINGTON -137 BTB PowerLine: WASHINGTON -153
Edge On: WASHINGTON (16)


MLB > (965) TEXAS @ (966) BOSTON | 05/19/2015 - 07:10 PM
Line: BOSTON -145 BTB PowerLine: BOSTON 109
Edge On: BOSTON (34)


MLB > (951) ARIZONA @ (952) MIAMI | 05/19/2015 - 07:10 PM
Line: MIAMI -145 BTB PowerLine: MIAMI -158
Edge On: MIAMI (13)


MLB > (977) TAMPA BAY @ (978) ATLANTA | 05/19/2015 - 07:10 PM
Line: ATLANTA -110 BTB PowerLine: ATLANTA -120
Edge On: ATLANTA (10)


MLB > (967) OAKLAND @ (968) HOUSTON | 05/19/2015 - 08:10 PM
Line: HOUSTON +115 BTB PowerLine: HOUSTON 134
Edge On: HOUSTON (19)

NBA ATS


NBA > (501) HOUSTON@ (502) GOLDEN STATE | 05/19/2015 - 09:05 PM
Play ON HOUSTON using the against the spread in All games after a win by 10 points or more
The record is 24 Wins and 10 Losses for the this season (+13 units)


NBA MONEYLINE


NBA > (501) HOUSTON@ (502) GOLDEN STATE | 05/19/2015 - 09:05 PM
Play ON HOUSTON using the money line in All games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game - 2nd half of the season
The record is 26 Wins and 9 Losses for the this season (+14.85 units)


NBA TOTALS


NBA > (501) HOUSTON@ (502) GOLDEN STATE | 05/19/2015 - 09:05 PM
Play OVER HOUSTON on the total in Road games after scoring 105 points or more
The record is 18 Overs and 6 Unders for the this season (+11.4 units)


NBA TOP POWERLINES


NBA > (501) HOUSTON @ (502) GOLDEN STATE | 05/19/2015 - 09:05 PM
Line: GOLDEN STATE -10 BTB PowerLine: GOLDEN STATE -8
Edge On: GOLDEN STATE (2)

NHL MONEYLINE


NHL > (57) CHICAGO@ (58) ANAHEIM | 05/19/2015 - 09:05 PM
Play ON ANAHEIM using the money line in All games in a home game where where the total is 5 or less
The record is 15 Wins and 1 Losses for the this season (+13.15 units)


NHL PUCKLINE


NHL > (57) CHICAGO@ (58) ANAHEIM | 05/19/2015 - 09:05 PM
Play ON ANAHEIM using the in All games in a home game where where the total is 5 or less
The record is 15 Wins and 1 Losses for the this season (+13.15 units)


NHL TOTALS


NHL > (57) CHICAGO@ (58) ANAHEIM | 05/19/2015 - 09:05 PM
Play UNDER CHICAGO on the total in All games revenging a loss versus opponent
The record is 10 Overs and 26 Unders for the this season (+15.5 units)

Conference Finals Predictions


May 18, 2015




Four teams remain in the NBA playoffs as each of the top two seeds in both conferences are still alive. Atlanta and Cleveland each advanced to the Eastern finals in six games with close-out wins on the road, while Houston rallied from a 3-1 deficit to stun Los Angeles to advance to its first Western finals since 1997. The Rockets will take on the top-seeded Warriors, who own a longer drought than Houston as far as the conference finals are concerned, reaching this point for the first time since 1976.


The Hawks beat the Cavaliers three of four times, including a pair of victories at Philips Arena. LeBron James sat out a loss in Atlanta in late December, while the Hawks shot lights out in a 127-98 blowout at Cleveland two weeks earlier, knocking down 65% of their attempts from the floor.


VI NBA analyst Chris David sees this matchup going the distance, “I believe this series is going seven games and it could be the best matchup in the playoffs. Atlanta won three of the four regular season matchups and those victories were largely attributed to its offense, which shot over 50 percent in each of the three wins. If the Hawks shoot that high of a percentage again, they’ll advance easily.


On the flip side with the Cavs, David says no Kevin Love for Cleveland shouldn’t be that big of an issue, “Cleveland is banged up for this series and some pundits believe the loss of Love will play a factor here. I disagree. He didn’t do anything in the four regular season matchups versus the Hawks and if anything, the Cavs defense improves when he’s off the court. In my opinion, the matchup will be LeBron against the Atlanta offense. If the world’s best player plays above his ability, there isn’t a team that can stop him.”


James has lost just two playoff series in the last four seasons, while advancing to four straight NBA Finals. However, David thinks that run will end in this round, “I’ve never been a big fan of the due factor but I believe we’re due to see an “unsexy” team in the NBA Finals. The Association has been very fortunate to get some great matchups in the finals lately, which has certainly increased its popularity, largely due to names like LeBron and Kobe Bryant. With that being said, Atlanta in the Finals pales in comparison to LeBron in the championship round and I believe that will be the case this postseason. I like the Hawks to win in seven games.”


Out West, it seemed everybody was prepping for a Warriors/Clippers rematch from last season’s epic seven-game first round series won by Los Angeles. However, the Clippers squandered a 3-1 series lead to the Rockets and lost the final three games each by double-digits. This will be a tall task for Houston, who lost all four games in the regular season to Golden State, all by 11 points or more.


VI NBA expert Tony Mejia says the Rockets will struggle to keep up their momentum, “After rallying past the Clips, Houston enters the Western Conference Finals at a huge disadvantage, having to turn around and travel to Oakland to face the rested Warriors in front of the NBA's most vociferous crowd. Both teams in this series will live and die by the 3, so between fresher legs and the homecourt edge, you have to love Golden State's chances of reaching the NBA Finals.”


The battle of league MVP Stephen Curry and runner-up James Harden will be a huge storyline in this series, but VI NBA senior handicapper Kevin Rogers says the Warriors’ offense stepped up in each matchup against the Rockets. “Looking back at the four games this season, Golden State scored 98 and 105 points in the first two matchups, but blew away Houston with 131 and 126 point efforts in the final two meetings.”


David expects a quick series. He said, "What happens when the league’s best offense plays the league’s best defense? That’s the case here and Golden State might shatter records in this series. They swept Houston in the regular season, winning all four by double digits and covering each matchup as well. The Warriors averaged 115 PPG and that number should only increase. I’d like to believe Houston will win one game but this is the best defense that it will be facing in the postseason, an often unnoticed characteristic of this Golden State club. Barring an off shooting night, the Warriors have the ability to sweep and I believe they will."

Kerr coming through in playoffs again


May 17, 2015


OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - With the stakes high and fans ready to question and critique every move, Steve Kerr knew he'd be in the spotlight no matter how things played out this postseason.


That's just the reality of being a rookie coach with the NBA MVP and the league's top-seeded team.


Of course, Kerr is no stranger to playoff pressure. This is the same guy who received a pass from Michael Jordan and calmly hit a 3-pointer that sealed the 1997 NBA title for the Chicago Bulls.


A five-time champion as a player, Kerr has kept his cool so far as a coach in these playoffs and lived up to his nickname ''Ice.''


He made a series-changing move that helped rally the Golden State Warriors from a 2-1 deficit against the Memphis Grizzlies and has the franchise in the Western Conference finals for the first time in 39 years.


Kerr has no time to savor the accomplishment, nor relish his role in it. The spotlight on him will be even brighter beginning Tuesday night, when the Warriors host the winner of the Houston Rockets-Los Angeles Clippers series in Game 1 of the conference finals.


''The playoffs are a different animal, they are. You feel it as a coach,'' Kerr said. ''I felt it as a player, but to feel it as a coach you can tell the difference in preparation from one day to the next.''


Kerr's key to success is focusing on the task at hand - each game, each practice, each play. But he does get away from the game at least once a day by reading a non-basketball related book.


The current title on his list is ''All the Light We Cannot See,'' a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Anthony Doerr that takes place during World War II.


Kerr encourages his players and staff to read each day during the playoffs. It's a philosophy he adopted from one of his coaching mentors, Phil Jackson.


''If you can get an hour a day where you just get lost in your thoughts and forget about the game a little bit, it's a good respite,'' Kerr said.


Kerr often solicits ideas from others, especially in his first postseason as a coach. The biggest and boldest move of his tenure came last week after listening to the advice of his coaching staff, notably assistant Ron Adams, who is one of the league's most respected defensive minds.


Before Game 4 against the Grizzlies, Kerr and his staff decided to make Memphis pay for playing disruptive defender Tony Allen extended minutes.


Kerr essentially told his players not to guard Allen - a poor shooter - on the perimeter, allowing center Andrew Bogut to be a help-side defender that could pack the paint and double-team Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph.


The unorthodox strategy allowed the Warriors to make more stops and push the pace, freeing up Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson for open 3-pointers in transition.


While the Warriors won the final three games, the move initially surprised players.


''We didn't know if coach maybe didn't get any sleep last night or if he was throwing in the towel. It was unheard of,'' forward Harrison Barnes said.


But players never questioned the move, Barnes said, because Kerr sold it to them so well. He said Kerr's conversation with them highlighted what assistant coach Bruce Fraser, a close Kerr confident, had nicknamed the coach long ago: Ice.


''When (Kerr) said that, he said it very calm,'' Barnes said. ''It wasn't like, `Hey guys, we're going to do something very unconventional in a pivotal game for us.' It was like, `All right, (Bogut) is going to guard Tony Allen and we're going to go from there. And it was like, `Wow, OK. Let's see how this goes.' He was calm as ice.''


Kerr credited his staff - Adams, Fraser, Alvin Gentry, Luke Walton and Jarron Collins - for deciding on the move. And that serves as another example of one of Kerr's qualities: modesty.


A lack of it is one of the reasons former coach Mark Jackson couldn't co-exist with management and some players, leading to his dismissal after last season. Kerr assembled a stronger staff - which Warriors co-owner Joe Lacob wanted Jackson to do - and delegated responsibilities to those with more experience than him.


''He has all the characteristics that great leaders have,'' said Adams, a longtime NBA assistant.


Kerr's communication skills and attention to detail - and willingness to give credit when and where it's due - has not gone unnoticed by players, either.


In his MVP acceptance speech, Curry, an ardent Jackson supporter last season, went out of his way to thank Kerr for being ''very humble the way that you've approached this season.''


Since he took over last May, Kerr has praised Jackson for building the team's foundation. But Kerr is carving his own history now, with the Warriors four wins away from the NBA Finals for the first time since the franchise won the championship in 1975.


Kerr is confident the Warriors can get there. He also knows he'll have to answer for it if they don't - he's perfectly comfortable being in that role.


''It's fun. It's competition,'' Kerr said. ''This is why I came back into the competitive side of it.''

Preview: Mariners (17-20) at Orioles (16-19)
Game: 1
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: May 19, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

The Baltimore Orioles' struggling offense could use a big bat in the middle of the order, and one is about to make its return to Camden Yards.


Nelson Cruz, however, will be wearing a Seattle uniform Tuesday night when he takes the field at his 2014 home, and manager Lloyd McClendon probably would rather not think of where the Mariners' offense would be without him.


Cruz, who is among the best in the majors with 15 home runs, a .340 average and 1.089 OPS, is finding Seattle to be even more welcoming than his one season on the East Coast.


The slugger ended last season with a nine-game hitting streak at Camden, but he did most of his damage in his 40-home run, 108-RBI season on the road. In Baltimore, he hit .252 with 15 of those homers and 40 RBIs and a .783 OPS as opposed to a .930 mark on the road.


He'll face Miguel Gonzalez, who has had some impressive starts recently but has been unable to string them together. After allowing five runs in four innings of a 5-4 loss to the New York Yankees on May 8, Gonzalez (4-2, 2.93 ERA) bounced back in Wednesday's 6-1 win over Toronto. The right-hander went 7 2-3 innings without allowing an earned run for the second time in three starts, lowering his opponent batting average to .206.


"He doesn't have just one way to get you out," manager Buck Showalter said. "If one thing doesn't work, he's going to go to something else. He's going to go into the cupboard for something more."


Gonzalez was 0-1 with a 4.09 ERA in two starts against Seattle last season. Dustin Ackley is 4 for 6 with a home run against him, but Gonzalez has held Robinson Cano to 3 for 24. Cruz is 2 for 8.


The Mariners are coming off a four-game split with Boston to end a 6-3 homestand, and Cruz might finally be getting some help from another player in the lineup. Sunday's 5-0 victory included Brad Miller's third home run in two games and fourth in five. After hitting .225 through 29 games, he's batting .429 on a six-game hitting streak to boost his average to .264, joining Cruz as the only Seattle players hitting over .258.


"The guys still haven't hit their stride," McClendon told MLB's official website. "We have veteran cubs who have proven they can hit, and when that happens, people are going to be in trouble."


Right now, the pitching staff is causing opponents problems. Sunday's was the latest strong effort, giving Seattle (17-20) a 2.17 ERA in the nine-game span.


That includes two starts from Taijuan Walker, but the 22-year-old still needs to prove he's capable of contributing on that level. Walker (1-4, 7.22) allowed two runs and four hits in six innings of Wednesday's 4-2 loss to San Diego. The right-hander hasn't been as hittable in his last two starts with a .225 OBA after posting a .343 mark through his first five starts.


"I thought tonight was very encouraging," McClendon said. "He competed well against a tough ballclub. I was very pleased."


The Orioles (16-19) aren't providing any reason to think they're capable of overcoming Seattle's pitching, batting .218 and scoring 2.93 runs per game in 15 games this month. They salvaged one of three over the weekend at home against the Los Angeles Angels, winning 3-0 on Sunday, though they haven't won consecutive games over a 4-8 span.


Adam Jones was 2 for 4 with two RBIs, but the center fielder was 0 for 12 last season in three home games against his former team.


Baltimore won five of seven in last season's series and is 9-3 against Seattle at Camden over the past four.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Mariners at Orioles
Tue, May 19 - 7:05PM EDT


GAME 2
Mariners at Orioles
Wed, May 20 - 7:05PM EDT


GAME 3
Mariners at Orioles
Thu, May 21 - 12:35PM EDT

Preview: Angels (19-18) at Blue Jays (17-22)
Game: 2
Venue: Rogers Centre
Date: May 19, 2015 7:07 PM EDT

The Toronto Blue Jays ended their longest losing streak with a breakout performance.


The Los Angeles Angels will look to Hector Santiago to prevent another big number Tuesday night at Rogers Centre.


Toronto (18-22) had lost five in a row and seven of eight before Monday's 10-6 victory, matching a season high with 17 hits. The Blue Jays were 7 for 20 with runners in scoring position after going 6 for 38 during the losing streak.


Six players drove in a run, led by three RBIs from Jose Bautista, who was a triple short of a cycle with his seventh home run. He has 11 RBIs in his last nine against the Angels (19-19).


"We really needed that game," manager John Gibbons said. "We'd been scuffling big time."


Russell Martin improved to 24 for 56 over his last 14 games with a 3-for-5 performance that was matched by Josh Donaldson, who is batting .433 with 14 RBIs over his last 16 at home. Donaldson was also caught on camera yelling expletives from the dugout at Angels pitching coach Mike Butcher, seemingly bothered by the fact that Los Angeles argued the strike zone during his at-bat.


"A lot of guys in our dugout took exception to (Donaldson) yelling," manager Mike Scioscia said. "We weren't even talking to him. We were talking to the umpire."


That compounded a frustrating day for the Angels, who have dropped two in a row following a five-game winning streak. They became the last AL team to allow double-digit runs.


The bullpen was responsible for much of the damage as Mike Morin, Vinnie Pestano and Cesar Ramos gave up six runs over two innings, a surprise for a unit that had surrendered one over 18 1-3 innings in the previous seven games.


"On the pitching side this is probably our worst game of the year," Scioscia said.


Mike Trout was 0 for 5, falling to 4 for 25 over his last six and 6 for 41 in his last 10 against Toronto.


Santiago (2-2, 2.41 ERA) is winless in his last four starts while receiving two runs of support, and he gave up one run over 12 1-3 innings in the last two. The left-hander didn't issue a walk in six innings of a 2-1 win over Colorado in 11 on Wednesday after walking 18 in his first six outings.


"He can be effectively wild at times, but he got back into counts and pitched six strong innings," Scioscia told MLB's official website.


Santiago has never started versus Toronto and owns a 2.25 ERA over five appearances. Donaldson is 1 for 13 against him.


The Angels have backed Santiago with one or no runs five times.


Aaron Sanchez (3-3, 4.26) will try to move on for the Blue Jays after yielding a career-high five runs over 5 2-3 innings in Wednesday's 6-1 defeat at Baltimore. Sanchez walked four to bring his total to 29, and his 6.87 per nine innings marks baseball's second-highest rate among pitchers with at least five starts. He was at 2.45 as a rookie last season.


Sanchez has a 2.02 ERA in 14 home appearances, going 2-1 there in three starts this year. This marks his first matchup with Los Angeles.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Angels at Blue Jays
Mon, May 18 Final 6 to 10
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Angels at Blue Jays
Tue, May 19 - 7:07PM EDT


GAME 3
Angels at Blue Jays
Wed, May 20 - 7:07PM EDT


GAME 4
Angels at Blue Jays
Thu, May 21 - 7:07PM EDT

Preview: Yankees (22-17) at Nationals (22-17)
Game: 1
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: May 19, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

The last time Bryce Harper was in front of a home crowd, he was providing all sorts of souvenirs and establishing himself as the clear early pacesetter for NL MVP.


Seven road games didn't slow that, and he returns to Nationals Park on Tuesday night as Washington tries for its 16th win in 20 games with the slumping New York Yankees in town.


"I think we've all recognized his talent for a long time," Yankees manager Joe Girardi told MLB's official website. "I think he's starting to fulfill the expectations, and he'll fill them for some time."


The Nationals (22-17) won the last three of a four-game series in San Diego, and Harper was 3 for 4 with a home run, triple and four RBIs in Sunday's 10-5 win.


"It would have been cool (to get the cycle). I'm just happy we got the W," Harper said. "I'm excited to get home in front of our fans for the next couple of days. It's going to be fun."


In the past 11 games, he's batting .564 with nine home runs, 22 RBIs and a 2.038 OPS while reaching base at least twice in each contest. At home, he's batting .373 with nine home runs and 19 RBIs in 16 games.


"He is unbelievable," catcher Jose Lobaton said. "How can you explain that? He hits a home run, a single, triples. I don't know. It's good to have someone like that on the team."


Along with Yunel Escobar, who is batting .415 in his past 13 games, the 22-year-old's performance is pacing a .308 team average and 6.58 runs per game during Washington's 15-4 stretch since losing 13 of 20 to start the season.


The Yankees (22-17) have taken a different path to the same record, dropping five of six with offensive production Harper has often been capable of on his own. After Sunday's 6-0 loss in Kansas City, New York has scored 11 runs with a .215 average in six games.


"We just haven't swung the bats well," Mark Teixeira said. "It was just a bad week for us."


Teixeira was 0 for 2 before leaving with a right toe contusion, but he expects to be in the lineup Tuesday. Washington's Jayson Werth has missed two games since getting hit by a pitch on the left wrist Friday and is considered day to day.


New York's recent struggles could work in the favor of Gio Gonzalez, who has lost five straight starts with an 8.17 ERA against the Yankees, though only one of those has come since he moved to Washington in 2012. He's also 1-3 with a 9.08 ERA in his last eight starts against the AL.


Gonzalez (3-2, 4.25 ERA) has been up and down this season, and he didn't earn the decision in Wednesday's 9-6 win in Arizona after allowing five runs and nine hits in five innings. He's only made two home starts, but is 3-0 with a 1.42 ERA in his last six at Nationals Park and hasn't allowed a home run there over 64 innings in his last 11.


He'll face Nathan Eovaldi, who got to know the Nationals well in the NL East with Miami. Eovaldi (3-1, 4.14) is 2-4 with a 4.76 ERA in seven starts against Washington. Ryan Zimmerman is 3 for 8 with two home runs against him, while Harper is 5 for 13.


The right-hander is trying to bounce back from his first loss after yielding four runs in 7 1-3 innings of last Tuesday's 4-2 defeat in Tampa Bay.


The Yankees are 15-8 in interleague play since the start of last season and swept the Nationals in three games in Washington in June 2012.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Yankees at Nationals
Tue, May 19 - 7:05PM EDT


GAME 2
Yankees at Nationals
Wed, May 20 - 7:05PM EDT

Preview: Twins (21-17) at Pirates (18-20)
Game: 1
Venue: PNC Park
Date: May 19, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

Francisco Liriano hasn't faced the Minnesota Twins since 2012, the same year they gave up on the oft-injured former phenom and shipped him out of town.


Less than a year after the trade he began reviving his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, who send the left-hander to the mound in the opener of a two-game series against the visiting Twins on Tuesday night.


Liriano (1-3, 2.96 ERA) came up with Minnesota in 2005 and was considered one of baseball's top young talents before Tommy John surgery forced him to miss the '07 season. He made three more trips to the disabled list with arm and shoulder problems before the Twins traded him to the Chicago White Sox in July 2012.


The Pirates took a chance on Liriano with a one-year deal in 2013, and he's been a part of two playoff teams while posting a 3.17 ERA in 62 regular-season starts.


Liriano went 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts against the Twins while with the White Sox, and Minnesota (21-17) will be seeing a much-improved pitcher this time around. He posted a 1.95 ERA through his first five starts before allowing five earned runs in an 8-5 loss to St. Louis on May 8.


He gave up three runs in seven innings of Wednesday's 3-2 loss to Philadelphia.


'I felt great physically and mentally and I look forward to the next start," Liriano said.


Much also has changed for the Twins since Liriano watched sputtering lineups over his last 1 1/2 seasons with the club. They are among the AL leaders in runs while looking to end a string of four straight seasons with at least 92 defeats.


The bullpen has been an issue, though. Relievers' ERA swelled to 4.19 - among the worst in the AL - after surrendering eight runs for the second time in four games in Sunday's 11-3 loss to Tampa Bay.


"It's a little disappointing when you hope to stay in the game when you turn it over to those guys," manager Paul Molitor said.


The bullpen has been called upon early in each of Ricky Nolasco's starts, a trend he hopes doesn't continue as he gets the ball in this game.


Nolasco (3-1, 6.38) has a 4.11 ERA while winning each of his three starts since returning from elbow inflammation. He allowed two unearned runs and struck out seven in 5 1-3 innings of Wednesday's 6-2 win over Detroit, but he walked three and threw 106 pitches.


The right-hander has yet to pitch through six innings in any of his four outings.


"It is a step forward, but I need to be more efficient with my pitches,' Nolasco said. 'I need to be able to get through six.'


Nolasco has gone at least six innings in eight of his nine starts against the Pirates. He is 4-1 with a 1.91 ERA over the last five but hasn't faced Pittsburgh since 2012.


The Pirates (18-20) got a solid performance from A.J. Burnett on Sunday, ending a four-game skid with a 3-0 win over the Chicago Cubs. Francisco Cervelli had an RBI single and is 8 for 17 over his last five.


'He's swinging the bat well," manager Clint Hurdle said. "We liked him for a lot of reasons. You're seeing them play out right now.'


Twins infielder Eduardo Nunez will be activated from the disabled list for this series after missing 17 games with an oblique injury.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Twins at Pirates
Tue, May 19 - 7:05PM EDT


GAME 2
Twins at Pirates
Wed, May 20 - 7:05PM EDT

Preview: Rangers (16-22) at Red Sox (18-20)
Game: 1
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: May 19, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

The Boston Red Sox focused on building a formidable lineup during the offseason to prevent the offensive woes that contributed to a second last-place finish in three years.


Instead, exasperating issues remain as manager John Farrell searches for solutions.


Boston looks to put its light-hitting road trip behind it in the opener of a three-game series against the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park on Tuesday night.


The Red Sox committed $183 million to Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval to help improve an offense that finished 22nd in the majors with a .244 average last season.


Ramirez has a team-best 10 homers, but he's yet to hit one this month while batting .213 over his last 13. Sandoval is mired in a 1-for-18 slump after going hitless in Sunday's 5-0 loss to Seattle, and he's 2 for 41 with 12 strikeouts against lefties.


Boston (18-20) is one of the worst hitting teams in the majors with a .229 average after batting just .201 with 61 strikeouts during a 5-5 trip. It has scored two runs or fewer in five of the last six games.


"We haven't had back-to-back games where we just get going," Ramirez said. "We haven't done that and we have to start doing it. We just have to try to understand ways to stay patient."


Farrell may be running out of patience. Dustin Pedroia finished 2 for 15 in the four-game series with the Mariners and Mike Napoli went 0 for 4 on Sunday to drop his average to .162.


"We're looking at different combinations. I don't know if we're looking at a complete lineup shakeup," Farrell said. "We need guys just to perform as they've done for many years - nothing more, but perform like they've done over a long track record at the major league level."


Sandoval is 4 for 21 lifetime against Yovani Gallardo, who takes the mound for the Rangers (16-22) looking to build off a solid outing.


Gallardo (3-5, 3.94 ERA) had a 4.70 ERA while losing his previous four starts before allowing two runs in seven innings of Wednesday's 5-2 win over Kansas City. It marked the longest of his eight outings since being acquired from Milwaukee in the offseason.


The right-hander has pitched twice at Fenway, most recently scattering seven hits over 6 2-3 innings of a 4-0 victory April 6, 2014. Another long outing would help a Texas bullpen that had struggled before allowing one hit over four scoreless innings of Sunday's 5-1 win over Cleveland.


Rangers relievers had a 6.07 ERA over the previous nine and allowed 10 runs during a three-game skid that was snapped with the victory. Ross Ohlendorf and Tanner Scheppers each contributed in their first appearances since being called up from the minors.


"Couple of new guys and new faces, and they go out there and throw really well, so you want to go out there and match it," fellow reliever Shawn Tolleson said. "Maybe we can start a little competition down there or something and get things rolling."


Wade Miley hopes his struggles are behind him as he takes the mound for the Red Sox. Miley (2-4, 5.60) had lost three straight starts with a 7.63 ERA before giving up five hits in 6 2-3 innings of a 2-0 win over Oakland on Wednesday.


He walked four but battled to pitch through at least six innings for the third straight outing after failing to do it over his first four.


The left-hander's only start against the Rangers was a 1-0 loss in 2012 in which he struck out eight over 7 2-3 innings of three-hit ball while with Arizona.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Rangers at Red Sox
Tue, May 19 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 2
Rangers at Red Sox
Wed, May 20 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Rangers at Red Sox
Thu, May 21 - 7:10PM EDT

Preview: Rays (21-18) at Braves (18-19)
Game: 1
Venue: Turner Field
Date: May 19, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

The Atlanta Braves are riding high from a three-game sweep that saw three strong starts from the rotation, each performance better than the last.


It'll be difficult for Mike Foltynewicz to top his staff's most recent outing, but the right-hander would like to continue taking steps of his own Tuesday night as the Braves open a two-game series with the visiting Tampa Bay Rays.


Atlanta's Shelby Miller came within one out of a no-hitter Sunday against Miami in a 6-0 win. Julio Teheran opened the series by allowing one run in 5 2-3 innings and Alex Wood followed Saturday by surrendering one through seven.


Foltynewicz (2-0, 4.24 ERA) has been serviceable but hardly dominant in three starts since arriving from Triple-A Gwinnett. The 23-year-old notched his longest outing last Tuesday, limiting Cincinnati to three runs - two earned - and six hits while striking out seven in 6 2-3 innings after going a combined 10 1-3 in his first two.


"I think every chance we have to get him in those (late-inning) situations, it's going to be good for him," manager Fredi Gonzalez told MLB's official website.


Todd Cunningham, who was in Gwinnett until Friday, proved to be an integral offensive piece immediately upon his arrival by going 8 for 12 with four runs in the sweep.


Freddie Freeman went just 3 for 14 against the Marlins, but is hitting .388 in his last 20 games.


Erasmo Ramirez (1-1, 6.66) will take the mound for Tampa Bay (21-18), which avoided getting swept by Minnesota on Sunday by amassing 19 hits in an 11-3 win.


Evan Longoria and James Loney had three RBIs apiece, and catcher Bobby Wilson scored three runs.


"Just one of those good offensive spurts," Longoria said. "Just good at_bats with runners in scoring position. That's pretty much the gist of it. You know you get guys out there and you're able to put together good at_bats, push guys across the plate when you have the opportunity, it makes it easier."


Nathan Karns was initially projected to start Tuesday, but manager Kevin Cash indicated Sunday that Ramirez would get the ball instead to give the rest of the young Rays staff an extra day of rest.


He allowed four hits and two runs over nine innings of relief from April 28-May 11, then surrendered one hit in five scoreless innings against the New York Yankees on Thursday in his third start of the season.


"He's done a nice job," Cash told MLB's official website. "This was obviously his best start that he's had, but he's had some really strong outings where he's come in against some good lineups and thrown strikes."


Ramirez was shelled in his lone career start against the Braves (18-19) on June 3 at Turner Field for Seattle, allowing five runs and eight hits in three innings.


Jake McGee returned to Tampa Bay's bullpen Sunday in his first appearance since Sept. 27. The left-hander, who converted 19 of 23 save opportunities last season, pitched one scoreless inning in his first action since undergoing offseason surgery on his left elbow.


Brad Boxberger stepped into the closer's role in McGee's absence, converting all 10 chances this season behind a 1.29 ERA.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Rays at Braves
Tue, May 19 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 2
Rays at Braves
Wed, May 20 - 7:10PM EDT

Preview: Reds (18-20) at Royals (24-14)
Game: 1
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: May 19, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

Johnny Cueto had a wild side, too, when he was Yordano Ventura's age, earning a seven-game suspension for his role in a benches-clearing brawl nearly five years ago.


Since then, Cueto has become one of the game's top pitchers and the anchor of the Cincinnati Reds' staff who will command top dollar when he reaches free agency after the season.


Ventura, who turns 24 on June 3 and has made more headlines for his antics than for his pitching, opposes Cueto when the Kansas City Royals host the Reds on Tuesday night.


Cueto (3-3, 2.93 ERA) posted a 3.64 ERA as a 24-year-old in 2010, when he threw punches during a scuffle with St. Louis. He's posted a 2.52 ERA since that season while continuing to mature as a pitcher.


The right-hander gave up two runs and struck out nine in seven innings of the Reds' 4-3 win over San Francisco on Thursday, and he's pitched at least seven innings in seven of his eight starts.


Opponents are hitting .203 off Cueto as he looks to help the Reds (18-20) snap a three-game losing streak. He'll go up against Ventura, whose potential is being overshadowed by his temper and so-so performances.


Ventura (2-3, 5.36) was ejected for hitting Oakland's Brett Lawrie with a pitch April 18, and in his next start instigated a benches-clearing brawl with the Chicago White Sox that resulted in a seven-game suspension.


The right-hander is 0-2 with a 6.87 ERA in his last three outings after allowing five runs and 10 hits in seven innings of Wednesday's 5-2 loss to Texas. Ventura also has been dealing with a blister on his thumb.


"I see games like (Wednesday's), and you can see Ventura is on the brink from getting over the hump," manager Ned Yost said.


Ventura is part of a starting rotation that ranks in the bottom third of the majors with a 4.46 ERA, but former Red Edinson Volquez pitched seven solid innings in Sunday's 6-0 victory over the New York Yankees.


The Royals (24-14) have outscored opponents 25-9 while winning three of four. Salvador Perez homered Sunday and brings in a five-game hitting streak to face Cueto, with whom most of the Kansas City lineup is unfamiliar.


Only Omar Infante (3 for 11) and Alcides Escobar (2 for 6) have faced Cueto more than five times.


The Reds especially could use another solid effort from Cueto with starters posting a 17.18 ERA during the skid that began after Cueto's last start.


Cincinnati was better at the plate Sunday after manager Bryan Price shuffled his lineup, dropping Billy Hamilton from the leadoff spot to eighth and batting Jay Bruce seventh rather than fifth.


Bruce was hitting .162 before going 5 for 9 while homering in each of the last two against San Francisco.


"Honestly, I haven't felt bad all year. I felt super normal," Bruce said. "I've felt healthy. I've felt strong. It's just missing. I'm going to keep working and keep doing everything I've been doing all year and continue to try and get everything I can get."


These clubs haven't faced each other since the Royals took two of three in 2010, when Cueto earned Cincinnati's lone victory in the last six meetings in the series.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Reds at Royals
Tue, May 19 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 2
Reds at Royals
Wed, May 20 - 8:10PM EDT

Preview: Cubs (21-16) at Padres (19-20)
Game: 1
Venue: PETCO Park
Date: May 19, 2015 10:10 PM EDT

In James Shields' first matchup with the Chicago Cubs, he silenced the crowd at Wrigley Field and spoiled the introduction of phenom Kris Bryant.


Now a mainstay in the middle of Chicago's order, Bryant gets another chance against Shields when the Cubs open a three-game series against the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night at Petco Park.


Bryant had a difficult major league debut April 17, striking out in all three of his plate appearances against Shields (5-0, 3.91 ERA). In 28 games since, Bryant is batting .303 with a .935 OPS and 24 RBIs, and he's hit four home runs in his last nine.


Bryant left Sunday's 3-0 loss to Pittsburgh with dehydration but expects to be back in his return to Southern California. The 23-year-old was drafted by Chicago (21-16) with the second overall pick in 2010 out of the University of San Diego.


"I'm just really excited to see them and let them watch me play," Bryant told MLB's official website of the homecoming.


For Shields, that April outing was one of five consecutive quality starts to open the season, but the right-hander has hit a slight decline in May. Shields allowed 10 earned runs over 11 1-3 innings to begin the month before bouncing back with six strong innings Wednesday in a 4-2 win at Seattle.


"It's an overused phrase but he's an awesome competitor. That's what he's known for," Padres pitching coach Darren Balsley said Wednesday. "Tonight he emptied the tank ... It was electric-type stuff. There was a noticeable difference in his velocity and aggressiveness. He knew it was a big game for us to win."


San Diego's pitching staff was unable to carry the momentum from that win into its four-game series with Washington, posting a 8.53 ERA over 19 innings. The Padres (19-20) capped the 1-3 set with a 10-5 loss Sunday.


"We're not getting that contagious effect of good pitching," manager Bud Black said. "We've talked about it, we're going to continue to talk about it and we're going to continue to work. ... The talent is there. We need to bring it out of them."


Along with Bryant, Shields will also get a rematch with Jason Hammel (3-1, 3.11), who allowed four runs in 6 1-3 innings in their earlier matchup.


Hammel enters this one coming off a dominant outing in which he allowed just one run in eight innings Wednesday against the New York Mets, lowering his ERA to 1.86 over his last four starts.


The Cubs have dropped eight of their last 11 at Petco, but they played exceptionally well during a 6-1 homestand that closed with Sunday's loss to Pittsburgh.


Bryant went 10 for 22 with three home runs and eight RBIs over the seven-game stretch, Anthony Rizzo hit two homers with five RBIs and Dexter Fowler scored eight runs.


"I'm feeling among the group right now there's a rhythm about that, and they're feeling good about that," manager Joe Maddon said. "That's good stuff."


Wil Myers could return Tuesday after missing San Diego's last six games with a sprained right wrist. Myers went 3 for 13 with a home run against Chicago.


Rizzo is batting .176 at Petco in 30 games, his worst career average at any park where he's had at least 10 at_bats.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Cubs at Padres
Tue, May 19 - 10:10PM EDT


GAME 2
Cubs at Padres
Wed, May 20 - 10:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Cubs at Padres
Thu, May 21 - 9:10PM EDT

Preview: Dodgers (24-13) at Giants (20-18)
Game: 1
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: May 19, 2015 10:15 PM EDT

It wasn't long ago that the San Francisco Giants were struggling to find reliable offense and were in last place after a series with the Los Angeles Dodgers.


With Hunter Pence contributing immediately upon return and the club arriving home from a successful road trip, those concerns seem to have diminished and the Giants have climbed back to second place as they begin a three-game set with the Dodgers on Tuesday night.


San Francisco ended April by losing two of three in Los Angeles and found itself in last place with a 9-13 record while averaging 3.00 runs and batting .247. An 11-5 May has been considerably better with 4.94 runs and a .299 average.


Much of that production came in winning the last three of a four-game series in Cincinnati. Sunday's 9-8 victory was the Giants' second straight with 16 hits, and Pence was 2 for 5 with a home run in his second game back. The right fielder has gathered four hits in his return from a broken forearm, Brandon Belt went 9 for 14 with three homers and two doubles in the last three games, and Brandon Crawford was 7 for 13 with eight RBIs.


Sunday's performance came with leading hitter Angel Pagan out of the lineup because of back spasms.


"That's what happens when you've got four or five guys swinging the bat well," manager Bruce Bochy said. "This is a little bit more like who we are. We're going to be more consistent than we were early in the season."


The Giants (20-18) still have some work to do at home. Their 3.05 runs per game at AT&T Park is the worst home mark in the majors, but even so, they've won 11 of 15 there since dropping their first five.


The Dodgers (24-13) have been even better in May with 5.38 runs per game, though that dipped in the last two of a four-game split with Colorado. They won 1-0 Sunday despite scoring one run with three hits for the second straight game.


They'll try to improve upon that against Tim Hudson, who has surrendered at least three runs in six straight starts with eight home runs allowed in his last five. Hudson (1-3, 4.57 ERA) gave up three runs and six hits - two homers - over 5 1-3 innings of Wednesday's 4-3 loss in Houston but wasn't stuck with the decision.


In his last five starts against the Dodgers, the right-hander is 0-4 with a 5.68 ERA. Adrian Gonzalez is 10 for 27 with two home runs against him.


Hudson will be opposed by Carlos Frias, who entered the rotation in place of the injured Brandon McCarthy at the beginning of the month. Frias (3-0, 2.89) won his first two starts before allowing three runs in six innings of Wednesday's 5-4 loss to Miami.


The right-hander has faced the Giants twice in relief, and Crawford is 1 for 3 with a home run.


The Los Angeles bullpen had been struggling with a 5.10 ERA in 11 games prior to Sunday, but the return of closer Kenley Jansen from left foot surgery has provided a boost. He earned his first save and has five strikeouts in two perfect innings over two appearances.


"I felt great, felt pumped up, and did my job," Jansen said. "I was pumped up both times out. Today it was my first time in the ninth with a one-run lead, when you can't make a mistake."


The Giants swept the Dodgers at home April 21-23.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Dodgers at Giants
Tue, May 19 - 10:15PM EDT


GAME 2
Dodgers at Giants
Wed, May 20 - 10:15PM EDT


GAME 3
Dodgers at Giants
Thu, May 21 - 3:45PM EDT

Preview: Diamondbacks (16-21) at Marlins (16-23)
Game: 2
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: May 19, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

The Miami Marlins' first game under new manager Dan Jennings took a little longer than most but ended with the same result as many of their recent contests.


The Marlins will try again to deliver Jennings' first victory Tuesday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks.


Miami (16-23) made what many consider a puzzling move by looking to its now ex-general manager to replace Mike Redmond on Sunday. Jennings coached his first game since leading a high school team in Alabama in the 1980's on Monday, and the Marlins fell 3-2 in 13 innings, their seventh loss in eight games and fifth in a row at home.


Jennings is the sixth manager for Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria since June 2010 and was the first to lead a team with no previous experience as an MLB player or manager since Braves owner Ted Turner had a one-game stint in 1977.


"It was surreal to be there in the moment," he said. "It definitely moves quicker in the dugout than it does in the suite upstairs."


J.T. Realmuto hit a tying two-run homer in the seventh but the Marlins' final 22 batters didn't register another hit.


"There's a lot of good to take away," Jennings said. "There's a great energy in the clubhouse and dugout. We just came up a little short."


David Peralta, meanwhile, ended the Diamondbacks' four-game skid with a two-out RBI double in the 13th, and rookie Yasmany Tomas went 3 for 5 with two RBIs in his third straight multihit game for Arizona (16-21).


"I needed that," manager Chip Hale said. "We all needed that."


Tom Koehler (2-3, 4.29 ERA) will get the start in Jennings' second game after Jarred Cosart was placed on the 15-day disabled because of vertigo stemming from an inner-ear infection.


Koehler yielded one run in six innings in his last start May 11 at the Los Angeles Dodgers but Steve Cishek gave up three runs in the ninth in a 5-3 defeat. Cishek, who has an 8.22 ERA, also gave up the go-ahead run in his two innings in Monday's loss.


Koehler tossed three scoreless innings, striking out four in relief against Atlanta on Saturday.


The right-hander is 1-2 with a 6.00 ERA in three career starts against the Diamondbacks but gave up two runs in six innings while fanning seven in his most recent matchup, a 10-3 victory Aug. 17.


Jeremy Hellickson (1-3, 5.92) has a 7.08 ERA in his last four starts but his only loss in that span was an 8-0 defeat to Pittsburgh on April 26. He gave up four runs and four walks over 5 2-3 innings Wednesday in a 9-6 loss to Washington.


Hellickson is facing the Marlins for the first time since May 28, 2013. He had no record and a 5.59 ERA in two matchups while with Tampa Bay.


Ichiro Suzuki, who needs one hit to pass Babe Ruth for 42nd on the all-time list, has the most experience against Hellickson among Marlins players but is just 2 for 16.


Miami hasn't dropped six straight at home since May 1-18, 2013.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Diamondbacks at Marlins
Mon, May 18 Final 3 to 2
Boxscores


GAME 2
Diamondbacks at Marlins
Tue, May 19 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Diamondbacks at Marlins
Wed, May 20 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 4
Diamondbacks at Marlins
Thu, May 21 - 12:10PM EDT

Preview: Cardinals (25-13) at Mets (23-16)
Game: 2
Venue: Citi Field
Date: May 19, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

After facing one of the top pitchers in the majors, the St. Louis Cardinals will have one starting for them Tuesday night.


Michael Wacha seeks to improve to 6-0 while spoiling the New York Mets' attempt at their best home start in franchise history.


St. Louis (25-13) couldn't push across a run against Matt Harvey on Monday but got the series opener to the 14th inning before losing 2-1. Jason Heyward's sacrifice fly in the ninth gave Jeurys Familia his first blown save in 14 chances before John Mayberry Jr. provided a walkoff infield single.


"Finding a way, that's what it's all about," outfielder Michael Cuddyer said. "At the end of the day, it's getting one in the left-hand column. That's all that matters."


The Cardinals have lost six of nine but are 7-0 with Wacha (5-0, 2.06 ERA) on the mound this season.


Wacha is attempting to match the Mets' Bartolo Colon and Seattle's Felix Hernandez for the most wins in the majors, and Houston's Dallas Keuchel and San Diego's James Shields are the only other starters at 5-0. Shields pitches Tuesday night against the Chicago Cubs.


Wacha is seeking to become the first Cardinals starter to win his first six decisions since teammate Lance Lynn in 2012. Lynn got those in each of his first six starts.


Wacha racked up 35 pitches in the opening inning Thursday in Cleveland and had thrown nearly 60 through two and ended up going five-plus. He threw a season-high 105 pitches and gave up a solo homer and four other hits in a 2-1 victory.


"You don't see that many pitches in the first two innings without a crooked number on the board somehow. He was able to make quality pitches to get out of trouble," manager Mike Matheny said.


The right-hander is 2-1 with a 2.81 ERA in three career starts against the Mets (22-16), who have won three in a row after losing five straight. New York is 16-4 at home, matching its 1972 record for the best start after 20 home games.


Wacha is 3-0 with a 1.85 ERA in four road starts.


Jonathon Niese (3-3, 2.49) is 2-1 with a 1.35 ERA in three home starts, allowing one run in each outing.


The left-hander gave up six runs - four earned - in 6 1-3 in Thursday's 6-5 loss at Wrigley Field, causing his ERA to climb by more than half a run. It was only the second time in seven starts he gave up more than two earned runs.


Niese is 4-2 with a 2.27 ERA in his seven overall against the Cardinals. He gave up one run in 6 2-3 innings in a 3-2 win at Citi Field last April 23, but was charged with five runs - three earned - in six innings in a 5-2 defeat in St. Louis on June 17.


Matt Holliday, who has reached base in each of his first 36 games, is 3 for 15 with one walk lifetime against Niese. Matt Carpenter is 4 for 7 with two doubles.


Holliday's streak is the third-longest to start a season behind Jose Bautista's 37-gamer for Toronto in 2014 and Albert Pujols' 42 in a row in 2008 for the Cardinals.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Cardinals at Mets
Mon, May 18 Final 1 to 2
Boxscores


GAME 2
Cardinals at Mets
Tue, May 19 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Cardinals at Mets
Wed, May 20 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 4
Cardinals at Mets
Thu, May 21 - 1:10PM EDT

Preview: Phillies (17-23) at Rockies (13-22)
Game: 2
Venue: Coors Field
Date: May 19, 2015 8:40 PM EDT

Aaron Harang's excellent start to his tenure with Philadelphia may be a little charmed, but the Phillies likely don't mind, just as long as it continues.


Harang will try to help Philadelphia to a seventh straight victory Tuesday night by extending the Colorado Rockies' power outage at Coors Field.


The six-game win streak for the Phillies (17-23) is their longest since they won seven in a row Sept. 5-12, 2012. Consistent outings from the rotation have catalyzed the run. Cole Hamels tossed the latest gem, allowing one run over 7 1-3 innings in Monday's 4-3 victory, lowering the starters' ERA to 1.60 over the last six contests.


"Guys are starting to be a little more relaxed and easy and still understanding the name of the game and what we have to do and what we have to accomplish," Hamels said.


Harang (4-3, 2.03 ERA) is looking to put together his eighth quality start in nine tries. Limiting walks and home runs have been integral to the 37-year-old's impressive start with his eighth team. He's giving up 1.69 and 0.34 per nine innings, respectively, compared to 2.77 and 1.14 over his previous 13 seasons.


"I'm out there, I'm having fun," he said. "I know what I can do. I know my limitations. But I know how to control myself when I get in tough situation and try to stay positive."


A .258 opponents' batting average on balls in play suggests Harang has been the beneficiary of some good fortune. He's also been more hittable on the road, going 2-2 with a 3.75 ERA, and hasn't had much luck at Coors Field with a 5.63 ERA over seven career starts, though he's 3-2. The right-hander is 6-6 with a 4.50 mark in 14 matchups with the Rockies, whom he hasn't faced since 2012.


Odubel Herrera broke a tie Monday with a two-run double in the sixth inning, while Ryan Howard is 9 for 18 during a five-game hitting streak after a 2-for-4 night. He's batting .357 with 18 RBIs in his last 18 visits to Denver.


Coors Field hasn't been particularly kind to the Rockies (13-22), who are 4-10 there and are homerless in four straight games for the first time in a single season since a five-game drought May 30-June 10, 2010. Though Harang has struggled at Colorado, he's only given up two home runs over 38 1-3 innings.


Troy Tulowitzki returned after missing two games with a tight quadriceps but the Rockies stranded eight and struck out 11 times, marking a club record sixth straight game with 10-plus strikeouts. They've dropped 14 of 16 overall and are trying to avoid a seventh consecutive home loss for the first time since July 17-Aug. 1, 2012.


"We need to tighten up our approach with two strikes," manager Walt Weiss said. "You can't miss your pitch when you get it early in the count."


Carlos Gonzalez, batting just .207 after his fifth multihit game, is 6 for 15 with a home run against Harang.


Chad Bettis is making his second start after being called up from Triple-A for Thursday's 5-4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. He gave up four runs, seven hits and four walks over five innings, not recording a decision. Bettis owns a 1.23 ERA in three career appearances versus Philadelphia but has a 9.00 ERA in 21 games at Coors.




SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Phillies at Rockies
Mon, May 18 Final 4 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Phillies at Rockies
Tue, May 19 - 8:40PM EDT


GAME 3
Phillies at Rockies
Wed, May 20 - 8:40PM EDT


GAME 4
Phillies at Rockies
Thu, May 21 - 3:10PM EDT

Preview: Athletics (14-26) at Astros (25-14)
Game: 2
Venue: Minute Maid Park
Date: May 19, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

No AL team strikes out as much as the Houston Astros, and Sonny Gray has amassed 28 strikeouts in his last three starts.


The Oakland Athletics starter is unbeaten against AL West opponents this year and has never lost to one on the road heading into Tuesday night's matchup in Houston.


The Astros (25-14) have struck out 356 times to trail only the Chicago Cubs' 363 in the majors.


That figures to play to the advantage of Gray (4-1, 1.61 ERA), who suffered his first loss Wednesday as he allowed one run over seven innings with nine strikeouts in a 2-0 home defeat to Boston.


Gray leads the AL in ERA, and is 4-0 with a 1.05 ERA in six starts against division foes. The right-hander is 2-1 with a 2.05 ERA in three career starts against the Astros with 20 strikeouts over 22 innings.


This is Gray's first start at Houston. He is 8-0 with a 1.03 ERA in 11 career road starts versus the AL West.


Reigning major league batting champion Jose Altuve is 4 for 11 against Gray.


Altuve's 29-game hitting streak against Oakland ended in Monday's 2-1 loss with an 0-for-3 effort. Altuve's streak was the second-longest hitting streak ever against the Athletics, behind Luke Appling's 31 games from 1939-40.


One concern for Gray will be his defense. Oakland (14-26) has committed a major league-high 43 errors, including 22 in a 15-game run with at least one which is its longest such streak since a 17-game stretch from May 6-23, 1982.


The Athletics have allowed the most unearned runs in the majors with 29. Shortstop Marcus Semien committed his major league-worst 15th error Monday.


Oakland ended a four-game slide in the opener of this three-game series. Brett Lawrie hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the sixth as baseball's worst team won for the second time in 12 games and improved to 2-13 in one-run contests.


'We need a few of them,' manager Bob Melvin said of the one-run win. 'It's not going to exorcise all the demons but it certainly gives a night where we can sleep better.'


Melvin received 4 2-3 hitless innings from his bullpen after starter Drew Pomeranz left in the fifth inning with left shoulder tightness.


Houston had a five-game win streak snapped and fell to 7-16 against Oakland at home since moving to the AL in 2013. Infield hits by Preston Tucker and Jake Marisnick were all the Astros mustered.


"We drew some walks (six), I think we hit the ball to the outfield hard a couple of times but we had what, a couple infield singles," manager A.J. Hinch said. "We just really couldn't break through with any sort of momentum."


A similar offensive effort would put pressure on starter Roberto Hernandez (1-3, 4.12), who is 5-7 with a 4.85 ERA in 13 career starts versus the A's. Billy Butler is a .316 hitter against him and Coco Crisp is 9 for 22 with a homer.


The right-hander completed at least six innings for the sixth consecutive start Thursday, allowing four runs over 6 1-3 before leaving without a decision in Thursday's 6-4 win over Toronto.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Athletics at Astros
Mon, May 18 Final 2 to 1
Boxscores


GAME 2
Athletics at Astros
Tue, May 19 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Athletics at Astros
Wed, May 20 - 2:10PM EDT

Preview: Indians (14-23) at White Sox (18-17)
Game: 2
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: May 19, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

The Chicago White Sox are on the verge of their longest win streak in three years, and starter Jose Quintana is unbeaten against the last-place Cleveland Indians.


Quintana looks to lead the White Sox to a seventh straight win Tuesday night by taking advantage of a visiting Indians team that has suffered the most defeats to left-handed starters.


The White Sox (18-17) opened this four-game series with Monday's 2-1 victory on Carlos Sanchez's RBI single in the 10th. Chicago, which is over .500 for the first time, seeks its first seven-game run since reeling off nine in a row from May 23-June 1, 2012.


'If you smile as a team, you're going to win as a team, and I truly do believe that,' center fielder Adam Eaton said.


Cleveland (14-23) managed one run in eight innings off Chris Sale to drop to 4-10 against left-handed starters. Now it faces another in Quintana (2-3, 4.39 ERA), who is 4-0 with a 3.26 ERA in 10 career starts against the Indians and has posted a 2.08 ERA in his last four.


He gave up an unearned run in six innings to earn a 4-1 victory at Cleveland on April 14. Quintana notched his first win in five starts since that effort Wednesday by yielding one run in seven-plus innings in a 4-2 victory at Milwaukee.


He figures to face two hitters who have given his problems. Cleveland star Michael Brantley is 10 for 20 against him and Mike Aviles, activated off the restricted list Monday, is 9 for 21.


Slugger Carlos Santana, who is 4 for 20 versus Quintana, is uncertain after he was scratched two hours before Monday's game due to back spasms. Brandon Moss took his place.


Chicago will re-assess right fielder Avisail Garcia, who was lifted in the 10th due to knee inflammation in favor of pinch runner J.B. Shuck. Garcia is 11 for 24 during the win streak.


"We're just being really cautious with him," manager Robin Ventura said. "He felt he could probably stay in there but we had a guy who could run so you put Shuck in there and figure it out tonight and tomorrow."


Jose Abreu is batting .333 during a 13-game hitting streak. He has hit safely in all six games against the Indians this season, going 8 for 25 with three homers with the White Sox winning four.


Abreu is 5 for 10 in his career against Trevor Bauer (2-1, 3.67), who went 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA in two starts against Chicago in April. Conor Gillaspie doubled twice in six at_bats against Bauer in those contests.


Bauer is 0-1 with a 4.55 ERA in five starts since beating the White Sox on April 15. The right-hander gave up one run in 7 1-3 innings with 10 strikeouts in Thursday's 2-1 loss to St. Louis.


The Indians had three singles and a double Monday to drop to 2-2 on this seven-game trip. They wasted Corey Kluber's 12 strikeouts over nine innings.


'This is a tough loss for us, we had some opportunities,' said designated hitter Nick Swisher, who went 0 for 3 to drop his average to .220.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Indians at White Sox
Mon, May 18 Final 1 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Indians at White Sox
Tue, May 19 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Indians at White Sox
Wed, May 20 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 4
Indians at White Sox
Thu, May 21 - 8:10PM EDT

Preview: Brewers (14-25) at Tigers (23-16)
Game: 2
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: May 19, 2015 7:08 PM EDT

Anibal Sanchez has been tough to score on in winning three interleague home starts with the Detroit Tigers.


His opponent is a pitcher who has a 3-12 record as a starter, with no wins in his last six.


Sanchez figures to have an edge over the Milwaukee Brewers' Jimmy Nelson in Tuesday night's matchup.


Detroit (23-16) seeks to even this three-game series behind Sanchez (3-4, 4.76 ERA), who has yielded one run in 22 innings in his interleague home starts with the Tigers. He matched a season high with nine strikeouts Thursday and gave up one run over eight innings in a 13-1 win over Minnesota.


The right-hander hasn't faced the Brewers with the Tigers, going 2-1 with a 5.30 ERA in seven starts against them during his career with Miami. The hitter he will be concerned about facing is Gerardo Parra, who is 8 for 14 against him including a 3-for-3 effort last year with Arizona.


Parra, batting .308, has been out of the starting lineup for the last two games and did not play in Monday's 3-2 victory.


The Tigers will get their first look at Nelson (1-4, 4.22), who is 0-4 with a 5.05 ERA in six outings since winning his season debut April 11 over Pittsburgh.


Nelson has dropped consecutive starts, yielding four runs in each of them. He lasted 6 2-3 innings in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox. The right-hander has allowed five homers in his last 13 2-3 innings after surrendering one in his first 29.


He'll be up against a pair of Detroit batters enjoying nine-game hitting streaks. J.D. Martinez is hitting .406 during his streak while Jose Iglesias is at .333 in his run.


Miguel Cabrera is 10 for 24 during a six-game streak, though he bats .206 with one homer in night games compared to .452 with nine homers during the day.


Detroit has totaled three runs while going 1 for 15 with runners in scoring position in consecutive losses.


One concern is the bat of Victor Martinez, who is hitless in 13 at_bats to drop to .216 after offseason knee surgery. He came up limping after bouncing into a double play in the eighth inning.


'If I'm playing, it's because I'm able to go out there and put good swings and good at_bats,' he said. 'Like I said before, it's not excuse, the knee or anything like that.'


Milwaukee (14-25) captured Monday's opener behind Carlos Gomez, who led off with a home run and added a tiebreaking single in the seventh inning. Gomez was back in the lineup a day after being hit in the left earflap by a pitch from New York Mets rookie Noah Syndergaard on Sunday.


'He passed all the tests (Sunday),' manager Craig Counsell said. 'As long as the doctor clears everything, and he felt fine, and he wanted to play, it was OK.'


Adam Lind is expected to return to Counsell's starting lineup. Lind is hitting .217 in May after finishing April at .333.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Brewers at Tigers
Mon, May 18 Final 3 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Brewers at Tigers
Tue, May 19 - 7:08PM EDT


GAME 3
Brewers at Tigers
Wed, May 20 - 7:08PM EDT