Cnotes Best Bets For Saturday May 30th - MLB - NBA -NHL !

MLB MONEYLINE


MLB > (915) TORONTO@ (916) MINNESOTA | 05/30/2015 - 02:10 PM
Play ON MINNESOTA using the money line in All games in May games
The record is 18 Wins and 6 Losses for the this season (+15.45 units)


MLB > (921) BOSTON@ (922) TEXAS | 05/30/2015 - 07:15 PM
Play AGAINST TEXAS using the money line in All games at home when the total is 9 to 9.5
The record is 16 Wins and 43 Losses for the last two seasons (-29.35 units)

MLB > (911) ATLANTA@ (912) SAN FRANCISCO | 05/30/2015 - 10:05 PM
Play ON SAN FRANCISCO using the money line in All games in May games
The record is 39 Wins and 16 Losses for the last two seasons (+24.6 units)




MLB RUNLINE


MLB > (921) BOSTON@ (922) TEXAS | 05/30/2015 - 07:15 PM
Play AGAINST TEXAS using the in All games at home when the total is 9 to 9.5
The record is 17 Wins and 42 Losses for the last two seasons (-30.45 units)

MLB > (903) ARIZONA@ (904) MILWAUKEE | 05/30/2015 - 04:10 PM
Play AGAINST MILWAUKEE using the in All games when playing against a team with a losing record
The record is 2 Wins and 13 Losses for the this season (-14.6 units)


MLB > (911) ATLANTA@ (912) SAN FRANCISCO | 05/30/2015 - 10:05 PM
Play ON SAN FRANCISCO using the in All games in May games
The record is 38 Wins and 17 Losses for the last two seasons (+24.2 units)


MLB > (919) CHI WHITE SOX@ (920) HOUSTON | 05/30/2015 - 04:10 PM
Play AGAINST CHI WHITE SOX using the in All games in games played on a grass field
The record is 14 Wins and 29 Losses for the this season (-21.65 units)


MLB > (915) TORONTO@ (916) MINNESOTA | 05/30/2015 - 02:10 PM
Play ON MINNESOTA using the in All games in May games
The record is 19 Wins and 5 Losses for the this season (+14.3 units)


MLB TOTALS


MLB > (917) TAMPA BAY@ (918) BALTIMORE | 05/30/2015 - 04:05 PM
Play UNDER TAMPA BAY on the total in Road games against division opponents
The record is 1 Overs and 12 Unders for the this season (+11.15 units)

MLB > (923) NY YANKEES@ (924) OAKLAND | 05/30/2015 - 10:05 PM
Play OVER OAKLAND on the total in All games at home with a money line of -100 to -125
The record is 14 Overs and 3 Unders for the last two seasons (+11.6 units)


MLB TOP POWERLINES


MLB > (915) TORONTO @ (916) MINNESOTA | 05/30/2015 - 02:10 PM
Line: MINNESOTA -125 BTB PowerLine: MINNESOTA 105
Edge On: MINNESOTA (10)


MLB > (901) COLORADO @ (902) PHILADELPHIA | 05/30/2015 - 03:05 PM
Line: PHILADELPHIA -115 BTB PowerLine: PHILADELPHIA 105
Edge On: PHILADELPHIA (20)


MLB > (917) TAMPA BAY @ (918) BALTIMORE | 05/30/2015 - 04:05 PM
Line: BALTIMORE -131 BTB PowerLine: BALTIMORE -185
Edge On: BALTIMORE (54)


MLB > (907) MIAMI @ (908) NY METS | 05/30/2015 - 04:10 PM
Line: NY METS -131 BTB PowerLine: NY METS -158
Edge On: NY METS (27)


MLB > (919) CHI WHITE SOX @ (920) HOUSTON | 05/30/2015 - 04:10 PM
Line: HOUSTON -180 BTB PowerLine: HOUSTON -166
Edge On: HOUSTON (14)


MLB > (909) LA DODGERS @ (910) ST LOUIS | 05/30/2015 - 07:15 PM
Line: ST LOUIS -150 BTB PowerLine: ST LOUIS -203
Edge On: ST LOUIS (53)


MLB > (929) KANSAS CITY @ (930) CHICAGO CUBS | 05/30/2015 - 07:15 PM
Line: CHICAGO CUBS -118 BTB PowerLine: CHICAGO CUBS 114
Edge On: CHICAGO CUBS (12)


MLB > (911) ATLANTA @ (912) SAN FRANCISCO | 05/30/2015 - 10:05 PM
Line: SAN FRANCISCO -150 BTB PowerLine: SAN FRANCISCO -109
Edge On: SAN FRANCISCO (21)


MLB > (925) DETROIT @ (926) LA ANGELS | 05/30/2015 - 10:05 PM
Line: LA ANGELS -131 BTB PowerLine: LA ANGELS -122
Edge On: LA ANGELS (9)


MLB > (913) PITTSBURGH @ (914) SAN DIEGO | 05/30/2015 - 10:10 PM
Line: SAN DIEGO -121 BTB PowerLine: SAN DIEGO -106
Edge On: SAN DIEGO (15)

NHL MONEYLINE


NHL > (77) CHICAGO@ (78) ANAHEIM | 05/30/2015 - 08:05 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 16 Wins and 2 Losses for the this season (+12.9 units)




NHL PUCKLINE


NHL > (77) CHICAGO@ (78) ANAHEIM | 05/30/2015 - 08:05 PM
Play ON ANAHEIM using the in All games in a home game where where the total is 5 or less
The record is 16 Wins and 2 Losses for the this season (+12.9 units)




NHL TOTALS


NHL > (77) CHICAGO@ (78) ANAHEIM | 05/30/2015 - 08:05 PM
Play UNDER CHICAGO on the total in All games when playing with 2 days rest
The record is 2 Overs and 10 Unders for the this season (+8.3 units)

Preview: Blackhawks (48-28) at Ducks (51-24)


Date: May 30, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Ryan Getzlaf and Jonathan Toews agree that the pain of a Game 7 defeat in the Stanley Cup playoffs doesn't really go away.


Instead, good players use that failure to get better while they wait for another chance to take hockey's ultimate test.


One year after the Anaheim Ducks and the Chicago Blackhawks both exited the playoffs with a loss in a seventh game, they're facing off in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals on Saturday night at Honda Center.


After two weeks of brilliant, bruising hockey, Toews and Getzlaf don't plan to say much in the dressing rooms before the Blackhawks and Ducks meet for the conference title and a spot in the Stanley Cup Final.


Both captains believe their clubs need no extra motivation to conclude this remarkable series with a big finish.


'We've been through the experiences now,' Getzlaf said Friday after a spirited Ducks practice. 'We have to use them the way we need to. That's the biggest thing. I've always believed that you learn a lot from losing.'


Both teams have lost three times apiece in these conference finals, alternating victories in a tense, well-played series. The Ducks have just one regulation loss in the entire postseason, but it was in Game 6, a 5-2 defeat that might have turned the series' momentum in the Blackhawks' favor heading back to Orange County.


'You try to will your way to the win,' Toews said. 'And given that passion we have in our team, we're feeling pretty good about our chances.'


Both teams' recent history contains motivation and warnings when they face off to conclude a series already featuring six overtime periods and four one-goal games.


The Ducks' last two postseasons ended with a Game 7 loss at home, and they blew a 3-2 series lead both times. Anaheim is a three-time Pacific Division champion and one of the NHL's top teams ever since coach Bruce Boudreau took over in late 2011, but hasn't broken through into trophy territory.


'It's happened too often the last couple years,' Ducks forward Corey Perry said. 'But you win (Saturday) night, and people start talking about something different. We're not focused on the past. We're focused on (Saturday) night, starting something different. It's one game to go play for the Stanley Cup. It doesn't get any more exciting than that.'


The Ducks also point out that those losing teams didn't have center Ryan Kesler, whose defensive tenacity and leadership have bolstered Anaheim in tough games all season long. Kesler is expected to shadow Toews for the seventh straight game.


'I don't think it's about X's and O's anymore,' Kesler said. 'I think it's about who wants it more and who is ready to out-compete the guy across from him. Whoever that is, is going to win the game.'


Despite their two Stanley Cup titles in the previous five seasons, the Blackhawks can't exactly stand on a stellar Game 7 record, either. The current Chicago core has lost in two of its three trips to a Game 7, beating only Detroit in a second-round series in 2013 - the Blackhawks' only Game 7 victory since 1995.


And Chicago's experience in last season's conference finals still stings. The Hawks lost Game 7 at home to the Los Angeles Kings on Alec Martinez's overtime deflection goal - a reminder of the dumb luck that conspires with years of preparation and hard work to decide these teams' fates.


'We're pretty far past that now,' Chicago goalie Corey Crawford said, before quickly adding: 'We have it in the back of our mind a little bit. It was tough for us to take.'


If the Blackhawks win the series, it will be a remarkable testament to their stars - because coach Joel Quenneville is betting everything on them. Chicago has played the conference finals with basically four defensemen, and its two best offensive players are ganging up again.


Quenneville has put Toews and Patrick Kane on a line together with increasing frequency in the last two games. He did it again during Chicago's practice Friday, suggesting the superstars will team up in Game 7.


Chicago also has survived against the deep Ducks while Duncan Keith, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Brent Seabrook and Johnny Oduya play almost every minute on the blue line. Kimmo Timonen, David Rundblad and Kyle Cumiskey have been given barely more than 10 minutes per game.


Keith has logged a jaw-dropping 202 minutes and 57 seconds in a series that might stand as one of the decorated defenseman's greatest achievements, but he won't remember it fondly unless the Blackhawks get one more series in June.


'I think some of that feeling, even though it was a year ago, you can still remember,' Keith said. 'We don't want to have that feeling come this way. We want to make sure we do our best to try to get through this time.'




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Blackhawks at Ducks
Sun, May 17 Final 1 to 4


GAME 2
Blackhawks at Ducks
Tue, May 19 Final 3 to 2


GAME 3
Ducks at Blackhawks
Thu, May 21 Final 2 to 1


GAME 4
Ducks at Blackhawks
Sat, May 23 Final 4 to 5


GAME 5
Blackhawks at Ducks
Mon, May 25 Final 4 to 5


GAME 6
Ducks at Blackhawks
Wed, May 27 Final 2 to 5


GAME 7
Blackhawks at Ducks
Sat, May 30 - 8:00PM EDT

Ducks-Blackhawks go for fourth straight Over


The NHL Western Conference Finals has been a boon for bettors banking on high totals, but it will officially come to an end on Saturday in Game 7 with either the Chicago Blackhawks or the Anaheim Ducks earning the right to represent the West in the Stanley Cup Finals.


The Over has cashed in three straight games in the series, going 3-1-2 Over/Under in total.


Oddsmakers have tabbed the matchup with a 5 goal total.

It's time NHL bettors started taking the Anaheim Ducks seriously


The sharpest puck bettors can tell you what the rest of the hockey world took some time warming up to these playoffs: the Anaheim Ducks are the real deal.


It wasn’t until the Ducks took a 2-1 lead over the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference finals that Anaheim finally moved into the favorite spot to win the Stanley Cup, where they sit at +160 (bet365) to win it all.


If we’d been paying attention, the signs have been there this postseason that this team was a lot better than we’d been giving them credit for. The Ducks are by far the most profitable team for bettors these playoffs of the four teams still alive.


If you’d been betting with a $100 unit every game this postseason - which means risking $100 in an underdog situation or risking enough to win $100 in a favorite situation - the Ducks would’ve won you $802 heading into Game 4 against Chicago. Chicago is a somewhat distant second at $582 and the East is way behind with the Lightning returning $256 and the Rangers having a profit of $142.


Despite this, the Ducks opened as the same hefty +130 underdogs for Game 4 as they opened for Game 3 in Chicago. Anaheim has lost only two games these playoffs and yet the club has been an underdog four times and has been favored at -140 or less six times.


That’s incredible value for a team that leads the playoffs in goals per game (3.58), goals against per game (1.92), best power play of any team remaining by a mile (27.8 percent) and best penalty kill (86.4 percent).


The Ducks face the Blackhawks Saturday night and will return to Anaheim with home ice advantage in the series no matter what happens in Game 4.


The not-so-friendly Sunshine State?


The Tampa Bay Lightning have taken some fire this postseason for taking unusual measures to ensure they have home ice advantage.


The team has a home ice policy that doesn’t allow fans to don visiting team garb in certain sections of Amelie Arena (about seven percent of it) and they restrict online ticket sales to residents of Florida, which they monitor via credit card addresses.


Cry penalty if you must, but there could be something to it. The Lightning had the fewest losses in regulation of any team in the NHL in the regular season and they are 5-3 at home these playoffs with the most recent home victory giving them a 2-1 edge in the Eastern finals.


Teams are also 46-29 (65.3 percent) at home these playoffs so any edge you can get might be worth something.


A turn in trends


Before the conference finals series began, the Rangers were a pretty solid under bet in recent postseasons and the Blackhawks were a pretty decent over bet. You might want to consider going the other way now.


The over in Rangers games is 13-22-9 over the last five postseasons but the last two games have seen 19 goals combined. The over is 5-1 in the six meetings between the Bolts and Rangers this year so it might be time to rethink the trend.


The Blackhawks, meanwhile, saw an over trend of 17-6-2 over the last two postseasons after Round 1 of this year. Since then, the over is 3-2-2 and 0-1-2 in their series with the Ducks. The over/under is also 0-4-2 in Blackhawks-Ducks meetings this year.

MLB ballparks changing their stripes when it comes to betting park factor


In April of 2004, the Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres waved goodbye to their respective outdated ballpark relics known as Veterans Stadium and Qualcomm Stadium and stepped forward into the modern era with the debut of fan-friendly attractions Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia) and Petco Park (San Diego).


But while the locales shared the similarities of serving as National League venues opening within a week of one another, the next decade would see each stadium travel a drastically different path.


Citizens Bank Park quickly established its place among the top hitter-friendly venues in all of Major League Baseball, as CBP ranked in the Top 5 in home runs per game four times during the stadium’s first five years of existence.


Conversely, Petco Park finished 29th or worse in home runs hit four times during that same time span. While hitters were living the dream in Philadelphia, they were experiencing recurring nightmares 3,000 miles away in Southern California.


However, fast-forward to 2015 and it’s a different story entirely. While the Phillies and their opponents are still mashing at a steady rate, San Diego has undergone a transformation that bettors should be closely monitoring.


Citizens Bank Park ranked sixth in home runs per game last season (1.214) and through the first two months of this year, ranks seventh (1.286). But it’s in San Diego where a unique transition has occurred that has the Padres and their opponents morphing from an average 0.808 home runs per game in 2014 (24th) to 1.056 per game this season (14th).


The reasons for the sudden SoCal power surge can be traced to a combination of both human and environmental factors. For starters, the heavy marine layer responsible for keeping balls in play this time of year has been absent in downtown San Diego due to warmer temperatures.


That hasn’t been the case in San Francisco, where a combination of wind and the aforementioned marine layer contributed to an average of just 0.488 home runs hit per game at AT&T Park this year, which currently ranks dead last in baseball.


In addition, the Padres moved the left field fence in three feet while simultaneously lowering it from eight feet to seven feet. And let’s also not forget the fact that Padres general manager A.J. Preller went on a spending spree this offseason that saw the franchise acquire Justin Upton and Wil Myers - among others - the former of which currently ranks fourth in the bigs with 12 dingers.


The result of this myriad of changes has seen Petco Park, a stadium where Overs went a bankroll-busting 30-47-4 last season, produce an Over/Under record of 13-10 through the first 23 home games of the 2015 campaign.


Granted, that’s not the type of blind-betting record that will buy you a house in Bora Bora come October, but it’s certainly enough to warrant a study into the other MLB ballparks to determine if there are any other drastic changes that have taken place so far this spring.


SURGING


Progressive Field (Cleveland): An anomaly based on the fact that Progressive Field saw an average of 1.083 home runs per game last season (11th in MLB) compared with just 0.786 in 2015 (24th), yet, the Indians were 39-42 to the Under during home games a year ago versus 14-7 to the Over through two months this season. Credit the starting pitching (4.10 ERA, 21st) and horrific defense (30 errors, 23rd) for the surge in scoring.


Turner Field (Atlanta): Similar to the oddity taking place in Cleveland, Turner Field has watched its home run rate drop from 1.122 per game in 2014 (10th) to 0.927 this season (18th) despite going 34-40-7 Over/Under last year compared with a 14-6-2 O/U mark this year. The profitable Over run can largely be attributed to bookmakers sending out lower totals to open the season under the impression that this team would be one of the worst clubs in baseball in 2015. At 22-21 entering Memorial Day, the Braves have done their best to prove a lot of people wrong.


Miller Park (Milwaukee): One of the worst teams in baseball at 16-29 while boasting a run differential of minus-51, the Brewers’ pitching staff has been serving up meatball after meatball that has seen the home run rate at Miller Park jump from 1.142 in 2014 (9th) to a league-leading 1.801 this season. Should that number hold through until the end of the season, it would serve as the highest home run rate since Progressive Field in Cleveland posted an astounding 2.031 jacks per game back in 2001. Miller Park played to a 36-43-2 O/U record last season, but currently boasts a 13-9-1 O/U count in 2015.


SLIDING


AT&T Park (San Francisco): One of the most pitcher-friendly parks in baseball, the defending champs are an extremely profitable 16-7 to the Under in 2015 when playing by the Bay, as opposed to the 38-39-4 O/U mark this stadium produced last season. The low-scoring totals can be attributed to a revamped lineup that lost big-time hitters Pablo Sandoval and Michael Morse during free agency and spent the first six weeks of the year without right fielder Hunter Pence (broken forearm). Additionally, no club in baseball has gotten better starting pitching when playing at home than the Giants (2.73 ERA, first).


Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia): It’s still a hitter-friendly venue that ranks seventh in home runs per game (1.286), but the Phillies lack any semblance of firepower necessary for keeping up their end of the bargain. A 40-35-6 O/U record last season has plummeted to 8-12-2 O/U to kick off the 2015 campaign due in large part to an offense that ranks dead last in runs per outing (3.17).


Comerica Park (Detroit): Miguel Cabrera (11) and J.D. Martinez (9) are doing their part. But, as for the rest of the Tigers, well, this club currently ranks just 20th in the majors in home runs this season (0.84), which has helped drop last year’s 44-33-4 Over/Under record to 11-14-1 O/U this season. In addition, Comerica Park in general has been a bit stingier in 2015 by permitting just 0.856 home runs per game (20th) as opposed to the 1.014 rate it allowed in 2014 (15th).

Astros' Feldman to miss 4-6 weeks after surgery


Houston Astros right-hander Scott Feldman underwent surgery to repair a torn medial meniscus in his right knee and likely will be out for four to six weeks, the team announced Friday.


The Astros placed Feldman on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 27 and called up right-hander Michael Feliz from Double-A Corpus Christi to replace Feldman on the roster.


Feliz, who pitched one game in Double-A after being starting the season in high-Class A, will give the Astros another arm in the bullpen. Brett Oberholtzer is expected to take Feldman's spot in the rotation until he returns.


Feldman suffered the injury while fielding a ball during his last outing. He has started 10 games this season and posted a 4-4 record with a 4.80 ERA in 60 innings.


The 32-year-old Feldman is in the second year of a three-year, $30 million deal. He made 29 starts for the Astros last year and was 8-12 with a 3.74 ERA.

Marlins cashing the Under with ease recently


The Miami Marlins have gone under the closing total in five straight games ahead of Friday's clash with the New York Mets.


The Fish will be in tough as they face off against Mets ace Matt Harvey. Dan Haren is scheduled to start for Miami.


Books have pegged the matchup with a low total of 6.5.

Over is hot in games Bucknor works behind home


The Over has gone 7-1-1 in nine games that umpire CB Bucknor has been tasked with umpiring behind home plate this season.


There has been an average of 9.1 runs scored per game in those nine contests and an average of 3.67 home runs.


Bucknor will be behind home plate in San Francisco when the Giants host the Atlanta Braves Friday evening. Tim Hudson is probable to start for the home team while the Braves are likely to counter with Michael Foltynewicz.


Oddsmakers currently have a total of 7 pegged for this matchup.

Total coming down in Blue Jays-Twins matchup


The total is on the way down in Friday's meeting between the Toronto Blue Jays and Minnesota Twins as books have adjusted the number to 8.5 after opening at 9.


The Under has gone 3-1-1 in the previous five meetings between the two clubs.


The Twins are scheduled to give the ball to Trevor May while the Jays will counter with Mark Buehrle.


Click here to keep an eye on all lines with our MLB Live Odds page

Preview: Rockies (19-26) at Phillies (19-30)
Game: 2
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: May 30, 2015 3:05 PM EDT

Aaron Harang's first 10 starts for the Philadelphia Phillies have been impressive, particularly for a 37-year-old who has bounced around the majors for the last five years. What he's done at Citizens Bank Park has been closer to spectacular.


Following two winless road starts, Harang again pitches before a home crowd Saturday as the Phillies try to even a three-game series with the Colorado Rockies and end a five-game skid.


Harang (4-4, 1.93 ERA) took the decision in Sunday's 4-1 loss in Washington after allowing two runs in six innings, but he's gone five May starts without allowing more than two earned. That's amounted to a 2-2 record and 1.36 ERA with two earned runs surrendered over 15 home innings to move him to 2-1 with a 0.61 ERA in four starts at Citizens Bank. Including last season with Atlanta, he's 4-1 with a 1.26 ERA in his last six starts at the ballpark.


The success is coming with a relaxed approach.


"The big thing is trying to give us a chance to win," Harang told MLB's official website. "There is only so much I can do. Once I release the ball, it's out of my control unless the ball is hit back to me or I'm in the play somehow."


The outing before losing in Washington came in Colorado, where Harang allowed three unearned runs and three hits in six innings of a 6-5 defeat on May 19 without a decision. He's 2-1 with a 1.73 ERA in his last four starts against the Rockies (20-26).


Colorado, winner of three of five in the season series, has won five of six after Friday's 4-1 victory. Chad Bettis retired the first 18 batters and took a no-hitter into the eighth inning, and Troy Tulowitzki was 4 for 4 with two solo homers to double his season total. He'd hit .189 over his previous 15 games.


"I haven't started off the way I envisioned, but today is why I play," said Tulowitzki, a career .367 hitter at Citizens Bank.


The Phillies (19-31), in danger of their second six-game losing streak of the season, managed two hits and have scored one run in two games. They're batting .207 on the skid with nine runs scored, and Ryan Howard is 0 for 12 in his last three.


Colorado's pitching has been the thrust of the recent success with a 2.36 ERA in six games, and the bullpen has limited opponents to one earned run over 10 innings in that time. The rotation has also been far better after posting a 5.37 ERA in the Rockies' 40 games. Since, it's posted a 2.70, though Jorge De La Rosa hasn't been a part of it.


De La Rosa (1-2, 6.51) hasn't lost in his last three starts, but he's made it through the fifth inning once in those. He threw 7 1-3 scoreless innings at the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 16, but that stands as the only start he's surpassed the five-inning mark this season.


The left-hander followed it up by allowing three runs and five hits with three walks in 4 1-3 innings of a 7-3 home loss to Philadelphia on May 21 and was scratched Tuesday because of a cut on the middle finger of his pitching hand.


"Like they say, when you can't throw strikes, you're going to make a lot of mistakes, and that happened today," De La Rosa said.


He's 2-1 with a 2.55 ERA in his last four starts against the Phillies. Carlos Ruiz is 6 for 11 off De La Rosa.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Rockies at Phillies
Fri, May 29 - Final 4 - 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Rockies at Phillies
Sat, May 30 - 3:05PM EDT


GAME 3
Rockies at Phillies
Sun, May 31 - 1:35PM EDT

Preview: Rays (24-24) at Orioles (22-24)
Game: 2
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: May 30, 2015 4:05 PM EDT

The Baltimore Orioles have yet to replicate the success that led to a division title last season, although they've been better of late.


The Tampa Bay Rays are moving in a different direction, failing to move back toward the first-place spot they held earlier this week.


Momentum should be in Baltimore's favor Saturday following a walk-off win in the series opener over Tampa Bay, which finds itself stuck in its longest losing streak this season.


The Orioles (23-24) came from behind to top the Rays 2-1 on Friday. Chris Davis hit a game-tying home run in the seventh inning and J.J. Hardy delivered a two-out, walk-off single to hand Tampa Bay (24-25) its sixth consecutive loss.


"Every game right now is big, especially against these guys," Hardy said. "It's a big win for us."


Davis is red hot, going 6 for 13 in his last four games with four home runs, seven RBIs and a 2.024 OPS.


Baltimore enjoyed stellar pitching as Miguel Gonzalez pitched eight strong innings and Darren O'Day lowered the bullpen's ERA to 1.91 over the last 13 games, although it was hardly routine. Tampa Bay loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth inning before O'Day got two strikeouts and an inning-ending groundout.


"The second part was more fun than the first," O'Day told MLB's official website. "It's not how we drew it up, but anytime you put a zero on the board is exciting."


Zach Britton has anchored the bullpen's recent success, converting his last six save opportunities without allowing a run. Two of his 13 saves have come against the Rays, who have failed to tally a hit in 3 1-3 innings against the left-hander.


Tampa Bay has not scored an earned run on Britton in the last 14 meetings, a stretch that lasts 16 1-3 innings and dates back to 2012.


Wei-Yin Chen (1-3, 3.13 ERA) will take the mound for Baltimore following two of his worst starts of the year. The left-hander snapped a string of four quality starts with four runs allowed in seven innings to Seattle on May 20, then ceded 11 hits - his most since April 3, 2014 - and three runs over five Monday against Houston.


Tampa Bay, which sat atop the division before its long losing streak, will go with Erasmo Ramirez (2-2, 6.62 ERA). Since his return to the rotation May 14, Ramirez has grown less effective in each of his three starts, culminating with five hits, five walks and five runs in six innings of a 7-2 loss Sunday to Oakland.


Ramirez owns a 3.86 ERA in two career starts against the Orioles, the most recent of which came in 2013. He worked 1 1-3 innings of scoreless relief against the Orioles on May 3.


Steven Souza Jr. returned from a left wrist sprain that had bothered him since Sunday and hit his seventh home run of the season in the opener, but he was focused on what his team - which has hit .129 with runners in scoring position over the last nine games - isn't doing.


'We've just got to bear down,' Souza said. 'With runners in scoring position, we've got to find ways to be productive. That's the key right now. When we have runners in scoring position, we're not doing anything, myself included. We can get better at that.'




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Rays at Orioles
Fri, May 29 - Final 1 - 2


Boxscores
GAME 2
Rays at Orioles
Sat, May 30 - 4:05PM EDT


GAME 3
Rays at Orioles
Sun, May 31 - 1:35PM EDT

Preview: Blue Jays (22-27) at Twins (28-18)
Game: 2
Venue: Target Field
Date: May 30, 2015 2:10 PM EDT

Given his history against the Minnesota Twins it shouldn't come as a surprise that Josh Donaldson's torrid stretch extended to the series opener.


The Twins turn to Kyle Gibson on Saturday as they try to slow Donaldson and prevent the Toronto Blue Jays from a fifth victory in six games.


Donaldson homered for the fourth consecutive game Friday - a three-run, game-tying blast in the fifth inning - and Toronto (23-27) went on the win 6-4. The Blue Jays third baseman is 9 for 16 in his last four with five homers, two doubles, 10 RBIs and 10 runs.


The four-game homer streak marks the longest of Donaldson's career, and he is one shy of teammate Jose Bautista's five-game streak on Aug. 26-31. Jose Cruz Jr. holds the franchise record by homering in six straight games in 2001.


Donaldson may move closer to that mark given the way he has feasted on Minnesota pitching. He is batting .423 with three homers and a 1.198 OPS during an 18-game hitting streak against the Twins.


Chris Colabello has also been on a tear lately. The right fielder extended his hitting streak to nine with a game-winning two-run homer in Friday's ninth inning.


"He just keeps hitting and hitting and hitting," manager John Gibbons told MLB's official website. "You figure he has to cool off, but he hasn't really."


Minnesota (28-19) had a chance for a season-best six-game winning streak Friday before closer Glen Perkins, who has recorded a save against every AL team except Toronto, allowed the home run to Colabello.


The Twins' relievers had worked 8 2-3 scoreless innings over the team's winning streak, while the starting pitchers posted a 2.72 ERA.


Among the quality starts over that five-game stretch, the best belonged to Gibson (4-3, 2.72 ERA), who surrendered four hits and one run while striking out eight over eight innings in Sunday's 8-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox.


On perhaps the most surprising team in baseball, Gibson may be the biggest revelation. The right-hander, following a 5.96 ERA in his final eight starts of 2014, has a 1.32 ERA in his last five outings.


Gibson has faced Toronto only once in his career, and dominated the Blue Jays with eight innings of four-hit ball in a 7-0 win on April 17, 2014. Donaldson is 1 for 2 with a double off him.


"We have a lot of confidence in here," Gibson said. "We like our team and the leaders we have. ... I just I want the team to have a chance every time I'm on the mound."


Toronto will go with Aaron Sanchez (4-4, 3.98), who seems to have finally settled in as a starting pitcher. After failing to pitch at least six innings in each of his first five starts, Sanchez has pitched into the seventh in three of his last four.


The right-hander allowed three runs in 7 1-3 innings of a loss to the Los Angeles Angels on May 19, then reversed his fortune with two runs in 6 2-3 innings of a victory Sunday over Seattle.


Walks continue to plague the 22-year-old despite the increased stamina. He has walked a league-worst 5.88 batters per nine innings, a full batter more than next on the list, Baltimore's Chris Tillman (4.66).


Still, despite early-season questions about Sanchez's role with the Blue Jays, Gibbons has essentially guaranteed his spot in the rotation moving forward.


"He's too good, too talented," Gibbons said.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Blue Jays at Twins
Fri, May 29 - Final 6 - 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Blue Jays at Twins
Sat, May 30 - 2:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Blue Jays at Twins
Sun, May 31 - 2:10PM EDT

Preview: Diamondbacks (21-25) at Brewers (16-32)
Game: 2
Venue: Miller Park
Date: May 30, 2015 4:10 PM EDT

The Arizona Diamondbacks traveled to Milwaukee riding a few seasons of success at Miller Park and in need of a win to forget about a sweep at the hands of a more formidable NL Central foe.


They didn't disappoint in the opener, and they'll try to secure the series Saturday against the big league-worst Brewers, who are in danger of entering June with their worst record ever.


Arizona (22-25) followed three losses in St. Louis with Friday's 7-5 victory, giving it victories in six of seven in Milwaukee with 5.71 runs per game and a .302 average dating to the start of 2013.


Nick Ahmed, Ender Inciarte, David Peralta and A.J. Pollock all went deep, giving the Diamondbacks 11 home runs over their first seven-game homer streak since August 2013. They last went longer than that with a nine-gamer in May of that season. Pollock is batting .459 in his last 10 games.


Milwaukee's allowed nine home runs in the last four games, and its 48 surrendered at home easily lead the majors.


"We have to fix it," manager Craig Counsell told MLB's official website. "There's no question about it. It's too many. We know this ballpark is going to give up home runs. We still have to do a better job of preventing them."


Paul Goldschmidt, who has two of the recent homers, was 3 for 5 with three doubles and is hitting .444 over eight games. His .476 average in 10 career games at Miller Park is his highest at any big league park. He has four home runs and nine doubles in those games to account for a 1.476 OPS, which is also a personal best.


"It's a tough place to pitch I'll tell you, this ballpark," Arizona manager Chip Hale said.


The Brewers (16-33) have dropped six straight overall and at home, and if they can't win Saturday, they'll be assured of entering June with at least tied for their worst winning percentage ever. The 2002 (18-36) and 1970 (15-30) clubs had .333 winning percentages. They need to win their remaining two games in order to avoid joining those teams or establishing a new low.


Jeremy Hellickson will try to take advantage and win consecutive starts for the first time since July 2013.


Hellickson (2-3, 5.33 ERA) hasn't lost in five starts this month, but he probably deserves a few considering his 5.40 May ERA. His only decision during that time came in Sunday's 4-3 home win over the Chicago Cubs as the right-hander allowed three runs and four hits in 6 2-3 innings. The lack of decisions comes as no surprise, given his run-support average is also 5.40 this month.


His last two starts have been his most promising stretch of the season with five runs surrendered in 12 2-3 innings, but he's continuing to give up home runs with seven of his eight allowed for the season coming this month.


Hellickson's four road starts have yielded a 1-1 record and 4.01 ERA while he's 1-2 with a 6.58 in five at home.


In his first start against the Brewers since 2011, he'll be facing Kyle Lohse, who after reining his season in some over his first four starts of May with a 2-0 record and 3.38 ERA, regressed in Monday's 8-4 home loss to San Francisco. The right-handed Lohse (3-5, 5.80) gave up five runs and six hits in 5 1-3 innings, falling to 2-3 with a 7.31 ERA in six home starts.


After two starts without allowing a home run, he gave one up against the Giants and has conceded 11 for the season.


Since joining the Brewers in 2013, he's 1-1 with a 4.42 ERA against the Diamondbacks while holding them to a .194 average.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Diamondbacks at Brewers
Fri, May 29 - Final 7 - 5
Boxscores


GAME 2
Diamondbacks at Brewers
Sat, May 30 - 4:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Diamondbacks at Brewers
Sun, May 31 - 2:10PM EDT

Preview: Marlins (18-30) at Mets (27-21)
Game: 2
Venue: Citi Field
Date: May 30, 2015 4:10 PM EDT

Amid a rough stretch of almost three weeks, the Miami Marlins will take anything positive to build on.


After beating one of the majors' top pitchers, they'll try to win back-to-back road games for the first time in more than a month Saturday against the New York Mets.


Justin Bour hit a three-run homer off Matt Harvey to help Miami (19-30) snap a three-game skid and give manager Dan Jennings his first road victory, 4-3 on Friday. The Marlins, 3-8 since the former general manager replaced the fired Mike Redmond, won for the fourth time in 18 contests but can win two straight on the road for the first time since April 22-23.


"It was a nice win," Jennings said. "Hopefully we can build momentum and move forward."


Miami was held to six hits and fanned 12 times, but prevailed by scoring one fewer run than it totaled while being swept in a three-game set at Pittsburgh this week.


Batting .361 in 28 games, Bour has hit half of his four homers in the last two contests. The first baseman, who played his first 39 career games in 2014, also broke up a no-hit bid by Atlanta's Shelby Miller with two outs in the ninth May 17.


"He gets up there, he's not afraid of anybody," Marlins reliever A.J. Ramos said about Bour, who is 6 for 16 in 12 games against the Mets. "He goes up there and shows it."


Bronx native Tom Koehler (3-3, 3.44 ERA) hopes to fare better in Queens than he did April 19 when he allowed seven runs over 3 1-3 innings of a 7-6 loss.


Though the right-hander is 0-2 with a 5.46 ERA in five starts at Citi Field, he's overcome 10 walks in 19 innings to allow two earned runs while going 1-0 in his last three starts. That stretch was interrupted by a brief move to the bullpen where he made one appearance, but has since worked his way back into the rotation.


"That move to the bullpen, he knew it was best for the team, and he did it," Jennings said. "Now, he's back in the rotation and he's leaving it out on the mound."


Curtis Granderson and Lucas Duda are a combined 3 for 31 against Koehler, but both homered Friday as New York (27-22) failed to win a fourth straight contest. Duda is batting .412 with six home runs and 11 RBIs in the last 10 at home.


Teammate Jonathon Niese (3-5, 4.08) went 3-2 with a 1.95 ERA in his first six starts but has a 9.00 ERA while losing three in a row.


"The crazy thing is this is the best I've felt in a real long time," the left-hander told MLB's official website after he allowed four runs, seven hits and walked four over 4 2-3 innings of Sunday's 9-1 loss to the Pirates.


"The results aren't there. I've just got to stick with the game plan, prepare the right way and I think it'll turn around for us."


Though Niese allowed six runs and 10 hits in six innings during an 8-6 win over the Marlins on Sept. 2, he's 4-0 with a 3.65 ERA in his last seven starts against them.


Giancarlo Stanton is batting .407 with three homers in 27 at_bats against Niese, but is 3 for 21 with nine strikeouts in the last six contests.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Marlins at Mets
Fri, May 29 - Final 4 - 3
Boxscores


GAME 2
Marlins at Mets
Sat, May 30 - 4:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Marlins at Mets
Sun, May 31 - 1:10PM EDT

Preview: Nationals (28-19) at Reds (19-27)
Game: 2
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: May 30, 2015 4:10 PM EDT

Failing to homer for the first time in three games in one of his toughest ballparks to hit, Bryce Harper took exception when the Cincinnati Reds plunked him late in the series opener.


The superstar slugger will look to respond and help the Washington Nationals avoid their first back-to-back losses in a month Saturday at Great American Ball Park.


Harper had homered in two straight games and was hitting .460 with 13 homers over his previous 19 before going 1 for 4 with a strikeout in Friday's 5-2 loss to the previously struggling Reds (20-27).


Although he has NL bests of 18 home runs and 43 RBIs, the two-time All-Star is 7 for 41 (.171) with one homer in 10 games at Cincinnati. Among NL parks, he's only posted worse averages at Milwaukee (.120) and San Francisco (.160).


Harper wasn't happy when Tony Cingrani hit him in the back with his first pitch in the seventh inning, staring at the pitcher while taking his time going down the line. He also had an animated chat with Joey Votto at first base.


'What are you going to do?' Cingrani said. 'He should've jogged. Be a baseball player. Sorry I hit you. Run.'


Washington (28-20) hasn't dropped two straight since a six-game skid from April 22-27, but appears to have a good chance to bounce back with a 22nd victory in 29 games. Probable starter Gio Gonzalez is 2-1 with a 1.06 ERA in five career starts against the Reds, posting 10.59 strikeouts per nine innings and limiting them to a .138 batting average.


The left-hander has gone at least seven innings in four of those meetings and he'll look to go deep again after the bullpen worked seven innings Friday after Stephen Strasburg left in the second with neck tightness.


After allowing 11 runs over 10 innings in his previous two starts, Gonzalez (4-2, 4.53 ERA) got back on track by giving up one run and striking out seven over 6 1-3 innings in Sunday's 4-1 home win over Philadelphia.


"I just think he established the low strike," manager Matt Williams told MLB's official website, "which helps with his breaking ball because it's a big, sweeping breaker that gets down below the zone and his changeup."


Todd Frazier is 0 for 5 when facing Gonzalez, but he moved closer to Harper's home run total Friday with a third homer in four games for his 15th overall. Votto, who had a first-inning solo shot, is 3 for 10 with a homer in this matchup.


It's unclear when Brandon Phillips will return to the lineup after missing the past three starts with a turf toe injury.


The Reds had been outscored 66-29 during a 1-10 stretch before plating five runs for the first time in nine games.


They'll try to provide more scoring for Raisel Iglesias (1-1, 4.26), who was shaky Sunday while filling in for injured ace Johnny Cueto. The rookie right-hander needed 84 pitches to get through three innings, allowing two runs in a 5-2 loss at Cleveland.


Iglesias faces the Nationals for the first time as Cueto is not yet ready to return due to inflammation in his pitching elbow.


Washington won't have Jayson Werth for an extended period after learning the outfielder broke his left wrist two weeks ago. Werth was batting .208 with two homers and 12 RBIs when he got hurt May 15.


Ian Desmond is batting .352 over a 13-game hitting streak after going 2 for 5 Friday.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Nationals at Reds
Fri, May 29 - Final 2 - 5
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Nationals at Reds
Sat, May 30 - 4:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Nationals at Reds
Sun, May 31 - 1:10PM EDT

Preview: White Sox (21-25) at Astros (30-18)
Game: 2
Venue: Minute Maid Park
Date: May 30, 2015 4:10 PM EDT

While leading hitter Avisail Garcia could return to the lineup for the Chicago White Sox, a nagging injury to reigning AL Rookie of the Year Jose Abreu has left his immediate status uncertain.


Regardless of who is in the lineup Saturday, the visiting White Sox likely face a difficult task against Houston Astros ace Dallas Keuchel.


Leading the club with eight home runs and 29 RBIs, Abreu is day to day after leaving Friday's 6-3, 11-inning victory with an irritation to his right index finger that has given him problems of late.


Garcia, meanwhile, appears set to play after missing five games with knee inflammation. Hitting .327, Garcia took batting practice Friday and was available to pinch hit.


'It was very encouraging watching him run around ... looks like it would be (Saturday) to have him start again,' manager Robin Ventura said of Garcia, who is batting .406 with three homers and 11 RBIs in 19 road games.


Geovany Soto, who entered Friday's game when catcher Tyler Flowers moved to first base in place of Abreu, delivered a two-run, go-ahead double in the 11th to help Chicago (22-25) improve to 3-3 on an 11-game trip.


'We had to start moving guys all over the place trying to figure out who you've got, who's available,' Ventura said. 'It was a nice win.'


Though Soto is 2 for 12 versus Keuchel (6-1, 1.98 ERA), Garcia homered for his one hit in two at_bats against the left-hander.


After losing at Yankee Stadium on Aug. 21, Keuchel went 8-0 with a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts before he yielded a pair of two-run homers and four other hits over eight innings of Monday's 4-3 loss at Baltimore.


"You're going up against professional hitters and if you don't locate, even if you get the ball up, quarter inch, inch above what you want, guys can get under that pitch," he told MLB's official website. "I think I still pitched well overall."


Manager A.J. Hinch isn't concerned.


"Every starter that goes out wants to try to win. He's no exception,' Hinch said. 'That's the first blemish on a record that's been really awesome this year.'


With Keuchel 5-0 and boasting a 1.61 ERA in his last eight home starts, Hinch should have every reason to believe he'll bounce back. Keuchel still leads the AL in opponent batting average (.190) and ranks among the major league leaders in ERA and innings (72 2-3).


Keuchel, 1-1 with a 3.97 ERA versus Chicago, will try to help Houston (30-19) avoid just its second three-game skid of the season as it faces Jose Quintana (2-5, 4.67).


The left-hander allowed seven runs in six-plus innings of Sunday's 8-1 defeat to Minnesota, but he's posted a 1.29 ERA while splitting his last two on the road. Quintana has received one run or no runs of support in five of his last seven outings.


He's 1-0 with a 3.63 ERA in four starts against the Astros, who had 10 hits but went 2 for 13 with runners in scoring position Friday.


With two RBIs, Chris Carter has six in the last four games and is batting .364 in his last six contests. He's 1 for 7 with a double and four strikeouts versus Quintana.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
White Sox at Astros
Fri, May 29 - Final 6 - 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
White Sox at Astros
Sat, May 30 - 4:10PM EDT


GAME 3
White Sox at Astros
Sun, May 31 - 2:10PM EDT

Preview: Red Sox (22-26) at Rangers (23-25)
Game: 3
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: May 30, 2015 7:15 PM EDT

The surprising Texas Rangers are providing hope for a rebirth during their hot streak and with the return of Josh Hamilton.


Now they're adding some more intrigue by calling up top prospect Alex "Chi Chi" Gonzalez for his much-anticipated debut.


After Hamilton's big day helped evened the series, Gonzalez will try to make a strong first impression with the club as the Rangers seek their ninth win in 11 games Saturday night against the visiting Boston Red Sox.


Following five straight winning seasons that included two World Series appearances, Texas fell to the bottom of the AL West with 95 losses last year. It looked like more of the same in 2015 when the club got out to a 16-23 start.


The Rangers (24-25), however, ran off seven straight wins before snapping a two-game slide with Friday's 7-4 victory. Hamilton, the 2010 AL MVP for Texas, hit two home runs in his second home game since being re-acquired last month.


"I said in my press conference before my first game here I can be the player I once was," he told MLB's official website. "I really feel that way so it's good to do things in front of the home crowd that I have done before."


Gonzalez will try to keep the club rolling as he makes his debut in what appears to be his rotation spot to lose.


The team's No. 1 draft pick in 2013 out of Oral Roberts, the 23-year-old went 3-5 with a 4.15 ERA in eight starts at Triple-A Round Rock, though he had gone 2-1 with a 2.20 mark in his past three.


He was the Rangers' minor league pitcher of the year last season, when he went a combined 12-6 with a 2.66 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 138 2-3 innings between Double-A Frisco and High-A Myrtle Beach.


"It is a combination of his pitch mix and his maturity," general manager Jon Daniels said. "He is going to give us a chance to win and compete, and we also see him getting better at the big league level."


The right-hander may have to cool off Hanley Ramirez, who has gone 4 for 8 with two home runs and a double in this series. He's now 9 for 19 with four homers and nine RBIs in five career games in Arlington.


The Red Sox (22-27) are hoping to avoid their eighth loss in 11 games by giving the ball to red-hot Wade Miley (4-4, 4.47 ERA). He has a 1.25 ERA over a three-start winning streak after going 1-4 with a 6.91 mark over his first six.


He allowed two runs over seven innings in a 4-3 home win over Texas on May 19 before retiring the first 14 batters Sunday and giving up one run and four hits over eight in a 6-1 victory against the visiting Angels.


"Well, it comes down to fastball command," manager John Farrell said. "Even when he's gotten a couple of guys on base, he hasn't overthrown as we saw maybe back in April. He's turned things around personally this month, that's pretty clear."


Miley is 1-1 with a 1.84 ERA in two career meetings with the Rangers dating to his time with Arizona. Carlos Corporan is 2 for 2 with a home run off him, while Prince Fielder has gone 2 for 4 with a double.


Fielder, the AL's batting leader at .364, is hitting .484 with three homers over his last seven games.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Red Sox at Rangers
Thu, May 28 Final 5 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Red Sox at Rangers
Fri, May 29 - Final 4 - 7
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Red Sox at Rangers
Sat, May 30 - 7:15PM EDT


GAME 4
Red Sox at Rangers
Sun, May 31 - 3:05PM EDT

Preview: Royals (28-18) at Cubs (25-21)
Game: 2
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: May 30, 2015 7:15 PM EDT

The Kansas City Royals' lineup hasn't been performing consistently lately but had one of its better efforts in the series opener against the Chicago Cubs.


They might have an opportunity to build on their showing with Alex Rios expected to return from injury Saturday night at Wrigley Field.


Kansas City (29-18) is batting .246 and averaging 3.5 runs in its last 11 games, a significant decrease from its .291 average and 5.1 runs per contest in its first 36. The Royals have scored three runs or fewer seven times in the last 11, including each of their season-high four consecutive losses.


They ended that skid with an 8-4 victory over the Cubs on Friday and totaled 11 hits with a trio of solo homers. Kansas City also benefited from a pair of Chicago errors in their highest-scoring performance since a 12-1 win over the New York Yankees on May 15.


The Royals look to improve to 6-1 against the NL in Rios' scheduled return from a fractured left hand. The outfielder hasn't played since getting hit by a pitch in Minnesota on April 13 and the career .279 hitter was batting .321 with eight RBIs in his first seven games with the team.


"He was really swinging the bat good when he left," manager Ned Yost said. "But it may take him some time."


Yost gives the ball to Yordano Ventura, who is seeking a second win in eight starts. The right-hander threw seven innings in a 3-0 victory against Cincinnati on May 19 but took a 6-1 loss to St. Louis on Sunday, allowing four runs in seven innings.


Ventura (3-4, 4.64 ERA) is pitching his first game in Chicago since the Royals' bench-clearing brawl with the White Sox on April 23, which led to a seven-game suspension. He's appeared to calm down following three confrontations in his first four games.


Ventura will make his first start against the Cubs (25-22), who are batting .206 while averaging 3.0 runs during a 4-7 stretch. Chicago, the majors' leader with 466 strikeouts, has fanned 29 times in the past two games with 15 Friday.


"They showed why they went to the World Series last year. We showed why we're not ready yet," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.


Tsuyoshi Wada (0-0, 2.70) will make his first start versus the Royals after Jason Hammel was pushed back to Sunday.


The left-hander has pitched in two games since returning from a strained groin and yielded one run in 5 1-3 innings in Monday's 2-1 loss to Washington. He has struck out 15 over 10 innings and while right-handed hitters are batting .194 (6 for 31) with a home run and double against him, lefties are 2 for 5 with a homer and double.


The Royals rank second in the majors with a .293 average against southpaws.


The only Cubs to face Ventura - Dexter Fowler, Miguel Montero and David Ross - are a combined 5 for 10 with one home run and two doubles.


Montero is batting .370 with a home run and five doubles while hitting safely in 11 of his last 12 games against the Royals.


Kansas City's Omar Infante is hitting .371 in his past 18 versus the Cubs.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Royals at Cubs
Fri, May 29 - Final 8 - 4


GAME 2
Royals at Cubs
Sat, May 30 - 7:15PM EDT


GAME 3
Royals at Cubs
Sun, May 31 - 2:20PM EDT

Preview: Dodgers (28-18) at Cardinals (31-16)
Game: 2
Venue: Busch Stadium
Date: May 30, 2015 7:15 PM EDT

To Matt Carpenter, the St. Louis Cardinals' level of confidence in Michael Wacha is so high that it feels like they're going to win every time he takes the mound.


It seems that way because they have.


The Cardinals have won each of Wacha's nine starts this season and 11 in a row dating to September, a streak that will become the best by a St. Louis pitcher in a decade with another victory Saturday night against a Los Angeles Dodgers team that's in a historic road scoring slump.


Carpenter's praise came after Wacha (7-0, 2.14 ERA) held Kansas City to an unearned run over seven innings Sunday in a 6-1 victory, the second time in as many starts he's recorded 21 outs after doing so just three times in 19 outings in 2014.


Wacha now tries to become the first Cardinals pitcher to go 8-0 since Matt Morris in 2005 and the first to start 12 straight St. Louis victories since Chris Carpenter's club-record 17-game streak that same year.


"We continue to watch him improve," manager Mike Matheny told MLB's official website. "We've watched Michael be very special in some big situations as a young pitcher. As he has been able to add confidence and add pitches ... we're watching him take advantage. We just want to keep him moving in a positive direction and thinking about what's the next step."


St. Louis (32-16) has given Wacha an absurd 6.87 runs of support per nine innings, but there are also individual reasons to expect some regression. After striking out 9.05 per nine as a rookie and 8.27 before suffering a shoulder injury last season, Wacha's rate is down to 5.46 - 109th of the 128 pitchers in baseball to make at least seven starts.


His ERA is fifth in the NL but his 3.68 FIP is 27th. Batters are hitting .258 with no one on base against Wacha but just .149 with runners on - the latter a major-league best. Pedro Martinez (.160 in 2000) is the only starter since 1974 to hold opponents under .170 with men on base.


This will be the Dodgers' first look at Wacha in the regular season, but it's not their first time stepping in against him. Wacha dominated Los Angeles (28-19) in the 2013 NL championship series, pitching 13 2-3 scoreless innings and allowing just two hits over seven in a 9-0 Game 6 win that sent the Cardinals to the World Series.


He might be catching the Dodgers at the right time again. Los Angeles hasn't scored a run on the road in 37 consecutive innings after Friday's 3-0 loss. That's the franchise's longest road drought since at least 1912 and tied for the longest by any major league team since the 1985 Braves went 46 straight without scoring.


'I don't know about a rut,' manager Don Mattingly said after being ejected for arguing balls and strikes. 'I just look at this one and we didn't do enough to win.'


The Cardinals, winners of five straight, have never seen Carlos Frias (3-2, 5.34) before, and based solely on his last outing most Dodgers fans probably don't want to see him again. After posting a 2.82 ERA in his first four starts, Frias matched a franchise record for earned runs allowed by giving up 10 in four-plus innings of Sunday's 11-3 loss to San Diego.


"That's part of the game," Frias said. "These days are going to happen to anyone. I just have to be ready for the next one."


Carpenter, Jason Heyward, Kolten Wong and Jon Jay - who came off the disabled list Friday and had a pinch-hit single - should be itching to get in the lineup Saturday. In Frias' 10 outings between the majors and minors this season, left-handers are hitting .372 with a .967 OPS.


It's unclear if Matt Holliday, who has reached base in a team-record 43 straight games, will play after sitting out Friday with flu-like symptoms.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Dodgers at Cardinals
Fri, May 29 - Final 0 - 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Dodgers at Cardinals
Sat, May 30 - 7:15PM EDT


GAME 3
Dodgers at Cardinals
Sun, May 31 - 2:15PM EDT