Cnotes Best Bets For Tuesday June 2nd - MLB - NBA -NHL !

MLB MONEYLINE


MLB > (969) CHI WHITE SOX@ (970) TEXAS | 06/02/2015 - 08:05 PM
Play ON CHI WHITE SOX using the money line in Road games when playing on Tuesday
The record is 12 Wins and 4 Losses for the last two seasons (+12.3 units)


MLB > (973) CLEVELAND@ (974) KANSAS CITY | 06/02/2015 - 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 29 Wins and 9 Losses for the last two seasons (+18.35 units)


MLB > (967) MINNESOTA@ (968) BOSTON | 06/02/2015 - 07:10 PM
Play ON MINNESOTA using the money line in All games in games played on a grass field
The record is 30 Wins and 19 Losses for the this season (+17 units)

MLB > (965) OAKLAND@ (966) DETROIT | 06/02/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play AGAINST OAKLAND using the money line in All games in games played on a grass field
The record is 18 Wins and 31 Losses for the this season (-19.25 units)


MLB RUNLINE


MLB > (973) CLEVELAND@ (974) KANSAS CITY | 06/02/2015 - 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 24 Wins and 14 Losses for the last two seasons (+23.65 units)

MLB > (967) MINNESOTA@ (968) BOSTON | 06/02/2015 - 07:10 PM
Play ON MINNESOTA using the in All games when playing against a team with a losing record
The record is 24 Wins and 7 Losses for the this season (+16.85 units)


MLB > (961) NY METS@ (962) SAN DIEGO | 06/02/2015 - 10:10 PM
Play AGAINST SAN DIEGO using the in All games as a home underdog when the run line price is -155 to -130
The record is 0 Wins and 7 Losses for the this season (-9.85 units)


MLB > (969) CHI WHITE SOX@ (970) TEXAS | 06/02/2015 - 08:05 PM
Play AGAINST TEXAS using the in Home games when playing with a day off
The record is 1 Wins and 13 Losses for the last three seasons (-14.5 units)


MLB > (955) MILWAUKEE@ (956) ST LOUIS | 06/02/2015 - 08:15 PM
Play AGAINST MILWAUKEE using the in All games when playing on Tuesday
The record is 7 Wins and 25 Losses for the last two seasons (-21.8 units)


MLB TOTALS


MLB > (963) PITTSBURGH@ (964) SAN FRANCISCO | 06/02/2015 - 10:15 PM
Play UNDER SAN FRANCISCO on the total in Home games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 1 Overs and 11 Unders for the this season (+10.1 units)


MLB > (973) CLEVELAND@ (974) KANSAS CITY | 06/02/2015 - 08:10 PM
Play OVER CLEVELAND on the total in All games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 15 Overs and 4 Unders for the this season (+11 units)


MLB > (965) OAKLAND@ (966) DETROIT | 06/02/2015 - 07:05 PM
Play OVER OAKLAND on the total in All games in games played on a grass field
The record is 31 Overs and 16 Unders for the this season (+15 units)


MLB TOP POWERLINES


MLB > (951) CINCINNATI @ (952) PHILADELPHIA | 06/02/2015 - 07:05 PM
Line: PHILADELPHIA +135 BTB PowerLine: PHILADELPHIA 221
Edge On: PHILADELPHIA (61)


MLB > (965) OAKLAND @ (966) DETROIT | 06/02/2015 - 07:05 PM
Line: DETROIT -145 BTB PowerLine: DETROIT -175
Edge On: DETROIT (30)


MLB > (979) TORONTO @ (980) WASHINGTON | 06/02/2015 - 07:05 PM
Line: WASHINGTON -220 BTB PowerLine: WASHINGTON -174
Edge On: WASHINGTON (11)


MLB > (967) MINNESOTA @ (968) BOSTON | 06/02/2015 - 07:10 PM
Line: BOSTON -140 BTB PowerLine: BOSTON 117
Edge On: BOSTON (37)


MLB > (953) CHICAGO CUBS @ (954) MIAMI | 06/02/2015 - 07:10 PM
Line: MIAMI +115 BTB PowerLine: MIAMI 144
Edge On: MIAMI (9)


MLB > (969) CHI WHITE SOX @ (970) TEXAS | 06/02/2015 - 08:05 PM
Line: TEXAS -110 BTB PowerLine: TEXAS -119
Edge On: TEXAS (9)


MLB > (973) CLEVELAND @ (974) KANSAS CITY | 06/02/2015 - 08:10 PM
Line: KANSAS CITY +105 BTB PowerLine: KANSAS CITY -125
Edge On: KANSAS CITY (30)


MLB > (971) BALTIMORE @ (972) HOUSTON | 06/02/2015 - 08:10 PM
Line: HOUSTON -141 BTB PowerLine: HOUSTON -124
Edge On: HOUSTON (17)


MLB > (975) TAMPA BAY @ (976) LA ANGELS | 06/02/2015 - 10:05 PM
Line: LA ANGELS -110 BTB PowerLine: LA ANGELS 102
Edge On: LA ANGELS (12)


MLB > (961) NY METS @ (962) SAN DIEGO | 06/02/2015 - 10:10 PM
Line: SAN DIEGO +105 BTB PowerLine: SAN DIEGO 148
Edge On: SAN DIEGO (23)

Preview: Reds (22-27) at Phillies (19-33)
Game: 1
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: June 02, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

After opening the season in dominating fashion, Johnny Cueto began to drift toward mediocrity.


The Cincinnati Reds are hoping he'll excel again after missing his past two starts.


Cueto returns Tuesday night to take the mound against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.


Cueto (3-4, 3.03 ERA) went 1-2 with a 4.45 ERA in his last four starts, raising his season mark up from 1.95. The right-hander hasn't started since May 19, though, missing two starts with elbow inflammation after giving up three runs and a season high-tying nine hits over seven innings in a 3-0 loss at Kansas City.


An MRI last Tuesday showed no structural damage, and Cueto completed a bullpen session Sunday without issue.


"We haven't had any setbacks since he started throwing, so I don't think we anticipate any issues with recovery, but after much time off, it just makes sense to make sure the elbow doesn't flare up," manager Bryan Price told MLB's official website.


Cueto is 1-4 with a 5.52 ERA in eight career starts versus Philadelphia, losing the last two and only winning June 28, 2010. He has averaged 3.17 runs of support this season.


The Reds (22-27) appear poised to back him offensively after scoring 21 runs in a three-game sweep of Washington and winning four of five after nine straight losses. Cincinnati scored two runs or fewer six times during the losing streak.


Todd Frazier is 11 for 22 over his last six with four homers and seven RBIs, and his 16 home runs are the second-most in the NL.


'Hitting is contagious,' Frazier said. 'It is the same with hitting with runners in scoring position. It is a mindset. Let the pitches come to you and attack.'


The Reds still have to end a seven-game road losing streak, during which they've scored 12 runs.


Philadelphia (19-33) has dropped a season-worst seven in a row, going 7 for 48 with runners in scoring position. The bullpen has also been disastrous, giving up 12 runs over 19 2-3 innings.


Starter Sean O'Sullivan (1-4, 4.81) comes off a rough 7-0 loss against the New York Mets on Wednesday, giving up all of those runs along with 11 hits in 5 2-3 innings. O'Sullivan surrendered four homers, one less than he allowed through his first five starts.


"Seven runs is equally frustrating no matter how they get them," he said.


The Reds have hit seven home runs in their last four games, though they've hit only one in their last seven on the road.


O'Sullivan didn't record a decision in his only start versus Cincinnati, yielding one run over six innings in a 2-1 victory for San Diego on July 29, 2013. Marlon Byrd is 3 for 5 with a homer and two doubles against him.


Cincinnati's Jay Bruce has seven home runs and 17 RBIs during a 14-game hitting streak versus Philadelphia, and he's hitting .378 over his last 13 contests overall.


The Phillies have won 19 of the last 26 meetings in Philadelphia since the start of the 2008 season.


This teams will play again in Cincinnati next week for a three-game series.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Reds at Phillies
Tue, Jun 2 - 7:05PM EDT


GAME 2
Reds at Phillies
Wed, Jun 3 - 7:05PM EDT


GAME 3
Reds at Phillies
Thu, Jun 4 - 7:05PM EDT

Preview: Athletics (20-33) at Tigers (28-24)
Game: 1
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: June 02, 2015 7:08 PM EDT

The Detroit Tigers have dropped into third place in the AL Central after a rough ending to their trip.


Nearly one-third of the Oakland Athletics' losses have come to teams from that division.


The Tigers took two of three from the Athletics last week, and these teams meet again in a three-game series that begins Tuesday night at Comerica Park.


Detroit (28-24) began a seven-game trip with a solid series against Oakland before getting outscored 26-10 in a four-game sweep by the Los Angeles Angels. Sunday's 4-2 loss capped a series in which the Tigers batted .213 and stranded 29 runners.


'We've got to find a way to score runs. It's as simple as that,' manager Brad Ausmus said. 'I still think that long-term, the offense will be fine. But with every passing day, it becomes more of an issue. We're going to have to figure it out, because we're a better offense than this.'


Oakland (20-33) starts a six-game trip with a 3-10 record against Central opponents. The Athletics, however, are feeling better about themselves by recovering from the series loss to the Tigers by taking three of four from the New York Yankees to cap a 4-3 homestand.


"It feels great any time you win a series, doesn't matter who you are playing against," catcher Stephen Vogt said. "For us to be at home and have a winning homestand and take three out of four from a very good baseball team, that's a big confidence boost for us going into Detroit and Boston."


Vogt is 10 for 25 during a seven-game hitting streak, including a two-run homer as he accounted for all the runs in Sunday's 3-0 victory.


"Not only production and homers but big hits, that's really the full package that you're talking about when you're talking about what Stephen Vogt's doing right now," manager Bob Melvin said.


Vogt was 5 for 11 last week against the Tigers while Miguel Cabrera was 1 for 8 in that series as he sat out once for Detroit. They are among the majors' leaders in OPS, with Vogt at 1.022 and Cabrera at 1.020.


Tigers starter Alfredo Simon (5-2, 2.67 ERA) will be very well rested since he hasn't pitched since giving up two unearned runs over seven innings to earn a 6-2 home win over Houston on May 22. He was slated to start Wednesday in Oakland before returning home to be with his father, who passed away over the weekend.


The right-hander's lone start against the A's was in 2011. Simon has never faced Vogt while Josh Reddick is 3 for 4 against him.


Oakland will counter with Kendall Graveman, who is 1-0 with a 2.31 ERA in two starts since being recalled May 23 from Triple-A Nashville for his second stint with the club. The right-hander was sent down after going 1-2 with an 8.27 ERA in his first four outings.


Graveman (2-2, 5.79) allowed three runs in 5 2-3 innings Thursday and did not factor in the decision in a 5-4 win over the Yankees. He has never faced Detroit.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Athletics at Tigers
Tue, Jun 2 - 7:08PM EDT


GAME 2
Athletics at Tigers
Wed, Jun 3 - 7:08PM EDT


GAME 3
Athletics at Tigers
Thu, Jun 4 - 1:08PM EDT

Preview: Blue Jays (23-29) at Nationals (28-22)
Game: 2
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: June 02, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

Jordan Zimmermann has been the Washington Nationals' most consistent pitcher behind Max Scherzer, giving his club a chance to win virtually every time out.


Washington's bullpen has not had the same success.


Following Monday's rainout, Zimmermann and Scherzer will pitch in Tuesday's day-night doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays.


The Nationals (28-22) have dropped four of five and were swept in three games by Cincinnati over the weekend. Relievers gave up six runs in two innings in Sunday's 8-2 loss and allowed 14 over 11 2-3 in the series. The bullpen came in with a 2.98 ERA, the seventh-lowest in baseball.


Washington relievers have recorded 27 1-3 innings over the last eight games.


"They've been pushed with the short starts and the spot start. They've been pushed a lot on this road trip," manager Matt Williams said.


Bryce Harper returned to the lineup after he was scratched Saturday due to a sore back, going 0 for 2 with two walks. He hit .360 with 13 homers and 28 RBIs in May and was 7 for 13 in his only three games against Toronto in 2012.


Zimmermann (4-2, 3.26 ERA) has logged eight consecutive quality starts and is 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA in his last three. Washington lost for the first time in six starts by the right-hander last Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs, though he allowed one run over seven innings in the 3-2 defeat. In the six starts in which Zimmermann hasn't recorded a victory, he's received 12 runs of support.


Zimmermann, looking for a 16th straight quality start at Nationals Park, is 6-0 with a 1.95 ERA in nine interleague outings there, winning each of the last four. In his only matchup with Toronto in 2009, he yielded a run over 5 2-3 innings.


Scherzer (6-3, 1.51) has dominated the Blue Jays with a 1.68 ERA and 4-0 record in seven meetings. The right-hander has allowed two runs over his last four overall outings for a 0.62 ERA, tying the best four-start run of his career.


The Blue Jays (23-29) have dropped three of four, though Josh Donaldson enters the series on a tear. The third baseman is 11 for 25 with six homers, two doubles, 11 RBIs and 11 runs over his last six games.


"He's got that knack, and that's why he's an elite player," manager John Gibbons said. "And that's not easy to do consistently like he's doing. Thank God we've got him."


Toronto has lost 15 of 20 on the road with starters posting a 6.17 ERA. The Nationals have won eight of nine at home.


R.A. Dickey (2-5, 5.77) takes the hill in the opener after posting a 7.92 ERA over his last four games while surrendering seven homers in 25 innings.


Dickey, who is 0-3 with a 7.43 ERA in four road starts, has gone 4-6 with a 3.73 ERA in 15 games against the Nationals, though he hasn't faced them since September 2012.


Marco Estrada (1-3, 3.89) starts the nightcap for Toronto, which has lost each of his five starts with the right-hander posting a 5.02 ERA.


Estrada is 1-1 with a 4.96 ERA in three starts against Washington, allowing two runs in 6 1-3 innings of a 9-2 win with Milwaukee on June 25.


Jose Reyes, who is 10 for 29 in six games since returning from a cracked rib, is 8 for 22 off Zimmermann.


Toronto leads the series 33-28, though Washington has won six of the last seven meetings while limiting the Blue Jays to three runs or fewer in each victory.


Jose Bautista is 9 for 17 with a homer and four doubles against Scherzer, and he'll play in the outfield for the first time since straining his shoulder April 21.


'He's ready to go,' Gibbons said. 'It'll be good to see him back out there.'




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Blue Jays at Nationals ( RAIN OUT )
Mon, Jun 1 - 7:05PM EDT


GAME 2
Blue Jays at Nationals
Tue, Jun 2 - 7:05PM EDT


GAME 3
Blue Jays at Nationals
Wed, Jun 3 - 7:05PM EDT

Preview: Reds (22-27) at Phillies (19-33)
Game: 1
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: June 02, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

After opening the season in dominating fashion, Johnny Cueto began to drift toward mediocrity.


The Cincinnati Reds are hoping he'll excel again after missing his past two starts.


Cueto returns Tuesday night to take the mound against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.


Cueto (3-4, 3.03 ERA) went 1-2 with a 4.45 ERA in his last four starts, raising his season mark up from 1.95. The right-hander hasn't started since May 19, though, missing two starts with elbow inflammation after giving up three runs and a season high-tying nine hits over seven innings in a 3-0 loss at Kansas City.


An MRI last Tuesday showed no structural damage, and Cueto completed a bullpen session Sunday without issue.


"We haven't had any setbacks since he started throwing, so I don't think we anticipate any issues with recovery, but after much time off, it just makes sense to make sure the elbow doesn't flare up," manager Bryan Price told MLB's official website.


Cueto is 1-4 with a 5.52 ERA in eight career starts versus Philadelphia, losing the last two and only winning June 28, 2010. He has averaged 3.17 runs of support this season.


The Reds (22-27) appear poised to back him offensively after scoring 21 runs in a three-game sweep of Washington and winning four of five after nine straight losses. Cincinnati scored two runs or fewer six times during the losing streak.


Todd Frazier is 11 for 22 over his last six with four homers and seven RBIs, and his 16 home runs are the second-most in the NL.


'Hitting is contagious,' Frazier said. 'It is the same with hitting with runners in scoring position. It is a mindset. Let the pitches come to you and attack.'


The Reds still have to end a seven-game road losing streak, during which they've scored 12 runs.


Philadelphia (19-33) has dropped a season-worst seven in a row, going 7 for 48 with runners in scoring position. The bullpen has also been disastrous, giving up 12 runs over 19 2-3 innings.


Starter Sean O'Sullivan (1-4, 4.81) comes off a rough 7-0 loss against the New York Mets on Wednesday, giving up all of those runs along with 11 hits in 5 2-3 innings. O'Sullivan surrendered four homers, one less than he allowed through his first five starts.


"Seven runs is equally frustrating no matter how they get them," he said.


The Reds have hit seven home runs in their last four games, though they've hit only one in their last seven on the road.


O'Sullivan didn't record a decision in his only start versus Cincinnati, yielding one run over six innings in a 2-1 victory for San Diego on July 29, 2013. Marlon Byrd is 3 for 5 with a homer and two doubles against him.


Cincinnati's Jay Bruce has seven home runs and 17 RBIs during a 14-game hitting streak versus Philadelphia, and he's hitting .378 over his last 13 contests overall.


The Phillies have won 19 of the last 26 meetings in Philadelphia since the start of the 2008 season.


This teams will play again in Cincinnati next week for a three-game series.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Reds at Phillies
Tue, Jun 2 - 7:05PM EDT


GAME 2
Reds at Phillies
Wed, Jun 3 - 7:05PM EDT


GAME 3
Reds at Phillies
Thu, Jun 4 - 7:05PM EDT

Preview: Twins (30-19) at Red Sox (22-29)
Game: 2
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: June 02, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

The AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins are rolling into June following one of their most successful months in the past quarter century and will get to face a team they swept last week, the Boston Red Sox.


Mike Pelfrey outdueled Clay Buchholz in the middle game of that series and they'll square off again Tuesday night at Fenway Park after the opener of this four-game set was postponed.


Minnesota went 20-7 in May for its most wins in a month since going 22-6 in June 1991. The Twins (30-19) also moved into first place this late into a season - a half game ahead of Kansas City - for the first time since winning their most recent division title in 2010, and are off to their best start since winning 33 of 49 in 2001.


"We're doing some good things, but it's your ability to find a way to stay with what's making you successful, and I'm not going to get too far ahead of myself," manager Paul Molitor said.


Molitor's team claimed its seventh win in eight games Sunday by rallying for a 6-5 victory over Toronto. Torii Hunter hit the go-ahead, two-run double in the seventh inning and Trevor Plouffe had a two-run homer.


Plouffe has two hits in five of his last seven contests and is batting .379 with seven RBIs in that stretch. He went 4 for 13 in the three-game sweep against Boston and is batting .333 in his last seven matchups with five multihit games.


The Twins were swept in three games in their most recent visit to Fenway from June 16-18 but will enter this series having won nine of 13 on the road.


Pelfrey (4-1, 2.77 ERA) will try to add to that mark with another superb outing against the Red Sox (22-29) following a 2-1 victory last Tuesday. He yielded one run in seven innings while Buchholz gave up both Minnesota runs in the first in an outing that lasted 7 1-3.


"That happens," Buchholz told MLB's official website "I've gotten a lot of wins whenever I've given up four, five or six runs. It'll turn around."


Pelfrey has yielded two runs or fewer and pitched at least six innings in five of his last seven starts. Buchholz (2-6, 4.33) has a 1.99 ERA in his last three games, pitching at least 7 1-3 innings in each, but has gotten a combined three runs of support and suffered back-to-back defeats.


Buchholz is winless in his last five starts against Minnesota despite posting a 2.97 ERA and has received a total of nine runs to work with.


Pelfrey will try to keep Buchholz's run support low again while sending the Red Sox to their seventh loss in eight games and a season high-tying fourth straight. Boston was one out away from victory Sunday in Texas but Koji Uehara gave up Josh Hamilton's two-run double in a 4-3 defeat, his second blown save in 12 chances.


Dustin Pedroia, batting .357 in his last 10 games, will try to help his teammate end that drought by adding to his .345 career average versus Minnesota. He went 5 for 12 with two homers last week in Minnesota.


Kurt Suzuki is hitting .417 in a 13-game hit streak versus the Red Sox but batting .192 in his last seven overall contests. He's 9 for 18 lifetime against Buchholz.


Plouffe is 3 for 16 but had two hits off the right-hander last Tuesday.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Twins at Red Sox ( RAIN OUT )
Mon, Jun 1 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 2
Twins at Red Sox
Tue, Jun 2 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Twins at Red Sox
Wed, Jun 3 - 1:35PM EDT


GAME 4
Twins at Red Sox
Thu, Jun 4 - 4:05PM EDT

Preview: Cubs (26-22) at Marlins (20-31)
Game: 2
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: June 02, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

Anthony Rizzo and rookie phenom Kris Bryant are at the center of the Chicago Cubs' revival, but Kyle Hendricks is starting to make some contributions on the mound.


With his confidence building, Hendricks seeks another impressive start as the Cubs face the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night.


Chicago (27-22) last posted this many wins at this point in a season when it was 29-20 in 2008, on its way to its most recent NL Central crown.


Rizzo and Bryant have been vital to the resurgence. Rizzo leads the team with a .316 average and nine homers, while his 30 RBIs are only behind Bryant's 33.


The duo each had an RBI double to back Jason Hammel's excellent start in a 5-1 win at Miami (20-32) on Monday.


While Rizzo and Bryant are expected to be cornerstones for a bright future, Hendricks (1-1, 3.76 ERA) is emerging as a solid starter.


After compiling a 5.15 ERA through his first seven stats, Hendricks tossed a five-hitter in a 3-0 win at San Diego on May 21, and followed that up by yielding one run and four hits in seven innings in a 3-2 victory over Washington last Tuesday.


"(Pitching coach Chris Bosio) and I sat down and said, 'Look we need to simplify everything,'" Hendricks told MLB's official website. "We were trying different things mechanically to figure out what was going on because I didn't have command of anything. It didn't look terrible and I was still getting some outs, but for me, personally, I just knew I didn't know where it was going."


Increased confidence is also making a difference for the second-year right-hander.


"That was the big thing about his shutout game in San Diego, it built up his confidence," catcher Miguel Montero told MLB's official website. "He knows it's there. ... He feels confident, he feels good, he feels sexy, and it makes it a little bit easier."


Hendricks has pitched 14 1-3 scoreless innings on the road, and will be facing a Marlins team that's lost 10 of 12 at home while averaging 2.6 runs and batting .228.


Miami is hitting .155 with runners in scoring position over that stretch after going 0 for 5 on Monday.


Giancarlo Stanton has a .174 average with 14 strikeouts in those games. However, he's hitting .340 with six homers and 12 RBIs in his past 13 at home against Chicago.


The Marlins are turning to Brad Hand (0-1, 4.50), whose 4-18 record in 32 career starts is the worst of any active pitcher with at least 20 decisions.


Hand has been added to a battered rotation currently without Jose Fernandez (Tommy John surgery), Henderson Alvarez (shoulder), Jarred Cosart (vertigo) and Mat Latos (knee).


The left-hander was impressive in his first start of 2015, tossing five scoreless innings before the bullpen surrendered five runs in the seventh of a 5-2 loss at Pittsburgh on Wednesday.


"You've got to tip your hat to Brad Hand," manager Dan Jennings said. "He did a heck of a job for us in a situation where we needed it and gave us a quality outing."


Marlins shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria is expected to return to the lineup after missing the past three games with a bruised left shoulder. He's a lifetime .342 hitter against the Cubs.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Cubs at Marlins
Mon, Jun 1 Final 5 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Cubs at Marlins
Tue, Jun 2 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Cubs at Marlins
Wed, Jun 3 - 7:10PM EDT

Preview: White Sox (23-26) at Rangers (26-25)
Game: 1
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: June 02, 2015 8:05 PM EDT

Josh Hamilton probably can't expect to start too many games on the bench over the next two weeks with Adrian Beltre out during that span for the Texas Rangers.


Jose Abreu is eager to get back into the lineup to help out the Chicago White Sox.


Hamilton and Abreu figure to return to their respective club's lineups Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game set in Arlington.


Beltre will miss at least two weeks with a sprained thumb that he also cut while sliding into second base Sunday. He had been showing signs of emerging from a slump, batting .293 with 16 RBIs in May after hitting .205 with two RBIs in the season's first month.


Texas will purchase the contract of top prospect Joey Gallo from Double-A Frisco prior to this game. The 21-year-old Gallo hit .314 with nine homers and 31 RBIs in 34 games for Frisco.


'He'll be in the lineup a majority of the time he's here,' general manager Jon Daniels said. 'We called him up with the intent that he's going to play.'


Hamilton was Sunday's hero with a pinch-hit, two-run double with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning in a 4-3 win over Boston. He went 5 for 11 with two homers and two doubles in the four-game series - his first at home since returning last week.


'It feels like old times,' Hamilton said. 'It really does. It's a lot of fun. Coming back home and having some good games against Boston and then having a game like today reminds you of some good times for the Rangers.'


Abreu has missed the last two games for Chicago (23-26) with an injured right index finger, though he feels he is responding well to treatment.


"I think the treatment the last two days and today have worked well for me," Abreu told an interpreter on MLB's official website. "I think with (Monday's off-day) and one more day of treatment, I will be ready to play in Texas."


Abreu, who leads the White Sox with eight homers and 29 RBIs, is 2 for 6 against Rangers starter Colby Lewis.


Lewis (4-3, 4.70 ERA) has posted a 0.92 ERA in winning his last four starts over Chicago and yielded one run over 14 1-3 innings in two victories last year.


The right-hander has an 11.93 ERA over his last three outings and looks to bounce back after surrendering 10 runs over 2 2-3 innings in Wednesday's 12-3 loss at Cleveland.


Melky Cabrera is 3 for 6 off Lewis and Conor Gillaspie is 3 for 7.


Gillaspie went 2 for 4 with two RBIs in Sunday's 6-0 victory at Houston. Chicago captured two of three in the series and improved to 4-4 on its 11-game trip.


"The way we played, grinding stuff out, has been nice on this road trip," manager Robin Ventura said. "These are some tough teams and we're still keeping our heads up and getting after it."


Ventura will start right-hander Jeff Samardzija (4-2, 3.84), whose only experience against Texas (26-25) came when he went 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in two September starts for Oakland. Hamilton has two homers in six at_bats in this matchup and AL batting leader Prince Fielder is 3 for 8 with one home run.


Samardzija went 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA in five starts in May, yielding an unearned run in seven innings in Wednesday's 5-3, 10-inning win at Toronto.


Texas took four of six from Chicago last year.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
White Sox at Rangers
Tue, Jun 2 - 8:05PM EDT


GAME 2
White Sox at Rangers
Wed, Jun 3 - 8:05PM EDT


GAME 3
White Sox at Rangers
Thu, Jun 4 - 8:05PM EDT

Preview: Dodgers (29-20) at Rockies (22-26)
Game: 2
Venue: Coors Field
Date: June 02, 2015 8:40 PM EDT

Zack Greinke's recent numbers point toward him being significantly shorted in the win column, but from the sound of it he doesn't seem to believe he deserves much better.


Consider he's on the verge of becoming the first pitcher in nearly five years to have five straight starts of allowing a run or less without a win and that modesty becomes a little excessive.


The Los Angeles Dodgers' offense showed signs of making amends for the limited support in the series opener against the Colorado Rockies and will try to continue it Tuesday with Greinke going in the second game of a Coors Field doubleheader.


Greinke (5-1, 1.48 ERA) allowed one run in each of his five May starts, posting a 1-1 record and 1.05 ERA. He won the first on May 5 but has only a loss to show for the four runs he's allowed over 26 2-3 innings in the last four. A.J. Burnett had a similar four-start stretch from April 14-May 1, but the last pitcher with five straight in a single season was Tommy Hanson from July 27-Aug. 16, 2010.


Nevertheless, after yielding a run and three hits with two walks and nine strikeouts in six innings of Wednesday's 3-2 home loss to Atlanta, the right-hander said he could have done more.


"The last three or four games I actually feel like I've been doing a little worse," Greinke said. "There were some situations tonight where I didn't execute."


The only decision he has in that span came in a 7-1 home loss to Colorado on May 16 after allowing a run in six innings. He's split two decisions in the series this season and is 6-2 with a 2.81 ERA in 10 starts against the Rockies since joining the Dodgers for the 2013 season. At Coors Field, he's 2-0 with a 3.58 mark in six career games.


Carlos Gonzalez is 7 for 22 with three home runs, a triple and a double off Greinke, but Nolan Arenado and DJ LeMahieu are both 4 for 21 with the latter striking out eight times.


Each of his last four starts have come at home, and he's won all three of his road starts without surrendering an earned run. He's never won four straight road starts in one season.


The Dodgers are electing to go with Greinke in the second game, which makes sense considering his 2.46 ERA in night games since the start of 2013 is second in the majors to teammate Clayton Kershaw, who helped Los Angeles (30-20) to Monday's 11-4 win for its eighth in 10 games against the Rockies (22-27) this year. The Dodgers have won 19 of the last 24 and three straight at Coors Field.


Adrian Gonzalez was 4 for 4 and is batting .486 in his last 11 against Colorado, while Joc Pederson has homered in consecutive games.


The Rockies had won seven of eight, and while the team success might have been disrupted, Arenado's was not. The third baseman homered for a third straight game and sixth time in eight while posting a 1.504 OPS with 16 RBIs.


'He's staying behind the ball better than he has the last couple of years,' manager Walt Weiss said. 'He's driving the ball.'


The doubleheader will start with Los Angeles' Juan Nicasio taking on his former team and Jorge De La Rosa.


Nicasio (1-1, 1.29), who pitched for the Rockies the previous four seasons, has only appeared in relief for the Dodgers, and has tossed 3 1-3 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts against Colorado. He was 0-3 with a 14.36 ERA in his last four starts with Colorado last season.


De La Rosa (1-2, 6.51) has pitched beyond the fifth inning once in six starts. He allowed three runs and six hits with three walks over 4 1-3 in a 7-3 home loss to Philadelphia on May 21, which stands as his last start because of a cut on the middle finger of his pitching hand.


The two before that came against the Dodgers with a 1-0 record and 3.97 ERA. The win was on the road, and the left-hander is 4-5 with a 6.75 ERA in 11 games against them at Coors. Gonzalez is 17 for 46 (.370) with three homers and six doubles against him, but left fielder Scott Van Slyke and catcher A.J. Ellis are a combined 0 for 25.


That duo could instead face David Hale in Game 2.


Hale, expected to be recalled Tuesday, has earned his last two big league wins in a starting role in doubleheaders. The right-hander gave up two earned runs in 6 2-3 innings of a 5-3 win over San Francisco on May 23.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Dodgers at Rockies
Mon, Jun 1 Final 11 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Dodgers at Rockies
Tue, Jun 2 - 8:40PM EDT


GAME 3
Dodgers at Rockies
Wed, Jun 3 - 8:10PM EDT

Preview: Indians (24-26) at Royals (29-19)
Game: 1
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: June 02, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

Few would have anticipated a disastrous outing for Jeremy Guthrie considering his recent showings, but he was historically bad his last time out.


He'll try to move past last week's ugly start and help the slumping Kansas City Royals against the visiting Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night.


Guthrie (4-3, 6.70 ERA) allowed a career-high 11 runs and four homers while getting three outs in a 14-1 loss to the New York Yankees last Monday. Thirteen of the 16 batters he faced reached base, and the right-hander became the second starter since at least 1914 to surrender 11 or more earned runs while completing no more than one inning.


He had won three straight starts with a 1.96 ERA.


"It was just one of those days for him. It happens," manager Ned Yost said.


Guthrie hasn't had much success against Cleveland, going 5-5 with a 6.14 ERA in 14 games - 12 starts. He last faced the Indians on April 28, surrendering four runs in five innings of an 11-5 road victory. He didn't get the decision.


Kansas City has fallen behind Minnesota by a half-game in the AL Central after dropping five of six. The Royals (29-19) have totaled six runs in those losses and managed four hits in Sunday's 2-1, 11-inning defeat to the Chicago Cubs.


Facing Cleveland might spark Kansas City's lineup, as the club batted .296 in taking four of the first six meetings. Eric Hosmer, 5 for 26 in his last eight contests, has hit .400 with 12 RBIs in his past eight matchups and has three homers against the Indians in 2015.


Mike Moustakas is 4 for 20 in his last six overall but 12 for 25 in the season series with Cleveland.


The Indians (24-26) have won 10 of 13 and have a chance in this series to get back to .500 for the first time since being 2-2. Cleveland has posted a 2.87 ERA in its last 13 games and the bullpen has been particularly impressive, allowing one run over 13 1-3 innings in the past four.


The relievers yielded one hit in 6 2-3 scoreless innings of Sunday's 6-3, 12-inning victory at Seattle.


Jason Kipnis doubled twice and finished May with 51 hits and 37 runs.


"But forget the month, I think he's an unbelievable player," manager Terry Francona said. "He does so many things to help us win. It's been like that for a while now. He's been a force."


Carlos Carrasco (6-4, 4.24) has won his last two starts, holding Cincinnati and Texas to three runs over 14 innings with 15 strikeouts. His 10.36 strikeouts per nine innings are a career high.


He allowed only a solo homer in a season high-tying eight innings of a 12-3 victory over the Rangers on Wednesday. Carrasco was backed by nine or more runs for the third time in his last four victories.


"You know what, I never think about that," he said of the run support. "I just continue to try to throw zeros."


Carrasco has won three straight starts twice, both in 2011.


The right-hander beat Kansas City 10-3 at Kauffman Stadium on May 6, giving up three runs in seven innings. The Indians had lost Carrasco's last eight appearances against the Royals, and he posted a 0-3 record and 5.09 ERA in that span.


Alex Gordon is 2 for 21 with 10 strikeouts off Carrasco.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Indians at Royals
Tue, Jun 2 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 2
Indians at Royals
Wed, Jun 3 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Indians at Royals
Thu, Jun 4 - 8:10PM EDT

Preview: Orioles (23-26) at Astros (31-20)
Game: 2
Venue: Minute Maid Park
Date: June 02, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

The Houston Astros sit atop the AL in large part due to their late-inning heroics.


After winning with that recipe again in their series opener against the visiting Baltimore Orioles, they'll look for a more comfortable victory Tuesday night - though facing rookie Mike Wright hardly seems like an easy task.


Houston (32-20) ranks atop the majors with 94 runs scored after the sixth inning, four of which came in Monday's 5-2 win over Baltimore (23-27). George Springer and Jose Altuve each drove in a run in the seventh before Evan Gattis broke it open with a two-run single.


'As the game goes along, for whatever reason, our at_bats get better and better,' manager A.J. Hinch said. 'We punched out early in the game and then didn't late.


"I wish I had the answers because I'd play that answer earlier in the game.'


The Astros dropped two of three at Baltimore last week, yet still managed to produce in the late innings. Of the 13 runs they've scored over the last three meetings with the Orioles, 11 have come in the seventh or later.


'I just think that this is a very resilient team and the last six to nine (innings) is always a good spot for us, and I think that's a good sign of things to come,' Springer said.


Wright (2-0, 1.40 ERA) will look to continue the impressive start to his career. He began it with consecutive scoreless outings totaling 14 1-3 innings before allowing three runs over five innings - all on the first two homers he's given up - in Thursday's 6-3 win over the Chicago White Sox.


In Wright's sole appearance away from Baltimore, he yielded three hits in seven innings at Miami on May 23.


He'll oppose Collin McHugh (5-2, 4.24), who started eventual Houston victories in each of his first six outings behind a 3.23 ERA. McHugh has stumbled to a 5.84 ERA and a 1-2 record in his last four, though, after surrendering four runs in six innings - including homers to Chris Davis and Steve Pearce - in the Astros' 5-4 loss on Wednesday.


Houston's bullpen gave up the game-winning run in that contest, but worked 3 2-3 perfect innings Monday to bounce back after allowing three homers in their last 12 innings.


Baltimore's relievers were not as successful. Taking over for starter Ubaldo Jimenez, Brad Brach allowed three runs and recorded only two outs. He had previously allowed only one run in his last 10 innings, including two scoreless appearances against the Astros.


'He just couldn't seem to get himself back in sync,' manager Buck Showalter said. 'Got into a little rut there and couldn't make an adjustment. Something we thought he had gotten over.'


Adam Jones (ankle) returned from a two-game absence Monday to DH, and could play the field on Tuesday. J.J. Hardy, who sat Monday with soreness in his left side, remains questionable.


Those two have provided trouble for McHugh in the past. Jones and Hardy are both 3 for 6 against the right-hander, and Jones has a home run.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Orioles at Astros
Mon, Jun 1 Final 2 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Orioles at Astros
Tue, Jun 2 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Orioles at Astros
Wed, Jun 3 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 4
Orioles at Astros
Thu, Jun 4 - 2:10PM EDT

Preview: Brewers (17-34) at Cardinals (33-17)
Game: 2
Venue: Busch Stadium
Date: June 02, 2015 8:15 PM EDT

Although Matt Holliday is reaching base at a historic pace, the St. Louis Cardinals are having trouble delivering a timely hit.


As the outfielder closes in on the franchise's record on-base streak, the Cardinals will try to avoid losing consecutive home games for only the second time Tuesday night against the Milwaukee Brewers.


After missing one start due to the flu, Holliday singled and walked in Monday's 1-0 loss to extend his NL record by reaching base in a 45th straight game to open the season. Derek Jeter set the MLB mark of 53 games in 1999.


The six-time All-Star can now tie Ray Sanders (1944), Solly Hemus (1953) and Albert Pujols (2001) for St. Louis' fourth-best on-base streak since 1914 at 48 dating to last season. Stan Musial still holds the team record of 55, set in 1943.


Holliday appears poised to continue his run, reaching base in 24 consecutive home games versus Milwaukee (18-34).


His eighth-inning single put runners on first and third with one out Monday, but Jhonny Peralta and Yadier Molina struck out against Jeremy Jeffress to end the threat.


The Cardinals went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position, leaving them 6 for 37 (.162) in those spots while totaling 11 runs over their last five games. They've lost back-to-back games only once at Busch Stadium - May 15-16 against Detroit.


"We're going a good job of putting ourselves in those situations - that's all you can ask for," outfielder Jason Heyward said.


St. Louis (33-18) certainly hasn't done much to help Lance Lynn (3-4, 3.41 ERA), who ranks near the bottom of the NL with a 2.82 run-support average. Lynn, though, hasn't been as sharp since allowing one run in winning two straight starts in mid-May.


The right-hander gave up five runs and 10 hits in six innings in a 5-0 loss at Kansas City on May 22, before yielding three runs and issuing four walks over six on Wednesday. He did not get a decision in that 4-3 home win over Arizona.


Lynn had been 4-0 with a 1.49 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 42 1-3 innings over his previous seven outings versus Milwaukee before surrendering a season-high six runs and 10 hits over five innings in a 6-3 road loss April 26.


He's 1-0 with a 1.96 ERA in his last four home meetings after allowing one run over five innings in a 4-2 victory April 15.


Adam Lind hit a two-run homer in Milwaukee's victory, but that's his only hit in eight at_bats in the matchup. Lind is expected to return to the lineup after being limited to pinch-hit duty the past two games due to a sore back.


Gerardo Parra should be pleased to see Lynn since he's 11 for 22 with two homers, three triples and four doubles off him. However, Carlos Gomez is 3 for 22 with 12 strikeouts and Aramis Ramirez is 3 for 26.


The Brewers are batting a major league-worst .227 after Gomez had two of the team's six hits and the lone RBI on Monday.


Still, they're seeking a season high-tying third straight win as right-hander Tyler Cravy makes his debut. Cravy, who was 5-4 with a 4.04 ERA in nine starts at Triple-A Colorado Springs, got the call because Matt Garza was used in Sunday's 17-inning win.


"We need to keep it up, and hopefully, we can do it again tomorrow," Monday's winning pitcher Mike Fiers said.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Brewers at Cardinals
Mon, Jun 1 Final 1 to 0
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Brewers at Cardinals
Tue, Jun 2 - 8:15PM EDT


GAME 3
Brewers at Cardinals
Wed, Jun 3 - 1:45PM EDT

Preview: Dodgers (29-20) at Rockies (22-26)
Game: 2
Venue: Coors Field
Date: June 02, 2015 8:40 PM EDT

Zack Greinke's recent numbers point toward him being significantly shorted in the win column, but from the sound of it he doesn't seem to believe he deserves much better.


Consider he's on the verge of becoming the first pitcher in nearly five years to have five straight starts of allowing a run or less without a win and that modesty becomes a little excessive.


The Los Angeles Dodgers' offense showed signs of making amends for the limited support in the series opener against the Colorado Rockies and will try to continue it Tuesday with Greinke going in the second game of a Coors Field doubleheader.


Greinke (5-1, 1.48 ERA) allowed one run in each of his five May starts, posting a 1-1 record and 1.05 ERA. He won the first on May 5 but has only a loss to show for the four runs he's allowed over 26 2-3 innings in the last four. A.J. Burnett had a similar four-start stretch from April 14-May 1, but the last pitcher with five straight in a single season was Tommy Hanson from July 27-Aug. 16, 2010.


Nevertheless, after yielding a run and three hits with two walks and nine strikeouts in six innings of Wednesday's 3-2 home loss to Atlanta, the right-hander said he could have done more.


"The last three or four games I actually feel like I've been doing a little worse," Greinke said. "There were some situations tonight where I didn't execute."


The only decision he has in that span came in a 7-1 home loss to Colorado on May 16 after allowing a run in six innings. He's split two decisions in the series this season and is 6-2 with a 2.81 ERA in 10 starts against the Rockies since joining the Dodgers for the 2013 season. At Coors Field, he's 2-0 with a 3.58 mark in six career games.


Carlos Gonzalez is 7 for 22 with three home runs, a triple and a double off Greinke, but Nolan Arenado and DJ LeMahieu are both 4 for 21 with the latter striking out eight times.


Each of his last four starts have come at home, and he's won all three of his road starts without surrendering an earned run. He's never won four straight road starts in one season.


The Dodgers are electing to go with Greinke in the second game, which makes sense considering his 2.46 ERA in night games since the start of 2013 is second in the majors to teammate Clayton Kershaw, who helped Los Angeles (30-20) to Monday's 11-4 win for its eighth in 10 games against the Rockies (22-27) this year. The Dodgers have won 19 of the last 24 and three straight at Coors Field.


Adrian Gonzalez was 4 for 4 and is batting .486 in his last 11 against Colorado, while Joc Pederson has homered in consecutive games.


The Rockies had won seven of eight, and while the team success might have been disrupted, Arenado's was not. The third baseman homered for a third straight game and sixth time in eight while posting a 1.504 OPS with 16 RBIs.


'He's staying behind the ball better than he has the last couple of years,' manager Walt Weiss said. 'He's driving the ball.'


The doubleheader will start with Los Angeles' Juan Nicasio taking on his former team and Jorge De La Rosa.


Nicasio (1-1, 1.29), who pitched for the Rockies the previous four seasons, has only appeared in relief for the Dodgers, and has tossed 3 1-3 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts against Colorado. He was 0-3 with a 14.36 ERA in his last four starts with Colorado last season.


De La Rosa (1-2, 6.51) has pitched beyond the fifth inning once in six starts. He allowed three runs and six hits with three walks over 4 1-3 in a 7-3 home loss to Philadelphia on May 21, which stands as his last start because of a cut on the middle finger of his pitching hand.


The two before that came against the Dodgers with a 1-0 record and 3.97 ERA. The win was on the road, and the left-hander is 4-5 with a 6.75 ERA in 11 games against them at Coors. Gonzalez is 17 for 46 (.370) with three homers and six doubles against him, but left fielder Scott Van Slyke and catcher A.J. Ellis are a combined 0 for 25.


That duo could instead face David Hale in Game 2.


Hale, expected to be recalled Tuesday, has earned his last two big league wins in a starting role in doubleheaders. The right-hander gave up two earned runs in 6 2-3 innings of a 5-3 win over San Francisco on May 23.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Dodgers at Rockies
Mon, Jun 1 Final 11 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Dodgers at Rockies
Tue, Jun 2 - 8:40PM EDT


GAME 3
Dodgers at Rockies
Wed, Jun 3 - 8:10PM EDT

Preview: Braves (25-25) at Diamondbacks (23-26)
Game: 2
Venue: Chase Field
Date: June 02, 2015 9:40 PM EDT

Shelby Miller hasn't made many mistakes with the Atlanta Braves, but one of his few came in his most recent start and it proved costly.


Miller looks to rebound from his first road loss as the Braves go for a fourth straight victory Tuesday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks.


Miller (5-2, 1.48 ERA) is among baseball's leaders in ERA, WHIP (0.88) and opponent batting average (.175) while his two complete games match his total from the previous two seasons with St. Louis.


The right-hander has yielded two or fewer earned runs in each of his 10 starts, completing at least six innings in eight straight.


He went 2-1 with a 0.95 ERA in five games last month, compiling the lowest ERA in May by a Brave since Buzz Capra had a 0.86 mark in 1974.


Miller's month, however, ended with Thursday's 7-0 loss at San Francisco. He pitched seven innings and allowed his only run on Brandon Belt's homer in the seventh.


"It was a bad pitch. If I could take it back, I would," Miller said. "It was a tough hit to give up at that point in the game."


He won his only start against the Diamondbacks on June 6, 2013, allowing two runs with nine strikeouts in six innings.


Miller makes his Chase Field debut trying to help Atlanta (26-25) record its longest winning streak since opening the season 5-0.


The Braves were batting .188 with two homers and 13 runs during a 3-5 stretch, but have put that behind them with a .313 average, four homers and 23 runs during their three-game streak.


Freddie Freeman and Andrelton Simmons each had three of Atlanta's 13 hits in Monday's 8-1 series-opening victory.


Freeman has homered on half of his six hits in 15 at_bats with six RBIs in four games. The first baseman had a two-run shot and three RBIs on Monday, giving him a .406 average while knocking in 28 runs in 25 career meetings with Arizona.


He's hitting .418 with four homers and 16 RBIs in 13 games at Chase Field, and he's 8 for 15 versus scheduled starter Josh Collmenter.


"I always see the ball good here. It's a great batter's eye," Freeman said of hitting in Arizona. "It's just one of those things, for some reason. Hopefully I didn't jinx myself for the next two days."


Monday's loss was the fifth in seven games for the Diamondbacks (23-27), who have received a 6.81 ERA from their rotation during that stretch.


Giving the ball to Collmenter (3-5, 5.05) may not make that lofty number any better, either.


The right-hander is 1-4 with a 6.30 ERA in six home starts, but did limit the Chicago Cubs to two runs over five innings on May 22. He turned in a second consecutive effective outing five days later, posting the same line in a 4-3 loss at St. Louis.


Collmenter, who is winless in his past four starts, is 0-3 with a 4.91 ERA in his past three starts against the Braves.


Arizona slugger Paul Goldschmidt is 11 for 22 with three homers and five RBIs in his last five games. He's 7 for 21 with two homers and five RBIs in his last six meetings with Atlanta after batting .228 with one home run and two RBIs in his first 17 matchups.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Braves at Diamondbacks
Mon, Jun 1 Final 8 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Braves at Diamondbacks
Tue, Jun 2 - 9:40PM EDT


GAME 3
Braves at Diamondbacks
Wed, Jun 3 - 3:40PM EDT

Preview: Yankees (26-25) at Mariners (24-26)
Game: 2
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: June 02, 2015 10:10 PM EDT

It wasn't all that long ago that drawing a pitching matchup with CC Sabathia in one's MLB debut was probably considered a stroke of bad luck. Now, it's an opportunity to take advantage of one of the AL's loss leaders.


That'll be the case for Mike Montgomery on Tuesday night in Seattle as he tries to help the Mariners bounce back against the New York Yankees, who are seeking their fifth straight series win at Safeco Field.


The left-hander is filling in the rotation spot of the injured James Paxton, who landed on the 15-day disabled list Friday with an injured middle finger on his pitching hand. The 25-year-old Montgomery was 4-3 with a 3.74 ERA in nine starts for Triple-A Tacoma after coming over from Tampa Bay for Erasmo Ramirez on March 31.


"He's done well down there," manager Lloyd McClendon told MLB's official website. "His stuff plays at this level. It's just a matter of whether he can execute. We'll find out (Tuesday)."


He'll be charged with halting a three-game skid after the Mariners lost Monday's series opener 7-2 to the Yankees (27-25). It was New York's sixth straight victory in Seattle (24-27) and 12th in the last 15 behind a fifth-inning grand slam from Mark Teixeira.


The next order of business is winning consecutive away games for the first time since a 10-3 road start. The Yankees are 5-12 outside of the Bronx since May 4.


Teixeira has homered 10 times while batting .347 in his last 23 games at Safeco, though that effectiveness dates back as far as 2009. Stale Seattle success is also the case for the club's former ace.


Sabathia (2-7, 5.67 ERA) has been bad for most of the year but his numbers have been awful in consecutive losses, as he's allowed 11 runs and 15 hits in 8 1-3 innings after Thursday's 5-4 loss in Oakland. His seven losses are tied for an AL high, though he thought the latest was productive aside from two home runs.


"I threw the ball well," said Sabathia, who precedes Masahiro Tanaka's return Wednesday. "Now I've just got to tighten up on a couple of pitches and get the ball to the back of our bullpen."


He hasn't pitched in Seattle since 2011, but he's won his last five starts there with a 0.71 ERA. He's 8-1 with a 2.09 ERA in 11 total starts at Safeco, but most of that work came in the previous decade. Last season, he lost his only start against the Mariners, surrendering four runs and nine hits in five innings. Nelson Cruz (1 for 13 with seven strikeouts), Kyle Seager (1 for 10 with five Ks) and Dustin Ackley (1 for 7 with four) have all struggled with Sabathia.


Robinson Cano is 1 for 6 against his former teammate and was 0 for 4 Monday to fall into a 2-for-16 slump and 2-for-21 skid at Safeco. His .246 average is his lowest after play on June 1 since being at .220 in 2008.


"I would never regret my decision," Cano said about leaving New York before last season. "I'm happy here. The way they've treated me is amazing. Not only the team, but the fans and city. I'm happy to be here."


Seth Smith has picked him up some with a nine-game hitting streak, but Seattle hasn't scored more than three runs in six games while batting .200.


Austin Jackson is hitting .386 in his last 14 games against New York.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Yankees at Mariners
Mon, Jun 1 Final 7 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Yankees at Mariners
Tue, Jun 2 - 10:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Yankees at Mariners
Wed, Jun 3 - 3:40PM EDT

Preview: Mets (29-23) at Padres (25-28)
Game: 2
Venue: PETCO Park
Date: June 02, 2015 10:10 PM EDT

Noah Syndergaard's value to the New York Mets is going beyond pitching. His surprising offense, however, is simply an added bonus.


A day after Jacob deGrom turned in a gem, Syndergaard looks to deliver another of his own as the visiting Mets face the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night.


Syndergaard (2-2, 2.55 ERA) is so far living up to the hype as one of New York's prized prospects, yielding two earned runs in his last 19 1-3 innings while walking one and striking out 16 in his last three starts.


"I think the more you're out there the more you know you belong here," manager Terry Collins said. "When that takes place, you have more confidence in your stuff and you're not afraid to miss."


The right-hander was dominant Wednesday, allowing six hits and fanning six without a walk before exiting with one out in the eighth inning of a 7-0 win over Philadelphia.


Syndergaard was also a major contributor with the bat, going 3 for 3 with his first career home run. His three hits matched the team record by a pitcher, previously achieved by deGrom on May 16. He has hits in four straight at_bats, and Collins claimed he's considering using him as a pinch-hitter when he's not pitching.


"My main focus is on the mound," Syndergaard told MLB's official website. "Anything besides that is extra."


Syndergaard, though, has lost his first two road starts, surrendering seven runs - four earned - with 11 strikeouts in 11 1-3 innings.


He has a tough act to follow after deGrom carried a perfect game into the sixth inning Monday and limited the Padres two hits over eight in a 7-0 win.


New York (29-23) ended a seven-game road skid and won for the fifth time in seven overall.


Daniel Murphy matched his career high with four hits and added three RBIs, raising his average over the last 11 games to .452.


The Padres (25-28) suffered their eighth loss in 11 home games, falling to 13-15 at Petco Park.


Ian Kennedy (2-5, 7.15) will try to halt a four-start losing streak and rebound from a dismal outing. The right-hander has a 9.31 ERA in those four games, yielding seven homers in 19 1-3 innings.


His latest was the worst of that stretch, surrendering seven runs and as many hits - three homers - in 3 2-3 innings of Thursday's 11-5 loss to Pittsburgh.


"It's really frustrating," Kennedy said. "Fastball command was all over the place. They hit a couple of breaking balls for homers. It's really, really frustrating, really inconsistent, not what I like to do. As a pitcher you try to go out there and be as consistent as possible. This has been a real test so far, the first month or so that I've pitched."


Kennedy is 0-2 with a 7.20 ERA over his last three starts against the Mets after going 4-0 with a 3.45 ERA in his first five.


Murphy (3 for 15) hasn't had much success against Kennedy, but Curtis Granderson is 5 for 6 with a homer over the past three years. Granderson, though, is batting .188 on the road, going 0 for 12 in his last three away from Citi Field.


The Mets could get first baseman Lucas Duda back after he was hit by a pitch on his right knee during Sunday's 4-3 win over Miami. He's 7 for 21 with four homers, two doubles and six RBIs in six games and is a .324 hitter versus the Padres.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Mets at Padres
Mon, Jun 1 Final 7 to 0
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Mets at Padres
Tue, Jun 2 - 10:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Mets at Padres
Wed, Jun 3 - 9:10PM EDT

Preview: Pirates (27-24) at Giants (30-23)
Game: 2
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: June 02, 2015 10:15 PM EDT

On a staff that includes the electric Gerrit Cole, no member of the Pittsburgh Pirates' rotation has been better than A.J. Burnett.


Following his first rough outing of the season, Burnett will look to regain his top form Tuesday night against the San Francisco Giants.


Pittsburgh (27-24) opened its series in San Francisco (30-23) on a high note behind Cole, who threw seven innings and allowed five hits and two unearned runs while striking out nine.


Andrew McCutchen hit a pair of sacrifice flies, Neil Walker's two-out, two-run double gave Pittsburgh the lead for good in the fifth and Chris Stewart had three doubles in the Pirates' ninth win in 11 games. It was Pittsburgh's first meeting with the Giants since its 8-0 loss in last season's NL wild-card game.


"We were able to play through a lack of execution and got a big swing of the bat from Walker," manager Clint Hurdle said. "Then we pitched the innings we needed to pitch and made the rest of the plays."


Burnett (5-1, 1.81 ERA) can win his sixth consecutive start after the Pirates' bats helped keep his streak alive Thursday in San Diego. The right-hander gave up five runs in 5 2-3 innings of an 11-5 win after previously not allowing more than two in any start and owning a 1.37 ERA in 59 innings.


After getting a total of five runs of support in his first five starts, Burnett has been backed by a whopping 35 in his last five.


He hasn't gotten any help from his offense in his last two outings against the Giants, losing 4-0 in his latest visit to AT&T Park with the Pirates in 2013. He pitched eight shutout innings last season with Philadelphia before the Phillies went on to lose 3-1.


San Francisco, which has dropped three straight for the first time since its eight-game slide in mid-April, will turn to Chris Heston (5-3, 3.82). Like Burnett, Heston has also been the beneficiary of a productive offense, enjoying a 9.38 run-support average in his last four starts, all Giants wins.


He received only one run Thursday, but tossed 7 1-3 scoreless innings before the Giants' offense against exploded late in a 7-0 home win over the Braves. Heston, who joined the rotation in the place of the injured Matt Cain, has a 2.16 ERA at home compared with a 5.79 on the road.


"He's done a nice job," manager Bruce Bochy said. "Filling in for Cain, he's stepped in and thrown the ball well. What's impressed me about this kid is that he's had a couple outings that haven't gone so well, but he's bounced back and been able to put those games behind him."


McCutchen is 27 for 67 (.403) in his last 17 games against San Francisco with 15 runs and nine extra-base hits. The former MVP is hitting .381 since May 7, and is 9 for 19 with five RBIs in his last six.
SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Pirates at Giants
Mon, Jun 1 Final 4 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Pirates at Giants
Tue, Jun 2 - 10:15PM EDT


GAME 3
Pirates at Giants
Wed, Jun 3 - 3:45PM EDT

Preview: Rays (26-26) at Angels (28-24)
Game: 2
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Date: June 02, 2015 10:05 PM EDT

The Los Angeles Angels are showing signs of life offensively during their winning streak, but it might be difficult to continue as they face one of the toughest pitchers in the AL.


Red-hot Albert Pujols and the host Angels seek a season-high sixth straight win Tuesday night when Chris Archer stands in their way looking to help the Tampa Bay Rays avoid their eighth loss in 10 games.


Los Angeles (28-24) was hitting an AL-worst .232 while ranking second-to-last with 3.72 runs per game before batting .301 and averaging 6.6 runs over its past five.


The Angels have hit 13 home runs in those games after clubbing four in Monday's series-opening 7-3 win. Pujols went 3 for 5 with his first multi-homer game, while Mike Trout hit a three-run shot and David Freese added a solo blast.


Pujols is 8 for 19 with five homers during the win streak to move within one of Jimmie Foxx for 17th place all-time with 533. He's also gone 9 for 22 with four home runs over his last five meetings with the Rays.


'It took us a while to get going, but we'll take it anytime,' Pujols said.


The Angels, however, should find things more difficult as they try to improve to 7-2 on their 10-game homestand.


Archer (5-4, 2.12 ERA) is coming off the best performance of his outstanding start, allowing two hits over eight shutout innings while matching a career high with 12 strikeouts in Wednesday's 3-0 home loss to Seattle.


Archer's batting average against (.192) ranks second in the AL to Houston's Dallas Keuchel (.183). He's also has the league's fifth-best ERA, but the Rays (26-26) have provided two runs of support or fewer in seven of 11 outings.


"I try to keep the same approach that I have been since spring training, since last year, since the year before that," Archer, who has posted an 0.45 ERA in winning his three road outings, told MLB's official website.


Since May 16, 2014, when he threw 5 2-3 scoreless innings in a 3-0 win in Anaheim, Archer's 1.55 ERA away from home is by far the best in the majors of anyone with at least 15 road starts.


Erick Aybar's only hit in 10 at_bats off Archer was a home run, while Pujols is 3 for 6 and Trout is 4 for 9 with three walks.


C.J. Wilson will try to contribute to a rotation that has a 2.10 ERA with seven quality starts on the homestand. He's 2-0 with a 2.03 ERA in his past four home starts and is 11-2 with a 3.42 mark over his last 19.


He allowed one run despite issuing five walks and hitting a batter over six innings in Thursday's 12-2 home win over Detroit.


Wilson (3-3, 3.18) threw a five-hit shutout in his last home meeting with the Rays on May 17, 2014, but then gave up six runs over 1 1-3 innings at Tropicana Field on Aug. 2 after missing almost a month due to injury.


Evan Longoria is 3 for 10 with two homers off Wilson since 2012, though Asdrubal Cabrera has gone just 1 for 10 since 2013.


Kevin Kiermaier had two of the team's six hits and Nick Franklin snapped an 0-for-25 slump with a two-run home run Monday. The Rays, however, failed to score more than three runs for the seventh time during this 2-7 stretch.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Rays at Angels
Mon, Jun 1 Final 3 to 7
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Rays at Angels
Tue, Jun 2 - 10:05PM EDT


GAME 3
Rays at Angels
Wed, Jun 3 - 10:05PM EDT