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MLB > (911) NY METS@ (912) ATLANTA | 06/21/2015 - 05:05 PM
Play AGAINST NY METS using the money line in Road games in night games
The record is 4 Wins and 19 Losses for the this season (-15.55 units)


MLB > (923) TEXAS@ (924) CHI WHITE SOX | 06/21/2015 - 02:10 PM
Play ON TEXAS using the money line in Road games in games played on a grass field
The record is 20 Wins and 13 Losses for the this season (+18.32 units)


MLB > (917) BALTIMORE@ (918) TORONTO | 06/21/2015 - 01:05 PM
Play ON TORONTO using the money line in All games in June games
The record is 14 Wins and 3 Losses for the this season (+11.9 units)

MLB > (925) LA ANGELS@ (926) OAKLAND | 06/21/2015 - 04:05 PM
Play AGAINST OAKLAND using the money line in All games in home games
The record is 12 Wins and 20 Losses for the this season (-15.15 units)


MLB > (929) CHICAGO CUBS@ (930) MINNESOTA | 06/21/2015 - 02:10 PM
Play ON MINNESOTA using the money line in All games in home games
The record is 23 Wins and 12 Losses for the this season (+12.95 units)


MLB RUNLINE


MLB > (921) BOSTON@ (922) KANSAS CITY | 06/21/2015 - 02:10 PM
Play ON KANSAS CITY using the in All games when playing with a day off
The record is 24 Wins and 8 Losses for the last two seasons (+21.05 units)


MLB > (923) TEXAS@ (924) CHI WHITE SOX | 06/21/2015 - 02:10 PM
Play ON TEXAS using the in Road games in games played on a grass field
The record is 26 Wins and 7 Losses for the this season (+15.25 units)

MLB > (917) BALTIMORE@ (918) TORONTO | 06/21/2015 - 01:05 PM
Play ON TORONTO using the in All games in June games
The record is 14 Wins and 3 Losses for the this season (+12.5 units)


MLB TOTALS


MLB > (913) SAN FRANCISCO@ (914) LA DODGERS | 06/21/2015 - 08:05 PM
Play OVER LA DODGERS on the total in Home games against right-handed starters
The record is 63 Overs and 30 Unders for the last two seasons (+32.95 units)

MLB > (909) MILWAUKEE@ (910) COLORADO | 06/21/2015 - 04:10 PM
Play UNDER MILWAUKEE on the total in Road games when playing on Sunday
The record is 5 Overs and 23 Unders for the last three seasons (+17.2 units)


MLB > (925) LA ANGELS@ (926) OAKLAND | 06/21/2015 - 04:05 PM
Play OVER OAKLAND on the total in All games against division opponents
The record is 24 Overs and 10 Unders for the this season (+14.1 units)


MLB > (911) NY METS@ (912) ATLANTA | 06/21/2015 - 05:05 PM
Play OVER ATLANTA on the total in All games in all games
The record is 41 Overs and 23 Unders for the this season (+17.1 units)


MLB > (903) ST LOUIS@ (904) PHILADELPHIA | 06/21/2015 - 01:35 PM
Play UNDER ST LOUIS on the total in All games in day games
The record is 5 Overs and 18 Unders for the this season (+11.85 units)


MLB > (927) HOUSTON@ (928) SEATTLE | 06/21/2015 - 04:10 PM
Play UNDER SEATTLE on the total in Home games in games played on a grass field
The record is 37 Overs and 71 Unders for the last two seasons (+28.5 units)

MLB > (923) TEXAS@ (924) CHI WHITE SOX | 06/21/2015 - 02:10 PM
Play UNDER CHI WHITE SOX on the total in All games in home games
The record is 8 Overs and 22 Unders for the this season (+12.95 units)

Preview: Tigers (34-33) at Yankees (37-30)
Game: 3
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: June 21, 2015 1:05 PM EDT

Alex Rodriguez and the New York Yankees have been teeing off on Detroit Tigers pitchers, though that could change against Anibal Sanchez.


Sanchez goes for the longest shutout streak of his career while trying to help the Tigers salvage a win in Sunday's finale of this three-game series with the Yankees.


New York (38-30) has won 11 of 12 at home and is hitting .371 with 10 homers and 32 runs on a four-game win streak, including eight home runs among 31 hits in this series.


Rodriguez had a three-run homer and drove in a season-high five runs in a 14-3 win over Detroit (34-34) on Saturday after launching a solo shot for his 3,000th career hit in a 7-2 series-opening victory a night earlier.


"I just think he's thriving on being back in the game, something that was taken away," manager Joe Girardi said, referring to A-Rod's season-long drug suspension last year.


Rodriguez and the Yankees, however, are in for a stiff test against Sanchez (5-7, 4.65 ERA), who has put together 20 2-3 consecutive scoreless innings over his previous three starts - winning the last two. He had a personal-best 23 straight innings without allowing a run as a rookie with the Marlins in 2006.


The right-hander is coming off his best performance of the season after tossing a two-hitter in a 6-0 win over Cincinnati on Monday.


"Location I think was the most important thing," Sanchez told MLB's official website of getting his first complete game in two years. "I was able to mix the pitches. (Catcher James) McCann called a great game. I give a lot of credit to him."


Sanchez held the Yankees to one run and one hit with eight strikeouts in 6 1-3 innings while not factoring into the decision in a 2-1 loss April 23. He was credited with a 9-3 victory in his last appearance in the Bronx on Aug. 10, 2013, fanning eight and allowing two runs in seven innings.


The Tigers haven't won since last turning to Sanchez, losing four in a row thanks in large part to batting .197 while the starting pitchers have posted an 8.27 ERA.


Their latest effort was enough for manager Brad Ausmus to talk to the team.


"We got our butts whooped. Not much to it," Ausmus said. "You're going to have a couple of games like this each season."


Victor Martinez is 1 for 16 against New York this year, including 1 for 6 in this series after missing a month with left knee inflammation. The designated hitter has a .214 season average with one homer and 15 RBIs after he was a Triple Crown threat in 2014, hitting .335 with 32 home runs and 103 RBIs.


The Yankees will hand the ball to Masahiro Tanaka (4-2, 2.49), who started opposite Sanchez in his only meeting with the Tigers on April 23. He yielded one run and three hits in 6 2-3 innings but went on the disabled list with a strained forearm shortly thereafter.


The right-hander is 2-1 with a 1.71 ERA in three starts since returning from his five-week layoff. Tanaka was the hard-luck loser Monday, allowing two runs and scattering nine hits in seven innings of a 2-1 defeat at Miami.


Brett Gardner is 9 for 16 with two homers and five RBIs in three games. He went 3 for 6 - coming a homer shy of the cycle - while scoring twice Saturday, but he's 1 for 6 versus Sanchez.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Tigers at Yankees
Fri, Jun 19 Final 2 to 7
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Tigers at Yankees
Sat, Jun 20 -Final 3 to 14
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Tigers at Yankees
Sun, Jun 21 - 1:05PM EDT

Preview: Rays (39-30) at Indians (31-35)
Game: 3
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: June 21, 2015 1:10 PM EDT

The Tampa Bay Rays leaned on Evan Longoria to move past the Cleveland Indians' reigning Cy Young winner, and with the former All-Star seeming to finally regain top form, that could be the same formula for success against Cleveland's newest addition.


Hoping to sustain their excellent month, the Rays seek a sweep Sunday when they face the Indians' Cody Anderson in his major league debut.


Tampa Bay (40-30) managed only four hits but scored four runs against Corey Kluber on Saturday, winning 4-1 for its eighth win in nine tries and 14th win of June, tied with Toronto for most in the majors.


Longoria, ailing with a sore left wrist, hit just his second home run in 26 games as well as his first extra-base hit in 10 contests.


He's batting .313 in his last nine games after hitting .175 in his previous 13.


'Even when he's not 100 percent, he's one of our best," manager Kevin Cash said. "Not to say it's not bothering him. It's definitely affecting him.'


Anderson will be tasked with slowing the Rays and helping Cleveland (31-36) avoid a ninth loss in 13 games.


The right-hander dazzled in the minors this season with a 1.89 ERA, bouncing back from a 4-11 record and 5.44 ERA in 2014. He takes the rotation spot from Shaun Marcum after he was sent to Triple-A over the weekend.


"(It's) just being able to throw strikes more consistently," Anderson told MLB's official website. "Not walking so many guys and pounding the strike zone." ... "I'm really excited. It's just all piling up right now, feeling really good."


Anderson may need to be on top of his game considering Cleveland's recent offensive output. The Indians have averaged 2.7 runs while batting .172 with runners in scoring position during their 4-8 stretch.


Jason Kipnis remains a bright spot, accounting for five of the team's 13 total hits in this series to extend his hitting streak to 15 games. Since May 1, Kipnis is hitting .407 with four home runs and 20 RBIs.


Brandon Moss is heading in the opposite direction, however, going 2 for 25 with 11 strikeouts in his past seven games. He's hitless in his last 20 at_bats against Tampa Bay.


'When you're not scoring, it's hard to win,' Kluber said.


Alex Colome (3-3, 5.14 ERA) starts for the Rays, who seek their first three-game sweep in Cleveland since 2005. The right-hander is coming off the shortest start of his career, lasting two innings and allowing six runs and seven hits in a 16-4 loss to Washington on Tuesday.


"I think he tried everything," Cash said. "He tried the fastball, the cutter, the changeup, they were all catching way too much plate or putting him behind in counts ... It's just one of those nights where Alex didn't have his best stuff.


"He'll bounce back and be ready to go in five days."


Colome hasn't won in five starts, but had pitched well prior to Tuesday, yielding two runs over 11 1-3 innings in his previous two outings.


Should Colome suffer another short outing, the Rays will not have the luxury of a rested bullpen as they needed five relievers to cover six innings Saturday after starter Erasmo Ramirez left with a right groin strain. Brad Boxberger notched his 18th save, but could be unavailable after pitching three consecutive days.


Tampa Bay's relievers own a 0.44 ERA over the last 20 2-3 innings.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Rays at Indians
Fri, Jun 19 Final 4 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Rays at Indians
Sat, Jun 20 -Final 4 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Rays at Indians
Sun, Jun 21 - 1:10PM EDT

Preview: Marlins (29-40) at Reds (31-35)
Game: 3
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: June 21, 2015 1:10 PM EDT

Long balls from Derek Dietrich proved vital in two of the Miami Marlins' last three victories.


Another strong offensive display by Dietrich on Sunday could help the Marlins conclude this three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds with back-to-back wins.


Martin Prado went on the disabled list earlier this week with a right shoulder sprain, leading Miami (30-40) to call up Dietrich from Triple-A New Orleans as his replacement.


A .220 hitter in limited duty over the last two years, Dietrich has gone 6 for 17 (.353) while the Marlins have split six games with him starting at third base.


He connected for a two-run homer and a solo blast in Saturday's 5-0 win at Cincinnati, ending Miami's six-game road losing streak and helping Justin Nicolino win his major league debut hours after being called up from New Orleans.


"Dietrich gave us the power," manager Dan Jennings said. "It was huge to hit the ball the way he did. He got the head out and made the most of it."


Dietrich did the same in his first start of the season five days earlier, getting his second hit on a solo shot in the seventh that put the Marlins ahead for good in a 2-1 win over the New York Yankees.


The Marlins will hand the ball to David Phelps (4-3, 3.96), who is trying to win three straight starts for the first time. The right-hander has allowed two runs in 15 innings in his last two outings after going 0-3 with an 8.27 ERA over the previous four.


He's been in a rather comfortable position lately, receiving a combined 17 runs of support in his last two starts - 11 of which came in the opening inning. Spotted eight runs in the first Tuesday, he yielded two in seven innings of a 12-2 win over the Yankees.


"Phelps executed pitch after pitch and did a great job of getting it in and letting these guys continue to swing it," Jennings said. "(For the offense) to put up an eight-spot, he could be a little more free with what he wanted to throw and how he wanted to attack that lineup, and he certainly did."


Phelps won his only career start against Cincinnati on July 18, allowing three runs - two earned - and two homers in 6 1-3 innings while with the Yankees.


The Reds, who had a three-game winning streak end Saturday, are giving Michael Lorenzen (2-2, 3.70) his first matchup with the Marlins. The right-hander has allowed three runs or fewer in four of his last five starts. However, he only has one win to show for it and that came in Tuesday's 5-2 victory at Detroit.


The rookie battled through 100 pitches in six innings, yielding two runs - one earned - and six hits with three walks. That gave Lorenzen some confidence after he was tagged for a season-high six runs and two homers in 4 1-3 innings of a 6-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs five days earlier.


"That's the only way you're going to be successful at this level, is feeling like you belong and knowing that your stuff plays up to this level and just trusting it," Lorenzen said. "I work too hard to be scared when I face a lineup like (the Tigers). I just have to put the faith in the work that I've put into it."




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Marlins at Reds
Fri, Jun 19 Final 0 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Marlins at Reds
Sat, Jun 20 - Final 5 to 0
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Marlins at Reds
Sun, Jun 21 - 1:10PM EDT

Preview: Cardinals (44-23) at Phillies (23-46)
Game: 3
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: June 21, 2015 1:35 PM EDT

Michael Wacha's unbeaten run to start the season and subsequent consistency have helped the St. Louis Cardinals possess one of the majors' stingiest rotations.


The Philadelphia Phillies no doubt are envious, as their starting pitching continues to extend a club-record run of futility that in part has forced them to turn to a minor leaguer with a winless streak of his own.


Wacha takes the mound Sunday as the visiting Cardinals look to win a sixth straight meeting with the Phillies, who give the ball to Adam Morgan for his major league debut.


St. Louis (45-23) leads all of baseball with a 2.61 ERA and is tied with Pittsburgh atop the majors with a 2.91 ERA from its starters. Wacha (9-2, 2.48 ERA) has been a huge contributor to those numbers, especially while becoming the first Cardinals pitcher to start 7-0 since 2005 with a 1.87 ERA through his first nine starts.


The right-hander has slipped a little, posting a 3.86 ERA over his last four. He had a solid outing Tuesday, though, giving up two runs and three hits in 6 1-3 innings of a 3-2 win over Minnesota.


"He just comes out and makes pitches," manager Mike Matheny said. "I thought his fastball got better as the game went, which made his changeup even better. Just another quality start for us."


The right-hander's toughest outing during his initial hot stretch came against the visiting Phillies (23-47) on April 28, when he allowed four runs and six hits in 5 2-3 innings of an 11-5 victory.


Wacha has never started in Philadelphia, but he's 6-1 with a 2.08 ERA in eight road starts this season. That's six more wins that the entire Phillies' rotation has no matter location over the last 25 games after falling 10-1 to St. Louis on Saturday.


Aaron Harang suffered the loss, dropping Philadelphia starters to 0-16 with a 5.97 ERA since Cole Hamels beat Washington on May 23. The last team to go 25 games without a win from its starting pitchers was San Diego in 2009, and no club has gone at least 26 since Tampa Bay's 28-game stretch in 2006.


Manager Ryne Sandberg hopes Morgan can end Philadelphia's run, but the 25-year-old left-hander has a 4.74 ERA in the minors this season while going winless in 13 starts.


Morgan's major league debut has been delayed due to a shoulder injury suffered in 2013 that required surgery early the next year. Still, Sandberg has seen enough to give Morgan a shot.


"He's been throwing well," Sandberg told MLB's official website. "I think it will be good to add a left-hander in the mix here, and he's been doing a good job. He's done well. Saw him in the spring with what he had, so I'm anxious to see him."


Morgan hopes to provide some relief for a rotation that ranks near the bottom of the majors with a 4.89 ERA. The Phillies have lost 21 of 25 since Hamels' victory last month and have been outscored 74-21 over their last 11.


Randal Grichuk has gone 3 for 5 in both games of this set, homering in Friday's 12-4 win and hitting two more Saturday. Jason Heyward is 8 for 16 in his last four for the Cardinals, who hold a 47-15 scoring edge during a five-game winning streak against the Phillies.


Cody Asche provided Philadelphia's lone run Saturday with a homer in the second inning.


'These aren't fun games,' said Asche, whose home run was his first since April 22.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Cardinals at Phillies
Fri, Jun 19 Final 12 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Cardinals at Phillies
Sat, Jun 20 - Final 10 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Cardinals at Phillies
Sun, Jun 21 - 1:35PM EDT

Preview: Rangers (37-32) at White Sox (29-38)
Game: 3
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: June 21, 2015 2:10 PM EDT

The Chicago White Sox came into the weekend in a dismal offensive rut.


They might be rubbing off on the Texas Rangers.


Neither lineup has been impressive in this series ahead of Sunday's finale at U.S. Cellular Field.


The White Sox (29-38) ended a season-worst eight game slide in Saturday's 3-2 victory following a 2-1 loss in Friday's opener. Adam LaRoche and Alexei Ramirez accounted for Chicago's only RBIs Saturday, and LaRoche's came on a sacrifice fly.


"You can only feel good about it for a little while and you get back after it," manager Robin Ventura said. "You have to be able to continue momentum with it, but there's a game tomorrow."


The White Sox haven't scored more than five runs in the last 16 games, and they're batting .169 while averaging 1.3 runs in the last seven. They had six hits Saturday and were 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position. Tyler Flowers produced their only run Friday with a solo homer.


While Chicago has toiled offensively all season and entered this series 28th in runs per game, Texas was third with 4.5.


The Rangers (37-32) have exactly four hits in three straight, however, totaling four runs in that span. Texas has struck out 27 times in the series and three players have been rung up five or more times over the last three games. Joey Gallo is 0 for 9 with seven strikeouts in that span while Shin-soo Choo is 1 for 11.


The Rangers don't have an extra-base hit in three consecutive games for the first time since April 10-13, 1997.


Luckily for Texas, though, Yovani Gallardo (6-6, 3.16 ERA) gives it a good chance to win considering his recent performances. He's 3-0 with a 1.41 ERA in five outings since his last loss. That run includes a six-inning outing in Texas' 2-1 win over the White Sox on June 4 in which he gave up an unearned run and three hits.


He looked as sharp as he's been all season in a 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday, yielding four hits and three walks in seven shutout innings.


"That's the Yovani Gallardo that I'm used to seeing with what he did in the National League with Milwaukee," manager Jeff Bannister told MLB's official website. "He's as competitive as they come. He's got ice water in his veins when he's out there on the mound."


The right-hander was 1-5 with a 4.63 ERA in the six starts immediately preceding his five-start run.


Gallardo hasn't given up a home run during his unbeaten stretch, improving to 12-5 since the start of last season when not allowing a homer. He's 2-12 in that span when surrendering at least one.


Chicago's Jose Quintana (3-7, 4.03) has become accustomed to sparse run support. The left-hander is 1-4 in his last six starts despite a 3.66 ERA, averaging 1.37 runs of support in that span. Chicago scored no runs behind him for the fourth time this season in Tuesday's 3-0 loss to Pittsburgh. Quintana gave up three runs in six innings.


"Sometimes you can feel frustration because you prepare every time," he said. "That's baseball. Try to do your best every day, day by day."


Quintana is 1-1 with a 5.00 ERA in three starts against the Rangers, giving up nine runs over 10 innings in the last two after winning the first matchup.


Prince Fielder is just 3 for 14 off Quintana, while Choo is 5 for 8 with four doubles.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Rangers at White Sox
Fri, Jun 19 Final 2 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Rangers at White Sox
Sat, Jun 20 Final 2 to 3
Boxscores


GAME 3
Rangers at White Sox
Sun, Jun 21 - 2:10PM EDT

Preview: Red Sox (30-39) at Royals (38-26)
Game: 3
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: June 21, 2015 2:10 PM EDT

Whether Pablo Sandoval is forced to apologize for his actions during a bathroom break or David Ortiz attempts to throw out an umpire following his own ejection, the drama with the last-place Boston Red Sox is providing some entertainment for a disappointing club.


Sandoval could be spending even more time in the clubhouse after spraining his ankle in Boston's latest defeat, and his status is unclear for Sunday's series finale against the Royals in Kansas City.


Very little has been normal for the Red Sox (30-40), who finished in last place in 2014 after winning the prior year's World Series and again sit in the AL East basement.


Sandoval came under fire after checking a social media website with his cellphone while using the bathroom during Wednesday's loss to Atlanta, resulting in manager John Farrell benching him for Thursday's contest.


The third baseman extended his hitting streak to nine in Friday's 7-3 win over the Royals, but it was snapped when he left Saturday's 7-4 defeat after being injuried while making his team-worst 10th error in the fifth inning.


Two innings later, Ortiz singled after becoming frustrated with umpire Bruce Dreckman calling a pair of questionable pitches as strikes. Ortiz continued jawing while standing on first base, and Dreckman tossed him. Ortiz then confronted Dreckman and made his own signal is if he was throwing the umpire out of the game.


Catcher Blake Swihart's status also is unclear after injuring his left foot Saturday.


"Both (Sandoval and Swihart are) day to day," Farrell said. "They both had X-rays here at the ballpark. Blake's is at the base of the fifth toe. There were no fractures there. There was nothing structurally, bone-wise, with Pablo, either."


Dustin Pedroia returned after missing two games with a sore left knee and finished 0 for 5. He went 3 for 3 off Chris Young the last time he faced him, though, and Young will be on the hill in this contest for the AL Central-leading Royals (39-26).


Young (6-2, 1.98 ERA) hasn't allowed a run over 13 1-3 innings while winning back-to-back starts, beating Minnesota 2-0 on June 9 and Milwaukee 7-2 on Tuesday.


The right-hander has a 2.11 ERA in eight starts after beginning the season as a reliever. He made one start against Boston last season while with Seattle, giving up three runs and seven hits while walking five in 3 2-3 innings before the Mariners rallied for a 7-3 win Aug. 23.


Young will be opposed by Wade Miley, who has been up and down in his last four starts.


Miley (6-6, 4.88) has lasted only four innings twice while reaching at least the seventh in the other two, including Tuesday when he allowed two runs and struck out eight in 6 1-3 innings of Tuesday's 9-4 win over Atlanta.


He was pulled after four innings against Baltimore in his previous start June 11 and had a tense exchange with Farrell in the dugout.


"I put it all behind me from the last start and just wanted to go out and give the team a chance to win," Miley said.


The left-hander had issues the last time he faced the Royals, giving up a career-worst 10 runs and nine hits - including a three-run homer to Salvador Perez - in 4 2-3 innings of a 12-2 loss Aug. 5 while with Arizona.


Perez finished 3 for 3 against Miley in that contest, and he snapped out of a 1-for-11 funk with a homer in the second inning Saturday.


Kendrys Morales, celebrating his 32nd birthday, broke a 4-all tie with a two-run homer in a five-run fifth for Kansas City, which has won five of six.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Red Sox at Royals
Fri, Jun 19 Final 7 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Red Sox at Royals
Sat, Jun 20 - Final 4 to 7
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Red Sox at Royals
Sun, Jun 21 - 2:10PM EDT

Preview: Cubs (36-30) at Twins (37-31)
Game: 3
Venue: Target Field
Date: June 21, 2015 2:10 PM EDT

A slumping Minnesota Twins offense showed signs of life in the series opener against the Chicago Cubs, though it may have been a false alarm.


Minnesota will again try to revive its lifeless bats in Sunday's finale versus Chicago at Target Field.


The Twins (37-31) are averaging 2.6 runs over their last 14, down from 4.5 per game prior to that. A 12-hit performance in Friday's 7-2 victory seemed to suggest they were ready to break out, but they took a step back Saturday with just three hits coming after the seventh in a 4-1, 10-inning loss.


Eduardo Nunez's absence from the lineup likely didn't help matters. Nunez sat after taking a pitch on the hands Friday, though manager Paul Molitor said he was available. Nunez is 9 for 26 (.346) with six extra-base hits over his last eight games.


Chicago (36-30) bounced back from a four-hit performance with 12 on Saturday, including a two-run single by Starlin Castro in the 10th. The shortstop gained a measure of redemption after a costly error in Friday's loss.


"Every day is a new day," he said. "Try to keep it going, keep the head up and try to help the team win."


After going deep twice in the opener, Anthony Rizzo had two hits, including his 21st double - only seven fewer than he had in over twice as many at_bats last year. Rizzo is 6 for 17 with five RBIs in four games after going 0 for 17 over the previous four.


Despite the recent offensive issues, the Twins have still managed to win four of seven with strong pitching. The rotation has a 2.54 ERA and six quality starts in that span.


Kyle Gibson (4-5, 3.33 ERA) will try to avoid losing three straight starts for the first time in his career after giving up seven earned runs over 12 innings against Kansas City and St. Louis. Prior to Tuesday's 3-2 road loss to the Cardinals, though, he was 2-0 with a 1.66 ERA in starts immediately following a loss.


The right-hander walked two batters in each of his last two outings, falling to 1-5 when he issues multiple walks.


Gibson is 1-5 with a 5.88 ERA in seven career interleague starts, only defeating Arizona on Sept. 23.


Jake Arrieta (6-5, 3.40) had control issues in his last start, matching a career high with six walks while allowing four runs over five innings of a 6-0 loss to Cleveland. Arrieta had recorded a quality start in five of his previous six outings, walking a total of six in that span.


"Frustrated with myself for the inability to overcome some of the walks and make some pitches," he said.


Arrieta, who threw 112 pitches, had thrown 97 or fewer while completing at least six innings in four consecutive turns.


He went 2-1 with a 4.09 ERA in four starts against Minnesota from 2010-13 while with Baltimore. A fifth road win would be one more than he had all of last year.


Twins prospect Byron Buxton was 0 for 2 on Saturday to fall to 2 for 22 through his first seven big league games, though he drew his first two walks.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Cubs at Twins
Fri, Jun 19 Final 2 to 7
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Cubs at Twins
Sat, Jun 20 Final 4 to 1
Boxscores


GAME 3
Cubs at Twins
Sun, Jun 21 - 2:10PM EDT

Preview: Angels (35-33) at Athletics (29-41)
Game: 3
Venue: O.co Coliseum
Date: June 21, 2015 4:05 PM EDT

Garrett Richards refused to dwell on one of the worst starts of his career earlier this month and has been sharp ever since.


Scott Kazmir will want to focus on how well he's pitched at home rather than his struggles against his former team.


Richards looks to help the visiting Los Angeles Angels take two of three in the series when he faces Kazmir and the Oakland Athletics on Sunday.


Since lasting a career low-tying two-thirds of an inning and allowing six runs in an 8-2 loss to the New York Yankees on June 6, Richards (7-4, 3.59 ERA) has allowed two earned runs over 14 innings while winning his last two starts.


The right-hander credited coach Dave Butcher for not allowing him to get down on himself.


"I mean, that was two starts ago," Richards said of the outing against the Yankees. "Some days you're gonna have it and some days you don't. Some guys are gonna clip you, sometimes you're gonna get lucky. But that doesn't take away from or change the way I pitch. I'm trying to throw the ball down in the zone and get ahead of guys."


Richards has more than held his own in his last two starts against the A's, allowing one run in seven innings of a 4-1 win Sept. 9 and beating them 6-5 on April 30 after giving up one run in six-plus innings.


Kazmir (3-4, 2.84) hasn't had nearly that kind of success against the Angels (35-34), for whom he pitched parts of two seasons. His last pitch with the club in 2011 forced an injury that required Tommy John surgery, leading to him sitting out all of 2012.


The left-hander has struggled against his former team since returning, losing all three starts with a 22.09 ERA and not lasting more than three innings in any of them.


This start, however, comes at home where Kazmir is 2-1 with a 1.27 ERA and no homers allowed in six outings. He's 1-3 with a 4.20 ERA and seven home runs surrendered in seven on the road.


Erick Aybar has gone 5 for 5 and Kole Calhoun 3 for 4 off Kazmir since his return from injury. They each went 1 for 4 in Saturday's 4-1 loss to the A's (30-41), one day after the Angels rallied to take the series opener 12-7.


Stephen Vogt had one of Oakland's five doubles, and Josh Reddick, who is 6 for 15 in his career off Richards, had the go-ahead RBI double in a three-run sixth. Reddick went 1 for 14 over his previous three.


The A's also got another lift from rookie Billy Burns, who went 2 for 5 and is hitting .388 during an 11-game hitting streak. Burns, who has been filling in for the injured Coco Crisp in center field and in the leadoff spot, has hit safely in 23 of his last 24 while also providing solid defense for an Oakland club that leads the majors with 70 errors.


'It's tough to even describe how important he's been for us,' manager Bob Melvin said of Burns, who entered the day leading AL rookies in hits, stolen bases and multi-hit games. '(Crisp), that's a guy we not only rely on to be our leadoff guy and hold down that position but a guy that got clutch hits for us. Billy's doing all that.'


Ike Davis has gone 1 for 7 while starting back-to-back games at first base since coming off the disabled list with a quad strain, but Billy Butler pinch-hit for him in the seventh Saturday. It's unclear if Davis will play in the series finale.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Angels at Athletics
Fri, Jun 19 Final 12 to 7
Boxscores


GAME 2
Angels at Athletics
Sat, Jun 20 - Final 1 to 4
Boxscores


GAME 3
Angels at Athletics
Sun, Jun 21 - 4:05PM EDT

Preview: Brewers (25-44) at Rockies (28-39)
Game: 3
Venue: Coors Field
Date: June 21, 2015 4:10 PM EDT

A long overdue quality start helped the Colorado Rockies end a losing streak, but they could fall back into those struggles without improvement from the back end of their rotation.


They'll hope Chris Rusin can provide them with consecutive quality starts for the first time in almost two weeks Sunday against the Milwaukee Brewers.


Colorado (29-39) had dropped five straight behind a 10.13 ERA from its starting pitchers before Chad Bettis allowed one run in 6 1-3 innings of Saturday's 5-1 victory. Charlie Blackmon provided most of the offense with two hits and three RBIs, while the Brewers (25-45) were held to six hits in their seventh loss in eight games.


"We did everything," Blackmon told MLB's official website. "Starting pitching, relief pitching was unbelievable. Defensively we turned a couple of double plays when we need to and then we got ... a couple of other big knocks to drive in runs with two outs."


Rusin (2-2, 5.14 ERA) has been unable to regain the form he displayed earlier this season. He allowed seven runs and nine hits over four innings of an 8-5 loss at Houston on Tuesday, pushing his ERA in his last two starts to 12.54. Opponents are hitting .417 in that span with four home runs and only five total strikeouts.


The left-hander could turn things around at Coors Field, where he stifled Miami with seven strong innings and eight strikeouts in a 10-5 win on June 6 - his only home appearance this season.


Rusin went 2-0 with a 1.45 ERA in his first three appearances, including two starts.


Milwaukee will counter with Matt Garza (4-8, 5.07), who opened his season with a loss to Colorado on April 7. The right-hander enters this matchup after allowing six runs and a career-high 13 hits over 6 2-3 innings in a 7-2 loss to Kansas City on Tuesday.


Garza had surrendered only two earned runs in his previous two starts, spanning 13 innings.


He's 2-4 with a 5.25 ERA in six starts against the Rockies, but this will be his first appearance at Coors Field since 2011.


Carlos Gonzalez is 4 for 15 with three homers and a double against Garza.


The Brewers have struggled both at the plate and on the mound this season, ranking among baseball's worst teams in both ERA (4.45) and runs scored per game (3.6). They've posted a 6.39 ERA during the 1-7 stretch.


"Tough times make tough people," Garza told MLB's official website. "If you're ready to cower, then just get out of the locker room. Pick your stuff up and go. We're all in it together and if you don't like it, grab your stuff and go home. We'll find someone else to grind with us."


Aramis Ramirez did not play Saturday after going 3 for 5 with a home run in Milwaukee's 9-5 victory Friday. He's 3 for 5 with a homer against Rusin.


Ryan Braun went hitless in four at_bats Saturday and is 2 for 30 in the past eight games.


The Rockies are 41-22 versus the Brewers at Coors Field for a .651 winning percentage - their highest at home against any opponent.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Brewers at Rockies
Fri, Jun 19 Final 9 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Brewers at Rockies
Sat, Jun 20 - Final 1 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Brewers at Rockies
Sun, Jun 21 - 4:10PM EDT

Preview: Mets (36-33) at Braves (33-35)
Game: 3
Venue: Citi Field
Date: June 21, 2015 5:05 PM EDT

Matt Harvey bounced back from a poor stretch with a stellar performance. The Atlanta Braves are hoping for the same from Julio Teheran.


Harvey tries to help the New York Mets avoid their longest slide of the season in the finale of this three-game series with the Braves on Sunday.


Harvey (7-4, 3.32 ERA) went 1-3 with a 7.20 ERA over four starts, causing great concern after he missed all of last year recovering from Tommy John surgery.


Any fears were allayed Tuesday after the right-hander tossed seven scoreless innings in a 3-2 win over Toronto, one of the majors' top offensive teams. Harvey also helped himself with a run-scoring double.


"Kind of had my slider back, which was nice. That helped with commanding my pitches," Harvey said. "For me, it was just being able to locate."


He certainly did that in his only visit to Atlanta on June 18, 2013, striking out a career-high 13 while allowing three runs and three hits in seven innings of a 4-3 victory.


Replicating that effort may not be enough since the Mets (36-34) are hitting .183 with six runs while dropping the first four on an eight-game trip after Saturday's 6-4 loss.


The Braves (34-35) are looking to get back to .500 behind Teheran (4-3, 5.07), who has a 1.80 ERA while winning two of his last three home starts against the Mets.


The right-hander struggled in a 6-3 loss at New York on April 23, matching his career high with five walks and allowing four runs in 4 1-3 innings.


He enters this matchup with an 0-2 record and 6.97 ERA in his last five outings after being tagged for six runs and a career-high 13 hits in 6 1-3 innings of a 9-4 loss at Boston on Tuesday.


"Just a bump. It's nothing huge. He'll be all right," first baseman Chris Johnson told MLB's official website. "He's a talented guy, he works hard, too. I don't think anybody is worried about this being who he is. We know it's not."


The Braves are particularly concerned with Teheran's struggles versus left-handed hitters, who are batting .326 against him compared to last year's .239 mark.


"(Lefties) still got to him last year a little bit, but it wasn't at the pace they're doing right now," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "Whether it's pitch selection or command. Looking at the video through the course on the Jumbotron, it's balls right down the middle. It's balls down the middle of the plate that we need to locate.


"We just got to figure out getting back the old Julio Teheran."


Andrelton Simmons has feasted on the Mets' pitching, going 19 for 39 (.487) with five doubles in 11 games this year. The shortstop has six hits in this series after equaling his career high with four to go with one RBI Saturday.


A.J. Pierzynski was 3 for 4 - falling a homer shy of the cycle - and scored three times. He collided with Travis d'Arnaud at the plate in the sixth, knocking the Mets' catcher out of the game with a hyperextended left elbow while scoring the decisive run.


D'Arnaud, who had a solo homer and a two-run single, returned last week from a broken hand that landed him on the disabled list for seven weeks. If he's out, New York would turn to rookie backup Kevin Plawecki, who is 5 for 10 against the Braves.


The Braves shipped infielder Phil Gosselin to Arizona late Saturday night and acquired Bronson Arroyo and 2014 first-round pick Touki Toussaint. The 38-year-old Arroyo has not pitched since undergoing Tommy John surgery last July 18, while the 19-year-old Toussaint was 2-2 with a 3.69 ERA in seven starts for Class A Kane County.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1


Mets at Braves
Fri, Jun 19 Final 1 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Mets at Braves
Sat, Jun 20 Final 4 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Mets at Braves
Sun, Jun 21 - 5:05PM EDT

Preview: Astros (40-29) at Mariners (31-37)
Game: 3
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: June 21, 2015 4:10 PM EDT

For all the struggles the Houston Astros had in their first two seasons in the AL, Seattle often proved to be an oasis in a league providing them little sustenance.


Now leading the West 70 games into their third year, they're in danger Sunday of suffering their first sweep at Safeco Field.


After Saturday's 6-3 win, the Mariners (32-37) have taken the first two of the three-game set to secure their second series win over Houston (40-30) in nine played at Safeco.


Seattle's had the benefit of not facing Jose Altuve, and that could change Sunday. The second baseman has only played one full game in the last nine because of a hamstring injury, though he's said to be nearing a return.


"I'm really anxious but like I said we still have a lot of games left," Altuve told MLB's official website. "To try to hurry for one game you can miss more games. I'm ready for whenever they decide to put me back there."


The Mariners seem to be struggling more offensively, scoring 2.8 runs per game and batting .196 over a 5-5 span, though they're hoping the hiring of two-time AL batting champion Edgar Martinez as hitting coach can help.


Half of Saturday's runs came on solo homers by Seth Smith, Nelson Cruz and Mark Trumbo. It was Trumbo's first while batting .192 in 14 games in Seattle, and Cruz went deep for the first time in 21 games after doing so 18 times through 46.


Houston, 16-11 all-time in Seattle, got solo shots from Evan Gattis and Luis Valbuena. The latter has left the yard seven times in 17 games this month despite a .175 average.


Seattle turns to J.A. Happ, who's hoping for his first win since May 9. Happ (3-3, 3.79 ERA) is 0-2 with a 4.33 ERA in his last seven starts with the losses coming in the last two. He gave up three runs and seven hits in Tuesday's 6-2 loss in San Francisco.


The left-hander hasn't been issuing an abundance of walks with 2.20 per nine innings, which would mark a career low.


Rather than tweaking anything, he might be wise to stick with what he's doing and wait out a .351 batting average of balls in play over the winless stretch that figures to come down. Additionally, his 2.29 run-support average in that stretch figures to rise.


He had a similar mindset of poor luck after allowing a two-run homer to Matt Duffy.


"Duffy hit the pitch I wanted to throw. I don't know how he hit that ball. He put a heck of a swing on it," Happ said. "... I don't know. Not many people hit that ball where it was. You just kind of shake your head."


Happ is 3-0 with a 3.48 ERA in five career starts against the Astros, but he's posted a 5.40 ERA in two this season. Chris Carter is 4 for 10 with two homers off him, but Altuve is 1 for 9 and Valbuena 0 for 6.


His best work has come at home with a 2-1 record and 1.88 ERA in six starts, and he's up against a potentially vulnerable rookie in Vincent Velasquez (0-0, 4.66).


The beginning of Velasquez's major league career was a one-start honeymoon in which he limited the Chicago White Sox to three hits in five scoreless innings of a 4-1 road loss on June 10. The right-hander issued four walks before things got ugly in his second start when he allowed five runs and seven hits with two walks in 4 2-3 innings of Tuesday's 8-5 home win over Colorado.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Astros at Mariners
Fri, Jun 19 Final 2 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Astros at Mariners
Sat, Jun 20 Final 3 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Astros at Mariners
Sun, Jun 21 - 4:10PM EDT

Preview: Padres (33-37) at Diamondbacks (33-34)
Game: 3
Venue: Chase Field
Date: June 21, 2015 4:10 PM EDT

Neither the San Diego Padres' offense nor pitching staff has met their lofty preseason expectations, but every so often their potential shines through.


After an impressive performance, the Padres look to win their first series in over two weeks Sunday against the Arizona Diamondbacks.


San Diego (34-37) notched its second-highest run total this month with Saturday's 8-1 victory, as Melvin Upton Jr. and Derek Norris homered in support of Tyson Ross, who tossed a four-hitter with nine strikeouts.


It was a welcome change of pace for the Padres, whose 4.12 team ERA ranks toward the bottom of baseball and 4.2 runs per game sits outside of the top 10.


"(Ross) was attacking. He was going right at them," manager Pat Murphy said. "It was a great team effort."


Murphy's team has lost five of seven and seeks its first series win since taking two of three at Cincinnati June 5-7.


Andrew Cashner (2-8, 4.24 ERA) will try to follow Ross' stellar effort and record his first win this month. The right-hander is 0-1 with a 7.77 ERA in four June starts since his last victory May 27.


He allowed five runs, five hits and three walks over five-plus innings before leaving without a decision in Tuesday's 6-5 loss to Oakland. Cashner has walked 12 and struck out six in his past three outings after fanning a career-best 12 against the New York Mets on June 1.


Cashner lost to Arizona (33-35) in each of his two meetings this season despite pitching well both times. He has a 1.38 ERA against the Diamondbacks, but fell victim to home runs from A.J. Pollock and Aaron Hill in a 2-1 loss on May 10.


Arizona has alternated wins and losses in its last six games, a trend it hopes to continue in the finale after Saturday's defeat.


The Diamondbacks have totaled 10 runs in their last five games, with Pollock going 2 for 18 during that span. Even Paul Goldschmidt, who leads the majors with a .358 average, has cooled, going 4 for 16.


He's 5 for 14 against Cashner with a home run.


Jeremy Hellickson (4-4, 5.10) takes the mound for Arizona with quality starts in five of his last six outings. The right-hander allowed two runs and four hits over six innings in a 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday.


Hellickson hasn't fared well at all in three career starts against the Padres, going 0-1 with an 8.00 ERA.


Will Middlebrooks hasn't enjoyed any of that success, though. He's 2 for 15 with nine strikeouts against Hellickson.


Arizona's Yasmany Tomas did not start after being hit in the elbow with a pitch Friday night, but did pinch hit late in the game.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Padres at Diamondbacks
Fri, Jun 19 Final 2 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Padres at Diamondbacks
Sat, Jun 20 Final 8 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Padres at Diamondbacks
Sun, Jun 21 - 4:10PM EDT

Preview: Giants (37-32) at Dodgers (38-30)
Game: 3
Venue: Dodger Stadium
Date: June 21, 2015 8:08 PM EDT

If the San Francisco Giants didn't have the Los Angeles Dodgers to contend with in the NL West, they might be in first place and defending a division title along with their latest World Series. But if they didn't have the Dodgers to beat up on, they might be under .500 and chasing Arizona.


If they continue their dominance in the series Sunday night at Dodger Stadium, they'll no longer be looking up at anyone in the standings and can celebrate a series feat that last happened with the help of possibly Willie Mays' greatest season.


After Saturday's 6-2 win, San Francisco (38-32) has taken nine of 11 from the Dodgers (38-31) and is in position to grab first place for the first time since May 29 with a second straight three-game sweep of Los Angeles.


"In a big sense, it's probably going to go through those guys, and we're going to have to find a way to get it done," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "... They've basically gained seven games on us in the games that we've played against them. So obviously, that's something that we have to be able to change."


Neither team has swept the other in consecutive series since 2006-07 as part of an eight-game Los Angeles winning streak. San Francisco last did it to the Dodgers in 1991 over five games, but it's been 1,088 meetings between the two since the Giants last did it in two series of at least three contests in 1954 before NL MVP Mays guided them to a World Series sweep.


Against the rest of MLB, the Giants are 29-30. The greatest difference against the Dodgers hasn't been a 23-year-old superstar patrolling center field. It's been pitching with the Giants posting a 2.66 ERA in 11 games of the rivalry and a 3.84 mark in the other 59 contests.


"Fortunately we've been able to play some good baseball against these guys when we need it," Tim Hudson said. "We'd love to be in first place, and we've put ourselves in a pretty good position to do that."


Tim Lincecum needs to be better on the road to keep that pitching going. Lincecum (7-3, 3.31 ERA) is 2-1 with a 4.88 ERA and 5.46 walks per nine innings rate in six away outings. Probably the worst of those came at Dodger Stadium as the right-hander gave up four runs and eight hits in four innings of an 8-3 loss on April 27.


He's 4-6 with a 4.02 ERA in 13 starts there. Yasiel Puig is 10 for 17 against the two-time NL Cy Young winner, but Jimmy Rollins is 7 for 43.


Lincecum is up against Brett Anderson, who's deserving better than his results. Anderson (2-4, 3.43) gave up two runs and eight hits in eight innings of Tuesday's 3-2 loss in Texas. The left-hander wasn't stuck with the decision but is 0-3 with a 3.38 ERA in his last seven starts.


He's winless in his last six at home despite a 3.28 ERA. Where he deserves his record, however, is against San Francisco, going 0-4 with a 5.67 ERA in six career starts, three of which have come this year.


Brandon Crawford (5 for 6) and Nori Aoki (4 for 6) have seen Anderson well, but he might not have to face the latter. Aoki left Saturday's game getting hit by a pitch on the ankle.


That opened the door for replacement Justin Maxwell to hit a two-run homer, which Brandon Belt duplicated, while Crawford was 2 for 3 and is batting .452 in the season series.


The Dodgers have scored seven runs on the five-game series skid, and two of those have come in the last two games on homers from Justin Turner. The third baseman has homered three times in five games and five times in his last five home games against the Giants.


Adrian Gonzalez, in a 2-for-25 slump, has a .152 average in his last 18 games against San Francisco.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Giants at Dodgers
Fri, Jun 19 Final 9 to 5
Boxscores


GAME 2
Giants at Dodgers
Sat, Jun 20 Final 6 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Giants at Dodgers
Sun, Jun 21 - 8:08PM EDT