Cnotes Sports Page For Thursday June 25th Best Bets-Trends-News !

MLB MONEYLINES


MLB > (907) SAN DIEGO@ (908) SAN FRANCISCO | 06/25/2015 - 03:45 PM
Play AGAINST SAN FRANCISCO using the money line in Home games in June games
The record is 10 Wins and 25 Losses for the last three seasons (-23.1 units)

MLB > (917) BALTIMORE@ (918) BOSTON | 06/25/2015 - 01:35 PM
Play AGAINST BOSTON using the money line in Home games against division opponents
The record is 19 Wins and 36 Losses for the last two seasons (-24.3 units)

MLB > (913) ST LOUIS@ (914) MIAMI | 06/25/2015 - 07:10 PM
Play ON ST LOUIS using the money line in All games against right-handed starters
The record is 39 Wins and 15 Losses for the this season (+22.4 units)


MLB > (901) NY METS@ (902) MILWAUKEE | 06/25/2015 - 02:10 PM
Play AGAINST MILWAUKEE using the money line in All games against right-handed starters
The record is 18 Wins and 39 Losses for the this season (-20.95 units)


MLB RUNLINE


MLB > (919) OAKLAND@ (920) TEXAS | 06/25/2015 - 02:05 PM
Play AGAINST TEXAS using the in Home games vs. division opponents
The record is 15 Wins and 37 Losses for the last two seasons (-26.65 units)

MLB > (901) NY METS@ (902) MILWAUKEE | 06/25/2015 - 02:10 PM
Play AGAINST MILWAUKEE using the in All games vs. right-handed starters
The record is 21 Wins and 36 Losses for the this season (-24.65 units)

MLB > (915) CHI WHITE SOX@ (916) DETROIT | 06/25/2015 - 01:05 PM
Play AGAINST CHI WHITE SOX using the in All games in all games
The record is 26 Wins and 44 Losses for the this season (-26.9 units)


MLB TOTALS


MLB > (907) SAN DIEGO@ (908) SAN FRANCISCO | 06/25/2015 - 03:45 PM
Play OVER SAN DIEGO on the total in All games in games played on a grass field
The record is 45 Overs and 27 Unders for the this season (+17.5 units)


MLB > (909) ATLANTA@ (910) WASHINGTON | 06/25/2015 - 04:05 PM
Play OVER ATLANTA on the total in All games in all games
The record is 42 Overs and 25 Unders for the this season (+16 units)


MLB TOP POWERLINES


MLB > (915) CHI WHITE SOX @ (916) DETROIT | 06/25/2015 - 01:05 PM
Line: DETROIT -140 BTB PowerLine: DETROIT -158
Edge On: DETROIT (18)


MLB > (917) BALTIMORE @ (918) BOSTON | 06/25/2015 - 01:35 PM
Line: BOSTON -120 BTB PowerLine: BOSTON 127
Edge On: BOSTON (27)


MLB > (919) OAKLAND @ (920) TEXAS | 06/25/2015 - 02:05 PM
Line: TEXAS +120 BTB PowerLine: TEXAS 159
Edge On: TEXAS (19)


MLB > (901) NY METS @ (902) MILWAUKEE | 06/25/2015 - 02:10 PM
Line: MILWAUKEE +120 BTB PowerLine: MILWAUKEE 149
Edge On: MILWAUKEE (9)


MLB > (903) LA DODGERS @ (904) CHICAGO CUBS | 06/25/2015 - 02:20 PM
Line: CHICAGO CUBS -130 BTB PowerLine: CHICAGO CUBS -218
Edge On: CHICAGO CUBS (88)


MLB > (905) ARIZONA @ (906) COLORADO | 06/25/2015 - 03:10 PM
Line: COLORADO -145 BTB PowerLine: COLORADO -118
Edge On: COLORADO (7)


MLB > (907) SAN DIEGO @ (908) SAN FRANCISCO | 06/25/2015 - 03:45 PM
Line: SAN FRANCISCO -125 BTB PowerLine: SAN FRANCISCO -104
Edge On: SAN FRANCISCO (1)


MLB > (909) ATLANTA @ (910) WASHINGTON | 06/25/2015 - 04:05 PM
Line: WASHINGTON -160 BTB PowerLine: WASHINGTON -135
Edge On: WASHINGTON (0)


MLB > (911) CINCINNATI @ (912) PITTSBURGH | 06/25/2015 - 07:05 PM
Line: PITTSBURGH -160 BTB PowerLine: PITTSBURGH -157
Edge On: PITTSBURGH (3)


MLB > (921) NY YANKEES @ (922) HOUSTON | 06/25/2015 - 08:10 PM
Line: HOUSTON -150 BTB PowerLine: HOUSTON -130
Edge On: HOUSTON (20)

Preview: White Sox (31-40) at Tigers (37-35)
Game: 1
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: June 25, 2015 1:08 PM EDT

The Chicago White Sox's Carlos Rodon has mostly pitched as expected in his first two months in the majors, though he's yet to face a potent Detroit Tigers lineup.


That includes a rested Miguel Cabrera, who looks to lead the Tigers to a win over the highly regarded rookie in Thursday's opener to a four-game series at Comerica Park.


Rodon (3-1, 3.75 ERA) has allowed two or fewer earned runs while throwing at least six innings in six of his first eight starts. He rebounded well from a rough outing with a 3-2 win over Texas on Saturday, yielding two runs in six innings.


The left-hander gave up seven runs in 3 2-3 innings of an 11-0 loss at Pittsburgh on June 15.


"The funny and scary thing is he can get a lot better," catcher Tyler Flowers said. "His stuff is that good that he's able to get by with missing some spots here and there. If he can hone in the command, which has gotten better, we might have two (Chris) Sales."


Rodon hasn't pitched in any of the six games against Detroit (37-35) since his April 20 call-up. The Tigers are among the major league leaders with a .272 average and .333 on-base percentage, scoring 4.3 runs per game.


Detroit scored 27 runs in a three-game win streak that was snapped with an 8-2 loss at Cleveland on Wednesday. The Tigers managed five hits with Cabrera sitting out for the second time this season.


"He'll probably end up playing 158 to 160 (games)," manager Brad Ausmus said. 'I just thought it was a good time to give him a day off. If guys get off days, get mental breaks, it refreshes them. If you're in the playoff hunt, they understand. You give them their breathers the first four months of the season."


Cabrera has batted .489 with 14 RBIs in his past 13 games but is hitting .226 in nine contests against the White Sox (31-40) this season. That's his second-worst average versus an opponent in 2015 behind a .217 mark against Kansas City.


Cabrera, though, has batted .387 in his last 37 home matchups with Chicago and has a .462 average with five homers and 19 RBIs in his last 18 overall contests at home.


Detroit's Alfredo Simon (7-4, 3.29) looks to bounce back from one of his worst outings after the right-hander matched a career high by giving up seven runs in 2 2-3 innings of a 14-3 loss to the New York Yankees on Saturday.


Simon has gone 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA in his two starts against the White Sox this season. He gave up four runs - one earned - in eight innings of the most recent matchup June 7 at Chicago, a 6-4 victory in which he earned the decision.


The White Sox won three in a row following that defeat but have dropped 10 of 13, including a 6-1 defeat at Minnesota on Wednesday. They had seven hits in that game after totaling 38 in their previous three.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
White Sox at Tigers
Thu, Jun 25 - 1:08PM EDT


GAME 2
White Sox at Tigers
Fri, Jun 26 - 7:08PM EDT


GAME 3
White Sox at Tigers
Sat, Jun 27 - 4:08PM EDT


GAME 4
White Sox at Tigers
Sun, Jun 28 - 1:08PM EDT

Preview: Orioles (37-33) at Red Sox (31-41)
Game: 3
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: June 25, 2015 1:35 PM EDT

The Boston Red Sox have underachieved even with Dustin Pedroia and Hanley Ramirez in the lineup. There's no telling how much worse things can get with them injured at the same time.


Though the severity of those injuries is uncertain, there's a good chance both will miss Thursday's finale against the visiting Baltimore Orioles.


The same night Boston (32-41) snapped a six-game skid to Baltimore with Wednesday's 5-1 victory, Ramirez bruised his left hand after being hit with a batted ball while running the bases in the fifth. An inning later, Pedroia exited with tightness in his hamstring after delivering a tiebreaking two-run single.


'It's always good to win, but when you lose two guys that are in the middle of the lineup, that's a big hit,' winning pitcher Clay Buchholz said. 'Hopefully it's just a little thing and we can get them back out there. It's two key players, everybody knows that.'


Losing both for any significant amount of time would be a huge blow for the Red Sox, who have hit .322 and averaged 6.1 runs while winning five of eight. Pedroia is batting .406 with 11 RBIs during a 17-game home hitting streak, while Ramirez is hitting .341 with 15 RBIs in his last 24 overall.


'We're still in the process of gathering all the information,' said manager John Farrell, whose club has the second-worst record in the AL.


David Ortiz is healthy and has homered twice in three games.


He's 3 for 6 with a home run this season versus Miguel Gonzalez (5-4, 3.33 ERA), who takes the ball for the first time since landing on the disabled list June 11 with a groin strain. The right-hander suffered the injury two days earlier while lasting 4 1-3 innings of a 1-0 victory over the Red Sox.


Despite a 4.11 ERA, Gonzalez is 1-0 in three starts versus Boston this season. The victory came April 19 on the road, where he's dropped a career-high three straight starts and is 2-4 with a 4.64 ERA in six. Gonzalez is 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA in six home outings.


Baltimore (37-34) averaged 6.8 runs in the previous six games against the Red Sox, but went 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position while losing for just the fifth time in 19 overall.


With two more hits, Jimmy Paredes is batting .400 (14 for 35) in his last nine games and .439 in as many against the Red Sox this season.


He didn't face Eduardo Rodriguez (3-1, 3.13) when the left-hander allowed three hits and struck out seven in six scoreless innings while opposing Gonzalez on June 9.


Rodriguez needs a better outing at Fenway Park than June 14, when he allowed nine runs, eight hits and three walks in 4 2-3 innings of a 13-5 loss to Toronto. He was able to rebound in his fifth career start Friday by yielding a run in 6 1-3 innings of a 7-3 victory at Kansas City.


"A (bounce-back) start for him, there's no doubt,' Farrell said. "There's fluidity, concentration and quality execution."


He likely won't face Adam Jones, who has missed six of the last eight with a sore shoulder and isn't expected to return until Friday.


'Improvement (Wednesday),' manager Buck Showalter said. 'We're getting there.'




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Orioles at Red Sox
Tue, Jun 23 Final 6 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Orioles at Red Sox
Wed, Jun 24 Final 1 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Orioles at Red Sox
Thu, Jun 25 - 1:35PM EDT

Preview: Athletics (32-41) at Rangers (37-34)
Game: 3
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: June 25, 2015 2:05 PM EDT

Sonny Gray allowed more earned runs in his last start than he had over his previous five, but even that wasn't enough to boost his ERA above 2.00.


Considering how he's pitched against Texas this season, it seems unlikely that mark is coming Thursday when Oakland and the Rangers complete a three-game series with the visiting Athletics seeking a season-high fifth straight win.


After Wednesday's 8-2 victory, the lineup has led the A's (33-41) to wins in eight of 10 with seven runs per game and a .308 average. They've also gone 19-11 since entering play on May 23 with an MLB-worst 14-30 record - the AL's second-best mark in that time behind Toronto.


Billy Burns is batting .375 on a career-best 14-game hitting streak, Stephen Vogt is 14 for 29 with 13 RBIs in eight games and Josh Phegley homered for the second straight game and fourth time in seven.


"It's just fun to watch those guys hit," starter Kendall Graveman said.


The A's have won four in a row against the Rangers (37-35) and haven't lost a series in Texas in over two years, going 14-4 since with 5.9 runs per game.


Texas is in danger of a season-high fifth straight loss, and the lineup is producing 2.3 runs per game with a .201 average in the last six.


Gray (8-3, 1.95 ERA), the AL's ERA leader, surrendered six runs in six innings of Friday's 12-7 home loss to the Los Angeles Angels but wasn't stuck with the decision.


"I've got to be a little better and attack the zone, and make them beat us instead of just kind of giving it away to them," said Gray, who's gone 20 2-3 innings without allowing an earned run on the road.


The A's probably don't have many doubts about him being able to do that, particularly against Texas. The right-hander had allowed four earned runs over his previous five outings, and his ERA hasn't been above 2.00 since April 17.


He's 6-3 with a 1.68 ERA in nine career starts versus the Rangers, with the last three coming this season while allowing two runs in 20 2-3 innings. At Globe Life Park, he's won all four of his starts with a 0.29 ERA, including both of his career shutouts.


Ryan Rua (4 for 9) and Shin-soo Choo (5 for 16) have had success against the A's top starter, but those 25 at_bats amount to little compared to the sub-.200 averages of Robinson Chirinos (1 for 16), Adrian Beltre (2 for 22), Mitch Moreland (1 for 11), Rougned Odor (2 for 17), Prince Fielder (2 for 14), Leonys Martin (4 for 27) and Elvis Andrus (5 for 27).


Colby Lewis has arrived at a similar season record often through different means with a 7.13 run-support average, though he was certainly deserving of his latest victory. The right-hander allowed a run and nine hits in eight innings of Friday's 2-1 victory at the Chicago White Sox.


Lewis (7-3, 4.08) was rocked for nine earned runs over 2 2-3 innings in Cleveland on May 27, but he's 3-0 with nine runs allowed over 29 in his last four starts.


"The ball was coming out of his hand very well and he was pretty much in total control of what he wanted to do," manager Jeff Banister told MLB's official website.


Lewis has allowed two earned runs in 19 innings of his last three starts against the A's, and he's 7-1 with a 2.66 ERA in his last 13. Vogt and Marcus Semien are a combined 0 for 18.


His success at Globe Life doesn't quite rival Gray's, but Lewis is 4-0 with a 2.87 ERA in eight home starts dating to September.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Athletics at Rangers
Tue, Jun 23 Final 8 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Athletics at Rangers
Wed, Jun 24 Final 8 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Athletics at Rangers
Thu, Jun 25 - 2:05PM EDT

Preview: Mets (36-36) at Brewers (26-46)
Game: 3
Venue: Miller Park
Date: June 25, 2015 2:10 PM EDT

Mets manager Terry Collins lamented New York's scoring woes before and after wasting another quality outing from Jacob deGrom late last week.


The Mets still haven't found an offensive groove ahead of deGrom's return to the hill Thursday and are looking to avoid their worst road trip in nearly 24 years in the series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers.


New York (36-37) has been outscored 31-9 during a season-worst seven-game losing streak and failed to back deGrom (7-5, 2.34 ERA) on Friday when he allowed two runs in 7 1-3 innings of a 2-1 loss to Atlanta on his 27th birthday.


The Mets lost 5-3 to the Braves in deGrom's previous start June 13 after he gave up one run in seven innings. The right-hander has more than done his part over his last seven outings, going 4-1 with a 1.42 ERA while limiting opponents to a .162 average and striking out 56 with six walks in 50 2-3 innings.


"I think I was just locating all of my pitches again," said deGrom, who suffered his first defeat since May 11. "Mixing it up and being able to locate whenever I needed to. It's frustrating (to lose)."


New York's offense stepped up when deGrom began his hot stretch May 16 against Milwaukee by allowing one run in six innings of a 14-1 victory. He's 2-1 with a 2.00 ERA in three starts against the Brewers (27-46), who won Tuesday's series opener 3-2 before winning 4-1 on Wednesday.


The Mets, who dropped below .500 for the first time since being 2-3 on April 11, finished with just three hits - including Curtis Granderson's fourth-inning homer - and are batting .159 on the trip.


Collins held a closed-door meeting following Wednesday's loss, which put New York in danger of going winless on a road swing of at least eight games for the first time since losing all 10 from August 9-18, 1991.


"I don't blame anybody. I've never done that. I never will," Collins said. "I write the lineup. It falls on my shoulders. These are the guys that are here. They're major league players. We've got to play better."


New York should see a steady diet of fastballs with hard-throwing Taylor Jungmann taking the mound for Milwaukee.


Jungmann (2-1, 3.50) made his major league debut with a win over Pittsburgh on June 9 and gave up three runs in 12 innings over his first two outings. He allowed three runs in the fourth and another in the sixth before being removed in Friday's 9-5 win at Colorado.


The right-hander is most known for his mid-90s fastball, which he threw 31 straight times to open his last outing.


"He has a Jered Weaver-type delivery, and he (throws across his body)," catcher Jonathan Lucroy said. "His fastball cuts and sinks and moves all over the place, so we really didn't have to go to anything else throughout the first time through the lineup."


Lucroy, Ryan Braun and Adam Lind each had two hits and Scooter Gennett homered Wednesday to help the Brewers get a shot at their first series sweep of the season.


Gennett is just 10 for 38 since being recalled from the minors June 11, but those hits include two homers, a triple and three doubles.


Milwaukee has held the Mets to three runs or fewer in seven straight meetings at Miller Park, winning four.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Mets at Brewers
Tue, Jun 23 Final 2 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Mets at Brewers
Wed, Jun 24 Final 1 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Mets at Brewers
Thu, Jun 25 - 2:10PM EDT

Preview: Dodgers (39-33) at Cubs (39-30)
Game: 4
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: June 25, 2015 2:20 PM EDT

The Chicago Cubs reportedly are in the market for another high-end starting pitcher to complement Jon Lester, whose last two efforts have been exactly what the club expected when he signed a $155 million deal in the offseason.


In Lester's opinion, he could've given much more in his latest outing.


He'll take the mound Thursday looking to help the Cubs win three of four against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field.


Chicago's rebuilding project under Theo Epstein was fast-tracked by the signing of Lester and hiring of manager Joe Maddon. The Cubs (39-31) are contending for a postseason spot and are rumored to be pursuing a starting pitcher before the July 31 trade deadline.


Lester (4-5, 3.80 ERA) has had his rocky moments, but he's pitched well lately. After giving up 11 runs in 9 1-3 innings while dropping his previous two starts, he allowed one run in seven innings of a 2-1 win over Cincinnati on June 14 before giving up one run and three hits in 6 1-3 of Saturday's 4-1, 10-inning victory over Minnesota.


The left-hander was surprised Maddon didn't allow him to finish the seventh after retiring the first batter.


"That's just kind of the way I've always been," Lester said. "I don't want to leave games. You feel like you always have more. But that's why you have managers and pitching coaches, to make those decisions for you. I may not be happy at the time, but I'll never second-guess a manager and what they're trying to do."


Lester went deeper in his only career start against the Dodgers on Aug. 24, 2013, giving up one run and three hits in 7 1-3 innings of a 4-2 victory while with Boston.


He'll look to help the Cubs bounce back after their four-game win streak ended with Wednesday's 5-2 loss. Center fielder Dexter Fowler didn't start for the second straight game after spraining his left ankle in Monday's opener, but has pinch-hit in both since.


Adrian Gonzalez homered in the second and Justin Turner hit a three-run shot the following inning for the NL West-leading Dodgers (40-33), who had dropped seven of nine.


Turner has homered in four of the last five games he's started.


"Justin's been that guy that I've been able to put in all different spots in the order, play in a number of spots in the field, use him in different ways," manager Don Mattingly said. "So he's a valuable piece for us, that's for sure."


Los Angeles played without Yasiel Puig, who was a late scratch because of an open callous on his left hand. It's unclear if Puig, hitting .486 with two homers, a triple and three doubles in nine career games at Wrigley, will be in the lineup for this matchup.


The Dodgers look to earn a series split as they hand the ball to Carlos Frias, who is coming off back-to-back rough outings.


Frias (4-5, 4.68) allowed four runs in 5 1-3 innings of a 4-1 loss to Texas on June 15 before giving up six runs in 5 1-3 innings of Saturday's 6-2 loss to San Francisco.


The right-hander gave up three homers in his previous nine starts but surrendered two against the Giants.


"(Those were) two big mistakes in the game, two changeups," Frias said. "You have to figure out how to make less mistakes."


Frias made a few the last time he faced the Cubs while giving up three runs and walking two in three innings of relief during the Dodgers' 8-5 win Sept. 21. He's never started against Chicago.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Dodgers at Cubs
Mon, Jun 22 Final 2 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Dodgers at Cubs
Tue, Jun 23 Final 0 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Dodgers at Cubs
Wed, Jun 24 Final 5 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 4
Dodgers at Cubs
Thu, Jun 25 - 2:20PM EDT

Preview: Padres (35-38) at Giants (38-34)
Game: 3
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: June 25, 2015 3:45 PM EDT

James Shields didn't fare well against the San Francisco Giants in October, but he's been extremely tough when facing them in the regular season.


The right-hander looks to bounce back from his first losing decision with the San Diego Padres by improving to 3-0 against the Giants during the regular season Thursday at AT&T Park.


Shields (7-1, 3.75 ERA) tossed a four-hitter in a 5-0 victory Aug. 9 in his first appearance versus San Francisco with Kansas City. However, he posted a 7.00 ERA while going 0-2 in the World Series against the Giants.


Sporting a new uniform, Shields again shined while striking out seven in seven innings and yielding just a home run to Joaquin Arias and two other hits in a 10-2 home victory over San Francisco (39-34) on April 11.


'It's a new team,' Shields said. "My job is to beat whoever I'm opposing."


Arizona became the first opponent this season to hand Shields a loss Friday, when he allowed four runs, eight hits and walked a season-high four in six innings of a 4-2 defeat.


"I think he'd like to take back a few pitches here and there," manager Pat Murphy told MLB's official website. "It wasn't his best outing but he's a fighter."


Buster Posey is 0 for 7 in the regular season versus Shields, but his grand slam helped San Francisco even this series with Wednesday's 6-0 victory. It's the only hit in 12 at_bats over the last four games for the veteran catcher, who started at first base and could spend more time there to take pressure off his body and benefit his offense.


"Anybody who's seen this team for a while knows we're willing to change the roles if it does help the team win," Posey said.


Trying to win a 10th home series in the last 11 versus San Diego (35-39), the Giants hand the ball to Chris Heston (7-5, 3.83).


The right-hander has yielded three runs and seven hits each and hasn't completed six innings while splitting his two starts since no-hitting the New York Mets on June 9. He lasted 5 2-3 innings in a 9-5 win at Dodger Stadium on Friday.


Though Heston has been far from dominant in those two outings, his teammate continue to believe in him and manager Bruce Bochy might have enough faith to keep the rookie in the rotation when Jake Peavy and Matt Cain return next month.


'He's stepped in and pitched some big games for us," Posey said. "Every time he takes the ball, I think he expects to have a good outing.'


The result wasn't what Heston hope for May 6, when he allowed five runs and matched a career high with 11 hits in five innings of a 9-1 home loss against the Padres. He's allowed 22 baserunners over nine innings in two career starts versus San Diego.


Cory Spangenberg and Alexi Amarista are a combined 7 for 10 versus Heston but are 1 for 6 in this series. Justin Upton walked three times against Heston in May, and had two of the Padres' five hits as they were shut out for a major league-high 11th time Wednesday.


"You're pressing a little bit," said Murphy, who is 3-5 since replacing the fired Bud Black. "We've got to drop that tension and play with that freedom. At the same time, they feel that urgency."




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Padres at Giants
Tue, Jun 23 Final 3 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Padres at Giants
Wed, Jun 24 - Final 0 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Padres at Giants
Thu, Jun 25 - 3:45PM EDT

Preview: Braves (35-36) at Nationals (38-33)
Game: 3
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: June 25, 2015 4:05 PM EDT

Matt Wisler made an encouraging first impression in his major league debut, and the Atlanta Braves' top pitching prospect likely will need another solid effort for a club that's struggling at the plate.


That's good news for Doug Fister, whose return to the mound for the Washington Nationals didn't go as well as he hoped.


Washington hasn't lost since Fister's last start, and he'll oppose Wisler as the Nationals look to win a sixth straight game in Thursday's series finale.


Wisler was excellent Friday when he allowed one run in eight innings of a 2-1 victory over the New York Mets. He replaced fellow rookie Mike Foltynewicz in the rotation after the struggling right-hander was sent back to the minors.


Regarded as one of baseball's top pitching prospects, the 22-year-old Wisler came over in the April 5 trade that sent closer Craig Kimbrel and outfielder Melvin Upton Jr. to San Diego.


"The debut went about as well as it could have gone," Wisler told MLB's official website. "Since then, I have just kind of taken it all in while sitting in the dugout watching games and taking in the stadiums. It still hasn't quite hit me that I'm up here."


The right-hander said he felt comfortable on the mound, and he'll have to be just as poised against the first-place Nationals (39-33), who have won a pair of low-scoring games in this series.


Anthony Rendon went 4 for 4 in Tuesday's 3-1 victory over Atlanta (35-37) before adding two more hits the next day in a 2-1 win. Ian Desmond hit a sacrifice fly in the 11th inning Wednesday that scored Bryce Harper, who led off the inning with a double.


Harper came up limping on the play but remained in the game after being checked by the training staff.


Desmond's winning RBI came on a night when he went hitless, dropping him to 4 for 37 over his last 10. Manager Matt Williams had Desmond in the starting lineup after benching him for the previous two games.


"He works and works and works," Williams said. "He's told you guys and he's told everybody that he will be OK, and he's going to work out of it.'


The Nationals have been on a roll since losing to Tampa Bay 5-3 last Thursday, when Fister gave up five runs in 5 1-3 innings.


Fister (2-3, 4.80 ERA) allowed seven runs and eight hits in two innings of an 8-3 loss to San Diego on May 14 before going on the disabled list with right forearm tightness. He pitched fewer than six innings once while posting a 2.87 ERA in his first six outings.


"It's a work in progress," Fister said. "I know I keep saying that, but that's what it is. I got back some of my base and my roots. I have to get back to what I do best, and that is go with contact. You really have to build up to it. Any time you change mechanics or change your approach, you really do have to take a little bit of time and rebuild back up to midseason strengths."


The right-hander won his first three starts with a 1.23 ERA against the Braves but is 0-1 while allowing eight runs in 12 1-3 innings over two starts this season.


Atlanta has scored one run in three straight, though, and hasn't plated more than two in five of its last six. It loaded the bases with nobody out in the ninth Wednesday and got only Kelly Johnson's sacrifice fly that sent the game to extras.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Braves at Nationals
Tue, Jun 23 Final 1 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Braves at Nationals
Wed, Jun 24 Final 1 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Braves at Nationals
Thu, Jun 25 - 4:05PM EDT

Preview: Reds (32-37) at Pirates (40-30)
Game: 3
Venue: PNC Park
Date: June 25, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

It started with A.J. Burnett allowing a career-high hit total. And now Gerrit Cole has in one start surrendered as many earned runs as he had in his previous six.


The pace the Pittsburgh pitching staff established in the middle of the month bordered on unbelievable, but the pendulum has swung the other way in the last week.


The Pirates are back to Burnett's turn in the rotation Thursday night against the Cincinnati Reds, who are seeking their first win in a road series since taking two of three in Pittsburgh from May 5-7.


Cincinnati (33-37) evened the series with Wednesday's 5-2 win after tagging Cole for all its runs. For the Pirates (40-31), it amounts to four losses in five games with a 9.97 ERA out of the starters. On the preceding eight-game win streak, their mark was 0.80.


The lineup, however, has done nothing to cover for them with 2.4 runs per game and a .187 average over the last five.


The Reds have won five of seven and eight of 10 against the Pirates, but they're 5-15 on the road dating to a loss in the last game of their May series at PNC Park. That came in a matchup between Burnett and Anthony DeSclafani, who will again oppose each other.


The 14 hits Burnett (6-3, 2.05 ERA) allowed in Friday's 4-1 loss at Washington marked new territory and resulted in four runs - three earned - in 6 2-3 innings. The right-hander is 0-2 with a 1.59 ERA in his last three starts, mostly because he's received one run of support in that span of 22 2-3 innings.


To manager Clint Hurdle, it was a performance that showed the veteran can keep Pittsburgh in games even without his best stuff.


"I don't think I've ever seen a pitcher go into the seventh giving up double-digit hits like that," Hurdle told MLB's official website. "And have the game still in hand. It wasn't his 'A' stuff. But his will to compete got things done and kept us in the ballgame."


He returns home to a 2-2 record and 1.27 ERA in six starts at PNC Park, which is tied with Scott Kazmir for the top home ERA in the majors. One of the wins came against Cincinnati, improving Burnett to 7-3 with a 2.31 ERA in his last 12 against the Reds.


Jay Bruce's recent hot streak could end if he's in the lineup. The right fielder is 14 for 30 with seven extra-base hits in seven games, but he's 3 for 31 with 11 strikeouts against Burnett.


DeSclafani (5-5, 3.48) suffered his first defeat in six starts in Saturday's 5-0 home loss to Miami. The right-hander allowed three runs and four hits with three walks and hit a batter in five innings. In his previous five outings, he had a 2.48 walks-per-nine-innings mark, but this was more reminiscent of the 4.20 mark he had over his first eight.


"I have to do a better job," DeSclafani said.


His best stuff has come on the road with a 3-2 record, 2.58 ERA and .189 opponent batting average in seven starts compared to 2-3 with 4.58 and .298 marks in seven at home.


The 25-year-old is 0-1 with a 4.09 ERA in two starts against Pittsburgh. Pedro Alvarez (3 for 6 with a home run) and Gregory Polanco (3 for 5) have hit DeSclafani well, but Josh Harrison and Starling Marte are a combined 0 for 9.


Cincinnati's Brandon Phillips missed Wednesday's game because of a jammed left thumb sustained the previous night. Phillips had surgery on the same thumb last season.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Reds at Pirates
Tue, Jun 23 Final 6 to 7
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Reds at Pirates
Wed, Jun 24 Final 5 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Reds at Pirates
Thu, Jun 25 - 7:05PM EDT

Preview: Cardinals (46-24) at Marlins (30-42)
Game: 3
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: June 25, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

Lance Lynn has been itching to get back on the mound for the St. Louis Cardinals.


The right-hander gets his chance Thursday when he comes off the disabled list looking to help the visiting Cardinals sweep the Miami Marlins.


St. Louis manager Mike Matheny and the front office never seemed too concerned when Lynn (4-4, 3.07 ERA) landed on the DL on June 12 with a forearm strain that's plagued him since his second start. He declared himself fit to return after a successful bullpen session last weekend.


"I'm just looking forward to competing again," Lynn, who last pitched June 7 at Dodger Stadium, told MLB's official website. "I've been out for two weeks and you never want to not be able to compete. So I'm just looking forward to getting back out there."


Lynn, who's had at least 15 wins in three straight seasons and logged 200-plus innings in each of the last two, went 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA in the three starts before the injury.


"He's one of our new leaders - a guy that's taken that next step in his career," Matheny said. "He wants to be one of the horses - a guy that goes out there and soaks up innings and a guy that can come in and stop a bad streak. He has the ability to do that.


"So we're excited to have him back and excited to have him feeling better."


Despite a 4.34 ERA, Lynn is 3-0 as a starter versus Miami (30-43), which has been outscored 31-16 while losing six of seven. Jaime Garcia tossed seven solid innings before leaving with a cramp and Jason Heyward homered for a third straight game Wednesday to help the Cardinals (47-24) win 6-1 - their 20th victory in 28 games.


Heyward, who has never homered in four consecutive contests, is batting .464 with four of his nine home runs and nine RBIs in the last seven.


He's 1 for 8 versus Dan Haren (6-4, 3.19), who went 2-0 with a 1.45 ERA in his first five home starts but has a 4.63 ERA while splitting the last two. The right-hander returns home after a 5-0 loss at Cincinnati on Friday in which he gave up two runs in 6 1-3 innings but didn't get a run of support for the second consecutive outing.


Haren, who began his career with the Cardinals in 2003, has a 5.59 ERA while losing both starts over the past two seasons against them.


Teammate Giancarlo Stanton clubbed his major league-leading 27th homer for one of his three hits Wednesday.


"At the end of the day, we're still getting seven to 10 hits," Stanton said. "It's a matter of how important they are."


Stanton has homered in both games of the series but is 1 for 10 with a home run and six strikeouts versus Lynn.


The Marlins will activate Jarred Cosart from the DL on Thursday and send him to the bullpen. Cosart, 1-3 with a 4.08 ERA in seven starts, hasn't been on a major league mound since May 13 because of vertigo. All of his 47 appearances have come as a starter.


"Right now, it looks like he will start out in the bullpen and ease back into it," manager Dan Jennings said.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Cardinals at Marlins
Tue, Jun 23 Final 4 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Cardinals at Marlins
Wed, Jun 24 Final 6 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Cardinals at Marlins
Thu, Jun 25 - 7:10PM EDT

Preview: Yankees (39-33) at Astros (42-31)
Game: 1
Venue: Minute Maid Park
Date: June 25, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

They didn't see them often, but the New York Yankees had their way with the Houston Astros for a decade before the series took on a different tone last year.


After struggling against not just the Yankees but all of baseball upon switching leagues in 2013, the AL West-leading Astros now seek their fifth win in seven meetings when the clubs open a four-game series in Houston on Thursday night.


New York (39-33) dominated the Astros (42-31) when they were still in the NL, winning eight of nine matchups from 2003-10. The Yankees didn't relent once Houston shifted to the AL with a 5-1 series record in '13 - including a three-game sweep to close out the Astros' franchise-record 111-loss season.


The Astros improved to 70-92 in 2014 and their results against the Yankees were a lot better with series wins in both three-game sets, which included snapping a six-game home skid against New York with a season-opening 6-2 win.


Houston won six of seven from June 12-18 but has now dropped four of six after a 2-1 road loss in 13 innings against the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday.


Their poor play on the road has kept them from creating some breathing room in the West. After losing their previous two road series, the Astros have fallen to 19-18 away from home - 8-16 since May 8.


It's been a far different story at Minute Maid Park, where Dallas Keuchel (8-3, 2.35 ERA) will take the hill looking to help Houston win for the 16th time in 21 contests.


With the AL's third-best ERA, Keuchel's 4.02 run-support average has been more than enough to put him among the major league wins leaders. The left-hander may get a bit more Thursday since Houston has hit .341 with 36 homers, 34 doubles and 101 runs scored in its previous 20 at home.


Keuchel has gone 6-0 there with a 1.62 ERA and .188 opponent batting average. His previous start, however, came in Seattle on Saturday and he allowed season highs of five runs, three homers and four walks in six innings of a 6-3 loss.


"After getting spotted two runs early, off a good pitcher, I've got to take advantage of that and I didn't," he told MLB's official website. "So hats off to them for being patient and putting some good wood on three pitches."


Keuchel's only start against the Yankees was a decent one in which he gave up three runs in eight innings on Aug. 21, but Houston's bats were silenced in Brandon McCarthy's four-hitter.


Opposing him will be right-hander Adam Warren (5-4, 3.62), who may give Houston a chance to keep its offense surging at home since he's 2-3 with a 4.91 ERA in seven road starts compared to 3-1 with a 2.21 mark in six at Yankee Stadium.


Warren, who has never started against Houston, is coming off his longest outing of 2015 after working eight innings and allowing two runs in a 7-2 home win over Detroit on Friday. He struck out seven and tossed a career-high 110 pitches.


"I thought he was outstanding," manager Joe Girardi said. "He was as good as he's been all year, and we pushed him. And he was outstanding."


New York, which has dropped four of six on the road, snapped a three-game skid in which it allowed 34 runs with a 10-2 home win over Philadelphia on Wednesday.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Yankees at Astros
Thu, Jun 25 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 2
Yankees at Astros
Fri, Jun 26 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Yankees at Astros
Sat, Jun 27 - 4:10PM EDT


GAME 4
Yankees at Astros
Sun, Jun 28 - 2:10PM EDT

Preview: Diamondbacks (34-36) at Rockies (31-39)
Game: 3
Venue: Coors Field
Date: June 25, 2015 3:10 PM EDT

It's tough for a starting pitcher to carve out a name for himself in the NL West with the Kershaws, Bumgarners and Greinkes of the division hogging headlines and awards.


Jorge De La Rosa has been trying for eight years to no avail, and in addition to an ERA consistently north of five cramping his style, having someone by the same surname showing signs of passing him by can't be helping.


Rubby De La Rosa has done that in recent starts, though staking a claim as the more productive De La Rosa hasn't required much and is up for grabs Thursday when the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies complete a poorly pitched three-game series.


The two have never appeared in the same game, but if the series thus far is any worthwhile indication, they're both doomed. After Arizona's 8-7 win Wednesday, only one of the set's four starters has made it the requisite five innings to qualify for a win.


Over the last 11 games between the two clubs, pitchers have been mere middlemen with the Rockies averaging 6.5 runs and batting .311, while the Diamondbacks are at 6.3 and .323. Colorado's starting staff has a 6.35 ERA and Arizona's a 6.87.


Arizona (35-36) got four hits from Yasmany Tomas for the first time Wednesday, and the rookie is batting .349 in his last 32 games. Paul Goldschmidt homered and is batting .429 with 31 RBIs in his last 24 against the Rockies.


The Diamondbacks are a game away from getting back to .500 for the first time since being 8-8 on April 24, while Colorado (31-40) saw a three-game winning streak end after blowing a two-run lead in the ninth.


Nolan Arenado is batting .372 on an 11-game hitting streak, while Troy Tulowitzki is hitting .421 on a 14-gamer at Coors and .417 in his last 37 against Arizona.


The Rockies haven't scored under four runs in eight games, averaging 6.3 with 31 extra-base hits, but they've gone 3-5 thanks to a 7.50 ERA from the rotation.


Among the struggling arms on each team, it seems Rubby De La Rosa (6-3, 4.96 ERA) at least has grown tired of serving up batting practice.


The right-hander has won his last two starts with a 0.60 ERA over 15 innings. He gave up two runs - one earned - and five hits in seven innings of Friday's 4-2 home win over San Diego. Arizona hopes he's turning a corner after posting a 5.84 ERA though 12 starts.


"He's getting better mentally because he's always had really good stuff," catcher Welington Castillo told MLB's official website. "That's part of my job to calm him down because it's not easy to get rid of bad habits. I just try to calm him down and let him make the pitch that he needs to make."


The 26-year-old has won both of his starts against Colorado with a 3.27 ERA, though they came back in 2011 with the Los Angeles Dodgers.


Jorge De La Rosa (4-3, 5.47) gave up six runs and 11 hits with three walks in five innings of Friday's 9-5 home loss to Milwaukee, dropping to 2-2 with a 7.56 ERA in seven starts at Coors.


"It wasn't only the first inning. It was all the innings," said De La Rosa, who allowed three runs in the first inning. "I did the same thing. That's why we lost the game. With the stuff I had today, it's nothing I can live with. Anyone can see it."


The left-hander is also 0-4 with a 5.34 ERA in his last five starts against Arizona.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Diamondbacks at Rockies
Tue, Jun 23 Final 5 to 10
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Diamondbacks at Rockies
Wed, Jun 24 Final 8 to 7
Boxscores


GAME 3
Diamondbacks at Rockies
Thu, Jun 25 - 3:10PM EDT

Preview: Lynx (5-2) at Storm (2-4)


Date: June 25, 2015 10:00 PM EDT

The Minnesota Lynx had few problems beating the Seattle Storm earlier this month at home but road games in last season's series were a different story.


They'll try to keep their losing streak in Seattle brief and avoid dropping back-to-back games for the first time this season in Thursday night's rematch.


Minnesota (5-2) never trailed in a 94-70 rout of Seattle on June 11, its 10th consecutive home victory in the series and 16th in the past 20 overall meetings, including playoffs. Reserve Tricia Liston's 15 points paced five players in double figures in the team's highest-scoring performance this season.


The Lynx didn't have nearly as easy of a time against Tulsa on Sunday, losing 86-78.


"It's a long season and games like this absolutely don't feel good," forward Maya Moore said. "If we can look back on this and remember this feeling, I'll take it."


The 86 points were the most allowed this season by Minnesota, which is among the league leaders with 70.3 yielded per game. Tightening their defense was a focus of Tuesday's practice.


"I think our players are thinking too much about their offense," coach Cheryl Reeve, whose team is third in the league with 77.1 points a contest. "We have to understand where our bread is buttered, and that's when we play great defense."


The Lynx outshot the Storm 53.0-38.1 percent earlier this month but had accuracy issues in their two trips to Seattle last season, especially from beyond the arc. They shot a combined 40.6 percent and went 4 of 23 from 3-point range against a team that finished tied for the league's worst record.


The Storm (2-4) seem to be headed for a similar finish after an 84-72 defeat to Phoenix on Sunday. Seattle got within two points of the Mercury on Sue Bird's basket with 5:18 remaining but was outscored 13-3 after that.


"We still had chances to stay in it, but we didn't really execute down the stretch," Bird told the team's official website. "It is a work in progress, but obviously today we played much better, much tougher, than we did (in a 79-58 loss to Connecticut on June 16) and we just have to keep getting better."


Seattle has dropped its past two at home since an 86-61 win over Los Angeles in its season opener June 6. Minnesota is 3-1 on the road and has won back-to-back away games.




WNBA HEAD TO HEAD


Jun 11, 2015 Score ATS Results
SEA 70 Over: 164
MIN « 94 Cover: 10.5
Tools: Recaps


Jul 13, 2014 Score ATS Results
SEA 60 Under: 137
MIN « 77 Cover: 9
Tools: Recaps


Jun 29, 2014 Score ATS Results
SEA 69 Cover: 4
MIN « 74 Under: 143
Tools: Recaps


Jun 27, 2014 Score ATS Results
MIN 71 Over: 152
SEA « 81 Cover: 16.5
Tools: Recaps


Jun 6, 2014 Score ATS Results
MIN 62 Under: 127
SEA « 65 Cover: 9
Tools: Recaps

Standings

EASTERN CONFERENCE


Team Win Loss Percent GB Home Away Conf. Last 10 Streak


Connecticut Sun 6 1 .857 0 2-1 4-0 3-1 6-1 W-6


Washington Mystics 5 2 .714 1 2-2 3-0 4-1 5-2 W-2


Chicago Sky 4 3 .571 2 2-0 2-3 3-2 4-3 W-2


New York Liberty 4 3 .571 2 3-2 1-1 3-3 4-3 W-1


Indiana Fever 3 5 .375 3.5 1-3 2-2 2-4 3-5 L-1


Atlanta Dream 3 6 .333 4 2-3 1-3 2-6 3-6 L-2

WESTERN CONFERENCE


Team Win Loss Percent GB Home Away Conf. Last 10 Streak


Tulsa Shock 6 1 .857 0 3-0 3-1 4-1 6-1 W-6


Minnesota Lynx 5 2 .714 1 2-1 3-1 4-2 5-2 L-1


Phoenix Mercury 3 3 .500 2.5 2-1 1-2 3-0 3-3 W-1


Seattle Storm 2 4 .333 3.5 1-2 1-2 2-3 2-4 L-2


Los Angeles Sparks 0 5 .000 5 0-3 0-2 0-3 0-5 L-5


San Antonio Stars 0 6 .000 5.5 0-3 0-3 0-4 0-6 L-6

Updated Wed Jun 24 3:37 PM EDT

Schedules

SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAY JUNE 25, 2015


Time (ET) Away Home Site


8:00 PM Phoenix Mercury San Antonio Stars Freeman Coliseum


10:00 PM Minnesota Lynx Seattle Storm KeyArena




SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY JUNE 26, 2015


Time (ET) Away Home Site


7:00 PM Chicago Sky Indiana Fever Bankers Life Fieldhouse


7:00 PM Los Angeles Sparks Connecticut Sun Mohegan Sun Arena


7:30 PM Washington Mystics Atlanta Dream Philips Arena


8:00 PM New York Liberty Tulsa Shock Bank of Oklahoma Center




SCHEDULE FOR SATURDAY JUNE 27, 2015

Time (ET) Away Home Site


8:00 PM Phoenix Mercury Minnesota Lynx Target Center


8:00 PM Seattle Storm San Antonio Stars Freeman Coliseum




SCHEDULE FOR SUNDAY JUNE 28, 2015


Time (ET) Away Home Site


3:00 PM Los Angeles Sparks New York Liberty Madison Square Garden


4:00 PM Chicago Sky Washington Mystics Verizon Center


7:00 PM Seattle Storm Tulsa Shock Bank of Oklahoma Center




SCHEDULE FOR TUESDAY JUNE 30, 2015


Time (ET) Away Home Site


7:00 PM Indiana Fever Connecticut Sun Mohegan Sun Arena


8:00 PM New York Liberty Chicago Sky Allstate Arena


10:00 PM San Antonio Stars Phoenix Mercury US Airways Center


10:00 PM Tulsa Shock Seattle Storm KeyArena




Updated Thu Jun 25 2:04 AM EDT

2015 NBA Mock Draft


June 22, 2015


There’s still one last opportunity to squeeze a profit out of the 2014-15 NBA season.


That’s what’s going through the minds of the key decision makers on the league’s 30 teams as we hit draft week. It should be your primary motivation too.


NBA Draft props have become a nice source of income for investors, especially if you can find a book that provides a healthy variety of options to consider. There aren’t many available as we start the week, but look for them to pop us as we get closer to Thursday’s festivities.


For now, Sportsbook.ag has a sole prop available on the No. 1 pick, installing Kentucky center Karl-Anthony Towns as a heavy favorite (-1000), listing him ahead of Duke center Jahlil Okafor (+300). Latvia’s Kristaps Porzingis (+2000), Ohio State’s D'Angelo Russell (+4000) and the field (-3000) are available (+3000).


TopBet.eu has a few variations, lumping Towns and Okafor in a prop where you can lay significant juice (-320) if you believe the duo will indeed go 1-2. There’s value (+240) if you believe the Lakers will bite on Russell or Porzingis instead of grabbing Okafor, though I wouldn’t recommend it. They’ve paired Porzingis (-150) with point guard Emmanuel Mudiay (+120) in a wager on who will be drafted first that’s definitely worth monitoring. Over-unders on draft position are also currently available on Duke’s Justise Winslow (5.5.), Wisconsin’s Frank Kaminsky (13.5) and Duke’s Tyus Jones (17.5).


Bovada.lv created a prop pairing Russell (-140) and Porzingis (+100) as to who will be selected first. They've also got draft position props on Mudiay (5.5), Winslow (6), Kentucky's Willie Cauley-Stein (8.5), Kaminsky (12.5) and Kentucky's Trey Lyles (12.5).


Those over-unders are the type of props you’ll see increasingly available at numerous shops in the coming days, so the aim here is to provide a guide for what to expect. The following first-round mock should hold up well as teams look to come away with building blocks in what appears to be a fairly deep draft given the upside available among the top 20 prospects. Use it wisely.


1. Minnesota - Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Kentucky: He worked out this weekend for the Timberwolves, the only team who got to see him showcase his skills in a workout. They won’t pass him over.


2. L.A. Lakers - Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke: There’s a good chance he ends up being the best player in this draft considering he often looked bored at Duke and has already gotten in much better shape than he ever was in college. His offensive gifts are undeniable. His defense won’t be as bad as it’s looked.


3. Philadelphia - D'Angelo Russell, G, Ohio State: The 76ers traded Michael Carter-Williams because they were scared of moving forward with a point guard that couldn’t shoot straight. They won’t let an opportunity to grab one that can slip through their fingers.


4. New York - Kristaps Porzingis, F/C, Latvia: The hype machine on him has been working OT, swearing up and down he won’t be the next European bust. He’s got size and a feathery touch that will be an asset down the road, but he’s more of a project than anyone ahead of him on this list. Don’t let anyone tell you different.


5. Orlando - Justise Winslow, F/G, Duke: He’s smart, a winner and a terrific athlete. As the surest thing at No. 5, look for the Magic to pull the trigger on the 19-year-old.


6. Sacramento - Willie Cauley-Stein, F/C, Kentucky: Keep an eye on whether Mudiay relents on his decision to not work out for the Kings, because he’ll be in the mix. Still, getting DeMarcus Cousins’ top choice wouldn’t be a bad way to go for new VP Vlade Divac, especially since he does bring game-changing defensive potential to the table almost immediately.


7. Denver - Emmanuel Mudiay, G, Guangdong: Considered the top prep guard in the country prior to opting for an early start to his pro career, he’d be the perfect replacement for Ty Lawson, who the Nuggets are actively shopping.


8. Detroit - Mario Hezonja, F/G, Croatia: Stan Van Gundy loves versatile forwards and has just added Ersan Ilyasova from Milwaukee, so he’s remaking his frontcourt in his vision with Greg Monroe set to walk.


9. Charlotte - Devin Booker, G/F, Kentucky: Not too complicated - best shooter on the board at a time where that’s what they need most.


10. Miami - Stanley Johnson, F, Arizona: The Heat will move on from Luol Deng sooner than later and have an opportunity to draft a steal with the last lottery pick they hope to make for a very long time.


11. Indiana - Frank Kaminsky, F, Wisconsin: With David West and Roy Hibbert nearing the end of their tenure with the Pacers, picking up someone who can apprentice while also bringing something new to the table as a versatile offensive threat to aid the second unit.


12. Utah - Myles Turner, F/C, Texas: His frontcourt versatility would be an asset that would complement the emerging combo of Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert quite nicely.


13. Phoenix - Sam Dekker, F, Wisconsin: A versatile forward to add to the arsenal. The Suns could go in any direction here, including trading the pick entirely.


14. OKC - Cameron Payne, G, Murray State: Long tied to the Thunder, he’d be the change of pace point guard off the bench they want in order to start cutting back some of Russell Westbrook’s minutes.


15. Atlanta - Trey Lyles, F/C, Kentucky: He’s got size and versatility. On many boards, he’d be the prospect with the most upside here.


16. Boston - Bobby Portis, F, Arkansas: The Celtics vow to be active on draft night, so they may not even be making this pick. The reigning SEC Player of the Year has impressed with his length and motor.


17. Milwaukee - Kevon Looney, F, UCLA: The Milwaukee native would bring a little extra juice as this selection if the Bucks don’t trade out of this spot.


18. Houston - Tyus Jones, G, Duke: The Rockets can’t wait to have Patrick Beverley healthy again, but need another playmaking guard who can stretch the floor. Jones is a proven winner.


19. Washington - Jerian Grant, G, Notre Dame: A local product whose maturity and swiss-army knife skills could provide an instant boost.


20. Toronto - Montrezl Harrell, F, Louisville: The Raptors had him in against Looney and love his wingspan and athleticism. GM Masai Ujiri drafted Kenneth Faried once too.


21. Dallas - Kelly Oubre, G/F, Kansas: Athletic wing is raw, but his upside is the highest remaining at this point.


22. Chicago - R.J. Hunter, G, Georgia State: New coach Fred Hoiberg is going to need to tweak the roster to play a faster pace. Adding the best shooter left in the draft fits.


23. Portland - Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, F/G, Arizona: Athletic wing has to develop his jumper, but can step in and help defend right away.


24. Cleveland - Rakeem Christmas, F/C, Syracuse: With his 7-5 wing span, the Cavs could wrap up a rim protector who really helped himself at the combine.


25. Memphis - Delon Wright, G, Utah: The Grizzlies could use another standout defender and can groom him to be an asset behind Mike Conley.


26. San Antonio - Justin Anderson, G/F, San Antonio: He’s out of central casting to join what could be the Spurs’ last stand as title contenders.


27. L.A. Lakers - Terry Rozier, G, Louisville: Would’ve likely been drafted higher if not for off-court concerns, so the Lakers won’t be able to resist the value.


28. Boston - Olivier Hanlan, G, Boston College: Celtics know what kind of kid he is. He’d offer a different look at guard from the likes of Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley.


29. Brooklyn - Jarell Martin, F, LSU: Aids the push for increased athleticism up front. College teammate Jordan Mickey is worth a look here too.


30. Golden State – Joseph Young, G, Oregon: He’ll get buckets in the pros. Adds another shooter to the arsenal for the Splash Bros. to work out with daily.

Blazers send Batum to Hornets for two


June 24, 2015


CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) A person familiar with the situation says the Charlotte Hornets have agreed to trade guard Gerald Henderson and power forward Noah Vonleh to Portland for small forward Nic Batum.


The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity Thursday night because the trade has not been approved by the NBA.


The 6-foot-8, 200-pound Batum spent the last seven seasons with Portland. He started 71 games in 2014-15, averaging 9.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists.


The Hornets finished last in the league last season in 3-point shooting. Batum is a career 36 percent 3-point shooter, although he shot a career-low 32.4 percent last season.


Henderson is the longest-tenured player on Charlotte's roster. Vonleh was the No. 9 overall pick in 2014.

Love opts out of contract with Cavaliers


June 24, 2015


CLEVELAND (AP) A person familiar with the decision says Cavaliers forward Kevin Love has opted out of the final year of his contract and will be a free agent on July 1.


Love came to Cleveland last summer in a blockbuster trade. He had a Thursday deadline to inform the Cavs of his plans. The former All-Star has said he wants to return to the Cavs, who made it to the NBA Finals this season despite not having Love after he suffered a shoulder injury in the first round.


Love can test the market, where he will likely draw major interest. He has to decide if he'd rather go elsewhere or stay in Cleveland and chase an NBA title with superstar LeBron James.


While his role changed during his first season with Cleveland, Love still averaged 16.4 points and 9.7 rebounds in 75 starts.

Ellis declining $8.7M option with Mavs


June 24, 2015


DALLAS (AP) Monta Ellis is declining the player option for the final year of his contract with the Dallas Mavericks and will become an unrestricted free agent.


The guard's agent, Jeff Fried, said Wednesday the decision ''wasn't about Dallas as much as it was about what's best for Monta.''


Ellis was set to make $8.7 million in the final year of a three-year, $25 million contract. Fried didn't rule out a return to Dallas, but the Mavericks are expected to make a push for either All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge or center DeAndre Jordan in free agency.


The 29-year-old Ellis led Dallas at 18.9 points per game last season. He is one of three starters headed to free agency along with point guard Rajon Rondo, who won't return, and center Tyson Chandler.

Magic trade Ridnour to Grizzlies


June 24, 2015


ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) A person familiar with the deal says The Orlando Magic have agreed to send reserve point guard Luke Ridnour to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for the rights to forward Janis Timma.


The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the deal has not officially been announced. The trade was first reported by Yahoo Sports.


The 34-year-old Ridnour appeared in 47 games last season for the Magic, averaging four points and two assists per game. He has played a total of 12 seasons in the NBA for five different teams.


Timma, a 6-foot-7 Latvian, was drafted by Memphis 30th overall in 2013. He has yet to play a regular season NBA game and currently plays in Europe.