MLB Betting Info - Saturday 4/9

MLB betting cheat sheet: Rewriting hi-Story
By JESSE SCHULE


With baseball back in full swing, we bring back our betting cheat sheet to help you 'cap the boys of summer. Jesse Schule gives you a comprehensive look at betting notes for this weekend's major-league schedule.


Houston... we have a problem


The Astros were out-scored 27-16 while losing two of three to the Yankees in the Bronx, and they will open a new series in Milwaukee on Friday. Their bullpen was a strength in 2015, but so far the Astros relievers have surrendered 14 runs over 12 2/3 innings in the first three games of 2016. If this trend continues it might be worth keeping an eye on the totals, and particularly in this series with the Brewers. Nine of Houston's last 10 games at Miller Park have gone over.


Cardinals grounded


The St. Louis Cardinals are off to their worst start in nine years, opening the season with three straight losses in Pittsburgh. Their big bats couldn't get anything done against the Pirates pitching, with Matt Carpenter going 1-for-11 in the series, and Matt Holliday and Randal Grichuk each going 1-for-10. They head to Atlanta to start a new series versus the Braves on Friday, and they may continue to struggle here. Atlanta has won the last four games in this series, and nine of the last 11 at Turner Field.


Rewriting hi-Story


Rookie shortstop Trevor Story is the first player in history to hit home runs in each of his first three major league games. Since he plays for the Rockies, so some might assume that Coors Field has aided his prolific start. In fact the Rockies started the season on the road at Arizona, and all four of his home runs so far came at Chase Field. The Rockies open a home series versus the Padres Friday, and he should have a chance to continue to produce against a struggling San Diego pitching staff.


Hitting Notes


*The Padres ranked dead last in the majors with a .243 batting average last season, and after losing three straight at home to the Dodgers, they have yet to score a run in 2016. They head into Colorado batting just .120 so far, and they haven't had a lot of success in Colorado in recent seasons. The Padres are 10-21 in their last 31 at Coors Field.


*Starlin Castro is off to a flying start in New York. The 26 year old shortstop homered twice, going 7-for-12 in a three game series versus Houston. The Yankees are in Detroit this weekend, and Castro is 3-for-9 at Comerica Park over the last three seasons.


Pitching Notes


*Jose Fernandez had won 17 straight starts in Miami, but his perfect career home record came to an end this week in a loss to Detroit. He gave up five runs on five hits, but also struck out 13 battters over 5 2/3 innings. His next start will come on the road at New York opposite Noah Syndergaard.


*Jacob deGrom will make his season debut at home versus Philadelphia Friday. He was 6-4 with a 1.99 ERA in 15 starts in New York last season, and he's 2-0 with a 3.34 ERA in five starts against Philly lifetime. He's coming off a fantastic Spring Training, going 1-0 with a 1.62 ERA, striking out 15 batters in 16 innings.


Injury Notes


*The Indians will be short-handed in their weekend series in Chicago, as both Lonnie Chisenhall and Michael Brantley have been placed on the 15 day disabled list.


*Veteran catcher Buster Posey will sit out Friday's game against the Dodgers, just to get him a day off to rest.


Total Trend


Three teams, the Yankees, Astros and Marlins have began the season hitting the over in their first three games. Meanwhile the Orioles and Twins have hit the under in all three of their opening games.

Preview: Red Sox (2-1) at Blue Jays (2-3)

Game: 2
Venue: Rogers Centre
Date: April 09, 2016 1:07 PM EDT

The Boston Red Sox have had little trouble scoring runs in the opening week of the season, while a shaky bullpen has been the major reason for the Toronto Blue Jays' early struggles.

Following a come-from-behind victory in this series opener, the visiting Red Sox look to remain productive while trying to hand the Blue Jays a fourth straight defeat Saturday.

Brock Holt hit his first career grand slam and had a career-high five RBIs as Boston (2-1) rallied from five runs down to beat Toronto 8-7 on Friday. Xander Bogaerts had three hits and David Ortiz added two RBIs for the Red Sox, who have totaled six homers and 20 runs in three games.

'(This was a) big win for us,' said Holt, whose two homers this week matched his 2015 output in 454 at-bats. 'It showed a lot.'

The Red Sox are in position to score at least six runs in their opening four games for the first time since 1995.

"We're swinging the bat very well,' manager John Farrell said. 'There's a lot of fight in this team.'

Holt is 6 for 12 with eight RBIs, Hanley Ramirez is 6 for 13 and Ortiz 5 for 13 with two home runs and five driven home.

While Boston's offense broke through, its relievers kept the Blue Jays (2-3) to two hits after starter Joe Kelly allowed all seven runs in three-plus innings.

Toronto's bullpen, meanwhile, failed to hold a lead for the third consecutive contest. After pitching five scoreless innings in the first two games, the Blue Jays relievers have given up eight runs and 10 hits - three homers - over 6 2-3 innings of this swoon.

'We really anticipate that's going to be one of our strengths,' Toronto manager John Gibbons said. 'It just hasn't happened yet.'

R.A. Dickey lasted five-plus innings Monday, but was glad to prevail after yielding three runs and six hits in the 5-3 victory at Tampa Bay.

"This is my fourth year with the team and it's my first win in my opening start, so hopefully it's a sign of good things to come," the right-hander told the Blue Jays' official website.

Though Dickey went 0-3 with a 4.62 ERA in six starts against the Red Sox last season, he gave up three runs in 12 innings of the last two.

Mookie Betts is 0 for 10 in the last two games but was 6 for 17 with two triples against Dickey in 2015.

Limited to the designated hitter role because of a calf issue, Toronto's Josh Donaldson clubbed a grand slam to highlight a six-run fourth inning. Three of his five hits in 21 at-bats have left the park.

Donaldson went 5 for 12 with a home run in 2015 against Boston's Rick Porcello, who looks for a better season after going 9-15 with a 4.92 ERA in 28 start. The right-hander was 2-2 with a 6.45 ERA against the Blue Jays.

"He's capable of better," Farrell told the team's official website. "He has shown that."

Porcello didn't help his cause by going 0-2 with a 9.77 ERA in four spring training starts.

"The numbers are what they are but at this point in my career it's about getting prepared and doing what I have to do to set myself up to have a quality season for us," Porcello said.

Troy Tulowitzki is 2 for 17 with nine strikeouts, and 1 for 7 against Porcello.

Preview: Pirates (4-0) at Reds (3-1)


Game: 2
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date April 09, 2016 1:10 PM EDT


The Pittsburgh Pirates have their eyes on a National League Central title this season. The continued progression of ace Gerrit Cole is a big reason why.


The electric right-hander makes his season debut Saturday when the Pirates continue their three-game series with the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.


Cole was limited this spring with a rib injury that also kept him out of the Pirates' season-opening series with St. Louis, but the former No. 1 overall pick is ready to follow up the best season of his young career.


The 25-year-old Cole finished fourth in NL Cy Young Award balloting after going 19-8 with a 2.60 ERA in 2015. He also struck out 202 batters - good for 10th in the NL - over 208 innings.


However, Cole did not pitch well in Pittsburgh's wild-card loss to Chicago, as he allowed four runs and six hits over five innings.


No team, though, has had more success versus Cole than the Reds (3-1). Cole is 0-4 with a 5.23 ERA against them in six starts. Cincinnati beat him three times in four starts a year ago, as Cole finished with a 5.95 ERA after surrendering 13 earned runs in 19 2/3 innings.


Cole has had a particularly tough time handling Brandon Phillips, who is 6 for 14 lifetime in their matchups.


Pittsburgh has a chance to open 5-0 for the first time since 1983 after rallying to defeat Cincinnati 6-5 in the series opener Friday night on Sterling Marte's first career grand slam in the eighth inning. J.J. Hoover - in his first opportunity since replacing departed closer Aroldis Chapman - served up the homer that led to the Reds' first loss.


"It was just a slider that hung up," said Hoover, who was only 1 of 7 in save chances last year when Chapman was unavailable. "I didn't execute that pitch to the best of my ability and he got it."


Marte's homer was the first by the Pirates this season.


"We talked about it before he went up, that it would be a good time for the first home run as a team," shortstop Jordy Mercer said. "We started screaming. Everybody in the dugout was yelling."


Before Marte's homer, the Pirates were 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11 runners.


Heading to the hill for the Reds on Saturday will be righty Raisel Iglesias (0-0, 3.00 ERA), who pitched well without getting a decision on opening day. Despite allowing the leadoff hitter to hit safely in four of his six innings, Iglesiasonly allowed two runs and six hits. He also struck out seven without issuing a walk.


"He made big pitches and gave us six innings, when at times it looked like it would be a challenge to get through four with his pitch count," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "He clutched up for us big time there and got us throughsix."


Iglesias is 1-1 with a 6.52 ERA lifetime against the Pirates, giving up seven runs and 10 hits in 9 2/3 innings.


Pittsburgh has won five of its last six against the Reds.

Preview: Yankees (2-2) at Tigers (3-0)


Game: 2
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: April 09, 2016 1:10 PM EDT


It's been just over six months since CC Sabathia shockingly checked himself into rehab one day before the New York Yankees' AL wild card game.


On Saturday, the former Cy Young Award winner will be back on the mound for his first meaningful start since.


After a troubling 2015, Sabathia hopes to cement his spot at the back end of the rotation by helping the Yankees even a four-game set while handing the host Detroit Tigers their first loss.


There might not be a more anticipated early-season game for the Yankees (2-2) after the concerning finish to Sabathia's 15th big-league season. The 6-foot-6, 300-pound left-hander checked himself into an alcohol rehabilitation center Oct. 5 before the team's 3-0 loss to Houston a day later.


Sabathia opened up publicly about his personal three-year struggle, which hit rock bottom following a weekend drinking binge in Baltimore and left question marks about his career. Last season opened miserably on the mound, though he was effective late while wearing a new knee brace and finished 6-10 with a 4.73 ERA.


He won the fifth spot in the 2016 rotation over Ivan Nova despite going 1-3 with a 5.51 ERA in five spring training starts spanning 16 1-3 innings. New York owes Sabathia $25 million both this year and in 2017, unless he has a significant shoulder injury.


Becoming the first Yankees starter to make it out of the sixth inning would mark a good start. Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda and Nathan Eovaldi failed to do it while surrendering a combined 13 earned runs in an opening series against Houston, and Luis Severino allowed three in five innings of Friday's 4-0 loss at Comerica Park.


"You need to get some distance out of your starters," manager Joe Girardi said. "I know it's early in the season, I understand that."


Sabathia's first test comes against a predominantly right-handed Detroit lineup. Miguel Cabrera went 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs on Friday, while Nick Castellanos had four of the Tigers' 13 hits.


Cabrera has batted .297 against Sabathia with three home runs and 14 RBIs in 37 at-bats. Jose Iglesias (.462), J.D. Martinez (.333) and Jarrod Saltalamacchia (.333) all have had success against Sabathia.


Right-handed hitters batted .312 against him the last two seasons. Twenty five of his career high-tying 28 home runs allowed last season came from right-handed batters. The Tigers (3-0) tagged Miami left-hander Wei-Yin Chen for five runs in five innings in the season opener and have scored 19 runs on 38 hits through three games.


The Yankees pounded out 29 hits for 24 runs in consecutive victories over Houston but managed just three singles in Friday's series opener.


Starlin Castro went 0 for 4 in the No. 3 spot with Alex Rodriguez and Carlos Beltran out of the starting lineup. Castro hit two homers and drove in eight runs against the Astros, the most by any player in his opening three games with the Yankees since RBIs became an official stat in 1920.


New York hopes its bats heat up again Saturday against 11-year veteran Mike Pelfrey, who makes his Tigers debut after signing a two-year, $16 million deal in December.


The right-hander went 6-11 with a 4.26 ERA in 30 starts for Minnesota in 2015 after dealing with elbow, groin and shoulder injuries the year before. He earned a rotation spot after a promising spring in which he went 2-2 with a 2.66 ERA in five starts.


"I always say, when healthy I feel like I can get people out," Pelfrey said back in February. "I feel good, so I expect big things."


Catcher Brian McCann is also off to a hot start for New York with five hits in 11 at-bats, including a double and a home run. He has crushed Pelfrey with a .452 average in 42 career at-bats with eight doubles, two homers and 11 RBIs.

Preview: Indians (2-1) at White Sox (3-2)


Game: 2
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: April 09, 2016 2:10 PM EDT


The Chicago White Sox got off to an encouraging start to the season behind a solid showing from Chris Sale on opening day.


There were very few positives for the White Sox in their home opener.


Sale looks to help Chicago bounce back from a forgettable performance Saturday against the Cleveland Indians.


The White Sox (3-2) returned to the South Side in high spirits after taking three of four in Oakland. They went 10 for 30 with runners in scoring position and allowed 10 total runs.


Neither the timely hitting nor strong pitching carried over to a blustery U.S. Cellular Field on Friday, as the White Sox managed three hits in a 7-1 loss. Down 5-0 in the second inning, Avisail Garcia was picked off first base for Chicago, which looked more like the team that lost 86 games last season than one that hopes to contend in the AL Central this year.


Todd Frazier was one of the team's few bright spots, homering and singling in his White Sox home debut.


'It's very frustrating,' Frazier said. 'We've been doing our jobs the last four games and coming out hot. Games like this happen. We couldn't really find a groove there with everybody, and that's just the way it goes.'


They'll look to get back on track behind Sale, who gave up three runs while striking out eight over seven innings in Monday's 4-3 win. The hard-throwing left-hander had an AL-best and team-record 274 strikeouts last season.


In his first three 2015 starts against the Indians (2-1), Sale had a 2.45 ERA before permitting seven runs - one earned - over seven innings in a 12-1 loss at Cleveland on Sept. 18.


Cody Anderson made his only start against the White Sox in that one, pitching around five hits and five walks to allow a run over 6 2-3 innings, and will again oppose Sale in his first start of 2016.


Anderson earned Cleveland's No. 4 spot in the rotation after an impressive rookie season and promising spring. The right-hander went 7-3 with a 3.05 ERA in 15 starts since being called up in June and posted a 1.09 ERA in winning his final five.


He arrived at camp in outstanding physical shape and developed a better curveball and overall increased velocity to cement a spot in the rotation.


"He's throwing harder. He's actually pitching harder," manager Terry Francona told MLB.com. "It's demeaning to him (to say) throwing. He's pitching harder. He's missing bats. He's getting better by the day. This kid is light years beyond what somebody with his service time should be."


While the White Sox had trouble swinging the bats in the snow and cold Friday, the Indians had four extra-base hits and plated seven for the second straight game.


Francisco Lindor had two hits and scored twice while Carlos Santana drove in two to give him five RBIs.


Lindor has always enjoyed facing the White Sox, batting .390 in 11 career games, and Santana has another favorable matchup, as he's hitting .333 with a homer in 36 at-bats against Sale.


Mike Napoli, who has reached base four times and scored four runs in the last two games, has regularly been frustrated by Sale, going 1 for 13 with six strikeouts. That .077 average is Napoli's second-lowest of the 55 pitchers against whom he's had at least 15 plate appearances.

Preview: Marlins (1-2) at Nationals (2-1)


Game: 2
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: April 09, 2016 4:05 PM EDT


When Joe Ross was called up last June and July, Washington was in first place both times and hoping to bridge a gap until Stephen Strasburg was healthy. Anything the 22-year-old gave the Nationals was a bonus, and he gave them plenty even though their season tanked.


This year, Strasburg is healthy but Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister are gone. Beginning Saturday against the Miami Marlins, Ross' role comes with higher expectations as he attempts to move beyond a trying spring, but he had very little trouble last season at Nationals Park.


That fill-in work resulted in a 5-5 record and 3.64 ERA in 13 starts and three relief efforts, including 4-2 with a 2.44 ERA and a 37-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio in nine home appearances.


Ross had a 2.79 ERA in four March outings before missing 12 days with a bruised heel after being hit by a line drive. The right-hander then gave up eight runs and 12 hits - two home runs - in five innings last Saturday in his final tune-up and ended the spring with a 6.75 ERA and .394 opponent batting average.


"Big innings," Ross said. "I feel like I've got to work a little bit on getting out of those jams with runners on and less than two outs."


He's up against Tom Koehler, whose 378 2-3 innings over the past two seasons for the Marlins are 169 1-3 more than next-best and since-departed Henderson Alvarez.


The right-hander's 4.05 spring ERA was right in line with his 4.08 last season with an 11-14 record in 31 starts and one relief effort, and Miami is hoping for more stability in a rotation that's had its share of injuries in recent seasons.


"I feel good, strong, healthy, that's the most important thing," Koehler told MLB's official website. "I like where my stuff is right now. I feel like if I go into those games with a good mix, and a good plan, we should be successful."


It's rarely worked out in Washington, where Koehler is 1-4 with a 6.21 ERA - his worst in any park where he's made more than two starts. He at least won't have to deal with Ben Revere, who is 10 for 22 in their matchups but landed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a right oblique strain. Bryce Harper, however, is 7 for 24 against Koehler with five home runs.


Another Saturday would be Harper's 100th overall at 23 years, 176 days old, making him the eighth youngest to reach the mark and put him ahead of Albert Pujols, Hank Aaron and Ken Griffey Jr.


He got No. 99 as Miami (1-2) opened the series with Thursday's 6-4 victory to deny Nationals manager Dusty Baker a win in his home debut and give Don Mattingly his first in charge of the Marlins.


Adeiny Hechavarria is 4 for 7 with three doubles in the last two games, while Miami has at least 10 hits in all three.


"I thought we swung the bats good all day," Mattingly said. "We've actually swung the bats pretty good all year, other than we haven't gotten out of the gate. So we got out of the gate and kind of let them back in."


Washington (2-1) got two hits and three RBIs from Daniel Murphy, who is 4 for 11 with a home run, triple, double and five RBIs in his first three games with his new team.


The opener set up the Marlins for their first win in a series of more than two games in Washington since Sept. 7-9, 2012. The Nationals have gone 22-8 since.

Preview: Rays (2-3) at Orioles (4-0)


Game: 2
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: April 09, 2016 7:05 PM EDT


The Baltimore Orioles were without two key bats, yet continued to march toward their best start in 46 years.


They'll look to open 5-0 for the first time since 1970 on Saturday night against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays.


Baltimore is 4-0 for the second time in 20 seasons following Friday's 6-1 series-opening victory. It was another win without All-Star outfielder Adam Jones, who missed his second game with sore ribs. He told MLB's official website he expects to be back Saturday or Sunday and said he was available off the bench Friday if necessary.


"Just going to make sure that it's right," Jones said. "Take another day and see how it feels."


Shortstop J.J. Hardy also sat out after experiencing calf tightness Thursday.


In their absence, Baltimore took Tampa Bay ace Chris Archer deep a career-worst four times with Manny Machado homering for the second consecutive night, while Chris Davis connected on his second of the season and scored three runs.


Joey Rickard continued the sensational start to his career, going 2 for 4 while bating leadoff for the second straight game. He's 7 for 15 through his first four big league contests, while Mark Trumbo is also 7 for 15 after a 2-for-4 night.


"We're just trying to get in the groove, trying to get a feel for everybody and a feel for the lineup, and I think we're settling in," Machado said.


Davis, batting .326 with seven homers in his last 14 meetings with Tampa Bay, also has 10 home runs in his last 19 contests at Camden Yards, where the Orioles have won nine straight.


Evan Longoria hit his first home run for Tampa Bay (2-3), which continues to rely on the home run, accounting for 10 of the club's 15 runs. Longoria's long ball extended the team's record to 19 consecutive games with at least one, the majors' longest streak since Seattle's 23 in 2013.


The Rays' four other hits were all singles, and they've been limited to only nine walks with a .275 on-base percentage.


Temperatures may drop into the 20s and the forecast shows a chance of snow, making for a potentially challenging night for starters Drew Smyly and Mike Wright.


"It's no fun," Smyly told MLB's official website. "I don't think it's fun for anyone. You just have to suck it up. Once you're in the game, your adrenaline's going. The hardest part is warming up, getting ready for the game. But once you're in it, you just have to go out there and worry about the hitters."


Smyly (0-1, 6.75 ERA) struggled Monday against Toronto, giving up five runs, including four on three homers. He has held many of Baltimore's biggest bats in check, however, with Jones, Davis, Hardy, and Machado going a combined 7 for 52 against the left-hander.


Smyly is 4-0 with a 1.82 ERA in eight games - five starts - versus the Orioles.


Wright (3-5, 6.04 in 2015) makes his season debut for Baltimore. The right-hander broke into the majors with 14 1-3 scoreless innings in his first two starts in May, but went 1-5 with a 9.88 ERA in his final seven.


Besides 1970, the Orioles' only other 5-0 start came in 1944 when the franchise was known as the St. Louis Browns.

Preview: Cardinals (1-3) at Braves (0-3)


Game: 2
Venue: Turner Field
Date: April 09, 2016 7:10 PM EDT


The St. Louis Cardinals finally got their first victory at the expense of the Atlanta Braves, who are still looking to crack the win column.


The Braves could be in for a challenge Saturday night since they have never scored off Cardinals starter Carlos Martinez, who makes his season debut in the middle game of this series at Turner Field.


St. Louis avoided its first 0-4 start since 1997 by becoming the first team with three pinch-hit homers in Friday's 7-4 victory. Rookies Aledmys Diaz and Jeremy Hazelbaker went deep and Greg Garcia also connected off the bench over the final three innings.


"That's very hard to believe. ... I've never even heard of that,' Garcia said.


Stephen Piscotty added a solo shot for the Cardinals, who homered twice in their first three games. Hazelbaker's second of the season tied the game in the seventh inning and Diaz hit his first to snap a deadlock in the eighth.


It added up to more frustration for the Braves, who blew a four-run lead and are 0-3 for the first time since losing their first four in 2012. Atlanta led after six innings for the second straight game after blowing an eighth-inning advantage on opening day.


'We're playing good baseball," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. 'It's just one inning or one play kind of gets us these last three games."


It won't get any easier against Martinez, who went 14-7 with a 3.01 ERA last season for the Cardinals. He was 1-1 with a 2.30 ERA with 16 strikeouts over 15 2-3 innings in four spring starts, staying in Florida for a minor league outing last weekend in preparation for this game.


The right-hander has pitched 10 2-3 scoreless innings against the Braves, including eight in a 1-0 victory July 25 in his lone start against them. The only Atlanta batter with an extra-base hit against him is Drew Stubbs, who was 1 for 3 on Friday.


The Braves are looking for offense from their top four returning RBI leaders from last year - Freddie Freeman, Nick Markakis, Jace Peterson and A.J. Pierzynski. Those hitters have combined to go 4 for 32 with three RBIs.


Pierzynski figures to be back behind the plate after Tyler Flowers started in his club debut Friday.


His batterymate will be Julio Teheran (0-0, 3.00 ERA), who gave up two runs in six innings Monday in a 4-3, 10-inning defeat to Washington.


That was the right-hander's first start since he struck out six in six innings against a makeshift St. Louis lineup on the final weekend of last season in a 4-0 victory Oct. 2. He's 1-1 with a 1.89 ERA in three starts versus the Cardinals.


Yadier Molina is 0 for 6 against Teheran and 3 for 15 this season. Molina passed Ted Simmons' team-record 1,439 games played at catcher Friday.


The Cardinals continue to play sloppy baseball with an NL-high six errors - all in the last three games.


Braves center fielder Ender Inciarte is day to day after leaving Friday with tightness in his left hamstring, with Stubbs replacing him.


"I feel like I stopped right before it popped,' Inciarte said.

Preview: Phillies (0-4) at Mets (2-1)


Game: 2
Venue: Citi Field
Date: April 09, 2016 7:10 PM EDT


While Bartolo Colon continues to defy father time, the Philadelphia Phillies' youth movement is predictably experiencing some growing pains.


The majors' oldest active pitcher gets the start for the New York Mets on Saturday night to face a rebuilding Phillies team attempting to avoid its worst start in 82 years.


Philadelphia has followed a 99-loss 2015 campaign by dropping its first four games for the first time since 1986. Another defeat would give the Phillies their longest skid to begin a season since starting 0-7 in 1934.


Fielding the majors' third-youngest opening day roster, the Phillies' shortcomings have been quickly exposed. They're hitting .212 overall and are 3 for 25 with runners in scoring position, while the bullpen owns a 12.66 ERA and twice blew late leads in the opening series in Cincinnati.


Philadelphia managed a run and five hits off Jacob deGrom through six innings of a 7-2 loss in Friday's opener of this three-game set. The Mets pulled away with four runs against reliever Jeff Russell in the seventh.


'We're not the best hitting team in the league, but we're certainly better than we're showing,' manager Pete Mackanin said. 'We've got to get everybody going. It seems like they're trying too hard.'


DeGrom departed after 76 pitches due to right lat tightness, the only damper on a festive home opener in which New York (2-1) raised its 2015 NL championship banner.


As Philadelphia tries to elude a dubious achievement, Colon looks to make history in the 42-year-old's first start of 2016. The popular right-hander is one win shy of matching Pedro Martinez (219) for second among Dominican-born pitchers.


Re-signed to a one-year contract in December, Colon began his 19th season with 1 1-3 scoreless innings of relief in Sunday's opener at Kansas City.


Colon, 14-13 with a 4.16 ERA in 33 appearances - 31 starts - in 2015, went 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA in five starts against Philadelphia last season and is 7-2 in nine matchups over the previous two. He held the Phillies to four hits and fanned nine over eight scoreless innings in a 3-1 victory at Citi Field on Aug. 31.


While Colon prepares for his 468th start, Vince Velasquez makes his eighth and first as a Phillie. The promising right-hander was among the centerpieces of the seven-player offseason trade with Houston that sent dependable closer Ken Giles to the Astros, a move that's hurt Philadelphia in the short term.


Velasquez, 1-1 with a 4.37 ERA in 19 appearances with Houston last season, won the final rotation spot with a strong spring he capped by striking out eight over six scoreless innings against a Toronto lineup containing most of its regulars March 28.


"We're building toward the future and it's important for us to get him going and see exactly what we've got there," Mackanin told MLB's official website.


The 23-year-old faces a Mets lineup struggling at the top with Curtis Granderson, David Wright and Yoenis Cespedes hitting a combined .139 with no RBIs and 13 strikeouts. Neil Walker has five RBIs through the first three games, though, and Michael Conforto is 4 for 9 and knocked in three runs Friday.


Philadelphia, which has lost 10 of its last 11 at Citi Field, hopes to have Maikel Franco available after he sat out Friday with a sore left forearm.

Preview: Astros (1-3) at Brewers (2-2)


Game: 2
Venue: Miller Park
Date: April 09, 2016 7:10 PM EDT


An awkward ending to their latest defeat only elevated the early frustration level of the Houston Astros.


They'll look to regroup and avoid a fourth consecutive loss Saturday night against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.


After being blanked for eight innings, Houston (1-3) scored four times in the ninth and looked for more with one out in the ninth Friday when Colby Rasmus was called for interference on the "Chase Utley rule," at second base. The result was a game-ending double play and a 6-4 defeat.


Rasmus was called for not trying to stay on the bag, part of the requirement under baseball's new rule governing slides on potential double plays.


'My interpretation is that it's a shame," a fuming Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "The game ends on a play that the rule isn't intended to protect."


Ace Dallas Keuchel made his displeasure known via Twitter.


'Are we even playing baseball anymore??? Unbelievable,' he tweeted.


The incident exacerbated the early troubles for the Astros, who have allowed 33 runs, own an 8.73 ERA and already struck out 42 times at the plate.


Following his second straight three-hit game, rookie first baseman Tyler White remains one of the few positives for Houston. He's 9 for 13 with two homers and seven RBIs.


"I'm just going out there and playing my game and enjoying being out there and enjoying playing with these guys," he told the Astros' official website.


After Keuchel allowed two runs in seven innings of Tuesday's 5-3 win at Yankee Stadium, Houston's next three starters have a 13.50 ERA. Doug Fister hopes to halt that trend when he makes his Astros debut and first start since Aug. 3 - after which he pitched out of Washington's bullpen.


The right-hander, who won a career-high 16 games for the Nationals in 2014, went 4-7 with a 4.60 ERA in 15 starts for them last year. Despite going 1-1 with an 8.27 ERA in five spring training starts, he earned the fifth spot in Houston's rotation.


Fister's only start against the Brewers (2-2) came in 2010.


Scooter Gennett had a hit in his only at-bat against Fister, and is 5 for 13 through four games.


"I feel good," said Gennett, who homered for the second time this week. "For the most part I am swinging at good pitches."


Ex-Astro Chris Carter homered for the second time in as many games in his first meeting against his former club since signing with the Brewers in the offseason.


Milwaukee's Wily Peralta hopes to fare better in this contest after he gave up four earned runs and six hits in four innings of a 12-3 loss to San Francisco on Monday.


'They just put some good at-bats against him," Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said of Peralta, who has a 10.66 ERA while losing his last three starts.


The right-hander has never faced Houston.


Peralta's former Brewers teammate Carlos Gomez recorded his second straight 2-for-4 contest in his first game since Milwaukee traded him to Houston in July. Gomez said before Friday's game that he would like to retire as a member of the Brewers, with whom he spent five-plus seasons.


"The best of the memories, the best of my career, is in the Brewers uniform," he said.

Preview: Padres (1-3) at Rockies (2-2)


Game: 2
Venue: Coors Field
Date: April 09, 2016 8:10 PM EDT


Colorado rookie sensation Trevor Story looks to continue his assault on the record books Saturday night when the Rockies play the middle game of their series with the San Diego Padres


Story homered four times during the Rockies' season-opening series in Arizona, then added two more in his Coors Field debut Friday, making him the first major leaguer to homer in each of his first four games.


"I've never seen anything like it, let alone a rookie," Colorado manager Walt Weiss said.


Story, who had three hits - including his first non-homer - in the Rockies' 13-6 loss, tied the major league record by homering in the first four games of a season, joining Chris Davis (2013), Nelson Cruz (2011), Mark McGwire (1998) and Willie Mays (1971).


"I like to bring good energy to the team," Story said. "Walt said I was a bright spot (Friday), and I guess that's good, but the ultimate goal is to win and we didn't do that today."


San Diego (1-3) had also etched its name in the record books this week by becoming the first team to be shutout in its first three games of the season. But, after pushing the record drought to 30 innings, the Padres erupted for six runs in the fourth, three in the fifth, then two more in each the sixth and ninth innings in the seven-run rout.


"As soon as the first run scored, I think everybody relaxed," said Padres manager Andy Green, who picked up his first big league win. "You saw a lot of missiles hit after that. These guys can hit. They've been good baseball players for a long time. It was just one of those things that you can't explain in baseball."


San Diego hit .120 with 28 strikeouts while being outscored 25-0 in getting swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers to start the season.


Getting the call for the Padres on Saturday will be left-hander Drew Pomeranz, who was picked up from Oakland this offseason. Pomeranz appeared mostly as a reliever for the A's a year ago, posting a 5-6 mark to go along with a 3.66 ERA in 53 appearances.


San Diego, though, acquired him to be a starter, but it did not look good early on this spring, as he was pitching to an 8.36 ERA before four scoreless innings in his final outing lowered it nearly two runs.


Pomeranz was once a highly touted Rockies prospect, but disappointed, going 4-14 with a 5.20 ERA from 2011-13 with them.


Colorado (2-2), meanwhile, will rely on left-hander Jorge De La Rosa, who was bailed out by a pair of Story homers in Monday's opener against Arizona. De La Rosa allowed five runs and eight hits while striking out eight in 4 2-3 innings in a 10-5 win.


De La Rosa went 0-3 with a 7.94 ERA in four starts against the Padres last season, permitting nine runs in two innings in the only meeting at Coors Field on April 20.


Matt Kemp has given De La Rosa fits over his career, hitting .458 with five homers and six doubles in 48 at-bats. Kemp homered among his four hits Friday and is batting .423 with seven home runs and 18 RBIs in his last 13 games against Colorado.


San Diego has won 11 of the last 16 meetings with the Rockies.

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Saturday, April 9, 2016, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews


The Chicago Cubs are awaiting results of an MRI on the knee/ankle of young slugger Kyle Schwarber later Friday. He was involved in a pretty scary looking collision with center fielder Dexter Fowler (who is fine) as they were converging on a ball hit in the gap by Arizona's Jean Segura on Thursday night at Chase Field -- it led to an inside-the-park homer for Segura. Schwarber was carted off but X-rays were negative, so that's a first good sign. However, an MRI shows things X-rays don't. At a minimum, you have to think he's still going to miss at least a few weeks and maybe up to six with a severe sprain. But the Cubs do have the outfield depth -- Jorge Soler, Kris Bryant can move from third, Javier Baez when he comes off the DL -- to deal with this. The one negative was the team wanted to use Schwarber's big bat at catcher whenever Jason Hammel pitched but that will be shelved for now.




Red Sox at Blue Jays (-131, 9)


It's a 1:07 p.m. ET matinee on the MLB Network. I'm so upset about this game. Why? The Red Sox were rained out in Cleveland on Thursday so they moved their pitchers back one day. Originally, they were to start Steven Wright here against Toronto's R.A. Dickey. What do they have in common? They are the only two knuckleballers currently on big-league rosters and might be the last two ever. There hasn't been a regular-season game where knuckleballers started opposite one another since 2000 -- Tim Wakefield vs. Steve Sparks. Instead, it's Rick Porcello here for Boston. Dang it! Porcello was very inconsistent last year, going 9-15 with a 4.92 ERA and 25 homers allowed. He was 2-2 with a 6.45 ERA against Toronto. Jose Bautista hits .423 off him with a homer and five RBIs in 26 at-bats. Dickey pitched Monday at Tampa Bay and got the win, allowing three runs and six hits in five innings. He became the oldest Blue Jays starter to ever win a game at 41 years, 158 days. Last year, Dickey was 0-3 with a 4.62 ERA vs. Boston. Xander Bogaerts is 10-for-28 off him with four extra-base hits. Big Papi has three homers in 34 at-bats.


Key trends: The Jays are 6-2 in Dickey's past eight home starts. The "over/under" is 4-0-2 in his past six overall. Toronto is 0-4 in Dickey's past four at home vs. Boston.


Early lean: Red Sox and over.


Pirates at Reds (+108, 7.5)


A 1:10 p.m. ET start. One of this season's Cy Young favorites, young Pittsburgh right-hander Gerrit Cole, makes his season debut a few days late. Cole was held out of the Pirates' season-opening series against the Cardinals after missing part of spring training with inflammation in his rib cage. Cole is way too valuable to risk injury. Cole was fourth in last season's Cy Young voting, going 19-8 with a 2.60 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. All were career bests other than the losses. He lost the wild-card game to Jake Arrieta and the Cubs. The Reds had Cole's number more than any team in 2015 as he was 0-3 with a 5.95 ERA in four starts against them. The Reds go with Raisel Iglesias. He was 3-7 with a 4.15 ERA last year as a rookie and pitched well vs. the Phillies on Monday in a no-decision, allowing two runs in six innings, striking out seven. Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen is 1-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs off him.


Key trends: The Pirates are 4-1 in Cole's past five road starts. The Reds are 1-4 in Iglesias' past five at home. The under is 10-3-1 in Cole's past 14 on the road. Pittsburgh is 0-6 in Cole's past six vs. the Reds.


Early lean: Pirates and under.


Dodgers at Giants (+120, 6)


Here's your pitching matchup of the week, with a 4:05 p.m. ET start. It's lefty Clayton Kershaw for the Dodgers. The three-time Cy Young winner and betting favorite for a fourth was typically awesome in Monday's rout of San Diego, throwing seven innings of one-hit ball against the punchless Padres, striking out nine and walking one. Kershaw is 9-3 with a 1.16 ERA in 14 career starts in San Francisco. Buster Posey has two homers career off him but also hits just .224 with 16 strikeouts in 76 at-bats. Brandon Belt probably just sits this one out as he's 3-for-37 with 21 strikeouts off Kershaw. Giants lefty Madison Bumgarner had the flu on Monday but beat the Brewers, allowing three runs and five hits in five innings, uncharacteristically walking five. Bumgarner was 2-2 with a 2.16 ERA last year vs. the Dodgers and beat Kershaw a couple of times, including hitting a homer off him. San Francisco is 5-1 in its past six when Bumgarner faces Kershaw.


Key trends: The Dodgers are 4-0 in Kershaw's past four road starts. The Giants are 7-2 in Bumgarner's past nine at home. The under is 9-1-1 in Kershaw's past 11 in San Francisco. The under is 5-1 in Bumgarner's past six vs. L.A.


Early lean: Giants and under.


Twins at Royals (-151, 8.5)


It's the Kansas City debut of right-hander Ian Kennedy, formerly of the Padres. He was originally to go Tuesday against the Mets but was pushed back due to a hamstring issue. Kennedy got a $70 million free-agent deal from the Royals this offseason even though he was only 9-15 with a 4.28 ERA last year. But Kennedy is durable - since the beginning of the 2010 season, when Kennedy broke into a major league starting rotation, he ranks 14th in the majors in innings pitched -- and will give you innings, and he should do well with that terrific Kansas City defense behind him. Kennedy didn't face the Twins in 2015 and hasn't seen many of them career. Trevor Plouffe is 3-for-6 with a homer and two RBIs off him. Brian Dozier is 2-for-4. Minnesota starts lefty Tommy Milone. He wasn't guaranteed a rotation spot this spring but pitched pretty well in Florida. Milone was 9-5 with a 3.92 ERA last season. He was 2-0 with a 3.30 ERA in five starts vs. the Royals. Lorenzo Cain eats him up, going 8-for-23 with two doubles and a homer.


Key trends: The Twins are 2-6 in Milone's past eight in Game 2 of a series. The under is 5-1-1 in his past seven starts vs. the AL Central.


Early lean: Royals and under.


Cubs at Diamondbacks (-124, 8.5)


Obviously no Schwarber here for Chicago, and Baez was originally to come off the DL on Saturday but had a minor setback and won't be ready. With the Cubs facing a tough right-hander here in Zack Greinke, I expect Bryant to play left field and lefty-hitting Tommy La Stella to take Bryant's usual spot at third with Soler on the bench. Greinke looked terrible in his Arizona debut on Monday, getting shelled for seven runs and nine hits in four innings against Colorado, allowing three homers -- Greinke hadn't done that since Aug. 19, 2009. He was apparently dealing with the flu. Greinke pitched once vs. the Cubs last year, shutting them out over six innings. Dexter Fowler is just 2-for-18 career off him with nine whiffs. Miguel Montero hits him better than any Cub, going 8-for-26 with two homers. Chicago starts Kyle Hendricks here. He was 8-7 with a 3.95 ERA last year and allowed one run in five innings in his lone start vs. Arizona.


Key trends: The Cubs are 7-0 in Hendricks' past seven Saturday starts. Arizona is 1-5 in its past six Saturday games. The under is 4-1 in Hendricks' past five starts.


Early lean: Snakes -- Greinke will no doubt take this start personally after how bad he was Monday -- and under.

'Giants Host Dodgers'


One of the greatest rivalries in sports continues this Saturday (4:05 PM ET, FS1) when the San Francisco Giants host the Los Angeles Dodgers. It'll be a classic pitcher's duel between San Francisco lefty Madison Bumgarner, the three-time World Series champion, and Los Angeles southpaw Clayton Kershaw, the three-time National League Cy Young Award winner.


Both pitchers got the win to start the 2016 season for their respective clubs. Kershaw allowed just one hit over seven innings as the Dodgers pummeled the San Diego Padres (+185 at home) 15-0. Bumgarner was a bit shakier, giving up all three runs in just five innings of work as the Giants thrashed the Milwaukee Brewers (+166 at home) 12-3.


These same two pitchers faced each other four times during the 2015 regular season, with the teams splitting the series 2-2. Three of the games went under despite the total dipping as low as 5.5 runs. The Dodgers have a long list of injured players heading into the weekend, including catcher Yasmani Grandal (.756 OPS last year), second baseman Howie Kendrick (.746 OPS), and worst of all, outfielder Andre Ethier (.852 OPS), who isn't expected to play until June because of a broken tibia.

Previews, Streaks, Tips, Notes


Cleveland Indians at Chicago White Sox April 9, 2:10 EST


'Under' gamblers have enjoyed great success in the Cleveland, Chicago series. In the past 39 meetings between the Indians and White Sox, the teams hold a 25-13-1 'Under' record including 14-7 at U.S. Cellular Field. Another positive for 'Under' gamblers, Chris Sale has shown that he can keep the score low at home. In his last 31 home starts, the game has gone 'Under' 20 times with 11 topping the total. Additionally, White Sox are 12-6-3 'Under' in the hurlers day games. Most shops have the total at 7.5 runs.

StatFox Situational Power Trends


MLB | MINNESOTA at KANSAS CITY
KANSAS CITY is 74-42 (+33.6 Units) against the money line vs. AL teams allowing 4.2 or less runs/game on the season over the last 3 seasons.
The average score was: KANSAS CITY (4.5) , OPPONENT (3.6)

National League games



Phillies @ Mets
Velasquez was 1-1, 4.37 in 19 games for Houston LY (seven starts- 1-1, 4.03).
Colon is 0-2, 4.76 in his last three starts.
Phillies are 0-4, outscored 26-12; they’re 5-15 in their last 20 games with the Mets. New York won two of its first three games this week.

Marlins @ Nationals
Koehler is 1-1, 7.02 in his last three starts; his last three starts all went over.
Ross is 2-0, 4.05 in his last four starts; Over is 2-1-1 in his last four home starts.
Miami-Washington split their last 20 games. Marlins lost two of first three games this week. Nationals won two of their first three games.

Padres @ Rockies
Pomeranz is making first Padre start; he has made 49 MLB starts, nine with Oakland LY- he was 2-3, 5.64 in those nine starts for the A’s.
de la Rosa is 2-1, 3.23 in his last five starts; six of his last eight starts stayed under.
San Diego lost three of its first four games, but scored 13 runs Friday after getting blanked three times by the Dodgers. Colorado split its first four games. Padres won 13 of their last 20 games against the Rockies.

Pirates @ Reds
Cole is 3-1, 3.46 in his last four starts (under 3-1).
Iglesias is 0-3, 3.43 in his last seven starts, last four of which all went over.
Pirates won their first four games, scoring 21 runs. Cincinnati won three of first four. Reds are 11-9 in their last 20 games vs Pittsburgh.

Cardinals @ Braves
Martinez is 1-0, 2.70 in his last four starts (under 2-0-2).
Teheran is 2-1, 1.80 in his last seven starts; under is 3-1-1 in his last five.
St Louis lost three of its first four games. Braves lost their first three games, scoring a total of eight runs. Atlanta is 4-3 in its last seven gams against the Cardinals.

Cubs @ Diamondbacks
Hendricks is 1-0, 2.18 in his last four starts; four of his last five starts went under.
Greinke is 0-2, 8.44 in his last two starts; under is 6-4 in his last 10 starts overall
Chicago won three of its first four games. Arizona lost three of its first five games this season. Cubs are 4-3 in their last seven games against Arizona LY.

Dodgers @ Giants
Kershaw is 4-1, 1.64 in his last six starts (over 4-2); he is 9-3, 1.16 in 14 career starts at AT&T Park in San Francisco.
Bumgarner is 1-2, 4.21 in his last four starts overall, 13-7, 2.45 in 21 career starts against the Dodgers.
Giants won four of their first five games, Dodgers are 3-2 but lost both games on the road. San Francisco is 13-8 in last 21 games in this great rivalry.

American League games


Bronx @ Tigers
Sabathia is 2-1, 2.22 in his last four starts; seven of his last nine starts stayed under.
Pelfrey is 0-4, 6.31 in his last eight starts; under is 4-2-1 in his last seven.
Bronx split its first four games, scoring 24 runs. Detroit won its first three games, scoring 19 runs. Bronx is 5-3 in its last eight games against the Tigers.

Indians @ White Sox
Anderson is 5-0, 1.09 in his last five starts; his last four starts went over the total. He won his only start vs Chicago, allowing one run in 6.2 IP.
Sale is 2-0, 2.57 in his last two starts; under is 4-1-1 in his last six starts- he was 1-2, 2.17 in four starts against Cleveland LY.
White Sox won three of first five games. Indians won two of their first three games; teams split their last 20 series games.

Rays @ Orioles
Smyly is 3-1, 3.23 in his last five starts; over is 4-2-2 in his last eight starts.
Wright is 0-5, 10.88 in his last six starts; five of his last seven starts went over.
Rays are 2-3 in first five games, scoring three or less runs four times. Baltimore won its first four games, allowing 7 runs. O’s split their last 20 games with Tampa Bay.

Red Sox @ Blue Jays
Porcello is 1-3, 4.82 in his last four starts (under 3-1). He was 2-2, 6.45 in six starts against Toronto LY.
Dickey is 2-1, 4.70 in his last five starts; over is 4-0-2 in his last six.
Boston won two of its first three games, Toronto lost last three games, . Red Sox are 11-9 in their last 20 games against Toronto.

Twins @ Royals
Milone is 3-1, 4.99 in his last six starts; under is 5-3-1 in his last nine starts.
Kennedy is making his KC debut; he is 1-4, 5.80 in his last seven starts. In his last eight starts, over is 6-1-1.
Minnesota lost its first four games, scoring two runs in each game. KC won two oif its first three games, Royals are 13-7 in their last 20 games against Minnesota. .
Rangers @ Angels
Hamels is 5-1, 3.91 in his last seven starts; over is 8-1-1 in his last ten.
Richards is 2-3, 4.30 in his last six starts (over 5-1).
Angels lost three of their first four games. Rangers lost three of their last four games, allowing a total of 23 runs. Angels are 13-8 in last 21 games against Texas.

A’s @ Mariners
Hill is 2-2, 2.56 in his last five starts (under 4-0-1).
Karns is 0-1, 4.97 in his last six starts (under 3-1 in last four)
Oakland lost three of first five games; Mariners split their first four games. Oakland is 7-13 in its last 20 games against Seattle.


Interleague

Astros @ Brewers
Fister is 1-4, 5.56 in his last six starts, last of which was on August 3- his last four starts all went over the total.
Peralta is 0-3, 11.37 in his last three starts; seven of his last eight went over.
Houston lost its last three games, allowing 30 runs. Milwaukee split its first four games this season, winning the last two.

Red Sox - David Ortiz, Rest - is not in the starting lineup Saturday (4/9) at Toronto

There have been 206 MLB totals to close at 6 runs or fewer since 2005.


Clayton Kershaw has been involved in 65 of those games (32%)

Sabathia is 19-14 vs Tigers ERA: 4.40, WHIP: 1.322.


His team's rec. is 23-17 (+0.3 U) in these starts.