Seattle Mariners (3-6) at New York Yankees (4-4)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 16 - 1:05 PM EST
WHERE: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
Felix Hernandez has turned in two of the most impressive starts of any pitcher in the majors, but he remains in search of his first victory on Saturday afternoon as the visiting Seattle Mariners continue their three-game series against the New York Yankees. Seattle kicked off a nine-game road trip with a 7-1 romp to hand the Yankees their third loss in a row.
Hernandez is winless despite owning a microscopic 0.69 ERA and permitting only four hits over his first two outings. He will be pitching at a venue where he has enjoyed immense success, posting a 5-1 record and 1.38 ERA at the new Yankee Stadium. Opposing Hernandez will be left-hander CC Sabathia, who is bidding to win his first two starts since 2007. New York will be trying to get its offense untracked after scoring only five runs during its three-game skid.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, ROOT (Seattle), YES (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (0-1, 0.69 ERA) vs. Yankees LH CC Sabathia (1-0, 4.50)
Fernandez lost his season opener at Texas despite yielding only one hit and one unearned run over six innings and wasted an overpowering effort in his next turn versus Oakland. Hernandez struck out 10 and gave up only three hits over seven scoreless innings, only to see the bullpen blow the lead in a 2-1 setback. Mark Teixeira is batting .319 with six homers and 13 RBIs versus Hernandez while Brett Gardner is batting .333 in 30 at-bats against him.
Sabathia withstood frigid conditions in Detroit to win his season debut, allowing three runs on four hits and overcoming four walks over six-plus innings. Sabathia was pitching for the first time since skipping the postseason in 2015 to enter alcohol rehabilitation and is hoping to bounce back from a season in which he won only six times and was 0-5 through his first six starts. He is 12-5 with a 2.61 ERA in 24 career starts against the Mariners.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Yankees stranded 12 runners and were 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position in the series opener.
2. Ex-Yankees 2B Robinson Cano went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored in Friday's victory.
3. New York CF Jacoby Ellsbury is 0-for-8 following a six-game hitting streak.
PREVIEW: Mariners 3, Yankees 2
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 16 - 1:05 PM EST
WHERE: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
Felix Hernandez has turned in two of the most impressive starts of any pitcher in the majors, but he remains in search of his first victory on Saturday afternoon as the visiting Seattle Mariners continue their three-game series against the New York Yankees. Seattle kicked off a nine-game road trip with a 7-1 romp to hand the Yankees their third loss in a row.
Hernandez is winless despite owning a microscopic 0.69 ERA and permitting only four hits over his first two outings. He will be pitching at a venue where he has enjoyed immense success, posting a 5-1 record and 1.38 ERA at the new Yankee Stadium. Opposing Hernandez will be left-hander CC Sabathia, who is bidding to win his first two starts since 2007. New York will be trying to get its offense untracked after scoring only five runs during its three-game skid.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, ROOT (Seattle), YES (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (0-1, 0.69 ERA) vs. Yankees LH CC Sabathia (1-0, 4.50)
Fernandez lost his season opener at Texas despite yielding only one hit and one unearned run over six innings and wasted an overpowering effort in his next turn versus Oakland. Hernandez struck out 10 and gave up only three hits over seven scoreless innings, only to see the bullpen blow the lead in a 2-1 setback. Mark Teixeira is batting .319 with six homers and 13 RBIs versus Hernandez while Brett Gardner is batting .333 in 30 at-bats against him.
Sabathia withstood frigid conditions in Detroit to win his season debut, allowing three runs on four hits and overcoming four walks over six-plus innings. Sabathia was pitching for the first time since skipping the postseason in 2015 to enter alcohol rehabilitation and is hoping to bounce back from a season in which he won only six times and was 0-5 through his first six starts. He is 12-5 with a 2.61 ERA in 24 career starts against the Mariners.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Yankees stranded 12 runners and were 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position in the series opener.
2. Ex-Yankees 2B Robinson Cano went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored in Friday's victory.
3. New York CF Jacoby Ellsbury is 0-for-8 following a six-game hitting streak.
PREVIEW: Mariners 3, Yankees 2
Cincinnati Reds (5-4) at St. Louis Cardinals (5-4)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 16 - 2:15 PM EST
WHERE: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri
Ace Adam Wainwright is off to a slow start for the St. Louis Cardinals, but it may not matter considering how his teammates are beating up opposing pitching staffs. Wainwright makes his third attempt to notch his first victory of the young season for the rampaging Cardinals, who host the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday afternoon in the middle contest of their three-game series.
St. Louis continued its offensive barrage by clubbing six home runs - two by Matt Holliday - in Friday's 14-3 demolition of the skidding Reds. The Cardinals have piled up 66 runs during a 6-1 tear and have scored in double digits four times over their last six games. Cincinnati is careening in the opposite direction, losing four in a row following a 5-1 start. Joey Votto's three-run homer on Friday accounted for the only offense for the Reds, who have scored nine runs during their slide.
TV: 2:15 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati), FSN Midwest (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds LH Brandon Finnegan (0-0, 2.84 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (0-1, 6.55)
Finnegan has deserved a better fate after giving up a two-run homer among three hits in his season debut versus Philadelphia and carrying a no-hitter into the seventh inning against the Chicago Cubs. He gave up only one hit to the Cubs but struggled with his control, walking five batters en route to a second straight no-decision. Finnegan was rocked in his lone career start versus St. Louis last September, giving up three homers and six runs in five frames.
Wainwright typically displays outstanding control, but that hardly has been the case in his first two outings of the season. The 34-year-old Georgia native escaped with a no-decision versus Philadelphia last time out despite giving up five runs on six hits and five walks over five innings. Wainwright in only 8-9 with a 4.18 ERA in his career against Cincinnati, but he dominated the Reds in 2014 by tossing 15 scoreless innings en route to a pair of victories.
OVERTIME
1. St. Louis, which set a Busch Stadium III record with its six homers Friday, already has five pinch-hit blasts on the season.
2. Reds SS Zack Cozart recorded a pair of hits in his return to the lineup after missing two games.
3. Cardinals rookie SS Aledmys Diaz is 11-for-27, with eight of the hits going for extra bases.
PREDICTION: Cardinals 6, Reds 3
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 16 - 2:15 PM EST
WHERE: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri
Ace Adam Wainwright is off to a slow start for the St. Louis Cardinals, but it may not matter considering how his teammates are beating up opposing pitching staffs. Wainwright makes his third attempt to notch his first victory of the young season for the rampaging Cardinals, who host the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday afternoon in the middle contest of their three-game series.
St. Louis continued its offensive barrage by clubbing six home runs - two by Matt Holliday - in Friday's 14-3 demolition of the skidding Reds. The Cardinals have piled up 66 runs during a 6-1 tear and have scored in double digits four times over their last six games. Cincinnati is careening in the opposite direction, losing four in a row following a 5-1 start. Joey Votto's three-run homer on Friday accounted for the only offense for the Reds, who have scored nine runs during their slide.
TV: 2:15 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati), FSN Midwest (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds LH Brandon Finnegan (0-0, 2.84 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (0-1, 6.55)
Finnegan has deserved a better fate after giving up a two-run homer among three hits in his season debut versus Philadelphia and carrying a no-hitter into the seventh inning against the Chicago Cubs. He gave up only one hit to the Cubs but struggled with his control, walking five batters en route to a second straight no-decision. Finnegan was rocked in his lone career start versus St. Louis last September, giving up three homers and six runs in five frames.
Wainwright typically displays outstanding control, but that hardly has been the case in his first two outings of the season. The 34-year-old Georgia native escaped with a no-decision versus Philadelphia last time out despite giving up five runs on six hits and five walks over five innings. Wainwright in only 8-9 with a 4.18 ERA in his career against Cincinnati, but he dominated the Reds in 2014 by tossing 15 scoreless innings en route to a pair of victories.
OVERTIME
1. St. Louis, which set a Busch Stadium III record with its six homers Friday, already has five pinch-hit blasts on the season.
2. Reds SS Zack Cozart recorded a pair of hits in his return to the lineup after missing two games.
3. Cardinals rookie SS Aledmys Diaz is 11-for-27, with eight of the hits going for extra bases.
PREDICTION: Cardinals 6, Reds 3
Colorado Rockies (6-4) at Chicago Cubs (8-2)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 16 - 2:20 PM EST
WHERE: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
The Colorado Rockies shut down Chicago's high-powered offense in the series opener, and they’ll probably need a similar pitching performance Saturday afternoon to take down the Cubs again. Reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta takes the mound to try to help Chicago avoid consecutive losses for the first time this season.
The Cubs entered the series leading the majors in runs per contest but managed only four hits in a 6-1 loss in the opener of a three-game set. They also were uncharacteristically sloppy in the field, making four errors after committing an MLB-low two in their first nine games. The Rockies have won three straight and racked up double-digit hits in all three. They’ll be hard-pressed to continue that against Arrieta, who has won 13 straight decisions overall and is 18-7 with a 2.01 ERA in 33 home starts since joining the Cubs.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, ROOT (Colorado), CSN Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP:
Rockies RH Christian Bergman (0-1, 12.00 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Jake Arrieta (2-0, 1.93)
Bergman worked almost exclusively out of the bullpen last season, making only four starts, and is getting his first after two relief outings this year. He was tagged for four runs and as many hits in an inning of work at Arizona before rebounding with two scoreless frames against San Diego on April 8. Bergman has faced the Cubs only once, tossing a scoreless inning of relief last season.
Arrieta didn’t have his best stuff last time out but still managed his 22nd consecutive quality start in the regular season. The 30-year-old allowed three runs on eight hits – including a pair of homers – over seven innings to beat the Diamondbacks, notching six strikeouts for the second straight start. Arrieta has had trouble in two previous starts against Colorado, going 1-1 with a 7.50 ERA.
WALK-OFFS
1. Colorado RF Carlos Gonzalez has hit safely in 20 straight games dating to last season and has eight homers in 18 career contests at Wrigley Field.
2. The Cubs activated Javier Baez (thumb) from the 15-day disabled list Friday and optioned fellow INF Munenori Kawasaki to Triple-A Iowa.
3. Chicago is 8-0 when scoring four or more runs and 0-2 when putting up three or fewer.
PREDICTION: Cubs 6, Rockies 1
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 16 - 2:20 PM EST
WHERE: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
The Colorado Rockies shut down Chicago's high-powered offense in the series opener, and they’ll probably need a similar pitching performance Saturday afternoon to take down the Cubs again. Reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta takes the mound to try to help Chicago avoid consecutive losses for the first time this season.
The Cubs entered the series leading the majors in runs per contest but managed only four hits in a 6-1 loss in the opener of a three-game set. They also were uncharacteristically sloppy in the field, making four errors after committing an MLB-low two in their first nine games. The Rockies have won three straight and racked up double-digit hits in all three. They’ll be hard-pressed to continue that against Arrieta, who has won 13 straight decisions overall and is 18-7 with a 2.01 ERA in 33 home starts since joining the Cubs.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, ROOT (Colorado), CSN Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP:
Rockies RH Christian Bergman (0-1, 12.00 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Jake Arrieta (2-0, 1.93)
Bergman worked almost exclusively out of the bullpen last season, making only four starts, and is getting his first after two relief outings this year. He was tagged for four runs and as many hits in an inning of work at Arizona before rebounding with two scoreless frames against San Diego on April 8. Bergman has faced the Cubs only once, tossing a scoreless inning of relief last season.
Arrieta didn’t have his best stuff last time out but still managed his 22nd consecutive quality start in the regular season. The 30-year-old allowed three runs on eight hits – including a pair of homers – over seven innings to beat the Diamondbacks, notching six strikeouts for the second straight start. Arrieta has had trouble in two previous starts against Colorado, going 1-1 with a 7.50 ERA.
WALK-OFFS
1. Colorado RF Carlos Gonzalez has hit safely in 20 straight games dating to last season and has eight homers in 18 career contests at Wrigley Field.
2. The Cubs activated Javier Baez (thumb) from the 15-day disabled list Friday and optioned fellow INF Munenori Kawasaki to Triple-A Iowa.
3. Chicago is 8-0 when scoring four or more runs and 0-2 when putting up three or fewer.
PREDICTION: Cubs 6, Rockies 1
Toronto Blue Jays (5-5) at Boston Red Sox (4-4)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 16 - 4:05 PM EST
WHERE: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
The Boston Red Sox are hoping that a change at one position can have an impact on several others, and the decision seemed to work for at least one night. The Red Sox and new catcher Christian Vazquez will try to push their winning streak to three in a row when they host the Toronto Blue Jays in the second of a four-game series on Saturday.
The pitching staff struggled in the first eight games, prompting Boston to activate Vazquez (elbow) from the disabled list and send fellow young catcher Blake Swihart to Triple-A Pawtucket, where he will begin taking balls in the outfield in addition to catching. Vazquez went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and showed off his arm with a pickoff at first while guiding Rick Porcello and three relievers to two hits allowed in the 5-3 victory on Friday. The Blue Jays, who dropped two of three to Boston at home last weekend, made the most of their two hits with a pair of home runs from Edwin Encarnacion but could not avoid a third straight road loss. Toronto will try to get the bats going on Saturday against former teammate David Price, who opposes Marco Estrada.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, Sportsnet (Toronto), NESN (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Marco Estrada (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH David Price (1-0, 5.73)
Estrada started the season on the disabled list due to a sore back that cropped up at the end of spring training but was activated in time to face Boston at home last weekend. The Long Beach State product dominated over seven scoreless innings, scattering five hits while striking out eight to earn the win. Estrada made two appearances at Fenway Park last season, tossing three hitless innings of relief on Apr. 28 and allowing five runs and seven hits in five innings on June 14.
Price beat Cleveland on opening day but struggled in the home opener on Monday, surrendering five runs and five hits in as many innings without factoring in the decision against Baltimore. The former Cy Young Award winner helped Toronto to the playoffs after being acquired at last season’s trade deadline by going 9-1 with a 2.30 ERA in 11 starts. Price is 16-2 with a 2.41 ERA in 21 career starts against the Blue Jays.
WALK-OFFS
1. Red Sox 3B Pablo Sandoval (shoulder) will meet with Dr. James Andrews next week.
2. Toronto 3B Josh Donaldson had his 10-game hitting streak to begin the season come to an end with a 0-for-4 effort on Friday.
3. Boston RHP Koji Uehara has allowed no runs and one hit in six appearances totaling six innings.
PREDICTION: Red Sox 4, Blue Jays 1
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 16 - 4:05 PM EST
WHERE: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
The Boston Red Sox are hoping that a change at one position can have an impact on several others, and the decision seemed to work for at least one night. The Red Sox and new catcher Christian Vazquez will try to push their winning streak to three in a row when they host the Toronto Blue Jays in the second of a four-game series on Saturday.
The pitching staff struggled in the first eight games, prompting Boston to activate Vazquez (elbow) from the disabled list and send fellow young catcher Blake Swihart to Triple-A Pawtucket, where he will begin taking balls in the outfield in addition to catching. Vazquez went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and showed off his arm with a pickoff at first while guiding Rick Porcello and three relievers to two hits allowed in the 5-3 victory on Friday. The Blue Jays, who dropped two of three to Boston at home last weekend, made the most of their two hits with a pair of home runs from Edwin Encarnacion but could not avoid a third straight road loss. Toronto will try to get the bats going on Saturday against former teammate David Price, who opposes Marco Estrada.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, Sportsnet (Toronto), NESN (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Marco Estrada (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH David Price (1-0, 5.73)
Estrada started the season on the disabled list due to a sore back that cropped up at the end of spring training but was activated in time to face Boston at home last weekend. The Long Beach State product dominated over seven scoreless innings, scattering five hits while striking out eight to earn the win. Estrada made two appearances at Fenway Park last season, tossing three hitless innings of relief on Apr. 28 and allowing five runs and seven hits in five innings on June 14.
Price beat Cleveland on opening day but struggled in the home opener on Monday, surrendering five runs and five hits in as many innings without factoring in the decision against Baltimore. The former Cy Young Award winner helped Toronto to the playoffs after being acquired at last season’s trade deadline by going 9-1 with a 2.30 ERA in 11 starts. Price is 16-2 with a 2.41 ERA in 21 career starts against the Blue Jays.
WALK-OFFS
1. Red Sox 3B Pablo Sandoval (shoulder) will meet with Dr. James Andrews next week.
2. Toronto 3B Josh Donaldson had his 10-game hitting streak to begin the season come to an end with a 0-for-4 effort on Friday.
3. Boston RHP Koji Uehara has allowed no runs and one hit in six appearances totaling six innings.
PREDICTION: Red Sox 4, Blue Jays 1
New York Mets (3-5) at Cleveland Indians (4-3)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 16 - 4:10 PM EST
WHERE: Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio
The New York Mets look to build off a rare offensive outburst this season when they visit the Cleveland Indians for the middle contest of a three-game set on Saturday. The Mets came into Friday’s series opener batting a league-worst .194 and standing 29th in the majors in runs scored before blasting four homers among 14 hits and holding on for a 6-5 victory.
Slugger Yoenis Cespedes led the hit brigade for New York with a single, a double and a homer to extend his hitting streak against the Indians to nine games. Scheduled starter Matt Harvey will try to gain his first victory of the season and get the Mets back to .500 when he faces a Cleveland squad which also posted 14 hits on Friday. The Indians, who have split eight games to start the campaign, left 13 on base in the series opener – including two when Jeurys Familia retired the final batter. Cleveland’s Jason Kipnis had three hits Friday and is 9-for-25 since going 0-for-4 in the first game of the season.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, WPIX (New York), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Matt Harvey (0-2, 4.63 ERA) vs. Indians RH Josh Tomlin (2015: 7-2, 3.02)
Harvey has lost three straight regular-season starts dating back to last season, and has been ordinary in his first two turns of 2016. The 27-year-old Connecticut native allowed three runs and six hits in six innings last time out against Philadelphia and owns just five strikeouts in 11 2/3 frames overall. Juan Uribe, who spent half of last season with the Mets, is 2-for-6 in his career against Harvey.
Tomlin makes his first appearance of the season as the team’s fifth starter after a solid 2015 campaign which included a 4-1 record and 2.65 ERA at home. The 31-year-old control pitcher struck out 57 in 65 2/3 innings last season with just eight walks and limited left-handed batters to a .156 average. Alejandro De Aza is 3-for-11 with a homer against Tomlin, who has never faced the Mets.
WALK-OFFS
1. De Aza registered his first three hits for his new team, including a homer on Friday.
2. Cleveland 1B-DH Carlos Santana boasts eight RBIs in the first eight contests of the season after hitting a two-run blast in the series opener.
3. Mets RHP Jacob deGrom (lat muscle) is expected to throw again this weekend and if everything goes well he could make his next start Tuesday at Philadelphia.
PREDICTION: Mets 4, Indians 2
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 16 - 4:10 PM EST
WHERE: Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio
The New York Mets look to build off a rare offensive outburst this season when they visit the Cleveland Indians for the middle contest of a three-game set on Saturday. The Mets came into Friday’s series opener batting a league-worst .194 and standing 29th in the majors in runs scored before blasting four homers among 14 hits and holding on for a 6-5 victory.
Slugger Yoenis Cespedes led the hit brigade for New York with a single, a double and a homer to extend his hitting streak against the Indians to nine games. Scheduled starter Matt Harvey will try to gain his first victory of the season and get the Mets back to .500 when he faces a Cleveland squad which also posted 14 hits on Friday. The Indians, who have split eight games to start the campaign, left 13 on base in the series opener – including two when Jeurys Familia retired the final batter. Cleveland’s Jason Kipnis had three hits Friday and is 9-for-25 since going 0-for-4 in the first game of the season.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, WPIX (New York), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Matt Harvey (0-2, 4.63 ERA) vs. Indians RH Josh Tomlin (2015: 7-2, 3.02)
Harvey has lost three straight regular-season starts dating back to last season, and has been ordinary in his first two turns of 2016. The 27-year-old Connecticut native allowed three runs and six hits in six innings last time out against Philadelphia and owns just five strikeouts in 11 2/3 frames overall. Juan Uribe, who spent half of last season with the Mets, is 2-for-6 in his career against Harvey.
Tomlin makes his first appearance of the season as the team’s fifth starter after a solid 2015 campaign which included a 4-1 record and 2.65 ERA at home. The 31-year-old control pitcher struck out 57 in 65 2/3 innings last season with just eight walks and limited left-handed batters to a .156 average. Alejandro De Aza is 3-for-11 with a homer against Tomlin, who has never faced the Mets.
WALK-OFFS
1. De Aza registered his first three hits for his new team, including a homer on Friday.
2. Cleveland 1B-DH Carlos Santana boasts eight RBIs in the first eight contests of the season after hitting a two-run blast in the series opener.
3. Mets RHP Jacob deGrom (lat muscle) is expected to throw again this weekend and if everything goes well he could make his next start Tuesday at Philadelphia.
PREDICTION: Mets 4, Indians 2
Milwaukee Brewers (4-5) at Pittsburgh Pirates (5-5)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 16 - 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Left fielder Ryan Braun looks to build off his best performance of the season when his Milwaukee Brewers visit the Pittsburgh Pirates in Saturday's second contest of a three-game set. Braun smacked two long homers as part of a three-hit outing in Friday's series opener to lead Milwaukee to an 8-4 victory.
Braun went five games without an RBI before breaking loose against the Pirates with four while recording his 23rd career multi-homer game with blasts of 460 and 415 feet. "I was just out there competing trying to get good pitches to hit," Braun told reporters after the contest. "I felt pretty good the last few games. The results haven't been there but I just continued to believe in the process. I got a couple pitches to hit and I didn't miss them." Shortstop Jonathan Villar also had three hits in his return from an ankle injury that sidelined him two games. Struggling Pittsburgh has lost four straight games and six of the past seven.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee), ROOT (Pittsburgh)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Taylor Jungmann (0-1, 11.57 ERA) vs. Pirates LH Jonathon Niese (1-0, 5.73)
Jungman was torched by the St. Louis Cardinals in his last outing on Monday as he gave up eight runs and eight hits in two innings. He gave up seven extra-base hits (five doubles, two triples) in the short outing that lasted 60 pitches. Jungman went 3-0 with a 2.42 ERA in four outings against the Pirates last season and shut down catcher Francisco Cervelli (0-for-8) and left fielder Starling Marte (1-for-9).
Niese defeated the Detroit Tigers in his last turn when he gave up four runs (three earned) and five hits in six innings on Monday. He walked just one in each of his two outings with Pittsburgh, which acquired him from the New York Mets in the offseason. Niese is 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA in eight career starts against the Brewers and hasn't allowed Braun to homer off him despite the slugger being 5-for-16 in their meetings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Marte had three hits in the series opener and is 11-for-27 over the past six games.
2. Milwaukee 1B Chris Carter reached base four times Friday on two hits and two walks and has an extra-base hit in each of his last four games.
3. Pittsburgh has allowed 30 runs during its four-game skid.
PREDICTION: Brewers 5, Pirates 3
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 16 - 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Left fielder Ryan Braun looks to build off his best performance of the season when his Milwaukee Brewers visit the Pittsburgh Pirates in Saturday's second contest of a three-game set. Braun smacked two long homers as part of a three-hit outing in Friday's series opener to lead Milwaukee to an 8-4 victory.
Braun went five games without an RBI before breaking loose against the Pirates with four while recording his 23rd career multi-homer game with blasts of 460 and 415 feet. "I was just out there competing trying to get good pitches to hit," Braun told reporters after the contest. "I felt pretty good the last few games. The results haven't been there but I just continued to believe in the process. I got a couple pitches to hit and I didn't miss them." Shortstop Jonathan Villar also had three hits in his return from an ankle injury that sidelined him two games. Struggling Pittsburgh has lost four straight games and six of the past seven.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee), ROOT (Pittsburgh)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Taylor Jungmann (0-1, 11.57 ERA) vs. Pirates LH Jonathon Niese (1-0, 5.73)
Jungman was torched by the St. Louis Cardinals in his last outing on Monday as he gave up eight runs and eight hits in two innings. He gave up seven extra-base hits (five doubles, two triples) in the short outing that lasted 60 pitches. Jungman went 3-0 with a 2.42 ERA in four outings against the Pirates last season and shut down catcher Francisco Cervelli (0-for-8) and left fielder Starling Marte (1-for-9).
Niese defeated the Detroit Tigers in his last turn when he gave up four runs (three earned) and five hits in six innings on Monday. He walked just one in each of his two outings with Pittsburgh, which acquired him from the New York Mets in the offseason. Niese is 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA in eight career starts against the Brewers and hasn't allowed Braun to homer off him despite the slugger being 5-for-16 in their meetings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Marte had three hits in the series opener and is 11-for-27 over the past six games.
2. Milwaukee 1B Chris Carter reached base four times Friday on two hits and two walks and has an extra-base hit in each of his last four games.
3. Pittsburgh has allowed 30 runs during its four-game skid.
PREDICTION: Brewers 5, Pirates 3
Washington Nationals (7-1) at Philadelphia Phillies (5-5)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 16 - 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies each entered their weekend series trending in the right direction, but Friday's series opener was decisively one-sided. The visiting Nationals aim for another strong outing Saturday as they take the field behind Max Scherzer.
Scherzer is looking to rebound from a mediocre outing, although his teammates were anything but mediocre in Friday's contest. The Nationals cruised to a 9-1 triumph as Jayson Werth doubled twice and drove in three runs against his former team. Joe Ross allowed only three hits over 7 2/3 scoreless innings to help Washington extend its winning streak to six games. Philadelphia, which had won five of its previous six games, will turn to promising youngster Aaron Nola on Saturday.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), TCN (Philadelphia)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Max Scherzer (1-0, 4.15 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Aaron Nola (0-1, 3.21)
Scherzer gave up four runs in six innings his last time out but still earned the victory against Atlanta - his opponent in each of his first two starts. He has worked at least six innings in 11 consecutive outings, dating back to last year. He went 3-0 with a 1.50 ERA in four starts against the Phillies last season and is 4-1 with a 2.25 ERA lifetime against Philadelphia.
Nola has logged seven innings in each of his first two outings, posting 17 strikeouts without a walk in a sizzling start to 2016. He made 13 starts as a rookie last season, registering a 3.59 ERA despite uneven success against Washington. The Nationals batted .349 against the former first-round pick, who had one bad start against Washington (six runs in five innings) but recovered 12 days later to blank Washington over five frames.
WALK-OFFS
1. Werth and Bryce Harper are a combined 5-for-10 with two homers against Nola.
2. Philadelphia 1B Ryan Howard is 1-for-13 with eight strikeouts versus Scherzer.
3. The Nationals have allowed a total of 10 runs during their six-game winning streak.
PREDICTION: Nationals 4, Phillies 0
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 16 - 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies each entered their weekend series trending in the right direction, but Friday's series opener was decisively one-sided. The visiting Nationals aim for another strong outing Saturday as they take the field behind Max Scherzer.
Scherzer is looking to rebound from a mediocre outing, although his teammates were anything but mediocre in Friday's contest. The Nationals cruised to a 9-1 triumph as Jayson Werth doubled twice and drove in three runs against his former team. Joe Ross allowed only three hits over 7 2/3 scoreless innings to help Washington extend its winning streak to six games. Philadelphia, which had won five of its previous six games, will turn to promising youngster Aaron Nola on Saturday.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), TCN (Philadelphia)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Max Scherzer (1-0, 4.15 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Aaron Nola (0-1, 3.21)
Scherzer gave up four runs in six innings his last time out but still earned the victory against Atlanta - his opponent in each of his first two starts. He has worked at least six innings in 11 consecutive outings, dating back to last year. He went 3-0 with a 1.50 ERA in four starts against the Phillies last season and is 4-1 with a 2.25 ERA lifetime against Philadelphia.
Nola has logged seven innings in each of his first two outings, posting 17 strikeouts without a walk in a sizzling start to 2016. He made 13 starts as a rookie last season, registering a 3.59 ERA despite uneven success against Washington. The Nationals batted .349 against the former first-round pick, who had one bad start against Washington (six runs in five innings) but recovered 12 days later to blank Washington over five frames.
WALK-OFFS
1. Werth and Bryce Harper are a combined 5-for-10 with two homers against Nola.
2. Philadelphia 1B Ryan Howard is 1-for-13 with eight strikeouts versus Scherzer.
3. The Nationals have allowed a total of 10 runs during their six-game winning streak.
PREDICTION: Nationals 4, Phillies 0
Atlanta Braves (0-9) at Miami Marlins (3-4)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 16 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Marlins Park, Miami, Florida
Miami left fielder Christian Yelich hit .178 through his first 24 games last season, but entering Saturday’s middle contest of a three-game home set with Atlanta, he is off to a sizzling start. Yelich, who batted .329 in his final 102 contests last season to finish at .300, is hitting .429 with an eight-game hitting streak after collecting three hits in Friday’s 6-3 loss to the previously winless Braves.
Atlanta avoided tying the 1988 Braves for worst start in franchise history, rallying with four runs in the eighth inning for its first victory of the season. Adonis Garcia, one of few Braves who have started the season strong, put Atlanta ahead with a two-run single and is hitting .324 after going 2-for-4. Miami second baseman Dee Gordon, last year’s National League batting champion, finished 2-for-5 Friday and is hitting .325 through eight games. Friday’s loss snapped a seven-game Marlins winning streak against the Braves.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Bud Norris (0-2, 6.00 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Tom Koehler (0-1, 2.84)
Norris gave the Braves an outstanding effort in his Atlanta debut, but more closely resembled the hurler who went 3-11 last season in Monday’s loss at Washington. He gave up five runs on nine hits in five innings, five days after holding the Nationals to three runs on six hits in seven innings in his first Braves appearance. The 31-year-old has not faced the Marlins since 2012 and is 1-1 with a 6.18 ERA in five career starts against Miami.
While there is plenty of attention on ace Jose Fernandez when the conversation turns to Miami's pitching, Koehler has won double-digit games with a sub 4.10 ERA each of the past two years. The 29-year-old opened his season Sunday with a loss at Washington, allowing two runs on eight hits with four walks and six strikeouts. Koehler went 2-2 with a 3.67 ERA in five games (four starts) against the Braves last season and has made 14 career appearances against them with a 3.36 ERA and a 2-4 record.
WALK-OFFS
1. Atlanta 1B Freddie Freeman snapped a 1-for-26 skid with a seventh-inning single Friday.
2. The Marlins and Braves are two of three National League teams (Arizona) without a victory from their starting rotation.
3. Braves closer Arodys Vizcaino threw a career-high 35 pitches in recording a four-out save Friday.
PREDICTION: Braves 4, Marlins 3
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 16 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Marlins Park, Miami, Florida
Miami left fielder Christian Yelich hit .178 through his first 24 games last season, but entering Saturday’s middle contest of a three-game home set with Atlanta, he is off to a sizzling start. Yelich, who batted .329 in his final 102 contests last season to finish at .300, is hitting .429 with an eight-game hitting streak after collecting three hits in Friday’s 6-3 loss to the previously winless Braves.
Atlanta avoided tying the 1988 Braves for worst start in franchise history, rallying with four runs in the eighth inning for its first victory of the season. Adonis Garcia, one of few Braves who have started the season strong, put Atlanta ahead with a two-run single and is hitting .324 after going 2-for-4. Miami second baseman Dee Gordon, last year’s National League batting champion, finished 2-for-5 Friday and is hitting .325 through eight games. Friday’s loss snapped a seven-game Marlins winning streak against the Braves.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Bud Norris (0-2, 6.00 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Tom Koehler (0-1, 2.84)
Norris gave the Braves an outstanding effort in his Atlanta debut, but more closely resembled the hurler who went 3-11 last season in Monday’s loss at Washington. He gave up five runs on nine hits in five innings, five days after holding the Nationals to three runs on six hits in seven innings in his first Braves appearance. The 31-year-old has not faced the Marlins since 2012 and is 1-1 with a 6.18 ERA in five career starts against Miami.
While there is plenty of attention on ace Jose Fernandez when the conversation turns to Miami's pitching, Koehler has won double-digit games with a sub 4.10 ERA each of the past two years. The 29-year-old opened his season Sunday with a loss at Washington, allowing two runs on eight hits with four walks and six strikeouts. Koehler went 2-2 with a 3.67 ERA in five games (four starts) against the Braves last season and has made 14 career appearances against them with a 3.36 ERA and a 2-4 record.
WALK-OFFS
1. Atlanta 1B Freddie Freeman snapped a 1-for-26 skid with a seventh-inning single Friday.
2. The Marlins and Braves are two of three National League teams (Arizona) without a victory from their starting rotation.
3. Braves closer Arodys Vizcaino threw a career-high 35 pitches in recording a four-out save Friday.
PREDICTION: Braves 4, Marlins 3
Detroit Tigers (6-2) at Houston Astros (3-7)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 16 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas
The Houston Astros have seen a lack of offense create plenty of issues in the early portion of the season. Although they scored the lone run in the opener, the Astros look to get their offense untracked when they vie for a series victory against the visiting Detroit Tigers on Saturday.
Houston had mustered just six runs during its three-game losing streak before Colby Rasmus' RBI single in the first inning Friday accounted for all of the damage in a 1-0 win. Rasmus recorded his fourth multi-hit performance in his last seven contests but traditionally has struggled versus Saturday starter Justin Verlander, going 2-for-11 with three strikeouts. Detroit had little issue scoring runs as it erupted for 22 during its three-game winning streak before being limited to just five hits on Friday. Former Astro J.D. Martinez is 14-for-34 in nine games this season and 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs in a small sample size against Saturday starter Collin McHugh.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN Detroit, ROOT (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Justin Verlander (0-1, 8.71 ERA) vs. Astros RH Collin McHugh (1-1, 6.14)
After recording a quality start in his season debut, Verlander was blitzed for seven runs and 10 hits - including five doubles - in just 4 1/3 innings of a 7-4 setback against Pittsburgh on Monday. The 2011 American League MVP and Cy Young Award winner looks to bounce back versus Houston, against which he scattered three hits over seven scoreless frames in his last encounter. Verlander owns a 2-0 record with a 1.62 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in five career starts against the Astros.
McHugh rebounded from a brutal season debut in which he lasted just one-third of an inning to allow eight hits over seven scoreless frames in an 8-2 win over Kansas City on Monday. The 28-year-old pitched well in both career outings versus Detroit but dropped his lone decision despite yielding just four runs in 14 total innings. Nick Castellanos is 10-for-25 in his last seven games overall but just 1-for-6 lifetime against McHugh.
WALK-OFFS
1. Detroit DH Victor Martinez went 0-for-4 in the series opener and is three RBIs shy of becoming the fifth Venezuelan-born player to reach 1,000 for his career.
2. Houston RHP Lance McCullers is dealing with lingering shoulder discomfort and was scratched from Saturday's outing with Double-A Corpus Christi.
3. Tigers 2B Ian Kinsler has hit safely in four straight games and eight of nine this season.
PREDICTION: Tigers 6, Astros 3
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 16 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas
The Houston Astros have seen a lack of offense create plenty of issues in the early portion of the season. Although they scored the lone run in the opener, the Astros look to get their offense untracked when they vie for a series victory against the visiting Detroit Tigers on Saturday.
Houston had mustered just six runs during its three-game losing streak before Colby Rasmus' RBI single in the first inning Friday accounted for all of the damage in a 1-0 win. Rasmus recorded his fourth multi-hit performance in his last seven contests but traditionally has struggled versus Saturday starter Justin Verlander, going 2-for-11 with three strikeouts. Detroit had little issue scoring runs as it erupted for 22 during its three-game winning streak before being limited to just five hits on Friday. Former Astro J.D. Martinez is 14-for-34 in nine games this season and 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs in a small sample size against Saturday starter Collin McHugh.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN Detroit, ROOT (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Justin Verlander (0-1, 8.71 ERA) vs. Astros RH Collin McHugh (1-1, 6.14)
After recording a quality start in his season debut, Verlander was blitzed for seven runs and 10 hits - including five doubles - in just 4 1/3 innings of a 7-4 setback against Pittsburgh on Monday. The 2011 American League MVP and Cy Young Award winner looks to bounce back versus Houston, against which he scattered three hits over seven scoreless frames in his last encounter. Verlander owns a 2-0 record with a 1.62 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in five career starts against the Astros.
McHugh rebounded from a brutal season debut in which he lasted just one-third of an inning to allow eight hits over seven scoreless frames in an 8-2 win over Kansas City on Monday. The 28-year-old pitched well in both career outings versus Detroit but dropped his lone decision despite yielding just four runs in 14 total innings. Nick Castellanos is 10-for-25 in his last seven games overall but just 1-for-6 lifetime against McHugh.
WALK-OFFS
1. Detroit DH Victor Martinez went 0-for-4 in the series opener and is three RBIs shy of becoming the fifth Venezuelan-born player to reach 1,000 for his career.
2. Houston RHP Lance McCullers is dealing with lingering shoulder discomfort and was scratched from Saturday's outing with Double-A Corpus Christi.
3. Tigers 2B Ian Kinsler has hit safely in four straight games and eight of nine this season.
PREDICTION: Tigers 6, Astros 3
Baltimore Orioles (7-2) at Texas Rangers (6-5)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 16 - 8:05 PM EST
WHERE: Globe Life Park in Arlington, Arlington, Texas
Mark Trumbo has fit right in with the free-swinging Baltimore Orioles, going deep twice on Friday to increase his home run total to five in his last five contests. The offseason acquisition looks to continue his impressive power display on Saturday as the visiting Orioles play the third contest of their four-game series versus the Texas Rangers.
Trumbo launched a two-run blast in the seventh and capped the nine-run inning with a three-run shot as Baltimore snapped a modest two-game overall skid and five-game losing streak against Texas with an 11-5 triumph on Friday. The 30-year-old has collected 11 RBIs in his last five contests and gone deep among a 4-for-16 stretch against Saturday starter Colby Lewis. Texas, which had won five of seven before getting trampled by Trumbo, will be playing its 13th contest of 14 in 14 consecutive days to start the season on Saturday. Veteran Adrian Beltre reportedly agreed to a two-year contract extension worth $36 million on Friday but saw his hitting streak snapped at seven games heading into Saturday's tilt versus former Ranger Yovani Gallardo.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, MASN2, WJZ (Baltimore), FSN Southwest Plus (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Yovani Gallardo (1-0, 5.40 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Colby Lewis (1-0, 3.00)
Gallardo posted a 13-11 record and 3.42 ERA in his lone campaign with Texas before signing a two-year, $22 million deal with Baltimore in the offseason. The 30-year-old Mexican enjoyed success in Arlington as well, winning eight of his 14 decisions to help the Rangers reel in a playoff berth. Gallardo was fortunate to walk away with a no-decision on Monday after allowing five runs and seven hits in five innings against Boston.
Lewis picked up his first win of the season on Monday after permitting one run and four hits in six innings of a 7-3 victory over Seattle. The 36-year-old managed to post a win in his last meeting with the Orioles despite yielding five runs and six hits in as many frames, improving his career mark versus the club to 2-4 with a gaudy 6.11 ERA. Lewis has struggled with J.J. Hardy, who enters Saturday's contest with a five-game hitting streak and is 6-for-18 (.333) with two homers versus the hurler.
WALK-OFFS
1. Texas CF Delino DeShields is 8-for-17 with one homer, three RBIs and four runs scored in his last four games.
2. Baltimore 2B Jonathan Schoop homered twice on Friday and has hit safely in all but one game this season.
3. Rangers rookie OF Nomar Mazara is 9-for-23 with four RBIs in six contests.
PREDICTION: Rangers 5, Orioles 4
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 16 - 8:05 PM EST
WHERE: Globe Life Park in Arlington, Arlington, Texas
Mark Trumbo has fit right in with the free-swinging Baltimore Orioles, going deep twice on Friday to increase his home run total to five in his last five contests. The offseason acquisition looks to continue his impressive power display on Saturday as the visiting Orioles play the third contest of their four-game series versus the Texas Rangers.
Trumbo launched a two-run blast in the seventh and capped the nine-run inning with a three-run shot as Baltimore snapped a modest two-game overall skid and five-game losing streak against Texas with an 11-5 triumph on Friday. The 30-year-old has collected 11 RBIs in his last five contests and gone deep among a 4-for-16 stretch against Saturday starter Colby Lewis. Texas, which had won five of seven before getting trampled by Trumbo, will be playing its 13th contest of 14 in 14 consecutive days to start the season on Saturday. Veteran Adrian Beltre reportedly agreed to a two-year contract extension worth $36 million on Friday but saw his hitting streak snapped at seven games heading into Saturday's tilt versus former Ranger Yovani Gallardo.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, MASN2, WJZ (Baltimore), FSN Southwest Plus (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Yovani Gallardo (1-0, 5.40 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Colby Lewis (1-0, 3.00)
Gallardo posted a 13-11 record and 3.42 ERA in his lone campaign with Texas before signing a two-year, $22 million deal with Baltimore in the offseason. The 30-year-old Mexican enjoyed success in Arlington as well, winning eight of his 14 decisions to help the Rangers reel in a playoff berth. Gallardo was fortunate to walk away with a no-decision on Monday after allowing five runs and seven hits in five innings against Boston.
Lewis picked up his first win of the season on Monday after permitting one run and four hits in six innings of a 7-3 victory over Seattle. The 36-year-old managed to post a win in his last meeting with the Orioles despite yielding five runs and six hits in as many frames, improving his career mark versus the club to 2-4 with a gaudy 6.11 ERA. Lewis has struggled with J.J. Hardy, who enters Saturday's contest with a five-game hitting streak and is 6-for-18 (.333) with two homers versus the hurler.
WALK-OFFS
1. Texas CF Delino DeShields is 8-for-17 with one homer, three RBIs and four runs scored in his last four games.
2. Baltimore 2B Jonathan Schoop homered twice on Friday and has hit safely in all but one game this season.
3. Rangers rookie OF Nomar Mazara is 9-for-23 with four RBIs in six contests.
PREDICTION: Rangers 5, Orioles 4
Yankees are 11-1 in Sabathias last 12 starts vs. Mariners.
Yankees are 6-1 in Sabathias last 7 home starts vs. Mariners.
Yankees are 4-1 in Sabathias last 5 starts.
Yankees are 61-30 in Sabathias last 91 home starts.
Mariners are 1-7 in their last 8 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Mariners are 3-7 in Hernandezs last 10 road starts.
Mariners are 1-4 in Hernandezs last 5 starts vs. Yankees.
Mariners are 1-4 in Hernandezs last 5 starts.
Mariners are 0-4 in Hernandezs last 4 starts with 5 days of rest.
Mariners are 1-8 in the last 9 meetings.
Yankees are 6-1 in Sabathias last 7 home starts vs. Mariners.
Yankees are 4-1 in Sabathias last 5 starts.
Yankees are 61-30 in Sabathias last 91 home starts.
Mariners are 1-7 in their last 8 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Mariners are 3-7 in Hernandezs last 10 road starts.
Mariners are 1-4 in Hernandezs last 5 starts vs. Yankees.
Mariners are 1-4 in Hernandezs last 5 starts.
Mariners are 0-4 in Hernandezs last 4 starts with 5 days of rest.
Mariners are 1-8 in the last 9 meetings.
StatFox Super Situations
MLB | NY METS at CLEVELAND
Play On - All teams when the money line is +125 to -125 (NY METS) below average NL hitting team (AVG <=.255) against a team with a bad bullpen (ERA >=5.00), starting a well rested pitcher who is working on 5 or 6 days rest
166-110 since 1997. ( 60.1% | 59.3 units )
0-1 this year. ( 0.0% | -1.0 units )
StatFox Situational Power Trends
MLB | BALTIMORE at TEXAS
TEXAS is 28-18 (+19.3 Units) against the money line vs. good power teams - averaging 1.25 or more HR's/game over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was: TEXAS (4.8) , OPPONENT (4.4)
MLB | NY METS at CLEVELAND
Play On - All teams when the money line is +125 to -125 (NY METS) below average NL hitting team (AVG <=.255) against a team with a bad bullpen (ERA >=5.00), starting a well rested pitcher who is working on 5 or 6 days rest
166-110 since 1997. ( 60.1% | 59.3 units )
0-1 this year. ( 0.0% | -1.0 units )
StatFox Situational Power Trends
MLB | BALTIMORE at TEXAS
TEXAS is 28-18 (+19.3 Units) against the money line vs. good power teams - averaging 1.25 or more HR's/game over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was: TEXAS (4.8) , OPPONENT (4.4)
Preview: Mariners (4-6) at Yankees (4-5)
Game: 2
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: April 16, 2016 1:05 PM EDT
New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi opted to give the woeful Alex Rodriguez a day off.
Rodriguez's expected return to the lineup will be against one of baseball's best pitchers.
The slugger has not fared too poorly in the past against Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez, who starts Saturday at Yankee Stadium in the middle game of this series.
Girardi opted to rest Rodriguez for Friday's 7-1 defeat, citing the fact that the Yankees (4-5) arrived home late from Toronto. Since his homer in Detroit on April 9, Rodriguez is hitless with five strikeouts in 14 at-bats and batting .120 for the year.
"I just think it's what hitters go through," Girardi said. "You go through ups and downs. I've said, when you're 40, people are going to always question, is it his age? When it's early in the season, it's usually a lot more glaring.
"You go 0-for-14, you got 400 at-bats under your belt, you're hitting .275, .280, people don't say a whole lot. But when it's early in the season and you're 40 and you're Alex, you're going to be asked about it every day. So let's hope he comes out with three hits soon so I stop getting asked."
Facing Hernandez (0-1, 0.69 ERA) isn't an easy assignment. Rodriguez, however, is 8 for 28 with no extra-base hits and six walks off the Seattle ace.
Hernandez is seeking to avoid going three straight starts without a victory to begin a season for the first time since going 0-3 with a 4.57 ERA in his first four in 2006. The Mariners (4-6) have given him three runs of total support after he struck out 10 in seven innings of three-hit ball in Sunday's 2-1, 10-inning defeat to Oakland.
The right-hander is 5-1 with a 1.38 ERA in eight career outings at the current Yankee Stadium.
New York 's Mark Teixeira is a .319 hitter versus Hernandez with six homers in 69 at-bats and Brett Gardner is 10 for 30. Teixeira's six homers are the most off King Felix.
A pitching matchup between Hernandez and CC Sabathia (1-0, 4.50) would once be considered a marquee one. That's no longer the case after Sabathia had baseball's sixth-worst ERA in 2015 at 4.73 and was third-worst in opposition batting average at .285.
In his season debut, he gave up three runs in six-plus innings of the 8-4 victory over the Tigers in which Rodriguez last had a hit.
Sabathia is 8-1 with a 1.84 ERA in his last 12 starts against the Mariners. Kyle Seager is 2 for 16 against the left-hander and Robinson Cano 2 for 12.
The lefty-swinging Adam Lind is 7 for 15 versus Sabathia, although manager Scott Servais tends to start Dae-Ho Lee against southpaws.
Seattle has more at-bats against left-handers than any team in the majors, but it's hitting .184 in 158 at-bats.
Chris Iannetta went 3 for 3 with a two-run homer and an RBI single Friday as the Mariners opened a nine-game trip with a second straight victory. Cano, who homered four times in his first three road games, was 2 for 5 against his former team.
Gardner homered for New York, which figures to rest top hitter Brian McCann in favor of backup catcher Austin Romine for this day game.
Game: 2
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: April 16, 2016 1:05 PM EDT
New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi opted to give the woeful Alex Rodriguez a day off.
Rodriguez's expected return to the lineup will be against one of baseball's best pitchers.
The slugger has not fared too poorly in the past against Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez, who starts Saturday at Yankee Stadium in the middle game of this series.
Girardi opted to rest Rodriguez for Friday's 7-1 defeat, citing the fact that the Yankees (4-5) arrived home late from Toronto. Since his homer in Detroit on April 9, Rodriguez is hitless with five strikeouts in 14 at-bats and batting .120 for the year.
"I just think it's what hitters go through," Girardi said. "You go through ups and downs. I've said, when you're 40, people are going to always question, is it his age? When it's early in the season, it's usually a lot more glaring.
"You go 0-for-14, you got 400 at-bats under your belt, you're hitting .275, .280, people don't say a whole lot. But when it's early in the season and you're 40 and you're Alex, you're going to be asked about it every day. So let's hope he comes out with three hits soon so I stop getting asked."
Facing Hernandez (0-1, 0.69 ERA) isn't an easy assignment. Rodriguez, however, is 8 for 28 with no extra-base hits and six walks off the Seattle ace.
Hernandez is seeking to avoid going three straight starts without a victory to begin a season for the first time since going 0-3 with a 4.57 ERA in his first four in 2006. The Mariners (4-6) have given him three runs of total support after he struck out 10 in seven innings of three-hit ball in Sunday's 2-1, 10-inning defeat to Oakland.
The right-hander is 5-1 with a 1.38 ERA in eight career outings at the current Yankee Stadium.
New York 's Mark Teixeira is a .319 hitter versus Hernandez with six homers in 69 at-bats and Brett Gardner is 10 for 30. Teixeira's six homers are the most off King Felix.
A pitching matchup between Hernandez and CC Sabathia (1-0, 4.50) would once be considered a marquee one. That's no longer the case after Sabathia had baseball's sixth-worst ERA in 2015 at 4.73 and was third-worst in opposition batting average at .285.
In his season debut, he gave up three runs in six-plus innings of the 8-4 victory over the Tigers in which Rodriguez last had a hit.
Sabathia is 8-1 with a 1.84 ERA in his last 12 starts against the Mariners. Kyle Seager is 2 for 16 against the left-hander and Robinson Cano 2 for 12.
The lefty-swinging Adam Lind is 7 for 15 versus Sabathia, although manager Scott Servais tends to start Dae-Ho Lee against southpaws.
Seattle has more at-bats against left-handers than any team in the majors, but it's hitting .184 in 158 at-bats.
Chris Iannetta went 3 for 3 with a two-run homer and an RBI single Friday as the Mariners opened a nine-game trip with a second straight victory. Cano, who homered four times in his first three road games, was 2 for 5 against his former team.
Gardner homered for New York, which figures to rest top hitter Brian McCann in favor of backup catcher Austin Romine for this day game.
Preview: Angels (5-5) at Twins (1-9)
Game: 2
Venue: Target Field
Date: April 16, 2016 2:10 PM EDT
The Los Angeles Angels' Jered Weaver had plenty of problems last season on the road, where he gave up plenty of homers - an issue that may not be a concern against baseball's lowest scoring team.
He'll try to add to the offensive woes of the Minnesota Twins, who picked up their first victory of 2016 ahead of Saturday's middle game of this series.
Weaver (1-0, 1.50 ERA) went 3-10 with a major league-worst 6.01 ERA on the road last season, with his 10 defeats tying for the most in baseball. He was the first starter in three seasons to finish with a road ERA higher than 6, and his 18 homers allowed tied for the majors' second-highest road total.
The right-hander will be up against a Minnesota club that has scored 19 runs to rank last in the majors with an AL-worst four homers.
The Twins (1-9) weren't complaining about not going deep for a fourth straight game after ending their winless start with Friday's 5-4 victory. They scored two runs in the seventh inning to tie it before Byung Ho Park's go-ahead RBI double in the eighth.
'The energy was there,' manager Paul Molitor said. 'Once we got on the board a couple times, obviously we saw the fight to find a way to win.'
It marked the first time Minnesota topped three runs in a game while Los Angeles (5-5) had its four-game win streak snapped with its first road defeat in four contests.
Eduardo Nunez went 3 for 3 on Friday in his second start after he had a 4-for-4 effort in his first one Sunday at Kansas City.
It's not clear if Nunez will be back in the starting lineup since the infielder was subbing Friday for the slumping Brian Dozier, who rested thanks to a .152 average.
Weaver is 5-0 with a 2.57 ERA in last eight starts against the Twins, who he did not face last year. Kurt Suzuki, who is in a 2-for-23 slump, is a .288 hitter versus Weaver and Dozier is 2 for 10.
The Angels starter cruised in giving up a run in six innings in Sunday's 3-1 home victory over Texas in a season debut pushed back because of neck and shoulder problems.
"I was happy to get back out there. I pitched like I did the last 11 years," he said. "My arm slot is coming back. There's no tightness in my shoulder, no tightness in my back, no tightness in my hip, so I'm feeling healthy."
Weaver will be opposed by Ricky Nolasco (0-0, 1.29), who is 0-1 with a 6.55 ERA in two starts against the Angels. Albert Pujols is 13 for 25 with three homers against him and Yunel Escobar is 11 for 31.
Nolasco allowed one run in seven innings and was in line for the victory in his first start of the year before the bullpen blew a two-run lead in Sunday's 4-3, 10-inning defeat to Kansas City.
He'll be up against an Angels team that has produced five homers to rank second-worst in the AL, although Pujols and Kole Calhoun went deep Friday.
Escobar has hit safely in six straight, going 10 for 24.
Game: 2
Venue: Target Field
Date: April 16, 2016 2:10 PM EDT
The Los Angeles Angels' Jered Weaver had plenty of problems last season on the road, where he gave up plenty of homers - an issue that may not be a concern against baseball's lowest scoring team.
He'll try to add to the offensive woes of the Minnesota Twins, who picked up their first victory of 2016 ahead of Saturday's middle game of this series.
Weaver (1-0, 1.50 ERA) went 3-10 with a major league-worst 6.01 ERA on the road last season, with his 10 defeats tying for the most in baseball. He was the first starter in three seasons to finish with a road ERA higher than 6, and his 18 homers allowed tied for the majors' second-highest road total.
The right-hander will be up against a Minnesota club that has scored 19 runs to rank last in the majors with an AL-worst four homers.
The Twins (1-9) weren't complaining about not going deep for a fourth straight game after ending their winless start with Friday's 5-4 victory. They scored two runs in the seventh inning to tie it before Byung Ho Park's go-ahead RBI double in the eighth.
'The energy was there,' manager Paul Molitor said. 'Once we got on the board a couple times, obviously we saw the fight to find a way to win.'
It marked the first time Minnesota topped three runs in a game while Los Angeles (5-5) had its four-game win streak snapped with its first road defeat in four contests.
Eduardo Nunez went 3 for 3 on Friday in his second start after he had a 4-for-4 effort in his first one Sunday at Kansas City.
It's not clear if Nunez will be back in the starting lineup since the infielder was subbing Friday for the slumping Brian Dozier, who rested thanks to a .152 average.
Weaver is 5-0 with a 2.57 ERA in last eight starts against the Twins, who he did not face last year. Kurt Suzuki, who is in a 2-for-23 slump, is a .288 hitter versus Weaver and Dozier is 2 for 10.
The Angels starter cruised in giving up a run in six innings in Sunday's 3-1 home victory over Texas in a season debut pushed back because of neck and shoulder problems.
"I was happy to get back out there. I pitched like I did the last 11 years," he said. "My arm slot is coming back. There's no tightness in my shoulder, no tightness in my back, no tightness in my hip, so I'm feeling healthy."
Weaver will be opposed by Ricky Nolasco (0-0, 1.29), who is 0-1 with a 6.55 ERA in two starts against the Angels. Albert Pujols is 13 for 25 with three homers against him and Yunel Escobar is 11 for 31.
Nolasco allowed one run in seven innings and was in line for the victory in his first start of the year before the bullpen blew a two-run lead in Sunday's 4-3, 10-inning defeat to Kansas City.
He'll be up against an Angels team that has produced five homers to rank second-worst in the AL, although Pujols and Kole Calhoun went deep Friday.
Escobar has hit safely in six straight, going 10 for 24.
Preview: Reds (5-5) at Cardinals (6-4)
Game: 2
Venue: Busch Stadium
Date: April 16, 2016 2:15 PM EDT
Though the St. Louis Cardinals have rebounded nicely from a rough opening series, Adam Wainwright has yet to find a formula for success.
Trying a third time for his first victory Saturday, the veteran right-hander looks to continue his recent dominance of Cincinnati by sending the Reds to their first 0-5 road start since 1984.
St. Louis (6-4) has won six of seven since being swept in a three-game set at Pittsburgh. While Wainwright (0-1, 6.55 ERA) is certainly pleased with his team's recent success, he's mired in his own personal struggles on the hill.
He allowed three runs, six hits and walked three in six innings of a 4-1 loss to the Pirates to open the season. The three-time All-Star was worse Sunday, giving up five runs, six hits and issuing a career high-tying five walks in a 12-7 win at Atlanta.
"Ties my career-high-of frustration level, too," Wainwright told MLB's official website. "I'm so far from where I can be and where I want to be. It's very, very frustrating. I'm so upset about the way the ball is coming out right now."
Wainwright hoped spending some time between those first two starts dissecting video of his pitching and checking out his delivery through the use of a mirror would help. Instead, he's grown more agitated.
'It's very frustrating, because my body feels good,' said Wainwright, who missed five months with a torn Achilles last season. 'My arm feels great, but I'm not getting the ball in the right position. ... Fact of the matter is, I'm struggling right now. There's no other way to put it.'
Perhaps pitching at Busch Stadium will help Wainwright resolve his issues.
In his most recent outing there April 19 of last year, Wainwright allowed one run in eight innings of a 2-1 victory over Cincinnati. That's the only run over 23 innings he has yielded while winning three straight against the Reds (5-5).
Wainwright was bailed out by plenty of offensive support last weekend and could be again if his teammates stay hot from Friday's 14-3 rout of Cincinnati. Matt Holliday had four RBIs off two of the six home runs for the Cardinals, who have gone deep 15 times, averaged 9.4 runs and batted .328 in the last seven games.
They might continue to be a problem for Reds pitchers, who have 9.28 ERA during a four-game losing streak that's all come on the road.
Brandon Finnegan (0-0, 2.84) has been solid while allowing two runs each and four hits total over 12 2-3 innings of his two starts. However, he's been backed with only four runs of support.
The left-hander walked five but didn't give up a hit until he completed 6 2-3 innings Monday when the Chicago Cubs scored twice in the seventh of the Red's 5-3 defeat.
'I hope to experience it again and actually get a chance to go through with it,' Finnegan said of attaining a no-hitter.
He had far from no-hit stuff in his only previous start against the Cardinals on Sept. 23, when he allowed six runs and two homers to Matt Carpenter and one to Randal Grichuk over five innings of a 10-2 loss at Busch Stadium.
Holliday, who went 1 for 3 off Finnegan in that contest, was 6 for 32 with three RBIs prior to Friday.
Cincinnati's Joey Votto went deep for the first time in 2016 with a three-run shot Friday. He's batting .176 with a homer and eight strikeouts in 34 at-bats against Wainwright.
Game: 2
Venue: Busch Stadium
Date: April 16, 2016 2:15 PM EDT
Though the St. Louis Cardinals have rebounded nicely from a rough opening series, Adam Wainwright has yet to find a formula for success.
Trying a third time for his first victory Saturday, the veteran right-hander looks to continue his recent dominance of Cincinnati by sending the Reds to their first 0-5 road start since 1984.
St. Louis (6-4) has won six of seven since being swept in a three-game set at Pittsburgh. While Wainwright (0-1, 6.55 ERA) is certainly pleased with his team's recent success, he's mired in his own personal struggles on the hill.
He allowed three runs, six hits and walked three in six innings of a 4-1 loss to the Pirates to open the season. The three-time All-Star was worse Sunday, giving up five runs, six hits and issuing a career high-tying five walks in a 12-7 win at Atlanta.
"Ties my career-high-of frustration level, too," Wainwright told MLB's official website. "I'm so far from where I can be and where I want to be. It's very, very frustrating. I'm so upset about the way the ball is coming out right now."
Wainwright hoped spending some time between those first two starts dissecting video of his pitching and checking out his delivery through the use of a mirror would help. Instead, he's grown more agitated.
'It's very frustrating, because my body feels good,' said Wainwright, who missed five months with a torn Achilles last season. 'My arm feels great, but I'm not getting the ball in the right position. ... Fact of the matter is, I'm struggling right now. There's no other way to put it.'
Perhaps pitching at Busch Stadium will help Wainwright resolve his issues.
In his most recent outing there April 19 of last year, Wainwright allowed one run in eight innings of a 2-1 victory over Cincinnati. That's the only run over 23 innings he has yielded while winning three straight against the Reds (5-5).
Wainwright was bailed out by plenty of offensive support last weekend and could be again if his teammates stay hot from Friday's 14-3 rout of Cincinnati. Matt Holliday had four RBIs off two of the six home runs for the Cardinals, who have gone deep 15 times, averaged 9.4 runs and batted .328 in the last seven games.
They might continue to be a problem for Reds pitchers, who have 9.28 ERA during a four-game losing streak that's all come on the road.
Brandon Finnegan (0-0, 2.84) has been solid while allowing two runs each and four hits total over 12 2-3 innings of his two starts. However, he's been backed with only four runs of support.
The left-hander walked five but didn't give up a hit until he completed 6 2-3 innings Monday when the Chicago Cubs scored twice in the seventh of the Red's 5-3 defeat.
'I hope to experience it again and actually get a chance to go through with it,' Finnegan said of attaining a no-hitter.
He had far from no-hit stuff in his only previous start against the Cardinals on Sept. 23, when he allowed six runs and two homers to Matt Carpenter and one to Randal Grichuk over five innings of a 10-2 loss at Busch Stadium.
Holliday, who went 1 for 3 off Finnegan in that contest, was 6 for 32 with three RBIs prior to Friday.
Cincinnati's Joey Votto went deep for the first time in 2016 with a three-run shot Friday. He's batting .176 with a homer and eight strikeouts in 34 at-bats against Wainwright.
Preview: Rockies (6-4) at Cubs (8-2)
Game: 2
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: April 16, 2016 2:20 PM EDT
Even though their prolific lineup fell quiet in the series opener, the Chicago Cubs aren't likely to need a major bounce-back effort with Jake Arrieta on the hill.
The Cubs will go after their longest winning streak in a pitcher's starts over the past 113 years Saturday with their 16th in a row when the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner faces the surging Colorado Rockies at Wrigley Field.
Although his run of 32 straight scoreless innings ended, Arrieta won for the second time in as many outings Sunday when he gave up three runs over seven innings for his 22nd consecutive quality start in a 7-3 victory at Arizona.
"Those are games when you don't have your best stuff, and you just have to find a way to win, and keep your team in the game," the ace right-hander said.
Arrieta (2-0, 1.93 ERA) hasn't been without outstanding stuff often, going 13-0 with a 0.75 ERA in his last 15 regular-season starts. The Cubs have come out on top in each of those outings during the majors' longest active winning streak in a pitcher's starts.
With one more victory, Chicago will have its longest such stretch since 1913 - surpassing its run with Rick Sutcliffe on the mound in 1984.
Arrieta, however, will have to cool off the Rockies (6-4) as he faces them for the first time in nearly two years. He allowed one run in seven innings in a 3-1 home win July 31, 2014, but gave up a career high-tying nine runs and career-worst 13 hits over five in a 13-4 road loss six days later.
Gerardo Parra, Carlos Gonzalez and Ryan Raburn had two hits apiece in Friday's series-opening 6-1 win, though rookie shortstop Trevor Story, who leads the majors with seven home runs, went 0 for 5. Parra has gone 6 for 13 over his last three games and Gonzalez has batted .390 with three homers and eight RBIs while hitting safely in all 10.
Colorado has 27 runs and 41 hits during a three-game winning streak.
The Rockies hopes to keep it going for Christian Bergman, who will make his first start of the season and first of his career against Chicago. He gave up four runs and four hits in an inning of relief April 5 before going two scoreless April 8.
"I've never been (to Wrigley)," the right-hander said. "I missed it last year because I was rehabbing, and the year before because I was rehabbing. So it's exciting."
The Cubs averaged 7.1 runs during an 8-1 start that was their best since opening 11-1 in 1969. However, they managed four hits and committed four errors Friday when their five-game winning streak came to an end.
'We had a bad day,' manager Joe Maddon said. 'It's not always going to be an oil painting.'
Anthony Rizzo had one of those hits to make him 1 for 19 over the last five games. Dexter Fowler was hitless after going 14 for 30 over the first nine, while Ben Zobrist is 0 for 14 over the past four.
Bergman, though, will have to be cautious with Arrieta after he belted a 442-foot, two-run homer Sunday. He hit his first two home runs last season.
Game: 2
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: April 16, 2016 2:20 PM EDT
Even though their prolific lineup fell quiet in the series opener, the Chicago Cubs aren't likely to need a major bounce-back effort with Jake Arrieta on the hill.
The Cubs will go after their longest winning streak in a pitcher's starts over the past 113 years Saturday with their 16th in a row when the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner faces the surging Colorado Rockies at Wrigley Field.
Although his run of 32 straight scoreless innings ended, Arrieta won for the second time in as many outings Sunday when he gave up three runs over seven innings for his 22nd consecutive quality start in a 7-3 victory at Arizona.
"Those are games when you don't have your best stuff, and you just have to find a way to win, and keep your team in the game," the ace right-hander said.
Arrieta (2-0, 1.93 ERA) hasn't been without outstanding stuff often, going 13-0 with a 0.75 ERA in his last 15 regular-season starts. The Cubs have come out on top in each of those outings during the majors' longest active winning streak in a pitcher's starts.
With one more victory, Chicago will have its longest such stretch since 1913 - surpassing its run with Rick Sutcliffe on the mound in 1984.
Arrieta, however, will have to cool off the Rockies (6-4) as he faces them for the first time in nearly two years. He allowed one run in seven innings in a 3-1 home win July 31, 2014, but gave up a career high-tying nine runs and career-worst 13 hits over five in a 13-4 road loss six days later.
Gerardo Parra, Carlos Gonzalez and Ryan Raburn had two hits apiece in Friday's series-opening 6-1 win, though rookie shortstop Trevor Story, who leads the majors with seven home runs, went 0 for 5. Parra has gone 6 for 13 over his last three games and Gonzalez has batted .390 with three homers and eight RBIs while hitting safely in all 10.
Colorado has 27 runs and 41 hits during a three-game winning streak.
The Rockies hopes to keep it going for Christian Bergman, who will make his first start of the season and first of his career against Chicago. He gave up four runs and four hits in an inning of relief April 5 before going two scoreless April 8.
"I've never been (to Wrigley)," the right-hander said. "I missed it last year because I was rehabbing, and the year before because I was rehabbing. So it's exciting."
The Cubs averaged 7.1 runs during an 8-1 start that was their best since opening 11-1 in 1969. However, they managed four hits and committed four errors Friday when their five-game winning streak came to an end.
'We had a bad day,' manager Joe Maddon said. 'It's not always going to be an oil painting.'
Anthony Rizzo had one of those hits to make him 1 for 19 over the last five games. Dexter Fowler was hitless after going 14 for 30 over the first nine, while Ben Zobrist is 0 for 14 over the past four.
Bergman, though, will have to be cautious with Arrieta after he belted a 442-foot, two-run homer Sunday. He hit his first two home runs last season.
Preview: Royals (8-2) at Athletics (4-7)
Game: 2
Venue: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Date: April 16, 2016 4:05 PM EDT
If they can continue to hold the slumping Oakland Athletics in check, the Kansas City Royals could secure their best start in 13 years.
Chris Young will try to do his part Saturday while avoiding a repeat of his latest outing.
Kansas City matched its 8-2 start from last year's championship season with a 4-2 victory in Friday's opener in Oakland. The Royals never trailed after scoring two runs in the opening inning.
The A's (4-7) saw their batting average drop to .212 after registering six hits, and they have totaled 10 runs in their last five games, eight during a string of four consecutive defeats.
Young (0-2, 7.45 ERA) will try to take advantage of facing that lineup while sending the Royals to their best 11-game start since going 10-1 in 2003. They also won 11 of their first 13 games, but finished third in the AL Central that season with an 83-79 record.
Kansas City is also seeking to improve to 5-1 on the road for the first time since winning six of its first seven in 2003 but will likely need a better outing from their veteran right-hander than in an 8-2 loss in Houston on Monday.
Young gave up six runs and nine hits in 4 2-3 innings after he was a 2-0 loser to the New York Mets in his season debut April 5. He yielded two runs and three hits in five innings in that game.
"I missed my spot a few times and got hit. Then hit my spot a lot and gave up hits, too," Young said. "I'll go back, get back to work and hopefully be better my next outing."
Young has given up two runs in six innings in each of his last two starts against the A's and earned a 3-2 victory - his first in four matchups - in his lone one last season June 27 in Oakland.
He might have to outduel Sonny Gray (1-1, 2.70) in this meeting. The A's right-hander is 8-2 with a 2.13 ERA in his 12 career starts in April but didn't get enough support to back a solid outing in a 4-1 defeat to the Los Angeles Angels on Monday.
Gray gave up three runs in 6 1-3 innings - two on a home run to Mike Trout - after allowing one over seven innings in a 2-1 victory against the Chicago White Sox on April 6.
"My stuff was really good," Gray told MLB's official website. "Three pitches didn't go our way and they capitalized big time."
Eric Hosmer, batting .385 in his last six games, is 3 for 3 lifetime against Gray. Kendrys Morales is hitting .407 in his past seven contests versus Oakland after going 3 for 4 on Friday but is 2 for 12 lifetime against Gray.
The A's are 1-7 at home for the first time since beginning 1-9 in 2001, their worst start there since moving to Oakland. They have dropped their last five home games against the Royals, their longest such skid in the series since losing seven straight from 1987-88.
Game: 2
Venue: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Date: April 16, 2016 4:05 PM EDT
If they can continue to hold the slumping Oakland Athletics in check, the Kansas City Royals could secure their best start in 13 years.
Chris Young will try to do his part Saturday while avoiding a repeat of his latest outing.
Kansas City matched its 8-2 start from last year's championship season with a 4-2 victory in Friday's opener in Oakland. The Royals never trailed after scoring two runs in the opening inning.
The A's (4-7) saw their batting average drop to .212 after registering six hits, and they have totaled 10 runs in their last five games, eight during a string of four consecutive defeats.
Young (0-2, 7.45 ERA) will try to take advantage of facing that lineup while sending the Royals to their best 11-game start since going 10-1 in 2003. They also won 11 of their first 13 games, but finished third in the AL Central that season with an 83-79 record.
Kansas City is also seeking to improve to 5-1 on the road for the first time since winning six of its first seven in 2003 but will likely need a better outing from their veteran right-hander than in an 8-2 loss in Houston on Monday.
Young gave up six runs and nine hits in 4 2-3 innings after he was a 2-0 loser to the New York Mets in his season debut April 5. He yielded two runs and three hits in five innings in that game.
"I missed my spot a few times and got hit. Then hit my spot a lot and gave up hits, too," Young said. "I'll go back, get back to work and hopefully be better my next outing."
Young has given up two runs in six innings in each of his last two starts against the A's and earned a 3-2 victory - his first in four matchups - in his lone one last season June 27 in Oakland.
He might have to outduel Sonny Gray (1-1, 2.70) in this meeting. The A's right-hander is 8-2 with a 2.13 ERA in his 12 career starts in April but didn't get enough support to back a solid outing in a 4-1 defeat to the Los Angeles Angels on Monday.
Gray gave up three runs in 6 1-3 innings - two on a home run to Mike Trout - after allowing one over seven innings in a 2-1 victory against the Chicago White Sox on April 6.
"My stuff was really good," Gray told MLB's official website. "Three pitches didn't go our way and they capitalized big time."
Eric Hosmer, batting .385 in his last six games, is 3 for 3 lifetime against Gray. Kendrys Morales is hitting .407 in his past seven contests versus Oakland after going 3 for 4 on Friday but is 2 for 12 lifetime against Gray.
The A's are 1-7 at home for the first time since beginning 1-9 in 2001, their worst start there since moving to Oakland. They have dropped their last five home games against the Royals, their longest such skid in the series since losing seven straight from 1987-88.
Preview: Blue Jays (5-6) at Red Sox (5-4)
Game: 2
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: April 16, 2016 4:05 PM EDT
During his brief time with Toronto last season, David Price played a major role in helping the Blue Jays secure their first playoff berth in more than two decades.
Now in Boston, the left-hander looks to continue his success against the visiting Blue Jays on Saturday in his first meeting since joining the Red Sox.
Price (1-0, 5.73 ERA) didn't get the chance to face his former club last weekend when Boston (5-4) took two of three at Toronto, but can help his new team build on Friday's 5-3 series-opening win.
Traded to the Blue Jays (5-6) from Detroit at the deadline, Price went 9-1 with a 2.30 ERA in 11 regular-season starts to lead Toronto to its first division title since 1993. He wasn't nearly as effective while going 1-2 with a 6.17 ERA in four appearances and three starts in the postseason.
The Blue Jays were never really a serious player in re-signing Price before he agreed to a $217 million, seven-year deal with Boston in December.
"We have all of the resources necessary to build a championship team, but they're not unlimited," Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro told MLB's official website at the time. "It really wasn't much of a choice."
Price gave up two runs and struck out 10 in six innings of a 6-2 win at Cleveland in his Red Sox debut. He then yielded five in the third inning of the five he lasted in Monday's 9-7 home loss to Baltimore.
"That has been my Achilles' heel. That one bad inning," Price said. "That's all it takes in this game."
Though Price has thrown 207 pitches in two starts, he isn't worried.
"I'm not concerned. It's all about execution," he said. "I take pride being able to pitch deep into games. I haven't done that in these first two starts, but I look forward to it (Saturday)."
Price is 16-2 with a 2.41 ERA in 21 starts against the Blue Jays, including 7-0 in his last nine. The most recent came July 4 when he allowed a solo homer over seven innings in an 8-3 victory at Comerica Park.
"I'm looking forward to it," he said of facing Toronto. "It's a tough team to pitch against. ...To be able to go out (Saturday) and be able to throw the way I know I can, that'll be a good step in the right direction."
Edwin Encarnacion, 1 for 6 against Price since 2014, hit his first two homers of the season and had all three hits and RBIs for Toronto on Friday.
Boston's Travis Shaw drove in two and catcher Christian Vazquez had two hits in his return from missing all last season with an elbow injury.
Looking for a third straight win, the Red Sox hope to fare better than they did Sunday against Marco Estrada, who allowed five hits and fanned eight in seven innings of Toronto's 3-0 victory. The right-hander's 2016 debut was delayed because of a back issue that forced him to open on the disabled list.
'I feel pretty good,' Estrada said. 'Still a little off. Things are going to get better. Just not quite 100 percent with the feel for things but it's really close.'
David Ortiz went 0 for 3 against Estrada last weekend, and is 3 for 12 with a two home runs lifetime in those matchups.
Jose Bautista is hitting .327 with five homers against Price, Troy Tulowitzki is 4 for 6 with a home run and Josh Donaldson 2 for 9.
Game: 2
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: April 16, 2016 4:05 PM EDT
During his brief time with Toronto last season, David Price played a major role in helping the Blue Jays secure their first playoff berth in more than two decades.
Now in Boston, the left-hander looks to continue his success against the visiting Blue Jays on Saturday in his first meeting since joining the Red Sox.
Price (1-0, 5.73 ERA) didn't get the chance to face his former club last weekend when Boston (5-4) took two of three at Toronto, but can help his new team build on Friday's 5-3 series-opening win.
Traded to the Blue Jays (5-6) from Detroit at the deadline, Price went 9-1 with a 2.30 ERA in 11 regular-season starts to lead Toronto to its first division title since 1993. He wasn't nearly as effective while going 1-2 with a 6.17 ERA in four appearances and three starts in the postseason.
The Blue Jays were never really a serious player in re-signing Price before he agreed to a $217 million, seven-year deal with Boston in December.
"We have all of the resources necessary to build a championship team, but they're not unlimited," Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro told MLB's official website at the time. "It really wasn't much of a choice."
Price gave up two runs and struck out 10 in six innings of a 6-2 win at Cleveland in his Red Sox debut. He then yielded five in the third inning of the five he lasted in Monday's 9-7 home loss to Baltimore.
"That has been my Achilles' heel. That one bad inning," Price said. "That's all it takes in this game."
Though Price has thrown 207 pitches in two starts, he isn't worried.
"I'm not concerned. It's all about execution," he said. "I take pride being able to pitch deep into games. I haven't done that in these first two starts, but I look forward to it (Saturday)."
Price is 16-2 with a 2.41 ERA in 21 starts against the Blue Jays, including 7-0 in his last nine. The most recent came July 4 when he allowed a solo homer over seven innings in an 8-3 victory at Comerica Park.
"I'm looking forward to it," he said of facing Toronto. "It's a tough team to pitch against. ...To be able to go out (Saturday) and be able to throw the way I know I can, that'll be a good step in the right direction."
Edwin Encarnacion, 1 for 6 against Price since 2014, hit his first two homers of the season and had all three hits and RBIs for Toronto on Friday.
Boston's Travis Shaw drove in two and catcher Christian Vazquez had two hits in his return from missing all last season with an elbow injury.
Looking for a third straight win, the Red Sox hope to fare better than they did Sunday against Marco Estrada, who allowed five hits and fanned eight in seven innings of Toronto's 3-0 victory. The right-hander's 2016 debut was delayed because of a back issue that forced him to open on the disabled list.
'I feel pretty good,' Estrada said. 'Still a little off. Things are going to get better. Just not quite 100 percent with the feel for things but it's really close.'
David Ortiz went 0 for 3 against Estrada last weekend, and is 3 for 12 with a two home runs lifetime in those matchups.
Jose Bautista is hitting .327 with five homers against Price, Troy Tulowitzki is 4 for 6 with a home run and Josh Donaldson 2 for 9.
Preview: Mets (4-5) at Indians (4-4)
Game: 2
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: April 16, 2016 4:10 PM EDT
The New York Mets' offense is beginning to come around. Matt Harvey believes he's about to turn a corner as well.
With Harvey taking another crack at an elusive first win of 2016, the Mets aim for a third straight in Saturday's matchup with the Cleveland Indians.
Entering this three-game set with an MLB-low .194 batting average, the Mets broke out with a season-high 14 hits - including four homers - in winning Friday's opener 6-5. Yoenis Cespedes, Neil Walker and Alejandro De Aza each went deep during a five-run fifth inning and New York survived a three-run rally in the ninth.
The Mets (4-5) had just two home runs over the first eight games.
'The hits are starting to fall,' said Michael Conforto, who had New York's other homer and went 2 for 5. 'We're putting up quality at-bats and getting pitch counts up. That's good to see. Hopefully we'll start putting more runs up.'
With the lineup starting to heat up, the defending NL champions can now work out a few early issues to their formidable rotation. Jacob deGrom could miss a second straight turn due to a lat injury and Harvey (0-2, 4.76 ERA) hasn't missed many bats over a pair of pedestrian outings to begin his campaign.
Harvey did display flashes of his usual form Sunday against Philadelphia, retiring 10 straight before surrendering a single and a two-run homer in the sixth inning of a 5-2 loss. He allowed three runs total over the six-inning stint.
'I felt like I was kind of back where I wanted to be and mechanically I was pretty sound,' said Harvey, reached for three earned runs and eight hits over 5 2-3 innings in the April 3 opener at Kansas City. 'I just made a mistake, and unfortunately it got us.'
Harvey has normally excelled in interleague play with a 1.27 ERA in nine career starts, but he's only 3-2 in those outings.
The star right-hander faces an Indians lineup that's produced eight home runs over a five-game stretch and 27 hits over the past two. Carlos Santana had a two-run shot in the ninth Friday and Cleveland (4-3) put the tying run in scoring position before Jeurys Familia recorded the final out.
Jason Kipnis and Juan Uribe each had three hits and Mike Napoli went 2 for 5 with an RBI to extend his hitting streak to seven games.
Cespedes finished 3 for 5 with two RBIs to raise his career average to .325 (25 for 77) at Progressive Field. Walker is 9 for 27 there and hitting .355 (11 for 31) over an eight-game hitting streak against Cleveland.
After tagging Cody Anderson for five runs and nine hits over 4 2-3 innings, the Mets take their swings off Josh Tomlin in the right-hander's delayed season debut. Tomlin worked a simulated game on Tuesday after having Sunday's scheduled start against the White Sox postponed.
The 31-year-old made a successful return from shoulder surgery to post a 7-2 record and
3.02 ERA in 10 late-season starts last year, then beat out Trevor Bauer - an 11-game winner in 2015 - for the final rotation spot during the spring.
Tomlin has shown a propensity for giving up home runs, allowing 13 in 65 2-3 innings last season and 83 over 513 1-3 career innings.
New York has won six of eight in the series and is 9-4 all-time against the Indians, including a 7-3 mark in Cleveland.
Game: 2
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: April 16, 2016 4:10 PM EDT
The New York Mets' offense is beginning to come around. Matt Harvey believes he's about to turn a corner as well.
With Harvey taking another crack at an elusive first win of 2016, the Mets aim for a third straight in Saturday's matchup with the Cleveland Indians.
Entering this three-game set with an MLB-low .194 batting average, the Mets broke out with a season-high 14 hits - including four homers - in winning Friday's opener 6-5. Yoenis Cespedes, Neil Walker and Alejandro De Aza each went deep during a five-run fifth inning and New York survived a three-run rally in the ninth.
The Mets (4-5) had just two home runs over the first eight games.
'The hits are starting to fall,' said Michael Conforto, who had New York's other homer and went 2 for 5. 'We're putting up quality at-bats and getting pitch counts up. That's good to see. Hopefully we'll start putting more runs up.'
With the lineup starting to heat up, the defending NL champions can now work out a few early issues to their formidable rotation. Jacob deGrom could miss a second straight turn due to a lat injury and Harvey (0-2, 4.76 ERA) hasn't missed many bats over a pair of pedestrian outings to begin his campaign.
Harvey did display flashes of his usual form Sunday against Philadelphia, retiring 10 straight before surrendering a single and a two-run homer in the sixth inning of a 5-2 loss. He allowed three runs total over the six-inning stint.
'I felt like I was kind of back where I wanted to be and mechanically I was pretty sound,' said Harvey, reached for three earned runs and eight hits over 5 2-3 innings in the April 3 opener at Kansas City. 'I just made a mistake, and unfortunately it got us.'
Harvey has normally excelled in interleague play with a 1.27 ERA in nine career starts, but he's only 3-2 in those outings.
The star right-hander faces an Indians lineup that's produced eight home runs over a five-game stretch and 27 hits over the past two. Carlos Santana had a two-run shot in the ninth Friday and Cleveland (4-3) put the tying run in scoring position before Jeurys Familia recorded the final out.
Jason Kipnis and Juan Uribe each had three hits and Mike Napoli went 2 for 5 with an RBI to extend his hitting streak to seven games.
Cespedes finished 3 for 5 with two RBIs to raise his career average to .325 (25 for 77) at Progressive Field. Walker is 9 for 27 there and hitting .355 (11 for 31) over an eight-game hitting streak against Cleveland.
After tagging Cody Anderson for five runs and nine hits over 4 2-3 innings, the Mets take their swings off Josh Tomlin in the right-hander's delayed season debut. Tomlin worked a simulated game on Tuesday after having Sunday's scheduled start against the White Sox postponed.
The 31-year-old made a successful return from shoulder surgery to post a 7-2 record and
3.02 ERA in 10 late-season starts last year, then beat out Trevor Bauer - an 11-game winner in 2015 - for the final rotation spot during the spring.
Tomlin has shown a propensity for giving up home runs, allowing 13 in 65 2-3 innings last season and 83 over 513 1-3 career innings.
New York has won six of eight in the series and is 9-4 all-time against the Indians, including a 7-3 mark in Cleveland.
