MLB Betting Info - Monday 4/18

Mets manager Terry Collins said Sunday that Travis d'Arnaud (elbow) could receive another day off on Monday.

D'Arnaud sat out Sunday's contest after getting hit by a pitch on his left elbow on Saturday and he's still experiencing some soreness. Kevin Plawecki would draw another start behind the dish on Monday if d'Arnaud is unable to give it a go.

Yankees Betances and Miller have struck out 27 of the 41 batters they've faced in 2016.

FYI ...


Early Baseball


Patriots Day in Boston


11:05 AM EST 1st pitch ... Blue Jays at Red Sox

Toronto Blue Jays (5-7) at Boston Red Sox (6-4)

DATE/TIME: Monday, April 18 - 11:05 AM EST

WHERE: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts



The Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays have spent the weekend slowly adjusting their bodies in advance of the earliest start time they’ll have all season. The Red Sox will host the Blue Jays on Monday in the finale of a four-game series and the annual 11:05 start time Patriots' Day game.

The series started at 7:10 on Friday, went to 4:05 for Saturday and up to 1:35 on Sunday, making the jump to 11:05 less jarring than having to play a Sunday night game before the Monday start as Boston has done in the past. The Red Sox got stellar starting pitching in taking the first two games of the series but watched knuckleballer Steven Wright get knocked around in Sunday’s 5-3 loss. The Blue Jays managed a total of nine hits in the first two games but pounded out 14 on Sunday and got at least one hit from each starter. Leadoff hitter Kevin Pillar was dropped to ninth in order in the win and busted out of a slump with three hits.

TV: 11:05 a.m. ET, MLB Network, Sportsnet (Toronto), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH J.A. Happ (1-0, 2.25 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Clay Buchholz (0-1, 10.00)

Happ is in his second stint with Toronto and is thriving so far with a total of three runs allowed in 12 innings. The 33-year-old settled for a no decision in his first start but earned a win over the New York Yankees on Wednesday by surrendering one run on seven hits and three walks in six innings. Happ is 3-3 with a 4.15 ERA in 10 career games – nine starts – against the Red Sox.

Buchholz is hoping to be the latest Boston starter to thrive under the guidance of catcher Christian Vazquez after struggling through his first two starts with recently demoted Blake Swihart behind the plate. Buchholz was rocked for five runs in four innings in his first start at Cleveland and made it one inning longer against Baltimore on Tuesday while still yielding five runs. The Texas native is 13-9 with a 3.40 ERA in 28 career games – 27 starts – against the Blue Jays.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox 3B Pablo Sandoval is expected to meet with Dr. James Andrews about his injured left shoulder on Monday.

2. Toronto SS Troy Tulowitzki is 6-for-47 with 17 strikeouts on the season.

3. Boston LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (knee) is scheduled to throw 60-70 pitches in a simulated game on Monday.


PREDICTION: Blue Jays 6, Red Sox 2

New York Mets (5-6) at Philadelphia Phillies (5-7)

DATE/TIME: Monday, April 18 - 7:05 PM EST

WHERE: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania



After dominating the Phillies last season, Noah Syndergaard takes aim at Philadelphia again Monday when his New York Mets visit for the first of three games. Syndergaard not only owned the Phillies in 2015 but has been New York's best starter to this point in the current campaign.

Syndergaard started twice against Philadelphia last year, posting a 1.46 ERA with a 15-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio in two victories. He has a 0.69 ERA to start this season and will be looking to lead New York to its fourth win in five games following the team's successful weekend series against Cleveland. The Phillies dropped two straight against the Nationals over the weekend before avoiding a sweep with a 3-2 comeback victory on Sunday. Philadelphia will turn to Jerad Eickhoff, who allowed three runs (two earned) in five innings against New York on April 8.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), TCN (Philadelphia)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (1-0, 0.69 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Jerad Eickhoff (1-1, 1.50)

Syndergaard's two starts against the Phillies last season were highlighted by a 7 1/3-inning scoreless performance on May 27. Freddy Galvis and Ryan Howard homered against him in 2015, but Odubel Herrera was 0-for-6 and Cesar Hernandez was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. Syndergaard has begun 2016 by holding Kansas City and Miami to a combined one run in 13 innings with 21 strikeouts and only two walks.

Eickhoff bounced back nicely from his decent start against the Mets by holding the Padres to four hits over seven scoreless innings. He struck out nine without a walk in that performance and continued to shine against right-handed batters, who are 3-for-23 against him this season. New York certainly is getting familiar with Eickhoff, who has made 10 career starts - four against the Mets - and is 1-3 in those outings despite a respectable 2.88 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Phillies have scored three runs or fewer in 11 of their 13 games, including seven straight.

2. Philadelphia won two of three at New York from April 8-10 with Jacob deGrom outdueling Eickhoff in the Mets' only victory.

3. Mets OF Michael Conforto went 5-for-12 with three doubles and a home run in the series at Cleveland.

PREDICTION: Mets 5, Phillies 3

Colorado Rockies (6-5) at Cincinnati Reds (6-5)

DATE/TIME: Monday, April 18 - 7:10 PM EST

WHERE: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio



Nolan Arenado is doing his usual thing for the Colorado Rockies, but it was the stellar efforts of their starting pitchers that allowed the club to open a six-game road trip with a surprising series win over the Chicago Cubs. The Rockies aim to continue that success over the final leg of their journey as they open a three-game set against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday.

Colorado won for the fourth time in its last five tries Sunday behind Arenado's second two-homer performance of the week, although Tyler Chatwood also played a starring role by blanking the Cubs over seven frames in a 2-0 victory against the early favorite to win the National League. Chad Bettis was every bit as good in the opener against Chicago, tossing six scoreless innings in a 6-1 win on Friday. The Reds are spinning their tires in the mud after a strong start and fell to 1-5 on the road following Sunday's 4-3 setback in St. Louis. They'll return home in an attempt to recapture the magic they enjoyed to begin the season at Great American Ball Park, where they won five of six against Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Colorado), FSN Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Jordan Lyles (0-1, 11.25 ERA) vs. Reds RH Dan Straily (0-0, 3.24)
Lyles will be happy to leave Colorado after two disappointing starts at home, including a no-decision in Wednesday's 10-6 victory over San Francisco in which he gave up five runs on six hits and two walks over 4 2/3 innings. The outing was a slight improvement for the 25-year-old South Carolina native, who permitted five runs on seven hits and three walks in 3 1/3 frames five days earlier versus San Diego. Lyles has enjoyed better luck in seven appearances (six starts) against the Reds, going 3-1 despite posting a 5.77 ERA.
With Alfredo Simon getting pushed back a day, Straily will get the first shot at replacing Tim Melville in the rotation as he makes his first start since Aug. 4 while with Houston. The 27-year-old, who was claimed off waivers from the Padres at the beginning of the month, has held his own in three long-relief appearances, allowing totals of three hits and four walks over 8 1/3 innings. Straily is limiting opponents to a .107 batting average as he faces Colorado for the first time in his career.

WALK-OFFS
1. The Rockies have won 12 of the last 19 meetings between the clubs after going 1-5 in the 2012 season series.

2. Cincinnati CF Billy Hamilton is expected to return to the starting lineup Monday after sitting out Saturday and logging a late at-bat in Sunday's loss.
3. Colorado's starting pitchers have posted a 2.08 ERA over the last four games.

PREDICTION: Reds 7, Rockies 6

Washington Nationals (9-1) at Miami Marlins (3-6)

DATE/TIME: Monday, April 18 - 7:10 PM EST

WHERE: Marlins Park, Miami, Florida



The Miami Marlins have yet to win at home this season and turn to ace Jose Fernandez to try and stop the trend Monday as they host the first-place Washington Nationals in the opener of a four-game series. The Marlins were swept by the Atlanta Braves over the weekend after a 6-5 loss in 10 innings Sunday, and fell to 0-5 at Marlins Park.

Miami has won three of five on the road, including a two-game split at Washington, but has allowed 33 runs in five contests at home. Fernandez is 17-1 with a 1.61 ERA in his career at home and will go head to head against reigning National League MVP Bryce Harper, who has homered in a career-high four consecutive games and recorded 10 RBIs in that span. Harper’s solo blast put Washington up in the 10th inning Sunday before Jonathan Papelbon blew the save in a 3-2 loss to Philadelphia that ended a seven-game winning streak and dropped the Nationals to 5-1 on the road. Harper is batting .325 with 17 homers in 67 career games against the Marlins.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), FSN Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Tanner Roark (1-1, 2.45 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Jose Fernandez (0-1, 5.06)

Roark rebounded from a rough outing in his season debut to pitch seven scoreless innings, allowing four hits, against Atlanta to earn the win last Wednesday. The 29-year-old struggled on the road (2-6) and against the Marlins (0-3, 5.79 ERA) last season when he made 12 starts and 28 relief appearances. Martin Prado is 6-for-12 with a homer versus Roark, who is 2-5 overall in his career against Miami.

Fernandez registered a better performance last time out, but three walks pushed his pitch count up and he was only able to complete five innings while permitting one run on three hits. The 23-year-old Cuban lost for the first time at Marlins Park in his season opener against Detroit. Harper is 3-for-10 with four walks against Fernandez, who went 2-0 with a 1.62 ERA in three starts versus the Nationals last year.

WALK-OFFS

1. Washington 2B Daniel Murphy is 14-for-30 during a nine-game hitting streak and has 107 hits in 101 career games versus Miami.

2. Miami RF Giancarlo Stanton is 2-for-18 with eight strikeouts in the last five games, but went 3-for-9 with an RBI in the series at Washington.

3. The Nationals lead the majors in ERA (2.06) and the four starters scheduled to pitch in the series are a combined 7-1.

PREDICTION: Marlins 6, Nationals 1

Chicago Cubs (9-2) at St. Louis Cardinals (6-5)

DATE/TIME: Monday, April 18 - 8:09 PM EST

WHERE: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri



Emotions always run high in St. Louis when the Chicago Cubs come to town, but they might be cranked up another notch when John Lackey and Jason Heyward return to face their former team Monday. Lackey gets the start on the mound and Heyward likely will be in the lineup for the Cubs when they open a three-game series against the arch-rival Cardinals.


Chicago is coming off its first series loss of the season after dropping two of three to visiting Colorado over the weekend, and the Cubs’ potent lineup sputtered in the two losses. The Cubs are among the highest-scoring teams in the majors, but they were held to three hits in a 2-0 defeat in Sunday’s series finale after losing the series opener 6-1. The Cardinals boast the highest-scoring lineup in the majors and have hit double digits in runs four times already this season, but they did just enough with the bats in a 4-3 win in the rubber match of a three-game set with Cincinnati on Sunday. Eight different players hit homers for St. Louis in the series, and the Cardinals have belted 12 homers in the past four games.

TV: 8:09 p.m. ET, ESPN, WPWR (Chicago), FSN Midwest (St. Louis)



PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH John Lackey (2-0, 5.68 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Mike Leake (0-1, 6.97)


Lackey posted the best ERA of his career in a Cardinals uniform last season before bolting to Chicago in free agency. Lackey has won his first two starts for the Cubs, and after being hit hard in a 14-6 win in his debut, he held the Reds to two runs over 6 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts last time out. Lackey has never faced the Cardinals, but he was 11-4 with a 2.03 ERA at Busch Stadium over the past two seasons.


Leake has not impressed in his first two outings for the Cardinals, allowing four runs in each. He didn’t make it out of the fifth inning in his St. Louis debut but was more effective Wednesday against Milwaukee, striking out six over six innings. The longtime Reds pitcher has fared well in 19 starts against the Cubs, going 9-2 with a 3.15 ERA and winning his last five decisions against Chicago dating back to 2012.



WALK-OFFS

1. Heyward snapped an 0-for-11 skid with a double in the ninth inning Sunday and is hitting .205.


2. St. Louis C Eric Fryer is 6-for-6 to begin his tenure with the Cardinals.


3. The Cardinals have made 14 errors, tied with Cincinnati for the most in the majors.



PREDICTION: Cardinals 5, Cubs 4

Los Angeles Angels (5-6) at Chicago White Sox (8-4)

DATE/TIME: Monday, April 18 - 8:10 PM EST

WHERE: U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago, Illinois



The Los Angeles Angels look to bounce back from a disastrous weekend in Minnesota as they continue their 10-game road trip with the opener of a four-game series against the Chicago White Sox on Monday. The Angels began their trek in fine fashion as they swept a three-game set in Oakland to extend their overall winning streak to four before having the tables turned on them by the woeful Twins, who entered the matchup with an 0-9 record.

Los Angeles dropped a 3-2 decision in 12 innings Sunday after grabbing a 2-0 lead thanks to Albert Pujols, who belted his 562nd career homer in the first inning to pull within one of Reggie Jackson for 13th place on the all-time list — he also is one double away from tying Rafael Palmeiro (586) for 18th in major league history. Chicago returns home from a six-game road trip during which it dropped the last two contests after winning the first four — including three in Minnesota. The White Sox struggled to score at Tampa Bay, pushing a total of five runs across the plate in losing two of three, and have produced fewer than four in each of their last five contests overall. Adam Eaton hasn't driven in a run since the season opener at Oakland but has hit safely in nine of his 11 games — recording six multi-hit performances along the way.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN West (Los Angeles), CSN Chicago

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels LH Hector Santiago (0-0, 3.95 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Carlos Rodon (1-1, 1.38)

Santiago is coming off his second no-decision in as many starts this season, a 7 2/3-inning performance at Oakland in which he allowed four runs and seven hits. It was the longest outing as an Angel for the 28-year-old native of Newark, New Jersey, who has started 58 of his 65 games with the team since the start of 2014. Santiago, who spent the first three years of his career with Chicago, lost his only turn against his former team — a setback at U.S. Cellular Field on Aug. 11 in which he yielded three runs and four hits over 5 1/3 frames.

Rodon issued five walks at Minnesota on Wednesday but gave up only three hits in six scoreless innings to notch the victory. The 23-year-old from Miami also pitched well in his season debut, yielding just two runs over seven frames at Oakland, but was tagged with the loss as he received one run of support. Rodon was strong in two starts against the Angels as a rookie last season, going 1-1 with one complete game, a 1.20 ERA and a 0.80 WHIP while striking out 16 in 15 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. White Sox 3B Todd Frazier struck out four times Sunday — one fewer that his total in the previous four games.

2. Los Angeles RF Kole Calhoun has recorded at least one hit in 10 of his 12 games this season.

3. Chicago 2B Brett Lawrie is riding a seven-game hitting streak (11-for-28) after going 2-for-4 on Sunday.

PREDICTION: White Sox 4, Angels 2

Milwaukee Brewers (5-6) at Minnesota Twins (2-9)

DATE/TIME: Monday, April 18 - 8:10 PM EST

WHERE: Target Field, Minneapolis, Minnesota



The Minnesota Twins couldn't seem to do anything right when it mattered during their worst start in over 100 years, but manager Paul Molitor likes what he sees after his club notched a trio of comeback wins over the weekend. The Twins eye a fourth straight victory since beginning the season 0-9 on Monday, when they host the Milwaukee Brewers in the opener of a four-game, home-and-home interleague series.

Minnesota totaled 14 runs and was 5-for-66 with runners in scoring position during its season-opening nine-game slide - the franchise's first such skid since the 1904 Washington Senators opened 0-13-1 in its fourth year of existence. The Twins, who scored nine of their 14 runs during the series after the fifth inning, completed a sweep of the Los Angeles Angels with a 3-2, 12-inning victory on Sunday but lost the red-hot Trevor Plouffe to a right intercostal strain late in the game. "To endure that first stretch and respond this way is a good sign - 0-9 is a pretty big hole, so you don't want to get too giddy," Molitor told reporters. "But you'll take bunching some wins here in response to that 0-9." Milwaukee has dropped four of six to fall to 5-7, but it is 4-1 in games started by Jimmy Nelson and Chase Anderson - the latter of which will take the mound in the opener.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FSN North Plus (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Chase Anderson (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Twins RH Phil Hughes (0-2, 4.38)

After two mostly mediocre seasons with Arizona, Anderson has been a pleasant surprise so far for Milwaukee, as he has yet to surrender an earned run through 11 innings. The Oklahoma alum was charged with three unearned runs on four hits and a pair of walks in a no-decision at St. Louis on Wednesday, which followed five scoreless frames versus Houston five days earlier. Anderson never has faced Minnesota but is 3-1 with a 2.68 ERA in seven career interleague starts.

Hughes recorded a quality start in each of his first two outings and has yet to issue a walk but hasn't received much help from his offense. The 29-year-old suffered his second loss in as many turns with Wednesday's 3-0 setback against the Chicago White Sox despite allowing three runs and striking out seven in 6 1/3 innings. Hughes will draw Milwaukee for the first time in his career, eyeing his seventh straight win in as many starts against a National League opponent.

WALK-OFFS

1. With his two singles Sunday, Minnesota 1B Joe Mauer tied Hall-of-Famer Harmon Killebrew for fifth place on the franchise list with 1,173 hits.

2. Milwaukee 2B Scooter Gennett has drawn a team-high nine walks in 47 plate appearances in 2016 after recording 12 in 391 plate appearances last season.

3. Plouffe has been listed as day-to-day, but the Twins plan on letting him rest for a few days before deciding whether or not he needs a stint on the disabled list.

PREDICTION: Brewers 3, Twins 2

Arizona Diamondbacks (4-8) at San Francisco Giants (7-5)

DATE/TIME: Monday, April 18 - 10:15 PM EST

WHERE: AT&T Park, San Francisco, California



The San Francisco Giants begin a 10-game homestand Monday against the Arizona Diamondbacks hoping to get untracked after their offense disappeared at times during the past week. The Giants will be happy to leave their 2-4 road trip to Colorado and Los Angeles in the rearview mirror, while Arizona starts the four-game series on a high note after taking two of three against San Diego.

The Diamondbacks received a power boost in Sunday’s 7-3 win over the Padres as outfielder Yasmany Tomas homered twice and drove in three runs. Tomas performed under expectations while hitting .273 with nine home runs as a rookie last season but has worked closely with batting coach Dave Magadan and went 6-for-10 in his last two games. San Francisco boasts one of the deepest lineups in the majors but saw several starters struggle during their road trip, including catcher Buster Posey, who has one hit in his last 19 at-bats. Center fielder Denard Span is batting .224 from the leadoff spot while third baseman Matt Duffy is mired in a 4-for-34 slump and hit into his fourth double play of the season during Sunday’s 3-1 loss to the Dodgers.

TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, FSN Arizona, CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Archie Bradley (2015: 2-3, 5.80 ERA) vs. Giants RH Jake Peavy (0-1, 10.00)

Bradley is making his season debut in place of Rubby De La Rosa, whose start was pushed back after he threw 15 pitches in relief during Saturday’s 5-3, 14-inning loss to San Diego. The 23-year-old was 1-1 with a 4.05 ERA, nine strikeouts and five walks in his first two starts covering 6 2/3 innings with Triple-A Reno. Bradley, who was the seventh overall pick in the 2011 draft, faced the Giants in his second career start April 16, 2015, and received a no-decision after yielding two runs over 6 2/3 innings.

Peavy is seeking his first quality start after allowing a total of 10 runs over his first two games covering nine innings. The three-time All-Star allowed 10 extra-base hits and lasted just four innings Wednesday at Colorado but has a good chance to bounce back against a team that he has had success against the past few years. Chris Owings is 4-for-10 against the 34-year-old, who is 5-1 with a 3.38 ERA in his last six starts against the Diamondbacks.

WALK-OFFS

1. Arizona RHP Shelby Miller left Saturday’s game against San Diego early because of a finger injury but is expected to make his next scheduled start Thursday against the Giants.

2. The Giants have scored just four first-inning runs in their first 13 games.

3. Arizona recalled RHP Evan Marshall along with Bradley and optioned RHPs Jake Barrett and Matt Buschmann to Triple-A Reno.

PREDICTION: Giants 7, Diamondbacks 5

StatFox Super Situations


MLB | MILWAUKEE at MINNESOTA
Play On - Home teams when the money line is +125 to -125 (MINNESOTA) AL team with a low slugging percentage (<=.410) against a team with a bad bullpen (WHIP >=1.550), ice cold hitting team - batting .225 or worse over their last 10 games
31-11 since 1997. ( 73.8% | 20.3 units )




StatFox Situational Power Trends


MLB | NY METS at PHILADELPHIA
NY METS are 28-9 (+19.0 Units) against the money line in Road games vs. teams outscored by opp by 0.5 or more runs/game on the season over the last 3 seasons.
The average score was: NY METS (6.2) , OPPONENT (3.7)

Preview: Mets (5-6) at Phillies (6-7)


Game: 1
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: April 18, 2016 7:05 PM EDT


Just over a week ago, the New York Mets scuffled through the last two games of a series with the Philadelphia Phillies.


The offense is now showing signs of life, something that's usually associated with Noah Syndergaard's fastball.


The hard-throwing Syndergaard would certainly appreciate some help from the Mets' offense as he goes for another dominant outing Monday night against the Phillies.


New York (5-6) entered the season with lofty expectations after winning the pennant last year, but dropped five of its first seven games, including two of three to Philadelphia from April 8-10.


The Mets were limited to two runs and seven hits while losing the last two games of that series, and they didn't look much better by following that stretch with consecutive defeats to Miami and getting outscored 12-4.


After compiling a .194 average and scoring 2.5 runs through the first eight games, they were much more productive this weekend in Cleveland. The Mets totaled 17 runs, batted .279 and hit seven homers while taking two of three from the Indians.


New York won 6-0 Sunday, getting three doubles and a triple among its nine hits.


"It's been a few good days," said left fielder Michael Conforto, who was 5 for 12 in the series after being moved to third in the batting order. "Hopefully we can keep it going."


Syndergaard (1-0, 0.69) surely hopes so since he's been backed by three total runs through two starts. The right-hander only received one Tuesday, getting a no-decision after striking out 12 and yielding one run in seven innings in a 2-1 loss to the Marlins.


"He did exactly what you wanted. He got us to the eighth inning," manager Terry Collins told MLB's official website. "We just couldn't put anything on the board for him to work with, but he was outstanding."


Syndergaard has won both of his starts against the Phillies (6-7), posting a 1.46 ERA with 15 strikeouts in 12 1-3 innings.


Starting with their series win over the Mets, the Phillies have won six of nine. They avoided being swept by Washington on Sunday, winning 3-2 in 10 innings on Freddy Galvis' walkoff double that followed Andres Blanco's RBI single.


Philadelphia didn't need to do much with Jerad Eickhoff (1-1, 1.50) on the mound Wednesday against San Diego. The right-hander allowed four hits over seven scoreless innings and struck out nine in a 2-1 win.


"(Eickhoff) was in total command," manager Pete Mackanin said. "I can't say enough good things. Nothing but superlatives."


Eickhoff is 1-3 despite 2.88 ERA in four career starts against the Mets. He was charged with a 7-2 defeat in New York during his season debut April 8, allowing two earned runs in five innings.


He's had a tough time with Conforto, who is 5 for 10 with a homer and two doubles off him. However, Yoenis Cespedes, Curtis Granderson, David Wright and Travis d'Arnaud are a combined 3 for 27.


D'Arnaud is nursing a bruised left elbow that could sideline him for a second straight game. Kevin Plawecki had two hits in his place Sunday, but he's 4 for 19 in seven career games against the Phillies.

Preview: Nationals (9-2) at Marlins (3-7)


Game: 1
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: April 18, 2016 7:10 PM EDT


Jose Fernandez hadn't been saddled with a loss in his previous 26 outings at home before struggling in his first appearance of the season.


The right-hander hasn't had much trouble with the Washington Nationals no matter the location, though, and he'll try to help the Miami Marlins snap their worst home start in 21 years Monday night.


Fernandez (0-1, 5.06 ERA) entered this season 17-0 with a 1.40 ERA and 192 strikeouts in his career at Marlins Park while holding opponents to a .180 average. Although he struck out 13 against Detroit on April 6, he also allowed five runs and threw 106 pitches in 5 2-3 innings of a 7-3 defeat.


He labored through the early innings Tuesday, too, but settled down and gave up one run in five innings of the Marlins' 2-1 road win over the New York Mets.


"You've got to battle," Fernandez said. "You've got to go out there and give your teammates a chance to win, every game."


Fernandez had done that against the Nationals (9-2), going 3-0 with a 0.98 ERA in six starts, with all but one being at home. He's held Washington to a .164 average while striking out 43 over 36 2-3 innings.


The Marlins (3-7) sure could use a dominant effort from Fernandez. They've dropped their first five at home for the first time since starting 0-9 in 1995 and are coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of previously winless Atlanta.


Miami trailed 5-0 on Sunday before Ichiro's RBI single in the ninth tied it, but Mallex Smith's run-scoring hit in the 10th gave the Braves a 6-5 win. Giancarlo Stanton, who struck out seven times in the series, went 0 for 4 to drop his average to .205.


'Obviously you'd like to play well at home,' manager Don Mattingly said. 'We've had some good crowds, and people like to walk out of here feeling good. We just have to keep going.'


Stanton's only multihit game of the season came off Tanner Roark on April 7 in a 6-4 victory. Most of the Marlins had a good day, as Roark (1-1, 2.45) gave up four runs and nine hits while walking three in four innings.


The right-hander bounced back Wednesday, though, scattering four hits through seven innings of a 3-0 win over Atlanta. He moved up one day after Stephen Strasburg was scratched with the flu.


"We gave him 24 hours to prepare, and he came through big time," manager Dusty Baker said. "He gave us seven innings, got our bullpen kind of back in order."


Roark's had much more time to get ready for the Marlins again, and hopefully he used it wisely. He's lost his last three starts against Miami with a 7.24 ERA and hasn't pitched beyond the fifth in any.


He'll try to help the Nationals get back on track in the opener of this four-game set. They had a seven-game winning streak snapped with Sunday's 3-2, 10-inning loss at Philadelphia after Bryce Harper gave them the lead with a homer in the top half.


Jonathan Papelbon blew his first save in six opportunities by allowing a pair of RBI hits with two outs.


"A series win is a series win," said Harper who is 8 for 15 with 10 RBIs while homering in a career-high four consecutive games. "We take this into Miami and keep it going, hopefully."


Harper homered three times at Marlins Park last season, but the Nationals went just 3-6 there.

Preview: Rockies (7-5) at Reds (6-6)


Game: 1
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: April 18, 2016 7:10 PM EDT


The Colorado Rockies finally found some quality pitching to complement their continued home run barrage.


That could spell trouble for Cincinnati ahead of Monday night's series opener at Great American Ballpark, considering the Reds have had troubles keeping opponents inside the park.


Colorado (7-5) has won four of five after taking two of three on the road from the Chicago Cubs, who had lost only once in their first nine games. The Rockies limited Chicago to 15 hits in the series after the Cubs came in averaging 9.2 per contest. Tyler Chatwood's seven innings Sunday powered the Rockies to their first shutout in a 2-0 victory - two days after Chad Bettis threw six scoreless innings in a 6-1 win.


Colorado posted a 7.20 ERA before the series.


"Overall, it was a big team win and series win, and that was our focus coming in," Chatwood told MLB's official website.


Nolan Arenado's fifth and sixth home runs were all the offense Colorado needed. The Rockies' 23 homers are tied with Baltimore for the most in baseball, and they're on pace for 46 this month, which would surpass the franchise record of 41 for April, set in 2001.


Arenado has hit .412 with four homers and 11 RBIs in his last nine matchups with the Reds.


Carlos Gonzalez's career-high 21-game hitting streak dating back to last season came to an end Sunday, though he's still batting .367 and has four multihomer games in his last 15 meetings with Cincinnati.


The Reds (6-6) have allowed 20 home runs, tied for the second-most, including 10 in their last three contests. They surrendered 48 runs in losing five of six in road series against the Cubs and St. Louis.


Cincinnati tweaked its rotation ahead of this three-game set, pushing Alfredo Simon back to Tuesday, while Dan Straily (0-0, 3.24 ERA) joins the rotation in the opener. Rookie Tim Melville has been banished to the bullpen after giving up seven earned runs over as many innings in his first two starts.


Straily, claimed off waivers from San Diego on April 2, has logged 8 1-3 innings over three relief appearances. He's 0-3 with a 6.26 ERA in his last nine starts.


Colorado's Jordan Lyles (0-1, 11.25) struggled in two starts at Coors Field, allowing five earned runs both times against San Diego and San Francisco. He has issued five walks over eight innings.


Lyles was in position for a win Wednesday against the Giants but manager Walt Weiss pulled him one out shy of qualifying in an eventual 10-6 victory.


Billy Hamilton is expected to rejoin Cincinnati's lineup after missing two games to rest his surgically repaired shoulder. He's hitting .185 through 11 games.


Zack Cozart has been playing well atop the order, improving his batting average to .483 with a 2-for-4 day in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Cardinals. He has hit safely in all eight of his starts.


The Rockies have won 12 of the last 18 meetings while batting .307 and averaging 6.5 runs.

Preview: Cubs (9-3) at Cardinals (7-5)


Game: 1
Venue: Busch Stadium
Date: April 18, 2016 8:09 PM EDT


It's fitting that the first meeting of the season between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals will see both John Lackey and Jason Heyward return to Busch Stadium.


Those players were on the opposite side a season ago when the upstart Cubs knocked off the Cardinals in an NL division series and could be greeted rudely by the St. Louis faithful in Monday night's three-game series opener.


St. Louis (7-5) has been to five straight postseasons and won 100 games last year for the first time in 10 years before its run of capturing four straight division series ended with a four-game loss to Chicago, which captured the league's second wild card.


The Cubs (9-3) then strengthened themselves in the offseason, most notably from a St. Louis perspective by the free agent signings of Lackey (2-0, 5.68 ERA) and Heyward.


The Heyward signing seemed to signal a changing of the guard in the NL Central, as Chicago not only splashed out a $184 million, eight-year contract for him but also held his introductory press conference at the swanky Spiaggia Restaurant in the city's famed Magnificent Mile. The outfielder indicated that the Cubs' youth was a major reason why he signed with them.


'I felt like if I were to look up in three years and see a completely different team, that would kind of be different for me,' Heyward said. 'Chicago really offers an opportunity to come and really be introduced to the culture by a young group of guys, grow up with them and watch them grow up and still watch myself grow up and have some fun with familiar faces for a long time.'


Heyward, though, is off to a slow start for Chicago, going 9 for 44.


The Cardinals took exception to the notion they are an older club. There's also a culture clash between the no-nonsense, buttoned-down culture in St. Louis compared to the fun-loving atmosphere with the lovable Cubs, who held disco parties after games last year with the blessing of colorful manager Joe Maddon.


Unsurprisingly, St. Louis manager Mike Matheny tried to downplay Monday's opener between baseball's top offenses. The Cardinals are averaging 7.1 runs and the Cubs 5.9.


"I will say this, I know there's going to be some electricity in the stadium, because our fans are into this thing too and that does influence, you can't help it, it influences the atmosphere on the field so we're excited about that but when it comes down to it, if our guys are doing anything different, or if they're playing any harder, we've got some conversations that we've got to have," Matheny said.


Lackey went 16-13 with a 3.10 ERA in 43 starts with the Cardinals since being acquired from Boston on July 31, 2014, before he signed a two-year deal with Chicago. He'll take the mound at Busch for the first time since going 7 1-3 innings in a 4-0 victory over the Cubs in the Division Series opener in rosier times for the Cardinals.


The right-hander has never faced St. Louis in the regular season. The available Cardinals he has faced the most are Brandon Moss (4 for 8) and Matt Holliday (0 for 7).


He gave up two runs in 6 2-3 innings in Wednesday's 9-2 rout of Cincinnati.


Lackey will be opposed by Mike Leake (0-1, 6.97), who has yielded four runs in each of his first two starts after he lasted six innings in Wednesday's no-decision in a 6-4 loss to Milwaukee.


Leake went 0-1 with a 3.67 ERA in four 2015 starts versus the Cubs. Anthony Rizzo is 10 for 30 with two homers against him.


The Cubs, who dropped two of three to Colorado over the weekend, sport an NL-best 5-1 road mark. The Cardinals have taken two of three in a pair of series to begin this nine-game homestand, not starting Yadier Molina for some rest in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Reds.


Molina is expected to return to the lineup for Monday's much-anticipated contest.


"We do need the build-up for the good of the game and the excitement, it's been a long-time rivalry," Matheny said. "But now the ability to have all the excitement about them, I think there's some excitement about us, around here at least. So now we get to go out and stop all the talking and play the game."

Preview: Angels (5-7) at White Sox (8-4)


Game: 1
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: April 18, 2016 8:10 PM EDT


The White Sox and Angels are off to slow offensive starts, but Chicago has been able to compensate with strong pitching more often than not.


Both clubs will be looking to ignite their lineups in Monday night's series opener at U.S. Cellular Field.Though Chicago's 2.49 ERA leads the American League, the team's pitching was finally unable to bail out its cold bats this past weekend against Tampa Bay. The White Sox dropped consecutive games for the first time and were held to five runs during the three-game series, striking out 28 times.


The middle of the order, in particular, continues to struggle, with Jose Abreu and Todd Frazier hitting a combined .187.


Chicago is 3-3 when allowing three runs or more.


"It's a rough stretch, but if you told me we'd be 8-4 right now I'd take it any day of the week," said Frazier, who struck out in all four at-bats Sunday. "(I) might be trying to do too much. In a stretch like this, you have to hit strikes and I haven't been doing that. We missed a lot of pitches."


The Angels (5-7) were swept on the road by the Twins, who had started 0-9. Los Angeles was held to four hits in Sunday's 3-2, 12-inning loss, including just two after Albert Pujols' first-inning two-run homer. It's already the third time they've been limited to four hits or fewer.


Pujols is batting .196, while Mike Trout is off to a slow start as well at .233.


"We haven't been able to open some things up," manager Mike Scioscia said. "It's going to start not with just one guy. There are some guys here that need to get into their game, and once it does, I think this lineup, the way this lineup is stacked, I think it makes a lot of sense."


Scioscia gives the ball to Hector Santiago (0-0, 3.95 ERA), who lost his only previous start against his former team Aug. 11 when he gave up three runs over 5 1-3 innings in a 3-0 road defeat. Santiago opened his career with the White Sox, going 8-10 with a 3.41 ERA over 78 games from 2011-13, including 27 starts, before being traded in a four-player deal.


He gave up four runs over 7 2-3 innings without a decision in Tuesday's 5-4 win at Oakland.


Chicago counters with a fellow left-hander in Carlos Rodon (1-1, 1.38), who is off to an impressive start in his first full season. Rodon is 6-3 with a 1.73 ERA over his last 10 games going back to Aug. 11 - when he struck out a career-high 11 over seven innings in a 3-0 win against the Angels.


Rodon scattered three hits over six innings in a 3-0 victory at Minnesota on Wednesday, though he was inefficient, walking five on 107 pitches. "His strength and endurance is something that's going to be a calling card for him, because he can continue on," manager Robin Ventura said. "Right there, he's throwing too many pitches, but as the game's going on you can see him getting stronger."


The White Sox held Los Angeles to 14 runs in winning last season's series 4-3.

Preview: Brewers (5-7) at Twins (3-9)


Game: 1
Venue: Target Field
Date: April 18, 2016 8:10 PM EDT


Teddy Higuera is the only pitcher in the history of the Milwaukee Brewers to start a season without allowing an earned run in three straight starts. Chase Anderson is an unlikely candidate to become the second.


The Brewers look to win for a third time with Anderson on the mound as they try to snap the Minnesota Twins' winning streak Monday night.


Anderson tossed five scoreless innings in a 6-4 win over Houston in his Brewers debut April 8. He was tagged for three runs - all unearned - in the first inning Wednesday, but he followed up with five scoreless before getting a no-decision in a 6-4 win at St. Louis.


That's a major improvement after he was hammered for 19 runs and five homers in 14 2-3 innings over five starts during spring training.


He's already joined Earl Stephenson (1972) as the only pitchers to not allow an earned run in his first two starts with the Brewers. However, Anderson has a chance to match Higuera's 1990 record of no earned runs against through the first three starts of a season.


"I know in spring training he was working on some stuff, and now you see it (coming to) fruition," catcher Jonathan Lucroy told MLB's official website. "You've got a guy who can pretty much throw any pitch in any count, any time he wants. When you have a guy like that, you're going to have a long night (as a hitter)."


The Brewers (5-7) have had plenty of those themselves, batting .213 and averaging 3.3 runs, and their 114 strikeouts trail only San Diego's 128 for the most in the NL.


Lucroy is 2 for 15 in four games after hitting .346 during a season-opening seven-game hitting streak. He's a .349 hitter in 11 career games at Minnesota.


He had one of the Brewers' six singles in Sunday's 9-3 loss at Pittsburgh.


Ryan Braun is expected to be back after getting Sunday off. He could be used as the designated hitter, and he's 10 for 20 with two homers, three doubles and five RBIs over the last six meetings with the Twins.


The Twins (3-9) enter this four-game, two-city series after beating the Los Angeles Angels 3-2 in 12 innings Sunday to sweep the three-game set.


Ten-year veteran Phil Hughes (0-2, 4.38) takes the ball opposite the Brewers for the first time.


The right-hander lost his first four starts last year and could use some help from the offense to avoid moving closer to matching that. He's only been backed by two runs through two starts, and he got none while allowing three and striking out seven in 6 1-3 innings of a 3-0 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.


Oswaldo Arcia is 5 for 9 with one homer and three RBIs over the last two games after going 0 for 8 in his first three games. The left fielder, who hit 20 homers in 2014, is trying to prove he belongs in the majors after spending nearly all of last year in the minors.


"I guess I have to keep reminding myself that that lad is still 24," general manager Terry Ryan said. "It seems like he's 34, he's been around so long. But he's 24 years old and I've got to remember that and make sure everybody else remembers that as well."

Preview: Diamondbacks (5-8) at Giants (7-6)


Game: 1
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: April 18, 2016 10:15 PM EDT


Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale figures to turn back to his usual lineup for the four-game series opener against the San Francisco Giants after giving some regulars some rest.


Yasmany Tomas doesn't look like he needs any days off after a red-hot weekend.


Tomas and the Diamondbacks just captured a series for the first time and continue this trip Monday night against a Giants team that was abysmal at home in this series a year ago.


Hale did not start slugger Paul Goldschmidt, right fielder David Peralta, second baseman Jean Segura, center fielder Socrates Brito and catcher Welington Castillo in Sunday's 7-3 win over San Diego after losing 5-3 in 14 innings the night before. Arizona (5-8) responded with its second-highest scoring effort of the year.


'It felt good,' Hale said. 'Most people that saw the lineup were wondering what we were doing. But with all those innings last night, we turned to our guys that didn't play as much. Very proud of them. They battled.'


Tomas was the star as he went 3 for 4 with his first multihomer effort and three RBIs. He was 7 for 14 with six runs scored as the Diamondbacks took two of three after he entered the series with four hits in 23 at-bats.


'I feel really happy,' Tomas said through a translator. 'I believe those two homers were really great for the team because it was the first series we won this year."


The Diamondbacks were happy often at AT&T Park last season, capturing eight of 10 games there for their best winning percentage in a year at San Francisco (7-6) in club history.


They'll look to add to the woes of Giants starter Jake Peavy (0-1, 10.00 ERA), who has been one of baseball's worst pitchers in allowing 10 runs over nine innings.


He surrendered six runs in four innings to lose in Wednesday's 10-6 defeat at Colorado, yielding a franchise-record 10 extra-base hits. The veteran right-hander became the first pitcher to allow 10 since Boston's Curt Schilling on Aug. 10, 2006.


"The stuff was there, execution was just simply poor," Peavy said.


Peavy went 1-1 with a 7.20 ERA in two 2015 starts versus the Diamondbacks. Goldschmidt, batting just .205, is 2 for 7 with a homer against him.


Arizona has scratched Rubby De La Rosa from this outing after he was needed out of the bullpen Saturday. Archie Bradley, recalled from the minors Sunday, will make his 2016 debut.


Bradley, who went 2-3 with a 5.80 ERA in eight starts as a rookie with the Diamondbacks last year, was in his hotel room in El Paso, Texas when he learned he was promoted.


"Obviously it was a welcome phone call, but then kind of went into panic mode trying to pack and figure everything out," Bradley told MLB's official website. "Happy to be here, though."


The right-hander faced the Giants once, giving up two runs in 6 2-3 innings in a 7-6, 12-inning win April 16, 2015.


San Francisco starts a 10-game homestand after losing for the fourth time in five games, 3-1 on Sunday to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Buster Posey is in a 1-for-16 slump and Matt Duffy was hitless in 12 at-bats over the weekend. Posey, though, batted .333 with 15 RBIs last season against Arizona.

MLB


Monday's games


National League games


Mets @ Phillies
Syndergaard is 3-0, 1.82 in his last four starts (under.3-1).


Eickhoff is 3-1, 1.35 in his last six starts; under is 5-3 in his last eight.


Mets won three of their last four games. Phillies won four of their last six games; under is 5-2 in their home games. Philly is 0-4 in series openers.


Nationals @ Marlins
Roark is 1-2, 2.28 in his last four starts (under 3-1).


Fernandez is 0-2, 4.32 in his last three starts; three of his last four at home went over.


Washington won seven of its last eight games; three of their last four games got over the total. Miami lost its last four games; they're 0-5 at home, with all five games going over the total.


Rockies @ Reds
Lyles is 0-5, 8.91 in his last eight starts; three of his last four went over.


Straily is making first start for Reds; he's 0-1, 6.46 in his last three starts. Straily is 13-13 in 45 career major league starts (27 of 45 were in 2013).


Colorado won four of its last five games; three of its last four road games stayed under total. Cincinnati is 1-5 on road; five of the six games went over the total. .


Cubs @ Cardinals
Ex-Cardinal Lackey is 3-0, 4.70 in his last four starts; his last three went over.


Leake is 1-3, 4.76 in his last five starts; under is 5-3 in his last eight starts.


Cubs won six of their last eight games; five of their last seven games went over total. St Louis won seven of its last nine games (over 7-2). .


Diamondbacks @ Giants
Bradley is making first '16 start (De la Rosa pitched in relief in 14th inning Saturday night in San Diego); Bradley is 1-3, 10.91 in his last four starts, last of which was back on June 1, 2015.


Peavy is 0-1, 10.00 in two starts this month; five of his last seven starts went over.


Arizona is 4-7 in its last 11 games; they're 0-4 in game following a win. Under is 6-3 in their last nine games. Giants lost four of their last five games (over 3-1-1).




American League games


Blue Jays @ Red Sox
Happ is 3-0, 1.84 in his last five starts; five of his last six stayed under.


Buchholz is 0-2, 9.49 in his last three starts; both his starts this month went over.


Toronto lost four of its its last five road games (under is 6-1 in their last seven games overall). Red Sox won three of their last four games, all of which stayed under.


Angels @ White Sox
Santiago is 0-0, 6.17 in his last four starts; over is 4-1 in his last five road starts.


Rodon is 4-1, 1.60 in his last five starts; under is 5-1-1 in his last seven.


Chicago won six of its last nine games (under 7-2-1 in last ten). Angels lost last three games; under is 7-4 in their last eleven games.




Interleague


Brewers @ Marlins
Anderson is 1-0, 2.01 in his last four starts; over is 3-2 in his last five road starts .


Hughes is 1-5, 5.90 in his last six starts (under 4-1-1).


Milwaukee lost three of its last four games; six of its last nine went over. Miami lost all five home games; all five went over he total.