MLB Betting Info - Wednesday 4/20

Colorado Rockies (8-5) at Cincinnati Reds (6-7)

DATE/TIME: Wednesday, April 20 - 12:35 PM EST

WHERE: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio



Zack Cozart has made himself at home atop the Cincinnati Reds' lineup and carries a 10-game hitting streak into Wednesday afternoon's rubber match with the visiting Colorado Rockies. The 30-year-old Cozart, who is 16-for-37 (.432) on the season, capped a 10-pitch at-bat with an RBI single to highlight a four-run second inning in the Reds' 4-3 victory on Tuesday.

Brandon Phillips fell a homer shy of the cycle and had four of the nine hits for Cincinnati, which posted just its second win in eight outings and reached four runs for just the second time in its last nine. Colorado's Ben Paulsen continued his solid series as he followed up a three-run homer in Monday's 5-1 win with an RBI single to open the scoring on Tuesday. Paulsen, who has driven in seven runs in his last six games, added a double as the Rockies fell for just the second time in seven outings. Colorado is wrapping up a six-game road trip before beginning a seven-game homestand versus the National League West-rival Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday.

TV: 12:35 p.m. ET, ROOT (Colorado), FSN Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Chad Bettis (2-0, 2.95 ERA) vs. Reds RH Raisel Iglesias (1-1, 3.24)

Bettis has righted the ship after a disastrous season-opening performance, allowing just one earned run on nine hits and striking out 10 in his last two outings (13 innings). The 26-year-old permitted just three singles over six scoreless innings in a 6-1 triumph over the Chicago Cubs on Friday. The lone blemish was his control, as he walked three batters for the second time in three outings this season.

Iglesias yielded three runs and struck out 12 in 11 2/3 innings during his first two home starts before stumbling a bit in his trip to Wrigley Field on Thursday. The 26-year-old Cuban allowed three runs on six hits in five innings in an 8-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs. Iglesias, who was Cincinnati's Opening Day starter, has yet to face the Rockies in his young career.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cincinnati RH Caleb Cotham retired the side in order in one inning of work on Tuesday and has yet to allow an earned run in eight frames this season.

2. Colorado 1B Mark Reynolds, who belted a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning on Tuesday, has struck out 12 times in 31 at-bats.

3. Reds 1B Joey Votto is 0-for-10 following a five-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Rockies 4, Reds 2

A's are 14-6 (.700) vs Yankees since start of 2013, the best record by an AL team vs. NYY over the span.

Including the postseason, the Cubs have now won 11 of their last 15 games against the Cardinals

StatFox Super Situations


MLB | DETROIT at KANSAS CITY
Play Against - Road teams when the money line is +125 to -125 (DETROIT) after having won 4 or 5 of their last 6 games, a top-level team (>=62%) playing a team with a winning record
51-23 over the last 5 seasons. ( 68.9% | 27.1 units )
2-3 this year. ( 40.0% | -1.2 units )




StatFox Situational Power Trends


MLB | ARIZONA at SAN FRANCISCO
ARIZONA is 20-8 (+14.6 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +100 to +125 over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was: ARIZONA (5.1) , OPPONENT (3.8)

Preview: Rockies (8-5) at Reds (6-7)


Game: 3
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: April 20, 2016 12:35 PM EDT


The Cincinnati Reds are having more success at home than on the road, and that's especially true on the basepaths.


After their aggressive base running led to another home win, the Reds look to cap this three-game series with a second straight victory Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies.


Cincinnati (7-7) tied Milwaukee and Oakland for the worst home record in baseball last year at 34-47. The Reds, though, are showing signs of avoiding a similar fate in 2016, winning six of eight games. However, that's been undermined by a 1-5 road record.


They continued their success at Great American Ball Park in bizarre fashion Tuesday, stealing five bases in a four-run second inning to beat Colorado 4-3. The steals were the most by Cincinnati in an inning in at least a century.


"A rarity, like an eclipse," said right fielder Jay Bruce, who matched his career high with two steals.


The Reds have 11 steals on the season - nine coming at home - to rank only behind the New York Yankees and Houston, both with 13.


Brandon Phillips was caught stealing Tuesday, but he made an impact by going 4 for 4 and falling a home run shy of the cycle. He's 9 for 21 in six home games compared to 6 for 24 on the road.


Raisel Iglesias (1-1, 3.24 ERA) takes the mound for the first time against Colorado. The right-hander has a 2.94 ERA over his last six home starts, but he only has a 1-2 record to show for it since he's been backed by seven total runs.


He had his worst performance of the season in Thursday's 8-1 loss to the Cubs, yielding three runs and six hits in five innings. He gave up that many runs with 12 strikeouts over 11 2-3 innings during his first two games, which both resulted in Reds' home wins.


The Rockies try to end this six-game trip with four victories as they hand the ball to Chad Bettis (2-0, 2.95), who has a chance to win three straight starts for the first time.


He's limited his last two opponents to two runs - one earned - over 13 innings. The right-hander tossed three-hit ball over six scoreless innings Friday in a 6-1 win at Wrigley Field.


However, Bettis wasn't happy with issuing three walks.


"I would have liked to have been more efficient than I was - three walks for me through six innings is not where I want to be right now," Bettis told MLB's official website. "That being said, I did feel very comfortable with my tempo and how my pitches were moving, and there were some great plays behind me."


Mark Reynolds hit his first home run of the season Tuesday, his third in 30 games in Cincinnati. He's batting .174 in his last 14 contests there.

Preview: Angels (6-7) at White Sox (8-5)


Game: 3
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: April 20, 2016 2:10 PM EDT


Even though he saw his team wait until the fifth inning for its first hit in another loss, Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia wasn't too impressed with the Chicago White Sox's starter.


Perhaps he'll have praise when he gets a look at Chris Sale.


The White Sox ace can capture his first four starts for the first time and improve to 5-0 as a starter against the Angels in Wednesday's matchup at U.S. Cellular Field.


Los Angeles (6-8) was held hitless through four innings by Mat Latos and registered only an infield hit through six in Tuesday's 5-0 defeat that evened this four-game series. Scioscia, whose team has dropped four of five, didn't seem too enthralled that Latos pitched 6 1-3 innings of two-hit ball.


'I didn't think he was doing anything special,' Scioscia said. 'He obviously hit the spots but we had chances and he made some pitches to get out of jams."


Things won't get any easier for the Angels against Sale (3-0, 2.35 ERA), who started 5-0 in 2014 with a no-decision in his fourth start. He fired a two-hitter with nine strikeouts and no walks in Friday's 1-0 victory at Tampa Bay.


"He just seemed to be on his game," manager Robin Ventura told MLB's official website. "I think throwing strikes early in counts, too, you get a guy like him, and you can kind of see the strategy of getting after it early."


Sale is 4-0 with a 1.73 ERA in five starts against the Angels and has limited Albert Pujols to two hits in 15 at-bats and Mike Trout to three in 13. Pujols and Trout combined for six hitless at-bats Tuesday.


Yunel Escobar is 2 for 4 versus Sale and 11 for 20 with a homer and five doubles off southpaws this year.


One factor against Sale is that he is 3-5 with a 4.26 ERA in his last eight day starts.


The Angels have totaled five runs in losing all three outings by Garrett Richards (0-2, 3.57), who was in line for a victory Friday before his bullpen blew a two-run lead as he gave up two runs in six innings in a 5-4 loss to Minnesota.


'I can't worry about that stuff,' Richards said. 'I need to take the ball every fifth day and give us a chance to win. That's pretty much my only goal.'


The right-hander has won both career starts against Chicago (9-5) with a 3.00 ERA. Jose Abreu is 4 for 6 with a homer against him and Avisail Garcia is 3 for 4.


Abreu ended an eight-game homerless drought Tuesday and Todd Frazier also went deep as the White Sox ended a season-high, three-game slide. Melky Cabrera hit a two-run triple during a three-run eighth that provided the final margin.


'A total, complete game for us,' right fielder Adam Eaton said.


Trout is in a 3-for-18 slide and Pujols a 1-for-16 slump for the Angels, who have lost five of their last six on the road against the White Sox.


The Angels are playing a day game at U.S. Cellular Field for the first time in four years.

Preview: Mariners (5-7) at Indians (5-5)


Game: 2
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: April 20, 2016 6:10 PM EDT


Throughout his brief career, Danny Salazar has proven he can pitch with power. While he's had some hiccups with control early this year, he's learning to be more of a pitcher who has power heading into Wednesday night's game for the Cleveland Indians against the Seattle Mariners.


Salazar (2-0, 0.79 ERA) has averaged 9.95 strikeouts per nine innings over his 62 major league starts, including a 12.71 mark in winning his first two outings of 2016 by fanning 16 in 11 1-3 innings. The right-hander has issued more walks (6) than hits allowed (5) in those victories but has been aggressively contesting hitters.


"If you work hard, and every time you go out there you try to give 100 percent," he told MLB's official website, "it doesn't matter if you are throwing a ball, and then you come next pitch and are throwing hard and try to execute that pitch - that is going to make you feel more confident."


Nearly 32 percent of batters have swung at the first pitch of their at-bat, which ranks 12th in the AL, and his 37.2 percent mark of pitches swung on and missed is third-best in the majors through Monday's games. Salazar stifled Tampa Bay on Thursday, scattering three hits and three walks while striking out nine in six innings of a 6-0 victory.


'Being aggressive,' Salazar said after the win. 'They were swinging a lot, so I mixed in my fastball and changeup for the first pitch.'


Salazar yielded three runs and four hits with four walks in 5 1/3 innings of Cleveland's 6-3, 12-inning win over Seattle on May 31, his only start versus the Mariners.


Cleveland (6-5) opened the series Tuesday night with a 3-2 victory as Carlos Carrasco allowed a solo homer and little else in 6 1/3 innings while Francisco Lindor had three hits and an RBI. The second-year shortstop is 5 for 10 with three doubles and two RBIs in his last three games, bumping his average to .326.


Lindor and the Indians will try to keep Taijuan Walker (0-0, 2.25) winless, though his lack of wins is due to his bullpen more than a lack of quality.


Seattle (5-8) lost his first start in the ninth inning against Oakland on April 8, and after he limited to Texas to one run in six innings last Wednesday, the bullpen allowed the tying run in the eighth before the Mariners posted a 4-2, 10-inning victory.


Walker had his way with the Indians last year, winning two starts in a 12-day span while conceding only one run in 14 innings with 14 strikeouts.


"He's got a chance to have a big year for us," manager Scott Servais said of Walker after his last outing. "It took him a little while. We didn't see the big fastball until real late, and he kind of dug deep and got a little extra, which was nice to see."


Kyle Seager, who had a solo homer in his first multihit game of the year, snapped an 0 for 16 slump and is batting .152. He is 28 for 67 (.418) with four homers and 10 RBIs in 17 games at Progressive Field.

Preview: Mets (6-6) at Phillies (6-8)


Game: 3
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: April 20, 2016 7:05 PM EDT


The New York Mets traded for Neil Walker after losing Daniel Murphy via free agency. So far, Walker is proving to be a fitting replacement.


With homers for each of his last five hits, Walker has a chance to become the first Mets second baseman to homer in three straight games in 22 years Wednesday night against the Philadelphia Phillies.


New York's run to last year's World Series was highlighted by Murphy's seven homers, including a playoff-record six-game streak. The Mets (7-6) made a qualifying offer to keep him, but Murphy opted to sign with division rival Washington for three years and $37.5 million.


In search of a replacement, New York acquired Walker from Pittsburgh for Jonathon Niese.


The move is paying off with Walker leading the Mets with six homers, and his 11 RBIs are just one back of Yoenis Cespedes' team high.


His power surge has come in 20 at-bats over the last five games, the longest such streak for the Mets since Lucas Duda hit eight in a row from July 25-Aug. 1. Walker, though, can become the first Mets second baseman to hit one out in three consecutive games since Jeff Kent in April 1994.


He connected for two solo shots while New York had a season-high six homers in Tuesday's 11-1 win at Philadelphia (6-9). The Mets hit four out in a 5-2 win in the opener of this three-game set a day earlier.


"Consistency is the most important thing," Walker said. "Squaring balls up and driving them in the seats is a pretty good sign. I'm real confident now."


The same could be said of the offense, which has scored 35 runs while hitting .280 with 17 homers during a 5-1 stretch after totaling 18 with a .187 average and two homers during the first seven games.


"We've got a lot of guys who can hit it over the fence," manager Terry Collins said. "There's no easy guy in that lineup. That's really tough on the opposition, when they know they've got to make quality pitch after quality pitch."


Bartolo Colon (1-1, 2.13) would surely like to get some help from the lineup after getting no support while giving up one run with seven strikeouts in six innings of a 1-0 loss to the Phillies on April 9. The right-hander followed that up six days later by yielding two runs in 5 1/3 innings of a 6-5 win at Cleveland.


Colon's 219 wins tie him with Pedro Martinez for second among pitchers born in the Dominican Republic, 24 behind Juan Marichal.


"He's a class act, a pro," manager Terry Collins said. "He always takes the ball and he gives you all he's got. If you give him something to work with he keeps you in the game."


Colon is 4-1 with a 2.73 ERA in his last five starts in Philadelphia. He was charged with a 4-3 loss in the most recent visit Sept. 29, allowing three runs in five innings.


The Phillies are the lowest scoring team in the majors with 2.47 runs per game, and their .211 average is the worst in the NL. They've been outscored 35-8 while losing four of their last five games.


They're turning to Jeremy Hellickson (1-1, 4.30), who was roughed up in Friday's 9-1 loss to Washington. The right-hander gave up five runs in the first inning before allowing one more and leaving after three innings. He had allowed two earned runs over 11 2-3 during his first two starts.


"I just didn't command like I needed to," Hellickson told MLB's official website.


He's won his last two starts against the Mets with a 3.09 ERA, yielding two runs in 5 2-3 innings of a 5-2 road win April 10.

Preview: Athletics (6-7) at Yankees (5-6)


Game: 2
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: April 20, 2016 7:05 PM EDT


Jacoby Ellsbury is expected to return to the New York Yankees lineup, although he's not the only one slumping for them at the moment.


Ellsbury and the Yankees are scuffling at the plate having lost five of six ahead of Wednesday night's contest with a visiting Oakland Athletics club that has won three straight.


The center fielder was out of the lineup in Tuesday's 3-2, 11-inning defeat, entering as a pinch runner in the ninth inning. The move came after a series of defensive mistakes during the first two weeks of the season and because the Yankees (5-7) were facing left-hander Eric Surkamp.


'I don't think he's played as well as he's capable of playing. It just seems like he's misjudged the ball a couple times,' manager Joe Girardi said.


Aaron Hicks started in center and went 0 for 5 in the opener of the three-game series.


Ellsbury is also mired in a 1-for-15 slump, with those woes emblematic of New York's recent production. The Yankees have totaled 13 runs while batting .211 in the last six games.


Brian McCann is hitless in 15 at-bats, Mark Teixeira is in a 1-for-11 slide, Alex Rodriguez is still batting .154 despite three hits in his last two games and Chase Headley has a .200 average.


'We're just not executing,' Girardi said. 'We are getting runners on, but we are having a hard time getting them in. That's going to change, but while you're going through it, it's pretty frustrating.'


Ellsbury has never faced Oakland starter Kendall Graveman (0-1, 2.38 ERA), who will meet the Yankees for the second time after allowing three runs in a no-decision in a 5-4 victory May 28.


Graveman is making his first road start and first in the Bronx after losing his final four road outings a season ago with a 9.60 ERA. No Yankee hitter has more than three at-bats against him.


The right-hander gave up one run in six innings and was in line for his first victory before the bullpen blew a three-run lead in last Tuesday's 5-4 defeat to the Los Angeles Angels.


The Yankees will counter with Nathan Eovaldi (0-1, 6.94), who allowed four runs in 6 2/3 innings in Thursday's 4-2 loss at Toronto. He is 0-2 with a 6.35 ERA in his last three starts after going 9-0 with a 3.32 ERA in his previous 13.


Eovaldi has allowed four homers with 15 strikeouts over 11 2-3 innings.


The right-hander is 0-1 with a 5.09 ERA in four starts versus Oakland. The Athletics have some left-handed hitters who trouble him, with Josh Reddick 4 for 9 and Yonder Alonso and Stephen Vogt each going 3 for 7. Switch-hitter Billy Burns is 3 for 6.


Jed Lowrie is 0 for 3 against Eovaldi and will try to successfully follow up a career high-tying four-hit performance Tuesday. Lowrie scored on Mark Canha's go-ahead single in the 11th.


"I was just trying to stay short and make contact and put it in play honestly and I got a barrel onto it," Canha said.


Oakland (7-7) has matched its longest win streak of 2016 thanks in part to a bullpen effort that has yielded one unearned run over 10 1-3 innings in the last three games.

Preview: Blue Jays (7-7) at Orioles (8-3)


Game: 2
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: April 20, 2016 7:05 PM EDT


It's very difficult for any pitcher to keep Toronto sluggers Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Josh Donaldson in check, but Ubaldo Jimenez seems to have found the formula.


Jimenez looks to continue his effectiveness against the Blue Jays on Wednesday night as the Baltimore Orioles try to rebound from their first home loss.


The Bautista, Encarnacion and Donaldson trio was the best in baseball last season, accounting for 120 homers and 348 RBIs in leading Toronto to its first playoff appearance since 1993.


Virtually none of that production, however, came in four games against Jimenez, who went 3-1 with a 2.55 ERA in those starts and allowed just two homers in 24 2-3 innings. The Blue Jays' sluggers were a combined 1 for 24 with nine strikeouts in those matchups.


Bautista is 2 for 30 lifetime against Jimenez, while Encarnacion (6 for 32) and Donaldson (2 for 17) have also struggled mightily.


Bautista's seventh-inning RBI single extended the Blue Jays' lead, and they held on for a 4-3 victory in Tuesday's series opener. Troy Tulowitzki had a two-run double for Toronto (8-7), which has won three straight and five of seven.


Tulowitzki entered the game batting .140.


'Like everybody else, it's just a matter of time,' manager John Gibbons said. 'He really hasn't hit his stride but when he gets hits, they're big ones.'


Manny Machado hit a solo home run and Matt Wieters added a two-run shot for Baltimore (8-4), which lost for the fourth time in five games since a 7-0 start and had won 10 in a row at home dating to last season.


Machado, who also doubled, is the only player in the majors to hit safely in every one of his team's games this season. His fifth homer tied him for the AL lead.


Baltimore has homered in 11 consecutive games, hitting 25 total in that span.


Outstanding in his season debut, Jimenez (1-1, 3.75 ERA) tries to bounce back after a poor performance in his last outing. The right-hander gave up four runs and six hits with four walks over five innings Wednesday in a 4-2 loss at Boston. The lack of control was disappointing after Jimenez didn't issue a walk in seven innings of his first start.


In two home starts last season against the Blue Jays, he allowed two runs in 14 innings while walking three and striking out 17.


Also coming off a rough outing is R.A. Dickey (1-2, 6.75), who allowed four runs - two earned - and six hits with four walks over 4 2/3 innings in Fridays' 5-3 loss to the Red Sox.


'I'm not disappointed in my knuckleball. I'm disappointed in the result, obviously,' he said. 'My knuckleball has been pretty good. It's moving late, I'm keeping the ball in the ballpark.'


Dickey has a 7.45 ERA in his past two starts and hasn't pitched past the fifth inning in any of his three outings.


However, he's been very good in his past four games against the Orioles, posting a 2.28 ERA despite losing his only two decisions.


Chris Davis is 6 for 25 with two homers and eight strikeouts lifetime against Dickey, while Machado is 5 for 16 with two doubles.


Orioles center fielder Adam Jones left after the sixth inning with a stomach virus, according to the team. He was sidelined earlier this month with soreness in his ribs.


'He was battling it a little bit right after batting practice,' manager Buck Showalter said.

Preview: Dodgers (8-5) at Braves (3-9)


Game: 2
Venue: Turner Field
Date: April 20, 2016 7:10 PM EDT


After an unlucky beginning to his major league career, Ross Stripling appears to be catching his next opponent at the wrong time.


The Los Angeles Dodgers rookie takes the mound Wednesday night to face an Atlanta Braves team that's heating up offensively after a dreadful start.


Atlanta hit .196 while totaling 24 runs in losing its first nine games, but it's scored 26 in winning four straight since. The Braves are batting .429 with runners in scoring position during the streak following a 5-for-12 effort in Tuesday's 8-1 rout of Los Angeles.


Tyler Flowers and Mallex Smith each had three RBIs to help Atlanta take the opener of this three-game set, with Flowers finishing 4 for 4. Nick Markakis is 8 for 20 with six RBIs over a five-game hitting streak and Freddie Freeman 5 for 15 during a four-game run after starting 2 for 25.


Atlanta's resurgent offense gets its first look at Stripling (0-0, 2.03 ERA), who tossed 7 1-3 no-hit innings at San Francisco in his April 8 debut and held Arizona to two runs over six on Thursday.


'I think (the San Francisco) game gave him the confidence that he could pitch up here,' catcher A.J. Ellis said. 'He was the same guy (Thursday). He had the same poise, the same composure and was very unflappable on the mound.'


Despite those impressive showings, Stripling has yet to be rewarded with his first major league win. The 25-year-old left with a 2-0 lead the bullpen blew against the Giants and he received no run support in the Dodgers' 5-2 win over the Diamondbacks.


The latter scenario could play out again, as Los Angeles (8-6) hasn't recorded more than six hits in three straight games. The Dodgers were held to five by five Atlanta pitchers in Tuesday's opener.


Williams Perez, starting on three days' rest with Julio Teheran pushed back by a fever, threw 3 1-3 scoreless innings and Ryan Weber allowed one run over 3 2-3 to earn his first major league win.


Teheran (0-2, 6.35) will start Wednesday as the 2014 All-Star attempts to reverse his early struggles. He's allowed 10 earned runs over 11 innings in losing two straight starts.


The right-hander did work seven innings Thursday in Washington, where he served up Bryce Harper's first career grand slam en route to a 6-2 defeat.


Teheran owns a 6.08 ERA in losing all four previous starts against Los Angeles, though he did match a career high with 11 strikeouts over seven innings in a 3-1 setback at Turner Field on July 22.


Yasiel Puig is 4 for 6 with a home run off Teheran, while Yasmani Grandal has gone 3 for 7 with two doubles and Adrian Gonzalez is 4 for 12 with a home run.


Puig is batting .379 with four homers and nine RBIs in 15 career games against Atlanta and .347 this season, though he's knocked in just one run over his last 11 games.


The Dodgers lost two of three in last season's visit to Atlanta and four of the series' last five meetings.

Preview: Rays (5-7) at Red Sox (6-6)


Game: 2
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: April 20, 2016 7:10 PM EDT


Chris Archer has admittedly not helped himself with his inefficiency, but the Tampa Bay Rays right-hander has also received paltry run support while adding to a winless stretch that dates back to September.


The Boston Red Sox's Rick Porcello hasn't experienced that issue so far this season and will seek to improve to 3-0 on Wednesday night.


Archer (0-3, 5.87 ERA) hasn't made it though the sixth inning in any of his first three starts, with a 1.96 WHIP and a 4.70 rate of walks per nine innings not aiding his cause. He's given up three runs in two of those games, including his latest outing Thursday against Cleveland.


Archer was on the wrong end of a 6-0 defeat and has gotten a combined two runs of support so far this season.


"Obviously, there is room for growth, but the one thing I want to do, beyond not give up the two (earned) runs, is pitch a little deeper into the game," he told MLB's official website. "And if you eliminate those walks, those are three potential outs."


Archer hasn't won since a 6-3 victory in Baltimore on Aug. 31 and is 0-6 with a 5.83 ERA in his last nine starts, including two against Boston. He gave up a combined four runs in 10 innings in those games.


Since winning his first matchup with the Red Sox, Archer is 0-6 with a 5.12 ERA in his last 10 starts in the series and has gotten 13 runs of support.


The Rays (6-7) have totaled 13 runs in three straight victories after pushing across one over three consecutive defeats but waited until the 10th inning before getting on the board in a 3-0 victory in Tuesday's opener at Fenway Park.


Kevin Kiermaier ended the scoreless game with his first home run of the season, and Desmond Jennings had a two-run double in Tampa Bay's fourth consecutive win in Boston, matching its longest streak there.


After starter Joe Kelly was forced to leave in the first, four Red Sox relievers combined for 8 1-3 scoreless innings until Matt Barnes gave up Kiermaier's homer. Kelly is expected to head to the disabled list with a right shoulder impingement


The Red Sox's lineup registered just one hit,, Jackie Bradley Jr.'s third-inning single, after averaging nearly 4.9 runs in their previous 12 games.


"We're in a game where we get one opportunity in that third inning, where we've got bases loaded nobody out and can't convert," manager John Farrell said.


Boston (6-7) has given Rick Porcello (2-0, 5.11) a combined 13 runs of support in his first two starts, both against Toronto. He gave up three runs - on a pair of Edwin Encarnacion homers - in his 6 1-3 innings in a 5-3 victory Friday.


Porcello allowed four runs in six innings in an 8-4 win April 9, and it's the first time he's won the first two decisions in a season. He is 3-1 with a 2.00 ERA in his last five starts against Tampa Bay but suffered a 6-2 loss at Fenway in his most recent matchup Sept. 23, getting charged with three runs and 11 hits in seven-plus innings.


Brad Miller has homered in each of his two at-bats against the right-hander but is batting .128 this season.


David Ortiz is 9 for 26 with two homers lifetime against Archer, while Bradley is 1 for 12 with five strikeouts.

Preview: Tigers (7-4) at Royals (8-4)


Game: 2
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: April 20, 2016 7:15 PM EDT


Jordan Zimmermann and Ian Kennedy are making the seemingly difficult transition to a new team and league appear remarkably easy.


Both attempt to continue their excellent early results when the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals resume a three-game series Wednesday night.


The free agent acquisitions have each won their first two starts in impressive fashion, with Zimmermann delivering 13 scoreless innings and Kennedy yielding one run over a combined 13 2/3. The latter carried a no-hitter into the sixth and a shutout into the seventh of Thursday's 6-2 victory at Houston.


'I've been very impressed with him,' Royals manager Ned Yost said of Kennedy. 'It's kind of what we expected. He is a guy that competes well and pitches down in the zone.'


Kennedy (2-0, 0.66 ERA) was just as good in a 7-0 win over Minnesota in his April 9 debut, helping to justify a signing that was largely panned by observers following a 9-15 season with San Diego.


Zimmermann has more than done his part to bolster a Tigers rotation that placed last in the AL with a 4.78 ERA in 2015. The two-time NL All-Star limited the Yankees to two singles over seven innings in a 4-0 win on April 8, then worked his way out of two bases-loaded jams in Thursday's 7-4 win at Pittsburgh.


The former Washington pitcher will be asked to provide another lift after the Royals reached Shane Greene for seven runs in 4 1-3 innings en route to an 8-6 win in Tuesday's opener. Kansas City scored all of its runs with two out to halt its first two-game skid of the season.


'We're going to play hard until the last out,' said catcher Salvador Perez, who had a career-high five RBIs on a three-run homer and a double. 'We're always going to play hard.'


Jarrod Saltalamacchia homered in his third consecutive game, hitting a three-run shot in the seventh, but Detroit (7-5) left the bases loaded against Kelvin Herrera in the eighth and stranded 12 total to lose its second straight.


'We're fighting back, but we're not quite getting it,' said Saltalamacchia, who has five home runs and 14 RBIs in 30 at-bats. 'At the same time, we're not quitting.'


Saltalamacchia is 0 for 4 with three strikeouts against Kennedy, though several other Tigers have had success in the matchup. Ian Kinsler is 5 for 7 with three doubles, Miguel Cabrera 3 for 7 and Justin Upton 3 for 8 with a home run.


Kinsler went 2 for 5 on Tuesday and is hitting .344 with three homers over a seven-game hitting streak. Upton - a teammate of Kennedy's in San Diego last season - is 4 for his last 26, however, and has struck out 22 times in 53 at-bats.


Kennedy is 0-2 with a 5.71 ERA in three starts against Detroit but did beat Zimmermann while with Arizona on Aug. 23, 2011, throwing seven innings and going 2 for 3 off his counterpart in a 2-0 win at Washington.


Kansas City's Eric Hosmer is batting .342 in a nine-game hitting streak and owns a .395 average in his last 30 meetings with Detroit.

Preview: Astros (5-8) at Rangers (7-6)


Game: 2
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: April 20, 2016 8:05 PM EDT


Cole Hamels needed a hand from his Texas Rangers teammates last week to keep a streak alive and now has a chance for a personal mark.


The left-hander seeks the first 3-0 start of his career and his 10th victory in a row in the regular season Wednesday night against the Houston Astros.


Hamels (2-0, 2.95 ERA) gave up three runs in 5 1-3 innings Thursday against Baltimore and exited with Texas trailing 3-1. The Rangers scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth for a 6-3 victory and a no-decision for their starter.


"It's huge when guys are able to come through like they did," Hamels told MLB's official website.


Hamels hasn't suffered a regular-season loss since a 4-3 defeat in Seattle on Aug. 7, but did take a 6-3 loss in Toronto in Game 5 of last year's AL Division Series. He is 9-0 with a 3.16 ERA in his last 13 regular-season starts with Texas (8-6) winning all of those games, the Rangers' longest such streak since they prevailed in Bobby Witt's 14 starts in 1990.


Hamels did not get a decision in his only start against Houston last season, allowing three runs in seven innings in a 5-3 victory Sept. 14.


The Astros (5-9) have totaled 10 runs in their past two games, matching their previous five contests combined, but fell 7-5 in Tuesday's series opener in Texas.


"Obviously you want to start hot, but it's early. We're going to be all right, we're going to keep grinding," outfielder Jake Marisnick said.


The Rangers never trailed after Prince Fielder's two-run homer in the first inning and registered double-digit hits for the seventh time in 10 games with 12. They have won each of those and are 1-6 when they've failed to reach that mark.


Ian Desmond registered his first two-hit game for Texas, raising his average to .140.


"Obviously in the most humble way I can say it, I've got no doubt I'm going to hit," he said. "I feel like I've been, maybe in self-evaluation and being too hard on myself, I feel like I've kind of been a little bit of an anchor."


Doug Fister (1-1, 7.59) will seek to stifle the Rangers' lineup but will need a better effort than in a 6-2 loss to Kansas City on Thursday. The right-hander allowed six runs in 5 2-3 innings after yielding three in five innings in his Astros' debut, a 6-4 victory in Milwaukee on April 9.


"I'm just not getting my job done there," Fister said. "My job is to get the guy out at the plate no matter what happens. I've got to execute and I didn't execute."


Fister is 5-4 with a 5.08 ERA in 11 career starts against the Rangers, with the most recent on May 31, 2014, and is 0-2 with an 11.85 ERA in three lifetime games in Texas.


Hamels is 6-0 lifetime in Arlington and has five wins in his nine home starts for the Rangers. With a victory Wednesday, he would tie Yu Darvish and Alexi Ogando for the second-longest unbeaten streak at Globe Life Park to begin a career.


Barry Zito won his first eight decisions in that stadium.


Jose Altuve is 4 for 8 with a solo homer lifetime against Hamels while Carlos Gomez, currently batting .196, is 4 for 18.


Adrian Beltre is 8 for 23 in his career against Fister. Fielder has homered and doubled in his two at-bats.

Preview: Twins (4-9) at Brewers (5-8)


Game: 3
Venue: Miller Park
Date: April 20, 2016 8:10 PM EDT


Jimmy Nelson has done enough in his last two starts to earn victories. He just feels he should be doing more to preserve the bullpen.


Those outings have been limited to six innings each because of walks, something he'll try to get under control Wednesday night as the Milwaukee Brewers and Minnesota Twins switch venues to begin a two-game series at Miller Park.


The clubs split two in Minnesota, and Tuesday's 6-5 Milwaukee victory ended the Twins' four-game winning streak and the Brewers' three-game skid. Ryan Braun was 4 for 6 with three RBIs in the two games, while Scooter Gennett was 4 for 8 with three doubles and four runs hitting in front of him. The second baseman also drove in the winning run in the top of the ninth.


The Brewers (6-8), who have won six of the last nine meetings, took a step in the right direction with nine hits, but they're still batting .205 without a home run in the last four games. Though that looks pretty good compared to Nelson's opposition.


Nelson (2-1, 2.79 ERA) has given up two earned runs in all three of his starts and is limiting opponents to a .176 batting average. He gave up three runs and four hits in six innings of Friday's 8-4 win in Pittsburgh but issued four walks for a second straight game. Combined with the four home runs he's allowed, it seems only a matter of time before control catches up with the right-hander if it's not fixed.


"My responsibility is to provide innings and we shouldn't have had to use the bullpen tonight but I ran my pitch count up with the walks," Nelson said. "I'm not happy about it, but it's awesome that we won."


The Twins (4-10) have picked it up offensively over their 4-1 span, averaging 5.2 runs and batting .305. They rallied to tie Tuesday's game at 5-all with three runs in the eighth as Byung Ho Park homered for the third time in four games. The rookie has consecutive two-hit games after batting .167 through his first 10.


If Minnesota is to keep it up, it'll have to happen without hot-hitting third baseman Trevor Plouffe, who as expected landed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with a right intercostal strain. Eduardo Nunez has played there the last two days and is 13 for 26 to start the season.


The Twins called up infielder Jorge Polanco for some options heading into five straight games in NL parks. They've even given Miguel Sano some reps in the infield.


"I don't really want to go there," manager Paul Molitor told MLB's official website. "But with Danny (Santana) going down as my utility man and Nunez in the lineup, it puts us in a bit of a precarious situation."


The Twins counter Nelson with Tommy Milone, who's been hit harder by the home run in his first two starts. Milone (0-1, 5.06) has given up four in 10 2-3 innings, including two in Friday's 5-4 home win over the Los Angeles Angels.


The left-hander gave up four runs and eight hits in six-plus innings but didn't allow a run until the sixth. After the Twins gave him the lead, he lost it in the seventh on two homers sandwiched around a walk.


Milone is 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA and .152 OBA in two starts against the Brewers with both coming in Milwaukee. Jonathan Lucroy (0 for 6), Braun (0 for 4) and Chris Carter (2 for 13) haven't figured him out.

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Wednesday, April 20, 2016, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews


The Baltimore Orioles have been a nice early-season surprise, but I don't believe they have the starting pitching to stay atop the AL East, no matter how much they mash. Thus it seems like a wise gamble to sign free-agent right-hander Kyle Lohse, who is likely to agree to terms soon with the Birds. Lohse was pretty bad last year in Milwaukee with a 5.58 ERA but he was a very good pitcher from 2011-14 and is definitely worth a shot. At worst he's Baltimore's No. 5 guy who eats six innings per start. Only one current Orioles starter has an ERA under 5.06, and that's the unpredictable Ubaldo Jimenez, so they need to do something. Note: again no MLB trends available as of this writing.




Rockies at Reds (-137, 8)


This is a getaway day game at 12:35 p.m. ET so I can all but guarantee you that a few regulars on each side don't start. It's Chad Bettis (2-0, 2.95) for Colorado and he has been very good his past two starts. The Rockies might actually be dangerous if guys like Bettis keep pitching well because they are going to hit. Last time out, Bettis shut out the high-scoring Cubs on three hits over six innings at Wrigley Field. Bettis has never faced the Reds. Cincinnati goes with Opening Day starter Raisel Iglesias (1-1, 3.24), which tells you all you need to about that rotation. Iglesias was tagged for three runs over five innings last time out at the Cubs. He has never faced the Rockies.


Early lean: Reds and under.


Cubs at Cardinals (-125, 8)


You also are likely to see some regulars get this game off on both sides with a 1:45 p.m. ET start after a night game. Kyle Hendricks (1-1, 2.84) gets the ball for Chicago. He has allowed exactly two runs in each of his first two starts but has yet to make it past 6.2 innings. Hendricks made one start against St. Louis last season and took a no-decision after allowing four runs and six hits in five innings. He has a 4.91 career ERA at Busch Stadium. Matt Holliday, who hasn't done much yet this season, is 6-for-12 with two homers and four RBIs off Hendricks. Matt Carpenter is 6-for-10 with a homer. So I'm guessing those two stay in the lineup. The Cards' Carlos Martinez (2-0, 3.46) has gotten the best run support in the majors thus far. St. Louis has scored 14 and 12 runs in his two starts. Martinez was 2-0 with a 5.24 ERA in five appearances (four starts) last year vs. the Cubs. Red-hot Dexter Fowler is 4-for-12 off him. Struggling Anthony Rizzo is 3-for-12 with a homer and five RBIs.


Early lean: Cardinals and under.


Tigers at Royals (-115, 7.5)


ESPN national TV game and should have live betting at sportsbooks. Detroit's big free-agent deal with Jordan Zimmermann (2-0, 0.00) has certainly paid off so far. He hasn't allowed a run over 13 innings with just eight hits allowed. He has pitched on two very cold days, it should be noted. That benefits pitchers. Zimmermann had spent his entire career with Washington so he hasn't faced a ton of Royals. Kendrys Morales is 2-for-3 with an RBI off him. Mike Moustakas and Alcides Escobar are each 1-for-3. The Royals also lured Ian Kennedy (2-0, 0.66) from the National League on a fat free-agent deal this offseason and that has worked out well thus far too. He has allowed one run and seven hits over 13.2 innings. Kennedy looks more like the 2014 version of himself with San Diego than last year's. Detroit's Miguel Cabrera is 3-for-7 off him with two RBIs. Ian Kinsler is 5-for-7 with three doubles. Justin Upton has three hits, including a homer, in eight at-bats off him.


Early lean: Tigers and over.


Twins at Brewers (-132, 8.5)


Keep in mind that the Twins lose the DH here. Minnesota has placed third baseman Trevor Plouffe on the disabled list to join closer Glen Perkins. Plouffe was diagnosed with a right intercostal strain shortly after being removed from Sunday's game against the Angels. Not many Twins are hitting yet but Plouffe was batting .302 with two homers and a team-leading six RBIs. Eduardo Nunez will generally take over at third. Minnesota goes with lefty Tommy Milone (0-1, 5.06) here. He has allowed four runs in each of his two starts spanning 10.2 innings. He also has allowed two homers in each game. Only a few Brewers have seen him. Ryan Braun is 0-for-4. Chris Carter is 2-for-13 with a homer. Jonathan Villar is 3-for-6. Milwaukee's Jimmy Nelson (2-1, 2.79) has opened the season with three quality starts and has allowed only 12 hits over 19.1 innings. Nelson has never faced the Twins.


Early lean: Brewers and under.


Diamondbacks at Giants (-130, 6.5)


Giants ace Madison Bumgarner (1-1, 4.50) had to face Dodgers three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw in his past two starts. And Bumgarner's Giants lost both. Now Bumgarner has to face another former Cy Young winner and a guy who was even better on the Dodgers than Kershaw last year, new Diamondback Zack Greinke. Bumgarner was 2-2 with a 2.06 ERA in five starts vs. Arizona in 2015. Paul Goldschmidt is a career .316 hitter off him with two homers and six RBIs in 38 at-bats. As for Greinke (0-2, 6.75), he has gotten progressively better if not dominant yet in his three starts. He held the weak-hitting Padres to two runs and six hits over 7.1 innings last time out. Greinke was 2-0 last year with a 2.66 ERA in three starts with the Dodgers against the Giants. Hunter Pence has two homers off him in 24 at-bats. Denard Span hits .303 against him with four RBIs.

MLB

Wednesday, April 20

Trend Report

12:35 PM
COLORADO vs. CINCINNATI
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Colorado's last 6 games when playing on the road against Cincinnati
Colorado is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
Cincinnati is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games when playing Colorado
Cincinnati is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games

1:45 PM
CHI CUBS vs. ST. LOUIS
Chi Cubs are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games when playing on the road against St. Louis
Chi Cubs are 8-2 SU in their last 10 games
St. Louis is 2-5 SU in their last 7 games when playing at home against Chi Cubs
St. Louis is 0-5 SU in their last 5 games when playing Chi Cubs

2:10 PM
LA ANGELS vs. CHI WHITE SOX
LA Angels are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of LA Angels's last 6 games when playing on the road against Chi White Sox
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Chi White Sox's last 8 games when playing LA Angels
Chi White Sox are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games when playing at home against LA Angels

6:10 PM
SEATTLE vs. CLEVELAND
Seattle is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Cleveland
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Seattle's last 9 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cleveland's last 6 games at home
Cleveland is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games at home

7:05 PM
TORONTO vs. BALTIMORE
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Toronto's last 6 games when playing Baltimore
Toronto is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Baltimore
Baltimore is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing Toronto
Baltimore is 10-1 SU in its last 11 games at home

7:05 PM
NY METS vs. PHILADELPHIA
NY Mets are 19-6 SU in its last 25 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia
The total has gone OVER in 7 of NY Mets's last 10 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Philadelphia's last 10 games when playing at home against NY Mets
Philadelphia is 6-19 SU in its last 25 games when playing at home against NY Mets

7:05 PM
OAKLAND vs. NY YANKEES
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Oakland's last 5 games when playing on the road against NY Yankees
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Oakland's last 5 games when playing NY Yankees
NY Yankees are 1-5 SU in their last 6 games
NY Yankees are 5-13 SU in their last 18 games when playing Oakland

7:10 PM
TAMPA BAY vs. BOSTON
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Tampa Bay's last 6 games when playing on the road against Boston
Tampa Bay is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Boston's last 5 games
Boston is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games

7:10 PM
LA DODGERS vs. ATLANTA
LA Dodgers are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of LA Dodgers's last 7 games
Atlanta is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Atlanta is 4-9 SU in its last 13 games

7:10 PM
WASHINGTON vs. MIAMI
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Washington's last 6 games when playing Miami
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Washington's last 5 games when playing on the road against Miami
Miami is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Miami's last 5 games when playing at home against Washington

7:15 PM
DETROIT vs. KANSAS CITY
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Detroit's last 5 games when playing on the road against Kansas City
Detroit is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Kansas City
Kansas City is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Detroit
Kansas City is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Detroit

8:05 PM
HOUSTON vs. TEXAS
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Houston's last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games when playing on the road against Texas
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Texas's last 5 games when playing at home against Houston
Texas is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Houston

8:10 PM
MINNESOTA vs. MILWAUKEE
Minnesota is 4-13 SU in its last 17 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Minnesota's last 5 games
Milwaukee is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Milwaukee's last 5 games

10:10 PM
PITTSBURGH vs. SAN DIEGO
Pittsburgh is 1-3-1 SU in its last 5 games ,on the road
Pittsburgh4-1-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing San Diego
San Diego is 1-4-1 SU in its last 6 games ,when playing Pittsburgh
San Diego is 1-5-1 SU in its last 7 games ,at home

10:15 PM
ARIZONA vs. SAN FRANCISCO
Arizona is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing San Francisco
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Arizona's last 10 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of San Francisco's last 9 games when playing Arizona
San Francisco is 1-8 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against Arizona

MLB
Long Sheet

Wednesday, April 20

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COLORADO (8 - 6) at CINCINNATI (7 - 7) - 12:35 PM
CHAD BETTIS (R) vs. RAISEL IGLESIAS (R)
Top Trends for this game.
COLORADO is 186-270 (-59.8 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +100 to +125 since 1997.
COLORADO is 605-949 (-180.0 Units) against the money line in road games since 1997.
COLORADO is 549-869 (-163.0 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field since 1997.
COLORADO is 34-26 (+16.5 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 2 seasons.
CINCINNATI is 70-106 (-32.7 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
CINCINNATI is 21-37 (-17.9 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 2 seasons.
CINCINNATI is 70-106 (-32.7 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
CINCINNATI is 53-77 (-21.5 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
CINCINNATI is 373-400 (-98.3 Units) against the money line in home games after a win since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
COLORADO is 1-1 (+0.2 Units) against CINCINNATI this season
2 of 2 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+2.0 Units)

CHAD BETTIS vs. CINCINNATI since 1997
No recent starts.

RAISEL IGLESIAS vs. COLORADO since 1997
No recent starts.

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CHICAGO CUBS (11 - 3) at ST LOUIS (7 - 7) - 1:45 PM
KYLE HENDRICKS (R) vs. CARLOS MARTINEZ (R)
Top Trends for this game.
CHICAGO CUBS are 785-819 (-151.0 Units) against the money line in day games since 1997.
CHICAGO CUBS are 1104-1210 (-198.3 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters since 1997.
CHICAGO CUBS are 711-788 (-182.6 Units) against the money line after a win since 1997.
ST LOUIS is 109-71 (+22.1 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 11-2 (+8.8 Units) against the money line at home with a money line of -100 to -125 over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 109-71 (+22.1 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 83-50 (+21.0 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 53-28 (+17.5 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
MARTINEZ is 24-7 (+13.3 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
MARTINEZ is 24-7 (+13.3 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
CHICAGO CUBS are 112-73 (+20.9 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO CUBS are 57-37 (+18.4 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO CUBS are 55-31 (+19.1 Units) against the money line against division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO CUBS are 112-73 (+20.9 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
HENDRICKS is 32-16 (+12.8 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO CUBS is 2-0 (+2.1 Units) against ST LOUIS this season
2 of 2 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+2.0 Units)

KYLE HENDRICKS vs. ST LOUIS since 1997
HENDRICKS is 0-1 when starting against ST LOUIS with an ERA of 4.28 and a WHIP of 1.134.
His team's record is 3-2 (+1.8 units) in these starts. The OVER is 3-2. (+0.9 units)

CARLOS MARTINEZ vs. CHICAGO CUBS since 1997
MARTINEZ is 2-0 when starting against CHICAGO CUBS with an ERA of 5.48 and a WHIP of 1.687.
His team's record is 4-0 (+4.3 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-2. (-1.0 units)

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NY METS (7 - 6) at PHILADELPHIA (6 - 9) - 7:05 PM
BARTOLO COLON (R) vs. JEREMY HELLICKSON (R)
Top Trends for this game.
COLON is 117-74 (+32.7 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field since 1997. (Team's Record)
PHILADELPHIA is 112-117 (-35.4 Units) against the money line in home games in April games since 1997.
HELLICKSON is 5-17 (-11.3 Units) against the money line against division opponents over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
PHILADELPHIA is 2-3 (+0.7 Units) against NY METS this season
3 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+1.0 Units)

BARTOLO COLON vs. PHILADELPHIA since 1997
COLON is 8-5 when starting against PHILADELPHIA with an ERA of 3.43 and a WHIP of 1.247.
His team's record is 9-6 (+0.5 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 5-10. (-6.0 units)

JEREMY HELLICKSON vs. NY METS since 1997
HELLICKSON is 2-1 when starting against NY METS with an ERA of 7.04 and a WHIP of 1.499.
His team's record is 2-1 (+2.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-0. (+2.0 units)

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WASHINGTON (10 - 3) at MIAMI (4 - 8) - 7:10 PM
JOE ROSS (R) vs. WEI-YIN CHEN (L)
Top Trends for this game.
WASHINGTON is 93-82 (-12.7 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 92-81 (-12.8 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 57-57 (-15.4 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
CHEN is 41-21 (+17.6 Units) against the money line when the total is 8 to 8.5 since 1997. (Team's Record)
CHEN is 67-43 (+21.7 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field since 1997. (Team's Record)
CHEN is 11-2 (+9.3 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
WASHINGTON is 116-124 (+24.8 Units) against the money line in road games when playing on Wednesday since 1997.
MIAMI is 37-61 (-20.7 Units) against the money line after a loss over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
MIAMI is 2-2 (+0.3 Units) against WASHINGTON this season
3 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+2.0 Units)

JOE ROSS vs. MIAMI since 1997
ROSS is 1-0 when starting against MIAMI with an ERA of 1.29 and a WHIP of 1.000.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-1. (-1.0 units)

WEI-YIN CHEN vs. WASHINGTON since 1997
CHEN is 1-3 when starting against WASHINGTON with an ERA of 5.09 and a WHIP of 1.522.
His team's record is 1-3 (-2.2 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-3. (-2.1 units)

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LA DODGERS (8 - 6) at ATLANTA (4 - 9) - 7:10 PM
ROSS STRIPLING (R) vs. JULIO TEHERAN (R)
Top Trends for this game.
LA DODGERS are 102-79 (-12.7 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
LA DODGERS are 42-49 (-25.2 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons.
LA DODGERS are 5-12 (-10.9 Units) against the money line on the road when the total is 8 to 8.5 over the last 2 seasons.
LA DODGERS are 102-79 (-12.7 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
LA DODGERS are 26-36 (-24.2 Units) against the money line in road games in night games over the last 2 seasons.
LA DODGERS are 30-39 (-23.2 Units) against the money line in road games against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 22-14 (+11.2 Units) against the money line as a home underdog of +100 to +125 over the last 2 seasons.
TEHERAN is 14-5 (+10.9 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
ATLANTA is 1-0 (+2.0 Units) against LA DODGERS this season
1 of 1 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+1.0 Units)

ROSS STRIPLING vs. ATLANTA since 1997
No recent starts.

JULIO TEHERAN vs. LA DODGERS since 1997
TEHERAN is 0-5 when starting against LA DODGERS with an ERA of 7.36 and a WHIP of 1.705.
His team's record is 0-5 (-5.8 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 2-3. (-1.6 units)

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PITTSBURGH (7 - 7) at SAN DIEGO (5 - 9) - 10:10 PM
JEFF LOCKE (L) vs. DREW POMERANZ (L)
Top Trends for this game.
PITTSBURGH is 105-72 (+19.1 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 105-72 (+19.1 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
POMERANZ is 6-17 (-14.2 Units) against the money line after a win since 1997. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
SAN DIEGO is 1-0 (+1.4 Units) against PITTSBURGH this season
1 of 1 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+1.0 Units)

JEFF LOCKE vs. SAN DIEGO since 1997
LOCKE is 0-2 when starting against SAN DIEGO with an ERA of 10.00 and a WHIP of 2.333.
His team's record is 0-2 (-2.8 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 0-1. (-1.0 units)

DREW POMERANZ vs. PITTSBURGH since 1997
No recent starts.

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ARIZONA (7 - 8) at SAN FRANCISCO (7 - 8) - 10:15 PM
ZACK GREINKE (R) vs. MADISON BUMGARNER (L)
Top Trends for this game.
ARIZONA is 59-87 (-28.4 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 3 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 1080-911 (+113.5 Units) against the money line in night games since 1997.
ARIZONA is 21-8 (+15.7 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +100 to +125 over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 48-28 (+19.5 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
BUMGARNER is 10-17 (-12.3 Units) against the money line after a loss over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
ARIZONA is 2-0 (+2.4 Units) against SAN FRANCISCO this season
1 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=-0.1 Units, Under=-0.1 Units)

ZACK GREINKE vs. SAN FRANCISCO since 1997
GREINKE is 7-0 when starting against SAN FRANCISCO with an ERA of 2.19 and a WHIP of 1.005.
His team's record is 9-1 (+7.2 units) in these starts. The OVER is 6-4. (+2.2 units)

MADISON BUMGARNER vs. ARIZONA since 1997
BUMGARNER is 8-6 when starting against ARIZONA with an ERA of 2.57 and a WHIP of 1.164.
His team's record is 13-9 (-0.6 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 13-9. (+2.8 units)

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LA ANGELS (6 - 8) at CHI WHITE SOX (9 - 5) - 2:10 PM
GARRETT RICHARDS (R) vs. CHRIS SALE (L)
Top Trends for this game.
LA ANGELS are 4-18 (-12.6 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +125 to +150 over the last 3 seasons.
LA ANGELS are 790-777 (+62.7 Units) against the money line in road games since 1997.
LA ANGELS are 280-240 (+70.3 Units) against the money line in road games in day games since 1997.
LA ANGELS are 665-658 (+55.4 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field since 1997.
CHI WHITE SOX are 48-73 (-26.1 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 3 seasons.
CHI WHITE SOX are 12-20 (-13.2 Units) against the money line in home games after a win over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
LA ANGELS is 1-1 (+0.1 Units) against CHI WHITE SOX this season
2 of 2 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+2.1 Units)

GARRETT RICHARDS vs. CHI WHITE SOX since 1997
RICHARDS is 2-0 when starting against CHI WHITE SOX with an ERA of 3.00 and a WHIP of 0.800.
His team's record is 2-0 (+2.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-0. (+2.1 units)

CHRIS SALE vs. LA ANGELS since 1997
SALE is 4-0 when starting against LA ANGELS with an ERA of 1.73 and a WHIP of 0.771.
His team's record is 4-1 (+3.4 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-3. (-1.3 units)

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SEATTLE (5 - 8) at CLEVELAND (6 - 5) - 6:10 PM
TAIJUAN WALKER (R) vs. DANNY SALAZAR (R)
Top Trends for this game.
SEATTLE is 81-94 (-25.7 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
SEATTLE is 76-93 (-30.2 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
SEATTLE is 54-64 (-19.7 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 21-6 (+13.0 Units) against the money line in home games when playing on Wednesday over the last 3 seasons.
SEATTLE is 63-48 (+18.3 Units) against the money line in road games against right-handed starters over the last 3 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 42-44 (-17.5 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 2 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 23-36 (-18.4 Units) against the money line in April games over the last 3 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 80-82 (-18.3 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 25-30 (-15.1 Units) against the money line in home games in night games over the last 2 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 39-47 (-16.6 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
CLEVELAND is 1-0 (+1.0 Units) against SEATTLE this season
1 of 1 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+1.0 Units)

TAIJUAN WALKER vs. CLEVELAND since 1997
WALKER is 2-0 when starting against CLEVELAND with an ERA of 0.64 and a WHIP of 0.857.
His team's record is 2-0 (+2.2 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-1. (-0.3 units)

DANNY SALAZAR vs. SEATTLE since 1997
SALAZAR is 0-0 when starting against SEATTLE with an ERA of 5.07 and a WHIP of 1.501.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-0. (+1.0 units)

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OAKLAND (7 - 7) at NY YANKEES (5 - 7) - 7:05 PM
KENDALL GRAVEMAN (R) vs. NATHAN EOVALDI (R)
Top Trends for this game.
OAKLAND is 75-101 (-28.9 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
OAKLAND is 73-96 (-26.3 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
OAKLAND is 47-63 (-17.5 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
OAKLAND is 79-82 (-24.2 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 3 seasons.
EOVALDI is 19-8 (+10.3 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
OAKLAND is 21-9 (+13.2 Units) against the money line in road games in April games over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
OAKLAND is 1-0 (+1.6 Units) against NY YANKEES this season
1 of 1 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+1.0 Units)

KENDALL GRAVEMAN vs. NY YANKEES since 1997
GRAVEMAN is 0-0 when starting against NY YANKEES with an ERA of 4.76 and a WHIP of 1.587.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-0. (+1.1 units)

NATHAN EOVALDI vs. OAKLAND since 1997
EOVALDI is 0-1 when starting against OAKLAND with an ERA of 5.09 and a WHIP of 1.696.
His team's record is 1-3 (-1.9 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-2. (-0.2 units)

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TORONTO (8 - 7) at BALTIMORE (8 - 4) - 7:05 PM
R.A. DICKEY (R) vs. UBALDO JIMENEZ (R)
Top Trends for this game.
BALTIMORE is 189-155 (+36.9 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 3 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 54-33 (+14.7 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 2 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 91-68 (+26.8 Units) against the money line against division opponents over the last 3 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 53-32 (+14.6 Units) against the money line in home games in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 132-97 (+37.3 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 3 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 42-23 (+16.2 Units) against the money line in home games against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 44-24 (+16.4 Units) against the money line in home games after a loss over the last 3 seasons.
JIMENEZ is 12-2 (+9.2 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
JIMENEZ is 12-2 (+9.2 Units) against the money line in home games in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
TORONTO is 1-0 (+1.0 Units) against BALTIMORE this season
1 of 1 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+1.0 Units)

R.A. DICKEY vs. BALTIMORE since 1997
DICKEY is 2-5 when starting against BALTIMORE with an ERA of 3.66 and a WHIP of 1.135.
His team's record is 4-7 (-4.2 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 7-4. (+2.4 units)

UBALDO JIMENEZ vs. TORONTO since 1997
JIMENEZ is 6-4 when starting against TORONTO with an ERA of 3.95 and a WHIP of 1.346.
His team's record is 7-5 (+3.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 6-5. (+0.8 units)

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TAMPA BAY (6 - 7) at BOSTON (6 - 7) - 7:10 PM
CHRIS ARCHER (R) vs. RICK PORCELLO (R)
Top Trends for this game.
TAMPA BAY is 110-125 (-31.4 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 3 seasons.
PORCELLO is 64-34 (+21.6 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record since 1997. (Team's Record)
TAMPA BAY is 595-682 (+9.7 Units) against the money line against division opponents since 1997.
BOSTON is 155-183 (-36.4 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 3 seasons.
BOSTON is 64-81 (-25.3 Units) against the money line when the total is 8 to 8.5 over the last 3 seasons.
BOSTON is 80-91 (-31.8 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 3 seasons.
BOSTON is 33-51 (-27.2 Units) against the money line in home games against division opponents over the last 3 seasons.
BOSTON is 71-82 (-15.7 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 57-66 (-22.9 Units) against the money line in home games against right-handed starters over the last 3 seasons.
BOSTON is 1-10 (-10.7 Units) against the money line after getting shut out over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 40-50 (-22.8 Units) against the money line in home games after a loss over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
TAMPA BAY is 1-0 (+1.0 Units) against BOSTON this season
1 of 1 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+1.0 Units)

CHRIS ARCHER vs. BOSTON since 1997
ARCHER is 1-6 when starting against BOSTON with an ERA of 5.14 and a WHIP of 1.625.
His team's record is 4-7 (-5.6 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 5-6. (-2.1 units)

RICK PORCELLO vs. TAMPA BAY since 1997
PORCELLO is 5-4 when starting against TAMPA BAY with an ERA of 3.01 and a WHIP of 1.179.
His team's record is 7-4 (+3.3 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-9. (-7.4 units)

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DETROIT (7 - 5) at KANSAS CITY (9 - 4) - 7:15 PM
JORDAN ZIMMERMANN (R) vs. IAN KENNEDY (R)
Top Trends for this game.
DETROIT is 150-225 (-58.1 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +100 to +125 since 1997.
KANSAS CITY is 115-76 (+32.1 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
KANSAS CITY is 23-8 (+14.0 Units) against the money line at home with a money line of -100 to -125 over the last 2 seasons.
KANSAS CITY is 63-32 (+22.0 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 2 seasons.
KANSAS CITY is 24-11 (+13.6 Units) against the money line in April games over the last 2 seasons.
KANSAS CITY is 111-70 (+33.5 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
KANSAS CITY is 8-1 (+7.5 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
KANSAS CITY is 78-48 (+26.2 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
KANSAS CITY is 67-48 (+14.8 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 2 seasons.
KANSAS CITY is 44-31 (+10.9 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
KENNEDY is 31-15 (+15.5 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
KANSAS CITY is 1-0 (+1.0 Units) against DETROIT this season
1 of 1 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+1.0 Units)

JORDAN ZIMMERMANN vs. KANSAS CITY since 1997
ZIMMERMANN is 1-0 when starting against KANSAS CITY with an ERA of 2.35 and a WHIP of 1.173.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-0. (+1.0 units)

IAN KENNEDY vs. DETROIT since 1997
KENNEDY is 0-2 when starting against DETROIT with an ERA of 5.71 and a WHIP of 1.326.
His team's record is 0-3 (-3.1 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 1-2. (-1.4 units)

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HOUSTON (5 - 9) at TEXAS (8 - 6) - 8:05 PM
DOUG FISTER (R) vs. COLE HAMELS (L)
Top Trends for this game.
HOUSTON is 37-55 (-21.8 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons.
HOUSTON is 9-22 (-15.7 Units) against the money line in road games against left-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
TEXAS is 98-83 (+33.6 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
TEXAS is 93-78 (+30.4 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
TEXAS is 72-54 (+31.4 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
TEXAS is 61-50 (+20.5 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
TEXAS is 52-45 (+18.2 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 2 seasons.
HAMELS is 24-13 (+11.9 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
HAMELS is 23-12 (+11.3 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
HAMELS is 15-5 (+11.1 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
TEXAS is 1-0 (+1.0 Units) against HOUSTON this season
1 of 1 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+1.0 Units)

DOUG FISTER vs. TEXAS since 1997
FISTER is 5-4 when starting against TEXAS with an ERA of 5.08 and a WHIP of 1.351.
His team's record is 5-6 (-1.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 5-4. (+0.6 units)

COLE HAMELS vs. HOUSTON since 1997
HAMELS is 4-3 when starting against HOUSTON with an ERA of 4.79 and a WHIP of 1.234.
His team's record is 7-4 (-2.9 units) in these starts. The OVER is 5-4. (+0.8 units)

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MINNESOTA (4 - 10) at MILWAUKEE (6 - 8) - 8:10 PM
TOM MILONE (L) vs. JIMMY NELSON (R)
Top Trends for this game.
MINNESOTA is 87-89 (+14.0 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 85-84 (+16.0 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 53-51 (+13.7 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 49-34 (+21.3 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
MILONE is 65-44 (+24.1 Units) against the money line in all games since 1997. (Team's Record)
MILONE is 63-41 (+24.7 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field since 1997. (Team's Record)
MILONE is 46-26 (+23.6 Units) against the money line in night games since 1997. (Team's Record)
MILWAUKEE is 25-31 (-17.6 Units) against the money line as a home favorite of -125 to -150 over the last 3 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 79-89 (-27.4 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 3 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 79-89 (-27.4 Units) against the money line in home games in games played on a grass field over the last 3 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 22-36 (-16.8 Units) against the money line in home games in night games over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
MILWAUKEE is 1-1 (+0.7 Units) against MINNESOTA this season
2 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+2.1 Units)

TOM MILONE vs. MILWAUKEE since 1997
MILONE is 1-0 when starting against MILWAUKEE with an ERA of 1.38 and a WHIP of 0.769.
His team's record is 1-1 (+0.2 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-0. (+1.0 units)

JIMMY NELSON vs. MINNESOTA since 1997
No recent starts.

This season MLB road teams have gone 106-97 (52.2%) with +16.23 units won.