1:05 PM BOSTON vs. NY YANKEES
Boston is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
Boston is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
NY Yankees are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games when playing Boston
NY Yankees are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games when playing at home against Boston
1:15 PM WASHINGTON vs. CINCINNATI
Washington is 4-9 SU in its last 13 games when playing on the road against Cincinnati
Washington is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing
Cincinnati
Cincinnati is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games at home
Cincinnati is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
2:05 PM PITTSBURGH vs. MILWAUKEE
Pittsburgh is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Milwaukee
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Pittsburgh's last 6 games when playing on the road against Milwaukee
Milwaukee is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Milwaukee's last 5 games at home
4:05 PM LA DODGERS vs. SAN FRANCISCO
LA Dodgers are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games
LA Dodgers are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games on the road
San Francisco is 2-12 SU in their last 14 games when playing at home against LA Dodgers
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of San Francisco's last 13 games when playing at home against LA Dodgers
4:10 PM DETROIT vs. SEATTLE
Detroit is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games
Detroit is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Seattle is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing Detroit
Seattle is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Detroit
4:35 PM TEXAS vs. BALTIMORE
Texas is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Baltimore
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Texas's last 7 games when playing Baltimore
Baltimore is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games at home
Baltimore is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against Texas
5:10 PM KANSAS CITY vs. TAMPA BAY
Kansas City is 2-11 SU in its last 13 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Kansas City's last 8 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is 12-5 SU in its last 17 games when playing Kansas City
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 6 games when playing Kansas City
7:05 PM NY METS vs. PHILADELPHIA
NY Mets are 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
NY Mets are 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Philadelphia
Philadelphia is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against NY Mets
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Philadelphia's last 6 games when playing at home against NY Mets
7:05 PM OAKLAND vs. CHI WHITE SOX
Oakland is 6-1 SU in their last 7 games when playing Chi White Sox
Oakland is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Chi White Sox are 7-1 SU in their last 8 games
Chi White Sox are 9-1 SU in their last 10 games at home
7:10 PM CLEVELAND vs. MINNESOTA
Cleveland is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Minnesota
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Cleveland's last 10 games when playing on the road against Minnesota
Minnesota is 3-10 SU in its last 13 games when playing Cleveland
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Minnesota's last 18 games when playing Cleveland
7:35 PM HOUSTON vs. ATLANTA
Houston is 3-9 SU in its last 12 games when playing on the road against Atlanta
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Houston's last 13 games when playing on the road against Atlanta
Atlanta is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
Atlanta is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games at home
8:05 PM FLORIDA vs. COLORADO
Florida is 7-16 SU in its last 23 games on the road
Florida is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Colorado
Colorado is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games
Colorado is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games at home
8:15 PM CHI CUBS vs. ST. LOUIS
Chi Cubs are 2-7-1 SU in their last 10 games on the road
Chi Cubs are 11-5 SU in their last 16 games when playing St. Louis
St. Louis is 4-8 SU in their last 12 games when playing at home against Chi Cubs
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of St. Louis's last 6 games when playing at home against Chi Cubs
9:05 PM TORONTO vs. LA ANGELS
Toronto is 2-5 SU in their last 7 games when playing LA Angels
The total has gone UNDER in 14 of Toronto's last 16 games when playing LA Angels
LA Angels are 8-4 SU in their last 12 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of LA Angels's last 6 games
9:40 PM SAN DIEGO vs. ARIZONA
San Diego is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games when playing Arizona
The total has gone OVER in 7 of San Diego's last 10 games when playing Arizona
Arizona is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing San Diego
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Arizona's last 10 games when playing San Diego
Tips and Trends
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees [YES | 1:05 PM ET]
Red Sox (-130, O/U 9.5): Boston ace Josh Beckett is looking to rebound from a tough stretch in which he has earned just one win in four starts despite pitching fairly well. Beckett has allowed just two runs in each of his last two starts but has gone 0-1 because his teammates have backed him with just three runs. Run support has not been a problem for him against the Yankees lately though, as the Sox have scored 21 runs in his last three starts vs. New York. That has helped Beckett go 6-3 lifetime against them despite an inflated 5.87 ERA.
Red Sox are 1-5 in their last 6 road games.
The OVER is 9-1 in Beckett's last 10 Friday starts.
Key Injuries - NONE
PROJECTED SCORE: TBD
Yankees: Darrell Rasner has suffered losses in six of his last seven trips to the mound, but he has earned three of his four wins at home. He is 3-1 in four starts at Yankee Stadium and has pitched there just twice in his last seven outings, splitting a pair of decisions after allowing four runs in 13 innings with five walks and eight strikeouts. Rasner has never pitched against the Red Sox.
Yankees are 1-6 in Rasner's last 7 starts.
The UNDER is 7-2 in New York's last 9 home games.
Key Injuries - OF Hideki Matsui (.323; knee) is on the 15-day DL.
PROJECTED SCORE: TBD
Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco Giants [4:05 PM ET]
Dodgers: Derek Lowe has struggled away from home this season, earning just one road victory in nine starts. He is 1-4 on the road with a 4.62 ERA, with the Dodgers scoring just one run combined in his last two outings overall. Lowe earned a win in his last road start at Cincinnati on June 18th though, allowing just one run and three hits in 5.1 innings. He is 3-5 lifetime vs. San Francisco with a 3.38 ERA.
Dodgers are 21-10 in the last 31 meetings.
The UNDER is 10-1 in LA's last 11 games overall.
Key Injuries - SS Nomar Garciaparra (.226; calf) is expected to return.
OF Andruw Jones (.165; knee) is expected to return.
OF Juan Pierre (.277; knee) is on the 15-day DL.
2B Jeff Kent (.266; back) is day-to-day.
PROJECTED SCORE: TBD
Giants (-115, O/U 7.5): Jonathan Sanchez has been outstanding for the most part over his last seven starts, winning six times while allowing two runs or less in five of those games. In fact, Sanchez has given up three runs or less in nine of his last 10 starts. He is 2-2 in eight home starts with a 2.90 ERA and has pitched there just twice since May 16th.
Giants are 6-1 in Sanchez's last 7 starts overall.
Giants are 6-17 in their last 23 home games.
Key Injuries - NONE
PROJECTED SCORE: TBD
Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals [WGN | 8:15 PM ET]
Cubs (-130, O/U 8.5): Chicago ace Carlos Zambrano will make his first start since a right shoulder strain put him on the DL. His last start came June 18th at Tampa Bay, when he surrendered five runs and seven hits in 6.2 innings of a 5-4 loss. That marked Zambrano's second straight road loss, and he is just 4-3 away from home with a 4.08 ERA.
Cubs are 8-0 in Zambrano's last 8 starts vs. St. Louis.
Cubs are 2-8 in their last 10 road games.
Key Injuries - OF Reed Johnson (.271; back) has returned.
OF Alfonso Soriano (.283; broken hand) is on the 15-day DL.
PROJECTED SCORE: TBD
Cardinals: Braden Looper will make his first home start since June 18th, when he allowed one run and five hits in seven innings of an eventual 3-2 loss to the Royals. The Cardinals have won each of his last two starts - both on the road - even though he lasted just 3.1 innings last time out at Kansas City. He is 4-3 at home with a 4.50 ERA.
The OVER is 4-0-1 in St. Louis' last 5 games overall.
Key Injuries - NONE
PROJECTED SCORE: TBD
Toronto Blue Jays at Los Angeles Angels [9:05 PM ET]
Blue Jays: Toronto's A.J. Burnett is coming off consecutive stellar starts in which he allowed only one run and eight hits in a combined 15 innings. The Blue Jays outscored Atlanta and Cincinnati 15-1 in those games, but they have lost his last three road starts. Burnett is 3-4 away from home with a 3.94 ERA , and he is 1-1 in three career starts against the Angels with a 3.43 ERA.
Blue Jays are 2-9 in their last 11 road games.
The UNDER is 7-3 in Burnett's last 10 starts overall.
Key Injuries - OF Shannon Stewart (.240; ankle) is on the 15-day DL.
PROJECTED SCORE: TBD
Angels (-130, O/U 7.5): Jered Weaver will try to mind the most mind-boggling start of his career behind him when he toes the rubber for LA. Weaver did not allow a hit in six innings last time out on Saturday against the Dodgers but was pulled down 1-0 after an error he made eventually allowed the only run of the game to score. He has given up one run in three of his last four starts and is 3-4 at home with a 3.73 ERA.
The UNDER is 15-7-2 in LA's last 24 home games.
The UNDER is 13-3-2 in LA's last 18 Friday games.
Key Injuries - NONE
PROJECTED SCORE: TBD
Streaking Starting Pitchers
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday's streaking starting pitchers
Streaking
Dan Haren, Arizona Diamondbacks (8-4, 2.85)
Haren continues to intimidate his opponents, despite playing for his third team in five campaigns. The righty ranks ninth in MLB and fourth in the NL with a 3.04 ERA. He is also 2-0 with a solid 0.43 ERA and 20 strikeouts in his last three outings.
In his last two starts, Haren has pitched 14 scoreless innings, surrendering seven hits. He is 7-1 with a 2.41 ERA and 0.92 WHIP at Chase Field.
The Diamondbacks are 7-2 in Haren’s last nine home starts. They are also 6-2 in their last eight tilts against the Padres.
Mark Buehrle, Chicago White Sox (6-6, 3.79)
Buehrle has regained his form and it’s starting to pay off for the Sox. The left-hander lost six of his first 11 starts, but has since strung together three straight victories.
Buehrle, 3-0 with a 1.17 ERA in his last three starts, has 25 strikeouts in his last six contests and has not conceded more than three ER in that period. He is also 3-0 with a 1.17 ERA in his last three tilts and 3-2, including three straight victories, at U.S. Cellular Field.
Chicago is 4-1 in Buehrle’s last five starts, while the A’s are 2-5 in Joe Blanton’s last seven road starts.
Slumping
Paul Byrd, Cleveland Indians (3-9, 5.26)
Byrd is off to his worst start in eight seasons. The right-hander is 0-3 in his last three starts with a 5.26 ERA in 17 innings pitched. Byrd has also surrendered 18 ER and four home runs in his last six outings.
Byrd is 1-7 on the road with a lofty 6.89 ERA and 1.41 WHIP, including a 5-0 setback to the Reds last Saturday.
The Tribe is just 1-4 in its last five against the AL Central.
Darrell Rasner, New York Yankees (1-2, 6.60)
Rasner is a miserable 1-6 in his last seven starts. The third-year pitcher is fresh off a respectable start versus the Mets, but gave up 21 hits in his last three tilts, conceding 11 earned runs in just 15 innings.
The right-hander, 0-2 in his last two starts, is 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA in the Bronx, but has never faced the league-leading Boston Red Sox.
New York is 1-6 in Rasner’s last seven outings. They Yanks are also 2-5 in their last seven at Yankee Stadium.
SCOREBOARD
Friday, July 4
Chicago Cubs at St. Louis (8:15 p.m.) The top teams in the NL Central square off, with the Cubs bringing ace Carlos Zambrano (8-3) off the disabled list to face Braden Looper (9-5) in the opener of a three-game series.
STARS
Thursday
-Chad Billingsley, Dodgers, gave up six hits with five strikeouts over eight innings, allowing only a pair of unearned runs in beating the Astros 5-2.
-Cole Hamels, Phillies, came within an out of a second complete-game shutout of the Braves, giving up just one run in the ninth inning of a 4-1 win.
-Mark Grudzielanek, Royals, was 4-for-5 and played a big part in a seven-run sixth inning that carried Kansas City to a 10-7 win over the Orioles.
-Jon Lester, Red Sox, gave up five hits and a pair of walks while striking out eight in a complete-game, 7-0 win over the Yankees.
-Mike Pelfrey, Mets, gave up a run on six hits over seven innings, and also went 1-for-3 with an RBI and scored a run in an 11-1 rout of the Cardinals.
-J.J. Hardy, Brewers, went 4-for-5 with two doubles and a solo home run, but it wasn't enough. The Diamondbacks scored all six of their runs in the ninth for a 6-5 victory.
NINTH-INNING MELTDOWN
Conor Jackson delivered the winning two-run single to cap a six-run ninth inning, lifting the Diamondbacks to a 6-5 victory over the Brewers. Three Milwaukee pitchers failed to record an out as seven straight D-backs reached base in the inning. Salomon Torres picked up the loss.
JUST ANOTHER SERIES
There wasn't quite as much luster in the Bronx for the Red Sox-Yankees series, seeing as both clubs are chasing Tampa Bay in the division. It's the first time since September 1997 that the two teams played after Memorial Day with neither in first place, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The Rays, by the way, had a well-deserved day off.
HOLDING COURT
David DeJesus matched his career-best hitting streak of 15 games with a single during the Royals' seven-run sixth inning, which carried them to a 10-7 win over Baltimore. The last time Kansas City scored more than six runs in an inning was June 14, 2007 - an eight-run second frame against St. Louis.
WHAT JINX?
Razzed by teammates for making the cover of Sports Illustrated this week, Giants youngster Tim Lincecum responded by increasing his NL-leading strikeout total to 122 with eight Ks in six innings of an 8-3 win over the Cubs. Lincecum also singled in a run and scored.
COLE KO's BRAVES
Cole Hamels came within one out of his second shutout of the Braves this season, giving up his only run with two outs in the ninth inning of a 4-1 win. The Phillies have swept Atlanta twice at Turner Field and improved to 8-1 against the Braves this season. The last team to sweep two straight series in Atlanta was the Padres in August and September of 1989.
BOSS SENDS RSVP
Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said he'll be in attendance for the All-Star game on July 15, one of the featured events during the final season at the current Yankee Stadium. The Boss, who will celebrate his 78th birthday Friday with his family in Florida, has kept a low profile in recent years while sons Hank and Hal assume most of the club's daily operations.
SPEAKING
"For three years, Duchsherer preached down in the bullpen, 'I am a much better starter than a reliever. I'm a much better starter than a reliever.' To the point where it was ad nauseam, where you just wanted to tell him, 'Duke. You're not starting.''' - Oakland closer Huston Street, after watching Justin Duchscherer shut down the White Sox over seven innings of a 3-2 win. Duchscherer improved to 9-5 and leads the major leagues with a 1.96 ERA.
"We did not play a good game. We didn't do anything. We didn't hit, we didn't pitch. We didn't play a good game.'' -Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who closed the clubhouse for a 30-minute meeting after a 7-0 loss to Boston dropped them eight games back of division-leading Tampa Bay.
SEASONS
July 4
1905 - The Philadelphia Athletics scored two runs in the 20th inning, giving Rube Waddell a 4-2 victory over Cy Young of the Boston Red Sox. Both pitchers went the distance. Young did not allow a walk.
1908 - George Wiltse of the New York Giants pitched a 10-inning, 1-0 no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies.
1912 - George Mullin of the Detroit Tigers celebrated his 32nd birthday by pitching a no-hitter over the St. Louis Browns.
1925 - Two of the great left-handers of their time - Herb Pennock of the Yankees and Lefty Grove of the Athletics - hooked up in a pitchers' duel that New York won 1-0 in 15 innings. Pennock gave up four hits and walked none.
1939 - Jim Tabor of the Boston Red Sox hit three home runs, including two grand slams, in an 18-12 triumph over the Philadelphia Athletics in the second game of a doubleheader.
1976 - The Phillies' Tim McCarver lost a grand slam when he passed Garry Maddox on the basepaths. The Phillies still beat the Pirates 10-5 at Pittsburgh.
1983 - Dave Righetti of the New York Yankees pitched a 4-0 no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium.
1984 - Phil Niekro of the New York Yankees struck out five Texas Rangers to become the ninth player to pass the 3,000-strikeout plateau. No. 3,000 was Larry Parrish.
1984 - The New York Mets beat the Braves 16-13 in 19 innings at Atlanta. The game went until just before 4 a.m. on July 5, and was followed by a fireworks display for the 10,000 still left in the stands. The Braves tied the score 13-13 on a homer by pitcher Rick Camp in the 18th inning.
2000 - St. Louis' Keith McDonald homered in his first major league at-bat as the Cardinals defeated Cincinnati 14-3.
2006 - Victor Martinez went 5-for-6 and Jhonny Peralta and Travis Hafner each hit two of Cleveland's six home runs, powering the Indians to a 19-1 rout of New York. The win was Cleveland's largest at home in more than 56 years, since a 21-2 victory over the Philadelphia Athletics on June 18, 1950.
2006 - Jose Contreras tossed 6 2-3 scoreless innings to win his 17th straight decision and lead the White Sox to a 13-0 victory over Baltimore
Boston is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
Boston is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
NY Yankees are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games when playing Boston
NY Yankees are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games when playing at home against Boston
1:15 PM WASHINGTON vs. CINCINNATI
Washington is 4-9 SU in its last 13 games when playing on the road against Cincinnati
Washington is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing
Cincinnati
Cincinnati is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games at home
Cincinnati is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
2:05 PM PITTSBURGH vs. MILWAUKEE
Pittsburgh is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Milwaukee
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Pittsburgh's last 6 games when playing on the road against Milwaukee
Milwaukee is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Milwaukee's last 5 games at home
4:05 PM LA DODGERS vs. SAN FRANCISCO
LA Dodgers are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games
LA Dodgers are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games on the road
San Francisco is 2-12 SU in their last 14 games when playing at home against LA Dodgers
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of San Francisco's last 13 games when playing at home against LA Dodgers
4:10 PM DETROIT vs. SEATTLE
Detroit is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games
Detroit is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Seattle is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing Detroit
Seattle is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Detroit
4:35 PM TEXAS vs. BALTIMORE
Texas is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Baltimore
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Texas's last 7 games when playing Baltimore
Baltimore is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games at home
Baltimore is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against Texas
5:10 PM KANSAS CITY vs. TAMPA BAY
Kansas City is 2-11 SU in its last 13 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Kansas City's last 8 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is 12-5 SU in its last 17 games when playing Kansas City
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 6 games when playing Kansas City
7:05 PM NY METS vs. PHILADELPHIA
NY Mets are 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
NY Mets are 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Philadelphia
Philadelphia is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against NY Mets
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Philadelphia's last 6 games when playing at home against NY Mets
7:05 PM OAKLAND vs. CHI WHITE SOX
Oakland is 6-1 SU in their last 7 games when playing Chi White Sox
Oakland is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Chi White Sox are 7-1 SU in their last 8 games
Chi White Sox are 9-1 SU in their last 10 games at home
7:10 PM CLEVELAND vs. MINNESOTA
Cleveland is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Minnesota
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Cleveland's last 10 games when playing on the road against Minnesota
Minnesota is 3-10 SU in its last 13 games when playing Cleveland
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Minnesota's last 18 games when playing Cleveland
7:35 PM HOUSTON vs. ATLANTA
Houston is 3-9 SU in its last 12 games when playing on the road against Atlanta
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Houston's last 13 games when playing on the road against Atlanta
Atlanta is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
Atlanta is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games at home
8:05 PM FLORIDA vs. COLORADO
Florida is 7-16 SU in its last 23 games on the road
Florida is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Colorado
Colorado is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games
Colorado is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games at home
8:15 PM CHI CUBS vs. ST. LOUIS
Chi Cubs are 2-7-1 SU in their last 10 games on the road
Chi Cubs are 11-5 SU in their last 16 games when playing St. Louis
St. Louis is 4-8 SU in their last 12 games when playing at home against Chi Cubs
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of St. Louis's last 6 games when playing at home against Chi Cubs
9:05 PM TORONTO vs. LA ANGELS
Toronto is 2-5 SU in their last 7 games when playing LA Angels
The total has gone UNDER in 14 of Toronto's last 16 games when playing LA Angels
LA Angels are 8-4 SU in their last 12 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of LA Angels's last 6 games
9:40 PM SAN DIEGO vs. ARIZONA
San Diego is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games when playing Arizona
The total has gone OVER in 7 of San Diego's last 10 games when playing Arizona
Arizona is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing San Diego
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Arizona's last 10 games when playing San Diego
Tips and Trends
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees [YES | 1:05 PM ET]
Red Sox (-130, O/U 9.5): Boston ace Josh Beckett is looking to rebound from a tough stretch in which he has earned just one win in four starts despite pitching fairly well. Beckett has allowed just two runs in each of his last two starts but has gone 0-1 because his teammates have backed him with just three runs. Run support has not been a problem for him against the Yankees lately though, as the Sox have scored 21 runs in his last three starts vs. New York. That has helped Beckett go 6-3 lifetime against them despite an inflated 5.87 ERA.
Red Sox are 1-5 in their last 6 road games.
The OVER is 9-1 in Beckett's last 10 Friday starts.
Key Injuries - NONE
PROJECTED SCORE: TBD
Yankees: Darrell Rasner has suffered losses in six of his last seven trips to the mound, but he has earned three of his four wins at home. He is 3-1 in four starts at Yankee Stadium and has pitched there just twice in his last seven outings, splitting a pair of decisions after allowing four runs in 13 innings with five walks and eight strikeouts. Rasner has never pitched against the Red Sox.
Yankees are 1-6 in Rasner's last 7 starts.
The UNDER is 7-2 in New York's last 9 home games.
Key Injuries - OF Hideki Matsui (.323; knee) is on the 15-day DL.
PROJECTED SCORE: TBD
Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco Giants [4:05 PM ET]
Dodgers: Derek Lowe has struggled away from home this season, earning just one road victory in nine starts. He is 1-4 on the road with a 4.62 ERA, with the Dodgers scoring just one run combined in his last two outings overall. Lowe earned a win in his last road start at Cincinnati on June 18th though, allowing just one run and three hits in 5.1 innings. He is 3-5 lifetime vs. San Francisco with a 3.38 ERA.
Dodgers are 21-10 in the last 31 meetings.
The UNDER is 10-1 in LA's last 11 games overall.
Key Injuries - SS Nomar Garciaparra (.226; calf) is expected to return.
OF Andruw Jones (.165; knee) is expected to return.
OF Juan Pierre (.277; knee) is on the 15-day DL.
2B Jeff Kent (.266; back) is day-to-day.
PROJECTED SCORE: TBD
Giants (-115, O/U 7.5): Jonathan Sanchez has been outstanding for the most part over his last seven starts, winning six times while allowing two runs or less in five of those games. In fact, Sanchez has given up three runs or less in nine of his last 10 starts. He is 2-2 in eight home starts with a 2.90 ERA and has pitched there just twice since May 16th.
Giants are 6-1 in Sanchez's last 7 starts overall.
Giants are 6-17 in their last 23 home games.
Key Injuries - NONE
PROJECTED SCORE: TBD
Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals [WGN | 8:15 PM ET]
Cubs (-130, O/U 8.5): Chicago ace Carlos Zambrano will make his first start since a right shoulder strain put him on the DL. His last start came June 18th at Tampa Bay, when he surrendered five runs and seven hits in 6.2 innings of a 5-4 loss. That marked Zambrano's second straight road loss, and he is just 4-3 away from home with a 4.08 ERA.
Cubs are 8-0 in Zambrano's last 8 starts vs. St. Louis.
Cubs are 2-8 in their last 10 road games.
Key Injuries - OF Reed Johnson (.271; back) has returned.
OF Alfonso Soriano (.283; broken hand) is on the 15-day DL.
PROJECTED SCORE: TBD
Cardinals: Braden Looper will make his first home start since June 18th, when he allowed one run and five hits in seven innings of an eventual 3-2 loss to the Royals. The Cardinals have won each of his last two starts - both on the road - even though he lasted just 3.1 innings last time out at Kansas City. He is 4-3 at home with a 4.50 ERA.
The OVER is 4-0-1 in St. Louis' last 5 games overall.
Key Injuries - NONE
PROJECTED SCORE: TBD
Toronto Blue Jays at Los Angeles Angels [9:05 PM ET]
Blue Jays: Toronto's A.J. Burnett is coming off consecutive stellar starts in which he allowed only one run and eight hits in a combined 15 innings. The Blue Jays outscored Atlanta and Cincinnati 15-1 in those games, but they have lost his last three road starts. Burnett is 3-4 away from home with a 3.94 ERA , and he is 1-1 in three career starts against the Angels with a 3.43 ERA.
Blue Jays are 2-9 in their last 11 road games.
The UNDER is 7-3 in Burnett's last 10 starts overall.
Key Injuries - OF Shannon Stewart (.240; ankle) is on the 15-day DL.
PROJECTED SCORE: TBD
Angels (-130, O/U 7.5): Jered Weaver will try to mind the most mind-boggling start of his career behind him when he toes the rubber for LA. Weaver did not allow a hit in six innings last time out on Saturday against the Dodgers but was pulled down 1-0 after an error he made eventually allowed the only run of the game to score. He has given up one run in three of his last four starts and is 3-4 at home with a 3.73 ERA.
The UNDER is 15-7-2 in LA's last 24 home games.
The UNDER is 13-3-2 in LA's last 18 Friday games.
Key Injuries - NONE
PROJECTED SCORE: TBD
Streaking Starting Pitchers
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday's streaking starting pitchers
Streaking
Dan Haren, Arizona Diamondbacks (8-4, 2.85)
Haren continues to intimidate his opponents, despite playing for his third team in five campaigns. The righty ranks ninth in MLB and fourth in the NL with a 3.04 ERA. He is also 2-0 with a solid 0.43 ERA and 20 strikeouts in his last three outings.
In his last two starts, Haren has pitched 14 scoreless innings, surrendering seven hits. He is 7-1 with a 2.41 ERA and 0.92 WHIP at Chase Field.
The Diamondbacks are 7-2 in Haren’s last nine home starts. They are also 6-2 in their last eight tilts against the Padres.
Mark Buehrle, Chicago White Sox (6-6, 3.79)
Buehrle has regained his form and it’s starting to pay off for the Sox. The left-hander lost six of his first 11 starts, but has since strung together three straight victories.
Buehrle, 3-0 with a 1.17 ERA in his last three starts, has 25 strikeouts in his last six contests and has not conceded more than three ER in that period. He is also 3-0 with a 1.17 ERA in his last three tilts and 3-2, including three straight victories, at U.S. Cellular Field.
Chicago is 4-1 in Buehrle’s last five starts, while the A’s are 2-5 in Joe Blanton’s last seven road starts.
Slumping
Paul Byrd, Cleveland Indians (3-9, 5.26)
Byrd is off to his worst start in eight seasons. The right-hander is 0-3 in his last three starts with a 5.26 ERA in 17 innings pitched. Byrd has also surrendered 18 ER and four home runs in his last six outings.
Byrd is 1-7 on the road with a lofty 6.89 ERA and 1.41 WHIP, including a 5-0 setback to the Reds last Saturday.
The Tribe is just 1-4 in its last five against the AL Central.
Darrell Rasner, New York Yankees (1-2, 6.60)
Rasner is a miserable 1-6 in his last seven starts. The third-year pitcher is fresh off a respectable start versus the Mets, but gave up 21 hits in his last three tilts, conceding 11 earned runs in just 15 innings.
The right-hander, 0-2 in his last two starts, is 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA in the Bronx, but has never faced the league-leading Boston Red Sox.
New York is 1-6 in Rasner’s last seven outings. They Yanks are also 2-5 in their last seven at Yankee Stadium.
SCOREBOARD
Friday, July 4
Chicago Cubs at St. Louis (8:15 p.m.) The top teams in the NL Central square off, with the Cubs bringing ace Carlos Zambrano (8-3) off the disabled list to face Braden Looper (9-5) in the opener of a three-game series.
STARS
Thursday
-Chad Billingsley, Dodgers, gave up six hits with five strikeouts over eight innings, allowing only a pair of unearned runs in beating the Astros 5-2.
-Cole Hamels, Phillies, came within an out of a second complete-game shutout of the Braves, giving up just one run in the ninth inning of a 4-1 win.
-Mark Grudzielanek, Royals, was 4-for-5 and played a big part in a seven-run sixth inning that carried Kansas City to a 10-7 win over the Orioles.
-Jon Lester, Red Sox, gave up five hits and a pair of walks while striking out eight in a complete-game, 7-0 win over the Yankees.
-Mike Pelfrey, Mets, gave up a run on six hits over seven innings, and also went 1-for-3 with an RBI and scored a run in an 11-1 rout of the Cardinals.
-J.J. Hardy, Brewers, went 4-for-5 with two doubles and a solo home run, but it wasn't enough. The Diamondbacks scored all six of their runs in the ninth for a 6-5 victory.
NINTH-INNING MELTDOWN
Conor Jackson delivered the winning two-run single to cap a six-run ninth inning, lifting the Diamondbacks to a 6-5 victory over the Brewers. Three Milwaukee pitchers failed to record an out as seven straight D-backs reached base in the inning. Salomon Torres picked up the loss.
JUST ANOTHER SERIES
There wasn't quite as much luster in the Bronx for the Red Sox-Yankees series, seeing as both clubs are chasing Tampa Bay in the division. It's the first time since September 1997 that the two teams played after Memorial Day with neither in first place, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The Rays, by the way, had a well-deserved day off.
HOLDING COURT
David DeJesus matched his career-best hitting streak of 15 games with a single during the Royals' seven-run sixth inning, which carried them to a 10-7 win over Baltimore. The last time Kansas City scored more than six runs in an inning was June 14, 2007 - an eight-run second frame against St. Louis.
WHAT JINX?
Razzed by teammates for making the cover of Sports Illustrated this week, Giants youngster Tim Lincecum responded by increasing his NL-leading strikeout total to 122 with eight Ks in six innings of an 8-3 win over the Cubs. Lincecum also singled in a run and scored.
COLE KO's BRAVES
Cole Hamels came within one out of his second shutout of the Braves this season, giving up his only run with two outs in the ninth inning of a 4-1 win. The Phillies have swept Atlanta twice at Turner Field and improved to 8-1 against the Braves this season. The last team to sweep two straight series in Atlanta was the Padres in August and September of 1989.
BOSS SENDS RSVP
Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said he'll be in attendance for the All-Star game on July 15, one of the featured events during the final season at the current Yankee Stadium. The Boss, who will celebrate his 78th birthday Friday with his family in Florida, has kept a low profile in recent years while sons Hank and Hal assume most of the club's daily operations.
SPEAKING
"For three years, Duchsherer preached down in the bullpen, 'I am a much better starter than a reliever. I'm a much better starter than a reliever.' To the point where it was ad nauseam, where you just wanted to tell him, 'Duke. You're not starting.''' - Oakland closer Huston Street, after watching Justin Duchscherer shut down the White Sox over seven innings of a 3-2 win. Duchscherer improved to 9-5 and leads the major leagues with a 1.96 ERA.
"We did not play a good game. We didn't do anything. We didn't hit, we didn't pitch. We didn't play a good game.'' -Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who closed the clubhouse for a 30-minute meeting after a 7-0 loss to Boston dropped them eight games back of division-leading Tampa Bay.
SEASONS
July 4
1905 - The Philadelphia Athletics scored two runs in the 20th inning, giving Rube Waddell a 4-2 victory over Cy Young of the Boston Red Sox. Both pitchers went the distance. Young did not allow a walk.
1908 - George Wiltse of the New York Giants pitched a 10-inning, 1-0 no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies.
1912 - George Mullin of the Detroit Tigers celebrated his 32nd birthday by pitching a no-hitter over the St. Louis Browns.
1925 - Two of the great left-handers of their time - Herb Pennock of the Yankees and Lefty Grove of the Athletics - hooked up in a pitchers' duel that New York won 1-0 in 15 innings. Pennock gave up four hits and walked none.
1939 - Jim Tabor of the Boston Red Sox hit three home runs, including two grand slams, in an 18-12 triumph over the Philadelphia Athletics in the second game of a doubleheader.
1976 - The Phillies' Tim McCarver lost a grand slam when he passed Garry Maddox on the basepaths. The Phillies still beat the Pirates 10-5 at Pittsburgh.
1983 - Dave Righetti of the New York Yankees pitched a 4-0 no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium.
1984 - Phil Niekro of the New York Yankees struck out five Texas Rangers to become the ninth player to pass the 3,000-strikeout plateau. No. 3,000 was Larry Parrish.
1984 - The New York Mets beat the Braves 16-13 in 19 innings at Atlanta. The game went until just before 4 a.m. on July 5, and was followed by a fireworks display for the 10,000 still left in the stands. The Braves tied the score 13-13 on a homer by pitcher Rick Camp in the 18th inning.
2000 - St. Louis' Keith McDonald homered in his first major league at-bat as the Cardinals defeated Cincinnati 14-3.
2006 - Victor Martinez went 5-for-6 and Jhonny Peralta and Travis Hafner each hit two of Cleveland's six home runs, powering the Indians to a 19-1 rout of New York. The win was Cleveland's largest at home in more than 56 years, since a 21-2 victory over the Philadelphia Athletics on June 18, 1950.
2006 - Jose Contreras tossed 6 2-3 scoreless innings to win his 17th straight decision and lead the White Sox to a 13-0 victory over Baltimore
