Cnotes July's MLB POD'S-Stats-News

Previous Months Record:

April...Totals 388-*338-*16 53.44% +17645

May....Totals 377-*391-*18 49.09% -*15320

June...Totals 387-*366-*13 51.39% +2070


Overall:

2013 Season WLT Pct Units Rank

ATS Picks 734-*738-*18 49.86% -*5025 6899 of 9633

O/U Picks 583-*515-*47 53.10% +*8250 90 of 7721

All Picks 1317-*1253-*65 51.25% +*3225 871 of 9766


Team Expert Status (Current Season)

Rank Sport Team WLT Units

#2 MLB NY Yankees 95-70-7 +11025

#5 MLB LA Angels 99-75-6 +13735

#5 MLB Arizona 107-74-3 +15075

#13 MLB Baltimore 96-74-9 +10290

Diamond Trends - Monday

July 1, 2013


SU TREND OF THE DAY:

-- The Nationals are 14-0 since April 13, 2012 as a home 140+ favorite when they are off a win in which they never trailed and it is not the last game of a series for a net profit of $1400.

OU TREND OF THE DAY:

-- The Padres are 11-0 OU since September 25, 2007 as a road dog after a loss in which they had a higher team-left-on-base than their opponent as a favorite for a net profit of $1100 when playing the over.

PITCHER TREND OF THE DAY:

-- When Jordan Zimmermann starts the Nationals are 10-0 since June 05, 2012 as a favorite in the first game of a series for a net profit of $1000.

MLB BIBLE ACTIVE TREND:

-- Andy Pettitte has produced a team record of 14-3 (+$802) since November 2009 coming off a start where he threw at least 100 pitches.

ACTIVE TRENDS:

-- The Twins are 0-14 since April 28, 2011 at home within 20 cents of pickem after a loss in which they allowed 5+ walks for a net profit of $1405 when playing against.

-- The Brewers are 0-8 since June 30, 2011 as a 140+ dog when they are off a loss in which they held the lead for a net profit of $800 when playing against.

Around the Horn - Monday

June 30, 2013


NATIONAL LEAGUE

Milwaukee at Washington - 7:05 PM EST (Game 1/4)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

Milwaukee Brewers Gallardo (6-7, 4.20 ERA) 32-48 3-6 L9 away Game 1's

Washington Nationals Zimmermann (11-3, 2.28 ERA) 41-40 7-2 L9 home Game 1's

-- Brewers lost to Pirates, 2-1 on Sunday
-- Nationals beat Mets, 13-2 on Sunday



San Francisco at Cincinnati - 7:10 PM EST (Game 1/3)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

San Francisco Giants Kickham (0-2, 10.57 ERA) 39-42 UNDER 7-2 L9 away

Cincinnati Reds Arroyo (6-6, 3.61 ERA) 46-36 0-4 L4 vs. LHP

-- Giants beat Rockies, 5-2 on Sunday
-- Reds lost to Rangers, 3-2 on Sunday



Arizona at N.Y. Mets - 7:10 PM EST (Game 1/4)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

Arizona Diamondbacks Miley (4-7, 4.55 ERA) 42-39 1-8 L9 away

New York Mets Marcum (1-9, 5.08 ERA) 33-45 7-3 L10 vs. LHP

-- Diamondbacks lost to Braves, 6-2 on Sunday
-- Mets lost to Nationals, 13-2 on Sunday



San Diego at Miami - 7:10 PM EST (Game 4/4)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

San Diego Padres Marquis (9-3, 3.99 ERA) 40-42 OVER 6-0 L6 overall

Miami Marlins Fernandez (4-4, 2.98 ERA) 29-51 7-3 L10 home

-- Padres beat Marlins, 9-2 on Friday
-- Marlins beat Padres, 7-1 on Saturday
-- Marlins beat Padres, 6-2 on Sunday



AMERICAN LEAGUE

Detroit at Toronto - 1:05 PM EST (Game 1/3)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

Detroit Tigers Alvarez (1-1, 3.78 ERA) 43-37 6-2 L8 Game 1's

Toronto Blue Jays Dickey (7-8, 4.72 ERA) 40-41 10-2 L12 home

-- Tigers lost to Rays, 3-1 on Sunday
-- Blue Jays lost to Red Sox, 5-4 on Sunday



N.Y. Yankees at Minnesota - 8:10 PM EST (Game 1/3)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

New York Yankees Pettitte (5-6, 4.22 ERA) 42-39 1-4 L5 away Game 1's

Minnesota Twins Diamond (5-7, 5.40 ERA) 36-42 6-2 L8 home vs. non-division

-- Yankees lost to Orioles, 4-2 on Sunday
-- Twins lost to Royals, 9-8 on Sunday



Tampa Bay at Houston - 8:10 PM EST (Game 1/4)

Teams Pitcher Notes Team Record Betcha Didn't Know

Tampa Bay Rays Moore (10-3, 3.95 ERA) 43-39 UNDER 10-3 L13 overall

Houston Astros Keuchel (4-4, 4.34 ERA) 30-52 5-2 L7 vs. LHP

-- Rays beat Tigers, 3-1 on Sunday
-- Astros lost to Angels, 3-1 on Sunday

July Pitchers Report

June 30, 2013

Fireworks and the MLB All-Star game signal the month of July. It also signifies the start of the 2nd half of the MLB campaign. The key to each and every team's fortune lies on the pitching staff. Can they sustain or will they fold like an 'all-in' on the river? Stay tuned. What we do know is certain pitchers love hurling this time of the season while others tend to get lit up like a roman candle on the 4th of July.

Listed below are hurlers that have enjoyed a two-to-one or better success ratio in team starts the last three seasons during the month of July. On the flip side, we've also listed pitchers that struggle in July team starts, winning 33% percent or less of their efforts. To qualify pitchers must have made a minimum of 10 starts, with at least one start each July over the last three years.

I'll be back next month with August's Good Month Pitchers. Until then, take me out to the ballgame.

GOOD MONTH PITCHERS:

Buehrle, Mark (10-5)

After a repugnant start to the season with his new team, Buehrle has lowered his ERA by over two runs and been a contributor to the Blue Jays turning around their season. With the warmer weather on the way, the left-hander is expected to use all four of his pitches and move them around the edges of the strike zone and win games as per usual.

Correia, Kevin (10-4)

Correia is a bit of a dinosaur these days, with a fastball topping out in the high 80's. What he does do for the teams he's played for is keep them in games and more often than not places them in a position to win, something the right-hander has been very good at this month.

Halladay, Roy (10-3) (DL)

"Doc" has begun long tossing for his damaged wing and is expected back sometime in August for the Phillies.

Hudson, Tim (12-5)

The Braves starter will turn 38 years old this month and is having a season more typical when he first joined Atlanta in 2005, giving up quite a few home runs and not hitting his spots. Chances are Hudson will find a good groove, but needs more run support if he is going to continue racking up wins in July.

Kennedy, Ian (10-5)

Kennedy is back after his 10-game suspension by Major League baseball after his part in the D-Backs/Dodgers brawl. To date, the Snakes righty has not been very good and though many of his peripherals are similar to the past, he's given up 25 percent more home runs than his career average. Arizona needs Kennedy if they are to remain atop the NL West.

Kershaw, Clayton (11-5)

It has certainly been an unusual year for Kershaw with a 6-5 record, in spite of being on pace for a career-lows in earned run average and batting average allowed. His problems have been giving up the big hit at the wrong moment and the lack of support from the Dodger bats. Even a few runs would take the pressure off and let this 25-year old stud get in his regular groove.

Porcello, Rick (8-4)

Once thought to be ace material, Porcello is a back of the rotation hurler for Detroit. His skill set is a ground ball pitcher and the Tigers infielders cover about the least amount of ground as any team in baseball according to fielding metrics, which beefs up his hits allowed. When Porcello is right, he wins a lot of 5-3 games, helping his club in the win column.

Sabathia, CC (10-4)

It has not been business as usual for the big left-hander and if Sabathia is going to have a typical July, he has to keep the ball in the park. In 2012, he surrendered a career-worst 22 long balls and has conceded 17 already this year. The Yankees need the CC they are accustomed to seeing in the highly competitive AL East.

Weaver, Jered (13-5)

It is hard to fathom, even with an injury, Weaver enters this month with just one victory in 2013. However, do not be surprised if this number rises rapidly, as the Angels ace closed last month strong and his velocity has been rising to normal levels. With more speed on his four-seam fastball, the array of spinning sliders, slow curves and changeups keep opposing hitters off balance.

BAD MONTH PITCHERS:

Chen, Bruce (4-11)

After leading Kansas City in wins each of the last three years, Chen has been a fixture in the Royals bullpen this season.

Fister, Doug (5-12)

Being supported by Detroit's lineup card is a far better option than being backed for Seattle's, Fister's former team. Yet it is curious to note, this month has been extremely tough for the California native, as he's seven games below .500 this month, but just 10 under break even for his career (36-46).

Guthrie, Jeremy (5-12)

After a sensational start, Guthrie has witnessed his ERA jump from 2.28 on May 9, to 4.11 as July begins. The adjusted figure is more similar to his big league track record and the superior downward movement he had early on his fastball has dissipated, leaving more pitches up in the zone.

Norris, Bud (4-11)

Pitching for the Astros since 2009 has not helped Norris when it comes to wins and losses. Houston is already listening to trade deadline offers for the 28-year old who can be overwhelming at times. Yet for any pennant contender, Norris has an ERA of 5.49 the past three years on the road, which plays a factor in his miserable numbers in July.

Romero, Ricky (4-12) (DL)

After a couple of ugly starts in early May, Romero was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo, trying to reboot his career.

Preview: Tigers (43-37) at Blue Jays (40-41)
Game: 1
Venue: Rogers Centre
Date: July 01, 2013 1:07 PM EDT


Toronto's R.A. Dickey is hoping for another strong showing after delivering a vintage performance last week.

While containing the Detroit Tigers may normally prove difficult, manager Jim Leyland's club is struggling at the plate.

Dickey and the Blue Jays open a four-game set against the visiting Tigers, who try to avoid a sixth loss in seven games Monday.

Dickey (7-8, 4.72 ERA) has been plagued by inconsistency this year, but he was at his best Wednesday in a 3-0 road win over Tampa Bay. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner allowed two hits and a walk while striking out six in his first complete game.

"That's as good of a game as you can pitch, unless it's perfect," manager John Gibbons told MLB's official website. "He's pitched some good ballgames for us, he's had some tough ones, but for the most part, he gives us a chance to win every night he goes out there."

Dickey improved to 5-3 over his last nine starts, with each of those victories coming while allowing two earned runs or fewer. He's yielded at least six in the other four.

"I told you it would take some time to unlearn some bad habits that I had picked up trying to compensate for some earlier maladies," said Dickey, who battled through neck and back pain earlier this season. "It's starting to take shape a little bit. Hopefully, this will be a springboard for the next hundred innings."

Dickey has posted a 1.80 ERA in winning back-to-back starts against the Tigers (43-37), though he hasn't faced them since 2011 while with the New York Mets. While Omar Infante is 12 for 25 with two homers and a double against him since 2010, Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera have combined for three singles in 14 at_bats.

Detroit wasted another homer from Cabrera on Sunday, dropping to 1-5 over its last six games with a 3-1 loss at Tampa Bay. The Tigers, who lead the AL Central over Cleveland by percentage points, have averaged 3.0 runs while going 5 for 42 with runners in scoring position over their last five contests.

"I'm not really overly concerned about it, but we do have to put some runs on the board," said Leyland, whose club leads the majors with a .280 average. "We just haven't been producing any runs. We're just not swinging the bats good in big situations.

"To say we're struggling, that's obvious. To say, what's the solution? That's not so obvious."

Cabrera, who's gone deep five times in the last six days, is batting .458 with seven homers and 13 RBIs during a 15-game hitting streak.

Toronto (40-41) has dropped five of seven while hitting .220 following a team-record tying 11-game winning streak. Jose Bautista went 3 for 5 and hit a game-tying homer - his third in two days - in the ninth before Josh Thole's error allowed the winning run to score in the bottom of the inning Sunday in a 5-4 loss at Boston.

"It was frustrating," Gibbons said. "That might be the most frustrating loss of the year right there, to be honest with you, because of who we were playing and where we're at."

Toronto will try to bounce back against rookie Jose Alvarez (1-1, 3.78). The left-hander allowed a combined three runs over 11 innings in his first two starts before yielding four in 5 2-3 innings Wednesday in a 7-4 defeat to the Los Angeles Angels.

He'll need to be wary of Bautista, who's hitting .375 - his highest average against any team - with five homers, 14 RBIs and 16 runs in 26 career games versus Detroit.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Tigers at Blue Jays
Mon, Jul 1 - 1:07PM EDT

GAME 2
Tigers at Blue Jays
Tue, Jul 2 - 7:07PM EDT

GAME 3
Tigers at Blue Jays
Wed, Jul 3 - 7:07PM EDT

GAME 4
Tigers at Blue Jays
Thu, Jul 4 - 7:07PM EDT

Am sticking the early game here now since i won't be able to finish all the day's information by game time

Monday, July 1

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Detroit - 1:07 PM ET Detroit +124 500 POD # 1

Toronto - Over 9 500 POD # 2

Preview: Brewers (32-48) at Nationals (41-40)
Game: 1
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: July 01, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


Looking to tie for the major league lead with his 12th victory, Jordan Zimmermann should feel very confident about his chances Monday night.

While trying to extend his dominance at home, the right-hander is facing a slumping offense and an opponent against which he's unbeaten as the Washington Nationals open a four-game series with the sinking Milwaukee Brewers.

This game also could mark the return of Washington star Bryce Harper, who has missed the last 31 games with a knee injury. When he got hurt slamming into the outfield wall at Dodger Stadium on May 13, the 20-year-old Harper was leading the team in most offensive categories. He's hitting .287 with 12 homers and 23 RBIs.

"Anytime you can add a guy like that to your lineup, offensively and defensively, you're in good shape," catcher Kurt Suzuki said.

Zimmermann (11-3, 2.28 ERA), meanwhile, has a chance to match Detroit's Max Scherzer for the most wins in the majors following two dominant victories at Nationals Park. Six days after allowing an unearned run in eight innings of a 5-1 win over Colorado, he yielded two runs - both in the first inning - and three hits over seven frames in a 3-2 win over Arizona on Wednesday.

"It means a lot," Zimmermann said after earning his 11th victory, one shy of his career high set last year. "These guys have given me great run support all year. I'm pitching pretty well, too."

Zimmermann has been particularly tough at home, going 8-0 with a 1.09 ERA in nine starts. He's won 13 consecutive decisions at Nationals Park dating back to May 17, 2012. Washington (41-40) has won his last 11 starts there and he hasn't given up more than two runs in any of them.

That doesn't bode well for a Milwaukee team that has totaled 11 runs during a five-game losing streak and is still missing injured star Ryan Braun. Plus, Zimmermann beat the Brewers twice last year in his only two career starts against them, yielding two runs and striking out 13 in 12 2-3 innings.

Milwaukee (32-48) has scored just twice in its last 31 innings and was held to four hits Sunday in a 2-1, 14-inning loss at Pittsburgh.

Norichika Aoki and Logan Schafer are a combined 5 for 36 during the losing streak.

"It's tough right now," Schafer said. "We're not getting a whole lot of breaks. But things will turn. They always do in this game."

That happened Sunday for the Nationals offense, which totaled 12 runs in the previous four games but posted its highest total of the season and had 13 hits in a 13-2 victory over the New York Mets.

Ian Desmond hit his third homer in four games and finished with 28 RBIs in June - a Nationals record for any month.

"It's stride in a right direction," Desmond said. "Obviously I think we're capable of more than this. Not being greedy or anything, but we have a good offense and we feel like we can score runs."

That offense now takes on Yovani Gallardo (6-7, 4.20), who will try to help Milwaukee avoid matching its longest skid of the season. He'll also want to provide some rest for a Brewers bullpen that worked 11 2-3 innings Sunday following a 2-hour, 20-minute rain delay.

Gallardo matched his shortest outing of the season Wednesday, getting pulled after four innings as he gave up five runs - three earned - and eight hits in a 5-4 loss to the Chicago Cubs. He hadn't given up one earned run over his previous three starts.

The right-hander is 1-2 with a 6.85 ERA in his last four starts against Washington.

Adam LaRoche, who homered Sunday, is 8 for 24 against Gallardo, including a home run and a double in five at_bats last season.

Though Harper went 4 for 27 (.148) in last season's series, the Nationals took five of eight meetings with the Brewers.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Brewers at Nationals
Mon, Jul 1 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 2
Brewers at Nationals
Tue, Jul 2 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Brewers at Nationals
Wed, Jul 3 - 6:05PM EDT

GAME 4
Brewers at Nationals
Thu, Jul 4 - 11:05AM EDT

Preview: Padres (40-42) at Marlins (29-51)
Game: 4
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: July 01, 2013 7:10 PM EDT


The Miami Marlins just enjoyed their best month in more than a year.

Giving the ball to rookie Jose Fernandez could help them get off to a good start in July.

Fernandez gets his first look at the San Diego Padres on Monday night in the conclusion of this season series.

After going 14-41 in April and May, the Marlins (29-51) finished off a 15-10 June with their seventh victory in nine games, 6-2 on Sunday with Jeff Mathis delivering a walkoff grand slam. It was Mathis' second and the 3,000th homer in the franchise's 20-year history.

The victory capped Miami's most successful month since finishing 21-8 last May.

"After April and May, to do what we did in June is great,' manager Mike Redmond said. "Are we happy? Yes. Are we satisfied? No."

The Marlins have been more than satisfied with Fernandez (4-4, 2.98 ERA), who went 2-1 with a 1.67 ERA in five June starts after allowing one run and four hits in Tuesday's 4-2 win over Minnesota. The 20-year-old Cuban, though, did not get the decision and was admittedly not at his best during the five-inning outing.

"The most important part for me today was that my stuff was horrible. I was trying to battle through it," Fernandez told the Marlins' official website. "... We got the 'W' and that's what matters."

The Marlins have won five of Hernandez's seven starts in Miami. He's 2-0 with a 1.76 ERA in those outings, holding opponents to a .189 batting average.

That doesn't bode well for a Padres team batting .194 with three total runs since winning the first of this four-game set, 9-2 on Friday. Carlos Quentin's pinch-hit homer accounted for both runs Sunday when San Diego (40-42) lost for the eighth time in 12 games following a season-best 7-0 run.

The Padres will try to get back on track with Jason Marquis (9-3, 3.99) looking to rebound from his first loss in 12 starts. The veteran right-hander had won eight consecutive decisions - his longest stretch since 2004 - before giving up all the runs and walking a season high-tying five in 4 1-3 innings of Tuesday's 6-2 loss to Philadelphia.

San Diego had won five straight and 10 of 11 when he started.

"It's just one of those days,' Marquis said after his second-shortest outing of 2013. "I just wasn't able to get a feel for anything and I paid the price.'

Marquis, though, hasn't paid much of a price for his major-league worst 53 walks, as he's one win from reaching double-digits for the first time since going 15-13 for Colorado in 2009.

Marquis was at his best this season against Miami on May 8, throwing eight innings of five-hit ball with one walk in a 1-0 home win.

Marcell Ozuna was hitless in three at_bats off Marquis in that contest, but he's batting .382 with a homer and nine RBIs in a team-best nine-game hitting streak.

Fellow Marlins rookie Derek Dietrich is 5 for 11 in this series after going 1 for 3 with a two-run double Sunday.

Padres rookie second baseman Jedd Gyorko (right groin) is not expected to return from the DL on Monday. San Diego is also still awaiting the return of injured infielders Everth Cabrera (left hamstring) and Yonder Alonso (right hand).

The Padres have won four of six from the Marlins this season.

------------------------------------------------------------

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Padres at Marlins
Fri, Jun 28 Final 9 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Padres at Marlins
Sat, Jun 29 Final 1 to 7
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Padres at Marlins
Sun, Jun 30 Final 2 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 4
Padres at Marlins
Mon, Jul 1 - 7:10PM EDT

Preview: Diamondbacks (42-39) at Mets (33-45)
Game: 1
Venue: Citi Field
Date: July 01, 2013 7:10 PM EDT


Wade Miley is the last starter to win a game for the Arizona Diamondbacks, but that came nearly four weeks ago.

The offense isn't providing much help.

Miley may need to overcome the Diamondbacks' sluggish bats if he's going to help them win for just the second time in 10 tries on the road Monday night against the New York Mets.

Miley (4-7, 4.55 ERA) allowed three runs in 6 2-3 innings of a 10-3 win at St. Louis on June 5, and that's the last time Arizona got a victory from a starter.

The rotation has since gone 0-10 with a 5.15 ERA in 22 games, the majors' longest streak without a starter winning since San Diego went 25 straight from April 17-May 14, 2009.

Those struggles continued over the weekend, with the starters compiling a 7.36 ERA while the Diamondbacks (42-39) were swept in a three-game series at Atlanta. Trevor Cahill was the culprit in Sunday's 6-2 loss, surrendering all of the Braves' runs in 4 1-3 innings.

"We didn't really throw good, quality strike ones, and they pounded those," manager Kirk Gibson said.

Arizona's offense isn't giving the rotation much margin for error. The bats have backed the starters with an average of 2.4 runs over 22 games - 1.9 while dropping six of the past seven.

They're hitting .225 during a 1-8 stretch on the road. Paul Goldschmidt, who tops the Diamondbacks with 19 homers and a .306 average, has batted .200 without homering in his last 13 road games.

"It's no one individual," Gibson said. "It's me, it's the coaching staff, the players. We're just not clicking very good right now. We've got to find a way to get it turned around. It's no fun. I'm sure it's not fun to watch, either. We're not going to panic either way. We're going to come in and try to be loose."

A four-game series at Citi Field, however, may also be cause for concern since the Diamondbacks have lost five of their last six visits. The rotation is 0-4 with a 5.52 ERA over that span, while the offense has a .212 average - .133 with runners in scoring position.

The only win during that stretch came when Miley started May 4, 2012, when he gave up four runs in six innings while not getting a decision in a 5-4 victory.

The left-hander is 0-2 with a 3.42 ERA in four starts since his last win, getting a combined nine runs of support. He allowed three runs - two earned - in seven innings while the offense was held to four hits in a 3-2 loss at Washington on Wednesday.

The Mets (33-45) are trying to rebound from their own defeat to the Nationals, falling 13-2 on Sunday after splitting the first two games of the series. They've dropped eight of 11 at home behind a .204 average that has undermined the rotation's 2.94 ERA.

David Wright, though, is hitting .440 over the past 13 home games, spiking his season average there 78 points to .298.

Scheduled starter Shaun Marcum (1-9, 5.08) hasn't had the same kind of success at Citi Field, going 0-5 with a 5.60 ERA in six games.

However, the right-hander should have renewed confidence for this matchup, coming off his first victory of the year in 12 games - including 10 starts. He yielded four hits in eight innings of Wednesday's 3-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

Marcum is 1-0 while allowing seven runs in 11 innings over two career starts versus Arizona.

---------------------------------------------------------

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Diamondbacks at Mets
Mon, Jul 1 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Diamondbacks at Mets
Tue, Jul 2 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Diamondbacks at Mets
Wed, Jul 3 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 4
Diamondbacks at Mets
Thu, Jul 4 - 1:10PM EDT

Preview: Giants (39-42) at Reds (46-36)
Game: 1
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: July 01, 2013 7:10 PM EDT


The San Francisco Giants' run to last year's World Series title nearly ended in the division series until they swept their road games against the Cincinnati Reds.

The Giants will have a more modest goal when they return to Great American Ball Park.

San Francisco will try to turn around what's so far been a miserable road trip while Cincinnati will seek to bounce back from its own woeful trek in Monday night's series opener.

After starting the playoffs with back-to-back home losses, the Giants staved off elimination in their next three games in Cincinnati. They then rallied from a 3-1 deficit to St. Louis in the NL championship series and swept Detroit for their second title in three years.

San Francisco (39-42) has hardly looked like a contender for much of this season. The Giants had dropped six straight - their longest skid in three seasons - and seven in a row on the road before Sunday's 5-2 win over Colorado.

That victory, highlighted by Buster Posey's fourth homer in five games, also ended an 0-5 start to their 10-game road trip and was only their fourth in the past 15 overall contests.

"(Posey's) been really on fire for us, giving us a chance to win some of these games," outfielder Hunter Pence told the team's website. "Our pitching's been great, Buster's been hitting, get a few more guys clicking at the same time and that's how you start winning ballgames."

The Reds, meanwhile, have lost eight of 11 and went 2-6 in their visits to Arizona, Oakland and Texas. Cincinnati (46-36), batting .214 in its last 11 games, had six singles in Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Rangers.

"We couldn't get any type of hit when we needed it," outfielder Jay Bruce said. "We need to execute better."

While its hitters try to get back on track, Cincinnati is hoping Bronson Arroyo (6-6, 3.61 ERA) can help pick up the slack by continuing his recent success against San Francisco.

The right-hander is 4-2 with a 1.72 ERA in his last nine starts against the Giants, including a 9-0 victory in Game 2 of the NL division series. Arroyo gave up one hit and one walk over seven innings in that game but heads into this one after a forgettable performance.

He was tagged for seven runs - his most allowed in two seasons - in just four innings of Tuesday's 7-3 loss in Oakland. The A's put in seven left-handed or switch hitters in the lineup against Arroyo, who was 4-1 with a 2.14 ERA in his previous eight starts.

"They just had a great approach against me, to be honest with you," he told the team's website. "I predicate my game on being able to play a mental chess match with guys and beating them to the move first. They just beat me to the punch."

Arroyo might have a chance to get back in the win column if Giants rookie Mike Kickham (0-2, 10.57) continues to struggle.

The left-hander allowed six runs over 5 1-3 innings in his second major league start, a 6-5 loss at the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday. He was called up from the minors the previous day for the second time this season because of Chad Gaudin's elbow injury.

While they faltered at home in the playoffs, the Reds have won seven of the last eight regular-season meetings there against the Giants.

---------------------------------------------------------

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Giants at Reds
Mon, Jul 1 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Giants at Reds
Tue, Jul 2 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Giants at Reds
Wed, Jul 3 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 4
Giants at Reds
Thu, Jul 4 - 1:10PM EDT

Preview: Yankees (42-39) at Twins (36-42)
Game: 1
Venue: Target Field
Date: July 01, 2013 8:10 PM EDT


The New York Yankees are looking to put an ugly June behind them in which they finished tied for the third-worst record in baseball.

Having Andy Pettitte on the mound to face the Minnesota Twins could help them avoid their first six-game losing streak in six seasons.

Pettitte has won his last 10 overall decisions against the Twins and will start Monday night for the visiting Yankees in the opener of a four-game set.

New York (42-39) has totaled 13 runs while batting .238 during its second five-game slide of the season - both have come in the past three weeks. The Yankees finished 11-16 in June to match Seattle, and now look to avoid their first six-game skid since dropping seven straight April 20-27, 2007.

Sunday night's 4-2 loss at Baltimore capped a weekend in which New York went 6 for 32 with runners in scoring position. The Yankees are hitting .236 in that department for the AL's second-worst mark.

"This is like life," manager Joe Girardi said. "Everything is not going to be easy. You find ways to get through it. I'm not going to get frustrated. I know the effort these guys are putting in. I'm going to stick up for them."

Pettitte (5-6, 4.22 ERA) is seeking to avoid losing four straight starts for the first time since dropping five in a row in 2008.

The veteran left-hander could be in good position to end his woes since he is 10-0 with a 2.33 ERA in his last 11 starts against the Twins (36-42), including three in the postseason. Pettitte hasn't lost to Minnesota since 2001 and has a 1.71 ERA in winning all three of his outings at Target Field.

Joe Mauer is 6 for 20 against Pettitte and Justin Morneau 5 for 19. Minnesota has faced fewer left-handed starters than any team in baseball, going 7-6.

Mauer, however, is hitless in his last 16 at_bats although he is batting .345 against New York since 2011.

The Yankees are 15-12 against lefties as they face southpaw Scott Diamond (5-7, 5.40), who allowed five runs over four innings in his lone start against them in a 6-4 defeat Sept. 19, 2011.

Diamond is 2-5 with a 6.21 ERA in seven home starts and posted a 5.74 ERA in June for his worst month of the year.

These teams have yet to meet. New York has captured the season series the previous six years, taking four of seven 2012 meetings. The Twins have changed considerably since they were swept in a 2010 division series by the Yankees.

"They have a bunch of young players that are very athletic that can play the game and are learning how to play the game and they have some new pitchers as well," Girardi said. "It's a team that's changed a lot over the last three years."

One of those young players, Chris Parmelee, made several mistakes in the outfield in Sunday's 9-8 loss to Kansas City.

"Mental mistakes, and those things kill you, probably as much as physical," manager Ron Gardenhire said.

Morneau went 7 for 15 with a homer, four doubles and six RBIs as the Twins settled for a four-game split. Minnesota dropped six of nine to finish June with a 13-13 mark.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Yankees at Twins
Mon, Jul 1 - 8:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Yankees at Twins
Tue, Jul 2 - 8:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Yankees at Twins
Wed, Jul 3 - 8:10PM EDT

GAME 4
Yankees at Twins
Thu, Jul 4 - 2:10PM EDT

Preview: Rays (43-39) at Astros (30-52)
Game: 1
Venue: Minute Maid Park
Date: July 01, 2013 8:10 PM EDT


Matt Moore has been having some control issues, but what's more important is that he's back in the win column.

The Tampa Bay Rays left-hander will try to win a third straight start Monday night when the Rays and Houston Astros begin a four-game set at Minute Maid Park.

In part due to his 8-0 start, Moore (10-3, 3.95 ERA) is already one victory shy of a career high. However, his 4.98 walks per nine innings rank last in the AL. Moore worked around a career high-tying six free passes in Tuesday's 5-1 victory over Toronto, throwing six innings of one-run ball.

He's won back-to-back starts after losing his previous three.

"Any time where there's six walks and I can get through the sixth inning, it's a pretty unusual thing to happen,' Moore said after matching a career best with 11 strikeouts.

Manager Joe Maddon would obviously like Moore to cut down on his walks, but he doesn't seem overly concerned.

"He'll figure it out," Maddon told the Rays' official website. "He'll get to that point where he knows exactly what he's doing out front, and when he does, it's going to be really fun to watch."

Moore will face an Astros team that's dropped eight of 12 after getting swept at home by the Los Angeles Angels.

Tampa Bay (43-39), meanwhile, finished a 4-2 homestand over the weekend by taking two of three from Detroit. The Rays swept their last series against Houston (30-52), winning three games from June 24-26, 2011.

Evan Longoria went 8 for 14 with three homers and 10 RBIs in that series, but the third baseman is questionable after missing the last two games with a sore right foot.

Dallas Keuchel (4-4, 4.34) probably wouldn't mind if the Rays' leader with 17 homers took another day to recover. In his last start June 21, the left-hander struck out nine for the first time, but he surrendered a career high-tying three homers in a 3-1 loss at the Chicago Cubs. Keuchel had been tagged for just five homers in eight previous starts since being inserted into the rotation May 10.

"I thought he made a couple of mistakes and they made him pay for it,' manager Bo Porter said. ``They were all solo home runs and he did a good job of keeping us in the game."

It was too late for Keuchel to do that Tuesday when he relieved Lucas Harrell, who allowed seven runs in 3 1-3 innings of a 13-5 loss to St. Louis. Keuchel fanned six in 2 2-3 innings, but allowed a two-run shot.

Keuchel has never faced Tampa Bay.

Carlos Pena won't get a chance to play his former team after leaving the Astros this weekend when a relative drowned in the Dominican Republic. Pena is expected back Tuesday.

Jimmy Paredes should begin his second stint with the Astros on Monday after getting called up Sunday when Justin Maxwell was placed on the seven-day concussion DL.

Rays first baseman James Loney will try to extend his hitting streak to 12. The Houston native is batting .400 during that stretch.

Tampa Bay goes for a sixth consecutive victory in this series - all in Houston - after losing six of the first seven meetings.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Rays at Astros
Mon, Jul 1 - 8:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Rays at Astros
Tue, Jul 2 - 8:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Rays at Astros
Wed, Jul 3 - 8:10PM EDT

GAME 4
Rays at Astros
Thu, Jul 4 - 2:10PM EDT

Monday, July 1

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Milwaukee - 7:05 PM ET Washington -190 500
Washington - Over 7 500

Arizona - 7:10 PM ET NY Mets +105 500 POD # 1
NY Mets - Over 7.5 500 POD # 3

San Francisco - 7:10 PM ET Cincinnati -152 500
Cincinnati - Under 9 500

San Diego - 7:10 PM ET Miami -137 500
Miami - Under 7.5 500 POD # 4

Tampa Bay - 8:10 PM ET Tampa Bay -160 500
Houston - Under 8 500

NY Yankees - 8:10 PM ET Minnesota +108 500 POD # 2
Minnesota - Under 8 500

Hot & Not - NL Edition

July 1, 2013


It's July, and that means the wheeling and dealing is about to start happening. Before the All-Star break and the trade deadline sneak up on us though, we're going to take a look at some of the hottest and coldest teams that MLB betting action has to offer in the National League over the course of the last two weeks.

Money-Makers

Pittsburgh Pirates (9-0, +$1,146 in L/9) – Believe the Pirates now? They've won nine games in a row, and they've done it with pitching, pitching, and more pitching. Pittsburgh is setup to win a heck of a lot more than just 82 games this season, and the team is playing with its hair on fire.

On Deck: About the only thing that will slow the Bucs down is the All-Star break. Three with the Phils and three with the Cubs shouldn't be a problem. We expect to see the Pirates with at least 60 wins by the time the break comes around.

Los Angeles Dodgers (8-1, +$699 in L/9) – The Dodgers are still in last place in the NL West, but they have won eight out of nine games. The spark that OF Yasiel Puig has brought to this team is out of this world. Not only should Puig be an All-Star, but he darn well might be the MVP of the first half of the year as well.

On Deck: These next two series on the road against Colorado and San Francisco are crucial. Take four out of six, and all of a sudden, the team is going to be right on the verge of .500 and perhaps just a game or two back of first place in the NL West.

Miami Marlins (5-1, +$477 in L/6) – Break up the Marlins! In actuality, the Fish are playing well at the moment, as they are going to go three consecutive series either winning or at least splitting after they're done with the Padres. Monday is the first time all season long that this team has been favored by more than a -122 margin, and ironically, it comes against Jason Marquis, a pitcher who is 9-3 on the campaign.

On Deck: After this series is finished with the Pads, the Marlins are hitting the road, where they will inevitably come back to earth. There's no way they’re winning series against the Braves and Cards in Atlanta and St. Louis respectively; dog bettors will likely beg to differ.

Money-Burners

St. Louis Cardinals (2-6, -$641 in L/8) – Many think the reason the Cardinals have been caught in the NL Central is because the Pirates have been playing so well. Most don't realize that they have been beaten in six out of eight. We aren't overly worried though, as we know that this starting rotation is still amongst the best in the bigs.

On Deck: The visit from the Marlins will be a welcome one at the end of this week, but prior to that, the Cards have a very tough series against the Angels, another one of the hottest teams in the game.

Cincinnati Reds (2-7, -$613 in L/9) – It hasn't helped matters any for the rest of the NL Central that the Reds have been in bad shape as well. They aren't pitching well at the moment, and their bullpen is blowing far too many opportunities to close out games. What was really surprising was how poorly this team played in two series on the West Coast against AL teams, as even with the DH, the offense only generated 11 runs through five games.

On Deck: It's definitely going to be good for the Reds to get back home, and they’re welcoming in a pair of teams from the West Coast, as the Giants and Mariners are headed to the Queen City over the holiday week.

San Francisco Giants (1-6, -$605 in L/12) – If you will, the Giants are 16-27 and down $1,508 in their last 43 games. When you really think about that stretch of baseball, it's tough to imagine San Fran being able to defend its World Series crown. However, this is a team that knows how to play once the months start to end in –er on the calendar, and as long as the rest of the NL West is down, there is no counting the G-Men out.

On Deck: These next two weeks are crucial for the Giants. The Reds are slumping, the Dodgers are beatable, and after that, the Mets and Padres are at hand. There is no reason not to win at least eight of these next 14 games.

Interleague Results (1997-2013)

The 2013 MLB regular season will feature at least one Interleague game every day. All teams will play exactly 20 Interleague games broken down into eight series, four at home and four on the road.

American League Results

Team Overall 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Baltimore Orioles 129-158 11-7 7-11 7-11 11-7 5-4

Boston Red Sox 165-124 11-7 13-5 10-8 11-7 4-2

Chicago White Sox 163-124 11-6 15-3 11-7 9-9 5-8

Cleveland Indians 139-148 5-13 5-13 11-7 8-10 7-4

Detroit Tigers 153-134 10-8 11-7 7-11 11-7 6-7

** Houston Astros 118-136 6-9 3-12 4-11 6-9 8-7

Kansas City Royals 132-168 8-10 8-10 5-13 8-10 5-6

Los Angeles Angels 166-126 14-4 11-7 13-5 12-6 4-8

Minnesota Twins 161-127 12-6 8-10 8-10 9-9 8-11

New York Yankees 170-116 10-8 11-7 13-5 13-5 4-6

Oakland Athletics 161-132 5-13 8-10 8-10 10-8 9-3

Seattle Mariners 157-136 11-7 9-9 9-9 8-10 4-7

Tampa Bay Rays 134-141 13-5 7-11 12-6 9-9 9-1

Texas Rangers 155-138 9-9 14-4 9-9 14-4 8-6

Toronto Blue Jays 134-153 7-11 7-11 8-10 9-9 6-5


** AL Totals 2,164-1,956 137-114 134-118 131-121 141-111 92-85



National League Results

Team Overall 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Arizona Diamondbacks 111-127 5-10 6-9 10-8 9-6 3-3

Atlanta Braves 140-125 7-8 9-6 10-5 8-10 7-7

Chicago Cubs 115-128 7-7 8-10 5-10 5-10 10-4

Cincinnati Reds 107-137 6-9 8-7 6-12 7-8 5-7

Colorado Rockies 114-130 11-4 9-6 8-7 2-13 3-9

Los Angeles Dodgers 117-141 9-9 4-11 6-9 6-9 3-4

Miami Marlins 142-134 10-8 7-8 8-10 5-13 3-8

Milwaukee Brewers 105-128 5-10 9-6 6-9 6-9 3-9

New York Mets 140-128 5-10 13-5 9-9 8-7 8-2

Philadelphia Phillies 123-151 6-12 8-7 9-6 5-10 5-9

Pittsburgh Pirates 99-139 8-7 2-13 8-7 10-8 11-3

St. Louis Cardinals 128-119 9-6 9-6 8-7 8-7 5-7

San Diego Padres 115-146 5-10 9-6 6-9 8-7 6-6

San Francisco Giants 131-127 9-6 7-8 10-5 7-8 2-6

Washington Nationals 136-148 7-11 5-13 8-7 10-8 9-6

** NL Totals 1,956-2,164 114-137 118-134 121-131 111-141 85-92

** The Houston Astros played in the National League from 1997 to 2012

Preview: Tigers (43-38) at Blue Jays (41-41)
Game: 2
Venue: Rogers Centre
Date: July 02, 2013 7:07 PM EDT


The Detroit Tigers admit they are in a funk at the plate.

It's hard to say how they'll fare against a pitcher they haven't seen in six years.

The scuffling Tigers try to avoid a fourth straight loss Tuesday night when they go up against the Toronto Blue Jays' Chien-Ming Wang, who tries to bounce back from a disappointing outing.

The Blue Jays (41-41) won their seventh straight home game by beating Detroit 8-3 in Monday's opener of a four-game set. The Tigers fell for the sixth time in seven contests to drop one-half game behind Cleveland in the AL Central.

Detroit (43-38) leads the majors with a .279 average and averages 4.9 runs, but is batting .242 and averaging 3.7 runs over its last seven games.

"We're in a little funk right now and we've just got to get ourselves out of it,' Jim Leyland said. "You've got to roll with that punch and you've got to try and do something about it.'

They'll try to turn things around against Wang (1-1, 5.24 ERA), who surrendered a season-high seven runs over 1 2-3 innings Thursday in a 7-4 defeat at Boston. The right-hander was 1-0 with a 0.68 ERA in his previous two starts, and said afterward that his sinkerball was flat.

"He's pitched great for us," manager John Gibbons told the Blue Jays' official website. "That's baseball. That happens. That can happen to anybody. He'll bounce back."

Wang is 6-0 with a 2.76 ERA in seven starts against the Tigers, including one in the postseason, but all those outings came with the New York Yankees between 2005-07. The only Detroit hitter he has faced since after 2009 is Omar Infante (2 for 10 lifetime against him).

Miguel Cabrera went 0 for 4 on Monday as his 15-game hitting streak in which he batted .458 with seven homers and 13 RBIs ended. Infante was a bright spot, going 4 for 4.

Prince Fielder - who homered Monday - is 6 for 26 over the last seven games, Jhonny Peralta is 4 for 25 in that span and Torii Hunter is mired in a 1-for-17 slide.

"We're a little bit snake-bitten right now as well as not swinging as good as we can,' Leyland said. "The combination of those things is normally not a good one. When we hit one hard right now they're catching it, and we're not hitting a whole bunch of them hard.'

Toronto played Monday without slugger Edwin Encarnacion, who was scratched from the lineup with hamstring soreness.

"It made sense to give him the day, we don't want that to turn into anything major," Gibbons said. "Hopefully it's not a long-term thing, we don't think it will be."

Adam Lind also sat out with a back injury that forced him out of Sunday's game at Boston.

Toronto is enjoying its longest run at home since winning eight straight July 21-Aug. 5, 2007.

Tigers starter Doug Fister (6-5, 3.50) owns a higher ERA in July at 4.17 than in any other month.

The right-hander, who gave up one run over seven innings in a 10-inning loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday, improved to 2-2 with a 3.19 ERA in five starts against the Blue Jays on April 11 by allowing one run over eight innings in an 11-1 rout.

Toronto is second in the majors with 107 homers, but Fister has not allowed any of its hitters to go deep.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Tigers at Blue Jays
Mon, Jul 1 Final 3 to 8
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Tigers at Blue Jays
Tue, Jul 2 - 7:07PM EDT

GAME 3
Tigers at Blue Jays
Wed, Jul 3 - 7:07PM EDT

GAME 4
Tigers at Blue Jays
Thu, Jul 4 - 7:07PM EDT

Preview: Brewers (32-49) at Nationals (42-40)
Game: 2
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: July 02, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


Bryce Harper provided an immediate boost for the Washington Nationals in his return from injury. For an encore, he'll try to help the Nationals give some better support for Stephen Strasburg.

Strasburg, meanwhile, will try to produce another stellar performance in his first matchup with the struggling Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night.

After missing 31 games with bursitis in his left knee, Harper homered on the second pitch he saw and sparked Washington to a 10-5 victory in Monday's series opener. Jayson Werth drove in a season-high five runs and NL wins leader Jordan Zimmermann had three hits as the Nationals won for the eighth time in 12 games.

"It's kind of contagious. Everybody knows we've got some work to do," manager Davey Johnson said. "Let's get down to business. Let's get serious."

Strasburg (4-6, 2.41 ERA) will next try to help Washington (42-40) move three games over .500 for the first time since May 18. The right-hander has a 1.47 ERA in his last eight games but has earned just one win in his last four. He's been given just six runs of support in those four starts.

Strasburg allowed two runs over seven innings against Arizona on Thursday but the Nationals lost 3-2 in 11 frames.

"I think it's making me a better pitcher," Strasburg told the team's website. "I think the one thing I learned is that you can't go out there and try to do too much, you can't go out there and pitch to the scoreboard. Once you do that, you're done."

Strasburg will try to take advantage of the Brewers, who are on the verge of their longest losing streak this season.

Milwaukee (32-49) is batting .227 and has been outscored 36-16 during its six consecutive defeats.

With just two wins in his last 10 starts, scheduled starter Wily Peralta (5-9, 5.58) would seem an unlikely catalyst for a Brewers' resurgence. The right-hander, though, had one of the best outings June 21, a 2-0 win over Atlanta, before being hurt by some unearned runs in his most recent outing Thursday.

Only three of the seven runs Peralta gave up in a 7-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs were earned. Milwaukee has committed eight of its 56 errors in the past six games, including two on Monday.

"We're not putting everything together. You're not going to win like that," center fielder Carlos Gomez said. "(If) we're pitching, we're not hitting. When we hit, we're not pitching. It doesn't work like that."

Peralta lost in his only start against the Nationals on Sept. 22. He gave up three runs, five hits and four walks in just 2 2-3 innings in a 10-4 defeat.

Ian Desmond went 2 for 2 against Peralta in that game. Juan Francisco (2 for 8) and Yuniesky Betancourt (0 for 3) are the only Brewers players to have faced Strasburg, and the two have struck out a combined seven times.

Milwaukee, losers in a season-high five straight on the road, last suffered a seventh consecutive overall loss July 26, an 8-2 home defeat to Washington.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Brewers at Nationals
Mon, Jul 1 Final 5 to 10
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Brewers at Nationals
Tue, Jul 2 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Brewers at Nationals
Wed, Jul 3 - 6:05PM EDT

GAME 4
Brewers at Nationals
Thu, Jul 4 - 11:05AM EDT

Preview: Phillies (39-44) at Pirates (51-30)
Game: 1
Venue: PNC Park
Date: July 02, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


It appears the Pittsburgh Pirates paid a small price for their ninth straight victory, as a brief bullpen session in the 14th inning from Jeff Locke has them in need of a starter for their opener against Philadelphia.

The Pirates' track record of plugging holes in their rotation, however, couldn't be much more successful.

Heading into July with the best record in baseball, Pittsburgh looks for its first 10-game winning streak in nine years Tuesday night when it hosts the Phillies.

Locke is the only starter in the Pirates' current rotation that opened the season in that position, but the left-hander will get a little extra rest after warming up in the 14th on Sunday before Pittsburgh escaped that same inning with a 2-1 win over Milwaukee.

A.J. Burnett, Wandy Rodriguez and James McDonald are on the disabled list while Jonathan Sanchez is no longer with the organization, but the Pirates (51-30) haven't panicked. Locke has the third-best ERA in baseball while Francisco Liriano, Gerrit Cole and Charlie Morton have stepped in to provide a cumulative 2.71 ERA in 18 starts.

While those three are all seen as more permanent fixtures, Pittsburgh is also 10-1 in games started by Jeanmar Gomez (2-0, 2.76 ERA), Brandon Cumpton (0-0, 3.60) and Phil Irwin. The former two are candidates to start Tuesday, as is Morton (1-1, 2.50), who only pitched two innings in his Saturday start due to a lengthy rain delay.

Regardless of who gets the ball, the Pirates should feel confident. Pittsburgh has the best ERA in the majors (3.11), ranking in the top three both in the rotation (3.30) and out of the bullpen (2.84).

"Their pitching is outstanding," Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke told MLB's official website. "I see why their ERAs are where they are, because every guy out of the bullpen has good stuff. It's located well. They have off-speed stuff, fastballs, their pitching staff is really good."

The starters have a 2.36 ERA during the franchise's longest winning streak since a 10-game run in 2004, while the bullpen is riding a 20-inning scoreless streak. The Pirates' relief corps gave up only four hits over 18 frames in the sweep of Milwaukee.

"It's fun right now,' catcher Russell Martin said. "Obviously, winning is fun, but just being on a team with a bunch of guys who play with their hearts out there and enjoy the game, it's definitely been a pleasure.'

The bullpen had a 1.35 ERA while Pittsburgh took the final three in a four-game series at Philadelphia in late April, including come-from-behind wins in the last two.

The Phillies (39-44) dropped to 9-14 after that series finale, and they're back at their low-water mark of the season after a 6-1 loss in Los Angeles on Sunday. Philadelphia outscored the Dodgers 24-17 in the four-game set thanks to Friday's 16-1 win, but lost the other three.

The Phillies are 9 1/2 games out of first place in the NL East and nearly that far out in the wild-card race.

"We've been in much tougher positions with much less time," shortstop Jimmy Rollins told the team's official website. "... Last I checked, we haven't made it to the All-Star break yet."

Rookie Jonathan Pettibone (3-3, 4.17), who gave up two runs over 5 1-3 in his major league debut against the Pirates on April 22, will try again for his first win since May 14. The right-hander gave up three runs in the first inning Thursday against the Dodgers, but retired the final 15 batters he faced.

Pettibone has a 6.39 ERA in six road starts.

Pirates slugger Pedro Alvarez took Pettibone deep in April, and Alvarez is coming off one of the best months of his career, hitting .309 with an NL best-tying 10 homers.

Philadelphia's Ryan Howard, on the other hand, can't wait to forget about the end of June. He is hitless in 20 consecutive at_bats with 11 strikeouts.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Phillies at Pirates
Tue, Jul 2 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 2
Phillies at Pirates
Wed, Jul 3 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Phillies at Pirates
Thu, Jul 4 - 1:35PM EDT

Preview: Padres (40-43) at Red Sox (50-34)
Game: 1
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: July 02, 2013 7:10 PM EDT


Owners of the AL's best record, the Boston Red Sox aren't showing any signs of slowing down.

The Red Sox try to stay hot behind John Lackey as they open a three-game set against the visiting San Diego Padres on Tuesday night.

Leading the majors with 5.13 runs per game, Boston's 2012 last-place finish in the AL East has long since been forgotten. The Red Sox (50-34) became the league's first team to 50 wins Sunday after beating Toronto 5-4 in walkoff fashion.

Blue Jays first baseman Josh Thole couldn't handle Shane Victorino's grounder, allowing Jonathan Diaz to score the winning run. Boston has hit .346 in winning five of six.

"I think a lot of people doubted this team," said Victorino, who despite going 0 for 5 is batting .350 with a homer and 10 RBIs in his last nine games. "We've got that target on our back because we're in first place. But you know what? We're up for the challenge.

"With 50 wins, people are going to keep talking about that. It's not enough. We've got to keep going."

The Red Sox are surely feeling good about their chances of doing just that with Lackey (5-5, 2.99 ERA) on the mound. The right-hander has gone 4-1 with a 2.44 ERA over his last eight starts, throwing seven innings in each of his last three.

"I've been feeling pretty good," said Lackey, who missed all of last season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. "I still feel like I'm getting stronger. It was a process, a lot of work, I'm still building."

Lackey was at his best in Wednesday's 5-3 win over Colorado, allowing two runs while striking out a career high-tying 12.

"That's the Lackey of old," Victorino told MLB's official website. "Going out there and doing what he is doing, going deep into the ballgames. His velocity is back, too. I think that's what makes it important."

The former All-Star has been especially good at home, going 3-1 with a 1.36 ERA and 37 strikeouts in five starts spanning 33 innings.

"It speaks to where my stuff's at right now," he said of the strikeouts.

In his only start versus San Diego (40-43), Lackey surrendered five runs, four hits and four walks over 3 1-3 innings in a 5-1 loss June 22, 2011. A repeat performance seems unlikely against a Padres team that's hit .224 and scored 25 runs during a 2-7 slide.

San Diego took Friday's opener 9-2 before dropping three straight at Miami by a 17-3 margin, including Monday's 4-0 defeat.

"It's not the results you want. To come out with a loss is not a good day," said losing pitcher Jason Marquis, whose team was limited to three hits.

The Padres will try to regroup behind rookie Robbie Erlin (1-0, 3.60), who allowed three runs and four hits in 6 1-3 innings Wednesday in a 7-5, 13-inning loss to Philadelphia.

"That's a good, experienced lineup over there. He did a great job," manager Bud Black said. "I'm very proud of Robbie. He pitched with the fastball, both sides of the plate."

The left-hander will need to be careful against Jacoby Ellsbury, who's batting .404 with seven RBIs and nine runs during an 11-game hitting streak. The speedy center fielder has also hit safely in each of his last nine interleague contests, going 19 for 40 (.475) with 10 runs and seven stolen bases.

Padres infielder Pedro Ciriaco, acquired from Boston on June 14 in exchange for future considerations, faces his former club for the first time.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Padres at Red Sox
Tue, Jul 2 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Padres at Red Sox
Wed, Jul 3 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Padres at Red Sox
Thu, Jul 4 - 1:35PM EDT

Preview: Marlins (30-51) at Braves (48-34)
Game: 1
Venue: Turner Field
Date: July 02, 2013 7:10 PM EDT


Sitting comfortably atop the NL East, the Atlanta Braves know better than to overlook the last-place Miami Marlins.

Doing so could prove costly with manager Mike Redmond's club playing much better of late.

The Braves try to continue their domination of the visiting Marlins, who aim for a season-high fourth consecutive win in Tuesday night's series opener.

Freddie Freeman hit a three-run homer and Brian McCann and Dan Uggla also went deep as Atlanta (48-34) completed a three-game sweep of Arizona with Sunday's 6-2 victory. Winners in five of six overall, the Braves have gone an NL-best 20-6 at home since May 5.

"We couldn't be in a better place, really," said manager Fredi Gonzalez, whose club is six games ahead of second-place Washington. "We're pitching good and we feel like we haven't swung the bats like we're capable of swinging, so you feel good. It's a good place to be."

The Braves now turn their attention to a Marlins team that's dropped 17 of 20 in the series, including the last seven by a 29-7 margin. Atlanta outscored Miami 13-2 during a three-game road sweep April 8-10.

"Obviously the Marlins are behind us, but we know they're going to come in here and try to spoil," said Freeman, batting .433 with two homers and seven RBIs in his last eight home games versus Miami. "That's what guys that are chugging along are going to do. We're pretty good at home, so hopefully we can keep this going."

While the Marlins (30-51) own the NL's worst record, they've won six of seven and 17 of their last 27. Miami just took three straight from San Diego by a 17-3 margin, including Monday's 4-0 victory.

After hitting a walkoff grand slam in Sunday's 6-2 win, Jeff Mathis stayed hot with two hits and three RBIs. The Marlins haven't won four in a row since June 27-July 1, 2012.

"We're playing really good baseball, and the team feels great," said winning pitcher Jose Fernandez, who struck out 10 in eight innings.

Miami's starters have compiled a 2.45 ERA over the last 14 games.

"We're starting to see the rotation and how good these guys are," Redmond told MLB's official website.

The Marlins will surely be looking for a better performance from Tom Koehler (1-5, 4.78 ERA). The right-hander allowed three runs, four hits and a career-high four walks over four innings - his shortest start of the season - in Wednesday's 5-3 win over Minnesota. He gave up all three runs in the first.

"After a rough start like that, you can either mail it in or fight as long as you can or as long as Red would allow me to go," said Koehler, who's never started against the Braves. "I was disappointed in myself that I wasn't able to get five innings."

Atlanta counters with Kris Medlen (5-7, 3.02), who's 4-1 with a 2.14 ERA in his last five starts while striking out 28 and walking two in 33 2-3 innings. The right-hander surrendered three runs and seven hits in seven innings last Tuesday in a 4-3 victory at Kansas City.

"You know how stressful it is trying to locate 89 every pitch?" Medlen said. "It's not very fun, but it's a tough skill to do. It's why I'm hanging around."

Medlen has been especially good in six games - four starts - against the Marlins since the start of last year, going 3-0 with a 1.16 ERA. Giancarlo Stanton is 1 for 8 in their matchups, but that hit was a home run. Placido Polanco, meanwhile, is 5 for 8 with a double.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Marlins at Braves
Tue, Jul 2 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Marlins at Braves
Wed, Jul 3 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Marlins at Braves
Thu, Jul 4 - 7:10PM EDT