MLB Betting News and Trends For Friday 6/29/18

Friday’s games
National League
Nationals (41-38) @ Phillies (43-36)
Fedde is 0-2, 5.51 in his last three starts (under 2-1-1). Team in his starts: 1-3
5-inning record: 0-2-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-4

Pivetta is 0-4, 5.46 in his last six starts; under is 10-3-2 in his last 15. Team in his starts: 11-5.
5-inning record: 5-5-6. Allowed run in 1st inning: 4-12

Washington lost five of its last six games; over is 4-3 in their last seven road games. Phillies lost three of last five games; their last five home games stayed under.

Mets (32-46) @ Marlins (32-50)
deGrom is 1-3, 2.79 in his last four starts; under is 9-3 in his last 12. Team in his starts: 6-10.
5-inning record: 9-3-4. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-16

Alcantara is making his first MLB start; he was 5-3, 3.71 in 14 AAA starts this season. He allowed six runs in 8.1 IP in eight relief stints for St Louis LY. Team in his starts: 4-5.
5-inning record: 2-4-3. Allowed run in 1st inning: 4-9

Mets lost eight of their last nine games, are 8-4 in road series openers. Over is 7-3 in their last ten games. Marlins lost their last three games, are 6-6 in home series openers; under is 3-0-1 in their last four games.

Brewers (47-33) @ Reds (34-47)
Anderson is 1-3, 4.61 in his last five starts; under is 3-1 in his last four. Team in his starts: 8-7
5-inning record: 8-4-3. Allowed run in 1st inning: 6-15

Romano is 1-0, 2.84 in his last three starts; over is 6-2 in his last eight. Team in his starts: 8-8
5-inning record: 3-18-5. Allowed run in 1st inning: 6-16

Brewers are 5-7 in last 12 road games; under is 7-3 in their last ten road games. Reds won nine of their last 11 games; over is 10-2-2 in their last 14 home games.

Braves (45-34) @ Cardinals (42-37)
Teheran is 1-4, 5.20 in his last five starts; over is 6-4 in his last ten. Team in his starts: 9-6
5-inning record: 6-7-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 7-15

Mikolas is 2-1, 3.65 in his last four starts; under is 4-1 in his last five. Team in his starts: 10-5
5-inning record: 9-6. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-15

Braves lost five of last seven games, are 7-7 in road series openers. Over is 7-1 in their last eight games. St Louis won four of its last five games; they’re 7-7 in home series openers. Under is 7-3 in their last ten home games.

Giants (42-40) @ Diamondbacks (47-34)
Suarez is 1-0, 2.86 in his last five starts; over is 3-0-1 in his last four. Team in his starts: 4-8
5-inning record: 3-5-4. Allowed run in 1st inning: 5-12

Corbin is 0-1, 4.91 in his last three starts; under is 3-1 in his last four. Team in his starts: 9-7
5-inning record: 7-3-6. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-16

Giants won seven of their last nine games; they’re 5-8 in road series openers. Under is 3-1 in their last four games. Arizona won seven of its last eight games, is 8-4 in home series openers. Under is 5-1-1 in their last seven games.

Pirates (38-42) @ Padres (36-47)
Musgrove is 0-3, 8.38 in his last four starts; his last three went over. Team in his starts: 2-4
5-inning record: 2-3-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-6

Lauer is 2-1, 2.60 in his last five starts; his last four starts stayed under. Team in his starts: 3-9
5-inning record: 5-5-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-12

Pirates lost six of their last eight games, are 5-7 in road series openers. Over is 5-1 in their last six road games. San Diego is 1-17 in its last 18 series openers; they lost eight of their last 10 games. Over is 9-3 in Padres’ last 12 home games.

Rockies (39-42) @ Dodgers (43-37)
Anderson is 1-2, 4.97 in his last seven starts; over is 7-1 in his last eight. Team in his starts: 7-9
5-inning record: 8-4-4. Allowed run in 1st inning: 8-16

Hill is 0-1, 5.23 in his last five starts (over 6-2). Team in his starts: 3-5
5-inning record: 2-5-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-7

Colorado lost seven of its last ten road games; they’re 1-4 in road series openers- over is 10-3 in their last 14 road games. Dodgers are 7-3 in last ten home games, 10-0 in last ten series openers. Over is 5-1 in their last six games.

American League
Angels (41-41) @ Orioles (23-57)
Pena is 0-0, 4.00 in two starts (over 1-0-1). Team in his starts: 1-1
5-inning record: 1-0-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-2

Hess is 0-2, 11.25 in his last three starts (over 3-0). Team in his starts: 2-6
5-inning record: 2-4-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-8

Angels lost their last seven games; under is 5-2-1 in their last eight games. Halos are 6-8 in road series openers. Orioles lost their last five games; under is 5-2-1 in their last eight home games. Baltimore lost its last six home series openers.

Red Sox (55-27) @ New York (52-26)
Rodriguez is 6-1, 3.26 in his last seven starts; over is 2-0-1 in his last three. Team in his starts: 13-2.
5-inning record: 10-4-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 6-15

Sabathia is 2-2, 2.45 in his last four starts (under 4-0). Team in his starts: 7-7
5-inning record: 6-6-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 5-14

Boston won six of its last seven games; they’re 6-7 in road series openers. Over is 9-5 in their last 14 road games. New York won six of its last seven home games; they’re 9-4 in home series openers. Under is 6-1 in their last seven games.

Tigers (36-46) @ Blue Jays (37-43)
Liriano is 0-2, 4.73 in his last six starts (under 4-2). Team in his starts: 4-7
5-inning record: 5-3-3. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-11

Stroman is 0-4, 6.83 in his last five starts; his last three stayed under. Team in his starts: 3-5
5-inning record: 1-5-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-8

Detroit lost its last nine games; they’re 4-9 in road series openers. Under is 3-1 in their last four games. Blue Jays won eight of its last nine home games; they’re 7-6 in home series openers. Over is 5-1 in their last six home games.

Astros (55-28) @ Rays (39-41)
Cole is 4-0, 3.77 in his last five starts; over is 7-1 in his last eight. Team in his starts: 14-2.
5-inning record: 9-4-3. Allowed run in 1st inning: 5-16

Font is 1-1, 1.69 in four starts (16 IP total). Under is 4-0. Team in his starts: 3-1
5-inning record: 2-1-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-4

Houston is 18-3 in its last 21 games; under is 7-2 in their last nine games. Rays won five of their last six games; under is 6-2 in their last eight home games.

White Sox (28-52) @ Rangers (36-46)
Covey is 1-1, 6.19 in his last three starts; under is 4-1 in his last five. Team in his starts: 4-4
5-inning record: 2-3-3. Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-8

Gallardo is 1-0, 7.84 in two starts; Texas scored 22 runs n the two games (over 2-0). Team in his starts: 2-0
5-inning record: 1-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-2

White Sox won four of their last six games; they’re 3-10 in road series openers. Over is 6-2 in their last eight games. Texas won nine of its last 11 games; they’re 4-9 in home series openers. Under is 6-3 in their last nine games.

Indians (44-35) @ A’s (44-38)
Bauer is 3-1, 1.55 in his last four starts; his last five stayed under. Team in his starts: 9-7
5-inning record: 8-4-4. Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-16

Blackburn is 0-2, 12.71 in his last three starts (over 2-2). Team in his starts: 2-2
5-inning record: 0-3-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-4

Cleveland won eight of its last ten games; they’re 6-7 in road series openers. Under is 8-2 in their last ten road games. A’s won 10 of their last 12 games; they’re 1-6 in last seven home series openers. Oakland’s last five home games went over total.

Royals (25-55) @ Mariners (51-31)
Kennedy is 0-1, 2.77 in his last four starts; under is 6-1 in his last seven. Team in his starts: 3-13
5-inning record: 5-8-3. Allowed run in 1st inning: 6-16

Gonzales is 0-2, 7.27 in his last three starts; under is 7-1-1 in his last nine. Team in his starts: 10-6
5-inning record: 9-6-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-16

Royals are 4-18 in their last 22 games, 4-9 in road series openers. Under is 7-2 in their last nine games. Seattle won its last four games; they’re 9-3 in home series openers- under is 5-1 in their last six games.

Interleague
Twins (50-31) @ Cubs (23-56)
Berrios is 3-0, 2.10 in his last five starts; under is 5-2-1 in his last eight. Team in his starts: 10-6
5-inning record: 7-5-4. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-16

Montgomery is 1-1, 2.63 in his last four starts (under 4-2). Team in his starts: 4-2
5-inning record: 3-1-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-6

Minnesota lost five of its last seven games; they’re 4-9 in road series openers. Under is 3-1 in their last four road games. Cubs lost six of their last eight games; they’re 6-7 in home series openers. Under is 11-2 in their last 13 games at Wrigley Field.

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Preview: Twins at Cubs
Gracenote
Jun 29, 2018

The competition level steps up for the second leg of the Minnesota Twins’ trip to the Windy City. After salvaging the finale of their three-game series against the Chicago White Sox, the Twins head to the north side for a three-game set against the Chicago Cubs beginning Friday.

The Twins have lost five of their last seven overall, and they’re 15-22 on the road, where they’ve dropped 11 of their last 16 contests. The Cubs are returning home after a rough 2-6 road trip, though they managed a split of their four-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers with an 11-5 win Thursday. In fact, Chicago has played 14 of its last 17 games away from home, so the Cubs will be eager to get back to Wrigley Field, where they’ve won four straight series. Despite the tough stretch, the Cubs are just 2 1/2 games behind Milwaukee in the National League Central as they begin an eight-game homestand against three teams that are at least six games below .500.

TV: 5:05 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), NBCS Chicago

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Jose Berrios (8-5, 3.15 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Mike Montgomery (2-2, 3.39)

Berrios looks to put a bow on an outstanding month of June with a fifth consecutive quality start. The 24-year-old recorded a season-high 12 strikeouts and allowed two hits over seven scoreless innings in a 2-0 win over Texas on Sunday. Berrios has allowed two or fewer runs in seven of his last eight outings, posting a 2.05 ERA over that stretch.

Montgomery will make his seventh start since moving into the rotation due to Yu Darvish’s injury, and he’s coming off his least impressive outing during that stint. The 28-year-old allowed four runs over six innings in a no-decision at Cincinnati after giving up four runs over his previous five starts combined. Montgomery has made one start (in 2015) and one relief appearance (in 2016) against the Twins, allowing one run over eight innings with eight strikeouts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cubs 2B Javier Baez is 13-for-29 with two homers and 11 RBIs over his past eight games.

2. Twins 1B Logan Morrison had two hits Thursday — just his seventh multi-hit game of the season — including his first home run on the road since May 4.

3. Darvish experienced pain in his right triceps after a bullpen session Thursday and will be reevaluated before continuing his rehab assignment or rejoining the Cubs’ rotation.

PREDICTION: Cubs 5, Twins 4
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Preview: Red Sox at Yankees
Gracenote
Jun 29, 2018

The Boston Red Sox will take a one-game lead in the American League East into a much-anticipated three-game series with the host New York Yankees that begins on Friday. The Red Sox belted nine home runs while sweeping a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels, which was capped by Thursday's 4-2 triumph that completed a 5-1 homestand.

Boston has split its first six games with the rival Yankees as the teams have spent every day since the beginning of May within 2 1/2 games of one another atop the division. The Yankees were blanked twice during a 2-4 road trip that concluded with a 3-0 setback in the finale of a three-game interleague series in Philadelphia. Slugger Aaron Judge was given the day off and should be well-rested as he looks to continue his assault on the Red Sox, against whom he is 11-for-21 with two homers this year. Judge is 0-for-4 but has drawn four walks against Eduardo Rodriguez, who will try to match his career high in wins when he gets the start opposite the veteran CC Sabathia.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NESN (Boston), YES (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Eduardo Rodriguez (9-2, 3.86 ERA) vs. Yankees LH CC Sabathia (4-3, 3.18)

Rodriguez's six-game winning streak came to an end with a clunker against Seattle at home on Sunday, when he was reached for five runs - four earned - in four innings. He has gone 4-0 with a 3.57 ERA in six road start after registering eight strikeouts over five scoreless frames at Yankee Stadium on May 10. The 25-year-old is 4-2 with a 2.70 ERA in 10 career outings versus New York.

Sabathia has dropped back-to-back starts for only the second time since the beginning of the 2017 season, although he has let up just four earned runs in 13 innings during the stretch. The 37-year-old worked a season low-tying four frames opposite Rodriguez on May 10 as he gave up four runs and nine hits. Mookie Betts is 10-for-24 with four walks against Sabathia, who owns a 2.74 ERA in eight home starts this year.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox CF Jackie Bradley Jr. has gone 8-for-14 with two homers over his last four games to raise his batting average from .178 to .202.

2. Boston reportedly acquired 1B/OF Steve Pearce and cash from Toronto on Thursday for INF Santiago Espinal.

3. New York's bullpen has posted a 0.90 ERA this month while allowing 38 hits in 80 innings.

PREDICTION: Yankees 5, Red Sox 4
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Preview: Angels at Orioles
Gracenote
Jun 29, 2018

The Los Angeles Angels have fallen to .500 for the first time since splitting their first two contests of the season and will try to snap out of their funk against the woeful Baltimore Orioles when the teams begin their three-game series at Camden Yards on Friday. The Angels suffered their sixth straight loss with Thursday's 4-2 setback at Boston, scoring fewer than three runs for the fifth time in their last seven games.

Perennial MVP candidate Mike Trout, who struck out with a runner on base to end the game, is just 5-for-27 with 11 strikeouts in his last eight games for Los Angeles. Baltimore's spiral continued with a 4-2 loss to Seattle in 10 innings on Thursday, its fifth consecutive defeat overall and 15th in the last 16 games at home. Chris Davis has shown some signs of life amid a dismal campaign at the plate, going 3-for-8 with two homers and four RBIs in his last two contests. He and his Orioles teammates will be getting their first look at Felix Pena, who opposes David Hess in the series opener.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), MASN (Baltimore)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Felix Pena (0-0, 5.40 ERA) vs. Orioles RH David Hess (2-4, 5.44)

Pena will be making his third straight start since being recalled from the minors earlier this month. He has given up four runs and 10 hits with 12 strikeouts in nine innings over his first two starts. The 28-year-old, who never has faced the Orioles, has made all four of his appearances with the Angels this season at home.

Hess posted a 3.07 ERA over his first five starts but has been knocked around in the last three, allowing 15 runs in 12 innings. He suffered his third straight loss on Sunday, when he surrendered five runs over four frames at Atlanta. The native of Tennessee has served up four home runs in his first 15 1/3 innings at home.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Angels are 10-19 on the road since opening 11-1.

2. Los Angeles SS Andrelton Simmons has gone 9-for-24 with a home run during his six-game hitting streak.

3. Orioles CF Adam Jones and 3B Tim Beckham Jr. both were given the day off Thursday but are expected back in the lineup for the series opener.

PREDICTION: Angels 6, Orioles 4
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Preview: Nationals at Phillies
Gracenote
Jun 29, 2018

The Philadelphia Phillies struck first in the opener of their four-game series and look to knock off the visiting Washington Nationals again on Friday. Slugger Rhys Hoskins went 3-for-4 with a homer, double and two RBIs as Philadelphia recorded a 4-3 win on Thursday.

Hoskins is swinging a hot bat with three homers and seven RBIs in his last five games, a stretch during which he has registered three multi-hit performances. Maikel Franco and Jorge Alfaro each added two hits in Thursday's triumph as Philadelphia won for the 11th time in 17 contests. The slumping Nationals have been outscored 16-3 during their three-game slide and have dropped five of their last six games. Washington's Anthony Rendon (4-for-8) and Bryce Harper (3-for-7) each have belted two homers off Nick Pivetta, who is slated to start for the Phillies on Friday.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), NBCS Philadelphia

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Erick Fedde (0-3, 5.32 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Nick Pivetta (4-6, 4.06)

Fedde will be making his fifth start of the season and the eighth of his career as he looks to record his first major-league win. The 25-year-old lost to the Phillies on Saturday, when he gave up three runs and eight hits over six innings. Fedde has posted a 6.99 ERA and 1.77 WHIP while allowing opponents to record a .347 batting average over 37 1/3 career frames.

Pivetta has dropped four consecutive decisions and is winless over his last six starts. The 25-year-old settled for a no-decision against the Nationals on Sunday, when he gave up two runs and eight hits in five innings. Pivetta is 0-1 with a 12.00 ERA in two starts against Washington this season and 0-2 with a 9.19 ERA in four career matchups.

WALK-OFFS

1. Harper went 1-for-4 with three strikeouts in the series opener and is batting .188 with one homer, six RBIs and 31 strikeouts this month.

2. Philadelphia RHP Pat Neshek (shoulder) will make a rehab appearance at Double-A Reading on Friday as he works toward making his season debut.

3. Washington RHP Stephen Strasburg (shoulder) threw on flat ground Thursday and may throw a bullpen session over the weekend.

PREDICTION: Nationals 5, Phillies 3
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Preview: Tigers at Blue Jays
Gracenote
Jun 28, 2018

The Toronto Blue Jays are stumbling back home after having a series victory at the defending champion Houston Astros and a winning road trip snatched from their grasp on Wednesday. The Blue Jays will try to turn the page on the road trip when they return home to host the Detroit Tigers in the opener of a nine-game stand on Friday.

Toronto took the opener from the Astros but dropped a 7-0 decision on Tuesday and watched a 5-0 lead disappear on Wednesday before falling 7-6 on a walk-off home run. "That game right there sums up our year to this point, to be honest with you," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons told reporters after the loss. "Five runs in that first inning. … When you have good innings, you have to get a shutdown inning or close to it. We didn't do that." The Tigers aren't coming that close to series wins and watched their losing streak reach nine straight while falling to the Oakland Athletics 4-2 at home on Thursday afternoon. Detroit, which fired pitching coach Chris Bosio for making insensitive comments toward a team employee on Wednesday, will send veteran left-hander Francisco Liriano to the mound on Friday opposite Toronto righty Marcus Stroman.

TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, Sportsnet (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers LH Francisco Liriano (3-3, 3.94 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Marcus Stroman (0-5, 6.80)

Liriano could not get past the fourth inning at Cleveland on Saturday, when he was charged with three runs - two earned - on four hits and three walks while striking out three in a loss. The Dominican Republic native failed to record an out in the sixth inning in four of his last five turns and is up to 32 walks in 61 2/3 total innings. Liriano, who made 18 starts for Toronto in 2017, is 1-2 with a 2.80 ERA in six road starts this season.

Stroman returned from a seven-week stay on the disabled list on Saturday and turned in his best outing of the season, scattering six hits over five scoreless innings and striking out five at the Los Angeles Angels. The Duke product posted a 7.71 ERA in seven starts before going on the DL in early May with shoulder fatigue. Stroman is 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA in two career starts against Detroit.

WALK-OFFS

1. New Tigers pitching coach Rick Anderson told the media that the team will return to a five-man rotation, sending LHP Blaine Hardy to the bullpen.

2. Gibbons reached 1,500 career games managed on Wednesday - second in team history (Cito Gaston, 1,731).

3. Detroit RF Nick Castellanos is 9-for-19 during a five-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 7, Tigers 3
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Preview: Brewers at Reds
Gracenote
Jun 29, 2018

The Milwaukee Brewers got their brief road trip off to a good start in the series opener thanks in part to Eric Thames, who hopes to continue his recent dominance against the host Cincinnati Reds when the four-game set continues on Friday. Thames erased a deficit with a three-run homer in the seventh inning of Thursday's 6-4 win, giving him 13 blasts in his last 20 contests against Cincinnati and six in 33 at-bats at Great American Ball Park.

Milwaukee, which was coming off a six-game homestand and has a seven-gamer slated after the series in Cincinnati, also received a homer from Jesus Aguilar in the victory. The 27-year-old Venezuelan pulled into a tie with Colorado's Nolan Arenado and Washington's Bryce Harper for the National League lead with his career-high 19th blast - a two-run shot in the third inning that gave him 54 RBIs, eclipsing the personal best of 52 he registered last year. Eugenio Suarez and Jesse Winker went deep for the Reds, who lost for just the second time in 11 contests. Winker has gone 5-for-8 over his last three games and collected 12 RBIs over his last eight.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Chase Anderson (5-6, 4.37 ERA) vs. Reds RH Sal Romano (4-7, 5.40)

Anderson rebounded from a drubbing at the hands of Philadelphia on Saturday, when he limited St. Louis to one run and two hits over five innings of a no-decision. The 30-year-old Texan registered a season-high nine strikeouts in the outing but also issued four walks and served up his 16th home run of the year, which ties for second most in the National League. Anderson improved to 3-1 with a 3.19 ERA in eight career starts against the Reds despite yielding four runs on six hits and four walks in 5 1/3 frames on May 1 at Cincinnati.

Romano escaped with a no-decision against the Chicago Cubs on Sunday after surrendering five runs and eight hits in five innings. The 24-year-old New Yorker was superb in his previous two turns, giving up one run and eight hits over 15 frames while going 1-0. Romano has yet to defeat the Brewers in his brief career, going 0-4 with a 6.27 ERA in four career starts - including a loss at Milwaukee on April 17 in which he allowed two runs and four hits over five innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Brewers welcomed back 3B Travis Shaw (wrist) in the series opener after missing two games but could be without OF Christian Yelich on Friday after he left in the first inning with lower back tightness.

2. Suarez has hit safely in 20 of his 24 games this month while SS Jose Peraza has registered three straight two-hit performances.

3. Milwaukee purchased the contract of LHP Mike Zagurski from Triple-A Colorado Springs, optioned RHP Adrian Houser to the Sky Sox and sent SS Tyler Saladino (ankle) to Single-A Wisconsin on a rehab assignment.

PREDICTION: Reds 7, Brewers 4
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Preview: Mets at Marlins
Gracenote
Jun 28, 2018

The New York Mets are going through a bit of a rough patch lately, and another bad weekend could send them all the way to the National League East basement. The Mets will try to avoid that fate when they visit the Miami Marlins for the opener of a three-game series on Friday.

New York, which enters the weekend two games in front of the last-place Marlins, dropped eight of its last nine games and is becoming an intriguing team as a possible seller in front of the trade deadline next month, with even aces Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom possibly on the table. "Not only do we have the ability, that's what we have been charged with, improving this club," Mets assistant general manager John Ricco told reporters. "Obviously the trade deadline is coming up and that's a big pressure point to better your club. Certainly, we're going to take advantage of that and look to be active." The Marlins were active in dealing star players during the winter - sending away the 2017 starting outfield of Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna and Christian Yelich, among others - and are going through some growing pains as a team in transition. Miami will try to snap a three-game slide while giving prospect Sandy Alcantara his team debut on Friday against deGrom.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), FS Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Jacob deGrom (5-3, 1.69 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Sandy Alcantara (2017: 0-0, 4.32)

DeGrom is coming off what counts as a poor start for him this season, allowing three runs and five hits over six innings in a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday. That snapped a string of 11 straight starts in which the Stetson product, who leads the majors in ERA, allowed two or fewer earned runs. DeGrom was held out of the decision in his last start against Miami on May 23 despite scattering four hits and striking out eight over seven scoreless innings.

Alcantara was acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals in the deal that sent Ozuna away last winter and went 5-3 with a 3.71 ERA in 14 starts from Triple-A New Orleans. "He's a lot different than you would think, then just a guy who throws 96-99 (mph)," Marlins manager Don Mattingly told reporters of Alcantara. "You'd think he throws just a ton of fastballs. He's a guy who has got a pretty good two-seamer." The 22-year-old Alcantara made eight appearances in relief for the Cardinals last season, allowing a total of four earned runs over 8 1/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Marlins C J.T. Realmuto (wrist) is expected to start on Friday after missing the last four games.

2. Mets CF Brandon Nimmo (finger) went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts on Wednesday after missing a pair of starts.

3. Miami 2B Starlin Castro had a string of six straight games with at least one run scored come to an end on Thursday.

PREDICTION: Mets 3, Marlins 1
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Preview: Astros at Rays
Gracenote
Jun 29, 2018

The Tampa Bay Rays' winning streak came to an abrupt halt in the series opener, but they hope to resume their victorious ways when they continue the four-game set Friday against the Houston Astros, who look to set a franchise record with their 12th straight road win. After scoring 12 runs while posting back-to-back shutouts versus Washington, the Rays were blanked 1-0 on Thursday to fall to 5-1 on their nine-game homestand.

Tampa Bay, which has allowed eight runs - six in one contest - over its last six games, produced only six hits in the setback as it suffered its third loss in four meetings with Houston over the last 11 days. Rookie Willy Adames went 2-for-3 on Thursday, recording the Rays' lone extra-base hit (a double), for his third two-hit performance in five games. Jake Marisnick was 2-for-2 and drove in the game's lone run with his second homer in as many games as the Astros notched their third straight victory and 18th in 21 contests. Jose Altuve, who leads the majors with a .345 batting average, enters Friday with an eight-game hitting streak but had his string of five games with a run scored come to an end in the series opener.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Gerrit Cole (9-1, 2.56 ERA) vs. Rays RH Wilmer Font (1-3, 6.46)

Cole won his seventh consecutive decision on Sunday as he allowed one run and two hits in a season low-tying five innings against Kansas City. The 27-year-old Californian has been having control issues of late, however, issuing 13 walks over 24 frames in his last four turns. Cole, who is 6-0 with a 2.21 ERA in eight road starts this season, made his first career start versus Tampa Bay on June 18 and did not factor in the decision after yielding four runs on three hits and five walks in seven innings.

Font is coming off his first career victory, a triumph over the New York Yankees on Saturday in which he scattered three hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings in his fourth major-league start. It was the longest turn in the rotation by the 28-year-old Venezuelan, who has given up three runs and 11 hits over 16 frames in his four outings. Font made his only two career appearances against Houston in relief earlier this season and was hit hard, surrendering eight runs and 10 hits - four homers - in 4 2/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Astros are likely to place SS Carlos Correa, who hasn't played since Monday due to a sore back, on the 10-day disabled list on Friday.

2. Tampa Bay RHP Chris Archer (abdomen) threw 47 pitches in a three-inning simulated game on Thursday and is expected to begin a rehab assignment soon.

3. Houston placed Yuli Gurriel on the paternity list Thursday and recalled fellow 1B AJ Reed from Triple-A Fresno.

PREDICTION: Astros 7, Rays 2
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Preview: White Sox at Rangers
Gracenote
Jun 29, 2018

Texas Rangers outfielder Shin-Soo Choo finished May with a flourish and hasn't slowed down throughout June, as he brings pronounced hitting and on-base streaks into Friday's opener of a three-game series versus the Chicago White Sox. Choo, who has hit safely in 11 consecutive contests, is batting .336 with a .468 on-base percentage while reaching base in 40 straight contests.

Choo had a double and a single as Texas (36-46) posted its ninth win in 11 outings with a 5-2 triumph over San Diego on Wednesday. The 35-year-old ravaged Chicago (28-52) by going 5-for-13 with a homer, five RBIs and four runs scored, but the White Sox took two of three at Guaranteed Rate Field. Chicago's bid for a season-high four-game winning streak was halted after 13 innings in Thursday's 2-1 setback to Minnesota. Leury Garcia, who went 6-for-10 in the series against the Twins, had four hits and two RBIs in the previous series versus Texas.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), FS Southwest (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Dylan Covey (3-2, 3.45 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Yovani Gallardo (1-0, 12.08)

Covey expressed no issues during his bullpen session on Tuesday after exiting his last start against Oakland with soreness in his hip and groin. "Everything felt great. Unless something weird happens, I'll be good to go. That's the plan," the 26-year-old said. Covey would like to get back on track after yielding nine runs and as many walks over his last two starts (nine innings) on the heels of allowing just three runs in his previous three outings.

Gallardo has struggled out of the blocks in two starts since being recalled from Triple-A Round Rock, although the 32-year-old walked away victorious in his last outing. Gallardo followed up a five-run performance on June 17 with a four-run effort over 5 1/3 innings of a 9-6 win at Minnesota. Gallardo has been taken deep three times in those two contests and sports a 1-1 mark with a 4.79 ERA in four career starts against the White Sox.

WALK-OFFS

1. Texas 3B Adrian Beltre has nine hits, four RBIs and three runs scored in his last six contests.

2. Chicago RF Avisail Garcia has two homers, three RBIs and four runs scored during his five-game hitting streak.

3. Choo's on-base streak is tied with Philadelphia OF Odubel Herrera for the longest of the season.

PREDICTION: Rangers 5, White Sox 2
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Preview: Braves at Cardinals
Gracenote
Jun 28, 2018

The St. Louis Cardinals open a three-game home series Friday against the Atlanta Braves in a matchup of teams looking to shake off recent slumps and build momentum heading into the final two weeks before the All-Star break. The Cardinals lost Wednesday to Cleveland, ending a four-game winning streak that was preceded by eight losses in 10 games, while the Braves endured a miserable homestand - losing four of six against last-place teams in Baltimore and Cincinnati.

Atlanta activated rookie outfielder Ronald Acuna (right knee sprain) from the disabled list Thursday, but outfielder Ender Inciarte (right oblique) and second baseman Ozzie Albies (left foot) will be game-time decisions for the first-place Braves in the series opener. A bigger concern is the Braves bullpen, which posted a 5.46 ERA with 14 walks in 29 2/3 innings on the recent homestand. St. Louis has pitched better of late, posting a 2.20 ERA in the past five games after allowing 5.6 runs per game during its previous 10 contests. Outfielder Tommy Pham remains mired in a miserable stretch, going hitless over his last 24 at-bats, and is batting just .171 with 39 strikeouts in 34 games since May 20.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FS South (Atlanta), FS Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Julio Teheran (5-5, 4.52 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Miles Mikolas (8-2, 2.69)

Teheran makes his 16th start of the season and 178th of his big-league career, and nothing captures his inconsistency better than his past two outings. The 27-year-old fired six no-hit innings June 17 against San Diego to snap a three-start losing streak, only to give up four first-inning runs - seven in all over 4 2/3 innings -in a loss Saturday to Baltimore. Since starting the season 4-1, Teheran is 1-4 in his past six outings with a 6.06 ERA and seven homers allowed in 32 2/3 innings.

Mikolas had not appeared in the majors since 2014 before breaking camp in the St. Louis rotation this spring, and the 29-year-old has pitched himself into All-Star consideration with a strong first three months. He has walked just 12 hitters in 97 innings while ranking second in the National League in WHIP (0.97) and sixth in ERA entering Thursday. Mikolas retired 15 hitters in a row at one point in Saturday’s victory at Milwaukee, allowing just two runs on three hits in 6 2/3 innings as the Cardinals improved to 10-5 in his 15 starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Atlanta placed RHP Brandon McCarthy (right knee tendinitis) on the disabled list Thursday and recalled RHP Matt Wisler, who could start in McCarthy’s place Saturday.

2. St. Louis INF Matt Carpenter walked, doubled and scored Wednesday against Cleveland, one game after collecting five runs and five hits in a victory.

3. The Cardinals are hopeful SS Paul DeJong (left hand fracture) can begin a minor-league rehab assignment in the coming days.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 6, Braves 2
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Preview: Giants at Diamondbacks
Gracenote
Jun 29, 2018

Paul Goldschmidt has answered an ice-cold May with a sizzling June, batting .368 in the current month with nine homers and 22 RBIs in his last 22 games overall. Goldschmidt looks to fuel the Arizona Diamondbacks (47-34) to their eighth win in nine outings on Friday in the opener of a three-game series against the visiting San Francisco Giants (42-40).

Goldschmidt had three hits and an RBI in Thursday's 4-0 victory over Miami to surge into the series opener versus San Francisco, against which he is 16-for-33 with nine extra-base hits (seven doubles, two homers) and seven RBIs this season. Jake Lamb has 10 hits and eight runs scored in his last seven contests for Arizona, which tied a season high by moving 13 games above .500. While the Diamondbacks completed an 8-2 road trip, San Francisco had won seven of eight before dropping a wild 9-8 decision to Colorado on Thursday. Brandon Belt, who launched a two-run homer against the Rockies, has gone deep twice despite going 4-for-19 with seven strikeouts against Arizona this season.

TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, NBC Bay Area (San Francisco), FS Arizona

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Andrew Suarez (2-4, 4.43 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Patrick Corbin (6-3, 3.24)

Suarez has yielded nine runs and 27 hits in his last five outings, but only has a win on June 2 and four straight no-decisions to show for it. The 25-year-old permitted just a solo homer for his lone run allowed in 5 2/3 frames against San Diego on Saturday in his last outing. Suarez made his major-league debut against Arizona on April 11, surrendering homers to Goldschmidt and John Ryan Murphy and four runs total in a 7-3 loss.

Corbin has posted a 2-0 mark with a 2.32 ERA in three starts versus San Francisco this season. The 28-year-old took a no-hitter into the eighth inning in a 1-0 win on April 17 and surrendered one run in 6 1/3 frames of a 3-2 triumph on June 5. Corbin enters Friday's contest with some momentum after matching a career high with 12 strikeouts, albeit in a no-decision against Pittsburgh last Friday.

WALK-OFFS

1. San Francisco C Buster Posey is 11-for-31 against Arizona this season.

2. Diamondbacks SS Nick Ahmed is just 4-for-33 with eight strikeouts versus the Giants in 2018.

3. San Francisco Brandon Crawford had eight hits -- including four for extra bases -- over a four-game stretch before going 0-for-5 on Thursday.

PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 4, Giants 2
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Preview: Indians at Athletics
Gracenote
Jun 28, 2018

Cleveland and Oakland each have 44 wins, but while the Indians are holding a comfortable eight-game lead atop the American League Central, the Athletics are sitting seven games back of the second wild card. Both teams are on a roll, though, winning eight of their last 10 as they prepare to kick off a three-game series in Oakland on Friday.

The Athletics wrapped up a 10-game road trip by completing a four-game sweep in Detroit, erasing an early two-run deficit for their third come-from-behind win in the series. "Obviously, that's the difference between going on a 6-4 road trip or 8-2," Oakland second baseman Chad Pinder said. "If we lay down there and let those guys keep rolling over us, it's a whole different road trip and we're having a different conversation." After ripping off seven straight wins, the Indians opened their nine-game road trip by dropping two in a row at St. Louis before averting a sweep with a 5-1 victory in the series finale on Wednesday. Edwin Encarnacion has homered in three of his last five games and also went deep in one of his two at bats against Paul Blackburn, the scheduled starter for the A's on Friday night.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), NBCS California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Trevor Bauer (7-5, 2.44 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Paul Blackburn (1-2, 8.83)

Bauer is coming off a superb performance against Detroit on Saturday, striking out 11 while giving up one run on five hits over 6 1/3 innings. It marked the sixth time in his last eight outings that he has registered double-digit strikeouts and his sixth quality start in that span. Khris Davis is 4-for-10 with a homer off Bauer, who is 1-2 with a 4.44 ERA in five starts versus Oakland.

Blackburn has been wildly erratic in his four starts this season, following up his two strong outings with a pair of duds. After limiting San Diego to two runs and four hits over five innings on June 19, he was pounded for six runs and eight hits over five innings in a loss at the Chicago White Sox last time out. Blackburn faced the Indians in July 2017, giving up three runs in six innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. A's 3B Jed Lowrie went 9-for-17 with two homers and five RBIs in the four games against the Tigers

2. Indians 3B Jose Ramirez leads the team with 23 homers, but he has only one blast and two RBIs in 17 career games versus Oakland.

3. The Athletics are a season-high six games over .500, the first time they've been at that mark through 82 games since 2014.

PREDICTION: Indians 4, Athletics 3
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Preview: Royals at Mariners
Gracenote
Jun 29, 2018

The Seattle Mariners just won four straight games against Baltimore, the worst team in the major leagues. Seattle next looks to take advantage of the visiting Kansas City Royals, the second-worst club, when the teams open a three-game series on Friday.

Mariners slugger Nelson Cruz (back) returned from a two-game absence to belt a homer and drive in three runs in Thursday's 4-2, 10-inning victory over the Orioles, giving him 11 blasts and 24 RBIs this month. Kyle Seager (toe) was limited to pinch-hitting duties against Baltimore, and his status for the series opener will be determined Friday. Kansas City posted a 5-4 interleague victory over Milwaukee on Wednesday to halt a 19-game stretch of scoring four runs or fewer. Royals catcher Salvador Perez (leg) departed that contest in the ninth inning after being hit by a foul ball but is expected to be in Friday's lineup.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, ROOT Northwest (Seattle)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Ian Kennedy (1-7, 5.09 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Marco Gonzales (7-5, 4.04)

Kennedy has dropped seven consecutive decisions and is winless over his last 14 starts. The 33-year-old pitched well in a no-decision against Houston on Saturday, when he gave up two runs and four hits in seven innings. Kennedy is 2-2 with a 3.38 ERA in four career starts against Seattle and has held Dee Gordon (4-for-23) and Denard Span (2-for-11) in check.

Gonzales has lost back-to-back outings and is winless over his last three turns. The 26-year-old has posted a 7.27 ERA during the rough stretch after going 4-0 with a 0.81 ERA over his previous five starts. Gonzales is 0-1 with a 12.79 ERA in two career turns versus the Royals as has been battered for 15 hits over 6 1/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Gordon's next stolen base will be the 300th of his career.

2. Kansas City OF Jorge Bonifacio was activated from the restricted list on Thursday as he finished serving his 80-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, while 2B Ryan Goins was designated for assignment.

3. Seattle LF Ben Gamel went 3-for-5 on Thursday for his third three-hit performance of the campaign.

PREDICTION: Mariners 5, Orioles 3
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