MLB Betting News and Trends For Friday 6/8/18

Friday’s games
National League
Pirates (31-31) @ Cubs (35-24)
Kuhl is 0-1, 2.12 in his last three starts (under 3-0). Team in his starts: 7-5.
5-inning record: 6-4-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-12

Montgomery is 1-0, 0.77 in two starts this year (over 1-1). Team in his starts: 2-0.
5-inning record: 1-0-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-2

Pittsburgh lost lost nine of its last 12 games; under is 4-1-1 in their last six road games. Bucs are 4-5 in road series openers. Cubs won six of their last seven games; they’re 5-6 in home series openers. Under is 5-2 in their last seven Wrigley games.

Brewers (37-25) @ Phillies (32-28)
Chacin is 2-0, 2.35 in his last six starts; under is 8-2 in his last ten. Team in his starts: 10-3.
5-inning record: 6-5-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-13

Velasquez is 2-2, 3.45 in his last five starts; under is 4-1-1 in his last six. Team in his starts: 5-7.
5-inning record: 5-6-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 4-12

Milwaukee lost four of its last five games; they’re 7-4 in road series openers. Under is 6-1 in their last seven games. Phillies lost five of their last six games; they’re 6-3 in home series openers. Under is 6-1-1 in their last eight home games.

Giants (31-31) @ Nationals (35-25)
Suarez is 1-0, 3.00 in his last two starts (over 4-4). Team in his starts: 2-6.
5-inning record: 1-5-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 5-8

Strasburg is 2-2, 2.88 in his last four starts (under 3-1). Team in his starts: 6-6.
5-inning record: 7-3-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-12

Giants won six of their last seven games; they’re 0-5 in last five road series openers. Under is 5-2 in their last seven games. Washington won four of its last five home games; they’re 5-4 in home series openers. Under is 10-1 in their last 11 games.

Cardinals (33-27) @ Reds (22-41)
Weaver is 0-3, 3.52 in his last four starts (under 3-1). Team in his starts: 5-7.
5-inning record: 6-5-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-12

Harvey is 0-2, 7.84 in his last two starts (over 2-1-2). Team in his starts: 3-2.
5-inning record: 3-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-5

Cardinals are 4-6 in their last ten road games; they’re 4-5 in road series openers. Under is 8-4-1 in their last 13 road games. Cincinnati lost four of its last five games; they’re 4-6 in home series openers. Over is 7-0 in their last seven games.

Padres (29-35) @ Marlins (22-40)
Lauer is 1-1, 5.50 in his last four starts; over is 4-1 in his last five. Team in his starts: 2-6.
5-inning record: 2-4-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-8

Smith 2-2, 4.79 in his last four starts; over is 4-1 in his last five. Team in his starts: 5-7.
5-inning record: 5-5-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 4-12

Padres won seven of their last nine games; they’re 1-11 in last 12 series openers. Over is 8-2 in their last ten games. Miami lost seven of its last nine games; they’re 3-6 in home series openers. Over is 7-3 in their last ten games.

Diamondbacks (32-29) @ Rockies (32-30)
Greinke is 1-2, 2.56 in his last five starts; under is 5-1 in his last six. Team in his starts: 6-6.
5-inning record: 6-3-3. Allowed run in 1st inning: 5-12

Marquez is 2-0, 2.70 in his last three starts; under is 4-1 in his last five. Team in his starts: 5-6.
5-inning record: 5-5-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 7-11

Arizona lost 11 of its last 13 road games; they’re 7-3 in road series openers. Over is 5-2 in their last seven games. Colorado lost five of its last seven games; they’re 3-6 in home series openers. Rockies’ last six games all went over.

Braves (36-26) @ Dodgers (31-31)
McCarthy is 1-0, 3.52 in his last four starts (under 3-1). Team in his starts: 7-5.
5-inning record: 7-3-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 4-12

Buehler is 1-0, 2.84 in his last three starts (under 4-3-1). Team in his starts: 5-3.
5-inning record: 5-2-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-8

Atlanta lost five of its last seven road games; they’re 6-6 in road series openers. Under is 6-2 in their last eight games. Dodgers won five of their last six games; they’re 4-6 in home series openers. Five of their last six games went over.

American League
White Sox (20-40) @ Red Sox (43-20)
Covey is 2-1, 4.43 in four starts (over 2-2). Team in his starts: 2-2
5-inning record: 1-2-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-4

Former White Sock Sale is 0-2, 8.71 in his last two starts; over is 4-2-2 in his last eight. Team in his starts: 7-6
5-inning record: 7-4-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 5-13

White Sox are 4-3 in their last seven games, 2-9 in road series openers; under is 5-0-1 in their last six games. Boston won four of its last five games; they’re 8-2 in home series openers. Red Sox’ last three games stayed under.

Orioles (19-42) @ Blue Jays (27-35)
Cashner is 0-2, 6.55 in his last two starts; his last five starts stayed under. Team in his starts: 3-9
5-inning record: 3-7-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 4-12

Happ is 3-0, 3.16 in his last four starts; over is 3-1-1 in his last five. Team in his starts: 8-4.
5-inning record: 8-3-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-12

Orioles lost eight of their last ten games, allowing six runs in last three games; under is 9-2 in their last 11 games. Blue Jays lost seven of their last nine games; under is 4-0 in their last four home games.

Indians (32-28) @ Tigers (30-34)
Bauer is 0-1, 7.62 in his last two starts; under is 4-2 in his road starts. Team in his starts: 6-6
5-inning record: 6-3-3. Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-12

Fulmer is 0-2, 8.68 in his last two starts; over is 5-1 in his last six. Team in his starts: 4-8.
5-inning record: 5-5-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 5-12

Cleveland is 9-3 in its last 12 games, 4-6 in road series openers. Under is 3-1 in their last four games. Tigers won five of their last seven home games; they’re 8-3 in home series openers. Last four Detroit games stayed under the total.

Mariners (39-23) @ Rays (28-33)
Gonzales is 3-0, 0.89 in his last three starts; his last five stayed under. Team in his starts: 8-4
5-inning record: 7-4-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-12

Another bullpen game for the Rays. Team in bullpen games: 8-14 (Over: 8-13-1)
5-inning record: 8-10-4. Allowed run in 1st inning: 7-22

Mariners won 15 of their last 19 games; under is 13-4 in their last 17 games. Tampa Bay lost its last seven games; under is 7-3 in their last ten games.

Astros (39-25) @ Rangers (27-38)
Verlander is 3-0, 1.35 in his last four starts; under is 7-1 in his last eight. Team in his starts: 8-5
5-inning record: 9-1-3. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-13

Fister is 0-4, 5.50 in his last six starts (under 5-1). Team in his starts: 4-7.
5-inning record: 5-6. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-11

Houston is 5-7 in its last dozen games; over is 10-3-1 in last 14 Astro games. Texas won six of its last nine home games; under is 5-2 in the Rangers’ last seven games.

Angels (35-28) @ Twins (27-32)
Richards is 0-3, 4.57 in his last four starts (under 4-0). Team in his starts: 6-6
5-inning record: 6-4-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-12

Lynn is 3-0, 1.45 in his last three starts (over 8-3). Team in his starts: 5-6
5-inning record: 3-6-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 4-11

Angels won five of their last six games; they’re 0-4 in last four road series openers. Under is 7-1 in their last eight games. Minnesota won five of its last seven games; under is 4-1-1 in their last six games.

Royals (21-41) @ A’s (32-31)
Junis is 1-3, 4.34 in his last five starts; under is 5-1 in his last six. Team in his starts: 7-5
5-inning record: 6-2-4. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-12

Montas is 2-0, 0.64 in his last two starts (over 1-1). Team in his starts: 2-0.
5-inning record: 2-0. Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-2

Royals lost six of their last seven games; under is 5-1 in their last six road games. A’s lost six of their last ten games; under is 7-3-2 in their last 12 games.

Interleague
New York (A) (40-18) @ Mets (27-32)
Tanaka is 3-0, 4.96 in his last three starts; NY scored 21 runs in those games. Over is 8-1 in his last nine starts. Team in his starts: 9-2
5-inning record: 9-1-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 4-12

deGrom is 2-0, 0.57 in his last eight starts (under 7-1). Team in his starts: 5-7 (Mets’ bullpen is 1-7)
5-inning record: 7-1-4. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-12

Bronx won seven of its last eight games; they’re 7-3 in road series openers. under is 6-3-1 in their last ten games. Mets lost their last eight home games; they’re 6-5 in home series openers. Under is 8-2 in their last ten home games.

Preview: Pirates at Cubs
Gracenote
Jun 8, 2018

The Pittsburgh Pirates have lost 14 of their last 19 contests and haven’t won consecutive games in three weeks, and the Chicago Cubs don’t want to let their National League Central rivals up off the canvas. The surging Cubs will try to prolong the visiting Pirates’ struggles when the teams begin a three-game series Friday.

The Pirates last put together a winning streak when they claimed three straight from May 15-17, and they dropped two of three at home against the Cubs from May 28-30. The Cubs held on for a 4-3 win Thursday to take two of three from visiting Philadelphia and have won six of their last seven as well as nine of 11. Chicago has had excellent starting pitching over that stretch and hopes left-hander Mike Montgomery can continue that trend. The Pirates turn to right-hander Chad Kuhl, who is 1-5 with a 7.02 ERA in eight starts against the Cubs and 0-2 with a 4.73 ERA in three outings at Wrigley Field.

TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, MLB Network, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, NBCS Chicago

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Chad Kuhl (4-3, 3.86 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Mike Montgomery (1-1, 3.89)

Kuhl is winless in his last five outings, but he has put together quality starts in three straight turns and five of his last six. The Delaware native allowed two runs and four hits over six innings in a no-decision at St. Louis on Saturday, recording five strikeouts - his sixth straight outing with at least that many. Kuhl held the Cubs to one run over six frames May 28 but took the loss in a 7-0 defeat.

Montgomery has been terrific in two spot starts filling in while Yu Darvish is on the disabled list. The 28-year-old has allowed one run and four hits over 11 2/3 innings across those two outings, and the Cubs have won both games. Montgomery is 2-0 with a 2.53 ERA in eight games (two starts) against the Pirates.

WALK-OFFS

1. Chicago 1B Anthony Rizzo, who is 7-for-17 with five extra-base hits versus Kuhl, has hit safely in 17 of his past 18 games with a plate appearance and has 19 RBIs over that stretch.

2. Francisco Cervelli and Elias Diaz both homered Thursday and have combined for 13 home runs this season - most among NL catching duos and the most for a Pirates catching tandem since 2014.

3. The Cubs are 25-1 when leading after six innings and 30-1 when taking a lead to the ninth.

PREDICTION: Cubs 5, Pirates 4
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Preview: Brewers at Phillies
Gracenote
Jun 8, 2018

The Milwaukee Brewers own the best record in the National League but they will be hoping to avoid matching their longest losing streak of the season when they open a three-game series at the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night. Milwaukee is 1-4 on its eight-game road trip, losing a pair of interleague series to the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians.

The Brewers have scored only four runs during their three-game slide and have scored more than three runs once in their last seven contests as their lead in the NL Central has dwindled to a half-game over the Chicago Cubs. Lorenzo Cain was 4-for-8 in the two losses to Cleveland but Domingo Santana, who swatted 30 homers last year, has not gone deep since May 21. The Phillies also have struggled this month, losing five of six to wrap up a 3-7 road trip, but they are 19-9 at Citizens Bank Park as they open a six-game homestand. "This was not our best road trip, obviously, but we proved we could go toe to toe with the best teams in the National League,” Philadelphia manager Gabe Kapler said after Thursday's 4-3 setback to the Cubs.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), NBCS Philadelphia

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Jhoulys Chacín (4-1, 3.39 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Vince Velasquez (4-6, 3.82)

Chacin has not lost in more than two months, improving to 4-0 over his last 11 starts after allowing three hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings at the Chicago White Sox on Saturday. He has permitted two runs or fewer in eight of his last 10 turns while surrendering two home runs during the unbeaten streak. Chacin has made eight appearances versus the Phillies, posting a 3-1 mark and 2.13 ERA.

Velasquez, who turned 26 Thursday, is winless in his past three outings despite allowing a combined four earned runs and was a hard-luck loser last time out after striking out nine and holding San Francisco to one run over 6 1/3 innings. It marked the sixth straight start in which he has yielded three runs or fewer. Velasquez's ERA is more than 2 1/2 runs higher at home (5.40) than on the road (2.79).

WALK-OFFS

1. Phillies CF Odubel Herrera has hit safely in four straight games and is 5-for-17 with two walks during the stretch.

2. Brewers OF Christian Yelich had four homers and 13 RBIs in 18 games versus Philadelphia in 2017.

3. Philadelphia SS Scott Kingery had a two-run double Thursday, ending an 16-game RBI drought.

PREDICTION: Phillies 4, Brewers 3
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Preview: Giants at Nationals
Gracenote
Jun 7, 2018

The San Francisco Giants just completed a 5-1 homestand behind fantastic pitching and some offensive heroics on Wednesday. The Giants will try to carry the momentum from a walk-off win across the country when they begin a 10-game road trip by visiting the Washington Nationals on Friday.

San Francisco allowed a total of 11 runs during the six-game homestand and pulled off a 5-4 victory in 10 innings over Arizona on Wednesday when Alen Hanson delivered a tying, pinch-hit homer in the ninth and Brandon Crawford added a walk-off single in the 10th. "Great win for us," Giants manager Bruce Bochy told reporters. "It could be our best win this year." Crawford, Hanson and company will have their work cut out for them this weekend with three of the best pitchers in the National League slated to start for Washington, with Stephen Strasburg opposing lefty Andrew Suarez on Friday before Gio Gonzalez and Max Scherzer go for Washington on Saturday and Sunday. The Nationals are struggling to find consistency on offense but broke out the bats on Wednesday in an 11-2 pasting of the Tampa Bay Rays to earn a share of first place in the NL East.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco), MASN (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Andrew Suarez (2-4, 4.74 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (6-5, 3.20)

Suarez snapped a four-start winless streak with a brilliant outing against Philadelphia on Saturday, scattering three hits without walking a batter in seven scoreless innings. The 25-year-old rookie notched five strikeouts in that turn and is up to 42 in 43 2/3 total innings. Suarez is making his first career start against the Nationals and is 1-2 with a 6.38 ERA in four starts on the road.

Strasburg struck out 10 over 6 2/3 innings at Atlanta last Friday but was reached for four runs - three earned - on seven hits and suffered the loss. The former No. 1 overall draft pick surrendered three or fewer earned runs in each of his last six outings and is fourth in the National League with 93 strikeouts entering Thursday. Strasburg is 3-2 with a 3.32 ERA in eight career starts against San Francisco.

WALK-OFFS

1. Nationals OF Adam Eaton (ankle) is on a minor league rehab assignment at Class A Potomac and could return to the active roster this weekend.

2. Crawford hit safely in each of the last seven games and is 12-for-26 in that span.

3. Washington 3B Anthony Rendon went 4-for-5 on Wednesday - matching his hit total from the previous seven games.

PREDICTION: Nationals 5, Giants 2
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Preview: Orioles at Blue Jays
Gracenote
Jun 8, 2018

The Baltimore Orioles have been the cure to a lot of their opponents' ills this season, and such was the case again Thursday when it came to the recent struggles of the Toronto Blue Jays. Coming off only their second victory in their last nine contests in the series opener, the Blue Jays eye their first winning streak since April 29-May 1 on Friday when they continue a four-game home set with the Orioles.

Baltimore's Brad Brach took a three-run lead and his streak of 10 consecutive scoreless relief outings to the mound in the ninth inning Thursday, but Toronto reached the closer for three runs in the bottom of the frame and won in the 10th on Aledmys Diaz's two-out, walk-off single. Not only did the rally secure the Blue Jays' fourth walk-off victory of the season, but it also gave them only their second home triumph in 12 tries. The comeback also halted any momentum the Orioles had created after winning each of their two games in New York against the Mets earlier in the week following a seven-game losing streak. Manny Machado continues being a bright spot for what has been an otherwise dismal season for the team with the worst record in the majors in Baltimore (19-42), as he drove in a run for the fifth straight game Thursday.

TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, MASN 2 (Baltimore), Sportsnet (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Andrew Cashner (2-7, 5.02 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH J.A. Happ (7-3, 4.08)

Cashner fell to 1-6 since April 5 despite logging a quality start Friday against the New York Yankees, permitting three runs on nine hits and a walk across five innings. The TCU product hasn't surrendered a home run in any of his last three turns since allowing at least one in his six previous outings, but Friday marked the first time since May 9 he lasted six innings. Cashner turned in his best start of the season April 10 at Toronto, firing seven scoreless frames in a no-decision.

Happ's string of three consecutive wins in as many starts came to a halt Saturday in his worst outing in nearly a month, settling for a no-decision after yielding four runs over five innings at Detroit. The 35-year-old has fanned at least eight in eight of his 12 trips to the mound this season and ranks just outside the top 10 in the American League in strikeouts with 87. Machado is 8-for-31 with three home runs against Happ, who allowed one run and struck out nine across six innings to beat Baltimore on April 9.

WALK-OFFS

1. Blue Jays OF Curtis Granderson's 26 career homers versus the Orioles are his most against any opponent.

2. Ten of the 18 runs Baltimore has surrendered to the Blue Jays this season have come in the ninth inning or later.

3. Toronto has posted four straight quality starts for the first time since recording seven in a row from Sept. 21-28, 2016.

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 5, Orioles 3
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Preview: Indians at Tigers
Gracenote
Jun 8, 2018

The first-place Cleveland Indians begin a stretch of 16 straight games against American League Central rivals when they visit the Detroit Tigers on Friday night for the first of three contests. The Indians have won eight of their last 11 games after sweeping a pair of interleague contests against Milwaukee to start the week, in which they allowed just three runs combined.

Cleveland’s Edwin Encarnacion has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games with six homers and 15 RBIs, while teammate Jose Ramirez owns hits in nine of the past 10 contests with five blasts in that stretch to push his season total to 19. The Indians will send Trevor Bauer to the mound in the series opener while the Tigers counter with Michael Fulmer, who has won once since April 7 and struggled in his lone start against Cleveland in 2018. Leonys Martin, who is 6-for-14 against the Indians this season, registered a triple and a two-run homer Thursday as Detroit salvaged the finale of a three-game set against Boston with a 7-2 victory after scoring one run in the first two contests in the series. The second-place Tigers trail Cleveland by four games in the AL Central and have won 10 of their last 16 contests overall while boasting a 20-14 record at Comerica Park.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), FS Detroit

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Trevor Bauer (4-4, 2.77 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Michael Fulmer (2-5, 4.73)

Bauer has struggled in his last two starts despite striking out 24, allowing 11 runs (seven earned) over 13 innings combined, following two straight scoreless outings. The 27-year-old UCLA product has already beat the Tigers twice this season, including May 16 when he blanked them on four hits across eight innings with 10 strikeouts. Martin is 5-for-7 and Miguel Cabrera 8-for-25 with a homer versus Bauer, who is 6-5 with a 6.48 ERA against Detroit in his career.

Fulmer has only one victory in his last 10 trips to the mound, including a loss Sunday against Toronto after yielding four runs over six innings. The 25-year-old Oklahoma City native lasted a season-low three innings in his only start against Cleveland this year on April 12, permitting nine runs (six earned) and eight hits. Ramirez is 4-for-10 with two homers against Fulmer, who is 2-3 with a 7.31 ERA in six career contests versus the Indians.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cabrera is one RBI from tying Ernie Banks (1,636) for 32nd on major league baseball’s all-time list.

2. Cleveland OF Brandon Guyer (neck) could be ready to return to the roster as early as Friday.

3. The Indians are 32-12 against the Tigers since the beginning of the 2016 season after winning five of the first seven this year.

PREDICTION: Indians 4, Tigers 3
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Preview: Mariners at Rays
Gracenote
Jun 8, 2018

The Seattle Mariners look to defeat Tampa Bay for the fifth consecutive time this season when they visit the Rays on Friday for the second contest of their four-game set. Seattle has won 10 of its last 11 meetings with the Rays after recording a 5-4 victory in the series opener.

Mitch Haniger went 2-for-3 with a homer and Jean Segura recorded two hits to extend his major league-leading multi-hit performance count to 28 as the Mariners won for the sixth time in seven games. Segura ranks second in the American League with a .341 average and has helped Seattle win 15 of 19 to hold a one-game lead over Houston in the AL West. Tampa Bay has scored 16 runs during its seven-game losing streak, with three coming in the bottom of the ninth inning of Thursday's contest. Johnny Field delivered a bases-clearing double with two outs in the ninth for the Rays to match his season best of three RBIs.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH Marco Gonzales (6-3, 3.38 ERA) vs. Rays RH Wilmer Font (0-2, 9.78)

Gonzales has won three consecutive starts and has allowed just one earned run in 26 innings over his last four turns. One of the wins came against the Rays in his last outing, when he allowed one run and five hits over 6 2/3 frames. The 26-year-old Gonzales has given up 16 hits during the four-start stretch in which he has lowered his ERA from 5.31 to 3.38.

Font will make his first major-league start as Tampa Bay continues its recent trend of opening the game with a reliever. The 28-year-old has posted a 1.50 ERA in four games since joining the Rays after being pounded for 24 runs over 17 innings in stints with Oakland and the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier this season. Font has served up 11 homers - including one to Seattle's Ryon Healy on Saturday - in 30 frames this year.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mariners DH Nelson Cruz was hitless in three at-bats after producing multi-hit efforts in six of his previous eight contests.

2. Tampa Bay recalled 1B Jake Bowers from Triple-A Durham - he went hitless in four at-bats during his major-league debut on Thursday - and designated INF Brad Miller for assignment.

3. Seattle LF Denard Span has homered in back-to-back games, the latest blast coming Thursday against the team from which he was acquired.

PREDICTION: Mariners 5, Rays 2
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Preview: Cardinals at Reds
Gracenote
Jun 8, 2018

The St. Louis Cardinals barely averted a three-game sweep by the second-worst team in the National League and now hope to get on track against the NL's worst squad. The Cardinals have made a habit of getting healthy against the Reds and will look to extend their domination in the series when they open a three-game set at the Reds on Friday night.

St. Louis got a needed well-pitched game in Thursday's 4-1 victory over visiting Miami after it was outscored by the Marlins 18-7 in the first two games of the series. The Cardinals are 7-0 this season against the Reds and have beaten them 11 consecutive times while winning their last nine in Cincinnati, including a four-game sweep in April. The Reds scored twice in the eighth and once in the ninth before Jesse Winker belted a walk-off homer in the 13th in Thursday's 7-5 victory over Colorado to avoid a three-game sweep. It halted a four-game slide for Cincinnati, which has given up at least five runs in 10 of its last 12 games.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Midwest (St. Louis), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Luke Weaver (3-5, 4.11 ERA) vs. Reds RH Matt Harvey (1-4, 5.79)

Weaver is winless in his last four outings but he stopped a three-start slide by limiting Pittsburgh to one run on four hits over five innings on Saturday. The former first-round draft pick has served up five homers over the last four turns after yielding two in his first eight starts. One of those came in a win at Cincinnati on April 13, when Weaver tossed six innings of two-run ball.

Harvey, who will be making his sixth start since he was acquired from the New York Mets, suffered his second straight defeat after giving up five runs and six hits over five innings at San Diego on Saturday. Four of the five starts have come on the road, but he pitched six innings of one-run ball at Great American Ball Park on May 22. Marcell Ozuna is 9-for-24 against Harvey.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cardinals 1B Jose Martinez has hit safely in five straight after going 7-for-10 with a homer and four RBIs versus Miami.

2. Reds 1B Joey Votto has multiple hits in six of the last 10 games but is 2-for-19 versus St. Louis this year.

3. Cardinals RHP Bud Norris has converted 12 of 13 save chances.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 5, Reds 3
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Preview: Yankees at Mets
Gracenote
Jun 7, 2018

The annual Subway Series kicks off on Friday with the New York Yankees and the New York Mets trending in opposite directions. The Mets will try to snap a six-game slide and give their fans something to cheer about with a win over their crosstown rivals when they host the opener of the three-game interleague series on Friday.

While the Yankees battle the Boston Red Sox for the best record in the major leagues, the Mets are drifting towards the bottom of the National League East due in large part to an offense that scored one or zero runs in five of the last six contests. "I think we're a lot better team than how we're playing," Mets right-hander Zack Wheeler, who tossed seven scoreless innings in a 1-0 loss to Baltimore on Wednesday, told reporters. "I've said that before and I'll keep saying it, because we're a lot better team than how we're playing. The record doesn't show it, but that will come around. And it needs to turn around pretty fast. We're at the point in the season where we need to start winning some games." The Yankees are at the opposite end of the spectrum offensively and lead the majors with 98 home runs while ranking second to the Red Sox in runs scored at 330. The Mets will send ace Jacob deGrom to the mound in hopes of slowing that offense on Friday while the Yankees counter with right-hander Masahiro Tanaka.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, YES (Yankees), SNY (Mets)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Masahiro Tanaka (7-2, 4.79 ERA) vs. Mets RH Jacob deGrom (4-0, 1.49)

Tanaka earned the win with plenty of help from his offense at Baltimore on Saturday, when he was reached for four runs on eight hits and a walk over 5 1/3 innings. The Japan native served up three home runs in that outing and is up to 15 allowed in 67 2/3 total frames. Tanaka did not face the Mets last season and is 1-2 with a 3.38 ERA in three career starts in the Subway Series.

DeGrom is one of the few bright spots for the Mets and surrendered a total of three earned runs over his last eight appearances. The Florida native settled for his third consecutive no decision on Saturday despite striking out 13 and holding the Chicago Cubs to one run and seven hits across seven innings - his fourth consecutive seven-inning outing. DeGrom is just 1-3 with a 4.10 ERA in four career starts against the Yankees.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mets RF Jay Bruce, who hit 36 homers last season, is homerless in his last 24 games and is stuck at three on the season.

2. Yankees C Gary Sanchez is 4-for-42 in his last 12 games, dropping his batting average to .201.

3. The Yankees took all four meetings last season.

PREDICTION: Yankees 3, Mets 1
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Preview: Padres at Marlins
Gracenote
Jun 7, 2018

The San Diego Padres erupted for 20 runs to capture the final three contests of their four-game series against the Miami Marlins to conclude last month. The Padres (29-35) continued their good fortune into June and bid for their eighth win in 10 outings on Friday when they begin a 10-game road trip with the opener of a three-game series versus the Marlins (22-40).

Franmil Reyes, who went deep in three straight meetings with Miami last month, has homered in back-to-back contests to highlight his current four-game hitting streak. Cory Spangenberg, who scored twice in San Diego's 9-5 win over the Marlins on May 29, has heated up after an 0-for-10 stretch with two homers and his first two triples of the season to go along with four RBIs and four runs scored in his last four outings. Miami's Justin Bour had an RBI double to highlight his three-hit performance in a 4-1 setback to St. Louis on Thursday afternoon. The 30-year-old went 4-for-8 with two doubles and two runs scored in the first two games versus San Diego on May 28-29 before going 0-for-8 with three strikeouts to conclude that series.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, FS Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Eric Lauer (2-3, 6.82 ERA) vs. Marlins LH Caleb Smith (4-6, 4.03)

Lauer matched his shortest outing of the season on May 28 when he was touched for five runs on seven hits in 2 1/3 innings of a 7-2 setback versus Miami. The 23-year-old Ohio native rebounded with a strong effort on Saturday, surrendering a solo homer among five hits over five frames to record his first win since May 6 with an 8-2 rout of Cincinnati. "I think from an overall standpoint, I helped the team in more aspects," said Lauer, who helped his cause with a sacrifice fly and his fifth pickoff of the season. "The RBI and pickoff are kind of bonuses, I think. I still need to get through more innings. Overall, though, it's one of those outings where you look back and I helped the team in multiple ways."

Smith got the better of Lauer on May 28, as the former yielded one run on four hits in seven innings to lower his ERA to a season-best 3.51 at that point. The 26-year-old saw his ERA go up by half a run after being taken deep twice and surrendering five runs on as many hits in four frames of a 6-2 setback at Atlanta on Saturday. "I don't know if I was tipping. But it was almost like they knew every pitch I was throwing," Smith told the Miami Herald.

WALK-OFFS

1. Miami 3B-RF Brian Anderson is 16-for-40 with six multi-hit games in his last 10 outings.

2. San Diego OF Hunter Renfroe has bolted out of the blocks in nine games since returning from the disabled list, going 9-for-25 with a homer, seven RBIs and five runs scored.

3. Marlins SS J.T. Riddle had four hits and two runs in the final three games of last month's series versus the Padres.

PREDICTION: Padres 3, Marlins 2
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Preview: White Sox at Red Sox
Gracenote
Jun 8, 2018

The Boston Red Sox have won or split 16 of the 20 series they have played this season - including each of their last six - but cannot seem to gain any separation from the New York Yankees in the American League East. The Red Sox stand a good shot at padding their lead over the next week, however, as they begin a six-game stretch against two of the worst teams in baseball with the first of three at home Friday against the Chicago White Sox.

Boston hasn't dropped a series since losing two of three at home to Oakland from May 14-16, but the Red Sox haven't been able to pull ahead of the Yankees by any more than two games since regaining the division lead on May 22. The Red Sox notched another series win by taking two of three from Detroit earlier this week but fell short of a series sweep with Thursday's 7-2 loss to the Tigers, closing the gap in the East to a half-game. Boston should be able to improve upon the best record in the majors (43-20) thanks to a generous upcoming schedule that includes a visit to league-worst Baltimore after welcoming Chicago (20-40), which is tied for last place in the AL Central. The White Sox are showing signs of improvement lately though, going 4-3 this month after splitting a four-game set at Minnesota.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Dylan Covey (1-1, 2.82 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Chris Sale (5-3, 3.00)

Covey did not factor into the decision for a second straight start Sunday against Milwaukee despite allowing one unearned run and striking out seven over five innings. The University of San Diego product has been the victim of four unearned runs in his four turns but allowed only three earned runs over his last three outings since a rough season debut on April 28. Covey has walked three batters in three of his four starts this season as he faces Boston for the first time in his career.

Sale has turned in his two worst efforts of the season in his last two trips to the mound, giving up a total of 10 runs in 10 1/3 frames after yielding 19 (17 earned) over his first 70 2/3 innings. The six-time All-Star has surrendered a home run in six straight outings and was tagged for four runs in Friday's loss at Houston. No active White Sox batter has recorded more than three at-bats or an extra-base hit versus Sale, who allowed six runs (five earned) in a win at Chicago last season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox OF Andrew Benintendi has homered in four of his last five games.

2. Chicago 2B Yoan Moncada has increased his batting average only one point despite notching a hit in eight of his last nine contests.

3. Boston is 13-0 since May 16 when scoring at least five runs and a majors-best 27-3 this season when scoring first.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 7, White Sox 1
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Preview: Astros at Rangers
Gracenote
Jun 8, 2018

Justin Verlander looks for his fourth consecutive victory when the Houston Astros visit the Texas Rangers on Friday for the second contest of their four-game series. Verlander leads the major leagues with a 1.24 ERA but is just 1-1 in three starts versus the Rangers this season despite allowing only two runs and eight hits in 20 innings.

Verlander is a stellar 5-1 with a 0.44 ERA in six road starts this season, limiting opponents to a .164 batting average in those contests. Evan Gattis homered and recorded three RBIs in Thursday's 5-2 victory, giving him six shots over his last 10 games. The Rangers erupted for 15 runs in back-to-back victories over Oakland before recording just three hits over six innings against Astros starter Gerrit Cole in the opener. Shin-Soo Choo collected two hits on Thursday for his third multi-hit performance in six contests.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston), FS Southwest (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Justin Verlander (7-2, 1.24 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Doug Fister (1-6, 4.13)

Verlander has struck out 23 and walked just five in his three turns against the Rangers, with the victory coming in his first start of the campaign. The 35-year-old allowed two runs in 21 2/3 innings during a three-start winning streak before settling for a no-decision against Boston in his last turn, when he gave up two runs and three hits over six frames. Verlander is 12-7 with a 2.72 ERA in 23 career starts against the Rangers and regularly has frustrated Choo (13-for-74, two homers, 33 strikeouts).

Fister defeated Houston in his club debut on March 30 and has gone 0-6 in 10 starts since. The 34-year-old lost to the Astros on May 12, dropping to 2-2 with a 3.34 ERA in five career starts against Houston. Fister lost to the Los Angeles Angels in his last outing as he gave up three runs and four hits over six innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Astros SS Carlos Correa (side) sat out Thursday's contest after suffering the injury one night earlier.

2. Texas GM Jon Daniels, in his 13th season running the team, agreed to a multi-year contract extension on Thursday.

3. Houston 2B Jose Altuve went 3-for-4 with two runs scored on Thursday and is 8-for-19 during his five-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Astros 4, Rangers 0
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Preview: Angels at Twins
Gracenote
Jun 7, 2018

The Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Angels picked themselves off the mat to conclude May by embarking on stellar starts in the month of June. After losing seven of eight to end last month, the Twins (27-32) have emerged victorious in five of their last seven entering Friday's opener of a three-game series versus the Los Angeles Angels (35-28).

Eduardo Escobar recorded his sixth multi-hit performance in nine contests with a two-run homer and a single in Minnesota's 7-2 rout of the Chicago White Sox on Thursday afternoon. The 29-year-old Venezuelan is batting a robust 15-for-34 with five homers and 15 RBIs his last nine games, but is 0-for-7 with two strikeouts in his career against Friday starter Garrett Richards. The Angels, who are opening a nine-game road trip, rebounded from a 1-4 stretch to end May by winning five of six -- including four straight -- to keep within earshot of American League West heavyweights Seattle and Houston. Justin Upton homered for the third time in four outings during Wednesday's 4-3 victory over Kansas City, although he is just 1-for-11 in his career versus Friday starter Lance Lynn.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), FS North (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Garrett Richards (4-4, 3.25 ERA) vs. Twins RH Lance Lynn (4-4, 5.46)

Richards saw his winless stretch extend to five starts despite allowing just one run on one hit and striking out nine in a season-high seven innings of a no-decision versus Texas on Saturday. The 30-year-old owns a 1-3 mark with a 1.89 ERA in his last six outings, which includes a no-decision against Minnesota on May 10 after permitting three runs on five hits. Brian Dozier belted a three-run homer off Richards in that contest and enters Friday's tilt with a six-game hitting streak, but the right-hander owns a 2-1 mark in six career starts versus Minnesota while limiting the club to a .215 batting average.

Lynn has allowed just three runs on 13 hits during his three-start winning streak, with one and two, respectively, being allowed over six innings in Saturday's 7-1 triumph over Cleveland. The 31-year-old has a 4-1 mark and a 3.34 ERA in his last six starts, with the lone no-decision coming against the Angels in a four-run, eight-hit performance in 4 2/3 innings on May 11. Luis Valbuena (1-for-13) and Mike Trout (1-for-6) have struggled versus Lynn, who has surrendered nine runs on 17 hits in two career starts (10 2/3 innings) against Los Angeles.

WALK-OFFS

1. Los Angeles 2B Ian Kinsler, who belted a two-run shot on Wednesday, is 5-for-14 with a homer against Minnesota this season.

2. Twins LF Eddie Rosario has nine multi-hit performances in his last 15 games.

3. Angels 1B Albert Pujols is scheduled to return to the lineup following a two-game absence due to a sore knee, manager Mike Scioscia said.

PREDICTION: Angels 4, Twins 2
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Preview: Diamondbacks at Rockies
Gracenote
Jun 7, 2018

The Arizona Diamondbacks are just 2-11 in their last 13 road games and are about to open a key series away from home against a division rival. The Diamondbacks will try to maintain their post atop the National League West when they visit the Colorado Rockies for the opener of a three-game series on Friday.

Arizona began its six-game trip by dropping two of three at San Francisco, including a 5-4 loss in 10 innings on Wednesday in which it squandered a two-run lead in the ninth inning. "It's a tough loss," Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told reporters. "We've been in these situations before where we absorb a moment like that, where you don't expect that type of outcome. But we've been resilient enough to come back, and that's what I'll be very anxious to see." The Rockies had a chance to take over the division lead on Thursday but squandered a three-run lead in the eighth inning and ended up dropping a 7-5 decision in 13 innings at Cincinnati to fall a half-game back. Arizona will try to get off on the right foot by sending ace Zack Greinke to the mound on Friday opposite Colorado righty German Marquez.

TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Zack Greinke (4-4, 3.44 ERA) vs. Rockies RH German Marquez (4-5, 4.38)

Greinke is on a roll of late and snapped a five-start winless streak by holding the Miami Marlins to one run while striking out six over 6 2/3 innings on Saturday. The 34-year-old surrendered two or fewer earned runs in six of his last seven outings but is just 2-2 in that span. Greinke faced the Rockies on March 31 and did not factor in the decision while surrendering one run across 5 2/3 frames, and he is 3-1 with a 4.14 ERA in 10 career appearances at Coors Field.

Marquez took a step back on Saturday, when he was reached for four runs on seven hits and three walks in six innings without factoring in the decision against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 23-year-old Venezuelan yielded a total of two runs and seven hits over 14 innings while winning his previous two turns. Marquez went up against Greinke on March 31 and allowed an unearned run on four hits in five innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Diamondbacks acquired veteran OF Jon Jay from the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday in exchange for a pair of pitching prospects.

2. Colorado 3B Nolan Arenado is 13-for-35 during an eight-game hitting streak.

3. Arizona 1B Paul Goldschmidt is 7-for-9 with four doubles in the last two games, lifting his batting average to .233.

PREDICTION: Rockies 5, Diamondbacks 4
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