Betting news, trends, odds and predictions for Friday, April 20, 2018 from various handicappers and websites
Friday’s games
National League
Pirates (12-7) @ Phillies (11-7)
Nova is 2-1, 4.88 in his first four ’18 starts (over 4-0).
5-inning record: 4-0. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-4
Lively is 0-1, 5.87 in his first three ’18 starts (over 2-1).
5-inning record: 2-0-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-3
Pirates lost three of their last four games; under is 3-1 in their last four games. Phillies won eight of their last ten games; under is 6-3 in their last nine games.
Mets (13-5) @ Braves (11-7)
Syndergaard is 1-0, 2.94 in his last three starts, all of which stayed under.
5-inning record: 3-0-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-4
Newcomb is 1-1, 5.17 in his first three ’18 starts (over 1-1-1)
5-inning record: 2-1 Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-3
Mets lost four of their last six games; over is 3-1 in their last four games. Atlanta is 7-3 at home this season; eight of their last 11 games stayed under.
Marlins (5-13) @ Brewers (11-9)
Richards is 0-1, 4.70 in three starts this season (over 2-1).
5-inning record: 0-1-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-3
Chacin is 0-1, 7.13 in his first four ’18 starts (over 2-2).
5-inning record: 1-3 Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-4
Marlins lost seven of their last nine games; their last five road games went over. Milwaukee is 5-3 in its last eight games; under is 6-2-1 in their last nine home games.
Reds (3-15) @ Cardinals (10-8)
Finnegan allowed five runs in 4.1 IP in his first ’18 start, a 6-1 loss to St Louis.
5-inning record: 0-1 Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-1
Wacha is 2-1, 6.14 in his first three ’18 starts (over 3-0).
5-inning record: 1-1-1 Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-3
Reds fired their manager yesterday; they lost 10 of their last 11 games. Under is 4-1 in their last five road games. St Louis won five of its last six games; five of their last seven games stayed under the total.
Cubs (8-8) @ Rockies (11-9)
Hendricks is 0-1, 3.71 in his first three ’18 starts (under 2-0-1).
5-inning record: 0-2-1 Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-3
Gray is 1-3, 6.23 in his first four ’18 starts (over 3-1).
5-inning record: 2-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-4
Cubs lost four of their last six games; under is 9-4-1 in their last 14 games. Colorado won six of its last eight games; four of its last five home games stayed under.
Padres (7-13) @ Diamondbacks (13-5)
Ross is 2-1, 3.50 in his first three ’18 starts (under 2-1).
5-inning record: 1-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-3
Koch is making his first ’18 start; he started two games for Arizona in 2016. He threw six shutout innings in his only ’18 start in AAA.
5-inning record: 0-0 Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-0
Padres lost their last three games; their last five games went over. Arizona won seven of its last ten games; they’re 7-2 at home. Arizona’s last five home games stayed under.
Nationals (9-10) @ Dodgers (8-9)
Scherzer is 3-1, 2.33 in his four ’18 starts (under 2-1-1)
5-inning record: 2-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-4
Kershaw is 1-2, 1.73 in his four ’18 starts (under 3-1).
5-inning record: 2-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-4
Washington is 6-3 on the road; they’re 3-2 in last five games. Over is 5-1-2 in their last eight road games. Dodgers won their last four games; their last seven games went over.
American League
Blue Jays (12-6) @ New York (9-8)
Estrada is 1-1, 4.24 in his three ’18 starts (under 2-1).
5-inning record: 1-1-1 Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-3
Gray is 1-1, 6.92 in his three ’18 starts (over 2-0-1)
5-inning record: 1-1-1 Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-3
Blue Jays won seven of their last nine games; four of Jays’ last five games went over the total. New York is 5-6 in its last 11 games; they’re 5-4 at home. Over is 7-2 in their home games.
Indians (9-7) @ Orioles (5-14)
Bauer is 1-1, 2.25 in his first three ’18 starts (over 2-1)
5-inning record: 1-0-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-3
Bundy is 0-2, 2.45 in four starts this season (under 4-0); Orioles scored 7 runs in those games.
5-inning record: 1-1-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-4
Cleveland won six of its last eight games; under is 4-1 in their last five road games. Orioles lost eight of their last nine games; under is 6-0 in their home games
Royals (3-13) @ Tigers (7-9)
Junis is 2-1, 1.93 in his first three ’18 starts (under 2-1)
5-inning record: 3-0 Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-3
Hammel is 0-1, 3.86 in his first three ’18 starts (under 2-0-1)
5-inning record: 2-1 Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-3
Norris is making his first ’18 start; he is 12-13, 4.43 in 56 MLB games (45 starts). He’s allowed five runs in 6.1 IP in two relief stints this month.
5-inning record: 0-0 Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-0
Fulmer is 1-2, 5.51 in his first three ’18 starts (under 2-1).
5-inning record: 1-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-3
Royals lost their last eight games, last three of which went over total. Detroit won its last three games; over is 4-1 in their last five games.
Twins (8-5) @ Rays (5-13)
Lynn is 0-1, 5.00 in his first two ’18 starts (over 1-1).
5-inning record: 0-1-1 Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-2
Archer is 1-1, 8.27 in his first four starts (over 4-0).
5-inning record: 1-3 Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-4
Twins won four of their last five games; under is 5-2 in their road games. Tampa Bay is 2-7 in its last nine home games; over is 8-3 in their last 11 games.
Mariners (9-8) @ Rangers (7-13)
Hernandez is 1-2, 7.31 in his last three starts (over 2-2).
5-inning record: 2-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-4
Minor is 1-1, 4.60 in his first three ’18 starts (over 2-1).
5-inning record: 1-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-3
Seattle lost four of its last five games; over is 10-6-1 in their games this season. Rangers lost seven of their last eight home games (over 6-2).
Astros (13-7) @ White Sox (4-11)
Verlander is 2-0, 1.69 in his first four ’18 starts (under 3-1).
5-inning record: 3-0 Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-3
Giolito is 0-2, 6.11 in his first three ’18 starts (under 3-0).
5-inning record: 0-3 Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-3
Houston won its last three games; under is 10-3-1 in their last 14 games. White Sox lost nine of their last ten games; their last three games went over.
Red Sox (16-2) @ A’s (9-10)
Pomeranz is making his first ’18 start; he is 42-42, 3.67 in 170 MLB games (111 starts), and was 1-0, 3.72 in two AAA starts this season (9.2 IP)
5-inning record: 0-0 Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-0
Graveman is 0-3, 7.66 in his first four ’18 starts (over 2-2).
5-inning record: 0-3-1 Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-4
Boston won its last seven games; over is 4-1 in their last five road games. Oakland won its last four games; over is 6-1 in their last seven games.
Interleague
Giants (7-11) @ Angels (13-6)
Samardzija is making his first ’18 start; he was 9-15, 4.42 in 32 starts LY. He is 68-87, 4.10 in 318 MLB games (195 starts).
5-inning record: 0-0 Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-0
Heaney allowed four runs in five IP (85 PT) in his first ’18 start, a 5-4 win at KC.
5-inning record: 0-1 Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-1
Giants lost six of their last eight games; under is 8-3 in their road games. Angels lost their last three games; five of their last six home games went over.
Hottest team: Red Sox (7-0 last seven)
Boston completed a three-game sweep of Los Angeles on Thursday, as the Angels entered that pivotal series on a seven-game winning streak. The Red Sox outscored the Halos, 27-3 as outfielder Mookie Betts continued his hot series by knocking out his sixth home run of the season in the finale. Boston has won 16 of its past 17 games since blowing a 4-0 lead in the season opening loss at Tampa Bay.
The Red Sox remain in California to begin a weekend series with the Athletics, who have won their previous four games. Southpaw Drew Pomeranz makes his season debut after taking the mound twice in a pair of minor league rehab starts. Pomeranz closed 2017 with a career-high 17 victories for Boston, but the Red Sox lost five of his seven starts in the role of a road favorite.
Coldest team: White Sox (1-9 last 10)
Chicago actually started the season at 2-0, but the Pale Hose have won two games since and lost 11 times. The most bitter defeat came on Wednesday at Oakland as the White Sox squandered a five-run lead twice and lost in 14 innings, 12-11 to suffer the three-game sweep. The Athletics plated 30 runs in the three wins, as things don’t get any easier this weekend with the defending champion Astros visiting the South Side.
Advertisement
The White Sox have been horrific at home so far by losing five of six games at Guaranteed Rate Field. To make matter worse, it hasn’t come against great competition by dropping three to the Tigers and two to the Rays, but Chicago pulled off a three-game home sweep of Houston last season.
Hottest pitcher: Noah Syndergaard, Mets (2-0, 2.95 ERA)
New York looks to rebound after suffering its first road loss of the season in the series opener at Atlanta, 12-4. Syndergaard ranks third in the National League in strikeouts with 33, while coming off an 11-strikeout performance in last Sunday’s 3-2 victory over the Brewers. The Mets own a perfect 4-0 record in his four starts this season, even though New York has scored over four runs once in that span. In Syndergaard’s only start against the Braves last season, the right-hander tossed six scoreless innings in a 6-0 shutout at Citi Field.
Coldest pitcher: Kendall Graveman, Athletics (0-3, 9.87 ERA)
It will be a tall task for Graveman to slow down the Boston bats, who scored 27 runs in its three-game sweep of the Angels. The Oakland right-hander has allowed five earned runs in three different starts and four earned runs in another outing. Last season, Graveman pitched well against the Red Sox in a 3-2 home win as a +170 underdog by tossing six innings, while Oakland’s lone victory with the righty on the hill this season came as a home ‘dog against the Angels.
Biggest OVER run: Padres (5-0 last five)
San Diego hits the road after getting swept at home by Los Angeles in a three-game set. The Padres gave up 30 runs to the Dodgers, which is in sharp contrast to yielding 13 runs in a four-game series to the Giants last weekend. San Diego heads to Arizona to face the division-leading Diamondbacks, as Tyson Ross heads to the hill. Ross has been solid in two home starts by giving up four runs in wins over Colorado and San Francisco, but was tagged for four runs in his lone road start at Houston.
Biggest UNDER run: Indians (9-2 last 11)
Cleveland’s pitching allowed three runs in a two-game split against Minnesota in Puerto Rico. Although the Indians lost in 16 innings on Wednesday, the Twins didn’t score their first run until the 14th inning. In eight of the last 10 games, the Tribe’s hurlers have allowed two runs or less, as Cleveland looks to keep that streak going with a trip to struggling Baltimore. Trevor Bauer takes the mound in the opener, as the right-hander has yielded two earned runs or less in all three starts this season, although the UNDER has hit just once in those outings.
Matchup to watch: Nationals vs. Dodgers
Both Washington and Los Angeles are perennial division winners and playoff veterans in the National League. However, these squads enter this weekend series at Chavez Ravine with below .500 record as the Nationals (9-10) face a Dodgers’ club that has won four straight games (8-9).
Los Angeles found itself in a 4-9 hole and significantly behind red-hot Arizona before capturing the final game of its series last weekend. The Dodgers cruised past the Padres in a three-game road sweep, as the offense finally broke out with a 30-run performance. Clayton Kershaw heads to the mound in the series opener against the Nationals, as the former Cy Young winner lost his first two starts to the Giants and D-backs before Los Angeles defeated those two opponents in his next two outings.
The Nationals have performed better on the road (6-3) than at home this season (3-7), as Washington grabbed two of three at New York. Max Scherzer has put together three dominant performances on the mound in four starts this season for Washington, while striking out 21 batters and allowing three hits in his last two outings.
The Dodgers and Nationals split six matchups last season, with the road team winning two of three games each time. Kershaw and Scherzer each picked up 2-1 victories in a June series at Dodger Stadium, while squaring off against each other for the first time since Game 1 of the 2016 NLDS, won by the Dodgers, 4-3.
Betcha didn’t know: The Reds have been awful (betcha you did know that). Cincinnati fired managed Bryan Price following a 3-15 start, which included a four-game home-sweep at the hands of St. Louis. The Cardinals host the Reds at Busch Stadium, after losing to the Cubs on Thursday. St. Louis has captured nine of the past 10 meetings with Cincinnati since last season, as Michael Wacha heads to the mound for the Redbirds looking to beat the Reds for the third time since 2017.
Biggest public favorite: Cardinals (-185) vs. Reds
Biggest public underdog: Cubs (+100) at Rockies
Biggest line move: Padres (+135 to +118) at Diamondbacks
Preview: Royals at Tigers (Game 1)
Gracenote
Apr 19, 2018
The Detroit Tigers are starting to turn things around following a dreadful start to the season that was interrupted by a string of weather-related postponements. After completing a three-game sweep of one slumping club, the Tigers prepare to face another one when they host the Kansas City Royals in a four-game set beginning with a split-doubleheader on Friday.
Detroit followed a five-game game slide and three straight postponements against the New York Yankees by beating up on Baltimore, outscoring the Orioles 23-15 in the series. Leonys Martin belted a grand slam among three hits and Jeimer Candelario collected four hits and drove in three runs to give the Tigers seven hits and seven RBIs out of the top two spots in the lineup. Kansas City owns the worst record in the American League at 3-13 and enters the series mired in an eight-game losing streak after it was outscored 31-12 in a three-game sweep in Toronto. The Royals managed to earn a split of two meetings in Detroit at the beginning of April despite scoring a combined two runs.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Kansas City, FS Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Jakob Junis (2-1, 1.93 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Michael Fulmer (1-2, 3.86)
Junis turned in a gem in a 1-0 victory against Detroit in his season debut, permitting three hits and striking out six over seven scoreless innings. The 25-year-old was even better in his next turn, blanking Seattle on one hit over seven innings, but he was touched for four runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings to take the loss versus the Los Angeles Angels last time out. Junis was 2-1 with a 6.75 ERA versus the Tigers in 2017.
Fulmer also tossed a masterpiece in his season debut but came out on the short end of a 1-0 decision to Pittsburgh despite yielding one run on four hits over eight innings. The 25-year-old earned the win at the White Sox on April 7 with 5 1/3 scoreless innings but was pounded for nine runs over three-plus innings at Cleveland last time out. Fulmer has made seven career starts against the Royals, posting a 2-4 record and 3.33 ERA.
WALK-OFFS
1. Candelario is 9-for-17 with three homers and six RBIs during a four-game hitting streak.
2. Kansas City's bullpen has a major league-worst 7.94 ERA.
3. Tigers DH Victor Martinez has hit safely in five straight games.
PREDICTION: Tigers 3, Royals 2
__________________
Preview: Pirates at Phillies
Gracenote
Apr 20, 2018
Wednesday's offensive explosion from the Pittsburgh Pirates is looking like the outlier in an otherwise poor stretch of offense. The Pirates will try to bounce back from being shut out in a series opener and even the four-game set at one win apiece when they visit the Philadelphia Phillies for the second matchup on Friday night.
Pittsburgh bashed the Colorado Rockies 10-2 at home on Wednesday to avoid a three-game sweep but managed two hits while falling 7-0 on Thursday and scored two or fewer runs in five of the last seven games. The Pirates lineup racked up 13 strikeouts on Thursday and watched the top five hitters in the order - Adam Frazier, Gregory Polanco, Starling Marte, Josh Bell and Corey Dickerson - go a combined 0-for-17 with eight K's. The Phillies are winners of eight of their last 10 and improved to 6-1 at home with Thursday's triumph, which featured new ace Jake Arrieta tossing seven dominant innings. Righty Ben Lively will try to follow up his teammate's performance against the struggling Pittsburgh attack while veteran Ivan Nova toes the rubber for the Pirates.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NBCS-plus (Philadelphia)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Ivan Nova (2-1, 4.88 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Ben Lively (0-1, 5.87)
Nova posted his second straight quality start and second consecutive win when he held the Miami Marlins to three runs on six hits over 6 2/3 innings on Sunday. The Dominican Republic native struck out a season-high nine in that outing and owns 15 without walking a batter over his last two turns. Nova went 1-1 with a 4.73 ERA in a pair of starts against Philadelphia in 2017 while notching four strikeouts in 13 1/3 total frames.
Lively has yet to complete six innings through three starts this season and was bounced after four frames at Tampa Bay on Sunday. The 26-year-old owns 17 strikeouts and three walks over 15 1/3 total innings but surrendered a home run in each of his last two outings. Lively faced Pittsburgh once during his 2017 rookie campaign and absorbed the loss while allowing four runs - two earned - in four innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Pirates RHP Joe Musgrove (shoulder) threw a bullpen session on Thursday and is scheduled for another on Sunday.
2. Phillies 2B Cesar Hernandez recorded multiple hits in two of the last three games and drove in three runs on Thursday.
3. Philadelphia RHP Victor Arano has yet to allow a hit or walk a batter in 8 1/3 scoreless innings to begin the season, spread over seven appearances.
PREDICTION: Phillies 4, Pirates 2
__________________
Preview: Indians at Orioles
Gracenote
Apr 19, 2018
The Baltimore Orioles have the most losses in the American League, due primarily in part to a grueling early-season schedule that has seen the team play 13 of its 19 games on the road. The skidding Orioles have dropped six in a row but hope to get back on track when they kick off a 10-game homestand with the first of four against the Cleveland Indians on Friday night.
Baltimore wrapped up its winless road trip through Boston and Detroit by getting throttled by the Tigers 13-8 on Thursday despite a pair of homers and four RBIs by Manny Machado. "There is no panic. I think everyone is frustrated," Machado said. "We just have to stay positive. This will pass. We’ve got a great team and once it starts clicking, we’ll get rolling." The Indians had a much-needed day to regroup Thursday after dropping a 2-1 decision in a 16-inning marathon at Minnesota on Wednesday to settle for a split of the two-game set. Cleveland was on a roll with five straight wins before an 8-4 loss to Toronto last Friday and then was idle for three days due to consecutive postponements and a scheduled day off.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), MASN (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Trevor Bauer (1-1, 2.25 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Dylan Bundy (0-2, 1.40)
A 17-game winner a year ago, Bauer picked up his first victory last time out by holding Detroit to two runs and seven hits while striking out seven over seven innings. He was even better in his previous outing but absorbed a hard-luck 1-0 loss to Kansas City despite yielding one run on three hits over eight innings. Machado is 8-for-12 with three homers off Bauer, who is 1-3 with a 5.86 ERA in five starts versus Baltimore.
Bundy has nothing to show in the win column despite allowing a combined four earned runs in his first four turns and coming up one-third of an inning shy of his fourth consecutive quality start last time out. Bundy, who has racked up 31 strikeouts and walked only seven over 25 2/3 innings, has lost his last two starts after opening the season with two no-decisions. He is 2-1 with a 5.06 ERA in three appearances against Cleveland.
WALK-OFFS
1. Orioles CF Adam Jones is 5-for-12 with four RBIs in the last three games.
2. Indians DH Edwin Encarnacion, batting .153, snapped a 12-game homerless drought Wednesday.
3. Orioles LHP Zach Britton is scheduled to throw off a half-mound Friday.
PREDICTION: Indians 4, Orioles 3
__________________
Preview: Indians at Orioles
Gracenote
Apr 19, 2018
The Baltimore Orioles have the most losses in the American League, due primarily in part to a grueling early-season schedule that has seen the team play 13 of its 19 games on the road. The skidding Orioles have dropped six in a row but hope to get back on track when they kick off a 10-game homestand with the first of four against the Cleveland Indians on Friday night.
Baltimore wrapped up its winless road trip through Boston and Detroit by getting throttled by the Tigers 13-8 on Thursday despite a pair of homers and four RBIs by Manny Machado. "There is no panic. I think everyone is frustrated," Machado said. "We just have to stay positive. This will pass. We’ve got a great team and once it starts clicking, we’ll get rolling." The Indians had a much-needed day to regroup Thursday after dropping a 2-1 decision in a 16-inning marathon at Minnesota on Wednesday to settle for a split of the two-game set. Cleveland was on a roll with five straight wins before an 8-4 loss to Toronto last Friday and then was idle for three days due to consecutive postponements and a scheduled day off.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), MASN (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Trevor Bauer (1-1, 2.25 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Dylan Bundy (0-2, 1.40)
A 17-game winner a year ago, Bauer picked up his first victory last time out by holding Detroit to two runs and seven hits while striking out seven over seven innings. He was even better in his previous outing but absorbed a hard-luck 1-0 loss to Kansas City despite yielding one run on three hits over eight innings. Machado is 8-for-12 with three homers off Bauer, who is 1-3 with a 5.86 ERA in five starts versus Baltimore.
Bundy has nothing to show in the win column despite allowing a combined four earned runs in his first four turns and coming up one-third of an inning shy of his fourth consecutive quality start last time out. Bundy, who has racked up 31 strikeouts and walked only seven over 25 2/3 innings, has lost his last two starts after opening the season with two no-decisions. He is 2-1 with a 5.06 ERA in three appearances against Cleveland.
WALK-OFFS
1. Orioles CF Adam Jones is 5-for-12 with four RBIs in the last three games.
2. Indians DH Edwin Encarnacion, batting .153, snapped a 12-game homerless drought Wednesday.
3. Orioles LHP Zach Britton is scheduled to throw off a half-mound Friday.
PREDICTION: Indians 4, Orioles 3
__________________
Preview: Blue Jays at Yankees
Gracenote
Apr 20, 2018
The New York Yankees did not get off to the start they were hoping for over the first three weeks of the regular season, but Aaron Judge is trying to pull them out of the hole. Judge will attempt to continue his hot start and clinch at least a tie of the four-game series when the Yankees host the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday.
Judge belted what proved to be the game-winning blast with a solo homer in the seventh inning on Thursday as New York held on for a 4-3 victory, and he hit safely for the 13th time in his last 14 games. The 25-year-old slugger is up to five home runs while batting .339 with a .481 on-base percentage to pick up teammate Giancarlo Stanton, who is off to a slow start with his new team and was dropped from third to fourth in the batting order on Thursday. The Blue Jays came into the series hot with wins in four straight and 12 of 15 but managed just six hits - all singles - in the opener while piling up nine strikeouts. Toronto will try to get the bats going against Yankees right-hander Sonny Gray, who opposes veteran Marco Estrada on Friday.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, Sportsnet One (Toronto), YES (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Marco Estrada (1-1, 4.24 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Sonny Gray (1-1, 6.92)
Estrada turned in quality starts in his first two outings and was sharp at Baltimore on April 11 before dealing with back spasms. The Long Beach State product ended up charged with four runs on six hits and three walks in the loss to the Orioles. Estrada started at home against New York on March 31, surrendering three runs on four hits with three walks in seven innings, but did not factor in the decision in a game Toronto went on to win 5-3.
Gray was solid in his first two turns as well before getting lit up at Boston on April 12, yielding six runs and seven hits in three innings to absorb the loss. The 28-year-old has yet to surrender a home run this season and owns 15 strikeouts in 13 total innings. Gray started at Toronto on April 1 and scattered seven hits along with three walks across four innings but struck out eight and limited the damage to one run in a no decision.
WALK-OFFS
1. Blue Jays DH Kendrys Morales (hamstring) is expected to be activated from the 10-day disabled list on Friday.
2. New York placed RHP Luis Cessa (oblique) on the 10-day DL Thursday.
3. Toronto 3B Josh Donaldson (shoulder) will not be activated from the 10-day DL when eligible on Saturday but could return next week.
PREDICTION: Blue Jays 5, Yankees 3
__________________
Preview: Twins at Rays
Gracenote
Apr 19, 2018
The Minnesota Twins endured a strange schedule over the last few weeks but have not lost their momentum as they prepare to visit the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night to open a three-game series. The Twins had four games postponed due to poor weather between April 8-15, followed that up with a two-game series as the home team in San Juan, Puerto Rico, but still managed won four of their last five contests overall.
Minnesota welcomed the day off after using eight pitchers in a 2-1, 16-inning victory over Cleveland on Wednesday to split the series in San Juan and remain atop the American League Central. Lance Lynn tries to give the Twins bullpen even more rest when he takes the mound for the opener Friday versus struggling Rays right-hander Chris Archer, who has been dominant against Minnesota in his career with a 6-1 record and 1.84 ERA. Tampa Bay no longer has the worst record in the AL after winning two of three from Texas to start the week, earning a 4-2 triumph in the rubber match on Wednesday as C.J. Cron extended his hitting streak to eight games (12-for-31). “We have to own the fact that we’re whatever our record is right now, but we also can be somewhat satisfied that we are playing hard. It just hasn’t gone our way,” Rays manager Kevin Cash told the Tampa Bay Times of his 5-13 team. “I don’t think it would be smart of me or anybody to critique the effort when it has been good.”
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS North Plus (Minnesota), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Lance Lynn (0-1, 5.00 ERA) vs. Rays RH Chris Archer (1-1, 7.84)
Lynn was scheduled to make his third start last Saturday, but weather postponements forced a reshuffling of the rotation and he finally gets a chance to match his most recent stellar effort. The 30-year-old Ole Miss product was pounded in his Twins debut before limiting Houston to three hits and four walks over five scoreless innings with nine strikeouts on April 9. Lynn is 0-1 with a 3.77 ERA in three appearances (two starts) versus the Rays and has handcuffed Carlos Gomez (4-for-26, 14 strikeouts).
Archer has yet to post a quality start or complete more than six innings in his first four trips to the mound, and he is coming off his worst performance. The 29-year-old, two-time All Star gave up six runs in the second inning Saturday and ended up yielding seven over four frames with just two strikeouts in a loss to Philadelphia. Eddie Rosario is 3-for-9 with a pair of doubles against Archer, who has handled Brian Dozier (3-for-21, seven strikeouts) and Miguel Sano (1-for-9, 8 strikeouts) very well.
WALK-OFFS
1. Tampa Bay INF Brad Miller (groin strain), out since April 8, could return from the disabled list as early as Friday.
2. Minnesota CF Byron Buxton (migraines) was placed on the 10-day disabled list and his replacement, OF Ryan LaMarre, had the winning hit Wednesday.
3. Rays C Wilson Ramos is starting to warm up with the bat, going 8-for-24 with a homer and four RBIs in his last six games, raising his average to .220.
PREDICTION: Rays 6, Twins 3
__________________
Preview: Royals at Tigers (Game 2)
Gracenote
Apr 19, 2018
The Detroit Tigers are starting to turn things around following a dreadful start to the season that was interrupted by a string of weather-related postponements. After completing a three-game sweep of one slumping club, the resurgent Tigers prepare to face another one when they host the Kansas City Royals in a four-game set beginning with a split-doubleheader on Friday.
Detroit followed a five-game game slide and three straight postponements against the New York Yankees by beating up on Baltimore, outscoring the Orioles 23-15 in the series. Leonys Martin belted a grand slam among three hits and Jeimer Candelario collected four hits and drove in three runs to give the Tigers seven hits and seven RBIs out of the top two spots in the lineup. Kansas City owns the worst record in the American League at 3-13 enters the series mired in an eight-game losing streak after it was outscored 31-12 in a three-game sweep in Toronto. The Royals managed to earn a split of two meetings in Detroit at the beginning of April despite scoring a combined two runs.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Kansas City, FS Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Jason Hammel (0-1, 3.86 ERA) vs. Tigers LH Daniel Norris (0-1, 7.11)
Hammel was rocked in his season-opening start in Detroit, giving up five runs and seven hits and walking three over five innings. The 35-year-old veteran rebounded with a big effort with six scoreless innings in a no-decision at Cleveland on April 8 before allowing two runs in 5 1/3 innings in another no-decision versus the Los Angeles Angels last time out. Miguel Cabrera is 8-for-22 and Candelario is 4-for-8 against Hammel.
Norris has worked out of the bullpen as a long reliever this season while the Tigers decide whether to keep him there or send him back to the minors to start every fifth day. He was solid in his season debut at the White Sox, striking out six and allowing one run and one hit over 3 1/3 innings, but was knocked around for four runs and seven hits at Cleveland on April 11. Norris has been tormented by Alcides Escobar (8-for-16).
WALK-OFFS
1. Candelario is 9-for-17 with three homers and six RBIs during a four-game hitting streak.
2. Kansas City's bullpen has a major league-worst 7.94 ERA.
3. Tigers DH Victor Martinez has hit safely in five straight games.
PREDICTION: Royals 5, Tigers 4
__________________
Preview: Mets at Braves
Gracenote
Apr 20, 2018
Kurt Suzuki hit 87 homers across the first 4,304 at-bats of his major-league career, but the Atlanta Braves catcher enters Friday’s home game against the New York Mets on quite the power surge. Suzuki smacked his third homer of the young season and his 18th in 204 at-bats since last July 2, helping propel the Braves to a convincing 12-4 victory over New York in Thursday’s series opener that pulled Atlanta within two games of the first-place Mets in the National League East.
Left fielder Preston Tucker collected a career-high five RBIs - his fourth game of the season with three or more runs driven in - while first baseman Freddie Freeman returned after being hit by a pitch on Wednesday with two hits and an RBI to raise his average to .306. The Mets, who needed a furious rally to overcome Washington and avoid a sweep Wednesday, have dropped four of their past six since starting the season 11-1. Second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera finished with a hit and a RBI, and in his past 52 games dating back to Aug. 25, 2017, is hitting .357 with nine homers, 33 RBIs and 32 runs scored. New York finished with six hits - just the fifth time in 18 games the Mets offense has failed to generate seven hits or more.
TV: 7:35 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), FS South (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (2-0, 2.95 ERA) vs. Braves LH Sean Newcomb (1-1, 4.02)
Syndergaard is off to a roaring beginning through four starts, leading the National League in strikeouts per nine innings (13.9) and ranking third in total strikeouts (33). He logged one-third of his season total in his last start, a no-decision Sunday against Milwaukee in which Syndergaard punched out 11 with one walk and two hits allowed in just 5 1/3 innings. The Braves are the only NL East team Syndergaard has yet to defeat, going 0-1 with a 3.92 ERA and 23 strikeouts in four starts.
There have been encouraging signs for Newcomb in his past two starts following a rough season debut, as the 24-year-old has struck out 16 while walking just four in 11 1/3 innings combined against Colorado and the Chicago Cubs. Newcomb gave up three runs (two earned) on six hits in 5 1/3 innings with four walks and seven strikeouts Saturday at Chicago, a game the Braves bullpen gave away late. Newcomb went 1-2 with a 2.70 ERA in three starts against the Mets as a rookie in 2017.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Braves have 11 wins on the season and did not reach that figure until May 2 in 2017 and May 20 in 2016.
2. New York’s bullpen, which had allowed only 18 earned runs in 61 1/3 innings in the first 17 games of the season, surrendered six earned runs in two innings Thursday.
3. Atlanta C Tyler Flowers (oblique), sidelined since Opening Day, is expected to begin a minor-league rehab assignment this weekend.
PREDICTION: Mets 4, Braves 1
__________________
Preview: Mariners at Rangers
Gracenote
Apr 19, 2018
Felix Hernandez has lost more games against the Texas Rangers than versus any other opponent during his 14 major-league seasons. The right-hander aims to improve his career record against Texas to 20-24 when the Seattle Mariners visit the Rangers on Friday for the opener of their three-game series.
Hernandez also has made a career-high 54 starts against the Texas and is just 7-11 with a 4.33 ERA in 25 outings at Globe Life Park. He will be looking to help the Mariners break out of a funk in which they have dropped four of five games, including Thursday's 9-2 home loss to Houston. Texas sits in last place in the American League West with a 7-13 record as it opens a six-game homestand that includes a series versus Oakland. The Rangers have been limited to fewer than three runs on eight occasions, including Wednesday's 4-2 setback in Tampa Bay.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), FS Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (2-2, 5.48 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Mike Minor (1-1, 4.60)
Hernandez lost to the Athletics in his last start as he allowed two runs and five hits with seven strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. The 32-year-old has served up five homers over his last three turns, including three in a loss to San Francisco on April 4 in which he yielded eight runs on six hits and five walks over four frames. Hernandez has shut down Rougned Odor (5-for-31, 10 strikeouts) despite surrendering two homers and always enjoys his battles with close friend and former teammate Adrian Beltre (13-for-56, one homer).
Minor was roughed up for five runs and five hits in five innings by Houston in his last outing but escaped with a no-decision. The 30-year-old has allowed just 10 hits over his three turns and possesses a solid 0.96 WHIP and .182 batting average against. Minor is 1-1 with 1.64 ERA in four career appearances against the Mariners and lost his lone start in 2014, when he gave up one run and five hits over seven innings while with Atlanta.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Mariners went 11-8 overall and 6-4 on the road against the Rangers last season.
2. Seattle has scored just seven runs over its last five games.
3. Texas CF Delino DeShields (broken left wrist) began a rehab stint at Double-A Frisco on Thursday and is expected back in the majors by early next week.
PREDICTION: Mariners 4, Rangers 3
__________________
Preview: Astros at White Sox
Gracenote
Apr 20, 2018
The Houston Astros regained their footing after losing five of six by erupting for 20 runs during their three-game winning streak. The Astros aim to provide plenty of run support for reigning American League Player of the Week Justin Verlander on Friday as they open a three-game series against the host Chicago White Sox, who have matched their worst start since 1997.
Jose Altuve ripped a three-run double in the fifth inning to highlight his three-hit, four-RBI performance in Thursday's 9-2 romp over Seattle. The 2017 AL MVP and three-time batting champion has hit safely in 17 of his last 19 contests overall and went 7-for-22 with two homers in last season's series versus Chicago, although the White Sox walked away with wins in four of six encounters. The slumping South Siders haven't been stringing together too many positive moments this season, as they've dropped 11 of their last 13 overall and surrendered 34 runs during a four-game losing streak. Yoan Moncada homered for the second straight contest, belting his first career grand slam in Wednesday's 12-11 setback in 14 innings to Oakland.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, AT&T Sportsnet-Southwest (Houston), NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Justin Verlander (2-0, 1.35 ERA) vs. White Sox RH James Shields (1-1, 4.50)
Verlander turned in his third dominant outing in four trips to the mound on Sunday, but he settled for a no-decision after surrendering a solo homer for his lone run and hit allowed in eight innings against Texas. The 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young Award winner continues to rack up the strikeouts at a rapid pace, fanning 11 Rangers to give him 29 in his last three outings. Verlander has flustered the White Sox in his career, posting a 20-13 record and 3.82 ERA, although his numbers (7-8, 4.11) have taken a dip at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Manager Rick Renteria did not divulge his hand in regard to Friday's pitcher after scheduled starter Shields was summoned to be the team's 10th pitcher in Wednesday's marathon loss. The 36-year-old Shields, who yielded the game-winning hit and two walks on 28 pitches versus the Athletics, still is in line to work the series opener, with Lucas Giolito (0-2, 5.50) and Reynaldo Lopez (0-2, 1.42) slated to start on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Josh Reddick has teed off with three homers highlighting his .320 average against Shields, who owns a 2-2 mark with a 2.11 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in six career meetings with the Astros.
WALK-OFFS
1. Houston owns the majors' best team ERA at 2.48 while Chicago has the worst at 5.64.
2. The White Sox acquired OF Trayce Thompson from Oakland on Thursday and dealt INF Tyler Saladino to Milwaukee, with cash considerations completing both deals.
3. Astros CF George Springer has recorded nine hits - including three homers - to go along with seven runs scored in his last seven games.
PREDICTION: Astros 8, White Sox 1
__________________
Preview: Marlins at Brewers
Gracenote
Apr 20, 2018
The Milwaukee Brewers were unable to post a third consecutive shutout in the opener of their four-game series against the visiting Miami Marlins, but they managed to break out offensively. Milwaukee reached double digits in runs for the first time this season in the 12-3 victory and looks to continue that success at the plate when it hosts Miami on Friday.
Lorenzo Cain and Jesus Aguilar each recorded three hits in the rout, with the former driving in two runs while scoring four and the latter collecting three RBIs and crossing the plate twice. The Brewers extended their winning streak to three games without Eric Thames, who was kept out of the starting lineup after belting two-run homers in consecutive 2-0 triumphs over Cincinnati. The 31-year-old slugger, who did deliver a pinch-hit single on Thursday, has gone deep in back-to-back games three times this month and belted a total of 18 home runs in the last two Aprils. The Marlins lost for the fourth time in five contests and had its only offense in the series opener provided by former Brewer Lewis Brinson, who hit a solo homer in the third inning and a two-run shot in the fifth for his first two blasts of the year.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Trevor Richards (0-1, 4.70 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Jhoulys Chacin (0-1, 5.60)
Richards had the best performance of his young major-league career on Saturday as he allowed just two hits while walking one batter and hitting another over seven scoreless innings of a no-decision against Pittsburgh. The 24-year-old rookie from Illinois failed to last five frames in either of his first two career starts, surrendering eight runs and 14 hits over 8 1/3 innings. Richards' lone turn on the road came on April 8, when he yielded three runs on six hits and three walks in four innings of a no-decision at Philadelphia.
Chacin remains in search of his first win of the season as he makes his fifth overall start and second at home. The 30-year-old Venezuelan is coming off a no-decision against the Mets in New York on Sunday, when he allowed just one run on five hits and three walks but worked only four innings. Chacin has not fared well against Miami in his career, going 1-4 with a 5.22 ERA in five starts and two relief appearances.
WALK-OFFS
1. Brewers OF Ryan Braun (calf) was kept out of the starting lineup for the second straight game Thursday but belted a three-run homer as a pinch hitter to become the second player in franchise history to reach 1,000 career RBIs, joining Robin Yount (1,406 from 1974-93).
2. Miami placed LHP Chris O'Grady (shoulder) on the 10-day disabled list and recalled RHP Merandy Gonzalez from Double-A Jacksonville.
3. Milwaukee acquired INF Tyler Saladino from the Chicago White Sox for cash and assigned him to Triple-A Colorado Springs while designating RHP Alec Asher for assignment.
PREDICTION: Brewers 6, Marlins 3
__________________
Preview: Reds at Cardinals
Gracenote
Apr 19, 2018
The reeling Cincinnati Reds are bidding that a change in leadership will alter their fortunes on Friday when they open a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Jim Riggleman, who last managed in the majors with the Washington Nationals in June 2011, was named the interim manager after Bryan Price was dismissed following the Reds' 3-15 start to the season.
"I think we're going to hit the ground running (Friday) with Jim in place and a couple new members of the staff, and we're very focused on creating a sense of urgency for these guys to perform now," Cincinnati general manager Dick Williams said. The Reds haven't been performing that well this season, batting .220 as a team while being shut out on four occasions as they enter Friday's tilt mired in a 19-inning scoreless streak. St. Louis, which outscored Cincinnati 27-10 en route to a four-game sweep last week, saw its five-game winning streak halted with an 8-5 setback at the Chicago Cubs on Thursday afternoon. Tommy Pham collected eight hits and five runs scored in four contests against the Reds and is 5-for-10 in his career against Friday starter Brandon Finnegan.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), FS Midwest (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds LH Brandon Finnegan (0-1, 10.38 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Michael Wacha (2-1, 5.52)
Finnegan's first start since June 26 left plenty to be desired, as the 25-year-old allowed a pair of two-out homers to Greg Garcia and five runs total in 4 1/3 innings of Saturday's 6-1 setback versus St. Louis. Finnegan struggled with his command by walking four in his first start since missing most of last season due to shoulder surgery. Yadier Molina (5-for-12) and Matt Carpenter (4-for-11) have gotten their licks in on Finnegan, but the southpaw has subdued Jedd Gyorko (1-for-11) in his career.
Wacha recorded his second straight win on April 12 despite yielding four runs in five innings in a 13-4 rout of Cincinnati. The 26-year-old answered a two-homer performance in his season debut by keeping the ball in the park in each of his last two outings, although he is walking a fine line with eight free passes in that stretch (10 innings). Joey Votto (13-for-34) and Scooter Gennett (9-for-28) have fared well versus Wacha, who has permitted the Reds' roster to bat .281 against him.
WALK-OFFS
1. St. Louis 1B Jose Martinez went 8-for-16 with five extra-base hits and seven RBIs in the previous series against Cincinnati.
2. Reds 2B Jose Peraza is 3-for-22 in his last six games since collecting three hits in the series opener versus the Cardinals on April 12.
3. St. Louis OF Dexter Fowler is 0-for-12 with six strikeouts after erupting for five hits and four runs scored in the first two meetings with Cincinnati.
PREDICTION: Cardinals 7, Reds 2