Minnesota Twins vs. Seattle Mariners Preview and Predictions 05-26-2018
26th May 2018 by Gracenote
after a minor bump in the road, the seattle mariners got back on the right track in the series opener and attempt to continue their winning ways when they host the minnesota twins on saturday for the middle contest of their three-game set. seattle had its five-game winning streak snapped in oakland on thursday but bounced back by edging minnesota 2-1 on friday.
nelson cruz delivered an rbi single in the first inning and mitch haniger snapped a 1-1 tie with a run-scoring base hit in the sixth as the mariners won for the eighth time in 11 contests to improve to 30-20 - their best 50-game start since beginning 2003 with a 32-18 record. seattle has played five consecutive one-run games, going 4-1 while scoring a total of only 12 runs, and have recorded a major league-high 14 victories in such contests (14-8). the twins have suffered back-to-back losses following a three-game winning streak, scoring just once in each setback. max kepler recorded half of minnesota's four hits on friday, including a solo homer in the fifth inning, and was the only player in the team's lineup that was not a strikeout victim.
tv: 10:10 p.m. et, mlb network, fs north (minnesota), root northwest (seattle)
pitching matchup: twins rh jake odorizzi (3-2, 3.17 era) vs. mariners lh wade leblanc (0-0, 2.65)
odorizzi's unbeaten streak reached five starts on sunday as he settled for a no-decision against milwaukee despite allowing just one run and five hits while registering a season-high 10 strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. the 28-year-old native of illinois has given up a total of two runs in 16 2/3 frames over his last three turns. odorizzi is 1-3 with a 4.11 era in seven career starts against seattle, including a no-decision on may 14 during which he scattered four hits over six scoreless innings.
leblanc seeks his first decision saturday as he makes his fifth straight start after five appearances out of the bullpen. the 33-year-old from louisiana has surrendered a total of three runs over 20 1/3 innings since joining the rotation, striking out 15 batters while walking only two. leblanc has worked 8 1/3 scoreless frames against the twins in his career, making three relief appearances before scattering three hits over six innings in a no-decision opposite odorizzi on may 14 in minnesota.
walk-offs
1. the mariners acquired of denard span, rhp alex colome and cash from tampa bay on friday for rhps tommy romero and andrew moore while transferring rhp david phelps (elbow) from the 10-day to the 60-day disabled list.
2. minnesota 3b miguel sano (hamstring) was in the lineup at first base on friday after missing nearly four weeks and went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
3. seattle 2b dee gordon (toe), who is eligible to come off the 10-day dl on thursday, fielded grounders and took part in some pregame infield work on friday.
prediction: twins 5, mariners 3
San Diego Padres vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Preview and Predictions 05-26-2018
26th May 2018 by Gracenote
when the san diego padres continue their three-game series against the host los angeles dodgers on saturday, they may want to consider pitching around matt kemp. the dodgers outfielder is 15-for-26 with four home runs and 12 rbis in seven games this season against his former team, including a three-run blast in friday's 4-1 win.
ross stripling pitched into the seventh inning friday and registered a career-high 10 strikeouts for the dodgers, who have won seven of their last eight games since losing six in a row against last-place teams cincinnati and miami. the club's resurgence can be traced in part to the return of third baseman justin turner, who missed 40 games with a broken wrist but has reached base safely in eight of his first 10 contests. san diego fell 10 games under .500 despite a 3-for-4 performance by jose pirela, who has hit safely in six of his last seven games. franchy cordero went 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts in friday's loss and has recorded just one multi-hit effort while batting .225 with one homer and six rbis in 71 at-bats this month.
tv: 10:10 p.m. et, mlb network, fs san diego, sportsnet la (los angeles)
pitching matchup: padres rh jordan lyles (1-1, 3.11 era) vs. dodgers lh alex wood (1-4, 3.32)
in his first start since tossing 7 2/3 perfect innings against milwaukee, lyles gave up four runs over 5 2/3 frames in a no-decision against pittsburgh on sunday. the 27-year-old began the season in the bullpen and did not allow a run in 10 of his 13 appearances. chase utley is 7-for-16 against lyles, who is 0-3 with a 6.97 era in 15 career games (six starts) versus los angeles - including a 6.55 era in six contests (one start) last season.
wood allowed two runs and three hits in sunday's 7-2 win over washington but exited the game in the seventh inning due to left leg cramps. the 27-year-old native of north carolina has pitched well this month, going 1-1 with a 2.05 era in four starts covering 22 innings. freddy galvis is 7-for-19 against wood, who owns a 4-2 record and 2.39 era in 13 career games (nine starts) versus san diego.
walk-offs
1. dodgers lhp clayton kershaw (biceps) is scheduled to throw four innings in a simulated game on saturday.
2. the padres are 2-25 when trailing after six frames.
3. los angeles rhp kenley jansen converted his ninth straight save opportunity friday with a scoreless ninth inning.
prediction: dodgers 6, padres 3