MLB Betting News and Trends For Sunday 6/3/18

Sunday’s games
National League
Cubs (32-23) @ Mets (27-29)
Lester is 3-1, 2.40 in his last five starts; under is 5-2 in his last seven. Team in his starts: 8-3.
5-inning record: 6-2-3. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-11

Matz is 1-1, 2.25 in his last five starts (only 24 IP). Over is 5-3 in his last eight starts. Team in his starts: 6-4.
5-inning record: 3-7. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-10

Cubs won eight of their last ten road games; under is 10-4 in their last 14 road games. Mets lost 10 of their last 13 games; under is 9-6 in their last 15 games.

Pirates (30-28) @ Cardinals (31-25)
Kingham is 1-1, 5.29 in his last three starts (over 2-2). Team in his starts: 2-2.
5-inning record: 2-1-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-4

Wacha is 2-0, 2.53 in his last four starts; under is 5-1 in his last six. Team in his starts: 8-3.
5-inning record: 6-4-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 4-11

Pirates lost six of their last eight games; under is 3-1 in their last four games. St Louis won five of its last eight games; under is 12-4-1 in their last 17 home games.

Nationals (33-24) @ Braves (34-24)
Hellickson is 2-0, 1.30 n his last five starts (under 6-2). Team in his starts: 6-2.
5-inning record: 5-1-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-8

Sanchez is 1-0, 3.60 in three starts this year (under 2-1). Team in his starts: 2-1.
5-inning record: 1-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-3

Nationals won nine of their last 12 games; seven of last eight Washington games stayed under. Atlanta is 6-3 in its last nine home games; under is 8-4-1 in its last 13 games.

Dodgers (28-30) @ Rockies (30-28)
Wood is 1-1, 3.62 in his last five starts; over is 3-1 in his last four. Team in his starts: 5-6.
5-inning record: 3-5-3. Allowed run in 1st inning: 4-11

Bettis is 0-0, 6.55 in his last four starts; under is 3-1-2 in his last six. Team in his starts: 7-4
5-inning record: 9-1-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 5-11

Dodgers won 12 of their last 16 games; over is 3-1 in their last four games. Colorado lost its last three games; under is 6-3 in their last nine games.

Marlins (20-38) @ Diamondbacks (30-27)
Straily is 2-1, 3.42 in his last four starts (over 4-2). Team in his starts: 5-1.
5-inning record: 3-2-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-6

Koch is 1-3, 6.75 in his last four starts (under 5-3). Team in his starts: 4-4
5-inning record: 2-5-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-8

Marlins lost eight of their last nine games; over is 5-1 in their last six games. Arizona won four of its last five games; over is 7-2 in their last nine home games.

Reds (21-38) @ Padres (26-34)
Castillo is 3-1, 4.23 in his last five starts; under is 4-0-2 in his last six. Team in his starts: 6-6.
5-inning record: 6-6. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-12

Ross is 2-0, 2.63 in his last four starts (under 8-3). Team in his starts: 7-4
5-inning record: 6-3-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-11

Reds lost five of their last eight games; under is 7-4-2 in their last 13 games. San Diego won five of its last seven home games; over is 5-1 in their last six games overall.

Phillies (31-25) @ Giants (28-30)
Arrieta is 2-0, 0.00 (13.2 IP) in his last two starts. Under is 3-1 in his last four starts. Team in his starts: 5-5.
5-inning record: 5-3-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-10

Rodriguez is making his first MLB start; he allowed four runs (one earned) in 3.1 IP in his MLB debut. He was 4-1, 3.40 in nine AAA starts this year. Team in his starts: 0-0.
5-inning record: 0-0. Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-0

Phillies lost six of their last eight games; under is 9-3-1 in their last 13 games. San Francisco won its last three games; over is 10-5-2 in their last 17 games.

American League
New York (37-17) @ Baltimore (17-41)
German is 0-2, 10.05 in his last three starts (over 3-1). Team in his starts: 2-2
5-inning record: 0-2-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-4

Cobb is 1-4, 5.65 in his last five starts; his last four went over. Team in his starts: 1-8
5-inning record: 1-7-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-9

New York is 19-4 in its last 23 games; over is 6-1 in their last seven road games. Baltimore is 4-13 in its last 17 games; under is 6-2 in their last eight games.

Blue Jays (25-33) @ Tigers (28-30)
Sanchez is 0-3, 7.15 in his last five starts; over is 4-0-2 in his last six. Team in his starts: 3-8
5-inning record: 2-7-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 4-11

Fulmer is 1-2, 6.86 in his last four starts; over is 4-1 in his last five. Team in his starts: 4-7.
5-inning record: 5-5-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 5-11

Blue Jays are 7-20 in their last 27 games; over is 6-2-2 in their last ten road games. Detroit won eight of its last ten games; over is 8-4-1 in their last 13 home games.

Red Sox (40-19) @ Astros (37-23)
Porcello is 2-2, 6.85 in his last four starts; Team in his starts: 8-4
5-inning record: 7-5. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-12

Morton is 3-0, 2.42 in his last four starts; under is 4-2 in his last six. Team in his starts: 7-4.
5-inning record: 9-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-11

Boston is 12-5 in its last 17 games, over is 5-1-2 in their last eight games. Astros lost five of their last eight games; over is 9-4-1 in their last 14 games.

Indians (30-27) @ Twins (24-30)
Clevinger is 1-2, 4.42 in his last three starts; over is 5-2 in his last seven. Team in his starts: 6-5.
5-inning record: 6-2-3. Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-11

Gibson is 0-2, 3.75 in his last six 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: 3-11

Cleveland won eight of its last 12 games; over is 9-1 in their last ten games. Minnesota lost seven of its last ten games; nine of Twins’ last 13 games stayed under the total.

A’s (30-29) @ Royals (21-37)
Gossett is 0-3, 6.05 in four starts this year (over 2-2). Team in his starts: 0-4
5-inning record: 1-3. Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-4

Junis is 1-2, 4.50 in his last four starts; under is 4-1 in his last five. Team in his starts: 7-4.
5-inning record: 6-2-3. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-11

Oakland is 5-7 in its last 12 games; under is 8-2-1 in their last 11 games. Kansas City won four of its last six games; over is 5-1-1 in their last seven home games.

Rangers (25-36) @ Angels (31-28)
Fister is 0-3, 5.70 in his last five starts (under 4-1). Team in his starts: 4-6
5-inning record: 5-5. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-10

Skaggs is 0-3, 4.13 in his last six starts; over is 4-0-1 in his last five. Team in his starts: 5-6.
5-inning record: 5-4-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-11

Rangers lost eight of their last 13 road games; over is 7-5 in their last 12 games. Angels won their last three home games; under is 5-1-1 in their last seven home games.

Rays (28-28) @ Mariners (34-22)
Snell is 3-0, 1.47 in his last three starts; over is 3-1 in his last four. Team in his starts: 7-5
5-inning record: 8-3-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-12

Hernandez is 1-2, 7.48 in his last five starts; over is 5-1 in his last six. Team in his starts: 7-5.
5-inning record: 6-5-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 7-12

Tampa Bay won five of its last eight games; under is 8-1 in their last nine games. Mariners won 14 of their last 18 games; under is 11-1 in their last 12 games.

Interleague
Brewers (36-22) @ White Sox (17-37)
Suter is 3-0, 3.31 in his last three starts; over is 5-2 in his last seven. Brewers are 5-0 when they give him 6+ runs, 0-5 when they do not. Team in his starts: 5-5
5-inning record: 5-5. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-10

Covey is 1-1, 5.19 in three starts this year (over 2-1). Team in his starts: 1-2.
5-inning record: 1-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-3

Milwaukee is 12-4 in its last 16 games; over is 6-3 in their last nine road games. White Sox lost seven of their last nine games; five of their last seven games went over.

Umpires
Pitt-StL: Under is 4-1-1 in last six Hudson games.
Wsh-Atl: Over is 8-1 in Knight games this season.
Chi-NY: Under is 5-0-1 in last six Whitson games.
LA-Colo: Over is 5-0-2 in last seven Carlson games.
Cin-SD: Under is 7-1 in last eight Barry games.
Phil-SF: Over is 4-0-1 in last five Segal games.
Mia-Ariz: Favorites won four of last five Woodring games.

A’s-KC: Favorites won last nine Blaser games.
NY-Balt: Four of last five Muchlinski games stayed under.
Clev-Min: Over is 8-2-1 in Layne games this season.
Tor-Det: Last seven Nelson games stayed under.
Bos-Hst: Road team won 11 of last 13 May games.
Tex-LAA: Favorites won seven of last nine Conroy games.
TB-Sea: Under is 7-2 in Blakney games this season.

Mil-Chi: Under was 2-0-1 in rookie Mahrley games last year.

Preview: Yankees at Orioles
Gracenote
Jun 2, 2018

The New York Yankees are 20 games over .500 at the earliest point of a season since 1998, thanks to a red-hot stretch that has seen them win 28 of 36 games after getting off to a 9-9 start. With one-third of the season over, the visiting Yankees are on pace for 111 wins as they go for a three-game sweep of the struggling Baltimore Orioles on Sunday afternoon.

While Gleyber Torres deservedly gets much of the ink among New York's emerging young stars, Miguel Andujar is carving out a niche of his own, hitting safely in 16 of his last 19 games following a homer and three RBIs in Saturday's 8-5 victory. Giancarlo Stanton went deep for the first time since May 19 with a two-run blast as the Yankees extended their winning streak to four and sent Baltimore to its seventh consecutive defeat. The Orioles already have five losing streaks of at least five games and will look to avoid their longest slide of the season in the series finale. Manny Machado swatted one of three solo homers for Baltimore on Saturday, his 18th of the year and eighth versus New York since the start of the 2017 season.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, YES (New York), MASN (Baltimore)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Domingo Germán (0-3, 5.45 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Alex Cobb (1-7, 6.80)

German gave up an early three-run homer but otherwise acquitted himself well in his fourth start of the season Monday, giving up four runs (three earned) over 5 2/3 innings against reigning World Series champion Houston. He also lost his previous start at Texas, getting pounded for six runs over 3 2/3 innings. German faced the Orioles in relief on April 8, allowing three runs and three hits over 2 2/3 innings.

Cobb also is coming off a loss despite a strong performance in his last start, pitching a season-high seven innings and permitting three runs on five hits. Despite the horrid record, it was the fourth quality start in the last six outings for Cobb, who has been touched for five homers over the past four starts. He has a long and successful track record versus the Yankees - a 6-4 mark with a 2.99 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. Torres, the reigning American League Player of the Week, was named the AL Rookie of the Month on Saturday.

2. Machado is tied with Ted Williams for the second-most homers (20) versus the Yankees by a player age 25 or younger.

3. Yankees CF Aaron Hicks is 5-for-8 with two RBIs and two doubles in the series.

PREDICTION: Yankees 7, Orioles 5
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Umpire Trends - Mike Muchlinski

Under is 4-0-1 in Muchlinskis last 5 games behind home plate.
Home team is 4-0 in Muchlinskis last 4 games behind home plate vs. New York.
Under is 11-2 in Muchlinskis last 13 games behind home plate vs. New York.
Home team is 4-1 in Muchlinskis last 5 Sunday games behind home plate vs. New York.
Under is 4-1 in Muchlinskis last 5 Sunday games behind home plate vs. New York.
Over is 5-2 in Muchlinskis last 7 Sunday games behind home plate.
Under is 5-2 in Muchlinskis last 7 games behind home plate vs. Baltimore.
Orioles are 1-4 in their last 5 games with Muchlinski behind home plate.
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Preview: Cubs at Mets
Gracenote
Jun 3, 2018

The Chicago Cubs will try to finish off their second four-game sweep of the season when they play the finale of their road series against the New York Mets on Sunday. The Cubs, who also took four from Milwaukee at home from April 26-29, have won six of their last seven to move a season-high nine games over .500.

Chicago (32-23) interrupted a 14-inning pitchers’ duel with a six-run outburst for a 7-1 victory Saturday, as Albert Almora Jr. snapped the tie with a two-run double, Ben Zobrist followed with a two-run double and Javier Baez capped it with a pinch-hit, two-run homer. The big inning spoiled an otherwise impressive night for a beleaguered Mets bullpen, which saw five relievers combine for six scoreless frames before Chicago teed off on Buddy Baumann and Gerson Bautista in the 14th. The Cubs are 5-1 on their current trek, which wraps up Sunday, despite piling up 61 strikeouts on the trip, including a season-high 24 Saturday. Chicago’s pitching staff has been excellent of late, posting a 2.39 ERA over the past 10 games.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, ABC 7 (Chicago), WPIX (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Jon Lester (5-2, 2.71 ERA) vs. Mets LH Steven Matz (2-3, 3.55)

Lester had allowed two runs or fewer in five straight starts before giving up four over six innings in a win at Pittsburgh on Tuesday. The 34-year-old has 18 strikeouts and only two walks over 19 innings across his last three outings. Lester is 5-1 with a 3.83 ERA in seven starts against the Mets.

Matz is expected to make his regular start despite leaving Tuesday's outing after three innings with a strained left index finger. The 27-year-old was outstanding in May, going 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA. Matz is 0-1 with a 6.10 ERA in two starts against the Cubs, both in 2016.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cubs OF Ben Zobrist is 10-for-21 with four doubles, two homers, and seven RBIs over the past five games and has eight hits in the series.

2. Mets OF Brandon Nimmo went 0-for-6 with three strikeouts Saturday after collecting 11 extra-base hits and nine RBIs in his previous 11 contests.

3. The Cubs drew nine walks Saturday and have averaged 5.1 free passes over their past 25 games after walking 1.6 times per game in their previous 11 contests.

PREDICTION: Cubs 5, Mets 3
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Umpire Trends - Chad Whitson

Under is 6-0 in Whitsons last 6 Sunday games behind home plate.
Under is 5-0-1 in Whitsons last 6 games behind home plate.
Home team is 28-11 in Whitsons last 39 games behind home plate.
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Preview: Blue Jays at Tigers
Gracenote
Jun 2, 2018

The Rally Goose is the latest hit to come out of Motown, with the Detroit Tigers riding the wave in the wake of a Canadian goose crashing into the video board at Comerica Park on Wednesday. The goose survived and the Tigers have thrived, winning all four games since the incident entering Sunday's series finale against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays.

With a plastic goose perched upon the dugout and a Rally Goose video playing on the scoreboard, Detroit's John Hicks delivered a tiebreaking two-run single in the eighth inning of Saturday's 7-4 win as fans shouted "Goose! Goose! Goose!" Nicholas Castellanos delivered an RBI double and run-scoring single for his fourth consecutive multiple-hit contest and Jeimer Candelario homered to extend his major league-leading on-base streak to 27 games as the Tigers improved to 8-2 in their last 10. The Blue Jays are in a free fall, dropping five in a row and 15 of their last 19 to tumble a season-worst eight games under .500. Toronto has allowed 34 runs during the five-game slide and its starting rotation's ERA ballooned to 5.45 - more than a run higher than it was through the first 58 games (4.38) one year ago.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, TVA, Sportsnet (Toronto), FS Detroit

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Aaron Sanchez (2-5, 4.77 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Michael Fulmer (2-4, 4.60)

Sanchez is coming off his worst start of the season at Boston on Monday, getting pounded for seven runs on nine hits, including two homers, over five innings. It marked the fifth straight start in which he failed to pitch beyond five innings and left him 0-3 in that span. Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez are a combined 1-for-22 against Sanchez, who earned his lone win last year at Detroit with six innings of one-run ball.

Fulmer also is trying to bounce back from a rocky start, lasting only 3 1/3 innings while giving up five runs and a pair of homers in a loss to the Los Angeles Angels. He picked up the victory in his previous outing with 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball at Minnesota to halt a seven-start winless drought. Fulmer is 2-0 with an 0.64 ERA in two starts against the Blue Jays, although Kendrys Morales is 5-for-13 against him.

WALK-OFFS

1. Blue Jays C Luke Maile homered and doubled Saturday after going 0-for-18 in his previous six games.

2. Castellanos is 25-for-57 over his last 13 games and has hit safely in seven in a row.

3. Blue Jays OF Teoscar Hernandez had to exit Saturday's game after fouling a ball off his left foot. X-rays were negative.

PREDICTION: Tigers 4, Blue Jays 3
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Umpire Trends - Jeff Nelson

Under is 7-0 in Nelsons last 7 games behind home plate.
Over is 4-0 in Nelsons last 4 Sunday games behind home plate vs. Detroit.
Under is 8-2-1 in Nelsons last 11 Sunday games behind home plate.
Home team is 6-2 in Nelsons last 8 Sunday games behind home plate vs. Detroit.
Home team is 8-3 in Nelsons last 11 games behind home plate.
Home team is 5-2 in Nelsons last 7 games behind home plate vs. Toronto.
Blue Jays are 3-8 in their last 11 games with Nelson behind home plate.
Tigers are 0-4 in their last 4 games with Nelson behind home plate.
Blue Jays are 0-4 in their last 4 Sunday games with Nelson behind home plate.
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Preview: Nationals at Braves
Gracenote
Jun 2, 2018

The Washington Nationals avoided a costly sweep in their weekend series at the Atlanta Braves after grinding out a 5-3 victory in 14 innings Saturday, and enter Sunday’s finale with an opportunity to move into first place in the National League East. The Nationals got seven scoreless innings from their bullpen to win for the 11th time in their past 13 road contests, and have pulled within one-half game of the division lead.

Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman remains hot, extending his hitting streak to 15 games (the longest current run in the majors) and his on-base streak to 23 (currently the longest in the NL) with a double in the sixth inning. Freeman is batting .377 during his streak, while third baseman Johan Camargo belted a three-run homer Saturday - his third longball in the past five games - to vault the Braves ahead. But the Nationals tied the game on 19-year-old rookie Juan Soto’s solo homer in the seventh - his third hit of the game - and pitcher Max Scherzer came off the bench with a pinch-hit single before scoring the eventual winning run in the 14th. Shortstop Trea Turner endured a miserable end to his 13-game hitting streak, finishing Saturday 0-for-7 with five strikeouts.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, MLB Network, MASN2 (Washington), FS South (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Jeremy Hellickson (2-0, 2.30 ERA) vs. Braves RH Anibal Sanchez (1-0, 3.00)

Hellickson overcame a sluggish April to dominate in May, going 2-0 in five starts with a 1.30 ERA with 25 strikeouts and just two walks in 27 2/3 innings. The 31-year-old finished the month with a victory at Baltimore on Tuesday, allowing two runs on six hits with no walks in five innings while showing no impact from a blister that cut short his previous start. Hellickson is 2-0 with a 3.21 ERA in five career starts against Atlanta, all coming in 2016-17.

Sanchez struggled in his first start after returning from the disabled list Tuesday, lasting just four innings and allowing four runs on five hits in a no-decision against the New York Mets. The 34-year-old had surrendered only two runs on 10 hits across 11 innings in his first two starts before suffering a hamstring injury on April 18. Sanchez opened his season with a three-inning relief appearance against the Nationals on April 2, giving up one hit and no runs with three walks and two strikeouts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Atlanta LHP Jesse Biddle struck out eight hitters in three scoreless innings of relief Saturday, while Washington RHP Justin Miller earned the victory with three perfect innings of relief, striking out five.

2. Washington 1B Matt Adams left Saturday’s game in the fourth inning after fouling a pitch off his right foot.

3. The Braves announced RHP Mike Soroka, who reported no issues with his right shoulder during a Friday rehab start with Class-A Rome, will make at least two more rehab appearances.

PREDICTION: Braves 7, Nationals 5
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Umpire Trends - Brian Knight

Over is 8-1 in Knights last 9 games behind home plate.
Over is 5-2 in Knights last 7 Sunday games behind home plate.
Over is 5-2 in Knights last 7 games behind home plate vs. Washington.
Home team is 48-20 in Knights last 68 Sunday games behind home plate.
Home team is 20-9 in Knights last 29 games behind home plate.
Nationals are 5-16 in their last 21 games with Knight behind home plate.
Braves are 1-5 in their last 6 games with Knight behind home plate.
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Preview: Brewers at White Sox
Gracenote
Jun 2, 2018

The Milwaukee Brewers failed to score over the last six innings while squandering a lead in the series opener and got off to a slow start on Saturday before turning things around and earning a win. The Brewers will try to keep the scoring balanced and earn a seventh consecutive series win when they visit the Chicago White Sox for the rubber match of a three-game interleague series on Sunday.

Milwaukee, which owns the best record in the National League, jumped out to a 3-0 lead in Friday's opener before stumbling to an 8-3 loss but the pitching held up on Saturday and the offense found its form with four home runs in a 5-0 triumph. "We did a good job overall scoring runs," Brewers center fielder Lorenzo Cain, who recorded one of the four homers on Saturday, told reporters. "The pitching did a good job. That's what they've been doing all year, keeping us in games. But we would like to put up a lot more runs early on. Hopefully, we can turn it around tomorrow and score a lot earlier." The White Sox, who are battling to avoid the worst record in the AL, dropped seven of their last nine and suffered their sixth shutout of the season on Saturday. Chicago will try to find some runs on Sunday against Milwaukee lefty Brent Suter while countering with right-hander Dylan Covey.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), WGN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers LH Brent Suter (5-3, 4.63 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Dylan Covey (1-1, 3.63)

Suter earned the win in each of his last three starts and is coming off an outing on Monday against St. Louis in which he was reached for three runs and five hits in five innings without walking a batter. The Harvard product has yet to complete six innings this season and served up a total of eight home runs in his last five outings. Suter is seeing the White Sox for the first time in his career and is 3-1 with a 3.48 ERA in six career interleague games - five starts.

Covey earned his first major league win against Baltimore on May 23, striking out eight while allowing one run and six hits in seven frames. The 26-year-old wasn't quite as sharp at Cleveland on Monday, when he was reached for five runs - two earned - on five hits and struck out three in 4 1/3 frames without factoring in the decision. Covey made three interleague appearances - two starts - during his 2017 rookie campaign and went 0-1 with an 8.22 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. Brewers 1B Jesus Aguilar went 3-for-3 on Saturday to snap a 1-for-16 drought over the previous four games.

2. Chicago LH Jace Fry allowed four runs - three earned - in his last three appearances after beginning the season with nine straight scoreless games.

3. Milwaukee 2B Jonathan Villar went 3-for-4 on Saturday, snapping a string of 12 straight games without multiple hits.

PREDICTION: Brewers 8, White Sox 3
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Umpire Trends - Nick Mahrley

Under is 3-0-1 in Mahrleys last 4 games behind home plate.
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Preview: Indians at Twins
Gracenote
Jun 2, 2018

Eddie Rosario has played at an All-Star level since the start of May, and the outfielder hopes to continue his hot streak to pull the Minnesota Twins back into the American League Central race when they host the first-place Cleveland Indians on Sunday. Rosario is batting .369 with seven homers, 11 doubles and 24 RBIs in 30 games since May began after launching a two-run homer in Saturday’s 7-1 victory.

Rosario leads the way with a .310 batting average overall for the Twins, who have won the last two games after dropping seven of eight and are 5-2 in their last seven contests at Target Field with eight games left on the homestand. Snakebitten Kyle Gibson gets the start in the finale for Minnesota on Sunday and he will oppose fellow right-hander Mike Clevinger, who is coming off his seventh quality start in 11 trips to the mound in 2018. The Indians have lost two in a row after winning a season-high six straight but lead the AL Central by 2 1/2 games over Detroit while the Twins are 4 1/2 back. Slugger Edwin Encarnacion has hit safely in a season-high nine consecutive games for Cleveland, going 15-for-36 in that stretch with four homers and 11 RBIs.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), FS North (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Mike Clevinger (4-2, 3.14 ERA) vs. Twins RH Kyle Gibson (1-3, 3.57)

Clevinger rebounded from two straight losses by holding the Chicago White Sox to one run on four hits and two walks with seven strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings in Tuesday's 7-3 victory. The 27-year-old Floridian gave up eight runs across 11 2/3 innings in his previous two starts for his first two setbacks of 2018. Brian Dozier is 3-for-11 with three walks and a homer versus Clevinger, who is 1-2 with a 3.74 ERA in seven career appearances (four starts) against Minnesota.

Gibson is winless since his 2018 debut on March 31, but he limited opponents to three or fewer runs in six of his last seven trips to the mound. The 30-year-old Indiana native, who has surrendered just five homers this year, struck out eight and limited Kansas City to five hits over seven scoreless innings Tuesday for a no-decision but owns a 5.76 ERA in five home starts. Yan Gomes is 11-for-22 with two homers versus Gibson, who is 2-6 with a 5.82 ERA in 13 career starts against the Indians.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cleveland CF Bradley Zimmer had two hits Saturday in his first game back since sitting out more than three weeks with a bruised chest.

2. Minnesota 3B Miguel Sano was rested Saturday but has 10 RBIs during his current six-game hitting streak.

3. Indians 3B Jose Ramirez is 11-for-30 with four homers during a seven-game hitting streak, raising his average to .301.

PREDICTION: Indians 5, Twins 4
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Umpire Trends - Jerry Layne

Home team is 4-0 in Laynes last 4 Sunday games behind home plate vs. Cleveland.
Road team is 7-1 in Laynes last 8 games behind home plate vs. Cleveland.
Over is 10-2-1 in Laynes last 13 games behind home plate.
Road team is 20-7 in Laynes last 27 games behind home plate vs. Minnesota.
Over is 13-5 in Laynes last 18 Sunday games behind home plate.
Indians are 7-16 in their last 23 games with Layne behind home plate.
Indians are 1-5 in their last 6 Sunday games with Layne behind home plate.
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Preview: Pirates at Cardinals
Gracenote
Jun 2, 2018

St. Louis hasn’t been a favorite destination for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who have lost six of their last seven and 13 of 16 on the road against the Cardinals going into the finale of a four-game set Sunday. St. Louis has taken two of three in the series with both wins coming on walk-off home runs.

St. Louis closer Bud Norris blew his first save of the season when he gave up a game-tying home run to Austin Meadows in the ninth inning of Saturday. But Kolten Wong gave the Cardinals a 3-2 win with his fourth career walk-off home run - three of which have come against the Pirates. The Cardinals have seven walk-off wins this season, including five that ended with home runs. Pittsburgh has lost six of its last eight and 11 of 15 to slide from its perch atop the National League Central on May 17 to fourth place.

TV: 2:15 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, FS Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Nick Kingham (2-1, 3.75 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Michael Wacha (6-1, 2.71)

Kingham will make his fifth big-league start and his second against St. Louis after striking out nine over seven one-hit innings in a 5-0 win against the Cardinals in his major-league debut April 29. The 26-year-old hasn’t replicated that dominance since, allowing at least three runs in each of his last three starts for the Pirates, but he has been reliable. Kingham has racked up 25 strikeouts against four walks in 24 innings.

Wacha hasn’t lost since his season debut March 31, and he’s only allowed more than two runs once in 10 starts since then. The 26-year-old won at Milwaukee last time out, allowing one run and two hits over 6 2/3 innings, though he issued four walks. Wacha is 5-3 with a 3.89 ERA in 15 games (14 starts) against the Pirates.

WALK-OFFS

1. St. Louis OF Marcell Ozuna hit his 100th career home run Saturday in his 705th career game.

2. Pittsburgh’s bullpen has allowed 10 runs in its last 15 2/3 innings against St. Louis.

3. Meadows is 3-for-3 with two homers and three RBIs in the ninth inning this season and has hit five home runs since May 20.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 4, Pirates 3
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Umpire Trends - Marvin Hudson

Cardinals are 7-1 in their last 8 games with Hudson behind home plate.
Over is 12-2 in Hudsons last 14 games behind home plate vs. St. Louis.
Road team is 9-2 in Hudsons last 11 games behind home plate vs. Pittsburgh.
Over is 5-2-1 in Hudsons last 8 Sunday games behind home plate.
Over is 5-2-2 in Hudsons last 9 Sunday games behind home plate vs. Pittsburgh.
Road team is 7-3 in Hudsons last 10 Sunday games behind home plate.
Pirates are 11-5 in their last 16 games with Hudson behind home plate.
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Preview: Athletics at Royals
Gracenote
Jun 2, 2018

The Kansas City Royals seemed like no match for the Oakland Athletics while getting pounded 16-0 on Friday, but fortunes change quickly during a series. The Royals bounced back with a win and have a chance to take the series when they host the Athletics in the rubber match on Sunday.

Kansas City jumped out early with a pair of runs in each of the first two innings on Saturday after suffering Friday's shutout but let Oakland crawl all the way back to tie it at four runs apiece before Jorge Soler blasted a tie-breaking homer in the eighth inning of a 5-4 win. "I came running out of the box because almost every time I make a one-handed swing," Soler told reporters through an interpreter, "I have this habit of just running hard. I came out running, I stepped on first and lifted my head and saw that everyone in the outfield had stopped. I was like, 'Oh, OK, it's gone.'" The Athletics were denied a third straight victory overall but are winners of seven of their last nine on the road. Oakland will try to make it eight of 10 behind right-hander Daniel Gossett on Sunday while the Royals counter with righty Jakob Junis.

TV: 2:15 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), FS Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Daniel Gossett (0-3, 6.05 ERA) vs. Royals RH Jakob Junis (5-4, 3.61)

Gossett is looking for his first win of the season and was reached for three runs on eight hits, including three solo home runs, in five innings against Tampa Bay on Tuesday. The South Carolina native turned in his best outing on May 23 against Seattle, when he yielded one run in seven innings but came out on the wrong end of a 1-0 final. Gossett is seeing Kansas City for the first time and did not factor in the decision in his lone road start of 2018 while serving up five runs in 3 1/3 innings at the Los Angeles Angels.

Junis surrendered three or fewer runs in five of his last six outings but is just 2-2 in that span and is coming off a loss to the Minnesota Twins. The 25-year-old allowed three runs on six hits and four walks in six innings as the Royals went on to suffer an 8-5 setback. Junis made two appearances - one start - against Oakland during his 2017 rookie campaign and went 1-0 while yielding a total of two runs and five hits in seven innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Athletics OF Matt Joyce left Saturday's game with back tightness and is day-to-day.

2. Kansas City CF Jon Jay is 11-for-25 over the last six games to raise his batting average to .305.

3. Oakland 1B Matt Olson is 5-for-11 with three homers, six RBIs and five runs scored in his last three games.

PREDICTION: Royals 5, Athletics 3
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Umpire Trends - Cory Blaser

Home team is 6-0 in Blasers last 6 Sunday games behind home plate vs. Kansas City.
Under is 5-1 in Blasers last 6 games behind home plate vs. Oakland.
Under is 6-2 in Blasers last 8 games behind home plate vs. Kansas City.
Home team is 8-3 in Blasers last 11 games behind home plate vs. Oakland.
Home team is 10-4 in Blasers last 14 games behind home plate vs. Kansas City.
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Preview: Dodgers at Rockies
Gracenote
Jun 3, 2018

The Los Angeles Dodgers were among the worst teams in the National League just over two weeks ago, but their play since then has them on the verge of gaining control of the wide-open NL West in the near future. The Dodgers set their sights on a series sweep and their 13th victory in 17 contests when they complete their three-game set against the host Colorado Rockies on Sunday.

The Dodgers matched their worst 42-game start since 1958 (16-26) and found themselves 8 1/2 games out of first place in the West on May 16, but a road sweep of Washington and series win at home against Colorado from May 21-23 near the beginning of the surge helped get the defending NL champions within 2 1/2 of division-leading Arizona. Los Angeles is clicking on all cylinders offensively this weekend in Coors Field, scoring 23 runs through two games to knock Colorado out of first place. The Rockies began their nine-game homestand by winning four of five, but Saturday's 12-4 setback was their third straight and dropped them to 11-14 in Denver. Although Charlie Blackmon has added only one home run to his team-best total of 11 since May 4, the two-time All-Star singled twice Saturday and has recorded three straight two-hit efforts - and six overall - during his season-best 10-game hitting streak.

TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Alex Wood (1-4, 3.75 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Chad Bettis (4-1, 3.68)

Wood followed up his first win of the season with his worst performance in over a month in a no-decision against San Diego last Saturday, surrendering five runs and six hits - three homers - in 5 1/3 innings. The Georgia product originally was scheduled to start Friday's series opener, but the team opted to give him two more days to deal with lingering hamstring cramps. Blackmon is 7-for-16 with five RBIs versus Wood, who is 1-2 with an 8.18 ERA in five career starts at Coors Field.

Bettis was fortunate to escape with a no-decision for a fourth straight outing Monday against San Francisco after yielding five runs and 10 hits in six frames. The 29-year-old Texan has struggled to find his form since going 4-1 with a 2.05 ERA through seven turns, recording a 6.95 ERA during his winless spell. Justin Turner is 9-for-18 and Matt Kemp (5-for-17) has homered versus Bettis, who gave up two runs over five innings in Los Angeles on May 22.

WALK-OFFS

1. Kemp has hit 44 career homers versus the Rockies, 16 more than any other active player.

2. Rockies C Chris Iannetta popped out as a pinch-hitter in his only at-bat Saturday, ending his 19-game on-base streak.

3. Los Angeles OF Joc Pederson, who went 4-for-5 with two solo shots and scored four runs on Saturday, is batting .359 on the road in 2018.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 7, Rockies 5
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Umpire Trends - Mark Carlson

Home team is 5-1 in Carlsons last 6 Sunday games behind home plate vs. Colorado.
Over is 4-1-1 in Carlsons last 6 games behind home plate.
Over is 4-1 in Carlsons last 5 games behind home plate vs. Colorado.
Home team is 4-1 in Carlsons last 5 games behind home plate vs. Colorado.
Over is 4-1 in Carlsons last 5 Sunday games behind home plate vs. Colorado.
Dodgers are 4-1 in their last 5 games with Carlson behind home plate.
Home team is 23-9 in Carlsons last 32 games behind home plate vs. Los Angeles.
Road team is 5-2 in Carlsons last 7 Sunday games behind home plate vs. Los Angeles.
Under is 38-18-5 in Carlsons last 61 Sunday games behind home plate.
Rockies are 0-6 in their last 6 Sunday games with Carlson behind home plate.
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Preview: Phillies at Giants
Gracenote
Jun 3, 2018

The San Francisco Giants slowly are climbing up the National League West standings, but they’ll have to do it without their starting first baseman for the next few weeks. Brandon Belt underwent an appendectomy on Friday and is expected to miss up to three weeks for the Giants, who aim for a sweep of their three-game series against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday.

Pablo Sandoval and Buster Posey will share time at first base in place of Belt, who is hitting .307 with a team-high 11 homers and 31 RBIs. “He's been swinging the bat as well as anyone in the National League,” second baseman Joe Panik told reporters. “You never want to take that bat out of the lineup or that glove out of the field. Hopefully, he can bounce back quick.” The Giants have won three straight - including back-to-back shutouts of Philadelphia, which was held to three hits in Saturday’s 2-0 loss. Aaron Altherr went 0-for-4 in the contest and is 2-for-17 over his last five games for the Phillies, who are 2-4 on their 10-game road trip.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Jake Arrieta (5-2, 2.16 ERA) vs. Giants RHP Dereck Rodriguez (0-0, 2.70)

Arrieta closed out a dominant month on Tuesday with seven scoreless innings in a 6-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. In five starts in May, Arrieta gave up a total of three earned runs and recorded a 0.90 ERA over 30 frames. Brandon Crawford is 2-for-16 with eight strikeouts against the 2015 NL Cy Young Award winner, who has gone 5-2 with a 1.96 ERA in seven career starts against San Francisco - including a 4-1 record and 2.23 ERA in five outings at AT&T Park.

Rodriguez is set to make his first career start after allowing four runs - one earned - and five hits in 3 1/3 innings of relief Tuesday against Colorado. The 25-year-old son of Hall-of-Famer Ivan Rodriguez is starting in place of Jeff Samardzija, who left Tuesday’s game with a tight right shoulder and landed on the disabled list for the second time this season. Dereck Rodriguez was promoted to San Francisco last week after posting a 3.40 ERA in nine starts for Triple-A Sacramento.

WALK-OFFS

1. Posey missed Saturday’s game with an elbow contusion but is expected to start Sunday’s series finale.

2. The Phillies are 17-2 when INF-OF Scott Kingery scores a run.

3. The Giants activated OF Hunter Pence and INF Alen Hanson from the disabled list and optioned OF Gregor Blanco to Sacramento.

PREDICTION: Phillies 5, Giants 1
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Umpire Trends - Chris Segal

Over is 5-0-1 in Segals last 6 games behind home plate.
Over is 6-0-1 in Segals last 7 games behind home plate vs. San Francisco.
Road team is 7-3 in Segals last 10 games behind home plate.
Giants are 0-4 in their last 4 games with Segal behind home plate.
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Preview: Rangers at Angels
Gracenote
Jun 3, 2018

The Texas Rangers woke up in the late innings last time out to even the series and go for the win when they visit the Los Angeles Angels for the rubber match of their three-game set on Sunday. Texas recorded just one hit over eight innings on Saturday before pulling out a 3-2 win in 10 frames to improve to 3-3 on its seven-game road trip.

The Rangers trailed 2-0 before scoring one run in three of their final four innings, including the winner on Ronald Guzman's single in the 10th. Los Angeles built its lead on solo homers by Mike Trout in the opening frame and Ian Kinsler in the sixth but went on to suffer its fifth loss in seven contests. Kinsler enters the series finale with a six-game hitting streak during which he has gone 12-for-24 with three doubles, three homers and six RBIs. Trout finished a double shy of the cycle Saturday as he belted his 19th homer in the Angels' 59th game - a club record - and passed Bobby Grich for eighth place on the team's all-time hits list with a third-inning triple, which was his 1,104th hit.

TV: 4:07 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), FS West (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Doug Fister (1-5, 4.09 ERA) vs. Angels LH Tyler Skaggs (3-4, 3.60)

Fister defeated Houston in his season debut on March 30 but is winless since, going 0-5 with a 4.32 ERA in nine starts. The 34-year-old Californian took the loss at Seattle on Monday despite giving up only two runs and six hits over six innings. Fister yielded three runs in five frames at home on April 9 to fall to 3-5 with a 3.03 ERA in 14 career turns against the Angels.

Skaggs also is hungry for a victory, as he has gone 0-3 over six starts since defeating the Astros in Houston on April 23 by scattering four hits over seven scoreless innings. The 26-year-old, who also hails from the Golden State, was tagged for five runs on six hits and three walks over five frames in a loss at Detroit on Monday. Skaggs limited the Rangers to one run on five hits and four walks in five innings on the road on April 10 to improve to 3-2 with a 6.00 ERA in nine career starts against Texas.

WALK-OFFS

1. Trout is 5-for-9 over the first two contests of the series and 9-for-25 during his six-game hitting streak.

2. Texas activated OF Carlos Tocci (hip) from the 10-day disabled list, optioned SS Hanser Alberto to Triple-A Round Rock and sent OF Eliezer Alvarez outright to Double-A Frisco.

3. Los Angeles placed OF Kole Calhoun (oblique) on the 10-day DL, optioned RHP Jaime Barria to Triple-A Salt Lake and recalled OF Michael Hermosillo and SS Kaleb Cowart from the Bees.

PREDICTION: Angels 7, Rangers 4
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Umpire Trends - Chris Conroy

Road team is 4-0 in Conroys last 4 games behind home plate vs. Los Angeles.
Rangers are 13-2 in their last 15 games with Conroy behind home plate.
Over is 7-2-1 in Conroys last 10 games behind home plate vs. Texas.
Under is 6-2 in Conroys last 8 games behind home plate vs. Los Angeles.
Road team is 5-2 in Conroys last 7 games behind home plate vs. Texas.
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Preview: Marlins at Diamondbacks
Gracenote
Jun 3, 2018

The Arizona Diamondbacks have teed off on the pitching staff of the visiting Miami Marlins over the first two games of their series and look to complete a sweep of the three-game set on Sunday. Arizona tied the franchise single-game record with six home runs in Friday's 9-1 triumph and belted two more shots a day later as it rolled to a 6-2 victory.

Paul Goldschmidt and David Peralta went deep on Saturday, with the latter homering for the second time in two games. Ketel Marte, who launched a pair of homers in the series opener, delivered a run-scoring triple to give him five RBIs in as many contests. Miami has lost five straight since winning the opener of its 10-game road trip and eight of its last nine overall. The Marlins registered 10 hits in Saturday's setback, but Derek Dietrich went 0-for-4 after notching back-to-back three-hit performances, ending his five-game hitting streak.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), FS Arizona

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Dan Straily (2-1, 3.69 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Matt Koch (3-3, 4.31)

Straily will be making his fourth consecutive start on the road and fifth in seven overall turns this season. The 29-year-old Californian struggled in San Diego on Tuesday, surrendering five runs - four earned - and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings en route to his first loss of the year. Straily has made two career starts against Miami, going 1-0 while allowing three runs and registering 17 strikeouts in 12 frames.

Koch was the beneficiary of strong run support Monday as he picked up the win against Cincinnati to end his three-start losing streak despite yielding five runs and 11 hits in five innings. The 27-year-old native of Iowa has gone two straight starts without serving up a homer but has failed to record a strikeout in two of his last three turns. Koch, who will be facing Miami for the first time in his career, has posted a 5.19 ERA at home as opposed to a 2.03 mark on the road.

WALK-OFFS

1. Marlins 2B Starlin Castro has gone 7-for-23 during his five-game hitting streak.

2. Arizona placed LHP Jorge De La Rosa (Achilles) on the 10-day disabled list and recalled RHP Jake Barrett from Triple-A Reno.

3. Miami placed Nick Wittgren (finger) on the 10-day DL and recalled fellow RHP Tyler Cloyd from Triple-A New Orleans.

PREDICTION: Marlins 5, Diamondbacks 3
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Umpire Trends - Tom Woodring

Home team is 6-1 in Woodrings last 7 games behind home plate.
Home team is 4-1 in Woodrings last 5 Sunday games behind home plate.
Road team is 5-2 in Woodrings last 7 games behind home plate vs. Arizona.
Over is 7-3 in Woodrings last 10 Sunday games behind home plate.
Over is 13-6 in Woodrings last 19 games behind home plate.
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Preview: Rays at Mariners
Gracenote
Jun 3, 2018

Winning in dramatic fashion has become commonplace for the Seattle Mariners, who have moved into a first-place tie with Houston atop the American League West standings. Winners of 12 of their last 15 games, the Mariners aim for a sweep of their three-game series against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.

The Mariners improved to 23-10 in games decided by fewer than three runs with Saturday’s 3-1 victory behind Ryon Healy’s solo homer and six-plus innings from Marco Gonzales. Closer Edwin Diaz retired the side in order in the ninth inning for his major league-leading 20th save after struggling in his previous two appearances. Tampa Bay has lost three straight following a five-game winning streak and was held to five hits in Saturday’s loss. Daniel Robertson recorded two singles in four at-bats, but Mallex Smith grounded out as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning and is 17-for-83 with seven RBIs in 25 games since May 6.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH Blake Snell (7-3, 2.56 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (5-4, 5.83)

Snell recorded his third consecutive victory on Tuesday, allowing one unearned run and two hits with seven strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings against Oakland. The 25-year-old native of Seattle has recorded at least seven strikeouts and not allowed a home run in each of his last three outings. Snell has gone 1-1 with a 0.87 ERA in two career starts against the Mariners, including seven scoreless innings in 3-0 win on Aug. 20, 2017.

Hernandez finished the month of May with a 2-2 record and 6.68 ERA in 33 2/3 innings over six outings. The six-time All-Star escaped with a no-decision against Texas on Tuesday, when he allowed five runs on six hits and two walks over five frames. C.J. Cron is 2-for-18 with nine strikeouts against Hernandez, who owns an 8-2 record and 1.94 ERA in 16 career starts versus Tampa Bay.

WALK-OFFS

1. Seattle leads the majors with 10 game-tying or go-ahead home runs in the seventh inning or later.

2. The Rays are 0-8 at Safeco Field since May 9, 2016.

3. Seattle SS Jean Segura is batting .427 (38-for-89) with 13 RBIs over his last 21 games.

PREDICTION: Rays 7, Mariners 4
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Umpire Trends - Ryan Blakney

Under is 5-1-1 in Blakneys last 7 Sunday games behind home plate.
Road team is 5-1 in Blakneys last 6 games behind home plate vs. Tampa Bay.
Under is 35-15-3 in Blakneys last 53 games behind home plate.
Home team is 7-3 in Blakneys last 10 games behind home plate.
Mariners are 1-4 in their last 5 games with Blakney behind home plate.
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