Betting news, trends, odds and predictions from various handicappers and websites for Thursday 5/24/18
Thursday’s games
National League
Pirates (27-21) @ Reds (17-33)
Nova is 0-3, 9.82 in his last four starts; under is 4-2 in his last six. Team in his starts: 5-5.
5-inning record: 5-1-4. Allowed run in 1st inning: 4-10
Castillo is 2-0, 3.24 in his last three starts; under is 3-0-1 in his last four. Team in his starts: 5-5.
5-inning record: 5-5. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-10
Pirates lost four of their last five games; over is 3-0-1 in their last four road games. Cincinnati lost six of its last nine games; under is 5-2-1 in their last eight home games.
Mets (24-21) @ Brewers (31-19)
Matz is 0-2, 6.38 in his last four starts; over is 4-2 in his last six. Team in his starts: 5-3.
5-inning record: 2-6. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-8
Davies is 2-1, 2.00 in his last three starts; under is 4-1 in his last five. Team in his starts: 2-4
5-inning record: 3-3. Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-6
Mets are 5-7 in last 12 road games, but are 6-1 in road series openers. Under is 4-1 in their last five games. Milwaukee won six of its last seven games; they’re 3-4 in home series openers. Under is 5-1-1 in their last seven home games.
American League
Angels (27-22) @ Blue Jays (23-26)
Tropeano is 0-3, 5.61 in his last five starts (under 4-2). Team in his starts: 2-4
5-inning record: 1-4-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-6
Estrada is 0-3, 5.02 in his last five starts, last three of which stayed under. Team in his starts: 5-4
5-inning record: 3-3-3. Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-9
Angels lost six of their last eight games; under is 7-3-1 in their last 11 games. Toronto lost seven of its last eight home games; over is 5-2-1 in their last eight games.
Astros (32-18) @ Indians (24-23)
Morton is 6-0, 2.10 in nine starts this year; his last four starts stayed under. Team in his starts: 6-3
5-inning record: 7-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-9
Clevinger is 1-1, 3.71 in his last five starts; (under 5-4). Team in his starts: 4-5
5-inning record: 2-4-3. Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-9
Astros won six of their last seven games; they’re 5-2 in road series openers. Under is 6-2 in their last eight road games. Cleveland won three of its last four games; they’re 3-5 in home series openers. Over is 14-2 in their last 16 home games.
Red Sox (34-15) @ Rays (22-25)
Porcello is 4-1, 3.53 in his last eight starts; under is 4-2 in his last six. Team in his starts: 7-3
5-inning record: 6-4. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-10
Snell is 2-1, 1.07 in four home starts this season (over 2-2). Team in his starts: 5-5
5-inning record: 6-3-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-10
Boston won six of its last seven games; under is 6-1-2 in their last nine road games. Rays won six of their last nine games; under is 5-1-1 in their last seven games.
Orioles (15-34) @ White Sox (15-31)
Bundy is 1-4, 10.64 in his last five starts (over 4-1). Team in his starts: 3-7.
5-inning record: 3-5-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 4-10
Giolito is 3-1, 4.88 in his last five starts; under is 3-1 in his last four. Team in his starts: 4-5.
5-inning record: 2-6-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-9
Orioles lost six of their last eight games; under is 6-3 in their last nine road games. White Sox won five of their last seven games; under is 8-2 in their last ten games.
Royals (16-33) @ Rangers (20-31)
Duffy is 1-3, 9.31 in his last four starts; over is 6-1 in his last seven. Team in his starts: 1-9.
5-inning record: 1-7-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 4-10
Bibens-Dirks is making his first ’18 start; he was 5-2, 4.67 in 24 MLB games (6 starts) LY. He is 2-3, 3.72 in eight AAA starts this season. Team in his starts: 0-0.
5-inning record: 0-0. Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-0
Royals are 3-8 in last 11 games, but won last two; they’re 2-6 in road series openers. Under is 4-1 in their last five road games. Texas lost four of its last five games; they’re 2-7 in home series openers. Over is 6-3 in their last nine home games.
Mariners (29-19) @ A’s (25-24)
Hernandez is 3-1, 6.28 in his last five starts, last four of which went over. Team in his starts: 7-3
5-inning record: 5-4-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 5-10
Bullpen game for the injury-riddled A’s pitching staff. Team in his starts: 0-0.
5-inning record: 0-0. Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-0
Mariners won seven of their last nine games; under is 6-3 in their last nine road games. Oakland won six of its last nine games but lost last two; under is 6-1 in their last seven home games.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Cincinnati Reds Preview and Predictions 05-24-2018
24th May 2018 by Gracenote
the pittsburgh pirates rediscovered their offense to snap a four-game losing skid and put themselves in position to win their second series of the season against the cincinnati reds heading into thursday afternoon's rubber match at great american ball park. the pirates (27-21) had mustered just 11 runs during their four-game losing streak after averaging 6.3 in winning eight of their previous nine contests.
josh harrison capped a four-hit performance with an rbi triple in the 12th inning of wednesday's 5-4 win to improve to 8-for-15 in three games since returning from a month-plus-long absence due to a hand injury. harrison also scored on an rbi single from corey dickerson, who also had four hits wednesday and has ravaged the reds to the tune of going 11-for-24 with seven rbis in five games during the season series. scooter gennett went deep in the sixth inning on wednesday for his seventh homer among 25 hits, 20 rbis and 13 runs scored in his last 15 games for cellar-dwelling cincinnati (17-33). the 28-year-old cincinnati native answered a 1-for-16 performance in the previous series versus pittsburgh by going 4-for-7 in this set headed into a matchup versus thursday starter ivan nova, against whom he is 1-for-11.
tv: 12:35 p.m. et, mlb network, fs ohio (cincinnati)
pitching matchup: pirates rh ivan nova (2-4, 4.79 era) vs. reds rh luis castillo (3-4, 5.61)
nova fell to 0-3 in his last six starts despite recording his first quality start since april 26 with a three-run, six-inning performance versus san diego on friday. the 31-year-old dominican owns a 3-6 mark in nine career starts against cincinnati, including a 1-4 record with a 5.08 era in five appearances at great american ball park. tucker barnhart is 6-for-15 with seven rbis in his career versus nova, but the right-hander has subdued jose peraza (2-for-13).
castillo kept the ball in the park for the first time since april 16, but a career high-tying five walks drove up his pitch count and left him with a no-decision in saturday's contest versus the chicago cubs. the 25-year-old dominican weaved his way in and out of trouble and stranded a runner in scoring position in each of the five innings he worked. castillo allowed four runs on six hits in five frames of a 14-3 setback at pittsburgh on april 6.
walk-offs
1. cincinnati 3b eugenio suarez is 8-for-21 against pittsburgh this season.
2. pittsburgh cf austin meadows is 6-for-15 with two homers, three rbis and three runs scored since being recalled from triple a-indianapolis.
3. peraza has hit safely in the first two contests of this series after going 0-for-13 in his previous four games.
prediction: pirates 4, reds 2
Los Angeles Angels vs. Toronto Blue Jays Preview and Predictions 05-24-2018
24th May 2018 by Gracenote
the los angeles angels failed to overcome a fast start by toronto to fall short in the opener of their 10-game road trip, but a late surge against the blue jays the following night evened their three-game series at one victory apiece. the visiting angels (27-22) aim to ride that momentum into thursday afternoon's rubber match against the blue jays (23-26), who have lost eight of their last 10.
rookie sensation shohei ohtani and andrelton simmons recorded back-to-back two-run singles in the ninth inning of wednesday's 5-4 victory for los angeles, which scored more than three runs for just the second time in 11 games. simmons, who has three rbis in this series after driving in just two in his previous nine contests, is 5-for-10 in his career versus thursday starter marco estrada. toronto's yangervis solarte homered in his second straight outing to highlight his fourth straight two-hit performance on wednesday. the 30-year-old venezuelan is 9-for-22 with six rbis during his five-game hitting streak for the blue jays.
tv: 12:37 p.m. et, facebook watch
pitching matchup: angels rh nick tropeano (1-3, 4.45 era) vs. blue jays rh marco estrada (2-5, 5.15)
tropeano fell to 0-3 in his last five starts on friday after surrendering two homers and four runs total in 2 2/3 innings of an 8-3 setback versus tampa bay. the 27-year-old didn't do himself any favors by driving up his pitch count courtesy of walking three batters for the third time in four outings. tropeano will be making his first career appearance against toronto, although he has fared well versus former angel kendrys morales (0-for-5, two strikeouts) and curtis granderson (0-for-3).
like tropeano, estrada also is 0-3 in his last five starts after taking the loss versus oakland on friday despite surrendering three runs in 6 2/3 innings. the 34-year-old did not walk a batter for the first time this season while his six strikeouts were his most since fanning seven in an 8-5 triumph at texas on april 6. estrada has split a pair of decisions against the angels despite posting a 6.62 era while allowing the club to bat .333 against him.
walk-offs
1. los angeles rf kole calhoun is 0-for-6 in the series and 2-for-27 in his last 10 games, but he made his mark in the field by throwing out granderson at the plate in the ninth inning on wednesday.
2. speaking of granderson, he is just 1-for-13 with four strikeouts in his last four games.
3. angels c martin maldonado had an rbi single to extend his modest hitting streak to three games while improving to 18-for-49 in may after going 7-for-56 last month.
prediction: blue jays 5, angels 2
Baltimore Orioles vs. Chicago White Sox Preview and Predictions 05-24-2018
24th May 2018 by Gracenote
the chicago white sox are enjoying their best stretch of the season, and they look to complete their eight-game homestand with a 6-2 record when they face the baltimore orioles on thursday afternoon. chicago is 2-1 entering the finale of the four-game set, and wednesday's 11-1 victory was its best offensive output since it scored 14 runs in its season opener.
adam engel, yoan moncada and jose rondon all homered in wednesday's game as the white sox went 5-for-7 with runners in scoring position. the light-hitting engel scored three runs and matched his career high of four hits to raise his batting average 29 points to .212. baltimore has registered just six runs and 18 hits over the first three games of the series and owns the worst road record in the majors at 5-21. chris davis was hitless in four at-bats on wednesday and is 2-for-35 with 17 strikeouts in his last nine contests.
tv: 2:10 p.m. et, masn (baltimore), wgn (chicago)
pitching matchup: orioles rh dylan bundy (2-6, 4.70 era) vs. white sox rh lucas giolito (3-4, 6.42)
bundy lost to boston in his last turn, his fourth setback in five starts. the 25-year-old gave up four runs and five hits in six innings versus the red sox and has posted a horrific 9.41 era during the five-start stretch after compiling a stellar 1.42 era over his first five outings this season. bundy is 3-0 with a 4.26 era in four career appearances (three starts) against the white sox and has experienced difficulties with jose abreu (6-for-9, home run).
giolito has won back-to-back starts after recording just one victory over his first seven turns. the 23-year-old is tied for the most walks issued (34) in the american league and has recorded just 27 strikeouts over 47 2/3 innings. giolito, who is starting against baltimore for the first time, is 1-2 with a horrific 10.19 era in four home turns this season.
walk-offs
1. orioles rf mark trumbo (knee) could miss his second straight game since going 4-for-4 on tuesday.
2. chicago of leury garcia (knee) departed wednesday's contest in the fifth inning and will be re-evaluated on thursday.
3. baltimore rhp darren o'day (elbow) was scratched from a scheduled side session on wednesday due to discomfort.
prediction: orioles 8, white sox 5
Seattle Mariners vs. Oakland Athletics Preview and Predictions 05-24-2018
24th May 2018 by Gracenote
the seattle mariners attempt to extend their winning streak to six games when they visit the american league west-rival oakland athletics on thursday afternoon for the finale of their three-game series. after capturing the final three contests of its four-game home set versus detroit, seattle has posted a pair of one-run victories in oakland.
guillermo heredia went 2-for-4 and scored the lone run while marco gonzales combined with two relievers on a three-hitter in wednesday's 1-0 triumph as the mariners improved to 6-2 against the athletics this season. slugger nelson cruz returned to the lineup after missing four of the previous six games with elbow and foot injuries and went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. oakland registered three singles wednesday, which dropped it to 0-2 on its 10-game homestand. jed lowrie recorded two of the three hits by the athletics, who have lost five in a row at oakland coliseum.
tv: 3:35 p.m. et, mlb network, root northwest (seattle), nbcs california (oakland)
pitching matchup: mariners rh felix hernandez (5-3, 5.53 era) vs. athletics rh josh lucas (0-0, 1.35)
hernandez has had a rough time of late, surrendering 14 runs and 21 hits over 16 2/3 innings in his last three starts, but he has posted a 1-1 record in that span. the 32-year-old venezuelan has won three straight decisions away from home to raise his road mark this season to 3-1 but has posted a 7.27 era over five turns in opposing ballparks. hernandez is 26-10 with three complete games and a 2.64 era in 48 career starts against oakland, including a 1-1 mark and 3.65 era in two outings this year.
lucas will be recalled from triple-a nashville to make his third appearance this season and the first start of his major-league career. the 27-year-old floridian worked 3 2/3 innings out of the bullpen at toronto on friday, allowing one run and two hits while walking one and striking out seven. lucas, who has posted two saves and a 2.53 era in nine relief appearances for the sounds this year, will be facing seattle for the first time.
walk-offs
1. the athletics have scored fewer than three runs in seven consecutive home games, going 2-5 in those contests.
2. oakland placed of khris davis (groin) on the 10-day disabled list and designated rhp wilmer font for assignment while recalling 2b franklin barreto and rhp daniel gossett from nashville on wednesday.
3. seattle purchased the contract of of john andreoli, who went 1-for-3 in his major-league debut wednesday, from triple-a tacoma and optioned rhp dan altavilla to the rainiers.
prediction: mariners 6, athletics 3
Houston Astros vs. Cleveland Indians Preview and Predictions 05-24-2018
24th May 2018 by Gracenote
the houston astros attempt to extend a pair of winning streaks when they begin their seven-game road trip thursday with the opener of a four-game series against the cleveland indians. houston, which has won two straight away from home, topped san francisco 4-1 on wednesday for its third consecutive overall victory.
george springer snapped a 1-1 tie in the fifth inning with his team-leading 10th home run, a two-run shot that highlighted his third two-hit performance in five contests. carlos correa added two hits and an rbi for the astros, but jose altuve went 0-for-3 to end his hitting streak at seven games. cleveland completed its 4-4 road trip - which included a 1-2 mark at houston last weekend - with a two-game interleague sweep in chicago during which it outscored the cubs 11-1. michael brantley delivered an rbi single in the third inning as he went 2-for-3 to extend his hitting streak to 12 games while adam plutko did not allow a hit over the first six frames and combined with two relievers on a three-hitter after being recalled from the minors prior to wednesday's 1-0 victory.
tv: 6:10 p.m. et, mlb network, at&t sportsnet southwest (houston), sportstime ohio (cleveland)
pitching matchup: astros rh charlie morton (6-0, 1.94 era) vs. indians rh mike clevinger (3-1, 2.87)
morton looks to top cleveland for the second time in seven days after allowing one run and four hits over seven innings of a home victory over the indians on friday. the 34-year-old native of new jersey has registered 70 strikeouts while issuing only 18 walks in 55 2/3 frames this season and has yielded more than two runs only twice in his nine turns. morton's win last time out improved him to 1-2 with a 3.93 era in three career starts against cleveland.
clevinger suffered his first loss of the season opposite morton on friday as he surrendered three runs on eight hits and four walks in 6 1/3 innings. the 27-year-old floridian has issued four free passes in two of his last three turns - both on the road - after handing out a total of 10 over his first six outings this year. clevinger has made three career starts against the astros, going 1-2 with a 2.40 era and 17 strikeouts in 15 frames.
walk-offs
1. the astros have allowed 126 runs over their first 50 games, the lowest total in the major leagues in that span since 1920.
2. cleveland placed of brandon guyer (neck) on the 10-day disabled list wednesday to make room on the roster for plutko.
3. houston placed josh reddick (leg infection) on the 10-day dl and recalled fellow of jake marisnick from triple-a fresno.
prediction: astros 5, indians 2
Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays Preview and Predictions 05-24-2018
24th May 2018 by Gracenote
boston red sox right-hander rick porcello already has seen more of the tampa bay rays in less than two months than most pitchers do of one opponent in a season. porcello will make his 11th start of the year -- and fourth against the rays -- when the american league east-leading red sox go for a three-game sweep at tampa bay on thursday.
porcello is 2-0 with a 3.10 era this year versus the rays after making six starts against them in each of the past two seasons, going 2-4 last campaign while posting a 5-0 record during his cy young award-winning campaign in 2016. xander bogaerts doubled in the go-ahead run during a three-run ninth inning on wednesday as boston ran its winning streak to four games and improved to a major league-best 34-15. after capturing six in a row to climb back to the .500 mark, tampa bay has scored a total of five runs while dropping three straight. blake snell will make his third start against boston in 2018 for the rays, who have lost nine of 12 in the season series and five of six at tropicana park.
tv: 7:10 p.m. et, mlb network, nesn (boston), fs sun (tampa bay)
pitching matchup: red sox rh rick porcello (6-1, 3.39 era) vs. rays lh blake snell (5-3, 3.07)
porcello opened the season with back-to-back wins over tampa bay, allowing one run over 5 1/3 innings at tropicana park on march 31 and yielding three in 7 1/3 frames at home on april 7. the 29-year-old sinkerballer worked a season-high 7 2/3 innings against the rays on april 29, giving up three runs in a no-decision. denard span is 17-for-46 and brad miller 13-for-46 with five homers and six doubles versus porcello.
snell rebounded from his worst start of the season with a strong effort at the los angeles angels on friday, striking out eight in 6 2/3 innings of two-run ball. it marked the seventh time in eight turns he has permitted fewer than three runs, including a 7 1/3-inning outing at boston on april 27 in which he gave up two. snell is 2-1 with a 1.07 era in four home starts, one of which was a 5 2/3 scoreless-inning performance against the red sox on march 30.
walk-offs
1. red sox rhp craig kimbrel has notched a save in each of the first two games of the series to boost his season total to 15.
2. rays 1b c.j. cron recorded an rbi double wednesday but is 2-for-20 with 10 strikeouts in his last five contests.
3. boston had its streak of 13 straight games with at least one homer snapped in wednesday's win.
prediction: rays 3, red sox 2
Kansas City Royals vs. Texas Rangers Preview and Predictions 05-24-2018
24th May 2018 by Gracenote
the texas rangers racked up the runs during a confidence-building series against the new york yankees and look to continue the production when they open a four-game series versus the visiting kansas city royals on thursday. texas belted seven homers and produced 23 runs while winning two of three from new york, including wednesday's 12-10 triumph.
nomar mazara and ronald guzman each homered and were among four rangers - isiah kiner-falefa and jurickson profar were the others - to drive in three runs in wednesday's slugfest. guzman went deep in each game of the series, going 5-for-10 overall in the set, while profar has collected six rbis over his last two contests. kansas city posted a 5-2, 10-inning victory on wednesday to take two of three from st. louis and win a road series for the first time this season. "we needed that," royals catcher sal butera told reporters after delivering the tiebreaking two-run single in the 10th. "we fought hard all three games and guys did a great job on both ends, and our bullpen did a great job."
tv: 8:05 p.m. et, fs kansas city, fs southwest (texas)
pitching matchup: royals lh danny duffy (1-6, 6.88 era) vs. rangers rh austin bibens-dirkx (2017: 5-2, 4.67)
duffy is having a poor season, and things really have unraveled over his last two starts as he has given up 14 runs and 15 hits - four homers - while issuing eight walks in just 7 1/3 innings. the 29-year-old already has served up 14 homers in just 51 frames after allowing a total of 13 over 146 1/3 innings last season. duffy is 1-2 with a 3.25 era in six career starts against the rangers.
bibens-dirkx is being recalled to make his seventh career start in the rotation spot typically filled by matt moore, who went on the disabled list with a knee injury. the 33-year-old was 2-3 with a 3.72 era and 1.34 whip in eight turns for triple-a round rock, registering 32 strikeouts against eight walks over 38 2/3 innings. bibens-dirkx, who didn't face the royals last season - his first in the majors, recorded a porous 5.97 era over 12 home appearances (three starts) in 2017.
walk-offs
1. the rangers served up 12 homers in the series against the yankees.
2. texas 3b adrian beltre (hamstring) took batting practice wednesday for the first time since being injured on may 13 but remains unlikely to return until early june.
3. kansas city c salvador perez started at first base for the first time since 2013 in wednesday's game against the cardinals and belted his eighth homer of the campaign.
prediction: rangers 7, royals 6
New York Mets vs. Milwaukee Brewers Preview and Predictions 05-24-2018
23rd May 2018 by Gracenote
off to the best 50-game start in club history, the milwaukee brewers look to keep rolling when they open a four-game series against the visiting new york mets on thursday. milwaukee surged to the top of the national league central by winning 10 of 13 contests and opened its 10-game homestand with a three-game sweep of arizona.
the brewers, who outscored the diamondbacks 14-4 and are poised to welcome back 17-game winner kyle davies and outfielder ryan braun from the disabled list on thursday, are trying not to get too far ahead of themselves. "this is the cubs' division until someone says otherwise," milwaukee third baseman travis shaw told reporters. "but we feel like we're in a good spot now. we're playing good. we'll try to keep it going this weekend." new york, which had ripped off four straight victories before dropping its last two to miami, won two of three from the brewers last month as part of its 12-2 start to the season. thursday's matchup marks the start of a rugged eight-game road trip for the mets, who will play four each at division leaders milwaukee and atlanta - the teams with the two best records in the nl.
tv: 8:10 p.m. et, sny (new york), fs wisconsin (milwaukee)
pitching matchup: mets lh steven matz (1-3, 4.42 era) vs. brewers rh zach davies (2-3, 4.24)
after putting together back-to-back solid outings, matz turned in a clunker last time out versus arizona as he lasted only four innings while giving up four runs and six hits - including two homers. he allowed one run in each of his previous two turns, including a 2-0 loss to colorado in which he worked a season-high six frames. matz defeated davies and milwaukee on april 13 despite yielding four runs in 5 1/3 innings.
davies has been out since april 29 due to rotator cuff inflammation but was pitching well at the time of his injury, surrendering four runs over 18 innings in a span of three starts. he was rocked in two of his first three turns to open the season, including a 4 1/3-inning outing against the mets in which he was tagged for five runs and two homers. asdrubal cabrera is 5-for-9 versus davies, but jay bruce has recorded just one hit in 15 at-bats.
walk-offs
1. brewers 1b jesús aguilar drove in three runs on wednesday, giving him nine rbis in his last five games.
2. mets rhp jeurys familia suffered his fourth blown save on wednesday.
3. braun (back), who has been out since may 13, was in a 3-for-29 rut at the time of his injury.
prediction: brewers 6, mets 3