MLB Betting News and Trends For Tuesday 6/5/18

Tuesday’s games
National League
Dodgers (29-30) @ Pirates (30-29)
Stripling is 3-0, 1.37 in his last three starts (under 4-2). Team in his starts: 3-3.
5-inning record: 4-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-6

Musgrove is 2-0, 0.64 in two starts this year (under 1-0-1). Team in his starts: 2-0.
5-inning record: 1-0-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-2

Dodgers won six of their last eight games; they’re 5-4 in road series openers. Over is 4-0 in their last four road games. Pittsburgh lost seven of its last nine games; they’re 7-3 in home series openers. Under is 4-1 in their last five games.

Rockies (30-29) @ Reds (21-39)
Freeland is 4-1, 2.56 in his last five starts (under 8-3). Team in his starts: 6-5.
5-inning record: 5-3-3. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-11

DeSclafani is making his first ’18 start; he is 20-20, 3.69 in 56 MLB starts. He is 0-2, 6.35 in two AAA starts this year. Team in his starts: 0-0.
5-inning record: 0-0. Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-0

Rockies lost their last four games; they’re 8-2 in road series openers. Over is 4-1 in their last five games. Cincinnati lost five of its last seven games; they’re 4-5 in home series openers. Over is 5-1 in their last six games.

Phillies (31-26) @ Cubs (33-23)
Eflin is 0-2, 10.13 in his last three starts (over 4-1). Team in his starts: 2-3.
5-inning record: 3-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-5

Hendricks is 1-2, 4.30 in his last four starts (under 7-2-2). Team in his starts: 4-7.
5-inning record: 3-5-3. Allowed run in 1st inning: 5-11

Phillies lost six of their last eight games; they’re 3-7 in road series openers. Under is 5-1 in their last six games. Cubs won seven of their last eight games; they’re 5-5 in home series openers. Under is 3-1 in their last four home games.

Marlins (20-39) @ Cardinals (32-25)
Urena is 0-3, 4.50 in his last four starts; under is 5-2 in his last seven. Team in his starts: 0-12.
5-inning record: 3-7-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 4-12

Martinez comes off DL here; he is 3-2, 2.16 in eight starts this year (under 4-1-3). Team in his starts: 6-2.
5-inning record: 3-4-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-8

Marlins lost their last six games; they’re 2-8 in road series openers. Over is 5-2 in their last seven games. St Louis won three of its last four games; they’re 5-5 in home series openers. Under is 7-1 in their last eight home games.

Braves (35-25) @ Padres (28-34)
Newcomb is 5-0, 1.54 in his last six starts; under is 4-1 in his last five. Team in his starts: 7-4.
5-inning record: 7-2-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-11

Lyles is 2-1, 3.90 in five starts this year; his last three tarts went over. Team in his starts: 4-1.
5-inning record: 3-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-5

Braves won three of their last five games; five of Atlanta’s last six games stayed under. San Diego won six of its last seven games; over is 7-1 in last eight Padre games.

Diamondbacks (31-28) @ Giants (30-30)
Corbin is 1-2, 4.44 in his last four starts; his last five starts went over. Team in his starts: 6-6.
5-inning record: 6-1-5. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-12

Bumgarner (finger) makes his 2018 debut here; he allowed one run in 8.1 IP in his two rehab starts this year. He is 104-76, 3.01 in 231 major league starts. Team in his starts: 0-0.
5-inning record: 0-0. Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-0

Arizona won five of its last seven games; under is 5-3 in their last eight road games. Giants won their last five games; four of last five SF games stayed under the total.

American League
New York (38-18) @ Toronto (26-33)
Sabathia is 0-1, 9.82 in his last four starts; over is 3-1-1 in his last five. Team in his starts: 5-5
5-inning record: 5-4-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 5-10

Estrada is 0-4, 6.53 in his last four starts; under is 4-1 in his last five. Team in his starts: 5-6.
5-inning record: 3-5-3. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-11

New York is 20-5 in its last 25 games; over is 7-2 in their last nine road games. NY is 5-3 in road series openers. Blue Jays lost five of their last six games; they’re 5-4 in home series openers. Over is 4-1-1 in their last six games.

Tigers (29-32) @ Red Sox (41-19)
Lewicki makes his first ’18 start; he is 0-1, 4.62 in 10 MLB games, one start (in ’17). He is 3-3, 5.06 in six AAA starts this year. Team in his starts: 0-0
5-inning record: 0-0. Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-0

Wright is 1-0, 2.25 in six relief stints this year (16 IP). He’s started 40 MLB games, five LY. He is 0-0, 4.30 in four AAA games (2 starts) this year. Team in his starts: 0-0.
5-inning record: 0-0. Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-0

Tigers won five of their last seven games; they’re 3-6 in road series openers. Under is 5-1 in their last six road games. Boston won five of its last seven games; they’re 7-2 in home series openers. Over is 6-1-2 in their last nine games.

A’s (31-29) @ Rangers (25-37)
Manaea is 1-4, 7.47 in his last six starts; over is 3-1 in his last four. Team in his starts: 6-6
5-inning record: 4-7-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 4-12

Moore is 0-1, 9.00 in his last four starts (over 8-2). Team in his starts: 4-6.
5-inning record: 2-7-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-10

A’s won three of their last four games; they’re 6-1 in last seven road series openers. Under is 6-2-1 in their last nine games. Texas is 3-5 in its last eight games; they’re 2-7 in home series openers. Rangers’ last four games stayed under the total.

Mariners (37-22) @ Astros (37-24)
Paxton is 3-0, 1.67 in his last six starts; over is 3-1 in his last four. Team in his starts: 7-5
5-inning record: 6-3-3. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-12

Keuchel is 0-2, 5.63 in his last three starts; over is 5-2-1 in his last eight. Team in his starts: 5-7.
5-inning record: 3-7-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 5-12

Mariners won 13 of their last 16 games; they’re 6-4 in road series openers. Under is 12-2 in their last 14 games. Houston lost six of its last nine games; they’re 6-4 in home series openers. Over is 8-2-1 in last eleven Astro games.

White Sox (18-38) @ Twins (25-30)
Giolito is 0-2, 14.73 in his last two starts; over is 5-3 in his last eight. Team in his starts: 4-7
5-inning record: 2-8-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 5-11

Lopez is 1-2, 6.86 in his last four starts; over is 5-3-2 in his last 10. Team in his starts: 3-8
5-inning record: 5-5-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-11

Romero is 0-2, 9.22 in his last three starts (under 4-2). Team in his starts: 2-4
5-inning record: 2-2-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-6

Littell is making his MLB debut here; he is 1-1, 2.57 in five AAA games (4 starts) this year. Team in his starts: 0-0
5-inning record: 0-0. Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-0

White Sox lost five of their last seven games; they’re 2-8 in road series openers. Over is 4-1 in their last five road games. Minnesota won six of its last eight home games; they’re 4-6 in home series openers. Over is 4-1 in their last five games.

Royals (21-39) @ Angels (33-28)
Keller allowed one run in there IP (51 PT) in his first ’18 start. Team in his starts: 1-0
5-inning record: 1-0. Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-1

Heaney is 0-2, 5.19 in his last three starts; his last five starts stayed under. Team in his starts: 3-6.
5-inning record: 1-5-3. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-9

Royals lost three of their last four games; over is 3-1-1 in their last five games. Angels won three of their last four games; five of Halos’ last seven home games stayed under the total.

Interleague
Rays (28-30) @ Nationals (33-25)
Eovaldi no-hit Oakland for six IP (70 PT) in his first MLB start since ’16. Team in his starts: 1-0
5-inning record: 1-0. Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-1

Scherzer 3-0, 2.10 in his last five starts; over is 7-2 in his last nine. Team in his starts: 10-2.
5-inning record: 8-3-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-12

Rays lost their last four games; they’re 7-4 in road series openers. Under is 8-2 in their last ten games. Washington lost three of its last four games; they’re 4-4 in home series openers. Nationals’ last nine games stayed under the total.

Orioles (17-41) @ Mets (27-30)
Cobb is 1-4, 5.65 in his last five starts; over is 3-1 in his last four. Team in his starts: 1-8
5-inning record: 1-7-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-9

Vargas is 2-0, 3.46 in his last three starts; under is 3-1 in his last four. Team in his starts: 2-4.
5-inning record: 2-4. Allowed run in 1st inning: 4-6

Baltimore lost its last seven games; they’re 3-6 in road series openers. Under is 6-2 in their last eight games. Mets lost their last six home games; they’re 6-4 in home series openers. Under is 6-2 in their last eight home games.

Brewers (37-23) @ Indians (30-28)
Guerra is 1-0, 2.02 in his last four starts; under is 4-1 in his last five. Team in his starts: 6-4
5-inning record: 4-4-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-10

Kluber is 3-0, 1.37 in his last four starts; over is 7-1 in his last eight. Team in his starts: 8-4.
5-inning record: 9-2-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-12

Brewers are 10-0 in game following their last 10 losses; they’re 7-3 in road series openers. Under is 4-1 in their last five games. Cleveland lost its last three games; they’re 4-6 in home series openers. Over is 18-1 in Indians’ last 19 home games.

Preview: White Sox at Twins (Game 1)
Gracenote
Jun 4, 2018

The Minnesota Twins have pushed their way back into the American League Central race with an offensive barrage and look to stay hot when they host the last-place Chicago White Sox on Tuesday for a doubleheader. The Twins took the final three of a four-game set against first-place Cleveland with a big assist from outfielder Eddie Rosario and have recorded 37 runs in their last five contests.

“It’s really important,” Rosario told reporters after belting three homers, including a walk-off blast, in Sunday’s 7-5 victory. “These three games, we proved the Twins belong. It’s a long season but it’s a good experience for the team to win these games.” Rosario is 17-for-38 during a nine-game hitting streak and Brian Dozier went 6-for-13 with four RBIs in the last three contests for Minnesota, which moved within 3 1/2 games of the Indians in the division. The White Sox own the second-worst record in the majors, but knocked off National League Central leader Milwaukee in two of three games over the weekend at home. Chicago manager Rick Renteria told reporters: “Any time you play a very good ballclub and you’re able to take a couple from them in a three-game series, you’re showing you’re fighting and you’re able to do it.”

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, FS North (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Reynaldo Lopez (1-4, 3.80 ERA) vs. Twins RH Fernando Romero (2-2, 4.15)

Lopez makes his first start in June after an up and down month of May, which ended with a loss at Cleveland on Wednesday when he allowed seven runs over 2 2/3 innings. The 24-year-old Dominican Republic registered three quality starts in May, but gave up five or more in the other three. Logan Morrison is 5-for-6 with two homers versus Lopez, who started May by allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits over 6 2/3 innings in a no-decision against the Twins.

The Twins had yet to announce their starters Monday night, but Romero is likely to start one of the games after permitting eight runs on nine hits across 1 2/3 innings last Wednesday - following five solid starts to begin his major league career. The 23-year-old Dominican Republic native yielded seven runs over 28 2/3 innings and one homer in his first five starts of the season for Minnesota after giving up six earned runs in 21 frames at Triple-A Rochester. Romero, who has 30 strikeouts in 30 1/3 innings with the Twins, is 1-0 with a 2.53 ERA at home in two starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Chicago INF Yolmer Sanchez is 9-for-28 with two triples and a homer during a seven-game hitting streak.

2. Minnesota OF Ryan LaMarre was 7-for-16 with three doubles and three RBIs in the Cleveland series.

3. The Twins have won four of the five games against the White Sox in 2018 and seven the past eight overall.

PREDICTION: Twins 6, White Sox 5
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Preview: Rays at Nationals
Gracenote
Jun 4, 2018

What began as a spectacular road trip for the Washington Nationals over a week ago and even saw the defending National League East champions take a brief lead in their division ended on a bit of a downer. Washington will attempt to bounce back from a disappointing series over the weekend Tuesday when it hosts the first of two interleague games against the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Nationals handled Miami and Baltimore in impressive fashion at the beginning of their 10-game trek, allowing two runs or fewer five times while winning all six contests. Their pitching didn't regress much in Atlanta over the last four games of the road trip, but only a two-run outburst in the 14th inning of Saturday's 5-3 victory over the Braves kept Washington from getting swept in four games during a series in which it tallied two runs or fewer three times. The Rays enter the final leg of their nine-game trek with a similar story, as they blanked Oakland twice and won the first three games of their series. Tampa Bay has since proceeded to drop four straight and managed only five runs over the weekend while getting swept in Seattle.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), MASN 2 (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Nathan Eovaldi (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Max Scherzer (9-1, 1.92)

Eovaldi completed his comeback from a pair of elbow surgeries in Wednesday's victory at Oakland, walking only one batter while throwing 70 pitches over six no-hit innings. It was quite the rebound for the 28-year-old Texan, who pitched in the majors for the first time since August 10, 2016, after giving up eight runs in four frames in his final rehab outing one week earlier. Bryce Harper is 7-for-16 with a homer versus Eovaldi, who is 2-4 with a 5.12 ERA in nine starts against Washington.

Scherzer claimed his eighth straight decision Wednesday in Baltimore, allowing two hits and one walk while fanning 12 over eight scoreless innings. While he improved to 6-1 with a 2.05 ERA on the road as a result, the three-time Cy Young Award winner has been even more dominant at home (3-0, 1.77, .132 batting average against). Matt Duffy is 2-for-2 with a homer against Scherzer, who is 4-2 with a 2.91 ERA versus the Rays but hasn't faced them since 2014.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rays C Wilson Ramos - a former National - has hit cleanup in 24 games this season, eight more times than the Rays had started a catcher at that spot in the order in club history prior to 2018.

2. Washington rookie OF Juan Soto is batting .469 in his team's eight wins and is 0-for-14 in its six losses since his big-league debut on May 20.

3. Tampa Bay 1B/DH C.J. Cron (hand) is expected to play Tuesday after he was hit by a pitch near his right hand Sunday.

PREDICTION: Nationals 3, Rays 0
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Preview: Dodgers at Pirates
Gracenote
Jun 4, 2018

The Los Angeles Dodgers can get to .500 for the first time since April 24 while sending the host Pittsburgh Pirates to the even mark for the first time all season when the teams open a three-game series in the Steel City on Tuesday. The Dodgers swept three games at Colorado to begin their road trip and improve to 13-4 over an 17-game hot stretch.

They scored 33 runs against the Rockies - hammering three home runs in each game - while extending their road winning streak to seven straight. "This is always a good place to come and get the offense clicking," third baseman Justin Turner told reporters of the set at Coors Field. "Obviously, one of the best offensive parks to hit in the league. Guys did a good job all series staying in the zone, making their guys throw pitches and taking advantage of mistakes." The Pirates are trending in the other direction with 12 losses in their last 16, the latest a 5-0 shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals in which Pittsburgh did not get its first hit until the ninth inning. The series opener pits Ross Stripling of the Dodgers against Joe Musgrove in a matchup of two right-handers who have combined to allow 10 earned runs in 62 1/3 innings.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Ross Stripling (3-1, 1.68 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Joe Musgrove (2-0, 0.64)

Stripling is 3-1 with a 2.18 ERA in six starts overall and 3-0 with a 0.92 mark over his last three. He lasted a season-high seven innings and fanned nine in an 8-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday. The 28-year-old is 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in three career matchups (one start) against the Pirates and will be making his first start in Pittsburgh.

Musgrove followed up a scoreless season debut May 25 against the Cardinals before limiting the Chicago Cubs to a run in seven stellar frames during a 2-1 win Wednesday. He worked around seven hits and four walks in that outing while bumping his pitch count to 100. The former first-round pick has never faced the Dodgers.

WALK-OFFS

1. Los Angeles 1B-3B Max Muncy homered twice in Sunday's win and has four long balls in his last seven games.

2. Pirates OF Austin Meadows had one of his team's two hits Sunday and is batting .392 through his first 15 games in the majors.

3. The Dodgers won six of seven meetings last year, including three of four in Pittsburgh.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 4, Pirates 3
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Preview: Yankees at Blue Jays
Gracenote
Jun 5, 2018

Slugger Aaron Judge looks to bounce back from a horrific doubleheader performance when the New York Yankees open a two-game series against the host Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday. Judge became the first player since at least 1920 to strike out eight times in a doubleheader as the Yankees split Monday's twinbill in Detroit.

Judge was hitless in nine at-bats in the doubleheader and struck out five times in the nightcap as New York had its five-game winning streak halted. The 2017 American League Rookie of the Year is 2-for-19 with 13 strikeouts in four games this month and has struck out 83 times - second-most in the majors - after fanning 208 times last campaign. Judge is 8-for-20 with two homers versus scheduled Toronto starter Marco Estrada, while Giancarlo Stanton (6-for-17) and Gary Sanchez (4-for-21) each have hit four blasts against the right-hander. The Blue Jays also just finished playing Detroit and ended a five-game skid on Sunday with an 8-4 win as Justin Smoak and Randal Grichuk each recorded a homer and three RBIs.

TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, YES (New York), Sportsnet (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH CC Sabathia (2-1, 3.73 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Marco Estrada (2-6, 5.68)

Sabathia is winless over his last five starts but has suffered just one loss during the stretch. The 37-year-old has pitched five innings or fewer in four consecutive outings and seven of his 10 turns. Sabathia is 17-11 with a 3.51 ERA in 33 career starts against the Blue Jays - an 0.96 ERA in two no-decisions this season - and has struggled with Kendrys Morales (9-for-25, homer) and Smoak (10-for-31, two homers).

Estrada has dropped four straight decisions and is 0-5 over his last seven outings. The 34-year-old, who is 7-3 with a 4.27 ERA in 17 career appearances (16 starts) against New York, has posted a 6.53 ERA during his current four-game slide. Estrada's last victory came against the Yankees on April 20, when he yielded five runs and seven hits over five innings, and he also settled for a no-decision on March 31 after giving up three runs and four hits in seven frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Yankees are 5-3 against the Blue Jays this season.

2. New York 2B Gleyber Torres homered in Monday's first game to become the first Yankee to reach 10 blasts before his 22nd birthday since Hall-of-Famer Mickey Mantle in 1953.

3. Toronto RHP Roberto Osuna (domestic assault charge) had his administrative leave extended through June 11 by Major League Baseball. The 23-year-old last pitched for the Blue Jays on May 6.

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 6, Yankees 5
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Preview: Orioles at Mets
Gracenote
Jun 4, 2018

The New York Mets have seen their bats go quiet since the start of May, as they've scored two runs or fewer on 15 occasions in that span. After mustering a total of six runs over 41 innings during a four-game sweep by the Chicago Cubs, the Mets look to ignite their sputtering offense on Tuesday in the opener of an abbreviated two-game interleague series versus the visiting Baltimore Orioles.

The Mets collected just three hits during Sunday's 2-0 setback to the Cubs, wasting yet another strong performance from a starting pitching rotation that has recorded a 2.48 ERA in its last 16 games - albeit with the club posting a 5-11 mark in that stretch. New York's offense could receive a boost with the potential return of Todd Frazier (five homers, 21 RBIs), who is expected to be activated from the 10-day disabled list following a hamstring injury. The Orioles, who are in the midst of a seven-game skid, also struggled with their offense to the tune of scoring three runs or fewer in 12 of their last 14 games. "I'm professionally frustrated, I guess. All that time and effort, all the stuff we put into offseasons and spring training and stuff like that, right now it's not working," said outfielder Adam Jones, who has five multi-hit performances in his last eight games.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN (Baltimore), SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Alex Cobb (1-7, 6.80 ERA) at Mets LH Jason Vargas (2-3, 8.53)

Cobb's disastrous season continued on May 28 after he allowed a three-run homer to spoil an otherwise solid seven-inning effort in a 6-0 setback versus Washington. The 30-year-old has been taken deep five times in his last four outings and nine times in as many starts this season after permitting 22 in 29 trips to the mound in 2017. Cobb was blitzed for six runs in 6 2/3 innings in his lone career start versus New York in 2012, although the current crop of Mets collectively is batting 12-for-64 with 20 strikeouts against the hurler.

Vargas has shown signs of turning his season around by sandwiching five scoreless innings of two-hit ball around a five-run effort over three frames in a loss at Milwaukee on May 26. The 35-year-old earned another start after scattering two hits against Atlanta on short rest four days later. Jones (.172), Chris Davis (.188) and Manny Machado (.200) have struggled versus Vargas, who owns just a 2-4 mark in nine career starts against the Orioles despite posting a 2.23 ERA and 1.06 WHIP while limiting the club to a .223 batting average.

WALK-OFFS

1. Machado has highlighted his seven-game hitting streak with three homers in his last four contests.

2. New York SS Asdrubal Cabrera is mired in a 1-for-19 stretch in his last five games.

3. Baltimore LF Trey Mancini is 2-for-27 in his last eight contests.

PREDICTION: Orioles 3, Mets 2
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Preview: Rockies at Reds
Gracenote
Jun 4, 2018

Anthony DeSclafani will make his first appearance in the majors in over 20 months when he gets the start for the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday in the opener of a three-game series against the visiting Colorado Rockies. The 28-year-old DeSclafani missed all of 2017 with an elbow injury and has sat out the first two-plus months this year due to a strained oblique, but seemingly has nothing holding him back anymore.

"Very much so," Reds manager Jim Riggleman told reporters when asked if DeSclafani is ready to go. "He's gone through many rehab starts at three different levels, all the Goodyear stuff. He's stretched out to the high 90s in pitches. There's nothing left for him to do except pitch for us." Cincinnati will be looking to recover from a 3-6 road trip that included a series loss at Colorado. That was part of an uneven homestand for the Rockies, who opened their stay at Coors Field with four wins in five games before dropping the final four contests while giving up an average of 10 runs. Kyle Freeland has a quality start in six of his last seven outings and will try to stop the bleeding for Colorado when he gets the nod opposite DeSclafani.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Kyle Freeland (5-5, 3.43 ERA) vs. Reds RH Anthony DeSclafani (NR)

Freeland got through a start without issuing a walk in his last turn against San Francisco, but he served up a pair of home runs and gave up eight hits overall while allowing three runs in 5 1/3 innings. He is 2-4 with a 4.17 ERA in seven road appearances, although each of the last four have been quality starts. The 25-year-old was roughed up for nine runs in 11 innings over two meetings with the Reds last year while serving up home runs to Joey Votto, Scott Schebler and Jose Peraza.

DeSclafani led the 2015 Reds in starts (31), innings (184 2/3) and strikeouts (151) and then went 9-5 with a 3.28 ERA in 20 starts the following year. He made four rehab appearances in the minors last month, going 0-3 with a 4.66 ERA. The New Jersey native made one prior start against the Rockies in 2015 and allowed three runs in seven frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. Reds 2B Scooter Gennett had two homers, a double and a single in the last three games and enters the series hitting .342.

2. Freeland hit his only career home run in Cincinnati on May 21, 2017.

3. Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado has three straight multi-hit games and was 4-for-9 with two homers in the three-game series versus Cincinnati two weekends ago.

PREDICTION: Rockies 6, Reds 4
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Preview: Tigers at Red Sox
Gracenote
Jun 5, 2018

Two of their key players are already on the disabled list and the Boston Red Sox hope a third will avoid it when they host the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night for the opener of a three-game series. J.D. Martinez, who leads the major leagues with 50 RBIs and is tied for the league lead with 19 homers, left Sunday’s 9-3 victory at Houston with back spasms, but Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters the slugger is expected to be ready for Tuesday.

Boston’s Mookie Betts, who leads the majors with a .359 batting average, is on the DL with an abdominal strain, while veteran All-Star second baseman Dustin Pedroia (knee) has hardly played this year and went back on the list recently. The Red Sox have still won seven of their last 10 after splitting a four-game set at Houston by winning the last two games and will send veteran Steven Wright to the mound Tuesday against fellow right-hander Artie Lewicki. The Tigers split a doubleheader against the New York Yankees on Monday, taking the nightcap 4-2, and have won nine of the last 13 overall to close within 2 1/2 games of first place in the American League Central. Nicholas Castellanos was held without a hit in four at-bats during the second game but boasts multiple hits in five of the last seven games (13-for-30) for Detroit, while Miguel Cabrera has hit safely in all five games since his return from the DL on Friday and six straight overall.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Artie Lewicki (0-0, 3.60 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Steven Wright (1-0, 2.25)

Lewicki makes his first start of 2018 after allowing six earned runs in 15 innings across six appearances out of the bullpen this season. The 26-year-old Virginia product has given up one earned run over seven innings in his past three outings and has yet to allow a homer among 18 hits in the majors this year. Lewicki, who faces Boston for the first time in his career, gave up five runs over five innings in his lone major league start last season against Kansas City.

Wright makes his first start of 2018 and the 41st of his career after permitting four hits over nine scoreless innings out of the bullpen in his last four appearances. The 33-year-old knuckleball specialist went 1-3 in five starts during 2017 and was 13-6 one year earlier across 24 starts with a 3.33 ERA. Miguel Cabrera and James McCann have each homered against Wright, who is 0-1 with an 8.04 ERA in three career starts versus the Tigers.

WALK-OFFS

1. Detroit has recorded at least one double in 52 straight games, the third-longest such streak since 1908.

2. Boston LF Andrew Benintendi is 15-for-36 with four homers and 11 RBIs over his last nine contests.

3. The Tigers won four of the seven meetings last year, but the Red Sox won two of the three played in Boston.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 6, Tigers 2
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Preview: Brewers at Indians
Gracenote
Jun 4, 2018

Two teams coming off a disappointing weekend series meet when the Milwaukee Brewers visit the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night for the opener of a two-game interleague set between division leaders. The Brewers dropped two of three against the Chicago White Sox, who have the second-worst record in the majors, while the Indians dropped the last three at Minnesota after stringing together a season-best, six-game winning streak.

Milwaukee, which leads the National League Central, has managed 13 runs over the last five contests and need to get Travis Shaw (2-for-16, last five games), Ryan Braun (1-for-14, last five) and Lorenzo Cain (2-for-22, last six) going again. The Brewers will send Junior Guerra to the mound in the opener while the Indians counter with two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber, who goes for his ninth victory Tuesday but suffered a loss in a two-game split with Milwaukee last month. Edwin Encarnacion is red hot for American League Central-leader Cleveland with six homers and 15 RBIs during a 10-game hitting streak, but the Indians bullpen continues to struggle with a major league-worst 6.02 ERA. “We can call it whatever it is, we’re just not getting people out consistently enough to give our offense a chance to win ball games,” Cleveland closer Cody Allen told the Plain Dealer. “It’s hard to win games when you’re constantly losing leads or not giving them a chance to get back in the game.”

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), STO (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Junior Guerra (3-3, 2.65 ERA) vs. Indians RH Corey Kluber (8-2, 2.02)

Guerra has registered three quality starts in his last four trips to the mound after limiting St. Louis to four hits over six scoreless innings on Wednesday in a no-decision. The 33-year-old Venezuelan yielded two runs or fewer in eight of his 10 starts in 2018, but surrendered four across five innings to Cleveland on May 9. Guerra, who owns 51 strikeouts over 54 1/3 innings, is 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA in four road starts this year.

Kluber has given up two earned runs combined in his last four starts since permitting three runs over six innings in the loss at Milwaukee on May 8. The 32-year-old Alabama native struck out 10 last Wednesday in six scoreless innings to beat the Chicago White Sox after blanking Houston over 6 1/3 frames in his previous start. Shaw is 5-for-14 with two homers against Kluber, who is 12-5 with a 2.29 ERA in interleague games.

WALK-OFFS

1. Milwaukee 2B Jonathan Villar is 5-for-8 with a homer in his last two games to raise his average to .290.

2. Cleveland LF Michael Brantley is 1-for-14 in the last four contests after producing a 19-game hitting streak.

3. Brewers SS Orlando Arcia is 3-for-11 with a walk and an RBI in three games since returning from a brief minor-league assignment.

PREDICTION: Indians 6, Brewers 2
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Preview: White Sox at Twins (Game 2)
Gracenote
Jun 4, 2018

The Minnesota Twins have pushed their way back into the American League Central race with an offensive barrage and look to stay hot when they host the last-place Chicago White Sox on Tuesday for a doubleheader. The Twins took the final three of a four-game set against first-place Cleveland with a big assist from outfielder Eddie Rosario and have recorded 37 runs in their last five contests.

“It’s really important,” Rosario told reporters after belting three homers, including a walk-off blast, in Sunday’s 7-5 victory. “These three games, we proved the Twins belong. It’s a long season but it’s a good experience for the team to win these games.” Rosario is 17-for-38 during a nine-game hitting streak and Brian Dozier went 6-for-13 with four RBIs in the last three contests for Minnesota, which moved within 3 1/2 games of the Indians in the division. The White Sox own the second-worst record in the majors, but knocked off National League Central leader Milwaukee in two of three games over the weekend at home. Chicago manager Rick Renteria told reporters: “Any time you play a very good ballclub and you’re able to take a couple from them in a three-game series, you’re showing you’re fighting and you’re able to do it.”

TV: 7:40 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, FS North (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Lucas Giolito (3-6, 7.53 ERA) vs. Twins RH Zack Littell (NR)

Giolito has lost two straight decisions after winning two in a row for the first time in 2018 and just the second time in his career. The 23-year-old Californian allowed 12 runs over 7 1/3 innings in losses to Cleveland and Baltimore after beating Texas and the Chicago Cubs with solid efforts. Rosario is 2-for-6 with a homer versus Giolito, who is 0-2 in two career games against the Twins after yielding four runs (three earned) on five hits and five walks over 6 1/3 innings on April 12.

Littell is expected to be recalled Tuesday for his major league debut after making one relief appearance and posting quality starts in his other four outings for Triple-A Rochester. The 22-year-old North Carolina native, who got drafted by Seattle in 2013, was acquired from the New York Yankees last year in the Jaime Garcia trade and is 41-28 with a 3.28 ERA in his minor league career. Littell started 2018 by posting a 0-3 record at Double-A Chattanooga before going 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA in five appearances (four starts) with Rochester.

WALK-OFFS

1. Chicago INF Yolmer Sanchez is 9-for-28 with two triples and a homer during a seven-game hitting streak.

2. Minnesota OF Ryan LaMarre was 7-for-16 with three doubles and three RBIs in the Cleveland series.

3. The Twins have won four of the five games against the White Sox in 2018 and seven the past eight overall.

PREDICTION: White Sox 5, Twins 3
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Preview: Athletics at Rangers
Gracenote
Jun 4, 2018

After about a week-long stretch in which they struggled to score, the Oakland Athletics rediscovered their offense toward the end of last week. The Athletics stand a fair chance of staying relatively hot at the plate following a day off when they visit the Texas Rangers for the first of two games Tuesday.

Oakland amassed 27 runs en route a four-game sweep in Toronto from May 17-20 before cooling off in a big way upon returning home, totaling 15 runs during a 3-6 stretch that included a pair of shutout losses. The Athletics' bats reawakened against Tampa Bay in the final contest of their 10-game homestand and carried that momentum over into a weekend visit to Kansas City, where Oakland outscored the Royals 25-6 to take two of three. The Rangers rank 24th in the majors in team ERA (4.74) entering Monday and haven't helped their cause at the plate either lately, scoring five runs while dropping three of four. Texas went 2-for-24 with runners in scoring position over the weekend to lose two of three against the Los Angeles Angels.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), FS Southwest (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics LH Sean Manaea (5-6, 3.60 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Matt Moore (1-5, 7.85)

Manaea continued his recent struggles in Wednesday's loss to Tampa Bay, giving up a home run for the sixth straight start while surrendering four runs on five hits across five innings. After going 4-1 with a 1.00 ERA in five April starts, the Indiana State product went 1-4 with a 7.18 mark in six May outings - recording only one quality start during the month. Shin-Soo Choo and Joey Gallo have each homered in seven at-bats against Manaea, who beat Texas on April 4 with eight innings of one-run ball.

Moore came off the disabled list after recovering from a sore right knee and was only marginally better than he was prior to the stint, permitting five runs (four earned) while striking out six over 5 1/3 innings during Wednesday's no-decision at Seattle. The 28-year-old Floridian has produced only one quality start in 10 tries this season and went 0-2 with a 10.80 ERA in May. Jed Lowrie has doubled twice in seven at-bats versus Moore, who yielded three runs in five frames in another no-decision against Oakland on April 23.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Athletics have belted a majors-best 53 home runs in 30 road games versus 22 homers in 30 home contests - good for 28th.

2. Texas SS Jurickson Profar has four triples in 195 at-bats this season, one more than he had over the first 633 at-bats of his career entering 2018.

3. Oakland 1B Matt Olson is 6-for-15 with four homers, nine RBIs and six runs scored over the last four games.

PREDICTION: Athletics 6, Rangers 3
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Preview: Phillies at Cubs
Gracenote
Jun 4, 2018

Coming off a red-hot road trip, the Chicago Cubs will try to take the momentum home when they begin a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday. The Cubs have won four straight and seven of their last eight to pull within two games of first-place Milwaukee in the National League Central.

The Phillies briefly took over first place in the National League East on May 26, but they’ve since lost six of eight games. Philadelphia scored only one run in a three-game sweep at San Francisco over the weekend, and it came on pitcher Jake Arrieta’s home run in Sunday’s 6-1 defeat. Now the Phillies have to face a Cubs' pitching staff that has surrendered only 25 runs over its past 11 contests, including seven games with two or fewer runs allowed. Chicago outscored the New York Mets 21-6 in a four-game sweep over the weekend and leads the NL in run differential (plus-93).

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia, WGN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Zach Eflin (1-2, 4.50 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Kyle Hendricks (4-4, 3.19)

Eflin was outstanding in his first two major-league starts of the season, allowing one run over 12 2/3 innings, but he has failed to get through five frames in his last three outings. The 24-year-old was tagged for five runs and seven hits in four innings in a loss to the Dodgers on Wednesday, and he surrendered two homers. Eflin faced the Cubs last season and allowed three runs over seven innings in a no-decision.

Hendricks has allowed three or fewer earned runs in 10 of his 11 outings this season with seven quality starts. The 28-year-old didn’t have his best stuff last time out but managed to hold Pittsburgh to two runs over five innings in a 2-1 defeat. Hendricks is 3-1 with a 2.60 ERA in four starts against the Phillies.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Cubs are 25-1 when leading after six innings and 29-1 when leading after eight.

2. Philadelphia RHP Seranthony Dominguez has retired 40 of the 43 batters he has faced since making his major-league debut May 7, including 15 by strikeout.

3. Chicago 1B Anthony Rizzo is batting .344 with 15 RBIs in his last 15 games with a plate appearance.

PREDICTION: Cubs 6, Phillies 3
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Preview: Mariners at Astros
Gracenote
Jun 4, 2018

The Seattle Mariners are the team leading the American League West when they open a two-game road series against the defending World Series champion Houston Astros on Tuesday. Seattle holds a one-game lead over Houston after ripping off victories in 13 of its last 16 games, while the Astros have dropped six of their last nine contests.

The Mariners have won four in a row to overtake Houston and stand a season-high 15 games above .500. The red-hot James Paxton, who went 3-0 with a 1.67 ERA in May, starts in the opener for the Mariners against fellow left-hander Dallas Keuchel, who is winless in three turns. The Astros have allowed 49 runs during their 3-6 stretch - giving up at least five in all six defeats - despite leading the majors with a stellar 2.82 ERA. Jose Altuve is just 2-for-12 this month after going 17-for-31 over his last seven games in May.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH James Paxton (4-1, 3.13 ERA) vs. Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (3-7, 3.65)

Paxton's superb month of May included a no-hitter and a 16-strikeout effort as he fanned 51 batters and allowed just 21 hits over 43 innings. The 29-year-old has given up fewer than three runs in nine of his 12 starts and is holding opponents to a .190 batting average. Paxton outpitched Keuchel on April 16, when he permitted one run and three hits over six frames to improve to 4-3 with a 3.16 ERA in nine career turns against Houston.

Keuchel has allowed 10 runs on 21 hits and six walks in 16 innings while losing two of his last three starts. The 30-year-old is just 1-3 with a 4.06 ERA in five turns at home this season, well off his career numbers at Minute Maid Park (37-24, 3.01 ERA). Keuchel yielded two runs and six hits over eight innings in the mid-April loss to Seattle and is 8-6 with a 2.67 ERA in 16 career appearances (15 starts) against the Mariners.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Astros outscored the Mariners 21-6 while winning three of four in Seattle from April 16-19.

2. Houston RF George Springer has hit 19 career homers against Seattle - his most against any club.

3. Mariners DH Nelson Cruz, who is batting .333 with four homers in 33 career at-bats against Keuchel, is 11-for-27 with two blasts and eight RBIs over his last seven contests.

PREDICTION: Astros 4, Mariners 3
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Preview: Marlins at Cardinals
Gracenote
Jun 4, 2018

The St. Louis Cardinals have done a good job of staying in the National League Central race despite a rash of key injuries, and they have two of their most important players coming off the disabled list for a three-game series beginning Tuesday against the visiting Miami Marlins. The Cardinals are expected to get a boost from the return of ace right-hander Carlos Martinez and battery mate Yadier Molina (groin) for the series opener.

St. Louis has won six of its last nine games to keep pace with Milwaukee and the surging Chicago Cubs in a tight NL Central race. The Cardinals took three of four from Pittsburgh over the weekend, including a pair of walk-off wins and Michael Wacha’s near-no-hitter in a 5-0 win Sunday. Now they get a struggling Miami team that has lost six straight and nine of its last 10. The Marlins rank last in the NL in numerous offensive categories, including runs with 196, and have the worst team ERA (5.06) in the NL.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FS1

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Jose Urena (0-7, 4.41 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Carlos Martinez (3-2, 1.62)

Urena remains winless in 12 starts this season, but he has been a victim of bad luck. The 26-year-old Dominican has posted five quality starts, including last time out at San Diego, where he allowed one run and three this over six innings in a no-decision. Urena is 1-1 with an 8.16 ERA in three starts against the Cardinals.

Martinez was in the midst of a dominant stretch before suffering a strained lat May 8 against Minnesota. The 26-year-old Puerto Rican recorded six straight quality starts, posting a 0.66 ERA over that stretch, before giving up four runs (two earned) in five innings in his last start before hitting the DL. Martinez is 2-1 with a 5.04 ERA in four starts against Miami.

WALK-OFFS

1. St. Louis OF Marcell Ozuna - acquired from Miami in the offseason - has homered in consecutive games and is hitting .457 over his last 12 contests.

2. Marlins 2B Starlin Castro is riding a six-game hitting streak, but he’s 1-for-13 with six strikeouts versus Martinez.

3. Cardinals SS Yairo Munoz is 15-for-37 with 10 RBIs in 11 games since taking over for the injured Paul DeJong as the starting shortstop.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 5, Marlins 2
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