MLB Betting News and Trends For Friday 5/11/18

Preview: White Sox at Cubs
Gracenote
May 10, 2018

Coming off their best offensive series of the season, the Chicago Cubs will try to continue their hot hitting against the majors’ worst pitching staff when they host the Chicago White Sox for the first of a three-game series Friday. The Cubs scored 31 runs in a three-game sweep of visiting Miami earlier this week following a five-game skid during when they totaled 14 runs.

The White Sox have a league-worst staff ERA of 5.25, and they haven’t been much better at the plate, ranking 28th among 30 teams with 136 runs scored. They’ve lost nine of their last 10 and have the worst record in the majors at 9-25, but the Crosstown Cup series will bring out their best effort. "You want to be the best in the city," White Sox reliever Nate Jones told reporters. "I'm looking forward for the guys that it's their first time for this series, to see their reactions to what the crowd is like. They are always into it, that's for sure." The Cubs won three of four meetings last season after the teams had split the season series the previous two years.

TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, MLB Network, WGN (White Sox), NBCS Chicago (Cubs)

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Carson Fulmer (2-2, 5.02 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Tyler Chatwood (2-3, 3.31)

Fulmer put together back-to-back strong outings against Seattle and Kansas City before getting hit hard in his last start against Minnesota. The 24-year-old surrendered four home runs and was charged with five runs (four earned) in 3 2/3 innings in a loss. Fulmer’s only appearance against the Cubs was in relief in 2016, when he allowed four runs and recorded just one out.

Chatwood continues to fight command issues, as he has walked 27 batters in 32 2/3 innings, including five last time out at St. Louis. The 28-year-old has been able to work around the free passes, for the most part, by limiting solid contact and racking up 32 strikeouts. Chatwood is 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA in two starts against the White Sox.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cubs 3B Kris Bryant has nine extra-base hits in his last nine games, including four home runs.

2. White Sox 3B/DH Matt Davidson has drawn 19 walks, matching his total in 443 plate appearances last season.

3. Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo is 11-for-31 with four homers and 10 RBIs in seven games in May after recording only one home run and nine RBIs in his previous 18 games.

PREDICTION: Cubs 8, White Sox 5

Preview: Mets at Phillies
Gracenote
May 10, 2018

The New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies got off to vastly different starts this season, as the former defeated the latter on two occasions while bolting out to a sparkling 11-1 record. The fortunes of both clubs have changed dramatically since then, with the Mets (18-17) dropping eight of nine entering Friday's opener of a three-game series at the Phillies (22-15).

The Mets' losing ways added a sliver of the absurd with a baffling lineup card snafu in Wednesday's 2-1 loss to Cincinnati, but manager Mickey Callaway insists the team's work ethic will eventually get it back on track. "We're going to continue to grind. We're going to figure out what's going on, and work on it diligently to right the ship. Because we're better than this, and we're going to start figuring it out," said Callaway, who has seen his team lose 16 of its last 23 games overall heading into Friday's tilt versus 2015 National League Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta. Philadelphia capped a four-game sweep of San Francisco due in large part to the heroics of Carlos Santana, who went deep for the third time in the series with a three-run shot in Thursday afternoon's 6-3 victory. Odubel Herrera collected three hits for the second time in five outings to improve to 10-for-18 with two homers, nine RBIs and six runs scored in that stretch for the Phillies, who have come a long way since their 1-4 start to the season.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), NBCS Philadelphia

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Steven Matz (1-3, 4.23 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Jake Arrieta (3-1, 3.15)

Matz avenged a disastrous seven-run outing on April 25 by recording his first quality start of the season after allowing one run on three hits in six innings of Saturday's 2-0 setback to Colorado. The 26-year-old had his start pushed back due to a stiff back and allowed a first-inning homer to Nolan Arenado, marking the sixth time he's been taken deep this season (27 2/3 innings). Matz pitched well in his lone encounter versus Philadelphia despite permitting two runs on four hits in 5 2/3 innings of a 3-1 setback on Aug. 12.

Arrieta missed Philadelphia's first series versus New York as he worked himself into shape after signing a three-year, $75 million contract in March. The 32-year-old enjoyed a three-start winning streak before getting blitzed against Miami on April 30, but rebounded to allow one run on two hits in six innings of a no-decision at Washington on Sunday. Asdrubal Cabrera has homered twice while batting .357 against Arrieta, but the right-hander has posted a 2-2 mark with a 2.30 ERA in seven career appearances versus the Mets.

WALK-OFFS

1. New York OF Yoenis Cespedes, who belted a two-run homer in a 4-2 win over Philadelphia on April 4, is expected to play despite nursing a minor right quadriceps injury.

2. Phillies 2B Cesar Hernandez has scored five times in the last four games and also crossed the plate in the last encounter versus the Mets.

3. New York OF Jay Bruce is expected to miss the entire series as he awaits the birth of his second child.

PREDICTION: Mets 4, Phillies 2

Preview: Giants at Pirates
Gracenote
May 10, 2018

Andrew McCutchen had been the longtime face of the Pittsburgh Pirates before the beloved superstar was traded to the San Francisco Giants in January. A backlash from Pittsburgh fans ensued, but the 2013 National League MVP is set to return with his new team on Friday when the Giants (19-19) open a three-game series versus the Pirates (21-16) at PNC Park.

"I'll be there, be in the moment and let the emotions be what they are. I try to live in the moment of everything. It's newfound to me," McCutchen told the San Francisco Chronicle of the reaction he expects to receive from the fans on Friday. The 31-year-old, who was Pittsburgh's first-round pick in the 2005 draft, answered a brutal .198 average over his first 25 games to bat .394 over his past 11 before sitting out Thursday's 6-3 series finale versus Philadelphia. While the Giants had won 11 of 14 before being swept in a four-game series by the Phillies, the Pirates have won three in a row heading into the opener of a nine-game homestand. Colin Moran belted a two-run homer to highlight a four-run ninth inning in Wednesday's 6-5 victory at the Chicago White Sox, improving to 4-for-12 with five RBIs and four runs scored in his last three contests.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco), AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Andrew Suarez (1-1, 3.06 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Jameson Taillon (2-3, 4.42)

Suarez emerged victorious in his third career start on Sunday after allowing one run (none earned) on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 4-3 triumph at Atlanta. The 25-year-old has permitted two earned runs in two starts since being recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on May 1 to replace the injured Johnny Cueto. Suarez kept the ball in the park after being taken deep three times in his previous two outings and tossed a season-high 93 pitches versus the Braves.

Taillon has answered two brutal starts in which he yielded 12 runs on 14 hits and three homers with a pair of strong performances on the road. The 26-year-old lost his third straight start despite allowing three runs in six frames before receiving a no-decision on Saturday after permitting one run in five innings at Milwaukee. Taillon aims to end a five-start winless skid versus San Francisco, against which he owns an 0-1 career mark in two starts and was shelled for a career-high 10 runs in three innings on July 25.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pittsburgh 2B Josh Harrison is scheduled to meet with doctors on Friday to re-examine his fractured left hand.

2. San Francisco 3B Pablo Sandoval is 4-for-9 with three runs scored in his last three games.

3. Pirates 1B Josh Bell is 4-for-10 with five runs scored in his last three contests.

PREDICTION: Giants 5, Pirates 2

Preview: Athletics at Yankees
Gracenote
May 11, 2018

The New York Yankees will try to bounce back from a rare defeat when they begin a three-game series against the visiting Oakland Athletics on Friday. The Yankees' eight-game winning streak - and their 11-game run at home - came to a halt with a 5-4 loss in the finale of a series with the Boston Red Sox on Thursday.

After enduring a 55-minute rain delay, New York rallied from a 4-0 deficit to tie it in the seventh before struggling set-up man Dellin Betances served up a go-ahead homer in the eighth as the Yankees lost for just the second time in 19 games and fell back into a first-place tie with the Red Sox. The Athletics dipped below .500 (18-19) by dropping three straight to Houston at home to begin the week, managing just five runs in the process. Yankees right-hander Sonny Gray will be facing his former team for the first time when he toes the rubber in the series opener. The Athletics had not announced a starter as of Thursday night but the expectation was for Kendall Graveman to be recalled from Triple-A Nashville for the outing.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NBCS California (Oakland), YES (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Kendall Graveman (0-5, 8.89 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Sonny Gray (2-2, 6.00)

Graveman was optioned to Nashville on April 26 despite posting his only quality start in six turns the day before at Texas. He had another rocky outing in his return to the minors before allowing two runs in 6 2/3 innings in his most recent start Sunday against Memphis. The 27-year-old won his only prior start at Yankee Stadium in 2016 while giving up a run on three hits with eight strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.

Gray recorded one quality start and displayed an unsightly 7.71 ERA through his first five starts before allowing two runs on four hits over six innings in consecutive outings. He struck out seven in a win against Cleveland last time out while improving to 4-3 despite a 5.50 ERA at Yankee Stadium. Matt Joyce is 7-for-21 with a pair of walks against Gray, who was an All-Star with Oakland in 2015 and won 44 games with the Athletics from 2013-17.

WALK-OFFS

1. Betances has an ERA of 19.29 in the eighth inning.

2. Oakland swept four straight from New York at home last June.

3. Athletics CF Dustin Fowler, the team's top prospect, is expected to get his first career start after going 0-for-1 as a pinch hitter in his debut Wednesday.

PREDICTION: Yankees 7, Athletics 3

Preview: Rays at Orioles
Gracenote
May 11, 2018

The Tampa Bay Rays nearly dug out of the deep hole they put themselves in to begin the season, but a less than inspiring start to May has them hoping another prolonged skid is not forthcoming. The Rays should get a good chance to snap a three-game losing streak against the team with the second-worst record in the American League on Friday when they visit the Baltimore Orioles for the opener of a four-game set.

Tampa Bay (15-19) twice fell nine games below .500 in mid-April before an eight-game winning streak - including a two-game sweep at Baltimore - powered the team to within one game of the break-even mark. The Rays are 3-6 since and their offense was of little help during their just-completed 2-3 homestand, as Tampa Bay mustered only three runs while going 3-for-21 with runners in scoring position over the final three contests after totaling 11 runs in back-to-back victories. Baltimore (10-27) is as hot as it has been all season, beating Kansas City in back-to-back games in its last series to notch consecutive wins for only the second time in 2018 (April 5-6 versus the New York Yankees). The Orioles are coming off an 11-6 victory against the Royals in which they homered three times and finished with seven extra-base hits while posting a season-best run total.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Jake Faria (3-1, 4.15 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Kevin Gausman (2-2, 3.30)

Faria improved to 3-0 with a 2.17 ERA over his last five outings with a win versus Toronto on Saturday, permitting only a solo homer among the three hits he allowed in 5 1/3 frames. The 24-year-old has given up one run or fewer in five of his seven turns overall and is holding hitters to a .206 average, including a .173 mark against left-handers. Adam Jones is 5-for-12 with a home run against Faria, who is 1-0 with a 4.78 ERA in five appearances (four starts) versus Baltimore.

Gausman became the first Baltimore pitcher to throw nine scoreless innings and not get a win since 2011 in Saturday's no-decision at Oakland, yielding only two singles while striking out six. The Colorado native has produced quality starts in four of his last five outings and posted a 2.26 ERA in his last six turns after getting tagged for six runs across four frames in his season debut. Gausman went 2-1 and allowed a total of one run in three starts spanning 20 innings versus the Rays last season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rays C Wilson Ramos is riding a 16-game hitting streak, the longest active streak in the majors and three shy of tying the club record.

2. Jones is 10-for-25 with two homers, four RBIs and six runs scored during a six-game hitting streak that has lifted his batting average from .230 to .258.

3. Tampa Bay SS Adeiny Hechavarria is expected to start Friday after sitting out Wednesday with a left eye contusion.

PREDICTION: Rays 4, Orioles 3

Preview: Red Sox at Blue Jays
Gracenote
May 11, 2018

After avoiding a three-game sweep at Yankee Stadium and reclaiming a share of first place in the American League East, the Boston Red Sox will wrap up a 10-game road trip with the first of three games at the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night. The Red Sox, who are 9-9 since their 17-2 start, send ace Chris Sale to the mound in the series opener.

Rogers Centre has been a favorite venue for Sale, who has posted a 5-1 record and 1.36 ERA in eight appearances (seven starts) while striking out 60 in 53 innings. J.D. Martinez hit a tiebreaking home in Thursday's 5-4 victory for Boston, which won two of three at Toronto in April - with all the games decided by one run. Aaron Sanchez will oppose Sale and looks to give a boost to a sagging Blue Jays starting rotation that saw its ERA rise to 5.53 after J.A. Happ was roughed up in Thursday's 9-3 loss to Seattle, the team's sixth defeat in nine games. “We know we’re capable of a lot more as a group,” Happ said. “We haven’t hit our stride together, I know that for sure. I know that’ll come.”

TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NESN (Boston), Sportsnet One (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Chris Sale (3-1, 2.02 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Aaron Sanchez (2-3, 4.14)

Sale allowed one run or less for the fifth time in eight starts with a dominant outing at Texas on Sunday, striking out a season-high 12 batters while allowing only four hits. It was the fourth straight quality start for the 29-year-old, who has yet to allow more than three runs. Josh Donaldson is 7-for-27 with four homers and eight RBIs off Sale, who is 3-1 in five starts versus Toronto since joining Boston.

Sanchez is coming off his worst start of the season, lasting only 3 2/3 innings and giving up four runs for the second straight outing in Saturday's 5-3 setback at Tampa Bay. He did not factor in the decision despite a solid outing against visiting Boston on April 25, when he struck out a season-high eight and permitted two runs on only three hits. He has held Xander Bogaerts and Hanley Ramirez to a combined 6-for-38.

WALK-OFFS

1. Blue Jays DH Kendrys Morales is hitless in his last 28 at-bats, dropping his batting average to .143.

2. Martinez, riding an 11-game hitting streak, had a three-run homer in the series finale at Toronto on April 26.

3. Donaldson was 4-for-8 in the past two games after going 0-for-14 in his previous four contests.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 4, Blue Jays 2

Preview: Braves at Marlins
Gracenote
May 11, 2018

There is plenty of talk about the young talent the Atlanta Braves have in their lineup but entering the second contest of a four-game set Friday at the Miami Marlins, one of their veterans is enjoying a great start to the season. First baseman Freddie Freeman, who made his major-league debut in 2010, is hitting .326 on the season after collecting a career-high five hits - including a two-run homer - in Thursday’s 9-2 victory, helping Atlanta win its eighth consecutive road game.

Freeman’s 14th multi-hit game of the season helped spark the Braves' offense, while Atlanta starters have allowed just one unearned run in 31 innings in their past five road outings. The surprising Braves blew it open with a seven-run sixth inning Thursday, highlighted by second baseman Ozzie Albies’ first career grand slam - his 11th homer of the season - to give him 17 RBIs in his past 14 games. The Marlins lost their fourth in a row and sixth in the past eight games, as its bullpen gave up seven runs on nine hits in 3 2/3 innings. Third baseman Martin Prado snapped a 1-for-22 skid with two hits and a RBI, but Miami pitching gave up double-digit hits for the 12th time in 37 games.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS South (Atlanta), FS Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Brandon McCarthy (4-1, 4.84 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Dan Straily (0-0, 6.75)

McCarthy’s ERA jumped nearly two runs a game after a rough beginning to May, in which he gave up eight runs on 12 hits in 3 1/3 innings in a loss to San Francisco. The 34-year-old had opened the season strong, going 4-0 in his first six turns with a 3.09 ERA and 25 strikeouts against just 12 walks. McCarthy makes his third career start against Miami, going 2-0 with a 2.29 ERA in 19 2/3 innings.

Straily continues working his way back from right forearm inflammation that delayed his season debut until April 30. In two starts since returning, the 29-year-old has allowed six runs on nine hits over eight innings with eight walks and three homers allowed. Straily, who received a no-decision after pitching four innings against Cincinnati on Sunday, is 2-2 with a 5.52 ERA in six starts lifetime against Atlanta.

WALK-OFFS

1. Moved to the sixth spot in the lineup for the series opener, Atlanta CF Ender Inciarte finished 3-for-5 with his major-league leading 16th stolen base.

2. Atlanta LHP Luiz Gohara made his season debut Thursday, giving up one run on two hits in three innings of relief to earn his first career save.

3. Marlins CF Lewis Brinson snapped a 2-for-18 skid with a solo homer in the ninth inning.

PREDICTION: Braves 5, Marlins 3

Preview: Royals at Indians
Gracenote
May 11, 2018

Francisco Lindor looks to extend his hitting streak to 12 games when the Cleveland Indians host the Kansas City Royals on Friday night to open a three-game series between the American League Central rivals. The two-time All-Star shortstop is 22-for-52 while hitting safely in 11 straight outings after going deep for the sixth time over eight contests Wednesday in Cleveland’s 6-2 victory at Milwaukee - ending a four-game slide.

Lindor has registered eight multi-hit games in his last 10 outings and is batting .318 in his career against the Royals with 13 homers and 44 RBIs - his best marks against any opponent in each of the last two categories. Trevor Bauer will try to help the Indians (18-18) win back-to-back games for the first time since taking three in a row April 21-23 at Baltimore when he takes the mound against fellow right-hander Jason Hammel. Kansas City (12-25) followed up a 15-7 win in the series opener at Baltimore on Tuesday, in which it scored 10 runs in the first inning, with two straight losses to the Orioles (10-27). Salvador Perez launched a grand slam to extend his hitting streak to four games and Jorge Soler has also hit safely in four straight after knocking in a pair of runs for the Royals in the 11-6 loss Thursday night.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Jason Hammel (0-4, 4.78 ERA) vs. Indians RH Trevor Bauer (2-3, 2.53)

Hammel has allowed three or fewer earned runs in five of his seven outings but has yet to find a way to get into the win column. The 35-year-old South Carolina native gave up three runs on 10 hits and one walk across 6 2/3 innings Saturday to suffer a 3-2 setback against Detroit. Edwin Encarnacion boasts five homers and Bradley Zimmer is 4-for-9 with a home run versus Hammel, who is 3-5 with a 4.68 ERA in 15 appearances (11 starts) against the Indians.

Bauer yielded four runs (two earned) on two hits and three walks over six innings against the New York Yankees to suffer his third loss of the season last Saturday. The 27-year-old UCLA product has permitted two or fewer earned runs in six of his seven starts, including eight innings of one-run ball in a 1-0 loss to the Royals on April 7. Alcides Escobar is 9-for-28 with a homer against Bauer, who is 2-4 with a 3.08 ERA in 11 career starts versus Kansas City.

WALK-OFFS

1. Kansas City 2B Whit Merrifield had a pair of hits Thursday and is 7-for-14 while hitting in four straight games.

2. Cleveland CF Tyler Naquin is 8-for-19 during a six-game hitting streak and knocked in four runs in the past two.

3. The Indians won two of three against the Royals from April 6-8 in a series where only 10 runs total were scored.

PREDICTION: Indians 6, Royals 3

Preview: Mariners at Tigers
Gracenote
May 11, 2018

The Seattle Mariners have won five of six series to remain in contention in the American League West and will go for another when they open a three-game set at the Detroit Tigers on Friday night. Seattle took two of three at Toronto to open its seven-game road trip, rolling to a 9-3 victory in the series finale to improve to 13-7 away from home.

Kyle Seager belted a first-inning grand slam and added a solo shot for the Mariners, who have alternated wins and losses over their past eight games. Ryon Healy continued his power surge with his sixth homer in 11 games, giving him 12 RBIs in that span. Detroit lost 5-4 in 10 innings at Texas on Wednesday to wrap up a 2-5 road trip that saw the team lose four players to the disabled list. "Look at what we've done with a depleted lineup. ... You go look at our losses and you could very easily flip-flop our win-loss record based on games that we've been in," Tigers catcher James McCann said.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), FS Detroit

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH Marco Gonzales (3-2, 5.19 ERA) vs. Tigers LH Matthew Boyd (1-3, 3.00)

After failing to get through five innings for three straight outings, Gonzales pitched six frames for the third consecutive start in a no-decision Saturday versus the Los Angeles Angels, giving up four runs on nine hits. He won his previous two turns by allowing a combined two runs and 11 hits in road victories at Cleveland and the Chicago White Sox. Gonzales has walked only six batters against 38 strikeouts.

Boyd matched his season high with seven innings but took the loss Sunday at Kansas City after permitting four runs on six hits. While two of his three losses have come on the road, the 27-year-old has been outstanding in three starts at Comerica Park this season, posting a 1-1 mark and 1.47 ERA. Boyd has pitched at least six innings in five of his six starts and allowed one run four times.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mariners SS Jean Segura was 7-for-11 over the last two games.

2. Tigers CF JaCoby Jones was 5-for-31 on the seven-game road trip.

3. Mariners RF Mitch Haniger has RBIs in three straight games to boost his team-leading total to 30.

PREDICTION: Tigers 4, Mariners 3

Preview: Rangers at Astros
Gracenote
May 10, 2018

The Houston Astros and Texas Rangers are plenty familiar with each other as they prepare for their third series of the season - a three-game set beginning Friday at Minute Maid Park in Houston. The first-place Astros and the cellar-dwelling Rangers sit nine games apart in the American League West Division, but have split their first six meetings of 2018.

Houston (24-15) is coming off a 4-2 road trip, capped by a three-game sweep of Oakland, while Texas (15-24) defeated Detroit 5-4 in 10 innings Wednesday on Nomar Mazara's first career walk-off hit - his seventh home run in the last nine games - for its second victory in six contests. Pitching has been the biggest difference as the Astros lead the majors with a 2.60 ERA while Texas is among the worst at 4.93. Justin Verlander is coming off his first loss in 13 regular-season starts with Houston and opposes Cole Hamels, who like Verlander has faced the opposition twice already this season. Charlie Morton was scheduled to start for the Astros on Friday, but was moved back to Saturday as Houston manager A.J. Hinch told reporters: "The reason we're doing it is we have a number of off-days over the next couple of weeks, and we're trying not to disrupt too many regular starts for J.V. He's a very routine-based guy, and we want him to continue that on."

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH Cole Hamels (1-4, 3.94 ERA) vs. Astros RH Justin Verlander (4-1, 1.17)

Hamels received his second straight no-decision after allowing three runs (two earned), five hits and two walks while striking out five in six innings of Texas' 6-5 loss to Boston on Saturday. The 34-year-old California native's only victory this season came in his second start, when he struck out a season-high 11 versus Oakland, but is 0-3 with a 4.11 ERA in six starts since. George Springer is 4-for-20 with three home runs versus Hamels, who is 7-5 with a 4.16 ERA in 18 starts against Houston - 0-1, 3.86 in two turns this season - and 4-2, 4.09 in eight outings at Minute Maid Park.

Verlander yielded two runs (one earned), three hits and three walks while striking out eight in six innings of a 3-1 loss at Arizona on Sunday. The 35-year-old Virginian is 9-1 with a 1.13 ERA in 13 regular-season starts since being acquired from Detroit last July, allowing 44 hits and 16 walks with 113 strikeouts over 87 2/3 innings. Shin-Soo Choo is batting .183 with 32 strikeouts in 71 at-bats versus Verlander, who is 12-6 with a 2.78 ERA in 12 starts versus Texas - 1-0, 0.64 in two turns this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Astros 2B and reigning AL MVP Jose Altuve (.331) is 12-for-26 with three walks and six runs scored versus Texas this season.

2. Rangers 3B Adrian Beltre is 4-for-6 with four RBIs in two games since missing 12 with a hamstring injury and is 30th all-time with 1,654 RBIs.

3. Houston 1B Yuli Gurriel is 16-for-45 with seven RBIs and five runs scored during a career high-tying 11-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Astros 3, Rangers 2

Preview: Brewers at Rockies
Gracenote
May 11, 2018

The Milwaukee Brewers began a 10-game road trip in a good fashion and look to defeat Colorado for the second straight night when they visit the Rockies on Friday. Milwaukee recorded a 5-2 victory in the opener of the four-game set on Thursday for its sixth win in nine games.

Travis Shaw recorded his second three-hit performance of the season and Lorenzo Cain homered on the game's first pitch as the Brewers opened a trek that also includes three-game sets against Arizona and Minnesota. Cain reached base four times on two hits and two walks and has produced three two-hit efforts over his last five contests. The Rockies have scored just two runs while losing back-to-back games after opening the month with six straight wins. DJ LaMahieu notched two of Colorado's five hits and is 3-for-8 in two appearances since returning from a hamstring injury.

TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Brandon Woodruff (1-0, 3.86 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Chad Bettis (4-1, 2.05)

Woodruff will be recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs to start after the injured Zach Davies (shoulder) felt pain during Wednesday's bullpen session and won't yet be activated. The 25-year-old Woodruff, who will begin his third stint with the Brewers this season, lasted just 3 2/3 innings while giving up two runs and four hits in a no-decision against the Chicago Cubs on April 6 in his lone previous start of the campaign. Woodruff allowed one run and five hits in 4 2/3 frames at Coors Fields on August 19 but wasn't involved in the decision.

Bettis defeated the New York Mets in his last turn as he scattered six hits over seven scoreless innings. The 28-year-old has given up just three runs in his four victories and hasn't allowed more than six hits in any of his seven turns. Bettis is 2-1 with a 2.88 ERA in four career starts against the Brewers and has shut down Ryan Braun (2-for-12) while struggling to retire Hernan Perez (5-for-9).

WALK-OFFS

1. Brewers LF-1B Ryan Braun was hitless in five at-bats in the series opener and is mired in a 16-game homerless drought.

2. Colorado 1B-LF Ian Desmond is 1-for-12 with eight strikeouts over his last three games, with the hit being a triple in Thursday's contest.

3. Milwaukee activated LHP Boone Logan (triceps) from the 10-day disabled list and optioned RHP Jorge Lopez to Colorado Springs.

PREDICTION: Rockies 9, Brewers 7

Preview: Nationals at Diamondbacks
Gracenote
May 11, 2018

The Washington Nationals have begun to resemble the team everyone envisioned running away with the National League East and hope to continue their strong play when they visit the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday for the second contest of their four-game set. Washington outlasted Arizona 2-1 in 11 innings in the series opener to improve to 10-2 in its last 12 contests and 3-1 on its seven-game road trip.

After Andrew Stevenson scored the tying run on a balk in the eighth inning, Matt Adams delivered an RBI single in the 11th for the Nationals, who have bounced back from a difficult April and are just 2 1/2 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East. David Peralta and Daniel Descalso each recorded two of the eight hits recorded by the Diamondbacks, who have lost five of their last seven overall contests and four of six at home. Peralta is riding a four-game hitting streak during which he has gone 6-for-18 while Descalso is 7-for-14 on his five-game run. The season series is even at two wins apiece after Arizona took two of three in Washington from April 27-29.

TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), FS Arizona

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Max Scherzer (6-1, 1.74 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Matt Koch (2-0, 2.13)

Scherzer had his string of five straight starts with a victory snapped Sunday as he settled for a no-decision against Philadelphia despite allowing just one run and five hits while fanning a season-high 15 batters in 6 1/3 innings. The 33-year-old three-time Cy Young Award winner has reached double digits in strikeouts in five of his eight turns this year, with Sunday's effort being the fifth with at least 15 in his illustrious career. Scherzer has yet to lose to Arizona, going 5-0 with a 3.13 ERA in seven starts against the team he was a member of in 2008-09.

Koch made his season debut in relief but has made four starts since, allowing fewer than three earned runs in each while working at least six innings three times. The 27-year-old native of Iowa was superb in a victory over Houston on Sunday as he gave up one run and six hits over 6 1/3 frames. Koch made his first major-league start at Washington on Sept. 27, 2016 and settled for a no-decision after yielding two runs and one hit in five innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Nationals C Matt Wieters left the series opener following his single in the second inning with an apparent left leg injury.

2. Arizona 1B Paul Goldschmidt's slump continued as he was hitless in five at-bats on Thursday and is 2-for-34 this month.

3. Washington OF Adam Eaton underwent surgery on his left ankle Thursday and is out indefinitely.

PREDICTION: Nationals 4, Diamondbacks 0

Preview: Twins at Angels
Gracenote
May 11, 2018

The Los Angeles Angels put on a power display in the series opener and look to continue swinging hot bats when they continue their four-game series against the visiting Minnesota Twins on Friday. Los Angeles launched three home runs Thursday but watched its four-run lead disappear before Kole Calhoun lifted a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning that led to a 7-4 triumph.

Ian Kinsler belted one of the homers for the Angels while collecting three hits along with Andrelton Simmons, who has registered at least that many in three of his last six contests. Japanese two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani also went deep and added an RBI double as he has hit safely in 14 of the 16 games in which he served as designated hitter. Brian Dozier went 4-for-4, registering half of Minnesota's hits - including a three-run homer - as the team saw its five-game winning streak come to an end. Byron Buxton (toe) was activated from the disabled list Thursday and started in center field, going 0-for-2 with a walk.

TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), FS West (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Lance Lynn (1-3, 7.28 ERA) vs. Angels LH Tyler Skaggs (3-2, 3.08)

After a dismal first month with his new team, Lynn posted his elusive first victory Saturday in Chicago as he limited the White Sox to two runs on eight hits and struck out seven in six innings. The 30-year-old native of Indiana posted an 8.37 ERA over five starts in April, surrendering five or more runs in four of the outings. Lynn made his only career start against the Angels while with St. Louis in 2013, when he yielded five runs and nine hits over six innings in a loss on the road.

Skaggs has allowed fewer than three runs in each of his last three starts, including a no-decision at Seattle on Saturday in which he gave up two with seven strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. The 26-year-old Californian has struggled at home this season, going 0-2 while surrendering 10 runs over 14 1/3 frames in three turns. Skaggs has made 64 starts in his career but will be facing Minnesota for the first time.

WALK-OFFS

1. Angels OF Justin Upton has homered in three straight contests and is 8-for-23 during his five-game hitting streak.

2. To make room on the roster for Buxton, Minnesota optioned OF Ryan LaMarre to Triple-A Rochester.

3. Los Angeles activated RHP Keynan Middleton (elbow) from the 10-day disabled list on Thursday and optioned OF Jabari Blash to Triple-A Salt Lake.

PREDICTION: Twins 5, Angels 3

Preview: Reds at Dodgers
Gracenote
May 11, 2018

Riding their first three-game winning streak of the season, the Cincinnati Reds are turning to their newest addition for Friday’s contest against the host Los Angeles Dodgers. Matt Harvey is set to make his Reds debut and will get the start in place of struggling left-hander Brandon Finnegan, who was sent to Triple-A Louisville.

Harvey was pitching out of the New York Mets’ bullpen before being acquired in a trade on Tuesday, and Reds manager Jim Riggleman doesn’t expect the 29-year-old to work more than four or five innings on Friday. Cincinnati opened its seven-game road trip Thursday with a 4-1 victory as Scooter Gennett led the way with three hits, including a go-ahead, two-run double in the sixth inning and a solo homer in the eighth. The Reds snapped their eight-game losing streak against the Dodgers, who have dropped 11 of their last 16. Rookie Walker Buehler tossed six strong innings on Thursday, but the bullpen continued to be a concern with Pedro Baez and Daniel Hudson each allowing a run during an inning of work.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Matt Harvey (0-2, 7.00 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Kenta Maeda (2-2, 4.02)

Harvey recorded a 2.53 ERA from 2012-15 but has posted a 5.93 mark over the last three years and is hoping for a fresh start in Cincinnati. “It’s been kind of a roller coaster, battling from injuries and trying to get back to where I wanted to be and knew I can be,” he told reporters. “I want to work on fully getting back to where I really want to be.” Matt Kemp is 4-for-16 with three homers against Harvey, who is 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in four career starts versus the Dodgers.

Maeda did not factor into the decision Saturday against San Diego after allowing three runs and four hits in five innings. The 30-year-old has recorded at least seven strikeouts in four of his six turns this season but only has completed six frames twice. Maeda is 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA in two career games (one start) against Cincinnati and owns a 16-7 record and 2.98 ERA in 32 career contests (29 starts) at Dodger Stadium.

WALK-OFFS

1. Reds RHP Rasiel Iglesias has not allowed a run in his last six appearances covering 6 2/3 innings.

2. Los Angeles INFs Justin Turner (wrist) and Logan Forsythe (shoulder) both are expected to begin minor-league rehab assignments this weekend.

3. The Reds are 8-12 since Riggleman was named interim manager on April 19.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 7, Reds 3