Betting news, trends, odds and predictions from various handicappers and websites for Saturday 5/12/18
Preview: Athletics at Yankees
Gracenote
May 12, 2018
The New York Yankees suddenly have a losing streak to deal with - their first since early April - and will try to avoid their first three-game slide of the year when they continue a weekend series with the visiting Oakland Athletics on Saturday. The Athletics pounded out 14 hits - four home runs - to roll to a 10-5 win in the series opener Friday night, snapping their own three-game losing streak in the process.
Oakland has claimed five straight against the Yankees dating to last season and now takes aim at a series win against a team that had won 17 of 18 games - including eight in a row - before a loss to the Boston Red Sox on Thursday. Aaron Judge homered and recorded four RBIs to lead the way for New York while Didi Gregorius went 0-for-4 to extend his hitless stretch to 28 at-bats. Jed Lowrie homered among three hits for the A's to raise his average to .344 on the year and to .306 in 28 career games at Yankee Stadium. New York right-hander Domingo German sparkled through six no-hit innings in his first career start his last time out and will seek an encore performance Saturday opposite Oakland righty Andrew Triggs.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NBCS California (Oakland), YES (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Andrew Triggs (3-1, 4.41 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Domingo German (0-1, 2.66)
Triggs is coming off his best start of the season after yielding a run and two hits in seven innings of a win against Baltimore on Sunday. He struck out a career high-tying nine and did not walk a batter for the first time this season. The 29-year-old was charged with six runs but only one of them was earned in six innings in his only prior start at Yankee Stadium last season.
German struck out nine and walked two in his outstanding start against Cleveland on Sunday, giving him 10 scoreless innings over his last two appearances overall. The Dominican Republic native has 27 strikeouts and 14 hits allowed in 20 1/3 innings on the year. German tossed four scoreless frames in relief while fanning six at Oakland last June 17.
WALK-OFFS
1. Lowrie (34 RBIs), A's LF Khris Davis (32), Judge (32) and Gregorius (31) finished Friday's game ranked 2-5 in the AL in that category.
2. Oakland CF Dustin Fowler, who was traded from the Yankees last season for right-hander Sonny Gray, recorded his first career hit in Friday's win.
3. New York 2B Gleyber Torres has three home runs and 10 RBIs over his last eight games.
PREDICTION: Yankees 5, Athletics 4
Preview: White Sox at Cubs
Gracenote
May 12, 2018
The Chicago Cubs’ offense has been streaky so far this season, and right now they are in the middle of a hot stretch. They’ll try to keep the runs coming and claim a fifth consecutive victory when they host the crosstown-rival Chicago White Sox for the second of a three-game series Saturday.
The Cubs’ offense has come to life on the current homestand, as they’ve outscored opponents 42-11 while winning the first four games. Catcher Willson Contreras had the hottest bat Friday, going 4-for-5 with a pair of homers and seven RBIs - the most by a Cub since Aramis Ramirez in 2010 - in an 11-2 rout of the White Sox. The White Sox are in a tough position for the rest of the series after needing the bullpen to eat innings when Carson Fulmer couldn’t get out of the second Friday. The White Sox have lost six straight and 10 of their last 11.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago (White Sox), ABC 7 (Cubs)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH James Shields (1-3, 5.14 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Jon Lester (2-1, 2.82)
Shields retired the first 16 batters he faced last time out and still wound up taking the loss in a 5-3 defeat against Minnesota. The 36-year-old is winless in seven outings (six starts) since earning a win on Opening Day at Kansas City, but he has recorded two straight quality starts. Shields is 2-1 with a 3.19 ERA in five starts against the Cubs.
After benefiting from great run support in his first four starts, Lester has been on the short end of things recently. The Cubs have scored just seven runs across his last three outings, leaving the 34-year-old winless during that span despite allowing three or fewer runs in all three starts. Lester is 7-6 with a 4.30 ERA in 15 starts against the White Sox.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Cubs have recorded at least seven extra-base hits in consecutive games for the first time since September 11-12, 2011.
2. White Sox 1B Jose Abreu was 2-for-3 Friday and is batting .338 in 18 career games against the Cubs.
3. Cubs 3B Kris Bryant homered in five of his last eight games and has scored at least two runs in a career-high four consecutive games.
PREDICTION: Cubs 6, White Sox 3
Preview: Rays at Orioles (Game 1)
Gracenote
May 12, 2018
The Baltimore Orioles have put together a season-high three-game winning streak with offense taking the lead and look to extend the run when they host the Tampa Bay Rays for a doubleheader Saturday. Manny Machado launched a two-run homer and a grand slam Friday as the Orioles recorded a 9-4 victory in the series opener, giving them 32 runs over the last four contests.
Machado owns three homers and eight RBIs in the past two contests, while teammate Adam Jones takes a seven-game hitting streak into Saturday and Mark Trumbo - batting .325 in 10 outings since returning from the disabled list - belted his first home run of the season Friday. The Rays have lost four straight and are just 3-7 since building a season-best eight-game winning streak after giving up seven runs in Baltimore’s last three at-bats during the series opener. Tampa Bay catcher Wilson Ramos singled Friday to extend his hitting streak to 17 games, two short of the franchise record set by Jason Bartlett in 2009. The Rays are 7-10 on the road after dropping three in a row away from home and have scored just seven times during their four-game slide.
TV: 3:05 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), MASN2 (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Chris Archer (2-2, 5.32 ERA) vs. Orioles RH David Hess (NR)
Archer has recorded three quality starts in his last four outings but went 0-2 in those appearances after posting a no-decision Sunday with seven innings of one-run ball versus Toronto. The two-time All-Star gave up four runs on 11 hits over 5 1/3 innings in a win at Baltimore on April 26. Jonathan Schoop is 10-for-27 with three homers against Archer, who is 6-8 with a 4.92 ERA in 18 career appearances (17 starts) versus the Orioles.
Hess makes his major-league debut after limiting Tampa Bay’s Triple-A affiliate Durham to one hit over seven scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts on Tuesday. The 24-year-old Tennessee native has been impressive with Triple-A Norfolk in the early season, going 2-0 with a 2.12 ERA in six starts after spending the last two years at Double-A Bowie. Hess, a fifth-round pick in the 2014 draft, has struck out 29 in 29 2/3 innings this year with the Tides while permitting 20 hits and 12 walks.
WALK-OFFS
1. Tampa Bay SS Adeiny Hechavarria had two hits Friday, including a double, after missing one game due to an eye injury.
2. Baltimore placed RHP Chris Tillman (lower back strain) on the 10-day disabled list Friday and recalled RHP Jimmy Yacabonis.
3. The Rays recalled LHP Anthony Banda, acquired this offseason in the Steven Souza trade, to be the 26th man for the doubleheader.
PREDICTION: Rays 6, Orioles 3
Preview: Nationals at Diamondbacks
Gracenote
May 12, 2018
Stephen Strasburg aims to avenge last month's loss to Arizona when the Washington Nationals visit the Diamondbacks on Saturday in the third contest of a four-game set. Strasburg allowed a season-worst five runs in 6 1/3 innings while suffering a 5-4 loss to the Diamondbacks on April 27.
Strasburg will be looking to pitch the Nationals to their third straight win in the series as well as their 12th victory in their past 14 contests. Trea Turner and Anthony Rendon each hit solo homers on Friday as Washington posted a 3-1 victory. Arizona has dropped three straight games and six of its past nine after getting off to a splendid 21-8 start. Standout first baseman Paul Goldschmidt has gone 23 games without a homer and is just 3-for-38 with 14 strikeouts in 10 games in May.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FS1, MASN (Washington), FS Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (4-3, 3.52 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Troy Scribner (2017: 2-1, 4.18)
Strasburg has recorded back-to-back victories after going 0-2 over his previous three turns. The 29-year-old defeated the San Diego Padres in his last outing when he gave up three runs and six hits over seven innings. Strasburg is 4-3 with a 3.59 ERA in 10 career starts against the Diamondbacks and has experienced difficulties with A.J. Pollock (5-for-9, one homer) and David Peralta (4-for-10, one homer).
Scribner will be recalled prior to Saturday's game to make his fifth career start - the other four coming last season for the Los Angeles Angels. The 26-year-old is 2-1 with a 5.68 ERA in five starts at Triple A-Reno and has struck out 24 in 25 1/3 innings. "I'm anxious to show everybody what I can do," Scribner told reporters, "and hopefully I can show them why I belong here and can stay here to help the team."
WALK-OFFS
1. Peralta homered for the Diamondbacks' only run on Friday and is 8-for-22 with two homers during a five-game hitting streak.
2. Washington placed C Matt Wieters (hamstring) on the 10-day disabled list, transferred CF Adam Eaton (ankle) to the 60-day DL and recalled C Spencer Kieboom from Triple-A Syracuse.
3. Arizona recalled Jake Barrett from Triple-A Reno and optioned fellow RHP Silvino Bracho to the same affiliate.
PREDICTION: Nationals 4, Diamondbacks 2
Preview: Red Sox at Blue Jays
Gracenote
May 12, 2018
Scratched from his scheduled start earlier in the week after experiencing numbness in his throwing hand for the second time this season, Boston Red Sox left-hander David Price was relieved to be diagnosed with a mild case of carpal tunnel syndrome. Price will return to the mound Saturday when the Red Sox resume a three-game series at the Toronto Blue Jays.
Price, who has more wins against Toronto than any other opponent, said he will stop playing the video game "Fortnite" in the team clubhouse even though he dismissed that as a reason for causing the carpal tunnel. He will have a tough act to follow after fellow left-hander Chris Sale struck out 15 over nine innings in a 12-inning, 5-3 loss in the series opener. Blue Jays catcher Luke Maile delivered a walk-off two-run homer to cap a four-RBI night in which he also had a run-scoring single and a tying solo shot against Sale. Maile's heroics enabled Toronto to keep a pair of perfect streaks alive -- the Blue Jays improved to 17-0 when scoring at least five runs and 5-0 in extra innings.
TV: 4:07 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NESN (Boston), Sportsnet (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH David Price (2-4, 5.11 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Marco Estrada (2-2, 5.21)
Price lost his third consecutive start at Texas on May 3 when he was shelled for nine runs (seven earned) and six hits over 3 2/3 innings. While he has allowed 19 runs during the three-game slide, Price has dominated the Blue Jays over his career with a 17-3 record and 2.40 ERA in 26 appearances (25 starts). He pitched well against the Blue Jays in his first season with Boston, going 1-1 with a 2.49 ERA in four starts in 2016.
Following a string of shaky starts, Estrada turned in his best performance of the season last time out at Tampa Bay, settling for a no-decision despite tossing six scoreless innings. He failed to pitch beyond five innings in his previous four turns, giving up 18 runs and 28 hits over 19 innings. Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts are both 3-for-26 against Estrada, who was 0-1 with a 4.12 ERA in four starts versus Boston in 2017.
WALK-OFFS
1. Red Sox DH/LF J.D. Martinez has hit safely in 12 straight games.
2. Blue Jays DH Kendrys Morales went 1-for-5 in the opener, ending an 0-for-28 slide.
3. Boston is the only team in the majors without a pinch hit (0-for-15).
PREDICTION: Blue Jays 4, Red Sox 3
Preview: Royals at Indians
Gracenote
May 12, 2018
The Cleveland Indians look to rebound from a major collapse and even the series with the visiting Kansas City Royals when the American League Central rivals meet for the middle contest of a three-game set Saturday afternoon. The first-place Indians coughed up a five-run lead and suffered a 10-9 setback in the series opener Friday night for their fifth loss in six contests, dropping under .500 at 18-19.
Francisco Lindor extended his hitting streak to 12 games (23-for-55, six homers) and scored on Michael Brantley’s grand slam in the fourth inning that gave Cleveland a 9-4 lead Friday, but the struggling Indians bullpen could not hold it. Mike Clevinger hopes to continue his success against the Royals when he takes the mound against fellow right-hander Jakob Junis, who is off to a strong start in 2018. Salvador Perez belted a two-run homer to give Kansas City the lead in the seventh inning Friday and extended his hitting streak to five games, recording three blasts and nine RBIs in that stretch. The Royals finished with 15 hits in the series opener and Alcides Escobar knocked in four runs after going eight games without one.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Jakob Junis (4-2, 3.18 ERA) vs. Indians RH Mike Clevinger (2-0, 2.76)
Junis boasts five quality starts over seven outings in 2018, including two straight after his worst performance of the season April 26 against the Chicago White Sox. The 25-year-old Illinois native gave up four runs combined over 13 innings in his last two trips to the mound after surrendering five homers in a 6-3 loss to the White Sox. Jose Ramirez is 2-for-2 with a walk versus Junis, who is 0-0 with a 5.63 ERA in two games (one start) against the Indians.
Clevinger allowed two runs on one hit over 7 1/3 innings with 10 strikeouts against the New York Yankees on Sunday to post his third straight no-decision. The 27-year-old Florida native owns four quality starts in his last six outings, including 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball in a no-decision against Kansas City on April 8. Mike Moustakas is 3-for-10 with a home run versus Clevinger, who is 3-0 with a 2.12 ERA in six career appearances (five starts) against the Royals.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cleveland LHP Andrew Miller gave up Perez's go-ahead homer after returning from a hamstring injury that kept him out more than two weeks.
2. Kansas City OF/DH Jorge Soler is 9-for-21 during a five-game hitting streak and boasts 11 RBIs in his last 10 contests.
3. Ramirez owns four homers in his last seven contests and Cleveland CF Tyler Naquin is 9-for-21 during a seven-game hitting streak.
PREDICTION: Indians 4, Royals 3
Preview: Rays at Orioles (Game 2)
Gracenote
May 12, 2018
The Baltimore Orioles have put together a season-high three-game winning streak with offense taking the lead and look to extend the run when they host the Tampa Bay Rays for a doubleheader Saturday. Manny Machado launched a two-run homer and a grand slam Friday as the Orioles recorded a 9-4 victory in the series opener, giving them 32 runs over the last four contests.
Machado owns three homers and eight RBIs in the past two contests, while teammate Adam Jones takes a seven-game hitting streak into Saturday and Mark Trumbo - batting .325 in 10 outings since returning from the disabled list - belted his first home run of the season Friday. The Rays have lost four straight and are just 3-7 since building a season-best eight-game winning streak after giving up seven runs in Baltimore’s last three at-bats during the series opener. Tampa Bay catcher Wilson Ramos singled Friday to extend his hitting streak to 17 games, two short of the franchise record set by Jason Bartlett in 2009. The Rays are 7-10 on the road after dropping three in a row away from home and have scored just seven times during their four-game slide.
TV: 6:35 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), MASN2 (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Matt Andriese (0-1, 3.92 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Alex Cobb (0-4, 7.61)
Andriese makes his second start of the season after yielding one run over his last six appearances, covering 12 innings combined. The 28-year-old California native limited Boston to two hits over 3 1/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts April 29 in his only other start of 2018 and has fanned 24 in 20 2/3 frames overall. Chris Davis is 5-for-13 with a pair of homers versus Andriese, who is 1-4 with a 6.08 ERA in eight games (four starts) against Baltimore.
Cobb has posted two straight quality starts - his first two with the team - while allowing three earned runs and 12 hits over 12 innings, but the Orioles are still winless with him on the mound. The 30-year-old Boston native has struck out seven in his last two outings after fanning none and permitting five runs across 4 2/3 innings April 25 in an 8-4 setback against Tampa Bay. Joey Wendle went 2-for-3 in that contest against Cobb, who spent 2011-2017 with the Rays.
WALK-OFFS
1. Tampa Bay SS Adeiny Hechavarria had two hits Friday, including a double, after missing one game due to an eye injury.
2. Baltimore placed RHP Chris Tillman (lower back strain) on the 10-day disabled list Friday and recalled RHP Jimmy Yacabonis.
3. The Rays recalled LHP Anthony Banda, acquired this offseason in the Steven Souza trade, to be the 26th man for the doubleheader.
PREDICTION: Orioles 6, Rays 3
Preview: Mets at Phillies
Gracenote
May 11, 2018
Through all their ups and downs over recent years, the New York Mets have always been able to rely on one thing: dominating the Philadelphia Phillies. The Mets stole a win from the Phillies in Friday's series opener and look to make it two straight over their National League East rivals when the teams continue a three-game set at Philadelphia on Saturday.
Michael Conforto hammered a two-run homer with one out in the top of the ninth inning and Devin Mesoraco followed with a solo shot as New York rallied against Phillies closer Hector Noris for a 3-1 triumph. It was just the second victory in the last 10 games for the Mets but their third win in as many tries against Philadelphia this season and their 41st in the last 60 meetings. New York now has a chance to pick up its first series victory of the month behind flamethrower Noah Syndergaard - who is 1-0 with a 2.33 ERA on the road - on Saturday. Odubel Herrera slugged a solo shot for the Phillies' lone run Friday night and he has reached base in 40 straight games, although the 26-year-old is 1-for-17 in his career against Syndergaard.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, PIX11 (New York), NBCS Philadelphia
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (2-1, 3.09 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Zach Eflin (1-0, 0.71)
Syndergaard's shortest start of the year - a four-inning, two-run outing April 4 - came against Philadelphia, but he is 4-1 with a 2.06 ERA in seven career encounters. He completed at least six innings in for straight starts while posting a 3.20 ERA but has zero wins to show for it. Aaron Altherr is 1-for-9 against the 25-year-old Syndergaard, who has a 1.93 mark in three career outings at Citizens Bank Park.
Eflin followed up a solid season debut at Miami on May 1 with an even better outing against San Francisco at home Monday. He limited the Giants to four hits while striking out nine in 6 2/3 frames to pick up his first victory since Aug. 8 of last year. Eflin is 0-2 with a 4.41 ERA in three career starts versus the Mets.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mets RF Jay Bruce was placed on the paternity leave list Friday amid a series of roster moves.
2. Herrera is 12-for-21 with three home runs over his last six games to raise his league-leading average to .360.
3. Conforto has two homers and a double over his last three contests after going 14 straight games without an extra-base hit.
PREDICTION: Mets 4, Phillies 3
Preview: Giants at Pirates
Gracenote
May 12, 2018
A power surge has the Pittsburgh Pirates playing well and contending in the National League Central with nearly a quarter of the season over. The hot-hitting Pirates aim for their fifth straight victory when they host the San Francisco Giants for the second of a three-game series Saturday.
Pittsburgh has hit 17 home runs in nine games this month, including four during an 11-2 rout in Friday’s series opener. The Pirates will need right-hander Chad Kuhl to give them a deep outing after the bullpen worked overtime Friday, when starter Jameson Taillon left after three innings because of a finger laceration. The Giants have lost five straight and allowed 11 runs in three of those contests. San Francisco has totaled just 10 runs during the five-game skid.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Jeff Samardzija (1-2, 6.62 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Chad Kuhl (4-2, 4.12)
Samardzija is known for pitching deep into games, but he hasn’t worked into the sixth in four starts this season. The 33-year-old has struggled with his command, walking at least three in each outing, and he gave up two home runs in a loss at Philadelphia last time out. Samardzija is 6-4 with a 2.80 ERA in 25 games (14 starts) against the Pirates, including two wins last year.
Kuhl has recorded quality starts in three of his last four outings, and he’s coming off his best showing of the season. The 25-year-old allowed only one hit and struck out eight over seven scoreless frames to win at Milwaukee on Sunday, bouncing back after surrendering four home runs in his previous start at Washington. Kuhl made his first start against the Giants last season and allowed one run and two hits over six innings in a no-decision.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Pirates are 18-0 when leading after six innings.
2. Giants RF Andrew McCutchen is 13-for-34 during a 10-game hitting streak after going 1-for-5 with a double in his return to Pittsburgh.
3. Pittsburgh CF Starling Marte is 11-for-27 with three homers during a six-game hitting streak.
PREDICTION: Pirates 7, Giants 4
Preview: Rangers at Astros
Gracenote
May 12, 2018
Following a rough series to begin the season versus the Houston Astros, the Texas Rangers are making a strong play toward reclaiming in-state pride in their recent meetings. The Rangers set their sights on a fourth straight win in Houston on Saturday when they continue a three-game set versus the Astros.
Texas has claimed the Silver Boot Trophy in 12 of the 17 years the rivals have met in the regular season, although Houston won the season series 12-7 in 2017 and opened its World Series title defense this season by taking three of four in Arlington. The Rangers scored a pair of 10-inning victories at Minute Maid Park from April 13-15 to halt their recent struggles versus the Astros before Cole Hamels and three relievers combined on a one-hitter Friday to help Texas even the season series at four games apiece. Houston was unable to find any semblance of offense in the 1-0 series-opening loss after blitzing Oakland 24-4 during a three-game road sweep earlier in the week. The Astros have lost four straight at home for the first time since 2016 and been shut out in three of those contests.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Doug Fister (1-3, 4.02 ERA) vs. Astros RH Charlie Morton (4-0, 2.16)
Fister held his own for five innings before falling apart over his final 1 1/3 frames Sunday against Boston, eventually taking the loss after surrendering six runs on nine hits and two walks. The Fresno State product has posted a 1.74 ERA in his two road starts but hasn't won since he yielded one run across five innings while beating Houston in his season debut on March 30. Alex Bregman is 3-for-4 with a homer against Fister, who is 2-1 with a 3.09 ERA in four starts versus the Astros.
Morton threw only 43 of his 82 pitches for strikes last Saturday at Arizona but managed to escape with a no-decision after permitting three runs on three hits and four walks in five frames. The 34-year-old New Jersey native is 1-0 with a 4.32 ERA over his last three outings after going 3-0 with a 0.72 ERA through his first four turns. Joey Gallo is 0-for-9 with eight strikeouts versus Morton, who did not factor into the decision against Texas on April 14 despite fanning a career-high tying 12 over six innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Astros OF George Springer is day-to-day after getting hit by a pitch on his left elbow in the opener.
2. Rangers 2B Rougned Odor went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in his first game back from the disabled list Friday. INF/OF Renato Nunez was designated for assignment to make for Odor on the roster.
3. Texas 3B Adrian Beltre was hitless in three at-bats in the opener, stopping a six-game hitting streak and three-game streak with multiple RBIs.
PREDICTION: Astros 3, Rangers 2
Preview: Braves at Marlins
Gracenote
May 12, 2018
J.T. Realmuto missed the first 16 games of the season with a lower back injury, but the Miami Marlins catcher continues making up for lost time as his team hosts the Atlanta Braves on Saturday. Realmuto, one of the few holdovers left from Miami’s offseason roster purge, fell a triple short of the cycle and finished 3-for-5 to raise his average to .325 in Friday’s 6-3 victory, helping the Marlins snap a four-game losing streak and end Atlanta’s eight-game road winning streak.
Realmuto has hits in 16 of his past 18 games and is batting .329 in that stretch with three doubles, four homers and six RBIs, while second baseman Derek Dietrich, along with shortstop Miguel Rojas, added three hits apiece Friday as Miami matched its season high with 14 hits. Atlanta’s road streak came to an end, but second baseman Ozzie Albies extended his hitting streak to eight games and belted his 12th homer of the season - his second in two nights off Miami pitching. Albies is hitting .306 with three homers during his streak, but the Braves - who averaged 10.1 hits during their road winning streak - were held to only five hits Friday. Atlanta starting pitchers had not allowed an earned run in their past five road games, but Brandon McCarthy was roughed up for six runs on 11 hits in five innings.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS South (Atlanta), FS Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Mike Soroka (1-1, 4.50 ERA) vs. Marlins LH Jarlin Garcia (1-1, 2.68)
Soroka ran into some bad luck in his second major-league start Sunday against San Francisco, giving up four runs on seven hits with three walks in four innings of a 4-3 loss. The 20-year-old, one of the Braves prized pitching prospects, dazzled the New York Mets in his big-league debut May 1, allowing one run on six hits with no walks over six innings. The Braves have indicated Soroka will remain in the rotation, even after the injured Anibal Sanchez (hamstring) returns to action.
Garcia breathed life into the Miami rotation after being moved from the bullpen in early April, posting a 0.78 ERA while allowing only two runs over 23 innings across his first four starts. He struggled in his last outing Monday at the Chicago Cubs, giving up three homers in four innings en route to surrendering seven runs on six hits. The 25-year-old, who made all 68 of his appearances out of the bullpen as a rookie in 2017, has given up three runs on seven hits over 7 1/3 innings in 10 appearances against Atlanta.
WALK-OFFS
1. Atlanta RF Nick Markakis finished 2-for-4 Friday, giving him 51 hits through 37 games and raising his batting average to .345.
2. Miami RHP Brad Ziegler earned his 100th career save with a scoreless ninth inning Friday, his eighth in nine opportunities all-time against Atlanta.
3. Marlins OF Cameron Maybin collected his eighth double of the season in his 100th at-bat, tying RF Brian Anderson for the team lead in two-base hits.
PREDICTION: Braves 2, Marlins 1
Preview: Brewers at Rockies
Gracenote
May 12, 2018
Coors Field has become a bit of a home away from home recently for the Milwaukee Brewers, who seem quite comfortable on the road in general this season. The Brewers seek their first six-game road winning streak since a seven-game run in 2015 on Saturday when they play the third of four contests in Colorado against the Rockies.
After riding the hot bat of Lorenzo Cain to a 5-2 win in Thursday's series opener, the entire Milwaukee offense got on board in Friday's wild 11-10 comeback victory in 10 innings - a game in the Brewers amassed a season-high 17 hits to rally from a six-run deficit after four innings. Cain, Travis Shaw and Hernan Perez each had three hits for Milwaukee, which earned its 10th win in its last 14 games in Colorado and improved to 13-7 overall on the road. The Rockies started May out by winning six in a row but have dropped their last three to fall to 6-10 at Coors Field. Trevor Story has driven in seven of his team-leading 28 RBIs over the last four contests, including a bases-clearing triple in Friday's defeat.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Chase Anderson (3-3, 3.97 ERA) vs. Rockies LH Kyle Freeland (2-4, 3.95)
Anderson's ERA in May swelled to 7.59 as he lost for the second time in three outings Sunday against Pittsburgh, giving up five runs over 5 1/3 innings. The Oklahoma product, who went 2-2 with a 2.86 ERA across six turns in March and April, has allowed 10 homers through 45 1/3 innings after surrendering only 14 in 141 1/3 frames in 2017. Anderson went 1-0 with a 1.64 ERA in two turns versus the Rockies last season but is 2-2, 6.66 in five career starts at Coors Field.
Freeland's best efforts of the season have come in each of his last three trips to the mound, including Sunday's win in which he allowed two runs on four hits across seven innings to the New York Mets. The 24-year-old is 2-1 with a 2.14 ERA and has lasted exactly seven innings each time over that span after going 0-3, 5.85 and working no more than six frames in his first four outings. Freeland lost to the Brewers in his only start against them last August, yielding two earned runs over 5 2/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Every starting position player recorded at least one hit Friday. Only three such players (Colorado 2B DJ LeMahieu, Brewers 1B Jesus Aguilar and Perez) failed to drive in at least one run.
2. Cain is 7-for-13 with a homer and three RBIs over the last three contests, recording at least two hits - including one for extra bases - each time.
3. Milwaukee is a majors-best 19-7 in night games this season, as opposed to 4-9 during the day.
PREDICTION: Rockies 7, Brewers 5
Preview: Cardinals at Padres
Gracenote
May 12, 2018
Jedd Gyorko regularly torments his former employers and the St. Louis third baseman looks to exact more damage when the Cardinals visit the San Diego Padres in the third contest of a four-game set. Gyorko went 3-for-4 with a homer to help the Cardinals post a 9-5 victory on Friday for their second straight win in the series.
Gyorko is a torrid 21-for-40 with eight homers and 17 RBIs in 11 career games against the Padres, the team he played for from 2013-15. He had plenty of company when it came to the long ball on Friday as Paul DeJong (career-best four RBIs), Harrison Bader, Marcell Ozuna and Tommy Pham also went deep during an impressive power display. "It's nice to finally explode a little bit on offense," DeJong said in a postgame television interview. "I think we're all having pretty good at-bats lately so we kind of all put it together." Travis Jankowski, who homered, and Jose Pirela each had three hits for San Diego, which is just 6-16 in home games played at Petco Park this season.
TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Midwest (St. Louis), FS San Diego
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Michael Wacha (4-1, 3.15 ERA) vs. Padres RH Tyson Ross (2-3, 3.67)
Wacha has received back-to-back no-decisions after winning each of his previous four starts. The 26-year-old, who has allowed just five earned runs over his last four turns, is looking to post his 50th career victory. Wacha is 3-0 with a 2.52 ERA in four career starts against San Diego and is undefeated in three previous outings at Petco Park.
Ross is 0-2 over his last four decisions despite allowing just one run in both no-decisions during the stretch. The 31-year-old allowed a season-worst five runs in losing to the Washington Nationals in his last turn when he served up two homers among six hits allowed over six innings. Ross is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in six career appearances (three starts) against the Cardinals and has experienced issues with Matt Carpenter (3-for-5, six walks) and Dexter Fowler (3-for-9 with one homer and five walks).
WALK-OFFS
1. Padres 3B Christian Villanueva was hitless in four at-bats on Friday and is 0-for-30 over the past nine contests.
2. St. Louis activated Brett Cecil (shoulder) off the 10-day disabled list and placed fellow LHP Tyler Lyons (back) on the DL.
3. San Diego C Austin Hedges (right elbow) underwent an MRI exam and no structural damage was found but it remains unclear when he will be activated off the DL.
PREDICTION: Cardinals 5, Padres 0
Preview: Twins at Angels
Gracenote
May 12, 2018
Two of this month’s hottest hitters square off again Saturday as the Los Angeles Angels continue their four-game series against the visiting Minnesota Twins. The Angels’ Justin Upton has homered in four straight contests while Minnesota’s Eddie Rosario kept pace with two solo blasts in Friday’s 5-4 come-from behind victory.
Upton has five homers in his last six contests and is 9-for-26 during his six-game hitting streak for the Angels, who led 4-2 on Friday before the Twins evened the series with three runs in the ninth. “I think Justin is real comfortable in the box,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia told reporters. “I think he’s seeing the ball well. All the things you talk about that add up to a good at-bat or squaring the ball up, he’s doing.” The same could be said for Rosario, who is 23-for-60 over his last 14 games and has homered in five of his last 10 contests. Twins second baseman Brian Dozier homered in Friday’s win and has seven hits in his last 12 at-bats, while center fielder Byron Buxton is hitless in five at-bats since coming off the disabled list Thursday.
TV: 9:07 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), FS West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Kyle Gibson (1-1, 3.49 ERA) vs. Angels RH Nick Tropeano (1-2, 3.42)
Gibson received a no-decision in his third straight start last Sunday, allowing three runs with eight strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings against the Chicago White Sox. The 30-year-old native of Indiana has allowed four earned runs with 24 strikeouts over 17 2/3 innings across his last three outings. Ian Kinsler is 14-for-42 with two homers against Gibson, who owns a 2-2 record and 5.32 ERA in eight career starts against the Angels.
Tropeano is expected to come off the disabled list on Saturday to make his first start since May 1, when he pitched scoreless one-hit ball into the seventh inning, retiring 13 of his final 14 batters. The 27-year-old missed two starts with right shoulder inflammation but threw two successful bullpen sessions this week. Tropeano owns a 1.35 ERA in two career games versus Minnesota and is 3-4 with a 4.57 ERA in 13 career starts at Angel Stadium.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Angels are 17-10 in their last 27 home games against the Twins.
2. Minnesota OF Max Kepler was held out of the starting lineup Friday due to a bruised left hand but appeared as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning.
3. Angels RHP Shohei Ohtani is expected to start Sunday’s series finale.
PREDICTION: Twins 6, Angels 3