MLB Betting News and Trends For Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Tuesday’s games
National League
Braves (12-9) @ Reds (4-18)
McCarthy is 3-0, 2.91 in his first four starts (over 3-1). Team in his starts: 4-0
5-inning record: 4-0 Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-4

Mahle is 0-3, 7.20 in his last three starts (under 4-0). Team in his starts: 1-3
5-inning record: 1-3. Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-4

Atlanta is 6-4 in its last 10 games; four of their last five games went over. Reds lost 13 of their last 15 games. Under is 4-2 in their last six games.

Diamondbacks (15-6) @ Phillies (14-7)
Ray is 1-0, 3.24 in his last three starts (over 2-2). Team in his starts: 3-1
5-inning record: 2-0-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-4

Velasquez is 1-1, 2.41 in his last three starts (over 3-1). Team in his starts: 2-2
5-inning record: 1-3. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-4

Arizona is 9-4 in its last 13 games; their last five road games went over. Phillies won their last seven home games; under is 5-1-1 in their last seven games overall.

Mets (14-6) @ Cardinals (13-8)
Wheeler is 1-1, 2.77 in two starts this season (under 2-0). Team in his starts: 1-1
5-inning record: 0-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-2

Weaver is 2-1, 4.22 in four starts this season (under 3-1). Team in his starts: 2-2
5-inning record: 3-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-4

Mets lost four of their last six games; three of their last four games went over. St Louis won eight of its last nine games; under is 6-2 in their last eight games.

Padres (9-15) @ Rockies (12-12)
Lauer is making his MLB debut; he is 2-1, 3.00 in three AAA starts this season. Team in his starts: 0-0
5-inning record: 0-0. Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-0

Freeland is 0-3, 5.85 in four starts this season (over 2-2). Team in his starts: 1-3
5-inning record: 1-2-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-4

Padres lost five of their last seven games; over is 6-2-1 in their last nine games. Colorado lost four of its last five games; over is 4-1 in its last five games.

Marlins (5-17) @ Dodgers (11-10)
Peters is 1-2, 10.13 in his last three starts (over 3-1). Team in his starts: 2-2
5-inning record: 2-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-4

Maeda is 2-1, 6.08 in three starts this season (over 2-1). Team in his starts: 2-1
5-inning record: 2-1 Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-3

Marlins lost 11 of their last 13 games; six of their last nine road games went over. Dodgers won seven of their last eight games; eight of their last 11 games went over.

Nationals (10-13) @ Giants (10-12)
Roark is 0-1, 4.50 in his last three starts (over 2-1-1). Team in his starts: 1-3
5-inning record: 2-1-1 Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-4

Blach is 0-3, 5.49 in his last four starts (under 4-1). Team in his starts: 1-4
5-inning record: 1-3-1 Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-5

Washington lost four of its last five games; their last three games stayed under. Giants won three of their last four games; they’re 4-4 at home. Over is 5-3 in their home games.

American League
Mariners (11-10) @ White Sox (5-14)
Gonzales is 0-2, 9.58 in his last three starts (over 4-0). Team in his starts: 2-2
5-inning record: 2-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-4

Unknown Team in his starts: 0-0
5-inning record: 0-0 Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-0

Seattle won four of its last six road games; over is 8-3 in their road games. White Sox lost 12 of their last 14 games; over is 6-0-1 in their last seven games.

Twins (8-9) @ New York (12-9)
Berrios is 2-1, 1.63 in his first four starts (under 3-1). Team in his starts: 3-1
5-inning record: 2-1-1 Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-4

Sabathia is 0-0, 4.73 in his first three starts (under 2-1). Team in his starts: 1-2
5-inning record: 1-1-1 Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-3

Twins lost five of their last six games; over is 6-2 in their last eight road games. New York is 6-2 in its last eight games; they’re 8-5 at home. Over is 10-3 in their home games.

Rays (11-8) @ Orioles (6-17)
Faria is 1-0, 1.59 in his last two starts (under 3-1). Team in his starts: 1-3
5-inning record: 0-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-2

Former Ray Cobb is 0-2, 19.29 in his first two starts (over 2-0). Team in his starts: 0-2
5-inning record: 2-1-1 Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-4

Tampa Bay won its last four games; they’re 2-6 on road. Over is 7-1 in their last eight games. Orioles lost 11 of their last 13 games; under is 9-1 in their home games.

Red Sox (17-4) @ Blue Jays (13-8)
Porcello is 4-0, 1.40 in his first four starts (over 2-1-1). Team in his starts: 4-0
5-inning record: 4-0 Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-4

Happ is 3-0, 4.67 in his last three starts (over 2-2). Team in his starts: 3-1
5-inning record: 3-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-4

Red Sox are 9-3 on road, but lost last two games; over is 4-2 in their last six games. Toronto won seven of its last eight home games; over is 5-2 in their last seven.

A’s (12-11) @ Rangers (8-16)
Triggs is 1-0, 5.82 in his first four starts (over 3-1). Team in his starts: 3-1
5-inning record: 1-1-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-4

Hamels is 0-2, 6.62 in his last three starts (under 4-1). Team in his starts: 1-4
5-inning record: 2-3 Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-5

Oakland won seven of its last eight games; over is 8-3 in their last 11 games. Rangers lost ten of their last 12 home games (over 9-3).

Angels (15-8) @ Astros (16-8)
Ohtani is 2-1, 3.60 in his first three starts (over 2-1); he left his last start with blister problems. Team in his starts: 2-1
5-inning record: 2-1 Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-3

Morton is 3-0, 1.08 in his last four starts (over 2-2). Team in his starts: 3-1
5-inning record: 4-0 Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-4

Angels lost five of their last seven games; under is 4-0-1 in their last four road games. Houston won six of its last seven games; over is 3-1-1 in their last five games.

Interleague
Cubs (10-9) @ Indians (12-8)
Chatwood is 0-3, 4.60 in three starts this season (under 2-1). Team in his starts: 0-3
5-inning record: 0-3 Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-3

Tomlin is 0-1, 9.00 in his first two starts (over 1-1). Team in his starts: 1-1
5-inning record: 1-1 Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-2

Cubs won four of their last five road games; three of their last four games went over. Cleveland won its last three games; under is 12-3 in their last 15 games.

Tigers (9-11) @ Pirates (12-10)
Zimmerman is 1-0, 7.71 in four starts this season (over 3-1). Team in his starts: 2-2
5-inning record: 1-3 Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-3

Kuhl is 2-1, 4.98 in four starts this season (over 4-0). Team in his starts: 2-2
5-inning record: 3-1 Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-4

Tigers won five of their last seven games; under is 5-2 in their last seven road games. Pittsburgh lost six of its last seven games (under 5-1-1).

Brewers (14-9) @ Royals (5-15)
Davies is 1-1, 3.24 in his last three starts (over 2-2). Team in his starts: 1-3
5-inning record: 2-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-4

Kennedy is 1-2, 3.13 in his first four starts (under 3-1). Team in his starts: 1-3
5-inning record: 1-2-1 Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-4

Milwaukee won its last six games (under 4-2). Royals lost 10 of their last 12 games; over is 5-2 in their last seven.

Umpires

Atl-Cin: Under is 9-2 in last 11 Bucknor games.
SD-Colo: Six of last eight Hamari games stayed under.
Mia-LA: Over is 5-1-1 in last seven Ripperger games.
Wsh-SF: Under is 6-1 in last seven Hernandez games.

Min-NY: Under is 8-1-1 in last ten Blakney games.
A’s-Tex: Underdogs are 6-6 in last 12 Morales games.
LA-Hst: Under is 5-2-1 in last eight Cooper games.
Sea-Chi: Under is 12-2-1 in last 15 Estabrook games.

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Teams’ records in first five innings:
Team (road-home-total)- thru 4/23
Ariz 5-3-1……6-1-4…..11-4
Atl 5-3-1……6-3-3…….11-6
Cubs 5-5-2……1-5-1…….6-10
Reds 2-10-1……1-6-2…..3-16
Colo 7-6-2……4-5-1……11-11
LA 4-3-1…..6-6-1……..10-9
Miami 2-7-1…..4-4-4……..6-11
Milw 6-3…….6-7-1………12-10
Mets 4-4-1……6-4-2………9-8
Philly 3-4-4…..4-2-3……..7-6
Pitt 7-2-4……7-2……….14-4
St. Louis 8-3-1…….5-4……..13-7
SD 3-4-2…..3-10-1……..6-14
SF 6-4-5…..3-4-1……..9-8
Wash 8-5……..4-5-1……..12-10

Orioles 2-7-4…….2-6-2……4-13
Boston 6-2-4……..5-2-2……11-4
White Sox 4-5………2-7-1………6-12
Cleveland 6-3-3……5-1-2…….11-4
Detroit 2-5………6-5-2…….8-10
Astros 6-3-5……5-4-1…….11-7
KC 3-7-2……3-4-1…….6-11
Angels 9-1-1……2-8-2…….11-9
Twins 2-6-3……3-2-1…….5-8
NYY 5-2-1……8-3-2…….13-5
A’s 4-3-2……5-6-3……9-9
Seattle 5-5-1……2-3-5……7-8
TB 4-3-1……4-6-3…….8-9
Texas 5-4-1……4-9-1……..9-13
Toronto 4-5-2……3-6-1…….7-11

Preview: Mariners at White Sox
Gracenote
Apr 24, 2018

The first half of the Chicago White Sox's six-game homestand went about as poorly as they could have imagined, but the second half is off to a fine start. Fresh off their first victory in nearly two weeks, the White Sox attempt to win two in a row for the first time since the beginning of the season when they continue their three-game set against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday.

Chicago was pounded by Houston by a combined score of 27-2 at Guaranteed Rate Field over the weekend, mustering only four extra-base hits and 11 singles in three games. The White Sox wasted little time taking out their frustrations on the Mariners, however, scoring seven times in the first two innings while Jose Abreu homered twice to pace an 18-hit attack - including eight for extra bases - and snap a seven-game losing streak. Seattle took two of three at Texas over the weekend but has dropped five of seven overall, although Mitch Haniger is setting a blistering pace offensively of late. The 27-year-old is batting .478 with eight RBIs during a six-game hitting streak and has homered in four straight contests.

TV: 5:10 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), NBCS Chicago

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH Marco Gonzales (1-2, 5.94 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Chris Volstad (0-0, 4.70)

Gonzales failed to make it through five innings for the third time in as many tries Thursday against Houston, leaving after permitting three unearned runs and striking out eight while making 79 pitches through 4 1/2 frames. The outing was a step forward for the Gonzaga product, who surrendered eight runs and 13 hits over his previous two turns spanning 5 2/3 innings. Opponents are batting .329 against Gonzales, who will be facing Chicago for the first time in his career.

Volstad, who only has made two starts among his 17 big-league appearances since 2012, will get the nod Tuesday after four relief outings to begin the season. The 31-year-old Floridian has been mostly effective in three of his four games and worked around some trouble Saturday against Houston, giving up only a solo homer among the five hits he allowed across three innings. Volstad beat the Mariners the only time he has faced them in 2011 but is only 34-53 with a 4.92 ERA in 125 overall career turns.

WALK-OFFS

1. The White Sox opened Monday's game with seven straight hits, becoming the first team to do so since Colorado accomplished the feat on Sept. 17, 2014.

2. After breaking out last season with 16 homers and 47 RBIs in 96 games, Haniger is second in the majors in home runs (eight) and RBIs (23) through 21 contests in 2018.

3. OF Avisail Garcia (leg) was diagnosed with a right hamstring strain after pulling up while running out a grounder in the second inning of the opener and will be re-evaluated on Tuesday.

PREDICTION: Mariners 7, White Sox 5
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Umpire Trends - Mike Estabrook

Over is 6-1 in Estabrooks last 7 games behind home plate vs. Chicago.
Under is 4-1 in Estabrooks last 5 Tuesday games behind home plate.
Home team is 8-2 in Estabrooks last 10 games behind home plate.
Under is 8-2-1 in Estabrooks last 11 games behind home plate vs. Seattle.
Under is 34-16-2 in Estabrooks last 52 games behind home plate.
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Preview: Cubs at Indians
Gracenote
Apr 24, 2018

The Chicago Cubs return to the scene where they ended a 108-year drought when they open a two-game interleague series against the host Cleveland Indians on Tuesday. It’s the Cubs’ first trip to Progressive Field since winning Game 7 of the 2016 World Series there to capture their first championship since 1908.

While the Cubs are relishing their return, the Indians have put their near-miss behind them. "It's in the past," Cleveland's Francisco Lindor told reporters. "There's nothing I can do about it. It was definitely a cool experience. I was blessed to be in it, but it didn't turn out the way I wanted, so I kind of forget about it." Cleveland will be happy to be home, though – it is 6-2 at Progressive Field – as it looks to register a fourth straight victory. The Cubs have won three of their last four and scored eight or more runs in four of their last six games after a slow start at the plate.

TV: 6:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, WGN (Chicago), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Tyler Chatwood (0-3, 4.60 ERA) vs. Indians RH Josh Tomlin (0-2, 8.00)

Chatwood has shown nasty stuff in his first three starts with the Cubs, but his command has been shaky. The 28-year-old has issued 14 walks in 15 2/3 innings, including seven over 4 2/3 frames in a loss to St. Louis last time out. Chatwood is 0-1 with a 3.21 ERA in three career games (two starts) against the Indians.

Tomlin skipped his last start because of an ailing back, so he hasn’t taken a turn in the rotation since working five scoreless frames against Detroit on April 10. The 33-year-old threw an inning in relief Wednesday against Minnesota, allowing an unearned run and taking the loss in a 16-inning contest. Tomlin never has faced the Cubs in the regular season but made two starts in the World Series showdown, allowing six runs over seven frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cubs 3B Kris Bryant left Sunday’s game at Colorado after taking a pitch to the helmet but showed no signs of a concussion and is not expected to miss time.

2. Indians 2B Jason Kipnis (eight games), C Yan Gomes (eight), and OF Michael Brantley (seven) all had hitting streaks snapped Monday.

3. Chicago 2B Javier Baez (13-for-30, three homers, 13 RBIs) and CF Albert Almora Jr. (12-for-27, homer) are riding six-game hitting streaks.

PREDICTION: Cubs 7, Indians 5
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Umpire Trends - Name unavailable
No trends available.
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Preview: Twins at Yankees
Gracenote
Apr 24, 2018

The New York Yankees' offense is beginning to flex its muscle amid an impressive three-game winning streak, but it will be tested by red-hot right-hander Jose Berrios in the continuation of a four-game series with the visiting Minnesota Twins on Tuesday. Berrios entered Monday's action leading all qualified hurlers in the majors with a 0.58 WHIP and will contend with a Yankees team that has outscored opponents 28-3 during its three-game run.

Four players went deep and every starter scored at least one time for New York in a 14-1 win in the series opener Monday. Rookie Miguel Andujar had one of the homers and added a double to give him 12 extra-base hits in a span of seven games while driving in at least one run in each of the last six contests. It was the fourth straight loss for the Twins, who have allowed an average of 10 runs during the slide. Berrios will be opposed by veteran CC Sabathia, who will be making his second start since returning from a hip injury.

TV: 6:35 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS North (Minnesota), YES (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Jose Berrios (2-1, 1.63 ERA) vs. Yankees LH CC Sabathia (0-0, 2.70)

Berrios is unscored upon in three of his first four starts after limiting Cleveland to three hits over seven scoreless innings on Wednesday. He has 29 strikeouts against one walk and opponents are hitting .155 against the Puerto Rico native. Berrios is 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA in two career starts against New York but was reached for three runs on five hits and four walks in just 3 1/3 frames in his only prior outing at Yankee Stadium.

Sabathia returned from an early stint on the disabled list Thursday at home against Toronto and gave up two unearned runs in 4 1/3 innings. He has completed five frames just once in his first three outings while throwing an average of 71 pitches. The 37-year-old defeated the Twins with six solid innings in their lone encounter last season and is 19-9 with a 3.16 ERA in 38 career starts against them.

WALK-OFFS

1. Andujar is 15-for-29 during his seven-game hitting streak.

2. Minnesota 1B Joe Mauer has played 1,747 games with the team, tied with Kent Hrbek for third on the franchise's all-time list and 36 behind Kirby Puckett.

3. Yankees OF/DH Giancarlo Stanton was 4-for-4 with a home run Monday after going 2-for-31 over his previous eight home games.

PREDICTION: Yankees 4, Twins 3
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Umpire Trends - Ryan Blakney

Road team is 4-1 in Blakneys last 5 Tuesday games behind home plate.
Under is 39-17-4 in Blakneys last 60 games behind home plate.
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Preview: Braves at Reds
Gracenote
Apr 23, 2018

The Cincinnati Reds are off to their worst start in franchise history, but enter the second of a four-game home series Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves looking to build off one of their best performances of the young season. The Reds, who had scored just seven runs in their previous five games entering Monday’s series opener, plated that many runs in the fifth and sixth innings en route to a 10-4 victory - Cincinnati’s fourth triumph in 22 games.

The Reds had not homered in six consecutive games entering the series, but right fielder Scott Schebler cracked a two-run shot in the fifth inning before Cincinnati plated five runs in the sixth inning - capped by second baseman Scooter Gennett's two-run single. The Braves began a three-city, 10-game road trip at 12-8 on the season, but their bullpen continued a season-long trend of issuing too many walks to help fuel the Reds’ rally. Atlanta relievers issued three walks in the sixth inning and four on the night, giving the bullpen 61 bases on balls in 80 1/3 innings this season. Atlanta right fielder Nick Markakis finished with three hits, including a solo homer and a two-run single, and center fielder Ender Inciarte added two hits to extend his hitting streak to seven games.

TV: 6:40 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Atlanta), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Brandon McCarthy (3-0, 2.91 ERA) vs. Reds RH Tyler Mahle (1-3, 5.14)

The 34-year-old McCarthy has been solid in the midst of Atlanta’s young rotation through the first four weeks, allowing two earned runs or fewer three times in four starts. He struck out six while giving up one run on five hits in 5 1/3 innings Wednesday in a victory over Philadelphia, and has posted a 1.29 WHIP with eight walks and 18 strikeouts in 21 2/3 innings. McCarthy has made four career appearances against the Reds, none since going 1-1 in two starts in 2014.

Mahle is one of four rookies on Cincinnati’s active roster and impressed in four starts last season, posting a 2.70 ERA without allowing a homer in 20 innings. It has been a different story in 2018 for the 23-year-old, as the Californian has allowed 12 earned runs on 26 hits (including five homers) in 21 innings. Mahle’s last outing was not bad, except for four walks in five innings, as he gave up two runs on seven hits with six strikeouts in a 2-0 loss Wednesday at Milwaukee.

WALK-OFFS

1. Atlanta rookie 2B Ozzie Albies is in a 0-for-10 skid after collecting 24 hits in his previous 60 at-bats in April.

2. Reds RHP Raisel Iglesias pitched 1 1/3 innings Monday for his third save in just the third save opportunity for Cincinnati this season.

3. Cincinnati is 10-of-11 in stolen base attempts this season, but CF Billy Hamilton’s steal in the eighth inning Monday marked the first Reds’ attempt since April 12.

PREDICTION: Braves 5, Reds 3
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Umpire Trends - CB Bucknor

Under is 17-4-1 in Bucknors last 22 games behind home plate vs. Atlanta.
Road team is 4-1 in Bucknors last 5 Tuesday games behind home plate.
Road team is 4-1 in Bucknors last 5 Tuesday games behind home plate vs. Cincinnati.
Home team is 4-1 in Bucknors last 5 games behind home plate vs. Cincinnati.
Under is 24-7-2 in Bucknors last 33 games behind home plate.
Reds are 6-2 in their last 8 games with Bucknor behind home plate.
Over is 5-2 in Bucknors last 7 games behind home plate vs. Cincinnati.
Over is 30-14-3 in Bucknors last 47 Tuesday games behind home plate.
Braves are 1-4 in their last 5 Tuesday games with Bucknor behind home plate.
Braves are 0-6 in their last 6 games with Bucknor behind home plate.
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Preview: Rays at Orioles
Gracenote
Apr 24, 2018

The Tampa Bay Rays began turning their season around on their just-completed homestand and hope to translate that strong play on the road when they visit the slumping Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night to open a nine-game trip. Tampa Bay, which started the campaign 1-8, is riding a season-high four-game winning streak and scored 26 times while sweeping three contests from Minnesota over the weekend.

“I think it (speaks) to the energy and the youth that these guys have created here,” Rays manager Kevin Cash told the Tampa Bay Times of his 8-13 squad. “We got off to a rough start and nobody hung their heads. We were frustrated. It seems like we’re kind of righting the ship a little bit.” Jake Faria, who is also starting to change his fortunes, will try to keep it going when he takes the mound for Tampa Bay against former Rays right-hander Alex Cobb. The Orioles (6-17) lost for the ninth time in 10 games Monday night after going 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position in a 2-1 setback at home against Cleveland. Manny Machado had a single to go along with two walks in the loss for the Baltimore, extending his hitting streak to 11 games, but he is batting .231 lifetime versus Tampa Bay.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Jake Faria (1-1, 5.82 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Alex Cobb (0-2, 15.43)

Faria has put together two strong starts and won his first game of season Wednesday when he limited Texas to one run on five hits over six innings, throwing 80 pitches. The 24-year-old Californian has struck out 13 in his last two outings after recording just two in his first two starts, but he has walked 11 in 17 innings overall. Adam Jones is 4-for-10 with a homer against Faria, who is 1-0 with a 4.09 ERA in four games (three starts) versus the Orioles with 22 strikeouts in 22 innings.

Cobb did not sign his four-year, $57 million contract until March 21 and has yet to find his groove, allowing 15 runs (12 earned) and 20 hits over seven innings in his first two starts with the team. The 30-year-old Bostonian, who went 48-35 in six seasons with the Rays, has struck out four and walked two in his two outings. “This is tough, because I feel like I’m still a little behind where everyone else is,” Cobb told reporters. “I came here and now I’m putting them behind the 8-ball.”

WALK-OFFS

1. Baltimore LF Trey Mancini (knee) has not started the last three games but struck out as a pinch-hitter Monday to end an eight-game hitting streak.

2. Tampa Bay SS Adeiny Hechavarria is 10-for-22 during a six-game hitting streak and has not committed an error in his last 70 contests.

3. The Rays won 11 of 19 meetings last year after losing the previous three seasons series against the Orioles.

PREDICTION: Orioles 5, Rays 3
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Umpire Trends - Name unavailable
No trends available.
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Preview: Diamondbacks at Phillies
Gracenote
Apr 23, 2018

The Philadelphia Phillies have raced off to their best home start since 1964 while the Arizona Diamondbacks' 15-6 overall mark matches their best 21-game start in franchise history. Winners of four in a row and 13 of 16 overall, the Phillies (14-7) vie for their eighth straight win at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday when they play the opener of a three-game set against the Diamondbacks.

"It's a different atmosphere when you are winning. That's for sure. We'll just try to keep this rolling and we'll keep battling," said Aaron Altherr, who helped Philadelphia record its first four-game sweep of Keystone State-rival Pittsburgh since 1994 when he plated Andrew Knapp with the winning run in the 11th inning of Sunday's 3-2 triumph. Odubel Herrera has reached base in a career-best 23 straight games overall and is 5-for-12 in his career versus Tuesday starter Robbie Ray. Like the Phillies, the Diamondbacks have been sitting pretty of late and became the first National League team since San Francisco (2003) to win their first seven series of a season with a 4-2 victory over San Diego on Sunday. Arizona has enjoyed success in the City of Brotherly Love, winning seven straight contests by a combined score of 37-14.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, NBCS Philadelphia

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Robbie Ray (2-0, 4.98 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Vince Velasquez (1-2, 3.80)

Ray received his second straight no-decision on Wednesday despite yielding two runs and striking out nine in six innings versus San Francisco. The 26-year-old was taken deep for the second consecutive outing and fifth time this season while issuing three walks to increase that total to 14 in 21 2/3 innings. Ray owns a 2-1 mark and 4.56 ERA in four career outings versus Philadelphia.

Velasquez has answered a season-opening dud with three straight quality starts, although his last outing resulted in a 7-3 loss at Atlanta on Wednesday despite allowing three runs on seven hits in six innings. The 25-year-old has thrown six or more frames in his last three starts after lasting that long only five times over the entire 2017 season. Paul Goldschmidt has multi-hit performances in back-to-back contests overall and is 2-for-2 in a small sample size versus Velasquez, who has limited the rest of Arizona's roster to going 2-for-21 with 13 strikeouts against him.

WALK-OFFS

1. Arizona CF A.J. Pollock is 5-for-16 with two homers, four RBIs and three runs scored during his four-game hitting streak.

2. Philadelphia starting pitchers have permitted three runs or fewer in each of their last 12 outings.

3. Diamondbacks RF David Peralta is 0-for-8 with two strikeouts on the heels of a six-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 4, Phillies 2
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Umpire Trends - Name unavailable
No trends available.
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Preview: Tigers at Pirates
Gracenote
Apr 23, 2018

The Pittsburgh Pirates totaled five runs while getting swept in a four-game series at Philadelphia over the weekend and are losers of six of their last seven. The Pirates will try to turn things around when they return home and host the Detroit Tigers in the opener of a three-game interleague series on Tuesday.

Pittsburgh scored two or fewer runs in each of its last six losses and wasted a strong pitching effort in a 3-2 loss in 11 innings on Sunday. "It falls in our lap," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle told reporters. "We had opportunities. We had them throughout the game. We had a rough week. We need to take a day off and figure it out and show up ready to play at home (on Tuesday)." The Tigers are winners of five of their last seven but suffered a bit of a letdown when they missed out on a chance to win a four-game series by falling to the Kansas City Royals on Sunday. The Tigers were swept in a three-game series at home against Pittsburgh to begin the season and will try to get some revenge when they send Jordan Zimmermann to the mound against Pirates righty Chad Kuhl.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Jordan Zimmermann (1-0, 7.71 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Chad Kuhl (2-1, 4.57)

Zimmermann picked up his first win of the season against Baltimore on Thursday, when he allowed four runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings but received 13 runs of support from his offense. The Wisconsin native surrendered at least four runs in each of his three starts - not counting an outing at Cleveland on April 11 when he left in the first inning after getting hit by a comebacker. Zimmermann struck out eight but was charged with four runs over six innings in a no-decision against the Pirates on March 30.

Kuhl posted his first quality start while holding Colorado to one run and four hits in six innings on Wednesday. The Delaware native failed to complete six innings in any of his first three turns and has allowed 28 hits in 21 2/3 total innings overall. Kuhl faced off against Detroit on April 1 and picked up a win while scattering four runs and eight hits over 5 2/3 frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Tigers designated RHP Drew VerHagen for assignment on Monday.

2. Pirates RF Gregory Polanco is 4-for-34 over the last nine games.

3. Pittsburgh RHP Kyle Crick has yet to allow a run in five appearances, covering 4 2/3 innings.

PREDICTION: Pirates 5, Tigers 3
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Umpire Trends - Name unavailable
No trends available.
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Preview: Red Sox at Blue Jays
Gracenote
Apr 23, 2018

The Boston Red Sox lead the major leagues with 124 runs scored heading into play on Monday and averaged 7.5 during an eight-game winning streak before going cold over the weekend in back-to-back losses to the Oakland Athletics. The Red Sox will try to find the offense again on Tuesday, when they continue the road trip by visiting the American League East-rival Toronto Blue Jays for the first time in 2018.

Boston was on the wrong end of Sean Manaea's no-hitter on Saturday night and managed six hits in a 4-1 loss on Sunday that gave the team its first series loss of the young season. "Offensively, we feel very capable of scoring runs every night," first-year Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters. "We think we're a great offensive club. But this is going to happen. They're not going to score seven, eight runs a night. But with the pitching staff that we have, they always will give us a chance to win a game." The Blue Jays are enduring their own offensive slump and were outscored 14-2 in back-to-back losses to the New York Yankees to finish off the weekend. Toronto will try to string some hits together against red-hot right-hander Rick Porcello on Tuesday while countering with veteran lefty J.A. Happ.

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

PITCHNG MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Rick Porcello (4-0, 1.40 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH J.A. Happ (3-1, 4.50)

Porcello is much more like his Cy Young form of 2016 than his less-than-stellar form of 2017 so far this season, and he did not allow a run in either of his last two outings. The New Jersey native limited the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels to a total of eight hits without walking a batter in a combined 13 scoreless innings. Porcello went 2-2 in four starts against Toronto in 2017, surrendering 29 hits and six walks in 24 2/3 innings.

Happ is off to a strong start as well and earned the win in each of his last three outings. The 35-year-old owns 31 strikeouts in 22 total innings but has also been reached for five home runs - at least one in each of his four turns. Happ went 2-0 with a 1.90 ERA in four starts against Boston last season, yielding three home runs and striking out 16 in 23 2/3 total frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Red Sox traded LHP Roenis Elias to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for a player to be named or cash considerations.

2. Blue Jays OF Teoscar Hernandez recorded multiple hits in four of his first eight games this season.

3. Boston OF/DH J.D. Martinez is 0-for-7 with five strikeouts over the last two games.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 4, Blue Jays 2
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Preview: Athletics at Rangers
Gracenote
Apr 24, 2018

After moving over .500 for the first time since opening the season with a victory, the surging Oakland Athletics continue their three-game series against the host Texas Rangers on Tuesday. Marcus Semien belted a tie-breaking homer in Monday’s 9-4 victory as the Athletics collected 14 hits and won for the seventh time in their last eight contests.

Oakland (12-11) sealed its third straight win Monday with six runs in the ninth inning, highlighted by Jake Smolinski’s two-run triple off the fifth Texas reliever of the night, former Athletic Jesse Chavez. Khris Davis continued his hot streak with a two-run double to open the scoring in the third inning, giving him a hit in 11 of his last 12 games. Texas halted its three-game slide on Sunday with a victory over Seattle but fell to 0-8 in series openers on Monday when its beleaguered bullpen faltered late in the game. Kevin Jepsen allowed four runs in one inning of relief while the heart of the Rangers’ order - Shin-Soo Choo, Nomar Mazara, Adrian Beltre and Joey Gallo – went a combined 2-for-15 with five strikeouts.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Andrew Triggs (1-0, 5.82 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Cole Hamels (1-3, 4.76)

Triggs is looking to bounce back from a dismal outing Wednesday, when he gave up six runs on five hits and two walks before exiting after 1 1/3 innings. The 29-year-old had been sharp in his previous three starts, allowing two or fewer runs in each outing. Triggs gave up one run and struck out seven over five innings in a start against Texas on April 2 and owns a 1-0 record and 1.02 ERA in four career games (three starts) against the Rangers.

Hamels has never finished the month of April with four losses in his 13 professional seasons but is in danger of reaching that mark following a rocky start against Tampa Bay on Wednesday. The 34-year-old San Diego native retired 15 of the first 17 batters he faced but exited after allowing four runs over 6 1/3 innings. Davis is 4-for-13 with three home runs against Hamels, who is 3-3 with a 4.11 ERA in eight career starts against Oakland.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Rangers are 3-11 at home and 5-5 on the road.

2. Oakland is batting .301 and averaging 7.2 runs over the past 11 games.

3. Texas 2B Rougned Odor (hamstring) has begun agility drills and is expected to come off the disabled list during the first week of May.

PREDICTION: Rangers 6, Athletics 3
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Umpire Trends - Victor Carapazza

Over is 3-0-1 in Carapazzas last 4 Tuesday games behind home plate vs. Oakland.
Over is 8-1 in Carapazzas last 9 Tuesday games behind home plate.
Home team is 6-2 in Carapazzas last 8 games behind home plate.
Under is 8-3 in Carapazzas last 11 games behind home plate.
Under is 5-2 in Carapazzas last 7 games behind home plate vs. Texas.
Athletics are 2-5 in their last 7 games with Carapazza behind home plate.
Rangers are 5-13 in their last 18 games with Carapazza behind home plate.

Preview: Angels at Astros
Gracenote
Apr 24, 2018

The Houston Astros get their first look at Shohei Ohtani when the Japanese two-way sensation starts on the mound for the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday. Ohtani departed his last turn after two innings due to a blister on his pitching hand and insisted all along that he would make the start against the defending World Series champions.

Three-time American League batting champion Jose Altuve is looking forward to facing Ohtani, while Josh Reddick wasn't quite as respectful. "He's just another pitcher," Reddick told reporters. "It's all about hype, so you have to go in there and do your thing against another pitcher. Obviously, you're excited to face him and see what he's about, but I don't think we're worried at all." The Astros had their six-game winning streak halted in Monday's opener of the three-game set as they were blanked 2-0 and managed just four hits in seven innings against Los Angeles starter Tyler Skaggs. The Angels, who are a stellar 10-1 on the road, are just a one-half game behind Houston in the American League West despite winning just two of their last seven contests.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Shohei Ohtani (2-1, 3.60 ERA) vs. Astros RH Charlie Morton (3-0, 0.72)

Ohtani gave up three runs and four hits while walking two during his abbreviated outing against Boston on April 17 as he suffered his first loss. The 23-year-old dominated Oakland in his previous start as he struck out 12 while allowing one hit and one walk over seven scoreless innings. Ohtani has registered 19 strikeouts in 15 frames while limiting opposing batters to a .154 average.

Morton leads the AL in ERA and has struck out 33 batters in 25 innings. The 34-year-old, who has given up just 16 hits and six walks, is coming off a victory in which he blanked Seattle on three hits over seven frames. Morton is 3-0 with a 3.14 ERA in five career starts against the Angels and has handled Zack Cozart (1-for-14) and Mike Trout (2-for-11) while struggling with Martin Maldonado (6-for-10).

WALK-OFFS

1. The Astros outscored the opposition 47-6 during their six-game winning streak and have allowed just 10 runs over their last eight contests.

2. Trout is 7-for-14 with three homers, four RBIs, four runs scored, three stolen bases, two doubles and two walks over his last four games.

3. Altuve recorded two hits in the opener and is 12-for-29 with six RBIs during his seven-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Angels 3, Astros 2
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Umpire Trends - Eric Cooper

Astros are 4-0 in their last 4 Tuesday games with Cooper behind home plate.
Astros are 5-0 in their last 5 games with Cooper behind home plate.
Home team is 4-1 in Coopers last 5 games behind home plate vs. Houston.
Road team is 4-1 in Coopers last 5 games behind home plate vs. Los Angeles.
Under is 11-3 in Coopers last 14 games behind home plate vs. Los Angeles.
Home team is 22-8 in Coopers last 30 games behind home plate.
Under is 5-2-1 in Coopers last 8 games behind home plate.

Preview: Mets at Cardinals
Gracenote
Apr 23, 2018

Paul DeJong and the St. Louis Cardinals are heating up heading into Tuesday's opener of their three-game series at Busch Stadium against the New York Mets. DeJong has homered in back-to-back contests and three times over his last five outings for the Cardinals, who have won eight of nine overall after capping their second sweep of the season by brushing aside reeling Cincinnati.

DeJong is 6-for-20 with seven RBIs and four runs scored during his last five outings overall and faces a Mets team that he has tormented in his young career. The 24-year-old went 4-for-11 with two solo homers in the teams' previous series at Citi Field on March 29-April 1 and is 11-for-30 with four homers and six RBIs in his career versus New York - including 3-for-5 with two blasts against Tuesday starter Zack Wheeler. New York's Asdrubal Cabrera is 11-for-25 with seven RBIs and four runs scored in his last six games before Mother Nature gave him and his team the day off with a rainout in Atlanta on Sunday. Cabrera will look to heat up again versus St. Louis, against which he had four hits - including two doubles - and two runs scored as New York won two of three in the season-opening series.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), FS Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Zack Wheeler (1-1, 2.77 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Luke Weaver (2-1, 4.22)

Wheeler has touched 97 mph with his fastball while reporting no health issues through two starts, an encouraging sign given he struggled with injuries last season and he missed all of 2015 and 2016 after Tommy John surgery. The 27-year-old held Miami to two hits and one run with seven strikeouts in seven outstanding innings April 11, then followed six days later with a loss to Washington after giving up three runs on seven hits with three walks across six innings. Wheeler owns an 0-2 mark with a 4.76 ERA in two career starts versus St. Louis.

Adam Wainwright's trip to the disabled list caused the Cardinals to move up Weaver's next scheduled start. The 24-year-old will bid to atone for a tough outing on Thursday, as he surrendered season highs in runs (six) and hits (nine) while lasting a campaign-worst four innings. Weaver pitched significantly better in his lone career outing against the Mets on April 1, when he permitted just one run on five hits in five innings to pick up the win.

WALK-OFFS

1. New York CF Juan Lagares went 5-for-9 in the first series versus St. Louis.

2. Cardinals LF Marcell Ozuna is 1-for-18 in his last five contests on the heels of a 12-game hitting streak.

3. Mets RF Jay Bruce is 3-for-31 with eight strikeouts in his last 11 contests.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 5, Mets 2
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Preview: Brewers at Royals
Gracenote
Apr 23, 2018

The Milwaukee Brewers ride a six-game winning streak - their longest since 2015 - when they kick off a nine-game road trip Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals. Milwaukee (14-9) is coming off a four-game sweep of Miami in which it outscored the Marlins 30-10, and its 3.37 ERA - 2.64 among relievers - is an early sign that the Brewers could again be a factor in the National League Central this season.

"It's great momentum heading into this (nine-game) road trip, kind of a long one coming up," Milwaukee outfielder Christian Yelich told reporters after homering in Sunday's 4-2 victory. "It was an important homestand for us, and we were able to come home and play really well." Kansas City (5-15) has lost 10 of its last 12 games - allowing 11 or more runs three times in its last seven contests, but starts a seven-game homestand after winning at Detroit 8-5 on Sunday. Mike Moustakas leads the Royals in batting average (.318), home runs (six), RBIs (17) and runs (12) after belting a tiebreaking, three-run blast Sunday. The Brewers' Zach Davies tries to snap a bad-start, good-start pattern to open the season and opposes Ian Kennedy, who hopes to bounce back from his first subpar performance of 2018.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FS Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Zach Davies (1-2, 4.84 ERA) vs. Royals RH Ian Kennedy (1-2, 2.35)

Davies allowed three hits and two walks while striking out two in 6 1/3 innings of a 2-0 victory over Cincinnati on Wednesday. The 25-year-old Washington native earned a no-decision after yielding one run and striking out eight in six innings of Milwaukee's 5-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs on April 7 - a turn sandwiched by a pair of starts in which he permitted 12 runs (11 earned) in 10 innings. Davies has never pitched against Kansas City and faced only three of its hitters - Jon Jay, Jorge Soler and Lucas Duda, who are a combined 8-for-25.

Kennedy allowed six runs (four earned), eight hits (two home runs) and three walks while striking out six in five innings of a 15-5 loss at Toronto on Wednesday. The 33-year-old Californian burst out of the gate this season with three quality starts, pitching six innings in each turn and yielding a total of two runs with 16 strikeouts. Yelich is 5-for-12 with a home run, triple and two doubles versus Kennedy, who is 3-4 with a 3.66 ERA in 10 starts versus the Brewers but hasn't faced them since 2015.

WALK-OFFS

1. Milwaukee SS Orlando Arcia has missed the last two games with an ankle injury, but manager Craig Counsell told reporters: "We'll run him around (Sunday), check him out (Monday) and if he passes, he'll be ready to go on Tuesday."

2. The Royals' bullpen has the worst ERA in the majors at 7.84.

3. Brewers' relievers haven't allowed an earned run in their last 21 2/3 innings with 28 strikeouts during that span.

PREDICTION: Brewers 3, Royals 2
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Preview: Padres at Rockies
Gracenote
Apr 24, 2018

The Colorado Rockies are in need of a strong performance from their pitching staff after allowing double-digit run totals in three of their last five contests. Colorado looks to bounce back from one of those outings when it hosts the San Diego Padres on Tuesday for the middle contest of their three-game series.

The Rockies also surrendered nine runs in a loss to the Chicago Cubs on Sunday and yielded the same amount in the seventh inning of Monday's 13-5 setback after recovering from a four-run first inning by matching San Diego in the bottom half. Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story belted two-run homers in the opening frame for Colorado, which lost two of three at home to the Padres from April 9-11 after winning two of three in San Diego a week earlier. Wil Myers registered four of the Padres' 16 hits on Monday while Carlos Asuaje collected four RBIs as the club posted just its second victory in seven contests. Franchy Cordero highlighted the seventh inning with a two-run blast as San Diego scored more runs in the frame than it did during its three-game series at Arizona over the weekend (eight).

TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Eric Lauer (NR) vs. Rockies LH Kyle Freeland (0-3, 5.85 ERA)

A first-round pick in the 2016 draft, Lauer finds himself in the unenviable position of making his major-league debut at hitter-friendly Coors Field. The 22-year-old native of Ohio began the year with El Paso, going 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA over three starts in his first season at the Triple-A level. Lauer limited the opposition to six runs and 11 hits over 18 innings, recording 19 strikeouts while issuing six walks.

Freeland has thrown a total of 192 pitches over his last two starts but was unable to complete five innings in either one. The 24-year-old native of Denver is coming off a loss at Pittsburgh on Wednesday in which he was tagged for five runs and six hits over four frames. Freeland has yet to defeat San Diego in his brief career, going 0-2 with a 5.79 ERA in three starts and two relief appearances.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rockies OF Gerardo Parra on Tuesday will serve the third contest of his four-game suspension for his participation in a benches-clearing brawl against the Padres on April 11.

2. San Diego 3B Christian Villanueva (hamstring) was a late scratch from Monday's lineup and is day-to-day.

3. Colorado placed LHP Chris Rusin (intercostal) on the 10-day disabled list, transferred RHP Carlos Estevez (elbow) to the 60-day DL and purchased the contract of LHP Harrison Musgrave from Triple-A Albuquerque.

PREDICTION: Rockies 7, Padres 4
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Umpire Trends - Adam Hamari

Under is 5-1 in Hamaris last 6 games behind home plate vs. Colorado.
Home team is 5-1 in Hamaris last 6 games behind home plate vs. San Diego.
Road team is 4-1 in Hamaris last 5 games behind home plate vs. Colorado.
Under is 6-2 in Hamaris last 8 games behind home plate.
Padres are 3-9 in their last 12 games with Hamari behind home plate.
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