Preview: Dodgers at Diamondbacks
Gracenote
May 2, 2018
The Arizona Diamondbacks are off to a 21-8 start for the first time in franchise history as they enter Wednesday's home game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Arizona has won the first two contests of the four-game series and has prevailed in seven of eight meetings with Los Angeles this season.
A.J. Pollock belted his 10th shot of the season in Tuesday's 4-3 victory after recording his first career three-homer performance a night earlier. The Dodgers have fallen nine games behind the Diamondbacks in the National League West with four straight losses and seven in eight games. Los Angeles registered just four hits in its latest setback, with Chris Taylor notching two and Cody Bellinger contributing a two-run homer. Arizona star Paul Goldschmidt, who is mired in a 14-game home run drought, is 10-for-22 with two blasts and seven RBIs against Tuesday's scheduled starter Hyun-Jin Ryu.
TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), FS Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Hyun-Jin Ryu (3-0, 2.22 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Zack Godley (4-1, 3.81)
Ryu settled for a no-decision in his last turn after giving up two runs and four hits over 5 2/3 innings against San Francisco. The 31-year-old has struck out 32 batters and walked only four over his last four outings and is holding opposing hitters to a .152 average. Ryu is 3-3 with a 3.98 ERA in 11 career starts against Arizona and struggled in a no-decision on April 2, when he yielded three runs on five hits and five walks in just 3 2/3 frames.
Godley defeated Washington in his last turn but was far from sharp, allowing four runs and 10 hits in five innings. The 27-year-old worked seven solid frames in each of his first two starts of the season but hasn't lasted more than 5 1/3 in any of his last three outings. Godley is 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA in two starts against the Dodgers this year and 2-2 with a 3.79 ERA in 10 career appearances (six starts).
WALK-OFFS
1. Dodgers 3B Justin Turner (wrist) had his expected rehab assignment pushed back, with the new projected start time being at some point next week.
2. Arizona RHP Brad Boxberger recorded his 10th save on Tuesday and has yet to squander an opportunity.
3. Los Angeles recalled LHP Edward Paredes from Triple-A Oklahoma City and optioned RHP Brock Stewart to the same club.
PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 7, Dodgers 3
Preview: Orioles at Angels
Gracenote
May 2, 2018
The Los Angeles Angels halted their four-game slide in the series opener and look to post another victory when they host the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday for the middle contest of their three-game set. Los Angeles squandered a two-run lead in the top of the ninth inning of Tuesday's opener before Justin Upton singled home the decisive run in the bottom of the frame for a 3-2 victory.
The Angels have won just four of their last 13 games after sprinting out to a 13-3 start and have slipped to third place in the American League West. Albert Pujols was hitless in four at-bats on Tuesday, remaining four hits shy of 3,000 for his career, and is just 2-for-16 over his last four games. Baltimore had slugger Mark Trumbo (quadriceps) in the lineup for the first time this season, and he was hitless in four at-bats with two strikeouts. Orioles star Manny Machado recorded two hits for the fourth time in his last five games to raise his major league-leading average to .366, but his club has dropped seven of its last nine contests.
TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Baltimore), FS West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Dylan Bundy (1-3, 2.97 ERA) vs. Angels LH Andrew Heaney (0-1, 6.91)
Bundy was torched in a loss to Tampa Bay in his last turn as he allowed eight runs - seven earned - and 11 hits in 4 2/3 innings. The 25-year-old had been superb over his first five outings, giving up just five earned runs during the stretch and yielding five hits or fewer on four occasions. Bundy is 1-0 with a 6.48 ERA in two career appearances (one start) against the Angels and has struggled with Mike Trout (3-for-4, homer).
Heaney allowed two runs - one earned - and five hits in five innings of a no-decision against the New York Yankees in his last turn. The 26-year-old struck out nine batters, the second-best total in his career, and has fanned 22 in just 14 1/3 frames this season. Heaney owns a 7.59 ERA in two career starts against Baltimore and has experienced issues with Machado (3-for-6, homer).
WALK-OFFS
1. Orioles C Chance Sisco departed Tuesday's game in the seventh inning after colliding with 3B Pedro Alvarez and receiving an elbow in the face as both players pursued a foul pop-up.
2. Los Angeles placed Kenyan Middleton (elbow) on the 10-day disabled list and recalled fellow RHP Eduardo Paredes from Triple-A Salt Lake.
3. In addition to activating Trumbo, Baltimore also placed INF Luis Sardinas (back) on the disabled list, optioned OF Joey Rickard to Norfolk and recalled INF Engelb Vielma from the Triple-A affiliate.
PREDICTION: Orioles 5, Angels 3
Preview: Athletics at Mariners
Gracenote
May 2, 2018
The Seattle Mariners look to continue their winning ways at the expense of a division rival as they host the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday for the middle contest of their three-game set. Seattle has won three in a row and six of its last seven after posting a 6-3 victory in the series opener.
Dee Gordon went 5-for-5 with two stolen bases while Nelson Cruz belted a three-run homer for the Mariners, who won two of three against Oakland at home in mid-April. The Athletics registered only four hits en route to their third consecutive defeat, which dropped them to 3-4 on their nine-game road trip. Jed Lowrie hit a solo homer in the setback, giving him at least one RBI in 11 of his last 15 games. Mark Canha has recorded a hit in 11 of his last 12 contests after delivering an RBI single on Tuesday,
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics LH Brett Anderson (2017: 4-4, 6.34 ERA) vs. Mariners LH James Paxton (1-1, 5.12)
Anderson will be brought up from Triple-A Nashville to make his season debut as he begins the second tour of duty with Oakland. The 30-year-old Texan, who spent his first five years in the majors with the Athletics, split last campaign between Toronto and the Chicago Cubs. Anderson owns an 8-4 record and 1.90 ERA in 15 career starts and one relief appearance against Seattle.
Paxton has not lost since his season debut against Cleveland on March 31, but he has recorded just one victory in five starts during the stretch. The 29-year-old Canadian is coming off a no-decision at Cleveland on Thursday in which he allowed two runs and five hits while registering a career high-tying 10 strikeouts in six innings. Paxton has yet to lose to the Athletics, going 3-0 with a 3.96 ERA in six career starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Athletics SS Marcus Semien has hit safely in eight of his last nine games.
2. The Mariners placed RHPs Erasmo Ramirez and Dan Altavilla on the 10-day disabled list with shoulder injuries on Tuesday and recalled OF Guillermo Heredia and RHP Casey Lawrence from Triple-A Tacoma.
3. Oakland and Seattle will begin next season with a two-game series in Tokyo, with the Athletics serving as the home team in both contests.
PREDICTION: Mariners 7, Athletics 3