MLB Betting News and Trends For Wednesday 5/9/18

Wednesday’s games
National League
Giants (19-17) @ Phillies (20-15)
Stratton is 2-0, 1.80 in his last three road starts (over 4-3). Team in his starts: 5-2
5-inning record: 3-3-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-7

Pivetta is 0-2, 5.55 in his last five starts (under 5-1-1). Team in his starts: 5-2
5-inning record: 2-2-3. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-7

San Francisco won seven of its last ten games, but lost last two; over is 9-4 in their last 13 games. Phillies won three of its last four games; over is 9-5 in their last 14 games.

Mets (18-16) @ Reds (9-27)
Wheeler is 1-1, 6.60 in his last three starts (over 4-1). Team in his starts: 3-2
5-inning record: 1-4. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-5

Romano is 2-1, 3.38 in his last three starts; under is 3-1 in his last four. Team in his starts: 3-4
5-inning record: 1-3-3. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-7

Mets lost six of their last eight games; over is 10-5-2 in their last 17 games. Cincinnati lost eight of its last ten home games; over is 10-5-1 in their last 16 games.

Marlins (13-22) @ Cubs (19-14)
Chen is 1-1, 4.82 in his first two starts (under 2-0). Team in his starts: 1-1
5-inning record: 1-1 Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-2

Quintana is 2-0, 3.86 in his last three starts (under 4-2). Team in his starts: 4-2
5-inning record: 3-3. Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-6

Miami is 8-5 in its last 13 games; under is 11-4 in their last 15 games. Cubs won eight of their last ten home games; under is 7-2 in their last home home games.

Nationals (20-17) @ Padres (13-24)
Gonzalez is 3-1, 2.42 in his last four starts (under 5-2). Team in his starts: 4-3
5-inning record: 5-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-7

Lucchesi is 1-2, 5.17 in his last three starts; under is 4-2 in his last six. Team in his starts: 3-4
5-inning record: 3-2-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-7

Nationals won nine of their last ten games; under is 5-2 in their last seven road games. San Diego lost seven of its last eight home games; over is 8-2 in their last ten home games.

Diamondbacks (24-11) @ Dodgers (15-20)
Corbin is 2-0, 1.95 in his last four starts, all of which stayed under. Team in his starts: 5-2
5-inning record: 4-1-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-7

Wood is 0-1, 3.63 in his last four starts (under 4-3). Team in his starts: 3-4
5-inning record: 1-4-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-7

Arizona is 8-3 in its last 11 road games; under is 5-1-1 in their last seven games. Dodgers lost seven of their last nine games; under is 6-3 in their last nine games.

American League
Red Sox (25-10) @ New York (25-10)
Porcello is 5-0, 2.14 in seven starts this year- last three stayed under. Team in his starts: 6-1
5-inning record: 5-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-7

Tanaka is 2-0, 2.41 in his last three starts; his last five starts went over. Team in his starts: 5-2
5-inning record: 5-1-1 Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-7

Red Sox won five of last seven road games; under is 7-3 in their last ten road games. New York won 16 of its last 17 games; over is 7-4 in their last 11 home games.

Royals (12-23) @ Orioles (8-27)
Skoglund is 1-2, 6.84 in five starts this year (over 4-1). Team in his starts: 3-2
5-inning record: 2-3. Allowed run in 1st inning: 4-5

Cashner is 0-3, 7.84 in his last four starts, last three of which went over. Team in his starts: 1-6
5-inning record: 0-5-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-7

Royals are 7-4 in their last 11 games; over is 8-3 in their last 11 road games. Baltimore lost their last seven games; under is 11-5 in their home games.

Mariners (20-14) @ Blue Jays (19-17)
LeBlanc blanked the A’s for four IP (70 PT) in his first ’18 start. Team in his starts: 1-0
5-inning record: 1-0. Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-1

Garcia is 0-2, 9.88 in his last three starts; over is 4-1 in his last five. Team in his starts: 4-2
5-inning record: 2-4 Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-6

Mariners are 9-4 in their last 13 games; over is 7-3 in their last ten road games. Toronto lost five of their last seven games; over is 6-3-1 in their last ten home games.

Tigers (15-20) @ Rangers (14-24)
Liriano is 2-0, 3.42 in his last four starts (under 4-2). Team in his starts: 3-3
5-inning record: 4-1-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-6

Colon is 1-1, 5.03 in his last three starts (under 3-2). Team in his starts: 2-3
5-inning record: 3-1-1 Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-5

Tigers lost eight of their last 11 road games; under is 7-3 in their last ten games overall. Texas lost seven of its last ten games; over is 9-2-1 in their last 12 games.

Astros (23-15) @ A’s (18-18)
Cole is 2-1, 1.82 in his last four starts; under is 3-1-2 in his last six. Team in his starts: 6-1
5-inning record: 4-1-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-7

Mengden is 0-1, 4.61 in his last three starts (over 5-2). Team in his starts: 4-3
5-inning record: 4-3 Allowed run in 1st inning: 4-7

Astros are 9-2 in their last 11 road games; under is 6-2-1 in their last nine games. Oakland won eight of its last 11 home games, but lost last two; five of their last seven games stayed under.

Interleague
Braves (20-14) @ Rays (15-18)
Teheran is 2-0, 1.57 in his last four starts (over 4-3). Team in his starts: 5-2
5-inning record: 3-2-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 5-7

It is a bullpen game for Tampa Bay. Team in bullpen games: 3-7
5-inning record: 4-3-3. Allowed run in 1st inning: 4-10.

Braves lost three of their last four games; over is 11-5-2 in their last 18 games. Tampa Bay is 3-5 in its last eight games (under 6-0-2).

Indians (17-18) @ Brewers (21-15)
Carrasco is 0-1, 11.88 in his last two starts (under 4-3). Team in his starts: 4-3
5-inning record: 5-1-1 Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-7

Guerra is 0-2, 4.91 in his last two starts (under 4-1). Team in his starts: 3-2
5-inning record: 2-2-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-5.

Indians lost five of their last six games; over is 11-2 in their last 13 games. Milwaukee is 5-6 in its last 11 games; under is 10-3-1 in their last 14 games.

Pirates (20-16) @ White Sox (9-24)
Williams is 1-2, 3.42 in his last four starts (under 5-1-1). Team in his starts: 4-3
5-inning record: 3-1-3 Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-7

Lopez is 0-3, 3.41 in six starts this year; over is 3-0-1 in his last four. Team in his starts: 2-4
5-inning record: 2-3-1. Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-6.

Pittsburgh lost five of its last eight games; under is 6-4-2 in their last 12 road games. White Sox are 3-13 in last 16 home games; over is 9-4-1 in their last 14.

Angels (21-13) @ Rockies (20-15)
Barria is 2-1, 3.46 in three starts this year (under 2-1). Team in his starts: 2-1
5-inning record: 2-1 Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-3

Anderson is 2-0, 2.51 in his last three starts; under is 4-2 in his last six. Team in his starts: 5-2
5-inning record: 3-2-2. Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-7.

Angels won five of their last seven games; they’re 13-3 in last 16 road games. Four of their last six games went over. Colorado won its last six games; under is 8-4 in their last 12 home games.

Umpires
NY-Cin: Over is 7-4-1 in last dozen Morales games.
Mia-Chi: Over is 6-3 in last nine TBarrett games.
SF-Phil: Four of five Hoberg games went over.
Wsh-SD: Under is 6-3-1 in last ten Dimuro games.
Az-LA: All five Rackley games this year went over total.

Det-Tex: Under is 8-2 in last ten Hernandez games.
Hst-A’s: Under is 5-3 in last eight Foster games.
KC-Balt: Under is 7-3 in last ten Nauert games.
Bos-NY: Favorites won last five Blaser games.
Sea-Tex: Underdogs are 4-3 in last seven Wolcott games.

Clev-Mil: Last three Fletcher games went over total.
Pitt-Chi: Over is 5-2 in Tumpane games this season.
LA-Colo: Over is 7-0 in Layne games this season.
Atl-TB: Under is 8-3 in last eleven Hamari games.

Preview: Mets at Reds
Gracenote
May 9, 2018

The New York Mets and Cincinnati Reds have split the first two of their three-game set, but managed to conduct some business off the field that could fill a need for each team. The Mets traded pitcher Matt Harvey to the Reds in exchange for catcher Devin Mesoraco, who could start for visiting New York in Wednesday afternoon's rubber match.

Cincinnati entered Tuesday's game with a major league-worst 5.32 ERA so it was willing to gamble on Harvey, who was demoted to the bullpen and designated for assignment last weekend. Eugenio Suarez is 5-for-8 in the series and knocked in four runs in Tuesday's 7-2 victory as the Reds snapped a three-game skid and improved to 2-6 on their nine-game homestand. The Mets, who have lost seven of eight, needed help behind the plate with Travis d’Arnaud out for the season and Kevin Plawecki (broken hand) sidelined and hope 2014 All-Star Mesoraco can stay healthy. “I think that brings a little more consistency to the position,” New York special assistant J.P. Ricciardi said. "Since we lost the two guys, we have probably lacked a little of that, so I think he will help us in that area.”

TV: 12:35 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SNY (New York), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Zack Wheeler (2-2, 5.79 ERA) vs. Reds RH Sal Romano (2-3, 4.21)

Wheeler is coming off a woeful performance in a home loss to Colorado, giving up five runs before his teammates even batted, and wound up charged with eight runs on 10 hits in six-plus innings. He struck out nine and allowed two runs over five innings in winning his previous turn at San Diego. Wheeler faced the Reds once in his career, tossing six innings of one-run ball at Great American Ball Park.

Although he rarely pitches deep into games, Romano turned in another solid effort by limiting Miami to one run on three hits over 5 1/3 innings to earn the victory last time out. He has allowed two earned runs or fewer in his last four turns but has surrendered seven homers in as many starts, including one in each of the last five. Romano has made two starts against the Mets, going 1-0 with a 4.09 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. Reds 2B Scooter Gennett has homered and collected two RBIs in each of the first two games of the series.

2. The Mets put 3B Todd Frazier (hamstring) on the 10-day disabled list and RHP Hansel Robles had his knee X-rayed after Tuesday's game.

3. The Reds called up C Tony Cruz from Triple-A Louisville to replace Mesoraco, who struck out as a pinch hitter Tuesday.

PREDICTION: Reds 5, Mets 4

Preview: Indians at Brewers
Gracenote
May 9, 2018

The Milwaukee Brewers can move into first place in the National League Central when they host the struggling Cleveland Indians for the finale of their two-game interleague set on Wednesday afternoon. The Brewers received homers from Travis Shaw and pitcher Brent Suter in the first three innings of the series opener on Tuesday and held on for a 3-2 victory to improve to 5-2 over their last seven contests.

Christian Yelich recorded three hits on Tuesday and is 12-for-32 over his last eight games for Milwaukee, which is 17-4 when scoring first but carries a 5-8 record in day games into Wednesday’s matinee. Junior Guerra hopes to continue his strong start to the season when he takes the mound for the Brewers against Carlos Carrasco, who posted a career-high 18 victories last season, in a battle of Venezuelan hurlers. The Indians dropped under .500 at 17-18 with their fourth consecutive loss in which they managed just one hit over the final six innings. Francisco Lindor is riding a 10-game hitting streak during which he has gone 20-for-47 with five homers and 11 RBIs.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Carlos Carrasco (4-1, 3.95 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Junior Guerra (2-2, 2.33)

Carrasco has struggled in his last two starts, allowing 11 runs - 10 earned - and 14 hits (three homers) across 8 1/3 innings after opening the season 4-0 in five outings. The 31-year-old gave up a total of four runs in a four-start stretch before a suffering a loss to Seattle on April 28 and giving up six runs over 5 1/3 frames in a no-decision Thursday versus Toronto. Lorenzo Cain is 11-for-32 against Carrasco, who faces Milwaukee for the first time but is 5-4 with a 3.21 ERA in interleague play.

Guerra permitted five runs on six hits (two homers) and four walks to take the loss last time out against Pittsburgh after starting the season with four straight strong outings. The 33-year-old yielded just three runs - two earned - over 22 innings in his first four starts of 2018 without serving up a home run. Guerra, who faces Cleveland for the first time in his career, is 2-0 with a 3.63 ERA in four appearances (three starts) during interleague play.

WALK-OFFS

1. Indians 3B Jose Ramirez is 8-for-20 with three homers and six RBIs over his last five contests.

2. Brewers INF Nick Franklin was recalled from Double-A Biloxi on Tuesday and went 0-for-2 before leaving the game with a quadriceps strain.

3. Cleveland activated RHP Oliver Drake on Tuesday after acquiring him from Milwaukee and RHP Alexi Ogando was optioned to Triple-A Columbus.

PREDICTION: Indians 5, Brewers 3

Preview: Tigers at Rangers
Gracenote
May 9, 2018

Adrian Beltre returned to the lineup in style but couldn't prevent the Texas Rangers from losing for the seventh time in 10 games. Beltre looks to help Texas win the deciding contest of its three-game series against the visiting Detroit Tigers on Wednesday afternoon.

Beltre went 3-for-4 and drove in two runs to tie Tony Perez for 30th place on the all-time RBI list with 1,652 after missing 12 games with a hamstring injury. The 39-year-old third baseman has recorded nine multi-hit performances in just 25 games and is batting a stellar .330. Detroit is 2-4 on its seven-game road trip after Jeimer Candelario, Victor Martinez and Jose Iglesias all homered during Tuesday's 7-4 victory. Candelario and Dixon Machado each recorded two hits as the Tigers halted a five-game slide against Texas to win for just the fifth time in the last 20 meetings between the teams.

TV: 2:05 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, FS Southwest (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers LH Francisco Liriano (3-1, 2.97 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Bartolo Colon (1-1, 3.29)

Liriano settled for a no-decision against Kansas City in his last turn despite allowing just one run and three hits over a season-high seven innings. The 34-year-old has allowed three runs or fewer in all six of his starts and is holding opponents to a .187 batting average. Liriano is 5-3 with a 4.03 ERA in 14 career appearances (nine starts) against the Rangers and has limited Nomar Mazara to one hit in six at-bats, although the hit was a home run.

Colon suffered his first setback of the season in his last turn as he served up four solo homers among five overall hits in seven innings against Boston. The 44-year-old has posted a stellar 0.83 WHIP and is holding opposing batters to a .212 average but has allowed seven blasts over his last three outings and eight overall. Colon is 9-10 with a 5.25 ERA in 28 career appearances (27 starts) against the Tigers but produced a strong start on Oct. 1, when he gave up one run and three hits over 6 1/3 innings in a victory while with Minnesota.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tigers CF Leonys Martin (knee) is slated to undergo an MRI exam after missing Tuesday's game following a stretch of three straight two-hit efforts.

2. The Rangers optioned INF Eliezer Alvarez to Double-A Frisco to open the roster spot for Beltre.

3. Detroit RHP Jordan Zimmermann (shoulder) received a cortisone shot and hopes to be activated to start on May 16.

PREDICTION: Rangers 7, Tigers 5

Preview: Pirates at White Sox
Gracenote
May 9, 2018

The Pittsburgh Pirates aim to continue their interleague mastery when they finish a two-game series at the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday afternoon. With a 10-6 win in Tuesday's series opener, the Pirates improved to 7-2 against the American League, giving them three more wins than any other team in the majors in interleague play.

Corey Dickerson had four of Pittsburgh's 16 hits Tuesday as it overcame an early 4-0 deficit to win for the third time in the last four games. Welington Castillo slugged a pair of home runs for the White Sox, losers of four straight and eight of their last nine. Yolmer Sanchez chipped in three hits and an RBI and he is 12-for-26 with three doubles and two triples during a six-game hitting streak for Chicago. Sanchez and his teammates will face off with Pirates starter Trevor Williams, who opposes Reynaldo Lopez in a matchup of two young right-handers ranked among the top 20 in the majors in ERA entering Tuesday.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, NBCS Chicago

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Trevor Williams (4-2, 2.63 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Reynaldo Lopez (0-2, 2.43)

Williams opened the year with six straight starts with two or fewer runs allowed before giving up three in 5 2/3 innings of a loss at Washington on Thursday. He allowed two home runs in the outing after giving up just one over 35 1/3 frames in April. The 26-year-old, who has held opponents to a .193 batting average, carries a 3-1 record and an ERA of 1.69 in interleague action into his first career start against Chicago.

Lopez entered Tuesday ranked ninth in the American League in ERA but was the only hurler in the top 34 in that category who had yet to pick up a win. He is coming off his worst start of the year after giving up five runs (four earned) in 6 2/3 innings with zero strikeouts in a no-decision against Minnesota on Thursday. The Dominican Republic native spun 5 1/3 scoreless innings in a win over the Pirates in 2016 while still a member of the Washington Nationals.

WALK-OFFS

1. Dickerson is 7-for-10 with four RBIs over the last two games.

2. White Sox 1B Jose Abreu has six RBIs over a four-game stretch after producing just one over his previous nine contests.

3. Pittsburgh is 23-9 against the AL Central dating to June 15, 2015.

PREDICTION: Pirates 5, White Sox 4

Preview: Marlins at Cubs
Gracenote
May 9, 2018

The Chicago Cubs look to continue their dominance over the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field when they try to complete a three-game home sweep on Wednesday afternoon. The Cubs have won nine of their last 10 home games against the Marlins, outscoring Miami 58-22 in those contests.

After routing the Marlins 14-2 in the series opener, the Cubs were able to grind out a 4-3 victory Tuesday after falling behind by three runs in the first inning. The Cubs had to lean heavily on their bullpen Tuesday, as six relievers combined for seven scoreless innings after spot starter Jen-Ho Tseng lasted only two frames. Chicago will need left-hander Jose Quintana to go deep into the game Wednesday to preserve the bullpen. Miami has lost four of its last six following a four-game winning streak and has been held to three or fewer runs in five of its last seven contests.

TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), WGN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins LH Wei-Yin Chen (1-1, 4.82 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Jose Quintana (3-2, 4.99)

Chen will make his third start of the season as he continues to build his pitch count after starting the season on the disabled list. The 32-year-old had a rough outing Friday at Cincinnati, issuing four walks and giving up two home runs as he was charged with four runs in four innings. Chen faced the Cubs in 2016 and allowed two runs over seven innings with seven strikeouts in a no-decision.

Quintana had won three straight decisions before suffering some bad luck Friday in a 3-2 loss at St. Louis. The 29-year-old lasted only four frames thanks to four walks and gave up a three-run homer after he would have been out of an inning if not for an error. Quintana’s only previous start against the Marlins came in the opening weekend of the season, when he gave up six runs over six innings in a loss.

WALK-OFFS

1. Chicago 3B Kris Bryant had his seven-game hitting streak snapped Tuesday but was hit by a pitch for a league-leading eighth time and scored a run for his third consecutive game.

2. Marlins 3B/RF Brian Anderson has eight multi-hit games, three of which have come against the Cubs.

3. Cubs INF Javier Baez (groin) was held out of the starting lineup Tuesday but singled as a pinch hitter to extend his hitting streak to six games and made a sparkling defensive play at third base in the ninth inning.

PREDICTION: Cubs 6, Marlins 4

Preview: Angels at Rockies
Gracenote
May 9, 2018

After ending April with three straight losses, the Colorado Rockies have been unbeatable thus far in May. Colorado looks to extend its month-opening winning streak to seven games when it hosts the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday afternoon for the finale of their two-game interleague series.

The Rockies finished their 6-3 road trip with five consecutive victories before returning home to post a 4-2 win over the Angels on Tuesday. DJ LeMahieu returned from a stint on the disabled list due to a strained right hamstring and recorded an RBI single while Trevor Story doubled, tripled and drove in two runs for Colorado, which hopes to stretch its franchise-record streak to 10 straight quality starts behind Tyler Anderson on Wednesday. Los Angeles managed only six hits and was kept off the scoreboard for the first seven innings as it dropped to 2-2 on its five-game road trip. Justin Upton notched two of those hits, including a two-run homer in the eighth that gave him three blasts and 10 RBIs in seven games this month.

TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS West (Los Angeles), AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Jaime Barria (2-1, 3.46 ERA) vs. Rockies LH Tyler Anderson (2-0, 3.78)

Barria bounced back from a difficult outing to defeat Baltimore on Thursday as he allowed two runs and four hits over six innings in his third major-league start. The 21-year-old Panamanian rookie lasted only two-plus frames against San Francisco in his previous turn, throwing 77 pitches while yielding two runs and five hits. Barria also has made three starts for Triple-A Salt Lake but did not record a decision while posting a 2.92 ERA.

Anderson has registered only two decisions in seven starts this season, but both are victories - including one against the Cubs in Chicago last Wednesday. The 28-year-old native of Las Vegas recorded a season-high nine strikeouts while giving up only two runs and three hits over seven innings. Anderson will be facing Los Angeles for the first time but is 1-2 in four career interleague starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Angels RHP Kenyan Middleton (elbow) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday and started against Sacramento, walking two and striking out two while throwing 19 pitches in one inning.

2. Colorado optioned INF Pat Valaika to Triple-A Albuquerque to make room on the roster for LeMahieu.

3. Los Angeles OF Kole Calhoun, who is hitting just .165, was kept out of the starting lineup for a third straight game Tuesday in order to work on his swing but appeared as a pinch hitter and hit into a double play.

PREDICTION: Angels 7, Rockies 4

Preview: Astros at Athletics
Gracenote
May 9, 2018

The Houston Astros appear to have corrected themselves after a rough start to May and look to complete a series sweep when they visit the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday afternoon for the finale of their three-game set. Houston lost five of its first six contests this month but has collected 32 hits while outscoring Oakland 20-4 in the first two games of the series.

George Springer followed a 6-for-6 effort in the opener with a pair of hits, including a two-run double in the fifth inning that put the Astros ahead for good. The 2017 World Series MVP has recorded four multi-hit performances in his last five games, going 13-for-25 in that span. The Athletics managed only six hits in Tuesday's setback as they fell to 3-2 on their six-game homestand. Marcus Semien recorded a pair of singles and is 6-for-21 during his five-game hitting streak.

TV: 3:35 p.m. ET, MLB Network, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), NBCS California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Gerrit Cole (3-1, 1.42 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Daniel Mengden (2-3, 4.30)

Cole's first season in Houston has been a smashing success thus far as he has allowed only nine runs - eight earned - and 26 hits while registering 77 strikeouts and issuing only nine walks over 50 2/3 innings in seven starts. The 27-year-old Californian is coming off his second career complete game and first shutout as he fanned a season-high 16 batters and walked just one while tossing a one-hitter at Arizona on Friday. Cole has yet to defeat Oakland, going 0-1 with a 3.29 ERA in two career starts.

Mengden has allowed one run in three of his last four starts but has won only one of those turns. All three of those outings took place at home, where the 25-year-old Texan is 1-10 with a 5.32 ERA in 16 career starts. Mengden is winless in five career turns against Houston, going 0-3 with a 7.23 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. Athletics DH Khris Davis recorded his 31st RBI of the season on Tuesday to tie teammate Jed Lowrie for the American League lead.

2. Houston OF Marwin Gonzalez is 7-for-14 with a homer and six RBIs over his last three games.

3. Oakland OF Stephen Piscotty was back in the lineup Tuesday, just two days after the death of his mother, and went 1-for-3 but is expected to be placed on the bereavement list this weekend.

PREDICTION: Astros 6, Athletics 0

Preview: Giants at Phillies
Gracenote
May 9, 2018

The Philadelphia Phillies have been taking advantage of their hitter-friendly home confines this season, highlighted by belting seven homers to win the first two contests of their four-game series versus the San Francisco Giants. The Phillies (20-15) look to tee off on right-hander Chris Stratton and the Giants (19-17) on Wednesday when the set continues at Citizens Bank Park.

Carlos Santana launched a three-run homer in an 11-0 romp in the series opener before adding a solo shot in Tuesday's 4-2 victory as Philadelphia improved to 13-5 at home. Odubel Herrera, who had two homers in the opener, recorded his third straight multi-hit performance to extend his on-base streak to 37 consecutive games, one shy of Jimmy Rollins' second-place total in franchise history set while overlapping the 2005 and 2006 seasons. Andrew McCutchen is 11-for-26 during his eight-game hitting streak for San Francisco, which has seen its offense sputter after erupting for 33 runs in the previous four contests heading into his series. The 2013 National League MVP is batting a robust .299 versus the Phillies in his career, although he'll be getting his first look at right-hander Nick Pivetta on Wednesday.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Bay Area (San Francisco), NBCS Philadelphia

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Chris Stratton (3-2, 3.99 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Nick Pivetta (1-2, 4.76)

Stratton answered a disastrous performance, which came just three days after the birth of his daughter, with a strong one on Friday. The 27-year-old looked less fatigued against Atlanta, as he overcame two homers to work six strong innings and improve to 3-1 in his last five outings. Stratton will be making his 28th career appearance and first start versus Philadelphia on Wednesday.

Pivetta's stellar start to 2018 has been slowed in each of his last two outings, with Bryce Harper homering twice on Friday as Washington erupted for six runs in one-plus innings to hand the 25-year-old British Columbia native his worst start of the season. "I just look at this as a bad day at work. That's what happened. ... I'm going to be fine, I've been through this before," said Pivetta, who will face the Giants for the first time. He hasn't done himself any favors with his control problems as well, as Pivetta answered a stretch of three games without surrendering a walk by issuing eight free passes over his last three.

WALK-OFFS

1. Philadelphia OF Aaron Altherr homered in the second inning on Tuesday, giving him 14 hits in his last 14 games.

2. San Francisco 1B Brandon Belt has seven hits and five runs scored in his last six contests.

3. Phillies 3B Maikel Franco is 9-for-24 with two homers and four RBIs during his six-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Giants 5, Phillies 1

Preview: Red Sox at Yankees
Gracenote
May 9, 2018

The white-hot New York Yankees have made up 7 1/2 games on the Boston Red Sox since April 20 to pull into tie for first place in the American League East. The Yankees are on a 16-1 tear -- their best 17-game stretch since 1953 -- and look to extend their winning streak to eight when they resume their three-game series against visiting Boston on Wednesday night.

Giancarlo Stanton belted a pair of solo homers and Aaron Judge delivered the tiebreaking single in New York's 3-2 victory in the series opener. It was the 10th consecutive victory at home for the Yankees and set a record for the longest winning streak since moving into the new Yankee Stadium. Mookie Betts had an RBI triple among two hits for the Red Sox, who had a three-game win streak halted and had to scratch David Price (finger numbness) from Wednesday's scheduled start. Rick Porcello, resembling the pitcher who won the Cy Young Award in 2016 rather than the 17-game loser of a year ago, will replace Price and looks to remain unbeaten when he opposes New York right-hander Masahiro Tanaka.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ESPN, NESN (Boston), YES (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Rick Porcello (5-0, 2.14 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Masahiro Tanaka (4-2, 4.39)

Porcello record his sixth consecutive quality start last time out, striking out eight while holding Texas to one run on three hits over six innings. The 29-year-old sinkerballer has yet to permit more than three runs in a start and has fanned 46 while walking only five in 46 1/3 innings. Porcello is 9-8 overall against New York, but has struggled at Yankee Stadium with a 1-4 mark and 5.17 ERA in six starts.

Since he was pounded by the Red Sox and Miami in back-to-back outings, Tanaka has turned in three strong starts, although he settled for a no-decision after giving up three runs over six innings at Houston last time out. He won at Boston on April 11 but was tagged for six runs on seven hits, including a pair of homers. J.D. Martinez is 7-for-12 with three homers off Tanaka, who is 8-4 lifetime versus the Red Sox.

WALK-OFFS

1. Stanton is 9-for-15 with two homers and five RBIs in four games versus Boston this season.

2. Betts is 10-for-22 with five homers and nine RBIs in his last six games.

3. Yankees LHP Aroldis Chapman recorded his 212th career save and 50th with New York in the series opener.

PREDICTION: Yankees 5, Red Sox 3

Preview: Royals at Orioles
Gracenote
May 9, 2018

The Kansas City Royals began a six-game road trip with their best offensive showing of the season, and they’ll try to carry that momentum into the second contest of their three-game series at the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday. The Royals smacked four home runs in a 10-run first inning Tuesday, scoring seven runs before the Orioles recorded an out en route to a 15-7 rout.

Kansas City has won seven of its last 10, but it had scored 10 runs only twice in 34 games before doing so in the first inning of the series opener. The Royals hit five home runs after entering the day ranked 28th in the league with 29 blasts. The Orioles have lost seven straight and own the worst record in baseball at 8-27. Their pitching staff has struggled mightily during the skid, allowing double-digit runs three times in the past six games, and the bullpen was put to the test Tuesday after starter Dylan Bundy failed to record an out.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, MASN (Baltimore)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals LH Eric Skoglund (1-2, 6.84 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Andrew Cashner (1-4, 4.89)

Skoglund has just one quality start in his five outings this season, but the Royals have won his last three starts. The 25-year-old missed out on a win last time out because he didn’t get out of the fifth inning against Detroit, allowing five runs in 4 2/3 innings. Skoglund is 0-2 with a 12.06 ERA on the road in his brief career.

Cashner is winless in his last five starts, and the Orioles have lost each game. The 31-year-old gave up back-to-back homers in the first inning of his last outing at Oakland on Friday, but he settled in after that and was charged with four runs (three earned) over 4 2/3 innings in a no-decision. Cashner has had tough luck against the Royals, going 0-2 with a 1.69 ERA in three meetings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Kansas City LF Alex Gordon is batting .382 in 14 games since returning from the disabled list and recorded a four-hit game Tuesday - his first since July 7, 2015.

2. Baltimore 2B Jonathan Schoop (oblique) returned from the disabled list Tuesday and went 1-for-5 with two RBIs in his first action since April 13.

3. Royals RF Jorge Soler has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games and is batting .400 with five doubles, four homers, and 13 RBIs over that span.

PREDICTION: Royals 7, Orioles 5

Preview: Mariners at Blue Jays
Gracenote
May 9, 2018

The Seattle Mariners continue to make themselves at home outside of the Pacific Northwest as they began their seven-game road trip with a no-hitter in the opener of their three-game series versus the Toronto Blue Jays. The Mariners (20-14) aim to add to their already impressive 12-6 road record on Wednesday when they vie for a series victory versus the Blue Jays (19-17).

Canadian James Paxton, who was selected by Toronto in the first round of the 2009 draft, followed up a 16-strikeout performance by rendering Toronto's bats silent in Tuesday's 5-0 triumph. Dee Gordon had two singles and a double to hit safely in eight straight starts while improving to 21-for-38 with eight runs scored in his last nine games heading into an encounter versus Jaime Garcia, against whom he is 5-for-15 in his career. While Seattle has won nine of 13 overall to keep the heat on in the American League West, Toronto has dropped four of five overall and five of its last six at Rogers Centre. Josh Donaldson is mired in an 0-for-14 rut in his last four contests after homering in each game of a doubleheader in his return from the disabled list.

TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), Sportsnet-1 (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH Wade LeBlanc (0-0, 3.57 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH Jaime Garcia (2-2, 6.60)

A shoulder injury to Erasmo Ramirez propelled LeBlanc into the starting rotation, and the 33-year-old did not disappoint by scattering three hits over four scoreless innings against Oakland on Thursday in his first opportunity to begin a game since 2016. The solid performance prompted the Mariners to once again lean on the veteran southpaw as opposed to reaching out to Triple-A Tacoma in a bid to add another arm to the rotation. Donaldson is 4-for-9 with two homers and former Mariner Justin Smoak has also went deep twice in his career against LeBlanc, who has permitted four homers and five runs total in five innings over two career relief appearances versus the Blue Jays.

Garcia's performances progressively have gotten worse in 2018 as he set a season high in runs in each of his last three outings. The 31-year-old allowed four runs on April 22 and five the following outing before getting blitzed for six runs on seven hits in 3 1/3 innings of a no-decision at Cleveland on Thursday. Garcia has struggled mightily with the home run ball, as he was taken deep for the eighth time this season with a three-run shot against the Indians.

WALK-OFFS

1. Blue Jays RHP Roberto Osuna was placed on administrative leave by the commissioner's office after being arrested and charged with assault on a woman by Toronto police.

2. Seattle 3B Kyle Seager, who made a diving stop to preserve Paxton's no-hit bid in the seventh inning, has reached base in 11 of his last 14 games.

3. Toronto 2B Yangervis Solarte is 1-for-14 in his last four games after erupting for eight hits - including two homers - to go along with seven RBIs and four runs scored in his previous two.

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 3, Mariners 2

Preview: Braves at Rays
Gracenote
May 9, 2018

Ronald Acuna Jr. is the youngest player in the major leagues, and the Atlanta Braves look to finish a sweep of a two-game series at the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday thanks to the power from one of baseball’s rising young stars. In his 12th big-league game, the 20-year-old cranked his third homer - a 434-foot blast deep into the left-field seats - in a 1-0 Atlanta victory on Tuesday to raise his average to .320 with three homers and six RBIs in his first 50 at-bats.

The surprising Braves remain in first place in the National League East, shaking off a sweep at home against San Francisco over the weekend by starting the six-game road trip with their fifth one-run victory of the season. Sean Newcomb improved to 3-1 and lowered his ERA to 2.88 in his 26th major-league start, giving Tampa Bay its fourth loss in the past six games. The Rays started catcher Wilson Ramos - who brought a 14-game hitting streak into the series - at designated hitter Tuesday and he collected a single to lead off the ninth, giving him a .414 average during his last 15 contests. One concern is the health of shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria, who took a foul ball off the catwalk above the field off his face in the eighth inning and had to leave the game.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Atlanta), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Julio Teheran (2-1, 3.65 ERA) vs. Rays LH Ryan Yarbrough (2-1, 3.33)

Teheran got off to a rough start but has more than made up for it recently, giving up just four runs on 13 hits with 23 strikeouts in 23 innings across his past four starts. The 27-year-old was outstanding in authoring one of the best starts of his career Thursday at New York, no-hitting the Mets for 6 2/3 innings before finishing the outing with just two hits allowed and two walks with six strikeouts in seven scoreless innings. Teheran posted a 7.07 ERA through his first three starts, but has a 1.57 ERA and a .165 opponents batting average since.

Yarbrough makes the second start of his rookie season as Tampa Bay continues juggling its rotation following an injury to Yonny Chirinos. The 26-year-old, who has made seven appearances out of the bullpen, lost his only other start April 15 to Philadelphia - giving up two earned runs (five in all) on three hits in 4 2/3 innings. He impressed in long relief Friday against Toronto, holding the Blue Jays to one hit with four strikeouts in five scoreless innings, and in his past two outings has surrendered two runs on four hits with 10 strikeouts over nine frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tampa Bay RHP Nathan Eovaldi, on the disabled list after right elbow surgery and seeking a return to the majors for the first time since 2016, will make a rehab start Wednesday with Class-A Port Charlotte.

2. Atlanta rookie LHP Luiz Gohara, who made five starts last September, joined the team Tuesday and will work out of the bullpen.

3. Tampa Bay recorded four strikeouts in the top of the seventh inning Tuesday thanks to a wild pitch on strike three that allowed Atlanta 3B Charlie Culberson to reach.

PREDICTION: Braves 4, Rays 2

Preview: Nationals at Padres
Gracenote
May 9, 2018

The streaking Washington Nationals look to win for the 10th time in 11 games when they conclude their three-game series against the host San Diego Padres on Wednesday. The Nationals have won the first two games of the set by a total of seven runs after posting a 4-0 triumph on Tuesday.

Washington is thriving despite the fact star right fielder Bryce Harper is hitless in eight at-bats in the series and 0-for-16 over his last four contests. Matt Adams continued his stunning month of May (seven homers, 14 RBIs) by delivering a run-scoring double in Tuesday's win. The Padres have been shut out in two of their last five games - the first being a combined no-hitter by the Los Angeles Dodgers - and five times overall. Eric Hosmer is hitless in eight at-bats in the series and just 2-for-17 over his last five contests, with the hits being home runs..

TV: 9:10 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), FS San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (4-2, 2.33 ERA) vs. Padres LH Joey Lucchesi (3-2, 3.13)

Gonzalez has won back-to-back starts and three of his last four. The 32-year-old has allowed fewer than two runs in four of his turns and has served up just one homer in 38 2/3 innings. Gonzalez is 3-2 with a 3.50 ERA in six career starts against the Padres and has allowed two homers to Freddy Galvis (11-for-42), who was with Philadelphia at the time.

Lucchesi lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in his last outing as he gave up three runs and five hits over five innings. The 24-year-old rookie has lost two of his last three starts, serving up four home runs during the stretch. Lucchesi has issued nine free passes over 15 2/3 frames during the three-outing span after walking just four in 21 2/3 innings over his first four turns.

WALK-OFFS

1. Nationals 2B Howie Kendrick is 4-for-9 with two runs scored in the series.

2. San Diego 3B Christian Villanueva was hitless in four at-bats on Tuesday and is 0-for-21 over his last six contests.

3. Washington 1B Ryan Zimmerman (left side) went 2-for-4 on Tuesday after missing the previous three games.

PREDICTION: Padres 4, Nationals 3