6-4-13

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Minnesota at Kansas City
When: 8:10 PM ET, Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Where: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
By SportsDirect Inc.

The Minnesota Twins are flexing their offensive muscle while the Kansas City Royals are routinely getting sand kick in their face. The Twins will vie for their seventh win in eight outings on Tuesday when they open a three-game set at Kauffman Stadium against their American League Central rival. Minnesota, which has scored a staggering 39 runs in its last six victories, belted four home runs en route to a 10-0 triumph over Seattle on Sunday.

Kansas City has split its last four games under the watch of George Brett, who accepted the position as the team's interim hitting coach. The Hall of Famer has his work cut out for him as the Royals haven't scored more than four runs in any of their last 12 contests. Additionally, they mustered just seven en route to dropping two of three versus Texas over the weekend.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSNO (Minnesota), FSKC (Kansas City)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Samuel Deduno (1-1, 5.11 ERA) vs. Royals RH Luis Mendoza (1-2, 4.63)

After a brutal season debut on May 24, Deduno righted the ship in a hurry in his last outing. The 29-year-old Dominican allowed one run on four hits in seven sharp innings as Minnesota cruised to a 4-1 victory over Milwaukee on Wednesday. Deduno fared well in his lone career outing versus Kansas City last season, yielding one run on six hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Mendoza rebounded from two lackluster efforts to finish the month of May with a flourish. The 29-year-old Mexican yielded a total of five runs in his last 16 2/3 innings - but didn't receive a decision in his three trips to the mound. Mendoza posted a 2-1 mark with a 2.67 ERA against Minnesota last season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Twins INF Justin Morneau missed the last two games with the flu, but is expected to return to the lineup on Tuesday. Morneau is 5-for-8 against Mendoza.

2. Kansas City LF Alex Gordon, who collected his 24th multi-hit game on Sunday, is 1-for-3 in his career versus Deduno.

3. Minnesota promoted OF Clete Thomas from Triple-A Rochester on Monday. The 28-year-old Thomas batted .296 with the Red Wings this season and will take the roster spot of LHP Tyler Robertson, who was designated for release or assignment.

PREDICTION: Twins 4, Royals 2

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Pittsburgh at Atlanta
When: 7:10 PM ET, Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Where: Turner Field, Atlanta, Georgia
By SportsDirect Inc.

When naming the top left-handers in the National League, Jeff Locke and Mike Minor might not be the first hurlers people mention. But as Pittsburgh plays Tuesday at Atlanta, Locke and Minor will meet in a matchup of two southpaws who merit All-Star consideration. Locke is fifth in the NL in ERA, Minor ranks ninth, and both are big reasons why the Pirates and Braves have two of the Senior Circuit's top four records.

Atlanta won the series opener Monday, giving the NL East leaders its 13th victory in its past 17 games. The Pirates sit in third in the NL Central, but have teamed with division leader St. Louis and Cincinnati to give the division three teams with plus-.600 winning percentages. Pittsburgh has not faced a left-handed starter since May 18.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Root Sports (Pittsburgh), SportSouth (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates LH Jeff Locke (5-1, 2.25 ERA) vs. Braves LH Mike Minor (7-2, 2.48).

Locke had just one major-league victory in 12 appearances coming into this season, but carries a 19 1/3-inning scoreless streak into Tuesday's contest. The 25-year-old has allowed three hits or fewer in six of his past eight starts. Locke gave up seven hits in 5 1/3 innings Thursday against Detroit, but kept the high-powered Tigers off the scoreboard.

Minor has been as good as anybody in baseball since last season's All-Star break, going 13-6 with a 2.31 ERA in 25 starts. His May was fantastic: a 4-0 record in six starts with a 1.98 ERA and 39 strikeouts against nine walks. Opponents are hitting .203 against Minor, scoring just 10 runs in 41 innings last month.

WALK-OFFS

1. Locke got a no-decision against Atlanta on April 18 in Pittsburgh, allowing four earned runs on six hits in a season-low 4 2/3 innings.

2. Atlanta has received stellar work from its bullpen, allowing just one run in its past 22 2/3 innings.

3. Pittsburgh has won six of its past nine road games.

PREDICTION: Braves 3, Pirates 2

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Texas at Boston
When: 7:10 PM ET, Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Where: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
By SportsDirect Inc.

The American League's elite will meet at Fenway Park as the Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox open a three-game set on Tuesday. Texas, which outscored Boston by a 16-4 margin en route to sweeping a three-game series in the Lone Star State on May 3-5, has won 28 of the last 40 meetings since the start of the 2009 season. The AL West-leading Rangers have rebounded from a three-game slide to win three of their last four contests - including two of three versus skidding Kansas City over the weekend.

The AL East-leading Red Sox also won two of three over the weekend, defeating both the rival New York Yankees and the elements to do so. Surprising Jose Iglesias is batting .400 (10-for-25) during his career-best seven-game hitting streak. Iglesias, who has reached base in 15 of the 16 games he's played, joined David Ortiz by belting a solo homer in Boston's rain-shortened 3-0 triumph on Sunday night.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN Southwest (Texas), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Justin Grimm (5-3, 3.93 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Ryan Dempster (2-6, 4.45)

Grimm bounced back from a three-start losing streak to notch victories in his last three trips to the mound. Buoyed by significant run support, the 24-year-old has kept the ball in the yard in his last three outings while issuing just two free passes all season. Grimm, who was selected by Boston in the 13th round of the 2007 draft, has yet to face the Red Sox in his brief career.

Dempster is mired in a five-start winless drought (0-4, 6.41 ERA) - although he deserved a better fate in his last trip the mound. The 36-year-old British Columbia native allowed two runs on six hits in seven innings but watched as Boston's offense failed to get going against Cliff Lee in a 3-1 loss at Philadelphia. Dempster, who finished last season with Texas, has faced the Rangers just once in his career - picking up the save after striking out the side in his one inning of work.

WALK-OFFS

1. Texas 3B Adrian Beltre is dealing with a "minor" strain in his left hamstring, an MRI revealed on Monday. The three-time All-Star missed Sunday's tilt with the ailment but could return to the lineup on Tuesday.

2. Red Sox LF Jacoby Ellsbury missed the entire three-game set versus the Yankees with a groin injury but could return for Tuesday's tilt.

3. Texas RHP Alexi Ogando (right biceps tendinitis) is scheduled to return to the rotation and start Wednesday's game.

PREDICTION: Rangers 5, Red Sox 2

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NY Mets at Washington
When: 7:05 PM ET, Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Where: Nationals Park, Washington, District of Columbia
By SportsDirect Inc.

The Washington Nationals struggling offense should get a boost Tuesday when outfielder Jayson Werth returns for the start of a three-game series against the visiting New York Mets. With 10 losses in its last 15 games, Washington has fallen under .500 for the first time since April 30. Werth, who has been sidelined since May 3 with a hamstring injury, will be asked to ignite a Nationals offense that has scored a total of seven runs over the last four games.

The Mets were trending upward after a four-game sweep of the Yankees, but they followed that with three straight losses at lowly Miami over the weekend. First baseman Ike Davis provided a ray of hope on Sunday when he had two hits, including his first home run since April 25. Davis was reportedly close to being demoted to the minors last week, but he's hit .333 with five RBIs over his last four games.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), MASN (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Jeremy Hefner (1-5, 4.74 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Jordan Zimmermann (8-3, 2.37)

Hefner earned his first win of the season on Wednesday against the Yankees, allowing three runs over six innings. Danny Espinosa is 5-for-10 with two homers against the 27-year-old right-hander, who has allowed three runs or fewer in seven of his last nine outings. He's 0-3 with a 5.57 ERA in four career starts against the Nationals, including an April 20 outing when he gave up three runs in four innings.

Zimmermann looks to bounce back from his worst start of the season after giving up seven runs over six innings at Baltimore on Wednesday. The loss snapped Zimmermann's streak of 15 straight starts of allowing three runs or fewer. The right-hander is 5-0 with a 1.50 ERA in five starts at Nationals Park this season, and he hasn't lost at home since May 17, 2012.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Nationals are 24-6 when scoring three or more runs this season.

2. The Mets have scored three runs or fewer in 10 of their last 16 games.

3. Washington has hit at least one home run in 75 consecutive series, the longest active streak in the majors.

PREDICTION: Nationals 4, Mets 1

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Cleveland at NY Yankees
When: 7:05 PM ET, Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Where: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
By SportsDirect Inc.

With one emphatic swing, Mark Teixeira did his best to help the New York Yankees break out of their offensive doldrums. Fresh off hitting his eighth career grand slam, Teixeira and the Yankees will look to keep their positive momentum going on Tuesday when they continue their three-game series against the visiting Cleveland Indians. New York, which erupted for seven runs to win for the second time in nine games, mustered just 15 in its previous eight contests.

Cleveland fell for the 10th time in 14 games - and saw shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera suffer a right quadriceps strain while running down the first-base line. That's not the news manager Terry Francona wanted to hear as his sputtering team begins a challenging nine-game road trip that concludes against American League powers Detroit and Texas.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), YES (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians LH Scott Kazmir (3-2, 5.13 ERA) vs. Yankees RH David Phelps (3-3, 4.65)

Kazmir snapped a three-start winless streak with a sizzling performance his last time out. The 29-year-old yielded one run and eight hits over seven solid innings as Cleveland cruised to a 7-1 triumph over Buckeye State rival Cincinnati on Thursday. Kazmir, who is 0-2 on the road in 2013, has posted a 7-6 career mark versus the Yankees.

Phelps would like to forget his last outing - as short as it was. The 26-year-old allowed five runs on four hits in one-third of an inning in an eventual 9-4 loss to the crosstown rival Mets on Wednesday. The setback was his first since May 13, when he allowed the game's only run and issued a season-high five walks in 6 2/3 innings against Cleveland.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cleveland RH Vinnie Pestano has yet to be tested in the closer's role. Chris Perez normally fills that position but is on the disabled list with a sore right shoulder.

2. New York's Travis Hafner celebrated his 36th birthday by belting a solo homer on Monday. He is 1-for-6 with three strikeouts in his career versus Kazmir.

3. The Indians have allowed 27 runs in their last three losses.

PREDICTION: Yankees 4, Indians 3

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Miami at Philadelphia
When: 7:05 PM ET, Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Where: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
By SportsDirect Inc.

Domonic Brown has been nothing short of amazing as the Philadelphia Phillies continue their three-game series at home against the Miami Marlins on Tuesday. While the Phillies have not been at the breakeven mark since April 14, Brown has carried the offense recently, batting 17-for-38 with nine home runs and 17 RBIs over his last 10 games. Brown homered and recorded his second straight three-hit effort and fifth multi-hit game in his last six in Monday's 7-2 win over Miami.

The Marlins entered Citizens Bank Park coming off a home sweep of the New York Mets, but dropped their eighth straight road game to fall to a league-worst 6-22 on the road. Miami averaged eight runs and batted .370 as it matched its longest winning streak of the season during the three-game sweep. However, the lowest-scoring offense in the majors pieced together only two runs and six hits against Philadelphia in the series opener.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Florida (Miami), Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Ricky Nolasco (3-6, 3.69 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Jonathan Pettibone (3-1, 3.64)

Nolasco continued to be dogged by the league worst run support among qualified players (2.25), taking the loss in Thursday's 5-2 home setback against the Tampa Bay Rays. Miami's ace posted his third consecutive quality start allowing three runs and four hits over 6 2/3 innings but is only 1-1 over that span despite a 2.01 ERA and 22 strikeouts. The right-hander is 0-1 with a 3.75 ERA in two outings against the Phillies this season, but 8-6 with a 3.85 ERA against them in 20 career appearances (17 starts).

Petitbone endured the roughest outing of his eight-start major-league career in Thursday's 9-2 home loss against the Boston Red Sox. The 22-year-old surrendered four runs on six hits and four walks over five frames, marking the first time he yielded more than three runs in a start. Petitbone, who is 2-1 with a 2.97 ERA at home this season, outdueled Nolasco on May 3 his third career start when he held Miami to one run on five hits over 6 1/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Brown, who leads the National League with 17 home runs, is 6-for-12 all-time against Nolasco.

2. Miami rookie RF Marcell Ozuna has reached base safely in 19 consecutive games, batting .352 over that span.

3. The Phillies have won six of their last eight and 19 of their last 26 games against the Marlins at home.

PREDICTION: Phillies 4, Marlins 3

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LARRY NESS

10* "RUN LINE ROUTE" - Washington Nats -1'

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JACK JONES

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MLB | Jun 04 '13 (7:05p) Tampa Bay Rays vs Detroit Tigers	Tampa Bay Rays +125 at SIA
20* AL GAME OF THE WEEK on Tampa Bay Rays +125 Getting Matt Moore at this price is an absolute gift from oddsmakers. I'll gladly take advantage and back the Rays at an excellent price today. Moore is 8-0 with a 2.18 ERA and 1.081 WHIP through 11 starts this season. Moore is also 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA and 0.929 WHIP in his last three starts. Moore has faced the Yankees one in his career, going 0-0 with a 2.70 ERA in his lone career start against New York. Tampa is 25-12 (+15.5 Units) against the money line in road games vs. a starting pitcher with good control (less than 1.75 BB's/start) over the last 2 seasons. Sanchez is 6-17 (-13.6 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record) Bet the Rays Sunday.

MLB | Jun 04 '13 (7:10p) Colorado Rockies vs Cincinnati Reds	Colorado Rockies +159 at BetOnline
15* NL Tuesday Undervalued Underdog on Colorado Rockies +159 Analysis Will Be Posted in the AM

MLB | Jun 04 '13 (10:10p) Chicago White Sox vs Seattle Mariners	Chicago White Sox +138 at 5dimes
15* AL Tuesday Undervalued Underdog on Chicago White Sox +138

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MLB

Padres +125

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Baltimore -1.5 -115

Washington -1.5 -115

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50 Seattle