Monday 4-16-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Colorado Rockies vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Preview and Predictions 04-16-2018

15th April 2018 by Gracenote
the pittsburgh pirates will try to follow up a winning road trip with more success at home when they welcome the colorado rockies on monday for the first of three games. a 7-3 win at miami on sunday gave the pirates a 4-2 trip and sent them back home atop the national league central at 11-4, a surprising mark given the team's dramatic roster turnover this offseason.

starling marte carried pittsburgh on sunday with a 5-for-5 effort that included a ninth-inning homer and four runs scored. josh bell added three hits and corey dickerson was 2-for-4 with two rbis while extending his hitting streak to 10 games for the pirates. the rockies got a two-out homer from ian desmond in the ninth inning to pick up a 6-5 win in washington on sunday, improving to 7-4 on the road. colorado right-hander german marquez was ejected after three innings in his previous start for participating in a brawl with the san diego padres, and he'll get a chance to go deeper in this one opposite steven brault for the pirates.
tv: 7:05 p.m. et, at&t sportsnet rocky mountain (colorado), at&t sportsnet pittsburgh
pitching matchup: rockies rh german marquez (0-1, 4.97 era) vs. pirates lh steven brault (2-0, 3.46)

marquez tossed three scoreless innings while striking out four before the fight with the padres, during which he was spotted throwing a towel. the 23-year-old from venezuela issued 10 walks while fanning just six through his previous two starts. marquez went 2-0 with a 2.25 era in two starts against the pirates last season.
brault won his first two outings this season - one as a starter and one in relief - before struggling at wrigley field on wednesday. the california native was reached for four runs on seven hits in five innings of that game while getting a no-decision in a game the pirates would lose 13-5. brault allowed two runs in an inning of relief in his only prior encounter with the rockies.

walk-offs

1. pirates 2b josh harrison left sunday's game after being hit by a pitch on his left hand and is day-to-day.

2. rockies cf charlie blackmon is 3-for-8 with two homers and a double in two games since returning from a quadriceps injury.

3. the teams split six meetings last season.

prediction: pirates 5, rockies 4

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Kansas City Royals vs. Toronto Blue Jays Preview and Predictions 04-16-2018

15th April 2018 by Gracenote
the toronto blue jays hope to continue their strong play after sitting out two straight days due to poor weather conditions as they open a three-game series against the visiting kansas city royals on monday. toronto has won nine of 12 games since starting the season with two losses, getting timely hitting despite a .230 team batting average and solid pitching.

"obviously, we've been playing really well, and you want that momentum going," blue jays pitcher marco estrada told the toronto sun. "maybe our first game out (monday), we might be a little rusty, but i don't think taking two days off is going to affect anybody." newcomer jaime garcia, who originally was slated to pitch saturday, is expected to get the start in the series opener for the blue jays while eric skoglund goes after his first victory of the season for kansas city. the royals also had their game against the los angeles angels on sunday postponed and may have needed the break after losing five straight contests in which they gave up a total of 29 runs as they begin a seven-game road trip. mike moustakas has been one of the team's lone bright spots of late as he is riding a seven-game hitting streak, going 13-for-29 with three homers and seven rbis during that stretch to raise his average to .327.
tv: 7:07 p.m. et, fs kansas city, sportsnet one (toronto)
pitching matchup: royals lh eric skoglund (0-1, 9.64 era) vs. blue jays lh jaime garcia (1-0, 3.18)

skoglund struggled in his only start of the season on tuesday as he was tagged for five runs and six hits while hitting three batters over 4 2/3 innings of a loss to seattle. the 25-year-old floridian has not won since his major-league debut on may 30, when he limited detroit to two hits over 6 1/3 scoreless frames. skoglund, who is 0-3 with a 13.22 era in five starts and two relief appearances since the victory, faces the blue jays for the first time in his career after being moved back a day due to sunday's postponement.
garcia recorded his first win with the blue jays in his last start on april 8 after allowing three runs, five hits and two walks with five strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings at texas. the 31-year-old mexican was even better in his season debut against the chicago white sox, giving up one run and four hits while striking out seven over six frames in a no-decision. lucas duda is 2-for-5 with a homer versus garcia, who is 1-1 with a 5.68 era in five career starts against the royals.

walk-offs

1. toronto rhp roberto osuna (five saves) has allowed two hits and struck out five with no walks in 7 1/3 scoreless innings to start the season.

2. kansas city is tied for last in the majors with just five home runs - three from moustakas and two by duda.

3. the royals won four of their six matchups against the blue jays and were 17-15 versus the american league east last year.

prediction: royals 5, blue jays 4

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Washington Nationals vs. New York Mets Preview and Predictions 04-16-2018

15th April 2018 by Gracenote
the new york mets are sprinting off to the best start in franchise history while their three-game sweep of washington earlier this month sent the nationals spiraling down the standings. the red-hot mets aim to secure their 11th win in 12 contests on monday when they begin a three-game series against the nationals at citi field.

wilmer flores played the unlikely hero and allowed the rest of his teammates to get out of the elements with his third career walk-off homer in the ninth inning of sunday's 3-2 win over milwaukee. "it was good just to get out of that cold," said the 26-year-old venezuelan, who begrudgingly was the recipient of an ice-cold gatorade shower. while the mets won in the ninth inning, the nationals were undone in the same frame -- by a familiar face, no less -- as ian desmond belted a two-out homer against his former team in sunday's 6-5 setback versus colorado. washington has been outscored 58-38 en route to dropping nine of its last 12, including 17-9 during a three-game sweep at the hands of new york from april 5-8.
tv: 7:10 p.m. et, masn (washington), sny (new york)
pitching matchup: nationals rh jeremy hellickson (2017: 8-11, 5.43 era) vs. mets rh jacob degrom (2-0, 3.06)

hellickson, who will be added to washington's 25-man roster on monday, is ready to go after working a pair of extended spring straining league games in florida. the 31-year-old pitched well for a young philadelphia squad over parts of two seasons before limping down the stretch in 2017 with a 2-6 mark and gaudy 6.97 era in 10 outings with baltimore. hellickson owns a 2-4 record with a bloated 7.81 era in eight career starts versus the mets.
degrom surrendered just one earned run on four hits for the second time in as many starts this season as he improved to 6-4 in his career versus washington following an 8-2 triumph on april 5. the 29-year-old walked away with a no-decision in his last trip to the mound despite yielding four runs - including his first homer of the season - in six innings at miami. bryce harper (mlb-best seven homers) is 9-for-26 versus degrom, but the right-hander has kept anthony rendon (2-for-21, six strikeouts) and michael taylor (1-for-21, 11 strikeouts) under wraps.

walk-offs

1. washington won eight of 10 games at citi field last season.

2. new york of yoenis cespedes has struck out multiple times in nine of his last 10 games while ss jose reyes is mired in an 0-for-16 stretch.

3. nationals 2b daniel murphy (knee), who is a former met, was scheduled to report to extended spring training on monday in west palm beach, fla.

prediction: mets 4, nationals 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Texas Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Rays Preview and Predictions 04-16-2018

15th April 2018 by Gracenote
the tampa bay rays are struggling in all areas of the game while sinking to the bottom of the american league and hope to start the recovery process when they host the rejuvenated texas rangers for the opener of their three-game series on monday. the rays have lost four straight, allowing 19 runs in the last two, and manager kevin cash told reporters after sunday's 10-4 defeat against philadelphia that "nothing is working."

to compound tampa bay's problems, former gold glove-winning center fielder kevin kiermaier is likely to miss some time with a right thumb injury he sustained sunday after sliding head-first into second base. kiermaier will undergo an mri on monday as teammate blake snell takes the mound in search of back-to-back wins as he opposes martin perez, who has yet to defeat the rays in his career. the rangers reside in last place in the al west but come in off their first series victory of the season as they took the final two contests of a three-game set in houston. former rays catcher robinson chirinos homered and delivered a two-run double in the 10th inning of texas' 3-1 victory on sunday.
tv: 7:10 p.m. et, fs southwest (texas), fs sun plus (tampa bay)
pitching matchup: rangers lh martin perez (1-1, 11.88 era) vs. rays lh blake snell (1-1, 3.60)

perez was pounded by the los angeles angels on tuesday, when he allowed eight runs on nine hits and four walks over three innings of an 11-1 setback. the 27-year-old venezuelan, who posted a career-high 13 wins in 2017, won his season debut against oakland on april 5 as he yielded three runs and 10 hits across 5 1/3 frames. c.j. cron is 5-for-18 with a double, a triple and six rbis against perez, who is 0-2 with a 5.93 era in six career outings (five starts) versus tampa bay.
snell was overpowering against the chicago white sox on tuesday, striking out 10 while surrendering one run and one hit over six innings, but his pitch count ballooned to 114 with five walks. the 25-year-old native of washington held boston to three hits and two walks over 5 2/3 scoreless innings on march 30 in his only home start but settled for a no-decision. snell, who will be facing texas for the first time, has been markedly better at home (8-7, 3.05 era) than on the road (4-9, 4.65) in his career.

walk-offs

1. texas claimed inf-of renato nunez off waivers from oakland on sunday, and he is expected to join the team for the series opener.

2. tampa bay of mallex smith has gone 11-for-24 with three rbis over his last six games to raise his season average to a team-best .350.

3. the rangers took four of the six meetings last season, including all three at tampa bay.

prediction: rays 4, rangers 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Philadelphia Phillies vs. Atlanta Braves Preview and Predictions 04-16-2018

15th April 2018 by Gracenote
the atlanta braves endured a miserable weekend in chicago, but return home to open a seven-game homestand monday against the philadelphia phillies feeling good about the start to their season. the braves, who were rained out sunday after blowing an eight-run lead to the cubs in an epic saturday meltdown, nonetheless are 8-6 on the season and finished 4-4 on the three-city, eight-game road trip against three teams that reached the playoffs last season.

"if you'd have told me in the middle of march that we'd be sitting where we are, i'd have been fine," atlanta manager brian snitker told the media after sunday's game was postponed. the phillies also are playing well through the season's early days, extending their winning streak to six games behind red-hot rookie scott kingery with sunday's 10-4 victory at tampa bay. kingery has 12 rbis in his past eight games, and belted a three-run double to help philadelphia build a commanding 10-3 advantage sunday. "we're rolling right now and having fun with it," kingery told reporters afterward. "i think one of the big things is everybody is positive out there, no matter if we're down a couple of runs or up a couple of runs." the series is a rematch of the season-opening set in atlanta, taken by the braves two games to one, and both teams enter swinging the bats well as atlanta is averaging 5.9 runs per game on the season while the phillies have scored 6.2 runs per game during their winning streak.
tv: 7:35 p.m. et, nbcs philadelphia plus, fs southeast (atlanta)
pitching matchup: phillies rh aaron nola (1-0, 1.96 era) vs. braves rh julio teheran (0-1, 7.07)
nola pitched brilliantly against the braves in the season opener, giving up one run on three hits in 5 1/3 innings before being removed after 68 pitches in a game atlanta would rally to win. nola picked up his first victory of the season tuesday against cincinnati, allowing one run on three hits in eight stellar innings with six strikeouts. the 24-year-old has held opponents to a .161 batting average and just two extra-base hits through three starts.
any conversation about teheran starts with his struggles at home, where in 19 career games at suntrust park the 27-year-old is 3-10 with a 6.20 era and 21 homers allowed in 101 2/3 innings. he gave up three longballs in 2 1/3 innings at home against washington on april 3, five days after he surrendered four runs on four hits in 5 2/3 innings in the season opener against the phillies. teheran pitched well in an april 9 loss at washington, giving up two runs on five hits in six innings.

walk-offs

1. atlanta 2b ozzie albies already has five games with multiple extra-base hits this season, and leads the majors with 14 extra-base hits (eight doubles, one triple, five homers).

2. philadelphia scored four runs in the third inning sunday, and so far this season has tallied 39 runs in the opening three frames combined as compared to 40 runs scored in all the other innings.

3. the phillies seek their first seven-game winning streak since september 2012.

prediction: phillies 5, braves 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Cincinnati Reds vs. Milwaukee Brewers Preview and Predictions 04-16-2018

15th April 2018 by Gracenote
although miller park hasn't been kind to the milwaukee brewers, most venues haven't been hospitable for the cincinnati reds this season. the brewers will look for just their third home win in eight outings on monday when they open a three-game series versus the reeling reds, who have dropped eight in a row to make themselves comfortable in the cellar of the national league central.

the brewers snapped the new york mets' nine-game winning streak on saturday, but those good feelings were lost in the cold the following day as they sustained their eighth loss in 13 outings with a walk-off homer in the finale. to add insult to injury, eric thames (team-leading five homers) exited sunday's contest in the third inning with an ailing groin and ryan braun (club-best eight rbis), who is another option at first base, is plagued by a balky back that forced him to sit out the finale. while milwaukee has been limping physically, cincinnati hasn't held a lead in a staggering 32 innings and has been battered on the scoreboard to the tune of 48-19 during its losing skid. adam duvall belted a solo homer among his two hits in sunday's 3-2 setback to st. louis, improving to 4-for-11 in his last three games after going 1-for-22 with 11 strikeouts in his previous seven.
tv: 7:40 p.m. et, fs ohio (cincinnati), fs wisconsin (milwaukee)
pitching matchup: reds rh luis castillo (0-2, 7.31 era) vs. brewers lh brent suter (1-1, 4.70)

castillo overcame surrendering two homers for the second time in three starts to escape with a no-decision versus philadelphia on wednesday. the 25-year-old permitted season-low totals in runs (three) and hits (five) while failing to walk a batter in that outing. orlando arcia and travis shaw are both 2-for-5 versus castillo, but the right-hander has limited the remainder of the brewers' roster to going 3-for-30 with 12 strikeouts while posting a 1-0 mark with a 1.98 era in two encounters versus the club last season.
like castillo, suter also authored his best start of the young season in his last outing as he yielded one run on four hits in 5 1/3 innings of a no-decision at st. louis on tuesday. the 28-year-old kept the ball in the park for the second straight trip to the mound and permitted just one walk after issuing three in his previous start. joey votto is 3-for-6 with two doubles against suter, but the left-hander has kept billy hamilton (1-for-7, four strikeouts) and duvall (1-for-6) under wraps.

walk-offs

1. cincinnati's eight-game skid is one short of its longest losing streak of last season.

2. milwaukee rf domingo santana is 8-for-25 with three runs scored during his six-game hitting streak.

3. hamilton, who homered on sunday, batted just .171 with 24 strikeouts in 76 at-bats versus the brewers last season.

prediction: brewers 4, reds 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Chicago White Sox vs. Oakland Athletics Preview and Predictions 04-16-2018

15th April 2018 by Gracenote
the chicago white sox return from an unscheduled three-day break to continue their road trip monday, when they visit the oakland athletics for the opener of their three-game series. chicago's seven-game trek was reduced to four contests as the final three of its four-game set in minnesota were postponed due to a snowstorm.

the white sox, who have lost eight of 10 after winning their first two games of the season, will be back in action for the first time since suffering a 4-0 loss to the twins on thursday. chicago was limited to three singles in the setback, with tim anderson recording one to extend his hitting streak to five games. oakland looks to begin its first winning streak of 2018 after salvaging the finale of its three-game series in seattle on sunday. jed lowrie belted a two-run homer in the first inning and sean manaea made it stand by working seven strong frames as the athletics posted a 2-1 victory to finish 3-5 on their eight-game road trip.
tv: 10:05 p.m. et, nbcs chicago, nbcs california plus (oakland)
pitching matchup: white sox rh reynaldo lopez (0-1, 0.69 era) vs. athletics rh daniel mengden (1-2, 6.19)

lopez, whose turn on friday in minnesota was scrapped due to inclement weather, has been superb in the early going - allowing two runs (one earned) and four hits with 11 strikeouts over 13 innings in two starts - but has yet to record a victory. the only issue with the 24-year-old dominican has been his control, as he has walked seven batters - including five over seven frames in a loss against detroit on april 8. lopez, who gave up only two hits and an unearned run in the setback, will be facing oakland for the first time in his career.
mengden remains in search of his first career win at home, where he is 0-10 with a 6.45 era in 13 starts. the 25-year-old texan is coming off his initial victory of the season, a triumph over the dodgers in los angeles on wednesday in which he allowed four runs (three earned) and seven hits over five innings. mengden, who has issued only two walks in 16 frames this year, has yet to face chicago in his career.

walk-offs

1. lowrie is 8-for-18 with two homers and seven rbis over his last four games.

2. chicago c welington castillo is expected to be in the lineup monday after missing two contests with a sore right knee.

3. oakland lost inf-of renato nunez on sunday as the 24-year-old venezuelan was claimed off waivers by texas.

prediction: white sox 7, athletics 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Diego Padres Preview and Predictions 04-16-2018

15th April 2018 by Gracenote
the los angeles dodgers needed their ace to end a dispiriting three-game losing streak last time out and will try to build on that effort when they visit the san diego padres on monday for the first of three contests. clayton kershaw struck out 12 in seven strong innings and finally got some offensive support as the dodgers rolled to a 7-2 victory over arizona on sunday after giving up 33 runs in three straight defeats.

los angeles had scored a total of three runs in kershaw's first three starts before chris taylor registered a double, a homer and three rbis on sunday as the team won for just the third time in 10 games. hyun-jin ryu tries to give the dodgers back-to-back strong starts when he takes the mound while robbie erlin gets the start for the padres, who have won three straight contests. san diego outscored san francisco 20-6 to win the final three contests of their four-game set and could have all-star first baseman eric hosmer back in the lineup after he sat out the last two games with lower-back tightness. rookie third baseman christian villanueva has made quite an impression, leading the padres with five homers and 11 rbis after belting a solo shot and registering a two-run double in sunday's 10-1 triumph.
tv: 10:10 p.m. et, mlb network, sportsnet la (los angeles), fs san diego
pitching matchup: dodgers lh hyun-jin ryu (1-0, 2.79 era) vs. padres lh robbie erlin (0-1, 2.38)

ryu dazzled in his start on tuesday, striking out eight batters while allowing one hit and one walk over six scoreless innings for a 4-0 victory over oakland. the 31-year-old south korean was not nearly as efficient in his 2018 debut on april 2, when he yielded three runs on five hits and five walks over 3 2/3 innings at arizona but avoided a loss. ryu is 4-1 with a 2.57 era in seven career starts versus san diego.
erlin is taking the spot of the suspended luis perdomo in the rotation after making five relief appearances this year, allowing three runs, seven hits and two walks while striking out nine over 11 1/3 innings. the 27-year-old californian came into the season with 30 appearances in the majors and is 8-12 with a 4.49 era in 25 starts during his career. erlin has made two starts and one relief outing against the dodgers, going 1-1 with a 1.17 era.

walk-offs

1. san diego of jose pirela is 14-for-31 with five doubles and seven rbis over his last seven games.

2. the dodgers placed inf logan forsythe (shoulder) on the 10-day disabled list and recalled inf breyvic valera from triple-a oklahoma city.

3. los angeles took 13 of the 19 meetings in 2017 and has not lost a season series to the padres since 2010.

prediction: dodgers 5, padres 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Houston Astros vs. Seattle Mariners Preview and Predictions 04-16-2018

16th April 2018 by Gracenote
the seattle mariners attempt to shake off their first loss in five contests when they begin a four-game series against the visiting houston astros on monday. seattle scored a total of 29 runs during a four-game winning streak before producing just one in sunday's 2-1 home loss to oakland.

taylor motter provided the run with a solo homer, which was one of only two hits for the mariners in the setback. kyle seager added a single and is 10-for-20 during his five-game hitting streak as he prepares to face houston, which has lost four of five after dropping a 3-1 decision to texas in 10 innings on sunday. the first 21 astros were retired by bartolo colon before carlos correa drew a leadoff walk in the eighth inning, advanced on josh reddick's double and scored on a sacrifice fly by yuli gurriel to forge a 1-1 tie. three-time american league batting champion jose altuve is riding a six-game hitting streak and has recorded at least one hit in 14 of 15 contests since going 0-for-2 on opening day.
tv: 10:10 p.m. et, mlb network, at&t sportsnet southwest (houston), root northwest (seattle)
pitching matchup: astros lh dallas keuchel (0-2, 4.20 era) vs. mariners lh james paxton (0-1, 5.74)

keuchel remains in search of his first win of 2018 as he makes his fourth start. the 30-year-old former cy young award winner lasted only four innings in a loss at minnesota on tuesday, surrendering three runs on six hits and four walks. keuchel has made 15 appearances (14 starts) against seattle in his career, going 8-5 with one complete game and a 2.70 era.
paxton has bounced back from a poor performance in his season debut with two solid outings but has yet to register his first victory of the year. the 29-year-old canadian has given up just two runs in each his last two turns, including a six-inning effort at kansas city on wednesday in which he matched his career high with 10 strikeouts but settled for a no-decision. paxton owns a 3-3 record and 3.38 era in eight lifetime starts against houston.
walk-offs

1. mariners 2b robinson cano has drawn a walk in five consecutive games and reached safely at least once in all 13 contests this year - the longest such streak to start a season of his career.

2. houston's starting pitchers have reached double digits in strikeouts in each of the team's last three games.

3. seattle c mike zunino (oblique) is expected to begin a rehab assignment with single-a modesto on monday.

prediction: astros 5, mariners 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Mike Wynn

Free Play: Free Tampa Bay w/Snell -150 Over Texas

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Free Selection from Jim Feist

Jim Feist's Comp Pick, Monday, April 16, 2018



4/16 04:10 PM PT / 7:10 PM ET

MLB (917) TEXAS RANGERS VS (918) TAMPA BAY RAYS

Take: UNDER

Reason: Your free play for Monday, April 16, 2018 is in the MLB Scheduled contest between the Texas Rangers and the Tampa Bay Rays. Your free play is on the UNDER.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Jeff Allen Sports

Monday's Free Selection is on the Tampa Bay Lightning

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Razor Sharp

YOUR RAZOR SHARP FREE PICK FOR MONDAY: Take MILWAUKEE (Suter) -115 over Cincinnati

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Totals4U

Monday's Free Selection: Miami Heat/New York Yankees over 8

[Can'tPickAWinner]

John Anthony Sports

Monday's Free Selection: Colorado Rockies + 110