Tuesday 5-22-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

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Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Milwaukee Brewers Preview and Predictions 05-22-2018

22nd May 2018 by Gracenote
the milwaukee brewers are enjoying their perch atop the national league central and look to clinch a fourth straight series win when they host the slumping arizona diamondbacks on tuesday for the middle contest of their three-game set. lorenzo cain, travis shaw and domingo santana homered as the brewers beat the diamondbacks 4-2 on monday for their eighth victory in 11 contests.

milwaukee holds a 1 1/2-game lead in the central while going 9-2 against teams from the nl west in the early going and owns four more victories (29) than it had at this point last season. jhoulys chacin will try to improve on that win total and keep his individual hot streak going when he takes the mound for the brewers on tuesday against matt koch, who hopes to rebound from his worst start of the year last time out versus milwaukee. the diamondbacks struggled offensively again on monday as they registered just three hits and have managed to score a total of 24 runs during a baffling 1-11 stretch that has wasted a strong start to the campaign. arizona third baseman jake lamb homered in the series opener for his second hit in 10 official at-bats since returning from a shoulder injury that kept him sidelined more than six weeks.
tv: 7:40 p.m. et, fs arizona, fs wisconsin (milwaukee)
pitching matchup: diamondbacks rh matt koch (2-2, 4.06 era) vs. brewers rh jhoulys chacin (3-1, 3.63)

koch was pounded for eight runs and nine hits - four homers - over 4 1/3 innings against the brewers on wednesday after producing five outstanding outings. the 27-year-old louisville product allowed 10 runs (nine earned) over 33 1/3 frames in five straight quality starts and a scoreless relief appearance to open the season. shaw is 2-for-3 with a double and a homer versus koch, who owns a 4.55 era at home compared to 2.25 on the road.
chacin is coming off his best start of the season but did not receive a decision despite limiting arizona to one run on two hits and two walks over a season-high seven innings last tuesday. the 30-year-old venezuelan has permitted fewer than three runs in six of his last seven turns after failing to do so in his first three starts of 2018. david peralta is 4-for-12 with a homer against chacin, who is 6-4 with a 3.33 era in 18 career appearances (17 starts) versus the diamondbacks.
walk-offs

1. arizona 1b paul goldschmidt went 0-for-3 on monday and has recorded just four hits in 32 at-bats over his last nine games.

2. milwaukee 1b jesus aguilar went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in the series opener after belting four homers in his previous three contests.
3. diamondbacks of steven souza jr. struck out as a pinch-hitter on monday after missing two straight games with a strained right pectoral.

prediction: brewers 4, diamondbacks 3

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New York Yankees vs. Texas Rangers Preview and Predictions 05-22-2018

22nd May 2018 by Gracenote
gleyber torres has joined legendary company just 25 games into his major-league career, and the new york yankees have used his powerful bat to make some history of their own. with the help of their exciting rookie second baseman, the yankees aim for a fourth consecutive victory tuesday as they continue their three-game series against the host texas rangers.

torres went deep in the second and sixth innings of monday's 10-5 victory over texas to become the second-youngest player (21 years, 159 days) in club history to hit at least two home runs in one game, trailing only hall-of-famer mickey mantle (20, 296). new york belted five shots in all, marking the first time in team history it has connected on at least four long balls in three straight contests and the first time since the 2011 rangers any team had done so. texas managed to get three homers from the bottom of its lineup, but that production was not nearly enough to keep it from falling to 7-17 at home. the rangers, who have dropped three straight and seven of nine, already have lost 12 games by at least five runs.
tv: 8:05 p.m. et, yes (new york), fs southwest (texas)
pitching matchup: yankees rh domingo german (0-1, 4.26 era) vs. rangers lh cole hamels (2-4, 3.48 era)

german will make his first career start on the road after producing two drastically different results at home over his last two turns. the 25-year-old dominican struck out nine over six hitless innings against cleveland on may 6 before surrendering six runs on six hits and three walks in another no-decision on may 12 versus oakland. german, who did not give up a run in two road relief appearances spanning seven innings, is holding left-handed hitters to a .163 average as he faces texas for the first time.
hamels was scratched from his last scheduled start due to neck stiffness but is expected to take the mound for the first time since may 11, when he yielded one hit and three walks over six scoreless innings in a win at houston. the four-time all-star seemingly has settled into a bit of a groove after beginning the season 1-3 with a 4.76 era, as he has gone 1-1 with a 1.93 over his last four outings. giancarlo stanton is 13-for-51 with three homers against hamels, who is 1-2 with a 3.24 era in four career starts versus new york.
walk-offs

1. the yankees have connected on 14 homers over the last three games to increase their major league-leading total to 72.

2. nine of texas' 18 wins this season have come in the second game of the series (9-6).
3. new york ss didi gregorius halted a 1-for-48 slide with an rbi double in the sixth inning on monday.

prediction: rangers 5, yankees 3

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Baltimore Orioles vs. Chicago White Sox Preview and Predictions 05-22-2018

22nd May 2018 by Gracenote
the baltimore orioles used the long ball to help avoid a third straight loss and look to even their record on their 11-game road trip when they visit the chicago white sox on tuesday. baltimore began its trek by dropping three of four in boston but belted three homers at chicago on monday to post a 3-2 victory in the opener of the four-game series.

manny machado, mark trumbo and adam jones went deep in consecutive innings as the orioles improved to 2-3 on this trip after going a combined 0-12 on their previous two treks. machado, who has been the subject of trade rumors, launched a solo shot in the fourth to extend his hitting streak to five games. chicago reached double digits in hits but was unable to match its season high of three straight wins. jose abreu and leury garcia each went 2-for-4 with an rbi, giving the former three multi-hit performances in his last four games and the latter back-to-back two-hit efforts.
tv: 8:10 p.m. et, masn2 (baltimore), nbcs chicago

pitching matchup: orioles rh kevin gausman (3-3, 3.88 era) vs. white sox rh james shields (1-4, 4.88)
after allowing fewer than three runs in six of his previous seven starts, gausman was tagged for six on eight hits and two walks over 4 2/3 innings in a loss at boston on thursday. the 27-year-old native of colorado has been hit hard of late, yielding 19 hits over 12 frames in his last two starts after giving up 11 over 22 2/3 innings in his previous three turns. gausman has permitted three runs - two earned - and five hits over eight frames in one start and two relief appearances against chicago in his career.
shields looks to put together back-to-back strong starts for the first time this season after limiting texas to one run and three hits over 7 1/3 innings in a no-decision on thursday. despite his struggles, the 36-year-old californian has kept the ball in the park this year, serving up only four home runs in 55 1/3 frames. shields owns an 11-8 record with one complete game and a 3.90 era in 27 career starts against baltimore.
walk-offs

1. jones, who left sunday's loss in boston with an illness, has hit safely in 15 of his last 16 games.

2. chicago signed of michael saunders to a minor-league contract and assigned him to triple-a charlotte.

3. baltimore lhp zach britton (achilles) is expected to throw simulated games of one inning on tuesday and two frames on saturday.

prediction: white sox 5, orioles 3

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San Francisco Giants vs. Houston Astros Preview and Predictions 05-22-2018

21st May 2018 by Gracenote
the san francisco giants found their offense in the last two games and bashed their way to a pair of wins over the colorado rockies. that offense could have a harder time finding runs when it visits the best pitching staff in the majors for the start of a two-game interleague series at the houston astros on tuesday.

the astros own the best era in the majors at 2.43 - nearly a run better than the next-best team - and will throw the top two starters in the american league in terms of era at the giants with gerrit cole starting the series opener and justin verlander closing out the brief set wednesday. houston's staff allowed three or fewer runs in 12 of the last 13 games and one or zero runs in seven of those contests, including a 3-1 triumph over the cleveland indians on sunday that gave the team its fourth straight series win. san francisco (24-24) moved back to .500 by pounding out nine runs in back-to-back games against the rockies, and brandon belt continued his tear by homering sunday to give himself five blasts in the last seven contests. the giants will try to match cole on tuesday by sending rookie lefty andrew suarez to the mound in search of his second career win.


tv: 8:10 p.m. et, nbcs bay area (san francisco), at&t sportsnet southwest (houston)
pitching matchup: giants lh andrew suarez (1-3, 4.88 era) vs. astros rh gerrit cole (4-1, 1.75)
suarez earned his first win by not allowing an earned run over 5 1/3 innings at atlanta on may 6 but struggled to find that same form over his last two outings. the 25-year-old florida native was ripped for a total of 10 runs (nine earned) on 15 hits in 10 innings against cincinnati and pittsburgh in his last two turns. suarez owns 28 strikeouts and just five walks in 27 2/3 innings this season but has been reached for six home runs.
the giants could be catching cole at the right time with the veteran coming off his worst outing of the season after allowing three runs on five hits in a season-low five innings at the angels last tuesday. cole still notched seven strikeouts in that out to boost his al-leading total to 93 in 61 2/3 innings, and his .166 batting-average against ranks second in the majors behind verlander. the ucla product is 4-1 with a 3.18 era in six career starts against san francisco.
walk-offs

1. the astros placed of derek fisher (stomach) on the 10-day dl sunday and recalled 3b j.d. davis.

2. san francisco rf andrew mccutchen (knee) sat out sunday and is day-to-day.

3. houston of josh reddick (leg infection) started sunday and went 1-for-4 with an rbi double.

prediction: astros 6, giants 2

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Detroit Tigers vs. Minnesota Twins Preview and Predictions 05-22-2018

22nd May 2018 by Gracenote
the minnesota twins attempt to clinch just their second full series win at home this season when they host the detroit tigers on tuesday for the second contest of their three-game set. minnesota, which took two of three from houston at target field from april 9-11, improved to 3-4 on its nine-game homestand with a 4-2 triumph in monday's series opener.

after max kepler forged a 2-2 tie with a two-run double in the fifth inning, the twins used a bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly in the eighth to put themselves in position to end an 0-3-1 slide in home series not abbreviated by inclement weather. kepler has been producing of late as he enters tuesday with seven rbis in his last five contests. detroit managed only three hits as it suffered its fourth consecutive loss after beginning its seven-game road trip with a victory in seattle. nicholas castellanos provided the offense for the tigers on monday, belting a solo homer and adding an rbi single for his second straight two-hit performance and third in five games.
tv: 8:10 p.m. et, fs detroit, fs north (minnesota)
pitching matchup: tigers lh matthew boyd (2-3, 3.19 era) vs. twins rh lance lynn (1-4, 7.47)

a native of washington, boyd has made each of his last two starts against the team from his home state. the 27-year-old defeated the mariners at home on may 12, allowing three runs and three hits in six innings, before settling for a no-decision in seattle on thursday after giving up two runs and six hits over six frames. boyd has made 11 career starts versus minnesota, going 5-2 with a 3.98 era and 60 strikeouts in 63 1/3 innings.
lynn is coming off his shortest outing of the season, a three-inning effort against his former st. louis club in which he took the loss after yielding three runs on four hits and four walks. the 31-year-old native of indiana has struggled with his control this year, issuing at least four free passes in five of his eight turns. lynn has surrendered six runs and 15 hits over 12 1/3 innings while going 1-1 in two career starts versus detroit.
walk-offs

1. twins rhp ervin santana (finger) is expected to begin a rehab assignment with double-a chattanooga on wednesday after his scheduled start in extended spring training on monday was rained out.

2. detroit 1b miguel cabrera (hamstring), who is on the 10-day disabled list, took batting practice monday but has yet to run the bases or do agility work.

3. minnesota 3b miguel sano (hamstring) is on a rehab assignment with triple-a rochester and is likely to rejoin the club for its road trip that begins friday in seattle.

prediction: tigers 6, twins 4

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Kansas City Royals vs. St. Louis Cardinals Preview and Predictions 05-22-2018

22nd May 2018 by Gracenote
the st. louis cardinals started off the i-70 series in good fashion and look to defeat the visiting kansas city royals again on tuesday. tyler o'neill homered and drove in four runs as st. louis cruised to a 6-0 victory on monday.

o'neill, a 22-year-old outfielder, has gone deep in three straight games and is 7-for-12 in four contests since being recalled from triple-a memphis last week. matt carpenter continued his recent surge by going 3-for-4 with a homer and has recorded three three-hit performances while going 13-for-24 over his last six games. st. louis has won three of its last four while struggling kansas city is in a deep decline with eight losses in its last nine contests. the royals have scored fewer than three runs on five occasions during the stretch and are a major league-worst 19 games below .500.
tv: 8:15 p.m. et, fs kansas city, fs midwest (st. louis)

pitching matchup: royals rh jason hammel (0-5, 6.28 era) vs. cardinals rh luke weaver (3-3, 4.37)

hammel is winless in his last 13 starts, including nine this season, and has given up five or more runs on four occasions this year. the 35-year-old has been roughed up in his last two outings, surrendering 14 runs and 16 hits - four homers - in 9 2/3 innings. hammel is 4-6 with a 5.51 era in 13 career starts against the cardinals but has shut down carpenter (3-for-27, homer, 11 strikeouts).
weaver dropped his last outing despite giving up just one run and four hits over seven innings against philadelphia. the 24-year-old has allowed just one run in 12 frames over his last two starts after giving up 18 earned runs in 18 innings over his previous four turns. weaver, who never has faced the royals, is 0-1 with a 4.09 era in four home starts this season.
walk-offs

1. cardinals rf marcell ozuna went 2-for-3 with a walk on monday after entering the contest in an 0-for-22 funk.

2. kansas city lf alex gordon was hitless in three at-bats in the opener and is 4-for-40 over his last 12 games.

3. st. louis ss greg garcia (lower back tightness) departed the opener and will be re-evaluated on tuesday.

prediction: cardinals 5, royals 2

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Seattle Mariners vs. Oakland Athletics Preview and Predictions 05-22-2018

21st May 2018 by Gracenote
the american league west is the most competitive division in the american league with four teams at least three games above .500, including the oakland athletics and the seattle mariners. one winning streak is set to come to an end tuesday, when the mariners visit the athletics for the opener of a three-game series.

seattle earned its third straight victory sunday by tying the game on mitch haniger's two-run homer in the ninth and pushing across the game-winner in the 11th to wrap up a 4-2 homestand. "the heart this club has is pretty, pretty impressive," mariners manager scott servais told reporters. "these guys just keep battling through adversity. one thing after another. we've had some injuries, some guys out of the lineup, guys hobbling around out there." oakland capped a 7-3 road trip through the al east with a four-game sweep at toronto by bashing its way to a 9-2 victory sunday behind a homer and three rbis from shortstop marcus semien. seattle will try to slow semien and company with veteran righty mike leake while the athletics counter with trevor cahill on tuesday.


tv: 10:05 p.m. et, root northwest (seattle), nbcs california (oakland)
pitching matchup: mariners rh mike leake (4-3, 6.00 era) vs. athletics rh trevor cahill (1-2, 2.79)
leake followed up one of his best outings of the season with one of the worst in his last two turns. the arizona state product scattered two earned runs and six hits across seven innings to earn a win at toronto on may 10 but was lit up for six runs - five earned - on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings against texas last tuesday. leake turned in a quality start at home against oakland on april 13, allowing three runs and seven hits in six innings, but did not factor in the decision.
cahill has yet to allow more than three runs in an outing but could not find the win column in any of his last four turns (0-2). the 30-year-old struck out 12 and scattered four hits in six scoreless innings against baltimore on may 5 only to settle for a no-decision and absorbed a loss at boston on wednesday while yielding three runs in five frames. cahill owns 32 strikeouts and seven walks in 29 innings this season and will be seeing seattle for the first time in 2018.
walk-offs

1. athletics of khris davis left sunday's game with a right groin strain and could be placed on the 10-day dl.

2. seattle dh nelson cruz (elbow) sat out sunday but is expected to be back in the lineup tuesday.

3. oakland 3b matt chapman recorded multiple hits in four of the last seven games and is 11-for-24 in that span.

prediction: athletics 7, mariners 4

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Colorado Rockies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Preview and Predictions 05-22-2018

22nd May 2018 by Gracenote
the colorado rockies reside in first place after a series-opening victory and look to stay there when they visit the los angeles dodgers on tuesday for the middle contest of their three-game set. colorado only registered three hits in monday's 2-1 triumph as it moved one-half game ahead of arizona in the national league west.

the rockies are 4-3 on their nine-game california trip, and monday's victory was their major league-best 19th in 30 road games. nolan arenado was hitless in three at-bats in the opener to extend his home-run drought to 14 games after starting the month by belting four in four contests. los angeles had its four-game winning streak halted on monday and is just one game ahead of last-place san diego in the nl west. the dodgers are having severe issues in their home park, posting an 8-14 record after being a major league-best 57-24 at dodger stadium last season.
tv: 10:10 p.m. et, espn, at&t sportsnet-rocky mountain (colorado), sportsnet la (los angeles)

pitching matchup: rockies rh chad bettis (4-1, 3.27 era) vs. dodgers rh brock stewart (0-0, 3.18)
bettis has been involved in back-to-back no-decisions in which he has allowed 10 runs over 11 innings. the 29-year-old has given up just three runs in his four victories and has issued fewer than three walks in seven of his nine overall starts. bettis is 2-2 with a 4.89 era in 10 career appearances (seven starts) against the dodgers and has experienced difficulties with justin turner (8-for-15, five rbis) and yasmani grandal (5-for-14).
dodgers manager dave roberts said stewart will be recalled from triple-a oklahoma city prior to tuesday's contest but declined to reveal if he will be the starter. los angeles is in need of a hurler as roberts said kenta maeda is being pushed back to wednesday after working eight innings in his last outing, while stewart was slated to take the mound tuesday for oklahoma city. the 26-year-old has made nine major-league starts - none this season - and has struggled mightily against the rockies, going 0-1 with a 15.63 era in four career appearances (one start).
walk-offs

1. the rockies are 11-9 versus the defending nl-champion dodgers since the start of the 2017 season.

2. colorado of carlos gonzalez delivered a tiebreaking, pinch-hit single in the eighth inning of monday's game but is batting just .189 this month.

3. los angeles lhp clayton kershaw (left biceps tendinitis) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on wednesday and a simulated game three days later, but there is no firm timetable for his return.

prediction: rockies 6, dodgers 4

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Mike Wynn

Free Play: Free Texas w/Hamels +150 Over NY Yankees

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Free Selection from Jim Feist

Jim Feist's Comp Pick, Tuesday, May 22, 2018

05/22 05:10 PM PT / 8:10 PM ET

MLB (919) BALTIMORE ORIOLES VS (920) CHICAGO WHITE SOX

Take: (919) BALTIMORE ORIOLES

Reason: Your free play for Tuesday, May 22, 2018 is in the MLB scheduled contest between the Baltimore Orioles and the Chicago White Sox. Your free play is on the ORIOLES.

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Razor Sharp

YOUR RAZOR SHARP FREE PICK FOR TUESDAY: Take DETROIT/MINNESOTA OVER the total of 9 runs

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Totals4U

Tuesday's Free Selection: New York Yankees/Texas Rangers over 9 1/2

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John Anthony Sports

Tuesday's Free Selection: Boston Red Sox - 210

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Atlantic Sports

Tuesday's Free Selection from Atlantic Sports: Chicago White Sox + 120

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#1 Sports

Tuesday's Free Selection: New York Yankees - 165