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Calvin King
MLB | Mets vs Diamondbacks
Play on: Mets +102
MLB | Mets vs Diamondbacks
Play on: Mets +102
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ABOUT THE WARRIORS: Golden State was 6-0 without Durant, including the game in which he was injured against Houston, before falling in Game 1, but are not going to rush him back before he's ready. "The thinking is, when he's ready to play, he'll play," Kerr told reporters. "It's not like this is a sore ankle or his knee is sore, whatever, and you can play through it. This is a tricky one. If you reinjure the calf, then that's it and then he's done for the series. So, when he's ready to play, he'll play. That's our approach." Stephen Curry led the way with 34 points in Game 1, Klay Thompson added 21 points and Draymond Green recorded a triple-double, but no other Warriors player reached double figures.
ABOUT THE RAPTORS: Durant's absence was felt on the defensive end as well while Siakam was going off for a postseason career-high 32 points on 14-of-17 shooting. "I've never seen anything like that before," Nurse told reporters of Siakam. "That's a pretty big stage for a guy to put that kind of performance on. ... That motor he's been given; he's using that to the best of his ability. He soaks up things. He takes it to the court. He works, works, works. He takes care of himself. He's really got a burning desire to be a very, very good player in this league. I give him all the credit for that for using those abilities to the best that he can." Leonard (23 points) and Gasol (20) completed a dominant effort for the Toronto frontcourt.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Warriors C DeMarcus Cousins (quad) played for the first time since the first round in Game 1 and managed three points in eight minutes off the bench.
2. Toronto PG Kyle Lowry was held to seven points on 2-of-9 shooting in Game 1.
3. Golden State C Kevon Looney is shooting 73 percent from the floor in the postseason.
PREDICTION: Warriors 103, Raptors 98Comment
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BIG AL
Our complimentary selection for Sunday, June 2 is:
Philadelphia Phillies (Pivetta) +155 over Los Angeles Dodgers (Hill).Comment
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CAPPERS ACCESS
(NBA) Warriors
(MLB) CardinalsComment
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PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Jeff Samardzija (2-4, 3.83 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Gabriel Ynoa (0-1, 5.40)
Samardzija contributed to the dismal performance by the rotation last month, losing his last three starts and going 0-3 with a 5.55 ERA while surrendering seven home runs in five appearances. The 34-year-old extended his winless drought to six starts last time out at the Miami Marlins, allowing five runs and eight hits while working a season low-tying four innings. Samardzija has been outstanding at Oracle Park with a 2.03 ERA in five starts, but he is 1-3 with a bloated 5.46 ERA away from home.
After opening the season with nine straight appearances out of the bullpen, Ynoa was elevated to the starting rotation and responded by allowing two runs and five hits over four innings in a no-decision against the Detroit Tigers. The 26-year-old Dominican had been struggling mightily leading up to that start, giving up 12 runs and 14 hits over 6 1/3 innings spanning his previous four appearances. Evan Longoria is 1-for-3 off Ynoa, who is allowing right-handed batters to hit .333 against him.
WALK-OFFS
1. Giants C/DH Buster Posey homered before exiting Saturday's game with hamstring tightness and will sit out the series finale.
2. Nunez has hit safely in nine of 10 games and boasts 15 RBIs in that span.
3. The Giants will skip LHP Drew Pomeranz’s next turn in the rotation after he lasted only 1 1/3 innings in the series opener.
PREDICTION: Giants 6, Orioles 4Comment
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PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Max Scherzer (2-5, 3.26 ERA) vs. Reds RH Sonny Gray (2-4, 3.54)
Scherzer registered his seventh consecutive quality start last time out but came away with nothing to show for it after limiting Miami to one run and seven hits over six innings of a no-decision. He also had to settle for a no-decision in his previous turn at the New York Mets despite striking out nine and permitting four hits over six scoreless innings. Dietrich is 8-for-37 with a pair of homers and 14 strikeouts against Scherzer, who won both his starts and had a 1.50 ERA versus the Reds last year.
After going winless in his first nine starts as a member of the National League, Gray recorded his second straight victory with six strong innings versus Pittsburgh on Monday, allowing one run and five hits over seven innings. He was even better in his previous turn at the Milwaukee Brewers, matching his season high with nine strikeouts in six scoreless innings of five-hit ball. Juan Soto is 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs against Gray, who is 1-1 with a 4.18 ERA in six starts at Great American Ball Park this year.
WALK-OFFS
1. Nationals 3B Anthony Rendon has multiple hits in four of his last eight games.
2. Reds 1B Joey Votto was 0-for-4 Saturday, ending his seven-game hitting streak.
3. Soto had his career-high 14-game hitting streak snapped Saturday.
PREDICTION: Nationals 4, Reds 2Comment
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PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Jake Odorizzi (7-2, 2.16 ERA) vs. Rays LH Ryan Yarbrough (4-1, 5.53)
Odorizzi is unbeaten in his last eight trips to the mound, allowing zero runs in five of the last six, including last Sunday when he blanked the Chicago White Sox on one hit over 5 1/3 innings. The 29-year-old, who has 61 strikeouts and 20 walks this year, has permitted a total of six runs on 34 hits over 47 innings across the past eight starts. Odorizzi gave up six runs (five earned) over 4 1/3 innings in his only start against his former team last season.
Yarbrough was outstanding in only other start this season, limiting Cleveland to two runs on four hits over 7 1/3 innings on May 23 with four strikeouts. The 27-year-old Old Dominion product came out of the bullpen in his second appearance since being recalled, tossing 3 2/3 scoreless innings to earn the win against Toronto on Tuesday. Jonathan Schoop is 4-for-5 with two homers against Yarbrough, who gave up four runs over 5 1/3 innings versus Minnesota last year.
WALK-OFFS
1. Tampa Bay recalled 1B Nate Lowe, who went 1-for-3 with a walk Saturday, while LHP Adam Kolarek was optioned to Triple-A Durham.
2. Minnesota C Jason Castro had three hits Saturday and is 8-for-18 during a five-game hitting streak.
3. Rays INF David Robertson has hit safely in seven straight contests and CF Kevin Kiermaier boasts a six-game run.
PREDICTION: Rays 5, Twins 4Comment
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PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers LH Matthew Boyd (5-4, 2.85 ERA) vs. Braves RH Julio Teheran (3-4, 3.53)
Boyd has not allowed a run in his past two starts, covering 12 innings (the longest streak for a Detroit pitcher this season) with two walks and 15 strikeouts. The 28-year-old beat Baltimore on Tuesday, striking out eight while allowing six hits across six innings, and in 12 starts this season has surrendered two earned runs or fewer seven times. Boyd, who makes his first career appearance against Atlanta, has a 1.02 WHIP (fifth in the American League entering Saturday) while averaging 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings (seventh in the AL).
Teheran makes his first start of June after a stellar May in which he posted a 0.98 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in five starts, holding opponents to a .128 batting average while not allowing more than one earned run in any outing. The 28-year-old matched a season high with four walks May 26 at St. Louis, giving up three runs in total (two unearned) on two hits in five innings. Teheran’s lone career appearance against Detroit came on Oct. 2, 2016, in which he pitched seven shutout innings on the final day of the season in the last game played at Turner Field.
WALK-OFFS
1. Detroit UTIL Brandon Dixon recorded his second consecutive multi-hit game Saturday, and is batting .400 with four doubles, two homers and seven RBIs during his nine-game hitting streak.
2. Braves RHP Luke Jackson struck out five hitters in 1 2/3 innings Saturday to get his eighth save, and has 21 strikeouts with only one walk in his past 11 2/3 innings.
3. A victory Sunday would give Atlanta its first interleague series victory at home since taking two of three from the Tigers at the end of 2016.
PREDICTION: Braves 4, Tigers 3Comment
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PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Zach Davies (5-0, 2.19 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Jordan Lyles (5-2, 3.09)
Davies did not factor into the decision against Minnesota on Tuesday despite turning in perhaps his best start of the season, allowing five hits and walking two over six scoreless innings. The Arizona native has been very stingy in his six road outings, going 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA while also recording 30 of his 42 strikeouts. Starling Marte is 6-for-13 with two doubles against Davies, who is 2-5 with a 5.98 ERA in nine starts versus the Pirates.
Lyles exited early Tuesday in Cincinnati with left hamstring discomfort, but took the loss and saw his three-start winning streak halted after permitting three runs across four innings. The former first-round pick tailed off over his final two May outings (1-1, 8.39 ERA) after winning two of his first three starts of the month while posting a 1.37 ERA. Yasmani Grandal (6-for-19, five RBIs) has fared well versus Lyles, who recorded a 3.31 ERA in 11 relief appearances as a member of the Brewers late last season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Brewers OF Christian Yelich ended a 1-for-14 slump over his previous four games Saturday, finishing 2-for-5 with a home run, triple and four RBIs.
2. Pittsburgh C Elias Diaz has started 13 of the last 17 games behind the plate and is batting .393 with eight multi-hit efforts and 11 RBIs over that stretch.
3. Milwaukee 2B Mike Moustakas is 6-for-14 with three homers, five RBIs and five runs scored in this series.
PREDICTION: Brewers 6, Pirates 3Comment
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PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Zach Plesac (0-0, 1.69 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Lucas Giolito (7-1, 2.85)
Plesac made a strong impression in his major league debut while allowing one run on four hits and one walk across 5 1/3 innings at Boston on Tuesday. The 24-year-old Ball State product struck out two in that outing and tossed 86 pitches as the Indians rallied for a 7-5 victory. Plesac was 4-1 with a 1.41 ERA in nine minor league starts this year, between Triple-A Columbus and Double-A Akron, with 56 strikeouts and seven walks across 57 1/3 innings.
Giolito has earned the victory in five straight trips to the mound, permitting five runs on 17 hits over 36 1/3 innings combined during that stretch. The 24-year-old California native, who has struck out 69 and walked 20 over 60 total innings this year, started his five-game streak by blanking Cleveland on three hits over 7 1/3 innings on May 7. Jose Ramirez is 2-for-8 with a homer and a double versus Giolito, who is 1-2 with a 4.41 ERA lifetime against the Indians.
WALK-OFFS
1. Chicago CF Leury Garcia was hitless in three at-bats with an RBI on Saturday, but is 11-for-24 with eight runs scored against the Indians this year.
2. Cleveland 1B-OF Jake Bauers is 3-for-6 with two runs scored and a pair of walks in his last two contests.
3. The White Sox activated C Welington Castillo from the concussion list Saturday and optioned C Seby Zavala to Triple-A Charlotte.
PREDICTION: White Sox 5, Indians 3Comment
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PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Cole Hamels (4-1, 4.02 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (4-5, 4.94)
Hamels has completed just four innings in each of his last two starts, including a loss in Houston last time out, while giving up nine runs and 16 hits in those contests. He has issued six walks and registered six strikeouts in that span, with his 3.7 free passes per nine innings representing what would be a career high. Ozuna is 9-for-32 with three home runs against Hamels while Matt Carpenter has gone 5-for-15 with three walks.
Wainwright recorded a season-high 10 strikeouts Tuesday at Philadelphia but was saddled with the loss after giving up four runs in six innings. He posted a 6.33 ERA in five starts last month, which began with an outing at Chicago in which he surrendered a season-high six runs over five frames. The 37-year-old, who is 9 2/3 innings shy of 2,000 for his career, is 15-11 with a 4.16 ERA lifetime versus the Cubs.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cardinals 1B Paul Goldschmidt has gone 8-for-18 with two homers during his five-game hitting streak.
2. Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo went deep in Saturday's loss, giving him five home runs in his last 10 contests.
3. St. Louis RHP Carlos Martinez worked a perfect ninth inning on Saturday to pick up his first save of the year.
PREDICTION: Cardinals 5, Cubs 4Comment
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PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Brad Keller (3-6, 4.56 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Adrian Sampson (3-3, 4.53)
Keller gave up four runs and a season-high 10 hits in a loss at the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. He struck out exactly three batters for the fourth straight start and had 18 of them against 19 walks in the month of May. The 23-year-old faced the Rangers one time in relief as a rookie last year, allowing a run in two frames.
Sampson won each of his last three appearances, all of which saw him follow up an opener for the Rangers with at least five innings of relief. He has a 2.15 ERA in seven games out of the bullpen and a 7.66 mark in his five starts. The Washington native will be facing the Royals for the first time.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rangers OF-DH Hunter Pence has multiple hits in six of his last 10 games.
2. Royals SS Adalberto Mondesi has three stolen bases over the last two contests and leads the majors with 21 on the year.
3. Kansas City 3B Hunter Dozier (right thorax tightness) missed his second straight game Saturday and is not expected to return until Tuesday at the earliest.
PREDICTION: Rangers 6, Royals 4Comment
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PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Aaron Sanchez (3-5, 3.75 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Antonio Senzatela (3-4, 5.81)
Sanchez is expected to start after departing Tuesday's game in Tampa Bay with a right middle finger nail avulsion after three innings. The shortened outing marked the second time in three trips to the mound the 2016 All-Star, who has lost each of his last four decisions, exited early with finger-related issues. Sanchez went 0-4 with a 5.28 ERA in six starts last month but will try to replicate the success he enjoyed in his only career start against the Rockies, yielding one run over eight innings in 2016.
Senzatela is winless over his last three starts but was able to halt a two-game losing streak with a no-decision Tuesday against Arizona after permitting two runs over six innings. The 24-year-old Venezuelan went 1-3 with a 6.98 ERA in six May outings but has struggled mightily against left-handed hitters this season, allowing them to bat .345. Randal Grichuk is 2-for-5 with a homer and a double against Senzatela, who is 2-3 with a 5.50 ERA in eight interleague appearances (seven starts).
WALK-OFFS
1. The only other time the Rockies won nine of 10 on a homestand was Sept. 1-10, 2009.
2. Toronto has never lost to the Rockies in nine home games but is 2-9 at Coors Field.
3. Colorado 3B Nolan Arenado is batting .479 with four doubles, four homers and 16 RBIs during a 12-game hitting streak.
PREDICTION: Rockies 5, Blue Jays 4Comment
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PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Gerrit Cole (5-5, 4.02 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Chris Bassitt (3-1, 3.27)
Cole bounced back from a rough outing against the Chicago White Sox by limiting the crosstown Cubs to two runs and three hits over six innings en route to victory Monday. The 28-year-old Californian recorded his sixth double-digit strikeout performance by registering a season high-tying 12, raising his major league-leading total to 112. Cole owns a 3-1 record and 3.38 ERA with 50 strikeouts over 37 2/3 frames in six starts versus Oakland.
Bassitt came away with a victory against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday despite yielding five runs and six hits in five innings. It marked the first time in seven turns this season the 30-year-old native of Ohio gave up more than three runs and the second time in two outings he was unable to last more than five frames. Bassitt has gone 1-0 with a 2.81 ERA in two starts and one relief appearance versus Houston in his career.
WALK-OFFS
1. Athletics LHP Brett Anderson left Saturday's contest after 5 1/3 innings with an undisclosed injury, marking the third time this season he has exited with an ailment.
2. Houston DH Michael Brantley went 2-for-3 on Saturday to extend his hitting streak to five games (8-for-16).
3. Oakland activated DH-OF Khris Davis (hip/oblique), who went 0-for-4 on Saturday, from the 10-day injured list and optioned OF Skye Bolt to Triple-A Las Vegas.
PREDICTION: Astros 7, Athletics 3Comment
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PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Steven Matz (4-3, 3.55 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Merrill Kelly (4-6, 4.83)
Matz allowed two runs, four hits and three walks while registering six strikeouts in six innings of a 7-3 victory at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday. The 28-year-old New Yorker is 3-2 with a 2.88 ERA over his last six starts since suffering a 14-3 loss at Philadelphia in which he didn't record an out. Nick Ahmed is 3-for-5 with a triple and a double versus Matz, who is 1-0 with a 3.78 ERA in three career starts against the Diamondbacks.
Kelly yielded four runs for the second straight game in a 6-2 loss at Colorado on Tuesday. The 30-year-old native of Arizona has fared better at home, where he is 2-2 with a 2.74 ERA in five starts compared to 2-4, 7.14 in six road turns. Kelly has permitted 67 hits and 23 walks with 45 strikeouts in 59 2/3 innings this season after pitching in South Korea from 2015-18.
WALK-OFFS
1. New York starters own a 3.02 ERA in their last seven road games after posting a 5.51 ERA in the first 27 such contests this season.
2. Arizona 1B Kevin Cron was recalled from Triple-A Reno on Saturday and scored the winning run after hitting a leadoff double.
3. Mets pitchers are batting a National League-best .214 this season.
PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 6, Mets 5Comment
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