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ACCESS
PICKS FOR TODAY TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2020 |
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NBA |
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8/4/2020 |
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FOUND
6
GAMES |
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FINAL |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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+1611
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+18.5 (-103)
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Over 230 (+101)
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-2932
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-18.5 (-107)
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Under 230 (-114)
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GAME PREVIEW
Aug 03, 2020On Sunday, Caris LeVert dazzled down the stretch and the Brooklyn Nets pulled out a crucial win over a similar opponent in the Eastern Conference.The level of competition will start to increase as LeVert and the Nets face Giannis Antetokounmpo and the rest of the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday afternoon near Orlando.The Nets (31-35) currently hold eighth place in the East and sit one half-game behind the Orlando Magic (32-35).Thanks to LeVert, Brooklyn was able to move further ahead of the ninth-place Washington Wizards and closer to ensuring the teams would not need a play-in game due to being separated by four games or less.In a 118-110 win over Washington, LeVert scored 34 points on 11-of-25 shooting. He scored 14 points in the fourth quarter and helped the Nets end the game by outscoring Washington 18-10 in the final five-plus minutes."That was my favorite show to watch -- watching Caris LeVert go to work, seeing how far he's come, just being able to play 1-on-1," Nets center Jarrett Allen said. "He was calling me, saying 'J. A., I don't want the screen.' And I respected that. He didn't want the screen and they couldn't stop him." LeVert's big game was his fourth career 30-point game, which have all been since he returned in January from missing nearly two months due to thumb surgery. It also continued his ascension before the league was paused for over four-plus months on March 11 due to the coronavirus.Before the stoppage, LeVert was averaging 27.4 points in his last five games and that includes a career-high 51 points against Boston, which the Nets face Wednesday."He's really taken another level to his game of studying the game, appreciating that he has the ability to get where he wants to," Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said. "And the most important thing is the young man puts in the work." LeVert's big game occurred after the Nets had a dud in their opener, when they trailed by as many as 30 points in Friday's 128-118 loss to Orlando.While the Nets are trying to do enough to avoid the play-in game, Milwaukee (54-13) is closing in on securing the top seed in the Eastern Conference.The Bucks missed a chance at securing the top seed on Sunday when they committed 22 turnovers and were unable to execute down the stretch in a 120-116 loss to Houston. Milwaukee held an eight-point lead but wound up getting outscored 16-4 over the final 3:14 to fall for the fifth time in seven games going back to March 1.Antetokounmpo totaled 36 points, 18 rebounds and eight assists, giving him 15 30-15-5 games this season. Khris Middleton added 27 and former Net Brook Lopez contributed 23 in a game Milwaukee loss despite outrebounding Houston 65-36.It also was a rare close game for the Bucks, whose average margin of victory this season is 15.9."Obviously, it's really nice, amazing to beat teams by 10, by 20, by 30, but at the end of the day, I feel like we learned," Antetokounmpo said. "It's good to play close games. We don't play a lot of close games the other 65 games that we played, so we got to keep learning, we've got to keep executing at the end of the game." Milwaukee is 16-3 in the past 19 meetings with Brooklyn. Antetokounmpo totaled 29 points and 12 rebounds when Milwaukee shot nearly 51 percent, hit 17 3-point shots and cruised to a 117-97 win in Brooklyn on Jan. 18.--Field Level Media
 Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
GAME RECAP
Aug 04, 2020LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot hit back-to-back 3-pointers to put Brooklyn ahead to stay, and the Nets beat Milwaukee 119-116 on Tuesday to keep the Bucks from clinching the top seed in the Eastern Conference.Luwawu-Cabarrot finished with a career-high 26 points. Garrett Temple scored 19, Tyler Johnson and Justin Anderson each had 11 and Rodions Kurucs and Chris Chiozza had 10 apiece.''We didn't have our best four out there, so obviously it's an opportunity for everybody coming up and next man up mentality,'' Luwawu-Cabarrot said.Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 16 points playing only the first half for Milwaukee, which has lost two of three seeding games. Kyle Korver scored 13 points, and Ersan Ilyasova had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Frank Mason III added 11 points.Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer wanted to get some of his Bucks rest at this point in the schedule.''Thursday or whenever it is we play Miami we'll be back to something more what I guess you'd consider normal and continue to build toward the start of the playoffs,'' Budenholzer said.The Bucks sounded eager to forget this loss.''We've got to move on,'' said guard Eric Bledsoe, who made his bubble debut. ''Things like this happen. It happened last year. No one's perfect. We've got a great team, but no one's perfect.'' The Nets have a patchwork lineup but are fighting Orlando for seventh place in the East and putting more distance between ninth-place Washington as they try to avoid a play-in for the final postseason spot.Brooklyn led 94-88 at the start of the fourth, and the Bucks went on a 16-10 run to take their first lead of the second half at 107-104 on a 3-pointer by D. J. Wilson with 5:31 left. Sterling Brown's 3 with 3:56 to play put the Bucks up 110-107.Chiozza scored on a reverse layup, then Luwawu-Cabarrot hit a 3 with 2:59 left to put the Nets ahead to stay. He added a second with 2:31 to go. Korver hit a long jumper with 1:48 left, but it was ruled two points and not a 3 that would have tied it at 115.Luwawu-Cabarrot played 31 minutes and was 8 of 12, including 5 of 7 from 3-point range. Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said they've been trying to find the right role for the guard.''Hopefully, we found a sweet spot for him,'' Vaughn said. ''Seems like he's in a good rhythm. We'll continue to put him in positions where he can take advantage of his speed and shooting ability.'' Milwaukee appeared ready to clinch from the opening tip as the Bucks scored eight of the first 10 points and hit 7 of 14 beyond the arc. The Nets led 40-34 at the end of the first quarter and 73-65 at halftime.TIP-INSNets: With a playoff spot all but wrapped up, they rested C Jarrett Allen, G/F Joe Harris and G Caris LeVert, who scored 34 points in a win over Washington on Sunday. That allowed Jamal Crawford, 40, to make his debut and become the oldest active player in the NBA after being signed as a replacement player. Crawford checked in with 4:35 left in the first quarter. He left early in the second with an injured left hamstring and didn't return. This was his first NBA game since April 2019.''We'll get him diagnosed and see what happens from there,'' Vaughn said. ''I'm telling you, I love having him around. It was awesome to see him on the floor tonight, and I look forward to him being on the floor again.'' Bucks: G Wesley Matthews sat out with a sore right calf with starting center Brook Lopez also out. But G Pat Connaughton joined Bledsoe in making their debuts inside the bubble. Both played 18 minutes and scored eight points each.HEY DADDYAntetokounmpo had his baby son on hand at the NBA bubble for this game. Liam made an appearance on the screen behind the Bucks' bench as a virtual fan. That might have been why the reigning NBA MVP got mad at Nets center Donta Hall when he was pushed to the floor early in the second quarter with both players given a foul.STAT WATCHThe Nets made 14 3s in the first half for their best half all season beyond the arc and finished with 21 of 57. ... Brooklyn's best first quarter came March 6 when the Nets scored 41 points against San Antonio, but the Nets tied their second-best with 40. ... The Bucks turned it over 19 times.UP NEXTNets: Play Boston on Wednesday night.Bucks: Play Miami on Thursday.---More NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/-Sports
Game
Recap from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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FINAL |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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-223
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-5.5 (-110)
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Over 236 (-109)
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+197
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+5.5 (+100)
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Under 236 (-103)
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GAME PREVIEW
Aug 03, 2020Two teams seeking their first win in the NBA bubble go head-to-head Tuesday afternoon when the Dallas Mavericks face the Sacramento Kings.The game has much greater meaning to the Kings (28-38), who must remain within four games of eighth place in the Western Conference in order to earn a spot in the new play-in tournament. The Mavericks (40-29) are all but locked into the No. 7 seed.The Kings have not taken advantage of what was calculated to be the second-easiest schedule after last week's restart, falling 129-120 to San Antonio and then 132-116 to Orlando.If there's a glimmer of hope that remains for Sacramento, it's that the Kings still get two shots at one of the teams ahead of them (New Orleans) as well as a crack at one of the weakest teams in the East in the Brooklyn Nets."You just got to keep fighting. Still have six games left," Kings big man Harry Giles insisted to reporters after Sunday's loss to Orlando. "Can't get too down on ourselves because it's still basketball, and if you quit now, you're going to be done. There's no need to have six games left and have no fight left. We've got to have some fight."It's frustrating because we had high hopes coming in here. I'm not saying that it's over. I'm just saying that it's a tough spot for us right now. We just have to stay positive." The Kings have come up short despite a couple of outstanding individual efforts. De'Aaron Fox bombed in 39 points in the opening loss to the Spurs, before Giles went for 23 against Orlando.The problem has been the Sacramento defense. It allowed the Spurs to shoot 53.3 percent and the Magic 52.4.A major disparity has come from beyond the 3-point arc, despite the fact that the Spurs (26th) and Magic (23rd) both rank near the bottom of the NBA in threes made entering Monday's play.The Spurs outshot the Kings 44.0 percent to 31.6 from deep in their matchup, while the Magic got the better of Sacramento 47.4 percent to 28.6.All told, the Kings have been outscored 87-60 on 3-pointers in the two games.The Mavericks, meanwhile, clinched a playoff spot despite 153-149 (overtime) and 117-115 losses to Houston and Phoenix, respectively.At the same time, they haven't been able to accomplish a goal most teams in the West have had in Florida: Avoiding the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers in the first round of the playoffs."To be in and be assured of (no worse than) the seventh position is good," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle noted to reporters over the weekend. "But we came here to move up." The No. 7 finisher in the West likely will open the playoffs against the Clippers.The Mavericks have been a two-man show in the bubble, with Kristaps Porzingis averaging 34.5 points and Luka Doncic 34.0.Porzingis had 39 points in the loss to Houston, a game in which Doncic had 28 and Tim Hardaway Jr. chipped in with 24.Doncic bombed in 40 against Phoenix, but Hardaway shot just 1-for-12 and contributed just two points. Porzingis tallied 30.The Mavericks have won two of three from the Kings this season, with each team winning once on the opponent's floor.Doncic has been the leading scorer in the matchup so far with a 28.3-point average. Porzingis had a 27-point outing in the most recent matchup in February.Buddy Hield has gone for 24.3 in the three games to lead the Kings.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
GAME RECAP
Aug 04, 2020LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. Luka Doncic punctuated a historic triple-double by making the tiebreaking shot with 1:57 left in overtime Tuesday and leading the Dallas Mavericks past the Sacramento Kings, 114-110.Doncic was sensational, finishing with 34 points, a career-high 20 rebounds and 12 assists. At 21 years, 158 days, he became the youngest player to finish a game with 30 or more points, 20 or more rebounds and 10 or more assists, shattering Oscar Robertson's previous mark of 23 years, 12 days.''We needed that,'' Doncic said. ''We played, I think, one of the worst games ever and we won. We didn't play good. We still hang in there, help each other, never give up. I'm proud of the win.'' Kristaps Porzingis added 22 points and seven rebounds before fouling out late in regulation.It was the Mavs' first victory since arriving at Walt Disney World and allowed them to remain the only NBA to avoid three straight losses this season.De'Aaron Fox scored 28 points and Buddy Hield had 21, but the Kings could not close out a game they controlled almost from the opening tip until the end of regulation.''I thought we settled too much down the stretch instead of trying to put pressure on the rim,'' Sacramento coach Luke Walton said.Dallas scored the final six points in regulation to force overtime, then tied the score again at 102 when Tim Hardaway Jr. made three free throws with 3:10 to play.Doncic broke the tie with a short basket and the Mavs scored the next five points and never trailed again.''I believe we had seven stops in a row to end regulation, which was huge,'' Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. ''It was a guts win.'' TIP-INSMavericks: Seth Curry missed the game with a sore right leg. ... Porzingis has 91 points in three games in the bubble. ... Hardaway had 22 points and made three 3-pointers to give him 193 this season, passing Jose Calderon (191) for the second-highest total in franchise history. ... Dorian Finney-Smith had 16 points and 16 rebounds in the first game since Dallas clinched a playoff spot. ... The Mavs were 39 of 50 from the free throw line.Kings: After going 9 of 16 on 3-pointers in the first quarter, they were 0 for 8 in the second and finished 16 of 43. ... Fox also had nine assists. ... Kent Bazemore had 16 points while Nemanja Bjelica has 12 points and 13 rebounds. ..., The Kings were called for 20 fouls in the first half and wound up with 37. ... Bogdan Bogdanovic missed his first 14 shots before making his last, a 3-pointer with 6.3 seconds left in overtime. ... Sacramento has lost thee straight to Dallas and four in a row overall.GAME CHANGERWalton thought the biggest factor at the end of regulation was the loss of Richaun Holmes. He had eight points and 12 rebounds before leaving for the final time with 1:52 left in regulation.''When Richaun fouled out, that hurt,'' Walton said. ''We got a little stagnant out there. We got some clean looks. We didn't make many of them.'' THEY SAID ITMavericks: ''I just know that the last game I laid a goose egg and I know I'm better than that as a player,'' Hardaway said. ''I just wanted to come out here a little more aggressive, not do too much, but play the way I'm supposed to play.'' Kings: ''All game, like, they kept going to the foul line,'' Walton said. ''I've never seen a 50-free throw game before.'' UP NEXTMavericks: Hope to snap a three-game losing streak in Clippers series on Thursday.Kings: Will try to even the season series with New Orleans on Thursday. ---More NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/-Sports
Game
Recap from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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FINAL |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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+334
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+8.5 (+103)
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Over 229.5 (-104)
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-401
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-8.5 (-114)
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Under 229.5 (-108)
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GAME PREVIEW
Aug 03, 2020Clippers aim to put an end to Suns' 2-0 restartThe Los Angeles Clippers look to ride the momentum of a record-setting performance into a tilt with the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday afternoon near Orlando.Los Angeles (45-21) sank a franchise-record 25 3-pointers in a 126-103 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday. The total eclipsed the 24 set in the team's 128-111 win over Miami on Feb. 5 at Staples Center.The Clippers also tied a franchise mark for 3-pointers made in a half when they hit 16-of-24 en route to claiming a 77-45 lead at intermission.Paul George highlighted his 28-point performance with a sizzling 8-for-11 effort from beyond the arc for Los Angeles, which bounced back from a 103-101 setback to the rival Lakers on Thursday."It's weird because I can't make nothing else," the 30-year-old George said. "The 3s are the only thing that are dropping. In a way, I'm in a rhythm, but I'm not in a rhythm because I can't find the ball in between the 3-point line. It's great that the long ball's falling. I'm going to stick with it, continue to keep shooting them." Kawhi Leonard poured in 24 points, the same total he recorded to help the Clippers post a 102-92 victory over the Suns (28-39) in the teams' last meeting on Feb. 26.While scoring is nothing new for Leonard (team-best 26.8 points), he has taken great pride in notching a career-high 5.0 assists per game this season.Clippers coach Doc Rivers has noticed Leonard's willingness to distribute the basketball."It's been amazing," Rivers said. "I thought he set the tone the beginning of the game. You can tell. It's funny, he was just passing, almost overpassing at times. You look up, he still had (18 points) at halftime, then he had the assists."People are going to load up on Kawhi. They're going to load up on (George). The more we can make them pinpoint passers, the better our team will be." Devin Booker kept the Suns' slim postseason chances afloat by scoring 30 points in a 117-115 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. The win was the second in as many games for Phoenix since entering the restart with the worst record among the remaining Western Conference teams."This kind of game is going to help us grow, especially a young team like we are," said Suns guard Ricky Rubio, who had 20 points, nine rebounds and seven assists."You can't practice that. Coming here will help it. Now that we're here, chances are super low. But we have a chance. That's why we're here." The 29-year-old Rubio, who averages a team-best 8.9 assists per game, had 10 in the last meeting with the Clippers.Booker, who averages a club-high 26.2 points per contest, struggled in that game against Los Angeles while being predominantly guarded by Leonard. He finished with 14 points on 5-of-19 attempts from the floor for the Suns, who shot 39.1 percent as a team.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
GAME RECAP
Aug 04, 2020LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. Devin Booker made a turnaround jumper over Paul George as time expired, capping a 35-point performance and giving the Phoenix Suns a 117-115 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday.''I'm happy for him, but he'd be the first one to tell you we're not done,'' Phoenix coach Monty Williams said of Booker.The Suns improved to 3-0 in the bubble as they chase a playoff spot.''This is a fun team to be a part of and we're having fun with it,'' Booker said. ''This whole experience ... we just wanted to come down here and make some noise and that's what we're doing.'' Kawhi Leonard had tied the game with two free throws with 31.3 seconds to go. Ricky Rubio missed a shot after that and Ivica Zubac got the rebound, but he threw a bad pass that Mikal Bridges stole to give the Suns another chance.Booker dribbled left before being cut off by Leonard. He turned the other direction and shot as George was closing, then crashed to the court as his teammates surrounded him to celebrate the victory.''You pretty much (saw) the shot,'' Leonard said. ''He got to his spot.'' Booker was asked about the celebration after his big shot.''I'm not a big celebration guy ... but they caught me on the ground so I couldn't get away from them,'' he said.After setting a franchise record by making 25 3-pointers in a win over New Orleans on Saturday, the Clippers managed just eight in the loss. Leonard led the Clippers with 27 points and George added 23.The Suns led by eight in the fourth before the Clippers used an 8-2 run with an alley-oop dunk by Zubac to cut the lead to 107-105 with about 5 minutes to go.Phoenix got baskets from Booker and Rubio to extend the lead, but Leonard scored the next four points to start a 6-0 run that tied it at 111-all with less than 2 minutes left.The Suns led by 11 early in the third quarter. But the Clippers chipped away at the lead and a 7-3 spurt, with all the points from Leonard, cut the lead to 88-87 with about 3 minutes left in the quarter.But the Suns used a 7-2 run, capped by a 3 from Cameron Johnson, to push the lead to 95-89 near the end of the third. Marcus Morris added a layup after that to get the Clippers within four entering the fourth.TIP-INSSuns: Rubio had 18 points. ... Deandre Ayton scored 19. ... Phoenix made 17 3-pointers.Clippers: G Pat Beverley played just eight minutes before leaving with calf soreness. ... F Montrezl Harrell remains away from the team because of a personal matter. Coach Doc Rivers said Tuesday that he didn't have an update on when he would return.WILLIAMS RETURNSLou Williams had seven points, six assists and six rebounds in 21 minutes in his restart debut after missing the first two games. Williams had to quarantine for 10 days after visiting a strip club in Atlanta after he was granted permission to leave the Disney bubble for a family member's funeral.He said he could have made a better decision, but that he thinks it became a bigger story that it needed to be because of where he went.''At the end of the day, I was truly grieving two weeks ago,'' he said. ''I was thrown under the bus, and the attention was thrown to Magic City. If I went to a steakhouse or Hooters, it wouldn't have been a story.'' UP NEXTSuns: Play the Pacers on Thursday.Clippers: Play Dallas on Thursday.---More NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/-Sports
Game
Recap from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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FINAL |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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-107
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-1.5 (-101)
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Over 224 (-102)
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-103
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+1.5 (-110)
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Under 224 (-110)
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GAME PREVIEW
Aug 03, 2020The Magic and Indiana Pacers aim to remain unbeaten during the NBA's restart at the other's expense on Tuesday when they meet near Orlando.Indiana (41-26) opened play in the Orlando area on Saturday with a 127-121 win over Philadelphia before routing the Washington Wizards two days later in a 111-100 matinee.T. J. Warren scored 34 points in Monday's win, an encore to his 53-point eruption on 20-of-29 shooting in the defeat of the 76ers. The 87 combined points are tied for the second-most scored over two games in franchise history."That's just T. J.," Aaron Holiday said in his postgame teleconference with FOX Sports Indiana. "I know we (can) get a good 20-30 points out of him every night, and I know it's possible (to get) 50-60 (points). It's nothing new. He's been doing it all year." Warren picked up the slack with Victor Oladipo scratched for a scheduled rest, as well as the absence Domantas Sabonis, who left the bubble due to a foot injury on July 24.Orlando (32-35) built lopsided leads in both of its first two games during the restart, before cruising in the fourth quarter against both the Brooklyn Nets and Sacramento Kings.Friday's 128-118 victory over Brooklyn gave Orlando a half-game lead for the Eastern Conference's No. 7 seed. Another Washington loss also moved the Magic closer to avoiding a play-in game at the conclusion of the two-week seeding round.Each conference's ninth-place team can force a play-in if it is within a four-game margin of the No. 8 seed. Orlando currently leads Washington by 7.5 games.Despite rolling in its first two games, Orlando's start was not without loss.Jonathan Isaac tore the ACL in his left knee in Sunday's 132-116 rout of Sacramento, coming down hard while penetrating into the lane."That was tough man, that one brought me to tears instantly, just because I know how good of a guy J. I. is," Magic forward Aaron Gordon told the team's website. "I know how hard he works and how hard he has worked to get back since hurting himself in D. C. [on Jan. 1]." Isaac sustained a hyperextended left knee on New Year's Day and missed the next 2 1/2 months up until the COVID-19 pandemic put the NBA season on hiatus.Isaac's loss impacts Orlando's depth, but the Magic have flourished through their first two seeding games with a balanced look. Three players scored more than 20 points on Sunday, including Terrence Ross with 25 off the bench.Nikola Vucevic hit for 22 and 23 points in Orlando's first two games in the bubble, and Markelle Fultz provided early energy off the bench on Sunday. He scored nine of his first 14 points in the opening quarter.Fultz said in a teleconference last week the layoff from March provided him with a needed opportunity to recharge."After the All-Star break, my body was kind of tired, being so that was the first time I played that long," he said. "So right now, I actually feel really good. I think it's just a matter of just getting those reps up in a game and I don't think I'm far." Likewise, Indiana guard Malcolm Brogdon was sidelined when the hiatus began. He also missed the Pacers' bubble debut after testing positive for COVID-19 in late June. He returned on Monday to score 20 points with seven rebounds and a team-high six assists.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
GAME RECAP
Aug 04, 2020LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. T. J. Warren scored 32 points, tying Jermaine O'Neal's franchise record for most in a three-game span, to send the Indiana Pacers past the Orlando Magic 120-109 on Tuesday for their third consecutive victory.Warren has topped the 30-point mark in each game at Walt Disney World, starting with his 53-point outburst in the opener. He has 119 points in the restart.Myles Turner added 21 points for the Pacers.Nikola Vucevic had 24 points and 10 rebounds for the Magic, whose season-best, five-game winning streak ended. Aaron Gordon added 20 points for Orlando, trying to claim its second straight playoff appearance for the first time since a six-year run ended in 2011-12.The Magic never had a chance Tuesday, though.Warren again proved to be the catalyst as the Pacers scored the first 10 points and needed less than five minutes to take a 17-3 lead. They made it 43-20 after one and led by as much as 26 before Orlando righted itself in the second half.The Magic opened the third quarter with eight straight points and eventually cut the deficit to 78-66 after back-to-back baskets from Vucevic. But Indiana responded with a 10-2 spurt to make it 88-68 and Orlando couldn't get closer than 12 until the final minute.TIP-INSMagic: Have been swept by the Pacers in three of the last four seasons. ... The Magic fell to 6-2 all-time on neutral courts. ... Orlando played its first game in the bubble without Jonathan Isaac (torn left ACL). ... Gordon also had seven rebounds and three assists. ... Terrence Ross had 20 points, James Ennis III had 12 and Markelle Fultz finished with 10. ... The game also marked the end of a franchise-record, five-game streak of scoring 120 or more points.Pacers: Indiana had a season-high scoring total in the first quarter and a season-best 71 points in the first half. ... Warren has scored at least 20 points in four of the last six halves. ... Turner and Warren each made four 3-pointers. Turner had six rebounds. ... Victor Oladipo scored 13 points while Malcolm Brogdon, Aaron Holiday and T. J. McConnell each had 12 points. ... The Pacers finished with 29 assists, seven turnovers and two offensive rebounds.UP NEXTMagic: Play their only back-to-back in the bubble Wednesday against Toronto.Pacers: Face Phoenix on Thursday, seeking a third consecutive season sweep.---
Game
Recap from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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FINAL |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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-189
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-5 (-101)
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Over 218 (-111)
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+169
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+5 (-109)
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Under 218 (-101)
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GAME PREVIEW
Aug 03, 2020The evolution of Jayson Tatum continues, and that's good news for his Boston Celtics.Tatum, the third overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, has increased his scoring average in each of his three seasons: from 13.9 to 15.7 to 23.4.But his assists numbers have also gone up -- from 1.6 to 2.1 to 3.0 -- and that is something for the Miami Heat (42-25) to watch when the teams play on Tuesday night near Orlando.On Sunday, Tatum scored 34 points and added a career-high eight assists as he led Boston (44-22) to a 128-124 win over the Portland Trail Blazers."It's just about making the right reads," Tatum said of his improved playmaking skills. "(It's about) seeing double teams and making the right play." Tatum, a 6-foot-8 forward, has taken on more responsibilities of late because point guard Kemba Walker is on a minutes-restriction as he fights his way back from a knee injury.Walker had 14 points, two assists and two turnovers in 22 minutes against Portland, and he will likely get about the same amount of playing time versus Miami.The good news for Boston is that Walker's shooting stroke has not suffered. He made 5-of-6 shots on Sunday, including 2-of-2 on 3-pointers, and he moved well overall.Boston also got 30 points on Sunday from Jaylen Brown (6-of-8 on 3-pointers) and 22 from Gordon Hayward (4-of-5 on 3-pointers, six points in final two minutes).The Celtics' bench is led by guard Marcus Smart, who is one of the best defenders in the league and also averages 13.5 points per game. Center Enes Kanter averages 8.1 points and 7.6 rebounds.Miami, which is coming off Monday afternoon's 107-103 loss to the Toronto Raptors, will be playing on short rest. The Heat are 5-6 this season with no-days rest and 37-19 with at least one full day to recover.Here's another interesting Miami trend: The Heat started this season 24-9 through the end of December. But since the calendar flipped to 2020, Miami is just 18-16.The Heat lost Monday's game on the 3-point line, shooting just 31.1 percent (14 of 45) while allowing Toronto to connect on 50 percent (16 of 32).And because the Heat focused so much of their offense from the perimeter, they weren't awarded many free throws -- making 15-of-16. Meanwhile, Toronto, which attacked the rim more, made 33-of-36 from the foul line.It was a disappointing game for numerous Heat players, including star rookie guard Kendrick Nunn, who was held to seven points. He missed all seven of his field-goal attempts, including five from deep.Miami's Duncan Robinson, normally one of the best shooters in the league, made just 1-of-5 shots and had three points. Bam Adebayo, an All-Star for the Heat this year, also had a quiet game, producing 10 points and eight rebounds.Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was pleased with backup point guard Goran Dragic, who had 25 points, five rebounds and five assists against Toronto."He was fantastic," Spoelstra said. "That's exactly who he is -- a veteran, playoff-experienced point guard."The good news is that we have the opportunity to bounce back right away (against the Celtics)." That's true. However, Miami is 0-2 against Boston this season. The Celtics beat Miami 112-93 on Dec. 4 and 109-101 on Jan. 28 and have won the past five regular-season meetings.Brown was the most consistent player in those two games, scoring 31 and 25 points, respectively.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
GAME RECAP
Aug 04, 2020LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. With or without Jimmy Butler, the Miami Heat felt they needed to send a message to the Boston Celtics.Bam Adebayo had 21 points and 12 rebounds, and the Heat never trailed in beating the Celtics 111-106 on Tuesday to remain alone in the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference.The Celtics had their lead for the No. 3 seed cut to 1 1/2 games over the Heat. Miami has a game lead on Indiana and improved to 2-1 so far in the seeding games, despite Butler sitting out with a sore right ankle after playing Monday in a loss to Toronto.''A lot of guys stepped up,'' Heat coach Eric Spoelstra said. ''This couldn't be two, three guys playing well. We're going to need several guys playing well and doing it over the course of 48 minutes.'' Adebayo said this victory meant something more after losing twice to Boston during the regular season.''Instead of being beat 3-0, we were like, `We got to make a stand. We got to prove a point,''' Adebayo said. ''And like I said before, I feel like this team can battle with anybody ... Who knows how the game could've been if had we had Jimmy?''Duncan Robinson also had 21 points for Miami. Goran Dragic added 20 off the bench, Kelly Olynyk scored 15 and Tyler Herro 11.Jayson Tatum led Boston with 23 points. Jaylen Brown had 13 points and 10 rebounds, Gordon Hayward and Kemba Walker each added 15 points and Enes Kanter scored 10.''We let our emotions play too much of a part today,'' Tatum said. ''We've just got to do a better job of just focusing on what we can control and not worry about other things.'' Walker, who beat the buzzer with a shot from mid-court at the end of the third, hit a 3 with 1:26 left to pull Boston within 108-101. Daniel Theis hit a pair of free throws with 19.8 seconds left, then Dragic traveled. Walker hit another 3 with 13 seconds remaining to pull Boston within 109-106.Andre Iguodala hit a free throw, and Robinson hit two more in the final seconds in a win that meant a lot to someone who grew up 45 minutes north of Boston.''I grew up going to TD Garden,'' Robinson said. ''We've played them multiple times, we haven't done well. I haven't done well, and I was reminding myself of that constantly.'' Miami scored the first bucket and led by as much as 10 before being up 33-28 at the end of the first quarter. The Heat pushed that lead to as much as 16 in the second quarter with a 10-point spurt capped by four free throws by Adebayo. The last pair, with 51.6 left, made it 63-47. Miami led 63-51 at halftime.The Celtics went on a 16-3 run to pull within 69-68 on an alley-oop dunk by Theis off a pass from Tatum with 6:08 left in the third. The Heat answered with a 14-2 spurt capped by a three-point play by Adebayo with 3:20 to go for an 83-71 lead. Miami led 91-83 at the end of the third.''We weren't solid, and they exposed that,'' Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. ''Our defense has to improve from what it's been in the three games or so. Credit Miami. They played with unbelievable intensity and togetherness tonight.'' TIP-INSCeltics: Marcus Smart fouled out with 3:46 left in the third. He was 0 of 5 with three points and two steals in 16 minutes. ... Stevens said Walker will not play Wednesday in the second of the Celtics' back-to-back games.Heat: Iguodala knocked down the 1,000th 3-pointer of his career with 5:16 left in the second quarter, giving Miami a 50-41 lead. ... Dragic limped to the locker room after landing awkwardly on his left ankle in the final seconds. The Heat now are 11-3 when Dragic scores 20 or more points. X-rays on his ankle were negative.STAT WATCHMiami now is 35-5 when taking a lead into the fourth quarter.UP NEXTCeltics: Play Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night.Heat: Play Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday.---More NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/-Sports
Game
Recap from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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FINAL |
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-152
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-3.5 (+101)
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Over 244.5 (+101)
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+137
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+3.5 (-112)
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Under 244.5 (-114)
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GAME PREVIEW
Aug 03, 2020The Houston Rockets have begun the NBA restart with two impressive victories.The Rockets look to make it 3-0 in the "bubble" environment near Orlando when they oppose the Portland Trail Blazers at The Arena on Tuesday night.Houston has averaged 136.5 points in the two victories, which includes a solid 120-116 win over the NBA-best Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday.The Rockets trailed by eight with over three minutes to play but kicked things into a higher gear and finished the contest with the decisive 16-4 burst. Houston took the lead for good on two free throws by point guard Russell Westbrook with 20.6 seconds left."(It) just shows that we're able to execute in close games, which is going to be big in the postseason," Westbrook told reporters following the triumph. "We're using these games to kind of gear up for that, so that's a big-time thing for us." Westbrook scored 31 points and has tallied 20 or more in 36 consecutive games.Backcourt mate James Harden scored 24 points but was just 5-of-14 shooting. Harden poured in 49 on 14-of-20 shooting in Friday's 153-149 overtime win over the Mavericks.Harden was highly impressed that his club scored 30 points off 23 forced turnovers against the Bucks. He saw it as an example of how Houston's small-ball philosophy works against bigger clubs."Everybody says we're undersized, but you've gotta keep fighting," Harden said afterward. "Once we get that ball, we're out. It just takes good spirit, good fighting, and making sure we're communicating." The Rockets look to keep their solid play going against a Portland club that needs to string together wins to have a chance at reaching the postseason.Portland is 1-1 in the restart after Sunday's 128-124 loss to the Boston Celtics. The Trail Blazers are two games behind eighth-place Memphis -- current holder of the final playoff spot.Portland trailed by as many as 24 points before narrowing the gap against the Celtics, and coach Terry Stotts doesn't think there will be a carryover effect."With the urgency of playing six more games, I don't think we'll have a hangover," Stotts told reporters. "I think if anything, we'll take away that we played extremely well in the second half, which showed what we're capable of doing against a really good team. We know what's at stake, and honestly, we know we don't have time to have any hangover after a loss." Star point guard Damian Lillard scored 30 points to go with a career-best 16 assists, and center Jusuf Nurkic also scored 30 in his second game since a 16-month absence due to a severely broken leg.But perhaps just as pleasing to the Trail Blazers was seeing backup guard Gary Trent Jr. drain a career-best seven 3-pointers and score 21 points."He's in a real rhythm," Stotts said of Trent. "He's shooting with confidence. For him to be out there and space the floor, not only does it create opportunities for him but it opens it up for other people." Portland has won two of three meetings with Houston this season with the victories coming by 10 and 13 points. The Rockets rolled to a 132-108 triumph in their win.Westbrook is averaging 32.7 points, 11.3 rebounds and 9.3 assists against the Trail Blazers, while Harden is averaging just 22.3 points and 5.3 assists.Lillard is averaging 24.7 points, 9.7 assists and 7.7 rebounds for Portland and recorded his first career triple-double in a 125-112 home win on Jan. 29. Trail Blazers shooting guard CJ McCollum is averaging 23.7 points.Houston guard Eric Gordon (ankle) will miss his third straight game.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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MLB |
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8/4/2020 |
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FOUND
14
GAMES |
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FINAL |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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+169
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+1.5 (-110)
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Over 8.5 (-114)
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-185
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-1.5 (+100)
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Under 8.5 (+101)
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GAME PREVIEW
Twins look to remain on roll vs. PiratesThe Minnesota Twins seek their fifth consecutive victory when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday, one night after utilizing an unusual walk-off celebration that fits the social-distancing era.Nelson Cruz blasted the game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Twins a 5-4 victory on Monday, and he did his best to follow protocols set down due to the coronavirus pandemic.The Twins rushed out on the field to greet Cruz after their first walk-off win of the season. With both hands raised, the 40-year-old pretended to slap palms with his teammates and successfully dodged attempts to touch him."I was pretty happy watching the guys dance around and not touch each other," Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli said. "You got to make it fun no matter what's going on and no matter what's the circumstances." Cruz's take: "Boring. It's no fun. Well, I guess, it is what it is. Hopefully next year we celebrate the good way." Cruz and Max Kepler each had three hits and two RBIs as the Twins won for the seventh time in the past eight games. Cruz has 14 RBIs, which is tied with the New York Yankees' Aaron Judge for the major league lead.Cruz came up with runners on second and third with one out in the ninth. Though first base was open, Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton didn't order the intentional walk, and Cruz made the Pirates and right-hander Nate Burdi pay with the decisive shot that landed on the warning track in center field.Shelton was the Twins' bench coach the past two seasons and apparently didn't like the thought of pitching to ensuing hitter Miguel Sano with the bases loaded."I've got a pretty good history with the nine guys who are in their lineup over there, and they're all pretty good professional hitters," Shelton said.Cruz's hit capped Minnesota's comeback from a 4-0 deficit.While the Twins (8-2) are tied for the second-best record in the majors, Pittsburgh (2-8) owns the worst mark and has dropped five consecutive contests. The Pirates have scored just 11 runs during the skid.The Pirates will look to fare better in the second of four straight games between the teams. The clubs meet Wednesday and Thursday in Pittsburgh.Cole Tucker homered for the Pirates on Monday but also showed his inexperience as an outfielder when he misplayed the probable third out of the sixth inning into a two-run double for Kepler. Those were the second and third runs of a four-run inning that tied the score at 4."I trust my athleticism and my ability out there, and I know I can make that play," said Tucker, who was drafted in the first round (24th overall) in 2014 as a shortstop.Minnesota third baseman Josh Donaldson (calf) likely will miss his fourth straight game. Donaldson is expected to travel with the team for an eight-game road trip that begins with the two games in Pittsburgh.Right-hander Jose Berrios will be on the mound for the Twins on Tuesday.Berrios (0-1, 7.00 ERA) lost to the Cleveland Indians last Thursday when he gave up two runs and three hits over five innings. He struck out six and walked two.The 26-year-old received a no-decision in his lone career start against the Pirates on Aug. 15, 2018. He lasted just 3 2/3 innings and gave up four runs (three earned) and seven hits. He struck out four and walked two.Pittsburgh will counter with right-hander Joe Musgrove, who has allowed four homers in two starts. He is 0-2 with a 4.76 ERA.Musgrove gave up three runs in both setbacks -- the first against the St. Louis Cardinals and the second versus the Milwaukee Brewers.Musgrove has struck out 15 and walked six in 11 1/3 innings.The 28-year-old lost to the Twins on July 15, 2017, when he was a member of the Houston Astros. He gave up four runs, eight hits and two walks while striking out five in his lone career appearance against Minnesota.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
GAME RECAP
Berríos, Twins win 5th in row, top Pirates after drone delayMINNEOLIS Jose Berrios pitched six strong innings, Nelson Cruz had three hits and the Minnesota Twins beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-3 Tuesday in a game briefly delayed when an unauthorized drone flew over Target Field.The Twins won their fifth in a row, completed a 7-1 homestand and improved to 9-2 for the second time in the team's 60-year history. The other was 2001.''It was a great way to cap off a great homestand and a memorable one at that,'' manager Rocco Baldelli said.The game was delayed for nine minutes in the fifth inning and players were pulled off the field when the drone flew over center field. A few pitchers in the bullpen threw balls at the flying intruder, but missed.''Definitely a 2020 moment right there,'' Baldelli said.Pittsburgh lost its fifth straight game, and at 2-9 has baseball's worst winning percentage at .182.A bit wild early, Berrios settled down and allowed one run and four hits. He struck out six, walked three and threw 98 pitches.''I know I had a rough inning in the second inning. After that we had a talk and we went out and tried to be more relaxed,'' he said.It was the second straight strong start for Berrios (1-1), who allowed two earned runs and struck out six in five innings last Thursday against Cleveland. Considered the team's No. 1 starter, he was roughed up for five runs and seven hits in four innings on opening day.Miguel Sano doubled and Eddie Rosario dribbled a single through the shift - a swing where he reached out without moving his feet - as part of a three-run first inning off Joe Musgrove (0-3).Cruz had a RBI single in the fourth. He has 17 hits, the most hits in MLB history through a season's first 11 games by a player at least 40 years old.The Pirates loaded the bases in the second, but Berrios struck out Jarrod Dyson and John Ryan Murphy. Bryan Reynolds tripled in the fourth before scoring on Gregory Polanco's sacrifice fly.John Ryan Murphy and Phillip Evans added ninth-inning RBIs. With two on, Trevor May got two outs for his first save.''Teams that don't play hard or don't give consistent effort don't do what we did in the ninth today,'' said manager Derek Shelton. ''You've seen guys consistently go hard on every ground ball; you've seen us battle through at bats.'' Musgrove allowed five earned runs and six hits in 3 1-3 innings and walked five. In three starts, he has walked 11 in 14 2-3 innings.''I don't think I've ever walked five guys in a game in my life,'' he said.WELCOME BACKIn his first big league appearance since April 30, 2015, Twins reliever Caleb Thielbar allowed two earned runs in 2 1-3 innings. He was released by the Twins later that year and then pitched for the Padres, Tigers and Braves organizations and spent two years with the St. Paul Saints in the independent American Association.''The emotions took over me for a couple of hitters there, but (pitching coach) Wes (Johnson) came out and basically just told me to breathe. Once I did that, I was able to kind of pull it together. It didn't really hit me until after the game,'' Thielbar said.TRAINER'S ROOMPirates: JT Brubaker will start Thursday against Minnesota in place of Mitch Keller (left oblique), who was placed on the 10-day IL Sunday.Twins: 3B Josh Donaldson (calf tightness) missed his fourth straight game, but is ''most likely'' to play on a road trip that starts Wednesday, according to Baldelli. ... No corresponding move has been made after LHP Rich Hill (shoulder fatigue) was placed on the injured list Monday. Hill said he plans to throw a bullpen this weekend.UP NEXTPirates: RHP Trevor Williams (0-2) will face the Twins on Wednesday to open a five-game homestand. He struck out six in 4 2-3 innings Friday at Wrigley Field, but walked three.Twins: Begin a three-city, eight-game road trip Wednesday in Pittsburgh with RHP Randy Dobnak (1-1) taking the hill. The Pittsburgh-area native allowed three hits in five shutout innings Friday against Cleveland, but needed 94 pitches to do so.---More MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/-Sports
Game
Recap from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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FINAL |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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-159
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-1.5 (-102)
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Over 8 (-109)
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+146
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+1.5 (-108)
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Under 8 (-103)
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GAME PREVIEW
Indians' Bieber aims to maintain record form vs. RedsShane Bieber might be the right guy on the mound to help the visiting Cleveland Indians end their current slide. Assuming they can find a way to score some runs.Entering the week as the majors' strikeout leader, Bieber looks to continue his early dominance and go 3-0 while trying to help the visiting Indians avoid a fifth straight defeat Tuesday night in the second of four consecutive games against the Cincinnati Reds. After two games in Cincinnati, the clubs will play at Cleveland on Wednesday and Thursday.Bieber has certainly lived up to his role as Cleveland's ace in the unique 2020 campaign. After allowing four hits and striking out 14 with one walk over six innings in a 2-0 season-opening victory over Kansas City, the right-hander was even better Thursday at Minnesota. He gave up three hits, fanned 13 -- without a walk -- and tossed eight innings in another 2-0 victory.The 2019 All-Star Game MVP tied the major league record with 27 strikeouts over the first two outings of a season, matching the mark set by Karl Spooner for the 1954 Brooklyn Dodgers.Bieber, 25, posted double-digit strikeout totals six times over 33 starts in 2019."I've never been that much of a punchout pitcher," Bieber said. "I've made some adjustments over the past couple of years and started to see more swing-and-miss." Bieber has totaled 13 strikeouts while going 1-0 with a 3.65 ERA in two career starts against the Reds, whose hitters are averaging almost eight strikeouts per contest this year. One potential, but major, issue for Bieber, though, is that the Indians have hit .149 (27-for-181) while scoring six runs and striking out 60 times while losing five of their past six games.Francisco Lindor homered and had two of Cleveland's five hits Monday in a 3-2 loss to Cincinnati.Joey Votto's two-run, go-ahead homer in the sixth inning on Monday helped Cincinnati to its third straight win while snapping a six-game home skid against the Indians. Votto returned to the Reds' lineup after sitting out the club's doubleheader sweep at Detroit on Sunday after self-reporting COVID-19 symptoms. He wound up testing negative."It's a relief for the rest of the team -- not only Joey," manager David Bell said. "We continue to feel good about what we're doing to protect one another." Votto has homered three times this season but is 0-for-5 in his career against Bieber. Reds right fielder Nick Castellanos has homered three times in two days, and he is batting .382 with 12 RBIs in 2020.Cincinnati turns Tuesday to Tyler Mahle (0-0, 4.50 ERA), who has struggled against the Indians in two starts over the past two seasons. He's allowed 10 runs, eight earned, on 12 hits and five walks over 6 1/3 innings while losing both outings. The right-hander gave up two runs and six hits in four innings on July 28 in an 8-5 loss to the Chicago Cubs.It's uncertain if the Reds will be without outfielder Nick Senzel for a second consecutive contest. Senzel, 6-for-14 with four doubles and a home run over his past four games, is dealing with a finger issue.The Indians, meanwhile, will again be without manager Terry Francona, who is dealing with a gastrointestinal issue. First base coach Sandy Alomar Jr. guided the team for a second consecutive game Monday in place of Francona, whose condition does appear to be related to COVID-19.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
GAME RECAP
Reyes backs Bieber with homer, Indians beat Reds 4-2CINCINNATI Shane Bieber overcame two solo home runs to pitch into the eighth inning, Franmil Reyes hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer and the Cleveland Indians snapped a four-game skid with a 4-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night.Reyes capped the Indians' comeback from a 2-0 deficit with his first homer of the season after hitting 37 with San Diego and Cleveland last year. He went into the game batting .171 but went deep in the eighth inning to right-center field against Nate Jones (0-1) following a leadoff walk by Carlos Santana.Cleveland scored more than two runs in a game for the first time in seven games.''We're going to be all right,'' Reyes said. ''We're doing a very good job with the scouting reports. We're about to start getting it. We've had tough days the past couple of days, but we're going to be alright. We have a lot to give this year.'' The Indians played their third consecutive game without manager Terry Francona, who continues to undergo tests in Cleveland for a gastrointestinal condition. There is no timetable for his return. Sandy Alomar, normally the team's first base and catching coach, is filling in for Francona.The Indians scrounged just three hits but capitalized on six walks and an error.They pushed across an unearned run in the seventh against Pedro Strop after Reyes reached on shortstop Freddy Galvis's error to start the inning. Cesar Hernandez beat out an infield chopper to first baseman Joey Votto to drive in the first run. Reyes scored the tying run on Jose Ramirez's walk.''They kept moving the line,'' Alomar said. ''It's important to do that to put pressure on the defense and the pitching.'' ''Not a lot of hard-hit balls,'' Reds manager David Bell said. ''Obviously, the two-run homer was well-hit, but the walks hurt us and a couple of plays we typically make.'' Bieber (3-0) allowed a season-high five hits and two runs in 7 2/3 innings. He walked two with eight strikeouts. James Karinchak struck out Nick Castellanos to finish the eighth, and Brad Hand pitched the ninth for his third save.Reds starter Tyler Mahle allowed one hit and two walks with six strikeouts in six innings. He also hit Francisco Lindor with a pitch before retiring the last 10 batters he faced.''It was kind of a grind early, and then stuff started coming together, and we started getting quick outs'' Mahle said. ''All the work we put in, it's starting to show.'' Bieber's season-opening streak of 14 consecutive scoreless innings over two games lasted two batters into his 15th frame before Castellanos' drive glanced off the upper part of the black batter's eye in center field. The homer, Castellanos's fourth in the last three days, extended his season-opening hitting streak to 11 games.Eugenio Suarez, who set the single-season record for home runs by a Venezuela native with 49 last season, powered his first of 2020 to center field on a 1-2 pitch with one out in the fourth inning.KEEPING IT GOINGCastellanos extended his season-opening hitting streak to 11 games, Cincinnati's longest since Hall-of-Famer Barry Larkin hit in his first 12 games of the 1995 season. It's the longest season-opening streak by a batter to begin his Reds career since D'Angelo Jimenez opened with a 15-game streak in 2003.TRAINING ROOMIndians: OF Tyler Naquin continues to make progress in his recovery from a hairline fracture of his right big toe, but his return isn't ''likely in the next couple of days,'' team president Chris Antonelli said Tuesday.Reds: 2B Mike Moustakas left the game after five innings with a bruised left quad. ... CF Nick Senzel returned to the starting lineup after being scratched from Monday's original starting lineup with a sprained left ring finger. He was hurt sliding into second base on Sunday in Detroit.UP NEXTIndians: The Twins roughed up RHP Mike Clevinger (0-1) for six hits and four runs with five walks over four innings in a 4-1 loss on Friday.Reds: RHP Tejay Antone will make his first major league start on Wednesday with RHP Luis Castillo (0-1) being pushed back to Thursday, Bell announced after the game.---More MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/-Sports
Game
Recap from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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FINAL |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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+122
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+1.5 (-163)
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Over 8 (-104)
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-133
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-1.5 (+146)
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Under 8 (-108)
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GAME PREVIEW
Rays, Red Sox aim to right ship at other's expenseThe Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox are still looking to establish their identity as they prepare for the start of a two-game series Tuesday at St. Petersburg, Fla.Two American League East heavyweights in recent years, the Rays and Red Sox have scuffled out of the gate, slotting fourth and fifth, respectively, in the division standings. Both 10 games into the 60-game season, Tampa Bay and Boston already have a lot on the line this week.The No. 1 item on the list: redemption. The Rays enter the series following a three-game sweep at the hands of the Baltimore Orioles, who went 54-108 a year ago. The Red Sox can relate: They lost two of three to the Orioles in their season-opening series."Right now you can point to any aspect of our game, but we're not doing a good job of being ourselves, myself included," Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said after the Rays' 5-1 loss Sunday."We have to start getting out that positive vibe with the guys. (Sunday) there's no doubt that it was flat, but no excuses. We need to find ways to start winning games." The Rays have lost five straight overall after a 4-1 start. They turn to right-hander Charlie Morton (0-1, 8.00 ERA) on Tuesday.The Red Sox also enter in a slump, having been swept by the New York Yankees in a three-game series over the weekend. Boston carried a one-run lead into the eighth inning of the series finale Sunday night before the bullpen collapsed in an eventual 9-7 defeat."Anytime you lose a game like this is tough," Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke said. "It's tough, too, when you have it set up like you want to." With a league-worst starter ERA of 6.69 entering Monday's off day, Boston has rarely had things set up the way it would like. The team has its one bright spot in the rotation, right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (1-0, 2.45 ERA), set to take the mound opposite Morton.While the Red Sox have struggled in the pitching department, the Rays' woes have mostly come on offense. The team is batting a collective .210, with new additions Manuel Margot (3-for-30), Hunter Renfroe (6-for-33) and Yoshitomo Tsutsugo (6-for-30) among those scuffling at the plate."I feel bad for our pitching staff," Renfroe said. "Nobody wants to let those guys down because of how good they are." Morton makes his third start still looking to find the velocity on his fastball, which is averaging nearly 3 mph less than it did last season. The 36-year-old held the Atlanta Braves to two runs over five innings his last time out.Morton sports a 5-1 record with a 4.09 ERA in nine career starts versus the Red Sox.Eovaldi, meanwhile, has impressed out of the gate, leading Boston in two of its three wins on the season. The right-hander gave up two runs on eight hits over five innings in going toe to toe with New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom in his last start."Having a big win against deGrom, it's a big deal for us," Eovaldi said after the game. "We were able to rally together." Eovaldi owns a 2-4 record with a 5.45 ERA in eight career appearances (six starts) against the Rays.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
GAME RECAP
Meadows 2 hits in return from virus, Rays top Red Sox 5-1ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. Austin Meadows got two hits after missing the first 10 games of the season with the coronavirus and the Tampa Bay Rays stopped their losing streak at five, beating the Boston Red Sox 5-1 on Tuesday night.''Looked like he didn't miss a beat,'' Rays manager Kevin Cash said.Boston lost its fourth in a row, including a three-game sweep at Yankees Stadium over the weekend, and fell to 3-8 overall.''No doubt there's frustration there.'' Boston manager Ron Roenicke said. 'They know that we're a better team than that, they know that it is important to win these games, especially early. So a lot of times, especially offensively, if you don't start out swinging the bat well, you start to press a little bit, because you know you've got to get it going, and you know that the whole team has to get it going, so you press a little bit different.'' Meadows was an All-Star outfielder last year in his first full season, hitting 33 home runs.''We're locker neighbors'' Rays starter Charlie Morton said. ''I wanted to give him a hug but you can't. You kind of just look at each other, say hi. It's so weird.'' Meadows hit an an RBI triple in the fifth inning off Nathan Eovaldi (1-1) and scored on Brandon Lowe's single to put the Rays up 4-1.''It's been like 10 months since I played an actual major league game that counts,'' Meadows said. ''It's just good to be back out there with the guys. It's a long hard road this year for everybody in general.'' Morton (1-1) allowed one run and five hits and struck out five in 5 2/3 innings. Hunter Renfroe drove in two to help Tampa Bay improve to 5-1 at home - the Rays went 0-5 on their first road trip of the season that ended Sunday.Mitch Moreland homered for Boston. Eovaldi gave up four runs and six hits over five innings.Tampa Bay took a 2-1 lead in the fourth on Renfroe's two-out, two-run double. It came soon after he hit a ball that may have been playable between home and third that struck an overhanging catwalk in foul territory.Moreland put the Red Sox up 1-0 on a second-inning homer. He has gone deep seven times in his last 12 games at Tropicana Field.The Red Sox loaded the bases with one out in the ninth against Ryan Thompson before Nick Anderson entered and struck out Jose Peraza and Andrew Benintendi to get his first save.Boston also threatened in the eighth with one out but Pete Fairbanks worked out of the jam by striking out J. D. Martinez and Xander Bogaerts with two on.GREAT DRed Sox CF Jackie Bradley Jr. took away a hit from Lowe with Meadows on first and two outs in the third on a full extension diving catch. The grab had a video review that took about two minutes.SAD NEWSThe Rays placed OF Manuel Margot on the bereavement list following the death of his father.TRAINER'S ROOMRed Sox: Roenicke told Boston reporters that third base coach Carlos Febles had an inconclusive coronavirus test and didn't make the trip as a precaution.UP NEXTThe two-game series concludes Wednesday night when Rays LHP Ryan Yarbrough (0-1) is scheduled to face Boston LHP Martin Perez (1-1).--More MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/-Sports
Game
Recap from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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+147
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+1.5 (-132)
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Over 8.5 (-103)
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-160
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-1.5 (+120)
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Under 8.5 (-109)
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GAME PREVIEW
Soto set to return for Nats in series opener vs. MetsThe Washington Nationals have waited five days to return to action. Juan Soto has waited a lot longer than that.Soto is expected to make his season debut Tuesday night when the Nationals host the New York Mets in the opener of a two-game series.Patrick Corbin (0-0, 1.42 ERA) is scheduled to take the mound for the Nationals against the Mets' Steven Matz (0-1, 3.18 ERA) in a battle of left-handers.The Mets snapped a five-game losing streak Monday night with a 7-2 win over the host Atlanta Braves. The Nationals haven't played since Thursday, when they beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-4.The Nationals' weekend series against the Miami Marlins was postponed after 18 uniformed members of the Marlins tested positive for the coronavirus. Washington tried staying sharp with an intrasquad scrimmage Saturday -- the same day the team welcomed back Soto, whose positive coronavirus test was announced hours before the Opening Day game against the New York Yankees on July 23.Soto said he never displayed any symptoms and believed his result may have been a false positive. He was allowed to return after testing negative twice last week, following clearance from the D. C. Department of Health.The game Tuesday will be the first action that counts for Soto since Game 7 of the World Series last Oct. 30. Soto, who turned 21 during the postseason, hit five homers in the playoffs while leading the Nationals to the first championship in franchise history.Soto also homered during Saturday's scrimmage, which happened hours after he bounded into Nationals Park like a kid racing into the living room on Christmas morning."First time I saw him, he comes in my office with that big ol' smile," Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. "Besides him being a baseball player, that's what I miss about Juan -- his personality, having him around, that big smile. We love the kid. He's part of the family. So to get him back here, getting him going again, guys were excited. I know he was extremely excited to be back." While the Nationals are getting back one of their best players, the Mets could be without three-quarters of their infield. Third baseman Jeff McNeil was a late scratch Monday night due to lower back tightness while shortstop Amed Rosario (tight left quad) left in the third inning and second baseman Robinson Cano (tight left groin) exited in the fifth inning. Their availability for Tuesday night is uncertain."We've got to wait to see how they are (Tuesday) and we'll find out more," Mets manager Luis Rojas said.Corbin didn't factor into the decision in his season debut July 26, when he allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings in the Nationals' 3-2 loss to the Yankees. Matz took the loss Thursday, when he allowed three runs over 5 1/3 innings as the Mets fell 4-2 to the Boston Red Sox.Corbin is 2-5 with a 4.46 ERA in 14 games (13 starts) against the Mets. Matz is 1-5 with a 3.41 ERA in 12 starts against the Nationals.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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+166
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+1.5 (-132)
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Over 8.5 (-104)
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-182
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-1.5 (+119)
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Under 8.5 (-108)
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GAME PREVIEW
Rested (or rusty?) Jays set to resume play in AtlantaThe Toronto Blue Jays will be well-rested when they pull into Atlanta on Tuesday for the opener of a three-game interleague series against the Braves.The Blue Jays spent the past five days working out in Washington. The club never left for its scheduled trip to Philadelphia because of COVID-19 issues with the Phillies. That leaves Toronto rested but rusty as it travels south.Toronto, which hasn't played since Thursday, has lost two straight. Manager Charlie Montoya said the Blue Jays took a lot of live batting practice and had their pitchers work through side sessions at Nationals Park during the days when they would have opposed the Phillies.Atlanta has played 11 consecutive days to open the season and just finished a four-game series against the New York Mets. The Braves won three of those games, losing only to two-time Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom in the finale on Monday.The Braves won three of four meetings with the Blue Jays in 2019.Toronto's Matt Shoemaker (0-0, 1.50 ERA), who will get the start in Tuesday's opener, said the pause was "frustrating to say the least. It's definitely a mental and physical battle. You think you're getting ready to start in a couple of days, then I go from pitching Friday to pitching on the doubleheader Saturday. Then, finding out we're not playing in Philly at all. Starters ... we love our routines." Montoya said all the starters would be pushed back in order, with Trent Thornton, Tanner Roark, Nate Pearson and Hyun Jin Ryu following Shoemaker.Shoemaker made his lone start on July 25 at Tampa Bay and allowed one run on six hits over six innings. The veteran is 4-4 with a 3.38 ERA in 10 interleague games (nine starts) but has never faced Atlanta.The Braves will counter with left-hander Max Fried (1-0, 2.31 ERA), who will be making his first career appearance against Toronto. He is 4-0 with a 2.22 ERA in four interleague starts.Fried gave up one lone run in 6 2/3 innings in his most recent start, July 30 against Tampa Bay. He retired the first 14 batters he faced, had seven strikeouts and walked only one."Every night he goes out there, I feel there's a potential for him to throw eight or nine (scoreless) innings," Atlanta closer Mark Melancon said. "The last couple of years, he's been the guy you count on in big situations. It's been fun to watch him mature." Fried, who won 17 games last year, has developed into a top-of-the-rotation guy. He has allowed only five hits and struck out 12 in 11 2/3 innings this summer."He's just growing as a pitcher," Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. "His stuff was good (against the Rays). You could tell he was really locked in and pretty focused. It was pretty fun to sit and watch him." Fried will now be asked to shoulder additional responsibility with the news that Mike Soroka tore his right Achilles tendon on Monday and will be lost for the year. The team's ace pitcher was injured in the third inning as he prepared to cover first base on an infield grounder. Soroka tumbled to the ground and had to be helped from the field by Snitker and a trainer."When I went out there, he knew it was that," Snitker said. "It's just one of those awkward steps. It's a fluke thing that happens. I'm sorry that it did." --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
GAME RECAP
Riley's 3-run homer helps Fried, Braves beat Blue Jays 10-1ATLANTA Max Fried boosted Atlanta's depleted rotation by allowing only one run in six innings, Austin Riley hit a three-run homer and the Braves beat the Toronto Blue Jays 10-1 on Tuesday night.The Blue Jays played their first game since Thursday. Their weekend series against Philadelphia was postponed in this virus-interrupted season.Riley pulled a 3-2 pitch from Matt Shoemaker into the Blue Jays' bullpen behind the left-field wall in the fifth.It was the third homer allowed by Shoemaker (0-1), following shots by Matt Adams and Tyler Flowers in the second.Fried (2-0) was thrust into the role of staff ace when Mike Soroka suffered a torn right Achilles tendon on Monday night, ending his season.Adams' homer had a splash landing in the waterfall pool behind the center-field fence. Flowers' shot landed in the first row of the left-field seats.Shoemaker gave up six hits and six runs in 4 2/3 innings in his first start since July 25.Fried gave up only four hits, including a leadoff double by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the fifth. Guerrero scored when Anthony Alford's ball bounced off Riley's glove at third base and into left field for a single.Dansby Swanson's eighth-inning double off Wilmer Font drove in Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ender Inciarte, who each had two hits. Adam Duvall and Johan Camargo also drove in runs in the four-run inning.TRAINER'S ROOMBlue Jays: INF Travis Shaw was activated after being placed on family medical leave on July 27. Manager Charlie Montoyo said he would see how Shaw feels Wednesday ''and we'll go from there.'' ... OF Randal Grichuk returned from a sore back. He said he tweaked his back while ''kind of demonstrating some swings'' during the team's opening series at Tampa Bay. ... Montoyo said RHP Chase Anderson (oblique) could return as a starter or in a relief role.Braves: Adams left the game with left hamstring tightness after grounding out in the fourth. ... LHP Will Smith will pitch in a simulated game at the team's alternate site on Thursday. Smith has been cleared after testing positive for the coronavirus at the start of the delayed season. ''He feels great,'' said manager Brian Snitker. ... Slumping 2B Ozzie Albies (stiffness in his right wrist) was moved down from second to seventh in the batting order. The switch-hitting Albies struck out as a left-hander against left-hander Anthony Kay in the seventh as evidence the wrist soreness is affecting his swing.UP NEXTAtlanta's Sean Newcomb will face Toronto's Hyun Jin-Ryu in Wednesday night's matchup of left-handers looking for their first win of the season. The Braves need Newcomb to emerge as a reliable starter for a rotation that has lost Soroka and Mike Foltynewicz, who was designated for assignment and now is working at the team's alternate training site.---More baseball: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/-Sports
Game
Recap from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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TOTAL |
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+105
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+1.5 (-180)
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Over 8.5 (-115)
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-113
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-1.5 (+161)
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Under 8.5 (+102)
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GAME PREVIEW
Marlins set to return from hiatus, visit OriolesAfter a weeklong interruption to their brief season, the Miami Marlins are healthy again and ready to play baseball games.Many of the Marlins players have been quarantined in Philadelphia since the last weekend of July, when they took two of three games from the Phillies to open the season. However, a rampant outbreak of COVID-19 shut the team down and forced the infected players back to South Florida on sleeper buses.According to MLB, Miami had 21 confirmed virus cases, with 18 of them being players. In all, 10 games have been postponed, but four of them will be made up from Tuesday to Thursday at Baltimore's Oriole Park at Camden Yards.The Marlins are scheduled to play the Orioles Tuesday night and Thursday night, though Hurricane Isaias may be a factor in the first meeting. The clubs are slated for a Wednesday twi-night doubleheader.None of the Marlins players or staff have turned up positive in recent tests, and the club was cleared Monday to travel to Baltimore. Left-hander John Means (0-0, 19.29 ERA) will start for Baltimore on Tuesday.Means, an All-Star as a rookie last year, had a poor first start this year, allowing five runs in 2 1/3 innings against the New York Yankees on July 30. He will be opposing the Marlins for the first time in his career.Miami's active roster will be a cobbled-together group of 30 featuring the available regulars plus players who were recently promoted or acquired from other clubs. The organization has not released the names of the 18 players who came up positive.However, one player missing will be promising second baseman Isan Diaz, who opted out of the season via an Instagram post on Saturday."This has been a tough week to see so many of my teammates come down with this virus, and see how quickly it spreads," said Diaz, 24, who consistently tested negative and is the first Marlins player to opt out.Outfield prospect Monte Harrison, who like Diaz joined the Marlins in the 2018 trade that sent eventual season MVP Christian Yelich to Milwaukee, was added to the 30-man roster and is expected to make his big league debut soon.Miami shored up its bullpen over the weekend by trading for Cleveland right-hander James Hoyt and Baltimore southpaw Richard Bleier, then claimed lefty Brian Moran off waivers from Toronto.Winners of five of eight, including a three-game sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays last weekend, Baltimore is playing without regular third baseman Rio Ruiz (right shoulder soreness), shortstop Jose Iglesias (left quad soreness) and first baseman Chris Davis (knee soreness).Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde and his team flew to Miami early last week for the games that never happened. Then they lost twice to the New York Yankees in games that were moved up before three consecutive wins over the Rays.The sweep was the Orioles' first since the 2018 campaign. Baltimore's pitching staff, which recorded 10 strikeouts Sunday, set a club record with its fifth straight game with double-figure whiffs."We're adjusting on the fly," Hyde said of his streaking Orioles. "It's a dodge and weave. Every day there's something new. Tomorrow, there's probably going to be something else. I just think that we're staying flexible."I knew that there was something that was going to have to be on the schedule there at some point this next week." --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
GAME RECAP
Triumphant return for retooled Marlins, who beat Orioles 4-0BALTIMORE After enduring one final delay in their effort to return from an eight-day, coronavirus-induced hiatus, the Miami Marlins found enough power and pitching within their vastly overhauled roster to beat the Baltimore Orioles 4-0 Tuesday night.Francisco Cervelli and Jesus Aguilar homered for the Marlins, who had their season halted after 18 players tested positive for COVID-19 following the opening series in Philadelphia.Pablo Lopez threw five innings of two-hit ball and the bullpen allowed just one hit in Miami's first shutout victory since Sept. 8 against Kansas City.Late Tuesday afternoon, the Marlins were still awaiting the result of further COVID-19 tests, a process that stalled their arrival at Camden Yards and pushed back the scheduled 7:35 p.m. start by 41 minutes.Once they finally got back on the diamond, the Marlins backed up the assertion of president of baseball operations Michael Hill, who said beforehand: ''We expect to win games.'' Miami put a whopping 18 players on the injured list and showed up with an equal number of replacements on their 30-man roster - some from their minor league camp, others obtained via trade and a few plucked off the waiver wire. Before manager Don Mattingly wrote up his lineup card, there's a good chance he had to introduce himself to a few of the newcomers.There were plenty of rookies in the dugout, but the only one in the starting lineup was highly touted prospect fielder Monte Harrison, who played center field and went 0 for 3 with three strikeouts in his major league debut.A matchup between two teams that each lost more than 100 games last year was oddly intriguing because it was Miami's first game since July 26 and the Orioles were coming off a three-game sweep of Tampa Bay that lifted them into second place in the AL East.Orioles starter John Means (0-1) allowed one run and two hits in 4 2/3 innings. He retired 13 in a row before Cervelli drove a 3-1 pitch into the left-field seats to end the left-hander's night.Lopez was better, striking out seven and permitting just one runner past first base. The bullpen was also impressive, including Richard Bleier, obtained from the Orioles last week.After the Marlins went up 3-0 in the sixth, Aguilar hit his third homer in four games. He rounded the bases to cheers from the dugout - a sound the players sorely missed while stuck in a Philadelphia hotel waiting for their season to resume.After the final out, the Marlins lined up and did ''air'' high-fives in which they didn't make contact with their hands.Because of Miami's precarious situation, the Orioles had two games in Florida postponed and opened at home against the Yankees instead of Marlins on July 29-30. In this anything goes, wacky baseball season, Miami will be the home team for the final two games of this four-game series.TRAINER'S ROOMMarlins: Ten pitchers were among the 18 placed on the injured list, including lefty Caleb Smith, who led the team in wins last year with 10.Orioles: SS Jose Iglesias (left quad) and 3B Rio Ruiz (shoulder) weren't in the starting lineup but available if needed, manager Brandon Hyde said.UP NEXTMarlins: RH Elieser Hernandez makes his season debut in the opener of a 7-inning doubleheader Wednesday. Mattingly did not announce his starter for the nighcap.Orioles: Alex Cobb (1-0, 2.89 ERA) gets his third start of the season, followed by Asher Wojciechowski (0-1, 7.20).---More MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/-Sports
Game
Recap from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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TOTAL |
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+120
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+1.5 (-172)
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Over 8 (-105)
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-130
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-1.5 (+154)
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Under 8 (-107)
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GAME PREVIEW
White Sox-Brewers PreviewUnless the Brewers meet the Nationals in the playoffs for a second successive October, chances are Milwaukee right-hander Brandon Woodruff won't see Washington counterparts Max Scherzer and Steven Strasburg pitch in person this season.Long before the COVID-19 pandemic shifted the parameters of the 2020 schedule and season, however, Woodruff studied YouTube highlights of the Washington co-aces during spring training in a bid to revamp his changeup.The research has worked to date for Woodruff, who is 1-1 with a 1.59 ERA in two starts this season entering his scheduled Tuesday start against the visiting Chicago White Sox."I think a common theme with them, especially Scherzer, he mentioned he throws his changeup while thinking about throwing his thumb first," Woodruff said. "I've kind of been working on that in spring and then summer camp." Woodruff shined behind his changeup in his most recent outing, generating eight of his 20 swings-and-misses with the pitch on Wednesday in Pittsburgh.Woodruff limited the Pirates to one hit and one walk in 6 1/3 shutout innings while striking out 10 and retiring a career-best 17 in a row at one point.While the Brewers' bullpen followed suit in a combined one-hitter, Woodruff set a dominant tone, to be sure."I had a perfect view for it," Milwaukee center fielder Ben Gamel said. "You know, he was absolutely just mowing people down (Wednesday). It was pretty uncompetitive, I felt like." Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell had his own spin on Woodruff's start."Overpowering, I think, is probably the word that best describes it," Counsell said.On Tuesday, Woodruff will meet a jelling Chicago lineup that has helped the team produce a season-high five straight victories. Powered by home runs from Jose Abreu and Yoan Moncada, the White Sox rallied for a 6-4 victory in Monday's series opener.Woodruff has not faced the White Sox in his career and enters with a 1-2 record and 3.00 ERA in five interleague appearances, including four starts.White Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito (0-1, 6.52 ERA) has not faced the Brewers in his career while pitching to limited success in interleague play.In 10 interleague starts entering Tuesday, Giolito is 1-6 with a 6.96 ERA while scattering 33 walks and 12 home runs allowed in 54 1/3 innings.After recording just 11 outs while allowing seven runs in an Opening Day loss to visiting Minnesota, Giolito rebounded Wednesday at Cleveland, scattering four hits, two walks and six strikeouts in six shutout innings. Giolito took a no-decision in an eventual 4-0 win that allowed the White Sox to salvage a game in their three-game set against the Indians -- and sparked them on their current tear."It was a must-win game for us as a team," Giolito said. "The way I saw it, our first round of starting pitching did not go well, so it was time for us to make the adjustments we needed and go out there and have a good one. I was happy to do that." The White Sox out-hit Milwaukee 12-10 on Monday and have collected 47 hits in the past three games.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
GAME RECAP
Giolito, White Sox edge Brewers 3-2 for 6th straight victoryMILWAUKEE Jose Abreu hit a tiebreaking single in the seventh inning, helping Lucas Giolito and the Chicago White Sox edge the Milwaukee Brewers 3-2 on Tuesday.The White Sox have won six consecutive games for the first time since April 2017 as they attempt to snap a string of seven straight losing seasons.But this latest victory might prove costly.White Sox rookie second baseman Nick Madrigal left the game with an injured left shoulder in the third inning after he was thrown out trying to get from first to third on a single up the middle. Designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion departed in the sixth inning with left shoulder soreness.Both are expected to undergo examinations Wednesday.After Milwaukee's Ben Gamel and Chicago's Eloy Jimenez hit two-run homers, the White Sox broke the tie in the seventh by capitalizing on the Brewers' mistakes.A throwing error by shortstop Eric Sogard allowed leadoff batter Danny Mendick to reach second. Brewers reliever Devin Williams (0-1) responded by striking out Luis Robert and Yoan Moncada, but Mendick advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored the go-ahead run on Abreu's hit.This marked the second straight night Abreu delivered in the late innings. He hit a tying, two-run homer in the seventh inning of Chicago's 6-4 victory over the Brewers on Monday.The Brewers threatened in the eighth and ninth but couldn't tie the game.Alex Colome earned his third save when Gamel grounded out with runners on third and second after consecutive two-out hits by Ryon Healy and Omar Narvaez.Brock Holt walked and Sogard singled to start the eighth, but Jimmy Cordero got of the jam as Keston Hiura grounded into a double play and Christian Yelich struck out looking.Giolito (1-1) struck out nine and allowed two runs, three walks and four hits in six innings. He spent much of the night dueling with Brandon Woodruff, who also allowed two runs over six innings. Woodruff scattered eight hits while striking out six and walking one.Limited to one hit through the first four innings, the Brewers broke through in the fifth as Gamel's two-run shot into the right-field seats opened the scoring.The White Sox tied it in the sixth on a homer to center by Jimenez that ended a string of 13 1/3 scoreless innings for Woodruff. In his last start, Woodruff had given up just one hit in 6 1/3 shutout innings as the Brewers won 3-0 at Pittsburgh.TRAINER'S ROOMThe White Sox placed left-handed pitcher Carlos Rodon on the 10-day injured list with shoulder soreness Tuesday. The injury caused Rodon to leave after only two innings in Chicago's 6-4 victory over the Brewers on Monday.White Sox manager Rick Renteria says he's optimistic Rodon will return before the end of the season.In other roster moves, the White Sox purchased the contract of pitcher Brady Lail from their Schaumburg training site and designated outfielder Luis Basabe for assignment.TRAVELING SAUSAGESThe pandemic is preventing the between-inning sausage races from taking place at Miller Park this year, but the tradition hasn't been scrapped entirely. It's just moving out of the ballpark.The sausage races instead are taking place at various Milwaukee-area locations and being shown on the Miller Park scoreboard and on social media midway through the sixth inning of select home game. For Monday's home opener, the Polish sausage won a race that took place at the Sheboygan Falls headquarters of Johnsonville, the event's sponsor. The chorizo won Tuesday's race, with the Milwaukee Art Museum serving as the backdrop.UP NEXTThe Brewers and White Sox continue this four-game series but move it to Chicago for matchups Wednesday and Thursday.---More MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/-Sports
Game
Recap from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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FINAL |
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MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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+192
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+1.5 (-109)
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Over 7.5 (-114)
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-212
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-1.5 (-101)
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Under 7.5 (+102)
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GAME PREVIEW
Royals-Cubs PreviewKansas City Royals rookie pitcher Brady Singer has found a cool place to be for his 24th birthday Tuesday night. The right-hander will be on the mound at Wrigley Field facing the Chicago Cubs.Asked which birthday this would replace as his favorite, he replied, "All 23 of them. It's quite a birthday present. I can't wait to get out there and get going." Singer (0-0, 3.60 ERA) has made two starts for the Royals in his debut season, and he has been efficient in no-decisions against the Minnesota Twins and the Detroit Tigers. He gave up two runs in five innings in both outings, and he has struck out a total of 10 in 10 innings. His starts led to two of the three Kansas City wins this season."We're excited to watch Brady (on Tuesday)," Royals manager Mike Matheny said. "We know he's prepared. He's taken every one of these challenges and opportunities in stride."He's not making too much or too little of what he needs to do. He's very professional in how he prepares, and his stuff is obvious. It's obvious that it's going to play here." Singer, the first of four Royals first-round selections -- all college pitchers -- in the 2018 draft, doesn't seem fazed about pitching in one of baseball's iconic venues."It's going to be cool (at Wrigley)," he said. "I'm very excited and looking forward to doing well. It helps me a lot that I faced them in the first spring training. I kind of have an idea of a scouting report."I've learned a lot (after two starts). There are a lot of little things you can learn in two games in the big leagues." The Royals will be counting on Singer to help them get on a good track following a 2-0 loss to the Cubs on Monday in which Danny Duffy became the first Kansas City starter this year to pitch six innings.Singer will be facing a Cubs team that has started hot.Kyle Hendricks (1-1, 4.05) will take the ball for Chicago, making his third start of the season. He tossed a three-hitter against the Brewers on Opening Day, becoming the first Cub to throw a complete-game shutout on Opening Day since Bill Bonham on April 9, 1974, vs. Philadelphia.Hendricks wasn't nearly as effective in his second start when he allowed six earned runs in 4 1/3 innings in a loss at Cincinnati on Wednesday.Manager David Ross felt it may have been a case of fatigue, especially when Hendricks issued a leadoff walk to Eugenio Suarez in the fourth, followed by a two-run homer to Mike Moustakas."I felt like he was running out of steam that fourth inning," Ross said. "When you get a leadoff walk from him, that's uncharacteristic and red flags start to go up a little bit." Hendricks said he never felt right."It was just a battle from the start (Wednesday) really. It just wasn't good," he said. "Everything was up. I kind of got away with some pitches in the first and second inning, the first time through the order. Just rolling through my delivery. Just really didn't do anything well. Couldn't pitch inside effectively, so it's just back to work." Hendricks will make his second career start against Kansas City. He took a no-decision on Sept. 28, 2015, despite allowing just two hits and striking out nine batters in six scoreless innings during Chicago's 1-0, 11-inning victory at Wrigley Field.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
GAME RECAP
Kimbrel shaky again, Cubs hold off Royals for 5th win in rowCHICAGO Jason Heyward, Jason Kipnis and Willson Contreras homered and the Chicago Cubs overcame another shaky outing by closer Craig Kimbrel to beat the Kansas City Royals 5-4 Tuesday night for their fifth straight win.Kimbrel took over to begin the ninth inning with a 5-2 lead, but struggled again and allowed two runs and two hits while getting only one out. He's yielded six runs in 1 2/3 innings in three appearances this season.Cubs reliever Kyle Ryan closed it out for his first save, getting Bubba Starling to ground out to third baseman Kris Bryant with a runner on third to end it.Kyle Hendricks tossed seven solid innings to help the Cubs improve to 9-2, their best start through 11 games since 2016 when they went on to win the World Series.Hendricks (2-1) allowed two runs on seven hits, but walked none as he rebounded from a shaky loss last Wednesday at Cincinnati. Jeremy Jeffress pitched a perfect eighth to keep theAdalberto Mondesi had three hits and an RBI for the Royals, who lost their fifth straight and dropped to 3-9.Brady Singer (0-1), making his third major league start on his 24th birthday, allowed four runs - on two-run homers by Heyward and Kipnis -and five hits, while striking out eight.Although Jorge Soler drove in a run with a sacrifce fly, the former Cubs player failed to reach base in ending a 25-game streaking dating to last Sept. 14.Hendricks, who pitched a three-hit shutout against Milwaukee on opening day, gave up three straight hits to open the second. The Royals stopped a 26-inning scoreless drought at Wrigley Field.Heyward's shot to right in the bottom half, his first homer, put Chicago ahead 2-1.Heyward added a single in the fourth, then came home when Kipnis added his drive to right-center to make it 4-1. It was the second homer for Kipnis, a native of suburban Northbrook, Illinois, who signed a minor league deal with the Cubs in February.Contreras homered in the eighth.TRAINER'S ROOMRoyals: Manager Mike Matheny confirmed RHP Brad Keller will make his first start of the season on Thursday against the Cubs at Kauffman Stadium. Keller, the Royals' opening day starter in 2019, has been on the injured list since July 14 after testing positive for the COVID-19. Keller was 7-14 with a 4.19 ERA in 28 starts last year.Cubs: LHP Jose Quintana remains on scheduled throw a two-inning simulated game Thursday at the team's alternate site in South Bend, Indiana. Quintana had surgery to repair nerve damage on his left thumb last month after he cut himself washing dishes.UP NEXTCubs RHP Yu Darvish (1-1, 2.70) takes the mound when the two teams meet in Kansas City on Wednesday night. Darvish tossed six scoreless innings against Pittsburgh last Friday for the win. Royals LHP Kris Bubic (0-1, 4.50) makes his second career start. He yielded three runs, all on Adam Engel's homer, in losing his major league debut to the White Sox last Friday.---More MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/-Sports
Game
Recap from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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FINAL |
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MONEYLINE |
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TOTAL |
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+157
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+1.5 (-114)
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Over 11 (-110)
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-172
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-1.5 (+104)
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Under 11 (-102)
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GAME PREVIEW
Giants-Rockies PreviewThe Colorado Rockies believed in German Marquez when they signed him to a long-term contract in April 2019. So confident in him, the Rockies named him the 2020 Opening Day starter.In two starts, the 25-year-old Marquez has rewarded that belief. He is 1-1 with a 1.54 ERA heading into his third start of the season, Tuesday night against the San Francisco Giants in Denver.San Francisco has not announced a starter for the second game of the four-game series. Colorado took the first game, 7-6, on Monday night for its seventh win in the past eight games.Marquez is no stranger to the National League West Division rivals, going 2-4 with a 6.60 ERA (43 2/3 innings pitched, 32 earned runs) in eight starts against the Giants.While San Francisco has had success against the right-hander, the way Marquez is pitching it might be tough for the hitters to repeat the success they had against Chi Chi Gonzalez, Colorado's starter on Monday. Gonzalez was lifted after three innings, but the Rockies' ace is in a groove."Marquez is a stud up there," Colorado catcher Tony Wolters said recently. "He's really loose. He's very in the moment. He can read hitters. And he believes in his stuff." Marquez can dial up a mid-90s fastball, and breaking balls and off-speed pitches have been effective this season."I've been mixing pretty good, but that comes from my fastball command," Marquez said. "If my fastball command is there, my other pitches are going to be there, too." One of the Giants who Marquez will try to contain is outfielder Mike Yastrzemski, who is off to a hot start on the season. He is hitting .333 in the first 11 games, has reached base 25 times -- most in the majors -- and he hit his third homer of the season on Monday night.Yastrzemski has helped to lead the surprising Giants to a competitive start to the shortened season. San Francisco, which is rebuilding after winning three World Series titles from 2010 to 2014, is 5-6 after dropping the past two games."He just looks like a great all-around player right now," manager Gabe Kapler said, "and it's starting to seem like this is who Yaz is." Yastrzemski, 29, was mired in the Baltimore minor-league system until the Orioles dealt him to San Francisco in March 2019. He made his major-league debut last season and smacked 21 homers in just 371 at-bats.After waiting so long to get his shot, Yastrzemski isn't wasting his opportunity."In order to be successful in this game, you have to think you're the best player on the field," Yastrzemski said recently. "So if you want to play against the best, you want that challenge. And to be in a situation of being in the big leagues right now and the path that I've taken, I'm just super grateful every day." --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
GAME RECAP
Márquez strikes out 9, Rockies beat Giants 5-2DENVER German Marquez struck out nine in efficiently throwing into the eighth inning and benefited from an overturned home-run call as the rolling Colorado Rockies beat the San Francisco Giants 5-2 on Tuesday night.The Rockies moved to 8-2 for the second time in franchise history, joining a 2011 team that finished 73-89.Trailing 3-0 in the fifth, the Giants thought they tied it on a three-run homer by Steven Duggar that hit off the top of the wall. A crew chief review overturned the call and awarded Duggar a two-run double. Marquez struck out Mike Yastrzemski and got Alex Dickerson to fly out to keep it a 3-2 game.Marquez (2-1) scattered six hits over 7 1/3 innings and threw 101 pitches. This was a vastly improved outing compared to his last start against the Giants on July 15, 2019. In that game, the hard-throwing Marquez surrendered 11 runs over 2 2/3 innings during a 19-2 loss.Yency Almonte got five outs, including two double plays, pick up his first career save.Nolan Arenado went deep for a second straight night on a liner in the sixth that just crept over the wall. It was his 30th career homer against the Giants, the most all-time among Rockies hitter. His prodigious numbers led San Francisco manager Gabe Kapler to label Arenado a ''Giant killer'' before the game.Marquez and Almonte kept the Giants inside the park - barely - to end San Francisco's streak of homering in 13 straight games at Coors Field. The string dated back to Sept. 3, 2018.The fielding woes of the Giants continued with three more errors, including one on Tyler Heineman for catcher's interference. It brings their total to 16 this season. They've committed multiple errors in six of their 12 games.San Francisco starter and Denver native Kevin Gausman (0-1) threw 5 1/3 innings and allowed four runs in his first appearance at Coors Field. He struck out seven.TRAINER'S ROOMGiants: LHP Drew Smyly (sprained left index finger) will stay in San Francisco for physical therapy. He won't throw for at least a week. ... RHP Trevor Cahill (right index fingernail) is scheduled to throw a simulated game in Sacramento at the end of the week. ... The Giants are targeting a simulated game for INF Yolmer Sanchez this weekend. ... RHP Sam Coonrod (lat strain) may soon start a throwing program.UP NEXTColorado right-hander Jon Gray (0-0, 2.61 ERA) searches for his first win of the season when he takes the mound Wednesday for Game 3 of the four-game series against San Francisco. The Giants haven't named a starter.---More MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/-Sports
Game
Recap from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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FINAL |
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+147
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+1.5 (-148)
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Over 7 (-122)
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-160
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-1.5 (+134)
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Under 7 (+109)
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GAME PREVIEW
A's top prospect Luzardo to make first start vs. RangersThe Texas Rangers move to the east side of the San Francisco Bay looking for better results when they open a three-game series against the host Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night.The Rangers have slated right-hander Lance Lynn (1-0, 0.00 ERA) for the series opener, opposed by A's lefty Jesus Luzardo (0-0, 1.35).Texas salvaged one game in its three-game series in San Francisco against the Giants, prevailing 9-5 in the series finale Sunday on the strength of a late three-run homer by Joey Gallo.The win capped an eight-game interleague run to open the season for the Rangers, who will play their next nine against American League West competition.They were just 6-13 against the A's last season, but it's hard to blame Lynn for that. The veteran went 2-1 against Oakland in 2019 despite a lackluster 5.66 ERA in four starts, his only previous head-to-head contests against the A's.Luzardo will make the first start of his career on Tuesday after two relief appearances on the season. The 22-year-old is the top prospect in the A's system and anticipation has been building in Oakland for his debut as a starter.In his 6 2/3 innings in relief, he's struck out seven batters and surrendered one earned run (three total) on five hits and three walks.Lynn was the winning pitcher in Texas' 1-0 win over Colorado on July 24 but was denied what could have been his 100th career victory when Arizona, down 2-0 when he left the game, rallied to take a 4-2 lead before eventually falling 7-4 on July 29.The 33-year-old has no complaints being 1-0 instead of 2-0."Whenever you start a season, whether it's April or in mid-July, you want to get off to a good start," Lynn told reporters after the Arizona game. "That's always your goal. You work hard for that. For me, it's all about, no matter when you take the ball ... if you give your team a chance to win every day, that's what I'm about."So far I've done that." Lynn, who won twice at Oakland last season, has never matched up with Luzardo.Luzardo debuted as a reliever last September and faced the Rangers twice, allowing two hits and one run in four innings with six strikeouts. He was credited with his first career save in a 6-1 win against the Rangers in his second major-league outing, Sept. 15, 2019. He has a 2.25 ERA against Texas in his young career.Luzardo was scheduled to start Opening Day for the A's last month, but he tested positive for the coronavirus during Summer Camp and had to be scratched.So, after eight career relief stints, he's once again scheduled to make his major-league starting debut.His teammates are looking forward to the occasion."It seems like every time we see him pitch, he's getting better," teammate Frankie Montas gushed to reporters recently. "Every time he's on the mound, I'm excited to watch him pitch. You know he's going to do something good." The A's begin the series riding a three-game winning streak. While the Rangers were idle on Monday, Oakland was completing a series sweep in Seattle with an 11-1 romp.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
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Press, All Rights Reserved.
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GAME PREVIEW
Dodgers-Padres PreviewDave Roberts knows the San Diego Padres.The Dodgers manager was raised in northern San Diego County. He played and coached for the Padres. He even managed them for one game.And he knows the 2020 Padres -- who his team will face Tuesday night at Petco Park -- are a better version than recent editions."I've watched film of them," Roberts said Monday before the Dodgers opened a three-game series against the Padres in San Diego with a loss. "They've improved. The offense has improved." In Monday's game, the Padres beat the Dodgers 5-4 in what Padres' manager Jayce Tingler called "one of our better games of the year." But Monday was one game. If the Padres are going to challenge for a playoff berth, they are going to have to stay competitive against a Dodgers team that has won seven straight National League West pennants and went 13-6 against the Padres in 2019.Monday was but a step -- a San Diego win that snapped a five-game Dodgers winning streak in the series. But everyone will know much more over the next two weeks just how much the Padres have improved against the Dodgers. In a span of 10 games through Aug. 13, the Padres will play the Dodgers seven times."It was a good win, but just one win," Tingler said.When the Padres and Dodgers resume their rivalry Tuesday night, right-hander Dinelson Lamet (1-0, 1.80 ERA) will make his third start of the season for the Padres. Right-hander Dustin May (0-0, 2.35 ERA) will start for the Dodgers.Lamet has been the Padres' strongest starter in the first two trips through the rotation. He has allowed two runs on nine hits and five walks with 15 strikeouts in 10 innings. He went five innings in both of his starts against division rivals San Francisco and Arizona.Lamet, who is now 28, looked to be the Padres' No. 1 starter near the final days of spring training of 2018. Then he injured his ulnar collateral ligament in his final exhibition start, underwent Tommy John surgery and missed all of the 2018 season and half of 2019.He returned to post a 3-5 record with a 4.07 ERA and a 1.260 WHIP in 14 starts for the Padres in 2019. Overall, Lamet has an 11-13 record with a 4.24 ERA in 37 career starts. He has 259 strikeouts in 197 1/3 innings.However, Lamet has had no success in four career outings against the Dodgers. He is 0-3 with a 5.14 ERA. The Dodgers have hit .247 against Lamet with five home runs in 21 innings.May, who doesn't turn 23 until next month, was 2-3 as a rookie in 2019 with a 3.63 ERA in 14 games (four starts). He allowed 17 runs (14 earned) on 33 hits and five walks with 32 strikeouts in 34 2/3 innings.Much of his 2019 efforts came against the Padres. The 6-foot-6, 180-pound May made four appearances and two starts against the Padres as a rookie. A third of the Padres six wins against the Dodgers were at the expense of May, who was 0-2 against San Diego with a 3.46 ERA - giving up eight runs (five earned) on 13 hits and a walk with nine strikeouts in 13 innings.This will be May's third start in 2020 in the spot normally filled by Clayton Kershaw, who started the season on the injured list. May has allowed two runs on 10 hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
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Press, All Rights Reserved.
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GAME PREVIEW
Bumgarner, D-backs look for success against AstrosThe Houston Astros are clinging to a winning record despite being forced to use an inexperienced, injury-depleted and overworked bullpen, so Monday's day off was more than welcome.Houston played extra innings in three of its last four games, and it had to turn to Framber Valdez, Tuesday's scheduled starting pitcher, for 6 1/3 innings of relief in a 6-5, 11-inning win over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday in Anaheim, Calif.After a much-needed day of rest for its bullpen Monday, the Astros face the struggling Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday night in Phoenix."(There is) a lot of difference between 5-4 and 4-5. We certainly didn't want to go below .500," manager Dusty Baker said after Houston's win on Sunday. "It was a great game for us. We got some key hits out there. Boy, we're all tired." It stands to reason why the Astros are in need of a rest. The shortest amount of time it has taken them to play a game since last Wednesday is 3 hours, 58 minutes on Saturday, in a game that went 10 innings. The other three games have lasted more than four hours each.The Astros, Baker told the Houston Chronicle, could go with 23-year-old right-hander Cristian Javier (0-0, 1.35 ERA) as their starting pitcher for Tuesday. The rookie pitched well in his first start, allowing a run on two hits in 5 2/3 innings with eight strikeouts against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday.Michael Brantley leads the team with a .438 batting average as well as with eight runs, 14 hits and a 1.170 on-base-plus-slugging percentage.On the flip side, stars George Springer and Jose Altuve have struck out a combined 19 times in 71 at-bats, and both are batting well under .200 on the season.The Astros draw a team looking to turn its season around fast, as the Diamondbacks are in last place in the National League West. Arizona dropped three of four games to the Los Angeles Dodgers in its most recent series and needed a late rally in the second game of the set to avoid being swept.The Diamondbacks have lost four of their past five games overall. They haven't scored more than five runs in any of their 10 games, and they were shut out Sunday for the first time this season.Ace Madison Bumgarner (0-1, 4.09 ERA) hasn't been dominant the way he was for years in a San Francisco Giants uniform, though to be fair, the lefty has just two starts to his name with Arizona. The Diamondbacks turn to Bumgarner against the Astros on Tuesday night."These are tests for our team and our players right now," Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. "We're going to keep fighting. That's all we know how to do. We're going to grind through these tough times. We know that better days lie ahead, but to get there, we've got to accomplish some things piece by piece and day by day, we've got to keep working." The Diamondbacks have hit just two home runs as a team, by far the fewest in the majors, and are batting .192 as a team. Lovullo has spoken of his players pressing and trying to do too much."We're extremely frustrated right now, and I know that our fans who are probably watching these games see that frustration," Lovullo added.--Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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GAME PREVIEW
Trout returns as struggling Angels, Mariners meetThe Seattle Mariners will have to face Mike Trout, might see top prospect Jo Adell and won't have to bat against Shohei Ohtani when the Los Angeles Angels travel north for a three-game series beginning Tuesday at T-Mobile Park.Trout is rejoining the Angels in Seattle after spending time on the paternity list as his wife, Jessica, gave birth to the couple's first child, Beckham Aaron Trout, on Thursday.Trout's stint on the paternity list ended Sunday, so he had to be shifted to the restricted list."He'll play in Seattle," Angels manager Joe Maddon said. "We gave him another day. We had to give him one more day to make it all work, and we did." The three-time American League MVP is batting .292 with one home run and four RBIs in six games this season.Outfielder Adell, the franchise's highest-rated prospect since Trout, will be called up for the Seattle series, a source told MLB.com on Monday.Ohtani, the two-way standout, felt discomfort in his pitching arm after Sunday's start against Houston. He was diagnosed with a Grade 1-2 strain of the flexor pronator mass -- a forearm muscle -- after undergoing an MRI on Monday.Angels general manager Billy Eppler said Ohtani won't be placed on the 10-day injured list as the team hopes Ohtani still be able to serve as the team's designated hitter. The Angels are off to a 3-7 start and need Ohtani's bat in the lineup."A general timetable for beginning a throwing progression following this injury is 4-6 weeks," Eppler said in a statement. "He is traveling with the team to Seattle and his status as a DH is day to day." Ohtani didn't pitch last season after an ulnar collateral ligament tear required Tommy John surgery. He didn't record an out but gave up five runs in his first start of the season against Oakland, then allowed two runs without a hit in 1 2/3 innings against the Astros, with five walks and three strikeouts.That left Ohtani with a 37.80 ERA and he's batting just .148 with two homers and seven RBIs in six games.Left-hander Andrew Heaney (0-0, 2.79 ERA), the Angels' Opening Day starter, is scheduled to take the mound in Tuesday's opener. Heaney is 1-4 with a 4.25 ERA in 10 career starts against Seattle. He allowed two runs on five hits in five innings last Wednesday with one walk and six strikeouts in a home game Los Angeles eventually lost 10-7 to the Mariners.Right-hander Justin Dunn (0-0, 6.00), seeking his first major-league decision, will start for Seattle. He went up against Heaney last week, allowing three runs (two earned) on one hit in three innings, with three walks and two strikeouts.After taking two of three games in Anaheim last week and winning the opener of a four-game home series against Oakland, the Mariners have lost three in a row, including an 11-1 defeat Monday."That one got away from us," Mariners manager Scott Servais said as his team fell to 4-7. "Not a fun game to watch by any standards. Unfortunately, it got ugly there. Nothing we can do about it now, just get in the shower and wash it away. We've got the Angels coming in and we have to get back on track (Tuesday)." --Field Level Media
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2020 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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8/4/2020 |
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