Sports World: 05/25/10

Los Angeles Lakers vs Phoenix Suns Live Streaming

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

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9:00 pm EDT Tue May 25, 2010

Losing one game in Phoenix was tolerable for the Los Angeles Lakers. Two losses and things start to get uncomfortable for the reigning NBA champions. It’s safe to say that coach Phil Jackson was giving his team a refresher course on how to beat a zone defense when the Lakers worked out at US Airways Center on Monday after Phoenix employed the strategy to great success in its 118-109 victory on Sunday night. The Suns can square the series at 2-2 with another home win in Game 4 on Tuesday night. Jackson said he had never seen a team use the zone so much in a playoff game since the NBA legalized the defense in the 2001-02 season, not that Kobe Bryant seemed all that concerned. When asked if a day of practice would be enough to work out how to attack the zone, he answered sarcastically. The Suns used the zone much of the second quarter and the entire second half. Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry said that was more than he anticipated but he stuck with it because it worked when nothing else had against the Lakers, who averaged 126 points and shot 58 percent in the series’ first two games.

Steve Nash’s nose and Andrew Bynum’s knee were main subjects of discussion on Monday. Nash has a small nasal fracture from a fourth-quarter collision with Derek Fisher but said he’s had “a handful” of broken noses and expected to be fine for Game 4. After all, he played the fourth quarter of Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals with his right eye swollen shut after taking an elbow from Tim Duncan. Bynum got in early foul trouble and had just two points and two rebounds in 7 1/2 minutes on Sunday night. After the game, Jackson talked about perhaps having the big center, who has a small meniscus tear in his right knee, sit out the next game. But Jackson said on Monday that Bynum would play. Jackson isn’t about to rest Bynum just to get him more ready for a finals matchup against Boston.

Chicago White Sox vs Cleveland Indians Live Streaming

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7:05 pm EDT Tue May 25, 2010

Chicago White Sox starter Jake Peavy said his team needed to win its three-game road series against the Cleveland Indians. He’ll get his chance to deliver that victory Tuesday night. Seeking his fourth win of the month, Peavy will try to overcome the Indians and help the White Sox claim their first road series win of 2010. Six games under .500 and seven games behind AL Central-leading Minnesota with the season more than one-fourth complete, Chicago must play more consistent ball if it hopes to contend. The White Sox hadn’t done that earlier this season against the last-place Indians, dropping five of six including a three-game sweep in Cleveland from April 16-18. They appeared to get going in Monday’s series opener, beating the Indians 7-2 for their third win in four games overall. Mark Teahen went 3 for 4 with three RBIs and Alex Rios added a homer to lead the White Sox.

Peavy has been somewhat effective in two starts against the Indians this season, allowing five runs over 12 1-3 innings, but didn’t receive a decision either time as the White Sox lost both games. He’s 1-1 with a 4.70 ERA in four career starts against Cleveland, earning the lone win for San Diego on June 12, 2003. Indians starter Mitch Talbot beat the White Sox much more recently. The rookie right-hander threw his only career complete game and earned his first victory at home against Chicago on April 16, allowing six hits without a walk in the 6-2 win. That effort launched a three-start win streak for Talbot, who hasn’t been as successful lately, going 2-2 with a 5.67 ERA over his last four outings. He surrendered six runs in six innings of Thursday’s 9-3 loss to Kansas City. After a night off, Cleveland designated hitter Travis Hafner could return and try to extend an 11-game hitting streak and delay the White Sox’s first road series win since Oct. 2-4 at Detroit.

Oakland Athletics vs Baltimore Orioles Live Streaming

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7:05 pm EDT Tue May 25, 2010

Oakland pitchers have gone 20 straight innings without allowing a run, and the Athletics gave up a total of six hits in the final two games of their weekend sweep. Dallas Braden has shown he’s capable of continuing that dominance. The left-hander tries to avoid a third straight loss following his perfect game, looking to help the A’s snap a five-game road losing streak Tuesday night as they begin a 10-game trip against the Baltimore Orioles. The A’s rose back above .500 thanks to a three-game sweep of interleague rival San Francisco, finishing the series with back-to-back shutouts following Friday night’s 6-1 victory. Oakland’s pitchers have a 2.79 ERA at home, in stark contrast to their 5.69 mark on the road, where the team has lost 12 of 14. Braden’s results have followed that trend - he’s 3-2 with a 2.14 ERA at home and 1-2 with a 6.50 ERA on the road.

Braden pitched the 19th perfect game in major league history against Tampa Bay on May 9, but he’s since lost two straight and is 1-4 in his last five outings. Still, he overcame an illness to hold Detroit without a run for six innings Wednesday before allowing two runs in the seventh during the 5-1 loss. The southpaw has won both of his career starts at Baltimore and is 5-1 with a 1.57 ERA overall against the Orioles, who managed three hits and two runs against Braden in seven innings of their 4-2 loss April 16 at Oakland. Nick Markakis leads the Orioles with a .304 average but is 1 for 14 against Braden. Adam Jones, riding a 10-game hitting streak, is hitless in 11 at-bats against him. Baltimore lost three of four in Oakland last month and is 2-13 versus the A’s since the start of 2008. The Orioles own the worst record in the majors and have dropped seven of nine, including the last two at Washington over the weekend. Jeremy Guthrie has still managed to give Baltimore a good chance to win lately.

Boston Red Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays Live Streaming

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7:10 pm EDT Tue May 25, 2010

Jon Lester and the Boston Red Sox had major problems while getting swept by the Tampa Bay Rays at home last month, a big reason they remain in an early hole in the AL East. Both the left-hander and his club are trying to prove their poor starts are in the past. Lester looks to win a fifth straight decision and send the Red Sox to their fourth consecutive victory as he faces red-hot Rays righty James Shields at Tropicana Field on Tuesday. Boston began to avenge Tampa Bay’s convincing four-game sweep at Fenway Park from April 16-19 with a 6-1 win in St. Petersburg on Monday night, limiting the major league-leading Rays to six hits. The Red Sox, who had gone 4-14 at Tampa Bay over the previous two seasons, have won six of seven overall as their starting pitching continues to stabilize. Their rotation had a 5.18 ERA after a two-game split at Yankee Stadium last week, but Boston starters have gone 5-1 with a 1.64 ERA in the club’s last six games - all against division leader.

Lester needed only 103 pitches to finish a complete game Thursday against Minnesota, allowing one earned run and six hits while striking out nine without a walk in Boston’s 6-2 win. The southpaw gave up 15 runs in his first three starts, allowing seven runs in six innings of a 7-1 home loss to the Rays on April 18. He hasn’t lost since, going 4-0 with a 1.65 ERA in his last six outings, racking up 49 strikeouts over 43 2-3 innings in that stretch. Shields has been enjoying a similar run, posting six consecutive quality starts. In his last five outings, he has 45 strikeouts and three walks. He is coming off a win at Yankee Stadium, where he allowed four runs - three earned - in 7 1-3 innings of Thursday night’s 8-6 victory. While Shields is 4-7 with a 5.33 ERA in his career against the Red Sox, he’s 3-0 with a 1.59 ERA in his last three home starts versus Boston. He also earned his first win at Fenway Park on April 17. Kevin Youkilis is 3 for 26 with nine strikeouts against Shields, but the Boston slugger has been locked in lately. After hitting a two-run home run Monday, he has five homers and 12 RBIs in his last eight games.

Pittsburgh Pirates vs Cincinnati Reds Live Streaming

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7:10 pm EDT Tue May 25, 2010

The Cincinnati Reds are closely monitoring Mike Leake’s pitch count, not wanting a player who skipped the minor leagues to carry too much of a workload in his first professional season. Eight starts in, Leake is hardly showing any signs that he’s slowing down. After the bullpen blew a six-run lead in his last start, Leake tries again to improve to 5-0 on Tuesday night as the Reds continue their four-game set against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates. Leake became the first major leaguer in a decade to skip the minors entirely when he made his Cincinnati debut April 11, and the accelerated timeline couldn’t be working out better for the Reds. The right-hander from Arizona State has delivered seven quality starts in eight outings, and he’s cut down on the one issue that plagued him in his first two games - walks. Leake walked seven in his major league debut against the Cubs, and he issued five free passes - along with three runs over seven innings - in a 4-3 loss at Pittsburgh five days later.

Since then, Leake has only walked nine in six starts while Cincinnati has kept his pitch count around 100. He’s held opponents to a .193 average over his last five outings, and increased his own average to .353 after getting two hits Thursday at Atlanta. Leake, trying to become the first Cincinnati rookie since Santo Alcala in 1976 to start 5-0, gave up three runs - one earned - over six innings against the Braves. He left with a 9-3 lead that Cincinnati held until the ninth, when the bullpen surrendered seven runs in a 10-9 loss. The Reds bounced back to win two of three in Cleveland over the weekend before hosting the Pirates on Monday. After outscoring Pittsburgh 16-1 in a three-game sweep at PNC Park last month, Cincinnati used a five-run fourth inning to win 7-5 and pull back into a tie with St. Louis for the NL Central lead. The Pirates hope to bounce back behind Paul Maholm. The left-hander was given a 3-0 first-inning lead Thursday against Milwaukee, but he allowed four runs over seven innings and lost 4-3.

Atlanta Braves vs Florida Marlins Live Streaming

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7:10 pm EDT Tue May 25, 2010

After a shaky start, Anibal Sanchez has spent much of the past month proving his worth in the Florida Marlins’ rotation. Atlanta Braves starter Kenshin Kawakami is hoping his latest outing was the first step in putting his dreadful beginning behind him. Sanchez seeks his third straight victory Tuesday night in the opener of the Marlins’ three-game set with the visiting Braves, who hope Kawakami can deliver his first win of 2010. Sanchez was 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in his first two starts, but he seems to be pitching at a level similar to the one he hit as a rookie in 2006. Sanchez hasn’t allowed more than two runs in a start since April 16, going 3-1 with a 2.17 ERA. He gave up four hits over seven innings Wednesday at St. Louis, striking out a season-high eight in a 5-1 victory. Sanchez is 0-2 with a 9.24 ERA in three home outings against Atlanta, and 3-5 with a 4.71 ERA in nine starts overall. He was, however, the opposing starter when Kawakami suffered his first major league loss in 2009. Sanchez yielded two runs over six innings in a 6-2 win at Turner Field on April 16, 2009.

Kawakami finished his rookie season at 7-12 with a 3.86 ERA, and the losses are again piling up in 2010. The right-hander lost his first six starts before leaving without decisions in his last two. His latest outing was easily his best, even though he was forced to leave with back pain and blisters on his right foot. Kawakami still held Cincinnati to five hits over six scoreless innings Wednesday, with only a late bullpen collapse preventing him from his first victory in the Braves’ 5-4 win. Kawakami, trying to avoid becoming the first Atlanta starter since Pascual Perez in 1985 to start 0-7, is 1-2 with a 5.94 ERA in three starts against Florida.While the back and blisters have improved enough for Kawakami to make his start Tuesday, it’s unclear if Jason Heyward will be in the lineup. The star rookie had been playing with a sore left thumb for more than a week before only pinch-hitting Sunday in Pittsburgh. He still has good mobility in the thumb, leaving Atlanta to doubt there’s a broken bone or ligament damage.

Philadelphia Phillies vs New York Mets Live Streaming

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7:10 pm EDT Tue May 25, 2010

The Philadelphia Phillies didn’t fare well against a knuckleballer in their last game. They won’t have to wait long to face another. The Phillies will get their first look at R.A. Dickey when they begin a three-game series against the New York Mets on Tuesday night at Citi Field. Philadelphia was baffled by Tim Wakefield on Sunday in an 8-3 loss to Boston, managing five hits in eight scoreless innings against the 43-year-old pitcher. Manuel said the Phillies had not seen a knuckleballer since Wakefield pitched against them on June 26, 2009. Philadelphia will get a look at another one with Dickey filling in for John Maine, who is out indefinitely with tendinitis in his right rotator cuff. Dickey doesn’t believe Wakefield’s effort necessarily will be an advantage for him. Dickey said he’s been tutored by Wakefield in the past, and planned to call him for advice before this outing. The right-hander gave up two runs, six hits and walked five in six innings during his Mets debut Wednesday, and did not get a decision in a 5-3 loss at Washington.

New York is feeling good after taking two of three at home over the weekend from the Yankees. Closer Francisco Rodriguez worked his way in and out of trouble in both victories, throwing a total of 49 pitches to earn saves Saturday and Sunday. The Mets’ Jason Bay homered twice in Sunday’s 6-4 win, increasing his total to three. He’s 10 for 15 with eight runs in his last four games. The Phillies, though, also should feel confident after winning 13 of their last 16 against the Mets, including two of three at home from April 30-May 2. Philadelphia has won six of the last eight starts by Jamie Moyer against New York. The 47-year-old gave up five runs over six innings in an 11-5 victory over the Mets on May 2 to start a string of three straight wins. That ended Wednesday when he allowed two runs over seven innings in a 4-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs. Mets third baseman David Wright is 21 for 50 with four homers in his career against Moyer. However, Wright is hitting .247 with a major league-high 32 strikeouts since May 3.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs Chicago Cubs Live Streaming

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8:05 pm EDT Tue May 25, 2010

After beginning the month with the shortest start of his career, Clayton Kershaw has been a big reason why the Los Angeles Dodgers have moved back into contention in the NL West. Kershaw looks to win a career-high fourth straight start when the Dodgers visit the Chicago Cubs for a three-game series beginning Tuesday night. Since giving up seven runs in 1 1-3 innings of an 11-6 loss to the Brewers on May 4, Kershaw has posted a 0.81 ERA over three starts. The left-hander allowed one run and struck out seven in 7 1-3 innings to earn a 4-1 win over San Diego on Thursday. Kershaw, who has never faced the Cubs, has posted his three most recent wins during the Dodgers’ 12-2 stretch. Los Angeles is one game behind San Diego for first place in the NL West after beginning the month in last. The Dodgers took two of three from Detroit last weekend.

Hiroki Kuroda gave up three runs in the first inning Sunday as Los Angeles went on to lose 6-2. The Dodgers stranded eight and grounded into three double plays. Los Angeles will try to avoid losing back-to-back games for the first time since May 4 and 5 as it begins a six-game road trip. The Dodgers are looking to win seven straight away from home for the first time since a nine-game run July 3-26, 2004. The Cubs return home after a 3-2 trip. They won two of three against Texas this weekend and have gone 6-2 in their last eight. Chicago defeated the Rangers 5-4 on Sunday, with Alfonso Soriano hitting a two-run homer during a four-run first - the 299th home run of his career - and Carlos Silva pitching 5 1-3 innings to improve to 6-0. Soriano was 6 for 16 with two doubles, two home runs and four RBIs during the trip.

Texas Rangers vs Kansas City Royals Live Streaming

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8:10 pm EDT Tue May 25, 2010

To remain atop the AL West, the Texas Rangers will likely need to regain their winning ways on the road. A trip to Kansas City might be just what the Rangers need. Texas will try to end a five-game road losing streak Tuesday night by earning its sixth straight win over the Royals in the opener of a two-game series. The Rangers have been a surprising occupant of first place in the early season and much of that success has come at home, where they’re 18-9. Texas is 7-11 away from Arlington but that includes a five-game win streak April 22-May 3. Rangers pitchers had a 0.90 ERA during that run, but have posted an 8.55 ERA in the team’s current road losing streak, which is one shy of tying their season high set April 15-21. Given his history against the Royals, Rich Harden could have a chance to help Texas get back on track as it begins a stretch of 17 of 24 on the road. The Rangers, losers of two straight following a five-game win streak, have also won seven of nine at Kauffman Stadium - where Kansas City is 8-13 this season.

The right-hander, making his fourth attempt to earn a third consecutive win, is 2-0 with a 1.78 ERA in five career starts against the Royals and allowed two runs over five innings in a home matchup May 8. Harden didn’t get the win in that 3-2 victory - which was part of a four-game sweep - and has not recorded a decision during contrasting performances in his past two starts. He was tagged for seven runs over 2 2-3 innings in a wild 16-10 loss in Toronto on May 14 and gave up two runs over 5 1-3 innings in Wednesday’s 4-3 comeback win over Baltimore. Royals right-hander Gil Meche has also made slight progress from his miserable start to this season but has little to show for it. Meche had a 9.89 ERA in his first five outings but has a 2.84 ERA in his last three. However, he’s 0-1 over that span, getting outdueled by Harden on May 8. The right-hander is 1-5 with a 4.85 ERA in his last seven starts against Texas but earned that win last season with six scoreless innings in a 12-3 rout. Meche, winless in 10 starts since Aug. 18, is 5-10 with a 5.72 ERA in 17 career starts versus the Rangers.

Houston Astros vs Milwaukee Brewers Live Streaming

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8:10 pm EDT Tue May 25, 2010

With poor play at home this season already in their record books, the Milwaukee Brewers will now try to avoid their longest losing streak there in nearly 14 years. The Brewers will try to halt their slide at Miller Park by taking advantage of the NL-worst Houston Astros in the opener of a three-game series Tuesday night. Milwaukee is last in the majors with a 4-14 home record, setting a franchise mark for worst start to a season. The Brewers have also lost eight in a row as a host for their longest skid since dropping nine straight from July 31-Aug. 11, 1996 at County Stadium. Losers of 11 of 13 overall, Milwaukee will face an Astros team that’s last overall in hitting, homers, runs and on-base percentage. They’ve also plated 11 runs during a season-high five-game road losing streak. At home, Milwaukee has dominated Houston in recent years by winning 18 of 23 matchups, and outscoring its NL Central rival 43-18 while taking six of the last seven.

The Brewers enter this series with some momentum after winning 4-3 in Minnesota on Sunday to avoid a three-game sweep. All-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman(notes) threw a perfect eighth inning in a setup role—his first appearance since blowing his fifth save in 10 chances during Wednesday’s 5-4 loss at Cincinnati. However, Macha turned to rookie John Axford in the ninth, and he recorded his first save by striking out Trevor Plouffe after giving up a run and loading the bases. Macha’s bullpen is ranked 29th with a 5.97 ERA, and he’ll be hoping for a long outing from Randy Wolf, who will try to avoid losing his third straight start. The left-hander comes in having been roughed up for 12 runs, 17 hits and seven walks in 11 1-3 innings in losses to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Houston, which begins a six-game swing, jumped out to 4-0 lead in the first inning Sunday before losing 10-6 to major league-leading Tampa Bay.

New York Yankees vs Minnesota Twins Live Streaming

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8:10 pm EDT Tue May 25, 2010

The New York Yankees closed out the Metrodome last year, continuing their dominance of the Minnesota Twins in the process. Now that the Twins have finally earned a win over the Yankees, though, they feel confident heading into the teams’ first matchup at Target Field on Tuesday night. New York swept a division series against Minnesota last year en route to its 27th World Series title, winning 4-1 in Game 3 - the final one at the Metrodome. The Yankees finished 4-0 all-time in playoff games in the dome. The Yankees won all 10 matchups with the Twins last season including that series, and took the first two games of a series less than two weeks ago. Minnesota finally ended its woes against New York in dramatic fashion with a 6-3 victory May 16 as Jason Kubel hit a go-ahead grand slam off closer Mariano Rivera. The Yankees have lost 10 of 15 overall after losing two of three on the road against the Mets over the weekend.

The Twins, meanwhile, have not lost a series in their new home, going 14-7 after winning two of three from Milwaukee. AL batting leader Justin Morneau went 8 for 13 with five RBIs in the series to raise his average to .383. Morneau is hitting .411 with five straight multihit efforts at Target Field. While Morneau is red-hot, it’s been a different story this season for Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira. The No. 3 hitter for New York has three hits in his last 25 at-bats and is batting .209 for the season. Teixeira had one of his best series against Minnesota, going 6 for 12 with four RBIs earlier this month. He’s also gone 6 for 10 in his career against Twins starter Scott Baker, who gets the ball Tuesday. Baker is 2-2 with a 5.14 ERA in four starts against the Yankees, allowing five runs in six-plus innings in an 8-4 loss May 14. The right-hander followed that up by giving up three runs over six innings Wednesday in a 3-2 loss at Boston.

Arizona Diamondbacks vs Colorado Rockies Live Streaming

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8:40 pm EDT Tue May 25, 2010

The Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies may be the two teams at the bottom of the NL West, but the next two weeks could bring major changes to the tight division race.The Diamondbacks and Rockies each begin a 12-game stretch against division opponents when they open a three-game series Tuesday night at Coors Field. Arizona is last in the division, 2 1/2 games behind fourth-place Colorado, which trails first-place San Diego by four. The next two weeks could be key for these teams, as they’re slated to face division foes in all 12 games—meeting each other six times. Arizona’s stretch begins with a nine-game trip through Denver, San Francisco and Los Angeles before returning home June 4 to host the Rockies. Colorado will host the Dodgers this weekend before going to San Francisco to open a six-game trip Monday. Arizona, 7-10 against division opponents, took two of three at Colorado from April 26-28. The Diamondbacks are trying to re-establish some momentum after falling 12-4 to Toronto on Sunday to cap a 4-1 homestand.

They’ll give Ian Kennedy, the team’s ERA leader, his first start against the Rockies as he looks to build on one of his best performances of the season. The right-hander struck out a career-high nine while yielding one run and three hits in eight innings of a 13-1 win over San Francisco on Wednesday. He’s reached at least the seventh inning in each of his last six games, going 3-1 with a 2.45 ERA. Colorado, 7-8 against the West, returns home looking to build on an offensive outburst and extend its winning streak there to four. The Rockies finished a 3-4 trip in impressive fashion Sunday, forcing reigning AL Cy Young winner Zack Greinke to exit after 3 1-3 innings en route to an 11-7 win over Kansas City. It was the first time in eight games Colorado scored more than four runs, and the club is hitting .234 in that stretch. The Rockies are second in the NL with a .288 average at home.

Toronto Blue Jays vs Los Angeles Angels Live Streaming

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10:05 pm EDT Tue May 25, 2010

Toronto Blue Jays starter Ricky Romero is excited for his first game back in the Los Angeles area. However, he’s probably not overly thrilled with opposing the Angels’ Ervin Santana again. Having been on the wrong end of a duel with Santana earlier this season, Romero will try to prevail this time and win his fourth straight decision Tuesday night against Santana, who is looking to win his third consecutive start. The 25-year-old Romero, a Los Angeles native who attended nearby Cal State Fullerton, is expected to have a few hundred family and friends in attendance when he takes the mound in the second of a three-game set. That contingent could have plenty to cheer about if the left-hander can repeat his recent efforts. Romero followed up his first career shutout May 15 in Texas by allowing one run and four hits over 6 2-3 innings Thursday in Seattle. He was denied a win when the Mariners rallied for three runs in the ninth, but he’s still on track to win four straight decisions for the second time in his two seasons in the majors.

Romero is 1-1 with a 1.93 ERA in two career matchups with the Angels. The loss, his lone defeat this season, came against Santana on April 18 in Toronto. Romero allowed one run and five hits over eight innings but was outdueled by Santana, who came within a strike of a shutout before giving up a homer to Adam Lind. The Angels right-hander scattered four hits, struck out six and walked none in the 3-1 victory. Like Romero, Santana has been impressive in his recent outings with a 1.38 ERA in his back-to-back wins. He gave up one unearned run and scattered seven hits Thursday against the Chicago White Sox. Santana is 3-3 with a 4.95 ERA in seven career starts versus the Blue Jays but has won the past two while posting a 2.40 ERA. To continue both of his win streaks, Santana will need a better offensive effort from the Angels than they delivered in Monday night’s series opener. Los Angeles managed three hits while getting shut out for the first time this season. Toronto broke open the 6-0 win with a four-run seventh inning. Lind, who had two hits and two RBIs, drove in the first run in that frame with a one-out double.

St. Louis Cardinals vs San Diego Padres Live Streaming

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10:05 pm EDT Tue May 25, 2010

While most expected the St. Louis Cardinals to be in the thick of another NL Central title race, the San Diego Padres’ position atop the NL West is far more surprising. The key for both teams’ success has been their solid pitching, and each will send their top pitcher to the hill Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game series at Petco Park. Adam Wainwright looks to lead the Cardinals to their sixth win in eight games when he squares off against Jon Garland, who is trying to win six straight decisions for the first time in four years. St. Louis, coming off Sunday’s 6-5, 10-inning win over the Los Angeles Angels to wrap up a 5-2 homestand, has won four of the last six Central crowns. With Albert Pujols mired in a slump, the Cardinals have relied on their strong pitching, which ranks second in the league with a 3.07 ERA. Wainwright has been instrumental to that success with the league’s ninth-best ERA.

The right-hander allowed two runs and six hits with eight strikeouts in seven innings of Thursday’s 4-2 win over Florida, the third time in four starts he yielded two runs or fewer. In his only start against San Diego, Wainwright allowed eight hits in seven shutout innings of a 9-2 victory in St. Louis on Aug. 14. The Cardinals took six of seven from the Padres last season, as San Diego finished in fourth place in the West. The Padres, though, are no longer looking like pushovers. Led by an NL-best 2.98 ERA, San Diego has a one-game lead over Los Angeles in the division. After emerging star Mat Latos led the Padres to an 8-1 win over Seattle on Sunday, Garland looks to give them another solid performance. Garland, seventh in the NL in ERA, struggled in a 10-5 win over the Dodgers on Wednesday. He allowed four runs with season highs of nine hits and 117 pitches over five innings but still moved to 5-0 with a 1.89 ERA in his last six starts.

Detroit Tigers vs Seattle Mariners Live Streaming

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10:10 pm EDT Tue May 25, 2010

After failing to produce much offense during their last trip to Safeco Field, the Detroit Tigers return this week without one of their best hitters. The Tigers, however, may not need many runs with Justin Verlander on the mound. Verlander looks to win a career-high fifth straight start when the Tigers, who are missing Miguel Cabrera, open a two-game set against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night. Detroit begins the final series of a seven-game road trip after losing two of three to the Los Angeles Dodgers over the weekend. The Tigers, who began the trip by winning two over Oakland, avoided a sweep with a 6-2 win Sunday as Rick Porcello pitched six innings and Cabrera and Magglio Ordonez homered.Cabrera went 3 for 13 in the series and batted .179 over the last seven games, but he leads the team with 10 home runs and 40 RBIs. He will miss the next two games as his wife is scheduled to give birth to their second child.

Cabrera drove in five of Detroit’s nine runs when the club dropped two of three at Seattle from April 16-18. While the absence of Cabrera will put more pressure on the rest of the lineup, the Tigers may not have to score much if Verlander can continue his dominant pitching. The right-hander gave up one or no earned runs in four of his last five outings. He threw a four-hitter against the Athletics on Wednesday, striking out five in a 5-1 victory. Verlander has also been receiving plenty of offensive support, getting at least five runs in his last four starts. The Tigers’ ace has not been too successful against Seattle lately, however. He has lost his last three starts versus the Mariners, posting a 4.43 ERA to drop to 6-4 with a 3.41 ERA against them in his career. Verlander gave up three runs in seven innings of a 4-2 defeat April 17 in his most recent matchup with Seattle.

Washington Nationals vs San Francisco Giants Live Streaming

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10:15 pm EDT Tue May 25, 2010

The San Francisco Giants are in the midst of their worst offensive slump of the season and mired in their longest losing streak in more than a year. Trying to get things turned around against the surprisingly strong Livan Hernandez probably won’t be easy. The Giants look to avoid losing their sixth in a row when they open a three-game series against Hernandez and the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night at AT&T Park. After beating San Diego last Tuesday to pull within one-half game of the first-place Padres in the NL West, San Francisco has lost five straight to drop 3 1/2 back. A scuffling offense has been the biggest reason for this skid, the Giants’ longest since dropping six in a row April 10-16, 2009. They have scored one run or fewer four times during the losing streak and are coming off back-to-back three-hit shutouts. San Francisco, which lost 3-0 to Oakland on Sunday, was limited to one run while going 0 for 18 with runners in scoring position in the three-game series against the A’s.

Manager Bruce Bochy shook up his lineup Sunday, moving Andres Torres to the leadoff spot and Aaron Rowand to the sixth hole, but the results were the same. Although Torres was hitless in three at-bats Sunday, Bochy plans to stick with him at the top of the order against Hernandez. Hernandez is one of the biggest surprises in baseball. His ERA is the third-best in the majors and nearly three runs fewer than his career average. Pitching on three days’ rest Wednesday against the New York Mets, Hernandez didn’t receive a decision after giving up two runs and four hits in 6 1-3 innings of a 5-3 victory. While Hernandez is enjoying an All-Star caliber season, he hasn’t had much success against his former team recently. The right-hander, who pitched for San Francisco from 1999-2002, has posted an 8.31 ERA in his last three starts against the Giants. Washington is opening a 10-game road trip after Sunday’s 4-3, 10-inning win over Baltimore. Josh Willingham hit a one-out homer in the 10th to give the Nationals their second win in a row after a 1-7 stretch.

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