PREDICTION MLB SATURDAY 24-06-2017

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Jacob deGrom (6-3, 3.94 ERA) vs. Giants RH Johnny Cueto (5-7, 4.42)

DeGrom seeks his third consecutive victory after allowing a total of one earned run over 17 innings in home triumphs over the Chicago Cubs and Washington. The 29-year-old Floridian is hoping a recent trend does not continue, as he surrendered 15 runs over eight frames in his previous two turns - both losses - after recording a pair of wins in which he gave up one run over 15 1/3 innings. DeGrom did not figure in the decision against San Francisco on May 8, remaining at 3-1 with a 3.62 ERA in five career starts versus the Giants after yielding three runs in six frames.

Cueto's winless streak reached four starts on Monday, when he dropped to 0-3 during the drought despite giving up only two runs and five hits in seven innings at Atlanta. The 31-year-old Dominican has won just one of his last nine outings but has worked at least six frames seven times in that span and allowed three or fewer earned runs on six occasions. Cueto has made 12 career starts against the Mets, going 4-4 with a 3.75 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. Giants OF Hunter Pence is 5-for-14 with five RBIs against deGrom in his career.

2. New York activated INF Asdrubal Cabrera (thumb), who has requested a trade after being informed he was being moved from shortstop to second base, from the 10-day disabled list and optioned SS Gavin Cecchini to Triple-A Las Vegas.

3. San Francisco activated 3B Conor Gillaspie (back) from the disabled list and recalled LHP Steven Okert from Triple-A Sacramento while placing INF Eduardo Nunez (hamstring) on the DL and designating RHP Bryan Morris for assignment.

PREDICTION: Mets 3, Giants 6

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Tyler Chatwood (6-7, 4.08 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (10-2, 2.61)

Chatwood has been decidedly better away from Coors Field this season, going 4-3 with a 2.41 ERA in eight road starts while posting a 6.39 ERA in seven home outings. The 27-year-old settled for a no-decision Sunday despite holding San Francisco to two runs over six frames. Turner is 2-for-13 against Chatwood, who allowed five runs in 4 1/3 innings against Los Angeles on May 12 and has gone 4-7 with a 3.95 ERA in 12 career turns versus the Dodgers.

Kershaw recorded the win Monday against the New York Mets despite surrendering six runs - and a career-high four homers - over 6 1/3 innings. The three-time Cy Young Award winner has allowed a career-high 17 homers but has registered a stellar 115 strikeouts against 17 walks over 103 1/3 frames. Kershaw has gone 20-6 with a 3.13 ERA in 35 career starts against Colorado while limiting Desmond to four hits in 32 at-bats.

WALK-OFFS

1. Los Angeles LHP Julio Urias will undergo surgery to repair the left anterior capsule in his pitching shoulder and will miss the next 12-14 months. 

2. Arenado’s 15 career homers against the Dodgers are tied for sixth-most among active players.

3. The Dodgers placed Chris Hatcher (shoulder) on the 10-day disabled list and recalled fellow RHP Ross Stripling from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 6, Rockies 2

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Gerrit Cole (5-6, 4.28 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Lance Lynn (5-4, 3.33)

Cole was masterful in Monday's win at Milwaukee, giving up one run and three hits across seven innings after posting a similar line six days earlier against Colorado. The 26-year-old UCLA product seems to have recovered from a four-start stretch during which he surrendered 23 runs and 39 hits in 19 1/3 frames and found the form that allowed him to post a 2.84 ERA after his first nine turns. Cole lost at St. Louis on April 19 despite permitting two runs in six innings, falling to 5-4 with a 2.84 ERA in 11 career starts against the Cardinals.

Lynn's strong start this month came to a crashing halt Sunday in Baltimore as he surrendered a career-high four homers among the seven runs and nine hits he allowed over 4 2/3 innings. The one-time All-Star, who hasn't lasted more than 5 1/3 frames in any of his last five outings, had opened June by allowing a total of three runs and eight hits while striking out 18 across 15 1/3 innings. Lynn worked seven scoreless frames on April 17 to earn his first victory of the season against the Pirates.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pirates 1B Josh Bell's 14 home runs are the second-most by a Pittsburgh rookie before the All-Star break since Hall-of-Famer Ralph Kiner hit 15 in 1946.

2. Cardinals closer Seung-Hwan Oh has surrendered as many homers (five) in 33 1/3 innings this year as he did in 79 2/3 frames last season.

3. Freese is hitting .333 in 18 overall games versus his former team and .357 in the 14 starts he has made against St. Louis.

PREDICTION: Pirates 4, Cardinals 2