PREDICTION MLB SUNDAY 25-06-2017

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Chris Tillman (1-5, 8.39 ERA) vs. Rays RH Jake Odorizzi (4-3, 3.78)

Tillman spun five scoreless innings in his 2017 debut but has struggled since while going 0-5 and has not lasted past six frames in any of his nine outings. The 29-year-old Californian, who won 56 games in the previous four seasons, has walked 22 and surrendered nine homers in 39 2/3 innings this year. Tillman has allowed 19 runs in his last three outings overall and is 8-10 with a 4.11 ERA in 25 career games against the Rays.

Odorizzi got through seven innings for the first time in eight starts Monday and limited Cincinnati to three runs on five hits over seven frames for his second straight no-decision. The 27-year-old has permitted at least one homer in 10 straight outings, including a pair on Monday versus the Reds. Jones is 13-for-34 with two homers against Odorizzi, who is 3-4 with a 5.15 ERA in 14 games (13 starts) versus Baltimore.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tampa Bay 1B Logan Morrison is 8-for-21 during a six-game hitting streak and is one shy of his career high of 23 homers with the Florida Marlins in 2011.

2. Baltimore 1B/OF Trey Mancini is 9-for-18 while hitting safely in five straight games, and boasts four RBIs in the series.

3. Rays C Wilson Ramos went 1-for-4 on Saturday in his debut with the team after coming back from knee surgery.

PREDICTION: Rays 6, Orioles 4

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Ervin Santana (9-4, 2.97 ERA) vs. Indians RH Josh Tomlin (4-8, 6.07)

Santana had plenty of Cy Young buzz through the first two months of the season with seven wins and a 1.75 ERA, but he has struggled in three of his four starts in June. The 34-year-old Dominican Republic native gained two wins in those outings, although he gave up 18 total runs in three of them to surround a shutout of San Francisco. Ramirez is 9-for-19 with seven RBIs versus Santana, who is 6-11 with a 4.00 ERA in 23 starts against Cleveland.

Tomlin owns just one victory in four starts this month - allowing 15 earned runs over 19 1/3 innings - but held Minnesota to one run on six hits in eight frames despite taking the loss on May 12. The 32-year-old Texas Tech product has walked just two batters in the last seven games and six on the season over 75 2/3 innings. Joe Mauer is 11-for-29 against Tomlin, who is 5-5 with a 5.13 ERA in 16 games (13 starts) against the Twins.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cleveland DH Edwin Encarnacion hasn't homered in four straight contests after belting seven in a 12-game span.

2. Minnesota 3B Miguel Sano (illness) missed his second straight game and OF Max Kepler (foot) also sat out Saturday, although both could return for the finale.

3. Mauer is 6-for-13 with three walks and three runs scored during a four-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Indians 5, Twins 3

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Parker Bridwell (1-0, 3.07 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Doug Fister (2016: 12-13, 4.64)

Matt Shoemaker (forearm) was scheduled to start Sunday but was sent back to California to be evaluated. Bridwell gave up one run on seven hits over 3 2/3 innings of relief against the Yankees on June 14, but he came back with five innings of two-run ball at Yankee Stadium six days later. He went six innings in his first major-league start on May 30, holding Atlanta to three runs in six innings.

Fister won 14 games with Detroit in 2013 and notched a career-high 16 wins to go with a 2.41 ERA for Washington in 2014. He lost his last five decisions with Houston last year but went 1-0 with a 2.50 ERA in three starts against the Angels and has a backer in Los Angeles reliever Huston Street, who rehabbed with him. “What I saw made me think he’s going to be a tough guy to beat on Sunday,” Street said.

WALK-OFFS

1. Angels 3B Yunel Escobar sat out Saturday's game due to a left thumb strain.

2. Red Sox 1B Mitch Moreland homered Saturday for only his second hit in 22 at-bats.

3. Shoemaker on Saturday was cleared to resume throwing, but it is uncertain when he will return to the rotation.

PREDICTION: Angels 3, Red Sox 5

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Nick Martinez (2-3, 4.33 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Michael Pineda (7-3, 3.56)

After failing to go beyond five innings over a span of four straight starts, Martinez has thrown six innings and 6 1/3 innings, respectively, in his last two outings while allowing three total runs. He limited Toronto to two hits in a win his last time out and opponents are batting .154 against the 26-year-old in June. Martinez is 1-1 with a 3.91 ERA in four career starts versus New York, allowing four runs in 17 1/3 innings spread over three outings at Yankee Stadium.

Pineda made back-to-back starts against the Los Angeles Angels his last two turns, giving up six earned runs and 17 hits in 11 2/3 frames. He is 6-1 with a 1.92 ERA in eight starts at Yankee Stadium, compared to 1-2 with a 6.25 mark away from home. The Dominican Republic native is 0-3 in his career against the Rangers but he held them to a run and two hits in six innings while striking out 12 in a no-decision at home last year.

WALK-OFFS

1. Yankees RF Aaron Judge homered Saturday and has reached base safely in 26 consecutive contests while batting .347 with 11 homers and 28 RBIs.

2. Rangers 3B Adrian Beltre had two hits Saturday and has moved past Sam Crawford into 32nd place on the all-time hits list (2,964), 23 behind Sam Rice.

3. New York has homered in 13 straight home games, its longest such run since a 21-gamer in 2012.

PREDICTION: Yankees 5, Rangers 4