MLB Baseball Gambling – Boston Red Sox vs Philadelphia Phillies

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The Boston Red Sox have certainly made themselves at home at Citizens Bank Park. Sure, they’ve split the first two contests – but they’ve also blasted seven homers in the process. After going deep four times in Saturday’s 7-5 triumph, Boston will vie for the series victory on Sunday when the teams wrap up their three-game set.

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Manager Bobby Valentine got creative with his lineup, shifting Adrian Gonzalez to right field to enable David Ortiz to man first base. The defensive assignments worked without a hitch, and Ortiz blasted a mammoth two-run shot to power Boston to its seventh victory in nine outings. The setback snapped Philadelphia Phillies‘s season-best six-game winning streak.

Red Sox Phillies Betting

When: 1:35 PM ET, Sunday, May 20, 2012
Where: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, TBS, NESN (Boston), WB17 (Philadelphia)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Josh Beckett (3-4, 4.97 ERA) vs. Phillies LH Cliff Lee (0-1, 1.95)

After being booed in his previous outing, Beckett righted the ship when he celebrated his 32nd birthday Tuesday. He scattered four hits and struck out a season-high nine over seven scoreless innings en route to a 5-0 triumph over Seattle. Beckett has won eight of 13 career decisions versus Philadelphia.

Lee was snake-bitten for the third straight start as he settled for yet another no-decision Tuesday. The southpaw allowed one run on five hits and struck out a season-high 10 over eight innings against Houston. The bullpen squandered the victory for Lee, but the Phillies posted a 4-3 triumph over the Astros. Lee is only 3-4 in his career versus Boston, but has registered a 1.21 WHIP and .232 batting average against.

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1. Jarrod Saltalamacchia wasn’t going to let a lacerated ear keep him down. After receiving 12 stitches, Saltalamacchia followed rookie Will Middlebrooks’ lead to complete a back-to-back homer set in the fourth inning.

2. Mike Aviles was thought to be a defensive improvement at shortstop, but has also provided some significant power this season. Aviles homered for his second straight game on Saturday, but has only three singles in 18 career at-bats versus Lee.

3. Freddy Galvis is starting to become popular in Philadelphia – and with good reason. The rookie second baseman has homered in both games of the series, going 3-for-8 with three RBIs.

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Live Betting MLB – Tampa Bay Rays visit Atlanta Braves

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As their walking wounded heal and the Tampa Bay Rays fight to stay near the top of the American League East, they’ll need more big hits such as the one Matt Joyce provided Saturday. The left fielder hit his third career grand slam, turning a 2-0 deficit into a 4-2 advantage as the Rays beat Atlanta. Tampa Bay has nine players on the disabled list, but is within two games of first-place Baltimore. Atlanta Braves lost for only the third time in its past 13 road games. In those games, the Braves have scored two runs or less only three times.

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Already owning series victories at Arizona, Los Angeles, Colorado and St. Louis, the Braves can add Tampa Bay to the list with a victory Sunday. Atlanta leads the National League East by 1½ games. Runs figure to be at a premium with a pair of aces – Atlanta’s Tim Hudson and Tampa Bay’s David Price – toeing the rubber. Price can become baseball’s first seven-game winner, while Hudson has won two of his four starts since coming off the disabled list.

Braves Rays Betting

When: 1:40 PM ET, Sunday, May 20, 2012
Where: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
TV: 1:40 p.m. ET, SportSouth (Atlanta), Sun Sports (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Atlanta RH Tim Hudson (2-1, 3.96 ERA) vs. Tampa Bay LH David Price (6-2, 3.10)

In his first four starts since off-season back surgery, Hudson has pitched six or more innings three times. He scattered nine hits against Cincinnati on Tuesday, giving up two earned runs in winning. Left-handed batters are hitting .302 against Hudson. Price rebounded from his second loss of the season with a strong showing Wednesday at Toronto, limiting the Blue Jays to six hits and three runs in seven innings. He has 22 strikeouts and only four walks in his past 22 innings.

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1. Hudson is 7-1 lifetime against Tampa Bay; Price is 1-0 in one career start against Atlanta.

2. Atlanta’s Martin Prado went hitless Saturday, snapping his hitting streak at 10 games.

3. Tampa Bay second baseman Will Rhymes, who fainted Wednesday after being hit with a pitch, returned to the lineup Saturday.

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Las Vegas MLB Betting – Texas Rangers at Houston Astros

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Houston Astros is hardly known for its power, but the Astros hit a season-high three home runs on Saturday to rally from four runs down and even the three-game interleague series with the visiting Rangers. Texas has lost four of its last six games, while Houston has won three of its last four after losing four straight. Astros center fielder Jordan Schafer will miss the series finale after leaving Saturday’s game with a right ankle sprain. While X-rays were negative, Schafer will be re-evaluated Monday.

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The Texas Rangers have cooled since their 15-4 start, but still lead the American League West by five games over Oakland. Josh Hamilton hasn’t hit a home run in a season-high seven games, which is only noteworthy because of his phenomenal start. Hamilton enters Sunday’s action batting .384 with 18 homers and 46 RBIs. Right fielder Nelson Cruz, who left Saturday’s game in the ninth inning as a precaution with a tight right quad, is hitting .375 (18-for-48) over his last 12 games and expects to be available for the series finale.

Rangers Astros Betting

When: 2:05 PM ET, Sunday, May 20, 2012
Where: Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas
TV: 2:05 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), FS Houston

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Colby Lewis (3-3, 3.63 ERA) vs. Astros RH Jordan Lyles (0-0, 3.00)

After an impressive April, Lewis has lost three straight outings while allowing a total of 19 runs (14 earned) covering 19 1/3 innings. Lewis is tied for American League lead with 12 home runs allowed, and is 5-5 with a 4.46 ERA over 18 appearances and 10 starts in interleague play.

Lyles tossed six innings in each of his two starts since taking over for Kyle Weiland (shoulder) in the Astros’ rotation. He’s expected to remain in the rotation at least until Weiland returns. Josh Hamilton is 3-for-6 with a homer against Lyles, who has nine strikeouts in his first 11 innings.

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1. The winner of the Lone Star Series earns the right to take home the Silver Boot, which has been won by Texas in each of the last five seasons.

2. Astros reliever Wilton Lopez allowed a seventh-inning run Saturday, ending his streak of scoreless outings at 10.

3. David Murphy’s inside-the-park homer Saturday was the first of his career and the 23rd in Rangers history.

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Arizona Diamondbacks host Kansas City Royals – MLB Odds

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The Arizona Diamondbacks pulled off a late comeback in the series opener but could not turn the trick two nights in a row as the host Kansas City Royals evened the series Saturday. Royals slugger Billy Butler has homered in each of the first two games and has hit in six straight games, giving the team just enough pop to overcome some of their recent pitching woes. The Diamondbacks have Chris Young back in the middle of the order and are hoping for their first series win this month.

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While Kansas City has endured a series of injuries to its starting rotation, Arizona is wondering what has gone wrong with ace Ian Kennedy, who suffered his fourth straight loss Saturday. The right-hander was 21-4 in 2011. Joe Saunders, Patrick Corbin and Trevor Cahill have each been inconsistent this month. The Royals will try to get to the Diamondbacks’ most reliable starter, Wade Miley, in Sunday’s finale.

Diamondbacks Royals Betting

When: 2:10 PM ET, Sunday, May 20, 2012
Where: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, FS Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Wade Miley (4-1, 2.52 ERA) vs. Royals RH Nate Adcock (0-1, 2.51)

Miley has allowed one or no runs in three of his five starts, including a 6 2/3-inning effort at Los Angeles on Tuesday in which he surrendered one run on eight hits while striking out five. The 25-year-old has a 25-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio in five starts and has allowed only two home runs in 39 1/3 total innings. Miley is 2-0 with a 2.05 ERA on the road this season.

Adcock was recalled Saturday to take the spot of Everett Teaford, who was placed on the disabled list with an abdominal strain. Adcock spent over two weeks with Kansas City in his last stint, allowing a total of four runs on 17 hits in 14 1/3 innings. The 24-year old was 3-1 with a 1.37 ERA in four starts for Triple-A Omaha.

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1. The Royals got good news Saturday on catcher Salvador Perez, who is about two weeks ahead of schedule in his rehab from knee surgery.

2. Young, who came off the disabled list and served as designated hitter Friday, returned to the field for the first time Saturday.

3. Butler has eight home runs through 39 games. His career high is 21 in 2009.

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MLB Baseball Lines – Minnesota Twins visit Milwaukee Brewers

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Zack Greinke will look to put an end to the Milwaukee Brewers‘ four-game slide Sunday when he takes the mound in the series finale versus the visiting Minnesota Twins. Greinke has been virtually flawless in his last two starts, scattering seven hits and striking out 18 in 15 scoreless innings. While Greinke has been stellar, Milwaukee has been far from it – having dropped four in a row and six of its last seven to fall a season-worst eight games under .500.

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Minnesota cruised to an 11-3 triumph in the series opener Friday before Trevor Plouffe belted a solo homer in the top of the 11th to lift the Twins to a 5-4 victory Saturday. Minnesota is riding a season-best four-game winning streak, but sits comfortably in the bottom of the American League standings.

Twins Brewers Betting

When: 2:10 PM ET, Sunday, May 20, 2012
Where: Miller Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Jason Marquis (2-3, 6.68 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Zack Greinke (4-1, 2.88)

Marquis has dropped his last three straight starts – with his last outing particularly troublesome. The 33-year-old permitted three homers in the 5-0 loss to Cleveland on Tuesday. Marquis has struggled in his career versus the Brewers, posting a 6-10 mark with a 4.95 ERA and 1.52 WHIP.

Greinke can relate to Marquis’ troubles as he has limped to a 3-8 career mark versus the Twins. As for the present, the 28-year-old has been solid. Greinke handcuffed the New York Mets on Tuesday as he scattered five hits and struck out seven in as many scoreless innings.

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1. Milwaukee is expected to activate outfielder Carlos Gomez from the 15-day disabled list prior to Sunday’s contest. The team already optioned infielder Brooks Conrad to Triple-A Nashville to make room for Gomez, who has been sidelined with a strained left hamstring.

2. Reigning National League MVP Ryan Braun has had Marquis’ number, going 10-for-20 with four doubles in his career. Corey Hart and Nyjer Morgan have done too shabby against Marquis, going 9-for-17 and 6-for-15, respectively.

3. Joe Mauer was expected to receive a day off Saturday, but was called upon to come to the plate as a pinch hitter. Mauer will likely return to his traditional starting role against Greinke, against whom he is 11-for-40 with only one extra-base hit in his career.

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May 20 MLB Betting – Chicago White Sox vs Chicago Cubs

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The Chicago White Sox, who have won six of the last seven meetings with their crosstown rivals, will be looking to cap off their first series sweep in Wrigley Field since 1999. John Danks pitched 6 1/3 innings of scoreless ball in a 7-4 victory Saturday, one day after a Gordon Beckham homer gave the White Sox a 3-2 win in the series opener. The Chicago Cubs, bringing up the rear in the National League Central, have lost five in a row, but still own a narrow 39-37 advantage in regular-season play against the White Sox.

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The White Sox, who are 13-9 on the road, have been outstanding against the National League lately, winning 44 of their last 60 interleague contests overall and 22 of 28 away games. The Cubs have struggled no matter where they play, falling to 9-14 at Wrigley. They have wasted an improved pitching performance this season, scoring fewer runs than all but five major league teams.

White Sox Cubs Betting

When: 2:20 PM ET, Sunday, May 20, 2012
Where: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, WGN (White Sox), CS Chicago (Cubs)

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Jake Peavy (4-1, 2.65 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Paul Maholm (4-2, 4.35)

The American League Pitcher of the Month in April, Peavy saw his run of seven straight quality starts snapped in a May 15 loss at Detroit (5 1/3 innings, nine hits, six runs, two homers), but he still has 48 strikeouts against nine walks this year. The former NL Cy Young winner is 2-0 with a 2.12 ERA on the road. Peavy has pitched well against the Cubs, going 6-2 with a 2.62 ERA in 11 lifetime starts.

Maholm shook off two rough starts in early April, giving up three runs in 25 1/3 innings during a four-game winning streak before finally cracking in a May 15 loss at St. Louis (six innings, seven hits, four runs). The left-hander has split two previous career starts against the White Sox, posting a 3.46 ERA. He is 3-1 with a 3.13 ERA at Wrigley Field this season.

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1. Maholm has owned the White Sox (5-for-45), especially Adam Dunn (3-for-28, 12 strikeouts).

2. Cubs left-hander Alfonso Soriano is 8-for-23 (.348) with three doubles, three home runs and seven runs batted in against Peavy. RF David DeJesus, conversely, is hitless in 11 at-bats.

3. Paul Konerko, who was out of the White Sox lineup Saturday after being hit in the head with a pitch Friday, hopes to play Sunday but is likely to be held out until his team plays Minnesota on Tuesday.

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MLB Baseball Betting – Seattle Mariners vs Colorado Rockies

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The Seattle Mariners have been miserable on the road lately, but a stop at Coors Field on the way home has brightened their mood considerably. The Mariners will try for a three-game sweep as they finished their 10-game trek Sunday against the Colorado Rockies. Seattle, 3-6 on the trip, has lost 12 of its last 15 away from home.

Seattle third baseman Kyle Seager has led the resurgence. He is 5-for-7 with five RBIs in the last two games, including a two-run homer in Saturday’s 10-3 victory. The Mariners scored 19 runs in the first seven games of the trip but have erupted for 14 in their last two.

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Seattle starter Blake Beavan is 0-3 in four starts on the road this season and 1-5 in 10 outings lifetime outside Seattle. He has never faced the Rockies. Colorado starter Jeremy Guthrie is 0-1 with a 10.45 ERA in two starts at home. The Rockies have lost 12 of their last 15 contests and were 7-for-59 (.119) in the first two games of the series.

Mariners Rockies Betting

When: 3:10 PM ET, Sunday, May 20, 2012
Where: Coors Field, Denver, Colorado
TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Blake Beavan (1-4, 4.58 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Jeremy Guthrie (2-1, 4.85)

Beavan’s two shortest outings of his 22-start career have come in his last two turns. He threw 93 pitches in four innings and allowed three runs in a 5-0 loss at Boston on Tuesday. In his previous outing, he took a line drive off his elbow and left after three innings on May 7 against Detroit. Beavan has faced only Marco Scutaro (2-for-3, double) and Michael Cuddyer (1-for-3).

Guthrie missed three starts after falling off his bicycle and injuring his shoulder. He returned from the disabled list Tuesday and allowed four hits, walked four and allowed an unearned run in 5 1/3 innings at San Francisco. Guthrie is 2-5 with a 3.72 ERA in nine career starts against Seattle and current Mariners are batting .272 against him. Chone Figgins is 7-for-20 and Ichiro Suzuki 8-for-29.

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1. Colorado veterans Cuddyer and Todd Helton are 20-for-104 (.192) in May. Helton’s last RBI came May 8.

2. Suzuki is 8-for-23 with six runs scored in five games at Coors Field.

3. Colorado’s Wilin Rosario leads National League rookies with six homers.

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MLB Pick and Tips – San Diego Padres against Los Angels Angels

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The Los Angels Angels have spoiled Ervin Santana with 10 runs in his last two starts. It was the least they could do after they were shut out in his five previous outings. Santana hopes the support continues when the Angels meet the Padres in San Diego on Sunday in the rubber match of their three-game series. Los Angeles finally scored some runs for Dan Haren on Saturday after being whitewashed in his last three starts, but fell short as the San Diego Padres prevailed 3-2.

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Santana has won his last two outings and recorded four straight quality starts with 2.10 ERA during that span.

Sunday’s game could begin with a Bass encountering a Trout. The Padres will send Anthony Bass, who is coming off his best performance of the season, to the mound. The Angels are 10-8 when outfielder Mike Trout bats leadoff and 8-15 when someone else occupies the top spot in the order.

Angels Padres Betting

When: 4:05 PM ET, Sunday, May 20, 2012
Where: Petco Park, San Diego, California
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), FS San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Ervin Santana (2-6, 4.36 ERA) vs. Padres RH Anthony Bass (2-4, 2.87)

Santana retired 16 in a row at one point Tuesday when he threw 7 2/3 shutout innings and struck out nine in the Angels’ 4-0 victory over Oakland. Santana has faced four Padres, but luckily for him, all four are on the disabled list because three of them – Jeremy Hermida, Mark Kotsay and Carlos Quentin – are a combined 17-for-41.

Bass matched a career high with eight innings in a 6-1 victory at Washington on Tuesday. He allowed one run, five hits and struck out seven in outdueling Stephen Strasburg. Bass had two losses and a no-decision in his previous three outings. He has allowed three or less earned runs in six of his seven starts.

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1. The Angels’ Albert Pujols extended his hitting streak to eight games Saturday with his third straight 1-for-4 game to raise his average to .216.

2. Los Angeles’ Mark Trumbo had a career-high nine-game hitting streak snapped when he went 0-for-4 on Saturday. He was 17-for-32 during the streak.

3. The Padres, who have played 27 of their first 41 games at home, begin a 10-game road trip Monday in St. Louis which continues in New York and concludes in Chicago.

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Oakland Athletics Travel to AT&T Park to Face the San Francisco Giants

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The Bay Bridge Series has been a one-sided affair lately as the Oakland Athletics travel to AT&T Park to face the San Francisco Giants. The home tenants have won 11 straight against the Athletics – including the first two contests of this three-game set. Tim Lincecum and the Giants will look to complete the sweep when the teams meet Sunday.

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Ryan Vogelsong allowed one hit over seven innings and Angel Pagan ripped a two-run single to highlight a four-run seventh in San Francisco’s 4-0 triumph Saturday. Pagan extended his hitting streak to 10 games as the Giants have won three in a row and six of their last eight. The Athletics have dropped four of their last five games.

Athletics Giants Betting

When: 4:05 PM ET, Sunday, May 20, 2012
Where: AT&T Park, San Francisco, California
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, CS California (Oakland), CS Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Bartolo Colon (3-4, 4.13 ERA) vs. Giants RH Tim Lincecum (2-3, 5.77)

Colon suffered his third straight loss after yielding four runs on a season-high 12 hits in 6 2/3 innings against the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday. Colon, who will turn 39 on Thursday, has split a pair of career decisions versus the Giants – although those outings were nearly a full decade ago. Although he has a 5.65 ERA, his WHIP (1.19) and batting average against (.214) are more than respectable.

Lincecum has dominated his starts versus the Athletics, posting a 5-1 career mark with a slim 1.38 ERA and 1.05 WHIP. The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner has yielded four earned runs in each of his last two starts overall – but has recorded 15 strikeouts in the process. Lincecum settled for a no-decision versus Colorado on Tuesday.

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1. Seth Smith had the lone hit for the Athletics on Saturday. Smith has fared well versus Lincecum, going 8-for-28 with three homers.

2. San Francisco catcher Buster Posey has eight hits and four RBIs in his last five games. He has yet to face Colon while Pagan is 0-for-2 versus the veteran hurler.

3. Oakland’s Manny Ramirez went 0-for-4 and struck out three times in the first of 10 games with Triple A Sacramento on Saturday. He is slated to make his Athletics debut May 30, which is his 40th birthday.

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MLB Baseball Prediction – St. Louis Cardinals host Los Angeles Dodgers

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The St. Louis Cardinals and host Los Angeles Dodgers conclude a three-game series with their two starting pitchers looking to reverse recent fortunes. The Cardinals’ Kyle Lohse has allowed three or more runs in three of his last four starts, while Chad Billingsley has gone six straight starts since his last win. The two National League division leaders will meet again in St. Louis in late July before playing a four-game set at Dodger Stadium on Sept. 13-16.

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Both teams are missing several key players for the series finale, including the Dodgers’ Matt Kemp, who hopes to return when he’s first eligible on May 29. The MVP candidate landed on the disabled list last Tuesday with a strained left hamstring. The Cardinals are without Jon Jay (shoulder), Allen Craig (hamstring) and reliever Kyle McClellan (elbow), but right fielder Carlos Beltran appears to have avoided the disabled list after missing parts of four games last week with a sore right knee.

Cardinals Dodgers Betting

When: 8:00 PM ET, Sunday, May 20, 2012
Where: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ESPN, ESPN3.com

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Kyle Lohse (5-1, 2.70 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Chad Billingsley (2-3, 3.83)

Lohse began the season with an impressive April for the second straight season, but has struggled in his last four outings. After being pulled from his previous start because of a strained left hamstring, Lohse gave up five runs over 6 2/3 innings Tuesday. He was 1-1 with an 8.71 ERA in two starts against the Dodgers last season.

Billingsley allowed four runs over four innings Tuesday against the Diamondbacks, lasting only four innings for the second straight start. After walking one batter in his first three starts combined, he’s walked 15 in his last five outings. Billingsley is 1-4 with a 4.65 ERA in seven career starts against St. Louis.

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1. Utilityman Jerry Hairston (hamstring) is expected to rejoin the Dodgers in the middle of next week after a brief rehab assignment.

2. Cardinals prospect Matt Adams went 4-for-5 with two homers and five RBIs for Triple-A Memphis on Friday. The first baseman is batting .340 with 10 home runs and 27 RBIs and will likely join St. Louis on Sunday after Lance Berkman went down with a knee injury Saturday.

3. Los Angeles’ Andre Ethier had an RBI in the Dodgers’ 6-0 victory over the Cardinals on Saturday and leads the National League with 36.

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