LA DODGERS vs ARIZONA
GAME: Los Angeles Angels (29-30) at Chicago Cubs (31-26)
DATE/TIME: Monday, June 03 – 4:05 PM EST
WHERE: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), WGN (Chicago)
LINE: 130
PREDICTION: Cubs 6, Angels 2

Oddsmakers currently have the ARIZONA listed as 130 point favorites versus the LA DODGERS, while the game’s total is sitting at 8.5.

The Chicago Cubs hope to halt their freefall when they host the surging Los Angeles Angels on Monday afternoon for an interleague contest, which is a makeup for the game on April 14 that was postponed due to snow. The Cubs, who have lost six of their last seven, were swept in three games over the weekend at St. Louis after a 2-1 setback Sunday to fall out of first place in the National League Central.

Chicago managed just three hits – failing to score until the ninth inning – on Sunday and totaled just six runs in the series at St. Louis to drop 1 1/2 games behind first-place Milwaukee in the division, but plays the next seven games at home where it is 18-10. Veteran lefty Jon Lester looks to rebound from a rough stretch at the end of May when he takes the mound for the Cubs on Monday and the Angels counter with right-hander Trevor Cahill, who is also hoping to turn things around after an uneven month. Los Angeles can climb back to the .500 mark with a victory after winning seven of its last nine contests, including Sunday’s 13-3 triumph at Seattle, and will play nine in a row at home following the one-game set in the Windy City. David Fletcher had two doubles and a single Sunday to extend his hitting streak to 12 games (21-for-49) while slugger Albert Pujols homered for the second straight day and is one blast from recording 200 in each league.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Trevor Cahill (2-5, 6.92 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Jon Lester (3-4, 3.59)

Cahill hopes to change his fortunes in June after a rough month of May in which he went 1-3 with an 8.22 ERA in five starts across 23 innings. The 31-year-old California native, who has served up 16 homers in 11 starts, allowed six runs on six hits across 4 1/3 innings in a loss at Oakland on Monday. Jason Heyward is 5-for-10 with a homer versus Cahill, who is 3-1 with a 4.00 ERA in five career appearances (four starts) against the Cubs.

Lester was rolling along with a 1.16 ERA before struggling mightily in his last three starts while allowing 19 runs (16 earned) across 14 innings combined. The 35-year-old Washington native served up four homers in those three starts after surrendering three in his first 10 outings. Pujols is 5-for-15 with two doubles against Lester, who is 5-4 with a 3.69 ERA in 12 career starts versus the Angels and 26-15 in interleague play.

WALK-OFFS

1. Los Angeles CF Mike Trout is 8-for-14 with a pair of homers and seven RBIs in his last four contests.

2. Chicago 1B Anthony Rizzo saw his 13-game hitting streak end on Sunday, but is 22-for-53 with 14 RBIs in the past 14 contests.

3. Angels LF Cesar Puello is 9-for-19 with two homers and six RBIs in four games since being recalled.

PREDICTION: Cubs 6, Angels 2

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PHILADELPHIA vs SAN DIEGO
GAME: Philadelphia Phillies (33-26) at San Diego Padres (30-29)
DATE/TIME: Monday, June 03 – 10:10 PM EST
WHERE: Petco Park, San Diego, California

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia, FS San Diego
LINE: 130
PREDICTION: Phillies 4, Padres 2

Oddsmakers currently have the SAN DIEGO listed as 130 point favorites versus the PHILADELPHIA, while the game’s total is sitting at 7.5.

The Philadelphia Phillies are letting their lead in the National League East slip away and look to move back in a positive direction when they visit the struggling San Diego Padres on Monday for the opener of a three-game set. The Phillies were swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers over the weekend, capped by an 8-0 setback, and acquired veteran outfielder Jay Bruce to add some punch to their bench Sunday.

“I get to go somewhere I have a chance to win, and at this point in my career, that’s pretty paramount for me,” Bruce, who was batting .212 with 14 homers with Seattle, told mlb.com. “. … I look forward to going over there and helping the Phillies hopefully win a championship. That’s my goal. I just want to win.” Philadelphia (33-26) leads Atlanta by one game in the NL East and hopes to halt a four-game losing streak when it sends right-hander Aaron Nola to the mound seeking to win his eighth consecutive decision dating to the last start of 2018 while San Diego counters with lefty Eric Lauer. The Padres (30-29) have given up 46 runs while going 2-5 in their last seven contests after falling 9-3 for the second straight outing Sunday against the Miami Marlins – a game delayed 28 minutes by a swarm of bees. Hunter Renfroe provided all of the offense with two homers in the latest loss for San Diego and is 4-for-9 with three blasts and four RBIs in the past three games while teammate Manny Machado is mired in a 0-for-12 slump with six strikeouts.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Aaron Nola (6-0, 4.18 ERA) vs. Padres LH Eric Lauer (4-4, 4.45)

Nola was 4-0 with a 2.73 ERA in May and the Phillies earned the victory in all six of his starts after they were losers in four of the 25-year-old’s five outings during April. The LSU product limited St. Louis to one run on four hits over seven innings with eight strikeouts Wednesday to win his third straight start and seventh in a row, dating back to 2018. Renfroe is 3-for-5 with two doubles versus Nola, who blanked the Padres over six innings in a win last year.

Lauer has won his last two starts in impressive fashion while permitting two runs on eight hits over 12 1/3 innings combined with 11 strikeouts and zero walks. The 23-year-old Kent State product, who had gone six starts without a win before the last two, has been much better at home (2-2, 2.67 ERA) than on the road (2-2, 6.84). The 2016 first-round pick has walked only 14 batters across 58 2/3 innings as he prepares to face the Phillies for the first time.

WALK-OFFS

1. San Diego 1B Eric Hosmer was 0-for-3 with a walk Sunday, ending a 10-game hitting streak (15-for-40).

2. Philadelphia RF Bryce Harper was hitless in four at-bats Sunday, but is 10-for-24 with two homers and nine RBIs in his last six games.

3. Padres C Austin Hedges is 0-for-10 with eight strikeouts over his last four contests, dropping his average to .187.

PREDICTION: Phillies 4, Padres 2

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HOUSTON vs SEATTLE
GAME: Houston Astros (40-20) at Seattle Mariners (25-37)
DATE/TIME: Monday, June 03 – 10:10 PM EST
WHERE: T-Mobile Park, Seattle, Washington

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, ESPN, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)
LINE: 120
PREDICTION: Astros 6, Mariners 2

Oddsmakers currently have the SEATTLE listed as 120 point favorites versus the HOUSTON, while the game’s total is sitting at 9.5.

The Houston Astros have maintained a stranglehold on the American League West due in large part to their record against their division rivals. Winners of 18 of 23 contests within the AL West, the first-place Astros aim to continue their dominance on Monday when they open of a four-game series against the host Seattle Mariners.

Houston’s Yuli Gurriel capped his second three-hit performance in six outings with an RBI single in the 12th inning of Sunday’s 6-4 win over Oakland. The Astros have won five of six overall along with nine in a row versus division representatives, and that streak doesn’t include a three-game sweep of the Mariners in the Pacific Northwest from April 12-14. While Houston has flourished against the AL West, the opposite is true for Seattle as it fell to 2-11 in its last 13 games versus the division following Sunday’s 13-3 shellacking by the Los Angeles Angels. Kyle Seager belted a solo homer and a double as part of a five-hit effort for the Mariners, who have lost 14 of 17 overall to plummet a season-worst 12 games under .500.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Corbin Martin (1-1, 5.51 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Wade LeBlanc (2-2, 6.99)

Martin answered a sterling nine-strikeout performance in his major-league debut by posting an 0-1 mark with a 6.55 ERA in his last three starts. The 23-year-old has surrendered a homer in each of his four trips to the mound, with three leaving the park in 3 2/3 innings of a no-decision versus the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday. Martin’s command has dissipated since this debut on May 12, as he has allowed eight walks in his last three outings (11 innings).

LeBlanc has struggled in his three starts since returning from a strained right oblique, posting an 0-2 mark with a bloated 10.22 ERA. The 34-year-old, however, showed promise in Wednesday’s no-decision against Texas, as he did not walk a batter in five innings and kept the ball in the park after permitting six homers in his previous two games. LeBlanc received a no-decision in his last outing versus Houston on April 12, yielding two runs on a season-high eight hits before exiting after 4 2/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Seattle LF Domingo Santana collected three hits and four RBIs in the previous series against Houston.

2. Astros OF-DH Michael Brantley’s RBI single in the 12th inning on Sunday extended his hitting streak to six games (9-for-22).

3. The Mariners sent three-time All-Star OF Jay Bruce and cash considerations to Philadelphia for Class-A INF Jake Scheiner on Sunday.

PREDICTION: Astros 6, Mariners 2

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LA ANGELS vs CHICAGO CUBS
GAME: Los Angeles Angels (29-30) at Chicago Cubs (31-26)
DATE/TIME: Monday, June 03 – 4:05 PM EST
WHERE: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), WGN (Chicago)
LINE: -160
PREDICTION: Cubs 6, Angels 2

Oddsmakers currently have the CHICAGO CUBS listed as -160 point favorites versus the LA ANGELS, while the game’s total is sitting at 8.5.

The Chicago Cubs hope to halt their freefall when they host the surging Los Angeles Angels on Monday afternoon for an interleague contest, which is a makeup for the game on April 14 that was postponed due to snow. The Cubs, who have lost six of their last seven, were swept in three games over the weekend at St. Louis after a 2-1 setback Sunday to fall out of first place in the National League Central.

Chicago managed just three hits – failing to score until the ninth inning – on Sunday and totaled just six runs in the series at St. Louis to drop 1 1/2 games behind first-place Milwaukee in the division, but plays the next seven games at home where it is 18-10. Veteran lefty Jon Lester looks to rebound from a rough stretch at the end of May when he takes the mound for the Cubs on Monday and the Angels counter with right-hander Trevor Cahill, who is also hoping to turn things around after an uneven month. Los Angeles can climb back to the .500 mark with a victory after winning seven of its last nine contests, including Sunday’s 13-3 triumph at Seattle, and will play nine in a row at home following the one-game set in the Windy City. David Fletcher had two doubles and a single Sunday to extend his hitting streak to 12 games (21-for-49) while slugger Albert Pujols homered for the second straight day and is one blast from recording 200 in each league.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Trevor Cahill (2-5, 6.92 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Jon Lester (3-4, 3.59)

Cahill hopes to change his fortunes in June after a rough month of May in which he went 1-3 with an 8.22 ERA in five starts across 23 innings. The 31-year-old California native, who has served up 16 homers in 11 starts, allowed six runs on six hits across 4 1/3 innings in a loss at Oakland on Monday. Jason Heyward is 5-for-10 with a homer versus Cahill, who is 3-1 with a 4.00 ERA in five career appearances (four starts) against the Cubs.

Lester was rolling along with a 1.16 ERA before struggling mightily in his last three starts while allowing 19 runs (16 earned) across 14 innings combined. The 35-year-old Washington native served up four homers in those three starts after surrendering three in his first 10 outings. Pujols is 5-for-15 with two doubles against Lester, who is 5-4 with a 3.69 ERA in 12 career starts versus the Angels and 26-15 in interleague play.

WALK-OFFS

1. Los Angeles CF Mike Trout is 8-for-14 with a pair of homers and seven RBIs in his last four contests.

2. Chicago 1B Anthony Rizzo saw his 13-game hitting streak end on Sunday, but is 22-for-53 with 14 RBIs in the past 14 contests.

3. Angels LF Cesar Puello is 9-for-19 with two homers and six RBIs in four games since being recalled.

PREDICTION: Cubs 6, Angels 2

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NY METS vs LA DODGERS
GAME: New York Mets (26-27) at Los Angeles Dodgers (36-18)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 28 – 10:10 PM EST
WHERE: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SNY (New York), SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)
LINE: -195
PREDICTION: Dodgers 7, Mets 4

Oddsmakers currently have the LA DODGERS listed as -195 point favorites versus the NY METS, while the game’s total is sitting at 8.

Cody Bellinger used both his bat and arm to help the Los Angeles Dodgers win the series opener and looks to inflict more damage on Tuesday in the second contest of their four-game set against the visiting New York Mets. Bellinger belted his 19th home run and threw out two baserunners – one at the plate and another at third base – as the Dodgers recorded a 9-5 triumph on Monday.

Bellinger has been a force all season, and his heroics on Monday helped Los Angeles win for the 10th time in 12 games. The Dodgers have scored 37 runs during their four-game winning streak and at least six in nine of their last 10 victories. New York was coming off a 6-1 homestand and recorded 15 hits in the series opener but stranded 10 baserunners. Adeiny Hechavarria went 3-for-5 with a homer and Amed Rosario also registered three hits as the Mets scored at least five runs for the seventh time in eight contests.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Steven Matz (3-3, 3.63 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Rich Hill (1-1, 2.67)

Matz settled for a no-decision against Washington in his last start after giving up just one run and 10 hits over six innings. He served up three home runs while working a total of 9 1/3 total frames in his previous two turns – both losses. Matz, who turns 28 on Wednesday, is 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA in four career starts against the Dodgers and has allowed two homers by Justin Turner (3-for-12).

Hill has put together two strong efforts, going 1-0 with 17 strikeouts while allowing one run and seven hits over 12 innings. The 39-year-old has given up five hits or fewer in four of his five turns and owns a solid 1.07 WHIP. Hill is 2-2 with a 7.45 ERA in eight career appearances (six starts) against the Mets.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Dodgers activated RHP Joe Kelly from the bereavement list, placed Austin Barnes (groin) on the 10-day injured list and recalled fellow C Will Smith from Oklahoma City while optioning LHP Caleb Ferguson to the Triple-A club.

2. New York CF Juan Lagares was hitless in three at-bats on Monday and is just 1-for-24 over his last nine contests.

3. Los Angeles OF-INF Chris Taylor went 3-for-5 with a homer in the series opener and has gone 7-for-13 with four runs scored over his last four games.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 7, Mets 4

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DETROIT vs BALTIMORE
GAME: Detroit Tigers (19-32) at Baltimore Orioles (17-37)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 28 – 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, Maryland

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, MASN 2 (Baltimore)
LINE: -110
PREDICTION: Tigers 4, Orioles 3

Oddsmakers currently have the BALTIMORE listed as -110 point favorites versus the DETROIT, while the game’s total is sitting at 9.

Not even a visit from the major league-worst Baltimore Orioles could snap the Detroit Tigers out of their funk. The Tigers, who dropped 12 of their last 13 games, will try to avoid another setback when they visit the Orioles in the second of a three-game series on Tuesday.

Detroit has managed three or fewer runs in nine of its last 12 setbacks and was held to three runs on eight hits in a 5-3 loss in Monday’s series opener, with a pair of errors leading to two unearned runs against left-hander Daniel Norris. The Tigers, who planned on a rebuilding year, fell to 19-32 with Monday’s loss despite a soft part of the schedule that included three games at home against the National League-worst Miami Marlins – all losses – and a trip to the struggling New York Mets before the visit to Baltimore. The Orioles are winners of two of their last three games after dropping 14 of their previous 16 contests. Baltimore will send right-hander Dylan Bundy to the mound on Tuesday, while Detroit left-hander Matthew Boyd tries to turn his team’s fortunes.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers LH Matthew Boyd (4-4, 3.11 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Dylan Bundy (2-5, 4.67)

Boyd has allowed three or fewer earned runs in 10 of his 11 starts and is coming off six scoreless innings against Miami on Thursday. The 28-year-old scattered five hits and issued one walk while striking out seven but was not a part of the decision in a game Detroit went onto lose 5-2. Boyd was held out of the decision in his lone start against Baltimore last season when he yielded one run and two hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Bundy has failed to complete six innings in any of his last three starts and was reached for three runs and five hits over 5 2/3 innings in a no-decision against the New York Yankees on Thursday. The Oklahoma native owns 52 strikeouts in 52 innings but has surrendered 12 home runs. Bundy is facing Detroit for the first time since 2017 and is 0-1 with a 7.36 ERA in two career games – one start – against the Tigers.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Orioles traded RHP Yefry Ramirez to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for a player to be named or cash on Monday.

2. Detroit RF Nicholas Castellanos is 10-for-23 with five extra-base hits in the last five games.

3. Baltimore DH Mark Trumbo (knee surgery) is expected to begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Bowie this week.

PREDICTION: Tigers 4, Orioles 3

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CLEVELAND vs BOSTON
GAME: Cleveland Indians (26-27) at Boston Red Sox (29-25)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 28 – 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), NESN (Boston)
LINE: -185
PREDICTION: Red Sox 6, Indians 3

Oddsmakers currently have the BOSTON listed as -185 point favorites versus the CLEVELAND, while the game’s total is sitting at 9.5.

Slugger J.D. Martinez looks to continue his success against Cleveland pitching when the Boston Red Sox host the stumbling Indians for the second of a three-game set Tuesday night. Martinez entered the series 1-for-14 in his previous five games overall but launched two solo homers in Monday’s 12-5 victory to push his career totals to 20 blasts and 56 RBIs against the Indians – both the most against any team in the majors.

The reigning World Series champion Red Sox are 18-8 in their last 26 contests after a slow start to the season, and 22-year-old third baseman Rafael Devers is playing a big role with an eight-game hitting streak in which he is 15-for-36 with four homers to raise his batting average from .307 to .327. Left-hander David Price, who has been slowed by illness recently, is slated to take the mound for Boston (29-25) in Tuesday’s contest, while right-hander Zach Plesac makes his major-league debut for Cleveland. The Indians tumbled under the .500 mark (26-27) after losing for the seventh time in eight games Tuesday and dropped 2 1/2 games out in the American League wild-card race. One of the bright spots for Cleveland during a rough stretch has been the play of rookie outfielder Oscar Mercado, who had two hits Monday and is 10-for-31 with a homer, four RBIs and nine runs scored in his first 10 major-league contests.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Zach Plesac (NR) vs. Red Sox LH David Price (2-2, 3.24 ERA)

Plesac, the nephew of former major-league relief pitcher Dan Plesac, was drafted in the 12th round out of Ball State in 2016 and is 16-9 with a 2.99 ERA in 49 minor-league games (48 starts). The 24-year-old is a combined 4-1 with a 1.41 ERA in nine starts at Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus this year to earn his first chance with the Indians. Plesac struck out 22 and walked just one over 20 innings in his last three starts with Columbus.

Price threw just 15 pitches to three batters on Saturday against Houston before manager Alex Cora pulled the 33-year-old, who was still struggling with flu-like symptoms. The Vanderbilt product has limited opponents to three or fewer runs in each of his last five full starts, beating Toronto after permitting two unearned runs over five innings on May 20. Carlos Santana is 11-for-34 with four doubles versus Price, who is 11-2 with a 2.06 ERA in 15 career starts against Cleveland.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cleveland 2B Jason Kipnis had two hits Monday and has reached base safely in 21 of his last 22 contests.

2. Boston 2B Dustin Pedroia, the AL MVP in 2008, announced Monday he is taking an indefinite leave as he deals with a lingering knee injury.

3. The Indians have been outscored 50-24 over the last eight games and are 14th in the AL in runs scored (203).

PREDICTION: Red Sox 6, Indians 3

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TORONTO vs TAMPA BAY
GAME: Toronto Blue Jays (21-33) at Tampa Bay Rays (32-19)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 28 – 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Sportsnet (Toronto), TVA Sports (Toronto), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)
LINE:
PREDICTION: Rays 7, Blue Jays 4

Oddsmakers currently have the TAMPA BAY listed as point favorites versus the TORONTO, while the game’s total is sitting at .

The Tampa Bay Rays are stinging the ball during a stretch of five wins in six games, bringing the team a season-best 13 games over .500. The Rays will try to keep the hits coming and earn another series win when they host the Toronto Blue Jays in the second of a three-game series on Tuesday.

Tampa Bay (32-19) has scored at least six runs in each of the last five wins and leadoff man Austin Meadows sparked the offense the last two days while going 7-for-9 with two homers and six RBIs, lifting his batting average to .351 and slugging percentage to .679. “Meadows has been incredible,” Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters after Monday’s win. “Had three hits and finished it off with a home run. He’s seeing the ball really, really well.” The slumping Blue Jays are losers of 19 of their last 26 games and have watched the pitching staff allow at least six runs in each of the last six setbacks. Veteran left-hander Clayton Richard will try to turn things around for the Toronto staff when he goes up against an opener for the Tampa Bay on Tuesday.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH Clayton Richard (0-0, 2.25 ERA) vs. Rays RH Ryne Stanek (0-1, 3.18)

Richard made his season debut against Boston on Thursday and yielded one run on two hits in four innings without factoring in the decision. The 35-year-old was designated for assignment by the San Diego Padres during spring training and made a start for Triple-A Buffalo before being returning to the majors last week. Richard spent most of his career in the National League and owns a 0.79 ERA in three career games – one start – against Tampa Bay.

Rays right-hander Ryne Stanek, who owns a 1.64 ERA in 14 starts when used as an opener, is expected to get the ball first on Tuesday, but the bulk of the innings are likely to go to Yarbrough. The 27-year-old Yarbrough was recalled from the minors last week and started at Cleveland on Thursday, allowing two runs and four hits in 7 1/2 innings to earn a win. Yarbrough worked two perfect relief innings to get the win at Toronto on April 12, striking out one.

WALK-OFFS

1. Blue Jays RHP Aaron Sanchez (nail avulsion) was removed from his start on Monday after 64 pitches.

2. Rays OF Tommy Pham is enjoying a 13-game hitting streak.

3. The top four hitters in the Toronto lineup combined to go 0-for-14 with six strikeouts on Monday.

PREDICTION: Rays 7, Blue Jays 4

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KANSAS CITY vs CHI WHITE SOX
GAME: Kansas City Royals (18-34) at Chicago White Sox (23-29)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 28 – 8:10 PM EST
WHERE: Guaranteed Rate Field, Chicago, Illinois

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, NBCS Chicago
LINE: -150
PREDICTION: White Sox 4, Royals 1

Oddsmakers currently have the CHI WHITE SOX listed as -150 point favorites versus the KANSAS CITY, while the game’s total is sitting at 8.5.

As difficult as winning has been for the Kansas City Royals this season, attempting to finish a nine-inning game of late has been even harder. The Royals will continue their three-game set in Chicago against the White Sox on Tuesday after Monday’s opener was suspended in the fifth inning due to rain.

Kansas City did not play a game four times over a five-day stretch last week due to a combination of off-days and postponements because of severe weather issues in and around Missouri, resulting in a week in which it played two doubleheaders and went 10 innings on the only day it played a single contest. The poor weather followed the Royals to Chicago on Monday, as the game was suspended after nearly four hours of rain delays and will resume Tuesday at 5:40 p.m. ET tied 1-1. Kansas City has won two of its last three away from home but still owns the worst road mark in the majors (7-17) as well as the second-worst overall record in the American League (18-34). Chicago entered this series after going 2-5 on a road trip against AL division leaders in Houston and Minnesota – the latter of which outscored the White Sox 26-5 during a three-game sweep over the weekend.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Brad Keller (3-5, 4.43 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Lucas Giolito (6-1, 2.77)

Keller snapped a four-game losing streak and won for the first time since April 12 in Wednesday’s victory at St. Louis after yielding two runs despite walking four and hitting two batters across seven innings. The Georgia native has struggled with his control all season long, issuing at least three passes in 10 consecutive outings and a major-league high 41 overall. Tim Anderson is 1-for-14 with a homer versus Keller, who is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in two starts against the White Sox in 2019.

Giolito has won four straight starts and extended his winning streak to five games Thursday in Houston after striking out nine during a four-hit shutout – his first in 52 career turns. The 24-year-old is in the midst of the most dominant stretch of his career, permitting a total of two runs on 14 hits while fanning 29 over 28 1/3 innings in his last four outings. Giolito gave up two runs over 6 2/3 frames while winning his season debut versus Kansas City on March 31.

WALK-OFFS

1. Including his 2-for-2 effort during Monday’s suspended game, Royals 3B Hunter Dozier has eight hits in 11 at-bats over the last three contests.

2. Anderson, who did not play Monday due to a wrist injury, is hitting .344 with four doubles, two home runs, eight RBIs and 11 runs scored over 17 games against the AL Central this season.

3. Kansas City SS Adalberto Mondesi (18) and Anderson (13) rank first and second, respectively, in the majors in steals.

PREDICTION: White Sox 4, Royals 1

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LA ANGELS vs OAKLAND
GAME: Los Angeles Angels (24-29) at Oakland Athletics (29-25)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 28 – 10:07 PM EST
WHERE: Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, California

TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), NBCS California (Oakland)
LINE:
PREDICTION: Athletics 7, Angels 2

Oddsmakers currently have the OAKLAND listed as point favorites versus the LA ANGELS, while the game’s total is sitting at .

The Houston Astros looked to be separating themselves from the rest of the American League West just two weeks ago, but the Oakland Athletics have quickly closed the gap. The Athletics put their 10-game winning streak on the line Tuesday when they continue their three-game series against the visiting Los Angeles Angels.

Josh Phegley, Jurickson Profar and Matt Chapman each homered and Stephen Piscotty added a two-run double in Monday’s 8-5 victory as Oakland moved a season-high four games over .500 and remained 6 1/2 games back of first-place Houston. Phegley has homered in back-to-back contests and Piscotty has reached base safely in 23 straight games for the power-hitting Athletics, who have gone deep 16 times during their winning streak. The Angels received a solo homer from Albert Pujols but lost for the sixth time in their last eight games after starter Trevor Cahill allowed six runs in 4 1/3 innings. Kole Calhoun doubled twice and has six hits in his last nine at-bats following a 1-for-17 skid.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Nick Tropeano (2018: 5-6, 4.74 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Frankie Montas (6-2, 2.40)

The Angels are expected to use a reliever as an opener in front of Tropeano, who will be promoted from Triple-A Salt Lake after going 1-1 with a 7.66 ERA in five starts for the Bees. The 28-year-old native New Yorker made 14 starts for the Angels last season, finishing with a 5-6 record and 4.74 ERA over 76 innings. Tropeano is pitching for the first time since May 19, when he allowed two runs over five innings in a 9-2 victory over the Las Vegas Aviators.

Montas’ breakout season continued last Wednesday, when he allowed five hits over six shutout frames in a 7-2 win over Cleveland. The 26-year-old native of the Dominican Republic has pitched at least six innings in four straight starts, allowing a total of five runs with 31 strikeouts over that stretch. Calhoun is 4-for-6 with a home run against Montas, who is 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA in four career games (one starts) versus the Angels.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Athletics have a season-high seven-game errorless streak and have made just five errors over the past 20 games.

2. Angels C Jonathan Lucroy (stomach virus) was scratched from Monday’s starting lineup and is listed as day-to-day.

3. The Athletics are 19-1-3 over their last 23 series at Oakland Coliseum.

PREDICTION: Athletics 7, Angels 2

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