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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MILWAUKEE vs MINNESOTA
GAME: Milwaukee Brewers (31-24) at Minnesota Twins (36-17)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 28 – 8:10 PM EST
WHERE: Target Field, Minneapolis, Minnesota

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FS North (Minnesota)
LINE: -125
PREDICTION: Twins 6, Brewers 4

Oddsmakers currently have the MINNESOTA listed as -125 point favorites versus the MILWAUKEE, while the game’s total is sitting at 9.5.

The Milwaukee Brewers look to complete a two-game interleague series sweep when they visit the red-hot Minnesota Twins on Tuesday. Orlando Arcia belted a two-run homer in the eighth inning on Monday to provide the Brewers with a 5-4 win while handing Minnesota just its second loss in 13 games.

Arcia recorded three RBIs while Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich drove in runs with sacrifice flies to give Milwaukee its second straight triumph following a stretch during which it lost five of seven games. Yelich, who leads the majors with 21 homers, has registered only 10 RBIs this month despite hitting seven shots – six of the solo variety. Minnesota had its six-game winning streak snapped on Monday after outscoring opponents 53-16 during the string of victories. Byron Buxton hit a three-run blast in the series opener, but Twins’ batters struck out 13 times – with Jonathan Schoop, C.J. Cron and Miguel Sano all fanning on three occasions.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Zach Davies (5-0, 2.43 ERA) vs. Twins LH Martin Perez (7-1, 2.95)

Davies is coming off his worst outing of the season as he allowed six runs and six hits in three innings of a no-decision against Cincinnati. The 26-year-old gave up just nine earned runs in his first nine starts before serving up two homers in the turn against the Reds on Wednesday. Davies lost his lone career start against the Twins on Aug. 10, 2017, when he surrendered seven runs – six earned – and 11 hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Perez defeated the Los Angeles Angels in his last turn as he gave up two runs and six hits over five innings. The 28-year-old has issued four walks in each of his last two outings and registered at least seven strikeouts in four of his last five turns. Perez lost his lone career start against the Brewers on Sept. 26, 2016, when he was torched for eight runs and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings while with Texas.

WALK-OFFS

1. Twins RF Max Kepler went 2-for-4 on Monday for his sixth straight multi-hit performance and has gone 18-for-38 with four homers and 14 RBIs during his nine-game hitting streak.

2. Milwaukee LHP Josh Hader, who pitched two scoreless innings in the series opener, has converted all 13 of his save opportunities.

3. Minnesota C Mitch Garver (ankle) is expected to catch five innings for Double-A Pensacola on Wednesday and a full game two days later during a brief rehab assignment.

PREDICTION: Twins 6, Brewers 4

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PITTSBURGH vs CINCINNATI
GAME: Pittsburgh Pirates (26-26) at Cincinnati Reds (25-29)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 28 – 6:40 PM EST
WHERE: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio

TV: 6:40 p.m. ET, AT&T Sportsnet Pittsburgh, FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
LINE:
PREDICTION: Pirates 7, Reds 3

Oddsmakers currently have the CINCINNATI listed as point favorites versus the PITTSBURGH, while the game’s total is sitting at .

The Pittsburgh Pirates appeared ready to put a 1-5 homestand behind them but quickly resorted to their recent losing ways. Pittsburgh attempts to prevent another skid when it visits the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday for the third contest of their four-game series.

The Pirates halted a three-game slide by winning the opener of Monday’s doubleheader – their fourth straight road victory – but were trounced 8-1 in the nightcap. Bryan Reynolds and Josh Bell, who respectively are riding six- and seven-game hitting streaks, recorded two hits apiece in the setback after the former drove in two runs and the latter belted a solo homer in Pittsburgh’s 8-5 triumph in the first game. Jose Iglesias highlighted a six-run first inning for Cincinnati in Monday’s second contest with his first career grand slam while Derek Dietrich and Yasiel Puig went back-to-back in the seventh as the Reds continued their trend of alternating wins and losses that has been in effect over their last 11 games. Puig has belted three homers in his last five contests and registered four two-hit performances in his last seven games.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Jordan Lyles (5-1, 2.81 ERA) vs. Reds RH Lucas Sims (2018: 0-0, 7.47)

Lyles won his third consecutive start on Thursday despite yielding a season-high six runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings against Colorado. The 28-year-old native of South Carolina had given up one run in each of his previous three turns and more than two just once in eight outings prior to facing the Rockies. Lyles is 4-1 with a 4.12 ERA in 15 career games (eight starts) versus Cincinnati, including a no-decision in his season debut on April 4 in which he scattered three hits and three walks over five scoreless frames.

Sims is expected to be brought up from Triple-A Louisville to make his 11th major-league start and first since 2017 with Atlanta. The 25-year-old native of Georgia, who was a first-round pick of the Braves in the 2012 draft, was acquired in July as part of a package for Adam Duvall and allowed four runs over 5 1/3 innings in three relief appearances for the Reds. Sims has made nine starts for Louisville this year, going 3-0 with a 4.06 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. Reds 1B Joey Votto is tied with Johnny Bench for fourth place on the franchise list with 381 doubles and even with Brandon Phillips for ninth in team history with 1,774 hits.

2. The Pirates purchased the contract of Alex McRae and recalled fellow RHPs Richard Rodriguez and Mitch Keller, who suffered the loss in his major-league debut on Monday, from Indianapolis and assigned RHPs Dovydas Neverauskas and Montana DuRapau to the Triple-A affiliate.

3. Cincinnati acquired RHP Tristan Archer from Milwaukee for cash and assigned him to Louisville while Pittsburgh obtained RHP Yefry Ramirez from Baltimore for a player to be named or cash and assigned him to Indianapolis.

PREDICTION: Pirates 7, Reds 3

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ST LOUIS vs PHILADELPHIA
GAME: St. Louis Cardinals (26-26) at Philadelphia Phillies (31-22)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 28 – 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Midwest (St. Louis), NBCS Philadelphia
LINE: -120
PREDICTION: Cardinals 4, Phillies 3

Oddsmakers currently have the PHILADELPHIA listed as -120 point favorites versus the ST LOUIS, while the game’s total is sitting at 10.

The Philadelphia Phillies had won seven of their previous nine games before a sluggish start in the finale of their road trip left a sour taste in their mouths. The National League East-leading Phillies aim to get back on track Tuesday when they host the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park.

Philadelphia’s offense, which erupted for 22 runs in its previous three games, was limited to just one hit — albeit a solo homer by Andrew Knapp — before dropping a 9-1 setback to Milwaukee on Sunday. Bryce Harper, who has struck out five times during his 0-for-7 stretch, belted a grand slam among his two hits in the Phillies’ 11-1 romp in St. Louis on May 7. The Cardinals lost two of three in that series and did the same in their most recent one, as they squandered a three-run lead in the ninth inning before dropping a 4-3 decision in 10 to Atlanta on Sunday. “This one stings a little more than most,” St. Louis manager Mike Shildt said. “When you get to that point in the game, we’ve just got to be able to figure a way to bring it home.”

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (4-4, 4.82 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Nick Pivetta (2-1, 8.35)

Wainwright answered an 0-2 mark in his last three starts by evening his record on Wednesday after allowing three runs on six hits in five innings of a 10-3 win versus Kansas City. The 37-year-old has struggled with his control of late, permitting nine walks in his last two starts (nine innings). Offseason acquisitions Jean Segura (10-for-22, homer) and Harper (9-for-20, homer) have flustered Wainwright, who owns a 7-2 mark with a 2.90 ERA in 15 career encounters (13 starts) against Philadelphia.

Pivetta will return to the starting rotation for the first time since April 16 after being recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The 26-year-old British Columbia native was rocked for 18 runs and 31 hits — including five homers — in his first four starts of the season with the Phillies before working out the kinks with the IronPigs. Pivetta struck out 50 in 37 innings in Triple-A to show signs of the form he exhibited when he fanned 188 in 33 appearances with Philadelphia last season.

WALK-OFFS

1. St. Louis 1B Paul Goldschmidt went 1-for-11 with four strikeouts in the previous series versus Philadelphia.

2. Segura has hit safely in 15 of 16 games since going 1-for-14 in the previous series with the Cardinals.

3. St. Louis C Yadier Molina is expected to play in the series opener despite bruising his right thumb on Sunday.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 4, Phillies 3

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SAN FRANCISCO vs MIAMI
GAME: San Francisco Giants (21-31) at Miami Marlins (17-34)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 28 – 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Marlins Park, Miami, Florida

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Bay Arena (San Francisco), FS Florida (Miami)
LINE: 105
PREDICTION: Marlins 3, Giants 2

Oddsmakers currently have the MIAMI listed as 105 point favorites versus the SAN FRANCISCO, while the game’s total is sitting at 7.5.

The San Francisco Giants are trading in the Bay Area for the East Coast at an opportune time, as the club has lost five in a row to drop a season-worst 10 games under .500. The Giants hope the change of scenery alters their fortunes on Tuesday when they begin an 11-day, nine-game swing with the opener of a three-game series versus the Miami Marlins.

“We’ve got to huddle up here,” manager Bruce Bochy said on the heels of Sunday’s 6-2 setback to Arizona. “(Monday’s day off) will give them a chance to wash this one off. This road trip I’m hoping brings them together and gets us back to playing the kind of ball we need to play.” Mike Yastrzemski, the 28-year-old grandson of Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, collected the first three hits of his career while playing in his second game since being called up from Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday. Miami thwarted Washington’s bid for a four-game sweep on Sunday, with Neil Walker highlighting his three-hit performance with an RBI single. Harold Ramirez also drove in a run and has reached base safely in 11 of 12 contests since making his major league debut on May 11.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Jeff Samardzija (2-3, 3.27 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Trevor Richards (1-5, 4.14)

Samardzija lost his second straight start after allowing six runs (none earned) on four hits in six innings of a 9-2 setback to Atlanta on Wednesday. The 34-year-old was taken deep on two occasions by the Braves and has surrendered seven homers in his last four games. Samardzija owns a 5-2 mark with a 3.62 ERA in 18 career appearances (nine starts) against the Marlins, with Walker (6-for-34, 10 strikeouts) and Martin Prado (2-for-23, five strikeouts) struggling mightily versus him.

Richards answered his first win of the season with a strong showing on Thursday, yielding one run in 5 2/3 innings before exiting with a no-decision at Detroit. The 26-year-old kept the ball in the park and issued just one walk versus the Tigers after surrendering two homers in four of the previous five outings and granting multiple free passes in each of his other nine starts this season. Richards recorded the win in his lone career start against San Francisco, allowing one run on two hits in six innings of a 3-1 victory on June 12, 2018.

WALK-OFFS

1. Miami F Garrett Cooper has seven hits — including two homers — with five RBIs and six runs scored in his last six games.

2. San Francisco 3B Evan Longoria is batting .310 on the road, as opposed to .157 at home.

3. Marlins C Jorge Alfaro has five hits with one homer, three RBIs and two runs scored in his last four games.

PREDICTION: Marlins 3, Giants 2

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WASHINGTON vs ATLANTA
GAME: Washington Nationals (22-32) at Atlanta Braves (30-24)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 28 – 7:20 PM EST
WHERE: SunTrust Park, Cumberland, Georgia

TV: 7:20 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), FS Southeast (Atlanta)
LINE: -105
PREDICTION: Braves 2, Nationals 1

Oddsmakers currently have the ATLANTA listed as -105 point favorites versus the WASHINGTON, while the game’s total is sitting at 8.5.

The Washington Nationals spent the weekend improving their record by taking three of four games from Miami, but the schedule gets much tougher starting with the opener of a two-game series Tuesday at the Atlanta Braves. The Nationals dropped six of seven entering the weekend set with Miami, and head to Atlanta at 10-16 in May to face a Braves team that has won 12 of its past 16 contests and sits eight games ahead of Washington in the National League East standings.

Washington dropped the series finale at home against Miami 3-2 on Monday, getting a double from Juan Soto as the outfielder extended his hitting streak to a career-best 11 games – giving him a .463 average during the run with six doubles, a triple, two homers and 11 RBIs. Atlanta comes home 1 1/2 games behind Philadelphia in the NL East after a successful 5-2 road trip, capped by scoring three runs in the ninth inning Sunday before plating the go-ahead run in the 10th for a 4-3 victory at St. Louis. Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson is hitting .317 with a .973 OPS, four homers and nine RBIs and only four strikeouts in 41 at-bats during his current nine-game hitting streak. Atlanta has not faced Washington this season, after going 10-9 against the Nationals a season ago en route to the NL East championship.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (4-3, 3.25 ERA) vs. Braves LH Max Fried (7-2, 2.88)

Strasburg is enjoying one of his best seasons despite Washington’s struggles, posting a career-best 0.99 WHIP while averaging 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings and ranking second in the NL entering the week in strikeouts (87). The 30-year-old is 2-2 with a 2.62 ERA in five May starts while holding opponents to a .212 batting average and striking out 39 against eight walks. after giving up two earned runs on five hits over seven innings Thursday at the New York Mets. Strasburg, who has allowed two earned runs or fewer in six of his past seven starts, is 11-11 with a 4.07 ERA in 30 career starts against Atlanta.

Fried has emerged as a potential All-Star through the first two months of the season, entering the week tied for the NL lead in wins while ranking sixth in ERA and 11th in WHIP (1.12). The 25-year-old started the season with two relief appearances, but has posted a 2.96 ERA in 10 starts since joining the rotation with 51 strikeouts, 11 walks and a 1.12 WHIP over 54 2/3 innings. Fried, who gave up two runs on four hits across six innings Wednesday at San Francisco to win his third consecutive start, has allowed one run on two hits over three innings in two appearances (one start) lifetime against Washington.

WALK-OFFS

1. Braves rookie LF Austin Riley is hitting .333 through his first 12 major-league games with two doubles, five homers, eight runs scored and 14 RBIs.

2. Washington 3B Anthony Rendon had a walk among four plate appearances Monday, extending his streak of reaching base safely to 14 games.

3. Atlanta optioned RHP Kyle Wright to Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday, and is expected to bring OF Matt Joyce off the bereavement list for Tuesday’s series opener.

PREDICTION: Braves 2, Nationals 1

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ARIZONA vs COLORADO
GAME: Arizona Diamondbacks (28-26) at Colorado Rockies (25-27)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 28 – 8:40 PM EST
WHERE: Coors Field, Denver, Colorado

TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado)
LINE: -120
PREDICTION: Rockies 8, Diamondbacks 5

Oddsmakers currently have the COLORADO listed as -120 point favorites versus the ARIZONA, while the game’s total is sitting at 12.5.

The Colorado Rockies are making a habit of dramatic finishes while slowly climbing back into the National League West race. The Rockies have recorded three walk-off wins in their last four games and look to carry that momentum into Tuesday when they continue their four-game series against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks.

Nolan Arenado delivered two hits and two RBIs and Raimel Tapia singled in the winning run in the 11th inning in Monday’s 4-3 victory as the Rockies improved to 3-1 on their season-long 10-game homestand. Tapia extended his hitting streak to six games and has settled in as the team’s regular leadoff hitter in place of Charlie Blackmon, who was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday with a right calf injury but hopes to return when first available. Arizona went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position after matching a franchise mark for a three-game series by scoring 34 runs during a weekend sweep of the San Francisco Giants. Nick Ahmed belted a solo homer in Monday’s loss and is 12-for-27 over his last seven games.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Merrill Kelly (4-5, 4.75 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Antonio Senzatela (3-4, 6.21)

Kelly turned in the shortest outing of his career against San Diego last Wednesday, allowing four runs in 1 2/3 innings. “I just need to forget about it,” Kelly told reporters. “It’s over with. There’s nothing I can do now. I can’t go back and make pitches. It’s over and done with. Just try to focus on the next start.” The 30-year-old rookie owns a 40-to-22 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his first 10 starts covering 53 innings.

Senzatela is also looking to bounce back after allowing eight runs and nine hits in 3 1/3 innings against Pittsburgh last Thursday. The 24-year-old native of Venezuela owns a 5.47 ERA in five road starts this season compared to a 7.27 mark in three outings at Coors Field. Senzatela is 1-4 with a 6.14 ERA in eight career games (four starts) versus Arizona – including 1-3 with a 4.71 mark in four games (three starts) last season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Arenado is 16-for-31 with four homers and 11 RBIs during his seven-game hitting streak.

2. The Diamondbacks placed Luke Weaver (forearm) on the 10-day injured list with and recalled fellow RHP Jimmie Sherfy from Triple-A Reno.

3. Colorado recalled OF Yonathan Daza from Triple-A Albuquerque to replace Blackmon.

PREDICTION: Rockies 8, Diamondbacks 5

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