Friday 7/10/15 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Yankees (46-39) at Red Sox (41-45)
Game: 1
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: July 10, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

It's a common aphorism that objects in your rear-view mirror are closer than they appear.

That's a saying New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi may want to invoke after he made what has to be a rare NASCAR reference in discussing the state of the AL East and the rivalry with the Boston Red Sox.

The last-place Red Sox are playing their best baseball and send the red-hot Clay Buchholz to the mound Friday night at Fenway Park as they look to close the gap on the first-place Yankees.

New York (46-39) has a three-game East lead on Baltimore in a race in which no team can be counted out. Although Boston (41-45) is in last, it has won eight of 10 and a season-high four straight to pull within 5 1/2 games.

"There's a good feeling in our clubhouse right now and we're staying on that run of games," Red Sox manager John Farrell said.

Farrell's counterpart, Girardi, made an interesting reference ahead of this three-game set.

"I talked to someone about our division who's a NASCAR fan," Girardi said. "It's like racing in Daytona or Talladega. If you get out of the draft, you can get from first to fourth in a heartbeat, first to fifth, that's how bunched up we are."

What makes Boston's play impressive is that it has come without superstar Dustin Pedroia, who is eligible to come off the disabled list Friday but does not appear ready to return from a right hamstring strain that has kept him out since June 24.

'Pedey's responded well," Farrell said. "He's going to be on the field when he's first ready without any undue risk.'

The Red Sox's resurgence has come with help from youngsters like Mookie Betts, who is 13 for 39 in his last nine games, and Xander Bogaerts, who is 13 for 30 with eight RBIs over a seven-game hitting streak.

Boston was a season-worst 10 games out of first June 20.

"Obviously they're playing extremely well," Girardi said. "They've gotten back in the picture but I don't think we ever believed that they wouldn't be in the picture."

Another player who has stepped up is Buchholz (7-6, 3.27 ERA), who has posted an 0.87 ERA in winning four straight starts and is 5-0 with a 1.99 ERA in his last seven after pitching a six-hitter in Saturday's 6-1 victory over Houston. His last five-start win streak was from May 22-Sept. 15, 2013.

The right-hander is 0-3 with a 9.74 ERA in four starts against the Yankees over the last two years, with All-Star Brett Gardner going 6 for 11. Alex Rodriguez is 11 for 27 overall in this matchup while Mark Teixeira is 4 for 26.

Teixeira has matched his RBI total from last year with an AL-best 62.

The Yankees will start right-hander Michael Pineda (8-5, 3.79), who is 0-2 with a 4.91 ERA in his last three starts after striking out 10 in seven-plus scoreless innings in Saturday's 3-2 victory over Tampa Bay.

Pineda went 2-1 with a 2.57 ERA in three starts against Boston last year. David Ortiz is 2 for 6 off him and Bogaerts is 2 for 4.

Boston has to be hoping that Ortiz gets untracked with the slugger posting a .761 OPS for his lowest mark with the Red Sox. Ortiz homered in Wednesday's 6-3 home win over Miami.

He is batting a major league-worst .128 against left-handers and could face some tough such matchups out of the Yankees bullpen in Chasen Shreve and Andrew Miller.

Yankees third baseman Chase Headley could return Friday after missing two straight games with a sore right calf.

New York capped a 4-2 homestand with Thursday's 6-2 win over Oakland. The Yankees have taken four straight over the Red Sox, sweeping three road games May 1-3.


SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Yankees at Red Sox
Fri, Jul 10 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Yankees at Red Sox
Sat, Jul 11 - 7:15PM EDT

GAME 3
Yankees at Red Sox
Sun, Jul 12 - 1:35PM EDT

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Athletics (39-49) at Indians (40-44)
Game: 1
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: July 10, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

Kendall Graveman's name doesn't spring to mind when discussing the best pitchers in baseball, but he's been in that conversation over the last month-plus.

The rookie aims to win his fourth straight start Friday night when the Oakland Athletics visit the Cleveland Indians.

Graveman (6-4, 3.16 ERA) ranks third in baseball since June 7 with a 1.26 ERA in six games, going 3-2 during that stretch. That's the best ERA by an A's rookie in a span of at least six starts since Tommy Milone posted a 1.10 ERA over six outings from June 20-July 20, 2012.

He has pitched seven-plus innings in all six and received one total run of support in the two losses. Among rookie starters, his six victories trail only San Francisco's Chris Heston, who is 8-5 with a 3.51 ERA.

Graveman has come a long way from his struggles in April, when he was sent down to Triple-A after going 1-2 with an 8.27 ERA in his first four starts. He'll start Friday with a 16-inning scoreless streak after scattering five hits and one walk in seven innings of Saturday's 2-0 victory over Seattle.

"We saw what he had in Spring Training, and since he's come back, he's pitched as consistently as anyone we have in the rotation," manager Bob Melvin told MLB's official website.

Graveman, 4-1 with a 1.91 ERA in seven road starts, has never faced Cleveland.

Oakland (39-49) has dropped eight of 13, going 18 for 92 (.196) with runners in scoring position to largely waste a 2.79 ERA in that span. The Athletics had just three hits in Thursday's 6-2 loss to the New York Yankees.

The Indians (41-44) took three in a row from Houston after dropping the opener in their four-game series, giving themselves a chance to enter the All-Star break with a .500 record for the first time since they were 2-2 after April 10.

Cleveland held the Astros to three runs and 16 hits in the three victories and is hoping the excellent pitching of late rubs off on Danny Salazar (7-4, 4.10). The right-hander is 1-3 with a 5.40 ERA in his last five starts, failing to complete five innings in three of four. He's been less deceptive than he was earlier in the season, striking out 8.6 per nine innings in those five outings compared to 11.8 in his first 10.

While he fanned seven Sunday at Pittsburgh, he also surrendered five runs and seven hits over 4 2-3 innings in a 5-3 loss. All the runs were scored in the fifth inning, and 18 of the 20 runs he's allowed in his last five starts have been in the fifth or later.

"I think I just need to keep on working and try to figure it out, and see if I'm doing something different than when I start a game," he told MLB's official website.

This marks Salazar's first matchup with Oakland, though Billy Butler is 7 for 12 with four doubles off the right-hander from his time with Kansas City.

The A's took four of six meetings last season and have won eight of 12 at Progressive Field.

Michael Brantley has hit .410 with a 1.090 OPS over his last 11 against Oakland.


SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Athletics at Indians
Fri, Jul 10 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Athletics at Indians
Sat, Jul 11 - 6:35PM EDT

GAME 3
Athletics at Indians
Sun, Jul 12 - 1:10PM EDT

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Diamondbacks (42-42) at Mets (44-42)
Game: 1
Venue: Citi Field
Date: July 10, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

It took the Arizona Diamondbacks 13 attempts to get back to .500 for the first time since being 8-8. Getting over that mark and remaining there heading into the All-Star break will require a series win over the New York Mets.

The teams meet Friday night for the first of three games in New York with the hot-hitting Diamondbacks seeking a sixth win in seven games and a fourth straight road victory.

Arizona (42-42) had lost its previous 12 attempts at reaching .500 before Wednesday's 7-4 win in Texas.

"It's important to get to .500," manager Chip Hale told MLB's official website. "It's important getting into second place like we are, but it doesn't matter until the end of the year."

Over a 6-3 span, the Diamondbacks are averaging 5.7 runs and batting .310, but those numbers could dip in New York. A.J. Pollock and Welington Castillo each homered, and Pollock is hitting .394 in seven games this month.

Pollock is 3 for 27 in eight career visits to Citi Field while fellow All-Star Paul Goldschmidt's .190 average in New York is his second worst among NL parks.

The teams split four in Arizona last month, and the Mets have won eight of 13 in New York since 2011 while limiting the Diamondbacks to a .217 average.

The Mets (44-42) are 29-14 at home this season and are coming off their best road trip with series wins against the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco, including Wednesday's 4-1 win over the Giants.

"We needed it," Jacob deGrom said of the 4-2 road trip. "It's a good way to go back home."

New York dropped seven straight from June 17-24, and the pitching has been key in the 8-5 span that's followed. The Mets have a 1.41 ERA in that time, and their starters haven't allowed an earned run in six of those.

Noah Syndergaard can't claim any of them, but he's pitching as well as he has all season. Syndergaard (3-4, 3.38 ERA) is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA and .174 opponent batting average in his last four starts, and the right-hander limited the Dodgers to a run and two hits in six innings of Friday's 2-1 victory but didn't earn the decision.

It was a major improvement over the rest of his season on the road but like his team, the rookie should be eager to return home. The 22-year-old is 3-1 with a 1.89 ERA in five starts in New York versus 0-3 with a 5.33 mark in five on the road.

He's up against Chase Anderson, who's allowed as many home runs in his last three starts as he had in his previous 20. Anderson (4-2, 3.71) gave up three runs and three hits in six innings of Friday's 4-3 home win over Colorado, surrendering a leadoff homer to bring his total to seven in three starts. The right-hander didn't receive the decision and is 1-1 with a 7.64 ERA in that span after going 3-0 with a 2.25 in his previous nine.

That included a 2-1 home win over New York on June 6 in which Anderson yielded a run and eight hits in 5 2-3 innings but didn't earn the victory. Juan Lagares was 2 for 3 with a home run.

Michael Cuddyer is 2 for 9 with three strikeouts against Anderson but has missed six of eight games with a sore left knee. He's 4 for 40 in his last 13 games, while Lucas Duda is 2 for 29 in July.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Diamondbacks at Mets
Fri, Jul 10 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Diamondbacks at Mets
Sat, Jul 11 - 4:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Diamondbacks at Mets
Sun, Jul 12 - 1:10PM EDT

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Astros (49-38) at Rays (43-45)
Game: 1
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: July 10, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

The Houston Astros are in an offensive funk in a three-game slide but their problems pale in comparison to those of the Tampa Bay Rays, who have dropped 11 of 12.

These teams are among baseball's worst hitting teams and look to break out of those woes Friday night in the opener of a three-game set at Tropicana Field.

Houston (49-39) has totaled three runs while batting .170 on its slide as it tries to avoid its longest losing streak since a season-high seven-game skid June 4-10. The Astros are the AL's third-worst hitting team at .242 with their success built on a major league-leading 122 homers.

They fell 3-1 at Cleveland on Thursday to cap a four-game set that started well with Monday's 9-4 victory.

'We didn't do much offensively,' manager A.J. Hinch said. 'After the first night they really kept us in check. Their pitching handled us in this series.'

Tampa Bay (43-45) owns the league's second-worst batting average at .241. The Rays were outscored 33-16 in a four-game sweep by Kansas City capped by Thursday's 8-3 loss that ended a 1-6 trip.

Now the Rays seek to snap a five-game home slide.

'It hasn't been going well for us, obviously,' manager Kevin Cash said. 'We've had times throughout the season where it has and right now it's not going that well. We need to get home and hopefully change that around, turn that around."

The lone Rays pitcher to win on the trip was Erasmo Ramirez (7-3, 3.80 ERA), who gave up one run in six innings in Sunday's 8-1 rout of the New York Yankees to improve to 5-1 with a 1.18 ERA in his last seven starts.

The right-hander's streak of allowing two or fewer runs in seven straight outings is tied for the third-longest in club history.

Ramirez is 1-1 with a 4.60 ERA against Houston in three appearances, with two starts.

The Astros will counter with right-hander Collin McHugh (9-4, 4.54), who went 0-2 with a 2.45 ERA in two starts against the Rays last year. Evan Longoria is 0 for 6 with four strikeouts against him and Kevin Kiermaier has also struck out four times in going 1 for 6.

McHugh gave up four runs over 5 1-3 innings in Saturday's 6-1 defeat at Boston after posting a 2.45 ERA in a three-start win streak.

This will be a special series for Astros rookie Preston Tucker, who was born in Tampa and went to Plant High School in the city. Tucker was 0 for 3 on Thursday after going 8 for 13 in the first three games of that series.

Slugger Chris Carter sat out for the second time in three games. His .190 average is baseball's second-worst, though he has value since he sees a major league-high 4.35 pitches per plate appearance.

"The track record is there," Hinch told MLB's official website. "He's done it. He's up to 100 home runs in his career, 30-plus last year."

Houston's Luis Valbuena is fourth-worst in the majors at .201 and went 0 for 3 on Thursday after missing three games with a sprained big toe.

Longoria is batting .343 in an eight-game hitting streak for the Rays, who took five of seven from the Astros last year.


SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Astros at Rays
Fri, Jul 10 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Astros at Rays
Sat, Jul 11 - 4:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Astros at Rays
Sun, Jul 12 - 1:10PM EDT

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Padres (39-48) at Rangers (41-44)
Game: 1
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: July 10, 2015 8:05 PM EDT

The Texas Rangers are getting little help from their rotation at home, though Wandy Rodriguez believes he's discovered the root of his troubles there.

The veteran left-hander looks to make the right adjustments and help the Rangers avoid matching their longest home skid since moving to Arlington on Friday night against the slumping San Diego Padres.

Texas (41-44) was a season-best six games over .500 and just 2 1/2 back of the AL West lead June 19 but has since gone 4-13 while dropping all eight of its home games. The starting staff hasn't given the club much of a chance with an 11.75 ERA on the home skid.

The Rangers, seven games back entering Thursday, are one shy of the club record for consecutive home losses since moving to Texas in 1972 following Wednesday's 7-4 loss to Arizona. The Rangers dropped nine in a row at Arlington Stadium in May 1990.

Rodriguez has gone 5-0 with a 2.23 ERA in eight road starts, but he's 0-4 with a 7.42 mark in six at home. He also owns a 2.63 strikeout-to-walk ratio on the road compared to a 1.40 in Arlington.

The 36-year-old suggested the mound was the culprit after allowing five runs over five innings in Saturday's 13-0 loss to the visiting Los Angeles Angels. He sought to fix the problem by throwing off the hill in his side session this week rather than in the bullpen.

"It is a matter of him being comfortable on the mound," manager Jeff Banister told MLB's official website. "I don't think there's anything wrong with it. At least he did something about it."

Rodriguez (5-4, 4.23 ERA) could have an opportune matchup as he faces the Padres (39-48) for the first time since 2012. They've dropped 16 of 23 behind a .215 batting average and 2.82 runs per game after totaling just seven runs during the current five-game skid.

Justin Upton (3 for 30), Yonder Alonso (5 for 33), Alexi Amarista (1 for 20) and Will Venable (5 for 31) are among those scuffling. Upton is hitless in eight at-bats against Rodriguez since the start of 2011, though he's day-to-day after sitting out Wednesday's 5-2 loss at Pittsburgh due to oblique soreness.

Matt Kemp provided one of the few highlights with his seventh homer among San Diego's five hits. This is the club's longest slide since dropping six in a row last September.

"I think we've actually - the numbers don't show it, this road trip - we've played, in my opinion, the best baseball we've played all season," said Andrew Cashner, who took the loss against the Pirates.

The Padres hope to provide some run support for Ian Kennedy (4-8, 4.84), who has dropped his last three starts despite posting a 2.65 ERA. He's received just one run from the offense over that stretch.

The right-hander allowed three runs over six innings in a 3-1 loss at St. Louis on Sunday. He's given up at least one home run in his last five starts and his 18 allowed overall rank among the most in baseball.

The Rangers, however, have gone deep just three times over their past six games. Prince Fielder, second in the AL in batting, has one homer on this homestand but is hitting .375 over his last 14 games.

This is the first meeting since Texas swept a three-game road series in June 2012.


SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Padres at Rangers
Fri, Jul 10 - 8:05PM EDT

GAME 2
Padres at Rangers
Sat, Jul 11 - 9:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Padres at Rangers
Sun, Jul 12 - 3:05PM EDT

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Blue Jays (44-44) at Royals (50-33)
Game: 1
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: July 10, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

The Kansas City Royals continued to produce at the plate in the first of many games without Alex Gordon while extending their win streak.

The Toronto Blue Jays' potent lineup, meanwhile, was relatively quiet in its latest series.

The short-handed Royals will try to continue to shine while claiming a sixth consecutive victory Friday night against the Blue Jays, losers in eight of 11.

Kansas City lost its All-Star left fielder for two months when he strained his groin chasing a fly ball in Wednesday's 9-7 win over Tampa Bay. The Royals (50-33) didn't miss him too much Thursday, registering 13 hits in an 8-3 win Thursday to complete their first four-game sweep since September 2008.

Kansas City totaled 33 runs and 52 hits against the Rays, and its six homers were two more than it totaled in its previous nine contests. Lorenzo Cain had his second in as many games Thursday - and eighth of the season - while Jarrod Dyson made a sparkling defensive play while taking over for Gordon.

With that performance, the Royals moved closer to matching their season-best seven-game win streak to open this season.

"We do have a confident team here," manager Ned Yost said. "We think we can get through these things. We think we have the ability to overcome these things."

The Royals might need some more of those hitting performances as they face easily the highest-scoring team in the majors. Toronto (44-44) has plated 470 runs and is among the league leaders with 113 homers, but that didn't show for much of its four-game set against the Chicago White Sox.

The Blue Jays totaled 10 runs while batting .195 and were denied a split in Chicago with a 2-0 defeat Thursday. They were four-hit for their third shutout this season, but R.A. Dickey expressed confidence his team can get back on track soon.

"We've been a very resilient ballclub," Dickey told MLB's official website. "We've fallen off the table a little bit, we jumped back on. That's one thing about this team that I feel is a little bit different than the teams in the past.

"I don't think it's going to be a snowball kind of thing for us here. I think we have an offense that won't let that happen, and our pitching is getting better. I feel good about that part of it."

Marco Estrada (6-4, 3.59) is coming off his fifth win in six decisions, a 10-5 victory in Detroit on Sunday. He yielded two runs in five innings in that game and has a 1.96 ERA in his last four starts, including a pair of starts in which he took no-hit bids into the eighth inning.

Estrada will face Kansas City for the first time, and the Royals players who have faced him previously are a combined 0 for 11.

The Royals turn to Danny Duffy, who is winless in his last six starts but pitched respectably in his most recent one. Duffy (2-4, 5.14 ERA) yielded two runs in 6 1-3 innings Sunday against Minnesota but suffered his fourth straight loss in a 3-2 defeat.

The left-hander is 0-2 with a 9.35 ERA in two starts against the Blue Jays, whom he hasn't faced since April 22, 2012.

Toronto has not been below .500 since owning a 29-30 record on June 8.


SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Blue Jays at Royals
Fri, Jul 10 - 8:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Blue Jays at Royals
Sat, Jul 11 - 2:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Blue Jays at Royals
Sun, Jul 12 - 2:10PM EDT

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Tigers (43-41) at Twins (46-39)
Game: 2
Venue: Target Field
Date: July 10, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

For the first time since becoming a full-time major leaguer, Justin Verlander won't participate back-to-back All-Star Games.

Instead, he'll seek to head into the break again looking for his first victory Friday night while extending his road win streak over the Minnesota Twins.

Verlander failed to make an All-Star team in consecutive years just once, in his first two seasons and pitched just two games as a midseason call-up in 2005. A strained right triceps - which resulted in his first trip to the disabled list - has hampered this year's attempt to regain his 2011 MVP and AL Cy Young Award form.

Verlander (0-2, 6.75 ERA) has been limited to four starts and gave up seven runs in five innings in his latest one, a 10-5 loss to Toronto on Sunday. He allowed six runs in his final inning, ruining what the right-hander thought was a promising effort.

"You can look at this in two ways," he said. "You can look at the fifth inning and look at it negatively, or you can look at the rest of it, and look at it positively. My stuff is better than it has been in a couple years. I just need to fine-tune it."

Verlander is 5-0 with a 2.15 ERA in his last six starts in Minnesota and 1-1 with a 2.89 ERA in his past three overall matchups, but he wasn't at his sharpest in an 8-6 win at Target Field on Aug. 23. He allowed four runs and eight hits in 5 2-3 innings.

This time, he'll face a team that had a three-game win streak snapped with a 4-2 defeat in Thursday's series opener. Minnesota (46-40) continued to struggle with runners in scoring position, going 2 for 12 while dropping to 2-8 against Detroit this season.

The Twins are batting .185 with runners in scoring position in their last 10 games and went 1 for 12 in their 5-3 win over Baltimore on Wednesday.

Ian Kinsler, meanwhile, hit a leadoff homer and drove in three runs for Detroit (44-41). Yoenis Cespedes went 2 for 4 with an RBI double while trying to sway the AL's final vote his way over Minnesota's Brian Dozier (0 for 3) and three other players.

Ervin Santana will try to contain the Tigers while building on his encouraging return from an 80-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs and Twins debut Sunday in Kansas City. The right-hander, signed to a $55 million deal in December, yielded two runs and three hits while fanning eight in eight innings, but did not get a decision in a 3-2 loss.

"That was impressive for a guy who hadn't pitched in a major league game," outfielder Torii Hunter told MLB's official website. "It looked like the Santana of old."

Santana (0-0, 2.25) will face Detroit for the first time since Sept. 14, 2013, and has totaled 14 scoreless innings in his past two meetings. He's also 6-1 with a 2.08 ERA in his last nine.

Kinsler is 20 for 57 (.351) lifetime against Santana, and only Miami's Ichiro Suzuki has gotten more hits (30) among active players. Joe Mauer has the second-most hits among all players against Verlander - going 24 for 65 (.369), including 11 for 26 (.423) in his last six games.


SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Tigers at Twins
Thu, Jul 9 Final 4 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Tigers at Twins
Fri, Jul 10 - 8:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Tigers at Twins
Sat, Jul 11 - 4:05PM EDT

GAME 4
Tigers at Twins
Sun, Jul 12 - 2:10PM EDT

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: White Sox at Cubs

GAME: Chicago White Sox (39-44) at Chicago Cubs (46-38)
DATE/TIME: Friday, July 10 - 4:05 PM EST
WHERE: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
LINE: 136, -148 N/A TOTAL: N/A


Both Windy City teams are riding hot streaks heading into this season's first installment of the Crosstown Cup on Friday at Wrigley Field. The host Cubs have won seven of their last 10 while the White Sox have claimed seven of nine heading into a three-game weekend series.



The Cubs had a day off following a tough 6-5 loss to St. Louis on Wednesday, but they remain in position for the second National League wild card. The White Sox are in the American League Central cellar and have the AL's third-worst record, but their recent play has some players reconsidering their outlook for the second half. "There's no reason we can't play good enough baseball to get back into this thing," White Sox center fielder Adam Eaton told reporters. "That's the goal -- to play playoff baseball. We're going to continue to put the best out there and let the chips fall where they may." The White Sox won three of four last season and hold a 52-46 series lead since the start of interleague play in 1997.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, WGN (White Sox), CSN Chicago (Cubs)



PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH Carlos Rodon (3-2, 4.18 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Kyle Hendricks (4-4, 3.82)

Rodon's rookie campaign has been uneven, and he has endured rough outings in his last two starts. The 22-year-old was tagged for four runs (three earned) on four hits and four walks in five innings in a loss to Baltimore on Sunday. He has posted a 7.32 ERA over his last four starts on the heels of a four-start stretch in which he allowed three earned runs over 24 1/3 innings.

Hendricks has won consecutive starts for the first time all season, working 13 1/3 scoreless innings over his last two outings. The 25-year-old pitched into the eighth Sunday against Miami, allowing five hits and one walk while striking out six over 7 1/3 innings. Hendricks has not posted three straight quality starts this season.



WALK-OFFS

1. White Sox DH/1B Jose Abreu is 15-for-46 during an 11-game hitting streak.

2. The Cubs lead the majors in one-run games (34) and one-run victories (19).

3. Cubs 3B Kris Bryant has reached base in 27 of his last 28 home games.



PREDICTION: Cubs 4, White Sox 3

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Nationals at Orioles

GAME: Washington Nationals (46-38) at Baltimore Orioles (43-42)
DATE/TIME: Friday, July 10 - 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, Maryland
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

The Washington Nationals limp into the Beltway Series heading in the wrong direction, with both losses and injuries beginning to pile up. The visiting Nationals look to put a halt to the former while overcoming the latter on Friday when they open a three-game set against the interleague rival Baltimore Orioles.

Washington, which leads the second-place New York Mets by three games in the National League East, dropped the first two contests of its three-game series against Cincinnati before Mother Nature perhaps did it a favor with a rainout in the finale. In addition to the waterworks, yet another injury dampened the spirits of the Nationals as they announced outfielder Denard Span will miss the upcoming series due to back spasms. Washington has lost 29 of the last 50 meetings with Baltimore, which was swept at Minnesota this week and has dropped eight of 10 - scoring three or fewer runs seven times during the stretch. Manny Machado, who was selected to compete in the upcoming Home Run Derby, went deep for a career-high 19th time in Wednesday's 5-3 setback to the Twins and has three homers in his last five games.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET; MLB Network, MASN, MASN2

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (6-4, 4.16 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Chris Tillman (6-7, 5.57)


Scheduled to start Wednesday's rainout, Gonzalez has allowed a total of one run and nine hits in 14 innings to earn wins over Pittsburgh and San Francisco, respectively. The 29-year-old did not walk a batter for the first time in 15 starts this season against the Giants on Friday. Gonzalez has struggled mightily versus Baltimore, posting a 1-4 mark while yielding 21 runs (18 earned) on 45 hits and 20 walks in 42 2/3 innings.

Tillman overcame serious damage and escaped with a no-decision on Saturday despite permitting 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings against the Chicago White Sox. The 27-year-old is 4-0 in his last six outings as he tries to salvage a difficult season, but has yet to record a decision in three tilts versus Washington. Tillman has been touched for five homers, nine runs and 19 hits in 16 2/3 innings against the Nationals.

WALK-OFFS


1. Baltimore 1B Chris Davis collected three hits on Wednesday and has hit safely in 16 of his last 18 games.

2. Nationals OF Bryce Harper is batting just 7-for-36 in 10 career meetings with the Orioles.

3. Orioles SS J.J. Hardy is 3-for-26 in his last seven games.

PREDICTION: Orioles 4, Nationals 2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Reds at Marlins

GAME: Cincinnati Reds (38-45) at Miami Marlins (36-50)
DATE/TIME: Friday, July 10 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Marlins Park, Miami, Florida
LINE: -107, -101 TOTAL: 7.5

The Miami Marlins look to record their fifth consecutive home victory when they host the Cincinnati Reds in the second contest of their four-game series Friday. Miami returned from a 1-4 road trip during which it dropped the final four contests to post a 2-0 triumph in Thursday's opener.

All-Star Dee Gordon registered two of the Marlins' five hits and scored twice as they were held to fewer than four runs for the sixth straight game. Marlon Byrd went 2-for-4 as the Reds were unable to secure a third consecutive win. Byrd enters Friday with a 12-game hitting streak during which he has recorded seven two-hit performances. The season series is even at two victories apiece, with both of Miami's triumphs and one of Cincinnati's being shutouts.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati), FSN Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Mike Leake (5-5, 4.39 ERA) vs. Marlins RH David Phelps (4-4, 4.03)

Leake had his six-start unbeaten streak halted on Sunday, when he yielded three runs and eight hits over six innings in a loss to Milwaukee. The 27-year-old went 3-0 during his run, allowing two earned runs or fewer on four occasions. Leake, who is 1 2/3 frames away from 1,000 for his career, improved to 4-1 lifetime against Miami on June 19 as he limited the Marlins to two hits over seven scoreless innings.

Phelps returns to the rotation after a pair of relief appearances in which he tossed 4 1/3 innings without allowing a run or a hit. The 28-year-old was roughed up in his last start on June 21, when he surrendered five runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 frames at Cincinnati. The loss evened Phelps' record against the Reds at 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in three career games (two starts).

WALK-OFFS

1. Gordon delivered a first-inning single on Thursday for his 118th hit of the season, eclipsing the franchise record for most prior to the All-Star break previously shared by Juan Pierre (2003) and Hanley Ramirez (2007).

2. Cincinnati 3B Todd Frazier has gone nine games without a home run, remaining four shy of his career high of 29 set last season.

3. Miami INF Jeff Baker sat out his second straight game Thursday with a strained left oblique and remains day-to-day.

PREDICTION: Reds 6, Marlins 2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Cardinals at Pirates

GAME: St. Louis Cardinals (56-30) at Pittsburgh Pirates (50-35)
DATE/TIME: Friday, July 10 - 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
LINE: 119, -129 TOTAL: 6.5

The Pittsburgh Pirates attempt to even their four-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals at one victory apiece when they host their National League Central rivals on Friday. The Pirates had their five-game winning streak snapped as they managed only five hits in a 4-1 defeat in Thursday's opener.

All-Star Andrew McCutchen kept Pittsburgh from being shut out as he led off the ninth inning with his 11th home run of the year. St. Louis broke through for all the runs it needed in the fifth, when Matt Carpenter and All-Star Yadier Molina each delivered a two-run single. They both finished with two of the six hits by the Cardinals, who increased their lead over the second-place Pirates to 5 1/2 games. St. Louis improved to 2-2 at Pittsburgh and 5-2 overall against the Pirates this year.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSN Midwest (St. Louis), ROOT (Pittsburgh)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Lance Lynn (6-4, 2.53 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Gerrit Cole (12-3, 2.28)

Lynn continued his run of superb outings Sunday, when he allowed just an unearned run and three hits over seven innings of a win against San Diego. The 28-year-old is 3-0 with a 1.19 ERA in his last six starts, allowing two earned runs or fewer in each turn. Lynn settled for a no-decision against Pittsburgh on May 1 despite yielding only one run and striking out 10 in seven frames, keeping his career record versus the Pirates at 5-3 with a 4.43 ERA in 16 games (14 starts).

Cole looks to become the first 13-game winner in the major leagues after allowing three runs and five hits in eight innings of a victory against Cleveland on Sunday. The 24-year-old All-Star is 7-1 in his last nine outings and has given up two runs or fewer in nine of his last 11 turns. Cole has yet to face St. Louis this year but is 1-2 with a 3.42 ERA in four career meetings.

WALK-OFFS

1. St. Louis 2B Kolten Wong returned from a concussion to record a pinch-hit single in the series opener.

2. McCutchen is riding a 16-game hitting streak as a result of his ninth-inning homer on Thursday.

3. Molina recorded his first stolen base of the season on Thursday, matching his total for last year.

PREDICTION: Pirates 4, Cardinals 1

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Athletics at Indians

GAME: Oakland Athletics (39-49) at Cleveland Indians (41-44)
DATE/TIME: Friday, July 10 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio
LINE: 138, -150 TOTAL: 7.5

The Cleveland Indians have a chance to reach the All-Star break with a .500 record, but it will require a three-game sweep of the visiting Oakland Athletics in a series that gets underway on Friday. The Indians earned only their second home series win of the season by taking the final three contests of a four-game set over American League West-leading Houston.

Starting pitching has sparked the turnaround for Cleveland, which has won eight of its last 11 games and limited opponents to two runs or fewer eight times in that span. Although the Indians scored only nine runs during their winning streak, Michael Brantley led the way by going 6-for-11 with a homer and five runs scored. Oakland, which owns the worst record in the AL at 39-49, lost the final two contests of a three-game set at Yankee Stadium. Rookie Kendall Graveman looks to win his fourth straight start when he opposes Cleveland's Danny Salazar.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, CSN California (Oakland), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Kendall Graveman (6-4, 3.16 ERA) vs. Indians RH Danny Salazar (7-4, 4.10)

Graveman has been outstanding during his three-start winning streak, going seven innings in each outing and allowing a combined two runs while extending his scoreless streak to 16 frames. He blanked Seattle on five hits over seven innings in his last start and turned in an identical line to beat Colorado five days earlier. Pitching away from home has not fazed Graveman, who is 4-1 with a 1.91 ERA in seven road starts.

Salazar failed to make it through five innings for the third time in four starts last time out, allowing five runs over 4 2/3 frames in a 5-3 loss at Pittsburgh. He was dominant in his previous outing, limiting Tampa Bay to two runs over 7 2/3 innings and halting a string in which he surrendered one homer in four straight starts. He has been torched by Oakland's Billy Butler, who is 7-for-12 with four doubles against him.

WALK-OFFS

1. Indians closer Cody Allen has not allowed a run in his last 18 appearances.

2. Oakland SS Marcus Semien committed his major league-leading 28th error Thursday.

3. Indians 1B Carlos Santana was 5-for-13 in the series versus Houston following a 3-for-28 slump.

PREDICTION: Indians 3, Athletics 1

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Yankees at Red Sox

GAME: New York Yankees (46-39) at Boston Red Sox (41-45)
DATE/TIME: Friday, July 10 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
LINE: 103, -111 TOTAL: 8

The first-place New York Yankees attempt to pad their three-game lead in American League East when they open a three-game series on Friday against the host Boston Red Sox. Boston has won four consecutive games and stands just 5 1/2 games behind the Yankees despite residing in last place.

New York center fielder Brett Gardner has been enjoying a superb season and had a homer among three hits in Thursday's 6-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics. Gardner learned in the middle of the contest that he was named to the American League All-Star team to replace injured Kansas City outfielder Alex Gordon. The Red Sox expect to activate injured second baseman Dustin Pedroia (hamstring) sometime during the series but it is unlikely to occur for the opener. "What I don't want to say is that it's going to be Friday and then, all of a sudden, for a reason or another (it isn't)," Boston manager John Farrell told reporters. "The best way to describe it is he's going to be on the field as soon as he's ready."

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, WPIX (New York), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Michael Pineda (8-5, 3.79 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Clay Buchholz (7-6, 3.27)

Pineda is winless in his past three starts and received a no-decision against Tampa Bay in his last turn when he struck out 10 and gave up five hits over seven scoreless innings. He has lost three of his last four road starts but is 4-3 with a 4.53 ERA in seven total away outings. Pineda hasn't faced Boston this season and is 2-2 with a 5.40 ERA in four career starts against the Red Sox.

Buchholz has won four consecutive starts and is 5-0 over his last seven outings. He has allowed only three earned runs during his four-start winning streak and gave up one run and six hits while beating Houston in a complete-game effort last Saturday. Buchholz is 5-8 with a 6.38 ERA in 16 career starts against New York and was torched for 10 runs (nine earned) and nine hits in 3 1/3 innings while losing on April 12.

WALK-OFFS

1. Yankees 1B Mark Teixeira has 62 RBIs, which matches his total from last season.

2. Boston DH David Ortiz has four homers and 10 RBIs over his last 10 games.

3. New York 3B Chase Headley (calf) has missed consecutive games but is expected to return during this series.

PREDICTION: Yankees 4, Red Sox 2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Diamondbacks at Mets

GAME: Arizona Diamondbacks (42-42) at New York Mets (44-42)
DATE/TIME: Friday, July 10 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Citi Field, New York City, New York
LINE: 122, -132 TOTAL: 6.5

After winning consecutive road series for the first time this season, the New York Mets look to head into the All-Star break on a high note when they open a three-game set against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday. Strong pitching has paved the way for New York, which has allowed just four runs en route to winning three of its last four games.

While the recent surge has the Mets (44-42) within three games of first-place Washington in the National League East, the Diamondbacks (42-42) have won five of six to reach .500 for first time since April 24. "I think our expectations of ourselves are very high, and it's well above .500," said A.J. Pollock, who belted a three-run homer to highlight Arizona's 7-4 win over Texas on Wednesday. Pollock is doing his part, going 13-for-33 with eight RBIs and seven runs scored during his seven-game hitting streak. New York certainly could use more out of Lucas Duda, who is 2-for-29 in his last eight contests and batting .167 in 14 career games versus Diamondbacks' pitching.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN Arizona, SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Chase Anderson (4-2, 3.71 ERA) vs. Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (3-4, 3.38)


After allowing a lead-off homer to Charlie Blackmon, Anderson settled for a no-decision despite permitting just three runs on as many hits in six innings against Colorado on Friday. The 27-year-old pitched well in his lone career outing versus the Mets on June 6, yielding one run on eight hits in 5 2/3 frames to receive a no-decision. Anderson has struggled keeping the ball in the park of late, surrendering seven homers in his last three starts after allowing just three in his previous 13 turns this season.

Syndergaard saw his pitch count elevate and settled for a no-decision on Friday despite permitting just one run on two hits in six innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 22-year-old will look to rebound at Citi Field, where he owns a 3-1 mark with a 1.89 ERA and 0.90 WHIP while allowing the opposition to bat .215 against him. Syndergaard has yielded one earned run or less in six of his 10 starts in his first major-league season.

WALK-OFFS


1. New York 3B Eric Campbell went deep in the ninth inning in Wednesday’s victory at San Francisco, ending his team's homerless drought at nine games.

2. Arizona C Welington Castillo also went deep on Wednesday and improved to 6-for-16 during his four-game hitting streak.

3. Mired in a 4-for-40 slump, Mets OF Michael Cuddyer has missed two straight games and six of the team's last eight with a balky left knee.

PREDICTION: Mets 3, Diamondbacks 2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Astros at Rays

GAME: Houston Astros (49-39) at Tampa Bay Rays (43-45)
DATE/TIME: Friday, July 10 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
LINE: -101, -107 TOTAL: 7

The Tampa Bay Rays are in a full-fledged freefall heading toward the All-Star break but hope to build some positive momentum when they host the Houston Astros on Friday in the opener of their three-game series. The Rays have dropped 11 of their last 12 contests following a four-game sweep at Kansas City in which they were outscored 33-16.

"It hasn't been going well for us, obviously," Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. "We've had times throughout the season where it has, and now it's not going that well. We need to get home and hopefully change that around." The Rays were leading the American League East before their current 3-15 slide and now face another division leader in Houston, which is stumbling through a mini-swoon of its own. The Astros have lost five of six after dropping the final three contests of a four-game set in Cleveland. A lack of offense has been the main culprit for Houston, which scored only three runs during its three-game skid and is trying to hold off the surging Los Angeles Angels in the AL West.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Houston), Sun Sports (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Collin McHugh (9-4, 4.54 ERA) vs. Rays RH Erasmo Ramirez (7-3, 3.80)

McHugh had his three-start winning streak come to an end in his last outing, when he was charged with four runs (three earned) and seven hits over 5 1/3 innings at Boston on Saturday. He matched his season low with one strikeout after fanning 22 and permitting six runs over 22 frames in his previous three turns. The 28-year-old McHugh has lost both of his career starts against the Rays despite a 2.45 ERA and .209 batting average against.

Ramirez continued his stretch of strong performances by limiting the New York Yankees to one run over six innings last time out to improve to 5-1 in his last seven starts. The 25-year-old Nicaraguan has permitted a total of five runs in that span and showed he's healthy after leaving an outing at Cleveland on June 20 with a groin injury. He is 1-1 with a 4.60 ERA in three appearances (two starts) against Houston.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tampa Bay's pitching staff was knocked around for 52 hits by Kansas City, the most the team allowed in a series since June 2007 (Yankees, 63).

2. Astros 1B Chris Carter, mired in a 6-for-56 slump, sat out the series finale versus Cleveland.

3. Rays LF John Jaso was 7-for-12 in the series against Kansas City after returning from a three-month stint on the disabled list.

PREDICTION: Rays 3, Astros 2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Braves at Rockies

GAME: Atlanta Braves (42-44) at Colorado Rockies (36-49)
DATE/TIME: Friday, July 10 - 8:10 PM EST
WHERE: Coors Field, Denver, Colorado
LINE: -121, 112 TOTAL: 10

Shelby Miller has been outstanding in his first three months with the Atlanta Braves, and his team certainly can use another stellar performance Friday from their lone All-Star when the Braves play at the Colorado Rockies. Heavy rains Thursday made a mess of both team’s pitching plans in the Rockies’ 5-3 victory, a two-hour, six-minute rain delay in the first inning forcing both teams to turn the game over to their bullpens.

The Rockies lost starter Kyle Kendrick after the rain delay and were undecided on who would start Friday’s contest. Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who could be on the move at the trade deadline, brings a 21-game hitting streak and a 36-game on-base streak (both career highs) into Friday’s contest. Nolan Arenado has recorded at least one hit in 21 of his past 24 games and is batting .340 in that span after collecting three hits in the series opener. Atlanta has lost two in a row after winning six of their first seven games in July.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN South (Atlanta), ROOT (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Shelby Miller (5-4, 2.07 ERA) vs. Rockies TBA

Miller pitched 6 1/3 shutout innings Sunday against Philadelphia, allowing seven hits with eight strikeouts in a game Atlanta lost 4-0 in 10 innings. The 24-year-old, acquired in the Jason Heyward trade with St. Louis during the offseason, ranks third in the National League in ERA and 12th in WHIP (1.095). Miller, who is 2-0 all-time against the Rockies, gave up three runs on six hits with five walks in 2 2/3 innings in his only appearance at Coors Field.

Colorado originally planned to start David Hale, but ended up using the right-hander in relief Thursday – and Hale left the game with a left groin strain in the third inning. Left-hander Jorge De la Rosa (6-3, 4.46 ERA) is scheduled to start Saturday, but could pitch Friday on four days rest. He beat Arizona with six innings of two-run, five-hit pitching Sunday, and has won six of his past seven decisions.

WALK-OFFS

1. Atlanta INF Chris Johnson went 3-for-4 and is 22-for-48 in 13 career games at Coors Field.

2. Colorado RF Carlos Gonzalez has recorded three hits in three of his past four games.

3. Braves 2B Jace Peterson drove in two runs with a bases-loaded single, and is 8-for-12 with 20 RBIs with the bases loaded this season.

PREDICTION: Rockies 7, Braves 5

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Padres at Rangers

GAME: San Diego Padres (39-48) at Texas Rangers (41-44)
DATE/TIME: Friday, July 10 - 8:05 PM EST
WHERE: Globe Life Park in Arlington, Arlington, Texas
LINE: 122, -132 TOTAL: 9.5

Instead of making a late push on the teams leading their respective divisions heading into the All-Star break, the San Diego Padres and Texas Rangers have responded with some of their worst play of the season. The Padres attempt to snap a campaign-worst five-game skid on Friday when they open a three-game interleague series in Texas against the Rangers, who will try to avoid a matching a season low with a sixth straight loss.


San Diego’s recent offensive woes are the primary reason why the team is a season-low nine games below .500 (39-48), tallying two runs or fewer in seven of its eight July contests. Such has been the case in each of the Padres’ defeats during their losing streak, the last of which was a 5-2 setback in Pittsburgh on Wednesday. Texas’ pitching has been the main source of its frustration during an eight-game losing streak at Globe Life Park, giving up an average of 8.3 runs while getting swept by Oakland, the Los Angeles Angels and Arizona. The Rangers are one defeat shy of tying a franchise record for most consecutive home losses.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, FSN San Diego, FSN Southwest (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Ian Kennedy (4-8, 4.84 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Wandy Rodriguez (5-4, 4.23)

Kennedy continued to receive minimal support from his offense on Sunday, taking the loss after giving three runs over six innings in a 3-1 setback at St. Louis. The outing marked the first time in the last five turns the 30-year-old USC product gave up more than one earned run, although he is only 1-3 over that span because the Padres have scored a total of six runs in those contests. Kennedy, who owns a 2-4 mark and 3.54 ERA on the road, lost his only career start against the Rangers in 2012, surrendering six runs in 5 2/3 frames.

Rodriguez remained winless at home, falling to 0-4 with a 7.42 ERA at Globe Life Park after yielding five runs over as many innings in a 13-0 setback versus the Angels on Saturday. The 36-year-old Dominican has struggled mightily over his last two home outings, allowing a total of 13 runs, 20 hits and six walks across nine frames. Rodriguez is 3-3, 5.53 in eight appearances (seven starts) versus the Padres and will face them for the first time since 2012 - when he gave up five runs in each of his two turns against them.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Rangers have won six of seven and seven of their last nine interleague home contests.

2. Padres LF Justin Upton, who sat out Wednesday’s loss, is day-to-day with oblique soreness.

3. Texas has won only three of its last 18 July home games.

PREDICTION: Rangers 4, Padres 2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Tigers at Twins

GAME: Detroit Tigers (44-41) at Minnesota Twins (46-40)
DATE/TIME: Friday, July 10 - 8:10 PM EST
WHERE: Target Field, Minneapolis, Minnesota
LINE: 112, -121 TOTAL: 8.5

Looking far removed from his halcyon days with the Detroit Tigers, Justin Verlander goes for his first victory of the season Friday night in the second of a four-game series against the host Minnesota Twins. The Tigers continued their mastery of the Twins with a 4-2 victory on Thursday night to improve to 8-2 in the season series.

Verlander, the 2011 American League MVP and Cy Young Award winner, will be making his fifth start of the season and is unfazed by his bloated 6.75 ERA. "My stuff is better than it has been in a couple years," said Verlander, who missed the first two months of the season due to a strained right triceps. "I just need to fine-tune it." Minnesota fell to 28-16 at home and dropped 5 1/2 games behind first-place Kansas City in the Central Division with Detroit looming 1 1/2 games back. Rookie Miguel Sano struck out three times en route to an 0-for-4 night in the series opener to snap a seven-game hitting streak to open his major-league career.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN Detroit, FSN North (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Justin Verlander (0-2, 6.75 ERA) vs. Twins RH Ervin Santana (0-0, 2.25)

Verlander appeared on his way to his best outing of the season last time out before he was rocked for seven runs - including a pair of homers - in the fifth inning of a 10-5 setback versus Toronto. The long ball continues to plague Verlander, who has been taken deep six times while allowing a total of 26 hits over 22 2/3 innings in his four starts. He has a solid track record versus the Twins with a 15-8 record and 3.19 ERA.

After serving an 80-game suspension for use of performance-enhancing drugs, Santana was surprisingly sharp in both his Twins and season debut at Kansas City on Sunday. Although he did not factor in the decision, Santana limited the Royals to two runs on only three hits while striking out eight. Santana has a career mark of 8-3 with a 3.01 ERA in 13 starts versus Detroit, including 14 scoreless innings in two wins in 2013.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tigers LF Yoenis Cespedes is batting .363 lifetime against Minnesota, hitting safely in 22 of 25 games.

2. Twins RF Torii Hunter is tied with Gary Gaetti for sixth place on the franchise's all-time RBI list with 758.

3. The Tigers have grounded into a major league-high 92 double plays.

PREDICTION: Twins 4, Tigers 3

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Blue Jays at Royals

GAME: Toronto Blue Jays (44-44) at Kansas City Royals (50-33)
DATE/TIME: Friday, July 10 - 8:10 PM EST
WHERE: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
LINE: -108, 100 TOTAL: 8.5


The Kansas City Royals hope to pad the best record in the American League when they wrap up the first half by hosting the struggling Toronto Blue Jays for a three-game set starting Friday. The Royals have won five straight to begin pulling away from the AL Central pack, while Toronto has dropped eight of its last 11 contests to drop back to .500 for the first time since June 9.



The Royals have gotten it done at the plate lately, scoring seven or more runs in a season-best four straight games. "This time last week we were trying to figure out why our bats were so quiet, so it just goes in cycles," Kansas City manager Ned Yost told reporters. "You just ride it as long as you can when you're hot and continue to grind through it when you're not." The Blue Jays find themselves trying to grind it out after being shut out on four hits Thursday to drop three of four to the Chicago White Sox and fall 3 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees in the AL East. Royals left-hander Danny Duffy hopes for better luck against the Blue Jays than his appearance against them last season, when he gave up two runs and failed to record an out in a relief stint.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, SNET (Toronto), FSN Kansas City



PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Marco Estrada (6-4, 3.59 ERA) vs. Royals LH Danny Duffy (2-4, 5.14)

Estrada struggled in his first start after flirting with a perfect game June 24, but he rebounded with a solid outing in his last turn. The 32-year-old limited Detroit to two runs and five hits over five innings to move within one win of his career high from 2013 and 2014. The Royals are one of only four teams in the majors that Estrada has never faced.

Duffy has not won since April 30 against Detroit, but that stretch spans only six starts thanks to more than a month on the disabled list. The 26-year-old turned in his first quality start since that victory in his last outing, holding Minnesota to two runs over 6 1/3 innings. The Blue Jays have roughed up Duffy in three meetings (two starts), touching him for 11 earned runs in 8 2/3 innings.



WALK-OFFS

1. Royals CF Lorenzo Cain is 15-for-29 with two homers and eight RBIs in his last eight games, including five multi-hit contests.

2. Toronto 2B Devon Travis had two of the team's four hits Thursday and his hitting .370 in 13 games since coming off the disabled list June 26.

3. Kansas City is short-handed with All-Star LF Alex Gordon expected to miss eight weeks with a groin injury and 3B Mike Moustakas on the bereavement list.



PREDICTION: Royals 5, Blue Jays 4

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Brewers at Dodgers

GAME: Milwaukee Brewers (37-50) at Los Angeles Dodgers (49-38)
DATE/TIME: Friday, July 10 - 10:10 PM EST
WHERE: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California
LINE: 144, -156 TOTAL: 7

All-Star catcher Yasmani Grandal tortured Milwaukee pitching earlier this season and looks to inflict more damage when the Los Angeles Dodgers open a three-game series against the visiting Brewers on Friday. Grandal went 8-for-12 in a four-game set in Milwaukee, including a 4-for-4 effort in which he homered twice and had a career-best eight RBIs.

Los Angeles right fielder Yasiel Puig homered for the first time since June 10 and had four RBIs on Thursday in a 6-0 victory over Philadelphia. Milwaukee expects to have right fielder Ryan Braun (wrist) back in the lineup after having two days off — he sat out Wednesday's game before the Brewers had an off-day on Thursday. Milwaukee is in the midst of its best stretch of the seasons with nine wins in its last 11 contests. The Brewers have scored five or more runs eight times during the span.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee), SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Jimmy Nelson (6-8, 4.50 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Mike Bolsinger (4-3, 3.09)

Nelson has won three consecutive starts after losing four of his previous five decisions. He defeated the Cincinnati Reds in his last outing when he gave up three runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. Nelson is 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA in two career starts against the Dodgers.

Bolsinger is winless over his past five outings and hasn't pitched more than 5 1/3 innings in any of them. He lost to the New York Mets in his last turn when he gave up four runs and nine hits over five innings. Bolsinger is 4-2 with a 2.92 ERA in six home starts this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Dodgers 1B Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-run homer in Thursday's victory — his fourth bomb in his last seven games.

2. Milwaukee CF Carlos Gomez hit two homers in Wednesday's win over Atlanta and is 7-for-17 with three blasts and 10 RBIs over the past five games.

3. Los Angeles CF Joc Pederson is 2-for-27 over his past eight games.

PREDICTION: Brewers 6, Dodgers 4