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[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MLB roundup: White Sox end Tigers' 8-game win streak
By The Sports Xchange

DETROIT -- Avisail Garcia and Jose Abreu homered during a five-run second inning, Jose Quintana pitched 7 1/3 strong innings and the Chicago White Sox ended the Detroit Tigers' eight-game winning streak with a 6-3 victory Thursday.
Garcia hit his third home run in three games while Abreu ended a 32-game homerless drought. The White Sox had lost six of their last seven, including the first two games of the series.
Quintana (9-8), who has won his last four decisions, gave up just two runs after allowing a leadoff homer to Ian Kinsler. He walked one and struck out three.
Closer David Robertson, who gave up three solo homers the last time he faced Detroit, collected his 26th save with a scoreless ninth.

Rays 3, Royals 2
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Brad Miller hit a three-run homer off Joakim Soria in the eighth inning to lift Tampa Bay past Kansas City.
Going into the inning, the Rays had been held to just one hit behind a strong performance from Ian Kennedy, who struck out nine over six innings.
Rays starter Drew Smyly kept up, giving up two runs and striking out 10. Smyly's one mistake came in the top of the fourth inning when he gave up a two-run homer to left fielder Alex Gordon.

Indians 9, Twins 2
CLEVELAND -- Jason Kipnis, Carlos Santana, Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez all homered for Cleveland, which halted its three-game losing streak while ending Minnesota's four-game winning streak.
Hector Santiago (10-5) took the loss in his Twins debut after being acquired from the Angels on Monday. Santiago was 6-0 with a 1.78 ERA in his previous six starts, but he gave up a first-inning home run to Kipnis and a three-run homer to Santana in the third.
Dan Otero (3-1) picked up the win after throwing 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of Cleveland starter Mike Clevinger.

Reds 7, Cardinals 0
CINCINNATI -- Brandon Finnegan allowed two hits over six innings, and Brandon Phillips had a pair of doubles and scored three times to lead Cincinnati to a shutout win.
It was the fourth shutout of the season for the Reds. St. Louis managed just five hits.
Finnegan (7-8) allowed only two baserunners, with neither advancing past second base. It was the second straight start in which Finnegan pitched six shutout innings.

Giants 3, Phillies 2 (10 innings)
PHILADELPHIA -- Denard Span hit a home run in the top of the 10th inning off Severino Gonzalez to help San Francisco avoid a series sweep.
Santiago Casilla pitched a clean 10th inning to earn his 25th save.
Matt Moore, acquired at the trade deadline from Tampa, made his first start for the Giants, but he did not get a decision. He pitched six innings, giving up three hits and two runs while walking six and striking out seven. Moore had a 2-1 lead after five innings, but the Phillies tied it on Freddy Galvis' RBI fielder's choice in the sixth.

Mets 4, Yankees 1
NEW YORK -- Jay Bruce, who had been hitless in his first 10 at-bats since being obtained Monday from the Cincinnati Reds, ended the drought with a three-run home run in the fifth inning to lead the New York Mets.
Kelly Johnson also homered for the Mets, who have nine home runs in their last five games.
Bartolo Colon (10-6) reached double-digit wins for the 13th time in his career. He allowed one run and six hits in 6 2/3 innings for his 228th career victory. Yankees starter Nathan Eovaldi (9-8) allowed four runs and five hits in seven innings.

Rangers 5, Orioles 3
BALTIMORE -- Jonathan Lucroy hit a solo homer, and Ian Desmond added two RBIs to help the Rangers salvage the finale of a three-game series.
Lucroy's homer was his first since he came to Texas from the Milwaukee Brewers in a trade on Monday. Another recent acquisition, Carlos Beltran, added an RBI single for Texas.
Baltimore saw its three-game winning streak end despite solo homers from Mark Trumbo, Pedro Alvarez and Hyun Soo Kim. Trumbo leads the major leagues with 31 homers.

Blue Jays 4, Astros 1
HOUSTON -- J.A. Happ pitched six strong innings, guiding Toronto past Houston.
Happ allowed one run on four hits and one walk with six strikeouts. He capped a stellar four-game series for Toronto starters, as Marcus Stroman, R.A. Dickey, Marco Estrada and Happ (15-3) issued two walks in 27 innings.
Toronto won the final three contests against the Astros. Houston lost for the eighth time in 10 games and scored one run for a third consecutive contest.

A's 8, Angels 6 (10 innings)
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Yonder Alonso's two-out double drove in the tiebreaking run in the 10th inning, and Oakland earned a win over Los Angeles.
Angels reliever Mike Morin got the first two outs of the 10th before giving up consecutive singles to Danny Valencia and Billy Butler. Alonso followed with a liner to right-center to score Valencia. Marcus Semien added an RBI single to give the A's some breathing room.
Oakland reliever Ryan Madson (4-4) got the win over Morin (2-2), and Ryan Dull pitched the 10th inning for his second save. The victory allowed the A's to avoid a three-game sweep while ending their five-game losing streak.

Dodgers 4, Rockies 2
DENVER -- Kenta Maeda pitched into the sixth inning, and Los Angeles avoided a sweep at Colorado.
Yasmani Grandal tripled home two runs with two outs in the fifth when the Dodgers scored three runs against Rockies starter Tyler Chatwood (10-7) and took a 4-2 lead. Corey Seager began the scoring in that inning when he hit his 19th home run, tying the record Hanley Ramirez set in 2013 for a Los Angeles shortstop.
Maeda (10-7) gave up two runs and four hits in 5 2/3 innings with no walks and five strikeouts. He hit two batters and threw a wild pitch in his 96-pitch outing.

Braves 5, Pirates 2
ATLANTA -- Adonis Garcia turned a base-running gaffe into the go-ahead run in Atlanta's victory over Pittsburgh.
Garcia walked with one out in the seventh inning and took second on Ender Inciarte's single. Garcia then wandered off second base and inexplicably took off for third.
Pirates reliever Felipe Rivero calmly threw to third, well ahead of Garcia, but Pittsburgh third baseman Jung Ho Kang had the ball bounce off the end of his glove for an error and roll behind him. When Garcia saw Kang tumble to the ground, he raced home with the go-ahead run.

Red Sox 3, Mariners 2 (11 innings)
SEATTLE -- Brock Holt delivered a two-out, RBI single in the 11th inning, lifting Boston to a win over Seattle. The Red Sox managed a split of the four-game series after dropping the middle two contests.
Holt, who entered the game in the seventh inning, drove a pitch from Cody Martin up the middle to drive in Travis Shaw. Martin (1-2) was the sixth pitcher used by a Mariners, and he gave up a leadoff single to Shaw and a sacrifice bunt by Sandy Leon.
Brad Ziegler came on in the bottom of the 13th to earn his third save of the season after Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel (2-3) ended the ninth and struck out the side in the 10th.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Reds (44-63) at Pirates (53-53)

Game: 1
Venue: PNC Park
Date: August 05, 2016 7:05 PM EDT

PITTSBURGH -- The Cincinnati Reds play the Pirates in Pittsburgh on Friday night in the start of a weekend series between clubs in contention for a wildcard playoff spot, but the clubs' stories lately have not been all that similar.

The Reds have won all six of their series since the All-Star break, each time by taking two of three games. It is their first streak of six straight series wins since 1999.

Including a series win against Chicago followed by getting swept by the Marlins just before the All-Star game, Cincinnati has won seven of its past eight series.

"It's been a good run really since Chicago before the break, with that little hiccup in Miami," Reds manager Bryan Price said, according to mlb.com. "Since then, it's been winning series and playing good ball, playing better defense, pitchers throwing strikes, a little bit deeper with some of our starts, which really helps the bullpen, and getting healthier. A lot of good things are happening."

The Reds beat St. Louis 7-0 Thursday to take that series -- you guessed it -- 2-1. It was their fourth shutout this season, second in their past six games and third in their past 16 games.

The Pirates, meanwhile, are 2-3-1 in series since the break, including getting swept in Milwaukee and dropping two of three to Atlanta, the worst team in the league, this week.

They are trying to find the right combinations and parts, something that has been ongoing all season. Pittsburgh this week not only made a few moves at the trade deadline -- right-hander Ivan Nova will start Saturday in his Pirates debut -- but manager Clint Hurdle also made a noteworthy move seemingly born of frustration and desperation.

Hurdle benched center fielder and former National League MVP Andrew McCutchen for the full three games of the series at Atlanta that ended Thursday night with a 5-2 loss.

The hope was that McCutchen would benefit from taking a step back, not picking up a bat or taking the field for a few days. He is batting a career-low .241, including a current 5-for-27 showing, and has gotten just five of his 43 RBIs since July 15.

"He's tried a lot of things," Hurdle told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "This man's fought. He's done early work, late work, side work, video work. Nothing's worked."

McCutchen, who presumably will be back in the lineup Friday against Cincinnati, wasn't thrilled with the tactic, but he did not want to make waves.

"If I had my choice, I'd be in there," McCutchen told the Tribune-Review. "But I'm all for my team, all for my teammates, so that's the reason I'm not going to mope about it."

McCutchen also was one of the players left reeling by moves Pittsburgh made that were broadly interpreted as being rooted in financial concerns rather than boosting the club's postseason chances this year. Among other things, the Pirates shipped Mark Melancon, one of the sport's top closers, to Washington.

"There is some confusion," McCutchen told the Tribune-Review. "Some things that feel like, 'Why? What was the reasoning behind some of our moves?' That's the biggest thing.

"We understand (management) is not our job. We understand it's not what we do. We play. But there are some things that I'm sure for all of us, kind of blew us away. Where we are (mentally) is just like, 'Dang. Wow. That's crazy.' You know?"

In addition, the Pittsburgh rotation has been in some disarray beyond the trades, partly because of injuries but also because of shaky performances that have led to skipped starts and stretches in the bullpen by starters. One, Jeff Locke, spoke out about a lack of consistency with his role after he spent more than a week in the bullpen.

Friday, rookie right-hander Jameson Taillon (2-2, 3.52 ERA) will make his ninth major league start, first against the Reds. He has had a couple of hiccups that might be expected of a young pitcher, but overall has shown promise when healthy. He has not allowed a walk in his past four appearances and has been charged with seven earned runs in those 24 innings. Pittsburgh has won four his past five starts.

Taillon's counterpart Friday will be Reds right-hander Anthony DeSclafani (6-0, 2.93 ERA), who has eight quality starts in 10 appearances, including a six-inning, one-run performance Saturday against San Diego.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Giants (62-46) at Nationals (64-44)

Game: 1
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: August 05, 2016 7:05 PM EDT

WASHINGTON -- The Washington Nationals have ranked among the league leaders most of this season in team ERA and fielding percentage.

But Nationals manager Dusty Baker is still not satisfied as his club begins a three-game series at home Friday against the San Francisco Giants in a matchup of first-place teams.

While his club leads the league in homers, Baker would like to see his team hit better for average and especially when runners are in scoring position.

"I don't like being in the middle of the pack on offense, I will tell you that," Baker told reporters during a road series this week in Arizona. "This is the offensive time of the year, August and September."

The Nationals (64-44), who had Thursday off, flexed their offensive muscle by beating Arizona 14-1 on Monday, 10-4 on Tuesday and 8-3 on Wednesday.

"We were able to get the series sweep with an off day (Thursday)," infielder Daniel Murphy said Wednesday on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network.

The Giants wrapped up a series at Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon with a 3-2 victory in 10 innings while the Nationals ended a three-city road trip by going 6-3 in Cleveland, San Francisco and Arizona. Washington outscored foes 54-27 on the trip.

San Francisco (62-46) had the worst mark in the majors at 4-13 since the All-Star break going into Thursday's play.

"It's hard to believe," Giants right-hander Johnny Cueto told MLB.com. "We're a good team. All we can do is keep grinding and putting our best stuff out there every time."

Bryce Harper had the flu and missed Tuesday's game in Arizona. "He looks a lot better," Baker said of Harper, who was back in the starting lineup Wednesday.

The Giants are slated to start right-hander Jeff Samardzija, who is 7-16 with a 4.92 ERA in 57 games (25 starts) in the month of August.

He was slated to start for Thursday but was pushed back when Matt Moore, acquired in a trade from Tampa Bay on Monday, pitched against the Phillies.

Samardzija (9-7, 4.30 this season) has some history with several Washington hitters.

Murphy, the Player of the Month for July in the National League, is hitting .500 in 12 at-bats with one homer against the former Notre Dame football player. Washington catcher Wilson Ramos is hitting .364 with two homers in 11 at-bats against him. Murphy and Ramos went deep in the series at Arizona.

Harper is hitting .200 in 10 at-bats against Samardzija and Ben Revere is at .333 in nine trips.

Harper enters Friday with an average of .130 in his last seven games, .115 in his last 15 and .194 in his last 30.

"Sooner or later Harper will really bust out of this," Baker said.

Washington infielder Danny Espinosa, who was on fire in June, is hitting .115 in his last 15 games and .196 in his last 30.

Washington has a new closer -- Mark Melancon -- since it last played at Nationals Park.

Jonathan Papelbon, acquired last year at the trade deadline, lost the role after Melancon was acquired in a deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday for reliever Felipe Rivero and a minor league pitcher.

The Washington Post reported Thursday that left-hander Gio Gonzalez (6-9, 4.29) would make the start on regular rest Friday against the Giants. That will allow the Nationals to skip over the fifth man in the rotation, which has been rookies Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez in the past few weeks.

Hunter Pence is 1-for-17 against Gonzalez while Buster Posey is 5-for-15.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Indians (61-45) at Yankees (54-54)

Game: 1
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: August 05, 2016 7:05 PM EDT

NEW YORK -- The Cleveland Indians have held sole possession of first place in the American League Central for nearly two months.

Suddenly, their lead does not seem as secure.

The Indians look to maintain their advantage and possibly add to it Friday night when they open a three-game series with the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.

Cleveland has held a share of first place for the past 54 days and 63 days overall. The Indians took sole possession of the lead June 17 and won 21 of 29 games to take a 7 1/2-game lead on three occasions.

The most recent instance was July 20, but since an 11-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals, the Indians have dropped six of 11 at the same time the Detroit Tigers went on their biggest run of the season.

Cleveland is up by three games over Detroit after favorable results Thursday. The Indians averted a four-game sweep at the hands of the Minnesota Twins by scoring a 9-2 victory as Jason Kipnis, Carlos Santana, Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez homered.

"That helps, because we got beat around the ballpark for the last three days," Indians manager Terry Francona said.

At the same time as Cleveland getting its first lead in 27 innings, the Tigers had an eight-game winning streak snapped with a 6-3 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

Even so, the Tigers are in striking distance with one-third of the season remaining.

"There's no point in rushing," Lindor said. "There are a lot of games left."

The Yankees (54-54) have lost six of eight games since starting the second half with eight wins in their first 12 games. New York was 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position Thursday during a 4-1 loss to the New York Mets, marking the 43rd time the Yankees scored two runs or fewer.

The Yankees are at .500 for the 11th time in the past two months.

"I know with the trades and everything that has happened, the outlook is a little different," Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner said. "But we're going to play hard and grind every day. We're not giving up."

Alex Rodriguez has not started in 10 of New York's past 11 games, and the Yankees are unsure when his next start will be.

"I can't really tell you when I'm going to play him," manager Joe Girardi said.

Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira sat out Thursday after getting hit in the left shin Wednesday by a pitch from Mets left-hander Steven Matz. He is day-to-day.

Gary Sanchez has occupied the designated hitter spot the past two games, and the Yankees plan on playing him close to every day for the rest of the season as a DH or the catcher.

Cleveland will start Josh Tomlin and, he will go for his team-leading 12th win, which would equal the career high he set during the 2011 season. Tomlin (11-3, 3.43 ERA) has split his last four starts, and he allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings Saturday during a 6-3 win over the Oakland A's.

Tomlin did not pitch when the Indians lost three of four to the Yankees three weeks ago. He is 3-2 with a 4.82 ERA in seven career appearances against the Yankees, including Aug. 20, 2015, when he allowed a run and two hits over seven innings in a 3-2 win at New York.

That victory was Tomlin's first after having shoulder surgery. Over 29 starts the past two years, he is 18-5 with a 3.28 ERA.

Michael Pineda will start for the Yankees, looking to improve upon a 5-10 record and a 5.13 ERA. Pineda is 2-2 with a 4.13 ERA in four starts since the All-Star break, and they have been typical of his inconsistency.

In his two wins, Pineda has allowed one run and 10 hits with 16 strikeouts in 13 innings. In his two losses, Pineda has allowed 10 runs and 11 hits in 11 innings.

Pineda has never faced the Indians.

While the Yankees took three of four July 7-10 in Cleveland, the Indians have won five of their past seven games at Yankee Stadium.

In the early-July series, Lindor was 7-for-19 (.368) with two home runs.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Twins (43-65) at Rays (44-63)

Game: 1
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: August 05, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- While the Minnesota Twins and Tampa Bay Rays sit at the bottom of the standings in the American League, both clubs enter Friday's series opener playing some decent baseball.

The Twins (43-65) dropped a 9-2 decision to the Cleveland Indians on Thursday afternoon but won the first three games of the four-game series against the AL Central leaders.

The Rays (44-63) have won two straight, rallying for three runs in the eighth inning Thursday to defeat the Kansas City Royals 3-2.

"By coming back and continuing to battle, I think we're showing what kind of character we have on this team," said Rays shortstop Brad Miller, whose three-run homer wiped out a 2-0 deficit. "This hasn't been an easy season, but the guys in this clubhouse continue to fight every game and play hard."

Minnesota, meanwhile, is streaking behind the hot bat of catcher Joe Mauer. The 2009 AL Most Valuable Player was 10-for-18 (.556) with five doubles, a triple and a home run during the four-game series against the Indians. He finished a home run shy of a cycle Tuesday during a 13-5 win over Cleveland.

"I've been really staying on that back leg, driving the ball," Mauer said. "I've been a little bit more sore, but it's been feeling good getting results."

For the Rays, it is Miller providing the big bat. He has homered in the past two games. The surge began days after Tampa Bay acquired third baseman Matt Duffy from the San Francisco Giants at the trade deadline with the plan of making him the full-time shortstop. Duffy is on the disabled list due to strained left Achilles.

So while Miller will have to change positions, likely to first base, his bat will still be in the lineup.

"I don't think they have kept me in the lineup to do me any sort of favors," Miller said. "I've earned my spot and earned the opportunity to play every day. I played shortstop (Thursday), and that's what I prepared for. I'll have to play wherever they move me."

The Rays will send rookie left-hander Blake Snell (3-4, 3.08 ERA) to the mound for the series opener Friday.

Snell has pitched more than five innings in each of his past seven starts and has won two of his past three, including a 5-3 victory against the New York Yankees on Sunday. In that start, he matched his career high with nine strikeouts, and he yielded two runs in 5 1/3 innings.

He will oppose the Twins for the first time in his career.

Minnesota will counter with right hander Ervin Santana, who has made three quality starts in a row and five in his past six outings. Santana (4-9, 3.66 ERA) won his last start on Sunday, a 6-4 victory against the Chicago White Sox, giving up three runs (one earned) over six innings.

Santana lost his only start against the Rays this season, giving up five runs over six innings in a 7-4 loss at Target Field in June 4. In 16 career starts against Tampa Bay, he is 6-7 with a 5.48 ERA.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mets (56-52) at Tigers (59-49)

Game: 1
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: August 05, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers' longest winning streak of the season ended Thursday. They'll try to get another one going this weekend when they face another team fighting for a playoff spot.

The New York Mets, coming off a four-game split with the crosstown rival Yankees, will make their first journey to Detroit's Comerica Park since June 2011. The three-game showdown begins on Friday night.

Detroit dropped three games behind American League Central Division leader Cleveland with a 6-3 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Thursday afternoon.

"You try to win every series," Tigers catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia said. "It's been a great eight-win run, so now we're going to start a new one."

Following a down year in which they finished last in the division, the Tigers have re-established themselves as a contender. Despite losing the series finale to the White Sox, they're still 10 games over .500.

"It's awesome. That's what helps teams get through August and September," right fielder J.D. Martinez said. "It's a long last couple of months if you're out of it. You're kind of just grinding through and the clubhouse is just miserable. Last year, that's kind of how it felt. It's just tough to go out there and play. But when you know you're in it and you've got a shot to make it to the playoffs, there's nothing like it."

The Tigers will send out the American League Pitcher of the Month for July in the series opener. Justin Verlander compiled a 4-0 record in six starts last month, including a complete-game victory over Houston on Saturday when he recorded a season-high 11 strikeouts.

Cameron Maybin's status for the weekend series is uncertain. The Tigers' center fielder suffered a mildly sprained thumb on his glove hand while diving for a ball on Wednesday and did not play on Thursday.

The Tigers won't see the slugging outfielder they traded last season. Mets left fielder Yoenis Cespedes was placed on the 15-day disabled list after he aggravated a right quad strain during a 9-5 loss to the Yankees on Wednesday.

The Mets were planning to use him as a designated hitter during the weekend series before the pain persisted. He appeared in 14 of 21 games after initially suffering the injury on July 8 and hit just .227 with one homer in that span.

"It's a little frustrating," Cespedes told the New York Times and other media members through an interpreter. "I've missed games and lost my timing trying to get back on the field to help the team, and I can't."

The addition of slugger Jay Bruce at the trade deadline softens the blow. Bruce hit his first homer with the Mets, a three-run shot, in a 4-1 win over the Yankees on Thursday. The Mets will still miss Cespedes' presence in the middle of the order.

"He was a huge factor. We're not going to mistake that," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "He was a huge factor. But we've gone through this (all) year, with not just Ces but a lot of guys. ... There's going to be a lot of guys in that clubhouse right now who have to do a little bit more."

Right-hander Noah Syndergaard will be seeking his first win in five starts when he opposes Verlander. Syndergaard has two losses and two no-decisions in that span, though he has only given up seven earned runs. He took a no-decision in his last start on Sunday against Colorado, allowing three runs -- two earned -- with six strikeouts in six innings.

The Tigers will be facing Syndergaard, who is pitching with a bone spur in his elbow, for the first time.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Orioles (61-46) at White Sox (52-56)

Game: 1
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: August 05, 2016 8:10 PM EDT

CHICAGO -- The Baltimore Orioles cling to a slim lead in the American League East, while the Chicago White Sox are trying to avoid tumbling further down the AL Central standings.

The teams meet for a three-game series starting Friday night at U.S. Cellular Field.

The Orioles (61-46) lead the Toronto Blue Jays in the division by percentage points after taking two of three against West leader Texas.

"I was impressed with how well our guys pitched against them because that's a tough lineup to go through and stay engaged in the game," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "That's the type of thing we're going to have be able to do to get where we want to go."

Since the All-Star break, Baltimore is 10-10. While the Orioles own the best home record in the majors at 39-17, on the road they're just 22-29 and have lost seven of their last nine.

The series could be interesting in terms of power. The Orioles top the majors with 161 home runs -- including 31 by right fielder Mark Trumbo, who has one more than White Sox third baseman Todd Frazier for the most in all of baseball. And U.S. Cellular Field can be a hitter-friendly park.

The White Sox (52-56) are 7-13 in the second half and are returning from an eight-game road trip after dropping two of three to the Detroit Tigers. Chicago is 10 games behind AL Central leader Cleveland and seven games back in the wild card race.

The White Sox and Baltimore split four games April 28-May 1 in Baltimore.

For the Orioles, right-hander Yovani Gallardo (3-3, 5.70 ERA) is expected to start. He is winless in six starts since June 29. Gallardo allowed five runs in 4 1/3 innings against Toronto in his last start Saturday. In 11 career innings against the White Sox, he has given up one unearned run.

Right-hander Miguel Gonzalez (2-5, 4.06 ERA) is scheduled to start for the White Sox in his first meeting with his former team. Baltimore released him during spring training after he posted a 9.78 ERA in six starts. Gonzalez was 39-33 with a 3.82 ERA in four seasons with the Orioles. Last month, Gonzalez went 1-2 with a 2.50 ERA and pitched six innings or more in all six starts.

The White Sox are hoping first baseman Jose Abreu is heating up. He homered in Thursday's 6-3 victory over the Tigers for his first drive since June 23. He has 12 home runs after hitting 30 last season.

"It has been a long time and somewhere in there it has been dragging on him," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "His swings today were great. He's been hitting a lot of balls right on the nose, which is a good sign for him.

"The last few days we've seen the ball jump off his bat, not chasing a lot of stuff. He looks pretty comfortable at the plate and everything coming off his bat is pretty solid."

As far as injuries, White Sox rookie shortstop Tim Anderson is day to day after suffering a bruised left hand Thursday.

"It was relieving to get those X-rays negative," Anderson said.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rangers (63-46) at Astros (56-52)

Game: 1
Venue: Minute Maid Park
Date: August 05, 2016 8:10 PM EDT

HOUSTON -- Mired in a prolonged offensive slump, the Houston Astros enter a decisive series against a recent nemesis at precisely the wrong time.

The Astros are 1-9 against the Texas Rangers this season and have lost 17 of the past 20 games in the Lone Star Series. The American League West rivals open a three-game set at Minute Maid Park on Friday.

Houston (56-52) lost for the eighth time in 10 games Thursday night, falling 4-1 to the Toronto Blue Jays. The Astros have scored 21 runs during that span to fall 6 1/2 games behind the Rangers (63-46) in the division.

"When we get a chance to play against a team that's in front of us, that's always an opportunity," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "I look at it as we've got to worry about ourselves and playing our brand of baseball no matter if we're playing the Blue Jays, the Rangers, the Twins, Toronto next week. Our schedule is pretty tough the next couple of months, and they're next on the docket.

"I wasn't circling this series as the end all, be all. We've got to play all of our games, but it will be nice to get back in the division and get a look at their new team. They're the team people are chasing, so why wouldn't you want to play them?"

Left-hander Dallas Keuchel (6-11, 4.86 ERA) will make his 18th career start against the Rangers, his most against any opponent. Keuchel is 4-7 with a 4.58 ERA in his career against Texas, including 0-3 with a 7.91 ERA in three starts this season.

Keuchel recorded seven consecutive quality starts before getting shelled in Detroit on Sunday, allowing seven runs on seven hits in five innings. That marked his fourth start this season of less than six innings.

The Rangers, who salvaged the series finale against the Baltimore Orioles with a 5-3 victory Thursday night, will turn to left-hander Martin Perez (7-7, 4.22 ERA) in the opener. Perez defeated the Astros 5-3 on June 9, allowing two runs on four hits and four walks with two strikeouts over six innings. He is 5-2 with a 1.88 ERA in seven career starts against Houston.

Texas is working to integrate a pair of deadline-deal acquisitions into its offense: designated hitter Carlos Beltran and catcher Jonathan Lucroy. The Rangers traded with the New York Yankees to land Beltran while getting Lucroy from the Milwaukee Brewers at Monday's non-waiver deadline.

The Rangers recorded a season-high six doubles Thursday as part of their seven extra-base hits, also a season high. It was Lucroy who delivered the non-double extra-base knock, belting his first home run with his new club.

"Any time you have extra-base hits like that, you have guys that can put some numbers up offensively," Lucroy told MLB.com. "I think any one of these guys in that lineup out there can do that. There's a lot of different weapons and a lot of different ways we can hurt you."

Texas manager Jeff Banister added, "To get away with this win tonight (in a) close ballgame is (good). Our guys got some nice production up and down the lineup."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Braves (39-69) at Cardinals (57-51)

Game: 1
Venue: Busch Stadium
Date: August 05, 2016 8:15 PM EDT

For the St. Louis Cardinals, the time to talk about being the team they feel they can be is just about over.

Thursday's 7-0 loss at Cincinnati capped a 5-5 trip that hinted at being so much more after a 4-1 start against the New York Mets and Miami, fellow National League wild-card hopefuls. With two-thirds of the season in the books, St. Louis (57-51) is tied with the Marlins for the second wild card.

Beginning with Friday night's visit from the Atlanta Braves, the Cardinals need to figure out how to become the team they want to be, or else face missing the National League playoffs for just the fifth time since 2000.

"It's August. You're going to have stuff," St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. "They talk about it being the dog days, and these are a good test because you're going to have some struggles."

Many of the Cardinals' struggles have occurred in Busch Stadium, where they are a pitiful 25-30 a year after going 55-26 en route to a third straight Central Division title and baseball's first 100-win regular season in four years.

If St. Louis is to indeed derive an advantage from familiar surroundings and the last at-bat, the upcoming six-game homestand offers a favorable opportunity. After three games with Atlanta (39-69), it welcomes the Reds, who have won one series in their last 10 visits.

What's more, the Cardinals are getting a big boost to their lineup with the return of All-Star Matt Carpenter, who will be activated Friday after missing a month with a strained right oblique.

Carpenter, who was batting .298 with 14 homers and 53 RBIs at the time of his injury, was on a pace to score and drive in more than 100 runs from the leadoff spot.

He and his teammates will face right-hander Joel De La Cruz (0-3, 3.80), who will be making his fourth career start. De La Cruz last pitched on Sunday, working 4 1/3 scoreless innings in a 2-1 win over Philadelphia.

Left-hander Jaime Garcia (7-8, 4.30) gets the call for St. Louis, aiming to improve on a disastrous start Saturday night. Going on three days of rest, Garcia allowed four runs in his first 15 pitches and eventually was charged with six runs over 3 1/3 innings in an 11-0 defeat.

The Braves are coming off a rain-delayed 5-2 win Thursday night over Pittsburgh, enabling them to notch a series win. Center fielder Ender Inciarte's two hits stretched his hitting streak to 15 games.

"He just keeps swinging that bat, kind of like that guy they saw last year," Atlanta interim manager Brian Snitker said to mlb.com of Inciarte. "That's good to see. The kid has worked really hard, and he's played great defense. It's just really nice to see the bat come alive."

The Cardinals will pitch Carlos Martinez (10-6, 2.99) on Saturday night, while the Braves haven't named a starter. Sunday's series finale matches St. Louis veteran Adam Wainwright (9-5, 4.14) against Mike Foltynewicz (4-5, 4.60).

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Blue Jays (62-47) at Royals (51-57)

Game: 1
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: August 05, 2016 8:15 PM EDT

TORONTO -- Francisco Liriano's first start for the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday against the Kansas City Royals would be interesting enough under normal circumstances.

The deadline trade to acquire him from the Pittsburgh Pirates is a gamble.

The left-hander struggled this season with the Pirates, going 6-11 with a 5.46 ERA. The Blue Jays hope that being reunited with catcher Russell Martin will be a factor in turning around Liriano.

Martin and Liriano worked well together with Pittsburgh in 2013-14. Liriano has a 2.92 ERA with Martin catching. "I think we're pretty much on the same page," Liriano said. "We have a pretty good connection."

Adding to the interest is that the start also comes during the on-going quandary of what to do with Aaron Sanchez, who has performed so well in his first full season as a major league starter that some in upper management are concerned about limiting his innings.

A temporary compromise was reached Thursday when it was decided to go with a six-man rotation for the time being. The Blue Jays had said Sanchez would be going to the bullpen after his next start, a move that Martin and other players openly opposed.

It takes some heat off Liriano for now. He is not being asked to replace a starter who is 11-1 with a 2.71 ERA. When general manager Ross Atkins visited Houston to clarify the situation with Sanchez, Liriano offered to go to the bullpen if necessary.

Liriano still must show better than he did with the Pirates this season, however. Sanchez will start Saturday in the middle contest of the three-game series at Kauffman Stadium instead of Friday. Liriano is 6-5 with a 4.55 ERA in 17 games (14 starts) against the Royals.

Atkins discussed the situation with the starting pitchers and found a favorable reception to using a six-man rotation instead of moving Sanchez to the bullpen.

"The biggest thing is input from different people after something was more concrete, or closer to it, and the fact that Francisco Liriano was so open to everything," Atkins said. "Then the more we thought about the potential of a six-man rotation not just benefiting Aaron but benefiting the others in the rotation at this point in the season."

The Blue Jays got the 15th win of the season Thursday from left-hander J.A. Happ in a 4-1 victory over the Houston Astros, They won three in a row from the Astros after dropping the opener of the four-game series in 14 innings. The Blue Jays are 19-9 since July 1 and are a percentage point behind the Baltimore Orioles in the American League East.

The struggling Royals, who lost 3-2 to the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday on a three-run homer against reliever Joakim Soria in the eighth inning, start right-hander Dillon Gee (3-5, 4.66 ERA) on Friday. The bullpen is without Luke Hochevar and closer Wade Davis who are on the disabled list.

"We're to a point with our bullpen -- if we could get to a four-out save -- we might have used Kelvin (Herrera) there," manager Ned Yost said after the game Thursday. "But we just never got there. ...We're just real thin down there."

The Royals, the 2015 World Series champions, are 51-57 after a 2-6 road trip. They are 6-14 since the All-Star break.

Gee makes his eighth start and 22nd appearance of the season. He suffered his third straight loss when the Texas Rangers defeated the Royals 5-3. He allowed seven hits (including two home runs), one walk and four runs in six innings against Texas, his longest outing of the season.

He was with the New York Mets in 2012 when he made his only career start against the Blue Jays, a 6-5 win when he allowed three runs in 6 2/3 innings.

"Just get us through five and keep us in the game," Yost said. "He's done that. That's what we need from him. He got us through six innings last time and kept us in the game, and gave us a chance to win."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Marlins (57-51) at Rockies (54-54)

Game: 1
Venue: Coors Field
Date: August 05, 2016 8:40 PM EDT

DENVER -- The Miami Marlins open a three-game series Friday against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field with Ichiro Suzuki on the cusp of history.

Suzuki is two hits shy of 3,000 but has gone hitless in his past 10 at-bats. Ichiro, the Marlins' fourth outfielder, has started two of Miami's past 13 games because of the Marlins' formidable outfield starters -- Christian Yelich, Marcel Ozuna and Giancarlo Stanton.

The three-game series with the Rockies concludes a six-game road trip for the Marlins, who open a six-game homestand Monday. Miami manager Don Mattingly said he wanted Ichiro to reach the 3,000-hit milestone when the Marlins were home, but he's been mostly pinch-hitting because the three starting outfielders have been well and the Marlins (57-51) are tied with St. Louis for the second wild-card spot -- three games ahead of Colorado.

"We go back to the context of winning, and that's where Ichiro fits into this thing perfectly," Mattingly said. "I don't think he wants me to just put him in there to get this thing done and sacrifice the team when you've got somebody else that's going good."

The left-handed hitting Ichiro is likely to be on the bench Friday when left-hander Jorge De La Rosa starts for the Rockies. De La Rosa is 7-7 with a 5.51 ERA and earned his 100th career win in his last start Saturday at the Mets when he gave up two runs and six hits in six innings as the Rockies won 7-2.

In nine starts since moving back into the rotation June 14, De La Rosa is 5-3 with a 3.54 ERA.

David Phelps, who is 5-5 with a 2.65 ERA, starts for the Marlins. He threw 55 pitches on Saturday while working 2 2/3 scoreless innings against St. Louis and will be making his first start after 50 relief appearances this season as the Marlins try to move him into the rotation to stabilize their No. 5 spot. Phelps will be on a limit of about 70-to-75 pitches when he faces the Rockies in his 60th career start.

While the Marlins wait to celebrate with Ichiro when he makes history, the Rockies are concerned with more mundane matters, namely their depth at shortstop.

Rookie Trevor Story is done for the season after undergoing surgery Thursday to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb. In his absence, the Rockies planned to have Daniel Descalso, Cristhian Adames and Rafael Ynoa, who was recalled when Story was placed on the disabled list, handle the position.

However, Descalso suffered a left shoulder contusion while playing left field Thursday and had to leave the game after the third inning. He stumbled making a catch on drive hit by Corey Seager of the Los Angeles Dodgers and hit the wall with his neck and shoulder.

When he addressed the media after the game, manager Walt Weiss said he had not talked with trainer Keith Dugger about Descalso.

"But he was having a hard time swinging the bat, so I had to get him out of there," Weiss said. "It didn't look real good. He kind of got folded up there against the wall. Any time a guy runs into the wall and you see his neck get in a position like that, it's concerning."

The Rockies on Friday will have to evaluate Descalso and determine if and when he can play shortstop.

"We're a little nicked up right now," Weiss said. "It's not really a position that we can take on any more (adversity), but if that's the case, we'll deal with it. We'll be fine, just like we have been."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Brewers (48-58) at Diamondbacks (43-65)

Game: 1
Venue: Chase Field
Date: August 05, 2016 9:40 PM EDT

PHOENIX -- Arizona looks to avenge a series loss when it hosts Milwaukee and Chase Field fan favorite Craig Counsell in a weekend series.

To do so, the Diamondbacks will have to play better than they did in their previous series this week, when they were outscored 32-8 and outhit 48-20 while being swept by National League East leader Washington. It did not help that they faced Washington's top three starters -- Stephen Strasburg, Tanner Roark and Max Scherzer.

The Brewers took three of four when the teams met at Miller Park 10 days ago.

Arizona starts rookie Braden Shipley (1-1) against former Diamondback Chase Anderson (6-10), a rematch of the starting pitchers in the Brewers' 7-2 victory in the first game of the series in Milwaukee on July 25.

Shipley gave up six runs in 5 1/3 innings of that game in his major league debut, but rebounded with six scoreless innings in a 4-2 victory at the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday.

Shipley gave up five hits, struck out four and walked one in his second start -- the last game the Diamondbacks have won. They have lost four in a row, 12 of 15 and 19 of 25 since July 3.

Milwaukee has won seven of 10, starting with the Arizona series.

The Diamondbacks have a 5.11 team ERA -- 29th in the majors -- and the loss of right-hander Zack Greinke for five weeks with an oblique strain has not helped.

Arizona has 41 quality starts. Only Milwaukee (40) has fewer.

Following an 8-3 loss to Washington on Wednesday, Manager Chip Hale was asked if the pitching simply was not good enough.

"I don't want to say that, because I think if we execute the pitches ... the guys that are throwing the pitches are good enough, they just need to execute better," Hale said.

"Locate better, pitch selection better, which the catchers and the pitchers are both responsible. I hate to make a blanket statement. I think the guys throwing the pitches when we're struggling are good enough to get people out, we just need to keep working with them to make them better."

Arizona third baseman Jake Lamb and outfielder Yasmany Tomas had homers in the final two games of the Washington series, giving Lamb 23 for the season and Tomas 19.

Tomas was 6-for-14 with two homers, two doubles and eight RBIs in the four games in Milwaukee, and has six homers in his last 11 games.

The Brewers' Hernan Perez recorded a homer, two RBIs and three stolen bases in the Arizona series. He is hitting .400 with three homers, eight RBIs and five stolen bases in his last eight games.

Both teams will have a little different look this time around. Arizona traded setup man Tyler Clippard on Saturday, and the Brewers dealt catcher Jonathan Lucroy, lefty specialist Will Smith and closer Jarred Jeffress at the Monday trade deadline.

The Brewers' most acclaimed addition was shortstop Orlando Arcia, who was promoted from Triple-A Colorado Springs. Arcia made his major league debut Tuesday, and is 0-for-6 in two games at San Diego. Arcia was Baseball America's No. 8 overall prospect entering the season.

With Arcia's addition, Brewers manager Counsell has played major league stolen base leader Jonathan Villar (40) at third base and put the versatile Perez in right field. Counsell was a member of the Diamondbacks' 2001 World Series winner.

"I know a lot of people are excited, and it's an exciting day," Counsell told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about Arcia's promotion.

"He's an important player. Now we get to watch him grow every day. We get to watch him struggle, and then grow from it. Which is fun."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Cubs (66-41) at Athletics (48-60)

Game: 1
Venue: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Date: August 05, 2016 10:05 PM EDT

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Addison Russell plays his first game against the team that traded him 25 months ago, the Oakland Athletics, when the Chicago Cubs visit the Bay Area for a three-game series beginning Friday night.

The opener of the interleague series also features left-hander Jon Lester, who the A's acquired in a deal 26 days after their July 5, 2014 blockbuster with the Cubs that cost them their top minor-league prospect.

Billy Beane, the A's general manager at the time, went all-in for a shot at a championship in the days leading up to the 2014 trade deadline.

First he dealt Russell, considered to be a centerpiece in the future of the franchise, along with right-hander Dan Straily and minor-leaguer Billy McKinney for two front-line starting pitchers, Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel.

Not satisfied with a starting staff that also included Sonny Gray and Scott Kazmir, Beane then sent slugger Yoenis Cespedes to Boston for Lester and outfielder Jonny Gomes.

The moves backfired on the A's, who struggled down the stretch, lost the American League West to the Los Angeles Angels and saw their season come to a crashing halt in the wild-card playoff game.

Lester, Samardzija and Hammel were all gone by the start of the 2015 season, and so of course was Russell, who made his major league debut April 25, 2015 as a Cub.

Losing their No. 1 pick (11th overall) in 2012 hasn't been as crushing as many A's fans had envisioned. In fact, Marcus Semien, a shortstop acquired prior to the start of the 2015 season in a trade involving Samardzija, has outhit Russell .247-.242 and out-homered him 37-25 since arriving in Oakland.

Lester, meanwhile, has won 22 of 53 starts since joining the Cubs last season. He went 6-4 in 11 starts with the A's.

The Cubs touched down in Oakland on Thursday with the best record in baseball (66-41) and having won seven of their last eight games.

However, they lost two of three the last time they played in Oakland in July 2013.

"I never planned on being in this type of organization," Russell, who can expect a warm ovation from the Oakland fans, said this week of the Cubs. "I'm very fortunate that I am."

No doubt, A's fans won't be so kind to Lester, who is seen as the guy who not only cost the A's a fan favorite (Cespedes) but also was the goat of the 2014 playoffs.

The home game will be the first for the A's since they made more unpopular moves at this year's trade deadline, selling off right fielder Josh Reddick and pitcher Rich Hill to the Los Angeles Dodgers for three prospects.

The A's lost five in a row sandwiching the trade before outlasting the Angels 8-6 in 10 innings Thursday.

"Losing Red and Rich hurts on the field and changes the dynamic in the clubhouse," A's All-Star Stephen Vogt said in the wake of the trade. "I hope bringing (Reddick) back next year (as a free agent) isn't off the table."

The A's counter Lester in the series opener with left-hander Dillon Overton, who takes a 1-2 and 9.33 ERA to the mound.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Angels (49-59) at Mariners (54-53)

Game: 1
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: August 05, 2016 10:10 PM EDT

SEATTLE -- As a kid growing up outside of Seattle, Tim Lincecum probably dreamed of pitching at Safeco Field.

As a star pitcher at the University of Washington, he likely had similar aspirations about pitching against rising Seattle Mariners star Felix Hernandez.

On Friday, Lincecum will get to pitch against Hernandez at Safeco Field -- although he probably hoped for better circumstances.

The 31-year-old Los Angeles Angels starter continues his comeback while pitching against Hernandez for the first time in his career. He will return to Safeco Field for the first time since June 2012, when he was a part of the soon-to-be-anointed-champion San Francisco Giants' rotation.

These days, Lincecum (2-5, 8.49 ERA) is a fading star who might not get many more chances to prolong his career. He has been hit hard since making a successful Angels debut on June 18, and he struggled so badly with his command the last time out that he issued six walks in five innings.

Despite the growing sentiment that his career is on the verge of finally being over, Lincecum told the Los Angeles Times this week that he has moments when he thinks: "Hey, there's promise. There's potential. It's still in there."

While Lincecum is clearly on the back end of his once-proud career, there is a chance he is not the only fading star who will be on the mound Friday night.

Hernandez (5-4, 3.46 ERA) has shown plenty of signs that he is not the dominant pitcher he once was. His fastball has lost a few ticks, from the mid- to low-90s, and he has gone past the seventh inning only once in his past eight starts. A recent disabled-list stint with a strained calf cost Hernandez a month and a half. He is still one of the better pitchers in the American League, but Hernandez has a long way to return to his perch as an annual Cy Young contender.

This would have been an incredible pitching matchup in, say, 2011. These days, it is not quite as significant.

Still, in a battle of two teams that are quickly falling out of postseason contention, the long-overdue matchup of Lincecum and Hernandez is about as intriguing as it gets.

The Angels (49-59) haven't been in contention since April, and the long season is starting to take its toll. Star center fielder Mike Trout was out of the starting Thursday while feeling the effects of illness, and it is unclear whether he will be back in the lineup for Friday's game. He entered as a sub and went 0-for-1 with a walk in the Angels' 8-6, 11-inning loss to the Oakland A's.

"There's no doubt that we have to look at some point to get the guys that are grinding every day off of their feet at some point," manager Mike Scioscia said Thursday.

Seattle has its own set of health problems, with an overworked bullpen that lost another piece in veteran Steve Cishek on Thursday. Cishek was the Mariners' closer until Monday night, when he served up the game-winning homer less than 24 hours after blowing his sixth save of the season. Cishek was placed on the disabled list Thursday with a hip injury that may well linger through the remainder of the season.

Cishek said before Thursday's game that he pitched through the injury for a while, adding that it started to affect his location.

"It just got to a point where the surrounding muscles were taking the brunt of it," he said, "and I was really having a hard time getting through my delivery."

The Mariners could have used Cishek on Thursday night, when they needed all five available relievers to get through a 3-2, 11-inning loss to the Boston Red Sox. Fill-in closer Edwin Diaz, having earned saves on back-to-back nights, got the night off.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Red Sox (59-48) at Dodgers (60-48)

Game: 1
Venue: Dodger Stadium
Date: August 05, 2016 10:10 PM EDT

LOS ANGELES -- After losing two of three to the Colorado Rockies, the Los Angeles Dodgers face another offensive challenge Friday when the Boston Red Sox hit Dodger Stadium for a three-game series.

The Red Sox, who beat Seattle in 11 innings on Thursday to earn a split of the four-game series, lead the majors in several offensive categories, including runs (584), hits (1,077), batting average (.285), RBIs (558), on-base percentage (.351) and slugging percentage (.469).

David Ortiz, the Red Sox's 40-year-old slugger who is retiring at season's end, is again enjoying a superb season offensively. Ortiz was hitting .311 with 25 home runs and 87 RBIs. The Dodgers will honor Ortiz, who is retiring at season's end, before Friday's game.

The Dodgers were outscored 19-5 against Colorado at Coors Field before starter Kenta Maeda and the Dodgers' bullpen held the Rockies to two runs and five hits in a 4-2 decision on Thursday to avoid a sweep.

Injuries and inconsistency have hampered the Dodgers' starting rotation. Ace Clayton Kershaw (herniated disk) landed on the 60-day disabled list this week.

"You can weather and combat adversity as much as possible and our group has done a great job of that. But you're as good as your next starter," Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said, according to the Orange County Register, after Wednesday's 12-2 thrashing by Colorado.

Dodgers lefty Scott Kazmir (9-4, 4.41 ERA) will return to the mound for the first time since having his career-best seven-game winning streak halted July 30 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Kazmir struck out seven, walked none and allowed four runs on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings in a 4-2 loss to the Diamondbacks.

Kazmir last faced the Red Sox on June 5, 2015 at Fenway Park as a member of the Oakland A's. He gave up four runs on nine hits with four strikeouts and a walks in a 4-2 win by the Red Sox.

In his career, Kazmir has 29 starts against Boston, posting a 9-9 mark with a 3.99 ERA.

Knuckleballer Steven Wright (12-5, 3.20 ERA) will get the nod for the Red Sox and make his first start at Dodger Stadium. Wright, a native of nearby Torrance, has been solid on the road this season, compiling a 2.37 ERA, ranking fifth in the American League and holding opposing batters to a .211 batting average (11th in the AL). Wright also has limited the opposition to a .301 slugging percentage (fourth) and a .588 OPS (eighth).

Wright is 9-2 with a 3.92 ERA in his last 15 starts. He surrendered three runs on 10 hits with five strikeouts and a pair of walks in five innings in a no-decision against the Los Angeles Angels on July 31.

Red Sox first baseman Hanley Ramirez (left wrist), a former Dodger, missed the past two games. Ramirez hurt himself falling down the dugout steps after Tuesday's 5-4 defeat by the Mariners.

"Optimistically, hopefully he'll be available for the weekend when we get to L.A. against the Dodgers," Boston manager John Farrell told MLB.com Thursday.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Phillies (50-60) at Padres (47-61)

Game: 1
Venue: PETCO Park
Date: August 05, 2016 10:40 PM EDT

SAN DIEGO -- In sports, "wreaking havoc" is a term more reserved for outside linebackers who crush running backs and sack quarterbacks.

But Padres manager Andy Green recently said "wreaking havoc" is exactly what 185-pound center fielder Travis Jankowski is doing these days.

"Travis is dynamic right now," Green continued in his assessment of the very fast, 25-year-old Jankowski after his three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Jankowski was 6-for-11 against the Brewers with four infield hits and a double. He also drew three walks. And Jankowski was just getting started when he reached base. He stole five bases in the three games, including a steal of home, and made two exception catches in center.

Since getting a chance to start every day with the arm fracture that sidelined Jon Jay on June 28 and the July 24 trade that dispatched Melvin Upton Jr. to Toronto, Jankowski has become a force as the Padres lead-off hitter.

Padres fans, who have seen many of the club's leading players move on, have become enamored with the 6-foot-2 speedster with the flowing golden locks and perpetually dirty uniform.

"He's making the most of his chance to play," Green said. "He's jump-started us with the excitement he brings to the top of the order. He'll do anything he can to get on base. And once on base, he's an instant threat to be on second or third."

Jankowski will again be at the top of order Friday night as the Padres face Phillies' right-hander Jeremy Hellickson of the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a three-game series at Petco Park.

Yes, Hellickson is still with the Phillies.

For weeks before the trading deadline, rumors swirled that the 29-year-old right-hander would be traded -- even though a hand injury in the days leading up to the deadline clouded the issue.

But the Phillies decided to hold onto Hellickson, who is 8-7 with a 3.70 ERA in 22 starts entering Friday night's matchup with Padres left-hander Christian Friedrich (4-6, 4.72 ERA).

Phillies general manager Matt Klentak decided having a veteran on a young staff was better than acquiring another prospect.

"There's a huge value in having a veteran starter who can give us six and seven innings every start on a staff of young pitchers," said Klentak of Hellickson's value as the trading deadline passed Monday.

"I'm glad to still be with the Phillies," Hellickson said. "I want to stay a part of this."

Friedrich, meanwhile, is coming off his best start since the All-Star break. He held the Cincinnati Reds to one run on five hits and a walk over six innings Saturday night at Petco Park. In his previous seven starts, Friedrich was 1-5 with a 7.86 ERA while pitching into the sixth inning only twice.

"The secret for me is to put the ball where I need to put it," Friedrich said after Saturday's outing against the Reds.

"I like Friedrich," Green said. "He's an extremely competitive person. He knows what he has to do to get people out. And when he struggles, he doesn't panic. He remains focused."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MLB betting cheat sheet and odds: One Giant Series

We break down all the betting notes you need to handicap this weekend's MLB series, including a huge National League showdown in Washington, D.C. between the Nationals and the San Francisco Giants.

One Giant Series

The San Francisco Giants hold a slim lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers atop a competitive National League West - and expanding that edge could be difficult as the Giants visit the NL East-leading Washington Nationals in a three-game weekend set. Both teams will have their aces at their disposal, with the Nationals sending Stephen Strasburg to the hill Saturday and San Francisco riding Madison Bumgarner in Sunday’s series finale. The teams split an entertaining four-game set at the end of July.

ALCS Rematch

Tensions will be high at Kauffman Stadium as the Toronto Blue Jays visit the defending World Series-champion Kansas City Royals in a rematch of the American League Championship Series. The three-game set will feature the Blue Jays debut of left-hander Francisco Liriano, who was acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates at the trade deadline. Liriano has had a dreadful season, and has been particularly wretched of late, losing seven of his last eight starts as the moneyline favorite.

Prospect Showcase

The Minnesota Twins and Tampa Bay Rays will both showcase their top pitching prospects this weekend at Tropicana Field. The Rays will send deceptive left-hander Blake Snell to the hill Saturday afternoon; Snell has pitched to the under in five of his last seven starts, and has allowed two or fewer runs in four straight outings. The Twins counter with Jose Berrios on Sunday; he’s 4-0-1 against the total in five major-league starts, thanks in large part to 20 earned runs against over 21 innings.

Hitting Notes

* The Minnesota Twins produced the second-most runs of any team in July - and they have outfielder Max Kepler to thank for that. Entering Thursday, Kepler has hit a whopping 13 home runs since July 1 - more than any player in baseball over that span - and has an OPS above 1.000 over that span.

* Houston, you have a problem. And it centers around the play of 3B Alex Bregman, who comes into Thursday hitting an abysmal 1-for-32 in his first taste of major-league action. The Astros have faltered in his eight games, going 2-6 SU despite being a favorite in seven of those contests.

Pitching Notes

* Thinking about betting on Chicago Cubs lefty Jon Lester to tame the Athletics in Oakland on Friday? Think again. While Lester has been a sensational play at home (6-2, 1.99 ERA), he has stumbled outside Wrigley Field (5-2, 4.03). The over is 8-2 in Lester’s 10 road starts.

* Houston fans will be clamoring to see what Joe Musgrove can do for an encore. The 23-year-old racked up eight strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings in his major-league debut Tuesday against the Toronto Blue Jays, and has earned himself the start Sunday against Yu Darvish and the Texas Rangers.

Totals Trend

Aaron Sanchez has made life miserable for opposing hitters, and he’s making things difficult for his Toronto Blue Jays, as well. They’re sending him to the bullpen shortly, but not before he takes the hill Saturday. Sanchez has pitched to the under in 15 of his 21 starts so far this season.

Friday's Weather Report

* There is a chance of some thunderstorms in D.C. for the opener of the series between the Nats and Giants. There will also be a 5-10 mph breeze blowing out to left field at Nationals Park. The total for this one is set at 8.5.

* There will be thunderstorms in the Pittsburgh area Friday night for the evening game between the Pirates and the visiting Cincinnati Reds. There will be a 25 percent chance of some wet stuff falling from the sky and a 5-10 mph wind blowing from right to left. The total is set at 8.0.

* Detroit will have a 40 percent chance of rain and some thunderstorms in the area as the Tigers welcome the New York Mets to town for a weekend of interleague action. There will also be a 10-15 mph wind blowing from right to left. The total is set at 7.5.

* There will be three cities with games Friday night that will be impacted by a system sweeping through the Midwest carrying with it a 40 percent chance of rain and some potential electricity in the air. Toronto at Kansas City (Total: 9.0), Atlanta at St. Louis (Total: 8.5), and Miami at Colorado (Total: 11.5) could all see weather delays and wet conditions.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Friday, August 5, 2016, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews

The New York Mets need every win they can get in their battle for a wild-card spot -- I'm presuming the NL East title is going to Washington -- so the news that the team's best hitter, Yoenis Cespedes (.292, 22 HRs, 59 RBIs), is headed to the 15-day disabled list with a right quad injury obviously isn't good. The injury has been bothering him for a while as he had played in only 14 of the Mets' 21 games since he originally suffered the injury and was hitting .227 with just one homer in that span. He apparently tweaked the problem on Wednesday when he was at DH against the Yankees. What is ticking Mets fans off is that while Cespedes was struggling and missing games, he was still golfing nearly every morning and did so Wednesday. Obviously what a guy does in his free time is his business, but I would think if you need rest from games at times that you shouldn't be golfing.


Indians at Yankees (-126, 8.5)

Of course the Yankees traded closer Andrew Miller to Cleveland last weekend. The Bombers did really well in that deal in getting two top Indians prospects and have capably replaced Miller with Dellin Betances. The Tribe go with Josh Tomlin (11-3, 3.43). He beat Oakland on Saturday in allowing two runs and six hits over seven innings. This will be his first look this year at the Yankees. Mark Teixeira is 4-for-13 with two homers against him. Jacoby Ellsbury is 3-for-19 with two doubles. New York's Michael Pineda (5-10, 5.13) lost at Tampa Bay on Sunday, giving up five runs and walking four over six innings. This will be his first career start vs. Cleveland. Red-hot Mike Napoli has faced him, going 2-for-7.

Key trends: The Indians are 12-2 in Tomlin's past 14 on the road. The Yankees are 5-2 in Pineda's past seven in Game 1 of a series. The "over/under" has gone under in four of Tomlin's past six on the road. The under is 5-0-1 in Pineda's past six at home.

Early lean: Indians and under.

Orioles at White Sox (-115, 9.5)

You don't want to be a White Sox rookie making your major-league debut this season. On Monday, the Pale Hose acquired minor-league outfielder Charlie Tilson from St. Louis for reliever Zach Duke. The Sox promoted Tilson immediately and started him in center field on Tuesday, obviously hoping he showed enough the rest of this season to determine if he's a legitimate big-leaguer. We won't know the rest of this season as Tilson had to leave the game with what turned out to be a torn hamstring and was put on the DL on Wednesday. He will have season-ending surgery. Tilson is the third Sox player making his debut to leave a game injured in 2016. A fourth, catcher Kevan Smith, hurt his back during pregame warm-ups and never got on the field. The Sox start former Oriole Miguel Gonzalez (2-5, 4.06); he was released this spring by Baltimore. He is working on a string of six straight quality starts. The O's were his only other big-league team, so he hasn't faced them. Mark Trumbo has seen him, though, going 2-for-7 with two homers. Baltimore goes with Yovani Gallardo (3-3, 5.70). He is on extra rest, last pitching Saturday in Toronto and allowing five runs in 4.1 innings in a loss. Todd Frazier is a career .344 hitter off him with a homer in 32 at-bats.

Key trends: The Orioles are 6-0 in Gallardo's past six vs. teams with a losing record. The Sox are 1-6 in their past seven in Game 1s of a series. The under is 4-1 in Gallardo's past five.

Early lean: Orioles and over.

Giants at Nationals (-145, 8.5)

Lone national TV game of Friday as it will be shown in the MLB Network and should have live betting at sportsbooks. Monitor the status of Nats first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who hasn't played since taking a pitch off his left wrist Sunday. The Nats start lefty Gio Gonzalez (6-9, 4.29). He pitched in San Francisco on Sunday and allowed one earned run and six hits over six innings in a tough loss. That's three straight quality starts after a rough patch for Gio. Buster Posey is 6-for-22 against him with a homer. Hunter Pence is just 1-for-17. The Giants go with Jeff Samardzija (9-7, 4.30), who might be the No. 4 on the team now with the addition of Matt Moore. Samardzija will be on extra rest here as he most recently pitched last Friday vs. Washington and continued to scuffle, allowing four runs in six innings in a loss. Daniel Murphy is 6-for-12 off him with three extra-base hits and four RBIs. Zimmerman might simply sit again as he's 1-for-19 off "Shark."

Key trends: The Giants are 0-6 in their past six series openers. They are 1-4 in Samardzija's past five vs. teams with a winning record. The over is 8-3-1 in his past 12.

Early lean: Nationals and over.

Mets at Tigers (-120, 7.5)

The Mets add the DH for this interleague matchup. It would have been Cespedes against his former team. Here's the pitching matchup of the night between Detroit's Justin Verlander, the 2011 Cy Young winner, and New York's Noah Syndergaard, whom I'd bet wins a Cy Young in his career if he stays healthy. Syndergaard (9-5, 2.48) is winless in his past four starts but has pitched pretty well in them. Last time out he took a no-decision vs. Colorado, allowing two earned and six hits over six innings. He might be pulled a tad early here as Syndergaard has thrown 232 pitches in his past two outings combined. He has never faced the Tigers. Verlander (11-6, 3.54) is pitching like his 2011 self of late. He threw a complete game against Houston on Saturday, allowing two runs and striking out 11. He had a 1.69 ERA in six July starts. Neil Walker is 2-for-12 off him.

Key trends: The Mets are 4-1 in Syndergaard's past five interleague starts. The Tigers are 8-2 in Verlander's past 10 vs. teams with a winning record. The under is 6-1-1 in Verlander's past eight at home.

Early lean: Tigers and under.

Angels at Mariners (-194, 8)

The Halos have lost closer Huston Street to the DL with knee inflammation, so look for Cam Bedrosian to get most of the ninth-inning chances going forward. He struck out the side for his first career save Tuesday night against the A's but then struggled Wednesday. You may remember his father Steve was a good reliever -- and one-year starter -- in the 1980s and early 1990s. He won the Cy Young with the Phillies in 1987 with a league-leading 40 saves. About six years ago, this would have been the pitching matchup of the season. Seattle's Felix Hernandez won his only Cy Young Award in 2010 and the Angels' Tim Lincecum won back-to-back Cy Youngs with the Giants in 2008-09. Lincecum (2-5, 8.49) looks shot in his comeback with Los Angeles. The Washington native makes only his second career start at Seattle's Safeco Field. Robinson Cano is 0-for-6 off him. Chris Iannetta is 7-for-18 with a homer and eight walks. Hernandez (5-4, 3.46) has made three starts since coming off the DL, and they have each gotten better. He's 0-2 with a 3.77 ERA in two starts this year against the Angels. Mike Trout is a .375 hitter off him with five homers and 15 RBIs.

Key trends: The Angels are 1-4 in Lincecum's past five vs. teams with a winning record. The Mariners are 0-4 in Hernandez's past four vs. the Angels. The under is 7-1-1 in his past nine at home in the series.

Early lean: Mariners and under.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

'Big Home Favorites August/September'

August is upon the baseball season which means MLB clubs in the playoff hunt are giving their all and teams outside the October picture are planning holiday's. That disparity in motivation can lead to some big odds baseball bettors must deal with.

On the surface, it may seem like easy money when you see a home winning team with a great pitcher hosting a mediocre team. However, what seems like a sure thing seldom is in baseball. The very best teams clock in with a 60% winning percentage, the worst teams are usually good for a win 40% of the time so winning 2 out 3 doesn't cut it with heavy juice.

Over the past five seasons (2011-2015) home favorites priced -$2.40 or more during August/September were 95-35 for a 73.3% winning clip. But, the heavy chalk resulted in +$401 at the betting window. Not exactly a good return on investment.

Putting down your hard-earned money on these humungous home favorites when hosting a division opponent down the stretch would have left you in a -$924 hole despite the teams winning at a 68.7% clip (55-25).

Something to keep in mind as the season moves along.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

'Under gamblers cashing with O's'

Baltimore Orioles at Chicago White Sox August 5, 8:10 EST

Baltimore Orioles and low-scoring games go together like baseball handicapping and baseball betting. In the past twenty-two games Baltimore has played 'Under' 20 times with 2 'Over'. Matching that, Orioles have a 10-1 'Under' streak vs a team with a losing record and have played 'Under' in 7 of 9 on the South Side of Chicago.