Friday 9/18/15 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by Chatsworth Consortium at Hoosier Park

Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.


Race 7 - Post: 7:15 - 1 mile. PACE - Class Rating: 91 - Purse:$16000 - CLAIMING HANDICAP $35,000-$40,000


CONSORTIUM CHOICES


Chatsworth Consortium

# 5 NEXT THING SMOKE'N 5/2


# 6 HARE CRAFT 6/1


# 7 A COOL CARD 5/1


After thorough analysis by the consortium, NEXT THING SMOKE'N comes out as the top contender. Sometimes you just have to go with a feeling, give the nod to this one's chances. Really liked this gelding's last race. Ran a solid 92 TrackMaster Speed Rating. Major contender. HARE CRAFT - Good for a win play just off the amazing prior class markings. Have to like this race horse. This horse has a nose for the wire, just look at his better than average win statistic. A COOL CARD - Looks like a strong pick in this group of animals and his better than average winning percentage says he has the raw talent to score today.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by Chatsworth Consortium at Yonkers Raceway

Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.


Race 10 - Post: 10:10 - 1 mile. PACE - Class Rating: 89 - Purse:$29000 - F& M NON-WINNERS OF $25,000 IN LAST 5 STARTS


CONSORTIUM CHOICES


Chatsworth Consortium

# 3 HANDSOFFMYCUPCAKE 9/5


# 4 AL RAZA N 4/1


# 1 MARTY PARTY 5/1


The choice in here is HANDSOFFMYCUPCAKE. Has really strong TrackMaster SRs and more than likely has to be considered for a bet in this contest. Most definitely the class of the race with an average rating of 92. A nice selection. Is a very compelling win contender given the 88 speed figure from her most recent contest. AL RAZA N - Take a long look at making this horse your win wager based on very high win percent alone. The group will always toss in a solid standardbred from the 4 position here at Yonkers Raceway, always worth a look. MARTY PARTY - Pace ratings say this race should shape up nicely for this mare. Looking for a big effort. The consortium saw this horse's name in a comic strip. Call it our coffee house play, worth a small bet.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by The Walker Group at Charles Town

Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.


Race 4 - Maiden Claiming - 4.5f on the Dirt. Purse: $10500 Class Rating: 41

FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD. THREE YEAR OLDS, 118 LBS.; OLDER, 123 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $5,000, IF FOR $4,500, ALLOWED 2 LBS.


RECOMMENDED CHOICES

The Walker Group Picks

# 4 CHIHULY 2/1


# 6 BOW DOWN 3/1


# 5 PINKIE PIE 5/2


I lean toward CHIHULY here. Looks solid versus this field and should be one of the leaders. This animal is at the top in this group of animals in earnings per start at the distance/surface. BOW DOWN - Strong returns over time for this jockey and trainer duo. This group is much softer than the last one she was up against. PINKIE PIE - Sharp jockey with conditioner figs make this horse a sharp wagering choice.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by The Walker Group at Los Alamitos (Thoroughbred)

Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.


Race 5 - Claiming - 5.5f on the Dirt. Purse: $13000 Class Rating: 102

FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD. THREE YEAR OLDS, 119 LBS.; OLDER, 124 LBS. NON-WINNERS OF A RACE SINCE JULY 16 ALLOWED 2 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $6,250



RECOMMENDED CHOICES

The Walker Group Picks

# 6 CHANGING KARMA 5/1


# 5 MASON B 15/1


# 3 BRANDO THE BIRDMAN 7/5


My pick for this race is CHANGING KARMA. He looks very good in this slot and I expect will be on the lead or close at the halfway point. Recently Bazley has provided players with a quite good winning percentage with horses running in dirt sprint races. Has run very well when travelling a dirt sprint race. MASON B - Is a key contender - given the 87 Equibase Speed Figure from his most recent race. BRANDO THE BIRDMAN - Have to wager on this gelding with the formidable earnings per start in dirt sprint events. Has performed well recently in sprint races, posting a nifty 94 avg speed rating.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by The Turf Club Analysts

Bar

Stockton - Race #6 - Post: 3:44pm - Claiming - 8.0 furlongs on the Dirt. Purse: $8,500 Class Rating: 83

Rating: Golden DollarGolden DollarGolden DollarGolden Dollar

#7 IMPOSSIBLE TIMING (ML=6/1)


IMPOSSIBLE TIMING - Orozco rode this horse for the first time last time out and comes right back in today's contest. This jockey and trainer's equines have been producing a lucrative ROI. Ran last time out against a high class rated field at Golden Gate. The move down in the class scale should suit him well.

Vulnerable Contenders: #1 ABSOLUTE HONOUR (ML=8/5), #2 SWING FOR DEFENCE (ML=9/5), #5 WAKE (ML=7/2),

ABSOLUTE HONOUR - When looking at today's Equibase class figure, he will have to register a better speed rating than last time around the track to battle in this dirt route. SWING FOR DEFENCE - This racer didn't race too well last out finishing seventh. No reason to expect a reversal of fortune in today's event. WAKE - This questionable contender hasn't been coming close at the wire recently.


STRAIGHT WAGERS:
Play #7 IMPOSSIBLE TIMING to win if you can get odds of 1/1 or more

EXACTA WAGERS:
Skip

TRIFECTA WAGERS:
Skip

SUPERFECTA WAGERS:
None

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by The Turf Club Analysts

Bar

Thistledown - Race #8 - Post: 4:25pm - Maiden Special - 6.0 furlongs on the Dirt. Purse: $32,500 Class Rating: 70

Rating: Golden DollarGolden DollarGolden DollarGolden Dollar

#10 JEZABEL'S CHARM (ML=5/1)


JEZABEL'S CHARM - Taking a trip down in class ranks; has the ability to make her presence felt. Last out, finished fifth on the soft turf at Indiana Downs. Has to do better in today's race. Maiden is moving over to the main track, and may not have liked the turf last out. Has a good chance to be a winner for the first-time.

Vulnerable Contenders: #9 DARK DARLING (ML=4/1), #3 INCLUDE LOVE (ML=6/1), #11 PEBBLES PICK (ML=6/1),

DARK DARLING - This filly notched a speed fig in her last race which likely isn't good enough in today's event. INCLUDE LOVE - Don't think that this filly has value at 6/1 this time out. PEBBLES PICK - Substandard fig last time around the track at Thistledown at 6 furlongs. Don't feel this horse will improve too much in today's race.

Top HatGUEST COMMENTARY: Hal - JEZABEL'S CHARM - This filly has the top speed figure last race with a very good 69. She is the top gamble here.


STRAIGHT WAGERS:
Putting our cash on #10 JEZABEL'S CHARM to win. Have to have odds of at least 1/1 or better though

EXACTA WAGERS:
Skip

TRIFECTA WAGERS:
Pass

SUPERFECTA WAGERS:
Pass

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by Rick Needham at Belmont Park

RACE #6 - BELMONT PARK - 3:40 PM EASTERN POST

6.0 FURLONGS INNER TURF TWO YEAR OLDS MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT $60,000.00 PURSE

#7 STORMIN STEPHEN
#6 GO GO LUCKY
#5 SHERRY'S MIRACLE
#1 MY MAN AL

#7 STORMIN STEPHEN is the overall speed leader in this maiden field sprinting at 6.0 furlongs on the dirt, and also has excellent early speed abilities to compliment for this sprint, and has hit the board in "POWER RUN FASHION" in two of his three career starts to date, missing his "diploma" in his last start by just a "photographed neck" at the wire. Jockey Irad Ortiz and Trainer Chris Clement send him to the post ... they've hit the board with an impressive 60% of nearly 100 entries saddled as a team to date. #6 GO GO LUCKY has nice overall speed for this sprint, and comes off a "POWER RUN SHOW" finish in his last start.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Mohawk: Friday 9/18 Analysis
By Garnet Barnsdale

DRF HARNESS

Race 4 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool

EARLY PICK 4:

4,5/2,4,5,7/3,4/1,3,5,6 = $64


LATE PICK 4: 5,6,8/5/2,3/4,9,10 = $18

MEET STATS: 319 - 1018 / $1735.70 BEST BETS: 45 - 91 / $146.30

SPOT PLAYS: 12 - 87 / $92.30

Best Bet: WORLD CLASS IZZY (9th)

Spot Play: NATIONALIZE (5th)


Race 1

(7) IRISH SCOTCH wasn't far back vs. a good group in a conditioned race last time now gets Filion back which could make the difference in this wide-open Grassroots Semi-Final. (5) A LITTLE MORE LOVE did well to grab 4th after starting from the worst post at Flamboro last week. He was a sharp winner two back and looks like he is getting good at the right time. (2) PARKHILL LANCELOT is another that is improving as the final approaches and should be heard from here.

Race 2

(3) BROOKDALE SHADOW drops in class and it looks like she can control the pace here or work out a pocket trip as there is very little other early speed signed on. Her tactical speed advantage makes her the top choice here. (2) MARQUISE DE SARAH makes her 4th start back and is getting closer. She gets better as the weather gets cooler and would be no surprise here. (1) MARLEE B raced big last week to fall just short after being out a long way. She could be the other leaver here with Henry at the controls.

Race 3

(1) RENEGADE MAGIC went a long trip last time at Hanover and just missed. She excels on the bigger track and should be tough in here. (6) MEADOW SEELSTER was a predictable winner last time but these are tougher and she will likely face more pace pressure as last time there was none. (7) HAPE stayed sharp with a race against older mixed company last week. Don't discount her off that start, in fact, put a line through it.

Race 4

(5) LIGHTS GO OUT made an uncharacteristic break last time perhaps due to the off track. She made a great recovery to grab third and should be prominent here if she behaves. (4) ONYOURMARKNATAVA has faced better in non-winners of three races classes lately and could spring an upset here facing a group of mainly win-shy types. (1) BOAT HOUSE ROW has only one win so far this season but should get a good trip here and is a threat.

Race 5

(5) NATIONALIZE won nicely four back then had three trips that one could make excuses for. She gets McNair here; upset special. (4) DUBLIN ROSE missed the board for the first time last year when hung out pressing a rapid pace. Respect her consistency and toss her on your pick 4 tickets. (2) MUCH ADOO races much better when starting from an inside post and has upset possibilities here. Many of these Grassroots races have been won by bombs the past couple of weeks.

Race 6

(4) DUH BUBBEES fell just short last week at big odds vs. his elders. He will likely try to control things here; top call. (3) IN SECRET has shown he fits well vs. Grassroots foes and picks up Christoforou here which will make him that much tougher; using. (5) MANDEVILLE looks solid to make the ticket but minor awards seem to be his ceiling.

Race 7

(5) HIS BOY ELROY took a new life's mark four back in a Grassroots events then faced some tough customers and wasn't embarrassed. He looks awfully tough vs. this group. (3) MACH CODE was paced off his feet by a hot horse last week that has burned up the track two weeks straight. He can give the choice something to think about here. (1) DIALAMARA was racing better early in the year but can get a piece of this starting from the inside.

Race 8

(8) THINKOFAGAMEPLAN was an unlucky loser last week as he had lots of pace on the far turn but no room until very late in the mile. He can topple these at a price with the right trip. (6) SOUTHWIND INDY has been very sharp the past few weeks and is the one to knock off here. (5) SPORTING THE LOOK can track quick fractions and keep coming - see the 1:51 2/5 mile in late July - and could trip out in the pocket here.

Race 9

(5) WORLD CLASS IZZY used a :27 3/5 third 1/4 two back to brush and crush her rivals then broke on Hanover's 1/2-miler. She gets her regular pilot back here which should make a difference. (8) JUDY THE BEAUTY got hung the mile last time and hung on decently, considering. She has a good chance to land in a better spot early here. (6) GIONA has won three straight up on the pace and can't be tossed as sharp as she's been.

Race 10

(3) CAST NO SHADOW comes in off a sharp victory but has missed some time and likely has the OSS Superfinals in her sights; your call. (2) WRANGLER MAGIC has a habit of losing in these dashes and winning the big ones. This isn't the easiest race on the card to figure. (Note: top choice Doctor Terror was scratched).

Race 11

(4) LOVELY ERIN never looks the soundest on the track but she's as tough as they come and knows where the wire is; beat her to greet the cashier. (9) STONEBRIDGE QUEST is another tough filly that has shown speed both early and late in her miles. Post 9 is no bargain here, but she could overcome it. (10) EVAS GIRL has been an impressive winner of her last three starts and has won from the 10-hole before. She's another in with a shot here.

Race 12

(5) BAROCKEY returns from a break with a solid qualifier in tow and trainer Auciello has had success with these types this year. This isn't the toughest field to face first time back; top call. (2) WILDCAT HANNA raced tough on a sloppy track last week and was only picked off late by one closer but no one else was close. She has a weak win record but could get the job done here if Jamieson can find the pocket early (4) MOREMUNKYBUSINESS raced better last time for a cagey conditioner and could hit the ticket at a big price here.

Race 13

(8) MILEYS BIG WORLD raced very well last week and looked like the winner until another mare re-surged late. She has been an excellent claim for Moreau and is a top contender here. (2) OCEANVIEW BINDI has been on fire since returning from a break and will have to be caught. (4) DOUBLE JOY has 14 thirds in her past 50 starts and is a good bet to fill that slot again off a following trip here. (6) REGAL LUCK went from 1st to 6th last time from the 1/4 to the finish yet paced her own last 1/4 quicker than the first one. This field is easier and she should contend here. (5) I GOT TO BOOGIE got a better trip and a better result last time and should make this high-5 ticket too.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Yonkers: Friday 9/18 Analysis
By Brewster Smith

DRF HARNESS

MEET STATS: 183 - 867 / $1,283.40 BEST BETS: 20 - 73 / $95.20

Best Bet: ROCKIN JIMMY (3rd)

Spot Play: JONSIE JONES (6th)


Race 1

(3) HALL OF TERROR put in a nice effort in his first trip at the Hilltop; can boss these at his best. (5) THEREISAPACEFORUS Very sharp in his last three; major player in here. (1) ROYAL RECEPTION just missed by only a neck last out; not out of this by far.

Race 2

(6) BINGO QUEEN If this trotting miss can return to her 8/18 start, it could be game over for the rest; we shall see. (1) LORENZO DREAM Kind of sharp in his last two tries; dangerous. (4) MARCH AWARENESS drops a notch in class; watch out.

Race 3

(6) ROCKIN JIMMY might have pulled the trigger too soon last out; with a favorable trip, this guy can take these to task for all the cash. (3) CUNDALINI has tactical speed and could make some noise in the final stretch drive. (1) CHEROKEE HILFLYZANE he moves back to the rail and that could help his cause; maybe.

Race 4

(2) CHEYENNE JEFFREY was nailed for win honors last out; gelding seems to be heading in the right direction; gets the call. (1) ALLSTAR PARTNER Easy score at Freehold last week; contender from the pole position. (5) ALL WEEK put in a mild rally in his latest; can't be counted out of this.

Race 5

(1) SANTANNA ONE Based on his last two tries he's knocking at the door; capable of being the boss against this group from the rail slot. (3) MAH SISH N just missed the victory by only a 1/2 length; fits in here. (6) GAVINS DESIGNER was sent down the road last out for all the glory; watch out again.

Race 6

(5) JONSIE JONES Very sharp pacing miss has hit the board in her last four starts; ready to fire her best tonight. (8) KRISPY APPLE is clearly better than her last flop; could atone against this select group. (7) JUSTHAVENTMETUYET has wheeled off two straight victories in a row; moves up but could contend.

Race 7

(7) IDEAL RACE took the pocket route home to victory last out; very consistent pacer could get the job done once again. (1) MUSTANG MACH N should fare quite from the fence; maybe. (3) ALED HANOVER has good early zip; beware.

Race 8

(2) A PLACE IN HISTORY makes his return to Yonkers where he got the job done on August 17th; gelding is poised to best this group. (4) IDEAL WILLIE Pocket-rocket trip to grab the victory in his latest; main danger. (5) WINDSONG HARLEY Speedy gelding could be a strong factor in here; watch out.

Race 9

(1) CHERRY BLISS was late on the scene to nail down the show spot in her recent outing; ready to fire her best tonight. (4) TIPITINA gets post relief and that should help her cause; threat. (3) ALHAMBRA could land a share of the purse.

Race 10

(3) HANDSOFFMYCUPCAKE raced evenly in her last trip to the post; did race quite well on September 4th to just miss by only a head; big player. (1) MARTY PARTY is much better than her last try; threat. (2) MATTIE TERROR GIRL will contend with these if she returns back to her August 14th trip; watch out.

Race 11

(4) HICKORY ICON has hit the board in his last six starts; this gelding should be on his toes to make tonight a winning one. (1) DONAU retains the rail slot and moves down the ladder; quite dangerous. (2) BJ'S BEQUIA faced lesser company to grab the score last week; not out of this despite the move up in class.

Race 12

(1) CAROLSIDEAL This seems to be a perfect spot for this pacing mare to be the boss. (4) ELISAVETA N has put in three nice efforts in a row makes and that makes her a strong factor. (2) FANTICIPATION moves up in class off a nice score last out; beware.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

SPOT PLAYS

For Friday


TRACK (RACE) HORSE, MORNING LINE

Arlington Park (7th) Sol d'Oro, 7-2
(8th) Jete Ete, 8-1

Belmont Park (7th) Tapitsphere, 3-1
(9th) Miss Kew, 3-1


Belterra Park (2nd) Upupandgo, 4-1
(6th) Tahquamenon, 6-1


Charles Town (3rd) Fishing Creek, 9-2
(5th) Duke Eddington, 5-1


Churchill Downs (2nd) Nordic Bull, 7-2
(8th) Old Mountain Lane, 4-1


Emerald Downs (2nd) Raise the Magarita, 8-1
(6th) Unusual Lover, 3-1


Finger Lakes (4th) Celestial Sighting, 3-1
(7th) White Rapids, 7-2


Gulfstream Park (6th) Annabella Hall, 6-1
(10th) Buff Jett, 3-1


Indiana Grand (6th) Rulelikecleopatra, 6-1
(8th) Dance Proudly, 9-2


Laurel Park (2nd) Behind the Times, 10-1
(9th) Playful Love, 7-2


Los Alamitos (5th) Changing Karma, 5-1
(8th) Forever Dorothy, 3-1


Louisiana Downs (1st) April Simone, 9-2
(7th) Begbie, 6-1


Penn National (1st) Brilliant Warrior, 5-1
(3rd) Texas Tex, 5-1


Remington Park (5th) Imma Bling, 3-1
(8th) Roundaboutmidnight, 8-1


Retama Park (6th) Mepache Creek, 7-2
(9th) Cotton Clouds, 3-1


Thistledown (4th) Coyote Moon, 7-2
(8th) Lava Rocks, 6-1


Woodbine (2nd) Apache Gal, 8-1
(4th) Cleopatra's Strike, 3-1

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Cardinals (92-54) at Cubs (85-61)

Game: 1
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: September 18, 2015 2:20 PM EDT

Though they would appear to be a long shot, the Chicago Cubs continue to set their sights on winning the NL Central.

Looking to remain undefeated against Lance Lynn this season, the Cubs can cut into the St. Louis Cardinals' division lead Friday at Wrigley Field.

Owner of an eight-game lead for the second wild-card spot, Chicago (85-61) is in good shape to reach the postseason for the first time since 2008. The Cubs also trimmed Pittsburgh's lead for the first wild-card position to two games by taking the last three of a four-game series at PNC Park.

However, optimistic Cubs manager Joe Maddon expects his team to stay focused on catching the Cardinals (92-54).

'The division title is still the goal,' he said. 'That's what we're after.'

It doesn't matter that the Cubs are in third place and seven back of St. Louis. Maddon truly believes anything is possible for an overachieving club that's won 33 of its last 47

"We come ready to play," he told MLB's official website after Thursday's 9-6 victory at Pittsburgh. "A lot of good stuff going on out there with a lot of guys picking each other up.'

Chicago is 6-10 against the Cardinals this season, but began the recent 7-4 road trip by taking two of three at Busch Stadium.

"I'm really eager to see and feel our fans at home," said Maddon, whose team has won three straight and 17 of the last 21 at Wrigley Field. "I think it'll be a lot of fun."

The Cubs opened that series at St. Louis by tagging Lynn (11-10, 3.17 ERA) for six runs and seven hits in 2 1-3 innings of a 9-0 victory Sept. 7.

'Just didn't have any command,' said Lynn, who is 0-3 with a 7.53 ERA against Chicago in 2015. 'The ball was all over the place, and when I started making pitches they were already locked in.'

Dexter Fowler, who led off that contest with a homer, is 5 for 12 against Lynn, who has a 9.72 ERA while dropping his last two outings. Batting .400 with two homers and eight RBIs in the last six games against St. Louis, Anthony Rizzo is 3 for 5 with two doubles and a home run off the right-hander this year.

Dan Haren (9-9, 3.87) recorded his only quality start of the eight he's made with the Cubs while opposing Lynn and allowing seven hits in seven innings earlier this month. The right-hander, however, yielded four runs, seven hits and walked three in three innings while not factoring in the decision of a 7-4 loss at Philadelphia on Sunday.

'Very frustrating," said Haren, who is 2-2 with a 5.31 ERA for Chicago.

Kolten Wong is 4 for 6 with two doubles against Haren, and is batting .455 during a 10-game hitting streak against Chicago. Jason Heyward and Yadier Molina are a combined 5 for 10 and each has a double off Haren this season.

St. Louis heads to Wrigley riding a four-game winning streak that followed a stretch of eight losses in 10 contests. Matt Carpenter and rookie Tommy Pham each had three hits for a second straight game as the Cardinals capped a three-game sweep of Milwaukee with Thursday's 6-3 victory.

'It's always nice to be playing good baseball,' winning pitcher John Lackey said. 'This series was a great group effort.'

Matt Holliday is 9 for 20 in five games against the Cubs this season, and should see action this weekend after pinch-hitting Thursday in his first game since missing almost two months with a strained quad.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Marlins (64-83) at Nationals (75-71)

Game: 2
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: September 18, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

Injuries have sidelined Miami Marlins ace Jose Fernandez most of the last two seasons, but the Washington Nationals can vouch for his effectiveness when healthy.

Fernandez has dominated in a small sample size this year, including wins in both tries against the Nationals, and he'll go up against fellow ace Max Scherzer on Friday night when Miami continues a four-game series in Washington.

Fernandez (5-0, 2.06 ERA) missed most of 2014 and the first three months of 2015 after undergoing Tommy John surgery, and he had a more recent stint on the disabled list with a right biceps strain.

He returned Saturday and held Washington to two hits through five innings of a 2-0 win. Fernandez also beat the Nationals on July 28, giving up a run and four hits in six innings, and he's 3-0 with a 0.58 ERA in five career starts against them.

"You can see when Jose pitches, the team is different," said closer A.J. Ramos, who picked up his 28th save in Thursday's 6-4 series-opening win. "He brings something to this team that nobody can explain. It's uplifting. We just follow his lead."

Bryce Harper singled for one of the two hits off Fernandez but also struck out looking at a 99 mph fastball in the first inning.

"When you come back and you're throwing 99 mph, it's usually pretty tough," said Harper, who had his fourth consecutive multihit game Thursday but failed to homer in a fourth straight.

All of Fernandez's starts against the Nationals, though, have come at Marlins Park, where he is 16-0 with a 1.11 ERA. On the road, his record drops to 5-8 while his ERA rises to 3.86.

The script is flipped for Scherzer (12-11, 2.91). The Nationals (75-71) have dropped five of his last six starts at home, and he has a 6.16 ERA in the past three. He has a 2.25 ERA in the last three on the road, most recently throwing eight scoreless innings in a 5-0 win at Miami to halt a seven-start winless streak.

"Overall I thought over the past month or so I have been throwing the ball well, I just haven't gotten the results," said Scherzer, who hasn't issued a walk in four consecutive starts while striking out 30.

The Marlins (64-83), though, have tagged Scherzer for nine runs and 16 hits in 14 innings at Nationals Park this year. He's surrendered eight home runs in his last three starts in D.C., including one apiece to Martin Prado and Marcell Ozuna as Miami scored four runs off Scherzer to beat him on Aug. 28.

Prado and Justin Bour both homered for the second straight game Thursday as Miami dropped the Nationals eight games back of the New York Mets for the NL East lead.

Prado is batting .390 with 14 RBIs in his last 16 games, and he's 9 for 19 with two doubles and a homer versus Scherzer. Miami's third baseman has 20 hits in 60 at-bats against Washington this season.

Fernandez has held Ian Desmond to 0 for 14, Jayson Werth to 1 for 12 and Wilson Ramos 1 for 8. Werth has reached base in 26 straight games, one shy of a career high.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Royals (86-60) at Tigers (67-78)

Game: 1
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: September 18, 2015 7:08 PM EDT

Aside from wrapping up home-field advantage throughout the postseason, the Kansas City Royals have a few other things to get in order before October rolls around.

Getting Johnny Cueto on course might be of the highest priority.

The right-hander's next shot at emerging from a wretched span comes Friday night in Detroit, where the Royals will try to win two straight for the first time in 14 games.

Cueto (2-6, 5.43 ERA), acquired July 26 in a four-player deal with Cincinnati, got off to an impressive start in the AL with a 2-1 record and 1.80 ERA in four starts, but he's since lost five straight with a 9.57 ERA and eight home runs allowed.

He gave up four homers during Sunday's 8-2 loss at Baltimore, resulting in eight runs - seven earned - and 11 hits over 6 1-3 innings. Prior to this stretch, he'd never lost more than three straight starts and had allowed four home runs only once.

"I feel like I've felt every time," Cueto told MLB's official website through an interpreter. "I feel strong, healthy. What needs to happen is I need to keep my head up and keep moving forward. I can't look at the negatives from the past few weeks."

Detroit has already contributed to his struggles once, tagging Cueto with four runs and nine hits in six innings of a 6-5 final Sept. 1, but the veteran also threw a four-hit shutout against the Tigers on Aug. 10. All four of his career starts against them have come this season with a 2-1 record and 2.96 ERA.

Victor Martinez (0 for 16) and Nick Castellanos (1 for 10) have struggled the most, but Miguel Cabrera is 3 for 6 with a home run against Cueto.

Justin Verlander knows what it's like to emerge from sustained struggles, but he's fallen back into them a bit during back-to-back losses. Verlander (3-8, 3.58) had gone 3-3 with a 1.53 ERA over eight starts before giving up seven runs in 13 innings in a pair of losses against Cleveland.

He didn't read too much into surrendering four runs and six hits in six innings of a 7-2 road loss Sept. 13.

"It was kind of a mixed bag because I felt I pitched pretty good, but they got a couple of bloop hits that were costly," Verlander said.

The right-hander is 3-3 with a 5.13 ERA in his last six starts against Kansas City. Salvador Perez (20 for 41) and Alex Rios (17 for 46) have hit him well, but Omar Infante (4 for 25), Mike Moustakas (10 for 53) and Alcides Escobar (12 for 63) have not.

Infante helped the Royals (86-60) break out of an offensive funk in Thursday's 8-4 win in Cleveland, going 3 for 4 with a home run and a double while matching a franchise record for second basemen with seven RBIs. Rios was also 3 for 4 and is batting .418 in his last 15 games. The win followed a 1-3 stretch with just eight runs scored.

The team maintained its two-game lead over Toronto for home field, though Kansas City hasn't won consecutive games over a 4-9 span with a 6.07 ERA out of the rotation.

Manager Ned Yost is trying to line up a strong set of four arms for the playoffs and has already sent Danny Duffy to the bullpen in favor of Jeremy Guthrie.

The Tigers (67-78) have won three of four after securing the last two of a three-game series in Minnesota with Thursday's 7-4 win in 12 innings.

J.D. Martinez hit his 37th home run and is batting .455 in his last five games.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Red Sox (69-76) at Blue Jays (84-62)

Game: 1
Venue: Rogers Centre
Date: September 18, 2015 7:07 PM EDT

The Toronto Blue Jays enter their final homestand with a prime opportunity to extend their division lead as they seek their first AL East title since the early 1990s.

Marcus Stroman was two years old the last time the Blue Jays hung a banner, and to him it's seemed as though just as much time has passed since he took the Rogers Centre mound.

He'll look to remain unbeaten against the Boston Red Sox as Toronto plays the first of nine straight at home Friday night.

The Blue Jays (84-62) hold a 3 1/2-game lead over the New York Yankees atop the East after MVP candidate Josh Donaldson, Edwin Encarnacion and Cliff Pennington homered in Thursday's 5-0 win over Atlanta that completed a 10-game trip.

Toronto will play three each against the Red Sox (69-76), Yankees and Tampa Bay to finish its home slate before a seven-game road swing to close the regular season.

The Blue Jays are 19-5 at home since July 29 and have a magic number of nine to clinch their first division title since the last of three straight in 1993, when they went on to win a second consecutive World Series in their most recent playoff appearance.

Stroman is excited he's finally getting a chance to help end that postseason drought. He tore his left ACL during a fielding drill in March and didn't make his season debut until Saturday after 20 starts and six relief efforts as a rookie in 2014.

The 24-year-old right-hander appeared fully recovered, though, pitching four no-hit innings before allowing a three-run homer in the fifth and being removed following a rain delay in a 10-7 road win at Yankee Stadium.

"Unbelievable," Stroman said. "The vibes, the camaraderie in the clubhouse couldn't be any better. It's only going to get better from here. Really pleased."

He's felt that way after each of his outings against Boston, too, winning all three with a 1.25 ERA. Two of those victories came at Rogers Centre, where Stroman is 7-2 with a 1.98 ERA and .196 opponents' batting average in 11 starts.

Stroman, though, has had some trouble with Dustin Pedroia, who is 4 for 7 with a double in their matchups.

Pedroia missed 58 of 64 games from June 25-Sept. 7 while battling a hamstring injury, but he's batting .379 with three homers in six since returning. He hit a two-run homer in the third and a three-run shot in the fourth during Wednesday's 10-1 win over Baltimore.

"I just feel strong, I feel healthy," Pedroia told MLB's official website. "That's how I felt before I got hurt. That's the frustrating part. Sometimes you get hurt and miss some time. The biggest thing for me is just being out there, feeling good and being able to help us win."

Boston won three of four the last time it visited Toronto June 29-July 2, with Rick Porcello (8-12, 5.06 ERA) suffering the lone defeat. He gave up seven runs in two innings, dropping to 1-3 with a 7.65 ERA in four career starts there.

The right-hander had a 5.81 ERA when he went on the disabled list Aug. 2 with a strained right triceps, but he's 3-1 with a 2.15 ERA in four starts since returning after pitching seven innings in Saturday's 10-4 win over Tampa Bay.

Porcello won't have to face Troy Tulowitzki, who saw a specialist Thursday regarding the cracked shoulder blade he suffered in a collision Saturday. There's no timetable for the star shortstop's return.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Orioles (72-74) at Rays (70-76)

Game: 2
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: September 18, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

Whether for one start or the remainder of the season, Tyler Wilson jumps into Baltimore's rotation to try and help the Orioles make an unlikely playoff push.

Wilson is the beneficiary of another starter's struggles and the Orioles hope he can improve their slim wild-card chances Friday night against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.

Fellow rookie Mike Wright's starting role appears to be in jeopardy after going 0-2 with a 9.75 ERA in three starts since returning from a calf injury. The worst of those games was his latest, allowing six runs in three innings of Wednesday's 10-1 defeat to Boston - one of Baltimore's two losses in the last nine games.

With the Orioles (72-74) suddenly 4 1/2 games back of Houston for the AL's second wild card with 16 games left, manager Buck Showalter would not say if Wright will remain in the rotation or head to the bullpen.

"He's still in the mix both ways," Showalter told MLB's official website. "We are going to serve the needs of the club each day and what gives us the best chance to win that day."

Now Wilson (2-1, 2.19 ERA) gets a chance, as his start pushes the rest of Baltimore's rotation back a day. The right-hander was called up at the end of Triple-A Norfolk's season on Tuesday and learned Thursday that he would get his third start with the Orioles. He has a 1-1 record and 2.63 ERA in two previous spot starts - the last coming Aug. 3 - and made four relief appearances before the All-Star break.

Wei-Yin Chen and Kevin Gausman will start Baltimore's final two games against the Rays, then Ubaldo Jimenez and Chris Tillman are set to start next week's series against Washington. Showalter said Miguel Gonzalez's progress from a shoulder injury could change what the Orioles do from that point on.

Whoever is on the mound, Baltimore needs to make an impressive run to skip past four teams for the league's second wild card.

"It's not about all the other games anymore," Adam Jones said after hitting the go-ahead, two-run single in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Rays. "If we lose, we're not going to get there. If we win, that's all we can do."

Tampa Bay (70-76) dropped 6 1/2 back of a wild-card spot with its fifth loss in six games.

Drew Smyly (2-2, 3.14) hasn't lost in his last five starts, going 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA. This will be his seventh outing since missing more than three months with a torn labrum. His latest effort was wasted in a 2-0, 13-inning loss to Boston on Sunday, having tied a career high with 11 strikeouts in six innings.

"Drew Smyly, really good," manager Kevin Cash said. "He drove his pitch count up simply because of all the strikeouts, but he looked very sharp. He got a lot of swing and misses on a lot of different pitches."

During his four years with Detroit and Tampa Bay, Smyly is 3-0 with a 0.79 ERA in seven appearances against the Orioles, including four starts. He held the Orioles to four hits in seven scoreless innings of an 11-2 win Sept. 1.

Jones and Chris Davis have combined to go 4 for 29 with 14 strikeouts against Smyly, though Davis homered in his only hits off him and Jones went deep once.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: White Sox (69-76) at Indians (72-73)

Game: 1
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: September 18, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

The Cleveland Indians weren't able to make any wild-card progress in a series against the top team in the AL Central, so the immediate task now shifts to trying to beat maybe the best pitcher in the division.

Chris Sale opens a three-game series Friday night at Progressive Field, where the Chicago White Sox ace has experienced his share of struggles.

The Indians (72-73) fell 8-4 Thursday to Kansas City, settling for a four-game split and again dipping below .500. They've evened their record three times in the past six games, only to lose the follow-up effort. Cleveland enters the weekend series four games back of Houston for the second wild card.

Sale (12-9, 3.55 ERA) was limited to a career-low three innings for the third time in Sunday's 7-0 home loss to Minnesota. The left-hander gave up six runs and nine hits while dropping his second straight start. It wasn't for a lack of drive as Chicago's season winds down without a playoff appearance for the seventh straight year.

"We still have a job to do, and that's come in and compete," Sale told MLB's official website. "It's all we can do at this point. We are just playing for pride. Just suck it up and play as hard as you can."

While his ERA is the highest of his career and figures to stay that way, his 2.53 fielding-independent pitching is his lowest. It's also the lowest in the AL and bettered only by Clayton Kershaw and Jake Arrieta. His 250 strikeouts, surpassed only by Kershaw, are a career high and could climb into the top 10 single-season marks of the millennium before the season ends. His .327 strikeouts per batter faced ranks sixth dating to 2000.

The 26-year-old hasn't displayed his traditional level of dominance in five career starts in Cleveland, going 2-2 with a 5.28 ERA. Among AL venues, he's only been worse as a starter at Fenway Park.

Ryan Raburn is 10 for 33 with four home runs, joining Victor Martinez as the only player with more than three off Sale. Michael Brantley is 4 for 29 with 12 strikeouts in their matchups, as well as 0 for 11 in the last three games.

Lonnie Chisenhall is in a more sustained slump with a .150 average over his last 14 games, and he's 1 for 9 against Sale.

Cleveland counters with Cody Anderson, who's been impressive in his return from the disabled list.

In four starts back from an oblique strain, Anderson (4-3, 3.68) is 2-0 with a 2.35 ERA and .184 opponent batting average and his first set of back-to-back wins.

Half of the 14 hits he's allowed in those 23 innings, however, came in Sunday's 7-2 home victory over Detroit. The right-hander still limited the Tigers to two runs in 5 2-3 innings to earn his second straight victory a day before his 25th birthday.

"(Anderson) made some adjustments and got the ball down and changed speeds and really pitched pretty well," manager Terry Francona said, "He doesn't really get flustered."

The rookie has held truer to that assessment on the road with a 2-2 record and 2.58 ERA in six starts as opposed to 2-1 with a 4.96 mark in six at home.

After Thursday's 4-2 loss, the White Sox (69-76) settled for a four-game split with Oakland to conclude a 4-6 homestand that began with losses in two of three to the Indians. In Cleveland, however, the White Sox have won four straight and five of six this season. They're also embarking on an 11-game trip with a four-game road winning streak.

Melky Cabrera is batting .524 in his last five games and .424 in his last 15 at Progressive.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Yankees (80-65) at Mets (83-63)

Game: 1
Venue: Citi Field
Date: September 18, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

The last time the New York Mets and New York Yankees met this late in the season, it was in the 2000 World Series.

There's a possibility they could meet in the Fall Classic this year.

The Mets will host this weekend series, with the red-hot Yoenis Cespedes getting his first taste of this rivalry Friday night.

This is the latest regular-season edition of the Subway Series, and there is plenty at stake for both teams. The Mets (83-63) have a comfortable NL East lead over Washington while the Yankees hold the AL's top wild card as they try to catch first-place Toronto in the East.

"A lot's been made of this weekend coming up," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "It's now here so now we've got to get ready for it."

The Yankees (80-65) won't have Alex Rodriguez in the lineup this weekend, with no designated hitter at Citi Field. They took two of three at home in April from the Mets, who did not have Cespedes.

Acquired July 31 from Detroit, Cespedes has become one of baseball's biggest stories. He has 17 homers and 42 RBIs in 43 games with the Mets, giving him totals of 35 and 103.

The slugger has gone consecutive games without a homer after connecting nine times in 13 games to start the month. The Mets are seeking to avoid their first three-game losing streak since Aug. 14-16.

The Mets lineup will also look different to the Yankees since David Wright and Travis d'Arnaud were out with injuries for the April series and Juan Uribe had yet to be acquired.

Collins compared facing the Yankees to his club's three-game sweep at Washington last week that gave the Mets a commanding division lead.

"We need to approach it like it's the Washington Nationals walking in here," he said. "Look, it's a game we've got to go play, we're playing for something big, they are too. It's very similar to when we played the Nationals."

The Yankees will start Masahiro Tanaka (12-6, 3.40 ERA) on four days' rest for the fifth time and second occasion in a row after giving him extra rest through most of the year. Tanaka improved to 3-0 with a 2.54 ERA in his last four outings after seven innings of four-hit ball in Sunday's 5-0 victory over the Blue Jays.

"He's throwing the ball extremely well," manager Joe Girardi said. "We checked with him to see how he was, he said he felt good and that's why we're doing it. I know he hasn't done it a lot but we need him to pitch well for us."

The right-hander is 5-2 with a 1.97 ERA in seven career interleague starts including a four-hitter in a 4-0 road win over the Mets last year. Cespedes is 3 for 10 against him.

This will be a special outing for Steven Matz (3-0, 1.88), a Long Island native who grew up rooting for the Mets. He'll make his fifth start, third since returning off the disabled list and first in interleague play.

The left-hander allowed one run in five innings last Friday to earn a 5-1 victory at Atlanta.

He'll face an offense with some slumping hitters.

Brian McCann is hitting .194 in his last 10 games and Chase Headley is at .179 in his last 15. Brett Gardner and Jacoby Ellsbury each are hitting .204 since the All-Star break to rank among baseball's worst batters.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Phillies (56-91) at Braves (57-90)

Game: 1
Venue: Turner Field
Date: September 18, 2015 7:35 PM EDT

The NL East has crowned a champion other than the Atlanta Braves or Philadelphia Phillies only three times since 1993, with the clubs each winning a World Series and making three appearances in the Fall Classic during that window.

That's a far cry from where they stand in 2015, bringing up the rear of the division and firmly in rebuilding mode heading into a three-game series beginning Friday night in Atlanta.

The Braves (57-90) and Phillies (56-91) both will finish with at least 90 losses in the same season for the first time since 1989 after Atlanta fell 5-0 to Toronto on Thursday, mustering only three hits while losing for the 14th time in its last 15 home games.

Fittingly, the biggest applause from the sparse crowd came when former president Jimmy Carter and his wife appeared on the "Kiss Cam."

Philadelphia hasn't given its fans anything better to cheer about lately. It struck out 42 times - the most in franchise history during a three-game series - while being swept by Washington with Wednesday's 12-2 defeat.

Interim manager Pete Mackanin believes the young Phillies are hitting a wall during the grind of a long season many haven't experienced before. They'll have to finish 7-8 to avoid their first 100-loss season since 1961.

"It's not like we had a real good team and all of a sudden fell apart," Mackanin told MLB's official website. "This is a day-to-day experiment. A lot of young guys are getting opportunities. We're learning a lot about them, and that's very important for next year."

Strikeouts were part of the problem the last time Philadelphia faced Williams Perez (5-6, 5.36 ERA), who fanned a season high-tying seven in seven innings of Atlanta's 7-2 victory Sept. 7.

That went much better for Perez than his first start against the Phillies, when the rookie allowed a season-high nine runs and walked four in a 9-3 defeat July 31. The loss began a nine-start stretch during which he's 1-6 with a 7.90 ERA.

The right-hander has walked at least three five times in that span, including exactly that many Saturday when he went six innings of a 6-4 loss to the New York Mets.

Perez won't have to face Ryan Howard, who has missed the two games with a left knee injury. Howard hopes to get back on the field, but there's a chance he could be shut down for the season.

The Phillies have dropped three of the last four meetings with the Braves, a stretch that began when Adam Morgan (5-6, 4.60) gave up four runs over five innings a 6-2 loss Aug. 2. Morgan, who grew up in nearby Marietta, Ga., has lost both his starts against Atlanta with a 4.50 ERA.

He hasn't been any better in either of his last two outings. The rookie left-hander allowed six runs in a 7-5 loss to Boston on Sept. 4 and four in last Friday's 5-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs.

Morgan walked three in 11 1-3 innings in those starts after not issuing any in 22 2-3 over his previous four. He'll look to change his fortunes against Cameron Maybin, who is 3 for 5 with a double and a walk in their matchups.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mariners (71-76) at Rangers (79-67)

Game: 1
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: September 18, 2015 8:05 PM EDT

The Texas Rangers turned what was supposed to be an evenly matched series for the division lead into a statement boasting that they're the team to beat in the AL West.

Suffering a letdown against the Seattle Mariners could make that a moot point.

Texas looks to win six straight for the first time in nearly four months when it opens a three-game set against visiting Seattle on Friday night.

The Rangers (79-67) trailed Houston by 1 1/2 games entering Monday, then outscored the Astros 33-13 during a four-game sweep to climb 2 1/2 ahead in the West.

They sat two games under .500 and were fighting for the AL's second wild card on Aug. 12, but they've gone 24-10 since. Mitch Moreland delivered the biggest blow in Thursday's 8-2 win, belting a three-run homer in the third inning that put Texas ahead for good.

Shin-soo Choo matched a career high with four hits and is batting .500 over his last seven for the Rangers, who are on the verge of their first six-game winning streak since a season-high seven-game run May 20-26.

"It was definitely a complete series for us," Moreland said. "Each game seemed like a complete win. We created a lot of opportunities on the offense side, and we were able to capitalize."

Texas has averaged 7.4 runs over its last seven, a stretch that began immediately after being shut out in back-to-back games by the Mariners (71-76) on Sept. 9 and 10.

The Rangers are only 6-10 this season against Seattle, which just put a dent in another West foe's playoff hopes by taking two of three from the Los Angeles Angels.

The Mariners are hitting .273 while going 10-5 this month after Wednesday's 3-1 victory. Mark Trumbo hasn't contributed much to Seattle's improved hitting lately, though, going 2 for 20 with eight strikeouts over his last six.

He's 3 for 6 this season off Yovani Gallardo (12-10, 3.35 ERA), who looks to bounce back from a rough outing.

Gallardo went 4-0 with a 1.93 ERA over a six-start stretch capped by 5 1-3 innings that helped beat Seattle 3-0 on Sept. 7. He followed that by giving up five runs in 4 1-3 innings of Saturday's 5-3 loss to Oakland, his first defeat since July 19.

"I have to figure it out, I have to make adjustments," Gallardo said.

The right-hander should take notes from his starts against Seattle this season. He's 2-1 with a 1.56 ERA in those three outings and didn't allow a run in two of them.

James Paxton (3-4, 3.82) wasn't nearly that good the last time he faced the Rangers, giving up seven runs and 10 hits in 2 2-3 innings April 19 before the Mariners rallied for an 11-10 win.

The left-hander allowed one run over 12 2-3 innings in two starts against Texas last season, and he's hoping he can rediscover that form in his second start since spending over three months on the disabled list with a strained tendon in his left middle finger.

Paxton returned Sunday and allowed three runs - two earned - and walked three in three innings of a 3-2 loss to Colorado. The left-hander had an 85-pitch limit, but he threw only 66 despite giving up just two hits.

"It's been a long, long season waiting to get back out there," Paxton said. "If I had better fastball command and was getting ahead of guys more often it would have allowed me to go deeper in the game."

Seattle has won seven of the last 10 meetings in Arlington.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Reds (61-84) at Brewers (62-84)

Game: 1
Venue: Miller Park
Date: September 18, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

The Cincinnati Reds hope Brandon Finnegan will be a vital part of their rotation for many years to come.

That road begins Friday night when the 22-year-old left-hander makes his first career start while trying to help hand the host Milwaukee Brewers a seventh consecutive defeat.

Kansas City's first-round pick in 2014, Finnegan (0-0, 0.00 ERA) made his major league debut last September and was trusted enough to make seven playoff appearances for the Royals. After being dealt to Cincinnati (61-84) as part of the Johnny Cueto trade July 26, Finnegan finally gets to begin a game in the majors after 30 overall appearances out of bullpen.

He'll extend the Reds' major league record for consecutive starts with a rookie pitcher to 48.

"We've prepped him to start and now that opportunity is there," manager Bryan Price told MLB's official website. "I don't want to say he has a surplus of innings left over, but he has some room to start for the remainder of the year. He'll eat up some innings for us. He can get acclimated to starting at this level."

Finnegan, expected to be a regular in the rotation as early as next season, has not allowed a hit and struck out four with a walk over 2 2-3 scoreless innings in two outings with the Reds. He went 0-5 with a 5.14 ERA in 15 starts between Double-A and Triple-A this season.

Cincinnati has dropped eight of the last 10 in this season series, but Milwaukee (62-84) is mired in its fifth losing streak of six or more games in 2015.

A Reds' victory would move them out of the NL Central cellar and one-half game ahead of Milwaukee in the standings.

Joey Votto is 3 for 16 in his last six games but had two hits in Wednesday's 5-3 loss at San Francisco. He's batted .426 with four home runs and 13 RBIs in his last 12 games at Miller Park.

Votto and the Reds get their first look at Zach Davies (1-1, 6.60), who tries to rebound after he allowed six runs, six hits and five walks in 3 2-3 innings of Saturday's 10-2 loss at Pittsburgh. The right-hander has walked eight and struck out 10 in 15 innings over his first three career starts this month.

"Walks are killers," he said. "You've got to make them earn their way on."

Despite Davies' latest performance, manager Craig Counsell sees plenty of potential in one of the Brewers' top overall prospects.

"I think we've got to give him a little longer than three starts to make that judgment," Counsell said. "He knows that. You have to attack hitters.

"Walks are not going to be something you see from him on good nights. He should have the ability to get himself ahead in the count whenever he wants."

Ryan Braun is batting .362 with six homers and 13 RBIs in 15 games against the Reds this season. Braun went 0 for 4 in Thursday's 6-3 loss to St. Louis, one day after sitting out with back tightness he calls "pretty serious."