Friday 9/23/16 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 11 - Post: 9:05 - 1 mile. PACE - Class Rating: 87 - Purse:$8500 - NON WINNERS $6,500
CONSORTIUM*CHOICES

# 7 MEANT TOBE SHOOTER 5/2
# 4 IDEAL CHOICE 12/1
# 1 COMPANY MAN 15/1

We've got an instinct MEANT TOBE SHOOTER is going to get the trip to the winner's circle. Many expert selectors know speed is is such an important factor. This nice horse has credentials with a 91 avg number. Has a substantial shot in this contest, if he can race to his back racing class. Many expert selectors will recognize the terrific TrackMaster SR in the last affair. Stacks up against any horse in this group. IDEAL CHOICE - Analyzers must not pass over solid standardbreds coming from of the 4 post as their return on investment has significantly exceeded the expected average. COMPANY MAN - The 89 avg class stat may give this gelding a distinct advantage in the bunch. These days De Long has been real tough, which may give the edge to this gelding in this contest.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by The Walker Group at Arlington

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


Race 4 - SO - 5.5f on the Turf. Purse: $12000 Class Rating: 89

FOR FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE STARTED FOR A CLAIMING PRICE OF $5,000 OR LESS SINCE JANUARY 1, 2015 OR CLAIMING PRICE $12,500. THREE YEAR OLDS, 122 LBS.; OLDER, 124 LBS. NON-WINNERS OF A RACE SINCE AUGUST 23 ALLOWED 3 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $12,500 LANE 5. (IF THE MANAGEMENT


RECOMMENDED*CHOICES


# 6 SPRING FORMAL 2/1

# 5 SOMALI BYRD 3/1

# 3 I FORGOT IT'S NAME 5/2

SPRING FORMAL is my choice. With a very strong 88 Equibase Speed Figure last time out, will definitely be a factor in this race. Has garnered reliable Equibase Speed Figures in turf sprint races in the past. I expect a quite good performance from this pony whose trainer has one of the most competitive ROI percentages with horses running at this distance and surface. SOMALI BYRD - Has to be considered here on the basis of the numbers in the speed section alone. Could beat this group given the 85 Equibase Speed Figure posted in her last outing. I FORGOT IT'S NAME - Is worth careful consideration and may be a wager - strong Equibase Speed Figures (92 average) at today's distance and surface lately. Has a very strong record at the distance and surface, which makes me have to consider this mare.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by The Walker Group at Gulfstream Park

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


Race 9 - Maiden Claiming - 7.5f on the Turf. Purse: $19000 Class Rating: 78

FOR MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD. THREE YEAR OLDS, 120 LBS.; OLDER, 123 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $20,000.


RECOMMENDED*CHOICES


# 8 SUMMER SCAMP 10/1

# 2 CHAMPIERRE SPOT 6/1

# 5 ROLL ON TIDE 20/1

I give the nod to SUMMER SCAMP in this race and the potential return justifies the precarious nature of the long odds. Has recorded sound Equibase Speed Figures in turf sprint races in the past. Will almost certainly come out strong - I have liked the way this gelding has moved sharply to the lead recently. Ran a solid last race. CHAMPIERRE SPOT - Has been running solidly lately and ought to be on the front end early on. ROLL ON TIDE - Leyva has one of the best jockey ROI's on the grounds, returning to players +33 percent.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by The Turf Club Analysts

Belterra Park - Race #7 - Post: 4:24pm - Claiming - 5.5 furlongs on the Dirt. Purse: $7,200 Class Rating: 61

Rating:

#10 SWAYZE LADY (ML=7/2)
#2 N J ESQ (ML=30/1)


SWAYZE LADY - No needing to look any further. This horse has my money. Way too much speed. Ran in the last race against a tougher field at Belterra Park. The move down the class scale should suit her well. N J ESQ - Moves back to a distance at which she ran a rating good enough to make her a contender today. True, this pony is coming off a layoff, but this mare runs well fresh. I'm optimistic this mare will run well today. Last workout was 2nd fastest of the day, which tells me she's sharp right now. This equine is at the top in earnings per start. She looks strong in today's contest.

Vulnerable Contenders: #7 NASTY GIRL BLUES (ML=5/2), #11 RED HOT PLOT (ML=4/1), #5 LOCUST TRACE (ML=5/1),

NASTY GIRL BLUES - This mare finished outside the top 3 on August 26th and wasn't close in the last race either. RED HOT PLOT - In this situation, this mount's inability to close ground in the last event is a matter of concern. LOCUST TRACE - When you keep digging through the TrackMaster past performances and don't see a victory recently, you have to say to yourself, 'Not worth it on this equine'.

GUEST COMMENTARY: The Brain - SWAYZE LADY - Racing pattern would suggest this animal is fit for today's race. I'd calculate a good performance.
*


STRAIGHT WAGERS:

Bet on #10 SWAYZE LADY to win if we can get at least 7/5 odds

EXACTA WAGERS:

Box [2,10]

TRIFECTA WAGERS:

Pass

SUPERFECTA WAGERS:

None

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by The Turf Club Analysts

Charles Town - Race #2 - Post: 7:31pm - Maiden Claiming - 4.5 furlongs on the Dirt. Purse: $10,000 Class Rating: 42

Rating:

#3 YES IT'S BETTS (ML=4/1)


YES IT'S BETTS - Last raced at Thistledown in a race with a class rating of 62. Dropping considerably in class rating in today's event puts her in a solid position in this race. To play a thoroughbred off morning drills, you have to know when to tell if a horse is fit. The fact that this filly worked recently at longer distance is a positive angle. Shanley gets a break on this entrant carrying 10 lbs less than last out. Should be helpful in this event. You have to really like that most recent race rating, 36, which is the highest most recent race speed figure of this field.

Vulnerable Contenders: #2 OCALA RUSH (ML=3/1), #7 CABOPPO (ML=7/2), #4 PRESTON'S BOY (ML=9/2),

OCALA RUSH - Hard to put any dough on this gelding on the top end. Likes to finish in the money though. Garnered a most unsatisfactory speed rating last time around the track in an $8,000 Maiden Claiming race on February 20th. Improbable to see an improved performance off of that fig. CABOPPO - Today's event is 4 1/2 furlongs. Hasn't hit the board in a short distance affair in the last couple months. Not the greatest of signals. PRESTON'S BOY - I'd like to see more conducive recent efforts with morning line odds of 9/2.


STRAIGHT WAGERS:

#3 YES IT'S BETTS is going to be the play if we are getting 1/1 or better

EXACTA WAGERS:

3 with 6

TRIFECTA WAGERS:

Pass

SUPERFECTA WAGERS:

None

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by Rick Needham at Belmont Park

RACE #1 - BELMONT PARK - 1:30 PM EASTERN POST

8½ FURLONGS DIRT FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD ALLOWANCE $77,000.00 PURSE

#4 LITERATA
#3 TALE FOR RUBY
#6 WEMBLEY
#5 CROWNING AFFAIR

#4 LITERATA takes a class drop (-2), is the overall speed and pace profile leader in this allowance field racing at, or about, today's distance of 8½ furlongs on the dirt, and has hit the board in four of her last five outings, with three of those "board hit efforts" also qualifying as "POWER RUNS." Jockey Irad Ortiz and Trainer Rudy Rodriguez send her to the post ... they've hit the board with 58% of nearly 250 entries saddled as a team to date. #3 TALE FOR RUBY qualifies as a TrackMaster PLUS "PowerPony," also has a nice pace profile, and comes off a maiden-breaking, "POWER RUN WIN" in her last start, which was just the 3rd race of her young career to date.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Mohawk: Friday 9/23 Analysis
By Garnet Barnsdale

DRF

Race 1 - $30,000 Guaranteed Pick Five Pool

Race 4 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool


20-CENT PICK 5: 1,2,4,9/9/5,7/3,7,8,10/1,2,4,7 = $25.60

EARLY PICK 4: 3,7,8,10/1,2,4,7/4/4,5,10 = $48

LATE PICK 4: 3,6,7,9/1,3,5/4,5/1,5 = $48

MEET STATS: 360 - 1081 / $1865.90 BEST BETS: 59 - 99 / $185.90

SPOT PLAYS: 21 - 99 / $131.00

Best Bet: HILL OF A COLT (2nd)

Spot Play: STEPPIN OUT (6th)


Race 1

(1) MAYFIELD DUKE sports two :26 and change kickers most recently and he could get a perfect setup here with at least three that figure to blast off the gate; call to upset. (9) FLAHERTY faces easier here and he could go a long way on the front if he can clear before the 1/4. (4) BLAISE MM HANOVER is another facing easier that must be considered. Notice he finished on even terms with Flaherty last time. (2) RED DOG SALOON is another closer to consider in a race that has the potential to fall apart late.

Race 2

(9) HILL OF A COLT has been nothing short of sensational so far and it's hard to imagine his winning streak coming to an end here. (1) TOUGH GET GOING took a big shuffle last time. He should get a much better trip here from close range and is an exactor factor. (5) HILLS ANGEL - with 7 thirds in 16 starts this year so far - is again a good bet to fill the bottom of the tri. (2) SERGEANT SEELSTER is worth a look sporting a 67% win percentage out of town.

Race 3

(5) LINDWOOD BEACHGIRL has missed some time, but, she rarely loses when in classes like these; slight nod. (7) LAY LADY LAY hinted at a return to her best form by firing a :26 3/5 kicker in a quick mile; using. (1) BAD AS LEADER bottomed out a decent field last time and her improving form should be respected here. (4) CRACKLIN ROSIE returns off a sharp qualifier but she could be prepping for a sire stake here; minor award predicted.

Race 4

(8) CAROLINA HURRICANE never really got into the race last week. His price will go up here and he should get a more aggressive steer from McNair. (3) ALWAYS A HOTSHOT goes first time for trainer Maxwell here off a sharp qualifying effort on September 13th. Toss him on your multi-race bets. (7) KINGSLEY B was first-up chasing some hot fractions last time. He could surprise here off an easier trip. (10) CRUISE PATROL jogged in non-winners of two in July then raced in several stakes. He could overcome this post facing easier here.

Race 5

(7) SOUTHWIND GEISHA should go much better here making her second start off a break and dropping to the bottom conditioned level. (1) YOUR MY SECRET's rally at big odds fell just short last time. She should get a good following trip here. (2) JUSTABIT MEAN drops and moves inside and should still bring a decent price but she is in with a shot here. (4) JORDIES HOPE does her best work when she is on the lead. Maybe Saftic sends her this time after several failed closing attempts?

Race 6

(4) STEPPIN OUT takes a big drop here and he should be tough to overhaul on the lead vs. these. (9) HUBBY NUMBER ONE also drops to the bottom and he will be the main threat if he can leave in the top four or five. (7) BAGS FOR ALL is another dropper to consider but she seems destined for a smaller share this time. (5) ODDS ON AMETHYST was a strong winner in this class last time but that field was weaker and he should find a couple of these much tougher.

Race 7

(4) DRACHAN HANOVER could get a perfect trip on a helmet the way the shape of this race figures to set up; top call. (5) BLAYDE HANOVER has been in excellent form for several weeks and he too could get a great trip here. (10) EASY LOVER HANOVER was right there chasing a wicked pace for most of the mile vs. the best on the continent. If he clears early, look out! (3) MR CARROTS figures to fill one of the minor slots here.

Race 8

(3) SIR GALAHAD shoots for three straight in a race that appears to be no tougher than his most recent start; slight nod. (9) A BETTORS RISK closed a ton of ground in his comeback race. Look for Henry to send this gelding this time with that tightener out of the way. (6) ALL THE COOKIES has been facing tougher and hasn't been disgraced. He should get a better result here vs. non-winners of two. (7) THE KERNAL has shown enough speed to contend here but he would need a trip to topple them all.

Race 9

(5) ASAP HANOVER paced his own back 1/2 in :53 2/5 to score last week. He couldn't be sharper; call to repeat. (3) CARRACCI HANOVER took a big shuffle last week. The short field should help him here and he could trip out in the pocket; using. (1) DUC DORLEANS will likely be a big speed threat dropping and leaving from the inside. He is another strong option in a contentious group. (4) ERLE DALE N raced better last time. He can take a share here.

Race 10

(4) STACIA HANOVER should enjoy facing much easier here and beat these at a short price. (5) LIGHTS GO OUT moves to the middle of the gate and she should get put into this race early. (1) RIDE AWAY SHARK will likely look for a following trip near the front here. She should share. (6) BET YA is in great form and she will be passing horses late for another share here.

Race 11

(5) KISS ME OR NOT has a better chance of clearing early here which could make all the difference for her. (1) HOPE FOR PADDY is a drop-and-pop specialist that you must use in the late Pick 4. (7) ST LADS PENNY LANE is another that should enjoy easier company here. Look for her late. (6) TWIN B INSPIRING can be a big speed threat here; toss her in at a price. (3) NINETTE B seems to finish 4th or 5th every week. Put her on the bottom of your vertical wagers.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Yonkers: Friday 9/23 Analysis
By Brewster Smith

DRF

MEET STATS: 229 - 967 / $1,496.60

BEST BETS: 29 - 92 / $142.30

Best Bet: CARTOON DADDY (7th)

Spot Play: AL RAZA N (10th)


Race 1

(1) MONTEZUMA BLUECHIP is clearly knocking at the door based on his last three starts and now draws the rail so with that said he can get the job done against these. (4) MUSCLE BEACHBOY Gelding flashed good speed but tired in the stretch drive last out. (6) AUTOMATIC SLIMS was sharp in the pocket but could not get to the winner last time around.

Race 2

(3) HALTON HURRICANE was very wide turning for home and that might have cost him last time out but the good news is he now moves to the 2-hole and has tactical speed to grab a better spot; can take this at his best. (6) ALL ARTIST scored an easy victory last time around; post hurts tonight but he is very capable. (2) POWDER KEG came up the cones en route to glory against lesser recently.

Race 3

(5) LUCKY MAN was put up via the disqualification at 70-1 last time out and this 11-year-old seems to have a fondness for this level; gets the call. (4) CAN'T IT BE ME was sent down the road in his latest for the victory; main danger. (8) FRATERNITY's last trip he took charge and never looked back, however was placed last; not out of this despite the move to the 8-hole.

Race 4

(4) INVICTUS HANOVER did not fire in his last try but maybe this gelding will like the move to door number four; possible. (2) UPFRONT COUNTRYBOY got the job done last time out via the pocket; threat again. (5) CRIME OF PASSION leaves the far outside slot and the gelding has speed; watch out.

Race 5

(4) STYXIT TO EM N could not get to Artist Night last time out but this gelding seems to be heading in the right direction; poised to greet the cameraman for pictures. (8) ELRAMA N scored down the road last time around and it's not out of the question he can take another. (3) WHAT I BELIEVE came close to getting the job done against Elrama N in there last try; must be considered.

Race 6

(2) ROCK N ROLL XAMPLE flashed good speed against most of these last week and this pacing mare is very capable of returning to her winning ways with a well judged drive. (6) KRISPY APPLE raced evenly for fourth money recently and is always dangerous. (8) MACH IT A PAR rallied strongly to lose glory by only a length; don't count her out of this.

Race 7

(5) CARTOON DADDY is on fire scoring his fourth straight victory. 4-year-old stays in same level and should keep on his winning ways. (4) PRINCE ASTON is a new shooter from Tioga and is very consistent; big threat. (1) JK ALLNITELONG should do much better from the fence; maybe.

Race 8

(5) DO YOUR JOB was facing much better and was the chalk last time out. Pacing mare does know how to win races and hit the board 11 of 22 tries this year; quite possible. (2) SWEETNSINFUL took the pocket route on her way to glory recently. (4) HIPNUMBERONE led most of the way but was nailed in deep stretch last out; can't leave out of the mix.

Race 9

(4) HAZMATT Mare might find these to her liking and has been in the money 9 of 15 trips this year; capable at her best. (2) SIR JILLIAN Z TAM should fare better from the 2-hole if she gets the right trip. (6) GADSDEN HANOVER beat Open foes down the road last out at Batavia; not out of this.

Race 10

(4) AL RAZA N 6-year-old mare seems to be better at this level as she was very game for the score two starts ago so with that said a winning effort is clearly not out of the question. (1) BETTOR N BETTER moves down in class, gets the rail and Bartlett keeps the faith; dangerous. (3) JONSIE JONES was on the engine most of the way but did not have enough gas in the tank and she had to settle for place money last out; watch out.

Race 11

(2) GEORGINA CORNER beat lesser last out by only a nose. Trotting mare is in fine form so the rise in class should not be a problem and Bartlett has the return drive; gets the call. (1) BINGO QUEEN made a first over bid but could get to the winner in her latest; big player. (4) MIDNITE CRAZE showed good speed against Open trotters at Plainridge last time out and is back at Yonkers where she got the job done down the road; don't overlook.

Race 12

(1) MASSIVE ATTACK A takes a slight drop in class and moves to the fence. Mare can boss these with a fine-timed drive for glory. (5) REGIL ELEKTRA took charge right from the bell en route to victory last time out; dangerous again. (2) ICOMMANDMYSPIRIT was second best twice at the Meadowlands and this mare figures to be a strong contender; quite possible.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

SPOT PLAYS

For Friday

TRACK (RACE) HORSE, MORNING LINE

Arlington Park (1st) Plains Warrior, 4-1
(3rd) Tryst Cat, 5-1


Belmont Park (2nd) Hoponthebusgus, 3-1
(7th) Jay's Way, 5-1


Belterra Park (3rd) A Unique Lady, 5-1
(5th) Thelastthunder, 5-1


Charles Town (5th) Hard Desire, 6-1
(8th) Love in the Rain, 5-1


Churchill Downs (8th) Our Stormin Norman, 3-1
(9th) Balandeen, 3-1


Finger Lakes (1st) Mistretta, 3-1
(7th) Smooth Cat, 7-2


Gulfstream Park (4th) Anna Her Highness, 9-2
(8th) Splash Rules, 4-1


Indiana Grand (1st) Hurricane Pass, 3-1
(7th) City Seduction, 3-1


Laurel Park (4th) Thirst for Truth, 8-1
(7th) Rule Yourself, 3-1


Los Alamitos (5th) Papaslilprincess, 4-1
(6th) Fortunate Queen, 7-2


Louisiana Downs (1st) Stump, 9-2
(3rd) Dats My Choice, 3-1


Penn National (3rd) Traveling Afoot, 3-1
(7th) Suzi Lilly, 3-1


Pleasanton (2nd) Pure Lucky, 3-1
(9th) Raygun, 6-1


Remington Park (7th) Give Me Excitation, 3-1
(9th) Hank's Alibi, 10-1


Retama Park (3rd) Sadler's Bern, 8-1
(9th) Break Free, 3-1


Thistledown (6th) Why Wonder, 4-1
(8th) Roan Feathers, 6-1


Woodbine (7th) Dilly Dally Darby, 3-1
(9th) Kate's Whistle, 8-1

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

September Pitchers Report
By Marc Lawrence

Much like our waistlines after a tasty Labor Day barbeque, MLB rosters have expanded to accommodate September, the final month of the season. And as College Football and the NFL crash onto the scene, MLB pitchers take the final spotlight in hopes of leading their teams on to the playoff trail.

The question is which ones can we count on and which ones figure to be candidates for offseason Weight Watchers meetings?

Check it out.

Listed below are hurlers that have enjoyed a two-to-one or better success ratio in team starts the last three seasons during the month of September. On the flip side, we’ve also listed pitchers that struggle in September team starts, winning 33% percent or less of their efforts.

To qualify pitchers must have made a minimum of 10 starts, with at least one start each September over the last three years.

Note: * designates a categorical repeat appearance by this pitcher, maintaining status quo from last season’s September’s list.

Enjoy the games.

GOOD MONTH PITCHERS:

Arrieta, Jake - 12-2 (8-1 H)

For nearly two full seasons, Arrieta has been as good as it gets in baseball as a starting pitcher. While strikeouts have been down a bit and walks are up of late, at this time it hard to find fault with a hurler who has opposing batters hitting below .200 against him and has a 2.84 ERA to start the month.

Cole, Gerrit - 14-3 (6-0 H)

The Pittsburgh ace has frankly had a mediocre injury-plagued season and on August 27th had an MRI on his elbow, which revealed no damage. If Pirates the are going to snare a third consecutive Wild Card bid, they will need the Cole of the past two years. Note: Cole’s record also represents his MLB career team start mark during the month of September.

*Grenike, Zack - 13-3 (7-1 H)

Greinke's ERA is higher than past year's but pitching in thinner air of Arizona has contributed to this. While the Diamondbacks have little too play for, expect Grienke to be tough as nails like usual.

Hamels, Cole - 12-5 (6-2 H)

Need a big game pitched in September? It’s hard to go wrong with Hamels, whose ERA of 2.91 is well below career mark of 3.26. Still owns lively fastball and changeup is knee-buckling. A true professional.

*Jimenez, Ubaldo - 12-1 (6-0 H)

Still toeing the rubber every five days or for Baltimore in spite of mid-sixes ERA. Baltimore has few options and Jimenez is not trustworthy in the bullpen either. Orioles need big month from their big man to reach the playoffs and this is his best month.

*Kershaw, Clayton - 12-3 (6-1 A)

Kershaw threw in simulated game on August 30 and later said "feeling really good" and if all goes well, the Dodgers hope Kershaw can pitch in September and beyond in some role, which only makes the Dodgers a bigger threat. Best pitcher in baseball.

Kluber, Corey - 10-3 (5-1 A)

Has been back to Cy Young form since the All-Star break with an ERA under 2.00 and Cleveland has won his last six outings. When he commands both sides of dish with fastball, for whatever reason, his curveball has more break. A true established ace for the Tribe trying to win the division.

Koehler, Tom - 10-5 (5-1 A)

Been very effective in a quiet way nationally, but has been extremely dependable for two months leading to this month for Miami, supplying six to seven solid innings per start. If he's throwing strikes inside to batters, he’s tough to hit. Note: Koehler’s record also represents his MLB career team start mark during the month of September.

Peavy, Jake - 11-3 (5-1 H)

Went on DL in late August with lower back strain. Had been working out of bullpen most of August and future status with San Francisco is as cloudy as the weather in the Bay.

*Price, David - 12-5 (7-2 H)

After a largely below season in Boston, Price has been much sharper in latter stages of August, which is what the Red Sox need. What has changed is Price became more effective in keeping the ball lower and is getting more fly ball outs as a power pitcher, which are genuinely more routine.

*Scherzer, Max - 11-4 (6-3 H)

After a somewhat slow start, Scherzer has been getting better and better and base hits allowed are well below innings pitched (128 vs. 190), yet walking few batters (45), especially compared to strikeouts (238). Back to pacing around mound like the king of the jungle.

*Shields, James - 13-4 (8-0 A)

It has been a wild ride for Shields this season, with numerous hideous outings blended in with several sharp ones. At this stage, hard to think the 34-year righty can duplicate the past seasons.

Strasburg, Stephen- 9-4 (5-1 A)

Starts the month on the DL after some very ugly starts last month. If Washington is to do anything in the postseason, Strasburg needs to regain early season form, which features moving fastball and big breaking curve.

*Zimmermann, Jordan - 11-4 (6-2 A)

If rehab assignments go well, September 10th is target date for return. Zimmermann has not been very effective for quite some time and easy to forget he had ERA of 2.45 in mid-May, compared to current 4.44.

BAD MONTH PITCHERS:

*Hellickson, Jeremy - 2-10 (1-5 H)

All things considered, Hellickson has not had a bad year in Philadelphia. However, upon closer inspection, most of his numbers are now near career norms and if that ends being the same this month, real bet against potential.

Leake, Mike - 5-10 (1-7 A)

The Cardinals right-hander has been a lot like his teams, when Leake has been good, he and St. Louis have generally won, when not they have too often lost badly. Cards are hoping not to see a repeat performance from the veteran.

Ross, Tyson - 3-11 (1-6 A)

Started on Opening Day and has not been seen since for San Diego with bum shoulder. Still trying to work way bad through rehab. Probably best to forget 2016.

*Sale, Chris - 2-12 (0-8 A)

It is almost unimaginable Sale could have a record like this in September, yet he does. Part of it is the White Sox offense is too unreliable and Sale's miscues end up being quite costly. Let's see what the final month brings for the big lefty.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MLB roundup: Red Sox run winning streak to eight
By The Sports Xchange

BALTIMORE -- Andrew Benintendi lined a tiebreaking single in the fifth, Hanley Ramirez added a solo homer, and David Price threw seven solid innings as the Boston Red Sox completed a four-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles with a 5-3 victory Thursday night.
The Red Sox (89-64) and Price (17-8) both have eight-game winning streaks. Boston improved its American League East lead over the idle Toronto Blue Jays to 5 1/2 games while slumping Baltimore (82-71) fell seven games back.
Boston's magic number is five to clinch the division championship.
The Orioles lost their fourth straight and fell for the sixth time in eight games on an 11-game homestand. Baltimore is in a tight battle with the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros for the second AL wild card.

Indians 5, Royals 2
CLEVELAND -- Carlos Santana's three-run home run in the sixth inning broke a tie and lifted Ceveland to a victory over Kansas City at Progressive Field.
Cleveland completed a three-game sweep of the defending World Series champions. With Thursday's win, the Indians reduced their magic number for clinching the American League Central Division title to four.
Reliever Dan Otero (5-1) pitched two scoreless innings of one-hit relief with two strikeouts to get the win. Closer Cody Allen pitched the ninth inning to earn his 29th save.

Rays 2, Yankees 0
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Last-place Tampa Bay avoided a sweep with a shutout win over New York, which is trying to keep its postseason hopes alive in a wild-card logjam.
Rays rookie Blake Snell (6-8) threw five shutout innings, and former Yankees pitcher Chase Whitley threw 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief against his old team.
Tampa Bay closer Alex Colome went 1 1/3 innings for his 35th save, getting the final out with a runner at third when Jacoby Ellsbury lined out to center field. The Yankees, who were shut out once in the first 122 games of the season, have been blanked five times in the past 30 games.

Tigers 9, Twins 2 (Game 1)
MINNEAPOLIS -- Justin Upton hit his 26th home run of the year and Victor Martinez also homered as the Detroit Tigers topped Minnesota in the first game of a day-night doubleheader Thursday.
The game was a makeup of Wednesday's rain-shortened game, which was postponed in the bottom of the third inning. There was no score in the game before it was called.
Upton's homer came off Twins reliever Alex Wimmers and broke a 1-1 tie. The 444-foot blast landed in the bullpens in left-center field and gave the Tigers the lead for good.

Tigers 4, Twins 2 (Game 2)
MINNEAPOLIS -- Justin Verlander pitched six strong innings as Detroit completed a doubleheader sweep of Minnesota with a win.
The Tigers swept the three-game series at Target Field, and thanks to the Baltimore Orioles getting swept by the Boston Red Sox, Detroit now owns sole possession of the second American League wild-card spot. The Tigers are a half-game up on the Orioles.
The Toronto Blue Jays hold the first wild-card position and are 1 1/2 games in front of Detroit.

Braves 6, Marlins 3
MIAMI -- Matt Kemp slugged two home runs and had three RBIs as Atlanta won its sixth game in a row, defeating Miami at Marlins Park.
Kemp, acquired from the San Diego Padres on July 30, leads the Braves with 33 homers and 104 RBIs. He has 10 multi-homer games in his career, including three this season.
Atlanta's Freddie Freeman, who drove in two runs, extended his hit streak to 26 games. It's the longest active hit streak in the majors and the longest by a Braves player since Dan Uggla had a run of 33 in 2011.

Brewers 3, Pirates 1
MILWAUKEE -- Scooter Gennett and Chris Carter homered while Chase Anderson struck out six as Milwaukee avoided a sweep with a victory over Pittsburgh at Miller Park.
Anderson (9-11) worked into the sixth inning and held the Pirates to a run on four hits with a walk. He's allowed just three runs over his last four starts.
The only blemish on Anderson's record was a solo home run by Francisco Cervelli in the fifth inning -- his first since Sept. 30 of last season.

Angels 2, Astros 0
HOUSTON -- Ricky Nolasco worked seven shutout innings and Albert Pujols' first-inning home run stood as Los Angeles snapped an 11-game losing streak against Houston Astros with a victory at Minute Maid Park.
Nolasco (7-14) produced his third scoreless outing for the Angels since being acquired from the Twins on Aug. 1. He allowed five hits and one walk with five strikeouts to follow the six scoreless innings he tossed at the Blue Jays on Saturday.
After needing double plays to escape his two previous innings, Nolasco retired the middle of the Astros order in order to cap his outing. Nolasco also twirled a shutout against the Reds on Aug. 31 and has surrendered seven runs over his last 35 innings covering five starts.

Mets 9, Phillies 8
NEW YORK -- Asdrubal Cabrera's three-run homer in the bottom of the 11th inning capped a wild back-and-forth game and lifted the New York Mets to a dramatic win over Philadelphia at Citi Field.
The win stopped a three-game losing streak for the Mets, who are tied for the top National League wild card with the San Francisco Giants, who beat the San Diego Padres Thursday.
The Phillies have won six of 10.

Giants 2, Padres 1
SAN DIEGO -- Jeff Samardzija threw seven scoreless innings and San Francisco scored twice in the eighth to beat San Diego.
Samardzija (12-10) didn't have many stressful moments, surrendering four hits and tying a season high with nine strikeouts with zero walks.
San Francisco kept pace with the New York Mets for the National League wild-card lead. one-half game ahead of St. Louis.

Dodgers 7, Rockies 4
LOS ANGELES -- Yasmani Grandal homered twice, including a go-ahead grand slam, and Los Angeles rallied for a victory over Colorado at Dodger Stadium.
Grandal ripped a slam in the seventh off reliever Boone Logan (2-4), who served up four runs and three walks. Grandal, who is the fifth player to homer from both sides of the plate this season, went 4-for-4 with five RBIs as the first-place Dodgers remained five games ahead of the second-place San Francisco Giants in the National League West.
The Dodgers' magic number to win the division is four games.
The Rockies lost for the third time in four games.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Cardinals (80-72) at Cubs (97-55)

Game: 1
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: September 23, 2016 2:20 PM EDT

CHICAGO -- With a division title well in hand, the Chicago Cubs might be tempted to ease up through the final stages of the 2016 regular season.

Instead, the Cubs swept the Cincinnati Reds this week and have more objectives in mind -- including a chance to play spoiler this weekend as the St. Louis Cardinals come to Wrigley Field with the opener set for Friday afternoon.

Chicago (97-55) matched last year's win total with Wednesday's 9-2 victory over the Reds.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon said he'd like to reach a 100-win plateau he's never achieved.

"I've had 100 losses (with Tampa Bay)," he said.

Chicago's magic number to clinch home field through the National League playoffs is three.

And then there are the Cardinals (80-72), who are one-half game behind the San Francisco Giants and the New York Mets in the wild-card race.

"I think definitely the intensity will be there," Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant said. "I think any time you play them, it's a fun series. You get a lot of Cardinals fans down here. We want to play everybody tough."

The Cubs' big four starters work the next four games as right-hander Jake Arrieta (17-7, 2.96 ERA) pitches Friday with Jason Hammel and Jon Lester to follow.

Kyle Hendricks is scheduled to pitch Monday, kicking off a three-game series in Pittsburgh.

There will be other lineup tweaks as Maddon and his staff ponder the postseason roster.

"There are all kinds of different things we're working on right now to try to make it a constructive week where you get a really final good look at some guys, give them a chance to possibly be in a role they might be utilized in the postseason," he said.

Arrieta makes his 30th start of the season and is 6-2 with a 2.03 ERA in 12 career turns against St. Louis.

The Cardinals had won four straight until Wednesday's 11-1 loss in Colorado. With no head-to-head games against their wild-card competitors, St. Louis is on its own while hoping for help from those playing the Giants and Mets.

"We control what we can control, same boring stuff," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny told reporters. "But it works for us, because it keeps it very simple what our job description is. We control ourselves. That's it."

The Cardinals' Mike Leake (9-10, 4.54 ERA) makes his fourth start of the season (0-2, 4.26) against the Cubs on Friday.

It will be his fourth start this month since coming off the disabled list (shingles). He's 0-1 in that span with a loss to Chicago and two no-decisions, including a Cardinals' victory over the Giants on Saturday as he allowed two runs and seven hits over six innings.

The Cardinals close the regular season at home with four games against the Cincinnati Reds and three against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cubs hit the road for series in Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Nationals (89-63) at Pirates (76-76)

Game: 1
Venue: PNC Park
Date: September 23, 2016 7:05 PM EDT

PITTSBURGH -- Despite these being the waning days of the season, both teams will have an extra source of motivation when the Washington Nationals and Pittsburgh Pirates open a weekend series Friday at PNC Park.

The Nationals (89-63) are on the verge of clinching the National League East title. Their magic number is two, so they could wrap it up as soon as Friday with a win and a New York Mets loss to Philadelphia.

While locking up its third NL East title in five years has seemed like a formality for some time, Washington might have wrapped up the division earlier if not for a four-game losing streak that it broke Wednesday with an 8-3 win at Miami.

The Nationals were off Thursday and will be playing their final road series of the season.

Pittsburgh, meanwhile, seemed to blow its shot at an NL wild-card spot when it lost eight in a row and 12 of 14 beginning in late August. However, the Pirates have used a resurgence to keep their postseason chances alive and render each game the rest of the way critical.

Before their 3-1 loss Thursday at Milwaukee, they had won six of seven and seven of nine. They are at .500 (76-76) and were four games out of the wild-card chase, pending a late San Francisco game Thursday, with 10 games remaining.

To take advantage of their slim shot at the postseason, the Pirates will need to improve at home. Heading into their final homestand, a seven-gamer against division leaders Washington and Chicago, they are 2-9 in their past 11 home games, 3-13 in their past 16 to fall to just two games over .500, 36-38, at PNC Park.

Pittsburgh won't have to face 18-game winner Max Scherzer, a potential Cy Young candidate, this weekend.

Friday, Gio Gonzalez (11-10, 4.48 ERA) will attempt to continue his streak against the Pirates. He has made seven career starts against them and has never lost, going 4-0 with a 2.81 ERA. He has never given up more than three earned runs against Pittsburgh.

Gonzalez is coming off a tough-luck loss, his first loss in nine starts. He gave up six runs on nine hits in 4 1/3 innings Saturday in a 7-3 loss to Atlanta, striking out seven and walking none.

Only one of those hits was for extra bases, and several were soft singles.

"Gio was at his best. He made some good pitches," manager Dusty Baker said, according to the Washington Post. "I mean, you didn't see those balls blooping in there and stuff? You can't do anything about that."

It seems likely Pittsburgh at some point this weekend will face Washington closer Mark Melancon, who returns to PNC Park for the first time since the Pirates traded him to the Nationals before the trade deadline. Melancon is 12-for-12 in save opportunities with Washington.

With the Nationals, though, Melancon has not been saved solely for save situations -- including Wednesday, when he pitched the ninth despite the lopsided score.

"I had not been used prior to this in non-save situations like I have, and I don't want to be (unavailable) when there is a save situation," Melancon told the Washington Post this month. "Even in a tie game, I feel like I want to be able to contribute there. That's been different a little bit."

The Pirates on Friday will counter with rookie starter Jameson Taillon (4-4, 3.39 ERA), who has not faced Washington.

Taillon has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 13 of his 16 big-league starts, and two runs or fewer in nine starts.

After being skipped in the rotation to manage his innings and perhaps being a bit rusty, Taillon gutted through five innings Saturday, giving up three runs on nine hits in a 10-4 win at Cincinnati.

"What you got to see was a guy go out there not having his 'A' game and still finding a way to compete at this level against a team that swings the bat very well at this ballpark," manager Clint Hurdle said, according to MLB.com.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Yankees (79-73) at Blue Jays (83-69)

Game: 1
Venue: Rogers Centre
Date: September 23, 2016 7:07 PM EDT

TORONTO -- The New York Yankees would like to take a walk on the wild side during their four-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays that opens Friday at Rogers Centre.

It is a key series for the Yankees because the Blue Jays are where they would like to be, occupying an American League wild-card spot.

This series between American League East rivals could help sort out a tight wild-card race.

Left-hander Francisco Liriano will start Friday for the Blue Jays, who have 10 games left in the regular season, including the next seven at home.

"A lot of games are left and the position we're in, we just have to finish strong," Toronto right fielder Jose Bautista said after a 2-1 loss in 12 innings to the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday. "I think that should be the focus."

Right-hander Bryan Mitchell will start for the Yankees, who also have 10 games left after losing 2-0 to the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday. They dropped to three games behind the Detroit Tigers, who moved into the second wild-card spot after sweeping a doubleheader from the Minnesota Twins on Thursday.

The Blue Jays are in the first wild-card position, one game ahead of the Tigers.

The Yankees helped make the wild-card race that much closer Sept. 5-7 when they swept three games from the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium.

The Blue Jays have continued to stagger through September, going 7-12 so far despite winning two of three from the Mariners to end a seven-game trip at 4-3.

Toronto ended August with a two-game lead in the AL East but after losing six of their first six games in September, it had dropped two games behind the Boston Red Sox for the lead. The Red Sox lead reached 5 1/2 games after they completed a four-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday.

"Obviously we needed to start playing better, but I didn't sense a change in mood in the room," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "We like playing at home. I know our record the last homestand wasn't great (2-4), but we feel good there in front of the home crowd. There's not a lot of time left so we've got to play good. You've got to be optimistic."

The Blue Jays have played sloppy defense and their hitting has been inconsistent for the past few weeks. There were signs in a 10-2 victory over the Mariners on Tuesday that that there might be an offensive revival.

"My feeling has always been that with so many guys struggling this month that it was going to change, that it had to change," Gibbons said.

The Yankees had some bad news on Thursday. Masahiro Tanaka, who is 14-4 with a 3.07 ERA, has a forearm strain and will not be able to make his scheduled start Monday in the fourth game of the series against Toronto's 20-game winner J.A. Happ.

"It's very disappointing; we're making a push," Tanaka said through an interpreter. "This is a very important time for us. This is definitely not the time you want to skip anything."

Liriano will make his ninth appearance, and seventh start, for Toronto since he was acquired in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates Aug. 1. He is 1-2 with a 3.89 ERA for Toronto. He has faced the Yankees once this season, a two-inning relief outing on Sept. 5 in which he allowed one hit and no runs while striking out three.

In 10 career games against the Yankees, including eight starts, he is 2-4 with a 3.72 ERA.

Mitchell will make his fourth start of the season Friday. He is 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in four career appearances (one start) against Toronto. He earned his first major league win against the Blue Jays on Sept. 7. tossing five scoreless innings -- four hits, two walks and two strikeouts -- in his first start of the season.

"What we need to do is keep playing the way that we're playing now; keep playing hard, keep winning games," said Yankees rookie catching sensation Gary Sanchez, who became the quickest player in history to hit 19 home runs, doing so in his 45th career game on Wednesday.

"We've had a tough week, but we have to keep having fun," said Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira, who is retiring at the end of the season. "We've got to play relaxed and have fun. That's why we were winning so many games, because we were enjoying ourselves, playing one game at a time and just trying to have fun out there."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Diamondbacks (64-88) at Orioles (82-71)

Game: 1
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: September 23, 2016 7:05 PM EDT

BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Orioles attempt to bounce from being swept in a crucial four-game series when the Arizona Diamondbacks come to town for a three-game set starting Friday.

Boston rolled over Baltimore (82-71) in four straight including a 5-3 verdict Thursday, all but ending the Orioles' chances at winning the American League East.

They sit seven games behind the Red Sox -- and in third place with nine games left.

Baltimore fell one-half game behind Detroit for the final wild-card spot after Detroit swept a doublehead from Minnesota on Thursday. The Orioles are 1 1/2 games behind Toronto, which leads the wild-card race.

Yovani Gallardo (5-8, 5.77 ERA) starts Friday for the Orioles, and he's struggled throughout the season. His last start came Sept. 15, when the right-hander lasted 3 1/3 innings and allowed six runs on seven hits in a 7-6 loss to Tampa Bay.

He's won once in his last 14 starts, but sports a 7-2 career record versus the D-backs.

Arizona (64-88) starts Shelby Miller (2-12 6.90), who's never pitched versus Baltimore. He's lost six straight decisions and hasn't won since June 20 while spending most of July and all of August in the minors.

Baltimore came into an 11-game homestand with a 45-25 record at Camden Yards but dropped six of the first eight games.

Manager Buck Showalter said the Orioles need to get going again, and he's got faith they can do it.

"When you are down they are going to step on you and when you're up you are going to ride the flow as much as you can," Showalter said. "It's all about riding the good times and shortening up the bad times as much as you can and we are going to try to shorten this one up starting tomorrow."

Baltimore first needs to start hitting again. Boston starters shut down the Orioles throughout the four-game series, holding them to eight runs after Baltimore recently took two of three from the Red Sox at Fenway Park.

The Orioles made it clear that they must forget about this series as quickly as possible.

"This series is over," closer Zach Britton said. "It's disappointing. It would have been a nice ... to at least stay close for the division. The whole thing is just come back and be better tomorrow. If we're better tomorrow and win that one, then we can try to be better the next day."

The D-backs already have been eliminated from the playoff race, but are playing hard.

Paul Goldschmidt (.298, 23 home runs, 90 RBIs) hit two homers in the last game, a 3-2 victory over the Padres on Wednesday, and said he felt good after getting Monday off. But he wanted to be ready to go when returning to the lineup.

"You're always looking to take rest when you get it, and when (manager) Chip (Hale) puts me in the lineup ... just try to be ready to go and do my job," Goldschmidt said on MLB.com.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Braves (62-91) at Marlins (76-77)

Game: 2
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: September 23, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

MIAMI -- The Friday matchup between the Atlanta Braves and the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park doesn't have much to offer baseball fans.

The Braves (62-91) are the worst team in the National League and the second worst in the majors -- and that is after a recent hot streak.

The Marlins, who haven't made the playoffs since 2003, are a virtual lock to fall short yet again.

Even worse for Miami (76-77) is the fact that it struggles to beat the lowly Braves, who are 10-6 against the Marlins this year.

Atlanta, which beat Miami 6-3 on Thursday behind right-hander Josh Collmenter, is riding a six-game winning streak and is 18-12 since Aug. 21.

"If you walk into this clubhouse, you wouldn't be able to tell where (the Braves) are at in the standings -- first or last," Collmenter said. "Every day the guys come in, and there is a lot of energy and excitement."

So -- beyond this little Braves hot streak -- is there anything to look forward to this weekend in a series that figures to generate very little buzz nationwide or even in South Florida?

Well, there are always individual numbers and individual story lines.

Marlins right-hander Andrew Cashner, who starts on Friday, is nearing the end of a forgettable season. He is 5-11 with a 5.27 ERA this season. Since the Marlins acquired him from the San Diego Padres on July 28, Cashner has been even worse -- 1-4 with a 6.18 ERA in 10 games, nine starts.

He likely has three more starts in his Marlins career as he will be a free agent after this season and is not expected to return. And you can bet that will be a mutual decision since Cashner doesn't like the Marlins' no-beard policy.

Cashner's mound opponent Friday will be Braves right-hander Matt Wisler, who is 7-12 with a 4.93 ERA.

Wisler has not pitched well in his four career opportunities against the Marlins, going 0-2 with a 7.56 ERA. Both of the losses came this season, when the Marlins have pounded out 20 hits in 11 innings against Wisler.

Otherwise, though, Wisler has been solid this year, especially considering he is pitching for a last-place team. If he records a quality start on Friday, it would be his 15th of the season, which would tie Julio Teheran for the team lead.

Wisler will face a nemesis Friday, Marlins center fielder Christian Yelich, who was eight hits in nine at-bats against him.

Yelich belted his 20th homer of the season Wednesday. He is hitting .298 with a career-high 20 homers, a career-high 95 RBIs and eight steals.

Only three Marlins players -- Gary Sheffield, Cliff Floyd and Hanley Ramirez -- have had seasons with at least a .300 average, 20 homers, 100 RBIs and 10 steals.

"There is still room for him (to grow as a hitter)," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said of Yelich. "His home run (on Wednesday) was one of the first true pull-side homers we've seen from him where he hits it clean and gets the right angle.

"His power is coming. He's only going to get better. Crossing those barriers (such as 20 homers), you start to know you can. To double (his homer total from last season), your mind goes, 'I can do that.'"

Another player whose confidence is growing is Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman, who drove in two runs Thursday and extended his hitting streak to 26 games. It is the longest active hitting streak in the majors and the longest by a Braves player since Dan Uggla had a run of 33 games in 2011.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Phillies (69-84) at Mets (81-72)

Game: 2
Venue: Citi Field
Date: September 23, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

NEW YORK -- The final 10-game dash for a wild-card spot began in, well, wild fashion on Thursday night for the New York Mets. Now the Mets hope the baseball player equivalent of a wild card can get them another step closer to the playoffs on Friday.

Right-hander Gabriel Ynoa will become the second consecutive rookie starter for the Mets when he takes the mound in the second game of a four-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field.

The Mets won the series opener in frantic fashion Thursday night, when Asdrubal Cabrera hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the 11th to give New York a 9-8 win. Jose Reyes hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings before closer Jeurys Familia was charged with two runs in the top of the 11th.

The victory snapped a three-game losing streak for the Mets (81-72), who remained tied for the top National League wild-card spot with the San Francisco Giants, who beat the San Diego Padres, 2-1. The Mets and Giants are a half-game ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals, who were idle on Thursday.

"We had a little get-together (before the game), talked about, hey, it's a 10-day season right now," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "Best team gets in. So they went out tonight and as they showed, they were bound and determined to win the game."

Ynoa, who is starting in place of injured left-hander Steven Matz, will look to author his second straight solid start. The 23-year-old allowed one run over 4 2/3 innings in his first major league start last Sunday, when the Mets beat the Minnesota Twins, 3-2.

This will be the eighth big league appearance for Ynoa, who made 134 minor league appearances dating back to 2010 before he was promoted to the Mets on DATE HERE. Ynoa went 12-5 with a 3.97 ERA this season for Triple-A Las Vegas in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

"It's a little different approach up here -- if you throw strikes with your pitches, I think you (can have) success," Collins said. "If you've got a 4.50 ERA in the Coast League, you're pitching pretty good."

The Phillies will counter with right-hander Jeremy Hellickson, who is coming off the finest effort of his career, a three-hit shutout last Saturday night in an 8-0 win over the Miami Marlins.

Despite being just 29 years old, Hellickson has served as a mentor in a rotation whose other four members are all rookies or second-year players. Hellickson's leadership could come in especially handy on Friday after the Phillies blew three leads in Thursday's loss.

"At this level, against a team like this or any major league team you can't make mistakes," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "You've got to throw quality pitches. And if you do, you're going to be successful. If you don't, you're going to get hurt. There's your learning experience."

Ynoa has never faced the Phillies while Hellickson is 2-3 with a 7.58 ERA against the Mets. That is his highest ERA for any team he's faced more than twice.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Red Sox (89-64) at Rays (65-87)

Game: 1
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: September 23, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The final month Tampa Bay pitcher Chris Archer's season is an ongoing effort to avoid too many dubious records as the Rays host his personal nemesis, the white-hot Boston Red Sox, to open a three-game series Friday.

Boston won its eighth in a row, completing a four-game sweep in Baltimore on Thursday, and leads Toronto by 5 1/2 games in the American League East.

Archer (8-18, 4.05 ERA) already has a share of the Rays record for losses in a season -- Tanyon Sturtze also had 18 in 2002 -- and is tied for the major league lead with former teammate James Shields. He has two starts remaining, so he's in jeopardy of becoming baseball's first 20-game loser since Detroit's Mike Maroth in 2003.

He'll try to avoid all this while facing a team in which he's lost 10 straight decisions, leaving him 1-10 with a 5.56 ERA in 15 career starts against the Red Sox. Seven losses came at Tropicana Field, and this season, he's 0-4, 6.65 in four starts versus Boston.

An odder distinction could come if he's able to lead the American League in losses and strikeouts, something that hasn't happened since Nolan Ryan did so in 1976.

The Rays have been solid in finishing series -- 4-1 in the final game of their last five -- but are 3-9 in the rest of the games.

"We've got them figured out on getaway days," manager Kevin Cash said after Thursday's 2-0 victory against the Yankees. "We can't quite figure it out before that, but we'll take this one for sure."

On Friday, the Red Sox turn to left-hander Drew Pomeranz, who is 2-5 with a 4.91 ERA in 12 starts since joining the Red Sox before the trade deadline from San Diego.

Pomeranz has been sharper against the Rays -- he's 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA in four games (three starts), including a hard-luck 2-1 loss Aug. 25 in which he struck out a season-high 11 batters while holding the Rays to two runs on seven hits.

Boston has significant momentum going into the final week and a half of the season, and the Rays can do little to spoil the position the Red Sox have put themselves in with their latest surge.

"I just think we put ourselves in a better position," center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. told the Boston Herald before Thursday's 5-3 victory over Baltimore. "I feel like everybody's playing relaxed. Everybody's mentally and emotionally invested. Everything just seems to be clicking right now."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Royals (77-76) at Tigers (82-70)

Game: 1
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: September 23, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

DETROIT -- Fulmer, Norris and Boyd.

Not quite a law firm, but a trio definitely representing the Detroit Tigers' postseason chances as they argue their case in front of the high court of a 162-game season.

Rookie right-hander Michael Fulmer plus callow lefties Daniel Norris and Matt Boyd will pitch for Detroit this weekend against the visiting Kansas City Royals as the Tigers try to enhance their playoff credentials.

"We wouldn't be here without them," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus has said on several occasions. "We would not be here if those three guys weren't pitching the way they have."

Detroit claimed at least temporary possession of the second wild card spot by a half-game Thursday night with a 4-2 victory at Minnesota, completing a sweep of the Twins to extend its winning streak to four.

The Tigers are a half-game up on Baltimore, which was swept in a four-game set with Boston.

Kansas City has already been dethroned as champions of the American League Central and is being slowly locked out of the wild card door. It has won just three of its last 11 games after its 5-2 loss Thursday night at Cleveland.

"You're not going to live a charmed life forever, and we did last year by not really suffering any major injuries," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "This year we did (sustain injuries).

"I've been very proud of the way this team continues to battle through all adversity. They don't quit. They're every bit into these games as they were at this time last year. That's a good trait to have."

Opposing Fulmer, a leading candidate for AL Rookie of the Year with a 10-7 record and 3.03 ERA, will be tough lefty Danny Duffy. Norris works Saturday and Boyd on Sunday for Detroit.

Duffy (12-2, 3.18 ERA) has a franchise-record 181 strikeouts for a left-hander and his dozen victories are the most by a Kansas City southpaw since Bruce Chen had 12 in 2011.

Yost said earlier this week he doubted if center fielder Lorenzo Cain would return to the field this season. He's been bothered for weeks by a wrist sprain that limits his ability to swing a bat.

Third baseman Mike Moustakas has missed much of the season with a knee injury that required surgery, although Cheslor Cuthbert has filled in well.

"You get Moose back, you get Lorenzo Cain back (next season)," Yost said. "Those are two pretty big bats that have been missing in this lineup for a while now."

Fulmer is making his fourth start against Kansas City this season and is looking to beat the Royals for the first time. Fulmer is 0-2 with a 2.75 ERA in his first three starts against the Royals. In 19 2/3 innings, he's allowed Kansas City 18 hits, including a pair of home runs.

Detroit hopes second baseman Ian Kinsler, who missed the Minnesota series after suffering a concussion Sunday when hit on the top of the helmet by Cleveland's Trevor Bauer, can return to action for the series opener against Kansas City.

Designated hitter Victor Martinez, hit on the left knee by Bauer in the same game, missed the opener against the Twins plus the three innings of the rained out game, but belted a pinch-hit three-run home run in Thursday's first game and was the DH in the second.

"It's not a secret we're running out of time," Martinez said. "We just keep playing the games. See what happens. Heading home for the final stretch."

Justin Upton hit a tiebreaking solo home run in Thursday's first-game 9-2 win, and since Aug. 20 has hit 13 of his 25 home runs and driven in a league-best 33 runs over that period.

"Justin Upton, in terms of being a story," Ausmus said, "think about some of the home runs he's hit over the past month.

"He's had some big home runs throughout the month that he's gotten hot. Probably as many big home runs on the team compacted into one month."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Reds (63-89) at Brewers (69-84)

Game: 1
Venue: Miller Park
Date: September 23, 2016 8:10 PM EDT

MILWAUKEE -- A year and a day after he hired David Sterns to be his general manager, Milwaukee Brewers chairman and principal owner said he was pleased with the process he's seen in year one of the rebuilding process being orchestrated by Stearns.

The Brewers' 3-1 victory Thursday over Pittsburgh was their 69th of the season, surpassing their total from the entire 2015 campaign.

"I didn't know what to expect this year because we'd never really entered a year like this," Attanasio said. "Even in 2005 (Attanasio's first as the team's owner), we were really not 'rebuilding.' We were building. So I didn't really have any clear expectation, and I would say it's been really difficult at times, and it's been really fun at times."

Attanasio pointed to impressive seasons being put together by young players like Jonathan Villar, who moved back atop the National League with his 54th stolen base of the season Thursday, and right-hander Zach Davies, who leads the team in victories (11) and is second among starters with 132 strikeouts and a 3.92 ERA.

Davies will get a chance to improve on those numbers Friday, when he takes the mound in the opener of a three-game weekend series with the Reds -- Milwaukee's final home series of the season.

He held the Cubs to three runs his last time out, working out of a bases-loaded jam with nobody out in the fourth inning.

"Getting out of the bases loaded and keeping us at 3-1 there rather than them making it 5-1 or something, that makes it a totally different game," manager Craig Counsell said. "Him putting a zero up there and making pitches was huge."

Davies hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in any of his last five starts. He's 2-1 during that stretch with a 2.87 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 31 1/3 innings of work.

The Reds come to town refreshed after their final off-day of the season but are looking to get back on track after being swept by the NL Central champion Cubs and have dropped seven of their last eight overall.

Cincinnati's last series victory came earlier this month against the Brewers; the Reds took the first two meetings of a three-game set at Great American Ballpark Sept. 12 and 13.

Right-hander Anthony DeSclafani will take the ball for Cincinnati, looking to bounce back from a rough showing his last time out, when he was charged with six runs (four earned) over four innings in a loss to the Pirates last Saturday.

"I take full responsibility for this game," DeSclafani said afterward. "It was just a bad game. I'm going to put it behind me. I've got two starts left, and I'm trying to make the most of those and hopefully finish the season strong. But today I was bad. Today was not good."

He's made one start against Milwaukee this season, improving to 4-0 when he held the Brewers to three runs while striking out eight over six innings of work back on July 15.