Monday 7/20/15 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Red Sox (42-49) at Angels (50-40)

Game: 4
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Date: July 20, 2015 10:05 PM EDT

The Los Angeles Angels are set to host their first doubleheader in 12 years thanks to their first rain postponement in 20.

Maybe an unscheduled day off will wake up some listless Boston Red Sox bats.

The Angels posted shutouts in the first two games of this four-game series, which will be completed Monday in a day-night doubleheader in Anaheim.

Sunday night's game was postponed due to rain, marking the first time that has happened in Anaheim since June 16, 1995. Now Los Angeles (50-40) will host its first doubleheader since Sept. 6, 2003.

'Unfortunately, I guess you never really know how your drainage system works until you get enough water,' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. 'There's so much standing water in that outfield that just has nowhere to go. It's going to be like that all night, probably be like that (Monday) morning. ... The field was unplayable, with no way to remedy that.'

Boston (42-49) seeks to avoid a fourth straight loss and score for the first time in this series after totaling seven hits - five singles - in losses by 1-0 on Friday and 3-0 on Saturday.

Slugger David Ortiz is hitting an AL-worst .144 off left-handers and he's 2 for 9 off Hector Santiago (6-4, 2.33 ERA), who starts the first game for Los Angeles. Santiago is 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA in his last four starts after giving up one run in seven innings July 10 to earn a 7-3 victory at Seattle.

He allowed three runs in 6 2-3 innings of a 6-1 loss to the Red Sox on May 24 to fall to 0-3 with a 3.63 ERA in four starts against them. Dustin Pedroia is 4 for 9 in this matchup, though the second baseman is 0 for 8 in this series after missing 16 games due to a right hamstring strain.

Santiago will try to help the Angels post three straight shutouts for the first time since Sept. 28-Oct. 1, 1974.

The Angels will send another lefty to the mound in Andrew Heaney (3-0, 1.32) in the nightcap. He threw seven scoreless innings and struck out six in last Sunday's 10-3 win over the Mariners. Heaney has pitched at least seven innings in three consecutive starts.

Boston will use a left-hander opposite Santiago in the opener in rookie Eduardo Rodriguez (5-2, 3.59), who is 3-0 with an 0.69 ERA in his first four career road starts. He also entered the break 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in his last three overall after allowing a pair of solo homers in 6 1-3 innings of a 5-3 win over the New York Yankees on July 11.

"We continue to learn a lot about him," manager John Farrell said. "He continues to grow each time he walks to the mound."

Rodriguez will get his first look at the Angels while Game 2 starter Steven Wright (3-2, 4.15) can post his second win in as many starts over them after surrendering two runs in 6 1-3 innings in an 8-3 home victory May 23.

Wright, who makes his first start since June 4, is 1-2 with a 3.91 ERA in four 2015 starts.

The knuckleballer held Mike Trout hitless in three at-bats in May. Trout went 0 for 4 on Saturday to end an eight-game hitting streak in which he went 13 for 31 with six homers and 12 RBIs.

Trout homered in the bottom of the ninth to win the series opener before Kole Calhoun went deep twice the next night.

Calhoun is batting .354 with five homers and 13 RBIs in his last 11 games.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mariners (42-50) at Tigers (45-46)

Game: 1
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: July 20, 2015 7:08 PM EDT

It's been quite some time since the four-time defending AL Central champion Detroit Tigers sat below .500 following the All-Star break.

It also seems like forever ago that Alfredo Simon was pitching well.

The Tigers hope Simon can snap out of a terrible stretch and help them get back to the break-even mark in the opener of a four-game series with the visiting Seattle Mariners on Monday night.

Detroit (45-46) surged to an 11-2 start, but hasn't won more than three in a row since while falling 10 1/2 games behind first-place Kansas City. It has dropped five of six after Sunday's 9-3 loss to Baltimore, falling below .500 for the first time since it was 1-2 on April 4, 2013.

The Tigers last were under .500 in the second half when they were 80-81 near the end of 2010. They haven't finished a season below .500 since going 74-88 in 2008.

Simon (8-6, 4.53 ERA) has dropped off much like the Tigers. He went 7-3 with a 2.58 ERA through his first 12 starts, but he has an 11.12 ERA over his last five.

The right-hander, an All-Star with Cincinnati last year in his first full season as a starter, has allowed at least five runs in each of these recent outings as opponents have hit .416. He gave up seven runs - five earned - in 2 1-3 innings of a 9-5 loss to Minnesota in his last start July 11.

'I don't want to put a lot of things in my mind,' Simon said. 'I just try to work hard and in the second half try to do it better, like try to make the pitch down. When you try to make the pitch and leave it up, you're going to get hit. I have to do it better than that and just try to throw the ball down.'

Simon made his only career start against the Mariners on July 6, allowing five runs and eight hits - including a three-run homer to Logan Morrison - while walking three in 5 2-3 innings of a 12-5 win.

Morrison, though, has hit just .133 with six extra-base hits over his last 27 games, and he got the day off Sunday as the Mariners (42-50) lost 2-1 to the New York Yankees.

"We need him to get on one of those (hot) streaks again," manager Lloyd McClendon told MLB's official website. "We need him if we're going to be successful. He's got to get it going."

Former Tiger Austin Jackson drove in the only run Sunday with a fifth-inning single. Seattle has scored 10 times and has no more than seven hits in its last five on the road.

The Mariners look to bounce back behind J.A. Happ, who like Simon has struggled since a good start.

Happ (4-5, 4.14) had a 3.31 ERA after a scoreless outing against Tampa Bay on June 5, but he's gone 1-4 with a 5.93 ERA in six outings since. He hasn't pitched since July 8, when he gave up four runs and seven hits while walking three in four innings of Seattle's 5-4 loss to the Tigers.

The Mariners optioned Happ to the minors before the All-Star break, with Happ agreeing to the assignment so Seattle could have an extra position player.

Jesus Montero went 3 for 10 in five games and was sent back to Triple-A Tacoma following Sunday's contest to make room for Happ.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rays (47-47) at Phillies (32-62)

Game: 1
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: July 20, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

Matt Moore's first victory in nearly two years helped the Tampa Bay Rays finish off a sweep that put a difficult stretch behind them before the All-Star break.

Now Moore takes the mound looking to help Tampa Bay solve its road woes.

The Rays try to avoid a sixth defeat in their last seven away from home Monday night against the Philadelphia Phillies, who look to win four in a row for the first time in two months.

Tampa Bay (47-47) dropped 15 of 18 before taking all three from Houston prior to the break, with Moore (1-0, 7.07 ERA) giving up three runs in five innings of a 4-3 victory in the series finale July 12.

It marked the left-hander's first win since Sept. 29, 2013, and his third start since returning from Tommy John surgery in April 2014. Moore admittedly hasn't been very sharp, though, and he allowed eight Astros to reach base.

The 88 pitches were the most he's thrown since returning.

"Most of it has to do with how I'm getting into those jams and getting a pitch to salvage the inning and hang a zero," Moore said. "I've got to be better than making a jam I have to get out of instead of just setting the tone early in the inning and at-bat."

Moore looks to make those adjustments against the Phillies (32-62) while helping the Rays bounce back from dropping two of three at Toronto over the weekend.

Tampa suffered its eighth shutout in Sunday's 4-0 defeat and finished with just four hits. It had a great opportunity in the third inning when Tim Beckham stood on third with one out, but he failed to tag up on a shallow fly ball and then was picked off to end the inning.

The Rays have lost nine of 11 on the road and are running into a suddenly hot Philadelphia club coming off sweeping Miami. Ryan Howard and Freddy Galvis homered before Jeff Francoeur's two-run shot in the bottom of the ninth gave the Phillies an 8-7 win Sunday.

Philadelphia, the only team in baseball with a sub-.400 winning percentage, hasn't won four straight since a season-best six-game run from May 13-18.

The Phillies hope their hot start to the second half rubs off on David Buchanan (0-5, 7.58). They sent Buchanan to the minors April 30 after he lost his first five outings while posting an 8.76 ERA, and he suffered a badly sprained left ankle May 16 that kept him out five weeks while pitching for Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Buchanan was solid in his return to the rotation July 11, when he allowed one run in five innings of Philadelphia's 8-5 loss to San Francisco.

''Sometimes when guys start getting hits you start to nibble and walk guys," said Buchanan, who walked 15 in 24 2-3 innings before being demoted. "I didn't walk anybody and that was the biggest thing for me. It's a good stepping stone.'

The Phillies have lost 14 of Buchanan's last 15 starts, with the right-hander going 0-8 with a 4.63 ERA in that stretch since beating Houston on Aug. 6.

Rays outfielder Steven Souza Jr. hasn't played since July 5 because of a right finger injury, but he's expected to rejoin the club prior to Tuesday's contest.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Cubs (49-41) at Reds (40-49)

Game: 1
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: July 20, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

Kyle Schwarber has started in one of the Chicago Cubs' three games since his return from the minors but that will likely change this week.

Schwarber is expected to get at least three starts in a four-game road series against the Cincinnati Reds, potentially beginning with Monday night's opener.

Schwarber went 3 for 4 in a 4-2 loss in Atlanta on Friday after being recalled, putting his average at .423 in his first seven major league games, but he was limited to one pinch-hit appearance in each of Chicago's ensuing back-to-back wins over the Braves.

That was likely because of his two errors behind the plate at Turner Field. He reportedly spent this weekend practicing with pitching coach Chris Bosio and catching instructor Mike Borzello.

Before a 4-1 victory Sunday, manager Joe Maddon detailed the plan for the near future for Cubs' highly touted prospect. When he was called up, Schwarber was expected to split time at catcher with veteran David Ross because of Miguel Montero's stint on the disabled list (thumb) and play occasionally in the outfield.

"We just want to make sure we bring him up properly and we don't put too much on him too quickly," Maddon said. "I thought he had a wonderful day (Friday), and we're going to try to continue those wonderful days without pushing him too hard."

Schwarber will try to help deliver the Cubs' 11th win in the past 13 meetings with Cincinnati. Chicago (49-41) is 7-2 against the Reds this season.

Cincinnati (40-49) doesn't look poised to change that record, having lost 12 of 18. A 5-3 defeat in 11 innings to Cleveland on Sunday was also its fifth in six home games.

The Reds' staff has a 6.27 ERA in that stretch and a 5.20 mark in its past 16 overall games. Following a 6-1 win in Friday's opener against Cleveland, Cincinnati gave up a combined 14 runs, 24 hits and 14 walks - including four with the bases loaded Sunday - in the final two games.

"It's been a tough road so far but we have enough games in the second half to make something out of this season," outfielder Jason Bourgeois said. "We're going to continue to play hard. That's all you can ask for."

That might aid a Cubs team that's had some issues with consistency at the plate. Chicago is batting .218 in its last 22 games and has scored two runs or fewer in 14.

Michael Lorenzen gave up six runs in 4 1-3 innings in his only start against the Cubs, a 6-3 loss June 11, but hasn't yielded more than three in any of his other 11 starts. The rookie right-hander has logged a 2.83 ERA in his five subsequent outings and gave up two runs in six innings in a 2-0 loss July 9 in Miami.

That was the second straight defeat for Lorenzen (3-4, 3.53 ERA), who has received one run of support in his last three games.

Clayton Richard (1-0, 5.79) got plenty of assistance in his first major league start in two years July 4, a 7-2 win over Miami. The left-hander yielded two runs in 6 1-3 innings in that game but gave up four in three innings of relief in a 6-5 loss to St. Louis on July 8.

Richard is 0-2 with a 6.33 ERA in five starts against the Reds and is facing them for the first time since July 7, 2012.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Dodgers (53-40) at Braves (43-49)

Game: 1
Venue: Turner Field
Date: July 20, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

After watching the Los Angeles Dodgers' top two starters dominate as usual, Brandon Beachy will seek to do the same to his former team.

He would probably settle for a better performance than an unsatisfying return from a pair of Tommy John surgeries when he faces the Atlanta Braves on Monday night.

The Dodgers (53-40) closed out their three-game series in Washington with a pair of scoreless outings from two of the best pitchers in the game, Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw. Greinke has kept opponents off the scoreboard for 43 2-3 consecutive innings after a 5-0 victory Sunday.

Beachy (0-1, 6.75 ERA) has the difficult task of trying to keep that run going while continuing to knock off the rust from a nearly two-year layoff. The right-hander gave up three runs in four innings in a 7-1 loss to Milwaukee on July 11, his first major league start since his final one for Atlanta on Aug. 20, 2013.

"I was really excited to get out there, and I'm really disappointed now. It's not the way I pictured it for 23 months, but it is what it is," Beachy said. "I didn't feel lost by any means. There was never a point where I didn't feel like I knew where the ball was going. It's just sometimes I rushed. I could feel what I was doing wrong.

"Now it's about making pitches, and I'm going to be a lot better."

Beachy was considered one of the Braves' top 10 prospects after reaching the majors in 2010 but only got one full season with Atlanta before hurting his right elbow in 2012. The franchise didn't offer him a contract in December, and he signed a one-year deal with the Dodgers in February.

In his matchup with the Braves, Beachy will try to lead Los Angeles to its seventh win in nine games and ninth in its last 12 road contests. The Dodgers are also seeking their ninth victory in the last 11 games against Atlanta after taking two of three at home from May 25-27.

The Braves (43-49) enter this series having dropped seven of eight and were nearly shut out for the second straight game Sunday, scoring their lone run in a 4-1 defeat to the Chicago Cubs in the ninth inning. Atlanta, a season-worst six games under .500, has averaged 2.6 runs in its last 23 games and has plated five in its last four at home.

"I know we've got to play better," shortstop Andrelton Simmons said. "There's no more waiting."

Matt Wisler (3-1, 3.10) was denied his third consecutive winning start despite another strong performance July 11. He gave up two runs and struck out seven over six innings in a 3-2 loss in Colorado, his fifth major league start.

There's a chance he could face Carl Crawford if the outfielder returns from a strained right oblique that's kept him out since April 27. Crawford, who is expected to join the Dodgers in Atlanta, is batting .425 (17 for 40) with three homers in his last 12 games against the Braves, including four in the playoffs.

It's also unclear if Yasmani Grandal will be available after taking a foul ball off his catcher's mask Sunday. X-rays on his jaw were negative but he's expected to have more tests Monday.

Braves reliever Andrew McKirahan could return after serving an 80-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Pirates (53-38) at Royals (55-35)

Game: 1
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: July 20, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

A.J. Burnett is entering the second half for the final time with easily the best ERA he's ever had at this point in the season.

The 38-year-old's consistency has been remarkable, and he can match his 2014 win total with a victory Monday night as the Pittsburgh Pirates visit a Kansas City Royals team that's racking up wins faster than all but one team in franchise history.

Burnett (7-3, 2.11 ERA), who went 8-18 a season ago with Philadelphia, gave up three runs and six hits in 6 1-3 innings of a 6-5, 14-inning home win over St. Louis on July 11. Since allowing four earned runs in consecutive starts from May 28-June 2, he's 1-2 with a 1.99 ERA in seven starts, though he's received at most a run of support in five of those.

The right-hander is 3-1 with a 1.83 ERA in his last six starts against Kansas City, but he's 4-2 with a 5.21 ERA in eight starts in AL parks since returning to the NL in 2012.

Kansas City (55-35) has won four of five after beating Chris Sale in Sunday's 4-1 road victory over the Chicago White Sox. The Royals had 30 hits in the last two games of the series and are batting .315 in 11 games as part of a 10-2 span. Lorenzo Cain has homered in consecutive games while batting .473 with four homers and 12 RBIs in his last 14, and Alcides Escobar is batting .397 in his last 14.

The Royals are 20 games over .500 for the first time since concluding the 1989 season at 92-70, and only the 1976 team got to 20 over faster. That team did it in 80 and went on to with the AL West.

Pittsburgh (53-38) was two games away from reaching the same mark prior to being swept in three games in Milwaukee, including Sunday's 6-1 loss. They lost Jordy Mercer to a leg injury after the shortstop needed to be carted off the field following a collision, and Andrew McCutchen and Pedro Alvarez were held out of the lineup. Alvarez is in a 2-for-21 slump.

"The season has a long way to go," manager Clint Hurdle said in regard to a rough start to the second half. "We'll look forward to starting the series there (Kansas City)."

They'll try to straighten things out against Yordano Ventura.

Ventura (4-6, 4.73) has totaled 11 innings in his last three starts, though he earned the decision in an 8-3 home victory over Tampa Bay on July 9. The right-hander was pitching for the first time in nearly a month after a disabled-list stint due to an elbow issue that caused numbness in his hand, and he gave up three runs and four hits with three walks in five innings, admitting he's not yet back to normal.

"I'm not 100 percent," Ventura told MLB's official website.

If he again has a short outing, the Royals could turn to Kris Medlen, who will come off the DL in his return from a second major elbow surgery. Medlen, who last pitched in the majors in 2013 with Atlanta, will join the bullpen as the long man for now.

The Pirates are seeking their first series win in Kansas City, having gone 2-6 there since the start of interleague play. They've won five of the last six meetings and three straight, but those have all come in Pittsburgh. They've gone 10-5 against the AL this season with wins in nine of the last 10 and five straight victories in AL parks.

Pittsburgh's 36-19 interleague record since the start of 2013 trails only Oakland (31-16). Kansas City ranks third at 33-20.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rangers (43-48) at Rockies (39-51)

Game: 1
Venue: Coors Field
Date: July 20, 2015 8:40 PM EDT

When the Texas Rangers sent Nick Martinez to the minors July 2, it was only a matter of time before they intended to recall him.

His return to the big leagues won't be easy since it comes at Coors Field.

Martinez looks to snap his three-start losing streak against a Colorado Rockies team that owns baseball's worst interleague mark in Monday night's three-game series opener.

Texas (43-48) sent Martinez to Triple-A Round Rock after he posted a 6.27 ERA in his last three starts with the club, yielding four runs over 6 2-3 innings in a 4-2 defeat to Baltimore on July 1.

Martinez (5-5, 3.43 ERA) posted a 4.50 ERA in two starts in the minors. Now the right-hander will look to recapture the form from his first four starts in April when he posted a 0.35 ERA.

"We want to get Nick back into play," manager Jeff Banister told MLB's official website. "We wanted to give him a chance to freshen up, now we're going to get him back up here."

Martinez is back in the rotation after Wandy Rodriguez was sent to the bullpen. Martinez's lone appearance against Colorado (39-51) was a scoreless inning of relief at home last year.

He'll get his first look at Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who has reached base in a career-high 40 consecutive games after going 3 for 5 with a solo homer over the weekend at San Diego.

Extending the streak Monday would tie him with Todd Helton (2007) and Andres Galarraga (1996-97) for the second-longest in franchise history, five back of Michael Cuddyer's mark set two years ago.

The Rockies lost twice to the Padres before Sunday's series finale was postponed by rain - the first time that has happened at Petco Park since 2006. Colorado has endured numerous weather issues at home.

'We invented it,' manager Walt Weiss said.'We've been making it rain all year. I don't think I've ever seen rain in San Diego. This is strange.'

Weiss will give the ball to Chris Rusin (3-3, 3.98), who is 2-0 with a 3.32 ERA in three home starts. The lone one Rusin did not win came when he yielded two runs in six innings July 8 in a 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.

The left-hander has never faced Texas and is 0-1 with a 8.10 ERA in three career interleague starts.

The Rockies are 1-10 in interleague play, though they have won eight of their last nine at home against the Rangers. Colorado outscored Texas 29-10 in winning three of four overall last year and has won four straight at home for its longest such streak since winning its last six to close out 2014.

Carlos Gonzalez went 10 for 19 against Texas last year, Tulowitzki was 6 for 13 with two homers and Nolan Arenado was 6 for 14 with six RBIs.

Texas opened a nine-game trip over the weekend by splitting two one-run games with Houston before Sunday's 10-0 loss.

Prince Fielder is fourth in the majors with a .337 average. He bats .275 against left-handers compared to his major league-best .377 mark against righties.

Martinez's batterymate will be Tomas Telis, who was recalled Friday and is expected to make his first 2015 start.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Marlins (38-54) at Diamondbacks (42-48)

Game: 1
Venue: Chase Field
Date: July 20, 2015 9:40 PM EDT

If he had received a little more run support, Rubby De La Rosa might have registered his first complete game in May as part of the Arizona Diamondbacks' four-game sweep of the Miami Marlins.

De La Rosa hasn't gotten anywhere close to recording that milestone in his recent starts, and his latest effort is part of Arizona's season-worst skid.

The Diamondbacks will try to snap that in Monday night's rematch with the Marlins, losers in seven straight on the road.

De La Rosa went nine innings and gave up two runs in the series opener in Miami on May 18 - his only other start against the Marlins - but the Diamondbacks (42-48) needed 13 innings for a 3-2 win. The right-hander hasn't gotten past the sixth inning in any of his last three starts and didn't make it out of the fourth in a 5-3 loss to the New York Mets on July 12.

De La Rosa (6-5, 5.06 ERA) gave up four runs - on a career-high three homers - and 12 of the 13 runs he's yielded in his past four games (21 1-3 innings) have been scored via seven longballs. He's given up 21 in 18 games this season, surpassing his total from his first 44 major league appearances, and the two runs he allowed in Miami were on a J.T. Realmuto homer.

"For us to be successful, Rubby has to be one of our best pitchers, so he's got to get the ball down," manager Chip Hale said.

Arizona's starters have a 7.76 ERA in the six-game skid, but Patrick Corbin was effective Sunday against San Francisco, allowing two runs in five innings. The Diamondbacks' hitters, though, went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position in a 2-1 loss.

They'll face a Marlins staff that's posted a 2.74 ERA in the last 11 games with its starters registering a 3.30 mark. Miami (38-54) has given up 13 unearned runs in that stretch, committing 10 errors, and has lost eight of 11.

The Marlins had an error-free series finale in Philadelphia on Sunday but lost 8-7 when A.J. Ramos gave up a two-run homer in the ninth. Ramos had converted 14 of his prior 15 save opportunities after taking over as closer in May and seven in a row.

"Now it's up to us to have our pride and do what we have to do, that's take care of our business," manager Dan Jennings said after his team's 14th loss in 16 road games. "It would have been easy to fold after losing the first two here, but (our players) showed fight and showed heart. We fully expect that the remainder of this road trip."

In his second start since returning to the rotation, David Phelps (4-5, 3.86) will try to keep Miami from its longest road losing streak since a 10-gamer May 11-June 5, 2013. The right-hander, who took over for a demoted Jarred Cosart, allowed his only run on a solo homer over six innings against Cincinnati on July 10 but was handed a 1-0 defeat.

Phelps gave up four runs in five innings in his only start against Arizona, a 6-1 loss May 20.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Giants (49-43) at Padres (43-49)

Game: 1
Venue: PETCO Park
Date: July 20, 2015 10:10 PM EDT

Tim Hudson is returning from a stint on the disabled list, so it's unlikely he will be able to give the San Francisco Giants the innings they need to rest an overworked bullpen.

Ian Kennedy has lost four straight starts for the San Diego Padres, beginning with a defeat to San Francisco.

These right-handers open a three-game series Monday night at Petco Park, with the Giants winners of six straight and the Padres winners of four in a row.

San Francisco (49-43) swept three-game series on both sides of the All-Star break, including a weekend series at Arizona in which Giants relievers allowed one run in 13 2-3 innings. The bullpen worked four scoreless innings in Sunday's 2-1 victory.

"They all came in and got some big outs for us, the bullpen saved us," manager Bruce Bochy said. "That's a great effort by them.'

Hudson (5-7, 4.68 ERA) will pitch for the first time since allowing five runs over 6 2-3 innings as he suffered an 8-6 loss to Colorado on June 26. He has been out with a strained right shoulder.

This will be his first start since he turned 40 on Tuesday.

"We've stretched him out in the bullpen," Bochy told MLB's official website. "He had ankle surgery not too long ago. Your body gets beat up playing this game."

Hudson pitched 6 1-3 innings in a 1-0, 12-inning victory at San Diego (43-49) on April 9. He's 1-3 with a 3.08 ERA in six starts versus the Padres with the Giants.

Matt Kemp is 8 for 24 against Hudson, but Will Venable is 4 for 28. They are the only Padres to homer in this matchup.

The Giants are carrying 13 pitchers and will have to make a roster move to activate Hudson. Reliever Jeremy Affeldt is also due back in this series.

"We knew it was going to be crowded when we got to this point, but these moves have to be made," Bochy said.

Kennedy (4-9, 4.91) has posted a 3.38 ERA in his last four outings, allowing six homers in 21 1-3 innings in that span, but he has received one run of total support. He has given up 20 homers.

He'll try to avoid his first five-start slide since May 3-25, 2012. Kennedy is 1-1 with a 1.17 ERA in three 2015 starts against the Giants, allowing six runs - one earned - over six innings in a 6-0 defeat June 24 that started his woes.

Buster Posey is a .400 hitter off Kennedy with a homer in 40 at-bats. Brandon Belt is 10 for 31 against him while Angel Pagan has struggled with a .171 average.

Posey is 13 for 25 in this win streak, Joe Panik is 11 for 26 with eight runs scored and Matt Duffy is 13 for 30.

San Diego took the first two games of a weekend home series with Colorado before Sunday's game was postponed due to rain in the fifth inning. The statistics won't count, though outfielder Justin Upton was removed early with a sore left oblique.

'I don't anticipate DL, I really don't,' manager Pat Murphy said.

These NL West rivals have split 10 meetings. The Giants have dropped 12 of their last 17 at San Diego.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MLB roundup: Mets outlast Cards in marathon game
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

ST. LOUIS -- The New York Mets spent all day Sunday wasting scoring chances, but they still escaped Busch Stadium with an absurd win.

Breaking a 1-1 tie with two runs in the top of the 18th inning, New York outlasted the St. Louis Cardinals 3-1.

Shortstop Ruben Tejada's sacrifice fly with the bases loaded and no outs scored second baseman Wilmer Flores with the tiebreaking run. Left fielder Eric Campbell squeezed home right fielder Curtis Granderson with an insurance run.

New York (48-44) went an unthinkable 1-for-26 with men in scoring position and stranded 25 runners, 17 in scoring position, in the 5-hour, 55-minute marathon.

Dodgers 5, Nationals 0

WASHINGTON -- Zack Greinke allowed three hits and no runs in eight innings to extend his scoreless streak to 43 2/3 innings as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat Washington to take the rubber game in a showdown of first-place clubs.

Greinke, who had a season-high 11 strikeouts with one walk, has not allowed a run in his last six starts. He lowered his ERA to a league-best ERA of 1.30 and did not allow a runner to reach second as he threw 119 pitches.

The game was a matchup of All-Star pitchers and Cy Young candidates as Max Scherzer entered the game with an ERA of 2.11. He gave up one run and seven hits in six innings.

Yankees 2, Mariners 1

NEW YORK -- Mark Teixeira hit a tiebreaking home run with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning and New York edged Seattle.

Teixeira helped give the Yankees their ninth win in 13 games when he slugged a 1-2 changeup from Fernando Rodney into the right field seats. It was his 23rd home run and increased his league-leading RBI total to 63.

The home run came shortly after Teixeira helped the Yankees with his defense. With one out in the eighth after Robinson Cano walked against Dellin Betances, Nelson Cruz hit a high popup that veered into foul territory, but Teixeira leaned over into the first row of the stands and made the catch for the second out. After Betances walked pinch hitter Seth Smith, he retired Mark Trumbo, and Andrew Miller pitched a hitless ninth for his 20th save in as many opportunities.

Blue Jays 4, Rays 0

TORONTO -- Chris Colabello and Jose Bautista homered, Marco Estrada pitched eight strong innings and Toronto defeated Tampa Bay.

Colabello hit a two-run homer in the fifth to break up a scoreless game as Estrada held the Rays to three hits in facing one batter over the minimum. The right-hander struck out five and did not walk a batter.

Rays right-hander Chris Archer allowed five hits, one walk and two runs in seven innings. He struck out six.

Orioles 9, Tigers 3

DETROIT -- Jonathan Schoop's three-run homer highlighted a six-run fourth and Baltimore rolled over Detroit.

The home run was Schoop's sixth this season and third since coming off the 15-day disabled list on July 5. Adam Jones pounded out three hits, including a solo home run, as every Baltimore starter had at least one hit.

Miguel Gonzalez lasted five innings, allowing two runs on six hits, to collect the victory as the Orioles took two of three games in the series.

Royals 4, White Sox 1

CHICAGO -- Danny Duffy gave Kansas City exactly what it needed, outpitching Chris Sale, Chicago's ace left-hander.

Duffy pitched into the ninth to tie his season high in pitches (113) and struck out four to earn the win in his first outing since July 10. The only run Duffy allowed on six White Sox hits was a lead-off homer in the ninth by Tyler Saladino.

Sale went 6 1/3 innings and struck out six, but allowed four runs on 11 hits.

Phillies 8, Marlins 7

PHILADELPHIA -- After stumbling into the All-Star break, Philadelphia has opened the second half with some wins. Jeff Francoeur delivered a two-run, walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning.

The Marlins overcame a 5-2 hole in the third inning and a 6-5 deficit in the eighth, but the Phillies, who lost a franchise-record 62 games in the first half, completed just their second sweep of the season and third streak of three or more consecutive wins.

Marlins closer A.J. Ramos, who came in with a 1.11 ERA, blew the save.

Brewers 6, Pirates 1

MILWAUKEE -- Khris Davis' two-run double made a winner out of right-hander Taylor Jungmann, who struck out five over seven innings as Milwaukee completed a sweep of Pittsburgh.

Making the eighth start of his career, Jungmann walked three and gave up five hits. His only earned run of the day was more a product of bad luck than anything else.

Jaff Decker's fly ball to the track in center bounced off the glove of Carlos Gomez, allowing Decker to reach on a triple. He scored when starting pitcher Jeff Locke dribble a single into left, giving the Pirates a 1-0 lead.

Astros 10, Rangers 0

HOUSTON -- Dallas Keuchel pitched seven shutout innings and recorded a career-best 13 strikeouts as Houston routed Texas.

Keuchel retired the final 18 batters he faced and surrendered only two baserunners: a two-out double to Prince Fielder in the first inning and a bloop leadoff single to Josh Hamilton in the second. After Hamilton reached on his flare to shallow center, Keuchel allowed just one other ball out of the infield.

Following a pair of tense one-run affairs, the Astros shelled Yovani Gallardo to cruise to victory in the rubber match.

Indians 5, Reds 3 (11 innings)

CINCINNATI -- Cleveland scored four runs on bases-loaded walks, including the go-ahead run in the 11th inning, in a win over Cincinnati.

Yan Gomes drew a walk against Pedro Villarreal with one out in the 11th to force in a run to make it 4-3. Second baseman Jason Kipnis added a sacrifice fly to put Cleveland ahead by two.

Marc Rzepczynski got the win, and Zach McAllister earned his first career save.

Athletics 14, Twins 1

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Josh Reddick hit a grand slam, highlighting an Oakland display of power that featured five home runs in a win over Minnesota.

Jake Smolinski hit a pair of homers, while catcher Josh Phegley and designated hitter Billy Butler also homered. The first three were off Twins starter Tommy Milone.

A's starter Jesse Chavez ended a three-game losing streak after giving up three hits in six scoreless innings. He walked one and struck out nine.

Giants 2, Diamondbacks 1

PHOENIX -- Justin Maxwell homered and Madison Bumgarner became the National League's sixth 10-game winner when San Francisco completed a three-game sweep of Arizona at Chase Field.

Bumgarner gave up one run in five innings and four relievers held the lead as the Giants won their sixth straight.

Maxwell homered in the second inning and Hunter Pence doubled in a run in the third inning off Patrick Corbin, who gave up two runs on four hits. The Diamondbacks lost six straight since reaching .500 on July 9.

Cubs 4, Braves 1

ATLANTA -- Jake Arrieta struck out 10 and allowed just three hits over seven scoreless innings for his seventh victory in his past eight decisions as the Chicago Cubs defeated Atlanta at Turner Field.

Jorge Solar's third-inning homer was the only earned run of the three charged to Atlanta starter Shelby Miller. He gave up four hits over six innings while striking out eight and walking four.

Atlanta avoided being shut out for the second straight game when Andrelton Simmons delivered a two-out RBI double in the bottom of the ninth.

Rockies at Padres (rained out)

SAN DIEGO -- For the first time in more than nine years, San Diego had a game rained out at Petco Park.

The finale of the three-game series with Colorado was postponed with the Rockies holding a 1-0 lead with two outs in the top of the fifth inning. The game will be replayed from the start on Sept. 10.

The game was only the second rainout in the 11 1/2-season history of Petco Park and the 17th rainout in the 46 1/2-season of National League baseball in San Diego. The Padres have had five other games delayed by rain -- and another delayed by swarming bees -- since Petco Park opened in 2004. There was one delay earlier this season.

 

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White Sox's Gillaspie designated for assignment
The Sports Xchange

Conor Gillaspie was the Chicago White Sox's starting third baseman on Opening Day and held that spot for most of the first half of the season.

However, Gillaspie's offensive production has declined this season, and he was designated for assignment on Sunday.

The White Sox needed to make a move to make room on the roster for right-handed pitcher Matt Albers, who was reinstated after being sidelined since April 25 with a fractured right pinkie.

Gillaspie hit .282 with seven homer in 130 games last season for the White Sox, but his averaged has dipped to .237 this year with just three homers. In his last four games with the White Sox, Gillaspie went 0-for-9.

Gillaspie is just 28 years old, so there may be enough interest from another team to pursue a trade for him.

Tyler Saladino has been the White Sox's third baseman in recent games, and Gordon Beckham may get a chance to play there as well.

 

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Yankees reinstate Beltran from DL
The Sports Xchange

NEW YORK -- The New York Yankees returned outfielder Carlos Beltran from his rehab assignment and reinstated him from the 15-day disabled list.

Beltran was batting sixth in Sunday's game against the Seattle Mariners.

Beltran had been sidelined since June 30 with a left oblique strain and missed 11 games. He went 3-for-7 during his rehab assignment.

The 38-year-old Beltran is hitting .260 with seven home runs and 30 RBIs this season.

The Yankees also optioned infielder Rob Refsnyder to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He is hitting .167 with one home run and two RBIs in four games.

 

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Astros rookie Correa shows his versatility
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

HOUSTON -- Part of what makes Astros rookie shortstop Carlos Correa such an exciting prospect is his ability to positively impact the game in multiple facets, with Friday night against the Texas Rangers serving as another prime example.

Correa finished 1-for-4 with an RBI in the Astros' 3-2 win, but his work defensively resonated. He played a key role in the third inning, duping Texas left fielder Delino DeShields by pretending to field a throw at second base as DeShields slid into the bag unaware that a fly ball had been hit to right. DeShields was subsequently doubled off at first.

"Uh, well I don't want to say that," Correa said when asked if he pulled one over on DeShields. "I don't know what happened there. We just turned a double play. So that's the key, we turned a double play."

Correa recorded the assist to end the game, knocking down a scorching line drive from Prince Fielder before calmly firing a throw to first base with the tying run on base.

"I can't even tell you how that play happened so fast," Correa said. "Just a line drive hit right at me, I tried to block it. It was not going to happen because it was hard hit. So I just tried to put my glove up and he was able to keep it close and get the out at first."

Correa has rightfully earned praise for his .810 OPS, but his savvy baserunning and splendid defense round out his profile. That he plays with such an even keel at 20 years old merely bolsters his standing.

"Composure and Carlos is never a problem," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "In the box, on the bases (or) playing defense. Carlos is as cool as they come when it comes to competing in the big leagues."

 

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Time off helps Blue Jays' Bautista
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

TORONTO - The timing of the All-Star Game could not have been better for Jose Bautista.

The Blue Jays right fielder was selected to play in the game for the sixth straight year. Instead, he skipped the game and took treatment on his sore right shoulder during the four-day break.

Bautista said before the 6-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday as the schedule resumed after the break that the shoulder is feeling better.

He would got go into details about the treatment he received for a shoulder that has bothered him in varying degrees since April 21.

"I can't say that I wouldn't (have been) able to play, but having the break, being able to take that time to do a little more aggressive treatment in order to reduce that inflammation, and that tightness, so the soreness doesn't come back -- and the (nerve) impingement doesn't come back -- was a smart thing to do," Bautista said. "Because we play every day, we don't have time to rest. For me, that was unique because we were able to take advantage of all those days consecutively. I feel great right now, so hopefully I can continue to feel like this even after throwing and everything."

The nerve impingement is gone but he still has had soreness and inflammation.

His shoulder problems became worst during the series against the Chicago White Sox last week. He does not feel that offseason surgery will be necessary and that all that would be needed is about two weeks of rest, something the schedule does not allow.

After the win on Friday, the Blue Jays are 45-46 and in the American League East this year, it means they are still in contention.

"The bottom line is we've got to figure out how to win as a team every single day," Bautista said. "There have been plenty of times when the pitching does its job but we haven't scored many runs, or we let them down with bad defensive plays, or the fact they do score runs is because we opened up a few holes by not playing good defense, or not doing small ball, or not running the bases well. We've got to avoid the mistakes and quit beating ourselves by giving teams additional chances -- just play consistently good baseball."

Some days that has been a bigger challenge that it seems. Such are things in the AL East.

 

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Schwarber trying to stick with Cubs
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

ATLANTA -- It may be tough for the Chicago Cubs to return catcher Kyle Schwarber to the minor leagues.

The rookie continues to show he can hit major league pitching. On Friday, in his first game since being recalled from Triple-A Iowa, Schwarber went 3-for-4 with a double and scored a run.

"He swung the bat and he caught well," manager Joe Maddon said. "I like what he did a lot."

Schwarber was recalled when catcher Miguel Montero went on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left thumb.

During his first stint in the big leagues, a six-game stretch from June 16-21, Schwarber hit .364 (8-for-22) with a triple, a homer and six RBIs. That included a 4-for-5 effort against Cleveland, when he served as the designated hitter.

Schwarber is now hitting .423 (11-for-26).

Schwarber, 22, was the team's first-round draft pick in 2014, the fourth overall selection out of Indiana University. In 147 games in the minor leagues, he has batting .333 with 35 doubles, 34 homers, 102 RBIs and 88 walks.

In last week's Futures Game, Schwarber went 1-for-3 with a two-run triple and was named MVP, as the United States scored a 10-1 victory over the World Team.

Schwarber, a finalist for the Johnny Bench Award given to the nation's best collegiate catcher, began the season ranked as the organization's fourth-best prospect by Baseball America. He was recently ranked as the 15th best prospect in all of baseball by ESPN.

 

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Tigers need better performances from their pitchers
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

DETROIT - There is not a whole lot of doubt where Detroit needs to pick up its performance if the Tigers are to be a factor in the traditional second half of the baseball season.

As Detroit's pitching goes, particularly its starters, so will go the Tigers.

Detroit has put up solid numbers on offense in the 11 games since manager Brad Ausmus dropped center fielder Anthony Gose out of the leadoff spot and bunched his best hitters at the top of the order.

Yet despite that, the Tigers are only 6-5 in those 11 games after defeating Baltimore 7-3 Friday night -- mostly due to lack of victories from any starters not named David Price or Anibal Sanchez.

Detroit has scored 67 runs in those 11 games.

Right-hander Justin Verlander.

Right-handers Alfredo Simon and Shane Greene have been consistent -- consistently mediocre. Or worse.

Just about anything better than mediocre from the fourth and fifth starters could make Detroit prosper, if the new batting order can keep producing until first baseman Miguel Cabrera gets back some time after mid-August.

Here's a look at how the top hitters have fared over the 11 games:

--2B Ian Kinsler was promoted to leadoff and has hit .349 since then, with a home run and seven RBIs.

--LF Yoenis Cespedes is the new No. 2 hitter and has scored nine runs in 11 games, driving in eight and batting .320.

--DH Victor Martinez is batting third and hitting .383 over 11 games, with four home runs, seven RBIs and eight runs scored.

--RF J.D. Martinez is batting cleanup now and hitting .341 since then. He has five home runs and nine RBIs while scoring 12 times. Martinez has walked five times, once intentionally.

--C/1B Alex Avila is batting just .194 since the batting order change but has drawn seven walks and scored six runs.

--3B Nick Castellanos went 0-for-4 Friday to drop his average over the last 11 games to .293. Castellanos has scored seven runs, driven in eight and has two home runs.

--CF Anthony Gose has prospered since being taken out of the leadoff spot. He has hit .393 while hitting from seventh to ninth.

--SS Jose Iglesias has hit .242 since Ausmus made his lineup changes. His problems seem to stem from trying to pull the ball too much.

--C James McCann has played sparingly but has hit .389 in Detroit's last 11 games.

 

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Wins have been rare for Mariners behind Happ
Stephen Campbell

In J.A. Happ's last eight starts, the Seattle Mariners are a paltry 1-7.

The lefty is slated to get the ball Monday when the M's take on the Detroit Tigers in the Motor City. The Mariners are presently +101.

 

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Under bettors are loving Wisler lately
Stephen Campbell

Under backers have profited in each of Matt Wisler's past five outings.

The Atlanta Braves righty is the probable starter for Monday's clash with the Los Angeles Dodgers. L.A. is scheduled to counter with Brandon Beachy.

As of this writing, the total for the game was off the board.

 

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'Road Kill'

Arizona and Miami get set to duel in the first of a three game set at Chase Park. Arizona has Rubby De La Rosa toeing the rubber carrying a 6-5 record, 5.06 ERA to the hill. The righthander off his worst start of the season a 3 2/3 inning performance getting tagged with 3 long-ball, 4 runs is now winless in four starts with D-Backs 0-4 over the span. The D-Backs as a team have certainly followed in that same vein recently with Chip Hale's squad on a 0-6 skid heading into the contest. The Marlins counter with David Phelps making his 15th start of the season bringing a 4-5 mark, 3.86 ERA, 5-9 TSR to the mound. Taking a slumping team such as Arizona is always a risky proposition. However, in this case a few telling baseball betting stats leap out that make D-Backs much less risky. Marlins aren't a peg to hang your hat on away from home field (14-31). Adding to the problem, Miami as a team has lost four straight road games w/Phelps and 6 of his 8 in enemy territory. Even more eye-opening is the fact Miami for whatever reason has a severe case of 'Monday Blues'. The club is 1-9 in its Monday games including 0-5 when on the road losing by an average 3.0 runs/game. One final betting nugget. D-Backs won vs Miami w/De La Rosa earlier, Miami lost in Phelps' May appearance vs D-Backs.

 

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Streaks, Tips, Notes

Seattle Mariners at Detroit Tigers July 20, 7:05 EST

'Over' bettors have enjoyed Alfredo Simon's shaky play. In Simon's last five he has allowed an average 6.0 runs/game with the 'Over' 5-0. Seattle's J.A. Happ has also had a penchant for making 'Over' bettors happy posting 4 'Over', 1 'Under' the past five, 7 'Over' 3 'Under' the past ten starts. The Tigers 'Over' explosion of late sits at 23-3. The series 'Over' is 3-0 this year, 9-2-1 L12 in Detroit.

Oddsmakers have this contest set at 9 runs.