Monday 9/28/15 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Athletics at Angels

GAME: Oakland Athletics (65-91) at Los Angeles Angels (81-74)
DATE/TIME: Monday, September 28 - 10:05 PM EST
WHERE: Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, California
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

The Los Angeles Angels are keeping the heat on the Houston Astros for the final wild-card spot in the American League and probably couldn’t ask for a better opponent to continue doing so. The Angels eye their sixth straight victory on Monday when they open a three-game set at home against the AL-worst Oakland Athletics.


Los Angeles (81-74) began its winning streak by taking two of the final three games of its previous series with Houston before returning home to complete a three-game sweep of Seattle over the weekend. The Angels, who moved within three games of Texas in the AL West with their second consecutive 3-2 victory on Sunday, remained one-half game behind the Astros. Although Oakland has won seven of the 16 meetings with Los Angeles in the season series in 2015, the Athletics have not been nearly as competitive in September, falling to 7-17 this month after dropping two of three at home to San Francisco. Oakland will hope for the same kind of success that it had the last time it saw Angels starter Hector Santiago, who they roughed up for five runs en route to a 11-5 victory on Aug. 31.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, CSN California (Oakland), FSN West (Los Angeles)


PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics LH Felix Doubront (3-3, 5.53 ERA) vs. Angels LH Hector Santiago (9-9, 3.47)

Doubront continued his recent struggles in Wednesday’s 10-3 loss versus the Rangers, surrendering seven runs – including a pair of homers – on eight hits over 4 2/3 innings. The 27-year-old Venezuelan has yielded at least four runs in four of his last five starts and posted an 8.33 ERA over his last five turns. Doubront, who has allowed seven home runs across his last four outings, is 2-1 with a 4.12 ERA in four career games (three starts) against the Angels.

Santiago had an uneven outing on Tuesday at Houston, but was still able to pick up the victory despite giving up two runs – both on solo homers – on four hits and five walks in five frames. The New Jersey native has just two quality starts over the last seven outings and has recorded more walks (24) and strikeouts (22) over that span. Santiago has faced Oakland three times the season (1-1, 5.02 ERA) and is 2-2 with a 3.28 ERA in 12 career appearances (four starts).


WALK-OFFS

1. With his next RBI, Angels 1B/DH Albert Pujols can become the first player in major-league history to reach 90 in 14 of his first 15 seasons.

2. The Athletics (65-91) clinched the worst record in the AL with Sunday’s loss, doing so for the third time in franchise history.

3. Los Angeles RH Mike Morin, who collected his first career save in Sunday’s victory, has allowed one run over 11 innings in September.


PREDICTION: Angels 6, Athletics 4

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Astros at Mariners

GAME: Houston Astros (82-74) at Seattle Mariners (74-82)
DATE/TIME: Monday, September 28 - 10:10 PM EST
WHERE: Safeco Field, Seattle, Washington
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

The Houston Astros continue their bid for a playoff spot when they open a crucial three-game series against the host Seattle Mariners on Monday. Houston holds a one-half game lead over the Los Angeles Angels for the American League's second wild-card spot, but each of its final six contests are on the road.

The Astros are a dismal 29-46 on the road, which has hindered their chances of winning the AL West. Houston was overtaken by Texas, which it trails by 2 1/2 games in the division race despite winning two of three against the Rangers over the weekend. Seattle has dropped five straight games to clinch its fifth losing campaign in six years, while Houston has wrapped up its first winning season since 2008. Mariners slugger Nelson Cruz is tied with Baltimore's Chris Davis for the major-league home run lead with 43 but has gone deep just once in his last 10 games.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, MLBN, ROOT (Houston, Seattle)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Lance McCullers (5-7, 3.22 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Roenis Elias (5-8, 3.94)

McCullers has lost four straight decisions and is winless in his last seven starts. He struck out nine in seven innings against the Angels in his last turn but was tagged with the loss after giving up three runs and four hits. McCullers is 1-1 with a 2.89 ERA in two starts against Seattle.

Elias received a no-decision in his last turn, when he gave up one run and four hits in 5 1/3 innings against Kansas City. He has worked 5 1/3 frames in each of his last four starts, going 1-1 with a 2.95 ERA during that stretch. Elias matched his career best of 10 strikeouts while allowing two runs and four hits in seven innings of a victory over the Astros on June 19 - his lone win (1-2, 4.91 ERA) is six career starts against them.

WALK-OFFS

1. Astros DH Evan Gattis is 11-for-31 with two homers over his last eight contests.

2. Seattle DH Mark Trumbo homered on Sunday against the Angels to halt a 14-game drought.

3. Houston 1B Chris Carter has belted four homers in his last six games.

PREDICTION: Astros 5, Mariners 3

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Dodgers at Giants

GAME: Los Angeles Dodgers (87-68) at San Francisco Giants (81-74)
DATE/TIME: Monday, September 28 - 10:15 PM EST
WHERE: AT&T Park, San Francisco, California
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

The Los Angeles Dodgers had a number of chances to wrap up a playoff berth over the weekend, but were unable to seal the deal. Instead, the Dodgers will attempt to clinch their third straight National League West title in a venue they have yet to win in the season when they head to at AT&T Park on Monday to face the San Francisco Giants in the opener of a four-game set.


Los Angeles (87-68) entered its previous series having defeated Colorado in 11 of their 16 meetings in 2015, but the Rockies pounded the Dodgers for 27 runs over the weekend to sweep the division leaders. As a result, the Dodgers’ magic number to win the NL West remained at two, although they have to like their chances in the opener as Cy Young hopeful Zack Greinke takes the mound against a team he has yet to lose to in nine career starts. San Francisco (81-74) clawed within six games of Los Angeles following Sunday’s 5-4 win at Oakland as rookie Jarrett Parker followed up a three-homer, seven-RBI performance one day earlier with a 2-for-3 effort. The Giants will be eliminated from postseason consideration with a loss in any game in this series, but have won all six meetings at AT&T Park this season against their archrivals.

TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)


PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Zack Greinke (18-3, 1.65 ERA) vs. Giants RH Jake Peavy (7-6, 3.83)

Greinke skipped his last scheduled start to rest a sore calf, but returns to the mound aiming to extend his winning streak to six straight starts after holding Pittsburgh to two runs over seven innings on Sept. 18. The 2009 American League Cy Young Award winner has won all four of his turns in September, posting a 1.91 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and .184 batting average against. Greinke is 7-0 in his career versus the Giants – winning each of his last seven starts against them – while posting a 2.15 ERA.

Peavy continued his stellar September on Wednesday, allowing four hits and a walk over six scoreless innings in a no-decision at San Diego. The three-time All-Star, who has not lost in his last six trips to the mound, is 3-0 with a 2.19 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and .187 batting average against in four turns this month. Peavy yielded four runs over 5 2/3 frames in a no-decision versus the Dodgers in his worst outing during that stretch, but is 14-3 with a 2.42 ERA in 28 all-time starts against Los Angeles.


WALK-OFFS

1. The Dodgers are hopeful that 1B Adrian Gonzalez, who has missed three of the last four games with a pinched nerve in his back, will be ready to go for the opener.

2. San Francisco had lost 14 of its previous 15 one-run games prior to Sunday.

3. Los Angeles rookie SS Corey Seager has reached base safely in each of his 19 career starts, making him the first Dodger to accomplish that feat since Jim "Junior" Gilliam (24) in 1953.


PREDICTION: Dodgers 2, Giants 1