Sunday 10/2/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by Chatsworth Consortium at Pompano Park

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

Race 1 - Post: 7:20 - 1 mile. TROT - Class Rating: 51 - Purse:$3265 - SUNSHINE STATE STAKE - THIRD LEG TWO-YEAR-OLD FLORIDA BRED TROTTING FILLIES
CONSORTIUM*CHOICES

# 4 ATLANTIC CREST 2/1
# 5 FAMOUS C 1/1
# 1 MISS OLIVIA IRENE 6/1

All signs point to ATLANTIC CREST for the play. This solid standardbred and Corona have some sort of connection going. In the money figure for this duet is high. This contender looks dangerous considering the high class rankings. Don't toss out of any exotics. Her 51 avg has this filly among the most solid TrackMaster SRs for this race. FAMOUS C - This interesting entrant and Aubin have an excellent working relationship. In the money percentage for this combo is high. Talk about a dynamic duo, Hennessey and Aubin have some of the best driver/trainer numbers at the track. MISS OLIVIA IRENE - Don't forget a tremendous equipment angle. Horse is first time hoppled for today's race.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by The Walker Group at Fort Erie

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


Race 5 - Claiming - 8.3f on the Dirt. Purse: $9720 Class Rating: 70

FOR FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON FOUR RACES. THREE YEAR OLDS, 116 LBS.; OLDER, 122 LBS. NON-WINNERS OF A RACE AT A MILE OR OVER SINCE SEPTEMBER 2 ALLOWED 2 LBS. SUCH A RACE SINCE AUGUST 2 ALLOWED 4 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $4,000


RECOMMENDED*CHOICES


# 5 PAS FINI 4/1

# 4 LEAVE ER B 9/5

# 7 TEXAS MISSY 5/2

PAS FINI has a very good shot to take this race. Has posted strong Equibase Speed Figs in dirt route races in the past. Will almost certainly come out solid - I have liked the way this filly has moved speedily to the front end recently. Must be given a chance based on the formidable speed rating earned in the last competition. LEAVE ER B - Has very good Equibase speed figs and has to be considered for a wager in here. Will more than likely be one of the front-runners of the bunch going into the halfway point of the outing. TEXAS MISSY - Earnings per start in dirt route races is sound for this pony. May best this field here, showing competitive figures of late.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by The Walker Group at Lethbridge

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


Race 4 - Claiming - 6.0f on the Dirt. Purse: $4550 Class Rating: 80

FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD. THREE YEAR OLDS, 120 LBS.; OLDER, 120 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $2,000


RECOMMENDED*CHOICES


# 1 MAJORCA GOLD 6/5

# 3 WELL YA NEVER KNOW 2/1

# 2 BAMBAZONKI 5/1

MAJORCA GOLD looks to be a competitive contender. Looks quite good for the conditions of this affair today, showing solid numbers in dirt sprint races lately. With a solid rider who has won at a formidable 24 percent rate over the last 30 days. This has to be one of the top selections. Had one of the strongest Speed Figures of this group of animals in his last race. WELL YA NEVER KNOW - Calfrobe is trying to prove victorious with this horse by bringing him back so soon. Overall the Equibase Speed Figures of this horse look very good in this race. BAMBAZONKI - Have to examine solely on class, with some of the most competitive class figs of this group. Has formidable front-end speed and will almost certainly fare very well against this field.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by The Turf Club Analysts

Churchill Downs - Race #2 - Post: 1:14pm - Claiming - 8.0 furlongs on the Dirt. Purse: $28,000 Class Rating: 89

Rating:

#4 TIZ LATELY (ML=4/1)


TIZ LATELY - Was in an Allowance race at Canterbury Park in the last race. That event had an Equibase class figure of 96 and she is moving down in this event. A certain strong challenger. As long as 'Kid Bridge' keeps this pony off the pace, I have to believe this one could be a happy winner. Mare got a healthy speed rating last time she tried this trip. That number would be good enough to win today. Don't throw this horse out due to her last event at Canterbury Park where she finished fifth on a track listed as good. Should improve this time around. This mare has been posting some excellent workout times.

Vulnerable Contenders: #2 ELAINE KOWALESKI (ML=3/1), #7 ROSE TO GLORY (ML=7/2), #5 GINGERMORE (ML=9/2),

ELAINE KOWALESKI - Tough to put any cash on this mare on the front end. Likes to end up on the board though. This steed ran a somewhat easily forgotten rating last time out. She shouldn't run much better and will likely suffer defeat in today's event running that fig. ROSE TO GLORY - Disappointing speed figure last race out at Churchill Downs at 1 mile. Don't believe this mount will improve too much today. GINGERMORE - Doubtful that the speed rating she notched on September 2nd will hold up in this race.



STRAIGHT WAGERS:

Bet on #4 TIZ LATELY to win if you can get at least 1/1 odds

EXACTA WAGERS:

4 with [1,3]

TRIFECTA WAGERS:

4 with [1,3] with [1,3,5,7] Total Cost: $6

SUPERFECTA WAGERS:

4 with [1,3,7] with [1,2,3,5,7] with [1,2,3,5,7] Total Cost: $36

** Some or all wagers above involve entries and assume all parts of entry start the race **

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by Rick Needham at Belmont Park

RACE #5 - BELMONT PARK - 3:36 PM EASTERN POST

The Miss Grillo Stakes

8½ FURLONGS INNER TURF GRADE III TWO YEAR OLD FILLIES STAKES $200,000.00 PURSE

#2 COASTED
#7 CREATE A DREAM
#5 RYMSKA
#1 DANCING WAVES

Well folks ... this race was named for the Argentinian-bred filly Miss Grillo, a record breaking stakes winner in the 1940s. The race was part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series from 2008 to 2010, with the winner automatically qualifying for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Here in the 37th running of "The Grillo," #2 COASTED is the pace profile leader in this field racing at, or about, today's distance of 8½ furlongs on the grass, and comes off back-to-back "POWER RUN WINS" in his last two starts. #7 CREATE A DREAM, the morning line favorite, takes a class drop (-3), and has produced "POWER RUN PERFORMANCES" in both of her two career starts to date, including a "POWER RUN WIN" to break her maiden in her "first asking."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by The Turf Club Analysts

Parx Racing - Race #1 - Post: 12:55pm - Maiden Claiming - 6.0 furlongs on the Dirt. Purse: $60,000 Class Rating: 82

Rating:

#5 WARM SPRINGS (ML=6/1)
#6 DYNASIR (ML=10/1)


WARM SPRINGS - Trainer Reid moves this horse down in class to face a lower class of horses. Look for a good effort in this race. Rivera is back for another contest today after sitting atop this horse for the first ride on Sep 14th and ought to know the ropes to this one a little better. Had a strong closing move last time around the track, running the last quarter in less than 25 seconds. A similar effort today, and it's straight to the winner's circle. Has a good chance to break maiden switching over to the main track in today's race. DYNASIR - Gelding looks like the lone speed here. He may turn the race into a procession. Rode this horse on September 3rd and Pennington is right back in the irons this time around. This gelding is in fine form, having run a nice race on September 3rd, finishing third.

Vulnerable Contenders: #3 FREEMARK (ML=5/2), #1 TIZ AFLEET (ML=3/1), #4 HENNESSY FIRE (ML=9/2),

FREEMARK - This chalk horse ran on Sep 5th and hasn't had a work since. TIZ AFLEET - Hasn't hit the board in any sprint races lately. Not likely to see him doing it this time out either. 3/1 odds isn't enough for this thoroughbred when examining the most recent efforts. I checked out his pps and he hasn't done well out of the one post. HENNESSY FIRE - No picnic to back any questionable contender in a sprint event if he hasn't finished in the money in a sprint in the last 60 days. Didn't come through as the favorite twice. Probably won't gain a win today either. The rating in the last race doesn't fit very well in this race when I look at the Equibase class figure of today's contest. Mark this horse as a likely underlay.


STRAIGHT WAGERS:

Bet on #5 WARM SPRINGS to win if we can get at least 2/1 odds

EXACTA WAGERS:

Box [5,6]

TRIFECTA WAGERS:

Pass

SUPERFECTA WAGERS:

Pass

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

SPOT PLAYS

For Sunday

TRACK (RACE) HORSE, MORNING LINE

Belmont Park (2nd) Point Hope, 7-2
(6th) About That Base, 7-2


Belterra Park (2nd) Appleslastchance, 7-2
(6th) Romance Argentino, 7-2


Churchill Downs (2nd) Rose to Glory, 7-2
(6th) Disones Pretty, 4-1


Laurel Park (2nd) Delightfullstorm, 6-1
(7th) Thought Partner, 8-1


Mountaineer (4th) Suita Music, 9-2
(7th) La India Anacaona, 6-1


Parx (3rd) Hearty Jones, 5-1
(5th) Girls and Guns, 9-2


Pleasanton (4th) Norm's Place, 7-2
(5th) La Rondine, 4-1


Presque Isle Downs (2nd) Gym Too, 3-1
(8th) Great Lite, 4-1


Santa Anita (2nd) Shanghai Beauty, 7-2
(5th) Run Macho Run, 3-1


Woodbine (5th) Woodbridge, 3-1
(9th) Secure in the Fact, 3-1

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MLB roundup: Mets clinch postseason berth
By The Sports Xchange

PHILADELPHIA -- New York's James Loney got all of a 3-1 pitch in the sixth inning and sent a tiebreaking two-run homer over the fence in right field.
The Mets never relinquished the advantage and clinched a 2016 National League wild-card berth with a 5-3 victory over the the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday.
New York hosts the San Francisco Giants or St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday.
Mets starter Bartolo Colon (15-8) went five innings, scattering five hits and striking out six. He gave up a two-run homer to Ryan Howard in the fifth.

Cardinals 4, Pirates 3
ST. LOUIS -- Jedd Gyorko's 30th home run, a two-out solo shot in the eighth inning, snapped a tie and lifted St. Louis to victory over Pittsburgh.
In becoming the first Cardinals player since Carlos Beltran in 2012 to clout 30 homers in a season, Gyorko lined a 3-and-2 fastball from Felipe Rivero (1-6) some 362 feet into the right field seats. It was the 23rd homer since the All-Star break for Gyorko.
Kevin Siegrist (6-3) pitched a scoreless eighth for the win and Seung Hwan Oh, St. Louis' seventh pitcher, worked around two two-out singles in the ninth for his 19th save.
The Cardinals remained one game behind San Francisco for the NL's second wild-card spot.

Giants 3, Dodgers 0
SAN FRANCISCO -- Rookie left-hander Ty Blach pitched eight shutout innings to earn his first major-league win and Angel Pagan broke a scoreless tie with a fifth-inning home run off Clayton Kershaw to lift San Francisco over Los Angeles.
The Giants' second consecutive victory in the series came after the New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals recorded earlier victories, allowing San Francisco to hold its position between the two in the NL wild-card race. San Francisco is one game ahead of St. Louis for the final berth.
The loss locked the Dodgers into the No. 3 seed in the NL playoffs, meaning they will open Friday at East champion Washington in the NLDS.

Blue Jays 4, Red Sox 3
BOSTON -- Ezekiel Carrera hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the ninth inning as Toronto took a huge step toward an American League wild-card berth with a victory over Boston.
Kevin Pillar had three RBIs for the Blue Jays (88-73), which tied Baltimore for the top wild-card spot and 1 1/2 games ahead of Detroit.
Chris Young drove in a pair of runs for AL East champion Boston (93-68), which trails its American League Division Series opponent Cleveland by one-half game.
Roberto Osuna (4-3) was awarded the victory with two innings of one-run ball after blowing a save while Craig Kimbrel (2-6) entered in a non-save situation in the ninth and gave up Carrera's sacrifice fly.

Yankees 7, Orioles 3
NEW YORK -- Austin Romine delivered a tiebreaking two-run double with one out in the eighth inning and New York prevented Baltimore from clinching a postseason berth.
The Orioles are tied with Toronto for the first American League wild-card spot, 1 1/2 games ahead of Detroit.
Mark Trumbo had four hits, Manny Machado homered and Michael Bourn had a two-run single for the Orioles, who lost for the second time in their last eight games.

Braves 5, Tigers 3
ATLANTA -- Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis homered to spark Atlanta's victory over Detroit, hindering the Tigers' postseason chances.
Detroit fell 1 1/2 games behind Baltimore and Toronto in the AL wild-card race.
Rookie Aaron Blair (2-7) struck out 10 over six innings for the Braves and reliever Chaz Roe pitched out of an inherited bases-loaded jam in the eighth inning by fanning Miguel Cabrera and getting a double play when rookie shortstop Dansby Swanson snagged J.D. Martinez's sharp grounder.

Athletics 9, Mariners 8 (10)
SEATTLE -- No. 9 hitter Joey Wendle capped a four-hit night with a go-ahead RBI double in the top of the 10th inning as Oakland ended Seattle's postseason hopes.
Wendle's one-out double to center field scored pinch runner Chad Pinder on a night when the Mariners rallied from deficits in the seventh and eighth innings. The loss left Seattle (86-75) two games behind Baltimore and Toronto in the American League wild-card standings with one to play.
The Athletics' Khris Davis had two hits, including his 42nd home run of the season to give Oakland a 7-4 lead in the seventh inning.

Indians 6, Royals 3
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Cody Allen logged his 31st save and Cleveland scored three unearned runs in the eighth inning to beat Kansas City.
Whit Merrifield's fielding error on Abraham Almonte's grounder allowed Rajai Davis to score the go-ahead run. Francisco Lindor's two-out double with the bases loaded tacked on two runs.
Allen struck out two and allowed a hit in the ninth to claim his 31st save in 34 chances. Five Indians pitchers combined to strike out 15 Royals.

Nationals 2, Marlins 1
WASHINGTON -- Tanner Roark won his career-high 16th game and Trea Turner had a homer and steal and scored both runs as Washington beat Miami.
The Nationals wrapped up homefield advantage for the NLDS against Los Angeles when the Dodgers lost earlier in the day. Turner hit a solo homer -- his 13th home run of the year -- for Washington's final run.
Chris Johnson had an RBI single in the sixth inning to pull the Marlins within 2-1. That ended the day for Roark, who gave up three hits and one run with four walks and four strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.

Reds 7, Cubs 4
CINCINNATI -- Eugenio Suarez hit a two-run homer and Joey Votto doubled twice and drove in three runs, lifting Cincinnati over Chicago.
Cubs left-hander Jon Lester (19-5) fell short in his pursuit of 20 victories, allowing five runs on six hits over five innings. Ben Zobrist homered for Chicago.
Suarez's 21st homer of the season put Cincinnati ahead 3-0 in the second inning. Suarez drove home another run with a sacrifice fly in the third to make it 4-0.

Rays 4, Rangers 1
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Tampa Bay right-hander Jake Odorizzi capped his season with another strong start as Tampa Bay topped Texas.
Odorizzi (10-6) allowed one run on three hits in six innings. He struck out eight and finished his season 7-1 over his final 14 starts.
The Rangers' Colby Lewis (6-5) didn't allow an earned run in 6 1/3 innings. He gave up five hits and struck out three. Robinson Chirinos homered for Texas.

Twins 6, White Sox 0
CHICAGO -- Byron Buxton and Jorge Polanco homered as Minnesota avoided its 104th loss by defeating Chicago.
Twins starter Hector Santiago (13-10) allowed three hits, struck out six and walked three in 6 1/3 scoreless innings.
Juan Centeno doubled in a run in the seventh and added another RBI double in the ninth for Minnesota.

Diamondbacks 9, Padres 5
PHOENIX -- Yasmany Tomas homered, Jean Segura had two hits and Archie Bradley had a career-high 11 strikeouts as Arizona defeated San Diego.
Tomas hit a three-run homer, his 31st home run of the season, to cap a five-run first inning.
Segura doubled, tripled and scored three runs. He leads the National League with a career-high 203 hits.

Brewers 4, Rockies 3 (10 innings)
DENVER -- Chris Carter hit his 41st home run with two outs in the 10th inning to give Milwaukee a victory over Colorado, which scored two runs in the eighth and one in the ninth.
Carter tied the Rockies' Nolan Arenado for the National League lead in home runs when he drove a 3-2 slider from closer Adam Ottavino (1-3) into the left-field stands.
Colorado's DJ LeMahieu did not play as he protects his less than one point lead over injured Washington second baseman Daniel Murphy in the NL batting race.

Astros 3, Angels 0
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Collin McHugh combined with two relievers on a four-hit shutout to lead Houston to victory over Los Angeles.
McHugh (13-10) earned his sixth successive victory. The right-hander retired the first 14 Angels he faced, induced 10 groundouts, collected four strikeouts, allowed three hits, issued one walk and hit one batter in 7 2/3 innings.
Jake Marisnick had three hits, including a double, drove in a run and stole a base to lead the Astros' 10-hit attack.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mets (87-74) at Phillies (70-91)

Game: 3
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: October 02, 2016 3:05 PM EDT

PHILADELPHIA -- After the Mets clinched a playoff berth and home field for the National League wild-card game on Saturday with a 5-3 victory over the Phillies, all eyes shift to longtime Phillies slugger Ryan Howard on Sunday afternoon.

Howard said he's not taking anything extra in right now and is only focused on playing baseball, but even his manager knows that's hardly likely.

"He says he's not but I think he's got to," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "It's just human nature. Tomorrow's going to be fun to watch."

Howard's two-run homer to tie the game in the fifth inning against the Mets on Saturday could be Howard's last. It moved him into 67th place on the career home run list list, tying him with Jim Rice and Frank Howard with 382.

"It was cool," Howard said. "Being able to hit the home run and tying the game up. Tried to spoil it for them a little bit today but they got us and you've gotta congratulate those guys because they've scratched and clawed."

Mackanin said he hopes his first baseman has just a little more left in him for what could be his final game in Phillies pinstripes.

"Hopefully he'll hit another one tomorrow," he said. "He's been swinging the bat well in the second half to have 25 home runs and almost 60 RBIs. He's been phenomenal."

The Phillies will celebrate Howard's career before the first pitch tomorrow, but the 36-year old first baseman says it's just another game.

"Tomorrow is Sunday," Howard said when asked about tomorrow's game. "I'm just going to show up. I'll definitely take it in. I think it'll be something cool."

The Mets are overjoyed to have the burden of home-field advantage wrapped up. Jay Bruce knows just how important it is to have secured that heading into Sunday.

"Home field means a lot," he said. "I think home field means a whole lot. I played with Jim Edmonds in 2010 and he said that one play, one pitch can change the outlook of the whole thing and it's so true. I think we have a group of guys who are ready for it."

The Mets are undecided as to who starts Sunday as it appears they might save right-hander Noah Syndergaard (14-9, 2.60 ERA) for Wednesday's wild-card game. The Phillies send right-hander Jerad Eickhoff (11-14, 3.72) to the hill Sunday.

Mets manager Terry Collins may not put Syndergaard on the hill very long, or at all Sunday.

"We are going to be able to save Noah (Sundergaard)," Collins said. "I'm not sure we're going to pitch him, he might just throw side instead. I just thought it might be good to face some hitters for him tomorrow."

Eickhoff's start last Tuesday was cut short because of rain as he only pitched four innings against the Braves, but he'll have a chance to punctuate his strong second half in the final game of the season.

Phillies shortstop Freddy Galvis, who left Friday's game with right hamstring tightness, missed Saturday's game and his season is likely over.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Dodgers (91-70) at Giants (86-75)

Game: 3
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: October 02, 2016 3:05 PM EDT

SAN FRANCISCO -- The San Francisco Giants are assured of a 163rd game this season.

Sunday, they'll try to make sure that contest occurs in New York, not St. Louis.

The Giants can claim the second wild-card spot in the National League and a one-game showdown with the New York Mets in the Big Apple on Wednesday with either a win Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers or a St. Louis Cardinals loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Cardinals can still force a one-game wild-card tiebreaker against the Giants on Monday in St. Louis with a win Sunday and a San Francisco loss.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy was fully aware of the ramifications of Saturday's 3-0 victory over Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers within minutes of the final pitch.

"No matter what, we're traveling," Bochy said of the next game after Sunday. "There's still more to do."

The Giants send left-hander Matt Moore to the mound Sunday to face Dodgers righty Kenta Maeda.

Moore came within one out of no-hitting the Dodgers on Aug. 25 in a 4-0 victory. He also pitched a 3-1 victory over Los Angeles for the Tampa Bay Rays earlier this season, allowing just an unearned run in 6 2/3 innings.

The Giants acquired Moore from the Rays at the trade deadline.

But Moore also had a pair of less-than-stellar efforts against the Dodgers this season, suffering 10-5 (for the Rays) and 9-3 (for the Giants) losses during which he was bombed for 13 runs on 15 hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Maeda has been much more consistent. In fact, he's allowed three runs or fewer in 12 consecutive starts, and has a decision to show for each of his last 10 outings. He's 7-3 over that stretch.

And there's been nothing inconsistent about his results against the Giants this season. He's gone 3-0, compiling a 2.65 ERA over 17 innings.

The Dodgers will get one final tune-up against a left-hander before the playoffs. They went only 3-for-26 against Giants rookie lefty Ty Blach in Saturday's loss, dropping their season average against southpaws to .215, -- by far the worse mark in all of baseball.

"Today wasn't a good day for the quality of at-bats," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of his team's on-going issues with lefties. "We're going to see a lefty in the next series. We have to be better."

That next series will be the NL Division Series against the Washington Nationals starting Friday.

Saturday's loss locked the Dodgers, champions of the NL West, into the No. 3 seed in the NL playoffs. The second-seeded Nationals, winners of the NL East, have the home-field advantage in the best-of-five series.

Maeda is slated to be the Dodgers third starter in the series, after Kershaw and left-hander Rich Hill.

The Giants and Dodgers also will use the regular-season finale Sunday as a final audition for postseason roster spots. Each club will have to trim back significantly to reach the 25-man limit for the playoffs.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Orioles (88-73) at Yankees (84-77)

Game: 3
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: October 02, 2016 3:05 PM EDT

NEW YORK -- Kevin Gausman has been nearly flawless against the New York Yankees this season.

On Sunday, the Baltimore Orioles entrust Gausman to deliver again as they attempt to secure an American League wild-card spot in the regular-season finale at Yankee Stadium.

Baltimore's (88-73) quest for the wild card lasts into the final day because it blew a 3-0 lead in Saturday's 7-3 loss. Manager Buck Showalter hoped to get Wade Miley into the seventh but the decision backfired when the Yankees tied it and scored four times in the eighth off Brad Brach.

Now they turn to Gausman, who was officially announced as the starter hours before Saturday's game. The Orioles (88-73) are tied with the Toronto Blue Jays, 1 1/2 games ahead of the Detroit Tigers. Baltimore also clinches with a Detroit loss Sunday in Atlanta or Monday -- if necessary -- at home against Cleveland.

The Orioles have good reason to place their trust in Gausman.

Gausman is 2-1 with a 0.80 ERA in five starts this season against the Yankees, who have scored five runs and struck out 32 times in 33 2/3 innings. None of those runs have been the last two times he faced New York, including a 5-0 victory Aug. 28 when he allowed seven hits and recorded nine strikeouts.

Gausman's last appearance in New York saw him snap a 25-game road winless streak. When the right-hander ended his 0-16 stretch on the road, the Orioles were 71-59 and three games out of first place.

The Orioles unofficially lost any chances to get first place when the Boston Red Sox completed a four-game sweep at Camden Yards from Sept. 19-22. They have won six of eight games since, earning a chance at their third playoff spot in the last five seasons.

"If you had told me at the beginning of the season this is a situation that I was going to be in and had the chance to secure a spot for us, I'd say I'd take that chance and take that responsibility," Gausman said to Baltimore reporters Saturday afternoon. "So it's pretty exciting, it's going to fun."

For the Orioles, it would be just as fun if the offense produced more like Friday's series opener than Saturday's game. The Orioles scored eight times and hit three home runs Friday but didn't score after the third inning Saturday and had three hits in the final six innings.

"Tomorrow is what we've been playing the whole season for anyway," Orioles catcher Matt Wieters said. "It shouldn't be hard to get ready for a game tomorrow."

"It's a real tribute to our guys to have an opportunity like we have tomorrow," Showalter said. "That's how we look at it. They've done a lot of things to give us that opportunity and I'm real proud and honored to be with them today andtomorrow."

Besides trying to spoil things for the Orioles, the Yankees will be playing to win in retiring first baseman Mark Teixeira's final game of his 14-year career.

Teixeira has started each of the last two games before getting taken out in the middle innings for a pinch runner.

"Just excited for him," Yankees third baseman Chase Headley said." He's had an unbelievable career and it's been a privilege to play with him for the past couple of years. He's been a tremendous player for a really long time but he's a better person. It will be fun to celebrate his career with him tomorrow and I wish him well."

Teixeira will be honored with a pregame ceremony and is expected to be in the lineup.

Coincidentally, Teixeira plays his final game with Showalter, his first manager in the other dugout.

"He believed in me as a rookie, stuck with me as a rookie and I had four great years in Texas," Teixeira said. "So it'll be cool to see him across the field, understanding that he was there from the very beginning."

Luis Cessa (4-3, 4.18 ERA) makes his ninth career start Sunday for the Yankees. Since entering the rotation Aug. 20, Cessa is 2-3 with a 3.72 ERA.

In his eight starts, he allowed three earned runs or fewer five times and allowed six hits or less in each start. Cessa started against Baltimore in a 14-4 victory Aug. 26, allowing three runs and five hits in six innings.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Marlins (79-81) at Nationals (94-67)

Game: 3
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: October 02, 2016 3:05 PM EDT

WASHINGTON -- The Washington Nationals' media relations staff put out a list on paper this past week of Max Scherzer's accolades this year in effort to drum up support for a possible National League Cy Young Award.

It was a long list.

The right-handed starter, who won the Cy Young with the Detroit Tigers in 2013, will aim for his 20th win of the season on Sunday in the regular-season finale against the Miami Marlins. He has struck out at least 10 batters in a game 13 times this season and leads the NL in strikeouts with 277.

The St. Louis native fanned 20 batters on May 11 against the Detroit Tigers and nine times in the last two years he has taken a no-hitter into the sixth inning. He got his 19th win on Tuesday when he beat the Arizona Diamondbacks.

"That's what we're playing for," Scherzer said of the home-field edge, which the Nationals wrapped up Saturday. "I know the 19 wins, yada, yada yada, but the most important thing is the team wins. Would love to have Game 5 here at Nationals Park facing the Dodgers. In a short series, home-field advantage matters."

But Scherzer has a penchant for giving up homers -- he has allowed 29 -- and several Marlins have gone deep against him.

Justin Bour is hitting .190 in 21 at-bats against him with a homer. Dee Gordon is batting .292 in 24 trips with one homer. Outfielder Christian Yelich, closing in on 100 RBIs for the season, is hitting .333 with two homers in 15 at-bats against Scherzer. Marcell Ozuna has two homers against the pitcher in 19 at-bats and is hitting .263.

Scherzer will aim to be one of the few pitchers to get his 20th win on the final day of the season. One pitcher who did that was Scott McGregor, who won his 20th on the last day of the 1980 season for the Baltimore Orioles against the Cleveland Indians.

On the last regular-season game for the Nationals in 2014, Jordan Zimmerman threw the first no-hitter in franchise history, against the same Marlins. Yelich made the last out of the game as his liner was caught in left center by Steven Souza Jr., then the Washington left fielder.

Scherzer is 19-7 with a 2.82 ERA this season for the Nationals. He will also be making a tuneup for Game 1 of the NLDS on Oct. 7 against the Dodgers, though Washington -- as is custom -- had not made an official announcement for its rotation.

The Dodgers have announced their first three starters will be Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill and Kenta Maeda.

Washington secured the home-field edge in the NLDS as the Dodgers lost Saturday and Washington won 2-1 over Miami.

"I feel great any time you get home-field advantage," Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. "You get the first two games here and it could be very important. It's not necessary, but I'd rather have it here than to travel out there."

The Marlins starter will be right-hander Tom Koehler (9-13, 4.15 ERA), who is no stranger to the Nationals. He is 4-8 with a 4.18 ERA in 13 career starts against Washington, including 1-2 with a 3.00 ERA in four starts this year.

Bryce Harper has owned Koehler, with an average of .367 against him with an amazing six homers in just 30 at-bats. Ben Revere has also done well against the Stony Brook product, with an average of .440 in 25 trips.

Koehler was part of a rotation that included Jose Fernandez, who died in a boating accident Sept. 25. They spoke about fatherhood just days before the pitcher died.

"That was the last time we talked," Koehler told a Florida paper. "He was wishing me luck and excited about my daughter being born, not because he had to. He didn't have to come up. He truly cared about it. That was something special."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Athletics (68-93) at Mariners (86-75)

Game: 4
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: October 02, 2016 3:10 PM EDT

SEATTLE -- Seattle Mariners starter Felix Hernandez hasn't gotten to pitch in many truly meaningful games in his impressive career, having never been to the postseason, and that won't change Sunday afternoon.

A game that looked like it might carry more weight than any of Hernandez's 358 previous starts became painfully, familiarly irrelevant when the Mariners lost to Oakland on Saturday night.

That loss officially eliminated Seattle (86-74) from wild-card contention and led to another meaningless 162nd game of the season.

"We'll play hard," disappointed Seattle manager Scott Servais said after Saturday's 9-8 loss to Oakland in a 10-inning classic. "I expect us to win the ballgame. ... We'll give a good effort, no doubt."

But the Mariners are human, so forgive them if it's hard to bounce back from an emotional game that effectively ended Seattle's postseason hopes.

"It was a great run," slugger Nelson Cruz lamented after the loss. "I've played a lot of games (during an 11-year career), and it was an amazing run."

Seattle's final gasp came with two comebacks in the late innings. Cruz delivered a two-run homer that tied the score 7-7 in the seventh, then defensive replacement Ben Gamel came through with an RBI single to tie it again at 8-8 in the eighth.

Only after Oakland's Joey Wendle pushed across the go-ahead run with an RBI double in the top of the 10th and the Mariners stranded Gamel on third base with a game-ending flyout did the never-say-die season take its final breath.

"We did everything we could to extend the season," Servais said afterward.

The dramatic win didn't do anything for Oakland's postseason prospects -- the A's have been out of realistic contention for most of the past few weeks -- but manager Bob Melvin said the way his young team was able to hold off the desperate Mariners was a good sign for the growth of a team in full rebuilding mode.

"This is really going to serve (the players) well in the future, knowing that they can play in this type of atmosphere," Melvin said.

For Hernandez, whose spot in the rotation happened to line up with what may have been a make-or-break game in the season finale, it's just another meaningless October start.

The only time Hernandez has taken the mound this late in the season with chips still on the table came two years ago when he went into the final day of the year with a shot at giving Seattle a playoff berth and dominated for four innings.

After the fourth, word got out that the A's had just finished a playoff-clinching win in another part of the country, leaving Hernandez and the Mariners without any kind of incentive.

Hernandez pitched another inning before coming off to a huge ovation in another lost season.

This time around, he won't have nearly as much adrenaline. Once again, the Mariners are playing for pride.

"Our guys will show up and play," Servais said. "It'll be a little weird. We've played a lot of big games over the past few weeks. We've had four or five times when (reporters) said: 'If you don't win today, you're done. And we won them all."

Until Saturday night.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Blue Jays (88-73) at Red Sox (93-68)

Game: 3
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: October 02, 2016 3:05 PM EDT

BOSTON -- With the American League East title already in hand, the Boston Red Sox are focused on celebrating David Ortiz's legacy in Sunday's regular season finale against Toronto.

But the Blue Jays still have some unfinished business.

Toronto (88-73) needs a win to lock up an AL wild card spot, as their 4-3 victory Saturday pulled them into a tie for the top spot with the Baltimore Orioles, who lost 7-3 to the New York Yankees earlier in the day.

The Blue Jays can still make the playoffs with a loss Sunday, but that could introduce the need for a play-in game against either the Detroit Tigers or Seattle Mariners.

"I'm not worried about that," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. "We want to enjoy this one. They've been hard to come by, so we'll let (others) worry about that."

Boston (93-68) trails ALDS opponent Cleveland by a one-half game after the Indians bested the Kansas City Royals 6-3 on Saturday.

The Red Sox won the regular-season series with Cleveland 4-2, so the Indians must finish one game ahead of Boston to gain home-field advantage. If both teams win or lose Sunday, Cleveland must win a makeup contest in Detroit on Monday to get the extra home game.

"Obviously we would like the home-field advantage," Red Sox utility man Brock Holt said. "We'll come ready to go tomorrow. Hopefully we'll play that first game here."

Ortiz, meanwhile, will play the 2,408th and final regular season game -- and his 1,014th at Fenway -- of his storied 20-year career.

The man affectionately known as "Big Papi" has put together a resume worthy of Hall of Fame consideration, hitting .286 with 541 home runs -- 17th most all-time -- and 1,768 RBIs.

As they have done all weekend, the Red Sox will honor Ortiz with a pregame ceremony and are asking fans to be in their seats by 2 p.m. ET ahead of a scheduled 3:05 p.m. first pitch.

David Price (17-9, 4.04 ERA) has a chance to end an up-and-down inaugural season with the Red Sox as an 18-game winner, but likely won't go deep into the game.

"He's (been) under a lot of scrutiny as we know," said Red Sox manager John Farrell, who anticipates limiting Price's pitch count, "and yet you look at the body of work that he's put in for us, and he's been a very strong starter for us."

Price has been masterful in his career against the Blue Jays, posting a 17-3 record with a 2.44 ERA and 143 strikeouts in 24 career starts.

His .850 winning percentage versus Toronto is the highest ever against the team with the minimum of 10 decisions.

Despite the lack of team success, Blue Jays sluggers Jose Bautista (.345, 20-for-58, six homers, 14 RBIs) and Edwin Encarnacion (.250, 12-for-48, four homers, nine RBIs) have given Price fits.

Toronto counters with Aaron Sanchez (14-2, 3.06 ERA), who is 1-0 with a 5.19 ERA in three starts against Boston this season and 3-1 with a 3.89 ERA in 13 career appearances (five starts).

Jackie Bradley Jr. has hit Sanchez well in a limited sample size, going 3-for-7 with a home run and four RBIs. Ortiz is 4-for-9 with a double, an RBI and four walks versus Sanchez.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rays (67-94) at Rangers (95-66)

Game: 3
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: October 02, 2016 3:05 PM EDT

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Tampa Bay right-hander Chase Whitley could maybe follow the mold of Texas left-hander Martin Perez.

Perez (10-11) is proof that you can make it all the way back from Tommy John surgery, which is what Whitley (0-0) is trying to do. The two face off in the regular-season finale Sunday at Globe Life Park.

Whitley makes his first big-league start since May 14, 2015, when he was a member of the New York Yankees. He left that start because of an elbow injury which led to surgery. He was limited to nine minor league starts this year as he rehabbed from the injury, but earned the right to start Sunday by allowing two runs in 10 1/3 innings with the Rays.

"He probably had a pretty good idea that it was going to happen," Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. "We felt it was important to get Chase somewhere in there. He's worked so hard for us all year. We're really excited about the way he's come back, how he's thrown the ball this year and then the way his off-speed pitches have played up. We view him as being a really big asset for our team next year."

While Whitley is excited about 2017 too, he's also happy to have a chance to start again at this level.

"I'm very thankful that the Lord blessed me to able to come back," Whitley said. "Anytime you're getting to start in the major leagues is truly a blessing. That's something I don't think I'll take for granted."

Perez (10-11, 4.37 ERA) had his Tommy John rehab year in 2015, and is making his final start before the postseason. He'll do so having established career highs in starts at 32. He can set a career high with wins if he beats the Rays Sunday, and if he pitches at least 4 1/3 innings, he'll surpass the 200-inning mark in a season for the first time in his career.

"I want to finish strong and try to throw up a couple of more zeros, that's all," Perez said. "I feel good. I'm just trying to build on my 200 innings. That means I feel okay and I'm ready to compete for more years in the big leagues at this level. I'm trying to be ready for the playoffs too."

Perez will likely have at least a week between starts as the Rangers won't turn to him until Game 3 or Game 4 of the American League Division Series. The club has also sewn up home field throughout the postseason, which would allow Perez to treat Sunday as a chance to work on things if he wanted to make sure he's sharp for the ALDS.

He isn't approaching it that way though.

"I think I'm just staying focused, not trying to change anything," Perez said. "It's the same baseball, same game. It's going to be more people and more pressure, but it's the same baseball. I just want to stay focused and try to throw a strike every time."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Padres (68-93) at Diamondbacks (68-93)

Game: 3
Venue: Chase Field
Date: October 02, 2016 3:10 PM EDT

PHOENIX -- It all comes down to one game.

For one of the marbles.

Arizona and San Diego enter the final game of the regular season Sunday with identical 68-93 records, and the winner avoids last place in the National League West. The Diamondbacks attempt to avoid finishing in the cellar for the third time in the last four years while San Diego has not finished last since 2011, the last time the D-backs won the division. The teams split their previous 18 games this season.

At the same time, several players have personal marks to shoot for.

Arizona second baseman Jean Segura had a double and triple Saturday before being removed in the eighth inning and has a career- and NL-high 203 hits this season. He will lead the league in hits and is three short of Luis Gonzalez's franchise record set in 1999.

Segura is one of 14 players in major league history with 200 hits, 20 homers and 30 stolen bases in the same season, and he and Houston second baseman Jose Altuve are the only major leaguers with 40 doubles, 20 homers and 30 stolen base this year. Segura is 41/20/33. Altuve is 42/24/30.

Segura will play Sunday's finale, manager Chip Hale said.

"He's fine," Hale said. "We were up six at that time and he's played a lot of innings this year, and I didn't feel like he was going to get another at-bat."

San Diego first baseman Wil Myers had two hits and scored two runs in Arizona's 9-5 victory Saturday. Myers has 28 doubles, 28 homers and 28 stolen bases, and he is one of three major leagues with 25 homers and 25 stolen bases entering the final game of the season.

"He went through stretches where he was outstanding," San Diego manager Andy Green said. "I think Wil has many more steps in front of him to be as good as he can be. From a base-stealing perspective, he is substantially better than he has been in his career. That has never been a big part of his game at the major league level. There has been considerable work put in."

The Angels' Mike Trout has 29 homers and 29 stolen bases and Boston's Mookie Betts has 31 homers and 26 stolen bases.

Arizona's Paul Goldschmidt and Houston's Altuve could join that group with another homer Sunday. Goldschmidt has 24 homers and a career-high 32 stolen bases after stealing three bases Saturday, and Altuve has 24 homers and 30 stolen bases.

Goldschmidt stole third base as part of a double steal in a five-run first inning Saturday, the second of two double steals the Diamondbacks pulled in that inning, and also stole second and third in the fifth inning. His 32 steals are the most by a major league first baseman since Greg Jefferies had 46 for St. Louis in 1993. Goldschmidt's previous high was 21 last year.

"Anytime you're able to do that, steal those bases, it frustrates the other team," Arizona manager Chip Hale said. "It frustrates the pitcher, the catcher, the manager, the guy giving the signs. It's frustrating because you work so hard for those things not to happen."

The D-backs, who won the first two games of the series, send rookie right-hander Matt Koch (1-1) to the mound for his second major league start Sunday afternoon. He is to oppose right-hander Paul Clemens (4-5).

Koch threw five hitless innings in his first start at Washington on Tuesday before giving up a single in the sixth inning. He was removed after issuing a walk because of a blister, and the D-backs are hoping he can give them 85 pitches Sunday before the blister heats up again.

Clemens gave up one run in five innings to beat the Dodgers in his last start Tuesday and has allowed three earned runs or fewer in nine of his 11 starts since joining the Padres.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Astros (84-77) at Angels (73-88)

Game: 3
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Date: October 02, 2016 3:05 PM EDT

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Even with a batting championship practically secured, Jose Altuve will have to attend to some unfinished business when the Houston Astros end the season Sunday against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium.

Altuve, who owns a .338 average, also has a chance to finish as the American League leader in hits. The Venezuelan second baseman will enter the game with 215, one more than Mookie Betts of the Boston Red Sox.

"He's got some goals in mind that he's not yet accomplished," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "He sees all sorts of numbers that he could get and make a special year even more special. When Altuve is zeroing in on things, he rarely gets denied. It wouldn't surprise me if he has a good day."

Altuve said he is "way different" as a hitter this year than when he won his first batting title in 2014. Two years ago, Altuve finished with just seven home runs and 59 RBIs. But with one game left this year, the infielder already has career highs of 24 homers and 96 RBIs.

"I'm trying to do damage at the plate," Altuve said. "Before, I knew if I hit a weak ground ball, I could be safe. Then I understood that if you hit a double or drive in a run, it's better than hitting a single. I'm not trying to hit a home run every time. I'm trying to look for my pitch and put a good swing on the ball."

When Altuve won his last batting championship, he served primarily as a leadoff hitter. This season, he has batted mostly third.

"He's done a great job of being a complete hitter this year wherever I've put him," Hinch said. "He's taken it personally to improve his plate discipline."

Altuve will face right-hander Jhoulys Chacin in Sunday's finale. Chacin replaced right-hander Jered Weaver, who was scheduled to start on his normal turn in the rotation. But Weaver experienced tightness in his lower back during his last start Monday night, and felt stiff during a bullpen session Friday.

Regardless, Weaver faces an uncertain future after Sunday. The 11-year veteran, who turns 34 on Tuesday, will be a free agent after spending his entire career with the Angels. Weaver will finish this season with career highs in earned-run average and home runs allowed after fighting nagging injuries and declining velocity for the past three years.

"It's a weird feeling," Weaver said about the uncertainty. "I've been here for 11 years. It's all I've known."

The possibility that his last start Monday night might his last with the Angels made Weaver wistful.

"I was telling a couple of guys that I was a little emotional coming down the tunnel here," Weaver said Monday night. "I tried to say 'Hi' to as many workers as I could."

Meanwhile, right-hander Brady Rodgers will make his first major-league start for the Astros. Rodgers was named the Pacific Coast League's pitcher of the year and the Astros' minor-league pitcher of the year after going 12-4 with a 2.86 ERA at Triple-A

Fresno.

But since being promoted Sept. 2, Rodgers has allowed 10 runs and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings covering four relief appearances.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Brewers (72-89) at Rockies (75-86)

Game: 3
Venue: Coors Field
Date: October 02, 2016 3:10 PM EDT

DENVER -- German Marquez will try to rebound from a poor outing when he makes his third career outing Sunday for the Colorado Rockies against the Milwaukee Brewers in the final game of the regular season.

The Brewers are planning a bullpen game with Tyler Cravy, who threw 20 pitches in two perfect innings Friday night, making the start. Cravy is 0-1 with a 2.39 ERA in 19 games, including one start on May 6 at Cincinnati.

Cravy took the turn of Wily Peralta, who was on the paternity list, and gave up five runs in four innings and took a 5-1 loss.

"It's basically going to be a bullpen day," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said of the rubber game of the series with the Rockies. "We're looking for a couple innings (from Cravy), and then we're going to use a bunch of relievers."

Starters Matt Garza and Jimmy Nelson are rested, but Counsell said the plan going into the Brewers' road trip that began Monday at Texas was to cover the innings of the final game with relievers.

"We had to make sure we got through the first two games (at Coors Field) basically with enough pitching, and we did," Counsell said after the Brewers beat the Rockies 4-3 in 10 innings on Saturday night.

Marquez, 21, began his career in the majors with three relief appearances last month before making his first start against St. Louis on Sept. 21. He held the Cardinals to four hits and one run in five innings and became the second-youngest pitcher in franchise history to win his first start as the Rockies beat the Cardinals 11-1.

On Tuesday at San Francisco, Marquez gave up six hits but only two runs in four innings. However, he then allowed six straight hits to start the fifth before being lifted from the game. He ended up yielding six runs and 12 hits in four innings.

Marquez worked on finishing his pitches in what was described as a very sharp bullpen session Thursday. He is 1-1 with a 6.14 ERA overall but has impressed the Rockies with his easy velocity -- a fastball that sits at 95-96 mph -- a polished curveball and a developing slider as well as his composure and poise on the mound.

The Rockies acquired Marquez in the January deal with Tampa Bay that also brought reliever Jake McGee to Colorado for outfielder Corey Dickerson and minor league third baseman Kevin Padlo.

Marquez spent most of this season at Double-A Hartford, where he was named the Eastern League pitcher of the year. He pitched briefly at Triple-A Albuquerque before the Rockies recalled him Sept. 6, two days before his major league debut.

Marquez could contend for a spot in the Rockies' Opening Day rotation next season. Asked whether his outing against the Giants could be a teaching tool, an opportunity for Marquez to rebound from adversity, Rockies manager Walt Weiss said, "All of this is an opportunity to get better for young players. That's what some of September's about. Guys get opportunities to make an impression -- he's already made an impression with his composure, the way he operates out there. These are all opportunities for growth."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Cubs (102-58) at Reds (68-93)

Game: 3
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: October 02, 2016 3:10 PM EDT

CINCINNATI -- When Joe Maddon points at Dexter Fowler and says "It's true," the Chicago Cubs center fielder knows what his manager means.

"He goes, we go," Maddon often says.

So on Saturday, when Maddon discussed certain turning points in the season which helped define where the Cubs (102-58) are to this point, he considered the impact of re-signing Fowler during spring training.

"Prior to getting him, we were thinking about how to get everybody at-bats," Maddon said. "When he came back (from injury) ... he didn't catch fire right away. Now all of a sudden he's found himself."

Fowler is batting .333 (19-for-63) with 13 runs scored in his last 17 games. The Cubs are 52-13 when Fowler scores at least one run and are 14-1 when he scores at least twice.

On Saturday, Fowler singled twice to reach 1,000 hits for his career.

Kyle Hendricks takes the mound for the Cubs in Sunday's regular-season finale, looking to cap off a sensational regular season. Don't look for him to pitch deep into Sunday's game. Maddon said Hendricks will not pitch more than five innings.

Hendricks lowered his ERA to 1.99 with six scoreless innings on Monday against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. He's 12-2 with a 1.29 ERA in his last 18 outings (17 starts) since June 19, leading the majors in ERA during that span.

Against Cincinnati, Hendricks has gone 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in two starts.

He's trying to become just the third qualifying Cubs pitcher in the last 96 years with a sub-2.00 ERA, joining Grover Cleveland Alexander (1.91, 1920) and Jake Arrieta (1.77, 2015).

Reds right-hander Robert Stephenson will make his eighth career appearance and sixth start since being promoted from Triple-A Louisville in September. The former top draft choice will be looking to finish the season on a positive note and solidify his spot in the rotation heading into next spring training.

Earlier this season, Stephenson became the first Reds pitcher to win his first two career starts since Larry Luebbers did it in 1993.

Stephenson was recalled on Opening Day when Homer Bailey began the season on the disabled list. On April 7 against Philadelphia, he became the first Reds starting pitcher to win his major league debut since Sam LeCure in 2010.

While the National League Central champion Cubs are preparing for the postseason, the Reds will be trying to win their home finale days after extending the contract of manager Bryan Price through 2017.

Cincinnati (68-93) is 36-36 since the All-Star break, marking the second-best improvement in winning percentage from the first half of the season to the second.

"I know the manager of the team is a polarizing one," Price said. "I think that people want to see (results). The second half was the first stage of that improvement."

The Cubs are 14-4 against the Reds this season, including an 8-3 mark at Great American Ball Park.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Twins (58-103) at White Sox (78-83)

Game: 3
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: October 02, 2016 3:10 PM EDT

CHICAGO -- Robin Ventura will possibly manage his final game for the White Sox -- and Chris Sale will audition one last time for the American League Cy Young Award -- on Sunday afternoon against the Minnesota Twins.

The White Sox are expected to replace Ventura with bench coach and former Chicago Cubs manager Rick Renteria, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Saturday night.

Ventura has a record of 375-434 in five seasons and is in the final year of his contract. The White Sox are 78-83 this season, fourth in the AL Central.

"I'll talk at the end of the year," Ventura said after his team lost 6-0 to the Twins on Saturday. "There can be whatever (report) out there."

Meanwhile, Sale could set a career high for victories in a season with his 18th. The left-hander picked up his 17th victory Tuesday, when he struck out seven and held Tampa Bay to three runs in seven innings.

"We're not doing it for numbers or anything, but he wants to throw," Ventura said. "I think that's part of his commitment to being a teammate and all that stuff. So we'll have a pretty good lineup out there."

In the league, Sale is tied for third in strikeouts (227), tied for fourth in victories, fourth in opponents' average (.225) and ninth for ERA (3.21). He leads the majors with six complete games.

"It would be very easy for him to just say he's had enough and not pitch," Ventura said. "I think that's a good testament to finishing out the year and doing it right."

Sale has finished in the top six in AL Cy Young voting every season from 2012-15. He also reached 17 victories in 2012 during his first season as a starter.

"I feel as good now as I ever have on a baseball field, physically," Sale said after his last start. "This year was the best overall in terms of feeling strong at the end and still having more in the tank."

Sale is 8-5 with a 4.05 ERA in 23 games (15 starts) against the Twins.

Other candidates for the AL Cy Young include Boston's Rick Porcello, Cleveland's Corey Kluber, Baltimore's Zach Britton, Toronto's J.A.

Happ and Detroit's Justin Verlander.

The White Sox and Twins are closing out disappointing seasons. Chicago went 55-73 after beginning the season 23-10 -- the second-best mark in the majors on May 9. The White Sox are posting their fourth straight losing season.

"You look throughout sports, not only baseball, when teams that are supposed to do well don't do well, changes are made, not only with coaching staffs and personnel off the field but on the field as well," White Sox catcher Alex Avila said. "That's business as usual."

The White Sox lead the season series against Minnesota 12-6.

On Friday, the Twins (58-103) set a franchise record for losses in a season since the team moved to Minnesota in 1960. The franchise most recently lost 104 when the Washington Senators went 50-104 in 1949.

Rookie right-hander Jose Berrios (2-7, 8.61 ERA) is expected to start for Minnesota. He has yet to pitch against the White Sox.

Brian Dozier is expected to miss the game after he experienced right oblique soreness Saturday. He needs one RBI for 100 and two home runs to tie a major league record for second basemen.

"I hope the guys go out there and try to have a little bit of fun," manager Paul Molitor said. "Given all the circumstances, tough to do, but you're still playing."