Sunday 7/10/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

July Pitchers Report
By Marc Lawrence

Fireworks and the MLB All-Star game go hand-in-hand during the month of July. It also denotes the start of the 2nd half of the MLB campaign. And as we’ve come to learn the key to each and every team’s fortune lies on the pitching staff.

Can they sustain or will they unravel like Jose Canseco going back on a fly ball? Stay tuned. What we do know is that certain pitchers love hurling this time of the season while others tend to get lit up like a roman candle on the 4thof July.

Listed below are hurlers that have enjoyed a two-to-one or better success ratio in team-starts over the course of the last three seasons during the month of July.

On the flip side, we've also listed pitchers that struggle in July, winning 33% percent or less of their team-start efforts. To qualify pitchers must have made a minimum of 10 starts, with at least one start each July over the last three years.

And for your convenience alongside each record we break down each pitcher’s greatest success or greatest failure rate either home (H) or away (A) within his good or bad month.

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

GOOD MONTH PITCHERS:

*Chen, Wei-Yin - 9-4 (5-1 H)

The Miami left-hander has not been terribly effective with an ERA hovering around 5. If Chen can develop more command, he's shown again this year he's tough when in challenging situations, allowing .186 batting average and .271 on-base percentage with runners in scoring position.

Garza, Matt - 9-3 (5-1 H)

Since coming back from spring training injury on June 14th, the Milwaukee right-hander has been a mix of good and bad, but come through when it counted. Opposing hitters are batting over .300 against Garza, but he's held those runners in check and induced a heavy dose of ground balls that have led to outs. If he continues, this Brewers starter might be effective.

Greinke, Zack - 11-4 (6-2 H)

Though Arizona is falling short of preseason expectations, the Diamondbacks ace is not and, other than Clayton Kershaw, has arguably been as effective as any pitcher since the end of April with batters hitting around .200 against him. Once again his array of pitches are finding the right spots and fastball is cooking!

Kazmir, Scott - 10-5 (6-2 H)

When Kazmir misses on location for fastball, the other team's lineup begins to look for off-speed stuff, which has caused his inconsistency this season. When he's working the corners on the knees early in the count, this sets up secondary pitches. In the past he's done so in July, let's see what he comes up with this time.

*Kershaw, Clayton - 12-3 (8-0 A)

When either Kershaw loses or has a less than stellar performance, which is infrequent, it is home page news on most sports websites. With opponents batting just .185 against him, baseball's best pitcher has close to as many home runs surrendered (6) as walks (9) to start the month over 121 innings. It’s no wonder his name is whispered in the same company as Sandy Koufax.

Kluber, Corey - 13-4 (9-2 H)

Since winning the Cy Young award in 2014, Kluber has not been able to match that magical season, but is part of a very good Cleveland rotation. Looking ahead, if the Indians righty can do a better job than permitting .281 batting averages with runners in scoring position, all his numbers will drop and his victories will go up. Note: Kluber’s numbers above also reflect his career team mark during July.

*Liriano, Francisco - 12-2 (7-0 H)

After several fine seasons with Pittsburgh, Liriano has not been effective in 2016. Walks and home runs have done him in and in order to reflect past results of July, he's going to have to stop leaving pitches in the heart of the plate.

Peralta, Wily - 8-4 (5-1 H)

Peralta has been thoroughly ineffective all season (6.68 ERA) and was sent to minors after June 11th start. His return this month or this season depends on his Triple-A results. Note: Peralta’s numbers above also reflect his career team mark during July.

Price, David - 11-5 (7-1 A)

To date, the Boston lefty could be described as a mild disappointment, with an ERA north of 4.5 most of the season. No longer owning an upper 90's heater, Price does not blow away as many hitters as before and the fastball lacks some of the previous movement of the past. The slider has not had the usual bite from start to start. Red Sox need this ace to be one.

Ross, Tyson - 10-4 (4-1 H)

Ross has not pitched since he hit the DL with right shoulder inflammation after first start in April. San Diego Union reports a return even this month appears optimistic.
Note: Ross’ numbers above also reflect his career team mark during July.

Santana, Ervin - 11-4 (8-1 H)

Like his teammates, Santana is not having a good year, as opposing hitters are clocking him for nearly .300 average, compared to .256 over his 11-year career. Little reason to believe this month will match the past even if he improves with this Twins club.

*Volquez, Edinson - 10-5 (6-1 A)

Never a frontline hurler, Volquez numbers this campaign have matched the Royals, being very ordinary to date. The Dominican Republic native has done the job against right-handed batters, who have been knocking him around for nearly .300 average.

BAD MONTH PITCHERS:

Wood, Alex - 4-8 (0-6 A)

Wood – the only pitcher to appear on the July Bad Month list this season - was initially expected to be shut down for four weeks after landing on the 15-day disabled list at the end of May with a posterior impingement in his throwing elbow. Currently, the timetable is for mid-July return, but the oft-injured pitcher can hardly be counted on as record shows. Note: Wood’’s numbers above reflect his career team mark during July.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MLB roundup: Tigers end Jays' win streak
By The Sports Xchange

TORONTO -- Victor Martinez ended a tie with a home run in the eighth inning and the Detroit Tigers stopped the Toronto Blue Jays' winning streak at seven games with a 3-2 victory on Saturday.
The Blue Jays had just tied the game in the bottom of the seventh with a home run by Devon Travis.
Reliever Jason Grilli (2-1) took the loss and Bruce Rondon (3-1) picked up the win despite allowing the game-tying homer to Travis.
Toronto starter Aaron Sanchez allowed five hits, two walks, a hit batter and two runs in five innings. Detroit left-hander Matt Boyd allowed four hits and one run in five innings.

White Sox 5, Braves 4
CHICAGO -- Todd Frazier went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and three RBIs as Chicago held on to beat Atlanta.
Tim Anderson, Melky Cabrera, Brett Lawrie and J.B. Shuck added two hits apiece for the White Sox, who earned their fifth win in the past seven games. Left-hander Jose Quintana (7-8) picked up his second straight victory despite allowing three home runs
Jeff Francoeur finished 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs to lead the Braves. Gordon Beckham and Freddie Freeman added solo home runs for Atlanta.

Cardinals 8, Brewers 1
MILWAUKEE -- Jhonny Peralta, Tommy Pham and Aledmys Diaz hit home runs while Carlos Martinez struck out a career-high 11 batters as the routed the Brewers at Miller Park.
Peralta had been held out of the starting lineup the last two games because of a sore left thumb but announced his return in a big way, crushing an 0-and-2 offering from Chase Anderson (4-10) to left-center field for his fourth homer of the year, giving the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.
The Cardinals added a run in the third inning when Stephen Piscotty tripled and scored on a Randal Grichuk single.
The Brewers loaded the bases twice but came up empty against Martinez (8-6), who allowed five hits with four walks over five innings of work.
His only earned run came in the third, when Jonathan Villar led off with a single, stole two bases, then scored on a Kirk Nieuwenhuis single.

Athletics 3, Astros 2
HOUSTON -- Kendall Graveman (5-6) extended his winning streak to four games by limiting the Astros (47-41) to five hits while carrying a shutout into the ninth.
Houston mustered a rally in the ninth, with Jake Marisnick and Marwin Gonzalez stroking back-to-back singles to chase Graveman. Athletics right-hander Ryan Dull allowed his first inherited runner to score this season when Jose Altuve plated Marisnick with a fielder's choice ground ball, and Altuve later scored when Luis Valbuena singled to left field.
Dull struck out Carlos Gomez with pinch-runner George Springer on first to record his first save.
Stephen Vogt (3-for-4, two RBIs) hit a home run in the second inning off Houston starter Lance McCullers, who gave up an RBI single to Vogt and bases-loaded walk in the third.

Marlins 4, Reds 2
MIAMI -- Martin Prado went 3-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs to lead Miami.
Adam Conley (6-5) picked up the win, allowing two runs in 5 2/3 innings for the Marlins (46-41). A.J. Ramos posted his 27th save of the season by pitching a scoreless ninth.
John Lamb (1-6), who struck out a career-high nine batters, took the loss for the Reds (32-56).

Giants 4, Diamondbacks 2
SAN FRANCISCO -- Grant Green hit a two-run home run, his first homer of the season, and six Giants relievers combined to shut out the Diamondbacks on one hit over the final 4 2/3 innings.
Brandon Belt and Ruben Tejada drove in runs with extra-base hits as the Giants (56-33) won for the seventh time in their last nine games to assure they will have the best record in the National League at the All-Star break.
Green's homer came after the Diamondbacks scored twice off Giants starter Jake Peavy in the top of the fourth inning on RBI singles by Yasmany Tomas and Brandon Drury to take a 2-1 lead.

Red Sox 4, Rays 1
BOSTON -- Xander Bogaerts belted a two-run home run and Dustin Pedroia drove in a pair to help Rick Porcello claim the victory.
It was the 10th homer of the season for Bogaerts, who has now reached base in 20 consecutive games, while Pedroia has had at least one hit in 12 of his last 13 games.
Porcello (11-2) is 8-0 in nine starts at Fenway this season.
Koji Uehara picked up his fourth save in place of All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel, who is expected to miss 3-6 weeks after undergoing surgery for a left knee injury.
Brad Miller hit a solo home run, his fourth blast this month and his 14th of the campaign, for Tampa Bay.

Orioles 3, Angels 2
BALTIMORE -- Jonathan Schoop lined a tiebreaking RBI single in the eighth inning for the key hit in Baltimore's win.
Manny Machado and Chris Davis both singled to put runners on first and third with one out in the eight, and Schoop then lined a single to center off Joe Smith (1-4) to snap a 2-2 tie.
Brad Brach (6-1) posted the victory thanks to a scoreless eighth. Zach Britton then got his 26th save in 26 chances.
Mark Trumbo gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead in the second with 27th home run this season, setting a team record for most homers before the All-Star break.

Royals 5, Mariners 3
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Cheslor Cuthbert's drove in the go-ahead run with a single in the sixth and Salvador Perez hit a home run to help Kansas City win.
Edinson Volquez (8-8) picked up the win for Kansas City. He pitched six innings, giving up three runs and six hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Kelvin Herrera pitched the ninth for his first save since 2013. It was his first save opportunity since closer Wade Davis went on the disabled list July 5 with a right forearm strain.
Wade Miley (6-6) suffered the loss. He pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on 10 hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

Yankees 7, Indians 6 (11 innings)
CLEVELAND -- Brian McCann's two-out RBI double in the 11th inning drove in the deciding run, and Aroldis Chapman pitched a career-high 2 1/3 innings to preserve the victory.
With two outs and nobody on base, Carlos Beltran singled and was replaced by pinch-runner Ronald Torreyes. McCann then doubled off the right field wall against reliever Tommy Hunter (2-2), scoring Torreyes with what became the winning run.
Chapman (3-0) came into the game to get the last out of the ninth inning and retired the side in order in the 10th. Chapman gave up a leadoff walk to Jason Kipnis in the 11th, but picked him off, then retired Francisco Lindor on a fly ball and struck out Mike Napoli for the final out.
After New York scored three runs in the top of the sixth to take a 6-5 lead, the Indians tied it in the bottom of the seventh against reliever Dellin Betances when Jose Ramirez had an RBI single.

Dodgers 4, Padres 3
LOS ANGELES -- Right-hander Brandon McCarthy and five relievers combined to give up just three hits in the Dodgers' win. Kenley Jansen pitched a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts for his 26th save.
McCarthy (2-0), in his second start since being activated from the 60-day disabled list, retired seven successive Padres between the first and third innings while amassing six strikeouts in five innings. The right-hander also gave up three runs, three hits and three walks.
Casey Fien, Chris Hatcher, Adam Liberatore, Joe Blanton and Jansen then combined to throw four innings of shutout ball without allowing a hit or a walk while striking out eight over the final four innings.
Adrian Gonzalez had two hits for the Dodgers and drove in the go-ahead run with a fielder's choice in the fifth that put Los Angeles ahead 4-3.
For the Padres, Yangervis Solarte hit his eighth home run of the season.

Twins 8, Rangers 6
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Minnesota took advantage of a struggling Texas pitching staff and topped the Rangers, scoring six straight runs after trailing 3-2 on a night it had 12 hits and drew six walks in a game delayed 1 hour, 10 minutes by rain.
A three-run fourth inning against Rangers starter Kyle Lohse, who was making his 2016 debut, was all the offense the Twins needed after they trailed 3-2 entering the fourth. An RBI double from Danny Santana tied the score at 3 and Eduardo Nunez followed with a two-run homer to make it 5-3. The Twins got another run on a homer by Eddie Rosario, who went 4-for-5 with a homer, two doubles and four runs.
Lohse was tagged for six runs and nine hits in five innings. His outing marked the eighth straight game a Texas starter has failed to go more than five innings. The rotation ERA during that span is 10.45.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Tigers (46-42) at Blue Jays (50-40)

Game: 4
Venue: Rogers Centre
Date: July 10, 2016 1:07 PM EDT

TORONTO -- The Detroit Tigers assured themselves of a winning road trip Saturday when they defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2

They are 6-4 on the trip and on Sunday they will try to gain a split of the four-game series when they send out Anibal Sanchez (5-9, 6.52 ERA) against Blue Jays knuckleballer R.A. Dickey (6-9, 4.10 ERA).

An eighth-inning home run by designated hitter Victor Martinez provided the winning margin Saturday and gave the Tigers a 46-42 record.

"We're not where we want to be at this point but there's a lot of season left," Martinez said. "I'm really happy with the way we have been playing lately. Every series is big, every game is big. It doesn't matter what point of the season you're at, you're trying to win every game."

The Tigers won two of three from the Blue Jays in June at Comerica Park, so the teams enter Sunday's game having won three games apiece against each other.

Dickey beat the Tigers in the Blue Jays' only win in Detroit this season. He was not at his sharpest but he held the Tigers to two runs despite allowing nine hits in 5 1/3 innings in the 7-2 win.

In 20 games, including 13 starts, against the Tigers, Dickey is 8-3 with a 4.01 ERA.

Sanchez will make his 22nd appearance and 14th start of the season Sunday. He is 3-2 with a 4.17 ERA in nine career games, including seven starts, against the Blue Jays.

He has allowed no runs in two relief appearances covering 3 1/3 innings against Toronto this season. In two career starts at Rogers Centre, Sanchez is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA.

The loss on Saturday stopped the Blue Jays' season-best winning streak at seven games, their longest since winning 11 straight Aug. 2-13, 2015. They have won 17 of their past 24 games overall and eight of their past 11 at home.

One of the reasons for the Blue Jays' success is that they have coped with the injury to right fielder Jose Bautista, an important part of the lineup who has turf toe and has just started to hit off a tee.

During Bautista's absence, Ezequiel Carrera has done a good job leading off and playing the outfield, usually right field.

Carrera started in left field Saturday and in the second inning threw out Martinez at the plate after catching the liner hit by Steven Moya. Martinez admitted that it was his own idea to tag up and try to score. After he saw the video, he confessed that he thought the ball was hit deeper than it was.

"That was a huge play," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "You know what, when Bautista went down, we didn't know what to expect. Now, here's Z's opportunity -- and he has done a tremendous job. We've been on a nice little run, and he has been a key part of that."

Carrera hit an RBI triple in the fifth inning Saturday. He has reached base safely in 23 of his past 25 games.

"Whether it's getting on base, getting the big hits, bunting, whatever he does -- and defensively, he has been great, too," Gibbons said. "That's the key for guys to hang around a long time in this league, getting the opportunity. He hadn't really gotten that, now he's gotten it and he's running with it."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Nationals (53-36) at Mets (47-40)

Game: 4
Venue: Citi Field
Date: July 10, 2016 1:10 PM EDT

NEW YORK -- A series that began Thursday with the New York Mets hoping to close the gap on the Washington Nationals in the National League East will end Sunday with the Mets merely hoping to get back to where they were Thursday -- and the Nationals striving to return to where they were 12 days ago.

The Mets and Nationals will close out the first half Sunday with the finale of a four-game series at Citi Field. Washington won its second straight game Saturday, when former New York second baseman Daniel Murphy went 3-for-4 with four RBIs in a 6-1 victory.

With the win, the National League East-leading Nationals (53-36) increased their lead over the second-place Mets (47-40) to five games. Even if New York wins Sunday, Washington will have the same four-game lead it maintained entering the series.

"Really excited about where we're at right now," said Murphy, who belted his 16th homer of the season Saturday, two more than his previous career high set with the Mets last season. "Try to finish the first half off the right way (Sunday)."

A win by the Nationals, meanwhile, will give them the six-game lead they had following a sweep of the Mets in Washington, D.C. on June 29. After Sunday, the Mets and Nationals have just six head-to-head games remaining, all in September.

"They're keyed up coming in here trying to open up a big lead," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "We've just got to get back (Sunday) and grind it out. We've got one more chance to finish up and even the series, which would be a good finish for us going into the break."

A pair of slumping left-handers will take the mound Sunday, when Steven Matz pitches for the Mets against the Nationals' Gio Gonzalez.

Matz, who will be starting for the third time on the Mets' season-long 11-game home stand, is winless in his last seven starts, a stretch in which he is 0-3 with a 4.58 ERA. He took a hard-luck loss in his most recent start Tuesday, when he carried a shutout into the seventh before giving up a two-run homer to Miami Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton in what turned out to be a 5-2 defeat.

Matz earned his most recent win in his lone career start against the Nationals on May 25, when he threw a career-high eight shutout innings in the Mets' 2-0 victory.

Gonzalez, meanwhile, is just 1-7 with a 7.66 ERA in his last nine starts. He took the defeat on Tuesday, when he gave up three runs over six innings as the Nationals lost to the Milwaukee Brewers, 5-2.

Fortunately for Gonzalez, he will be pitching in a place he has enjoyed plenty of success. Gonzalez is 7-1 with a 1.53 ERA in 12 career starts at Citi Field, where he allowed one run over 6 1/3 innings in earning the win in his most recent outing May 18.

Gonzalez is 10-5 with a 3.04 ERA in 19 career starts against the Mets.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Reds (32-56) at Marlins (46-41)

Game: 3
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: July 10, 2016 1:10 PM EDT

MIAMI -- What was once viewed as an extreme longshot is now a real possibility.

The Miami Marlins, after beating the Cincinnati Reds for a second straight game on Saturday, are 46-41 with only Sunday's series finale remaining before the All-Star break.

Baseball Prospectus ranks the Marlins as the third-most-likely playoff wild-card. True, only two wild-card teams make the postseason, and those spots are currently held by the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

But the Marlins, given a 21-percent playoff chance, are in the hunt.

When only the wild-card chances are considered, the Dodgers are at 48.8 percent, the Mets are 46.1 percent, and the Marlins are 17.7 percent.

The Reds (32-56) are given a 0.0 percent chance of making the playoffs.

On Sunday, Miami will hand the ball to right-hander Tom Koehler (6-7. 4.40 ERA) against Cincinnati left-hander Cody Reed (0-3, 9.00 ERA).

Koehler is 0-1 with a 0.00 ERA in 10 career innings against Cincinnati. Reed, a rookie, has never faced Miami and will make only his fifth career appearance.

So are the Marlins legit contenders?

Here are five things that kind of need to happen for Miami to have a shot:

--The Marlins need to find a competent fifth starter, probably via trade. The Marlins have tried Jarred Cosart, Justin Nicolino and Paul Clemens in that spot, with very little success. Nicolino has been demoted to the minors twice this year.

--Second baseman Dee Gordon, due back on July 29 from an 80-game suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs, needs to return to form. Gordon won a Gold Glove and became the first player since Jackie Robinson in 1949 to win the NL batting and steals titles in the same year. If Gordon can be close to that guy again, it would give Miami a huge boost.

--Right fielder Giancarlo Stanton needs to have a consistent and productive second half. He slumped through most of the first half. But when he is right, he might be the most fearsome slugger in the game.

--The Marlins have to do a better job of beating the bad teams. They have struggled mightily against the woeful Atlanta Braves, going 4-8, and that cannot continue to happen.

--Finally, the Marlins have to have some good luck on injuries. They have been relatively healthy so far. First baseman Justin Bour should be back from a sore ankle about the time the All-Star break ends. Beyond that, the team has been much healthier than some of the teams they are chasing, most notably the injury-plagued Mets.

If that trend continues for Miami, and they get some of those other aforementioned things to happen, there could be playoff baseball for the first time in the brief history of Marlins Park, which opened in 2012.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Yankees (43-44) at Indians (52-35)

Game: 4
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: July 10, 2016 1:10 PM EDT

CLEVELAND -- Manager Joe Girardi of the New York Yankees probably won't have closer Aroldis Chapman available on Sunday, but that's fine with Girardi, because Chapman was instrumental in the Yankees' 7-6 win over the Cleveland Indians in 11 innings on Saturday.

Chapman pitched a career-high 2 1/3 innings.

"We had to use our 'pen hard today, but we've got time off coming (during the All-Star break), so I was willing to do it," Girardi said.

So in Sunday's final game of the four-game series between the Indians and Yankees, the Yankees may be working without a safety net as it were, if Chapman isn't available.

But the Yankees will certainly have the momentum going into the game. They have won two of the first three games of the series against the AL Central-leading Indians, and Sunday's win was a momentum builder because the Yankees were down and came back to take the lead a couple of times.

"It was a good win and we had a lot of big two-out rallies," Girardi said.

On Sunday, the Yankees will send Masahiro Tanaka (6-2, 3.12) to the mound. Cleveland will counter with Carlos Carrasco (5-2, 2.47).

It will be the final game before the break for both teams. For the Yankees it will be the end of a long 10-game trip to San Diego, Chicago and Cleveland.

The Yankees are 4-5 on the trip, so a win Sunday would give them a .500 trip to take into the break.

The Indians are concluding a seven-game homestand against the Tigers and Yankees. Cleveland is 3-3 in the first six games of the homestand.

Tanaka will be making his third career start vs. the Indians. In his first two he was 0-2 with a 5.68 ERA. Carrasco has made six career starts against the Yankees. He is 3-2 with a 4.19 ERA in those games. In two starts against New York last year he was 1-0 with a 1.84 ERA.

Indians manager Terry Francona make no secret about the fact that he and his team are looking forward to the four-day All-Star break.

"The break is coming at a really good time for us," Francona said. "We've been playing a lot of baseball lately. Our guys can see (the break) coming, but I always tell them you don't coast into the break, you go 99 miles per hour, and then stop."

The Indians will go into Sunday's game with a bullpen that might be a little short.

Starter Danny Salazar only pitched five-plus innings in Saturday's loss. The Indians used six relievers, so they will need Carrasco to give them a quality start and pitch deep into the game.

The Yankees' bullpen should be a little fresher Sunday. They used three relievers in Saturday's game, but one of them was Chapman.

No player on either side will be looking forward to the break more than Indians catcher Yan Gomes, who was 0-for-5 on Saturday. Gomes is hitless in his last 18 at-bats and is hitting .038 (1-for-26) in July.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Cubs (52-35) at Pirates (46-42)

Game: 3
Venue: PNC Park
Date: July 10, 2016 1:35 PM EDT

PITTSBURGH -- The Chicago Cubs will attempt to salvage a game against the charging Pittsburgh Pirates when they meet for the final time before the All-Star break at PNC Park on Sunday afternoon.

Chicago (52-35) dropped the series' first two games and has lost five straight entering Sunday. Pittsburgh (46-42) is heading in the opposite direction with nine wins in its past 10 games.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle is attempting to keep his team's success in perspective.

"I think we keep things in the right place," Hurdle said. "We weren't walking away with our head down and feeling sorry for ourselves after getting beat through June. We're not going to do backflips now. We're going to keep playing. The goal is to meet the demands of the game and play baseball at a very high level. Just take care of things one day at a time."

If the Cubs hope to settle themselves before the break, it will have to be against left-handed pitcher Jonathan Niese, who is coming off his best start in about a month, a 4-2 win against the St. Louis Cardinals on Independence Day. He had lost his previous four starts and allowed at least four earned runs in each since pitching seven shutout innings in a 6-2 win against the New York Mets on June 7.

Despite the improved performance in his last outing, Niese still has work to do in one area. He would do well to go further into Sunday's game than he has since that June outing against New York, since he's failed to go more than six innings in each of his past five starts.

The Pirates have surged in recent weeks thanks in large part to their resurgent bullpen, which has been taxed by short outings from the starters. Hurdle realizes that and would like to alleviate some of that pressure with solid, lengthy starts.

The upcoming All-Star break should also help the bullpen, but Niese could provide it a bit of extra rest with a strong outing against Chicago.

Each team's pitching depth will be tested Sunday after heavily exercising their bullpens Saturday. Pirates right-hander Chad Kuhl went just 2 1/3 innings in his third major league start Saturday and Cubs veteran left-hander Jon Lester didn't manage to go much longer, lasting three complete innings.

Chicago will counter Niese with left-handed pitcher John Lackey, who has struggled lately, just as the rest of the Cubs have. He allowed six runs, five earned, in a 9-5 loss, his fourth straight, in his last start against the Cincinnati Reds on July 5.

Lackey, who has yet to face Pittsburgh this season, went 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA in three starts against the Pirates last season.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon is hoping Lackey can propel Chicago to a win before the break for the sake of confidence.

"It'd be nice," Maddon said. "Unfortunately, I've been part of this before. We lost seven in a row before the All-Star break (with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2008) and went to the World Series. I've lived it. It's never any fun. I get it. It'd be wonderful to do that. Every game, every day is the most important game of the year."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rays (34-53) at Red Sox (48-38)

Game: 3
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: July 10, 2016 1:35 PM EDT

BOSTON -- David Price knows he hasn't lived up to expectation with the Boston Red Sox this year, but the former Tampa Bay Rays ace can begin to turn things around against his former team on Sunday.

Boston (48-38) is 10 games above .500 for the first time since June 19 but needs a classic Price start against Tampa Bay (34-53) to enter the All-Star break with six wins in seven games.

The five-time All-Star southpaw and 2012 Cy Young Award winner has been mediocre at best in the first season of a seven-year, $217 million contract with Boston, going 8-6 with a 4.64 ERA in 18 starts.

Price was a hard-luck loser last time out, giving up only three runs and eight hits while striking out 10 in eight innings in a 7-2 loss against Texas on Tuesday at Fenway Park.

"I'm tired of this," a weary Price shared after losing for the fifth time in his last seven starts, despite notching his eighth game with eight-plus punch outs. "It's not me. I've got to get better."

Against the Rays, Price is 0-1 with an unsightly 10.80 ERA in two starts this season. He's 1-3 with a 6.51 ERA lifetime in five outings against Tampa Bay.

Curt Casali has been a nightmare matchup for Price, going 6-for-11 (.545) with three home runs and five RBIs against him.

Evan Longoria is 3-for-15 (.200) with a home run and three RBIs against his old friend, and Steve Pearce (6-for-20, .300) has a home run and four RBIs.

The Rays, meanwhile, are spinning their wheels after losing for a franchise-worst 21st time in 24 games after Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Red Sox, which puts them in danger of losing six in a row heading into the break.

"We know what we're capable of doing," Rays left-hander Matt Moore said after taking the loss on Saturday. "Regardless of what just happened the last month, that sounds like a victim attitude. I don't think anybody in here is going to admit to that -- I know I won't."

Jake Odorizzi (3-4, 4.33) has had his share of struggles against the Red Sox, going 2-2 with a 4.07 ERA against them in nine starts.

The right-hander has faced Boston once already this year, lasting only four innings while allowing five runs and eight hits in an April 21 no-decision, a game the Rays won 12-8.

His numbers at Fenway aren't much better, going 1-2 with a 6.21 ERA in six starts at the ballpark.

Xander Bogaerts has proved to be a tough out for Odorizzi, going 7-for-16 (.438) with three walks while driving in two runs off him. David Ortiz is 3-for-20 (.150) with five strikeouts against him.

Boston could have used the bat of Brock Holt, 4-for-15 (.267) with a homer and four RBIs against Odorizzi, but the utility man is day to day with a left ankle sprain he sustained Friday.

The Rays and Red Sox will meet 10 more times in a span of 35 days from Aug. 22 to Sept. 25 to complete the 19-game season series between the American League East rivals.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Angels (37-51) at Orioles (50-36)

Game: 3
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: July 10, 2016 1:35 PM EDT

BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Orioles will try to end the first half of their season on a good note and win the series with the Los Angeles Angels when they meet Sunday afternoon.

Baltimore comes into the last game before the All-Star break leading the American League East by two games. The Orioles (50-36) hold a two-game edge over Toronto (50-40) and Boston (48-38), and manager Buck Showalter is looking forward to the brief break.

"Obviously, it's the end game we're after but reality, it comes back to you that if the season were to end today three teams from the American League East are in," Showalter said. "And two of them are a streak away from being right back in it. But we have to be ready tomorrow. I'd like to get a win before a well-deserved break for these guys."

Chris Tillman, who did not make the All-Star team despite having an 11-2 record with a 3.55 ERA, starts the last game of the series. The Baltimore right-hander struggled a bit in recent starts but threw seven solid innings in a 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday.

Tillman won nine in a row and now is 10-1 after a 1-1 start. He stopped the Orioles' five-game losing streak with the victory over the Dodgers.

Tim Lincecum (1-1, 7.50) starts for the Angels as he continues to attempt to restart his career with Los Angeles. The right-hander has a 1-0 career record against the Orioles, having beaten them in 2010 while pitching for the San Francisco Giants.

He got a no-decision in his last start, on Tuesday in Tampa Bay. Lincecum gave up five earned runs and 10 hits in five innings.

The Orioles are hoping Tillman can take some pressure off the overworked bullpen. He has been the best member of the starting rotation at going deep into games.

Baltimore still has no timetable set for the return of setup man Darren O'Day. He has been out since June 3 with a right hamstring strain, and Showalter said the team simply isn't sure yet when O'Day will return.

The Orioles also could be losing right-hander Mychal Givens from the bullpen any minute as his wife is due to have a baby this week. But they're also hoping to finish on a positive note on Sunday as a win will give them two victories in the three-game series with the Angels.

"We've just got to finish strong (Sunday)," said second baseman Jonathan Schoop, who got the winning single in Saturday's 3-2 victory over the Angels. "Then (we can) get three days' rest and come back stronger."

For the Angels, the loss of C.J. Cron will hurt. He suffered a broken hand on Friday night when hit by a Mike Wright pitch and sees a specialist Monday for another look at the injury.

Cron was hitting .387 on the road trip with five homers and 15 RBIs in seven games, including two multi-homer games.

The Angels led 2-1 in Saturday's game before Joe Smith's balk tied the score. One inning later, Smith allowed Schoop's decisive single.

"We're getting ready and hopefully (will) get the game on our terms and do a little better job of holding the lead," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Cardinals (45-42) at Brewers (38-48)

Game: 3
Venue: Miller Park
Date: July 10, 2016 2:10 PM EDT

MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Brewers have two of the best rookie starting pitchers in the National League -- Zach Davies and Junior Guerra.

Davies, a 23-year-old prospect acquired from the Orioles last summer, fits the mold. Guerra, however, is hardly what one would consider an up-and-comer.

A 31-year-old journeyman who spent four years pitching outside of affiliated baseball, Guerra has not only stabilized the Brewers' starting rotation but he also owns some of the best numbers of any pitcher in the league

Guerra will take the mound on Sunday in the first-half finale against the St. Louis Cardinals at Miller Park.

Called up on May 1 to replace Taylor Jungmann, Guerra has gone 6-1 in 12 starts and after not allowing a run in 15 1/3 innings over his last two starts, his 2.93 ERA would put him 14th in the league if he had enough starts to qualify among league leaders.

He's faced the Cardinals once already this season, allowing four runs -- three earned -- over 6 1/3 innings in a 3-1 loss at Miller Park.

That was the last time that Guerra took a loss. Since then, he's 3-0 with a 2.45 ERA.

"It feels like he's even getting better," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said after Guerra's last outing. "In the biggest spots he seems to step up even a little more."

It's quite an impressive accomplishment for a player who was almost an afterthought when he was claimed on waivers last fall from the White Sox.

"You just have to thank God that he gave you this opportunity of having a good first year," Guerra said. "You just have to keep working hard because nothing is guaranteed."

Guerra will try to prevent another series victory for the Cardinals, who are 12-0-1 in the last 13 with Milwaukee and have taken 26 of 27 since Milwaukee's three-game sweep in June of 2011.

To keep that streak going, St. Louis will turn to veteran right-hander Mike Leake, who is looking to snap a personal four-game losing streak.

Leake allowed five runs over five innings his last time out, but in two meetings with Milwaukee this season has allowed six total runs in 12 innings.

Leake has had plenty of experience with the Brewers, playing all but one half-season of his seven-year career in the NL Central. In 12 career starts against Milwaukee, he's 3-4 with a 4.58 ERA and 3-2 with a 4.81 mark in eight starts at Miller Park.

The Cardinals have battled a slew of injuries over the last week, losing three players to the disabled list in the three days leading up to the Brewers series.

However, St. Louis seemed to have dodged a bullet on Saturday, when tests on right-hander Trevor Rosenthal's left hamstring came back negative, averting yet another disabled list entry.

St. Louis did play without left fielder Matt Holliday, who battled ankle tightness Friday, but Matheny said Holliday was available to pinch-hit, if needed, and could be back in the lineup on Sunday.

"We were a little short," Matheny said Saturday after the Cardinals' 8-1 victory. "But Holliday was available to come and hit late and he could possibly be ready tomorrow. We had good results back from Trevor (Rosenthal). It's going to be day-to-day with no DL, it looks like."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Athletics (38-50) at Astros (47-41)

Game: 4
Venue: Minute Maid Park
Date: July 10, 2016 2:10 PM EDT

HOUSTON -- Mired in a slump that resulted in six losses over seven games, the Athletics lurched into Minute Maid Park on Thursday seeking to build momentum going into the All-Star Game break against a rolling club and in confines that had been anything but friendly to Oakland.

Two close wins and one near-win later, the Athletics (38-50) are a victory shy of taking the four-game series against the Astros. Oakland had dropped five consecutive games in Houston entering the series, and the Astros had played exceptionally at home for more than a month.

"This is a team that's playing as well as any team in baseball the last couple of weeks," Athletics manager Bob Melvin said of the Astros. "We knew coming in for four was going to be tough. It would be certainly nice to go out and win another game tomorrow. This is a tough place to win a series, especially a four-game series."

Athletics left-hander Sean Manaea (3-5, 5.85 ERA) will attempt to clinch the series in his second career appearance against the Astros (47-41). Manaea made his major league debut against Houston on April 29, allowing four runs on four hits and four walks with three strikeouts over five innings while not factoring into the decision of a 7-4 victory.

Manaea is 1-1 with a 5.06 ERA in two starts since being activated from the 15-day disabled list (left pronator strain) on June 29. He is 0-3 with an 11.66 ERA on the road with opponents batting .354 against him. Manaea has surrendered six home runs in 14 2/3 innings on the road and was the losing pitcher in his last start, an 11-4 setback at Minnesota.

Left-hander Dallas Keuchel (6-9, 5.02 ERA) will help the Astros seek a series split entering the All-Star Game break. Sunday will mark his first appearance against the Athletics this season but the 13th of his career.

Keuchel is 2-3 with a 2.92 ERA in 12 games (10 starts). His three-game winning streak is his longest of his up-and-down season and the longest since he closed last season on a three-game run.

The Astros had won or split five consecutive home series but now stand to lose two on this homestand. Astros manager A.J. Hinch has leaned heavily on his frontline players -- Jose Altuve, George Springer and Carlos Correa -- and planned to give Springer the day off Saturday. Springer didn't start but pinch-ran in the ninth inning of a 3-2 loss.

As well as they have played in recovering from a 7-17 first month, the Astros appear to be dragging to the finish line of the unofficial first half.

"I didn't want to play Springer at all," Hinch said. "I really did want a physical break for George all day. There wasn't an at-bat to have for George. We can win games without any one of our guys. Don't get me wrong, I love playing George Springer, but I think there are nine guys that are pretty damn good players that could have done enough to win."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Braves (30-58) at White Sox (45-42)

Game: 3
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: July 10, 2016 2:10 PM EDT

CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox will look to stay hot in their final game before the All-Star break on Sunday against the Atlanta Braves.

After Saturday's 5-4 win against the Braves, the White Sox (45-42) have won five of their last seven games and eight of their last 12. They are 9-5 in their last 14 contests at U.S. Cellular Field.

Atlanta (30-58) will try to salvage the series after an 11-8 win over the White Sox in Friday's opener. The Braves are 2-4 on their trip and 17-24 away from home this season.

Third baseman Todd Frazier has been a big reason for Chicago's recent success. Frazier has homered in back-to-back games and leads the team with 25 home runs before the break.

The last two White Sox players with 25 home runs before the All-Star Game were Adam Dunn in 2012 and Jermaine Dye in 2006.

"I feel stronger, I feel more relaxed, a little quicker swing," Frazier said. "For me, it's hitting good pitches. I say this all the time, if I'm swinging outside the zone, I'm going to have some trouble. I feel really good at the plate right now."

Right-hander James Shields (4-9, 5.67 ERA) will make his 18th start of the season and his seventh start with the White Sox. The 34-year-old is 2-0 with a 3.06 ERA in his last three starts after a miserable stint in which he went 0-3 with a 24.62 ERA in his previous four outings.

Shields has not faced Atlanta this season. In his career against the Braves, he is 1-2 with a 4.24 ERA in four starts. He has allowed 24 hits, issued seven walks and struck out 24 batters in 23 1/3 innings.

For the Braves, right-hander Mike Foltynewicz (2-3, 4.29 ERA) will make his ninth and final start before the All-Star break. The 24-year-old Foltynewicz never has faced the White Sox.

Foltynewicz has been susceptible to the long ball. He allowed four home runs in five innings in his most recent start July 5 against Philadelphia, and he has given up 11 home runs in 42 innings this season.

Braves catcher Tyler Flowers said Foltynewicz possessed terrific natural ability.

"Crazy arm, God given arm," said Flowers, who strained his left hand Saturday and is unlikely to play in the series finale. "He's got some of the best stuff I've ever seen.

"He's a guy where it's a work in progress, working with his mentality, trying to get him to grow in that area to allow his talent to come out and work for him. The only time he gets in trouble is when he gets frustrated, he starts over throwing and gets flat in spots or falling behind guys."

White Sox closer David Robertson probably will not be available for Sunday's game because of a strained muscle in his upper left leg. Robertson sat out Saturday as fellow reliever Nate Jones recorded four outs to pick up his third save of the season.

"Doctors are saying a couple of days, so I'm thinking right after the All-Star break, I'll be ready to roll," Robertson said.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mariners (44-44) at Royals (45-42)

Game: 4
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: July 10, 2016 2:15 PM EDT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Mike Montgomery used to dream of pitching at Kauffman Stadium. He'll finally get his chance Sunday, albeit for the Seattle Mariners.

The 2008 first-round draft pick by the Royals, Montgomery will make his first start of the season. He's looking forward to facing some of his buddies, although it's been a while since he was in the same organization.

"It's definitely exciting, but at the same time it's just pitching," Montgomery said. "It's exciting to face these guys. I'm ready. There's a little more added excitement, but it's not going to be too crazy."

Montgomery was traded to Tampa Bay before the 2013 season in the deal that brought Wade Davis and James Shields to Kansas City.

He made his Major League debut last year for Seattle.

"It's been long enough, and I was with Tampa for a couple of years," Montgomery said. "They've got a good team over there so I have to be ready to go."

Montgomery (2-3, 2.15 ERA) might be downplaying it a little, but his skipper says that facing a former employer can give a player some extra juice.

"It's probably cool for Mike," Seattle manager Scott Servais said. "He was drafted by the Royals and he was a top prospect. Just like a lot of guys, sometimes it's when you put on your next uniform that it comes together and clicks.

"You always have the anxiety of going back and pitching against your friends and former teammates. But he's been away long enough that I hope that's gone away."

Servais was asked, then, if he remembered his first series in Houston after he was traded to the Cubs.

"Absolutely," he said. "I remember the first (time) I played there. I faced Mike Hampton (his current bullpen coach with the Mariners)."

And? "I did OK, I hit a homer." Servais' three-run home run turned a 3-2 deficit into a 5-3 lead.

Kansas City center fielder Jarrod Dyson was Montgomery's roommate in their time together in Triple-A Omaha in the Royals Minor League system. Dyson is anxious to face his old friend.

"He hit me the last time I faced him," Dyson said. "I'm going to kill him. No, he's a great friend of mine. We always mess with each other about baseball. He's a real competitor and he's got good stuff. He loves to go out there and compete. I just love to see him up here in the big leagues."

Dyson said it's not hard to face a close friend and try to beat him.

"To me it's fun, because the whole time we lived together I told him that if I ever faced him I would take him up top," Dyson said. "He'd always tell me he was going to strike me out on three pitches. That's competition.

"If I get in the box against him. I'll try to get a base hit against him so I can talk some trash with him. If he strikes me out, he's going to do the same with me."

Dyson probably won't face Montgomery, as he generally only faces right-handed pitchers and Montgomery is left-handed.

Montgomery recorded his first career shutout against Kansas City June 23, 2015. He scattered five hits and struck out 10.

"That was last year," Montgomery said. "It was great that it happened, but this is a new year. You have to game-plan without worrying about what happened last year, good or bad."

While Montgomery will finally be fulfilling a dream, Dillon Gee (3-2, 4.05 ERA) will be trying to prove that he can fill the fifth-starter spot for the Royals.

Gee is 2-2 with a 6.05 ERA as a starter. He will get the first crack at assuming the role previously filled by Chris Young. Young is 2-8 with a 6.90 ERA this season. He has only two quality starts out of 13 and is 0-3 with an 8.37 ERA in his last six starts.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Twins (31-56) at Rangers (54-35)

Game: 4
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: July 10, 2016 3:05 PM EDT

ARLINGTON, Texas -- A pair of former Oakland A's standouts turned into rotation reclamation projects will try to pitch their clubs into the All-Star break on a winning note Sunday.

A few years ago both Minnesota's Tommy Milone and Texas' A.J. Griffin were the future of Oakland's rotation. Those days are gone, but both have found new life with their new organizations this year as they head into their start against each other Sunday.

Griffin is 3-0 with a 3.06 ERA in his nine starts with Texas. He was 3-0 with a 3.38 ERA before going on the disabled list in early May for six weeks with right shoulder stiffness. Since returning from the DL he has a 3.38 ERA in three starts but has pitched a total of 13 1/3 innings.

The right-hander knows he has to pitch deeper into games, especially for a Texas rotation that came into Saturday with a seven-game stretch of no starter pitching more than five innings.

"I've tried to be as competitive as I can be and tried to minimize damage," said Griffin, who is coming off a four-inning outing against Boston in which he threw 96 pitches. "I pitched out of some situations and it could have been worse. I've got to try and get some quicker outs and pound the zone. I know what I'm capable of doing."

While Griffin has been solid when healthy for the Rangers all season, Milone has come on strong recently for a Minnesota that has started to find its stride.

The lefty Milone (1-2), who won 25 games while he was a teammate with Griffin in Oakland in 2012 and 2013, is coming off his first win of the season on July 5. He allowed one run over six innings in an 11-4 win over Los Angeles. It matched the longest start of the year for Milone, who was outrighted after a slow start to the season. But since coming back from Triple A last month, he's made three starts and has allowed one earned run in two of them.

He's helped spark a rotation that came into Saturday's game against Texas 7-3 with a 3.33 ERA over the last 14 games.

"It's something you want to build on," Minnesota manager Paul Molitor said of the pitching. "We're certainly not content by any means. Offensively, we've kind of smoothed out a little bit in terms of fairly comfortable that we're going to have a chance to score almost every day. You kind of combine that with the fact that we've gotten the best stretch of starting pitching that we've had all season, and it's reflected in winning a few more games here as of late."

Both pitchers would like to pitch their team into the break on a winning note too. There's nothing wrong with having four days off to savor a win.

"It's huge to be able to take that momentum going into the second half," Griffin said. "We've had a long go, without much time off, we just want to win this one and send us into the break."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Phillies-Rockies
By Jack Etkin, The Sports Xchange
4:10 PM

DENVER -- The Colorado Rockies will try to go into the All-Star break on something of a surge, aiming for a win Sunday that will give them three victories in their four-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Rockies will send Tyler Chatwood to the mound. He's 8-4 with a 3.08 ERA. Chatwood was reistated from the disabled list on Tuesday after a mid-back strain and allowed three hits and two runs (one earned) in five innings at San Francisco but was not involved in the decision as the Rockies beat the Giants 7-3.
The Rockies are 10-5 in Chatwood's 15 starts this season.
After the game, Rockies right fielder Carlos Gonzalez and third baseman Nolan Arenado will fly to San Diego for the All-Star Game along with Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera.
Rockies shortstop Trevor Story finished third in fan voting for the final spot on the National League team.
Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu didn't place in the top five in fan voting at his position. He went 2-for-4 in the Rockies' 8-3 win on Saturday night and is hitting .333 with a .398 on-base percentage and a .491 slugging percentage.
LeMahieu was on the NL All-Star team in 2015 and won a Gold Glove for his defense in 2014.
"He's turned into a complete player," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "He's a Gold Glove defender. The offense is at a high level now. He's hitting almost .340. He's got an on-base (percentage) of .400. He's slugging.
"It's too bad he's still a bit of a secret in this game. He should be in San Diego over the (All-Star) break. No question about that."
LeMahieu realizes his All-Star fate is tied to his team's performance. Saturday's win improved the Rockies' record to 40-47. They are in third place, 15 games behind in the NL West.
"When you don't win and you're not one of those top teams, you're not going to have very many guys in the All-Star Game," LeMahieu said. "I'm not disappointed. That's what happens. I don't take it personally."
The Phillies will try to gain a split of the series behind starter Zach Eflin, who has never faced the Rockies and is 1-2 with a 4.30 ERA this season.
In Eflin's last outing, he threw the Phillies' second complete game of the season -- Vince Velasquez had the first on April 14 against San Diego -- and allowed six hits and one run on Tuesday by Atlanta in a 5-1 win over the Braves.
The Phillies are expected to activate left-hander Daniel Stumpf on Sunday at the conclusion of his 80-game suspension. A Rule 5 pick from Kansas City, Stumpf pitched in three games for the Phillies before testing positive for dehydrochlormethyltestosterone, a performance-enhancing drug that was popular with East German athletes in the 1960s.
Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said he doesn't think the players "are going to be standoffish to him. He said he didn't know he was taking anything. So you got to give him the benefit of the doubt. It's not like he knew that he was cheating on purpose and it's not like we lose one of our best players in the middle of a playoff run in August or September. Then you got a right to be (ticked) off at the guy. But I don't see any issues there. Maybe I'm wrong."
Asked whether he feels for the player who will lose his roster spot to Stumpf, Mackanin said, "Once again, I have to assume that he didn't know anything. If I knew for a fact that he consciously did that ... I wouldn't be happy with it. But I give him the benefit of the doubt.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Padres (38-50) at Dodgers (50-40)

Game: 4
Venue: Dodger Stadium
Date: July 10, 2016 4:10 PM EDT

LOS ANGELES -- Six years after representing the Colorado Rockies in the All-Star Futures game, left-hander Christian Friedrich continues his campaign to rebuild his career when his San Diego Padres face the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday at Dodger Stadium.

Friedrich's opponent, right-hander Kenta Maeda, seeks to resurrect his own season after a brilliant April following a stellar career in Japan.

Friedrich -- who turned 29 on Friday -- threw only three pitches and retired the only batter he faced for the United States in a 9-1 victory over the World at Angel Stadium. Merely making that team, however, reflected Friedrich's potential as a major leaguer.

However, he never gained a foothold with the Rockies. In 2012, Friedrich went 5-8 as a rookie starter before a stress fracture in his lower back ended his season and limited him to just four appearances in 2013. The Rockies tried making Friedrich a reliever but he went 0-8 the past two years.

The Los Angeles Angels claimed Friedrich on waivers in February but sent him back to the Rockies, who released him. The Padres signed the left-hander as a free agent in March. Since entering the rotation May 13, Friedrich started 3-1 but has lost three of his past four decisions.

Nevertheless, Friedrich showed flashes of his potential June 23, when he used his slider to retire the first nine batters in a start against the Baltimore Orioles before suffering a 12-6 loss.

"I think it's always been one of my better pitches, especially as an out pitch," Friedrich told MLB.com. "But when we're mixing and matching all of the other pitches, it definitely makes it a little bit better."

Maeda, meanwhile, seeks just his fifth victory since beginning his major league career with four quality starts in his first four appearances. During that stretch, Maeda compiled a 3-0 record while allowing just one earned run in 25 1/3 innings.

Since then, however, Maeda lost his next three decisions before winning three of his ensuing four. In his last start Tuesday night against the Baltimore Orioles, the 28-year-old rookie allowed four runs, seven hits and three walks in four innings to take his second defeat in his previous three decisions.

"When he has had good outings and gone deeper, obviously, the mix is good," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told the Los Angeles Daily News after that 4-1 loss. "But you've got to make major league hitters respect your fastball, and that you can locate it. For a major league starter to get three times through an order, you have to make batters respect different pitches. If they can lock in on a certain pitch, it just makes it that much tougher."

Hitters have been able to decipher Maeda once they survive the early innings. Entering Sunday's game, opponents were batting .191 before Maeda reaches 75 pitches but .351 afterward.

"I think simply put it's a control issue," he told the Daily News through an interpreter. "For me, I think it's more of an execution issue, more about command and control which I definitely didn't have today."

Another disturbing trend: Maeda has lasted seven innings just once, on April 17 in a 3-1 win over the San Francisco Giants.

"After 75 pitches, third time through, the breaking ball has to be especially sharp," Roberts told the Daily News. "If it's not, there's damage to be had."

In Japan, Maeda was the one doing damage. During his eight-year career with the Hiroshima Carp in Japan's Central League, the right-hander won 15 games three times and compiled earned-run averages ranging between 2.60 and 1.53 in the past six years.

Last season, Maeda led Japan's Central League with 15 wins, compiled a 2.09 ERA and held opponents to a .222 average. Maeda's performance earned him the Sawamura Award as the best pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball for the second time.

The Dodgers signed Maeda to an eight-year contract worth $25 million in January after declining to re-sign right-hander Zack Greinke or to pursue two other highly regarded free-agent starters, right-handers Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija -- who helped the San Francisco Giants compile baseball's best record.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Diamondbacks (38-51) at Giants (56-33)

Game: 3
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: July 10, 2016 8:05 PM EDT

SAN FRANCISCO -- Madison Bumgarner will pitch his All-Star Game two days before his National League teammates Sunday when he leads the San Francisco Giants against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the final game of the traditional first half of the baseball season.

Making padding the club's best-in-baseball win total a higher priority than a chance for the staff ace to pitch in Tuesday's nationally televised exhibition of the stars, Giants manager Bruce Bochy broke the news to Bumgarner on Wednesday.

"Your priority is here," the veteran manager explained earlier this week. "You want these guys to have a chance to pitch in the (All-Star Game). But you're here to win and maybe win a championship.

"You can't change your rotation around so they can pitch in it."

In fact, Bochy has done the opposite. He has fiddled with his rotation this week to push Bumgarner ahead of schedule, assuring he would miss Tuesday's showcase.

The Giants took advantage of Thursday's day off to skip right-hander Albert Suarez in the rotation. If Bochy hadn't made the move, Bumgarner's next scheduled start wouldn't have been until the Giants' first game after the All-Star Game next Friday.

That said, the four-day break will allow Bumgarner to pitch both Sunday and next Friday.

Bochy followed the same script in 2014, pitching Bumgarner on the Sunday before the All-Star Game and again in the first game after the break. He won both games, 8-4 over the Diamondbacks and 9-1 at Miami.

In between, he was ineligible to pitch in the All-Star Game, handing his spot over to teammate Tim Hudson.

This time, Bartolo Colon of the New York Mets will take the place of Bumgarner, who will nonetheless suit up for the game and be a part of the pregame introductions.

The Giants were in a much tighter battle with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the NL West title in 2014. San Francisco went into the break a half-game up, only to see its rival eventually take the division by six games.

Bochy had the last laugh, however. He was able to arrange his rotation so that Bumgarner could start the wild-card playoff game at Pittsburgh, which the Giants won en route to the World Series title. Bumgarner wound up being the Series Most Valuable Player.

The Giants (56-33) walked off the field Saturday seven games up on the Dodgers (49-40), who hadn't taken the field for their night game against the San Diego Padres.

The Dodgers have won the last three NL West titles.

The Diamondbacks (38-51) are 11 games farther back, so far that they've begun what could be a sell-off before the July 31 trade deadline.

Arizona dealt closer Brad Ziegler to the Boston Red Sox during Friday's 6-2 loss to the Giants, accepting two Class A prospects in return.

Even though general manager Dave Stewart assured the trade "isn't the case of us throwing in the towel," manager Chip Hale admitted he understood the logic.

"It's just something that has to happen," he said of his last-place club, which also lost to the Giants 4-2 on Saturday. "We should have played better and these things wouldn't be happening."

One of just three NL teams assured of losing at least 50 games before the All-Star break, the Diamondbacks will send right-hander Archie Bradley (3-4) to the mound to duel Bumgarner.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Sunday's Diamond Notes
By Joe Williams

Hottest team: Pirates (9-1 past 10)

The Pittsburgh Pirates are hurtling toward the All-Star break with nine wins over their past 10 games, including a 5-1 mark in their past six home games and 5-1 record in their past six divisional outings, too. The Bucs have also started to pick up the pace against the 'good' teams, going 6-1 in their past seven contests against teams with a winning overall record. After losing seven in a row at home against the Cubs, the Pirates have won the first two games in this series to turn things around somewhat, beating both Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester. The Cubs are in a hard tailspin (see below).

Coldest team: Cubs (1-9 past 10)

The Cubs were humming right along through the middle of June, posting a 47-20 record. Since the last time they faced the Pirates they have won just five games in the past 20 outings. The Cubs will take their third crack at a left-handed starting pitcher in this series after losing the first two vs. LHP. Chicago is also a dismal 2-14 in their past 16 outings against teams with a winning overall record, and they have dropped six in a row on the road. Lately John Lackey hasn't been the answer, either, as Chicago has lost the past four with Lackey on the hill. The Cubs are also 0-5 in their past six away from the Friendly Confines.

Hottest pitcher: Chris Tillman, Orioles (11-2, 3.55 ERA)

Tillman faces an ultra-favorable matchup against the Angels, who lost hot-hitting CJ Cron to a broken hand earlier in this series. The Halos are also starting Tim Lincecum, who has managed an 0-2 record and 10.50 ERA over the past three outings. The O's are 7-3 in their past 10 games against a right-handed starter, and 8-1 in their past nine against losing teams. In addition, the O's are 18-4 in their past 22 with Tillman toeing the slab, while going 21-6 in his past 27 starts at Oriole Park against a team with a losing overall record.

Coldest pitcher: Archie Bradley, Arizona (3-4, 4.81 ERA)

Bradley has won just once over his past seven starts dating back to May 29, and it doesn't look like things will turn around Sunday in San Francisco. He allowed five earned runs, seven hits and four walks in just 4 1/3 innings in his first outing in San Francisco back on April 18. The Snakes have managed just two wins in their past 13 games overall, and just 1-5 in their past six against teams with a winning overall record. And they're just 2-5 in Bradley's past seven outings, so don't expect a turnaround in this final game before the All-Star break.

Biggest UNDER run: Rockies (8-2 past 10)

The 'under' has been the play lately for the Rockies, hitting in eight of their past 10 games, including seven straight matchups against a right-handed starter. The 'under' is also a frequent play when Tyler Chatwood gets the ball, cashing in each of his past four starts at Coors Field, and six of his past eight outings overall. Couple that with the fact the 'under' has hit in 12 of the past 17 games for Philadelphia against NL West foes, and 4-1 in their past five games overall, and Sunday's line of 12 looks a tad bit on the high side.

Biggest OVER run: Diamondbacks (12-3 past 15)

The D-Backs have had the 'over' cashing frequently over the past few weeks, including 5-1 in their past six outings on the road. The 'over' has hit in eight of their past nine games overall, and 15 of their past 18 games inside the National League West. As far as Bradley is concerned, the 'over' is 14-2-1 in his past 17 starts overall, 7-2 in his past nine on the road and a perfect 8-0 in his past eight assignments against divisional foes.

Matchup to watch: Rangers vs. Twins

Regardless of pitching matchup, games between the Texas Rangers and Minnesota Twins have been barn burners. Texas bats have come alive recently, as they have five or more runs in six of their past eight games, with the 'over' going 6-1-1 during the impressive stretch. The Rangers are also averaging 6.0 runs per game over their past seven at Globe Life Park in Arlington while allowing 8.9 runs per game over the past eight. Minnesota's young offense has also been coming alive, especially against Texas pitching. The Twins are averaging 9.0 runs per game over the past five against the Rangers, posting a 4-1 record during the span.

Betcha didn’t know: The Giants have won 22 of their past 27 games inside the National League West division, while going 4-1 in Madison Bumgarner's past five starts against division rivals. The Giants are also an impressive 11-3 in MadBum's past 14 starts overall, while San Francisco has consistently cashed against right-handed pitching, too. The Giants are 9-4 in their past 13 vs. RHP, and 37-18 in their past 55 home games against righties. The Giants have won eight of their past nine games against the Diamondbacks, although Arizona is 10-3 in their past 13 trips to AT&T, and the Giants are 0-4 in MadBum's past four home assignments against the Snakes.

Biggest public favorite: Giants (-225) vs. Diamondbacks

Biggest public underdog: Pirates (+145) vs. Cubs

Biggest line move: Angels (+200 to +180) at Orioles

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

'Washington closes out first half in New York'

A series finale between NY Mets and Washington Nationals features a matchup of struggling southpaws in Steven Matz and Gio Gonzalez. - New York's Steven Matz carrying a 7-4 record, 3.54 ERA is winless in seven trips to the mound with his team 2-5 over the span. Matz's last victory came against these same Nationals back on May 25th when the southpaw tossed eigh innings of shutout ball striking out seven while walking just one batter.

Gonzalez struggling his last nine starts, recording 1 win, 8 losses allowing 4 or more runs in six of the nine games heads to the hill 4-8 on the campaign with a 4.79 ERA. Gonzales last faced Mets on May 23rd in one of his worst starts of the season getting roughed up for 3 yard-ball 7 runs in a loss.

Niether hurler provides much confidence but Nationals handing the ball to Gonzalez does serve as a bigger red flag. That's because Nationals have a 1-5 skid in Gonzales' last six in an opposing park, 0-3 slide in road series-enders with the southpaw and are 0-4 in his recent matinee starts. Adding to the problem is Washington as a team has had its obsticles on the road facing a lefty (1-4) while Mets have enjoyed success at home recently vs a portsider (5-1).

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MLB

Sunday's games

National League games

Cubs @ Pirates
Lackey is 0-3, 7.15 in his last four starts; Cubs are 5-4 in his road starts. Under is 7-4 in his last eleven starts.

Niese is 1-4, 7.67 in his last five starts; six of his last seven stayed under. Pirates are 4-4 in his home starts.

Pirates won nine of last ten games, over is 11-6 in their last 17 games. Cubs are 5-15 in last 20 games, over is 10-1-1 in their last twelve road games.

Reds @ Marlins
Reed is 0-3, 10.80 in his four starts (over 4-0) this year. .

Koehler is 0-1, 7.07 in his last three starts; six of his last eight went over. Miami is 2-5 in his home starts.

Reds lost 13 of last 17 games, over is 12-6 in their last 18 games. Miami is 10-3 in its last 13 home games, their last four games stayed under the total.

Nationals @ Mets
Gonzalez is 1-7, 8.01 in his last nine starts (over 7-3 in his last ten). Washington is 2-6 in his road outings. .

Matz is 0-3, 5.87 in his last six starts (under 8-2 in last ten). Mets are 4-4 in Matz' home starts. .

Washington won three of its last four games; over is 14-7 in their last 21 road games. Mets won ten of last 12 home games, under is 14-6-2 in last 22 New York games.

Phillies @ Rockies
Eflin is 1-1, 2.70 in his last four starts (over 3-2).

Chatwood is 2-0, 3.80 in his last four starts; under is 12-3 in his starts. Colorado 3-4 in his home starts. .

Philly won nine of its last 12 games; over is 16-8 in their last 24 road games. Colorado lost eight of last 11 games, over is 7-3 in last ten games at Coors Field. .

Padres @ Dodgers
Friedrich is 1-3, 9.00 in his last four starts; eight of his last nine went over. .

Maeda is 1-2, 5.40 in his last three starts; five of his last seven stayed under. Dodgers are 3-6 in his home starts.

Padres are 11-8 in last 19 games, over is 15-6-1 in their last 22 games. Los Angeles lost three of last five games; ten of last thirteen games at Dodger Stadium stayed under.

Diamondbacks @ Giants
Bradley is 0-0, 4.76 in his last three starts; five of his last six went over. Arizona won four of his five road starts.

Bumgarner is 1-2, 2.70 in his last four starts; five of his last seven stayed under total. Giants are 6-4 in his home starts.

Arizona lost 11 of last 13 games, over is 11-3-1 in their last 15 games. Giants won seven of last nine games, seven of last 11 San Francisco home games went over.


American League games

Angels @ Orioles
Lincecum is 0-2, 10.50 in his last three starts (over 2-2). .

Tillman is 4-1, 4.00 in his last six starts (under 12-6). Orioles are 11-0 in his home starts.

Angels won four of last five games, over is 10-6 in their last 16 games. Baltimore lost six of last nine games; five of last seven Oriole games went over the total.

Tigers @ Blue Jays
Sanchez is 0-5, 6.87 in his last seven starts (over 9-2-1). Detroit lost his last five starts on the road.

Dickey is 2-3, 4.55 in his last five starts (under 6-2-1 in his last nine). Toronto is 1-8 in his home starts. .

Tigers lost four of last six games, under is 6-2 in their last eight games. Toronto is 17-7 in last 24 home games, five of last six Blue Jay games stayed under.

Rays @ Red Sox
Odorizzi is 0-2, 6.33 in his last four starts; Rays are 6-2 in his road starts. Five of his last six starts went over the total.

Price is 0-2, 7.02 in his last three starts; under is 6-1-1 in his last eight. Boston is 5-5 in his home starts. .

Tampa Bay lost 21 of last 24 games, over is 11-7 in Rays' last 18 road games. Red Sox won seven of last nine at home, over is 5-1-1 in last seven Boston games.

New York @ Indians
Tanaka is 3-0, 3.25 in his last four starts, three of which went over. New York is 5-3 in his road starts.

Carrasco is 3-0, 0.81 in his last three starts; five of his last six stayed under. Cleveland won all five of his home starts.

New York is 8-13 in its last 21 road games, ten of last 12 Bronx road games went over total. Indians won 17 of last 22 games, seven of last eight Cleveland games went over.

Twins @ Rangers
Milone is 1-2, 6.55 in his seven starts (over 4-3). Home side won all seven of his starts. .

Griffin is 2-0, 3.00 in his last seven starts (over 4-2-1). Texas scored 27 runs and won all three of his home starts. .

Minnesota won six of its last eight games; over is 23-9-2 in their last 34 road games. Rangers lost eight of last 11 games, over is 7-0-1 in its last eight Texas games.

A's @ Astros
Manaea is 0-3, 11.66 in his three road starts. Under is 5-2-1 in last eight Manaea starts.

Keuchel is 3-0, 4.42 in his last three starts (under 3-1 in last four). Houston is 3-4 in his home outings.

A's lost seven of last ten games, over is 8-4 in Oakland's last 12 road games. Houston won 17 of its last 23 games, under is 12-4 in Astros' last 16 home games.

Mariners @ Royals
Montgomery is making first '16 start; he was 4-6, 4.60 in 16 MLB starts LY. He is 2-3, 2.15 in 50.1 IP in majors this year (30 relief stints).

Gee is 2-2, 6.52 in his four starts (over 2-2), last of which was May 31.

Mariners lost 11 of last 12 road games; 11 of last 12 Seattle road games stayed under. . Royals lost six of last nine games; last four Royal games stayed under.


Interleague

Braves @ White Sox
Foltynewicz is 1-2, 5.79 in his last five starts (under 4-3-1).

Shields is 2-0, 3.06 in his last three starts (over 6-0 with Chicago). White Sox won his last three home outings.

Atlanta lost five of its last seven games, under is 10-3 in last 13 Atlanta road games. White Sox won six of last nine at home, six of last seven Chicago home tilts went over.


Teams won-lost records when this pitcher starts:

Chi-Pitt-- Lackey 9-8 (0-4 last 4); Niese 9-8
Cin-Mia-- Reed 0-4; Koehler 6-11
Wsh-NY-- Gonzalez 6-11 (1-8 last 9); Matz 9-6
Phil-Col-- Eflin 2-3; Chatwood 10-5
StL-Mil-- Leake 7-10; Guerra 10-2
SD-LA-- Friedrich 5-5; Maeda 9-8
Az-SF-- Bradley 5-5; Bumgarner 12-6

LA-Balt-- Lincecum 2-2; Tillman 15-3
Det-Tor-- Sanchez 3-9; Dickey 6-12
TB-Bos-- Odorizzi 8-10; Price 10-8
NY-Clev-- Tanaka 12-5; Carrasco 9-2
Min-Tex-- Milone 3-4; Griffin 7-2
A's-Hst-- Manaea 5-6; Keuchel 8-10
Sea-KC-- Montgomery 0-0; Gee 2-2

Atl-Chi-- Foltynewicz 3-5; Shields 3-3/2-9


Starting pitchers allowing 1+ runs in first inning:

Chi-Pitt-- Lackey 5-17; Niese 3-17
Cin-Mia-- Reed 4-4; Koehler 6-17
Wsh-NY-- Gonzalez 4-17; Matz 3-15
Phil-Col-- Eflin 3-5; Chatwood 6-15 (4 of last 5)
StL-Mil-- Leake 6-17; Guerra 2-12
SD-LA-- Friedrich 3-10; Maeda 4-17 (4 of last 7)
Az-SF-- Bradley 3-10; Bumgarner 3-18

LA-Balt-- Lincecum 2-4; Tillman 5-18 (3 of last 3)
Det-Tor-- Sanchez 5-12; Dickey 6-18
TB-Bos-- Odorizzi 2-18; Price 7-18
NY-Clev-- Tanaka 2-17; Carrasco 2-11
Min-Tex-- Milone 0-7; Griffin 1-9
A's-Hst-- Manaea 1-11; Keuchel 4-18
Sea-KC-- Montgomery 0-0; Gee 1-4

Atl-Chi-- Foltynewicz 3-8; Shields 8-17


Umpires

Chi-Pitt-- Last five Rackley games went over.
Cin-Mia-- Home side won eight of last ten May games.
Wsh-NY-- Favorites won nine of last 12 Hudson games.
Phil-Col-- Favorites won six of last seven Woodring games.
StL-Mil-- Four of last five Morales games stayed under.
SD-LA-- Four of last five Drake games stayed under.
Az-SF-- Eight of last nine Dimuro games went over.

LA-Balt-- Nine of last eleven Timmons games went over.
Det-Tor-- Underdogs won seven of last 11 Nauert games.
TB-Bos-- Underdogs are 8-8 in Nelson games this year.
NY-Clev-- Last five DeJesus games went over the total.
Min-Tex-- Over is 9-1-1 in last eleven Knight games.
A's-Hst-- Underdogs won last four Carapazza games.
Sea-KC-- Five of last seven Culbreth games stayed under.

Atl-Chi-- Five of last six LBarrett games went over total.