Tuesday 8/30/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Nationals (76-55) at Phillies (60-71)

Game: 2
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: August 30, 2016 7:05 PM EDT

PHILADELPHIA -- The Washington Nationals continue to get a great return on the enormous investment they made in right-hander Max Scherzer before last season.

Scherzer, signed to a seven-year, $210 million free-agent contract in January 2015, has been an All-Star each of his first two seasons with the Nationals.

This year he is 14-7 with a 2.92 ERA while leading the National League with 227 strikeouts.

He has been particularly effective of late, going 5-1 with a 2.36 ERA over nine starts heading into his outing against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night, in the middle game of a three-game series.

The 32-year-old Scherzer spent five seasons with the Detroit Tigers before signing with Washington. He made the American League All-Star team the last two seasons with Detroit and earned the Cy Young Award in 2013, when he went 21-3 with a 2.90 ERA.

Last year he went 14-12 with a 2.79 ERA for Washington, and fashioned a no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 20. He led the National League in starts (33), complete games (four) and shutouts (three).

He added a 20-strikeout game against the Tigers on May 11 of this season. In 27 starts for the National League East leaders Scherzer has fanned 10 or more 11 times.

He stuck out exactly 10 his last time out, while pitching eight shutout innings in an eventual 4-0 victory over Baltimore. He allowed two hits and didn't walk a batter.

"He had it from the opening pitch," Washington manager Dusty Baker said to MLB.com. "That's what aces do. He shut down a very high-powered offense. That was a masterful job by Max."

Scherzer is 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA in three starts against Philadelphia this season. In his career has gone 6-1 with a 2.36 ERA against the Phillies.

Right-hander Jerad Eickhoff (9-12, 3.87) is the scheduled starter for the Phillies, who were blanked 4-0 by Tanner Roark and two relievers in Monday's series opener.

Eickhoff is 3-0 over his last four starts, despite a 5.04 ERA. His last time out he beat the Chicago White Sox, allowing two runs on four hits over six innings while striking out two. He didn't walk a batter.

He has not faced Washington this season, but beat the Nats in his only career start against them, going seven innings and allowing two runs on five hits. He struck out 10, which matches his career high, and walked one.

He will be looking to follow the lead of rookie right-hander Jake Thompson, who allowed two runs on seven hits over seven innings Monday. It was far and away the best outing to date for Thompson, who tweaked his delivery after pitching to a 9.78 ERA over his first four major league starts.

"It was night and day from my performance my first four that I've had," he said. "It's kind of a relief. It feels a lot better."

Roark was even better, though, pitching seven shutout innings to improve to 14-7. His strong showing came after a rare poor outing his previous time out, against Baltimore.

"I kind of knew after the last one, he'd respond," Baker said.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Blue Jays (75-56) at Orioles (71-60)

Game: 2
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: August 30, 2016 7:05 PM EDT

BALTIMORE -- The Toronto Blue Jays took a big step toward taking more command of the American League East on Monday night with a win over the Baltimore Orioles. Now the Jays will try and do a little more Tuesday.

Toronto (75-56, a season-best 19 games above .500) holds a two-game lead over Boston and a four-game edge against Baltimore (71-60). The Jays and Orioles meet again in the middle game of the three-game series, and Toronto can't leave town any worse than two games ahead of Baltimore.

"You try to win every game from here on out," Toronto manager John Gibbons said after Monday's win. "We always have battles with these guys. Any time you get that first game of the series, you always feel that much better."

Toronto also gets a favorable pitching matcup Tuesday, sending out J.A. Happ (17-4, 3.19 ERA) against Ubaldo Jimenez (5-11, 6.62). Happ saw his 11-game winning streak end in his last outing, a 6-3 loss to the Angels on Aug. 25.

Happ gave up four runs and six hits in five innings in the loss. Jimenez stepped in for Chris Tillman in the Baltimore rotation as he's on the disabled list with right shoulder bursitis, retroactive to Aug. 21. In his last start, Jimenez allowed just one run in six innings but took the loss as Washington posted a 4-0 victory last Thursday.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said before Monday's game that Tillman threw fine on flat ground and will go again Wednesday. They're hoping he can come off the DL close to the time he's scheduled to do so.

As Gibbons said, this is the biggest time of the year for both teams. The Orioles and Blue Jays both will have chances to make noise in the division and fight for playoff spots.

Showalter said his team is ready for the grind of the final five weeks.

"The last 30, 40 games are an eternity," Showalter said. "We're just trying to do things to keep us involved in it. We have an opportunity ... to play meaningful games down the stretch."

The Orioles also have been dealing with a number of injury issues in recent days. Setup man Darren O'Day is on the disabled list for the second time this year (rotator cuff strain), and offensive spark-plug Adam Jones now has not played since Friday night because of a hamstring strain.

The Orioles made the playoffs in 2012 and 2014 but missed out last year while Toronto won the division before losing to the World Series champion Kansas City Royals in the American League Championship Series. Baltimore remains in line at least for a shot at the wild-card game but is slipping back in the division race.

Much of the final month's games will be played inside the competitive American League East as the Jays are fighting the Orioles and Boston for the division title and/or a wild-card berth.

Gibbons likes the schedule working out this way. He thinks it's probably what tells the true story.

"That's (how) it ought to be," Gibbons said.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Marlins (67-64) at Mets (67-64)

Game: 2
Venue: Citi Field
Date: August 30, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

NEW YORK - A foreboding matchup Monday night resulted in a surprising and euphoric win for the New York Mets. Now the Miami Marlins are hoping their fortunes can change in an instant.

The resurgent Mets will host the slumping Marlins on Tuesday night in the second game of a four-game series at Citi Field. New York won Monday night's opener 2-1 when Yoenis Cespedes hit a long solo homer in the bottom of the 10th inning.

With the win, the Mets (67-64) tied the Marlins for second place in the National League East. Both teams are 2 1/2 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the race for the second NL wild card spot.

The Mets' victory came on a night in which the Marlins had the decided edge in starting pitching. While Miami sent All-Star Jose Fernandez to the mound, New York countered with right-hander Rafael Montero, who was promoted earlier in the day from Double-A Binghamton to make his first start in the majors since April 2015.

But Montero threw five scoreless innings despite allowing three hits and six walks. A quintet of Mets relievers combined to allow just three hits in the final five innings and Jose Reyes built the tying run in the eighth when he doubled, took third on a flyout and scored on a wild pitch.

"It's got to be a team effort," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "Everybody's got to pull on their end of the rope. We can't turn to just one entity and say 'This is how we're going to win. This is how we're going to get back in this.' It's got to be both sides of the ball, it's got to be pitching, defense. We've got to come up with some big hits."

The Marlins could use some big hits in the worst way. Miami has scored just two runs during a three-game losing streak and is 3-6 in its last nine games, a stretch in which it has only been outscored 21-20.

"In this type of situation that we're in, no matter (what), this cloud looks pretty dark, and it changes in three days or it changes in two days," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "You put some runs up and you (get) momentum going in that direction and then you're hot.

"We're going to come out of that and put some runs on the board."

Mets right-hander Seth Lugo is scheduled to oppose Marlins right-hander Tom Koehler.

Lugo, who is making his third big league start, posted his first career win last Thursday, when he threw five shutout innings against the St. Louis Cardinals in New York's 9-4 victory. He has allowed just three runs in 11 2/3 innings in his first two starts.

Koehler had his six-start unbeaten streak snapped in his most recent start last Thursday, when he gave up four runs (three earned) in six innings as the Marlins fell to the Kansas City Royals 5-2. The 30-year-old right-hander, who grew up about an hour north of Citi Field in New Rochelle, N.Y., will be making his 10th appearance and ninth start at Citi Field, where he has pitched more often than any other road ballpark.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Padres (55-75) at Braves (48-83)

Game: 1
Venue: Turner Field
Date: August 30, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

ATLANTA -- Matt Kemp has been an adventure in left field at times since being acquired by the Atlanta Braves from the San Diego Padres, but the high-priced veteran definitely has been a boost to the offense.

Atlanta is averaging 4.8 runs per game since Kemp joined the lineup on Aug. 2, a sizable rise from the 3.4 the team recorded prior to the deal. As a result, the Braves are a more respectable 11-15 because of the offensive improvement.

Kemp will play for the first time against his old team on Tuesday when the Braves (48-83) begin a three-game series against the Padres (55-75) at Turner Field. Julio Teheran (3-9, 3.15 ERA) will pitch for Atlanta against Edwin Jackson (3-4, 5.71 ERA).

Kemp has three homers and 16 RBIs in his 26 games since joining the Braves, but his biggest contribution has been providing a right-handed bat in the cleanup spot between left-handed hitters Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis.

Freeman and Markakis both have been on tears since Kemp joined the team.

"Markakis has been killing it just as much as Freddie has been killing it," Kemp said. "We're trying to protect each other."

Kemp had 23 homers before the trade, but the Padres were determined to get out from under the remaining years of his hefty contract. Likewise, the Braves wanted no part of Hector Olivera, who was coming off a suspension for domestic abuse.

The Padres released Olivera, but the Braves hope to get a return on the $18 million they will have to pay Kemp the next three seasons even if he doesn't quite return to the player he once was with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Kemp welcomed the trade to the Braves. The key, though, will be staying healthy and getting in better shape.

Braves general manager John Coppolella was blunt in a recent interview on MLB Network Radio.

"We see Matt Kemp as a player with a big upside," the GM said. "He's 31 years old. He is not in shape and that's something we need to work on with him. He's been told about it. We are going to talk to him more. It's the kind of thing where, for him, you can't really do that during the season. It's not like you can drop 30 pounds during the season and keep playing."

The Padres weren't convinced that Kemp would get in better shape and regain his former productivity. Plus he was perceived as a detriment in the clubhouse.

San Diego is 11-16 since Kemp was dealt and opened its road trip by taking two of three games over the weekend in Miami.

The Padres won a three-game series with the Braves in San Diego during early June, but the Braves are 44-25 against them at Turner Field.

Teheran pitched the one victory for the Braves at San Diego, allowing five hits over eight innings on June 8 in the 4-2 victory.

The National League All-Star hasn't won since June 19, though, and the right-hander is winless at home this season.

Teheran is also coming off his first outing of the year, giving up 11 hits and six runs at Arizona on Wednesday in a no-decision during the team's 3-4 road trip. The two homers he allowed pushed his season total to 18 and he has surrendered nine runs on 17 hits over 11 innings in his two starts since a DL stint for a lat strain.

Jackson, who finished last season pitching out of the Atlanta bullpen, has also struggled in his past two starts, allowing 13 earned runs over nine innings while losing both.

The veteran right-hander gave up three homers in a loss to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, but pitched much better than he had in his previous outing at Tampa Bay.

"The hits came on the balls that weren't well-located," he said afterward. "You've just got to do a better job of getting ahead in the count."

"He was on the cusp of a very respectable outing against a really good offense," manager Andy Green said. "I don't necessarily think he's that far off."

Jackson, though, has had difficulty against both Kemp and Freeman. Kemp has two homers in eight at-bats against him and Freeman has two in 17 at-bats.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rays (55-75) at Red Sox (73-58)

Game: 2
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: August 30, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

BOSTON -- Two pitchers enjoying second-half surges hook up for the second time in less than a week when the Boston Red Sox host the Tampa Bay Rays in the second game of a three-game series on Tuesday night.

Drew Pomeranz, the left-hander the Red Sox acquired from the San Diego Padres in exchange for a top pitching prospect, has turned around a slow start and lost only once in his last five starts.

That loss came last Thursday, when Pomeranz struck out a career-high 11 in six innings and fell to the Rays and Odorizzi in St. Petersburg.

"A lot of strikeouts. Sometimes I like that, sometimes I don't," Pomeranz said after that game dropped his combined NL/AL record to 10-10. "I could have took a few quick outs in places to get a couple more innings out there."

Pomeranz allowed one run through six but failed to retire either of the first two batters in the seventh and the result was a second straight Red Sox loss to send the team home 7-4 on the long road trip.

He has allowed two or fewer runs over his last five starts with a 2.40 ERA over that 30-inning stretch, striking out 31 over that span.

"It is disappointing," Pomeranz said of the loss. "It's always disappointing when you lose. We would have liked to have those last two to complete the road trip. But it happens."

His run is lukewarm compared to Odorizzi, 6-0 since the All-Star break with what has to this point been the lowest Tampa Bay ERA (1.59) of any pitcher in club history. He has the second-lowest second-half ERA in the major leagues this season and has not lost since July 10.

Odorizzi pitched out of two bases loaded spots in the sixth inning of last Thursday's game.

"Have to credit (pitching coach Jim Hickey)," he said. "Great mound visit. He came out and said first-pitch changeup, get a double-play. So that's exactly what we did."

Mookie Betts is 5-for-17, Dustin Pedroia 8-for-22, Xander Bogaerts 7-for-20 and Travis Shaw 4-for-10 for the Red Sox against Odorizzi, while David Ortiz is 4-for-22, but with three homers and Jackie Bradley Jr. 2-for-13.

On the other side, Matt Duffy, who was with the Giants when Pomeranz was with the Padres, is 4-for-12 against him and Brad Miller 3-for-8 with a homer. Logan Forsythe, also a former Padre (but not an ex-teammate), is 2-for-11 against Pomeranz.

Odorizzi will be trying to even the series for his team when he puts his winning streak on the line.

The Red Sox rode Rick Porcello's MLB-high 18th win and Betts' 30th homer, RBI double, two RBIs and two runs scored to a 9-4 win on Monday night.

"We just got beat tonight," said Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash, whose team is 55-75, 6-8 against the Red Sox. "They found a way to get on base, get big key hits with guys on base and it just added up, piled up and was very difficult for us to overcome."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: White Sox (63-67) at Tigers (70-61)

Game: 2
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: August 30, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

DETROIT -- Daniel Norris recently changed his delivery and the results give him hope for a strong finish to a mostly disappointing season.

The Detroit Tigers' second-year left-hander tossed a season-high 6 1/3 innings in his last start on Thursday and notched his second victory of the year. Norris recorded a season-high 12 outs on ground balls and didn't walk anybody in an 8-5 victory over Minnesota.

Norris, who will try to build off that effort when he faces the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday, credits pitching coach Rich Dubee for his improvement.

"Dubee and I have been working on extending through the ball and finishing my delivery, rather than recoiling and cutting off," he said. "In doing that, it's helping me get lower in the zone. That obviously leads to ground ball outs. It's just a matter of attacking guys early and making them get themselves out."

Injuries have derailed Norris a good portion of the season, most recently a right oblique strain. He feels he's rounding into form for the team's homestretch as it tries to stay in the playoff hunt.

"I'm definitely where I want to be," he said. "It's a matter of going out there and pitching my game and getting on a good roll. I know when I do that, I can be as good as anybody and help this team win. That's what I really look foward to -- feeling that confidence out there and trusting my stuff."

Detroit began a stretch of playing 26 of 29 games against Central Division opponents. The Tigers won the opener against the White Sox 4-3 and remained 4 1/2 games behind Cleveland, which won 1-0 over Minnesota in extra innings on Monday.

"We're at a point we still kind of control our destiny," Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said. "It may come to a point where we need someone else's help but right now, we've just got to win games."

The Tigers may be without centerfielder Cameron Maybin for a while. Maybin aggravated a thumb injury and left Monday's game early. X-rays were negative but he'll undergo an MRI on Tuesday.

The White Sox also began a long stretch within the division -- 21 consecutive games. Chicago has perked up lately, winning six of its last eight games prior to Monday's loss. That mini-surge has given the White Sox at least faint hope of reentering the postseason picture.

"We've been playing good baseball lately," Chicago manager Robin Ventura said. "We've scored some runs and we've had some great starting pitching. When you get that, you have a chance. Offensively, if we keep that up, there's a shot in there to make a run, especially when you're playing within your division a lot going into the last month."

Ventura was relieved that leadoff hitter Adam Eaton was healthy enough to return to the lineup on Monday. Eaton, who left Sunday's game against Seattle with a bruised right forearm, went 0-for-4 with a walk.

The White Sox will try to bounce back from Monday's defeat, when setup reliever Nate Jones gave up a go-ahead, two-run homer to Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

"Nate's been as consistent as anybody," Ventura said. "It's a tough one, especially when he's out there and he's got (good) stuff. Salty's gotten us a couple of times lately. That one's a tough one because you feel like you've grinded your way through it."

Right-hander Anthony Ranaudo will make his fourth start for the White Sox on Tuesday. He's 0-1 with a 7.88 ERA while allowing five home runs since being acquired from Texas.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Twins (49-82) at Indians (74-56)

Game: 2
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: August 30, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

CLEVELAND -- After combining to score one run in 10 innings in the first game of the series Monday night, the Cleveland Indians and Minnesota Twins are both hoping for better results on Tuesday.

It took 10 innings for the Indians to score the only run of the game in a victory that extended the Twins' losing streak to 11 games. That's the longest losing streak by the Twins since they lost 11 in a row in September of 2011.

The Twins had given up eight or more runs in six games in a row, a streak that was halted Monday when they held the Indians to one run. But a loss is a loss, and the losses are mounting at an alarming rate for the Twins, who haven't won a game since a 10-3 victory over Kansas City on Aug. 17.

"When you're trying to find a way out of something like this, you need to make your breaks or have things go your way," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "But that's baseball. You never know from day to day if you're going to be in a pitcher's duel or a slugging contest."

The Indians, meanwhile, continue to sputter offensively. Although they won Monday's game, they have been held to one or zero runs in seven of their last eight games.

"We're not putting up enough runs, but we've got to weather through this," Cleveland skipper Terry Francona said.

Jason Kipnis drove in the lone run Monday with a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 10th.

"As an offense, we know we have to do better than what we're doing," Jason Kipnis said. "But if we've got to win 1-0, then let's win 1-0."

Josh Tomlin (11-8, 4.70) will start for Cleveland on Tuesday. Tomlin's status in the rotation could be riding on his performance Tuesday. In his last five starts, Tomlin is 0-5 with a 10.80 ERA and nine home runs allowed in 25 innings.

Tomlin leads the majors in home runs allowed with 34, and seems certain to break the Indians' franchise record for most homers allowed in a season. The record of 37 was set by Luis Tiant in 1969.

The schedule hasn't done Tomlin any favors, however. His last four starts have been against the Washington Nationals, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays and Texas Rangers, all teams that are likely headed for postseason appearances.

In 13 career appearances against the Twins, Tomlin is 4-4 with a 5.26 ERA. In three starts versus the Twins this year, Tomlin is 2-0 with a 3.72 ERA.

Joe Mauer is 7-for-20 (.350) with three RBIs and two walks lifetime against Tomlin, while Brian Dozier is 5-for-23 (.217) against him.

Twins starter Andrew Albers (0-0, 4.32) will be making his third appearance, but first start for the Twins this season. In 21 starts at Triple-A Rochester, he was 10-6 with a 3.69 ERA.

Kipnis is 2-for-7 with a double against Albers.

Albers does have one memorable appearance against Cleveland. On Aug. 12, 2013, he tossed a two-hit shutout in his second major league start, a 3-0 win over Cleveland at Target Field.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mariners (68-63) at Rangers (78-54)

Game: 2
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: August 30, 2016 8:05 PM EDT

ARLINGTON, Texas -- With Yu Darvish having done his part in getting the Texas Rangers off to a good start in their three-game series with Seattle, someone might want to cue up Irving Berlin as Cole Hamels takes the hill for game two on Tuesday.

"Anything you can do I can do better."

"It's not just me against Cole Hamels," Darvish said of any friendly competition in the Texas clubhouse after the Texas right-hander went 6 2/3 innings in a 6-3 win on Monday. "It's all the starters.

"I made a rule that on that week whoever had the least innings cannot say anything. The one who has the most innings can mess with them."

Last week it was Hamels who won bragging rights.

Texas' lefty will make his 27th start of the season seeking his 15th victory -- against four defeats -- and having posted quality starts in seven of his eight starts since the All-Star break. He's 5-2 with a 1.59 ERA with 58 strikeouts during that span. In addition, he's 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA in two starts against Seattle.

Healthy rivalries aside, the Rangers have a decided advantage against just about anyone with Darvish and Hamels at the top of a rotation.

"It's huge to have your 1 and 2 go back to back," Texas manager Jeff Banister said. "To have the comfort to know you have two veteran guys at the front of the rotation to start a series and manage the games for us, their stuff, what they mean to this club. Obviously, they have to pitch well.

"Yu set the table tonight. It's a big plus to have those two guys at the front of the rotation."

Tuesday's game is the second of 25 consecutive games against the AL West for Texas, which enters the game 8 1/2 up on Houston and 9 1/2 up on the Mariners. Seattle is at the start of 19 straight against the division. Texas has won eighth of its last 10 against Seattle.

Lefty James Paxton (4-5) will go for the Mariners in his second start since being activated from the disabled list (elbow contusion) on Aug. 25. He took a no-decision in his last outing on the road against the White Sox. He gave up three runs in the first but followed with four shutout innings.

Seattle is seeking to snap a three-game losing streak. The Mariners have lost six of season.

Despite being down 6-1 to Texas, the Mariners let their best chance slip away on Monday.

They were able to get Darvish out of the game in the seventh and had runners on first and third with two outs.

Texas relievers had trouble recording the last out.

Seattle pinch-hitter Franklin Gutierrez's double off lefty Jake Diekman scored two. Robinson Cano followed with a walk with slugger Nelson Cruz coming to the plate.

Texas right-hander Keone Kela, though working Cruz to 3-2, struck out the slugger to end the inning, and he retired the side in order in the eighth.

"We had a chance to turn it around and I wasn't able to deliver," Cruz said. "We haven't got it where we want it as an offensive team.

"They beat us (Monday). We have two more games so we should step up tomorrow."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Pirates (67-62) at Cubs (83-47)

Game: 2
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: August 30, 2016 8:05 PM EDT

CHICAGO -- Advice is the last thing that Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon plans to offer right-handed pitcher Kyle Hendricks.

Hendricks (12-7, 2.19 ERA) is among baseball's hottest pitchers during the past two-plus months with a 8-1 record and a 1.38 ERA in his last 13 outings (12 starts).

And Maddon is not about to mess with success as Hendricks prepare to start Tuesday's middle matchup in a three-game set at Wrigley Field.

"I really try to avoid those conversations because I could just mess him up," Maddon said before Monday night's series opener. "Guys like Kyle that are going that well, I'm just there to reinforce. After he comes out of the game, I'll encourage him, tell him how wonderful he was, how well he did.

"If he wants to bring something up to me, that's fine. But I really think that you can only hurt somebody by trying to interject these words of wisdom to a guy that's going as well as he is."

Hendricks faces Pirates right-hander Chad Kuhl (3-1, 3.50 ERA) on Tuesday. The start will be Hendricks' sixth against Pittsburgh during his career and second this season. He's 1-1 with a 5.40 career ERA, with the win coming June 19 as the Cubs claimed a 6-3 victory.

Now in his third season, the 26-year-old Hendricks has already blown past win totals from previous years. With as many as seven starts still to come, he's on track for as many as a half-dozen more wins if current trends hold.

His 2.19 ERA is the lowest in baseball, well ahead of San Francisco's Madison Bumgarner (2.49 ERA). Hendricks has allowed three or fewer runs in each of his last 17 starts dating to May 22, the longest streak by any big league pitcher this year.

Kuhl, 23, is set to make his ninth major league start and second against Chicago. He allowed four runs in 2 1/3 innings had had no decision in the Pirates' 6-5 loss to the Cubs on July 10 in the final game before the All-Star break.

Kuhl struggled in his first three starts with a 6.03 ERA but improved in his next five, producing a 2.37 ERA and more efficient fastball location.

Kuhl also had no decision in his last start last Thursday. He gave up two runs in 6 1/3 innings in Pittsburgh's 3-2, 10-inning win over the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. The Pirates have won seven of his first eight starts.

A 2013 draft pick, Kuhl has worked his way up from short Class A to Triple-A Indianapolis in three seasons before a call-up to the Pirates earlier this season.

"I had this belief in myself," Kuhl told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "That's all me and my family ever wanted was a shot. I got my shot."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Athletics (57-74) at Astros (69-62)

Game: 2
Venue: Minute Maid Park
Date: August 30, 2016 8:10 PM EDT

HOUSTON -- Before dropping the series opener against the Houston Astros on Monday night, the Oakland Athletics had caught a glimmer of hope with consecutive series victories over postseason contenders Cleveland and St. Louis.

Oakland (57-74) has been besieged by injuries, using the disabled list a club-record 27 times this season. With starters Sonny Gray (strained right forearm) and Jesse Hahn (strained right shoulder) currently on the DL, the Athletics have been forced to fill the void with relievers making spot starts. At this point, the objective is a murky blend of pursuing wins while also evaluating young talent.

"That's the tough balance," Athletics manager Bob Melvin said. "A team that's in our position, we're trying to look at younger players as well as try to keep our veteran guys in the lineup enough to keep them happy too. It's not an enviable position to be in and we've put ourselves in this position with our record. It's a little bit of a delicate balance."

Right-hander Kendall Graveman (10-8, 3.97 ERA) will start for the Athletics on Tuesday looking to maintain his streak of exceptional appearances. Graveman is 3-1 with a 1.88 ERA in his last four starts and 9-2 with a 3.33 ERA in his last 16.

Graveman is 3-1 with a 4.60 ERA in his career against Houston, including back-to-back starts in July where he allowed four earned runs in 15 innings in two wins.

The Astros (69-62) welcomed back a critical cog in the bullpen on Monday night when veteran right-hander Luke Gregerson relieved rookie right-hander Joe Musgrove with one out in the sixth inning and runners on the corners in a 2-0 game.

Gregerson made his first appearance in 11 days after being sidelined with a left ankle injury suffered when he stepped on a sprinkler head in Baltimore. Gregerson has served effectively in a setup capacity since losing his job as closer earlier this season, and while the Astros have won eight of 10 games, his steady hand was missed.

Against the Athletics, Gregerson did his job with aplomb, inducing Yonder Alonso to hit grounder back to the mound that Gregerson turned into an inning-ending double play.

"I didn't know when the ideal spot to bring him in was, but I trust him with the ball in his hand as much as anybody," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "I don't care that he hadn't pitched in a couple weeks. He knows how to navigate innings. And that spot, highest leverage, big spot, we needed him to come in."

The Astros extended their lead in the bottom half of the inning and were able to complete the win without using right-handers Will Harris and Ken Giles. Both will be available when Houston attempts to claim the series on Tuesday night behind right-hander Collin McHugh (8-10, 5.01 ERA).

McHugh is 4-1 with a 3.40 ERA in his career against the Athletics, getting 47 strikeouts in 45 innings and seven starts. He has scuffled against Oakland this season, however, totaling just 11 1/3 innings in two starts with a 5.56 ERA. McHugh did not factor into the decision in either appearance.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Cardinals (69-61) at Brewers (56-75)

Game: 2
Venue: Miller Park
Date: August 30, 2016 8:10 PM EDT

MILWAUKEE -- After a four-game sweep by the Pittsburgh Pirates and a blown opportunity Monday in the a series-opener against the St. Louis Cardinals, Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell isn't worried about his team struggling to bounce back for the final month of the season.

"We've turned the page well," Counsell said after Milwaukee blew a late lead and dropped a 6-5 decision to the Cardinals at Miller Park. "We're playing these teams fighting for playoff spots. We just didn't do quite enough right.

"We have to capitalize on every single opportunity, defensively and offensively. Just a couple things we didn't do quite well enough; a couple of defensive things."

In all, Milwaukee has dropped 11 of its last 15 games and is entering a difficult portion of the schedule; following the Cardinals series, the Brewers will face the Pirates again, the Chicago Cubs and the Cardinals again over the first two weeks of September.

"You have to do a lot of things right against these teams," Counsell said. "There's a sliver lining that we're still fighting, for sure, but winning games against these teams ... it's not easy."

Milwaukee will try and snap its losing skid Tuesday when Wily Peralta takes the mound against the Cardinals' Adam Wainwright.

Peralta has shown encouraging signs since returning from a two-month demotion to the minors. He's gone 1-2 with a 3.52 ERA in four starts and allowed two runs on five hits and three walks in a loss to Pittsburgh his last time out.

"I didn't think his slider was as good as it's been in some of his previous starts but he made pitches when he had to and got through five innings," Counsell said after Peralta's last outing.

He's never beaten the Cardinals, posting an 0-2 record and 7.20 ERA in two previous career starts.

Wainwright has looked little like a staff ace this season (9-8, 4.67 ERA) but has done some of his best work against Milwaukee, going 13-8 with a 2.23 ERA in 33 career appearances (26 starts including a 6-4 record and 2.65 ERA in 17 appearances (13 starts) at Miller Park.

Still, he's lost his last three decisions and is 0-3 with a 6.38 ERA over his last seven starts.

"I had two months there where I pitched the way I always pitch, like I should pitch and how I'll pitch eventually here," Wainwright said. "Eventually I'll pitch deep for this team and win the game. It's been a long, tough season."

Wainwright was charged with seven runs in his last outing but only two of them were earned as St. Louis dropped a 10-6 decision to the Mets.

St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said he isn't concerned over the longtime Cardinal ace's struggles.

"I know the kind of competitor, and what he's saying right now, -- he has told me, 'I'm going to get this right, and we're going to go.' That's what I see, too," Matheny said. "There's nothing physical. It's August. Like everybody else, there's fatigue."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Yankees (67-63) at Royals (69-62)

Game: 2
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: August 30, 2016 8:15 PM EDT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The 2015 World Series champion Kansas City Royals are playing in August as they intend to defend their title this fall.

The Royals dusted off the New York Yankees 8-5 in the Monday opener of a three-game series. The Royals are 18-4 in their past 22 games. They are an American League-best 20-7 in August, clinching their first 20-victory month since winning 21 in August 1989. The franchise record for August victories is 23 in 1980 when the franchise made its first World Series appearance.

The recent surge moved the Royals within two games of the Baltimore Orioles for the final wild-card postseason berth. They are in third place in the American League Central 5 1/2 games behind the Cleveland Indians, while the Detroit Tigers remain a game in front of the Royals.

Manager Ned Yost used closer Kelvin Herrera for a four-out save Monday when the Yankees trimmed an 8-1 Kansas City lead to 8-5 with a four-run eighth inning off relievers Chris Young and Peter Moylan.

"Every game is important from here on out," Yost said.

The Royals have 31 games left, but only 12 on the road.

The Royals will start erratic right-hander Edinson Volquez on Tuesday night against the Yankees. Volquez has won his past two starts to even his record at 10-10 with a 4.88 ERA. He is looking to climb above .500 for the first time since June 3, when he had a 5-4 record.

Volquez is 6-3 with a 4.25 ERA at home, compared to a 4-7 record with a 5.72 ERA on the road. He is 2-1 with a 3.10 ERA in three career starts. He last faced them on May 17, 2015, throwing seven scoreless innings in a 6-0 shutout at Kauffman Stadium.

The Yankees will counter with right-hander Masahiro Tanaka, who has tossed 14 2/3 scoreless innings in his past two starts, allowing 11 hits, walking one and striking out 14. He is the first Yankees pitcher with back-to-back scoreless starts of at least seven innings since Hiroki Kuroda on July 25 and July 31, 2013.

Tanaka has won four straight starts, the second longest streak of his career. He reeled off five straight victories from May 25-June 17, 2014. Tanaka, who is 11-4, ranks seventh in the AL with a 3.11 ERA, while his 1.07 WHIP ranks third. He has registered at least eight strikeouts without a walk in three starts from Aug. 7-19.

The only Royals hitters with more than three at-bats against Tanaka are Kendrys Morales, who is 0-for-6, and Billy Burns, who is 1-for-5. Lorenzo Cain is 2-for-3 off Tanaka, with both hits home runs, and four RBIs. Cheslor Cuthbert is also 2-for-3 off Tanaka with a home run.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi did not complete nine innings Monday. He was ejected in the eighth inning by plate umpire Brian O'Nora after he called a strike on Didi Gregorius.

"Two different strike zones," Girardi said. "It's unfortunate. Even the broadcasters were talking about it in the eighth and ninth inning. I don't know why. I'm frustrated by it. I don't know if you give the catcher's credit. I know the last inning and the inning before that I'm watching on TV and I see it. 0-1 is a lot different than 1-and-0 a lot of times."

The Yankees, like the Royals, remain in the chase for a postseason spot.

"It's frustrating because these games mean a lot," Girardi said of what he considered a questionable strike zone. "We're playing hard. Our guys are giving it everything they've got and to be put in those holes. ... It just changes the count."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Dodgers (73-58) at Rockies (63-68)

Game: 2
Venue: Coors Field
Date: August 30, 2016 8:40 PM EDT

DENVER -- After a stunningly successful debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers, veteran left-hander Rich Hill will make his second start for them Tuesday. Hill pitches off his highly effective overhand curveball. He will face the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, where the mile-high altitude poses a challenge to any breaking pitch.

However, Hill, 36, has experience at Coors Field. He's 0-2 with an 8.80 ERA in three starts there, one each in 2006, 2007 and 2008 with the Chicago Cubs. The most recent and best start was April 23, 2008, and Hill allowed two runs on three hits in five innings with three strikeouts and four walks. He didn't figure in the decision in the Cubs' 7-6 win.

The Dodgers acquired Hill from Oakland on Aug. 1. The A's had placed him on the disabled list July 20 with a left middle finger blister. Hill went 9-3 with a 2.25 ERA in 14 starts for the A's this season while limiting the opposition to a .201 average.

In his Dodgers debut Wednesday, Hill outdueled the Giants' Johnny Cueto and was the winning pitcher in the Dodgers' 1-0 victory. Hill allowed five singles with no walks and three strikeouts while throwing 81 pitches, 63 strikes, in six scoreless innings. He went to a three-ball count once.

"Everything felt solid. Mentally, I felt great, body feels good," Hill said. "Something that I've emphasized throughout the entire season in Oakland and carried over here into L.A. is just stay within the moment, a pitch-to-pitch approach and really just making sure you execute each pitch."

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Hill, "The command wasn't perfect, but he willed himself to six innings. As seen on video, he has such good feel for the curveball. It wasn't right on point, but he was very good."

Left-hander Tyler Anderson will oppose Hill. Overall, Anderson is 4-5 with a 3.69 ERA. In his only previous game against the Dodgers, he held them to two runs and six hits in seven innings Aug. 3 and was the winning pitcher in Colorado's 12-2 romp. That was the last win for Anderson, who is 1-3 with a 4.91 ERA in his past four starts.

In his last game at Milwaukee on Wednesday, Anderson gave up three hits and two runs in five innings with two walks and a career-high 10 strikeouts, giving Anderson 77 strikeouts in 83 innings or an average of 8.4 strikeouts per nine innings.

"I think when he has his best changeup, he's going to miss bats," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said, "Typically he may get weak contact with that pitch. But it's good enough he can get swings and misses, too. I think it was real good that last start. He commanded the fastball with it, and he would speed guys up to get to that changeup. Once you speed them up, they're going to miss the changeup when you pull the string on them. I think that's what you saw in his last start."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Reds (55-75) at Angels (57-74)

Game: 2
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Date: August 30, 2016 10:05 PM EDT

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- One pitcher surmounted tremendous odds to reach the major leagues this year at age 28. The other confronts them in trying to continue a once-stellar career.

Both will face each other Tuesday night when the Cincinnati Reds and the Los Angeles Angels meet at Angel Stadium.

The Reds' Tim Adleman will make his seventh start of the season nearly four months after his major league debut. The right-hander owns a 2-1 record and a 3.68 ERA but has allowed six home runs in 29 2/3 innings.

The Angels' Jered Weaver, on the other hand, continues his three-year campaign against numerous injuries and diminishing velocity. The three-time All-Star, who tied for the most victories in the American League with 18 two years ago, now throws a fastball that averages between 83 and 84 mph.

Adleman began his career with the Baltimore Orioles, who selected him in the 24th round of the June 2010 draft. After being released in 2012, Adleman pitched for three independent minor-league teams in two seasons as a reliever. He caught the Reds' attention after compiling 10 saves and a 1.46 ERA in 40 appearances for the New Jersey Jackals of the Canadian-American Association in 2013.

Cincinnati signed Adleman that October, invited him to spring training this year as a non-roster player and sent him to Triple-A Louisville to start the season.

But nearly four weeks later, the Reds promoted Adleman when right-hander Raisel Iglesias went on the disabled list. He made his debut May 1 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Then while pitching May 19 against the Cleveland Indians, Adleman strained his left oblique muscle and joined Iglesias among the disabled. On Aug. 2, the Reds activated Adleman and sent him to Louisville but recalled him Aug. 16.

For Adleman, beating the odds meant relying on dogged persistence.

"It's a matter of still loving to play the game despite some organizations telling me I'm not good enough, and having the confidence in myself that I am good enough," he told the Cincinnati Enquirer in March. "I just need someone to give me the opportunity. That factored with a lot of people who said, 'If you feel you can still play, give it your best shot for as long as you can because once you shut it down, you can never get it back.'"

Weaver demonstrates similar tenacity despite his second successive poor season. Last year, the right-hander finished with a career-low seven wins and a career-worst 4.64 ERA while matching his career high with 12 losses. This year, he already has 11 defeats and a 5.31 ERA.

With his five-year contract expiring after the season, the 33-year old expressed his frustration after the Indians rallied from a 4-1 deficit for a 5-4 win on Aug. 14, the Angels' 10th successive defeat in an 11-game losing streak.

"This could be my last year and it's definitely not the way I want to go out," Weaver told MLB.com. "It's frustrating to sit back and watch."

Yet Weaver ruled out retirement after beating the Toronto Blue Jays in his last start Thursday night to end his four-game losing streak.

"I'm feeling better as we go on," he told the Los Angeles Times. "I just think it's going to take an offseason to figure this out and finally gain some strength back. There's still a lot of work to be done. But I'm looking forward to putting in the work to get back."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Diamondbacks (55-76) at Giants (71-59)

Game: 1
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: August 30, 2016 10:15 PM EDT

SAN FRANCISCO -- Zack Greinke will seek to duplicate recent history wearing different colors when he faces the San Francisco Giants for the Arizona Diamondbacks in the opener of a two-game series Tuesday night.

Almost exactly one year ago, Greinke pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Giants in a critical game in the National League West race on Sept. 1, 2015.

Greinke limited the Giants to one run in 7 1/3 innings that night, pitching the Dodgers to a 2-1 lead that extended their advantage over San Francisco in the West to 5 1/2 games.

Los Angeles went on to win the division by eight games.

Greinke beat San Francisco ace Madison Bumgarner in that back-breaking game for the Giants, who find themselves in a similar race with the Dodgers this season.

Only this time, the Giants begin play on the second-to-last day of August with just a 1 1/2-game deficit, and Greinke will be pitching for the last-place Diamondbacks, not the Dodgers.

No matter the employer, Greinke has been tough on the Giants. He's 8-1 lifetime against San Francisco with a 2.41 ERA in 12 starts.

His only loss came earlier this season, when he was opposed by the same guy he'll pitch against Tuesday, Giants right-hander Johnny Cueto.

The first-year Giant got the better of the first-year Diamondback 4-2 on May 12 in Arizona.

Cueto has dominated the Diamondbacks almost to the same extent as Greinke has owned the Giants. He's 8-2 with a 2.93 ERA in 11 career starts against Arizona.

Two of those wins came earlier this season, while Cueto was building a 14-4 overall record.

He'll take the third-most wins in the NL to the mound with him Tuesday, although he's won just once in eight starts since July 6.

Cueto will be facing a Diamondbacks team that has alternated wins and losses in their last 10 games, facing three other NL non-contenders -- the San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds.

Arizona's last outcome was a win, as center fielder A.J. Pollock completed his comeback from an elbow injury with his first three hits of the season.

"It's weird," Pollock admitted after the 11-2 win over Cincinnati. "I never really think about hits. But when you have no hits, it's nice to get that first one."

Like Cueto, Greinke hasn't been on top of his game since returning from an oblique injury on Aug. 9. He's been tagged for 18 earned runs in 20 2/3 innings this month, a 7.84 ERA in August that's nearly five times his 1.63 ERA in June before the injury.

Greinke has never lost at AT&T Park in San Francisco. He improved his career mark there to 3-0 with a 1.69 ERA in five starts with a 2-1 win over Bumgarner on April 20 earlier this season.

The Giants are coming off a series win against the Braves to open a five-game homestand. They won 13-4 Sunday to take two of three.

"It's great to take any series," Giants manager Bruce Bochy assured after Sunday's win. "Hopefully we can come back and carry this the rest of the way."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Tuesday, August 30, 2016, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews

We could see a substantial trade or two around the majors by Wednesday as Aug. 31 is the deadline for teams to acquire players via waivers and have said player eligible for inclusion on the postseason roster. Waivers go by reverse order of standings and if a player is claimed, either the team can pull him back off, trade him to the team with the worst record who claimed him or simply let the guy go and get out from under his contract. You may remember in 2009 that Toronto put overpriced outfielder Alex Rios on waivers and the White Sox claimed him. So the Jays just let him go and Chicago was on the hook for the $60 million or so left on Rios' deal. One guy who could be dealt is Yasiel Puig, currently with the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate. The team has pretty much had it with his antics. He's due about $14 million combined for 2017 and '18. But the Phillies won't be trading pitcher Jeremy Hellickson as he was pulled back from trade waivers after the Phils and the claiming team couldn't agree on a trade. You can't then put a guy back on.


Blue Jays at Orioles (+135, 10)

The Cy Young candidacy of Toronto lefty J.A. Happ (17-4, 3.19) took a minor hit on Thursday as he allowed four runs over five innings in a home loss to the Angels. He was great for the first five innings but then was tagged for the four runs in the sixth. Happ had won 11 straight starts. He might be coming back to earth as it was his second straight outing allowing four runs. Happ is 2-0 with a 3.21 ERA in two starts this year against Baltimore. Steve Pearce hammers him, going 9-for-25 with four homers and 11 RBIs. Chris Davis is 3-for-12 off him with a homer and six strikeouts. The Birds' Ubaldo Jimenez (5-11, 6.62) started for an injured Chris Tillman on Thursday and had one of his better outings of the year in allowing a run and five hits over six innings in Washington, albeit in a loss. Tillman's not ready yet so Jimenez gets another start. He is 0-1 with a 14.09 ERA in three appearances (two starts) vs. the Jays this year. Michael Saunders is 7-for-16 off him with three homers. Jose Bautista is just 3-for-33 off him with seven strikeouts.

Key trends: The Jays are 6-0 in Happ's past six vs. the AL East. The Orioles are 0-4 in Jimenez's past four starts. The "over/under" is 4-1-1 in Happ's past six on the road. The over is 5-1 in Jimenez's past six on the road.

Early lean: Blue Jays and over.

Rays at Red Sox (-175, 9)

This is a pitching rematch between Tampa Bay's Jake Odorizzi and Boston lefty Drew Pomeranz of last Wednesday at Tropicana Field. I recommended Rays and under in that one and Tampa won 2-1 so you are welcome. Odorizzi (9-5, 3.53) allowed a run and five hits over seven innings in winning his sixth straight decision and his seventh quality start in the past eight. However, Odorizzi is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in two starts this year at Fenway Park. Dustin Pedroia is a career .364 hitter off him with a homer in 22 at-bats. Xander Bogaerts is 7-for-20 off him with four extra-base hits and three RBIs. Pomeranz (10-10, 2.95) allowed two runs and seven hits over six innings vs. the Rays and struck out a career-high 11 in the tough-luck loss. It was his first defeat in five starts. Pomeranz is 0-1 with a 5.02 ERA in three starts this year at Fenway. The Rays' Brad Miller is 3-for-8 off him with a homer and two RBIs.

Key trends: The Rays are 1-4 in Odorizzi's past five on the road. The over is 4-1 in Tampa's past five vs. a lefty.

Early lean: Red Sox and over.

Marlins at Mets (-125, 8)

New York just can't get healthy. Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera left Sunday's game in the first inning with a knee injury after a first-base collision. A strained patellar tendon in that knee had cost him three weeks recently. Outfielder Yoenis Cespedes and second baseman Neil Walker both sat Sunday with flare-ups of injuries so monitor their status as well. This was to be the return from the DL of pitcher Steven Matz (9-8, 3.40), but that has been pushed back to Thursday. So it's Seth Lugo (1-2, 2.51) in his spot again. He pitched well in St. Louis last Thursday, shutting out the Cards over five innings. He has allowed a run and two hits in 1.1 innings of relief vs. Miami this year. The Marlins' Tom Koehler (9-9, 3.85) lost to the Royals last Thursday, allowing four runs and seven hits over six innings. He is 0-1 with a 4.09 ERA in two starts against New York this year. Cespedes is 6-for-14 off him with three doubles. Travis d'Arnaud is 7-for-17 with a homer.

Key trends: The Marlins are 2-10 in Koehler's past 12 vs. teams with a winning record. The over is 5-1 in his past six on the road. The over is 8-0-1 in Koehler's past nine vs. the Mets.

Early lean: Marlins and over.

Pirates at Cubs (-210, TBA)

The lone national TV game of the day and on the MLB Network. If I asked you who led the majors in ERA and told you it was a Cub, I'm sure you would guess Jake Arrieta or Jon Lester if you didn't follow such things closely. But it's Kyle Hendricks (12-7, 2.19), who gets the call here. Hendricks won in San Diego last time out, allowing two runs and four hits over six innings, his 17th straight start allowing three runs or fewer, the longest streak in the majors this year. He should be your Cy Young favorite right now but is not getting much love in that regard from the sportsbooks (+1200 in last odds I saw). Hendricks won his lone start vs. Pittsburgh this year, allowing one run and seven hits over six innings with a season-high 12 strikeouts on June 19 at Wrigley. The Pirates go with rookie Chad Kuhl (3-1, 3.50). He took a no-decision Thursday in Milwaukee, allowing two runs over 6.1 innings. Kuhl started vs. the Cubs on July 9 and lasted only 2.1 innings and allowed four runs and seven hits but avoided the loss. Ben Zobrist homered off him.

Key trends: The Cubs are 5-1 in Hendricks' past seven at home vs. teams with a winning record. The under is 11-1 in his past 12 on Tuesday.

Early lean: Cubs.

Diamondbacks at Giants (-145, 7)

San Francisco's top target this offseason reportedly was Dodgers free-agent pitcher Zack Greinke. And most thought it would be a two-team financial battle between those clubs to lure Greinke, except that Arizona swooped in with a crazy offer and Greinke went to the desert. The Giants' Plan B was Johnny Cueto. And those two pitchers square off in the matchup of the night. Greinke (11-4, 4.29) hasn't won in four starts. He took a no-decision vs. Atlanta last Wednesday in allowing four runs over six innings. Greinke is 1-1 with a 3.55 ERA in two starts vs. San Francisco this year. Buster Posey is a career .313 hitter off him in 32 at-bats. Brandon Crawford is 5-for-25 with eight strikeouts. Cueto (14-4, 2.86) was a tough-luck loser to the Dodgers last time out as they scored only a run with four hits over six innings against him. Cueto is 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA in three starts against Arizona. Paul Goldschmidt is 6-for-19 off him with a homer. Jake Lamb is 4-for-9 with a dinger.

Key trends: The Diamondbacks are 8-2 in Greinke's past 10 on the road. The Giants are 14-2 in Cueto's past 16 vs. teams with a losing record. The under is 9-2 in Cueto's past 11 vs. the NL West.

Early lean: Giants and under.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MLB

Tuesday’s games

National League

Nationals @ Phillies
Strasburg was 0-3, 14.66 in his last three starts before going on DL; over is 4-1-1 in his last six starts. Washington is 8-2 in his road starts.

Eickhoff is 3-0, 4.40 in his last five starts; under is 5-3-1 in his last nine. Phillies are 4-1 in his last five home starts.

Nationals lost six of last nine games; over is 8-5 in Washington’s last 13 road games. Philly is 4-8 in last 12 games; under is 4-0-1 in Phils’ last five home games.

Marlins @ Mets
Koehler is 4-0, 2.60 in his last seven starts; over is 8-4 in his last 12 starts. Miami is 6-8 in his road starts.

Lugo is 1-1, 2.31 in two starts this year (over 2-0).

Marlins lost five of last seven games; under is 8-1 in their last nine games. New York won five of last six home games; over is 11-3 in their last 14 games.

Padres @ Braves
Jackson is 0-2, 13.00 in his last two starts; under is 4-2 in his last six. He is 1-1, 5.29 in three road starts.

Teheran is 0-1, 6.75 in his last three starts; over is 5-2 in his last seven. Braves are 1-11 in his home starts.

Padres are 3-7 in last 10 road games, 12-9 in road series openers. Under is 7-4 in San Diego’s last 11 road games. Atlanta lost five of last six home games, is 6-14 in home series openers. Over is 9-3 in Braves’ last 12 games.

Cardinals @ Brewers
Wainwright is 0-3, 10.89 in his last four starts; six of his last seven starts went over. St Louis is 9-4 in his road starts.

Peralta is 1-2, 3.52 in his last four starts; over is 6-2 in his last eight. Milwaukee is 4-5 in his home starts.

Cardinals are 7-2 in last nine road games (over 6-2-1). Milwaukee lost its last five games; under is 5-3 in Brewers’ last eight games.

Pirates @ Cubs
Kuhl is 2-1, 2.67 in his last five starts (under 4-3-1). He is 1-0, 2.22 in four road starts.

Hendricks is 3-0, 1.51 in his last five starts; his last three went over. Cubs are 9-3 in his home starts.

Pirates won eight of last nine road games; under is 7-3 in Pittsburgh’s last ten games. Chicago is 17-3 in last 20 home games; over is 7-4 in their last eleven games.

Dodgers @ Rockies
Hill blanked Giants for six innings (81 PT) in his Dodger debut, also his first start in four weeks after blister issues.

Anderson is 0-2, 6.60 in his last three starts (under 9-5). Colorado is 6-3 in his home starts.

Dodgers won six of last nine games; five of last six LA games stayed under the total. Colorado won five of its last six home games; over is 10-7 in their last 17 games.

Diamondbacks @ Giants
Greinke is 0-1, 9.20 in his last three starts; five of his last six went over. Arizona is 6-2 in his road starts.

Cueto is 1-1, 2.29 in his last three starts; four of his left five went over. Giants are 8-3 in his home starts.

Arizona lost six of last seven road games; they’re 1-6 in last seven road series openers. Over is 14-4 in their last 18 games. Giants won three of last four games, are 10-11 in home series openers. Under is 5-2 in Giants’ last seven games.


American League

Blue Jays @ Orioles
Happ is 5-1, 2.41 in his last six starts; under is 5-2-1 in his last eight. Toronto won his last five road starts.

Jimenez is 0-3, 7.02 in his last four starts; over is 10-3 in his last 13. Orioles are 7-3 in his last ten home starts.

Toronto won its last four games, scoring 37 runs; over is 7-5 in Jays’ last 12 games. Orioles lost four of last five games; last four games at Camden Yards stayed under.

Rays @ Red Sox
Odorizzi is 6-0, 1.94 in his last eight starts; four of his last five went over. Rays lost four of his last five road starts.

Pomeranz is 2-1, 2.25 in his last four starts; six of his last seven stayed under. Red Sox are 0-3 in his starts at Fenway.

Tampa Bay is 2-6 in last eight road games; over is 8-1-1 in Rays’ last ten road games. Boston lost four of last six games; over is 5-1-1 in last seven games at Fenway Park.

Twins @ Indians
Albers was 2-5, 4.05 in 10 starts for Minnesota in 2013; this his first MLB start since then. He is 10-6, 3.69 in 21 AAA starts this year, and allowed seven runs in 8.1 IP in two relief stints for the Twins this season.

Tomlin is 0-5, 11.16 in his last five starts (over 3-1-1). Cleveland is 7-4 in his home starts.

Twins lost their last 11 games; over is 7-2 in Minnesota’s last nine games. Cleveland lost five of last seven games; under is 6-2-1 in Tribe’s last nine games.

White Sox @ Tigers
Ranaudo is 0-1, 7.88 in his three starts (over 2-0-1) for Chicago.

Norris is 1-2, 3.32 in his last four starts (under 4-3).

White Sox won six of last nine games; four of last six Chicago road games went over. Detroit is 4-8 in last 12 home games; under is 10-2 in Tigers’ last 11 home games.

Mariners @ Rangers
Paxton is 1-0, 2.11 in his last three starts (over 7-7). Seattle is 2-5 in his road starts.

Hamels is 2-1, 1.59 in his last four starts; under is 4-1-1 in his last six. Rangers won five of his last six home starts.

Mariners lost five of last six road games; over is 10-7 in their last 17 road games. Texas won seven of last eight home games; under is 8-1-1 in last ten Ranger games.

A’s @ Astros
Graveman is 3-1, 1.88 in his last four starts; six of his last seven starts stayed under. Oakland is 6-2 in his last eight road starts.

McHugh is 1-4, 8.68 in his last six starts; over is 5-3-1 in his last nine. Houston is 7-2 in his home starts.

A’s won four of last six games; under is 9-1 in last ten Oakland road games. Houston won eight of last ten games; over is 4-1-1 in last six games at Minute Maid Park.

New York @ Royals
Tanaka is 4-0, 1.63 in his last four starts; under is 6-2 in his last eight. New York is 8-5 in his road starts.

Volquez is 2-0, 5.87 in his last three starts; over is 4-1-1 in his last six (Royals scored 21 runs in his last three starts). KC is 9-5 in his home starts.

New York won four of last six games; under is 6-2 in last eight Bronx road games. Royals are 13-2 in last 14 games; under is 6-3-2 in last 11 games at Kauffman Stadium.


Interleague

Reds @ Angels
Adleman is 1-0, 4.73 in his last three starts (over 3-0).

Weaver is 1-3, 7.40 in his last four starts (under 3-1); Angels are 6-7 in his home starts.

Cincinnati lost six of last eight games; six of Reds’ last seven road games went over. Angels won five of last six games; under is 8-2 in their last ten games.


Teams’ record when this pitcher starts:

Wsh-Phil– Strasburg 18-5 (0-3 last 3); Eickhoff 13-13 (4-0 last 4)
Mia-NY– Koehler 12-14; Lugo 1-1
SD-Atl– Jackson 3-4; Teheran 5-18
StL-Mil– Wainwright 16-10; Peralta 6-11
Pitt-Chi– Kuhl 7-1; Hendricks 14-10
LA-Colo– Hill 1-0/9-5; Anderson 7-7
Az-SF– Greinke 14-7; Cueto 19-7

Tor-Balt– Happ 19-6; Jimenez 8-11 (0-4 last 4)
TB-Bos– Odorizzi 14-13 (5-1 last 6); Pomeranz 4-4
Min-Clev– Albers 0-0; Tomlin 16-8 (0-5 last 5)
Chi-Det– Ranaudo 2-1; Norris 3-4
Sea-Tex– Paxton 4-10; Hamels 19-7
A’s-Hst– Graveman 13-12; McHugh 15-11
NY-KC– Tanaka 19-7; Volquez 15-12

Cin-LAA– Adleman 3-3; Weaver 10-15


# of time pitcher allows 1+ runs in first inning:

Wsh-Phil– Strasburg 8-23; Eickhoff 7-26
Mia-NY– Koehler 8-26; Lugo 0-2
SD-Atl– Jackson 1-7; Teheran 6-23
StL-Mil– Wainwright 7-26 (4 of last 5); Peralta 7-17
Pitt-Chi– Kuhl 3-8; Hendricks 6-24
LA-Colo– Hill 4-14; Anderson 5-14
Az-SF– Greinke 7-21; Cueto 6-26

Tor-Balt– Happ 5-25; Jimenez 9-19 (5 of last 7)
TB-Bos– Odorizzi 5-27; Pomeranz 1-8
Min-Clev– Albers 0-0; Tomlin 11-24
Chi-Det– Ranaudo 1-3; Norris 1-7
Sea-Tex– Paxton 4-10; Hamels 5-26
A’s-Hst– Graveman 4-25; McHugh 11-26
NY-KC– Tanaka 3-26; Volquez 8-27

Cin-LAA– Adleman 0-6; Weaver 9-25


Umpires

Wsh-Phil– Favorites won five of last six Fagan games.
Mia-NY– Under is 11-2 in last thirteen Everitt games.
StL-Mil– Under is 7-2 in last nine West games.
Pitt-Chi– Over is 8-2-1 in last eleven Knight games.
LA-Colo– Over is 8-3-1 in last twelve Bellino games.

Tor-Balt– Underdongs won eight of last 12 Barry games.
TB-Bos– Underdogs won five of last seven Demuth games.
Min-Cle– Under is 6-1-1 in last eight Conroy games.
Chi-Det– Under is 5-2-1 in last eight Hernandez games.
Sea-Tex– Last seven Davis games stayed under the total.
A’s-Hst– Four of last five Marquez games went over.
NY-KC– Under is 11-5 in last sixteen Hoberg games.

Cin-LAA– Under is 5-2 in last seven Diaz games.


Teams’ records in first five innings:

Team (road-home-total)- thru 8/29

Arizona 22-30-11…..27-36-5…….49-66
Atlanta 26-34-8……18-31-13……44-65
Cubs 35-21-9……40-18-8……..75-39
Reds 18-40-7……29-31-5…….47-71
Colo 25-30-12…..27-32-4……52-62
LA 27-27-9……40-21-8…….67-48
Miami 28-26-10….29-21-16……57-47
Milw 19-37-7……36-24-9…….55-61
Mets 27-41-9……29-24-11…..56-55
Philly 21-30-16….23-30-11……44-58
Pitt 20-34-12…..38-22-4……58-55
St. Louis 30-27-6…..27-28-12…..57-55
SD 22-40-4…..28-30-6……50-70
SF 28-30-7……33-19-13……61-49
Wash 34-20-13…..27-20-17…..61-40

Orioles 24-35-8…….33-25-8……..57-60
Boston 25-27-10……42-18-8…….67-45
White Sox 29-28-8……35-28-3……..64-56
Cleveland 35-26-7……29-26-6……..64-52
Detroit 27-30-8…….30-29-4……..57-59
Astros 26-29-11…..32-25-7………58-54
KC 25-34-11……26-23-13……51-57
Angels 26-35-7…….24-30-10……50-65
Twins 25-33-12…….21-34-11…….46-67
NYY 22-35-8……30-28-10…….52-63
A’s 21-37-8……25-29-12…….46-66
Seattle 30-28-9……29-22-12……59-50
Tampa Bay 22-28-10……30-30-10…..52-58
Texas 25-34-9…….32-22-9…….57-56
Toronto 39-19-4……..38-27-4…….77-46

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

'On the Diamond'

Seattle Mariners at Texas Rangers August 30, 8:05 EST

Rangers taking the first game of this three game set vs Mariners at Globe Life Park have a chance to add even more ground between themselves and the Mariners. Looking at the pitching matchup, as well as the home field advantage, the right call is Texas.

The Rangers' have enjoyed home cooking this year, compiling a record of 43-21 record before the home audience including a solid 19-7 hosting a division rival. On the other side, Mariners' are a mediocre 32-35 in an opposing park, 13-14 visiting a division opponent.

As for starters, Hamels has a solid 21-6 record over 40 starts since joining Texas last August (30-10 TSR) including 11-1 at Globe Life Park with Rangers 15-4 in those nineteen home starts. Paxton has not been a peg to hang your hopes when on the road. In seven starts this season the Mariners are 2-5. Going back even further, Mariners have a 4-12 skid in Paxton's last sixteen away from Seattle.

One final nugget in Rangers' favor is that the Mariners have flailed about recently facing a southpaw starter. They enter today's game 3-8 since the All-Star break.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

StatFox Super Situations

MLB*|*ARIZONA*at*SAN FRANCISCO
Play Against - Home favorites with a money line of -110 or higher (SAN FRANCISCO) starting a pitcher who gave up <=2 earned runs in his last 2 outings against opponent with a cold starting pitcher- ERA >= 7.00 over his last 5 starts
274-325*since 1997.**(*45.7%*|*119.9 units*)
9-17*this year.**(*34.6%*|*-3.2 units*)


StatFox Situational Power Trends

MLB*|*SEATTLE*at*TEXAS
TEXAS is 33-14 (+17.9 Units) against the money line in Home games vs. an AL team with an on base percentage .330 or worse*this season.
The average score was: TEXAS (5.0) , OPPONENT (4.4)

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Tuesday’s six-pack

In my opinion, the six best backup QBs in the NFL:

— Nick Foles, KC– threw 27 TDs with 2 INT in 2013.

— Matt Cassel, Tenn– Has started 79 NFL games (35-44)

— Matt Moore, Mia– Still think he is better than Tannehill.

— Derek Anderson, Car– 2-0 as a starter since 2010.

— Josh McCown, Clev– 13 years, 7 teams. 2-17 last two years.

— Brian Hoyer, Chi– 12-10 for Browns/Texans last two years.

Due to forecasts of severe weather, the Redskins-Bucs preseason game scheduled for Thursday night has been moved up to Wednesday.