Tuesday 8/4/15 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Twins at Blue Jays

GAME: Minnesota Twins (54-51) at Toronto Blue Jays (55-52)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, August 04 - 7:07 PM EST
WHERE: Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario
LINE: 160, -174 TOTAL: 8.5

The Minnesota Twins need to rediscover their offense in a hurry if they wish to make any noise in the race for the postseason. The tumbling Twins look to prevent their 12th loss in 16 outings on Tuesday when they play the second contest of their four-game series against the host Toronto Blue Jays.

Minnesota (54-51) finds itself locked in a virtual tie with Toronto (55-52) for the second wild-card spot in the American League after mustering just six runs over its last four contests - with two coming on wild pitches. While the Twins are struggling at the plate, the Blue Jays certainly aren't as they improved to 5-1 since Troy Tulowitzki was acquired from Colorado. Josh Donaldson has been blistering-hot of late, belting the go-ahead homer in Monday's 5-1 victory. Donaldson is 10-for-25 with three blasts and nine RBIs over his last six games, but is just 2-for-11 with four strikeouts versus Tuesday starter Phil Hughes.

TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, FSN North (Minnesota), RSN (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Phil Hughes (10-6, 4.11 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Marco Estrada (8-6, 3.53)

Hughes improved to 6-0 in his last eight starts despite allowing a season high-tying five runs in as many innings in a 9-5 triumph over Seattle on Thursday. Leading up to his last performance, the 29-year-old had yielded just 13 earned runs in 48 innings over his previous seven starts. Hughes also fared well in his last meeting with Toronto in June 2014, scattering seven hits in as many scoreless innings while striking out nine to pick up the win.

Estrada picked up a win after a loss for the third time in his last six starts after allowing two runs on three hits in 5 2/3 innings of a 5-2 victory over Kansas City on Thursday. The 32-year-old has permitted two runs or fewer in seven of his last eight starts, registering a 2.66 ERA in that span. Estrada has struggled in his career versus Minnesota, dropping his lone two decisions while being saddled with a 6.08 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tulowitzki is 7-for-20 with one homer, four RBIs and eight runs scored since joining the Blue Jays.

2. Minnesota veteran OF Torii Hunter launched his 17th homer on Monday, tying his totals from both 2013 and 2014.

3. Toronto has homered in 14 of its last 15 contests.

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 5, Twins 2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Royals at Tigers

GAME: Kansas City Royals (62-42) at Detroit Tigers (51-54)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, August 04 - 7:08 PM EST
WHERE: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
LINE: 103, -111 TOTAL: 8.5

The Detroit Tigers threw up the white flag with the trades of Yoenis Cespedes and David Price prior to Friday’s trade deadline, leaving the American League Central for another club to win for the first time since 2010. The Kansas City Royals, who upgraded their roster in front of the deadline and visit the Tigers in the opener of a three-game series on Tuesday, are staking their claim to the Central and plan to rule for a long time.

Kansas City is already reaping the rewards of its deadline haul as Ben Zobrist went 5-for-11 with three home runs and six RBIs in the last three games. The Royals dropped three of four at Toronto over the weekend but still owns an 8 1/2-game lead in the Central over the Minnesota Twins while enjoying the best record in the AL. The Tigers felt compelled to sell after dropping five of six in the days leading up to the deadline but managed a split of a four-game series at Baltimore over the weekend, getting a peak at the future when Daniel Norris – acquired from Toronto in the trade that sent Price away – dominated through 7 1/3 innings in a win on Sunday. A link to Detroit’s recent success will take the mound on Tuesday when Justin Verlander faces off against Danny Duffy.

TV: 7:08 p.m. ET, FSN Kansas City, FSN Detroit

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals LH Danny Duffy (4-5, 4.28 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Justin Verlander (1-3, 4.86)

Duffy had a run of four straight starts allowing two or fewer runs come to end at Toronto on Thursday, when he lost at Toronto. The 26-year-old served up three home runs in six innings and was charged with five runs on six hits and four walks. Duffy yielded one run and struck out seven over as many innings in a win over Detroit on Apr. 30 to improve to 2-6 with a 3.16 ERA in 10 starts against the Tigers.

Verlander has put his best two starts together back-to-back, earning wins over Boston and Tampa Bay to last month. The former Cy Young Award winner allowed one run in eight innings without figuring in the decision on July 24 against the Red Sox before striking out 10 and yielding one run on four hits in eight frames to beat the Rays five days later. Verlander is 19-7 with a 3.17 ERA in 35 career starts against Kansas City.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tigers RF J.D. Martinez is 5-for-14 with two homers, two doubles and eight RBIs in his last four games.

2. Zobrist is batting .256 in 54 career games against the Tigers, including 8-for-32 with a homer off Verlander.

3. Kansas City C Salvador Perez is 2-for-27 over his last eight games.

PREDICTION: Royals 5, Tigers 3

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Giants at Braves

GAME: San Francisco Giants (57-48) at Atlanta Braves (48-58)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, August 04 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Turner Field, Atlanta, Georgia
LINE: -126, 116 TOTAL: 7.5

Shelby Miller undoubtedly watched the Atlanta Braves scored nine runs Monday and hoped his teammates would save some offense for his start Tuesday, when the least-supported pitcher in the National League goes for the host Braves against the San Francisco Giants. The Braves have scored a grand total of 26 runs in Miller’s last 13 starts, a stretch during which the All-Star is 0-7.

The Braves rallied from a 6-0 deficit in the opener, tying the game on A.J. Pierzynski’s ninth-inning homer before Adonis Garcia’s two-run blast in the 12th gave Atlanta a 9-8 triumph, just its sixth victory in the past 21 games. Nick Markakis extended his hitting streak to 10 games and Jace Peterson collected his second consecutive three-hit performance. The Giants slugged four homers – Brandon Crawford hit two, with Brandon Belt and Buster Posey also going deep – but fell to 44-9 since the start of 2014 when San Francisco belts at least two homers. San Francisco has scored 205 runs this season with two outs (six Monday), accounting for 44.8 percent of its season run output.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, CSN Bay Area (San Francisco), SportSouth (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Jake Peavy (2-4, 4.12 ERA) vs. Braves RH Shelby Miller (5-8, 2.44)

Peavy missed two months with a back injury following two difficult starts to begin the season, but the 34-year-old has bolstered the San Francisco rotation in his return. He finished July with a 2.84 ERA in five starts, winning back-to-back outings over Arizona on July 18 and against Oakland six days later. Peavy closed the month with six shutout innings Wednesday against Milwaukee, taking a no-decision while not walking a batter for the second consecutive start.

Miller gave up four runs on 11 hits in six innings to lose his fourth start in a row Thursday at Philadelphia, after allowing two runs across 13 1/3 frames in his previous two outings – both resulting in defeats. The Braves have scored two runs or less in seven of Miller’s starts; he is 0-7 despite a 2.08 ERA. Miller lost to the Giants on May 28 in San Francisco, giving up one run on five hits in seven innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Giants placed 2B Joe Panik on the disabled list with lower back inflammation before Monday’s game, calling up rookie INF Kelby Tomlinson, who singled in his first major-league at-bat in the 12th inning and later scored.

2. Atlanta lost 1B Freddie Freeman – who missed 30 games with a right wrist sprain – after four innings Monday to a right oblique injury.

3. Braves SS Andrelton Simmons missed his second consecutive game with a right thumb injury sustained Saturday in Philadelphia.

PREDICTION: Braves 5, Giants 2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mets at Marlins

GAME: New York Mets (56-50) at Miami Marlins (43-63)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, August 04 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Marlins Park, Miami, Florida
LINE: -117, 108 TOTAL: 7.5

The New York Mets are back in first place and receiving early dividends from newly acquired slugger Yoenis Cespedes. The surging Mets seek their fifth consecutive win when they continue a three-game series on Tuesday against the host Miami Marlins.

Behind three doubles and four RBIs from Cespedes and a solid eight-inning effort from Bartolo Colon, New York rolled to a 12-1 win in the series opener, moving one game up on Washington in the National League East. The Mets had resided in second place from June 20 through Sunday, when they tied the Nationals, but their current 7-2 run has dramatically altered the outlook for Terry Collins' team. They have not won five in a row since their 11-game run in April that initially vaulted the club into first place. The Marlins have lost eight of 10 and are averaging 2.7 runs since the All-Star break.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), FSN Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Jonathon Niese (5-9, 3.63 ERA) vs. Marlins LH Brad Hand (1-2, 5.12)

Niese has allowed one run or fewer in four of his last six starts, including a no-decision against San Diego on Thursday. He limited the Padres to one run on six hits in six innings while striking out six, his highest total since June 17. The 28-year-old was reached for five runs (four earned) in four innings of a loss to Miami on May 30 and owns a 4.38 ERA in 17 career starts against the Marlins.

Hand made three starts earlier this season but has appeared out of the bullpen in his last 10 appearances. He was lit up for six runs in just two-thirds of an inning in his last start June 8 at Toronto and is 5-19 with a 4.69 ERA in his career as a starter. The former second-round pick faced the Mets three times in as many days back in April, giving up two runs in 3 2/3 innings of relief.

WALK-OFFS

1. New York starters have allowed two runs or fewer in eight of their last nine games.

2. Marlins CF Christian Yelich had three hits Monday and is batting .314 at home, compared to .229 on the road.

3. Mets RF Curtis Granderson went 3-for-5 on Monday and has reached safely in 18 straight games.

PREDICTION: Mets 6, Marlins 3

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Cardinals at Reds

GAME: St. Louis Cardinals (67-38) at Cincinnati Reds (47-56)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, August 04 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
LINE: -130, 120 TOTAL: 7.5

Brandon Moss wasn’t able to make much of an impact in his first three games with his new team, but the St. Louis Cardinals were more than happy to see him deliver when he did. After delivering a pinch-hit, walk-off single in a series-clinching win over the weekend, Moss looks to build upon his first clutch hit with his new team on Tuesday when the Cardinals visit the Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a three-game set.

Acquired from Cleveland at the non-waiver trade deadline on Friday to share time at first base with Mark Reynolds, Moss managed only one single in his first 10 at-bats for St. Louis prior to stepping up in Sunday’s 3-2 victory versus Colorado. “We put him in a big spot. He’s the kind of player we think is going to come up big for us. He’s had some real nice at-bats and we have a lot of faith he’s going to drive the ball deep, but we’ll take a base hit,” manager Mike Matheny told reporters. Moss will likely get a start on Tuesday against Cincinnati, which blanked the Cardinals twice last week while taking two of three in St. Louis. The Reds were on the wrong end of a shutout on Sunday, however, as Pittsburgh handed Cincinnati a 3-0 setback in a game in which the benches cleared after stars Andrew McCutchen and Brandon Phillips were hit by pitches late.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN Midwest (St. Louis), FSN Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH John Lackey (9-6, 2.78 ERA) vs. Reds RH Anthony DeSclafani (6-7, 3.75)

Lackey came out on the short end of a pitchers’ duel in a 1-0 loss to Cincinnati on Wednesday, watching his three-game winning streak come to an end after surrendering a solo shot to Jay Bruce among the two hits he allowed in eight frames. The one-time All-Star has recorded nine consecutive quality starts, going 5-2 over that stretch while logging at least seven innings in eight of those outings. Lackey, who has struggled against Marlon Byrd in his career (10-for-32, two homers and RBIs), is 2-1 with a 2.78 ERA in six starts versus the Reds.

DeSclafani outdueled Lackey on Wednesday, turning in one of the finest performances of his two-year big-league career by holding the Cardinals to three singles and three walks across seven scoreless innings. The 25-year-old Florida product, who has surrendered six runs in each of his last two turns in Cincinnati, has struggled much more at home (2-5, 5.69 ERA) than he has on the road (4-2, 2.41). DeSclafani’s only other appearance against St. Louis came last August, when he tossed a scoreless inning in relief.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cincinnati 1B Joey Votto leads the majors in batting average (.491), walks (20) and on-base percentage (.635) since the All-Star break.

2. After hitting seven homers in 191 at-bats before the break, St. Louis LF Randal Grichuk has clubbed five in 52 at-bats in the second half.

3. Bruce’s next home run will give him 200 for his career, allowing him to become the ninth player in team history to reach that milestone and leaving him three shy of eighth-place Eric Davis.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 4, Reds 1

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Astros at Rangers

GAME: Houston Astros (60-47) at Texas Rangers (52-53)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, August 04 - 8:05 PM EST
WHERE: Globe Life Park in Arlington, Arlington, Texas
LINE: -121, 112 N/A TOTAL: N/A

The Texas Rangers vie for their sixth win in seven games when they host the American League West-rival Houston Astros in the middle contest of their three-game series Tuesday. Texas claimed the opener on Monday, outlasting Houston 12-9 as Adrian Beltre hit for the cycle and drove in three runs.

Beltre matched a major-league record, joining John Reilly, Bob Meusel and Babe Herman as the only players to register three cycles in their careers. The Rangers improved to 5-3 on their 10-game homestand while the Astros kicked off their nine-game road trip with their first loss in three contests. Houston scored seven of its nine runs on homers, as Jason Castro, rookie Carlos Correa and Luis Valbuena went deep. Texas is 6-4 thus far in the season series, with the teams meeting for a four-game set in Arlington from Sept. 14-17 and a three-game showdown in Houston from Sept. 25-27.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Houston), FSN Southwest (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Dan Straily (0-0, 5.06 ERA) vs. Rangers Yovani Gallardo (7-9, 3.39)

Straily is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Fresno to make his third start of the season in place of newcomer Mike Fiers, who was used out of the bullpen on Monday. The 26-year-old Straily received no-decisions at Cleveland and Boston early last month, yielding a total of seven runs - six earned - in 10 2/3 innings. The native of California is 3-1 with a 4.23 ERA in seven career turns against Texas.

Gallardo's winless drought reached six starts Thursday as he managed to escape with a no-decision against the New York Yankees after surrendering five runs and eight hits in six innings. The 29-year-old Mexican, who hasn't won since June 27 at Toronto, has yielded five runs in each of his last three turns. One of those outings was at Houston on July 19, when he fell to 14-4 lifetime versus the Astros after a four-inning stint.

WALK-OFFS

1. Castro's homer on Monday was a grand slam, marking the first time since 1985 the Astros had two catchers accomplish the feat in the same season. Hank Conger belted a grand slam Saturday against Arizona.

2. Correa has belted 13 home runs in 48 games this season, including four in his last four contests.

3. Fiers had a rough debut in relief for Houston in the series opener as he was reached for six runs on seven hits and three walks in five innings.

PREDICTION: Rangers 6, Astros 1

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rays at White Sox

GAME: Tampa Bay Rays (53-54) at Chicago White Sox (50-54)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, August 04 - 8:10 PM EST
WHERE: U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago, Illinois
LINE: 114, -123 TOTAL: 6.5

Tampa Bay’s Chris Archer takes on fellow American League All-Star Chris Sale when the Rays visit the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday in a marquee matchup on the mound. Sale (177) and Archer (173) join Cleveland’s Corey Kluber (176) among the top three in the American League in strikeouts, but have found it difficult adding victories to their impressive numbers of late.

Archer will attempt to lead Tampa Bay to its third straight victory overall and fourth in a row against the White Sox this season while climbing back to the .500 mark. Mikie Mahtook’s go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning gave the Rays a 5-4 victory in the series opener Monday and Evan Longoria posted three hits for the second time in four games. Archer must contend with slugger Jose Abreu, who belted his 19th homer Monday and is 20-for-52 during a 14-game hitting streak. Melky Cabrera is 23-for-50 over the last 12 games for Chicago, but went 0-for-4 in the series opener.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Sun Sports (Tampa Bay), CSN Chicago

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Chris Archer (9-8, 2.54 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Chris Sale (9-6, 3.20)

Archer is winless in his last six games, although he limited opponents to two or fewer runs in four of them, after winning six straight decisions. The 26-year-old North Carolina native permitted three runs over seven innings in a no-decision against the White Sox on June 13 during a 5-4 Tampa Bay victory. Abreu is 5-for-9 with a homer versus Archer, who is 1-0 with a 4.64 ERA in four career appearances (three starts) against Chicago.

Sale is coming off one of his worst outings of the season when he yielded seven runs and a season-high 12 hits over five innings at Boston. The Lakeland, Fla. native is 3-4 in his last nine starts, including a loss at Tampa Bay on June 14 as he gave up two runs over 6 2/3 frames. Asdrubal Cabrera is 9-for-35 with four doubles and two homers versus Sale, who is 2-3 in seven career games (five starts) with a 3.48 ERA against the Rays.

WALK-OFFS

1. The White Sox have homered in a season-high seven straight contests and recorded 19 blasts in their last 12 outings.

2. Tampa Bay 1B-3B Richie Shaffer went 0-for-2 in his major-league debut Monday and became the 17th rookie to play for the team, breaking the franchise record for a single season.

3. Chicago 2B Carlos Sanchez had no homers in his first 88 major league games, but boasts three in the last 10 after going deep in the series opener.

PREDICTION: Rays 3, White Sox 1

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Padres at Brewers

GAME: San Diego Padres (52-54) at Milwaukee Brewers (44-63)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, August 04 - 8:10 PM EST
WHERE: Miller Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
LINE: -102, -106 TOTAL: 7.5

The San Diego Padres entered the season with a lot of hype but were a major disappointment over the first half of the season. San Diego has engineered a recent turnaround with eight victories in 10 games entering Tuesday's contest against the host Milwaukee Brewers.

The Padres rolled to a 13-5 trouncing in Monday's opener of the four-game set as Yangervis Solarte drove in four runs while recording the first multi-homer performance of his career. San Diego has scored 43 runs in its last six contests and pulled within two games of .500 while being on the fringe of the National League wild-card race. Milwaukee has lost six consecutive games, scoring only 13 runs during the skid. The Brewers are a dismal 20-34 at home, the worst mark in the majors.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN San Diego, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Andrew Cashner (4-10, 4.13 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Jimmy Nelson (8-9, 3.76)

Cashner escaped with a no-decision against the New York Mets in his last outing after allowing seven runs (five earned) and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. He has posted just two wins in his last 10 starts and given up five or more earned runs four times during the stretch. Cashner is 2-1 with a 3.43 ERA in nine career appearances (three starts) against Milwaukee.

Nelson hasn't allowed a run over his last two starts - a span of 14 innings - and has won five of his last six decisions. He received a no-decision against the Chicago Cubs in his last turn, when he struck out eight and gave up two hits in seven frames. Nelson made his lone start against San Diego during the 2014 season and took the loss after giving up four runs (two earned) and five hits in five innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Padres 2B Jedd Gyorko recorded three hits in the opener and is 11-for-24 with one homer and five RBIs over his last six contests.

2. Milwaukee LF Khris Davis was hitless in three at-bats on Monday and is 2-for-21 over his last seven games.

3. San Diego SS Alexi Amarista is 4-for-9 with one homer, two triples, one double and five RBIs over his last two contests.

PREDICTION: Padres 4, Brewers 3

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mariners at Rockies

GAME: Seattle Mariners (49-58) at Colorado Rockies (44-60)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, August 04 - 8:40 PM EST
WHERE: Coors Field, Denver, Colorado
LINE: -113, 104 TOTAL: 11

Highly regarded prospect Jon Gray makes his major-league debut on Tuesday, when the Colorado Rockies host the Seattle Mariners in the second contest of a three-game series. Gray was the third overall selection of the 2013 draft and nearly won a rotation spot in spring training before being optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque.

The 23-year-old Gray has pitched only 276 minor-league innings but the Rockies feel he is ready to make an impact. "We felt like we'd see him at some point this year, and that day has arrived," Colorado manager Walt Weiss told reporters. "I'm excited to see him out there, and I'm sure he is too, but we've got to remember he's still a young kid and he'll go through some of the growing pains that young players go through." Seattle posted an 8-7 victory in Monday's series opener as Nelson Cruz continued his torrid production by homering for the fourth straight contest and extending his hitting streak to 14 games. Cruz has gone deep nine times during the streak to reach 30 for the third time in his career.

TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, ROOT (Seattle, Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH Vidal Nuno (0-1, 2.02 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Jon Gray (NR)

Nuno is drawing a spot start in the rotation hole created by the trade of J.A. Happ to Pittsburgh. He is starting for the first time this season and has a 3-13 record and 4.08 ERA in 31 major-league starts. Nuno is 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA in two career outings against Colorado.

Gray overcame a slow start at Albuquerque and went 6-6 with a 4.33 ERA in 21 appearances (20 starts). He struck out 110 batters in 114 1/3 innings and didn't last longer than five frames in any of his last four turns. "Confidence carries over from good outing to good outing, and when you have a few good ones in a row, you start to feel really good," Gray told reporters. "Then there's a really low chance that you're going to go out there and not get a quality start."

WALK-OFFS

1. Rockies CF Charlie Blackmon recorded four hits on Monday and is 9-for-21 with four doubles and one triple over his last five games.

2. Seattle LF Seth Smith was hitless in three at-bats in the series opener and is 2-for-22 over his last seven contests.

3. Colorado 2B DJ LeMahieu struck out in all five at-bats in the opener following a stretch during which he notched at least one hit in 22-of-23 games.

PREDICTION: Rockies 11, Mariners 9

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Indians at Angels

GAME: Cleveland Indians (48-57) at Los Angeles Angels (56-49)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, August 04 - 10:05 PM EST
WHERE: Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, California
LINE: 104, -113 TOTAL: 7.5

The struggling Los Angeles Angels look to put together a winning streak as they host the Cleveland Indians for the middle contest of their three-game series Tuesday. Los Angeles halted its six-game slide with a 5-4 triumph in Monday's opener as Conor Gillaspie belted a two-run homer in the sixth inning to turn a deficit into a one-run lead.

With just their second victory in 11 contests, the Angels climbed within three games of first-place Houston in the American League West. Yan Gomes launched a two-run shot while Michael Brantley and Carlos Santana each recorded two hits and an RBI for Cleveland, which suffered its third straight loss and ninth in 12 games. The Indians are 2-3 on their seven-game road trip, scoring a total of six runs in the losses and 11 overall on the trek. Monday's contest was the opener of the six-game season series between the clubs, which concludes with three at Cleveland from Aug. 28-30.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), FSN West (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Carlos Carrasco (11-8, 4.03 ERA) vs. Angels RH Matt Shoemaker (5-7, 4.24)

Carrasco tossed his second complete game of the season Thursday, allowing one run and two hits with seven strikeouts at Oakland. The victory snapped the 28-year-old Venezuelan's four-start drought during which he gave up a total of three runs over 13 frames in a pair of no-decisions. Carrasco is 1-0 with a 1.88 ERA in six career games (two starts) against the Angels.

Shoemaker has been superb in two starts since making a relief appearance at Seattle on July 12, registering 17 strikeouts while scattering five hits over 13 scoreless innings. The 28-year-old native of Michigan recorded the victory over Minnesota on July 21 before settling for a no-decision at Houston nine days later. Shoemaker won his only career start against Cleveland on June 17, 2014, when he yielded two runs and five hits while striking out 10 in eight frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Indians placed 2B Jason Kipnis on the disabled list with a shoulder injury and replaced him on the roster with INF Jose Ramirez, who went 0-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored hours after being recapped from Triple-A Columbus.

2. Angels LHP C.J. Wilson likely is done for the year as he is leaning toward undergoing season-ending surgery on his elbow.

3. Los Angeles DH David Murphy went 1-for-4 on Monday in his first game against the team that traded him last week.

PREDICTION: Angels 5, Indians 2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Orioles at Athletics

GAME: Baltimore Orioles (54-51) at Oakland Athletics (47-60)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, August 04 - 10:05 PM EST
WHERE: O.co Coliseum, Oakland, California
LINE: -117, 108 TOTAL: 7

The Baltimore Orioles seek their ninth victory in the last 11 games when they visit the Oakland Athletics in Tuesday's second contest of a three-game set. Baltimore rolled to a 9-2 victory in the series opener to move into a tie with the Minnesota Twins for the American League's second wild card.

The Orioles have produced 41 runs over the last seven games and had 14 hits in the opener. First baseman Chris Davis hit a three-run homer, catcher Caleb Joseph hit a two-run shot and center fielder Adam Jones had three hits for the second time in four games. Oakland has lost eight of its last 11 games and owns the AL's worst record at 47-60. Catcher Stephen Vogt had hits in his last two at-bats Monday after enduring 28 hitless ones, his second longest slump behind a career-opening 0-for-32 funk.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Baltimore), CSN California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Miguel Gonzalez (9-7, 4.28 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Chris Bassitt (0-4, 3.10)

Gonzalez lasted just 3 1/3 innings in his last start and gave up five runs and 10 hits while losing to Detroit. It marked the third time in six starts that he has allowed five or more runs and he has a 6.03 ERA during the stretch. Gonzalez has a 5.68 ERA in two career appearances (one starts) against Oakland and has enjoyed success against third baseman Brett Lawrie (2-for-18).

Bassitt is winless in five starts despite only allowing 10 earned runs and issuing three walks. He lost to Cleveland in his last turn when he gave up three runs and six hits in seven innings. Bassitt is 0-3 with a 2.63 ERA in five home appearances (three starts) this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Athletics CF Coco Crisp (neck) played for the first time since May 19 and went 2-for-4.

2. Baltimore 2B Jonathan Schoop had three hits in the opener and is 6-for-10 over the past three games.

3. Oakland claimed INF/OF Danny Valencia off waivers from Toronto and he is expected to join the club Tuesday.

PREDICTION: Orioles 5, Athletics 4

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Holy $hit betting stat of the day: Arrieta has been money on the road
By Justing Hartling

Jake Arrieta has been thriving in hostile territory this season and it has meant wins for the Chicago Cubs. In Arrieta’s 11 road games this season, the Cubbies are 9-2.

The right-hander has posted a 2.21 ERA away from Wrigley Field this season, which is almost a full point lower than his mark at home (3.07 ERA). Those 11 starts have seen Arrieta give up 58 hits and 18 earned runs over 73.1 innings pitched.

The good stats keep flowing for Arrieta, as the Cubs visit the Pittsburgh Pirates Tuesday. In two starts against the Buccos this season, Arrieta has a 1.29 ERA and has only allowing batters to hit .180.

Arrieta and the Cubs are currently -118 when they take to PNC Park Tuesday.