Wednesday 8/10/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Phillies (52-63) at Dodgers (64-49)

Game: 3
Venue: Dodger Stadium
Date: August 10, 2016 3:10 PM EDT

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Dodgers will shoot for their fifth consecutive win and a sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies in the series finale Wednesday at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers received contributions from several players while outscoring the Phillies 18-7 in the initial two games, including home runs by Howie Kendrick, Yasmani Grandal and Justin Turner on Tuesday in a 9-3 rout.

"The team's starting to come together," said Dodgers rookie shortstop Corey Seager, who went 2-for-5 with an RBI. "Everybody's picking each other up, whether it's the bullpen one night, the hitters the next night. It's what you're looking for at the end."

Added Kendrick, "It's a good night for the team, just in general. We had a lot of guys come out and swing the bats well. It was just a fun night in general. A good night all around."

Phillies right-hander Jeremy Hellickson (9-7, 3.72 ERA) will try to change the good vibes for the Dodgers when he opposes southpaw Scott Kazmir (9-5, 4.51 ERA) on Wednesday. Hellickson is 4-1 with a 2.64 ERA in his past five starts with 28 strikeouts and seven walks in 44 1/3 innings.

Hellickson beat the San Diego Padres in his last start on Friday, allowing three runs on six hits in 6 2/3 innings with three strikeouts and two walks in a 5-4 decision.

In three career starts against the Dodgers, Hellickson is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA.

Hellickson hopes to slow a Los Angeles offense that has ripped the Phillies pitching in two straight contests, recording 13 hits Tuesday and 11 on Monday. The Dodgers also have seven homers in the series.

He will be contending with several hot Los Angeles hitters.

Yasmani Grandal homered in each of the first two games of the series. He has hit safely in nine games.

Adrian Gonzalez recorded his fourth consecutive multi-hit game Tuesday, smacking a couple of doubles and going 2-for-4. Gonzalez is batting .364 in his past 36 games.

Justin Turner hit a two-run home run and extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a 2-for-5 night. Turner is tied with Corey Seager for the club lead in home runs with 21.

Kazmir has lost his last two outings after posting an unbeaten run in 13 consecutive starts, winning seven straight. In his last start, Kazmir allowed four runs on five hits with five walks and two strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings during a 9-0 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Friday.

The last time Kazmir pitched against the Phillies was Sept. 21, 2014, as a member of the Oakland A's. Kazmir fanned nine and walked one, but he gave up six runs on 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision. He is 1-1 with 7.04 ERA in three career starts against Philadelphia.

Kazmir will try to slow Freddy Galvis, who registered his 24th multi-hit game of the season -- and second in three games -- by going 2-for-3 with a solo home run and two stolen bases Tuesday. Galvis homered for the 10th time this season, the first time in five seasons he has reached double digits.

Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez has reached base 17 games in a row, though he extended his streak Tuesday with only a walk while going 0-for-4.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Indians (63-47) at Nationals (66-46)

Game: 2
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: August 10, 2016 4:05 PM EDT

WASHINGTON -- The Cleveland Indians starting rotation is suddenly on a roll.

After struggling through a tough stretch last week, right hander Josh Tomlin will look to turn in the team's fourth consecutive strong outing when the Indians close out their two-game series at the Washington on Wednesday.

Tuesday night was Trevor Bauer's turn. He bounced back from the worst outing of his career to pitch 6 1/3 shutout innings for the win as the Indians defeated the Nationals 3-1.

That followed quality work from Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco over the weekend. The trio combined for a 1.27 ERA over 21 1/3 innings over the three games.

"What it does is it kind of sets up everybody for their roles," said bench coach Brad Mills, who managed Tuesday's game when Terry Francona was taken ill prior to the start. "It's sure nice to get, there's no doubt."

Like Bauer, Tomlin (11-4, 3.81 ERA) hopes to rebound from a bad outing. He allowed a season-high seven earned runs on nine hits over 4 2/3 innings in his last start, a loss to the Yankees.

Tomlin ranks second in the majors in walks per nine innings (1.15) and third in strikeout to walk ratio (5.56). He'll be making his first career start versus the Nationals, and owns a career .600 batting average (6-for-10).

The Nationals meanwhile are suddenly struggling to score runs, winning 1-0 on Sunday before Tuesday's loss.

Max Scherzer took a no-hitter into the seventh before surrendering two runs. Jayson Werth's homer cut the deficit to one before the Indians added a run in the ninth.

"It went from a no-hitter to a loss in a matter of time and we couldn't muster too much offense," Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. "We hit a couple balls hard, but they hit a couple balls hard also. It was a well-played and well-pitched game."

Perhaps it's no coincidence that Washington was again without Bryce Harper, who's now missed two straight games with a stiff neck.

"He's been getting worked on and stuff," Baker said. "Anybody that's had a stiff neck realizes how tough that is, especially to swing. He's on a day-to-day basis."

The reigning National League MVP, Harper is hitting just .233, but is second on the team with 20 homers and third with 57 RBIs.

Werth also drew a walk in Tuesday's loss as he extended his on-base streak to 39 games.

Washington starter Gio Gonzalez (7-9, 4.13) has been resurgent of late. He enters with a 3-1 record and a 2.03 ERA in his last five starts, including 6 1/3 innings with just two earned runs allowed in a no-decision at Cleveland on July 16.

Gonzalez, the former Oakland Athletic, has enjoyed facing the Indians. In eight career starts against them, he's 5-0 with 1.07 ERA, though only one of those meetings has come since 2013.

He'll have to contend with a red-hot Jose Ramirez. Hitting in the fourth spot, Ramirez drove in two runs with two hits Tuesday night, stole a base and scored a run.

"He's been doing it all year," Mills said after the game. "He was hitting cleanup tonight for a reason."

In his last 15 games, Ramirez is batting .407 (22-for-54) with five doubles, two home runs, five RBIs, 10 runs scored and eight stolen bases.

One question mark for Cleveland is the status of its manager. Mills said Francona, who had expressed discomfort during his pregame media session, was examined at the ballpark.

"He started feeling ill. I know the doctors checked him out and so forth and they just felt it'd be better for him to go back to the hotel and he did," Mills said.

"Knowing him he was probably really agonizing during the game, but I think he's doing fine hopefully and we'll see how it works out for tomorrow."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Padres (48-64) at Pirates (56-54)

Game: 2
Venue: PNC Park
Date: August 10, 2016 7:05 PM EDT

PITTSBURGH -- Ryan Vogelsong, the Pittsburgh Pirates' 39-year-old starting pitcher, literally gave them all he had in his first start in 2 1/2 months.

Now that Vogelsong is starting again for a team that has labored all season to find a reliable rotation, the Pirates hope the right-hander can give them a similar outing Wednesday against the San Diego Padres and another veteran starter, Edwin Jackson.

Vogelsong, reacquired by the Pirates this season to give them a veteran arm who could start or relieve, allowed Atlanta only one run and three hits over six innings Thursday in his first start since being slammed in the face by a Jordan Lyles pitch May 23 against the Colorado Rockies.

Vogelsong's face still bears some visible damage of taking 94-mph fastball to his upper left cheekbone, and there were some doubts immediately after he sustained facial fractures whether he'd pitch again this season. But, taking the mound again for the first time since that scary moment, he was more than outstanding against the Braves.

It was the kind of give-them-all-you've-got-and-more performance the Pirates have seen only sporadically during an up-and-down season, even though they eventually lost the game 5-2.

Vogelsong wasn't sure at times during his recovery that he'd be back.

"I've been doing this a long time and I don't know much else other than baseball," he told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "It's kind of scary when you think about what you might have to do if you can't play anymore. I was pretty determined to get back and not let this thing beat me.

"(But) there were moments when I wasn't sure. To be able to make it back and pitch a big league game and throw the ball like that again, it was icing on the cake."

Vogelsong probably didn't figure to be in the Pirates' rotation this late in the season, but the trade of Francisco Liriano and the repeated failings of Jonathon Niese, Juan Nicasio and Jeff Locke -- a former All-Star who's now in the bullpen -- have him starting again.

The Pirates, now out of the NL Central race that's being dominated by the Chicago Cubs, remain in the mix for a fourth consecutive NL wild card berth, but the rotation's struggles aren't helping those chances.

Similarly, the Padres certainly didn't plan on the well-traveled Jackson being in their rotation less than a month away from Labor Day, but the constant adjustment of their starting five led them to sign him to a minor league deal in June. In four starts with his 11th major league team, he's flirted with a no-hitter while going 2-1 with a 4.62 ERA in 25 1/3 innings.

Jackson is 2-3 with a 3.98 ERA while pitching 40 2/3 innings in PNC Park during a career that began with the Dodgers at age 19 in 2003 -- or three years after Vogelsong debuted with the Giants at age 22.

"I just want to go out every fifth day and give the team a chance to win," Jackson told the San Diego Union-Tribune, repeating the oft-spoken theme of almost every starting pitcher. "At the end of the day, that's your job -- just to keep the team in the game. So you go out every five days trying to do that as much as you can."

The Pirates won 6-4 on Tuesday in the first game of the three-game series, with Gregory Polanco's three-run homer driving a four-run Pirates fifth inning. The Padres, who are 2-2 against Pittsburgh this season, started six rookies.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rays (46-66) at Blue Jays (64-50)

Game: 3
Venue: Rogers Centre
Date: August 10, 2016 7:07 PM EDT

TORONTO -- With each win, J.A. Happ continues to set a personal best.

The Toronto Blue Jays left-hander won 12 games in 2009 with the Philadelphia Phillies. That total is barely visible in the rear-view mirror as he goes for his 16th win Wednesday in the series finale, and rubber match, of a three-game set with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Happ (15-3, 3.09 ERA) will be facing left-hander Blake Snell (3-4, 2.95 ERA) at Rogers Centre.

Happ also will be trying for his 10th straight winning decision after losing against the Detroit Tigers on June 6. In 10 starts since the loss, he is 9-0 with a 2.49 ERA.

He also has allowed one or no walks in five of his past seven starts and has 41 walks against 116 strikeouts in 137 innings, which he credits pitching coach Pete Walker for.

"It's something Pete stressed to us at the start of the year," Happ said. "It's a big reason we've had the success we've had. We're out there attacking the zone and we've got a great defense behind us, so we just let them do their work."

The Rays have been a tough opponent for Happ.

In 12 career games, including 11 starts, against Tampa Bay, Happ is 2-3 with a 5.37 ERA. This season, he is 0-1 with a 7.98 ERA in three starts against Tampa Bay.

He will also be pitching on five days' rest for the sixth time this season. He has gone 2-3 with an 8.25 ERA in five previous start with an extra days' rest.

Meanwhile, Snell is one of the bright spots in a gloomy season for the Rays.

Snell will be making the 11th start of his major league career Wednesday.

"I'm going to have to be on my A-game, but I'm really looking forward to it," said the 23-year-old who has never faced the Blue Jays.

"There's a lot of excitement, and there should be," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "This organization has seen some really good young pitchers come up, and I think he fits right into that mode."

Snell did not factor in the decision Friday, a 6-2 Rays' loss to the Minnesota Twins, when he allowed four hits, two walks and one run while striking out seven in 5 1/3 innings. He has allowed two or fewer runs in five consecutive starts, lowering his ERA from 3.86 to 2.95. He has 56 strikeouts in 55 innings, a 9.16 ratio of strikeouts per nine innings, second to Baltimore Orioles right-hander Mychal Givens among American League rookies.

He will be facing a Toronto team that is known for its ability to score runs but has been slumping with the bats.

After the 9-2 loss to the Rays on Tuesday, the Blue Jays are averaging 2.8 runs over their past 10 games in which they have recorded double-digit hits once. They are 5-5 in that span.

Toronto left the bases loaded in the sixth inning Tuesday and did not score a run, an example of its recent scoring woes.

"We're putting guys on base," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said after Tuesday's loss. "We had some traffic. We're just looking for that big blow."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Diamondbacks (46-66) at Mets (57-55)

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

NEW YORK -- New York Mets right-hander Bartolo Colon needs a win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night in order to become only the second active pitcher to beat all 30 major league clubs. The Mets just need a win against anyone.

Colon will pursue a neat bit of history -- and attempt to reverse the fortunes of the sinking Mets -- when he takes the mound in the middle game of a three-game series against the Diamondbacks at Citi Field. Arizona won Tuesday's opener, 5-3.

The 43-year-old Colon, who earned the victory in his most recent start last Thursday by allowing one run over 6 2/3 innings as the Mets beat the New York Yankees 4-1, is looking to become the 17th player to beat all 30 teams. He has made just two career starts against the Diamondbacks, who began play in 1998 -- Colon's second season in the majors.

The only other active pitcher with wins against all 30 major league clubs is Chicago Cubs right-hander John Lackey, who joined the fraternity when he earned the victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on April 19.

The Mets would be thrilled if Colon earned the milestone win, because it would give them yet another shot at their own, less impressive achievement: Winning two straight games for the first time in more than a month.

New York (57-55) has not won consecutive games since July 7-8. The Mets, who are 2 1/2 games behind the Miami Marlins in the race for the National League's second wild card, are 10-17 since their last "winning streak."

"It's kind of like it's been one step forward and two steps back for us," Mets second baseman Neil Walker said. "We're playing hard. This is a hard time of the year. This is a grind-it-out (time) of year."

The Diamondbacks (46-66) long ago stepped out of the playoff race, but manager Chip Hale is hopeful his team can play spoiler this week during a six-game road trip to New York and Boston, where Arizona begins a three-game series against the Red Sox at Fenway Park on Friday night.

The win on Tuesday was the third in the last four games for the Diamondbacks, who took two of three form the Milwaukee Brewers at Chase Field in a series that ended Sunday.

"These guys are ready to go," Hale said. "It's fun coming to these atmospheres. Lot of fans, gets guys pumped up. So hopefully we respond and we keep playing like we did (over the) weekend and win the series."

Diamondbacks left-hander Robbie Ray is scheduled to oppose Colon. Ray has lost his last three starts despite striking out 30 and walking just five over 16 2/3 innings in that span. He did not factor into the decision in his lone previous start against the Mets on June 4, 2015, when he tossed five shutout innings in Arizona's 6-2 defeat.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Yankees (56-56) at Red Sox (61-50)

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

BOSTON -- Alex Rodriguez is likely to start only in the third and final game of the New York Yankees' three-game series against the Red Sox on Thursday night.

New York manager Joe Girardi, asked before Tuesday night's opener of Rodriguez's final Yankee series on the road, said the controversial slugger would not start Tuesday and likely not start Wednesday against left-hander Drew Pomeranz.

That would leave Thursday night, when knuckleballer Steven Wright goes for the Red Sox.

Rodriguez will then play one more home game, Friday night against the Tampa Bay Rays, before being released. He is slated to sign a contract as an advisor to team managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner while collecting the rest of his player salary, but there is the chance he could sign with another team, either for the stretch run or next season.

Rodriguez, who met the media in the visitors' dugout before the game, said he was "disappointed" not to be starting the two games. Girardi, whose team is still somewhat alive in the wild card chase, said, "We're trying to win games."

Clearly, Rodriguez is no longer helping them win games.

Rodriguez, hitting just .204 with nine homers and 29 RBIs heading into his final four games with the team, was batting only .219 with three homers and 11 RBIs in 73 at-bats against lefties. He was at .196 with six homers and 18 RBIs against righties and was 3-for-22 lifetime against right-hander Rick Porcello, who started for Boston on Tuesday.

He is 1-for-5 against Wright but did have success against knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. He has never faced Pomeranz, who takes his fifth shot at his first win in a Red Sox uniform when he faces Nathan Eovaldi in the second game of the series.

Pomeranz, who went from the National League All-Star team to the Red Sox, is 0-2 with a 6.20 ERA since arriving in Boston. He is coming off a six-inning outing (the most innings he has thrown in a game for the Red Sox) at Seattle where he allowed two runs on four hits, walked six (one intentional) and struck out six.

He will be working for the first time since an ESPN report suggested he might have been damaged goods when acquired, the report also saying the Red Sox will not seek compensation.

"To my knowledge, he's gone through his work between starts, he's taken the ball as we anticipated," said manager John Farrell.

Pomeranz pitched against the Yankees with San Diego on July 2, yielding a run on five hits and striking out seven in seven innings. He then threw seven innings of two-hit/shutout ball against the Dodgers in Los Angeles and that was it for his career with the Padres.

Eovaldi, who throws as hard or harder than any starter in the major leagues, has lost his last two starts to fall to 9-8 and is 2-2 with a 3.60 ERA in four starts since returning to the rotation after a demotion to the bullpen. His nine wins lead the Yankees and he is 3-0 with a 4.60 ERA lifetime against the Red Sox -- 2-0 with a 5.94 in three starts at Fenway Park.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Reds (46-66) at Cardinals (59-54)

Game: 3
Venue: Busch Stadium
Date: August 10, 2016 7:15 PM EDT

ST. LOUIS -- Crank up the hype machines.

St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Alex Reyes is no longer a prospect by definition, now that he's a big leaguer with a clean inning under his belt to boot.

Reyes retired the Cincinnati Reds on 11 pitches in the ninth inning Tuesday night and could be back in action Wednesday evening when the teams close out their three-game series in Busch Stadium.

The 21-year old right-hander backed up the scouting reports with live stuff. He fanned his first batter, All-Star left fielder Adan Duvall, with a 101 mph fastball, then got consecutive bouncers to the right side as what remained of a crowd of 40,113 stood and applauded.

"It's amazing, it's a dream come true," Reyes said. "I was out there having fun. It turned out pretty well for me."

Reyes' first major league inning also drew the attention of Cincinnati manager Bryan Price.

"It was electric," Price said of Reyes' stuff, which also included a pair of knuckle-curves. "He's a top of the rotation talent. It looks like they have another good one."

However, Reyes' successful debut didn't keep St. Louis (59-54) from falling a game behind Miami for the National League's second wild-card spot. The Cardinals' 7-4 defeat dropped them to 3-5 in a nine-game stretch against two of the NL's last-place team that ends Wednesday night.

Winning the series' rubber game doesn't figure to be easy for St. Louis. It has to solve Reds right-hander Anthony DeSclafani (6-0, 2.94), who was 3-0 against the Cardinals last year.

DeSclafani will be opposed by St. Louis left-hander Jaime Garcia (8-8, 4.04), who notched a 1-0 win Friday night against Atlanta, whiffing 11 as he tossed a three-hit shutout over eight innings.

Garcia owns a sterling 10-4 career record against Cincinnati with a 3.75 earned run average in 20 career outings. At home, those numbers are even better, as Garcia is 7-1 with a 2.32 ERA.

The key for success in this one for Garcia might be keeping Reds leadoff man Billy Hamilton off base. The center fielder has stolen nine bases in the last three games, including three Tuesday night, and has 48 in 54 tries for the season.

With Cincinnati (46-66) out of contention for a playoff spot, winning the major league stolen base title carries some cachet for Hamilton.

"It's always good to lead the league in something," he said. "The job of the leadoff man is to get into scoring position."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Angels (49-63) at Cubs (70-41)

Game: 2
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: August 10, 2016 8:05 PM EDT

CHICAGO -- Where's Tommy?

Chicago Cubs infielder Tommy La Stella was assigned to Triple-A Iowa on July 29, but hasn't reported after 11 days and the Cubs weren't exactly sure of his whereabouts this week.

So Chicago decided to place La Stella on the temporarily inactive list on Tuesday as they await a decision on if or when he will report to the minors and resume his career.

"I've texted him, I talked to him a couple of days ago," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said on Tuesday. "I don't have a lot to report other than he's not here, he's not in Triple-A and he's back home working out.

"He's not angry, he's not upset. He's just at that point now he doesn't know exactly what he wants to do," Maddon said.

La Stella was reportedly unhappy with the transfer to Iowa, but it wasn't necessarily performance-related. A versatile infielder and left-handed batter, La Stella was hitting .295 with two home runs and eight RBIs in 51 games this season.

But Chicago had options left with La Stella and he didn't have to clear waivers unlike players like Matt Szczur and Chris Coghlan, who have also spent time this season in the minors.

And any transfer to Iowa was viewed as temporary. LaStella was likely to be back when rosters expand on Sept. 1 and even sooner if a key injury occurred.

"Hopefully he's going to get back relatively soon," said Maddon. "We'd love to have him back."

LaStella, 27, was optioned to Triple-A as the Cubs activated Coghlan off the 15-day disabled list.

La Stella has made no public comment.

Angels right-hander Tim Lincecum, a Cy Young Award winner while with the San Francisco Giants, had no issues with accepting a demotion to Triple-A Salt Lake City with an eye to regaining his earlier form.

"We're really happy that Tim is going to go down and pitch," Angels manager Mike Scioscia told reporters. "We all feel that there's a major league pitcher that is hopefully going to blossom out of the pitcher that's making adjustments like Tim (is)."

The Angels also shuffled other pitchers around on Tuesday.

They claimed left-hander Brett Overholtzer off waivers from Philadelphia, placed right-hander Cam Bedrosian on the 15-day disabled list (middle finger tendinitis) and selected the contract of right-hander A.J. Achier from Triple-A Salt Lake.

The short Wrigley Field series concludes on Wednesday as the Angels send recently-acquired right-hander Ricky Nolasco (4-8, 5.23 ERA) against Cubs righty Jason Hammel (11-5, 3.07 ERA).

The start will be Nolasco's second with the Angels since arriving in an Aug. 1 trade with the Minnesota Twins. He did not factor in his first start last Thursday, allowing five earned runs on six hits in a six-inning outing.

Jason Heyward is 8-for-23 (.348) with a solo home run against Nolasco, while Miguel Montero has gone 6-for-24 (.250) with a homer and seven RBIs against him. Anthony Rizzo is 3-for-7 with a double, a homer and two RBIs.

As for Hammel, Mike Trout is the only active Angels player who has taken him deep. Trout is 4-for-13 (.308) with a homer and two RBIs against Hammel. Albert Pujols is 3-for-11 (.273) with an RBI and three walks while Yunel Escobar is 5-for-26 (.192) with an RBI and four strikeouts.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rockies (55-58) at Rangers (67-47)

Game: 3
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: August 10, 2016 8:05 PM EDT

DENVER -- When the Rockies and Rangers move their series to Texas on Wednesday, Colorado will be looking to stabilize its bullpen. The Rangers, meanwhile, will try to continue their torrid play as the schedule turns in their favor.

Texas has more home games remaining than any team in the majors -- 30 of the final 48 -- and it owns a 34-17 at home.

The Rangers beat the Rockies 7-5 on Tuesday, thanks to a four-run eighth, and 4-3 on Monday, thanks to a four-run ninth. In the past five games, Colorado relievers are 0-3 with three blown saves and a 9.19 ERA, having allowed 24 hits in 15 2/3 innings.

When the Rockies next carry a lead into the ninth inning, Adam Ottavino will be the closer, not Carlos Estevez. Manager Walt Weiss announced that change before Tuesday's game.

Estevez's ERA has rocketed from 3.66 to 5.18 in his past two games -- both blown saves and losses charged to him -- in which he allowed five hits and seven runs in two-thirds of an inning. Weiss said it was time for Estevez, a 23-year-old rookie, to regroup.

"I'm going to get him out of that role for a little bit, just let him catch his breath," Weiss said. "Part of my responsibility as a manager is to put guys in position to succeed.

"He's a young player. He's made of all the right stuff. He's going to be a great closer in this league for a long time. But that closing role is different from any other role in the bullpen, certainly. Because your failures never go unnoticed and you feel like you let your team down because the game's over.

"These are great lessons as a young closer in this league. And as I've said, his future is as a closer in this league. He just needs to catch his breath for a little bit, that's all. I've played with Hall of Fame closers. I've seen those guys give up devastating home runs. I saw those guys fail. It's part of the role."

Ottavino became the Rockies' closer on April 14, 2015, and he converted his three save opportunities before his last appearance April 25. He then hurt his elbow and underwent Tommy John surgery May 7.

Ottavino returned to the Rockies this season on July 5 and made 15 consecutive scoreless appearances totaling 11 2/3 innings before being moved into the closer's role. On Thursday and Friday, he made back-to-back appearances for the first time since he returned.

Jorge De La Rosa will start Wednesday for Colorado, which after winning 11 of 13 games has lost five of the past six. The Rockies just finished a 3-5 homestand, dropping their record to 28-29 at Coors Field. They are 27-29 on the road.

De La Rosa (7-7, 5.24 ERA) didn't figure in the decision Friday against the Miami Marlins. He allowed one run in six innings, but Estevez melted down in the ninth, and the Rockies lost 5-3.

He will oppose Texas left-hander Martin Perez (7-8, 4.33 ERA). Perez hasn't won a game since June 26, going 0-4 with a 6.33 ERA in his past seven starts. on Friday at Houston, Perez gave up five runs in seven innings during a 5-0 loss.

The Rangers (67-47) just concluded a trip that began with two losses before they won five of the next six games. Texas has won four consecutive games, with each one decided in the seventh inning or later.

"I keep saying this about this ballclub -- the heart, resilience and grit these guys have," manager Jeff Banister said. "I know they're just words, but these guys bring them to life every day they go out and play. They stay engaged. They're never out of it."

One of the main reasons is third baseman Adrian Beltre. Now that Ichiro Suzuki made it to 3,000 hits in the big leagues, the major-leaguer closest to 3,000 hits is Beltre with 2,882.

"His personality doesn't crave attention," Banister said, "but I hope the baseball world and baseball fans awaken to become huge fans -- if they're not already -- of a guy who is just a great baseball player. The offensive numbers that he has should wake you up and make you pay attention."

Beltre hit his 430th homer on Monday, putting him one behind Cal Ripken, who is 47th on the all-time list. Beltre is 40th in career hits. Beltre's two-run, game-tying double in the Rangers' four-run eighth Tuesday was double No. 580, which ranks 22nd, and he has 1,535 RBIs, which ranks 48th, two behind Joe DiMaggio.

"I listened to A-Rod talk about passion for the game and having fun playing it," Banister said, referring to Alex Rodriguez's press conference this week in which he announced he would play his last game Friday for the New York Yankees. "I think we have the poster child for that. All you have to do is show up and watch (Beltre) play. And there's an unwavering desire to kick everybody's behind on the other side. He wants to win as bad as any player I've ever been around."

Before the Rangers play Wednesday, designated hitter Prince Fielder is expected to announce his retirement. Fielder, 32, hasn't played since July 19, and he underwent season-ending neck surgery July 29, his second neck operation in two years.

In 89 games this season, Fielder hit .212 with eight homers and 44 RBI. A six-time All-Star, Fielder hit .283 with 319 home runs and an .887 on-base-plus-slugging percentage in 12 seasons.

"It's sad if he gets pushed out of baseball," Beltre said, "but health and family come first."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Braves (43-70) at Brewers (49-62)

Game: 3
Venue: Miller Park
Date: August 10, 2016 8:10 PM EDT

MILWAUKEE -- Though they have hardly any hope of a magical run to the postseason, the Atlanta Braves are quietly putting together one of their best stretches of baseball during an otherwise disappointing season.

The Braves' 2-1 victory Tuesday night at Milwaukee extended their winning streak to four games and with a victory over the Brewers on Wednesday night, Atlanta will have won its third consecutive series.

"I think you have to just stay the course," Braves manager Brian Snitzer said. "When you handle adversity there are good things on the other end of it. But you have to handle it. You take ownership of things and handle it. The way these guys come to the ballpark every day and prepare for today's game is very impressive to me. They are all professional. They do their work, get ready to play and leave it all out there when the game starts."

During their recent run of success, few Braves players have been hotter than outfielder Nick Markakis, who tied the game Tuesday with an RBI single, sparking a seventh-inning rally. He's been on a tear since the All-Star break, batting .353 with six doubles, two home runs and 14 RBIs.

"Winning is always fun for anybody whether you are playing for a playoff spot or you are playing for next year," Markakis said. "Whatever it may be, I'm excited for the guys. Hopefully we can keep it going."

Right-hander Joel De La Cruz will try to do just that for Atlanta, as he looks for his first victory of the season.

He allowed only a run on two hits his last time out, but walked five in a loss to the Cardinals.

"To be honest, I didn't really feel like I pitched my best tonight," De La Cruz said after the outing through a team interpreter. "I know I've got more out there, I've got more in the tank. I can do a little bit better next time. I feel like it wasn't my best performance and I'm looking forward to going out there and getting a better start."

Cruz actually began his professional career with the Brewers, who signed him as an amateur free agent in 2006 and appeared in two games for Milwaukee's Arizona Rookie League entry that season.

Milwaukee, meanwhile, will look to snap a three-game losing streak behind right-hander Chase Anderson, who has started to get back on track after a rocky stretch.

Over his last three starts, Anderson is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA. He took no decision his last time out, holding Arizona to two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out five in an 11-inning 3-2 loss to the Diamondbacks.

"(Yasmany Tomas) got the best of me tonight," Anderson said after the game. "But (I) kept the team in the game, and it was a great game until the end. Team fought hard, (catcher Martin Maldonado) did great back there, and it sucks to be on this side because our guys pitched really well."

Anderson, acquired over the offseason from Arizona, comes into the contest 6-10 with a 5.01 ERA and five quality starts in 22 outings.

He's faced Atlanta just once in his career, earning a victory after allowing two runs on five hits and a walk with eight strikeouts while with the Diamondbacks last season.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Astros (58-55) at Twins (46-67)

Game: 3
Venue: Target Field
Date: August 10, 2016 8:10 PM EDT

MINNEAPOLIS -- Jose Altuve is having an MVP-caliber season for the Houston Astros.

The American League's leading hitter will look to keep it going in game three of a four-game series against the Minnesota Twins when the teams play on Wednesday night at Target Field.

Altuve had four hits in Tuesday's 7-5 victory, one day after seeing his consecutive streak of 202 games played snapped with a day off in a loss on Monday.

"He looked refreshed," said Astros manager A.J. Hinch. "I don't think he ever has too much of a bad day. He came out with some fresh legs and the normal swing that he has. He's just continuing the remarkable season and doing everything you can ask out of a player."

All four of Altuve's hits on Tuesday were singles; and a couple of those were jam shots. But when you're hot, you're hot and Altuve has been on fire for the better part of the last three months.

Altuve is hitting .398 in 65 games since May 26 and an incredible .493 in 38 road games since May 1.

"You just try to throw it up there, make a good pitch and hopefully he hits it toward somebody," said Twins pitcher Hector Santiago, who took the loss on Tuesday. "Every time he hits the ball, it's somewhere where nobody is not. He always just seems to find a hole."

It's an attitude most pitchers have had regarding Altuve this season.

"You literally can't do anything else," Santiago said. "You get ahead in counts, put him in situations where the pressure is on him and he just seems to find the hole. He's one of the best hitters, obviously the best hitter right now, you just try to bear with it and minimize the damage."

The job of minimizing for the Twins will be that of Ervin Santana on Wednesday. If any pitcher can slow down Altuve, it's Santana, who has posted a 2.05 ERA over his last nine starts since mid-June.

Santana is 3-0 with a 2.20 ERA in four career starts against the Astros.

Houston will turn to left-hander Dallas Keuchel, who will try and build the Astros first winning streak in two weeks.

In nine starts since July 18, Keuchel has had just one clunker in which he allowed seven runs in five innings against Detroit on July 31. He rebounded with a complete game shutout his last time out against Texas, allowing just five men to reach base while striking out seven.

Keuchel was roughed up for five runs on seven hits and five walks in a loss to Minnesota on May 2 at Minute Maid Park.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: White Sox (54-58) at Royals (53-59)

Game: 2
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: August 10, 2016 8:15 PM EDT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Royals have a new man at the top of their batting order as they continue their series with the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night.

After contemplating the move for a while, manager Ned Yost moved hot-hitting Paulo Orlando to the leadoff slot, while dropping Alcides Escobar to eighth.

It was Orlando's first time batting atop the order this season. He did bat there for two games last year in April against Oakland, going 1-for-7 with a walk. Escobar had batted leadoff in 82 of the first 112 games.

"Paulo has been swinging the bat good, but we were waiting a little bit to get a little more offense out of the middle of our lineup cause if you can get on, but if you don't get driven in it doesn't do you any good," Yost said.

"I feel like (Eric) Hosmer and (Kendrys) Morales are swinging the bats better now, so we just decided to give it a shot."

Orlando, hitting .366 after the All-Star break, led off Tuesday's first inning with a double, the Royals first leadoff double since June 12 and the first extra-base hit off White Sox ace left-hander Chris Sale to open a game since May 12, 2015, a Jose Segura triple.

The White Sox beat the Royals 7-5 in 10 innings for their first victory in four games this season at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals are 7-3 against the White Sox this season.

The White Sox placed designate hitter and outfielder Avisail Garcia on the 60-day disabled list before the game Tuesday with a sprained right knee. Garcia joins eight others on the team's DL.

"Very bad timing," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "With the way he started to swing the bat and what he was showing, I mean, he was going to get an extended run to just see what he could do out there.

"I kind of think it's a missed opportunity in a way, but I don't think he intentionally did anything. It's unfortunate, especially with what he was starting to do with the bat."

Garcia said he heard his knee pop while he was stretching before his second at-bat Saturday.

"He said he put his foot over, tried to just stretch," Ventura said. "He felt something pop. Sunday it was pretty swollen, so they went and got some pictures done on it. They realized he has a strain there."

The White Sox recalled outfielder Jason Coats from Triple-A Charlotte to take Garcia's roster spot.

"Every time that I start hitting again, something happens," Garcia said. "Same thing, I was doing better, I was feeling really good. My hamstring, I hurt my hamstring and missed eight days. Now, again, I've got more playing time and now, my knee."

Left-hander Jose Quintana, who has had little success against the Royals, starts Wednesday. He is 0-2 with a 4.40 in two starts this year against Kansas City, allowing seven runs in 14 1/3 innings. In 20 career starts against the Royals, he is 1-8 with a 4.28 ERA.

Quintana, however, has been pitching well recently, going 4-0 with a 2.27 ERA in his past six starts.

Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer has only a .179 batting average off Quintana in 59 at-bats, but has two home runs and 10 RBIs. Paulo Orlando is 6-for-16 (.375) while catcher Salvador Perez has a .353 average, 18-for-51, with two home runs and eight RBIs.

The Royals start right-hander Ian Kennedy, who limited Tampa Bay to one hit in six scoreless innings in his previous start, a no-decision against the Rays. He lost on June 10 in his only start this season against the White Sox.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Orioles (63-49) at Athletics (50-63)

Game: 3
Venue: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Date: August 10, 2016 10:05 PM EDT

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Ross Detwiler had a nightmare season in 2015, going a combined 1-5 with a 7.25 ERA for the Texas Rangers and Atlanta Braves, and this year he made seven relief appearances for the Cleveland Indians before being sent to Triple-A Columbus.

Detwiler's baseball career was in a tailspin, but he has been on an upswing ever since a trade to the Oakland A's on July 17.

Detwiler went 4-0 in with a 3.86 ERA in four games, including three starts, for Triple-A Nashville. He will be recalled Wednesday to start for the A's against the Baltimore Orioles and Yovani Gallardo.

"It's been kind of a journey this year, but I kind of found a new love for the game a bit once I got to this organization," Detwiler said Tuesday before the Athletics' 2-1 victory against Baltimore. "I've had fun and I've been successful so I'm really excited to get the opportunity up here.

"Everybody in Nashville is just loose and had fun. I wouldn't say it was a chore before, but you just went to the field and it was a job. And now it's fun and they're winning a lot down there. It's a good team and a good group of guys. It kind of says a lot about the organization."

Detwiler has appeared in 180 major league games over nine seasons with 76 starts. He has made only seven big-league starts over the past three seasons, but he has spent most of this season at Triple-A as a starter, his preferred role.

"As a reliever you just don't really know when you're throwing," Detwiler said. "I'm a person that's always kind of had my own routine. Relieving was tough for me. Once I started again, I got back on a routine. I felt good about it. I was able to carry the routine over once I got traded over here. It's been working for me so I'm going to stick with it."

Gallardo (4-3) will make his 15th start of the season. He's coming off a solid outing Friday in a 7-5 victory against the Chicago White Sox. Gallardo allowed two runs on seven hits over six innings. He struck out three and walked one.

"Yovani's a professional," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "None of us are what we were at 24, 25, but he's a guy that knows how to pitch. Once he got through some of the physical problems he had, he has really kept us engaged in the competitive part of the game, and that's really what you ask from starters in the American League."

Gallardo went 13-11 with a 3.42 ERA last season for Texas before coming to Baltimore in a Jan. 19 trade. Before that, he went 89-64 with a 3.69 ERA from 2007-2014 for Milwaukee.

The A's won the first two games in the series. They beat the powerful Orioles 3-2 on Monday night when Kendall Graveman allowed one run over seven innings. Then on Tuesday night, Zach Neal moved from the bullpen to the rotation and gave up one run on two hits over 5 1/3 innings.

Detwiler is 0-2 with a 5.09 ERA in seven career appearances, including four starts, against Baltimore. He'll enter Wednesday's start, however, with renewed confidence.

"There's been kind of a resurgence in my off-speed (pitches), mostly my curveball," Detwiler said. "I've been able to throw it for strikes and bounce it a few times. I think that's why my strikeout numbers are up a little bit this year."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Tigers (61-52) at Mariners (59-53)

Game: 3
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: August 10, 2016 10:10 PM EDT

SEATTLE -- In their only six games played against non-playoff contenders since the All-Star break, the Seattle Mariners went 5-1 while inching back into the postseason picture.

That might be a good omen for a team that is about to see the softest part of its schedule.

The Mariners (59-53) have one more game against a fellow wild-card hopeful, the Detroit Tigers (61-52), before embarking on a 16-game stretch that features five opponents all at or below the .500 mark.

The Oakland A's, Los Angeles Angels, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox have already shipped off high-end talent such as Aroldis Chapman, Carlos Beltran, Jonathan Lucroy, Rich Hill and Josh Reddick, so Seattle might have a chance to make a move in the wild-card race.

Before any of that can happen, the Mariners play the final game of a Detroit series that could affect the AL playoff picture.

Seattle took the first two games of the series, including a memorable, 15-inning marathon that lasted 4 hours, 51 minutes on Tuesday night. Both teams were so strapped for pitchers that they had to use a starter in the extra frames, and the bullpens won't have many arms available for Wednesday.

The Mariners gave up a run in the top of the 15th inning Tuesday, then scored twice in the bottom of the inning for a 6-5 win.

"That was crazy," Seattle third baseman Kyle Seager said after the Mariners rallied twice to win their fifth consecutive game -- a season-best streak.

The final game of the series features two of the game's greatest pitchers of the past decade.

Detroit right-hander Justin Verlander (12-6, 3.52 ERA) and Seattle right-hander Felix Hernandez (6-4, 3.55 ERA) have combined for 17 Opening Day starts, 2,321 strikeouts, 12 All-Star appearances and two Cy Young Awards -- but they have pitched in the same game only twice, each earning a win over the other. The last time they squared off was in April 2009, when Verlander and the Tigers beat the Mariners 6-3.

Hernandez, 30, goes into the game with a little bit of momentum after rebounding from a rough first inning to pitch eight innings his last time out, Friday against the Angels. He is starting to round into form after a stint on the disabled list from May 28-July 19.

Verlander, meanwhile, is pitching as he did in his prime. Over his past seven starts, the 33-year-old veteran is 5-0 with a 1.85 ERA.

Verlander is always amped to pitch against fellow aces.

"Whether it's him versus (the New York Mets' Noah) Syndergaard or him versus Chris Sale (of the White Sox), his concentration goes up to another notch," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said after Verlander outdueled Syndergaard on Friday. "He wants to beat that guy. Even though they don't actually face each other in the American League, he wants to beat that guy or walk off the field with the lead."

Both starters will have even more on their shoulders as a pair of overworked bullpens try to piece it together for the final game of the series. Both teams ended up using eight pitchers in Tuesday's game. Every available bullpen arm pitched at least one inning -- except Tigers closer Felix Rodriguez, who got just two outs while allowing the tying and winning runs in the 15th.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Wednesday's Diamond Notes
By Joe Williams

Hottest team: Braves (4-0 past four, 6-1 past seven)

The Braves have caught fire on the road, winning four in a row by an average of 6.3 runs scored to just 3.0 runs allowed over the past four games. Atlanta has won four in a row against National League Central Division teams, and they have won six in a row on the road against right-handed starters. In addition, they're 5-1 in their past six games when facing a starting pitcher with a WHIP over 1.30, which Chase Anderson certainly qualifies. On the flip side, the Brewers have dropped five of their past six games overall, and they're just 9-23 in their past 32 games vs. RHP. Milwaukee is also just 6-13 in the past 19 starts with Anderson on the hill.

Coldest team: Angels (0-5 past five, 6-11 past 17)

The Angels have had difficulty scoring runs lately, and that's hard to believe with a lineup consisting of Albert Pujols, Mike Trout, etc. However, since July 17 the Halos have managed three or fewer runs in eight of their past 17 games while allowing five or more runs in 10 of the past 17. The Halos have really gone in the tank, losing their past five on the road, and each of their past four against right-handed starting pitching. They're also 7-19 in their past 26 road games vs. RHP, and 7-15 in their past 22 interleague battles, including 3-9 in their past 12 against NL Central foes.

Hottest pitcher: J.A. Happ, Rays (15-3, 3.09 ERA)

Happ has been a huge part of the team's surprising success this season, posting 15 wins with a 1.15 WHIP. Lately, he hasn't shown any signs of slowing down, going 3-0 with a 0.95 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 23 strikeouts with eight walks over the past 19 innings in his past three starts. Toronto has won each of Happ's past four outings against divisional foes, 6-0 in his past six starts against a team with a losing record and the Jays are 14-6 in their past 20 games at home. Toronto has won 16 of their past 23 games against divisional rivals, too.

Coldest pitcher: Ian Kennedy, Royals (6-9, 4.03 ERA)

Kennedy posted a 2.77 ERA in four April starts, a 3.24 ERA in six May starts, a 5.83 ERA in five June starts and a 4.96 ERA in six July starts. The biggest problem with Kennedy is his inability to keep the ball down and in the park, as he has given up 26 home runs in just 127 1/3 innings over 22 starts. The Royals have lost each of Kennedy's past seven outings, and they're 0-9 in their past nine games against left-handed starters, too. All signs appear to point to a ChiSox win, although Chicago is just 4-10 in their past 14 trips to Kauffman Stadium.

Biggest UNDER run: Rangers (8-0-2 past 10)

The last time the 'over' hit in a Texas Rangers game was July 29, 10 games ago. The 'under' is 8-1-3 in the past 12 interleague games for Texas, while going 4-1 in their past five games against a left-handed starter. In addition, Martin Perez is on the hill and the 'under' is 7-2 in Perez's past nine assignments, while going 3-0-1 in his past four interleague starts. And another 'under' might be coming, as the 'under' is 20-8 in Colorado's past 28 road games, and 4-1 in Jorge De La Rosa's past five road starts againt a team with a winning record.

Biggest OVER run: Rays (5-0 past five, 8-3 past 11)

The 'over' has connected in five in a row for the Rays, and 4-0 in their past five divisional battles. The 'over' has also went 8-2-3 in their past 13 road games against a left-handed starter while going 10-4-1 in their past 15 games following a victory. In addition, the 'over' is 6-0-2 in their past eight trips to Rogers Centre in Toronto, while cashing in each of the past five meetings overall. And umpire Clint Fagan is behind the dish for Wednesday's game, and the 'over' is 6-0 in his past six Toronto games.

Matchup to watch: Athletics vs. Orioles
The Athletics are giving the Orioles fits at O.co Coliseum, winning each of the first two games to drop the O's into a tie for first place. The struggles on the road are nothing new for the O's, as Baltimore has won just four of their past 14 games away from Camden Yards. They've been unable to take advantage of the dregs of the league, either, winning just two of their past eight road games against a team with a losing record. Baltimore is also 4-13 in their past 17 against AL West foes. The A's have won five straight against AL East teams, and they're 5-0 in their past five home games against a team with a losing road record.

Betcha didn’t know: Astros LHP Dallas Keuchel is 7-11 with a 4.56 ERA in 148 innings this season, a far cry from his Cy Young award-winning season of a year ago. He has turned things around at home, going 3-4 with a 3.18 ERA in 10 home outings, but he is absymal on the road with a 4-7 record and 5.74 ERA while the opposition is hitting .282 against him on the road. He works against the Twins in Wednesday's game, and he was tuned up for five runs, seven hits and five walks in just 4 1/3 innings in his first encounter with Minnesota this season back on May 2.

Biggest public favorite: Cubs (-200) vs. Angels

Biggest public underdog: Reds (+165) at Cardinals

Biggest line move: Angels (+225 to +195) at Cubs

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Wednesday, August 10, 2016, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews

We are in another golden era of talented young shortstops, and sometimes the Giants' Brandon Crawford gets overlooked in that group because he's not that young. But the 29-year-old is a heck of a player. And he had a heck of a game on Monday night in the Giants' 8-7 14-inning win in Miami. Crawford went an incredible 7-for-8, missing a cycle without a homer. Hit No. 7 was the go-ahead RBI single in the top of the 14th. That game raised Crawford's batting average from .265 to .278 and were more hits than he had in his previous 11 games combined. it also tied the NL record for hits in a game and was the first time someone reached seven since Pittsburgh's Rennie Stennett on Sept. 16, 1975. The major-league record, if you are wondering, and I was, is nine hits by the Indians' Johnny Burnett on July 10, 1932. He was 9-for-11 in an 18-17 18-inning loss to the Philadelphia Athletics. No one has ever had more than seven hits in a nine-inning game.


Phillies at Dodgers (-180, 8)

First pitch of 3:10 p.m. ET and should have live betting with it televised by the MLB Network. I never thought that Jeremy Hellickson (9-7, 3.72) would be starting for the Phillies after last Monday's trade deadline, but he did on Friday in San Diego and pitched well again, allowing three runs and six hits over 6.2 innings as the Phillies won his fourth straight outing. The Dodgers were one of the teams scouting him before the deadline, but they instead got Oakland's Rich Hill. Hellickson hasn't faced L.A. this year. Adrian Gonzalez is just 4-for-24 career off him but does have two homers and eight RBIs. Howie Kendrick is 2-for-14 against him. The Dodgers go with lefty Scott Kazmir (9-5, 4.51). He has dropped two straight and gave up four runs over 5.1 innings last week against Boston. This is Kazmir's first look at the Phillies this year.

Key trends: The Phillies are 4-1 in Hellickson's past five vs. teams with a winning record. The Dodgers are 5-2 in Kazmir's past seven vs. teams with a losing record. The "over/under" has gone under in seven of Hellickson's past nine. The over is 4-1 in Kazmir's past five.

Early lean: Dodgers and under.

Yankees at Red Sox (-168, 9.5)

Naturally, this is ESPN's Wednesday night offering. The Yankees go with Nathan Eovaldi (9-8, 4.80). He took a loss last time out against the Mets, giving up four runs and five hits over seven innings. Eovaldi is 1-for with a 5.02 ERA in two starts this year against the Red Sox. Hanley Ramirez is 8-for-19 off him with a homer and six RBIs. Dustin Pedroia is 5-for-13 with a homer. The Red Sox go with lefty Drew Pomeranz (8-9, 3.09). He has made four starts with Boston since coming over from San Diego but has yet to personally win any of them. He did pitch well Thursday in Seattle, allowing two runs and four hits over six innings. Now there's talk that the Padres might have withheld some medical information on Pomeranz before trading him. His second-to-last start with the Friars was a no-decision vs. the Yankees as he allowed a run and struck out seven over seven innings. I would think if Alex Rodriguez is going to start any game of this series it might be this one against a lefty. Rodriguez has no official career at-bats off him. Jacoby Ellsbury is 3-for-5 with two doubles against Pomeranz.

Key trends: The Yankees are 0-5 in Eovaldi's past five on the road. The over is 5-0 in those five.

Early lean: Red Sox and over.

Rays at Blue Jays (-190, 9)

The Jays have lost excellent defensive center fielder Kevin Pillar to the 15-day DL with a thumb injury suffered on Saturday. It's only a sprain, so he should miss the minimum amount of time. Pillar was hitting .261 with seven homers and 45 RBIs. It's time to start taking the Cy Young candidacy of Toronto left-hander J.A. Happ (15-3, 3.09) seriously. I'm quite sure there were no odds on him back in the spring, and his 15 wins are already a career high. The Jays haven't lost one of his starts since June 6. He won in Houston last Thursday, allowing one run and four hits over six innings. Happ is 0-1, however, with a 7.98 ERA in three starts this year against Tampa Bay, which isn't exactly an offensive powerhouse. Evan Longoria is a career .385 hitter off him in 26 at-bats. Steven Souza is 5-for-11 off him with two doubles and a homer. Tampa goes with rookie lefty Blake Snell (3-4, 2.95). This will be his first start vs. Toronto.

Key trends: The Rays are 1-5 in their past six against a lefty. The Jays are 6-0 in Happ's past six vs. teams with a losing record. The under is 10-3-1 in Happ's past 14 vs. teams with a losing record.

Early lean: Jays and under.

Angels at Cubs (-220, TBA)

If I'm a major-league GM and you give me a choice of two players to build my team around right now -- non-pitcher version -- then I'm going with two guys from this game in Angels outfielder Mike Trout and Cubs third baseman/outfielder Kris Bryant (Baltimore's Manny Machado a close third) . Perhaps not coincidentally, those two might be their league's MVP this year. I did pick Bryant to win that award at the All-Star break but liked Houston's Jose Altuve in the AL and still do. The Angels, who lose the DH in this interleague matchup, go with Ricky Nolasco, who was acquired (for some reason) from the Twins at the trade deadline. Nolasco (4-8, 5.23) was typically lousy in his Halos debut, allowing five runs (three homers) over six innings in a no-decision vs. Oakland. Bryant has never seen Nolasco. Jason Heyward is 8-for-23 off him with a homer. Chicago's Jason Hammel (11-5, 3.07) beat the Marlins last Tuesday with six shutout innings. He will come off the bereavement list for this game with a bit of extra rest. Trout is 4-for-13 off him with a homer.

Key trends: The Cubs are 8-2 in Hammel's past 10 at home. The over is 4-1 in his past five on seven or more days of rest.

Early lean: Cubs and over regardless of number (probably 8.5 unless wind blowing in).

Tigers at Mariners (+100, 7.5)

Nice matchup here of former Cy Young winners who were probably the AL's top two pitchers for a few years. It's Detroit's Justin Verlander (12-6, 3.52). He outdueled the Mets' Noah Syndergaard last time out, allowing two runs and four hits over six innings to start August on a good note after being named the AL Pitcher of the Month for July. Verlander beat the Mariners on June 21, giving up two runs and six hits over seven innings. Nelson Cruz is just 5-for-28 off him with seven strikeouts. Kyle Seager is 6-for-12 with two homers and seven RBIs. Seattle's Felix Hernandez (6-4, 3.55) beat the Angels in his last start, giving up four runs and three hits over eight innings. King Felix didn't face the Tigers in the earlier series. Miguel Cabrera is 11-for-26 career off him with two doubles. Ian Kinsler hits .238 off Hernandez with four homers and 13 strikeouts in 80 at-bats.

Key trends: The Tigers are 4-1 in Verlander's past five on the road. The Mariners are 7-1 in Hernandez's past eight on Wednesday. The under is 6-1 in Verlander's past seven on the road.

Early lean: Mariners and under.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

'Giant collapse'

San Francisco Giants at Miami Marlins August 10, 12:10 EST

The Giants have collapsed since the All-Star break with 15 losses in 22 games. No reason to think they'll turn things around in the finale at Marlins Park. San Francisco as a team has had its problems of late in an opposing park with just 4 wins the last 16 away from the home. Giants have certainly followed in that same vein in Miami with the club compiling a 1-5 record the past five visits.

Adding to Giants woes, starter Jeff Samardzija has fallen on hard times with just one win in eight attempts surrendering four or more runs in all but one game. Additionally, Samardzija is not your typical August Guy going 0-8 recently and compiling a 1-10 record his last eleven starts during the month.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MLB

Wednesday’s games

National League

Padres @ Pirates
Jackson is 2-1, 4.97 in four starts this year (over 2-2).

Vogelsong is 0-0, 1.39 (13 IP) in three starts this year (over 2-1).

Padres are 3-11 in last 14 road games;*six of last seven San Diego games went over total. Pittsburgh won*six of last*eight home games;*over is 6-2 in their last eight home games.

Giants @ Marlins
Samardzija is 0-3, 7.23 in his last four starts; his last three stayed under. Giants are 6-5 in his road starts.

Phelps shut Colorado out for 4.1 innings (70 PT) in his first ’16 start.

Giants lost 12 of last 16 road games;*under is 4-1-1 in their last*six games. Miami is 11-6 in its last 17 home games; six of last*seven Marlin home games went over the total.

Diamondbacks @ Mets
Ray is 0-3, 9.56 in his last three starts; three of his last four starts went over. Arizona is 2-9 when he starts on the road.

Colon is 2-1, 3.37 in his last three starts; under is 6-2-1 in his last nine. Mets are 5-5 in his home starts.

Diamondbacks lost 12 of last 16 road games;*seven of last*eight Arizona games went over. New York is 4-9 in its last 13 games; over is 6-1-1 Mets’ last*eight home games.

Braves @ Brewers
De la Cruz is 0-3, 4.57 in his four starts (under 3-1) this year.
Anderson is 2-0, 2.81 in his last three starts (under 3-0). Milwaukee is 5-5 when he starts at home.

Braves won*six of last*seven games; under is 7-4 in their last 11 road games. Milwaukee lost five of its last*six games; under is 11-3-1 in last 15 games at Miller Park.

Reds @ Cardinals
DeSclafani is 4-0, 3.89 in his last six starts; under is 5-1-2 in his last eight. Reds are 3-4 when he starts on the road.

Garcia is 2-2, 4.24 in his last four starts (under 3-1). Cardinals are 4-7 in his home starts.

Cincinnati is 14-8 in its last 22 games; under is 6-2-1 in Reds’ last*nine road games. Cardinals lost*seven of last*10 games;*over is 8-2-2 in their last*twelve games.

Phillies @ Dodgers
Hellickson is 3-0, 2.39 in his last four starts; eight of his last nine stayed under. Phillies are 6-4 in his road starts.

Kazmir is 0-2, 6.00 in his last two starts; four of his last five went over. Dodgers are 5-2 in his last seven home starts.

Philly is 5-9 in last 14 road games; over is 12-5 in its last 17 games. Dodgers*won five of last*six games;*under is 14-9 in their last 23 home games.


American League

Rays @ Blue Jays
Snell is 2-0, 1.93 in his last four starts (under 6-4). He is 1-1, 2.22 in four road starts.

Happ is 9-0, 2.64 in his last ten starts; under is 3-1-1 in his last five.*Blue Jays are 10-1 in his home*starts.

Rays lost five of last*seven road games;*five of Tampa Bay’s last*seven road games stayed under. Toronto won six of last*nine home games;*over is 6-0-1 in last*seven games at SkyDome.

New York @ Red Sox
Eovaldi is 2-6, 6.25 in his last eight starts; three of his last four stayed under. New York lost his last five road starts.

Pomeranz is 0-2, 6.20 in four starts for Boston (under 3-1).

New York lost*six of last seven road games; over is 12-5 in their last 17 road games. Red Sox are 7-11 in their last 18 games (under 13-5).

Astros @ Twins
Keuchel is 1-2, 3.09 in his last five starts; five of his last six stayed under. Astros are 4-8 in his road starts.

Santana is 3-2, 2.53 in his last six starts; six of his last eight stayed under. Minnesota is 2-8 in his home starts.

Astros lost 11 of last 15 games; under is 7-1-1 in last*nine Houston games. Minnesota won*nine of last 13 games;*10 of last*11 Twins games went over the total.

White Sox @ Royals
Quintana is 4-0, 2.29 in his last six starts; under is 17-3-1 in his last 21 starts. White Sox won five of his last six road starts.

Kennedy is 0-3, 4.19 in his last seven starts, 0-0, 0.69 in his last two; eight of his last nine stayed under the total. Royals are 5-3 in his home starts.

White Sox lost 11 of last 15 road games; seven of their last*nine games went over. Kansas City lost 14 of last 20 games;*eight of their last ten*games stayed under.

Orioles @ A’s
Gallardo is 1-2, 5.17 in his last seven starts; under is 7-4 in his last 11 starts. Baltimore is 4-5 in his road starts.

Detwiler is making his first ’16 start; he is 21-37, 4.21 in 76 MLB starts- he started seven games for Texas LY. This year, Detwiler is 6-4, 4.40 in 15 AAA starts.

Orioles are 4-10 in last 14 road games;*three of their last four games stayed under. Oakland lost eight of last*11 games but won last two;*seven of A’s last*nine home games stayed under the total.

Tigers @ Mariners
Verlander is 5-0, 2.22 in his last seven starts (under 7-0). Detroit won four of his last five road starts.

Hernandez is 2-0, 4.74 in his last three starts; four of his last five went over. Mariners are 4-3 in his home starts.

Tigers lost their last three games; under is 11-5-2 in Detroit’s last 18 road games. Seattle won*seven of last*eight games;* under is 7-5 in their last 12 home games.


Interleague

Rockies @ Rangers
De la Rosa is .1-0, 2.45 in his last three starts (over 10-6). Colorado is 5-5 in his road starts.
*
Perez is 0-4, 6.35 in his last six starts; under is 5-3 in his last eight. Texas won his last eight home starts.
*
Rangers won*nine of last*12 games;*under is 8-1-1 in last*ten Texas games. Colorado lost*five of last*six games;* over is 6-4 in their last ten games.

Indians @ Nationals
Tomlin is 1-2, 6.62 in his last three starts; over is 11-5-2 in his last 18 starts. Cleveland is 8-3 in his road starts.

Gonzalez is 3-1, 2.61 in his last five starts; four of his last six stayed under. Washington is 5-4 in his home starts.

Indians lost five of last*eight games;*six of their last seven road games stayed under. Washington won five of its last seven games; under is 5-1-1 in their last seven home games.

Angels @ Cubs
Nolasco is 0-1, 5.32 in his last four starts; over is 17-4 in his last 21.

Hammel is 4-0, 1.50 in his last four starts; four of his last five stayed under. Cubs are 8-2 in his home starts.

Angels lost*10 of last 12 road games; Five of Halos’ last*seven games went over total. Cubs won their last*eight games; under is 13-4 in their last*17 home games.


Teams’ record when this pitcher starts:

SD-Pitt– Jackson 2-2; Vogelsong 1-2
SF-Mia– Samardzija 11-12; Phelps 1-0
Az-NY– Ray 6-16; Colon 14-8
Atl-Mil– De la Cruz 1-3; Anderson 8-13
Cin-StL– DeSclafani 7-4; Garcia 11-11
Phil-LA– Hellickson 13-10; Kazmir 12-10

TB-Tor– Snell 3-7; Happ 17-5
NY-Bos– Eovaldi 10-10; Pomeranz 2-2/9-8
Hst-Min– Keuchel 10-13; Santana 6-15
Chi-KC– Quintana 12-10; Kennedy 9-13
Balt-A’s– Gallardo 9-5; Detwiler 0-0
Det-Sea– Verlander 14-9; Hernandez 8-6

Colo-Tex– De la Rosa 7-9; Perez 12-11
Cle-Wsh– Tomlin 16-4; Gonzalez 9-13
LAA-Cubs– Nolasco 0-1/9-12; Hammel 13-8


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

SD-Pitt– Jackson 1-4; Vogelsong 0-3
SF-Mia– Samardzija 8-23; Phelps 0-1
Az-NY– Ray 5-22; Colon 7-22
Atl-Mil– De la Cruz 0-4; Anderson 7-21
Cin-StL– DeSclafani 5-11; Garcia 8-22
Phil-LA– Hellickson 6-23; Kazmir 12-22

TB-Tor– Snell 3-10; Happ 5-22
NY-Bos– Eovaldi 5-20; Pomeranz 4-21
Hst-Min– Keuchel 5-23; Santana 7-21
Chi-KC– Quintana 5-22; Kennedy 8-22
Balt-A’s– Gallardo 6-14; Detwiler 0-0
Det-Sea– Verlander 8-23; Hernandez 3-14

Colo-Tex– De la Rosa 8-16; Perez 9-23
Cle-Wsh– Tomlin 10-20; Gonzalez 6-22
LAA-Cubs– Nolasco 10-22; Hammel 4-21


Umpires

SD-Pitt– Road team is 12-4 in last 16 Hallion games.
SF-Mia– Under is 5-1-2 in last eight Blaser games.
Az-NY– Underdogs are 9-3 in last 12 Hirschbeck games.
Atl-Mil– Five of last seven Nauert games went over.
Cin-StL– Over is 10-5-1 in last 16 Hernandez games.
Phil-LA– Over is 10-6 in last sixteen Tumpane games.

TB-Tor– Over is 9-5 in last fourteen Fagan games.
NY-Bos– Over is 12-2-1 in last fifteen Knight games.
Hst-Min– 15 of last 18 Wegner games went over.
Chi-KC– 12 of last 16 Hoberg games stayed under.
Balt-A’s– Under is 9-5-1 in last fifteen Fairchild games.
Det-Sea– Six of last nine Whitson games stayed under.

Colo-Tex– Three of last four Gibson games stayed under.
Cle-Wsh– Under is 7-2-1 in last ten Blakney games.
LAA-Cubs– Under is 8-2-1 in last 11 Wendelstedt games.


Teams’ records in first five innings:

Team (road-home-total)- thru 8/9

Arizona 20-25-9……21-32-5…….41-57
Atlanta* 22-26-8……18-26-12…..40-52
Cubs***** 30-18-8……32-16-8……..62-34
Reds****** 15-35-7……24-27-4……39-62
Colo*******22-23-11…..22-30-4……44-53
LA********* 23-23-9……34-18-7…….57-41
Miami*** 24-23-9…..27-16-13……51-39
Milw****** 18-30-7……30-19-7……48-49
Mets*******23-37-7……25-21-9……48-48
Philly******20-26-15…..19-25-10….39-49
Pitt********* 14-32-9……35-17-4……49-48
St. Louis**26-23-4……23-25-12….49-48
SD*********** 17-34-4……26-27-4……43-61
SF************26-28-7……28-14-10…..54-42
Wash*******29-15-13……22-17-16…..51-32

Orioles**** 21-29-7…….30-19-8……51-48
Boston***** 18-25-8…….34-17-8……52-42
White Sox 24-24-8……30-25-2……54-49
Cleveland* 34-20-6……23-21-5…….56-41
Detroit******23-28-7……28-21-3…….51-49
Astros******* 17-26-11…..29-23-6……46-49
KC**************20-30-8……23-21-11…..,43-51
Angels*******21-29-7……21-25-10…….42-54
Twins*********22-30-8……19-28-11……41-58
NYY*********** 18-30-8……25-26-8…….43-56
A’s************* 18-30-8……21-26-11……39-56
Seattle******* 24-23-8……25-20-11…..49-43
Tampa Bay 20-23-9…….25-26-9……45-49
Texas********* 23-32-8…….24-17-9…….47-49
Toronto***** 34-17-4……..33-22-4…….67-39

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Wednesday’s 6-pack

— Packers’ offensive line played 1,375 snaps together the last two years, the most of any combo in the NFL.

—*Wichita State hoop coach Gregg Marshall lost his mind a little up in Canada, where the Shockers are playing some exhibition games this week. He had to be restrained by several people after getting ejected.

— Last three years, Falcons are 5-17 vs spread in games where the spread was 3 or less points.

—*Mariners 6, Tigers 5 (15)– Game ended at 3am here in the east.

— Arizona Cardinals are 0-6 vs spread in last six Monday night games.

— Richard Nixon resigned as President 42 years ago this week;*I was 14 at the time and had no idea how significant an event it was.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

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Wednesday's Free Selection: Pittsburgh Pirates - 160