Wednesday 8/19/15 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Diamondbacks (58-60) at Pirates (70-47)

Game: 3
Venue: PNC Park
Date: August 19, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

Pedro Florimon unexpectedly provided the latest drama for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who are dominating opponents at home.

They'll look to make things easier on themselves in the finale of this three-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night.

Pittsburgh (70-47) has won five of six with three of the victories decided in extra innings, including Tuesday's 9-8 win that came on Florimon's walkoff triple in the 15th.

"You've just got to keep playing. Sometimes when things get late, funny things happen," manager Clint Hurdle said, alluding to the light-hitting shortstop's second hit in 19 at-bats on the season.

The Pirates' 16-4 record in their last 20 home games is the best in the majors over that span. It's a big reason why they're 2 1/2 games ahead of Chicago for the NL's first wild-card spot.

J.A. Happ (0-1, 4.66 ERA), acquired at the trade deadline from Seattle, is looking to make a better impression at PNC Park. He gave up four runs in 4 1-3 innings of a 5-0 loss to the Cubs in his Pirates debut Aug. 4 at home.

The left-hander was better in Friday's 3-2, 10-inning win over the New York Mets, yielding one run and seven hits with seven strikeouts in 5 1-3. Still, he's 0-2 with a 7.36 ERA over his last six starts - four with Seattle.

"This put J.A. into a really good place after the first outing," Hurdle told MLB's official website Friday. "He's got to feel much better about himself. That's the kind of guy we've seen on video.

"He knows he's got it in himself, and it was good for him to get it out, and put it in play."

Happ is 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA in four games - three starts - versus the Diamondbacks, his last start against them coming with Houston in 2011. He faced them out of the bullpen with the Mariners on July 27, striking out two in a perfect ninth of a 4-3 loss that ended an inning later.

Pedro Alvarez is 4 for 8 with three RBIs in this series. The first baseman has a .484 average with four homers while driving in eight runs in the past nine games.

He's gone 7 for 15 with six RBIs in the last four meetings with Arizona (58-60).

The Diamondbacks, who took the series opener 4-1 on Monday, will hand the ball to Robbie Ray (3-8, 3.29). The rookie left-hander is 0-4 with a 5.06 ERA in six starts and has lost three straight with a 5.87 mark.

Ray is coming off his shortest start of the season, giving up three runs and walking four in 4 1-3 innings of a 3-2 defeat at Atlanta on Friday.

He surrendered four runs and struck out five in five innings with Detroit in a 4-2 road defeat in his only meeting with Pittsburgh on Aug. 12, 2014.

Paul Goldschmidt, who has never faced Happ, has gone 1 for 12 over the last three games. That's dropped his average to .333 and left him in a tie with Miami's Dee Gordon for the NL batting lead.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mets (64-55) at Orioles (61-57)

Game: 2
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: August 19, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

Noah Syndergaard has impressed this season, but the Mets rookie is still searching for a first well into the month of August.

New York's young right-hander has yet to win a road start this season, something he'd love to rectify Wednesday night as the Mets try for a 10th straight win over the Baltimore Orioles.

New York (64-55) snapped a three-game skid Tuesday night in the series opener while ending Baltimore's four-game winning streak, and will now try to make it a four-game season sweep. The Mets have outscored the Orioles 46-15 in a series where they haven't lost since 2009.

Trying to at least maintain a 4 1/2-game lead atop the NL East, New York will look to do something it has managed just once all season: win a road game started by Syndergaard.

Syndergaard (7-6, 3.07 ERA) has polar opposite lines at and away from Citi Field this season, sporting a 7-1 record and 1.82 ERA at home and an 0-5 mark and 5.01 ERA on the road. His struggles away from home go along with his team's, as the Mets carry a 22-34 road mark even after Tuesday's 5-3 win.

The right-hander has allowed five homers in his last three starts and eight runs in 11 innings over his last two, but he worked through a bumpy first inning against the Rockies on Thursday.

After surrendering home runs to DJ LeMahieu and Nolan Arenado, Syndergaard settled down to allow just two more hits and another run over his final six innings in a 12-3 win.

"After that, I was just able to settle down and continue to pitch, rather than throw," Syndergaard told MLB's official website. "It was one of those outings where I was able to make mechanical adjustments throughout the game. It's not necessarily how you start, it's how you finish."

Despite Syndergaard's issues on the road, Baltimore manager Buck Showalter doesn't think runs will be any easier to come by on Wednesday.

"That's why they're in first place. They run out five above-average starters," Showalter told MLB's official website. "If we're going to get where we want to go, we're going to have to earn it. Everybody will. That's why it's so rewarding if you can do it."

The Orioles (61-57) are involved in a tight race for the AL's second wild-card spot, but they don't quite know what they will get out of their Wednesday starter.

Ubaldo Jimenez (9-7, 3.92) followed up his best outing of the season - eight shutout innings against the Angels - by allowing four runs and nine hits against the A's on Friday. It took him 102 pitches to make it through five innings.

Jimenez has a 7.39 ERA in six starts since the All-Star break even with that gem in Anaheim. He's already struggled against the Mets this season, lasting just four innings and allowing three runs May 6 in a 5-1 loss at Citi Field.

Catcher Matt Wieters returned to Baltimore's lineup Tuesday after missing a week with a right hamstring strain. Wieters went 2 for 4 with a pair of singles and a run scored, boosting his average to .362 in 19 home games this season.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Blue Jays (66-54) at Phillies (46-73)

Game: 2
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: August 19, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

Simply giving props to Mark Buehrle for having longevity in the major leagues underestimates just how consistently well he has pitched over the last 15 years.

That's especially true now with the 36-year-old quietly having one of the finest seasons of his career.

Buehrle looks to help guide the Toronto Blue Jays to a fifth straight road victory when he takes the mound against the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night.

The last time Buehrle (13-5, 3.31 ERA) allowed more than three earned runs was May 29, when his ERA stood at 4.97 after beating Minnesota. He's gone 7-1 with a 2.16 ERA in 13 starts since, walking just 10 in 91 2-3 innings.

Buehrle has pitched at least seven innings 11 times in that stretch, including each of his last three. He's 45 innings short of joining Hall of Famers Warren Spahn and Don Sutton as the only others since 1901 to toss at least 200 in 15 straight seasons.

The left-hander's four complete games are two more than he had in his previous four seasons combined and one shy of his career high set in 2002 with the Chicago White Sox.

Buehrle's 1.16 WHIP would be his lowest since a career-best 1.07 in 2001, and he hasn't finished with a better ERA than his current mark since 2005, when it was a career-best 3.12.

'He's a magician out there and always has been,' infielder Ryan Goins said after Buehrle beat Oakland 4-2 on Thursday.

The Phillies likely thought similarly when Buehrle faced them last season. He allowed three hits over seven innings of a 10-0 victory May 7, 2014, improving to 3-0 with a 1.55 ERA in his last four starts against Philadelphia dating back to his time with Miami in 2012.

Buehrle is holding opponents to a .218 average in three starts during Toronto's 16-3 stretch that began July 29 with a win over the Phillies (46-73). The wild card-leading Blue Jays (66-54) remained one game behind the New York Yankees for the AL East lead with Tuesday's 8-5 victory over Philadelphia to begin this two-game series.

Josh Donaldson hit his 32nd and 33rd homers while driving in four runs, giving him a baseball-best 91 RBIs.

'I'm in a position in the lineup where I need to come through, and fortunately I've been able to do that,' Donaldson said. 'Every time I come up I expect to not only have a good at-bat, but to help my team win.'

Donaldson went 0 for 2 with a walk July 28 against Adam Morgan (3-4, 4.11), who will be on the hill again in this contest. The rookie left-hander won that outing 3-2, settling down over his next five innings after allowing a leadoff homer to Devon Travis in the bottom of the first.

Morgan again had to regain his composure Friday after a rough start in a 3-1 loss to Milwaukee. He retired the last 11 batters he faced while going six innings, giving up a run in the second and two in the third.

"Everything felt great - shoulder, body, everything," Morgan said. "I'm just looking forward to the next one."

Morgan's defeat began Philadelphia's four-game losing streak. Chase Utley, who has been the subject of trade rumors after clearing waivers, had two hits Tuesday and is batting .484 during an eight-game hitting streak since coming off the disabled list Aug. 7.

Utley, though, is 1 for 11 with five strikeouts in his career against Buehrle.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Indians (55-63) at Red Sox (53-66)

Game: 3
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: August 19, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

The last time a pitcher threw three straight complete games, Corey Kluber was laboring through his last full season in the minors more than two months away from his MLB debut.

It was also two years before he'd find any sustained success.

Cleveland's reigning Cy Young winner can match a former Indians ace with his own three-start run Wednesday night in Boston against a Red Sox lineup showing plenty of offensive promise entering a new front-office era.

Cliff Lee, who won the 2008 Cy Young in Cleveland, strung three complete games together for Philadelphia from June 11-26, 2011. Kluber (8-12, 3.34 ERA) went 7-11 with a 5.56 ERA in 27 starts for Triple-A Columbus before coming up as a reliever that September.

He's since evolved into one of the AL's most reliable arms, and that's only progressed in his last 14 starts with four complete games after notching three in his first 81.

The 29-year-old's ERA won't be confused for his 2.44 mark last season, but in terms of other categories he can control, Kluber is in some ways having a better year.

His WHIP (1.04), opponent batting average (.231), OPS (.616) and walks per nine innings (1.69) are all career lows. Possibly the greatest explanation for his record is his run-support average dipping from 4.39 last year to 3.59.

Not only has Kluber won three of his last four starts, he's pitched complete games in each victory. He's 3-1 with a 2.20 ERA in that span, and he's given up two runs and four hits in 18 innings over his last two starts - both against Minnesota.

"He was just in command the whole time and I think he kind of showed you, when we score some runs, he kind of puts it in overdrive," manager Terry Francona told MLB's official website.

Boston gave him trouble even last year, though he avoided losses in two outings and is 0-1 with a 5.56 ERA in four starts and a relief appearance in his career.

Opposing pitchers haven't often been able to do much better lately against the Red Sox (55-63), who evened the series with Tuesday's 9-1 win as news broke that they'd hired former Detroit boss Dave Dombrowski as president.

The Red Sox also said general manager Ben Cherington is leaving the club less than two years removed from their latest World Series title, and the announcements came on the day manager John Farrell began chemotherapy for lymphoma.

"It's been an awkward week to say the least," interim manager Torey Lovullo said. "... Despite this news and despite these tough circumstances, we have to go out there and represent the Boston Red Sox to the best of our abilities, we have to go out there and compete every night, and we've got to win baseball games. Those are my expectations. I also mentioned to them that they're going to be evaluated."

Boston has needed no such shakeup at the plate with MLB-bests of 7.0 runs per game and a .315 average over a 10-11 span. Travis Shaw is batting .500 in his last five games and Brock Holt is at .483 over his previous six.

It's benefited Joe Kelly, who's won his last three starts with a 4.41 ERA and improved in each, though it's come with 27 runs of support. The right-hander gave up a run and four hits in six innings of Friday's 15-1 home win over Seattle, but Kelly (5-6, 5.69) still hasn't gone beyond six innings in 11 straight starts.

He's also 4-5 with a 5.68 ERA in 14 career starts in Boston versus 20-15 with a 3.62 mark in his other 53 starts.

Jason Kipnis is 2 for 2 against Kelly, and the Cleveland second baseman returned from the 15-day disabled list Tuesday in pinch-hit duty after missing 14 games with right shoulder inflammation. He's expected to start Wednesday, and Giovanny Urshela (sore right shoulder) could also return.

The Indians (53-66) have had Michael Brantley back for two games, and his homer was the extent of the offense Tuesday. They've scored one run in three of the last four games while batting .202.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Royals (72-46) at Reds (51-66)

Game: 2
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: August 19, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

Backed by clutch hitting and another strong pitching performance, the Kansas City Royals extended their hot streak in the opener of a six-game trip.

Now they might need more from the offense with Jeremy Guthrie taking the hill in Cincinnati.

Guthrie will try to reverse his fortune on the road as the Royals seek a 10th win in 12 games and a four-game season sweep of the Reds on Wednesday night.

Kansas City starters rank in the bottom half of the majors with a 4.18 ERA, but they've been key to the AL leaders' recent success with a 1.80 mark over the past eight games.

Edinson Volquez provided the latest solid outing Tuesday when he allowed one run over six innings in a 3-1, 13-inning win in the opener of this two-game series.

It looked as though the Royals' winning streak would end at four before Ben Zobrist homered off Aroldis Chapman in the 9th and Jarrod Dyson and Zobrist knocked in runs in the 13th. It was Chapman's first blown save in 57 chances at home dating to September 2012.

'All I can tell you is I had a bad day," Chapman said through an interpreter. "I made a mistake.'

Kansas City (72-46), which leads the AL Central by 13 1/2 games, had averaged 5.6 runs over an eight-game stretch before totaling seven in 23 innings over its past two. Alcides Escobar had three hits Tuesday while Eric Hosmer extended his hitting streak to nine games.

Guthrie (8-7, 5.63 ERA) was believed to be on the verge of losing his rotation spot Thursday before giving up one run and two hits over six innings in a 7-6 home loss to the Los Angeles Angels. He had surrendered 18 runs and 31 hits over his previous three starts.

"I thought I had good command of my fastball consistently," Guthrie told MLB's official website. "And my curveball."

The right-hander hasn't had command of much on the road. His 7.66 ERA in 10 starts is second to Toronto's Drew Hutchison among pitchers with at least 50 innings away from home.

Guthrie had few issues with Cincinnati at home May 20, allowing no runs and five hits over six innings in a 7-1 win.

Brandon Phillips went 2 for 3 off Guthrie in that game and is 6 for 9 with a home run and a double lifetime. The second baseman is batting .393 during a 13-game hitting streak at home.

Eugenio Suarez's first-inning homer accounted for the Reds' only run Tuesday. Cincinnati has batted .163 with 51 strikeouts while totaling seven runs over its last five home games.

The Reds (51-66), who will try to avoid their fifth straight loss, will give the ball to a rookie for the 20th straight game - the longest such streak since St. Louis did it in September 1997.

Keyvius Sampson (2-1, 3.18) has shown promise, limiting opponents to three runs or fewer while going at least five innings in his three starts. The right-hander yielded two runs over five Thursday in a 10-3 road win over the Dodgers.

Omar Infante is day-to-day with back spasms for the Royals, while Billy Hamilton's status is uncertain after the Reds center fielder jammed his shoulder in Tuesday's 11th inning.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Giants (65-54) at Cardinals (76-43)

Game: 3
Venue: Busch Stadium
Date: August 19, 2015 7:15 PM EDT

While one starter will try to stay on a roll Wednesday night, the other is looking to rediscover his old ways in a matchup between the NL's last two champions.

The rubber match of a three-game set between St. Louis and San Francisco at Busch Stadium pits two starters going in opposite directions: Cardinals left-hander Jaime Garcia is moving up and former Giants ace Matt Cain is heading down.

The first two games of the series were low-scoring affairs with the Cardinals earning a 2-1 win in the opener before the Giants responded with a 2-0 victory Tuesday.

Garcia figures to stick to that trend. The veteran lefty has held opponents to two or fewer runs in nine of his 11 starts this season, and he dropped his ERA to a season-low 1.57 with another gem Friday against Miami.

The Cardinals (76-42) own the lowest ERA in the big leagues but hadn't had a starting pitcher record an out in the ninth inning until Garcia (5-4). He allowed one unearned run and six hits in 8 1-3 innings during a 3-1 win.

It was Garcia's fourth start since coming off the disabled list from a groin injury and second consecutive outing allowing no earned runs.

"You go out there with a healthy Jaime and you never know what you could end up watching," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny told MLB's official website.

"Just watching their good hitters take the kind of at-bats they take against him, you can just see that when we talk about something looking different. It's unlike a lot of pitching they're going to see all season long. That's what makes him special."

Garcia has a 1.37 ERA since returning from the DL, allowing four earned runs and 14 hits in 26 1-3 innings. He hasn't faced the Giants since May 2014, but he is 2-1 with a 1.78 ERA in five starts against them over his seven-year career.

Things are trending in the opposite direction for Cain (2-3, 6.05 ERA).

The right-hander has failed to make it out of the fifth inning in his last two starts, and he has allowed a total of 18 earned runs and 30 hits over 19 2-3 innings in his last four. He is 0-2 with an 8.24 ERA in that span.

Two home runs hurt Cain in his last start against Washington - a solo home run from Danny Espinosa and a three-run shot by Bryce Harper. Cain, who hasn't faced the Cardinals since June 1, 2013, gave up five runs and six hits in 4 2-3 innings of an 8-5 win.

"He's been really good and then he's had his off innings," Giants manager Bruce Bochy told MLB's official website. "He's just off a little bit sometimes with the command and that's what's costing him with the long ball."

The Giants (65-54) won their fifth in six games Tuesday and gained a game on the Chicago Cubs in the chase for the NL's second wild-card spot.

Both catchers, Yadier Molina of the Cardinals and the Giants' Buster Posey, are one home run shy of 100 for their careers.

St. Louis right fielder Jason Heyward underwent a series of exams on his left hamstring Tuesday that revealed he is largely dealing with a cramping issue. He is not expected to land on the DL.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Tigers (57-61) at Cubs (67-50)

Game: 2
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: August 19, 2015 8:05 PM EDT

Although he struggled to find his rhythm earlier in the season, Jon Lester continues to pitch like the veteran ace the Chicago Cubs were counting on.

Seeking his fifth straight victory, the left-hander looks to keep Chicago from losing three straight for the first time since late July on Wednesday night against the visiting Detroit Tigers.

Lester (8-8, 3.21 ERA) was 4-5 with a 4.25 ERA through his first 12 starts after allowing five runs in a season low-tying 4 1-3 innings of a 6-0 road loss to Detroit on June 9.

He's since posted a 2.20 ERA over 11 outings. Lester has gone 4-0 with a 2.04 ERA in his past five, giving up two runs in six innings while striking out 10 in Thursday's 9-2 home win over Milwaukee.

However, he's worked on pickoff throws between starts after allowing the Brewers steal five bases. Lester had an errant pickoff attempt and has had trouble throwing to bases throughout his career.

"We all know what's going on here," Lester, who leads the majors in stolen bases allowed with 35, told MLB's official website. "I just have to do a better job. ... I'll continue to improve."

The Tigers (57-61) did not steal a base off him in the first meeting and have only stolen five over their last 12 games heading into the finale of this two-game series.

Lester has dropped his last three starts against Detroit and is 2-5 with a 5.25 ERA in 10 career meetings. Miguel Cabrera had two hits off him in June, leaving the star slugger at 14 for 25 with a home run and four doubles all-time in the matchup.

Ian Kinsler has hit .229 against Lester, though he's batting .419 in 12 career games versus Chicago. He had a season-high five hits and a home run in Tuesday's 10-8 win.

Jose Iglesias matched a career high with four hits while Anthony Gose had three and J.D. Martinez hit his 31st home run for the Tigers, who won for the eighth time in nine visits to Wrigley Field.

Chicago (67-50) fell three games behind wild-card leading Pittsburgh and had its lead over San Francisco for the second spot cut to three following its third loss in 18 games. The Cubs haven't lost three in a row since getting swept at home by Philadelphia from July 24-26.

Daniel Norris (2-2, 4.24) will try to help the Tigers win back-to-back games for only the third time since July 9 in his fourth start since being acquired from Toronto in the David Price trade. The left-hander gave up three earned runs over 6 1-3 innings and did not get the decision in last Wednesday's 7-4 win at Kansas City.

In his only game against with Chicago, Jorge Soler had the sole hit off Norris in his one scoreless inning of relief at Rogers Centre in September.

After finishing with three hits in Sunday's 3-1 loss to the White Sox that snapped a nine-game winning streak, the Cubs got back on track with 11 on Tuesday. Chris Coghlan hit his third home run in as many games and Kyle Schwarber added a three-run shot.

Coghlan has gone 5 for 10 with two homers and five RBIs in his three games against Detroit this season. Schwarber has homered six times with 18 RBIs in 14 games this month.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rays (59-60) at Astros (65-55)

Game: 3
Venue: Minute Maid Park
Date: August 19, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

Something about Minute Maid Park brings out the best in Dallas Keuchel, making a Houston Astros victory with him toeing the rubber at home as close to a sure thing as there is in baseball.

That luxury sure would come in handy in October.

The AL West-leading Astros seek their fifth victory in seven tries as they send Keuchel to the hill against the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night.

Keuchel (14-6, 2.36 ERA) entered Friday's home outing against Oakland having given up 10 runs and 22 hits in 20 1-3 innings over his previous three starts - two on the road - that pushed his ERA to a season-high 2.40.

He bounced back to beat the A's 5-1, striking out eight in seven innings.

"I've been working on a breaking pitch backdoor," Keuchel said. "That's what I've been doing the last couple outings with some walks and some hard-luck hits. I just wanted to attack the zone (Friday)."

The left-hander improved to 11-0 with a 1.26 ERA in 13 home starts, including victories in each of his last six. The only pitcher to finish with at least 11 wins, no losses and an ERA better than Keuchel's current mark at home since 1914 is the Los Angeles Dodgers' Orel Hershiser, who went 11-0 with a 1.08 ERA in 17 starts and two relief appearances at Chavez Ravine in 1985.

Keuchel has won 12 straight decisions at home, one short of tying Danny Darwin's franchise record that spanned 1989 and '90. Only Roger Clemens (2.55) and Roy Oswalt (2.92) have better ERAs than Keuchel's 3.04 among pitchers with at least 10 starts at Minute Maid Park.

Keuchel didn't get any support in St. Petersburg on July 11, when a three-run second inning was enough to put him on the hook for a 3-0 loss. He's 0-3 with a 5.40 ERA in four career starts against the Rays, the last three coming on the road.

Houston's 41 home wins are second in the AL to Kansas City's 42 after Marwin Gonzalez homered leading off the 10th to give the Astros (65-55) a 3-2 win over the Rays (59-60) on Tuesday.

Gonzalez and Jose Altuve had three hits apiece, and Altuve scored the tying run in the eighth on Carlos Correa's double. The Astros have won four of six following a 1-7 stretch and hold a 2 1/2-game lead over the Los Angeles Angels atop the West.

Gonzalez made his first start in left field after starting at four other positions this season, and his second multihit game in three days earned him a promise from his manager.

'I'm not sure what position, but he'll get to play (Wednesday),' A.J. Hinch said. "I think he's earned it.'

Tampa Bay has dropped four of five, a disappointing stretch that's hurting its pursuit of the second wild card. Curt Casali hit a solo homer for the Rays, who were set down in order over the final three innings after winning the opener of this four-game series 9-2.

'I think it's just a rough patch we're hitting right now,' Brad Boxberger said after allowing Gonzalez's homer. 'It's part of it. Everyone goes through it. It's just a matter of how quick you can turn it around.'

Tampa looks to get back on track behind Nathan Karns (7-5, 3.53), who is coming off back-to-back rough outings.

Karns had a 1.65 ERA over his previous three starts before giving up four runs in a 5-4 win over the New York Mets on Aug. 8. He then walked a season-high five in 4 2-3 innings to match his shortest outing of the season in Friday's 5-3 loss at Texas.

The right-hander will be making his first career start against the Astros.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Nationals (59-59) at Rockies (48-69)

Game: 2
Venue: Coors Field
Date: August 19, 2015 8:40 PM EDT

In two starts back from the disabled list, Stephen Strasburg has dropped his ERA half a run and shown signs of dominance otherwise absent from an inadequate season.

Another strong start Wednesday night at Coors Field could dip his ERA to a season low and help the Washington Nationals earn a series win over a Colorado Rockies club that could be without Carlos Gonzalez.

Strasburg (6-6, 4.62 ERA), who spent over a month on the DL with a left oblique strain, is 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 13 innings since returning. He was stuck with the decision in Thursday's 3-1 loss in San Francisco after surrendering two runs in six innings, and the rotation has since given up 20 earned runs in four games.

The right-hander dominated the Rockies on Aug. 8 in his first game back, allowing a run and three hits with a season-high 12 strikeouts in seven innings.

"It's the best I've seen him in a long time," teammate Ryan Zimmerman told MLB's official website. "Hopefully, this kind of bad luck he's been having, hopefully, he will get rid of those (injuries) and be that guy for the next 2 1/2 months."

Strasburg has a chance to drop his ERA below 4.50 for the first time this year, but he's been unable to find any magic at Coors with losses in two starts and a 5.56 ERA.

Charlie Blackmon is 3 for 6 with two doubles against Strasburg, but Nick Hundley (1 for 12 with five strikeouts), Nolan Arenado (1 for 8 with a homer and four strikeouts) and Gonzalez (2 for 11 with six strikeouts) have struggled.

Gonzalez left Tuesday's 15-6 series-opening loss due to inflammation in his right knee after homering for a second straight game. It was also his fourth homer in his last four against Washington and 15th in his last 25.

Blackmon was held out of the starting lineup due to illness before replacing Gonzalez, whose 2014 ended in August after requiring left knee surgery. He is day to day.

"I tweaked it a little bit but nothing bad," Gonzalez said. "I think I'll be OK for (Wednesday)."

Strasburg might not love the mile-high air, but Jorge De La Rosa's season might make him feel more comfortable about those struggles. De La Rosa (7-5, 4.75) is on pace to put together his worst home season with the Rockies, going 2-2 with a 6.62 ERA after entering at 45-14 with a 4.00 mark at Coors from 2008-2014.

The left-hander's last four starts have come on the road, but they weren't a whole lot better with a 1-1 record and 5.24 ERA. He didn't earn the decision in a 5-4 win at Washington on Aug. 7 but is 5-1 with a 3.86 ERA in eight starts in the series since joining Colorado in 2008.

Danny Espinosa (3 for 6 with two doubles) and Ian Desmond (5 for 12) have figured him out, but Anthony Rendon is 1 for 9.

Espinosa and Desmond logged two of six multihit efforts Tuesday to help Washington end a six-game losing streak. The 15-hit night matched their third-best of the season after batting .179 on the skid.

Another victory would give the Nationals (59-59) 10 wins in 16 games since last losing a series in Denver in 2010. They're batting .315 in that time, with Desmond hitting .591 with 16 RBIs in his last 10 there. His .436 career average at Coors is 98 points higher than any other NL park.

The Rockies (48-69) have dropped seven of eight and are in danger of falling a season-worst 22 games under .500 - a mark they've dipped to in five other seasons, including two of the past three.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: White Sox (55-62) at Angels (62-57)

Game: 3
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Date: August 19, 2015 10:05 PM EDT

Jeff Samardzija's animated demeanor on the mound in his last start showed how frustrated he's become with his performances lately.

The Los Angeles Angels surely won't pity him if he gets roughed up again.

The right-hander looks help the Chicago White Sox avoid a seventh straight road loss and eighth consecutive defeat in Anaheim on Wednesday night.

Samardzija (8-8, 4.78 ERA) might be taking more years and dollars off of a potential contract offer in free agency following the season while going through the most difficult stretch of his disappointing year. He's lost three straight starts with a 12.91 ERA after allowing six runs and three homers over six innings of Friday's 6-5 loss to the Chicago Cubs.

Opponents are hitting .354 off Samardzija in that stretch, and he's also walked six and hit three batters in 15 1-3 innings. Often he threw up his arms and shook his head in disbelief against the Cubs as his frustrations boiled over.

'It hurts, man,' Samardzija said. 'I take things personally. I enjoy having success. I enjoy doing well.'

He was sharp in both of his outings against the Angels last season, allowing one earned run in 15 innings. Albert Pujols has had success against Samardzija, though, going 7 for 19 with three homers, five walks and no strikeouts.

Pujols tied Mike Trout for the team lead with 33 home runs by hitting a solo shot in the first inning of Los Angeles' 5-3 win over Chicago (55-62) on Tuesday. He also homered in Monday's 2-1 victory.

Los Angeles lost six of seven before taking the first two of this four-game series to pull a half-game ahead of Baltimore for the AL's second wild card. It is 2 1/2 behind Houston for the West lead.

Trout and Pujols are bidding to become the first teammates with 40 homers apiece since Jim Thome and Jermaine Dye did it for the White Sox in 2006.

Kole Calhoun delivered his career-high 18th homer in the first Tuesday as the Angels (62-57) hit two out of the park for the fourth straight game after not hitting any in their previous five.

"Any time you can give our starting pitcher some run support right out the gate, it's always a plus," Pujols said. "We would love to do that every night.'

They'll try to do the same for Jered Weaver (4-9, 4.60), who makes his third start since returning from a nearly two-month stint on the disabled list because of left hip inflammation. Weaver has allowed five runs - four earned - in 11 innings over the last two.

The right-hander pitched five scoreless innings in Friday's 4-1 loss to Kansas City before allowing all three of his runs - including a two-run homer - and departing after the sixth.

"I felt good," said Weaver, 0-5 with a 5.59 ERA in his last six starts. "Command was good. Just one bad pitch."

Weaver has won five straight starts against the White Sox and is 9-2 with a 2.15 ERA in 12 career outings against them. He gave up five runs in 5 2-3 innings of the last one, however, a 7-5 road victory July 1, 2014.

The White Sox have recorded fewer than nine hits in four straight for the first time since June 15-18. Jose Abreu had three of their eight hits Tuesday and is 7 for 12 over his last four.

Chicago has been outscored 30-18 during a six-game road skid and has posted a 6.43 ERA during its seven consecutive losses in Anaheim.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Hottest MLB betting trends to track down the stretch
By JOE FORTENBAUGH

The dog days of summer are done and the postseason push has officially arrived. The next six weeks of MLB action will separate the pretenders from the contenders, as divisional matchups, daunting cross-country road trips and primetime pitching matchups will dominate the headlines from now until October.

Which teams will be left standing when all is said and done and the playoffs finally get underway? Perhaps that answer can be found below within the handful of betting trends we’re putting under the microscope this week.

Divisional showdowns

September, and to a lesser extent the first week of October, are best known around the majors for marquee divisional showdowns that carry a significant impact on the chase for the postseason. Look no further than the Chicago Cubs, who will play 23 of their final 31 contests against National League Central opposition.

For bottom dwellers, like the Milwaukee Brewers (25 games back), this stretch represents nothing more than an opportunity to call up some young, talented minor league prospects. But for those in the grueling hunt for postseason stardom, this is the most mentally-trying span of the entire 162-game season. As of Monday afternoon, here are baseball’s best and worst teams in terms of divisional play:

Best

St. Louis Cardinals: 32-18 (.640)
New York Mets: 30-17 (.638)
Kansas City Royals: 32-19 (.627)
Detroit Tigers: 30-20 (.600)
Los Angeles Dodgers: 29-20 (.592)

The NL West-leading Dodgers may be nine games over .500 within their division, but be advised that this team has a serious issue when it comes to beating the San Francisco Giants, who are 9-3 with a plus-8 run differential against the Dodgers this season.

Worst

Miami Marlins: 16-28 (.364)
Cleveland Indians: 18-31 (.367)
Colorado Rockies: 18-31 (.367)
Texas Rangers: 18-28 (.391)
Chicago White Sox: 20-31 (.392)

The Marlins, Indians, Rockies and White Sox all own losing records and were a combined 56 games under .500 as of Monday afternoon, so it’s no surprise to see those teams on this list. What is surprising is to see the Texas Rangers (59-57), who are just 1.5 games out of a wild card berth, sharing the same space. But that’s what happens when you somehow find a way to post a 4-9 record against the lowly Oakland Athletics.

How rest impacts totals

Major League Baseball has been kicking around the idea of reducing the current 162-game regular season format to 154 games in an effort to avoid situations like the one the Oakland A’s will face on Tuesday, which will see the club play a 7:05 p.m. ET start in Baltimore Monday evening before traveling across the country to host the Dodgers Tuesday.

A’s manager Bob Melvin told me Monday, during my radio show on 95.7 The Game in the Bay Area, that he’s in favor of the idea, as the Oakland skipper doesn’t understand why MLB didn’t schedule Monday’s showdown with the Orioles during the afternoon so that his team would have adequate time to rest for Tuesday’s matchup with Clayton Kershaw and the NL West-leading Dodgers.

But before baseball can make any such changes official, it’s important that we analyze how its clubs perform given the current scheduling landscape. Here’s a look at the most profitable clubs in baseball in terms of Overs and Unders when given one day of rest in 2015:

Top OVER records following one day of rest

Houston Astros: 7-3-1 (.700)
Pittsburgh Pirates: 9-4-1 (.692)
New York Yankees: 9-4 (.692)
Atlanta Braves: 8-4 (.667)
Los Angeles Angels: 8-4-1 (.667)

Top UNDER records following one day of rest

Washington Nationals: 9-3 (.750)
New York Mets: 8-3 (.727)
Arizona Diamondbacks: 8-3-1 (.727)
Philadelphia Phillies: 8-3-1 (.727)
St. Louis Cardinals: 7-3-2 (.700)

Road warriors

Winning on the road is one thing, but winning on the road while covering the number as a favorite is another feat entirely. Take the Arizona Diamondbacks as an example, who have been listed as road favorites 10 times this season, only to win in just one of those instances.

Hotel rooms, foreign time zones, unfamiliar surroundings. These are just a handful of reasons as to why a team expected to win a specific contest away from home fails to do so.

Heading into the home stretch, here are the best and worst at winning games while assuming the role of road favorite:

Best road faves

Detroit Tigers: 10-3 (.769)
Chicago Cubs: 21-8 (.724)
St. Louis Cardinals: 20-11 (.645)
Oakland A’s: 13-8 (.619)
New York Mets: 11-7 (.611)

Worst road faves

Arizona Diamondbacks: 1-9 (.100)
Houston Astros: 7-14 (.333)
Miami Marlins: 4-8 (.333)
Boston Red Sox: 6-11 (.353)
Baltimore Orioles: 7-9 (.438)

Keep an eye on…

Finally, I’ll leave you with a trend that is 100 percent worth monitoring for the rest of the 2015 MLB season:

MLB teams in the role of home underdog

San Francisco Giants: 11-3 (.786)

Stay patient, pick your spots and best of luck this week!

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Phillies place 3B Franco on DL
The Sports Xchange

Philadelphia third baseman Maikal Franco has given the Phillies reasons to be optimistic during a dreadful season.

Now, it looks like Franco's season might be coming to a premature end.

The rookie is headed for a stint on the disabled list with what team officials are calling a "small nondisplaced fracture" of his left wrist.

While most of his teammates have struggled this season, 2015 has been a breakout year for the 22-year-old. In 77 games, he has compiled a .277 batting average with 13 homers and 22 doubles. He has driven in 48 runs.

The Phillies kept Franco on the active roster for the past week while hoping what was believed to be just a bruise would heal.

Franco suffered the injury after being hit by a pitch from Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Jeremy Hellickson during a game last week.

Philadelphia recalled outfielder Aaron Altherr from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to take Franco's spot on the roster.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Mets put reliever Parnell on DL
The Sports Xchange

New York Mets veteran reliever Bobby Parnell is headed to the disabled list after struggling over the weekend and suffering two losses to the Pirates.

According to the New York Post, Parnell was given a choice of being optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas or being placed on the disabled list.

Parnell, who is coming off April 2014 Tommy John surgery, picked going on the DL with what the team said was "shoulder tendinitis."

Parnell gave up four earned runs over two-thirds of an inning this past weekend. Since July 22, he is 0-3 with a 14.14 ERA. Opponents are hitting .429 against him in that time.

Overall, in 23 appearances this season, Parnell is 1-3 with a 5.59 ERA.

Right-hander Logan Verrett is expected to join the Mets for a series in Baltimore. Verrett allowed one run on four hits and four walks in 12 1/3 innings in a stint earlier this season with the Mets.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Yankees' Mitchell: It could be a lot worse
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

NEW YORK -- Considering how it initially looked when Bryan Mitchell crumpled to the ground after getting hit in the face by Eduardo Nunez's liner with two outs in the second inning Monday night, the Yankees were pretty fortunate the right-hander was able to talk about what unfolded a day later and even show off the dent in the brim of his cap.

Less than 24 hours after suffering one of the scariest injuries in recent history, Mitchell was able to give his version of what occurred.

"I feel all right," Mitchell said before Tuesday's game with Minnesota. "Obviously getting hit in the face, I'm kind of sore up here. For the most part, I think it could be a lot worse."

Manager Joe Girardi agreed.

"He's got a little black and blue under his eyes," Girardi said. "I'm sure he's a little bit sore. I think he's in pretty good spirits and I think we're really fortunate."

Mitchell is on the 7-day concussion list though there's some uncertainty if he actually has one. The move was made as a precaution since Mitchell suffered one last month in a freak injury while working out in Scranton.

"I think most of times, you're just kind of playing it cautious," Mitchell said. "I saw the neurologist today but given that we had the concussion a month ago at Scranton, we're just kind of trying to play it safe. As of now everything seems pretty good."

"I think it's probably a little bit of both," Girardi said. "He probably has somewhat of a concussion from being hit last and he just came off of one. So there was concern on our part."

This one was not freaky but downright scary.

On a 0-2 pitch, Nunez smacked a line drive up the middle. Mitchell was unable to react fast enough by getting his glove in the way or ducking out of the way and immediately fell to the ground.

"I tried to get it off the plate away," Mitchell said. "I kind of dove out, kind off the end of the end of the bat. Obviously I never saw it. As soon as it hit me, I knew that I had just gotten hit but my eyes were OK and my jaw was OK. So I knew that I was basically alive and I basically said 'I'm all right, let's just get me off the field.'"

It appeared the ball hit him in the forehead or on another part of his head. Mitchell began bleeding but it turned out only to be a fracture in his nose.

"It could have hit my eye, my temple, my jaw," Mitchell said. "It's not a good thing to begin with but I feel like I'm in a way better spot than I could be."

Proof of Mitchell being in a way better spot than initially thought is the fact he was in the clubhouse when the Yankees won in the 10th inning Monday.

Another piece of evidence how Mitchell is better off than initially believed is the possibility he might return to the bullpen after seven days or a few days past the seven-day mark depending on how he gets through various concussion tests.

"Just thankful that it's not any worse than it is and hopefully he'll be back here doing his thing soon," left fielder Brett Gardner said Monday. "He looked good before he got hit like that. He's got a great arm and he's got a bright future. I'm excited to get him back here soon."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Giants delay Leake's return from DL
The Sports Xchange

San Francisco was expected to activate pitcher Mike Leake on Tuesday and have him start Tuesday night against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Instead, the Giants have decided to give the 27-year-old some extra time to recover from his hamstring injury. RHP Ryan Vogelsong will start instead.

The Giants put the right-hander on the 15-day disabled list on Aug. 7.

At the time, manager Bruce Bochy said the team did not want to take any chances.

"We decided to go ahead and put him on the disabled list and give him the full 15 days to make sure he's fully recovered," Bochy said. "It's not worth the risk to try to get him ready for the next start."

It appears the Giants haven't veered off their cautious approach.

Leake, acquired from the Cincinnati Reds before the trade deadline, worked 6 2/3 innings in his only Giants outing -- a 2-1 loss to the Texas Rangers on Aug. 2.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Indians' RHP Floyd scheduled to start rehab
The Sports Xchange

Picked by many before the season started to contend for American League pennant, the Cleveland Indians have underachieved to another dismal season on Lake Erie.

A starting pitching staff that was believed to be the strength of the team, suffered an early loss when right-hander Gavin Floyd, one of the Indians' major offseason acquisitions, refractured his right elbow in spring training.

The injury KO'd his season and was a sign of things to come for the Indians.

But Floyd is now ready to start a rehab assignment and is scheduled to start for the team's Arizona Rookie League team on Wednesday.

The Indians signed the 32-year-old veteran starter to a $4 million base contract in the offseason. Battling various injuries, he started only nine games the previous two season.

From 2008-2012, Floyd averaged 12 wins and 190 innings pitched per season.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Angels LHP Wilson prepares for surgery
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Left-handed starter C.J. Wilson will have surgery Thursday to remove bone spurs and chips from his left elbow and expects to be ready in time for spring training next season.

Wilson visited with multiple doctors at the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic in Los Angeles last week, undergoing a variety of tests that Wilson estimated took about six or seven hours.

"They were very comprehensive in their analysis," Wilson said. "It was refreshing to have so many opinions reach the same conclusion: There wasn't any dissenting opinion in the room."

The diagnosis would seem to quiet some of Wilson's critics. The Angels' medical staff, which was not represented at Kerlan-Jobe last week, initially diagnosed Wilson with "left elbow impingement secondary to arthritis," and according to a report on MLB.com, some players privately expressed frustration that Wilson wouldn't push through to the end of the season before having surgery.

Wilson, the subject of trade rumors before news of his elbow injury was revealed, will begin next season in the final year of his contract with the Angels, due to make $20.5 million. He went 8-8 with a 3.89 ERA in 21 starts this season.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Over red-hot when Teheran hits the road
Stephen Campbell

In Julio Teheran's last 11 starts away from home, the Over has gone a sizzling 10-0-1.

Therean is slated as the probable starter for the Braves Wednesday opposite Tyson Ross and the Padres.

As of 7 p.m. ET Tuesday, sportsbooks had not yet released a total for the NL tilt.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

A's haven't been profitable underdogs behind Chavez
Stephen Campbell

When his team has been given the underdog tag, Oakland A's righty Jesse Chavez hasn't exactly lived up to expectations.

The A's are a paltry 1-11 in Chavez's last 12 starts as underdogs. Pinnacle Sports has tabbed Chavez and the A's as +119 moneyline pups for their matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers Wednesday.

The total for the game hadn't hit the board at the time of writing.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Eovaldi becoming a clutch pitcher for Yankees backers
Stephen Campbell

The New York Yankees have paid out for moneyline bettors in five out of Nathan Eovaldi's last six starts.

Eovaldi and Ervin Santanta are slated to get the nod for Wednesday's contest for the Yanks and Twins, respectively.

Sportbooks are presently dealing the Yankees in the -160 ballpark as of this writing.