Wednesday 8/24/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Astros (65-61) at Pirates (63-60)

Game: 3
Venue: PNC Park
Date: August 24, 2016 12:35 PM EDT

PITTSBURGH -- After splitting the first two games of their interleague series, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Astros will meet for the series finale Wednesday afternoon at PNC Park.

Pittsburgh's quiet bats awoke in a dominant 7-1 win against Houston Tuesday, while the Astros (65-61) shut down the Pirates (63-60) in a 3-1 victory the night before. Something will have to give Wednesday, with each team attempting to gain ground in their respective wild-card races.

The Pirates came out strong Tuesday, starting the game with six straight hits, and will hope to repeat that performance.

"I mentioned to our offensive coordinator Jeff Branson that I liked the way he scripted his first 20 plays," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "I think we'll stick with that. We came and hit balls where they were pitched and took advantage of a sinkerballer who wasn't getting the ball down."

Pittsburgh will hope right-handed pitcher Gerrit Cole (7-8, 3.30) can regain some of the control he's lost in recent starts when he opposes right-hander Collin McHugh (7-10, 4.99).

Pittsburgh has lost in each of Cole's past three starts dating back to a 5-3 win against the Atlanta Braves on Aug. 2. The Pirates' ace, who has allowed at least three earned runs in each of those three starts, had a solid outing against the Miami Marlins on Friday, but allowed two home runs that cut his night short at 6 2/3 innings pitched, his longest start since recording his first career complete game July 27.

Cole's inconsistency won't be the only issue Pittsburgh will look to overcome, however. The Pirates' floundering offense will try to find a spark and could against McHugh, who allowed seven runs, six earned, in three innings against the Baltimore Orioles when he last started Friday.

McHugh has not won since allowing two runs through six innings of a 7-2 win against the Los Angeles Angels on July 23. Since that victory, he has gone past six innings once and went three or less twice, including when he surrendered eight runs in 1 2/3 innings pitched against the Detroit Tigers on July 29.

Things could turn around for McHugh on Wednesday, though, if the Pirates offense can't build on its momentum from Tuesday.

Entering Tuesday, Pittsburgh had failed to score more than two runs in each of its past three games. The Pirates had lost four in a row since taking five of six on their West Coast road trip last week, which included a three-game sweep of the San Francisco Giants.

That changed against right-hander Joe Musgrove, when Pittsburgh peppered him for four runs in the first inning before outfielder Gregory Polanco took him deep for a solo home run in the third.

The teams seemed to trade places Tuesday. While the once-dormant Pirates exploded, the red-hot Astros cooled.

Houston had scored 35 combined runs over four consecutive wins entering the series' middle game, but couldn't solve right-hander Ivan Nova.

Astros shortstop Carlos Correa exited Tuesday's game late due to an illness, Houston manager A.J. Hinch said.

"He's been sick. Half our team has been sick," Hinch said. "We weren't really doing much against them. We have a 12:30 game tomorrow, so pretty easy decision."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rockies (60-66) at Brewers (55-70)

Game: 3
Venue: Miller Park
Date: August 24, 2016 2:10 PM EDT

MILWAUKEE -- Colorado Rockies manager Walt Weiss knows his bullpen has had some problems this season, but he isn't going to worry about it.

The Rockies' relief corps sputtered again Tuesday night, allowing a three-run rally in the eighth that set the Milwaukee Brewers up for a 6-4 comeback victory at Miller Park.

"We've got some young talented guys in the bullpen that are learning on the job," Weiss said. "Sometimes you go through these types of things. It's always frustrating when you are winning late and don't put the game away. You've got a few guys down there right now searching for their confidence. Sometimes is just takes going out there and putting down a clean inning once or twice."

Colorado will try and turn the page Wednesday when they wrap up their three game-series with the Brewers, handing the ball to left-hander Tyler Anderson. Anderson has been knocked around over his last two starts, allowing nine runs in 10 innings of work though he's also recorded 10 strikeouts to just three walks in those contests.

That swoon comes following a string of four consecutive quality starts and overall, the rookie has been solid so far this season, going 4-4 with a 3.13 ERA in 13 starts.

"He's been outstanding," Weiss told the Denver Post earlier this month. "It's a pretty amazing story when you think about it. Not pitching at all a year ago (with a stress fracture in his pitching elbow), he showed up at the big-league level and hit the ground running. He's been really good from the first start on. It's been an awesome boost for our rotation."

Milwaukee starter Zach Davies is looking to bounce back from a rare dud this season. Davies allowed a career-high seven runs on 10 hits in just four innings against the Cubs his last time out, giving him his second consecutive loss after reeling off four straight victories.

"It's a difficult lineup on a tough day to pitch," manager Craig Counsell said. "He left some fastballs more up today and caught more of the plate than he normally does, and they put the ball in the air against him."

The wind was blowing out that day at Wrigley, but it made no difference to Davies.

"I'm supposed to be a ground ball pitcher, so that shouldn't make a difference to me," he said. "If I let the ball get in the air, then that's my fault."

Milwaukee will go for its first series sweep since taking three in a row from the Pirates July 29-31. That was also the last time the Brewers had won a series before taking the first two games against the Rockies; they'd gone 0-5-1 since in series play while posting an 8-14 record along with way.

The Rockies, meanwhile, have dropped three of their last four.

"We're having a hard time putting hits together and having a big inning that way," Weiss said.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Indians (72-52) at Athletics (54-72)

Game: 3
Venue: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Date: August 24, 2016 3:35 PM EDT

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Trevor Bauer will try to send the Cleveland Indians to Texas with some momentum when he takes the mound Wednesday in the series finale against the Oakland Athletics.

Bauer won't be pitching in the four-game series between American League division leaders that begins Thursday. The Indians have lined up Josh Tomlin, Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar.

Bauer's goal Wednesday: Take care of business against an AL weakling so that the Cleveland bullpen can be fresh for a series that could go a long way toward determining home-field advantage in the playoffs.

The Indians (72-52) and Rangers (73-53) are in good shape in their respective divisions.

Despite a 9-1 loss to the A's on Tuesday night, Cleveland still holds a 6 1/2-game lead over the Detroit Tigers (66-59) in the AL Central.

Texas, meanwhile, fell 3-0 at Cincinnati on Tuesday. The Rangers nonetheless hold a 5 1/2-game edge over the Seattle Mariners.

At stake beginning Thursday is the best overall record in the AL, which not only earns the top team a shot at the wild-card winner in the first round of the playoffs, but also gives it the home-field advantage in the AL Championship Series should it get there.

A loss Wednesday to Oakland (54-72) potentially could drop the Indians behind the Rangers at the start of their showdown. Cleveland and Texas enter play Wednesday virtually tied for the top mark in the AL.

The Indians-Rangers series will end with Salazar on the mound, and that is a concern for Cleveland. He was bombed Tuesday for the second straight time since coming off the disabled list.

"They got pretty good swings at his fastball," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "The hope is that he gets some repetition and gets back to the Danny we saw in the first half. It would certainly be helpful."

Bauer (9-5, 3.88 ERA) enters Wednesday's game on the heels of a season-best, 13-strikeout performance against the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays. He tossed eight innings of two-run ball but did not get a decision in the Indians' 3-2 win Friday.

The California native will be in search of his seventh road win of the season. Only seven AL starters -- Texas' Cole Hamels (9-2 on the road), Houston's Doug Fister (9-3), Detroit's Michael Fulmer (8-3), Toronto's Aaron Sanchez (7-1), Toronto's J.A. Happ (7-2), Baltimore's Chris Tillman (7-3) and the Chicago White Sox's Chris Sale (7-4) -- have reached that level.

Bauer has never beaten the A's, but he came close in both of his previous start against them. He allowed a total of four runs (three earned) in those games but didn't get a decision in either as the Indians were recording a 2-1 loss at Oakland last season and a 5-3 home win last month.

The Indians will be up against Oakland's hottest pitcher, right-hander Kendall Graveman (9-8, 4.09 ERA).

The 25-year-old has gone 8-2 with a 3.47 ERA in his past 15 starts. His seven wins since June 23 are the fifth most in the AL.

Graveman has never beaten the Indians, going 0-2 with a 3.38 ERA in three career starts. In his lone appearance against Cleveland this year, he gave up four runs (three earned) in 6 1/3 innings during a 5-3 loss at Progressive Field on July 29.

The A's will be looking for more offensive fireworks from Danny Valencia, who started for the first time in three games Tuesday and contributed a single and a double to the 9-1 win.

It was his seventh consecutive start with two or more hits.

"When you're playing big-league games, you have to play hard," Valencia said of his concentration level in the wake of his clubhouse fight with teammate Billy Butler on Friday. "You can't focus on those (negative) things. You've got to move past that. Play the game hard, and good things happen."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Cubs (80-45) at Padres (53-73)

Game: 3
Venue: PETCO Park
Date: August 24, 2016 3:40 PM EDT

SAN DIEGO -- With a rotation featuring Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester it's easy for Kyle Hendricks to get overlooked.

But not by Chicago Cubs manager Joe Madden.

"Everybody talks about everybody else by Kyle leads the National League in ERA right now," Madden said. "If we would score him some runs, this guy would have a tremendous won-loss record. No one has pitched better than him. No one."

It's the right-handed Hendricks (11-7, 2.16) on the hill for the Cubs against the San Diego Padres.

The Cubs go for the three-game sweep before motoring north to play the Los Angeles Dodgers in what could be a playoff preview.

Chicago will have to battle LA's mind-numbing traffic after the matinee, getaway game. But Madden is seldom stressed when Hendricks in on the mound.

He's allowed three or fewer runs in 16 straight starts, the longest streak this year in the majors. And since June 19, Hendricks is 7-1 with a nifty 1.24 ERA.

"He has command of his pitches, he's added a few wrinkles and his confidence could not be higher," Madden said. "Impossible."

While the Cubs have the NL ERA leader in Hendricks the Padres counter with Paul Clemens (2-2, 4.82).

Clemens will attempt to navigate the potent Cubs lineup by leaning on his curveball and hoping he can pinpoint his fastball.

The right-handed Clemens needs to trust his offspeed offering, according to Padres manager Andy Green.

"We want him to rip the curve ball off a little bit more," Green said. "When you look at the velo on his curve, when it is effective, it is upper 70s.

"Early in his last number of starts he is flipping it in there at 70, 71, and it just doesn't have the aggression, doesn't have the bite to get the swings and misses it can get."

Clemens, who was claimed off waivers on July 1, didn't figure in the Padres win in his last outing. He worked five innings and allowed three runs on eight hits and three walks against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Green said Clemens is also tinkering with his fastball.

"Just continuing to refine his fastball command; that is something that is going to be a journey for him his entire career," Green said. "He's not the only pitcher to have that."

Instead Clemens' money pitch is his curveball but he has to throw it with conviction.

"If he rips it off more effectively he is going to have the opportunity to use it more," Green said. "If he kind of flips it up there he doesn't have quite the command of it."

Green compared Clemens to the lefty Drew Pomeranz, the Padres' All-Star this summer before he was peddled to the Boston Red Sox.

"That was one of the things Pomeranz was able to do," Green said. "If he wanted it in the strikes zone he put it there. If he didn't want it in the strikes zone, he would put it there. That is the next step of the curveball development for Paul."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Yankees (64-61) at Mariners (67-58)

Game: 3
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: August 24, 2016 3:40 PM EDT

SEATTLE -- One of the most anticipated pitching matchups of the season happened in April and is about to take place again at Safeco Field.

Anticipated in Japan, anyway.

Japanese pitching stars Masahiro Tanaka of the New York Yankees and Seattle's Hisashi Iwakuma, former teammates with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Japan's Pacific League, will go at it again after Tanaka and the Yankees beat Iwakuma and the Mariners 4-3 in April.

Iwakuma was something of a mentor to Tanaka in Japan, as he was the ace of the staff when Tanaka joined the Golden Eagles out of high school. Now their roles have reversed, as Tanaka is one of baseball's most popular Japanese imports while Iwakuma has quietly toiled in Felix Hernandez's shadow for most of his five major league seasons.

Numbers-wise, they're very similar this season. Tanaka (10-4, 3.24 ERA) has won three starts in a row and is living up to his billing, while Iwakuma (14-8, 3.78 ERA) has been a pleasant surprise after being cast off by the Dodgers due to injury concerns last winter.

They've both come a long way since their April duel, which left Tanaka saying he was "just extremely satisfied being able to get that win."

The stakes are a little higher this time around, as the Yankees (64-61) try to make one last push to climb back into playoff contention and the Mariners (67-58) try to stay there. New York's 5-1 win on Tuesday night left Seattle two games back in the American League wild-card race.

"It's really important for us to win the series tomorrow," Mariners manager Scott Servais said late Tuesday night. "We've had a pretty good homestand, we've swung the bats well, it's just that (Tuesday starter CC Sabathia) got to us."

With just 37 games remaining, and two upcoming series against the AL West-leading Rangers, the Mariners can't afford to lose many more games against non-contenders if they're going to stay in the wild-card race.

"Every game is big for us, especially when you're behind other teams," said Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano, a former Yankee. "You want to keep winning, battling."

The Yankees have even less gray area when it comes to winning games down the stretch.

Tuesday's win put them five games back in the wild-card race, so they're skating on thin ice.

Many people thought New York's chances at the postseason were dashed when the team started trading veterans like Carlos Beltran and Aroldis Chapman, but the young Yankees have surprised people with a respectable 12-9 record in August. Young prospects like catcher Gary Sanchez and outfielder Aaron Judge have come in and given the Yankees new life despite their slim postseason chances.

"It's exciting," veteran pitcher CC Sabathia said of the Yankees' resurgence. "It's fun. You want to watch Sanchez hit every time. You want to watch Judge hit every time. It's been a lot of fun, and it's fun to be around the clubhouse."

The Yankees have an off day Thursday after the afternoon game.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Angels (52-73) at Blue Jays (71-54)

Game: 2
Venue: Rogers Centre
Date: August 24, 2016 7:07 PM EDT

TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays say they are not taking anything for granted during this home stand.

They are facing two teams who have the worst records in the American League.

They defeated the Los Angeles Angels (52-73) in the opener of a three-game series 7-2 on Tuesday.

The Angels have lost 11 straight road games, the most since they lost 14 road games in a row April 29-June 8, 1969.

The Minnesota Twins (49-76) follow the Angels for a three-game series at Rogers Centre starting Friday.

Then the Blue Jays go to Baltimore for a three-game series against the Orioles, who are two games out of first in the American League behind the Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox who are tied for first.

"I think the onus for us should be on just playing good baseball and not beating ourselves," said knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, who pitched 6 2/3 innings Tuesday for the win. "If we can execute and play good baseball I think we should come out of this homestand feeling good about the momentum going to Baltimore. If we don't play well those teams can beat you just easily as a team like the Red Sox."

The Angels have long been out of postseason contention but infielder Cliff Pennington, who played part of last season with the Blue Jays when they won the Al East, said returning to Rogers Centre brings back good memories.

"It was an amazing three months I spent here playing at the Rogers Centre," Pennington said Tuesday before going 1-for-2 with a walk as the Angels' second baseman. "Those last three months was one of the coolest experiences I've had as a player. ... the atmosphere here in the Rogers Centre was one of the coolest things I've experienced."

The Blue Jays will start right-hander Marco Estrada (7-5, 3.20 ERA) in the second game of the series on Wednesday against Angels right-hander Matt Shoemaker (7-13, 4.14 ERA).

Estrada allowed five hits, including three home runs, and five runs in four innings Aug. 16 against the New York Yankees and did not return after a rain delay. He did not factor in the decision when the Blue Jays came back to win 12-8.

The six-man rotation with the extra day between starts has not been good for Estrada so far. He is 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA in eight starts on four days' rest this season, is 2-4 with a 3.97 ERA in nine starts on five days' rest, and 2-1 with a 3.91 ERA in four starts with six or more days of rest.

In two career starts against the Angels, he is 1-0 with a 4.97 ERA.

Shoemaker is going for two wins in a row. He allowed five hits, two walks and two earned runs over seven innings Thursday to earn the win against the Seattle Mariners. He has a 3.12 ERA over his past 18 starts with 114 strikeouts and 18 walks.

In two career games, including one start, against the Blue Jays he is 1-1 with an 8.38 ERA. In his only start against Toronto, he allowed eight runs (seven earned) over six innings at Rogers Centre on May 21, 2015.

While the Blue Jays will try to maintain at least a share of first place in their division, the Angels will try to end an ugly road losing streak.

"Down the stretch every game is important," Blue Jays infielder Darwin Barney said. "I don't think we're taking anyone lightly. That's a good team over there."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Orioles (69-56) at Nationals (73-52)

Game: 3
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: August 24, 2016 7:05 PM EDT

BALTIMORE -- The Washington Nationals hope to fare better against the Baltimore Orioles when the teams head back to Nationals Park to continue their four-game, home-and-home Beltway Series on Wednesday.

The Orioles took both games at Camden Yards with some timely hitting and effective starting pitching. Baltimore now leads the all-time series 35-23.

"It's a really good team," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said about Washington. "They're one of the best teams in baseball and in that league, so it was tough. We caught a couple young pitchers, but we had a couple young pitchers, too, that did well. Yeah, we'll get on a bus tonight and head over to Washington and play a good team two more times."

Washington will look to right-hander Tanner Roark (13-6) to set the tone. Roark is riding a four-game winning streak and has not lost since July 22 and his 2.87 ERA is the best among all of the Nationals' starters. He has allowed 139 hits with 130 strikeouts and just 51 walks over 163 1/3 innings.

"It's good to be going home. It seems like we haven't been home in a while," Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. "We go home and regroup. Guys get to see their kids and their wives."

Left-hander Wade Miley (7-10, 5.58) is still looking for his first win with the Orioles since being acquired from Seattle at the trade deadline. Miley is 0-2 with a 9.94 ERA with Baltimore in four starts. He was hit especially hard in his last outing Friday and against the Houston Astros. After the Orioles hit four home runs in the first inning to stake him with a 5-1 lead, Miley fell apart. He allowed six runs on six hits over just 1 2/3 innings and did not earn a decision.

"It's embarrassing for that to happen," a disappointed Miley said after the game. "I made a lot of mistakes over the middle of the plate, even after the strikeouts a lot of fastballs trying to get ahead and they were just middle cut and they drove them. That's on me. I've got to set a better tempo than that."

Baltimore got some bad news when Chris Tillman did not have a good work session and he will likely be headed to DL. Tillman had a start last week pushed back three days because of right shoulder discomfort. He was expected to take the mound Thursday in Washington.

"I thought once it got loose it would really go away but it never really did, and that was my first time actually experiencing it while throwing," Tillman said. "Last time, I was pretty sore right after my start, but after feeling it today, I'd much rather just get this behind us and get out in front of it so that way we're not worried about it for the rest of the year."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Red Sox (71-54) at Rays (52-72)

Game: 3
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: August 24, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Boston Red Sox are 16-15 in one-run games this season, but John Farrell wants to see more like the 2-1 victory his team pulled out over the Rays on Tuesday.

"When you have to execute from the mound and defensively, late in games, with minimal margin for error, I think these are very good tests for us as we get this portion of the schedule, particularly on the road," Farrell said. "To come through as we have defensively, that's the key."

Boston (71-54) has won 10 of 12 -- including three one-run wins -- and will hope to continue that momentum in the third game of a four-games series at the Rays on Wednesday. The pitching matchup suggests it might not end up that close after all.

The Red Sox will start RHP Rick Porcello (17-3, 3.22 ERA), who is not only tied for the major league lead with 17 wins, but is coming in hotter than that. Boston has won 11 of his last 12 starts, and in his last five he's 4-1 with a 2.08 ERA with 29 strikeouts and only four walks.

What's more, he's owned the Rays this season, going 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA in three starts against Tampa Bay, striking out 22 and walking four.

That's a stark contrast to Rays starter Matt Andriese, who has struggled since rejoining the Tampa Bay rotation after the trade deadline. The Rays have lost all four game he's started, and he's seen his ERA swell from 2.75 to 3.66 during that span.

Andriese opened the season 6-0 and pitched well when he was shifted to the bullpen, but hasn't regained his old form as a starter. He's stretched himself out to 96 pitches in his last outing but that hasn't translated to more than 5 1/3 innings in any of his starts.

The silver lining is that he's pitched well against Boston. He hasn't allowed a run in 9 2/3 innings covering three appearances, including a six-inning gem last year in his only start against the Red Sox in which he allowed one baserunner in a victory.

The Rays are 30-5 this season when holding opponents to two runs or fewer after Tuesday's setback, with starter Chris Archer lamenting that "every night's not going to be a flawless outing" after earning his major league leading 17th loss of the season.

The margin for error in a one-run game is so little, as Kevin Kiermaier learned when he was thrown out at third trying to make a double a triple with one out n the eighth inning. Instead of the tying run in scoring position, he was out and the Rays wouldn't get closer than first base the rest of the night.

"Just kind of in shock over there at third base, how I got thrown out," Kiermaier said of Mookie Betts' assist from deep right field. "I watched the video after the game, and saw he made an absolutely perfect throw. I always want to put pressure on defense, and it's going to take a perfect throw to throw me out. I would not change anything. I'd do it again. I tip my hat to him."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Royals (65-60) at Marlins (65-60)

Game: 2
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: August 24, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

MIAMI -- The Miami Marlins need Jose Fernandez to be the home dominator he has been for virtually his entire career.

If he isn't that on Wednesday, it's likely the red-hot Kansas City Royals will walk away with their 10th straight win.

In fact, even if Fernandez -- who is 26-2 with a 1.62 ERA in his career at Marlins Park -- is as dominant as he usually is here, it's still not a guarantee the Marlins will beat the Royals.

That's how hot the Royals are, as they proved on Tuesday, requiring just one run to knock off the Marlins.

The Royals also have to take solace in the fact that the Fernandez that arrives to the ballpark on Wednesday is not the one Marlins fans are accustomed to seeing.

Fernandez has struggled as of late, mostly on the road. Since July 28, Fernandez has a 6.00 ERA -- home and road -- and he has lost his past three decisions.

The Marlins have other concerns besides Fernandez.

Three of their best hitters -- right fielder Giancarlo Stanton, first baseman Justin Bour and infielder Derek Dietrich -- are on the disabled list.

Stanton and Bour have combined for 40 homers this year, even though the latter hasn't played since July 3 due to an ankle injury that has never healed properly.

It is questionable that either one will return this year, although the Marlins are hopeful.

Dietrich is also vital to Miami's plans. If the Marlins make the playoffs, starting second baseman Dee Gordon, who sat out 80 games this year due to an MLB suspension for performance-enhancing drugs, will be ineligible for postseason play.

That means Dietrich would be the obvious choice for second base, assuming he is healthy and the Marlins make the playoffs.

On top of those issues, the Marlins got more bad news on Tuesday night.

Center fielder Marcell Ozuna, a first-time All-Star this year who is hitting .277 with 21 doubles, five triples, 22 homers and 64 RBIs, left the game in the seventh inning due to a family emergency.

"He just had a little family emergency," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "It's a personal thing. If he wants to talk about it tomorrow, I will let him. It's something that was going on. We'll know more tomorrow."

Meanwhile, the Royals are rolling along.

They will start right-hander Dillon Gee (5-6, 4.52 ERA) on Wednesday against Miami. He is coming off his best start of the year, allowing just one run in seven innings.

Kansas City's bullpen, a key part of their 2015 run to a World Series title, is also in great shape.

Kelvin Herrera has saved eight straight games, lowering his ERA to 1.91 with his latest stop on Tuesday.

Herrera, filling in for injured closer Wade Davis, has retired 17 consecutive batters.

Kansas City also got scoreless innings on Tuesday from set-up relievers Matt Strahm and Joakim Soria.

"We have to make sure we mix and match," Royals manager Ned Yost said of his bullpen. "But we have nice options."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rangers (73-53) at Reds (54-71)

Game: 2
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: August 24, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

CINCINNATI -- Yu Darvish is hitting his stride. But, that doesn't mean the Texas Rangers won't continue to be careful with how they utilize their right-handed ace.

Darvish, 30, is scheduled to make his 11th start of the season on Wednesday night in the finale of a two-game interleague series with the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. And, he'll do so on six days rest.

"It's a positive," Darvish told reporters last week via an interpreter. "I didn't feel like I needed it, but getting rest is beneficial for me."

Darvish, who's coming off Tommy John surgery, is 2-0 with a 1.74 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 20 2/3 innings in his last three starts. He's made six straight quality starts, matching the longest run this season by a Rangers pitcher.

He's been dominant in interleague play, going 7-2 with a 1.90 ERA in 11 starts against the National League.

Darvish will be facing Cincinnati for the first time since June 30, 2013 when he gave up only four hits in 6 2/3 innings with four walks and eight strikeouts in a 3-2 Texas win.

He'll get a chance to take his hacks in an NL park on Wednesday. He has two hits in 12 career at-bats.

Right-hander Tim Adleman will take the mound for Cincinnati on Wednesday. It's his sixth career start and second since he was recalled from Triple-A Louisville on Aug. 16. He'll be facing the Rangers for the first time in his career.

Cincinnati is 22-14 and has won eight of 11 series since the All-Star break. The Reds will be looking for their ninth series win on Wednesday if they can sweep the Rangers after a 3-0 win on Tuesday.

The Reds are riding the red-hot bat of first baseman Joey Votto, who is hitting .455 since the All-Star break after batting just .229 in April and .200 in May. Votto went 2-for-3 with two RBIs on Tuesday.

"I think what Joey has accomplished with his batting average and on-base percentage is phenomenal," said manager Bryan Price. "Anybody can struggle for a couple of months or even a season. That's not unique, so I'd have to say I'm more surprised at what he's doing now. I don't think anybody saw coming what he went through in April and May, but it's not foreign."

Texas' recent acquisition -- catcher Jonathan Lucroy -- is a bona fide Reds killer.

During his career with the Milwaukee Brewers, Lucroy has 13 home runs, 45 RBIs, and 42 runs in his career against Cincinnati, all his highest totals against any opponent. Lucroy's 13 homers are nearly double his total against any other club.

Lucroy went 0-for-3 with a walk on Tuesday. But, he'll get another crack at Cincinnati pitching on Wednesday.

He has homered in three of his past six games at Great American Ball Park.

Cincinnati now leads the all-time series 8-7 after Tuesday's win. The teams split a two-game series at Globe Life Park in Arlington in June.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Tigers (66-59) at Twins (49-76)

Game: 2
Venue: Target Field
Date: August 24, 2016 8:10 PM EDT

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Detroit Tigers will try and continue their dominance over the Minnesota Twins when the clubs play the second of a three-game series at Target Field on Wednesday night.

Detroit's bats came alive in the middle innings in the series lid-lifter on Tuesday, as the Tigers posted three-run innings in each the sixth and seventh frames in an 8-3 victory. The win improved Detroit to 8-2 against their Central Division mates in 2016.

The Tigers lineup, now featuring a seemingly reinvigorated Justin Upton, appears as deep as ever. Detroit blasted 14 hits on Tuesday with five players posting multi-hit efforts, including Upton.

Since returning from his brief stint out of the lineup, Upton has posted three consecutive two-hit games and is providing the pop the Tigers thought they were getting when they signed the three-time All-Star to a six-year, $132 million contract last winter.

"It makes you feel good but in the end you have to go execute," said Tigers slugger Victor Martinez. "You don't win games with lineups on paper. It doesn't work that way. You still have to go out and play the game."

Martinez homered and had three hits on Tuesday and is hitting .333 over his last 14 games overall. Miguel Cabrera also had three hits and has been a Twins nemesis over his entire career, as shown by his .343 career average at this ballpark.

Twins second baseman Brian Dozier has been a nemesis to nearly every pitcher he's run into over the last two months. Dozier cranked his 29th home run on Tuesday, establishing a new career high.

With the Twins an afterthought in the playoff chase down the stretch, the focus of fans could turn to Dozier and how many home runs he can finish with this season. His 29 are the most by a Twin since Josh Willingham belted 35 in 2012.

"It'll be fun to see if he can get to 30," said Twins manager Paul Molitor. "That's a pretty big milestone for a little second baseman."

Dozier will get a crack at left-hander Matt Boyd on Wednesday. The 25-year old southpaw has a 4-2 mark with a 3.93 ERA in 14 games, including 12 starts this season.

Boyd pitched six shutout innings against the Twins on July 18, striking out seven and walking one while scattering just three hits in his first victory. Boyd has won each of his last four decisions overall.

Minnesota will counter with Tyler Duffey. The right-hander has been inconsistent, posting an 8-9 record and a 5.93 ERA in 21 starts.

In his only start against the Tigers this season, Duffey allowed four runs, one of them earned, in 6 1/3 innings in a loss on April 30 at Target Field.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Phillies (58-68) at White Sox (60-64)

Game: 2
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: August 24, 2016 8:10 PM EDT

CHICAGO -- James Shields will try again to shake out of a 11-week funk as he takes the mound for the Chicago White Sox in Wednesday's finale of a two-game interleague series with the Philadelphia Phillies.

The 34-year-old right-hander, acquired in a June 4 trade with the San Diego Padres, is 5-15 with a 5.98 ERA this season. In 14 starts since joining Chicago he's 2-8 and gave up seven runs on eight hits -- including three home runs over 4 2/3 innings -- in last Saturday's 9-0 loss to the Oakland A's.

"There's times where a team will hit him around and he's been able to fight his way back," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "The roughest stretch was when he first got here and he seemed to calm those waters and figure it out. He has the ability to do that."

Shields is 0-3 over his last four starts, allowing a combined 28 runs (27 earned) on 33 hits over 14 innings pitched.

Shields worked five or fewer innings in his first four starts, including 1 2/3 innings on June 18 when he was rocked for eight runs on seven hits in Chicago's 13-2 loss at Cleveland.

His best outing came on July 27 when he shut out the Chicago Cubs 3-0 in an eight-inning appearance.

Shields will face a Phillies right-hander -- the rising Jerad Eickhoff (8-12, 3.91 ERA) -- who not only might identify with Shields' struggles but has also found his way back.

Eickhoff started his second big league season with a 2-8 record through 11 starts and then began to turn things around with a seven-inning outing with just one run on two hits in the Phillies 3-2 win over the Cubs on June 7.

Since then he's 6-4 with three no-decisions, including three straight losses from July 9-26.

In his last three starts, Eickhoff has had two wins and a no-decision in his last three starts. Last Thursday against the Dodgers he gave up four runs on seven hits over six innings, struck out eight and walked two and gave up a three-run home run to Justin Turner in the opening inning.

The Phillies are in Chicago for a two-game series, their first appearance at U.S. Cellular Field since 2004. It's only the fifth all-time inter-league series between the teams.

The White Sox took two-of-three in the last meeting in Chicago. The Phillies swept in 2007 and won two-of-three in 2013 -- both series at Citizens Bank Park.

The teams will complete a four-game series with two games on Sept. 20-21 in Philadelphia.

Chicago got an outfield regular back Tuesday. Avisail Garcia was activated from the 15-day disabled list (sprained right knee) and was promptly inserted in the starting lineup, going 1-for-4.

Garcia was batting .240 with nine home runs and 36 RBIs over 86 games with the White Sox this season. He was 5-for-15 (.333) with three homers and six RBIs in August prior to suffering the injury.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mets (63-62) at Cardinals (66-58)

Game: 2
Venue: Busch Stadium
Date: August 24, 2016 8:15 PM EDT

ST. LOUIS -- Wednesday night's pitching matchup looks like a classic pitcher's duel between hard-throwing right-handers Jacob deGrom of the New York Mets and Carlos Martinez of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Then again, deGrom was supposed to be involved in a pitcher's duel in his last outing and that didn't pan out.

Facing Madison Bumgarner and the San Francisco Giants Thursday night, deGrom suffered perhaps the worst outing of his big league career. In five innings, he allowed 13 hits and eight runs as New York lost 10-7.

Odds are that deGrom will be sharper this time, and he'll probably have to be against Martinez. In a performance 180 degrees removed from deGrom's, Martinez rolled through seven innings in his last start on Aug. 17 in Houston, allowing just a run and fanning seven in an 8-2 win.

What's more, Martinez has shut down the Mets in his brief big league career, going 2-1 with a 1.31 earned run average in six career outings. That includes a 3-2 win in the opener of a doubleheader July 26 in New York that saw him last five innings and work out of numerous jams.

The Mets offense might be better-equipped for the rematch, even though second baseman Neil Walker (paternity leave) will miss the game. New York rapped out 12 hits Tuesday night in a 7-4 win, with the 1-2 batters -- Jose Reyes and Asdrubal Cabrera -- each bagging three.

At 63-62, the Mets sit 3 1/2 games back of St. Louis (66-58) for the National League's second wild-card spot.

"It's crunch time and it's nice to have the majority of our lineup back," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "They know we're playing for something."

The Cardinals remained 1 1/2 games ahead of Miami for the second wild-card position, thanks to the Marlins' 1-0 loss to Kansas City. They could have actually picked up another game on them except for a poor performance with men on base.

St. Louis stranded 11 men Tuesday night, leaving two aboard in the third, fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth innings. After the first inning, when it collected a pair of RBI hits with men in scoring position, it was 0-for-6 for the game's remainder in that situation.

"We had opportunities later on and we hit some balls hard," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "But it was just one of those days. It was an uphill battle right from the beginning."

Despite the loss that dropped St. Louis to 28-34 at home, center fielder Randal Grichuk continued his power surge. Since being recalled from Triple-A Memphis on Aug. 11, Grichuk is batting .289 in 38 at-bats with four homers, the fourth coming in the sixth inning Tuesday night.

All but one of Grichuk's 11 hits since his return have gone for extra bases as Matheny has turned him loose, willing to deal with strikeouts in exchange for the long ball and solid defense.

"I'm not feeling for (the ball)," Grichuk said when asked what the difference has been in his hitting. "I'm just taking a rip at it and playing."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Braves (46-80) at Diamondbacks (52-74)

Game: 3
Venue: Chase Field
Date: August 24, 2016 9:40 PM EDT

PHOENIX -- Arizona and Atlanta will turn to their top starters Wednesday in an attempt to get a leg up after splitting the first two games of a four-game set at Chase Field.

Zack Greinke (11-4, 4.21) will oppose Julio Teheran (3-9, 2.90) in a series that so far has not had much to do with any of the starting pitchers.

Atlanta overcame a 4-3 deficit against the Arizona bullpen on Matt Kemp's go-ahead, bases-loaded double in the eighth inning of a 7-4 victory Tuesday. The Diamondbacks overcame a 5-0 deficit with a four-run eighth inning in a 9-8 victory in the opener Monday.

Atlanta's live young relief arms stood out Tuesday, giving manager Brian Snitker 6 1/3 scoreless innings in back of Rob Whalen, who was making his fifth major league start. Right-handers Jose Ramirez and Mauricio Cabrera struck out the side on either side of the Braves' go-ahead, three-run eighth inning fueled by Matt Kemp's two-run double.

Ramirez gave up a leadoff triple in the last of the seventh inning with Arizona holding a 4-3 lead, but the runner got no further. Cabrera struck out the side around a two-out double to protect a 6-4 lead in the last of the eighth inning with third-strike fastballs that were clocked 100, 102 and 101 mph.

"All of them did a great job," manager Brian Snitker said.

Greinke will be making his fourth start, and his first at home, since missing six weeks with a strained left oblique muscle. He had quality starts against the Mets in his return and at San Diego last Friday but was knocked around for nine runs and 10 hits in 1 2/3 innings at Boston on Aug. 14. He had a streak of eight straight winning decisions broken in Boston.

Teheran has been victimized by the worst run support in the NL among qualifiers, similar to the predicament Shelby Miller found himself in with Atlanta last season. Teheran has received an average of 2.77 runs per game this season, leading to his misleading win-loss record. Miller received 2.54 runs of support last season, the lowest figure in the league since 1974.

Atlanta added some offense at the July 31 trade deadline by acquiring Matt Kemp from San Diego, and Kemp supplied the game-winning hit with his bases-loaded, two-run double in the eighth inning Tuesday, when a third run scored on the play on an outfield.

No matter the jersey, Kemp has no trouble hitting at Chase Field.

Kemp hit two homers in an early-season here in Arizona while with San Diego, and he has 103 RBIs in 134 career games against Arizona, 51 at Chase Field. He spent all of his 10-plus years in the NL West with the Dodgers and San Diego before coming to Atlanta.

"This is a nice field, nice backdrop," Kemp said. "You see the ball well. I've had some experience here."

Kemp also drove in a run with a sacrifice fly Tuesday, giving him 81 for the season. He was deprived of another RBI when the official scorer ruled that the third runner scored on his bases-loaded double when the right fielder bobbled the ball at the fence.

"If I end up at 99, there's going to be trouble," Kemp said in jest.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Giants (68-57) at Dodgers (70-55)

Game: 2
Venue: Dodger Stadium
Date: August 24, 2016 10:10 PM EDT

LOS ANGELES -- Bruce Bochy isn't pushing the panic button yet.

With 37 games remaining for the San Francisco Giants and the club trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers by only two games despite its recent performances, it is too early for that.

However, Bochy, the Giants manager, knows his team needs to turn things around soon.

"There's a lot of baseball left," Bochy said. "As I said, this series is not going to determine it all, but at the same time, and how it's been going, we know we need to start rolling here and get back to who we are."

That didn't happen Tuesday night. Bochy and the Giants performed much like the same team that has played more poorly than any since the All-Star break. San Francisco dropped a 9-5 decision to the rival Dodgers in the opener of a three-game series at Dodger Stadium.

Right-hander Johnny Cueto (14-3, 2.90 ERA) will try to help Bochy and the Giants right the ship Wednesday when he faces Dodgers lefty Rich Hill (9-3, 2.25 ERA).

Cueto earned his first win of the second half in his last start by beating the New York Mets on Friday. Cueto allowed a run and scattered eight hits in seven innings. He struck out two and walked none in an 8-1 victory.

Against the Dodgers, Cueto is 2-0 with a 3.63 ERA this season.

Hill, acquired by Los Angeles along with right fielder Josh Reddick from the Oakland Athletics at the trade deadline, will be making his Los Angeles debut. He spent the past month on the disabled list with blisters on his middle pitching finger.

"We're excited about that," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Hill's first start.

Hill last faced the Giants as a member of the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 22, 2007. Although he didn't factor into the decision, Hill fanned 10 and gave up two runs on six hits in seven innings of a 4-2 Cubs win.

San Francisco (68-57) has lost three in a row and seven of its past nine games. The Giants had the best record in the majors at the All-Star break at 57-33 but have stumbled to the worst mark since then, 11-24.

Despite it all, the Giants have remained within sniffing distance of the Dodgers (70-55). Los Angeles is riding a three-game winning streak.

"I think it's going to be important we get cracking. It's been a struggle since the break for us," Bochy said. "The record shows it, and you look at some of the numbers and some things are hard to explain, but it is what it is. That's behind us. Hopefully, something will spur us to get back to where we were in the first half."

Roberts is as surprised as anyone regarding the Giants' struggles, but his club is benefitting.

"It's a very good team over there," Roberts said. "And considering how they've played in the first half and the (win-loss record) in the second half, yeah it's a surprise. That just shows that every game is tough to win."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Wednesday, August 24, 2016, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews

Potentially devastating news for the Washington Nationals as Cy Young candidate Stephen Strasburg was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Monday with right elbow soreness. I'll just say it flat out that I don't think the Nationals can win the NL pennant without him. They will still win the NL East, though, with a big lead. When I previewed Strasburg's last start, I wrote that I'll stick with him one more game but would have some concerns that he might be hurt if he struggled again. And Strasburg was bombed by the Rockies in Colorado. He started 15-1 but is 0-3 in his past three starts with a 14.66 ERA. Strasburg had been scheduled to start Monday against Baltimore. The Nationals do claim there is nothing structurally wrong and that they are just being proactive so Strasburg is 100 percent for the postseason. Needless to say, this is going to cost him the Cy Young. And anytime you hear "elbow soreness" on a guy who already has had Tommy John surgery, well, you have to be nervous if you are the Nats. Remember, they also just committed $175 million to Strasburg earlier this season. It's looking quite smart now on his part in accepting it.


Indians at A's (+122, 8.5)

A 3:35 p.m. ET first pitch and should have live betting at it's on the MLB Network. Trevor Bauer (9-5, 3.88) is on the mound for the Tribe, who have won his past three. Bauer took a no-decision on Friday against Toronto in allowing two runs and five hits over eight innings with a career-high high 13 strikeouts. It was the seventh time in his career he reached double-digit Ks. Bauer took a no-decision on July 29 vs. Oakland, allowing two earned in 5.1 innings. Khris Davis is 1-for-3 off him with a homer. Billy Butler is 6-for-13 with two doubles and four RBIs, but he was placed on the seven-day concussion on Monday after being punched in the head over the weekend by teammate Danny Valencia. Oakland's Kendall Graveman (9-8, 4.09) comes off the first complete-game shutout off his career, allowing two hits and no walks at the White Sox. Graveman was opposite Bauer on July 29 and took the loss, allowing three earned over 6.1 innings. Carlos Santana is 3-for-9 off him with a homer. Francisco Lindor is 4-for-8.

Key trends: The Indians are 6-1 in Bauer's past seven vs. the AL West. The A's are 5-1 in Graveman's past six at home. The "over/under" has gone under in 19 of Bauer's past 26 on the road. The under is 7-1 in Graveman's past eight at home.

Early lean: Indians and under.

Orioles at Nationals (-168, 9)

Baltimore loses the DH for this interleague matchup. The Orioles start lefty Wade Miley (7-10, 5.58), who has been terrible his past two outings. He was gashed for six runs in just 1.2 innings on Friday against Houston but actually avoided the loss. Miley is 0-2 with a 9.53 ERA in four starts for Baltimore since being acquired from Seattle. He hasn't faced Washington this year. Bryce Harper is 3-for-4 off him with a double. Ryan Zimmerman is 5-for-8 with three doubles and four RBIs. Washington's Tanner Roark (13-6, 2.87) hasn't lost since July 22. He comes off a no-decision in Atlanta, giving up three runs and four hits over 6.1 innings. This will be his first start of the year vs. Baltimore. Jonathan Schoop is 2-for-3 off him with two homers. J.J. Hardy is 4-for-6 against him.

Key trends: The Orioles are 1-4 in their past five on Wednesday. The Nationals are 6-1 in Roark's past seven at home. The over is 6-1 in his past seven interleague starts.

Early lean: Nationals and over.

Mets at Cardinals (-108, 7.5)

The Mets can't afford any more injuries in their chase for a wild-card spot, but they had to put lefty pitcher Steven Matz on the 15-day DL on Monday. He's dealing with a left shoulder strain, which also can be ominous. But the Mets think he simply needs two weeks of rest. Jacob deGrom (7-6, 2.73) is on the mound for New York. He comes off his worst start of the year in what was expected to be a pitching duel vs. Madison Bumgarner, giving up eight runs and 13 hits over five innings at the Giants. The hits and runs were career highs allowed. DeGrom hasn't faced St. Louis this year. Matt Carpenter is 1-for-6 against him. Jhonny Peralta is 2-for-6. The Cardinals' Carlos Martinez (11-7, 3.24) won in Houston last Wednesday, allowing a run and three hits over seven innings. He beat the Mets on July 26, allowing two runs in five innings. Jay Bruce is 1-for-15 off him with a homer. Neil Walker is 4-for-16 with two dingers.

Key trends: The Mets are 1-4 in deGrom's past five road starts vs. teams with a winning record. The Cards are 8-3 in Martinez's past 11 on Wednesday. The under is 6-2 in deGrom's past eight on the road. It's 4-1 in Martinez's past five at home.

Early lean: Cardinals and under.

Braves at Diamondbacks (-150, 8.5)

Pitching matchup of the night amid news that Arizona plans to clean house in the front office this offseason after that terrible Shelby Miller trade with Atlanta this past offseason. The Snakes were apparently ready to cut their losses on Miller and trade him to the Marlins around the deadline, but ownership killed the deal. The Braves start Julio Teheran (3-9, 2.90). He returned from the disabled list on Friday and took a no-decision vs. the Nationals, surrendering three runs and six hits over five innings. He hasn't won since June 19 largely because of no run support. Teheran took a no-decision vs. Arizona on May 7, allowing one earned run over five innings. Jean Segura is 5-for-15 off him with a homer. Paul Goldschmidt is just 1-for-14 against Teheran. Arizona's Zack Greinke (11-4, 4.21) comes off a no-decision vs. San Diego, allowing two runs over seven innings. He won in Atlanta on May 6 in giving up two runs over six innings. Matt Kemp is 5-for-23 with a homer off him. Nick Markakis is 6-for-22 with three doubles and a homer.

Key trends: The Braves are 2-8 in Teheran's past 10 vs. teams with a losing record. The Diamondbacks are 4-1 in Greinke's past five at home. The under is 11-5 in Teheran's past 16. It's 5-1-1 in Arizona's past seven at home.

Early lean: Diamondbacks and under.

Giants at Dodgers (-116, 7)

ESPN game. Monitor the status of struggling Dodgers outfielder Josh Reddick, who was scratched from Monday's game with a jammed middle finger on his right hand. He has done absolutely nothing since coming over in trade from Oakland. The guy who came with Reddick in that deal, lefty Rich Hill (9-3, 2.25), is set to make his Dodgers debut here and first start since July 17 due to a blister problem. Prior to the injury, Hill had six straight quality starts for the A's. Hill hasn't faced the Giants this year. Hunter Pence is 2-for-7 career off him with an RBI. San Francisco's Johnny Cueto (14-3, 2.90) beat the Mets in his last start, allowing a run over seven innings. Cueto has made three starts this year vs. the Dodgers, going 2-0 with a 3.63 ERA. Adrian Gonzalez is 6-for-22 off him with a homer. Chase Utley hits .357 off Cueto in 28 career at-bats.

Key trends: The Giants are 11-2 in Cueto's past 13 on the road. The under is 8-2 in his past 10 vs. the NL West.

Early lean: Giants and under.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MLB

Wednesday’s games

National League

Mets @ Cardinals
deGrom is 1-1, 2.76 in his last five starts; under is 10-4 in his last 14. Mets are 4-6 in his road starts.

Martinez is 1-1, 5.40 in his last four starts (over 3-1). Cardinals lost four of his last five home starts.

Mets won their last three games; seven of last eight New York games went over the total. St Louis won six of last eight games; over is 6-2-1 in their last nine home games.

Rockies @ Brewers
Anderson is 0-1, 5.29 in his last three starts; three of his last four went over. Colorado lost three of his four road starts.

Davies is 0-2, 8.44 in his last three starts; under is 5-3 in his last eight. Milwaukee is 7-3 in his last ten home starts.

Rockies lost three of last four games; six of last nine Colorado road games went over. Milwaukee won its last three games; four of last six Brewer games went over the total.

Braves @ Diamondbacks
Teheran is 0-1, 2.57 in his last four starts; four of his last six went over. Braves split his eight road starts.

Greinke is 1-1, 8.10 in his last four starts; four of his last five went over. Arizona won four of his last five home starts.

Braves lost eight of last ten games; 11 of last 12 Atlanta games went over. Arizona is 5-8 in last 13 home games; nine of last ten Arizona games went over the total.

Cubs @ Padres
Hendricks is 2-0, 1.24 in his last four starts; over is 6-4-1 in his last 11. Cubs are 4-7 in his road starts.

Clemens is 1-2, 5.40 in five starts for San Diego; his last three starts went over.

Cubs are 18-4 in last 22 games; four of last six Chicago games went over. San Diego lost eight of last 11 games; eight of last ten games at Petco Park went over total.

Giants @ Dodgers
Cueto is 1-0, 2.63 in his last two starts; his last four went over. Giants are 11-2 in his road starts.

Hill finally makes his first Dodger start (blister) after being traded by A’s August 1– he was 9-3, 2.25 in 14 starts for Oakland this year.

Giants lost seven of last nine games; over is 8-2 in last ten Giant games. Dodgers won their last three games; over is 8-2-1 in last 11 games at Dodger Stadium.


American League

Angels @ Rays
Shoemaker is 2-4, 4.31 in his last six starts; under is 10-5 in his last 15. Angels lost seven of his last eight road starts.

Estrada is 2-2, 4.82 in his last five starts; over is 5-2 in his last seven. Toronto lost three of his last four home starts.

Angels are 2-16 in last 18 road games; under is 8-2 in last ten Halo games. Toronto is 10-4 in its last 14 home games; over is 7-4-1 in Jays’ last 12 home games.

Red Sox @ Rays
Porcello is 3-0, 2.05 in his last three starts; under is 5-3 in his last eight. Boston is 3-6 in his last nine road starts.

Andriese is 0-4, 6.46 in his last five starts; his last three went over. Tampa Bay lost four of his last five home starts.

Red Sox won ten of last 12 games; under is 17-6-1 in Boston’s last 24 road games. Tampa Bay won six of last nine games; over is 10-3 in Rays’ last 13 home games.

Tigers @ Twins
Boyd is 4-0, 2.70 in his last six starts; under is 5-2 in his last seven. Detroit is 2-4 in his road starts.

Duffey is 3-1, 5.16 in his last four starts; over is 5-2-2 in his last nine. Minnesota won five of his last six home starts.

Tigers won its last three road games; under is 7-3 in Detroit’s last ten games. Minnesota lost 10 of last 13 games; over is 17-4-2 in Twins’ last 23 games.

Indians @ A’s
Bauer is 2-0, 2.66 in his last three starts; five of his last six stayed under. Cleveland is 4-5 in his road starts.

Graveman is 2-1, 2.05 in his last three starts; five of his last six stayed under. A’s won five of his last six home starts.

Indians are 9-4 in last 13 games; under is 7-3 in their last ten road games. Oakland lost eight of last ten games; under is 13-4 in their last 17 games.

New York @ Mariners
Tanaka is 3-0, 2.18 in his last three starts; under is 5-2 in his last seven. New York is 6-3 in his last nine road starts.

Iwakuma is 3-1, 2.02 in his last four starts (under 3-1). Mariners won his last eight home starts.

New York won five of last seven games; five of last six New York road games stayed under. Seattle won nine of last 11 home games; five of Mariners’ last six games went over the total.


Interleague

Astros @ Pirates
McHugh is 0-4, 9.39 in his last five starts; three of his last four stayed under. Houston is 6-7 in his road starts.

Cole is is 0-2, 7.02 in his last three starts; his last five went over. Pirates are 1-4 in his last five home starts.

Astros won four of last five games; over is 9-5 in their last 14 games. Pittsburgh lost four of last five games; six of last seven Pirate home games stayed under.

Orioles @ Nationals
Miley is 0-2, 10.06 in four starts for Baltimore (over 2-2).

Roark is 4-0, 2.14 in his last five starts; three of his last four went over. Washington won six of his last seven home starts.

Washington lost its last three games; five of Nationals’ last seven games went over the total. Baltimore won three of last four road games; their last three games stayed under.

Rangers @ Reds
Darvish is 2-0, 2.61 in his last three starts; under is 5-2-1 in his last eight. Texas lost three of his four road starts.

Adleman is 2-1, 2.96 in five starts (over 3-2) this year.

Rangers lost their last three games; three of last four Texas games went over the total. Cincinnati is 13-5 in last 18 home games; over is 10-4-1 in Reds’ last 15 games.

Royals @ Marlins
Gee is 1-4, 5.73 in his last six starts; under is 3-0-1 in his last four. Gee is 1-3, 7.08 in four road starts.

Fernandez is 0-3, 6.00 in his last four starts; four of his last five starts went over. Miami is 9-4 in his home starts.

Royals won their last nine games; under is 5-1-1 in their last seven games. Miami won three of last four games; their last three games stayed under.

Phillies @ White Sox
Eickhoff is 2-0, 4.76 in his last four starts; under is 14-6-1 in his last 21. Phillies are 4-7 in his road starts.

Shields is 0-3, 18.00 in his last four starts (over 3-1). White Sox lost four of his last five home starts.

Phillies are 6-10 in last 16 road games (over 11-4-1). White Sox are 8-3 in last 11 home games; under is 5-3 in their last eight home games.


Teams’ record when this pitcher starts:

Col-Mil: Anderson 7-6; Davies 11-11 (0-3 last 3)
NY-StL: deGrom 12-10; Martinez 11-12
Atl-Az: Teheran 5-17; Greinke 13-7
Chi-SD: Hendricks 13-9; Clemens 3-2/1-1
SF-LA: Cueto 19-6; Hill 0-0/9-5

LAA-Tor: Shoemaker 8-16; Estrada 12-9
Bos-TB: Porcello 19-6 (12-2 last 14); Andriese 5-7 (0-5 last 5)
Det-Min: Boyd 7-5 (6-1 last 7); Duffey 11-10
Clev-A’s: Bauer 11-9; Graveman 12-12
NY-Sea: Tanaka 18-7; Iwakuma 15-10

Hst-Pitt: McHugh 14-11 (1-4 last 5); Cole 8-11 (2-7 last 9)
Balt-Wsh: Miley 1-3/10-9; Roark 16-9 (13-2 last 15)
Tex-Cin: Darvish 5-5; Adleman 3-2
KC-Mia: Gee 3-7; Fernandez 14-9 (0-4 last 4)
Phil-Chi: Eickhoff 12-13 (3-0 last 3); Shields 5-9/2-9


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

Col-Mil: Anderson 5-13; Davies 6-22
NY-StL: deGrom 2-22; Martinez 3-23
Atl-Az: Teheran 5-22; Greinke 7-20
Chi-SD: Hendricks 6-22; Clemens 1-7
SF-LA: Cueto 6-25; Hill 4-13

LAA-Tor: Shoemaker 6-24; Estrada 8-21
Bos-TB: Porcello 7-25; Andriese 3-12
Det-Min: Boyd 1-12; Duffey 6-21
Clev-A’s: Bauer 6-20; Graveman 4-24
NY-Sea: Tanaka 3-25; Iwakuma 4-25

Hst-Pitt: McHugh 11-25; Cole 6-19
Balt-Wsh: Miley 8-23; Roark 4-25
Tex-Cin: Darvish 4-10; Adleman 0-5
KC-Mia: Gee 7-10; Fernandez 6-23
Phil-Chi: Eickhoff 7-25; Shields 10-25


Umpires

Col-Mil: Underdogs are 11-3 in last 14 Hirschbeck games.
NY-StL: Last four Muchlinski games went over total.
Atl-Az: Nine of last eleven Rackley games went over.
Chi-SD: Road team won last seven Ripperger games.
SF-LA: Under is 6-1-1 in last eight Torres games.

LAA-Tor: Three of last four Whitson games stayed under.
Bos-TB: Under is 8-4-1 in last 13 Blakney games.
Det-Min: Six of last nine Bucknor games went over.
Clev-A’s: Four of last five Porter games stayed under.
NY-Sea: Six of last eight Eddings games went over.

Hst-Pitt: Favorites won last six Timmons games.
Balt-Wsh: Over is 12-4-2 in last 18 TBarrett games.
Tex-Cin: Underdogs are 10-8 in last 18 Iassogna games.
KC-Mia: Over is 10-3 in last thirteen Hoye games.
Phil-Chi: Over is 3-1-1 in last five Tumpane games.


Teams’ records in first five innings:

Team (road-home-total)- thru 8/23

Arizona 22-30-11…..24-34-5…….46-64
Atlanta 24-31-8……18-31-13……42-62
Cubs 34-19-8……40-17-8…….74-36
Reds 17-37-7……29-30-5……46-67
Colo 24-28-11…..26-32-4……50-60
LA 27-26-9……37-20-7……64-46
Miami 28-26-9…..29-18-14……57-44
Milw 19-37-7……34-22-7…….53-59
Mets 26-40-9……27-24-9……53-54
Philly 20-28-15….23-29-11……43-55
Pitt 18-33-10…..38-21-4…….56-53
St. Louis 29-27-6…..24-26-12…..53-53
SD 19-40-4…..28-29-6……47-69
SF 27-29-7……31-18-13……58-47
Wash 33-20-13…..25-18-16…..58-38

Orioles 23-32-7…….33-24-8…….56-56
Boston 24-27-9……39-17-8…….63-44
White Sox 28-28-8……33-26-2…….61-54
Cleveland 34-22-7……29-26-5……62-48
Detroit 25-30-8……30-25-4…….55-55
Astros 25-29-11…..29-24-7…….54-53
KC 24-32-9……25-23-13……49-55
Angels 22-34-7…….23-30-10…..45-64
Twins 23-32-11…..21-32-11…….44-64
NYY 21-34-8……27-28-9……..49-62
A’s 20-34-8……24-29-12……44-63
Seattle 29-25-8……29-21-12……58-46
Tampa Bay 21-25-10……30-29-9…….51-54
Texas 24-34-9…….28-21-9…….52-55
Toronto 38-19-4……..36-24-4…..74-43

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

StatFox Super Situations

MLB*|*CLEVELAND*at*OAKLAND
Play On - Home teams when the money line is +125 to -125 (OAKLAND) cold hitting team - batting .240 or worse over their last 15 games, starting a pitcher who gave up no earned runs last outing
104-62*over the last 5 seasons.**(*62.7%*|*42.6 units*)
14-11*this year.**(*56.0%*|*2.8 units*)


StatFox Situational Power Trends

MLB*|*TEXAS*at*CINCINNATI
TEXAS is 52-33 (+22.1 Units) against the money line when the total is 8.5 to 10*this season.
The average score was: TEXAS (4.8) , OPPONENT (4.6)

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Wednesday’s six-pack

Odds to win this year’s World Series

— Cubs +300– Were +280 back on June 28

— Rangers +450– Got rid of Josh Hamilton yesterday.

— Nationals +550– Daniel Murphy, back in the playoffs.

— Giants +600– Been playing poorly since All-Star break.

— Indians +650– Terry Francona is an underrated manager.

— Dodgers +800– Use their 14th starting pitcher of year today.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

#1 Sports

Wednesday's Free Selection: Cincinnati Reds + 170