Wednesday 9/23/15 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: White Sox (72-79) at Tigers (70-81)

Game: 3
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: September 23, 2015 1:08 PM EDT

The disappointing side of the Detroit Tigers' win Tuesday was their failure to complete a no-hitter. Justin Verlander knows the feeling.

After his team barely missed out on the franchise's first combined no-hitter, Verlander tries to regroup from his own spoiled start Wednesday against the visiting Chicago White Sox.

Tyler Saladino tripled with one out in the ninth inning and scored on Adam Eaton's single to end Detroit's bid at a five-pitcher no-hitter. Rajai Davis, though, delivered a run-scoring triple in the 10th to give the Tigers a 2-1 win, their fourth extra-inning victory in the last week.

'It is nice just to be able to win,' Davis said. 'I wish we could have gotten the job done an inning earlier, but we still got it done in dramatic fashion.'

Detroit (70-81) dropped both ends of a doubleheader to start this four-game series on Monday, and is trying to catch Chicago (72-79) to jump out of the AL Central basement.

Verlander (3-8, 3.46 ERA) lost a no-hitter in the ninth inning on Aug. 26 and will try to wash away the bad taste of another unfortunate ending in his last start.

The right-hander was one out from his eighth career shutout on Friday against Kansas City but surrendered a single and was pulled with a 3-1 lead. A two-run homer then forced extras where the Tigers eventually won, 5-4 in 12 innings.

The former MVP, though, was denied a win for the third straight start, a stretch in which he is 0-2 with a 3.74 ERA. Verlander, who had a 0.76 ERA in his previous five outings, has eight quality starts without a victory in 17 starts this season.

Verlander seeks his 18th career win against the White Sox after going 2-0 with a 1.20 ERA in his final two starts versus them in 2014.

Jose Abreu (8 for 16, two home runs) and Eaton (5 for 15) have hit Verlander well, while Melky Cabrera (4 for 26) and Tyler Flowers (4 for 21) have struggled.

Generating offense has been a problem for both teams lately. The Tigers have scored seven runs and batted .180 in the past four games, while the White Sox have totaled 16 runs and hit .192 in their last seven.

The Tigers catch a break by missing Chicago ace Chris Sale, who is available on normal rest but won't go in the series finale. Instead, the White Sox give Frankie Montas (0-0, 1.13) his first big league start.

"More than likely, we are using some guys out of the 'pen," manager Robin Ventura told MLB's official website. "You feel comfortable you can cover that, even with him going three or four innings."

The 22-year-old Montas, who can touch 100 mph on the radar gun, has allowed one run over eight innings with 10 strikeouts in five relief appearances since his Sept. 1 promotion from Double-A Birmingham, where he made 23 starts.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Angels (77-74) at Astros (80-72)

Game: 3
Venue: Minute Maid Park
Date: September 23, 2015 2:10 PM EDT

The Los Angeles Angels are clinging to the hope of catching the Houston Astros for the AL's final postseason spot - much like they held on to their latest win.

A tight victory over the Astros helped Tuesday, but a series win Wednesday would do wonders for the Angels' chances in the final two weeks of the season.

Los Angeles (77-74) snapped a two-game skid with a 4-3 victory in the middle game of the series at Minute Maid Park, clawing to within 2 1/2 games of Houston (80-72) for the second wild card with Minnesota (77-73) also in the mix.

'We know how important wins are now,' manager Mike Scioscia said. 'But right now if we keep playing well ... we can stay close enough, keep pressuring them.'

Meanwhile, the Astros have fallen two back of AL West-leading Texas. Houston had lost 12 of 16 to start September but steadied with three straight victories before Tuesday's loss.

"We're not a perfect team," manager A.J. Hinch told MLB's official website. "We still make mistakes. But we're a pretty good baseball team."

The Astros will try to get back to their winning ways with a pitcher who has dominated at home since arriving at the trade deadline.

Mike Fiers (2-1, 3.06 ERA) has allowed just 10 hits with an ERA of 0.89 in three starts at Minute Maid Park, the middle one a no-hitter last month against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The right-hander has secured a spot in Houston's rotation by allowing just 11 earned runs in his last seven starts.

He's faced the Angels just once in his five-year career, but they are still fresh in his memory from Sept. 13. Fiers held the Angels to three solo homers in seven innings of a 5-3 victory.

Mike Trout hit one of those, the start of a 10-game stretch in which he's gone deep six times. The latest was his 40th of the season in Tuesday's win, making him the second player in Angels history to reach that mark. Troy Glaus hit 47 homers in 2000 and 41 in 2001.

'It's obviously special to reach 40,' Trout said. 'Coming into this season, thinking it would be pretty special and pretty cool and it happened.'

Albert Pujols added his 36th home run, his first since Sept. 2. The first-inning solo shot was Pujols' fifth this season and 50th of his career against the Astros, the most by any player.

Nick Tropeano will make just his second career start at Minute Maid despite pitching with the Astros during his 2014 rookie season. Tropeano (2-2, 5.06) went 1-3 in four starts for the Astros last year, including a loss in his only home outing.

A 21-inning doubleheader Saturday and short outings from Matt Shoemaker, Jered Weaver and Hector Santiago in the next three games opened the door for Tropeano to pitch the finale.

He will make his sixth start of the season and third this month since his promotion from Triple-A Salt Lake. The right-hander picked up his first win since April while filling in for an injured Shoemaker on Sept. 15, allowing two runs in five innings of a 4-3 victory against Seattle ace Felix Hernandez.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Yankees (83-67) at Blue Jays (86-65)

Game: 3
Venue: Rogers Centre
Date: September 23, 2015 7:07 PM EDT

The New York Yankees had their rotation all lined up to have their top starter on the mound for the finale of what could be their most important series of the regular season.

Instead, Masahiro Tanaka will watch from the dugout as Ivan Nova tries to get the Yankees within 1 1/2 games of the AL East-leading Blue Jays Wednesday night in Toronto.

New York (83-67) evened the series with Tuesday's 6-4 win after Greg Bird hit a three-run homer in the 10th inning, leaving the yard for the fifth time on a seven-game hitting streak. The first baseman is the eighth Yankees rookie to homer in three straight games dating to 1914, and none of the previous seven made it to four.

"We're still definitely in it," Bird said. "Now it's off to tomorrow."

His timing couldn't be better while filling in for the injured Mark Teixeira and providing an offensive boost at a crucial time.

"It was probably as emotional and loud as I've seen it this year, which is understandable," manager Joe Girardi said of the dugout's reaction.

The Blue Jays (86-65) have still won 12 of 18 in the season series, though they've dropped five of nine overall dating to a loss in the series finale at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 13. Josh Donaldson is batting .147 in that span, but Dioner Navarro has homered in consecutive games after hitting three in his first 49 and is batting .400 in his last six.

Nova (6-8, 5.11 ERA), who was banished to the bullpen last Wednesday, will fill in as Tanaka deals with a strained hamstring. Unfortunately for the Yankees, the start that acted as the last straw for the right-hander also came against Toronto.

Nova gave up six runs and seven hits in 1 2-3 innings of a 10-7 home loss on Sept. 12 and hasn't pitched in any capacity since. The starting staff has posted a 1.98 ERA over a 6-3 span without him.

"I think it's all in the mind," Nova told MLB's official website. "It's my mindset. I've got to be ready to go - command my pitches and execute every pitch."

He's given up at least three runs in seven straight starts while going 2-5 with a 7.46 ERA. Three of those starts have come against the Blue Jays, which has dropped Nova to 2-3 with a 7.59 ERA and .323 opponent batting average in his last seven in the series. Jose Bautista has a .538 on-base percentage in 19 at-bats against Nova.

Nova's up against Marcus Stroman (2-0, 3.00), whose confidence level is likely the higher of the two despite appearing twice in the majors since spring training.

Stroman's return from a torn ACL has been everything the Blue Jays had hoped. After debuting by beating the Yankees in New York on Sept. 12, he gave up a run and six hits in seven innings of a 6-1 home victory over Boston on Friday.

The right-hander improved to 8-2 with a 1.92 ERA in 12 career home starts, and he's made it at least seven innings in six of the last seven.

"I love pitching here," Stroman said. "I love pitching at the Rogers Centre. I feel great when I'm out there."

Against the Yankees, he's 3-1 with a 3.18 ERA and .218 opponent batting average in four starts. Jacoby Ellsbury (0 for 8) and Brian McCann (1 for 10) have struggled most, but Brett Gardner is 3 for 10 with two home runs and a double.

Both clubs have relatively easy schedules after this series, but the Yankees are 21-13 against remaining competition of the Chicago White Sox, Boston and Baltimore, while Toronto is 14-14 against Tampa Bay and the Orioles.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Orioles (74-76) at Nationals (78-72)

Game: 3
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: September 23, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

There's been a too-little, too-late feel to the Washington Nationals' recent wins, and the same can be applied to their ace's latest work.

Max Scherzer can pitch the Nationals to an eighth win in 10 games Wednesday night against the visiting Baltimore Orioles, and in doing so he can further distance himself from a month of personal struggles.

Washington's three-game winning streak came to an end in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to open the three-game series, and with the New York Mets' loss, it missed out on a chance to get within 5 1/2 games of the NL East leaders.

Even so, a five-game losing streak preceding the recent success was likely the end of the Nationals' postseason hopes.

The Orioles (74-76) have won three straight in Washington and seven of nine in the interleague rivalry.

Baltimore is 9-4 since falling a season-worst seven games under .500 on Sept. 7 and finds itself five games out of the second wild card with four teams to pass after Houston lost.

Scherzer (12-11, 2.90 ERA), like Washington (78-72), has gotten it together recently, going 1-0 with a 1.20 ERA and .196 opponent batting average in his last two starts after going 0-3 with 6.35 and .324 marks in his previous six. The right-hander allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings of Friday's 5-4 home win over Miami in 10 innings.

He clearly hasn't given up on the season, as was evident as he raised his voice to manager Matt Williams to remain in the game for the final out of the seventh.

"You have to have the belief in yourself when those situations arise," Scherzer told MLB's official website. "I know I still have my best bolt left. I'm good to go. I'm ready to face anybody in the league in that situation. I'm not going to get everybody out. I have the attitude I can succeed in those situations."

Williams didn't allow his ace to get the final out in a 3-2 win in Baltimore on July 12 as Scherzer yielded two runs and four hits in 8 2-3 innings to improve to 4-1 with a 3.59 ERA in seven starts against the Orioles.

He's dominated Manny Machado (0 for 11 with five strikeouts) and J.J. Hardy (4 for 26), but Adam Jones is 11 for 22 with three home runs.

Jones has been out of the lineup the last two days with back spasms, and manager Buck Showalter wasn't sure if he'd return Wednesday.

"He's better. That's encouraging," Showalter said. "Hopefully he'll continue down that path. He can do some things that he couldn't do yesterday."

Scherzer is up against Chris Tillman (9-11, 5.19), who's been awful since early August.

Tillman's second half got off to a glowing start with a run allowed over 23 2-3 innings of his final three starts of July. He missed a turn in the rotation because of an ankle injury and has never been the same, going 1-4 with a 7.52 ERA in eight starts.

The right-hander at least kept the Orioles in Thursday's 4-3 win in Tampa Bay, surrendering three runs and five hits in 5 2-3 innings before the lineup saved him with a four-run eighth, but it was also his sixth straight start allowing at least three runs.

He faced Washington for the fourth time on July 10, giving up two runs in six innings, and remains without a decision while sporting a 4.37 ERA.

Ryan Zimmerman has done the most damage with three home runs in six at-bats, but the first baseman hasn't played since Sept. 7 due to an oblique injury and is considered day to day.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Phillies (57-94) at Marlins (64-87)

Game: 2
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: September 23, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

With another losing season winding down for the Miami Marlins, Adam Conley is one of a couple rookies looking to state his case for a job in next year's rotation.

After shutting down the NL's highest-scoring club since July, he'll try to take another step forward against the light-hitting Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night at Marlins Park.

The Marlins (64-87) are assured of their sixth straight losing season, so Conley (4-1, 4.22 ERA) and Justin Nicolino are getting long looks as the team begins to think about the 2016 rotation.

Although Nicolino has slumped after a strong start, Conley appears to be gaining some confidence while winning his last three decisions and posting a 2.96 ERA in his last five starts.

The 25-year-old will try to build on his performance last Wednesday when he allowed three hits over seven innings in a 6-0 road win over the New York Mets. The NL East leaders had averaged 7.0 runs over their previous 25 games and scored an NL-high 5.07 per game since July 1.

"Young guys come up here, and they give too much credit to hitters in the big leagues," said manager Dan Jennings, who likely won't be back in that role next year. "And they forget to do what got them here. That's trust their stuff. I think (this start), hopefully, is a step in that direction."

Conley limited the damage in his only meeting with Philadelphia (57-94) on Aug. 23. He allowed one run and three hits while overcoming a season-high four walks in six innings of a 2-0 home defeat.

The Phillies rank 28th in the majors at 3.8 runs per game, but they've averaged 5.4 while winning eight of the last nine matchups with the Marlins. Cody Asche went 3 for 4 with two home runs and Freddy Galvis went 3 for 5 with two RBIs in Tuesday's 6-2 victory that snapped a six-game skid.

Philadelphia's David Buchanan (2-9, 8.49) showed promise last year, going 6-8 with a 3.75 ERA in 20 starts. But he's looking to snap a four-start losing streak and a six-game road skid dating to 2014.

After going 0-3 with a 22.00 ERA in three starts bridging a month stay at Triple-A Lehigh, the right-hander allowed a season-low two runs over six innings in a 4-0 home loss to Washington on Sept. 15.

"That's what we wanted to see," said Pete Mackanin, who was named the team's manager for 2016 prior to Tuesday's game after serving in an interim role since June 26.

Buchanan went 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA in three meetings with the Marlins last season.

The Marlins rank 29th in the majors with 3.7 runs per game and they've totaled 11 while going 2 for 27 with runners in scoring position during a four-game losing streak.

Miguel Rojas accounted for the only runs in the opener with a two-run homer. The shortstop has batted .435 over a seven-game hitting streak, but starter Adeiny Hechavarria could return after missing 17 because of a left hamstring injury.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Braves (61-91) at Mets (85-66)

Game: 3
Venue: Citi Field
Date: September 23, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

Recent struggles haven't cost the New York Mets much in the NL East race, and having Bartolo Colon face the Atlanta Braves could get them untracked.

Colon attempts to become the first Mets pitcher to win all five starts against an opponent in a single season in 30 years Wednesday night.

New York (85-66) has dropped five of seven, equaling its loss total from its previous 24 games. Still, the Mets are atop the East by 6 1/2 games on second-place Washington with 11 to go.

They fell 6-2 on Tuesday, ending their five-game winning streak against the Braves (61-91).

"All of a sudden, we've hit a wall," manager Terry Collins said.

Collins now turns to Colon (14-12, 4.15 ERA), who is 8-2 with a 2.55 ERA in 10 career starts versus Atlanta.

The right-hander has won all four this year behind a 3.51 ERA. He can become the first Met to go 5-0 in five starts against an opponent since Dwight Gooden did it against the Chicago Cubs in 1985.

He'd also be the first to accomplish the feat against the Braves since Orel Hershiser in 1988.

Colon, though, is looking to bounce back from Wednesday's 6-0 loss to Miami. The right-hander gave up three runs and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings after going 4-0 with a 0.57 ERA over his previous five games - four starts - in a stretch that included a career-high 31 consecutive scoreless innings.

Colon served up two homers Wednesday after not allowing one since Aug. 26. The 24 he's allowed are a team high and the most he's given up since he was hit for 26 with the Los Angeles Angels in 2005.

"He's going to make you swing the bat," Collins told MLB's official website. "He's around the plate so much that sometimes they barrel up and he's had some issues of giving up the long ball."

The only home run he's allowed to Atlanta this year was to Jonny Gomes, who is now with Kansas City. Nick Swisher and A.J. Pierzynski are the only current Braves to have homered off Colon with two apiece.

Colon has been given four runs of support in every outing against Atlanta in 2015, but the Mets are averaging 2.3 runs while batting .210 over the past seven games. That includes a .115 average with runners in scoring position after going 0 for 8 on Tuesday.

Yoenis Cespedes is a major culprit, batting .154 without an RBI in that stretch after compiling a .382 average with nine homers and 19 RBIs over his previous 13 games. Additionally, Lucas Duda is in a 3-for-26 slump.

Those issues may continue since Atlanta's 4-1 stretch has been keyed by a 1.84 ERA. Rookie Matt Wisler provided the latest gem Tuesday, allowing two runs with eight strikeouts in seven innings.

Williams Perez (6-6, 5.16) kicked off the team's recent surge with a solid outing Friday, yielding one run in 5 2-3 innings of a 2-1 win over Philadelphia. He's 2-0 with a 2.89 ERA over his last three starts.

The rookie right-hander hasn't been sharp in two starts - both at home - against the Mets, going 1-0 despite allowing seven runs in 12 innings with 13 hits and five walks.

Curtis Granderson, Travis d'Arnaud and Daniel Murphy are a combined 9 for 15 with two homers and two doubles off Perez.

Murphy is hitting .407 with six doubles and 10 RBIs in his last seven games against Atlanta, doubling on three of his four hits in this series.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rays (73-78) at Red Sox (72-78)

Game: 3
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: September 23, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

Despite growing closer to being officially eliminated from postseason contention, the Tampa Bay Rays are getting a lift from Mikie Mahtook and Drew Smyly.

Mahtook looks to continue his offensive surge while Smyly goes for his longest winning streak as a starter Wednesday night against the Boston Red Sox.

Tampa Bay (73-78) is 6 1/2 games back of Houston for the AL's second wild-card spot with 11 to play, having likely blown its playoff hopes with a 7-12 record since Sept. 2.

The Rays are already looking ahead to next year, shutting down right-hander Nathan Karns for the rest of the season because of tightness in his forearm.

Mahtook and Smyly, however, are proving they can contribute in 2016.

Mahtook is hitting .391 in 18 games since being recalled from Triple-A Durham on Sept. 1, and the rookie outfielder has a .500 average in the past seven.

He connected for a two-run homer in the eighth inning of Tuesday's 5-2 win at Boston (72-78), moving the Rays one-half game ahead of the Red Sox in the race to avoid finishing last in the AL East.

"He's making the most of an opportunity right now," manager Kevin Cash said. "He's even making more of those opportunities. He's done a tremendous job since he's been back up here in September."

Smyly (3-2, 3.64 ERA) has rotated good performances with bad ones since coming back from a torn labrum that sidelined him for more than three months.

The left-hander is 3-1 with a 4.06 ERA in seven starts since returning. He didn't give up a run in three of them, including a 2-0, 13-inning loss to Boston on Sept. 13. He left after equaling his career high with 11 strikeouts in six innings.

Smyly followed with another rough outing five days later, matching a season high with five runs allowed and giving up two homers in 5 2-3 innings of an 8-6 victory over Baltimore. Still, he was credited with the win, his third in a row.

"I think we're thrilled. The hurdle with proving to himself that he's past the injury was probably the greatest hurdle to overcome," Cash said. "I think his pitches have shown more finish, especially his off-speed pitches. The fastball life has been there. Just continue to go out and have good outings."

Smyly has a 1.52 ERA over his last four starts against the Red Sox, allowing one run and six hits in 12 innings this year.

Boston turns to Rick Porcello (8-13, 5.16), who is 3-0 with a 1.86 ERA over his last four starts against the Rays. He allowed three runs with eight strikeouts in seven innings of a 10-4 win at Tampa Bay on Sept. 12.

The right-hander wasn't as sharp six days later in a 6-1 loss at Toronto, giving up six runs in six innings while having a tough time controlling his curveball.

"I just couldn't get comfortable with it," Porcello said.

Travis Shaw is 9 for 14 with five RBIs in his last four games, and the rookie first baseman has a .500 average in seven against the Rays with three homers, three doubles and nine RBIs.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Brewers (63-88) at Cubs (89-62)

Game: 3
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: September 23, 2015 8:05 PM EDT

As the Chicago Cubs move closer to securing their first postseason berth since 2008, they continue to enjoy everything about the experience.

They'll look to keep the good times coming by completing a series sweep with their 10th straight victory over the visiting Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night.

Hours after manager Joe Maddon set up a small petting zoo in the Wrigley Field outfield for his players and their families to enjoy, Jake Arrieta struck out 11 while tossing a three-hitter to become the majors' first 20-game winner in Tuesday's 4-0 victory.

Winners in seven of the last eight, the Cubs (89-62) trimmed their magic number to clinch a playoff spot to three. While it seems likely Chicago will open the postseason with a one-game wild-card contest, it's poised to build more momentum, enjoy itself and see what happens.

"I think it's just preparing us for the postseason," said Arrieta, the first Cub to win 20 since 2001. "It's getting better as the season goes on. ... It's been a lot of fun. We need to keep moving forward."

Kris Bryant set a Cubs rookie record with his 26th home run and raised his RBI total to 98 with three more. He's batting .481 in the last seven games, and .391 in the last six against Milwaukee (63-88).

"He's going to hit a lot of home runs," said Hall of Famer Billy Williams, who previously held that club record since 1961. "He's got a home run swing that's perfect for Wrigley Field."

While Arrieta is likely to start that expected wild-card game, and Jon Lester would then take the ball should the Cubs advance, the rest of a potential division series rotation gets a bit murky with Jason Hammel, Dan Haren and Kyle Hendricks (7-6, 4.22 ERA) all struggling of late.

Hendricks will have at least two more chances to prove his worth for any playoff role after going 3-2 with a 5.29 ERA in 12 second-half starts. He gave up four runs on three homers in a season-low three innings of Thursday's 9-6 win at Pittsburgh.

The right-hander's best outing since the All-Star break came Aug. 1 when he allowed his only run in two starts this season against the Brewers, lasting seven innings of a 4-2 victory.

Khris Davis is 4 for 9 against Hendricks and batting .355 in the last nine games. Teammate Ryan Braun took batting practice Tuesday but could miss a fifth straight game with a back problem.

Losers in 12 of the last 14, Milwaukee has totaled 20 runs, hit .195 and struck out 87 times during its nine-game skid to the Cubs, who get their first look at Zach Davies (1-2, 6.00).

The right-hander didn't walk a batter while lasting seven innings to earn his first win in his second career start at Miami on Sept. 7. Since, he's walked nine while giving up nine runs and 11 hits in 9 2-3 innings to lose two in a row.

"Just losing a bit of the command," Davies said after allowing four of those walks in six innings of Friday's 5-3 loss to Cincinnati.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Indians (74-75) at Twins (77-73)

Game: 2
Venue: Target Field
Date: September 23, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

The last time Corey Kluber saw the Minnesota Twins, he put the finishing touches on back-to-back complete games.

Kluber tries to continue his recent dominance of the Twins and help the Cleveland Indians possibly gain some ground in the postseason chase Wednesday night.

Kluber (8-14, 3.44 ERA) is 4-0 with a 1.70 ERA over his last five starts against the Twins, going the distance in the last two. He had a one-hitter in a 6-1 win at Minnesota on Aug. 14 after three-hitting the Twins in an 8-1 victory five days earlier.

The right-hander gets the ball this time after his shortest outing of the year. He tossed 61 pitches in four innings, giving up three runs with five strikeouts, in Thursday's 8-4 loss to Kansas City - his first outing in nearly three weeks due to a hamstring injury.

"I just think that after being down for (19 days), I just thought that he'll be better, and he'll be better suited now to start pitching like he can and not have to think about it," manager Terry Francona told MLB's official website.

"I just think it's the right thing to do."

It's unclear if Francona will take the same approach again since Cleveland (74-75) enters Wednesday 4 1/2 games back of Houston - which hosts the Los Angeles Angels earlier in the day - for the league's second wild-card spot.

The Twins (77-73) trail the Astros by two after beating the Indians 3-1 on Tuesday to open this three-game series. They'll meet in Cleveland for four next week.

Minnesota has Phil Hughes (10-9, 4.58) back in the rotation after Tommy Milone was ruled out with a "tired shoulder," according to manager Paul Molitor.

Hughes has an 8.44 ERA while losing two of three starts against the Indians this year, and he turned in his worst performance of the season in an 8-1 loss at Cleveland on Aug. 9. The right-hander was hammered for seven runs and nine hits in three innings, then landed on the disabled list before his next scheduled start due to lower back inflammation.

He struggled again in his return Sept. 15, giving up three runs in three innings of a 5-4 loss to Detroit, and was moved to the bullpen.

Hughes allowed one run in two innings of relief Saturday against the Angels.

Aaron Hicks is 4 for 8 with three RBIs and as many runs in the last two games after getting an RBI triple and a double Tuesday. The center fielder, though, is 1 for 11 against Kluber.

The Indians are hoping to have Michael Brantley back after he suffered a right shoulder injury when he attempted a diving catch on Hicks' triple Tuesday.

"He jammed his shoulder and it was hard for him to get extended when he was hitting, so we got him in, got him iced," Francona said. "We'll see how he shows up."

Brantley, who went 0 for 2 Tuesday, is hitting .417 with 12 RBIs in his last 15 games against Minnesota.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mariners (74-77) at Royals (87-63)

Game: 2
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: September 23, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

The Kansas City Royals have made a notable shake-up as they try to get back on track before the postseason.

Getting untracked halfway through the season has put Robinson Cano on the verge of a major milestone.

One hit shy of 2,000, Cano looks to help the visiting Seattle Mariners extend the Royals' current struggles on Wednesday night.

Kansas City's magic number to clinch its first division title since 1985 remained at three Tuesday after an 11-2 loss to Seattle (74-77). It was the Royals' 12th defeat in 17 games.

"Right now, you have supreme confidence in your club, but you don't feel good about what's going on," manager Ned Yost told MLB's official website. "There's no major concern, though."

Still owners of the best record in the AL, the Royals (87-63) won't make too much of this rough stretch, especially since they split the final 20 games prior to last season's memorable playoff run.

However, Yost did announce Tuesday that set-up man Wade Davis will replace Greg Holland as the Royals closer. Nursing a sore elbow, Holland has blown five saves this season to match his total from the previous two.

Davis is 7-1 with an 0.88 ERA and has converted 13 of 14 save chances this year.

"You know what you've got with Wade," Yost said. "With Holly you don't know from one day to the next how his elbow is going to respond. If it's going to be tight or sore or stiff."

The Royals were far from a save situation Tuesday as Cano delivered a good chunk of the damage with two home runs.

About to become the 14th major leaguer to reach 2,000 hits in his first 11 seasons, Cano has three home runs and eight RBIs in the last two games. For a while it appeared he might not reach the milestone this year with a .249 average through 87 games, but he's regrouped to hit .335 in his last 58.

"I would say it means a lot, not only for me, but to anybody to get to 2,000," he said. "For me, it will be very special."

Cano is 1 for 4 and has walked twice in six plate appearances against Yordano Ventura (12-8, 4.40 ERA), who has won two straight starts but owns a 5.63 ERA in the last three. He hasn't completed six innings in any of those three and yielded eight hits in each while totaling 10 walks.

The right-hander has a 2.84 ERA in three career starts against the Mariners despite going 0-2, though he hasn't faced them since June 2014.

An AL-best 13-6 this month, Seattle counters with Roenis Elias (5-8, 4.06).

Since being recalled from Triple-A Tacoma on Aug. 23, the left-hander is 1-2 with a 3.57 ERA in four starts. Due to an off day last Thursday, Elias is making his first start since Sept. 12 when he allowed two unearned runs, one hit and struck out eight in 5 1-3 innings of a 7-2 victory over Colorado. He did pitch in relief Friday at Texas, striking out the only batter he faced.

Elias now looks for a better effort than his last against Kansas City on June 24. He yielded seven runs and five hits in 3 2-3 innings of an 8-2 defeat.

Mike Moustakas hit a two-run homer off Elias in that game. Alex Gordon and Alcides Escobar are a combined 6 for 13 against him.

Gordon, however, is 0 for 18 with 10 strikeouts in his last five games.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Reds (63-87) at Cardinals (95-56)

Game: 3
Venue: Busch Stadium
Date: September 23, 2015 8:15 PM EDT

While the St. Louis Cardinals hope he can be a key part of their postseason rotation, Lance Lynn can't shake the command issues that have plagued him down the stretch.

As St. Louis looks to tighten its grip on the NL Central lead, Lynn hopes to get on track while leading the club to a fourth straight win Wednesday night against the visiting Cincinnati Reds.

Lynn (11-10, 3.28 ERA) will fall short of a fourth straight 15-win season after going 0-2 with a 9.26 ERA in his first three September starts. He hasn't made it out of the fourth inning in three of his past seven and has 20 walks while striking out 18 over 31 1-3 in his last six.

The right-hander issued a career-high six free passes and gave up three runs over 3 1-3 innings Friday when he did not factor in an 8-3 loss at Wrigley Field. With the Cardinals (95-56) holding a four-game division lead with 11 left, he's hoping to resolve his problems before the playoffs.

Manager Mike Matheny insists there's nothing physically wrong with Lynn.

"He continues to measure up well with what the training staff sees, and he feels good," Matheny told MLB's official website. "It's not a real secret what his style is. He comes right at guys. But when you do that, you have to find your control and control the plate. ... With his style of pitching, he's going to have a tough time if he can't locate his fastball."

Lynn has struck out 28 and walked 11 while posting a 2.12 ERA in his last five starts versus Cincinnati (63-87). He's 1-1 with a 2.77 mark in two meetings this season.

Jay Bruce is batting .452 with three home runs in 31 at-bats against him and Joey Votto is hitting .450 in 20 at-bats. Todd Frazier, however, is 5 for 31 (.161) with 15 strikeouts.

Bruce's 456-foot homer in Tuesday's 3-1 loss was the longest by a left-handed hitter at 10-year-old Busch Stadium. Bruce has five home runs on a nine-game trip that concludes Wednesday.

The Reds, who have totaled two runs and 18 strikeouts in this series, hope to avoid their fourth straight defeat.

Brandon Finnegan, acquired from Kansas City in the Johnny Cueto trade, allowed one run over five innings Friday in his first career start - a 5-3 win at Milwaukee. He had made 30 relief appearances, including seven during the Royals' run to the World Series last season.

"For a young guy that a lot came quickly for last year, this still was a big steppingstone for Brandon," manager Bryan Price said. "He did transition into the rotation for us in Triple-A and wasn't spot on as far as having immediate success as a starter. This was his best start since he's been in our organization."

Finnegan (1-0, 1.17) didn't allow a hit over 2 2-3 scoreless innings in two relief appearances against the Cardinals earlier this month. Brandon Moss took him deep in April when both played in the AL.

Tommy Pham knocked in two runs Tuesday for St. Louis, which has won 13 of 17 at home against Cincinnati. Pham is batting .407 with three homers, three triples, two doubles and 10 RBIs over his last seven games.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Pirates (91-60) at Rockies (63-88)

Game: 3
Venue: Coors Field
Date: September 23, 2015 8:40 PM EDT

Charlie Morton's first attempt at matching a career high in wins fell flat during his team's rut last week. The Pittsburgh Pirates hope his second try helps them continue a hot streak and punch a ticket to the postseason.

Morton looks to help the Pirates grab their fifth straight victory and clinch a playoff berth for the third consecutive year Wednesday night as they visit the last-place Colorado Rockies.

The Pirates (91-60) have sliced their magic number to one after taking the first two of this four-game series by a combined score of 15-6, making it four wins in five games against the Rockies this season and eight of 11 since the beginning of 2014.

Pittsburgh holds a two-game lead over the Chicago Cubs for the NL's top wild card and 9 1/2 over its next closest pursuer - San Francisco - while sitting four back of NL Central-leading St. Louis.

"We're not looking at yesterday, we're not looking at the team behind us," manager Clint Hurdle said. "We're not looking at tomorrow or the team in front of us. We need to take care of our game."

Before eyeing October, the Pirates would like to see Morton (9-8, 4.26 ERA) get back on track and reach double digits in victories for the first time since he won 10 games in 2011.

The eight-year veteran has lost four of his last five starts, allowing 20 runs and 30 hits in 27 1-3 innings. The wheels really came off in his last outing - the third of four straight losses for Pittsburgh - as the right-hander was pummeled Thursday by the Cubs for nine hits and six runs in four innings. It was his shortest outing since June 21.

The second loss during Morton's current slump came against the Rockies (63-88), who scored five runs - three earned - off him in six innings of a 5-0 win Aug. 30. That game came in Pittsburgh, but he's been no better at Coors Field with a 5.51 ERA in three career starts.

Carlos Gonzalez is 1 for 8 in this series, but he's 6 for 18 against Morton with a double and a home run.

Morton's struggles this season start in the first inning, where he has allowed at least one run in 10 of his 21 starts. Opponents are hitting .376 against him in the opening frame with 13 extra-base hits and four home runs.

He might catch a break if Colorado slugger Nolan Arenado is unavailable. The third baseman left Tuesday's game in the ninth inning after hitting his head on the ground while diving for a ball. He passed a concussion test and will be evaluated Wednesday.

"He'll be fine," manager Walt Weiss told MLB's official website. "At that point, there was no sense keeping him out there."

Pittsburgh's Aramis Ramirez also left Tuesday's game with tightness in his left groin. Ramirez has hit .344 with seven RBIs in his last nine games.

His potential absence would be good news for Colorado's Christian Bergman because Ramirez is 3 for 3 with two doubles off the right-hander.

Bergman (3-0, 3.81) is getting a spot start with Jorge De La Rosa (Achilles) on the mend. He's made 10 starts for Colorado in his first two MLB seasons, though nine came in 2014 and the other came April 14 when he threw four scoreless innings at San Francisco.

He has a 0.90 ERA in his last five relief appearances, allowing just a solo home run while pitching 3 1-3 innings to earn the win in Saturday's 10-2 victory over San Diego.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rangers (81-69) at Athletics (64-87)

Game: 2
Venue: O.co Coliseum
Date: September 23, 2015 10:05 PM EDT

Colby Lewis struggled while losing his last two road starts, but he should have a good chance to turn things around as he attempts to again get the best of the Oakland Athletics.

Less than two weeks from nearly tossing a perfect game against the A's, the Texas Rangers right-hander looks for another strong effort opposite the Athletics on Wednesday night at the Coliseum.

In perhaps the most dominating performance of his career, Lewis (16-8, 4.41 ERA) retired the first 21 batters he faced before Danny Valencia doubled to lead off the eighth inning during a 4-0 win on Sept. 11. The 36-year-old Lewis would yield one more hit and not walk a batter en route to his career-high 15th victory.

'When you are witnessing great things happening, there's a mutual respect,' Valencia said.

Lewis, whose 10 career wins against the A's are his most off any opponent, is 2-0 with a 1.33 ERA in four starts opposite them in 2015.

He followed that gem against Oakland by giving up two runs in six innings of Thursday's 8-2 win over Houston. He'll try to become Texas' first 17-game winner since Scott Feldman in 2009.

Lewis has allowed 13 runs and 17 hits over 10 2-3 innings in his last two starts away from home, but is 7-2 with a 2.82 ERA in 13 career starts at Oakland.

Texas (81-69) rallied from an early 4-1 deficit to win 8-6 on Tuesday, beating the A's for only the third time in the last nine meetings.

'It was just one of those games we continued to fight and kept rolling the lineup over trying to create some opportunities, and we were able to put some runs on the board,' first baseman Mitch Moreland said.

With that victory and Houston's loss to the Los Angeles Angels, the Rangers increased their AL West lead to two games.

"It's just about winning," slugger Adrian Beltre told MLB's official website. "Baseball is not easy."

Moreland delivered a tying two-run homer in the sixth, his career high-matching 23rd. His 81 RBIs are already a personal best.

Beltre is 7 for 11 and Moreland 3 for 6 against Felix Doubront (3-2, 4.95), who is 0-5 with an 11.51 ERA as a starter against Texas. He allowed seven runs and homers to Shin-soo Choo and two to Beltre in 4 1-3 innings of a 12-4 loss Sept. 13.

That's the only one of Doubront's last six starts that Oakland has lost. The left-hander is 2-1 despite a 7.25 ERA in his last four starts, but his best of that stretch came Friday when he allowed three runs in six innings while not factoring in the decision of 4-3 win at Houston.

Marcus Semien and Jake Smolinski each tripled Tuesday for the A's, whose 40 this season tied the club record set in 1968 while dropping their third consecutive contest.

'At times we had good at-bats, at times we didn't," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. "At times we made some good defensive plays, other times we didn't. So it was not a real consistent game.'

Semien is 0 for 10 with four strikeouts against Lewis.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Giants (79-71) at Padres (70-81)

Game: 2
Venue: PETCO Park
Date: September 23, 2015 10:10 PM EDT

In the last 20 seasons, 17 pitchers have lost more than 15 games while maintaining an ERA under 4.50.

Andrew Cashner could join that group Wednesday night at Petco Park. He's been more deserving of his defeats against the San Francisco Giants, who aren't yet conceding they have nothing to play for as Jake Peavy tries for his first win as a visitor in San Diego.

Though misfortunate, Cashner (6-15, 4.25 ERA) certainly hasn't had the year he or the Padres wanted. Yet he might feel like he has little room to complain compared to Shelby Miller, who is already there this season with 16 losses and a 3.00 ERA.

Cashner would be the second San Diego pitcher in as many seasons to join the group after Eric Stults went 8-17 with a 4.30 mark last year.

After limiting Arizona to three runs and seven hits in last Wednesday's 4-3 win, Cashner is coming off a rare victory, though he still has a 5.40 ERA and .409 opponent on-base percentage while going 1-3 in a five-start span.

His manager wants to see him simplify things and hopefully cut down on the 4.45 walks per nine innings he's posted in that time after having a 2.79 mark through 24 starts.

"Cashner was great; player of the game for me," Pat Murphy said. "He just attacked a very good offensive team ... with 75 percent (of his pitches) or more were fastballs. Hopefully, he learned something he can take with him going forward, that he doesn't need to go deep in counts. His fastball is that good."

The right-hander has lost both of his starts against San Francisco this season with nine earned runs allowed in 10 2-3 innings to fall to 2-3 with a 5.13 ERA in seven career starts in the series. Buster Posey (11 for 22 with two home runs) and Brandon Crawford (5 for 11 with a home run) have hit him best.

Cashner is up against Peavy, San Diego's former ace, who's again doing his part down the stretch. Peavy (7-6, 4.08) was 4-0 with a 1.15 ERA as the Giants won his last six regular-season starts last year.

The right-hander hasn't been quite as strong this time around, but after allowing two runs and seven hits in six innings of last Wednesday's 5-3 home win over Cincinnati, he's 4-0 with a 3.52 mark in his last five. He's also 7-0 with a 3.12 ERA in 12 September starts dating to 2013.

The 34-year-old has only faced the Padres (70-81) three times since leaving in 2009, going 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA and the loss coming in his only return to Petco on April 12. Justin Upton is 9 for 17 with two homers and a triple against him, but Yangervis Solarte is 0 for 8.

With Tuesday's 4-2 series-opening win, San Francisco (79-71) has won 10 of 15 and six straight in the series with a 47-10 scoring advantage. More importantly, it gained a game on the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers, who have dropped four in a row.

The Giants remain six back with 12 to play, though four come at home against the Dodgers next week. Their other two remaining series come at Oakland and at home against Colorado, two clubs toiling in last place.

'We're still alive,' manager Bruce Bochy said. 'I've talked about this so many times. You never know. You keep grinding, you keep fighting and see what happens. You've got to believe, and it's all up to us about winning games. That's where it starts. Of course, it's obvious we need a little help. There's a big series coming up.'

Posey (hip) was out of the lineup Tuesday but is expected back Wednesday.

Matt Kemp is batting .147 in his last nine games and .146 in his last 13 against the Giants.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Diamondbacks (73-78) at Dodgers (85-65)

Game: 3
Venue: Dodger Stadium
Date: September 23, 2015 10:10 PM EDT

While they still own a comfortable lead in the NL West, the slumping Los Angeles Dodgers are in danger of losing their hold on home-field advantage in the playoffs.

They're also on the verge of their longest losing streak at Dodger Stadium in two years, though they haven't lost when Zack Greinke has started there since early June.

The All-Star right-hander will try to help Los Angeles get back on track while continuing his historic season Wednesday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Los Angeles (85-65) had its division lead cut to six games after Tuesday's 8-0 loss and San Francisco's win. However, the club remains in the driver's seat to win a third straight title with 12 games remaining.

The Dodgers, however, are clinging to a half-game edge on the East-leading New York Mets in the race for home-field advantage in a potential division series matchup. Now they're looking to avoid matching their longest skid of the season and longest home slide since May 1-10, 2013.

'We haven't won anything yet. This is time for us to buckle down and play better than we did in the last four games,' catcher A.J. Ellis said.

They should be in good hands with Greinke (18-3, 1.65 ERA), who will try to win a career high-tying sixth consecutive start. He's also gone 9-1 with a league-best 1.48 ERA in 16 home outings.

Greinke has a chance to become only the fifth Dodger since 1914 to win eight straight home starts in a single season. Sandy Koufax (10, 1964), Burleigh Grimes (8, 1918), Dazzy Vance (8, 1927) and teammate Clayton Kershaw (8, 2011) are the others.

"I pitch good at home," he told MLB's official website. "I'm just more comfortable."

Greinke has an 18-inning scoreless streak versus the Diamondbacks after winning a pair of starts against them this season. He's 7-0 with a 1.19 ERA in nine meetings since joining Los Angeles in 2013.

Paul Goldschmidt is 4 for 23 with 12 strikeouts lifetime when facing Greinke, while Ender Inciarte, Chris Owings and David Peralta are a combined 0 for 27.

Goldschmidt, though, homered for the second straight night Tuesday when Arizona won for only the third time in 16 games at Chavez Ravine. He's batting .388 with 11 homers and 26 RBIs in his last 22 meetings.

A.J. Pollock added his 18th home run and has a .400 average over an 11-game hitting streak. Rookie Brandon Drury has gone 5 for 9 with a home run, double and four RBIs in this series.

The Diamondbacks (73-78) are seeking their fifth win in the first six of this 10-game road trip.

Chase Anderson (6-6, 4.52) had been removed from the rotation after allowing five runs and two homers over two-plus innings in a 6-2 home loss to San Francisco on Sept. 8. The right-hander, though, has been working with pitching coach Mike Harkey over the past two weeks, and hopes to make the most of another opportunity after impressing in Friday's simulated game.

"Chase looked good," manager Chip Hale said. "He got better and better."

Anderson is 1-1 with a 3.95 ERA in five career starts against the Dodgers. He yielded two hits and struck out seven over six innings in a 1-0 win at Chavez Ravine on May 3. Adrian Gonzalez is 4 for 9 with a home run off him, while Yasmani Grandal has three homers in eight at-bats.

The Dodgers, however, have batted .176 and totaled nine runs during their losing streak after they managed only three singles off Robbie Ray and three relievers Tuesday.

Arizona shortstop Nick Ahmed's status is uncertain after he left Tuesday's game because of a jammed lower back.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MLB roundup: Cubs' Arrieta first 20-game winner of season
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

CHICAGO -- Jake Arrieta became baseball's first 20-game winner of the season on Tuesday with a sharp complete-game outing in the Chicago Cubs' 4-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.

Arrieta (20-6) got all the support he needed on third baseman Kris Bryant's third inning two-run home run.

The Wrigley Field crowd stood on its feet and roared as Arrieta worked a one-two-three ninth that included two strikeouts.

The victory was the second straight and seventh in eight games for the Cubs (89-62) while the Brewers (63-88) dropped their second in a row and 10th in 11 games.

A Cy Young Award candidate, Arrieta scattered three hits, struck out 11 and walked just one in a complete-game collaboration with catcher Miguel Montero.

Arrieta, 29, is the Cubs' first 20-game winner since Jon Lieber went 20-6 in 2001 and 27th Cub since 1900 to reach that milestone in a season. It was his fifth straight outing of eight or more innings, his fourth complete game of the season and third complete-game shutout.

Yankees 6, Blue Jays 4 (10 innings)

TORONTO -- Greg Bird hit a three-run homer in the 10th inning to lead New York past Toronto.

Blue Jays catcher Dioner Navarro had tied the game at 3 with a one-out homer in the bottom of the ninth against left-hander Andrew Miller (3-2). Carlos Beltran had homered against right-hander Liam Hendriks in the eighth to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead.

Miller, who returned for the bottom of the 10th, allowed the 35th homer of the season with one out by Blue Jays designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion in the extra inning.

The win brought the Yankees (83-67) to within 2 1/2 games of the first-place Blue Jays (86-65) in the American League East.

Twins 3, Indians 1

MINNEAPOLIS -- Ervin Santana threw seven-plus innings of one-run ball as Minnesota defeated Cleveland at Target Field.

Santana scattered five hits and a walk while striking out seven for his sixth win this season and fourth in his last five starts. The veteran right hander has lasted at least seven innings in all five starts over that span, accumulating an ERA of 1.86 in 29 innings with 39 strikeouts and eight walks.

The top of the Twins order did the bulk of the damage, accounting for five of their eight hits, two of their three runs and all three RBIs. Aaron Hicks and Brian Dozier had two hits and an RBI double apiece.

Mariners 11, Royals 2

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Robinson Cano homered twice and Hisashi Iwakuma pitched seven shutout innings as Seattle ripped Kansas City.

The Mariners hit five home runs, scoring all their runs in the first four innings.

Iwakuma (9-4) checked the Royals on three singles before being pulled after seven innings and 92 pitches. He struck out a season-high 10 and walked one.

Orioles 4, Nationals 1

WASHINGTON -- Ubaldo Jimenez earned his 100th career victory as he gave up one unearned run in six innings, as Baltimore beat Washington.

The contest opened a three-game interleague series between teams trying to stave off elimination. The scheduled series opener was rained out Monday.

The Orioles prevailed behind two runs in the second inning and two more in the fifth. Jimenez (12-9) gave up three hits and five walks with five strikeouts while lowering his ERA to 4.16. He doubled his win total from a 6-9 season in 2014.

Braves 6, Mets 2

NEW YORK -- Matt Wisler earned his first win in almost two months, and Jace Peterson and Hector Olivera each homered during a four-run fifth inning that lifted Atlanta past New York at Citi Field.

The Braves won for the fourth time in five games and scored more than three runs for the first time since Sept. 13.

Despite the loss, the Mets saw their magic number to win the National League East reduced to six by virtue of the Washington Nationals' 4-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.

Tigers 2, White Sox 1 (10 innings)

DETROIT -- Rajai Davis hit a walk-off triple in the 10th inning after Tyler Saladino's ninth-inning triple foiled Detroit's bid for a combined no-hitter as the Tigers defeated Chicago at Comerica Park.

The left fielder's seventh career walk-off hit -- a liner down the right-field line -- knocked in Anthony Gose, who drew a two-out walk against Zach Duke (3-6). Blaine Hardy (6-3) retired all three batters he faced in the top of the inning to get the victory as Detroit ended a three-game losing streak.

Tigers starter Daniel Norris tossed five perfect innings and relievers Buck Farmer, Ian Krol and Drew VerHagen threw a hitless inning apiece. The only White Sox baserunner during those frames was Adam Eaton, who was hit by a Krol pitch to start the seventh inning.

Phillies 6, Marlins 2

MIAMI –- Right-hander Aaron Harang earned his first win since July 30, and Cody Asche hit two solo homers to lead Philadelphia to a win over Miami at Marlins Park.

Philadelphia, which snapped a six-game losing streak, has been bad against just about everyone else this season except Miami. The Phillies are 9-5 against the Marlins this season and 41 games under .500 against everyone else.

Harang (6-15) allowed seven hits, two walks and two runs in seven innings, shutting down the Marlins) in a battle between two of the worst teams in baseball. Half of Harang's wins this year have come against the Marlins (once) and Atlanta Braves (twice), two teams way under .500.

Rays 5, Red Sox 2

BOSTON -- Evan Longoria's sacrifice fly in the sixth inning allowed the tying and go-ahead runs to cross the plate and Tampa Bay held on for a win over Boston in the second of a three-game midweek series at Fenway Park.

The Rays' third baseman lofted a ball to deep right field with two outs in the sixth, letting Richie Shaffer tag from third to tie it at 2-2. Brandon Guyer also scored as Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts' throw sailed over the catcher and out of play.

Mikie Mahtook put the game out of reach with a two-run home run in the eighth, as the Tampa Bay center fielder launched a pitch over the Green Monster in left to make it 5-2.

Angels 4, Astros 3

HOUSTON -- Mike Trout and Albert Pujols smacked back-to-back home runs in the first inning and Los Angeles' bullpen piecemealed its way through a white-knuckle eighth inning in a win over Houston at Minute Maid Park.

The Angels snapped a six-game skid in Houston with their early power surge and by fending off an onslaught of Astros pinch hitters in the eighth -- five total were announced. Angels closer Huston Street struck out Jake Marisnick with two runners on base to close the inning after uncorking a wild pitch that allowed Jed Lowrie to score the Astros' third run.

Right-hander Trevor Gott and left-hander Jose Alvarez preceded Street out of the bullpen as the Angels closed to within 2 1/2 games of the Astros in the chase for the second American League wild card. The Twins beat the Indians 3-1 and moved to within two games of Houston.

Cardinals 3, Reds 1

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis starting pitcher John Lackey only retired Cincinnati one inning without allowing a baserunner, but the defense behind him was steady to lead the Cardinals to a win at Busch Stadium.

Lackey (13-9) fanned seven, scattered nine hits and did not walk a batter.

The Cardinals reduced the magic number to eight to clinch the National League Central title.

Pirates 6, Rockies 3

DENVER -- Pittsburgh methodically scored in succession in the early innings, beating Colorado.

The Pirates were opportunistic as they scored in each of the first four innings, totaling their six runs in that span, all with two outs against Colorado starter Chris Rusin (5-9).

J.A. Happ (6-2), who the Pirates acquired from the Mariners for a minor league pitcher at the trade deadline, continued to pay big dividends. Happ (6-2) worked 5 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with one walk and eight strikeouts. Jared Hughes relieved him with a runner on first and got D.J. LeMahieu to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Diamondbacks 8, Dodgers 0

LOS ANGELES -- A.J. Pollock and Paul Goldschmidt hit back-to-back homers in the seventh inning, sparking Arizona to a rout of Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium.

Robbie Ray delivered a solid outing as the Diamondbacks beat the Dodgers for the second night in a row. Arizona, which ended a nine-game losing streak at Dodger Stadium on Monday, extended the Dodgers' skid to a season-high four straight.

Ray (5-12) struck seven and walked two, limiting Los Angeles to three hits in six innings.

Giants 4, Padres 2

SAN DIEGO -- Angel Pagan's two-run homer lifted San Francisco past San Diego. Pagan's blast in the seventh inning extended the Giants' lead after Brandon Crawford's two-out RBI single in the sixth.

The Giants gained ground on the NL West-leading Dodgers and trail Los Angeles by six games. San Francisco beat the Padres for the sixth straight time and in eight of the past nine games. San Diego fell 11 games under .500 as it dropped its eighth contest in 11 outings.

Tyson Ross (10-11) went six innings and surrendered two runs on four hits and two walks. He tied a career high with 11 strikeouts and ran his season total to a career-best 205.

Rangers 8, A's 6

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Mitch Moreland hit his career-high-tying 23rd home run of the season, and Texas rallied to defeat Oakland at the O.co Coliseum.

Texas increased its lead in the American League West to two games over the Houston Astros.

The Rangers trailed 5-3 entering the sixth inning, but they scored three times to take a 6-5 lead.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MLB Betting Cheat Sheet: The Road to Elimination
By JESSE SCHULE

Here's a comprehensive look at betting notes for the mid-week major-league schedule:

The Road To Elimination

The defending champion San Francisco Giants will head out on their final road trip of the season on Tuesday, and unless they can put together a miraculous winning streak, they will likely be eliminated from post-season contention before returning home to AT&T Park. The Giants have lost seven of their last 10 on the road, and four of seven at San Diego in the season series. Trailing the Dodgers by 7.5 games with just 13 games to play the it's obvious that the end is near.


Kluber Getting Clobbered

Last year's AL Cy Young winner has been one of this year's biggest disappointments, with a record of 8-14 with a 3.44 ERA. He's winless in his last four starts, allowing 13 runs over 23 2/3 innings. His next start comes on the road at Minnesota Wednesday, and these teams have a history of playing high scoring games, going over in seven of the last 10 in the series. Kluber is just 3-7 with a 3.95 ERA in 15 starts on the road this year.


Milwaukee Meltdown

The Brewers won five straight at the beginning of September, but they've since lost 12 of 15. They are in Chicago this week, and they've lost eight in a row to the Cubs. Chicago on the other hand has been red hot, winning 21 of it's last 27 at Wrigley.


Hitting Notes

*The Washington Nationals lead the major leagues in runs scored in September, batting .288 so far this month. Much of the damage has come off the bat of Bryce Harper, who it hitting .435 in September, and batting a major league best .343 this season.


*Shin Soo Choo is swinging a hot bat in Texas, hitting .520 over the last seven days, and .441 since September 1st. He'll face Felix Doubront of Oakland on Wednesday, and he's 3-for-7 with a home run lifetime versus the left-hander.


Pitching Notes

*Jake Arrieta failed to record his 20th win of the season despite tossing a gem at Pittsburgh his last time out. Arrieta went eight innings, allowing one earned run and striking out five, but the Cubs needed extra-innings to get by the Pirates and Jake got the no-decision. He'll get another chance on Tuesday against the Brewers.

*Phil Hughes was sent to the bullpen after allowing three runs on six hits in just three innings in his first start after missing over a month with back pain. He's allowed 14 runs on 21 hits over 13 2/3 innings in his last four appearances. His next start comes Wednesday at home versus Cleveland, and he's 1-2 with an 8.44 ERA against the Indians this season.


Totals Streak

The Pittsburgh Pirates won the series opener in Colorado by a score of 9-3, and high scoring games have been the norm at Coors Field lately. The Pirates have seen their fair share of high scoring contests as well, going over in 15 of their last 21 overall. The over is 18-7-2 in the Rockies last 27 home games versus a team with a winning road record.


Injury Notes

*Billy Hamilton will need season ending surgery to repair an injured shoulder. The Reds center-fielder leads the majors with 57 stolen bases this season.

*Yadier Molina injured a ligament in his thumb during a play at the plate in Sunday's game versus the Cubs. He's hoping to return to the Cardinals before the end of the regular season.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Five To Follow MLB Betting: Wednesday, September 23, 2015 Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews

So let's talk about Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke -- still can't really call him the team's ace because of Clayton Kershaw. Greinke can opt out of his contract after this season and obviously will because he's having the best year of his career and will command some $200 million extension. I do think he stays with the Dodgers because he credits L.A. pitching coach Rick Honeycutt with his success. Greinke is 18-3 with a 1.65 ERA this year. In the live ball era, since 1920, only two pitchers have posted an ERA below 1.75 with a winning percentage in his decisions of at least .850. Greg Maddux in 1995 and Dwight Gooden in 1985 are the two. Greinke could be the third. I'm surprised Kershaw wasn't on that list.


Diamondbacks at Dodgers (-245, 6.5)

This is the nightcap of the ESPN doubleheader and will have live betting at sportsbooks. Last time out, Greinke was just mortal, allowing two runs and four hits over seven innings against the Pirates. It was the 10th time Greinke has allowed more than one run in his 30 starts. He has also pitched at least six innings in each of those outings, making him the first pitcher since Detroit's Justin Verlander in 2011 to open with 30 starts of at least six innings. Twenty-eight of those starts have been quality. Greinke hasn't allowed an earned run in 15 innings against Arizona this year. Paul Goldschmidt is just 4-for-23 with 12 strikeouts career off Greinke. It's Chase Anderson (6-6, 4.52) for Arizona. It's his first outing since Sept. 8 as he was temporarily demoted to the bullpen. Anderson is 0-0 with a 2.45 ERA in two starts vs. the Dodgers. Yasmani Grandal is 3-for-8 with three homers off him.

Key trends: Arizona is 1-9 in Anderson's past 10 road starts vs. teams with a winning record. The Dodgers are 9-3 in Greinke's past 12 at home vs. teams with a losing record. The "over/under" has gone under in five of Anderson's past six road starts against teams with a winning record. The under is 8-3 in Greinke's past 11 at home.

Early lean: Dodgers on runline (-120) and under.


Yankees at Blue Jays (-170, 9)

This is the ESPN opener and also will have live betting. It's Ivan Nova (6-8, 5.11) for the Yanks. He had been demoted to the bullpen but will get the call here because Masahiro Tanaka has to miss at least this start with an injury. Nova's last start was against these Jays, allowing six runs and seven hits in 1.2 innings. Jose Bautista is 7-for-19 with a homer and six RBIs against him. Edwin Encarnacion is hitting .346 off him with a homer and seven knocked in. Toronto's Marcus Stroman (2-0, 3.00) made his season debut on Sept. 12 at the Yankees and allowed three runs and four hits over five innings. Brett Gardner is 3-for-10 off him with two homers and five RBIs.

Key trends: The Yankees are 1-5 in Nova's past six against teams with a winning record. The Jays are 6-1 in Stroman's past seven at home. The under is 5-2 in Nova's past seven on road against teams with a winning record. The over his hit in just one of Stroman's past 11 at home.

Early lean: Blue Jays and over.


White Sox at Tigers (TBA)

This is your earliest game of the day with a 1:08 p.m. ET start and will be shown on the MLB Network so will have live betting. It's lefty Chris Sale (12-10, 3.47) for the Pale Hose. Chicago has lost his past five. He had a weird line last time out, allowing seven runs but just one earned over seven innings against the Indians. Sale needs just 11 strikeouts to break the single-season franchise record of 269 set by Ed Walsh in 1908. He is 1-0 with a 5.56 ERA in two starts vs. the Tigers in 2015. Victor Martinez hits .471 career off him with four homers and nine RBIs in 34 at-bats. Detroit's Justin Verlander (3-8, 3.46) was good last time out vs. the Royals, allowing two runs over 8.2 innings but took a no-decision. This is his first start of 2015 vs. the White Sox. Jose Abreu is 8-for-16 with two homers off Verlander.

Key trends: The Sox are 1-5 in Sale's past six vs. teams with a losing record. The Tigers are 2-8 in Verlander's past 10 at home. The over is 5-0-1 in Sale's past six on road. The over is 7-2-1 in Verlander's past 10 at home vs. the White Sox.

Early lean: Not sure why this is TBA. Both pitchers are confirmed. Go Chicago and under, with total likely around 7.


Brewers at Cubs (-225, TBA)

Is Ryan Braun's season over? He hasn't played since Friday due to some back problems and admits he will need surgery on it this offseason. That has to be a scary thought for the Brewers as Braun's five-year, $105 million extension begins in 2016. The Brewers have shut down pitcher Jimmy Nelson for the season after he got hit on the head with a line drive. It's Zach Davies (1-2, 6.00) here for the Brew Crew. This is only his fifth start of the season and he hasn't seen the Cubs. Chicago goes with Kyle Hendricks (7-6, 4.22). He wasn't good last time out, allowing four runs and six hits over three innings vs. the Pirates. Hendricks is 1-0 with a 0.73 ERA in two starts vs. Milwaukee this year. Khris Davis is 4-for-9 off him.

Key trends: The Cubs are 8-2 in Hendricks' past 10 at home vs. teams with a losing record. The over is 4-0 in his past four overall. The under is 4-0 in Hendricks' past four against Milwaukee.

Early lean: Cubs and over.


Indians at Twins (+115, 7.5)

Cleveland's Corey Kluber (8-14, 3.44) made his return from the disabled list on Thursday against the Royals and was a bit rusty, allowing three runs and five hits in four innings. Not a shock considering the Tribe didn't give him any rehab starts. Kluber is 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA in three starts vs. the Twins this year with two complete games. Joe Mauer is a career .235 hitter off him with two homers and nine strikeouts in 34 at-bats. Minnesota's Phil Hughes (10-9, 4.58) hasn't won since July 30, although he also spent some time on the DL. He is taking the spot of Tommy Milone in this one. Hughes had moved to the bullpen after he struggled in his first start back from a back injury on Sept. 15. Carlos Santana is 3-for-19 with six strikeouts off him. Michael Brantley is 5-for-19 with three doubles and a homer.

Key trends: The Tribe are 1-6 in Kluber's past seven road starts against teams with a winning record. The Twins are 6-1 in Hughes' past seven at home. The Indians are 4-1 in Kluber's past four against Minnesota. The under is 12-3 in his past 15 with five days of rest.

Early lean: Indians and under.

 

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Wedneesday's six-pack

-- World-wide this year, 12 people have died while taking selfies. Seriously.

-- Andrew Luck is 26th in fantasy points amongst NFL quarterbacks.

-- Utah State's oft-injured QB Charlie Keeton is out 4-6 weeks again (knee).

-- Boise State QB Finley is also hurt and will be out for eight weeks.

-- Jon Lester picked off a runner in each of his last two starts; he went over a year without even trying a pickoff throw to first base.

-- Since 1990, 24 NFL teams have made the playoffs after an 0-2 start.

 

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Arthur Ralph Sports

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