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**StarDust Bum** · 08-21-2015, 02:26 AM

MLB RUNLINE

MLB > (971) KANSAS CITY@ (972) BOSTON | 2015-08-21 19:10:00 - 2015-08-21 19:10:00
Play AGAINST BOSTON using the in All games when playing with a day off
The record is 1 Wins and 14 Losses for the this season (-15.65 units)

MLB > (979) LA DODGERS@ (980) HOUSTON | 2015-08-21 20:10:00 - 2015-08-21 20:10:00
Play AGAINST LA DODGERS using the in Road games in night games
The record is 10 Wins and 29 Losses for the this season (-21.85 units)

MLB > (957) ARIZONA@ (958) CINCINNATI | 2015-08-21 19:10:00 - 2015-08-21 19:10:00
Play AGAINST ARIZONA using the in All games on the road when the run line is (+1.5, -190) to (-1.5, +130)
The record is 1 Wins and 15 Losses for the last two seasons (-13.65 units)

MLB > (969) TEXAS@ (970) DETROIT | 2015-08-21 19:05:00 - 2015-08-21 19:05:00
Play ON TEXAS using the in All games in road games
The record is 45 Wins and 16 Losses for the this season (+21.05 units)

MLB > (953) SAN FRANCISCO@ (954) PITTSBURGH | 2015-08-21 19:05:00 - 2015-08-21 19:05:00
Play AGAINST SAN FRANCISCO using the in Road games when playing with a day off
The record is 9 Wins and 20 Losses for the last three seasons (-21.6 units)

MLB > (961) NY METS@ (962) COLORADO | 2015-08-21 20:40:00 - 2015-08-21 20:40:00
Play ON NY METS using the in All games when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season
The record is 36 Wins and 19 Losses for the last two seasons (+22.2 units)

**StarDust Bum** · 08-21-2015, 02:27 AM

MLB TOTALS

MLB > (953) SAN FRANCISCO@ (954) PITTSBURGH | 2015-08-21 19:05:00 - 2015-08-21 19:05:00
Play OVER SAN FRANCISCO on the total in All games as a road favorite of -125 to -150
The record is 10 Overs and 0 Unders for the this season (+10.25 units)

MLB > (961) NY METS@ (962) COLORADO | 2015-08-21 20:40:00 - 2015-08-21 20:40:00
Play OVER NY METS on the total in Road games in August games
The record is 16 Overs and 2 Unders for the last two seasons (+14.2 units)

MLB > (959) PHILADELPHIA@ (960) MIAMI | 2015-08-21 19:10:00 - 2015-08-21 19:10:00
Play OVER MIAMI on the total in All games in August games
The record is 13 Overs and 3 Unders for the this season (+11.2 units)

**StarDust Bum** · 08-21-2015, 02:28 AM

MLB TOP POWERLINES

MLB > (951) ATLANTA @ (952) CHICAGO CUBS | 2015-08-21 16:05:00 - 2015-08-21 16:05:00
Line: ATLANTA BTB PowerLine: ATLANTA-135
Edge On: ATLANTA (40)

MLB > (953) SAN FRANCISCO @ (954) PITTSBURGH | 2015-08-21 19:05:00 - 2015-08-21 19:05:00
Line: SAN FRANCISCO BTB PowerLine: SAN FRANCISCO137
Edge On: SAN FRANCISCO (17)

MLB > (965) MINNESOTA @ (966) BALTIMORE | 2015-08-21 19:05:00 - 2015-08-21 19:05:00
Line: MINNESOTA BTB PowerLine: MINNESOTA-145
Edge On: MINNESOTA (25)

MLB > (971) KANSAS CITY @ (972) BOSTON | 2015-08-21 19:10:00 - 2015-08-21 19:10:00
Line: KANSAS CITY BTB PowerLine: KANSAS CITY253
Edge On: KANSAS CITY (103)

MLB > (957) ARIZONA @ (958) CINCINNATI | 2015-08-21 19:10:00 - 2015-08-21 19:10:00
Line: ARIZONA BTB PowerLine: ARIZONA144
Edge On: ARIZONA (14)

MLB > (979) LA DODGERS @ (980) HOUSTON | 2015-08-21 20:10:00 - 2015-08-21 20:10:00
Line: HOUSTON-116 BTB PowerLine: HOUSTON-153
Edge On: HOUSTON (37)

MLB > (961) NY METS @ (962) COLORADO | 2015-08-21 20:40:00 - 2015-08-21 20:40:00
Line: NY METS BTB PowerLine: NY METS-106
Edge On: NY METS (11)

MLB > (973) TAMPA BAY @ (974) OAKLAND | 2015-08-21 22:05:00 - 2015-08-21 22:05:00
Line: OAKLAND-115 BTB PowerLine: OAKLAND-136
Edge On: OAKLAND (21)

MLB > (975) TORONTO @ (976) LA ANGELS | 2015-08-21 22:05:00 - 2015-08-21 22:05:00
Line: LA ANGELS+135 BTB PowerLine: LA ANGELS127
Edge On: LA ANGELS (8)

MLB > (963) ST LOUIS @ (964) SAN DIEGO | 2015-08-21 22:10:00 - 2015-08-21 22:10:00
Line: ST LOUIS BTB PowerLine: ST LOUIS135
Edge On: ST LOUIS (15)

**StarDust Bum** · 08-21-2015, 02:31 AM

Preview: Braves (53-67) at Cubs (67-51)
Game: 2
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: August 21, 2015 4:05 PM EDT

Considering the Atlanta Braves' struggles on the road, Shelby Miller might again find it difficult to end his lengthy winless stretch no matter how well he pitches.

Looking to record his first victory in more than three months, Miller tries to help the Braves avoid matching a season high with their seventh consecutive road loss Friday against the Chicago Cubs.

Miller (5-9, 2.43 ERA) flirted with a no-hitter for the second time this season before allowing a single to open the eighth in Sunday's 2-1, 10-inning victory over Arizona. The right-hander yielded another hit before departing, was charged with that run and struck out 10.

However, he's 0-8 with a 3.03 ERA in 16 starts since coming one out away from no-hitting Miami in a 6-0 victory May 17. It's the longest winless stretch by an Atlanta pitcher since Jo-Jo Reyes went 31 games - 28 starts - without a win from June 2008-May 2011. With a 6.59 ERA in that span, though, Reyes had much more to do with his drought.

"I'm going out there every time and I'm trying to put up zeros," Miller told MLB's official website. "At the end of the day, we've got to win."

Miller's teammates haven't helped by scoring 15 runs with him on the mound in those 16 outings, including six while he's gone 0-4 with a 3.98 ERA through seven road starts in that span. He struck out eight but gave up three runs - one earned - and walked four in six innings of a 4-1 loss to the Cubs on July 19.

Chicago (68-51) snapped a three-game skid with Thursday's 7-1 win, handing the Braves (53-68) a 19th loss in their last 21 road contests. The majors' lowest-scoring team has averaged 2.4 runs while dropping 25 of their last 30 on the road, where its 44 losses are tied for the most in baseball.

The Cubs allowed 25 runs and 40 hits to Detroit in the previous two games but yielded only an eighth-inning sacrifice fly Thursday.

Though they've won the last four starts by Kyle Hendricks (6-5, 3.97), he's posted a 5.66 ERA while going 2-0 in those games. The right-hander's ERA rose to 6.08 over his last five after he allowed five runs in a season-low 3 1-3 innings of last Friday's 6-5 victory over the White Sox.

"It's been frustrating," he told MLB's official website. "All year, trying to find the answer. All year, it hasn't felt right. Even when I had a good outing, it just happened that my hand position was good that day."

Following last week's start, Hendricks looked at minor league video of himself to possibly fix things.

"Everybody has different mechanics," he said. "Some guys are rotational. For me, being rotational is not good at all. I have to be on line, my shoulders square, then I can get to the bottom of the zone."

Hendricks hopes to have ironed things out in time to be more efficient than he was July 17, when he allowed one earned but threw 100 pitches through 5 2-3 innings while not factoring in the decision of a 4-2 loss at Atlanta.

Teammate Jorge Soler is 1 for 11 in the last three games but 3 for 7 with two homers against Miller.

Atlanta's Freddie Freeman is batting .357 in his last eight games at Wrigley Field.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Braves at Cubs
Thu, Aug 20 Final 1 to 7
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Braves at Cubs
Fri, Aug 21 - 4:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Braves at Cubs
Sat, Aug 22 - 4:05PM EDT

GAME 4
Braves at Cubs
Sun, Aug 23 - 2:20PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 08-21-2015, 02:33 AM

Preview: Rangers (61-58) at Tigers (58-61)
Game: 2
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: August 21, 2015 7:08 PM EDT

The Detroit Tigers began 2015 by reeling off six straight victories as Justin Verlander began what would amount to a two-month stay on the disabled list.

They haven't won four in a row since.

Detroit, though, can do just that Friday night as Verlander takes the mound against the visiting Texas Rangers in another matchup of clubs chasing the final AL playoff spot.

The Tigers' inability to match their strong start is part of the reason their run of four straight AL Central titles seems sure to end. The wild-card race isn't much more promising, as Detroit (59-61) would have to jump four teams and hold off another just to capture the second spot.

The Tigers are still fighting, though, beating the Rangers 4-0 behind a one-hitter from Alfredo Simon on Thursday. Nick Castellanos drove in two runs while Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez had two hits and an RBI apiece.

Detroit now turns to Verlander (1-5, 4.11 ERA), who has been up and down since making his season debut June 13 but has posted a 1.75 ERA over his last five starts.

The right-hander gave up two unearned runs in a 7-2 loss to Boston on Aug. 9 before pitching his first scoreless outing Saturday, allowing three hits and striking out seven in seven innings of a 4-2 win over Houston in 11.

"I think last year was an aberration for me," said Verlander, who went 15-12 with a 4.54 ERA in 2014. "I did a lot of work this offseason to get myself and my body in position to be able to pitch well. I look to this as more the norm than an aberration.

"I don't think (Saturday) is a throwback. This is the pitcher that I am."

The Rangers (61-59) hope to get the Verlander they faced in 2014. He gave up a career high-tying nine runs - six earned - and 11 hits in 5 1-3 innings of a 12-4 loss last May 25.

Colby Lewis earned that victory for Texas, and he'll take the mound again in this matchup. Lewis (13-5, 4.49) has gone 5-1 with a 3.73 ERA in his last six starts and is one victory away from matching his career high.

The right-hander allowed one run in six innings to beat Tampa Bay 12-4 on Saturday.

'The guy that has been a mainstay for us and what he has meant to the starting rotation all year long,' manager Jeff Banister said. 'He wasn't going to give in.'

Martinez is 9 for 17 with three doubles off Lewis, who hopes to get some support from a lineup that finished with one hit for the third time this season.

Texas averaged 5.9 runs while winning six of its previous seven, but Rougned Odor's double in the fifth was all it could muster Thursday as it dropped a fourth straight meeting. Will Venable, acquired from San Diego on Tuesday, made his Rangers debut in left field and went 0 for 2 with a walk after Texas placed Josh Hamilton on the disabled list with knee inflammation earlier in the day.

Prince Fielder went 0 for 4 in his first game at Comerica Park since the Tigers traded him for Ian Kinsler after the 2013 season.

'I got booed the last time I was here, so why would it change?' Fielder said. 'What people think of me is none of my business.'

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Rangers at Tigers
Thu, Aug 20 Final 0 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Rangers at Tigers
Fri, Aug 21 - 7:08PM EDT

GAME 3
Rangers at Tigers
Sat, Aug 22 - 7:08PM EDT

GAME 4
Rangers at Tigers
Sun, Aug 23 - 1:08PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 08-21-2015, 02:34 AM

Preview: Brewers (52-70) at Nationals (60-59)
Game: 1
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: August 21, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

The Washington Nationals' miserable road trip finally is over, although home hasn't exactly provided them with much relief, either.

Gio Gonzalez certainly seems to prefer the mound at Nationals Park, and he'll look to bounce back from one of the worst starts of his career when he faces the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night.

Washington (60-60) dropped four games behind the New York Mets for the NL East lead after falling 3-2 to Colorado on Thursday, completing a 3-7 road trip. The slump has prevented them from gaining ground on the Mets, who have dropped four of five.

Michael A. Taylor hit a two-run homer for Washington, which likely would need to win the East to make the playoffs. It sits 8 1/2 behind the Chicago Cubs for the second wild card.

Getting back on track at home would be a step in the right direction, but the Nationals have gone just 6-9 there following a nine-game winning streak from June 19-July 5.

Gonzalez (9-5, 3.86 ERA) should be happy to see Nationals Park, where he is 5-1 with a 2.60 ERA in nine home starts. He'll also be facing a Milwaukee team that has averaged 2.0 runs while dropping nine of 11 on the road.

The left-hander went 5-0 with a 1.48 ERA over his previous eight starts overall before giving up six runs in 2 2-3 innings of Saturday's 12-6 loss at San Francisco that increased his road ERA to 4.84.

It also marked Gonzalez's shortest start since going two innings in a loss to Kansas City in 2010 while with Oakland.

"It (stinks) because I didn't do anything to help out. I basically put our team in the hole," Gonzalez said. "I was falling behind on hitters. It's a tough pill to swallow."

He didn't last very long in his last start against the Brewers, either, allowing three runs and walking three in 3 1-3 innings before the Nationals rallied for a 5-4 win July 20, 2014.

Milwaukee (52-70) will play its next five on the road after being home for 17 of its last 20. It avoided a three-game sweep with Wednesday's 8-7 win over Miami as Ryan Braun passed Robin Yount as the franchise's all-time leader with his 252nd career homer.

Khris Davis hit a two-run shot in the second and a three-run homer the next inning for his third multihomer game of the month. His four two-homer games have accounted for more than half of his 14 home runs on the season.

"You wish you could figure it out a little bit, but it's fun to watch," manager Craig Counsell said. "That's Khris Davis. You don't know when it's going to come, but he has such a chance to impact games."

Jimmy Nelson (9-9, 3.61) has been effective lately, going 2-0 with a 1.57 ERA in his last five starts while pitching into the seventh in each. He wasn't as sharp in his fourth straight home outing Saturday, though he did pick up a 4-2 win over Philadelphia.

'(Nelson) kind of battled himself all night a little bit, but it's still a good sign that he throws 6 2-3 innings and gives up two runs,' Counsell said.

The right-hander had one of his worst outings against the Nationals on June 13, when he allowed each run and 10 hits over five-plus innings in a 7-2 loss. Yunel Escobar and Wilson Ramos each hit two-run homers off Nelson, and Bryce Harper went 2 for 2.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Brewers at Nationals
Fri, Aug 21 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 2
Brewers at Nationals
Sat, Aug 22 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Brewers at Nationals
Sun, Aug 23 - 1:35PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 08-21-2015, 02:36 AM

Preview: Giants (65-55) at Pirates (71-47)
Game: 2
Venue: PNC Park
Date: August 21, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

Madison Bumgarner is in position to become the first pitcher since 2011 to throw three consecutive complete games in part because of his dazzling stuff on the mound, but also because his hitting has been strong enough for manager Bruce Bochy to save pinch hitters.

The San Francisco ace returns to the mound Friday night in Pittsburgh as the Giants try to slow the streaking Pirates, and that's exactly what Bumgarner did in last year's wild-card game.

Cliff Lee was the last pitcher to throw three straight complete games, and he did so with a shutout in each. Bumgarner (14-6, 2.98 ERA) hasn't been quite on that level, but the latest was the fourth shutout of his career after he gave up three hits with 14 strikeouts in Sunday's 5-0 home win over Washington.

On a three-start winning streak, he's posted a 0.73 ERA and 0.63 WHIP with 35 strikeouts in 25 1-3 innings.

"You can always do better," said Bumgarner, who threw a four-hit shutout at PNC Park on Oct. 1 to get the wheels rolling on San Francisco's third World Series in five years. "But this would be tough to beat - the way things are going for me."

The left-hander also homered for the fourth time this season to match his total from last year. Bumgarner's .772 OPS is the highest by a pitcher with at least 50 at-bats since Zack Greinke's .788 mark in 2013. Another home run would make him the first pitcher to hit five in a season since Carlos Zambrano hit six in 2006.

The road has presented him with some problems, as he's surrendered six earned runs in two of his last four outings for a 7-4 record and 4.16 ERA - more than double his 2.05 home mark - but he's given up one run in 15 career innings in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh (72-47) showed no signs of backing off an impressive wild card-leading pace in Thursday's 4-0 victory, winning for the seventh time in eight games and getting within 4 1/2 of St. Louis for the NL Central lead.

Over an 11-3 span, the Pirates are averaging 5.7 runs and batting .302. Starling Marte had two hits for the third straight game Thursday, boosting his average to .351 in his last 29 contests at PNC as well as .364 in nine against the Giants.

"We're playing really well right now and it's a situation where everyone is contributing, one through 25 on the roster," manager Clint Hurdle said.

While the Pirates lost the most meaningful game they've had with the Giants (65-56) recently in the playoffs, Thursday's win was their fourth in as many tries this season and their 14th in the last 20 regular-season meetings without losing any of the previous six series.

The staff has also been strong for the last seven games with a 1.92 ERA, and Jeff Locke is next in line.

Locke (6-7, 4.31) hasn't made it through six innings in his last five starts with a 1-1 record and a 5.54 ERA, but the latest was the most successful of the bunch. The left-hander gave up a run and four hits in 5 1-3 innings of Sunday's 8-1 win at the New York Mets, but needed 100 pitches to do so and didn't earn the decision after being pulled following a rain delay.

His 4.15 walks per nine innings in the five-start span are up from 2.99 in his previous 39 outings.

In 13 starts at PNC, Locke is 3-3 with a 3.16 ERA while posting a 6.02 mark in 10 on the road. Venue hasn't mattered against San Francisco, as he has an 8.68 ERA in two starts.

Giants newcomer Marlon Byrd is 5 for 14 with two home runs against him, so his club debut could come Friday as San Francisco tries to improve on a 1-3 span with six runs scored.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Giants at Pirates
Thu, Aug 20 Final 0 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Giants at Pirates
Fri, Aug 21 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Giants at Pirates
Sat, Aug 22 - 4:05PM EDT

GAME 4
Giants at Pirates
Sun, Aug 23 - 8:05PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 08-21-2015, 02:38 AM

Preview: Royals (73-46) at Red Sox (54-66)
Game: 2
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: August 21, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

Even one of the most successful bullpens in the majors needs a break, too, which is something the Kansas City Royals had in mind when they acquired innings-eater Johnny Cueto last month.

He's yet to disappoint.

Cueto looks to pick up his first road victory with the Royals when he faces a Boston Red Sox team seeking a season high-tying fourth straight win Friday night.

Kansas City rode its strong bullpen to the World Series last year and continues to rely heavily on its relievers, who lead the AL in innings (394), wins (25) and ERA (2.31) while ranking second with a .209 opponents' batting average.

Kris Medlen pitched three scoreless innings out of the bullpen following Danny Duffy's five-inning effort Thursday as the Royals (73-47) had their five-game winning streak snapped with a 4-1 loss to the Red Sox (55-66).

Jeremy Guthrie lasted just 4 1-3 innings against Cincinnati the night before for Kansas City, which is last in the AL in innings from its starters. That's part of the reason it dealt three pitching prospects to acquire Cueto (2-1, 1.80 ERA) from the Reds on July 26.

Cueto led the NL in innings pitched last year and has gone at least into the sixth in 21 of his 23 outings this season, including all four with the Royals. The right-hander followed up his four-hit shutout of Detroit on Aug. 10 by giving up only a second-inning solo homer over eight innings of Saturday's 9-4 win over the Los Angeles Angels.

"I feel really good on this ballclub," Cueto said through an interpreter. "Every time I go out there, I feel I have a chance to win."

Cueto's last two starts have come in Kansas City after he gave up five runs in 13 innings as the Royals dropped his first two on the road following the trade. He'll look to cool off the Red Sox, who can match their season-best four-game winning streak set from July 4-8.

Rookie Travis Shaw drew a bases-loaded walk in the first inning, and Ryan Hanigan had a two-run single before Jackie Bradley Jr.'s RBI triple in third. Shaw extended his hitting streak to five with two hits and is batting .500 with four homers and two doubles over his last seven.

'He's a special player,' Bradley said of Shaw. 'I know what he's capable of. He knows what he's capable of. I'm glad he's getting to show it on this stage.'

Boston has won nine of the last 11 meetings with the Royals. It looks to win a fifth straight matchup at Fenway Park as Henry Owens (1-1, 6.19) seeks a better start to this outing.

The left-hander allowed seven runs in his first three innings against Seattle on Sunday in his third major league start, but settled down and pitched his final three scoreless while finishing with 10 strikeouts.

"It would've been easy for a young pitcher to collapse," interim manager Torey Lovullo said. "But he composed himself. He wanted to go back out there for the sixth inning and executed a good game plan. For a young pitcher to do that, for a young pitcher to go back out there and complete that sixth inning as easily as he did says a lot about Henry Owens."

Mike Moustakas accounted for Kansas City's only run Thursday with a homer. It snapped the Royals' 13-game streak of scoring at least three runs.

'We know what we have to do. We have to go out there and continue to play good baseball,' Moustakas said. 'We don't ever take any days off.'

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Royals at Red Sox
Thu, Aug 20 Final 1 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Royals at Red Sox
Fri, Aug 21 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Royals at Red Sox
Sat, Aug 22 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 4
Royals at Red Sox
Sun, Aug 23 - 1:35PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 08-21-2015, 02:40 AM

Preview: Phillies (47-73) at Marlins (49-71)
Game: 2
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: August 21, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

When Philadelphia dealt Cole Hamels on July 31, it did so like any struggling team with eyes on the future. Three weeks later, the Phillies are there.

Philadelphia's Jerad Eickhoff will make his major league debut Friday night in Miami as the Marlins send Kendry Flores out for his first big league start.

Eickhoff, who will be called up Friday to fill David Buchanan's spot in the rotation, came over from Texas as part of the Hamels deal and went 2-1 with a 2.49 ERA in three starts for Triple-A Lehigh Valley. That gave the 25-year-old a 12-5 record and 3.85 ERA in 22 starts and a relief effort split between three minor league clubs this season, and it was enough for the Phillies to throw the right-hander into the fire.

The starting staff, however, hasn't set the bar very high with a 7.28 ERA in 17 games in August.

"I think it's a tremendous honor," Eickhoff told MLB's official website of being traded for Hamels. "He's been such a great player and he's done so much in this game already. Those are tough shoes to fill, and I'm not trying to fill them by any means. But if I can help in any way, that's what I'm here to do."

Flores (1-1, 2.35) is taking over for the injured David Phelps, who is out for the season with a fractured forearm as Miami's injuries continue to mount. The right-hander has pitched 7 2-3 innings over six relief appearances, five of which were scoreless. The 23-year-old made 19 starts for Triple-A New Orleans and Double-A Jacksonville prior to that, posting a 6-5 record, 2.34 ERA and 0.96 WHIP.

The Marlins (50-71) have had no trouble providing run support lately and will be after their fourth straight home victory following Thursday's series-opening 9-7 win. Over a 7-3 span, the Marlins are averaging 6.3 runs and hitting .311.

Martin Prado hit a two-run homer and is batting .438 with 14 RBIs in his last eight games against the Phillies. He also seems to have figured out Marlins Park, hitting .306 in his last 23 games after posting a .205 average in his first 20 there this season.

Dee Gordon is on the greater tear with five straight multihit efforts and a .432 average in his last 10, while Adeiny Hechavarria is on a career-best 13-game hitting streak. Marcell Ozuna has homered in his last two, and the Marlins have moved on from a 2-13 stretch in which they scored 2.8 runs per game and hit .215.

"It's been a roller coaster all year offensively so it's nice to see guys approaching and playing the game the way it should be played," Prado said.

The Marlins have won 11 of 16 at home against the Phillies with five straight series wins.

Philadelphia (47-74) has lost seven of nine and four straight on the road. It's yet to win a road series in the NL East this year, going 5-18 against what's been the worst division in baseball.

The Phillies have one win to show for the 19 runs they've scored in the last three games. Andres Blanco is batting .389 with three home runs in his last five contests, while Odubel Herrera is at .366 in his last 20.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Phillies at Marlins
Thu, Aug 20 Final 7 to 9
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Phillies at Marlins
Fri, Aug 21 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Phillies at Marlins
Sat, Aug 22 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 4
Phillies at Marlins
Sun, Aug 23 - 1:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 08-21-2015, 02:42 AM

Preview: Dodgers (67-53) at Astros (66-55)
Game: 1
Venue: Minute Maid Park
Date: August 21, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

Having grown up rooting for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chase Utley can now help them reach the postseason.

The six-time All-Star second baseman makes his Dodgers debut as they try to snap a season-high five-game road skid Friday night against the Houston Astros.

Born in Pasadena, raised in Long Beach and a standout at UCLA, Utley waived a no-trade clause Wednesday to come home and play for the team that selected him in the second round of the 1997 draft. He didn't sign with Los Angeles (67-53) then but after playing all of his 12-plus seasons in Philadelphia, will don the Dodger blue.

"(The Dodgers were) No. 1 on my list," Utley told MLB's official website. "When you're chasing down trying to get to the playoffs in September, there's nothing like it."

With the Phillies mired in a third straight disappointing season, Utley got the chance to join a Los Angeles club that holds a 2 1/2-game lead over San Francisco in the NL West. He'll also be reunited with longtime double-play partner Jimmy Rollins after second baseman Howie Kendrick suffered a hamstring injury earlier this month.

'He does have experience, he's a tough guy," Rollins said. "More than anything that there will be some new excitement in the clubhouse.'

Utley hit .179 in 65 games before missing more than a month with an ankle injury, but he's batted .484 with a homer, five doubles and five RBIs in eight games since returning from the disabled list.

"He can add a lot," Rollins said. "Hopefully, No. 1, first and foremost, that he's healthy. The way he's swung the bat since he's been playing, anyone can use that."

Utley can start by helping Los Angeles avoid its first six-game road slide since May 2013. The Dodgers have totaled eight runs and 16 hits in the last three games overall, and Rollins' two-run homer was one of their two hits in Wednesday's 5-2 loss at Oakland.

Los Angeles could get another spark if Yasiel Puig plays after sitting Wednesday with a slight hamstring strain. He's hit .353 with a homer in his last five games.

With or without Puig, the Dodgers try to get back on track against Mike Fiers (0-0, 3.71 ERA), who allowed five runs, five hits and walked five in five-plus innings of a 14-4 loss to them for Milwaukee on May 7.

Fiers, though, has been very good in his past two starts despite failing to record a decision in either. He's allowed one earned run and 10 hits over 12 innings.

Andre Ethier is batting .370 in his last 15 games, and is 4 for 6 with a double and a triple against the right-hander.

Los Angeles counters with Brett Anderson (7-7, 3.48), who is 3-0 with a 1.76 ERA in his last five road starts. The left-hander's only start against the AL West-leading Astros came in 2013.

Houston (66-56) will try to avoid losing back-to-back home games for the first time since June 26-27 after being one-hit by Tampa Bay's Chris Archer in Thursday's 1-0 defeat. Colby Rasmus had the lone hit for Houston, which totaled eight runs while splitting that four-game set with the Rays.

'(Archer) was in complete control,' Astros manager A.J. Hinch said.

Though All-Star Jose Altuve went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts Thursday, he's batting .386 in the last 13 games.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Dodgers at Astros
Fri, Aug 21 - 8:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Dodgers at Astros
Sat, Aug 22 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Dodgers at Astros
Sun, Aug 23 - 2:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 08-21-2015, 02:43 AM

Preview: Mets (64-56) at Rockies (48-70)
Game: 1
Venue: Coors Field
Date: August 21, 2015 8:40 PM EDT

The New York Mets are stumbling since sweeping their latest series with Colorado. They'll try to begin work on another as they go for a ninth straight win over the Rockies on Friday night.

New York (64-56) capped a four-game sweep of Colorado (49-70) with a 12-3 victory Aug. 13, winning for the 11th time in 13 games. That stretch propelled the Mets into the NL East lead.

They have a four-game edge on Washington despite losing four of five, with Carlos Torres allowing a walkoff homer in Wednesday's 5-4 loss at Baltimore.

New York was off Thursday but got some help as the Rockies beat the Nationals 3-2.

The Mets' last seven wins over Colorado came at home, and they've dropped six of eight at Coors Field.

They've also lost nine of their last 10 with Bartolo Colon (10-11, 4.58 ERA) on the mound, with the right-hander going 1-7 with a 4.83 ERA in that span.

He's been wildly inconsistent in his last six starts, alternating bad and good outings. He's given up at least four runs in three of them while yielding one in each of the others.

Colon allowed a solo home run in the first inning Friday before tossing six scoreless innings in a 3-2 loss in 10 to Pittsburgh.

He's 2-1 with a 7.71 ERA in three starts against the Rockies - all at Coors. Colon surrendered seven runs and 10 hits in 4 2-3 innings of a 7-4 loss in his last matchup May 1, 2014.

Daniel Murphy had four hits in three meetings with Colorado last week, giving him a .387 average in the past seven. He's batted .361 with 11 RBIs while recording at least a hit in 13 of 14 games overall - during which he's started six times at second, four at third, three first and once as a designated hitter.

"When I first got here with Murphy, I thought he was going to be a guy on a good team who could play multiple positions and still end up getting 450 at-bats a year and that's exactly what he is doing now," manager Terry Collins told MLB's official website.

Michael Cuddyer is making his return to Denver after signing with the Mets during the offseason. He spent the past three years with the Rockies, hitting .331 to win the NL batting crown in 2013 before injuries limited him to 49 games last year.

He went 3 for 8 with an RBI in two meetings last week but is 2 for 13 in five games since.

Colorado has lost eight of 10 and gives the ball to Jon Gray (0-0, 2.40), who gets a fourth chance at his first win.

The rookie right-hander was outstanding in six innings of a 4-2 loss to the Mets on Aug. 10. He only allowed a solo homer to Travis d'Arnaud but the relievers wasted the effort with a three-run seventh.

Five days later, Gray gave up a run in the first inning before responding with four scoreless in a 7-5 loss to San Diego.

"His mental makeup is outstanding," catcher Nick Hundley said. "You can talk about the stuff all you want, but at this level, the mental makeup is as important as the stuff."

Gray held Murphy, Yoenis Cespedes, Lucas Duda and Curtis Granderson hitless in three at-bats apiece last week.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Mets at Rockies
Fri, Aug 21 - 8:40PM EDT

GAME 2
Mets at Rockies
Sat, Aug 22 - 8:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Mets at Rockies
Sun, Aug 23 - 4:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 08-21-2015, 02:45 AM

Preview: Cardinals (77-43) at Padres (59-62)
Game: 1
Venue: PETCO Park
Date: August 21, 2015 10:10 PM EDT

Though still an extreme long shot for a postseason berth, the San Diego Padres are showing signs of becoming a dangerous spoiler for the stretch run.

They'll get that chance when the St. Louis Cardinals enter Petco Park Friday night to begin a three-game series.

San Diego (59-62) has resembled the contender it was expected to be as of late, having won seven of nine following a three-game sweep of fading Atlanta. The Padres have averaged 5.4 runs and homered 12 times during the hot stretch.

Matt Kemp's resurgence and Yangervis Solarte's power boost have helped trigger San Diego's strong run. Kemp is batting .383 with three home runs and 11 RBIs over a 12-game hitting streak, while Solarte is batting .346 since July 29 and homered for a second straight day in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Braves.

'He brings an energy that is second-to-none,' Padres interim manager Pat Murphy said of Solarte. 'He has been playing great baseball, both defensively and getting some big hits for us.'

Kemp is just 2 for 13 with seven strikeouts against John Lackey (10-7, 2.87 ERA), who vies for a 13th consecutive quality start in the opener.

Lackey is 6-3 with a 2.12 ERA over the streak and allowed two runs over a season-high 8 1-3 innings to defeat Miami Saturday. Though eight of his wins have come at Busch Stadium, he enters his first-ever appearance at Petco Park 2-1 with a 2.20 ERA in his last five road starts.

The veteran also pitched well in a no decision against the Padres last season, yielding two runs across seven innings on Aug. 14, 2014. Lackey is 1-1 with a 3.93 ERA in three career meetings with San Diego.

NL-leading St. Louis (77-43) begins a 10-game West Coast trip having won 10 of 14 and surrendered only six runs in taking two of three from San Francisco. Yadier Molina gave the offense a lift Wednesday with his 100th career home run, a tie-breaking shot in a 4-3 victory.

Molina finished 3 for 4 with two RBIs in his first game hitting cleanup this season. Two of the All-Star catcher's four homers came during the San Francisco series.

"He continues to do things that make us get on our feet," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "He's just one of those special kind of players, and when he gets going, he does special things."

Stephen Piscotty also homered and has two while going 8 for 20 on a five-game hitting streak. The rookie is batting .333 in 27 games since his promotion from Triple A July 21.

Jason Heyward didn't start the final two games due to tightness in his left hamstring, but pinch-hit Wednesday and is expected back in the lineup Friday.

Heyward is 2 for 6 and Molina 3 for 6 against the struggling Andrew Cashner (4-12, 4.20). The hard-luck right-hander is 0-2 with a 5.66 ERA in four starts since besting Miami with seven innings of one-run ball July 24.

Cashner was reached for four runs in five innings in a 7-5 Padres' win at Colorado Saturday. He was more effective in a July 3 matchup against St. Louis, permitting a run and three hits during a six-inning no decision in his lone previous start versus the Cardinals.

Cashner is 2-1 with a 2.66 ERA over his last three assignments at Petco Park, where the Cardinals have lost seven of 10.

The teams split four meetings in St. Louis July 2-5.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Cardinals at Padres
Fri, Aug 21 - 10:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Cardinals at Padres
Sat, Aug 22 - 8:40PM EDT

GAME 3
Cardinals at Padres
Sun, Aug 23 - 4:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 08-21-2015, 03:03 AM

Preview: Dodgers (67-53) at Astros (66-56)
Game: 1
Venue: Minute Maid Park
Date: August 21, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

Having grown up rooting for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chase Utley can now help them reach the postseason.

The six-time All-Star second baseman makes his Dodgers debut as they try to snap a season-high five-game road skid Friday night against the Houston Astros.

Born in Pasadena, raised in Long Beach and a standout at UCLA, Utley waived a no-trade clause Wednesday to come home and play for the team that selected him in the second round of the 1997 draft. He didn't sign with Los Angeles (67-53) then but after playing all of his 12-plus seasons in Philadelphia, will don the Dodger blue.

"(The Dodgers were) No. 1 on my list," Utley told MLB's official website. "When you're chasing down trying to get to the playoffs in September, there's nothing like it."

With the Phillies mired in a third straight disappointing season, Utley got the chance to join a Los Angeles club that holds a 2 1/2-game lead over San Francisco in the NL West. He'll also be reunited with longtime double-play partner Jimmy Rollins after second baseman Howie Kendrick suffered a hamstring injury earlier this month.

'He does have experience, he's a tough guy," Rollins said. "More than anything that there will be some new excitement in the clubhouse.'

Utley hit .179 in 65 games before missing more than a month with an ankle injury, but he's batted .484 with a homer, five doubles and five RBIs in eight games since returning from the disabled list.

"He can add a lot," Rollins said. "Hopefully, No. 1, first and foremost, that he's healthy. The way he's swung the bat since he's been playing, anyone can use that."

Utley can start by helping Los Angeles avoid its first six-game road slide since May 2013. The Dodgers have totaled eight runs and 16 hits in the last three games overall, and Rollins' two-run homer was one of their two hits in Wednesday's 5-2 loss at Oakland.

Los Angeles could get another spark if Yasiel Puig plays after sitting Wednesday with a slight hamstring strain. He's hit .353 with a homer in his last five games.

With or without Puig, the Dodgers try to get back on track against Mike Fiers (0-0, 3.71 ERA), who allowed five runs, five hits and walked five in five-plus innings of a 14-4 loss to them for Milwaukee on May 7.

Fiers, though, has been very good in his past two starts despite failing to record a decision in either. He's allowed one earned run and 10 hits over 12 innings.

Andre Ethier is batting .370 in his last 15 games, and is 4 for 6 with a double and a triple against the right-hander.

Los Angeles counters with Brett Anderson (7-7, 3.48), who is 3-0 with a 1.76 ERA in his last five road starts. The left-hander's only start against the AL West-leading Astros came in 2013.

Houston (66-56) will try to avoid losing back-to-back home games for the first time since June 26-27 after being one-hit by Tampa Bay's Chris Archer in Thursday's 1-0 defeat. Colby Rasmus had the lone hit for Houston, which totaled eight runs while splitting that four-game set with the Rays.

'(Archer) was in complete control,' Astros manager A.J. Hinch said.

Though All-Star Jose Altuve went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts Thursday, he's batting .386 in the last 13 games.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Dodgers at Astros
Fri, Aug 21 - 8:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Dodgers at Astros
Sat, Aug 22 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Dodgers at Astros
Sun, Aug 23 - 2:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 08-21-2015, 03:05 AM

Preview: Twins (60-61) at Orioles (62-58)
Game: 2
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: August 21, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

Trying to build on their best offensive showing of the season, the Minnesota Twins' chances at returning to .500 should improve with Tommy Milone on the mound.

Milone looks to continue his success against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night in this series between AL wild-card contenders.

Minnesota (60-61) has lost 21 of its past 31 games - 13 of 16 on the road - but got this four-game set off to a good start Thursday, pounding out 18 hits in a 15-2 victory.

The win moved the Twins within three games of the Los Angeles Angels for the second wild-card spot, with the Orioles (62-58) one-half game back and Texas 1 1/2 off the pace.

Giving Milone (6-3, 3.65 ERA) the ball against Baltimore figures to help Minnesota in its attempt at winning two straight road games for the first time since June 3 and 4. The left-hander is 2-1 with a 1.73 ERA in four career starts against the Orioles, allowing one run in seven innings of a 5-3 win July 8.

Milone, though, went 0-2 with a 7.98 ERA over his next three starts before landing on the disabled list with a strained left elbow.

He was limited to 76 pitches in his return Sunday, yielding one run and three hits in five innings of a 4-1 win over Cleveland. He capped the outing by getting Yan Gomes to chase a curveball in the dirt after issuing a walk to load the bases.

"Really, this year the curveball has been a pitch I've relied on a lot," Milone told MLB's official website. "Before the last couple years, it's probably been the changeup. I kind of adjusted my grip a little bit, holding a little deeper in my hand. It's been more consistent."

The Twins swept the three-game series in July and have won five straight against the Orioles, who are 5-2 during this 10-game homestand.

There wasn't much offense for Baltimore on Thursday, but Chris Davis had two hits and is batting .370 with three homers, six RBIs and seven runs over the past seven games. He's a .375 hitter with 12 RBIs over his last 11 matchups with Minnesota.

Davis is also 4 for 11 with two homers and a double off Milone, while Manny Machado is 5 for 11 with a solo shot.

Wei-Yin Chen (7-6, 3.20) has an opportunity to win three consecutive starts for the first time this year after allowing three runs over 13 1-3 innings in his last two. He surrendered two runs over six innings and struck out seven in Sunday's 18-2 win over Oakland.

Chen is 3-1 with a 3.23 ERA in five career starts against Minnesota. He gave up solo homers to Torii Hunter and Aaron Hicks over seven innings in a 4-2 loss in 10 on July 6.

He's struggled against Joe Mauer and Brian Dozier, who are a combined 10 for 27 (.370) off him.

Chen will try to slow down rookie Eddie Rosario, Kurt Suzuki and Eduardo Escobar, who had three hits and two RBIs apiece Thursday.

Rosario is 7 for 18 and Suzuki is 7 for 17 with five RBIs over the past four games while Escobar is 6 for 13 with a homer and two doubles in the last three.

Suzuki is batting .429 in his last seven games versus Baltimore.

Minnesota hasn't won five straight against the Orioles in a single season since taking all seven meetings in 2007.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Twins at Orioles
Thu, Aug 20 Final 15 to 2
Recaps

GAME 2
Twins at Orioles
Fri, Aug 21 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Twins at Orioles
Sat, Aug 22 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 4
Twins at Orioles
Sun, Aug 23 - 1:35PM EDT

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