Announcement

**StarDust Bum** · 08-22-2015, 01:43 AM

MLB MONEYLINE

MLB > (907) ARIZONA@ (908) CINCINNATI | 2015-08-22 19:10:00 - 2015-08-22 19:10:00
Play ON ARIZONA using the money line in All games as a road underdog of +100 to +125
The record is 16 Wins and 5 Losses for the this season (+13.25 units)

MLB > (921) KANSAS CITY@ (922) BOSTON | 2015-08-22 19:10:00 - 2015-08-22 19:10:00
Play ON KANSAS CITY using the money line in All games when playing with a day off
The record is 28 Wins and 9 Losses for the last two seasons (+19.05 units)

MLB > (927) CHI WHITE SOX@ (928) SEATTLE | 2015-08-22 21:10:00 - 2015-08-22 21:10:00
Play AGAINST SEATTLE using the money line in Home games when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season
The record is 14 Wins and 25 Losses for the last three seasons (-24.4 units)

MLB > (929) LA DODGERS@ (930) HOUSTON | 2015-08-22 19:10:00 - 2015-08-22 19:10:00
Play AGAINST LA DODGERS using the money line in Road games in night games
The record is 15 Wins and 24 Losses for the this season (-19.1 units)

MLB > (901) SAN FRANCISCO@ (902) PITTSBURGH | 2015-08-22 16:05:00 - 2015-08-22 16:05:00
Play ON PITTSBURGH using the money line in Home games in day games
The record is 14 Wins and 1 Losses for the this season (+12.5 units)

MLB > (919) MINNESOTA@ (920) BALTIMORE | 2015-08-22 19:05:00 - 2015-08-22 19:05:00
Play ON BALTIMORE using the money line in Home games in night games
The record is 71 Wins and 33 Losses for the last two seasons (+33.15 units)

MLB > (913) ST LOUIS@ (914) SAN DIEGO | 2015-08-22 20:40:00 - 2015-08-22 20:40:00
Play ON ST LOUIS using the money line in All games against right-handed starters
The record is 60 Wins and 28 Losses for the this season (+25.65 units)

MLB > (917) TEXAS@ (918) DETROIT | 2015-08-22 19:05:00 - 2015-08-22 19:05:00
Play ON TEXAS using the money line in All games in road games
The record is 33 Wins and 29 Losses for the this season (+18.92 units)

**StarDust Bum** · 08-22-2015, 01:45 AM

MLB RUNLINE

MLB > (921) KANSAS CITY@ (922) BOSTON | 2015-08-22 19:10:00 - 2015-08-22 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 > (929) LA DODGERS@ (930) HOUSTON | 2015-08-22 19:10:00 - 2015-08-22 19:10:00
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 > (901) SAN FRANCISCO@ (902) PITTSBURGH | 2015-08-22 16:05:00 - 2015-08-22 16:05:00
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 > (911) NY METS@ (912) COLORADO | 2015-08-22 20:10:00 - 2015-08-22 20:10:00
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)

MLB > (917) TEXAS@ (918) DETROIT | 2015-08-22 19:05:00 - 2015-08-22 19:05:00
Play ON TEXAS using the in All games in road games
The record is 45 Wins and 17 Losses for the this season (+20.05 units)

MLB > (925) TORONTO@ (926) LA ANGELS | 2015-08-22 21:05:00 - 2015-08-22 21:05:00
Play AGAINST LA ANGELS using the in All games in August games
The record is 3 Wins and 16 Losses for the this season (-15.45 units)

**StarDust Bum** · 08-22-2015, 01:46 AM

MLB TOTALS

MLB > (911) NY METS@ (912) COLORADO | 2015-08-22 20:10:00 - 2015-08-22 20:10:00
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 > (909) PHILADELPHIA@ (910) MIAMI | 2015-08-22 19:10:00 - 2015-08-22 19:10:00
Play OVER MIAMI on the total in All games in August games
The record is 14 Overs and 3 Unders for the this season (+12.2 units)

MLB > (901) SAN FRANCISCO@ (902) PITTSBURGH | 2015-08-22 16:05:00 - 2015-08-22 16:05:00
Play OVER SAN FRANCISCO on the total in Road games in games played on a grass field
The record is 37 Overs and 20 Unders for the this season (+16.5 units)

**StarDust Bum** · 08-22-2015, 01:48 AM

MLB TOP POWERLINES

MLB > (903) ATLANTA @ (904) CHICAGO CUBS | 2015-08-22 16:05:00 - 2015-08-22 16:05:00
Line: ATLANTA BTB PowerLine: ATLANTA-146
Edge On: ATLANTA (44)

MLB > (905) MILWAUKEE @ (906) WASHINGTON | 2015-08-22 19:05:00 - 2015-08-22 19:05:00
Line: MILWAUKEE BTB PowerLine: MILWAUKEE127
Edge On: MILWAUKEE (57)

MLB > (917) TEXAS @ (918) DETROIT | 2015-08-22 19:05:00 - 2015-08-22 19:05:00
Line: TEXAS BTB PowerLine: TEXAS144
Edge On: TEXAS (24)

MLB > (919) MINNESOTA @ (920) BALTIMORE | 2015-08-22 19:05:00 - 2015-08-22 19:05:00
Line: MINNESOTA BTB PowerLine: MINNESOTA-149
Edge On: MINNESOTA (11)

MLB > (921) KANSAS CITY @ (922) BOSTON | 2015-08-22 19:10:00 - 2015-08-22 19:10:00
Line: KANSAS CITY BTB PowerLine: KANSAS CITY163
Edge On: KANSAS CITY (23)

MLB > (909) PHILADELPHIA @ (910) MIAMI | 2015-08-22 19:10:00 - 2015-08-22 19:10:00
Line: PHILADELPHIA BTB PowerLine: PHILADELPHIA-129
Edge On: PHILADELPHIA (16)

MLB > (929) LA DODGERS @ (930) HOUSTON | 2015-08-22 19:10:00 - 2015-08-22 19:10:00
Line: LA DODGERS BTB PowerLine: LA DODGERS113
Edge On: LA DODGERS (8)

MLB > (911) NY METS @ (912) COLORADO | 2015-08-22 20:10:00 - 2015-08-22 20:10:00
Line: NY METS BTB PowerLine: NY METS135
Edge On: NY METS (10)

MLB > (913) ST LOUIS @ (914) SAN DIEGO | 2015-08-22 20:40:00 - 2015-08-22 20:40:00
Line: ST LOUIS BTB PowerLine: ST LOUIS189
Edge On: ST LOUIS (54)

MLB > (923) TAMPA BAY @ (924) OAKLAND | 2015-08-22 21:05:00 - 2015-08-22 21:05:00
Line: OAKLAND-115 BTB PowerLine: OAKLAND-170
Edge On: OAKLAND (55)

**StarDust Bum** · 08-22-2015, 02:01 AM

Baseball Capsules

August 21, 2015

HOUSTON (AP) Mike Fiers has pitched the second no-hitter in the major leagues in nine days, leading the Houston Astros to a 3-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night.

Fiers (6-9) struck out Justin Turner on his 134th pitch to end it and threw his glove high into the air for his first no-hitter and fifth in the big leagues this season. Seattle's Hisashi Iwakuma tossed a no-no on Aug 12.

Acquired by the Astros at the trade deadline to help with their playoff push, Fiers has been stellar in his three starts for Houston. This was something else, though.

Having never thrown a complete game in his five-year career, Fiers was dominant Friday. He struck out 10 and walked three, retiring the final 21 batters.

Nolan Ryan applauded from a suite as Fiers was mobbed by his teammates at the mound after finishing the 11th no-hitter in Astros history.

INDIANS 7, YANKEES 3

NEW YORK (AP) - Carlos Carrasco struck out 11, Carlos Santana homered and Cleveland stopped New York once again.

The last-place Indians improved to 4-1 against New York this year. A night after a 3-2 victory at Yankee Stadium, Cleveland remained the only sub-.500 team in the majors with a winning record on the road.

Carrasco (12-9) outpitched Masahiro Tanaka (9-6), giving up one run and five hits in 6 2-3 innings. Carrasco has permitted just six runs in his last five starts. Soon after he left, the Yankees got close.

Alex Rodriguez bounced an RBI single in the eighth off Zach McAllister that made it 4-2. With two outs, second baseman Jose Ramirez let an easy grounder roll between his legs for an error that produced another run.

Closer Cody Allen retired Stephen Drew on a long fly with the bases loaded to end the inning, protecting a 4-3 lead.

GIANTS 6, PIRATES 4

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Madison Bumgarner homered in his second straight start and struck out six in 6 1-3 innings to lift San Francisco over Pittsburgh.

Bumgarner crushed a Jeff Locke (6-8) fastball 418-feet over the wall in left field in the second inning, a two-run shot that gave the Giants an early four-run lead and all the cushion Bumgarner would need on the mound. Bumgarner (15-6) allowed two runs and five hits, walking one while winning his fourth consecutive decision. Santiago Castilla worked the ninth for his 30th save.

Marlon Byrd had three hits, including a two-run home run, in his debut with San Francisco after being acquired in a trade with Cincinnati on Thursday.

Michael Morse scored twice for the Pirates, who lost for just the second time in their past nine games.

TWINS 4, ORIOLES 3

BALTIMORE (AP) - Kurt Suzuki hit a two-run single in the eighth inning to cap a comeback against All-Star reliever Darren O'Day and carry Minnesota past Baltimore.

Baltimore was 51-1 when leading after seven innings, and O'Day (5-2) entered with a 1.15 ERA and a run of 11 straight scoreless appearances.

A walk, a pop single down the right-field line and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for Eddie Rosario, who delivered a fly to right. All three runners advanced, and Suzuki followed with a bloop past the drawn-up infield.

Casey Fien (3-5) worked 1 2-3 innings, Trevor May pitched the eighth and Kevin Jepsen struck out the side for his sixth save, the first since coming to Minnesota from Tampa Bay in a July 31 trade.

BREWERS 10, NATIONALS 3

WASHINGTON (AP) - Domingo Santana homered in his Milwaukee debut and the Brewers took advantage of several defensive miscues in a victory over struggling Washington.

Jonathan Lucroy had three hits and drove in a run, and rookie Jimmy Nelson allowed two runs in 5 1-3 innings against Washington, which fell one game below .500 at 60-61.

Bryce Harper hit his 31st home run and Michael Taylor also homered for the Nationals.

Gio Gonzalez (9-6) allowed five runs - four earned - over five innings, and the Brewers added a five-run seventh Washington lost the opener of a nine-game homestand following a 3-7 West Coast trip.

Kyle Lohse picked up his first save.

RANGERS 2, TIGERS 0

DETROIT (AP) - Colby Lewis pitched seven strong innings to help Texas beat Detroit.

Lewis (14-5) allowed six hits and a walk, but the Rangers defense turned three double plays and threw out another runner at the plate. Shawn Tolleson pitched the ninth for his 24th save, despite allowing Miguel Cabrera's third double of the game.

The game was delayed for several minutes in the eighth inning after a female fan seated in the first row behind the Tigers dugout was hit by a line drive off the bat of Anthony Gose. After lengthy attention from three paramedics, she was taken out of the stadium on a stretcher, wearing a neck brace, but appeared to be conscious and speaking.

Justin Verlander (1-6) took the loss despite allowing two runs - one earned - and four hits with a walk in seven innings. Since July 10, Verlander has allowed one or fewer earned runs in six of his eight starts, but is 1-4.

CUBS 5, BRAVES 3

CHICAGO (AP) - Kris Bryant and Miguel Montero had consecutive RBI doubles in the sixth and Chicago extended Shelby Miller's winless skid to 17 games.

Anthony Rizzo added an RBI single in the seventh for Chicago.

Jason Motte (8-1) earned the win in relief, starting a string of four innings during which Cubs relievers didn't allow a hit until pinch-hitter Nick Swisher doubled with one out in the ninth off of closer Hector Rondon.

London recovered to earn his 22nd save in 26 opportunities.

Miller (5-10) dropped his career-high ninth straight decision.

RED SOX 7, ROYALS 2

BOSTON (AP) - Johnny Cueto had his worst start since coming to Kansas City just before the trading deadline, and Boston beat AL Central-leading Royals to send them to their second straight loss.

Cueto (2-2) had allowed just six runs in four previous starts for the Royals. He allowed six earned runs and 13 hits on Friday, striking out three before leaving after six innings. The Royals also committed two errors, leading to another run.

Henry Owens made the longest start of his short career, pitching eight innings of four-hit ball. Blake Swihart had four hits and Mookie Betts three for the Red Sox, who tied a season high with their fourth win in a row.

The Royals entered the series against last-place Boston with a 14 1/2-game lead in the division.

A 23-year-old lefty who is one of Boston's top pitching prospects, Owens (2-1) was making his fourth career start since being called up from Triple-A Pawtucket on Aug. 4.

DIAMONDBACKS 6, REDS 3

CINCINNATI (AP) - Rubby De La Rosa allowed two runs in seven innings and A.J. Pollock homered in his second consecutive four-hit game to help Arizona send Cincinnati to its seventh straight loss.

Pollock scored three runs and Yasmany Tomas added a solo shot for the Diamondbacks.

Joey Votto hit his 23rd homer in the eighth inning off Keith Hessler for the Reds.

De La Rosa (11-5) improved to 5-0 with a 2.54 ERA in seven starts since the All-Star break. He allowed seven hits with one walk, six strikeouts and a wild pitch. He also had two hits.

Addison Reed finished the eighth and Brad Ziegler pitched the ninth for his 23rd save.

Reds rookie left-hander David Holmberg set a single-game career high by allowing 11 hits. Holmberg (1-3) gave up five runs with one walk and two strikeouts and hit a batter in five innings.

PHILLIES 7, MARLINS 1

MIAMI (AP) - Jerad Eickhoff pitched six scoreless innings and drove in two runs in his major league debut to help Philadelphia over Miami.

Ryan Howard had three doubles and drove in two runs and Odubel Herrera had two hits and scored twice for the Phillies.

Philadelphia broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning by scoring four runs on four hits off Kendry Flores (1-2), who was making his first career start. Herrera's single and Freddy Galvis' sacrifice fly put the Phillies on top 2-0 before Eickhoff's two-run single.

Eickhoff (1-0) is a 25-year old right-hander, who was one of six players acquired from Texas in the Cole Hamels trade on July 31. He allowed five hits and walked one while striking out five. He threw 52 of his 75 pitches for strikes.

**StarDust Bum** · 08-22-2015, 02:03 AM

LEADING OFF: Posada honored; Greinke, Leake, Cole start

August 21, 2015

A look at what's happening all around the major leagues Saturday:

TWO-WAY THREAT

Dodgers ace Zack Greinke has won nine straight decisions, gving up just one home run in that span. Baseball's ERA leader (1.58) has been pretty good at the plate, too. He has two bat-flipping long balls in his last three starts. He faces the Astros and Scott Kazmir,

NUMBERS GAME

Jorge Posada will be honored at Yankee Stadium when the team retires the former catcher's No. 20 and gives him a plaque in Monument Park during ceremonies before New York plays Cleveland. On Sunday, longtime ace Andy Pettitte gets the same star tribute when the Yankees retire his No. 46.

WOLF BACK

Randy Wolf is set to see his first big league action since June 14, 2014, when the 38-year-old starts for Detroit against Texas.

FEELING FINE

The Cubs' Dan Haren is ready to make his start after being hit in his ankle by a line drive in his last start. He's had success in the past against the Braves, going 6-2 with a 3.25 ERA.

START AGAIN

Mike Leake comes off the disabled list to make his second start for the Giants since being acquired before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. He allowed two runs in 6 1-3 innings in his first start for the Giants on Aug. 2. Pittsburgh's Gerrit Cole starts against a favorite foe. He's 3-0 in three outings against San Francisco.

ROOKIE ROYALE

Rookie right-handers matchup when Milwaukee's Taylor Jungmann and Washington's Joe Ross take the mound at Nationals Park.

**StarDust Bum** · 08-22-2015, 02:07 AM

Giants send pitcher Chris Heston to Triple-A

August 21, 2015

PITTSBURGH (AP) The San Francisco Giants sent pitcher Chris Heston to Triple-A Sacramento on Friday, hoping to give him a small break before the stretch drive.

The 27-year-old Heston is 11-7 with a 3.34 ERA this year and threw a no-hitter against the New York Mets on June 9. Heston, whoever, has had trouble going deep into games in recent weeks, making it past the fifth inning just once in four starts this month.

Manager Bruce Bochy said the team wanted to ''back (Heston) off a bit'' and added there were indications that fatigue may be an issue. Heston was scheduled to pitch for San Francisco on Saturday but instead will be given a few days off before taking the hill for Sacramento.

Heston will return to San Francisco when rosters expand on Sept. 1.

**StarDust Bum** · 08-22-2015, 10:27 AM

Preview: Indians (57-64) at Yankees (67-54)
Game: 3
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: August 22, 2015 1:05 PM EDT

The New York Yankees aren't providing Luis Severino with much run support, and facing the present version of Danny Salazar isn't the ideal scenario to try to change that.

The Cleveland Indians right-hander will try to silence a fifth straight opponent Saturday at Yankee Stadium, and New York has already made that list once.

Salazar (11-6, 3.16 ERA) is 3-0 with a 0.95 ERA in his last four starts, and the three earned runs he's allowed have been solo home runs. He gave up one with a total of four hits in seven innings of Monday's 8-2 win in Boston after adding a third of an inning to the same line in a 2-1 home victory over New York on Aug. 12.

He'll now try to win three straight starts for the third time in his career.

"I'm pretty confident," Salazar told MLB's official website. "Every time I go out there, I feel really strong and I'm ready to compete."

He's especially trusting his two-seam fastball as he's grown used to an altered grip, and Salazar is using the pitch more and relying on his four-seamer less.

"He's starting to realize that even when he turns it over to throw a two-seamer, that thing is still coming out at 94, 95, 96 (mph)," catcher Yan Gomes said.

The Yankees were unable to make anything of the season-high five walks Salazar issued, but the 25-year-old regained his control and handed out one against the Red Sox. Brian McCann provided the home run, but the active Yankees roster is collectively 4 for 24 with eight strikeouts against Salazar.

Severino (0-2, 3.18) has shown promise in his first three major league starts, but he's been given two runs of support in 17 innings. The right-hander surrendered three runs and five hits with three walks and nine strikeouts in six innings of Sunday's 3-1 loss in Toronto.

"I think I'm doing pretty good, and I'll keep working hard so I can do it better," Severino said. "I just try to hit the glove most of the time. Hit the glove and everything's going to be OK."

It followed a 5-4 loss in Cleveland on Aug. 11 as the 21-year-old gave up two runs in six innings and avoided the decision. Recently acquired third baseman Chris Johnson was 2 for 3 for the Indians, and New York manager Joe Girardi is interested to see how his young pitcher handles facing the same lineup twice in 12 days.

"You always wonder how guys respond to that," Girardi said. "I feel pretty good every time he takes the mound. This kid's got really good stuff, and he's got a lot of poise when he goes out there. I think you pretty much have a pretty good expectation of what you're going to get every day."

The Indians (57-64) have won the first two of the four-game set, including Friday's 7-3 victory that gave them six wins in their last seven games against the Yankees.

Michael Brantley had his third straight multihit game and is batting .395 in 29 since the All-Star break. Carlos Santana homered, but the first baseman is a .158 hitter in 15 games at Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees (67-54) have dropped seven of 11 at home while averaging 2.9 runs and batting .205.

Mark Teixeira was out of the lineup for a fourth straight game after fouling a ball of his right leg Monday, but there's a slight chance he could return this weekend. McCann has been moved up to Teixeira's usual cleanup spot for three games and gone 0 for 11.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Indians at Yankees
Thu, Aug 20 Final 3 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Indians at Yankees
Fri, Aug 21 Final 7 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Indians at Yankees
Sat, Aug 22 - 1:05PM EDT

GAME 4
Indians at Yankees
Sun, Aug 23 - 1:05PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 08-22-2015, 10:29 AM

Preview: Braves (53-69) at Cubs (69-51)
Game: 3
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: August 22, 2015 4:05 PM EDT

By adding to the Atlanta Braves' misery on the road, the Chicago Cubs seem to have rebounded from a minor rough stretch.

After taking the first two of this four-game set, the Cubs look to hand the Braves a season-high eighth consecutive road defeat Saturday.

Chicago (69-51) dropped three straight, and allowed 25 runs with 40 hits while by being swept by Detroit in a two-game home set before holding offensively challenged Atlanta to four runs in the last two contests. Four Cubs relievers held the Braves (53-69) to one hit over four scoreless innings of Friday's comeback 5-3 victory as Chicago maintained its four-game lead over San Francisco for the NL's second wild card.

"Every single game is important at this point," said catcher Miguel Montero, who delivered a tiebreaking double in the sixth. "As long as we win, everything is going to be fine."

Chicago has taken advantage of the reeling Braves, the NL's lowest-scoring team that's dropped seven straight road games for the second time in less than two months. Atlanta has been held to three or fewer runs 19 times while losing 20 of the last 22 away from home.

"We're showing up," Shelby Miller told MLB's official website after his winless stretch reached 17 straight starts. "We're trying to win ballgames and we're obviously on a little rough streak right now. But hopefully we can turn that around."

Atlanta led 3-1 after a two-run double from Nick Markakis in the fourth Friday, but stranded nine men and went 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position.

Despite Atlanta's road struggles, Markakis ranks among the major league leaders with a .324 average away from home. He's hit .192 with a homer and two doubles in 26 at-bats against Dan Haren (8-8, 3.63 ERA), but last faced him in 2013.

Atlanta has clubbed a major league-low 74 home runs but Haren has allowed an NL-high 27, including six while going 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in three starts since Chicago acquired him at the trade deadline. The right-hander served up three in Sunday's 3-1 loss to the White Sox.

Haren gave up two homers and one other hit in seven innings of a 6-2 win at Atlanta for Miami on April 15.

Cameron Maybin hit one of those home runs, and is batting .358 in the last 14 contests.

Michael Bourn, however, is 4 for 39 with 11 strikeouts in 12 games since joining Atlanta from Cleveland earlier this month.

The Braves have dropped the last five starts by Williams Perez (4-4, 4.34), who fell to 0-4 with a 6.75 ERA during that stretch after allowing four runs, seven hits and walking four in 6 1-3 innings of Monday's 5-3 loss at San Diego. Despite that rough stretch, manager Fredi Gonzalez has been pleased with the rookie's effort this season.

"He's got a nice feel for pitching," Gonzalez told MLB's official website.

The right-hander gets his first look at the Cubs and should see Chris Coghlan, who has batted .444, hit four of his career-high 15 homers and drove in 10 runs over his last six contests. He's hitting .480 with two homers and 10 RBIs in his last seven against the Braves.

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 Final 3 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

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

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

**StarDust Bum** · 08-22-2015, 10:33 AM

Preview: Giants (66-56) at Pirates (72-48)
Game: 3
Venue: PNC Park
Date: August 22, 2015 4:05 PM EDT

Wins used to be easy to come by for Gerrit Cole, but suddenly Pittsburgh's ace can't buy one during a stretch in which his team hasn't lost very often.

The Pirates have won 15 of 22 and will try to get Cole his elusive 15th victory on Saturday against Mike Leake and the visiting Giants.

Cole (14-7, 2.61 ERA) has three of Pittsburgh's six losses in August and has been stuck on 14 wins since July 26. He missed four chances to become baseball's first 15-game winner and will now try to tie the league's high-water mark.

Opponents are hitting .300 against Cole this month and he's posted a 4.70 ERA in four starts. That stretch without a win ties a career-worst drought set from April 15-May 2, 2014.

But there is good news.

Cole snapped last year's drought with a 4-3 home win over the Giants, a team he's 3-0 against with a 2.11 ERA in his first three years with the Pirates (72-48).

The right-hander held the Giants (66-56) to two unearned runs in seven innings of a 4-3 road win June 1.

That victory was part of six straight for Cole from May 22-June 18, and to get back to that level he'll have to come out of the gates better. Three of the first seven Diamondbacks he faced Monday drilled balls off the PNC Park wall for extra bases, accounting for a third of the hits he allowed over 6 2-3 innings in a 4-1 loss.

Batters are hitting .293 in the first inning off Cole and .238 after that.

"If you don't come out locating the ball early, they're going to punish you," Cole told MLB's official website.

This is the fourth time Cole and Leake (9-6, 3.52) have squared off this season, with Leake's team winning the first three. But the former Cincinnati right-hander will be wearing a different uniform for this one.

Leake is making just his second start for the Giants after spending the past two weeks on the shelf with a strained left hamstring. He gave up two runs in 6 1-3 innings of his San Francisco debut, a 2-1 loss at Texas on Aug. 2.

Leake is 2-0 with a 1.56 ERA in five starts against the Pirates since last season's All-Star break, and he's 3-0 with a 2.11 ERA in his last seven in Pittsburgh.

Three of the four hitters Leake has faced most in his career are Andrew McCutchen, Neil Walker and Pedro Alvarez, who have combined to hit just three homers in 158 at-bats. Not far behind in terms of seeing Leake is Aramis Ramirez, who's 6 for 36.

Marlon Byrd homered in his first at-bat with the Giants on Friday night, then later singled and doubled in a 6-4 win that snapped San Francisco's four-game losing streak to the Pirates.

Much like Leake, the Pirates are familiar with Byrd from his days in Cincinnati and they can't like what they've seen. The outfielder is hitting .361 with six homers and 14 RBIs in 14 games against Pittsburgh this season. Two of those long balls came among his six hits in 11 at-bats against Cole.

'He probably wanted to make a good first impression,' San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. 'He did more than that. It's something we need.'

Josh Harrison went 0 for 2 and was hit by a pitch in his first action for the Pirates since undergoing thumb surgery in early July.

Starting pitcher Chris Heston, second on the Giants with 11 wins, was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento to make room for Byrd. Bochy said the move "gives him a little breather" before the rookie gets called up when rosters expand Sept. 1.

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 Final 6 to 4
Boxscores

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

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

**StarDust Bum** · 08-22-2015, 10:35 AM

Preview: Twins (61-61) at Orioles (62-59)
Game: 3
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: August 22, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

One of the best bullpens in the majors is coming apart at the wrong time for the Baltimore Orioles.

The Minnesota Twins have taken advantage, and they'll look to take the first three of this crucial four-game set Saturday night at Camden Yards.

Baltimore's relievers entered this series with a 2.68 ERA that ranked second in the AL and fourth in baseball, but it surrendered a season-worst eight runs in four innings of Thursday's 15-2 loss to the Twins.

Gerardo Parra hit a three-run homer and Wei-Yin Chen pitched six solid innings Friday before All-Star reliever Darren O'Day allowed three runs and four hits in two-thirds of an inning in the eighth as Minnesota rallied for a 4-3 victory.

O'Day hadn't allowed a run in his previous 11 appearances, and the Orioles (62-59) had won 51 of their previous 52 when leading after seven. Texas beat Detroit to pull even with Baltimore behind the Los Angeles Angels for the AL's second wild card.

"The baseball gods aren't always kind to you," manager Buck Showalter said. "You wear it and try to come back and know tomorrow you have a chance to have a different feeling."

Chris Tillman (9-7, 4.54 ERA) hopes to keep the bullpen's work to a minimum in this contest. Tillman has come on strong since June 28, going 4-0 with a 2.13 ERA while giving up two runs or fewer seven times in eight starts.

He bounced back from a rough outing against Seattle on Aug. 11 - his first start after skipping his turn in the rotation because of a sore left ankle - and allowed a pair of solo homers through seven innings of Monday's 4-2 win over Oakland.

"I feel like right now as long as our starters are giving the team a chance to win and get deep into the game, set up the bullpen how it needs to be set up, I think we will be ready," Tillman said after his last outing.

The right-hander, though, is 0-3 with a 5.06 ERA in five career starts against the Twins and has lasted a combined 9 1-3 innings over the last three. He'll try to prevent Minnesota from winning three straight for the first time since a four-game run July 10-17.

Kurt Suzuki's two-run single put the Twins ahead for good Friday, and he's driven in seven while batting .429 during a five-game hitting streak. He's 8 for 17 in four games against the Orioles, who have dropped all five meetings this season.

The Twins (61-61) are 1 1/2 games behind the Orioles and Rangers in the wild-card race.

"It's a big victory because we're playing a team that's pretty good and they're ahead of us right now, and we're trying to get in that wild card," outfielder Torii Hunter said.

The Twins look to keep rolling behind Kyle Gibson (8-9, 3.99), who has continued to struggle since the All-Star break.

Gibson had a 2.85 ERA while allowing at least five earned runs twice through his first 18 starts, including an 8-3 win over Baltimore on July 7 when he struck out seven in six innings. He's gone 0-3 with a 7.91 ERA in his last six, though.

The right-hander allowed at least six runs for the fourth time in that stretch in Baltimore's 8-7, 10-inning loss to the New York Yankees.

Minnesota is seeking a third straight road victory for the time since a season-best four-game run April 25-May 9.

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 Final 4 to 3
Boxscores

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

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

**StarDust Bum** · 08-22-2015, 10:36 AM

Preview: Brewers (53-70) at Nationals (60-61)
Game: 2
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: August 22, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

Just as Washington welcomed one of baseball's top infield prospects to the majors, it may be without its veteran third baseman for the immediate future.

While Trea Turner continues to get situated in the majors, it's uncertain if Yunel Escobar will be available for the struggling Nationals on Saturday night against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers.

Turner went 0 for 2 after coming off the bench for his much-anticipated debut in Friday's 10-3 defeat. However, it was overshadowed by a rough night from Washington's pitchers and an injury to Escobar.

Batting .305, Escobar was injured when he ran into a railing and a fan's chest while chasing a foul ball in the first inning. His injury is the latest setback for the Nationals (60-61), who have dropped eight of the last 10 and are five games behind the first-place New York Mets in the NL East.

"Try to come back and get ready for them (Saturday)," losing pitcher Gio Gonzalez said.

Unlikely to play third, Turner was at shortstop Friday and could see time at second base. He batted .322 with eight home runs and 54 RBIs in 116 games between Double-A and Triple-A this season. Though Washington has been held to three or fewer runs in six of the last 10, it doesn't expect Turner to provide an instant fix.

"We're not expecting him to be the savior of the offense or the savior of the ballclub," general manager Mike Rizzo said. "We just want him to do what he does best.'

Bryce Harper's 31st homer Friday was the second in his last 21 games, and third while batting .545 in his last seven against the Brewers (53-70), who moved out of last place in the NL Central.

Joe Ross (3-5, 3.86 ERA) allowed two runs and struck out eight in a season-high eight innings of a 7-2 victory at Milwaukee in his second career start July 13.

The right-hander went 1-0 with a 2.19 ERA in his first two starts of August, but is 0-2 with a 9.35 ERA in the last two. He failed to complete five innings in both of those outings.

Jonathan Lucroy went 2 for 4 against Ross, and had three of the Brewers' 14 hits Friday as they won for the fifth time in the last seven contests. Lucroy is batting .350 in the last six games, and .340 in 13 at Washington.

While the Brewers managed one hit against Max Scherzer on June 14, rookie Taylor Jungmann (7-4, 2.23) allowed two runs in five innings of a 4-0 defeat to the Nationals in his second career start.

One of the few bright spots for Milwaukee since debuting June 9, Jungmann has allowed more than two earned runs once in his 13 starts. He gave up three hits and struck out a season-high nine over 6 1-3 scoreless innings of Sunday's 6-1 win over Philadelphia.

That came one start after the right-hander yielded four runs in 2 2-3 innings of a 6-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs.

"I was confident he was going to bounce back," manager Craig Counsell told MLB's official website. "There's going to be blips in the road, and he came back and pitched a really nice game."

Jungmann has gone eight straight starts spanning 51 2-3 innings since allowing a home run.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Brewers at Nationals
Fri, Aug 21 Final 10 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

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

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

**StarDust Bum** · 08-22-2015, 10:38 AM

Preview: Royals (73-48) at Red Sox (56-66)
Game: 3
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: August 22, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

The Kansas City Royals have been producing little offense against the Boston Red Sox, and the latest letdown came against a rookie pitcher who entered with an ERA over six.

The good news is the AL Central leaders will get another shot at exploiting similar numbers from another of Boston's youth Saturday night at Fenway Park, but if the lineup again fails, a win might require a new level of consistency from Yordano Ventura.

The Royals (73-48) have three runs and 10 hits in the first two games of the series after scoring one in eight innings against 23-year-old Henry Owens in Friday's 7-2 loss.

Lorenzo Cain is 0 for 7 in the series, has hit .091 in his last five games overall and is hitless in 18 at-bats over his last five at Fenway.

But with two errors and 14 hits allowed Friday, the Royals' problems ran deeper.

"No aspect of our game was tremendously good tonight," manager Ned Yost said. "It's rare when it happens, but it happens."

Matt Barnes is next in line and can give the Red Sox (56-66) their first five-game win streak this year, as well as an 11th win in 13 games against Kansas City since the start of last season. At Fenway, they've won five straight in the series and could get to fewer than 10 games under .500 this late in a season for the first time since the end of 2013.

Barnes (3-3, 6.59 ERA) gave up six runs and six hits with three walks and seven strikeouts in five innings of his first major league start - an 8-2 home loss to Cleveland on Monday. A five-run fourth spoiled what interim manager Torey Lovullo and Barnes himself thought was an otherwise promising outing after his first 26 appearances came in relief.

"I felt really good out there. I felt like I had really good command of all three pitches," Barnes told MLB's official website. "The fastball, when I missed, it was around the zone. Curveball I felt really good with and I was able to use the changeup."

Fenway has so far been his undoing with a 9.17 ERA and six home runs allowed in 17 2-3 innings compared to a 2.89 mark in 18 2-3 on the road.

Ventura (7-7, 4.82) has a shot at going three straight starts without allowing four runs for the first time this season, as well as six straight without a loss for the first time in his career.

The erratic right-hander surrendered two runs and five hits in seven innings of Sunday's 4-3 home win over the Los Angeles Angels but didn't earn the decision.

The 24-year-old is 1-0 with two runs and seven hits allowed over 13 innings in his last two outings, but he's walked seven in that time.

Both of his career starts against Boston have ended in defeats with a 7.15 ERA and .421 opponent on-base percentage. Mookie Betts and Brock Holt are 2 for 3 against Ventura.

Offensively, Boston seems more than capable of again causing him problems. Over a 6-2 span, the Red Sox are averaging 9.1 runs and batting .366.

Travis Shaw is batting .471 with four home runs in his last eight games, and Betts is hitting .382 in his last seven. Blake Swihart was 4 for 4 Friday and is 10 for 16 with four doubles and seven RBIs in his last four games.

"He's a great student of the game," Lovullo said. "He pays attention, and we feel like it's a really good sign of things to come."

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 Final 2 to 7
Boxscores • Recaps

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** · 08-22-2015, 10:40 AM

Preview: Diamondbacks (60-61) at Reds (51-69)
Game: 3
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: August 22, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

Paul Goldschmidt's slump has him losing ground in the NL batting chase, but A.J. Pollock's torrid stretch has turned him into a contender.

Pollock looks to continue pounding the last-place Cincinnati Reds as the Arizona Diamondbacks try to deal them an eighth straight loss Saturday night.

Goldschmidt entered August with a league-leading .349 average and seemed to be on his way to becoming the first Diamondback to win a batting crown. That prospect has become murky with his average dropping to .326 while he's hitting .208 in 19 games - 2 for 25 in the past six.

Pollock, however, has entered the race thanks to his .438 average over the past 15 games, increasing his season mark 19 points to .321.

Both Goldschmidt and Pollock are chasing Miami's Dee Gordon (.338) for the league lead.

Pollock has matched his career high with four hits in each of the first two of this series, coming a triple shy of the cycle in Friday's 6-3 victory.

The center fielder is a career .465 hitter in 13 games against the Reds, going 10 for 18 in five at Cincinnati. Goldschmidt, however, is 1 for 17 in his last four games there.

"I think he'll probably be in the lineup (Saturday)," manager Chip Hale deadpanned about Pollock's availability.

The Diamondbacks (60-61) are giving Randall Delgado (4-3, 2.70 ERA) his first start of the season after Jeremy Hellickson went on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring Thursday. The right-hander is 11-19 with a 4.23 ERA in 47 career starts over the past four years with Arizona and Atlanta.

"With his velocity and repertoire of pitches that he has, I think (senior vice president and general manager Dave Stewart) wants to get an idea if this guy can be a starter for us in the future, so he wants to give him a shot," Hale told MLB's official website. "He's got good stuff, he's started in the past. He's still a young guy. He's 25 years old, so let's see what he's got."

Delgado is 0-3 with a 4.70 ERA in four career starts against the Reds, losing both in Cincinnati with a 7.15 ERA.

These Reds (51-69) aren't exactly an intimidating presence, though. They're in the midst of a 3-13 stretch that's dropped them into the NL Central cellar.

Anthony DeSclafani (7-8, 3.72) will try to help dig them out and become the first Reds rookie to win eight games since Mike Leake in 2010.

The right-hander has fallen short in the last two attempts, going 0-1 while allowing five runs and 16 hits in 12 innings. That includes yielding three runs and 10 hits in six innings of a 4-3 loss in 10 at Arizona on Aug. 9. DeSclafani had won his two previous outings with a 1.38 ERA.

He's struggled with Goldschmidt, who is 3 for 3 with two doubles off him.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Diamondbacks at Reds
Thu, Aug 20 Final 5 to 4
Recaps

GAME 2
Diamondbacks at Reds
Fri, Aug 21 Final 6 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Diamondbacks at Reds
Sat, Aug 22 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 4
Diamondbacks at Reds
Sun, Aug 23 - 1:10PM EDT

Announcement

The Bum's Sports Page For Saturday August 22nd Best Bets-Trends-News !

The Bum's Sports Page For Saturday August 22nd Best Bets-Trends-News !

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment