Announcement

**StarDust Bum** · 09-19-2015, 10:47 AM

MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Saturday, September 19

National League
Cardinals @ Cubs
Wacha is 1-1, 6.75 in his last three starts; his last four starts went over.

Wood is 0-1, 9.37 in his last four starts; his last six starts went over.

St Louis lost five of last seven games with Chicago (over 6-0-1); Cardinals won four of last five overall, scoring 26 runs (over 4-1). Cubs won last four games; six of their last eight went over the total.

Marlins @ Nationals
Nicolino is 1-2, 3.48 in his last five starts (under 3-1-1).

Zimmerman is 2-0, 3.28 in his last four starts (over 5-1 last 6).

Washington lost three of last five games with Miami (under 3-2 in last five). Marlins won seven of their last ten games (under 8-5 in last 13). Nationals won five of last six games (over 4-1 in last five).

Phillies @ Braves
Eickhoff is 0-3, 5.25 in his last four starts (over 3-2 in his '15 starts).

Weber is 0-1, 4.38 in his first two MLB starts (over 1-1).

Philly lost four of last five games with Atlanta; over is 3-2-2 last seven series games. Phils lost last four games, allowing 27 runs; five of last seven games went over total. Braves lost six of their last eight games.

Reds @ Brewers
Smith is making first start since July 4; he is 0-2, 8.76 in three starts (over 3-0).

Jungmann is 0-1, 9.31 in his last two starts (over 3-0).

Reds lost eight of last 11 games with the Brewers; four of last six in series went over total. Cincinnati lost three of last five games (over 4-1). Milwaukee lost last seven games, allowing 42 runs (over 6-2 last eight).

Padres @ Rockies
Erlin is making first '15 start; he is 7-8, 4.66 in 20 career starts ('13-'14). He was 7-6, 5.60 in 24 AAA starts this season.

Flande is 0-2, 7.50 in his last four starts (over 3-1).

San Diego lost four of last six games with Colorado; over is 6-3 in last nine series games. Padres lost six of last eight games (over 6-1 last seven). Rockies are 5-3 in last eight games (under 5-3 last eight).

Pirates @ Dodgers
Liriano is 2-1, 5.40 in his last six starts (over 9-0-1 last ten).

Kershaw is 4-0, 1.45 in his last four starts (under 4-1 last five).

Pirates won eight of last 11 games with LA (over 7-2 in last nine); Bucs lost last four games overall; nine of their last 11 went over. Dodgers won five of last six games; three of their last five stayed under.

Diamondbacks @ Giants
Corbin is 2-1, 1.85 in his last four starts (under 4-0).

Leake is 1-2, 5.30 in his last three syarts (under 5-2 last seven).

Arizona won three of last four games with San Francisco (under 9-2 in last 11). Diamondbacks lost four of last six games overall (under 6-4 last ten). Giants won five of last seven games (over 6-1).

American League
Royals @ Tigers
Volquez is 1-1, 7.20 in his last three starts.

Boyd is 0-2, 8.50 in his last four starts (over 2-2).

Royals won four of last seven games with Detroit (over 5-0 last five); KC is 3-6 in last nine games overall (over 6-2 last eight). Tigers won four of last five games (over is 4-1-1 in last six games).

Red Sox @ Blue Jays
Miley is 1-1, 4.40 in his last four starts (over 4-0).

Dickey is 5-0, 2.21 in his last five home starts (under 4-0 last four overall).

Boston won five of last eight games with Toronto (over 4-2 last six). BoSox lost three of last four games (over 5-3 last eight). Blue Jays won six of last eight; four of their last five games stayed under the total.

Orioles @ Rays
Chen is 1-1, 6.48 in his last three starts (over 4-0 last four).

Ramirez is 0-1, 4.82 in his last five starts (over 4-2 last six).

Rays lost four of last seven games with Baltimore; four of last five series games went over the total; Tampa Bay lost ten of last 15 games; under is 4-2 in last six. Orioles won four of last six games; six of their last eight went over the total.

White Sox @ Indians
Rodon is 2-1, 2.37 in his last three starts (under 4-2 last six).

Carrasco is 3-2, 2.05 in his last seven starts (over 4-1 last five).

White Sox lost three of last four games with Cleveland (over 3-0 last three). Chicago is 3-6 in last nine games overall (over 7-2-1 last ten). Indians won six of last nine; over is 8-2 in their last ten games.

Mariners @ Rangers
Nuno is 1-1, 2.75 in his last three starts (over 3-1 last four).

Hamels is 3-0, 3.34 in his last five starts (over 2-0-1 last three).

Seattle won its last three games with Texas; under is 7-1-1 in last nine series games. Mariners are 6-3 in last nine games (under 6-2-1). Texas won five of last six games (over 4-1-1) overall.

Angels @ Twins
Heaney is 1-1, 3.13 in his last four starts (over 3-1-1 last five). Richards is 1-1, 3.86 in his last four starts (over 5-2 last seven).

Pelfrey is 0-2, 8.31 in his last three starts (under 3-0-1 last four). Gibson is 2-1, 2.30 in his last four starts (under 4-1).

Angels won ten of last 11 games with Minnesota; over is 7-1-2 in last 10 series games; Halos lost three of last five overall- under is 5-2-1 in their last eight. Twins lost four of last six games; under is 4-3-2 in their last nine.

A's @ Astros
Gray is 1-2, 7.17 in his last four starts (over 4-1 last five).

Kazmir is 0-2, 4.81 in his last four starts (under 3-1-1 last five).

Oakland won six of last seven games with Houston (under 4-1 last five). A's are 4-5 in last nine games overall (over 4-2 last six). Houston lost nine of last eleven games, with three of last four going over.

Interleague
Bronx @ Mets
Pineda is 1-0, 4.67 in his last three starts (over 4-1 last five).

Syndergaard is 2-0, 4.40 in his last five starts (over 7-0 last seven).

Bronx won four of last six games with the Mets (over 4-3-1 last eight). Bronx won three of last five games overall (under 4-1). Mets won nine of last 11 games (three of last four stayed under).

Win-loss records this year for team with this starting pitcher:
StL-Chi-- Wacha 20-7; Wood 4-4
Mia-Wsh-- Nicolino 4-5; Zimmerman 18-12
Phil-Atl-- Eickhoff 2-3; Weber 0-2
Cin-Mil-- Smith 0-3; Jungmann 10-8
SD-Col-- Erlin 0-0; Flande 4-5
Pitt-LA-- Liriano 17-11 (13-1 last 14); Kershaw 17-12 (4-0 last 4)
Az-SF-- Corbin 7-6; Leake 13-14/2-4

KC-Det-- Volquez 21-9; Boyd 2-5
Bos-Tor-- Miley 13-16; Dickey 19-13 (10-1 last 11)
Balt-TB-- Chen 17-11; Ramirez 14-10 (0-4 last 4)
Chi-Clev-- Rodon 13-8; Carrasco 16-11
Sea-Tex-- Nuno 3-3; Hamels 16-12/6-2 (6-0 last 6)
LA-Minn-- Heaney 9-6 Richards 16-12; Pelfrey 14-13 Gibson 14-13
A's-Hst-- Gray 16-13 (2-5 last 7); Kazmir 11-17/3-7 (0-4 last 4)

NY-NY-- Pineda 13-10; Syndergaard 12-9

Times this starting pitcher allowed a run in first inning:
StL-Chi-- Wacha 5-27; Wood 2-8
Mia-Wsh-- Nicolino 0-9; Zimmerman 9-30
Phil-Atl-- Eickhoff 2-5; Weber 0-2
Cin-Mil-- Smith 0-3; Jungmann 3-18
SD-Col-- Erlin 0-0; Flande 2-9
Pitt-LA-- Liriano 6-29; Kershaw 7-29
Az-SF-- Corbin 2-13; Leake 5-27

KC-Det-- Volquez 8-30; Boyd 3-7
Bos-Tor-- Miley 8-29; Dickey 6-28
Balt-TB-- Chen 7-28; Ramirez 5-24
Chi-Clev-- Rodon 5-21; Carrascon 12-27
Sea-Tex-- Nuno 3-6; Hamels 8-28
LA-Minn-- Heaney 2-15 Richards 6-28; Pelfrey 4-27 Gibson 4-27
A's-Hst-- Gray 5-29; Kazmir 4-28

NY-NY-- Pineda 7-23; Syndergaard 7-21

Umpires
StL-Chi-- Under is 7-4 in last eleven Dreckman games.
Mia-Wsh-- Under is 9-4-1 in last fourteen TBarrett games.
Az-SF-- Under is 4-1-1 in last six Carapazza games.
Cin-Mil-- Underdogs are 6-4 in last ten Drake games.
Phil-Atl-- Under is 5-1-1 in last seven Hoberg games.
SD-Col-- Last six Cuzzi games went over the total.
Pitt-LA-- Underdogs are 6-5 in last eleven Emmel games.

Bos-Tor-- Under is 4-1-1 in last six Iassogna games.
Balt-TB-- Six of last seven Scott games went over.
KC-Det-- Five of last seven Cederstrom games went over.
A's-Hst-- Under is 3-0-1 in last four Winters games.
Chi-Cle-- Last six TWelke games went over the total.
Sea-Tex-- Favorites won five of last six Blaser games.

NY-NY-- Seven of last ten Hirschbeck games went over.

**StarDust Bum** · 09-19-2015, 10:48 AM

MLB

Saturday, September 19

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
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1:05 PM
NY YANKEES vs. NY METS
NY Yankees are 3-7 SU in their last 10 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of NY Yankees's last 5 games
NY Mets are 9-2 SU in its last 11 games
NY Mets are 8-4 SU in their last 12 games when playing NY Yankees

1:05 PM
ST. LOUIS vs. CHI CUBS
The total has gone OVER in 4 of St. Louis's last 5 games on the road
St. Louis is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Chi Cubs's last 7 games when playing St. Louis
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Chi Cubs's last 5 games when playing at home against St. Louis

4:05 PM
ARIZONA vs. SAN FRANCISCO
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Arizona's last 9 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Arizona's last 5 games when playing on the road against San Francisco
San Francisco is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of San Francisco's last 7 games

4:05 PM
MIAMI vs. WASHINGTON
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Miami's last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Miami's last 9 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Washington's last 5 games at home
Washington is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games at home

4:07 PM
BOSTON vs. TORONTO
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Boston's last 9 games when playing on the road against Toronto
Boston is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Toronto
Toronto is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Toronto's last 5 games

6:10 PM
BALTIMORE vs. TAMPA BAY
Baltimore is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Baltimore's last 8 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 5 games when playing Baltimore
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 6 games when playing at home against Baltimore

7:08 PM
KANSAS CITY vs. DETROIT
Kansas City is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Kansas City's last 8 games
Detroit is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Detroit's last 6 games when playing at home against Kansas City

7:10 PM
CINCINNATI vs. MILWAUKEE
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Cincinnati's last 6 games when playing on the road against Milwaukee
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cincinnati's last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Milwaukee's last 6 games when playing at home against Cincinnati
Milwaukee is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games at home

7:10 PM
OAKLAND vs. HOUSTON
Oakland is 7-15 SU in its last 22 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Oakland's last 6 games on the road
Houston is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games at home
Houston is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing Oakland

7:10 PM
CHI WHITE SOX vs. CLEVELAND
Chi White Sox are 7-15 SU in their last 22 games when playing on the road against Cleveland
Chi White Sox are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games
Cleveland is 1-4 SU in their last 5 games when playing at home against Chi White Sox
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Cleveland's last 10 games

7:10 PM
LA ANGELS vs. MINNESOTA
LA Angels5-0-1 SU in their last 6 games when playing on the road against Minnesota
LA Angels10-1-1 SU in their last 12 games when playing Minnesota
Minnesota is 1-10-1 SU in their last 12 games ,when playing LA Angels
Minnesota is 1-3-1 SU in its last 5 games ,

7:10 PM
PHILADELPHIA vs. ATLANTA
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 7 games
Philadelphia is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
Atlanta is 2-14 SU in its last 16 games at home
Atlanta is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Philadelphia

8:05 PM
SEATTLE vs. TEXAS
Seattle is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Seattle is 11-5 SU in its last 16 games when playing Texas
Texas is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Texas's last 6 games

8:10 PM
SAN DIEGO vs. COLORADO
San Diego is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 7 of San Diego's last 8 games on the road
Colorado is 9-4 SU in its last 13 games when playing at home against San Diego
Colorado is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home

9:10 PM
PITTSBURGH vs. LA DODGERS
Pittsburgh is 5-1 SU in their last 6 games when playing LA Dodgers
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Pittsburgh's last 6 games when playing LA Dodgers
LA Dodgers are 1-5 SU in their last 6 games when playing Pittsburgh
LA Dodgers are 19-5 SU in their last 24 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh

**StarDust Bum** · 09-19-2015, 10:49 AM

MLB
Dunkel

Saturday, September 19

LA Angels @ Minnesota

Game 931-932
September 19, 2015 @ 1:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
LA Angels
(Heaney) 14.713
Minnesota
(Gibson) 16.693
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Minnesota
by 2
9 1/2
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
LA Angels
No Line
N/A
Dunkel Pick:
Minnesota
N/A

San Diego @ Colorado

Game 911-912
September 19, 2015 @ 8:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
San Diego
(Erlin) 15.080
Colorado
(Flande) 13.518
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
San Diego
by 1 1/2
10
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Colorado
-115
11
Dunkel Pick:
San Diego
(-105); Under

Pittsburgh @ LA Dodgers

Game 913-914
September 19, 2015 @ 9:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Pittsburgh
(Liriano) 14.385
LA Dodgers
(Kershaw) 16.658
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
LA Dodgers
by 2
5
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
LA Dodgers
-200
6
Dunkel Pick:
LA Dodgers
(-200); Under

Boston @ Toronto

Game 915-916
September 19, 2015 @ 4:07 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Boston
(Miley) 14.830
Toronto
(Dickey) 18.415
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Toronto
by 3 1/2
8
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Toronto
-185
9
Dunkel Pick:
Toronto
(-185); Under

Baltimore @ Tampa Bay

Game 917-918
September 19, 2015 @ 6:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Baltimore
(Chen) 17.063
Tampa Bay
(Ramirez) 14.249
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Baltimore
by 3
9
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Tampa Bay
-115
7 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Baltimore
(-105); Over

Kansas City @ Detroit

Game 919-920
September 19, 2015 @ 7:08 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Kansas City
(Volquez) 13.615
Detroit
(Boyd) 14.768
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Detroit
by 1
10
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Kansas City
-145
8 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Detroit
(+125); Over

Oakland @ Houston

Game 921-922
September 19, 2015 @ 7:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Oakland
(Gray) 16.245
Houston
(Kazmir) 15.288
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Oakland
by 1
7
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Houston
-140
7 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Oakland
(+120); Under

St. Louis @ Chicago Cubs

Game 901-902
September 19, 2015 @ 1:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
St. Louis
(Wacha) 15.646
Chicago Cubs
(Wood) 13.658
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
St. Louis
by 2
9 1/2
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
St. Louis
No Line
N/A
Dunkel Pick:
St. Louis
N/A

LA Angels @ Minnesota

Game 923-924
September 19, 2015 @ 7:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
LA Angels
(Richards) 16.721
Minnesota
(Pelfrey) 15.268
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
LA Angels
by 1 1/2
7
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Minnesota
-110
8
Dunkel Pick:
LA Angels
(-110); Under

Miami @ Washington

Game 903-904
September 19, 2015 @ 4:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Miami
(Niclino) 14.528
Washington
(Zmmermnn) 17.389
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Washington
by 3
9
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Washington
-200
8
Dunkel Pick:
Washington
(-200); Over

Chicago White Sox @ Cleveland

Game 925-926
September 19, 2015 @ 7:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Chicago White Sox
(Rodon) 16.615
Cleveland
(Carrasco) 12.578
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Chicago White Sox
by 4
9
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Cleveland
-170
7 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Chicago White Sox
(+150); Over

Arizona @ San Francisco

Game 905-906
September 19, 2015 @ 4:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Arizona
(Corbin) 16.153
San Francisco
(Leake) 15.080
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Arizona
by 1
6
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
San Francisco
-140
7 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Arizona
(+120); Under

Seattle @ Texas

Game 927-928
September 19, 2015 @ 8:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Seattle
(Nuno) 16.721
Texas
(Hamels) 13.328
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Seattle
by 3 1/2
8
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Texas
-205
9
Dunkel Pick:
Seattle
(+175); Under

Cincinnati @ Milwaukee

Game 907-908
September 19, 2015 @ 7:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Cincinnati
(Smith) 14.776
Milwaukee
(Jungmnn) 13.256
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Cincinnati
by 1 1/2
8
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Milwaukee
-150
8 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Cincinnati
(+130); Under

NY Yankees @ NY Mets

Game 929-930
September 19, 2015 @ 1:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
NY Yankees
(Pineda) 17.389
NY Mets
(Syndrgrd) 15.775
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
NY Yankees
by 1 1/2
8 1/2
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
NY Mets
-120
7
Dunkel Pick:
NY Yankees
(+100); Over

Philadelphia @ Atlanta

Game 909-910
September 19, 2015 @ 7:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Philadelphia
(Eickhoff) 14.830
Atlanta
(Weber) 13.428
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Philadelphia
by 1 1/2
8
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Atlanta
-125
8 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Philadelphia
(+105); Under

**StarDust Bum** · 09-19-2015, 10:51 AM

Preview: Yankees (80-66) at Mets (84-63)
Game: 2
Venue: Citi Field
Date: September 19, 2015 1:05 PM EDT

New York Mets manager Terry Collins feels the Subway Series is an ideal chance to give his young starters experience ahead of the playoffs.

The New York Yankees are more concerned with getting back into the AL East chase.

Noah Syndergaard gets his first taste of this rivalry as the Mets try to beat the Yankees again Saturday at Citi Field.

With the Mets (84-63) atop the NL East by eight games on second-place Washington with 15 to go, Collins hopes this three-game series helps prepare his team for the pressures of the postseason.

"All of them said the most success they had was when they had to play hard right until the end, when every game meant something," Collins told MLB's official website of a recent meeting with the team's senior members. "Therefore the energy these guys play with was always there. Playing a team like the Yankees hopefully will get us back to where we were."

So far, the plan has worked as the Mets followed back-to-back defeats with a 5-1 win Friday behind rookie Steven Matz's six strong innings in front of the second-largest crowd in Citi Field history (43,602).

Syndergaard (8-6, 3.20 ERA) is looking forward to facing the Yankees (80-66), who lead the AL's wild-card race but trail East-leading Toronto by 4 1/2 games.

"We're both playoff teams, we're both in the race," Syndergaard said. "I'm really excited for (Saturday)."

The rookie right-hander is 7-1 with a 2.15 ERA in 10 home starts, with the Mets winning the last seven as he's gone 5-0.

Syndergaard was dominant on the road in his most recent outing, yielding one run and two hits in seven innings with eight strikeouts last Saturday in Atlanta. His previously scheduled start was skipped in order to preserve him for the playoffs.

Talk of Yoenis Cespedes as NL MVP has calmed with him going 0 for 12 over the past three games after hitting .382 with nine homers and 19 RBIs in the previous 13.

Homers by Daniel Murphy, Lucas Duda and Juan Uribe picked up the slack for Cespedes' 0-for-4 effort Friday.

"Yo has been unbelievable, but in the last couple of weeks you keep looking up and other guys are getting big hits, and (Friday) other guys had big hits," Collins said.

The Yankees, losers of seven of their last 10, may not have Alex Rodriguez in the lineup for a second straight game since they're in an NL park and his last start at third base came April 27.

Brian McCann, though, is expected back after getting a day off.

"I've seen these guys put up runs before," said manager Joe Girardi, whose team is batting .214 in the last 10 games. "I know we don't have Alex. I know we don't have McCann, too, our big boppers. But we had our opportunities."

Girardi hands the ball to Michael Pineda (10-8, 4.25), who has a 5.82 ERA in four starts after missing a month with a strained right forearm.

The right-hander has surrendered eight runs, 12 hits and four walks in 11 1-3 innings over his last two starts without getting a decision. He matched a career high by serving up three homers last Saturday against the Blue Jays.

Pineda beat the Mets on April 24 in his only career start against them, yielding one run with seven strikeouts in 7 2-3 innings in a 6-1 win.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Yankees at Mets
Fri, Sep 18 Final 1 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Yankees at Mets
Sat, Sep 19 - 1:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Yankees at Mets
Sun, Sep 20 - 8:05PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 09-19-2015, 10:54 AM

Preview: Cardinals (92-55) at Cubs (86-61)
Game: 2
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: September 19, 2015 1:05 PM EDT

The Chicago Cubs might not catch St. Louis atop the NL Central, but their recent play against the Cardinals has created an air of confidence and pride that's revived this rivalry.

Though the Cubs won't win the season series for a fifth straight year, they can move closer to the division leaders with a fifth consecutive victory Saturday at Wrigley Field.

In good position to claim at least the second-wild card spot, Chicago (86-61) continued its pursuit of St. Louis with an 8-3 victory Friday to open the teams' final series. The Cubs lost eight of the first 10 matchups against the Cardinals (92-55) while averaging 2.6 runs, compared to 6.4 as they've won five of the last seven.

Starlin Castro went deep twice and had six RBIs for Chicago, which has hit 73 home runs and averaged 5.3 runs while going an NL-best 34-14 since July 29.

"They seem to be swinging the bat against everybody right now," St. Louis right-hander Lance Lynn said of the Cubs, who are six games back of the Cardinals.

Led by first-year manager Joe Maddon, the Cubs won't be intimidated by their longtime rivals.

Two innings after Dan Haren unintentionally plunked St. Louis pinch-hitter Matt Holliday in the head, Anthony Rizzo was hit for the second time when Matt Belisle threw behind him. Rizzo made a move to the mound but was quickly stopped.

"I'm really disappointed in what the Cardinals did right there," Maddon said. "To become this vigilante group that all of a sudden wants to get their own pound of flesh is absolutely insane, ridiculous and wrong. ... Furthermore, we don't start stuff but we will stop stuff.

"I don't know who put out the hit. I don't know if Tony Soprano was in the dugout. I didn't see him in there. We're not going to put up with that from them or anybody else."

Belisle shed no real light on the issue.

"I had to try to pitch in, so what can you do," he said.

The Cardinals had no answer for Castro, who despite no longer being considered an everyday player is batting .417 with four homers and 12 RBIs in his last 11 contests.

"When his name has been called, he's been ready," Maddon said.

Castro is batting .474 with two doubles and two homers against Michael Wacha (16-5, 2.96 ERA). The right-hander is 5-1 with a 2.20 ERA in his last eight starts, but that defeat came Sept. 8 when he surrendered a three-run homer to Castro, a two-run shot to Rizzo and one other run in four innings of an 8-5 defeat.

Wacha is 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in three starts against Chicago this year.

Though St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said Holliday was fine following Friday's contest, it's uncertain if he'll make his first start since returning to action Thursday after missing more than a month with a quad injury.

Holliday is batting .372 with four homers and five doubles against Travis Wood (5-4, 4.11), who makes his second spot start in eight days. The left-hander pitched three scoreless innings at Philadelphia last Saturday and probably won't work any longer in this contest considering he pitched Thursday, throwing two perfect innings to save a 9-6 win at Pittsburgh.

Wood, dropped from the rotation in mid-May, is 2-2 with a 5.18 ERA in eight starts this year. He gave up 10 runs in 7 2-3 innings in his first two games against the Cardinals this year but has since held them scoreless in four innings of relief - all at Wrigley.

Mark Reynolds had a grand slam off Wood in May and has hit .375 against him but is 1 for 18 in his last nine games.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Cardinals at Cubs
Fri, Sep 18 Final 3 to 8
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Cardinals at Cubs
Sat, Sep 19 - 1:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Cardinals at Cubs
Sun, Sep 20 - 2:20PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 09-19-2015, 10:55 AM

Preview: Marlins (64-84) at Nationals (76-71)
Game: 3
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: September 19, 2015 4:05 PM EDT

The setting for a bounce-back Jordan Zimmermann outing is almost perfect, and that's basically what the Washington Nationals will need to be to have any chance at a postseason run in the season's final two weeks.

Zimmermann will try to keep his club's bleak playoff hopes alive against a Miami Marlins team he has owned of late as the NL East foes continue a four-game series Saturday at Nationals Park.

Washington's 5-4, 10-inning victory on Friday was its fifth in sixth games after dropping the opener. Jayson Werth slid home with the winning run to keep the Nationals (76-71) eight games behind the division-leading New York Mets with 15 games remaining.

'We're in a must-win situation,' said Werth, who was hit by a pitch and added a double to tie his career-high streak of consecutive games reaching base at 27. 'We've got to win pretty much every game every night we have a chance.'

Zimmermann (12-8, 3.51 ERA) figures to give Washington a good opportunity Saturday. The right-hander is 3-1 with a 1.88 ERA in his last seven starts in the series.

His only loss in that span came on July 28 when he allowed three runs in six innings of a 4-1 loss in Miami, though he bounced back by holding the Marlins to one run in seven of a 5-1 victory on Aug. 29.

Zimmermann tries to recover yet again, this time from the six runs he surrendered in six innings of an 8-7 win at Philadelphia on Monday. A return home should help as Zimmermann is 7-3 with a 2.47 ERA in 17 starts at Nationals Park this year and 26-8 with a 2.55 ERA there over the last three seasons. That includes a 4-0 mark and 2.22 ERA versus Miami.

Martin Prado is 13 for 29 with three doubles in his career against Zimmermann and 20 for 60 with two home runs against Washington pitchers this season, but he was out of Miami's lineup Friday as a precaution to deal with a wrist injury.

Rookie Justin Nicolino will make his 10th start for the Marlins (64-84), who have won 12 of 17.

Nicolino (3-3, 3.81) has a 3.35 ERA in the last six outings of his second stint with the team, but it still finding his way in the majors. The left-hander carried a 3-1 lead into the sixth inning Monday at New York but surrendered a two-out, two-run home run to Travis d'Arnaud as the Mets went on to win 4-3.

"I wanted that pitch back so bad,' Nicolino said. 'It's just one of those games that you take and keep learning from.'

Miami second baseman Dee Gordon is 3 for 8 so far in this series, extending his hitting streak at Nationals Park to 10 games.

Manager Dan Jennings said All-Star slugger Giancarlo Stanton could take live batting practice on Saturday for the second time this week as he pushes toward a return from a fractured left wrist that has kept him out since late June.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Marlins at Nationals
Thu, Sep 17 Final 6 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Marlins at Nationals
Fri, Sep 18 Final 4 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Marlins at Nationals
Sat, Sep 19 - 4:05PM EDT

GAME 4
Marlins at Nationals
Sun, Sep 20 - 1:35PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 09-19-2015, 10:59 AM

Preview: Diamondbacks (70-77) at Giants (77-70)
Game: 2
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: September 19, 2015 4:05 PM EDT

The San Francisco Giants seemed intent on making things interesting in the playoff race, but a setback in the series opener has put their playoff chances on life support.

Things could get even more difficult for the defending World Series champs on Saturday.

As the Giants try to bounce back with their ninth win in 13 games, left-hander Patrick Corbin hopes to resume his impressive comeback for the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks.

San Francisco (77-70) failed to make the playoffs following world championships in 2010 and 2012, and is very likely to continue that trend after a seven-game skid from Aug. 29-Sept. 4 derailed its bid.

The Giants had won five of the first six on this nine-game homestand before Friday's 2-0 defeat. They're now 8 1/2 games behind the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers and nine back of a wild-card spot with just 15 remaining.

'We can't afford any (more) losses,' said losing pitcher Madison Bumgarner. 'All you can do is try to come back tomorrow and keep working until it's over."

Singles by Matt Duffy and Buster Posey were San Francisco's only hits against Rubby De La Rosa and four relievers. Posey is batting .435 over his last 18 games and .360 in 25 at-bats versus Corbin.

As was expected, Corbin (5-4, 3.29 ERA) had been inconsistent early on after missing all of last season following Tommy John surgery. The 26-year-old, though, has displayed the form that made him an All-Star in 2013 by posting a 1.85 ERA over his past four starts.

Corbin suffered his only defeat in that span Sunday when he allowed two runs over six innings in a 4-3 loss to the Dodgers. He's been on a strict pitch count since returning in July.

"It's just frustrating coming out," Corbin told MLB's official website. "I told (manager Chip Hale) that's the best I've felt, but I understand everything right now and where we are in the season."

After going 0-4 with a 4.79 ERA over his previous six starts versus San Francisco, Corbin worked six scoreless innings in a 6-1 home win Sept. 7. He'll face the Giants for a third time this season, though he hasn't pitched at AT&T Park since September 2013.

Mike Leake will try to end San Francisco's five-game home losing streak versus Arizona (70-77). He opposed Corbin earlier this month at Chase Field and allowed six runs and 11 hits over 5 2-3 innings.

Leake, 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA in his last four starts, pitched better in his last outing Sunday when he yielded three runs over six innings in a 10-3 home win over San Diego. The right-hander also contributed with his second home run of the season.

Leake (10-8, 3.72) has a 5.36 ERA in his eight career starts against the Diamondbacks. A.J. Pollock is 5 for 8 with a home run off him, but Welington Castillo and Paul Goldschmidt have gone a combined 5 for 36 with no homers in the matchup.

Pollock and Goldschmidt teamed for four of Arizona's five hits in the opener. Goldschmidt is batting .414 while hitting safely in all eight games at San Francisco this season.

San Francisco's Brandon Belt might not be available after leaving Friday's game because he had trouble concentrating. On Tuesday, he was kneed in the head while sliding into second base

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Diamondbacks at Giants
Fri, Sep 18 Final 2 to 0
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Diamondbacks at Giants
Sat, Sep 19 - 4:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Diamondbacks at Giants
Sun, Sep 20 - 4:05PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 09-19-2015, 11:00 AM

Preview: Orioles (72-75) at Rays (71-76)
Game: 3
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: September 19, 2015 6:10 PM EDT

The Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays are running out of time for a playoff push.

Mikie Mahtook is giving the Rays a glimmer of hope.

After tying the franchise record for hits, Mahtook will try to continue giving the Rays a lift Saturday night against the Baltimore Orioles.

With 15 games left, Tampa Bay (71-76) is 5 1/2 behind Houston for the AL's second wild-card spot, while Baltimore (72-75) is 4 1/2 back.

Losing 10 of their last 15 has severely damaged the Rays' chances, but they're hoping Friday's 8-6 win over Baltimore could be the start of a turnaround.

Mahtook is providing a spark, hitting .417 in 14 games since being recalled from Triple-A Durham on Sept. 1. He had his best performance yet Friday, going 5 for 5 to become the eighth player - and first rookie - in franchise history with five hits, including a pair of doubles.

He's 8 for 12 in the past three games, giving him a .441 average with nine runs over his last 11 games.

"Obviously you want to focus on the now and what you can do to help the team," Mahtook said. "My goal is to make this team next year out of camp and not ever have to go back to Triple-A. Hopefully my progress and results are helping out now."

Erasmo Ramirez (10-5, 3.75 ERA) is coming off a superb outing, taking a no-hitter into the eighth before he left with two outs in his longest outing of the year. The right-hander didn't allow a run, but the bullpen wasted the effort in a 4-1 loss to the New York Yankees on Monday.

He was 0-1 with a 6.20 ERA over his previous four starts.

"Maybe the difference was about how I attacked the hitters, mix the pitches," Ramirez told MLB's official website. "I just used fastball-changeup the whole time."

Ramirez has a 1.84 ERA in his last seven home starts. He's been backed by two runs or fewer in each of the past six outings there, going 1-1 with a 0.95 ERA in the last three.

He's 1-1 with a 4.42 ERA in three starts against the Orioles this season.

Baltimore turns to Wei-Yin Chen (9-7, 3.44), who's trying to build on his performance from Sunday's 8-2 win over Kansas City. The left-hander yielded two runs in seven innings after surrendering 10 in 9 2-3 of his previous two, losing his only decision - 6-3 to Tampa Bay on Aug. 31.

He was tagged for five runs and nine hits in 4 2-3 innings of that matchup.

"During the past two starts, maybe I was trying too hard, maybe I was kind of overthinking and I couldn't stay calm in the game," Chen said through his interpreter. "So I was just focusing on my pitching, and hoped that I can do better than the previous two starts."

Chen is 1-0 with a 2.91 ERA in his last four starts at Tampa Bay, with the last three ending in Baltimore victories.

This has been a good matchup for James Loney, who is 7 for 21 with a homer and two doubles off Chen. The first baseman had a two-run double Friday and is hitting .455 with four RBIs in his last six games against Baltimore.

The Orioles' Steve Pearce, a Lakeland, Fla. native, hit a pair of homers Friday, giving him seven and 14 RBIs in his last 17 games at Tampa Bay.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Orioles at Rays
Thu, Sep 17 Final 4 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Orioles at Rays
Fri, Sep 18 Final 6 to 8
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Orioles at Rays
Sat, Sep 19 - 6:10PM EDT

GAME 4
Orioles at Rays
Sun, Sep 20 - 1:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 09-19-2015, 11:02 AM

Preview: Royals (86-61) at Tigers (68-78)
Game: 2
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: September 19, 2015 7:08 PM EDT

Although their grip on the AL's top record continues to loosen, the Kansas City Royals can at least take some solace in ace Johnny Cueto's series-opening performance.

Now they're hoping Edinson Volquez can make progress of his own against the Detroit Tigers.

The right-hander will try to end his roller-coaster stretch Saturday night when Kansas City looks to string back-to-back quality starts for only the second time in three weeks.

The Royals have maintained a sense of calm despite dropping 10 of the past 14 games. They may be breathing easier after Cueto allowed two runs over seven innings in Friday's 5-4, 12-inning loss at Comerica Park. He had a 9.57 ERA while losing his previous five starts.

Kansas City has had its lead in the race for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs cut to one game while its starters have recorded consecutive quality starts once since Aug. 28.

The Royals (86-61) hope Volquez (13-8, 3.59 ERA) can regain some consistency after alternating between good and bad over his last eight starts. He was on the rocky side Monday when he gave up four runs over five innings in an 8-3 loss at Cleveland.

"We hear some people getting kind of crazy," Volquez told MLB's official website. "We hear that. But we know what we can do. We're not worried."

After allowing two runs over six innings in a 2-1 loss to Detroit (68-78) on May 2, the team's wins leader has gone 0-1 with a 9.90 ERA in two meetings over the past five weeks. He's making his first start at Comerica Park since September 2007, when he was with Texas.

Anthony Gose is 4 for 7 with a home run and Ian Kinsler is 4 for 9 versus Volquez this season. Victor and J.D. Martinez, though, are combined 1 for 23 lifetime in the matchup.

Kinsler finished with four hits and Miguel Cabrera went 2 for 4 with two RBIs Friday. Dixon Machado delivered a walk-off single after Kansas City's Salvador Perez tied it with a two-out homer in the ninth inning and the Royals had taken a one-run lead in the 12th.

'We fought back and got a great win," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said.

Matt Boyd will try to help last-place Detroit win four straight for the first time since a 6-0 start. He's making his first start in 11 days after his last turn was skipped due to back-to-back rainouts.

The rookie left-hander, acquired from Toronto in the David Price trade, hasn't won in seven outings since beating Kansas City in his Detroit debut Aug. 5. He allowed one run and scattered seven hits over seven innings in that 2-1 home win.

After going 1-1 with a 2.92 ERA in his first two starts against the Royals this season, Boyd (1-5, 8.02) didn't get a decision despite yielding six runs and only recording three outs while opposing Volquez in a 15-7 loss at Kauffman Stadium on Sept. 3.

Lorenzo Cain, 3 for 8 with a home run off Boyd, could return after sitting the past two games with a possible ankle injury. Omar Infante left Friday's game with an oblique strain and Alcides Escobar might be sidelined after getting hit by a pitch in the 10th inning.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Royals at Tigers
Fri, Sep 18 Final 4 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

Royals at Tigers
Sat, Sep 19 - 7:08PM EDT

GAME 3
Royals at Tigers
Sun, Sep 20 - 1:08PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 09-19-2015, 11:04 AM

Preview: White Sox (69-77) at Indians (73-73)
Game: 2
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: September 19, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

With Chris Sale out of the picture and Carlos Carrasco back in it, the Cleveland Indians have a chance to start stringing ever-important wins together.

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After pounding Chicago's ace, the Indians look for Carrasco to continue his climb back from the disabled list as they try to draw closer to a wild-card spot against the White Sox on Saturday night.

Cleveland (73-73) used a Carlos Santana grand slam in a six-run third inning off Sale to win the opener 12-1, but the Indians have traded wins and losses in their last six games. There is barely any wiggle room left as they trail Houston for the AL's second wild card by three games and sit behind two others with 16 to play.

A big boost would be a late surge at the plate from Santana, who hit his first home run since Aug. 23 and 16th of the season to go with 72 RBIs and a .237 batting average.

'We've all waited for that one real hot streak,' said manager Terry Francona, whose team totaled five runs while being swept in four at home against Chicago in July. 'He's always had that. In this last 16 games that would really be something to get him hot.'

Cleveland has a shot at its 16th win in 23 games if Carrasco (13-10, 3.62 ERA) can avoid pitching the way he has against the White Sox and instead do what he did in his second start back from a right shoulder injury on Monday.

After returning with a dismal start against Chicago, Carrasco found his old form in an 8-3 win over Kansas City. He held the Royals to one run in six innings, striking out nine, to pick up his first win since Aug. 21.

But the right-hander is 3-7 with a 6.08 ERA in 12 career starts against the White Sox, including a 1-3 mark and 10.03 ERA in four this season.

Carrasco came back from the DL with his second-shortest outing of the year, allowing four runs in 2 2-3 innings of a 7-4 loss to Chicago on Sept. 8. His only shorter one came against the White Sox on April 14, when he was forced to leave without recording an out after giving up two runs and taking a line drive off the side of his face.

Carlos Rodon (7-6, 3.94) earned the win against Carrasco earlier this month after limiting the Indians to one run in seven innings, improving to 2-0 and lowering his ERA to 1.64 in three starts and a relief appearance against Cleveland in his rookie season.

The White Sox (69-77) skipped Rodon's latest turn in the rotation, giving the left-hander a breather since his 135 2-3 combined innings between the majors and minors are a career high.

"I don't know if he necessarily needed it, but I think with what we have within the rotation, you're able to give him that break," manager Robin Ventura told MLB's official website.

Carrasco was held to 58 and 82 pitches in his first two starts back from the DL, respectively, but will not have a pitch count Saturday.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
White Sox at Indians
Fri, Sep 18 Final 1 to 12
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
White Sox at Indians
Sat, Sep 19 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 3
White Sox at Indians
Sun, Sep 20 - 1:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 09-19-2015, 11:06 AM

Preview: Reds (62-84) at Brewers (62-85)
Game: 2
Venue: Miller Park
Date: September 19, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

The Milwaukee Brewers have dropped into the NL Central basement and are on the verge of matching their longest losing streak of the season.

Handing the ball to rookie Taylor Jungmann against the Cincinnati Reds could solve both issues.

Jungmann looks to dominate the Reds again and win his fifth consecutive home start Saturday night.

Milwaukee (62-85) is on its third losing streak of at least seven games this year, dropping eight straight from April 15-22.

The current skid, which includes hitting .163 with runners in scoring position, has moved the Brewers one-half game behind Cincinnati (62-84) into last place.

Milwaukee went 0 for 11 with runners in scoring position in Friday's 5-3 series-opening loss.

"We got runners on, we just didn't get that next hit," manager Craig Counsell said. "That was the story of the game."

Jungmann (9-6, 3.05 ERA) has been a pleasant surprise in an otherwise very disappointing season for the Brewers, who likely will lose at least 90 games for the first time since 2004.

The right-hander is 5-2 with a 1.50 ERA in eight starts at Miller Park this year, winning four straight behind a 1.07 ERA.

That stretch includes six innings of a 5-0 win over the Reds on Aug. 28. He also beat them at Cincinnati on July 5, yielding one run in eight innings of a 6-1 victory.

Jungmann, however, wasn't that effective in his last two starts - both on the road - giving up 10 runs and three homers in 9 2-3 innings while losing his only decision.

He's held Joey Votto and Todd Frazier to a combined 2 for 11.

Votto will be back in the lineup after serving a one-game suspension for his tirade against umpire Bill Welke on Sept. 9. The slugger is hitting .462 with five homers and 16 RBIs in his last 15 road games, including 6 for 10 with a homer and three RBIs in three at Milwaukee.

He has a .426 average while driving in 13 runs in his last 12 games at Miller Park.

Frazier is batting .345 with two homers, two doubles and seven RBIs in seven games there this year. He had an RBI single and a double Friday.

Offensive support would be welcome with Josh Smith (0-2, 7.36) making his fourth career start and first since he was hit hard by the Brewers.

The 28-year-old rookie right-hander was tagged for five runs and walked three in 4 1-3 innings of a 7-3 loss to them on July 4. He also hit four batters, tying a franchise record set by Jake Weimer in 1907 and marking the most in a single game since Livan Hernandez did it with Washington on July 20, 2005.

Smith's performance earned him a demotion to the minors, but he returned to the Reds last week to make a pair of relief appearances. He served up a two-run homer and retired one batter in a 9-2 loss to St. Louis on Sunday.

This is the first three-game series since 1913 that will have rookies starting every game for both teams. Cincinnati is scheduled to start Anthony DeSclafani opposite Milwaukee's Ariel Pena on Sunday.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Reds at Brewers
Fri, Sep 18 Final 5 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Reds at Brewers
Sat, Sep 19 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Reds at Brewers
Sun, Sep 20 - 2:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 09-19-2015, 11:09 AM

Preview: Angels (74-72) at Twins (75-71)
Game: 3
Venue: Target Field
Date: September 19, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

The Los Angeles Angels are in a stretch of 10 of 13 games against the two teams they're chasing for the AL's second wild card.

They're making good use of the head-to-heads so far.

Los Angeles could earn five victories in the last six such games by sweeping Saturday's day-night doubleheader in Minnesota, while the Twins will try to stop squandering their chances to catch Houston.

The Angels (74-72) opened the series with Thursday's 11-8 victory, winning their fifth in a row at Target Field and moving to 10-1 against the Twins since the start of 2014.

The win also pulled them within a game of Minnesota (75-71). Los Angeles beat Houston in two of three last weekend and heads to Minute Maid Park for three beginning Monday.

'Split doubleheaders are never a favorite for anybody,' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. 'But we'll be ready to go at noon.'

Los Angeles, which is 20-32 with an MLB-low .230 average since July 23, got the kind of offensive night its been starved of for much of the second half.

Mike Trout was 2 for 3 with a grand slam and solo home run, giving him four in five games and a career-high 38. He's one shy of Reggie Jackson (1982) and Vladimir Guerrero (2004) for third on the franchise's single-season list. Troy Glaus, who hit 47 in 2000 and 41 the next year, is the only Angel to reach 40.

"It's September. We got to go now," Trout said. "It's time to go. We've got like (16) games left and every one of them is going to be big. We've got to win them all."

Minnesota has dropped three in a row despite Torii Hunter's continued production. The 40-year-old is batting .405 with 10 RBIs in his last nine games.

"I don't care who you're with, it's no fun to see Trout get five RBIs and two home runs and that offense just took off like that," said Hunter, who homered for the second time in four games. "It's no fun to be on that side."

Trout's been far less to blame for the offensive struggles than Albert Pujols, who was 0 for 4 on Thursday for a third straight game and has hit .152 in his last 18. Among active ballparks, Target Field is the only one where he hasn't hit multiple home runs, and his .594 OPS there is his lowest among the 38 venues he's played in.

Neither big bat has done much against Mike Pelfrey, who's been struggling after a lengthy honeymoon in his return from missing nearly all of 2014.

Pelfrey (6-9, 4.09 ERA) is 1-7 with a 5.51 ERA in his last 16 starts after going 5-2 with a 2.28 ERA in his first 11. He'll oppose Garrett Richards (13-11, 3.81) in the second game after Friday's contest was rained out.

Since Pelfrey's last win Aug. 12, he's 0-2 with a 6.26 mark in five. After consecutive losses, the right-hander kept his team in a 3-2 win at Kansas City on Sept. 9 by limiting the Royals to a run and five hits over 5 1-3 innings.

During a 5-2 road loss July 22, Pelfrey gave up four runs - two earned - and nine hits to fall to 3-2 with a 3.94 ERA in five starts against the Angels. Chris Iannetta homered and is 6 for 13 against him, but Trout is 1 for 7 and Pujols 4 for 17.

Richards has struggled with his control over his last three starts, walking 12 in 18 2-3 innings. He gave up four runs in five innings of Monday's 10-1 loss to Seattle and has a 5.28 ERA over his last five outings.

The right-hander was more efficient against Minnesota on July 23, going eight innings in a 3-0 defeat. Richards has a 2.76 ERA in two starts and one relief appearance against the Twins in his career.

Andrew Heaney (6-3, 3.32) gets the nod in the first game for Los Angeles. He did his part in Sunday's 5-3 home loss to Houston, allowing six hits and keeping the Astros scoreless through five innings, though it was the second straight start in which he stuck the bullpen with four innings of work.

The left-hander has been at his best on the road with a 3-1 record and 2.11 ERA in six starts as opposed to 3-2 with a 4.24 mark at home.

Heaney opposes Kyle Gibson (10-10, 3.71), who is coming off one of his better starts of the season after striking out seven in 7 2-3 innings of Sunday's 7-0 win over the Chicago White Sox.

The right-hander wasn't nearly as good when he faced the Angels on July 21, allowing six runs and 10 hits in five innings of a 7-0 defeat. That dropped Gibson to 0-2 with an 8.10 ERA in four career starts against Los Angeles.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Angels at Twins
Thu, Sep 17 Final 11 to 8

GAME 2
Angels at Twins
Fri, Sep 18 -( RAIN )
Recaps

GAME 3
Angels at Twins
Sat, Sep 19 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 4
Angels at Twins
Sun, Sep 20 - 2:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 09-19-2015, 11:11 AM

Preview: Phillies (56-92) at Braves (58-90)
Game: 2
Venue: Turner Field
Date: September 19, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

Each start holds importance for Jerad Eickhoff's role in the Philadelphia Phillies' future rotation, but the rookie right-hander is trying to keep his mind on this season's final two weeks.

Eickhoff will make his sixth start Saturday night against fellow rookie Ryan Weber as the last-place Phillies try to snap a four-game losing streak against the Atlanta Braves in a matchup of MLB's two worst teams at Turner Field.

Eickhoff (1-3, 3.90 ERA) has lost his last three decisions, but four quality starts since his promotion from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Aug. 21 has the Phillies (56-92) perhaps looking to keep him in the rotation next year.

At the moment, though, Eickhoff is focused on his final three starts in 2015.

"Right now, I'm not really thinking about it or worried about it," he told MLB's official website. "I'm trying to go every five days, or whenever they tell me to throw, and go as long as I can. I think that's all I can do."

Eickhoff is one of four rookies getting a shot in the Phillies' rotation late in the season, and he and Aaron Nola are favorites to crack next year's group. He will try to help Philadelphia win for just the fourth time in 16 games.

Eickhoff won his major league debut but followed with three straight losses, the last of which he allowed six runs in four innings of a 6-2 defeat at Boston. He rebounded his last time out, though, by holding the Chicago Cubs to three hits and one run in seven innings of a 7-5 win last Saturday. Eickhoff struck out eight and walked three.

Philadelphia hopes to wake up an offense that has scored three runs in its last three games and struck out 53 times in the past four. The Phillies stranded 12 runners and left the bases loaded in the ninth inning during Friday's series-opening 2-1 loss.

'We're not getting the big hits we should get,' interim manager Pete Mackanin said. 'The only way we're scoring is home runs and we're not a home-run hitting team.'

Weber (0-1, 4.38) will try to help Atlanta (58-90) string together two wins for the first time since a three-game run Aug. 7-8.

He also had that chance against the Phillies in his first start on Sept. 8, but was a tough-luck loser, allowing two runs and four hits over six innings in a 5-0 defeat.

The right-hander wasn't as sharp against the New York Mets on Sunday, yielding four runs in 6 1-3 innings but left without a decision in a 10-7 loss. Weber retired 11 of 14 from the third inning through the sixth but left two runners on in the seventh that later scored.

"I wanted to pitch against a first-place team, and I proved to myself that I could pitch well against a first-place team," Weber said.

The Braves have won four of the last five against the Phillies, batting .315 and outscoring them 23-11.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Phillies at Braves
Fri, Sep 18 Final 1 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Phillies at Braves
Sat, Sep 19 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Phillies at Braves
Sun, Sep 20 - 1:35PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 09-19-2015, 11:13 AM

Preview: Athletics (64-84) at Astros (77-71)
Game: 2
Venue: Minute Maid Park
Date: September 19, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

The Houston Astros' current slide began with another loss while Scott Kazmir was on the mound.

Losers in his last four starts, the Astros can end that skid by avoiding a sixth consecutive defeat Saturday night against the visiting Oakland Athletics.

Houston (77-71) began the week with a 1 1/2-game lead over Texas in the AL West before Kazmir (7-10, 2.63 ERA) allowed three runs in seven innings Monday while not factoring in the decision of a 5-3 loss to the Rangers. The Astros have lost every day this week and trail the Rangers by 2 1/2 in the division.

They appeared in good shape to end their losing streak Friday, but blew a 3-0 advantage before falling 4-3. The last of Danny Valencia's two homers was a two-run, go-ahead shot in the eighth that helped Oakland (64-84) drop the Astros to 4-12 in September by beating them for the sixth time in seven contests.

'We've picked a rough time to have a stretch where it's been rocky,' said manager A.J. Hinch, whose club holds the second wild-card spot. 'The good news is we do have more baseball to play.'

Kazmir ranks among the major league ERA leaders but is 1-5 with a 4.02 ERA while Houston has dropped seven of his last eight starts. He's received an average of 2.63 runs of support in his 10 starts since coming over from Oakland on July 23.

'You just want to go out there and give your team a chance to win,' he said.

Kazmir gave up a solo homer to Billy Burns and a three-run shot to Mark Canha in six innings of a 4-0 loss Sept. 8 in his first start since the trade. He was opposed by Sonny Gray (13-7, 2.56), who yielded five hits in seven innings to improve to 2-1 with 1.71 ERA in three starts against the Astros in 2015.

"You've got to earn your keep against these guys and find ways to scratch runs across," Hinch told MLB's official website.

Gray, however, is 1-3 with a 4.89 ERA in six starts since that outing. He'll look to bounce back after allowing a season-high seven runs and eight hits over three-plus innings of Monday's 8-7, 14-inning loss to the Chicago White Sox.

"I'm not going to look too much into it," said Gray, who carried a 1.72 road ERA into that contest. "That was tough, but you just keep going."

Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa are a combined 3 for 17 against the right-hander this season. Correa is batting .167 against the A's in 2015, and is hitless in 12 at-bats over the last three meetings.

The Astros won't have cleanup hitter Carlos Gomez, who will miss a seventh consecutive contest with intercostal discomfort.

"I haven't even thought about (swinging) yet," he said. "This is a new injury for me. It is getting better, and we're testing it every day."

Playing with four teams, Valencia is batting .415 with six home runs and 13 RBIs in 16 career games against Houston.

'There are certain teams that you gain some confidence against and swing the bat well against them and you feel good," manager Bob Melvin said.

Valencia is 1 for 5 against Kazmir.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Athletics at Astros
Fri, Sep 18 Final 4 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Athletics at Astros
Sat, Sep 19 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Athletics at Astros
Sun, Sep 20 - 2:10PM EDT

Announcement

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The Bum's Sports Page For Saturday September 19th Best Bets-Trends-News !

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