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**StarDust Bum** · 09-23-2015, 04:27 AM

World Series Matchups

September 22, 2015

There is still plenty to be settled in both the American League and National League with the regular season wrapping up in less than two weeks. The Royals, Cardinals, Mets, and Dodgers are all in line to win their respective divisions, while the Pirates and Cubs will likely grab the two NL Wild Card spots. However, the AL East and AL West races are still up in the air.

The Blue Jays have rallied to take a lead over the Yankees in the AL East, but New York is still in good shape to capture a Wild Card spot if it can't overtake Toronto for the division title. In the AL West, the Astros have let their advantage slip through their fingers as their cross-state rivals currently sit in first place. Texas went from not making the playoffs at the All-Star break to possibly winning the division thanks to a great run and Houston's recent struggles.

Below are the latest World Series matchups as the Dodgers, Royals, Blue Jays, and Mets are the biggest favorites to play in the Fall Classic.

2015 World Series Matchup Odds according to Sportsbook.ag:

Dodgers vs. Royals 15/2
Dodgers vs. Blue Jays 8/1
Mets vs. Blue Jays 8/1
Mets vs. Royals 8/1
Cardinals vs. Blue Jays 9/1
Cardinals vs. Royals 9/1
Dodgers vs. Rangers 12/1
Mets vs. Rangers 13/1
Cardinals vs. Rangers 14/1
Pirates vs. Royals 16/1
Pirates vs. Blue Jays 17/1
Cubs vs. Royals 19/1
Cubs vs. Blue Jays 20/1
Mets vs. Yankees 20/1
Dodgers vs. Yankees 21/1
Cardinals vs. Yankees 25/1
Dodgers vs. Astros 25/1
Mets vs. Astros 25/1
Pirates vs. Rangers 25/1
Cardinals vs. Astros 30/1
Cubs vs. Rangers 30/1
Pirates vs. Yankees 40/1
Cubs vs. Yankees 50/1
Pirates vs. Astros 50/1
Cubs vs. Astros 60/1
Dodgers vs. Angels 65/1
Mets vs. Angels 70/1
Cardinals vs. Angels 75/1
Dodgers vs. Twins 80/1
Mets vs. Twins 90/1
Cardinals vs. Twins 100/1
Pirates vs. Angels 130/1
Pirates vs. Twins 150/1
Cubs vs. Angels 160/1
Dodgers vs. Indians 180/1
Mets vs. Indians 190/1
Cardinals vs. Indians 200/1
Cubs vs. Twins 200/1
Pirates vs. Indians 350/1
Cubs vs. Indians 400/1
Giants vs. Royals 400/1
Giants vs. Blue Jays 450/1
Giants vs. Rangers 600/1
Giants vs. Yankees 1100/1
Giants vs. Astros 1300/1
Giants vs. Angels 3000/1
Giants vs. Twins 4000/1
Giants vs. Indians 9000/1

**StarDust Bum** · 09-23-2015, 12:03 PM

Preview: White Sox (72-79) at Tigers (70-81)
Game: 3
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: September 23, 2015 1:08 PM EDT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
White Sox at Tigers
Mon, Sep 21 Final 3 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
White Sox at Tigers
Tue, Sep 22 Final 1 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
White Sox at Tigers
Wed, Sep 23 - 1:08PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 09-23-2015, 12:05 PM

Preview: Angels (77-74) at Astros (80-72)
Game: 3
Venue: Minute Maid Park
Date: September 23, 2015 2:10 PM EDT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Angels at Astros
Mon, Sep 21 Final 3 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Angels at Astros
Tue, Sep 22 Final 4 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Angels at Astros
Wed, Sep 23 - 2:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 09-23-2015, 12:06 PM

Preview: Yankees (83-67) at Blue Jays (86-65)
Game: 3
Venue: Rogers Centre
Date: September 23, 2015 7:07 PM EDT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Yankees at Blue Jays
Mon, Sep 21 Final 2 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Yankees at Blue Jays
Tue, Sep 22 Final 6 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Yankees at Blue Jays
Wed, Sep 23 - 7:07PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 09-23-2015, 12:09 PM

Preview: Orioles (74-76) at Nationals (78-72)
Game: 3
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: September 23, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Orioles at Nationals
Mon, Sep 21 - 7:05PM EDT ( RAIN )
Recaps

GAME 2
Orioles at Nationals
Tue, Sep 22 Final 4 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Orioles at Nationals
Wed, Sep 23 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 4
Orioles at Nationals
Thu, Sep 24 - 4:05PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 09-23-2015, 12:12 PM

Preview: Rays (73-78) at Red Sox (72-78)
Game: 3
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: September 23, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Rays at Red Sox
Mon, Sep 21 Final 7 to 8
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Rays at Red Sox
Tue, Sep 22 Final 5 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Rays at Red Sox
Wed, Sep 23 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 4
Rays at Red Sox
Thu, Sep 24 - 7:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 09-23-2015, 12:14 PM

Preview: Phillies (57-94) at Marlins (64-87)
Game: 2
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: September 23, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Phillies at Marlins
Tue, Sep 22 Final 6 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Phillies at Marlins
Wed, Sep 23 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Phillies at Marlins
Thu, Sep 24 - 7:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 09-23-2015, 12:16 PM

Preview: Braves (61-91) at Mets (85-66)
Game: 3
Venue: Citi Field
Date: September 23, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Braves at Mets
Mon, Sep 21 Final 0 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Braves at Mets
Tue, Sep 22 Final 6 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Braves at Mets
Wed, Sep 23 - 7:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 09-23-2015, 12:18 PM

Preview: Brewers (63-88) at Cubs (89-62)
Game: 3
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: September 23, 2015 8:05 PM EDT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Brewers at Cubs
Mon, Sep 21 Final 5 to 9
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Brewers at Cubs
Tue, Sep 22 Final 0 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Brewers at Cubs
Wed, Sep 23 - 8:05PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 09-23-2015, 12:20 PM

Preview: Mariners (74-77) at Royals (87-63)
Game: 2
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: September 23, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Mariners at Royals
Tue, Sep 22 Final 11 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Mariners at Royals
Wed, Sep 23 - 8:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Mariners at Royals
Thu, Sep 24 - 8:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 09-23-2015, 12:22 PM

Preview: Indians (74-75) at Twins (77-73)
Game: 2
Venue: Target Field
Date: September 23, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Indians at Twins
Tue, Sep 22 Final 1 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Indians at Twins
Wed, Sep 23 - 8:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Indians at Twins
Thu, Sep 24 - 8:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 09-23-2015, 12:24 PM

Preview: Reds (63-87) at Cardinals (95-56)
Game: 3
Venue: Busch Stadium
Date: September 23, 2015 8:15 PM EDT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Reds at Cardinals
Mon, Sep 21 Final 1 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Reds at Cardinals
Tue, Sep 22 Final 1 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Reds at Cardinals
Wed, Sep 23 - 8:15PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 09-23-2015, 12:26 PM

Preview: Pirates (91-60) at Rockies (63-88)
Game: 3
Venue: Coors Field
Date: September 23, 2015 8:40 PM EDT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Pirates at Rockies
Mon, Sep 21 Final 9 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Pirates at Rockies
Tue, Sep 22 Final 6 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Pirates at Rockies
Wed, Sep 23 - 8:40PM EDT

GAME 4
Pirates at Rockies
Thu, Sep 24 - 3:10PM EDT

**StarDust Bum** · 09-23-2015, 12:27 PM

Preview: Rangers (81-69) at Athletics (64-87)
Game: 2
Venue: O.co Coliseum
Date: September 23, 2015 10:05 PM EDT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Semien is 0 for 10 with four strikeouts against Lewis.

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Rangers at Athletics
Tue, Sep 22 Final 8 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Rangers at Athletics
Wed, Sep 23 - 10:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Rangers at Athletics
Thu, Sep 24 - 3:35PM EDT

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