The Bum's Aug. MLB Best Bets + Pod's !

[StarDust Bum]

Sunday, August 25

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Minnesota - 1:05 PM ET Cleveland -170 500
Cleveland - Under 8.5 500

Milwaukee - 1:10 PM ET Milwaukee +136 500 POD # 7
Cincinnati - Under 8.5 500

Detroit - 1:10 PM ET NY Mets +132 500 POD # 4
NY Mets - Over 7.5 500

Colorado - 1:10 PM ET Colorado -114 500
Miami - Under 7 500

Oakland - 1:35 PM ET Oakland +105 500 POD # 3
Baltimore - Over 8.5 500

Arizona - 1:35 PM ET Arizona -135 500
Philadelphia - Under 7.5 500

NY Yankees - 1:40 PM ET Tampa Bay -150 500
Tampa Bay - Over 7.5 500

Texas - 2:10 PM ET Texas -143 500
Chi. White Sox - Over 8.5 500

Toronto - 2:10 PM ET Houston +129 500 POD # 5
Houston - Over 8.5 500

Washington - 2:10 PM ET Washington +115 500 POD #6
Kansas City - Over 8.5 500

Atlanta - 2:15 PM ET Atlanta +114 500 POD # 1
St. Louis - Under 7.5 500

Pittsburgh - 4:05 PM ET San Francisco +114 500 POD # 2
San Francisco - Under 7.5 500

Chi. Cubs - 4:10 PM ET San Diego -152 500
San Diego - Under 7 500

LA Angels - 4:10 PM ET LA Angels -129 500
Seattle - Over 7.5 500

Boston - 8:05 PM ET Boston -108 500
LA Dodgers - Under 7.5 500

[WThotrod]

Good luck!! Let's make some money, Bum!

[StarDust Bum]

Diamond Trends - Monday

August 26, 2013


SU TREND OF THE DAY:

-- The Rangers are 12-0 since April 24, 2013 as a road favorite vs a divisional foe that is behind them in the divisional standings for a net profit of $1200.

OU TREND OF THE DAY:

-- The Mariners are 9-0 OU since August 17, 2012 at home it is the first game of the series where they are not 200+ favorites, if they scored one or two runs last game for a net profit of $900 when playing the over.

PITCHER TREND OF THE DAY:

-- When Mike Leake starts the Reds are 0-10 since April 16, 2010 on the road if the allowed a run last game, after going at least 6 innings and giving up 6 or fewer hits and they won in his previous start for a net profit of $1088 when playing against.

MLB BIBLE ACTIVE TREND:

-- The Astros are 0-18 (+$1,800) since 2010 following a loss where they scored no more than five runs and led after eight innings.

ACTIVE TRENDS:

-- The Yankees are 0-12 since May 21, 2006 as a dog after an extra inning win for a net profit of $1200 when playing against.

-- The Blue Jays are 0-10 since June 23, 2006 at home after scoring 3 runs or less and winning as a favorite and it is the first game of a series for a net profit of $1312 when playing against.

[StarDust Bum]

Hot & Not - AL Edition

August 26, 2013


September is upon us, and teams from all over the American League are hoping to stay in the postseason race. They aren't the only hot ones though, and we're here today to show you the hottest and the coldest MLB betting teams that the AL has to offer.

Money-Makers

Chicago White Sox (8-1, +$990 in L/9) – Credit to the White Sox for at least fighting their butts off at the end of the year after dismantling their team at the trade deadline. They have won eight out of nine and really seem set to challenge some of the big boys down the stretch.

On Deck: This team is still 21 games under .500 for a reason, and after finishing up with Houston at home, the next 17 games are against Boston, New York, Baltimore, Detroit, and Cleveland. Have fun with that.

New York Yankees (10-4, +$866 in L/14) – The Bronx Bombers have actually played good baseball with A-Rod in the lineup. They've got victories in 10 out of 14, but they’re still having troubles with some of the best teams in baseball.

On Deck: The Yanks are going to have to prove that they can beat the good teams eventually. They have three at Toronto this week followed by seven with Boston and seven with Baltimore between now and September 15th.

Cleveland Indians (8-3, +$511 in L/11) – Manager Terry Francona deserves to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame for the job he has done this year with the Tribe. They're still within striking distance of the playoffs, but they still have a lot of work to do.

On Deck: This is where Cleveland will prove whether it is in it to win it or not. The next six are at Atlanta and Detroit followed by three at home against Baltimore. From there it gets easier, but if a majority of these games are lost, it won't matter at that point.

Money-Burners

Kansas City Royals (1-7, -$827 in L/8) – The Royals aren't out of it, but that seven-game losing streak was surely devastating. Just finishing above .500 right now would be an accomplishment for a team that hasn't really been relevant in quite some time.

On Deck: There's still time, but these next six road games against the Twins and Blue Jays are imperative. In fact, after a one-game makeup with Tampa Bay, the next 10 are all against teams out of the playoff picture; time to make up some ground!

Toronto Blue Jays (1-7, -$650 in L/8) – The Jays are flat out in the tank at this point, and there really aren't many teams that we would bet them against. They too, just lost seven games in a row and only snapped that skid on Sunday.

On Deck: The schedule the rest of the way really is tough for Toronto, too, and losing 95 games isn't out of the question. The club has to play the Yanks and Royals at home this week before a just stupid schedule against Arizona and Minnesota on the road.

Oakland Athletics (1-4, -$430 in L/5) – The A's haven't done all that bad, but they lost a big opportunity this week to make a move on the Rangers. They lost four out of five, kept the Orioles in the race, and they have a lot of ground to cover in these last four weeks of the year if they are going to get into the postseason.

On Deck: It's not getting any easier from here, though. The next 10 games are against Detroit, Tampa Bay, and Texas, all of which are going to be competing for playoff spots as well. The A's have to get at least four or five of these to feel good about where they sit going into the post-Labor Day stretch.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Rays (74-54) at Royals (65-64)
Game: 1
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: August 26, 2013 2:10 PM EDT


Wil Myers was once seemingly a major part of the Kansas City Royals' future. Instead, he's trying to help the Tampa Bay Rays return to the playoffs.

A makeup game at Kauffman Stadium on Monday will give Myers the chance to face the Royals for the first time since a blockbuster offseason deal sent him to Tampa Bay.

Myers was consistently one of the top prospects in the majors after being drafted in the third round by Kansas City in 2009, but the Royals were in desperate need of quality starting pitching after their rotation posted the majors' fifth-highest ERA in 2012.

Kansas City used the outfielder to acquire James Shields and Wade Davis in a seven-player deal in December. Myers has hit .302 since being called up from the minors June 18, but is 5 for 31 (.161) in his last eight games.

The excitement of playing his first major league contest in Kansas City, though, might be just the spark he needs. His last appearance at Kauffman Stadium came at the 2012 Futures Game.

"Now, I'll have a big league game there," Myers told the Rays' official website. "I'm excited to play in Kansas City. I really want to win. That's the biggest thing."

While Myers has cooled off, Evan Longoria has been red hot. He's batting .395 (17 for 43) with six homers, five doubles and nine RBIs in helping the Rays (74-54) win eight of their last 11.

Longoria hit a tying home run in the sixth inning Sunday against the New York Yankees but Tampa Bay couldn't complete a three-game home sweep, losing 3-2 in 11 innings.

Longoria will try to collect some more hits while improving on a 7-for-17 stretch in his last five games against Kansas City (65-64). The Rays, however, are just 1-5 in this season's series and have lost five straight at Kauffman Stadium dating to last season.

Tampa Bay will try to end that poor stretch when it faces Jeremy Guthrie, who is 0-3 with a 6.63 ERA in his last three starts. Guthrie (12-10, 4.27 ERA) has given up a combined 32 hits in 19 innings during that losing streak.

The right-hander allowed five runs and eight hits - including three homers - over seven innings in his only matchup with the Rays this season, a 5-3 loss June 15.

Longoria took Guthrie deep in that game, and is 8 for 19 with two homers and three doubles in their meetings since 2011. Teammate Matt Joyce is 7 for 18 with two homers over that same span and is 14 for 36 (.389) with five homers during a nine-game hit streak versus Kansas City.

Opposing Guthrie will be another struggling right-hander, Jeremy Hellickson (10-7, 5.01). Hellickson is 0-4 with an 8.06 ERA in his last five starts and has made it out of the fifth inning in only one of those outings.

He gave up four runs and a pair of homers over 4 1-3 innings in a 4-2 loss in Baltimore on Wednesday.

Hellickson, 0-3 with a 9.75 ERA in his last three road starts, was tagged for eight runs and 10 hits over 5 2-3 innings in his most recent meeting with Kansas City, a 10-1 loss June 13. He's 0-1 with a 10.13 ERA in two matchups this season.

Hellickson will face a team that's coming off its first win in eight games. The Royals scored two runs in the eighth inning Sunday in a 6-4 win over visiting Washington.

Billy Butler scored one of those runs and is batting .365 in his last 19 games. He's 5 for 6 with a double against Hellickson this season.

"This game never owes you anything. You can't be looking for breaks," Butler said. "You can just play the game hard and hope the ball falls on your side."

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Athletics (72-57) at Tigers (77-53)
Game: 1
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: August 26, 2013 7:08 PM EDT


Miguel Cabrera and the first-place Detroit Tigers have been swinging extremely hot bats of late.

They appear to have another favorable matchup against A.J. Griffin, who hasn't been able to keep the ball in the park.

The Tigers go for a fourth consecutive victory in Monday night's series opener against the slumping Oakland Athletics, who visit Comerica Park for the first time since last year's ALDS.

Detroit (77-53) enters this four-game set having won six of eight, hitting .341 with 11 homers in that span. Cabrera and Andy Dirks both hit two-run shots as the Tigers swept the New York Mets with Sunday's 11-3 road win.

Cabrera - whose 42 homers are four behind Baltimore's Chris Davis as he chases a second straight Triple Crown - leads the majors with 128 RBIs and a .360 batting average after going 3 for 4 on Sunday. Ramon Santiago also had three hits, while Victor Martinez, Prince Fielder, Austin Jackson and Omar Infante each added two.

"It's a lot of fun to watch," winning pitcher Rick Porcello said of Cabrera, who has 10 homers and 28 RBIs in his last 19 games. "You've got to remind yourself not to take what he's done for granted, because he's just that special of a player. ... He's the best hitter on the planet, hands down."

Cabrera may be looking forward to facing Griffin (10-9, 3.84 ERA), who has given up a major league-worst 30 home runs. The right-hander offered up two in Wednesday's 5-3 loss to Seattle, yielding four runs, five hits and four walks in six innings.

"Trying to be more careful, not give into guys as much," Griffin, who has issued 15 free passes in his last three starts spanning 16 2-3 innings, told MLB's official website. "That's where the walks are coming from."

Griffin is 0-1 with a 6.52 ERA in two career starts versus Detroit, including playoffs. Fielder has taken him deep twice in five at_bats, and Cabrera is 3 for 5 with a homer and a double.

Griffin will also need to be careful against Jackson, who has gone 14 for 32 (.438) with two homers, seven RBIs and nine runs during a seven-game hitting streak.

The Tigers, who eliminated the A's in five games last postseason, took two of three in Oakland from April 12-14 in the only meeting since.

Clinging to the second AL wild-card spot, the A's (72-57) have dropped 14 of 23 while hitting .200 with runners in scoring position. Oakland went 1 for 7 in such situations in Sunday's 10-3 loss at Baltimore, its fourth defeat in five games.

"They're a good team, and we're a good team as well, and we just didn't play like we're capable of," losing pitcher Sonny Gray said.

Oakland could have a hard time bouncing back against Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez (11-7, 2.45), who has compiled a 1.51 ERA during a season-high four-game winning streak. The right-hander allowed one run and struck out eight in 6 2-3 innings but didn't factor in the decision of Wednesday's 7-1 victory over Minnesota.

Sanchez has been especially good at home, where he has posted an AL-best .198 opponent batting average and the league's second-lowest ERA (1.92).

Sanchez lost his first two matchups against the A's, including playoffs, before allowing one run and three hits in seven innings in a 10-1 road victory April 14. Josh Reddick is 0 for 9 versus Sanchez, and Chris Young, Jed Lowrie and Brandon Moss are a combined 3 for 32.

Reddick exited Sunday's loss after aggravating his troublesome right wrist, leaving his status for Monday uncertain. The right fielder is mired in a 3-for-23 slump.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Yankees (69-61) at Blue Jays (58-73)
Game: 1
Venue: Rogers Centre
Date: August 26, 2013 7:07 PM EDT


The New York Yankees haven't fared too well on the road of late, but they could get an emotional boost during the final stop on their six-game trip.

The Yankees are expected to get Derek Jeter back for their attempt to extend a 10-game win streak over the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night.

New York (69-61) has lost eight of 12 road games this month and barely avoided a three-game sweep Sunday, getting a sacrifice fly from Curtis Granderson in the 11th inning for a 3-2 win at Tampa Bay.

New York will try to change its fortunes away from home by adding to one of its longest win streaks over Toronto (58-73). The Yankees, 12-1 in this season's series, claimed a series-best 13 in a row over the Blue Jays from 1995-96.

New York might have already matched that streak if not for an 8-4 loss April 21 that denied it a three-game sweep at the Rogers Centre.

Jeter might get to help the Yankees keep beating the Blue Jays in his return from a strained right calf. The team's captain, 10th on the all-time hits list with 3,308, has played just five games in this injury-plagued season.

"He's still going to have to be smart," manager Joe Girardi told the team's website. "We're just going to go day to day and see what I see the night before and make the decision the next day."

Robinson Cano, batting .464 in his last 14 contests, has played a part in the Yankees' success over Toronto by going 10 for 20 with three homers and nine RBIs in his last five matchups. Cano is also hitting .515 (17 for 33) during an eight-game hit streak in Toronto.

Cano and Jeter will try to provide some much-needed support to Phil Hughes (4-12, 4.88 ERA). The right-hander is 0-5 with a 5.63 ERA in his last eight starts but had one of his better performances Tuesday against Toronto.

He allowed two runs over six innings but was in line for the loss until New York rallied for a 3-2 victory. Hughes has received a combined two runs of support in his last four games.

Hughes has allowed two runs over six innings in each of his two starts against the Blue Jays this season but hasn't received a decision in either one. He's gone 0-1 with a 12.46 ERA in his last two games in Toronto, both in 2012.

R.A. Dickey (9-12, 4.49) is 0-2 with a 5.14 ERA in his last three starts against the Yankees, losing both matchups this season. He gave up two runs in the first seven innings versus New York on Wednesday before allowing Soriano's tiebreaking homer in his final frame of a 4-2 loss.

Dickey, who struck out nine in that game, has allowed four runs in each of his last two outings.

In this start, the knuckleballer will try to help Toronto build off ending its season high-tying seven-game skid. The Blue Jays used a bases-loaded walk and a groundout in the ninth inning Sunday for a 2-1 victory to avoid a sweep to lowly Houston.

"Winning the last one here always feels good. It doesn't make things any better where we are at right now, but it was something we needed," manager John Gibbons said.

Jose Reyes is batting .393 in his last eight games against the Yankees and is 5 for 12 (.417) in his four this season. He's has a pair of home runs in his six career at_bats versus Hughes.

Cano has two singles and a double in his last nine at_bats against Dickey.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Reds (74-57) at Cardinals (76-54)
Game: 1
Venue: Busch Stadium
Date: August 26, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


The St. Louis Cardinals are locked in a contentious NL Central race, and they have plenty of matchups with the other two contenders over the next two weeks.

In the first of 13 games against the other top division rivals, the Cardinals will try to take sole possession of first place for the first time this month while topping the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night.

The Cardinals (76-54) haven't been alone in first place since July 29 and could have ended that drought by finishing off a four-game sweep of Atlanta. Instead, they fell 5-2 on Sunday to the NL East leader and remained tied for first with Pittsburgh after the Pirates' 4-0 loss in San Francisco the same day.

"We were looking to get the win and couldn't get it, but it was a really good series for us, winning three games out of four against a tough team," first baseman Allen Craig told the team's website.

In his return to the rotation, Tyler Lyons (2-4, 5.09 ERA) will try to help St. Louis keep at least a share of the division lead and add to a slim 2 1/2-game edge over third-place Cincinnati (74-57).

The rookie left-hander, starting in place of an injured Jake Westbrook, is 0-4 with a 7.66 ERA in his last five major league starts after winning his first two. Lyons gave up four runs over 5 1-3 innings in a 4-2 loss in Cincinnati on June 8.

"(I'm) just sticking with what I was doing down (in the minors) and trying to use that here," he told the team's website.

The Cardinals, however, haven't dropped many games to the Reds lately, winning eight of the 12 matchups this season and 12 of the past 18. They've also won 10 of 14 overall.

The Reds enter this series having won 13 of 19 but dropped two of three to lowly Milwaukee this weekend. They were shut out for eight innings in a 3-1 loss Sunday.

"When we lose a series to any team at this point, we feel it's a missed opportunity," outfielder Jay Bruce, said.

Joey Votto had one of his team's five hits and is batting .410 (16 for 39) during a 12-game hit streak against the Cardinals. He doubled twice off Lyons in the win in June.

Yadier Molina, meanwhile, is batting .400 (14 for 35) during a nine-game hit streak against the Reds and will get to face Mike Leake (11-5, 3.12), who had a miserable outing against St. Louis on Aug. 4.

Leake, 1-1 with a 6.26 ERA in his four starts this month, was tagged for a season-high seven runs over five innings in a 15-2 drubbing. He earned a 10-7 victory over Arizona in his latest outing Wednesday, giving up four runs over six innings.

In his first start in St. Louis, Leake might want to pitch carefully to David Freese, who is 7 for 13 lifetime against the right-hander. Molina has a home run and a double in his last eight at_bats versus Leake while Carlos Beltran is 2 for 18, his worst showing against any active pitcher he's faced at least 18 times.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Phillies (59-71) at Mets (58-70)
Game: 1
Venue: Citi Field
Date: August 26, 2013 7:10 PM EDT


While a fellow up-and-coming starter has taken the Big Apple by storm, rookie Zack Wheeler is starting to garner some well deserved acclaim, too.

Seeking a third straight win, Wheeler takes the mound opposite Cliff Lee as the New York Mets open a four-game set against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night.

After posting a 5.06 ERA in his first three starts, the 23-year-old Wheeler (6-2, 3.49 ERA) has compiled a 5-1 record and a 3.02 ERA in nine outings since the start of July.

"When I first came up, I think I was trying to do a little too much, trying to make guys chase rather than just relying on a good, quality pitch," Wheeler told MLB's official website. "It's starting to work here and I'm trying to continue that."

Still pitching in the shadow of Mets All-Star starter Matt Harvey, Wheeler has gone at least six innings in a season-best three straight starts and has four walks in that span - he averaged 3.1 in his first nine outings.

After striking out a career-high 12 in a 4-1 win at San Diego on Aug. 15, Wheeler allowed three runs in 6 2-3 innings to beat Atlanta 5-3 on Tuesday.

"That's what I like about the days he pitches. He competes," manager Terry Collins said. "... I'm very impressed with the way he went about things. The more he pitches, the better he's going to get."

The right-hander also earned high praise from Braves outfielder Jason Heyward.

"'Wild effective' really fits the description of it," Heyward said. "He's just around the plate enough, and his fastball is electric enough with the movement. It's tough to square up."

Wheeler struggled in his only matchup versus Philadelphia (59-71), yielding two runs and seven hits in a season low-tying 4 2-3 innings in a 5-4 win July 20.

Lee (10-6, 3.16), meanwhile, will again try to snap a season-worst four-game losing streak. He's gone winless in his last six starts while getting a combined eight runs of support.

The All-Star left-hander has a 4.62 ERA in that span but pitched well Wednesday, surrendering two runs in seven innings in a 4-3 walkoff win over Colorado.

He mostly had the Mets' number over his career, going 5-1 with a 2.09 ERA in his first nine starts against them, before getting tagged for five runs in six innings of a 5-0 road loss July 21 in the most recent matchup.

Lee could have an easier time Monday against a Mets team that has been outscored 24-5 during a four-game losing streak. New York (58-70) was swept by Detroit over the weekend, falling 11-3 in Sunday's finale.

The Mets failed to get much going aside from rookie Travis d'Arnaud's first career homer.

"Right now we are not swinging the bats very well," Collins said.

The Phillies have won six of eight after taking two of three from Arizona. Roy Halladay returned from the disabled list to throw six strong innings in Sunday's 9-5 victory, giving Philadelphia its second straight series win and third in 11 tries since the All-Star break.

Darin Ruf has paced the offense of late, going 8 for 25 with three homers and six RBIs over the last five games. His nine homers since Aug. 2 lead the NL.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Astros (43-86) at White Sox (54-75)
Game: 1
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: August 26, 2013 8:10 PM EDT


While Chicago and Houston find themselves at the bottom of their respective divisions, the White Sox's Andre Rienzo and the Astros' Brett Oberholtzer have been rare bright spots since coming up late last month.

Rienzo looks to build on his first career win and Oberholtzer goes for a fourth victory in five tries as the surging White Sox face the visiting Astros on Monday night.

The 25-year-old Rienzo (1-0, 3.56 ERA) has given Chicago (54-75) a lift since getting called up from Triple-A Charlotte on July 30, holding opponents to a .228 average over five starts.

"He has pitched great," first baseman Adam Dunn told MLB's official website. "Everything is quick and he's fun to play behind."

After going without a decision in his first four outings, the right-hander allowed two runs in six innings to beat Kansas City 5-2 on Wednesday.

"Just a good, gutsy job by him," manager Robin Ventura said of the Brazil native. "Any time you see a guy get his first win, it's special."

Rienzo may need to cut down on his walks for his success to continue. He has issued 14 in 30 1-3 innings, walking at least three in four of his outings.

Oberholtzer (3-1, 2.91), meanwhile, has displayed very good control with five walks through 34 innings. The 24-year-old left-hander has gone 3-1 with a 1.69 ERA in four starts since getting called up for the third time July 27.

Oberholtzer gave up three runs in six innings in a 7-5 win over the Los Angeles Angels last Sunday.

"You try to put each other in the best situation possible," he said. "We're very confident out there. We still feel like we can go out there and be successful. It doesn't matter who we're facing."

Oberholtzer will need to be cautious against Dayan Viciedo, who is batting .353 with two homers and 12 RBIs during Chicago's 8-1 run.

The White Sox have 11 home runs in that span - they have the third-fewest in the AL - after Josh Phegley and Jordan Danks both went deep in Sunday's 5-2 victory over Texas.

Danks entered the game to replace Avisail Garcia, who crashed into the fence chasing a homer. The promising 22-year-old outfielder stayed down for a few moments before slowly walking off the field, leaving his status for Monday uncertain.

"It was more probably dehydration," manager Robin Ventura said of Garcia, batting .356 in his last 12 games.

While Ventura's club remains in the AL Central basement despite its hot stretch, the Astros (43-86) are at the bottom of the AL West with the majors' worst record.

Houston was on the verge of sweeping Toronto before Chia-Jen Lo gave up two runs in the ninth inning of Sunday's 2-1 loss.

Jose Altuve is batting .175 in his last 10 games, and Chris Carter is 2 for his last 20 with 14 strikeouts.

Jason Castro, though, is 9 for 17 with three homers over his last six games. He went 5 for 12 with two homers and five RBIs in three games against the White Sox this year, and Houston won three of four in that series June 14-17.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Giants (58-72) at Rockies (61-71)
Game: 1
Venue: Coors Field
Date: August 26, 2013 8:40 PM EDT


The Colorado Rockies are happy to be back at Coors Field, and perhaps happier still to be facing Barry Zito once more.

Following a 10-game East Coast swing, the Rockies return home to host the San Francisco Giants on Monday night.

The Rockies (61-71) are a major league-best 14 games better at home than on the road. They won five of six on their last homestand, averaging 7.0 runs per while batting .325. Since then, they have scored 3.5 per game while batting .251 in their last 10 contests.

Dexter Fowler, a .211 hitter away from Coors Field, is among the major league leaders with a .313 batting average and 43 runs at home.

Nolan Arenado, whose batting average is 45 points higher at home, has proven invaluable for Colorado, playing all but one of its 108 games since being called up in late April. The third baseman started a key double play with the bases loaded and no outs in the fourth inning before notching the go-ahead RBI double in the sixth inning of Colorado's 4-3 victory over Miami on Sunday.

"He had a huge game," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "That's why it's tough to give Nolan a day off ever, you keep running him out there because he does stuff on defense to win you games."

The Rockies hope to further their momentum by again taking advantage Zito (4-9, 5.63 ERA).

He went 8-2 with a 2.47 ERA in his first 21 appearances against Colorado, and pitched seven innings in a 10-0 win April 10, but the Rockies have reached the left-hander for 13 runs and 29 hits in 17 innings over the last three matchups, winning two.

Carlos Gonzalez is 6 for 10 with two doubles and a home run this year versus Zito and a .378 lifetime hitter with two homers in this matchup. Fowler is 4 for 6 against him in 2013, raising his career average to .310 (9 for 29).

Zito has struggled keeping the ball in the park recently. After allowing four home runs in his first 79 innings, he has given up 12 over his last 41. Those issues continued in his return to the rotation Wednesday, yielding a home run and six runs overall in 3 2-3 innings of a 12-1 loss to Boston.

"Some strange stuff happened out there today," Zito said. "The nature of the game is so unpredictable. That's why we all love it and why we all hate it. You never know what you're going to get when you come to the yard."

Zito will be backed by a rejuvenated bullpen, which logged 4 2-3 scoreless innings Saturday and Sunday to give the Giants (58-72) a split of their four-game set versus the Pirates. Ryan Vogelsong helped his relievers' cause by scattering two hits in eight innings of a 4-0 win Sunday.

Pablo Sandoval highlighted a three-run eighth inning with his two-run triple. After going 3 for 37 through the first 10 games in August, he is batting .405 with 11 RBIs in 12 games since.

Sandoval, though, is just 2 for his last 20 at Coors Field and 1 for 9 overall against Rockies starter Juan Nicasio, who will face Zito for the third time this year. He did not get a decision in Colorado's 4-3 loss to Philadelphia on Wednesday, yielding two runs and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings.

Nicasio (7-6, 4.79 ERA) beat Zito 5-0 on May 19 at home after limiting the Giants to three singles and one walk in six innings. Neither got a decision six days later at San Francisco, where Rockies closer Rafael Betancourt allowed a two-run walkoff homer to Angel Pagan in a 6-5, 10-inning defeat.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Padres (59-71) at Diamondbacks (66-63)
Game: 1
Venue: Chase Field
Date: August 26, 2013 9:40 PM EDT


The San Diego Padres' bullpen didn't have a very restful weekend.

The Arizona Diamondbacks' weary relief corps can certainly relate.

Following a 15-inning victory on Sunday afternoon, the Padres head to Phoenix looking to further derail the hopes of the fading and potentially drained Diamondbacks.

The Padres (59-71) put their bullpen to work early on Friday after starter Edinson Volquez couldn't make it out of the first inning. By the time San Diego finally won Sunday's game in the bottom of the 15th on Nick Hundley's single, its relievers had posted a 0.47 ERA over 19 innings against the Cubs.

"Any time you go long like that it adds a little more, it's a special win," Hundley said. "Losing a game like this takes a little bit more out of you, and winning it builds momentum."

The Diamondbacks, who are returning home from a 10-game road trip, know something about exhaustion.

Arizona's bullpen was needed for 12 innings in Saturday's 12-7, 18-inning marathon win over Philadelphia, and in all totaled 40 frames - posting a 2.48 ERA - during its 4-6 trip.

The Diamondbacks lost four of their last five away from Phoenix, and are 9 1/2 games behind NL West-leading Los Angeles and seven behind Cincinnati for the second wild-card spot.

"It was a bad trip,' manager Kirk Gibson said after Sunday's 9-5 loss. "We have a big game (Monday). We have to try to get some rest tonight and play a good game (Monday).'

Gibson will certainly be hoping his bullpen isn't needed as much as it was in Brandon McCarthy's last start. McCarthy (2-8, 5.44 ERA) lasted just 2 1-3 innings Wednesday, yielding seven runs in a 10-7 loss to Cincinnati.

He's 0-4 with a 6.98 ERA in four starts since returning from a two-month stint on the disabled list.

"I felt like I didn't have anything," McCarthy said. "I needed to get deeper and not let it become a train wreck."

McCarthy's last win came against the Padres on May 24, when he held them to one run and five hits in seven innings.

That was a rare win for Arizona in this season series. San Diego has taken eight of 12 from the Diamondbacks, including five of the last six.

The Padres on Monday will turn to the pitcher who delivered their most recent victory against Arizona. Tyson Ross (3-6, 2.85) tossed eight innings of three-hit ball in a 1-0 win at Chase Field on July 28.

Ross is 3-0 with a 0.86 ERA in three road outings since joining the Padres' rotation after the All-Star break, and he hasn't allowed a homer in that stretch as he heads into his second start in Phoenix.

"If anything, I try and stay down in the zone more," Ross told the team's official website of pitching in Arizona. "That's always a key when you're pitching - being down. When you're in those hitter's ballparks, you really try and stay as low as possible. You need to limit hitters getting something elevated to hit."

Much to the relief of manager Bud Black and the San Diego bullpen, the right-hander has gone at least six innings in all six of his second-half starts. His outing Tuesday against Pittsburgh - five runs allowed over 6 1-3 in an 8-1 loss - was his worst of that stretch, however.

The Padres have given Ross a total of six runs in his last five outings, but he's not the only pitcher they're having trouble supporting. San Diego is hitting .155 with runners in scoring position since Aug. 6, with Jedd Gyorko (3 for 21) and Chase Headley (0 for 14, six strikeouts) the primary culprits.

The Padres' 3.19 runs per game in August are the majors' fewest even though their overall batting average (.255) is 15th.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Rangers (75-55) at Mariners (59-70)
Game: 1
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: August 26, 2013 10:10 PM EDT


Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington watched as his club struggled offensively while suffering its first back-to-back losses in nearly a month.

Though hitting has been a season-long problem for the Seattle Mariners, they've done enough to give the AL West leaders fits lately.

The Rangers look to get back on track Monday night in the opener of a three-game road set with struggling Seattle, which has won five of the last seven meetings.

Texas (75-55) averaged 9.0 runs while winning five of six, but it went 1 for 14 with runners in scoring position while dropping the final two of its three-game series with the Chicago White Sox over the weekend.

Jeff Baker's two-run homer was all it could muster in Sunday's 5-2 defeat, and the Rangers will look to bounce back against a Mariners team that took two of three when these clubs met Aug. 16-18.

Texas, which hadn't lost consecutive games since a four-game skid from July 25-28 prior to Sunday, won seven of the first nine matchups this season, but Seattle has gotten the better of the recent meetings.

"More like a pain in my side," said Washington, whose club leads Oakland by 2 1/2 games atop the West. "They've always played us tough. Not just this year, they've always played us tough. It's just one team that plays us tough and they've got pitching to go along with that."

Seattle won the most recent meeting 4-3 as Kyle Seager hit a tiebreaking double in the top of the ninth. He's hitting .409 with four homers and 11 doubles versus Texas.

"You throw balls in the dirt, he hits them," Washington told the team's official website. "You throw them over his head, he hits them. I might have to walk him."

Seager, though, is just 2 for 23 with eight strikeouts over his last six after going 0 for 4 in Sunday's 7-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. The Mariners (59-70) were outscored 14-2 during the three-game sweep, giving manager Eric Wedge a rude welcome back.

"Not a great re-entry for myself here,' Wedge said.

Seattle's .242 team average ranks 13th in the AL, and it will face Rangers starter Travis Blackley on Monday as he makes his second start of the season.

Blackley (1-1, 4.85 ERA), acquired from Houston on Aug. 14, made his first start Tuesday after 42 relief appearances with the Astros. He gave up two runs and three hits in four innings of a 4-2 win over Houston.

The left-hander was called up from Triple-A to replace Alexi Ogando, who is on the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation.

"He did a good job,' Washington said. "He did what he needed to do, keep us in the game.'

Blackley, who began his major league career with Seattle in 2004, has a 1.98 ERA in one start and four relief appearances against his former team, which counters with Joe Saunders.

Saunders (10-12, 4.91) has struggled over the last month, going 1-4 with a 7.42 ERA in six starts while allowing 65 baserunners in 30 1-3 innings. He allowed four runs, 10 hits and three walks in six innings of Seattle's 7-4 win over Oakland on Tuesday.

The left-hander is 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA in four starts against Texas this season, though he gave up two runs - one earned - in 6 2-3 innings of a 9-2 win July 2. He went 0-6 with an 8.91 ERA in his previous seven outings versus the Rangers.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Cubs (55-75) at Dodgers (76-54)
Game: 1
Venue: Dodger Stadium
Date: August 26, 2013 10:10 PM EDT


The Los Angeles Dodgers believe they have one of the best pitching staffs in baseball, and it's difficult to argue with Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw forming an imposing combo at the top of the rotation.

Greinke gets the nod Monday night as he looks to stay hot against the visiting Chicago Cubs, who hope to avoid losing an eighth consecutive meeting.

The Dodgers' 3.14 rotation ERA is the best in baseball, as Greinke (12-3, 2.91 ERA) and Kershaw (major league-best 1.72 ERA) have continued to shine.

Greinke has been stellar during his four-start winning streak, posting a 0.96 ERA. He gave up one run and struck out seven in eight innings of Wednesday's 4-1 win over Miami.

"I've been executing better and I've been throwing harder with a better changeup than at any time in my career," Greinke said.

The right-hander has helped Dodgers starters post a 2.13 ERA over the last eight contests.

"It's by far the deepest starting staff," pitching coach Rick Honeycutt told the team's official website after Greinke's last start. "At the top end, we've never had (this good of a) one-two combo."

Greinke has yet to face the Cubs as a member of the Dodgers, but he gave up two hits and struck out 12 in seven innings of an 8-0 win while pitching for Milwaukee on June 6, 2012.

Kershaw will start Tuesday, and Chicago manager Dale Sveum realizes the challenges his club is facing in this three-game series.

"They're on a roll that baseball hasn't seen in many, many years," Sveum said. "When you have Greinke, Kershaw going two out of five days, you're talking about two guys who can win Cy Youngs in any given year or throw a no-hitter on any given day.

"That's not something you want to think about until you arrive at Dodger Stadium."

Los Angeles (76-54) leads the NL West by 9 1/2 games over Arizona and has won seven straight against the Cubs - including a four-game sweep at Wrigley Field from Aug. 1-4 - but it is coming off an 8-1 loss to Boston on Sunday.

Adrian Gonzalez homered for the Dodgers, who lost the final two of the three-game set to drop their first series since June 14-16 in Pittsburgh.

"You never want to lose two games in a row,' outfielder Carl Crawford said. "We've just got to get back to doing what we do, put these two games behind us real quick and get back to our winning ways.'

Chicago (55-75) has lost five of six after falling 3-2 in 15 innings at San Diego on Sunday. The Cubs took a 2-0 lead in the 13th before allowing the tying runs to score and giving up an RBI single two innings later.

They'll look to end their skid versus the Dodgers with help from Jake Arrieta, who is hoping to rebound from his first tough outing since arriving in Chicago.

Arrieta (1-0, 3.71) gave up six runs and walked four in four innings of Wednesday's 11-6 loss to Washington. He allowed one run in 13 innings over his first two outings after being acquired from Baltimore.

The right-hander faced the Dodgers while with the Orioles on April 21, giving up two hits, five walks and five runs in four innings of a 7-4 loss.

Rookie Yasiel Puig reached base in 10 of his 14 plate appearances against the Cubs earlier this month, including a homer and a double.

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Dunkel

Cincinnati at St. Louis
The Reds look to build on their 8-3 record in Mike Leake's last 11 road starts. Cincinnati is the pick (-110) according to Dunkel, which has the Reds favored by 1. Dunkel Pick: Cincinnati (-110). Here are all of today's picks.

MONDAY, AUGUST 26

Game 951-952: Cincinnati at St. Louis (7:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Cincinnati (Leake) 15.774; St. Louis (Lyons) 14.782
Dunkel Line: Cincinnati by 1; 9
Vegas Line: St. Louis (-110); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Cincinnati (-110); Over

Game 953-954: Philadelphia at NY Mets (7:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia (Lee) 15.837; NY Mets (Wheeler) 14.140
Dunkel Line: Philadelphia by 1 1/2; 6
Vegas Line: Philadelphia (-130); 7
Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (-130); Under

Game 955-956: San Francisco at Colorado (8:40 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: San Francisco (Zito) 14.965; Colorado (Nicasio) 14.408
Dunkel Line: San Francisco by 1/2; 12
Vegas Line: Colorado (-160); 10 1/2
Dunkel Pick: San Francisco (+140); Over

Game 957-958: San Diego at Arizona (9:40 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: San Diego (Ross) 14.019; Arizona (McCarthy) 15.552
Dunkel Line: Arizona by 1 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: Arizona (-140); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Arizona (-140); Under

Game 959-960: Chicago Cubs at LA Dodgers (10:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Cubs (Arrieta) 13.484; LA Dodgers (Greinke) 15.838
Dunkel Line: LA Dodgers by 2 1/2; 6
Vegas Line: LA Dodgers (-260); 7
Dunkel Pick: LA Dodgers (-260); Under

Game 961-962: Oakland at Detroit (7:08 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Oakland (Griffin) 15.995; Detroit (Sanchez) 15.466
Dunkel Line: Oakland by 1/2; 9
Vegas Line: Detroit (-170); 8
Dunkel Pick: Oakland (+150); Over

Game 963-964: NY Yankees at Toronto (7:07 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: NY Yankees (Hughes) 15.301; Toronto (Dickey) 13.925
Dunkel Line: NY Yankees by 1 1/2; 10
Vegas Line: Toronto (-110); 9
Dunkel Pick: NY Yankees (-110); Over

Game 965-966: Houston at Chicago White Sox (8:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Houston (Oberholtzer) 14.674; White Sox (Rienzo) 16.476
Dunkel Line: Chicago White Sox by 2; 8
Vegas Line: Chicago White Sox (-150); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Chicago White Sox (-150); Under

Game 967-968: Texas at Seattle (10:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Texas (Blackley) 15.877; Seattle (Saunders) 13.167
Dunkel Line: Texas by 2 1/2; 7
Vegas Line: Texas (-135); 8
Dunkel Pick: Texas (-135); Under

Game 969-970: Tampa Bay at Kansas City (2:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Tampa Bay (Hellickson) 15.383; Kansas City (Guthrie) 16.342
Dunkel Line: Kansas City by 1; 9
Vegas Line: Tampa Bay (-120); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Kansas City (+100); Over