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

[WThotrod]

6-5 with some of the big dogs barking made it a profitable night! I took home almost a dime. Underdog baseball, BUM!

[StarDust Bum]

Yep Rod and Dog....and that's all that matter a profit......

[StarDust Bum]

Hot & Not - NL Edition

August 20, 2013


There are pretty much two teams doing a ton of damage in the National League right now, but aside from those two, there are others that are hot and not for sure in the ever-changing playoff race. Check out how the MLB betting gods have been treating teams as we head towards the final month of the season.

Money-Makers

Los Angeles Dodgers (42-10, +$3,137 in L/52) – June 22 was the day the season changed for the Dodgers. They were 9 1/2-games back in the NL West, and they are 7 1/2-games up now after going on a wicked tear through the last two months. Yes, they have lost two in a row, but they get a pass and are still considered hot, knowing that they haven't lost two in a row in two months.

On Deck: There's really only three games of note against Boston at home between now and the series in Cincinnati on September 6-8. There's no reason not to think that the Dodgers won't still be on this hot list the next time we look at it in two weeks.

Atlanta Braves (19-3, +$1,469 in L/22) – Almost at any other point in the season, the Braves would be called the hottest team in baseball. Alas, they're only second best at 19-3 in their last 22, not that there is any shame in any of that.

On Deck: The Braves haven't played nearly as well on the road as they have at home, and they have two with the Mets and four with the Cards before coming back to Turner Field for a nine-game home stand to head into September.

Cincinnati Reds (7-2, +$412 in L/9) – It's almost not right to put the Reds in the same breath as the Dodgers and the Braves. Alas, we have to have a third hot team, and Cincinnati fits what would classify as the normally billing for a team to be called hot.

On Deck: The Reds had better win a bunch of these next six at home against the D'Backs and the Brew Crew. Ten of the 13 after that are against either the Cards or the Dodgers.

Money-Burners

Pittsburgh Pirates (3-7, -$573 in L/10) – The Bucs will at least get to .500 this year, but if they don't get out of this rut and get some more runs on the board, they're going to at least make things interesting in terms of the playoffs. Pittsburgh might be a bit complacent, knowing that this is a spot it hasn't been in for 20 years, but the opportunity can't pass without success.

On Deck: These seven games on the West Coast against the Padres and the Giants should be winners, knowing that these two teams flat out stink. However, nothing has been a given of late. Pittsburgh might be in some trouble, knowing that it is just 31-29 on the road this year.

San Diego Padres (4-8, -$480 in L/12) – The offense for the Padres has just gone numb. Over the course of the team's eight losses in question at this point, there have been either one or two runs scored in all but one of them (and that one featured just three runs). San Diego has to get more consistent offensively for sure.

On Deck: The rest of this schedule is just devastating. The Padres have the Pirates and Cubs before going on the road for six against the D'Backs and Dodgers. There's still a 10-game road trip to the East Coast waiting for September as well. It's going to get worse before it gets better.

Chicago Cubs (2-6, -$349 in L/8) – It's a shame to call the Cubs cold. Sure, they're cold. They've traded Matt Garza, Scott Feldman, Alfonso Soriano, and oodles of others, most recently David Dejesus. There's literally few left from the start of the year, especially in terms of veterans.

On Deck: After taking on the Nats for three games, the Cubs have to go to the West Coast for the last time this year. At least when that trip is done with, the team only has road series left in division play for the rest of the campaign.

[StarDust Bum]

Wednesday Matinee Action

August 21, 2013

Braves at Mets - 1:10 PM EST

Probables: A. Wood (2-2, 2.61 ERA) vs. J. Niese (5-6, 4.25 ERA)

Series recap: The Mets held off the Braves, 5-3 last night as $1.40 home underdogs, while the game finished 'over' the total of 7. New York has now won six of the past nine meetings with Atlanta, including three of the past four at Citi Field.

Pitcher notes: Since losing at New York last month as a short favorite, Alex Wood has turned in four consecutive quality starts for the Braves (3-1). Atlanta has drilled the 'under' in each of his last three outings, while Wood faces a Mets' squad that is 0-5 in their last five games against a left-handed starter.

Jon Niese makes his first start at Citi Field since mid-June, as the Mets have won each of his previous two outings as a road underdog at Arizona and San Diego. New York owns a dreadful 1-6 record in Niese's last seven home starts, as the Mets have scored just two runs or less six times in this stretch.

Cardinals at Brewers - 2:10 PM EST

Probables: J. Westbrook (7-8, 4.35 ERA) vs. T. Gorzelanny (3-4, 2.95 ERA)

Series recap: After the Cardinals held off the Brewers in Monday's series opener, Milwaukee rallied back from a 3-0 deficit in Tuesday's 6-3 triumph as home underdogs. The victory by the Brewers was just the first in six tries this season against the Cardinals at Miller Park.

Pitcher notes: The Cardinals haven't been a profitable venture recently with Jake Westbrook on the mound, as St. Louis has dropped his last three starts. Not included in this stretch is the nine earned runs allowed by the right-hander in relief against the Dodgers, boosting his total to 24 earned runs given up in his last four appearances (21.1 innings). St. Louis owns a dreadful 0-5 mark in Westbrook's last five road starts, with four of those defeats coming to division opponents.

Tom Gorzelanny has become a steady part of the Milwaukee rotation since early July, as the Brewers have won three of his last four starts. The 'under' has cashed in three of four outings at Miller Park, as the lone 'over' hit in his previous outing, a 7-6 walk-off victory over the Reds. Gorzelanny's last start against the Cardinals came as a member of the Nationals in 2011, a 5-0 road defeat as a $1.45 underdog.

Mariners at Athletics - 3:35 PM EST

Probables: H. Iwakuma (11-6, 2.95 ERA) vs. A.J. Griffin (10-8, 3.76 ERA)

Series recap: The A's held off the Mariners in Monday's opener, 2-1, while building a 4-0 edge after the first inning on Tuesday night. However, Seattle rallied back to stun Oakland, 7-4 to cash as $1.80 road underdogs. The M's have won three of the last five meetings at O.Co Coliseum.

Pitcher notes: The Mariners have lost three of Hisashi Iwakuma's past four outings, but won his last start at Texas as a heavy underdog, 3-1. Seattle has split four starts by Iwakuma against Oakland this season, while allowing eight earned runs in his last two outings with the A's (0-2).

Following a rough June, A.J. Griffin has rebounded nicely for Oakland as the A's are 8-2 in his last 10 trips to the mound. Since losing a 4-0 decision to Seattle on June 15, the A's own a 5-1 record in Griffin's past six home starts. The A's keep winning in Griffin's daytime starts by cashing in four of his last trips to the mound in matinee action.

Red Sox at Giants - 3:45 PM EST

Probables: F. Doubront (8-6, 3.95 ERA) vs. C. Gaudin (5-2, 3.06 ERA)

Series recap: Boston blanked San Francisco in the opener, 7-0 on Monday, but the Red Sox were tripped up last night, 3-2. The Giants rallied from a 2-0 deficit, while the game-winning run came on a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth inning, helping San Francisco cash as $1.45 home underdogs.

Pitcher notes: Southpaw Felix Doubront is coming off his second-worst start of the season, allowing six earned runs in a 10-3 defeat to the Yankees. Doubront is making just his second road start since the All-Star break, while the Red Sox are 7-2 to the 'under' in his last nine outings overall.

Barry Zito has been moved up one day to take Chad Gaudin's spot in the rotation after Gaudin was placed on the 15-day disabled list. Zito makes his first start since late July after spending most of August in the San Francisco bullpen, as the southpaw last won against Oakland back in May. San Francisco is just 2-8 in Zito's last 10 starts, while his last quality start came against the Marlins in June.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Braves (76-49) at Mets (58-66)
Game: 2
Venue: Citi Field
Date: August 21, 2013 1:10 PM EDT


Jonathon Niese is pitching like an Opening Day starter again.

The New York Mets will look to reward him with his third straight win when they host the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday.

It will mark Niese's first start at home since June 15 because he missed nearly two months with a partially torn left rotator cuff. When he went on the disabled list, Niese (5-6, 4.25 ERA) had three wins in 14 starts.

"We knew that there had to be something wrong, that something wasn't right," Mets manager Terry Collins told the team's official website. "This guy's too good a pitcher."

The left-hander is 2-0 with a 3.75 ERA in two starts since returning. He pitched six innings of one-run ball and struck out a season-high nine in a 5-2 victory over San Diego on Friday.

After allowing leadoff hits in the first and second innings, Niese came back to strike out the next three batters both times. He gave up a hit in every inning, stranding runners on second and third in the fourth and fifth.

"I felt like I was able to locate my pitches where I wanted to early, and then late I kind of got away with a few things," Niese told the Padres' official website.

Niese had a 2.97 ERA in 12 starts against the Braves heading into 2013, but he's allowed 10 runs in 7 1-3 innings in two matchups this season.

Freddie Freeman is 8 for 24 off Niese with two home runs and two doubles, while Jason Heyward is 9 for 22 with two home runs and two doubles of his own.

Like Niese, rookie Alex Wood (2-2, 2.61) is coming off a fine performance. He allowed one run and struck out a career-high nine over 6 1-3 innings as the Braves beat Washington 3-2 in 10 on Friday.

The left-hander now returns to Citi Field, where he allowed four runs and eight hits over 4 1-3 innings while not receiving a decision in a 7-4 loss July 25.

Since that unsuccessful return to the rotation, Wood is 2-0 with a 1.78 ERA in four starts.

He will have to contend with a red-hot Marlon Byrd, who hit a go-ahead home run Tuesday night as the Mets won 5-3 in the opener of this two-game series. Byrd is 15 for his last 39 (.385) with four home runs, four doubles and 10 RBIs.

"I'm just glad I can come out and help the team," Byrd said. "Hit big homers, not just like selfish homers, ninth inning, down by 10. Getting home runs that help the team win."

Catcher Travis d'Arnaud, announced as the team's starter despite John Buck's return from paternity leave, recorded his first career hit - a double in his 11th at-bat.

"It was definitely weighing on me a little bit," d'Arnaud said.

Mets outfielder Eric Young had two stolen bases, setting a career high with 28, and has five over his last five games.

Since winning 14 straight, the Braves (76-49) have scored three runs or fewer six times while going 5-4 in their last nine games.

They could use the services of Justin Upton, the team leader with 23 home runs who hasn't played since going 0 for 6 with five strikeouts Saturday against Washington. He was held out of the lineup Tuesday with stiffness around his neck.

-----------------------------------------------------------

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Braves at Mets
Tue, Aug 20 Final 3 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Braves at Mets
Wed, Aug 21 - 1:10PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Cardinals (72-53) at Brewers (55-71)
Game: 3
Venue: Miller Park
Date: August 21, 2013 2:10 PM EDT


Mike Matheny is giving Jake Westbrook another chance to remain in the St. Louis Cardinals' starting rotation.

In danger of losing five straight starts for the first time in more than eight years, the right-hander tries to put an end to his woes in Wednesday's finale against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.

Westbrook (7-8, 4.35 ERA) is doing all he can to end a stretch in which he's 0-4 with a 10.13 ERA, having allowed 29 hits, walked 15 and struck out 10 in 21 1-3 innings.

"It's always frustrating when you don't give your team a chance to win and do your job, which I haven't been able to do the last couple outings," said Westbrook, who dropped his first five starts in 2005.

He gave up seven runs and walked five Friday in 6 2-3 innings of a 7-0 road loss to the Chicago Cubs, but that was not enough for Matheny to pull him from the rotation.

"I know it's frustrating to him and baffling to us on how to put that all together," Matheny told the Cardinals' official website. "He said, physically, he feels good.

"It's just quality pitches right from the get-go. The guy is such a pro, and he's going through a thousand different things in his mind of what he can do differently."

Westbrook was solid at Milwaukee on May 2 when he allowed a run, six hits and walked three in six innings of a 6-5 victory.

He hopes to help wild-card-leading St. Louis (72-53) get back on track after its three-game winning streak ended with a 6-3 loss at Milwaukee on Tuesday. Rookie Kolten Wong had three hits and Yadier Molina hit a two-run homer, but the Brewers (55-71) scored five times in the fourth to erase a 3-0 deficit.

"I know we have a stretch here where we're playing a lot of teams that are contending for playoff spots,' winning pitcher and ex-Cardinal Kyle Lohse said. "Feels good to kind of hurt teams' chances.'

After going 0 for 5 on Thursday in his return from missing two weeks with a sprained knee, Molina is 10 for 18 with five doubles and two homers to raise his average to an NL-leading .336.

He's batted .417 with two home runs and nine RBIs during a 12-game hitting streak against the Brewers this season.

Wong went 0 for 8 in his first three games since making his much-anticipated major league debut Friday, but is 5 for 10 in the last two.

Teammate Matt Holliday has followed a 12-game hitting streak by going 1 for 19 through the first five of this six-game trip. However, he's 5 for 10 with a homer against Milwaukee starter Tom Gorzelanny (3-4, 2.95).

After he gave up three hits in seven innings of a 10-0 victory at Seattle on Aug. 10, the left-hander allowed five runs and two homers in 4 2-3 innings Friday in a 7-6 win over Cincinnati.

Gorzelanny has a 3.60 ERA in five relief appearances this season against the Cardinals, but has not faced them as a starter since 2011. He's 2-5 with a 4.85 ERA in nine starts versus St. Louis.

Rookie first baseman Sean Halton had two hits with three RBIs on Tuesday for the Brewers, who snapped a five-game home skid to St. Louis.

Halton was 0 for 10 with five strikeouts in his previous eight games.

Milwaukee All-Star Carlos Gomez could miss a sixth straight game with a knee injury.

-----------------------------------------------------------

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Cardinals at Brewers
Mon, Aug 19 Final 8 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Cardinals at Brewers
Tue, Aug 20 Final 3 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Cardinals at Brewers
Wed, Aug 21 - 2:10PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Mariners (58-67) at Athletics (71-54)
Game: 3
Venue: O.co Coliseum
Date: August 21, 2013 3:35 PM EDT


The Seattle Mariners won't be heading to the playoffs without something just short of a miracle, but they're sure making it difficult for the Oakland Athletics to improve their chances of repeating as AL West champions.

Visiting Seattle seeks a seventh victory in the last 10 meetings with Oakland in the finale of a three-game series Wednesday afternoon.

The Mariners (58-67) are trending toward their fourth straight losing season as they sit 14 1/2 games behind first-place Texas in the AL West. They've more than held their own against Oakland, though, going 9-6 and winning each of the last three series.

After dropping Monday's opener on Brandon Moss' ninth-inning homer, Seattle bounced back with a 7-4 victory Tuesday behind a homer and three RBIs from Nick Franklin.

It marked just the third victory in the last 53 times the Mariners had trailed after seven innings, putting together a five-run eighth. Franklin was safe on a close play at the plate in that inning, but he suffered a laceration on his left knee that required stitches.

The injury could keep him out for up to one week.

"I want to say it was five stitches,' acting manager Robby Thompson said. "He had a nice little deep gash in his left knee. He wanted to stay in, just wanted new pants. It was necessary to take care of that right away.'

Oakland (71-54), which closes the season with a three-game series at Seattle, fell 1 1/2 games behind the Rangers for the division lead, but it still holds the league's second wild-card spot.

Josh Donaldson and Nate Freiman each hit first-inning homers Tuesday, but the A's were held scoreless for the final eight frames.

Catcher Derek Norris suffered a fractured left toe on the play that also injured Franklin. Backup Stephen Vogt could get the start as the A's face Seattle's Hisashi Iwakuma, who is coming off another impressive outing.

Iwakuma (11-6, 2.95 ERA) allowed one run and struck out eight in seven innings of Friday's 3-1 win over Texas, and he's given up fewer than three runs in four of his last five starts.

The right-hander pitched well in his first two starts against the A's this season, winning both while allowing three runs over 13 innings. Iwakuma, though, gave up four runs in five innings of a 10-2 loss on June 16 before allowing four runs on three homers over seven frames in a 6-3 defeat five days later.

Yoenis Cespedes homered off him April 2 and again June 21, and the A's slugger is 6 for 15 with three homers and two doubles lifetime against Iwakuma.

Oakland counters with A.J. Griffin, who has struggled with his control lately.

Griffin (10-8, 3.76) walked a career-worst six in Oakland's 6-4 win over Toronto on Aug. 11 before issuing five free passes while giving up one unearned run in five innings of the A's 3-2 victory over Cleveland on Friday.

The right-hander, who threw 104 pitches in his last outing, had walked 10 over his previous nine starts combined.

"The ball was up in the zone at times, which you don't normally see out of him, either," manager Bob Melvin said. "He battled himself. He was a little frustrated the whole game with his command."

Griffin had won each of his three career starts versus Seattle while posting a 2.12 ERA before giving up four runs in six innings of a 4-0 loss June 15.

---------------------------------------------------------

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Mariners at Athletics
Mon, Aug 19 Final 1 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Mariners at Athletics
Tue, Aug 20 Final 7 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Mariners at Athletics
Wed, Aug 21 - 3:35PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Red Sox (74-54) at Giants (56-69)
Game: 3
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: August 21, 2013 3:45 PM EDT


The Boston Red Sox are percentage points out of first place in the AL East.

It wouldn't take much to drop the San Francisco Giants back into the NL West cellar.

Will Middlebrooks looks to continue his hot hitting and help the Red Sox regain sole possession of the division lead in the finale of this three-game series with the Giants on Wednesday.

Boston (74-54) is in a virtual tie with Tampa Bay atop the division, but is percentage points behind having played four more games.

The Red Sox can regain first place with a win Wednesday afternoon, but it may just be temporary since the Rays are facing Baltimore hours later.

Boston has failed to build a cushion in the East, losing eight of 12. Brayan Villarreal walked Marco Scutaro on four pitches with the bases loaded in the ninth inning Tuesday in his team debut as the Red Sox lost 3-2.

``We shouldn't be in that situation,' catcher David Ross said. ``We had a guy that we know who is notorious for taking pitches, we have to throw strike one.'

Middlebrooks had two of his team's seven hits in the defeat and is batting .452 (14 for 31) in 10 games since being recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket.

That's a welcome change after he batted .192 over his first 53 games, earning him a return to the minors in June.

Middlebrooks is a .373 hitter with four homers and 14 RBIs in 18 career interleague games.

Felix Doubront (8-6, 3.95 ERA) will try to help Boston avoid a third straight road series loss as he tries to bounce back from a dismal outing.

The left-hander was roughed up for a season-worst seven runs and eight hits - two homers - in four innings of a 10-3 loss to the Yankees on Friday. That came six days after he gave up three runs with four walks in four-plus innings of a 5-3 win at Kansas City.

"I feel like I was a little bit off with my mechanics, the release point of the ball," Doubront told the team's official website Friday. "My past outing was the same. I have to keep working on that."

Doubront, facing the Giants for the first time, has won his last three interleague starts behind a 2.70 ERA.

San Francisco has won four of six to move one-half game ahead of last-place San Diego in the NL West.

Barry Zito (4-8, 5.34) is scheduled to take the mound with Chad Gaudin going on the disabled list after being diagnosed with Carpal tunnel syndrome.

Zito went 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA over his last four starts before being moved to the bullpen following a 7-3 loss at Philadelphia on July 30.

He struggled in his first two relief outings, giving up five runs in two innings. However, the left-hander rebounded by yielding one run in three innings over his next two appearances, and that's good enough for manager Bruce Bochy.

"He went to the 'pen and I think he earned this," Bochy told the team's official website. "He's a guy who's done a lot for us, if you look at last year. I now it's been an up-and-down year for him, but his stuff, coming out of the 'pen, I think has gotten better."

Zito will face the Red Sox for the first time since a loss in Boston on June 15, 2007.

David Ortiz is 10 for 25 with two homers and three doubles against Zito, while Dustin Pedroia is 4 for 6 with a home run.

-------------------------------------------------------

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Red Sox at Giants
Mon, Aug 19 Final 7 to 0
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Red Sox at Giants
Tue, Aug 20 Final 2 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Red Sox at Giants
Wed, Aug 21 - 3:45PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Pirates (74-51) at Padres (56-70)
Game: 3
Venue: PETCO Park
Date: August 21, 2013 6:40 PM EDT


While the Pittsburgh Pirates continue to monitor Gerrit Cole's innings, the rookie's only focus is trying to help his team maintain first place in the NL Central.

The right-hander can do that by helping the visiting Pirates complete their first sweep of the San Diego Padres in 10 seasons Wednesday.

Since making his major league debut June 11, Cole (6-5, 3.88 ERA) has enjoyed a solid season, but Clint Hurdle and staff are figuring out the best way to preserve him should Pittsburgh (74-51) reach the postseason for the first time since 1992.

Though the team has not set an innings limit for Cole, who turns 23 next month, he's thrown 140 between the minors and majors this season. The 2011 first overall pick threw 132 minor league innings during his first professional season in 2012.

It's likely Cole would pitch out of the bullpen if the Pirates make the playoffs, but the coaching staff could decide to give him some work in that area during the final few weeks of the regular season as well.

"They (pitching coach Ray Searage and Hurdle) are openly communicating with me, letting me know what's going on," Cole told the Pirates' official website. "Doing things to extend my season is fine; I just don't want to be distracted by having to keep track of innings or pitches while I'm on the mound."

Pitching on eight days' rest Friday, Cole allowed two runs in six innings of a 6-2 victory over Arizona to end a three-start stretch where he went 0-2 with a 5.19 ERA.

After the Pirates held San Diego (56-70) to single runs in each of the first two contests, Cole tries to help the club sweep the Padres for the first time since April 29-May 1, 2003.

A.J. Burnett threw seven strong innings and Pittsburgh banged out six extra-base hits during Tuesday's 8-1 win at Petco Park. Pinch-hitter Josh Harrison hit a three-run triple in the seventh after Andrew McCutchen delivered a two-run triple earlier in the frame to help the Pirates win consecutive games after losing seven of nine.

"All our hits were to the big part of the field,' Hurdle said. "Couple balls were pulled to the gap. Everything else, big part of the field, opposite.

"Something we've been talking about, something we've been working on. We were able to put it in play (Tuesday).'

McCutchen is batting .426 with 12 RBIs in his last 17 games, and is 3 for 8 against scheduled San Diego starter Ian Kennedy (4-9, 5.12).

The right-hander suffered his first loss with the Padres on Friday when he allowed five runs, three homers, and walked four while striking out seven in 4 2-3 innings of a 5-2 defeat to the New York Mets.

"I wasn't as sharp as I wanted to be command-wise all night, which explains why there were so many home runs,' said Kennedy, who is 1-1 with a 4.42 ERA in three starts since Arizona traded him to San Diego.

The right-hander is 1-1 with a 3.75 ERA in four starts versus Pittsburgh.

Jedd Gyorko had a fourth-inning homer Tuesday for the Padres, who have scored three runs or fewer 11 times during a 4-10 skid.

The San Diego second baseman is batting .250 in August, but hit six of his 14 home runs and has 11 RBIs in 16 games this month.

----------------------------------------------------------

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Pirates at Padres
Mon, Aug 19 Final 3 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Pirates at Padres
Tue, Aug 20 Final 8 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Pirates at Padres
Wed, Aug 21 - 6:40PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Rays (72-52) at Orioles (67-58)
Game: 3
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: August 21, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


The Tampa Bay Rays were struggling on the road heading into their series with the Baltimore Orioles, but they seem rather comfortable at Camden Yards.

Tampa Bay looks to complete a three-game sweep of the Orioles by winning for the seventh time in eight games Wednesday night.

The Rays had dropped five straight contests away from home - their longest road skid since 2009 - before winning Monday's series opener 4-3 behind a two-run homer from Matt Joyce and a solo shot from Evan Longoria.

Joyce, who had five RBIs in his previous 28 games combined, then drove in three runs as Wil Myers added a pair of RBIs in Tuesday's 7-4 victory to help Tampa Bay (72-52) win for the fifth straight time in Baltimore.

The Rays, who lead the AL wild-card race and are tied with Boston for the East lead, have won six of seven overall following a six-game losing streak.

"It's very big for where we're at in the division and the fact we're chasing the Red Sox a little bit and also trying to create some distance, because we know the O's and the Yankees are very capable and very tough competitors,' said Ben Zobrist, who had two hits and an RBI. "We don't anticipate it being any sort of easy road to the end of September. This is two great wins for us to start off.'

Baltimore (67-58), meanwhile, has lost six of eight and sits 5 1/2 games behind Tampa, which has won seven of the last eight meetings overall. Matt Wieters hit a two-run homer in the ninth Tuesday to pull the Orioles closer, but they couldn't overcome the Rays' four-run top half of the inning.

Wieters is 16 for 48 with five of his 19 homers and 14 RBIs in the season series. He's a career .337 hitter with 15 home runs in 69 games against Tampa Bay.

Teammate Chris Davis singled, walked and was hit by a pitch, but he's just 2 for 22 (.091) in his last six versus the Rays. He hit .483 with four homers, four doubles and 15 RBIs in the first eight meetings this season.

Baltimore will look to get back on track with help from Wei-Yin Chen, who has been solid recently against the Rays.

Chen (6-6, 3.23 ERA), though, has lost three straight starts while posting a 4.66 ERA after allowing four runs in 6 1-3 innings of Friday's 6-3 loss to Colorado. He gave up at least three runs for the fifth consecutive outing despite striking out seven and retiring 12 of the first 13 hitters he faced.

"I feel bad because it's my fault," Chen said. "I couldn't keep the guys in the ballgame. But tomorrow is another day.'

The left-hander is 1-1 with a 1.69 ERA over the last four times he's faced the Rays, though. Chen allowed two runs in 5 2-3 innings before Tampa Bay rallied for an 8-7 win April 3. He opposed Jeremy Hellickson in that contest and will do so again Wednesday.

Hellickson (10-6, 4.91) gave up five runs and eight hits in six innings versus the Orioles in April before allowing a career worst-tying eight runs in 7 2-3 innings of a 12-10 win May 17.

The right-hander's last outing against Baltimore went much better, as he gave up four hits in six innings of an 8-0 victory June 8. Hellickson, though, is 0-3 with an 8.00 ERA over his last four starts after giving up three runs in six innings of Tampa Bay's 5-4 win over Toronto on Friday.

Hellickson is 8-3 with a 3.09 ERA in 14 career starts versus the Orioles, who have lost five of seven at home.

-------------------------------------------------------

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Rays at Orioles
Mon, Aug 19 Final 4 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Rays at Orioles
Tue, Aug 20 Final 7 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Rays at Orioles
Wed, Aug 21 - 7:05PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Twins (55-69) at Tigers (73-52)
Game: 2
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: August 21, 2013 7:08 PM EDT


It's hard to get much attention pitching in the same rotation as Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer, but there's little doubt that Anibal Sanchez is worthy of some more.

Sanchez tries to continue a very impressive run and help the Tigers avoid a fourth loss in six games Wednesday night against the Minnesota Twins.

Verlander already has an MVP, a Cy Young Award and six All-Star appearances on his resume, while Scherzer appears headed for a 20-win season as the leading candidate for this year's Cy Young.

Sanchez, meanwhile, toiled in relative obscurity pitching six-plus seasons for the Marlins before Detroit (73-52) acquired him in July 2012. He performed very well in last year's playoffs and has been a big part of a Tigers rotation that leads the AL with a 3.43 ERA this season.

Since the All-Star break, Sanchez (11-7, 2.50 ERA) boasts a league-best 1.54 ERA in six starts and ranks sixth in the majors in that span. The right-hander is 4-1 in those games, winning four straight decisions and completing at least seven innings in each of his last four appearances.

Pitching at spacious Comerica Park has certainly benefited Sanchez, who is 7-2 with a 1.98 ERA in nine home starts, yielding one home run in 63 2-3 innings.

He's 1-1 with a 1.90 ERA and 29 strikeouts over 23 2-3 innings in four starts this season against the Twins, but lasted only 3 2-3 in the most recent meeting June 15 after walking four and giving up Trevor Plouffe's two-run homer.

Sanchez will try to prevent Minnesota from a second straight win after Justin Morneau homered among his season-high four hits and drove in four runs in Tuesday's 6-3 victory. Pedro Florimon also went deep for the Twins (55-69), who had lost four in a row and six of seven.

Minnesota might end the season without Morneau, who can be traded by the end of the month because he cleared waivers.

"That's just part of baseball in August," he said. "There's nothing I can do about it, and I don't expect anything to happen. But if it does, I'll deal with it. Right now, I'm just playing."

Prince Fielder hit his 20th homer - his third in six games - but Detroit went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position and dropped to 20-10 since the break.

Miguel Cabrera, who has been playing through a series of injuries, was 1 for 5 and struck out as the potential tying run for the game's final out.

"I'm not sure if it was the groin or stomach area," manager Jim Leyland said. "He was in some pain."

Cabrera is batting .231 (6 for 26) with one extra-base hit in his last seven games against Minnesota, but he should be thrilled to see scheduled starter Kevin Correia. Cabrera is 11 for 22 with a home run against the right-hander.

Despite that, Correia (8-9, 4.61) has produced quality starts in all four career appearances against the Tigers, including a two-run, seven-inning outing at Target Field on April 3.

Correia is 3-7 with a 6.10 ERA in 12 road starts but was outstanding in a 5-2 win at Chicago on Aug. 11. He tossed five-hit ball over seven scoreless innings, walked one and matched a season high with seven strikeouts.

He wasn't nearly as sharp Friday at home against the White Sox, yielding five runs and nine hits - two homers - in 7 1-3 innings of a 5-2 loss.

The Twins will be without All-Star Joe Mauer after he was put on the seven-day disabled list Tuesday with concussion-like symptoms.

------------------------------------------------------------

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Twins at Tigers
Tue, Aug 20 Final 6 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Twins at Tigers
Wed, Aug 21 - 7:08PM EDT

GAME 3
Twins at Tigers
Thu, Aug 22 - 1:08PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Blue Jays (57-69) at Yankees (66-59)
Game: 2
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: August 21, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


The New York Yankees are utterly dominating the Toronto Blue Jays, and that's been especially true at home.

Robinson Cano and Ichiro Suzuki have had a major role in that staggering success.

While Cano looks for another big effort at the plate, Suzuki has a chance to reach 4,000 career hits as the Yankees attempt to beat the Blue Jays in the Bronx for the 12th straight time Wednesday night.

New York (66-59) has won 11 of the past 12 meetings with Toronto, including eight in a row. The Yankees have been particularly dominant at home against the Blue Jays, winning 20 of 22 and 11 straight for the longest such streak by either team in the all-time series.

They kept that streak going by sweeping a doubleheader Tuesday, winning 8-4 in the opener before Jayson Nix's walk-off single capped a 3-2 win in the nightcap. He tied the score with a solo homer in the seventh.

Cano was also impressive in the twinbill, getting six hits with a double, a homer and five RBIs as he continued to torment Blue Jays pitching. He's batting .381 with 25 RBIs over the last two seasons against them, including a .459 average while driving in 17 runs over his last 15 matchups.

Suzuki is hitting .366 against Toronto (57-69) since being acquired from Seattle last year. He had a single and a double in Monday's series opener, leaving him one shy of 4,000 combined hits during his careers in Japan and the majors.

The right fielder's 2,721 hits since coming to the majors in 2001 are 374 more than anyone else.

"I didn't have 4,000 hits in my whole career, and you can go back to tee ball," manager Joe Girardi told the team's official website. "To me, it's an unbelievable feat. He's some kind of hitter."

Girardi is giving rookie Adam Warren (1-2, 3.57) his first start of the season in order to get 41-year-old Andy Pettitte an extra day of rest.

Warren's only other start was his lone major league appearance before this year, and it was a disaster. He gave up six runs and eight hits in 2 1-3 innings of a 14-7 loss to the Chicago White Sox on June 29, 2012.

The right-hander didn't take the loss that day but has done so twice in his last eight appearances and has a 5.02 ERA in that span. He last pitched in Saturday's 6-1 defeat at Boston, giving up a run and three hits with three walks in two innings.

Warren has never faced the Blue Jays, who are looking to avoid a fourth straight loss as they turn to R.A. Dickey (9-11, 4.49).

Dickey has allowed seven runs and 12 hits in 14 innings while not getting a decision over his last two starts. He was 1-0 with a 0.66 ERA over his two previous outings - both Jays wins.

The right-hander seemed to be headed for a victory Friday, allowing one run in five innings before giving up three in the next two of a 5-4 loss at Tampa Bay.

Dickey was charged with a 3-2 loss at Yankee Stadium on April 28, giving up three runs and two homers in seven innings. The 27 homers he's served up on the season are a career high and rank among the most in baseball.

Dickey has limited Cano to 3 for 13 in their matchups while Suzuki is 2 for 13. Both are 0 for 3 this year.

---------------------------------------------------------

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Blue Jays at Yankees
Tue, Aug 20 Final 2 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Blue Jays at Yankees
Wed, Aug 21 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Blue Jays at Yankees
Thu, Aug 22 - 1:05PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Indians (68-58) at Angels (55-70)
Game: 3
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Date: August 21, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


Justin Masterson will likely be a big part of any late-season push by the Cleveland Indians.

Coming off a 14-inning victory, the Indians will push Masterson to provide their bullpen with some much-needed rest in this finale against the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday.

Indians relievers have posted a 1.38 ERA over the first eight games of their road trip, including 8 2-3 scoreless innings on Tuesday.

Masterson (13-9, 3.59 ERA) ranks fourth in the major leagues with 175 2-3 innings, including three complete games while going six-plus innings in 23 of his 26 starts.

Masterson has not been of much help during the Indians' current push. After winning three straight games from July 21 through Aug. 1 with an 0.84 ERA, he is 0-2 with a 5.68 ERA over his last three starts.

He has been plagued by poor run support, as Cleveland has scored just three runs over his last three starts. That carried into Oakland on Friday, when Masterson lost after allowing three runs in 7 2-3 innings.

"We just couldn't catch a break when it came down to it," Masterson told the team's official website. "It's a tough one."

That outing was far better than his previous one, when the right-hander gave up five runs in 4 1-3 innings to the Angels (55-70) before the Indians rallied for a 6-5 win Aug. 11.

Josh Hamilton, who had an RBI single in that game, is 9 for 15 lifetime off Masterson with two home runs.

The Indians were held to five hits over the first 13 innings Tuesday before coming up with three in the 14th - including Drew Stubbs' two-run homer - to win 4-1.

"We were grinding all night,' Stubbs said. "Ultimately, pitching and defense wins games. If they don't score, you don't lose.'

Cleveland is second-to-last in the AL with 68 runs in the month of August.

Carlos Santana, who hit just .115 from August 2-17, is 4 for his last 11 and has posted an RBI in three straight games, including his solo home run Tuesday.

Cleveland, 3 1/2 games behind Oakland for the AL's second wild-card spot, will look to spark its offense against a struggling Jerome Williams.

Williams (5-9, 4.90) is 0-7 with a 7.26 ERA in 11 starts since rejoining Los Angeles' rotation.

The Indians (68-58) snapped a six-game losing streak on Aug. 11 with four runs - including homers by Nick Swisher and Mike Aviles - in 5 2-3 innings against Williams.

Williams, who has 15 walks over his last six starts, was wild again Friday, giving up three runs and four free passes in 4 1-3 innings of an 8-2 loss to Houston.

"I don't really feel frustrated at all," Williams said. "Things haven't been going my way, so what can I do? I just have to keep going out there and trying to get people out."

The Angels' difficulties with runners in scoring position reached a new low on Tuesday, as they couldn't score with the bases loaded and no outs in the bottom of the 10th inning and went 1 for 13 overall. They are 28 for their last 137 (.204) with runners in scoring position and left 17 runners on base Tuesday, their highest total since May 19, 2001 - also against Cleveland.

Los Angeles will hope to get a little punch back in its lineup with the potential return of Mike Trout, who has missed the last two games with a tight right hamstring. Trout has reached base in 40 consecutive games and leads Los Angeles with 88 runs and 28 stolen bases.

Fellow outfielder Peter Bourjos has struggled lately, going 0 for 18 since coming back from being on the disabled list with a broken right wrist.

-----------------------------------------------------------

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Indians at Angels
Mon, Aug 19 Final 5 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Indians at Angels
Tue, Aug 20 Final 4 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Indians at Angels
Wed, Aug 21 - 7:05PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Rockies (59-68) at Phillies (55-70)
Game: 3
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: August 21, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


The Philadelphia Phillies have been plagued all season by an inability to push runs across the plate.

Cliff Lee is certainly no stranger to his team's lack of production, be it this year, last season or in his career against the Colorado Rockies.

The left-hander looks to avoid losing a fifth straight decision Wednesday night as the Phillies continue a four-game series against the visiting Rockies.

Lee has a 5.06 ERA over his past five starts, but Philadelphia's lineup hasn't exactly done its part, either. Lee (10-6, 3.19 ERA) has lost four times over that span with the Phillies giving him six runs of support.

Philadelphia (55-70) ranks near the bottom of the majors with 467 runs, and Lee's run-support average of 3.68 is among the lowest in the NL. He pitched well his last time out, allowing three runs and five hits over eight innings of a 4-0 home loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday.

Lee last lost five straight decisions to open the 2012 season, with the Phillies giving him an average of 2.92 runs. His run-support average of 3.20 last year was the fourth-worst in the majors.

Lee has received an average of 1.86 runs of support in three career regular-season starts against Colorado, going 1-1 with a 2.33 ERA.

The Rockies (59-68) counter with Juan Nicasio (7-6, 4.94), who is coming off a solid outing. He was 0-2 with a 6.43 ERA in his previous four starts before allowing two runs in six innings of a 6-3 win at Baltimore on Friday.

The right-hander, though, walked four, raising his total to 12 over his last 20 innings.

Nicasio gave up five runs in 5 2-3 innings while not receiving a decision in his only career start against Philadelphia, an 8-7 loss for Colorado on June 14.

The Rockies won 5-3 on Tuesday night to end a three-game skid. It was their third victory in 15 road games overall and fourth in the last 21 regular-season meetings between these teams in Philadelphia.

Troy Tulowitzki and Wilin Rosario homered, and Michael Cuddyer had two hits to make him 6 for 15 in the last four games. Cuddyer is hitting .306 (11 for 36) with three home runs and four doubles against Lee.

Tulowitzki also homered Monday, and he's batting .407 during a seven-game hitting streak.

"He looks a lot more ease at up there," manager Walt Weiss said. "His timing looks really good."

The Phillies struggled offensively again after opening the series with a 5-4 win Monday. They managed three hits for the third time in five games since Ryne Sandberg took over as manager for the fired Charlie Manuel on Friday.

"There are not too many options," Sandberg said. "All the guys have a chance to be out there."

----------------------------------------------------------

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Rockies at Phillies
Mon, Aug 19 Final 4 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Rockies at Phillies
Tue, Aug 20 Final 5 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Rockies at Phillies
Wed, Aug 21 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 4
Rockies at Phillies
Thu, Aug 22 - 7:05PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Dodgers (73-52) at Marlins (48-76)
Game: 3
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: August 21, 2013 7:10 PM EDT


In a game where the Los Angeles Dodgers' offense piled up 16 hits to halt their very brief skid, it was their star rookie who came up with the biggest one.

Yasiel Puig figures to get a few more chances to do some damage Wednesday.

A night after his tiebreaking pinch-hit homer in the eighth inning, Puig likely will be back in the starting lineup looking to support the red-hot Zack Greinke as the visiting Dodgers continue their four-game set with the Miami Marlins.

Puig has been a lightning rod lately for more than just the spectacular start to his career on the field, drawing criticism for poor throws from the outfield, baserunning mistakes, showing up umpires and a perceived brash attitude.

It was his 5-for-30 slump at the plate, though, that made Don Mattingly decide to give him a day off Tuesday - even before the Cuban outfielder's late arrival to Marlins Park that earned him a fine and a closed-door meeting with his manager.

Puig didn't just get to the ballpark fashionably late. He pinch hit for the second time this season with the score tied at 4 and promptly belted his first homer since Aug. 1, helping Los Angeles (73-52) avoid its first three-game skid since early June with a 6-4 win.

"We're always expecting something great,' Dodgers pitcher Chris Capuano said. "He's just got so much ability. He got a pitch and drove it, and what a spot to do it in. He doesn't seem like he feels too much pressure out there.'

Mattingly admitted he looked at the benching as "a one-day thing," and said Puig was animated as usual in the dugout and didn't sulk about not starting.

"He's not a problem,' Mattingly said. "Just a lot of stuff happens. He's not a guy I think about that much and worry about.'

Though Puig's hit may have been the most significant, he was hardly alone in contributing to the victory. Mattingly was critical of the entire front of the Dodgers' lineup prior to Tuesday's game, then watched as his Nos. 1-6 hitters went a combined 12 for 28.

Los Angeles did leave 12 runners on base as it went 4 for 17 with runners in scoring position, but it might only need a run or two Wednesday if Zack Greinke (11-3, 3.02 ERA) continues his recent dominance. The right-hander hasn't allowed a run in 13 2-3 innings, going 7 1-3 in Friday's 4-0 win at Philadelphia to improve to 5-1 with a 1.45 ERA in his past eight starts.

That's the lowest ERA in baseball since July 8.

Greinke has a 1.01 ERA in his last four road starts after posting a 6.12 ERA in his first six. This will be his first start at Marlins Park, though he was 2-0 with a 3.46 ERA in his two previous visits to Miami.

He'll be opposed by Nathan Eovaldi (2-3, 3.96), who was the centerpiece of the three-player package the Marlins (48-76) received for Hanley Ramirez on July 25, 2012.

The right-hander gave up six runs on three homers - including shots by Ramirez and Andre Ethier - in three innings of an 11-4 loss at Chavez Ravine on Aug. 24, an outing he matched in brevity Friday. Eovaldi was even worse at home against San Francisco, surrendering 11 runs in three innings of a 14-10 loss.

"I think this is the worst I've ever gotten hit,' Eovaldi said. "Hopefully this won't happen a lot.'

For the most part, it hasn't. Fifteen of the 28 earned runs he's allowed have come in two of his outings, and Eovaldi has delivered a quality start in the other nine.

-----------------------------------------------------------

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Dodgers at Marlins
Mon, Aug 19 Final 2 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Dodgers at Marlins
Tue, Aug 20 Final 6 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Dodgers at Marlins
Wed, Aug 21 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 4
Dodgers at Marlins
Thu, Aug 22 - 12:40PM EDT