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

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Tigers (74-53) at Mets (58-67)
Game: 1
Venue: Citi Field
Date: August 23, 2013 7:10 PM EDT


After adding Daisuke Matsuzaka to their injury-plagued rotation, the New York Mets aren't going to waste any time getting him the ball.

Matsuzaka will make his first big league start in almost a year Friday night in the opener of a three-game home set against the first-place Detroit Tigers.

With starters Jenrry Mejia (elbow) and Jeremy Hefner (torn MCL) out for the season, the Mets (58-67) are hoping to get a boost from Matsuzaka. The 32-year-old right-hander will take the mound in place of Carlos Torres, who was originally scheduled to start.

Matsuzaka, who signed a one-year deal Thursday following his release from Cleveland two days earlier, went 5-8 with a 3.92 ERA over 19 starts with the Indians' Triple-A team in Columbus.

Matsuzaka hasn't pitched in the majors since going 1-7 with an 8.28 ERA in 11 starts with Boston last year. While he helped lead the Red Sox to a World Series title during his 2007 rookie season and went 18-3 in 2008, he is 17-21 with a 5.49 ERA in 55 starts since the start of 2009.

Matsuzaka is 4-1 with a 3.19 ERA in six outings against the Tigers, though he hasn't faced them since 2010. Miguel Cabrera is 4 for 9 with a homer off him, and Prince Fielder is 2 for 3 with two doubles.

While Detroit (74-53) outscored opponents 73-21 and hit .314 with runners in scoring position during a 12-game winning streak July 26-Aug. 8, it has since posted a .228 average in such situations during a 6-8 stretch. The Tigers went 7 for 31 with runners in scoring position in dropping two of three to Minnesota, falling 7-6 on Thursday.

Cabrera had hit safely in eight straight games and 18 of his previous 19 before going 0 for 4. He has eight homers and 24 RBIs in his last 17 games.

Detroit will try to bounce back behind Doug Fister (10-6, 3.63 ERA), who is 0-1 with a 4.42 ERA in his last three starts. The right-hander gave up three runs and 10 hits in 6 1-3 innings in a 6-5 walkoff win over Kansas City on Saturday.

Fister now hits the road, where he has gone 1-1 with a 5.70 ERA in his past five outings. He is, however, 3-3 with a 1.74 ERA in his last nine regular-season starts against NL foes.

Fister has never faced the Mets, who are 17-6 in interleague play dating to July 2012. The Tigers have won nine of 10 at home against the NL but are 0-4 in such games on the road.

New York, which has lost six of 10, is coming off a two-game split with Atlanta after falling 4-1 in 10 innings Wednesday. Greg Burke gave up a three-run homer in the 10th on his first pitch since he was recalled from the minors Sunday.

"Baseball's fast sometimes," Burke said. "Stuff happens quick - and it did."

New York has taken eight of 12 from Detroit since 2004, including five of six at home.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Brewers (55-72) at Reds (73-55)
Game: 1
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: August 23, 2013 7:10 PM EDT


Cincinnati's Homer Bailey had routinely struggled against the Milwaukee Brewers until shutting them down last weekend.

The Brewers' Yovani Gallardo regularly frustrates the Reds.

Bailey looks to build on his latest gem while Gallardo tries to extend his scoreless inning streak against the Reds in the opener of a three-game series Friday night at Great American Ball Park.

Bailey (8-10, 3.68 ERA) compiled a 6.94 ERA in his first two August starts and seemed doomed for more problems heading into Sunday's game in Milwaukee. He had a 7.11 ERA in losing his first two starts of the season against the Brewers and was 1-7 with a 6.03 ERA against them in his career.

Bailey, however, had no trouble, yielding a run and three hits in eight innings of a 9-1 victory. The right-hander struck out eight and walked one.

"For some reason this team has usually done pretty well against me," he said. "I never really thought about it, so I just kind of went out there and tried to pitch a little bit.

"Since we have seen these guys so many times, I am starting to get a better feel for them."

His counterpart has seemingly always had a feel of how to pitch to the Reds.

Gallardo (9-9, 4.68) has a 2.49 ERA in his last eight starts in the series and hasn't allowed a run to the Reds in 12 1-3 innings spanning his last two outings.

The right-hander gave up three hits in 6 1-3 innings of Saturday's 2-0 win. It was his first game since July 30 after a stint on the disabled list for a strained hamstring.

"Obviously it has not been the year I wanted to have," said Gallardo, whose ERA is the worst of his career. "But that is in the past. My focus is on finishing the season strong and today was a good step forward."

These teams split last weekend's four-game set at Miller Park, but the Reds have dominated the series in Cincinnati. They're 25-8 in the last 33 meetings there, going 5-1 this season.

Cincinnati improved to a season-high 18 games over .500 with Thursday's 2-1 win over Arizona, its 12 victory in 16 games.

Brandon Phillips had a run-scoring groundout to put the Reds (73-55) up 1-0 in the third inning, but his six-game hitting streak ended. He was 10 for 25 during the run and had two of the hits off Gallardo on Saturday.

Brewers rookie Khris Davis accounted for two of the hits off Bailey on Sunday, including a homer, and he had a career-best three hits Wednesday as Milwaukee (55-72) fell 8-6 to St. Louis for its third loss in four games.

Davis is batting .444 with three home runs and seven runs during an eight-game hitting streak. He went 6 for 11 with a pair of homers last weekend against the Reds.

"He keeps showing he can hang in there. He works the count well, which I really like," manager Ron Roenicke said. "He's an aggressive swinger, but he's not a hacker."

The Brewers expect to have All-Star Carlos Gomez back in the lineup after he sprained his right knee making a leaping catch to rob Phillips of a hit last Thursday. Although he leads the team with 18 homers and 25 doubles, his return might not help Milwaukee much considering he's batting .121 against Cincinnati this year and is 2 for 15 lifetime against Bailey.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto is 2 for 15 with eight walks versus Gallardo since 2011.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Yankees (68-59) at Rays (72-53)
Game: 1
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: August 23, 2013 7:10 PM EDT


Simply focused on trying to beat the New York Yankees, the Tampa Bay Rays won't let the presence of Alex Rodriguez be a distraction during this key weekend series.

The Rays try to prevent the visiting Yankees from matching a season high with their sixth consecutive victory Friday night.

Though Rodriguez won't answer any non-baseball related questions, each city New York (68-59) visits of late naturally brings with it the distraction surrounding the embattled third baseman.

Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon won't feed the fire or tell his pitchers to intentionally throw at Rodriguez like Boston's Ryan Dempster did Sunday.

"Vigilante justice and unilateral decisions, I'm not into that stuff," Maddon told the Rays' official website. "That is totally separate from the unwritten rules of baseball."

Especially considering the Yankees have averaged 5.4 runs and hit 21 homers while batting .290 in 17 games since Rodriguez made his 2013 debut. Curtis Granderson homered and Andy Pettitte threw six strong innings Thursday as New York won for the 11th time in 14 games, 5-3 to sweep four from Toronto.

"We're feeling good about ourselves, and you knew this was going to happen," Pettitte said. "It was just a matter of when, and you hope it's not too late."

The Yankees are 3 1/2 games out of the final wild-card spot in the AL. The Rays (72-53) lead that race and trail first-place Boston by a game in the East. Tampa Bay leads 7-6 in the season series with New York, with each team winning three times at Tropicana Field.

Tampa Bay has won six of eight overall and 18 of 23 at home, but it faces a stiff challenge against New York starter Hiroki Kuroda (11-8, 2.41 ERA).

The right-hander has the lowest ERA in the AL, but he allowed five runs - three earned - and a career-high 11 hits in 5 2-3 innings of a 6-1 loss at Boston on Saturday. The five runs matched the total he yielded while going 4-1 in his previous seven starts.

Kuroda went 2-1 against the Rays last season despite posting a 6.11 ERA.

New York hopes the streaky Alfonso Soriano can break out of his 1-for-19 slump that followed a five-game stretch where he went 15 for 22 with five homers and 18 RBIs.

The Yankees also must try to solve Rays starter Chris Archer (6-5, 2.95), who has given up one run in 15 innings to win both 2013 starts against them. He tossed a two-hitter and won 1-0 in the Bronx on July 27.

"Regardless of the venue or team, I'm trying to go out there and accomplish the same goal every day: Be mindful of every pitch (and keep) my team in the game as long as I possibly can," the right-hander said.

Since that dominant performance, Archer is 0-2 with a 4.79 ERA in four starts. He yielded a run and four hits in seven innings of a 2-1, 10-inning win over Toronto on Sunday.

Tampa Bay rookie Wil Myers is 11 for 31 (.355) with three homers and nine RBIs in seven games against New York this season.

Looking to perhaps boast their roster for the stretch drive, the Rays signed veteran Delmon Young to a minor league deal Thursday. Released by Philadelphia last week, the former No. 1 overall pick of the Rays hit .293 with 16 homers and 103 RBIs in 192 games for them in 2006-07.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Rangers (74-53) at White Sox (52-74)
Game: 1
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: August 23, 2013 8:10 PM EDT


A.J. Pierzynski and Alex Rios are fond of their time with the Chicago White Sox, but each are more than happy to be a part of a playoff race with the Texas Rangers.

They'll make their first visits to U.S. Cellular Field since joining the AL West-leading Rangers, who seek a club record-tying ninth straight road win while looking to snap Chicago's six-game winning streak Friday night.

Pierzynski won a World Series in 2005 in his first season with the White Sox and hit a career-best 27 homers in 2012 before signing a one-year, $7.5 million deal with Texas in the offseason.

"I will be glad to get it over with, especially Friday," Pierzynski told the team's official website. "It will be weird going into the visitor's clubhouse, but I'm looking forward to going to the city. Hopefully we'll go in there and play well."

Rios has made a quick, seamless transition as Texas claimed him off waivers and completed a trade with Chicago on Aug. 9. He arrived less than a week after Nelson Cruz, the team's leader with 27 homers, played his final game of the regular season after receiving a 50-game suspension for the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

The Rangers (74-53), who lead Oakland by 2 1/2 games atop the division, have gone 12-3 without the power-hitting Cruz while taking more of a small-ball approach. Rios has hit safely in nine of his 11 games with Texas, which is averaging 6.3 runs since Cruz's suspension.

"That's how you can become consistent,' manager Ron Washington said. "If guys can just keep going up there, putting the ball in play and finding holes and getting base hits and we can keep going first to third, that's just playing right into the game we want to play anyway.'

Elvis Andrus' ninth-inning sacrifice fly gave the Rangers a 5-4 win over Houston on Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep. They've outscored their opponents 43-18 while winning four of five.

"Missing Nellie obviously hurts, but our lineup's clicking right now,' said Ian Kinsler, who has consecutive multihit games.

The Rangers, whose franchise-record road run was established July 22-Aug. 3, 1977, face a Chicago team riding a season-high win streak of its own. The last-place White Sox (52-74) completed a three-game sweep of Kansas City, winning 4-3 in 12 innings Thursday as Conor Gillaspie hit a tiebreaking homer.

They now turn to Chris Sale to avoid their sixth loss in seven home games.

Sale (9-11, 2.78 ERA) has a 1.93 ERA while winning his last three starts after giving up three runs and striking out eight in seven innings of Saturday's 8-5 win over Minnesota. He went 1-9 over his previous 11 outings despite posting a 3.23 ERA with 94 strikeouts in 78 innings during that stretch.

"He's got a pretty high standard of how good he is,' manager Robin Ventura said. ``You've seen him better than that, but he's been better and lost, too."

Sale, who ranks last in the majors with a 2.94 run-support average, is 3-0 with a 3.48 ERA in three lifetime starts versus the Rangers and allowed two runs in seven innings of a 5-2 win at Texas on May 1.

The left-hander will be opposed by Martin Perez, who has won three straight starts and has a 2.12 ERA over his last four. Perez (6-3, 3.48) outpitched Felix Hernandez on Saturday and allowed three runs in seven innings of a 17-5 victory over Seattle.

"I have to keep working," Perez told the team's official website. "I don't have to change my mentality because we beat the Mariners and Felix Hernandez. I'm learning from every outing."

The lefty has never faced the White Sox, who may be without Paul Konerko after he was scratched from Thursday's lineup due to feeling light-headed.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Nationals (63-64) at Royals (64-62)
Game: 1
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: August 23, 2013 8:10 PM EDT


While a lack of offense has the Kansas City Royals slipping out of contention, things might not get any easier against the resurgent Gio Gonzalez.

Gonzalez looks to keep their bats cold and lead the Washington Nationals to their fourth straight win Friday night in the opener of a three-game series at Kauffman Stadium.

Kansas City's playoff hopes took another hit after Conor Gillaspie homered to lead off the 12th inning to give the White Sox a 4-3 victory Thursday. A five-game losing streak has dropped the Royals (64-62) 9 1/2 games behind Detroit in the AL Central and seven games back of the final wild-card spot.

"They're grown men," manager Ned Yost said. "They've got to pull themselves out of it."

Since averaging 5.0 runs and batting .293 during a 17-3 stretch, Yost's club has scored 2.1 per game and hit .211 while losing eight of 10. Kansas City has also dropped five of seven interleague home games this season, scoring 19 total runs in those contests.

The Royals will try to break out against Gonzalez (7-6, 3.38 ERA), who can help get the Nationals (63-64) back to .500 for the first time since July 19.

Since allowing 10 runs and a career-high 11 hits over 3 1-3 innings in an 11-1 loss at Detroit on July 31, Gonzalez has yielded only four runs in his last three starts covering 18 innings. However, he's lost his only two decisions in that span while receiving three total runs of support.

He struck out nine and gave up two runs over seven innings in a 2-1 loss at Atlanta on Sunday.

Gonzalez is 3-3 with a 6.44 ERA in seven career starts against the Royals, but hasn't faced them since 2011 while with Oakland.

He's done a good job against Billy Butler (3 for 15) and Alex Gordon (1 for 7), though Butler is batting .361 over his last 16 games overall.

Kansas City counters with Bruce Chen (5-1, 2.20), who allowed season highs of six runs and eight hits over 5 1-3 innings in a 6-3 loss at Detroit on Sunday.

Chen, though, has yet to lose this season at Kauffman Stadium with a 3-0 record and 1.96 ERA in 14 appearances. He's limited opponents to one run and 11 hits over 20 2-3 innings in three home starts.

This will be the left-hander's first start against the Nationals in over three years after going 2-2 with a 5.70 ERA in six in the series from 2000-10.

Washington won its third straight with a 5-4, 13-inning victory over the Cubs on Thursday. Ryan Zimmerman had three hits, including a home run, and is 7 for 15 in his last three games. Tyler Moore is 6 for 12 during that same span.

The Nationals have averaged 2.3 runs and batted .176 in interleague road games, but are averaging 5.2 runs and hitting .288 while winning nine of 13 overall.

"We need things firing on all cylinders," outfielder Scott Hairston told the team's official website. "I think we have the talent, pitching and hitting, and once we all put that together, we're a dangerous team."

The Montreal/Washington franchise makes its first trip to Kansas City since taking two of three June 8-10, 2004.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Blue Jays (57-71) at Astros (41-85)
Game: 1
Venue: Minute Maid Park
Date: August 23, 2013 8:10 PM EDT


Although the Toronto Blue Jays have dropped way out of contention, Todd Redmond hopes to continue making the most of his opportunity in the club's rotation.

A matchup with the slumping Houston Astros might help his cause.

The right-hander will try to put together his third straight strong start Friday night when the Blue Jays open a three-game set at Minute Maid Park.

After getting swept four in a row at Yankee Stadium with Thursday's 5-3 defeat, Toronto (57-71) looks to avoid its sixth straight loss on this road trip. The last-place Blue Jays have dropped 14 of 21 this month.

"The sad part is we're in every game, basically all year," manager John Gibbons said.

They'll attempt to end their longest losing streak since a seven-game slide July 14-24 by giving the ball to Redmond (1-1, 3.32 ERA).

Though the 28-year-old has been effective, he is winless in six consecutive starts after receiving only 12 runs of support in that span.

Redmond has allowed one run over 11 1-3 innings in his last two starts. He limited Tampa Bay to one run in six innings Sunday in a 2-1, 10-inning loss.

"I'm staying with my strengths,' Redmond said. "The game is about timing, and right now I've got a good opportunity and I'm trying to take advantage of it.'

Redmond was also sharp the last time he faced Houston on July 28. He struck out a career-high 10 and allowed one run and three hits over six innings before Toronto scored in the ninth for a 2-1 home win.

Brett Wallace homered off Redmond in that contest, but he's 0 for 12 with eight strikeouts in his last four home games.

Wallace isn't the only Astro having a difficult time at Minute Maid Park. Houston has averaged 9.9 strikeouts and is hitting .213 while dropping 17 of 20 there.

After losing three straight in Arlington, the major league-worst Astros (41-85) will try to end a six-game home skid by sending Jordan Lyles (5-6, 5.19) to the mound.

Lyles is coming off his first relief appearance, allowing two runs and two hits over 2 1-3 innings in Sunday's 7-5 road win over the Angels.

The right-hander pitched well in his most recent start, giving up one run over seven innings in a 5-4 victory at Oakland on Aug. 13. He had gone 0-5 with an 8.49 ERA in his previous eight starts.

Pitching at home hasn't been any benefit to Lyles, who is 0-3 with a 10.71 ERA in his past four starts there.

He also had a rough outing July 26 in Toronto, yielding four runs and nine hits over five-plus innings before leaving without a decision in a 12-6 loss.

Jose Reyes had three hits, including a home run, off Lyles in that game. He went 7 for 14 in that series to help the Blue Jays take three of four. Brett Lawrie was 2 for 3 with a homer against Lyles and is batting .388 this month.

All-Star Edwin Encarnacion should be thrilled to see the Astros again after he went 9 for 12 with two home runs, three doubles and eight RBIs in that series.

The Blue Jays make their first trip to Houston since getting swept in a three-game series June 10-12, 2005.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Braves (77-50) at Cardinals (74-53)
Game: 2
Venue: Busch Stadium
Date: August 23, 2013 8:15 PM EDT


Adam Wainwright appears to be back to his elite form for the St. Louis Cardinals, which doesn't bode well for an Atlanta Braves team struggling to score runs.

Wainwright looks to build on one of his best starts and lead the Cardinals to their sixth win in seven games Friday night against the visiting NL East leaders.

Matt Holliday continued his tear at Busch Stadium with two doubles as St. Louis won for only the second time in 10 regular-season meetings with a 6-2 victory in Thursday's series opener. He is batting .458 with four homers and 14 RBIs during a 14-game home hitting streak.

The Cardinals (74-53) remained one game behind Pittsburgh for the NL Central lead.

The Braves (77-50), meanwhile, have a comfortable 14-game bulge atop the East, but have totaled 11 runs and hit .237 while splitting their last four contests.

They might have a difficult time regrouping against Wainwright (14-7, 2.66 ERA), who ranks among the top 10 in the majors in ERA and strikeouts. After going 0-2 with a 4.18 ERA over his previous four starts, the All-Star right-hander fanned 11 while allowing one run and five hits over seven innings in beating the Chicago Cubs 6-1 on Sunday.

"It's as good as he's been all season,' manager Mike Matheny said. "He came out in the first and established all his pitches, had great life. His curveball was as sharp as we've seen it.'

Wainwright, however, has had some trouble with the Braves lately. Since winning his first six starts against them, he's allowed nine runs and 16 hits over 11 1-3 innings while dropping his last two. He struck out eight and gave up four runs over seven innings in a 4-1 loss at Atlanta on July 26.

Jason Heyward homered off Wainwright in that meeting, but he's sidelined at least four weeks after suffering a broken jaw after being hit by a pitch Wednesday.

Teammate Justin Upton belted his 24th home run Thursday after missing three games with a strained upper back. He's hitting .375 with eight homers and 17 RBIs in his last 18 games.

Chris Johnson (.330) is 4 for 11 in this matchup the past two seasons, but went 0 for 3 Thursday to fall behind St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina (.332) in the NL batting race.

Molina is expected to return to the lineup after Matheny rested him Thursday. He's 3 for 7 lifetime against Kris Medlen (10-11, 3.71), who will try to win his fifth straight start.

The right-hander made his first relief appearance Saturday, giving up a go-ahead home run to Adam LaRoche in the 15th inning of an 8-7 loss to Washington. He allowed one run and four hits over his three innings.

"It's a situation I've been in before," Medlen said. "Once you've experienced it before you want to get into the game and be part of it.'

Medlen's winning streak as a starter began July 28, when he limited the Cardinals to two runs in six innings of a 5-2 victory.

This time, he faces a St. Louis team that has averaged 6.2 runs and batted .294 over its last five games.

Carlos Beltran is 9 for 18 with two home runs over his last four games, while Matt Carpenter - who has posted 30 of his NL-leading 49 multihit games at home - is 15 for 29 with six doubles over his last six there.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Braves at Cardinals
Thu, Aug 22 Final 2 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Braves at Cardinals
Fri, Aug 23 - 8:15PM EDT

GAME 3
Braves at Cardinals
Sat, Aug 24 - 7:15PM EDT

GAME 4
Braves at Cardinals
Sun, Aug 25 - 2:15PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Angels (55-71) at Mariners (59-67)
Game: 1
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: August 23, 2013 10:10 PM EDT


The Los Angeles Angels' continued slide has been marked by a lack of offense in the past three games, and Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez looms in their next contest.

Hernandez, though, has struggled in two of his last three starts and has been inconsistent against the Angels in his career, a pair of trends he'll look to end Friday night in Seattle.

The Angels (55-71) dropped their fourth straight Wednesday, 3-1 to Cleveland to give them a 7-19 mark in their last 26. Los Angeles' injury-ravaged lineup managed four runs as the club was swept in three games by the Indians.

The absence of All-Star outfielder Mike Trout for the past three contests due to tightness in his right hamstring certainly hasn't helped, nor has the loss of Albert Pujols for the balance of his disappointing season. Trout is unlikely to return Friday.

"You try to get depth in your lineup and right now we're thin. But the guys are playing hard,' manager Mike Scioscia said. "We've got to keep plugging away. It's the only thing we can do. Some of these guys are trying to get some experience.'

The Angels are 16 games under .500 this late in the season for the first time since 1999, the year before Scioscia became manager.

Along with the problems at the plate, Los Angeles' bullpen has struggled badly of late, posting a 7.50 ERA in the past 10 games.

One of the few recent bright spots has been Josh Hamilton, who despite a tough first season with the Angels is batting .321 with three home runs and nine RBIs in his last 13 contests. He's been even better on the road, posting a .400 average with 14 RBIs during a 10-game hitting streak.

He's had little success against Hernandez (12-6, 2.62 ERA), going 8 for 56 (.143) with 17 strikeouts, though four of the hits were for extra bases. The Seattle right-hander, though, hasn't been his consistently dominant self of late, allowing 11 runs over 10 innings in two of his last three outings.

Hernandez bounced back from a rough start with eight innings of four-hit ball to beat Milwaukee 2-0 on Aug. 11, but he struggled again Saturday, giving up five runs and five walks - his most since 2011 - in five innings of a 15-3 loss to Texas.

While he went eight innings to beat Los Angeles 6-0 on July 13, he's 8-12 with a 3.97 ERA in 33 career matchups and had posted a 6.87 ERA in three starts against the Angels prior to the latest one.

Hernandez will be opposed by Garrett Richards (3-5, 4.24), who entered Saturday's game against Houston with a 2.42 ERA over a four-start stretch. He was then knocked around for five runs and career-worst 12 hits in six innings in a 6-5, 10-inning win. The right-hander allowed five runs in seven-plus innings of a 6-0 road loss to the Mariners on April 25.

Seattle (59-67) has won four of six, scoring 12 runs in the past two games.

"We're playing a lot of playoff teams down the stretch - a lot of teams that are first or second in their division - and I think it's big for us because we get to see how we stack up right next to them," infielder Brad Miller told the team's official website after Wednesday's 5-3 victory over Oakland. "Our goal is the same. We're trying to win games and win series."

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Red Sox (75-54) at Dodgers (75-52)
Game: 1
Venue: Dodger Stadium
Date: August 23, 2013 10:10 PM EDT


Just less than a year after completing one of the biggest trades in baseball history, the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers stand at the top of their respective divisions.

They'll meet Friday night at Dodger Stadium for the first time since that blockbuster deal.

The Red Sox (75-54) hold a one-game edge over Tampa Bay for the AL East lead, while the Dodgers (75-52) have virtually run away with the NL West after building a 9 1/2-game lead over Arizona.

Before Boston finished 69-93 last season - its worst mark since 1965 - it dumped more than $250 million in payroll by sending Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett and Nick Punto to Los Angeles in exchange for James Loney, Rubby De La Rosa, Ivan DeJesus Jr. and Jerry Sands on Aug. 25.

Loney, DeJesus and Sands are no longer with the organization, while De La Rosa's contributions have been minimal. However, the salary relief gave Boston more wiggle room to reach offseason agreements with free agents Shane Victorino, Stephen Drew, Ryan Dempster and Koji Uehara, not to mention the re-signing of David Ortiz to a two-year deal.

Beckett's season is done after neck surgery, but Crawford and Gonzalez have made big contributions for Los Angeles, which is 45-10 since June 22 and 23 games above .500 for the first time since 2009. Crawford's .291 batting average is his best since 2010 with Tampa Bay, while Gonzalez, batting .370 over his last 11 games, leads the team with 16 homers and 77 RBIs.

"This is one of those deals that has helped both sides, clearly," Boston manager John Farrell told the team's official website.

Both also have been among baseball's best in interleague play this year, with Boston going 11-4 and Los Angeles going 11-6.

"The better teams continue to force you to be better," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly told the club's website. "I look forward to it a little bit."

The Dodgers' surge has been bolstered by strong pitching, particularly during a 10-2 stretch with starters posting a 1.86 ERA.

Following Clayton Kershaw's strong eight innings in a 6-0 win at Miami on Thursday, Ricky Nolasco (9-9, 3.60 ERA) takes the mound for Los Angeles. He's 4-1 with a 2.98 ERA in eight starts since being acquired from the Marlins, including 3-0 in six outings since the All-Star break.

Nolasco struggled the last time he saw the Red Sox, surrendering nine runs and nine hits in 3 1-3 innings of a 15-5 loss June 20, 2012.

He'll try to cool off Will Middlebrooks, who homered in a 12-1 Boston win at San Francisco on Wednesday and is batting .441 with seven RBIs in 11 games since being recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket.

Ortiz exited in the fifth inning with lower back tightness but is expected to play Friday, according to the team's official site.

John Lackey (8-10, 3.22) gets the ball for Boston after ending a five-start winless streak Saturday when he gave up one run over 6 2-3 innings in a 6-1 victory over the New York Yankees. His 15 quality starts lead Boston, but he's received no runs of support five times and three or fewer on eight other occasions.

Lackey is 5-2 with a 1.89 ERA in nine starts against the Dodgers - all while with the Angels - but hasn't faced them since a 2009 defeat.

Boston is batting .318 and averaging 5.9 runs in interleague play - both the best marks in the majors - and the top two AL batting averages in interleague play this year belong to Victorino (.455) and Jacoby Ellsbury (.438). Victorino, 11 for 22 over his last five games overall, is slugging .750 in 11 contests against the NL, while Ellsbury has scored 16 runs in 15 interleague games.

Crawford has hit .467 (21 for 45) off Lackey - tops among players with at least 30 at_bats against him - while Gonzalez has gone 6 for 14.

Victorino is just 6 for 37 with seven strikeouts against Nolasco. Stephen Drew is 11 of 21 with three home runs, three doubles and a triple versus the right-hander.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Cubs (54-73) at Padres (57-70)
Game: 1
Venue: PETCO Park
Date: August 23, 2013 10:10 PM EDT


Considering recent history, a visit from the Chicago Cubs might provide the San Diego Padres with a good opportunity to end their current home struggles.

Edinson Volquez hopes to remain undefeated against Chicago and help the Padres to a fifth straight home victory over the lowly Cubs on Friday night.

San Diego (57-70) is 34-31 at Petco Park, but has dropped six of nine there. Though the Padres won 2-1 over Pittsburgh there Wednesday, they totaled four runs while losing two of three in the set.

Chicago (54-73) has four more wins on the road than at home in 2013, but has been outscored 20-6 during a four-game slide at Petco.

Losers in three straight, the Cubs have averaged 3.4 runs while losing 18 of 24 overall.

"We're out there fighting and battling," Chicago starter Edwin Jackson told the Cubs' official website. "Sometimes things don't work in our favor, sometimes things don't look the best the way we do them.

"Everybody is giving 110 percent, and at the end of the day, that's all you can ask for."

Though Volquez (9-10, 5.72 ERA) gave up four runs on two homers and walked three in 5 2-3 innings April 30 at Wrigley Field, he improved to 5-0 with a 2.76 ERA in seven starts against the Cubs.

The right-hander, 1-1 with a 3.12 ERA in his last three home starts overall, allowed two runs and seven hits in an 8-2 win over the New York Mets on Saturday but lasted only five innings.

"That wasn't the most efficient outing," manager Bud Black told the Padres' official website, "But the end result is giving up two runs."

Jackson (7-13, 4.89), who was roughed up for eight runs and 11 hits in 4 2-3 innings of that April loss to Volquez, is 0-4 with a 5.56 ERA in seven starts versus San Diego.

The right-hander has allowed 11 runs in 10 innings to go 0-1 in his last two road starts, and also lost Sunday when he allowed three runs - one earned - with four walks in six innings of a 6-1 defeat at home to St. Louis.

San Diego's Yander Alonso is 5 for 9 with two doubles and a homer against Jackson.

He had two hits and drove in both runs Wednesday after going 0 for 8 in the first two games of the series.

"I'm in the middle of the lineup. You'd expect me to do those things," Alonso said.

Teammate Will Venable is batting .353 with 12 RBIs in his last 31 games, but went 0 for 6 when the Padres split a four-game set at Wrigley this season.

He's 1 for 9 with a homer versus Jackson.

Chicago's Donnie Murphy is 1 for 7 versus San Diego, but 7 for 18 with four home runs and six RBIs in the last four games. He hit a tying, two-run homer in the ninth of Thursday's 5-4, 13-inning loss to Washington.

The 30-year-old journeyman has a career-high eight homers and 15 RBIs in 16 games for the Cubs.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Pirates (75-52) at Giants (56-71)
Game: 2
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: August 23, 2013 10:15 PM EDT


After struggling on the road for almost a month, the Pittsburgh Pirates are off to a strong start on their seven-game California trip.

The NL Central-leading Pirates look to continue that success Friday night against the San Francisco Giants.

Pittsburgh (75-52) had dropped eight of 10 away from PNC Park before taking two of three at San Diego this week then rolling to a 10-5 win at San Francisco on Thursday. Jose Tabata's three-run double highlighted the Pirates' seven-run fifth inning that broke open a game tied at 3.

"This team, we believe in us and whatever it's going to take," manager Clint Hurdle said. "We don't always know how it's going to happen but we're going to keep playing and covering each other's back and keep having fun along with it."

Pittsburgh, 33-30 on the road, has a one-game lead over St. Louis in the Central.

Mired in a 6-for-40 slump on the road prior to the opener, Tabata had three hits. He was 1 for 19 in his previous five career games versus San Francisco.

With two hits and two RBIs on Thursday, teammate Pedro Alvarez matched last season's career high of 85 RBIs. He is 6 for 14 with six RBIs against the Giants (56-71) in 2013.

The Pirates hope Charlie Morton (4-3, 3.67 ERA) can deliver a fourth straight strong start when he takes the mound Friday. The right-hander has allowed two runs in each of his last three starts and gone 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA during that span.

He lasted seven innings and struck out six during a 4-2, 16-inning loss to Arizona on Sunday.

Morton fell to 2-4 with a 3.12 ERA against the Giants after he allowed four runs - two earned - in five innings of a 10-0 loss June 13.

While Pittsburgh continues its attempt at securing the club's first postseason appearance since 1992, the reigning World Series champion Giants have lost two straight and 22 of 31 at home.

The disappointment kept coming Thursday when the team announced outfielder Andres Torres could miss the rest of the season with a strained left Achilles' tendon. That came hours before Thursday's starter Matt Cain left in the fourth inning after taking a liner off his pitching arm.

``It's definitely not what we had planned with Pittsburgh coming in,' Cain said.

San Francisco hopes to get back on track behind Madison Bumgarner (11-7, 2.82), who is 0-1 with a 3.94 ERA in his last three starts.

A lack of control plagued the left-hander Sunday when he allowed four runs and walked four while throwing 95 pitches over five innings before leaving without a decision in a 6-5 loss at Miami.

"It seemed like every pitch I threw (Sunday) was just a hair off and in the wrong direction,' said Bumgarner, who has failed to record quality starts in two straight outings after doing so in his previous 10. "It was just kind of frustrating for me."

He allowed one run, nine hits and struck out 17 in 13 innings while going 1-1 in his only previous starts against the Pirates in 2011.

San Francisco second baseman Marco Scutaro delivered a tying, two-run single with just his second hit over 17 at_bats Thursday. However, he's batting .310 while hitting safely in eight straight games against the Pirates.

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

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Pirates at Giants
Thu, Aug 22 Final 10 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Pirates at Giants
Fri, Aug 23 - 10:15PM EDT

GAME 3
Pirates at Giants
Sat, Aug 24 - 9:05PM EDT

GAME 4
Pirates at Giants
Sun, Aug 25 - 4:05PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Friday's Interleague Action

August 23, 2013


Tigers at Mets - 7:10 PM EST

Probables: D. Fister (10-6, 3.63 ERA) vs. D. Matsuzaka (NR)

Previous series recap: Detroit dropped two of three to struggling Minnesota, including Thursday's 7-6 defeat as $2.60 home favorites. The Tigers still control the AL Central, while wrapping up their eight-game homestand at 4-4. The Mets split a pair of games with the Braves, while losing the finale in extra innings on Wednesday, 4-1. New York owns a 4-6 record the last 10 games, as the Mets continue a nine-game homestand.

Pitching notes: The Tigers have won six of Doug Fister's last seven starts, with the lone loss coming as a road favorite against the White Sox on August 12. Detroit is 2-1 in Fister's three interleague starts, but the defeat came at Pittsburgh in 12 innings, in spite of the right-hander striking out 12 batters in seven innings. The 'over' is 4-1 in Fister's past five road outings, as the Tigers have allowed at least five runs in four of those contests.

The return of Daisuke Matsuzaka is finally here as the former Red Sox hurler makes his first start since last October. Dice-K spent time in the Indians' minor league system before getting released and ultimately landing with the Mets, as the righty gave up 25 earned runs in his final five starts as a member of the Red Sox to wrap up 2012.

Nationals at Royals - 8:10 PM EST

Probables: G. Gonzalez (7-6, 3.38 ERA) vs. B. Chen (5-1, 2.20 ERA)

Previous series recap: Washington grabbed three of four from Chicago, while holding off the Cubs on Thursday, 5-4 in 13 innings. The Cubs scored three runs in the ninth inning to force extra innings, but the Nationals came through in the 13th to win three consecutive road games for the first time this season. Kansas City's playoff hopes are fading by the day after the Royals were swept at home by the White Sox, capped off by a 12-inning defeat last night as $1.70 favorites.

Pitching notes: The Nationals have lost to the Braves five times when Gio Gonzalez took the mound, but the team is 14-6 when the southpaw faces anybody other than the Braves. However, the Nats are 0-4 in Gonzalez's four interleague starts, including road defeats at Detroit and Cleveland. The 'under' is 5-2 in Gonzalez's past seven starts overall, while the Nats are 1-4 in his last five outings as a road underdog.

Bruce Chen finally suffered a poor start in his last outing at Detroit, allowing six earned runs, two more runs than he allowed in the previous five starts combined. The Royals' southpaw is 6-1 to the 'under' in seven starts, including 'unders' in all three home starts. Chen faces a Washington lineup that has struggled against left-handed pitching, hitting just .223 this season.

Red Sox at Dodgers - 10:10 PM EST

Probables: J. Lackey (8-10, 3.22 ERA) vs. R. Nolasco (9-9, 3.60 ERA)

Previous series recap: Boston has alternated wins and losses in each of his last six games, while beating San Francisco in two of three contests. The Sox haven't won consecutive road games in their last four tries, while the 'under' is 6-1-1 in the past eight road contests. The Dodgers continue to stay hot after winning three of four games at Miami, improving to 9-0-1 in the last 10 series since the All-Star break.

Pitching notes: John Lackey shut down the Yankees in his last trip to the mound, scattering six hits and allowing one earned run in 6.2 innings of a 6-1 home victory. The Sox are 11-1 to the 'under' in Lackey's last 12 starts, including a run of seven straight 'unders' on the highway. However, Boston owns a 1-5 mark in Lackey's past six starts away from Fenway Park.

Ricky Nolasco has turned into a nice complimentary piece to this Dodgers' rotation, as Los Angeles has won six of his eight starts since getting acquired from Miami. Nolasco is making only his third home start in this stretch, splitting his first two outings at Dodger Stadium with a loss to the Rockies and a win over the Mets. The right-hander lost twice to the Red Sox last season, allowing 12 earned runs in just 9.1 innings or work.

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Dunkel

Oakland at Baltimore
The A's look to take advantage of a Baltimore team that is 1-7 in its last 8 games versus a team with a winning record. Oakland is the pick (+110) according to Dunkel, which has the A's favored by 1. Dunkel Pick: Oakland (+110). Here are all of today's picks.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23

Game 901-902: Arizona at Philadelphia (7:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Arizona (Miley) 14.596; Philadelphia (Hamels) 15.853
Dunkel Line: Philadelphia by 1 1/2; 6
Vegas Line: Philadelphia (-120); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (-120); Under

Game 903-904: Colorado at Miami (7:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Colorado (Chacin) 14.112; Miami (Koehler) 15.158
Dunkel Line: Miami by 1; 8
Vegas Line: Colorado (-150); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Miami (+130); Over

Game 905-906: Milwaukee at Cincinnati (7:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Milwaukee (Gallardo) 14.809; Cincinnati (Bailey) 16.249
Dunkel Line: Cincinnati by 1 1/2; 7
Vegas Line: Cincinnati (-185); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Cincinnati (-185); Under

Game 907-908: Atlanta at St. Louis (8:15 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Atlanta (Medlen) 16.100; St. Louis (Wainwright) 15.032
Dunkel Line: Atlanta by 1; 8
Vegas Line: St. Louis (-175); 7
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (+155); Over

Game 909-910: Chicago Cubs at San Diego (10:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Cubs (Jackson) 14.297; San Diego (Volquez) 13.207
Dunkel Line: Chicago Cubs by 1; 8
Vegas Line: San Diego (-125); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Chicago Cubs (+105); Over

Game 911-912: Pittsburgh at San Francisco (10:15 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Pittsburgh (Morton) 14.571; San Francisco (Bumgarner) 15.919
Dunkel Line: San Francisco by 1 1/2; 6
Vegas Line: San Francisco (-150); 6 1/2
Dunkel Pick: San Francisco (-150); Under

Game 913-914: Minnesota at Cleveland (7:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota (Deduno) 14.210; Cleveland (Jimenez) 15.629
Dunkel Line: Cleveland by 1 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: Cleveland (-165); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Cleveland (-165); Under

Game 915-916: Oakland at Baltimore (7:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Oakland (Straily) 15.804; Baltimore (Norris) 14.980
Dunkel Line: Oakland by 1; 10
Vegas Line: Baltimore (-130); 9
Dunkel Pick: Oakland (+110); Over

Game 917-918: NY Yankees at Tampa Bay (7:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: NY Yankees (Kuroda) 15.478; Tampa Bay (Archer) 16.805
Dunkel Line: Tampa Bay by 1 1/2; 6
Vegas Line: Tampa Bay (-120); 7
Dunkel Pick: Tampa Bay (-120); Under

Game 919-920: Toronto at Houston (8:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Toronto (Redmond) 14.336; Houston (Lyles) 15.264
Dunkel Line: Houston by 1; 9
Vegas Line: Toronto (-145); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Houston (+125); Over

Game 921-922: Texas at Chicago White Sox (8:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Texas (Perez) 16.705; White Sox (Sale) 15.648
Dunkel Line: Texas by 1; 8
Vegas Line: Chicago White Sox (-120); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Texas (+100); Over

Game 923-924: LA Angels at Seattle (10:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: LA Angels (Richards) 13.675; Seattle (Hernandez) 15.147
Dunkel Line: Seattle by 1 1/2; 6
Vegas Line: Seattle (-180); 7
Dunkel Pick: Seattle (-180); Under

Game 925-926: Detroit at NY Mets (7:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit (Fister) 16.706; NY Mets (Matsuzaka) 15.401
Dunkel Line: Detroit by 1 1/2; 7
Vegas Line: Detroit (-160); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (-160); Under

Game 927-928: Washington at Kansas City (8:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Washington (Gonzalez) 16.279; Kansas City (Chen) 15.422
Dunkel Line: Washington by 1; 8
Vegas Line: Kansas City (-115); 7
Dunkel Pick: Washington (-105); Over

Game 929-930: Boston at LA Dodgers (10:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Boston (Lackey) 16.850; LA Dodgers (Nolasco) 15.784
Dunkel Line: Boston by 1; 8
Vegas Line: LA Dodgers (-120); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Boston (+100); Over

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Short Sheet

Friday, August 23

National League

Arizona at Philadelphia, 7:05 ET
Miley: Diamondbacks 2-10 SU in last 12 road series openers
Hamels:Under is 9-3-1 in home starts for Hamels in 2013

Colorado at Miami, 7:10 ET
Chacin: Under is 6-2 in Chacin's last eight road starts
Koehler: Marlins 6-11 SU when Koehler starts

Milwaukee at Cincinnati, 7:10 ET
Gallardo: Brewers 8-24 SU since 2010 when playing in Cincinnati
Bailey: Reds 15-5 SU in 2013 in a home series opener

Atlanta at St. Louis, 8:15 ET MLB
Medlen: Braves 15-3 SU when Medlen starts a road night game
Wainwright: Under is 8-3 when Wainwright starts at home in 2013

Chicago Cubs at San Diego, 10:10 ET
Jackson: Under is 4-1 in last five Cubs road series openers
Volquez: Under is 6-1in last seven Padres home series openers

Pittsburgh at San Francisco, 10:15 ET
Morton: Pirates 4-2 SU in last six road series openers in the middle of a road trip
Bumgarner: Under is 8-3 in Bumgarner's home starts in 2013


American League

Minnesota at Cleveland, 7:05 ET
Deduno: Under is 13-4 when Deduno starts on the road
Jimenez: Indians 7-2 SU in last nine home starts for Jimenez

Oakland at Baltimore, 7:05 ET
Straily: Over is 14-5 in Athletics 2013 road series openers
Norris: Orioles 4-0 SU in games Norris has started for them

New York Yankees at Tampa Bay, 7:10 ET
Kuroda: Under is 12-2 when Kuroda starts on the road in 2013
Archer: Under is 12-3 when Archer starts for Rays

Toronto at Houston, 8:10 ET
Redmond: Blue Jays 4-16 SU in first game of a road series in 2013
Peacock: Over is 6-2 when Peacock starts for Astros

Texas at Chicago White Sox, 8:10 ET MLB
Perez: Under is 6-3 when Perez starts on the road
Sale: White Sox 11-5 when Sale starts a home night game

Los Angeles Angels at Seattle, 10:10 ET
Richards: Angels 2-7 SU when Richards start on the road
Hernandez: Over is 7-2-1 last 10 times Hernandez has started a home series opener


Interleague

Detroit at New York Mets, 7:10 ET
Fister: Over is 4-1 in Fister's last five road starts
Torres: Mets 4-8 SU in last 12 home series openers vs. a righthander

Washington at Kansas City, 8:10 ET
Gonzalez: Nationals 6-13 SU in road series openers in 2013
Chen: Under is 11-4 last 15 times Royals have faced a southpaw at home

Boston at Los Angeles Dodgers, 10:10 ET
Lackey: Under is 11-2 when Lackey starts on road in 2013
Nolasco: Dodgers 6-2 SU when Nolasco starts

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Friday, August 23

Hot pitchers
-- Hamels is 1-0, 1.45 in his last four starts. Arizona won last five Miley starts (3-0, 2.00).
-- Chacin is 8-4, 2.33 in his last thirteen starts
-- Reds won last four Bailey starts (3-0, 3.49).
-- Medlen is 4-0, 3.46 in his last four starts. Wainwright is 1-0, 2.57 in his last two starts.

-- Fister is 4-1, 2.72 in his last seven starts.
-- Chen is 2-0, 0.44 in three starts at Kauffman Stadium. GGonzalez is 0-2, 2.00 in his last three starts.
-- Nolasco is 3-0, 4.03 in his last four starts.

-- Kuroda is 3-2, 2.16 in his last six starts.
-- Orioles won all four Norris starts (3-0, 3.57).
-- Redmond is 0-0, 2.14 in his last four starts.
-- Sale is 3-0, 2.31 in his last three starts. Perez is 3-0, 2.42 in his last three.

Cold pitchers
-- Koehler is 0-2, 6.46 in his last three starts.
-- Gallardo is 0-1, 9.22 in his last three road starts.
-- Jackson is 0-2, 7.88 in his last three starts. Volquez is 1-2, 5.82 in last four.
-- Bumgarner is 0-1, 5.06 in his last three starts. Morton is 1-1, 4.15 in his last four starts.

-- Matsuzaka is making first '13 start, first NL start. He was 5-8, 3.92 in 19 starts for Indians' AAA team, with 39 walks in 103.1 IP. In his major league career, he is 50-37, 4.52 in 116 starts, all with Boston.
-- Lackey is 1-4, 4.31 in his last six starts.

-- Deduno is 0-3, 7.56 in his last three starts. Jiminez is 1-2, 4.96 in his last three starts.
-- Straily is 0-5, 4.91 in his last six starts.
-- Archer is 0-2, 4.79 in his last four starts.
-- Lyles is 1-3, 9.57 in his last five starts.
-- Hernandez is 1-2, 5.50 in his last three starts. Richards is 0-1, 4.50 in his last three starts.

Starting Pitchers/First Inning
You can wager on whether teams will score in the first inning. Below is how often a starting pitcher has allowed 1+ runs in first inning in one of his starts........
-- Miley 8-25 (4 of last 7); Hamels 4-26 (0 of last 5)
-- Chacin 2-24 (0 of last 19); Koehler 6-16
-- Gallardo 5-24 (1 of last 6); Bailey 3-25 (0 of last 7)
-- Medlen 8-24 (0 of last 5); Wainwright 7-26 (3 of last 6)
-- Jackson 9-25 (3 of last 6); Volquez 9-26
-- Morton 2-12; Bumgarner 3-25 (0 of last 5)

-- Fister 5-25 (0 of last 7); Matsuzaka 0-0
-- Gonzalez 7-25 (1 of last 7); Chen 2-7
-- Lackey 9-22 (3 of last 5); Nolasco 7-25

-- Deduno 5-16 (4 of last 8); Jimenez 6-24 (2 of last 14)
-- Straily 5-20 (3 of last 6); Norris 9-25
-- Kuroda 6-25 (0 of last 8); Archer 4-15
-- Redmond 1-7; Lyles 5-20 (0 of last 6)
-- Perez 6-12; Sale 8-24
-- Richards 1-9; Hernandez 4-26 (1 of last 13)

Totals
-- Under is 9-1-1 in last eleven Philadelphia games.
-- Five of last seven Miami games went over the total.
-- Five of last six Milwaukee games went over the total.
-- Over is 3-0-1 in last four St Louis games.
-- Three of last four Cub games went over the total.
-- Over is 6-2-1 in last nine San Francisco games.

-- Six of last eight Detroit road games went over the total.
-- Under is 9-2-2 in last thirteen Kansas City games.
-- Under is 6-3-1 in last ten Boston games.

-- Under is 11-4-2 in last seventeen Minnesota games.
-- Seven of last ten Baltimore games went over the total.
-- Four of last five Tampa Bay games stayed under total.
-- Nine of last eleven Toronto games stayed under total.
-- Six of last seven White Sox games stayed under the total.
-- Last three Angel games stayed under the total.

Hot teams
-- Phillies won four of their last five games.
-- Reds won nine of their last twelve games.
-- St Louis won eight of its last eleven games. Braves are 7-0 in game following their last seven losses.

-- Mets won four of their last five home games.
-- Nationals won nine of their last thirteen games.
-- Dodgers are 45-10 in their last 55 games.

-- Indians won six of their last eight games.
-- Bronx Bombers won ten of their last twelve games. Tampa Bay won six of its last eight games.
-- Texas won 18 of its last 22 games. White Sox won their last six games, scoring 29 runs.
-- Mariners won three of their last four games.

Cold teams
-- Diamondbacks lost three of their last four games.
-- Miami lost seven of its last eight home games. Colorado lost five of its last six games overall.
-- Brewers lost three of their last four games.
-- Cubs lost 13 of their last 19 games. San Diego is 3-5 in its last eight.
-- Pirates lost eight of last twelve games. Giants are 4-7 in their last eleven.

-- Detroit is 3-4 in its last seven games.
-- Kansas City lost seven of its last nine games.
-- Red Sox are 5-8 in their last thirteen games.

-- Minnesota lost seven of its last ten games.
-- Oakland is 4-5 in its last nine games. Orioles lost six of last nine.
-- Blue Jays lost ten of their last fourteen games. Astros lost four of their last five games.
-- Angels lost their last four games, scoring nine runs.