The Bum's MLB News-Stats and POD'S Thru The World Series !

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Tigers (92-66) at Twins (66-91)
Game: 3
Venue: Target Field
Date: September 25, 2013 8:10 PM EDT


Max Scherzer had a modest celebration with his Detroit Tigers teammates after his latest victory. There could be a much bigger one following his next start.

After earning his 20th win last time out, Scherzer will try to help the Tigers wrap up a third consecutive AL Central title Wednesday night at the Minnesota Twins.

It took five tries before Scherzer (20-3, 3.00 ERA) reached his milestone victory Friday against the Chicago White Sox. The right-hander got plenty of help from the Tigers in a 12-5 rout.

"We had a nice little champagne toast," Scherzer said. "It was definitely nice to celebrate with all your teammates, because they're the ones who got me here."

Detroit (92-66) secured a playoff berth with a 4-2 victory over Minnesota on Tuesday but was prevented from winning the division title after Cleveland's Jason Giambi hit a walk-off homer in a 5-4 victory against the Chicago White Sox.

The Tigers need a win or an Indians loss to finish the AL Central race.

Should Cleveland win, Scherzer will try to deliver that championship with another strong outing against the Twins (66-91). He's 5-1 with a 2.62 ERA in his last seven matchups, including 3-0 with a 1.59 ERA in his last four games in Minnesota.

Scherzer, 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA in this season's two meetings, hasn't faced the Twins at Target Field in 2013. He gave up one run and three hits over six innings in his latest matchup May 26 at Comerica Park.

In his final start of the regular season, Scherzer is seeking to become the first pitcher to win 20 or more games and lose three or fewer since Cliff Lee went 22-3 for Cleveland in 2008 en route to earning the AL Cy Young Award.

Scherzer will try to solidify his chances of bringing home that honor this year while leading the Tigers to their 11th win in 15 games.

The Twins, losers in 15 of 20, will send out Kevin Correia (9-12, 4.29). The right-hander is trying to reach double-digit victories for the fifth consecutive season and seeking to help manager Ron Gardenhire earn career win No. 999.

"I'm just going to go out there and throw a good game," Correia told the team's website. "I'd love to go into the offseason with a W."

Correia is 0-2 with a 5.29 ERA in his last three outings but kept AL West champion Oakland at bay in most of his five innings Thursday despite walking five. He was in line for the victory after giving up two runs, but the A's rallied for an 8-6 win.

Correia has also lost three straight home decisions and is 0-1 with a 2.63 ERA in his two matchups with Detroit this season. He's received one run of support in each of those games and a combined seven in his five career starts against the Tigers, going 1-2 with a 3.06 ERA.

Miguel Cabrera has gone 11 for 25 (.440) with two doubles and a home run in his career against Correia while Torii Hunter is 4 for 7 (.571) in this season's matchups. Victor Martinez, riding an 11-game hit streak, is 1 for 6 lifetime against the right-hander.

Scherzer is two strikeouts shy of topping his career-high 231 from last season, and he has a combined 16 in his two games against Minnesota this year.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Tigers at Twins
Mon, Sep 23 Final 3 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Tigers at Twins
Tue, Sep 24 Final 4 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Tigers at Twins
Wed, Sep 25 - 8:10PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Red Sox (95-63) at Rockies (72-86)
Game: 2
Venue: Coors Field
Date: September 25, 2013 8:40 PM EDT


Todd Helton is simply synonymous with the Colorado Rockies.

It's probably fitting the final home game of his 17-year career will be against the team he faced in his lone World Series appearance.

The superstar's last game at Coors Field will be Wednesday night against a playoff-bound Boston Red Sox team trying to secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

The 40-year-old Helton holds virtually every offensive record for the Rockies (72-86), who were swept in the 2007 World Series by the Red Sox.

Helton is 16th all-time in baseball with 591 doubles, ranks in the top 100 in runs and hits and will likely finish in the top 75 in batting average. The Rockies plan to give away Helton bobbleheads to the first 35,000 fans Wednesday.

One notable spectator who says he will attend is another prominent local athlete - Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning.

Helton was Manning's backup in college at Tennessee. While it's well known that Helton took Manning under his wing when the latter was a college freshman, it's not as publicized how the slugger arranged for Manning to work out at the Rockies' facility during the NFL lockout.

"To do it for that long, like I said, I think sometimes when you just write, '17-year career,' it doesn't do it justice," Manning said. "You ought to put it in bold, caps and write it about 50 times just to realize how much work he put in."

While Colorado is finishing up a third straight losing season, Boston (95-63) is one game ahead of AL West champion Oakland in the race for the baseball's best record. The Red Sox have a magic number of two to gain home-field advantage in a division series.

Boston will use a starter familiar to Helton in Jake Peavy (11-5, 4.02 ERA). Only five batters have faced Peavy more, with Helton hitting .344 in 46 at_bats.

Peavy is familiar with Coors Field from his NL West days with San Diego, going 3-4 with a 4.74 ERA in nine starts.

The veteran right-hander is 3-1 with a 3.68 ERA in nine outings with Boston, and also faces tough matchups with Troy Tulowitzki (7 for 20) and Michael Cuddyer (4 for 11).

The Red Sox anticipate Wednesday could mark the return of Jacoby Ellsbury, who has missed the last 16 games with a right foot injury. Ellsbury leads the majors with 52 stolen bases.

Colorado opened this two-game set with an 8-3 victory Tuesday as Tulowitzki, Corey Dickerson and Charlie Blackmon all homered.

"Boston is a great team, going into the playoffs," Dickerson said. "You want to play well, show our resilience as a team and to play hard to the last game."

Colorado's starter Wednesday is Jhoulys Chacin (14-9, 3.21), who is 6 2-3 innings shy of his first 200-inning campaign.

The right-hander is 1-4 with a 3.09 ERA in seven career interleague starts. The victory was his lone outing against Boston - a 2-1 home win in which he pitched 6 2-3 scoreless innings in 2010.

The Red Sox hitter with the most experience against Chacin is Stephen Drew, who is 5 for 15.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Red Sox at Rockies
Tue, Sep 24 Final 3 to 8
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Red Sox at Rockies
Wed, Sep 25 - 8:40PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Royals (83-74) at Mariners (69-89)
Game: 3
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: September 25, 2013 10:10 PM EDT


When the Kansas City Royals take the field Wednesday night, they could be playing to stay in the playoff race.

The visiting Royals will try to put an anemic offensive effort behind them as they face Seattle Mariners starter Hisashi Iwakuma for the first time in the finale of a three-game set.

Kansas City (83-74) managed five hits Tuesday in a 4-0 loss, picking an inopportune time for its ninth shutout defeat of the year.

The Royals are four games behind Cleveland for the AL's second wild card with five to play. If the Indians win at home against the White Sox earlier Wednesday, Kansas City will be eliminated with another loss in Seattle.

"We just go till they say we can't win it," manager Ned Yost said. "We go as hard as we can. Keep playing our best guys and staying after it."

Getting untracked figures to be difficult against Iwakuma (13-6, 2.76 ERA), who enters with 15 consecutive scoreless innings.

The right-hander won for the first time in five starts last Wednesday, pitching eight innings in an 8-0 victory at Detroit. He's 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA over his last seven outings.

"I'm just trying to focus, pitch my game and stay with my plan," he said through an interpreter.

Iwakuma may be more vulnerable at home, where he is 0-2 with a 4.91 ERA in his last four starts.

The only Kansas City player who has faced Iwakuma and is currently seeing regular playing time is Justin Maxwell, who is 1 for 3 against him.

Iwakuma will try to follow up an outstanding effort from rookie James Paxton on Tuesday. Paxton pitched seven innings and struck out 10 - one shy of his total from his first three big-league starts.

Kendrys Morales singled in a run in the first inning and Justin Smoak added a three-run homer in the fifth to provide more than enough offense for Seattle (69-89), which ended a five-game home slide. Smoak hit his second homer batting right-handed compared to 17 from the other side.

"To be able to barrel one up, knowing the work I've put in the last couple weeks, it is starting to show," Smoak said.

Eric Hosmer singled twice for his AL-best 59th multihit effort while Royals sluggers Billy Butler and Salvador Perez combined for seven hitless at_bats.

Royals starter Ervin Santana (9-9, 3.16) has been nearly as good as Iwakuma in his last two outings, yielding one run over 14 innings against the power-packed lineups of Detroit and Texas.

The right-hander is pitching better than he did to open the month when he gave up four runs in a season-low 3 1-3 innings and did not get a decision in a 6-4 home loss to Seattle on Sept. 4.

Smoak is 7 for 19 versus Santana, who has held other Mariners in check. Dustin Ackley is 5 for 22 against him, Michael Saunders is 5 for 21 and Kyle Seager 4 for 20.

Santana owns more wins at Safeco Field than he does at any visiting ballpark, going 7-4 with a 4.00 ERA in 14 outings.

Kansas City is one victory shy of matching its highest total since finishing 84-78 in 1993.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Royals at Mariners
Mon, Sep 23 Final 6 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Royals at Mariners
Tue, Sep 24 Final 0 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Royals at Mariners
Wed, Sep 25 - 10:10PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Diamondbacks (80-77) at Padres (73-84)
Game: 3
Venue: PETCO Park
Date: September 25, 2013 10:10 PM EDT


Ian Kennedy was certainly not at his best in his first matchup with his former club.

The San Diego Padres right-hander will get a chance to atone for that lackluster effort against the Arizona Diamondbacks - and another in his most recent outing - in what's likely his final start of the season Wednesday night.

Arizona (80-77) dealt Kennedy, a 21-game winner for the team in 2011, at the July 31 trade deadline to San Diego (73-84) for reliever Joe Thatcher, a minor leaguer and a draft pick. Kennedy (6-10, 5.01 ERA) has performed slightly better with the Padres, going 3-2 with a 4.65 ERA in nine starts, but he quickly squandered an early three-run lead in Arizona on Aug. 27.

Kennedy was charged with six runs and failed to pitch past the fifth inning, but he avoided the loss when the Padres rallied to send the game into extra innings in a 10-9 loss. Gerardo Parra had a three-run homer and a two-run single off him in the Diamondbacks' win.

"It was difficult. I knew it would be a little different," Kennedy told the team's website. "I just put myself in holes, putting guys on. I walked a lot of guys. It's tough to do that. But (facing his former teammates) was a lot tougher than I thought it would be."

Kennedy also gave up six runs - in a season-low 3 2-3 frames - in Thursday's 10-1 loss in Pittsburgh after going 1-0 with a 2.12 ERA in his first three starts this month. The Pirates scored five runs in his final inning.

Paul Goldschmidt will try to send his former teammate to another defeat while extending a 14-game hit streak, longest by an Arizona batter this season.

The first baseman kept that run going in Tuesday's 2-1 victory in 12 innings over the Padres with his NL-best 36th homer.

Goldschmidt is batting .429 with five homers, seven other extra-base hits and 17 RBIs during his streak. He's 5 for 15 with four extra-base hits in his last four games against San Diego and hit an RBI double off Kennedy in last month's meeting.

Arizona can clinch its third straight non-losing season with a victory Wednesday, and Randall Delgado (5-6, 3.96) will try to help with another strong performance versus the Padres.

The right-hander tossed a three-hitter in his only matchup with San Diego, a 10-0 rout July 26.

Delgado is 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA in his last two starts, both against Colorado, but did not get a decision in the latest of those outings Friday. He gave up two runs and three hits over five innings but exited with the score tied in an eventual 9-4 road loss.

"I think he's only going to get better," general manager Kevin Towers told the team's website. "I think his confidence is probably higher now than it's probably ever been in his career. And I think he feels he fits."

Delgado is 0-2 with a 6.86 ERA in his last four starts away from home while Kennedy is 6-2 with a 2.39 ERA in 11 all-time starts at Petco Park.

Kennedy is 3-1 with a 2.54 ERA in five games there since the trade from Arizona.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Diamondbacks at Padres
Mon, Sep 23 Final 1 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Diamondbacks at Padres
Tue, Sep 24 Final 2 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Diamondbacks at Padres
Wed, Sep 25 - 10:10PM EDT

GAME 4
Diamondbacks at Padres
Thu, Sep 26 - 6:40PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Dodgers (91-66) at Giants (72-85)
Game: 2
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: September 25, 2013 10:15 PM EDT


The Los Angeles Dodgers continued their divisional trip right where they left off their previous series, stifling the opposition with another dominant pitching performance.

Ricky Nolasco looks to continue the trend Wednesday night at San Francisco, but he's coming off two forgettable outings - including one against the Giants.

Coming off a series in which they limited San Diego to two runs and 10 hits in three games, the Dodgers (91-66) claimed a 2-1 victory over San Francisco on Tuesday, holding the Giants to five hits. Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig each provided home runs, while Hyun-Jin Ryu's only surrendered run over seven innings was Tony Abreu's homer. Brian Wilson - pitching at San Francisco for the first time as a member of the visiting team - threw a perfect eighth inning and Kenley Jansen wrapped up the game for his 28th save.

Opponents are hitting .126 against the Dodgers over the last four games with 40 strikeouts. The bullpen has thrown 13 2-3 scoreless innings over the last five contests.

Nolasco (13-10, 3.55 ERA) had gone 6-0 with a 1.17 ERA over a seven-start stretch before permitting seven runs and seven hits in 1 1-3 innings - matching the shortest start of his career - in a 19-3 loss to San Francisco on Sept 14.

He wasn't much better five days later, yielding six runs and nine hits in five innings of a 7-6 win at Arizona and didn't get a decision. All the runs came in the third inning after he had been staked to a 3-0 lead.

"I felt like after three (innings), Ricky started to protect the lead and lost his aggressiveness," catcher A.J. Ellis told the team's official website. "He got it back the last two innings. In hindsight, we should have been more aggressive."

A number of Giants have had success against Nolasco, with Hunter Pence going 10 for 31 with four homers, including four hits in five at_bats this season. Pablo Sandoval is 7 for 15 with two homers, while Gregor Blanco is 8 for 16 off him.

Making perhaps his final start for the Giants (72-85) will be left-hander Barry Zito (4-11, 5.91). San Francisco owns an $18 club option to retain him for next year.

Zito has dropped three straight starts while allowing 15 runs over 11 2-3 innings, surrendering 20 hits - including four home runs - and six walks. He hasn't recorded a victory since May 30.

"I can't tell you how much we pull for him. He's such a good teammate," manager Bruce Bochy. "I know he's in a tough rut and you don't want to see anybody go through those rough streaks. You hate to see him have to go through it."

San Francisco has scored two or fewer runs in five consecutive contests.

"We just couldn't get much off them offensively," Bochy said. "We're cold right now."

Another win by the Dodgers on Wednesday would even the season series at nine wins for each team. Los Angeles hasn't won the season series since 2009.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Dodgers at Giants
Tue, Sep 24 Final 2 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Dodgers at Giants
Wed, Sep 25 - 10:15PM EDT

GAME 3
Dodgers at Giants
Thu, Sep 26 - 10:15PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Evening POD'S:


Toronto - 7:05 PM ET Toronto +146 500 POD # 2
Baltimore - Under 8 500

Chi. White Sox - 7:05 PM ET Cleveland -265 500
Cleveland -Over 7.5 500

Tampa Bay - 7:05 PM ET Tampa Bay -166 500
NY Yankees - Under 7.5 500

Milwaukee - 7:10 PM ET Milwaukee +117 500 POD # 3
Atlanta - Over 7 500

Philadelphia - 7:10 PM ET Miami +146 500 POD # 5
Miami - Under 7 500

Houston - 8:05 PM ET Houston +232 500 POD # 4
Texas - Under 9 500

Detroit - 8:10 PM ET Detroit -215 500
Minnesota - Over 7.5 500

Boston - 8:40 PM ET Boston -120 500
Colorado - Under 10 500

Arizona - 10:10 PM ET Arizona -111 500
San Diego - Over 7 500

Kansas City - 10:10 PM ET Seattle -110 500
Seattle - Under 6.5 500

LA Dodgers - 10:15 PM ET LA Dodgers +120 500 POD # 1
San Francisco - Under 7.5 500

[StarDust Bum]

Diamond Trends - Thursday

September 26, 2013


SU TREND OF THE DAY:

-- The Rays are 18-0 since May 11, 2010 as a road favorite when they are off a game in which they scored more runs off the bullpen than they did off their opponents starter for a net profit of $1800.

PITCHER TREND OF THE DAY:

-- When Ivan Nova starts the Yankees are 10-0 since 2011 when the line is between -155 and +155 after the team lost their last two games for a net profit of $1148.

MLB BIBLE ACTIVE TREND:

-- Dillon Gee has produced a team record of 17-2 in his career coming off a start where he threw between 60 and 90 pitches.

CHOICE TREND:

-- The Angels are 9-0 since July 25, 2013 as a dog when they are off a win in which they scored in at most two separate innings for a net profit of $1013.

ACTIVE TRENDS:

-- The Royals are 10-0 since June 30, 2013 on the road vs a divisional foe that is behind them in the divisional standings for a net profit of $1050.

-- The Dodgers are 9-0 since June 19, 2013 on the road when they are off a loss in which they never led for a net profit of $1011.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Diamondbacks (80-78) at Padres (74-84)
Game: 4
Venue: PETCO Park
Date: September 26, 2013 6:40 PM EDT


After a lopsided defeat in their latest game in San Diego, the Arizona Diamondbacks still need at least two victories in their final four contests to finish this season with a winning record.

Red-hot Paul Goldschmidt will try to lead his club to the first of those wins in Thursday's series finale against the Padres while extending his hit streak to 16 games.

A visit to San Diego isn't providing too much help in Arizona's attempt to finish above .500. The Diamondbacks (80-78) have dropped seven of their nine road games against the Padres (74-84) this season and were routed 12-2 on Wednesday night.

Goldschmidt, though, doubled in the fourth inning to keep his streak going. He's batting .417 (25 for 60) with 13 extra-base hits during his run, including five of his NL-best 36 homers.

The first baseman, who also leads his league with 124 RBIs, will face Robbie Erlin (3-3, 4.34 ERA) for the first time. Goldschmidt was given the night off when the Padres rookie left-hander gave up one run over six innings in a 5-1 win in Arizona on Aug. 28 following his fourth recall this year from Triple-A.

Erlin is 2-1 with a 1.80 ERA in four starts in his latest stint in the majors. He gave up four hits in 7 2-3 innings and matched a season high with seven strikeouts during a 2-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday.

"Hopefully it is a sign of good things to come. Robbie has pitched well the last couple of starts and has to be impressing the coaches," said second baseman Jedd Gyorko, who had one of his team's three homers Wednesday.

Arizona's Trevor Cahill (8-10, 4.02), meanwhile, will seek to finish the season with a sixth consecutive victory. The right-hander has a 2.64 ERA in his last seven starts and one relief appearance in an 18-inning game in Philadelphia on Aug. 24.

Cahill has also given up one earned run in each of his last three starts. He also gave up two runs total in his 5 2-3 innings in Saturday's 7-2 victory in Colorado despite taking a line drive off his right hip in the opening frame.

Cahill was also hit in that same spot June 19 against Miami and went on the disabled list July 1 because of a hip contusion.

"It wasn't as bad (as the June 19 hit). It kind of glanced off," he told the team's website. "It was kind of sore for a couple of innings and actually felt better as the game went along."

He suffered a 2-1 loss in his only matchup with San Diego this year June 14 at Petco Park. Cahill gave up two runs and matched a career high with 10 strikeouts in his 5 2-3 innings in that game.

Cahill is 2-3 with a 2.72 ERA in six career matchups with the Padres and 1-1 with a 1.31 ERA in his three visits to San Diego.

Alexi Amarista is 6 for 11 with a home run and a double lifetime against Cahill but is also currently mired in a 1-for-36 slump. Willie Bloomquist went 3 for 3 against Erlin in last month's game.

Goldschmidt had a career-best, 17-game hit streak May 19-June 10, 2012.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Diamondbacks at Padres
Mon, Sep 23 Final 1 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Diamondbacks at Padres
Tue, Sep 24 Final 2 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Diamondbacks at Padres
Wed, Sep 25 Final 2 to 12
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 4
Diamondbacks at Padres
Thu, Sep 26 - 6:40PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Blue Jays (72-86) at Orioles (82-76)
Game: 3
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: September 26, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


The Baltimore Orioles have a decent chance at finishing with the second-highest home run total in franchise history.

Toronto Blue Jays starter Mark Buehrle has pitched very well on the road since the Orioles took him deep three times in his last start at Camden Yards.

The Orioles have homered six times in this series and could have some of their regulars back in the lineup in Thursday night's finale.

Baltimore (82-76) was eliminated from playoff contention with a 3-2, 10-inning loss in Tuesday's opener. Manager Buck Showalter rested Adam Jones, Brian Roberts and Matt Wieters one night later.

That didn't stop the Orioles from hitting four homers, two by No. 9 hitter Ryan Flaherty, in a 9-5 victory. Baltimore has a major league-best 208 homers - six shy of its total last year when it matched the 1998 and 1985 clubs for the second-highest total behind the 1996 team that went deep 257 times - the third-highest total in baseball history.

Buehrle (12-9, 4.09 ERA) would no doubt like to see a weakened Orioles lineup after he matched a season high by giving up eight runs over six innings in an 8-5 loss at Baltimore on July 12. Jones, J.J. Hardy and Chris Davis all took him deep.

The left-hander also lost two starts ago to the Orioles by yielding three runs in five innings in a 3-1 defeat Sept. 15. He then continued his road success Saturday in Boston by limiting the Red Sox to one run in six innings in a 4-2 victory, reaching 200 innings for the 13th straight season.

"Wish it was in a better situation," the first-year Blue Jay said.

Buehrle is 3-0 with a 2.48 ERA in six road starts since his last one in Camden Yards.

Davis is 6 for 14 with two homers lifetime off Buehrle, although he hasn't added to his major league-best 52 homers during this series.

Buehrle figures to get his first look at the Orioles' Jonathan Schoop, a 21-year-old prospect who had a successful major league debut Wednesday as he homered and scored three runs.

"My major league debut, it was good,' he said. "It's the first experience and I'm never going to forget."

The Orioles guaranteed themselves back-to-back winning seasons but that isn't good enough for a team that nearly reached the AL championship series a year ago.

"We didn't make it to the playoffs. That was our goal,' Hardy said. "I don't know how much we look at it as, 'All right, we got a winning season. Hurrah, hooray.'"

Baltimore will start right-hander Miguel Gonzalez (10-8, 3.94), who is 2-1 with a 2.96 ERA in four September outings as well as four against Toronto this year.

The last-place Blue Jays (72-86), one of the favorites to win the AL East in spring training, need one victory to avoid their first 90-loss campaign since going 67-94 in 2004.

Thursday's winner captures a season series tied at nine victories apiece.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Blue Jays at Orioles
Tue, Sep 24 Final 3 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Blue Jays at Orioles
Wed, Sep 25 Final 5 to 9
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Blue Jays at Orioles
Thu, Sep 26 - 7:05PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Rays (89-69) at Yankees (82-76)
Game: 3
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: September 26, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


Mariano Rivera's last chance to appear at Yankee Stadium will be Thursday night.

Needless to say, the playoff-chasing Tampa Bay Rays will be hoping to see the retiring closer in a non-save situation.

The Rays seek a seventh straight win and their first three-game sweep in the Bronx in the Yankees' home finale.

New York (82-76) was eliminated for the second time in the last 19 seasons Wednesday during an 8-3 defeat. The Yankees will finish with their lowest win total in a 162-game season since the 1992 team went 76-86.

It means Thursday marks the last opportunity for Rivera to pitch at home. Baseball's all-time saves leader made his impact felt as the Yankees captured five World Series titles during his tenure, with Rivera posting the lowest ERA of any pitcher with at least 40 postseason innings with a 0.70 mark over 141.0.

"I'll be there for the fans. They deserve it,' the 43-year-old said. "But it don't mean anything. I'm not used to pitching for something that doesn't mean anything. I wanted to pitch for something that means something."

Rivera owns 64 saves in 66 chances against Tampa Bay, going 27-for-27 in the Bronx.

The Rays (89-69) have too much at stake to want to face Rivera in a save situation. Tampa Bay holds a one-game lead over Cleveland for the AL's top wild-card and has a magic number of three to reach the playoffs.

"I'm really just focused on Thursday,' manager Joe Maddon said.

The Yankees are losers of three straight and eight of 11 and haven't even enjoyed a lead in this series.

New York also hasn't been able to slow down Evan Longoria, who is 5 for 9 in this series after homering twice and driving in four runs Wednesday. Longoria is the second player since 1966 to go deep nine times against the Yankees, joining Toronto's Jose Cruz Jr. from 2001.

He has 12 homers and 32 RBIs at new Yankee Stadium to go along with a .301 average and 25 home runs overall versus New York.

"I like hitting in this ballpark, and some people have their team that they just do well against," Longoria said. "For the longest time, in the earliest part of my career, it was the Red Sox. Lately, it's the Yankees."

Longoria is 4 for 10 with a homer this year against Ivan Nova (9-5, 3.13 ERA), who makes his final 2013 start for New York. Nova struck out seven in a six-hitter Saturday for his second shutout of the year in a 6-0 victory over San Francisco.

The right-hander is 0-2 with a 2.66 ERA in three starts against Tampa Bay this season, getting three total runs of support.

He'll be opposed by Alex Cobb (10-3, 2.90), who is 3-1 with a 2.34 ERA in six career starts against New York including 2-0 with a 1.61 ERA in three this year. The right-hander has captured consecutive starts by surrendering three runs over 16 1-3 innings.

Robinson Cano is 5 for 10 against Cobb this year and the second baseman has 12 hits in his last 28 at_bats.

Thursday also marks the final home game for Alex Rodriguez before his offseason appeal of a 211-game Biogenesis suspension. He is in a 3-for-39 slump and 0 for 5 versus Cobb.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Rays at Yankees
Tue, Sep 24 Final 7 to 0
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Rays at Yankees
Wed, Sep 25 Final 8 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Rays at Yankees
Thu, Sep 26 - 7:05PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Phillies (72-86) at Braves (93-65)
Game: 1
Venue: Turner Field
Date: September 26, 2013 7:10 PM EDT


The Atlanta Braves might be a little short-handed for their pursuit of the NL's best record.

With suspensions possibly coming after a brawl in their most recent game, Atlanta is hoping to get another strong start from David Hale on Thursday night against the Philadelphia Phillies.

After a 4-0 loss to Milwaukee on Wednesday, Atlanta (93-65) is now one-half game behind St. Louis in the race to earn home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs. What happened during the first inning of that defeat could play a big part in that chase.

The Brewers' Carlos Gomez got into a verbal argument with pitcher Paul Maholm and first baseman Freddie Freeman after hitting his 23rd homer, and catcher Brian McCann kept him from touching the plate when he confronted him between third and home. That resulted in a benches-clearing brawl that led to ejections for Freeman, Gomez and Braves backup catcher Gerald Laird.

After the game, Gomez said he was upset because Maholm hit him in the leg with a fastball in a 7-4 loss June 23.

"If you have a beef with the pitcher, have a beef with the pitcher," Freeman said. "Don't make us get involved. That's us. We're going to back up our pitcher. I'm fine with how everybody handled it."

With MLB potentially meting out punishment as soon as Thursday, Atlanta will have to see who is available to open this four-game series against Philadelphia (72-86).

The Braves might not need too much help if Hale can duplicate his impressive major league debut.

While starting in place of an ailing Maholm, the 25-year-old Hale set a franchise record with nine strikeouts in his first game Sept. 13 against San Diego. The right-hander also pitched five scoreless innings, but the Padres denied him a win by rallying for a 4-3 victory.

"David was outstanding," manager Fredi Gonzalez told the team's website. "We couldn't ask any more, really. Couldn't have been a better script. He was outstanding."

Hale (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will next face a Phillies team that's batted .215 and scored 18 runs while dropping six of seven. Philadelphia had 10 hits Wednesday in Miami but lost 3-2.

Hale will also pitch opposite a struggling Tyler Cloyd (2-6, 5.40). The right-hander is 0-3 with an 11.77 ERA in three starts since being recalled from the minors Sept. 3.

Cloyd, who has never faced Atlanta, allowed one run in his first five innings against the New York Mets on Saturday but didn't make it out of the sixth. He was charged with all four runs in that frame in a rain-shortened 5-4 loss.

"I wish I could figure it out," he said. "I'll keep continuing to work on everything I need to work on."

The Braves have won four of their six home games against the Phillies this season, but they endured a three-game sweep in Philadelphia during the most recent matchup Sept. 6-8.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Brewers (71-87) at Mets (73-85)
Game: 1
Venue: Citi Field
Date: September 26, 2013 7:10 PM EDT


It's unknown if the Milwaukee Brewers will have their leading home run hitter for the opener to the final series of this season.

With Carlos Gomez potentially facing a suspension, the Brewers will try to spoil the New York Mets' return from a successful road trip Thursday night.

Gomez's first-inning homer - his 23rd of the season - got Milwaukee (71-87) started toward a 4-0 victory in Atlanta on Wednesday, but he didn't get to touch home plate because Braves catcher Brian McCann confronted him on the third-base line. The Brewers outfielder was arguing with both pitcher Paul Maholm and first baseman Freddie Freeman during his home run trot before McCann joined in.

Benches cleared after Gomez tried to make his way to the plate, and he was ejected from the game along with Freeman and Atlanta's backup catcher Gerald Laird.

After the game, Gomez said he was upset because Maholm hit him in the leg with a fastball in a 7-4 loss June 23.

"I don't apologize for this," Gomez said. "Just take the pain back. You can see the replay. They hit me for no reason, and I tried to get it back today. It's the only opportunity that I have. That's what I did.

That incident leaves Gomez's status unknown for a four-game series with the Mets (73-85), who went 5-1 in visits to Philadelphia and Cincinnati. It's also unclear how many games Aramis Ramirez (knee) and Jean Segura (hamstring) will play.

New York limited the playoff-bound Reds to four hits in a 1-0 victory Wednesday, lowering the team's ERA during a 9-4 stretch to 2.61.

The Mets, who have a 3.78 ERA this season, will start Dillon Gee (12-10, 3.54 ERA). The right-hander is 3-1 with a 2.88 ERA in his last five starts and is seeking to match his career high for victories, set in 2011.

Gee allowed four runs over six innings Saturday in Philadelphia but got enough support for a 5-4 win. He gave up three runs in his final frame amid a heavy downpour.

Gee is seven innings shy of reaching 200 for the first time, a remarkable feat for someone who entered this season after surgery to remove a blood clot in his right shoulder.

"It means a lot. One of the main goals, especially coming off an injury, was to hit that 200-inning mark. I haven't been there yet," he told the team's website.

Gee dropped to 0-2 with a 7.15 ERA in two career starts against Milwaukee after permitting seven runs in 5 1-3 innings of an 8-0 loss May 15, 2012.

Johnny Hellweg (1-4, 7.43) wasn't at his sharpest in his only start against the Mets. He gave up seven runs - three earned - and walked five over 3 2-3 innings in a 12-5 loss July 5.

Hellweg also issued five base on balls Friday against St. Louis but yielded just two runs over five frames while not factoring into the decision in a 7-6 loss. He has walked a combined 19 over 24 innings in his last five starts.

The Mets took two of three from Milwaukee in their only other series this season July 5-7, but have lost in seven of eight home meetings.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Angels (78-80) at Rangers (87-71)
Game: 1
Venue: Rangers Ballpark in Arlington
Date: September 26, 2013 8:05 PM EDT


Matt Garza snapped his longest losing streak of the season with a tremendous effort over the weekend.

A repeat performance could go a long way for the Texas Rangers, who continue to keep pace in the AL wild-card hunt.

Garza tries to lead the Rangers to a fourth consecutive win Thursday night in the opener of a four-game home set against the Los Angeles Angels.

After going 0-4 with a 5.83 ERA in his previous five starts, Garza (4-5, 4.56 ERA) finally found his form Saturday in a 3-1 win at Kansas City. The right-hander carried a four-hit shutout into the ninth inning before giving up a leadoff homer to Eric Hosmer.

"You're the only one who can do it," he said of bouncing back. "I just got back to being comfortable, back to being who I was. It's a lot funnier this way. I can enjoy it a little more.

"I've just got to keep it simple. That's kind of been my whole thing and it's kind of who I am. ... It's no time to work on anything anymore."

The Rangers (87-71) are coming off a three-game sweep of Houston, winning 7-3 in Wednesday's finale. Ian Kinsler went 2 for 4 with a homer and two RBIs and Leonys Martin delivered a three-run double for Texas, which remained one game behind Cleveland for the second wild-card spot.

"You just get the mentality of taking care of the business that's in front of you," manager Ron Washington said. "If we can continue to win ballgames, I don't care what they do. And if they win out the streak and we win out the string also, then that's just the way it is."

The Rangers have taken 11 of 15 from Los Angeles (78-80), which is seeking a third consecutive win after beating Oakland 3-1 on Wednesday. Erick Aybar collected three hits and Josh Hamilton went 2 for 4 with two RBIs as the Angels improved to 23-9 since Aug. 23.

"Obviously we're not really playing for much right now, but we still want to go out and give them hell," winning pitcher Jered Weaver said. "It was nice to be able to finish strong. It's kind of bittersweet. We wish we were still playing (next week). That's the goal."

Los Angeles now turns to Jerome Williams (9-10, 4.55). The right-hander has compiled a 3.75 ERA during a four-start winning streak, his longest since winning a career-high five consecutive starts as a rookie with San Francisco from June 21-July 12, 2003.

Williams issued a season-worst five walks Saturday but managed to limit the damage, yielding one run in 5 2-3 innings to beat Seattle 6-5.

"I always want to go out there and do my best," he said. "I've had a couple of rough stretches, and now I just want to finish strong and end this season on a good note."

Williams went 1-0 with a 1.84 ERA in his first two starts versus Texas before surrendering five runs over 5 1-3 innings in a 5-2 loss Aug. 5. While Adrian Beltre is 10 for 24 with two homers against him, A.J. Pierzynski is 1 for 15. Mitch Moreland and Elvis Andrus have also struggled, going a combined 8 for 43.

Garza, meanwhile, is 0-2 with a 5.61 ERA in seven career outings versus Los Angeles. Howie Kendrick is 6 for 9 with a homer in their matchups, but Hamilton is 5 for 24.

While the Angels have won 16 of 20 on the road, they have dropped four straight and five of six in Arlington this year.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Royals (83-75) at White Sox (62-96)
Game: 1
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: September 26, 2013 8:10 PM EDT


The Kansas City Royals have little left to play for after falling short of the playoffs for a 28th straight year, but they'll surely want to avoid being shut out a third straight time for the first time in nine seasons.

The Chicago White Sox are already assured of their first last-place finish in 24 years.

Kansas City visits Chicago on Thursday night for the opener of a four-game series to end the season.

The Royals' 6-0 loss Wednesday, combined with victories from all three teams ahead of them in the AL wild-card standings, officially eliminated them from playoff contention. They were a night removed from a 4-0 loss, marking the first time they've been blanked in back-to-back games since May 22-23, 2009, at St. Louis.

Kansas City (83-75), which last made the playoffs in 1985, hasn't been shut out in three straight since July 5-7, 2004, at Minnesota.

"Back-to-back shutouts, you're not going to win any games scoring zero runs," said Alex Gordon, who was 2 for 4. "It's kind of a tough way to go out."

Chicago (62-96), which has lost 20 of 26, is headed for a last-place divisional finish for the first time since 1989. The White Sox, who are trying to avoid falling 35 games under .500 for the first time since ending the 1970 season 56-106, must win once in this series to avoid finishing with 100 losses, which would be the fourth-most in franchise history.

The Royals, though, are the only divisional foe Chicago owns a winning record against this year at 8-7.

The White Sox were without Paul Konerko in a 7-2 loss to Cleveland on Wednesday after he fouled a pitch off his right knee a day earlier. Konerko said he expects to play against the Royals.

"Every year there's players who have good years and players who have bad years," Konerko said. "There's no rhyme or reason to some of it. There are always little moments that shape a season. It just seemed like everything that could go wrong went wrong, between the lines, outside the lines."

Chicago was also without Gordon Beckham due to a leg injury. Beckham had recorded four doubles while hitting safely in each of his last seven games.

The White Sox have knocked around scheduled starter Jeremy Guthrie (14-12, 4.09 ERA) the last two times they've faced him, tagging him for 11 runs over 8 1-3 innings. He had been 3-0 with a 0.40 ERA in the previous six matchups, including one shutout.

Guthrie has dropped back-to-back starts while surrendering 20 hits and six runs over 14 innings.

Adam Dunn, given the day off Wednesday, will try to turn things around as he's 7 for 71 (.099) over his last 22 games with 36 strikeouts. He's 4 for 26 off Guthrie with 12 strikeouts.

Chicago will give the ball to rookie right-hander Andre Rienzo (2-2, 5.04), who has surrendered five earned runs in three of his last four outings, including an 8-1 loss to Cleveland on Sept. 14, when he gave up seven hits and four walks over four-plus innings.

Rienzo recorded a 3.56 ERA through his first five starts - the last of which was a 5-2 victory at Kansas City on Aug. 21, when he surrendered two runs and five hits in six innings.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Indians (88-70) at Twins (66-92)
Game: 1
Venue: Target Field
Date: September 26, 2013 8:10 PM EDT


The Cleveland Indians have gotten hot at just the right time, and they aren't showing any signs of slowing down.

Looking to hold on to the AL's second wild-card spot, the Indians go for a seventh consecutive win Thursday night in the opener of a four-game road set against the lowly Minnesota Twins.

Michael Brantley collected three more hits and Nick Swisher clubbed his sixth homer this month as Cleveland (88-70) beat the Chicago White Sox 7-2 on Wednesday. Winners in 16 of 21, the Indians remained one game behind wild card-leading Tampa Bay and one ahead of Texas with four to play.

"We're in control of our own destiny. That's all you can ask for at this time of year," designated hitter Jason Giambi said. "We've just got to play baseball, that's all we gotta do. We don't have to worry about anybody else beating anybody else. We've just get to go out and play baseball, which is the fun part of the game."

Cleveland, which has outscored opponents 29-11 during its win streak, has taken four of its last five against Minnesota (66-92).

The Indians now turn to Zach McAllister (9-9, 3.88 ERA), who is looking to win a career-high third consecutive start after posting a 1.54 ERA in his last two. The right-hander yielded one run over five-plus innings in Friday's rain-shortened 2-1 victory over Houston.

"This is an exciting time right now in the year. To be where we are right now, it's awesome," he told MLB's official website. "You can't ask for anything better right now."

McAllister won three straight starts Aug. 13-24, a stretch that included two victories over Minnesota. He allowed three earned runs in 13 1-3 innings and held the Twins to a .170 average in those outings.

Chris Herrmann is 0 for 8 against McAllister, and Brian Dozier, Pedro Florimon and Trevor Plouffe are all 1 for 7. Josh Willingham, though, is 6 for 10 with three homers.

Hoping to avoid a seventh loss in eight games, the Twins fell 1-0 to Detroit on Wednesday as the Tigers clinched the AL Central.

"It leaves a nasty feeling in you," Dozier said. "Kind of a hungry feeling. It's what you play for."

Minnesota, which was limited to three singles and went 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position, is batting .205 in such situations while losing 16 of 21.

The Twins will try to bounce back behind rookie Andrew Albers (2-4, 3.98). The left-hander, who threw a two-hitter in a 3-0 win over Cleveland on Aug. 12 in his second big-league start, has since gone 0-4 with a 5.84 ERA over seven outings.

Albers' woes continued Friday, giving up eight runs - three earned - in 4 2-3 innings in an 11-0 loss at Oakland.

"You just keep battling, keep trying to make pitches and just keep working at it," he said. "Unfortunately tonight I just wasn't able to battle through it often enough."

He will have to be careful with Brantley, who is 17 for 35 (.486) with two homers and eight RBIs during a nine-game hitting streak. The left fielder, though, is batting .179 in 15 games against the Twins this year.

All-Star second baseman Jason Kipnis, in contrast, is hitting .403 with 11 extra-base hits - four homers - and 23 RBIs during an 18-game stretch in the series dating to last season.