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Orioles-Twins Preview




(AP) -- The Baltimore Orioles have excellent numbers in virtually every offensive category. Most of those, however, were accumulated before the last nine games.


Another challenge for their struggling offense awaits Wednesday when they face red-hot Tommy Milone, who tries to pitch the Minnesota Twins to their first sweep of the Orioles in eight years.


Baltimore ranks among the AL leaders in runs, batting average and slugging percentage, but that hasn't been apparent recently.


Since surging to the top of the East during a 16-4 run through late June that saw them average 6.3 runs, the Orioles (43-41) have trended in the opposite direction. They've scored 27 runs - nine coming in one game - during a 2-7 stretch, striking out 78 times and going 7 for 61 (.115) with runners in scoring position.


J.J. Hardy had a two-run homer in Tuesday's 8-3 loss, Baltimore's fourth straight at Target Field.


Top prospect Miguel Sano hit a towering two-run shot for his first home run and Eddie Rosario added two RBIs to help Minnesota (45-39) win two in a row for the first time a three-game run June 17-19.


Sano has made a seamless transition to the majors, going 9 for 20 with five RBIs in six games since being promoted from Double-A.


"I don't feel like any pressure here," the 22-year-old Sano said. "The same baseball and when I go hit, I try to hit the ball the same way I try to hit. I don't try to do too much because if I try to do too much, I can pull the ball or something like that, a groundball, a lot of strikeouts. Otherwise, I try to hit the ball and put in play."


Joe Mauer went 2 for 4 with three runs and is batting .379 in his last 16 games. He's a career .344 hitter against the Orioles.


Milone's recent performances should have the Twins confident in completing their first sweep of the Orioles since taking all seven meetings in 2007.


Milone (4-1, 3.02 ERA) has been a revelation since rejoining the rotation in early June. In six starts since returning, the left-hander is 2-0 with a 1.95 ERA while completing at least six innings in five consecutive outings. He limited Kansas City to one run and five hits over six innings before leaving without a decision in a 3-2 loss Friday.


He's experienced similar success in three starts against Baltimore, going 1-1 with a 1.89 ERA.


Manny Machado (5 for 8) and Hardy (4 for 9), though, have fared well in this matchup.


Ubaldo Jimenez (7-4, 2.96) looks to continue a string of solid outings for Baltimore. The right-hander is 4-1 with a 2.74 ERA in his last seven starts and was excellent Friday against the Chicago White Sox. He allowed a solo homer and five other hits over seven innings in a tough-luck 1-0 loss.


In 16 starts, Jimenez has held opponents to three earned runs or fewer 14 times and pitched at least six innings on nine occasions. Most impressive is how much his control has improved from last season, when he walked 5.53 per nine innings - the majors' worst total among pitchers with at least 125 innings. He's averaging a career-best 2.77 walks this year.


Jimenez is 4-1 with a 2.08 ERA in five career starts at Target Field.


Torii Hunter is 8 for 21 against him and Brian Dozier is 5 for 12.

Braves-Brewers Preview


(AP) -- Julio Teheran is already in Milwaukee as he tries to end his eight-start road winless stretch Wednesday, although his manager suggested maybe he should have spent the night in Atlanta.


The Atlanta Braves starter owns a lower ERA against the Milwaukee Brewers than versus any NL opponent heading into this three-game series finale.


Teheran (6-4, 4.60 ERA) is 0-4 with an 8.23 ERA in his last eight road outings. It's a completely different story compared to how he has pitched at home, where he lowered his ERA to 2.04 after yielding an unearned run in seven innings in Friday's 2-1 win over Philadelphia.


Teheran's road ERA is an NL-worst 7.40.


"It's one of those things you can't explain," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "Maybe we'll fly him in the day of his (road) start. Maybe if he sleeps in his bed, that'll help."


The right-hander is 2-2 with a 1.59 ERA in four career starts versus the Brewers, though both losses are at Miller Park. He will have to be wary of Jonathan Lucroy, who is 4 for 6 with two doubles against him, and Jean Segura, who is 4 for 9 with a homer.


Of less concern to Teheran is Ryan Braun, who is 1 for 9 in this matchup, Carlos Gomez (2 for 12 with eight strikeouts), Gerardo Parra (3 for 14 with six strikeouts) and Khris Davis (0 for 6).


Teheran allowed one run in seven innings to earn a 10-1 win over the Brewers (36-50) on May 21.


Atlanta (42-42) seeks its first three-game sweep in Milwaukee since May 10-12, 2010. The Braves have taken 10 of the last 12 matchups after Tuesday's 4-3 victory.


A.J. Pierzynski had a homer among his three hits to improve to 7 for 9 in this series and 10 for 13 in his last three games, though it appears he will give way to backup catcher Ryan Lavarnway for this day game.


"Some of us 38-year-old guys need breaks every once in a while," Pierzynski said.


Parra struck out as a pinch-hitter after going 13 for 26 in six straight multi-hit efforts to start July for Milwaukee, which entered this series on a season-high, eight-game win streak.


Lucroy hit his first homer at home and second of the season. He is 13 for 32 in his last eight games after struggling for most of the year.


"That's the way it's been going, man," he told MLB's official website. "Just keep hitting the ball hard and hopefully they fall more than they're caught."


Milwaukee has won the last three outings by Mike Fiers (4-7, 3.83), who has a 1.35 ERA in that span and earned his first win in that stretch Friday with seven scoreless innings in a 12-1 rout at Cincinnati.


The right-hander's lone career start against Atlanta was on May 23 when he surrendered two runs in five innings in a 3-2, 11-inning loss.


The Braves hitter with the most at-bats against him is Cameron Maybin, who is 2 for 6 in this matchup. Maybin is 12 for 28 during a seven-game hitting streak.

Preview: Braves (42-42) at Brewers (36-50)
Game: 3
Venue: Miller Park
Date: July 08, 2015 2:10 PM EDT

Julio Teheran is already in Milwaukee as he tries to end his eight-start road winless stretch Wednesday, although his manager suggested maybe he should have spent the night in Atlanta.


The Atlanta Braves starter owns a lower ERA against the Milwaukee Brewers than versus any NL opponent heading into this three-game series finale.


Teheran (6-4, 4.60 ERA) is 0-4 with an 8.23 ERA in his last eight road outings. It's a completely different story compared to how he has pitched at home, where he lowered his ERA to 2.04 after yielding an unearned run in seven innings in Friday's 2-1 win over Philadelphia.


Teheran's road ERA is an NL-worst 7.40.


"It's one of those things you can't explain," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "Maybe we'll fly him in the day of his (road) start. Maybe if he sleeps in his bed, that'll help."


The right-hander is 2-2 with a 1.59 ERA in four career starts versus the Brewers, though both losses are at Miller Park. He will have to be wary of Jonathan Lucroy, who is 4 for 6 with two doubles against him, and Jean Segura, who is 4 for 9 with a homer.


Of less concern to Teheran is Ryan Braun, who is 1 for 9 in this matchup, Carlos Gomez (2 for 12 with eight strikeouts), Gerardo Parra (3 for 14 with six strikeouts) and Khris Davis (0 for 6).


Teheran allowed one run in seven innings to earn a 10-1 win over the Brewers (36-50) on May 21.


Atlanta (42-42) seeks its first three-game sweep in Milwaukee since May 10-12, 2010. The Braves have taken 10 of the last 12 matchups after Tuesday's 4-3 victory.


A.J. Pierzynski had a homer among his three hits to improve to 7 for 9 in this series and 10 for 13 in his last three games, though it appears he will give way to backup catcher Ryan Lavarnway for this day game.


'Some of us 38-year-old guys need breaks every once in a while,' Pierzynski said.


Parra struck out as a pinch-hitter after going 13 for 26 in six straight multi-hit efforts to start July for Milwaukee, which entered this series on a season-high, eight-game win streak.


Lucroy hit his first homer at home and second of the season. He is 13 for 32 in his last eight games after struggling for most of the year.


"That's the way it's been going, man," he told MLB's official website. "Just keep hitting the ball hard and hopefully they fall more than they're caught."


Milwaukee has won the last three outings by Mike Fiers (4-7, 3.83), who has a 1.35 ERA in that span and earned his first win in that stretch Friday with seven scoreless innings in a 12-1 rout at Cincinnati.


The right-hander's lone career start against Atlanta was on May 23 when he surrendered two runs in five innings in a 3-2, 11-inning loss.


The Braves hitter with the most at-bats against him is Cameron Maybin, who is 2 for 6 in this matchup. Maybin is 12 for 28 during a seven-game hitting streak.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Braves at Brewers
Mon, Jul 6 Final 5 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Braves at Brewers
Tue, Jul 7 Final 4 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Braves at Brewers
Wed, Jul 8 - 2:10PM EDT

Preview: Braves (42-42) at Brewers (36-50)
Game: 3
Venue: Miller Park
Date: July 08, 2015 2:10 PM EDT

Julio Teheran is already in Milwaukee as he tries to end his eight-start road winless stretch Wednesday, although his manager suggested maybe he should have spent the night in Atlanta.


The Atlanta Braves starter owns a lower ERA against the Milwaukee Brewers than versus any NL opponent heading into this three-game series finale.


Teheran (6-4, 4.60 ERA) is 0-4 with an 8.23 ERA in his last eight road outings. It's a completely different story compared to how he has pitched at home, where he lowered his ERA to 2.04 after yielding an unearned run in seven innings in Friday's 2-1 win over Philadelphia.


Teheran's road ERA is an NL-worst 7.40.


"It's one of those things you can't explain," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "Maybe we'll fly him in the day of his (road) start. Maybe if he sleeps in his bed, that'll help."


The right-hander is 2-2 with a 1.59 ERA in four career starts versus the Brewers, though both losses are at Miller Park. He will have to be wary of Jonathan Lucroy, who is 4 for 6 with two doubles against him, and Jean Segura, who is 4 for 9 with a homer.


Of less concern to Teheran is Ryan Braun, who is 1 for 9 in this matchup, Carlos Gomez (2 for 12 with eight strikeouts), Gerardo Parra (3 for 14 with six strikeouts) and Khris Davis (0 for 6).


Teheran allowed one run in seven innings to earn a 10-1 win over the Brewers (36-50) on May 21.


Atlanta (42-42) seeks its first three-game sweep in Milwaukee since May 10-12, 2010. The Braves have taken 10 of the last 12 matchups after Tuesday's 4-3 victory.


A.J. Pierzynski had a homer among his three hits to improve to 7 for 9 in this series and 10 for 13 in his last three games, though it appears he will give way to backup catcher Ryan Lavarnway for this day game.


'Some of us 38-year-old guys need breaks every once in a while,' Pierzynski said.


Parra struck out as a pinch-hitter after going 13 for 26 in six straight multi-hit efforts to start July for Milwaukee, which entered this series on a season-high, eight-game win streak.


Lucroy hit his first homer at home and second of the season. He is 13 for 32 in his last eight games after struggling for most of the year.


"That's the way it's been going, man," he told MLB's official website. "Just keep hitting the ball hard and hopefully they fall more than they're caught."


Milwaukee has won the last three outings by Mike Fiers (4-7, 3.83), who has a 1.35 ERA in that span and earned his first win in that stretch Friday with seven scoreless innings in a 12-1 rout at Cincinnati.


The right-hander's lone career start against Atlanta was on May 23 when he surrendered two runs in five innings in a 3-2, 11-inning loss.


The Braves hitter with the most at-bats against him is Cameron Maybin, who is 2 for 6 in this matchup. Maybin is 12 for 28 during a seven-game hitting streak.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Braves at Brewers
Mon, Jul 6 Final 5 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Braves at Brewers
Tue, Jul 7 Final 4 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Braves at Brewers
Wed, Jul 8 - 2:10PM EDT

Preview: Orioles (43-41) at Twins (45-39)
Game: 3
Venue: Target Field
Date: July 08, 2015 1:10 PM EDT

The Baltimore Orioles have excellent numbers in virtually every offensive category. Most of those, however, were accumulated before the last nine games.


Another challenge for their struggling offense awaits Wednesday when they face red-hot Tommy Milone, who tries to pitch the Minnesota Twins to their first sweep of the Orioles in eight years.


Baltimore ranks among the AL leaders in runs, batting average and slugging percentage, but that hasn't been apparent recently.


Since surging to the top of the East during a 16-4 run through late June that saw them average 6.3 runs, the Orioles (43-41) have trended in the opposite direction. They've scored 27 runs - nine coming in one game - during a 2-7 stretch, striking out 78 times and going 7 for 61 (.115) with runners in scoring position.


J.J. Hardy had a two-run homer in Tuesday's 8-3 loss, Baltimore's fourth straight at Target Field.


Top prospect Miguel Sano hit a towering two-run shot for his first home run and Eddie Rosario added two RBIs to help Minnesota (45-39) win two in a row for the first time a three-game run June 17-19.


Sano has made a seamless transition to the majors, going 9 for 20 with five RBIs in six games since being promoted from Double-A.


'I don't feel like any pressure here,' the 22-year-old Sano said. 'The same baseball and when I go hit, I try to hit the ball the same way I try to hit. I don't try to do too much because if I try to do too much, I can pull the ball or something like that, a groundball, a lot of strikeouts. Otherwise, I try to hit the ball and put in play.'


Joe Mauer went 2 for 4 with three runs and is batting .379 in his last 16 games. He's a career .344 hitter against the Orioles.


Milone's recent performances should have the Twins confident in completing their first sweep of the Orioles since taking all seven meetings in 2007.


Milone (4-1, 3.02 ERA) has been a revelation since rejoining the rotation in early June. In six starts since returning, the left-hander is 2-0 with a 1.95 ERA while completing at least six innings in five consecutive outings. He limited Kansas City to one run and five hits over six innings before leaving without a decision in a 3-2 loss Friday.


He's experienced similar success in three starts against Baltimore, going 1-1 with a 1.89 ERA.


Manny Machado (5 for 8) and Hardy (4 for 9), though, have fared well in this matchup.


Ubaldo Jimenez (7-4, 2.96) looks to continue a string of solid outings for Baltimore. The right-hander is 4-1 with a 2.74 ERA in his last seven starts and was excellent Friday against the Chicago White Sox. He allowed a solo homer and five other hits over seven innings in a tough-luck 1-0 loss.


In 16 starts, Jimenez has held opponents to three earned runs or fewer 14 times and pitched at least six innings on nine occasions. Most impressive is how much his control has improved from last season, when he walked 5.53 per nine innings - the majors' worst total among pitchers with at least 125 innings. He's averaging a career-best 2.77 walks this year.


Jimenez is 4-1 with a 2.08 ERA in five career starts at Target Field.


Torii Hunter is 8 for 21 against him and Brian Dozier is 5 for 12.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Orioles at Twins
Mon, Jul 6 Final 2 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Orioles at Twins
Tue, Jul 7 Final 3 to 8
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Orioles at Twins
Wed, Jul 8 - 1:10PM EDT

Preview: Tigers (42-41) at Mariners (39-45)
Game: 3
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: July 08, 2015 3:40 PM EDT

Considering the role Robinson Cano's disappointing season has played in the Seattle Mariners' struggles, a resurgence from the second baseman may be exactly what the team needs for a turnaround.


After lifting the Mariners to a thrilling win, Cano look to stay hot in Wednesday's series finale with the visiting Detroit Tigers.


Offense had been difficult to come by for Seattle (39-45), which entered Tuesday last in the majors with 3.41 runs per game, but several marquee players finally stepped up in a 7-6, 11-inning victory over Detroit (42-41).


Austin Jackson snapped a 3-for-21 slump to match a career-high with four RBIs, and Cano - whose .665 OPS sits significantly below his career mark of .847 - delivered a home run and the walk-off single.


It was the first walk-off hit for Cano since Aug. 28, 2009, with the New York Yankees, and he is now 12 for 30 (.400) with six runs this month.


'I been feeling good in my swing the whole year, been hitting a lot of balls hard, but when you start getting hits it's different. It's less thinking for you," Cano said. "To be able to come through in that situation where we've been having trouble the whole year, especially myself, doing our job with men in scoring position.'


A similar showing Wednesday will have to come against Anibal Sanchez (7-7, 4.65 ERA). The right-hander posted two scoreless outings June 9-15, and although he has failed to match that dominance of late, he has four wins with a 2.61 ERA in his last five starts.


Sanchez, who touted a 5.69 ERA through his first 12 starts, carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning Friday but ultimately allowed four runs in an 8-6 win over Toronto. He has averaged more than 110 pitches over his last eight outings.


"Sanchy did a great job," manager Brad Ausmus told MLB's official website Friday. "I think he got a little weary at the end. Pitch count was up. When you get tired, you lose a little bit of your control, but he did, obviously, an outstanding job."


J.A. Happ (4-5, 3.93) goes for Seattle after finally snapping a four-start losing streak with six solid innings on Friday to beat Oakland 9-5. The left-hander surrendered three runs and eight hits while not walking a batter for the first time in 13 outings.


"'Trust the process, hold the vision' is one of the quotes I kept trying to tell myself in my head," Happ said. "You just have put your work in and trust that it's going to pay off and sooner or later we're going to make it happen."


Happ's previous success against Detroit bodes well for another win Wednesday. He owns a 2.30 ERA in three career meetings - his second-lowest against any AL opponent.


The Tigers were held to a single-digit hit total for the first time in eight games Tuesday, but their power remained evident with a second consecutive four-homer game - Detroit's first back-to-back contests with four or more home runs since Games 5 and 6 of the 2011 AL Championship Series.


Yoenis Cespedes and Nick Castellanos each homered, and J.D. Martinez went deep in Monday's 12-5 win for his 11th home run since June 21.


Martinez is hitting .379 with a 1.402 OPS and 23 RBIs in his last 14 games.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Tigers at Mariners
Mon, Jul 6 Final 12 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Tigers at Mariners
Tue, Jul 7 Final 6 to 7
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Tigers at Mariners
Wed, Jul 8 - 3:40PM EDT

Preview: Mets (43-42) at Giants (43-42)
Game: 3
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: July 08, 2015 3:45 PM EDT

After snapping a lengthy skid and ending the New York Mets' scoreless streak, the San Francisco Giants will try to spoil Jacob deGrom's final start before his first All-Star game.


The Mets right-hander, meanwhile, will try to bounce back from his least effective outing in nearly two months in Wednesday's series finale in San Francisco.


New York (43-42) was seeking its third consecutive shutout on its West Coast trip Tuesday but come up short on the mound and mostly at the plate in a 3-0 loss. Hunter Pence drove in two runs as the Giants ended a seven-game skid - their second-longest in 2015 - and made a superb defensive play in the sixth inning after sitting out since June 2 because of tendinitis in his left wrist.


Pence also ended the Mets' season-best scoreless run at 21 innings with his RBI groundout in the third, and deGrom (8-6, 2.30 ERA) looks to start another before heading off to Cincinnati.


DeGrom gave up more than three runs and more than two earned for the first time in nine starts Thursday in a 6-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs. He also failed to get through the sixth inning for the first time in that stretch, finishing at 5 1-3 against a team that's caused him trouble.


DeGrom is 0-2 with a 6.46 ERA in three career starts versus the Cubs and 17-10 with a 2.26 ERA against the other 15 teams he's faced, including one against San Francisco. He's facing the Giants (43-42) for the first time since a 4-2 victory Aug. 2.


"Look at the half he's had," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy - and the NL's manager for the All-Star game - told the MLB's official website. "Look at the respect he's gotten from all the other players. He's got tremendous stuff. It's well-earned. The numbers show that."


DeGrom yielded two runs and four hits in 7 1-3 innings against San Francisco while striking out seven en route to winning NL rookie of the year. He pitched opposite Jake Peavy (0-3, 6.43) in that game, and the veteran right-hander will start this one after making his return from a back injury Friday in Washington.


Peavy yielded two runs - on Clint Robinson's homer in the seventh - and three hits in 6 1-3 innings in a 2-1 defeat.


"There's a lot to build on," Peavy said. "It's nice to show everybody in this room, and the Giants, that I'm healthy. ... I expect to win, though. I wouldn't be here if I didn't expect to win."


Peavy, seeking his first win since Sept. 16, is 6-3 with a 3.45 ERA in 12 career starts against the Mets and had won three consecutive matchups before losing to deGrom, his only meeting in 2014. He'll face a team that's been shut out three times in its last eight games, and New York has totaled 17 runs while batting .210 in that stretch.


Pence and Peavy are among six current Giants players who are a combined 1 for 16 against deGrom. Brandon Belt has the lone hit, a single, and Pence is 0 for 3.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Mets at Giants
Mon, Jul 6 Final 3 to 0
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Mets at Giants
Tue, Jul 7 Final 0 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Mets at Giants
Wed, Jul 8 - 3:45PM EDT

Preview: Athletics (39-47) at Yankees (44-39)
Game: 2
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: July 08, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

The New York Yankees have treaded water despite being without one of their top bats for nearly two months, though recent results suggest that Jacoby Ellsbury's absence is starting to take its toll.


New York hopes Ellsbury's return Wednesday night against the visiting Oakland Athletics can help provide a spark.


The Yankees (44-39) hold a 1 1/2-game lead over Baltimore and Toronto in the AL East, an advantage that has become increasingly precarious after dropping nine of 15. Though they've averaged 4.8 runs while going 22-21 since losing Ellsbury on May 19 to a sprained right knee, they've scored three runs or fewer in seven of eight. Ellsbury's .324 average and 29 runs led the team before his injury.


New York had six hits in Tuesday's 4-3, 10-inning loss to the A's, with Dellin Betances surrendering the deciding home run to Brett Lawrie. The Yankees' bullpen also figures to get a boost from the return of Andrew Miller, who will also be activated from the disabled list. Miller converted 17 of 17 save opportunities with a 1.03 ERA but hasn't pitched since June 9 because of a strained forearm.


Ellsbury has his work cut out for him in his return against Oakland's Scott Kazmir (5-5, 2.56 ERA). The left-hander is 3-1 with a 1.53 ERA in his last five starts, completing seven-plus innings four times. Given his performance this season - his ERA is the second-lowest of his career - and his expiring contract, Kazmir looks like a prime trade deadline target.


"He's become a leader here the last couple years, by performance and in the clubhouse," manager Bob Melvin said. "When you're that good, and we have the record that we do, there's going to be speculation and there's going to be guys talked about based on the fact they're in the last year of their contract."


Kazmir will be trying to exorcise past road demons against the Yankees after going 1-4 with a 5.87 in seven starts, not winning since June 22, 2005. He's also 0-3 with a 5.48 ERA in his last four road outings overall.


Ellsbury is 7 for 27 off Kazmir, while Mark Teixeira, 5 for 40 (.125) over his past 11 games, is 11 for 20 with two homers and four doubles.


New York counters with CC Sabathia (3-8, 5.59), who is 1-3 with an 8.49 ERA in six games in the Bronx. He's been unable to prevent home runs regardless of where he's pitching, and gave up two for the fourth time in five starts in a 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on June 29.


Though Sabathia has struggled to keep the ball in the park at times throughout his career, it's become even more of an issue in recent years. He's surrendered 1.29 homers per nine innings while going 35-31 since 2012. He was 176-96 previously while allowing 0.78 per nine.


The 19 home runs against him this year are among the most in the majors.


The Yankees used recent breaks in their schedule to push the left-hander back three days for polishing. He's 19-14 with a 4.29 ERA in 50 career starts with six-plus days' rest, and 0-2 with a 11.25 ERA in two this year.


Sabathia was taken deep by Lawrie and Billy Burns in a 5-4 loss at Oakland on May 28, giving up five runs in six innings. He's allowed nine homers in his last seven matchups and is 8-11 with a 4.75 ERA in 28 career meetings.


Oakland (39-47), which has won 18 of the last 24 meetings, was the final team to win in extra innings this season.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Athletics at Yankees
Tue, Jul 7 Final 4 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Athletics at Yankees
Wed, Jul 8 - 7:05PM EDT


GAME 3
Athletics at Yankees
Thu, Jul 9 - 1:05PM EDT

Preview: Reds (38-44) at Nationals (46-38)
Game: 3
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: July 08, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

The Washington Nationals have had one of the best rotations in baseball for nearly three weeks, yet Joey Votto has had little trouble getting the better of those starters throughout this season.


The slugger looks to continue having his way with the NL East leaders and lead the Cincinnati Reds to a sweep of this three-game series Wednesday night at Nationals Park.


Cincinnati (38-44) is 5-0 versus the Nationals this year, and Votto has been the driving force behind that perfect record. He's 8 for 11 with three homers and six RBIs against their rotation after taking Washington staff ace Max Scherzer to task Tuesday night, going 3 for 3 with a solo homer, run-scoring double and RBI single against him in a 5-0 victory as Johnny Cueto fired a two-hitter with 11 strikeouts.


"I think he's had a fantastic first half and he's probably the frontrunner to start the All-Star Game, so any time you have a good game against a pitcher of that level, it stands out a little bit," Votto said.


It was only the third time in the last 17 games a Nationals starter allowed more than two runs. The rotation has compiled a 10-4 record and 2.17 ERA in that span, with Scherzer's outing Tuesday spiking the ERA one-third of a run.


That puts the onus on Gio Gonzalez (6-4, 4.16 ERA) to help Washington (46-38) avoid its first three-game skid since June 6-9. The left-hander is trying to win a season-best third straight start and appears to have found his rhythm after notching only one victory in his previous seven outings.


After scattering four hits in seven shutout innings versus Pittsburgh on June 21, he yielded a solo homer and four other hits in seven Friday when he outpitched Jake Peavy in a 2-1 victory over San Francisco.


'It was just finding (catcher Jose Lobaton's) glove and trying to pound it,' said Gonzalez, who has averaged 11.9 pitches per inning in the two victories. 'I gassed myself up so I could keep the ball down instead of trying to amp it up and throw it hard. It was just trying to locate it and keep it down.'


Gonzalez didn't do that May 30 against Votto, who homered and went 2 for 2 with a walk to improve to 5 for 12 with two homers and a double lifetime against him. Gonzalez did not get a decision as he yielded four runs and seven hits in 5 1-3 innings of Cincinnati's 8-5 victory.


It was Gonzalez's first shaky outing versus the Reds, against whom he's 2-1 with a 1.83 ERA in six lifetime starts.


The Reds have given Michael Lorenzen (3-3, 3.58) little to work with in his last two starts - providing one run total - but he struggled Friday versus Milwaukee, serving up a pair of solo homers and three runs overall in four innings of a 12-1 loss. The rookie right-hander has been solid on the road, however, with a 3.00 ERA in five starts - yielding two or fewer runs in four of them.


Lorenzen worked his way in and out of trouble against Washington on May 31, giving up two runs on one hit while walking six in 6 1-3 innings. He left without a decision as Cincinnati went on to an 8-2 win. Pitcher Tanner Roark got the only hit, a second-inning double.


Washington has totaled seven hits in this series while going 0 for 13 with runners in scoring position.


Cincinnati's last sweep of a three-game set in the nation's capital came in April 2006.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Reds at Nationals
Mon, Jul 6 Final 3 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Reds at Nationals
Tue, Jul 7 Final 5 to 0
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Reds at Nationals
Wed, Jul 8 - 7:05PM EDT

Preview: Padres (39-47) at Pirates (49-34)
Game: 3
Venue: PNC Park
Date: July 08, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

The Pittsburgh Pirates have yet to break out offensively during their long homestand, but timely hitting and quality pitching has kept their winning ways alive.


The San Diego Padres are the latest victim of the Pirates, who seek their sixth home sweep of the season Wednesday night.


Pittsburgh (49-34) opened its 10-game home stay with a loss to Cleveland but has since won four straight, all by two or fewer runs. Gregory Polanco delivered the big hit Tuesday with a go-ahead RBI triple in the eighth inning of a 3-2 victory.


The win secured the Pirates first series win at home against the Padres (39-47) since 2000.


"Well, we can knock this off the to-do list, for sure," manager Clint Hurdle told MLB's official website. "We won a series at home against San Diego. Good stuff."


Pittsburgh, which has totaled 13 runs on its homestand, is an MLB-best 31-12 since May 22, and has won 19 of its last 25 at PNC Park behind a 1.88 ERA from the starting staff in that span.


Charlie Morton (6-2, 4.30 ERA) suffered the most recent loss in that otherwise torrid stretch in a 5-2 defeat to Cleveland on Friday, but looks for redemption against a team he has found success. Including a five-run outing against San Diego on Aug. 10, Morton owns a 2.65 ERA in six starts with the Padres and has held them to a .173 average - his lowest against any NL opponent.


The right-hander worked consecutive scoreless outings June 10 and 16, but has a 11.37 ERA in three starts since.


Morton will oppose Andrew Cashner (3-9, 4.06), who posted a quality start in eight of his first 10 appearances and seems to have finally recovered from a long slump in which he allowed 29 runs in 26 innings from June 1-21. The right-hander posted a 2.08 ERA over his last two starts, including six strong innings in San Diego's 2-1 win over St. Louis on Friday.


Cashner's last outing in Pittsburgh was perhaps the best of his career, as he pitched a one-hitter in a 2-0 win Sept. 16, 2013. Another long outing from Cashner on Wednesday would be welcomed by the San Diego bullpen, which was tasked with seven innings Tuesday after Tyson Ross did not return following a lengthy rain delay in the third inning.


"We made that decision early and decided it was best for the young man to not go back out there after an hour and 45 minutes and then the possibility of more rain and everything else," interim manager Pat Murphy said. "He's got a little blister on his finger that he's dealt with, so that was probably another factor."


Andrew McCutchen is hitting .383 with 10 extra-base hits and a 1.212 OPS over his current 14-game hitting streak, and he has doubled in three straight. He would have had his 11th home run if not for left fielder Justin Upton, who robbed McCutchen on Tuesday.


Offensively, however, Upton has struggled, going 3 for 30 in his last eight games.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Padres at Pirates
Mon, Jul 6 Final 1 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Padres at Pirates
Tue, Jul 7 Final 2 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Padres at Pirates
Wed, Jul 8 - 7:05PM EDT

Preview: Marlins (35-49) at Red Sox (40-45)
Game: 2
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: July 08, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

Boston Red Sox fans will get a chance to boo a visitor from the Bronx two days earlier than expected.


The Red Sox are in search of a season-high fourth straight win as they face the Miami Marlins' Tom Koehler for the first time Wednesday night when the Bronx-born right-hander seeks to win his fourth straight start.


Boston (40-45) will host the first-place New York Yankees this weekend, trailing their archrivals by five games. The Red Sox are starting to make their move as winners of seven of nine, including their fourth three-game win streak.


'Lately we've been playing really good,' shortstop Xander Bogaerts said. 'Definitely the momentum, the vibe, everything in the clubhouse has changed. That's what comes with winning.'


Before the Yankees come to Fenway Park, the Red Sox look to sweep this two-game set as they face the emerging Koehler (7-4, 3.52 ERA), who allowed one run in six innings in Friday's 2-1 road win over the Chicago Cubs to lower his ERA to 1.80 in his three-start run.


"That's three straight quality starts by him," manager Dan Jennings told MLB's official website. "He's General Patton. He's blood and guts. He just comes out there and gives it to you every day, all he's got. And he competes. He battles for every time you put him out there. He's fun to watch."


Koehler is 5-1 with a 4.43 ERA in his last seven interleague starts. He has experience against Pablo Sandoval, who is 2 for 6 against him, and Hanley Ramirez, who is 1 for 5.


Red Sox manager John Farrell will start Alejandro De Aza in left field. De Aza is 0 for 5 against Koehler.


Farrell will give the ball to Rick Porcello (4-9, 6.08), who is 0-7 with a 8.18 ERA in his last eight outings and owns the AL's worst ERA. Porcello was charged with seven runs over a season-low two innings in last Wednesday's 11-2 loss at Toronto.


The right-hander yielded three more homers to bring his season total to 16 in 94 2-3 innings - two shy of his 2014 output over 204 2-3 with Detroit.


"When he elevates, he's not getting away with any mistakes," Farrell said.


Porcello has never started versus the Marlins, making two relief appearances against them in 2013. Ichiro Suzuki is 12 for 31 against him.


Boston has won six straight over Miami (35-49) after Tuesday's 4-3 win.


Bogaerts drove in three runs with a bases-loaded single to erase a two-run deficit in the seventh inning. Bogaerts, one of five candidates for the final opening on the AL team, went 2 for 4 to raise his average to .304.


Mike Napoli, baseball's second-worst hitter at .192, did not start for the second straight game. Rookie first baseman Travis Shaw went 3 for 4 for his first big-league hits and Farrell did not say who would start Wednesday.


Christian Yelich had three hits and two RBIs for the Marlins, who have dropped eight straight interleague road games and 10 of their last 12 overall road contests.


First baseman Jeff Baker left after the top of the second inning with what the team described as oblique pain. His status is not known.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Marlins at Red Sox
Tue, Jul 7 Final 3 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Marlins at Red Sox
Wed, Jul 8 - 7:10PM EDT

Preview: Astros (49-37) at Indians (39-44)
Game: 3
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: July 08, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

If not for a high pitch count, Trevor Bauer might have gotten the chance to complete the Cleveland Indians' first no-hitter in 34 years on April 9 against the Houston Astros.


The Astros have gotten some more games to warm up their bats before Wednesday night's rematch with Bauer but are coming off their first shutout in a little more than a month.


Bauer didn't allow a hit for six innings and struck out a career-best 11 in his season debut but walked five and was pulled after 111 pitches. The Indians (39-44) would get within two outs of their first no-hitter since Len Barker's perfect game in 1981 until Nick Hagadone gave up a solo homer to Jed Lowrie in a 5-1 victory.


Bauer (7-5, 3.88 ERA) enters this game following his first win in three starts, a 5-2 victory in Pittsburgh on Friday. He retired the first 10 batters and allowed two runs - on an Andrew McCutchen homer - in 6 1-3 innings before leaving due to a rain delay.


The right-hander had given up a combined 11 runs over 10 innings in back-to-back losses.


Bauer has totaled 12 scoreless innings and 20 strikeouts in his two starts against the Astros (49-37), but is 2-4 with a 6.34 ERA in 11 home starts since beating Houston on Aug. 24. He has given up a combined 13 runs in 6 2-3 innings in his last two starts at Progressive Field.


After seeing them in their third game this season, Bauer will get to face the Astros in their 87th. Houston was batting .284 - 40 points higher than its season mark - and had scored 51 runs over a nine-game stretch prior to Tuesday's 2-0 loss.


The Astros registered six singles in their first shutout since May 31 after logging 16 hits - one shy of matching a season high - in Monday's 9-4 victory. Jose Altuve ended his career-best 14-game hit streak by going 0 for 4.


"I thought we had good at-bats all night with nothing to show for it," manager A.J. Hinch said. "That's the disappointing part."


Jason Kipnis snapped a 29-game home hit streak - the longest by an Indians player at Progressive - as Cleveland ended a three-game losing streak. The win was also just their seventh in the last 19 home contests.


"Everybody knows we've got to finish this (seven-game) homestand strong before going into the All-Star break," outfielder Michael Brantley said. "We've got to play good competitive baseball, error free and pitching well. We've got to continue to do that to be successful in (the AL Central)."


Dan Straily will try to send Cleveland to another loss in his second start for Houston. He gave up five runs in 4 2-3 innings in a 12-8 win in Boston on Friday, the same day he was called up from the minors.


Straily lost his only start against the Indians on Aug. 17, 2013, while with Oakland. Brantley, who went 3 for 4 with a solo homer Tuesday, has doubled in both of his at-bats against the right-hander.


The Astros are hoping to get Luis Valbuena and his team-leading 19 homers back from a sprained left toe that's kept him out of the first two games against one of his former teams.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Astros at Indians
Mon, Jul 6 Final 9 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Astros at Indians
Tue, Jul 7 Final 0 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Astros at Indians
Wed, Jul 8 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 4
Astros at Indians
Thu, Jul 9 - 7:10PM EDT

Preview: Diamondbacks (41-42) at Rangers (41-43)
Game: 2
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: July 08, 2015 8:05 PM EDT

Matt Harrison has made 100 starts in his big league career, but he says No. 101 is going to feel like his debut all over again.


Harrison returns to a major league mound for the first time in nearly 14 months Wednesday night for the Texas Rangers against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks.


The Rangers are hoping Harrison will be able to recapture his form of 2011-12 when he went 32-20 with a 3.34 ERA, but just returning is a victory in itself for the right-hander, who hasn't pitched since May 13, 2014. After being limited to six starts from 2013-14, Harrison underwent spinal fusion in June 2014, his third back surgery in a span of two seasons.


No major league pitcher is believed to have come back from such an operation.


"I think success for me was getting back on the mound. ... My biggest hurdle was getting back on the mound again," he said. "At this point, it's a matter of getting my mind right again to go out there and pitch in a big league game, and try to control my emotions as best as possible."


Harrison has gone 1-3 with a 6.23 ERA in six minor league starts this year for Triple-A Round Rock and Double-A Frisco. He gave up three runs over six innings at Iowa last Wednesday.


"I feel good physically and mechanically. Just ironing out everything is the hardest part, and learn how to pitch with less (velocity)," said Harrison, who averaged 92.1 mph on his fastball in 2012, his last full season. "But I'm confident in myself and command the strike zone, be aggressive and get people out."


He is 0-1 in two starts against Arizona, giving up seven runs over 3 2-3 innings in the loss and throwing 7 1-3 scoreless in the other outing. Harrison is 6-2 with a 2.35 ERA in 11 career interleague starts.


The Rangers (41-43) hope he can help them end a four-game skid. They've lost 4 1/2 games on AL West-leading Houston while losing 12 of 16 after a 4-2 loss in Tuesday's opener of this two-game series.


Arizona (41-42) looks to reach the .500 mark for the first time since it was 8-8 after April 24. The Diamondbacks have failed to get to break-even mark 12 times since then.


Jake Lamb was 3 for 4, improving to 13 for 31 (.419) over his last nine games. Paul Goldschmidt was 2 for 3 and is hitting .456 with 17 RBIs in his last 18 on the road.


Jeremy Hellickson (6-5, 5.06 ERA) is trying to build off his longest outing of the season, limiting Colorado to one run and three hits over seven innings in an 8-1 victory Thursday. The right-hander didn't issue a walk and has only had two bases on balls in his last four starts spanning 24 1-3 innings. He had averaged 3.12 walks per nine innings in his previous 12 outings.


"It was definitely one of my best games stat line-wise, but I've been feeling good for a while now," he told MLB's official website.


Hellickson, 0-2 with an 8.40 ERA in his last three road games, is 0-3 with a 3.86 ERA in five career starts against Texas.


Josh Hamilton is 3 for 9 with two homers off Hellickson. He went 0 for 4 Tuesday after missing two games with a strained leg.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Diamondbacks at Rangers
Tue, Jul 7 Final 4 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Diamondbacks at Rangers
Wed, Jul 8 - 8:05PM EDT

Preview: Cardinals (54-30) at Cubs (46-37)
Game: 3
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: July 08, 2015 8:05 PM EDT

The Chicago Cubs' nightmarish stretch against the St. Louis Cardinals finally came to an end with an impressive doubleheader sweep.


Another victory Wednesday night would give the Cubs their first series victory against St. Louis this season, but Michael Wacha figures to pose plenty of problems in the finale of this four-game series.


After losing five in a row and eight of the first 10 meetings with the Cardinals, Chicago (46-37) took both ends of a day-night twinbill Tuesday, winning 7-4 in the afternoon and 5-3 in the nightcap. Anthony Rizzo had two runs and three RBIs over the two wins, and Addison Russell snapped a 1-for-31 skid to drive in his first run in 12 games as the Cubs swept a doubleheader from the Cardinals (54-30) for the first time since June 8, 1992.


Chicago can now move 10 games over .500 Wednesday - a feat the franchise has not accomplished since the 2008 season, when they finished with an NL-best 97 wins.


"With all due respect, I do feel we can play with anybody. I really do," manager Joe Maddon told MLB's official website. "We have to prove it, though. ... For me, and for us, I feel strongly about our group, but we've got to prove it."


A third straight win over the first-place Cardinals won't come easy with Wacha (10-3, 2.66 ERA) on the mound, as the right-hander trails only Pittsburgh's Gerrit Cole (12) for wins among NL pitchers. Wacha allowed one run over seven innings in a 2-1 loss to San Diego on Friday, and earned his latest win with six strong innings in an 8-1 victory over the Cubs on June 27.


He has had trouble with Starlin Castro and Rizzo, yielding a combined 12 hits and two home runs in 28 at-bats, but Wacha has stifled the remainder of Chicago's lineup, allowing seven or fewer hits in all five career starts against the Cubs.


Wacha's only loss against Chicago came in his only start at Wrigley Field, as he allowed two runs over six innings in a 3-0 defeat May 3, 2014.


He opposes Jason Hammel (5-4, 2.89), who is 0-2 in his past five starts despite a 3.25 ERA. He lost his second consecutive start Friday against Miami, yielding two runs and four hits in seven innings.


The right-hander continued to pitch well at Wrigley Field, where he has posted a 2.25 ERA in seven starts this year. Including last season, Hammel has a 2.94 ERA in 33 starts as a Cub and a 2.30 ERA at Wrigley, compared with 3.45 on the road.


"We're confident in what we can do and we're playing tight ballgames," Hammel told MLB's official website. "All this is doing is preparing us for a shot at the playoffs, because this is what every playoff game is like - one-run games, tight, every pitch matters, all pressure-packed innings. We're playing good ball."


In St. Louis on June 28, however, Hammel struggled, lasting four-plus innings while allowing four runs in a 4-1 defeat.


Matt Carpenter had an RBI off Hammel in that victory, but has done very little since, hitting .185 with no extra-base hits in his last nine games.


Kolten Wong could be held out of the series finale after suffering a head injury in Tuesday's opening game, forcing Carpenter to make his first start at second base since 2013 in the second game. Wong hit his head on the ground while making a leaping catch.


"You know how I stand on this issue," said manager Mike Matheny, whose own playing career was ended by concussions. "We want to make sure we take as much as information as we can."



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Cardinals at Cubs
Mon, Jul 6 Final 6 to 0
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Cardinals at Cubs
Tue, Jul 7 Final 3 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Cardinals at Cubs
Wed, Jul 8 - 8:05PM EDT

Preview: Blue Jays (44-42) at White Sox (37-44)
Game: 3
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: July 08, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

Toronto Blue Jays slugger Josh Donaldson seems like a strong candidate to participate in the All-Star Home Run Derby.


If invited, he may want to consider selecting someone from the Chicago White Sox staff to pitch to him.


Donaldson, who has repeatedly hit John Danks hard, looks to continue to feast on White Sox pitching on Wednesday night in Chicago.


Donaldson took part in last season's Home Run Derby and is heading to Cincinnati for Tuesday's All-Star Game after setting a record for most fan votes with 14.09 million. He has 21 homers this season, and White Sox pitchers have been the primary contributors to that total.


In five games against Chicago (37-44), Donaldson is 10 for 17 with six homers. The last player to hit seven homers against the White Sox in a single season was Justin Morneau, who hit eight in 18 games in 2007.


Donaldson's fourth-inning homer Tuesday put the Blue Jays ahead in a 2-1 victory, just the second time Toronto won when scoring two runs or less.


'We're used to slugfests,' manager John Gibbons said. 'It was nice to play a game like that and come out on top.'


One of Donaldson's homers this year came against Danks, against whom he is 5 for 8 with two home runs and two doubles since the start of last season.


Donaldson is batting .343 against left-handers and the Blue Jays (44-42) are hitting .295 against southpaws - baseball's best mark since 2007. Toronto's .841 OPS against lefties is the best since the 2009 New York Yankees had an .846.


None of this bodes particularly well for Danks (4-8, 4.95 ERA), whose opponent OPS of .843 is the AL's worst.


Danks' season has gone so badly the White Sox skipped his last turn in the rotation. However, he responded by yielding five hits over seven innings in Friday's 1-0 win over Baltimore.


'I pitched my way into being the guy that gets skipped,' said Danks, who had a 6.85 ERA in losing his four prior outings. 'I understand that. My goal is to be consistent, go out there and work my way into being one of the top guys again. My job is when I get the ball is to go deep in the game and give us a chance to win. Hopefully, this will start a nice little run for me.'


Building on that outing could be a challenge, however, given his track record against Toronto. Danks gave up six runs in five innings of a 10-9 loss to the Blue Jays on May 26, raising his ERA to 6.23 in nine career starts in the series.


While Toronto's lineup appears poised for success, there's reason to believe that even the White Sox's anemic offense can also get something going considering Drew Hutchison's road woes.


Hutchison is 6-1 with a 2.12 ERA in eight home starts but he's struggling mightily away from Toronto, posting a 9.00 ERA - the worst among those with at least 40 innings pitched on the road. Opponents have a 1.016 OPS in his nine road starts.


Hutchison (8-2, 5.23) is coming off another one of his road hiccups, permitting seven runs - five earned - and a season-high 10 hits in 4 2-3 innings of Friday's 8-6 loss to Detroit.


Fittingly, the right-hander was brilliant at home against the White Sox on May 25, tossing a four-hitter with eight strikeouts and no walks in a 6-0 win.


Chicago, last in the AL with a .651 OPS, finished with seven hits Tuesday and plated one run for the third time in five games.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Blue Jays at White Sox
Mon, Jul 6 Final 2 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Blue Jays at White Sox
Tue, Jul 7 Final 2 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Blue Jays at White Sox
Wed, Jul 8 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 4
Blue Jays at White Sox
Thu, Jul 9 - 2:10PM EDT

Preview: Rays (43-43) at Royals (48-33)
Game: 3
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: July 08, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

The Tampa Bay Rays' Chris Archer appears to have a promising chance to start in his first All-Star Game, and he'll get an opportunity to try to influence the manager who's making that decision.


Archer will face Ned Yost's Kansas City Royals in his final start before the break Wednesday night.


Among the AL's leaders in all three major categories, Archer (9-5, 2.18 ERA) was an easy selection for the league's squad that will play in Cincinnati on Tuesday.


"I knew that one day it would be possible, and I think we all knew," he told MLB's official website. "That's why the Rays traded for me (in January 2011). They saw a lot of upside and potential. So to be creeping closer and closer to that is also very encouraging."


Whether he gets the ball first for that AL team is still undecided.


Sonny Gray likely won't pitch at Great American Ball Park because he's slated to start Sunday for Oakland. Houston's Dallas Keuchel is scheduled to pitch Saturday in Tampa Bay and the Chicago White Sox's Chris Sale will also start that same day.


Detroit's David Price and Seattle's Felix Hernandez are both slated to pitch on Thursday.


Archer will try to do his part to seal his spot in his third career start against the Royals (48-33). He went 0-1 with a 2.84 ERA in the other two - both at Kauffman Stadium - and pitched seven innings in the latest matchup, a 1-0 victory April 8, 2014.


That win represents a rare one in recent matchups against the Royals, and Kansas City extended its dominance with a doubleheader sweep Tuesday, totaling 16 runs and 26 hits after tornado warnings forced a cancellation of Monday's scheduled series opener.


A 7-1 victory in the nightcap was their 16th in 21 meetings and 10th in the past 11 matchups at Kauffman.


Tampa Bay (43-43) has lost 13 of 16 overall and is danger of falling below .500 for the first time since it was 24-25 on May 29.


Jeremy Guthrie (6-5, 5.42) will try to deliver another win for Kansas City. The right-hander has allowed a combined four runs in 13 1-3 innings in his past two games.


Guthrie gave up two runs in 7 1-3 innings Friday against Minnesota but the Royals needed 10 innings for a 3-2 victory.


"Another great start by him," Yost said. "Two runs in eight innings, he just kept us in it. He was just throwing the ball so well."


Guthrie has yielded two runs in 12 innings in back-to-back wins over the Rays - both at Kauffman Stadium - and claimed the latest April 9, 2014.


Asdrubal Cabrera, who has seven hits in his last 18 at-bats against Guthrie, is batting .185 (5 for 27) in his last nine games.


Kendrys Morales is 5 for 8 with a home run and two doubles lifetime versus Archer.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Rays at Royals
Mon, Jul 6 - 8:10PM EDT ( RAIN PP )
Recaps


GAME 2
Rays at Royals
Tue, Jul 7 Final 1 to 7
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Rays at Royals
Wed, Jul 8 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 4
Rays at Royals
Thu, Jul 9 - 2:10PM EDT

Preview: Angels (45-38) at Rockies (35-48)
Game: 2
Venue: Coors Field
Date: July 08, 2015 8:40 PM EDT

The Los Angeles Angels don't play often at Coors Field, but they certainly know how to take advantage of the hitter-friendly ballpark.


The Angels are the AL's most prolific scoring team in Denver and look to put up more big numbers there Wednesday night and sweep a two-game set from the Colorado Rockies.


Los Angeles (45-38) is averaging 8.0 runs in going 10-2 all-time in Denver with 30 homers, also an AL best. The Angels have a 1.019 OPS at Coors Field, where they scored at least 10 runs for the fifth time in six games in Tuesday's 10-2 rout.


Albert Pujols and Mike Trout hit two of the Angels' four home runs in the club's seventh straight win in Denver and eighth in a row over the Rockies, who were swept in two games in Anaheim from May 12-13. Los Angeles did all of its scoring in the first three innings in its fourth straight win and eighth in nine games.


The Angels are hitting .372 with eight homers, 12 doubles and 43 runs scored over their last four games.


'It's been unbelievable,' Trout said. 'The first month or two of the season we were scratching wins off and now the offense is coming together and we're pitching well. It's fun to be a part of."


Pujols has seven RBIs over his last three games with homers in consecutive contests. He hit his 54th career interleague blast, tying him with Alex Rodriguez for fourth place and moving one within Ken Griffey Jr. for third.


Matt Joyce and Chris Iannetta also went deep for the Angels, who have won four straight on the road.


'When a team starts swinging the bat well it carries over to other people," Joyce said. "You can tell everybody in our lineup has confidence and seems to be relaxed.'


The Angels scored 10 runs off a starter for the second straight game, with Colorado's Chad Bettis the latest victim. The Rockies' 5.11 ERA by their rotation is baseball's second-worst.


'It makes it tougher when you're playing from behind in all aspects of the game,' manager Walt Weiss said. "Starting pitching tends to set the tone.'


Colorado (35-48) will turn next to Chris Rusin (3-3, 4.27 ERA), who is 2-0 with a 3.46 ERA in two home starts. The left-hander has never faced the Angels, with David Freese the only hitter on the team he has seen.


Rusin surrendered three runs - one earned - in six innings in Thursday's 8-1 loss at Arizona. Opponents are batting .350 against him in his last five starts.


His counterpart on the mound is Matt Shoemaker (4-7, 4.91), who is 2-2 with a 1.67 ERA in five career interleague starts entering his first against Colorado. The only Rockies hitter he has faced is Nick Hundley, who is 0 for 2 against him.


Shoemaker fell to 0-3 with a 5.06 ERA in his last four starts after giving up two runs in 5 2-3 innings in last Wednesday's 3-1 defeat to the New York Yankees.


Troy Tulowitzki is batting .365 in a career-high 19-game hitting streak and has reached base in a career-best 34 straight games.


The Rockies have dropped 21 of their last 24 interleague games, going 1-9 in 2015.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Angels at Rockies
Tue, Jul 7 Final 10 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Angels at Rockies
Wed, Jul 8 - 8:40PM EDT

Preview: Phillies (29-57) at Dodgers (47-38)
Game: 3
Venue: Dodger Stadium
Date: July 08, 2015 10:10 PM EDT

Clayton Kershaw wasn't initially selected as an All-Star for the first time in five seasons, but he still has one more start to make his case for a spot on the team.


He'll look to snap a five-start winless stretch Wednesday night against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies, whose normally inept offense has found life lately.


Kershaw (5-6, 3.08 ERA) is one of five candidates, along with Johnny Cueto, Jeurys Familia, Carlos Martinez and Troy Tulowitzki, competing in the final vote to join the NL team in next week's Midsummer Classic.


He is 0-3 since his last victory despite a 2.41 ERA with the Dodgers (47-38) backing him with nine runs over 33 2-3 innings. Kershaw's luck may simply be evening out, though, as he amassed a 5.1 run-support average in his previous 12 outings.


Kershaw hasn't gone six consecutive outings without a win since May 26-June 21, 2013, and his longest drought was 13 from July 24, 2009-April 7, 2010 - a span in which he posted a 2.74 ERA.


He limited the New York Mets to one run over seven innings Friday, but Los Angeles lost 2-1. The left-hander had averaged 8.3 wins prior to the All-Star break over the past six seasons.


"For the most part, Kershaw did his job, but the offense let him down a little bit by not figuring out a way to squeak out a run and get him a decision in that game," outfielder Andre Ethier said. "I think that's been an unfair thing - kind of the tone of the year every time Kershaw takes the mound. It doesn't matter who the other guy is on the mound for the other team. He always seems to step up his game."


Kershaw is 2-1 with a 1.73 ERA over his last six meetings with Philadelphia, throwing 14 scoreless innings in two straight wins. Ryan Howard is 2 for 14 with seven strikeouts against him.


If the Phillies are to get to Kershaw, they'd be well advised to do so early - seven of the 12 runs he's allowed during his winless stretch have come during the first three innings.


For most of the year, Philadelphia (29-57) would have looked incapable of mounting any offense against the three-time Cy Young winner, ranking near the bottom of the majors with 3.5 runs per game. The Phillies are batting .296 while averaging 5.1 runs over their last seven, however, though Tuesday's 7-2 victory marked just their second win in that stretch.


Jeff Francoeur homered and drove in three runs, while Cesar Hernandez, Freddy Galvis and Odubel Herrera are all hitting .400 or better over the last seven contests. Hernandez has hit safely in 12 straight and is batting a major league-best .444 since June 22.


Los Angeles' Yasmani Grandal homered for the second straight game and is 9 for 21 with four home runs and 10 RBIs in his last seven games.


Philadelphia left-hander Adam Morgan (1-1, 2.13) makes his third career start after giving up two runs in seven innings in a 2-1 loss at Atlanta on Friday. All three runs against him have come on solo homers, but he's impressed interim manager Pete Mackanin.


"This is the kind of guy we're looking for," Mackanin told MLB's official website. "We need a guy that at 100 pitches can go seven or eight innings. That's what we want."



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Phillies at Dodgers
Mon, Jul 6 Final 7 to 10
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Phillies at Dodgers
Tue, Jul 7 Final 7 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Phillies at Dodgers
Wed, Jul 8 - 10:10PM EDT


GAME 4
Phillies at Dodgers
Thu, Jul 9 - 10:10PM EDT

Interleague Results

The 2015 MLB regular season will usually feature at least one Interleague game every day. All teams will play exactly 20 Interleague games broken down into eight series, four at home and four on the road.


AMERICAN LEAGUE RESULTS (2013-2015)


Team 2013 2014 2015 (Home-Away)


Baltimore Orioles 11-9 12-8 (2-0, 2-5)


Boston Red Sox 14-6 9-11 (3-2, 3-2)


Chicago White Sox 8-12 11-9 (2-3, 4-3)


Cleveland Indians 11-9 10-10 (5-3, 2-2)


Detroit Tigers 12-8 12-8 (3-7, 4-3)


Houston Astros 8-12 5-15 (3-1, 5-0)


Kansas City Royals 9-11 15-5 (6-1, 3-3)


Los Angeles Angels 10-10 12-8 (4-3, 1-4)


Minnesota Twins 8-12 9-11 (4-4, 4-6)


New York Yankees 9-11 13-7 (6-4, 0-4)


Oakland Athletics 13-7 13-7 (3-2, 2-0)


Seattle Mariners 8-12 9-11 (2-2, 3-4)


Tampa Bay Rays 12-8 10-10 (1-1, 5-2)


Texas Rangers 10-10 10-10 (2-0, 2-2)


Toronto Blue Jays 11-9 13-7 (6-2, 2-3)


AL Totals 164-146 163-137 (52-35, 43-43)




NATIONAL LEAGUE RESULTS (2013-2015)


Team 2013 2014 2015 (Home-Away)


Arizona Diamondbacks 11-9 7-13 (2-2, 1-1)


Atlanta Braves 11-9 7-13 (2-2, 3-2)


Chicago Cubs 13-7 9-11 (1-2, 4-3)


Cincinnati Reds 11-9 6-14 (3-1, 2-8)


Colorado Rockies 5-15 7-13 (0-2, 1-6)


Los Angeles Dodgers 12-8 11-9 (4-1, 0-2)


Miami Marlins 9-11 13-7 (5-3, 0-5)


Milwaukee Brewers 6-14 11-9 (3-5, 4-4)


New York Mets 11-9 11-9 (4-0, 1-4)


Philadelphia Phillies 7-13 7-13 (2-3, 2-3)


Pittsburgh Pirates 15-5 11-9 (5-5, 5-0)


St. Louis Cardinals 10-10 8-12 (5-4, 3-5)


San Diego Padres 8-12 9-11 (0-7, 4-3)


San Francisco Giants 6-14 10-10 (4-1, 2-2)


Washington Nationals 11-9 10-10 (3-4, 3-4)


NL Totals 146-164 137-163 (43-42, 35-52)


Updated - Mon July 6, 2015, 7:45 AM ET