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MLB Top 10s: The best (rumored) deadline trade candidates


In the MLB Top 10s, here's what we do: rank players according to criteria. Those criteria change depending upon week and whim, but the Top 10s will always be informed by some angle or another, painfully contrived or otherwise.


And that brings us to this week's guiding query: Who are the top talents rumored to be in play as the July 31 non-waiver deadline approaches? Stated another way: Which rumored deadline trade targets figure to provide the most value over the remainder of the 2015 season?


Yes, this week's MLB Top 10 is informed by the scuttle (as for the scuttle itself, CBSSports MLB Insider Jon Heyman is here to help).


No, not all the players on this list we'll be traded. Yes, other very good players not on this list probably will be traded. That said, I'm proceeding from the assumption that the Tigers won't sell off (yes, there are some reports to the contrary, so consider this a fluid situation), which explains why David Price and Yoenis Cespedes aren't on here. As well, the powers of inertia have compelled me to leave off Troy Tulowitzki. After so many rumors for so long, the "cry wolf" effect is in play with Tulo. If he winds up finally getting dealt out of Colorado, then consider him very near the top of this list (just as Price would be if Detroit decides to tear it down).


Also, I'm not taking into account salaries or contract status in these rankings. It's all about on-field production for the remainder of this season.


And now let us recite baseball names for the dual purposes of SEO and making you angry. Feel free to brandish your incorrect opinions and make idle threats in the comments section.


Weapons-grade complaints and spleen-venting? By all means, reach out to the author at his personal email address: hotmail@hotmail.jpg. He'd love to hear from you.


This week we're lumping position players and pitchers together in one list, so let's get to it ...


RANK COMMENT


1 Johnny Cueto, Reds. The 29-year-old free-agent-to-be is churning out another strong season. He boasts a 153 ERA+ since his bust-out season of 2011, and since the start of the 2014 season he's racked up 366 1/3 innings. Looking for an ace with command of five pitches? Cueto's your guy.


2 Carlos Gomez, Brewers. Gomez has slipped a bit from his 2013-14 peak, but he remains a useful hitter (109 OPS+ on the season) with pop from the right side. As well, Gomez adds value on the bases (he's taken the extra base 59 percent of the time in 2015 versus a league-average mark of 39 percent). He's also a plus defender at an up-the-middle position.


3 Cole Hamels, Phillies. The somewhat lofty ERA is out of character, but Hamels still appears to be in vintage form when it comes to velocity and underlying peripherals. Drop him in the middle of a pennant race and in front of a better defense, and watch the bad luck on batted balls correct itself. He's still a frontline guy.


4 Justin Upton, Padres. Upton's still got some thunder in his bat, as this season he's slashing .252/.331/.426 despite playing his home games in run-suppressing Petco. Upton's running the bases better than ever, and he's once again on pace to play in more than 150 games.


5 Jay Bruce, Reds. Bruce endured a slow start to the season, but the knee problems of 2014 finally seem to be behind him. Since he bottomed out on May 14, he's batted .306/.379/.549. There's some risk involved in acquiring Bruce, given his injury history and bouts of inconsistency, but there's also upside.


6 Ben Zobrist, Athletics. After a slow start to the season and then a serious knee injury, Zobrist has found himself. He's now running an OPS+ of 115 (the same as 2014 and higher than his mark in 2013) and still flashing the adept defense and positional flexibility that typify him. Every roster can use a Ben Zobrist.


7 Jeff Samardzija, White Sox. Maybe the Sox stay the course and don't move Samardzija, but they're facing long odds of making the postseason. Samardzija's cutter-sinker-slider approach has yielded solid underlying results in 2015. He's not the ace he looked like for much of last season, but Samardzija's a mid-line guy capable of eating innings. That always has value.


8 Aroldis Chapman, Reds. The best closer in baseball may be up for grabs. No one throws harder, and no one's a better bat-misser. The relatively modest ranking is a reflection of the fact that relievers can be only so valuable because of their innings limitations. As relievers go, though, Chapman is mega-elite.


9 Scott Kazmir, Athletics. Kazmir's unlikely renaissaince continues apace. Since returning to the majors in 2013, he's pitched to an ERA+ of 110 and a K/BB ratio of 3.23 in 79 starts. This season, the 31-year-old lefty boasts an ERA of 2.38, and he's on pace for 188 2/3 innings.


10 Adam Lind, Brewers. Lind doesn't offer much in the way of defensive value, and he definitely needs a platoon partner. However, he owns a career line of .294/.353/.513 against right-handed pitching. Over the last two seasons, he's put up an excellent OPS+ of 140.


Until next week, suckers!

MLB trade buzz: Price, Gallardo, Padres trio shift market, more notes


This supposed sellers market could turn neutral or even become a buyers market as we get closer to the July 31 trade deadline, with more teams starting to realize that maybe this isn't their year, after all.


The starting pitching market, in particular, which looked quite a bit thin only a week ago, is getting very interesting indeed, with several surprise entrants potentially roiling the marketplace. Pretty soon, Cole Hamels, Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake, Scott Kazmir and the Marlins' trio of Dan Haren, Mat Latos and Tom Koehler won't be the only games in town.


Up to a half dozen or more starting pitchers, from superstar David Price to stars Jeff Samardzija and Yovani Gallardo to the majority of the Padres' rotation are at least being contemplated or discussed, which could greatly benefit the main pitching pursuers -- the Dodgers, Blue Jays, Astros, Royals and Yankees -- as we get closer to the deadline.


"There's a lot of moving parts," one executive from one of the pitching interested teams said to explain why things are going slowly.


So it remains anyone's guess is when and who will be moved.


The word is, the prices have been high so far, with an emphasis on quality over quantity (huge prospects are all the rage). But with more starting pitchers about to hit the market, maybe the prices will have to come down some as we get closer to July 31.


For all the belief that it's an abject sellers' market, the reality is that only four teams probably see a starter as a must-have at this point, with those being all the above mentioned teams except the Yankees, who may continue to hope that ex-ace CC Sabathia will regain some semblance of his former form. The Pirates and Giants also are looking at starters, but those teams may ultimately decide their positional needs are greater, with Pittsburgh needing to shore up the left side of its infield following injuries to Jordy Mercer and Josh Harrison and San Francisco hoping to improve its thin bench.


The Dodgers, Blue Jays, Astros and Royals, though, have rotational needs that range from vital to near-desperation, in a couple cases. Toronto and Houston have been eyeing the market for weeks, while Los Angeles and Kansas City, already interested, each suffered a pitching injury Tuesday night, with Brett Anderson (Achilles) and Jason Vargas (elbow) suffering physical issues, exacerbating an existing need. The Royals sent down Yordano Ventura amid his struggles, but called him up the next day because of the injury to Vargas.


No need to worry too much, though. Some very good-to-excellent starters may be about to hit the market.


Unusual parity plus the presence of the second wild card have made some extra teams early believers, but realism may be starting to set to take hold in some key cases. Price would shoot to the top of the market if he's really available (though some doubt Detroit ultimately will sell), but even so, a half-dozen others could mean there will actually be twice as many viable rotation options as teams looking (though at least LA could easily import multiple starters).


Here's a look at just the possible surprise entrants into the market of starters ...


1. David Price, Tigers


The Tigers do appear to be preparing to sell as well as buy in the event of a rough finish to July, though Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski recently told someone, "We're not looking to give up. This team is too good not to be winning." And indeed, there are several skeptics as to whether this could become a reality. "How can a .500 club with their track record think about dismantling?" one NL GM wondered. Anyway, if Price should become available available, there's little doubt he'd join Cueto and Hamels as the Dodgers' main pitchers of interest (consider that Dodgers honcho Andrew Friedman surely loves Price from their Tampa days, though ultimately he was the one who dealt him away last July 31 after attempts by him to pry Joc Pederson, Corey Seager and Julio Urias from LA failed). Astros GM Jeff Luhnow already joked that the name of Price's beloved dog being "Astro," in his words, "could be a sign" (if a joke is amusing, it's not really tampering, apparently). And anyone else would have to check into one of the best pitchers in the game. But of course, the AL wild-card derby isn't as competitive as the NL race, and the Tigers finish the month with the Mariners, Red Sox and Rays (potentially, Price's last start for Detroit could be in his old stomping ground in St. Pete), three marginal teams.


Best guesses: Tigers (stays), Dodgers, Astros.


2. Yovani Gallardo, Rangers


Gallardo has turned in an excellent season in his initial year in his hometown, but the Rangers, while pursuing a long-term answer in Hamels, seem realistic enough about their 2015 chances to simultaneously consider a deal for Gallardo. At this point, in fact, it's probably a likelihood. An NL team would be a plus, as he's the active leader for homers among pitchers, with 13. Texas could also part with veteran righty Colby Lewis, who could be a back-of-the-rotation option for someone.


Best guesses: Astros, Royals, Jays, Dodgers.


3. Jeff Samardzija, White Sox


Everything heard from rivals suggests that the White Sox probably won't do a major overhaul following their disappointing first half (and weak offensive performances limit the value of most of their hitters, anyway), as Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com suggested. But Samardzija seems likely to go, barring a quick turnaround on the South Side. There was early talk the ChiSox might give a long-term contract a shot with Samardzija, but once they received the message he sought a market deal (like the other would-be free agent pitching stars), no offer was ever forthcoming for the northern Indiana native. The Royals are the one team that seems to be focusing elsewhere. The connection with Yankees executive Jim Hendry, who originally signed him out of Notre Dame, is well-known but may be a bigger factor come free agency.


Best guesses: Blue Jays, Astros, Dodgers, Yankees.


4. James Shields, Padres


While he's produced about as expected, the backloaded deal will limit a potential taker, to the point where one rival said, "They'd probably have to pay some of it down." He's a tough guy, but his stuff isn't as good as Samardzija, Cueto or, of course, Price (his former Rays teammate). Friedman had him in Tampa, too. A return to KC would seem less than likely and a rough outing at Texas may make the Rangers a bit less interested than they were in winter.


Best guesses: Dodgers, Blue Jays, Yankees.


5. Andrew Cashner, Padres


The hard thrower hasn't quite put it together but he has extra value since he isn't a rental, as he isn't free agent-eligible until 2017. Dodgers exec Josh Byrnes acquired him for San Diego. The Houston Chronicle reported the Astros are looking at him and Tyson Ross.


Best guesses: Dodgers, Astros.


6. Tyson Ross, Padres


New GM A.J. Preller, the "rock star" of the winter, may have a lot of work to do. Ross also is way more than a rental, as he isn't a free agent until 2018. He doesn't hold runners especially well, so perhaps the AL works a little bit better. Ian Kennedy remains the most likely Padres pitcher to go, as he is the one rental starter they possess.


Best guesses: Dodgers, Astros, Blue Jays.


7. Alfredo Simon, Tigers


With Price creating all the interest, Simon is a forgotten man in Detroit. He's had an underwhelming year, so he's more of a back-end rotation piece at this point. But if they sell, as a rental, he'd presumably be a part of it.


No guesses yet.


8. Matt Garza, Brewers


He looked all but out of the market when he went on the disabled list, but perhaps his six shutout innings Tuesday will convince someone to take a flyer on him. The value is still extremely limited, thanks mainly to the injury history. Milwaukee also will hope to trade Kyle Lohse, who's been better in the clubhouse than the pitchers mound this year.


No guesses yet.


More news from around MLB ...


Arizona Diamondbacks News


The D-Backs started in earnest with a $6.25-million offer to No. 1 overall pick Dansby Swanson, the Vanderbilt shortstop, but eventually held at $6.5 million, the number he eventually took. While it was the third-highest bonus in the new system (behind Kris Bryant and Carlos Rodon), it seemed like a bit of a coup to get him for less than Bryant, who was a No. 2 pick a couple years back ... Cody Ross says he's been having too much fun lately chasing his kids around the house to contemplate a return at the moment.


Atlanta Braves News


Atlanta's pickup of young pitcher Touki Toussaint has been widely praised. It's interesting that the Braves basically paid $10 million for Toussaint (the cost of taking on Bronson Arroyo's contract), which is close to four times more than the $2.7 million Toussaint signed for as the No. 16 overall pick a year ago as a coveted prep pitcher from the Fort Lauderdale area. That points to the very real likelihood that drafted players still aren't getting their true values in the revised system ... Always amusing when a player asks for a trade after the team has been trying desperately to move him. Atlanta has been offering to pay Chris Johnson's deal way down, in fact. Unfortunately, there's nearly $20 million to go through 2017, according to Cot's Baseball Contracts.


Chicago Cubs News


The Cubs showed interest in David Price last trading season, but that was when he had an extra year of control. It's a bit harder to seem them spending in prospects for a rental, but with interest from Theo Epstein/Jed Hoyer and the connection to manager Joe Maddon, expect them to be a big player in the winter ... Kyle Schwarber was seen by some as a reach as pick No. 4 last year, but he looks like a budding star. He's been a dynamo at the plate. Following his MVP at the Futures Game in Cincinnati, the native of adjacent Middletown, Ohio, destroyed the Reds, with a game-tying home run Tuesday in the ninth inning followed by a game-winning home run in the 13th inning of the 5-4 win. According to Christopher Kamka of Comcast SportsNet Chicago, the three most recent Cubs to homer twice in same game in the ninth inning or later were Sammy Sosa, Andre Dawson and Ryne Sandberg (the latter in what is known as the "Sandberg Game," Kamka notes). Cincy picked 19th last year, so no chance to keep the local talent. The only small question is whether he'll ultimately be a catcher, but if he is, this may turn out to be one of the best picks ever. He is known as a good leader who works well with pitchers and a decent blocker of balls, but the worry is an average arm and questionable agility. Even so, based on hitting alone it's an A-plus choice.


Cincinnati Reds News


Mike Leake helped his value with eight very strong innings (four hits, no walks, six strikeouts) in a 9-1 victory over the Cubs Wednesday afternoon before many scouts ... There have been rumors floating around that Barry Larkin could be a candidate to take over as manager of the Reds, but there's been no substantiation to this yet. They also have the well-thought-of Jim Riggleman coaching there ... Word is Cueto and star closer Aroldis Chapman have quite an intense rivalry going. Both are great. One difference is in lifestyle: Word is, Chapman spent $700,000 on cars this winter. Fortunately, he is believed to throw a lot faster than he drives.


Detroit Tigers News


The Tigers love Yoenis Cespedes. One thing to keep him in mind is that, unlike most other free agent stars, he can't be given the qualifying offer whether he's traded or not -- a very big plus for him ... A lot will go into their decision of whether to sell. USA Today first reported it was a real possibility. One thing to keep in mind is that their system is not deep. One media outlet, in fact, ranked it 30th -- though those rankings should be taken with a grain of salt; the Angels ranked low in recent years, but produced Mike Trout, Randal Grichuk (who was taken one spot after Trout) and Garrett Richards. Not too shabby.



Houston Astros News


They wield a big prospect hammer, but they seem determined not to trade outfield prospect Brett Phillips. "An absolute stud," one Astros-connected person said of the former sixth-round pick ... They are in on practically every pitcher, though apparently Mike Leake's metrics don't look as good on their computers, so he will probably go elsewhere.


Kansas City Royals News


The Royals owe a thank you to White Sox reliever Zach Duke. Duke and Joe Blanton happened to live across the street from each other in Nashville, Tenn., and when Duke was looking for a throwing partner this winter, he naturally asked Blanton to be the guy. After throwing well with Duke, Blanton said to himself, "You know what, I'll play another year." The other assist goes to Blanton's dietician, as it looks like he's lost 20-30 pounds from his Phillies/Angels days.



Los Angeles Angels News


The Angels are on such a run (they've outscored opponents 39-7 over six straight wins and 10 days) that they don't have to do much but still wouldn't mind a left fielder, particularly a left-handed-hitting one. They've talked about the available Jay Bruce, as FOXSports.com mentioned, but are concerned he may fit the same streaky profile as Josh Hamilton as a player. Still, that isn't a bad fit. They haven't ruled out Ben Revere either. Carlos Gonzalez does not appear to be on their radar, at least not at the moment ... No one should be surprised Jerry Dipoto's top lieutenants, Matt Klentak and Scott Servais, didn't walk out with him, as they have multiyear deals and presumably not the same financial standing as Dipoto, who had a pretty good major-league career as a reliever ... There are still whispers former Angels pitching coach Bud Black could become a GM candidate in LA. It's going to be a hard job to fill, as the owner and manager are viewed as the main power seats there.


Milwaukee Brewers News


Gerardo Parra (1.299 OPS in July) keeps gaining in popularity on the trade market


New York Mets News


Top outfield prospect Michael Conforto could be promoted, as was mentioned here first, but that's especially the case if Michael Cuddyer (knee) has to go on the disabled list ... Curtis Granderson has very quietly had a productive year ... If anyone wanted Jon Niese, they may have missed the boat. He has eight quality starts in a row and is needed with Steven Matz, the other lefty, currently on the DL with a lat issue ... However they do it, the Mets need to add offense. This great pitching must not be wasted.


New York Yankees News


New York could still look at a righty bat and a righty reliever. But Carlos Beltran has an .840 OPS since May 1 (he missed some time, of course), and relievers Bryan Mitchell and Nick Rumbelow remain pen options in the minors ... The Yankees would be hard-pressed to give up any of their big three prospects -- Luis Severino, Aaron Judge or Greg Bird. Judge looks like a potential monster, though one scouting skeptic said, "He's a great 5 o'clock hitter," referring to batting practice ... The Yankees aren't currently considering Sabathia as a lefty pen option (they have plenty of lefties in the pen, anyway). But if it comes to that, Sabathia has been surprisingly dominant vs. left-handed hitters (no walks, 31 strikeouts, .439 OPS).


Philadelphia Phillies News


Cole Hamels' bad last two starts are being chalked up to the difficulty of spending nearly a year on the trade block. "He looks fine," one AL scout said. "It was 100 degrees. He's playing for a miserable team. And it may be hard to get motivated." Asked if the Phillies would be able to get a huge prospect back for Hamels, two AL executives nodded that they would indeed ... If it comes down to Houston or staying in Philly, that may be a tough call for Hamels, as was suggested in this space Tuesday. He is said to much prefer Los Angeles (he's from San Diego) or Texas (where he has relatives), two of the nine teams on his pre-approved list ... While they've fielded interest in Jeff Francoeur, he's such a plus around the clubhouse it may not be worth trading him for the very middling prospect he'd bring back.


St. Louis Cardinals News


The Cardinals showed interest in Price last July, but their pitching looks good enough so they don't have to play for a rental this time.


San Francisco Giants News


The Giants don't have obvious glaring needs but could use a bolstering of their bench. Juan Uribe didn't love the idea of a utility role last time, which is why he left, so that may not work ... Matt Cain is a key man. He looks like he was "fighting himself" in a recent start, a scout said, and they need him to be a No. 2 or 3. They are looking at starters but wouldn't take just anyone, as they already have Ryan Vogelsong waiting in the wings. The Giants are 7-0 in games he starts in the postseason ... They have been linked to Leake, though. The same youth team in San Diego contained both Leake, Stephen Strasburg and Brett Bochy, the son of the Giants manager who has pitched in recent years for San Francisco on occasion ... The guess here is that Tim Lincecum should regain much of his lost velocity after solving his hip issue, either via shots or possibly surgery, if needed. If he needs the surgery, he's likely thrown his last game as a Giant, as it's a four-to-five month rehab and he's in the last year of a two-year deal.


Seattle Mariners News


Not sure about those theories Robinson Cano isn't comfortable in Seattle. But he's hitting .352 with five homers in July.


Toronto Blue Jays News


The Jays had a scout in Philly this week, but that appears to be mostly because the Jays have scouts everywhere. Their interest in Jonathan Papelbon remains fairly limited, as their whole focus is starting pitching.


Washington Nationals News


Ben Zobrist continues to looks like the perfect player for them considering all their injuries. Washington also has a strong history making deals with Oakland ... Drew Storen made it 29 saves in 31 tries by striking out the side in Wednesday's win over the Mets. His brilliance this year should mean they don't need to compete for Aroldis Chapman or Craig Kimbrel. His 14 one-run saves lead the National League.

Five logical teams for Cueto, Mets' targets and more MLB trade buzz




Reds star right-hander Johnny Cueto is the best starting pitcher on the trade market, though it's possible he could be joined at the top if the Tigers -- who over the next nine days will be weighing whether to sell or buy -- make David Price available.


Barring that outside possibility regarding Price's availability, Cueto remains the one pitcher who could most significantly impact a pennant race. And no one should think that changes because of one bad start the other day -- in the rain, after a one-hour delay no less.


There were some whispers regarding Cueto's health, but there's no real evidence to suggest he's anything but OK.


"He looks fine. I think it's just some BS someone's putting out there from some team that wants him," says the scout of another interested team.


It's been mentioned how the average fastball velocity of 93 mph in that 5-3 defeat to the Indians was Cueto's second lowest this season, and that's misleading since he only pitched four innings. Cueto's velocity generally climbs as he goes (the last fastball was 95). And, of course, there was the rain that caused him to sit for an hour after he had already started, surely leading to the uncharacteristic six walks (he has only 28 for the season).


The Blue Jays, Royals and Yankees were among many teams said to be scouting Cueto for that game, while the Dodgers and Astros have been trailing him closely for weeks. The Pirates and Giants are two others that could look at a starter, although their needs appear more positional in nature at the moment.


That leaves the interesting fivesome of Toronto, Kansas City, New York, Los Angeles and Houston as the most likely and logical landing spots for one of baseball's best pitchers. Cueto had two starts pushed back a couple days in the first half of the season, but there are no reasons for alarm bells. His 2.79 ERA is in line with his superb career, which includes five straight sub-3.00 ERAs since 2011, and his 0.95 WHIP and .199 BAA are among baseball's best marks.


While he's a rental, Cueto should bring back significant pieces, whether or not Price ever makes it to the market.

Royals trading for Cole Hamels makes a lot of sense


The Royals improved to 20 games over .500 after beating the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night at Kauffman Stadium. Great, but it's nothing that acquiring left-hander Cole Hamels in a trade couldn't make even better.


It's true that only the St. Louis Cardinals have accumulated more victories in Major League Baseball, so life is good for Royals. That doesn't mean they don't have troubles. They got bad news Wednesday regarding left-hander Jason Vargas: An examination found a tear of the UCL in his throwing elbow. UCL tears usually, though not exclusively, mean Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery. That usually means 12-15 months before the patient competes again.


As our own Mike Axisa wrote Tuesday, the Royals already have issues with their starting rotation, notably Yordano Ventura, whom they demoted to the minor leagues after an abysmal performance Monday night. Well, it was a short trip to Omaha. He's back already with Vargas out. Hey, it would have been awkward Saturday night with a Ventura World Series bobblehead doll giveaway scheduled at Kauffman. But what's at stake for the Royals is more than appearances and bobbleheads. Their chance at a World Series is on the line, regardless of their record so far, if they don't improve their starting pitching. And Hamels is the guy.


It's widely known that he's on the block, and it's probably bothering Hamels, whose overall this season haven't been up to his usual standards. Over his past two starts, with the July 31 non-waiver deadline bearing down, Hamels has allowed 20 hits with a 19.89 ERA over 6 1/3 innings. Taylor Swift might be impressed with the ERA, but it's probably wrecking the plans of Phillies GM Ruben Amaro to hold suitors hostage for Hamels.


"Who might the Royals give up?" and "Who might the Phillies demand?" are two very different questions. Looking at the Royals Top 10 prospects coming into the season, according to Baseball America, the Royals do have some plumbs:


1. Raul A. Mondesi, ss
2. Brandon Finnegan, lhp
3. Sean Manaea, lhp
4. Kyle Zimmer, rhp
5. Hunter Dozier, 3b
6. Miguel Almonte, rhp
7. Foster Griffin, lhp
8. Scott Blewett, rhp
9. Jorge Bonifacio, of
10. Christian Colon, ss/2b
Mondesi and Dozier are probably no-no's, as far as the Royals are concerned. The Phillies top prospect is a shortstop, and they have Maikel Franco at third, so that's not necessarily a deal-breaker. Finnegan has major-league experience -- World Series experience -- but doesn't have a lot of pro experience starting. Zimmer has been a great hope of the Royals, but injuries have set him back, and he has logged just 27 relief innings in 2015. Manaea just got promoted to Class AA. Scott Blewett hasn't been great after being drafted in 2014, but his strikeout numbers are encouraging. Miguel Almonte might actually be the best pitching prospect on this list.


Hamels is a valuable chip, if the Phillies really want to look at him that way. He's is ninth among active pitchers with at least 1,000 innings in ERA. Bump the minimum to 1,500 innings, and only Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Adam Wainwright and Felix Hernandez have better ERAs among active pitchers. He's an ace, and the Royals need someone like that. Maybe not to win the division or make the playoffs, but to win in the playoffs. James Shields (who wasn't all that hot in the playoffs in 2014 anyway) is gone. Ventura isn't pitching like he did in the postseason. Vargas won't be around. They need somebody and, being the budget-conscious Royals, not necessarily someone they'll let go into free agency at the end of the season. Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija come to mind there.


A Shields reunion would be humorous (also unlikely), but Hamels is a better pitcher anyway, and at a bigger value. The Royals have the minor-league pieces to deal (if they want to), and the money to spend (if they want to) on Hamels' cost-certain contract. He is expensive, but not overly so for what he brings. Hamels is due to receive about $100 million, at most, through 2019. They'll get back more than they put in, probably. He's got lots of postseason experience -- a 3.09 ERA in 13 starts for his career -- if you're into that. His postseason career shouldn't make him any less attractive.


The Royals haven't won a World Series since 1985. They could do it this season. And that is the point, after all. Isn't it?

Mike Leake's July making for nice trade showcase


CINCINNATI -- While much of the attention on a likely-available starting pitcher from the Reds this July will correctly be aimed at ace Johnny Cueto, he's not the only attractive trade candidate in the Reds rotation. The other is, of course, 27-year-old righty Mike Leake.


Leake worked an excellent outing Wednesday afternoon against the Cubs following a heartbreaking extra-innings loss Tuesday evening, helping the Reds to a 9-1 win. Not only was he big for helping his team bounce back, but he saved the bullpen, going eight innings and allowing only one run on four hits. He didn't walk anyone while striking out six.


It's no secret to Leake that he could be traded, as he openly discussed it after the game. He admitted that he had thought Wednesday could be the final start of his Reds career. Not that it affects him.


"It's beyond my control," he said. "If I'm traded, I'm traded. If I'm not, I'm not."


"I try to show my stuff, but I also think I can be better than I have been. I want to just get better every day."


A free agent after this season, Leake is surely an attractive rental to teams not looking to gut a farm system or pick up a lot of salary while adding a durable and mostly consistent starting pitcher.


On the durability front, Leake hasn't been on the disabled list since 2010. He worked 192 1/3 innings in 2013 and 214 1/3 last season. He's already up to 128 2/3 this season.


One of the reasons Leake won't be bringing back a King's ransom is that neither the stats nor the raw stuff are eye-popping. After Wednesday's outing, he is 8-5 with a 3.78 ERA. He doesn't miss bats at a high rate (87 strikeouts, good for 6.09 K/9), his four-seamer and cutter "only" work up into the low-90s and you won't be finding many of those "holy cow, look at this" GIFs of his slider or curve.


He is pitching very well at present, though, sporting a 1.29 ERA in July with a 0.89 WHIP and 22 strikeouts against only six walks in four starts (28 innings). And while he doesn't strike guys out consistently, he does keep the ball on the ground regularly, as he entered Wednesday 16th in the majors in ground ball rate among qualifying starters. Perhaps a team with great defense and now in desperate need of rotation depth (cough, Royals*, cough) would make a nice fit? At the very least, Leake is a nice fallback for any teams who miss out on aces such as Cole Hamels (more long-term answer) or Cueto (rental).


*The Royals are far from the only team that could use Leake. They were only an example. Some others that could probably use him: Astros (though Jon Heyman reports they prefer others), Cardinals, Cubs, Giants and -- if they buy -- Tigers.


Wherever he ends up, Leake is going to be a quality addition -- even if not a sexy one -- for some team within the next nine days. Wednesday's outing didn't change anything, but a little affirmation never hurts.

Preview: Mariners (43-51) at Tigers (46-47)
Game: 4
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: July 23, 2015 1:08 PM EDT

A year ago, the Detroit Tigers were in the process of acquiring David Price to help win a fourth consecutive AL Central title.


Now, the left-hander could be making his last home start for one of 2015's most underachieving clubs Thursday against the visiting Seattle Mariners.


Though Detroit (47-47) has won two of the first three in this set, it's 10 1/2 games behind Kansas City in the division and has work to do to climb the wild-card standings. If the Tigers opt to be sellers at the July 31 trade deadline, Price (9-3, 2.32 ERA) could be available since he's eligible for free agency after this season.


He finds himself in a similar position to last year when Tampa Bay pondered trading the 2012 Cy Young Award winner before executing a three-team, five-player deal that sent him to the Motor City last July 31.


Publicly, Price feels comfortable with the Tigers.


"Yeah, I want to win here. We have a very good team," he told MLB's official website. "This is one of the most talented baseball teams that I've ever been a part of. If we can just play baseball the way we're capable of playing, we'll win games."


Slated to start again Tuesday at Tampa, the five-time All-Star is 2-1 with an 0.82 ERA this month. He allowed a solo homer and struck out 12 in seven innings of a 3-0 home defeat to Baltimore on Saturday.


"I've been on the opposite end a couple times this year," said Price, 6-2 with a 1.59 ERA in his last 11 starts. "I've thrown the ball way worse than I threw the ball (Saturday) and I came out on top. That's baseball; that's life. Got to roll with it."


As Price continues to roll with the trade talk, he'll look to further improve on a 2-1 record and 2.53 ERA in four starts against Seattle (43-52).


The Tigers, meanwhile, will try to win consecutive games for the first time in two weeks after Ian Kinsler recorded four hits and Nick Castellanos clubbed a grand slam in Wednesday's 9-4 victory. Kinsler is 8 for 14 in the set and batting .450 in his last 10 contests.


He went 0 for 3 against Hisashi Iwakuma (2-1, 4.89) when the right-hander allowed five runs, including solo homers to Yoenis Cespedes, Victor Martinez, J.D. Martinez and Castellanos, in five-plus innings of a 12-5 loss to the Tigers on July 6 in his return after missing almost three months with a right lat strain.


However, Iwakuma has gone 2-0 with a 1.32 ERA since. The only runs he yielded in those contests came on a two-run homer in 5 2-3 innings of a 4-3 win at Yankee Stadium on Saturday.


"I think all of my pitches are sharper," he said. "I'm very happy where I'm at."


Iwakuma scattered four hits through eight innings of an 8-0 victory Sept. 18, 2013, in his lone start at Comerica Park.


Victor Martinez is 5 for 9 with two homers versus Iwakuma and Cespedes is batting .407 (11 for 27) with four home runs and five doubles against him.


Nelson Cruz is batting .368 (7 for 19) with two home runs against Price and has homered three times in the last two games - matching his total from his previous 45.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Mariners at Tigers
Mon, Jul 20 Final 4 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Mariners at Tigers
Tue, Jul 21 Final 11 to 9
Boxscores


GAME 3
Mariners at Tigers
Wed, Jul 22 Final 4 to 9
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 4
Mariners at Tigers
Thu, Jul 23 - 1:08PM EDT

Preview: Orioles (46-46) at Yankees (51-41)
Game: 3
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: July 23, 2015 1:05 PM EDT

It's been five seasons since the New York Yankees swept a three-game home set from the Baltimore Orioles and if they end that drought Thursday, it would deal another blow to the defending AL East champions.


The first-place Yankees have shown a recent penchant for winning one-run games and will send Masahiro Tanaka to the mound as they look to push the Orioles seven games behind them.


New York (52-41) has gone 4-1 in one-run games since the All-Star break, winning 3-2 on Tuesday and 4-3 on Wednesday to begin this series. The Orioles haven't suffered a three-game sweep in the Bronx since June 1-3, 2010.


"These are important series because it gives you an opportunity to put some distance between you and the clubs in your division," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.


Baltimore (46-47) has dropped 11 of 15 to fall below .500 for the second time since June 11, though it's unclear if the club will turn into a seller before the trade deadline with eight prospective free agents on the roster. Before Wednesday's defeat, vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said the Orioles will be buyers.


"We know we are capable of better," manager Buck Showalter said. "For people who live in a minute-to-minute world, I guess they're concerned. We're not."


A strong outing by Tanaka (6-3, 3.65 ERA) could change his thinking. The Yankees are 9-3 in the right-hander's starts, including four straight victories.


Tanaka won his second start in a row Friday by giving up three runs with seven strikeouts in seven innings in a 4-3 home win over Seattle. He's 6-0 in seven starts when getting at least three runs of support.


He hasn't faced the Orioles this year after going 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA in two 2014 starts against them. Jonathan Schoop went 2 for 6 with two homers in those games while Chris Davis was 1 for 6 with three strikeouts.


Davis, one of Baltimore's impending free agents, hit his 20th homer Wednesday and Ryan Flaherty had a two-run shot. Davis, however, is 9 for 46 in the season series with three homers and 21 strikeouts.


"It's kind of the same thing we've been challenged with, a couple home runs but we really don't mount anything," Showalter said.


Matt Wieters is 1 for 7 in this series and figures to be back behind the plate after serving as the designated hitter Wednesday.


However, things didn't go well for Ubaldo Jimenez (7-5, 3.29) when Wieters was his catcher Friday, getting shelled for a season-high seven runs over 4 2-3 innings in a 7-3 defeat at Detroit.


"I didn't have my slider at all, and the splitter was good at times and then it wasn't doing anything at other times," Jimenez said.


The right-hander had surrendered one run in 20 innings over his previous three starts with Caleb Joseph behind the plate for all of them. Joseph is 15 for 30 versus New York this season.


Jimenez allowed three runs in five-plus innings in an 11-3 win over the Yankees on June 12 to improve to 2-1 with a 4.43 ERA in four starts against them with the Orioles. He hasn't lasted past the sixth inning in his last six versus New York.


Carlos Beltran is 7 for 18 with two homers off Jimenez, Jacoby Ellsbury is 5 for 9 and Alex Rodriguez is 3 for 6.


Rodriguez drilled a 455-homer in the fifth inning Wednesday to give him 16 seasons with at least 20.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Orioles at Yankees
Tue, Jul 21 Final 2 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Orioles at Yankees
Wed, Jul 22 Final 3 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Orioles at Yankees
Thu, Jul 23 - 1:05PM EDT

Preview: Nationals (50-42) at Pirates (54-39)
Game: 1
Venue: PNC Park
Date: July 23, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

The Pittsburgh Pirates have been slow out of the gates following the All-Star break, but a return home might be just what they need to get going again.


Pittsburgh seeks its ninth home win in 10 games Thursday night when it opens a four-game series with the Washington Nationals.


The Pirates (54-40) won 13 of 16 before the break, but have since lost five of six, all on the road, while being limited to one run four times, including a 5-1 defeat at Kansas City on Wednesday. At PNC Park, though, they've won eight of nine and rank third in the majors with a 32-16 home record. Andrew McCutchen's 1.147 home OPS since May 20 is second to only Miguel Cabrera (1.167), though he's 3 for 31 in his last nine overall meetings with Washington.


Pittsburgh was outscored 19-3 while being swept by Washington in three games June 19-21 and is trying to end a seven-game losing streak in the series, though all but one of those defeats came at Nationals Park. No team has won eight straight in the series since the Pirates took eight in a row from the Montreal Expos April 9-June 30, 1991.


The Nationals (51-42) have also been shaky since the break, splitting six games and scoring two runs or fewer in each loss, though they rallied for a 4-3 victory over the New York Mets on Wednesday.


Washington could have more injury concerns, though, after third baseman Yunel Escobar left in the second inning with what appeared to be a left hand or wrist issue. X-rays were negative but he was scheduled for more tests.


Escobar's .322 batting average ranks second on the club, and the Nationals are already without Ryan Zimmerman, Anthony Rendon, Jayson Werth and Denard Span.


Pittsburgh gives to the ball to Francisco Liriano (5-6, 2.98 ERA), who hasn't started since before the break after being scratched Saturday against Milwaukee with a stiff neck. He threw a bullpen session Tuesday without issue.


He has won once in his last four starts despite a 2.05 ERA, and has received three runs of support or fewer in seven of his last nine outings.


Liriano threw 7 2-3 scoreless innings to win his first career matchup with Washington in 2013, but has lost two meetings since while posting a 7.59 ERA, including a 6-0 road defeat in last month's series.


Bryce Harper is 2 for 3 with a home run against him, and 10 for his last 29 off lefties with three doubles and three homers.


Washington's Doug Fister (3-5, 4.30) is 1-3 with an ERA that mirrors his season mark in five outings since returning from a forearm injury. He gave up four runs and nine hits over five innings of a 4-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday.


This is the first time he's been two games under .500 since August 2012, when he was 5-7 for Detroit, though he finished 10-10.


Fister's had a particularly tough time on the road, compiling a 1-3 record and 5.13 ERA in five games, only winning in a 6 1-3 shutout inning effort against the Mets on May 3.


He boasts a strong track record against the Pirates, though, going 1-1 with a 1.07 ERA in four starts. He's thrown seven innings without allowing an earned run in two of the last three.


Pedro Alvarez and McCutchen are 4 for 7 and 4 for 8 off Fister, respectively.


Teammate Jung Ho Kang is 15 for 33 with eight runs during a nine-game hitting streak.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Nationals at Pirates
Thu, Jul 23 - 7:05PM EDT


GAME 2
Nationals at Pirates
Fri, Jul 24 - 7:05PM EDT


GAME 3
Nationals at Pirates
Sat, Jul 25 - 7:05PM EDT


GAME 4
Nationals at Pirates
Sun, Jul 26 - 1:35PM EDT

Preview: White Sox (42-49) at Indians (44-48)
Game: 1
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: July 23, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

Jeff Samardzija appears to be the most enticing and available trade option possessed by the Chicago White Sox.


With his club looking to avoid a fifth straight defeat, Samardzija could be making one of his last starts for the visiting White Sox on Thursday night against the Cleveland Indians.


While Chicago (42-50) could be listening to offers for ace Chris Sale, Samardzija (6-5, 4.08 ERA) likely has the more realistic chance of being dealt among any of its pitchers or position players. Following Wednesday's 3-2 loss to St. Louis, the White Sox have been held to one or two runs five times while losing six of seven since winning nine of 11.


The team's current state coupled with Samardzija likely to test the free agent market after the season, leaves him in a similar position to last year when the crosstown rival Cubs sent the right-hander to Oakland in early July.


Manager Robin Ventura said Samardzija doesn't seem phased by the trade rumors.


"Some of it can be noticeable, but other times you don't notice it," Ventura told MLB's official website. "Some guys suppress things like that, some guys just don't care and continue to play. The job here is to not let it get in the way and let it get in the way of what you're doing on the field."


Samardzija, whose 132 1-3 innings rank fifth in the majors, has lasted at least seven in eight straight starts. However, he allowed a pair of homers, three walks and four runs over seven innings of a 4-2 loss to Kansas City on Friday.


He gave up six hits in six innings of a 6-0 win over Cleveland (45-48) on April 22, but makes his first appearance at Progressive Field.


Michael Brantley went 0 for 3 with a strikeout against Samardzija in that contest but is batting .415 (17 for 41) with three homers and 13 RBIs in his last 11 games. He went 4 for 5 with a three-run homer and drove in another during Wednesday's 7-5 victory at Milwaukee.


Though he's batting .222 against the White Sox this season, Brantley has recorded six of his team-leading 55 RBIs in seven of those meetings and four during Cleveland's three-game series winning streak.


'Plain and simple, do whatever I can to get the runners in,' Brantley said. 'The more runs we have, the better chance we have to win. It's no secret.'


Trevor Bauer (8-6, 4.03) is 2-0 with a 1.33 ERA in three starts against the White Sox this season but looks to rebound after he allowed five runs and seven hits, including two homers, in four innings of a 6-1 loss at Cincinnati on Friday. The right-hander, who had not pitched since July 8, believes his extended rest over the All-Star break played a factor in his rough outing.


"Not pitching in nine days was a little tough," he said. "It was a different feeling from what I've had the rest of the season.'


It's uncertain what reason Bauer has for serving up half of his 14 home runs while posting a 6.35 ERA during a 2-3 stretch.


Jose Abreu is 6 for 13 with a double against Bauer, but Melky Cabrera is 0 for 10.


Teammate Adam LaRoche is batting .148 (4 for 27) with one RBI and 12 strikeouts against Cleveland this season, and .140 (8 for 57) with three RBIs in his last 19 contests overall.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
White Sox at Indians
Thu, Jul 23 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 2
White Sox at Indians
Fri, Jul 24 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 3
White Sox at Indians
Sat, Jul 25 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 4
White Sox at Indians
Sun, Jul 26 - 1:10PM EDT

Preview: Dodgers (54-42) at Mets (49-45)
Game: 1
Venue: Citi Field
Date: July 23, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

Clayton Kershaw has some work to do to approach his teammate's scoreless innings streak, but things could certainly be worse. Bartolo Colon's ERA over the past 10 starts is more than four times that of the reigning NL MVP's.


The diverging pitchers meet Thursday night in New York with the Los Angeles Dodgers co-ace trying to remain unbeaten against the Mets.


Zack Greinke is 2 2-3 innings past Kershaw's 41-inning streak from last season, but the left-hander is again climbing that ladder. After allowing three hits in eight innings of Saturday's 4-2 win in Washington, Kershaw (7-6, 2.68 ERA) hasn't given up a run in 20 innings as part of a 5-3 span with a 1.36 ERA in 10 starts. He struck out a season-high 14, giving Kershaw 27 strikeouts and no walks in 17 innings over consecutive victories.


"It looked like he had good location," manager Don Mattingly told MLB's official website. "Obviously, all of his stuff was good. ... Just kind of continuing on what he's been doing his last 10, 12 (starts)."


His recent form is in line with his history against the Mets with a 5-0 record and 1.58 ERA in eight starts. Lucas Duda (0 for 7 with five strikeouts), Curtis Granderson (0 for 6) and Juan Lagares (0 for 4) haven't figured him out, but Ruben Tejada is 5 for 10.


Colon (9-8, 4.86) gave up seven runs in 4 1-3 innings of Saturday's 12-2 loss in St. Louis, dropping the right-hander to 3-6 with a 5.74 ERA in 10 starts. The Mets have lost his last five with the 42-year-old going 0-4 with a 6.18 mark. He also walked three batters for the first time in 2015 as he was again denied his fourth straight 10-win season.


"It's all command with him," manager Terry Collins said. "Bartolo does not change the way he pitches. Primarily fastball, with a mix of some changeups and some sliders, but when he commands the fastball, the other stuff is just an accent. And when he doesn't command the fastball, he's not the kind of a guy who's going to go strictly offspeed, he just doesn't pitch like that, and tonight he just didn't have the command."


Colon gave up two runs over six innings in an 11-3 win at Chavez Ravine on Aug. 24, the first time he faced the Dodgers since 2006. Adrian Gonzalez is 9 for 21 with two home runs in their matchups, but Howie Kendrick (2 for 22) and Carl Crawford (6 for 36) have struggled.


Crawford was back in the starting lineup for the first time since April 27 in Wednesday's 3-1 win in Atlanta, though he was 0 for 4 and is 6 for 32 in New York.


The Dodgers (54-42) have been held to six hits in each of their last two games, and their .708 OPS in July is on track to be their lowest month since August (.688).


New York (49-46) knows something about offensive struggles, but it was the bullpen that wasn't able to do the job in Wednesday's 4-3 loss as Bobby Parnell allowed three runs in the eighth inning to blow a 3-1 lead. Following 10 1-3 innings of work in Sunday's 18-inning win in St. Louis, Mets relievers have surrendered five runs, eight hits and three walks in seven innings.


At the plate, Ruben Tejada enters with a 10-game hitting streak, but Duda is batting .129 in 17 July games.


The Mets won two of three in Los Angeles from July 3-5 with Wilmer Flores going 9 for 13, but the Dodgers have won eight of 10 in New York.


Mets left fielder Michael Cuddyer (left knee) has been out of the starting lineup for three games and didn't sound optimistic that he'd return Thursday.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Dodgers at Mets
Thu, Jul 23 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 2
Dodgers at Mets
Fri, Jul 24 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Dodgers at Mets
Sat, Jul 25 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 4
Dodgers at Mets
Sun, Jul 26 - 1:10PM EDT

Preview: Royals (56-36) at Cardinals (59-34)
Game: 1
Venue: Busch Stadium
Date: July 23, 2015 7:15 PM EDT

It feels like 1985 all over again.


Both the St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals have the best records in their respective leagues, and the I-70 rivals look to continue moving towards a repeat of that showdown Thursday night in the makeup of a rainout.


Barring a dramatic collapse, St. Louis (60-34) and Kansas City (57-36) will be back in the postseason, possibly leading to a rematch of the 1985 World Series won by the Royals after they rallied from a 3-1 deficit.


The Cardinals lead the NL Central by six games over second-place Pittsburgh, and the Royals are seven ahead of Minnesota atop the AL Central.


This is the latest in a season that two teams from Missouri hold the majors' top two records since the Cardinals and St. Louis Browns did it on Aug. 18, 1944.


St. Louis' staff has a major league-leading 2.67 ERA, and John Lackey (8-5, 2.90 ERA) has been a big part of that of late.


Since allowing 10 runs in a loss at Colorado on June 8, the right-hander is 4-1 with a 1.63 ERA in seven starts. He's been superb at home all year, going 6-2 with a 1.91 ERA in 10 outings.


Lackey allowed one run and 10 hits in seven innings of a 12-2 win over the New York Mets on Saturday.


He gave up three runs in five innings of a 3-2 loss at Kansas City on May 23, and this is the make-up of the June 14 contest he was scheduled to pitch.


The Cardinals, who are opening a season-high 11-game homestand, have won four of their last five after sweeping a two-game set with the Chicago White Sox. Yadier Molina's bases-loaded triple in the eighth inning rallied them for Wednesday's 3-2 victory.


"We know what to do," said Lance Lynn, who allowed two runs in six innings. "You just got to keep grinding out at-bats, making pitches, and trying to make sure that they don't have a huge inning. We've got guys who know how to do that, and it makes it fun around here."


Molina is 9 for 21 with six RBIs in the past four games, collecting three hits in each of the last two. The All-Star catcher is hitting .345 with 14 RBIs in his last 16 meetings with Kansas City.


St. Louis got some help from the Royals, who took two of three from the Pirates after Wednesday's 5-1 victory for their 12th win in 15 games.


Mike Moustakas connected for a three-run homer in the seventh and is 9 for 28 with three homers and eight RBIs in the last eight games.


The third baseman has a .357 average in 11 games at St. Louis, but Eric Hosmer is batting .185 in 24 career meetings overall.


Hosmer, though, enters this matchup hitting .444 (20 for 45) over the last 11 games after getting a solo shot and a double Wednesday.


The Royals are turning to Chris Young (8-5, 3.03), who left Friday's start after 82 pitches due to tightness in his back. He allowed two runs and three hits with four walks in five innings of a 4-2 road win over the White Sox.


"I'm not worried about it," Young said. "It'll be fine."


The right-hander, who was slated to start opposite Lackey last month, is 4-1 with a 1.73 ERA in six road starts this year, winning four straight behind a 1.11 ERA.


Young went six innings in a 5-0 home win over the Cardinals on May 22. He hasn't faced them in St. Louis since 2010 with San Diego.

Preview: Red Sox (42-52) at Astros (52-43)
Game: 3
Venue: Minute Maid Park
Date: July 23, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

The Houston Astros have flexed their muscles in showing why they lead the majors in homers during this series with the Boston Red Sox.


They can complete their first sweep of Boston on Thursday night by sending the visiting Red Sox to a season-high eighth straight loss.


Houston (53-43) has outhomered Boston 4-0 through two games of this series. Struggling Chris Carter went deep in Tuesday's 8-3 victory, then Preston Tucker recorded his first career multihomer game and Evan Gattis also connected in Wednesday's 4-2 win to account for all of the runs for the Astros.


"We ... scored all of our runs on the home run, which we can do that from time to time," said manager A.J. Hinch, whose team has hit 132 homers. "We've got a little bit of power."


The punchless Red Sox (42-53) have one homer during their losing streak and now try to avoid their first eight-game slide since Aug. 17-24. They are batting .192 with nine runs scored while going 8 for 45 with runners in scoring position in six games on this road trip, which ends Thursday.


"We just haven't put it together, and that is basically it," second baseman Dustin Pedroia said. "When we get guys on, we have to find a way to get them in."


Boston will get its second look at rookie Lance McCullers (4-3, 2.52 ERA), who allowed one run in five innings and did not get a decision in a 5-4 loss at Fenway Park on July 5. The right-hander has 71 strikeouts, most recently getting 10 on July 12 when he was charged with four runs over six innings in a 4-3 defeat at Tampa Bay.


McCullers is 3-0 with a 1.20 ERA in five home starts, including three straight victories.


The Red Sox will start Wade Miley (8-8, 4.49), who had a no-hitter through six and ended up allowing one hit in seven-plus scoreless innings in Friday's 1-0 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. He had a 6.88 ERA in his three previous outings.


"Wade was outstanding," manager John Farrell said. "He was aggressive and he threw a lot of strikes."


The left-hander is 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA in three career starts versus the Astros. Jose Altuve is 5 for 9 with two doubles against him and Gattis is 3 for 5 with two doubles.


Altuve is riding a 15-game hitting streak at home, batting .389 with 15 runs. Rookie shortstop Carlos Correa is 9 for 24 during a season-best, seven-game hitting streak.


Pedroia had a double in four at-bats to improve to 1 for 22 in six games since missing 16 with a right hamstring strain. His double play partner, Xander Bogaerts, is 3 for 8 in this series and hitting .400 with 13 RBIs in 16 games in July.


Farrell plans to start Mookie Betts, who was benched Wednesday due to a 1-for-20 slump after the All-Star break. Betts batted .327 in his 12 games prior to it.


"He clearly got out of the rhythm and the routine and where he was doing such a good job with some hard, line-drive type contact (before the break)," Farrell told MLB's official website.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Red Sox at Astros
Tue, Jul 21 Final 3 to 8
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Red Sox at Astros
Wed, Jul 22 Final 2 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Red Sox at Astros
Thu, Jul 23 - 8:10PM EDT

Preview: Brewers (42-53) at Diamondbacks (43-50)
Game: 1
Venue: Chase Field
Date: July 23, 2015 9:40 PM EDT

Craig Counsell helped the Arizona Diamondbacks win a World Series as a player, and now has the Milwaukee Brewers making progress since taking over as their manager.


Still a fan favorite in Arizona, Counsell returns for the first time in his current role Thursday night when the Brewers try to extend the Diamondbacks' rough stretch.


Counsell played for five teams and won two World Series titles, most recently during the first of two stints with the Arizona in 2001 when he was named NLCS MVP. Diamondback fans can't forget Counsell's hustle and should give him a warm reception in the series opener.


"It's a big deal when you win a World Series," he told MLB's official website.


Though Milwaukee (42-53) remains last in the NL Central, it's 35-35 since Counsell replaced the fired Ron Roenicke in early May. The Brewers' four-game winning streak ended with Wednesday's 7-5 defeat to Cleveland, their fifth loss in the last 19 games.


"You focus on the game the next day," said Counsell, whose club has totaled 27 runs and 50 hits in the last four contests. "Everybody's done a good job of that."


The subject of trade rumors, ex-Diamondback Gerardo Parra is batting .390 in his last 28 contests.


"I'm lost for words to say about him but it's fun watching him play right now," Counsell said. "He's just been exceptional, he really has."


Parra and the Brewers get the first look at Zack Godley when he makes his major league debut for Arizona (43-50). Acquired from the Chicago Cubs in the December deal involving Miguel Montero, the right-hander was at Class A Visalia before going 1-1 with a 5.14 ERA in three starts for Double-A Mobile.


"We felt like this guy has kind of epitomized what we're trying to get through as an organization," manager Chip Hale said. "He's a big competitor and the way he pitches is kind of the way we're looking for."


Godley will try to help the Diamondbacks rebound from their eighth defeat in nine games, 5-3 to Miami on Wednesday. Paul Goldschmidt had two hits to raise his NL-leading average to .343, but he struck out with the bases loaded and nobody out in the ninth.


Arizona, which dropped a season-high seven games under .500, went 3 for 12 with runners in scoring position, and is 5 for 32 in the last four contests.


Including the postseason, Goldschmidt is batting .430 with 10 homers and 26 RBIs in 26 games against the Brewers. He homered three times while recording three straight three-hit games when Arizona took two of three at Milwaukee in May.


Goldschmidt is 2 for 6 with a double and a home run off Mike Fiers (5-7, 3.79), another potential trade candidate who has gone 2-0 with a 2.18 ERA while Milwaukee's won his last five starts. The right-hander allowed a homer, two other hits and struck out seven with a walk in seven innings of a 4-1 victory over Pittsburgh on Friday.


'Not really a secret, just being aggressive,' Fiers said. 'Command's big. Not walking guys. Making them earn their way on. Just being aggressive, going after them and trusting in my stuff.'


He's 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA against the Diamondbacks, but last faced them in 2013.


It's uncertain if Fiers will face David Peralta after the left fielder was hit in the shoulder and head by a pitch from Jose Fernandez on Wednesday. Peralta said he passed medical tests after the game.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Brewers at Diamondbacks
Thu, Jul 23 - 9:40PM EDT


GAME 2
Brewers at Diamondbacks
Fri, Jul 24 - 9:40PM EDT


GAME 3
Brewers at Diamondbacks
Sat, Jul 25 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 4
Brewers at Diamondbacks
Sun, Jul 26 - 4:10PM EDT

Preview: Twins (50-44) at Angels (54-40)
Game: 3
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Date: July 23, 2015 3:35 PM EDT

Ervin Santana called Angel Stadium home for eight years. He was an All-Star and threw the Los Angeles Angels' first individual no-hitter in almost three decades.


Anaheim will be enemy territory for him for the first time Thursday, though, when he takes the mound for the Minnesota Twins against baseball's hottest team.


Santana (1-0, 3.66 ERA) went 96-80 with a 4.33 ERA in 236 games with the Angels from 2005-12. His tenure was highlighted by an All-Star nod in 2008 and a 10-strikeout no-no at Cleveland on July 27, 2011.


Though this marks his first trip to Angel Stadium as a visitor, it's unlikely to be worse than his only other start against Los Angeles. He gave up five runs and four homers over 7 2-3 innings of a 5-4 loss with Kansas City on May 23, 2013. Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, and Chris Iannetta - who homered in the Angels' 5-2 win Wednesday - all went deep.


Santana is 50-38 with a 3.77 ERA in 117 games in Anaheim.


The right-hander had a horrendous outing versus Detroit before the All-Star break, his second start since serving his 80-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs. On Friday, however, he looked more like the pitcher the Twins thought they were getting after signing him to a four-year deal in December, as he limited Oakland to five hits and one walk over 7 2-3 innings in a 5-0 road win.


"I think it was big for him and big for us," third baseman Trevor Plouffe told MLB's official website. "We know what kind of pitcher he is. He's got the track record and got everything we want in a pitcher. he throws strikes, works fast, he holds runners well. He's a big boost to our rotation."


Facing these Angels (54-40) figures to be a tough test, given both the way they're swinging the bats and the pitcher they'll face. Los Angeles had 12 hits Wednesday and is hitting.301 with 27 homers while averaging 6.6 runs in a 13-2 stretch, which includes seven consecutive victories.


Trout, who missed his first game Tuesday due to a sore heel, and Pujols combined to go 1 for 8, but the Angels got three hits apiece from Johnny Giavotella and Kole Calhoun atop the lineup.


Garrett Richards (10-6, 3.24 ERA) comes off his second career shutout, a two-hitter in Saturday's 3-0 win over Boston. It marked the fifth time in seven starts he's completed at least seven innings while allowing two runs or fewer.


The right-hander looks like he's recaptured the form that made him one of the front-runners for AL Cy Young Award last year before a torn patellar tendon required season-ending surgery.


"I think he's shown a lot of the same things he showed last year," manager Mike Scioscia said. "There's been one or two (starts) maybe not exactly what he's looking for, but Garrett's throwing the ball very well."


Richards, who is 6-1 with a 1.89 ERA at home, won his only previous start against Minnesota, allowing two runs in 7 1-3 innings of a 6-2 victory June 25, 2014.


Minnesota (50-44) has scored five runs while dropping four in a row. Trevor Plouffe and Eddie Rosario are each 1 for 15 in that span, and the team is batting .185.


A fifth straight loss would match the Twins' longest skid of the season set June 8-13.


Angels third baseman David Freese is expected to miss at least two weeks with a broken right index finger after being hit by a pitch Wednesday night.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Twins at Angels
Tue, Jul 21 Final 0 to 7
Boxscores


GAME 2
Twins at Angels
Wed, Jul 22 Final 2 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Twins at Angels
Thu, Jul 23 - 3:35PM EDT

Preview: Blue Jays (48-48) at Athletics (44-52)
Game: 3
Venue: O.co Coliseum
Date: July 23, 2015 3:35 PM EDT

Scott Kazmir's time with the Oakland Athletics is rumored to be nearing an end, and he could draw the Toronto Blue Jays' interest.


Kazmir may be taking the mound for the final time for the A's as he tries to continue his recent dominance Thursday night against the Blue Jays.


After winning a career-high 15 games in his first season with Oakland in 2014, Kazmir (5-5) is among the AL leaders with a 2.38 ERA this year. However, he's scheduled to become a free agent this winter, and with the A's (44-52) having plenty of teams to pass in the playoff chase, they are reportedly considering trading him before the July 31 deadline.


The left-hander's value is rising as he's 3-1 with a 1.35 ERA and 0.79 WHIP over his last seven starts. His 1.36 ERA at home is second-best in baseball, going 4-2 in 10 starts, after yielding one run in 8 1-3 innings of Saturday's 3-2 win in 10 against Minnesota.


"You want him pitching for you every fifth day," catcher Stephen Vogt said. "We love Scott and what he's done for us to this point this year is pretty phenomenal. Our entire rotation, really, but he's been some kind of good."


Kazmir has had quality starts in his last four matchups with Toronto and won the last one, yielding a run and three hits with eight strikeouts in seven innings of a 5-1 victory July 5, 2014.


The Blue Jays (48-48), three games behind the Twins for a wild-card spot, could potentially be in the market for Kazmir as they have one of the league's worst rotations with a 4.31 ERA.


They've balanced that out as the highest-scoring team in baseball with an average of 5.32 runs - their best since a franchise-record 5.52 in 2003 - and they rank second with 123 homers.


R.A. Dickey (3-10, 4.70), however, hasn't been afforded that luxury as his 3.88 runs of support per game is the lowest in the rotation. The right-handed knuckleballer has been backed by two runs or fewer in 11 of 19 starts, including each of the past five while he's gone 0-4 with a 3.98 ERA.


"It's been a peculiar year in that regard," said Dickey, who allowed one run in six innings while not getting the decision in a 3-2 loss to Tampa Bay on Saturday.


He hasn't lost five straight decisions since an eight-start stretch in 2011 with the New York Mets.


Dickey is 0-3 with a 2.92 ERA in seven games - five starts - at Oakland. His scheduled start was pushed up a day after Drew Hutchison fell ill.


The A's have won five of six over the Blue Jays after Ike Davis' pinch-hit, walkoff single was upheld by video review following a close play at first in Wednesday's 4-3, 10-inning victory.


"It's awkward. That's a tough position to be in. The whole time we were thinking, 'If they turn this over we're going to look like a bunch of idiots out here (celebrating),'" said Josh Reddick, who scored the winning run. "... It felt like the longest replay we've had all year."


Vogt is batting .371 in his last 10 games against Toronto after getting two hits and an RBI on Wednesday.


Josh Donaldson has doubled on two of his four hits while adding two RBIs in his first two games back in Oakland after the A's traded him in the offseason.


The All-Star third baseman is 3 for 6 with a homer off Kazmir.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Blue Jays at Athletics
Tue, Jul 21 Final 7 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Blue Jays at Athletics
Wed, Jul 22 Final 3 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Blue Jays at Athletics
Thu, Jul 23 - 3:35PM EDT

Preview: Marlins (40-55) at Padres (44-51)
Game: 1
Venue: PETCO Park
Date: July 23, 2015 10:10 PM EDT

San Diego and Miami are known for great weather, picturesque beaches and relaxing lifestyles.


Those city's baseball teams, unfortunately, are enduring the NL's longest postseason droughts and have already fired their managers after failing to meet expectations.


Misery may love company when the underachieving Padres and Marlins meet for the first time Thursday night to start a four-game series at Petco Park.


Miami (40-55) has the longest postseason drought in the NL, last reaching the playoffs when it won the 2003 World Series. San Diego (44-51) is tied with the New York Mets for the league's second-worst dry spell, having last qualified in 2006.


Both clubs had hope thanks to some major offseason moves.


The Marlins re-signed slugger Giancarlo Stanton to a record $325 million, 13-year deal and added veterans Dee Gordon, Michael Morse and Martin Prado. Stanton and Gordon, however, are currently injured.


The new-look Padres added Matt Kemp, Justin Upton, Melvin Upton Jr., Will Middlebrooks, Derek Norris and closer Craig Kimbrel. Those batters are all hitting below their career averages, Middlebrooks was sent to the minors Wednesday and Kimbrel has his worst career ERA.


Miami general manager Dan Jennings took over as manager for Mike Redmond on May 17. San Diego fired Bud Black on June 15, with Pat Murphy named interim manager.


The similarities with these clubs extend to the fact that Thursday's right-handed starters have identical 3.38 ERAs. The Padres send Tyson Ross (6-7) to the mound to face the Marlins' Tom Koehler (7-6).


Ross is allowing a major league-low 0.23 homers per nine innings, though he is also last in baseball with 4.38 walks per nine innings. He is 3-0 with a 2.23 ERA in his last six starts, with San Diego winning five of them.


Ross gave up three runs in 6 2-3 innings Saturday and did not get a decision in a 5-4 victory over Colorado. He allowed one run over seven innings to earn a 10-1 victory over the Marlins last year in his lone career start versus them.


Prado has faced him the most among Miami hitters, going 4 for 16.


Koehler has a 1.97 ERA in his last five outings, winning the first three but losing the last two. He surrendered three runs and three hits in six innings Saturday in a 3-1 loss at Philadelphia.


Koehler won his lone career start against the Padres last year by giving up two runs in six innings in an 8-2 rout. Justin Upton is 6 for 16 against him, though he has missed the last three games with a strained muscle in his side.


Miami seeks its first three-game road win streak after starters Mat Latos and Jose Fernandez notched victories in this week's three-game set with Arizona. Closer A.J. Ramos loaded the bases to start the ninth before striking out the side in Wednesday's 5-3 victory.


"Not good for the manager's heart, but pretty exciting," Jennings said.


San Diego totaled four runs in consecutive home defeats to San Francisco, managing six hits with a solo homer by Jedd Gyorko in Wednesday's 7-1 loss.


"It's disappointing but we put ourselves in a good position and didn't execute when we had to," Murphy said.


The Padres took four of seven 2014 matchups.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Marlins at Padres
Thu, Jul 23 - 10:10PM EDT


GAME 2
Marlins at Padres
Fri, Jul 24 - 10:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Marlins at Padres
Sat, Jul 25 - 8:40PM EDT


GAME 4
Marlins at Padres
Sun, Jul 26 - 4:10PM EDT

MLB


Thursday, July 23




MLB roundup: Bolsinger, Dodgers beat Braves


ATLANTA -- The Los Angeles Dodgers were in desperate need of a quality start from the back end of their rotation, and Mike Bolsinger supplied it Wednesday.


Bolsinger allowed just three hits and an unearned run over seven innings and the Dodgers salvaged the final game of the series with a 3-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves at a sweltering Turner Field.


The Dodgers scored all three runs in the fifth inning, on an RBI single by Alberto Callaspo, an RBI double by Jimmy Rollins and an RBI single by Joc Pederson.


Atlanta starter Julio Teheran gave up all three runs and allowed six hits and three walks over seven innings. He struck out 11.


Nationals 4, Mets 3


WASHINGTON -- Danny Espinosa hit a two-out double to drive in Michael A. Taylor and break a tie during a three-run eighth as Washington came back to beat New York and take the rubber gamer of the three-game set.


Taylor had a two-run, two-out single in the eighth off reliever Bobby Parnell to the game at 3-3. Espinosa then came through with the game-winner against Parnell (1-1).


The winning pitcher was Matt Thornton (1-0), who pitched a scoreless eighth, while Drew Storen got his 29th save with a perfect ninth.


The first-place Nationals extended their lead to three games over the Mets, who have lost four of the last five to Washington.


Phillies 5, Rays 4 (10 innings)


PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies finished a successful homestand with a celebration, beating Tampa Bay on Odubel Herrera's RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning.


Ben Revere went 3-for-5 with an RBI to raise his batting average to .300, while Domonic Brown also collected three hits and scored the winning run after singling in the 10th.


The Phillies have won back-to-back series for the first time this season and are 5-1 to start the second half.


Indians 7, Brewers 5


MILWAUKEE -- Michael Brantley had three hits, including a three-run home run, and Cleveland bullpen allowed only one run over the final 6 1/3 innings.


Brantley, a former Brewers prospect who was shipped to Cleveland in the 2008 trade that brought C.C. Sabathia to Milwaukee, finished a triple short of the cycle and extended his hitting streak to five games as Cleveland ended an eight-game losing streak against Milwaukee.


Brewers first baseman Adam Lind finished with four hits and four RBIs, including a two-run home run in the first inning.


Rangers 10, Rockies 8


DENVER -- Texas blew an early five-run lead but beat Colorado when Elvis Andrus singled home two runs in the ninth.


The Rockies, who fell behind 5-0 in the second, tied the game at 8 with a four-run eighth. Nick Hundley hit his seventh homer with one out, and Carlos Gonzalez hit his 14th homer, a three-run shot with two outs off Tanner Scheppers (3-2).


Rougned Odor, who atoned for making two errors on the same play in the fourth, finished a double shy of the cycle as he drove in two runs and scored three.


Giants 7, Padres 1


SAN DIEGO -- Buster Posey lined a two-run double to right field in the seventh inning to propel San Francisco over San Diego.


The Padres led 1-0 after five innings before San Francisco tied the game on Brandon Belt's two-out homer in the sixth and scored three runs in both the seventh and eighth innings -- all against the Padres' bullpen after James Shields had departed.


The Giants' second straight win made a winner of Matt Cain (2-1) and was the reigning World Series champions' eighth win in the last nine games. Cain allowed one run -- a homer by Jedd Gyorko in the second inning -- on five hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out six.


Yankees 4, Orioles 3


NEW YORK -- Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez homered, leading New York past Baltimore.


The Yankees improved to a season-best 11 games above .500 while beating the Orioles for the fifth time in six games at Yankee Stadium.


Teixeira hit his 24th home run of the season with one out in the first inning off Baltimore right-hander Kevin Gausman (1-2). Rodriguez hit his 20th with one out in the fifth, also off Gausman.


Reds 9-5, Cubs 1-6


CINCINNATI -- Pinch hitter Taylor Teagarden's RBI single off Cincinnati closer Aroldis Chapman drove home the go-ahead run, lifting the Chicago Cubs to a victory in the second game of a day-night doubleheader.


Joey Votto homered and Mike Leake allowed one run and four hits in eight innings in the Reds' victory in the afternoon game.


Reds left fielder Marlon Byrd prevented the Cubs from scoring the go-ahead run in the eighth inning of the nightcap when he threw out Dexter Fowler attempting to score on Anthony Rizzo's single. The play was reviewed to determine whether Reds catcher Brayan Pena violated the home-plate collision rule, but replay confirmed he did not.


Tigers 9, Mariners 4


DETROIT -- Nick Castellanos' grand slam highlighted an eight-run, third-inning outburst, and Detroit overcame two Nelson Cruz home runs in a victory over Seattle.


Castellanos' eighth home run of the season helped Anibal Sanchez (10-7) win his seventh consecutive decision. Sanchez allowed four runs and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings while striking out six. Joakim Soria got the last four outs for his 22nd save.


Ian Kinsler contributed four hits, including two during the highest scoring inning of the season for Detroit. He scored twice and knocked in a run.


Royals 5, Pirates 1


KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer homered, lifting Kansas City past Pittsburgh.


The Royals scored four runs in the seventh, highlighted by Moustakas' three-run homer with two outs. Jarrod Dyson's safety squeeze bunt single brought home Omar Infante for the first run of the inning.


Right-hander Edinson Volquez (9-5) claimed the victory, holding the Pirates to a run over 7 2/3 innings. He struck out eight, one shy of his season high, and yielded eight hits.


Astros 4, Red Sox 2


HOUSTON -- Rookie Preston Tucker socked two home runs, and Collin McHugh proved elusive enough to help Houston beat Boston.


Tucker slugged his seventh and eighth home runs of the season and provided the Astros with a four-run lead through five innings. It was the first multi-homer game of his career.


McHugh (11-5) faced 13 batters in the first four innings and then had to weave in and out of trouble to complete seven innings. While McHugh allowed two runs, both in the sixth, he stranded five baserunners between the fifth and seventh, his last inning, to maintain control.


Cardinals 3, White Sox 2


CHICAGO -- Yadier Molina's bases-clearing triple in the eighth inning helped lift St. Louis to a come-from-behind victory over Chicago.


Molina's liner to the right field corner off David Robertson drove home Randal Grichuk, Pete Kozma and Jason Heyward.


Cardinals reliever Miguel Socolovich (4-1) worked the seventh inning for the win. Trevor Rosenthal pitched a one-two-three ninth for his 29th save.


Marlins 5, Diamondbacks 3


PHOENIX -- Jose Fernandez struck out a season-high 11 in seven innings, doubled in a run and scored another in Miami's victory over Arizona.


Fernandez (3-0) doubled in the final run of a three-run second inning for a 3-0 lead the Marlins never lost. He gave up five hits and walked two -- his first two walks of the season -- in his fourth start since returning from Tommy John surgery.


J.T. Realmuto and Ichiro Suzuki each had an extra-base hit, drove in a run and scored for the Marlins, who won their second in a row.


Angels 5, Twins 2


ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Johnny Giavotella and Kole Calhoun combined for half of the Angels' 12 hits, leading Los Angeles past Minnesota. However, the Angels lost third baseman David Freese for at least two weeks with a broken right index finger.


C.J. Wilson (8-7) got the win, but needed help from his bullpen after making 105 pitches in a five-inning outing. Wilson gave up two runs on six hits and two walks, then got stellar relief from Fernando Salas, Trevor Gott, Joe Smith and Huston Street (25th save), who combined to shut out the Twins on three hits over the final four innings.


Street became the 27th pitcher in major league history to record 300 career saves.


A's 4, Blue Jays 3 (10 innings)


OAKLAND, Calif. -- Pinch hitter Ike Davis' infield single with two outs in the 10th scored Josh Reddick from third base, giving Oakland a victory over Toronto.


The victory came five innings after A's manager Bob Melvin was ejected from the game. Melvin nonetheless was credited with his 369th win as A's manager, moving him into third place on the Oakland list.


Reddick, a late-game replacement, set up Davis' heroics with an opposite-field double with one out in the 10th off Roberto Osuna (1-4). Reddick took third on third baseman Brett Lawrie's grounder before Davis beat out a ground ball to shortstop.

MLB


Thursday, July 23




Pirates getting wins in Liriano's home starts


The Pittsburgh Pirates are 4-0 in the last four ball games that Francisco Liriano has starter at PNC Park. The 31-year-old lefty is scheduled to get the ball as the Buccos tangle with the Washington Nationals Thursday.


Those Pirates' wins have come against the Chicago White Sox (11-0), Atlanta Braves (3-2), San Diego Padres (3-2) and, most recently, the St. Louis Cardinals (6-5).


Liriano has figured in the decision just once in those previous four trips to the mound in front of the home fans. He owns a record of just 2-4 in 10 home starts and has an ERA of 3.86.




Dodgers cashing Under bets in Kershaw's starts


The Under has gone 5-0 in the last five Los Angeles Dodgers' games when lefty Clayton Kershaw gets the start. Kershaw is scheduled to take the mound when the Dodgers meet the New York Mets at Citi Field Thursday.


Over the course of those five starts, Kershaw has allowed just five earned runs in 38 innings of work. His last time out, he went eight strong and didn't allow a run as the Dodgers trumped the Washington Nationals 4-2 on July 18 finishing below the closing total of 7.




Yankees slumping with Tichenor behind the plate


The New York Yankees are just 1-4 in their last five ball games with umpire Todd Tichenor calling balls and strikes behind home plate. Tichenor will be working the Yankees' meeting with the Baltimore Orioles Thursday afternoon.


Tichenor has not worked a Yanks' game behind home yet this season, but did work three in 2014. The Yankees went 1-2 in those games, including two losses to the Orioles: 14-5 on April 8 and 2-1 on September 4.

MLB


Armadillo's Write-Up


Thursday, July 23


National League


Nationals @ Pirates


Fister is 0-2, 5.29 in his last three starts; his last four stayed under.


Liriano is 1-0, 2.05 in his last four starts; he missed his last start (neck).


Washington won last seven games with Pittsburgh; home side won nine of last ten series games. Nationals are 5-3 in last eight games; over is 2-0-1 in their last three games. Pirates lost five of last six games, three of those four stayed under the total.


Dodgers @ Mets


Kershaw is 2-0, 0.38 in his last three starts; his last five stayed under.


Colon is 0-4, 6.83 in his last five starts; six of his last eight stayed under.


Dodgers lost three of last four games with the Mets; over is 8-1-1 in last ten series games. LA split its last eight games; under is 14-4-1 in their last 19 road games. Mets lost four of last six games; over is 3-1-1 in last five.


Brewers @ Diamondbacks


Fiers is 2-0, 2.18 in his last five starts; over is 4-2-1 in his last seven.


Godley is making MLB debut; he was 9-4, 2.75 in 15 AA starts.


Road team won seven of last nine Milwaukee-Arizona games; five of last seven went over total. Brewers won four of last five games- three of last four went over total. Diamondbacks lost eight of their last nine games- three of last four stayed under.


Marlins @ Padres


Koehler is 0-2, 6.00 in his last two starts; under is 4-0-1 in his last five.


Ross is 1-0, 2.53 in his last four starts; over is 2-1-1 in his last four at home.


San Diego won four of last five games with Miami; home side won eight of last ten series game; Padres lost last two games after winning previous five. Over is 16-6-1 in their last 23 at home. Miami won its last two games after it lost previous four- over is 5-3 in its last eight games.


American League


Orioles @ Bronx


Jimenez is 0-2, 4.32 in his last three starts; over is 4-2-1 in his last seven.
Tanaka is 2-0, 3.07 in his last two starts; six of his last nine stayed under.
Home side won nine of last 11 Baltimore-Bronx games; last three series games stayed under. Orioles are 3-8 in last 11 road games- under is 10-4-1 in their last 15 games. Bronx is 10-4 in last 14 games; their last five stayed under.


Mariners @ Tigers


Iwakuma is 2-0, 1.32 in his last two starts; seven of his last nine went over.


Price is 5-1, 1.81 in his last eight starts; four of his last six went over total.


Seattle lost six of last nine games; under is 10-4-1 in Seattle's last 15 road games. Tigers lost six of last nine games; over is 25-3-1 in their last 29 games, 13-1-1 in their last fifteen at home. Mariners lost three of last four games with Detroit; six of last seven went over.


Red Sox @ Astros


Miley is 0-1, 4.26 in his last three starts; over is 5-3 in his last eight.


McCullers is 1-1, 2.63 in his last four starts; over is 2-1-1 in his last four starts at home.


Red Sox are 0-6 since All-Star break, outscored 34-9. Boston is 5-5 in its last ten games with Houston; seven of the ten games went over total. Astros lost seven of last eleven games (under 7-3-1).


Blue Jays @ A's


Hutchison is 1-1, 7.47 in his last three starts; his last five went over.


Kazmir is 3-1, 1.74 in his last seven starts; seven of his last nine went under.


Home side won eight of last nine Toronto-Oakland games; Jays lost five of last six games in Oakland- under is 8-1-1 in last ten series games. Toronto lost eight of last 12 road games. A's won five of last seven games; under is 5-3-1 in their last nine.


Twins @ Angels


Santana is 1-0, 3.66 in three starts (under 2-1).


Richards is 3-1, 2.12 in his last four starts; four of his last six stayed under.


Angels won last nine games with Minnesota; over is 7-2-1 in last ten tilts in series. Halos are 20-7 in last 27 home games, 11 of last 13 stayed under the total. Minnesota lost last four games; five of last six stayed under the total.


Interleague


Royals @ Cardinals


Young is 1-1, 4.77 in his last three starts; under is 3-1-1 in his last five.


Lackey is 4-1, 1.63 in his last seven starts; three of his last four went over.


Kansas City lost last three games with St Louis; under is 7-1-2 in last 10 series games. Royals won six of last eight series games- five of last seven stayed under total. Cardinals won four of last five games; over is 5-3 in last eight.


Win-loss records this year for team with this starting pitcher:
Wsh-Pitt-- Fister 4-8; Liriano 8-10
LA-NY-- Kershaw 10-9; Colon 9-9
Mil-Az-- Fiers 11-8; Godley 0-0
Mia- SD-- Koehler 9-8; Ross 10-10


Balt-NY-- Jimenez 10-8; Tanaka 9-3
Sea-Det-- Iwakuma 2-4; Price 15-4
Bos-Hst-- Miley 10-9; McCullers 5-6
Tor-A's-- Hutchison 12-7; Kazmir 8-10
Min-LAA-- Santana 2-1; Richards 11-6
Chi-Clev-- Samardzija 9-10; Bauer 9-9


KC-StL-- Young 9-5; Lackey 11-8


Times this starting pitcher allowed a run in first inning:
Wsh-Pitt-- Fister 3-12; Liriano 2-18
LA-NY-- Kershaw 4-19; Colon 5-18
Mil-Az-- Fiers 1-19; Godley 0-0
Mia- SD-- Koehler 3-17; Ross 5-20


Balt-NY-- Jimenez 3-18; Tanaka 3-12
Sea-Det-- Iwakuma 2-6; Price 3-19
Bos-Hst-- Miley 4-19; McCullers 1-11
Tor-A's-- Hutchison 7-19; Kazmir 2-18
Min-LAA-- Santana 0-3; Richards 2-17
Chi-Clev-- Samardzija 10-19; Bauer 3-18


KC-StL-- Young 1-14; Lackey 3-19