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Baseball Capsules


August 27, 2015


DETROIT (AP) Justin Verlander lost a bid for his third no-hitter when Chris Iannetta lined a leadoff double in the ninth inning that landed on the left-field line, and the Detroit Tigers beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-0 Wednesday night.


Trying to become the sixth major leaguer to throw three no-hitters, Verlander settled instead for a one-hit shutout.


He was an inch away from so much more.


Iannetta's shot, just barely fair, kicked up chalk and rolled into the left-field corner. Verlander attempted to will it foul with body English, then arched his back in disappointment after the ball hit right on the line.


Verlander (2-6) retired the next three batters to finish his seventh career shutout and first since May 18, 2012, against Pittsburgh. The right-hander struck out nine and walked two in his first win since July 29.


He faced only 28 hitters - one more than the minimum - after inducing double plays following both walks.


ASTROS 6, YANKEES 2


NEW YORK (AP) - Evan Gattis hit two home runs, Collin McHugh excelled once again and the Houston Astros exceeded last season's win total, beating the New York Yankees.


The AL West leaders improved to 71-57, a year after going 70-92. With 34 games left on the schedule, the Astros already have achieved their best season since 2010.


The Yankees have lost five of seven, a slide that's cost them first place in the AL East.


McHugh (14-7) kept up a recent run of ace pitching, both for himself and the team with the top ERA in the league. Houston has won seven of nine, not permitting more than two runs in any game.


McHugh shut out the Yankees until Didi Gregorius hit a two-run homer in the seventh. He outpitched Michael Pineda (9-8) for the second time this year, and has allowed just seven runs in his last five starts.


BLUE JAYS 12, RANGERS 4


ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Edwin Encarnacion hit a grand slam to extend his hitting streak to 21 games, helping David Price get a win on his 30th birthday in Toronto's victory against Texas.


Encarnacion sent his 26th homer into the Blue Jays' bullpen in left-center after Kevin Pillar opened a six-run sixth inning with a long ball that chased starter Colby Lewis (14-6).


Lewis issued four of a season-high 11 walks by Rangers pitchers.


Pitching on his birthday for the first time in the majors, Price (13-4) threw five scoreless innings after allowing Adrian Beltre's two-run homer in the first.


The AL East-leading Blue Jays won their fifth straight, while the Rangers dropped a half-game behind Minnesota in the race for the second AL wild card.


Jose Bautista walked four times and scored twice as Toronto went two games up in the division on the New York Yankees. The Astros moved 5 1/2 games ahead of Texas atop the AL West.


GIANTS 4, CUBS 2


SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Buster Posey followed Brandon Belt's leadoff triple in the sixth with a go-ahead double, Jake Peavy won for the second time in six starts, and San Francisco stopped Chicago's six-game winning streak.


Kelby Tomlinson added an RBI double of his own in the sixth against Kyle Hendricks (6-6) as the Giants ended a three-game slide with their second victory in seven games. Nori Aoki homered for San Francisco.


With their first win in six meetings this month against the Cubs, San Francisco avoided its first six-game skid in the series since 1993-94.


Peavy (4-6) allowed five hits and two runs in 6 1-3 innings to beat the Cubs for the second time in his last six outings against them. Santiago Casilla finished for his 31st save.


CARDINALS 3, DIAMONDBACKS 1


PHOENIX (AP) - John Lackey pitched seven strong innings and St. Louis beat Arizona for the seventh straight time.


Patrick Corbin limited the Cardinals to Mark Reynolds' solo homer in six innings. St. Louis quickly took advantage after Corbin left, scoring twice off David Hernandez (1-4) in the seventh. Kolten Wong had an RBI double and Matt Carpenter a run-scoring single.


Lackey (11-8) bounced back from a shaky start, giving up a homer to Paul Goldschmidt in the first and little else. Trevor Rosenthal earned his 40th save.


St. Louis moved 36 games over .500 (81-45), its best mark since finishing the 2005 season plus-38. The Cardinals have won 12 of 13 against Arizona.


PIRATES 7, MARLINS 2


MIAMI (AP) - Andrew McCutchen homered and drove in four runs to help the Pittsburgh Pirates to a victory over the Miami Marlins.


Jeff Locke (7-8) pitched seven innings, allowing two runs and five hits for the Pirates, who have won four of five.


Pittsburgh (76-49) remains four games behind first-place St. Louis (80-45) in the NL Central race.


Miami's Chris Narveson (1-1) struggled in his first start since April 15, 2012, while with Milwaukee. He allowed seven runs and eight hits in 3 2-3 innings.


Martin Prado homered for the Marlins.


McCutchen hit an RBI double in the first inning and helped spark a six-run second with a three-run home run, his 20th.


McCutchen is 6 for 13 with three doubles, a home run, and six RBIs in the first three games of the series


METS 9, PHILLIES 4


PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Bartolo Colon tossed five-hit ball and struck out eight in seven sharp innings, Michael Cuddyer hit a long homer and the NL East-leading New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies.


Colon (11-11) bounced back from a rough outing in Colorado, helping the Mets improve to 18-6 since July 31. They took a 6 1-2 game lead over second-place Washington, which lost 6-5 to San Diego.


Cuddyer had an RBI double in the first inning off Jerad Eickhoff (1-1) and hit a two-run shot into the second deck in left field off Hector Neris in the eighth.


The Mets have dominated the Phillies, winning eight straight, 11 of 12 this season and 23 of the last 28 meetings. They will go for a four-game sweep Thursday night with plenty of visiting fans chanting ''Let's Go Mets!'' in Philadelphia's cozy ballpark.


TWINS 5, RAYS 3


ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - Eduardo Escobar homered twice and Joe Mauer had a tiebreaking RBI single as Minnesota beat the Tampa Bay Rays for the Twins' sixth consecutive win.


Minnesota has its longest winning streak away from home since a six-game stretch Aug. 14-26, 2007. The Twins are 6-3 entering the final game of a 10-game trip Thursday night.


Escobar hit solo shots in the sixth and eighth innings, with the second one making 5-3. Mauer had a bases-loaded single and Trevor Plouffe hit a sacrifice fly as the Twins took a 4-2 lead in the seventh.


Brian Duensing (4-0) replaced Twins starter Tyler Duffey with the bases loaded and one out in the sixth, and retired Daniel Nava and pinch-hitter Brandon Guyer to preserve a 2-2 tie. Kevin Jepsen pitched the ninth for his eighth save.


Rays starter Chris Archer (11-10) took the loss.


DODGERS 7, REDS 4


CINCINNATI (AP) - Scott Van Slyke, A.J. Ellis and Yasiel Puig all homered during a five-run fourth inning, and the Los Angeles Dodgers held on for a victory over the Cincinnati Reds.


Kike Hernandez added three hits and Adrian Gonzalez chipped in a ninth-inning RBI double for the NL West-leading Dodgers, have won two straight games after a season-high, five-game losing streak.


The Reds, who have lost 11 of their last 12 games and slipped to 1-8 on their 10-game homestand, reached left-hander Brett Anderson for three unearned runs. Anderson (8-8) gave up five hits with one walk, four strikeouts and a wild pitch.


Luis Avilan struck out Jay Bruce with the tying runs on base in the eighth and Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth for his 25th save.


PADRES 6, NATIONALS 5


WASHINGTON (AP) - Justin Upton homered twice and had three RBIs, Matt Kemp added a two-run double and the San Diego Padres held on to beat the Washington Nationals.


Tyson Ross (9-9) allowed four runs in 6 1-3 innings for the Padres, who evened the three-game series and will try for their fifth straight series victory in Thursday's finale.


Denard Span doubled twice for Washington in his second game back from the disabled list following back spasms, but Gio Gonzalez (9-7) failed to pitch more than five innings for a sixth time in seven starts.


Ryan Zimmerman drove in two runs on productive outs for the Nationals, who trailed 5-0 midway through the fourth before closing to within a run after a three-run seventh.


Craig Kimbrel pitched the ninth for his 36th save.


ORIOLES 8, ROYALS 5


KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Chris Davis, Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop each hit a two-run homer off Johnny Cueto, and the Baltimore Orioles totaled five long balls in all to power their way to a victory over the Kansas City Royals that snapped a six-game skid.


Wei-Yin Chen (8-6) allowed three runs for the Orioles while scattering nine hits over six innings. The losing pitcher against the Royals in Game 3 of last year's AL Championship Series, he has now gone seven straight starts without a defeat.


Cueto (9-9) labored through five innings for Kansas City, allowing 10 hits and a walk. It was his second consecutive shoddy start after yielding a career-high 13 hits in a loss at Boston.


ROCKIES 6, BRAVES 3


ATLANTA (AP) - Brandon Barnes had three hits, including a two-run homer, and the Colorado Rockies extended Atlanta right-hander Shelby Miller's winless streak to 18 starts with a victory over the Braves.


Miller (5-11) looked like he might break the streak, leading 3-0 in the seventh, but he gave up four runs in the bottom of the inning before leaving with two outs.


Jose Reyes capped the rally with a two-out triple to right-center that scored Barnes and Charlie Blackmon. Daniel Descalso and Blackmon had the other RBIs in the inning for Colorado.


Simon Castro (1-0) picked up the win in relief for the Rockies, who won two out of three for their first series win at Turner Field since 2005.


Barnes tacked on a two-run homer in the eighth off Edwin Jackson.


RED SOX 3, WHITE SOX 0


CHICAGO (AP) - Rick Porcello pitched seven sparkling innings in his return from a triceps injury, leading the Boston Red Sox to a victory over the Chicago White Sox.


Porcello and Chris Sale had nearly identical lines, but Travis Shaw hit a two-run homer off Nate Jones (1-1) with two outs in the eighth. Robbie Ross Jr. then got three outs for the Red Sox before Junichi Tazawa finished the six-hitter for his third save in nine chances.


Porcello (6-11) allowed five hits, struck out five and walked none in one of his best starts in a disappointing debut season with Boston. The right-hander was acquired in a December trade with Detroit, and then agreed to an $82.5 million, four-year contract in April.


MARINERS 8, ATHLETICS 2


SEATTLE (AP) - Felix Hernandez made just two mistakes in eight strong innings, Nelson Cruz hit his AL-leading 39th homer and drove in three runs and the Seattle Mariners beat the Oakland Athletics.


Seattle closed out its brief homestand with Hernandez rebounding after getting knocked around in his last start against the Chicago White Sox.


Hernandez (15-8) allowed a homer to Billy Burns on the first pitch of the game and a solo homer to Brett Lawrie on the first pitch of the seventh inning. Oakland's only other hit off Hernandez was a soft single from Billy Butler in the fifth.


Hernandez struck out seven, walked one and became the second AL pitcher to reach 15 wins.


Cruz's homer came in the eighth, but it was an early offensive outburst that backed Hernandez. Seattle sent 10 batters to the plate in the first and scored four times that inning off Chris Bassitt (1-6).


INDIANS 6, BREWERS 2


CLEVELAND (AP) - Jason Kipnis homered and drove in three runs, and the Cleveland Indians used six pitchers in a win over the Milwaukee Brewers.


Kipnis, who leads the American League with a .325 batting average, gave Cleveland the lead with a two-run double with the bases loaded in the second inning. He added a solo homer in the eighth.


Rookie right-hander Cody Anderson, starting in place of the injured Carlos Carrasco, allowed two runs in 4 1-3 innings. Carrasco, who leads the Indians in wins, was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a sore right shoulder.


Jeff Manship (1-0) worked 1 1-3 innings for his first win since April 26, 2014, when he was pitching for Philadelphia against Arizona.


Jimmy Nelson (10-10) allowed five runs and walked eight in 3 1-3 innings in losing for the first time since July 10.

LEADING OFF: Cubs face Bumgarner; Greinke looks for rebound


August 27, 2015


A look at what's happening all around the major leagues today:


GIANT TEST


The streaking Chicago Cubs face Giants ace Madison Bumgarner (15-6) in San Francisco. Bumgarner has two complete games and a 1.42 ERA during his four-start winning streak, with 41 strikeouts and two walks in that span. He is 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA in his last four starts against the Cubs. The 25-year-old lefty also has been among the Giants' most dangerous hitters lately, going 4 for 12 with two homers in his last five games - including two pinch-hit appearances. The Cubs can add more space between themselves and the Giants, their closest competitors for the second NL wild card.


BACK ON THE HORSE


Zack Greinke (13-3, 1.67 ERA) tries to rebound after allowing a season-high two homers in a loss to Houston his last time out. The Dodgers' ace had won eight consecutive decisions prior to that defeat, which came amid a five-game losing streak that Los Angeles snapped against Cincinnati on Tuesday. Rookie right-hander Anthony DeSclafani goes for the Reds.


CRUZ CONTROL


Nelson Cruz looks to reach the 40-homer mark for the second consecutive year, one day after slugging his major league-leading 39th long ball. The Mariners' slugger set a career high with 40 homers last year with Baltimore. The 35-year-old Cruz has been on a tear since mid-July, slugging 17 homers while batting .358 in his last 32 games.


BACK IN THE ROUTINE


Fresh off his first professional save, Minnesota lefty Tommy Milone (6-3, 3.69 ERA) returns to the rotation for the series finale at Tampa Bay. Milone was pressed into relief duty due to a depleted bullpen last Sunday and worked a perfect inning in the Twins' 4-3, 12-inning win at Baltimore. Drew Smyly goes for the Rays in his third start since returning from a torn labrum in his left shoulder. He shut out Oakland over 5 2/3 innings in his most recent outing.


OH, BROTHER


Nationals rookie Joe Ross (4-5) takes the mound in the series finale against San Diego one night after older brother Tyson Ross started for the Padres in Washington. The Nationals allowed Tyson to travel to Washington to see Joe make his major league debut in early June.


WELCOME BACK


Giants center fielder Angel Pagan is scheduled to come off the disabled list before the series finale against the Cubs. He has been out with tendinitis in his right knee.

Preview: Dodgers (69-56) at Reds (52-73)
Game: 3
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: August 27, 2015 12:35 PM EDT

The Los Angeles Dodgers struggled to provide much of any offensive support for Zack Greinke in his last outing. Considering how well they've hit the ball in Cincinnati the past two games, that might not be a problem this time.


Greinke and the Dodgers will try to complete a three-game sweep of the lowly Reds on Thursday.


Los Angeles (69-56) totaled nine runs and two homers while dropping the first five of an eight-game trip before scoring 12 times in the last two at Cincinnati. Three of the Dodgers' five home runs in the series came during Wednesday's 7-4 victory.


Cincinnati (52-73) has lost 11 of 12 while its starting pitchers have posted a 7.13 ERA and given up 18 home runs during that stretch.


'When you're not winning, you have to find victories in other ways,' said Reds manager Bryan Price, whose club has been outscored 27-12 during a five-game losing streak to Los Angeles.


The NL West leading-Dodgers last swept a road set at Cincinnati in June 2008, and should have a good chance to do it again with Greinke (13-3, 1.67 ERA) on the hill. The right-hander went 8-0 with a 1.16 ERA in 11 starts prior to Saturday when he allowed three runs, a season-high two homers and one other hit in seven innings of a 3-1 loss at Houston.


"A lot of good pitches but not good enough," said Greinke, who still has the lowest ERA, WHIP (0.85) and opponent batting average (.191) in the majors.


He also won't place blame on his teammates for their lack of run support.


"Every game, you're not going to get five runs (on offense)," he told MLB's official website.


The Dodgers didn't need to give Greinke much offensive help in a 2-1 victory over Cincinnati on Aug. 16 when he yielded a run and struck out eight in seven innings.


Greinke also homered off Anthony DeSclafani (7-9, 3.97) in that contest, one batter after Joc Pederson went deep. DeSclafani gave up four other hits over six innings for the game. The rookie right-hander wasn't nearly as effective Saturday, allowing six runs and two more homers over five innings in an 11-7 defeat to Arizona.


"Plain and simple, I wasn't good," he said.


Jimmy Rollins and Yasiel Puig, a combined 5 for 11 against DeSclafani, have each homered in this series. Puig is batting .324 with two home runs in his last nine games.


Teammate Kike Hernandez is batting .480 with four RBIs in six games against the Reds this season.


The Dodgers expect to have All-Star catcher Yasmani Grandal in the lineup after he missed the last three games with a bruised shoulder.


"We're trying to be careful with him," manager Don Mattingly said of Grandal, who is 3 for 30 with 10 strikeouts in his last 10 games. "This time of year, especially with catchers, they're banged up. I'm not saying (the injury) won't stick around, but this gives him the best chance of being as healthy as he can be this time of year."


Todd Frazier is batting .211 in 19 at-bats against Greinke, but .387 in the last eight games.


Joey Votto has hit .444 with three home runs and four doubles when facing Greinke.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Dodgers at Reds
Tue, Aug 25 Final 5 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Dodgers at Reds
Wed, Aug 26 Final 7 to 4
Boxscores

GAME 3
Dodgers at Reds
Thu, Aug 27 - 12:35PM EDT

Preview: Angels (64-62) at Tigers (60-66)
Game: 3
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: August 27, 2015 1:08 PM EDT

Randy Wolf is searching for his big-league stuff from long ago, while Matt Shoemaker would like to rediscover the mojo that left him more recently.


It might be best if they found what they're looking for in Thursday's series finale between the Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Angels if either side hopes to revive its postseason hopes.


The Angels (64-62) have dropped 22 of their last 32 to fall from atop the AL West to a game back of the second wild-card spot. Wednesday's 5-0 loss in Detroit was the their fifth in six games, a stretch that included dugout tirades from Huston Street and Jered Weaver and a team meeting from manager Mike Scioscia.


Chris Iannetta's leadoff double in the ninth inning Wednesday broke up Justin Verlander's no-hitter, but Los Angeles still failed to score three runs for the 12th time this month. A frustrating August has seen the Angels score the fewest runs per game (3.04) in the AL while allowing the second most (5.29).


Shoemaker (5-9, 4.76 ERA) has been as disappointing as anyone of late.


The right-hander was the runner-up in last year's AL rookie of the year voting but still hasn't gained traction in 2015 - a low-point coming with his demotion to Triple-A Salt Lake last week.


He struggled to a 4-7 record and 4.85 ERA through mid-July, found himself briefly with 19 scoreless innings over three starts, and then was optioned to Salt Lake after allowing 13 runs and 16 hits in 7 1-3 innings between his last two big-league outings.


Shoemaker will jump back into the rotation, though, after allowing two hits and three unearned runs in six innings in his lone Triple-A start on Saturday.


"He really pitched well in his one rehab start, not just line-score-wise, but the evaluation of how he pitched from all the guys who saw him pitch," Scioscia told MLB's official website.


Shoemaker, who's 1-0 with a 0.73 ERA in two career starts against Detroit, will try for his first win since July 21.


Wolf, meanwhile, will go for his first victory since June 2, 2014.


The Tigers (60-66) acquired Wolf in a minor league deal from Toronto last week. He made his first major league start in more than a year on Saturday, a 5-3 loss to Texas that saw some good and bad for the 39-year-old left-hander.


The Rangers started with eight singles from their first 14 batters and jumped ahead with a four-run third inning. But Wolf retired 14 of the final 15 he faced, lasting seven innings for the first time since Aug. 19, 2012.


"He gave up the four runs, but with the exception of I think two hits up to that point, they were all (on) ground balls," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus told MLB's official website. "If they were at people, it probably would've been a different story."


Wolf, who will try to help the Tigers win for just the second time in their last seven games, has not faced the Angels since 2010.


Albert Pujols has hit .286 in 42 at-bats off Wolf, connecting for three of his 554 career homers.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Angels at Tigers
Tue, Aug 25 Final 8 to 7
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Angels at Tigers
Wed, Aug 26 Final 0 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Angels at Tigers
Thu, Aug 27 - 1:08PM EDT

Preview: Blue Jays (71-55) at Rangers (64-61)
Game: 3
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: August 27, 2015 2:05 PM EDT

The Toronto Blue Jays have some breathing room, an offense that is on fire, and a pitcher up next who has rarely lost of late.


Marco Estrada looks to deliver the streaking Blue Jays a road sweep Thursday over the Texas Rangers and former teammate Yovani Gallardo, who is searching for his 100th career victory.


Five straight wins and two consecutive losses from the New York Yankees have supplied Toronto (71-55) with a two-game lead in the AL East. The Blue Jays have won 21 of 25, a span since July 28 that has seen them climb from eight games back in the division.


Estrada (11-7, 3.27 ERA) has racked up four wins in five starts during that stretch, pitching to a 2.37 ERA and holding opposing hitters to a .155 average in 30 1-3 innings.


He has 10 wins in his past 15 starts with a 3.00 ERA and a batting average against of .204.


The right-hander has allowed five runs and eight hits over 11 2-3 innings in his last two outings, a 4-1 loss to the Yankees on Aug. 15 and a 15-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday.


Toronto's potent offense gives its pitchers plenty of room for error.


Wednesday night's 12-4 win over the Rangers - who dropped a half game back of the AL's second wild-card spot - gave the Blue Jays 54 runs during their five-game streak. They've batted .347 and hit 11 homers and 11 doubles in that stretch.


Edwin Encarnacion led the way Wednesday by extending his league-high hitting streak to 21 games with a sixth-inning grand slam - his second of the season against the Rangers (64-61). He is batting .392 with seven home runs and 23 RBIs during the streak that dates back to July 26.


'We've been waiting for Eddie to break out in a big way,' manager John Gibbons told MLB's official website. 'I'm seeing it now. I think he's feeling it like the rest of the guys.'


Encarnacion has hit Gallardo relatively well in his career with five hits in 14 at-bats, including three home runs.


Gallardo (10-9, 3.25) - a teammate of Estrada's with the Brewers from 2010-14 - got the best of Encarnacion and the Blue Jays on June 27, though, in a 4-0 win. Encarnacion had one of Toronto's three hits in 8 1-3 innings against the right-hander.


Since giving up five runs in three consecutive starts to end July, Gallardo has picked up victories in three of his four August starts with an ERA of 2.45, though he hasn't pitched seven full innings since June.


He scattered eight hits over six scoreless innings in a 5-3 win at Detroit on Saturday.


"I think the breaking ball is a big key for him," manager Jeff Banister said of Gallardo. "That gets these hitters off his fastball, and he was able to pound the outside of the strike zone. â?¦ Just a fine job putting up the six zeros for us."


Texas second baseman Rougned Odor is hopeful to return to the lineup Thursday after a grounder almost tore off the nail on his right middle finger Tuesday. He had a splint Wednesday and said doctors were able to save the nail.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Blue Jays at Rangers
Tue, Aug 25 Final 6 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Blue Jays at Rangers
Wed, Aug 26 Final 12 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Blue Jays at Rangers
Thu, Aug 27 - 2:05PM EDT

Preview: Orioles (63-63) at Royals (77-49)
Game: 4
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: August 27, 2015 2:10 PM EDT

A six-game losing streak dropped the Baltimore Orioles several spots in the wild-card race. Back-to-back wins against the team with the best record in the AL would at least take some of the sting out of that.


Baltimore tries to send the Kansas City Royals to rare consecutive home losses Thursday in the conclusion of this four-game series.


Mired in their longest skid of the season, the Orioles brought out their power bats Wednesday after going deep once in the previous four games. Manny Machado, Chris Davis and Jonathan Schoop hit two-run homers off Johnny Cueto, and Steve Pearce and Ryan Flaherty added solo shots as Baltimore (63-63) beat Kansas City 8-5 to end an eight-game losing streak in the series - including four defeats in last season's ALCS.


'You're facing the best team in the American League last year and they've added players to improve on that,' manager Buck Showalter said. 'So it's a challenge, but we've got a chance to split against the American League champions (Thursday) and move on to Texas.'


The Orioles, who held a wild card before the skid, trail Minnesota by two games in the crowded chase for the final playoff berth.


Mike Moustakas hit a two-run homer for the Royals (77-49), who had won four straight and nine of 11. They lead the AL Central by 12 games and remain comfortably ahead of Toronto and Houston in the race for home-field throughout the playoffs.


Kansas City is 44-21 at home, losing two straight there only once since early June.


Moustakas is batting .407 with four homers and 10 RBIs during a seven-game hit streak.


He's 3 for 8 with a home run off Chris Tillman (9-8, 4.51 ERA), who looks to rebound from his first loss in nearly three months. The right-hander had won a career high-tying seven straight decisions before allowing three runs over 6 2-3 innings Saturday in a 3-2 loss to Minnesota - his first defeat since May 31.


Tillman has recorded quality starts in six of his last seven outings, going 3-1 with a 2.56 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP during that stretch.


He's 2-2 with a 6.75 ERA in six career starts - playoffs included - against the Royals, but threw a five-hitter in a 4-0 victory in his last appearance at Kauffman Stadium on May 16, 2014.


Kendrys Morales (5 for 9) has had the most success of any current Royal against Tillman, while Ben Zobrist (6 for 37), Eric Hosmer (1 for 11) and Salvador Perez (1 for 8) have all struggled.


Yordano Ventura (8-7, 4.64) looks to continue his resurgence for the Royals. After allowing 11 runs over 12 innings in his first two starts in August, the right-hander has gone 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA in his past three outings. He was very sharp in a 6-3 victory at Boston on Saturday, yielding one run and six hits over six innings while walking one and striking out six.


'For him, like it is for anybody, it's a confidence-type of thing,' Perez said.


Ventura limited the Orioles to two runs over 14 1-3 innings in two regular-season starts against them last season, but wasn't as effective in Game 2 of the ALCS, giving up four runs, five hits and three walks in 5 2-3 innings.


Adam Jones homered off Ventura in that game and is 2 for 10 in their matchups. Schoop, Davis and Pearce are a combined 0 for 12 when facing him.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Orioles at Royals
Mon, Aug 24 Final 3 to 8
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Orioles at Royals
Tue, Aug 25 Final 2 to 3
Boxscores


GAME 3
Orioles at Royals
Wed, Aug 26 Final 8 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 4
Orioles at Royals
Thu, Aug 27 - 2:10PM EDT

Preview: Cubs (73-52) at Giants (67-59)
Game: 3
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: August 27, 2015 3:45 PM EDT

Though San Francisco has a better chance of catching the NL West leaders than the Chicago Cubs for the second wild-card spot, Madison Bumgarner should give the Giants a strong opportunity to further cut into the North Siders' lead in the latter.


Looking for a fifth straight winning start, Bumgarner tries to help the Giants hand the Cubs their first losing road series in almost two months Thursday.


By evening the three-game set with Wednesday's 4-2 victory, San Francisco (67-59) snapped Chicago's six-game winning streak and moved within 6 1/2 games of the Cubs for that final wild-card position.


"We weren't going to win them all," said Chicago manager Joe Maddon, whose club will try to avoid losing its first road series since June 26-28 at St. Louis after falling for the fifth time in the last 26 games overall.


While catching the Cubs (73-52) might be difficult regardless of Thursday's result, a 15th win in the last 18 at home could possibly cut the Giants' deficit behind the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers to 1 1/2 games.


They should feel confident behind Bumgarner (15-6, 3.02 ERA), who concluded July by allowing six runs in seven innings of a 6-3 loss at Texas but is 4-0 with a 1.42 ERA - and 41 strikeouts to two walks - this month. Though he last faced the Cubs at home in 2013, Bumgarner is 2-0 with an 0.75 ERA in his last three against them at AT&T Park.


'I don't care if I get the win, if we get the win when I start I feel the same way everybody feels,' said Bumgarner, who admitted he wasn't that sharp while giving up three runs in 6 1-3 innings of Friday's 6-4 victory at Pittsburgh. "You've got to win every game you can win.'


In this last seven starts, the left-hander has yielded two home runs - one fewer than he's hit during that stretch.


"I'm just trying to be aggressive," said Bumgarner, whose five homers are the most in a season by a pitcher since the Cubs' Carlos Zambrano hit six in 2006. "Just trying to do something. Anything productive."


He's never homered in 20 plate appearances while facing Chicago but could have a decent chance to go deep against Dan Haren (8-8, 3.76), who has allowed an NL-high 28 home runs. He's given up seven while going 1-1 with a 6.05 ERA and failing to complete more than 5 1-3 innings in four starts since joining the Cubs at the trade deadline.


His shortest outing with Chicago came Saturday when he lasted 4 1-3 and gave up four runs in a 9-7 victory over Atlanta.


"Obviously, I'd like to do better, be out there longer and stuff like that," Haren told MLB's official website."


He's 1-0 with a 3.55 ERA in two starts against the Giants this season.


Marlon Byrd is batting .424 with three homers and five doubles in 33 at-bats against Haren while Brandon Belt is 4 for 11 with two doubles and a homer. Belt is hitting .391 with 14 RBIs in his last 19 home contests.


It's possible Giants All-Star shortstop Brandon Crawford could sit a second straight game due to tightness in his side. Outfielder Angel Pagan (tendinitis), meanwhile, might be activated from the disabled list.


Chicago's Anthony Rizzo is 2 for 10 with four strikeouts when facing Bumgarner, but Starlin Castro is batting .417 against him.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Cubs at Giants
Tue, Aug 25 Final 8 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Cubs at Giants
Wed, Aug 26 Final 2 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Cubs at Giants
Thu, Aug 27 - 3:45PM EDT

Preview: Padres (62-64) at Nationals (63-62)
Game: 3
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: August 27, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

After watching his brother beat his team, Joe Ross has a chance to make this a very good couple of days for the Ross family.


He'll will try to pitch the Washington Nationals to a fourth win in five games Thursday night against the San Diego Padres.


The Nationals were denied a fourth straight win Wednesday, falling 6-5 as San Diego's Tyson Ross allowed four runs over 6 1-3 innings to earn the win.


Now, he'll watch his younger brother take the mound for Washington (63-62), which dropped 6 1-2 games behind the NL East-leading New York Mets.


"You know it's going to be fun to watch that game (Wednesday)," Tyson Ross said. "I hope my brother does well and I think he said it best when he said I hope he pitches well and we beat the bullpen."


Joe Ross (4-5, 3.56 ERA) is 3-1 with a 1.69 ERA, 26 strikeouts and one walk in 26 2-3 innings over his last four home starts.


The rookie right-hander is facing the Padres for the first time after turning in seven strong innings Saturday, yielding one run in a 6-1 win over visiting Milwaukee. He lost his two previous outings on the road with a 9.35 ERA, failing to complete the fifth inning in both.


"Used my changeup a lot more," Ross said of his improvement against the Brewers. "I didn't throw it a ton, but definitely threw it more than I have the past few games."


He'll try to slow down Justin Upton, who had two homers and three RBIs Wednesday. The left fielder is 6 for 18 with three doubles and five RBIs in the past four games.


Wednesday's victory was the 10th in 14 games following a six-game skid for San Diego (62-64), which has a chance to win a fifth straight series - its first against the Nationals since May 2011.


"That's the goal from day one of the season to try and win each series and we've done a good job of it lately," Upton said.


Andrew Cashner (5-12, 4.03) attempts to win back-to-back starts for the first time this year. The right-hander allowed one unearned run with eight strikeouts in six innings of a 9-3 victory over St. Louis on Friday.


Cashner, though, is 0-3 with a 5.44 ERA in eight road starts since beating the Los Angeles Angels on May 27. He's walked 24 and struck out 26 over 46 1-3 innings in those games.


Cashner is 0-3 with a 4.95 ERA in his last four starts against the Nationals, losing both visits to the nation's capital while surrendering 10 runs in eight innings.


He's has had a tough time with Denard Span and Jayson Werth, who are a combined 9 for 23 against him.


Span had a pair of doubles Wednesday after going 0 for 4 in the series opener following a seven-week stint on the disabled list for back tightness. He's 8 for 23 in five games against the Padres this year, while Werth is 1 for 8 in this series.


Bryce Harper is batting .407 with five doubles in seven games after going 2 for 3 with two RBIs Wednesday. He's a .434 hitter with 20 RBIs in 15 career contests with San Diego, and is 11 for 18 while driving in eight runs in the last five.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Padres at Nationals
Tue, Aug 25 Final 3 to 8
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Padres at Nationals
Wed, Aug 26 Final 6 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Padres at Nationals
Thu, Aug 27 - 7:05PM EDT

Preview: Mets (70-56) at Phillies (50-77)
Game: 4
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: August 27, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

The New York Mets are capitalizing on a favorable schedule to get more comfortable atop the NL East, and things should get cushier over the next week.


The Mets look to extend their longest winning streak over the Philadelphia Phillies in 43 years Thursday night before facing another last-place opponent.


New York (70-56) leads the East by 6 1/2 games over second-place Washington and is on the verge of its second seven-game winning streak this month after beating the Phillies 9-4 on Wednesday.


The Mets' current run includes three wins each over Colorado and Philadelphia (50-77), occupants of last place in the West and East. Following the conclusion of this four-game series, New York's next nine games come against last-place Boston, the Phillies and Miami before a series with the Nationals that may lose its importance to the division race.


"If you want to make the playoffs, you have to beat the teams you should," catcher Anthony Recker said.


The Mets have won 28 of the last 35 matchups with Philadelphia, including eight straight for their longest winning streak in the series since a 10-game stretch from 1971-72. New York is making itself at home at Citizens Bank Park, winning 17 of the last 20.


Jonathon Niese (8-9, 3.80 ERA) looks to keep it going. The left-hander is 5-0 with a 1.61 ERA over his last seven starts against Philadelphia, winning both this year while yielding one earned run in 13 1-3 innings.


Niese wasn't nearly that effective Saturday, surrendering seven runs and 11 hits over 5 1-3 innings in a 14-9 win at Colorado. He was 2-0 with a 2.42 ERA over the four prior outings and had a 2.84 ERA in his first 11 road starts.


The Mets are hitting .347 with 16 homers while averaging 10.7 runs over the last six games.


"You talk about hitting being contagious, you stop putting pressure on yourself," Michael Cuddyer said. "Because we have confidence in the guys around us, we've had success."


Cuddyer is 7 for 10 with two homers, three doubles and six RBIs in this series after coming a triple shy of the cycle while plating three runs Wednesday. He's batting .461 during a 21-game hitting streak against the Phillies, hitting .600 with four homers and 11 RBIs in the last six.


Yoenis Cespedes has a .400 average with five homers and 13 RBIs in his last five games. He has a pair of homers and a triple among his five hits in this series.


The Phillies have dropped six of seven at home and are turning to Aaron Harang (5-14, 4.67), who's tied with Milwaukee's Matt Garza for the most losses in the majors. The right-hander is 0-3 with an 8.18 ERA in his past four starts.


The best of that recent bunch came Saturday, though he still had control issues. Harang only gave up two hits over seven innings, but three of the four walks he allowed came in a two-run third inning in a 4-2 win at Miami.


"It felt like ever since I came back, I was rushing a little bit and not getting my arm on top enough," Harang told MLB's official website.


He's yielded four runs in 13 innings while losing both of his starts against the Mets this season, including one May 9 opposite Niese.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Mets at Phillies
Mon, Aug 24 Final 16 to 7
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Mets at Phillies
Tue, Aug 25 Final 6 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Mets at Phillies
Wed, Aug 26 Final 9 to 4
Boxscores

GAME 4
Mets at Phillies
Thu, Aug 27 - 7:05PM EDT

Preview: Pirates (76-49) at Marlins (51-76)
Game: 4
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: August 27, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

After a week of pedestrian run totals, the Pittsburgh Pirates used an early offensive explosion to put themselves into position to win a fourth straight series.


Gerrit Cole would certainly appreciate if those bats have a bit more left in them.


Cole takes his sixth crack at what's become an elusive 15th victory Thursday night as he tries to help the visiting Pirates win three of four from the Miami Marlins.


Pittsburgh (76-49) totaled 27 runs over its previous seven games before riding a six-run second inning to Wednesday's 7-2 win. Andrew McCutchen hit a three-run homer in the second after a run-scoring double in the first, his fourth consecutive multihit game and seventh in his last nine, and he boosted his major league-leading average with runners in scoring position.


'Look at the batting average with runners in scoring position (.394),' Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. 'Cutch is always looking to improve. You get guys on in front of him and that gives him more opportunities.'


McCutchen is 20 for 46 (.435) with three homers and five doubles in his last 12 games against Miami.


'This guy was the MVP,' Marlins manager Dan Jennings said. 'He's a special talent.'


Cole (14-7, 2.49 ERA) hasn't been bad in the second half with a 3.00 ERA - his 2.53 FIP since the All-Star break is sixth in the NL and better than it was in the first half (2.80) - but some less-than-stellar defense and a lack of support haven't made things easy on him.


The Pirates have backed Cole with just 13 runs in his seven starts since the All-Star break. Cole left with a lead Saturday after holding San Francisco to three hits and an unearned run over seven innings, but the bullpen gave it up before Pittsburgh walked off with a 3-2 win.


Cole allowed homers to Justin Bour and Christian Yelich and five other hits while lasting seven in a 5-2 win over the Marlins (51-76) on May 27. Yelich is 3 for 8 with a pair of homers off Cole.


The Pirates will get their first look at Justin Nicolino (2-1, 3.77), the third straight left-hander they'll face in this series. Nicolino has pitched into the seventh in three of his five major league starts, lasting 7 2-3 and allowing two runs before Miami's bullpen faltered in the ninth of Saturday's 4-2 loss to Philadelphia.


'It was a frustrating loss to waste that quality of a start by the kid,' Jennings said. 'Nico pitched a tremendous ballgame.'


Nicolino retired the first hitter he faced in all eight innings, dropping opponents' average against him leading off an inning to .194.


"That was the biggest thing, getting the leadoff hitter every inning," Nicolino told MLB's official website. "We let the defense work. ... We executed both sides of the plate with the fastball. The cutter was working a lot better, probably the best it's been all year."


The cutter is one of four pitches Nicolino throws - along with a fastball, changeup and curve - and it's been by far his most effective. Opponents are hitting .150 against that pitch, and he needs it to work because he doesn't miss many bats.


Of the 381 pitchers in baseball to pitch at least 30 innings this season, only Mark Buehrle has induced a lower swing-and-miss percentage than Nicolino's 12.4.


MLB batting leader Dee Gordon got the night off Wednesday, but should be back for the finale and could pose a problem on the basepaths. Gordon stole four bases Tuesday to raise his season total to 45 and Cole's 22 stolen bases allowed are the fourth most in the majors.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Pirates at Marlins
Mon, Aug 24 Final 5 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Pirates at Marlins
Tue, Aug 25 Final 2 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Pirates at Marlins
Wed, Aug 26 Final 7 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 4
Pirates at Marlins
Thu, Aug 27 - 7:10PM EDT

Preview: Twins (65-61) at Rays (62-64)
Game: 3
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: August 27, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

A mid-August sweep that capped a disastrous first month out of the All-Star break had the Minnesota Twins' playoff chances looking bleak.


Suddenly, a surprising winning streak has pushed the Twins into a postseason spot while the Tampa Bay Rays are the ones starting to feel things slipping away.


Minnesota goes for a three-game sweep of the Rays on Thursday night as it looks to win a seventh straight game for the first time in more than four years.


The Twins (65-61) sat four games back of the AL's second wild-card spot on Aug. 19 after dropping three straight to the Yankees to open this 10-game trip, falling to 9-21 in the second half. But after a four-game sweep of Baltimore and a pair of wins over Tampa Bay, Minnesota is back in playoff position, a half-game ahead of Texas.


Tommy Milone has played a part in two wins during the Twins' streak, which with a win Thursday would be their longest since and eight-game run in June 2011.


In a 4-3 victory in Baltimore on Friday, Milone retired 13 consecutive hitters to start the game and left after allowing three runs and five hits in 5 1-3 innings.


Milone (6-3, 3.69 ERA) was then called on in a pinch two days later during Sunday's 4-3, 12-inning win over the Orioles. The left-hander was the last of eight Twins pitchers used and picked up his first career save with a perfect 12th inning.


"We showed that we're not giving up," Milone told MLB's official website. "We just go out and battle and we are going to grind out games until the very end. Obviously it didn't work out for us in New York, but we didn't let that get us down. I think it's going to help us in the end."


Milone is 2-2 with a 6.17 ERA in four career starts against the Rays, none this season.


While the Twins have driven through the jam-packed wild-card standings, Tampa Bay (62-64) is stuck right in the middle. The Rays' third consecutive loss Wednesday pushed them three games back of Minnesota while still behind three other teams.


Opportunities were there the last two days, but the Rays have left 21 runners on base so far in the series.


'A disappointing loss to say the least,' manager Kevin Cash said after his team went 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position in Wednesday's 5-3 loss. 'We've talked about it time and time again, when we get opportunities to score, we've got to somehow find a way to get those guys across. We did not.'


Tampa Bay hopes Drew Smyly can help break its skid. Smyly (1-2, 3.42) will make his third start since coming off a three-month disabled list stint with a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder.


The left-hander's first start back was underwhelming - five runs over four innings in a 5-3 loss to the Rangers on Aug. 16 - but he picked up his first win in nearly a year on Friday.


Smyly, who's 1-1 with a 1.74 ERA in four career starts against the Twins, held the A's scoreless over 5 2-3 innings in a 2-1 victory in Oakland, surrendering just six singles on 91 pitches for his first victory since Aug. 27, 2014.


"We all said we were very optimistic after that start that he would bounce right back," Cash said, "and he made us look smart because he did."


With his 3-for-5 day Wednesday, Joe Mauer has reached base in 28 of 29 career games at Tropicana Field. He is hitting .404 in St. Petersburg with a .507 OBP.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Twins at Rays
Tue, Aug 25 Final 11 to 7
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Twins at Rays
Wed, Aug 26 Final 5 to 3
Boxscores

GAME 3
Twins at Rays
Thu, Aug 27 - 7:10PM EDT

Preview: Mariners (59-68) at White Sox (59-66)
Game: 1
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: August 27, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

Nelson Cruz would be enjoying a second straight stellar offensive season a lot more if the Seattle Mariners were winning.


As Cruz looks to build on another strong performance, the visiting Mariners try for a third straight victory Thursday night against the Chicago White Sox.


After setting career highs for homers (40) and RBIs (108) with Baltimore in 2014, Cruz is batting .321 and increased his major league-leading home run total to 39 with one of three hits in Wednesday's 8-2 victory over Oakland. Though Cruz could make a case for the AL MVP, his immediate focus is to help Seattle (59-68) string together some needed victories and make a serious run in the final month of the season.


"Like I said, I just play my game and whatever happens, happens,' said Cruz, who is batting .370 with 18 home runs and 29 RBIs in his last 33 games. "If I got lucky enough to be considered (for the MVP), I'm blessed, but if not, I'm here to play games and win games and that's the only thing I care about.


"I look at the wins. That's my goal."


Sitting 6 1/2 games out of the AL's final wild-card spot with seven teams ahead of them - including Chicago (59-66) - the Mariners face a daunting task but have won three of the last four. They can win three straight for a second time this month.


However, the Mariners must improve on the mound after yielding 23 runs while dropping two of three to the White Sox last weekend.


Manager Lloyd McClendon has replaced Vidal Nuno in the rotation with Roenis Elias (4-6, 4.22 ERA), who since late June has spent most of his time in Triple-A Tacoma. The left-hander gave up three runs and struck out seven in six innings of a 4-0 loss at Oakland in his most recent major league start July 2.


He then went back down to the minors and has made one relief appearance since being recalled Sunday.


"(Elias is) a starter, not a bullpen guy," McClendon told MLB's official website. "Nuno is a swing guy. He may start again."


Elias went 1-1 with a 5.91 ERA last season against the White Sox, who have dropped three of the last four after managing six hits in Wednesday's 3-0 defeat to Boston.


'We just have to keep fighting," Chicago ace Chris Sale said. "It's nothing in particular. We just have to keep fighting and keep our heads up.'


Melky Cabrera had half of Chicago's hits, giving him five in the last two contests after going 1 for 10 at Seattle.


Rookie Carlos Rodon (5-5, 4.22) allowed six hits, four walks and three runs - one earned - in seven innings of Saturday's 6-3, 10-inning victory at Seattle. The left-hander is 1-1 with a 1.23 ERA in his last three starts.


"I think for any young guy the later you get into the year and him being in here, you're always careful to watch it and see what the workload is and where he's at," manager Robin Ventura said. "I think as of right now he's only gotten better."


Cruz went 1 for 3 with a double and walked against Rodon.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Mariners at White Sox
Thu, Aug 27 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 2
Mariners at White Sox
Fri, Aug 28 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Mariners at White Sox
Sat, Aug 29 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 4
Mariners at White Sox
Sun, Aug 30 - 2:10PM EDT

Preview: Cardinals (81-45) at Diamondbacks (62-64)
Game: 4
Venue: Chase Field
Date: August 27, 2015 9:40 PM EDT

The St. Louis Cardinals' dominance of the Arizona Diamondbacks has been particularly pronounced on the mound.


Carlos Martinez, however, is just looking to avoid the longest losing streak of his career as the Cardinals go for an eighth straight win over the Diamondbacks on Thursday night.


St. Louis (81-45) has won 12 of the past 13 meetings with Arizona (62-64) behind a 1.94 ERA from the rotation. Lance Lynn, Jaime Garcia and John Lackey have combined for a 1.89 ERA while winning the first three of this series at Chase Field.


Lackey delivered the latest gem Wednesday, yielding one run in seven innings of a 3-1 victory to move the Cardinals 36 games over .500 for the first time since finishing 2005 at 100-62.


"You've got to pound the strike zone early on to establish things later on," Lackey said. "It's kind of risk-reward; you try to get guys to put balls in play and sometimes they get hits."


Martinez (12-6, 2.85 ERA), second to Michael Wacha's team-high 15 wins, struck out eight in seven scoreless innings of a 3-2 win in his only career start against the Diamondbacks on May 25.


That performance was part of a 14-start stretch, during which the right-hander went 9-2 with a 1.76 ERA. However, he's in danger of losing three straight starts for the first time after giving up eight runs and 14 hits in 11 1-3 innings over his last two.


Martinez was solid in Saturday's 8-0 loss at San Diego, yielding three runs and striking out six in 6 1-3 innings.


Tommy Pham has been a revelation lately, hitting .407 with seven runs and five walks in seven games. He was recalled from Triple-A Memphis on Aug. 17 to replace the injured Randal Grichuk (elbow) in center field.


The rookie has five hits and three walks in this series.


Jhonny Peralta went 0 for 4 Wednesday but is still batting .371 with 18 RBIs in 17 career matchups with Arizona.


The Diamondbacks are trying to avoid their first five-game slide at home since dropping eight in a row from April 2-16, 2014.


Giving the ball to Rubby De La Rosa (11-5, 4.32) should help. Arizona's wins leader, De La Rosa is 5-0 with a 2.54 ERA over his last seven starts, posting a 1.71 ERA while winning all three home appearances in that stretch.


The right-hander yielded two runs in seven innings of 6-3 win at Cincinnati on Friday, completing at least six for the sixth time in seven games.


"If there's a guy on our staff who can go deep into a game, it's him. He's a horse," manager Chip Hale said. "He's got the ability to throw a hundred pitches."


De La Rosa gave up one run in six innings and didn't get a decision with Boston in a 3-2 loss at St. Louis in his only career start against the Cardinals on Aug. 5, 2014.


Paul Goldschmidt has a solo homer and a double among his four hits in the last two games, giving him a .524 average in the last seven at home. The first baseman is hitting .331 to rank behind Miami's Dee Gordon (.333) and Bryce Harper (.332) of Washington in the NL batting race.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Cardinals at Diamondbacks
Mon, Aug 24 Final 5 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Cardinals at Diamondbacks
Tue, Aug 25 Final 9 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Cardinals at Diamondbacks
Wed, Aug 26 Final 3 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 4
Cardinals at Diamondbacks
Thu, Aug 27 - 9:40PM EDT

Standings

Regular Season Standings


AMERICAN - EAST
Team Win Loss Percent GB Home Away Last 10 Streak
Toronto Blue Jays 71 55 .563 0 40-23 31-32 7-3 W-5
New York Yankees 69 57 .548 2 37-26 32-31 5-5 L-2
Baltimore Orioles 63 63 .500 8 37-25 26-38 3-7 W-1
Tampa Bay Rays 62 64 .492 9 31-33 31-31 4-6 L-3
Boston Red Sox 58 69 .457 13 33-32 25-37 6-4 W-1

AMERICAN - CENTRAL
Team Win Loss Percent GB Home Away Last 10 Streak
Kansas City Royals 77 49 .611 0 44-21 33-28 7-3 L-1
Minnesota Twins 65 61 .516 12 38-24 27-37 7-3 W-6
Cleveland Indians 60 66 .476 17 26-34 34-32 6-4 W-2
Detroit Tigers 60 66 .476 17 30-34 30-32 4-6 W-1
Chicago White Sox 59 66 .472 17 31-30 28-36 4-6 L-1

AMERICAN - WEST
Team Win Loss Percent GB Home Away Last 10 Streak
Houston Astros 71 57 .555 0 45-21 26-36 7-3 W-2
Texas Rangers 64 61 .512 5 28-32 36-29 6-4 L-2
Los Angeles Angels 64 62 .508 6 39-27 25-35 4-6 L-1
Seattle Mariners 59 68 .465 11 29-36 30-32 5-5 W-2
Oakland Athletics 55 73 .430 16 30-36 25-37 4-6 L-2

NATIONAL - EAST
Team Win Loss Percent GB Home Away Last 10 Streak
New York Mets 70 56 .556 0 42-21 28-35 7-3 W-6
Washington Nationals 63 62 .504 6 34-25 29-37 5-5 L-1
Atlanta Braves 54 73 .425 16 33-26 21-47 1-9 L-2
Miami Marlins 51 76 .402 19 30-35 21-41 4-6 L-1
Philadelphia Phillies 50 77 .394 20 28-33 22-44 4-6 L-3

NATIONAL - CENTRAL
Team Win Loss Percent GB Home Away Last 10 Streak
St. Louis Cardinals 81 45 .643 0 46-19 35-26 6-4 W-4
Pittsburgh Pirates 76 49 .608 4 44-20 32-29 7-3 W-1
Chicago Cubs 73 52 .584 7 39-26 34-26 6-4 L-1
Milwaukee Brewers 53 74 .417 28 28-38 25-36 4-6 L-4
Cincinnati Reds 52 73 .416 28 29-34 23-39 1-9 L-2

NATIONAL - WEST
Team Win Loss Percent GB Home Away Last 10 Streak
Los Angeles Dodgers 69 56 .552 0 42-20 27-36 5-5 W-2
San Francisco Giants 67 59 .532 2 36-25 31-34 4-6 W-1
Arizona Diamondbacks 62 64 .492 7 30-32 32-32 5-5 L-3
San Diego Padres 62 64 .492 7 31-30 31-34 7-3 W-1
Colorado Rockies 51 74 .408 18 27-36 24-38 4-6 W-2

Updated Thu Aug 27 10:04 AM EDT

Standings

Wild Card Standings


AMERICAN


Team Win Loss Percent GB


New York Yankees 69 57 0.548 +4


Minnesota Twins 65 61 0.516 0.0


Texas Rangers 64 61 0.512 0.5


Los Angeles Angels 64 62 0.508 1.0


Baltimore Orioles 63 63 0.500 2.0


Tampa Bay Rays 62 64 0.492 3.0


Cleveland Indians 60 66 0.476 5.0


Detroit Tigers 60 66 0.476 5.0


Chicago White Sox 59 66 0.472 5.5


Seattle Mariners 59 68 0.465 6.5


Boston Red Sox 58 69 0.457 7.5


Oakland Athletics 55 73 0.430 11.0





NATIONAL


Team Win Loss Percent GB


Pittsburgh Pirates 76 49 0.608 +3


Chicago Cubs 73 52 0.584 0.0


San Francisco Giants 67 59 0.532 6.5


Washington Nationals 63 62 0.504 10.0


Arizona Diamondbacks 62 64 0.492 11.5


San Diego Padres 62 64 0.492 11.5


Atlanta Braves 54 73 0.425 20.0


Milwaukee Brewers 53 74 0.417 21.0


Cincinnati Reds 52 73 0.416 21.0


Colorado Rockies 51 74 0.408 22.0


Miami Marlins 51 76 0.402 23.0


Philadelphia Phillies 50 77 0.394 24.0

Updated Thu Aug 27 10:04 AM EDT

Diamond Trends - Thursday


August 27, 2015




SU TREND OF THE DAY:


-- The Pirates are 10-0 since Jul 02, 2015 as a favorite it is the last game of the series.


PITCHER TREND OF THE DAY:


-- When Zack Greinke starts the Dodgers are 11-0 SU on since Apr 23, 2014 coming off a start where he faced less than 25 batters.


OU TREND OF THE DAY:


-- The Marlins are 0-10 OU since Jun 07, 2015 as a dog after a 5+ run loss.


CHOICE TREND:


-- The Blue Jays are 0-10 since Sep 21, 2014 on the road after a win in which they drew 5+ walks.


ACTIVE TRENDS:


-- The Tigers are 10-0 OU since Jun 07, 2015 it is the last game of a three-game series when they split the first two games.