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Baseball Capsules


August 30, 2015


ATLANTA (AP) Rookie Luis Severino allowed four hits in six scoreless innings to lead the New York Yankees to a 3-1 victory over Matt Wisler and the Atlanta Braves on Saturday night.


Severino (3-1) was lifted for pinch-hitter Alex Rodriguez in the seventh. Soon after Rodriguez was introduced, a fan fell from the upper level deck onto the lower level seats. He was given emergency treatment and transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.


The fan, a man believed to be in his 60s, was not identified by police pending notification of next of kin.


The Yankees remained 1 1/2 games behind first-place Toronto in the AL East with their second straight win over the Braves.


The Braves have lost four straight and 11 of 12. The sellout crowd of 49,243 was a season-high at Turner Field.


Andrew Miller pitched a perfect ninth for his 28th save.


Wisler (5-5), also a rookie right-hander, gave up two runs, four hits and four walks in six-plus innings.


BLUE JAYS 15, TIGERS 1


TORONTO (AP) - Edwin Encarnacion hit three home runs and tied a Toronto record with nine RBIs.


Encarnacion extended his hitting streak to 24 games, the longest in the majors this season, with a three-run homer off Buck Farmer (0-3) in the first inning.


Encarnacion hit a two-run shot off Guido Knudson in the sixth, then connected for a grand slam against Alex Wilson in the seventh.


Encarnacion hit his third slam of the season, matching the club record shared by Carlos Delgado and Darrin Fletcher.


The Blue Jays have scored 10 or more runs in 21 games this year. They have totaled 709 runs this season - the Yankees began the day second in the majors with 604.


Drew Hutchison (13-2) won his fourth straight start.


CARDINALS 6, GIANTS 0


SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Lance Lynn pitched into the eighth inning before leaving with ankle injury that's not considered serious and beat San Francisco for the first time in his career.


Lynn (11-8) awkwardly came off the mound to field Juan Perez's leadoff chopper in the eighth and twisted his right ankle trying to throw to first. He gave up six hits, struck out two and walked two. He had been 0-4 with a 6.33 ERA in his previous four regular-season starts against San Francisco and 0-1 in three postseason outings.


The right-hander outpitched Ryan Vogelsong (9-10).


RED SOX 3, METS 1


NEW YORK (AP) - Joe Kelly won his sixth straight outing by outpitching Jacob deGrom.


Mookie Betts homered and scored twice as the last-place Red Sox won for the eighth time in 11 games. They have taken the first two this weekend at Citi Field after the NL East-leading Mets returned from an 8-1 road trip. New York has dropped five straight at home, its worst skid of the season.


Kelly (8-6) gave up five hits over 7 1-3 innings - matching his previous start for his longest of the year.


Jean Machi pitched a perfect ninth for his third save.


DeGrom (12-7) rebounded from a bout of food poisoning that perhaps contributed to the worst start of his two-year career Monday at Philadelphia. On Saturday, he struck out 10 in six innings, yielding two runs and four hits.


ROYALS 6, RAYS 3


ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - Mike Moustakas had three hits and three RBIs and Kendrys Morales kept up his torrid two-out hitting for AL Central-leading Kansas City.


Morales had an RBI single and Moustakas a run-scoring double off Jake Odorizzi (6-7) as the Royals grabbed a 4-3 lead in the fifth. Morales leads the majors with 47 RBIs with two outs this season, breaking the team record of 46 set by Joe Randa in 2000.


Lorenzo Cain had a run-scoring single in the sixth, and Moustakas added an RBI single in the ninth.


Kris Medlen (3-0) allowed three runs and four hits over 5 1-3 innings in his second start and ninth appearance since returning from elbow ligament replacement surgery. Wade Davis got the last three outs for his 13th save.






NATIONALS 5, MARLINS 1




WASHINGTON (AP) - Clint Robinson and Ian Desmond hit back-to-back home runs and Jordan Zimmermann pitched seven innings for Washington.


Ryan Zimmerman also homered for the Nationals, who pulled within 5 1-2 games of first-place New York in the NL East.


Zimmermann (11-8) won his third straight start. He gave up a run and seven hits. Justin Bour ended Zimmermann's shutout bid with his 12th homer leading off the seventh.


Miami starter Tom Koehler (8-13) is still seeking his first win since July 23. He allowed five runs and nine hits over six innings in losing his seventh straight. He did have two hits.


PHILLIES 4, PADRES 3


PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Adam Morgan pitched six strong innings and drove in the eventual winning run, and Darnell Sweeney homered to lead Philadelphia.


The Phillies have won all five games against San Diego this season and 11 of 14.


Matt Kemp returned to the lineup for San Diego after missing two games due to a sore left shoulder and extended his streak of safely reaching base to 18 straight games with a sixth-inning single.


The Padres have lost five of six.


Morgan (5-4) recovered from the worst outing of his young career by surrendering six hits with three strikeouts and no walks. He gave up two runs, but neither was earned.


Fellow rookie Colin Rea (2-2) pitched into the sixth and was tagged for four runs and six hits with four strikeouts and two walks in his fourth major-league start.


PIRATES 4, ROCKIES 3


PITTSBURGH (AP) - J.A. Happ worked into the sixth inning and Aramis Ramirez hit a three-run homer for Pittsburgh.


Happ and Ramirez, both acquired near the trade deadline to give the Pirates needed depth, helped Pittsburgh improve to 14-3 in their last 17 games. Mark Melancon gave up a two-run homer to Nick Hundley in the ninth but hung on for his 43rd save.


Happ (7-7) won his third straight decision after giving up one run and five hits in 5 2-3 innings. Ramirez sent a breaking ball from Chris Rusin (4-7) into the seats in left field in the first inning for his 13th home run of the season and second since rejoining the Pirates on July 25.


INDIANS 8, ANGELS 3


CLEVELAND (AP) - Yan Gomes' eighth-inning grand slam capped a five-run rally for Cleveland.


Gomes homered to center on the first pitch from Joe Smith (4-4) for his first career grand slam, lifting Cleveland to its fourth straight win.


Carlos Santana's RBI double broke a 3-all tie and sent Los Angeles to its seventh loss in nine games.


Bryan Shaw (3-2) pitched 1 1-3 scoreless innings for Cleveland.


Smith entered the game to start the eighth but didn't retire a batter, allowing five runs, four hits and an intentional walk.


Mike Trout, the reigning AL MVP, was 0 for 3 with a walk and is hitting .194 (18 for 93) in August. He is 1 for 16 in five games against the Indians this season. Trout hasn't homered in 21 games, the longest drought of his career.


ASTROS 4, TWINS 1


MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Mike Fiers followed his no-hitter with another stellar start for Houston, allowimg three hits in six-plus innings for first-place Houston.


Fiers (2-0) struck out five while surrendering one run, on a bases-loaded double-play grounder hit by Trevor Plouffe in the fourth. He left two on with no outs in the seventh inning, but Will Harris struck out two of the next three batters.


Luis Valbuena hit a two-run double and Evan Gattis and Jake Marisnick had RBI singles against Mike Pelfrey (6-8), who has combined for only 13 2-3 innings over his last three starts.


Luke Gregerson got the last three outs for his 25th save.


MARINERS 7, WHITE SOX 6


CHICAGO (AP) - Kyle Seager hit a two-run home run in a three-run first inning and Seattle withstood Chicago's late rally.


Hisashi Iwakuma (6-3) gave up two runs and seven hits and worked out of two bases-loaded jams in 5 2-3 innings to get his fourth win in his last five outings.


White Sox starter Jeff Samardzija (8-11) took his career-worst sixth straight loss.


Chicago trailed 7-2 with two outs in the eighth before rallying for four runs. Tom Wilhelmsen got the last four outs for his sixth save in six chances.


REDS 12, BREWERS 9


MILWAUKEE (AP) - Joey Votto put Cincinnati ahead with a two-run home run in the ninth inning.


Trailing 9-8, Votto hit his 25th homer off Brewers closer Francisco Rodriguez (0-3), whose streak of 35 consecutive saves dating to last season was broken. Todd Frazier hit his 30th homer for the Reds.


Aroldis Chapman pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his 25th save in 27 chances. J.J. Hoover (6-0) got the win.


The win ended the Red's four-game losing streak, and the team has won twice in its last 15 games.


Cincinnati starter Matt Garza lasted just 3 2-3 innings, giving up seven runs and 11 hits. Garza has given up 19 runs and 27 hits over his last 13 1-3 innings.


RANGERS 4, ORIOLES 3


ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Bobby Wilson lined a tie-breaking single with two outs in the sixth inning, and Adrian Beltre hit his 13th home run for Texas.


The Rangers have won three straight. The Orioles have lost 10 of their last 12. In each loss, they have scored three runs or fewer.


Wilson snapped a 3-3 tie when he lined Mychal Givens' first pitch over third baseman Manny Machado to score Elvis Andrus, who reached on a two-out triple.


Rangers left-hander Martin Perez (2-3) allowed three runs and seven hits with no walks in 6 1-3 innings.


Ubaldo Jimenez (9-9) gave up four runs in 5 2-3 innings.


Shawn Tolleson earned his 28th save in 30 attempts, stranding runners at first and third in the ninth.


ATHLETICS 3, DIAMONDBACKS 2


PHOENIX (AP) - Stephen Vogt atoned for mistakes from the previous game, hitting a splashdown homer into the Chase Field swimming pool and driving in three runs for Oakland.


Vogt broke a 2-all tie with a bloop single in the eighth inning. The A's catcher had two passed balls that were big factors in Oakland's 6-4 loss in the series opener Friday night.


Fernando Rodriguez (4-1) pitched two innings for the victory as Oakland won at Arizona for the first time since June 17, 2008.


Drew Pomeranz struck out the side in the ninth for his third save as the Diamondbacks fell to 1-5 on their homestand.


Andrew Chafin (5-1) took the loss.


DODGERS 5, CUBS 2


LOS ANGELES (AP) - Andre Ethier singled in two runs in the seventh inning, helping Los Angeles rally for its fifth consecutive victory.


The Dodgers overcame a balk by starter Mat Latos that put the Cubs ahead in the fifth to pound out six of their 11 hits in a four-run seventh.


J.P. Howell (5-1) earned the win in relief, striking out one in one-third of an inning. Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth to earn his 27th save.


The Cubs dropped their fourth straight.


Jon Lester (8-10) gave up five runs and eight hits in six-plus innings. The left-hander struck out seven and walked none in his first road start since July 18 at Atlanta.

Preview: Tigers (60-69) at Blue Jays (73-56)
Game: 3
Venue: Rogers Centre
Date: August 30, 2015 1:07 PM EDT

Although it's highly unlikely that Edwin Encarnacion can top his latest performance during a lengthy hit streak, he'll at least try to keep the Toronto Blue Jays clicking at the plate in his encore.


While Encarnacion will attempt to extend his streak to 25 games Sunday, the Blue Jays look to finish off their first three-game home sweep of the Detroit Tigers in 12 years.


Encarnacion matched a franchise record with nine RBIs and homered three times in a 15-1 victory over the Tigers on Saturday. With six homers and 23 RBIs in his last seven games, he now has 10 longballs and 34 RBIs to go with a .400 average on his streak.


"He's some kind of locked in," manager John Gibbons said.


Encarnacion's career-best streak is the longest in the majors since Nolan Arenado's 28-gamer for Colorado last season and longest in the AL since Dustin Pedroia's 25-gamer with Boston in 2011. He is one shy of matching the fourth-longest for the Blue Jays - done by Scott Rolen in 2009 - and four away from tying Shawn Green's franchise best from 1999.


With Encarnacion's grand assistance, Toronto (73-56) is batting .345 with 75 runs and 18 homers while winning seven of eight. The AL East leaders are averaging 6.0 runs while taking 14 of 17 at home and have seven homers in the first two against Detroit (60-69).


Alfredo Simon (11-8, 4.89 ERA) is next up to try cooling Toronto's scorching offense and is 1-2 with a 6.48 ERA in four starts this month. That lone victory, though, was a one-hitter in a 4-0 win against Texas on Aug. 20.


Simon made his only two starts against the Blue Jays in 2011 while with Baltimore. In this one, he'll try to help the scuffling Tigers avoid their first three-game sweep in Toronto since Sept. 5-7, 2003.


The Blue Jays, who swept a three-game set in Detroit last year, are batting .309 with 39 runs and 11 homers while going 3-2 in this season's series.


Toronto will try to provide support for Mark Buehrle (13-6, 3.60) as he seeks his highest win total since going 15-12 for the Chicago White Sox in 2008. The left-hander is 0-1 with an 8.10 ERA in his last two but is 4-0 with a 2.81 ERA in his last seven at home.


In his first start against Detroit in a little more than a year, Buehrle will face a team batting .237 and averaging 2.9 runs in a 1-8 stretch. Victor Martinez has been one of the struggling Tigers hitters of late, going 4 for 32, and manager Brad Ausmus contends his DH hasn't recovered from offseason surgery on his left knee.


"You talk to people that have had knee surgeries, sometimes they say it takes a year (to feel right)," Ausmus told MLB's official website. "He's not hurting. He doesn't feel any pain, but ... I just don't think he's ever been right since the injury, and it might take an offseason to get him right."


Martinez is 28 for 78 (.359) lifetime against Buehrle, and only Michael Cuddyer (31) has gotten more hits off the left-hander. He's also had just four at-bats versus the Toronto starter in the past three seasons, collecting one single.


Miguel Cabrera, meanwhile, has nine hits in his last 13 at-bats against Buehrle but is 1 for 11 with six strikeouts in his last three games after hitting .489 in his first 12 back from a strained left calf. Cabrera, hitting .361, is back on top of the AL batting race after getting enough at-bats to qualify.


Encarnacion is 2 for 8 lifetime against Simon and will face him for the first time since 2011.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Tigers at Blue Jays
Fri, Aug 28 Final 3 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Tigers at Blue Jays
Sat, Aug 29 Final 1 to 15
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Tigers at Blue Jays
Sun, Aug 30 - 1:07PM EDT

Preview: Angels (65-63) at Indians (61-66)
Game: 3
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: August 30, 2015 1:10 PM EDT

While the Cleveland Indians are slugging their way back into wild-card contention, the Los Angeles Angels are within a game of falling back to .500 for the first time since late June.


The Indians will attempt to continue tracking down the Angels and others Sunday as they try for a three-game home sweep.


After Saturday's 8-3 win, Cleveland (62-66) has won four straight and 13 of 20 while scoring 5.2 runs per game and batting .295 to creep back within five games of Texas for the second wild card.


Michael Brantley had three more hits and is batting an MLB-leading .432 in his last 20 games, pushing his .324 average to its highest since May 21. Teammate Francisco Lindor isn't far behind in second at .413 in 24 games over the same period, and Lonnie Chisenhall is on a career-best 10-game hitting streak.


The Angels (65-64) were last .500 at 37-37 entering play on June 27. They reached 14 games over on July 23 but have since gone an AL-worst 11-24. They've scored six runs in four games while batting .164.


Mike Trout is 1 for 11 in those games and hasn't homered in a career-long 21 contests, Kole Calhoun is batting .074 in seven, and Albert Pujols is hitting .185 over a 15-game span without a multihit effort.


"Right now, the process is to try to get some offensive continuity and re-establish our starting pitching," manager Mike Scioscia said. "There are some things that we need to hopefully reboot."


Jered Weaver was having an impressive August before giving up six runs and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings of Tuesday's 8-7 win in Detroit, though most of the damage came in a four-run third inning that followed a Trout and Calhoun miscommunication on a ball that dropped in and ended up going for a double. Weaver (6-9, 4.59 ERA) still earned the win and is 2-1 with a 3.91 ERA in four starts this month since coming off the disabled list.


The right-hander's frustration came out in the dugout after the inning.


"I hadn't really been vocal this year," Weaver told MLB's official website. "It's obviously not the way I've wanted my season to go. But we're in the midst of a playoff race, and we have to play good baseball to get to where we want to be."


Pitching on the road has been a big part of his problems, going 1-4 with a 6.75 ERA in his last five starts. In Cleveland, however, Weaver is 7-1 with a 2.24 ERA in 11 career starts. Carlos Santana (12 for 23 with two home runs) and Chisenhall (7 for 17 with two home runs) have hit him well, but Jason Kipnis (3 for 20) and Yan Gomes (1 for 10) have struggled.


Home runs have disrupted an otherwise promising return for Josh Tomlin who earned a second straight victory in Tuesday's 11-6 home win over Milwaukee. Tomlin (2-1, 3.26) yielded four runs and five hits, three of which left the yard to bump his season total to six in three mostly impressive starts.


"I'm not trying to get too satisfied, I'm trying to stay here and do what I can to help this team win," said Tomlin, who missed most of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery after being shut down during spring training. "It's definitely good to be back here and help this team win, but I try not to get too satisfied or comfortable and keep working every day and do my job again in four days."


Tomlin is 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in four starts against the Angels. Calhoun (3 for 3) and Trout (2 for 3 with a home run and a double) have had success against him, but Erick Aybar is 1 for 12.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Angels at Indians
Fri, Aug 28 Final 1 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Angels at Indians
Sat, Aug 29 Final 3 to 8
Recaps

GAME 3
Angels at Indians
Sun, Aug 30 - 1:10PM EDT

Preview: Red Sox (60-69) at Mets (71-58)
Game: 3
Venue: Citi Field
Date: August 30, 2015 1:10 PM EDT

After one starter with one of baseball's best home ERAs failed to end the New York Mets' woes at Citi Field, they will turn to another in that category.


Noah Syndergaard seeks to win his sixth straight home start and help the Mets avoid their first six-game slide at Citi Field in two years Sunday in the finale of a three-game series with the Boston Red Sox.


New York (71-58) fell 3-1 on Saturday despite a strong start from Jacob deGrom, who allowed two runs in six innings as his home ERA rose to 1.57 - the fourth-best mark in the majors and third-best in the NL.


Right behind deGrom among NL pitchers is Syndergaard (8-6, 3.19 ERA), who has a 1.82 ERA at Citi Field while going 7-1 in nine outings. Syndergaard has a 1.62 ERA with 41 strikeouts over 39 innings in winning his last five home starts.


The rookie right-hander will pitch one day after his 23rd birthday. He earned his first road win Tuesday by yielding four runs over five innings with nine strikeouts in a 6-5 victory over Philadelphia.


"This is a good step in the right direction," Syndergaard said. "I'm not trying to pay too much attention to that."


Syndergaard is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in three interleague starts as he faces Boston (60-69) for the first time.


The Red Sox are in position for their first road sweep after Joe Kelly won his sixth straight decision Saturday and Pablo Sandoval and Brock Holt had RBIs in a two-run sixth inning.


Interim manager Torey Lovullo is without Hanley Ramirez, who will likely sit out a third straight game with a shoulder issue.


David Ortiz was out of the lineup with a heel problem, though he had a pinch-hit double in the ninth. He will likely start Sunday.


"He knows himself very well, and when he says he needs to get off his feet, we understand that needs to happen quickly," Lovullo told MLB's official website.


Catcher Ryan Hanigan's status is not clear after he was scratched from Saturday's lineup an hour before the game with tightness in his right calf with Blake Swihart replacing him. Rusney Castillo is expected to start Sunday after he was rested and limited to a pinch-running appearance the day before.


New York captain David Wright is expected back in the lineup after going 4 for 11 in consecutive extra-inning contests before resting Saturday. The Mets are being cautious since he missed more than four months with spinal stenosis.


New York averaged 10.4 runs in a seven-game win streak before this series in which it has totaled five in 19 innings.


"We've been smashing the ball and today, the last two games, we have not," manager Terry Collins said. "Today we looked a little tired."


Yoenis Cespedes is 0 for 7 in this series. Collins indicated that he and Travis d'Arnaud may rest Sunday with Michael Cuddyer and Juan Lagares coming into the lineup.


Boston will start Wade Miley (10-10, 4.51), who is 0-1 with a 3.71 ERA in three career starts versus New York. The Red Sox have lost seven of his last nine outings, with the left-hander going 2-3 with a 4.53 ERA.


The Mets' Juan Uribe is 5 for 22 in this matchup and Cuddyer is 4 for 17.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Red Sox at Mets
Fri, Aug 28 Final 6 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Red Sox at Mets
Sat, Aug 29 Final 3 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Red Sox at Mets
Sun, Aug 30 - 1:10PM EDT

Preview: Royals (80-49) at Rays (63-66)
Game: 3
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: August 30, 2015 1:10 PM EDT

There are plenty of teams to hurdle in the AL wild-card race, but first the Tampa Bay Rays need to find a way to avoid their worst-ever finish against an opponent.


The surging Kansas City Royals seek a seven-game season sweep over the Rays on Sunday at Tropicana Field.


The Rays, who have never finished 0-7 or worse against any team in a single season, are falling quickly in their quest for a wild card. Five losses in six games has dropped them 4 1/2 behind Texas.


Kansas City (80-49) increased its Central lead to 14 games with Saturday's 6-3 victory, its seventh win in eight tries and 17th in 22. They've also won seven straight and 15 of 18 against Tampa Bay (63-66) since the start of the 2013 season.


The Royals have hit .323 and averaged 7.0 runs during the six-game series streak.


'Sometimes you've go to give credit to the other team,' Rays manager Kevin Cash said. 'This is (a team with) a very relentless approach, and we've seen it now for six games."


Kendrys Morales hit two-run homer in Friday's 3-2 win over the Rays and his two-out RBI single Saturday was his 90th of the season, the most by a Royal since Billy Butler had 107 in 2012.


Morales, who is hitting .375 with eight RBIs against the Rays this year, leads the majors with 47 RBIs with two outs this season, breaking the club record of 46 set by Joe Randa in 2000.


Mike Moustakas also is wielding a hot bat, hitting .519 with three homes and 14 RBIs in his last seven games. He hit his fifth and sixth doubles during that span to drive in three runs Saturday.


'You wouldn't know that we're 31 games over .500,' Moustakas said. 'We come in expecting to win every night. We come in to grind it out, play the game hard. That's what we're doing and it translates on the field.'


Danny Duffy (7-6, 4.13 ERA) will try to complete Kansas City's fourth road sweep of the season. The left-hander saw mixed results against two other AL East teams over his last two starts, surrendering six runs in 10 2-3 innings in a loss at Boston on Aug. 20 and a home win over Baltimore on Tuesday.


He allowed two runs and five hits over 5 2-3 innings in the 3-2 victory over the Orioles.


Tampa Bay hopes Nathan Karns (7-5, 3.69) can rebound from a dismal performance and provide some innings after each of its last three starters failed to complete five innings.


Karns (7-5, 3.69) has been guilty of abbreviated starts as well, finishing the sixth inning in only one of his last five outings. He's posted a 5.25 ERA in those games, giving up six home runs and 14 walks in 24 innings.


His August record, though, is 1-0 thanks to a healthy 6.38 run support average.


The right-hander matched the shortest outing of his career during an 11-7 loss to Minnesota on Tuesday. Karns was tagged for five runs and four hits in three innings, while four free passes pushed his walks per nine innings rate to 3.50, third-highest in the majors.


"One of those games you wish you didn't have starting off a series," Karns told MLB's official website.


Kansas City right fielder Alex Rios, who had an eight-game hitting streak snapped in the opener, was a late scratch Saturday due to illness.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Royals at Rays
Fri, Aug 28 Final 3 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Royals at Rays
Sat, Aug 29 Final 6 to 3
Recaps

GAME 3
Royals at Rays
Sun, Aug 30 - 1:10PM EDT

Preview: Yankees (71-57) at Braves (54-75)
Game: 3
Venue: Turner Field
Date: August 30, 2015 1:35 PM EDT

Nathan Eovaldi's ERA reached its highest point this season in mid-June with the New York Yankees hovering around the .500 mark and looking very little like a potential playoff team.


Eovaldi hasn't lost since, and the Yankees are heading down the stretch in control of their own playoff destiny.


The right-hander looks to keep his unbeaten streak alive by leading visiting New York to a three-game sweep over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday.


Eovaldi (13-2, 4.00 ERA) had a 5.12 ERA after giving up a season-worst eight runs in less than an inning of a loss at Miami on June 16 as the Yankees fell to 34-30. He's gone 8-0 with a 2.93 ERA in 12 starts since that outing and is coming off his best performance of the season after allowing four hits in eight innings of the Yankees' 1-0 win over Houston on Monday.


"Just being able to use the (split-finger fastball), I feel like it's helped me out a lot," Eovaldi said. "At the beginning of the season, I didn't have as much confidence in it as I do now. I feel like I'm able to locate it when I'm behind in counts, which is pretty big for me."


Eovaldi has won his last six road starts for New York (71-57), which has a 4 1/2-game cushion atop the AL wild-card standings. It beat the Braves 3-1 on Saturday to remain 1 1/2 games behind Toronto in the East.


Five of the Yankees' six hits were doubles, with Brian McCann and Didi Gregorius driving in a run apiece.


Eovaldi is 2-2 with a 1.93 ERA in his last eight starts against the Braves (54-75), who are in danger of falling 22 games under .500 for the first time since finishing 65-97 in 1990.


Atlanta began a nine-game stretch at home with a 32-24 mark at Turner Field, but it has scored nine times while dropping four straight since beating Colorado on Monday to start the homestand.


That pales in comparison to the tragedy that took place there Saturday, though, when a fan died after falling from the upper deck to a lower level near where the Braves' family members sit.


Many of them were seen crying after the incident.


'That's terrible,' losing pitcher Matt Wisler said. 'You never want to hear something like that. We're all in the dugout paying more attention to that than we were the game when it first happened.'


The Braves look to salvage the series finale with Julio Teheran (9-6, 4.29) on the hill. Teheran beat the Rockies 5-3 on Monday by pitching 7 1-3 solid innings to improve to 3-0 with a 2.73 ERA in five starts this month.


The right-hander settled down after giving up a solo homer in each of the first two innings.


'I wasn't afraid,' Teheran said. 'That's part of the game, when you make a mistake that's how you pay in this league. I was concentrating. I was focused on making my pitches to the next hitter.'


Teheran is 7-1 with a 2.55 ERA in 13 home starts, and he'll face a Yankees lineup that again will be without Mark Teixeira because of a bruised right shin. Manager Joe Girardi hopes Teixeira will be back Monday when New York opens a three-game series at Boston.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Yankees at Braves
Fri, Aug 28 Final 15 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Yankees at Braves
Sat, Aug 29 Final 3 to 1
Recaps

GAME 3
Yankees at Braves
Sun, Aug 30 - 1:35PM EDT

Preview: Marlins (52-78) at Nationals (65-63)
Game: 3
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: August 30, 2015 1:35 PM EDT

The Washington Nationals have been a worse than average slugging team this season, but that's started to change in late August.


It could be bad news for the Miami Marlins' Brad Hand, who's also going up against an in-form Stephen Strasburg Sunday at Nationals Park.


Washington (65-63) posted a .392 slugging percentage and 0.99 home runs per game through Aug. 20, which respectively ranked 17th and tied for 12th in the majors. Over the last eight games, however, those numbers are up to .502 and 1.88.


In Saturday's 5-1 win over the Marlins (52-78), Ryan Zimmerman, Clint Robinson and Ian Desmond went deep for the Nationals' seventh multihomer game in their last eight. Zimmerman has three home runs and 11 RBIs in his last six, and Desmond has left the yard in consecutive contests.


"We've been hitting the ball better lately," Zimmerman told MLB's official website. "(Tom Koehler) threw well for the first five innings or so and didn't make any mistakes. He finally left some balls over the plate and we put some good swings on them."


The Nationals, who trail the New York Mets by 5 1/2 games in the NL East, have won five of seven overall and 13 of the last 20 meetings with Miami.


The Marlins, meanwhile, are batting .206 with five homers and 2.0 runs per game over a 2-7 span. In their last nine, J.T. Realmuto is batting .074 and Adeiny Hechavarria .143.


Strasburg (8-6, 4.14 ERA) has had an impressive month, going 3-1 with a 1.73 ERA and .156 opponent batting average in four starts since coming off the disabled list after missing more than a month with an oblique strain. The right-hander has been particularly tough with four hits allowed in 13 innings over his past two outings.


"Health is a big key," manager Matt Williams said after Strasburg held San Diego to two runs and two hits over six innings of Tuesday's 8-3 win. "If he feels good when he's out there then he's able to let it go. I don't know how many balls he threw that were 98 miles per hour tonight, but quite a few of them. He sat 95 to 97. That just means he feels good."


He hasn't fared as well against Miami this season, losing both of his starts with a 6.00 ERA. Marcell Ozuna is 7 for 17 against Strasburg, but Hechavarria (3 for 24) and Christian Yelich (3 for 19) have struggled.


Hand (4-3, 4.23) has also won consecutive starts, and the latest was the longest of his career. He gave up two runs and nine hits in eight innings of Tuesday's 5-2 home win over Pittsburgh.


Since re-entering the rotation on Aug. 4, the left-hander is 3-1 with a 2.90 ERA.


"He's still a young pitcher," manager Dan Jennings said. "He's filled multiple roles. He's come out of the bullpen as a lefty-lefty guy, situational. He's come out of the bullpen long. Now he's getting the opportunity to start. He's made the most of it of late."


Hand hasn't faced Washington yet this season but is 0-5 with an 8.19 ERA in seven career starts in the series. Zimmerman is 6 for 8 with four doubles, and Danny Espinosa and Anthony Rendon are both 5 for 11.


Yelich (bruised right knee) has missed three straight games, while Washington's Michael Taylor (bruised right knee) and Yunel Escobar (right hand) have been held out of the starting lineup for two.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Marlins at Nationals
Fri, Aug 28 Final 4 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Marlins at Nationals
Sat, Aug 29 Final 1 to 5
Recaps


GAME 3
Marlins at Nationals
Sun, Aug 30 - 1:35PM EDT

Preview: Padres (62-67) at Phillies (52-78)
Game: 3
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: August 30, 2015 1:35 PM EDT

The Philadelphia Phillies have a chance to climb out of baseball's cellar with another win against the San Diego Padres.


The Phillies look to sweep the season series from the Padres on Sunday while matching the 40-year-old franchise record for the longest home win streak in the all-time series.


Philadelphia (52-78) is tied with Miami for the worst record in the majors, a dubious status the club has owned for much of the year.


The Phillies, though, could move ahead of the Marlins by sweeping this three-game set with San Diego (62-67). They've won all five matchups this season and 11 of the past 14.


A win Sunday would give Philadelphia eight straight home wins over the Padres, matching its record in the all-time series set from 1974-75.


Rookie Adam Morgan gave the Phillies some hope for the future Saturday, allowing two unearned runs in six innings and adding his first RBI for the eventual winning run in a 4-3 victory over San Diego.


Now Philadelphia gets a look at Alec Asher, who is making his major league debut after being acquired from Texas in the Cole Hamels trade last month. The right-hander moves into the rotation spot previously occupied by Jerome Williams, who was demoted to the bullpen.


Asher, one of the Phillies' top pitching prospects, went 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA over his last three starts for Triple-A Lehigh Valley.


"He's pitched with confidence, so we've liked what we've seen a great deal," player development director Joe Jordan told MLB's official website. "He presents himself very well. I think he'll come up here and be himself. He should be fine if he does that."


The Padres have dropped five of the last six games and three in a row, a trend that's unlikely to improve with James Shields (9-6, 3.89) taking the hill. He's 0-4 with a 5.63 ERA in eight road starts since beating the Dodgers in Los Angeles on May 24.


The right-hander struggled away from San Diego again Tuesday, surrendering four runs and eight hits with four walks while throwing a season-high 121 pitches in 5 2-3 innings of an 8-3 loss at Washington.


"I felt like my stuff was all right," said Shields, who exited after being hit in his lower body by a comebacker. "It was just a matter of, they were taking good pitches and were hitting pitches that normally you get outs on."


Shields didn't get a decision in a 4-3 home loss to the Phillies on Aug. 7, allowing three solo homers with eight strikeouts in 6 2-3 innings. He was 2-0 with a 6.35 ERA over the previous three matchups - all in Philadelphia.


Matt Kemp is hitting .333 with 19 RBIs while reaching base safely in 18 straight games. He had a single Saturday after missing two games with a sore left shoulder.


Kemp is a .375 hitter in 17 career games at Citizens Bank Park.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Padres at Phillies
Fri, Aug 28 Final 1 to 7
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Padres at Phillies
Sat, Aug 29 Final 3 to 4
Recaps

GAME 3
Padres at Phillies
Sun, Aug 30 - 1:35PM EDT

Preview: Rockies (51-76) at Pirates (79-49)
Game: 3
Venue: PNC Park
Date: August 30, 2015 1:35 PM EDT

It's been 11 years since two clubs from the same division finished at least 30 games over .500, and even longer since it last happened in the NL.


The Pittsburgh Pirates might contribute to ending that streak, but no matter how well they play, they still can't reach the top of the Central.


Pittsburgh sends Charlie Morton to the mound looking to complete a three-game sweep of the visiting Colorado Rockies on Sunday.


The Pirates (79-49) are on the verge of moving 31 games over .500 for the first time since late in the 1992 season, but St. Louis possesses the majors' best record and sits atop the Central with a 3 1/2-game lead.


Not since Boston and the New York Yankees in 2004 have clubs in the same division finished 30 over .500, and it hasn't happened in the NL since Atlanta and the New York Mets in 1999.


Neither of those second-place teams, though, had to play a win-or-go-home wild-card game to qualify for the division series, which the Pirates could be facing for a third straight year under the modified postseason format. They're doing their best to avoid it, having won four straight and 14 of 17 after beating the Rockies 4-3 on Saturday.


"The goal is to win the division," manager Clint Hurdle said. "We're doing some things that have some significance I'll be mindful of later. We're in second place and we want to get to first place."


Aramis Ramirez hit a three-run homer and J.A. Happ continued his hot stretch with six solid innings Saturday. Andrew McCutchen had two hits and is batting .500 with two homers and three doubles during a seven-game hitting streak.


McCutchen is hitting .422 over his last 12 home games, raising his season average at PNC Park to .344. Morton (8-5, 4.20 ERA) also has been solid there, going 5-1 with a 2.82 ERA in eight starts.


Morton lost at Miami on Monday, though, for Pittsburgh's lone defeat over its last eight contests. The right-hander went 2-0 with a 2.93 ERA in his previous five starts - all Pirates victories.


Colorado (51-76) has lost seven straight in Pittsburgh and is 4-14 overall since Aug. 10. Nick Hundley hit a two-run homer with nobody out in the ninth Saturday, but the Rockies couldn't muster the tying run.


Hundley, Ben Paulsen and Brandon Barnes finished with two hits apiece for Colorado, which sends Jorge De La Rosa (7-6, 4.61) to the mound in this contest.


De La Rosa went 1-1 with a 2.55 ERA in his first four outings this month before giving up five runs and walking four in seven innings of Monday's 5-3 loss at Atlanta. He also allowed two homers, one more than he gave up in his previous five outings combined.


"Jorge gave us seven good innings but it wasn't his sharpest," said manager Walt Weiss. "But he pitched fine."


The left-hander entered that contest with a 3.17 ERA in 10 previous road starts. It marked the second time he'd given up more than three earned runs outside of Colorado.


De La Rosa is 3-2 with a 3.18 ERA in his last nine starts against the Pirates, a stretch that includes going 0-1 with a 3.29 ERA in his last five at PNC Park. Starling Marte has hit him well, going 4 for 6 with a homer and a triple in their matchups.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Rockies at Pirates
Fri, Aug 28 Final 3 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Rockies at Pirates
Sat, Aug 29 Final 3 to 4
Recaps

GAME 3
Rockies at Pirates
Sun, Aug 30 - 1:35PM EDT

Preview: Reds (52-75) at Brewers (54-74)
Game: 3
Venue: Miller Park
Date: August 30, 2015 2:10 PM EDT

Wily Peralta says he's feeling fine, but the Milwaukee Brewers are skeptical.


Peralta will try to allay any concerns and seeks a measure of improvement in the finale of this three-game set with the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.


Peralta (4-8, 4.55 ERA) leads Milwaukee with 32 wins over the past three years, but a major chunk of those victories came in 2014 when he had a career-high and team-leading 17. The right-hander also set personal bests with 198 2-3 innings and 154 strikeouts.


He's nowhere near those numbers in 2015, thanks in large part to a two-month stint on the disabled list because of a strained left oblique.


Peralta is 3-3 with a 5.52 ERA in six starts since returning, but his performances in the last two were worrisome for the Brewers (54-75). He's gone 1-1 while surrendering 10 runs in 7 2-3 innings with five walks.


His velocity was down while he turned in his shortest outing of the season Tuesday, allowing four runs - two earned - in 2 2-3 innings of an 11-6 loss at Cleveland.


"I've never had that (problem) before, but I don't really worry about it because I feel pretty good," Peralta told MLB's official website. "My arm doesn't feel tired. Sometimes it's mechanics. ... Mechanically, I was a little off, and sometimes that takes off from your velocity. But overall, I feel good."


The Brewers think there may be an issue to work through.


"My thought process is that (it is) maybe, possibly, a dead arm," pitching coach Rick Kranitz said. "You've got to throw through it. If he's fine, he's fine. You just have to pitch. You have to go back out there and go, and he needs to go back out there and pitch and be who he is. That's throwing 94-97, 98. That's the guy he needs to be."


Peralta gave up six runs and two homers in seven innings of a 6-1 home loss to the Reds on April 20. He won both matchups last year while yielding one run over 15 innings.


Peralta has struggled with Joey Votto, who is 7 for 21 against him over the past three years - including a two-run blast in April.


Votto's third and final hit Saturday was a go-ahead, two-run shot in the ninth which helped the Reds win 12-9 and end their five-game slide versus Milwaukee. He's a .362 hitter with 10 homers and 31 RBIs in his last 34 games at Miller Park.


The Reds are turning to John Lamb (0-2, 6.06), who has completed six innings in just one of his three starts - all Cincinnati losses.


The left-hander went six innings in his major league debut Aug. 14, allowing five runs with seven strikeouts in a 5-3 defeat to the Los Angeles Dodgers in his only road outing.


Lamb struggled with the Dodgers again in Tuesday's 5-1 loss. He labored through 108 pitches in five innings, giving up three runs with six strikeouts and three walks while also hitting a batter.


"Without a doubt I'd like to take the club deeper into the game," Lamb said. "It's definitely a learning experience. I can learn what pitches to throw, but then I have to execute them. I'm learning to continue to make pitches and apply the pressure.


"Walks have come back to bite me in the butt."



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Reds at Brewers
Fri, Aug 28 Final 0 to 5
Boxscores


GAME 2
Reds at Brewers
Sat, Aug 29 Final 12 to 9
Recaps


GAME 3
Reds at Brewers
Sun, Aug 30 - 2:10PM EDT

Preview: Astros (72-58) at Twins (66-63)
Game: 3
Venue: Target Field
Date: August 30, 2015 2:10 PM EDT

Ervin Santana has fallen hard in August, but in his next start he'll try to keep the Minnesota Twins from falling any further in the wild-card race.


The slumping Santana and the Twins will go for a series win at home Sunday against the AL West-leading Houston Astros.


After Minnesota (66-63) dropped 1 1/2 games back of Texas for the AL's second wild-card spot with Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Astros, Santana (2-4, 6.05 ERA) may not be the right man to make up the ground.


The veteran right-hander holds the majors' highest ERA (9.12) among qualifying pitchers since Aug. 3, and has lost four straight decisions while Minnesota has dropped five of the last six games he's started. During his six-start swoon, Santana has failed to escape the third inning twice.


One of those came Tuesday at Tampa Bay. Santana allowed eight hits and five runs in 2 2-3 innings of an 11-7 loss - his fourth straight start surrendering at least four runs.


Santana has spent time working on his fastball command with pitching coach Neil Allen, but he enters Sunday with an 0-1 record and 9.77 ERA in three starts at home.


More concerning for Minnesota is an offense that has gone quiet in the first two games of the series. The Twins used three hits to beat Houston 3-0 on Friday before falling 4-1 on Saturday with just five.


Facing Mike Fiers on Saturday on the heels of his Aug. 21 no-hitter, Minnesota went 1 for 14 with runners in scoring position and left seven on base. The Twins scored once after loading the bases with nobody out in the fourth inning and wasted leadoff doubles from Brian Dozier in the sixth and eighth.


"Offensively, we only had a few chances," said manager Paul Molitor, whose team is 26th in the majors with an August batting average of .234. "We had the bases loaded situation where we couldn't get a big hit to get back in the game."


Meanwhile, the Astros (72-58) are going for their third straight series win and seventh victory in nine games. A win Sunday would put Houston 15 games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 2005 season.


To try and reach the mark, Houston will counter Santana with rookie Lance McCullers, who was recalled from Double-A Corpus Christi last weekend.


McCullers (5-4, 3.12 ERA) gave up a season-high eight hits and didn't factor into the decision in his return to the rotation Aug. 23, but he limited the Los Angeles Dodgers to two runs while walking none and striking out eight in a 3-2 win.


The 21-year-old right-hander may have earned the victory - which came on Jason Castro's walkoff homer in the 10th - if it weren't for two wild pitches that accounted for both Dodgers runs.


McCullers, who has 87 strikeouts in 83 2-3 innings, was sent to the minors to rest for the season's stretch run after a rough start in a 12-9 loss to Texas on Aug. 3. He surrendered seven hits and six runs while recording just one out.


"Little hiatus away, trying to rest up, trying to give myself a break for the run down the stretch," he told MLB's official website.


Astros rookie shortstop Carlos Correa missed his third consecutive game Saturday with a strained hamstring, while Minnesota third baseman Miguel Sano went 0 for 3 in his return from a hamstring strain that kept him out Friday.


Houston recalled catcher Max Stassi Saturday after Castro was sent to the 15-day disabled list with a strained right quadriceps. Hank Conger started behind the plate.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Astros at Twins
Fri, Aug 28 Final 0 to 3
Boxscores


GAME 2
Astros at Twins
Sat, Aug 29 Final 4 to 1
Recaps

GAME 3
Astros at Twins
Sun, Aug 30 - 2:10PM EDT

Preview: Orioles (63-65) at Rangers (66-61)
Game: 3
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: August 30, 2015 3:05 PM EDT

Adrian Beltre is probably very happy playing for the Texas Rangers. A move to the AL East, though, and more games against the Baltimore Orioles sure must be enticing to him.


Beltre looks to lead the Rangers to their sixth win in seven games this season against the reeling Orioles on Sunday.


Texas continued its surge with a 4-3 victory over Baltimore on Saturday for its 12th win in 16 games since Aug. 13, matching Kansas City for most in the AL during that span. The Rangers (67-61) extended their lead for the second wild card to 1 1/2 games over Minnesota.


With its 67th win, Texas equaled its total from last season and matched a season best at six games over .500.


Bobby Wilson delivered the tiebreaking double in the sixth inning.


"Bobby has gotten some really big hits for us," manager Jeff Banister said, "and none bigger than that tonight."


After going 16-28 in their first 44 home games, the Rangers have won 15 of their last 19 in Arlington. They've batted .306 and averaged 5.5 runs during that 19-game span.


Beltre has been a big contributor to that success, batting .397 with six homers and 18 RBIs in his past 17 at home. He had a pair of hits, including a two-run homer Saturday and is batting .425 with 10 home runs and 22 RBIs in his last 22 games against the Orioles.


The freefall continued for Baltimore (63-66), which has lost nine of 10 and scored three runs or fewer in each of those losses to drop to 9-50 when held to less than four. The Orioles are 4 1/2 games behind the Rangers, and another defeat in the finale would leave them four under for the first time since June 7.


"They're frustrated. Frustrated," manager Buck Showalter said. "So, there's one way to take that frustration away."


Dariel Alvarez was a bright spot, picking up his first two major league hits in his second game.


Derek Holland (1-1, 4.73) will try to pitch the Rangers to a third sweep in their last five home series. After beating Seattle in his first appearance in four months, the left-hander wasn't as sharp against Toronto on Tuesday. He allowed four runs - all on three homers - over six innings before leaving without a decision in a 6-5 loss.


Holland is 4-2 with a 3.65 ERA in six starts against the Orioles but hasn't faced them since 2013.


Matt Wieters is 2 for 15 against him but both of those hits are homers. Manny Machado is 4 for 11 in this matchup, while Chris Davis is 0 for 7 with six strikeouts.


Miguel Gonzalez (9-10, 4.78) tries again to record his elusive 10th win for Baltimore. Since winning at Tampa Bay on July 25, the right-hander is 0-4 with a 7.58 ERA in his last six starts and has failed to complete six innings in four of the past five.


He struggled again at Kansas City on Tuesday, yielding three runs, six hits and three walks over 4 1-3 innings in a 3-2 loss.


Gonzalez was roughed up for six runs and eight hits - including a career high-tying three homers - in an 8-6 loss to the Rangers on June 30.


Mitch Moreland hit one of those home runs and is 4 for 10 against him.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Orioles at Rangers
Fri, Aug 28 Final 1 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Orioles at Rangers
Sat, Aug 29 Final 3 to 4
Recaps

GAME 3
Orioles at Rangers
Sun, Aug 30 - 3:05PM EDT

Preview: Cardinals (83-46) at Giants (69-60)
Game: 3
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: August 30, 2015 4:05 PM EDT

The San Francisco Giants have the NL's best record against left-handed starters, though they have never fared well against Jaime Garcia.


The St. Louis Cardinals have captured five straight outings by Garcia heading into Sunday's three-game series finale at AT&T Park.


San Francisco (69-60) is 18-12 when against lefty starters and entered play Saturday with the majors' fourth-best average against southpaws at .271. Nori Aoki is batting a team-best .344 against them.


The Giants could again be challenged by Garcia (6-4, 1.77 ERA), who is 2-1 with a 2.16 ERA in six starts against them. He yielded three runs over 6 1-3 innings Aug. 19 and did not get a decision in a 4-3 victory.


Aoki is 5 for 16 in this matchup and Buster Posey is 4 for 12. San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy may want to start the seldom-used Justin Maxwell, who is 6 for 14 with a homer and three doubles off Garcia.


Garcia is 3-0 with a 1.38 ERA in five starts this month after yielding a run in six innings of Tuesday's 9-1 rout at Arizona. He is 9-3 with a 1.65 ERA in his last 13 road outings.


St. Louis starters are 6-0 with a 1.64 ERA in the last seven games after Lance Lynn pitched into the eighth inning in Saturday's 6-0 win before leaving with an ankle injury that isn't considered serious.


"Just sick when you see him go down like that because he's a tough guy. He has a high pain tolerance," manager Mike Matheny said. "I never thought he was going to be walking off the field. That was huge."


San Francisco's three-game win streak ended one day after it ended a five-game run for St. Louis. The Cardinals broke open a scoreless game with four runs in the fifth.


"The big inning killed us there. We couldn't stop them," Bochy said.


The Giants had a double and six singles.


"We just couldn't do anything offensively," Bochy said. "You look flat when you'renot hitting or scoring."


Stephen Piscotty had four hits Saturday to improve to 6 for 8 in this series. The Bay Area native is 12 for 24 with 10 RBIs during a six-game hitting streak.


Posey was out Saturday after getting hit in the left elbow the day before but expects to be back in the lineup. He is hitting .159 in his last 12 games.


The Giants will start rookie Chris Heston (11-7, 3.34), who makes his first big-league start since allowing one run over 4 2-3 innings in a 104-pitch outing against St. Louis (83-56) in a 2-1 loss Aug. 17.


The right-hander was optioned to the minors after that outing to keep him fresh for the stretch since he has thrown 145 2-3 innings. He did not pitch during his time in the minors.


Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, who homered off Heston earlier this month, is 7 for 19 with two homers and six RBIs in the season series.


Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal remains out on paternity leave.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Cardinals at Giants
Fri, Aug 28 Final 4 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Cardinals at Giants
Sat, Aug 29 Final 6 to 0
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Cardinals at Giants
Sun, Aug 30 - 4:05PM EDT

Preview: Athletics (55-74) at Diamondbacks (63-65)
Game: 3
Venue: Chase Field
Date: August 30, 2015 4:10 PM EDT

After breaking out of his slump in a big way, Stephen Vogt looks to lead the Oakland Athletics to back-to-back road wins for just the second time in over seven weeks Sunday when they close this three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.


Vogt went 3 for 3 with a two-run homer and an RBI single in Oakland's 3-2 victory Saturday. The All-Star catcher was hitting .174 over the previous 28 games and his performance came a day after he allowed two passed balls that factored in a 6-4 loss.


Redemption was on his mind.


"Not to talk about myself too much but I obviously was not in a good place (Friday)," Vogt said. "I was excited to see that I was back in the lineup and ready to go. I had a lot of steam to let off."


Despite his recent struggles, Vogt is still having a career year as he leads the team with 17 homers and 66 RBIs.


The A's (56-74), though, own the worst record in the AL and are 5-17 in their last 22 road games. They haven't won two straight as the visitor since July 11-12 at Cleveland.


Trying to match that with Jesse Chavez (7-13, 4.00 ERA) on the mound could be problematic. The right-hander is tied with Cleveland's Corey Kluber for the most losses in the AL and is one back of Matt Garza of Milwaukee and Philadelphia's Aaron Harang for the most in the majors.


Chavez is 0-4 with a 7.99 ERA in his last five road starts, completing six innings just once in that span.


He was tagged for a season high-tying six runs before being pulled with two outs in the fifth of Tuesday's 6-5 loss at Seattle.


"That's all on me," said Chavez, who served up two homers among his eight hits. "I let it snowball."


Chavez is starting against the Diamondbacks (63-66) for the first time, and he last faced them in a relief appearance with Atlanta on May 15, 2010.


Arizona is 1-5 and averaging 2.7 runs on this seven-game homestand.


The Diamondbacks recalled Alan Webster (1-1, 6.86) from Triple-A Reno for a spot start after electing to push back scheduled starter Robbie Ray to Monday's game at Colorado. Ray lost a fifth straight start Tuesday, giving up six runs with five walks in three innings of a 9-1 defeat to St. Louis.


"I think after Robbie's last outing, everybody talking from the top down, we felt like it would be good to give him an extra day," manager Chip Hale told MLB's official website.


Webster is 1-1 with a 7.11 ERA in four starts, his last coming June 29. He's surrendered five homers over nine innings in two at home.


The right-hander was 3-6 with an 8.37 ERA in 14 starts for Reno.


With their playoff hopes all but mathematically over, the Diamondbacks have agreed to deal former closer Addison Reed to the NL East-leading New York Mets in exchange for two minor leaguers.


Paul Goldschmidt may also be on his way out, although temporarily. His wife is due to have the couple's first child any day.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Athletics at Diamondbacks
Fri, Aug 28 Final 4 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Athletics at Diamondbacks
Sat, Aug 29 Final 3 to 2
Recaps

GAME 3
Athletics at Diamondbacks
Sun, Aug 30 - 4:10PM EDT

Preview: Mariners (61-69) at White Sox (60-68)
Game: 4
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: August 30, 2015 2:10 PM EDT

A hot stretch into August had the Chicago White Sox optimistic about the final two months of the season. Entering the final two days of the month, the hope is to stay out of last place in the AL Central.


The White Sox play their final game in August Sunday against the visiting Seattle Mariners, who they've seen plenty in the last two weeks.


Both clubs are seven games behind Texas for the second wild card but trailing five other teams.


Chicago (60-68) lost for the fifth time in seven games, falling 7-6 Saturday after leaving the bases loaded twice. The White Sox went 4 for 13 with runners in scoring position and left 11 on base.


'We get bases loaded a few times, I'd like to get a little more out of it," manager Robin Ventura said.


Kyle Seager hit a two-run homer during a three-run first inning and Robinson Cano went 4 for 4 to lift the Mariners (61-69) to their fourth win in five tries.


The White Sox will turn to one of their few bright spots this season in Jose Quintana to get them out of a miserable month where they've posted an 11-16 record.


Quintana (7-10, 3.63 ERA) has completed at least six innings in seven consecutive starts, halfway to his career-long streak of 12 set from May 13-July 12. He's 3-1 with a 3.13 ERA in his last seven outings, the final three of which he lasted six innings and allowed three earned runs or less.


Quintana did not factor into the decision in Tuesday's 5-4 win over Boston after tossing six innings and allowing seven hits and four runs - three earned.


The left-hander has 20 starts of at least six innings and three earned runs or less this season, but his record is indicative of his run support average of 3.47, the third lowest in the AL.


Quintana is 0-1 with a 3.91 ERA in four starts against the Mariners. He has held Seager, Cano, Nelson Cruz, Mark Trumbo and Austin Jackson to a combined .197 batting average in 66 total at-bats.


Seattle's Edgar Olmos faced the White Sox on Aug. 22, throwing a perfect inning out of the bullpen in a 6-3 loss. It was one of his four scoreless relief outings since his promotion from Triple-A Tacoma on Aug. 17.


The reward for Olmos (1-0, 0.00) is his first career start Sunday.


Olmos picked up his first win in Tuesday's 6-5 victory over Oakland, tossing 3 2-3 scoreless innings.


The Mariners claimed the 25-year-old left-hander off waivers from Miami in November, but he was released and picked up by Texas in February. The move was rescinded, though, when a shoulder injury in his throwing arm surfaced during the waiver process in spring training, sending Olmos back to Seattle.


"It's amazing. Indescribable," Olmos told MLB's official website. "It's something as a little kid you want to be part of, and I'm living that dream. It's awesome."


Mariners outfielder Franklin Gutierrez, who is hitting .471 with two homers and six RBIs in five games against the White Sox this season, had some tightness in his Achilles tendon and was out of the lineup Saturday after getting hit on the knee by a pitch in the series opener.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Mariners at White Sox
Thu, Aug 27 Final 2 to 4
Boxscores


GAME 2
Mariners at White Sox
Fri, Aug 28 Final 2 to 0
Boxscores


GAME 3
Mariners at White Sox
Sat, Aug 29 Final 7 to 6
Recaps

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

MLB MONEYLINE


MLB > (903) COLORADO@ (904) PITTSBURGH | 2015-08-30 13:35:00 - 2015-08-30 13:35:00
Play ON PITTSBURGH using the money line in Home games in day games
The record is 15 Wins and 1 Losses for the this season (+13.5 units)


MLB > (907) CINCINNATI@ (908) MILWAUKEE | 2015-08-30 14:10:00 - 2015-08-30 14:10:00
Play AGAINST CINCINNATI using the money line in Road games when playing on Sunday
The record is 0 Wins and 11 Losses for the this season (-12.1 units)


MLB > (915) KANSAS CITY@ (916) TAMPA BAY | 2015-08-30 13:10:00 - 2015-08-30 13:10:00
Play ON KANSAS CITY using the money line in All games when playing with a day off
The record is 28 Wins and 9 Losses for the last two seasons (+19.05 units)


MLB > (925) BOSTON@ (926) NY METS | 2015-08-30 13:10:00 - 2015-08-30 13:10:00
Play ON NY METS using the money line in All games when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season
The record is 45 Wins and 18 Losses for the last two seasons (+24.9 units)


MLB > (921) HOUSTON@ (922) MINNESOTA | 2015-08-30 14:10:00 - 2015-08-30 14:10:00
Play AGAINST HOUSTON using the money line in All games on the road with a money line of -100 to -125
The record is 7 Wins and 20 Losses for the last two seasons (-15.4 units)

MLB > (929) OAKLAND@ (930) ARIZONA | 2015-08-30 16:10:00 - 2015-08-30 16:10:00
Play ON ARIZONA using the money line in All games when playing against a team with a losing record
The record is 38 Wins and 20 Losses for the this season (+18.2 units)

MLB RUNLINE


MLB > (915) KANSAS CITY@ (916) TAMPA BAY | 2015-08-30 13:10:00 - 2015-08-30 13:10:00
Play ON KANSAS CITY using the in All games when playing with a day off
The record is 29 Wins and 8 Losses for the last two seasons (+27.7 units)


MLB > (919) SEATTLE@ (920) CHI WHITE SOX | 2015-08-30 14:10:00 - 2015-08-30 14:10:00
Play AGAINST CHI WHITE SOX using the in All games as a home favorite when the run line price is +135 to +160
The record is 7 Wins and 40 Losses for the last three seasons (-29.4 units)


MLB > (925) BOSTON@ (926) NY METS | 2015-08-30 13:10:00 - 2015-08-30 13:10:00
Play ON NY METS using the in All games when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season
The record is 18 Wins and 5 Losses for the this season (+14.9 units)


MLB > (917) LA ANGELS@ (918) CLEVELAND | 2015-08-30 13:10:00 - 2015-08-30 13:10:00
Play AGAINST LA ANGELS using the in Road games in August games
The record is 2 Wins and 11 Losses for the this season (-13.2 units)


MLB > (929) OAKLAND@ (930) ARIZONA | 2015-08-30 16:10:00 - 2015-08-30 16:10:00
Play AGAINST OAKLAND using the in Road games in August games
The record is 5 Wins and 20 Losses for the last two seasons (-19.1 units)


MLB > (913) DETROIT@ (914) TORONTO | 2015-08-30 13:05:00 - 2015-08-30 13:05:00
Play ON TORONTO using the in All games in August games
The record is 18 Wins and 6 Losses for the this season (+13.55 units)


MLB > (921) HOUSTON@ (922) MINNESOTA | 2015-08-30 14:10:00 - 2015-08-30 14:10:00
Play AGAINST HOUSTON using the in All games on the road when the run line is (+1.5, -190) to (-1.5, +130)
The record is 4 Wins and 23 Losses for the last two seasons (-17.9 units)

MLB TOTALS


MLB > (925) BOSTON@ (926) NY METS | 2015-08-30 13:10:00 - 2015-08-30 13:10:00
Play OVER BOSTON on the total in All games in August games
The record is 17 Overs and 5 Unders for the this season (+12.15 units)


MLB > (901) MIAMI@ (902) WASHINGTON | 2015-08-30 13:35:00 - 2015-08-30 13:35:00
Play OVER WASHINGTON on the total in Home games in August games
The record is 21 Overs and 6 Unders for the last two seasons (+14.8 units)


MLB > (905) SAN DIEGO@ (906) PHILADELPHIA | 2015-08-30 13:35:00 - 2015-08-30 13:35:00
Play OVER SAN DIEGO on the total in All games in games played on a grass field
The record is 74 Overs and 50 Unders for the this season (+23.35 units)


MLB > (919) SEATTLE@ (920) CHI WHITE SOX | 2015-08-30 14:10:00 - 2015-08-30 14:10:00
Play OVER SEATTLE on the total in All games when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season
The record is 15 Overs and 4 Unders for the this season (+10.85 units)


MLB > (911) CHICAGO CUBS@ (912) LA DODGERS | 2015-08-30 20:05:00 - 2015-08-30 20:05:00
Play OVER LA DODGERS on the total in Home games in games played on a grass field
The record is 87 Overs and 53 Unders for the last two seasons (+33.55 units)


MLB > (917) LA ANGELS@ (918) CLEVELAND | 2015-08-30 13:10:00 - 2015-08-30 13:10:00
Play OVER LA ANGELS on the total in Road games when playing with a day off
The record is 121 Overs and 65 Unders for the since 1992 (+52.15 units)


MLB > (923) BALTIMORE@ (924) TEXAS | 2015-08-30 15:05:00 - 2015-08-30 15:05:00
Play UNDER BALTIMORE on the total in All games against left-handed starters
The record is 24 Overs and 49 Unders for the last two seasons (+22.85 units)

LEADING OFF: Encarnacion's encore, Eovaldi brings heat


August 30, 2015


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


EDWIN'S ENCORE


Edwin Encarnacion will try to lead the AL East-leading Blue Jays to their eighth win in nine games, a day after he homered three times and tied a team record with nine RBIs. He has a 24-game hitting streak that's the longest in the majors this season, along with 29 home runs. He's aiming for his fourth straight 30-homer season. Mark Buehrle pitches for Toronto at home against Detroit, having allowing nine runs in his last two outings after a two-month run of strong starts.


SUMMER HEAT


The Yankees hope for more domination out of Nathan Eovaldi (13-2, 4.00) at Atlanta. He has won eight straight decisions and was up to 101 mph last week when he pitched eight dominant innings in a 1-0 victory over Houston. Eovaldi is averaging 96.6 mph on his fastball this season, the highest among qualified starters, according to Fangraphs.com. What's allowed him to shine of late, though, is the evolution of his splitter, a pitch that catcher Brian McCann called ''a game-changer'' after the win over the Astros. Julio Teheran (9-6, 4.29) starts for the Braves - he has his worst ERA since becoming a regular in the rotation in 2013, but has been better of late, compiling a 2.73 ERA in five August starts.


GOING STEADY


Jake Arrieta (16-6, 2.22) has already blown past his career high for innings pitched with 174, and the Cubs ace has shown no signs of slowing down going into this twilight start at Dodger Stadium. He is 5-0 with an 0.54 ERA this month and tied with Giants lefty Madison Bumgarner for the most wins in the majors.


RED SOX ROLL


Last-place Boston goes for its first road sweep of the season when it finishes a three-game series against the Mets. The NL East leaders had played well at Citi Field this year before losing five straight at home. Wade Miley, tagged for a career-worst 13 hits by the White Sox in his last start, goes for the Red Sox against Noah Syndergaard - the Mets rookie is 7-1 with a 1.82 ERA at home, 1-5 with a 4.91 ERA away.


CARDS ALL ACES


Jaime Garcia tries to finish August without a loss as the first-place Cardinals wrap a three-game set in San Francisco. He is 3-0 with a 1.38 ERA this month. St. Louis starters have a 1.64 ERA in the last seven games, including seven scoreless innings from Lance Lynn on Saturday before he exited after rolling his right ankle. Chris Heston (11-7, 3.34) makes his first start since being recalled from Triple-A, a demotion that allowed the rookie - who threw a no-hitter vs. the Mets this year - a rest period after he lasted just 4 2-3 innings on Aug. 17 at St. Louis.


GOOD DEAL?


The Phillies have already gotten a pair of solid starts from Jerad Eickhoff, and they will send out another pitching prospect acquired from Texas in the Cole Hamels trade when they give the ball to Alec Asher for his big league debut vs. visiting San Diego. Asher made four starts with Triple-A Lehigh Valley following the non-waiver deadline deal, going 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA. Eickhoff has a 2.25 ERA in two starts with Philadelphia, while Jake Thompson - the third pitching prospect acquired in the trade - has a 1.97 ERA in five starts with Double-A Reading.

TOP MLB POWERLINES


MLB > (913) DETROIT @ (914) TORONTO | 2015-08-30 13:05:00 - 2015-08-30 13:05:00
Line: DETROIT BTB PowerLine: DETROIT-199
Edge On: DETROIT (26)


MLB > (925) BOSTON @ (926) NY METS | 2015-08-30 13:10:00 - 2015-08-30 13:10:00
Line: BOSTON BTB PowerLine: BOSTON-155
Edge On: BOSTON (25)


MLB > (915) KANSAS CITY @ (916) TAMPA BAY | 2015-08-30 13:10:00 - 2015-08-30 13:10:00
Line: KANSAS CITY BTB PowerLine: KANSAS CITY133
Edge On: KANSAS CITY (30)


MLB > (917) LA ANGELS @ (918) CLEVELAND | 2015-08-30 13:10:00 - 2015-08-30 13:10:00
Line: LA ANGELS BTB PowerLine: LA ANGELS-102
Edge On: LA ANGELS (28)


MLB > (901) MIAMI @ (902) WASHINGTON | 2015-08-30 13:35:00 - 2015-08-30 13:35:00
Line: MIAMI BTB PowerLine: MIAMI-163
Edge On: MIAMI (67)


MLB > (927) NY YANKEES @ (928) ATLANTA | 2015-08-30 13:35:00 - 2015-08-30 13:35:00
Line: ATLANTA+135 BTB PowerLine: ATLANTA120
Edge On: ATLANTA (15)


MLB > (903) COLORADO @ (904) PITTSBURGH | 2015-08-30 13:35:00 - 2015-08-30 13:35:00
Line: COLORADO BTB PowerLine: COLORADO-154
Edge On: COLORADO (22)


MLB > (921) HOUSTON @ (922) MINNESOTA | 2015-08-30 14:10:00 - 2015-08-30 14:10:00
Line: HOUSTON BTB PowerLine: HOUSTON161
Edge On: HOUSTON (31)


MLB > (907) CINCINNATI @ (908) MILWAUKEE | 2015-08-30 14:10:00 - 2015-08-30 14:10:00
Line: MILWAUKEE-123 BTB PowerLine: MILWAUKEE-152
Edge On: MILWAUKEE (29)


MLB > (923) BALTIMORE @ (924) TEXAS | 2015-08-30 15:05:00 - 2015-08-30 15:05:00
Line: BALTIMORE BTB PowerLine: BALTIMORE-117
Edge On: BALTIMORE (18)


MLB > (909) ST LOUIS @ (910) SAN FRANCISCO | 2015-08-30 16:05:00 - 2015-08-30 16:05:00
Line: ST LOUIS BTB PowerLine: ST LOUIS144
Edge On: ST LOUIS (22)


MLB > (929) OAKLAND @ (930) ARIZONA | 2015-08-30 16:10:00 - 2015-08-30 16:10:00
Line: OAKLAND BTB PowerLine: OAKLAND-110
Edge On: OAKLAND (20)




Users of our matchup reports are familiar with our Power Line ratings, calculated using both teams' ratings and home field advantage. The Top Power Lines tool offers a way to view and compare current Power Lines in one simple report, as well as the Power Line Edge, where the Power Line differs significantly from the current line.