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Baseball Capsules


September 11, 2015


ATLANTA (AP) Bartolo Colon's shutout streak ended at 31 innings while he won his fourth straight start, pitching the streaking New York Mets past the reeling Atlanta Braves 7-2 on Thursday night.


Kevin Plawecki and Juan Uribe each drove in three runs for New York, which has won four in a row to increase its NL East lead to 7 1/2 games over Washington.


In a game that started 2 hours, 20 minutes late because of rain, Colon (14-11) allowed seven hits, two runs, one walk and struck out two in 6 2-3 innings.


The 42-year-old Colon, who added an RBI single in the fourth, led 4-0 before Jace Peterson's RBI triple and Andrelton Simmons' single in the seventh.


The Mets' record for consecutive scoreless innings is 32 2-3, set by R.A. Dickey in 2012.


Atlanta, which has lost 21 of 24 overall, dropped its ninth straight at home to match the franchise's longest skid and worst since the 1988 team started 0-9 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.


Colon outpitched All-Star Shelby Miller (5-14), whose winless streak reached 21 straight starts.


MARINERS 5, RANGERS 0


Nelson Cruz reached 40 home runs for the second straight season, Felix Hernandez pitched three-hit ball for eight innings and Seattle beat Texas.


The Rangers were shut out for the second straight day. Their lead for the second AL wild-card spot was cut to one game over idle Minnesota.


Texas missed a chance to gain on AL West-leading Houston and fell 2 1/2 games behind the idle Astros.


Cruz missed the previous six games because of a strained right quadriceps. He matched his career high for homers set last season with Baltimore, connecting for a two-run shot in a three-run seventh.


Hernandez (17-8) struck out eight and walked four. He tied Houston's Dallas Keuchel for the most victories in the AL. Derek Holland (3-2) worked seven innings, allowing all five runs and nine hits.


ROCKIES 4, PADRES 3


SAN DIEGO (AP) - Nolan Arenado hit his NL-leading 38th home run and Colorado center fielder Charlie Blackmon made a leaping catch of Brett Wallace's ninth-inning drive near the top of the wall.


Carlos Gonzalez hit his 37th homer for the Rockies and Daniel Descalso hit a tiebreaking shot leading off the eighth. Corey Dickerson also connected for Colorado.


Descalso homered off Joaquin Benoit (6-5), who hadn't pitched since Saturday because of back spasms.


Justin Miller (1-0) struck out the side in the seventh, and fanned all seven batters he faced in the series. John Axford closed for his 21st save.


INDIANS 7, TIGERS 5


CLEVELAND (AP) - Michael Brantley homered twice, including a tiebreaking, two-run drive in the eighth against Blaine Hardy (4-3), and Brantley homered into the right-field seats.


Cody Allen (2-4) pitched 1 2-3 innings and struck out AL hitting leader Miguel Cabrera to end the game.


With their sixth straight home win, the Indians closed within four games of Texas for the AL's second wild card. Minnesota and the Los Angeles Angels are between the Rangers and Indians in the wild-card race.


REDS 11, CARDINALS 0


CINCINNATI (AP) - Todd Frazier and Brandon Phillips both homered and drove in three runs as last-place Cincinnati sent NL Central-leading St. Louis to its largest margin of defeat this season.


The Cardinals opened their longest road trip of the season - 11 days, 10 games - with their fourth loss in five games.


Reds star Joey Votto doubled and singled, driving in a run and scoring one, a day after his tantrum at home plate following an ejection.


Jaime Garcia (8-5) lasted a season-low 4 1-3 innings and gave up six runs. John Lamb (1-3), one of three left-handers acquired from Kansas City for Johnny Cueto in late July, shook off control problems for his first major league win. He walked six, struck out six and gave up three hits in five innings.


BREWERS 6, PIRATES 4, 13 INNINGS


PITTSBURGH (AP) - Logan Shafer singled home Nevin Ashley with the go-ahead run in the 13th inning.


Luis Sardinas added an insurance run off Radhames Liz (1-4) with a single as the Brewers beat the Pirates for the seventh straight time despite twice having late leads erased by Pittsburgh home runs.


Andrew McCutchen's 22nd of the season tied it in the eighth. Gregory Polanco's solo shot off Milwaukee closer Francisco Rodriguez tied it again in the 12th after the Brewers had gone up on an RBI single by Ryan Braun.


Rodriguez (1-3) got the win after blowing the save. Kyle Lohse earned the second save of his 15-year career.


A.J. Burnett gave up three first-inning runs his return from a lengthy stay on the disabled list with a strained right elbow. Pittsburgh remained 4 1/2 games behind St. Louis in the NL Central, but in control of the wild-card race.

LEADING OFF: Sept. 11 remembrances, key AL East matchup


September 10, 2015


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


REMEMBERING THE DAY


At Great American Ball Park, Camden Yards and every stadium where a big league game is played, there will be tributes to mark the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. Players, managers, coaches and umpires will wear caps with flag patches, and there will be moments of silence and other remembrances.


RAIN GAME


Weather permitting, David Price and the AL East-leading Blue Jays begin a four-game series at Yankee Stadium. Toronto is 1 1/2 games ahead of New York after Thursday's rainout, and the teams are set for a doubleheader Saturday. Impressive rookie Luis Severino starts the opener for the Yankees.


TIME OFF


Many teams are trying to find ways to get extra days off for starting pitchers down the stretch - Jake Arrieta got a break when the Cubs were rained out in Philadelphia. He leads the majors with 18 wins and has a 17-inning shutout string.


RUN IT UP


Texas returns home after getting shut out four times during a 5-5 road trip. The playoff contenders have been blanked two in a row going into this matchup with Oakland righty Jesse Chavez (7-14). Rangers star Josh Hamilton is having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, and the team hopes he can play again this season.


PAPI POWER


David Ortiz needs two home runs to become the 27th player to reach No. 500. The Boston slugger takes aim at Tropicana Field against Tampa Bay ace Chris Archer. Ortiz homered off the All-Star earlier this summer, then said his verbal tiff with Archer that began last year was over.

Preview: Cubs (80-58) at Phillies (54-86)
Game: 2
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: September 11, 2015 5:05 PM EDT

Not surprisingly, Jake Arrieta is set up to start the NL wild-card game the Chicago Cubs appear to be headed toward.


In the meantime, the right-hander will try to become the first Cub in 43 years to win an eighth consecutive start in Friday night's doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.


For the first time publicly, manager Joe Maddon said this week that Arrieta (18-6, 2.03 ERA) is in line to take the ball in a potential wild-card matchup next month instead of seasoned playoff veteran Jon Lester. While Chicago (80-58) is seven games behind St. Louis for the NL Central lead, it has a firm grasp on the second wild-card spot and is 2 1/2 games behind Pittsburgh for the top position.


"He's the best pitcher on this team right now; he's probably the best pitcher in the league right now," Lester told MLB's official website.


The Cubs have won eight straight starts by Arrieta, the major league leader in victories. He's won the last seven while yielding two earned runs in 50 1-3 innings, holding opposing batters to a .133 average with 50 strikeouts and 10 walks.


Arrieta was scheduled to start Thursday's series opener before it was postponed due to rain. Now he'll get the ball in Game 1 on Friday with a chance to become the first Cub to win eight consecutive starts since Milt Pappas' 11-game run in 1972.


Arrieta followed up his no-hitter at Dodger Stadium by yielding four hits, fanning seven and not walking a batter in eight innings of Saturday's 2-0 victory over Arizona. Building his case for the NL Cy Young Award, he's gone 29 innings without allowing an earned run.


"It's hard for me to fathom that somebody is better than Jake Arrieta," catcher David Ross said. "I know numbers are numbers, and there are some guys in L.A. that are doing a really good job, but I'll take that guy on the mound any day of the week."


The only team to beat him over the past 2 1/2 months is the one he'll face Friday. All three runs Arrieta allowed in six innings came on a homer by Ryan Howard in a 5-0 defeat to Philadelphia on July 25 - the day Cole Hamels no-hit the Cubs.


Since being swept by the Phillies in that three-game set, Chicago is 29-12. However, the Cubs had a five-game winning streak snapped Wednesday when they blew a late two-run lead in a 4-3 loss at St. Louis.


Kyle Hendricks (6-6, 4.08) seeks his first win in six starts in the nightcap when he faces Philadelphia for the first time. The right-hander has a 5.48 ERA over his last nine, though he allowed just one run and three hits over five innings in Monday's 6-4 home win over Arizona.


While the Cubs are thinking about the playoffs, the MLB-worst Phillies (54-86) will miss the postseason for the fourth straight year and have decided to make a change in management.


President-in-waiting Andy MacPhail announced that general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. was fired Thursday, naming assistant GM Scott Proefrock as his replacement on an interim basis.


"We needed a fresh perspective, a fresh approach," MacPhail said.


The Phillies have lost 12 of 16 after Wednesday's 8-1 defeat to Atlanta, and Howard enters in an 0-for-27 drought.


Adam Morgan (5-5, 4.42) starts the opener looking to bounce back after allowing six runs in 6 1-3 innings of a 7-5 loss at Boston on Friday.


"It's all about having a short memory," the rookie left-hander said.


Morgan could face Starlin Castro, who no longer is an everyday player but is 7 for 12 in his last four contests - including 4 for 5 off southpaws. He's hit .355 in 16 career games at Philadelphia.


Rookie right-hander Alec Asher (0-2, 10.61), acquired from Texas in the Cole Hamels trade, seeks better results in Game 2 after giving up seven runs over 3 1-3 innings in Saturday's 9-2 loss at Boston.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Cubs at Phillies
Thu, Sep 10 - RAIN PPD
Recaps


GAME 2
Cubs at Phillies
Fri, Sep 11 - 8:35PM EDT


GAME 3
Cubs at Phillies
Sat, Sep 12 - 7:05PM EDT


GAME 4
Cubs at Phillies
Sun, Sep 13 - 1:35PM EDT

Preview: Royals (83-56) at Orioles (67-72)
Game: 1
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: September 11, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

While the Kansas City Royals hope to fix a sputtering offense in time for the playoffs, the Baltimore Orioles aren't ready to give up on their postseason hopes.


As Lorenzo Cain looks to keep giving Baltimore nightmares, the Royals will try to avoid a sixth loss in seven games Friday night in their first visit to Camden Yards since the ALCS.


Kansas City (83-56) is well on its way back to the playoffs with an 11-game division lead. The club, however, has hit .189 with runners in scoring position while totaling 15 runs in its last six.


The Royals went 0 for 8 in those situations in Wednesday's 3-2, 12-inning home loss to Minnesota. Salvador Perez is 2 for 24 over his last seven games, while Alcides Escobar has hit .161 in his past 14.


"We just have to bounce back," second baseman Ben Zobrist told MLB's official website.


Cain, batting .350 over his last 16 games, is the last hitter the Orioles want to see. The All-Star went 8 for 12 over the first three of a four-game sweep en route to MVP honors in last year's ALCS.


He then went 6 for 13 to help Kansas City take three of four from Baltimore (67-72) in late August.


The Royals have averaged 5.2 runs in winning nine of 10 matchups, including last postseason. Alex Rios went 6 for 11 against Baltimore last month, while Mike Moustakas was 8 for 14 with two homers.


The Orioles' rotation had a 6.77 ERA during a 3-15 stretch before allowing a total of four runs in back-to-back wins at Yankee Stadium.


Though it will have to pass several other teams, Baltimore isn't conceding its chances after moving within six games of the second wild-card spot on Thursday's day off when Texas lost.


'We're going to try and win out," manager Buck Showalter said. "Crazier things have happened.'


Rookie right-hander Mike Wright (2-4, 5.19 ERA) will be making his first start against the Royals and his second after missing more than a month due to a strained calf.


On just three days' rest after pitching for Triple-A Norfolk, Wright surrendered three runs and seven hits over four innings in Saturday's 5-1 loss at Toronto. He's posted a 10.67 ERA over his last four starts.


Kansas City's Danny Duffy has gone 5-3 with a 3.28 ERA over his last 12 starts. The left-hander appears to be in a battle with Kris Medlen for the fourth and final spot in the playoff rotation.


After Medlen allowed two runs over six innings Wednesday, Duffy (7-7, 4.17) will try to build on his longest outing in six starts. He gave up four runs and tied a season high with seven strikeouts over seven in Saturday's 6-1 home loss to the Chicago White Sox.


Duffy has pitched well against Baltimore, going 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA in three starts. In his only matchup this season, he yielded two runs over 5 2-3 innings in a 3-2 win.


Adam Jones is 1 for 9 off him, while Chris Davis and Manny Machado are both 0 for 6. Jones, hitting .146 in his last 13 games, is expected back after missing the last two with a sore shoulder.


Davis is 11 for 23 with five home runs and 10 RBIs over a seven-game hitting streak, but he's batting .111 with 18 strikeouts in his last 11 against Kansas City.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Royals at Orioles
Fri, Sep 11 - 7:05PM EDT


GAME 2
Royals at Orioles
Sat, Sep 12 - 1:05PM EDT


GAME 3
Royals at Orioles
Sun, Sep 13 - 8:05PM EDT

Preview: Blue Jays (79-60) at Yankees (77-61)
Game: 2
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: September 11, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

Luis Severino was a name swirling around the New York Yankees' rumored deals to land David Price at the trade deadline. The prized prospect, however, stayed put while the much sought after Price went to the division rival Toronto Blue Jays.


Severino and Price will pitch opposite one another Friday night as the Yankees and Blue Jays play the first of four games in three days in the Bronx following Thursday's postponement.


The Blue Jays (79-60) lost two of three in Boston this week but retained their 1 1/2-game AL East lead over the Yankees (77-61), who dropped the final two games against Baltimore.


Seven games remain between the teams - the other three in Toronto from Sept. 21-23 - each carrying increased importance. They'll play a doubleheader Saturday to make up the rainout.


"I think you'd have to have your head in the sand to think that they're not important games," Yankees manager Joe Girardi told MLB's official website. "Obviously it's the team that we're fighting for first place, and the importance of winning the division the way that the playoffs are set up, the games are extremely important."


The Yankees took two of three in Toronto from Aug. 14-16, but the Blue Jays won seven of the first nine games in the season series. Toronto has taken five of six in New York this season.


"I expect it to be very intense. A crazy place like New York normally always is," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "I'm excited about it. I know our guys are excited about it. We haven't been in one of these things in, well - nobody out here has experienced it with this team. So we're looking forward to it."


Toronto's two most recent losses were lopsided, an 11-4 defeat in Monday's opener against the Red Sox and a 10-4 loss in Wednesday's finale.


Price (14-5, 2.43 ERA) will try to steady the division leaders versus a team he has pitched well against in a Toronto uniform. In two starts against the Yankees since getting traded from Detroit on July 30, Price is 1-0 with a 1.88 ERA.


That is a stark contrast from his last two starts against the Yankees with Detroit. In his final start against them in 2014 and his first in 2015 combined, Price allowed 22 hits and 16 runs in 4 1-3 innings for a massive ERA of 33.23.


Chase Headley (.500), Brian McCann (.435 with three homers) and Jacoby Ellsbury (.333) have each hit Price hard in their careers.


The left-hander, though, hasn't allowed more than three runs in any of his seven starts since joining the Blue Jays, going 5-1 with a 2.15 ERA.


The Yankees had to wait a bit longer before seeing a return from Severino, but their patience has paid off.


Severino (3-2, 2.04) has five quality starts in six outings since his promotion from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre on Aug. 5, and is 3-0 with a 0.98 ERA in his past three.


The 21-year-old right-hander last lost at Toronto on Aug. 16, yielding three runs - two on Jose Bautista's homer - and five hits over six innings in a 3-1 defeat. He walked three and struck out a career-high nine.


Severino can struggle with his command at times, walking 13 over 24 1-3 innings in his last four outings.


Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner missed the entire series against the Orioles due to a jammed left shoulder, but grounded out as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning Wednesday.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Blue Jays at Yankees
Thu, Sep 10 - RAIN OUT PPD
Recaps


GAME 2
Blue Jays at Yankees
Fri, Sep 11 - 7:05PM EDT


GAME 3
Blue Jays at Yankees
Sat, Sep 12 - 1:05PM EDT


GAME 4
Blue Jays at Yankees
Sun, Sep 13 - 1:05PM EDT

Preview: Tigers (64-76) at Indians (69-70)
Game: 2
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: September 11, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

Justin Verlander didn't pitch poorly against the Cleveland Indians last week. Cody Anderson just happened to be better.


Looking to beat Verlander and the visiting Detroit Tigers for the second time in as many starts, the rookie right-hander can also help the Indians reach .500 for the first time since the fourth game of the season Friday night.


Verlander (3-7, 3.43 ERA) looked strong Sunday until he gave up three runs in the sixth inning of a 4-0 loss to Cleveland (69-70). Anderson (3-3, 3.72) yielded two hits in seven innings to improve to 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA in his last three starts.


'He's out there battling Verlander in a game where neither team could get anything going, and he made outstanding pitches every time he needed one," manager Terry Francona said.


"He didn't ever let something bother him to the point where it was going to affect the game. That's been a trademark of him early on. Even with his youth, man, everybody here knows that he's a tough kid."


After the Indians beat Detroit 7-5 on Thursday for their 11th victory in 15 games, Anderson has the chance to get them back to .500 for the first time since they were 2-2 on April 10.


Though Minnesota and Los Angeles stand in its way, Cleveland is four games behind Texas for the second wild-card spot.


"We're playing good baseball, team baseball, right now," outfielder Michael Brantley told MLB's official website. "So, we've got to keep it up."


Brantley had a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth after hitting a solo shot an inning earlier in the series opener.


'It feels great, but it's a team win,' said Brantley, who is second in the AL with a .319 average. 'The team gives you those opportunities to get back up to the plate."


He is batting .339 with those two home runs and nine RBIs in 14 games against the Tigers (64-76) this season.


"I'm glad he's on our side," Francona said. "He's really something to watch."


Brantley is 3 for his last 21 when facing Verlander, who is 0-3 with a 5.06 ERA in his past six starts against the Indians.


The right-hander has a 1.27 ERA in his last six overall but is 2-3.


"I'm sure it's frustrating for him, he'd like to get some wins," manager Brad Ausmus said of Verlander, who has received an average of 2.89 runs of support this season.


Three of Carlos Santana's five hits in his last 18 at-bats against Verlander have left the park. Yan Gomes is batting .353 with two doubles against him since the start of last season.


Victor Martinez doubled in three at-bats against Anderson last weekend, and he returned to Detroit's lineup Thursday after missing three games with a sinus infection.


He's batting .151 with no home runs in his last 20 games on the road for a Tigers team that's dropped 15 of 20 and sits last in the AL Central.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Tigers at Indians
Thu, Sep 10 Final 5 to 7
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Tigers at Indians
Fri, Sep 11 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Tigers at Indians
Sat, Sep 12 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 4
Tigers at Indians
Sun, Sep 13 - 1:10PM EDT

Preview: Nationals (71-68) at Marlins (59-81)
Game: 1
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: September 11, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

It took one series for the Washington Nationals to go from contender to practically out of the NL East race, and the blame falls greatly on the bullpen.


The Nationals attempt to begin climbing back into contention Friday night in the opener of a three-game set with the Miami Marlins.


Washington (71-68) blew a chance to close the gap on division-leading New York this week in the nation's capital, getting swept in a crucial three-game series after falling 5-3 in Wednesday's finale. The Nationals were off Thursday while the Mets won again to build their lead to 7 1/2 games.


"We're obviously not where we want to be," starter Stephen Strasburg said. "We've just got to keep fighting. That's all we can do."


The bullpen getting back on track would help. The relievers took two of the three losses in the Mets series as they were tagged for 12 runs in eight innings, allowing 11 hits and walking eight.


Closer Jonathan Papelbon and setup man Drew Storen each appeared twice and gave up a run both times.


"Our bullpen is one of our strengths generally, and it hasn't been (recently)," manager Matt Williams said. "It's tough. I feel for those guys getting out there and giving up runs because they're not intending to, that's for sure."


Williams will certainly call upon his relievers again with Gio Gonzalez (10-7, 3.96 ERA) taking the ball. The left-hander's 147 2-3 innings are the fewest by any member of Washington's rotation with at least 20 starts, and he's failed to reach the seventh inning in five straight.


Gonzalez, though, has completed six innings in his last two. He halted a four-start winless streak Saturday, allowing two hits and no runs while striking out a season-high 10 in Saturday's 8-2 victory over Atlanta.


"He's got that in him every time he goes out there," slugger Bryce Harper said.


Gonzalez surrendered six runs and 10 hits in five-plus innings of a 6-2 loss at Miami on April 26 in his only game against the Marlins this year. He had a 1.13 ERA while winning his five prior matchups.


Harper had a pair of solo homers among his three hits Wednesday, and half of his 10 hits over the past six games have left the park. He leads the NL with a .336 batting average and ranks third with 36 home runs.


"The kid's showtime," shortstop Ian Desmond told MLB's official website. "He rises to the occasion. It's fun to kind of watch his maturity over the last few years. He's turned into quite the beast."


The Marlins (59-81) are on the cusp of clinching a franchise-record sixth straight losing season. However, they beat Milwaukee 5-2 on Wednesday to win for the seventh time in nine games after dropping eight of the previous 10, including two of three at Washington from Aug. 28-30.


Jarred Cosart (1-4, 5.04) is getting his second start since July 4. He allowed one run in 4 2-3 innings but was lifted after 88 pitches in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Mets, two days after being recalled from the minors.


The right-hander's pitch count is expected to be closer to 100, according to MLB's website.


He's 0-2 with a 3.63 ERA in three starts against Washington - all last season.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Nationals at Marlins
Fri, Sep 11 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 2
Nationals at Marlins
Sat, Sep 12 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Nationals at Marlins
Sun, Sep 13 - 1:10PM EDT

Preview: Cardinals (88-52) at Reds (58-81)
Game: 2
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: September 11, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

The St. Louis Cardinals won't read too much into their rough start to September.


Instead, they'll try to rebound from their most lopsided defeat of the season Friday night against the host Cincinnati Reds.


After opening the month with a come-from-behind 8-5 victory over Washington for its fourth consecutive win, St. Louis has been outscored 52-20 and shut out twice while losing six of eight. The Cardinals (88-52) still have the best record in baseball and a 4 1/2-game lead over Pittsburgh in the NL Central.


"I think as much adversity as we can face, it's going to be beneficial to us down the stretch," closer Trevor Rosenthal told MLB's official website.


The Cardinals were held to five hits for a second straight game Thursday and lost 11-0 in the series opener at Cincinnati (58-81). That matched the most runs they've allowed all year.


"During the course of a season, you're bound to have some ups and some downs, and it's good to get them out of your system at this point, I think, and not in the playoffs," said rookie outfielder Stephen Piscotty, who is 4 for 11 in the last three contests.


St. Louis starters have a 12.06 ERA in four games since John Lackey (11-9, 2.90 ERA) gave up three runs and 10 hits in 7 1-3 innings of Sunday's 7-1 loss to the Pirates.


The right-hander, however, is 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA in three starts at Cincinnati - all Cardinals losses - since joining St. Louis at the 2014 trade deadline. The loss came Aug. 4 when Lackey yielded three runs in six innings of a 3-2 defeat.


Joey Votto is 3 for 8 with two home runs against Lackey.


One night after Votto unleashed a tirade toward home-plate umpire Bill Welke in Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Pirates, the Reds star had not heard from Major League Baseball about the incident but went 2 for 4 with an RBI.


"I'm not going to talk about the exchange (Wednesday) night," said Votto, batting .442 in his last 13 games.


Michael Lorenzen (4-8, 5.54) had gone 0-6 with an 8.62 ERA in his previous nine starts before winning Sunday, when he matched a season high by allowing eight hits but yielded two runs in 5 1-3 innings of a 6-3 victory over Milwaukee. It was the rookie right-hander's second start since he returned from a brief stint at Triple-A Louisville to work on his mechanics.


"Getting ahead and throwing strikes is what I was working on," he said after his first victory since June 21. "I had to stop worrying about what the batter was going to do with the pitch."


Lorenzen has walked only two batters since being recalled but still has a dreadful ratio of 4.92 walks per nine innings. He walked four and allowed three runs against St. Louis in a 3-0 loss Aug. 6.


Kolten Wong delivered a two-run single off Lorenzen in that contest, but the second baseman could be out of the starting lineup for a fifth consecutive game due to a calf issue.


It's also uncertain if teammate Randal Grichuk will be in the lineup after a nagging elbow injury limited him to a pinch-hitting role Thursday.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Cardinals at Reds
Thu, Sep 10 Final 0 to 11
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Cardinals at Reds
Fri, Sep 11 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Cardinals at Reds
Sat, Sep 12 - 1:05PM EDT


GAME 4
Cardinals at Reds
Sun, Sep 13 - 1:10PM EDT

Preview: Red Sox (66-73) at Rays (68-71)
Game: 1
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: September 11, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

Barring an abrupt end to his power surge, David Ortiz probably won't hit his 500th home run in front of Boston Red Sox fans.


That milestone moment will instead more likely occur during a nine-game trip that begins Friday night against the Tampa Bay Rays and right-hander Chris Archer, who has proved inconsistent of late.


Ortiz is two homers shy of becoming the 27th player with 500 after hitting his sixth in 12 games Wednesday in a 10-4 victory over Toronto. The Red Sox (66-73) won't return to Fenway Park until Sept. 21 when they open a four-game series against Tampa Bay.


"I know David has a real special bond with the city," interim manager Torey Lovullo said. "I know it would mean a lot to him to have it done here, but he's just so professional and so locked in it might just happen on the road.


"It's going to be a great accomplishment wherever it happens. We're all behind him. We're all excited by what he's done."


Ortiz has 49 homers in 233 games against Tampa Bay (68-71) including playoffs and has hit more against just two opponents, Toronto (59) and the New York Yankees (52). The designated hitter has gone deep twice in 12 games versus the Rays this season while batting .190.


Whether he hits another home run Friday could depend on whether Archer regains his dominant ways - which recent outings suggest he's on schedule to do.


Archer (12-11, 2.88 ERA) has alternated losses and wins in his last five starts, totaling 15 scoreless innings in the two victories and posting a 7.64 ERA in the three defeats. He gave up five runs in 6 1-3 innings of a 6-4 road loss to the Yankees on Sunday.


"I'm looking forward to getting back on the mound as soon as possible," he said.


Archer has lost his last four starts against Boston - all at home - with a 6.24 ERA and dropped six consecutive decisions in the series overall. Ortiz hit one of the Red Sox's three home runs against him in a 5-3 victory June 28.


Archer gave up five runs in six innings in that game but allowed one unearned run in 5 2-3 innings in his first meeting this season, a 1-0 defeat April 21.


Wade Miley (11-10, 4.43) outpitched him in that matchup with 5 2-3 innings of three-hit ball. The left-hander walked none and struck out eight Saturday in his first complete game, a 9-2 win over Philadelphia.


He had allowed nine runs and 22 hits in 12 2-3 innings over his previous two starts.


Miley is 3-1 with a 1.41 ERA in five starts against the Rays and 2-1 with a 0.98 mark in three in Tampa.


He'll face a team that's dropped four of six at home and earned just its second win in seven games overall Wednesday, 8-0 in Detroit.


The Rays and Red Sox have split 12 games this season and the six in Tampa.


Ortiz is 1 for 5 against Archer this season and 7 for 20 with two home runs lifetime. Xander Bogaerts, batting .365 in his last 13 games, has hit .379 in his past seven against Tampa Bay.


Evan Longoria, batting .386 in an 11-game hit streak against the Red Sox, is at .361 with five homers in his last 10 overall contests. He's 1 for 8 with four strikeouts against Miley this season, however.


Asdrubal Cabrera is 3 for 6 off Miley and has posted a .480 average in his last six matchups with Boston. He's 9 for his last 24 overall.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Red Sox at Rays
Fri, Sep 11 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 2
Red Sox at Rays
Sat, Sep 12 - 6:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Red Sox at Rays
Sun, Sep 13 - 1:10PM EDT

Preview: Athletics (60-80) at Rangers (73-66)
Game: 1
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: September 11, 2015 8:05 PM EDT

The Texas Rangers' offense falling flat during the stretch run of a playoff race is almost as discouraging as Colby Lewis' recent performances on the mound.


What's encouraging for the Rangers is that they've scored plenty at home lately, and Lewis has been solid against the Oakland Athletics this season.


Texas looks to avoid being shut out in three straight games for the first time in 46 years while ending a five-game skid to AL-worst Oakland on Friday night.


The Rangers (73-66) had their lead for the second wild card trimmed to one game over Minnesota with Thursday's 5-0 loss to Seattle, which also dropped them 2 1/2 back of Houston in the West.


That ended a 5-5 road trip during which they were blanked four times. Texas mustered one hit in Wednesday's 6-0 loss and is on the verge of suffering three straight shutouts for the first time since April 1969, when the franchise was known as the Washington Senators in Ted Williams' first season as manager.


'At this point of the year you don't feel good about any loss,' manager Jeff Banister said. 'We get the opportunity to go home, sleep in our own beds and get up in the morning and play in our house. We've got to find a way to get this offense going in the right direction."


The Rangers have won 16 of 20 in Arlington and have outscored opponents 18-5 during a four-game winning streak there. They've been outscored 34-15 while losing the last five meetings with the A's (60-80), though, and they've also dropped four straight matchups at home.


Lewis (14-8, 4.68 ERA), who pitched as a reliever for Oakland in 2007, is 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA in three starts against his former club this season while holding Brett Lawrie and Billy Butler to a combined 0 for 11 with seven strikeouts.


Texas was shut out twice with Lewis on the hill during its road swing, although he didn't do much to help himself out, either. The right-hander has lost three straight starts with an 8.62 ERA and a .343 opponent batting average.


He's struck out eight and walked nine in 15 2-3 innings in that stretch.


"I'm not gonna steer away from my strengths, what I do best," Lewis said after allowing seven runs in Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Angels. "I'm gonna continue to run myself out there and do what I do."


Jesse Chavez's slump has lasted more than three months. Chavez (7-14, 4.17) posted a 2.11 ERA in eight starts and four relief appearances through May, but he's gone 5-9 with a 5.52 ERA in his last 17 outings.


The right-hander lasted two-plus innings of Saturday's 8-3 loss to Seattle in the shortest start of his career.


'What's going on is inconsistency,' Chavez said. 'One inning it will be good, one inning it will be bad. I have to get back to basics and let my stuff work.'


Chavez allowed four of his five runs in the fifth before being removed in an 8-6 win against the Rangers on June 23. Rougned Odor homered off Chavez and improved to 3 for 3 in their matchups.


Butler homered and had two RBIs while Josh Reddick added a two-run shot in Oakland's 11-5 loss to Houston on Wednesday, its sixth defeat in eight games.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Athletics at Rangers
Fri, Sep 11 - 8:05PM EDT


GAME 2
Athletics at Rangers
Sat, Sep 12 - 8:05PM EDT


GAME 3
Athletics at Rangers
Sun, Sep 13 - 3:05PM EDT

Preview: Cubs (80-58) at Phillies (54-86)
Game: 2
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: September 11, 2015 5:05 PM EDT

Not surprisingly, Jake Arrieta is set up to start the NL wild-card game the Chicago Cubs appear to be headed toward.


In the meantime, the right-hander will try to become the first Cub in 43 years to win an eighth consecutive start in Friday night's doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.


For the first time publicly, manager Joe Maddon said this week that Arrieta (18-6, 2.03 ERA) is in line to take the ball in a potential wild-card matchup next month instead of seasoned playoff veteran Jon Lester. While Chicago (80-58) is seven games behind St. Louis for the NL Central lead, it has a firm grasp on the second wild-card spot and is 2 1/2 games behind Pittsburgh for the top position.


"He's the best pitcher on this team right now; he's probably the best pitcher in the league right now," Lester told MLB's official website.


The Cubs have won eight straight starts by Arrieta, the major league leader in victories. He's won the last seven while yielding two earned runs in 50 1-3 innings, holding opposing batters to a .133 average with 50 strikeouts and 10 walks.


Arrieta was scheduled to start Thursday's series opener before it was postponed due to rain. Now he'll get the ball in Game 1 on Friday with a chance to become the first Cub to win eight consecutive starts since Milt Pappas' 11-game run in 1972.


Arrieta followed up his no-hitter at Dodger Stadium by yielding four hits, fanning seven and not walking a batter in eight innings of Saturday's 2-0 victory over Arizona. Building his case for the NL Cy Young Award, he's gone 29 innings without allowing an earned run.


"It's hard for me to fathom that somebody is better than Jake Arrieta," catcher David Ross said. "I know numbers are numbers, and there are some guys in L.A. that are doing a really good job, but I'll take that guy on the mound any day of the week."


The only team to beat him over the past 2 1/2 months is the one he'll face Friday. All three runs Arrieta allowed in six innings came on a homer by Ryan Howard in a 5-0 defeat to Philadelphia on July 25 - the day Cole Hamels no-hit the Cubs.


Since being swept by the Phillies in that three-game set, Chicago is 29-12. However, the Cubs had a five-game winning streak snapped Wednesday when they blew a late two-run lead in a 4-3 loss at St. Louis.


Kyle Hendricks (6-6, 4.08) seeks his first win in six starts in the nightcap when he faces Philadelphia for the first time. The right-hander has a 5.48 ERA over his last nine, though he allowed just one run and three hits over five innings in Monday's 6-4 home win over Arizona.


While the Cubs are thinking about the playoffs, the MLB-worst Phillies (54-86) will miss the postseason for the fourth straight year and have decided to make a change in management.


President-in-waiting Andy MacPhail announced that general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. was fired Thursday, naming assistant GM Scott Proefrock as his replacement on an interim basis.


"We needed a fresh perspective, a fresh approach," MacPhail said.


The Phillies have lost 12 of 16 after Wednesday's 8-1 defeat to Atlanta, and Howard enters in an 0-for-27 drought.


Adam Morgan (5-5, 4.42) starts the opener looking to bounce back after allowing six runs in 6 1-3 innings of a 7-5 loss at Boston on Friday.


"It's all about having a short memory," the rookie left-hander said.


Morgan could face Starlin Castro, who no longer is an everyday player but is 7 for 12 in his last four contests - including 4 for 5 off southpaws. He's hit .355 in 16 career games at Philadelphia.


Rookie right-hander Alec Asher (0-2, 10.61), acquired from Texas in the Cole Hamels trade, seeks better results in Game 2 after giving up seven runs over 3 1-3 innings in Saturday's 9-2 loss at Boston.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Cubs at Phillies
Thu, Sep 10 -PPD DOUBLE HEADER 9/11
Recaps


GAME 2
Cubs at Phillies
Fri, Sep 11 - 8:35PM EDT


GAME 3
Cubs at Phillies
Sat, Sep 12 - 7:05PM EDT


GAME 4
Cubs at Phillies
Sun, Sep 13 - 1:35PM EDT

Preview: Twins (72-67) at White Sox (66-72)
Game: 1
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: September 11, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

Miguel Sano may have earned his way back into the Minnesota Twins' lineup with one big swing in his last at-bat.


The Twins have a .500 record on this nine-game road trip and will look to take advantage of a Chicago White Sox team they've fared well against when they start a three-game series Friday night.


Sano has been bothered by a hamstring injury and was not in the starting lineup in the last two games, with a 1-for-15 slump on the trip also playing a role. Manager Paul Molitor called upon him in the 12th inning against Kansas City on Wednesday and the rookie delivered a pinch-hit home run for a 3-2 victory.


The Twins (72-67) improved to 3-3 on the trip as they try to catch Texas for the second wild card. They took a two-run lead in the sixth inning before letting it slip away to set up Sano's homer against baseball's best bullpen.


"It's a good win and you gotta kind of savor those," Molitor said. "You come back and find a way to win that game after you let them tie the game."


The manager did not indicate whether Sano will be back in his lineup. It's a good bet that first baseman Trevor Plouffe will start after being out of the lineup Wednesday, although the Twins' RBI leader is mired in a 4-for-20 slide with no RBIs in his last seven games.


Less certain is whether catcher Kurt Suzuki will be available after leaving with a bruised left knee due to a collision at the plate.


'The doctor's report is fairly optimistic,' Molitor said. "We're hoping the initial diagnosis is accurate and there's no ligament damage in there."


Minnesota is 11-5 against Chicago (66-72), splitting six games at U.S. Cellular Field.


The Twins' Ervin Santana (4-4, 4.93 ERA) has allowed one run with 21 strikeouts in 15 innings over two consecutive victories. The right-hander made his season debut in July after serving an 80-game suspension for a positive steroid test.


"Missing the first half of the season we're hoping for a fresh arm here on out and the last two starts have been really solid," Molitor said.


Santana is 5-6 with a 4.03 ERA in 16 regular-season starts against the White Sox. Gordon Beckham has faced him the most among Chicago hitters with a .192 average in 29 plate appearances.


Beckham did not start any of the games this week as Chicago opted for younger players in the infield while losing two of three at home to Cleveland. Neither did Adam LaRoche, who has patellar tendinitis in his right knee.


A pair of youngsters, Tyler Saladino and Trayce Thompson, went deep in Wednesday's 6-4 defeat. Jose Abreu also homered for the second straight night.


The White Sox will give Erik Johnson (1-0, 4.50) his second start after he surrendered three runs in six innings to earn Sunday's 7-5 win over the Royals.


"Since he's been back, even from spring training, we're seeing a confident guy," manager Robin Ventura said.


The right-hander's first career victory came when he threw six scoreless innings in a 12-1 rout of Minnesota on Sept. 16, 2013.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Twins at White Sox
Fri, Sep 11 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 2
Twins at White Sox
Sat, Sep 12 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Twins at White Sox
Sun, Sep 13 - 2:10PM EDT

Preview: Dodgers (80-59) at Diamondbacks (67-73)
Game: 1
Venue: Chase Field
Date: September 11, 2015 9:40 PM EDT

The Los Angeles Dodgers have underwhelmed on the road for most of the season, but their improvement of late could bode well for the playoffs.


They'll look to continue that recent success Friday night when they open a three-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.


Having all but wrapped up a third consecutive NL West title with an 8 1/2-game edge over San Francisco, a World Series run could feasibly see the Dodgers concede home field in every round. They're essentially competing with the New York Mets for that advantage in the Division Series, and St. Louis is eight games ahead for the league's best record. The AL also owns home field in the World Series after winning the All-Star Game.


Los Angeles (80-59) is 33-38 on the road, the second-worst record among all division leaders. But the Dodgers are 8-2 away from home during a 13-3 stretch overall.


"Earlier in the year, we didn't play well on the road, so it's nice to win some series," said Justin Turner, who is second on the club with 52 RBIs.


The Dodgers have owned this series of late, winning 31 of 41 and nine of 10. Yasmani Grandal is batting .400 with five homers and eight RBIs in his 10 matchups this year. He has missed the last four games due to shoulder inflammation, but is expected to be day to day for the rest of the year.


Alex Wood (10-9, 3.51 ERA) comes off his best outing since joining Los Angeles, limiting San Diego to three hits over seven innings of a 2-0 road victory Saturday. That marked the first time he made it through the seventh with the Dodgers.


"As a starter, that's what you pride yourself on - going deep into ballgames, giving guys the best chance to win," Wood told MLB's official website. "(I was) able to show them that's who I could be tonight."


He gave up at least three runs in each of his first four games with his new club but owns a 1.45 ERA in the last three. Opponents are hitting .247 off Wood since the trade compared to .288 with Atlanta.


Wood shut down the Diamondbacks while with the Braves on June 1, yielding one run over eight innings in an 8-1 win.


The Diamondbacks (67-73) have dropped 12 of 17, though they helped the Dodgers by taking two of three from San Francisco this week.


Paul Goldschmidt has been stuck in a slump that might end up costing him a batting title. He's hitting .174 with 16 strikeouts in his last 12 games, dropping his average from .331 - third-highest in baseball - to .317. He's 3 for 6 with a homer against Wood.


Robbie Ray (3-11, 3.72) strung together two consecutive solid road starts, allowing a combined three runs over 10 2-3 innings against Colorado and the Chicago Cubs. He's still seeking his first win since July 7, however, having gone 0-7 with a 5.23 ERA in his last 10 turns. He has 57 strikeouts over 51 2-3 innings during that winless slump, but has also walked 26.


Ray is also still looking for his first home victory, going 0-5 with a 5.60 ERA in seven games at Chase Field compared to a 2.71 mark on the road. He surrendered a season-high six runs over just three innings in his last home outing, a 9-1 loss to St. Louis on Aug. 25.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Dodgers at Diamondbacks
Fri, Sep 11 - 9:40PM EDT


GAME 2
Dodgers at Diamondbacks
Sat, Sep 12 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Dodgers at Diamondbacks
Sun, Sep 13 - 4:10PM EDT

Preview: Astros (76-64) at Angels (70-69)
Game: 1
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Date: September 11, 2015 10:05 PM EDT

Although Albert Pujols' sore right foot has reduced him to a designated hitter down the stretch for the Los Angeles Angels, the veteran first baseman hasn't missed a game in three weeks.


Even with the Angels' tumultuous season teetering on the brink of collapse, Pujols is determined to keep fighting.


"It's bothering me," said Pujols, who has 12 RBIs in his last 15 games. "But you're going to have to chop my leg off for me not to play."


With 12 losses in their last 19 games and a 16-29 skid since they led the AL West in late July, the Angels (70-69) begin the weekend in third place in their division. They've got only faint hopes of catching the upstart Houston Astros, who open a three-game series at the Big A on Friday night.


The Angels' late rally for a 3-2 win over the Dodgers on Wednesday allowed them to trim Texas' lead for the second AL wild-card spot to three games, but Minnesota is between them in the standings.


Unless the Angels surge in the waning weeks of September, Pujols and Mike Trout will finish their fourth consecutive season together without a single playoff victory. Owner Arte Moreno's big-budget club has only made the postseason once since 2009, getting swept in the division series by Kansas City last fall.


"For us, I keep saying there's no tomorrow," Pujols said. "That's how we need to look at it this whole month, (but) I think we have the team to do it."


Houston (76-64) hasn't exactly been running away with the division, going 3-5 this month. The Astros lost two of three in Oakland this week to begin a 10-game road trip which concludes with another important series against Texas.


"We have a complete understanding of how critical these games are, really for the next three weeks," manager A.J. Hinch told MLB's official website. "... The reality is this time of year, the most important game of the year is the one you're playing. We relish the opportunity to be in the middle of this, and when you set out to start the year, you certainly want to play this pressurized baseball in September."


The up-and-down Angels have 23 games left, and 14 are against Houston, Minnesota or Texas. On Friday, Dallas Keuchel (17-6, 2.29 ERA) will be the third Cy Young Award candidate they've faced in four games.


That's more bad news for a team with season-long offensive woes. After the Angels led the majors with 773 runs last season, they're tied for 24th this year with 560. Their recent lineups regularly include three starters batting below .200.


Trout, the reigning AL MVP, is batting .225 with just two homers and 41 strikeouts since August began. Starting infielders David Freese and Johnny Giavotella have missed extensive playing time recently with injuries.


"Going down the stretch, we're going to get everybody's best, so you've got to be ready," right fielder Kole Calhoun said. "Hopefully, we'll get on a little streak and make it exciting."


It will be tough to get one going against Keuchel. He's gone at least seven innings in six straight starts, yielding no more than three runs in any of them, and has won the last three to get within one victory of Jake Arrieta for the major league lead.


Keuchel, though, served up three homers in an 8-5 victory over Minnesota on Sunday. He had allowed three in his previous 12 starts.


Trout, Pujols and Freese have all homered off Keuchel, and Freese is 8 for 16 against him. However, the left-hander is 4-0 with a 3.24 ERA in his last five starts against the Angels, winning both this season.


Likewise, the Astros have struggled to solve Jered Weaver (6-10, 4.78). He has a 1.46 ERA in his last five against them, most recently firing a six-hitter in a 2-0 win May 8. Jose Altuve is 4 for 7 against him this year, but the rest of Houston's current batters are 8 for 50 (.160).


Weaver is coming off an encouraging performance, throwing six innings of one-run ball against Texas. He had been ripped for 14 runs in his previous two outings.


Houston leads the season series 8-5. Carlos Correa has hit .391 with two homers and six RBIs in the last five meetings, but the AL Rookie of the Year favorite is hitless in his last 11 at-bats.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Astros at Angels
Fri, Sep 11 - 10:05PM EDT


GAME 2
Astros at Angels
Sat, Sep 12 - 9:05PM EDT


GAME 3
Astros at Angels
Sun, Sep 13 - 3:35PM EDT

Preview: Rockies (58-82) at Mariners (68-73)
Game: 1
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: September 11, 2015 10:10 PM EDT

Safeco Field has been known as a pitcher-friendly ballpark, ranking near the bottom of the majors in home runs surrendered since it was built.


That certainly won't stop the Seattle Mariners and Colorado Rockies from swinging for the fences the next three days.


Hisashi Iwakuma's change in approach over the last two months has helped keep opposing batters from going deep, but the Mariners left-hander will be facing the NL's top two home run hitters in Friday night's series opener.


Seattle (170) and Colorado (NL-high 167) rank among the major league leaders in home runs, though the Mariners have hit just 74 of theirs at home. The Rockies have connected 77 times away from Denver's thin air.


Nelson Cruz has hit 14 of his 40 homers in Seattle after connecting for a two-run shot in Thursday's 5-0 win over Texas. That tied his career high, set last season with Baltimore, in his return from a strained quad that caused him to miss six games.


The Mariners (68-73), who have won seven of nine, plan to use Cruz as the designated hitter as he works his way to 100 percent.


"Numbers are numbers. I like to just focus on games," said Cruz, who joined Alex Rodriguez, Jay Buhner and Ken Griffey Jr. as the only Mariners to hit 40 homers in a season. "What I like to do is help my team win games. The (homers) are going to come. At end of the season, you have time to realize what you did."


Nolan Arenado and Carlos Gonzalez have hit their share of long balls, too. Arenado hit his NL-leading 38th and Gonzalez broke a tie with Bryce Harper for second with his 37th in the Rockies' 4-3 win over San Diego on Thursday. Arenado has gone deep eight times in 11 games this month, and Gonzalez has a major league-high 24 homers since the All-Star break.


Corey Dickerson and Daniel Descalso also homered Thursday for Colorado (58-82), which had dropped four of five.


Not only will the Rockies have to battle the deep fences of Safeco, they'll have to contend with Iwakuma (7-3, 4.03 ERA) keeping the ball down in the zone.


Iwakuma allowed nine homers with a ground-ball percentage of 45.9 through his first four starts, but he's surrendered just six over his last 11 with a 54.7 ground-ball percentage that ranks among the best in the majors.


The right-hander has allowed two runs or fewer in four of his last five starts, beginning with his no-hitter against Baltimore on Aug. 12. He's 4-1 in that stretch after pitching 6 1-3 innings of Sunday's 3-2 win over Oakland.


"I have been working on keeping the ball down and I was able to do that," Iwakuma said through an interpreter. "I felt like I was able to command both sides (of the plate)."


Chad Bettis (6-5, 4.95) hasn't been able to match that type of efficiency. He didn't allow a homer in his first six starts, but he's served up 11 in his last 10.


Two have come in his last two outings while allowing four runs in each over 10 1-3 innings. The right-hander also surrendered 19 hits in those games, and his one strikeout in Saturday's loss to San Francisco tied his fewest in 24 career starts.


"I felt like I had pretty decent command of my fastballs all game," Bettis said. "Just the offspeed was kind of lacking."


Besides having to face Cruz, Bettis must deal with Mark Trumbo, who is batting .375 with a 1.078 OPS during a 12-game hitting streak after a two-run homer Thursday.


Kyle Seager hit .511 with five homers during a 12-game run that ended Thursday.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Rockies at Mariners
Fri, Sep 11 - 10:10PM EDT


GAME 2
Rockies at Mariners
Sat, Sep 12 - 9:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Rockies at Mariners
Sun, Sep 13 - 4:10PM EDT

Preview: Padres (67-74) at Giants (72-68)
Game: 1
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: September 11, 2015 10:15 PM EDT

The San Francisco Giants' postseason window may already be shut. At least their minuscule chance to pry it open comes mostly at home.


The Giants close what has been a dismal end of the season with a surplus of games at AT&T Park, beginning with Friday night's series opener against the San Diego Padres.


San Francisco (72-68) suffered through a 3-7 road trip to fall 8 1/2 games back of NL West-leading Los Angeles. Its wild-card chances look just as bleak, trailing Chicago by nine games with 22 to play.


The Giants do have 16 games left at AT&T Park, where they are 38-27 and have won 16 of 21.


Injuries, though, continue to bite into San Francisco's late-season push.


Outfielders Hunter Pence, Nori Aoki and Angel Pagan have spent time on the disabled list in the last month, while pitchers Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum, Jake Peavy and Tim Hudson have been there at some point since early July.


Most recently, Joe Panik came off the DL on Monday only to tweak his lower back in Wednesday's 2-1 loss to Arizona, and Brandon Crawford missed the series finale with a calf injury that could keep him out longer.


Pence has had three stints on the DL, and his absence has been most profound for the Giants, who are 34-18 with and 38-50 without their right fielder. They sat three games back of the Dodgers when Pence went down with a strained oblique Aug. 17, and it is unclear if he will return.


"I think I'm going to play again this season, but I don't know when," Pence told MLB's official website. "I'm progressing. I'm giving it my best. I'm just doing everything I can to get back as soon as I can."


San Francisco could use him. The Giants rank toward the bottom of the majors with 3.41 runs per game during an 8-14 stretch with Pence out of the lineup.


Peavy (5-6, 4.41 ERA) battled his own back injury through the first four months, but he will be on the mound to face his former team.


Peavy looks for his first win against the Padres (67-74), whom he pitched for from 2002-09. The right-hander is 0-1 with a 5.00 ERA in two matchups, including a 6-4 loss April 12 in which he allowed four runs in four innings.


Peavy picked up a win to end San Francisco's seven-game skid Saturday, holding Colorado to three runs in 5 2-3 innings.


While Peavy has fared well at home with a 3-2 record and 3.89 ERA, San Diego starter Andrew Cashner (5-14, 4.11) has been poor on the road.


Cashner is 2-7 with a 4.55 ERA away from Petco Park, going 0-4 with a 5.37 ERA in his last nine. The right-hander lost 6-0 in San Francisco on May 5, allowing six runs - four earned - in six innings.


Cashner is 2-2 with a 4.54 ERA in six starts against the Giants.


Matt Kemp has homered in three of four games for San Diego, which split four against Colorado after Thursday's 4-3 loss. Kemp has reached base in a career-high 30 straight games, a span in which he's hit .331 with 10 home runs and 35 RBIs.


"This guy comes to play every day," manager Pat Murphy told MLB's official website. "Most every win we've had, Matt Kemp has played a role."



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Padres at Giants
Fri, Sep 11 - 10:15PM EDT


GAME 2
Padres at Giants
Sat, Sep 12 - 9:05PM EDT


GAME 3
Padres at Giants
Sun, Sep 13 - 4:05PM EDT

MLB MONEYLINE


MLB > (923) OAKLAND@ (924) TEXAS | 2015-09-11 20:05:00 - 2015-09-11 20:05:00
Play AGAINST OAKLAND using money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season
The record is 7 Wins and 28 Losses for the last two seasons (-21.75 units)


MLB > (921) DETROIT@ (922) CLEVELAND | 2015-09-11 19:10:00 - 2015-09-11 19:10:00
Play AGAINST CLEVELAND using money line against division opponents
The record is 7 Wins and 17 Losses for the this season (-14.65 units)


MLB > (925) MINNESOTA@ (926) CHI WHITE SOX | 2015-09-11 20:10:00 - 2015-09-11 20:10:00
Play ON MINNESOTA using money line when playing against a team with a losing record
The record is 40 Wins and 27 Losses for the this season (+20.55 units)


MLB > (911) LA DODGERS@ (912) ARIZONA | 2015-09-11 21:40:00 - 2015-09-11 21:40:00
Play AGAINST LA DODGERS using money line as a road favorite of -125 to -150
The record is 6 Wins and 15 Losses for the this season (-14.3 units)

MLB > (929) COLORADO@ (930) SEATTLE | 2015-09-11 22:10:00 - 2015-09-11 22:10:00
Play AGAINST COLORADO using money line in an inter-league game
The record is 15 Wins and 42 Losses for the last three seasons (-31.15 units)

MLB > (915) KANSAS CITY@ (916) BALTIMORE | 2015-09-11 19:05:00 - 2015-09-11 19:05:00
Play ON KANSAS CITY using money line when playing with a day off
The record is 28 Wins and 10 Losses for the last two seasons (+17.25 units)

MLB RUNLINE


MLB > (929) COLORADO@ (930) SEATTLE | 2015-09-11 22:10:00 - 2015-09-11 22:10:00
Play AGAINST COLORADO in an inter-league game
The record is 6 Wins and 21 Losses for the last three seasons (-22.5 units)


MLB > (915) KANSAS CITY@ (916) BALTIMORE | 2015-09-11 19:05:00 - 2015-09-11 19:05:00
Play ON KANSAS CITY when playing with a day off
The record is 29 Wins and 9 Losses for the last two seasons (+26.7 units)


MLB > (909) NY METS@ (910) ATLANTA | 2015-09-11 19:35:00 - 2015-09-11 19:35:00
Play AGAINST ATLANTA when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season
The record is 6 Wins and 19 Losses for the this season (-16 units)


MLB > (919) BOSTON@ (920) TAMPA BAY | 2015-09-11 19:10:00 - 2015-09-11 19:10:00
Play ON TAMPA BAY when playing on Friday
The record is 9 Wins and 1 Losses for the this season (+10.55 units)


MLB > (927) HOUSTON@ (928) LA ANGELS | 2015-09-11 22:05:00 - 2015-09-11 22:05:00
Play ON HOUSTON when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 76 Wins and 38 Losses for the last two seasons (+37.05 units)


MLB > (923) OAKLAND@ (924) TEXAS | 2015-09-11 20:05:00 - 2015-09-11 20:05:00
Play AGAINST TEXAS vs. division opponents
The record is 19 Wins and 44 Losses for the last two seasons (-30.55 units)


MLB > (901) MILWAUKEE@ (902) PITTSBURGH | 2015-09-11 19:05:00 - 2015-09-11 19:05:00
Play AGAINST MILWAUKEE vs. right-handed starters
The record is 21 Wins and 30 Losses for the this season (-22.15 units)


MLB > (917) TORONTO@ (918) NY YANKEES | 2015-09-11 19:05:00 - 2015-09-11 19:05:00
Play ON TORONTO when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season
The record is 18 Wins and 7 Losses for the this season (+13.75 units)

MLB TOTALS


MLB > (921) DETROIT@ (922) CLEVELAND | 2015-09-11 19:10:00 - 2015-09-11 19:10:00
Play OVER CLEVELAND on the total against division opponents
The record is 19 Overs and 5 Unders for the this season (+14.2 units)


MLB > (919) BOSTON@ (920) TAMPA BAY | 2015-09-11 19:10:00 - 2015-09-11 19:10:00
Play OVER BOSTON on the total when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season
The record is 21 Overs and 6 Unders for the this season (+15.4 units)


MLB > (923) OAKLAND@ (924) TEXAS | 2015-09-11 20:05:00 - 2015-09-11 20:05:00
Play OVER OAKLAND on the total against division opponents
The record is 38 Overs and 19 Unders for the this season (+18.7 units)


MLB > (907) WASHINGTON@ (908) MIAMI | 2015-09-11 19:10:00 - 2015-09-11 19:10:00
Play OVER WASHINGTON on the total after 3 or more consecutive losses
The record is 12 Overs and 2 Unders for the this season (+9.9 units)


MLB > (913) SAN DIEGO@ (914) SAN FRANCISCO | 2015-09-11 22:15:00 - 2015-09-11 22:15:00
Play OVER SAN DIEGO on the total in games played on a grass field
The record is 81 Overs and 54 Unders for the this season (+25.9 units)


MLB > (915) KANSAS CITY@ (916) BALTIMORE | 2015-09-11 19:05:00 - 2015-09-11 19:05:00
Play UNDER BALTIMORE on the total against left-handed starters
The record is 25 Overs and 53 Unders for the last two seasons (+25.65 units)


MLB > (903) CHICAGO CUBS@ (904) PHILADELPHIA | 2015-09-11 19:05:00 - 2015-09-11 19:05:00
Play OVER PHILADELPHIA on the total against right-handed starters
The record is 62 Overs and 39 Unders for the this season (+21.5 units)

MLB > (929) COLORADO@ (930) SEATTLE | 2015-09-11 22:10:00 - 2015-09-11 22:10:00
Play OVER SEATTLE on the total when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season
The record is 8 Overs and 0 Unders for the this season (+8.45 units)

MLB TOP POWERLINES




MLB > (915) KANSAS CITY @ (916) BALTIMORE | 2015-09-11 19:05:00 - 2015-09-11 19:05:00
Line: KANSAS CITY BTB PowerLine: KANSAS CITY152
Edge On: KANSAS CITY (27)

MLB > (917) TORONTO @ (918) NY YANKEES | 2015-09-11 19:05:00 - 2015-09-11 19:05:00
Line: TORONTO BTB PowerLine: TORONTO147
Edge On: TORONTO (12)


MLB > (905) ST LOUIS @ (906) CINCINNATI | 2015-09-11 19:10:00 - 2015-09-11 19:10:00
Line: ST LOUIS BTB PowerLine: ST LOUIS221
Edge On: ST LOUIS (61)


MLB > (919) BOSTON @ (920) TAMPA BAY | 2015-09-11 19:10:00 - 2015-09-11 19:10:00
Line: BOSTON BTB PowerLine: BOSTON-137
Edge On: BOSTON (13)


MLB > (921) DETROIT @ (922) CLEVELAND | 2015-09-11 19:10:00 - 2015-09-11 19:10:00
Line: CLEVELAND-110 BTB PowerLine: CLEVELAND-136
Edge On: CLEVELAND (26)


MLB > (907) WASHINGTON @ (908) MIAMI | 2015-09-11 19:10:00 - 2015-09-11 19:10:00
Line: WASHINGTON BTB PowerLine: WASHINGTON119
Edge On: WASHINGTON (9)


MLB > (923) OAKLAND @ (924) TEXAS | 2015-09-11 20:05:00 - 2015-09-11 20:05:00
Line: OAKLAND BTB PowerLine: OAKLAND102
Edge On: OAKLAND (32)


MLB > (925) MINNESOTA @ (926) CHI WHITE SOX | 2015-09-11 20:10:00 - 2015-09-11 20:10:00
Line: MINNESOTA BTB PowerLine: MINNESOTA104
Edge On: MINNESOTA (19)


MLB > (927) HOUSTON @ (928) LA ANGELS | 2015-09-11 22:05:00 - 2015-09-11 22:05:00
Line: HOUSTON BTB PowerLine: HOUSTON169
Edge On: HOUSTON (29)


MLB > (929) COLORADO @ (930) SEATTLE | 2015-09-11 22:10:00 - 2015-09-11 22:10:00
Line: COLORADO BTB PowerLine: COLORADO-140
Edge On: COLORADO (10)


MLB > (913) SAN DIEGO @ (914) SAN FRANCISCO | 2015-09-11 22:15:00 - 2015-09-11 22:15:00
Line: SAN DIEGO BTB PowerLine: SAN DIEGO-127
Edge On: SAN DIEGO (13)