Cnotes Sports Page For Wednesday September 16th Best Bets-Trends-News !

LEADING OFF: Playoff races heating, Holliday off DL


September 15, 2015


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


BACK AT IT


The Pirates and Cubs continue a pivotal four-game series a day after a day-night doubleheader in Pittsburgh. The Bucs sit atop the NL wild-card standings. Chicago is within striking distance and St. Louis is narrowly ahead of both in the NL Central standings. Pirates right-hander A.J. Burnett (8-5, 3.14) makes his second start since returning from the DL following a strained right elbow, while Cubs righty Jake Arrieta (19-6, 1.99) hopes to help his late push for Cy Young Award consideration.


NAP IN LEFT


Mike Napoli will play left field again when the Rangers host the Astros in the third game of a pivotal AL West four-game series. Napoli played outfield for the first time as a pro Sunday against Oakland, and again Monday when he dropped a flyball in the Rangers' 5-3 win over Houston. Manager Jeff Banister said he's trying to use a right-handed bat to boost a lineup that has struggled at times against left-handers. Cy Young Award candidate LHP Dallas Keuchel (17-7, 2.22 ERA) is scheduled to start for Houston.


HAPPY HOLLIDAY


Matt Holliday has returned just in time to help the Cardinals make their final push for the NL Central crown. The seven-time All-Star was activated from the DL on Tuesday but was not in St. Louis' lineup after missing more than two months with a right quadriceps strain. LHP Jaime Garcia (8-5, 2.33) goes for St. Louis in the second game of a set with Milwaukee, who sends out RHP Wily Peralta (5-8, 4.14).


BOUNCEBACK WANTED


Rays RHP Chris Archer looks to get back to his winning ways against the Yankees. Archer (12-11, 2.95) dropped to 5-1 vs. the Yankees after losing in his last start against them Sept 6. He took a shutout into the sixth before allowing a three-run homer to Brian McCann and a solo shot to Alex Rodriguez. Rookie RHP Luis Severino (3-3, 3.35) will start for the Yankees.


SEPTEMBER WOES


Indians RHP Danny Salazar (12-8, 3.57) hopes to replicate his strong August results after a disappointing first couple of outings this month. Salazar has allowed nine runs in 10 innings over his last two starts. Cleveland faces Kansas City as a late addition to the AL wild-card race, while the Royals are limping to the finish but still have the AL's best record. Danny Duffy (7-7, 4.14) pitches for Kansas City.

MLB MONEY LINE


MLB > (977) LA ANGELS@ (978) SEATTLE | 2015-09-16 22:10:00 - 2015-09-16 22:10:00
Play AGAINST LA ANGELS using money line as a road underdog of +125 to +150
The record is 5 Wins and 30 Losses for the last three seasons (-23.15 units)


MLB > (973) OAKLAND@ (974) CHI WHITE SOX | 2015-09-16 20:10:00 - 2015-09-16 20:10:00
Play AGAINST OAKLAND using money line in September games
The record is 13 Wins and 26 Losses for the last two seasons (-25.1 units)

MLB > (979) TORONTO@ (980) ATLANTA | 2015-09-16 19:10:00 - 2015-09-16 19:10:00
Play AGAINST ATLANTA using money line in September games
The record is 9 Wins and 29 Losses for the last two seasons (-22.23 units)


MLB > (975) DETROIT@ (976) MINNESOTA | 2015-09-16 20:10:00 - 2015-09-16 20:10:00
Play ON MINNESOTA using money line when playing against a team with a losing record
The record is 25 Wins and 11 Losses for the this season (+15.7 units)


MLB > (969) KANSAS CITY@ (970) CLEVELAND | 2015-09-16 19:10:00 - 2015-09-16 19:10:00
Play ON KANSAS CITY using money line against right-handed starters
The record is 58 Wins and 33 Losses for the this season (+20.65 units)


MLB > (971) HOUSTON@ (972) TEXAS | 2015-09-16 20:05:00 - 2015-09-16 20:05:00
Play ON TEXAS using money line in games played on a grass field
The record is 73 Wins and 63 Losses for the this season (+24.47 units)

MLB RUNLINE


MLB > (977) LA ANGELS@ (978) SEATTLE | 2015-09-16 22:10:00 - 2015-09-16 22:10:00
Play AGAINST LA ANGELS as a road underdog when the run line price is -130 to -105
The record is 5 Wins and 15 Losses for the last two seasons (-19.15 units)

MLB > (963) CINCINNATI@ (964) SAN FRANCISCO | 2015-09-16 22:15:00 - 2015-09-16 22:15:00
Play ON SAN FRANCISCO when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season
The record is 23 Wins and 9 Losses for the last two seasons (+18.95 units)


MLB > (969) KANSAS CITY@ (970) CLEVELAND | 2015-09-16 19:10:00 - 2015-09-16 19:10:00
Play ON KANSAS CITY when playing with a day off
The record is 29 Wins and 10 Losses for the last two seasons (+25.7 units)


MLB > (965) BOSTON@ (966) BALTIMORE | 2015-09-16 19:05:00 - 2015-09-16 19:05:00
Play AGAINST BOSTON when playing with a day off
The record is 3 Wins and 15 Losses for the this season (-15.15 units)


MLB > (979) TORONTO@ (980) ATLANTA | 2015-09-16 19:10:00 - 2015-09-16 19:10:00
Play AGAINST ATLANTA when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 24 Wins and 38 Losses for the this season (-26.05 units)


MLB > (955) MIAMI@ (956) NY METS | 2015-09-16 19:10:00 - 2015-09-16 19:10:00
Play ON NY METS when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season
The record is 49 Wins and 27 Losses for the last two seasons (+28.05 units)

MLB > (971) HOUSTON@ (972) TEXAS | 2015-09-16 20:05:00 - 2015-09-16 20:05:00
Play ON TEXAS when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 44 Wins and 18 Losses for the this season (+21 units)

MLB TOTALS


MLB > (969) KANSAS CITY@ (970) CLEVELAND | 2015-09-16 19:10:00 - 2015-09-16 19:10:00
Play OVER CLEVELAND on the total against division opponents
The record is 23 Overs and 5 Unders for the this season (+18.4 units)


MLB > (957) ST LOUIS@ (958) MILWAUKEE | 2015-09-16 20:10:00 - 2015-09-16 20:10:00
Play OVER MILWAUKEE on the total in September games
The record is 12 Overs and 1 Unders for the this season (+11.3 units)

MLB > (975) DETROIT@ (976) MINNESOTA | 2015-09-16 20:10:00 - 2015-09-16 20:10:00
Play OVER DETROIT on the total on the road when the total is 8 to 8.5
The record is 23 Overs and 8 Unders for the this season (+15.25 units)


MLB > (959) SAN DIEGO@ (960) ARIZONA | 2015-09-16 21:40:00 - 2015-09-16 21:40:00
Play OVER SAN DIEGO on the total in all games
The record is 85 Overs and 55 Unders for the this season (+28.9 units)


MLB > (973) OAKLAND@ (974) CHI WHITE SOX | 2015-09-16 20:10:00 - 2015-09-16 20:10:00
Play OVER CHI WHITE SOX on the total when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season
The record is 18 Overs and 6 Unders for the this season (+12.35 units)


MLB > (951) WASHINGTON@ (952) PHILADELPHIA | 2015-09-16 19:05:00 - 2015-09-16 19:05:00
Play OVER PHILADELPHIA on the total in night games
The record is 55 Overs and 33 Unders for the this season (+21 units)


MLB > (977) LA ANGELS@ (978) SEATTLE | 2015-09-16 22:10:00 - 2015-09-16 22:10:00
Play OVER LA ANGELS on the total against right-handed starters
The record is 32 Overs and 15 Unders for the this season (+15.75 units)


MLB > (965) BOSTON@ (966) BALTIMORE | 2015-09-16 19:05:00 - 2015-09-16 19:05:00
Play UNDER BALTIMORE on the total against left-handed starters
The record is 26 Overs and 54 Unders for the last two seasons (+25.65 units)

MLB TOP POWERLINE


MLB > (953) CHICAGO CUBS @ (954) PITTSBURGH | 2015-09-16 19:05:00 - 2015-09-16 19:05:00
Line: CHICAGO CUBS BTB PowerLine: CHICAGO CUBS158
Edge On: CHICAGO CUBS (13)


MLB > (965) BOSTON @ (966) BALTIMORE | 2015-09-16 19:05:00 - 2015-09-16 19:05:00
Line: BOSTON BTB PowerLine: BOSTON-109
Edge On: BOSTON (16)


MLB > (969) KANSAS CITY @ (970) CLEVELAND | 2015-09-16 19:10:00 - 2015-09-16 19:10:00
Line: KANSAS CITY BTB PowerLine: KANSAS CITY105
Edge On: KANSAS CITY (30)


MLB > (967) NY YANKEES @ (968) TAMPA BAY | 2015-09-16 19:10:00 - 2015-09-16 19:10:00
Line: NY YANKEES BTB PowerLine: NY YANKEES107
Edge On: NY YANKEES (22)


MLB > (971) HOUSTON @ (972) TEXAS | 2015-09-16 20:05:00 - 2015-09-16 20:05:00
Line: HOUSTON BTB PowerLine: HOUSTON185
Edge On: HOUSTON (40)


MLB > (975) DETROIT @ (976) MINNESOTA | 2015-09-16 20:10:00 - 2015-09-16 20:10:00
Line: DETROIT BTB PowerLine: DETROIT-138
Edge On: DETROIT (22)


MLB > (973) OAKLAND @ (974) CHI WHITE SOX | 2015-09-16 20:10:00 - 2015-09-16 20:10:00
Line: OAKLAND BTB PowerLine: OAKLAND-106
Edge On: OAKLAND (14)


MLB > (961) COLORADO @ (962) LA DODGERS | 2015-09-16 22:10:00 - 2015-09-16 22:10:00
Line: COLORADO BTB PowerLine: COLORADO-162
Edge On: COLORADO (23)


MLB > (977) LA ANGELS @ (978) SEATTLE | 2015-09-16 22:10:00 - 2015-09-16 22:10:00
Line: LA ANGELS BTB PowerLine: LA ANGELS-113
Edge On: LA ANGELS (12)


MLB > (963) CINCINNATI @ (964) SAN FRANCISCO | 2015-09-16 22:15:00 - 2015-09-16 22:15:00
Line: SAN FRANCISCO-165 BTB PowerLine: SAN FRANCISCO-200
Edge On: SAN FRANCISCO (35)

Preview: Red Sox (68-76) at Orioles (71-73)
Game: 3
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: September 16, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

With the Baltimore Orioles still hoping to make an unlikely postseason run, this might be Mike Wright's last chance to show he should be a part of it.


The rookie tries to avoid a third poor performance in as many starts since coming off the disabled list as the Orioles go for a sweep of the visiting Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night.


Baltimore (71-73) has kept its slim wild-card hopes alive with wins in six of seven, including the first two of this series. Tuesday night's 6-5, 13-inning victory moved the Orioles to 5 1/2 games back of Houston for the second wild card, though they remain behind three other teams.


"You get a little crispness back in the air, and it reminds everybody what fall baseball is like," manager Buck Showalter said. "We still feel like it's there for us if we can get the momentum needed."


Wright (2-4, 5.45 ERA) made a strong impression following his original call-up in May, winning two of three starts with a 1.40 ERA, before things started to roll downhill. The right-hander dropped his next three outings, allowing 14 runs in 10 innings, and was sent back to the minors. Wright returned to make a relief appearance July 31 before landing on the DL with a strained calf, and he's struggled since being activated.


He allowed three runs and seven hits in four innings of a 5-1 defeat at Toronto, then gave up four runs and two homers in five innings of a 14-8 victory over Kansas City on Friday.


Another bad outing could cause Wright to lose his spot in the rotation after Baltimore promoted Tyler Wilson from Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday. Wilson went 1-1 with a 2.63 ERA in two starts earlier this season and also pitched well in four relief appearances for the Orioles.


"I think his turn falls on where Mike (Wright) is pitching, but that doesn't mean Mike doesn't pitch," Showalter told MLB's official website. "Usually this time of year, you're talking about who you're going to look at, and what have you."


The Red Sox (68-76) counter with their own first-year hurler, Henry Owens. Owens (2-2, 5.25) makes his eighth start since getting the call-up from Triple-A Pawtucket on Aug. 4.


Two seven-run outings have hurt the 6-foot-6 left-hander's ERA, but he has held opponents to seven earned runs in his other five starts combined.


The latest wasn't exactly smooth as he walked four, hit two batters and was called for a balk in a 5-1 loss to Toronto last Tuesday. Owens did hold the high-scoring Blue Jays to one run and three hits in 5 1-3 innings, and pointed to problems out of the windup as the cause of his wildness.


"I think out of the stretch I felt in command of most at-bats," Owens said. "...there's some refinement I still need to do with my mechanics out of a windup, which begins tomorrow."


Boston says right-hander Junichi Tazawa has been shut down for the remainder of the season to rest. Interim manager Torey Lovullo says there was no injury for Tazawa, who was 2-7 with a 4.14 ERA in 61 relief appearances.


Baltimore's Chris Davis singled home the winning run Tuesday and is now batting .413 with seven homers and 15 RBIs in 13 games this month.


"Obviously, at this time of the year, you know what's at stake," Davis said. "You know that you have to be almost perfect."




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Red Sox at Orioles
Mon, Sep 14 Final 0 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Red Sox at Orioles
Tue, Sep 15 Final 5 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Red Sox at Orioles
Wed, Sep 16 - 7:05PM EDT

Preview: Nationals (74-70) at Phillies (56-90)
Game: 3
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: September 16, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

Even though the Washington Nationals are a long shot to reach the postseason, Bryce Harper has long been considered the favorite to win his first NL MVP Award.


The slugging outfielder seems to be putting the finish touches on his campaign in Philadelphia.


After hitting three home runs in the first two games of the series, Harper will try to lead the Nationals to their fourth straight win in Wednesday night's finale against the major league-worst Phillies.


Harper has reached career highs in virtually every offensive category in his breakout fourth season with Washington. He tops the NL in batting (.338) and took over the lead in home runs (39) by going 3 for 3 with two longballs in Tuesday's 4-0 win at Citizens Bank Park.


The three-time All-Star also went 2 for 5 with a homer in Monday's series-opening 8-7 win. He's hitting .410 with eight home runs, 11 RBIs and a 1.613 OPS over his last 11 games.


'The progressions he's made are really nice to see,' manager Matt Williams said. 'He's taking the ball the other way and he has power to all fields.'


Harper now hopes to lead the Nationals (74-70) to their 11th win in 14 meetings with Philadelphia and first road sweep in the series since August 2011. The 22-year-old's seven home runs against the Phillies are his most versus any club he's faced this season.


He's been a bright spot in a disappointing season for Washington, which is 8 1/2 games behind the New York Mets in the NL East and nine back of the Chicago Cubs for the second wild card.


Harper will get his first look at Alec Asher (0-3, 10.67 ERA), who has had trouble keeping the ball in the park. He's given up five home runs while losing each of his first three career starts.


The rookie right-hander, who the Phillies (56-90) announced Tuesday would replace left-hander Adam Morgan, might have trouble getting his first big league victory against a Washington lineup that has hit seven homers and totaled 17 runs over its last three games.


"We knew he was going to take his lumps," interim manager Mackanin told MLB's official website.


The Phillies hope to avoid their third straight defeat and seventh in 10 games on the homestand. After totaling 21 runs in their previous three, they managed only a Cody Asche single and struck out 14 times Tuesday against Stephen Strasburg and Blake Treinen on Tuesday.


Since posting a 10.22 ERA while losing three consecutive starts last month, Washington's Gio Gonzalez (10-7, 3.88) has gotten back on track by going 1-0 with a 2.08 mark in his last three. He gave up one run over 5 1-3 innings Friday when he did not factor in a 2-1 loss at Miami.


The left-hander is 4-3 with a 2.67 ERA in nine career starts at Citizens Bank Park. He's facing the Phillies for the third time this season, going 1-1 with a 2.84 mark in the first two matchups.


Jeff Francoeur (8 for 20) and Freddy Galvis (7 for 20) both have a home run off Gonzalez, while Darin Ruf (7 for 20) has a pair.


Ryan Howard is expected to miss several games because of a knee bruise, while Washington's Ryan Zimmerman could be sidelined for his eighth straight due to a strained oblique.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Nationals at Phillies
Mon, Sep 14 Final 8 to 7
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Nationals at Phillies
Tue, Sep 15 Final 4 to 0
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Nationals at Phillies
Wed, Sep 16 - 7:05PM EDT

Preview: Cubs (83-61) at Pirates (87-57)
Game: 2
Venue: PNC Park
Date: September 16, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

Jake Arrieta would likely get the ball in a possible wild-card game at Pittsburgh next month, but for now he'll try to boost his NL Cy Young chances against the Pirates.


In doing so, the streaking right-hander can become the Cubs' first 20-game winner in 14 years Wednesday night at PNC Park.


Arrieta (19-6, 1.99 ERA) has shied away from patting himself on the back for a remarkable 0.46 ERA while becoming the first Chicago pitcher to win eight straight starts since Milt Pappas' 11-game run in 1972. Manager Joe Maddon, however, has no problem touting his undisputed ace for a major award.


"I definitely believe our guy deserves (the Cy Young Award), no question," Maddon said. "I've seen (Zack) Greinke pitch. I know he's really good. I'm getting to watch Jake in person; it's pretty spectacular to watch. My vote's for Jake."


Since June 21, Arrieta is 13-1 with a 1.00 ERA and has struck out 115 in 117 innings. He allowed only his second homer during that stretch in eight innings of Friday's 5-1 victory in the opener of a doubleheader at Philadelphia.


"Nothing fazes me," said Arrieta, who is on the verge of becoming the first Cubs pitcher with 20 wins since Jon Lieber in 2001. "Men on base, walks, homers. ... Deal with it and move forward."


He's yielded two runs and struck out 19 over 21 innings while going 2-1 against the Pirates (87-57) this season - with both wins coming at PNC Park.


Chicago split a day-night doubleheader Tuesday to remain four back of wild card-leading Pittsburgh. Jon Lester allowed five hits in his first complete game of the season to help the Cubs (83-61) snap a three-game skid with a 2-1 victory in the nightcap.


"I don't think they're wrapped up in the fact that they're in this particular moment, they have a chance to make the playoffs and these games are overly critical," Maddon told MLB's official website. "I think they're out there playing. I'm not recognizing any tightness among any of those guys. I don't see it."


Lester's strong performance ended a four-game winning streak for Pittsburgh, which won 5-4 in the opener.


With three hits on the day, Andrew McCutchen is batting .357 in his last eight games against the Cubs. He's 4 for 7 against Arrieta this season.


Though no longer considered an everyday player, Starlin Castro is batting .414 in his last nine and .471 with three doubles against A.J. Burnett (8-5, 3.14). While Castro is 3 for 5 when facing Burnett this season, the right-hander has allowed one run despite seven walks in 13 innings to go 1-0 over two starts against Chicago in 2015.


Burnett posted a 10.13 ERA while losing two of his three starts prior to landing on the disabled list July 31 with elbow inflammation. He then yielded three runs in the first inning during his return in Thursday's 6-4, 13-inning loss to Milwaukee. However, he didn't give up any over the next four innings he worked.


"I loved the fact he used all three of his pitches," manager Clint Hurdle said. "I liked the angle I saw from the fastball. It was elevated and flat in the first, then he got after it, started shaving the corners of the plate.


"It was fun to watch the last four innings."




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Cubs at Pirates
Tue, Sep 15 Final 2 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Cubs at Pirates
Wed, Sep 16 - Final 4 to 5


GAME 3
Cubs at Pirates
Thu, Sep 17 - 12:35PM EDT

Preview: Royals (85-59) at Indians (71-72)
Game: 3
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: September 16, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

The Kansas City bullpen is coming off its longest scoreless outing in 15 games, but it might need to go longer in its next contest in Cleveland.


Danny Duffy's increasing pitch count hasn't allowed him to go deep lately, and it sounds like efficiency will be his focus Wednesday night as the Royals try for a series lead over the Indians.


The Royals (85-59) evened the four-game set with Tuesday's 2-0 win, and the bullpen gave up a hit in 2 2-3 innings for its top outing since allowing a hit in 3 2-3 scoreless on Aug. 29. That was also the last time their relievers went consecutive contests without allowing a run.


Royals relievers have a 5.86 ERA and .838 OPS against in 50 2-3 innings since with the club going 5-10. The rotation has been about as bad with a 5.83 mark.


"We needed that," manager Ned Yost said. "We needed a good pitching performance. We needed to get to the bullpen in the seventh inning with the lead."


Duffy (7-7, 4.14 ERA) gave up two runs and three hits with three walks in five innings of Friday's 14-8 loss in Baltimore but avoided the decision. He needed 101 pitches and has thrown 17.8 per inning over his last seven starts, which is higher than any qualifying pitcher's season mark.


The left-hander isn't getting lit up because of it - he's 3-2 with a 3.89 ERA in eight starts since the start of August - but he's made it through seven innings once in seven outings. It's normally not a problem with a trusted bullpen, but that's changed.


"That's on me. I need to go deeper," Duffy told MLB's official website.


His one start against the Indians this season was maybe his worst, as he surrendered four runs and six hits in an inning of a 10-3 home loss on May 6. Carlos Santana is 8 for 20 with a home run and triple off Duffy, but Lonnie Chisenhall is 1 for 8 with five strikeouts.


Duffy opposes Danny Salazar, whose struggles have shown up more in the run column.


In mid-August, Salazar (12-8, 3.57) was becoming the pitcher teams wanted to avoid in a series with the Indians, going 3-0 with a 0.95 ERA in a four-start stretch. In four since, the right-hander is 1-2 with a 6.23 ERA and .322 opponent batting average.


The 25-year-old has also struggled against Kansas City, surrendering at least four runs in his last three outings to fall to 3-4 with a 5.40 ERA in seven career starts. Eric Hosmer is 7 for 15 with two home runs and three doubles, but Omar Infante (1 for 15), Salvador Perez (3 for 19) and Mike Moustakas (3 for 17) have all struggled.


The Royals have won three straight series in Cleveland, and the latest also happens to be the last time the Indians (71-72) dropped a set at Progressive Field. Kansas City took two of three from July 27-29, but the Indians are 13-4 at home dating to their win to conclude that meeting.


Tuesday's shutout followed an offensive surge at home, but the Indians are still averaging 7.1 runs and hitting .333 over the 17-game home span.


Francisco Lindor has led the way with a .444 average, but individual performances are taking a backseat. Cleveland's wild-card hopes took a slight hit, spoiling Josh Tomlin's complete game.


"We need wins, and that's the bottom line," Tomlin said.


The Royals were limited to four hits, but Alex Rios homered for the second time in five games after hitting two in his first 84.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Royals at Indians
Mon, Sep 14 Final 3 to 8
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Royals at Indians
Tue, Sep 15 Final 2 to 0
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Royals at Indians
Wed, Sep 16 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 4
Royals at Indians
Thu, Sep 17 - 7:10PM EDT

Preview: Blue Jays (82-62) at Braves (57-88)
Game: 2
Venue: Turner Field
Date: September 16, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

In need of pitching help at the trade deadline, the Toronto Blue Jays landed an ace in David Price. He may end up winning a Cy Young Award.


With the offense sputtering and Edwin Encarnacion possibly out again, Price will try to help the Blue Jays avoid their first three-game losing streak since the All-Star break Wednesday night against the Atlanta Braves.


Toronto (82-62) was a game under .500 with one of the worst rotations in baseball at a 4.39 ERA after losing to Philadelphia on July 28.


Two days later, Price (15-5, 2.46 ERA) arrived in a trade with Detroit. The left-hander's 6-1 record, 2.28 ERA and 10.57 strikeouts per nine innings in eight starts have helped the Blue Jays go 32-11 since that defeat to the Phillies, moving them atop the AL East by three games on second-place New York.


"To play the way that we have since the trade deadline has been pretty special," Price told MLB's official website.


Price could enter free agency after the season as the reigning Cy Young winner. He is second in the AL in ERA and innings (201 1-3) behind Houston's Dallas Keuchel, who also starts Wednesday, and is among the top five in wins and strikeouts (203).


The five-time All-Star has a 2.08 ERA while winning all four of his road starts with Toronto. He's received a whopping 36 runs of support in those victories, but the potent Blue Jays offense has only managed two runs in two games since losing Encarnacion and Troy Tulowitzki.


The Jays, who haven't dropped three straight since July 8-10, totaled nine hits in the last two defeats as Josh Donaldson and Jose Bautista combined to go 1 for 16. While Tulowitzki (shoulder) is expected to miss two weeks, Encarnacion (finger) remains day to day. His 42 RBIs since Aug. 5 are the most in baseball.


Toronto followed Sunday's 5-0 loss to the Yankees with Tuesday's 3-2 defeat in Atlanta (57-88).


"The story was we didn't score," said manager John Gibbons, whose team leads the majors with 203 homers and 5.5 runs per game. "Bottom line is we win when we score."


Andrelton Simmons' walkoff single Tuesday snapped the Braves' 12-game home losing streak, their longest since moving to Atlanta in 1966.


"We've been struggling to get wins lately," Simmons said. "We've been playing better, but getting the win is pretty big."


A win would be a relief to Shelby Miller (5-14, 2.86), who has lost 13 straight decisions to tie Jim Acker (1987-89) for the longest slide by a Braves pitcher since '66. Miller's string of 21 starts without a victory is also the club's longest since Carl Morton went 22 from 1975-76.


The right-hander, though, isn't entirely to blame as he's getting an average of 1.47 runs of support over his winless stretch, getting no runs in 11 games including the last three.


Miller gave up three runs in six innings of Thursday's 7-2 loss to the New York Mets.


"You would think so (that it's frustrating), but you have to keep going out there and grinding," said Miller, who has lost a career-high five straight starts behind a 5.04 ERA.


He's won both career starts against the Blue Jays with a 1.20 ERA, yielding two runs in six innings of a 5-2 win at Toronto on April 19. Miller has held Donaldson, Encarnacion and Bautista to a combined 2 for 16.


Price has a 2.25 ERA while splitting two starts against the Braves, the last coming in 2012.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Blue Jays at Braves
Tue, Sep 15 Final 2 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Blue Jays at Braves
Wed, Sep 16 - 7:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Blue Jays at Braves
Thu, Sep 17 - 7:10PM EDT

Preview: Marlins (62-83) at Mets (83-62)
Game: 3
Venue: Citi Field
Date: September 16, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

With Bartolo Colon's shutout streak over, he looks to keep his winning run going.


Colon attempts to win a fifth straight start Wednesday night when the NL East-leading New York Mets conclude this three-game series with the Miami Marlins.


Colon (14-11, 4.13 ERA) reeled off 31 consecutive scoreless innings in five games - four starts - before giving up two runs in the seventh and then exiting a 7-2 win at Atlanta on Thursday. The stretch has made him a candidate for a starting role this postseason after he seemed destined for the bullpen due to a 5.66 ERA over his previous 17 starts.


"I'm really proud and surprised myself because I didn't know, at this stage of my career, that I could still do that kind of stuff," Colon said. "So I'm really proud, but more than that, I'm helping the team."


The right-hander has compiled a 0.59 ERA while winning four straight starts, his longest single-season streak since a career-high eight in a row with Oakland in 2013.


Colon won his final outing last year before taking his first four of 2015.


His current winning streak includes a nine-hitter in a 7-0 victory at Miami on Sept. 5, his third straight winning start against the Marlins behind a 1.50 ERA. He's posted a 2.08 ERA while winning all three career matchups at Citi Field.


Colon - like most Mets pitchers - has a tough time with Dee Gordon, who is 7 for 20 off him.


The second baseman is a career .379 hitter in 29 career games against New York (83-62). He's batting .464 during a 16-game hitting streak in the matchup, the longest active in the majors against any opponent.


Gordon tormented the Mets again Tuesday, collecting four hits with a two-run homer in a 9-3 victory that ended New York's eight-game winning streak.


Gordon's .331 average is second to Bryce Harper's (.338) in the NL batting race.


The Marlins (62-83) are turning to Adam Conley (3-1, 4.93), who is 2-1 with a 5.34 ERA in six starts since being moved into the rotation. The rookie left-hander has only completed six innings once, yielding one run and three hits in a 2-0 loss to Philadelphia on Aug. 23.


Conley was pulled after 99 pitches with one out in the fifth Tuesday, allowing two runs and eight hits with seven strikeouts and three walks in a 6-4 win over Milwaukee.


Conley's issues pitching deep into games have been clear all season. He's holding opponents to a .233 average the first time through the lineup, but that balloons to .364 over the next two.


Conley only faced 10 Mets in 2 1-3 innings of relief Aug. 4, yielding one run and two hits in a 5-1 home loss.


He'll try to continue silencing Yoenis Cespedes, who went 0 for 4 Tuesday after being hit by a pitch from Tom Koehler in the first - possible retaliation for admiring a mammoth solo homer in Monday's 4-3 win.


"I think it bothered us a little bit," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "So we'll answer in our own due time."


Cespedes, 1 for 7 in the series, has 17 homers and 42 RBIs in 42 games since being acquired from Detroit at the trade deadline. He's hit three shots while plating nine runs in eight meetings with the Marlins.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Marlins at Mets
Mon, Sep 14 Final 3 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Marlins at Mets
Tue, Sep 15 Final 9 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Marlins at Mets
Wed, Sep 16 - 7:10PM EDT

Preview: Yankees (79-65) at Rays (70-74)
Game: 3
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: September 16, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

Luis Severino is quickly finding out what it's like to pitch in a pennant race. After falling flat against David Price and AL East-leading Toronto, the New York Yankees' rookie draws another all-star pitcher in his next turn.


Severino will try to rebound from his first poor performance and help the wild card-leading Yankees win a road series Wednesday night against Chris Archer and the Tampa Bay Rays.


A win to close a four-game series against the Blue Jays and another to open this set versus the Rays helped momentarily soften the blow of five straight losses for the Yankees (79-65). Tampa Bay (70-74), though, scored four unanswered runs Tuesday in a 6-3 victory, keeping New York three games behind Toronto, which fell 3-2 at Atlanta.


Severino (3-3, 3.35 ERA) is coming off by far the worst of his seven major league starts, allowing six runs, six hits - including a pair of first-inning homers - and three walks over 2 1-3 innings of an 11-5 loss to Toronto on Friday. The right-hander had surrendered two runs in his previous three starts spanning 18 1-3 innings.


The 21-year-old insists his confidence isn't wavering.


"Of course not," he told MLB's official website. "I'm going to have more tough outings like that. I have to keep going. Keep working."


Severino hopes to revert to his previous outing when he logged his fifth straight quality start during a 5-2 win over Tampa Bay on Sept. 4. He gave up one run over a season-best 6 1-3 innings.


Good news for Severino is what Alex Rodriguez did Tuesday hours after the Yankees learned he is playing through a bruised left knee. Rodriguez - thought to have suffered the injury while sliding on Sunday - hit his 32nd home run in his first at-bat, his 3,061st hit to move past Craig Biggio into 21st place on the all-time list.


Rodriguez has eight home runs against Tampa Bay this season, his most against any opponent. He and Brian McCann hit back-to-back homers against Archer during a 6-4 win in the Bronx on Sept. 6. Archer (12-11, 2.95) was in prime position to beat the Yankees with a 3-0 lead entering the sixth inning, but the consecutive two-out homers gave New York a 4-3 advantage. Archer exited after recording one out in the seventh and was charged with five runs - four earned.


The right-hander entered the season as a near lock to beat the Yankees, winning five of six starts against them with a 1.93 ERA. He's 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA in three meetings this year.


Archer had eight strikeouts in an 8-4 win over Boston Friday, moving his total to 236, three shy of Scott Kazmir's 2007 team record. At one point, Archer tied a club record with seven straight strikeouts against the Red Sox.


"I obviously would prefer to not throw so many pitches in such a short amount of time," Archer told MLB's official website. "But whatever it takes to get them out."


Jacoby Ellsbury is mired in an 0-for-25 slump, but he is 14 for 21 with a home run against Archer. That .667 average is the highest of any player against the Tampa Bay pitcher with at least 10 at-bats.


Rays shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera left Tuesday's win early with a left knee strain. He is day to day after X-rays came back negative.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Yankees at Rays
Mon, Sep 14 Final 4 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Yankees at Rays
Tue, Sep 15 Final 3 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Yankees at Rays
Wed, Sep 16 - 7:10PM EDT

Preview: Astros (77-68) at Rangers (77-67)
Game: 3
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: September 16, 2015 8:05 PM EDT

Though the Texas Rangers have surpassed the Houston Astros for first place in the AL West, it might be a brief stay with Dallas Keuchel awaiting them.


Alone atop the division for the first time this year but facing a stiff challenge, the Rangers can extend their lead with a sixth consecutive victory over the Astros on Wednesday night.


Despite blowing an early 4-0 lead, Texas (77-67) persevered to win 6-5 on Mitch Moreland's sacrifice fly in the ninth inning Tuesday. The Rangers, who shared the West lead April 11, hold a one-half game advantage over Houston (77-68).


Texas has won 22 of 32 overall and 20 of 25 at home.


"They have fought, scratched, clawed all ways imaginable to get to this point," said manager Jeff Banister, whose club was eight games out of first on Aug.1. "We're not done yet. Still got a long ways to go."


The Astros, who had been in first place since July 28, have dropped 11 of 17 and are 2-6 on a 10-game road trip.


"This is really intense baseball," manager A.J. Hinch said. "It's fun to do it; it's not fun to lose."


Losers in 10 of 14 in the season series, Houston has dropped five in a row to the Rangers - all in Arlington - since Keuchel (17-7, 2.22 ERA) allowed two hits and struck out a career-high 13 over seven innings of a 10-0 victory July 19. The left-hander is 1-0 with a 1.23 ERA in three starts against Texas this season.


"He's crafty," said Texas rookie Delino DeShields, who is 1 for 6 with a double against Keuchel.


Rangers fans could let Keuchel hear it after he yelled for DeShields to "sit down" when the outfielder stood at home plate with his back to the mound after striking out in that contest. Following that game, Keuchel also called out Texas infielder Rougned Odor for what he felt was disrespecting the Astros a day earlier by taking too long to get into the batter's box during one at-bat and for a hard slide into All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve.


Any jeering likely won't rattle Keuchel, whose three-start winning streak ended with a 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Friday when he allowed three unearned runs in six innings.


"It's rare to watch him struggle with his command a little bit, but this guy competes as good as anybody," Hinch said.


Adrian Beltre is 1 for 9 against Keuchel this season but had four hits Tuesday, and he's 9 for 19 with seven RBIs in the last four games. He's hitting .355 against the Astros this year while Prince Fielder is at .356, including 3 for 10 with two doubles off Keuchel.


Texas' Martin Perez (2-5, 5.43) is 2-0 with a 2.61 ERA in his last three starts at home but has lost on the road in his two outings this month, allowing eight runs and walking seven in 11 innings.


The left-hander made his return from elbow surgery July 17 at Houston when he gave up three runs and nine hits in five innings of a 3-2 defeat. He had won his three previous starts against the Astros behind a 1.50 ERA.


Altuve is 5 for 12 with three doubles against Perez.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Astros at Rangers
Mon, Sep 14 Final 3 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Astros at Rangers
Tue, Sep 15 Final 5 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Astros at Rangers
Wed, Sep 16 - 8:05PM EDT


GAME 4
Astros at Rangers
Thu, Sep 17 - 8:05PM EDT

Preview: Athletics (62-83) at White Sox (68-75)
Game: 3
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: September 16, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

Rather than look at this time as an audition for a spot in next year's rotation with the Chicago White Sox, Erik Johnson is using his current opportunity as a means to feel more comfortable with his major league surroundings.


While doing so, the right-hander tries to help the White Sox bounce back from one of their worst defeats of a disappointing season Wednesday night against the visiting Oakland Athletics.


Though Johnson (1-0, 3.27 ERA) will likely be considered for a spot in Chicago's 2016 rotation, that's not his top priority for the time being. Considered one of the club's top overall prospects and the International League's most valuable pitcher after going 11-8 with a 2.37 ERA for Triple-A Charlotte, Johnson has given all he's had over his two starts since being called up Sept. 1.


Since 2013, Johnson is 5-3 with a 4.48 ERA in 12 starts for Chicago.


"Just to build off each inning, getting out of there and just grinding one out and throwing up zeros on the board is the most important thing," Johnson said after he overcame five walks and four hits to allow one run and strike out six over 113 pitches and five innings of Friday's 6-2 loss to Minnesota.


He'll try to help Chicago (68-75) regroup after Jeff Samardzija yielded 10 of the club's season high for runs allowed in three-plus innings of Tuesday's 17-6 loss to the A's.


Billy Butler, Mark Canha and Eric Sogard each had three hits and Josh Reddick drove in four runs as Oakland (62-83) snapped a six-game losing streak to the White Sox by scoring its most runs since an 18-3 rout of Minnesota on Sept. 11, 2013.


"With how long this year's been for us, I feel like we've been on the other end of a lot of those," ex-Chicago catcher Josh Phegley said. "It's definitely nice to have a win. Guys were swinging the bats real well, and we were having a lot of fun out there."


Reddick has homered in each of the first two of this four-game set, and is 8 for 17 with seven runs scored in the last four contests.


Now that a rib injury has ended Jesse Chavez's season, Cody Martin (2-4, 6.57) was recalled from Triple-A Nashville to make his second career start for the A's.


"We've been hard hit all the way around this year (with injuries)," manager Bob Melvin said. "Certainly the starting rotation has been the hardest hit here recently. Some years you have more injuries than others."


Acquired in a July 2 trade with Atlanta, Martin made 21 relief appearances for the Braves before he allowed five runs and six hits over three-plus innings of a 6-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Sept. 1. The right-hander last took any mound Sept. 7 for the Sounds.


Martin won't have to face outfielder Trayce Thompson, who will miss a second straight contest with a hyperextended left elbow. The rookie is batting .377 with four homers and 13 RBIs in 26 games since debuting Aug. 4.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Athletics at White Sox
Mon, Sep 14 Final 7 to 8
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Athletics at White Sox
Tue, Sep 15 Final 17 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Athletics at White Sox
Wed, Sep 16 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 4
Athletics at White Sox
Thu, Sep 17 - 2:10PM EDT

Preview: Cardinals (90-54) at Brewers (62-82)
Game: 2
Venue: Miller Park
Date: September 16, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

Jaime Garcia didn't allow more than three earned runs over his first 13 starts, adding depth to an already impressive St. Louis staff upon returning from shoulder surgery. He's now done it twice in his last three, which lines up with the club's recent struggles.


The left-hander will try to get back to mid-summer form Wednesday night in Milwaukee. He could have a key part of the Cardinals lineup back to support him in case there's another blowup, though that seems unlikely against the Brewers.


St. Louis (90-54) reached 90 wins for the third straight season with Tuesday's 3-1 series-opening win, increasing its NL Central lead to three over Pittsburgh after the Pirates and Chicago Cubs split a doubleheader.


No team has reached 90 wins faster since Philadelphia did it over 138 games in 2011. Despite losing eight of 12, the Cardinals are on pace for 101 victories, which would be five shy of the 1942 franchise record.


"We weren't swearing too much what was going on before," manager Mike Matheny said. "We weren't allowing ourselves."


They're also in position to win a ninth straight series at Miller Park, where they've gone 20-7 since losing two of three in July 2012.


Garcia's latest start included a season high and a season low, just not the right kinds with six runs allowed in 4 1-3 innings of Thursday's 11-0 loss in Cincinnati. He gave up six hits with four walks two starts after allowing four runs and a season-high 10 hits in 6 1-3 innings of a 7-5 win in San Francisco.


The Cardinals had won the previous eight games Garcia (8-5, 2.33 ERA) started.


"Definitely not a good one," Garcia said. "There are no excuses. I've got to do a better job the next time."


He had one of his best starts of the year in a 3-0 win at Milwaukee on Aug. 8, allowing just two hits to move to 7-4 with a 2.59 ERA in 14 career starts against the Brewers. Ryan Braun has gone 8 for 42 against Garcia, while Martin Maldonado, Adam Lind, Jason Rogers, Khris Davis and Shane Peterson are a combined 0 for 21.


The Brewers have won Wily Peralta's last three starts with the right-hander posting a 1-0 record and 1.80 ERA. In Thursday's 6-4 win at Pittsburgh, Peralta (5-8, 4.14) cruised early before allowing two runs over six innings and missing out on the decision.


"For the first four innings Wily was the best he's been this year," manager Craig Counsell said.


The right-hander faced Garcia last month and fell to 0-4 with a 4.06 ERA in his last five starts against the Cardinals. Matt Carpenter (13 for 30 with two home runs) and Matt Holliday (10 for 26 with two homers) have hit him well, but Matt Adams (3 for 19) and Kolten Wong (4 for 23) have struggled.


Holliday was activated Tuesday after missing 41 games with a quadriceps injury. He wasn't in the lineup, and Matheny doesn't plan to use him as an everyday player just yet.


The Cardinals might not need him immediately if Jason Heyward continues hitting. The right fielder homered and doubled twice for the second straight game, giving him a 9-for-17 line in his last four and boosting his average to .296 - its highest since his third game of the season.


Milwaukee (62-82) has dropped four straight and seven of nine to fall back to 20 games under .500, despite Davis homering for a second straight game. He's one off his career-high 22 from last season in 41 fewer games.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Cardinals at Brewers
Tue, Sep 15 Final 3 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Cardinals at Brewers
Wed, Sep 16 - 8:10PM EDT


GAME 3
Cardinals at Brewers
Thu, Sep 17 - 8:10PM EDT

Preview: Tigers (66-78) at Twins (75-69)
Game: 3
Venue: Target Field
Date: September 16, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

Ervin Santana was brought in to serve as a veteran presence in Minnesota's rotation, but a lengthy suspension made him more like a mid-season addition for the playoff race.


The right-hander now seems to be hitting his stride at just the right time for the Twins.


As Santana looks to win his fourth straight start, Minnesota hopes to bounce back by avoiding its first home series loss in seven weeks Wednesday night against the last-place Detroit Tigers.


Santana (5-4, 4.73 ERA) signed with the Twins on a four-year deal in December, but three days before the season opener MLB announced he would be suspended 80 games for a positive PED test.


Minnesota was in playoff contention once he returned in early July. Santana, however, struggled to find a rhythm and went 0-4 with a 9.20 ERA during a six-start stretch before turning things around.


The 33-year-old has allowed three runs while striking out 27 and walking four in winning his last three starts. He gave up two runs over seven innings in Friday's 6-2 road win over the Chicago White Sox.


'I just want to get one out at a time and one pitch at a time and it works,' Santana said.


The Twins (75-69) had won seven of nine home games before a 5-4 loss on Tuesday evened this series. They haven't dropped a set at Target Field since consecutive losses to Pittsburgh on July 28 and 29.


Santana hopes to help them cut into a 1 1/2-game wild-card deficit by avenging his last meeting with Detroit on July 10. He was 6-1 with a 2.08 ERA in his previous nine starts against the Tigers before yielding six runs and eight hits - three home runs - over four-plus innings in an 8-6 home win.


Victor Martinez and J.D. Martinez homered off Santana in that contest. Victor Martinez, who went 3 for 4 with two RBIs on Tuesday, is 10 for 25 with two home runs lifetime in the matchup.


Santana has done well versus Miguel Cabrera, limiting him to five hits - one home run - in 21 at-bats. Cabrera has gone 0 for 15 in his last four games, but still leads the AL with a .336 average.


Detroit's Daniel Norris (2-2, 4.43) is expected to be on a strict pitch count as he makes his first start in four weeks because of a strained oblique. He was originally scheduled to enter in relief of Anibal Sanchez, who was scratched due to shoulder discomfort.


Norris hasn't pitched since experiencing pain during an Aug. 19 start when he allowed three runs over 4 1-3 innings in a 15-8 win at Wrigley Field. The left-hander has gone 1-1 with a 5.06 ERA in four starts since being acquired from Toronto in the David Price trade on July 31.


"There's still some fight left in the dog," he told MLB's official website.


Norris will get his first look at a Minnesota lineup that has batted .342 and totaled 18 runs over its last three games and hit .337 while averaging 7.0 runs over its past five versus Detroit (66-78).


Joe Mauer has an opportunity to tie his career-best on-base streak at 35 games after hitting an RBI double in the ninth inning Tuesday.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Tigers at Twins
Mon, Sep 14 Final 1 to 7
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Tigers at Twins
Tue, Sep 15 Final 5 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Tigers at Twins
Wed, Sep 16 - 8:10PM EDT

Preview: Padres (68-78) at Diamondbacks (69-76)
Game: 3
Venue: Chase Field
Date: September 16, 2015 9:40 PM EDT

Although Andrew Cashner has the stuff of a top-of-the-rotation starter, the results have told a different story throughout a forgettable season for the San Diego Padres.


The right-hander will try to avoid taking over the major league lead in losses Wednesday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks.


Cashner (5-15, 4.27 ERA) appears to have the repertoire to thrive at the big league level with an upper-90s fastball and a devastating sinker while mixing in a slider and change-up.


However, his lack of command of those pitches, along with some insufficient run support, have led to a disappointing fourth season in San Diego. He's walked nine in 10 2-3 innings over his last two starts and has received three runs or less from the offense in 20 of his last 25.


Cashner fell to 1-5 with a 5.04 ERA over his last nine outings on Friday after he allowed five runs, nine hits and five walks over 4 2-3 innings in a 9-1 loss at San Francisco.


"Cash was lights out in terms of the way the ball was coming out, 98 miles an hour," interim manager Pat Murphy told MLB's official website. "He had two quick outs a few times and nobody in scoring position, and then walked a guy."


Cashner hopes to avoid becoming the first 16-game loser in the majors and only the second San Diego pitcher to drop that many since 2001. Eric Stults went 8-17 last season.


After going 0-5 with a 2.83 ERA while getting six runs of support over a six-start stretch versus Arizona (69-76), the 29-year-old allowed two runs over seven innings of a 7-2 home win June 27. He's struck out 26 while walking only three in four meetings this season.


A.J. Pollock and Aaron Hill have homered off Cashner this season. Jake Lamb is 4 for 9 with a home run lifetime in the matchup, while Paul Goldschmidt is 7 for 20 with a homer.


Pollock is hitting .184 over his last 11 games but came through with a three-run homer in the seventh inning to key Tuesday's 6-4 win. Goldschmidt went hitless with three walks, leaving him with a .216 average over his past 28.


Robbie Ray (4-11, 3.54) also has struggled with his command, walking 29 over 51 2-3 innings in his last 10 starts. He ended a personal seven-game losing streak Friday when he gave up two hits over five scoreless in a 12-4 home win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.


"A weight is lifted off your shoulders," Ray said after getting a season-high run total.


After posting a 1.72 ERA over his last three starts, Ray will try to help Arizona wrap up a nine-game homestand with a winning record. He's 0-2 with a 3.86 ERA in two starts this season against the Padres (68-78).


Derek Norris has homered off the left-hander, but he did not play Tuesday after getting hit on the top of his right hand by a foul ball in the opener. X-rays were negative.


Justin Upton, who is 0 for 6 with four strikeouts versus Ray, went 3 for 4 with his 26th home run Tuesday. He's hitting .330 with eight homers in 27 career games versus Arizona.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Padres at Diamondbacks
Mon, Sep 14 Final 10 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Padres at Diamondbacks
Tue, Sep 15 Final 4 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Padres at Diamondbacks
Wed, Sep 16 - 9:40PM EDT

Preview: Angels (73-71) at Mariners (70-76)
Game: 3
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: September 16, 2015 10:10 PM EDT

After beating the Seattle Mariners' best arm Tuesday night, the Los Angeles Angels need to get past another troubling matchup to keep pace in the postseason race.


The Angels remain in both the AL West and wild-card pictures but could use a series win over the Mariners and Hisashi Iwakuma on Wednesday night to close the first stage of an important road trip.


Los Angeles (73-71) snapped a two-game skid with a 4-3 win over Felix Hernandez in the middle game of the series, moving 3 1/2 games back of Houston for the second wild card and four behind division-leading Texas. The club closes its 10-game trip with four against wild-card contender Minnesota and three versus the Astros.


The Angels have split the first two with Seattle (70-76) and will now try to best Iwakuma (7-4, 4.05 ERA), who is 7-2 with a 2.83 ERA in 11 career starts against them.


The right-hander has had two very different outings against Los Angeles this season. During a 5-3 loss April 8, Iwakuma was rocked for nine hits and five runs - four earned - in six innings, but he held the Angels to three hits over eight in a 5-0 win July 11.


The top five hitters in the Los Angeles lineup - Kole Calhoun, Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, David Murphy and C.J. Cron - hold a combined .220 batting average against Iwakuma. Pujols and Murphy each have three doubles and a home run off him.


Iwakuma is 7-3 with a 3.22 ERA in his last 12 starts but gave up a three-run homer in the seventh of a scoreless game Friday to take the loss in a 4-2 defeat against Colorado.


"I don't think he hit a wall, he elevated some pitches," Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon told MLB's official website. "He was throwing extremely well until then.'"


Meanwhile, Jered Weaver has gone hot and cold down the stretch for the Angels. The veteran bounced back from a hip injury with three solid starts in August before closing the month by surrendering 16 hits and 14 runs in 11 2-3 innings over two starts.


Weaver (7-10, 4.71) returned to form in his last two, limiting Texas to a run in six innings of a 2-1 loss Sept. 5 and holding Houston to two over six in a 3-2 win Friday.


His latest victory gave him 138 in his career, all with the Angels. That mark is tied with Nolan Ryan for second-most in franchise history, trailing only Chuck Finley's 165.


"I'm looking forward to getting some more wins and to us making a push here at the end of the year," Weaver told MLB's official website.


The right-hander has struggled against Seattle the last two years with a 1-3 record and 4.75 ERA in five starts. He hasn't faced the Mariners since his first outing of the season April 6, when they scored four runs against him over six innings. That 4-1 loss moved Weaver's career numbers against Seattle to 14-11 with a 3.45 ERA in 32 starts.


In a large sample size, Nelson Cruz - who hit his 42nd homer Tuesday - has struggled against Weaver with a .203 average and two home runs in 74 at-bats. In a small one, recently called-up Jesus Montero has crushed him with five hits in 10 at-bats, including four home runs. Robinson Cano adds a .372 average in 43 at-bats.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Angels at Mariners
Mon, Sep 14 Final 1 to 10
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Angels at Mariners
Tue, Sep 15 Final 4 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Angels at Mariners
Wed, Sep 16 - 10:10PM EDT

Preview: Rockies (61-84) at Dodgers (83-61)
Game: 3
Venue: Dodger Stadium
Date: September 16, 2015 10:10 PM EDT

The Los Angeles Dodgers are trying to move closer to an NL West title, while the only race the Colorado Rockies are involved in features Nolan Arenado's homers.


After showing off that power in the clutch, Arenado attempts to become the first member of the Rockies to hit 40 homers in 14 years Wednesday night against the Dodgers.


Los Angeles (83-61) leads the division by 7 1/2 games on second-place San Francisco with 18 left.


While the Dodgers were widely expected to reach a team-record third straight postseason, Colorado (61-84) is living down to its lowly expectations while sitting at the bottom of the West.


Arenado, however, is giving the Rockies hope for the future, batting .285 with a career-high 111 RBIs. The All-Star third baseman's 39 homers tie Bryce Harper for the NL lead and are the most for the club since Todd Helton hit 49 in 2001, tying Larry Walker's franchise record set in 1997.


Arenado is tied with the New York Mets' Yoenis Cespedes for the most homers this month with nine, adding a .358 average and 16 RBIs in 16 games.


His 16th-inning solo blast proved to be the difference in Tuesday's 5-4 win at Los Angeles. He's batting .244 with three homers and six RBIs in 22 games there.


Despite falling Tuesday, the Dodgers have won 15 of their last 19 home games and are looking for Alex Wood (10-10, 3.81 ERA) to get them back on track.


Wood, though, is 3-4 with a 4.53 ERA in eight starts since coming over from Atlanta on July 30. The left-hander is coming off his worst effort since the deal, as he surrendered eight runs and two homers before being lifted with two outs in the second of Friday's 12-4 loss at Arizona.


Manager Don Mattingly isn't concerned.


"He's been pitching pretty solidly for us, kept us in most of the games he's pitched," Mattingly told MLB's official website.


Wood was hammered at Colorado to the tune of seven runs and 10 hits in 5 2-3 innings of an 11-3 loss with the Braves on July 12, three days after a long rain delay ended his outing after two pitches.


Arenado is 2 for 4 with a homer off him.


The Rockies hand the ball to Jorge De La Rosa (9-6, 4.28), who is 4-0 with a 3.07 ERA over his last five starts against the Dodgers. The left-hander won his only visit to Chavez Ravine over that span, yielding two hits in 7 1-3 innings of a 7-1 victory May 16.


De Le Rosa wasn't very sharp Thursday, giving up three runs with six strikeouts and three walks in five innings while not figuring in the decision of a 4-3 win at San Diego. It was a departure from his two previous starts, which he won while allowing one run and fanning 14 in 13 innings.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Rockies at Dodgers
Mon, Sep 14 Final 1 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Rockies at Dodgers
Tue, Sep 15 Final 5 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Rockies at Dodgers
Wed, Sep 16 - 10:10PM EDT

Preview: Reds (61-83) at Giants (76-69)
Game: 3
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: September 16, 2015 10:15 PM EDT

Jake Peavy pitched San Francisco to six straight wins to close his 2014 regular season and helped the Giants secure the NL's final playoff spot.


Heading into Wednesday night's home start against the Cincinnati Reds, the veteran is again doing his job down the stretch, but the Giants have a long way to go in a short period of time to be considered playoff contenders.


Monday's 9-8 loss to Cincinnati in 10 innings didn't help the Giants' postseason cause. San Francisco (76-69) came from three runs down entering the eighth, only for Todd Frazier to hit his fourth homer in seven games in the 10th.


The Giants had won four straight overall and against the Reds (61-83), but they fell 7 1/2 games back of the Chicago Cubs in the wild-card race and 7 1/2 behind the West-leading Dodgers with 17 games remaining.


"Our season's pretty much on the line every time we go out there right now," ace Madison Bumgarner said.


The offense continued to do its part with 13 hits, and San Francisco is averaging 6.2 runs and hitting .303 over a 7-3 span. Batting title contender Buster Posey is hitting .455 in his last 16 games, and Matt Duffy is 7 for 13 in his last three.


Peavy (6-6, 4.15 ERA) is 3-0 with a 3.65 ERA in his last four starts, and Friday's 9-1 home win over San Diego might have been his best of the season. The right-hander gave up a run and two hits in seven innings to put himself in position to win three straight starts for the first time this year.


"It was just another game we had to have," Peavy told MLB's official website. "... Nobody in this locker room thought about giving up. We're ready to play this thing out."


His success at AT&T Park has been longer lasting, going 4-0 with a 3.19 ERA in five starts since the All-Star break. Since the start of 2013, his 2.52 ERA in 14 starts there is fourth-lowest among the 30 pitchers with at least three starts at the park in that time, bettering even Madison Bumgarner (2.69).


The 34-year-old is 6-0 with a 2.33 ERA in 11 starts against the Reds, but just one of those has come in the last six seasons. Brandon Phillips is 3 for 21 against him.


Peavy is up against Michael Lorenzen, who has been one of the worst pitchers in baseball since the All-Star break.


Lorenzen (4-8, 5.45 ERA) has gone all eight starts since the break without making it through six innings, posting a 1-4 record and 9.44 ERA with a .364 opponent batting average. In three road starts during that span, the right-hander has lasted a total of 8 1-3 innings while giving up 20 runs and 20 hits.


In Friday's 4-2 home win over St. Louis, the 23-year-old allowed two runs and a season-high 10 hits in five innings but didn't earn the decision.


With an all-rookie rotation, the Reds are less concerned with results than taking stock in what they have going forward after trading Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake.


"The main thing is they're gaining valuable experience and we're getting a chance to evaluate them in a very tough month against teams competing," general manager Walt Jocketty said.


Lorenzen gave up three runs in two innings of relief in his only appearance against the Giants on May 15.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Reds at Giants
Mon, Sep 14 Final 3 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Reds at Giants
Tue, Sep 15 Final 9 to 8
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Reds at Giants
Wed, Sep 16 - 10:15PM EDT