Cnotes Sports Page For Thursday October 1st Best Bets-Trends-News !

RECAPPING WEDNESDAY'S ACTION:


MLB: 11 - 6 - 0


WNBA: 0 - 0 - 0


CFL: 0 - 0 - 0


CFB: 0 - 0 - 0


NFL: 0 - 0 - 0




WNBA RECORD FOR JUNE/JULY/AUGUST/SEPTEMBER :


*****...............................35 - 28 - 2
DOUBLE PLAY....................69 - 56 - 1
TRIPLE PLAY......................39 - 32 - 0
SLAM DUNK.......................40 - 37 - 1


MLB RECORD FOR JUNE/JULY/AUGUST/SEPTEMBER :


*****.............................146 - 165 - 1 .....................,......- 15.85
double play......................249 - 259 - 4 ............................- 13.66
triple play........................129 - 131 - 2 ............................ - 67.16
grand slam......................125 - 119 - 4...................,.,........- 55.08
double grand slam.............39 - 30..................................... +43.13
underdog of the year.........0 - 1...........................................+ 9.36




CFL JUNE/JULY/ AUGUST/SEPTEMBER RECORD:


SINGLE PLAY.................................35 - 27
DOUBLE PLAY................................13 - 18
TRIPLE PLAY..................................20 - 10 - 1
BLOW OUT.....................................5 - 3

MLB MONEYLINE




MLB > (907) NY METS@ (908) PHILADELPHIA | 2015-10-01 12:05:00 - 2015-10-01 12:05:00
Play ON NY METS using money line when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season
The record is 44 Wins and 18 Losses for the last three seasons (+29.19 units)


MLB > (919) LA ANGELS@ (920) TEXAS | 2015-10-01 20:05:00 - 2015-10-01 20:05:00
Play ON TEXAS using money line in night games
The record is 63 Wins and 49 Losses for the this season (+26.62 units)


MLB > (917) MINNESOTA@ (918) CLEVELAND | 2015-10-01 19:10:00 - 2015-10-01 19:10:00
Play AGAINST CLEVELAND using money line against division opponents
The record is 13 Wins and 22 Losses for the this season (-15.95 units)


MLB > (903) LA DODGERS@ (904) SAN FRANCISCO | 2015-10-01 15:45:00 - 2015-10-01 15:45:00
Play AGAINST LA DODGERS using money line in games played on a grass field
The record is 36 Wins and 43 Losses for the this season (-23.8 units)

MLB > (911) COLORADO@ (912) ARIZONA | 2015-10-01 21:40:00 - 2015-10-01 21:40:00
Play AGAINST COLORADO using money line in night games
The record is 30 Wins and 80 Losses for the last two seasons (-41.01 units)

MLB > (901) CHICAGO CUBS@ (902) CINCINNATI | 2015-10-01 12:35:00 - 2015-10-01 12:35:00
Play AGAINST CINCINNATI using money line in day games
The record is 16 Wins and 34 Losses for the this season (-20.35 units)


MLB > (909) WASHINGTON@ (910) ATLANTA | 2015-10-01 19:10:00 - 2015-10-01 19:10:00
Play AGAINST WASHINGTON using money line in night games
The record is 48 Wins and 55 Losses for the this season (-21.85 units)

MLB RUNLINE


MLB > (907) NY METS@ (908) PHILADELPHIA | 2015-10-01 12:05:00 - 2015-10-01 12:05:00
Play ON NY METS in day games
The record is 33 Wins and 13 Losses for the this season (+24.35 units)


MLB > (913) BOSTON@ (914) NY YANKEES | 2015-10-01 19:05:00 - 2015-10-01 19:05:00
Play AGAINST BOSTON when playing with a day off
The record is 8 Wins and 28 Losses for the last two seasons (-25.55 units)


MLB > (921) KANSAS CITY@ (922) CHI WHITE SOX | 2015-10-01 20:10:00 - 2015-10-01 20:10:00
Play ON KANSAS CITY when playing with a day off
The record is 29 Wins and 11 Losses for the last two seasons (+24.1 units)


MLB > (909) WASHINGTON@ (910) ATLANTA | 2015-10-01 19:10:00 - 2015-10-01 19:10:00
Play AGAINST WASHINGTON when the total is 7 or less
The record is 27 Wins and 54 Losses for the this season (-35.35 units)


MLB > (919) LA ANGELS@ (920) TEXAS | 2015-10-01 20:05:00 - 2015-10-01 20:05:00
Play ON LA ANGELS when playing with a day off
The record is 15 Wins and 5 Losses for the this season (+12.05 units)

MLB TOTALS


MLB > (905) MILWAUKEE@ (906) SAN DIEGO | 2015-10-01 18:40:00 - 2015-10-01 18:40:00
Play OVER SAN DIEGO on the total in games played on a grass field
The record is 92 Overs and 59 Unders for the this season (+31.7 units)


MLB > (915) TORONTO@ (916) BALTIMORE | 2015-10-01 12:05:00 - 2015-10-01 12:05:00
Play UNDER BALTIMORE on the total against left-handed starters
The record is 28 Overs and 59 Unders for the last two seasons (+28.4 units)


MLB > (917) MINNESOTA@ (918) CLEVELAND | 2015-10-01 19:10:00 - 2015-10-01 19:10:00
Play OVER CLEVELAND on the total against right-handed starters
The record is 32 Overs and 15 Unders for the this season (+16.1 units)


MLB > (907) NY METS@ (908) PHILADELPHIA | 2015-10-01 12:05:00 - 2015-10-01 12:05:00
Play OVER NY METS on the total when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season
The record is 26 Overs and 11 Unders for the last two seasons (+15.45 units)

MLB TOP POWERLINES


MLB > (907) NY METS @ (908) PHILADELPHIA | 2015-10-01 12:05:00 - 2015-10-01 12:05:00
Line: NY METS BTB PowerLine: NY METS141
Edge On: NY METS (1)


MLB > (901) CHICAGO CUBS @ (902) CINCINNATI | 2015-10-01 12:35:00 - 2015-10-01 12:35:00
Line: CHICAGO CUBS BTB PowerLine: CHICAGO CUBS192
Edge On: CHICAGO CUBS (52)


MLB > (903) LA DODGERS @ (904) SAN FRANCISCO | 2015-10-01 15:45:00 - 2015-10-01 15:45:00
Line: SAN FRANCISCO+100 BTB PowerLine: SAN FRANCISCO-118
Edge On: SAN FRANCISCO (18)


MLB > (905) MILWAUKEE @ (906) SAN DIEGO | 2015-10-01 18:40:00 - 2015-10-01 18:40:00
Line: MILWAUKEE BTB PowerLine: MILWAUKEE116
Edge On: MILWAUKEE (31)


MLB > (909) WASHINGTON @ (910) ATLANTA | 2015-10-01 19:10:00 - 2015-10-01 19:10:00
Line: WASHINGTON BTB PowerLine: WASHINGTON222
Edge On: WASHINGTON (32)


MLB > (923) MIAMI @ (924) TAMPA BAY | 2015-10-01 19:10:00 - 2015-10-01 19:10:00
Line: MIAMI BTB PowerLine: MIAMI112
Edge On: MIAMI (2)


MLB > (919) LA ANGELS @ (920) TEXAS | 2015-10-01 20:05:00 - 2015-10-01 20:05:00
Line: TEXAS-125 BTB PowerLine: TEXAS-141
Edge On: TEXAS (16)


MLB > (921) KANSAS CITY @ (922) CHI WHITE SOX | 2015-10-01 20:10:00 - 2015-10-01 20:10:00
Line: CHI WHITE SOX+105 BTB PowerLine: CHI WHITE SOX-120
Edge On: CHI WHITE SOX (25)


MLB > (911) COLORADO @ (912) ARIZONA | 2015-10-01 21:40:00 - 2015-10-01 21:40:00
Line: COLORADO BTB PowerLine: COLORADO-157
Edge On: COLORADO (4)

Preview: Cubs (92-65) at Reds (63-94)
Game: 3
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: October 01, 2015 12:35 PM EDT

The Chicago Cubs' chances of hosting the NL wild-card game may be slim, but it's not out of the realm of possibility - especially if their offense continues to produce like it did Wednesday.


Chicago seeks its fifth straight victory and a sweep of the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday at Great American Ball Park.


St. Louis clinched the NL Central with a victory in the nightcap of its doubleheader with Pittsburgh on Wednesday, locking Chicago (93-65) into next Wednesday's wild-card game against the Pirates (96-63). Home-field advantage is yet to be determined, though Pittsburgh's magic number to clinch it is two. The game would be played at Wrigley Field in the event of a tie, as Chicago won the season series 11-8.


The Cubs close out with three road games against a Milwaukee team they've beaten nine of 10 times. The Pirates close out with a three-game home series against struggling Cincinnati (63-95), which has lost 11 in a row for the first time since June 1998.


Chicago had 16 hits in Wednesday's 10-3 victory, including four from Starlin Castro, who hit his 11th home run. Austin Jackson also recorded a career-high five RBIs while going 3 for 5.


"We've got it going," manager Joe Maddon said. "Everyone is feeding off each other a little bit."


Jason Hammel (9-7, 3.86 ERA) has been shaky for Chicago down the stretch, posting a 6.39 ERA in his last eight starts. His struggles to eat up innings date back to the first half, as he's completed fewer than six in 12 of 14 starts since July 8. He did so in 12 of 16 previously.


The right-hander seemed to take a step forward last Saturday against Pittsburgh, cruising through four scoreless innings while yielding just two hits. He gave up five straight hits to open the fifth, including a three-run homer to Jordy Mercer, and was yanked without recording another out in an eventual 4-0 loss.


"He was doing great," Maddon told MLB's official website. "He really made good pitches, his stuff was really good and all of a sudden it happened quickly - a three-run homer."


Hammel has also failed to stick around in recent meetings with the Reds, completing five innings in all three matchups this year while posting a 4.20 ERA without a decision.


The Reds were limited to three sacrifice flies Wednesday, the first time they scored at least three runs all on sacrifice flies since a 6-3 loss to San Diego on Aug. 6, 1997. They haven't lost 12 straight since Sept. 10-22, 1993.


"We know it's ugly right now, and it doesn't even look like baseball," manager Bryan Price said. "There is no satisfaction from playing this poorly. These guys have to get through this and get better."


Cincinnati could be limited again if Joey Votto and Todd Frazier are still sidelined. Votto, who has reached base in a career-high 46 consecutive games, sat out due to shoulder stiffness, while Frazier was scratched because of stiffness in his lower right calf and Achilles tendon.


John Lamb (1-4, 5.40) may have had both the best and worst starts of his rookie campaign his last two times out. The left-hander threw six-plus scoreless innings in a 2-1 loss at St. Louis on Sept. 21, then was shelled for five runs and two homers in a season-low two innings of a 10-2 loss to the New York Mets on Saturday.





SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Cubs at Reds
Tue, Sep 29 Final 4 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Cubs at Reds
Wed, Sep 30 Final 10 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Cubs at Reds
Thu, Oct 1 - 12:35PM EDT

Preview: Red Sox (77-80) at Yankees (86-71)
Game: 4
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: October 01, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

The stakes will be much higher if the New York Yankees are back in the Bronx next week.


Until then, they'd just like to clinch a playoff spot.


CC Sabathia tries to help the Yankees get to the postseason as they attempt to close out their home schedule by avoiding a four-game series sweep to the Boston Red Sox on Thursday night.


The Yankees (86-72) are atop the AL wild-card standings, and need one win from their final four games to clinch a postseason berth. Winning two would mean hosting Tuesday's wild-card game.


New York, though, has dropped nine of 13 at home and failed to secure a playoff spot Wednesday, blowing a seventh-inning lead in a 9-5, 11-inning loss.


"We try to clinch (Thursday), I guess," said reliever Andrew Bailey, who took the loss after allowing three runs in the 11th.


The Yankees haven't been swept at home by the Red Sox (78-80) since losing all three matchups from June 7-9, 2011.


Each of Sabathia's last three starts against Boston have ended in New York victories while he's gone 1-0 with a 2.50 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 18 innings.


The left-hander allowed one run and three hits while fanning eight in six innings and not figuring in the decision of a 2-1 win Aug. 6.


Sabathia (5-10, 4.82 ERA) wasn't sharp Friday, giving up four runs and two homers in 6 2-3 innings of a 5-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox. He was 1-0 with a 1.04 ERA in his first three starts after returning from the disabled list due to inflammation in his right knee.


Alex Rodriguez's solo homer Wednesday was his first in 14 games. He finished 2 for 4 after batting .147 with two RBIs during his home run drought.


He has a .344 average with nine RBIs in nine home matchups with Boston this year.


The Red Sox are spoiling more than the Yankees' playoff hopes. They've been denying them the distinction of becoming the first AL team to reach 10,000 wins in the regular season.


"I don't think we are necessarily trying to ruin hopes," center fielder Mookie Betts said. "I think we are just going out and playing the game, trying to win some games, and I just that's kind of like a bonus."


Betts is 6 for 15 with three homers, three doubles and three RBIs in this series. He's batting .348 with five homers and 10 RBIs in his last 11 matchups.


Boston turns to Rich Hill (2-0, 1.17), who has struck out 10 in each of his three starts since being called up from Triple-A Pawtucket. The left-hander appeared in 14 games as a reliever with the Yankees last year.


Hill was outstanding again Friday, tossing a two-hitter in a 7-0 win over Baltimore for his second career shutout - first since 2006 with the Chicago Cubs.


"As a reliever," Hill said when asked if any team showed interest in him after he was waived by Washington in June. "No team would take a chance as a starter without going to play independent baseball, re-proving (myself) again to be able to go out and start again."


Hill now faces his former team for the first time since being designated for assignment in August 2014.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Red Sox at Yankees
Mon, Sep 28 Final 5 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Red Sox at Yankees
Tue, Sep 29 Final 10 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Red Sox at Yankees
Wed, Sep 30 Final 9 to 5
Recaps

GAME 4
Red Sox at Yankees
Thu, Oct 1 - 7:05PM EDT

Preview: Nationals (80-77) at Braves (63-94)
Game: 3
Venue: Turner Field
Date: October 01, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

It came far too late to keep Washington's season going beyond this weekend, but Stephen Strasburg has been brilliant in recent starts.


The Nationals right-hander will try to close out his injury-shortened campaign with another double-digit strikeout performance Thursday night against the Atlanta Braves.


Strasburg has totaled 50 strikeouts in 30 1-3 innings in his last four starts and gone 2-0 with a 0.78 ERA and 0.57 WHIP in his past three. He yielded one run and three hits in eight innings while fanning 13 in Saturday's 2-1, 12-inning win over Philadelphia.


The Nationals (80-78) were officially eliminated from the postseason chase less than an hour before that win because of a New York Mets victory.


Strasburg (10-7, 3.63 ERA) will try to become the first NL pitcher with 10 or more strikeouts in five consecutive games since Randy Johnson did so in six straight in 2002. Another Hall of Famer, Pedro Martinez, was the franchise's last pitcher to pull off that feat in 1997.


Strasburg makes his 23rd start, his fewest since 2011, after enduring two stints on the disabled list for neck tightness and an oblique strain. He's gone 5-2 with a 2.09 ERA in nine starts since returning from the latter injury Aug. 8.


"He's getting better and better every time," shortstop Ian Desmond told MLB's official website. "All three (of his) pitches are plus-plus pitches."


Strasburg has pitched 12 scoreless innings while striking out a combined 13 in back-to-back wins over the Braves (64-94) and went five in a 3-1 victory June 23 in his only matchup this season. He'll face an Atlanta team that's totaled four runs in the first two games in this series, but has won both.


Atlanta, 5-13 in the season series, will go for its first three-game sweep of the Nationals since April 11-13, 2014, with rookie Ryan Weber on the mound.


Weber (0-2, 5.91) was tagged for seven runs in two-plus innings in his fourth major league start, a 12-11 loss in Miami on Friday. He had a 3.26 ERA in his first three outings and yielded one run in seven innings in a 2-1 win over Philadelphia on Sept. 19.


Bryce Harper will try to send Weber to another loss while ending a 3-for-26 slump. The NL MVP frontrunner is 0 for 11 in his last three games, beginning with Sunday's loss to Philadelphia that featured his dugout scuffle with closer Jonathan Papelbon.


Harper's 0-for-4 performance in Wednesday's 2-0 loss gave him a .331 average and put him in a virtual tie with Miami's Dee Gordon in the NL batting race.


Atlanta's Freddie Freeman won't be in the starting lineup for the rest of the season because of an ailing right wrist but can pinch-hit. Freeman is batting .429 with three homers in 28 at-bats against Strasburg, the best average among the 82 hitters who have faced him at least 11 times.


"It's just one of those things that unfortunately got a little worse," Freeman said. "So, the plan is different than the one we had a couple days ago."


The Braves will seek to win six in a row at home for the first time since August 2013 and take their fifth in a row there over the Nationals. Atlanta hasn't won five straight home games in one season against Washington since 2009.


Washington's Yunel Escobar, among the NL leaders with a .318 average, is day to day because of spasms in his upper back that have ailed him since Sunday.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Nationals at Braves
Tue, Sep 29 Final 1 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Nationals at Braves
Wed, Sep 30 Final 0 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Nationals at Braves
Thu, Oct 1 - 7:10PM EDT

Preview: Marlins (69-88) at Rays (76-81)
Game: 3
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: October 01, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

Though they've failed to meet expectations this season, a strong finish and Jose Fernandez's return has the Miami Marlins optimistic about a turnaround in 2016.


Fernandez vies to remain unbeaten since his comeback from Tommy John surgery and prevent the Tampa Bay Rays from a three-game sweep Thursday night.


Fernandez is 6-0 with a 2.91 ERA in 10 starts following his 14-month recovery, though he endured his worst outing of the season Friday against Atlanta. The 2013 NL Rookie of the Year was reached for six runs and nine hits in five innings, but received plenty of offensive support in a 12-11 victory to set an MLB record with his 18th consecutive winning decision at home to begin a career.


The Tampa high school product hasn't been as good on the road, sporting a 3.82 career ERA compared to a 1.40 mark at Marlins Park. Fernandez also struggled in his lone start at Tropicana Field, surrendering seven runs - four earned - in 3 1-3 innings of a 10-6 loss May 27, 2013.


Fernandez is 2-0 with a 4.60 ERA in three starts after a six-week absence caused by a biceps strain.


"When he pitches, the team is different," Marlins closer A.J. Ramos said. "He brings something to this team that nobody can explain."


Miami (69-89) is 17-10 since Aug. 31 and had won five straight prior to a 4-2 loss in Monday's opener. Drew Smyly led the Rays to a 6-4 victory Tuesday, yielding a run and three hits with eight strikeouts over six innings.


Grady Sizemore delivered a three-run double and finished 2 for 4 for Tampa Bay (77-81), which has won four of the five season meetings to claim the Citrus Series for the fourth time in five years.


He's 8 for 17 with nine RBIs during a six-game hitting streak.


While Fernandez aims to keep his unblemished record intact, Jake Odorizzi (8-9, 3.49) hopes to recapture his early-season form in his 2015 finale.


After posting a 3.02 ERA through his first 21 starts, Odorizzi has a 5.29 mark in his past six and has allowed eight runs and 15 hits over 10 2-3 innings in losing his last two. He permitted four runs in five innings during a 5-3 defeat at AL East champion Toronto Friday.


Odorizzi's struggles have extended to Tropicana Field, where he owns a 6.85 ERA over four outings after recording a 1.40 ERA through his first eight this season. Home runs have been a problem lately as well, as he's allowed eight in 29 1-3 September innings.


The right-hander has allowed 10 runs in nine innings in losing both previous starts against Miami, the last an 11-6 home defeat June 5, 2014.


Rays second baseman Logan Forsythe missed Wednesday's game after being hit by a pitch on his right foot in the opener. Nick Franklin started in his place and went 2 for 4 with a solo homer.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Marlins at Rays
Tue, Sep 29 Final 2 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Marlins at Rays
Wed, Sep 30 Final 4 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Marlins at Rays
Thu, Oct 1 - 7:10PM EDT

Preview: Royals (90-67) at White Sox (74-83)
Game: 3
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: October 01, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

Though still trailing in the race for the AL's best record, the Kansas City Royals will begin the playoffs at home.


The defending AL champions resume their pursuit of the first goal in Thursday night's series finale against the host Chicago White Sox.


Kansas City (91-67) was able to gain ground with Wednesday's 5-3, 10-inning victory and the Blue Jays splitting a doubleheader at Baltimore. The result also assured the Royals home-field advantage for the division series and they sit one game back of Toronto for the league's top mark with four remaining.


The Royals, 51-30 at Kauffman Stadium, end the regular-season with a three-game set at wild-card contender Minnesota. Toronto visits Tampa Bay for three after Thursday's matchup with the Orioles.


'Obviously we would like home-field advantage throughout the whole entire postseason but just got to see how that plays out," first baseman Eric Hosmer said. "To have the first round at least at home is definitely big for us.'


After mustering 10 runs while losing four of five, Kansas City homered three times Wednesday, with Hosmer's two-run shot in the 10th providing the final margin.


'It was a huge hit for us,' manager Ned Yost said.


The Royals did have center fielder Lorenzo Cain exit in the seventh inning after fouling a ball off his right knee. The team termed him day to day with a contusion.


Chicago (74-84) has lost six of eight and attempts to bounce back behind John Danks (7-14, 4.53 ERA), who'll aim to continue his career success against Kansas City in his final 2015 appearance.


Danks improved to 10-2 with a 2.57 ERA in 21 starts against the Royals by tossing a seven-hitter in a 12-1 win at Kauffman Stadium on Sept. 4. The veteran left-hander is 5-0 with a 3.38 ERA in eight meetings at U.S. Cellular Field, where he's recorded a 1.63 ERA in six starts since the All-Star break. He threw six-plus innings in a 2-0 decision July 17 for his second home win over Kansas City this season.


Several Royals regulars have struggled against Danks. Mike Moustakas, who had a two-run homer Wednesday, is 3 for 22 and Salvador Perez 4 for 28 with two homers. Alcides Escobar is 5 for 30 with 10 strikeouts and Hosmer 2 for 14 this season.


Danks, who has been backed by three runs or less of support in six of his last nine starts, gave up two runs over six innings against the New York Yankees on Saturday but was saddled with a 2-1 loss.


Kris Medlen (5-2, 4.30) takes the mound for Kansas City looking to recapture his mid-September form. After not permitting an earned run across 11 1-3 innings in consecutive road wins over Cleveland and Detroit, he was reached for six and nine hits in 3 2-3 innings in Saturday's 9-5 home loss to the Indians.


Medlen owns a 1.13 ERA on the road and a 6.99 mark at home this season and has won all three of his visiting starts. He allowed season highs of seven runs and 11 hits in 5 2-3 innings when opposing Danks on Sept. 4.


Chicago's Jose Abreu homered Wednesday to join Albert Pujols and Ryan Braun as the only players to hit 30 in each of their first two seasons. He's one RBI shy of matching Pujols as the only ones with 100 and 30 homers over that span.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Royals at White Sox
Tue, Sep 29 Final 2 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Royals at White Sox
Wed, Sep 30 Final 5 to 3
Recaps


GAME 3
Royals at White Sox
Thu, Oct 1 - 8:10PM EDT

Preview: Dodgers (88-70) at Giants (83-75)
Game: 4
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: October 01, 2015 3:45 PM EDT

After bidding farewell to his former Bay Area team, Tim Hudson will take one last curtain call before closing out an outstanding career.


Hudson makes his 479th and final regular-season start as the San Francisco Giants finish a four-game series with the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers Thursday afternoon at AT&T Park.


The majors' active leader with 222 wins, Hudson (8-8, 4.30 ERA) revealed last month he will end a 17-year career containing four All-Star appearances and eight seasons of 15 or more victories at the conclusion of this campaign. The 40-year-old posted a winning record 15 consecutive years before going 9-13 in his Giants' debut in 2014.


"I just feel it's the right thing to do," he said during his Sept. 9 announcement. "It's the right time for me and my family. I played this game a lot longer than I ever thought I would."


Hudson's swan song will be brief, as he's currently dealing with a sore hip and spent two stints on the disabled list this season with shoulder issues. He threw just 34 pitches while allowing three runs in 1 1-3 innings in Saturday's return to Oakland, where he spent his first six seasons and started opposite ex-Athletics teammate and good friend Barry Zito in a 14-10 win.


Hudson threw six scoreless innings in a 5-1 home victory over Arizona Sept. 20 and is 2-0 with a 2.04 ERA in four starts since rejoining the rotation Sept. 8. He's also won both season meetings with the Dodgers, including a 2-0 decision May 19 in San Francisco behind 6 1-3 scoreless innings.


He'll have a tough act to follow after Mike Leake registered his first career shutout with a two-hitter in Wednesday's 5-0 win, denying Los Angeles (88-70) a chance to tie the New York Mets in the race for the NL's best record.


The Dodgers and Mets will square off in next week's division series with home-field advantage yet to be determined with four games remaining. New York owns the tiebreaker by virtue of a 4-3 season series edge.


Los Angeles, 52-26 at home and 36-44 on the road, hosts San Diego for three games after Thursday's matchup at AT&T Park, where its lone win in nine season visits came via Clayton Kershaw's one-hit, 13-strikeout division-clinching gem Tuesday.


Kershaw and Zack Greinke will head a playoff rotation that may include Brett Anderson (9-9, 3.75) if he can sort out his recent struggles.


Anderson has been hit hard in two straight starts, surrendering six runs and 10 hits in four innings Saturday at Colorado after allowing five runs and 10 hits over 4 2-3 in an 8-4 loss to Arizona Sept. 21.


The oft-injured left-hander is three innings shy of eclipsing a career-high 175 1-3, set during his 2009 rookie year with Oakland, and will establish a personal best with his 31st start. Anderson pitched in 30 games total while logging just 123 innings with the A's and Rockies from 2012-14.


He is 0-4 with a 5.64 ERA in five starts at AT&T Park and sports a 6.10 ERA in two 2015 losses there.


Matt Duffy went 3 for 4 with a two-run homer for San Francisco (83-75) and is 3 for 9 off Anderson this season. Brandon Crawford is 5 for 9.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Dodgers at Giants
Mon, Sep 28 Final 2 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Dodgers at Giants
Tue, Sep 29 Final 8 to 0
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Dodgers at Giants
Wed, Sep 30 Final 0 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 4
Dodgers at Giants
Thu, Oct 1 - 3:45PM EDT

Preview: Brewers (68-90) at Padres (73-85)
Game: 3
Venue: PETCO Park
Date: October 01, 2015 6:40 PM EDT

Beginning with his major league debut in June, Taylor Jungmann was one of the NL's top rookie starters for his first three-plus months.


The Milwaukee Brewers right-hander has hardly looked like the same pitcher in recent outings but will get the chance to end his season on a positive note Thursday against the short-handed San Diego Padres.


Jungmann went 9-5 with a 2.42 ERA in his first 16 starts after being called up June 9 but has gone 0-2 with a 9.61 ERA in his last four. He was charged with six runs in five innings in a 7-3 loss in St. Louis last Thursday.


Jungmann (9-7, 3.64 ERA) gave up two homers and has allowed seven over 19 2-3 innings in the last four after giving up three in his previous 16 games.


"Anytime I'm giving up home runs, it tells me one thing: I'm not getting the ball down," he told MLB's official website. "It's a long season. Everybody has little nicks and things like that. Stuff like that's not going to hold you out of the game. I feel fine. My arm feels good. I've just got to keep working."


Jungmann yielded no homers and two runs over seven innings while striking out eight in his only start against San Diego, an 8-5 win Aug. 5.


The Brewers (68-90) won their fifth consecutive game in the series, 5-0 on Wednesday, by scoring all of their runs in the sixth.


The Padres (73-85) lost Justin Upton in the first inning when he hit his head on a padded wall in left field. Interim manager Pat Murphy said Upton, who has a team-leading 26 homers and 81 RBIs, has a strained neck.


"He was checked out and everything looks fine," Murphy said. "Nothing major. ... I don't know how sore he is going to be (Thursday)."


San Diego lost Matt Kemp for the rest of the season before that game due to a partially torn tendon in his right middle finger. Kemp, who has 23 homers, got his 100th RBI in his final at-bat in Tuesday's series opener.


"It's a step forward. I guess it's always good to drive in 100 (runs), but I'd rather have 80 RBIs and go to the playoffs," he said. "Hopefully, it's a step forward going into next year and we can win more games."


Ian Kennedy (8-15, 4.38) will seek to end his season by snapping a six-start winless stretch, his longest in two seasons. The right-hander, 0-4 with a 5.77 ERA in his last six, allowed four runs and a season-high 11 hits over five innings in San Diego's 5-4 comeback win over San Francisco last Thursday.


Kennedy, who has a career high for losses, is 0-2 with a 4.97 ERA in his last four starts against the Brewers and yielded four runs in seven innings in an 8-5 defeat in his lone matchup this season Aug. 5.


Khris Davis, batting .345 with seven homers in his last 16 games, is 3 for 6 with two doubles lifetime against Kennedy.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Brewers at Padres
Tue, Sep 29 Final 4 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Brewers at Padres
Wed, Sep 30 Final 5 to 0
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Brewers at Padres
Thu, Oct 1 - 6:40PM EDT

Preview: Rockies (66-92) at Diamondbacks (77-81)
Game: 3
Venue: Chase Field
Date: October 01, 2015 9:40 PM EDT

With Patrick Corbin feeling as though he's recaptured his impressive pre-injury form, his final start of 2015 is coming too soon.


He'll try to close his season on a strong note Thursday night against the visiting Colorado Rockies


Corbin (6-5, 3.28 ERA) was one of baseball's best pitchers for much of 2013, going 12-1 with a 2.31 ERA through his first 20 starts. He was diagnosed with a partial tear of his ulnar collateral ligament in spring training the next year and underwent Tommy John surgery, finally returning July 4 this year.


The left-hander again looks like the pitcher of two years ago, going 3-2 with a 2.27 ERA over his last six starts, even with a shaky performance when he gave up four runs over 4 1-3 innings in a 6-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers last Thursday.


Corbin has still gone four straight starts without allowing a home run for the first time ever and owns a 5.6 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his last six games.


"I didn't really set any goals or anything like that. Just make sure everything was gold," he told MLB"s official website. "It's a bummer the season is coming to an end when I'm feeling really good. I feel like I'm pretty much back and really excited for next season."


Corbin is 5-1 with a 3.90 ERA in nine career starts against Colorado, winning both meetings this year. He hasn't lost to the Rockies since his first career matchup, May 16, 2012, and has baffled Colorado's two most powerful sluggers, holding Carlos Gonzalez and Nolan Arenado to a combined 5 for 26.


Neither team supplied much offense in Arizona's 3-1 victory Wednesday. They stranded a combined 19 runners and the Diamondbacks (77-81) won their third straight despite going 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position. Arizona had batted .380 in those situations over its previous seven home meetings with the Rockies.


"We left some runs out there," manager Chip Hale said. "We could have had two or three more, (if we were) situational hitting better, but there's a pitcher out there trying not to let you score and you've got to tip your cap sometimes."


For Colorado (66-92), Arenado hit his 40th double, joining Todd Helton, Ellis Burks and Larry Walker as the fourth player in franchise history with 40 homers, 40 doubles and 120 RBIs in a season.


DJ LeMahieu is 7 for 19 with a homer and two triples against Corbin.


David Hale (5-5, 6.01) comes off his first win as a starter since June 8 after limiting the Dodgers to one run over five innings in a 7-4 home victory Friday. He's filling in again for Yohan Flande, who may not pitch again this year due to a bruised knee.


Hale struggled in two earlier starts against the Diamondbacks this year, allowing a combined eight earned runs with six walks over 9 2-3 innings.


Rookie Socrates Brito was 1 for 5 with a double while filling in at leadoff for Arizona in place of Ender Inciarte, who was scratched from the lineup due to a bruised shin.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Rockies at Diamondbacks
Tue, Sep 29 Final 3 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Rockies at Diamondbacks
Wed, Sep 30 Final 1 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Rockies at Diamondbacks
Thu, Oct 1 - 9:40PM EDT

Preview: Twins (82-76) at Indians (78-79)
Game: 4
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: October 01, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

Tyler Duffey took a no-hitter into the sixth inning against the Cleveland Indians in August just one day after being called up from the minors.


The right-hander has proved Minnesota's most effective starter since then and will try to boost the Twins' playoff hopes with another stellar outing versus Cleveland on Thursday night.


Duffey (5-1, 3.14 ERA) was sent down after being tagged for six runs in two innings in his major league debut Aug. 5 in Toronto but got another chance 10 days later. He made the most of that opportunity by allowing just Francisco Lindor's double in a 4-1 victory.


Duffey is 5-0 with a 2.17 ERA in his last eight starts and has won each of his past three. He gave up two runs over six innings in a 6-2 victory in Detroit on Saturday.


"It's fun. It's everything you dream of to give your team a chance to win in big games," he told MLB's official website. "If you don't like pitching in this, you shouldn't be playing. So it's a lot of fun, and everyone is fired up and really going all out. That's what you gotta do this time of year."


A doubleheader split with Cleveland on Wednesday put the Twins (82-76) 1 1/2 games behind Houston for the AL's second wild card. The Los Angeles Angels are a half game back following their 8-7 loss to Oakland.


"The positive is we don't get swept," manager Paul Molitor said. 'The loss column is what matters at the end of the day come Sunday. We live another day. That's for sure."


The Indians (78-79) kept their faint hopes alive briefly with a 10-2 win in Wednesday's finale after losing 7-1 in the opener, but were eliminated from the postseason with Houston's 7-6 victory in Seattle.


'We can only do what we can do,' manager Terry Francona said. 'If you get eliminated, it doesn't give you the right to not show up for the rest of your games.'


Trevor Bauer (11-12, 4.69) will try to boost his club's spirits in his first start in two-plus weeks.


The inconsistent right-hander was sent to the bullpen following a 9-2 loss in Detroit on Sept. 13 that dropped him to 3-7 with a 6.32 ERA over 12 starts. Bauer made one relief appearance Sept. 19, pitching a scoreless inning in a 4-3 loss to the Chicago White Sox.


Bauer is getting another start because Cleveland is giving Josh Tomlin an extra day of rest.


"He's a work in progress," Francona said. "We've acknowledged that, but he's trying and will continue to. I think the biggest thing I've tried to express to him is, 'We're not trying to redo you. We're trying to just make adjustments as we go.'


"This start won't define his career, but heck yeah, I think it'll be really good for him."


Bauer is 1-3 with a 6.00 ERA in six career starts against Minnesota and earned that lone win in a 17-4 rout Aug. 8, allowing four runs in 6 1-3 innings while fanning eight.


Torii Hunter is 3 for 5 with a home run and a double against Bauer this season. He's 6 for 14 with two homers and two doubles lifetime.


Kurt Suzuki has two doubles and a homer in six at-bats in this matchup this year.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Twins at Indians
Mon, Sep 28 Final 4 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Twins at Indians
Tue, Sep 29 - Final 7 to 1
Recaps


GAME 3
Twins at Indians
Wed, Sep 30 Final 2 to 10
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 4
Twins at Indians
Thu, Oct 1 - 7:10PM EDT

Preview: Angels (83-75) at Rangers (86-72)
Game: 1
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: October 01, 2015 8:05 PM EDT

Adrian Beltre has been instrumental to the Texas Rangers' recent success and that could lead to their first AL West title in four years.


It may also further damage the Los Angeles Angels' playoff hopes.


Beltre looks to continue his hot hitting as the Rangers attempt to close in on the division crown Thursday night against the Angels in the opener of this season-ending series with major postseason implications.


Texas (86-72) is atop the West by 2 1/2 games on Houston and three ahead of the Angels (83-75) heading into this four-game set. The Astros are idle until opening a three-game series with Arizona on Friday.


While the Rangers' chances of clinching the West are on hold, they can assure themselves of at least a wild-card spot with one more win.


"I think you can't help but feel it. We also believe in the fact that these guys are in the now ... no opportunity wasted," first-year manager Jeff Banister said. "They really don't get caught up with what's down the road, but I believe that it brings a sense of energy and a little added energy for us, and some added focus."


That's certainly true for Beltre, who's hitting .416 with four homers and 24 RBIs over the past 19 games. However, his impact has been clear in Texas' 13 victories over that stretch, batting .500 while hitting all of those homers and driving in all of those runs.


He came through again Wednesday, connecting for a two-run blast and a double in a 6-2 win over Detroit.


"The captain, the guy that sits right in the middle of our club, beacon that all these guys look towards," Banister said.


The Angels fell one-half game behind Houston in the race for the AL's second wild-card spot after losing 8-7 to Oakland on Wednesday. They committed a season-high four errors as their seven-game winning streak ended.


"We're a better team than that," said second baseman Johnny Giavotella, who had one of the errors. "To win a championship, you can't have those errors."


Mike Trout went 3 for 3 with his 41st homer Wednesday, giving him a .375 average with five home runs and 11 RBIs in the past 13 games. He's hitting .415 with five homers while plating 13 runs in 15 meetings with Texas this year.


Andrew Heaney (6-3, 3.29 ERA) takes the mound, and the rookie left-hander has a 2.12 ERA while not getting a decision in his last three starts. He allowed two runs in six innings before David Freese hit a walkoff homer in Saturday's 3-2 win over Seattle.


Heaney had the same line while earning a 13-7 home win over Texas on July 26.


He's 3-1 with a 2.23 ERA in seven road starts.


The Rangers turn to Derek Holland (3-3, 4.99), who is 0-2 with an 8.59 ERA over his last four starts after going 3-0 with a 2.15 ERA in his first four since returning from a shoulder injury.


The left-hander had a scare in the first inning Saturday, when he was hit in the left middle finger by a line drive just above his head. He remained in the game and allowed four runs and three homers in five innings while not getting a decision in a 9-7 loss at Houston.


"It gets better every day," Holland told MLB's official website of his sore finger.


Holland is 1-1 with a 6.68 ERA over his last five home starts against the Angels. He yielded one run in eight innings of a 2-1 victory at Los Angeles on Sept. 5.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Angels at Rangers
Thu, Oct 1 - 8:05PM EDT


GAME 2
Angels at Rangers
Fri, Oct 2 - 8:05PM EDT


GAME 3
Angels at Rangers
Sat, Oct 3 - 1:05PM EDT


GAME 4
Angels at Rangers
Sun, Oct 4 - 3:05PM EDT