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August Pitchers Report

August 1, 2013


With the MLB trade deadline at hand and the NFL preseason whetting our pigskin appetite, the month of August sets the table for the stretch run of the baseball season. Which pitchers can we count on to satisfy our tastes, and which ones figure to turn our stomach? Take a look below.

Listed below are hurlers that have enjoyed a two-to-one or better success ratio in team starts the last three seasons during the month of August. On the flip side, we’ve also listed pitchers that struggle in August team starts, winning 33% percent or less of their efforts. To qualify pitchers must have made a minimum of 10 starts, with at least one start each August over the last three years. I’ll be back next month with September’s Good Month Pitchers. Until then, enjoy…

GOOD MONTH PITCHERS

Chen, Bruce - 13-5

Since being placed back in the starting rotation, Chen has been a valuable commodity for Kansas City and continued to throw extremely well in producing a 2.09 ERA. If the Royals are really going to make a run at the wildcard, Chen will have to match his previous August numbers.

Cueto, Johnny - 10-5

Has been on the DL since June 30 with a right shoulder strain and there is no specific timetable for his return.

Gallardo, Yovanni - 12-4

Though just 27-years-old, the radar gun does not lie and the Milwaukee right-hander has lost three to four MPH off his fastball accounting for career-worst ERA (4.91). It does not help playing for one of the worst teams in baseball, but this is his own doing, with opposing right hand hitters ripping a robust .286 against his tosses. Can he turn it around this month like in the past?

Halladay, Roy - 12-5

On July 21, Halladay threw off a mound for the first time since having corrective surgery on his throwing shoulder. Reports have his range of motion much improved, but at this juncture his return this month is questionable.

Hernandez, Felix - 12-5

It is just remarkable. Year after year, King Felix keeps putting up phenomenal numbers, despite pitching for a mediocre Seattle club. This season has been no different and Hernandez has not lost a game since May 25 and history tells us he will not drop many this month either.

Kennedy, Ian - 13-5

After winning 36 games the last two years, it has not been a good year for the former-Arizona right-hander with only three victories. This season he’s giving up over a hit an inning and he’s on pace to surrender a career-high in walks if he generates enough innings. The Diamondbacks traded him to San Diego on July 31 to upgrade their depleted bullpen.

Oswalt, Roy - 9-3

Suffered an injury on July 22 and has been doing rehab work since. He could come back this month, but at 0-4 with 7.64 ERA with the Rockies, no reason to rush Oswalt back, who is a shell of his Astros days.

Sabathia, CC - 11-5

Sabathia turned 33 years old last month and has lost three to four MPH on his fastball. At 95+ you can miss spots and still get out big league hitters. However, with decreased movement and throwing in the low 90’s, CC’s ERA could be headed for the worst of his stellar career. Still thought of as a big-game pitcher, Sabathia has to rebound or the Yankees have no shot at the playoffs.

Santana, Ervin - 13-4

Though his record does not show it, the change of scenery helped Santana and the 30-year old Kansas City pitcher has been hovering around three all year with his ERA. Santana continues to pound the strike zone and he’s conceded only 31 walks in 21 starts. The Royals were playing good baseball at the end of July and if the Dominican dandy stays true to form, K.C. might be playing meaningful games all month long.

Scherzer, Max - 11-5

There have been Scherzer critics, pointing to his gaudy record of 15-1 being a byproduct of run support and very favorable pitching matchups. While there might be a speck of truth in this argument, ask opposing hitters what they think, batting .197 against him. And he’s second in punch-outs in the American League.

Shields, James - 13-4

The Royals righty is beginning to command his pitches better of late and working later into games, as was his custom with Tampa Bay. If Shields can continue to throw well and match his road ERA (2.50), he and Santana form a nice 1-2 combo at the top of the Kansas City rotation.

BAD MONTH PITCHERS

Burnett, A. J. - 4-11

At this time, Burnett only has 25 percent of the total wins he had in 2012, yet his ERA is a half a run lower, suggesting the lack of run support. If Burnett can keep throwing strikes with his cut fastball and sweeping curveball, the runs should come. Missing a few starts in June should help be fresher in the later stages of the season.

Cecil, Brett - 4-8

Has worked exclusively out of the Toronto bullpen in 2013.

Corriea, Kevin - 4-9

The Minnesota right-hander has done his part to be a part of the worst starting pitching staff in baseball and has a 5.27 ERA in his last 10 outings. A combined 80 hits and walks over 54.2 innings will lead to a bloated ERA. No reason to believe soft-tossing Corriea will improve his stock with the Twins.

Hanson, Tommy - 3-7

His record might say 4-2, but Hanson has been another bust for Los Angeles. To this point he’s only made 11 starts after being counted on as the fourth or fifth man in the Angels rotation, with an ERA over five. Hanson’s 11-4 rookie campaign of 2009 seems a long time ago.

Hernandez, Roberto - 4-10 (formerly Fausto Carmona)

Even the normally positive skipper of Tampa Bay Joe Maddon is finding it challenging to say upbeat phrases about this pitcher. The Rays have a plethora of outstanding starting pitchers and more are on the way. Simply speaking, by whatever name, Hernandez and his 4.71 ERA is not getting it done.

Lincecum, Tim - 5-11

Though Lincecum has generally thrown better this year compared to last, chances are this will be the third straight year he will finish with a record below .500. San Francisco will have to make a decision about the undersized state of Washington native, who will likely never again reach 220 or more strikeouts, which he did from 2008 to 2011. Strictly a 50-50 proposition these days.

Maholm, Paul - 5-10

After a quick start with the Braves, Maholm has settled into career pattern of being ordinary ball chucker. His only saving grace is being on Atlanta who can hit home runs in bunches. Right-handed batters are hitting .301 against his deliveries in 2013.

Ohlendorf, Ross - 2-9

Starting the season at Triple-A Syracuse, Ohlendorf was advanced to the Washington roster in June and has pitched mostly in relief except for a couple a good spot starts for the Nationals. The more he starts, the more the righty will be exposed.

Saunders, Joe - 5-11

At this juncture of his career, Saunders is a back of the rotation hurler who can eat up innings. This year his splits are incredible, and probably should be used accordingly. The lefty has a 3.62 Safeco Field ERA, compared to 5.53 in away games. And the time of day Saunders pitches have day and night results, literally. His ERA is 3.80 after dark and an unsettling 6.58 during the day.
 

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Thursday Matinee Action

August 1, 2013


The start of August baseball showcases three matinee affairs, including four pitchers taking the mound owning an ERA of 3.42 or lower. All three favorites are teams that are playing well of late, including the Mets, who have picked up a handful of victories at Miami and the Indians, who try to stay hot at home against Chicago.

White Sox at Indians – 12:05 PM EST

Probables: C. Sale (6-10, 2.69 ERA) vs. J. Masterson (12-7, 3.42 ERA)

Series recap: Either the Indians keep finding ways to win games or the White Sox keep inventing ways to lose games. Cleveland beat Chicago for the third straight night, 6-5 in 10 innings as $1.50 home favorites. The Indians won for the second time in this series thanks to a walk-off homer, as Carlos Santana capped a thrilling rally in the 10th inning. After Chicago scored two runs to take a 5-3 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth, the Tribe loaded the bases with no outs and scored two runs on deep sacrifice flies to tie the contest.

Pitching notes: Justin Masterson has mastered the White Sox in his Cleveland tenure, beating Chicago three times this season, while the Indians are 6-1 against Chicago since last May when he takes the mound. The Tribe has won nine of Masterson's 12 home starts this season, including a 1-0 shutout in his last outing against the Rangers.

Chris Sale hasn't received great run support, as the Sox have scored one run or less in seven of the southpaw's starts. Chicago is 2-4 in Sale's previous six starts, in spite of the lefty tossing six consecutive quality outings. The Sox have cashed in four of Sale's six starts in the role of a road underdog, but he has lost twice to Cleveland.

Mets at Marlins – 12:40 PM EST

Probables: M. Harvey (8-2, 2.11 ERA) vs. T. Koehler (2-6, 4.67 ERA)

Series recap: The Marlins finally broke through against the Mets by squeaking out a 3-2 home triumph on Wednesday. Miami lost the first two games of this series, including a 10-inning defeat on Tuesday, but the Marlins improved to 8-3 the last 11 meetings with New York. Following an 'over' in the series opener, the Marlins and Mets have each cashed the 'under' in the last two games.

Pitching notes: Matt Harvey has allowed just one (unearned) run in his last two outings since starting the All-Star Game, as the Mets split games against the Nationals and Phillies. However, the Mets' ace hasn't figured out how to slow down the Miami lineup as New York is 0-3 in his three starts against the Fish this season (all no-decisions).

The Marlins send out Tom Koehler, who owns a 1-4 record at home this season. The right-hander has put together two terrific starts as a heavy underdog at Colorado and San Francisco, but allowed five earned runs in his previous outing, a home loss to the Pirates.

Royals at Indians – 1:10 PM EST

Probables: J. Shields (5-7, 3.09 ERA) vs. S. Diamond (5-9, 5.26 ERA)

Series recap: The Royals held on for their eighth consecutive victory on Wednesday, a 4-3 triumph as short road favorites. The Twins had multiple opportunities after tying the game at 2-2, but failed to score with the bases loaded in the sixth, two runners on in the eighth, and the game-tying run on in the ninth. Kansas City has won four of the last five meetings at Target Field, while beating Minnesota nine of 12 times this season.

Pitching notes: James Shields is listed as a heavy road favorite today, as the Royals are 3-3 in his six starts as away 'chalk.' The righty dominated the White Sox in his previous outing by tossing seven scoreless innings in a 5-1 victory, as the Royals own a 9-2 record in Shields' last 11 trips to the mound.

Scott Diamond pitched well in his previous outing as a $2.20 road underdog at Seattle, limiting the Mariners to five hits and one earned run in 6.2 innings of work as the Twins edged the M's in extra-innings, 3-2. However, Minnesota hasn't had great luck with Diamond on the mound in the role of a home underdog, posting an 0-6 record.
 

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Preview: White Sox (40-65) at Indians (59-48)
Game: 4
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: August 01, 2013 12:05 PM EDT


While Justin Masterson again finds himself in a successful stretch for the surging Cleveland Indians, Chris Sale remains a recipient of hard luck for the lowly Chicago White Sox.

The All-Star aces square off when the Indians try for an eighth consecutive victory and a four-game sweep of the visiting White Sox on Thursday.

Cleveland (59-48) tied the game with two runs in the ninth inning Wednesday, then won 6-5 on Carlos Santana's homer in the 10th. Winners in 12 of 16, the Indians last won eight straight April 3-11, 2011.

"Winning and the way you're winning breeds confidence,' said manager Terry Francona, whose team is 7-1 in extra innings. "I always think we have a chance.'

The Indians have averaged 7.4 runs during a seven-game winning streak over the White Sox (40-65), who have dropped six in a row and 12 of 15.

"None of us have the answer for what's going on,' losing pitcher Dylan Axelrod said. "When things are going bad, things are going bad.'

Things likely won't get an easier for the White Sox against Masterson (12-7, 3.42 ERA), who has allowed three runs, 10 hits and struck out 22 over 21 1-3 innings to go 2-0 in his last three starts. The right-hander yielded five of those hits and fanned eight in 7 2-3 innings to best Yu Darvish in Saturday's 1-0 victory over Texas.

"He's taken that title of an ace and ran with it," setup man Joe Smith told the Indians' official website. "He wants it. He wants to be in that position. That's awesome to have a guy that wants it like that."

Masterson has given up three runs over 31 innings in his last four starts versus Chicago, including two in 25 this season. He tossed a six-hitter and struck out eight in a 4-0 victory June 30 at U.S. Cellular Field, when Sale (6-10, 2.69) yielded three runs and fanned 10 in eight innings.

The left-hander is the first White Sox pitcher since Mark Buehrle in 2002 to lose four times in a season when lasting at least eight innings and giving up three or fewer earned runs. That's been the case in Sale's last two, where he's allowed three earned in 17 innings but lost both.

He gave up a run while going the distance in Saturday's 1-0 loss to Kansas City to fall to 1-8 with a 2.84 ERA in his last 10 starts.

Sale's 2.50 run-support average is the worst in the majors.

"It's not easy to try and explain it to him,' manager Robin Ventura said. "But he's learned a tough lesson and part of baseball. He pitched great tonight, there's no question about it. You can't be perfect but he's pretty dang close.'

The worst outing of Sale's career came at Progressive Field on April 13, when he allowed eight runs, including six on homers to Mark Reynolds and Nick Swisher, in 4 1-3 innings of a 9-2 defeat.

Though Chicago traded pitchers Jake Peavy, Jesse Crain and Matt Thornton this month, it held on to veteran outfielder Alex Rios, who is 3 for 12 in this series and batting .206 with nine strikeouts in the last eight games.

He's 1 for 10 versus Masterson this season.

Swisher is batting .333 (7 for 21) in his last six versus Chicago, and 2 for his last 5 with that homer and a double against Sale.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
White Sox at Indians
Mon, Jul 29 Final 2 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
White Sox at Indians
Tue, Jul 30 Final 4 to 7
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
White Sox at Indians
Wed, Jul 31 Final 5 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 4
White Sox at Indians
Thu, Aug 1 - 12:05PM EDT
 

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Preview: Mets (48-57) at Marlins (41-65)
Game: 4
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: August 01, 2013 12:40 PM EDT


While the New York Mets appear to have a good chance to take the rubber match with Matt Harvey on the mound, the Miami Marlins have found ways to pull out victories when facing the All-Star.

Harvey and the Mets look to win a series against the lowly Marlins for the first time since the opening week of the season Thursday in Miami.

Following a pair of New York victories, Jake Marisnick hit his first major league home run and Henderson Alvarez pitched into the eighth inning as the Marlins (41-65) bounced back in this four-game set with Wednesday's 3-2 win.

``It felt good,' said Marisnick, hitting .179 (5 for 28) in his first eight games before the homer. ``It was the first at-bat where I really slowed everything down.'

Marisnick and Alvarez were acquired, along with shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria, in November's trade that sent Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, Josh Johnson, John Buck, and Emilio Bonifacio to Toronto.

"I think you realize how good of players we got in that trade and how much those guys are going to be a big part of not only this team this year, but the future,' manager Mike Redmond said. "These guys can play.'

The Mets (48-57) have dropped nine of 14 in the season series and haven't won a set versus NL-worst Miami since taking two of three at Citi Field from April 5-7.

They'll attempt to change that and salvage a split of their eight-game road trip behind Harvey (8-2, 2.11 ERA).

The right-hander has limited opponents to three runs or fewer in eight of his last nine starts. He's 3-2 with a 2.03 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 62 innings over that span.

Harvey also hasn't allowed an earned run in 15 innings after giving up one unearned run over eight frames before leaving without a decision in Friday's 2-1 loss at Washington.

Harvey has been tough to beat on the road, where he is 5-0 with a 2.23 ERA in nine starts.

The Marlins, though, have won both his outings in Miami, including a 4-3, 15-inning win April 29. They also pulled out a 2-1, 20-inning victory in Harvey's start in New York on June 8.

Harvey has yet to earn a decision versus Miami despite striking out 18 and posting a 3.12 ERA in three starts. The Marlins, however, are hitting .333 against him this season.

Miami seeks its seventh win in 11 games as it gives the ball Tom Koehler (2-6, 4.67).

He looks to continue a recent outstanding stretch by Miami starters, who have a 2.64 ERA in the last 10 games and haven't allowed a homer in their last eight.

After going 2-0 with a 2.74 ERA in his previous four starts, the right-hander allowed five runs - three in the first - and nine hits over five innings in a 7-4 loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday.

It was the third time Koehler gave up at least three first-inning runs in six starts, but that might not be a concern against a New York lineup that hasn't scored in the first in its last six games.

Koehler is 0-1 with a 5.25 ERA in two career starts against the Mets.

Daniel Murphy is 3 for 8 with a home run in this matchup. Teammate Marlon Byrd struck out in his only at-bat against Koehler, but he's 7 for 17 in his last four games overall.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Mets at Marlins
Mon, Jul 29 Final 6 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Mets at Marlins
Tue, Jul 30 Final 4 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Mets at Marlins
Wed, Jul 31 Final 2 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 4
Mets at Marlins
Thu, Aug 1 - 12:40PM EDT
 

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Preview: Royals (53-51) at Twins (45-59)
Game: 3
Venue: Target Field
Date: August 01, 2013 1:10 PM EDT


The Kansas City Royals received plenty of flak for trading two of their top prospects for James Shields in the offseason, but he's proving to be a major reason they're heading into August with legitimate playoff hopes.

Shields takes the mound as visiting Kansas City seeks a ninth consecutive win Thursday against the Twins - and its first sweep in Minnesota in 14 years.

The Royals dealt Wil Myers and pitching prospect Jake Odorizzi, along with two other minor leaguers, to Tampa Bay for Shields on Dec. 10 in a trade that was made with the present in mind.

Kansas City (53-51) doesn't have many complaints right now as it is just 4 1/2 games behind Cleveland for the AL's second wild-card spot. The Royals haven't been above .500 this late since finishing 83-79 in 2003.

They started that season 9-0, which also is the last time they've had a winning streak of that length.

"We're just hoping to continue it every day,' said Billy Butler, who drove in two runs in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Twins. "Everybody in here doesn't want to be the guy that ends the streak. That's the type of pressure we want to put ourselves in.'

The Royals haven't swept a series in Minnesota since taking four games May 7-10, 1999.

Though Shields (5-7, 3.09 ERA) has been solid, the offense hasn't provide much support for him.

Shields ranks near the bottom of the majors with a 3.39 run-support average, but he didn't need much help while pitching seven scoreless innings of Friday's 5-1 win over the Chicago White Sox.

He's 2-1 with a 2.42 ERA while getting 10 runs of support over his last four outings.

"Forget the record,' manager Ned Yost said. "The record doesn't tell a quarter of the story of the way he's pitched all year. He's been really, really good. He's an innings eater (and) he keeps us in the game every time. We've just struggled to score runs for him."

The Royals didn't have trouble scoring the last time Shields faced the Twins, winning 9-3 as he gave up three runs in 6 1-3 innings June 28. The right-hander is 2-1 with a 2.62 ERA in his last five starts versus Minnesota.

The Twins (45-59) have dropped three straight after Wednesday's defeat, as shortstop Pedro Florimon made a crucial error in the seventh that eventually led to two runs scoring.

Florimon did homer in the fifth, though, while Trevor Plouffe and Chris Herrmann each drove in a run.

"They're hot right now," manager Ron Gardenhire said of the Royals. "Things are going their way. They're definitely into the games over there."

Scott Diamond will take the hill looking to cool off Kansas City while picking up his first victory since June 20.

Diamond (5-9, 5.26) has gone 0-3 with a 5.23 ERA over his last six starts, though he limited Seattle to one run in 6 2-3 innings of Minnesota's 3-2, 13-inning win on Friday.

"We really just continued to attack the zone and kept them on their heels," Diamond said. "It really paid off."

The left-hander allowed four runs and 10 hits over six innings while losing each of his last two starts versus the Royals in 2012.

Kansas City has a 1.44 ERA during its winning streak, and Minnesota is averaging 2.6 runs while dropping five of seven.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Royals at Twins
Tue, Jul 30 Final 7 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Royals at Twins
Wed, Jul 31 Final 4 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Royals at Twins
Thu, Aug 1 - 1:10PM EDT
 

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Preview: Astros (36-70) at Orioles (59-49)
Game: 3
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: August 01, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


BALTIMORE (AP) - Bud Norris walked down the hall to his new team, the Baltimore Orioles, and stepped right into the middle of a pennant race.

Norris was dealt from the Houston Astros to the Orioles on Wednesday, and he'll make his first start for Baltimore on Thursday night against the club that drafted him.

Baltimore (59-49) sent outfielder L.J. Hoes and left-handed prospect Josh Hader to the Astros (36-70) for Norris, a 28-year-old right-hander.

"We've been trying to bolster our pitching staff, and in Bud Norris we have a pitcher that can give us some quality innings," said Dan Duquette, Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations. "He's been a very dependable pitcher for Houston over the course of his career."

The Astros and Orioles were in the middle of a three-game series as the non-waiver trade deadline expired. So Norris packed up his gear and made his way a few hundred yards through the bowels of Camden Yards to the home clubhouse to begin the next chapter of his big league career.

In the process, he left the team with the worst record in the majors to a club seeking a second straight trip to the playoffs.

"I'm excited for the future," Norris said. "I pitched my way into this situation to be traded and help out a team. This (Baltimore) team is a young club, they know how to contend. They had an amazing year last year. I just want to be any piece of the puzzle I can to help this team keep pushing to the World Series."

In his fifth big league season after being picked by the Astros in the sixth round of the 2006 draft, Norris is 6-9 with a 3.93 ERA in 21 starts this year. He has a lifetime record of 34-46, going 13-28 with a 5.46 ERA outside of Houston.

"He's competitive, a strike-thrower. He has a nice approach," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "He's been healthy, and he competes. I like that fact that he gets after it. He'll have some challenges ahead of him, but he's not the only guy that's got to do well for us to be more competitive."

Norris was the third pitching addition the Orioles made via trade in July; previously they obtained Scott Feldman and Francisco Rodriguez.

"I really thought once they got Scott Feldman my chances went down," Norris said. "But obviously we got a couple guys now."

Scratched from his scheduled start Tuesday, Norris is ready to take the mound for Baltimore.

"I'm pretty fresh," said Norris, who hasn't pitched since July 24.

Hoes was one of the Orioles' top prospects. A third-round pick in 2008, Hoes was hitting .304 for Triple-A Norfolk before being recalled Sunday by the Orioles.

He was in Baltimore's starting lineup Wednesday. Then, after the trade, Hoes was inserted into Houston's starting lineup. Hoes went 0 for 5 with two strikeouts, but he and his new teammates enjoyed a rare 11-0 laugher as the Astros won for the sixth time in 27 games.

"It's not every day that you show up to a major league ballpark and look at the opposing team's lineup and see someone in the lineup playing left field for that team, then an hour later he's been traded and is now on your team and is playing right field," Houston manager Bo Porter said.

For the Astros, the rebuilding process continues.

"Whenever you lose your opening day starter, and a guy that's been our best pitcher all year, it's definitely a blow to the ballclub," Porter said. "I think we have enough young pitching in our organization that we feel comfortable moving forward that we can replace those starts the rest of the year."

Jordan Lyles (4-4, 4.92 ERA) gets the nod for the Astros as they try to win two in a row for the first time since a four-game run June 12-16. The 22-year-old right-hander is 0-3 with an 8.13 ERA in his last six starts, with the Astros losing each game.

Lyles, who went 4-1 with a 3.22 ERA in his first 10 outings, has never faced Baltimore.


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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Astros at Orioles
Tue, Jul 30 Final 3 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Astros at Orioles
Wed, Jul 31 Final 11 to 0
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Astros at Orioles
Thu, Aug 1 - 7:05PM EDT
 

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Preview: Diamondbacks (55-52) at Rangers (59-49)
Game: 1
Venue: Rangers Ballpark in Arlington
Date: August 01, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


The Texas Rangers didn't make any headlines as the non-waiver trade deadline passed, but the drama on the field continued with another late-inning victory.

Yu Darvish takes the mound looking to help Texas win a fourth straight as it hosts the Arizona Diamondbacks in a makeup game Thursday night.

Texas (59-49) had lost 12 of its last 15 and had been shut out three times during a four-game losing streak entering their series with the Los Angeles Angels on Monday.

The Rangers ended their skid on Geovany Soto's ninth-inning, two-run homer for a 4-3 victory in the opener, won 14-11 when Leonys Martin hit a three-run shot in the 10th on Tuesday and completed the sweep with a 2-1 victory Wednesday as Adrian Beltre hit a walkoff homer in the ninth.

Texas became the first team to sweep a three-game series with all game-ending homers since the 1999 Diamondbacks did it against the Montreal Expos from May 10-12, 1999.

"Our offense has been the reason why we struggled the last few weeks, and our offense is getting a lot better,' Beltre said.

Combined with Oakland's 5-2, 10-inning loss to Toronto, the Rangers pulled to within four games of the AL West lead. Still, general manager Jon Daniels elected not to make any trades as the deadline passed Wednesday afternoon.

There was speculation Texas would seek an outfielder to replace Nelson Cruz in case he's suspended for his connection to the Biogenesis scandal, but Cruz was in the lineup Wednesday and hit his team-best 25th homer.

"All I know is what you guys know,' manager Ron Washington said of Cruz's situation.

Darvish (9-5, 2.80 ERA) will try to help Texas stay hot as he looks for a third straight impressive start since coming off the disabled list with an upper back strain.

He allowed two hits in 6 1-3 innings of a 3-0 win over the New York Yankees on July 22 before giving up one run and three hits while striking out 11 in six frames of a 1-0 loss to Cleveland on Saturday.

The run Darvish allowed came on a homer to the first batter he faced.

"Things like this are just part of the game,' Darvish said through an interpreter. "Some games pitchers don't perform their best, and some games hitters don't perform their best.'

After having a 9.05 run-support average though his first nine starts, Darvish's RSA is just 2.54 over his last 11. He's 2-4 in that current stretch despite positing a 2.66 ERA.

The right-hander tied a career high with 14 strikeouts against Arizona on May 27, but he allowed a tying two-run homer to Didi Gregorius in the bottom of the eighth and the Diamondbacks rallied for a 5-4 win.

Arizona (55-52) made a bold move at the deadline, dealing pitcher Ian Kennedy to San Diego for left-handed reliever Joe Thatcher, a minor leaguer and a draft pick. That trade is part of the reason Zeke Spruill will be making his first major league start Thursday.

Spruill (0-0, 2.08) pitched 4 1-3 innings of relief over four appearances in a brief call-up in June. The right-hander, though, hasn't allowed an earned run in 31 2-3 consecutive innings while going 3-0 over his last five starts for Triple-A Reno.

The Diamondbacks, who had lost three straight, got solid pitching in Tuesday's 7-0 win over Tampa Bay, while Eric Chavez and Paul Goldschmidt each homered.

"We were struggling offensively," Chavez said. "It was nice to get that one, for sure."

Goldschmidt is 4 for 27 over his last seven games, with three of those hits leaving the park.

This contest is a makeup for the May 28 rainout. Arizona has won two of the previous three meetings.

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MLB HEAD TO HEAD

May 30, 2013 Score ATS Results
ARI 5 Over: 14
TEX « 9 Cover: +100
Tools: Boxscores • Recaps

May 29, 2013 Score ATS Results
ARI 0 Under: 0
TEX « 0 Cover: +100
Tools: Recaps

May 27, 2013 Score ATS Results
TEX 4 Over: 9
ARI « 5 Cover: +131
Tools: Boxscores • Recaps

May 27, 2013 Score ATS Results
TEX 3 Under: 8
ARI « 5 Cover: +100
Tools: Boxscores • Recaps

Mar 2, 2013 Score ATS Results
TEX « 7 Cover: +100
ARI 1 Over: 8
Tools: Recaps
 

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Preview: Giants (47-59) at Phillies (50-57)
Game: 3
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: August 01, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


The non-waiver trade deadline came and went as the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants - clubs that expected to contend yet are toiling below .500 - surprisingly stood pat.

Each team sends disappointing starters to the mound Thursday night, as Cole Hamels looks to help Philadelphia avoid a 10th loss in 11 games while facing Matt Cain and visiting San Francisco.

The Phillies (50-57) haven't finished under .500 since going 80-81 in 2002, but they may be headed there again. General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. decided not to make any changes, though, as Wednesday's trade deadline passed.

Despite rumors regarding multiple players, Amaro is prepared to move forward with the current club.

``We talked about a couple things, but the bottom line was we didn't find anything satisfactory that we thought was going to improve us,' Amaro said.

Manager Charlie Manuel seemed relieved that he doesn't have to discuss those rumors any longer.

"If you play the game the right way, you never know how good you can do," Manuel said before Wednesday's contest. "Every team somewhere along the line has had a (winning) streak. We haven't. Maybe we got one coming to us.'

Not long after Manuel's statement, though, Philadelphia was routed by the Giants 9-2, one day after ending its eight-game losing streak with a 7-3 victory in Tuesday's series opener.

Chase Utley, one subject of trade talk, homered and drove in both runs.

The defending World Series champion Giants (47-59) also declined to make a move despite sitting in last place in the NL West. They had lost five straight and eight of nine before Wednesday's victory.

Brett Pill went 3 for 5 with a homer and four RBIs, and Brandon Crawford added a solo shot.

``I think it may have relaxed the guys,' manager Bruce Bochy said of the deadline passing. ``We got a couple hits early and the confidence came back.'

Hamels (4-13, 4.09 ERA) and Cain (6-6, 4.79) have both fallen well short of expectations this season, though each has pitched better lately.

Hamels has lowed his ERA nearly one-half run over his last five starts by going 2-2 with a 2.57 mark in that stretch. He allowed two runs and struck out six in seven innings Friday but fell 2-1 at Detroit.

The left-hander is tied with former Phillie Joe Blanton for the majors' most defeats, and wins have been difficult to come by against San Francisco recently as well. Hamels is 1-3 with a 4.14 ERA in his last six starts against the Giants, including a loss opposite Cain in Game 3 of the 2010 NLCS.

He gave up five runs in 7 2-3 innings while Cain allowed five in eight frames of San Francisco's 6-5, 10-inning win July 21, 2012, the last time either hurler faced these teams.

Cain had a 5.45 ERA through his first 12 starts, but he's posted a 3.81 mark in his last nine outings. He allowed one run and struck out seven in seven innings Friday before the Chicago Cubs rallied in the ninth to defeat the Giants 3-2.

"I felt good," Cain said. "I just had a good feeling out of the (pregame tosses in the bullpen) early."

The right-hander is 2-4 with a 3.32 ERA in 10 career starts versus the Phillies, including the NLCS win over Hamels.

Buster Posey is 5 for 7 with a homer and three doubles off Hamels in the regular season.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Giants at Phillies
Tue, Jul 30 Final 3 to 7
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Giants at Phillies
Wed, Jul 31 Final 9 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Giants at Phillies
Thu, Aug 1 - 7:05PM EDT
 

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Preview: Cardinals (62-44) at Pirates (65-42)
Game: 4
Venue: PNC Park
Date: August 01, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


Even after Thursday night's finale of a five-game series, the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates will play nine more times over the season's final two months.

If it were up to the Pirates, they'd probably prefer to get those in right now.

Pittsburgh looks to become the first team in nearly a century to sweep the Cardinals in a five-game series as it heads into August trying to grab a 3 1/2-game lead atop the NL Central.

The Cardinals (62-44) led the Pirates by 2 1/2 games on July 26, but six days later it's Pittsburgh (65-42) that has a 2 1/2-game cushion and the best record in baseball.

The Pirates held St. Louis to three total runs in winning three times Monday and Tuesday, but the Cardinals' offense briefly came to life Wednesday. After scoring four times on 10 hits in the first four innings, though, St. Louis was held to three hits the rest of the way as Pittsburgh rallied to win 5-4.

It enters August 23 games above .500 for the first time since 1972.

"We can win just about every way possible,' manager Clint Hurdle said.

A Pirates win Thursday would complete the first sweep of the Cardinals in a series of at least five games since the New York Giants took six in September 1916. Pittsburgh's last five-game sweep came against the San Francisco Giants in September 1996.

The Pirates have the Cardinals on the verge of their first eight-game skid since September 2007, and they've won six straight in this series for the first time since 1992 - the franchise's last winning season. Pittsburgh has outscored St. Louis 36-10 in that stretch, pounding out 23 extra-base hits to the Cardinals' seven.

St. Louis hasn't homered in those six games and has hit just one in 13 contests since the All-Star break.

The Cardinals have only hit four homers in the 11 games Charlie Morton (3-2, 3.59 ERA) has started against them, but they've been productive in many other ways. The right-hander is 2-7 with a 6.17 ERA against St. Louis, though he has a 3.18 ERA in five starts in the series at PNC Park.

Allen Craig is 7 for 12 against Morton, yet the majors' best hitter with runners in scoring position (.465) isn't exactly thriving at the plate right now. His first-inning single Wednesday broke an 0-for-23 skid, but he went hitless in his final four at_bats.

Matt Carpenter got the night off Wednesday in the midst of a 2-for-24 road trip, while All-Star catcher Yadier Molina was placed on the disabled list with a strained right knee.

"There's something we're not doing, and we know we're not doing it and fixing it,' manager Mike Matheny said.

Morton has allowed 18 baserunners over 11 2-3 innings in his last two starts, but has won them both. He gave up four runs and nine hits over five innings Saturday in a 7-4 victory at Miami.

He'll be opposed by Joe Kelly (1-3, 3.44), who earned himself another shot at St. Louis' very vacant No. 5 starter spot with an impressive outing Saturday in Atlanta. The right-hander held the Braves scoreless for 6 1-3 innings in the Cardinals' 2-0 loss.

"Very, very impressive,' Matheny said. "It was maybe the best I've ever seen him throw. Everything. His aggressiveness, his slider, breaking ball, changeup; all of them were as good as I've seen."

Kelly is 0-2 with a 6.43 ERA in five games - one start - against the Pirates. He gave up four runs and three hits - including a two-run homer to Russell Martin - while getting just one out in relief during a 5-3 loss April 27.

Pittsburgh left fielder Starling Marte has hit safely in all 11 career games against St. Louis, posting a .444 on-base percentage.

============================================

SERIES AT A GLANCE
GAME 1

Cardinals at Pirates
Mon, Jul 29 Final 2 to 9
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Cardinals at Pirates
Tue, Jul 30 Final 0 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Cardinals at Pirates
Wed, Jul 31 Final 4 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 4
Cardinals at Pirates
Thu, Aug 1 - 7:05PM EDT
 

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Preview: Mariners (50-57) at Red Sox (65-44)
Game: 3
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: August 01, 2013 7:10 PM EDT


After extending their winning streak against the Seattle Mariners in dramatic fashion, the Boston Red Sox might have a difficult time keeping it going against one of baseball's toughest pitchers.

The AL East-leading Red Sox look for a ninth straight home win over the Mariners on Thursday night when they face ace Felix Hernandez.

Boston (65-44) regained a half-game lead over Tampa Bay as Stephen Drew delivered a walk-off single in the bottom of the 15th inning in Wednesday's 5-4 victory. The Rays lost 7-0 to Arizona earlier.

"It's just huge to get a win out of that game,' Drew said. "Back and forth, their bullpen's doing well, our bullpen's doing well. We made some key plays that kept us in it.'

The Red Sox have enjoyed a bit of a power surge during this 4-1 stretch, hitting nine home runs after totaling eight in their previous 12. They're also batting .304 with nine homers while averaging 6.1 runs during their run at home versus the Mariners (50-57).

All-Star Dustin Pedroia has homered in the first two games of this set following a 2-for-35 slump. He's hitting .394 during the streak against Seattle.

Now Boston faces a tough test against Hernandez (11-4, 2.34 ERA), who will try to keep the Mariners from dropping their sixth in eight games.

The right-hander has gone 6-0 with a 2.18 ERA during an 11-start unbeaten streak, posting a 1.43 ERA in his past six outings.

Hernandez was two outs from his first shutout of the season Friday before Minnesota tied it in the top of the ninth and went on to win 3-2 in 13 innings. That's the only run he's allowed in his last 25 innings.

"Eight innings of Felix, vintage Felix, (but) obviously not a lot of run support for him,' said Mariners acting manager Robby Thompson.

Hernandez looks for his fourth straight victory over the Red Sox, though each of those came at Safeco Field. He's 3-1 with a 2.53 ERA in six career outings in Boston.

Jacoby Ellsbury has had success in this matchup of late, going 5 for 11 with two home runs the past three seasons. Mike Napoli, however, is 6 for 36 (.167) with 14 strikeouts lifetime against Hernandez.

The Red Sox seek their sixth straight win overall against the Mariners behind Ryan Dempster (6-8, 4.24).

The right-hander hopes to continue a strong stretch by Boston pitchers, who have a 1.94 ERA with 48 strikeouts in their last five games.

Dempster hasn't made it through the sixth inning in his last three outings - posting a 5.79 ERA - but the Red Sox have won each of them. He earned the victory Saturday in Baltimore, holding the Orioles to two runs over 5 1-3 innings in a 7-3 win.

That three-start stretch began when Dempster was tagged for a season-worst seven runs - four earned - and nine hits over 3 1-3 innings in an 8-7, 10-inning win July 11.

Kyle Seager homered off Dempster in that contest and is hitting .407 (11 for 27) against the Red Sox this season. He batted a major league-best .396 in July.

Teammate Kendrys Morales has five hits in the first two games of this set, leaving him 14 for 30 (.467) in his last seven versus Boston.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Mariners at Red Sox
Tue, Jul 30 Final 2 to 8
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Mariners at Red Sox
Wed, Jul 31 Final 4 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Mariners at Red Sox
Thu, Aug 1 - 7:10PM EDT
 

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Preview: Rockies (51-58) at Braves (63-45)
Game: 4
Venue: Turner Field
Date: August 01, 2013 7:10 PM EDT


The Atlanta Braves have made a habit of pounding Colorado Rockies pitching.

Looking to continue that trend, the NL East-leading Braves try to complete a four-game sweep of the visiting Rockies with a seventh consecutive win Thursday night.

Atlanta (63-45) has hit .323 and outscored Colorado 48-22 while winning five of six in the season series. The Braves have batted .353 while totaling 29 runs and 41 hits through the first three of this set to increase their division lead to a major-league best 11 games.

"We're clicking on all cylinders,' said first baseman Freddie Freeman, who had four hits with two RBIs in Wednesday's 9-0 rout.

The Braves posted a six-run inning in each of the first two contests and scored seven in the third Wednesday.

"I can't remember a time ever in my career (where) three games in a row they scored, what, six-plus runs?' said Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who is 0 for 10 in the series and 1 for 19 this season versus Atlanta. "Six in two games, seven (Wednesday)? In one inning?

"These last two games have just been bad. We got our butts kicked.'

The Braves have averaged 6.2 runs while winning 17 of 21 overall against the Rockies (51-58), who have dropped 11 of 12 at Turner Field.

Brian McCann hit a three-run homer to highlight that seven-run third Wednesday.

Freeman, meanwhile, is 6 for 8 with six RBIs in the last two games and batting 368 with 13 RBIs in 11 career home games versus Colorado.

Atlanta could be in for another big offensive night against Colorado's Chad Bettis, who will be thrown into the fire Thursday in his major league debut. The hard-throwing right-hander was 3-4 with a 3.71 ERA in 12 starts for Double-A Tulsa.

Colorado does not appear to have a definitive long-term plan for the 24-year-old, who missed all of last season with a shoulder injury and two months in 2013 with an oblique injury.

"We haven't talked about what his role would be," manager Walt Weiss told the Rockies' official website. "There are a couple of different schools of thought. He's been a starter, so his arm is built up to do that. Some people project him as a bullpen guy down the road.

"We'll figure all that stuff out."

The Braves counter with Julio Teheran (7-5, 3.07 ERA), who has not factored in the decision of his last two starts but has allowed one run, six hits and struck out 12 in 13 innings over those contests - both Atlanta victories. The right-hander gave up two hits in seven innings of a 2-0 win over St. Louis on Saturday.

"I think that's the best game I've ever pitched,' said Teheran, who is in his first full major league season. "The command I had, I think that's the best I've had this year.'

Teheran looked sharp when he yielded a run and eight hits over seven innings of a 10-2 victory at Colorado on April 23.

He likely won't have to face Rockies All-Star Carlos Gonzalez, who left Wednesday in the fourth inning after aggravating his sprained right middle finger and may land on the disabled list.

"I think it's worth having a discussion,' Weiss said. "I think he got it pretty good, too. It didn't look good. It's the same thing.

"We've talked about it; he's probably going to be dealing with this for a little while. We'll have to re-evaluate where he's at.'

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Rockies at Braves
Mon, Jul 29 Final 8 to 9
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Rockies at Braves
Tue, Jul 30 Final 3 to 11
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Rockies at Braves
Wed, Jul 31 Final 0 to 9
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 4
Rockies at Braves
Thu, Aug 1 - 7:10PM EDT
 

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Preview: Dodgers (57-49) at Cubs (49-58)
Game: 1
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: August 01, 2013 8:05 PM EDT


With a victory at Wrigley Field 58 years ago, the Dodgers recorded their most recent 11-game road winning streak.

Back in Chicago, Los Angeles is in position to again reach that mark Thursday night against the Cubs.

Though Los Angeles (57-49) lost 3-0 to the New York Yankees at home Wednesday, it's won 27 of 34 and owns a 2 1/2-game in the NL West. The Dodgers have won 15 of 17 during that stretch away from home, and averaged 7.0 runs while hitting .317 with 14 homers during a 10-game road winning streak that's highlighted their impressive turnaround

"Patience is one of the toughest traits you've got to have, because you play every day, and you evaluate every day, and every day seems like the end of world when you're going bad," general manager Ned Colletti told the Dodgers' official website. "We needed to get healthy, we needed to get our team here and see how they play."

The club was based in Brooklyn when it last won 11 straight road games from April 14-May 10, 1955. The Dodgers' final victory of that run came 3-0 Wrigley.

Though Los Angeles has won one of its last five series on Chicago's North Side, scheduled starter Ricky Nolasco (6-9, 3.72 ERA) is 4-2 with a 3.10 ERA in eight starts against a Cubs franchise that selected him in the fourth round of the 2001 draft. He allowed three runs in seven innings of a 6-4 win over Chicago for Miami on April 28.

One of three veteran pitchers the Dodgers acquired this month, the right-hander is 1-1 with a 3.13 ERA in four starts with the club. Nolasco gave up two hits but walked four in 5 2-3 innings of an 8-3, 10-inning win at Toronto last Wednesday.

He'll face a Cubs team that avoided a four-game sweep at the hands of Milwaukee with a 6-1 win Wednesday. Despite trading Matt Garza and Alfonso Soriano, Chicago finished July 14-13 to record its first winning month since going 15-10 last July.

"The good thing is I feel like we were incredibly productive this month," general manager Jed Hoyer said. "Made a lot of deals, I feel like we got a lot better as an organization this month.'

Anthony Rizzo, who hit a two-run homer Wednesday, is 7 for 17 in five games after going 0 for 12 in the previous three. He went 1 for 2 with a double against Nolasco in April.

Teammate David DeJesus went 7 for 16 with six RBIs in the series.

Starlin Castro, who also homered Wednesday, is 6 for 15 against Nolasco.

Chicago rookie Chris Rusin (1-0, 2.93) looks to build on the best of his 10 major league starts when he takes the mound in the opener. The left-hander allowed three hits in seven innings while not factoring in the decision of a 1-0 win at San Francisco on Saturday.

"Each outing I feel more comfortable," Rusin told the Cubs' official website after his third start this year. "I'm not as nervous as I was."

He won't need to worry about facing injured Los Angeles center fielder Matt Kemp, who could remain out until September with an ankle injury that's sidelined him since July 21.

Teammate Hanley Ramirez is batting .433 with seven homers and 19 RBIs while hitting safely in 20 of his last 21 road contests. Ramirez went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts Wednesday after reaching base safely in 37 straight games.

-----------------------------------------------------

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Dodgers at Cubs
Thu, Aug 1 - 8:05PM EDT

GAME 2
Dodgers at Cubs
Fri, Aug 2 - 4:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Dodgers at Cubs
Sat, Aug 3 - 4:05PM EDT

GAME 4
Dodgers at Cubs
Sun, Aug 4 - 2:20PM EDT
 

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Preview: Blue Jays (50-57) at Angels (48-58)
Game: 1
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Date: August 01, 2013 10:05 PM EDT


The Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Angels have been two of the most disappointing teams in baseball, though the Blue Jays have been playing better of late.

That certainly hasn't been the case when they've sent Josh Johnson to the mound.

Johnson looks to put his disastrous July behind him and lead the Blue Jays to their sixth win in eight games Thursday night when they try to deal the reeling Angels a seventh straight loss.

Jose Bautista hit a go-ahead double in the top of the 10th inning Wednesday as AL East-worst Toronto (50-57) took two of three at AL West-leading Oakland with a 5-2 victory.

"I don't think anybody really expected us to make a move in here," starter R.A. Dickey said. "We have the team in here, at least the nucleus in here, that's going to get it done one way or another.'

Los Angeles (48-58), meanwhile, is heading in the other direction after being the victim of a walk-off home run for the third straight game in Wednesday's 2-1 loss at Texas.

The Angels hope to avoid their first seven-game losing streak since April 30 - May 6, 2010, as they open this four-game set against Johnson (1-7, 6.08 ERA).

The right-hander will try to snap his career-worst five-start losing streak. He posted a 7.71 ERA in July, the second-highest for any pitcher to have made at least five starts.

Johnson matched a season high by giving up seven runs and seven hits - three homers - over 5 2-3 innings in an 8-6 loss to Houston on Saturday.

"He's scuffling, that's an understatement,' manager John Gibbons said. "You feel for the guy. And he's never struggled a whole lot in his career. He's trying to settle in, he's trying to contribute, and it hasn't gone well for him.'

Johnson, who has never faced the Angels, is 0-4 with a 7.66 ERA in five road starts this season.

He certainly figures to have his hands full with Mike Trout, who has three home runs, three doubles and five RBIs in his last six games against the Blue Jays. Josh Hamilton homered for the Angels' only run Wednesday and is 5 for 11 with seven RBIs in his last three contests.

Los Angeles starter Garrett Richards (2-4, 4.33) made the most of his second chance in the rotation by allowing three hits over five scoreless innings Saturday and exiting with the lead in a 3-1 loss at Oakland.

The right-hander, who replaced 13-game loser Joe Blanton, went 1-2 with a 5.54 ERA in four April starts.

Richards' lone start against the Blue Jays was much worse than that. He walked four and allowed a career-high 10 runs - five earned - over 4 1-3 innings in an 11-2 loss at Toronto on June 30, 2012.

Colby Rasmus went 1 for 5 in that contest and is hitting .131 in 17 career games against the Angels. Rasmus, however, is 11 for 26 in his last six games overall.

Teammate Melky Cabrera could return after being limited to pinch-hitting duty Wednesday because of sore legs. Cabrera said he hasn't been told by Major League Baseball whether he will face a suspension for his ties to the Florida clinic Biogenesis accused of distributing performance-enhancing drugs.

"Nothing's been told to me,' Cabrera said. "I served my suspension last year, but MLB has never told me that it's OK now. I'm seeing it in the press, but I don't know.'

The teams split a pair of four-game series last season.

-------------------------------------------------------

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Blue Jays at Angels
Thu, Aug 1 - 10:05PM EDT

GAME 2
Blue Jays at Angels
Fri, Aug 2 - 10:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Blue Jays at Angels
Sat, Aug 3 - 9:05PM EDT

GAME 4
Blue Jays at Angels
Sun, Aug 4 - 3:35PM EDT
 

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Thursday, August 1

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Chi. White Sox - 12:05 PM ET Chi. White Sox +124 500 POD # 8
Cleveland - Over 6.5 500

NY Mets - 12:40 PM ET Miami +155 500 POD # 1
Miami - Over 6.5 500

Kansas City - 1:10 PM ET Kansas City -150 500
Minnesota - Over 7.5 500

Houston - 7:05 PM ET Houston +236 500 POD # 4
Baltimore -

San Francisco - 7:05 PM ET San Francisco +103 500 POD # 7
Philadelphia- Under 7.5 500

St. Louis - 7:05 PM ET St. Louis +104 500 POD # 2
Pittsburgh - Over 8 500

Arizona - 7:05 PM ET Arizona +176 500 POD # 3
Texas -

Seattle - 7:10 PM ET Boston -109 500
Boston - Under 8.5 500

Colorado - 7:10 PM ET Colorado +201 500 POD # 6
Atlanta - Under 8 500

LA Dodgers - 8:05 PM ET Chi. Cubs +137 500 POD # 5
Chi. Cubs -

Toronto - 10:05 PM ET Toronto -102 500
LA Angels - Over 8 500
 

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Preview: Dodgers (58-49) at Cubs (49-59)
Game: 2
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: August 02, 2013 4:05 PM EDT

The last time the Los Angeles Dodgers tried to match a franchise record with a 12th consecutive road win, they were based in Brooklyn and the Chicago Cubs put an end to that run at Wrigley Field.
The host Cubs will try to play spoiler again Friday when their series with the NL West leaders continues.
With Thursday's 6-4 series-opening victory and Arizona's 7-1 loss at Texas, the Dodgers (58-49) have moved a season-high 3 1/2 games in front in the West. They've also won 11 straight away from home for the first time since April 14-May 10, 1955. That streak ended the following day at Chicago, 10-8.
The franchise mark for consecutive road wins stretched from Aug. 25-Sept. 6, 1924, when the club was known as the Brooklyn Robins.
"It was a win. That's what I like," said manager Don Mattingly, whose team is averaging 6.9 runs during its surge outside Los Angeles. "It was a little bit of a battle."
The Dodgers, winners of 27 of 35 overall, continue this four-game set with left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu (9-3, 3.14 ERA) facing the Cubs (49-59) for the first time. Ryu, 4-2 with a 4.62 ERA in 10 road starts, could set the major league record for most single-season wins by a South Korean rookie pitcher - he shares that with Jae Seo - after throwing seven innings of one-run, two-hit ball in Saturday's 4-1 victory over Cincinnati.
"It was probably one of his better performances tonight," Mattingly told the Dodgers' official website. "He had a little extra on his fastball. ... I expected him to really be good. He seems to rise to the occasion all the time."
Los Angeles has won Ryu's last six starts.
Chicago, loser of four of five on its homestand, has not fared as well with Travis Wood (7-7, 2.79) on the mound even though he's among the majors' leaders with 18 quality starts. The All-Star left-hander yielded one unearned run in seven innings Sunday as the Cubs won just for just the second time in his last 10 starts, 2-1 at San Francisco.
Wood has one of the lowest run-support averages in the majors at 3.26, but he's one of the best-hitting pitchers. He went 2 for 3 with a homer against the Giants, increasing his batting average to .293.
"I'm not up there trying to hit homers," Wood, who leads all pitchers with three home runs, told the Cubs' official website. "I'm just trying to put good swings on it."
The Cubs have an NL-best 72 homers at home after Junior Lake and Anthony Rizzo both went deep twice Thursday. The last time two Chicago players hit two homers in the same game was June 27, 2011, when Carlos Pena and Aramis Ramirez did it.
"Other than that they shut us down," Rizzo said.
It's been hard to shut down Hanley Ramirez on the road. The Dodgers shortstop is batting .383 in 26 games outside Los Angeles after going 1 for 5 with a two-run double Thursday.
Ramirez has two doubles in five at_bats off Wood, who is 1-1 with a 6.48 ERA in three starts against Los Angeles.
These clubs have alternated wins and losses in their last 12 matchups on Chicago's North Side.

---------------------------------------------------------
SERIES AT A GLANCE
GAME 1
Dodgers at Cubs
Thu, Aug 1 Final 6 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps
GAME 2
Dodgers at Cubs
Fri, Aug 2 - 4:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Dodgers at Cubs
Sat, Aug 3 - 4:05PM EDT
GAME 4
Dodgers at Cubs
Sun, Aug 4 - 2:20PM EDT
 

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Preview: Mariners (50-58) at Orioles (60-49)
Game: 1
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: August 02, 2013 7:05 PM EDT

After their newest acquisition helped them get back on track, the Baltimore Orioles appear to have a good chance to keep it going behind one of baseball's winningest pitchers.
Chris Tillman tries for his 14th victory Friday night in the opener of a three-game home series against a Seattle Mariners team he's dominated.
One day after being acquired from Houston, Bud Norris allowed two runs and four hits over six innings in Thursday's 6-3 victory to give the Orioles a series win over his former club.
"These guys got a great club over here," Norris said. "I just want to bring my part to the table."
Baltimore (60-49) certainly bounced back at the plate, going 4 for 6 with runners in scoring position and finishing with 11 hits. The Orioles had totaled 19 runs while hitting .140 (6 for 43) in those situations during a 2-6 stretch.
Slugger Chris Davis hit his second home run in three games after a season-worst 10-game drought, while Manny Machado went 2 for 4 following a 3-for-34 slump.
Machado has hit safely in each of his six career games versus the Mariners (50-58) and is 5 for 13 with three doubles and a homer against them this season.
They'll attempt to continue that production and help Tillman (13-3, 3.62 ERA) pull within one win of Detroit's Max Scherzer for the major league lead.
Tillman has posted a 2.98 ERA over his last 10 starts, winning nine of those after holding Boston to two hits over seven innings in Friday's 6-0 victory. The right-hander matched a career high with eight strikeouts in becoming the Orioles' first 13-game winner since Erik Bedard in 2007.
"He's going out there and doing it," outfielder Adam Jones said. "That's what we ask of him. He's got the talent. He's got the stuff."
Tillman has been outstanding at Camden Yards with a 2.25 ERA and 28 strikeouts over 32 innings during a five-start winning streak there.
He's also been especially dominant versus the Mariners, going 4-0 with an 0.98 ERA in four career starts.
Kyle Seager, Justin Smoak and Dustin Ackley are a combined 2 for 24 in this matchup, though Seager is hitting .400 since July 1.
The Mariners hope to regroup after their bullpen blew a six-run lead in the final two innings of an 8-7 loss in Boston on Thursday. They'll try to avoid their seventh loss in nine games following an eight-game winning streak.
Kendrys Morales had a season-high four hits Thursday, leaving him 9 for 13 over his last three games. He's batting .394 with 10 RBIs in nine career games in Baltimore.
Aaron Harang (5-9, 4.89) looks to give Seattle a solid performance after allowing one run and three hits over five innings in Saturday's 4-0 loss to Minnesota.
The right-hander has gone 1-4 with a 6.03 ERA in six road starts.
Harang helped the Mariners take two of three from the Orioles in Seattle when he allowed two runs and four hits over six innings in an 8-3 win on May 1.
Nate McLouth went 0 for 3 against Harang in that contest, dropping his career average in their matchups to .100 (3 for 30).

----------------------------------------------------------
SERIES AT A GLANCE
GAME 1
Mariners at Orioles
Fri, Aug 2 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 2
Mariners at Orioles
Sat, Aug 3 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Mariners at Orioles
Sun, Aug 4 - 1:35PM EDT
 

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Preview: White Sox (40-66) at Tigers (61-45)
Game: 1
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: August 02, 2013 7:08 PM EDT

There's a good chance that Miguel Cabrera will be back in the lineup Friday night.
The Detroit Tigers have reason to believe Jhonny Peralta won't be.
Cabrera is expected back for the Tigers, who could give Jose Iglesias his club debut depending on Peralta's status for the opener of a three-game home set with the lowly Chicago White Sox.
Detroit (61-45) played without the reigning AL MVP in Wednesday's 11-1 win over Washington. Cabrera was out after re-aggravating a strained lower abdomen.
"I feel better," Cabrera said. "Hopefully, we can get this out of the way quick and try to be 100 percent Friday."
Athletic trainer Kevin Rand said Cabrera's injury is related to the hip issue that kept the slugger out of four games last week.
Manager Jim Leyland said the situation has been difficult for him as well as Cabrera.
"That's one of those tough things for the player because he wants to play so bad," Leyland said. "It's also one of the tough things for the manager because you don't know if you should give him another day, is he good to be put back in there? I don't really know that."
While Cabrera is no doubt Detroit's biggest threat, Peralta has turned in a solid season with a team-high 29 doubles and a .307 average. The shortstop, however, has been linked to the Biogenesis case and could draw a suspension from Major League Baseball.
"I don't feel nervous," Peralta said. "But yeah, I worry a little bit because I want to play every day here, and I love to be here in Detroit."
The Tigers protected themselves from the possibility of losing Peralta by acquiring Iglesias from Boston in a three-team trade Tuesday night that also involved Chicago. Iglesias batted .330 in 63 games for the Red Sox this year.
"If it were a 15-day thing, like a typical injury, I think we could have comfortably dealt with it with the players we already have," general manager Dave Dombrowski said. "But when you start to talk about 50 days and a possible playoff run, we feel better going ahead with Jose."
The Tigers are seeking their first six-game win streak since last Aug. 1-7, and they've won nine of 10 overall.
Detroit's lead in the AL Central is two games over Cleveland, which added to Chicago's woes by sweeping a four-game set this week.
The White Sox (40-66) lost the first three games by allowing the Indians to score the go-ahead or winning runs in their final at_bats before Thursday's 6-1 defeat.
"They just outplayed us," manager Robin Ventura said. "Today is probably magnified because of what happened earlier in the series."
Chicago will try to avoid matching a season-high eight-game slide from May 27-June 4 by sending Hector Santiago (3-6, 3.33 ERA) to the mound. The White Sox have dropped Santiago's last six starts.
The left-hander's lone career start against Detroit was a 6-2 loss July 23 in which he allowed six runs - three earned - over six innings.
Tigers starter Doug Fister (9-5, 3.67) has posted a 1.35 ERA in winning his last three outings. The right-hander is 1-3 with a 3.89 ERA in seven starts against the White Sox, who are last in the AL at 3.7 runs per game.
Detroit has taken four of seven 2013 meetings.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE
GAME 1
White Sox at Tigers
Fri, Aug 2 - 7:08PM EDT

GAME 2
White Sox at Tigers
Sat, Aug 3 - 7:08PM EDT

GAME 3
White Sox at Tigers
Sun, Aug 4 - 1:08PM EDT
 

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Preview: Braves (64-45) at Phillies (50-58)
Game: 1
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: August 02, 2013 7:05 PM EDT

The Atlanta Braves have powered their way to their largest division lead in a decade.
Perhaps the NL East leaders can carry over some of that offense to a Kris Medlen start.
The right-hander will try to guide the visiting Braves to an eighth consecutive victory in Friday night's series opener against the slumping Philadelphia Phillies.
Led by two homers and five RBIs from Justin Upton and a seventh consecutive multi-hit game from NL batting leader Chris Johnson, Atlanta (64-45) capped a perfect seven-game homestand with Thursday's 11-2 victory over Colorado. The Braves moved 11 1/2 games in front of idle Washington, a first-place cushion they last had on Sept. 21, 2003.
"I feel like this is the best I've seen us play consecutively so far,' shortstop Andrelton Simmons said.
While Atlanta is batting .336 with 7.3 runs per game since its last defeat, it hasn't been doing much to back Medlen (7-10, 3.74 ERA), who has a team-low 3.53 run-support average.
The Braves had scored three total runs in Medlen's previous three starts - all losses - before a 5-2 win over St. Louis on Sunday when he threw six innings of two-run ball.
Medlen hasn't been at his best in two starts against the Phillies (50-58) this season, compiling a 6.97 ERA while losing each time.
The Braves, who plated three total runs in those starts, have scored seven times in three losses to Philadelphia this season compared to 29 in their three wins.
The Phillies moved a game above .500 by winning their first contest after the All-Star break, but they're 1-10 since after Thursday's 2-1 loss to San Francisco. Jonathan Papelbon blew his sixth save in his last 13 chances, and Philadelphia wasted a bases-loaded, no-out chance in the bottom half of the ninth.
"I want to preserve these wins for the starters,' Papelbon said. "Some nights you just scratch your head.'
The Phillies will try to regroup with Ethan Martin making his major league debut. The 24-year-old right-hander, 11-5 with a 4.12 ERA at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, is taking the spot of Cliff Lee (sore neck).
"I want to come up here and show what I got and prove to them that I can be here," Martin, who was acquired in last season's deal that sent Shane Victorino to the Dodgers, told the Phillies' official website. "If Cliff comes back and it's my time to go back down, I want to show to them and put it in the back of their heads whenever they need somebody else."
The Athens, Ga., native has some extra motivation by facing the team he grew up supporting.
"I don't really think it's set in yet," Martin said. "Hopefully, it doesn't until afterward. But, we'll go from there, walk out on the mound and see how it goes."
It hasn't gone well for pitchers facing Johnson, who can tie a Braves record with an eighth consecutive multi-hit game. The last to accomplish this feat was Hank Aaron from September 9-17, 1959, when the team was based in Milwaukee.
Johnson, who has hit safely in 10 straight to raise his batting average to .346, is 6 for 19 with a homer off Phillies pitching in 2013.
The Braves dropped two of three in their only visit to Philadelphia this season from July 5-7.
---------------------------------------------------------
SERIES AT A GLANCE
GAME 1
Braves at Phillies
Fri, Aug 2 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 2
Braves at Phillies
Sat, Aug 3 - 4:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Braves at Phillies
Sun, Aug 4 - 8:05PM EDT
 

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Preview: Rockies (51-59) at Pirates (65-43)
Game: 1
Venue: PNC Park
Date: August 02, 2013 7:05 PM EDT

The Pittsburgh Pirates' pitching staff looked nothing like the best in the majors Thursday, but Gerrit Cole's steady improvement offers hope things will be much different Friday night.
The Pirates try to forget about their most lopsided loss of the season by giving the ball to Cole in the opener of a three-game series against the visiting Colorado Rockies.
Pittsburgh (65-43) came into Thursday with a 3.03 ERA, the best in baseball by more than a quarter-run, after holding St. Louis to seven total in opening a five-game series with four wins.
The wheels came off in the finale, as starter Charlie Morton surrendered five runs in six innings before the bullpen was responsible for an eight-run seventh in a 13-0 loss that cut the Pirates' NL Central lead over the Cardinals to 1 1/2 games.
"We had kept the cat in the bag for four games," manager Clint Hurdle said. "Tonight, we let it out."
Pittsburgh's past two starters allowed a total of 20 hits - the club's worst back-to-back showing this season - and nine earned runs in 10 innings, but there's reason to believe those brief struggles won't continue.
Cole (5-4, 3.56 ERA) won four of his first five starts despite having a 3.94 ERA and striking out just 16 in 29 2-3 innings, but he's been better in his last four starts despite going 1-3. The right-hander has made it through seven innings three times - something he didn't do once in his first five outings - and posted a 3.16 ERA.
He's struck out 21 in 26 innings, including a season-high eight while going seven in Sunday's 3-2 loss at Miami. That impressed his counterpart, young Marlins All-Star Jose Fernandez.
"He's a great pitcher," Fernandez said. "His stuff is good. I saw it hitting, and I didn't like it."
This will be Cole's first look at the Rockies (51-59), and it appears he'll catch at least one big break - if not two. Carlos Gonzalez likely won't play in this series after his sprained right middle finger flared up Wednesday, and fellow All-Star outfielder Michael Cuddyer's status is unclear after he missed Thursday's game to tend to a family issue.
Cole made his major league debut June 11, the same day Jhoulys Chacin (9-5, 3.54) began to reverse his early season woes. Armed with a 4.59 ERA coming into that outing against Washington, Chacin has since gone 6-2 with a 2.39 ERA in nine starts.
What bodes well for him Friday is how he's excelled away from Coors Field. The right-hander has a 1.90 ERA on the road, a mark that's on pace to surpass his own 2010 ERA (2.44) for the best outside Denver in franchise history.
What's far less encouraging for manager Walt Weiss is Chacin's brief track record against the Pirates. He's 1-3 with a 6.97 ERA in four starts and has allowed four homers in 20 2-3 innings - the same number he's surrendered in 127 innings in 2013 for the majors' best home run per nine innings rate (0.28).
Garrett Jones hit two of those, while Andrew McCutchen and Pedro Alvarez also have taken Chacin deep.
The Rockies have lost four of their last five series in Pittsburgh, but they have to be thrilled to be anywhere but Turner Field after the past four days. The Braves scored at least nine runs each time in a four-game sweep, capping it with Thursday's 11-2 win.
"I'll make sure that we still compete," Weiss said. "I don't question these guys in that respect. ... That's something that is expected all the time."
Colorado has been outscored 123-60 in losing 17 of 23 on the road.

----------------------------------------------------------
SERIES AT A GLANCE
GAME 1
Rockies at Pirates
Fri, Aug 2 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 2
Rockies at Pirates
Sat, Aug 3 - 7:05PM EDT

GAME 3
Rockies at Pirates
Sun, Aug 4 - 1:35PM EDT
 

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Preview: Diamondbacks (55-53) at Red Sox (66-44)
Game: 1
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: August 02, 2013 7:10 PM EDT

Based on the way Jon Lester has pitched of late and fared against NL opponents in his career, the Boston Red Sox would appear to have a good chance to continue their success during interleague play.
Looking for a third straight winning start, Lester tries to help the Red Sox to a seventh consecutive interleague victory Friday night against the struggling Arizona Diamondbacks.
At 7-2 and with 11 interleague games remaining, Boston (66-44) appears in good position to record a ninth straight winning season against NL opponents. The Red Sox have batted .376 with 31 extra-base hits while outscoring their last six interleague opponents 39-13.
Boston's also averaged 6.0 runs during a five-game home winning streak against Arizona (55-53).
Lester (10-6, 4.27 ERA) is 11-5 with a 3.04 ERA in 22 interleague starts, and though he's 0-2 in his last four against the NL at Fenway Park, the left-hander has posted a 3.10 ERA during that stretch. Lester allowed a run in seven innings of a 2-1 walkoff victory over San Diego on July 3.
He yielded a two-run homer and three other hits in seven innings of a 6-2 win over visiting Arizona in 2010.
Lester has given up two runs over 13 1-3 innings of his last two outings overall, allowing four hits over seven in Sunday's 5-0 victory at Baltimore.
"A Jon Lester pitching to his capabilities is going to be one of the better pitchers in the league," manager John Farrell told the Red Sox's official website. "He's shown it the last couple of times out."
Owner of a one-game lead over Tampa Bay in the AL East, Boston looks for a fourth consecutive win after it scored six times in the ninth to beat Seattle 8-7 on Thursday. Daniel Nava delivered a deep game-winning single less than 24 hours after the Red Sox won 5-4 in 15 innings early Thursday morning.
"We don't quit. Ever," said Farrell, whose team has a major-league high 11 walkoff victories. "We truly believe we have a chance to do something special on a given night or given year. And that happens to be this year."
Shane Victorino drove in three runs Thursday and went 7 for 15 in the series after going 4 for 29 in the previous seven contests.
Victorino has hit .381 (8 for 21) during interleague play this season.
Teammate Dustin Pedroia is batting .394 with a homer and 11 RBIs against NL opponents this year. He's 2 for 2 with a double against scheduled Arizona starter Randall Delgado (3-3, 2.85), who has thrown 14 2-3 scoreless innings while winning two straight starts.
The right-hander recorded his first career complete game while pitching a three-hitter in last Friday's 10-0 victory over San Diego.
"This is what he's been building up toward," manager Kirk Gibson said about Delgado, who went 5-10 with a 3.98 ERA in 24 starts the past two seasons for Atlanta before being dealt to Arizona in the Justin Upton deal.
Delgado hopes this trip to Fenway goes better than his first one last year when he allowed four runs and six hits in 1 1-3 innings of an 8-4 loss.
Aside from a 7-0 win at Tampa Bay on Wednesday, the Diamondbacks have totaled six runs during four losses over a five-game stretch.
All-Star Paul Goldschmidt is 3 for 28 with 12 strikeouts in his last seven games.

------------------------------------------------------------
SERIES AT A GLANCE
GAME 1
Diamondbacks at Red Sox
Fri, Aug 2 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 2
Diamondbacks at Red Sox
Sat, Aug 3 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Diamondbacks at Red Sox
Sun, Aug 4 - 1:35PM EDT
 

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