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[CNOTES]

Due to parity, playoffs possible for most


July 16, 2015


NEW YORK (AP) Clayton Kershaw looks around the major leagues and sees opponents convinced they can reach the playoffs.


''It's just a matter of everybody beating up on everybody,'' the Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher said. ''We want everybody to feel like they're in it.''


It's the year of parity in the major leagues, when almost no one has managed to break away from the pack or fall way behind. Kershaw, a three-time Cy Young Award winner and the reigning NL MVP, has a won-lost record reflecting the parity - he's 6-6.


Every team in the American League reached the All-Star break with a .450 winning percentage or higher. It's the first time an entire league did that since 1944, according to STATS, and many rosters that season were depleted of stars because of World War II.


''It's fantastic to see,'' Pittsburgh pitcher Gerrit Cole said. ''All the teams at .500 all think they're going to finish over .500, and all the teams that are over .500, and even us, we're always fretting, looking behind our back.''


Boston headed to the All-Star break in last place yet just 6 1/2 games from first - only the second time since division play began in 1969 the AL East spread was that close. The first-to-last gap has been that narrow in any division just nine times overall in the expansion era, STATS said.


''We're at the bottom of the barrel right now, but we're not that far out,'' Red Sox All-Star Brock Holt said. ''It's just about going out and taking care of our business, and the standings will kind of take care of themselves towards the end of the year.


Oakland has the worst record in the AL but at 41-50 is just 8 1/2 games behind the West-leading Los Angeles Angels. While last in the AL Central, the Chicago White Sox are 41-45 and only 5 1/2 games out for the AL's second wild card.


''We have an unbelievable level of competitive balance,'' new baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said. ''When I look at the standings, I think we're in for one heck of a ride in the second half of the season.''


There is a little more spread in the NL, where the St. Louis Cardinals have the major leagues' best record at 56-33 and Philadelphia owns the worst at 29-62. Other than the Phillies, Miami and Milwaukee, every team is within single-digit games back of a playoff berth.


''It just shows that there's not really that a monopoly of a franchise right now,'' Baltimore closer Zach Britton said.


Kansas City was 48-46 at the All-Star break last year, 6 1/2 games behind AL Central-leading Detroit and 2 1/2 back of Seattle for the league's second wild card. By October, the Royals were one win shy of their first World Series title since 1985.


Royals manager Ned Yost said the bunching gave his AL players extra incentive in the All-Star Game.


''Everybody in that locker room is going to have a chance to continue to move forward and be playoff bound,'' he said before the AL's 6-3 victory.


Toronto, Seattle and the Marlins are the only teams that have not made the playoffs since 2005. Increased revenue sharing, the luxury tax on payrolls and restraints on amateur signing bonuses have helped more teams become competitive.


While the Dodgers opened the season with a payroll of nearly $273 million for their 40-man roster, according to Major League Baseball's calculations, there was a huge dropoff after that to the Yankees at $220 million and Boston at $187 million. Six teams were at $140 million to $175 million, seven at $120 million to $125 million, and six more above $100 million.


''A lot of teams that are expected to win are learning that the revenues that they are making ... they're actually going to have to spend some of those revenues to create the gap and not stay where they're at, because teams are getting close to them,'' agent Scott Boras said.


All that crowding in the standings has its impact on talks as general managers approach July 31, the last day to deal players without passing them through waivers first.


''It makes the trade deadline a lot harder, obviously,'' Kershaw said. ''Not as many teams think they're out of it. It makes it tougher to get pieces, which means you've got to build your team earlier in the offseason, in my opinion.''

 

[CNOTES]

O's hope for second-half surge


July 16, 2015


BALTIMORE (AP) The Baltimore Orioles staggered into the All-Star break on level ground following a wild roller-coaster ride marred by inconsistent play.


After losing 10 of 13 to drop to 44-44, the defending AL East champions are in third place, four games behind the division-leading New York Yankees.


''It's been up and down,'' shortstop J.J. Hardy said. ''We've had some good stretches and some bad stretches, yet we're still kind of right in the mix. So if we can get going in the second half, we have a good chance.''


Despite missing Hardy, catcher Matt Wieters, second baseman Jonathan Schoop, right-hander Kevin Gausman and All-Star outfielder Adam Jones to injury for portions of the first half, the Orioles remain ''in the hunt,'' according executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette.


As the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline approaches, Duquette sees the Orioles as buyers, just like last year when they secured standout reliever Andrew Miller for a postseason run that finally ended in the AL Championship Series.


''We'll try to improve our ballclub and see if we can get back to the playoffs,'' Duquette told The Associated Press. ''If we can upgrade our pitching staff then we certainly will do that.''


Though the contracts of Wieters, slugger Chris Davis and left-hander Wei-Yin Chen are among those that expire after this season, Duquette's focus is in the short term.


''We'd like to make our team as strong as we can for the rest of the season,'' he said. ''The division is wide open. No dominant team has emerged and there will be a lot of teams vying for the wild-card spots, too.''


All-Stars Manny Machado, Zach Britton, Darren O'Day and Jones excelled in the first half, as did newcomer Jimmy Paredes, who's batting .299 and already has reached career highs with 10 homers and 39 RBIs.


Chen has a solid 2.78 ERA and right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez (7-4, 2.81 ERA) is finally providing a return on the $50 million contract he signed before last season.


Hardy is back in a groove after being sidelined by back spasms; Wieters and Schoop contributed immediately upon their return from the disabled list; and Gausman is back in the rotation after a bout with right shoulder tendinitis.


That's why manager Buck Showalter says, ''I think our best baseball is ahead of us.''


Even if the Orioles don't make noise before the trade deadline, Showalter is content to move forward with the current roster.


''I try to keep in mind we had four or five guys who were missing that we have back now,'' the manager said. ''We're there. All the answers we're going to need are in our locker room and in our organization. I'm very confident in the people we have.''


Although starter Bud Norris (2-9, 6.86 ERA) has been a major disappointment following a 15-win season, the Orioles' biggest issue has been a hot-and-cold offense that has been held to three runs or fewer 42 percent of its games. Delmon Young, Alejandro De Aza and Everth Cabrera have come and gone, Davis has struck out 110 times and Steve Pearce (.228) is simply not performing as well as last year.


''We've got to get our bats going,'' Machado said. ''Our pitching is doing well, but we've got to back it up with our bats. Hopefully we come out with some bats swinging and start the second half pretty good.''


The Orioles return to action Friday night for a three-game series in Detroit. Then they face both teams ahead of them in the AL East, the Yankees and Rays.


''In this division, anybody within a yell and shout of first place has got a chance,'' Wieters said. ''This division will be won in September, so the key is to stay in striking range and get hot at the right time.''


The potential is there, as evidenced by an 18-5 streak that put Baltimore in first place on June 28. That, unfortunately, was offset by the 3-10 skid into the break.


''We expected to win a lot more games than we won,'' O'Day acknowledged. ''I think we're a better team than we've showed.''


Now would be a good time to start proving it.


''We have to figure out why it's not working and we have to fix it,'' said Britton, who's converted 23 of 24 save opportunities. ''The way this division is beating up on each other, if you can be that one team that catches fire, you can get the lead.''

 

[CNOTES]

SS Everth Cabrera signs with Giants


July 16, 2015


SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Shortstop Everth Cabrera has signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants.


General manager Bobby Evans confirmed the deal Thursday. Cabrera is scheduled to join San Francisco's Arizona rookie league team initially then move on to Triple-A Sacramento when ready, Evans says.


The 28-year-old Cabrera appeared in 29 games for Baltimore this season, batting .208 with a pair of doubles and four RBIs before his release last month.


He spent the previous six seasons in the NL West with San Diego regularly facing the reigning World Series champion Giants, who also won titles in 2010 and `12.


Cabrera was suspended by Major League Baseball for the final 50 games of the 2013 season for violating the sport's drug agreement in relation to its Biogenesis of America investigation.

 

[CNOTES]

Cardinals remain pace-setters despite slump

July 16, 2015


ST. LOUIS (AP) The St. Louis Cardinals enter the second half of the season with the best record in baseball.


But their once-imposing lead in the National League Central Division has dwindled to 2 1/2 games. The Cardinals hope to have slugger Matt Holliday back from the 15-day disabled list in time for their series against the New York Mets at home beginning Friday.


The Cardinals are 56-33 despite injuries to ace Adam Wainwright, Matt Adams, Jon Jay, Jordan Walden, Marco Gonzales and Holliday, out since early June with a quadriceps injury. St. Louis still has a 2.71 ERA, best at the break in the majors since the 1981 Astros posted a 2.81 ERA, according to STATS. They landed three pitchers on the National League All-Star team

 

[CNOTES]

Long-suffering Astros finally in contention


July 16, 2015


HOUSTON (AP) Here's something new: The Houston Astros finally have reason to look forward to the second half of the season.


After several miserable years of rebuilding, losing and more losing, these Astros - powered by bearded ace Dallas Keuchel, diminutive second baseman Jose Altuve and rookie Carlos Correa - are just a half-game back in the American League West at the All-Star break and eyeing their first playoff trip since 2005.


Houston's 49 wins are the most by the franchise in the first half since 2003 and it's the first time since 2001 the team has been at least seven games over .500 at midseason.


A year ago, the Astros were 19 1/2 games back with little hope of being in contention.


It certainly wasn't an easy path to become relevant again. This proud franchise known for its famed Killer B's of Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell lost 100-plus games in three straight seasons from 2011-2013 with low-budget teams filled with no-name players. Virtually any veteran of value was traded to restock a barren farm system.


''It's been a painful process from where we've been in the last 10 years to where we're at now,'' Biggio said. ''But you look at the light at the end of the rainbow right now and I'm excited for our guys.''


The long climb began last season when the Astros made a 19-game leap to end the 100-loss streak. But they still dropped 92 games and finished fourth in the AL West.


A beefed-up bullpen, a couple new veteran role players and an infusion of young talent this season helped Houston to a surprising start. The Astros opened the year 18-7 to race out to a six-game lead in the division and remained in first-place from April 19 until six straight losses helped the Angels take the lead at the break.


They've done it with powerful hitting, heads-up baserunning and a pitching staff that ranks among the best in the AL. At .240, the team's batting average is second-lowest in the AL, but the Astros have managed to produce anyway and are fourth in the AL in runs scored.


That's largely due to the pop in a lineup that leads the majors with 124 home runs. Luis Valbuena has 19 and there are 15 apiece from Evan Gattis and Chris Carter.


Houston is tops in the AL with 69 steals, thanks in large part to Altuve's 25.


Keuchel is 11-4 and his 2.23 ERA is second in the AL. His masterful first-half performance not only aided the Astros' ascent, but made him the first Houston pitcher to start an All-Star game since Roger Clemens in 2004.


A bullpen that was the weakest link last season (25 blown saves) is completely different: Its 2.67 ERA is second in the AL and the group's 17 wins are tied for most in the league.


Years of high draft picks have finally started to pay off for the Astros, too, and they're reaping the benefits of homegrown talent. Lance McCullers, a first-rounder in 2012, and Vince Velasquez, a second-rounder in 2010, have joined the rotation.


But the most sparkling rookie in Houston is undoubtedly Correa. The 20-year-old shortstop and top overall pick in 2012 made his debut on June 8 and is expected to be the face of the franchise as it returns to prominence.


He's lived up to those lofty expectations early and hit .276 with seven homers and 19 RBIs on top of more than a few dazzling defensive plays to garner AL rookie of the month honors after less than 30 days in the big leagues.


His arrival in Houston has created a buzz not seen at Minute Maid Park in years and crowds of more than 32,000 fans showed up for his first two home games. Drafted as a 17-year-old out of high school in Puerto Rico, Correa is polished beyond his years both on and off the field.


''I'm just glad the fans show up to support the team,'' Correa said when someone asked him about the spike in attendance. ''I think they come here because we've got a winning team.''


A setback came for the Astros when dynamic outfielder George Springer was hit by a pitch that fractured his wrist recently. He will be out for several weeks, but Jed Lowrie should return soon after sitting out since April 27 after thumb surgery. His .300 batting average could help ramp up an offense that has averaged just 1.167 runs a game in the current losing skid which the Astros will look to snap when they host Texas on Friday.

 

[CNOTES]

Inconsistent Dodgers lead NL West


July 16, 2015


LOS ANGELES (AP) The Dodgers begin the second half with a 4 1/2-game lead over San Francisco in the NL West, having managed to remain in first since the end of May despite a rotation hit by injuries and an inconsistent offense.


They've used 12 starting pitchers after losing two-fifths of their rotation for the season, the bullpen has been rocked by injury, and yet they own their largest lead at the break since 2009.


It helps that much of the National League has been playing .500 ball so far.


''I want to stay where we're at,'' manager Don Mattingly said. ''If that's what it takes to win a division, then hopefully we do that. How you get in (the playoffs) has zero to do with it.''


The Dodgers open a 10-game trip against NL East opponents starting Friday at Washington. The first-place Nationals have won nine of their last 11 at home. Clayton Kershaw (6-6, 2.85 ERA) will start for the Dodgers after taking the loss in the All-Star Game on Tuesday.


The trip takes the Dodgers to third-place Atlanta for three games before playing four games in New York against the second-place Mets.


The Giants have a more favorable schedule coming out of the break. They travel to third-place Arizona and fourth-place San Diego before returning home to host Oakland, last in the AL West, and Milwaukee, last in the NL Central.


The Dodgers and Giants are tied for the most shutouts in the majors with 13.


''This is when baseball gets really fun the rest of the way,'' backup catcher A.J. Ellis said.


Zack Greinke (3-2, 1.39) has overshadowed Kershaw with a scoreless innings streak of 35 2/3 while positioning him for a Cy Young Award bid. Brett Anderson has stepped up as the third starter to salvage a rotation weakened by season-ending surgeries to Hyun-Jin Ryu and Brandon McCarthy.


''You got to replace and that's where you have trouble,'' Mattingly said. ''It has a trickle-down effect on your club.''


Especially the backend of the rotation, which has struggled on the inexperienced arms of Mike Bolsinger and Carlos Frias, leaving the team in need of reinforcements at the July trade deadline.


Kershaw's .500 record didn't impress his peers or fans enough to vote him into the All-Star Game, with the left-hander getting there as a replacement in his fifth straight appearance.


''It has been frustrating at times this year,'' he said. ''People have high expectations for me, and that's good. I expect a lot out of myself, which helps me. I wasn't very good for a while there.''


Closer Kenley Jansen has come back strong after missing six weeks because of foot surgery, but five other relievers spent time on the disabled list.


Even when their pitching has been good, the Dodgers have struggled to score runs.


Yasiel Puig's numbers highlight the inconsistency. The 24-year-old right fielder is batting .261 with four home runs and 14 RBI after dealing with a hamstring issue and a callus on his left hand.


''He just needs to continue to work and be consistent with his work,'' Mattingly said. ''You get out what you put in. Sometimes it's more trouble for guys like Yasiel who things come easily to. If you do that work, your talent is going to shine.''


Rookie Joc Pederson had 20 home runs in the first half, and he finished second in the Home Run Derby. But the 23-year-old center fielder tailed off before the break, hitting .145 with 21 strikeouts, eight hits and three RBI in his last 15 games.


''It's a matter of him staying steady,'' Mattingly said. ''His demeanor has been good, which tells me a lot.''


Catcher Yasmani Grandal has settled in since coming from San Diego in the Matt Kemp trade, earning his first All-Star bid while hitting .282 with 14 homers and 36 RBI.


Adrian Gonzalez was 1 for 11 in the last three games before the break, but he's been the team's most productive hitter with a .283 average, 18 homers and 55 RBI.


The Dodgers expect some additions in the second half. Left fielder Carl Crawford is close to returning from rehabbing an oblique strain. Cuban infielder Hector Olivera, who signed a $62.5 million deal in May, will join the team when his hamstring allows.

 

[CNOTES]

Marlins have been surprisingly bad


July 16, 2015


MIAMI (AP) The Miami Marlins have gone 8-6 since Giancarlo Stanton went on the disabled list, with their feeble offense finally showing signs of life.


In 12 innings since an injury to All-Star second baseman Dee Gordon, Miami has scored 17 runs and celebrated two victories.


For the Marlins, little has gone according to expectations. They've been surprisingly bad, not an easy feat for a franchise that hasn't been to the playoffs since 2003, and their 38-51 record is the third-worst in the majors.


But they played better with Stanton and Gordon both sidelined, sustaining faint hopes the Marlins might yet make a run and show they underachieved the first half of the year.


''It has been frustrating for all of us,'' president of baseball operations Michael Hill said. ''We expected to put ourselves into position to play into October.''


The hole the Marlins dug is probably too deep to get back into playoff contention, and a surge this month is unlikely. Gordon is expected to be sidelined until next week because of a dislocated left thumb, while major league home run leader Stanton will be out another one to three weeks recovering from a broken left hand. The next 10 games are on the road, where the Marlins are 14-28.


A bad trip might make them sellers at the July 31 trade deadline. Right-handers Dan Haren and Mat Latos, who are to become free agents at the end of this season, are the Marlins most likely to be on the market.


''As we work toward the 31st, if there's a deal that makes sense for us moving forward, we'll obviously entertain it,'' Hill said.


However, the Marlins will not be breaking up their roster as they've sometimes done at midseason. Hill said he still believes in the core of young talent, including Stanton, ace Jose Fernandez, left fielder Christian Yelich, shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria and rookie catcher J.T. Realmuto.


''We have controllable pieces that are talented - everyday pieces we're excited about,'' Hill said. ''We still have a supreme belief in their talent. We've had some ups and downs, especially with the young players. But we're still positioned to take another step this year and continue to build with a talented group.''


Some young players have indeed underperformed. Center fielder Marcell Ozuna (.249, 26 RBIs) is trying to find his swing after a demotion to Triple-A. Yelich (.264, 20 RBIs) has hit better lately after an awful start.


Injuries have been a major impediment. Five of the nine players in the opening day lineup have spent time on disabled list, including right-hander Henderson Alvarez, who is 0-4 in four starts and is now on a rehabilitation assignment. Latos and right-hander Jarred Cosart have also been sidelined and are a combined 4-10. Fernandez is 2-0 in two starts, but sat out the first three months recovering from Tommy John surgery.


An odd managerial change failed to improve the team's fortunes. The Marlins were 16-22 (.421) with Mike Redmond and are 22-29 (.431) with former general manager Dan Jennings, who had no previous managing experience.


There have been bright spots, including the return of Fernandez and the emergence of Realmuto, first baseman Justin Bour, new closer A.J. Ramos and reliever Carter Capps. All have helped keep the team afloat in Stanton's absence.


The Marlins swept a three-game series against the Giants without their slugger, and won three of four from the Reds before the All-Star break.


''I'm proud of the way the guys closed out the first half,'' Jennings said. ''We're playing with the energy and fire it's going to take. We have a chance to jump out the second half and play the way we're capable of.''

 

[CNOTES]

Pirates look to keep up momentum


July 16, 2015


PITTSBURGH (AP) Jordy Mercer and Pedro Alvarez were on the way to their lockers to savor another improbable comeback late Sunday night when the Pittsburgh Pirates teammates stopped in unison in front of one of the half-dozen large-screen televisions in the clubhouse.


They stood, grins glued in place, to relive Gregory Polanco's walkoff single that lifted the Pirates to a 6-5, 10-inning win over St. Louis, a victory that brought Pittsburgh to within just 2 1/2 games of the once seemingly uncatchable Cardinals. After seeing Polanco's soft liner to right fall in front of Jason Heyward to score Jung Ho Kang and give the Pirates their second straight extra-inning win over their rival in as many nights, they laughed while watching the team pour out of the dugout in celebration.


''If people didn't think we're for real, they probably do now,'' Mercer said. ''I just think it's the culture we're trying to create here. We're slowly getting there. Sure we've got ways to go. We know we're heading in the right direction.''


Quickly.


A distant speck in St. Louis' rearview mirror less than three weeks ago, Pittsburgh begins the second half of the season on Friday in Milwaukee looking to carry the momentum from an early summer surge that has them in firm position for a third straight playoff berth.


The giddiness that sprouted from taking three straight from the Cardinals heading into the All-Star break plays in stark contrast to the quiet and puzzled clubhouse of early May, when star centerfielder Andrew McCutchen called himself out for being ''under mediocre'' and manager Clint Hurdle publicly challenged his players after the Pirates slogged through the opening quarter of the season four games under .500. Pittsburgh is an MLB-best 35-13 since.


''If we play with the mindset that if we play our best baseball, we can get what we want to get done done, we can go where we want to go,'' Hurdle said. ''There's a lot of baseball to be played and the season is going to bring you a lot of different things. We've got to stay focused on the game we're playing that day.''


The novelty of winning has worn off in Pittsburgh after two decades of misery. Hurdle likes to say he is ''easy to please but hard to satisfy.'' He would rather replace the high-wire act that comes with making the postseason as a wild card - which the Pirates have done each of the last two Octobers - with an NL Central title and that assurance of a spot in the division series.


So would his team.


''We're in a good place right now,'' pitcher Francisco Liriano said. ''We're playing good baseball. We've been playing good baseball all year. We continue to play the way we're playing, we'll be OK in the end.''


The Pirates have been blessed with dominant starting pitching and a remarkably good health. While third baseman Josh Harrison is out until at least the end of August after undergoing surgery on his left thumb, his loss has been offset a bit by the rapid maturation of Kang, a rookie who is the first position player to make a direct jump from the Korean Baseball Organization to the majors.


Though McCutchen has been steady as usual - hitting .297 with four homers and 14 RBIs over the last month - he's not doing it alone. Starling Marte is on pace for 90-plus RBIs. Neil Walker is batting .345 since June 19 and catcher Francisco Cervelli has surpassed even the most optimistic expectations after Russell Martin left for Toronto and $82 million in the offseason.


When McCutchen's career-best 18-game hitting streak ended Sunday, Marte, Kang and the rest of the Pirates scrabbled together to erase a 5-3 deficit in the 10th off St. Louis closer Trevor Rosenthal. Pittsburgh entered the break with the second-best record in the majors and more than a little bit of swagger.


''It's not just one guy coming up with big hits, big plays, it's a bunch of us,'' Mercer said.


How much larger that group will grow over the next three months is uncertain. General manager Neal Huntington remains fiscally pragmatic about the prospect of adding a significant piece before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, calling the current climate one of the toughest seller's markets he's seen. The move toward rebuilding teams asking for established major leaguers or prospects in the high minors in exchange for proven veterans means the Pirates likely have fewer chips to throw in should they get in the mix for the bold-faced names they have largely avoided.


Either way, they expect to be there in the end. The anxiousness of early spring has disappeared. Another exciting fall awaits.


''There are so many games left, anything can happen,'' Mercer said.

 

[CNOTES]

Cardinals enter 2nd half with best record


July 16, 2015


ST. LOUIS (AP) Bruised and battle-tested, the St. Louis Cardinals watched their division lead dwindle to 2 1/2 games entering the All-Star break.


They still have the best record and stingiest staff in the major leagues - and hopes of some reinforcements.


The Cardinals anticipate getting Matt Holliday back from the 15-day disabled list, too, just in time for their return series against the New York Mets at home beginning Friday.


''I think guys don't buy into the fact that we can't do something,'' said manager Mike Matheny, who has presided over a strong body of work by an ensemble featuring multiple rookies and other temporary fixes. ''There's going to be times during the season you're going to lose significant pieces.''


The Cardinals are 56-33 despite injuries to ace Adam Wainwright, Matt Adams, Jon Jay, Jordan Walden, Marco Gonzales and Holliday, out since early June with a quadriceps injury.


Through great times, when the NL Central lead was nine games, and lean days, Matheny has been steadfast in ignoring the won-loss record and demanding daily commitment.


''It comes down to `What am I going to do right now? Am I going to be able to do my part, do my piece?''' he said. ''It doesn't matter who is here or not here.''


---


Things to watch for the rest of the way with the Cardinals:


PITCHING PROWESS


The stingiest pitching staff in the majors is by far the biggest reason the Cardinals, who have been to the NL Championship Series or better a franchise-best four straight seasons, have a good shot to keep that run going. They have a 2.71 ERA, best at the break in the majors since the 1981 Astros posted a 2.81 ERA, according to STATS. They landed three pitchers on the All-Star team: 10-game winners Carlos Martinez and Michael Wacha, plus closer Trevor Rosenthal.


Wacha, Lance Lynn, Martinez, John Lackey and Jaime Garcia have a collective 2.84 ERA, the best pre-break showing by the franchise since 1968 when Bob Gibson set a major-league record with a 1.12 ERA.


SPOTTY OFFENSE


Holliday's return to the No. 3 slot could be a key for a lineup that's underachieved much of the time scoring three or fewer runs nearly half of the time. He's a proven run-producer, one of three active players with 1,000 career RBIs and a .300 batting average.


All-Stars Jhonny Peralta and Yadier Molina have been two-way standouts at shortstop and catcher, but the Cardinals could use more production from Matt Carpenter, Jason Heyward and the streaky Mark Reynolds. Carpenter is back at leadoff after struggling batting second, which figures to help, and Heyward has picked it up after a slow start.


Matheny's strategy seems to be keeping the pressure off the bats.


''Our pitching sets the tone,'' he said. Guys have been doing a nice job of keeping us in games all the way through, the bullpen has done a nice job of finishing it up. Finding a way to win has almost been like a theme for our club.''


FILL THE BLANKS


Randal Grichuk, once billed as an add-on in the swap of David Freese to the Angels for Peter Bourjos, has thrived with regular duty in left field in Holliday's absence with seven homers and 26 RBIs in 191 at-bats. The ball jumps off his bat. Reynolds and a handful of rookies have made Adams' likely season-ending quad injury in May less of a blow. Kevin Siegrist and Miguel Socolovich have stepped up in place of Walden in the set-up role.


COMEBACK KIDS


Garcia's contribution is a luxury coming off career-threatening thoracic outlet surgery for nerve issues that cost him much of the previous two seasons. In seven starts, he's 3-3 with a 1.69 ERA, and he could return from a groin injury this weekend. Wacha shows no signs of the stress reaction to his pitching shoulder that cost him most of the second half of last season.


HOME PROWESS


The success story begins at Busch Stadium, where they're 31-11 for a major league-best .738 winning percentage, spurred by capacity crowds most games and a 2.31 staff ERA. Before the break, they won 11 of 14 home series.

 

[CNOTES]

Brewers poor start could make them sellers


July 15, 2015


MILWAUKEE (AP) Once in free-fall, the last-place Milwaukee Brewers have stabilized now that it's summer.


The offense has picked up, buttressed by an effective bullpen led by lights-out closer Francisco Rodriguez. With the second half starting Friday against Pittsburgh, manager Craig Counsell is hoping the Brewers can build on their 21-18 record since June 1.


''The last couple weeks, I think we've been playing much better baseball,'' All-Star outfielder Ryan Braun said this week in Cincinnati. ''So the goal is just to get back to being consistently competitive.''


The improvement may not be enough to prevent the Brewers from becoming sellers at the trade deadline, hamstrung by a 17-34 start that has left them in the NL Central cellar for three months. At 38-52, the Brewers are 18 1/2 games back of first-place St. Louis in the loaded NL Central, and 10 1/2 games out of the wild card.


Of Milwaukee's two All Stars, Rodriguez might be more likely to go. The veteran known as ''K-Rod'' is 19 of 19 in save opportunities with a 1.41 ERA.


Rodriguez agreed to a two-year, $13 million contract in spring training.


Braun is having a bounce-back season, hitting .275 with 16 homers and 56 RBIs in 85 games. The right-handed slugger, who had been hampered by right thumb injury the previous two years, made his first All-Star team since 2012.


It was also Braun's first All-Star appearance since a 65-game suspension in 2013 for his connection to the Biogenesis doping scandal. In the All-Star Game, Braun's slicing triple down the right-field line and hustle around the bases in the ninth inning offered a reminder of how dangerous Braun can be at the plate.


But Braun's contract could make him a less-attractive trade target. A seven-year, $105 million extension signed in 2011 keeps him with the Brewers through 2020.


Any rebuild of the Brewers will likely include Braun in the middle of the order.


Getting catcher Jonathan Lucroy back in the lineup has helped, too. He returned on June 1 after spending nearly six weeks on the disabled list with a broken left toe.


Some other notes about the Brewers going into the second half:


WHO'S GOING?: Besides Rodriguez, veterans who could draw strong interest from contending clubs include third baseman Aramis Ramirez, outfielder Gerardo Parra and first baseman Adam Lind.


Ramirez and Parra are in the last years of their deals, and Ramirez has said he will likely retire after this season. But he could provide a veteran clubhouse presence to a contender. The left-handed hitting Parra is hitting .309 and can play all three outfield positions.


Hitting .292 with 15 homers, the left-handed hitting Lind could be attractive to an AL club as a first baseman and designated hitter.


GOMEZ AND SEGURA: At his best, Carlos Gomez is the Brewers' ignitor, a power-speed threat who boasts a Gold Glove in center field.


Gomez has been limited at times in the first half with a sore right hamstring and hip. Still, a relatively reasonable contract that expires in 2016 could make him attractive to other clubs.


Gomez and shortstop Jean Segura might bring back the most return among potential trade chips. Segura is hitting .273 with 12 stolen bases, plus nice range at short.


Only 25, Segura is eligible for arbitration next year. But he might be expendable because the Brewers' farm system is loaded at shortstop, starting with top prospect Orlando Arcia.


PITCHING: Speaking of younger players, the emergence of rookie starter Taylor Jungmann has been one of the top first-half story lines for Milwaukee. The right-hander is 4-1 with a 2.15 ERA in seven starts, finishing the first half with a three-hit gem in a 7-1 win Saturday against the Dodgers.


Also, Wily Peralta, a 17-game winner last season, is expected to make a rehab start on Thursday at Double-A Biloxi as he makes his way back from a left oblique injury.

 

[CNOTES]

Dodgers acquire P Dayton from Marlins


July 15, 2015


LOS ANGELES (AP) The Dodgers have acquired left-hander Grant Dayton from the Miami Marlins in exchange for left-hander Chris Reed.


Dayton was 2-1 with a 2.83 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 25 games for Triple-A New Orleans this season. The 27-year-old pitcher was selected by the Marlins in the 11th round of the 2010 first-year player draft.


He will report to Triple-A Oklahoma City.


The trade was announced Wednesday.

 

[CNOTES]

Miggy-less Tigers hope for big second half


July 15, 2015


DETROIT (AP) Over the past few years, baseball's trade deadline has been a source of excitement and anticipation in Detroit.


Whether he was pulling off a blockbuster deal last year for David Price or adding players like Anibal Sanchez and Jose Iglesias in previous seasons, general manager Dave Dombrowski has always been ready to act.


Now, with the deadline approaching again, Dombrowski is facing questions about his team's short-term goals.


''We're trying to win this year right now,'' he said recently.


The fact that Dombrowski had to reaffirm that philosophy was telling. The Tigers entered the All-Star break at 44-44, in third place in the AL Central. After four straight division titles, they now trail first-place Kansas City by nine games, and there is speculation around Detroit that the team might be better off trading some of its top players and reshaping the roster for next year.


That talk may be premature. Although they have a significant deficit in the division, the Tigers are certainly still in contention for a wild card. At the very least, they can wait a little longer before evaluating what their next moves might be. But so far this year, Detroit has looked average.


''We have to get on a roll and the only way to do that is with good starting pitching,'' Dombrowski said.


It was just one season ago when the Tigers traded for Price at the deadline. In Price, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, Detroit had the American League's previous three Cy Young Award winners in the same rotation.


Scherzer is gone. Price is still excellent, but Sanchez is having an up-and-down season and Verlander has made only five starts because of injuries.


Shane Greene and Alfredo Simon, who were acquired last offseason to fill out the back of the rotation, have not pitched well lately. Greene was even sent to the minors for a bit.


''Probably I am a little surprised our pitching hasn't been better overall,'' said Dombrowski, whose contract expires this year. ''Some guys have pitched very well, but overall as a group, I am surprised we haven't pitched a little better.''


Detroit's rotation took a hit when Scherzer left via free agency, and the Tigers now face the prospect of losing Price, who can become a free agent after this season. Outfielder Yoenis Cespedes can also test the market.


Both of those players would certainly be of interest to other teams if Detroit made them available, but the Tigers are by no means giving up on 2015 yet. Their offense - bolstered by the offseason addition of Cespedes and another big year from J.D. Martinez - has scored the third-most runs in the American League and leads the AL in on-base percentage.


''I've said it many times: Over 162 games, I think good teams end up having good records,'' manager Brad Ausmus said. ''I firmly believe this is a good team.''


Last year, the Tigers were certainly a good team, albeit a flawed one, with a shaky bullpen that cost them dearly in the playoffs. Now the bullpen is still a weak spot - as evidenced by Minnesota's seven-run ninth inning in an 8-6 win over Detroit on Friday.


The difference between 2014 and 2015 is that the starting rotation has not been strong enough to mask some of the team's other problems.


Detroit comes out of the All-Star break with a seven-game homestand against Baltimore and Seattle. Win enough of those games, and the postseason race will look more promising - especially with injured slugger Miguel Cabrera due back next month.


But the clock is ticking, and these days, each defeat adds another bit of doubt to this team's immediate future.


''We have to get on a roll at some point,'' Dombrowski said. ''We're not going to be able to play a couple of games, get three games above, then one game above and then back to .500. We are not going to be able to do that and make the postseason.'

 

[CNOTES]

After jam with Vedder, Theo ponders moves


July 15, 2015


CHICAGO (AP) Don't bother asking whether this is the year.


Theo Epstein's answer to the question that's haunted Cubs fans for a century-and-counting hasn't changed. It's the same one he gave four years ago, when Epstein was introduced as the franchise's latest savior to great fanfare and pleaded for patience: He has no idea. Neither does anyone else.


When the club broke training camp back in spring, 2016 seemed like a reasonable guess, or maybe `17. But if Epstein's suddenly fast-filling schedule is any indication, this just might be the one.


For the first time since he took over as the club's baseball operations boss, Wrigley Field is on full alert. Chockfull of young talent and now managed by wily Joe Maddon, the Cubs finally made it to midseason without being mathematically - or just realistically - eliminated from the postseason.


Small as that accomplishment seems, especially measured against their high-flying division rivals in St. Louis and Pittsburgh, there is the whiff of real possibility in the air on Chicago's North Side and the anticipation that reinforcements are on the way. With the trade deadline looming at the end of the month, Epstein is thinking about buying players instead of simply swapping or selling them.


All of a sudden, just like it used to be back in Boston at this time of year, he is crazy busy. And not just with baseball: Epstein found time in the days before the All-Star break to step onstage at a nearby club alongside good friend Eddie Vedder and contribute backup guitar licks and vocals to a pretty good rendition of ''Rockin' in the Free World.'' Good enough, anyway, to raise $425,0000 for a youth charity he began in Boston and expanded to Chicago.


When he sat down for an interview, Epstein looked at ease, but he was still hoarse.


''If somebody came up to me in spring training and said here's where you'll be (47-40) at the end of the first half,'' he began, clearing his throat one more time, ''I'd have taken it in a heartbeat.''


No doubt. Back then, youngsters Kris Bryant and Addison Russell had yet to make their major league debuts and there were plenty of questions about how a handful of added veterans like reliever Jason Motte, catcher Miguel Montero and returning starter Jason Hammel would fit in. Epstein turned that job over to Maddon and he did not disappoint.


''Because we play just about every day, you get into a rhythm right away and then the season becomes a kind of blur,'' Maddon said. ''So if your veterans don't buy in early, it only gets harder and harder to flip the culture.


''I was mostly lucky with this group, because to a man, they bought in really fast,'' he added. ''Made my life a lot easier.''


Of course, it wasn't that simple. Maddon also proved masterful at managing a bullpen-by-committee and made sure understudies like Chris Denorfia and David Ross got enough at-bats to be pressed into starting roles when needed. After Bryant struck out three times in his first big-league game, Maddon made sure he didn't worry about it.


''That's how Joe is,'' Russell said. ''He always says, `If you're going to make a mistake, make it on the aggressive side.' ... When you're young, you just want to go, go, go and I was down on myself because I wasn't stealing as many bases as I thought I should.


''I talked to Joe and he said instead of worrying about that, start picking spots where you can take the extra base,'' Russell added. ''It changed how I looked at running. I think it made me smarter and better on the base paths all the way around.''


Successful as the mix has been so far, Epstein is considering mixing it up even more. Back in 2004, when he helped deliver Boston's first World Series title in 86 years, he was portrayed as the leader of a pack of young general managers determined to build baseball teams that resembled the statistical models they assembled with computers. The truth, at least in Epstein's case, was never that simple.


His greatest strength was striking a balance between the old and new ways of cobbling together teams and being unafraid to rattle the believers in either camp. During his tenure in Chicago, which has aligned with a shift in the game from hitting to pitching, Epstein has taken the long view and loaded up on dynamic young position players.


Just don't bet he won't change course.


Epstein can't know whether this is the year, but he may be willing to roll the dice at the halfway point to find out.


''We'd like to add starting pitching. We're already running the risk of being thin heading into the dog days,'' Epstein said, breaking into a wide smile after sneaking a glance at his phone. ''We'll see.''

 

[CNOTES]

Seattle looks for quick start out of gate

July 15, 2015


SEATTLE (AP) The Seattle Mariners were expected to be playoff contenders at the start of the season. They open the second half seven games under .500.


Short of a huge turnaround after the All-Star break, the Mariners will join the ranks of past Seattle teams that flopped when expected to be in the postseason picture.


''We haven't really gotten on a streak, haven't gotten on a roll,'' third baseman Kyle Seager said. ''We'll win a game, lose a game, win a game, lose a game. It's hard to make up ground that way.''


Seattle is among the most disappointing teams in the American League during the first half of the season. Instead of being on pace to end the second-longest playoff drought in baseball, the Mariners are 41-48 and don't have a win streak longer than four games.


Despite the addition of Nelson Cruz, Seattle is the worst hitting team in the AL. Robinson Cano is having an off-year. He's been bothered by stomach issues dating back to last summer, he says, and is hitting .251 with just six homers and 30 RBIs. He's struck out 64 times this season - last year he fanned 68 times.


''It's not what we were expecting. You kind of forget how the year has gone and just try and turn it around in the second half,'' Cano said. ''You just have to keep fighting. We have great talent. We've got guys that know how to play the game. We've just got to keep fighting.''


For manager Lloyd McClendon, his biggest issue is not with the offense or erratic starting rotation, but with the bullpen. Last year, the relievers were the best in baseball, and locked down games after the sixth or seventh innings. Closer Fernando Rodney is having a rough time, and he's no longer in the same role as a year ago.


''You can talk about your offense, but the offense last year was bad,'' McClendon began. ''But our bullpen was outstanding and we won games because of our bullpen. That's been our biggest, in my opinion, the biggest disappointment to date, is right-handers we've had to shift in and out of our bullpen to try to bridge the gap to win games.''


Any optimism for the second half is centered on the starting rotation. Felix Hernandez is again one of the top pitchers in the AL with 11 wins. Young righty Taijuan Walker overcame problems in the first month to become more dominant in May and June. Lefty Mike Montgomery has been a pleasant surprise coming up from the minors. And Hisashi Iwakuma is coming off eight shutout innings in his second start since returning from the disabled list.


Seattle opens the second half with a 13-game stretch - seven on the road against the Yankees and Detroit, before returning home for six against Toronto and Arizona.


McClendon understands urgency of strong start to the second half. He ripped his team after a sloppy and uninspired effort to close out the first half in a 10-3 loss to the AL West division-leading Angels.


''We've got to start stringing together wins and that's the message I'm going to give my club starting the second half,'' McClendon said. ''Listen, I've given my club a lot of string and allowed them to do a lot of things but it is not working. We're going to change things.''

 

[CNOTES]

White Sox perking up, but is it too late?


July 15, 2015


CHICAGO (AP) The Chicago White Sox rolled into the All-Star break playing their best ball of the season, finally performing like the team they thought they were after a miserable start.


The question is can they somehow jump into contention?


They are last in the AL Central, 11 games behind division leader Kansas City and 5 1/2 out of the wild card.


The White Sox (41-45) won nine of 11 games before getting shut down by Jake Arrieta in a 3-1 loss to the Cubs on Sunday. Even so, they are 13-7 after dropping eight in a row last month.

 

[CNOTES]

All-Star week over, Reds will look to deal


July 15, 2015


CINCINNATI (AP) Todd Frazier won the Home Run Derby with final-swing drama. Aroldis Chapman blew 'em away in the ninth inning. Even the rain stayed away, moving through town without interrupting the biggest moments of the All-Star Game.


Now, even as Cincinnati Reds fans enjoy the successful festivities, it's time to trade the afterglow for the glum.


The Reds enter the second half of the season looking to trade two of their best pitchers - yeah, including Chapman and his 100 mph heat. They're headed for another grim few months, well out of contention and stuck with several big contracts that leave them little wiggle room for starting over.


The challenges are much different from the All-Star logistics that went extremely well in the city where pro baseball began.


---

 

[CNOTES]

LEADING OFF: Draft deadline Friday looms for 3 1st-rounders


July 16, 2015


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


DEADLINE DAY


Just three of the 36 first-round draft picks are unsigned as Friday's deadline approaches: Vanderbilt shortstop Dansby Swanson, taken by Arizona with the No. 1 selection, and a pair of Dodgers choices: Vanderbilt right-hander Walker Buehler (24th) and Louisville right-hander Kyle Funkhouser (35th).


SHIFTY TEAMS


While waiting for play to resume Friday, some numbers to think about: The 30 teams shifted on 13,298 balls in play last year, according to Baseball Info Solutions. They already have shifted on 10,262 this year, which projects to 18,749 over a full season. The highest percentage increases this year are Colorado (745 percent), Detroit (185 percent) and San Diego (172 percent).


SPEED


Cincinnati closer Aroldis Chapman has thrown 91 of the fastest 100 pitches this season, according to MLB's Statcast, topping with a 103.92 mph offering to Minnesota's Brian Dozer on June 29, a 103.78 mph offering to Atlanta's Freddie Freeman on May 11 and a 103.77 mph pitch to Dozier on June 29. Other pitchers whose tosses made the top 100 are Pittsburgh's Arquimedes Caminero (four times), Detroit's Bruce Rondon (twice) and the New York Yankees' Nathan Eovaldi, Cleveland's Trevor Bauer and Cincinnati's Jumbo Diaz (once each).


SPIN DOCTORS


The Angels' Garrett Richards had the highest average spin rate for a two-seam fastball in the first half at 2,521 revolutions per minute, according to Statcast, and also led curveballs at 3,032. Colorado's Rafael Betancourt topped four-seam fastballs at 2,570 and Seattle's Carson Smith sliders at 2,695.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Fever (8-6) at Mystics (6-6)


Date: July 17, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

A five-game winning streak has turned around the Indiana Fever's season and extending it in the nation's capital would make it their longest in four years.


The Fever look to continue their road success over the Washington Mystics on Friday night in the first matchup at the Verizon Center since last year's decisive playoff meeting.


Indiana (8-6) dropped six of its first nine games before reeling off five wins in a row, including a 73-50 home victory over Washington (6-6) on July 2.


The Fever won seven straight from June 21-July 13, 2011, and they moved closer to matching that run with Wednesday's 83-80 victory over Tulsa.


Tamika Catchings, who turns 36 later this month, had 11 points and 11 rebounds, giving her 3,022 career boards to move into third all-time behind Tina Thompson (3,070) and Lisa Leslie (3,307). She's also 24 points shy of tying Diana Taurasi for second in WNBA history.


Catchings had 26 points and 11 rebounds in an 81-76 overtime win at Washington on Aug. 23 that completed a sweep of the best-of-five Eastern Conference semifinals.


Indiana has won four of the last five regular season games there, winning both last year by three-point margins while Catchings was out with a back injury.


She scored 15 points against the Mystics earlier this month after being limited to five in an 87-75 loss June 20.


Shavonte Zellous scored a season-high 16 points Wednesday in her return after missing eight games with a back injury. She had eight points while missing nine of 12 from the floor at Washington in Game 2.


The Mystics have been outscored by an average of 18.0 points during a three-game slide, which started with the loss at Indiana on July 2. They shot 32.9 percent from the floor in Wednesday's 85-57 loss at Chicago.


Stefanie Dolson had 15 points and 10 rebounds Wednesday after scoring a season-high 22 with 13 boards and six assists in a 79-76 overtime loss to New York on July 9.


The center has hit her averages against Indiana this year, scoring 12 points in each meeting while grabbing 15 rebounds.


Kara Lawson has totaled 13 points on 4-of-17 shooting in two games against the Fever this season after scoring 20 in the finale of their playoff series in 2014. The veteran guard is coming off her worst performance of the year, scoring two points on 1-of-6 shooting against the Sky.




WNBA HEAD TO HEAD


Jul 2, 2015 Score ATS Results
WAS 50 Under: 123
IND « 73 Cover: 26.5
Tools: Recaps


Jun 20, 2015 Score ATS Results
WAS « 87 Cover: 11
IND 75 Over: 162
Tools: Recaps


Aug 25, 2014 Score ATS Results
WAS 0 Over: 0
IND « 0 Cover: 0
Tools:


Aug 23, 2014 Score ATS Results
IND « 81 Cover: 8
WAS 76 Over: 157
Tools: Recaps


Aug 21, 2014 Score ATS Results
WAS 73 Cover: 0
IND « 78 Over: 151
Tools: Recaps


Aug 8, 2014 Score ATS Results
WAS « 74 Cover: 18
IND 61 Under: 135
Tools: Recaps


Jul 2, 2014 Score ATS Results
IND « 80 Cover: 7
WAS 77 Over: 157
Tools: Recaps


Jun 6, 2014 Score ATS Results
IND « 64 Cover: 7
WAS 61 Under: 125
Tools: Recaps


May 23, 2014 Score ATS Results
WAS « 79 Cover: 19.5
IND 63 Under: 142
Tools: Recaps

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Sky (9-5) at Lynx (10-3)

Date: July 17, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

Perhaps the most impressive victory during Chicago's season-high four game winning streak came a week ago at home against the Minnesota Lynx.


However, coach Pokey Chatman expects things to be more difficult when the surging Sky try to avoid a fifth consecutive defeat at Minnesota on Friday night.


Chicago (9-5) shot 50.8 percent from the field, went 21 of 23 from the free-throw line and became the first team this season to drop 90 points on Minnesota in last Friday's 90-83 victory. League scoring leader Elena Delle Donne (24.7) and Cappie Pondexter each recorded 24 points as the Sky handed the Western Conference-leading Lynx (10-3) what's been their lone defeat over the last six contests.


"We're living the dream," Chatman told the Sky's official website over that contest. "Playing basketball and getting paid for it."


Chatman's usual carefree approach to the game continues to rub off on a Sky team that's having fun while going 4-0 since ending June with two straight defeats. Chicago has averaged 90.3 points while shooting 50.7 percent in three games beginning with that win over Minnesota.


Delle Donne finished with 11 points on 4-of-11 shooting during Wednesday's 85-57 rout of Washington, failing to score more than 12 for the third time in four games. Allie Quigley helped pick up Chicago's star with a team-high 15 off the bench while Pondexter added 14 against the Mystics.


"(Delle Donne) doesn't need to score for us to be successful," Chatman said. "I think there will be more attention paid to others. I think you try to cut the head of our snake off but there's more to it."


Though Chatman is confident in Delle Donne's teammates that together make up the top offensive team in the league, she understands it likely will take a complete effort to win at Minnesota. The Lynx are the WNBA's top defensive team and have yielded an average of 54.0 points while winning three straight at home since falling 86-78 to Tulsa on June 21 for its lone setback in six contests there.


The Sky haven't scored more than 69 points while dropping four straight at Minnesota by an average margin of 11 points.


"They are a great team," Chatman said. "They aren't going to worry about us, but more about themselves."


Working her way back from a lingering bout with Lyme disease, Delle Donne had two points in 16 minutes off the bench in last season's 74-64 loss at Minnesota on Aug. 7. Quigley finished with 20 points for the Sky.


Minnesota All-Star Maya Moore had a quiet 17 points in that meeting but scored a season-high 29 in last week's visit to Chicago. Moore (18.8) has averaged 23.8 points in the last five contests after scoring 26 in Tuesday's 85-79 win over Connecticut.


Fellow All-Star starter Seimone Augustus scored 21 in that contest.


Lynx guard Monica Wright will be out indefinitely after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on her right knee Thursday. Wright, who has been Minnesota's top reserve for the majority of her six-year career with the team, missed the first five games because of a strained right calf muscle and averaged 2.1 points and 11.5 minutes over seven contests.


WNBA HEAD TO HEAD


Jul 10, 2015 Score ATS Results
MIN 83 Over: 175
CHI « 92 Cover: 13
Tools: Recaps


Aug 7, 2014 Score ATS Results
CHI 64 Under: 138
MIN « 74 Cover: 1.5
Tools: Recaps


May 26, 2014 Score ATS Results
MIN « 75 Cover: 4
CHI 72 Under: 147
Tools: Recaps

 

[CNOTES]

Shock-Stars Preview


The Tulsa Shock and San Antonio Stars have already dealt with their fair share of significant injuries this season.


With a slightly healthier group, Tulsa will try for a fourth straight victory in the series Friday night at San Antonio.


The Shock (10-5) failed to win a third consecutive game Wednesday, falling 83-80 at Indiana despite Riquna Williams' season-high 31 points and seven rebounds.


Williams is averaging 15.2 points but has scored at least 22 in four of six, and her recent aggressiveness becomes especially crucial with Skylar Diggins sidelined for the rest of the season with a torn ACL.


Odyssey Sims scored eight points in her second game back from a knee injury.


San Antonio (3-11) has dropped five of six and three straight, with the last two defeats by a combined 33 points. Averaging 70.0 points, the Stars are the league's second-lowest scoring team.


They fell 84-68 at New York on Wednesday. Danielle Robinson scored a team-high 18 as San Antonio had just nine players available. Kayla McBride (foot), the club's leading scorer with 14.0 points per game, and Jia Perkins (calf), who averages 12.1, missed their fourth straight games.


Forward Alex Montgomery has been limited to three games, not playing since June 20 due to an injured right knee.


"We knew we were going to be young, but we did not know we were going to be injured," coach Dan Hughes said. "You take your two leading scorers (McBride and Perkins), and never have had Alex Montgomery this season.


"We thought that we would have a chance about 10-15 games in to kind of take a young core and move it to a certain spot, but the problem has obviously been injuries has gotten in the way of developing that core."


While the Stars remain winless on the road, they're 3-3 at home.


Tulsa won the season's first two meetings June 14 and 16, including a 27-point home victory. San Antonio shot a combined 34.1 percent and was outrebounded 100-51. Diggins totaled 34 points.


The Stars are shooting a league-worst 25.1 percent from 3-point range, while Tulsa ranks third at 35.5 percent.