Cnotes Sports Page For Tuesday September 15th Best Bets-Trends-News !

[CNOTES]

More pitching changes, longer games


September 14, 2015


Remember all that talk about pace of play? Early this season, baseball's effort to trim the length of games seemed to be a mild success.


Tell that to the fans in Detroit on Tuesday.


The Tigers and Tampa Bay Rays played for 5 hours, 3 minutes before Detroit finally won 8-7 in 13 innings. The extra frames made the game take longer, but what really made it tedious was the ceaseless substituting by both teams, especially on the mound. The Tigers used 10 pitchers while the Rays used six.


Tampa Bay used 17 position players, including three designated hitters and three catchers. Detroit used three third basemen.


''Every time one manager makes a move, the other manager probably has two or three choices,'' Detroit skipper Brad Ausmus said. ''That's what happens when you expand rosters.''


Indeed, the expanded rosters in September give managers a chance to look for platoon advantages throughout the late innings - they hardly have to worry about running out of pitchers.


Last Monday, the Dodgers and Angels played a nine-inning game that felt like rush hour on the freeway with all of its stopping and starting. The Angels used nine pitchers, including eight in the final 4 2/3 innings. The Dodgers used seven pitchers, including six in the last three innings.


The Dodgers won 7-5 in 3:52.


''September baseball...when there are too many people available to play and timely games go to die,'' said a message on the Twitter account of Dodgers pitcher Brett Anderson.


The average nine-inning game this month has taken 3:03, compared to 2:55 before September, according to STATS. The average nine-inning game last September was 3:02.


Here are a few other developments from around baseball:


A LEAGUE OF HIS OWN?: Yoenis Cespedes is beginning to get some support in the National League MVP race, which is odd considering he played more than half the season in the AL. Cespedes has hit .308 with 16 home runs since being traded from Detroit to the New York Mets at the deadline. His full-season stats - .297 with 34 homers and 102 RBIs - are certainly impressive, but does the fact that he's split time between the two leagues mean he can't win either MVP?


Washington's Bryce Harper has spent the whole year in the NL and has an OPS of 1.111, the best in baseball. Even if you look only at the time frame from Aug. 1 on - when Cespedes began playing for the Mets - Harper still has the New York outfielder beat with an OPS of 1.048 to 1.033.


On some level, it's fair to wonder if - after nearly two decades of interleague play - baseball needs to keep giving separate awards for the AL and NL, although the fact that one league uses the DH and the other doesn't makes it harder to compare stats between them.


A quarter-century ago, a league switch affected one major honor. When Willie McGee was traded from St. Louis to Oakland in late August, his .335 average was frozen in the NL batting race. He ended up finishing first, becoming the first player to win a batting title in a league in which he didn't finish the season.


FANTASY FOCUS


Logan Verrett gets the start Monday night as the Mets try to limit Matt Harvey's innings. It's a good spot for Verrett - at home against Miami - and at this time of year, the short term is all there is to worry about in non-keeper leagues. So looking day by day for good matchups isn't a bad idea.


In that same vein, Oakland's Jesse Chavez is slated to start Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox, who are near the bottom of the majors in runs.


LINE OF THE WEEK


Madison Bumgarner, Giants, struck out nine in a one-hit shutout Saturday as San Francisco beat San Diego 8-0. The Giants are unlikely to make the playoffs, but Bumgarner (18-7) has a chance to win 20 games for the first time.

 

[CNOTES]

Jays' Tulowitzki out at least 2 weeks


September 13, 2015


NEW YORK (AP) Toronto All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki will miss at least two weeks because of a cracked left shoulder blade.


Tulowitzki was hurt when he collided with center fielder Kevin Pillar while chasing Didi Gregorius' popup in the opener of Saturday's doubleheader. If Tulowitzki is able to return this season, he likely will have some discomfort in the injured area.


To provide additional infield depth while Tulowitzki recovers, Toronto acquired Gold Glove second baseman Darwin Barney from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday for a player to be named or cash. Toronto designated pitcher Scott Copeland for assignment to clear a roster spot.

 

[CNOTES]

Yankees 1B Teixeira done for season


September 11, 2015


NEW YORK (AP) Mark Teixeira will miss the rest of the season after tests revealed the New York Yankees first baseman has a fractured right leg.


Teixeira fouled a ball off his shin Aug. 17 and has started only once since. He had trouble running in that game and was not improving much, so the Yankees sent him for a third round of tests Friday that finally showed a fracture.


Though not entirely unexpected, it's certainly a blow to the Yankees at an important time in their push for the playoffs. New York was 1 1/2 games behind first-place Toronto in the AL East going into their four-game series Friday night. The Yankees have a comfortable lead in the wild card race.


Rookie first baseman Greg Bird will keep filling in for Teixeira. Bird was batting .241 with five home runs and 17 RBIs in 83 at-bats.

 

[CNOTES]

Baseball Capsules


September 15, 2015


ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) The Rangers moved within a half-game of AL West leading Houston, when Prince Fielder hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the eighth inning to lead Texas to a 5-3 win over the Astros on Monday night in the opener of a pivotal four-game series.


Mitch Moreland hit his team-leading 20th home run for Texas, which has won four straight against the Astros and leads the season series 9-4.


Fielder's homer came on 3-2 pitch from Will Harris (5-4). He had two hits and scored three times.


Keone Kela (7-5) got the win, retiring one of two batters, and Shawn Tolleson earned his 32nd save in 34 attempts.


The Astros' Jose Altuve hit Cole Hamels' sixth pitch of the game for his 12th homer of the year.


METS 4, MARLINS 3


NEW YORK (AP) - David Wright had a go-ahead double in the seventh inning, Yoenis Cespedes homered again and the Mets won their eighth straight, beating the Marlins.


With two outs and runners on first and second, David Wright hit a fastball from reliever Kyle Barraclough (2-1) to the deepest part of the park, well over the head of scrambling center fielder Christian Yelich, for a ground-rule double - scoring pinch-runner Eric Young Jr. and giving the Mets a 4-3 lead.


Travis d'Arnaud also homered for New York. Cespedes connected for the ninth time in 13 games.


Hansel Robles (4-2) pitched a scoreless seventh for the win. Jeurys Famila was perfect in the ninth for his 41st save in 46 opportunities.


Logan Verrett, making a spot in start in place of Matt Harvey, who was skipped in the rotation to limit his innings, pitched one-run ball for five.


YANKEES 4, RAYS 1


ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - Alex Rodriguez had a tying, two-out RBI double in the ninth and Slade Heathcott followed with a three-run homer, leading the Yankees to a victory over the Rays.


The victory moved the Yankees within three-games of AL East-leading Toronto.


Erasmo Ramirez held the Yankees hitless until Carlos Beltran led off the eighth with a hot shot that took a short-hop off first baseman Richie Shaffer and went into right field.


Tampa Bay stopped a 21-inning scoring drought and took a 1-0 lead on Logan Forsythe's eighth-inning RBI double.


The Yankees rallied in the ninth. Down to their last out, Brett Gardner was walked by Brad Boxberger (4-10) on four pitches and stole second. Then Rodriguez tied Craig Biggio for 21st place all-time with his 3,060th hit.


Heathcott homered after Brian McCann was intentionally walked, setting off a raucous celebration in the New York dugout.


INDIANS 8, ROYALS 3


CLEVELAND (AP) - Carlos Carrasco overcame a home run on his first pitch of the game to throw six strong innings, and Lonnie Chisenhall drove in three runs as the Indians beat the Royals.


Carrasco (13-10) let Alex Gordon hit his first pitch deep into the seats in right field, but that was the only run he allowed. The right-hander, who struck out nine, was making his second start since coming off the disabled list with a sore right shoulder.


Lonnie Chisenhall drove in three runs for the Indians, who entered play trailing Texas by 4 1/2 games for the AL's second wild-card spot. Cleveland, which has won 13 of 18, also got back to the .500 mark (71-71).


Edinson Volquez (13-8) allowed four runs in five innings for Kansas City, which has lost eight of 10, while Gordon was 4 for 5.


DODGERS 4, ROCKIES 1


LOS ANGELES (AP) - Clayton Kershaw won his ninth straight decision, Justin Turner hit a tiebreaking double and rookie Scott Schebler homered to lead the Dodgers to a victory over the Rockies.


The Dodgers, kicking off a 10-game homestand following a 7-3 road trip, won for the 16th time in 20 games. They and reduced their magic number to 12 for clinching their second straight NL West title.


Kershaw (14-6) yielded a run and three hits over seven innings and struck out five, raising his major league-leading strikeout total to a career-high 264 and lowering his ERA to 2.12. The reigning NL MVP and three-time Cy Young Award winner hasn't lost since June 27 at Miami.


Kershaw is 9-0 with a 2.48 ERA in his last 10 starts against the Rockies, including a no-hitter. His last loss to them was on July 12, 2013.


PADRES 10, DIAMONDBACKS 3


PHOENIX (AP) - Wil Myers hit a leadoff homer and had four RBIs, James Shields pitched seven strong innings and Padres jumped on the Diamondbacks early.


Myers hit his second career leadoff homer in San Diego's five-run first inning off Jeremy Hellickson (9-9) and had a two-run double in the fifth, another five-run inning.


Cody Spangenberg had three RBIs and the Padres had 11 hits after scoring four combined runs in a three-game sweep by San Francisco.


Shields (12-6) allowed a run on four hits and pitched through an indoor downpour in the stands behind home plate after the Chase Field roof leaked in the first inning.


Arizona's Paul Goldschmidt had a run-scoring double in the first inning, joining Luis Gonzalez (2011-12) as the only players in team history with multiple 100-RBI seasons. Goldschmidt had 125 in 2013.


WHITE SOX 8, ATHLETICS 7, 14 innings


CHICAGO (AP) - Melky Cabrera drove in Geovany Soto with two outs in the 14th inning to give the Chicago White Sox a win over the Athletics.


Cabrera singled off Arnold Leon (0-2) to end the season's longest game for both teams. Dan Jennings (2-3) pitched two scoreless innings in relief for Chicago, which squandered a 7-3 lead in the ninth.


Jose Abreu and Trayce Thompson hit two-run homers off Sonny Gray in the third.


John Danks went seven innings and allowed three runs and three hits. In his first start since throwing a complete game Sept. 4 at Kansas City, Danks only surrendered solo homers to Jake Smolinski in the third, Brett Lawrie in the fourth and Josh Reddick in the seventh.


ORIOLES 2, RED SOX 0


BALTIMORE (AP) - Kevin Gausman pitched six innings of two-hit ball to earn his first victory in six weeks, Adam Jones had two RBIs and the Orioles beat the Red Sox for their fifth win in six games.


Caleb Joseph had three hits for the Orioles, who moved two games ahead of the last-place Red Sox in the AL East. Baltimore trails four teams in the hunt for the second AL wild-card spot.


Gausman (3-6) struck out seven, walked four and allowed only one runner past second base. The right-hander was 0-4 in his previous seven starts.


Brad Brach worked the seventh inning, Darren O'Day and Brian Matusz shared the eighth and Zach Britton got three straight outs to complete the three-hitter and earn his 33rd save.


Eduardo Rodriguez (9-6) gave up one run and five hits in 5 1-3 innings for Boston.


TWINS 7, TIGERS 1


MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Eduardo Escobar homered and drove in two runs and Tyler Duffey struck out seven while pitching into the seventh inning to lead the Twins to a victory over the Tigers.


Duffey (3-1) gave up one run on seven hits and walked two in 6 1-3 innings, and Joe Mauer went 3 for 5, extending his streak of games reaching base to 34 for the Twins, who entered the night trailing the Texas Rangers by one game for the American League's second wild card.


Kyle Lobstein (3-8) gave up six runs on seven hits in just 1 2-3 innings for the Tigers. J.D. Martinez had two hits for Detroit, but Steven Moya had four of the team's 11 strikeouts.


NATIONALS 8, PHILLIES 7, 11 innings


PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Jayson Werth hit two homers and drove in five runs, and Yunel Escobar had the game-winning RBI in the 11th inning to lift the Nationals to a victory over the Phillies.


Pinch-hitter Danny Espinosa led off the 11th with a walk, moved to second on Cameron Rupp's passed ball and went to third on Anthony Rendon's single. Espinosa then scored on Escobar's high chopper to second base off Luis Garcia (3-5).


The groundout made a winner of Jonathan Papelbon (4-2), who blew his first save of the season by allowing Freddy Galvis' solo homer in the 10th.


Rendon homered and had four hits and Bryce Harper also homered for the Nationals, who remained 9 1/2 games behind the first-place Mets in the NL East. It was Washington's second straight win after snapping a five-game losing streak on Sunday.


Ryan Howard and Cody Asche also homered for Philadelphia.


MARINERS 10, ANGELS 1


SEATTLE (AP) - Seth Smith homered and Taijuan Walker pitched seven dominant innings to pace the Mariners to a victory over the Angels, dropping Los Angeles four games back in the AL wild card race.


Los Angeles is four games behind New York and Texas, and three games behind Minnesota. The Yankees, Rangers and Twins all won Monday night. Cleveland also won to move within a half-game of the Angels.


Smith's two-run homer keyed a three-run second as the Mariners erased a 1-0 deficit. Seattle broke it open with six runs in the seventh to make it 10-1.


Walker (11-8) allowed one run on four hits, striking out seven with no walks. Garrett Richards (13-11) gave up four runs on five hits in six innings.


GIANTS 5, REDS 3


SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Matt Duffy doubled twice and drove in two runs and the Giants beat the Reds.


Brandon Belt tripled and drove in two runs and Marlon Byrd added an RBI double to help San Francisco win its fourth straight at AT&T Park.


The defending World Series champs remained 7 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West with 18 games remaining - including four against the Dodgers.


George Kontos (3-2) retired four batters for the win after Tim Hudson failed in his bid for the 222nd victory of his career.

 

[CNOTES]

LEADING OFF: Cubs-Pirates, Astros-Rangers among key games


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




CENTRAL POWERS


The Pirates and Cubs are the favorites in the NL wild-card race, and now they're setting their sights on tracking down the Central-leading Cardinals. Pittsburgh trails St. Louis by 2 1/2 games with Chicago back another four. The Cubs are in Pittsburgh for a four-game set and open with a day-night doubleheader. Jason Hammel (8-6, 3.59 ERA) takes on Gerrit Cole (16-8, 2.54) in Game 1, and then Jon Lester (9-10, 3.50) will oppose resurgent J.A. Happ (9-7, 3.87).


BOTTOM FEEDERS


The Cardinals dropped three of four to last-place Cincinnati over the weekend and now begin a series against the NL Central's other subpar club in Milwaukee. St. Louis has lost eight of 11 while the Pirates and Cubs have surged, loosening its stranglehold on the division. Carlos Martinez (13-7, 3.12) has been uncharacteristically hittable over the last couple months and pitches for St. Louis against Ariel Pena (1-0, 4.50), who is making his second big league start.


TEXAS TWO STEP


The Astros and Rangers continue their four-game series in a showdown between the AL West's top two teams. Houston's Collin McHugh (16-7, 3.89) lucked into a victory his last time out, allowing five runs in an 11-5 win over Oakland. He's won three straight starts and has a 2.33 ERA since the start of August. Martin Perez (2-5, 5.43) hasn't been nearly as good, allowing two homers and five runs at Seattle his last time out.


BUEHRLE BACK


The first-place Blue Jays try to hold off the Yankees while facing Atlanta, which is in the running for the first-overall pick in the 2016 draft. LHP Mark Buehrle (14-7, 3.72) makes his first start for Toronto since receiving a cortisone shot in his pitching shoulder last week. Toronto manager John Gibbons had some concerns about Buehrle after his last outing, as he's struggled of late after being among Toronto's most dependable starters for most of the season.


FISH ON THE MENU


Jacob deGrom (13-7, 2.40) faces a Marlins team that's averaged just 2 1/2 runs over its last eight games, including just four runs over three games against the Nationals last the weekend. The right-hander beat Washington his last time out and has won five of his last six decisions. Miami counters with Tom Koehler (9-13, 3.99).


HUGHES RETURNS


Phil Hughes returns to Minnesota's rotation on Tuesday against the Tigers. He has not pitched since Aug. 9 because of back problems. Hughes said Monday there was a point at which he thought he might miss the remainder of the season, but things took a turn for the better last week.

 

[CNOTES]

AMERICAN LEAGUE


AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST


TEAM W L PCT. GB RS RA DIFF HOME ROAD EAST CENT WEST L10 STRK


Toronto 82 61 .573 - 790 592 198 47-25 35-36 33-27 20-14 19-13 6-4 L 1


N.Y. Yankees (17) 79 64 .552 3 697 616 81 41-32 38-32 35-29 18-11 17-16 4-6 W 2


Baltimore (8) 70 73 .490 12 634 601 33 43-29 27-44 31-29 15-18 15-18 6-4 W 2


Tampa Bay (7) 69 74 .483 13 547 563 -16 33-36 36-38 28-32 13-19 17-17 3-7 L 3


Boston (6) 68 75 .476 14 662 682 -20 39-35 29-40 25-35 15-15 15-18 7-3 L 1




AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL


TEAM W L PCT. GB RS RA DIFF HOME ROAD EAST CENT WEST L10 STRK


Kansas City 84 59 .587 - 643 570 73 48-27 36-32 18-16 35-26 18-11 2-8 L 2


Minnesota (11) 75 68 .524 9 620 620 0 43-26 32-42 19-14 33-28 15-14 6-4 W 2


Cleveland (8) 71 71 .500 12½ 587 583 4 32-35 39-36 15-15 25-34 19-14 7-3 W 1


Chi. White Sox (5) 68 74 .479 15½ 561 608 -47 36-36 32-38 13-16 26-37 20-10 6-4 W 1


Detroit (1) 65 78 .455 19 618 726 -108 33-38 32-40 12-20 33-27 11-20 4-6 L 1




AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST


TEAM W L PCT. GB RS RA DIFF HOME ROAD EAST CENT WEST L10 STRK


Houston 77 67 .535 - 628 525 103 48-24 29-43 18-16 14-18 31-30 4-6 L 1


Texas (19) 76 67 .531 ½ 627 652 -25 35-33 41-34 23-11 16-13 26-34 6-4 W 2


L.A. Angels (15) 72 71 .503 4½ 570 588 -18 44-31 28-40 16-16 14-16 34-27 5-5 L 2


Seattle (11) 70 75 .483 7½ 587 651 -64 33-40 37-35 15-17 13-18 34-28 6-4 W 1


Oakland (3) 61 83 .424 16 603 615 -12 33-42 28-41 10-23 12-18 29-35 3-7 L 2





NATIONAL LEAGUE


NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST


TEAM W L PCT. GB RS RA DIFF HOME ROAD EAST CENT WEST L10 STRK


N.Y. Mets 83 61 .576 - 618 538 80 46-24 37-37 45-20 9-20 21-12 9-1 W 8


Washington (10) 73 70 .510 9½ 629 577 52 41-29 32-41 35-26 13-19 17-16 5-5 W 2


Miami (E) 61 83 .424 22 528 592 -64 36-39 25-44 25-36 13-19 16-18 6-4 L 2


Atlanta (E) 56 88 .389 27 517 701 -184 33-36 23-52 27-37 12-18 12-21 2-8 L 4


Philadelphia (E) 56 89 .386 27½ 562 749 -187 33-40 23-49 23-36 11-23 14-18 3-7 L 1




NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL


TEAM W L PCT. GB RS RA DIFF HOME ROAD EAST CENT WEST L10 STRK


St. Louis 89 54 .622 - 572 460 112 50-24 39-30 20-9 35-25 23-11 3-7 W 1


Pittsburgh (18) 86 56 .606 2½ 614 521 93 49-22 37-34 24-9 28-35 21-5 7-3 W 3


Chi. Cubs (14) 82 60 .577 6½ 605 558 47 43-28 39-32 22-12 32-25 19-13 7-3 L 2


Milwaukee (E) 62 81 .434 27 592 656 -64 33-39 29-42 17-16 27-33 10-20 4-6 L 3


Cincinnati (E) 60 83 .420 29 579 637 -58 34-40 26-43 16-12 30-34 7-24 5-5 L 2




NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST


TEAM W L PCT. GB RS RA DIFF HOME ROAD EAST CENT WEST L10 STRK


L.A. Dodgers 83 60 .580 - 594 518 76 48-21 35-39 19-13 16-15 38-22 8-2 W 3


San Francisco (12) 76 68 .528 7½ 624 544 80 42-27 34-41 18-15 14-17 33-30 7-3 W 4


Arizona (4) 68 76 .472 15½ 645 638 7 34-39 34-37 15-18 14-19 29-32 3-7 L 3


San Diego (3) 68 77 .469 16 594 655 -61 35-37 33-40 17-16 14-16 30-32 3-7 W 1


Colorado (E) 60 84 .417 23½ 639 750 -111 31-40 29-44 16-18 15-13 24-38 4-6 L 1

() - A team's Elimination Number is determined by adding the leading team's number of wins to the trailing team's number of losses. Subtract that total from 163. The first-place team's Magic Number is the same as the second-place team's Elimination Number.
(E) - A team has been eliminated from the division race. Note that a team eliminated from the division race may still be a contender in the Wild-card race.
x - Clinched division title
y - Clinched wild-card
z - Clinched playoff berth


-Tiebreaker games will be played to determine Division Championships, even if the two tied Clubs are assured of participating in the Postseason. If a Division Championship tiebreaker game is necessary, the head-to-head record between the tied Clubs will determine home-field advantage. If the head-to-head record is tied, then division record will be the next tiebreaker.


-In the event of a tie for the division championship or a Wild Card spot, a one-game playoff will break the tie. If three or four clubs are tied for first place in a division at the end of the regular season, and the two non-division winners would NOT be Wild Card clubs, a playoff will be played among the teams in question.


-If two Clubs are tied for both Wild Card berths, home-field advantage will be determined by the head-to-head record between the tied Clubs. If the head-to-head record is tied, then division record will be the next tiebreaker.

 

[CNOTES]

WILD-CARD RACE


AMERICAN LEAGUE


TEAM W L PCT GB


N.Y. Yankees 79 64 .552 -


Texas 76 67 .531 -


Minnesota (19) 75 68 .524 1


L.A. Angels (16) 72 71 .503 4


Cleveland (16) 71 71 .500 4½


Baltimore (14) 70 73 .490 6


Seattle (12) 70 75 .483 7


Tampa Bay (13) 69 74 .483 7


Chi. White Sox (13) 68 74 .479 7½


Boston (12) 68 75 .476 8


Detroit (9) 65 78 .455 11


Oakland (4) 61 83 .424 15½





NATIONAL LEAGUE


TEAM W L PCT GB


Pittsburgh 86 56 .606 -


Chi. Cubs 82 60 .577 -


San Francisco (13) 76 68 .528 7


Washington (11) 73 70 .510 9½


Arizona (5) 68 76 .472 15


San Diego (4) 68 77 .469 15½


Milwaukee (E) 62 81 .434 20½


Miami (E) 61 83 .424 22


Cincinnati (E) 60 83 .420 22½


Colorado (E) 60 84 .417 23


Atlanta (E) 56 88 .389 27


Philadelphia (E) 56 89 .386 27½

(E) - A team has been eliminated from the wild-card race. Complete division standings can be found here.
y - Clinched wild-card title
z - Clinched playoff berth
() - A team's Elimination Number; first-place team's Magic Number is same as second-place team's Elimination Number


-For the 2012 playoff, clubs from the same division will now be allowed to play one another in either the Wild Card Game or the Division Series.


-Tiebreaker games will be played to determine Division Championships, even if the two tied Clubs are assured of participating in the Postseason. If a Division Championship tiebreaker game is necessary, the head-to-head record between the tied Clubs will determine home-field advantage. If the head-to-head record is tied, then division record will be the next tiebreaker.


-In the event of a tie for the division championship or a Wild Card spot, a one-game playoff will break the tie. If three or four clubs are tied for first place in a division at the end of the regular season, and the two non-division winners would NOT be Wild Card clubs, a playoff will be played among the teams in question.


-If two Clubs are tied for both Wild Card berths, home-field advantage will be determined by the head-to-head record between the tied Clubs. If the head-to-head record is tied, then division record will be the next tiebreaker.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Cubs (82-60) at Pirates (86-56)
Game: 1
Venue: PNC Park
Date: September 15, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

Having closed the gap on one division rival, the Pittsburgh Pirates now hope to distance themselves from another.


A four-game series that could help decide home field for the NL wild card - and potentially more - gets underway Tuesday with a day-night doubleheader between the Pirates and visiting Chicago Cubs.


Pittsburgh (86-56) is in position to host the wild-card game for a third straight year but has its eyes on a bigger prize. The Pirates have pulled within 2 1/2 games of first-place St. Louis in the NL Central with a 7-3 run they began by winning two of three from the Cardinals from Sept. 4-6.


"We try to keep the mentality of just taking care of our game, but you can't help being aware (of the standings)," pitcher Jeff Locke told MLB's official website.


Though the Pirates host St. Louis for three games to conclude September, they still can't look past a Cubs team they'll face seven times before then. Chicago (82-60) trails Pittsburgh by four games and is 39-32 on the road, the majors' second-best winning percentage behind the Cardinals.


"Four one-game winning streaks would be great," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "If you start getting caught up in that big thing, it could really mess your head up. You just play that game and move on."


Chicago could be accused of looking ahead after consecutive losses at lowly Philadelphia that followed a 7-1 stretch.


Chris Coghlan finished 4 for 5 in Sunday's 7-4 loss to become the first Cubs player since 1950 with a home run and two triples in a game. He's 10 for 25 through the first six of Chicago's 11-game trip.


The Cubs draw another challenge with Gerrit Cole (16-8, 2.54 ERA) taking the mound in the opener on nine days' rest from perhaps his best performance of the season - seven scoreless innings of two-hit ball in a 7-1 win over the Cardinals on Sept. 6. It was the latest successful September effort for the Pittsburgh ace, who is 9-2 with a 2.95 ERA in 13 career starts during the month.


Cole has been quite successful against the Cubs as well, winning his first six starts behind a 2.92 ERA before allowing two runs in six innings of a 4-1 road loss May 16. He yielded one unearned run and three hits over six innings in an 8-1 win at Wrigley Field on April 29.


Kris Bryant is 2 for 3 against Cole and batting .333 with two homers and seven RBIs over a seven-game hitting streak. Anthony Rizzo (5 for 11) and Starlin Castro (5 for 13) have also hit the right-hander well.


Jason Hammel (8-6, 3.59) gets the call for Chicago in the opener and seeks to win consecutive starts for the first time since June 1 and 6. The righty fanned six while allowing three runs in six-plus innings of an 8-5 decision over St. Louis on Sept. 8.


Hammel halted a three-start losing streak against Pittsburgh by surrendering four hits in eight innings of a 4-0 home win April 27. He was reached for three earned runs in a 4-3 defeat at PNC Park five days earlier.


Josh Harrison is 1 for 11 off Hammel but 9 for 19 over his last four games, and capped a stirring comeback with an RBI single in the 11th inning of Sunday's 7-6 triumph over Milwaukee. The Pirates scored six unanswered runs to erase a 6-1 deficit in the bottom of the fourth.


The nightcap pits a pair of left-handers coming off strong starts in Pittsburgh's J.A. Happ and the Cubs' Jon Lester.


Happ (5-1, 1.79) was tagged for four runs and nine hits by Chicago in 4 1-3 innings to lose his Pirates debut Aug. 4. He's posted a 1.00 ERA in six games since and won a fifth straight start by allowing two runs over six-plus innings Wednesday in Cincinnati.


Lester (9-10, 3.50) held St. Louis to a run and two hits over seven innings Wednesday, but was denied a win when the Cardinals scored three times off Chicago's bullpen in the eighth. The veteran did earn a victory when limiting Pittsburgh to a run in seven innings May 16.


Happ is 1-3 with a 6.04 ERA in five meetings with Chicago, with Rizzo 4 for 6 with a home run and two doubles off him and Castro 4 for 9 with a pair of doubles.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Cubs at Pirates
Tue, Sep 15 - 7:05PM EDT


GAME 2
Cubs at Pirates
Wed, Sep 16 - 7:05PM EDT


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

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Red Sox (68-75) at Orioles (70-73)
Game: 2
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: September 15, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

When a struggling Joe Kelly was sent to the minors in late July, the trade that brought him to the Boston Red Sox had to be considered a terrible one.


That's certainly changed since Kelly has gone on one of the best stretches in club history.


The right-hander looks to win his ninth consecutive start while trying to deny the Baltimore Orioles their sixth win in seven games Tuesday night at Camden Yards.


Kelly was acquired along with Allen Craig from St. Louis in exchange for John Lackey and minor leaguer Corey Littrell at last year's deadline. While Craig has struggled since suffering a Lisfranc injury late in 2013, Lackey has been a key part of baseball's best rotation this season.


Kelly had a 2-6 record and a 5.94 ERA on July 27 after getting knocked around in his first two starts since returning from a month stint at Triple-A Pawtucket.


Everything changed, however, once the calendar turned to August. Kelly has a 2.59 ERA during an eight-start winning streak and he's limited opponents to two runs or less in the past seven.


With his 10-4 victory over Toronto on Wednesday, the right-hander became the first Red Sox pitcher to win eight straight starts since Pedro Martinez's nine-game streak in 1999.


"I think we're all feeling very good about where he's at and what he's capable of doing," interim manager Torey Lovullo told MLB's official website.


Boston starters have a 2.73 ERA while the club has won 16 of 25. The Red Sox, though, managed three hits off Kevin Gausman and four relievers in Monday's series-opening 2-0 defeat.


Kelly (10-6, 4.70 ERA) had a 3.32 ERA in three career starts versus Baltimore before allowing five runs and eight hits over 3 2-3 innings in a 6-4 home loss June 23. Caleb Joseph, who had three hits in the opener, has a home run and a walk in two plate appearances against him this season.


Manny Machado, Adam Jones, Jonathan Schoop and Gerardo Parra are a combined 3 for 25 versus Kelly. Jones, though, is 5 for 12 with two homers and nine RBIs in his last three games, while Schoop is batting .345 during a seven-game hitting streak with three home runs.


The Orioles (70-73) have won five of six since a 3-15 stretch all but knocked them from the playoff race. They're seeking their ninth win in 10 games and seventh straight at home versus Boston.


'We still have pride,' Jones said. 'We're still playing for something.'


Since posting a 7.50 ERA over a nine-start span, Ubaldo Jimenez (11-9, 4.22) has allowed four earned runs over 12 2-3 innings while winning his last two.


The right-hander is 2-3 with an 8.06 ERA in nine starts against the Red Sox (68-75), but he's 1-0 with a 3.12 mark in two this season. Pablo Sandoval is batting .361 with two home runs in 36 at-bats against Jimenez, though David Ortiz is 2 for 15 with one homer.


Mookie Betts went 0 for 3 in the opener to snap his career-best 18-game hitting streak. That was also the club's longest run since Jacoby Ellsbury's 19-game streak in 2013.


Dustin Pedroia should be back in the lineup after getting Monday off. He's 6 for 19 with a home run and two doubles in four games since being activated from the disabled list.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


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


GAME 2
Red Sox at Orioles
Tue, Sep 15 - 7:05PM EDT


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

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Nationals (73-70) at Phillies (56-89)
Game: 2
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: September 15, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

Stephen Strasburg has some work to do if he's going to avoid his first season with an ERA over four, and Citizens Bank Park has always been a place he's done some trimming.


He gets that chance Tuesday night when the Washington Nationals try to take the first two of a three-game series against a Philadelphia Phillies club that's been putting up some offense in recent games.


Strasburg (8-7, 4.30 ERA) ended 2012 with a 3.16 ERA, his highest by a shade over last season's mark. While he's going to end 2015 with the worst of his career - it'd take 35 2-3 scoreless innings to change that - he has likely remaining starts against Philadelphia (56-89), Miami, the Phillies again and Atlanta to at least improve it.


He can also get to double-digit wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time.


The right-hander gave up three runs and five hits with a season-high 13 strikeouts in 7 1-3 innings of Wednesday's 5-3 home loss to the New York Mets. His first defeat in four starts matched his longest outing of the year, but he's given up four homers in his last 11 1-3 innings and five in three starts after surrendering eight in his first 16.


Even so, he's showing signs of returning to form in six outings since missing most of July and the start of August with an oblique strain, posting 11.57 strikeouts per nine innings and a .193 opponent average after 9.30 and .289 marks in his first 13.


The 27-year-old is 6-2 with a 2.48 ERA in 14 starts against the Phillies, including 1-0 with a 1.55 mark over five in Philadelphia. Ryan Howard is 5 for 25 with 10 strikeouts in their matchups.


The Nationals (73-70) opened the series Monday with an 8-7 win in 11 innings that was their second straight after a five-game losing streak. Jayson Werth homered twice, Bryce Harper connected on his sixth in 10 games and Anthony Rendon also homered for one of his four hits to boost his average to .500 in his last six.


It's just coming at the wrong time with the Nationals 9 1/2 games out of the NL East lead and the second wild card.


"There's a sense of too little, too late," Werth said. "Anything can happen, of course, but it's been a tough go."


Washington has won nine of 12 against the Phillies, who have also been scoring. They've managed seven runs in three straight games with Howard homering in the last two.


On the mound, the Phillies keep giving David Buchanan chances, but it could take a total 180 in his final outings to gain much consideration for the 2016 rotation. Buchanan (2-8, 9.11) has lost his last three starts behind a 22.00 ERA with nearly a month in the minors sandwiched between the last two.


The right-hander returned in Wednesday's 8-1 home loss to dreadful Atlanta and gave up four runs and 10 hits with three walks and a hit batter in 3 1-3 innings.


"I'm going to keep grinding. I'm going to keep working to get better," he told MLB's official website. "I'm going to keep taking the ball and improving on what I'm doing."


The 26-year-old is 0-2 with an 8.18 ERA in two career starts against the Nationals, with Ian Desmond (3 for 6 with a home run and double) and Ryan Zimmerman (3 for 6 with three doubles) doing the most damage.


Zimmerman (left oblique), however, has been out of the lineup for six straight games.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


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


GAME 2
Nationals at Phillies
Tue, Sep 15 - 7:05PM EDT


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

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Royals (84-59) at Indians (71-71)
Game: 2
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: September 15, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

One team is a virtual lock while the other is a long shot for the postseason. It would be tough to guess which is which by looking at the last week and a half for the Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Indians.


A September slide has the first-place Royals out of sorts, but they look to end their skid against the wild card-hopeful Indians on Tuesday night.


Kansas City (84-59) is all but guaranteed to win the AL Central but has scuffled with eight losses in 10 games. Meanwhile, Cleveland (71-71) has nestled back into the wild-card conversation with wins in six of eight.


Those trends continued with the Indians' 8-3 victory Monday, dropping the Royals' division lead to nine games over Minnesota - single digits for the first time since Aug. 7.


"It's not a horribly long time, eight out of 10," manager Ned Yost told MLB's official website. "But it's like getting the flu. You got to let it run its course. Once it runs its course, you're fine."


The Indians have been better than fine since Aug. 20 with one of the best records in the majors at 16-7, and they sit 4 1/2 games back of Texas for the second wild card. Cleveland will try to move above .500 for the first time since it was 2-1.


Josh Tomlin has played a key role in the resurgence after spending the first 4 1/2 months of the season on the disabled list following right shoulder surgery. Since a loss in his return on Aug. 15, the right-hander has won five straight starts behind a 2.86 ERA.


Tomlin (5-1, 2.85 ERA) ranks toward the top of MLB with 10 home runs allowed since his return, but nine of them were of the solo variety. He has four quality starts, including a four-hitter.


Tomlin gave up three solo home runs in 5 2-3 innings of a 6-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday. Eleven of Tomlin's 13 runs allowed since his return were via the long ball, but Kansas City ranks toward the bottom of MLB with 119 home runs.


"That's an issue that I'm trying to correct," Tomlin told MLB's official website. "But I'm never going to shy away from contact from guys."


Tomlin is 1-2 with a 6.97 ERA in his past four starts against the Royals. Salvador Perez leads a group of Kansas City hitters that have fared well against him with seven hits in nine at-bats, including a homer and two doubles. Mike Moustakas (5 for 12, two home runs), Lorenzo Cain (4 for 8), Alex Rios (5 for 11), and Alex Gordon (9 for 31, three doubles) have also had success.


Kansas City's disappointing 10-game stretch began with a loss from scheduled starter Kris Medlen.


Medlen (3-1, 4.58) has been good in three starts and terrible in the other since coming out of the bullpen to take Jeremy Guthrie's spot in the rotation three weeks ago.


The right-hander won his first two before the White Sox reached him for seven runs and 11 hits over 5 2-3 innings of a 12-1 defeat on Sept. 2. Medlen rebounded with his best start on Wednesday, taking a no-hitter into the sixth before allowing two runs and three hits in his final inning of a 12-inning 3-2 loss to Minnesota.


He's 8-2 with a 2.21 ERA in 23 career appearances in September.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


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

GAME 2
Royals at Indians
Tue, Sep 15 - 7:10PM EDT


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


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

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Blue Jays (82-61) at Braves (56-88)
Game: 1
Venue: Turner Field
Date: September 15, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

Though Troy Tulowitzki is out for at least two weeks, the Toronto Blue Jays are hoping to get Edwin Encarnacion back much sooner.




That return could come as early as Tuesday night's opener against the dreadful Atlanta Braves.


Tulowitzki could sit out for up to three weeks because of a cracked left shoulder blade, an injury he suffered in a collision with teammate Kevin Pillar in Saturday's opener to a doubleheader against the New York Yankees.


Encarnacion aggravated a sore left middle finger in the finale and was held out Sunday. With those absences, the AL East-leading Blue Jays (82-61) couldn't complete a four-game sweep of the second-place Yankees, losing 5-0.


Encarnacion is among three Toronto players with more than 30 homers and he's topped that mark for the fourth consecutive season. He needs one RBI to reach 100 for the third time in that span.


"I think it's just going to be a day or two ... so I would expect and hope that (Encarnacion is) back during the Atlanta series," general manager Alex Anthopoulos told MLB's official website Sunday. "We don't expect it to be too long."


With their slugger's status uncertain, the Blue Jays will try to pad their division lead in a three-game series against one of the NL's worst clubs. Atlanta (56-88) has lost a franchise-worst 12 straight at home and 24 of 27 overall.


The Braves blew a three-run lead in the ninth Sunday in a 10-7, 10-inning loss to the Mets.


"It doesn't matter if we've lost 12 in a row or won 12 in a row," first baseman Freddie Freeman said. "You have to have the same attitude, keep grinding and hopefully the tide turns on Tuesday."


Mark Buehrle (14-7, 3.72 ERA) makes just his second start this month as he's been dealing with a shoulder issue and hasn't pitched since an 11-4 loss in Boston on Sept. 7.


The left-hander was pushed back again in the Jays' rotation after getting a cortisone shot last Tuesday.


Buehrle gave up five runs in 3 1-3 innings in his latest start and has gone 1-2 with a 6.98 ERA in his last four. He's 0-2 with a 9.45 ERA in his past three on the road after going 6-4 with a 3.48 ERA in his first 12 there this season.


He is 4-2 with a 4.35 ERA in seven career starts against Atlanta, the most recent coming in May 2013.


Julio Teheran (10-7, 4.38) has given up two runs over 13 innings in his past two starts and earned his first win in his last three Wednesday, throwing seven innings of one-run ball in an 8-1 victory over Philadelphia.


He was charged with five runs in five innings of an 8-7 victory over Toronto on April 17. Teheran has posted an 8.68 ERA in two starts against the Blue Jays.


He's 0-3 with a 10.98 ERA in four interleague outings and gave up eight runs over 4 1-3 innings in his latest, a 20-6 loss to the Yankees on Aug. 30.


Josh Donaldson hit two home runs off the right-hander in the April matchup and went 5 of 13 with three home runs as the Blue Jays dropped two of three to Atlanta.


The Braves' Nick Markakis was 7 for 10 in that series and Freeman went 5 for 11 with two homers, giving him a .500 average in his last eight games against Toronto.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Blue Jays at Braves
Tue, Sep 15 - 7:10PM EDT


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


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

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Marlins (61-83) at Mets (83-61)
Game: 2
Venue: Citi Field
Date: September 15, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

There's been something about a change of scenery and playing in a playoff race that's brought out the best in Yoenis Cespedes.


The slugging outfielder looks to keep leading the New York Mets' postseason push as they go after their ninth consecutive win Tuesday night against the visiting Miami Marlins.


After batting .293 with 18 home runs and 61 RBIs in 102 games with Detroit, Cespedes has performed at an MVP level since joining the then second-place Mets at the trade deadline. He's hit .309 with 17 homers and 42 RBIs in 41 with New York, which is 30-11 since he arrived.


"It just seems like he rises to the occasion when you need him," manager Terry Collins told MLB's official website. "We're fortunate that he's here, and that we got him hot at the right time."


Cespedes hit his ninth homer in 13 games this month, an estimated 442-foot shot and David Wright had a go-ahead double in the seventh inning of Monday's series-opening 4-3 win that gave the Mets their longest winning streak since a season-high 11-game run in April. They own a 9 1/2-game division lead but remain in a tight fight with the Los Angeles Dodgers for home-field advantage in a potential NL division series matchup.


Cespedes is batting .362 with three homers and 10 RBIs over a 10-game hitting streak versus Miami (61-83) and he has a triple and two doubles in six at-bats against scheduled starter Tom Koehler.


After posting a 6.81 ERA during a seven-start losing streak, Koehler (9-13, 3.99 ERA) is 1-0 with a 2.57 mark in two outings this month. The New York native gave up two runs and struck out a career high-tying 10 over eight innings in Wednesday's 5-2 home win over Milwaukee.


"It's felt like two seasons," said Koehler after his first victory in eight starts. "Sometimes stuff like that happens. Hopefully we can start a reverse trend right now."


The right-hander will face New York (83-61) for the second time this month. He overcame a season-high five walks and allowed two runs over six innings in a 6-5, 11-inning home win Sept. 4, but he's 0-2 with a 6.27 ERA in six career starts at Citi Field.


Koehler will try to help the Marlins avoid their first three-game losing streak since a four-game skid from Aug. 21-24. Travis D'Arnaud, who homered Monday, is 4 for 5 with two doubles off him.


Wright has gone 9 for 23 in six home games since coming off the disabled list and he's batting .409 with 11 RBIs in his last 11 there against the Marlins.


Jacob deGrom (13-7, 2.40) was tagged for a career-high seven runs over 2 2-3 innings in a 16-7 win at Philadelphia on Aug. 24, but is 5-1 with a 1.86 ERA in his other 10 starts since July 8.


The right-hander has been particularly good at home, going 6-3 with a 1.57 ERA in 13 starts. Only Zack Greinke, Clayton Kershaw and Dallas Keuchel have better home ERAs.


DeGrom also has had little trouble with the Marlins, going 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA in six career starts while walking eight and striking out 46.


Dee Gordon, Derek Dietrich and J.T. Realmuto had two hits apiece in the opener, but the rest of the lineup went 0 for 20. Gordon is hitting .438 in his last 15 games versus New York, while Realmuto is batting .389 during a 10-game hitting streak.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


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


GAME 2
Marlins at Mets
Tue, Sep 15 - 7:10PM EDT


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

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Yankees (79-64) at Rays (69-74)
Game: 2
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: September 15, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

After rallying to take the series opener at Tampa Bay, the New York Yankees can focus on continuing their season success against Jake Odorizzi.


The Rays right-hander tries to avoid falling to 0-4 this season against the visiting Yankees on Tuesday night.


Alex Rodriguez hit a tying double before rookie outfielder Slade Heathcott clubbed a three-run homer as New York (79-64) did all its scoring in the ninth inning of Monday's 4-1 victory. A day after snapping their five-game skid with a 5-0 win over AL East-leading Toronto, the Yankees had one hit and trailed 1-0 before breaking through.


Heathcott, who was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre on Saturday, is batting .389 with two homers and six RBIs over 18 at-bats in seven career games.


"Just tremendous," Rodriguez said. "You get caught up and I become a fan when you're watching a young kid with so much talent. Big, signature Yankee moment."


Heathcott's homer could be a season-defining moment for New York, which trimmed the idle Blue Jays' division lead to three games.


"You just look at our dugout, the way they reacted, it's the biggest hit of the season," left-hander CC Sabathia said.


The Yankees will again try to get the best of Odorizzi (7-8, 3.21 ERA), who has a 5.68 ERA while losing all three starts against them in 2015. Brian McCann has been particularly tough on Odorizzi, going 6 for 7 against him this season and 11 for 17 with three home runs, three doubles and a triple in his career.


Odorizzi wasn't about to rehash those problems with McCann after the veteran catcher hit one of New York's three homers off him in a 5-2 home victory Sept. 4.


"I'm just not going to talk about it anymore, so no further questions on that," Odorizzi said after that contest.


He was much better Wednesday while allowing six hits and striking out six in six innings of an 8-0 victory at Detroit. Odorizzi went 0-2 with a 4.71 ERA in his previous seven starts.


"He's a very effective pitcher because he can move up and down in the zone," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said.


That hasn't been the case while Odorizzi has gone 0-1 with an 8.44 ERA in his last two home starts. He was 3-2 with a 1.40 ERA in his first eight at Tropicana Field.


Logan Forsythe had the lone RBI on Monday for the Rays (69-74), who have dropped three straight and eight of their last 11. Forsythe is 3 for 7 with a double and a home run this season against Adam Warren (6-6, 3.29).


With Nathan Eovaldi nursing a sore elbow, Warren is expected to make his first start since June 25. The right-hander has made 25 appearances out of the bullpen and is 5-5 with a 3.59 ERA in 14 starts this season.


"I think those guys are invaluable to a staff," manager Joe Girardi told MLB's official website. "Guys that can do a number of different things."


Warren, who began the season in the rotation, is 0-1 with a 4.32 ERA in three starts against the Rays in 2015.


Evan Longoria is 4 for 28 with nine strikeouts against the Yankees at home this season but has gone 4 for 9 when facing Warren this year.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


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


GAME 2
Yankees at Rays
Tue, Sep 15 - 7:10PM EDT


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

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Astros (77-67) at Rangers (76-67)
Game: 2
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: September 15, 2015 8:05 PM EDT

Dallas Keuchel has already joined Roy Oswalt as the Houston Astros' only 17-game winners in a decade. Colin McHugh can now make it two in just over two weeks.


McHugh has earned a win in all of his career starts against the Texas Rangers, and another Tuesday night in Arlington would keep the Astros from falling out of first place.


The Rangers (76-67) opened the four-game set with Monday's 5-3 win to pull within a half game of Houston (77-67), which has been sitting atop the AL West since July 28. Texas, which remained a game up on Minnesota for the second wild card, hasn't been in first since April 11.


"Every day, we're going to talk about someone's going to have the lead," Houston manager A.J. Hinch said. "We have it, and we've had it for a long time."


Texas has won four straight in the season series and nine of 13 this year, and another will move the club 10 games over .500 for the first time since its 91-win season in 2013 ended without a postseason appearance.


Mitch Moreland got to 20 home runs for the second time in his career, while Prince Fielder went deep for just the second time in 32 games.


Keuchel matched Oswalt's 2008 win total on Sept. 6 for the first such mark since Oswalt won 20 and Andy Pettitte notched 17 in 2005.


McHugh (16-7, 3.89 ERA) is in position to match them thanks to wins in three straight starts, though the right-hander wasn't in top form in Wednesday's 11-5 victory at Oakland. He gave up five runs and six hits over 5 1-3 innings but improved to 7-2 with a 2.80 ERA in 10 starts since the All-Star break.


He knows the recent wins have a lot to do with a 9.31 run-support average.


"Our offense did an incredible job today," McHugh told MLB's official website. "Hats off to them, hats off to the defense for doing a great job. The only stat that really matters is a win in the column for us."


McHugh beat the Rangers in his first start after the All-Star break to get to 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA against them despite conceding a .320 batting average. Fielder (4 for 6), Adrian Beltre (4 for 9) and Elvis Andrus (4 for 9) have hit him best.


For Houston, Jose Altuve homered and is batting .409 with six extra-base hits in his last five games.


McHugh was supposed to face Martin Perez, who he beat July 17, but the Rangers reworked their rotation and will instead start Derek Holland. Manager Jeff Banister said they prefer to have Holland (3-2, 3.13) and Monday's starter Cole Hamels going on consecutive nights in the division race.


"It's awesome to hear, but no matter what, I'm not going to let that get to me," Holland said. "I still have to go out there and perform and be me. I can't worry about being the hottest pitcher or any of those sayings that are out there as well. I just have to go out there and be me."


The left-hander made his season debut against Houston back on April 10 and lasted an inning before suffering a shoulder injury and taking the loss. He returned Aug. 19 and is 3-1 with a 2.97 ERA in five starts, but he gave up season-highs of five runs and nine hits in seven innings of Thursday's 5-0 loss in Seattle.


Jason Castro is 4 for 6 with a home run against him. Castro (quadriceps strain) is on the 15-day disabled list but is now considered day to day.


Carlos Gomez, also 4 for 6 against Holland, will miss the series with an intercostal strain.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


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


GAME 2
Astros at Rangers
Tue, Sep 15 - 8:05PM EDT


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


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

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Athletics (61-83) at White Sox (68-74)
Game: 2
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: September 15, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

Jeff Samardzija might have a better home record if he could only keep the ball in Chicago's South Side park.


Plagued by the long ball, the right-hander tries to avoid becoming the first White Sox pitcher in 46 years to lose seven straight home starts Tuesday night against the Oakland Athletics.


Samardzija (9-12, 4.89 ERA) allowed three home runs while going 4-1 with a 2.59 ERA in his first eight starts at U.S. Cellular Field. Since then, he's served up 11 to go 0-6 with an 8.33 ERA. No White Sox pitcher has dropped seven consecutive starts at home since Tommy John in 1969.


'If you're going to miss location, it's hard to keep it in the yard,' Chicago manager Robin Ventura said about Samardzija, who has allowed a career-high 26 home runs this year. 'That's been tough for him in the last couple (starts), being able to keep that in the yard and limit things.'


Since the beginning of August, Samardzija is 1-7 with a 7.91 ERA overall. He gave up two solo homers and two other runs in 6 2-3 innings of a 6-4 home loss to Cleveland on Wednesday.


Samardzija allowed a two-run homer - the first of Max Muncy's career - plus one other run in eight innings of a 7-3 victory May 17 in his first appearance against an Oakland team he went 5-6 with a 3.14 ERA in 16 starts for last season.


He'll try to help Chicago (68-74) win two straight at home for the first time since a four-game run Aug. 5-12 after Monday's 8-7 victory over the A's in 14 innings. Melky Cabrera's fourth hit of the night was a game-winning single that came five innings after the White Sox blew a four-run lead in the ninth.


'Bullpen-wise, they did great. They were able to keep it going until we finally scored,' Ventura said. 'But you're more than disappointed with how the ninth went.'


Cabrera is 6 for 12 in his last two games after going 0 for 15 in his previous four. He's batting .409 with three RBIs in four games against Oakland (61-83) this season.


Chicago hopes to add to the recent misery of Aaron Brooks (1-3, 7.44), who has allowed 11 runs and 14 hits in 6 1-3 innings to lose his last two starts.


'I have to keep trying to get better every day," the rookie right-hander said after lasting four-plus innings in an 11-5 loss to Houston on Wednesday. "Getting the ball down would be big.'


While Brooks makes his first appearance against the White Sox, his teammates hope for more production after they recorded six hits all night while falling to 3-9 in September. Brett Lawrie had two of those hits and one of Oakland's three home runs.


"That was a very hard-fought game," A's manager Bob Melvin said.


Marcus Semien went 0 for 6 with two strikeouts and left three of his teammates on base. Part of the December deal that brought Samardzija to Chicago, Semien is 3 for 7 against him.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


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

GAME 2
Athletics at White Sox
Tue, Sep 15 - 8:10PM EDT
Recaps


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


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

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Cardinals (89-54) at Brewers (62-81)
Game: 1
Venue: Miller Park
Date: September 15, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

The St. Louis Cardinals got a little closer to full strength in their latest series, and Matt Adams could make his first appearance in the starting lineup in four months Tuesday night.


After homering in his latest game, Adams will try to help the Cardinals protect their NL Central lead in the opener of a three-game road set against the Milwaukee Brewers.


Initially expected to miss the rest of the season because of a torn right quad, Adams was activated from the disabled list Wednesday and made three pinch-hit appearances over four games at Cincinnati. He delivered a two-run shot Sunday as the Cardinals (89-54) pulled away for a 9-2 win that snapped a three-game slide.


Jon Jay had his first two-hit game since returning from an injured left wrist Sept. 4 and Matt Belisle made his first appearance since June 25 for St. Louis, which won for the third time in 11 contests to stay 2 1/2 games ahead of Pittsburgh.


Slugger Matt Holliday might also be close to returning from a strained right quad.


"It's good to have all of those guys coming, but at the same time, you can't sit around and wait for them," third baseman Matt Carpenter told MLB's official website. "This thing isn't going to change collectively until individually we are executing better and doing those things. You can't just hope that Matt Holliday is going to save us or Matt Adams is going to save us or whoever is coming off the DL."


The Cardinals have won 15 of 21 meetings with the Brewers - eight of 12 this season - and are 19-7 at Miller Park since the start of 2013.


Carlos Martinez (13-7, 3.12 ERA) won 3-0 at Milwaukee on April 24, pitching seven innings and striking out eight, but he's gone 1-3 with a 5.60 ERA in his last five starts. The right-hander matched a career high by allowing 10 hits in a 4-3 win over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday and gave up three runs in five innings, not getting the decision.


The Brewers (62-81) have lost five of six overall but are 13-5 in their last 18 at home and have won four in a row there.


Ariel Pena (1-0, 4.50) will make his second career start and third major league appearance. The right-hander gave up two runs and three hits in five innings of a 5-2 loss at Miami on Wednesday.


'I felt a little emotional which you expect as something normal,' Pena said. 'I just concentrated on the signs and made my pitches."


Jonathan Lucroy hasn't played since suffering a concussion last Tuesday in Miami, and his status is uncertain.


Jean Segura has batted .371 in his last 14 games and .340 in the 12 against St. Louis this season. He had two of the Brewers' four hits off Martinez in April.


Jhonny Peralta is a career .340 hitter against Milwaukee, but has batted .151 in his last 16 games. Adams has a .322 average in 16 career contests at Miller Park.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Cardinals at Brewers
Tue, Sep 15 - 8:10PM EDT


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


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

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Tigers (65-78) at Twins (75-68)
Game: 2
Venue: Target Field
Date: September 15, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

It's been a long career in Minnesota for Joe Mauer. Of his dozen years in a Twins uniform, the last four probably seemed like an eternity.


However, meaningful September games are back on the schedule with Minnesota a surprise postseason contender.


Mauer will try to help his team pull closer to the wild card while closing in on a career-long streak of his own as the Twins continue a home series against the last-place Detroit Tigers Tuesday night.


A 7-1 victory in the series opener gave the Twins (75-68) wins in four of five and helped them remain one game behind Texas for the AL's second wild card. That's surprising given Minnesota's four previous seasons, averaging 66.3 wins and finishing in last place in the Central three times.


Mauer is on pace to pass his career high of 147 games played after averaging 116.5 over the last two years. He went 3 for 5 in the opener to extend his on-base streak to 34 games, two shy of his career long.


"At this point in the season, the less days off, the better," Mauer told MLB's official website. "If you can't get up for a postseason run, then something is wrong. It's an exciting time. It's good to be playing meaningful games in September again."


Minnesota dropped eight of its first 10 games against Detroit this season but has won each of the last four. The most recent victory featured six runs in the first two innings after the Tigers (65-78) left the bases loaded in the opening frame.


'It's like taking a punch to the gut early,' manager Brad Ausmus said. 'You hope something sparks you along the way.'


Phil Hughes was 8-2 with a 3.91 ERA at Target Field before landing on the 15-day disabled list in mid-August with lower back inflammation. The right-hander will make his first start since Aug. 9 for the Twins, who are expected to hold him to 75-80 pitches after he did not make a rehab start.


Hughes (10-8, 4.49 ERA) did not fare well against the Tigers in three starts before his injury, going 1-1 with a 6.19 ERA. He has given up 15 home runs in 15 career starts against Detroit, pitching to a 7-7 record and 4.48 ERA.


Miguel Cabrera is 0 for 11 in his last three games, but still leads the majors with a .339 average. He stands a good chance to raise that number since he's batting .472 with five homers and five doubles in 36 career at-bats against Hughes.


Minnesota, which plays 12 of its final 19 games at home, has had mixed results in two games this season against Alfredo Simon. The right-hander limited them to one run over 7 2-3 innings before leaving without a decision in Detroit's 2-1 win on May 12, but lasted a season-low 2 1-3 innings in a 9-5 loss at Target Field on July 11, yielding seven runs and 10 hits.


Simon (12-9, 4.94) has been up and down since his most recent start against Minnesota. He's 4-3 with a 5.61 ERA in his last 10 outings, allowing four or more runs seven times and one or less in the other three.


The swings have been more exaggerated in his last five, starting with a one-hit shutout. Simon then gave up 14 runs in two losses, followed by seven scoreless innings in a win, and finally five runs in 6 2-3 of a defeat.


Kurt Suzuki is 5 for 11 against Simon with two home runs.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


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


GAME 2
Tigers at Twins
Tue, Sep 15 - 8:10PM EDT


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

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Padres (68-77) at Diamondbacks (68-76)
Game: 2
Venue: Chase Field
Date: September 15, 2015 9:40 PM EDT

Tyson Ross' uncharacteristic start his last time out began a losing streak for the San Diego Padres. The right-hander hopes a return to normalcy will help his team string two wins together.


Ross takes the mound Tuesday night against the host Arizona Diamondbacks looking to win a fifth straight road decision.


Ross (10-10, 3.24 ERA) was bitten by the home run for the first time this season during a 4-3 loss to Colorado on Thursday. He went 16 straight starts without allowing a homer earlier this year - the second-longest streak in franchise history - but gave up three solo shots to the Rockies, the first game an opponent has hit more than one against him since June 16, 2014.


Ross, battling a stomach bug, didn't factor into the decision after allowing three runs in seven innings.


"I didn't feel great physically out there," Ross told MLB's official website. "But I tried to grind it through, tried to make pitches and keep us in the ballgame."


The loss was the first of four straight for San Diego (68-77), a skid that was snapped with a 10-3 win over the Diamondbacks (68-76) in Monday's opener.


Wil Myers' leadoff home run ignited a five-run first inning, a number the Padres matched in the fifth to post 2 1/2 times their total (4) from a three-game sweep in San Francisco this weekend.


Ross is 4-0 with a 2.79 ERA in his last five road starts and tossed a four-hitter with nine strikeouts in an 8-1 victory at Chase Field on June 20. He hasn't allowed a home run in three meetings against Arizona this year, going 2-0 with a 2.14 ERA.


Ross has given up just two homers to the Diamondbacks in 11 career starts on the way to a 4-3 record and 2.79 ERA. Paul Goldschmidt hit both of those home runs, one in 2013 and the other in 2014.


Goldschmidt drove in the Diamondbacks' first run Monday with an RBI double in the first inning, joining Luis Gonzalez (2011-12) as the only players in club history with multiple 100-RBI seasons.


It was one of the few bright spots for Arizona, which has dropped three straight and eight of 11.


"They are embarrassed by the performance as a team, as a group, but I am sure they will bounce back,' manager Chip Hale said.


Two quality starts at the end of August weren't enough to keep Jhoulys Chacin with the Diamondbacks as he was sent to Triple-A Reno.


Chacin (0-1, 2.70) was called up last Tuesday and will stay in the rotation the rest of the season.


The veteran right-hander is 5-2 with a 2.57 ERA in nine career starts against the Padres, but hasn't faced them since 2013 with Colorado.


San Diego catcher Derek Norris left in the first inning Monday after getting hit on the top of his right hand by a foul ball off the bat of Goldschmidt.


The Padres will be without first baseman Yonder Alonso the rest of the season as he was placed on the 60-day disabled list with a stress reaction to a bone in his lower back.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


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


GAME 2
Padres at Diamondbacks
Tue, Sep 15 - 9:40PM EDT


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

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Angels (72-71) at Mariners (70-75)
Game: 2
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: September 15, 2015 10:10 PM EDT

The Los Angeles Angels just lost by nine against maybe Seattle's worst starter. Now facing its best, it could be a few days before they can make up any ground in either of their playoff pursuits.


Felix Hernandez has dominated the Angels for a few years and can help the Mariners win consecutive games against their division foe for the first time this season Tuesday night.


Taijuan Walker's 4.56 ERA is the highest for Seattle's rotation even after Monday's 10-1 win, as well as higher than the next eight pitchers Los Angeles is projected to face.


The Angels (72-71), winners of eight of 14 in the season series, remained 4 1/2 games behind Houston for the AL West lead but dipped four back of Texas for second place and the second wild card. They also trail Minnesota by three.


Once 14 games over .500, they're 18-31 dating to July 23 with an MLB-low .228 batting average after managing five hits Monday. What's worse is their .243 season mark and .304 on-base percentage are on pace to become the franchise's worst since 1992 (.243 and .301).


"The losses don't feel any different now than any other time of the year, but we don't have our heads buried in the sand," manager Mike Scioscia said. "We know what we need to do, but it's there for us."


It's hard to see that improving against Hernandez (17-8, 3.49 ERA), who can extend a 4-2 stretch on which Seattle (70-75) has posted a 1.17 ERA and .157 opponent average.


He's inching toward a career-high win total despite his highest ERA since 2007. The right-hander won 19 in 2009, and this season is the only other in which he's topped 15.


The ERA has been in decline over three straight victories and most drastically after Hernandez gave up three hits in eight innings of Thursday's 5-0 home win over Texas for his first scoreless outing since his last start before the All-Star break.


"I had good mechanics today," Hernandez said. "My fastball was good, my sinker was down. My changeup was down. Before it was not moving at all. Now it's down."


His ERA has taken a hit because of four starts with seven earned runs or more, but the Angels haven't contributed to any such inconsistency.


Hernandez is 6-0 with a 0.83 ERA in his last 10 starts in the series. He's held Los Angeles scoreless in five of the last seven for a 4-0 record and 0.39 ERA. He hasn't given up more than two runs to the Angels in Seattle since 2012, going 6-1 with a 0.90 ERA.


The list of individual struggles is lengthy and sustained: David Freese (0 for 16 with eight strikeouts), Chris Iannetta (2 for 26 with 10 Ks), Kole Calhoun (2 for 26 with nine Ks), Efren Navarro (1 for 12), C.J. Cron (1 for 11 with six Ks), Matt Joyce (2 for 27) and Albert Pujols (10 for 48).


Mike Trout, however, is batting .344 with three homers, two triples and three doubles in 61 at-bats for the top average among 18 players with at least 50 against Seattle's ace.


Nick Tropeano is making consecutive major league starts for the first time this season. He was called up for one in April, another in July and one in August before returning Sept. 1.


Tropeano (1-2, 5.66) has been limited to 4 1-3 innings in each of his last two and gave up three runs and eight hits without being stuck with the decision in a 7-5 home loss to the Dodgers on Sept. 7.


The right-hander earned a win in his only start against Seattle on Sept. 10, 2014, while with Houston, surrendering two runs and four hits in five innings on the road.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


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


GAME 2
Angels at Mariners
Tue, Sep 15 - 10:10PM EDT


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