Tuesday 9/15/15 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

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[superbeets]

Champions League TODAY 19:45

Man City

v

Juventus

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT MAN CITY	RECENT FORM
HWAWHWAWHWAW​ Most recent​	1 - 1 1 - 0	ADHLHWHLALHD​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Man City have won every match to nil this season

EXPERT VERDICT: Juventus have made their worst ever start to a Serie A season after collecting just one point from three matches and last term’s runners-up are struggling since losing Arturo Vidal, Carlos Tevez and Andrea Pirlo. Manchester City are riding high in the Premier League and carry that into the European arena.

RECOMMENDATION: Man City
2


REFEREE: Damir Skomina STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Champions League TODAY 19:45

PSV Eindhoven

v

Man Utd

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT PSV EINDHOVEN	RECENT FORM
AWADHWADHWAW​ Most recent​	3 - 1 0 - 0	AWHWHDAWALHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: PSV have scored in their last 15 matches

EXPERT VERDICT: The last three Premier League teams to have visited Eindhoven have returned with victories and Manchester United can do likewise. The Red Devils weakened PSV this summer with the signing of Memphis Depay and they played their best football of the season in the second half of Saturday’s victory over Liverpool.

RECOMMENDATION: Man Utd to win 2-1
1


REFEREE: Nicola Rizzoli STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Champions League We 16Sep 19:45

Chelsea

v

M. Tel Aviv

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT CHELSEA	RECENT FORM
NLHDALAWHLAL​ Most recent​	Unknown	AWADHWHDAWAD​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Chelsea have won their Champions League group in nine of the last 12 years

EXPERT VERDICT: Chelsea’s shocking start to the Premier League means they won’t be feeling ultra-confident coming into this contest but there remains a massive difference in class between the English and Israeli champions. However, with Arsenal to come on Saturday the Blues may ease off once they hit the front.

RECOMMENDATION: Chelsea to win 2-0
1


REFEREE: Felix Zwayer STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Champions League We 16Sep 19:45

Dyn Zagreb

v

Arsenal

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT DYN ZAGREB	RECENT FORM
HWAWADHWHWAW​ Most recent​	0 - 3	NWHLAWHDAWHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Dinamo Zagreb have scored four goals in their last 12 group-stage matches

EXPERT VERDICT: Dinamo Zagreb are usually outclassed in the Champions League and it should be more of the same when Arsenal visit Croatia. The Gunners were good value for their win over Stoke at the Emirates on Saturday and their slick football is likely to see Arsenal open up with a comfortable victory.

RECOMMENDATION: Arsenal-Arsenal double result
2


REFEREE: Ovidiu Alin Hategan STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

Europa League Th 17Sep 18:00

Bordeaux

v

Liverpool

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT BORDEAUX	RECENT FORM
ADHWADALHWAD​ Most recent​	0 - 1	ALAWHWADHLAL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Bordeaux have won only two of their last seven matches

EXPERT VERDICT: Much will depend on what team Brendan Rodgers selects, but his squad should have enough depth to collect a positive result from a Bordeaux side who struggled past Kairat in the playoff. The French club drew 2-2 with Paris St-Germain on Friday, although both goals came after horrendous howlers from home goalkeeper Kevin Trapp.

RECOMMENDATION: Liverpool
1

 

[superbeets]

Europa League Th 17Sep 18:00

Ajax

v

Celtic

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT AJAX	RECENT FORM
HWHWAWADHWAD​ Most recent​	1 - 0 1 - 3 1 - 2 3 - 0	HWHWAWALHWAL​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Ajax have won four of their last five European home games

EXPERT VERDICT: Celtic’s new-look defence came up short against ten-man Aberdeen on Saturday and the Bhoys could once again struggle without last season’s departed rocks Virgil van Dijk and Jason Denayer. The Bhoys tend to struggle on the road in Europe anyway with only two wins in their last 15 away trips and both of those were in Iceland.

RECOMMENDATION: Ajax
1

 

[magillagorilla]

Scott Delaney

60 Dime N.L. West Game of the Year


Arizona -110

This is from monday night, delaney is not exactly on fire. 60 dimes!

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Jim Feist's Bonus Play for Tuesday, Sept. 15

(913) CINCINNATI REDS VS (914) SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

Take: over the total.

Reason: Your Bonus Play for Tuesday, September 15, 2015 is in the MLB contest between the Reds and the Giants at San Francisco. The Over is 3-0-1 in the last 4 meetings between these teams. A long road trip for a bad Reds team on a 9-20 run. Lefty starter John Lamb (1-3, 5.18 ERA) has struggled all year with opponents hitting .305 off him. Cincinnati is on an 8-3 run over the total, 9-4 over against the NL West. San Francisco is home where they are on a 20-6 run with an offense that is 11th in baseball in runs scored. Chris Heston (11-10, 3.55 ERA) goes here and the over is 4-0 for the Giants at home, plus 5-2-1 over the total at home against a left-handed starter. And when these teams meet the over is 7-2-1 in the last 10 meetings in San Francisco. Play the Reds/Giants Over the total!

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

STEPHEN NOVER
MLB | Sep 15, 2015
Chicago Cubs - Game #2-104

J.A. Happ has been quite the story for the Pirates. The career journeyman southpaw - pitching for five teams since 2010 - has a 1.00 ERA in his last six starts.
I know. I wouldn't believe it either. Because of this, Happ opened a pick-to-short favorite at home against Jon Lester.
I can't see Happ continuing this unlikely dominance and I can't pass up the Lester at this price. Lester has given up two runs or fewer during eight of his last 10 starts.
The Cubs are 18-13 versus lefties this season. They have the second-highest road winning percentage in the majors at 39-32.
The Cubs also have fared well against Happ, who is 1-3 with a 6.04 ERA in five lifetime appearances against the Cubs.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MLB

National League
Nationals @ Phillies
Strasburg is 0-1, 5.56 in his last two starts; his last three all went over.

Buchanan is 0-3, 22.00 (yes, 22.00) in his last three starts; over is 5-0-2 in his last seven outings.

Washington lost five of last seven games, with three of last four going under, but they've won eight of last 11 games against Philly. Phillies lost nine of last 12 games; ten of their last thirteen went over the total.

Cubs @ Pirates
Lester 1-1, 3.04 in his last four starts; over is 4-2-1 in his last seven. Hammel is 2-1, 4.39 in his last four starts (over 4-1 in last five).

Cole is 2-1, 2.49 in his last four starts; under 7-3 last ten). Happ is 5-0, 0.88 in his last five starts; five of his last seven stayed under.

Cubs are 5-3 in last eight games with Pittsburgh; three of last four in series stayed under total. Chicago is 2-3 in last five games; over is 6-1-1 in their last eight. Pirates won five of their last six games (over 6-0).

Marlins @ Mets
Koehler is 1-0, 2.57 in his last two starts (under 3-1 in his last four).

deGrom is 1-1, 3.32 in his last three starts; four of his last five went over.

Mets won last eight games; over is 8-4 in their last 12. NY won six of last eight games with Miami- over is 6-5 in last eleven series games. Marlins won four of their last six games (under 7-2 in last nine).

Cardinals @ Brewers
Martinez is 1-3, 5.93 in his last five starts (over 3-0-2).

Pena allowed two runs in five IP (94 PT) in his first MLB start.

St Louis won four of last five games with Milwaukee; three of four wins were by shutout. Under is 4-2 in last six series games. Cardinals lost six of last eight games (over 5-2-1). Brewers lost five of last six games (over 9-1 in last ten).

Padres @ Diamondbacks
Ross is 2-1, 2.51 in his last five starts (under 3-1-1).

Chacin is 0-1, 3.38 in his two starts this year (under 1-0-1).

San Diego won three of last four games with Arizona; five of last six in series went over. Padres lost four of last five games- five of their last six went over the total. Arizona lost eight of last 11 games; under is 4-3 in their last seven.

Rockies @ Dodgers
Rusin is 1-2, 6.00 in his last three starts (over 3-1 in last four).

Anderson is 2-0, 3.63 in his last three starts; four of his last six went over.

Colorado are 4-7 in last 11 games with LA; over is 7-3 in last ten series tilts. Rockies won three of last five games (under 4-1) overall. Dodgers won eight of last ten games; four of their last seven went over the total.

Reds @ Giants
Lamb is 1-3, 5.18 in his six MLB starts (over 4-2).

Heston is 0-5, 4.97 in his last six starts (under 4-1 in last five).

Reds lost last four games with the Giants; visitor won nine of last 11 games in series. Over is 6-1-1 in last eight series games. Cincy won five of last nine games (over 8-3 in last 11). SF won seven of last nine games (over 4-0 last 4).

American League
Red Sox @ Orioles
Kelly is 8-0, 2.77 in his last eight starts (over 7-1-1 in his last nine).

Jimenez is 2-0, 3.55 in his last two starts; four of his last six went over.

Boston won seven of last ten games (over 3-2 last five); they've lost eight of last nine with Baltimore (over 6-4 in last ten). Orioles won five of their last six games; five of their last eight games went over.

Royals @ Indians
Medlen is 1-1, 6.35 in his last three starts; three of his last four went over.

Tomlin is 5-0, 2.86 in his last five starts (last four went over.

Indians are 6-5 in last 11 games with KC (over 7-3-1). Royals lost eight of last ten games- their last four went over. Cleveland won six of last eight games; Tribe's last six games went over the total.

Bronx @ Rays
Warren is making first start since June 25; heis 2-2, 3.38 in his last five starts- six of his last eight starts stayed under the total. .

Odorizzi is 1-2, 4.67 in his last three starts (over 4-0 in last four at home).

Rays lost eight of last 11 games; they lost five of last seven games with Bronx; under is 7-2-1 in last ten in series. NY lost five of last seven games; three of their last five went over the total. Rays scored one run in their last 22 innings.

Astros @ Rangers
McHugh is 3-0, 3.26 in his last three starts (over 2-0-1).

Perez is 1-3, 5.64 in his last four starts (under 5-0 last five).

Rangers won eight of last ten games with Houston; Texas is 8-5 in its last 13 games overall-- under is 8-2-1 in their last 11 games. Astros lost five of last seven games; under is 3-1-2 in their last six. Rangers go into first place in AL West with win here.

A's @ White Sox
Brooks is 0-2, 9.49 in his last three starts; four of his last five went over.

Samardzija is 1-7, 7.74 in his last eight starts (over 9-1 in last ten).

Oakland lost its last six games with Chicago; over is 7-4 in last 11 series games. A's lost four of last five games (over 7-4 in last 11). White Sox are 7-4 in their last eleven games; over is 4-1-1 in their last six games.

Tigers @ Twins
Simon is 1-2, 7.43 in his last four starts (over 3-1).

Hughes is making his first start since August 9 (back); he is 0-2, 10.38 in his couple starts- three of his last four went over

Twins won last four games with Detroit, scoring 31 runs; they won five of last seven games overall; under is 5-3-1 in their last nine. Detroit lost four of last five games; five of their last six games went over the total.

Angels @ Mariners
Tropeano is 0-2, 7.98 in his last three starts (over 2-2 in his '15 starts).

Hernandez is 3-0, 1.88 in his last three starts (over 7-2 in his last nine).

Angels won six of last ten games with Seattle; four of last five went over the total. Halos are 8-5 in last thirteen games overall; under is 6-3-1 in their last ten. Mariners are 7-4 in last eleven games; six of their last nine stayed under.

Interleague
Blue Jays @ Braves
Buehrle is 1-2, 7.45 in his last four starts (over 8-1 in his last nine).

Teheran is 1-0, 1.38 in his last two starts (over 3-1 in last four at home).

Toronto lost three of last four games with Atlanta (over 6-2 in last eight). Blue Jays won three of last four games overall (over 6-2 in last eight). Braves lost their last four games in a row, giving up 28 runs; over is 6-2-1 in their last nine games.

Win-loss records this year for team with this starting pitcher:
Wsh-Phil-- Strasburg 10-9 (7-2 last 9); Buchanan 2-9
Chi-Pitt-- Hammel 13-14 Lester 15-13; Cole 19-9 Happ 6-1
Mia-NY-- Koehler 12-15; deGrom 18-9
StL-Mil-- Martinez 20-6; Pena 0-1
SD-Az-- Ross 16-14; Chacin 0-2
Col-LA-- Rusin 5-12; Anderson 15-12 (5-2 last 7)
Cin-SF-- Lamb 1-5; Heston 14-13 (0-6 last 6)

Bos-Balt-- Kelly 13-11 (8-0 last 8); Jimenez 15-13
KC-Cle--Medlen 2-2; Tomlin 4-1
NY-TB-- Warren 9-5; Odorizzi 11-13 (1-4 last 5)
A's-Chi-- Brooks 2-4; Samardzija 12-17 (1-7 last 8)
Hst-Tex-- McHugh 18-10; Perez 5-5
Det-Min-- Simon 15-12; Hughes 12-11
LAA-Sea-- Tropeano 1-3; Hernandez 19-9

Tor-Atl-- Buehrle 16-11; Teheran 16-13

Times this starting pitcher allowed a run in first inning:
Wsh-Phil-- Strasburg 5-19; Buchanan 3-11
Chi-Pitt-- Hammel 11-27 Lester 8-29; Cole 9-28 Happ 1-7
Mia-NY-- Koehler 6-27; deGrom 8-27
StL-Mil-- Martinez 7-26 (4 of last 6); Pena 0-1
SD-Az-- Ross 9-30; Chacin 0-2
Col-LA-- Rusin 6-17; Anderson 9-27
Cin-SF-- Lamb 3-6; Heston 5-27

Bos-Balt-- Kelly 10-24; Jimenez 8-28
KC-Cle--Medlen 2-4; Tomlin 1-5
NY-TB-- Warren 1-14; Odorizzi 5-24
A's-Chi-- Brooks 2-6; Samardzija 14-29
Hst-Tex-- McHugh 8-28; Perez 2-10
Det-Min-- Simon 5-27; Hughes 7-23 (3 of last 3)
LAA-Sea-- Tropeano 1-4; Hernandez 8-28

Tor-Atl-- Buehrle 14-27; Teheran 10-29

Umpires
Wsh-Phil-- Seven of last nine Tichenor games went over.
Mia-NY-- Five of last six Scott games went over total.
SD-Az-- Favorites won six of last eight Marquez games.
Col-LA-- Over is 7-3 in last ten Diaz games.
Cin-SF-- Under is 10-6 in last sixteen Fletcher games.

Bos-Balt-- Seven of last nine Eddings games went over.
NY-TB-- Under is 8-4-1 in last thirteen Kulpa games.
KC-Clev-- Favorites won last five Blaser games.
Hst-Tex-- Last five Cuzzi games went over the total.
Det-Min-- Under is 9-4 in last thirteen TBarrett games.
A's-Chi-- Six of last eight Drake games stayed under.
LAA-Sea-- Four of last five Porter games went over.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Soccer: CL Best Bets - Tuesday
By Toby Maxtone-Smith

The Champions League returns to your television screens this week with 16 group games taking place.

The usual suspects lead the betting in the outright market with holders Barcelona the 3/1 favourites to retain the trophy - something no team has done since the competition was rebranded as the Champions League from the European Cup. Next come Bayern Munich (4/1) and Real Madrid (5/1).

The shortest English club in the betting are 10/1 Chelsea, with Manchester City available at 12/1. Last year’s runners-up Juventus can be backed at an appealing 28/1.

The rank outsiders this year are Kazakhstani newcomers FC Astana - you can back them at 2,500/1.

The Banker: Wolfsburg to beat CSKA Moscow at 10/11

People often put German clubs in the Champions League into two categories: Bayern Munich and the rest. Borussia Dortmund came close to matching Bayern Munich, and this current Wolfsburg team has the ability to do the same. While the loss of Kevin De Bruyne will hit them, they remain a top quality side, and a price of 10/11 on them to see off CSKA Moscow looks well worth taking. Think of it like this - Bayern would be around 1/5 to win this match, and Wolfsburg finished twice as close to them last season as they did to the team that finished fifth in the Bundesliga.

CSKA have made a very good start to their league season - they are already five points clear at the top of the Russian Premier League, but their away record in the Champions League makes for grim reading: they have won two and lost seven of their last nine matches. Wolfsburg have won both their home league matches this year, and are a much better side than their opponents.

The Solid Bet: Manchester United to win at PSV Eindhoven at 5/4

Manchester United can lack focus in their home games, but if they can repeat their performance in a 4-0 win away to Club Brugge in the play-offs they look a good bet to win away to PSV Eindhoven, the champions of Holland and the weakest team in Pot 1 of this year’s Champions League.

The match sees Memphis Depay make a return to his former club, and while the Dutch winger has yet to convince in the Premier League, he terrorised Club Brugge and has all the motivation to put in a similar display at the Phillips Stadion. United will be on a high after beating arch-rivals Liverpool at the weekend. The prices overrate PSV, who never face teams anywhere near the quality of Louis van Gaal’s men in their domestic league.

The Outsider: Juventus to win at Manchester City at 9/2

Juventus look a superb bet here. 9/2 is the sort of price Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur would be away to Manchester City, and Juventus are a massively better team than either of them. In contrast to Man City, who haven’t dropped any points so far, Juve have made a bad start to their league season, but they are still a force to be reckoned with, even if they are learning to live without Andrea Pirlo.

A major factor here is that City will be without their (and the Premier League’s) best player - Sergio Aguero. Without his movement and finishing, City can look tame in the forward positions. David Silva, a solid contender for the league’s second best player, is also out. And while City were able to grind out an excellent win at Crystal Palace without their best players, Juventus pose a much greater challenge. There is also still a question mark over whether Man City have the temperament or, indeed, the quality, to win on these big European nights. Juventus will see this as a great opportunity to get their season up and running - they are well worth a bet.

The First Goalscorer: Edinson Cavani for PSG vs Malmo at 11/5

PSG are the shortest priced team to win all night at 9/1. Their Swedish opponents, Malmo, are a whopping 33/1 to win at the Parc des Princes. And with Zlatan Ibrahimovic getting on in years, the Parisians are now looking more to Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani to provide their goals. Cavani has scored four already in the league this season, with Ibrahimovic yet to get off the mark. At the same price Cavani is definitely the better bet, despite the fact that Ibrahimovic is playing against his hometown club. This may not be the enormous win bookies are expecting, but PSG should still have no problem taking all three points, and Cavani is the man to get them off the mark.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MLB 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.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

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.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

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.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

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.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

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.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

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.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

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.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

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.