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F.A.S.T. Sheets Free Race for Evangeline Downs
Evangeline Downs - Race 4
Daily Double / Exacta / Trifecta / Superfecta / Pick 3 (Races 4-5-6)
Claiming $5,000 • 6 1/2 Furlongs • Dirt • Ages 3 and up • CR: 63 • Purse: $8,500 • Post: 6:47P
FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON TWO RACES. THREE YEAR OLDS, 118 LBS.; OLDER, 123 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $5,000.
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Race Type: Lone Stalker. MARTIN DE TOURS is the Lone Stalker of the race. * KEY ANGLES * MARTIN DE TOURS: Horse has a TrackMaster "+" designation or an "L" designation. Horse has the highest TrackMaster Power Rating. REVENUENEUTRAL: Today is a s print, horse is a Front-runner with an inside post position. Horse has a TrackMaster "+" designation or an "L" designation. DEALER'S ETBAUER: Today is a sprint and this is the horse's third or fourth start after a layoff. Horse has run a Good Race within the last 30 days.
4
MARTIN DE TOURS
9/2
7/2
1
REVENUENEUTRAL
5/1
4/1
7
DEALER'S ETBAUER
9/5
5/1
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Handicapped by The Walker Group at Gulfstream Park
Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.
Race 5 - Maiden Claiming - 6.0f on the Dirt. Purse: $26000 Class Rating: 82
FOR MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD. THREE YEAR OLDS, 119 LBS.; OLDER, 123 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $35,000.
RECOMMENDED CHOICES
The Walker Group Picks
# 5 GO GONE GONE 5/2
# 4 OUR BOSS 12/1
# 3 TWICE ON SUNDAY 10/1
GO GONE GONE looks to be a solid contender. With a reliable 71 average speed figure at the distance, seems well suited for today's race. Reason to like this colt as he has in the irons one of the best jocks using winning percentages over the last 30 days. Will probably come out very solid - I have liked the way this colt has moved speedily to the front end recently. OUR BOSS - The Equibase Speed Figure of 80 from his last race looks very strong in here. Have to play this colt with the solid earnings per start in dirt sprint events. TWICE ON SUNDAY - Is worth considering and may be a bet - strong Equibase speed figs (65 average) at today's distance and surface recently. With a formidable 78 speed figure last time out, will surely be a factor in this competition.
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Handicapped by The Walker Group at Penn National
Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.
Race 5 - Claiming - 6.0f on the Dirt. Purse: $16200 Class Rating: 82
FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON THREE RACES. THREE YEAR OLDS, 119 LBS.; OLDER, 123 LBS. NON-WINNERS OF A RACE SINCE JULY 17 ALLOWED 2 LBS. A RACE SINCE JUNE 17 ALLOWED 4 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $10,000, IF FOR $9,000, ALLOWED 2 LBS.
RECOMMENDED CHOICES
The Walker Group Picks
# 5 TRUE TO THE MOON 5/2
# 6 MADE OF STEEL 2/1
# 3 IM CHARMING 5/1
TRUE TO THE MOON looks to be a quite good contender. Shows solid Equibase Speed Figures on average overall when measured up against the rest of this group. This pony is in the upper half of this group in earnings per start at the distance/surface. Has to be carefully examined - I like the figures from the last contest. MADE OF STEEL - Is a strong contender based on figures put up lately under today's conditions. With Rivera aboard him, this horse will probably be able to break out early for this race. IM CHARMING - Has a very solid shot in this race if you like back class. Overall the Equibase speed figs of this equine look solid in this race.
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Handicapped by Rick Needham at Saratoga
RACE #8 - SARATOGA RACE COURSE - 4:45 PM EASTERN POST
The Union Avenue Stakes
6½ FURLONGS DIRT FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD STAKES $100,000.00 PURSE
#1 QUEZON
#6 COURT DANCER
#7 WONDERMENTz
#9 PICCO UNO
To get to Saratoga from New York City, "you drive north for about 175 miles, turn left on Union Avenue and go back 100 years," wrote the famed sportswriter Red Smith. Along with the racetrack, a number of stately Victorian homes built in the second half of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries are located along Union Avenue, which is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The race, a six-furlong event for New York-bred fillies are mares, was first run in 2004. Here in the 14th renewal of this stakes event, #1 QUEZON is the overall speed leader in this field sprinting at today's distance of 6½ furlongs on the dirt, and has produced "POWER RUN PERFORMANCES" in five straight starts, hitting the board in four of those "adventures," including a "POWER RUN WIN" in his 4th race back. Jockey Javier Castellano has been in his irons of four previous occasions, hitting the board in each, winning twice, and is back this afternoon here at "The Spa" for his 5th ride, gunning for a "Hat Trick Win!" #6 COURT DANCER, a 5-1 shot, qualifies as a TrackMaster PLUS "PowerPony," and has hit the board in "POWER RUN FASHION" in four of her respective last five outings, including a "POWER RUN WIN" in her 5th race back.
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Preview: Diamondbacks at Astros
Houston Astros sparkplug Jose Altuve has recorded multi-hit performances in three of his last four contests and six in his last 10 heading into the finale of a four-game interleague series against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday afternoon. The two-time American League batting champion is hitting a major league-best .364 for the Astros, who have won three of their last four overall and 11 of 13 interleague contests.
Yuli Gurriel recorded his second straight multi-hit effort in Wednesday's 9-5 victory over the Diamondbacks to improve to 23-for-64 in his last 15 contests. While Houston holds a 12 1/2-game lead over the Los Angeles Angels in the AL West, Arizona fell for the eighth time in 11 contests to see its lead over Milwaukee dip to four games in the race for the second wild card in the National League. Paul Goldschmidt launched a two-run blast on Wednesday to extend his hitting streak to six games, during which he is 7-for-20 with three homers, five RBIs and five runs scored. Former Astro J.D. Martinez also went deep on Wednesday and looks to continue his success versus Thursday starter Mike Fiers, against whom he is 6-for-11 with two blasts in his career.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FSN Arizona, AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Patrick Corbin (9-11, 4.52 ERA) vs. Astros RH Mike Fiers (7-7, 4.36)
Corbin bounced back from two disastrous starts by registering a stellar one on Saturday, scattering five hits and striking out eight over 6 2/3 scoreless innings in a 6-2 triumph versus the Chicago Cubs. The 28-year-old has struggled away from the desert, however, posting a 2-8 record and 6.79 ERA on the road as opposed to a 7-3 mark and 2.87 ERA at Chase Field. Corbin also has sputtered in small sample sizes versus the Astros, with George Springer (3-for-3, homer, four RBIs) leading the way against him.
Fiers has answered a brilliant stretch during which he went 6-2 by posting an 0-3 record and 8.41 ERA over his last four starts. The 32-year-old's woes continued on Saturday as he yielded a season high-tying six runs for the second time in three trips to the mound in an 8-3 setback at Texas. Fiers has surrendered six homers in three starts in August after allowing just four in the previous two months combined.
WALK-OFFS
1. Arizona RF David Peralta (paternity list) will be back in the lineup Thursday after taking the full three days to be with his wife following the birth of the couple's first child, a daughter.
2. Houston RHP Joe Musgrove has not allowed a run in 8 1/3 innings this month.
3. Diamondbacks CF A.J. Pollock is 8-for-56 with 12 strikeouts in August.
PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 5, Astros 4
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Preview: Reds at Cubs
The Cincinnati Reds aren’t making things easy for the Chicago Cubs, and they’ll try to salvage a split of their four-game road series against the National League Central leaders on Thursday afternoon. Chicago leads the division by 1 1/2 games over Milwaukee but has had a tough time taking care of last-place Cincinnati in the last two games after a 15-5 rout in the opener.
Chicago's bullpen squandered a five-run lead Wednesday before Javier Baez led off the ninth with a double and scored on a wild pitch for a 7-6 victory, which was the Cubs' first walk-off win since May 4. Cincinnati has dropped four of its last five games, including two walk-off losses, after a stretch during which it notched four wins in five contests. Chicago is 8-4 against the Reds this season, including a 5-1 mark at Wrigley Field. Jon Lester - who will start the finale for the Cubs - has fared well against the Reds, but speedster Billy Hamilton has been trouble for the ace, going 7-for-16 with a pair of home runs.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati), CSN Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Scott Feldman (7-7, 4.43 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Jon Lester (8-7, 3.99)
Feldman returned from a four-week stint on the disabled list with a right knee injury to pitch at Milwaukee on Saturday, when he allowed three runs over four innings in a no-decision. The 34-year-old struck out six and only made one major mistake, giving up a three-run homer to Travis Shaw. Feldman was excellent at Wrigley Field when he pitched for the Cubs in 2013, going 4-2 with a 2.54 ERA in six starts, but he was tagged for seven runs - five earned - in 2 2/3 frames of a loss there earlier this season.
After capturing his first three starts after the All-Star break, Lester is winless in his last three outings. The 33-year-old struck out nine but allowed four runs - three earned - over six innings at Arizona on Saturday for his first defeat since July 9. Lester is 4-1 with a 3.79 ERA in 11 career starts against the Reds, including a 1-0 record this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cincinnati 1B Joey Votto had his streak of reaching base at least twice snapped at 20 games on Wednesday, leaving him one shy of tying Ted Williams’ major-league record set in 1948.
2. The Cubs are 54-16 when scoring four or more runs, with five of the losses coming in Lester’s starts.
3. Reds SS Zack Cozart has hit six home runs in his last nine games at Wrigley Field.
PREDICTION: Cubs 6, Reds 3
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Preview: Braves at Rockies
The Colorado Rockies emerged from their offensive slumber in a big way and attempt to follow up with another strong effort on Thursday afternoon in the finale of their four-game series against the Atlanta Braves. Colorado pounded the Braves 17-2 on Wednesday to put aside a slump during which it scored three runs in each of its previous six games.
The Rockies, who lead the National League wild-card race, managed just 21 runs while losing six of their previous eight games but racked up 18 hits - nine for extra bases - while defeating Atlanta at Coors Field for the 12th time in 13 meetings. Trevor Story homered twice and drove in a career-best six runs while DJ LeMahieu (ninth career four-hit effort, four runs scored), Mark Reynolds (3-for-5, homer, four RBIs) and Gerardo Parra (3-for-5, four RBIs) also had huge performances. Atlanta has scored just six runs in three games in the high altitude of Denver and has lost 17 of its last 23 overall contests. Wednesday's shellacking marked the fourth time in 21 games the Braves have allowed 10 or more runs, with all four occurring on the road.
TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, FSN Southeast (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Lucas Sims (0-3, 5.71 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Jeff Hoffman (6-4, 5.15)
Sims has dropped all three of his starts since being recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett. The 23-year-old allowed five runs - four earned - and 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings while falling to St. Louis on Saturday. Sims has registered three strikeouts in each outing while serving up four homers.
Hoffman is scuffling through a five-start winless stretch during which he has lost three times and lasted five or fewer innings in each of the setbacks. The 24-year-old lost to Miami in his last turn as he gave up four runs and seven hits in five frames. Hoffman, who is making his first career start against Atlanta, is 2-2 with a 6.15 ERA in nine appearances (eight starts) at home this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Colorado 3B Nolan Arenado recorded two doubles and drove in a pair of runs on Wednesday to raise his major league-leading RBI total to 103.
2. Atlanta RF Nick Markakis is 5-for-11 with a homer and three RBIs in the series.
3. Story has collected three blasts and seven RBIs over his last two games after registering none of either over his previous 13 contests.
PREDICTION: Rockies 11, Braves 7
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Preview: Rays at Blue Jays
Former American League MVP Josh Donaldson suffered through a difficult July, but he has been a big factor in keeping the Toronto Blue Jays on the fringe of the race for a wild-card spot this month. Donaldson aims for his fifth straight multi-hit performance as the Blue Jays vie for a series victory when they host the sliding Tampa Bay Rays in the finale on Thursday afternoon.
Donaldson batted .216 in July and there were rumors he could be traded, but he has rebounded with a .383 average and seven homers this month - including a 9-for-17 effort during a five-game hitting streak after recording two hits in Wednesday’s 3-2 victory. Toronto is 9-5 in August and sits 3 ½ games out of the second wild-card spot as Army veteran Chris Rowley makes his second major-league start Thursday against Tampa Bay’s Chris Archer, who is 0-0 with a 2.57 ERA in three outings against the Blue Jays in 2017. The Rays suffered their ninth loss in 12 contests Wednesday and are just one game ahead of the Blue Jays in the race for a wild card. Tampa Bay has scored two runs or fewer in nine of those dozen games and stranded nine baserunners - three in the seventh inning - while going 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position in its latest defeat.
TV: 4:07 p.m. ET, FSN Sun (Tampa Bay), Sportsnet (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Chris Archer (8-7, 3.84 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Chris Rowley (1-0, 1.69)
Archer saw his 15-game streak of completing six innings come to an end Saturday, when he allowed three runs and seven hits over 5 1/3 frames of a loss to Cleveland. The 28-year-old North Carolina native, who is 5-3 on the road this year, has managed to post one win in his last seven outings but has recorded five quality starts in that stretch. Kendrys Morales is 15-for-25 with three homers and eight RBIs versus Archer, who is 6-4 with a 3.13 ERA in 22 career starts against the Blue Jays.
Rowley won his major-league debut on Saturday against Pittsburgh, permitting one run, five hits and one walk with three strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. “It was actually the best I’ve seen him throwing his sinker away to right-handed hitters,” Blue Jays catcher Raffy Lopez told MLB.com. “Usually, it tends to move over the plate, but today, it was the best he’s been able to locate it down and away.” The 27-year-old Rowley was 6-6 with a 2.29 ERA in 27 games (11 starts) in the minors.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rays 3B Evan Longoria is 8-for-48 with no homers and two RBIs since posting four hits in the first game of the month.
2. Toronto OF Steve Pearce is 4-for-11 in the series with three extra-base hits, including a solo homer on Wednesday.
3. Tampa Bay RHP Steve Cishek has not given up a run in nine innings since being acquired from Seattle.
PREDICTION: Rays 7, Blue Jays 2
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Preview: Cardinals at Pirates
St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright is riding a two-month streak without a loss and hopes to carry the momentum from that run into the opener of a four-game series at the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday night. The National League Central rivals are each mired in losing streaks as they meet in the their fourth series of the year.
The Pirates finally got their offense untracked but squandered an early four-run lead in Wednesday's 7-6 defeat at Milwaukee to extend their skid to four games. Josh Bell is 9-for-19 with five extra-base hits and six RBIs over his last six contests for Pittsburgh, which is 5 1/2 games behind division-leading Chicago. The Cardinals have dropped three in a row following an eight-game winning streak, absorbing a crushing 5-4 defeat in Boston on Wednesday by also blowing a four-run lead and giving up three in the bottom of the ninth. Tommy Pham has hit safely in eight straight contests for St. Louis, which fell into third place in the division and trails the Cubs by 2 1/2 games.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSN Midwest (St. Louis), AT&T SportNet-Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (12-5, 4.87 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Jameson Taillon (7-5, 4.50)
Wainwright made his second start since a stint on the disabled list with an ailing back and earned the win my limiting Atlanta to one run over five innings to improve to 5-0 over his last eight turns. He began his unbeaten run against Pittsburgh on June 23, allowing two runs and two hits over seven innings in a no-decision. Second baseman Josh Harrison is 9-for-27 with a pair of doubles off Wainwright.
Taillon has bounced back from a pair of ugly outings with two straight solid starts, picking up the win with six innings of two-run ball at Toronto, after permitting two runs over 6 1/3 innings versus San Diego on Aug. 6. He is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in three career starts versus the Cardinals, but held them to two runs over six innings at St. Louis on June 23. Pham is 4-for-6 against Taillon.
WALK-OFFS
1. St. Louis has won six of its last nine games at PNC Park.
2. Pirates C Francisco Cervelli (hand/wrist), who sat out the Milwaukee series, is expected back in the lineup Thursday.
3. Cardinals 2B Kolten Wong has hit safely in nine of his last 10 games.
PREDICTION: Cardinals 5, Pirates 3
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Preview: Yankees at Mets
Although Aaron Judge set a record that is cause for no celebration, the 25-year-old rookie remains the talk of the town in the Big Apple for what he does when he actually makes contact with the ball. With two homers in the first three games of the Subway Series, Judge looks to continue flexing his muscles in the finale on Thursday as the visiting New York Yankees vie for a sweep of the New York Mets at Citi Field.
Judge launched his American League-best 37th homer in the fourth inning of Wednesday's 5-3 win before writing his name into the record books in the ninth with a strikeout, marking the 33rd consecutive game in one season that he's fanned at the plate to set a record for position players. The Yankees have had their way with the cross-town Mets of late, winning 11 of the last 15 encounters to maintain their presence on the back page of the tabloids. Manager Joe Girardi's club is more interested in chasing down another rival as it resides 4 1/2 games behind East-leading Boston, while the Mets merely are chasing their tails at this point with losses in nine of their last 13 contests. Juan Lagares had a single and a double on Wednesday and boasts four hits in the series as he works out the kinks following a near-two-month absence due to a fractured thumb.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, YES (Yankees), WPIX (Mets)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Luis Severino (9-5, 3.32 ERA) vs. Mets LH Steven Matz (2-6, 5.54)
Severino saw his four-start winning streak and six-game unbeaten run come to an end in horrific fashion Saturday, allowing a career-worst 10 runs (eight earned) in 4 1/3 innings of a 10-5 loss to Boston. "He wasn’t executing his pitches. He made some mistakes," Girardi told reporters of the 23-year-old Dominican. "... He's been so good and executing so well, and we haven't seen that for a while. But it just shows that he's human." Severino dominated the Mets in an encounter last season, permitting one run on one hit while striking out five in 4 1/3 innings to pick up the win.
Matz fell to 0-5 with a gaudy 9.51 ERA in his last seven starts despite recording a strong outing in a 3-1 loss at Philadelphia on Saturday. The 26-year-old yielded two runs on four hits over 5 2/3 innings versus the Phillies, a significantly better performance than his previous six in which he permitted 29 runs and surrendered six homers. "Much, much, better," manager Terry Collins said of Matz’s most-recent trip to the mound. "Secondary stuff was much better, spin on his breaking ball was better. He's worked hard on it and I thought he pitched well."
WALK-OFFS
1. The Yankees can secure the third season sweep in the Subway Series on Thursday, as they used the brooms in a six-game set in 2003 while the Mets swept a four-game series in 2013.
2. Mets LF Yoenis Cespedes has scored a run in five of his last six contests.
3. Judge can match pitcher Vida Blue (34) and move within one of hurler Bill Stoneman (35) for the most consecutive games with a strikeout should he do so on Thursday.
PREDICTION: Yankees 4, Mets 1
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Preview: Indians at Twins (Game 2)
The Minnesota Twins are lagging six games behind first-place Cleveland in the American League Central, primarily due to their inability to beat the Indians on their home field. Winless in eight games against Cleveland at Target Field, Minnesota - which is one game behind the Los Angeles Angels in the wild-card race - looks to put an end to that drought when the teams return from a rainout to play a doubleheader on Thursday.
The Indians put on another impressive display of domination in the series opener, clubbing five home runs in an 8-1 victory to extending their winning streak to five games. Carlos Santana went deep twice on Tuesday to tie the mark for the most homers by a visiting player at Target Field with 14, while Edwin Encarnacion added his fifth blast in as many contests. The Twins, who lost for only the second time in nine games, have been outscored 56-16 by the Indians at home but have won five of six in Cleveland this season. Jose Berrios looks to rebound from a pair of rough starts when he opposes Ryan Merritt in the nightcap.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), FSN North (Minnesota)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians LH Ryan Merritt (0-0, 3.60 ERA) vs. Twins RH Jose Berrios (10-5, 4.27)
Merritt will be recalled as the 26th man for the doubleheader and get the nod for the second game in place of previously scheduled starter Mike Clevinger, who be available out of the bullpen. The 25-year-old Merritt is no stranger to stepping into a spot start, as he allowed three runs and seven hits in four innings of a no-decision at Minnesota on June 17 in an earlier twinbill between the division rivals. Merritt owns a 3.60 ERA in two career encounters with the Twins.
Berrios has surrendered five runs in the first inning in each of his last two starts but has a 1-0 record to show for it. The 23-year-old was tagged for six runs on as many hits in 3 1/3 frames at Detroit on Saturday before walking away with a no-decision. Berrios pitched significantly better in his lone encounter versus Cleveland this season, yielding one run and two hits in 7 2/3 innings of a 4-1 triumph on May 13.
WALK-OFFS
1. Indians SS Francisco Lindor, who is 9-for-18 against Gibson, has hit safely in eight straight games overall.
2. Twins 3B Miguel Sano had his seven-game hitting streak snapped Tuesday, but he's struck out 17 times in his last seven contests.
3. Encarnacion is three homers shy of reaching 30 for the sixth year in a row.
PREDICTION: Indians 3, Twins 2
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Preview: White Sox at Rangers
The Texas Rangers are moving up the ledger in the American wild-card race and look to record their fourth consecutive victory when they open a four-game series against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday. Texas rolled up 28 runs in a three-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers to pull within two games of the Los Angeles Angels for the second wild card.
First baseman Joey Gallo homered in each game of the series against Detroit and has 10 homers and 18 RBIs in August to raise his season totals to 35 and 65. Shortstop Elvis Andrus, who homered and had four RBIs in Wednesday's 12-6 victory, also is having a strong month with a .397 average in 58 at-bats. Texas, which has won six of its last seven games, hopes to continue its momentum against the White Sox -- losers of four straight. The latest loss was painful for Chicago as it allowed three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning Wednesday to suffer a 5-4 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, CSN Chicago-Plus, FSN Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Reynaldo Lopez (0-0, 3.00 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Tyson Ross (3-2, 7.11)
Lopez is making his second start for Chicago since recently being recalled from Triple-A Charlotte. The 23-year-old received a no-decision in his White Sox debut despite allowing two runs and four hits over six innings against the Kansas City Royals. Lopez went 5-3 with a 4.91 ERA in 11 appearances (six starts) for the Washington Nationals last season before being traded as part of the package for outfielder Adam Eaton.
Ross returned from a stint on the disabled list because of blister issues to defeat the Houston Astros on Saturday. The 30-year-old struggled with his control by issuing five walks while giving up three runs and four hits over 5 2/3 innings. Ross received a no-decision against the White Sox on July 2 when he allowed four runs and four hits over five innings and is 3-0 with a 2.95 ERA in four appearances (three starts) against Chicago.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rangers RF Nomar Mazara had two three-hit outings against the Tigers and is 13-for-27 with a homer and nine RBIs over the past seven games.
2. Chicago rookie LF/DH Nicky Delmonico went 3-for-4 with two homers Wednesday to raise his average to .396 and has reached base in all 13 of his major league games.
3. Texas CF Carlos Gomez (infected cyst on upper back) has missed three straight games but hopes to play in the series opener.
PREDICTION: Rangers 11, White Sox 5
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Preview: Nationals at Padres
With one former No. 1 overall pick injured and another set to return, the Washington Nationals will open a seven-game road trip with the first of four on Thursday night against the San Diego Padres. Washington lost star outfielder Bryce Harper to a deep knee bruise but right-hander Stephen Strasburg is expected to rejoin the rotation this weekend.
The Nationals, who hold a 13 1/2-game in the National League East, capped a 6-3 homestand with a 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday. Ryan Zimmerman accounted for both runs with his 28th homer and has enjoyed success against scheduled Padres starter Jhoulys Chacin, going 6-for-18 with a pair of blasts and five RBIs. San Diego opened its seven-game homestand by completing a three-game sweep of majors-worst Philadelphia, winning the series finale 3-0 on Wednesday. Padres first baseman Wil Myers, who was 0-for-9 in his previous three games, went 2-for-2 and added a rarity by stealing three bases in one inning in the victory.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), FSN San Diego
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Edwin Jackson (3-2, 3.86 ERA) vs. Padres RH Jhoulys Chacin (11-8, 4.06)
Jackson's signing has turned out to be a shrewd move by the Nationals, who are 3-2 in his five starts since he was inserted into an injury-plagued rotation last month. He registered his third quality start with Washington by limiting San Francisco to one run on five hits over six innings last time out. Jackson surrendered five homers in his first two starts but has yielded only two in the last three turns.
Chacin rebounded from a rocky outing in a loss at Cincinnati to hold the rampaging Los Angeles Dodgers to one run and four hits over five innings in a no-decision last time out. Prior to the setback versus the Reds, he was 5-0 during a six-start span while giving up a combined eight runs. Chacin did not factor in the decision at Washington on May 28, allowing three runs on eight hits across 4 1/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Nationals SS Wilmer Difo has hit safely in 11 straight games.
2. Padres RHP Jered Weaver announced his retirement on Wednesday.
3. Nationals RHP Ryan Madson is dealing with a finger injury that is being evaluated, manager Dusty Baker told reporters.
PREDICTION: Padres 5, Nationals 4
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Preview: Phillies at Giants
Aaron Nola has quietly emerged as one of the elite pitchers in the game and goes for his 11th consecutive quality start when the Philadelphia Phillies open a four-game series at the San Francisco Giants on Thursday night. Philadelphia has the worst record in the majors and is last in the National League East while the Giants occupy the NL West basement.
Nola will look to stop a four-game skid by the Phillies, who started their road trip by getting swept in a three-game set at San Diego. Center fielder Odubel Herrera is riding a 17-game hitting streak but has missed the past two games with a hamstring injury and offered a "maybe" when asked if he could play this weekend. San Francisco closed out a six-game road trip by losing three of four, giving up an average of 6 1/2 runs during the 1-3 slide. Hunter Pence, who is 6-for-16 during a four-game hitting streak, has 16 homers in 46 career games against Philadelphia.
TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, CSN Philadelphia, NBCSN Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Aaron Nola (9-7, 3.02 ERA) vs. Giants RH Jeff Samardzija (7-12, 4.74)
Nola has not allowed more than two runs in each of his last 10 starts, keeping the streak intact with seven dominant innings of one-run ball versus the New York Mets on Saturday to improve to 6-2 in that span. He made one career start against San Francisco last year, giving up five runs on 10 hits over 3 1/3 innings. Nola is winless in his last three road starts despite permitting six runs over 19 innings.
Samardzija had won three straight outings until a hard-luck loss at Washington last time out, turning in his fourth quality start in a row by yielding three runs and nine hits over six innings. He has not fared well against the Phillies, posting a 1-4 record and 8.67 ERA, but has not faced them since 2014. Samardzija has allowed only six homers in 11 starts at AT&T Park.
WALK-OFFS
1. Giants RHP Johnny Cueto, sidelined due to blisters, is scheduled for a bullpen session on Friday.
2. Philadelphia sent RHP Nick Pivetta, Wednesday's starter, to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
3. Giants 2B Joe Panik joined teammate 1B Brandon Belt on the seven-day concussion list.
PREDICTION: Phillies 4, Giants 3
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