Info Thread Only for 8-16-17

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Wednesday's six-pack

Bears coach John Fox’s coaching resume, from 1978-88:

1978— San Diego State

1979— US International

1980— Boise State

1981— Long Beach State

1982— Kansas

1983— Utah

1984— Iowa State

1986-88— Pitt

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Angels at Nationals

Howie Kendrick has made quite an impression since being acquired before the non-waiver trade deadline and looks to punish his former team again when the Washington Nationals host the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday afternoon. Kendrick, who spent 2006-14 with the Angels, belted a pair of solo homers in Tuesday’s 3-1 win over Los Angeles and is batting .386 since coming over in a trade from Philadelphia.

Kendrick and Daniel Murphy are both 4-for-8 over the last two contests with former MVP Bryce Harper (knee) on the disabled list while Wilmer Difo has hit safely in 10 straight games for the Nationals, who have won seven of their last nine and lead the National League East by 14 ½ games. Tanner Roark will try to keep it going for Washington in the finale of the two-game interleague set when he takes the mound against veteran Ricky Nolasco. The Angels saw their six-game winning streak come to an end while managing just three hits - including Cliff Pennington’s solo blast - in the series opener but look to get back on track and increase their lead for the second wild-card spot in the American League, which is a mere half-game over both Minnesota and Kansas City. All-Star Mike Trout recorded one of the hits on Tuesday and is batting .383 with four homers and 10 RBI this month while Los Angeles has won 10 of 14.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FSN West (Los Angeles), MASN (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Ricky Nolasco (5-12, 5.24 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Tanner Roark (9-7, 4.74)

Nolasco escaped with no-decisions despite allowing 10 runs in nine innings over his last two starts after posting quality starts in three of his previous four turns. The 34-year-old Californian has managed just one victory in seven outings since tossing a shutout against Seattle on July 1 and is 2-7 on the road. Ryan Zimmerman has homered three times off Nolasco, who is 11-7 with a 3.65 ERA versus Washington in his career.

Roark has recorded quality starts in four of his last five games while posting three victories, but he settled for a no-decision last time out against Miami after giving up two runs in six innings. The 30-year-old Illinois product has had control issues of late, issuing 12 walks in 17 1/3 frames over his last three starts. Cameron Maybin is 3-for-5 with a double versus Roark, who settled for a no-decision after scattering seven hits over 6 2/3 scoreless innings in his only career outing against the Angels on April 21, 2014.

WALK-OFFS

1. Los Angeles DH-1B Albert Pujols needs one homer to tie Sammy Sosa (609) for eighth place on the all-time list.

2. Washington recalled C Pedro Severino from Triple-A Syracuse for depth with OF Brian Goodwin (groin) unavailable and assigned RHP A.J. Cole to the Chiefs.

3. Trout needs two more blasts to join Eddie Mathews and Frank Robinson as the only players to reach 25 homers six times before the season they started at the age of 26.

PREDICTION: Nationals 6, Angels 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Giants at Marlins

Giancarlo Stanton is enjoying the roll of his life with home runs in a franchise-record six straight games and a staggering 23 in his last 35. The National League Player of the Week looks to keep the good times going on Wednesday afternoon as the Miami Marlins vie for a series victory in the rubber match of their three-game set with the visiting San Francisco Giants.

Stanton extended his career-high home run total to 44 with a solo shot in Tuesday's 9-4 loss to improve to 11-for-24 with 11 RBIs and eight runs scored during his six-game hitting streak. The 27-year-old powerhouse has left an imprint on San Francisco with five homers this season and is 8-for-22 with four blasts and six RBIs versus Wednesday starter Matt Cain. Giants leadoff batter Denard Span also went deep on Tuesday and has scored at least one run in seven of his last nine outings. The 33-year-old has enjoyed success in a small sample size versus Wednesday starter Jose Urena, going 2-for-4 with an RBI.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, NBCSN Bay Area (San Francisco), FSN Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Matt Cain (3-9, 5.22 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Jose Urena (10-5, 3.76)

Cain saw his winless stretch extend to 14 games on Aug. 7 after scattering four hits over three scoreless innings of a no-decision versus the Chicago Cubs. The 32-year-old owns an 0-8 mark during that stretch, with a two-walk performance in a brief one-third of an inning appearance against Miami on July 9 included in the mix. Cain owns a 3.63 ERA in his career versus the Marlins, with Dee Gordon (3-for-13) and Christian Yelich (2-for-10) being kept under wraps.

After surrendering just one homer in his previous four outings, Urena was taken deep on two occasions and permitted three runs in 5 1/3 innings of a no-decision versus Colorado on Friday. The 25-year-old Dominican also yielded two homers and three runs total in his last encounter against San Francisco, resulting in a no-decision on July 9. Brandon Crawford and Nick Hundley supplied the power in that contest versus Urena, who also struggled in his previous outing with the Giants by permitting two runs on five hits in 1 2/3 innings on April 22, 2016.

WALK-OFFS

1. Miami CF Christian Yelich has recorded multi-hit performances in each game of his series and four times in his last five outings.

2. San Francisco RF Hunter Pence has 12 RBIs in his last 13 contests.

3. Marlins LF Marcell Ozuna has hit 17 of his 27 homers at home this season.

PREDICTION: Marlins 5, Giants 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Pirates at Brewers

Gerrit Cole has made himself at home on the road, winning seven straight away from PNC Park to keep the Pittsburgh Pirates in contention in the National League Central. The 26-year-old ace aims to keep his good fortune going on Wednesday afternoon as the Pirates vie to salvage a split of their abbreviated two-game series against the host Milwaukee Brewers.

Adam Frazier drove in a run with a triple in Tuesday's 3-1 setback to improve to 9-for-25 with three RBIs versus the Brewers this season. Pittsburgh has answered winning five of six by losing three in a row to fall 4 1/2 games behind first-place Chicago in the congested National League Central. Milwaukee moved within 1 1/2 games of the Cubs after posting its third straight win on the heels of a disastrous six-game losing skid. Travis Shaw scored twice on Tuesday and carries an eight-game hitting streak into this tilt versus Cole, against whom he is 2-for-9 in his career.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportNet-Pittsburgh, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Gerrit Cole (10-8, 3.96 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Jimmy Nelson (9-6, 3.72)

Cole recorded his seventh straight quality start on Thursday after allowing three runs on six hits across a season-high eight innings of a 7-5 victory at Detroit. The right-hander has handcuffed Milwaukee in three appearances this season, permitting three earned runs while striking out 23 batters against four walks in 21 innings. Cole settled for a no-decision in his last encounter with the Brewers on July 19 despite fanning a campaign-best 10 batters and yielding just one run in seven frames.

Nelson was blitzed for a career-high nine earned runs and 11 hits over 3 2/3 innings of an 11-10 setback versus Cincinnati on Friday. The 28-year-old also tasted defeat in his last encounter with Pittsburgh, yielding four runs on six hits over five innings of a 4-2 loss on July 20. Nelson has struggled against the likes of Starling Marte (.333), Andrew McCutchen (.318) and Josh Harrison (.304).

WALK-OFFS

1. Milwaukee RF Ryan Braun has six extra-base hits and five runs scored during his nine-game hitting streak.

2. Pittsburgh 1B Josh Bell has scored a run in three of his last four games after failing to do so in any of his previous five.

3. Brewers 2B Neil Walker is 9-for-16 with six runs scored during a four-game hitting streak that has been recorded with two teams (Mets).

PREDICTION: Pirates 3, Brewers 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Royals at Athletics

The Kansas City Royals made an impressive comeback late in Tuesday's contest but were unable to prevent a better one and had their three-game winning streak halted. Kansas City looks to end its eight-game road trip on a high note when it visits the Oakland Athletics for the rubber match of their three-game series.

The Royals squandered an early three-run advantage on Tuesday but scored five runs on three homers in the eighth inning to grab an 8-4 lead before yielding six runs in the bottom half. The club dropped to 3-4 on its trek and sits one-half game behind the Los Angeles Angels for the second wild-card spot in the American League. Oakland answered Kansas City with a six-run eighth that was highlighted by Matt Joyce's three-run double. Joyce also belted one of the Athletics' three home runs to finish with four RBIs and help the team improve to 3-5 on its nine-game homestand.

TV: 3:35 p.m. ET, FSN Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals LH Danny Duffy (7-8, 3.68 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Paul Blackburn (3-1, 3.02)

Duffy allowed just one run in each of his final two starts in July but has struggled this month, surrendering 12 runs - eight earned - and 14 hits over 12 innings in losses to Seattle and the Chicago White Sox. The 28-year-old Californian has demonstrated good control since the end of May, issuing a total of six walks in 51 1/3 frames while registering 47 strikeouts. Duffy has yet to lose to Oakland, going 3-0 with a 2.84 ERA in five starts and one relief appearance.

Blackburn extended his unbeaten streak to four starts Friday as he escaped with a no-decision after surrendering four runs and 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings against Baltimore. The 23-year-old rookie from the Golden State allowed a home run in that outing, ending his streak of three turns without serving up a blast. Blackburn, who will be facing Kansas City for the first time, has posted a 4.50 ERA in four starts at home as opposed to a 1.69 mark in four road outings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Athletics LF Khris Davis hit his 33rd homer on Tuesday, leaving him nine shy of matching the career high he set last year.

2. Kansas City 1B Eric Hosmer homered and drove in four runs Tuesday and has gone 6-for-14 during his four-game hitting streak.

3. Oakland sent cash to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for RHP Chris Hatcher, who has not pitched since June 22 due to thoracic inflammation.

PREDICTION: Royals 5, Athletics 1

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Orioles at Mariners

The Seattle Mariners halted an untimely slide and attempt to close a seven-game homestand on a good note when they entertain the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday afternoon. Seattle dropped the first five contests before ending their Safeco Field woes with a 3-1 victory on Tuesday.

The Mariners sit 1 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Angels for the American League's second wild card while the Orioles are two games back. Nelson Cruz reached base three times and drove in a run for Seattle on Tuesday to push his AL RBI lead to 96. Jonathan Schoop plated Baltimore's lone run with a homer as the club dropped to 4-5 on its 10-game West Coast trip. The hot-hitting Tim Beckham is 4-for-9 in the series and is a scorching 30-for-62 with four homers since being acquired from Tampa Bay.

TV: 3:40 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Baltimore), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Ubaldo Jimenez (5-7, 6.25 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Marco Gonzales (0-0, 8.49)

Jimenez struck out a season-best 11 in 5 1/3 innings against Oakland in his last turn but settled for a no-decision after allowing three runs and six hits. The 33-year-old has won just one of his last six starts despite allowing two runs or fewer on three occasions. Jimenez is 2-3 with a 5.85 ERA in seven career starts versus the Mariners while being torched by Robinson Cano (9-for-17, two homers, four doubles) and shutting down Cruz (2-for-17, nine strikeouts).

Gonzales lasted just 4 1/3 innings against the Angels in his last outing despite giving up one run and four hits. The 25-year-old did not factor in the decision in either of his starts for the Mariners, including his debut against Kansas City in which he gave up five runs and seven hits in four frames on August 6. Gonzalez has issued just two walks in 8 1/3 innings with Seattle after having walked 22 in 40 2/3 frames in parts of three seasons with St. Louis.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mariners 3B Kyle Seager (stomach) sat out Tuesday and is uncertain for the series finale.

2. Baltimore LF Trey Mancini is 1-for-11 with a homer and five strikeouts over the last three contests.

3. Seattle 1B Danny Valencia is 0-for-6 in the series and hitless in nine at-bats over his last three games.

PREDICTION: Mariners 5, Orioles 4

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Phillies at Padres

The San Diego Padres are seeking their first sweep in over two months when they conclude their three-game series against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday. The Padres have racked up 15 runs while winning the first two games as they look to capture three straight against one opponent for the first time since June 12-14 versus Cincinnati.

Cory Spangenberg homered and recorded a career-best four RBIs in Tuesday's 8-4 victory and has gone deep four times in his last three games for San Diego. Spangenberg is 5-for-7 with five RBIs and five runs scored in the series and a torrid 9-for-15 over his last four contests. Philadelphia's Odubel Herrera will miss his second straight game after injuring his left hamstring in Monday's series-opening setback. Herrera owns a 17-game hitting streak, which is the longest by a Phillie since Raul Ibanez had an 18-game run in 2010.

TV: 3:40 p.m. ET, CSN Philadelphia, FSN San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Nick Pivetta (4-7, 6.29 ERA) vs. Padres LH Clayton Richard (5-12, 5.14)

Pivetta has been torched for 13 earned runs and 15 hits in just 7 1/3 innings over his last two starts. The 24-year-old is 3-5 with a horrific 7.85 ERA in 10 road starts. Pivetta did not figure in the decision against San Diego on July 7, when he gave up three runs - all on solo homers - and five hits while striking out nine in seven frames.

Richard is winless in his last 10 starts - losing five - since defeating Cincinnati on June 13. The 33-year-old settled for a no-decision against the Los Angeles Dodgers in his last turn as he gave up three runs and eight hits over six innings. Richard yielded one run and five hits over six frames in a no-decision against the Phillies when matched against Pivetta last month and stands 0-4 with a 3.41 in eight career appearances (four starts) versus Philadelphia.

WALK-OFFS

1. Phillies LF Rhys Hoskins went deep Tuesday and has hit his first three big-league homers in the series.

2. Padres C Austin Hedges, who has homered 15 times, hit two shots against Pivetta last month.

3. Philadelphia placed Daniel Nava (back) on the disabled list and recalled fellow OF Cameron Perkins from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

PREDICTION: Padres 9, Phillies 7

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Rays at Blue Jays

The Tampa Bay Rays broke out of an offensive slump with 13 hits in the second game of the series and hope to carry that over when they visit the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday for the third of four contests between the American League East rivals. Wilson Ramos homered for the second straight night as the Rays recorded a 6-4 victory on Tuesday to end a four-game slide, scoring half as many runs as they registered in their previous 10 outings combined.

Lucas Duda also belted a two-run homer in Tuesday’s victory as eight different players recorded at least one hit for Tampa Bay, which is 1 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Angels for the second wild-card spot. Rookie Jacob Faria goes after his second win at Toronto this season for the Rays as he opposes Marcus Stroman, who is 1-0 with a 1.98 ERA in two starts against Tampa Bay this year. Josh Donaldson homered for the third straight game for the Blue Jays on Tuesday and is 7-for-14 with eight RBIs in his last four contests. Toronto, which dropped to 8-5 this month while maintaining a spot on the fringe of the AL wild-card race - 3 1/2 games back, has split 14 meetings with Tampa Bay this season.

TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, FSN Sun (Tampa Bay), Sportsnet (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Jacob Faria (5-3, 3.19 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Marcus Stroman (10-6, 3.00)

Faria is winless in his last three outings, allowing nine runs over 16 innings with 24 strikeouts and 10 walks, after a 5-1 start to his career. The 24-year-old Californian gave up five runs in the fifth inning on Friday and ended up lasting six frames in a loss to Cleveland. Faria made his second career start against Toronto on June 13, permitting one run and six hits with eight strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings in a victory.

Stroman has posted just one victory in his last six games and is coming off his only loss in that span, a setback against Pittsburgh on Friday in which he surrendered four unearned runs over eight innings. The 26-year-old Duke product, who was a first-round pick in 2012, walked 14 in the first three contests during that stretch and issued a total of four free passes in the last three. Evan Longoria is 9-for-27 with two homers versus Stroman, who is 4-4 with a 4.17 ERA against the Rays.

WALK-OFFS

1. Toronto CF Kevin Pillar is 3-for-7 with an RBI in the series after going 3-for-19 in his previous six contests.

2. Tampa Bay CF Kevin Kiermaier (hip/back), who has been sidelined since June 8, could return to the lineup this weekend.

3. The Blue Jays are 46-22 in August over the last three seasons.

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 4, Rays 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Cardinals at Red Sox

Right-hander Lance Lynn goes for his fifth consecutive victory and attempts to give the St. Louis Cardinals a split of a two-game interleague series against the host Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night. St. Louis has dropped two in a row following an eight-game winning streak but remained 1 1/2 games behind Chicago in the National League Central.

The surging Red Sox turned their first triple play in six years in the series opener, breaking the game open with an eight-run fifth inning in the 10-4 victory to improve to 11-2 in their last 13 games. Slumping shortstop Xander Bogaerts, mired in a 1-for-17 slump in his previous five games, broke loose with three hits and an RBI single as Boston maintained its 4 1/2-game lead in the American League East. Dexter Fowler had a two-run double among three hits for the Cardinals and is 11-for-24 over his last eight games. Lynn, who has not allowed more than two earned runs in eight straight starts, will be opposed by left-hander Eduardo Rodríguez, who won at St. Louis on May 16 with six innings of three-run ball.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN Midwest (St. Louis), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Lance Lynn (10-6, 3.12 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Eduardo Rodríguez (4-3, 3.80)

Although Lynn did not factor in the decision last time out, he limited Kansas City to three runs (two earned) over six innings to extend his unbeaten string to seven starts. He is 4-0 and has permitted a combined seven earned runs in that span - all quality starts - but 13 walks over the last three turns is a concern. Lynn's ERA is nearly a run higher on the road (3.56) than at home (2.62).

Rodriguez remains in search of his first win since May 26, although he spent a lengthy portion of that time on the disabled list. He appeared on the way to ending the drought in his last start at Yankee Stadium, tossing six scoreless innings of two-hit ball and striking out seven before Boston's bullpen coughed up a lead. Rodriguez has made six starts at Fenway this year, posting a 1-0 record and 3.31 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox LF Andrew Benintendi, 15-for-35 during an nine-game hitting streak, left Tuesday's game after taking a pitch off the knee.

2. St. Louis SS Paul DeJong has five straight multiple-hit games (11-for-20) and a five-game RBI streak.

3. Red Sox 3B Rafael Devers has hit safely in five straight games, going 8-for-19 with three homers and six RBIs.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 4, Red Sox 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Yankees at Mets

Gary Sanchez is reminding many why he was a contender in the Home Run Derby last month by going deep in back-to-back contests and four times during his seven-game hitting streak. The 24-year-old Dominican hopes his red-hot bat won't cool off as his New York Yankees take the short trek to Queens to continue their four-game Subway Series against the New York Mets on Wednesday.

Sanchez, who belted a solo homer and added a sacrifice fly in Tuesday's 5-4 victory, is 11-for-25 with seven RBIs and six runs scored during his hitting streak. Jacoby Ellsbury also went deep for the second time in three outings as he attempts to work his way out of his post-All-Star Game blues for the Yankees, who rebounded after losing three of four to win two straight and remain within 4 1/2 games of American League East-leading Boston. The Mets likely aren't concerning themselves about the standings, and their recent play would indicate as much. They are 4-8 in their last 12 games overall and 4-10 in their last 14 encounters against the Yankees.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ESPN, YES (Yankees), SNY (Mets)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH Jaime Garcia (5-8, 4.50 ERA) vs. Mets RH Robert Gsellman (5-5, 6.16)

Garcia has followed a three-game winning streak with two different teams with an 0-1 mark in two outings since being acquired by the Yankees. The 31-year-old surrendered a pair of homers and allowed three runs on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings of a no-decision versus Boston on Friday. Garcia will look to secure his first win with the Yankees when he faces the Mets, against whom he has dropped both decisions this season despite striking out a season-high nine batters in a 2-1 setback on June 11.

Sidelined since June 27 due to a strained left hamstring, Gsellman was activated from the disabled list on Tuesday and will get the nod in favor of injured right-hander Seth Lugo (right shoulder impingement). The 24-year-old Gsellman showed he's ready to return after tossing six shutout innings in a rehab outing with Double-A Binghamton. Gsellman posted a 1-0 mark with a 2.92 ERA in four rehab starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Yankees RF Aaron Judge has fanned at least once in 32 consecutive contests, tying the major-league single-season record for consecutive games striking out by a non-pitcher (Adam Dunn, 2012).

2. Mets LF Yoenis Cespedes has three homers, six RBIs and four runs scored during his five-game hitting streak.

3. Yankees LF Brett Gardner is 3-for-31 with 11 strikeouts in his last eight games.

PREDICTION: Yankees 4, Mets 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Tigers at Rangers

Veteran left-hander Cole Hamels puts his undefeated record at Globe Life Park this season on the line when the Texas Rangers look to complete a three-game sweep of the visiting Detroit Tigers on Wednesday. Texas has won five of six games and is part of a crowded American League wild-card race, trailing the Los Angeles Angels by two games for the final spot.

Joey Gallo owns a paltry .208 batting average but gets plenty of mileage out of his hits, swatting five homers in his last eight games and 34 on the season. Adrian Beltre has recorded multiple hits in five of his last six games and gets to face a pitcher he's torched in the past in Anibal Sanchez, against whom he is 9-for-13 with five RBIs. Victor Martinez is 6-for-13 during his four-game hitting streak for Detroit, which has lost three straight and nine of 11. The Tigers have surrendered 49 runs over their last six contests, with its lone win in that span coming by a 12-11 margin.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, FSN Detroit, FSN Southwest (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Anibal Sanchez (3-3, 6.69 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Cole Hamels (7-1, 3.31)

Sanchez had provided a boost for the Tigers when he returned to the rotation, but he's starting to show why he wound up in the bullpen in the first place. The 33-year-old Venezuelan lost for the third time in four starts when he was knocked around for five runs and eight hits by Minnesota last time out after surrendering five homers in his previous turn. Sanchez is 2-4 with a 7.84 ERA lifetime against the Rangers.

Hamels followed his first complete game since 2015 by turning in another strong performance in his last start, blanking Houston on three hits over seven innings. Since he was acquired from Philadelphia at the trade deadline in 2015, the 33-year-old owns a 29-7 record with the Rangers. Miguel Cabrera, who returned to the lineup Tuesday, has been a nemesis for Hamels, going 10-for-18.

WALK-OFFS

1. Gallo has belted nine home runs this month, the most in the AL.

2. Tigers LF Justin Upton is riding a six-game hitting streak.

3. Rangers C Robinson Chirinos has set a career high with 14 homers in 56 games.

PREDICTION: Rangers 7, Tigers 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Reds at Cubs

The fickle nature of baseball has shown itself to the Chicago Cubs the past two games. The Cubs followed up one of their most impressive offensive performances of the season with a disappointing day at the plate, and they’ll try to trend back toward the former when they host the Cincinnati Reds in the third contest of a four-game series Wednesday.

After routing the Reds 15-5 in Monday’s series opener, the Cubs left 10 men on base in a 2-1 defeat Tuesday. Chicago remains 1 1/2 games ahead of St. Louis and Milwaukee in the National League Central. Cincinnati snapped a three-game skid Tuesday and also ended a streak of 10 straight losses in night games at Wrigley Field. The Cubs lead the season series 7-4, but Cincinnati has won three of the past five meetings.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati), WGN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Homer Bailey (4-6, 8.31 ERA) vs. Cubs RH John Lackey (10-9, 4.82)

Bailey has been wildly inconsistent in 10 outings since returning from elbow surgery, mixing in four quality starts along with five starts in which he allowed at least six runs. The 31-year-old won at Milwaukee on Friday, holding the Brewers to two runs and five hits over five innings. Bailey is 8-3 with a 4.37 ERA in 16 starts against the Cubs, but he hasn’t faced them since 2014.

Lackey has won all five of his starts since the All-Star break, posting a 3.42 ERA. The 38-year-old has allowed three or fewer runs in six straight outings, and he gave up three runs over 5 1/3 innings to win at Arizona on Friday. Lackey is 6-5 with a 3.90 ERA in 15 starts against the Reds and has split two meetings this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cubs 2B/OF Ben Zobrist has been out of the lineup the past two games with a stiff neck but was able to pinch hit Tuesday.

2. Reds 1B Joey Votto walked three times Tuesday and has reached base at least twice in a club-record 20 consecutive games, one shy of Ted Williams’ major-league record set in 1948.

3. Cincinnati OF Billy Hamilton recorded his 50th stolen base Tuesday, giving him four straight seasons with at least 50.

PREDICTION: Cubs 7, Reds 5

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Indians at Twins

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 a half-game behind the Los Angeles Angels in the wild-card race, looks to put an end to that drought when the teams resume their three-game set on Wednesday night.

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 Tuesday to tie for the most homers by a visiting player at Target Field with 14, while Edwin Encarnacion added his fifth blast in as many games. 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. Kyle Gibson, who is 0-2 in three starts versus the Indians this season, looks to even the series when he opposes right-hander Carlos Carrasco.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), FSN North (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Carlos Carrasco (11-5, 3.83 ERA) vs. Twins RH Kyle Gibson (6-9, 6.02)

After giving up five runs in back-to-back outings, Carrasco got back on track in his last start at Tampa Bay, carrying a no-hitter into the seventh inning and striking out 10 over eight scoreless frames. He beat the Twins with 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball at Target Field on June 16 to improve to 3-6 overall against Minnesota. Joe Mauer is batting .440 (11-for-25) with a homer off Carrasco.

Gibson fell one out shy of getting through five innings at Detroit in his last outing, giving up three runs on five hits while striking out six in a no-decision. His only two wins over the past two months were both quality starts and each came at home, where he is 3-6 with a 6.55 ERA in 11 turns. Encarnacion has done some damage against Gibson, going 6-for-15 with three homers and eight RBIs.

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 a seven-game hitting streak snapped Tuesday but he's struck out 17 times in the last seven contests.

3. Encarnacion is three homers shy of reaching 30 for the sixth year in a row.

Prediction Indians 5. Twins 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Diamondbacks at Astros

The Houston Astros broke out of a slump in the finale of a road trip and will try to keep the bats going Wednesday when their four-game, two-city interleague series with the Arizona Diamondbacks heads to Texas. The Astros averaged 2.4 runs in going 1-6 to begin their trip before erupting for 13 hits in Tuesday's 9-4 triumph, which gained them a split of the two contests in Arizona.

Jose Altuve added two more hits to lift his MLB-leading average to .363, and catcher Max Stassi - brought up from the minors with backstops Brian McCann and Evan Gattis on the disabled list - doubled in the game's first run in the second and slugged his second career homer in the ninth. The result, which gave the clubs identical 10-2 marks in interleague play, left Houston with a 12 1/2-game lead in the American League West. The Diamondbacks lost for the seventh time in 10 games and are tied with Colorado for the top wild card - five games clear of the St. Louis Cardinals. Taijuan Walker, who is 3-1 with a 2.01 ERA in his last five interleague starts, gets the start for Arizona opposite Houston veteran Charlie Morton.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN Arizona, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Taijuan Walker (6-6, 3.76 ERA) vs. Astros RH Charlie Morton (9-5, 3.83)

Walker has not won in eight starts and the Diamondbacks have lost in each of his last six appearances, but the 25-year-old has five quality starts in his winless stretch. He was reached for four earned runs in five frames while striking out two and walking three in a rocky outing versus the Chicago Cubs on Friday at home. Walker owns a 5.85 ERA in seven career starts at Minute Maid Park and has had his troubles with Altuve (9-for-25) and Josh Reddick (4-for-9, two homers).

Morton will be making his third attempt at his 10th win, which would match a career high set in 2011. He had a string of three straight quality starts snapped in a loss at Texas on Friday, allowing three earned runs in 5 2/3 frames. The 33-year-old, who is 6-2 at home this year, is 3-1 with a 3.97 ERA in six career starts against Arizona.

WALK-OFFS

1. Diamondbacks SS Ketel Marte had two hits Tuesday and has reached safely in a career-high 15 straight games.

2. Eight of Houston's 13 hits in Tuesday's win went for extra bases.

3. Arizona 1B Paul Goldschmidt is 6-for-16 with two homers, two doubles, four walks, four runs scored and three RBIs during a five-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Astros 6, Diamondbacks 4

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Braves at Rockies

The Atlanta Braves have halted their lengthy skid at Coors Field and look to follow up with another win on Wednesday in the third contest of their four-game series against the Colorado Rockies. Atlanta snapped its 11-game slide in Denver by capitalizing on a rare miscue by Nolan Arenado on Tuesday to record a 4-3 victory.

Arenado, a four-time Gold Glove third baseman, made a throwing error with two outs in the eighth inning to allow Brandon Phillips to score the tiebreaking run. The victory was only the third for Atlanta in its last 16 overall meetings with the Rockies, who are tied with Arizona for the two National League wild-card berths. Arenado, who has committed five errors on the campaign, hit his 27th homer for Colorado, which also saw Mark Reynolds and Trevor Story go deep despite losing for the sixth time in eight games. Nick Markakis homered for Atlanta, which has won just six of its last 22 contests.

TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, FSN Southeast (Atlanta), AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Mike Foltynewicz (10-7, 4.29 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Jon Gray (4-2, 4.92)

Foltynewicz has lasted four innings or fewer while losing two of his last three starts but recorded a career-best 11 strikeouts in the win during that span. The 25-year-old already has set a career high for victories and won six decisions in a row in one stretch prior to the recent inconsistency. Foltynewicz is 0-2 with a 3.20 ERA in five career appearances (three starts) against the Rockies and has been rocked by DJ LeMahieu (7-for-9) while shutting down Arenado (0-for-7) and Charlie Blackmon (1-for-9).


Gray did not factor in the decision against Miami in his last outing, when he gave up three earned runs and eight hits over 5 2/3 innings. The 25-year-old is 3-0 with 3.00 ERA in four turns at home this season and 10-3 with a 4.70 ERA in 23 career outings at Coors Field. Gray went 1-0 with a 0.64 ERA in two starts against the Braves last season.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Rockies have scored exactly three runs in six consecutive games and have tallied just 21 over their last eight contests.

2. Atlanta LF Matt Kemp (hamstring) is expected to be activated on Friday.

3. Blackmon is 1-for-10 over his last three games after going 12-for-23 over the previous five contests.

PREDICTION: Braves 5, Rockies 3