8-17-17 Info, Trends, Comps, Horse Racing etc...

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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