Tuesday 8-22-17 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

[New York Knight]

GAME: Toronto Blue Jays (59-65) at Tampa Bay Rays (61-65)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, August 22 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Blue Jays at Rays
Gracenote
Aug 21, 2017

The Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays need to make up ground in a hurry if either club aspires to punch its postseason ticket via the wild card. The American League East rivals look to aid in that quest at the other's expense on Tuesday when they conclude their season series with the opener of a three-game set in Tampa Bay.

The Rays, who reside four games out of the second wild-card spot, hardly looked like a playoff team with losses in eight of nine before posting a 3-0 victory over Seattle on Sunday. Kevin Kiermaier belted a solo homer to improve to 5-for-12 with three runs scored in three contests for Tampa Bay since returning from a 61-game absence due to a hip injury. Although the Rays lead the Blue Jays by one game in the standings, the latter claimed three of four from the former last week and holds a 9-7 edge in the season series. Toronto enters this set on the heels of a three-game sweep at the hands of the Chicago Cubs, although Kevin Pillar recorded his third-straight multi-hit performance in Sunday's 6-5 setback and went 4-for-10 with a pair of doubles versus the Rays last week.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN Sun (Tampa Bay), Sportsnet (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Chris Rowley (1-0, 2.61 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Chris Archer (8-7, 3.84)

Rowley has allowed three earned runs in 10 1/3 innings over his first two major-league starts, but was deprived of the win on Thursday after Tampa Bay rallied to tie the game in the top of the eighth. The West Point graduate saw his pitch count elevate in that contest after issuing five walks in five frames. "I just felt like I wasn't able to command anything," Rowley told reporters. "I had a lot of arm-side misses. I normally walk a lot of guys - five is entirely too many."

Archer pitched well in his last outing versus Toronto, however Josh Donaldson's two homers put a damper on his 10-strikeout performance. The 28-year-old retired 14 of his last 15 batters versus the Blue Jays, against whom he will be making his 24th career start. Archer owns a 6-4 mark with a 3.16 ERA in his previous 23 go-rounds with Toronto.

WALK-OFFS

1. Donaldson collected four straight multi-hit performances last week versus the Rays and is 14-for-34 with six homers, 10 RBIs and 10 runs scored against the club this season.

2. Tampa Bay SS Adeiny Hechavarria had a two-run homer and a triple on Sunday to improve to 5-for-14 with two runs scored in his last four outings.

3. Blue Jays OF Jose Bautista is just 9-for-52 with 19 strikeouts against the Rays this season.

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 3, Rays 2

[New York Knight]

GAME: Arizona Diamondbacks (68-57) at New York Mets (54-69)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, August 22 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Citi Field, New York City, New York
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Diamondbacks at Mets
Gracenote
Aug 22, 2017

Patrick Corbin was superb in his last two outings and looks to continue his success when the Arizona Diamondbacks visit the New York Mets on Tuesday for the second contest of their four-game series. Corbin allowed a total of nine hits over 15 1/3 scoreless innings in wins over a pair of division leaders in the Chicago Cubs and Houston.

Corbin struck out 15 and walked two in the stellar performances as he reached double digits in victories for the second time in his career. Arizona's A.J. Pollock was the hero in Monday's series opener as he drilled a two-run homer in the 10th inning of a 3-2 victory that snapped the club's three-game slide and left it 3 1/2 games ahead of Milwaukee in the battle for the National League's second wild-card berth. New York has lost seven of its last eight contests and is a season-worst 15 games below .500. Michael Conforto went deep for the sixth time this month and is three blasts away from his first career 30-homer campaign.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN Arizona, SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Patrick Corbin (10-11, 4.25 ERA) vs. Mets LH Tommy Milone (1-2, 7.91)

Corbin has bounced back from a horrific month of May to put together a good bounce-back season after going just 5-13 with a 5.15 ERA in 2016. The 28-year-old recorded a 9.00 ERA and served up eight homers over just 26 innings in May but has been solid since the All-Star break, going 4-2 with a 3.16 ERA in seven starts. Corbin, who is 0-3 with a 6.04 ERA in six career appearances (five starts) versus the Mets, did not figure in the decision against New York earlier this season after giving up four runs and nine hits over six innings.

Milone will take the mound in place of fellow left-hander Steven Matz, who was diagnosed with elbow nerve irritation on Monday and will undergo season-ending surgery. The 30-year-old Milone will be making his first start in three months after being sidelined with a sprained left knee. Milone is 0-2 with a 10.50 ERA in three turns with the Mets this season and has made two previous career starts against the Diamondbacks, going 0-1 with a 7.59 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Diamondbacks are 4-0 against the Mets this season and have won nine of the last 10 meetings.

2. New York RHP Matt Harvey (shoulder) pitched three innings in a rehab start for Double-A Binghamton on Monday, giving up two runs and four hits while striking out three.

3. Arizona OF Yasmany Tomas will undergo core muscle surgery Tuesday and miss the rest of the season.

PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 8, Mets 3

[New York Knight]

GAME: Boston Red Sox (71-53) at Cleveland Indians (69-54)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, August 22 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Red Sox at Indians
Gracenote
Aug 22, 2017

Carlos Carrasco will look to atone for his worst start of the season when he takes the mound for the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday in the second contest of their four-game series against the visiting Boston Red Sox. Carrasco was unable to get out of the second inning despite being staked to a five-run lead versus Boston three weeks ago.

In a matchup between surging first-place teams, the American League Central-leading Indians scored the tying run in the eighth inning before pushing across the winner on a walk-off bunt-and-error to improve to 9-2 in their last 11 games. Monday's 5-4 win came at a price for Cleveland, which owns a 5 1/2-game division lead, as left-handed reliever Andrew Miller aggravated the patellar tendinitis in his right knee and Carlos Santana left the game with tightness in his lower back. Boston lost for only the fourth time in 18 contests and had its lead in the AL East cut to 4 1/2 games despite receiving two-run homers from Andrew Benintendi and Hanley Ramirez. Carrasco will be opposed by Doug Fister, who will be making only his eighth start for the Red Sox but will face the Indians for the third time in 23 days.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Doug Fister (2-6, 5.56 ERA) vs. Indians RH Carlos Carrasco (12-5, 3.76)

Fister had no answers against the Indians in his last start, giving up five runs on seven hits and four walks while lasting only 4 1/3 innings. The sinkerballer won his previous two outings, working 6 1/3 frames of three-run ball versus the Chicago White Sox after limiting Cleveland to two runs over a season-high 7 2/3 innings. Jason Kipnis is 12-for-30 against Fister while Jose Ramirez is 4-for-7.

Carrasco moved within two wins of matching his career high when he held Minnesota to one run and five hits while striking out nine over five innings on Thursday. He was masterful at Tampa Bay in his previous turn, striking out 10 and permitting just two hits in eight scoreless frames. Mitch Moreland is 5-for-11 with three homers against Carrasco, including a three-run shot on Aug. 1.

WALK-OFFS

1. Moreland passed his concussion protocol but was held out of Monday's game due to a sore neck.

2. Indians RF Jay Bruce has 12 RBIs during an 11-game hitting streak.

3. Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia (left knee inflammation) is moving closer to resuming baseball activities.

PREDICTION: Indians 6, Red Sox 3

[New York Knight]

GAME: New York Yankees (66-57) at Detroit Tigers (54-69)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, August 22 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Yankees at Tigers
Gracenote
Aug 21, 2017

The New York Yankees missed an opportunity to gain ground in the American League East in direct competition against the first-place Boston Red Sox over the weekend, but plenty of season remains. The Yankees will try to start a winning streak when they continue their road trip by visiting the Detroit Tigers in the opener of a three-game series on Tuesday.

New York, which still holds the lead in the AL wild card race, dropped two of three to the Red Sox and watched Aaron Judge go 1-for-12 with five strikeouts in the series while tying the major league record with at least one strikeout in his 37th straight game on Sunday. "We're moving in the right direction," Judge, who is batting .169 since the All-Star break, told reporters. "It's taking a little longer than I want it to, but I've just got to keep working. There's nothing I can do about it; just keep working and keep trying to make adjustments. Eventually it'll all kind of work out." The Tigers snapped a six-game slide with a 6-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday but dropped 12 of their last 15 to fall out of the wild card race. Detroit will try to play spoiler with left-hander Matthew Boyd on Monday while the Yankees bring Masahiro Tanaka off the disabled list.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, YES (New York), FSN Detroit

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Masahiro Tanaka (8-10, 4.92 ERA) vs. Tigers LH Matthew Boyd (5-6, 5.70)

Tanaka is struggling through the worst season of his career and was placed on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation after allowing three runs - two earned - and issuing five walks in four innings at Toronto on Aug. 9. The Japan native walked a total of three batters in his previous six outings. Tanaka was strong against Detroit on Aug. 2, when he surrendered two runs - one earned - while striking out seven and walking one in six innings, but still suffered a loss.

Boyd came out of the bullpen for his first relief appearance of the season against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday and allowed a run in 1 1/3 innings. The 26-year-old failed to complete six innings in any of his last three starts, yielding a total of 12 earned runs in 14 innings over that span. Boyd missed the Yankees earlier this month and lost his lone career start against New York.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tigers LF Justin Upton homered three times in the last three games.

2. Yankees LF Brett Gardner went 7-for-14 in three games against Boston over the weekend.

3. New York LHP Aroldis Chapman appeared for the first time since being bounced from the closer's role and struck out two in 1 1/3 hitless innings on Sunday.

PREDICTION: Yankees 7, Tigers 6

[New York Knight]

GAME: Chicago Cubs (66-57) at Cincinnati Reds (53-72)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, August 22 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Cubs at Reds
Gracenote
Aug 22, 2017

The Chicago Cubs haven’t been able to gain much separation in the tight National League Central race, but they have an opportunity to do so when they begin a three-game road series against the last-place Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday. The Cubs enter the series with a 2 1/2-game lead over Milwaukee in the NL Central after sweeping a three-game series from visiting Toronto over the weekend.


Chicago has a golden opportunity to pad its lead with a six-game road trip to Cincinnati and Philadelphia – both last-place teams. “It’s that time of year, sink or swim now,” Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo told reporters. “We’ve got to just keep going and play clean baseball. I think we are.” The Reds have played better of late, winning four of their last six and splitting a four-game series in Chicago last week. The Cubs lead the season series 8-5, and the teams have split six contests in Cincinnati.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, WGN (Chicago), FSN Ohio (Cincinnati)


PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH John Lackey (10-9, 4.67 ERA) vs. Reds RH Homer Bailey (4-6, 8.44)

Lackey is 5-0 with a 3.06 ERA in six starts since the All-Star break. The 38-year-old pitched well enough to win against the Reds last week in Chicago, allowing one run and four hits over six innings, but didn’t get a decision. Lackey is 6-5 with a 3.75 ERA in 16 starts against Cincinnati.

Bailey has had a wild ride the past six weeks, allowing six or more runs and two or fewer runs in an alternating pattern over his last eight outings. The 31-year-old was tagged for six runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings at Chicago on Wednesday, so he’s due for a bounce-back performance. Bailey is 8-3 with a 4.66 ERA in 17 starts against the Cubs.


WALK-OFFS

1. Rizzo was named NL Player of the Week on Monday after batting .429 with two homers and 13 RBIs last week.

2. Reds 3B Eugenio Suarez is 7-for-20 with a homer and five RBIs during a six-game hitting streak.

3. Cubs LF Kyle Schwarber is batting .267 with eight home runs, five doubles and 12 RBIs in 35 games since being recalled from Triple-A Iowa.


PREDICTION: Cubs 7, Reds 4

[New York Knight]

GAME: Miami Marlins (60-62) at Philadelphia Phillies (45-77)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, August 22 - 7:35 PM EST
WHERE: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Marlins at Phillies (Game 2)
Gracenote
Aug 21, 2017

Giancarlo Stanton has gone deep seven times in his last 10 games to increase his career-high home run total to a majors-best 45 this season. The 27-year-old aims to continue his torrid power display on Tuesday as the Miami Marlins play a doubleheader to open a four-game series against the host Philadelphia Phillies.

Stanton launched a three-run homer in Sunday's 6-4 triumph over the New York Mets, marking Miami's seventh win in nine outings and moving the club within six games of the second wild card in the National League entering play on Monday. The Phillies are in no position to feel sorry for Stanton's opponents, considering five of his seven hits against them this season have left the park. Philadelphia's Rhys Hoskins has enjoyed a power surge as well, launching his fifth homer in seven games in Sunday's 5-2 victory over San Francisco. The 24-year-old will look to continue his momentum in the doubleheader, which was brought about due to a rainout on April 25.

TV: 7:35 p.m. ET, FSN Florida (Miami), CSN Philadelphia

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Jose Urena (11-5, 3.61 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Nick Pivetta (4-8, 6.25)

Urena improved to 4-1 in his last six starts on Wednesday after allowing one unearned run on seven hits across five innings of an 8-1 triumph versus San Francisco. The 25-year-old Dominican permitted just a single run in four of his last six starts and has done well to keep the ball in the park during that stretch, surrendering just three homers in 35 1/3 innings. Urena will get his first look this season at the Phillies, against whom he is 0-2 with a 7.02 ERA in seven career appearances (three starts).

Pivetta will be recalled as the team's 26th man to pitch the nightcap on Tuesday, just six days after he was optioned to Lehigh Valley following a start in which he struck out a career-best 11 in a 3-0 setback against San Diego. The 24-year-old allowed three runs on five hits in that encounter and is winless in his last three trips to the mound since permitting one run in six frames of a 7-6 triumph against Atlanta on July 31. Pivetta overcame a pair of homers and pitched 5 1/3 innings of a 10-3 win at Miami on July 19.

WALK-OFFS

1. Miami LF Marcell Ozuna has driven in a run in each of the past four contests.

2. Philadelphia C/1B Jorge Alfaro has collected a hit in all seven games he's played in the majors this season.

3. Marlins OF Christian Yelich has recorded multi-hit performances in five of his last nine contests overall, but is just 5-for-29 against the Phillies this season.

PREDICTION: Phillies 4, Marlins 3

[New York Knight]

GAME: Seattle Mariners (64-62) at Atlanta Braves (55-68)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, August 22 - 7:35 PM EST
WHERE: SunTrust Park, Cumberland, Georgia
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Mariners at Braves
Gracenote
Aug 22, 2017

Yonder Alonso struggled in his first eight games with the Seattle Mariners but has settled in nicely as the club enters the middle contest of its three-game interleague set against the host Atlanta Braves on Tuesday. Alonso extended his hitting streak to eight games by going 3-for-5 with two doubles and three RBIs in Monday’s series-opening 6-5 triumph, a victory that drew Seattle within one game of the second wild-card spot in the American League.

Alonso is hitting .448 during his streak with eight RBIs and six runs scored after collecting just three hits in his first 21 at-bats following his acquisition from Oakland on Aug. 6. Closer Edwin Diaz, who had allowed runs in three of his previous four appearances, converted his 28th save in 32 opportunities by working a scoreless ninth inning on Monday. Atlanta lost for the 23rd time in 33 games since July 17, the most losses by any team during that stretch. Freddie Freeman extended his hitting streak to 10 games in the setback while Nick Markakis recorded his 10th three-hit performance of the season.

TV: 7:35 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), FSN Southeast (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH Marco Gonzales (0-0, 8.44 ERA) vs. Braves RH Lucas Sims (1-3, 5.24)

Gonzales has failed to pitch more than 4 1/3 innings in three starts since joining Seattle’s rotation, giving up 10 runs and three homers in 12 2/3 total frames. He surrendered five runs over four innings in his first turn with the club on Aug. 6 and yielded four in 4 1/3 innings Wednesday against Baltimore but escaped with a no-decision each time. The 25-year-old native of Colorado made one start for St. Louis prior to being acquired in July, surrendering five runs in 3 1/3 frames.

Sims recorded his first major-league victory in the fourth start of his rookie season Thursday at Colorado, allowing two runs and five hits in five innings. The 23-year-old lost his first three turns, giving up a total of 12 runs over 17 1/3 frames. Atlanta’s first-round pick in the 2012 draft, Sims has surrendered 27 hits – 12 with two strikes – through 22 1/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Seattle DH Nelson Cruz, who leads the AL with 100 RBIs, sat out Monday's contest as MGR Scott Servais elected not to play him in the field.

2. The Mariners, who began the week ranked 15th in the majors in errors (70), committed four on Monday.

3. Atlanta RHP Dan Winkler (elbow) was activated from the disabled list Monday and retired the only batter he faced in his first major-league appearance since April 10, 2016.

PREDICTION: Braves 7, Mariners 5

[New York Knight]

GAME: Washington Nationals (74-48) at Houston Astros (76-48)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, August 22 - 8:10 PM EST
WHERE: Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Nationals at Astros
Gracenote
Aug 21, 2017

The Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals ran away with their divisions months ago, but both are still trying to fine-tune over the last six weeks of the regular season. The two will get a chance to test themselves against each other in a possible World Series preview when the Astros host the Nationals in the opener of a three-game interleague series on Tuesday.

Washington began its seven-game road trip by taking three of four from the San Diego Padres behind a pitching staff that surrendered a total of six runs in the series. The Nationals placed ace Max Scherzer (neck) on the disabled list last week but still have a staff so deep that it has allowed three or fewer runs in seven straight games and 10 of the last 11. The Astros pitched well over the weekend as well, allowing a total of one run in two wins over the Oakland Athletics on Friday and Saturday, but watched the defense let the pitching down in a 3-2 loss in Sunday's finale. Houston, which won four of its last six games, will send Charlie Morton to the mound on Tuesday while Washington counters with Tanner Roark.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, MASN 2 (Washington), AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Tanner Roark (9-8, 4.70 ERA) vs. Astros RH Charlie Morton (10-5, 3.69)

Roark pitched well against the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday but could not get enough support from his offense to earn the win while allowing three runs and four hits in seven innings. The Illinois native surrendered three or fewer runs in each of his last three starts despite notching just 11 strikeouts in that span. Roark won his lone previous start against Houston and is 6-7 with a 2.94 ERA in 18 career interleague games.

Morton is 3-1 with a 2.53 ERA in his last five starts and struck out nine while yielding one run on three hits over 6 1/3 innings against Arizona on Wednesday. The 33-year-old owns 119 strikeouts in 107 1/3 inning and needs just eight more to set a career high in the category. Morton spent his first nine seasons in the National League and is 2-4 with a 6.27 ERA in eight starts against Washington.

WALK-OFFS

1. Astros SS Carlos Correa (thumb) is expected to take on-field batting practice Tuesday for the first time since going on the disabled list July 17.

2. Washington OF Jayson Werth (fractured foot) and SS Trea Turner (fractured wrist) begin rehab assignments at Triple-A Syracuse on Monday.

3. Houston C Evan Gattis (concussion), RHP Will Harris (shoulder) and LHP Tony Sipp (calf) are expected to begin rehab assignments at Double-A Corpus Christi on Tuesday.

PREDICTION: Nationals 6, Astros 5

[New York Knight]

GAME: Minnesota Twins (64-60) at Chicago White Sox (48-75)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, August 22 - 8:10 PM EST
WHERE: Guaranteed Rate Field, Chicago, Illinois
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Twins at White Sox
Gracenote
Aug 22, 2017

The red-hot Minnesota Twins seek their 13th win in 17 games when they visit the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday for the middle contest of their five-game series. The teams split a doubleheader on Monday, but it was enough for the Twins to move into sole possession of the American League's second wild-card spot.

Jorge Polanco homered in both ends of the twinbill - raising his season total to five - as Minnesota moved one-half game ahead of the Los Angeles Angels in the wild-card race. Brian Dozier belted a three-run shot in the Twins' Game 2 victory and is 10-for-20 with three homers and six RBIs during his six-game hitting streak. Slugger Jose Abreu went deep in the White Sox's win in the opener and has hit six homers in his last 10 games to become first player in franchise history with 25 or more shots in each of his first four seasons. Soaring rookie Nicky Delmonico has reached base in 18 of his 19 appearances and clubbed his sixth homer in Monday's nightcap.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN North (Minnesota), CSN Chicago

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Kyle Gibson (6-10, 6.05 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Lucas Giolito (NR)

Gibson has lost four of his last five decisions and worked only four innings in his last turn. The 29-year-old gave up three runs and seven hits against Cleveland in the defeat and has pitched 5 1/3 frames or fewer in each of his last three turns. Gibson has fared well against the White Sox by going 5-2 with a 2.37 ERA in nine career starts.

Giolito is making his White Sox debut after being acquired in the offseason from Washington as part of the package for outfielder Adam Eaton. The 23-year-old won his final two turns at Triple-A Charlotte to improve to 6-10 with a 4.48 ERA in 24 starts. The 6-6 Giolito was overmatched in a brief stint with the Nationals last season, when he went 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in four starts and two relief appearances.

WALK-OFFS

1. Twins CF Byron Buxton is 18-for-45 with four homers and 12 RBIs during his career-best 12-game hitting streak.

2. Chicago 2B Tyler Saladino is just 3-for-25 in his last nine contests.

3. Minnesota recalled 1B Kennys Vargas from Triple-A Rochester to fill the roster spot of All-Star 3B Miguel Sano (shin), who officially was placed on the 10-day disabled list on Monday.

PREDICTION: Twins 6, White Sox 4

[New York Knight]

GAME: San Diego Padres (55-69) at St. Louis Cardinals (63-61)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, August 22 - 8:15 PM EST
WHERE: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Padres at Cardinals
Gracenote
Aug 21, 2017

The St. Louis Cardinals are looking to shake off a bad week and get back into the race in the National League Central where they trail the first-place Chicago Cubs by 3 1/2 games. The Cardinals went 2-4 on a six-game trip last week and will try to turn things around when they get home and host the San Diego Padres in the first of three contests on Tuesday.

The Cardinals can point to the pitching as the root of their recent downturn, and the staff allowed at least five runs in each of the last 11 games. Starter Mike Leake lasted only three innings on Sunday's 6-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates at the Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pa, after Michael Wacha went four innings in Saturday's 6-4 setback, and Monday's off day provides a welcome respite for the overworked bullpen. The Padres offense is just the thing a struggling staff likes to see and it managed a total of six runs while dropping three of four to the Washington Nationals over the weekend. San Diego, which is last in the majors in runs scored with 471, will try to provide some support on Tuesday for lefty Clayton Richard, who goes up against St. Louis righty Lance Lynn.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FSN San Diego, FSN Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Clayton Richard (6-12, 4.84 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Lance Lynn (10-6, 3.05)

San Diego won't need to score many runs if Richard is able to replicate his last start, in which he scattered three hits in a shutout of the Philadelphia Phillies. The 33-year-old went at least six innings in each of his last five outings and snapped a string of 10 straight winless starts against the Phillies. Richard is 3-1 with a 4.08 ERA in 12 career appearances - five starts - against St. Louis.

Lynn allowed two or fewer earned runs in each of his last nine outings and lasted at least six innings in the last eight. The Indiana native is struggling with his control a bit of late and issued a total of 16 walks in 24 innings over his last four starts. Lynn is seeing San Diego for the first time this season and is 3-2 with a 2.70 ERA in five career starts against the Padres.

WALK-OFFS

1. Padres 1B Wil Myers is 4-for-24 over the last eight games.

2. Cardinals SS Paul DeJong went 0-for-5 on Sunday, snapping a nine-game hitting streak in which he homered four times.

3. St. Louis C Yadier Molina is 7-for-18 with three doubles in his last four games.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 5, Padres 2

[New York Knight]

GAME: Colorado Rockies (68-56) at Kansas City Royals (62-61)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, August 22 - 8:15 PM EST
WHERE: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Rockies at Royals
Gracenote
Aug 21, 2017

The Colorado Rockies are clinging to the top wild-card spot in the National League, although their play away from home hasn't done them any favors of late. The Rockies begin a six-game road trip on Tuesday with the opener of a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals.

Colorado, which owns a half-game lead over Arizona in the race for the top wild card, has dropped seven of 10 overall and 21 of its last 27 on the road after beginning the season with a 24-10 mark away from home. Mark Reynolds went deep for the third time in his last five starts in Sunday's 8-4 loss to Milwaukee, improving to 7-for-19 with nine RBIs and five runs scored in that stretch. Kansas City has won five of eight to sit within seven games of American League Central-leading Cleveland and 1 1/2 behind the second AL wild-card spot. Alcides Escobar has answered a disastrous 0-for-18 stretch by piecing together an 11-game hitting streak, highlighted by his season high-tying three RBI performance in Sunday's 7-4 victory over the Indians.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado), FSN Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Jon Gray (5-2, 4.74 ERA) vs. Royals LH Danny Duffy (7-8, 3.82)

Gray has allowed 11 earned runs in his last five outings and improved to 3-1 with a 3.72 ERA in his last six after permitting two runs on five hits over six innings in Wednesday's 17-2 rout of Atlanta. The 25-year-old benefited from 14 runs of support through the first five innings and breezed to his third quality start in his last four trips to the mound. Gray hasn't fared well on the road in his career, posting a 4-11 mark with a 4.93 ERA in 26 starts.

Duffy saw his winless stretch extend to four outings on Wednesday after receiving a no-decision at Oakland. The 28-year-old yielded four runs on six hits in that encounter but also struck out eight for the third straight trip to the mound. Duffy has pitched much better at home this season, posting a 3-4 mark with a 3.14 ERA at Kauffman Stadium as opposed to a 4-4 record with a 4.30 ERA on the road.

WALK-OFFS

1. Kansas City 3B Mike Moustakas has scored 11 times during his 11-game hitting streak.

2. Rockies RHP Greg Holland, who played six seasons with the Royals, returns to Kauffman Stadium for the first time since signing a one-year deal in the winter.

3. Kansas City C Salvador Perez (right intercostal strain) is expected to be activated from the disabled list in either the series opener or Wednesday's game.

PREDICTION: Royals 4, Rockies 2

[New York Knight]

GAME: Texas Rangers (62-62) at Los Angeles Angels (64-61)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, August 22 - 10:07 PM EST
WHERE: Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, California
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Rangers at Angels
Gracenote
Aug 22, 2017

The Los Angeles Angels suffered a setback in the series opener but look to remain one of the hotter teams in the majors when they host the Texas Rangers on Tuesday for the second contest of their four-game set. Texas recorded a 5-3 victory on Monday, handing the Angels only their third loss in 12 games.

The defeat dropped Los Angeles one-half game behind Minnesota for the American League's second wild-card berth while the Rangers are just two games off the pace. Texas slugger Joey Gallo (fractured nose) isn't with the team after being injured on Sunday and won't play again until he clears the concussion protocol. Veteran Adrian Beltre belted a three-run homer and finished with four RBIs on Monday for the Rangers, who also are on a roll as they've won nine of their last 12 games to reach the .500 mark. Angels star Mike Trout is just 6-for-28 with 12 strikeouts over his last seven contests but has gone deep three times during that stretch.

TV: 10:08 p.m. ET, ESPN, FSN Southwest (Texas), FSN West (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Tyson Ross (3-2, 7.02 ERA) vs. Angels RH Ricky Nolasco (6-12, 5.16)

Ross escaped with a no-decision against the Chicago White Sox in his last turn after giving up five runs - three earned - and five hits in 4 1/3 innings. The 30-year-old is having control issues with 15 walks in 13 2/3 frames over his last three outings and 31 on the season in just 42 1/3 innings. Ross defeated the Angels on July 8, when he gave up one run and four hits over 5 2/3 innings to improve to 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA in 10 career appearances (six starts) against the club.

Nolasco has won his last two decisions, including a victory over Washington in his last outing. The 34-year-old gave up two runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings against the Nationals, marking the fifth time in his last 10 outings he's allowed fewer than three runs. Nolasco was shellacked in both of his previous starts against the Rangers this season, getting tagged for 13 runs over 6 2/3 innings in the two defeats, and is 1-3 with an 8.68 ERA in four career turns.

WALK-OFFS

1. Angels LF Cameron Maybin (knee) was hitless in four at-bats on Monday in his first start since Aug. 15.

2. Texas placed RHP Matt Bush (knee) on the 10-day disabled list, optioned INF Phil Gosselin to Triple-A Round Rock, recalled 1B-OF Ryan Rua from the Express and purchased the contract of RHP Nick Gardewine from Double-A Frisco.

3. Los Angeles placed RHPs JC Ramirez (elbow) and Andrew Bailey (shoulder) on the 10-day disabled list, recalled LHP Jose Alvarez from Triple-A Salt Lake and activated LHP Tyler Skaggs from the bereavement list.

PREDICTION: Angels 8, Rangers 7

[New York Knight]

GAME: Milwaukee Brewers (65-61) at San Francisco Giants (51-76)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, August 22 - 10:15 PM EST
WHERE: AT&T Park, San Francisco, California
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Brewers at Giants
Gracenote
Aug 22, 2017

The Milwaukee Brewers entered their road set against the San Francisco Giants red-hot but were unable to gain ground in the National League playoff race as they dropped the series opener. Milwaukee looks to even the set and avoid its second skid of the month when it visits San Francisco on Tuesday for the middle contest of the three-game series.

The Brewers had won six of seven following a six-game losing streak before registering only four singles in Monday's 2-0 defeat. The setback - its 10th in the last 11 meetings at AT&T Park - dropped Milwaukee 2 1/2 games behind the first-place Chicago Cubs in the NL Central and 3 1/2 back of Arizona for the second wild-card spot. San Francisco improved to 3-2 on its seven-game homestand as rookie Chris Stratton and three relievers combined on the four-hit shutout. Jarrett Parker carries a seven-game hitting streak into Tuesday's contest after going 2-for-3 in the opener.

TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee), NBCSN Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Jimmy Nelson (9-6, 3.74 ERA) vs. Giants RH Jeff Samardzija (8-12, 4.79)

Nelson has struggled of late, surrendering 15 runs - 12 earned - and 19 hits over 10 innings in his last two starts. The 28-year-old Oregonian has allowed nearly one run more on the road (4.22) than at home (3.39). Nelson evened his career record against San Francisco at 2-2 on June 7, when he gave up three runs and seven hits in six frames of a victory.

Samardzija has won four of his last five starts, including a triumph over Philadelphia on Thursday in which he allowed four runs and eight hits over six innings. The 32-year-old native of Indiana served up two homers in that contest, matching the total from his previous five outings. Samardzija fell to 3-6 lifetime against the Brewers on June 5 despite giving up only two runs - one earned - and six hits while recording 10 strikeouts over 7 2/3 frames at Milwaukee.

WALK-OFFS

1. Giants SS Brandon Crawford is just 1-for-11 lifetime against Nelson, but the lone hit was a home run.

2. Milwaukee C Stephen Vogt notched one of the team's four hits, giving him one in each of his three games following a month-long absence due to a sprained left knee.

3. San Francisco RHP Johnny Cueto (flexor) will make a rehab start for Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday, one day after being scratched due to illness.

PREDICTION: Brewers 7, Giants 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Goodfella

Tuesday Night MLB Team Total

Goodfella | MLB Total Tuesday, 8/22/2017 7:10 PM
918 CLE / 917 BOS Sportsbook.ag pick

Analysis:
MLB TEAM TOTAL - - - CLEVELAND INDIANS OVER 4.5 RUNS

[New York Knight]

Cardinals 7-0 in last 7 home games vs lefty starters, 4-0 in Lynns last 4 home starts & 6-0 last 6 meetings w/ Padres.


SD +165 / STL -180