Wednesday 8-30-17 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

[New York Knight]

GAME: Texas Rangers (65-66) at Houston Astros (79-52)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, August 30 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Rangers at Astros
Gracenote
Aug 30, 2017

The Texas Rangers recovered from their lost weekend in Oakland and took out their frustrations on the displaced Houston Astros. Texas looks to make it two straight on Wednesday when it plays the middle contest of a three-game series against the Astros that was moved to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. due to the effects of Hurricane Harvey in Houston.

The Rangers were outscored 19-7 in a three-game sweep at the hands of Oakland but bounced back with a 12-2 triumph on Tuesday, scoring 11 runs in a span of three innings as they remained three games behind Minnesota for the second wild card in the American League. Joey Gallo returned from the concussion list to belt a two-run homer, Shin-Soo Choo recorded three hits - including a three-run blast - and four RBIs and Elvis Andrus went 4-for-5 as Texas improved to 4-4 on its 10-game road trip. Houston still possesses a comfortable double-digit lead in the AL West despite having lost five of its last eight contests. Jose Altuve leads the majors with a .355 batting average after going 1-for-4 on Tuesday while rookie J.D. Davis had a night he won't soon forget, recording his first career two-hit performance while pitching a perfect inning in a mop-up role.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ESPN, FSN Southwest (Texas), AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Andrew Cashner (7-9, 3.44 ERA) vs. Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (11-2, 2.58)

Cashner's winless streak reached three starts last Wednesday as he did not factor in the decision on the road against the Los Angeles Angels after giving up four runs in six innings. The 30-year-old Texan had won three straight outings and four of five prior to the drought and had allowed fewer than three earned runs in four consecutive turns before facing the Angels. Cashner has had no success against Houston this season, losing all four of his previous starts - including an outing on Aug. 13 in which he yielded two runs over seven frames.

Keuchel has bounced back nicely from a road loss to the Chicago White Sox on Aug. 8 in which he was battered for eight runs on 10 hits and three walks over four innings, going 2-0 while allowing three earned runs over 20 2/3 frames in three outings. One of those turns was against Cashner and the Rangers on Aug. 13, when the 29-year-old native of Oklahoma gave up one run and six hits in 6 2/3 frames of a victory. Keuchel also scattered three hits over six scoreless innings of a win at Texas on June 2 and has thrown two of his four career shutouts against the Rangers but is just 7-7 with a 3.91 ERA in 20 career starts versus the club.

WALK-OFFS

1. Astros 3B Alex Bregman had his eight-game hitting streak and string of four straight multi-hit performances snapped Sunday but picked up where he left off on Tuesday, recording three of his team's nine hits.

2. The Rangers optioned OF Ryan Rua to Triple-A Round Rock to make room on the roster for Gallo and also sent RHP Tanner Scheppers outright to the Express.

3. Texas C Robinson Chirinos is riding a 12-game hitting streak after going 1-for-2 with two walks on Tuesday.

PREDICTION: Astros 6, Rangers 1

[New York Knight]

GAME: Pittsburgh Pirates (63-70) at Chicago Cubs (71-60)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, August 30 - 8:05 PM EST
WHERE: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Pirates at Cubs
Gracenote
Aug 30, 2017

The Chicago Cubs aim for a second consecutive series sweep at home when they wrap up a three-game set against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday. Chicago has won five straight at Wrigley Field and eight of its last 11 overall to open a 3 1/2-game lead over Milwaukee in the National League Central.


Anthony Rizzo remained hot on Tuesday with a pair of doubles among his three hits in the Cubs' 4-1 victory. Rizzo is 10-for-18 during his five-game hitting streak and is batting .439 with 23 RBIs over his last 15 contests. Pittsburgh hopes Ivan Nova can help cool off Rizzo and register his third win over the Cubs this season when he opposes Jose Quintana in the series finale. The fading Pirates have lost 12 of their last 17 games, including seven of their last nine on the road.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, CSN Chicago


PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Ivan Nova (11-11, 3.97 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Jose Quintana (8-11, 4.49)

Nova has struggled in the second half, going 2-5 with a 6.00 ERA in eight starts. The 30-year-old Dominican has lost three of his last four turns, including his last outing at Cincinnati in which he allowed seven runs - five earned - in five innings. Nova is 2-0 with a 2.84 ERA in three career starts against the Cubs.

Quintana is 4-3 with a 4.50 ERA in eight starts since being acquired from the crosstown White Sox. The 28-year-old Colombian was dominant in his Cubs debut and posted quality starts in his first three outings, but he was tagged for six runs and nine hits over five innings in a loss at Philadelphia in his last turn. Quintana’s only previous start against the Pirates was in 2015, when he allowed three runs and nine hits over six frames in a loss.


WALK-OFFS

1. Cubs RHP Wade Davis converted his 27th consecutive save opportunity to start the season on Tuesday, passing Ryan Dempster for the longest streak in franchise history.

2. The Pirates have scored fewer than two runs 27 times this season, the second-most in the NL behind San Francisco (28).

3. Chicago has allowed fewer than two runs in consecutive games for the first time since a three-game stretch last August.


PREDICTION: Cubs 4, Pirates 3

[New York Knight]

GAME: Chicago White Sox (52-78) at Minnesota Twins (68-63)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, August 30 - 8:10 PM EST
WHERE: Target Field, Minneapolis, Minnesota
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: White Sox at Twins
Gracenote
Aug 30, 2017

Jorge Polanco is wearing out Chicago pitching and looks to do further damage when the Minnesota Twins host the White Sox on Wednesday for the middle contest of their three-game series. Polanco has hit seven of his nine home runs this season against Chicago after going deep twice in Tuesday's 6-4 victory.

Polanco recorded the first multi-homer performance of this career and also became the fifth player in franchise history to go deep from both sides of the plate in a game. The 24-year-old has batted a robust .387 this month with six blasts - all against the White Sox - to help the Twins remain in possession of the second American League wild-card spot, as they sit one game ahead of the Los Angeles Angels. Chicago slugger Jose Abreu went 4-for-4 with a walk on Tuesday and is 8-for-13 over his last four contests. The White Sox have dropped 17 of their last 21 games on the road, where they are a porous 22-44 overall.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH Derek Holland (7-13, 6.05 ERA) vs. Twins RH Jose Berrios (11-6, 4.04)

Holland defeated the Twins on Thursday, when he gave up one run and three hits over six innings to improve to 3-6 with a 5.29 ERA in 13 career appearances (12 starts) against Minnesota. The 30-year-old again could find the terrain tougher at Target Field, where he is 0-4 with a 7.77 ERA in five career outings. Holland is 3-6 with an ugly 7.02 ERA in 13 road appearances (12 starts) this season.

Berrios struck out nine in 5 1/3 innings when matched up against Holland last week but allowed five runs - three earned - and four hits while taking the loss. The 22-year-old is highly comfortable at home, where he has reeled off six straight victories and stands 7-1 with a 2.87 ERA in eight turns. Berrios is 2-1 with a 2.95 ERA in three career starts against Chicago.

WALK-OFFS

1. Twins All-Star 3B Miguel Sano (shin) isn't making the strides the club hoped and hasn't resumed baseball workouts.

2. Chicago RHP Reynaldo Lopez (back) tossed a smooth bullpen session and could be activated later this week.

3. Minnesota INF Eduardo Escobar, who is 6-for-11 with a homer against Holland, drove in two runs on Tuesday and has five RBIs over his last four contests.

PREDICTION: Twins 8, White Sox 1

[New York Knight]

GAME: Tampa Bay Rays (66-68) at Kansas City Royals (65-66)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, August 30 - 8:15 PM EST
WHERE: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Rays at Royals
Gracenote
Aug 30, 2017

The Kansas City Royals put an end to their club-record scoreless streak along with a five-game slide and now can clinch a series victory when they host the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday. The Royals had not scored in 45 innings - three shy of the major-league record - before Whit Merrifield belted a homer in the third inning, and Eric Hosmer launched a key three-run shot in the seventh for a 6-2 victory on Tuesday.

Hosmer has hit safely in eight of his last nine games, going 13-for-31 during that stretch, and Lorenzo Cain continues to haunt the Rays as he is 9-for-19 in the season series after notching a pair of hits on Tuesday. Jason Vargas hopes to duplicate his first outing against Tampa Bay this season in which he tossed seven scoreless frames when he takes the mound in the rubber match of the series against Jake Odorizzi. The Royals hopped over the Rays in the American League wild-card standings, staying three games behind Minnesota, while Tampa Bay dropped 3 ½ back after suffering its third loss in nine contests. Logan Morrison recorded a run-scoring single Tuesday and is 7-for-17 with three homers and seven RBIs over his last four games for the Rays.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FSN Sun (Tampa Bay), FSN Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Jake Odorizzi (6-7, 4.82 ERA) vs. Royals LH Jason Vargas (14-8, 3.72)

Odorizzi is winless in his last five starts - including all four since returning from the disabled list - and has worked more than four innings just once during that stretch. The 27-year-old, who started his major-league career with the Royals in 2012, gave up three runs, three hits and four walks over 3 2/3 frames of a no-decision at St. Louis on Friday. Hosmer is 5-for-15 with a homer versus Odorizzi, who is 1-4 with a 4.65 ERA against Kansas City.

Vargas is winless in his last two starts, permitting eight runs over 9 2/3 innings, and has not been the same pitcher since his All-Star Game appearance as he has gone 2-5 with a 6.69 ERA in eight turns. The 34-year-old has completed six innings once in his last five outings, yielding 20 runs across 25 1/3 frames while posting a 1-4 mark. Brad Miller is 4-for-8 against Vargas, who is 5-5 with a 2.80 ERA in 12 career games (11 starts) versus Tampa Bay.

WALK-OFFS

1. Miller has gone 5-for-13 with a pair of homers in his last four games to raise his batting average to .195.

2. Kansas City LHP Brian Flynn (groin) was placed on the disabled list Tuesday and LHP Eric Skoglund was recalled from Triple-A Omaha.

3. Tampa Bay LF-DH Corey Dickerson is 13-for-30 with three homers during his eight-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Royals 5, Rays 4

[New York Knight]

GAME: San Francisco Giants (53-81) at San Diego Padres (58-74)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, August 30 - 9:10 PM EST
WHERE: Petco Park, San Diego, California
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Giants at Padres
Gracenote
Aug 30, 2017

The San Diego Padres keep collecting victories against the San Francisco Giants and look to claim the three-game series when they host the finale on Wednesday. San Diego recorded a 6-3 victory on Tuesday for its eighth win in the last 11 meetings with San Francisco, the last-place team in the National League West.

Jabari Blash and Manuel Margot each hit second-deck homers on Tuesday as the Padres halted their four-game losing streak. Margot's blast was a three-run shot that ended the rookie's 16-game drought. Buster Posey (thumb) will miss his third straight contest, but the MRI results were encouraging as they displayed a bone bruise and inflammation. The Giants have dropped 14 of their last 18 road games, and their next overall defeat will sew up only their second losing campaign in the past nine seasons.

TV: 9:10 p.m. ET, NBCSN Bay Area (San Francisco), FSN San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Ty Blach (8-10, 4.68 ERA) vs. Padres LH Travis Wood (3-4, 6.03)

Blach has been rocked while losing each of his last three starts as he has posted an unsightly 8.82 ERA during that stretch. The 26-year-old has struggled on the road this season, going 3-5 with a 5.64 ERA in 13 appearances (nine starts). Blach is 0-1 with a 3.71 ERA in three career starts against the Padres and has allowed a homer to Wil Myers (1-for-7) but has otherwise shut him down.

Wood is 2-1 with a 4.91 ERA in six starts since being acquired from Kansas City. He escaped without a decision against Miami in his last turn after serving up two homers to Giancarlo Stanton while allowing five runs and nine hits in five innings. Wood is 1-3 with a 2.96 ERA in 15 career appearances (six starts) against San Francisco and has been torched by Pablo Sandoval (7-for-9, six RBIs).

WALK-OFFS

1. The Padres have won 17 of their last 25 meetings with the Giants.

2. San Francisco CF Denard Span recorded three hits Tuesday after going 3-for-26 over his previous seven games.

3. Myers is 4-for-35 with one RBI over the last 11 contests.

PREDICTION: Giants 6, Padres 4

[New York Knight]

GAME: Los Angeles Dodgers (91-39) at Arizona Diamondbacks (74-58)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, August 30 - 9:40 PM EST
WHERE: Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Dodgers at Diamondbacks
Gracenote
Aug 30, 2017

Rookie sensation Cody Bellinger is expected to come off the disabled list Wednesday as the Los Angeles Dodgers continue their three-game series against the host Arizona Diamondbacks, who are riding a five-game winning streak. Bellinger missed the past 10 days with a right ankle sprain but is expected to start Wednesday at first base ahead of veteran Adrian Gonzalez.

The Dodgers fell 7-6 in Tuesday’s series opener and have lost three in a row for the first time since June 4-6, but Bellinger’s return should reignite an offense that has muddled through in his absence. Los Angeles is 13-16 this season without Bellinger, who holds a commanding lead in the National League Rookie of the Year race while hitting .274 with 34 homers and 79 RBIs. The Diamondbacks trail first-place Los Angeles by 18 games in the NL West but have a two-game lead over Colorado for the top wild-card spot. A.J. Pollock and Paul Goldschmidt each homered in Tuesday’s win, but shortstop Ketel Marte (left hamstring) was a late scratch and remains listed as day-to-day.

TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), FSN Arizona

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Hyun-Jin Ryu (5-6, 3.34 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Robbie Ray (10-5, 3.06)

Ryu improved to 3-0 with a 2.13 ERA since June 17 after tossing six innings of one-run ball against Pittsburgh last Thursday. “This guy is a competitor,” manager Dave Roberts told reporters. “He’s a big game pitcher. He’s trying to earn continued opportunities. You respect that.” The 30-year-old South Korean last faced Arizona on Sept. 6, 2014 and has gone 3-2 with a 3.26 ERA in eight career starts against the Diamondbacks.

Ray pitched well in his first game back from the concussion list last Thursday, allowing one run with nine strikeouts over five innings in a 3-2 win over the New York Mets. “It’s good to have Robbie back. There's that old familiar feeling that he was giving every one of us, just pounding the zone,” manager Torey Lovullo told reporters. “We really loved everything that he did.” Corey Seager is 3-for-21 with 11 strikeouts against Ray, who is 4-3 with a 3.14 ERA in 11 career starts against the Dodgers.

WALK-OFFS

1. Seager was held out of the starting lineup on Tuesday because of a sore right elbow but appeared as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning.

2. Arizona LF David Peralta is 18-for-48 with five doubles and two triples in his last 12 games against the Dodgers.

3. Los Angeles ace Clayton Kershaw (back) will make his first start since July 23 on Friday in San Diego.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 4, Diamondbacks 2

[New York Knight]

GAME: Oakland Athletics (58-74) at Los Angeles Angels (68-65)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, August 30 - 10:07 PM EST
WHERE: Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, California
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Athletics at Angels
Gracenote
Aug 30, 2017

The Los Angeles Angels struggled through the first two stops of their 10-game road trip but look to conclude the trek in impressive fashion as they attempt to complete a three-game sweep when they host the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday. Despite the absence of Mike Trout, the Angels have outscored the Athletics 11-3 in winning the first two contests and remain one game behind Minnesota for the second wild-card spot in the American League.

C.J. Cron was the hitting star for Los Angeles in Tuesday's 8-2 triumph, driving in four runs with his eighth career two-homer performance, while Martin Maldonado has gone 4-for-7 with a solo blast and three runs scored over the first two games of the series as the Angels have gone 4-5 on their trek. Trout, who is mired in an 0-for-17 slump, missed both contests with a stiff neck but hopes to be in the lineup on Wednesday. Oakland entered the series having swept a three-game set against Texas but is in danger of suffering the same fate as it has dropped three straight on the road. Matt Joyce has hit safely in seven of his last eight contests after reaching the 20-homer plateau for the first time in his career on Tuesday.

TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, NBCSN California (Oakland), FSN West (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Kendall Graveman (4-4, 4.24 ERA) vs. Angels RH Parker Bridwell (7-2, 2.89)

Graveman's return from a stay on the disabled list that lasted two-plus months was a rough one, but he has righted the ship as he's allowed only five runs in 20 innings over his last three starts. The 26-year-old native of Alabama tamed Texas on Friday, striking out six without issuing a walk while limiting the Rangers to one run in seven frames despite giving up nine hits. Graveman is 2-2 with a 3.19 ERA and one complete game in nine career starts against the Angels, including three this season.

Bridwell continued to impress on Friday but suffered his first loss in nine starts after giving up two runs and six hits in seven innings against Houston. The 26-year-old rookie from Texas has yielded fewer than three earned runs in four consecutive turns and 10 of his last 12 while issuing more than one walk only once in his last eight outings. Bridwell, who will be facing Oakland for the first time, has posted a 4-0 record and 2.00 ERA on the road but is just 3-2 with a 3.56 ERA at home.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Angels placed RHP Bud Norris (knee) on the 10-day disabled list, transferred RHP Huston Street (shoulder) to the 60-day DL and purchased the contract of OF Eric Young Jr. from Triple-A Salt Lake.

2. Oakland rookie 1B Matt Olson has gone 4-for-8 with two home runs and three RBIs in his last two games.

3. Los Angeles sent 3B Yunel Escobar (oblique) and RHP Garrett Richards (biceps) on rehab assignments to Single-A Inland Empire and Salt Lake, respectively.

PREDICTION: Angels 5, Athletics 3

[New York Knight]

UNDER 8-1 Rox' last 9 vs AL Central & 10-1 Bettis' last 11 starts

UNDER 5-0 Tigers' last 5 on road & 7-3 Verlander's last 10 starts


Total: 12.5

[New York Knight]

Buster Sports

Pittsburgh +183

[New York Knight]

National Consensus Report

Baltimore -130

[New York Knight]

Cal Sports

Minnesota -1.5

[New York Knight]

Las Vegas Private CEO Club

St. Louis -110

[New York Knight]

Michigan Sports

NYM Under 10

[New York Knight]

NY Players Club

Tampa Bay +120

[New York Knight]

Sports Betting Professor

Minnesota Over 9