Friday 9-1-17 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Doug Upstone
Sep 01 '17, 8:00 PM
NCAA-F | Navy vs Florida Atlantic
Play on: Navy -10 -117 at betonline

Bettors have taken Navy down from opening number of 14.5 to current level and I'm not seeing it. You should know home teams like Florida Atlantic in the first month of the season, after closing out last season with two or more straight losses, against opponent in the first month of the season that was a bowl team from prior season who lost their last three games are miserable 6-30 ATS the past 24 years.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Jimmy Boyd
Sep 01 '17, 8:00 PM
NCAA-F | Colorado State vs Colorado
Play on: OVER 67 -110

Free Pick on Colorado St/Colorado OVER

These two teams combined for just 51 points last year, but it was all Colorado on the scoreboard as they won 44-7. That was by far the worst offensive performance for the Rams on the season, as they went on to average a respectable 35.3 ppg and 462 ypg.

The offensive didn't waste any time getting going in 2017, as Colorado State hung 58 points and well over 500 yards in a 58-27 win against Oregon State last Saturday. No surprise as the Rams return their starting QB and top skill players from last yer.

Key here is the Buffaloes defense figures to regress some from last year. Not only do they have just 3 starters back on defense, but they lost one of the best defensive coordinators in the college game in Jim Leavitt, who is now with Oregon.

As for Colorado's offense, they figure to be just as potent, if not more, than last year's team that averaged a respectable 31.1 ppg and 437 ypg. They got 9 starters back and while they have to replace their starting QB, sophomore Steven Montez is poised to step in and play well. He showed flashes last year in 3 starts, throwing for more than 1,000 yards on just 140 attempts (is also a threat on the ground). This is also a Colorado team that loves to play at a fast pace, which is ideal for high scoring games. I see both teams easily eclipsing 30 points and this one cruising past the total. Take the OVER!

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Bobby Conn
Sep 01 '17, 9:30 PM
NCAA-F | Boston College vs Northern Illinois
Play on: Boston College -3½ -113 at BetOnline

1* Free Play on Boston College -3½ -113

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Jesse Schule
Sep 02 '17, 12:00 PM in 22h
NCAA-F | Maryland vs Texas
Play on: Texas -18½ -110 at betonline
Maryland vs Texas Free Pick September 2, 2017 The Longhorns really underachieved last year, losing seven of 12 games. Five of those seven losses came by a TD or less. The Horns had back to back Top 10 recruiting classes under Charlie Strong, and they are returning most of their talent from last season. When Charlie Strong left Texas, he said: "Whoever coaches Texas next year will win 10 games". That was before they hired Tom Herman, who was 22-4 at Houston, and 6-0 against Top 25 teams. The Horns will play Maryland in their season opener, and I expect this game to be a blowout. Maryland might expect to be better this year, but they'd have to be an awful lot better in order to compete with a ranked team on the road. The Terrapins faced three ranked teams last year, losing all three of those games by at least three TDs. I actually like Texas as a longshot to win the BIG12 this year, and wouldn't be surprised if they emerge as a playoff contender. Take TEXAS. GL,

Jesse Schule

[New York Knight]

GAME: Cleveland Indians (76-56) at Detroit Tigers (58-74)
DATE/TIME: Friday, September 01 - 1:10 PM EST
WHERE: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Indians at Tigers (Game 1)
Gracenote
Aug 31, 2017

The Cleveland Indians swept a doubleheader at the New York Yankees on Wednesday and managed to do it without negatively impacting their pitching rotation. The Indians will try to pull the same trick on Friday, when they open a four-game series at the Detroit Tigers with a split doubleheader.

Cleveland owns the best pitching staff in the American League and is showing that off during a seven-game winning streak in which it surrendered a total of 13 runs - seven in the last six - and earned 2-1 and 9-4 wins over the Yankees on Wednesday. The Indians dipped into their pitching depth and pulled Ryan Merritt out to start the second game against New York, allowing them to stay on rotation and keep Carlos Carrasco and Mike Clevinger in line to start at Detroit on Friday. Detroit, which counters with Matthew Boyd and Buck Farmer on the mound, is well out of the postseason race but is trying to play spoiler while coming off a series win over National League wild-card hopeful Colorado. Cleveland (76-56) owns a 6 1/2-game lead over the second-place Minnesota Twins in the AL Central and has crept to within 3 1/2 games of the Houston Astros for the best record in the AL entering Thursday.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), FSN Detroit

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Carlos Carrasco (13-6, 3.78 ERA) vs. Tigers LH Matthew Boyd (5-8, 6.13)

Carrasco bounced back from a poor start against Boston on Aug. 22 by dominating the Kansas City Royals on Sunday. The 30-year-old Venezuelan scattered six hits over seven scoreless innings and did not walk a batter while striking out eight to earn the win. Carrasco is seeing Detroit for the fifth time this season and went 3-1 with a 2.36 ERA in his first four chances, including a home start on July 7 in which he posted a season-high 11 strikeouts in seven frames.

Boyd is hoping to turn the page after a terrible August that saw him go 0-3 with a 8.75 ERA in six games - five starts. The Oregon State product could not finish three innings while surrendering seven runs against New York on Aug. 22 and was ripped for five runs in six frames at the last-place Chicago White Sox on Sunday. Boyd made two starts against Cleveland earlier in the season and went 1-1 while allowing a total of four runs in 13 2/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Indians OF Brandon Guyer left Wednesday's second game with a neck strain and is day-to-day.

2. Detroit 1B Miguel Cabrera (back) did not start Wednesday and was limited to two at-bats in the three-game series at Colorado.

3. Cleveland RHP Danny Salazar (elbow) is expected to throw a simulated game on Friday.

PREDICTION: Indians 7, Tigers 3

[New York Knight]

GAME: Atlanta Braves (59-73) at Chicago Cubs (73-60)
DATE/TIME: Friday, September 01 - 2:20 PM EST
WHERE: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Braves at Cubs
Gracenote
Sep 1, 2017

The streaking Chicago Cubs won't be able to relax down the stretch if they hope to have the opportunity to defend their World Series championship as they still have several teams attempting to hunt them down in the National League Central. Chicago looks to continue its winning ways Friday afternoon, when it hosts the Atlanta Braves for the second contest of their four-game set.

The Cubs rolled to a 6-2 victory in the series opener, extending their winning streak to four games but remaining only 3 1/2 ahead of Milwaukee and six in front of St. Louis in the Central. Jon Jay collected four hits and scored twice while reigning NL MVP Kris Bryant belted his 25th homer, becoming the first player in franchise history and 12th overall in the majors to reach the plateau in each of his first three seasons. Anthony Rizzo hopes to continue producing in September after becoming the first Cub to register 30 RBIs in the month of August since Sammy Sosa (36) accomplished the feat in 2001. Nick Markakis is 6-for-15 during his four-game hitting streak for the Braves, who have lost four of their last six contests.

TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FSN South (Atlanta), WGN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Mike Foltynewicz (10-10, 4.84 ERA) vs. Cubs RH John Lackey (10-10, 4.98)

Foltynewicz enters with a four-start losing streak but showed signs of breaking out of his funk Sunday, when he allowed one run and four hits over five innings in a setback against Colorado. The 25-year-old native of Illinois surrendered 20 runs on 25 hits and nine walks over 11 2/3 frames in his previous three outings. Foltynewicz was pounded in his only career start against the Cubs on Aug. 20, 2015, surrendering seven runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings at Chicago.

Lackey is hoping the comforts of home will help him turn things around as he has yielded 11 runs (10 earned) and 15 hits over 10 innings in his last two starts - both on the road. The 38-year-old Texan has gone 2-0 in his last four turns at home, allowing three runs or fewer in each outing. Lackey improved to 2-1 in five career starts against the Braves on July 18, when he gave up one run and five hits in five innings at Atlanta.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Cubs, who have outscored their opponents 33-7 during their winning streak, announced SS Addison Russell (foot) will be sidelined at last three more weeks.

2. Atlanta 2B Ozzie Albies went 2-for-3 with an RBI in the opener in place of Brandon Phillips, who was traded to the Los Angeles Angels for C Tony Sanchez.

3. Chicago acquired OF Leonys Martin from Seattle for a player to be named or cash.

PREDICTION: Cubs 7, Braves 3

[New York Knight]

GAME: Toronto Blue Jays (62-72) at Baltimore Orioles (68-66)
DATE/TIME: Friday, September 01 - 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, Maryland
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Blue Jays at Orioles
Gracenote
Sep 1, 2017

Kendrys Morales overcame a sluggish start to August by finishing the month with a flourish as he launched three homers and recorded a career-high seven RBIs in the Toronto Blue Jays' 11-8 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday. The 34-year-old Morales aims to build off that momentum in the new month starting on Friday, as the Blue Jays look to take the first two contests of their four-game series in Baltimore.

Morales hit safely in seven of nine games before Thursday's uprising but is just 1-for-10 lifetime versus Friday starter Kevin Gausman. While Toronto put a halt to its four-game skid with its third victory in 13 contests, Baltimore saw its season-high seven-game winning streak come to an end and fell 2 1/2 games behind Minnesota for the second wild-card spot in the American League. Tim Beckham collected three singles to hit safely in 10 straight contests and 27 of 29 since joining the Orioles from Tampa Bay at the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. Adam Jones homered to extend his hitting streak to eight games and is 4-for-8 in his career against Friday starter Joe Biagini.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Sportsnet (Toronto), MASN (Baltimore)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Joe Biagini (3-9, 5.40 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Kevin Gausman (10-9, 4.98)

Minnesota treated Biagini rudely on Sunday after he was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo, shredding him for five runs and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings. "I thought he may have been overthrowing a little bit because his ball was definitely up in the zone. They barreled it pretty good," manager John Gibbons told reporters regarding the 27-year-old. Biagini recorded four scoreless relief outings versus Baltimore before permitting three runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 3-1 setback against the Orioles on June 27.

Gausman authored one of his best starts of the season on Saturday, when he scattered four hits over 7 2/3 dominant innings of a 7-0 rout at Boston. "We're still playing meaningful games right now," the 26-year-old told reporters. "We need - not just me, but all the starters - to really kind of pick it up." Gausman has picked it up against Toronto this season, posting a 2-0 record in four starts while yielding just five runs and 24 hits.

WALK-OFFS

1. Baltimore 2B Jonathan Schoop has hit safely in four straight games and 17 of his last 19.

2. Blue Jays CF Kevin Pillar recorded two hits in the series opener and is 15-for-46 against the Orioles this season.

3. Baltimore 3B Manny Machado is 7-for-16 with two homers, three RBIs and four runs scored in his last four games.

PREDICTION: Orioles 6, Blue Jays 2

[New York Knight]

GAME: Boston Red Sox (76-58) at New York Yankees (71-62)
DATE/TIME: Friday, September 01 - 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Red Sox at Yankees
Gracenote
Sep 1, 2017

The New York Yankees acquired Sonny Gray at the non-waiver trade deadline to be a difference-maker, and the right-hander will get a chance to thrive in a big spot on Friday. Gray makes his sixth start overall since the deal and looks to improve to 3-0 at Yankee Stadium this season when New York resumes its huge four-game series against the Boston Red Sox.

New York's Gary Sanchez will have a hearing on the appeal of his suspension Friday, one day after clubbing his 28th homer - and sixth against the Red Sox - in the series-opening 6-2 win. Greg Bird, who was activated from the 60-day disabled list last week, has recorded seven RBIs in the last two games after going deep for the second day in a row to help pull the wild card-leading Yankees within 4 1/2 games of first-place Boston in the American League East. Andrew Benintendi ran himself into a pair of outs but notched two of the four hits for the Red Sox and reached base five times to boost his numbers to 7-for-15 with three homers and 10 RBIs in his last four games versus the Yankees. Doug Fister, who was picked up off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels in late June and suffered a loss in relief to New York on July 15, will make his second career start at Yankee Stadium.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NESN (Boston), YES (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Doug Fister (3-7, 4.53 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Sonny Gray (8-8, 3.26)

Fister registered his fourth quality start in his last five outings versus Baltimore on Sunday but was saddled with the loss despite permitting only two runs and five hits over seven innings. He tossed his first complete game since 2014 in his previous turn, limiting Cleveland to one run and one hit. Todd Frazier is 5-for-12 lifetime against Fister, who is 2-4 with a 6.38 ERA versus New York.

Despite surrendering a total of nine earned runs in his first five starts since being acquired from Oakland, Gray owns a 2-3 record with New York. He had his best performance with the Yankees on Saturday, holding Seattle to one run and three hits in seven innings. That came after he took the loss at Boston in his previous turn as he gave up two runs in five frames to drop to 1-3 with a 4.88 ERA against the Red Sox.

WALK-OFFS

1. With C Austin Romine also having his suspension appeal hearing on Friday, the Yankees acquired C Erik Kratz from Cleveland on Thursday.

2. Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia, who has played one game since July 28, is expected to come off the disabled list Friday.

3. Yankees RF Aaron Judge, who was dropped to No. 6 in the lineup Thursday, was 2-for-24 with 11 strikeouts versus Boston in August.

PREDICTION: Yankees 6, Red Sox 3

[New York Knight]

GAME: Cincinnati Reds (57-77) at Pittsburgh Pirates (63-71)
DATE/TIME: Friday, September 01 - 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Reds at Pirates
Gracenote
Aug 31, 2017

Any chance the Pittsburgh Pirates had of making a move in the National League Central and jumping into the playoff race came to a crashing halt earlier this week at the Chicago Cubs. The Pirates will try to pick up the pieces and salvage the final month when they return home and host the Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a three-game series.

Pittsburgh squandered its best opportunity to go into the final month with some positive momentum by getting swept in a three-game set against the Cubs by a combined score of 27-5. "We've played hard all year," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle told the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. "... The one thing about playing hard, when you can't connect your game, pitching, hitting and fielding, you get tired. It wears you out." The last-place Reds look worn out from time to time as well and dropped two of three to Pittsburgh at home last weekend before finishing off the homestand by taking two of three from the New York Mets. Cincinnati will try to keep the Pirates down with rookie Luis Castillo while Pittsburgh counters with ace righty Gerrit Cole.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Luis Castillo (2-7, 3.26 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Gerrit Cole (11-8, 3.99)

Castillo went up against Cole on Saturday and came out on the losing end despite allowing just one run and three hits over seven innings. The Dominican Republic native, who matched a season high with nine strikeouts on Saturday, surrendered three or fewer earned runs in each of his last seven outings. Castillo is limiting opponents to a .208 batting average.

Cole supported himself with a solo home run off Castillo on Saturday and did not walk a batter while scattering five hits over seven scoreless frames. The former No. 1 overall draft pick entered that start 0-6 in nine career outings against Cincinnati but struck out six while improving his ERA to 4.50 against the division rivals. Cole is 12-3 with a 3.30 ERA in 18 career starts in September.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pirates OF Starling Marte is 6-for-39 with nine strikeouts in the last nine games.

2. Cincinnati LF Adam Duvall is 3-for-30 with 12 strikeouts over his last eight contests.

3. Pittsburgh placed RHP Juan Nicasio on waivers and he was claimed by the rival Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday.

PREDICTION: Pirates 5, Reds 3

[New York Knight]

GAME: Philadelphia Phillies (50-83) at Miami Marlins (66-67)
DATE/TIME: Friday, September 01 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Marlins Park, Miami, Florida
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Phillies at Marlins
Gracenote
Sep 1, 2017

The Miami Marlins clawed back into the wild-card race in the National League after winning 13 of 16 contests, only to lose ground in the midst of a four-game losing streak. The Marlins look to get back on track Friday, when they host the second contest of their four-game series against the major league-worst Philadelphia Phillies.

Giancarlo Stanton's white-hot surge is a thing of the past as he went 0-for-5 with a pair of strikeouts in Thursday's 3-2 loss to drop to 1-for-15 in his last four contests. The one hit was the major league-best 51st homer for the 27-year-old powerhouse, who also has gone deep against Friday starter Nick Pivetta. While Miami resides six games behind Colorado for the second NL wild-card spot, Philadelphia hopes its getting a good look at its future in the red-hot Rhys Hoskins. The 24-year-old recorded a single on Thursday to become the first Phillies rookie to record a 13-game hitting streak in the first month of his major-league career since Hall-of-Famer Chuck Klein accomplished the feat in 1928.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, CSN Philadelphia, FSN Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Nick Pivetta (5-9, 6.57 ERA) vs. Marlins LH Dillon Peters (NR)

Pivetta looks to put a disastrous August in his rear-view mirror as the 24-year-old recorded a woeful 11.57 ERA (24 earned runs in 18 2/3 innings) in five starts. Pivetta actually ended the month on a positive note as he allowed three runs in five innings of a 6-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs. His previous outing was far from successful as he was blitzed for six runs and seven hits - two homers - over 1 1/3 frames in a 7-4 loss to Miami.

Peters is expected to be recalled to make his major-league debut on Friday as the rosters expand to 40 players. "This is definitely at the top. That's for sure," Peters told the Sun-Sentinel. "I'm really happy to be here. I turned 25 today. Family is in town. So it's going to be a good weekend, for sure." Peters posted a 6-2 record with a 1.97 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in nine starts at Double-A Jacksonville.

WALK-OFFS

1. Miami OF Christian Yelich is riding a six-game hitting streak overall and has registered 11 RBIs and as many runs scored this season versus Philadelphia.

2. Phillies SS Pedro Florimon has hit safely in five straight contests and 10 of his last 11.

3. Marlins 2B Dee Gordon is 11-for-21 with five runs scored during his five-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Marlins 7, Phillies 4

[New York Knight]

GAME: Cleveland Indians (76-56) at Detroit Tigers (58-74)
DATE/TIME: Friday, September 01 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Indians at Tigers (Game 2)
Gracenote
Aug 31, 2017

The Cleveland Indians swept a doubleheader at the New York Yankees on Wednesday and managed to do it without negatively impacting their pitching rotation. The Indians will try to pull the same trick on Friday, when they open a four-game series at the Detroit Tigers with a split doubleheader.

Cleveland owns the best pitching staff in the American League and is showing that off during a seven-game winning streak in which it surrendered a total of 13 runs - seven in the last six - and earned 2-1 and 9-4 wins over the Yankees on Wednesday. The Indians dipped into their pitching depth and pulled Ryan Merritt out to start the second game against New York, allowing them to stay on rotation and keep Carlos Carrasco and Mike Clevinger in line to start at Detroit on Friday. Detroit, which counters with Matthew Boyd and Buck Farmer on the mound, is well out of the postseason race but is trying to play spoiler while coming off a series win over National League wild-card hopeful Colorado. Cleveland (76-56) owns a 6 1/2-game lead over the second-place Minnesota Twins in the AL Central and has crept to within 3 1/2 games of the Houston Astros for the best record in the AL.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), FSN Detroit

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Mike Clevinger (7-5, 3.72 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Buck Farmer (3-1, 6.17)

Clevinger is coming off a strong outing against Kansas City on Saturday, in which he scattered four hits over six scoreless innings and matched a season high with nine strikeouts. The 26-year-old Florida native surrendered one or no earned runs in six of his last 11 appearances. Two of those outings came in back-to-back starts against Detroit on July 2 and 8, during which Clevinger yielded a total of one run and five hits in 12 frames.

Farmer is in his second stint with the Tigers this season and earned a win at the Chicago White Sox after being recalled on Saturday, allowing three runs and five hits over 5 2/3 innings. The 26-year-old is in his fourth season of bouncing back and forth between Detroit and Triple-A, and he is 6-4 with a 3.93 ERA in 21 starts for the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens in 2017. Farmer is seeing Cleveland for the first time this season and is 0-2 with a 7.20 ERA in four career appearances - two starts - against the division rivals.

WALK-OFFS

1. Indians OF Brandon Guyer left Wednesday's second game with a neck strain and is day-to-day.

2. Detroit 1B Miguel Cabrera (back) did not start Wednesday and was limited to two at-bats in the three-game series at Colorado.

3. Cleveland RHP Danny Salazar (elbow) is expected to throw a simulated game on Friday.

PREDICTION: Tigers 9, Indians 8

[New York Knight]

GAME: Los Angeles Angels (69-65) at Texas Rangers (66-67)
DATE/TIME: Friday, September 01 - 8:05 PM EST
WHERE: Globe Life Park in Arlington, Arlington, Texas
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Angels at Rangers
Gracenote
Sep 1, 2017

Texas will host its first baseball game since Hurricane Harvey caused unprecedented and catastrophic flooding in the southeastern portion of the state. The Texas Rangers return from splitting a 10-game road trip to provide the honors on Friday, when they open a three-game series against the American League West-rival Los Angeles Angels.

Shin-Soo Choo extended his hitting and run-scoring streaks to five contests on Thursday afternoon in a 5-1 setback against Houston at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. The 35-year-old South Korean is 8-for-24 with two homers, five RBIs and eight runs scored during that stretch and went 7-for-17 as Texas won three of four from Los Angeles on Aug. 21-24. While the Rangers trail Minnesota by four games for the second wild-card spot in the AL, the Angels find themselves 1 1/2 behind the Twins after erupting for 21 runs in a sweep of Oakland earlier this week to split their 10-game homestand. Los Angeles did its best to improve its club without taking the field on Thursday as it provided some offensive support for Mike Trout by acquiring All-Star outfielder Justin Upton from Detroit and second baseman Brandon Phillips from Atlanta.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, FSN West (Los Angeles), FSN Southwest Plus (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels LH Tyler Skaggs (1-4, 4.25 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Cole Hamels (9-2, 3.78)

Skaggs saw his winless streak reach six outings on Saturday as he allowed five runs for the second straight trip to the mound in a no-decision versus Houston. The 26-year-old owns an 0-3 record and 4.56 ERA in his last five starts (25 2/3 innings) and fell to 2-2 with a 5.66 ERA in seven career appearances against Texas after permitting five runs in 5 1/3 innings of a 5-3 setback on Aug. 21. Choo is 5-for-7 and Elvis Andrus is 6-for-14 versus Skaggs, who has kept Rougned Odor (0-for-10) and Carlos Gomez (0-for-6, five strikeouts) under wraps.

Hamels enjoyed a 5-0 stretch over his previous six starts before getting shredded on Saturday for six runs and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings of an 8-3 setback at Oakland. The 33-year-old looks to return to his winning ways versus Los Angeles, against which he posted dominant outings on July 7 and Aug. 21 to improve to 4-1 with a 2.47 ERA in eight career turns. Hamels has handcuffed Trout (2-for-15, six strikeouts), Andrelton Simmons (4-for-30) and Kole Calhoun (3-for-21, 10 strikeouts) in his career.

WALK-OFFS

1. Los Angeles DH Albert Pujols recorded a hit in all four games of his team's recent series against Texas, registering a homer and four RBIs.

2. Rangers 3B Adrian Beltre is expected to have an MRI on Friday after straining his left hamstring while fielding a ground ball in the seventh inning of the series finale versus Houston.

3. Angels LF Ben Revere is riding a five-game hitting streak into the series but is just 4-for-20 this season against Texas, which acquired RHP Miguel Gonzalez from the Chicago White Sox on Thursday night.

PREDICTION: Rangers 4, Angels 3

[New York Knight]

GAME: Kansas City Royals (65-67) at Minnesota Twins (70-63)
DATE/TIME: Friday, September 01 - 8:10 PM EST
WHERE: Target Field, Minneapolis, Minnesota
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Royals at Twins
Gracenote
Aug 31, 2017

The Minnesota Twins recorded the most victories in the majors in August and look to start a new month off strongly when they open a three-game series against the visiting Kansas City Royals on Friday. Minnesota, which went 20-10, won 20 games in a month for just the second time in the past 25 seasons and has emerged victorious in its past four contests.

The Twins rallied to score two ninth-inning runs for a 5-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday and hold a 1 1/2-game lead over the Los Angeles Angels in the battle for the American League's second wild-card spot. Minnesota set a club mark with five players delivering at least 20 RBIs in August - Eddie Rosario led the way with 25, followed by Jorge Polanco (23), Byron Buxton (22), Brian Dozier (22) and Max Kepler (21). The series is crucial for Kansas City after the squad dropped six of its last seven contests to fall 4 1/2 games behind the Twins. "We're right in this thing," Royals second baseman Whit Merrifield told reporters. "We've got a month or so of games to make a move."

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN Kansas City, FSN North (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Jason Hammel (6-10, 4.76 ERA) vs. Twins RH Dillon Gee (1-1, 3.53)

Hammel began his last start against the Cleveland Indians with 5 1/3 perfect innings before serving up three homers and allowing four runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings while taking the loss. The product of Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, Oregon, turns 35 on Saturday and he has issued one or fewer walks in each of his last eight turns. Hammel has been pounded by the Twins this season - 0-2 with a 9.45 ERA in three starts - and is 2-3 with a 5.26 ERA in 10 career appearances (nine starts) against Minnesota.

Gee is making his third start for the Twins after splitting his first two despite allowing three homers. The 31-year-old lost to the Toronto Blue Jays in his last turn when he was touched up for four runs and seven hits in four innings. Gee received a no-decision in his lone career start against the Royals when he allowed one run and three hits over seven innings in 2013.

WALK-OFFS

1. Twins All-Star 3B Miguel Sano (shin) underwent more tests on Thursday with his progress being behind schedule.

2. Kansas City C Salvador Perez, who is 2-for-23 over his past six games, is batting .360 with 14 homers and 38 RBIs at Target Field.

3. Minnesota CF Byron Buxton (hand) is day-to-day and Thursday's MRI exam displayed a bone bruise but no fractures stemming from Wednesday's injury.

PREDICTION: Twins 7, Royals 5

[New York Knight]

GAME: Washington Nationals (81-52) at Milwaukee Brewers (70-64)
DATE/TIME: Friday, September 01 - 8:10 PM EST
WHERE: Miller Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Nationals at Brewers
Gracenote
Sep 1, 2017

The Milwaukee Brewers have bounced back nicely from their second six-game skid since the All-Star break and look to continue that momentum when they host the National League East-leading Washington Nationals on Friday for the second contest of their four-game series. After losing six in a row from Aug. 6-11 to fall back to .500, Milwaukee closed the month with 11 victories in its last 16 games.

Red-hot Jonathan Villar homered for the second straight day and is 7-for-12 with five RBIs in his last three games for the Brewers, who are 3 1/2 games behind the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs and 2 1/2 back of Colorado for the second wild card. Stephen Vogt recorded three hits in Thursday's 6-3 victory and is 5-for-11 since replacing an ailing Manny Pina behind the plate. Nationals leadoff hitter Trea Turner collected three hits in his third game since coming off the disabled list and has scored four runs in that span. Jayson Werth, hitting directly behind Turner, has registered four RBIs in his three games since returning from a lengthy stint on the DL.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Tanner Roark (11-8, 4.63 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Jimmy Nelson (10-6, 3.75)

Roark continued his second-half resurgence last time out versus the New York Mets, winning for the fifth time since the All-Star break by striking out nine in six innings of three-run ball. He won his previous start at Houston, giving up three runs - two earned - over 5 2/3 frames. Ryan Braun is 4-for-10 and Neil Walker 4-for-12 versus Roark, who is 3-0 with a 3.07 ERA in five career appearances (four starts) against the Brewers.

Nelson halted a four-start winless drought last time out with a strong outing at the major league-best Los Angeles Dodgers, allowing two runs and four hits over 6 2/3 innings to reach double digits in wins for the second time in his career. He turned in a superb effort in a no-decision at Washington on July 26, striking out 10 while allowing two runs in seven frames. Nelson has limited Anthony Rendon to one hit in 10 career at-bats.

WALK-OFFS

1. Brewers RHP Corey Knebel notched his 31st save Thursday, setting a club record for one month with his 13th in August.

2. Rendon is 8-for-17 with seven RBIs during his five-game hitting streak.

3. Pina will undergo more tests on his troublesome hip on Friday.

PREDICTION: Brewers 4, Nationals 3

[New York Knight]

GAME: Tampa Bay Rays (67-68) at Chicago White Sox (52-80)
DATE/TIME: Friday, September 01 - 8:10 PM EST
WHERE: Guaranteed Rate Field, Chicago, Illinois
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Rays at White Sox
Gracenote
Aug 31, 2017

The Tampa Bay Rays look to continue their momentum on the road and take advantage of the American League-worst Chicago White Sox when they open a three-game series on Friday night. The Rays sit four games behind Minnesota in the race for the AL’s second wild card after winning seven of the last 10 contests and taking two of three in the first two stops on their nine-game trip.

“Win series,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash told reporters after Wednesday’s 5-3 victory at Kansas City. “If we win series, we’re going to put ourselves at the end of this thing in a pretty good spot.” Logan Morrison hopes to keep his power surge going after belting four homers and knocking in eight in his last five games for the Rays, who send rejuvenated left-hander Blake Snell to the mound for the opener against Reynaldo Lopez. Slugger Jose Abreu (elbow) and Tim Anderson (hamstring), who boasts a five-game hitting streak, both sat out Chicago’s 5-4 loss at Minnesota on Thursday but could be back in the lineup for the series opener. The White Sox, who won five of eight on their last homestand, coughed up a ninth-inning lead in Thursday’s loss to suffer a three-game sweep against the Twins.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN Sun (Tampa Bay), CSN Chicago

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH Blake Snell (2-6, 4.29 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Reynaldo Lopez (0-1, 6.97)

Snell is unbeaten in his last six starts with two wins after completing seven innings in each of the last two while allowing two runs and six hits combined with 15 strikeouts. The 24-year-old Seattle native has given up three or fewer runs in eight of his last nine outings, posting a 3.31 ERA during that stretch. Snell yielded one hit and one walk while pitching 2 2/3 innings of scoreless ball against the White Sox in his last start of 2016.

Lopez is expected to make his third start of the season after spending a little over two weeks on the disabled list with a back strain. The 23-year-old Dominican permitted two runs over six innings against Kansas City on Aug. 11 and six across 4 1/3 frames six days later while giving up three homers and seven walks with 12 strikeouts combined. Lopez, who went 5-3 with a 4.91 ERA with Washington in 2016, faces the Rays for the first time.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tampa Bay RHP Steve Cishek has not allowed a run and just six hits total in 15 games (15 innings) since being acquired from Seattle.

2. Chicago OF Avisail Garcia is 12-for-28 during an eight-game hitting streak that has improved his average to .324, second-best in the AL.

3. The Rays will recall RHP Ryne Stanek, LHP Adam Kolarek and C Curt Casali when the rosters can expand on Friday.

PREDICTION: Rays 5, White Sox 3