Monday 9-4-17 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

[New York Knight]

GAME: New York Yankees (73-63) at Baltimore Orioles (70-67)
DATE/TIME: Monday, September 04 - 2:05 PM EST
WHERE: Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, Maryland
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Yankees at Orioles
Gracenote
Sep 4, 2017

The New York Yankees attempt to continue their charge toward first place in the American League East when they visit the Baltimore Orioles on Monday afternoon for the opener of a crucial three-game series. New York won three of four against division-leading Boston at home over the weekend, posting a 9-2 victory on Sunday to climb within 3 1/2 games of its bitter rival.

Aaron Judge reclaimed the AL home-run lead by hitting his 38th of the season while Starlin Castro looks to continue swinging a hot bat as he has gone 5-for-14 with three RBIs over his last three contests. Baltimore trails wild card-leading New York by 3 1/2 games and is 1 1/2 behind Minnesota for the second spot after recording a 5-4 comeback victory in 12 innings over Toronto on Sunday. Welington Castillo led off the ninth inning with the second of his two solo homers to forge a tie before Mark Trumbo delivered a walk-off single with two outs in the 12th as the Orioles improved to 5-2 on their 10-game homestand. Castillo has gone 17-for-40 - including five multi-hit performances - with six home runs and 11 RBIs over his last 11 contests.

TV: 2:05 p.m. ET, YES (New York), MASN (Baltimore)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH Jordan Montgomery (7-7, 4.15 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Dylan Bundy (13-8, 3.94)

Montgomery's winless streak reached five starts on Wednesday, when he yielded four runs on six hits and three walks over four innings of a loss to Cleveland. The 24-year-old native of South Carolina has won just once in his last 10 outings despite giving up three runs or fewer seven times in that span. Montgomery has made three starts against Baltimore during his rookie season, going 1-1 while allowing six earned runs in 16 1/3 frames.

Bundy is coming off his first career complete game, a one-hit shutout against Seattle in which he walked two and hit a batter while registering a personal-best 12 strikeouts. The 24-year-old from Oklahoma is riding a seven-start unbeaten streak during which he has recorded four victories and posted a 3.04 ERA. Bundy owns a 2-2 record and 4.44 ERA in six career appearances (four starts) against New York after splitting a pair of decisions earlier this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Orioles 3B Manny Machado was named the AL Player of the Month for August after hitting .341 with 12 homers and 35 RBIs in 29 games.

2. Baltimore recalled Gabriel Ynoa from Triple-A Norfolk and optioned fellow RHP Alec Asher to Double-A Bowie while the Yankees placed OF Aaron Hicks (oblique) on the 10-day disabled list and summoned LHP Caleb Smith from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

3. New York owns a 4-25 record in games in which it has not hit a home run.

PREDICTION: Orioles 5, Yankees 3

[New York Knight]

GAME: Cleveland Indians (80-56) at Chicago White Sox (54-81)
DATE/TIME: Monday, September 04 - 2:10 PM EST
WHERE: Guaranteed Rate Field, Chicago, Illinois
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Indians at White Sox
Gracenote
Sep 3, 2017

The Cleveland Indians are the hottest team in baseball and are running away with the American League Central. The Indians will try to push their season-best winning streak to 12 straight and move toward the top record in the AL when they visit the Chicago White Sox for the opener of a four-game series on Monday.

Cleveland is riding its pitching during the winning streak, with the staff allowing an average of 1.7 runs in the last 11 games, but also got a boost on the offensive side on Sunday, when All-Star Jose Ramirez busted out of a slump by going 5-for-5 with two home runs and three doubles in an 11-1 thrashing of the Detroit Tigers. "I said he'll be fine, I told you he was a good hitter," Indians manager Terry Francona told reporters of Ramirez. "And that's what good hitters do, they get to their level. Sometimes they do it in kind of unique ways or weird ways, but he's just a really good hitter." Cleveland (80-56) owns a nine-game lead in the Central and is three games behind the Houston Astros for the best record in the AL while the White Sox (54-81) sit in the Central basement despite taking two of three from the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend. Chicago will try to end the Indians' surge with veteran James Shields while Cleveland counters with righty Trevor Bauer.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), WGN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Trevor Bauer (14-8, 4.46 ERA) vs. White Sox RH James Shields (2-5, 5.72)

Bauer has not lost since July 16 and allowed one or no runs in six of his last eight outings. The UCLA product allowed one run and four hits in six innings to earn a win at the New York Yankees on Wednesday while overcoming four walks. Bauer is seeing Chicago for the first time this season and is 4-2 with a 3.82 ERA in 12 career games - 10 starts - against the division rivals.

Shields has not won since June 29 and lost his control at Minnesota on Tuesday, when he issued five walks and was charged with four runs and five hits in five innings. The California native surrendered one home run in that outing, bringing his season total to 21 in just 85 innings. Shields enjoyed one of his better outings at Cleveland on Apr. 11, when he allowed one run - a solo homer - and two hits in 5 1/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Indians SS Francisco Lindor set a club record for home runs by a SS with his 26th on Sunday.

2. Chicago DH Matt Davidson is 1-for-23 with 10 strikeouts in his last six games.

3. Cleveland CF Bradley Zimmer (head) sat out Sunday and is day-to-day.

PREDICTION: Indians 7, White Sox 2

[New York Knight]

GAME: San Francisco Giants (54-85) at Colorado Rockies (72-64)
DATE/TIME: Monday, September 04 - 3:10 PM EST
WHERE: Coors Field, Denver, Colorado
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Giants at Rockies
Gracenote
Sep 3, 2017

The Colorado Rockies are in danger of falling out of a wild card spot in the National League, but at least they have a chance to pick on one of the circuit's worst squads. The Rockies will try to snap an ill-timed four-game losing streak when they begin a three-game series with the visiting San Francisco Giants on Monday.

After dropping two of three to Detroit to begin the nine-game stay at Coors Field, Colorado lost three straight against fellow wild-card hopeful Arizona - capped by Sunday's 5-1 setback. The Rockies' 4-10 slide has left the club with a one-half game lead over Milwaukee for the second wild card, with St. Louis sitting three games back. However, Colorado has taken 10 of 14 meetings with the Giants this season, including all seven encounters in Coors Field. San Francisco has lost five of its last six after dropping a 7-3 decision against St. Louis on Sunday.

TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, NBCSN Bay Area (San Francisco), AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Matt Moore (4-13, 5.42 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Chad Bettis (0-2, 4.88)

Moore has been unable to pick up career win No. 50 for two straight turns, allowing five runs in five innings of a loss at San Diego on Tuesday. The veteran has been pounded by the Rockies for 19 runs and 30 hits in 12 2/3 innings this year and has suffered at hitter-friendly Coors Field as much as anyone in his career, giving up 24 runs and 32 hits in 14 2/3 frames over four starts. Nolan Arenado (9-for-17, six extra-base hits against Moore) has led the charge against the 28-year-old, with D.J. LeMahieu (8-for-14) and Charlie Blackmon (5-for-13) chipping in.

Bettis was superb in his first two starts since returning from testicular cancer but has been a bit more pedestrian in his last two. He gave up five runs in five innings while serving up two home runs in each of those outings, first at Atlanta on Aug. 25 and then at home against Detroit on Wednesday. Bettis spun his lone career shutout against San Francisco nearly a year ago and has a 4.43 ERA in 10 career outings (six stars) versus the divisional foes.

WALK-OFFS

1. Giants C Buster Posey is 8-for-17 over his last five games.

2. Blackmon went 2-for-3 on Sunday while making his second career start batting in the third spot in the lineup.

3. Rockies OF Gerardo Parra had two hits Sunday and is hitting .372 at home.

PREDICTION: Rockies 7, Giants 3

[New York Knight]

GAME: Chicago Cubs (75-61) at Pittsburgh Pirates (65-72)
DATE/TIME: Monday, September 04 - 4:05 PM EST
WHERE: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Cubs at Pirates
Gracenote
Sep 3, 2017

The Chicago Cubs started a six-game winning streak by taking three games from the Pittsburgh Pirates last week, and they hope to start another one when they begin a four-game series Monday in Pittsburgh. Chicago had its winning streak snapped Sunday but leads the National League Central by 3 1/2 games over Milwaukee.


The Cubs are 32-16 since the All-Star break and have won 12 of their last 16. "It's crunch time here and the race is heating up," Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant told reporters. "It makes for fun baseball. I know everybody here shows up ready to go and focused. I don't think there's added pressure. It's more fun because the games mean more." The Cubs hope to continue hitting the ball hard against right-hander Chad Kuhl, who has had trouble with several Chicago hitters including Anthony Rizzo (6-for-12, HR), Jason Heyward (6-for-10, HR), and Ben Zobrist (4-for-6, 2 HRs). Chicago has beaten Kuhl twice this season and leads the season series 8-7.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, ESPN, ABC 7 (Chicago), ATT SportsNet-Pittsburgh


PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Jake Arrieta (14-8, 3.36 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Chad Kuhl (6-10, 4.54)

Arrieta is 6-1 with a 1.59 ERA in nine starts since the All-Star break, and he has won his last four decisions. The 31-year-old beat the Pirates in his last outing, allowing two hits and two walks over six scoreless frames. Arrieta is 10-5 with a 3.02 ERA in 19 starts against the Pirates.

Kuhl has lost two straight starts and three of his last four. The 24-year-old Delaware native has failed to get through six innings in his last four outings, and he has issued three or more walks in three of those starts. Kuhl lost to the Cubs last time out and is 0-4 with an 11.07 ERA in six career meetings.


WALK-OFFS

1. The Pirates’ active roster is hitting a combined .218 against Arrieta, but 1B Josh Bell is 6-for-13 with two doubles and a homer.

2. Bryant went 0-for-3 with a walk Sunday and has reached base in 28 consecutive starts.

3. Heyward is 9-for-22 during a six-game hitting streak.


PREDICTION: Cubs 6, Pirates 2

[New York Knight]

GAME: Los Angeles Angels (70-67) at Oakland Athletics (58-78)
DATE/TIME: Monday, September 04 - 4:05 PM EST
WHERE: Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, California
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Angels at Athletics
Gracenote
Sep 3, 2017

One day after falling just short in a comeback attempt, the Los Angeles Angels attempt to get back in the win column when they visit the Oakland Athletics on Monday afternoon for the opener of their three-game series. The Angels rallied for three runs in the ninth inning on Sunday but left the bases loaded in a 7-6 loss at Texas, which kept them 1 1/2 games behind Minnesota for the second wild card in the American League.

Andrelton Simmons and C.J. Cron drove in two runs apiece while Albert Pujols plated one, giving him 11 RBIs over his last four contests. Los Angeles looks to bounce back from losing two of three to the Rangers as it takes on the last-place Athletics, against whom it executed a three-game sweep at home last week. Oakland hopes to pick up where it left off before an 0-6 road trip, as it outscored Texas 19-7 while sweeping a three-game home set from Aug. 25-27. The Athletics managed only five hits in Sunday's 10-2 loss at Seattle, with rookie Matt Olson driving in the only runs with his 12th home run of the year and fourth in six games.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FSN West (Los Angeles), NBCSN California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Parker Bridwell (7-2, 3.52 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Chris Smith (0-4, 6.27)

Bridwell hopes to produce a better performance than the one he gave against Oakland last Wednesday, when he escaped with a no-decision after surrendering seven runs on six hits and three walks over three innings. The 26-year-old rookie from Texas gave up fewer than three earned runs in each of his previous four outings but came away with only a 2-1 record. Bridwell has yet to lose on the road this season, going 4-0 with an impressive 2.00 ERA in six starts.

Smith remains in search of his first win in 2017 as he makes his ninth start of the year - and also of his career. The 36-year-old Californian was tagged by the Angels for seven runs - six earned - over 3 2/3 innings in a loss at Los Angeles on Tuesday. Smith, who is 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA in three career appearances (one start) against the Angels, has worked six or more frames only once in his last five turns and has not yielded fewer than three runs in that span.

WALK-OFFS

1. Angels 3B Luis Valbuena has gone five games without a home run after belting six in his previous 11 contests.

2. Oakland DH Ryon Healy has gone 6-for-15 over his last four games and hit safely in 16 of his last 19 contests.

3. Los Angeles is 12-2 in games started by Bridwell this season.

PREDICTION: Angels 7, Athletics 3

[New York Knight]

GAME: St. Louis Cardinals (69-67) at San Diego Padres (62-75)
DATE/TIME: Monday, September 04 - 4:40 PM EST
WHERE: Petco Park, San Diego, California
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Cardinals at Padres
Gracenote
Sep 4, 2017

The St. Louis Cardinals are using a mix of youngsters and veterans to stay alive in the National League wild-card race, and lately the recipe has been working to perfection. The Cardinals sit three games behind Colorado for the second wild-card spot as they begin a four-game series Monday against the host San Diego Padres, who are riding high after taking three of four from the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Paul DeJong and Harrison Bader homered in Sunday’s 7-3 win over San Francisco and fellow rookie Luke Weaver struck out nine over seven innings as the Cardinals won for the fourth time in six games. Tommy Pham returned to the lineup after missing two games with a thumb injury, but veterans Matt Carpenter (rest) and Dexter Fowler (hip) were held out of the starting lineup and are listed as day-to-day. The Cardinals are facing a rebuilding Padres team that took a step forward over the weekend by winning three straight against the NL West-leading Dodgers for the first time since June 2013. Erick Aybar has returned from the disabled list Friday after missing 37 games with a foot injury and gone 4-for-8 with a home run and two RBIs over the last two games.

TV: 4:40 p.m. ET, FSN Midwest (St. Louis), FSN San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Carlos Martinez (10-10, 3.52 ERA) vs. Padres RH Luis Perdomo (7-8, 4.69)

Martinez looks to bounce back from a shaky outing on Wednesday, when he allowed six runs - three earned - over 5 2/3 innings in a 6-5 loss at Milwaukee. The 25-year-old ranks among the NL leaders in ERA (3.52), strikeouts (182), innings pitched (174) and quality starts (18). Yangervis Solarte is 3-for-14 with a home run against Martinez, who is 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in seven career games (four starts) against San Diego - including seven strong frames in a no-decision on Aug. 24.

Perdomo won for the first time in four starts Tuesday against San Francisco, allowing two runs - one earned - over six innings. The 24-year-old Dominican has worked at least six frames in each of his last eight turns, and his 14 quality starts lead the team. Perdomo made his only previous start against St. Louis on Aug. 24, settling for a no-decision after giving up two runs over six innings in the Padres’ 4-3 victory.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Padres won two of three in St. Louis last month, snapping a six-game losing streak in the all-time series.

2. The Cardinals are 6-50 when trailing after seven innings.

3. San Diego OF Manuel Margot is 3-for-22 over his last seven games.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 5, Padres 3

[New York Knight]

GAME: Houston Astros (83-53) at Seattle Mariners (69-68)
DATE/TIME: Monday, September 04 - 6:40 PM EST
WHERE: Safeco Field, Seattle, Washington
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Astros at Mariners
Gracenote
Sep 4, 2017

The Houston Astros are starting to warm up at the plate again and look to take that momentum on the road when they begin a 10-game trek with the first of three games against the Seattle Mariners on Monday. The American League-best Astros, who went 10-17 from Aug. 1-30, have recorded 29 runs and 46 hits during a four-game winning streak after sweeping a three-game set against the New York Mets over the weekend.

Carlos Correa returned to the lineup for the first time in 1 ½ months on Sunday and went 1-for-3 with an RBI while Josh Reddick continued his surge with two hits and is 8-for-16 with seven RBIs over his last four games. With newcomer Justin Verlander scheduled to start the second game of the series, Dallas Keuchel gets the call on the mound in the opener for the Astros. Seattle, which sits 2 ½ games behind Minnesota for the AL’s second wild card, began its nine-game homestand with three straight victories over Oakland as Robinson Cano and Mitch Haniger played big roles. Cano is 6-for-9 with two homers and six RBIs in his last two games while Hanger has gone 10-for-17 over his last four contests, belting a pair of shots and driving in six runs.

TV: 6:40 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (11-3, 2.91 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Erasmo Ramirez (5-5, 4.43)

Keuchel struggled last time out against Texas as he allowed six runs on five hits and three walks in six innings after posting three straight quality starts. The 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner is 2-3 with a 5.35 ERA in seven turns since returning from the disabled list but is 6-1 on the road this year. Danny Valencia (8-for-18, two homers) and Nelson Cruz (9-for-24, three homers) have caused trouble for Keuchel, who is 6-5 with a 2.82 ERA in 13 career games (12 starts) versus Seattle.

Ramirez goes after his fifth straight quality start after permitting two runs over six innings in a loss at Baltimore on Tuesday. The 27-year-old Nicaraguan has given up six earned runs in 24 frames over his last four starts but has notched just one victory and owns a 3.62 ERA in six outings since being acquired from Tampa Bay. Jake Marisnick is 2-for-5 with a homer versus Ramirez, who is 3-1 with a 3.38 ERA in seven career appearances (four starts) against Houston.

WALK-OFFS

1. Seattle 3B Kyle Seager is one home run shy of reaching 20 for his sixth straight season.

2. Houston 2B Jose Altuve, who leads the majors with a .357 batting average, has scored eight runs in his last four games.

3. Mariners SS Jean Segura is 8-for-14 during a four-game hitting streak after registering three hits in each of his last two contests.

PREDICTION: Astros 5, Mariners 2

[New York Knight]

GAME: Minnesota Twins (71-65) at Tampa Bay Rays (68-70)
DATE/TIME: Monday, September 04 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Twins at Rays
Gracenote
Sep 4, 2017

The Tampa Bay Rays look to take advantage of an opportunity to make up ground in the American League wild-card race when they host the Minnesota Twins on Monday for the opener of a key three-game series. The Rays fumbled their chance to be closer to the Twins, who occupy the second wild-card spot, by losing a pair of contests to the AL-worst Chicago White Sox over the weekend and trail by four games.

Tampa Bay won five of the first seven games of its road trip before dropping a 5-4 decision on Saturday and managed just four hits - three by No. 9 hitter Adeiny Hechavarria - in Sunday's 6-2 setback. Logan Morrison has belted six homers in his last seven games for the Rays as he prepares to face Jose Berrios, who is just 4-5 on the road as opposed to 8-1 at Target Field. Minnesota lost two of three to Kansas City at home over the weekend and starts a seven-game road trip with a 1 1/2-game lead in the race for the second wild card. Joe Mauer has hit safely in a season-high 12 straight contests and the red-hot Byron Buxton is 11-for-20 with three homers and 10 RBIs during his five-game hitting streak for the Twins, who are 36-28 on the road.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN North (Minnesota), FSN Sun (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Jose Berrios (12-6, 3.80 ERA) vs. Rays RH Alex Cobb (9-9, 3.72)

Berrios limited Chicago to four hits over seven scoreless innings on Wednesday while striking out a season-high 11 batters to win for the third time in four decisions. The 23-year-old Puerto Rican, who also worked seven scoreless frames against Arizona on Aug. 19, has registered 27 strikeouts in his last three outings. Evan Longoria is 2-for-3 with a homer versus Berrios, who gave up four runs over five innings in a loss at Tampa Bay last year.

Cobb has permitted four runs over 16 1/3 innings with 17 strikeouts and two walks while going winless in his last four outings. The 29-year-old Boston native gave up two homers at Kansas City on Tuesday, marking the fourth time in his last nine starts he has surrendered multiple blasts. Mauer is 2-for-2 with a double versus Cobb, who yielded one run on six hits and three walks over five innings in a no-decision at Minnesota on May 28.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mauer needs one RBI to pass Justin Morneau (860) for fifth place on the franchise list and is six runs away from tying Rod Carew (950) for third.

2. The Rays have homered in 14 straight games, totaling 28 during that stretch, and need five to reach 200 for the second straight season.

3. Minnesota C Jason Castro (concussion) was activated Sunday after missing 10 days but did not play.

PREDICTION: Rays 4, Twins 1

[New York Knight]

GAME: Toronto Blue Jays (63-74) at Boston Red Sox (77-60)
DATE/TIME: Monday, September 04 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Blue Jays at Red Sox
Gracenote
Sep 4, 2017

The Boston Red Sox hope to turn things around with a nine-game homestand that includes six contests against last-place teams, and one of them leads off as the Toronto Blue Jays visit on Monday for the opener of their three-game series. Boston's lead over the New York Yankees in the American League East is down to 3 ½ games as it has dropped seven of its last 11 contests, but the club will face the slumping Blue Jays and AL West cellar-dwelling Oakland during its string at Fenway Park.

Jackie Bradley Jr. is 9-for-23 with seven RBIs in his last seven games for Boston, which totaled nine runs and 22 hits while losing three of four to the Yankees over the weekend after getting pounded 9-2 on Sunday. Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello, who is 1-1 with a 0.66 ERA in two starts against the Blue Jays this year, goes after his 10th victory on Monday while Toronto counters with J.A. Happ in a matchup of 20-game winners from 2016. The Blue Jays have played themselves out of contention for a playoff spot with 12 losses in their last 16 games, including a 5-4 setback in 12 innings at Baltimore on Sunday. Josh Donaldson has gone 5-for-9 with a pair of homers and six RBIs in his last two games for Toronto, which is 3-10 versus the Red Sox in 2017.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, TVA (Toronto), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH J.A. Happ (6-10, 3.96 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Rick Porcello (9-15, 4.45)

Happ held Boston to one run on four hits and four walks over six innings of a no-decision on Wednesday to extend his winless streak to three games. The 34-year-old Northwestern product has completed seven frames twice in 20 starts and just once since his season debut on April 5. Happ has gotten the best of Xander Bogaerts (1-for-18) and Bradley (1-for-12) and is 5-3 with a 3.50 ERA in 15 career appearances (14 starts) against the Red Sox.

Porcello won in Toronto last time out , allowing just one run in 6 2/3 innings for his fifth victory in six turns and fourth quality start in five outings. The 28-year-old New Jersey native, who has registered 160 strikeouts over 176 frames, has notched six of his nine wins at home while posting a 5.03 ERA. Jose Bautista is 16-for-45 with four homers and 11 RBIs versus Porcello, who is 8-8 with a 4.50 ERA in 19 career games (18 starts) against the Blue Jays.

WALK-OFFS

1. Blue Jays All-Star 1B Justin Smoak is 1-for-13 in his last four games but has hit five homers and is batting .356 against Boston this year.

2. Boston RF Mookie Betts is hitting .357 with three homers, 18 RBIs, 10 walks and 14 runs scored versus the Blue Jays in 2017.

3. Toronto DH Kendrys Morales, who has belted 25 homers, is 0-for-14 with three strikeouts over his last three contests.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 4, Blue Jays 3

[New York Knight]

GAME: Washington Nationals (82-54) at Miami Marlins (67-69)
DATE/TIME: Monday, September 04 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Marlins Park, Miami, Florida
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Nationals at Marlins
Gracenote
Sep 4, 2017

The Washington Nationals are running away with the National League East, but they’re in the midst of a tough road trip. After losing three of four at Milwaukee over the weekend, the Nationals look to get back to their winning ways when they begin a three-game set against the Miami Marlins on Monday.


The Nationals are 15 games ahead of second-place Miami, and they have a seven-game cushion over the Chicago Cubs for home-field advantage in the N.L. Division Series. Washington struggled at the plate against the Brewers, scoring only eight runs in the four-game series. The Marlins are two games below .500 and five back of Colorado for the second wild card, but they’re fading fast. Miami has lost six of its last seven, including a three-game sweep at Washington last week and dropping three of four against visiting Philadelphia over the weekend.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), WUSA 9 (Washington), FSN Florida (Miami)


PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH A.J. Cole (1-4, 4.50 ERA) vs. Marlins LH Adam Conley (6-6, 5.02)

Cole has lost his last four big-league starts, but he has recorded quality starts in the last two. The 25-year-old struck out eight and allowed one run and four hits over six innings in a tough-luck loss to the New York Mets in his last outing on Aug. 25. Cole is 0-2 with a 6.88 ERA in four starts against the Marlins with both losses coming this season.

Conley pitched well at Washington last time out, taking the loss despite allowing just two runs and seven hits over six innings. The 27-year-old has been hurt by the home run ball lately, allowing eight homers over 42 2/3 innings across his last seven starts. Conley is 1-4 with a 7.14 ERA in six starts against the Nationals.


WALK-OFFS

1. Nationals 1B Ryan Zimmerman is 9-for-26 with a homer and five RBIs during an eight-game hitting streak.

2. Miami OF Giancarlo Stanton, who leads the majors with 52 home runs, is 3-for-8 with two homers and five RBIs against Cole, and he’s batting .200 with five homers and 12 RBIs against the Nationals this season.

3. Marlins OF Ichiro Suzuki recorded his 84th pinch-hit at-bat of the season Sunday, surpassing Lenny Harris’ single-season major-league record.


PREDICTION: Nationals 7, Marlins 5

[New York Knight]

GAME: Texas Rangers (68-68) at Atlanta Braves (60-75)
DATE/TIME: Monday, September 04 - 7:35 PM EST
WHERE: SunTrust Park, Cumberland, Georgia
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Rangers at Braves
Gracenote
Sep 3, 2017

The Atlanta Braves return home Monday to open a three-game series against the Texas Rangers, and do so after several of the team’s rookies contributed in a big way to Sunday’s 5-1 triumph against the defending world champion Chicago Cubs. Middle infielders Dansby Swanson and Ozzie Albies combined for three hits and two runs scored Sunday, while third baseman Rio Ruiz drove in three and Max Fried won his first major-league start.

Those are the types of performances Atlanta seeks in the final four weeks of the season, as the franchise hopes the pieces acquired during its three-year rebuild begin contributing on a regular basis and return the Braves to contention. The Rangers have a difficult road ahead if they are going to reach the postseason in 2017, beginning the week three games behind Minnesota for the second American League wild-card spot. Shortstop Elvis Andrus, who hit 17 home runs total from 2014-16, belted his 17th and 18th longballs of the season in Sunday’s 7-6 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. Texas has won four of its past six and outfielder Delino DeShields has reached base in 17 consecutive games, going 5-for-9 with five walks and six runs scored since returning to the lineup Friday.

TV: 7:35 p.m. ET, FSN Southwest (Texas), FSN Southeast (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Andrew Cashner (8-9, 3.30 ERA) vs. Braves RH R.A. Dickey (9-8, 3.91)

Cashner has pitched well for Texas since the first of July, going 5-2 in his past nine starts with a 2.58 ERA and 33 strikeouts against 16 walks in 59 1/3 innings. His last start Wednesday against Houston was arguably his best of the season - eight innings of one-run, three-hit pitching with no walks and six strikeouts. Cashner has limited opponents to two earned runs or fewer in five of his past six outings, and for the season has surrendered only two homers in 72 innings on the road.

Dickey aims for his 10th victory of the season, which would give the 42-year-old a sixth-consecutive season with double-digit wins. He rebounded from a tough two-start stretch (eight runs, 19 hits allowed in 12 innings) to beat Philadelphia on Wednesday, surrendering one run on seven hits in eight innings while matching a season-high with nine strikeouts. Dickey, who made his major-league debut with Texas in 2001, is 3-2 in nine career appearances with a 2.72 ERA against the Rangers.

WALK-OFFS

1. Texas begins the week leading the majors with 212 homers, after slugging four in Sunday’s victory.

2. Atlanta 1B Freddie Freeman will have his left wrist examined Monday after admitting to reporters this weekend he has lost strength since returning from a fractured wrist in July.

3. The Rangers are 5-1-1 in their past seven series.

PREDICTION: Rangers 4, Braves 2

[New York Knight]

GAME: Arizona Diamondbacks (79-58) at Los Angeles Dodgers (92-44)
DATE/TIME: Monday, September 04 - 8:10 PM EST
WHERE: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Preview: Diamondbacks at Dodgers
Gracenote
Sep 4, 2017

The dog days of summer have hit the Los Angeles Dodgers, who still own a major league-best record of 92-44 but are mired in their worst slump of the season. The Dodgers have lost eight of their last nine contests as they begin a three-game series Monday against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks, who have won 10 straight to solidify their position atop the National League wild-card standings.

The Dodgers dropped three of four in San Diego over the weekend, but Cody Bellinger provided the lone bright spot by breaking the team’s rookie record with his 36th home run in Sunday’s 6-4 loss. While Los Angeles starting pitchers have posted a 7.65 ERA over their last nine contests, manager Dave Roberts is confident that Rich Hill, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Kenta Maeda will have better results than last week, when the trio allowed 19 runs over 10 2/3 innings during the Diamondbacks’ three-game sweep at home. With his team possessing a 6 1/2-game lead over Colorado for the top NL wild-card spot, Arizona manager Torey Lovullo began giving his starters some much-needed rest over the weekend. Paul Goldschmidt, A.J. Pollock and J.D. Martinez were held out of the starting lineup in Sunday’s 5-1 win over Colorado, and left-handed hitters David Peralta and Jake Lamb could take a seat for Monday’s series opener.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FSN Arizona, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Robbie Ray (11-5, 2.97 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Rich Hill (9-6, 3.71)

Ray won his second straight start on Wednesday against the Dodgers, allowing one run while registering 10 strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings. The 25-year-old is having a career year with stellar numbers across the board, including a 6-1 record and 1.49 ERA in 11 road outings. Justin Turner is 4-for-21 against Ray, who has gone 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA in four starts versus Los Angeles this season and owns a 2.19 ERA in six career turns at Dodger Stadium.

In his first start since flirting with a no-hitter on Aug. 23, Hill allowed six runs and a season-high eight hits over 3 2/3 innings in Tuesday’s 7-6 loss to Arizona. The 37-year-old went 4-0 with a 1.45 ERA in five turns in July but had mixed results last month, going 1-2 with a 4.71 ERA. Hill has posted a 1-4 record and 5.02 ERA in eight career starts against Arizona, recording 40 strikeouts against 13 walks in 43 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Diamondbacks haven’t allowed a home run in 38 consecutive innings.

2. The Dodgers have won 31 of their last 37 home games.

3. Goldschmidt is a career .325 hitter with 14 home runs and 38 RBIs in 52 contests at Dodger Stadium.

PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 6, Dodgers 3

[New York Knight]

Team Underground

MLB LA DODGERS ‑150

[New York Knight]

JACK BRAYMAN

My free play for Monday is on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in College Football, as I like the underdog in tonight's game. The Tennessee Volunteers may not be playing at Bobby Dodd Stadium, but the game is in Tech's backyard (Atlanta), and that could spell doom.

These are very similar teams, with neither having that much more of an advantage over the other.

Tech brings back eight starters on each side of the ball, and I like coach Paul Johnson to outwit Tennessee coach Butch Jones.

The Volunteers' seven returning starters on offense come mainly in the trenches, and are more inexperienced in the skill position set. Ithink that could spell trouble against Tech's experienced defense, which is led by linebacker Brant Mitchell and cornerback Lance Austin.

Fact is, Johnson always gets the best out of his troops, so I'm banking on the Yellow Jackets to challenge for the outright win.


3* GEORGIA TECH

[New York Knight]

HUNTER PRICE

1* Free Pick on Phillies +118