The Rays had won two in a row only giving up a combined three runs before giving up six in the loss to the Cardinals yesterday. They are well out of the AL East race 10 games out of first place, but only three games out of the 2nd AL Wild Card. The Cardinals snapped their two-game losing streak in yesterday’s win, which moved them above .500. They are 4.5 games back of the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central and five games out of the 2nd NL Wild Card. Archer was solid in his last outing and while under .500 in his career in interleague play he has an ERA of 2.88 and the Rays have won nine of his last 12 interleague starts. Lynn was not very sharp in his last outing, but in his previous five starts at home he did not give up more than two earned runs. I think both pitchers will have good starts in this game, but Lynn will have the better outing. The Cardinals will take this game and win the series moving two games over .500. 

The Padres have lost two of their last three games and they are well out of the playoff picture. In their two losses in their last three games they have given up 14 runs. The Marlins are hot winners of two straight and five of their last six games. While out of the NL East race they are still in the Wild Card hunt 4.5 games back of the reeling Colorado Rockies for the 2nd NL spot. Slugger Giancarlo Stanton has 16 HR this month, leads the Majors in HR, and went deep twice in the first game of this series. Lamet has been pretty solid this much, but in the two losses the Padres have in his four starts this month he has not gotten much run support. Look for that trend to continue in this game. Odrisamer will have a good start and keep the Padres lineup in check. Miami has totaled 17 runs in winning their last two games and their lineup will get it done at the dish tonight. The Marlins will win this game and go for the series sweep tomorrow.

The Tigers have lost three of their last four games and they have dropped their last eight games on the road. They are in 4th place in the AL Central 16 games out of first place and well out of the Wild Card. The White Sox have the fewest wins in the AL, but that may change if they keep playing well. They have won three in a row and five of their last seven games. Chicago only ranks 27th in the Majors in team ERA, but in winning three in a row they have only given up a total of six runs. Farmer was lit up in his last two starts before going back to the Minors for a couple of months and overall the Tigers have lost nine of his last11 starts and six of his last seven starts on the road and look for those trends to continue. Rodon has been steady in his last few starts and he will be steady tonight. The White Sox will win this game and go for the series sweep tomorrow.

The Rockies snapped their four-game losing streak in their last game and their big lead in the NL Wild Card has shrunk to 3.5 games over the Milwaukee Brewers. They have to rely on the Wild Card to make the playoffs with the Dodgers having the NL West in the bag. Colorado ranks tied for 3rd in the Majors in runs scored, but in their last five games they have only totaled 16 runs. The Braves are coming off losing two of three games in a home series against the Mariners where they gave up 15 runs in the two losses and none in the lone win. They are out of the playoff picture and can just play spoiler to the Rockies. Something has got to give in this NL match up, as the Rockies have won Bettis’ last five starts against the Braves and the Braves have won Teheran’s last four home starts against the Rockies. While Teheran has really struggled at home this season he had a great recent start against the Rockies and will pitch well against them tonight. Atlanta will take the first game of this series in a low scoring affair.

The Royals had won three in a row before losing to the Rockies in their last game. They had totaled 16 runs in winning the three games before only scoring two in their last one. Kansas City is in 3rd place in the AL Central six games back of the Indians and are only ½ game out of the 2nd Wild Card. The Indians had lost two in a row only scoring two runs before blowing up in their last game scoring 13 runs on the Red Sox an lighting up Ace Chris Sale. They are 5.5 games up on the Twins and six games up on the Royals in the division. Vargas has looked nothing like the All Star he was in the first half of the season. He has lost four of his last five starts where he did not last past the 5th inning in any of them. Merritt’s only career win came against the Royals last season and he will pitch well facing them again tonight. The Indians have had the Royals’ number at home and that will continue. With Merritt having a good outing and the Cleveland lineup getting to Vargas it equals an Indians win.

The Nationals had dominated the Astros in the last few seasons before finally losing to them in Game 2 of this series. They have still won four of their last six games where they have gotten solid pitching, which they have needed with and offense that is slumping. Star Bryce Harper is still out for the Nats, who are in first place in the NL East with a 13.5 game lead over the Miami Marlins and have the 2nd best record in the NL. The Astros had lost two in a row before their win over the Nationals yesterday and they also have a slumping lineup. They had failed to score over four runs in five straight games before scoring six in their Game 2 win. They have the AL West in the bag and while they have been under .500 since the All Star break they still have the best record in the AL. Good pitching match up tonight and both starters will have a good outing. However, Keuchel will out-duel Strasburg and the Astros will take this season finale and win the series in a low scoring affair. 

The Blue Jays have dropped four in a row and lost the first game of this series, they are in the basement of the AL East 13 games out of first place and six games out of the Wild Card. In Toronto’s four-game skid their last three losses have come by a single run. After a four-game losing streak of their own the Rays have won their last two games. They are 11 games out in the AL East and four games out of the 2nd Wild Card. While the Tampa Bay lineup has struggled to score runs in the 2nd half of the season they have totaled 15 in their last three games. Stroman has pitched well against the Rays this season and he won his first two games facing them before taking a no decision in his last start against them. He will have another good outing tonight while Pruitt will struggle again and Toronto will win this game and snap their four-game slide.

The Cubs have won their last four games and in that span they have totaled 40 runs. They sit in first place in the NL Central 2.5 games up on the Milwaukee Brewers. The Reds had won three straight before losing their last two games. They rank dead last in the Majors in team ERA and in their last two games they have given up 21 runs. Cincy is in the basement of the NL Central and they have the 3rd fewest wins in the NL. Montgomery has not started since mid July and while he has been a solid reliever this season he has not been a good starter. Wojciechowski has pitched well at home this season, but he was shelled in his last start, which was facing the Cubs. Montgomery may not have the best outing, but Wojciechowski will really be hit hard again and for the 2nd straight game in this series the Cubs will win a slugfest.

The Rockies have lost two in a row and seven of their last eight games. They are out of the NL West race with the Dodgers having the division all, but wrapped up. However, they are in the lead in the NL Wild Card a half game up on the Arizona Diamondbacks and four games up on the Milwaukee Brewers. Colorado has the 2nd highest scoring team in the Majors, but they have only scored more that four runs in one of their last four games. The Royals had lost two in a row only scoring one run before scoring seven in their win over the Indians in their last game. They are seven games out of first place in the AL Central, but only 1.5 games out of the Wild Card. Have to go with the Royals in this one simply because they are at home. Gray has struggled on the road in his career while Duffy has been a much better hurler at home. Take the Royals to win this one winning their 2nd in a row and sending the Rockies to their 2nd straight loss.

The Twins have won five of their last six games and while they are 5.5 games out of first place in the AL Central they hold the 2nd place Wild Card. While they don’t have the most explosive lineup they have scored at least 10 runs in three of their last six games. The White Sox had won two straight before losing to the Twins in the 2nd game of the double-header. They have the fewest wins in the AL and they don’t rank in the top 25 in the Majors in runs scored or team ERA. Gibson has enjoyed success against the White Sox in his career, especially in Chicago. However, he will not have success in this game. He has given up three earned runs in each of his last three starts and the White Sox will get to him tonight. On the other side of the coin Giolito will have a good outing since he has never faced the Minnesota lineup. Chicago will take this home game and get some pride against their division rival.

While both of these teams are well out of the AL West race each is still in the playoff race, as the Angels are tied with the Minnesota Twins for the 2nd Wild Card and the Rangers are 2.5 games back. The Rangers have lost two of their last three games and in those losses they only totaled five runs. The Angels are hot, as they have won two in a row and nine of their last 11 games. In taking three of four games in their last series against the Orioles L.A. had 11 HR. Hamels got a lot of run support in his last start and in his previous two he was lights out. Skaggs, on the other hand, has not received much run support lately with the Halos dropping to of his last three starts. I see Hamels having the better start in this game and cooling off the L.A. bats and the Rangers will take the first game of this division series.

The Mariners had won four in a row before a loss in their last game, While they are 13.5 games out of first place in the AL West they are only 1.5 games out of the 2nd Wild Card. Seattle had totaled 24 runs in their four-game winning streak before being shut out in their last game. In their last series the Braves the first two games to the Reds giving up 16 runs before only giving up one to win the last game and avoid the sweep. They are out of the playoff race and 19 games back of the Washington Nationals in the NL East. Albers was solid in his first start of the season now faces the team that traded him on August 11th. I think he will have a pretty good outing, but Foltynewicz will have a better one in a bounce-back start at home. The Braves will take this game in a low scoring affair and hand the Mariners their 2nd loss in a row.

The Cardinals had won the first two games of this series scoring 11 runs in each game before losing Game 3. They are in 3rd place in the NL Central only 2.5 games out of first place. The Pirates snapped their six-game skid in the win in yesterday’s game and they are six games out of first place in the division their pitching was hammered in their skid where they gave up a total of 46 runs in the six losses. Leake was lit up, big time, in his last outing and he has not been very sharp as of late. Nova is coming off a good last outing, but got little support from the lineup. While this game is in Williamsport, PA for the MLB Little League Classic the Pirates are still the home team and they have won Nova’s last five home starts. Pittsburgh has won their last six Game 4’s and these last two trends will continue. The Pirates will get the win and salvage a series split.

The Yankees have won five of their last six games and they go for the series win today. They are in 2nd place in the AL East four games back of the Red Sox and they hold the AL Wild Card lead. The Red Sox had won three in a row before losing to the Yankees yesterday, in winning three straight they scored 24 runs before only scoring three in Game 2 of this series. Gray has been steady for the Yankees since the trade, but they have not helped him out with much run support. Boston has lost all three of Porcello’s starts against the Yankees this season, but he has a decent ERA in those games (3.79) and in his last start facing them he only gave up one run allowing three hits in six innings in a 3-0 loss. This game will be just like yesterday’s game in a low scoring affair with the Yankees coming out on top and taking the series moving to within three games of the Red Sox in the division.

The Marlins are hot, as they have won two in a row and six of their last seven games. Their pitching has been solid as of late and they have only given up one run in each of their last two games. Miami is in 2nd place in the NL East 14 games back of the Washington Nationals and are seven games out of the Wild Card. The Mets are struggling, big time, losers of their last five games. They recently traded OF Curtis Ganderson to the Dodgers and with his departure the Mets have traded away three of their top four HR hitters. Worley has been decent since joining the rotation and has gotten help from the lineup. That is exactly what will happen tonight, as he will be decent and be backed by solid run support. Miami will get to Montero early and often lighting him up like they did in his first start of the season. However, unlike that game the Marlins will come out on top. Miami will get the win and the Mets will extend their losing streak to six games. 

The Mariners have won their last two games after dropping five in a row. They are well out of the AL West race, but are still in the Wild Card 1.5 games out of the 2nd spot. The Rays are reeling, as they have lost two in a row and six of their last seven games. They are now in a three-way tie with the Blue Jays and Orioles in the basement of the AL East 10.5 games back of the Boston Red Sox. Like the Mariners Tampa Bay is still in the Wild Card race three games out. The Rays have only scored 15 runs in their last six games, with six coming in the lone win in that span, and they have scored the fewest runs in the bigs since the All Star break. Ramirez was solid in his last outing and he will have another good one tonight facing the team that dealt him. Pruitt will also have a pretty good outing, but still going with the Mariners since they have the lineup while the Rays are really struggling to score runs. Seattle will take this game and win their 3rd in a row.

The Angels are hot winners of seven of their last eight games and while they are 12 games out of first place in the AL West they have the 2nd AL Wild Card ½ game up on the Kansas City Royals. L.A. is led by their pitching and in their last eight games they have only given up 21 runs. The Orioles have lost two in a row and three of their last four games and are tied with the Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays in the basement of the AL East 10.5 games out of first place. However, they are only three games out of the AL Wild Card. After a great first start for the Orioles Hellickson has not impressed in his last two outings and was lit up in his last one. The Angels will knock him around tonight while Heaney will have a good outing in his first start since 2015. The Angels will stay hot winning this game and sending the Orioles to their 4th loss in their last five games.

The Phillies have lost four in a row and six of their last seven games. They are coming off being swept in a three-game series against the Padres where they were outscored 18-8. Philadelphia has the worst record and fewest road wins in the Majors. The Giants have lost three of their last four games where their pitching has been less than stellar giving up a total of 24 runs in the three losses. They have the 2nd fewest wins in the Majors. Aaron Nola has been one of the bright sports for the Phillies this season and he has one loss and two no decisions in his last three road starts where he has not gotten much run support. He will have another good outing and while he will not get a lot of run support he will get a few runs and that is all he will need. The Phillies will win this game snapping their four-game skid and handing the Giants their 4th loss in their last five games.

The Nationals had won two in a row before their loss to the Angels in their last game, but they have still won five of their last seven games. They have the 2nd best record in the NL and are running away with the NL East with a 13.5 game lead over the Miami Marlins. Washington has had solid pitching as of late and have needed it with a slumping lineup that has only totaled 19 runs in their last six games. The Padres have won three in a row coming off a sweep of the Phillies where they outscored them 18-8. They are out of the playoff picture 31.5, but they have won eight of their last 10 home games. Jackson has been pretty good in his 2nd stint with the Nationals and he will have a decent start tonight. However, Chacin will have a better one and the Padres will win his 5th straight home start in the first game of this NL series tonight.

After winning eight in a row the Cardinals have lost their last two games where they have been outscored 16-7. They are tied with the Milwaukee Brewers for 2nd place in the tight NL Central race 1.5 games back of the Chicago Cubs. Winning the division is their best shot at the playoffs, as St. Louis is five games out of the NL Wild Card. The Red Sox have won three of their last four and 11 of their last 13 games. They are in first place in the AL East 4.5 games up on the New York Yankees. Both pitcher’s in tonight’s contest are coming off good last starts, but have to go with the Red Sox in this game since they are at home. Boston has won five of Rodriguez’s last six home games and Lynn’s road ERA is a run higher on the road than at home. The Red Sox will take this game and send the Cardinals to their 3rd straight loss.