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MINI
LEADERBOARDS: MOST PROFITABLE SERVICES |
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LAST 30-DAYS |
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ACCESS
PICKS FOR TODAY WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 |
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MLB |
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9/26/2018 |
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FOUND
11
GAMES |
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COMING
UP
4:05 PM EST |
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9/26/2018 4:05 PM EST (TODAY) |
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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+175
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OFF
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Over 8.5 (-110)
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-210
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OFF
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Under 8.5 (-110)
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GAME PREVIEW
Nats host Marlins in possible Harper finale 2h ago 3 min read WASHINGTON -- Free-agent-to-be Bryce Harper will obviously play more games at Nationals Park regardless of what happens in the offseason.Even if he leaves the Nationals, he'll return at some point in a different uniform and likely be the subject of a video tribute and warm ovation. Or he'll re-sign with Washington and spend the prime years of his career in a Nationals' uniform.The Nationals (80-78), though, play their final home game of a disappointing 2018 season Wednesday afternoon against the visiting Miami Marlins (62-95). For Harper, it could be the last time he dresses in the spacious home clubhouse and makes his way down the stairs to the Nationals dugout behind first base.After entering the All-Star break with a .214 batting average, Harper thrilled the hometown crowd with a win in the Home Run Derby. He carried that success into the second half and is hitting .246 with 34 home runs, 129 runs scored, and career highs in RBIs (100) and walks (129) with four games remaining."Credit to him," manager Dave Martinez said. "He started off really slow and to be where's he at now ... is a testament to what kind of player he really is." Harper, the first overall pick in the 2010 draft, and agent Scott Boras will be able to listen to offers from other teams while the Nationals determine if Harper is part of the future or if they will use that money to fill needs that could include starting pitching, a catcher and a second baseman."Excited about the future," Harper told thesportscapital.com of what's ahead for the Nationals. "If I'm going to be part of that future, and hopefully I am, and if I'm in those plans for the Nationals organization and (ownership), then we'll see what happens." Miami left-hander Wei-Yin Chen (6-11, 4.66 ERA) opposes right-hander Tyler McGowin (0-0, 6.75) in Wednesday's finale, which could be affected by rain, which has been a near-constant of late at Nationals Park.Chen has a 2.88 ERA over his last seven games and is coming off a home win against the Reds in which he allowed three hits over seven shutout innings. He has a 1.62 home ERA in 13 starts, but a 9.29 road ERA in 11 outings."I can't explain why I can pitch like this at home, and not so much on the road," Chen told MLB.com. "I probably should practice more in spring training." Chen is making his fourth 2018 start against the Nationals and is 0-1. For his career, he's 1-6 with a 4.84 ERA in 11 games (10 starts) versus Washington.McGowin will be making his first major league start in place of Tanner Roark, who will remain in Atlanta with his family following the birth of his son.The Nationals, who have moved ahead of the Phillies for second place in the NL East, won their second straight over the Marlins on Tuesday. Max Scherzer (18-7) struck out 10 batters to become the third pitcher in the last 15 seasons -- joining Chris Sale and Clayton Kershaw -- to strike out 300 batters in a season.Scherzer improved to 5-0 against the Marlins in 2018."I think it's fun for our guys, that challenge with him, because it's the best," Marlins manager Don Mattingly told the Miami Herald. "I think that challenge is good for hitters. It lets you know where you're at." Anthony Rendon continued his torrid hitting, clubbing a homer and driving in four runs for the second straight night. He has five homers in his last nine games, and has 91 RBIs despite missing a month because of injury."He is on fire," Martinez said. "He works good at-bats. He uses the whole field."
 Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2018 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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COMING
UP
6:40 PM EST |
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9/26/2018 6:40 PM EST (TODAY) |
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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+142
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+1.5 (-145)
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Over 9 (-110)
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-167
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-1.5 (+125)
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Under 9 (-110)
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GAME PREVIEW
Reds face Royals with Riggleman wanting permanent job 3h ago 3 min read Cincinnati Reds interim manager Jim Riggleman has a long track record as a manager and coach in the major leagues. It's also evident this season that he's earned the respect of his players.What Riggleman doesn't have is a job for next season.Now that the 2018 season is in its final week -- the Reds and Kansas City Royals close out a two-game series Wednesday at Great American Ball Park -- Riggleman is wondering about his status for next season.Unlike St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Shildt, who turned his team around at midseason following former manager Mike Matheny's firing, Riggleman hasn't been given a new contract. The Reds made an abrupt about-face under Riggleman once former manager Bryan Price was let go following a 3-15 start, playing above .500 for several months.But they've since regressed and are ending the season in September much like they began it in April. Their 4-3 loss Tuesday night to the Royals was their fourth in a row and their ninth in 12 games.Hunter Dozier hit a tiebreaking homer in the ninth, Ryan O'Hearn had a two-run shot off right-hander Matt Harvey in the fourth and the Royals held off the Reds, who stranded five runners over the final two innings. With a 66-92 record, the Reds are assured of a fourth consecutive season with 91 or more losses.Worse yet, they've all but stopped hitting, although Dilson Herrera contributed a two-run homer Tuesday. Before then, they were shut out in five of their previous nine games, despite having an offense that ranks in the top half of the National League. They've scored only 16 runs in those last 12 games.Still, Riggleman wants to return."I'm really happy to have been here to do this. I hope I continue to do it. ... I would prefer to be here (in 2019)," Riggleman told the team's website. "You can't take it for granted. I have some great friends in baseball who have been in the game for as long as I have who are now out of the game. All these jobs are precious, whether you're managing or coaching." The Reds are Riggleman's fifth team as a manager, counting the Seattle Mariners, a team he also managed for part of a season. He managed the San Diego Padres for full seasons in 1993 and 1994, the Chicago Cubs from 1995-99 and the Washington Nationals from midway through the 2009 season to midway through 2011.Riggleman didn't think he'd manage again after resigning the Nationals job because they wouldn't give him a new contract. But he likes this current Reds team and would like to return.Reds left-hander Cody Reed (1-2, 3.66), who opposes Royals right-hander Heath Fillmyer (2-3) on Wednesday, also wants to be back in Cincinnati next season.Reed is only 2-10 with a 5.59 ERA in parts of three major league seasons, making 38 appearances and starting 17 times. But in his third trial with the Reds, he's finally showing that he might be capable of being a reliable major league pitcher.He pitched scoreless baseball in each of his last two starts, shutting out the Miami Marlins on five hits over six innings Thursday and the Chicago Cubs on two hits over five innings Sept. 15. Both starts were on the road.Fillmyer is trying to make an impression for next season, too, as he makes his 13th start of the season, after giving up two runs or fewer in three of his last five starts. He lasted seven innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates last Wednesday, when he allowed two runs and eight hits in a 2-1 Royals loss.However, he had a pair of rough starts against Minnesota before that, permitting 10 earned runs in 9 2/3 innings.Fillmyer appears to one of a half-dozen pitchers who will be competing for a spot in the Royals rotation next spring."We've seen a lot of growth in the rotation," manager Ned Yost said. "We've seen positive things with the whole club but, yes, the rotation has pitched well (lately)."
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2018 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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COMING
UP
7:10 PM EST |
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9/26/2018 7:10 PM EST (TODAY) |
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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+135
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+1.5 (-165)
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Over 7 (-119)
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-160
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-1.5 (+140)
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Under 7 (-101)
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GAME PREVIEW
Mets' deGrom tries to bolster Cy Young hopes vs. Braves 2h ago 3 min read NEW YORK - Jacob deGrom may never be willing to look back on his record-setting 2018 season, at least publicly.But as the New York Mets ace gets ready for his final scheduled start of the season Wednesday night, Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker is more than willing to marvel at deGrom's success - and how his unrewarded dominance against the Braves symbolizes a Cy Young candidacy like no other in history.DeGrom will get one more chance to burnish his National League Cy Young Award resume Wednesday night, when he takes the mound for the Mets in the middle game of a three-game series against the NL East champion Braves at Citi Field.DeGrom (9-9, 1.77 ERA) is lined up to face Braves left-hander Sean Newcomb (12-9, 4.04 ERA).The Braves earned a 7-3 win in the opener Tuesday night, when they came back from a 3-0 deficit by scoring all their runs in the seventh and eighth inning. Atlanta (89-68) entered Tuesday a half-game ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the race for the second seed and home-field advantage in the NL Division Series.DeGrom's other-worldly statistics outside of his won-loss record appears to have him ahead of the Washington Nationals' Max Scherzer and the Philadelphia Phillies' Aaron Nola in the three-way race for the Cy Young.In addition to leading the majors in ERA and ranking second (behind Scherzer) in WHIP, strikeouts, strikeout-to-walk ratio and innings pitched, deGrom has set single-season big league records by allowing three runs or fewer in his last 28 starts and throwing a quality start in each of his last 23 outings.But deGrom wasn't ready to try to put his season into context last Friday, when he earned the win by allowing one run over seven innings as the Mets beat the Washington Nationals, 4-2."When I reflect on the season, it may sink in a little bit," DeGrom told reporters. "But you've got to prepare for next season." By that point, he'll know whether or not the Mets' remarkable lack of support cost him the Cy Young. New York has scored just 83 runs for deGrom while he's been on the mound in his 31 starts. He has allowed three runs or fewer over at least six innings yet not recorded a win 19 times, which is also a record.Outside of the Mets (73-84), nobody knows deGrom's hard-luck story better than the Braves. DeGrom is 0-2 despite a 1.09 ERA in five starts this season against Atlanta, which has won all five games."You don't like to face him, but man, I love watching him compete, how he gets after it, how he competes, and the stuff - everything," Snitker said Tuesday afternoon. "The record and all that's probably not what he wants, but you watch that guy and how he goes out there every time. I like turning the TV on and watching him pitch."It's a challenge. I mean, you don't look forward to facing a guy like that. But those guys - (that's) what we do, competition. And he's the best." While deGrom will be looking to lock up the Cy Young, Newcomb will be hoping he can make a last-ditch case for a spot in the Braves' postseason rotation.Newcomb, who is likely vying with right-hander Anibal Sanchez to be the fourth starter in the playoffs, took the loss in his previous start Sept. 16, when he allowed five runs over three innings as Atlanta fell to the Nationals, 6-4.The 25-year-old southpaw is 2-4 with a 6.52 ERA in eight starts since coming within one out of no-hitting the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 29.DeGrom is 5-5 with a 1.83 ERA in 16 career starts against the Braves. Newcomb is 2-2 with a 2.15 ERA in five starts against the Mets.
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2018 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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COMING
UP
7:10 PM EST |
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9/26/2018 7:10 PM EST (TODAY) |
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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-110
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+1.5 (-220)
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Over 8.5 (+100)
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-110
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-1.5 (+180)
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Under 8.5 (-120)
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GAME PREVIEW
Brewers, Yelich seek sweep of Cardinals 2h ago 2 min read Christian Yelich said after the Milwaukee Brewers' 12-4 rout of the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night that baseball can be a hard game.That's funny, because Yelich is making it look really easy right now. So easy, in fact, that some feel he might now be the National League frontrunner for MVP. He can make another case for the award when Milwaukee tries to sweep St. Louis on Wednesday night in the series finale at Busch Stadium.After knocking in the tying and insurance runs Monday night in the Brewers' come-from-behind 6-4 victory, Yelich encored with a three-run triple in the fourth for a 6-0 lead. He added insurance in the ninth by cracking his career high 33rd homer with two aboard, giving him six RBIs for the night and a career high 104 for the year.It was presumed by most experts going into September that Chicago Cubs infielder Javier Baez was the MVP favorite. But with performances such as this, Yelich, who leads the league in hitting with a .321 average while also offering solid defense in left and right field, might overtake him."You just trust your work every day in the cage and batting practice," Yelich said when asked to explain his success. "It's been a crazy year, but I've been up a lot of times in key situations and have been able to come through for the boys." Yelich's latest big night edged Milwaukee (91-67) within a half-game of Chicago, a 6-0 loser to Pittsburgh, for first place in the Central. It also put the Cardinals (87-71) in a fair amount of peril for making the playoffs.St. Louis fell out of the NL's second wild card spot, thanks to Colorado's 10-3 victory over Philadelphia, and trails the Rockies by a half-game. Colorado also has a game in hand on the Cardinals and finishes at home against two NL East teams, the Phillies and Washington, that are playing out the string.If St. Louis is to fight back, it will need more from starter John Gant (7-6, 3.53 ERA) than it's gotten in his last two appearances. After being shelled in a 17-4 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sept. 15, Gant lasted only 2 2/3 innings Friday night in a 5-3 victory over San Francisco, allowing four hits and a run with three walks and three strikeouts.The problem for Gant has been throwing strikes. He's issued at least three walks in five of his last six outings. And with a bullpen that has been chewed up -- and ineffective -- in this series, the Cardinals need length and efficiency from Gant.In his career against the Brewers, Gant is 0-2 with a 4.73 ERA in four outings. That includes a 2-1 defeat Aug. 19 in which he lasted 4 1/3 innings, permitting six hits and two runs with two walks and a strikeouts.Jhoulys Chacin (14-8, 3.61) gets the call for Milwaukee, coming off a no-decision Friday night in an 8-3 win at Pittsburgh. He pitched four innings, yielding four hits and three runs with a walk and a strikeout.Chacin beat Gant and the Cardinals on Aug. 19, checking them on four hits over six shutout innings to beat them for the first time in 10 career outings. Chacin has seven losses and a 6.10 ERA over 51 2/3 innings.
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2018 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
GAME PREVIEW
Slumping Cubs need to get on track vs. Pirates 2h ago 2 min read CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs have had their eye on the National League playoffs from Opening Day. But in the final week of the regular season, just how the two-time defending Central Division champions will factor into the postseason picture remains unclear.With five games remaining starting with Wednesday's divisional test against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Cubs are attempting to hold off the Milwaukee Brewers for the division title, but also can't lose sight of the St. Louis Cardinals, who are hoping to join the postseason push as the third representative from the Central Division.The Cubs still remain the front-runner despite carrying a two-game losing streak into Wednesday following a 6-0 loss to the Pirates on Tuesday. The loss, coupled with the Brewers' 12-4 victory over the Cardinals, leaves the Cubs' lead at just a half a game as Chicago once again was unable to inch closer to a division title.Despite that and a second straight night when the offense sputtered, the Cubs aren't concerning with themselves with shrinking margins as they understand the level of competition they're facing down the stretch."I just want to point out we have the best record in the National League and we haven't clinched yet," Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward told reporters Tuesday, according to the team's official website. "That shows you how good our division is. That shows you how good this league is. I feel like it's time to pay respect to how good these other teams have been playing baseball." As much as the Cubs hope to secure another division title, they realize that they could still find their ways into the playoffs as a wild card should they fail to put away the Brewers. That would set up a much different scenario, but one Cubs manager Joe Maddon said his team will deal with if necessary."I hope we avoid that," Maddon told reporters on Tuesday, according to MLB.comJose Quintana (13-11, 4.11 ERA) will start for the Cubs. Quintana is hoping to bounce back from consecutive losses, including in his last outing against the Chicago White Sox. Quintana allowed five runs and nine hits over five innings, which snapped a string of six straight starts in which he didn't allow more than two earned runs. Quintana is 1-1 with a 2.74 ERA in four career starts against Pittsburgh.Ivan Nova gets the start for Pittsburgh. Nova (9-9, 4.01) is 2-0 with a no-decision in three starts this month and has surrendered just two earned runs in those three starts and has struck out 15. Nova looks to continue his run of good fortune he has enjoyed during his career against the Cubs as he is 4-2 with a 3.27 ERA in seven career starts.Nova was scheduled to make another start following Wednesday's outing but the Pirates' scheduled makeup game against the Miami Marlins on Monday was canceled. That means that Nova will make his final start against the Cubs, which is an outing he looks forward to despite the fact the Pirates have nothing to play for."I just want to go pitch," Nova told reporters on Monday, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "As long as you feel good, you want to keep pitching. A lot of guys are ready to go home now that we have been eliminated from the playoffs. I'm excited to have another chance to pitch (on Wednesday)."
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2018 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
8:10 PM EST |
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9/26/2018 8:10 PM EST (TODAY) |
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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+120
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+1.5 (-165)
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Over 8.5 (-105)
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-140
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-1.5 (+140)
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Under 8.5 (-115)
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GAME PREVIEW
Twins, sans Sano, host Tigers 1h ago 2 min read Miguel Sano won't be in the Minnesota Twins' starting lineup Wednesday when they host the Detroit Tigers at Target Field, but manager Paul Molitor isn't ruling out a return before the regular season comes to an end this weekend.Sano has been sidelined since suffering a left knee injury earlier this month at Houston. The injury was originally diagnosed as a bruised leg and an MRI showed no structural damage to the knee, which he had surgically repaired in November.He's made progress in his recovery but still isn't 100 percent, so the Twins have been taking a patient approach with their third baseman."With Miggy still not symptom-free from some of the things that are concerning, we're just going to continue to address that the best that we can," Molitor said. "I'm not giving up." The Twins will be without left fielder Eddie Rosario for the rest of the year while Mitch Garver has yet to be cleared after suffering a concussion. When he does return, the Twins won't use him at catcher but hope to get him some at-bats off the bench or as the designated hitter.Right-hander Jake Odorizzi (7-10, 4.35 ERA) gets the start Wednesday. He's pitched well over the last few weeks, posting a 3.83 ERA over his last nine starts, including a two-run effort against Detroit his last time out. He needed 84 pitches to get through six innings."It's not ideal to have them your last couple games of the season," Odorizzi said of his string of good starts. "You prefer to have it to build on during the season. Nevertheless, I'm not going to get too picky. I'm just glad it's happening now."Getting early-count outs, executing pitches early, that's the big thing. Getting early-count outs, that's how you get deep in the game. Not trying to waste pitches. Just going after guys." Odorizzi is 3-1 with a 3.15 ERA in seven career starts against the Tigers, including 1-0, 4.41 in three starts this season. Detroit's Nicholas Castellano, who is batting .301 with 22 home runs and 87 RBIs -- all team highs -- is 3-for-16 with four walks and four strikeouts versus Odorizzi.The Tigers counter with left-hander Matthew Boyd (9-12). He is looking to bounce back after surrendering five runs (two earned) and six hits, including a pair of home runs over 1 1/3 innings in his last outing -- his shortest start in two years."Gardy definitely made the right move getting me out of there," Boyd said. "I just didn't have anything out there." Boyd has a 4.16 ERA in a team-leading 30 starts for Detroit this season but he's struggled on the road this season, going 3-9 with a 5.52 ERA away from Comerica Park, including a pair of losses in two starts at Minnesota.He is 6-4 with a 3.93 ERA in 15 career starts versus Minnesota, including 1-2, 4.80 in four turns this season. Robbie Grossman is 6-for-23 with two home runs and seven walks versus Boyd.
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2018 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
8:40 PM EST |
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9/26/2018 8:40 PM EST (TODAY) |
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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+160
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+1.5 (-120)
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Over 10 (-110)
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-190
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-1.5 (+100)
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Under 10 (-110)
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GAME PREVIEW
Rockies control own destiny, seek another rout of Phillies 23m ago 3 min read DENVER -- The Colorado Rockies have gained control of their October destiny and will start German Marquez on Wednesday, hoping the young right-hander can continue his recent dominance against the free-falling Philadelphia Phillies.The Rockies, who blasted the Phillies 10-1 on Monday, won their fifth straight game Tuesday, pounding them 10-3. That victory coupled with St. Louis' loss enabled the Rockies to move one-half game ahead of the Cardinals in the race for the second National League wild-card spot. The Rockies also gained ground on the Los Angeles Dodgers and are a half-game behind them in the NL West.The loss was a season-high sixth in a row for the Phillies (78-79), who have dropped 17 of 23 games this month and have dipped below .500 for the first time since April 9, when they were 4-5. The Phillies were 63-48 on Aug. 5, which was the second-best record in the NL but have since gone 15-31."We have not played good baseball for quite some time," Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said after Tuesday's loss. "We have to find a way to perform better. We have to find a way to work harder, prepare better and come out and fight." The 23-year-old Marquez (13-10, 3.91 ERA), who will start against Nick Pivetta (7-13, 4.58), has 210 strikeouts and is closing in on a single-season franchise record. Pedro Astacio also had 210 strikeouts in 1999 for the Rockies, and Ubaldo Jimenez set the franchise record with 214 strikeouts in 2010.Marquez, who is 3-1, 2.23 in his past six starts at home, last started Friday and won at Arizona, giving up two runs and six hitsin seven innings with no walks and 11 strikeouts.He has 11 or more strikeouts in four of his past five starts and has allowed three or fewer runs in 11 consecutive turns. In those 11 outings, Marquez is 5-2, 2.36 with 14 walks and 98 strikeouts in 76 1/3 innings, limiting opposing hitters to a .207 average and .575 OPS in that stretch.An improved slider, which Marquez has used more frequently this season, has been integral to his success. According to FanGraphs, Marquez's slider usage has increased from 4.1 percent last year to 16 percent this season. Meanwhile, his fastball usage has decreased from 65.5 percent to 55.3 percent and his curveball usage has dipped to 22.2 percent from 25 percent. He has thrown his changeup 6.5 percent of the time, up from 5.4 percent last year."I think he has confidence in throwing his slider for a strike," said catcher Tony Wolters, who has been behind the plate regularly when Marquez starts. "He throws his slider probably more for a strike than his curveball." Wolters said the slider is a pitch Marquez will use to begin an at-bat, along with his very effective curveball and that the two breaking pitches complement each other and give him a first-pitch alternative to a fastball.But Marquez has been able to finish off hitters this year with the slider, because it's a sharp-breaking swing-and-miss pitch and so much better than a year ago."It has a lot of depth, and it goes down," Wolters said. "Last year, it was kind of sweepy. He had trouble with it going down and had trouble throwing strikes with it." Marquez is 1-1, 5.25 in two starts against the Phillies, both in Philadelphia.Pivetta had a no-decision Friday at Atlanta, where he gave up four hits and one run in five innings in Philadelphia's 6-5 loss. He has not pitched more than five innings in five consecutive starts, going 0-3, 3.47 in that stretch covering 23 1/3 innings.Pivetta is 0-2, 16.43 in two starts against the Rockies, including a 7-2 loss June 13 at Philadelphia, where he gave up six runs and eight hits in five innings.
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2018 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
9:40 PM EST |
|
9/26/2018 9:40 PM EST (TODAY) |
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
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-131
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-1.5 (+135)
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Over 7.5 (-120)
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+111
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+1.5 (-160)
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Under 7.5 (+100)
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GAME PREVIEW
Dodgers try to bounce back after D-backs' walkoff win 24m ago 4 min read PHOENIX -- Dodger Stadium again this season is ranked as one of the most pitcher-friendly parks in the National League.Mostly when the Los Angeles Dodgers pitch, it seems.The Dodgers have hit a franchise-record 227 homers this season, setting a team record for the second consecutive year, and they had one more -- on the road -- from Cody Bellinger on Tuesday, but the Diamondbacks hit the one that mattered.Eduardo Escobar's walkoff in the last of the ninth inning gave them a 4-3 victory and trimmed the Dodgers' lead in the NL West to one-half over the Colorado Rockies. The teams are even in the loss column. The Dodgers have four games remaining. The Rockies have five."It's always the best way to win a game," Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said.While the Dodgers continue to peak, the Diamondbacks got a small reprieve from their uncharacteristically subdued offense as the teams prepare for the final contest of a three-game series Wednesday, when Dodgers right-hander Ross Stripling (8-5, 2.84 ERA) is to face Arizona right-hander Zack Greinke (14-11, 3.21).Reserve Max Muncy leads the Dodgers with 33 homers (in only 378 at-bats) and Cody Bellinger, Yasmani Grandal, Enrique Hernandez, Matt Kemp, Joc Pederson and Yasiel Puig have between 21 and 24. Justin Turner has 13 in 98 games after missing two months with an injury. Manny Machado has 13 of his career-high 37 since joining the Dodgers."Am I surprised? Probably not," Roberts said."If you look at our lineup and our position players, there are a lot of guys who can slug. We have a lot of good players. That's great. That wins baseball games. But for me, it's the detail of grinding at-bats. There was a fly ball to the left fielder (Monday) that I think was the best at-bat of the night." After Turner flew out to left field to end an 11-pitch at-bat in the fifth inning Monday, Machado homered to tie the game at 2. The Dodgers won 7-4.Not to be overlooked, the Dodgers also lead the NL in pitches seen per plate appearance at just over four per. Grandal, Bellinger, Chris Taylor and Muncy are in the top 17 among players who have seen at least 1,900 pitches. Hernandez and Turner also are above four, and both have seen more than 1,600 pitches."You have homers, but there are a lot of at-bats outside of those 'x' amount of homers that we hit this year that are very important. I like to appreciate those are important at-bats, too," Roberts said.Arizona, meanwhile, has struggled to put up the kind of offensive numbers it is accustomed to.The Diamondbacks have 676 runs, ninth in the NL league, and are on pace to average about 4.3 runs, a 17 percent decrease from 2017. David Peralta has had a career year offensively, as has the middle infield combination of Ketel Marte and Nick Ahmed. Paul Goldschmidt was his consistent self.But the loss of free agent J. D. Martinez could not be overcome, injuries to 30-homer third baseman Jake Lamb, A. J. Pollock and Steven Souza Jr., and the addition of the humidor could be factors in the decrease."It hasn't been anything that I expected because this group is so talented," Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said."This group is so gifted with their ability to set up pitchers and score runs in bunches and blow teams away. For some reason we've lacked that. Why? I don't know. We've tried just about everything. Things that I've shared with you. Things that I have not shared with you. Just nothing has really seemed to give us a push and be as consistent as we had hoped we would be." The Diamondbacks have scored fewer runs only once in their last 10 years, in their 69-win season in 2014 that brought a managerial and front office change."Pitching and defense kind of carried us," Lovullo said. "It would be nice to see everything function at the same time. I'm disappointed that we didn't met the expectations. We were spoiled last year. We had a really good offensive team." Stripling has lost his last two outings, going 3 1/3 innings each time. He missed most of August with a back injury and the Dodgers have taken it slowly on his return. He has made six early-season appearances against Arizona, five in relief and an April 30 start in which he gave up four runs in four innings of an 8-5 loss. He is 0-3 with a 5.19 ERA in 10 career games at Chase Field.Greinke will make his final start of the season Wednesday, his last chance to get to the 15-win plateau for the seventh time in the last eight seasons. He won 13 games in 2016, his first season with the Diamondbacks, after missing two months with an oblique injury.Greinke is 2-1 with a 4.12 ERA in three starts against the Dodgers this season and is 6-5 with a 3.83 ERA against them in 14 career starts.
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2018 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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COMING
UP
10:07 PM EST |
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9/26/2018 10:07 PM EST (TODAY) |
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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+159
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+1.5 (-125)
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Over 8.5 (-115)
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-189
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-1.5 (+105)
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Under 8.5 (-105)
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GAME PREVIEW
Rangers' Beltre aims to continue being Angels' nemesis 1h ago 2 min read Adrian Beltre has played some of the best baseball of his 21-year career against the Los Angeles Angels, and the Texas Rangers third baseman seems to enjoy hitting off left-hander Andrew Heaney just as much.The future Hall of Famer should get to experience both Wednesday night when the Rangers play the Angels in the final contest of their three-game series at Angel Stadium.Beltre has clubbed more home runs against the Angels than any other major league team, and 25 of those 47 long balls have gone over the wall at Angel Stadium.He's 7-for-14 in his career off Heaney with three home runs, including a two-run homer in a 4-2 victory in Texas on Sept. 4."Beltre's given me trouble for a long time," Heaney told MLB.com after that game. "Every time I face him, he knows what I like to do. I try mixing it up on him sometimes, and that time he got me, he ambushed the fastball in and he got every bit of it." Beltre is still looking for his first hit of the series.He sat out a 5-4 win by the Angels (77-81) in 11 innings on Monday and went 0-for-4 in a 4-1 loss on Tuesday.The Rangers (66-91) have lost seven of their past nine games.In his final start of the season, Heaney will be looking to secure a 10th win for the first time in his five-year career. He's had two chances since throwing seven shutout innings in a 1-0 win against the Chicago White Sox on Sept. 9.Heaney (9-10, 4.21) pitched well enough to win against the visiting Seattle Mariners on Sept. 15, departing with a 4-2 lead after five innings, but the bullpen crumbled in the 6-5 loss.Heaney then matched his shortest outing of the season on Friday, allowing six runs, five hits and three walks in three innings of an 11-3 loss at the Houston Astros.He has been much better at home this season, posting a 7-3 record and 3.28 ERA, compared to 2-7 and 5.06 on the road.Heaney has not only had trouble getting Beltre out, but several other Rangers as well. Elvis Andrus is 7-for-15 with two home runs, Rougned Odor is 5-for-15, Nomar Mazara is 4-for-11, Joey Gallo is 3-for-7, and Robinson Chirinos is 4-for-6 with two home runs.Heaney is 1-3 in six career starts against Texas with a 7.50 ERA, the highest of any team he has faced more than twice. He's 0-1 against the Rangers this season with a 7.94 mark.Heaney will be opposed by Texas left-hander Yohander Mendez (2-2, 6.04), who is scheduled to make his fifth career start and first against the Angels.His only appearances against Los Angeles came last September in two relief appearances two days apart in Anaheim.Mendez had a rough time in his last outing, allowing eight runs (seven earned) and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings of a 9-3 loss against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays last Wednesday.That was a major setback from his previous three appearances, when he combined to allow two runs and seven hits in 15 innings."Not as good of command with the breaking ball," former Rangers manager Jeff Banister told MLB.com after Mendez's last outing, which came two days before Banister was fired.
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2018 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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COMING
UP
10:10 PM EST |
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9/26/2018 10:10 PM EST (TODAY) |
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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-110
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-1.5 (+145)
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Over 8.5 (-119)
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-110
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+1.5 (-170)
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Under 8.5 (-101)
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GAME PREVIEW
Mariners' Hernandez starting vs. A's after 18 days out 11m ago 2 min read Felix Hernandez hopes to take something positive into the offseason.Hernandez, 32, the longtime Seattle ace who has been sidelined since Sept. 8 with a strained right hamstring, is scheduled to start for the Mariners on Wednesday night in the finale of a three-game series against the playoff-bound Oakland Athletics."I feel good. No problems. It's 100 percent," Hernandez told MLB.com of his injury. "I just want to finish strong and show them I can still pitch. It wasn't a big injury. They just wanted to give me some rest." This season has, for the most part, been one to forget for Hernandez (8-13, 5.46 ERA), a six-time All-Star and former American League Cy Young Award winner who also has a perfect game to his credit.The right-hander hasn't won since June 30, going 0-7 with a 6.14 ERA in his past 10 games, including the first relief appearance of his career after briefly being banished to the bullpen.Hernandez said he's looking forward to one last start to work on some changes he's made on his mechanics in recent weeks.Mariners manager Scott Servais said it's important to give Hernandez another start, especially for his mental outlook."One, he really wants to and that's good," Servais said. "No. 2, it is important to just go into the offseason with peace of mind. You want good results obviously and go out throw the ball well and give us a chance to win the ballgame. But also, so he feels good about where he's at physically. Then you can gear up and figure out what your offseason program is going to be and how you're going to get ready for next year." Hernandez has enjoyed plenty of success against Oakland in his career, going 26-13 with a 2.78 ERA in 51 career games -- including that lone relief appearance.Oakland (95-63), which is 2 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees in the race for the top wild-card berth and a chance to host the one-game playoff, is scheduled to start right-hander Edwin Jackson (6-3, 3.18 ERA) on Wednesday.Jackson is 5-0 with a 1.30 ERA in five career starts against Seattle.The Mariners twice rallied from three-run deficits to defeat Oakland 10-8 Tuesday on pinch-hitter Chris Herrmann's two-run homer in the 11th inning. That helped the Mariners (86-71) clinch the season series with Oakland, giving them a 10-8 edge with one game left.The Athletics, who led 8-5 after seven innings, dropped to 68-1 this season when leading entering the eighth, the last major league team to suffer a defeat in such situations.A's manager Bob Melvin admitted he was shocked by the result, which gave the Houston Astros the American League West title."Yes, because of the way things have gone for us this year, but I don't know how many times that happened," Melvin said. "Not in many seasons I've managed. If it happened once, it happened once. It's certainly a pretty good track record up to this point."
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2018 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
|
COMING
UP
10:15 PM EST |
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9/26/2018 10:15 PM EST (TODAY) |
MONEYLINE |
SPREAD |
TOTAL |
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+130
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+1.5 (-175)
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Over 7 (-105)
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-150
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-1.5 (+150)
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Under 7 (-115)
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GAME PREVIEW
Giants face Padres fueled by Bumgarner's walkoff hit 20m ago 2 min read SAN FRANCISCO -- The hero of Tuesday's win with the bat will be rewarded with two extra days off to rest his arm when the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres complete a three-game series on Wednesday night.Madison Bumgarner delivered a game-winning, pinch-hit single in the bottom of the 12th inning on Tuesday night, recording the first walk-off hit of his career.The single to left field through a drawn-in infield scored Gorkys Hernandez, who had led off the 12th with a triple.The hit improved Bumgarner's career average as a pinch hitter to .400 (4-for-10). The RBI was his first in that role.The RBI was the 58th of Bumgarner's career overall, 21 more than any other pitcher since he debuted for the Giants in 2009.It wasn't the first time this season that Bumgarner was chiefly responsible for a Giants win over San Diego. He threw eight innings of shutout ball the only time he pitched against the Padres in a 3-0 win on June 21.Nonetheless, the Giants have scratched Bumgarner from his scheduled start against San Diego on Wednesday in order for him to face the rival Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday.Right-hander Casey Kelly (0-2, 2.89) will face the Padres instead.The first-year Giant has gone up against the Padres twice in relief in his career, allowing just two hits and no runs in 3 1/3 innings without getting a decision. Both those appearances were for the Atlanta Braves in 2016.Tuesday's dramatic win came a little more than 24 hours after the Giants made the first of what is expected to be a series of major moves before the start of the 2019 season on Monday, firing general manager Bobby Evans.Hunter Pence, a free agent at season's end and high on the projected list of Giants castoffs, contributed two hits, including a home run, and scored three of the club's five runs in Tuesday's win.Pence has taken advantage of increased playing time since the team dealt Andrew McCutchen to the New York Yankees last month, going 9-for-his-last-23 (.391) with one double, two homers and four RBIs in his last six games.The 35-year-old, an inspirational leader in two of the Giants' three championships this decade, earned $18.5 million this season. His recent hot streak has raised his batting average to just .228.Pence has gone just 3-for-14 (.214) in his career against right-hander Luis Perdomo (1-6, 7.56), the Padres' scheduled starter in Wednesday's series finale.Perdomo will be making his first start since being recalled from the minors earlier this month. He hasn't faced the Giants this season but has gone head-to-head with them on nine occasions in the past, seven times as a starter, while compiling a 2-0 record and 3.80 ERA.Tuesday's loss was the Padres' 11th in 18 meetings with the Giants this season and came despite out-hitting the hosts 12-9.San Diego opened the series with a 5-0 win on Monday night.
Game
Preview from The Associated
Press (AP).
Copyright
© 2018 The Associated
Press, All Rights Reserved.
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SOCCER |
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9/26/2018 |
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FOUND
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