Colorado Rockies vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Preview and Predictions 09-21-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 20th September 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 09/20/2018
The Colorado Rockies' bid for their first division title in franchise history was dealt a major blow after they were unceremoniously swept in their last series. The suddenly reeling Rockies (82-70) have dropped five of six heading into the final leg of their nine-game homestand with Friday's opener of a three-set set against the Arizona Diamondbacks (79-74).
"Like I've said all along, I think this is going to come down to the end," Colorado manager Bud Black said after watching his team get swept in Los Angeles to fall 2 1/2 games behind the National League West-leading Dodgers and 1 1/2 in back of St. Louis for the final wild-card spot. Charlie Blackmon is batting .390 with four homers, eight RBIs and nine runs scored during his 12-game hitting streak, and he is 21-for-60 with five homers and 14 RBIs against Arizona this season. The Diamondbacks posted just their fifth win in 19 outings with a 9-0 romp of the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday to move within five games of the Cardinals for the final wild-card spot. "Obviously it has been a struggle the past couple of weeks, and I feel like (in) the dugout things have been like forced a little bit," outfielder Chris Owings said. "A win like this might give some guys some clear heads going into Friday."
TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountains (Colorado), FS Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH German Marquez (12-10, 3.96 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Zack Greinke (14-10, 3.20)
Marquez increased his streak of quality starts to 10 on Saturday after allowing three runs in six innings of a 3-0 setback at San Francisco. The 23-year-old Venezuelan owns a 2-1 mark with a 4.33 ERA in five outings against Arizona this season, highlighted by an 11-strikeout performance in a 13-2 romp on Sept. 10. While Marquez has enjoyed some success versus the Diamondbacks, A.J. Pollock (9-for-16), David Peralta (11-for-26) and Paul Goldschmidt (10-for-23) have tormented him in his career.
Greinke will bid to reach the 15-win plateau for the eighth time in his career when he faces Colorado, against which he owns a 3-0 mark with a 2.77 ERA in four starts this season. Trevor Story (11-for-35, five homers, 12 RBIs) has flustered the 34-year-old in his career, although the hurler has gotten the better of Ian Desmond (5-for-30, eight strikeouts). Greinke has limped down the stretch, falling to 2-5 in his last nine starts after allowing four runs on eight hits in a 5-4 setback at Houston.
WALK-OFFS
1. Desmond, who had a two-run single on Wednesday, is 19-for-56 with three homers and 13 RBIs against Arizona this season.
2. Owings, who had a homer and three hits on Wednesday, is 9-for-22 versus Colorado this season.
3. Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado is just 4-for-25 in his last six games overall entering the series at Arizona, against which he is 20-for-64 with six homers, 13 RBIs and 16 runs scored.
PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 4, Rockies 2
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Minnesota Twins vs. Oakland Athletics Preview and Predictions 09-21-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 20th September 2018 by Gracenote
Twins vs. Athletics Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 09/20/2018
The Oakland Athletics have not lost a home series in more than three months and continue their drive to nail down a playoff spot when they host the Minnesota Twins on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series. The Athletics have a magic number of four to secure a wild-card berth and trail first-place Houston by 3 1/2 games in the American League West.
Oakland rebounded from a three-game slide to take its last two contests against the Los Angeles Angels, outscoring them 31-3. Red-hot Stephen Piscotty belted his second three-run homer in as many days in Thursday's 21-3 mauling and was 4-for-6 with nine RBIs in the two wins as the Athletics improved to a major league-best 58-25 record since June 15. "Our lineup is deep all the way through and we feel like we have a chance to score every inning," Oakland manager Bob Melvin told reporters after the Athletics had eight players score at least two runs for the first time since 1929. Minnesota enters the final leg of its 10-game road trip on a roll, winning four in a row and outscoring its opponents 28-12.
TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), NBCS California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH José Berríos (11-11, 3.81 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Liam Hendriks (0-1, 5.30)
Berrios' winless drought reached seven starts last time out despite striking out nine and limiting Kansas City to two runs and five hits over six innings. He also faced the Royals in his previous turn, losing his third straight start despite allowing one run and three hits over six innings. Piscotty is 2-for-2 against Berrios, who gave up three runs over five innings of a loss to Oakland on Aug. 26.
Hendriks will continue his role of Oakland's late season "opener" by getting the nod for the seventh time this month, although he has pitched just one inning in each of his past five appearances in that role. In his last six trips to the mound overall, including one relief appearance, he has not allowed a run and permitted only two hits. Trout and Andrelton Simmons are each 3-for-8 against Hendriks.
WALK-OFFS
1. Piscotty has seven homers and 22 RBIs in in September.
2. Twins INF Ehire Adrianza is 6-for-17 during four-game hitting and RBI streaks.
3. The Athletics are 12-0-2 in their last 14 home series since they were swept by Houston from June 12-14.
PREDICTION: Athletics 5, Twins 4
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San Diego Padres vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Preview and Predictions 09-21-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 20th September 2018 by Gracenote
Padres vs. Dodgers Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 09/20/2018
The Los Angeles Dodgers are riding a giant wave of momentum after sweeping the Colorado Rockies to move into first place in the National League West. The Dodgers will try to build on their division advantage and avoid a letdown when they continue a homestand by welcoming the last-place San Diego Padres for the opener of a three-game series Friday.
Los Angeles was a half-game back in the division before sweeping a three-game set from the Rockies in dramatic fashion, capped by Wednesday's 5-2 triumph that featured a tiebreaking, pinch-hit home run in the seventh inning from Yasiel Puig. "First of all, this game, this series was emblematic of our ballclub and how many people had their hands in this to help win three games," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters. "Yasiel, to be able to put him in that leverage spot and to be prepared for that moment and to come through was huge, obviously." The Padres haven't done much to stop Los Angeles' ascent while dropping 12 of the first 16 meetings and stumble into the current series with losses in four of their last six contests. San Diego will send rookie left-hander Eric Lauer to the mound Friday opposite Dodgers veteran lefty Rich Hill.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, SportsNet Los Angeles
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Eric Lauer (5-7, 4.74 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Rich Hill (9-5, 4.02)
Lauer is winless in his last six starts and failed to record an out in the sixth inning of any of those outings. The 23-year-old was solid in his last three appearances, allowing a total of two earned runs and five hits while striking out 14 in 14 innings. Lauer's last win came against the Dodgers on July 10, when he scattered one run and four hits over 8 2/3 innings with eight strikeouts.
Hill earned the win in each of his last three outings but got plenty of help from his offense while allowing a total of 12 runs in 16 innings. The Boston native works his way out of trouble by racking up strikeouts and punched out 46 in 33 innings over his last six starts. Hill breezed through six scoreless innings against San Diego on Aug. 24, yielding two hits and walking one while striking out eight in a win.
WALK-OFFS
1. Padres SS Freddy Galvis is 10-for-20 with six runs scored and five RBIs in his last five games.
2. Puig is 12-for-23 with six home runs and 12 RBIs in his last seven contests.
3. Los Angeles INF Max Muncy drew 11 walks and scored seven runs in his last seven games.
PREDICTION: Dodgers 6, Padres 2
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