Colorado Rockies vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Preview and Predictions 07-21-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 21st July 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 07/21/2018
If the first game following the All-Star break is any indication, the National League West battle between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies figures to be a wild one. The teams continue their three-game series in Phoenix on Saturday after combining for 26 hits in Colorado's 11-10 victory on Friday.
Nolan Arenado belted two home runs and Raimel Tapia blasted a pinch-hit grand slam for Colorado, which has won six straight games and 14 of its last 17 to pull within two games of the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. Arizona fell 1 1/2 games back of the Dodgers despite five hits from A.J. Pollock, who is hitting .415 with 14 RBIs during his 13-game hitting streak against the Rockies. David Peralta added four hits and Ketel Marte went 3-for-5 with four RBIs for Arizona, which led 8-5 before the Rockies rallied with six runs in the seventh inning against reliever Archie Bradley. Colorado second baseman DJ LeMahieu left the contest before the third inning with a strained oblique and was replaced by Pat Valaika, who is hitting .137 after going hitless in three at-bats.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado), FS Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Kyle Freeland (8-6, 3.11 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Zack Godley (11-6, 4.61)
Freeland entered the All-Star break on a hot streak, going 8-3 with a 2.59 ERA in his last 15 starts. The 25-year-old native of Denver owns a 1-2 record and 4.07 ERA in five career starts against the Diamondbacks, including a solid outing last Thursday when he allowed one run over 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision. "When he gets to the mound, he's so competitive, I think he's turning into a true ace," Carlos Gonzalez told reporters. "I see that in the future from him."
Godley tossed six innings of one-run ball in last Friday's 2-1 victory over Atlanta and has gone 6-1 with a 3.89 ERA and 44 strikeouts over his last seven starts covering 39 1/3 innings. The 28-year-old native of South Carolina has posted a 5-2 record and 3.80 ERA in eight home starts this season. Ian Desmond is 2-for-11 with five strikeouts against Godley, who is 4-0 with a 2.03 ERA in four career starts versus Colorado.
WALK-OFFS
1. Peralta is hitting .395 with six homers and 17 RBIs in his last 21 home games.
2. Colorado closer Wade Davis (illness) was unavailable Friday and is listed as day-to-day.
3. Arizona RHP Clay Buchholz (oblique) is set to rejoin the team's rotation on Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs.
PREDICTION: Rockies 6, Diamondbacks 5
__________________
San Francisco Giants vs. Oakland Athletics Preview and Predictions 07-21-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 21st July 2018 by Gracenote
Giants vs. Athletics Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 07/21/2018
The San Francisco Giants lost two of three at home last weekend in the first installment of the Bay Bridge Series but look to clinch the second matchup when they visit the Oakland Athletics on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game interleague set. The Giants entered the All-Star break having lost two straight to Oakland but bounced back Friday with a 5-1 road victory.
Pablo Sandoval went 2-for-3 with a homer and Ryder Jones went deep in his season debut for San Francisco, which entered the series with a major league-low six home runs since July 1. Oakland managed only four hits - three doubles - in the opener as it lost for just the third time in 10 contests. Mark Canha drove in the team's lone run on Friday with a sacrifice fly, giving him five RBIs in his last five games. Stephen Piscotty enters Saturday with a 10-game hitting streak after notching one of the Athletics' doubles in the opener.
TV: 9:05 p.m. ET, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco), NBCS California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (3-3, 2.90 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Trevor Cahill (1-2, 3.10)
Bumgarner hopes to duplicate his last outing, a home victory over Oakland on July 13 in which he allowed one run and three hits over six innings. With the triumph, the 28-year-old native of North Carolina improved to 4-2 with a 4.62 ERA in six career starts against the Athletics. Bumgarner has won three of his last four decisions but is 0-2 with a 4.67 ERA in three turns on the road this season.
Cahill's return from an Achilles injury that kept him on the disabled list for over a month was a brief one as he lasted only 3 2/3 innings at Houston on July 12, when he yielded three runs on three hits and three walks but avoided a loss. The 30-year-old Californian is winless in eight turns since tossing seven scoreless frames against the Chicago White Sox in his season debut but has allowed three earned runs or fewer in seven of those outings. Cahill owns a 7-5 record and 3.97 ERA in 18 career appearances (15 starts) versus San Francisco.
WALK-OFFS
1. Giants RHP Jeff Samardzija (shoulder) could return from his third stint on the DL this year and start at Seattle on Wednesday.
2. Oakland DH Khris Davis is hitting .340 this month but has belted just one of his team-leading 21 homers.
3. San Francisco placed 1B Brandon Belt on the paternity list and recalled Jones from Triple-A Sacramento while sending 3B Evan Longoria (hand) to the River Cats on a rehab assignment.
PREDICTION: Giants 7, Athletics 3
__________________
Chicago White Sox vs. Seattle Mariners Preview and Predictions 07-21-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 21st July 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 07/21/2018
The Seattle Mariners halted their four-game losing streak in the series opener and attempt to defeat the visiting Chicago White Sox again on Saturday in the middle contest of their three-game set. Nelson Cruz drove in two runs during Friday's 3-1 victory but remains without a multi-hit performance this month.
Dee Gordon went 4-for-4 in the series opener for his third effort with four or more hits this season. Edwin Diaz bounced back from blowing a save opportunity in Tuesday's All-Star Game to convert his 18th consecutive regular-season chance to raise his major league-leading total to 37. While Seattle moved back to 20 games above .500 with the triumph, the White Sox fell 30 games below the mark while dropping to 14-34 on the road. Chicago All-Star first baseman Jose Abreu went hitless in four at-bats and is batting just .143 with one homer and five RBIs this month.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NBCS Chicago, ROOT Northwest (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Dylan Covey (3-5, 5.69 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (8-7, 5.13)
Covey has dropped three straight starts and is 0-4 over his last five outings. The 26-year-old has posted a horrific 11.70 ERA and 2.25 WHIP during the stretch after being 3-1 with a 2.29 ERA over his first six turns. Covey escaped with a no-decision in his lone career start against the Mariners as he gave up four runs and five hits over six innings on May 18, 2017.
Hernandez (back) will be activated from the 10-day disabled list prior to the game after a brief stint that saw him miss just one start due to the All-Star break. The 32-year-old has worked five or fewer innings in four of his last six turns and has pitched seven or more frames only twice in 19 starts this season. Hernandez gave up three runs and seven hits over six innings while beating the White Sox on April 25, improving to 7-6 with a 3.76 ERA in 20 career meetings.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Mariners rewarded MGR Scott Servais (223-199 in 2 1/2 seasons) with a multi-year contract extension on Friday.
2. Chicago activated Nicky Delmonico (hand) from the 10-day disabled list, one day after optioning fellow OF Charlie Tilson to Triple-A Charlotte.
3. Seattle recalled 1B Daniel Vogelbach and OF John Andreoli from Triple-A Tacoma and sent RHP Mike Morin outright to the same affiliate.
PREDICTION: Mariners 11, White Sox 4
__________________