Philadelphia Phillies vs. San Diego Padres Preview and Predictions 08-11-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 11th August 2018 by Gracenote
Phillies vs. Padres Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 08/11/2018
The Philadelphia Phillies have been blanked in back-to-back games and look to rediscover their offense when they visit the San Diego Padres on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game series. Philadelphia has recorded just one extra-base hit among 12 hits during the two-game slumber and left 10 runners on base in Friday's 2-0 loss.
The Phillies, who are tied with Atlanta for first place in the National League East, are just 1-3 during their six-game road trip that began with three against Arizona. Slugger Rhys Hoskins was hitless in four at-bats against the Padres and is 0-for-20 over his last six contests. Former Phillies shortstop Freddy Galvis continued to torment his ex-teammates by going 2-for-3 with an RBI on Friday and is 8-for-14 with five RBIs in this season's four meetings. Austin Hedges added a solo blast and is 16-for-45 with five homers and eight RBIs over his last 13 contests.
TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia, FS San Diego
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Aaron Nola (12-3, 2.37 ERA) vs. Padres RH Walker Lockett (0-2, 9.28)
Nola is winless over his last four starts as he takes another shot at setting a personal best for victories. The 25-year-old All-Star ranks third in the NL in both ERA and WHIP (0.99) and can bolster his Cy Young Award candidacy with a strong finish. Nola is 1-2 with a 3.21 ERA and 30 strikeouts over 28 innings in four career starts against the Padres.
Lockett will make his fourth career appearance and third as a starter. The 24-year-old lost to the Chicago Cubs in his last outing as he gave up five runs and nine hits over five innings. Lockett, a fourth-round pick in 2012, was just 4-9 with a 4.92 ERA in 19 starts at Triple-A El Paso this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Padres LF Wil Myers (foot) is slated to be activated on Monday, the first day he is eligible to come off the 10-day disabled list.
2. Philadelphia acquired 1B Justin Bour and cash considerations from Miami for LHP McKenzie Mills, activated INF J.P. Crawford (hand) from the 10-day DL and designated RHP Jake Thompson for assignment.
3. San Diego recalled Jacob Nix, who pitched six scoreless innings in his major-league debut on Friday, from El Paso and designated fellow RHP Phil Hughes for assignment.
PREDICTION: Phillies 5, Padres 1
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Pittsburgh Pirates vs. San Francisco Giants Preview and Predictions 08-11-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 11th August 2018 by Gracenote
Pirates vs. Giants Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 08/11/2018
Stuck in neutral for much of the season, the San Francisco Giants are running out of time to make a postseason push. Currently seven games out of a National League wild-card spot, the Giants are hoping to build on a rare offensive outburst when they continue their four-game series on Saturday against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates.
San Francisco collected 16 hits and snapped a three-game losing streak with Friday's 13-10 victory as Buster Posey went 4-for-5 with three RBIs and Alen Hanson added three hits and drove in three runs. Andrew McCutchen delivered a solo homer against his former team, but the Giants received a scare when Evan Longoria exited in the seventh inning after being hit by a pitch on his left shoulder. Pittsburgh saw its three-game winning streak come to an end and fell five games back in the NL wild-card race despite recording 17 hits, including a grand slam by Francisco Cervelli, who finished with three hits and five RBIs. Josh Bell added three hits and new arrival Adeiny Hechavarria went 2-for-2 with a solo homer in his second game with the Pirates.
TV: 9:05 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Trevor Williams (9-8, 3.88 ERA) vs. Giants LH Ty Blach (6-6, 4.28)
Williams had his streak of 21 1/3 innings without allowing a run come to an end last Sunday, when he gave up two runs over five innings in a 2-1 loss to St. Louis. "He got them to put the ball in play and forced soft contact," manager Clint Hurdle told reporters. "I thought he pitched a really good ballgame." The 26-year-old native of San Diego made two starts against the Giants last season, posting a 2.25 ERA across 12 innings.
Blach will move from the bullpen to make a spot start as manager Bruce Bochy looks to give his rotation an extra day of rest. The 27-year-old native of Colorado started on Opening Day in place of an injured Madison Bumgarner and has appeared in 33 games this season, including 12 starts. Blach, who is facing Pittsburgh for the first time, owns a 3.70 ERA in 14 road games (six starts) compared to a 4.89 mark in 19 home games (six starts).
WALK-OFFS
1. San Francisco 1B Brandon Belt (knee) will begin his minor league rehab assignment at Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday.
2. Pirates 3B David Freese is 28-for-77 with five home runs and 21 RBIs in his last 26 games.
3. The Giants purchased the contract of Casey Kelly from Triple-A Sacramento and optioned fellow RHP Derek Law to the River Cats.
PREDICTION: Pirates 6, Giants 3
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Oakland Athletics vs. Los Angeles Angels Preview and Predictions 08-11-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 11th August 2018 by Gracenote
Athletics vs. Angels Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 08/11/2018
Things started off well for the Oakland Athletics in their series opener against the Los Angeles Angels but ended quite differently. Oakland looks to bounce back from its second loss on three games when it visits the Angels on Saturday for the middle contest of the three-game set.
Matt Chapman belted a solo homer and Khris Davis launched a two-run shot as the Athletics held a 3-0 lead after one inning before going on to suffer a one-run defeat. Davis has belted 12 homers in 19 games since the All-Star break and is 10 RBIs shy of reaching the century mark for the third straight season for Oakland, which holds a 1 1/2-game lead over Seattle for the second wild card in the American League. Kole Calhoun hit a two-run homer in the third frame and Justin Upton swatted one in the sixth for the Angels, who won their fourth straight contest after placing star center fielder Mike Trout on the 10-day disabled list with right wrist inflammation. The 27-year-old, who hasn't played since Aug. 1, received a cortisone shot at the beginning of the week but still felt pain several days later.
TV: 9:07 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), FS West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Edwin Jackson (3-2, 2.87 ERA) vs. Angels LH Tyler Skaggs (8-7, 3.34)
Jackson has won back-to-back starts after being tagged for five runs in 4 1/3 innings at Texas on July 25 in his worst outing of the season, allowing one unearned run and eight hits over 12 frames in the victories. The 34-year-old journeyman has yet to win on the road this year, going 0-1 with a 4.09 ERA in four turns. Jackson is 4-4 with a 3.83 ERA and one complete game in 12 career appearances (nine starts) against the Angels.
Skaggs is expected to return from an adductor strain that landed him on the disabled list and make his first start since July 31. The 27-year-old Californian took the loss in that outing as he was battered for 10 runs on eight hits and three walks in 3 1/3 innings at Tampa Bay. Skaggs entered the season 0-4 with a 6.26 ERA in five career starts against Oakland but has won both of his turns in 2018, allowing two unearned runs while registering 13 strikeouts against one walk over 13 1/3 frames.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Angels recalled RHP Akeel Morris from Triple-A Salt Lake to replace Trout on the roster.
2. Oakland added Fernando Rodney to the active roster on Friday, a day after acquiring him from Minnesota, and designated fellow RHP Chris Hatcher for assignment.
3. Los Angeles released INF Luis Valbuena, who batted .199 with nine homers and 33 RBIs in 96 games this season before being designated for assignment on Sunday.
PREDICTION: Athletics 5, Angels 2
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