Oakland Athletics vs. Los Angeles Angels Preview and Predictions 08-12-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 12th August 2018 by Gracenote
Athletics vs. Angels Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 08/12/2018
The Oakland Athletics used power and pitching to even their three-game series against the host Los Angeles Angels and hope for more of the same in the rubber match on Sunday. Oakland posted a 7-0 victory on Saturday as it belted three home runs while Edwin Jackson combined with two relievers on a five-hitter.
Marcus Semien went 3-for-5 with two homers, four RBIs and three runs scored while Khris Davis continued his assault with his fifth blast in six contests and 13th in 18 games as the Athletics, who occupy the second wild-card spot in the American League, climbed within 3 1/2 games of first-place Houston in the AL West. Matt Chapman enters the series finale with a nine-game hitting streak after going 2-for-5 with an RBI in Saturday's triumph. Albert Pujols recorded one of Los Angeles' five hits Saturday, a day after notching his 1,000th with the club to become the ninth player in history to hit the plateau in both leagues. The Angels had their four-game winning streak halted and were shut out for the second time in their last three setbacks as backup catcher Francisco Arcia became the first position player to pitch for the club since Chili Davis in 1993, allowing one hit in one scoreless inning.
TV: 4:07 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), FS West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Trevor Cahill (4-2, 3.12 ERA) vs. Angels RH Taylor Cole (0-2, 1.59)
Cahill has won three consecutive starts and gone unbeaten in eight straight after registering 10 strikeouts and scattering three hits over six scoreless innings against Detroit last Sunday. However, the 30-year-old Californian has had issues on the road, where he has posted a 6.44 ERA as opposed to a 0.99 mark at home. Cahill has fared well against the Angels in his career, going 5-3 with a 2.07 ERA in 10 starts and one relief appearance.
Cole will make his first major-league start after beginning his career with nine relief appearances - eight this season. The 28-year-old, who also hails from the Golden State, has produced three straight scoreless outings - a stretch that includes an effort of a career-high 3 2/3 innings at Cleveland last Sunday. Cole also has come out of the bullpen 32 times for Triple-A Salt Lake this year, going 3-0 with six saves and a 5.16 ERA.
WALK-OFFS
1. Davis is six blasts away from joining Jimmie Foxx (1932-34) as the only players in franchise history to record three consecutive 40-homer seasons.
2. Los Angeles optioned RHP Akeel Morris to Salt Lake to make room on the roster for LHP Tyler Skaggs (adductor), who yielded seven runs and 10 hits in 3 1/3 innings on Saturday after being activated from the 10-day disabled list.
3. Semien had gone 12 games without an RBI and 43 without a home run prior to Saturday's outburst.
PREDICTION: Athletics 6, Angels 2
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Washington Nationals vs. Chicago Cubs Preview and Predictions 08-12-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 11th August 2018 by Gracenote
Nationals vs. Cubs Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 08/11/2018
The pitching matchup for the finale of the Chicago Cubs' three-game series against the visiting Washington Nationals on Sunday night has the potential to be something special. Washington's Max Scherzer is a threat to toss a no-hitter every time he takes the mound, and Chicago's Cole Hamels has already done it at Wrigley Field once.
Scherzer has a chance to pitch the Nationals to a series victory thanks to Saturday's 9-4 win in which Ryan Zimmerman homered twice and drove in six runs and Daniel Murphy went 3-for-4 with a two-run blast. A couple of Cubs have enjoyed recent success against Scherzer - including last year's NL Championship Series, Ben Zobrist is 7-for-19 with a double and three homers versus Scherzer since 2013, and Anthony Rizzo, who collected his 1,000th career hit Saturday and has reached base in 15 consecutive games, is 3-for-10 with a homer against the ace. Hamels will make his debut in a Cubs uniform at Wrigley Field, where he is 3-1 with a 1.76 ERA in six starts, including a no-hitter in 2015. The rubber match of the series is important to both teams, as the Cubs lead Milwaukee by two games in the National League Central and the Nationals are five back of Philadelphia in the NL East.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ESPN
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Max Scherzer (15-5, 2.28 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Cole Hamels (7-9, 4.38)
Scherzer is making a strong case for his fourth Cy Young Award with another outstanding season. The 34-year-old hasn't lost since July 2 and has posted five consecutive quality starts, including a no-decision against Atlanta last time out in which he allowed one run and four hits over seven innings. Scherzer is 3-1 with a 2.92 ERA in six starts against the Cubs.
Hamels has been excellent in his first two starts for the Cubs, allowing two runs (one earned) over 11 innings in a pair of wins. The 34-year-old piled up nine strikeouts in his Cubs debut at Pittsburgh but had to grind harder to hold Kansas City to one run over six frames last time out. Hamels is 16-9 with a 2.67 ERA in 35 career starts against the Nationals, but he hasn't faced them since 2015.
WALK-OFFS
1. Washington RHP Stephen Strasburg threw a 64-pitch bullpen session Saturday and is scheduled for a simulated game Wednesday with hopes of returning to the rotation within two weeks.
2. Nationals SS Trea Turner swiped his major league-best 32nd stolen base Saturday and leads the team with 32 multi-hit games.
3. Chicago 3B Kris Bryant, who has been sidelined since July 24 with left shoulder inflammation, was able to swing the bat without pain Saturday, but there is no timetable for his return.
PREDICTION: Nationals 4, Cubs 2
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