Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Seattle Mariners Preview and Predictions 08-19-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 19th August 2018 by Gracenote
Dodgers vs. Mariners Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 08/19/2018
Even a rare blown save by closer Edwin Diaz couldn't stop the Seattle Mariners, who improved to 12-1 in extra innings with Saturday's 5-4, 10-inning victory over the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers. Seattle looks to build on the unusual win Sunday in the rubber match of its three-game series against the Dodgers, who have lost six of their last eight.
Cameron Maybin scored on a walk-off balk on Saturday as the Mariners won for the sixth time in nine contests and climbed within 3 1/2 games of American League West co-leaders Oakland and Houston. Kyle Seager belted a three-run homer and Mitch Haniger reached base four times while Dee Gordon made his second straight start at shortstop in place of Jean Segura (paternity list), who is expected to return on Monday. Los Angeles remained two games behind National League West-leading Arizona despite belting three home runs - including a solo shot by Justin Turner, who is 20-for-48 during his 12-game hitting streak. Max Muncy homered for the second straight game and Cody Bellinger added a solo blast for the Dodgers, who fell to 20-1 when hitting at least three home runs in a contest.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (5-5, 2.47 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Roenis Elias (2-0, 2.88)
Kershaw was in vintage form on Monday, allowing one run with nine strikeouts and no walks over eight frames in a no-decision against San Francisco. The three-time Cy Young Award winner has gone 4-1 with a 2.15 ERA over his last eight starts. Denard Span is hitless in 13 at-bats against Kershaw, who last faced Seattle in 2012 and owns a 2-0 record and 3.46 ERA in two career outings versus the club.
Elias will be activated from the disabled list to start in place of Marco Gonzales, who is being given a few days of extra rest. The 30-year-old has been sidelined since July 31 with a triceps strain and likely will have a pitch limit on Sunday in his second start of the season. Brian Dozier is 4-for-7 with a home run against Elias, who is facing the Dodgers for the first time.
WALK-OFFS
1. Seager has hit at least 20 home runs in seven consecutive seasons.
2. Dodgers RHP Kenley Jansen (irregular heartbeat) hopes to be cleared to rejoin the team following Monday's cardiologist appointment.
3. The Mariners recalled Matt Festa from Double-A Arkansas and optioned fellow RHP Christian Bergman to Triple-A Tacoma.
PREDICTION: Dodgers 7, Mariners 1
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Arizona Diamondbacks vs. San Diego Padres Preview and Predictions 08-19-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 19th August 2018 by Gracenote
Diamondbacks vs. Padres Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 08/19/2018
The San Diego Padres ended a lengthy slide with a walk-off victory and look to earn a split of their four-game series when they host the Arizona Diamondbacks for the finale on Sunday. San Diego squandered a one-run lead in the seventh inning on Saturday before pinch-hitter Christian Villaneuva delivered a two-out RBI single in the ninth, ending the team's five-game skid.
Freddy Galvis went 2-for-3 with two RBIs in the 7-6 win as the Padres improved to 3-6 on their 10-game homestand. Paul Goldschmidt was 4-for-4 and drove in four runs as the top four batters in Arizona's lineup combined to go 11-for-17 with six RBIs and six runs scored. Goldschmidt is riding an 11-game hitting streak that includes seven multi-hit performances, four home runs and 11 RBIs. Saturday's loss ended the Diamondbacks' three-game winning streak as they fell to 4-4 on their nine-game road trip and remained just one-half game ahead of Colorado for the top spot in the National League West.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, FS San Diego
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Zack Greinke (12-8, 3.00 ERA) vs. Padres RH Brett Kennedy (0-2, 11.00)
After winning seven straight decisions, Greinke has lost three consecutive starts - including an outing at Texas on Monday in which he yielded four runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings. It marked the first time the 34-year-old Floridian allowed more than two runs in 10 turns dating to June 18. Greinke, who gave up a total of three runs in his previous two outings, improved to 11-2 with two complete games and a 2.10 ERA in 21 career starts against the Padres when he permitted one run in seven frames on July 27 at San Diego.
Kennedy makes a third attempt at his initial major-league victory after surrendering 11 runs and 20 hits - four homers - over nine innings in his first two starts. The 24-year-old rookie from New Jersey demonstrated control, however, as he has issued just one walk while registering five strikeouts. Kennedy was superb for Triple-A El Paso this season before being recalled, going 10-0 with a 2.72 ERA in 16 starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Villanueva was kept out of the starting lineup Saturday after being hit in the left foot with a ball in each of his previous two games.
2. San Diego LHP Eric Lauer (forearm) was sent to Single-A Lake Elsinore on Saturday to begin a rehab assignment.
3. Arizona signed RHP Randall Delgado, who was released on July 31 after going 2-0 with a 5.14 ERA in six relief appearances, to a minor-league contract on Saturday.
PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 6, Padres 1
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New York Mets vs. Philadelphia Phillies Preview and Predictions 08-19-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 18th August 2018 by Gracenote
Mets vs. Phillies Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 08/18/2018
The second edition of the MLB Little League Classic will feature the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies as the National League East rivals meet Sunday night in Williamsport, Pa. The contest wraps up a five-game series between the teams that began with a doubleheader in Philadelphia on Thursday and has featured a pair of wins for both clubs.
Jacob deGrom pitched a complete game to lead the Mets to a 3-1 win in Saturday's matchup, which kept the Phillies one-half game out in the NL East. Devin Mesoraco homered while rookie Jeff McNeil ripped an RBI triple and singled as New York improved to 21-21 since July 1 after going 32-48 through June. A victory in Williamsport would give the Mets their 20th series win in the last 26 tries against Philadelphia. The Phillies will try to buck that trend in the rubber game behind Nick Pivetta, who opposes journeyman Jason Vargas at Bowman Field, home of the Williamsport Cutters of the New York-Penn League.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ESPN
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Jason Vargas (2-8, 8.10 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Nick Pivetta (7-9, 4.37)
Vargas is 0-2 with a 6.89 ERA in four starts since returning from the disabled list last month but is coming off one of his better outings as a member of the Mets. He limited the Baltimore Orioles to two runs in a season-high six innings of a no-decision Tuesday on the road. Asdrubal Cabrera is 7-for-16 with a home run against Vargas and Carlos Santana is 9-for-41 without a homer.
Pivetta is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in three August starts after holding the high-powered Boston Red Sox to a run and three hits over six innings his last time out. He has lasted exactly six frames in four consecutive outings and owns 31 strikeouts against four walks in that span. The 25-year-old from British Columbia has yet to face the Mets this year after going 2-1 with a 4.98 ERA in four starts against them in 2017.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mets 3B Todd Frazier, OF Michael Conforto and Phillies SS Scott Kingery all played in the Little League World Series as kids.
2. New York OF Brandon Nimmo (finger) missed his third straight game Saturday and is day-to-day.
3. Pittsburgh defeated St. Louis 6-3 in the first Little League Classic last year.
PREDICTION: Phillies 6, Mets 4
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