Oakland Athletics vs. Seattle Mariners Preview and Predictions 09-25-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 25th September 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 09/25/2018
The Oakland Athletics have clinched an American League postseason berth, but they still have business in front of them as they visit the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday for the middle contest of their three-game series. Oakland is 1 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees in the battle for the top wild-card spot and home-field advantage in next week's one-game playoff.
The Athletics' playoff spot was cemented when Tampa Bay lost to New York on Monday, but they went out and posted a 7-3 victory over the Mariners. Slugger Khris Davis belted his major league-leading 46th homer while Matt Chapman, Jed Lowrie and Jonathan Lucroy also went deep as Oakland remained 4 1/2 games behind first-place Houston in the AL West. Seattle has been outscored 13-4 while losing its last two games as it plays out the string of a season in which it missed the playoffs for a 17th straight time. Dee Gordon hit a two-run homer on Monday and Robinson Cano launched a solo shot.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics LH Brett Anderson (4-5, 3.96 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Mike Leake (10-10, 4.10)
Anderson defeated the Los Angeles Angels in his last turn as he allowed three hits over 6 2/3 scoreless innings. The 30-year-old is 3-3 with a 2.98 ERA and .229 batting average against in nine starts since the All-Star break after being 1-2 with a 6.08 ERA and .356 opponents' average in six outings prior to the Midsummer Classic. Anderson settled for a no-decision on Aug. 15, when he held Seattle to five hits over 7 2/3 scoreless innings, and is 8-4 with a 1.82 ERA in 18 career appearances (17 starts) versus the club.
Leake had his two-start winning streak halted his last time out, when he gave up five runs and six hits over 6 1/3 innings against Houston. The 30-year-old is 2-4 with a 3.88 ERA since the All-Star break but has issued just five walks over 62 2/3 frames during that stretch. Leake is 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA in four starts against Oakland this season and 1-2 with a 3.48 ERA in seven career outings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Lowrie needs five RBIs to reach 100 for the first time in his career.
2. Seattle RF Mitch Haniger was hitless in four at-bats in the series opener, halting his 11-game hitting streak.
3. Davis has registered 120 RBIs, putting him second in the majors behind Boston's J.D. Martinez (124).
PREDICTION: Athletics 4, Mariners 1
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San Diego Padres vs. San Francisco Giants Preview and Predictions 09-25-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 25th September 2018 by Gracenote
Padres vs. Giants Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 09/25/2018
The San Diego Padres have split the first four contests of their six-game road trip and look to notch a second straight victory when they visit the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday for the middle contest of their three-game set. The Padres blanked the Giants 5-0 in the series opener on Monday after losing two of three to the Los Angeles Dodgers on the road.
Jose Pirela homered as part of his 10th three-hit performance of the campaign and Franmil Reyes drove in two runs while recording his fifth two-hit effort in 10 games to lead the Padres' 12-hit attack in the series opener. Wil Myers notched two hits for the third time in four contests and Hunter Renfroe recorded a run-scoringI single for his 40th RBI since the start of August. The Giants have dropped five straight games and are a miserable 4-17 this month. San Francisco fired general manager Bobby Evans prior to the game - he will be reassigned in the organization - and CEO Larry Baer said the club with be "looking for someone that sort of is the 'next-gen' general manager, if you will."
TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Robbie Erlin (4-7, 4.33 ERA) vs. Giants RH Chris Stratton (10-10, 4.88)
Erlin defeated the Giants on Wednesday, when he allowed three runs and five hits over five innings. The 27-year-old lost his previous four outings, posting a porous 7.85 ERA during that stretch. Erlin is 1-3 with a 5.64 ERA in eight career appearances (five starts) against San Francisco.
Stratton lost when matched up against Erlin last week as he surrendered five runs and six hits over three innings. The 27-year-old tossed his first career shutout in his previous outing as he limited Colorado to two hits while registering seven strikeouts. Stratton is 1-2 with a 3.94 ERA in three starts against the Padres this season and 2-3 with a 4.70 ERA in five career appearances (four starts).
WALK-OFFS
1. San Diego 1B Eric Hosmer is batting just .222 in 72 at-bats this month.
2. San Francisco OF Hunter Pence recorded two hits in the series opener and is 7-for-18 over his last five contests.
3. Renfroe has belted eight home runs in September and 17 in his last 44 games.
PREDICTION: Giants 5, Padres 4
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