Texas Rangers vs. Los Angeles Angels Preview and Predictions 09-26-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 26th September 2018 by Gracenote
Rangers vs. Angels Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 09/26/2018
The Los Angeles Angels look to follow a five-game losing streak with a three-game sweep when they host the Texas Rangers on Wednesday for the finale of their series. Los Angeles was outscored 58-13 during its slide but has rebounded with back-to-back wins over Texas, including Tuesday's 4-1 triumph.
The Angels registered only five hits in the victory, but three came during a four-run rally in the sixth inning that was ignited by Shohei Ohtani's RBI single. Andrelton Simmons notched one of Los Angeles' hits as he returned to the lineup after missing one game with a knee injury while Justin Upton plated a run to increase his team-leading RBI total to 85, marking the fourth straight season - and seventh time in his career - he has reached that plateau. Joey Gallo went deep to provide the lone run for Texas, which has lost seven of its last nine contests. The 24-year-old has hit the 40-homer mark for the second consecutive campaign, joining Alex Rodriguez (three), Rafael Palmeiro and Juan Gonzalez as the only Rangers to accomplish the feat.
TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), FS West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH Yohander Mendez (2-2, 6.04 ERA) vs. Angels LH Andrew Heaney (9-10, 4.21)
Mendez's fourth start of the season - and his career - was a rough one as he was battered for eight runs (seven earned) and nine hits over 3 2/3 innings in a loss to Tampa Bay last Wednesday. The 23-year-old Venezuelan has performed well on the road thus far, going 1-0 while allowing two runs and five hits over 9 2/3 frames but has issued six walks in one start and two relief appearances. Mendez has come out of the bullpen to face the Angels twice in his career and has suffered one loss while giving up one run and one walk without allowing a hit in one inning.
Heaney hopes to rebound from a setback at Houston on Friday in which he was tagged for six runs on five hits and three walks over three innings. The 27-year-old native of Oklahoma has made only two of his last eight starts at home, where he is 7-3 with a 3.28 ERA as opposed to 2-7 with a 5.06 mark on the road. Heaney is 1-3 with a 7.50 ERA in six career turns against Texas after suffering one loss while surrendering 10 runs and 17 hits over 11 1/3 innings in two outings this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Angels CF Mike Trout drew a pair of walks for the second consecutive game on Tuesday, extending his club record to 119 free passes.
2. Gallo also increased his dubious team record on Tuesday by striking out for the 200th time this season.
3. Los Angeles announced OF-RHP Ohtani (elbow) will undergo Tommy John surgery during the first week of the offseason, but he hopes to perform as a hitter in 2019.
PREDICTION: Angels 6, Rangers 4
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Oakland Athletics vs. Seattle Mariners Preview and Predictions 09-26-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 26th September 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 09/26/2018
The Oakland Athletics' hopes of winning the American League West have vanished, but they will need a strong finish - and some help - to catch the New York Yankees for the league's top wild-card spot. The Athletics sit 2 1/2 games behind the Yankees with four remaining, including the finale of their three-game series against the host Seattle Mariners on Wednesday.
Oakland lost a game when leading after the seventh inning for the first time in 69 attempts this season when it fell 10-8 in 11 innings on Tuesday. The setback allowed Houston to clinch the AL West and left the Athletics facing the prospect of a long flight to New York for the wild-card game after finishing the regular season in Southern California against the Los Angeles Angels. The Mariners scored two runs in the eighth and one in the ninth to force extra innings before Chris Herrmann hit a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the 11th to win the game. Seattle's Felix Hernandez returns from a hamstring injury to start for the first time since Sept. 8.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Edwin Jackson (6-3, 3.18 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (8-13, 5.46)
Jackson has won two straight decisions and five of his last six as he routinely keeps the Athletics in games. Oakland has prevailed in 10 of the 35-year-old's last 11 outings and is 13-3 with him on the mound since he joined the club in late June. Jackson defeated the Mariners on Sept. 2, when he allowed one run and three hits over six innings, and is 5-0 with a 1.30 ERA in five career starts against them.
Hernandez is 0-7 over his last 10 starts as he continues to suffer through a subpar campaign. The 32-year-old has given up five or more runs on seven occasions this season, and a loss against Oakland would match the career-worst total he suffered in both 2006 and 2011. Hernandez is 1-4 with a 4.66 ERA in five appearances (four starts) against the Athletics this season and has a stellar 26-13 record and 2.78 ERA in 51 career contests (50 starts) versus the club.
WALK-OFFS
1. Athletics RHP Blake Treinen allowed an unearned run in the ninth inning on Tuesday for his first blown save since July 21.
2. Mariners DH Nelson Cruz hit a three-run homer on Tuesday - his 37th of the campaign - and is five RBIs shy of reaching 100 for the fourth time in his career.
3. Oakland 2B Jed Lowrie went 2-for-4 with his 96th RBI on Tuesday as he continues the pursuit for his first career 100-RBI season.
PREDICTION: Athletics 7, Mariners 5
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San Diego Padres vs. San Francisco Giants Preview and Predictions 09-26-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 26th September 2018 by Gracenote
Padres vs. Giants Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 09/26/2018
The San Francisco Giants snapped their five-game skid last time out and look to claim the series when they host the San Diego Padres on Wednesday for the finale of their three-game series. San Francisco is just 5-17 this month but posted a 5-4, 12-inning win on Tuesday as pitcher Madison Bumgarner stroked the game-winning single as a pinch-hitter.
Hunter Pence notched two hits and scored three times on Tuesday and is a solid 9-for-23 with two homers and four multi-hit performances over his last six contests. Evan Longoria delivered a run-scoring double, giving him just 19 RBIs in 202 home at-bats this season. Freddy Galvis notched four hits and Franmil Reyes added three in Tuesday's loss, but the rest of the lineup produced just five. Eric Hosmer recorded a two-run single, but his RBI count sits at 67 - well below the 97 he averaged over his final three seasons with Kansas City.
TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Luis Perdomo (1-6, 7.56 ERA) vs. Giants RH Casey Kelly (0-2, 2.89)
San Diego manager Andy Green said the contest will be a bullpen game, and Perdomo will be the first to take the mound. The 25-year-old is slated to pitch about three innings as he makes his 10th start of the season. Perdomo is 2-0 with a 3.80 ERA in nine career appearances (seven starts) against the Giants.
Kelly will be making his seventh appearance and third start for San Francisco. The 28-year-old is starting for the first time since Aug. 22, when he yielded four runs - two earned - and seven hits over six innings in a loss to the New York Mets. Kelly, who made eight of his previous 11 starts for the Padres, has worked 3 1/3 scoreless frames in two relief appearances against his former team.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Giants are 11-7 against the Padres entering the final meeting of the season.
2. San Diego C Austin Hedges was hitless in six at-bats on Tuesday and is 1-for-15 with seven strikeouts over his last five contests.
3. San Francisco OF Gregor Blanco recorded a two-run double on Tuesday but is just 9-for-54 in September.
PREDICTION: Giants 4, Padres 2
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