Detroit Tigers vs. Oakland Athletics Preview and Predictions 08-04-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 4th August 2018 by Gracenote
Tigers vs. Athletics Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 08/04/2018
The Oakland Athletics vie for their fifth consecutive victory when they host the Detroit Tigers on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game set. The Athletics outlasted the Tigers in the series opener as a newcomer provided the key hit in the 13th inning of a 1-0 triumph.
Ramon Laureano was recalled from the minors prior to the game and was hitless in his first four at-bats while starting in center field in his major-league debut before delivering an RBI single as Oakland improved to 4-0 on its eight-game homestand. The 24-year-old Dominican was hitting .297 with 14 homers and 35 RBIs over 64 contests with Triple-A Nashville before being promoted. Jose Iglesias and Nicholas Castellanos each recorded two of the six hits produced by the Tigers, who were coming off a 3-2 homestand. Iglesias has hit safely in six of his last seven contests while Castellanos had gone 1-for-24 over his previous six games.
TV: 9:05 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, NBCS California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Jordan Zimmermann (4-3, 4.44 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Edwin Jackson (2-2, 3.32)
Zimmermann lasted only three innings against Cleveland on Sunday as he surrendered five runs and six hits en route to losing his third straight start. The 32-year-old native of Wisconsin has been tagged for 13 runs and 24 hits over 14 2/3 frames during his losing streak after yielding a total of two runs over 20 innings in his previous three turns. Zimmermann is 1-0 with a 2.60 ERA in three career starts against Oakland, including a no-decision on June 25 in which he scattered four hits over five scoreless frames.
Jackson halted his four-start winless streak on Monday as he scattered three hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings against Toronto. The victory was the 100th of the 34-year-old journeyman's career and first since June 30, when he limited Cleveland to two hits - a pair of solo homers - over 6 2/3 frames. Jackson is 4-2 with one shutout and a 3.23 ERA in 11 starts and five relief appearances against the Tigers, including a no-decision at Detroit in his debut with Oakland on June 25 in which he gave up one run and six hits over six innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Athletics 2B Jed Lowrie notched two hits on Friday after recording just one over his previous four contests.
2. Detroit acquired RHP Christian Binford from Baltimore for a player to be named or cash and assigned him to Double-A Erie.
3. Oakland sent RHP Carlos Ramirez outright to Nashville.
PREDICTION: Tigers 5, Athletics 3
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Houston Astros vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Preview and Predictions 08-04-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 4th August 2018 by Gracenote
Astros vs. Dodgers Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 08/04/2018
There is a definite postseason feel in the air this weekend at Dodger Stadium, where the Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros are meeting in a rematch of last year's World Series. After opening the three-game interleague set with a 2-1 victory behind ace Justin Verlander, Houston aims for its fourth straight win on Saturday.
Verlander struck out 14 batters in 7 2/3 innings and Hector Rendon recorded his 11th save Friday as the Astros improved to a major league-best 38-17 on the road. George Springer returned after missing one game with a sore left shoulder and delivered an RBI double in three at-bats from the leadoff spot, but Martin Maldonado went 0-for-2 with a walk and is hitless in his last 32 at-bats. Los Angeles set Dodger Stadium records for runs scored and homers (seven) in Thursday's 21-5 win over Milwaukee but was held to four hits in Friday's series opener. Joc Pederson homered in the first inning for the second straight game, but the Astros cooled off the red-hot Yasmani Grandal, who went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts.
TV: 9:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston), SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Lance McCullers Jr. (10-6, 4.06 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Kenta Maeda (7-6, 3.48)
McCullers lost his third straight start on Sunday, allowing four runs - three earned - and six hits while striking out 11 across 5 1/3 innings against Texas. The 24-year-old Floridian retired the first 11 batters he faced and permitted just one baserunner in the first four frames before running into trouble in the sixth. McCullers faced the Dodgers twice in last season's World Series, giving up three runs over 7 2/3 innings.
Maeda served up a three-run homer in his second straight start and took the loss after giving up four runs over 4 2/3 innings against Milwaukee on Monday. The 30-year-old had posted a 2.34 ERA over his previous 10 starts but exited early versus the Brewers after throwing 102 pitches. Maeda made four relief appearances against Houston in last season's World Series, giving up one run and five hits over 5 2/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Houston RHP Roberto Osuna (suspension) is expected to be activated prior to Sunday's series finale.
2. The Dodgers placed Erik Goeddel on the 10-day disabled list with right lat inflammation and activated fellow RHP John Axford, who was acquired from Toronto on Tuesday.
3. The Astros placed RHP Chris Devenski on the 10-day DL with left hamstring tightness and recalled LHP Cionel Perez from Triple-A Fresno.
PREDICTION: Astros 5, Dodgers 4
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Toronto Blue Jays vs. Seattle Mariners Preview and Predictions 08-04-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 4th August 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 08/04/2018
James Paxton tossed a no-hitter when he faced Toronto earlier this season and looks for another strong outing when the Seattle Mariners host the Blue Jays on Saturday for the third contest of their four-game series. The Canadian left-hander struck out seven and walked three while stifling the Blue Jays in the May 8 contest in Toronto.
A Seattle team that was outscored 14-5 while losing the first two games of the series could use another strong effort from Paxton, but the 29-year-old told reporters that the no-hitter means nothing when he steps on the mound Saturday. "I will definitely look at that game and how I am going to pitch to guys and how they approached me," Paxton told reporters. "But it will be a different game. Your stuff is always different." The Mariners are just 7-15 over their last 22 games and Toronto is taking advantage of the struggling club as it registered 11 hits - two homers - in each of the first two contests. Toronto's Randal Grichuk recorded a season-high four hits on Friday and is 8-for-19 with four doubles over his last four games.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, Sportsnet (Toronto), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Marco Estrada (4-8, 4.90 ERA) vs. Mariners LH James Paxton (9-4, 3.49)
Estrada lost to Oakland in his last turn as he gave up four runs and five hits over four innings. The start was the first in 27 days for the 35-year-old Mexican after he suffered a gluteus strain in the first inning against the New York Mets on July 3. Estrada is 2-3 with a 3.90 ERA in five career starts against the Mariners and has struggled versus Nelson Cruz (6-for-13, two homers).
Paxton returned from a back injury to defeat Houston in his last outing by scattering three hits over seven scoreless innings. He lost his previous two starts, including a setback against the Los Angeles Angels on July 12 in which he retired just two batters before exiting due to lower back soreness. Paxton is 3-2 with a 4.71 ERA in five career turns against the Blue Jays.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mariners 2B Dee Gordon (ankle) was in Friday's lineup after departing the series opener and went 0-for-4.
2. Toronto activated CF Kevin Pillar (collarbone), who went 0-for-3 on Friday, from the 10-day disabled list and optioned RHP Brandon Cumpton to Triple-A Buffalo.
3. Seattle placed Juan Nicasio (knee) on the 10-day DL and recalled fellow RHP Chasen Bradford from Triple-A Tacoma.
PREDICTION: Mariners 4, Blue Jays 3
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