Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Diego Padres Preview and Predictions 07-10-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 10th July 2018 by Gracenote
Dodgers vs. Padres Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 07/10/2018
Yasiel Puig's injury has created an opportunity for Andrew Toles, who is back in the major leagues for the first time in more than a year. Toles figures to be in the lineup again on Tuesday as the Los Angeles Dodgers continue their four-game series against the host San Diego Padres, who have fallen 15 games under the .500 mark.
Recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City after Puig landed on the disabled list with an oblique injury he suffered on Sunday, Toles started in center field and went 2-for-3 with two RBIs in Monday's 8-2 series-opening victory. Clayton Kershaw tossed six scoreless innings and Justin Turner recorded three hits and two RBIs as the Dodgers won for the sixth time in eight games. San Diego has dropped eight of its last 11 contests and allowed a total of 28 runs in its last two losses. Wil Myers has been on a tear over the last three games, going 6-for-13 with five home runs, six RBIs and two stolen bases.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), FS San Diego
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Rich Hill (2-3, 4.56 ERA) vs. Padres LH Eric Lauer (4-5, 4.84)
Hill earned his first victory in three months with a solid outing last Tuesday, when he gave up two runs over five innings against Pittsburgh. The 38-year-old veteran left the game due to neck tightness but was cleared to start against the Padres after throwing a successful bullpen session on Sunday. Myers is 1-for-13 with eight strikeouts against Hill, who owns a 4-3 record and 3.18 ERA in eight career starts versus San Diego.
Lauer's ERA dropped under 5.00 for the first time in his 14-start major-league career on Thursday, when he allowed one run over five-plus innings in a 6-3 win over Arizona. The 23-year-old native of Ohio has allowed fewer than three runs in four of his last five outings. One of several promising rookies on the Padres' pitching staff, Lauer worked six innings in a 3-0 home victory over the Dodgers on May 7.
WALK-OFFS
1. Turner has reached base safely in each of his last 13 starts.
2. The Padres recalled RHPs Walker Lockett and Phil Maton from Triple-A El Paso and optioned RHP Miguel Diaz and INF Cory Spangenberg to the Chihuahuas.
3. Dodgers RHP Walker Buehler (ribs) is expected to rejoin the team's rotation this weekend against the Los Angeles Angels.
PREDICTION: Dodgers 6, Padres 3
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Seattle Mariners vs. Los Angeles Angels Preview and Predictions 07-10-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 9th July 2018 by Gracenote
Mariners vs. Angels Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 07/09/2018
Twenty-three games over .500 only gets a team the fourth-best record in the American League, and the Seattle Mariners are determined to move up in the standings. The Mariners will begin another push when they kick off a six-game road trip to close the first half by visiting the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday.
Seattle had some trouble scoring against Colorado to end its homestand but finally got the bats moving Sunday and earned a 6-4 victory to avoid a sweep. Nelson Cruz scored a pair of runs in the win and headlines a trio of Mariners that were announced to the AL All-Star roster Sunday, including right fielder Mitch Haniger and closer Edwin Diaz. The Angels only have one representative on the initial All-Star roster, but center fielder Mike Trout is the AL's marquee player as he gets set for his seventh All-Star appearance in as many seasons and heads into the series against Seattle looking to do damage after struggling to 2-for-10 with three strikeouts at the Mariners last week. Trying to stop Trout on Tuesday will be Mariners right-hander Mike Leake, who opposes Los Angeles righty Garrett Richards.
TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), FS West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Mike Leake (8-5, 4.11 ERA) vs. Angels RH Garrett Richards (5-4, 3.42)
Leake had a string of eight straight starts lasting at least six innings come to an end with a loss to the Angels on Wednesday. The Arizona State product was reached for four runs (three earned) on nine hits and one walk in four innings while squandering an early lead. Leake allowed two or fewer earned runs in seven of his previous eight outings, including a win over Los Angeles on June 12 in which he scattered one run and four hits over six frames.
Richards came off the disabled list after over a month because of a left hamstring strain Wednesday and went up against Leake at Seattle. Richards struck out eight in 5 1/3 innings while allowing three runs (two earned) and four hits to earn his first win since May 4, which also came at Seattle. The 30-year-old is 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA and 18 strikeouts over 14 innings in three starts against the Mariners this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Angels SS Andrelton Simmons and Mariners SS Jean Segura are on the Final Vote ballot for the last AL All-Star spot.
2. Diaz struck out the side in three of his last four appearances.
3. Los Angeles RF Kole Calhoun is 0-for-13 over the last four games, dropping his batting average to .170.
PREDICTION: Angels 5, Mariners 3
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Chicago Cubs vs. San Francisco Giants Preview and Predictions 07-10-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 10th July 2018 by Gracenote
Cubs vs. Giants Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 07/10/2018
The road was not kind to the Chicago Cubs on their last trip, and their current trek has gotten off to a slow start. Chicago looks to bounce back from a tough loss in the opener as it continues its three-game series against the host San Francisco Giants on Tuesday.
The Cubs, who went 2-6 on their last road trip, kicked off their six-game trek leading into the All-Star break on Monday with a 2-1 setback in 11 innings. Chicago produced only four hits - three doubles - as it came off a 7-1 homestand while Addison Russell drove in the lone run in the opener, giving him five RBIs in his last three contests. Pablo Sandoval delivered a single with the bases loaded and one out in the 11th inning as San Francisco improved to 3-2 on its 10-game homestand. Sandoval appears to be heating up for the Giants as he has gone 5-for-10 with a homer and six RBIs in his last two games.
TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, ABC 7 (Chicago), NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Jose Quintana (7-6, 4.22 ERA) vs. Giants RH Johnny Cueto (3-1, 1.95)
Quintana ended his five-start winless streak on Wednesday as he limited Detroit to a pair of solo homers among five hits over six innings. The 29-year-old Colombian, who has issued three walks in each of his last two outings, is 0-2 with a 4.64 ERA over his last four turns on the road. Quintana has yet to defeat San Francisco in his career as he fell to 0-3 with a 5.82 ERA in three starts when he yielded four runs and five hits over 4 1/3 frames on May 26.
Cueto's return from the disabled list did not go as planned as he suffered the loss against St. Louis on Thursday after surrendering five runs and 10 hits in five innings. It was the first outing since April 28 for the 32-year-old Dominican, who missed over two months with elbow inflammation after allowing three runs over 32 frames in his first five turns of the season. Cueto has made 25 career starts versus the Cubs, going 9-9 with one complete game and a 3.35 ERA.
WALK-OFFS
1. Giants 1B Brandon Belt has posted three straight multi-hit performances, going 7-for-11 in that span.
2. Chicago 3B Kris Bryant (shoulder) began a rehab assignment with Double-A Tennessee on Monday and went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs.
3. San Francisco C Buster Posey (hip) will miss the All-Star Game as he will receive a cortisone shot to help treat persistent discomfort.
PREDICTION: Cubs 7, Giants 3
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