Chicago White Sox vs. Kansas City Royals Preview and Predictions 09-12-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 12th September 2018 by Gracenote
White Sox vs. Royals Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 09/12/2018
The Kansas City Royals are on their way to a last-place finish in the American League Central and perhaps a historically bad campaign, but they're showing reasons for optimism down the stretch. The Royals will try to continue their September surge when they host the Chicago White Sox for the finale of their three-game series on Wednesday.
Kansas City clinched its fourth series win in its last six tries with a 6-3 win over the White Sox on Tuesday, improving to 11-5 over that stretch. The Royals have captured seven straight at home, where they are 16-10 since the All-Star break. The White Sox are trending in the opposite direction - they've been outscored 46-16 during their seven-game losing streak, which is one shy of their longest skid of the season. Chicago has scored four runs or fewer in eight consecutive games, batting .205 as a team over that span.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, FS Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH Carlos Rodon (6-5, 3.11 ERA) vs. Royals LH Eric Skoglund (1-5, 6.45)
After a dominant string of nine consecutive quality starts, Rodon has struggled in his last two outings, allowing nine runs - eight earned - over 11 innings in consecutive losses. The 25-year-old failed to get through five frames for the first time all season in his last start against the Los Angeles Angels. Rodon is 2-2 with a 3.90 ERA in five starts against the Royals, all of which took place in 2016.
Skoglund returned from the disabled list to throw two scoreless innings of relief Friday at Minnesota, working around two hits and a walk. The 25-year-old will make his first major-league start since May 25 at Texas and is looking for his first win since April 28 against the White Sox. Skoglund is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA in two meetings with Chicago.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Royals have recorded 47 stolen bases since the All-Star break, which ties them with Cleveland for most in the majors.
2. The White Sox need to win seven of their remaining 17 games to avoid the fourth 100-loss season in franchise history and first since 1970.
3. Kansas City starters have allowed fewer than three earned runs in 14 of their last 18 contests.
PREDICTION: White Sox 6, Royals 4
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Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Colorado Rockies Preview and Predictions 09-12-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 12th September 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 09/12/2018
Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte has seen his playing time cut in the past week, but there were no signs of rust in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the host Colorado Rockies. Marte drove in four runs in the victory and could be in the lineup again Wednesday when the teams continue their crucial four-game series at Coors Field.
Colorado leads the National League West by 1 1/2 games over the Los Angeles Dodgers and 2 1/2 games over the Diamondbacks, who ended a three-game losing streak with Tuesday's victory. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo started veteran Daniel Descalso at second base in four straight games before Tuesday's contest, when Marte got the start and delivered a two-run triple in the sixth and a two-run single in the ninth. David Peralta belted his 27th homer and Yoshihisa Hirano recorded his first career save in place of Brad Boxberger, who was removed from the closer's role on Monday. Nolan Arenado paced the Rockies with two doubles while Trevor Story doubled in a run to become the second shortstop in major league history with at least 30 home runs, 100 RBI and 25 stolen bases in a single season.
TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Patrick Corbin (11-5, 3.01 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Jon Gray (11-7, 4.69)
Corbin won for the first time in four starts last Friday, allowing one run on four hits with nine strikeouts over six innings versus Atlanta. The 29-year-old native of New York has recorded at least seven strikeouts in nine straight starts and owns a 3-1 record and 1.88 ERA in his last six outings. DJ LeMahieu is 16-for-43 with four homers against Corbin, who is 8-3 with a 4.66 ERA in 19 career games (18 starts) against Colorado - including 1-0 with a 3.60 mark in two outings this season.
Gray issued a season-high five walks and allowed two runs over four innings in a no-decision last Friday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 26-year-old is 4-0 with a 3.17 ERA and over his last 10 starts since returning from Triple-A Albuquerque. Peralta has eight hits in 16 at-bats against Gray, who owns a 2-3 record and 4.98 ERA in six career starts versus Arizona - including 0-2 with a 6.23 ERA in three career outings at Coors Field.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Diamondbacks are 13-6 in their last 19 games at Coors Field - including a nine-game winning streak that ended on July 10.
2. Colorado OF David Dahl is 5-for-12 with a home run and five RBIs over his last three games.
3. Arizona 1B Paul Goldschmidt has reached base in a club-record 47 straight road games.
PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 6, Rockies 4
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Texas Rangers vs. Los Angeles Angels Preview and Predictions 09-12-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 12th September 2018 by Gracenote
Rangers vs. Angels Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 09/12/2018
After flirting with history while evening the series, the Los Angeles Angels look to remain hot when they host the Texas Rangers on Wednesday for the rubber match of their three-game set. Six pitchers combined to work seven hitless innings Tuesday before the seventh, Blake Parker, yielded a one-out single in the eighth, but the Angels went on to post a 1-0 victory.
Parker allowed both of Texas' hits as eight Los Angeles hurlers teamed up to record the shutout in the team's fifth win in six games. The Angels also registered only two hits - including one by 30-year-old rookie Jose Fernandez, who belted his first career homer in the second inning to provide the team's fourth run in three contests. Isiah Kiner-Falefa broke up the no-hitter on Tuesday and Rougned Odor also recorded a single, giving him a hit in eight of his last nine games. The Rangers have lost six of their last eight contests, with half of the setbacks coming against Los Angeles.
TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), FS West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Yovani Gallardo (8-4, 6.22 ERA) vs. Angels RH Felix Pena (2-4, 4.04)
Gallardo, who won seven of his first eight decisions after joining the rotation, suffered his third loss in four decisions on Friday after surrendering five runs on six hits and five walks in 4 1/3 innings at Oakland. The 32-year-old from Mexico has worked more than five frames just once in his last five outings and more than six in one of his 14 turns this year. Gallardo has yet to defeat the Angels in his career, going 0-1 with a 5.14 ERA in four starts and one relief appearance.
In contrast to Gallardo, Pena has pitched at least six innings in each of his last five starts and seven in both of his last two outings, including a road victory over the Chicago White Sox on Friday in which he allowed two runs and seven hits. The triumph was the first since June 29 at Baltimore for the 28-year-old Dominican, who did not issue a walk in either of his last two turns. Pena, who is 0-3 with a 6.17 ERA in nine games (seven starts) at home this season but owns a 2.21 road ERA, has yet to face Texas in his career.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Angels recalled RHP Parker Bridwell, who made his lone appearance this season in a start against Oakland on April 6, from Triple-A Salt Lake.
2. Odor registered his 11th stolen base on Tuesday and is four away from matching the career high he set last season.
3. Los Angeles RHP Nick Tropeano has been shut down for the season due to inflammation in his right shoulder, which has not improved during his rehab.
PREDICTION: Angels 4, Rangers 3
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