Baseball continues to rumble towards the playoffs with more regular season action on the Monday scoreboard. Our team of writers and handicappers hands out their picks for Monday.
San Diego Padres (57-93) at Colorado Rockies (62-82)
Now that the Colorado Rockies have ended their seven-game losing streak, manager Clint Hurdle expects them to focus on finishing the regular season with some positive momentum.
The Rockies - in the midst of a nine-game stretch at Coors Field - will try to make it two in a row on Monday night, when they open a three-game series against the last-place San Diego Padres.
Colorado (68-82) avoided its third eight-game slide of the season with a 1-0, 10-inning victory on Sunday over the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers. Troy Tulowitzki singled home the winning run with one out in 10th for the Rockies, who hadn't won since beating Houston at home on Sept. 5.
With the bullpen taxed, the Padres need a solid outing from rookie Wade LeBlanc (0-1, 5.40 ERA), who will make his third career start. The left-hander didn't receive a decision on Tuesday, when he limited the Dodgers to a run and five hits over six innings of a 6-2 home defeat.
Ubaldo Jimenez (10-12, 4.18) will pitch on three days' rest for Colorado. He didn't factor into the decision after giving up two earned runs and five hits, while striking out six over five innings of an 8-4 loss at Atlanta on Thursday.
Jimenez is 2-3 with a 3.93 ERA in six all-time starts versus the Padres, but walked five and was reached for six runs in 3 2-3 innings of a 9-4 defeat at San Diego on Aug. 30.
Pick: Colorado - Best line -165 SBG Global
Chicago White Sox (83-65) at New York Yankees (79-70)
The Chicago White Sox enter their final series at Yankee Stadium once again leading the AL Central.
Coming off a weather-delayed doubleheader sweep, the White Sox look to maintain their advantage on Monday night, when they open a four-game set in the second-to-last series at Yankee Stadium.
After rain postponed home games Friday and Saturday against Detroit, Chicago (83-65) took two from the Tigers winning 4-2 and 11-7 on Sunday. Those victories coupled with Minnesota's loss at Baltimore earlier in the day left the White Sox 1 1/2 games ahead of the Twins.
New York (79-70), meanwhile, kept its faint postseason hopes alive by winning 8-4 over Tampa Bay on Sunday for its second straight victory. The Yankees have yet to be eliminated from the playoff race, but trail Boston by nine games in the wild card standings with 13 games remaining.
Only seven games remain at Yankee Stadium before the club moves across the street to its new park in 2009. New York won two of three at Chicago in late April and five of the last six meetings between the clubs in the Bronx.
Chicago, though, hopes to build off Sunday's overall effort after reserve outfielder Dwayne Wise went 3-for-4 with five RBIs on the day, including a pinch-hit grand slam to break a 7-7 tie in the nightcap.
Jim Thome also homered in the second game for the 539th of his career and second in four games. He has hit 11 home runs in 56 games at Yankee Stadium.
Mark Buehrle (13-11, 3.88 ERA) tries for his third straight victory after allowing a run and seven hits while striking out six in 7 1-3 innings of a 6-5 win over Toronto on Wednesday. That's the only run over 13 1-3 innings he's given up over two starts this month.
Pick: Chicago - Best line +110 SBG Global
Detroit Tigers (70-78) at Texas Rangers (73-77)
Dontrelle Willis is likely pitching for his future with the Detroit Tigers.
The veteran is scheduled to make his first start in three months as the Tigers open a three-game road set with the Texas Rangers on Monday night.
This will be just the fifth start of the season for Willis (0-1, 10.32 ERA), who has endured a nightmare first season in Detroit after coming over as part of a December trade from Florida that included slugger Miguel Cabrera.
The 2003 NL rookie of the year injured his knee during his second start this season, and was placed on the disabled list in mid-April before being activated on May 21. Willis, however, was sent down to the minors in June after struggling during two starts and a relief appearance.
The Rangers fell 7-4 at Oakland on Sunday for their second straight loss and a split of their series with the Athletics. Nelson Cruz had three hits, including two doubles, and drove in all the runs for Texas. He's batting .328 (22-for-67) with 17 RBIs in 19 game since being called up from the minors.
Josh Hamilton went 0-for-5 on Sunday, but is batting .422 (19-for-45) in September and .304 during his All-Star season.
Texas' Brandon McCarthy (1-1, 4.22) makes his fifth start since missing 4 1/2 months because of an arm injury. He looks to bounce back after allowing six runs and seven hits in 5 1-3 innings of a 7-2 loss to Boston on Sunday.
Pick: Detroit - Best line +125 SBG Global
I wish Detroit would just forfeit the remaining games. It makes me sick to even flip by the channel they are on