Baseball continues to rumble towards the playoffs with more regular season action on the Saturday scoreboard. Our team of writers and handicappers hands out their picks for Saturday.
Toronto Blue Jays (79-68) at Boston Red Sox (86-60)
In one day, the Boston Red Sox can greatly boost their playoff hopes while putting a damper on Toronto's. But that could be tough against A.J. Burnett, Jesse Litsch and the Blue Jays.
With a chance to move into a tie atop the AL East, the Red Sox try to solve a couple of red-hot Blue Jays starters when the teams continue a four-game series with a day-night doubleheader Saturday at Fenway Park.
Boston (86-60) won 7-0 over Toronto (79-68) on Friday night in this series' opener, moving within two games of first-place Tampa Bay in the AL East.
The Red Sox had lost their previous two contests on the Rays' last at-bat, missing a chance to take the division lead. On Saturday, Tampa Bay will be playing a doubleheader against the New York Yankees, giving Boston a chance to move into a tie for first place if it wins its two games and the Rays get swept.
The Blue Jays will face Paul Byrd (11-11, 4.39 ERA) in Game 1, and Bartolo Colon (4-2, 4.09 ERA) in the finale. Byrd has posted a 3.51 ERA en route to winning his last four starts.
Since being acquired from Cleveland on Aug. 12, he is 4-1 in five starts. The right-hander has won eight of nine overall since a five-game losing streak before the All-Star break.
In his last outing, Byrd gave up three hits in 6 2-3 scoreless innings as Boston beat Texas 7-2 on Sunday.
Byrd is 2-1 with a 4.03 ERA versus the Blue Jays this season, and 5-4 with a 3.39 ERA in nine career starts against them.
Pick: Boston - Best line -115 SBG Global
Minnesota Twins (80-66) at Baltimore Orioles (65-80)
Just over a week ago, the Minnesota Twins wrapped up a 14-game stretch away from home. While their upcoming road trip won't be nearly as lengthy, it could still play an important role in affecting the team's postseason chances.
The Twins kick off a rain-delayed 10-game swing - their last one of the regular season - on Saturday when they face the last-place Baltimore Orioles in a doubleheader.
This three-game series was originally scheduled to begin Friday night, but rain forced the teams to play twice on Saturday.
Minnesota (80-66) went 5-9 from Aug. 21-Sept. 4 - the franchise's longest road trip since it played stretches of 15 and 16 straight away games in 1969 - to accommodate the Republican National Convention, which was held in neighboring St. Paul at the start of the month.
Glen Perkins (12-4, 4.11) looks to rebound from consecutive disappointing starts when he starts the nightcap for Minnesota. The left-hander allowed five runs - three earned - and nine hits over 5 2- 3 innings Sunday in a 7-5 loss to Detroit, failing to hold a lead for the second straight outing.
Perkins struggled in his only career start against the Orioles, yielding five runs and nine hits in four innings before leaving without a decision in Minnesota's 7-5 win.
Pick: Minnesota - Best line -155 SBG Global
Detroit Tigers (70-76) at Chicago White Sox (81-65)
For the second time in a week, rainy conditions have forced the Chicago White Sox to play twice in one day. They're just hoping this twinbill provides them with more positive results.
The White Sox look for the weather to cooperate on Saturday when they face the Detroit Tigers in a doubleheader.
The teams' final three-game series of the season was scheduled to open Friday, but persistent rainfall led to Saturday's twinbill.
Showers and thunderstorms are expected Saturday. If both games can't be played, Chicago (81-65) and Detroit (70-76) would play a split doubleheader on Sunday. This is the Tigers' last visit to U.S. Cellular Field this season.
Zach Miner (8-4, 4.29) takes the ball for the Tigers in the nightcap. Detroit has won each of the right-hander's last four starts, although he gave up eight runs in 4 1-3 innings of a 14-8 home victory over Oakland on Monday.
Miner has won both starts against Chicago in 2008, posting a 2.25 ERA. He's 5-1 with a 4.33 ERA as a starter this year.
He will be opposed by Lance Broadway (1-0, 8.49), who gave up a homer in an inning of relief against Toronto on Tuesday.
Pick: Detroit - Best line +165 SBG Global