The MLB Season continues to wind down as teams fight for playoff spots. Our team of writers and handicappers hand out three picks for Saturday’s games.
San Francisco Giants (69-85) at Los Angeles Dodgers (80-74)
With a magic number of six, the Los Angeles Dodgers know they are getting closer to an NL West title.
The Dodgers look to bounce back from having their seven-game home winning streak snapped when they continue their weekend series against the San Francisco Giants on Saturday night.
Los Angeles (80-74) lost the opener of this series 7-1 on Friday, but second-place Arizona stumbled to its 11th straight road loss, 3-2 to Colorado earlier in the night. That left the Dodgers' division lead still at 3 1/2 games, and cut their magic number to six.
They will try to avoid losing consecutive games for the first time since a season-high eight-game losing streak from Aug. 22-29. That skid dropped Los Angeles 4 1/2 games behind Arizona, but the Dodgers have recovered in a big way by winning 15 of their next 19 games.
The Dodgers were stifled Friday by Barry Zito, who limited them to one run and six hits in 7 2-3 innings. The Giants (69-85) ended a four-game losing streak with their third straight win over their arch-rivals to cut their deficit in the season series to 7-6.
Brad Hennessey (1-2, 8.04) makes his third start of the season for San Francisco. He was inserted into the rotation in place of a struggling Kevin Correia on Sept. 10 and has been fairly effective in two starts, going 0-1 with a 2.57 ERA.
This will be the right-hander's first start against Los Angeles since Aug. 19, 2006. He's 1-2 with a 5.06 ERA in six career starts versus the Dodgers.
Pick: San Francisco - Best line +205 SBG Global
Los Angeles Angels (94-59) at Texas Rangers (75-79)
Headed for the playoffs, the Los Angeles Angels showed they could win a slugfest even without their home run leader. Still, they're probably happy they won't have to face the Texas Rangers in the postseason.
After one of the most prolific offensive nights of the season, the Angels and Rangers continue a three-game series on Saturday night.
Los Angeles (94-59) beat Texas (75-79) 15-13 on Friday as the teams combined for 41 hits, 22 by the Angels. Garret Anderson was 4-for-6 while Torii Hunter homered and drove in four runs for Los Angeles, which has already clinched the AL West.
The Angels led 7-0 until the Rangers scored nine runs on nine hits in the bottom of the third off starter Jon Garland. Milton Bradley was the only starter without a hit, going 0-for-5 with four strikeouts.
The Angels hand the ball to Dustin Moseley (2-4, 7.36 ERA) as they continue to chase the first 100-win season in franchise history.
Moseley pitched five innings on Sept. 10 against the New York Yankees, allowing two runs and three hits while striking out six in a 4-2 win. The right-hander, who has made eight starts and two relief appearances this season, is starting Saturday to give Ervin Santana two extra days of rest.
Moseley is 0-1 with a 5.49 ERA in three starts and five relief appearances against the Rangers. In two starts this season, he is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA.
Pick: Texas - Best line -135 SBG Global
Detroit Tigers (71-81) at Cleveland Indians (76-77)
The Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians don't have playoff aspirations but it appears the rivalry between the division rivals hasn't cooled off.
They continue a three-game series on Saturday after four players were ejected in the opener.
The Indians (76-77) and Tigers (71-81) had big expectations for this season, but inconsistency will keep both out of the playoffs.
Cleveland won its fourth straight Friday, beating the Tigers 6-5 on Jamey Carroll's run-scoring single in the ninth. With a win Saturday, the Indians could move back to .500 for the first time since May 18.
Justin Verlander (10-16, 4.78 ERA) takes the mound Saturday for the Tigers, looking to avoid a fourth straight loss - and his major league-worst 17th of the season.
Verlander allowed four runs and nine hits over 7 2-3 innings against the White Sox on Sunday in a 4-2 loss.
The Tigers haven't had a 17-game loser since 2003 when it had three pitchers finish with at least 17. The right-hander won 17 games in 2006 and 18 in 2007.
Verlander is 1-6 with a 9.00 ERA in seven career road starts against the Indians. In five overall starts against them this season, he's 1-4 with a 6.16 ERA.
Jeremy Sowers (3-8, 5.70) counters for the Indians after he lasted only three innings on Sunday in a 13-3 loss to Kansas City. Sowers allowed three runs and five hits, but did not factor in the decision.
Sowers is 0-2 with a 10.24 ERA in two starts against Detroit this season. The left-hander didn't make it past the sixth inning in either start.
Pick: Detroit - Best line +105 SBG Global