Teams are battling through injuries late in the year and continue to make a playoff push. Our team of writers and handicappers gathered three of their top picks for Sunday’s MLB action.
San Francisco Giants (59-76) at Cincinnati Reds (60-76)
Edwin Encarnacion has always hit well against the San Francisco Giants. It's only now starting to lead to some sustained success for the Cincinnati Reds.
Encarnacion and the Reds, trying for yet another big game at the plate against the Giants, look to sweep a series for the first time in nearly two months when the teams conclude a three-game set Sunday.
Encarnacion is a career .267 hitter, but is batting .321 in 24 games against San Francisco (59-76). Cincinnati (60-76), though, lost 12 of those first 16 contests before putting together a four-game winning streak.
The Reds extended their run versus the Giants with a 7-6 win on Saturday night, getting a home run and two RBIs from Encarnacion. The third baseman also homered in this series' opener, hitting a grand slam and adding another RBI as Cincinnati won 11-7.
Encarnacion, who has a career-best 24 home runs this season, leads a Reds lineup that will be facing Giants starter Matt Cain (8-10, 3.55 ERA), who is 2-1 with a 2.89 ERA in three career starts versus Cincinnati.
The right-hander is 3-2 with a 2.15 ERA in his last seven starts. He lost his last outing, allowing three runs and six hits in six innings as San Francisco was defeated 4-2 by Colorado on Monday night.
Pick: San Francisco - Best line +110 SBG Global
New York Mets (75-61) at Florida Marlins (69-67)
The New York Mets' bullpen continues to blow leads down the stretch of a tight pennant race. With Pedro Martinez set to take the mound, their relievers probably aren't in line for a break.
After another frustrating loss, the Mets hand the ball to Martinez as they try to keep sole possession of first place in the NL East as they play the decisive game of a three-game set with the Florida Marlins on Sunday.
New York (75-61) had its NL East lead over Philadelphia trimmed to one game Saturday night, thanks to another bullpen meltdown. Aaron Heilman issued a bases-loaded walk to Josh Willingham in the ninth inning, giving Florida (69-67) a 4-3 win in the middle game of this series.
Florida will counter with Scott Olsen (6-8, 4.19 ERA), who is 0-2 with a 6.32 ERA in three starts against the Mets this season. He is 1-4 with a 4.52 ERA in 11 career starts against them.
The left-hander is 0-2 with a 6.17 ERA in his last four starts. He allowed four runs and five hits in 5 1-3 innings as Florida lost 10-9 to Atlanta on Tuesday night.
Olsen will be trying to help the Marlins close within five games of the Mets in the NL East, a day after avoiding slipping to .500 for the first time since they were 3-3. Florida is also seeking consecutive victories for the first time since July 30-31.
Pick: NY Mets - Best line -115 SBG Global
St. Louis Cardinals (74-62) at Houston Astros (70-66)
Albert Pujols is doing his best to help the St. Louis Cardinals make the playoffs, but they are still struggling to maintain any momentum.
Pujols and the Cardinals try to avoid their first road sweep of the season while making up some ground in the NL wild card race Sunday when they close a three-game set with the Houston Astros.
On Saturday, Pujols had four hits, falling a triple shy of the cycle, in St. Louis' 8-5 loss to the Astros (70-66). He jumped past Atlanta's Chipper Jones for the major league lead with a .362 batting average.
The Cardinals (74-62) have the best record road record in the NL at 37-31, but they've lost their last three road games.
Todd Wellemeyer (11-5, 3.87 ERA) returns to the mound Sunday for St. Louis after having his three-game winning streak snapped Tuesday in a 12-0 loss to Milwaukee. Wellemeyer allowed five runs - four earned - and eight hits through six innings.
Wellemeyer is 1-0 with a 4.35 ERA in two starts and six relief appearances against the Astros. He did not get a decision in his only game against them this season, allowing two runs in seven innings of a 5-3 loss on April 7.
Pick: Houston - Best line +110 SBG Global