The MLB Season continues to wind down as teams fight for playoff spots. Our team of writers and handicappers hand out three picks for Thursday’s games.
Chicago Cubs (96-61) at New York Mets (87-71)
Pedro Martinez acknowledges how ineffective he's been this season, but he could go a long way in redeeming himself with a solid outing when the New York Mets need him the most.
After watching his team fall into a tie for the NL wild card, Martinez takes the mound on Thursday night the finale of the Mets' four-game series with the Chicago Cubs.
New York (87-71) has lost seven of its last 11, including two of three against playoff-bound Chicago (96-61). The Mets fell 9-6 in 10 innings on Wednesday to tie for the wild card lead with Milwaukee, which beat Pittsburgh. New York also remained 1 1/2 games behind NL East-leading Philadelphia, which lost to the Braves.
The Cubs counter with Rich Harden (5-1, 1.66), who has won his last five decisions. He pitched five innings on Thursday against Milwaukee, allowing one run and one hit while walking six and striking out seven in the 7-6, 12-inning victory.
The right-hander made his only appearance against the Mets in 2007 while with Oakland. He pitched one inning of relief, striking out two.
The Cubs are looking to win 97 games for the first time since 1945, when they went 98-56.
Pick: Chicago - Best line -120 SBG Global
San Diego Padres (61-97) at Los Angeles Dodgers (83-75)
The Los Angeles Dodgers have reason to start looking toward the postseason.
Having already clinched a share of the NL West title, the Dodgers still have to deal with San Diego's Jake Peavy as they look to sweep the Padres at home Thursday night.
Los Angeles (83-75) could clinch the division title outright before taking the field Thursday if Arizona loses at St. Louis earlier in the day. If not, a fifth consecutive victory over San Diego (61-97) would secure the club's first NL West title since 2004.
Former Padre Greg Maddux (7-13, 4.31) is scheduled to start for Los Angeles after he allowed seven runs and nine hits in five innings of a 7-1 loss to San Francisco on Friday.
Brian Giles had two hits with an RBI on Wednesday for the Padres, who are in danger of losing 100 games for the first time since going 61-101 in 1993. Giles is batting .368 (14-for-38) against Maddux.
Pick: Los Angeles - Best line -125 SBG Global
Cleveland Indians (79-79) at Boston Red Sox (93-65)
The playoff-bound Boston Red Sox will soon determine their postseason rotation, and Jon Lester will likely be a part of it.
As the Red Sox continue to build momentum for their playoff run, they'll send Lester to the mound for his final tune-up on Thursday night when they conclude their four-game home set against the Cleveland Indians.
Boston (93-65) beat Cleveland (79-79) on Tuesday to guarantee its fifth trip to the postseason in six years, a span that includes two World Series championships. The Red Sox kept things going on Wednesday, withstanding two errors and a late Indians rally to emerge with a 5-4 triumph.
Pinch-hitter Jeff Bailey tripled and scored on Mark Kotsay's double to break an eighth-inning tie as the Red Sox won for the fourth time in six games.
Boston also preserved its slim chances of a second straight AL East title. First-place Tampa Bay won 11-6 at Baltimore on Wednesday to maintain its three-game division lead, but reduce its magic number to one.
The Indians now send out Jeremy Sowers (4-8, 5.48), who is trying to win three straight decisions for the first time since a four-game stretch Aug. 13-Sept. 5, 2006.
The left-hander, who is 2-0 with a 2.65 ERA in his last three starts, held Detroit to a run and five hits over six innings of a 6-3 home victory on Saturday.
Sowers is 0-1 with a 5.06 ERA in two career outings against the Red Sox, but hasn't faced them since a 4-2 loss in Boston on May 29, 2007.
Pick: Boston - Best line -190 SBG Global