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 Wednesday’s MLB action.
Oakland Athletics (60-72) at Los Angeles Angels (80-51)
Although the Los Angeles Angels are running away with the AL West title, they haven't won a series in more than two weeks.
The Angels try to end a run of four straight series without winning one when they conclude a three-game home set with the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday.
Los Angeles (80-51) has a 16-game lead on Texas in the division, but has gone 8-10 since sweeping the New York Yankees from Aug. 8-10. The Angels have lost three series since and split another before splitting the first two-games of this set against the Athletics (60-72).
The Angels are 10-3 in Saunders' starts at home.
The A's are trying to salvage a split of their 10-game road trip. They've scored a total of 25 runs on the trip as Bobby Crosby (7-for-33), Kurt Suzuki (7-for-31) and Emil Brown (5-for-25) are among the regulars struggling.
Oakland rookie Gio Gonzalez (1-2, 3.37) will make his fifth career start. He lasted five innings his last time out and did not receive a decision after giving up four runs in five innings in a 7-5 loss at Seattle on Friday.
Pick: LA Angels - Best line -230 SBG Global
New York Mets (73-60) at Philadelphia Phillies (73-59)
Starter Kyle Kendrick was warming up in extra innings of a game that put the Philadelphia Phillies into first place. He never pitched, but it's unlikely he would have fared any worse than New York Mets relievers have.
Kendrick will now take the mound for the Phillies after a key victory, matching up with Mets ace Johan Santana when the teams complete a two-game set Wednesday night with the NL East lead on the line again.
Philadelphia (73-59) moved one-half game ahead of New York (73-60) after overcoming a 7-0 deficit to beat the Mets 8-7 in 13 innings Tuesday night.
The Mets hope Santana (12-7, 2.64) will make any relief work unnecessary as they try to regain first place. He has won three straight starts, and hasn't allowed a run in his last two.
Santana allowed eight hits in seven innings versus Houston on Friday night, throwing a career-high 121 pitches as New York won 3-0.
The left-hander is 1-0 with a 2.60 ERA in four career starts against the Phillies.
Pick: NY Mets - Best line -140 SBG Global
Milwaukee Brewers (77-55) at St. Louis Cardinals (73-59)
The St. Louis Cardinals could not have asked for a better performance from Adam Wainwright in his return from a sprained middle finger injury. They might have to in his next start.
Wainwright hopes for another strong effort as the Cardinals try to avoid an eighth straight loss to the Milwaukee Brewers that would push them further behind their division rivals in the NL wild-card race in the conclusion of their season series Wednesday night at Busch Stadium.
In his first start in 2 1/2 months, Wainwright (7-3, 3.04 ERA) allowed one run and five hits on 72 pitches in six innings of an 18-3 win over Atlanta on Friday.
After a strong performance from Ben Sheets on Tuesday, the Brewers turn to Manny Parra (10-6, 4.10) as he tries to build off his first victory since July 20. Parra allowed two runs and six hits in five innings of a 5-2 victory over Houston last Wednesday, though he wasn't happy with his performance.
Pick: Milwaukee - Best line +145 SBG Global