It’s getting down to crunch time in Major League Baseball. Our team of writers and handicappers gathered three of their top picks for Wednesday’s MLB action.
Boston Red Sox (73-53) at Baltimore Orioles (60-65)
The shining moment of Clay Buchholz's career came against the Baltimore Orioles, but since that day, it's been mostly a struggle for the Red Sox rookie at the major league level.
Buchholz will hope to snap out of a lengthy funk on Wednesday as he tries to pitch Boston to a three-game sweep at Camden Yards, where the Orioles haven't been swept all season.
The Red Sox (73-53) likely expected more great things from Buchholz after the right-hander pitched a no-hitter against the Orioles in his second major league start, a 10-0 win at Fenway Park on Sept. 1.
Baltimore will send Chris Waters (1-0, 4.32) to the mound for his fourth major league start on Wednesday.
After allowing one hit in eight shutout innings in his debut at the Los Angeles Angels on Aug. 5, the left-hander has failed to get through five innings in either of his last two starts, allowing 15 hits and eight runs in 8 2-3 innings.
Pick: Boston - Best line -125 SBG Global
Colorado Rockies (58-59) at Los Angeles Dodgers (64-61)
The Los Angeles Dodgers have added two future Hall of Famers in the past three weeks to bolster their roster for a playoff push.
After falling out of first place in the NL West their last time out, the Dodgers continue their pursuit of a division title as they resume their three-game series against the Colorado Rockies Wednesday.
Los Angeles (64-61) was part of one of the biggest trades in years when it acquired 13-time All-Star Manny Ramirez from Boston at the non-waiver trade deadline on July 31. With Ramirez to add pop to the offense, the Dodgers strengthened their starting rotation with the acquisition of Greg Maddux from San Diego before Tuesday's series-opening 8-3 loss to Colorado (58-69).
The Rockies have won four straight after dropping six of eight, and have not won five in a row since July 22-27.
Colorado has also won five of its last six over the Dodgers after losing six of their first seven meetings.
Pick: Colorado - Best line +175 SBG Global
Florida Marlins (65-61) at San Francisco Giants (53-72)
After a frustrating homestand continued the Florida Marlins' struggles this month, the opening series of their current road trip might help them regain some momentum.
The Marlins look to win back-to-back games for the first time in August when they continue a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday.
After winning five of its final seven games in July, Florida (65-61) has gone 7-10 this month, including a 2-5 mark on the homestand it concluded prior to this series. The Marlins have failed on their previous six attempts to win consecutive games in August, but will get another opportunity after beating the Giants (53-72) 6-0 in Tuesday's series opener.
Scott Olsen (6-8, 4.03 ERA) takes the mound for the Marlins on Wednesday, trying to snap a personal four-decision losing streak and continue Nolasco's momentum from Tuesday. Olsen is 0-4 with a 4.85 ERA over his last five starts. The left-hander scattered 10 hits over seven innings Thursday, but also allowed all the game's runs in a 3-0 loss to St. Louis.
Olsen is 1-2 with a 4.15 ERA in three career starts against the Giants - none of which have come at AT&T Park. He got roughed up versus San Francisco in an 8-2 loss May 23, allowing seven runs - five earned - and eight hits over a season-low 3 1-3 innings.
Pick: San Francisco - Best line -115 SBG Global