I like the card today guys. I have taken a few days off just because of work so let's get it going today.
GAME 1
The Reds failed in three previous attempts to get to six, but figure to have a great shot Thursday night as they seek an eighth straight road win over the pitching-starved Arizona Diamondbacks. the Reds are threatening to build a commanding lead. Cincinnati is three games up on St. Louis after winning its fifth straight Wednesday, rallying for eight runs over the final two innings in an 11-7 victory over Arizona. The Reds give the ball to Travis Wood (3-1, 2.65), who was sent to Triple-A Louisville on Aug. 9, a day after winning his third straight start. The move was designed to keep the rookie left-hander's innings down, and he pitched just two innings during his stop in the minors. He held the Cubs hitless into the sixth Aug. 8, ultimately allowing four runs over 6 1/3 innings of an 11-4 win. All of Wood's victories have come on the road, where he has thrown 45 of his 51 major league innings. Woods is 3-0 thus far on the road this year. Cincinnati is 6-1 behind Woods this year in all of his mound performances. Despite scoring in double digits for the 13th time, Cincinnati would love to get its No. 3 hitter back Thursday. Joey Votto, the Reds' leader in average (.324), homers (28) and RBIs (79), was scratched Wednesday due to tightness in his back and is day to day. Votto is the biggest reason why Cincinnati leads the NL with 4.9 runs per game and a .272batting average, but the club should feel good about its chances Thursday even if he can't go. The Reds have averaged 6.9 runs in winning seven straight at Chase Field, and they'll get another crack at Arizona's dreadful pitching staff. The Reds have beenon fire this month posting an incredible 12-4 this month and are 44-21 against teams with losing records. Cincinnati seems to have a consistant bullpen as they have a 2.86 ERA. Blowing only 9 out of 26 SVO putting them at a 65.6 save opportunity, on the road.
After Wednesday's bullpen implosion pushed the relief corps' ERA to a major league-worst 6.29, the Diamondbacks (47-74) would appreciate a strong start from Joe Saunders (1-2, 3.86 ERA). The left-hander gave up four runs and 10 hits over six innings in a 4-2 loss at Washington on Friday. Saunders will get his first career start against the Cincinnati Reds. The Diamondbacks have batted .207 against lefties in their last 11 games. Arizona is 14-72 when it fails to score at least six runs. The Arizona Diamondbacks have had bullpen problems all year long, However they have managed to save 13 out of 18 games at home this year, but has put up a high ERA in this catagory posting a 5.57 ERA in their last 3 games pitched. Arizona has dropped 3 of Saunder's 4 starts with the Diamondbacks and he has given up 9 runs in his last 2 starts. The way Cincinnati is hitting the ball they should have plenty of runs between Saunders and the Diamondback bullpen. I like the Reds to continue to stay hot here. 2* CINCINNATI REDS -133
GAME 2
The Twins look to make it seven straight wins by finishing a sweep of the White Sox, who could find themselves six games out of first place with just three left against their division rivals. The Twins have taken seven of nine from the White Sox since the All-Star break, and Mauer has been the catalyst. The reigning AL MVP is hitting .450 with two homers, six doubles and 10 RBIs in that span. Mauer hasn't always enjoyed facing Mark Buehrle. Minnesota's catcher is hitting .256 (11 for 43) against the left-hander. Carl Pavano (15-7, 3.27) gets the call for Minnesota. Pavano's past two months have been even better than Buehrle's. The right-hander, 10-1 with a 2.63 ERA since June 9, held Oakland to two runs over 6 1/3 innings in a 4-3 win Friday, and his home record is just as impressive posting a 7-3 record with an ERA of just 3.43. The Twins have won 7 of his 11 starts at Target Feild this season. Pavano has gone 3-1 with a 1.69 ERA in his last four starts against the White Sox.
Mark Buehrle (11-9, 4.05 ERA), who will try to help Chicago avoid its first road sweep since April 16-18. Buehrle knows the Twins' lineup as well as anyone. He is 24-17 with a 4.08 ERA against Ron Gardenhire's club. Buehrle has gone 8-3 with a 2.92 ERA in his last 12 outings. He gave up three runs over 6 1/3 innings of an 8-4 win over Detroit on Friday. Dispite pitching a complete game at Target Feild in the past, He has had his problems with run support on the road posting a 5-7 record and gets less than 4 runs of support in road situations. A.J. Pierzynski has had the most success versus Pavano, going 7 for 19 (.368). Andruw Jones, Alexei Ramirez and Carlos Quentin are a combined 4 for 46 against him, But it has been just as good for the Twins in tis situation as Denard Span (12 for 28, two homers) and Delmon Young (10 for 27, two homers) have against Buehrle. The Twins have been a headahe for the Lefties posting a 25-17 record against them this year and has ran the Division opponents right out of the competition posting a 33-17 in their division. I like the twins in this situation dispite Buehrle's success in the past against Minnesota. The Sox have an 8-11 record this month and are falling quickly.
1* MINNESOTA TWINS -150
GAME 3
Sweeping one of the AL's best clubs was a great way for the Tampa Bay Rays to cap off a homestand. Facing Oakland Athletics ace Trevor Cahill could make it tough for the Rays to open their West Coast trip on a positive note.Tampa Bay tries to extend its winning streak to six Thursday night when it opens a four-game set with an A's club that's won its last six home series.
Since dropping a season-high five straight, the Rays (74-46) have won seven of nine, including three from AL West-leading Texas in a series that ended with Wednesday's 8-6 victory. Andy Sonnanstine (3-1, 4.10), who makes his third straight start with Jeff Niemann and Wade Davis on the disabled list with shoulder injuries. The right-hander went five innings in Saturday's 7-3 win over Baltimore, allowing three runs and three hits to earn his first victory as a starter since June 25, 2009. Sonnanstine has a 3.00 ERA in two relief appearances versus Oakland this season and is 2/3 with a 6.75 ERA in five career starts against the A's. The Rays have been a bully to teams with losing records posting a 38 19 record thus far this year. Sonnanstine has a 3-1 record, but has a 0-1 record on the road. converting from relief to starter is not an easy task, and the Rays have had major problems in Oakland posting a 14-38 record in the last 53 meeting there. Rays left fielder Carl Crawford is batting .342 with two homers and eight RBIs during a nine-game hitting streak, but is 2 for 20 against Oakland in 2010. He has an RBI double in his only career matchup with Cahill.
Cahill (12-5, 2.50 ERA), will counter for the A's, will look to move past Nolan Ryan (California Angels, 1972-73) with a modern major league record 21st consecutive start of five innings or more yielding six hits or fewer. Looking to win his fourth consecutive outing, Cahill went seven innings in Saturday's 2-0 loss at Minnesota, surrendering one run and six hits. Cahill has been a Cy Young Canidate this season. He is 2-1 in his last 3 trips to the hill and has been a beast on the hill in Oakland posting 7-2 record followed by an unhittable ERA of just 1.66. The A's have won four of five at home against the Rays, who are a major league-best 35-22 on the road. Though the Rays have the best road record in baseball they have stuggled against the A's and Cahill who has keep their hot hitters at Bay fo most of the year. Though this shoud be a low scoring game the A's should get the win here
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