There is a good chance these teams will meet in the AL Wild Card play-in game. The Orioles have been led by their lineup this season, but their pitching was the main reason they swept the Diamondbacks in their last series giving up a total of four runs in the three games. The Blue Jays’ pitching has also been solid as of late, as their last game was their first in their last six where they gave up more than three runs. Their offense has also been solid as of late scoring 21 runs in their last four games. Toronto has roughed up Gausman this season and look for that to continue tonight north of the border, as the Blue Jays will take the first game of this big division series. 

This is the 2nd to last series of the season for both of these teams, who are scrambling to make the Wild Card. The Mariners face the A’s at home in their last series and the Astros hit the road to play the Angels in their series finale. The Astros have to be happy to be home facing the Mariners, as they have beaten them in their last four games there and have beaten them in eight of their last 10 games against them overall. Hisashi is coming off a terrible start, but at least he will be facing a Houston lineup that has only totaled 11 runs in their last four games. The Seattle lineup has been slumping as well lately, as in their last six games they have totaled 22 runs, but 10 came in one game. McHugh has pitched great against the Mariners this season going 4-0 with an ERA of only 1.08. At home with McHugh on the mound Houston will get the W tonight.

To say the A’s’ offense is struggling as of late would be an understatement. They have been shut out in the first two games of this series and in their five game losing streak they have only totaled eight runs. In this series the A’s are 0-11 with players in scoring position. However, they have a hot hurler on the mound today in Cotton and in his last start he became only the 3rd Oakland pitcher to give up one or fewer runs and last at least five innings in his first three starts. Lewis is has had success against the A’s in his career, as in 29 appearances, including 27 starts, he is 12-5 with an ERA of 2.87. However in two starts since coming off the DL he is 0-2 with an ERA of 5.06. Look for the A’s to finally score some runs today and for Cotton to have another solid start, as Oakland will win and avoid the series sweep.

The Indians are on fire and playing at home facing a White Sox team that is reeling. However, they are only slight home favorites, as Anderson has been less than stellar as a starter this season, but did have a solid start in his only one facing the White Sox. The Indians have outscored their opponents 21-10 in their four game win streak and while they are 7-1 in their last eight games facing the White Sox they lost two of three to them in their last series against them, which was in Chicago. While Anderson may not have a great outing the Indians will really help him out getting to Quintana, who has given up 13 runs in his last two road starts. Don’t look for a pitcher’s duel tonight in a game that will be won by the Indians.

With 10 games to play the Royals’ post-season hopes are very slim and while they have lost eight of their last 11 games they have won four of their last five road games against the Tigers. Duffy has been decent as of late giving up three earned runs in each of his last two starts and the Royals are 4-1 in his last five starts against the Tigers in Detroit. He may have to pitch well tonight since the Royals’ offense has been struggling only totaling six runs in their last three games, which was a sweep by the Indians. On the other side of the coin the Detroit lineup has totaled 30 runs in winning their last four games. Fulmer has not been sharp as of late, but the Tigers’ offense will give him a lot of support tonight in a Detroit win.

The Pirates are moving in the right direction for their playoff push and their pitching has been solid only giving up a total of four runs in winning the first two games of this series. However, Vogelsong has really been struggling as of late and Pittsburgh’s offense will have to light up the scoreboard if that continues tonight. Anderson has been solid in his last 10 starts and he will be backed by a lineup that has only scored seven runs in their last three games. Vogelsong will get tagged up again tonight and the Brewers will win and avoid the series sweep.

It is crunch time for the Yankees, who need a hot finish to make the post-season. Tampa Bay has only scored four runs combined in their last two games and that is not good with Tanaka in town, as he has owned them in his career. In his last game facing them on September 10th he shut them down only giving up one earned run and striking out 10 in a New York win. Tanaka leads the AL in ERA and even with the Yankees struggling as of late they have won four of their last five games facing the Rays and that is a trend that will continue tonight in Tampa Bay.

The Twins are back home after a seven day road trip that stared with a 2-2 series spilt with the Tigers before getting swept by the Mets in a three game set. Minnesota has a decent lineup, but they only scored a total four runs in getting swept by the Mets. The Detroit offense was struggling for a few games before going for nine runs in their last game. Boyd is coming off a terrible last start against the Twins and before that he had two wins this season facing them. Look for the Tigers to keep the Twins’ losing streak alive with Boyd pitching better and the Minnesota offense continuing to struggle at the plate.

While this is a big division series for both teams it is crucial for the Orioles who trail the Red Sox by three games and this is the last series facing them this season. Baltimore’s lineup is the strength of the team, but they have only scored two runs in each of their last two games. They got the win facing the Red Sox last time they faced them with Porcello on the mound, but only scored one run. The Red Sox are hot and they have totaled 25 runs in their four game winning streak. Their lineup will hit Bundy hard and Porcello will have another strong outing and those things equal a Boston win.

This is an important game for both teams, who are both in the Wild Card race. The Cardinals’ offense has been struggling as of late, as they have not scored over four runs in their last seven games. The Giants had totaled 14 runs in the first two games of this series before only scoring two in the loss yesterday. In Reyes two starts this season he has gone 10 innings and has given up three runs in two St. Louis losses. The Cardinals have had their issues at home this season where they are eight games under .500, but they have the most road wins in the Majors. Still, the Giants will get to Reyes in this game, which will not be a pitcher’s duel, and they will win and take the series.

The Astros have had the Mariners’ number in their last several games facing them and in their last two games overall they have combined to score 14 runs. Both starters are coming off less than stellar outings. In the Mariners eight game winning streak, which was snapped yesterday, they only had two wins facing a team that has a winning record. While Fiers was less than stellar in his last outing he was 2-0 in his previous four games, which were all Houston wins. The Mariners have only scored two runs in their last two games. With the Astros’ offense getting it done the last two games have to go with them in this game, which will not be a pitching duel.

The Rays have not been playing like a last place team as of late and in winning four of their last five games all of the wins have come against AL East teams that are in the playoff race. They had lost seven straight games against the Orioles in Baltimore before their win yesterday. Archer, who is 3-6 with a 4.52 ERA in his career facing the Orioles, has the most losses in the Majors, but ranks 4th in the AL in strikeouts and has been pitching well as of late. In losing his last two starts Tampa Bay has only totaled four runs, but their offense has been getting it done at the plate in their three game win streak and they will give Archer some run support tonight extending their streak with another win tonight.

While Boston’s lineup has struggled in losing the last two games the Yankees’ lineup has not been lighting up the scoreboard either totaling seven runs in their last four games. Tanaka has been pitching great in his last several starts and in 12 innings facing the Red Sox this season he has only given up three runs. The Red Sox have scored the most runs in the Majors, but you could not tell that when Rodriguez has been on the hill. In his last nine starts he has not notched a win even though in eight of those outings he gave up three runs or less. Don’t look for a high scoring game in this match up and with Tanaka on the hill the Yankees are this pick even on the road.

Brault has been pitching decent as of late and on the road this season he is 0-1 with an ERA of 3.86 in three starts. He has the luxury of facing a Phillies’ lineup that ranks last in baseball in runs scored, last in on base percentage, and 2nd to last in team batting average. Thompson has also pitched well in his last few outings, but has gotten little help from the offense. Look for that to happen again tonight, as Brault will keep the Philadelphia bats silent and the Pirates will take the 3rd game of this series, keeping their slim Wild Card chances alive.

The Indians have won eight of their last 10 games facing the White Sox and they took two of three in the last series facing them, which was in Cleveland. Quintana took one of the losses in the series going seven innings and only giving up two earned runs, but he got little support in the 3-1 Chicago loss. He is a lefty and in the last six road games for the Indians facing a left-hand starter they are only 1-5. Bauer has not been sharp in his last two starts, which were both at home, but in his last two road starts he has gone 12 innings and only given up three earned runs. The Indians will get to Quintana in this division match up and their lineup will be the difference maker, as they will win this game to even the series at a game apiece.

The Marlins have rebounded after losing 10 of 11 games, but they still face an uphill battle to make the playoffs. Cashner is coming off his best outing for the Marlins in his last start and will be facing an Atlanta lineup that only ranks tied for 28th in runs scored. The Braves’ pitching has been the issue as of late, as in losing five of their last six games they gave up at least five runs in every game. Foltynewicz has been pitching well in his last several starts and he faced the Marlins in the end of June giving up three runs in three innings before the game was called because of rain. The Braves have had the Marlins’ number this season and despite their recent slump Foltynewicz will have a good outing and they will get the home win tonight.

The Rangers have the best record in the AL, but they are only 8-7 facing the Angels this season. Weaver has not had the best season and he did not have a great last start, but he has had success against Texas in his career going 16-8 with an ERA of 3.40 in 38 starts against them. The Angels’ lineup showed some life even in the loss yesterday scoring five runs after totaling only four in their previous three games. Lewis was leading the AL in 12 quality starts and had held opponents to a .222 average before going on the DL. The Texas offense has not been lighting it up as of late but that will change today getting to Weaver early and they will get the win and complete the series sweep.

Jimenez is coming off his first complete game of the season and he has three straight quality starts. He will be facing a solid Detroit lineup, but the Tigers have only scored a total of eight runs in their last three games. The Tigers are hoping Zimmerman can get back to his early season form. He was the AL Pitcher of the month in April and on June 3rd he was 8-2 with a solid ERA of 2.58. However, in six starts since he has gone 29 innings and has given up 29 earned runs. He was shelled in his last outing not even making it out of the 2nd inning and the Orioles, who have scored 27 runs in their last four games, will get to him tonight. Baltimore will take this game, end their two-game slide, and even this series.

To say this is an important series with the logjam in the AL East would be a major understatement. These teams meet in the last series of the season in a two-game set in Boston. Rick Porcello leads Majors in wins and he is 8-1 since the All Star break. While the Blue Jays only gave up two runs in their last game they had given up 30 in their previous five games. While Estrada has a solid ERA of 3.30 at home this season he has struggled as of late, as in his last five starts he is 1-3 and has given up 19 earned runs in 26 innings of work. Boston’s loaded lineup takes on Estrada, who has not been sharp as of late and that equals a Red Sox win.

The Padres’ offense has really struggled as of late, as in their last five games they have only totaled 10 runs. They have Richard on the hill tonight, who has been lights out in his 2nd stint in San Diego only giving up three earned runs in four starts and he only has an ERA of 0.50 in his last three starts. Hoffman has struggled since being called up and even in 22 starts in the minors his ERA was 4.02. Richard will tame the Rockies’ bats tonight and have another solid start leading San Diego to a win.