Series could bring clarity to races
AL home-field advantage at stake, along with wild cards
With about 40 games left in the regular season, baseball’s postseason picture has become even murkier as wild-card races grow tighter and the Chicago Cubs fail to pull away in the National League Central. It’s a crucial week for contenders, with some of the best teams in baseball facing off, including a rematch of last year’s American League Division Series and a Washington Nationals interleague trip to the Houston Astros. (Note: Games behind, records and statistics are entering Monday’s games.)
RED SOX AT INDIANS Why it matters
The Boston Red Sox are closing the gap on the Astros for AL home-field advantage, while the Cleveland Indians are 21⁄ games behind the Red Sox. With the Astros facing the Nationals, the four-game set in Cleveland is a great opportunity for either team to get a leg up.
Jay Bruce is batting .375 with three homers and 12 RBI in 11 games with the Indians, who are 8-3 in that span. The Red Sox throw three lefties, including ace Chris Sale in Thursday’s finale. Corey Kluber, who goes Wednesday, has a 1.78 ERA with 35 strikeouts in four August starts.
Pitching matchups
Tuesday: Doug Fister (2-6, 5.56 ERA) vs, Carlos Carrasco (12-5, 3.76)
Wednesday: Drew Pomeranz
(12-4, 3.31 ERA) vs. Corey Kluber
(12-3, 2.67)
Thursday: Chris Sale (14-5,
2.62 ERA) vs. Trevor Bauer (12-8,
4.50)
NATIONALS AT ASTROS Why it matters
Houston sputtered through the first two weeks of August and, while the team has won four of six, the lead for best record in the AL is down to 41⁄ games on the Red Sox. With more than a month remaining to play in the regular season, the Astros need to rediscover their confidence, and a home series against a fellow runaway division leader is a great opportunity to do so.
For the Nationals, the season’s final 40 games are a formality. But ravaged by injuries, they need to get their affairs in order. Keep an eye on Thursday starter Ste- phen Strasburg. He pitched well Saturday in his return from the disabled list, and Washington desperately needs the 29-year-old to be healthy for October.
Pitching matchups
Tuesday: Tanner Roark (9-8,
4.70 ERA) vs. Charlie Morton
(10-5, 3.69) Wednesday: Edwin Jackson
(4-2, 3.43 ERA) vs. Mike Fiers
(7-8, 4.32)
Thursday: Stephen Strasburg
(10-4, 3.24 ERA) vs. Dallas Keuchel (11-2, 2.58)
ROCKIES AT ROYALS Why it matters
The Kansas City Royals have lost 12 of 19 to start August and are 11⁄ games out of the second wild-card spot. It’s not a big deficit, but Kansas City trails two teams and is tied with the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers are a game behind. Kansas City has a 6.05 ERA this month, the worst in baseball.
The Colorado Rockies have slumped but still hold the top NL wild-card spot. The team is under
.500 on the road, compared with
38-25 at Coors Field. This is a crucial series to set the tone as September nears. Fortunately for the Rockies, Carlos Gonzalez — in the midst of a dreadful season — is quietly coming on, batting .371 in his last 10 games.
Pitching matchups
Tuesday: Jon Gray (5-2, 4.74 ERA) vs. Danny Duffy (7-8, 3.82)
Wednesday: Antonio Senzatela
(10-4, 4.56 ERA) vs. Ian Kennedy
(4-9, 5.06)
Thursday: German Marquez
(10-5, 4.24 ERA) vs. Jake Junis
(5-2, 4.99)
RANGERS AT ANGELS Why it matters
A division title has long been out of sight, but both teams have fought their way into the wildcard race. The Los Angeles Angels have won nine of 11 and are tied with the Minnesota Twins for the second spot. Texas has plenty of teams to jump. But at 21⁄ games back, the Rangers are within striking distance.
Pitching matchups
Tuesday: Tyson Ross (3-2, 7.02 ERA) vs. Ricky Nolasco (6-2, 5.16)
Wednesday: Andrew Cashner (7-9, 3.31 ERA) vs. Andrew Heaney (0-0, 9.00)