Giants aim for late-month sweep of pesky Braves
USA TODAY Sports Weekly’s baseball correspondents weigh in on the top series over the next week in Major League Baseball:
BRAVES AT GIANTS (Aug. 26-28)
The Giants have faced a heavy diet of playoff contenders in recent weeks. The Braves are the antithesis of a playoff contender, but when they faced the Giants in late May and early June, they took two of the four games.
of the Giants was 7-for-14 in the series with two home runs and two doubles, but the Giants got meager offensive contributions from who was 1-for-14, and
who was 2-for-18. The Giants would love nothing more than to sweep the Braves going into a rare open date at home on Aug. 29.
BLUE JAYS AT ORIOLES (Aug. 29-31)
The three-team fight for the American League East lead should get some clarity from the six series in the season’s final five weeks that pair two of the trio, and this is the first one. Toronto holds a 7-6 lead in the season series, outscoring Baltimore 7764, but the Orioles have a 4-2 advantage at Camden Yards.
is hitting .388 with a 1.179 on-base-plus-slugging percentage (OPS), seven doubles, three home runs and eight RBI in 12 games against Toronto this season, and
is batting .347 with a 1.144 OPS, four home runs and eight RBI in 13 games against Baltimore.
TWINS AT INDIANS (Aug. 29-31)
Surprisingly, the last-place Twins have won eight of 13 meetings against the AL Central-leading Indians this season and are 20-12 over the last two years. Minnesota rookie right fielder
has hit five home runs, including three in one game Aug. 1, against the Indians this season while going 10-for-30 (.333). Second baseman
is hitting .308 against the Indians with four homers, three doubles, a triple and 14 RBI, and first baseman is at .362 (17-for-47) with seven doubles, a triple, a home run, seven RBI and 12 walks. Cleveland first baseman
has six homers vs. Minnesota.
PIRATES AT CUBS (Aug. 29-31)
The Pirates’ chances of catching the Cubs in the National League Central race are slim, but they still have a shot at being a wild card for the fourth year in a row. Chicago leads the season series 9-3, and first baseman
has sizzled against the Pirates — .532 average with 11 doubles, one triple, five home runs and a 1.717 OPS. Teammate is hitting .357 (15-for-42) with three doubles, three homers and 10 walks.
In an otherwise disappointing season, Pirates center fielder
has stood out against the Cubs with four home runs and 12 RBI.
MARINERS AT RANGERS (Aug. 29-31)
Seattle gets a shot at AL Westleading Texas, but it really has an eye on a wild card. The Rangers are a tough draw for the Mariners — Texas has won eight of the teams’ 12 games this season, including five of the last six. The Mariners were right on the Rangers’ heels in early June when they last visited Arlington, Texas, but they then got swept and haven’t been closer than three games since.
Seattle’s last shot at the Rangers this year is a four-game series at Safeco Field on Sept. 5-8.
MARLINS AT METS (Aug. 29-Sept. 1)
The Marlins are without GianThe Mets are
and among others. Both teams have fallen far behind the Nationals in the National League East. But as they head into the season’s final month, both will have a wild-card run in mind as they meet at Citi Field.
They’ll square off again in Miami in the final week of the regular season, in games both teams hope will still have meaning. The Mets will be happy to not see Stanton, who has homered six times in 11 games against them this year but probably is out for the season. without