Rating: 2 Units

Davies has posted nine quality starts in his last 11 appearances and is coming off another impressive performance, earning his third win over his last four turns after holding the reigning world champion Cubs to one run over seven innings Sunday. The 24-year-old has allowed only five earned runs over his last six starts, going 4-2 in that span, and hasn't permitted a home run since July 30. The Marlins have lost six in a row and 16 of 18. Miami's pitching staff has unraveled over the past week, surrendering 53 runs during the six-game skid.

Rating: 2 Units

Ray continued his spectacular late season surge by fanning 12 - his third straight game with double-digit strikeouts - while giving up two runs on four hits over six innings versus San Diego last time out. He earned his first win of the year in his second appearance against San Francisco this season on April 11, giving up four hits over 6 2/3 scoreless innings. San Francisco starter, Samardzija was tagged for six runs, including four home runs, over 5 2/3 innings at the Chicago White Sox on Sept. 9.

Rating: 2 Units

Richard has allowed at least three runs in nine of his previous 10 turns, posting a 1-5 record in that span. Richard had a dreadful outing at Colorado on July 19, when he was ravaged for 11 runs and 14 hits in 3 2/3 innings. Colorado starter, Chatwood will make his third start since he was shifted back to the rotation and will look to build on a solid effort against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday. He permitted five hits over five scoreless innings to record his first victory since June 8. Chatwood gave up five runs over 5 1/3 innings in a loss at San Diego on May 2, but he beat the Padres with eight innings of one-run ball on June 3.

Rating: 2 Units

Veteran RHP Jason Hammel will get his 29th start for Kansas City and despite a losing record at 8-10, Hammel has been pretty good lately for his team, going 3-1 in his last four starts.  KC has been producing some runs lately, scoring 11 on Sunday and 37 in their last five games.  This will be Hammel's first start vs. the Sox this season, but in his lone start against them in 2016, he went seven strong innings in an 8-1 rout. The Royals are 5-1 in the last six meetings.  

Rating: 2 Units

Brault made his first start of the season after six relief appearances Tuesday against the Cubs, giving up three runs over five innings in a no-decision. He is 0-3 with a 4.42 ERA in eight career starts while allowing opponents to hit .307. Three of those starts - and two of the losses - came last year against Milwaukee. Milwaukee starter, Woodruff was dominant against Washington his last time out, yielding a run and two hits with eight strikeouts in seven frames. The rookie has surrendered 17 hits - 15 singles - in 23 2/3 innings with Milwaukee. Woodruff walked just one batter against the Nationals after issuing eight free passes over his previous three starts.

Rating: 2 Units

The Minnesota Twins haven't participated in the postseason since 2010 but will be looking to protect their lead for the American League's second wild-card when they visit the Kansas Royals on Saturday. Minnesota won the first two contests of the four-game set and has won three straight games overall to gain a two-game edge over the Los Angeles Angels with 21 games to play. Center fielder Eddie Rosario homered and drove in four runs in Friday's 8-5 victory and his stellar play includes 10 homers and 28 RBIs over his past 32 contests. Third baseman Eduardo Escobar is also hot after homering during his third three-hit game over the past seven outings, improving to 11-for-29 with four homers and 12 RBIs during the stretch. Kansas City is fading with 10 setbacks in its last 15 contests and sits 4 1/2 games behind the Twins.

Rating: 2 Units

Bell is getting a second chance to earn a spot in Detroit's rotation after struggling in his debut start against Cleveland on Sunday. The 28-year-old rookie was knocked around for five runs and eight hits in four innings while notching just one strikeout and absorbing the loss. Bell, who made his first 19 appearances out of the bullpen, has surrendered 57 hits while issuing 22 walks in 46 2/3 frames. Toronto starter, Anderson is making his third start for Toronto and looking for his first win despite pitching well against Boston and Baltimore. The 29-year-old, who began the season with the Chicago Cubs before being released in May, surrendered one run in 5 2/3 innings against the Red Sox and held Baltimore to three runs in six frames on Sunday. Anderson issued 12 free passes in six appearances with Chicago but has yet to walk a batter with the Blue Jays.

Rating: 2 Units

Tomlin was solid in a win during his first start in almost a month after coming off the disabled list, yielding one run on six hits and one walk over 5 2/3 innings at Detroit. The 32-year-old Texan has given up three or fewer runs in five straight starts, going 4-0 in that stretch with 24 strikeouts versus a pair of walks. Adam Jones (11-for-21, one homer) and Manny Machado (4-for-6, two homers) have caused trouble for Tomlin.

Rating: 2 Units

McHugh was denied a chance at winning his third straight start last time out when he was pulled after 4 2/3 innings despite yielding one run on four hits against Texas. Still, he has allowed one earned run over his last three turns and limited opponents to two runs or fewer in six of his last seven starts. That includes six scoreless innings in a 3-0 win over Oakland on Aug. 19. Oakland starter, Cotton escaped with a no-decision at Seattle on Saturday, lasting only four innings and giving up four runs on seven hits, including three homers.

Rating: 2 Units

Williams is 0-1 with a 9.35 ERA in two starts against the Cardinals this year and 1-1 with an 8.31 ERA in five career appearances (two starts). St. Louis starter, Weaver has won three consecutive starts, allowing just four runs during that stretch. The 24-year-old has registered 29 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings during the span, twice striking out 10 and also fanning nine against San Francisco in his most recent start. Weaver has posted a 3.00 ERA in two career appearances (one start) versus the Pirates.

Rating: 2 Units

Clevinger is 8-4 with a 3.18 ERA as a starter this year while registering 107 strikeouts in 96 1/3 innings. His second consecutive scoreless outing was at Detroit last Friday, when the 26-year-old yielded three hits and struck out six. He got the win opposite Miley earlier in the year

Rating: 2 Units

Lynn is winless in his last five starts despite allowing fewer than three runs in four of the outings. The 30-year-old was superb against San Francisco in his last turn as he gave up one run in eight scoreless innings but settled for a no-decision. Lynn yielded four runs and six hits over six frames in a no-decision against the Padres on Aug. 22 and is 3-2 with a 3.25 ERA in six career starts. San Diego starter, Richard is 1-6 over his last 14 starts, surrendering five or more runs on five occasions during that stretch. The 33-year-old gave up four runs and six hits over 5 2/3 innings of a no-decision opposite Lynn last month. Richard is 5-7 with a 4.93 ERA in 14 home starts this season.

Rating: 2 Units

Nola was shelled for the third time in four outings on Saturday, allowing six runs and 10 hits in five innings of a 10-9 loss at Miami. The 24-year-old surrendered two homers for the second time in three trips to the mound and has permitted 19 runs and 31 hits en route to dropping three of his last four starts. Nola is 1-3 with a 4.85 ERA in eight career outings against the Nationals. Washington starter, Roark recorded a quality start for the seventh time in nine outings on Friday after allowing one run while striking out 10 in a hard-luck 1-0 loss to Milwaukee. The 30-year-old has faced the Phillies on three occasions but has yet to record a decision despite limiting the club to a .194 batting average.

Rating: 2 Units

Gausman authored his second straight scoreless outing on Friday, scattering five hits and striking out eight in six innings of a no-decision against Toronto. While the 26-year-old is pitching well of late, he has been throttled by New York this season to the tune of permitting 19 runs and 32 hits in 19 1/3 frames en route to splitting a pair of decisions. Gausman has allowed the Yankees to bat .376 versus him this season, with Aaron Judge going 5-for-11 with two homers.

Rating: 2 Units

Maeda was pounded for seven runs and eight hits in three innings while losing to the Diamondbacks on Thursday as he served up homers to Chris Iannetta and A.J. Pollock. The 29-year-old from Japan has struggled all season against Arizona, going 0-2 with a 9.53 ERA while allowing eight blasts over 17 frames in four starts to fall to 3-3 with a 5.19 ERA in 10 career turns. Maeda has a ragged 6.64 ERA over his last four starts but is 2-2 during that span.

Rating: 2 Units

McCullers is 2-0 with a 3.45 ERA in three starts against the Mariners this season, allowing just one run in each of the victories. He has experienced solid success against Seattle in his short career, going 5-2 with a 2.70 ERA and 1.22 WHIP. Seattle starter, Moore will be making his seventh start for Seattle - and first since July 26 - as the club pushed veteran Mike Leake's turn back to Friday. The 23-year-old has trouble keeping the ball in the park as he has served up 11 homers in just 38 1/3 major-league innings.

Rating: 2 Units

Biagini has made five appearances (one start) against the Red Sox this season, giving up seven runs and 12 hits over 11 innings. Betts is 5-for-9 with two homers and seven RBIs against Biagini. Boston starter, Fister gave the Red Sox their only victory in a four-game set at Yankee Stadium on Friday, working seven strong innings and allowing one run on four hits. The 33-year-old pitched seven innings in his previous turn but was saddled with the loss despite yielding two runs and five hits over seven innings.

Rating: 2 Units

Gonzalez has handcuffed Miami to the tune of posting a 9-3 mark with a 1.94 ERA in 15 career starts and a 3-0 record with a 1.29 ERA and 26 strikeouts in four outings (28 innings) this season. The 31-year-old Miami Dade County native didn't look as dominant in his last trip to the mound, however, as he saw his five-start winning streak come to a halt in Thursday's 6-3 setback at Milwaukee. The five runs he allowed in the six-inning stint were the most he surrendered since May 8.

Rating: 2 Units

Verlander pitched well in his last three starts for Detroit, going 2-0 with 1.71 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 21 innings during the span. He has won five of his last six decisions and given up two runs or fewer in six of his last seven outings. Verlander has posted a 2.13 ERA in two no-decisions against the Mariners this season - he retired the first 16 batters he faced on June 21, when he registered a season-best 11 strikeouts - and is 10-8 with a 3.15 ERA in 22 career outings.

Rating: 2 Units

Davies allowed a total of three earned runs in his last four starts and is at his best on the road, where he owns an 8-1 record with a 2.13 ERA. The 24-year-old did not yield an earned run in any of his last five road outings, including seven scoreless innings at the major league-best Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 26.

Rating: 2 Units

Sanchez sat out the last two weeks on the disabled list with hamstring tightness and is hoping he comes back with better results than he showed in his last three starts. The Venezuela native was ripped for 17 runs on 23 hits - nine home runs - over 11 1/2 innings in those three outings. Sanchez was not much better in his last start against Kansas City on July 26, when he served up four runs on nine hits and two walks over 3 2/3 innings.

Rating: 2 Units

Happ on Wednesday extended his winless streak to three games. The 34-year-old Northwestern product has completed seven frames twice in 20 starts and just once since his season debut on April 5. Boston starter, Porcello won in Toronto last time out , allowing just one run in 6 2/3 innings for his fifth victory in six turns and fourth quality start in five outings. The 28-year-old New Jersey native, who has registered 160 strikeouts over 176 frames, has notched six of his nine wins at home.

Rating: 2 Units

Bridwell , the 26-year-old rookie from Texas gave up fewer than three earned runs in each of his previous four outings but came away with only a 2-1 record. Bridwell has yet to lose on the road this season, going 4-0 with an impressive 2.00 ERA in six starts.  Oakland starter, Smith remains in search of his first win in 2017 as he makes his ninth start of the year - and also of his career. The 36-year-old Californian was tagged by the Angels for seven runs - six earned - over 3 2/3 innings in a loss at Los Angeles on Tuesday. Smith, who is 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA in three career appearances (one start) against the Angels, has worked six or more frames only once in his last five turns and has not yielded fewer than three runs in that span.

Rating: 2 Units

Moore has been unable to pick up career win No. 50 for two straight turns, allowing five runs in five innings of a loss at San Diego on Tuesday. The veteran has been pounded by the Rockies for 19 runs and 30 hits in 12 2/3 innings this year and has suffered at hitter-friendly Coors Field as much as anyone in his career, giving up 24 runs and 32 hits in 14 2/3 frames over four starts. Nolan Arenado (9-for-17, six extra-base hits against Moore) has led the charge against the 28-year-old, with D.J. LeMahieu (8-for-14) and Charlie Blackmon (5-for-13) chipping in.

Rating: 2 Units

Anderson has been strong in three starts since coming off the disabled list and is coming off a win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday. The 29-year-old allowed three runs on two hits and two walks while striking out six in six innings on Wednesday, but both of the hits were home runs. Anderson is 2-1 with a 2.27 ERA in six career starts against Cincinnati. Milwaukee seemed to be falling off the pace last month but found another life in the last week of August and won six of its last eight games, with five of those wins coming over first-place teams the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals.

Rating: 2 Units

Kansas City starter, Junis has not lost since June 29 and was sharp against Tampa Bay on Tuesday, when he scattered one run and three hits over 5 2/3 innings while striking out eight. The 24-year-old rookie struck out 15 while walking one in 11 innings over his last two outings and issued a total of two walks in his last six appearances. Detroit raised the white flag on the season last week by trading away Justin Verlander and Justin Upton and then dropped four in a row to the Cleveland Indians at home by a combined 29-5.

Rating: 2 Units

The Rockies are 5-0 (+5.8) when Gray starts at Coors Field. Gray last faced Arizona in June and when he did he struck out 10 hitters in six complete innings, the Rockies eventually winning by a 6-2 margin. The last time Arizona starter, Corbin faced the Rockies he allowed eight earned runs in four innings! In his last two starts at Colorado, he's allowed a whopping 14 earned runs in 8 1/3 innings. He's served up four home runs while issuing eight walks.

Rating: 2 Units

Archer held St. Louis to one run and five hits over seven innings in a no-decision last time out and is 1-1 with a 2.59 ERA over his last five starts. The 28-year-old North Carolina native has completed at least six frames in 18 of his last 19 outings while recording 14 quality starts, including one on June 6 against the White Sox in which he gave up two runs in seven innings of a loss. Archer is 3-1 with a 3.86 ERA against Chicago.

Rating: 2 Units

Hamels enjoyed a 5-0 stretch over his previous six starts before getting shredded on Saturday for six runs and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings of an 8-3 setback at Oakland. The 33-year-old looks to return to his winning ways versus Los Angeles, against which he posted dominant outings on July 7 and Aug. 21 to improve to 4-1 with a 2.47 ERA in eight career turns. Hamels has handcuffed Trout (2-for-15, six strikeouts), Andrelton Simmons (4-for-30) and Kole Calhoun (3-for-21, 10 strikeouts) in his career.

Rating: 2 Units

Pivetta looks to put a disastrous August in his rear-view mirror as the 24-year-old recorded a woeful 11.57 ERA (24 earned runs in 18 2/3 innings) in five starts. Pivetta actually ended the month on a positive note as he allowed three runs in five innings of a 6-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs. His previous outing was far from successful as he was blitzed for six runs and seven hits - two homers - over 1 1/3 frames in a 7-4 loss to Miami.

Rating: 2 Units

Clevinger is coming off a strong outing against Kansas City on Saturday, in which he scattered four hits over six scoreless innings and matched a season high with nine strikeouts. The 26-year-old Florida native surrendered one or no earned runs in six of his last 11 appearances. Two of those outings came in back-to-back starts against Detroit on July 2 and 8, during which Clevinger yielded a total of one run and five hits in 12 frames.

Rating: 2 Units

Gausman authored one of his best starts of the season on Saturday, when he scattered four hits over 7 2/3 dominant innings of a 7-0 rout at Boston. Gausman has picked it up against Toronto this season, posting a 2-0 record in four starts while yielding just five runs and 24 hits.

Rating: 2 Units

Bridwell continued to impress on Friday but suffered his first loss in nine starts after giving up two runs and six hits in seven innings against Houston. The 26-year-old rookie from Texas has yielded fewer than three earned runs in four consecutive turns and 10 of his last 12 while issuing more than one walk only once in his last eight outings. Bridwell, who will be facing Oakland for the first time, has posted a 3-2 with a 3.56 ERA at home.

Rating: 2 Units

Blach has been rocked while losing each of his last three starts as he has posted an unsightly 8.82 ERA during that stretch. The 26-year-old has struggled on the road this season, going 3-5 with a 5.64 ERA in 13 appearances (nine starts). Blach is 0-1 with a 3.71 ERA in three career starts against the Padres and has allowed a homer to Wil Myers (1-for-7) but has otherwise shut him down. San Diego starter, Wood is 2-1 with a 4.91 ERA in six starts since being acquired from Kansas City.

Rating: 2 Units

Odorizzi is winless in his last five starts - including all four since returning from the disabled list - and has worked more than four innings just once during that stretch. The 27-year-old, who started his major-league career with the Royals in 2012, gave up three runs, three hits and four walks over 3 2/3 frames of a no-decision at St. Louis on Friday. Hosmer is 5-for-15 with a homer versus Odorizzi, who is 1-4 with a 4.65 ERA against Kansas City.

Rating: 2 Units

Fulmer allowed five runs - four earned - and five hits in six innings against the Yankees in the contest in which three benches-clearing incidents occurred. The 24-year-old went 9-6 with a 3.19 ERA prior to the All-Star break and is just 1-5 with a 5.06 ERA in seven starts since. Colorado starter Marquez settled for a no-decision against Kansas City in his last start as he gave up two runs and eight hits - two homers - over six innings. Marquez is 6-2 with a 4.50 ERA in 10 starts at Coors Field.

Rating: 2 Units

Bundy is back after a stint on the bereavement list and is 4-0 over his last six turns. The 24-year-old has struck out 28 batters in 19 innings over his last three starts and has compiled a 2.67 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in four August outings. Bundy is making his first career start against the Mariners and has a 3.18 ERA in two relief appearances versus Seattle.

Rating: 2 Units

Worley will be trying to complete six innings for the first time since Aug. 8 at Washington and is coming off a dud at Philadelphia. The 29-year-old was ripped for eight runs and nine hits - two homers - in four innings. Washington starter, Jackson has been a welcome addition to the rotation since joining the team last month and owns a 2.93 ERA in seven starts with Washington. The 33-year-old surrendered a total of four runs in 19 innings over his last three starts but had to settle for a loss at Houston on Wednesday, when he received only one run of support. He has so far kept Stanton in the park.

Rating: 2 Units

Morton failed to set a new career high in victories on Tuesday as he yielded four runs and five hits over six innings in a loss to Washington. The 33-year-old from New Jersey, who also recorded 10 wins in 2011 while with Pittsburgh, and is 2-0 with a 3.24 ERA in three career starts against the Angels, including a triumph on April 17 in which he scattered five hits over five scoreless innings.

Rating: 2 Units

Archer, who will be facing St. Louis for the first time, is 6-7 with a 2.88 ERA in 17 interleague starts. St. Louis starter, Lynn is unbeaten in his last nine outings but saw his streak of eight straight quality starts come to an end Tuesday against San Diego as he gave up four runs over six innings in a no-decision. The 30-year-old Ole Miss product walked just one in that game but issued a total of 16 free passes in his previous four starts.  Lynn has been the Cardinals’ most consistent starter this season. Since the start of July, he has averaged six innings a start and posted a combined 2.08 ERA.

Rating: 2 Units

Gray makes his 11th start since returning from a stress fracture in his left foot that disabled him for two months. He has impressed in August while the Rockies have struggled, going 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA and beating the Braves on Aug. 16 in Denver with six innings of two-run, five-hit pitching. Atlanta starter, Foltynewicz looks to snap a three-start losing streak in which he has recorded a 15.43 ERA while walking as many hitters as he has struck out (nine) in 11 2/3 innings. He surrendered six runs on nine hits over 5 2/3 innings Monday against Seattle, after being pounded for eight runs on nine hits in just 3 1/3 innings by the Rockies on Aug. 16.

Rating: 2 Units

Bumgarner is 2-0 over his last three starts as he tries to salvage a season interrupted by a dirt-bike accident in April. The 28-year-old is 3-2 with a 2.81 ERA in eight outings since coming off the disabled list and has issued fewer than three walks in each of them. Bumgarner has a 2.58 ERA in 28 career appearances (27 starts) against Arizona. Arizona starter, Walker is winless in his last 10 starts (four losses) since defeating Colorado on June 21. The 25-year-old settled for a no-decision against the New York Mets in his last turn after scattering seven hits over 5 1/3 scoreless innings. Walker is 1-1 with a 4.76 ERA in three starts against the Giants this season.

Rating: 2 Units

After posting a 3.95 ERA in nine relief appearances, Despaigne will draw his first start since his season debut on May 6 in search of his first victory since defeating Miami over two years ago. The 30-year-old Cuban worked 2 2/3 scoreless innings at Philadelphia on Wednesday and gets the nod Saturday to help a rotation recovering from Tuesday's doubleheader against the Phillies. Despaigne faced the team that signed him as a free agent in 2014 twice in relief last season, holding the Padres scoreless in 1 2/3 frames.

Rating: 2 Units

Hamels looks to complete August with a perfect record after going 4-0 with one complete game and a 1.86 ERA in four starts this month. The 33-year-old Californian extended his overall unbeaten streak to six outings on Monday, when he allowed two runs and three hits over seven innings in a road outing against the Los Angeles Angels. Hamels owns a 2-1 record and 2.94 ERA in five career starts against Oakland. Oakland starter, Manaea's winless streak reached six starts on Aug. 18, when he gave up three runs and six hits over six innings in a loss at Houston. The 25-year-old native of Indiana has not won since defeating Cleveland on July 16 and has not been victorious on the road since limiting the Astros to one run in 5 2/3 frames despite yielding nine hits and three walks on June 27. Manaea fell to 1-2 in five career starts against the Rangers when he struck out 10 but surrendered six runs in 5 1/3 innings at Texas on April 9.

Rating: 2 Units

After failing to strike out a batter in a start for the first time in his previous outing, Conley fanned a career-high 11 on Sunday, yielding only a solo home run among the three hits he allowed over seven innings in a win against the Mets. The 27-year-old Washington State product has worked at least six frames in five of his seven trips to the mound since his mid-July promotion, lasting at least seven innings three times. Conley settled for a no-decision at San Diego on April 21 despite permitting one run in six frames.

Rating: 2 Units

Hellickson won his Orioles' debut on Aug. 2, tossing seven scoreless innings after he was acquired from Philadelphia, but his performances have regressed in each of his last three starts. He followed up a quality start at the Los Angeles Angels by giving up six runs at Oakland and was throttled by the Angels last Friday, yielding seven runs and a career-worst five homers. Mookie Betts is 5-for-5 with a home run against Hellickson. Boston starter, Porcello extended his winning streak with six strong innings against the Yankees on Sundy, allowing one run on a season low-tying three hits.

Rating: 2 Units

Sabathia came off the disabled list at Boston on Saturday and scattered two runs and four hits over six innings to snap a three-start winless streak. The burly veteran topped out at six innings in his last eight turns and was lifted on Saturday despite throwing just 80 pitches. Sabathia needed 98 pitches to get through five innings at Seattle on July 21 but surrendered only one run on four hits and three walks to come away with the win.

Rating: 2 Units

Holland was used in relief earlier in the series and was charged with three runs while retiring one batter, which left him with a 9.64 ERA against the Twins this year. He gave up seven runs and failed to complete three innings in each of his last two starts versus Minnesota and has just one quality start since the beginning of July. The 30-year-old, who is one loss away from setting a career high, has issued 39 walks in 64 1/3 innings at home in 2017.

Rating: 2 Units

The Chicago Cubs are taking full advantage of a soft spot in their schedule and beating up on last-place teams. The Cubs have gone 7-2 thus far during a stretch of 13 straight games against cellar dwellers. Chicago starter, Arrieta is 5-1 with a 2.00 ERA in seven starts since the All-Star break, and he has earned the win in his last three outings. The 31-year-old allowed two or fewer earned runs in all seven starts since the break and beat Toronto last time out with 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball. Arrieta is 7-2 with a 3.32 ERA in nine career starts against the Reds.

Rating: 2 Units

Victories continue to elude Ryu, who has earned only one win over his last seven turns despite surrendering a combined nine runs in that span. The 30-year-old South Korean had to settle for another no-decision last time out despite blanking Detroit on three hits over five innings -- the third time in four starts he did not allow a run. Ryu has posting a 2.79 ERA in winning all three starts versus Pittsburgh.

Rating: 2 Units

Thompson is expected to be called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to make Thursday's start with Philadelphia in the midst of playing six games in a five-day stretch due to Tuesday's doubleheader. The 23-year-old was shredded in his last outing with the Phillies on Aug. 2, surrendering seven runs on nine hits - including three homers - in a 7-0 shellacking at the Los Angeles Dodgers. Thompson will be making his 16th career appearance and 13th start on Thursday, albeit his first versus Miami.

Rating: 2 Units

Ray returns to the mound for the first time since July 28, when he sustained a concussion and required three staples to close the wound on the left side of his head after being on the receiving end of a line drive. A first-time All-Star this season, Ray permitted two runs on four hits with 11 strikeouts through 4 2/3 innings during his only minor-league rehab start with High-A Visalia. Ray has handcuffed the Mets in his career, posting a 1-0 mark with an 0.53 ERA after allowing just one earned run with 13 strikeouts in 17 innings.

Rating: 2 Units

Santana has a chance to match his best win total since 2010 - when he won a career-high 17 - after defeating Arizona his last time out. He limited the Diamondbacks to three runs in six innings for his third quality start in four outings this month. The 34-year-old spun 15 scoreless frames over two starts versus Chicago in April but was roughed up for six runs and a season-high 10 hits in five innings in a rematch June 20, which left him 11-8 with a 3.68 ERA lifetime against the White Sox.

Rating: 2 Units

Godley permitted one run on one hit, but saw his pitch count elevate after issuing a season-high five walks in a no-decision versus New York on May 15.  New York starter, Flexen has been plagued by a lack of control, as he issued four walks for the third time in five starts in Friday's 3-1 setback versus Miami. Flexen, who will be making his sixth career start overall and first against Arizona, has pitched better at home (1-1, 4.91 ERA) than on the road (1-1, 8.18).

Rating: 2 Units

Hill lasted only five innings at Detroit on Friday but improved to 5-0 since July 1 by limiting the Tigers to three runs on six hits. The 37-year-old has made it through six innings once in his last four turns, a span in which he has surrendered five home runs -- one more than he allowed in 20 starts last year. Hill has made eight career starts against Pittsburgh, posting a 3-1 record and 3.69 ERA. Pittsburgh starter, Williams matched his worst start of the year when he was rocked for eight runs and seven hits in three innings by the St. Louis Cardinals -- identical numbers to his line in a drubbing at the hands of the Dodgers in Los Angeles on May 8. He also lost his previous turn at Toronto on Aug. 12, giving up four runs over six innings. Taylor went 2-for-2 with a grand slam against Williams in early May.

Rating: 2 Units

Nicolino's last encounter versus Philadelphia on May 30 lasted just three innings as he bruised his left index finger while attempting to bunt. The 25-year-old has found his groove in his last two outings, winning consecutive trips to the mound for the first time since April 27-May 3, 2016 while surrendering a total of two earned runs on 12 hits in 10 1/3 innings. Nicolino allowed one run on six hits across five innings in a 3-1 triumph over the New York Mets on Friday. Philadelphia starter, Leiter will look to notch his first win in two months when he takes the mound on Wednesday. The 26-year-old fell to 0-3 in his last seven outings on Aug. 15 after getting shelled for eight runs on seven hits - including two homers - in an 8-4 setback at San Diego. Leiter hasn't fared well versus Miami this season, yielding six runs on as many hits in 2 1/3 innings over three appearances.

Rating:  2 Units

Giolito is making his White Sox debut after being acquired in the offseason from Washington as part of the package for outfielder Adam Eaton. The 23-year-old won his final two turns at Triple-A Charlotte to improve to 6-10 with a 4.48 ERA in 24 starts. The 6-6 Giolito was overmatched in a brief stint with the Nationals last season, when he went 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in four starts and two relief appearances.

Rating: 2 Units

Urena improved to 4-1 in his last six starts on Wednesday after allowing one unearned run on seven hits across five innings of an 8-1 triumph versus San Francisco. The 25-year-old Dominican permitted just a single run in four of his last six starts and has done well to keep the ball in the park during that stretch, surrendering just three homers in 35 1/3 innings. Urena will get his first look this season at the Phillies

Rating: 2 Units

Lackey is 5-0 with a 3.06 ERA in six starts since the All-Star break. The 38-year-old pitched well enough to win against the Reds last week in Chicago, allowing one run and four hits over six innings, but didn’t get a decision. Lackey is 6-5 with a 3.75 ERA in 16 starts against Cincinnati. Cincinnati starter, Bailey has had a wild ride the past six weeks, allowing six or more runs and two or fewer runs in an alternating pattern over his last eight outings. The 31-year-old was tagged for six runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings at Chicago on Wednesday

Rating: 2 Units

Milone will take the mound in place of fellow left-hander Steven Matz, who was diagnosed with elbow nerve irritation on Monday and will undergo season-ending surgery. The 30-year-old Milone will be making his first start in three months after being sidelined with a sprained left knee. Milone is 0-2 with a 10.50 ERA in three turns with the Mets this season and has made two previous career starts against the Diamondbacks, going 0-1 with a 7.59 ERA.

Rating: 2 Units

Davies is coming off a strong outing on Tuesday in which he allowed one run and six hits over 6 2/3 innings in a victory over Pittsburgh. The 24-year-old native of Washington has been superb on the road this season, posting a 7-0 record and 2.52 ERA in 12 outings. Davies, who has gone 2-0 while giving up one unearned run over 21 2/3 frames over his last three turns away from home, will be facing San Francisco for the first time.

Rating: 2 Units

Gsellman returned to the majors on Wednesday and allowed three runs - two earned - on four hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings of a no-decision against the Yankees. The 24-year-old surrendered one home run in that outing and has served up 14 in 81 1/3 frames this season. Gsellman worked an inning of relief at Arizona on May 17 and blew a save opportunity by allowing one run.

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Smith came on strong with three quality starts in his first three turns of the season but has not been as strong over his last four outings. The 36-year-old is 0-1 with a 7.08 ERA over those last four starts and was reached for three runs in 5 1/3 innings by Kansas City on Tuesday. Smith started at home against Baltimore on Aug. 10 and surrendered a season-high five runs on seven hits - four homers - and a walk.

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Gray did not factor in the decision against Miami in his last outing, when he gave up three earned runs and eight hits over 5 2/3 innings. The 25-year-old is 3-0 with 3.00 ERA in four turns at home this season and 10-3 with a 4.70 ERA in 23 career outings at Coors Field. Gray went 1-0 with a 0.64 ERA in two starts against the Braves last season.

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Hamels followed his first complete game since 2015 by turning in another strong performance in his last start, blanking Houston on three hits over seven innings. Since he was acquired from Philadelphia at the trade deadline in 2015, the 33-year-old owns a 29-7 record with the Rangers..

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Cain saw his winless stretch extend to 14 games on Aug. 7 after scattering four hits over three scoreless innings of a no-decision versus the Chicago Cubs. The 32-year-old owns an 0-8 mark during that stretch, with a two-walk performance in a brief one-third of an inning appearance against Miami on July 9 included in the mix. Cain owns a 3.63 ERA in his career versus the Marlins

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Nolasco escaped with no-decisions despite allowing 10 runs in nine innings over his last two starts after posting quality starts in three of his previous four turns. The 34-year-old Californian has managed just one victory in seven outings since tossing a shutout against Seattle on July 1 and is 2-7 on the road. Ryan Zimmerman has homered three times off Nolasco.

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Smith remains in search of his first major-league victory since 2008 with Boston after being tagged for five runs and seven hits - four homers - over six innings in a loss to Baltimore on Thursday. The 36-year-old Californian has surrendered four or more runs in three consecutive outings - including one in relief - after giving up three or fewer in each of his first three turns this year.  Kansas City starter, Hammel continued his solid pitching Thursday, when he allowed fewer than four runs for the 12th time in 13 starts in a no-decision at St. Louis.

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Newcomb allowed three runs (two earned), five hits and one walk while striking out six in six innings of a 3-2 loss to Philadelphia on Wednesday. The 24-year-old Massachusetts native has been better away from home - he's 1-0 with a 3.43 ERA in four road starts compared to 0-6, 5.02 in seven home turns - but could find the going tougher at cavernous Coors Field. Newcomb has struck out 61 and allowed 54 hits in 58 2/3 innings this season, but his 33 walks have helped lead to a 1.48 WHIP. Colorado starter, Freeland  is 6-4 with a 3.19 ERA in 11 home starts compared to 5-3, 4.22 on the road - unusual splits because of the difficulty pitching at altitude in a spacious ballpark.

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Leake is winless in his last three starts and was knocked around for five runs - four earned - and 11 hits over five innings against Kansas City on Wednesday. The Arizona State product did not complete six innings in five of his last seven starts. Leake is 6-10 with a 4.04 ERA in 28 career interleague starts, including 0-1 with a 4.26 mark in three chances against Boston. Boston starter, Porcello is enjoying a two-start winning streak and finally starting to get some support from his offense, which totaled 17 runs in his last two outings. Porcello is 17-8 with a 4.17 ERA in 35 career interleague games,

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Skaggs, who missed more than three months with an oblique injury, is still trying to find his control after issuing five walks in 10 1/3 innings since coming off the DL. Skaggs is 0-1 with a 2.28 ERA in four road starts this season. Washington starter, Gonzalez dominated in his last two outings, earning a pair of wins while yielding a total of one run and eight hits across 15 total innings.

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Sale is coming off yet another dominant outing in which he struck out 13 while limiting the Tampa Bay Rays to two hits in eight scoreless innings. The AL Cy Young favorite did not allow an earned run in four of his five starts since the All-Star break and has not suffered a loss since July 6. Sale had no trouble cutting through the New York lineup on July 15, when he scattered three hits and struck out 13 over 7 2/3 scoreless innings.

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The Cardinals improved to 22-9 against teams from the NL East with Saturday’s 6-5 victory, pulling into a virtual tie with the Chicago Cubs for the NL Central lead and extending their season-long winning streak to eight games. St. Louis starter, Wacha has lost just once in his past 12 starts, improving to 7-1 in that span by holding Kansas City to three runs on six hits over six innings Tuesday. That outing marks just the second time in his past eight starts he has surrendered more than two runs, posting an ERA of 2.22 over those starts with 52 strikeouts and 11 walks. Wacha pitched six innings against the Braves on May 7, giving up two runs on five hits with six strikeouts in a no-decision.

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The Cincinnati Reds' major-league worst pitching staff tends to bring out the best in opposing hitters, and that has particularly been the case for Eric Thames this season. The 30-year-old slugger looks to continue tormenting the Reds on Sunday when his Milwaukee Brewers host Cincinnati in the rubber match of their three-game set. The Brewers have feasted on the Reds' pitching staff, which has the highest ERA (5.24) and allowed the most home runs (194) in the majors, averaging 7.4 runs while winning eight of 12 against their National League Central rival. Even more than the rest of his teammates, Thames has shown no mercy on Cincinnati in 2017, setting a club record for most home runs in a season against one opponent (10) after delivering a solo shot in Saturday's 6-5, 10-inning victory - breaking George Scott's 42-year-old club mark. With the victory, Milwaukee (60-59) climbed back over .500, snapped a six-game losing streak and pulled within two games of co-division leaders St. Louis and the Chicago Cubs.

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Wainwright struggled early in the season but since has regained the form that has made him one of the National League's premier pitchers. He has won 11 of his past 13 decisions, but gave up three runs in three innings of a no-decision Sunday against Cincinnati. The 35-year-old is 8-3 with a 3.38 ERA in 17 career games (12 starts) against Atlanta, which drafted the Georgia native in the first round of the 2000 draft.

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Duffy yielded two runs in 13 2/3 innings at Baltimore and Detroit in his previous two turns and lost to Texas on July 15 despite giving up one run over 8 1/3 frames. Chicago starter, Lopez, who made 11 appearances (six starts) as a rookie with Washington last year, was acquired in the deal that sent Adam Eaton to the Nationals. The 23-year-old Dominican made 22 starts this season for Triple-A Charlotte, logging a 7-6 record and 3.79 ERA with 131 strikeouts in 121 innings. Right-handed batters hit .353 against Lopez last year.

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Stroman surrendered 11 hits at Houston on Sunday but limited the damage to two earned runs in 6 2/3 innings without factoring in the decision. The Duke product was not a part of the decision in four of his last five starts despite surrendering three or fewer runs in each of the no decisions. Stroman appeared once in relief previously against Pittsburgh and is 8-1 with a 2.38 ERA in 14 career interleague games - 11 starts.

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Darvish had a smashing debut with Los Angeles on Friday, scattering three hits and striking out 10 over seven scoreless innings in a victory over the Mets in New York. It was an enormous turnaround for the 30-year-old from Japan, who was battered for 10 runs over 3 2/3 frames of a loss to Miami on July 26 in his final outing with Texas before being traded five days later. Darvish has made two career starts against Arizona, going 1-0 while allowing four runs and recording 28 strikeouts over 14 2/3 innings. Arizona starter, Banda is coming off a triumph at San Francisco on Friday in which he gave up one run and three hits over six innings in his second major-league start. The Texan, who turns 24 on Thursday, struggled with his control, however, issuing four walks and hitting a batter. Banda, who will be facing Los Angeles for the first time, also has posted a 7-6 record and 5.13 ERA in 19 starts for Triple-A Reno this season.

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Gibson returned from a brief stint in the minors to allow three runs over 5 1/3 innings in a loss to Texas on Saturday. He has completed at least six frames in six of his last 10 starts after failing to do so in each of his first nine outings this year. The former first-round draft pick out of the University of Missouri is 1-1 with a 5.03 ERA in three career meetings with Milwaukee. Milwaukee starter, Davies has yielded three earned runs and 19 hits in 28 2/3 innings over a dominant four-game stretch, which includes seven scoreless frames in a win at Tampa Bay on Saturday. Davies, who never has faced the Twins, is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in three career interleague starts.

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Hammel is 4-6 with a 5.68 ERA in 12 career starts against the Cardinals. St. Louis starter, Lynn is 4-0 with a 1.21 ERA over his last six starts and has allowed more than one run only once during that stretch. The 30-year-old continued his dominant stretch by holding Cincinnati to one run and three hits over six innings on Saturday.

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Velasquez is 0-1 despite a 3.00 ERA in four starts since coming off the disabled list last month. The California native spun seven scoreless innings against Atlanta in his last home start July 30, but he's 1-4 with a 5.54 ERA in seven appearances in Philadelphia. Velasquez was reached for eight runs over 11 innings over back-to-back starts against the Mets in April, which left him 1-2 with a 3.76 ERA in five career encounters.

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Roark improved to 3-1 with a 2.96 ERA and 28 strikeouts in his last four starts on Friday after picking up the win following a two-run, five-hit performance in a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs. The 30-year-old started his season on a high after yielding two runs on three hits in six frames of a 6-4 win over the Marlins on April 5.  Miami starter, Straily lost his fourth straight start on Saturday despite allowing just two runs for the second consecutive time in a 7-2 setback at Atlanta. The 28-year-old rebounded from a disastrous season-opening loss to the Nationals to pitch much better against them the second time around, permitting one run on three hits in six innings of a no-decision on June 21. Matt Wieters is a robust 5-for-6 with two homers and four RBIs versus Straily,.

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Cahill makes his third start for Kansas City since being acquired from San Diego and remains in search of his first victory with his new club. He failed to get through five innings in his previous two turns, giving up two runs and six hits over 4 2/3 innings versus Seattle and five runs in four frames at Boston. Dexter Fowler is 7-for-14 and Matt Carpenter 5-for-12 against Cahill.

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Colon allowed four runs and nine hits in the victory over Texas that represented the 37th complete game of his career. The performance certainly helped his short-term future as he is 1-1 with a 5.18 ERA in four starts since joining the Twins after being a horrific 2-8 with an 8.14 ERA in 13 starts with Atlanta. Colon, who has posted a 10.80 ERA in two no-decisions against Milwaukee this season. Milwaukee starter, Woodruff is making his second major-league start after not allowing a run in his first. The 24-year-old gave up seven hits and two walks while striking out six over 6 1/3 scoreless innings in his debut against Tampa Bay on Friday.

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Gonzalez retired 14 in a row at one point in his last trip to the mound to improve to 2-0 in three starts this season versus Miami, against which he has allowed just three runs with 20 strikeouts in 21 innings. The 31-year-old has dominated the Marlins in his career, posting an 8-3 mark in 14 outings. Gordon (6-for-19) has been a thorn in the side of Gonzalez, although the left-hander has kept Marcell Ozuna (4-for-18) at bay.

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Tanaka has allowed just one earned run in each of his last two, including last Wednesday's hard-luck 2-0 setback versus Detroit. The 28-year-old has won two starts against Toronto this season, overcoming two homers in 6 1/3 innings of an 11-5 triumph on May 2 before limiting the Blue Jays to just one run over seven frames in a 6-3 victory on July 3. Tanaka has flustered several Toronto batters during his career, including Ryan Goins (0-for-19), Justin Smoak (1-for-14) and former Yankee Russell Martin (1-for-11). Toronto starter,  Tepesch owns a career mark of 9-19 with a 4.69 ERA in 44 appearances (41 starts) with Texas, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Twins.

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Wacha was 5-1 over his previous six starts, permitting two runs or fewer in each of the victories, and has lost only once since the beginning of June. Wacha owns a 2-1 record and 2.42 ERA in four starts versus Kansas City. Kansas City starter, Vargas was 12-3 with a 2.22 ERA after winning his seventh consecutive start on June 30, a superb stretch in which he surrendered a combined 11 runs en route to earning an All-Star berth.

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Garza defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in his last turn when he gave up one run and four hits over 5 2/3 innings. The 33-year-old has allowed two or fewer runs in each of his past five outings, sporting a 2.00 ERA during the stretch. Garza is 2-2 with a 2.43 ERA in five career starts against Minnesota, including a win in his lone start at Target Field when he gave up one runs and six hits over seven innings June 6, 2015. Mejia lost to the Texas Rangers in his last outing as he allowed four runs and seven hits over four innings. The 24-year-old is winless over his last five turns - the stretch includes two setbacks - despite giving up only four total runs in three no-decisions. Mejia, who is making his first career start versus the Brewers, is 2-4 with a 5.20 ERA in 11 home starts.

Rating: 2 Units

The power battle between Giancarlo Stanton and Bryce Harper did not disappoint in the series opener between Washington and Miami Marlins on Monday, and the final result was one the Nationals are seeing a lot. The Nationals will try to clinch a series split and move 23 games over .500 when they host the Marlins in the second of the four-game series. Harper belted his 150th career homer in Monday's 3-2 triumph, which pushed Washington's lead in the National league East to 14 games over second-place Miami.  Miami starter, Worley is 1-2 with a 5.60 ERA in six starts.

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Sabathia allowed four runs for the second straight outing after surrendering two homers in six innings of a 4-3 loss to Detroit last Tuesday. The 37-year-old struggled in his last encounter with Toronto, permitting four runs in 2 2/3 innings to take the loss in a 4-1 setback on July 4. Kendrys Morales (.348) and Justin Smoak (.304) have fared well in 23 career at-bats each versus Sabathia, who has split a pair of decisions over three starts versus the Blue Jays this season despite surrendering 11 runs on 15 hits in 13 innings.

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Samardzija (6-11, 4.77 ERA) has won back-to-back decisions for the second time this season and tries for a season-high third straight victory Sunday. On July 26, he allowed one run on four hits over seven innings with eight strikeouts and two walks in a 2-1 victory against Pittsburgh. On Tuesday in Oakland, he gave up four runs (three earned) on six hits over eight innings in a 10-4 victory. Samardzija is 2-3 with a 4.45 ERA in 14 games (nine starts) in his career against Arizona. Both those losses came this season in his first two starts. He gave up six runs and eight hits over 5 1/3 innings in a 9-3 loss at Arizona then gave up three runs and five hits over 6 2/3 innings in a 4-3 loss at AT&T.

Rating: 2 Units

Right-hander Mike Fiers (7-6, 3.97 ERA) will start the series and homestand finale for the Astros. Fiers leads the club in starts (21), innings (118) and quality starts (nine) this season. He is 1-3 with a 3.65 ERA over five career appearances (four starts) against the Blue Jays, suffering a 7-2 loss in Toronto on July 8 after allowing three runs on five hits and four walks in six innings. Right-hander Marcus Stroman (10-5, 3.19 ERA) will take the mound for the Blue Jays. Stroman is 2-1 with a 3.09 ERA over four career starts against the Astros. He limited Houston to one run on six hits and three walks with six strikeouts over seven innings in a 7-2 home victory on July 8.

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Adam Wainwright said he’s ready to go Sunday after missing two weeks with mid-back tightness. The St. Louis Cardinals’ right-hander is expected to be reinstated from the 10-day disabled list to start the finale of a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Wainwright (11-5, 4.79 ERA) was eligible to come off the DL on Thursday but the Cardinals felt there was no need to rush him back.

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Although he is tied with Trevor Bauer for the team lead in wins, Carrasco is coming off his worst start of the season. In Cleveland’s 12-10 loss to Boston on Aug. 1, Carrasco was knocked out of the game after just 1 2/3 innings. He threw 56 pitches and gave up five runs on six hits and three walks. However, in nine starts prior to that disaster, Carrasco was very good, going 5-1 with a 3.86 ERA, while averaging 11.2 strikeouts per nine innings. In two starts against the Yankees last year Carrasco was 0-2 with a 3.38 ERA. In 10 career appearances, eight starts, against New York, Carrasco is 4-4 with a 3.67 ERA. Severino hasn’t lost a game since July 2. In five starts since then he is 3-0 with a 1.36 ERA, a .203 opponents’ batting average, with 39 strikeouts in 33 innings. In his last three starts Severino is 3-0 with a 0.47 ERA. In two career starts against Cleveland he is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA.

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Nelson leads the Brewers with 13 quality starts this season, and is 8-3 with a 2.83 ERA over his last 17 starts. He has never faced the Rays, but then again, Archer has never faced the Brewers. Milwaukee’s recent surge has been almost entirely thanks to its pitchers. The Brewers have scored seven total runs in their last three wins, a pattern that will be hard to continue.

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New York fell to 3-5 on its 10-game road trip with Monday's setback . New York starter, Flexen made his major-league debut on Thursday at San Diego but lasted only three innings. The 23-year-old Californian took the loss after surrendering four runs - three earned - on five hits and four walks. Flexen has split the season between Single-A St. Lucie and Double-A Binghamton

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Suter authored his finest performance of the season on Friday, scattering four hits over a career-high seven scoreless innings in a 2-1 triumph over Chicago. The 27-year-old has posted a 2-0 record with a 1.50 ERA and 25 strikeouts in five starts since being inserted into the rotation on July 3 to replace the injured Chase Anderson (oblique). Suter recorded four scoreless innings of relief versus the Cardinals in April

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Vargas was lit up for six runs in 2 2/3 innings against Detroit in his first start after the All-Star break but was much better in his last two turns, allowing a total of three runs in 11 innings. The California native kept the ball in the park at Boston on Friday after surrendering six homers in his previous three turns. Vargas is seeing Baltimore for the first time this season and is 6-2 with a 3.35 ERA in nine road starts.