Since June 1st, the Los Angeles Dodgers are 39-19, a .672 clip that has thrust them to the top of the NL West standings in a romp over the rest of the division. The team has picked up a mind-numbing 12 games on the now second place Diamondbacks over that span of time, The playoff races in the National League look close to out of reach now, with Arizona as the only team having a prayer at unseating any of the five current teams in the league's playoff picture.
PIC OF THE DAY
Pablo Sandoval acknowledging a fan, likely making light of the last place Giants (Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)
Game of the Day: Blue Jays 6, Angels 5. Anaheim had a nice 5-2 lead going into the eighth in this one, and CJ Wilson was cruising along. Wilson began the eighth by getting Jose Reyes to ground out, then gave up singles to Rajai Davis and Jose Bautista to bring the tying run to the plate. Then, Angels manager Mike Scioscia embarked on a mind-numbing quest to empty his entire bullpen in one inning. First, JC Gutierrez replaced Wilson and allowed a run-scoring fielders choice where the Angels got no outs thanks to an error on Chirs Nelson. Nick Maronde replaced Gutierrez and got Adam Lind to ground into a fielders choice of his own for out number two. Maronde was pulled and replaced by Michael Kohn, who gave up a run-scoring infield single to Maicier Izturis. Finally, closer Ernesto Frieri replaced Kohn and got Colby Rasmus to pop out for the third out and the Angels still leading by a run. In the ninth, Frieri started the inning and gave up a single to Brett Lawrie and hit JP Arencibia before getting Reyes to fly out. Exit Frieri, enter Dane De La Rosa, who got David to ground into a fielders choice for out number two. With a win one out away, De La Rosa proceeded to allow back to back RBI singles to Bautista and Encarnacion to put Toronto in front. Daniel Stange retired Emilio Bonifacio to end the inning, but Casey Janssen threw a perfect bottom of the ninth to shut the door. If you're keeping score at home, six Angels relievers combined to get five outs and lose them the game.
Pitching Lines of the Day: Derek Holland dominated the A's in a 4-0 Rangers win, allowing four hits over eight scoreless innings, walking a pair and striking out ten. Lance Lynn obliterated the Reds offense (not that he needed to) in the Cardinals' 15-2 blowout win, giving up two runs on four hits in eight innings, punching out 11 and walking two. AJ Burnett threw a complete game for the Pirates in their 5-1 win over the Rockies, giving up one run on eight hits, walking one and striking out nine. Scott Kazmir carried the Indians to a 2-0 win in Miami, giving up two hits over six shutout frames, striking out seven and walking two. Felix Doubront controlled the Diamondbacks in Boston's 4-0 win, allowing five hits over seven scoreless innings, striking out five without a walk.
Hitting Lines of the Day: The trio of David Freese, Tony Cruz, and Matt Adams gave the Cardinals all of the offense they needed, as Freese went 3/4 with three RBI, two runs, a double, and a homer, Cruz went 2/4 with two runs, two RBI, a walk, and a homer, and Adams went 2/5 with two runs, two RBI, and a homer. Adam Dunn had a good day for the White Sox in their 3-2, 12 inning loss to the Tigers, going 4/5 with a solo homer. In the Angels rough loss to the Blue Jays, Mike Trout went 2/2 with two runs, two walks, a double, and a homer. In Toronto's victory over those same Angels, Rajai Davis went 3/5 with three runs, an RBI, and three stolen bases. Danny Valencia had a good game for the Orioles in their 3-2 loss to the Mariners, going 2/4 with a double and a two-run homer.
Other Games: The Royals stayed hot, topping the Mets 6-2. The Rays edged the Giants 4-3. The Twins bested Brad Peacock and the Astros 3-2. The Brewers rallied to beat the Nationals 8-5. The Dodgers beat the Cubs 1-0. The Padres doubled up the Yankees 6-3, and Ian Kennedy got his first win with San Diego. The Braves won their tenth in a row, topping the Phillies 4-1.
Today's Games: Mike Minor and Stephen Strasburg will duel in Washington. Zack Greinke and Adam Wainwright face off in St Louis. Anibal Sanchez and Corey Kluber square off in Cleveland. Andy Pettitte leads the Yankees into Chicago to take on the White Sox. John Lackey starts for the Red Sox in Houston. RA Dickey and Hisashi Iwakuma will be paired off in Seattle.
National TV: Dodgers-Cardinals (7 PM, ESPN)
Pitching Matchup of the Day: Mike Minor vs Stephen Strasburg (Braves vs Nationals, 7 PM)
Enjoy your day of baseball, everyone.