Odds are high that we'll have our first team clinch their division by the weekend. Boston's number to clinch to AL East is three. Atlanta's number to clinch to NL East is two. Los Angeles' number to clinch the NL West is two. The Dodgers are playing the Diamondbacks today, and they can clinch with a win, while the Braves and Red Sox won't be able to wrap things up until Monday. However, a win on Thursday can clinch a playoff spot for the Red Sox – just not a division title.
PIC OF THE DAY
Alex Wood is angry. You wouldn't like him when he's angry. (Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports)
Game of the Night: Mets 5, Giants 4. Just when you think things couldn't get worse for the Giants, they completely collapse like this. San Francisco held a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the eighth, but Matt Cain allowed a sac fly to Josh Satin, cutting the lead to three runs. No big deal. In the bottom of the ninth, Santiago Casilla started the frame by walking Andrew Brown, striking out Lucas Duda, and walking Juan Lagares. Sergio Romo replaced Casilla, and pinch hitter Zach Lutz laced an RBI double to left, cutting the lead to 4-2. Juan Centero then hit an infield single to score Lagares and make it 4-3. Uh oh. After intentionally walking Matt den Dekker, Romo got Omar Quintanilla to ground out for the second out, but the aforementioned Satin finished the game off with a two-run single to left. METS WIN! METS WIN!
Pitching Lines of the Night: Charlie Morton had an outstanding start for the Pirates in their 3-2 loss to the Padres, allowing one run on two hits in eight innings, striking out nine and walking three. Tyson Ross countered him by allowing two runs on three hits in seven innings, striking out seven without a walk. Hisashi Iwakuma pitched well for the Mariners in their 8-0 win in Detroit, giving up four hits over eight shutout frames, walking a pair and striking out six. In that Giants' loss in New York, Matt Cain gave up one unearned run on six hits in 7 2/3 innings, punching out six without a walk. Tyler Thornburg pitched the Brewers past the Cubs 7-0, allowing two hits in six scoreless innings, punching out four and walking two.
Hitting Lines of the Night: In Seattle's win in Detroit, Franklin Gutierrez went 3/5 with a a double, homer, two runs, and a stolen base, while Justin Smoak went 2/3 with three runs, two RBI, a walk, and a homer. In Cincinnati's 6-5, 13 inning win over Houston, Jay Bruce went 3/5 with three doubles, three RBI, and two runs. His teammate Billy Hamilton went 3/4 with two runs, an RBI, two walks, a double, and four stolen bases. The Diamondbacks beat the Dodgers 9-4, but in the loss, Yasiel Puig went 3/4 with a double and a solo homer.
Other Games: The Twins beat the White Sox 4-3. Atlanta beat Washington 5-2. The Marlins beat the Phillies 4-3 in ten, thanks to Giancarlo Stanton doing this. The Angels topped the A's 5-4 in 11 innings. The Rays beat the Rangers 4-3 in a crazy 12 inning game. The Yankees rallied late to beat the Blue Jays 4-3. The Orioles beat the Red Sox 4-3 in 12. The Cardinals edged the Rockies 4-3. The Royals beat the Indians 7-2.
What You Missed: Post-mortem and hope for the hopeless on the Mariners. Should Ron Washington be on the hot seat?
Today's Games: Gerrit Cole and the Pirates host the Padres. James Paxton gets the nod for the Mariners in Detroit against Doug Fister. Madison Bumgarner and Jon Niese will duel in New York. Kyle Lohse and the Brewers host the Cubs. Michael Wacha starts for the Cardinals in Colorado. Ricky Nolasco and Wade Miley will tango in the desert. Gio Gonzalez and the Nationals host the Marlins. Ubaldo Jimenez and the Indians host the Astros. Hiroki Kuroda starts for the Yankees in Toronto. Chris Tillman and John Lackey will face off in Boston. Yu Darvish and Matt Moore will go at it in Tampa.
National TV: Orioles-Red Sox (7 PM, MLB Network), Rangers-Rays (7 PM, MLB Network)
MLB.tv Free Game: Cardinals-Rockies (3 PM)
Pitching Matchup of the Day: Yu Darvish vs Matt Moore (Rangers vs Rays, 7 PM)
Enjoy your day of baseball, everyone.
