Two of the National League’s most promising second-year pitchers square off Wednesday when the Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves play for the final time this season.
The Reds will send Luis Castillo (5-8. 5.70 ERA) against the Braves’ Sean Newcomb (8-2 Lions Authentic Jerseys , 2.59) in the rubber match of the three-game series in Atlanta. The Braves won 5-4 in 11 innings Monday and the Reds prevailed 5-3 on Tuesday. The season series is even at 3-3.
The Reds have won eight of their last nine games overall and improved to 30-31 since Jim Riggleman took over as manager April 19.
“We are a young team trying to find our identity and who we are,” Riggleman said. “As the season progresses, we would like to see some results in a positive direction, and I think we have that going. Hopefully we can take it into the All-Star break and hopefully pick it back up after.”
The same pitchers met Aug. 20 as rookies last year, with the Braves winning 8-1. Newcomb pitched five scoreless innings and worked around five hits and five walks to earn the win. Castillo allowed two runs in four innings, striking out eight.
Castillo, 25, will make his 17th start of the season and his second career appearance against the Braves. He pitched well in his last start, a win over the Chicago Cubs that saw him give up three runs in 5 2/3 innings, with five strikeouts.
The promising right-hander is trying to survive a rocky June, which has seen him go 1-3 with a 6.33 ERA in four starts. He was 3-2 with a 3.48 ERA in six May starts.
Newcomb is 6-0 in starts following an Atlanta loss. He has allowed one run over 13 innings in his last two outings. He gave up one run in seven innings against Baltimore on Friday but did not receive a decision.
Newcomb has made two career starts against the Reds, going 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA. In an April 26 start against Cincinnati this season, Newcomb gave up four runs in six innings and did not get a decision in the Braves’ 7-4 win.
Atlanta is awaiting to learn the condition of Anibal Sanchez Packers Authentic Jerseys , who has been the team’s surprising addition to the rotation. The veteran left Tuesday’s game after 4 2/3 innings with cramps in his right calf.
“Cramping in his calf,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. “Once it starts like that, it’s going to take all night. It was his landing leg. He wasn’t going to be able to go. But he should be fine.”
The Braves said they expect to get closer Arodys Vizcaino back from the disabled list Saturday. He has been sidelined with right shoulder soreness. He played catch Tuesday and is expected to throw off the mound Friday.
“I don’t see any reason why he shouldn’t be ready when his time is up,” Snitker said.
After an open date Thursday, Atlanta begins a difficult road trip that takes the Braves to play the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees and Milwaukee Brewers.
The Reds continue their road trip with a four-game series against the Brewers that begins Thursday.
Kyle Gibson recovered from a rough start to throw seven innings, and Max Kepler homered in his second straight game to lead Minnesota past Baltimore 5-4 on Saturday.
Bobby Wilson went 2-for-3 with three RBIs for the Twins, who won their third in a row.
Gibson (3-6) allowed three runs in the first inning – including a two-run homer by Chris Davis – but only gave up two hits after that while striking out nine. It was Gibson’s highest strikeout total since fanning 10 batters on April 26 against the New York Yankees.
Kepler’s solo shot off Kevin Gausman sparked a three-run fifth that tied it. Wilson’s two-run double off Miguel Castro (2-5) in the sixth gave Minnesota the lead for good.
The team with baseball’s worst record, meanwhile, lost its fifth in the row.
Trevor Hildenberger worked a scoreless eighth for the Twins. Jace Peterson’s RBI double off Fernando Rodney pulled the Orioles to 5-4, but Rodney got Tim Beckham on a grounder to short to convert his 19th save in 24 chances.
CUBS 8, REDS 7
CHICAGO – Javier Baez homered and had four hits – including a game-tying infield single in the eighth – and Chicago rallied from a five-run deficit and over Cincinnati.
Anthony Rizzo’s RBI groundout capped a four-run eighth inning for Chicago, which has come from behind in each of its last eight wins.
Eugenio Suarez homered and Billy Hamilton added three hits and three stolen bases for Cincinnati Texans Authentic Jerseys , which had its five-game winning streak against the Cubs snapped.
Randy Rosario (4-0) allowed two hits in 2 1/3 innings to get the win. Brandon Marrow worked the ninth for his 20th save.
Jared Hughes (2-3) took the loss, part of three Reds relievers who allowed five runs in 2 1/3 innings.
PHILLIES 3, PIRATES 2
PITTSBURGH – Nick Williams, Scott Kingery and Jorge Alfaro drove in runs on consecutive at-bats in the seventh inning to help Philadelphia beat Pittsburgh and extend the first-place Phillies‘ winning streak to six games.
Jake Arrieta (6-6) worked around six hits with the help of eight strikeouts to hold the Pirates to two runs over seven innings.
Pirates starter Jameson Taillon (5-7) was charged with all three runs. He had allowed just two singles coming into the seventh. He struck out eight and walked none.
Starling Marte singled and scored in the first and homered in the second as part of a three-hit afternoon to stake the Pirates to an early lead.
Victor Arano worked around a leadoff double in the ninth for his second save.
CARDINALS 3, GIANTS 2
SAN FRANCISCO – Carlos Martinez pitched seven effective innings for his third consecutive win and St. Louis beat San Francisco.
Martinez (6-4) allowed one run on six hits with three strikeouts and did not walk a batter for the third time this season. The right-hander also drove in the Cardinals’ first run with an RBI double in the third.
Jordan Hicks allowed a run in the eighth and Bud Norris retired three batters for his 17th save.
Brandon Belt had three hits and drove in both runs for the Giants. San Francisco has been held to two runs or fewer in five of its last six games.
Jeff Samardzija had an uneven outing in his first start since May 29. Activated off the disabled list before the game, Samardzija (1-5) gave up three runs in five innings and repeatedly pitched with runners on base.
BRAVES 5, BREWERS 1
MILWAUKEE – Anibal Sanchez pitched effectively into the seventh and Freddie Freeman added three hits, lifting slumping Atlanta over Milwaukee.
Sanchez (4-2) retired 19 in a row at one point to help snap Atlanta’s season high four-game skid. He exited with two outs in the seventh after being hit by a liner on his right hip.
Atlanta got to Brewers spot starter Aaron Wilkerson (0-1) early to end Milwaukee’s five-game winning streak. Wilkerson had taken the rotation turn of Brent Suter, who went on the 10-day disabled list with left forearm tightness on Friday.
Sanchez struck out six in a row at one point. But after two easy outs in the seventh, his day ended quickly following a walk to Hernan Perez.
TIGERS 7, RANGERS 2
DETROIT – Nicholas Castellanos homered as part of a seven-run first inning for Detroit, and the Tigers cruised past Texas.
Cole Hamels (4-8) retired only two batters for the Rangers in his shortest start since 2010, and Adrian Beltre had a home run taken away when Detroit’s JaCoby Jones made a spectacular catch in left-center field.
Mike Fiers (6-5) allowed a run and five hits in six innings. He struck out six with one walk.
Rougned Odor hit a solo homer for Texas immediately after Beltre was robbed by Jones. Shin-Soo Choo doubled twice for the Rangers to extend his on-base streak to 46 games Colts Authentic Jerseys , tying Julio Franco’s club record set in 1993.
Niko Goodrum had four hits for the Tigers.
YANKEES 8, BLUE JAYS 5
TORONTO – Luis Severino pitched five innings to earn his major league-leading 14th win, Brett Gardner and Aaron Judge each hit solo home runs, and New York beat Toronto.
Severino (14-2) won his fifth straight start, allowing three runs and five hits. Two of the hits were home runs, marking the first time this season that Severino has allowed more than one homer in a game. He has allowed three earned runs or less in 16 consecutive starts.
Jonathan Holder, David Robertson, Dellin Betances each worked one inning and Aroldis Chapman got the first out of the ninth before leaving with an apparent injury. Chasen Shreve finished for New York, giving up a solo homer to Aledmys Diaz.
J.A. Happ (10-5), a potential trade target for the Yankees, had a dreadful audi