Weekend Watch

King Dethroned

The Seattle Mariners are starting to fade from the postseason picture, but they could go a long way toward restoring order if they could earn a victory against the New York Yankees and made up some ground on the Oakland Athletics and Houston Astros. Time is running out, however, as they're 6 1/2 back of the A's with just a few weeks to go. The M's need RHP Felix Hernandez to turn back the clock in this marquee game and pitch like he used to. If King Felix is going to have any success it's going to be at home. He is 4-5 with a 4.18 ERA with 66 strikeouts over 75 1/3 innings at Safeco Field in 13 starts this season while holding the opponent to a respectable .243 batting average. On the road, he has been a disaster at 4-8 with a 6.97 ERA and an opponent batting average of .280.

The Yankees are 16-6 in their past 22 games against a right-handed starter, including 9-3 in their past 12 road games vs. RHP. In addition, New York is 10-3 in their past 13 road outings and 10-3 in their past 13 against the American League West, too. However, it's worth noting that the Yanks are 2-7 in their past nine road outings against a team with a winning record, while going 3-9 in the past 12 overall against winning sides. For the M's, they're 5-11 in the past 16 home games while going 2-5 in King Felix's past seven at Safeco against teams with a winning overall record. The M's are just 1-7 in his past eight starts overall and 1-7 in his past eight against winning teams, too. In addition, they're just 1-4 in his past five assignments against American League East opponents.

If you're considering the total, the 'under' is 7-2-1 in New York's past 10 against teams with a winning record. The under is also 16-7-2 in the past 25 road contests against teams with a winning overall record. The 'over' has cashedi n five of the past six starts by Hernandez, and the over is 3-1-1 in his past five starts at Safeco. The over is also 9-1-1 in the past 11 when he is working on five days of rest. Seattle is just 1-4 in Hernandez's past five showings against the Yankees, and 1-4 in his past five home outings against the Yanks, too. New York has owned Seattle over the years, winning 35 of the past 52 meetings, including 20-6 in the past 26 at Safeco.

Looking Ahead

Saturday, Sept. 8

The Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals will do battle in a doubleheader on Saturday in D.C. It's the fourth double dip of the season for the Northsiders and they have split their previous three twin bills. It's also the fourth doubleheader for the Nationals, and they have split their past two after being swept on May 19 at home by the Dodgers. Overall in Major League Baseball, this will be the 30th doubleheader of the season with another scheduled for Sept. 28 between the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins. In the previous 29 doubleheaders there have been seven sweeps, including three by the home team.

The Nats will face a pair of southpaws in the double dip. Washington is just 1-4 in their past five vs. LHP, while going 1-4 in their past five against winning teams, too. In Game 2 they'll trot out Max Scherzer to face Jaime Garcia. The Nats are 21-8 in Scherzer's past 29 at home, while going 10-3 in his past 13 home outings against teams with a winning record. The under is 5-2 in the past seven second games of a doubleheader for the Cubbies, while going 19-8 in their past 27 vs. RHP entering the day. The 'over' is 5-1 in the past six for the Nats, while going 5-1 in their past six at home annd 4-1 in their past five at home vs. LHP. As far as Game 2 is concerned, the under is 4-0 in Scherzer's past four aginst the Cubs and 6-2 in his past eight against NL Central clubs.

The Dodgers and Rockies continue their series at Coors Field with RHP Walker Buehler and LHP Kyle Freeland squaring off. L.A. is 4-0 in their past four road games, and 5-1 in their past six on the road vs. LHP. The Dodgers have won five of the past seven starts by Buehrler against NL West clubs. The Rockies have won five of the past six against right-handed starting pitchers while going 11-4 in their past 15 overall vs. RHP. In addition, Colorado has won 20 of their past 28 inside the division. The Rockies have sparkled when Freeland is on the bump, too, particularly at home. They're 10-1 in Freeland's past 11 outings at home, and 19-7 in his past 26 overall. Total bettors might be pounding the 'under', which is 4-0 in the past four meetings at Coors, 4-0 in the past four meetings overall and 6-0 in the past six starts by Freeland against L.A.

Weather Report

Precipitation is likely to wreak havoc in the Midwest and Northeast over the next couple of days with the remnants of Tropical Storm Gordon inundating the areas. They're expecting rain at a 40 percent or greater chance for the Marlins-Pirates game at PNC Park. That might be great slop for the Penn State-Pittsburgh battle in college football, but it's not great for baseball.

You can expect the Padres-Reds game to be wiped out, as torrential downpours in the Queen City are expected. The Buckeye state is expecting rain totals north of four inches, and the forecast calls for 70 percent or greater chance of rain. If they get underway for the Cardinals-Tigers game, which is expected to be above the rain shield, they'll face a crosswind from left to right field at 13-16 mph.

In the doubleheader for the Cubs-Nationals, rain won't be an issue, but they'll see winds blowing in from 11-14 mph from right-center field to home plate. Those winds will be nothing compared to the Angels-White Sox game at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, with winds gusting anywhere from 18-23 mph from left-center field to home plate courtesy of the circulation of Gordon.

The Phillies-Mets game should be fine in Queens, with overcast conditions only. But the winds will be blowing directly in from center field to home plate at 11-14 mph.

Sunday, Sept. 9

The Orioles and Rays will be indoors, so there's no weather to worry about. Baltimore already has 100 losses with a few weeks to go, so bettors should be fading them hard down the stretch. Old friend Alex Cobb will be on the bump for the O's, but he has been a disaster in his new digs. The Orioles are 7-19 in the past 26 starts by Cobb, and they're 3-9 in his past 12 inside the division. They're also 1-10 in his past 11 outings when working on four days of rest. The Rays are 7-1 in their past eight inside the division entering play on Saturday, and they're 17-5 in the past 22 vs. RHP. The O's are 2-10 in their past 12 trips to St. Pete entering play on Saturday, and they're 0-4 in Cobb's four previous outings against his former employer.

The Giants and Brewers will also be safe from the elements at Miller Park. The Giants are in a tailspin, hoping Madison Bumgarner can pull them out of it. They're just 5-13 over his past 18 outings on the road, however. They are 17-5 across his past 22 against NL Central foes, though. The Brew Crew have won five of their past six vs. LHP and they're 23-10 in the past 33 against NL West clubs. They're also 7-3 in Zach Davies' past 10 outings against NL West clubs. MadBum likes facing the Brewers, as the Giants are 4-0 in his past four road outings in Cream City and 4-1 in the past five overall against the Brewers.

Houston and Boston tangle at Fenway Park on TV. Hopefully you have picture-in-picture so you can also watch the Bears and Packers on SNF. The Astros wheel out LHP Dallas Keuchel, and they've been better lately with him on the hill. Houston is 10-3 across his past 13 starts, including an impressive 7-1 in his past eight on the road. They're 26-12 in the past 38 on the road against right-handed starting pitchers. For the Red Sox, they're 8-1 in their past nine at Fenway vs. LHP, while going 11-5 in the past 16 overall against lefties. Boston is also 5-2 in Rick Porcello's past seven assignments against a team with a winning record. The over might actually be the play, cashing in 12 of the past 16 meetings at Fenway Park heading into Sunday's play, while going 27-11 in the past 38 meetings overall.

Weather Report

The rains will be all over baseball on Sunday. The Phillies-Mets will try to dodge the raindrops in Queens, with a 30-45 percent chance of showers. The winds will be blowing in from 15-18 mph from right field to home plate, too.

Gordon will bring strong winds from left to right at 17-20 mph for the Cardinals-Tigers battle if they are able to get underway. The showers are forecast to be just 40-45 percent around first pitch, but building to around 60 percent by 4pm ET.

The Padres and Reds are likely to be washed out, as the forecast calls for rain at over an 80 percent chance on Saturday. Even the most die-hard Pirates fan will be inside watching the Steelers-Browns opener on television, as there is no chance the Marlins and Bucs throw one pitch. The rain chance is listed at 100 percent for the entire day with winds gusting in from center field at 14-17 mph.

Like Pittsburgh, the chances of rain in D.C. are near 100 percent, so don't expect the Cubs and Nats to get underway. If they were able to play, they'd be battling a stiff 16-19 mph wind in from right field to home plate. But you have nothing to worry about, as this one should be canceled early.

On the south side, the Angels and White Sox will be able to play with the rain pulling out. However, the winds from Gordon will stick around, blowing in from left-center field at 20-23 mph.