Weekend Watch

Sinking Mariners

The Seattle Mariners continue to careen out of control, and they're just about mathematically eliminated from the postseason picture after an exciting summer run. With just 15 games remaining in the regular season they are 11 games back in the American League West, and 8 1/2 games back of the Oakland Athletics for the second wild card. In other words, it's not looking too goodm and they probably do not deserve to go to the playoffs with a minus-43 run differential. They'll look to keep their extremely remote playoff chances alive with RHP Erasmo Ramirez facing Angels LHP Andrew Heaney in Southern California on Saturday evening.

The Mariners haven't been able to take advantage of the weak opponents, as Seattle is a dismal 3-7 in their past 10 outings against teams with a losing record. They also haven't been able to piece together winning streaks since the All-Star break, going 7-19 over the past 26 outings following a victory. Oddly enough, Ramirez has been able to keep them afloat, as the M's are 5-1 across his past six outings. However, they're still just 2-6 in his past eight on the road, and a terrible 5-19 in his past 24 starts against American League West Division foes. That includes a 1-5 mark in his past six starts against the Halos.

For the Angels, the postseason ship has long since sailed. However, they're not packing it in, going 5-1 in their past six games against right-handed starting pitchers while going a solid 5-2 in their past seven following a loss. They're picked up the pace with the southpaw Heaney on the hill, too. They're 6-1 over Heaney's past seven home outings, including 4-1 in his past five at home against a team with a winning overall record. They're 9-3 in his past 12 starts overall, too. If you're into totals, the under is 6-2 in Seattle's past eight, but the over is 4-1 in their past five on the road. The over is also 6-1 in Ramirez's past seven on the road. For the Halos, the under is 5-1 in the past six, and 5-1 in their past six at the Big A, too. However, the over has connected in eight of the past 11 at home vs. RHP, while going 7-3-1 in the past 11 meetings in Anaheim.

Looking Ahead

Saturday, Sept. 15

The Athletics continue their playoff push, and a large part of their success has been their ability to win games on the road. They're an impressive 44-29 away from home, and they have a solid +111 run differential overall. Oakland has posted victories in 56 of the past 78 games overall, and they're 36-17 in the past 53 on the road. In addition, they've made a living against American League East clubs, going 21-8 in the past 29 vs. the AL East. And for what it's worth, they're 11-2 in the past 13 Saturday games. They're also an impressive 21-5 in the past 26 during the second game of a series. The playoff chances of the Rays are also on life support, like the M's above, but they're still plugging away. Tampa Bay has won six of their past seven against AL West clubs, and they're an impressive 20-7 in the past 27 games overall. In addition, they're also 20-7 in the past 27 vs. RHP while winning an impressive 38 of their past 52 at home. The Rays are 4-1 in Ryne Stanek's past five starts overall, and 4-1 in his past five against teams with a winning overall mark.

It's a good pitching matchup in Houston, as the Diamondbacks and RHP Zack Godley face the Astros and RHP Charlie Morton at Minute Maid Park. The Snakes are sinking like a stone in the National League playoff picture, although they're still very much alive. However, they cannot afford losses as they jockey with the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers for one final playoff spot. The D-Backs are just 2-6 over the past eight road games, and they're 3-9 in the past 12 against teams with a winning overall record. In addition, Arizona is just 1-4 in the past five starts by Godley. The Astros are 6-1 in the past seven vs. RHP while going 5-1 in their past six home outings. They have won 17 of the past 22 games overall, as the defending champs ramp up for another long postseason run. Morton hasn't been salting away the wins lately, though, as Houston is 0-4 over the past four home starts with a team with a winning overall record.

Weather Report

Precipitation was awful across the majors last weekend, but at least on Saturday it appears the weather gods will smile on baseball parks all across America. However, the wind will be humming at Petco Park for the game between the Rangers and Padres. There will be a wind blowing from 11-14 mph from the left-center power alley to home plate.

At AT&T Park in San Francisco, the winds will be gusting from 17 to 20 mph from home plate to straightaway center field, so watch the 'over' in that one.

Sunday, Sept. 16

The Blue Jays roll out LHP Thomas Pannone to face the Yankees RHP Lance Lynn in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at The Stadium. Toronto has won just two of their past eight on the road against a right-handed starter, and they entered Saturday's contest just 17-35 in the past 52 games inside the division. The Yankees have won five of Lynn's past seven starts, and they're an impressive 29-13 in the past 42 vs. LHP. In addition, New York is 23-9 in the past 32 home games against a southpaw. The Bronx Bombers also entered play on Saturday with an 8-0 record vs. AL East clubs and 22-10 in the past 32 against teams with a losing overall mark.

The Dodgers are battling the Cardinals for playoff positioning, and it's a very important game on Sunday night in front of a national audience. RHP Ross Stripling takes the ball for L.A. while RHP Adam Wainwright works for the Cards. They entered play on Saturday with identical records at 81-67, so this is the final game of an ultra-important series. The Dodgers have been successful with Stripling on the hill, winning six of his past seven starts, including 5-1 in the past six on the road and 7-3 in his past 10 against teams with a winning overall mark. The Cardinals have rattled off 11 wins over the past 15 tries against teams with a winning overall record, while going 5-2 in the past seven vs. RHP. They're also 9-4 in Waino's past 13 starts, and 38-16 across his past 54 assignments at Busch Stadium II. The Cards have won four of Wainwright's past five home outings against the Dodgers, and the under is 5-1 in his past six tries against L.A.

Weather Report

Like Saturday, the precipitation will stay away and will not interrupt any of the MLB venues. The same two spots will be affected by wind for the second consecutive day. In San Diego, the winds will be blowing left to right at 11-14 mph, while the winds will be blowing out from 16-19 mph from home plate to straight away center field for Colorado-San Francisco.