Weekend Watch

Saturday, Aug. 17

The Milwaukee Brewers and Washington Nationals will square off in D.C. on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. with RHP Jordan Lyles and RHP Anibal Sanchez hooking up. The Nats posted a 2-1 victory in the series opener behind LHP Patrick Corin, hitting the under for just the third time in the past seven outings while winning for the fifth consecutive game.

Milwaukee enters 4-0 in the past four games against a right-handed starting pitcher, but they're just 4-9 in the past 13 on the road vs. RHP. In addition, the Brew Crew have dropped five in a row on the road against teams with a winning overall mark. On the flip side, the Nationals have won five in a row, four straight at home and six in a row against National League Central Division opponents. They're also an impressive 10-4 in the past 14 outings by Sanchez, and 4-1 in his past five when working on five days of rest. The Nats are also 11-4 in the past 15 at home vs. RHP, and 36-17 in the past 53 overall against a righty.

 The Dodgers and Braves continue their series at SunTrust Park in suburban Atlanta, and L.A. looks to keep their foot on the gas after posting an 8-3 win in the series opener to move to 3-1 on the current road trip. They turn to LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu to keep the good times rolling. L.A. is 8-1 over Ryu's past nine outings against teams with a winning overall record, while cashing in each of his past six against NL East foes. The Dodgers have also picked up 39 wins over the past 53 against teams with a winning overall mark.

As far as the Braves are concerned, they roll out RHP Mike Foltynewicz. While they're 5-0 across his past five outings, they're just 3-10 in his past 13 outings overall, 1-4 in the past five on five days of rest and 4-10 in his past 14 against teams with a winning overall mark. They're also 2-9 in the previous 11 starts by Foltynewicz at home against tems with a winning overall record, while winning just one of his past 12 appearances against NL West clubs. They're also 0-4 in his past four showings against the Dodgers. L.A. has won four of Ryu's past five against Atlanta, while going 9-3 in their past 12 trips to Hotlanta.

Marlins RHP Hector Noesi faces Rockies RHP German Marquez as the 1993 MLB Expansion Teams do battle in Denver. The Marlins limp in with a 1-4 record over the past five, and they're 0-6 in the past six Game 2s or a series. They're also 8-20 in the past 28 vs. RHP, while going 18-48 in the past 66 on the road against righties. For the Rox, they're 8-3 in Marquez's past 11 home outings, 9-1 in his past 10 against losing teams and 5-1 in his past six inside the NL East. While they're just 11-28 in the past 39 overall, they are a perfect 5-0 in the past five against teams with a winning percentage under .400.

Weather Report

The Astros and Athletics will be battling 10-13 mph winds blowing out to straightaway center field in Sunday's afternoon battle in the Bay Area. The Mets and Royals will be facing 9-12 mph winds blowing out to left-center field for their afternoon battle at Kauffman Stadium.

In Arlington, the Twins and Rangers will be battling a hot wind blowing in from right field at 11-14 mph. The Marlins and Rockies will also see winds blowing in from 10-13 mph, blowing in from left-center field. The good news is no one will be under the gun as far as precipitation is concerned.

Sunday, Aug. 18

It's a lefty-on-lefty battle on Sunday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park as LHP Joey Lucchesi goes for the Padres against LHP Jason Vargas for the Phillies. Lucchesi is 7-7 with a 4.25 ERA with 125 strikeouts across 127 innings. The Padres have been skidding, and they're 0-6 in Lucchesi's past six outings, and 1-8 over his past nine. It isn't likely he'll be able to right the ship in Philly, as he has been a disaster on the road. Lucchesi is 6-3 with a 2.91 ERA across 74 1/3 innings at home, while going 1-4 with a 6.15 ERA across 52 2/3 innings on the road.

For the Phils, Vargas is 6-6 with a 4.03 ERA and .305 opponent on-base percentage across 111 2/3 innings with 88 strikeouts. In three outings with Philadelphia since coming over from the New York Mets, he has posted an 0-1 record, 4.15 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with two homers, seven walks and just seven strikeouts across 17 1/3 innings. He faced the Padres as a member of the Mets back on July 23, allowing just one hit, four walks and eight strikeouts over six scoreless innings in a victory.

Astros RHP Zack Greinke and Athletics LHP Brett Anderson tangle on Sunday afternoon in the Bay Area. Greinke has allowed seven earned runs and 14 hits with four walks over 12 innings in two outings with the Astros since coming over from the Diamondbacks in a deadline deal. Houston is 2-0 in his two starts with the team, but this will be his first outings inside the AL West. Anderson is 10-8 with a 3.95 ERA and a .308 opponent on-base percentage. He has just 71 strikeouts over 139 innings, as power isn't exactly his game. The A's are just 1-3 in his past four outings, and the A's are just 1-3 in his past four at home, too.

In the Sunday Night Baseball game in the Steel City, Cubs LHP Jose Quintana will face RHP Mitch Keller. Chicago has posted a 10-7 record, 4.11 ERA and .305 opponent OBP across 135 2/3 innings. He is 2-0 with a pair of quality starts on July 4 and 14 against the Pirates, including Independence Day at PNC Park. Chicago is 7-1 across Quintana's past eight starts dating back to June 22, and he is coming off a 14-strikeouts performance last time out in Philadelphia, a no-decision on Aug. 13. Keller will be making his fifth start of the season, and just his second since being recalled from the minors on Aug. 12. Overall he is 1-1 with a 7.94 ERA and .417 opponent OBP. He was muched better last time out, allowing two runs - one earned - and five hits over five innings in a win against the Angels on the road. It was Pittsburgh's first win in his four starts this season.