Key things to watch for in today's games
Kershaw, Hamels and Scherzer are among aces on display
Wednesday features a full day of baseball, with games slated from noon on the East coast until well into the evening on the West Coast.
Here are five things to watch for:
• Kershaw vs. the defending champs: SF @ LAD, 10:10 p.m. ET
Clayton Kershaw was dominant in his last start against the Cubs (14 strikeouts) and he'll need that type of stuff again on Wednesday if the Dodgers want to maintain their lead over the Giants in the division. With 12 more strikeouts, Kershaw (who leads the Majors with 236 this season) can tie his career high for a season.
• Scherzer in St. Louis: WAS @ STL, 8:15 p.m. ET
Max Scherzer returns to his hometown of St. Louis on Wednesday, looking to give the Nats a much-needed victory against the playoff-minded Cardinals. He's also looking to turn the page on a tough August in which he went 0-3 with a 6.43 ERA. It'll be Michael Wacha for the Cardinals, as the young right-hander brings a 6-2 home record and 2.43 ERA in 11 starts this year.
• Davies debuts: PIT @ MIL, 8:10 p.m. ET
The Brewers are set to welcome 22-year-old right-hander Zach Davies, acquired from the Orioles at the Trade Deadline, to the rotation on Tuesday night against the Pirates. Armed with his top-notch changeup, Davies will face off against the Pirates, who will send left-hander Jeff Locke to the hill.
• Hometown Hamels: TEX @ SD, 10:10 p.m. ET
It could be a very happy homecoming for Cole Hamels, who returns to San Diego now in a Texas uniform and in the heat of a pennant race. Hamels is 5-1 with a 1.78 ERA in eight starts at Petco Park, and 9-2 with a 2.15 ERA in 16 starts overall against San Diego. The Padres will counter with Ian Kennedy, who has a 2.32 ERA since the All-Star break.
• Hungry (like the Wolf) for a win: DET @ KC, 8:10 p.m. ET
While he's given the Tigers what they've needed -- four runs on 14 hits over 14 innings with 10 strikeouts -- veteran lefty Randy Wolf is still searching for his first win with Detroit. It'll be a tough task on Wednesday against the Royals, who send Yordano Ventura to the mound looking for his fifth straight quality start.