Baseball Probable Pitchers

Nationals @ Cardinals

(83-68)

final • Wed, Sep 18

At Busch Stadium

(85-67)

Max Scherzer

RHP

10-7, 2.81 ERA, 233 SO

Each start for Scherzer leading up to the NL Wild Card Game could serve as a tune-up as he starts to work his way back to form after recovering from back and shoulder injuries. He was not sharp in his last start -- three runs allowed in five innings against Atlanta.

Adam Wainwright

RHP

13-9, 3.83 ERA, 144 SO

Wainwright has a 2.61 ERA in his last seven starts and has allowed one run over his last three outings, including a scoreless six-inning effort against the Brewers on Friday. In 16 career appearances (14 starts) vs. the Nats, Wainwright is 9-4 with a 3.34 ERA.

View Close Stats

Mets @ Rockies

(79-73)

final • Wed, Sep 18

At Coors Field

(66-87)

Noah Syndergaard

RHP

10-8, 4.22 ERA, 186 SO

Syndergaard specifically asked to pitch to Tomas Nido or Rene Rivera last time out, but the Mets gave him Wilson Ramos and it didn’t end well. Syndergaard has a 5.20 ERA throwing to Ramos this year, and a 2.22 mark pitching to the other two.

Jeff Hoffman

RHP

2-6, 6.71 ERA, 61 SO

While he has had heavy base traffic, Hoffman's recent outings have been more competitive. Hoffman is coming off a win over the Padres in his last start. He walked six in 5 1/3 innings but held the damage to four runs.

View Close Stats

Royals @ Athletics

(56-97)

final • Wed, Sep 18

At Oakland Coliseum

(92-61)

Danny Duffy

LHP

6-6, 4.30 ERA, 110 SO

Duffy was sharp after a tough first two innings in which he threw 54 pitches on Friday against the Astros. He went six innings overall and gave up just one run with six strikeouts.

Homer Bailey

RHP

13-8, 4.55 ERA, 146 SO

Bailey was strong in his most recent start in Houston on Thursday, holding the Astros to one run over 5 1/3 innings, walking three and striking out four. Bailey has allowed three runs across 11 2/3 innings in September, spanning two starts.

View Close Stats

Marlins @ D-backs

(53-99)

final • Wed, Sep 18

At Chase Field

(78-75)

Sandy Alcantara

RHP

5-14, 4.00 ERA, 140 SO

It would almost be impossible for Alcantara to pitch better than he has in recent weeks. He has gone at least seven innings in six of his past seven starts. One was a complete-game, four-hit shutout against the Royals on Sept. 8. This will be his second career start against Arizona.

Mike Leake

RHP

12-11, 4.38 ERA, 124 SO

Leake allowed a pair of two-run homers in his last start against the Reds and took the loss when the D-backs were shut down by Luis Castillo. Leake has a 5.51 ERA in eight starts since coming to Arizona at the Trade Deadline.

View Close Stats

Angels @ Yankees

(69-83)

final • Wed, Sep 18

At Yankee Stadium

(99-54)

Dillon Peters

LHP

3-3, 4.81 ERA, 50 SO

Peters has scuffled lately, posting a 7.85 ERA over his past four starts. He yielded four runs over just three innings against Cleveland on Sept. 11.

CC Sabathia

LHP

5-8, 4.99 ERA, 105 SO

It will likely be the final regular-season Yankee Stadium appearance for Sabathia, who did not record a decision in his last start, working 3 1/3 innings of two-run ball Sept. 12 at Detroit. Sabathia leads all active hurlers with 3,087 strikeouts.

View Close Stats

Mariners @ Pirates

(64-88)

final • Wed, Sep 18

At PNC Park

(65-87)

Justin Dunn

RHP

0-0, 6.75 ERA, 1 SO

The Mariners' No. 5 prospect will look for better things after walking 5 and allowing 2 runs in two-thirds of an inning in his MLB debut Thursday vs. the Reds. Dunn is expected to pitch two to three innings before turning things over to lefty Tommy Milone.

Dario Agrazal

RHP

4-5, 5.08 ERA, 36 SO

The Pirates won Agrazal's last start despite him only pitching four innings in San Francisco. It was a step forward for Agrazal, who's auditioning for a 2020 job, but the he still owns a 7.08 ERA over his last eight outings dating back to July 26.

View Close Stats

Blue Jays @ Orioles

(61-91)

final • Wed, Sep 18

At Oriole Park at Camden Yards

(49-103)

Clay Buchholz

RHP

1-5, 6.48 ERA, 29 SO

The veteran right-hander has made four starts since returning from the IL in late August, posting a 4.57 ERA with 13 strikeouts and six walks over 21 1/3 innings of work. This is his first time facing the Orioles in 2019.

Dylan Bundy

RHP

6-14, 4.89 ERA, 156 SO

Bundy was undone by one hard-luck inning his last time out, not an uncommon occurrence for a pitcher whose underlying metrics look better than his 6-14 record and 4.99 ERA. This will be the 26-year-old right-hander’s penultimate start of the season.

View Close Stats

Tigers @ Guardians

(45-106)

final • Wed, Sep 18

At Progressive Field

(89-63)

Spencer Turnbull

RHP

3-15, 4.66 ERA, 134 SO

Turnbull gets one more matchup with the team responsible for five of his Major League-leading 15 losses this season. Dizzy Trout, who lost six times to the Yankees in 1942, is the only Tigers pitcher with a half-dozen losses to the same opponent.

Aaron Civale

RHP

3-3, 1.82 ERA, 42 SO

Civale last recorded a start on Sept. 7 after his outing on Friday was washed out in the third inning. He gave up a two-run blast to Jorge Polanco, but all stats were erased when the teams decided to restart the game the following afternoon.

View Close Stats

Giants @ Red Sox

(74-78)

final • Wed, Sep 18

At Fenway Park

(79-72)

Jeff Samardzija

RHP

11-12, 3.64 ERA, 135 SO

Samardzija was charged with the loss after giving up four runs over 6 1/3 innings against the Pirates on Thursday. He is 1-2 with a 6.75 ERA in four career appearances (three starts) against the Red Sox.

Jhoulys Chacín

RHP

3-11, 5.66 ERA, 93 SO

Chacin will make his fourth appearance (third start) since joining the Red Sox. He's yet to allow a run over 5 2/3 innings with Boston, while striking out seven and allowing just two hits.

View Close Stats

Phillies @ Braves

(78-72)

final • Wed, Sep 18

At SunTrust Park

(93-60)

Zach Eflin

RHP

9-12, 4.00 ERA, 121 SO

Eflin is 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in his past four starts. He allowed three unearned runs last week against the Braves. Eflin started the season hot, struggled, got demoted to the bullpen and is finishing the season in the rotation.

Julio Teheran

RHP

10-10, 3.55 ERA, 161 SO

Teheran will look to bounce back after allowing the Phillies five runs in four innings on Thursday. The three homers allowed matched his total in his previous seven starts. Still, the veteran has a 2.94 ERA over his past 24 starts.

View Close Stats

White Sox @ Twins

(66-86)

final • Wed, Sep 18

At Target Field

(93-59)

Iván Nova

RHP

10-12, 4.83 ERA, 107 SO

Dylan Covey was scratched after Tuesday’s loss due to shoulder soreness. So with the White Sox having limited pitching options, Nova will start and throw one inning instead of his normal bullpen session.

Jake Odorizzi

RHP

14-7, 3.59 ERA, 171 SO

Odorizzi will move up a slot in the rotation after thunderstorms in Cleveland wiped out his last start after only two innings. Though he told manager Rocco Baldelli he was available sooner, Odorizzi will pitch on the standard four days' rest.

View Close Stats

Padres @ Brewers

(69-83)

final • Wed, Sep 18

At Miller Park

(82-70)

Dinelson Lamet

RHP

3-5, 3.84 ERA, 95 SO

Since his return from Tommy John, Lamet has been essentially the same pitcher as he was pre-surgery. He's prone to flashes of brilliance with swing-and-miss stuff. But his command has been erratic, and his walk rate is too high.

Adrian Houser

RHP

6-7, 3.83 ERA, 109 SO

Houser is coming off a disappointing start in St. Louis marred by a Paul Goldschmidt grand slam. Before that, he'd allowed three or fewer runs in six straight starts.

View Close Stats

Reds @ Cubs

(72-81)

final • Wed, Sep 18

At Wrigley Field

(82-70)

Tyler Mahle

RHP

2-11, 4.93 ERA, 123 SO

Mahle is working to position himself for the 2020 rotation but is 0-1 with a 6.43 ERA in three starts for the Reds since returning from Triple-A Louisville. Manager David Bell has remained high on Mahle and believes he has shown growth in 2019.

Jon Lester

LHP

13-10, 4.51 ERA, 161 SO

Lester picked up a win on Friday despite allowing seven runs (four earned) on 11 hits in five innings vs. Pirates. The lefty has given up 15 runs (12 earned) in 10 1/3 innings in his past two starts. He is 8-4 with a 4.37 ERA in 15 home starts this year.

View Close Stats

Rays @ Dodgers

(90-63)

final • Wed, Sep 18

At Dodger Stadium

(98-55)

Brendan McKay

LHP

2-4, 5.40 ERA, 53 SO

McKay has allowed three earned runs over seven innings since returning to the Majors on Sept. 3. The Rays are 4-6 in starts made by the team's top pitching prospect.

Casey Sadler

RHP

4-0, 2.23 ERA, 30 SO

View Close Stats

Rangers @ Astros

(74-79)

final • Wed, Sep 18

At Minute Maid Park

(100-53)

Kolby Allard

LHP

4-1, 4.25 ERA, 32 SO

Allard is making his first career start against the Astros. He allowed four runs in four innings against the Rays last Thursday, but the Rangers rallied to win and are 6-1 in his seven starts. Allard is 3-0 with a 2.38 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP in four road starts.

Gerrit Cole

RHP

18-5, 2.61 ERA, 302 SO

Cole is 13-0 with a 1.85 ERA and 192 strikeouts in his past 19 starts. He's set a club record for consecutive wins by a pitcher and is eight strikeouts shy of becoming the third Astros pitcher to reach 300, and the first since Mike Scott (306 in 1986).

View Close Stats