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St. Louis’ Adam Wainwright has been the National League’s best pitcher in August and he makes his final start of the month Friday night in a big matchup vs. Washington and its co-ace Gio Gonzalez. Bet on Cardinals-Nationals and every game at WagerWeb.com.
San Francisco at Chicago Cubs – Giants LHP Madison Bumgarner (14-8, 2.93) vs. Cubs RHP Chris Volstad (1-9, 6.28): Usually dominant at home and not one to give free passes, Bumgarner walked four as he allowed four runs in 6 1/3 innings in the Giants’ 7-3 loss to the Braves in his last start. He is 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in two career starts at the Friendly Confines. … Volstad doesn’t have to worry about the streak any more. He ended a 24-start winless streak in his last game, picking up the win over the Rockies as he threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings. He has a 3.82 ERA in five starts in August.
St. Louis at Washington – Cardinals RHP Adam Wainwright (13-10, 3.63) vs. Nationals LHP Gio Gonzalez (16-7, 3.28): Wainwright, looking like his old self again, has had a tremendous month. He has a chance at moving to 6-0 in August and enters the start with a 1.47 ERA in five starts this month. Batters have hit just .203 against Wainwright in August. … Gonzalez recorded a quality start but lost to the Phillies on Saturday, giving up three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out seven over six innings. He struck out 31 and walked only eight in his first five starts in August.
NY Mets at Miami – Mets RHP R.A. Dickey (16-4, 2.76) vs. Marlins RHP Nathan Eovaldi (4-9, 4.54): In beating the Astros on Saturday at Citi Field, Dickey became the Mets’ first 16-game winner since Johan Santana in 2008. Next milestone for Dickey? No Mets pitcher has won 17 games in a season since Al Leiter in 1998. … Facing his former club, the Dodgers, didn’t go as planned for Eovaldi, who was lifted after three innings, and six runs allowed, with three homers. Eovaldi hadn’t allowed a home run in his five previous starts since joining Miami.
Philadelphia at Atlanta – Phillies RHP Roy Halladay (8-7, 3.88) vs. Braves LHP Mike Minor (7-10, 4.71): Halladay looks to fare better than his first two starts vs. the Braves, when he combined to go 0-1 with 8.74 ERA. He looked great Saturday vs. the Nats, earning his fourth win of the month after throwing an astounding 86 of 105 pitches for strikes. … Once known for his changeup, Minor has turned his season around since essentially removing the pitch from his arsenal. He has posted a 2.50 ERA and limited opponents to a .211 batting average in his past nine starts.
Cincinnati at Houston – Reds RHP Mike Leake (6-8, 4.51) vs. Astros LHP Fernando Abad (0-1, 3.62): Although Leake gave up 10 hits over 6 2/3 innings on Saturday vs. the Cardinals, he gave up only two runs. Credit the pitcher for working out of trouble, keeping the hits on the ground and getting two double plays. … Abad was recalled from Triple-A to start against the Mets on Saturday — the first start of his career — and he delivered four innings of one-run ball. He made 30 relief appearances with the Astros earlier this season before he was optioned in July.
Pittsburgh at Milwaukee – Pirates RHP Jeff Karstens (5-3, 3.47) vs. Brewers RHP Mark Rogers (2-1, 4.28): Karstens hopes to not have any residual effect from the strained left-groin that forced him out last Saturday against the Brewers. He did go seven scoreless innings — the seventh time in his last 10 starts that he’d gone seven-plus. … Rogers gutted through five innings to beat the Pirates on Sunday without his best stuff, and will try to be sharper in the rematch. After being denied in his first six Major League starts, Rogers has two straight wins.
San Diego at Colorado – Padres LHP Clayton Richard (11-12, 3.72) vs. Rockies RHP Alex White (2-6, 5.49): Richard allowed three runs in seven innings in his last start, against the D-backs. That was the 15th time this season that he has completed seven or more innings. Richard has walked a combined two batters over his last three starts. … Manager Jim Tracy says White has a heavy sinker that someday will get him through a game in 90 or fewer pitches, once he finds consistency. White gave up three runs, including a homer, in his last start, vs. the Cubs, and needed a bullpen bailout.
Arizona at LA Dodgers – Diamondbacks RHP Trevor Cahill (9-11, 3.99) vs. Dodgers RHP Aaron Harang (9-8, 3.70): Lasting just 3 2/3 innings his last time out, Cahill surrendered four runs on eight hits to the Padres in his shortest outing in over a year. The right-hander hasn’t won since July 30, when he beat the Dodgers. … Seeking his 10th win, Harang allowed two home runs to the Marlins. No shame in having Giancarlo Stanton go deep, but his big mistake was a two-run homer by Rob Brantly, his first in the Major Leagues.
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