Tuesday starter Brett Tomko is having the best pitching stretch of his career, going 9-2 since June 24. He has won five straight games and sports a 2-0 record and 0.82 ERA in September. He pitched a complete-game four-hitter against Milwaukee last Wednesday.
–mlb.com
Tuesday’s starters: Brett Tomko (10-6) vs. Carlos Hernandez (1-2)
Notable: Tickets for the Giants’ 2004 Division Series home games at SBC Park are now on sale on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Home games remaining: Houston (3), Los Angeles (3)
Away games remaining: San Diego (3), Los Angeles (3)
STEPPING INTO GIANT TERRITORY
Carlos Hernandez is 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in three September starts and hasn’t won since beating the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Aug. 29. In his last five starts, he has pitched into the sixth inning in all but one of those starts and has allowed three earned runs or less four times.
–mlb.com
Tuesday’s starters: Carlos Hernandez (1-2) vs. Brett Tomko (10-6)
Quotable: “This could possibly end up being [decided by] one game and I can’t take the chance of having one game slip by because you can’t make a move,” said Astros manager Phil Garner.
Notable: After suffering a concussion Saturday in Milwaukee and sitting out Sunday’s game, C Brad Ausmus will be available off the bench on Tuesday and Wednesday, and plans to catch Thursday.
Home games remaining: St. Louis (3), Colorado (3)
Away games remaining: San Francisco (3), Milwaukee (3)
PAYTON PAYING OFF LATE
Heading into a three-game series against their visiting Southern California rival Dodgers, the Padres are getting plenty of offensive help from center fielder Jay Payton. He’s gone 10-for-32 in his last 10 games.
–mlb.com
Tuesday’s starters: Adam Eaton (10-13) vs. Jeff Weaver (12-11)
Notable: Ryan Klesko (.293, 9 HR) was a late scratch Sunday with a stomach virus and his status for Tuesday is unknown.
Home games remaining: Los Angeles (3), Arizona (3), San Francisco (3)
Away games remaining: Arizona (3)
GAMES START TO PILE UP
Monday’s doubleheader was the third for the Marlins in 11 days, and the grind has depleted their pitching while all but dashing their hopes of returning to the playoffs. Manager Jack McKeon turned down LHP Dontrelle Willis’ offer to start Monday on three days’ rest.
–mlb.com
Tuesday’s starters: Dontrelle Willis (10-9) vs. Corey Lidle (9-12)
Quotable: “I guess he’s entitled to a couple of mediocre ones,” McKeon said about Monday’s Game 1 starter Carl Pavano (17-7).
Notable: The defending World Series champions have no games left against any of the four teams ahead of them.
Home games remaining: Philadelphia (3)
Away games remaining: Atlanta (3), Montreal (3), Philadelphia (4)
– – –
TEAM: San Francisco
W: 84
L: 66
PCT: .560
GB: —
TUESDAY 21st: Houston 9:15 p.m.
WEDNESDAY 22nd: Houston 9:15 p.m.
THURSDAY 23rd: Houston 9:15 p.m.
FRIDAY 24th: Los Angeles 9:15 p.m.
SATURDAY 25th: Los Angeles 3:05 p.m.
TEAM: CUBS
W: 83
L: 66
PCT: .557
GB: .5
TUESDAY 21st: At Pitt. 6:05 p.m., WCIU
WEDNESDAY 22nd: Pitt. 6:05 p.m., FSN
THURSDAY 23rd: Pitt. 11:35 a.m., WGN
FRIDAY 24th: N.Y. Mets 6:10 p.m., FSN
SATURDAY 25th: At N.Y. Mets 12:15 p.m., FSN
TEAM: Houston
W: 83
L: 67
PCT: .553
GB: 1
TUESDAY 21st: At San Francisco 9:15 p.m.
WEDNESDAY 22nd: At San Francisco 9:15 p.m.
THURSDAY 23rd: At San Francisco 9:15 p.m.
FRIDAY 24th: At Milwaukee 7:05 p.m.
SATURDAY 25th: At Milwaukee 12:15 p.m.
TEAM: San Diego
W: 80
L: 70
PCT: .533
GB: 4
TUESDAY 21st: Philadelphia 6:05 p.m.
WEDNESDAY 22nd: Philadelphia 6:05 p.m.
THURSDAY 23rd: Philadelphia 6:05 p.m.
FRIDAY 24th: At Atlanta 6:35 p.m.
SATURDAY 25th: At Atlanta 6:05 p.m.
TEAM: Florida
W: 79
L: 70
PCT: .530
GB: 4.5
TUESDAY 21st: Los Angeles 9:05 p.m.
WEDNESDAY 22nd: Los Angeles 9:05 p.m.
THURSDAY 23rd: Los Angeles 9:05 p.m.
FRIDAY 24th: Arizona 9:05 p.m.
SATURDAY 25th: Arizona 9:05 p.m.
