0xbt

champion Houston Astros close the 2018 season with a trip to Baltimore this weekend Keith Hernandez Jersey , and the first game of their four-game series with the Orioles is set for Thursday at 7:05 p.m. ET at Camden Yards.Houston already has clinched the American League West and will play the Indians in the Division Series. That starts on Oct. 5, and the Astros get home-field advantage there.The only time Houston would not hold the home-field advantage is if it meets Boston in the AL Championship Series as the Red Sox already have that locked up.Article continues below ...David Hess (3-10, 5.14 ERA) will start for the Orioles versus Houston right-hander Gerrit Cole (15-5, 2.92) on Thursday.Cole has given an already-strong Astros’ starting staff even more punch this season. He has won five in a row and last lost on Aug. 10. This will be the first time Cole has pitched against the Orioles this season — and in fact, he’s never gone against Baltimore in his career.Hess has been up and down during this rookie season. The right-hander has gone 1-5 in the past two months but pitched effectively on several occasions.This will be the first time he’s ever pitched against the Astros.Houston (100-58) is coming off of a 3-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday in a game that really meant nothing. The Astros actually clinched the division total very early Wednesday morning when Oakland lost to Seattle.However, Houston officially celebrated in the locker room after the loss in Toronto, and now will prepare for this four-game series in Baltimore that really holds little meaning except that the Astros want to go into the playoffs on a good note.“We’re the only team that can repeat, and our team needs to know that Jorge De La Rosa Jersey ,” Houston manager AJ Hinch told reporters. “It’s important for us to have our moment and lock back in. In a week, we’re going to play real baseball.”Baltimore is starting the final series of an historically poor season. To make matters worse, the Orioles have run out of pitchers at times, especially in the starting rotation, which is a big reason they went with a committee approach in Wednesday’s day-night doubleheader in Boston.Plus, most of the pitchers Baltimore is using do not have a lot of major league experience and are being hit hard as they get used to life at this level.“There are better days ahead for those guys,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said of the young pitchers. “But it’s a tough learning curve. (However) it’s never as bad as it seems or as good as it seems.”The Orioles are coming into this series after splitting a day-night doubleheader in Boston on Wednesday. Boston crushed Baltimore 19-3 in the first game — the biggest margin of defeat the Orioles (46-112) have suffered in this forgetful season.However, Baltimore bounced back and pulled out a 10-3 victory in the nightcap http://www.diamondbacksfanproshop.com/authentic-taijuan-walker-jersey , thanks to seven runs in the final three innings. DENVER (AP) — As he rounded first base, Ryan McMahon turned back toward his teammates in the dugout, hollered and emphatically clapped twice.It was just the emotion shining through.McMahon hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning after replacing injured slugger Nolan Arenado , Colorado’s beleaguered bullpen kept the Dodgers in check and the Rockies beat Los Angeles Dodgers 5-4 on Friday night.McMahon entered the game in the fifth when Arenado was taken out with soreness in his right shoulder. The left-handed McMahon lined a fastball from left-handed reliever Zac Rosscup (0-1) to straightaway center and heartily celebrated as he rounded first.“I was really pumped up,” McMahon said. “We needed that one.”McMahon’s homer overcame a rough night on the bases for the Rockies, who had two runners thrown out at home trying to score on grounders. Running on contact, Carlos Gonzalez was easily thrown out in the first and Trevor Story in the third.It was a rough night at the plate as well — the Rockies were 0 for 13 with runners in scoring position.But the bullpen was lights out a night after giving up five homers and seven runs. The relievers went a combined 3 1/3 scoreless innings after starter Jon Gray left, with Jake McGee (2-4) picking up the win and Adam Ottavino closing out the ninth instead of a struggling Wade Davis. It was Ottavino’s fifth save.“For them to go out there and not give up anything … that was incredible Jarrod Dyson Jersey ,” said Gray, who allowed four runs over 5 2/3 innings. “So hopefully that next step gets taken and we go off from here.”DJ LeMahieu had a two-run homer in the first to help the Rockies snap a six-game skid against the Dodgers at Coors Field. It was his first homer since June 28.There was reason for a degree of concern with the durable Arenado leaving the game. The Gold Glove third baseman has been bothered by a sore shoulder for a week and tweaked it while turning a double play in the third inning. He was covering second base on a play that was scored 3-5-3.“After it, I had trouble throwing,” said Arenado, who hopes to be back in the lineup Saturday. “It hurt too much to let it fly after that.”McMahon replaced Arenado at third base and hit his first homer since June 20.“It was Mac’s night to give us a big swing,” Rockies manager Bud Black said.Max Muncy had two doubles and a two-run homer for the Dodgers, while Cody Bellinger added three singles. Los Angeles remains in a first-place tie with Arizona in the NL West.Kenta Maeda went 5 1/3 innings and allowed three runs before running out of steam and was replaced by Rosscup, a reliever Los Angeles claimed off waivers from Colorado on July 11.“I think all my pitches were average today ttp://www.diamondbacksfanproshop.com/authentic-brad-boxberger-jersey ,” Maeda said through a translator. “Nothing really stood out per se.”TRAINER’S ROOMDodgers: Closer Kenley Jansen was placed on the 10-day disabled list Friday because of an irregular heartbeat. MGR Dave Roberts didn’t have a timetable for his return.Rockies: LHP Mike Dunn (left shoulder joint inflammation) tossed a recent bullpen session. … RHP Antonio Senzatela (shoulder) threw on the side Friday and “feels good,” manager Bud Black said.FAMILIAR FOEMcMahon said he faced Rosscup during a live batting practice a few months ago when both were with Colorado.The result?“I hit a home run against him in live BP,” McMahon said.TO THE BULLPEN?In Jansen’s absence, Roberts said moving Maeda to bullpen remains a possibility. Maeda hasn’t discussed that with his manager yet.“It’s hard to say until we have that conversation,” Maeda said.ROCKIN’ IN THE CAGESinger Chris Stapleton took batting practice off Black before the game. Clayton Kershaw, Ian Desmond and Charlie Blackmon stood around the cage to watch.Stapleton hit a sharp single to left on his first pitch and then got jammed on the next two pitches before calling it a day. Asked if he hit any homers, Stapleton responded: “An inside the park one.”He played at the Pepsi Center on Friday.UP NEXTDodgers: RHP Walker Buehler (5-4, 3.63 ERA) faced the Rockies on June 2 at Coors Field Daniel Descalso Jersey , giving up four runs in five innings.Rockies: LHP Kyle Freeland (10-7, 3.04 ERA) is 7-2 with a 2.18 ERA in 10 starts at Coors Field this season.