9월15일 MLB추천

New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays (-101, 9)

Derek Jeter has been mired in an unusual slump, having hit .168 over the past four weeks, and that is a big reason why the Yankees have unable to pull away from Tampa Bay in the American League East. In fact, New York trailed by a half game as of Tuesday evening.

In an attempt to get back on track, Jeter put in an extensive session with hitting coach Kevin Long after Saturday’s loss to Texas. The shortstop went 1-for-2 with two walks on Sunday, but recorded only one hit in five at-bats against the Rays on Monday. “I was excited about his at-bats,” Long told the New York Daily News after Sunday’s game. “I think he made a move in the right direction. We have a long way to go, but it's a start in the right direction.”

The Yankees need to get back on the right track, themselves, having lost four in a row. They just might do it on Wednesday; they are 21-9 in Phil Hughes’ last 30 starts and 14-4 in Hughes’ last 18 starts on four days of rest. The Yankees are also 5-1 the last six times they have faced Scott Shields in Tampa Bay.

Pick: Yankees

San Diego Padres at Colorado Rockies (-145, 9)

What is it about the Colorado Rockies and the late-season surge?

Last year they went 21-8 in their last 29 games. Two years ago they went 20-11 in their last 31. Both times they secured the National League Wild Card.

What are the Rockies doing for an encore? On September 2, they found themselves 7.5 games out of first place in the National League West. As of Tuesday, Colorado is 9-1 in its last 10 games, is just 2.5 games back of San Diego, and is within three of Atlanta for the Wild Card.

“It’s amazing,” center fielder Carlos Gonzalez said in an interview with the New York Times. “I guess we save it for the end. We make it more exciting for everybody.”

“That’s the weird part about this game,” added Jason Giambi, who hit a pinch-hit game-winning homer on Sunday. “Mentally, if you just believe ‘I know we’re going to do great in September’ — which all of these guys do — it usually happens.”

Mentally, the Rockies have to like their chances against San Diego on Wednesday. Not only are they streaking, but they have won 18 of Jorge De La Rosa’s last 21 home starts. De La Rosa has pitched at least five innings and has given up no more than three earned runs in each of his past 10 starts dating back to July 22.

Pick: Rockies