Only for Guild Members » The Marlins need an 8-15 finish to avoid

HOUSTON — The Astros on Saturday added outfielder Myles Straw to the big-league roster with one primary objective: to utilize his exceptional speed on the basepaths as a pinch-runner.He may have the opportunity to continue doing that Sunday Roger Clemens Jersey , when Houston hosts the Arizona Diamondbacks in the finale of their three-game series.Over 131 games across two levels in the minors, Straw posted 70 stolen bases and an 88.6 percent success rate. He produced 35 steals apiece for Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Fresno.Article continues below ...“Speed is the most obvious thing that he adds,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “You get into the type of (pennant) race that we’re in, you get into playoff-caliber baseball, any small advantage can be a big advantage. He’s an elite baserunner. His instincts are good, he’s a good outfielder. “His second half hasn’t gone as well as his first half offensively. We’re not going to ask a ton out of him playing-wise other than be an elite baserunner when we need it the most.”By limiting his responsibilities, the Astros (93-55), who evened the interleague set with a 10-4 victory Saturday, believe Straw can adjust quickly.“We’re literally asking him to take his best skill set on the bases and apply it to the major league level,” Hinch said of Straw, who pinch-ran in the seventh inning. “One of the reasons we feel comfortable with him in these last couple weeks is his instincts. And certainly, he’ll be a little bit nervous the first couple times out but we’re asking him to focus on one thing primarily http://www.redsoxproshops.com/authentic-andrew-benintendi-jersey , and that can ease a little bit of that stress that comes with getting into the big leagues.”Right-hander Justin Verlander (15-9, 2.72 ERA) will start the series finale for the Astros. Verlander has posted 10 double-digit strikeout games this season and is 11 strikeouts shy of matching his single-season high of 269 set in 2009 with the Detroit Tigers.He is 3-1 with a 2.36 ERA over four career starts against Arizona, including a 3-1 loss on May 6 at Chase Field when he surrendered two runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks with eight strikeouts over six innings. Verlander is 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA and 18 strikeouts over 14 innings this month.The Diamondbacks (78-71) will counter with right-hander Zack Greinke (14-9, 3.11 ERA). Greinke is 7-2 with a 2.75 ERA over his last 11 road starts and 5-4 with a 2.43 ERA in his last 11 interleague starts.He is 6-2 with a 2.24 ERA over 10 career starts against the Astros. He did not factor into the decision May 5 when he allowed one run on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings in a 4-3 victory at Chase Field.Arizona on Saturday selected right-hander Randall Delgado from Triple-A Reno and placed right-hander Clay Buchholz on the 60-day disabled list (right elbow flexor strain). Delgado appeared in six games for the Diamondbacks this season, going 2-0 with a 5.14 ERA before being designated for assignment July 25, released six days later, and re-signed to a minor league contract Aug. 18. He posted a 0.93 ERA over five games with Reno after his signing before finishing with a 2.00 ERA in 13 contests.“We’re all super excited to have him back,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “We need an arm and he had been keeping himself in shape and talking about going to winter ball.“We know what Randall is all about. Stuff-wise he was trending toward the Randall that we remember at the end of the minor league season so he’s going to get the ball. My expectations are that we’re going to use him in different situations, maybe not high-leverage right now, but different situations to stop momentum and get big outs for us.”The Diamondbacks are four games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West and 3 1/2 back of Colorado for the final NL wild-card spot. MIAMI (AP) — Strobe party lights flashed from the far end of the Philadelphia Phillies‘ postgame clubhouse, and a large beer cooler stood in the middle of the room as manager Gabe Kapler stepped outside for a conversation.“It’s a little loud in there right now,” he said.The sound was one big sigh of relief from the Phillies.Carlos Santana homered to start a four-run first inning Luis Tiant Jersey , giving the Phils a much-need jump start, and they snapped a three-game losing streak by beating Miami 9-4 Tuesday.“We feel a lot more confidence now having had that game,” Kapler said.The Phillies closed to within three games of NL East leader Atlanta, which lost to Boston 5-1. Philadelphia lost to last-place Miami on Monday but now has a chance to win a series for the first time in a month on Wednesday.Jake Arrieta (10-9) struck out a season-high 11 and earned his first win since July 31. He allowed four runs in 7 1/3 innings and improved to 5-1 in eight career starts against the Marlins.“We got him the lead, and he knew exactly what to do with it,” Kapler said. “Right when we needed it, he stepped up.”J.T. Realmuto hit two solo homers off Arrieta, increasing his season total to 20.Asdrubal Cabrera drove in three runs for the Phils with his 23rd homer and a double. Santana drove in a two runs and scored twice, while Cesar Hernandez hit a bases-loaded triple.“Our offense is capable of having these breakout games, and not just one out of 10,” Arrieta said. “We’ve got a nice cavalry of bats. We can really swing it. It just hasn’t been clicking for us of late.”After totaling five runs in the previous four games, the Phils received a spark from Santana http://www.redsoxproshops.com/authentic-mitch-moreland-jersey , who led off for only the fifth time this season. After he hit his 21st homer, Hernandez’s three-run triple later in the inning made it 4-0. By the fifth it was 8-1.“It’s big giving my team energy, especially early in the game,” Santana said. “Everybody’s happy.”Seven Miami pitchers combined to allow nine hits and 10 walks while hitting two batters. The Phils drew no walks in Monday’s listless loss.“We got back to our Phillies style of offense,” Kapler said. “We saw a lot of pitches. We worked a lot of walks and had some extra-base hits at the end of deep counts.”Rhys Hoskins earned a painful RBI in the ninth when he was hit on the shoulder with the bases loaded. He left the game for a pinch runner, but after the game Kapler said Hoskins was fine.Newly engaged Marlins starter Trevor Richards (3-8) lasted only 1 1/3 innings in his shortest outing yet. The rookie gave up four walks, four hits and six runs, and remained winless since July 14.“I was just falling behind,” Richards said. “I didn’t have command of my fastball.”The Marlins need an 8-15 finish to avoid their first 100-loss season since 2013.EXPERT COUNSELFormer Phillies star Jimmy Rollins joined the team at Kapler’s invitation to offer playoff-race encouragement.ELBOW ROOMAnnounced attendance at Marlins Park was 7,131. There were 1,396 fans actually in the stands for the first inning, according to a head count.ROSTER MOVESMarlins: INF Martin Prado (abdominal strain) went on the 60-day DL Tony Conigliaro Jersey , ending another injury-plagued season in which he batted .244 in 54 games. Prado, who is under contract next season for $15 million, was limited to 37 games in 2017.“It has been a rough couple of years for Martin,” manager Don Mattingly said.The Marlins reinstated LHP Jarlin Garcia and RHP Elieser Hernandez from the 10-day DL, recalled INF-OF Chris Bostick from Triple-A New Orleans, and selected the contracts of RHP Tyler Kinley and 1B-OF Peter O’Brien from New Orleans.TRAINER’S ROOMMarlins: SS JT Riddle was scratched from the starting lineup because of a sore left wrist.UP NEXTRHP Nick Pivetta (7-10, 4.66) is scheduled to start the series finale Wednesday night against Miami RHP Sandy Alcantara (1-0, 1.80), making his second start of the season.