Red Sox shopping Beckett?

The Boston Red Sox are reportedly fielding calls on right-hander Josh Beckett, but Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports that nothing is close and that it's just an exploratory phase.

Bradford also notes that the Texas Rangers are not interested in Beckett, 32, despite the fact that they need starting pitching and Beckett would likely OK a deal to such a city sincehe's from Texas.

The Sox aren't necessarily in sell mode, but it appears they are willing to discuss certain players if it helps them add the right pieces for the stretch run, and next season. In dealing Beckett, the Red Sox would also be clearing payroll space, as the right-hander is owed $31.5 million over the next two seasons. Moving such a contract could open the doors for an aggressive push to sign a starting pitcher or two over the winter, or even acquiring aJosh Johnson or Cliff Lee this month.

The price for Shields

The Tampa Bay Rays may trade right-hander James Shields before the trade deadline but Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that the offer made by the Los Angeles Angels wasn't enough.

Nightengale says the Angels offered centerfielder Peter Bourjos and were rebuffed, though there may have been more to the offer, considering ESPN Insider Jim Bowden's tweet last weekend that suggested a much larger offerwas being discussed.

Shields could also be of interest to the Los Angeles Dodgers if they can't get a deal don with the Cubs for Ryan Dempster or Matt Garza, and the Atlanta Braves are in the same boat. The Texas Rangers could also have strong interest in Shields.All three clubs arenamed by Jon Heyman as being in on Shields.

FOXSports.com reported early Thursday that the Angels are also eyeing Ray right-hander Wade Davis, who has spent this season in the bullpen but is a starter by trade and could be transitioned back to the rotation.

Reds trade options

The Cincinnati Reds could use some left-handed hitting, ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney wrote Thursday, citing the club's all-righty lineup earlier this week with Joey Votto out awhile.

The options may include Twins centerfielder Denard Span, as Rumor Central's Doug Mittler discussed Thursday morning, and Phillies centerfielder Shane Victorino. If Cleveland decides to sell, Michael Brantley could be of interest to the Reds.

Bench types such as Daniel Murphy of the New York Mets, John Jaso of the Seattle Marinersand Ryan Sweeney of the Boston Red Sox could surface as options, too.

Correia on the block

The Pittsburgh Pirates, having picked up left-hander Wandy Rodriguez from theHouston Astros, are now letting clubs know that right-hander Kevin Correia is available, tweets Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com.

Correia has won six straight outings and boasts a solid 4.24 ERA -- 3.91 in July, 3.71 since the All-Star break -- and could be of interest to clubs that lose out on, or prefer to avoid the cost of, the likes of Matt Garza, Zack Greinke and James Shields.

Correia is owed just over $1 million for the rest of the season and will be a free agent at season's end. Perhaps the Baltimore Orioles or Los Angeles Dodgers will have interest.

Friday's streaking and slumping starting pitchers

STREAKING


Ben Sheets, Atlanta Braves (2-0, 0.00 ERA)

It’s only two starts but if you’re a Braves backer, you have to be ecstatic with the early results from this former Milwaukee ace. Sheets held the Nationals off the board despite giving up five hits and three walks over six innings pitched.

“It’s been a huge pickup for us,” Atlanta catcher Brian McCann told reporters following Sheets’ last outing. “To come out here for his two starts and pitch the way he has. Hasn’t given up a run, he’s pounding the zone and the more you’re around him the more you know why he’s so successful. He’s a competitor, he knows what he’s doing.”

Carlos Villanueva, Toronto Blue Jays (5-0, 2.86 ERA)

Normally a spot starter/long-inning relief guy, Villanueva has been making the best of his chance to stick in the Jays’ starting rotation. The 28-year-old righty is 3-0 in his last three starts and carries a 1.47 ERA over the three-start stretch.

SLUMPING


Scott Diamond, Minnesota Twins (8-4, 3.16 ERA)

Diamond was the only reliable starter in the Twins’ five-man staff but he’s been banged around a bit in each of his last two appearances. The southpaw relies on groundball outs and he hasn’t been getting them, giving up nine combined runs in his last 12 innings on the bump.

Travis Wood, Chicago Cubs (4-5, 4.33 ERA)

Wood gets the call instead of an ailing Matt Garza Friday. His last two starts have been disastrous, giving up a total of 14 earned runs on 17 hits over just 10 2-3 innings of work. Wood has served up four home runs in that span and has allowed five dingers in his last three outings.

New York at Arizona 9:40 p.m. EDT

The New York Mets were initially reluctant to promote their first-round draft pick from two years ago, but desperation is setting in. 

The free-falling Mets are calling up highly touted Matt Harvey, hoping that in his major league debut the right-hander can help the team to its first victory in seven contests Thursday night in the opener of a four-game set with the Arizona Diamondbacks. 

New York (47-51) arrives in Arizona to open a season-high 11-game road trip after losing 5-2 to Washington on Wednesday to cap an 0-6 homestand. The Mets, who last dropped seven in a row overall in April 2011, have lost 12 of 13 to fall seven games out in the NL wild-card race. 

Wright finished the homestand 4 for 24 with eight strikeouts, and New York was outscored 13-5 from the seventh inning on in its last four. 

They're likely going to have a different battery on Thursday with Harvey and catcher Rob Johnson being called up from Triple-A Buffalo. The Mets have high expectations for Harvey, the seventh overall pick in the 2010 draft, and hope one day he'll become their staff ace. The 23-year-old Harvey, who went 7-5 with a 3.68 ERA in 20 starts for the Bisons, says he will try to keep calm and not attempt to be a savior for New York. 

The Mets, who've lost six of seven on the road, begin their crucial trip at Chase Field, where they're 1-8 since 2009. 

Making matters worse, New York's offense has the difficult task of facing Wade Miley (11-5, 3.02 ERA), who has permitted a single run in four of his last five starts in the desert. At home against Houston on Saturday, the left-hander gave up a run and four hits while striking out a career-high nine in seven innings of a 12-3 win to set a franchise rookie record for victories in a season. 

He didn't get the win in New York on May 4, when he allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings of Arizona's 5-4 comeback victory. 

Just as Miley has been stellar at Chase Field, so has Arizona's offense - its last game notwithstanding. 

The Diamondbacks (49-49) were limited to five hits in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to Colorado after averaging 7.8 runs in winning their previous eight at home. 

Although Arizona lost for the first time in six games overall, Jason Kubel and Miguel Montero continued their torrid hitting, each homering. 

Kubel leads the NL with 72 RBIs after driving in 12 while batting .343 with seven home runs in the last eight games, and Montero is hitting .400 with 11 RBIs in the last 11. Kubel, however, is hitless in 10 at-bats against the Mets this year, while Montero is 1 for 8. 

Wright, New York's leader with 67 RBIs and a .340 average, is 3 for 20 without an RBI in his last six games against Arizona. 



Mets are 3-7 in their last 10 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
Mets are 1-4 in their last 5 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Mets are 3-14 in their last 17 overall.

Mets are 1-5 in their last 6 games as a road underdog.
Mets are 1-6 in their last 7 road games.
Mets are 1-9 in their last 10 games as an underdog.
Mets are 1-10 in their last 11 games following a loss.

Diamondbacks are 5-1 in their last 6 games as a favorite.
Diamondbacks are 5-1 in their last 6 overall.
Diamondbacks are 7-2 in their last 9 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Diamondbacks are 20-7 in their last 27 home games.
Diamondbacks are 8-1 in Mileys last 9 starts as a home favorite.
Diamondbacks are 5-1 in Mileys last 6 home starts.
Diamondbacks are 9-2 in Mileys last 11 starts with 4 days of rest.
Diamondbacks are 10-3 in Mileys last 13 starts as a favorite.
Diamondbacks are 16-6 in Mileys last 22 starts.

Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Arizona.
Mets are 0-6 in the last 6 meetings in Arizona.

ARIZONA is 6-0 (+6.2 Units) against NY METS over the last 3 seasons in Arizona


Arizona let us down last night but how can you consider going against Miley? Hard to but this new kid is supposed to be pretty good. Even considering that you still have to look at how poorly the Mets are playing. It's not good, or even close to good. So the decision seems to be an easy one...we take the D'Backs on the RL +105. Good Luck


ARI D'BACKS -1½+110

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Dodgers place Kennedy on DL

The Los Angeles Dodgers placed infielder Adam Kennedy on the 15-day disabled list with a right groin strain.

Kennedy was hitting .250 with a homer and 15 RBI in 70 games this season.

To take Kennedy's spot on the roster, the Dodgers recalled right-handed pitcher Shawn Tolleson from Triple-A Albuquerque.