The Baltimore Orioles have sprung to the pinnacle of the AL East by compiling baseball’s best road record. But to keep that pace, they’ll have to beat the New York Yankees at home this week, something they’ve had trouble doing lately.
The Orioles and Yankees begin a two-game series Monday at Camden Yards, where the Yankees are actually favored by 1 1/2 runs, according to Bovada Continue reading
The Los Angeles Dodgers have blossomed into one of the top teams in the National League, but enter the week on edge as MVP-candidate Matt Kemp awaits news on his sore left hamstring. The All-Star center fielder, who has been battling hamstring soreness, had to leave last night’s game in the third inning to receive treatment.
It’s a good thing they’ve built such a lead in the west. After getting off to a hot start, the Arizona Diamondbacks have fallen hard back to earth Continue reading
A huge series win over the Philadelphia Phillies has the New York Mets a big mover in recent World Series Futures, going from a 70/1 longshot to 32/1 almost overnight. New York pounded out 22 runs in a three-game sweep against the Phillies, a statement win that put New York just a half game out of first place in the NL East.
Now, the Mets have to keep that momentum going as they start a weekend series against the Miami Marlins Friday night. Continue reading
Things seem to be cooling off for the Los Angeles Angels. Before the impending Code Red could be issued, the Angels are snapping out of its month long slump just in time for a crucial series against the Texas Rangers this weekend. Albert Pujols isn’t going the whole season homerless after all and Los Angeles has won seven of its last 10 to get back to a respectable 14-18.
But to gain any traction in the division, beating the Rangers heads up is an absolute necessity, and the Angels get their first crack tonight. Continue reading
No one is probably more ready to get back on the field than Josh Beckett. He’s apparently had enough of the golf circuit already. Beckett, who hasn’t started since April 29, was forced to miss his last start on Sunday due to a strained lat. Problem was, he was spotted playing golf the day before, and the Boston media hasn’t let him forget.
He can do a lot to help his cause tonight when the Boston Red Sox meet the Cleveland Indians in the first game of a four-game set, where the Red Sox are a 1 1/2-run favorite, according to Bovada’s Indians vs. Red Sox Betting Lines, with a -150 moneyline.
Beckett was way off in his last start, throwing a career-high 126 pitches in 6 1/3 innings in a 4-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox. Manager Bobby Valentine allowed him to skip his next start to get back on track, although he apparently spent it golfing with teammate Clay Buchholz on a team off day.
“He had a sore lat,” Valentine told the team website. “He wasn’t an injured player, I know that. We’ll take it from there. But I’m sure that Josh wouldn’t do anything that’s going to jeopardize his team or his season, I know that.”
Beckett will square off against former Red Sox hero Derek Lowe, who won the 2004 World Series with Boston. Lowe has only allowed three runs in his last 19 2/3 innings, two of those coming in a no-decision against the Texas Rangers. He’s only faced Boston once, losing 3-0 in 2009 when he was with the Atlanta Braves.
The Indians have won six of their last nine after dropping two-straight to the Chicago White Sox this week, and sit idle at the top of the AL Central standings. Not so for the Red Sox, still wading in uncertainty with Valentine. They have only been at .500 once this year, getting to 11-11, but have lost seven of eight 
since. They are in danger of losing six-straight at home for the first time since 2010.
Beckett has been as inconsistent as his team, alternating wins and losses in his five starts. History isn’t on his side against Cleveland, going 4-5 with a 4.84 ERA in 10 starts against the Tribe. His biggest nemesis has been designated hitter Travis Hafner, who has snacked on Beckett with seven hits and six RBI in 20 at-bats.
The Tampa Bay Rays finally snapped their ugly slump at Yankee Stadium, rallying for four runs in the top of the ninth Wednesday night to cap a 4-1 win. The Rays regained a 3 1/2-game lead over New York in the process and look to extend that lead tonight in the finale of their three-game series.
Matt Joyce’s three-run bomb in the ninth helped Tampa Bay snap a three-game losing streak overall, and a win its ninth out of 10 against New York overall. Continue reading
Paul Maholm couldn’t have started the year any worse with two losses and an ERA above 13 in his first season with the Chicago Cubs. But something apparently clicked for him after that and he hasn’t lost in three-straight starts. He hasn’t giving up more than a run in any of those outings, including a brilliant 5-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday in which he only allowed three hits with no walks.
“Being aggressive, mixing pitches, mixing location,” he told the Associated Press. “I would say more of a confidence and a comfort factor, getting used to everything and just kind of pitching my game.” Continue reading
Already in the midst of a slow start to the season, Tim Lincecum probably isn’t thrilled to see the Los Angeles Dodgers Wednesday night. The veteran right hander tries to get back on track tonight against a division rival that has a track record of snacking on him in the past.
Dodgers’ center fielder Matt Kemp is batting .396 with four homers and 11 RBI over his last 20 against the Giants, all of those home runs coming at home. He’s been just as good against Lincecum, going 7 for 14 against him last year. Continue reading
Unbeaten Jamie Shields takes to the mound against the New York Yankees Tuesday night in a quest to become baseball’s first six-game winner.
Recent history suggests he has a pretty good shot, too. The Tampa Bay Rays have won seven-straight over their division rivals, including a 3-0 sweep against them to open the season. But the Rays haven’t had a whole lot of luck in the Bronx, though. Despite their recent success against the Yankees, the Rays are 2-6 in their last eight games in Yankee Stadium. Continue reading
The Texas Rangers sprang to baseball’s best record early in the season, but a recent burst by the Baltimore Orioles has the two teams tied at 19-10. The team’s will create some kind of separation Tuesday night as they continue their three-game series at Camden Yards.
Baltimore rocketed to the top of the AL East standings by beating up on traditional heavyweights New York and Boston last week, winning five of its last six. The Orioles outlasted the Red Sox in a marathon 17-inning affair on Sunday, but fatigue took its toll the following day. Continue reading