MLB Previews

After three consecutive rough outings by their rotation, the Houston Astros were bolstered by the performances of right-handers Ronel Blanco and Cristian Javier over the final two games of their three-game weekend series with the Texas Rangers. Houston hopes that trend continues as it opens a three-game interleague series at home against the Atlanta Braves on Monday night. A day after Blanco allowed two runs in six innings, Javier gave up two runs in seven

The Milwaukee Brewers will look to bounce back behind resurrected right-hander Joe Ross when they host the San Diego Padres on Monday in the opener of a short three-game homestand. Ross (1-0, 1.80 ERA), who missed most of the last two seasons after a second Tommy John surgery, makes his third start for Milwaukee. Right-hander Joe Musgrove (1-2, 6.87), who gave up one hit over eight innings the last time he faced the Brewers, gets

The Chicago White Sox will try to turn around the worst 15-game start in franchise history when they open a three-game series Monday against the visiting Kansas City Royals. The White Sox have won just two of their first 15 games, eclipsing the 1968 team, which started 3-12. Over the weekend, Chicago was swept by the Cincinnati Reds, getting outscored 27-5. During their 11-4 loss Sunday, the White Sox were booed for their defensive lapses

After a successful weekend against one West Coast club, the Tampa Bay Rays will seek to repeat their series-winning ways against another starting Monday night in St. Petersburg, Fla. Winners of two of three games against the San Francisco Giants, the Rays will welcome in the Los Angeles Angels on Jackie Robinson Day to open a four-game series. Following a split of the first two matchups with the Giants, manager Kevin Cash’s crew brought out

A total solar eclipse wasn’t the only rarity that occurred on April 8. Last Monday remains the only time in 16 games this season that the Colorado Rockies have scored first. Colorado’s next chance to strike first comes on Monday when the Rockies visit the Phillies to begin a three-game series in Philadelphia. The first inning has been especially problematic for Colorado. The Rockies have allowed a major league-high 23 first-inning runs entering Monday. Seven

Michael Lorenzen was chosen for the All-Star team as a member of the Detroit Tigers last season. He will make his season debut against them on Monday night when the Texas Rangers open a four-game series in Detroit. The veteran right-hander will be activated from the 15-day injured list and make his Rangers debut. Lorenzen had a rehab start at Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday, going 4 2/3 innings and throwing 89 pitches. Lorenzen, who

An angry Minnesota Twins team arrives in Baltimore to start a three-game series against the Orioles on Monday. The visiting Twins appeared on their way to winning their third straight game and taking three of four from the Detroit Tigers when they gave up four runs in the eighth inning Sunday to lose 4-3. The Orioles saw the opposite outcome, as they rallied from a 4-3 seventh-inning deficit to defeat the Brewers 6-4 and salvage

Mookie Betts is wearing out San Diego pitching in the early part of the season. Betts will look to inflict further damage on Sunday when the Los Angeles Dodgers host the Padres in the finale of a three-game series. Betts went 3-for-5 with two RBIs on Saturday night, when the Dodgers recorded a 5-2 victory. In four games against San Diego this season, Betts is batting .500 (10-for-20) with two homers and 12 RBIs. He

The Arizona Diamondbacks will try to earn their second straight series victory when they host the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday. After winning two of three games from the Rockies in Colorado, the Diamondbacks will try to do the same to the Cardinals in Phoenix. Arizona right-hander Zac Gallen (2-0, 2.25 ERA) will start on Sunday in the rubber game of the series. Gallen struck out 10 and walked none in a no-decision against the