LEADING OFF

PRIZE FIGHT: Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw and Nationals righty Stephen Strasburg square off today in a matinee matchup of NL Cy Young Award contenders. Kershaw (7-2, 2.28 ERA) struck out 14 in his last start against Milwaukee to reach 2,000 strikeouts for his career, although he’s allowed four homers over his past two starts. Strasburg (7-1, 2.91) is two starts removed from striking out a career-high 15 against San Diego. Los Angeles has won six straight games with Kershaw starting, and Washington has also won six consecutive when Strasburg has pitched.

PERFECT 10: Dallas Keuchel attempts to go 10-0 when the major league-best Astros (42-17) play at Kansas City. Keuchel leads the majors with a 1.67 ERA and will face fellow left-hander Jason Vargas (7-3), who ranks second with a 2.08 ERA. The Royals rallied from a six-run deficit and stopped Houston’s 11-game winning streak Tuesday night when Mike Moustakas hit a tie-breaking, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning off closer Ken Giles of Albuquerque.

STRONG ARMS: In a matchup of Cy Young Award winners, Rick Porcello (3-7) starts for the Red Sox against CC Sabathia (6-2) at Yankee Stadium. Porcello has thrown at least six innings in each of his last 18 road starts, the longest active streak in the majors. The next-longest string is seven, by Clayton Kershaw and Madison Bumgarner. Sabathia has won four straight starts for the first time since 2012. He is 13-13 in 35 career starts vs. Boston.