Teams getting into playoff mode
USA TODAY Sports Weekly’s baseball correspondents weigh in on the top series over the next week in Major League Baseball:
ROYALS AT RANGERS (July 28-31)
Defending World Series champion Kansas City, struggling to stay in contention, faces American League West-leading Texas for the second consecutive weekend after losing two of three at home to the Rangers. Rookie right fielder went 6-for-12 with a double and a home run for the Rangers, and second baseman was 5-for-11 with a homer.
ORIOLES AT BLUE JAYS (July 29-31)
After splitting their first 10 games of 2016, Baltimore and Toronto meet for the fourth time as they each try to gain space atop the AL East Division. In their last matchup, the Orioles recorded a season-high 19 hits, also the most the Blue Jays pitching staff has allowed this season.
has 33 home runs against Baltimore, his most against any opponent, and three this season. has 35 home runs against Toronto, his most against any opponent, and four this season.
DIAMONDBACKS AT DODGERS (July 29-31)
A year after they parlayed a Los Angeles franchise-record .679 home winning percentage into a third consecutive National League West title, the Dodgers took a .625 home winning percentage into this week largely on the strength of a 2.92 ERA. Arizona is 5-17 at Los Angeles the last three years but have a Dodgers nemesis in In 85 games, he has a .994 on-base plus slugging (OPS) vs. the Dodgers.
MARLINS AT CUBS (Aug. 1-3)
NL Central-leading Chicago hosts a fellow pennant contender after losing three of four June 2326 at Miami. Marlins first baseman had a double and two home runs while driving in seven in that series, and right fielder was 5-for-14 (.357) with two doubles and a homer. The Marlins took Bour from the Cubs in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 Draft in 2013. Cubs first baseman
who made Bour expendable in Chicago, went 4-for-9 (.444) last month in Miami.
YANKEES VS. METS (Aug. 1-4)
In a season that has provided some frustration on both sides of town, the four-game battle for city supremacy still carries weight. The Mets grabbed New York’s attention with their run to the World Series last year, and they’ve outdone the Yankees in television ratings this season for the first time in years. They’ll host the first two games of this year’s Subway Series at Citi Field, followed by two games at Yankee Stadium.
RED SOX AT MARINERS (Aug. 1-4)
Seattle still feels the sting of losing two of three at Boston in June. The Mariners won the opener in convincing fashion behind two home runs by
and one by But the Red Sox took the series, riding the rightylefty combo of and
Boston will be in the midst of an 11-game, threecity West Coast trip in which it first plays the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim and later goes to L.A. to face the Dodgers.