Contenders look to duke it out after trade deadline
USA TODAY Sports Weekly’s baseball correspondents weigh in on the top series over the next week in Major League Baseball:
INDIANS AT YANKEES (Aug. 5-7)
With their postseason hopes beginning to fade, the Yankees took three of four at Cleveland in the final series before the All-Star break and now get another crack at the American League Central leaders at home. Catcher
went 7-for-15 with two doubles and one home run at Cleveland, and shortstop
was 6-for-16 with two doubles and two homers. Indians second baseman homered three times in the series while going 8-for-16 with a double, and rookie center fielder
hit two home runs.
GIANTS AT NATIONALS (Aug. 5-7)
The Giants built the majors’ best record at the All-Star break partly with the help of facing losing teams for 26 consecutive games, and then their swoon right afterward coincided with having to play a more difficult schedule. Washington is beating winning teams at a high rate, trailing only the Chicago Cubs in the National League, and the Giants lost all three of their games at Nationals Park last summer. But the Giants entered this week with one of the majors’ top five road records (29-23).
METS AT TIGERS (Aug. 5-7)
Getting Yoenis Cespedes from the Tigers set the Mets on course to go to the World Series last year, and re-signing him gave them another chance to win this year. Getting from the Mets put the Tigers in position to contend this year. The Tigers and Mets don’t have much on-field history (they’ve met 18 times, the Tigers winning 10), but the Cespedes-Fulmer deal binds them.
RANGERS AT ASTROS (Aug. 5-7)
Houston gets three games against American League Westleading Texas, and that’s enticing for a second-place team trying to gain ground — at least in theory. The Astros have dropped nine of 10 games this season to their in-state rival, and that includes eight consecutive defeats. After getting swept at home by Texas in May, they’re eager to prove they’re up to the challenge.
RED SOX AT DODGERS (Aug. 5-7)
The Red Sox and Dodgers meet for the first time since August 2013, when the Red Sox went 2-1 at Dodger Stadium. Both teams are in contention for playoff spots, hovering just behind their respective division leaders.
— the only player left with either team after their blockbuster, nine-player trade in August 2012 — is batting just .130 (3-for-23) with seven strikeouts in six career games against the Red Sox. In seven career games against the Dodgers, is hitting just .217 with two home runs.
ANGELS AT CUBS (Aug. 9-10)
The Angels are playing the role of spoilers as they visit Wrigley Field for a two-game interleague series against the National League Central leaders. The Cubs opened the season with 11-0 and 9-1 routs at Anaheim on their way to a 25-6 start. Center fielder
went 5-for-8 with a double, a home run and four runs scored, and reserve outfielder
was 3-for-5 with a double and a homer.