Divisional rivalries on tap in National League

ASTROS AT YANKEES (May 11-14)

Division leaders face each for the first time this season. The Yankees won the 2016 season series 4-2, taking two games each at home and on the road and outscoring Houston 36-24. Since the start of 2014, the Astros are 11-9 against the Yankees, including Houston’s 2015 wild-card win in New York. In 50 career games against the Astros, Starlin Cas

tro is batting .292 with three homers, 19 RBI and 26 runs scored.

DODGERS AT ROCKIES (May 11-14)

The Rockies aim to deny L.A. a fifth consecutive National League West title. There’s some spice, too. Clayton Kershaw chided Rockies pitcher Tyler Anderson for idling him to start the game April 19 at L.A., calling the tardy pregame trek from the bullpen “one of the more disrespectful things” he had encountered in baseball. A Denver Post writer labeled Kershaw’s jab a “diva act.” Colorado beat L.A. in three of five games last month as Nolan Are

nado (three homers, two doubles) battered Dodgers pitching.

PHILLIES AT NATIONALS (May 12-14)

The Phillies scored 37 runs in six April meetings with the Nationals, but 12 of those came in one inning, mostly against a pitcher (Jeremy Guthrie) they won’t see in a Nats uniform again. The Phillies held their own in their first 2017 series at Nationals Park, winning one game and losing the other two on walk-off hits. It’s better than how they did last season, when they lost 14 of 19 meetings with Washington and were outscored 81-44.

CUBS AT CARDINALS (May 12-14)

The NL Central rivals meet for the second time this season after the Cubs took two of three in St. Louis to begin the season. Right-hander Jake Arrieta held the Cardinals to one unearned run in six innings to improve his career record to 8-2 against them. The Cardinals hold a 31-29 edge against the Cubs since 2014.

RAYS AT INDIANS (May 15-17)

The Indians were 5-1 against the Rays last season on their way to the American League pennant and have won 14 of 19 meetings since the beginning of the 2014 season. Shortstop Francisco

Lindor led the way for the Indi- ans last season vs. Tampa Bay by going 7-for-23 (.304) with a double, two home runs, five RBI and three stolen bases. Rays righthander Chris Archer lost both starts against the Indians last year and is 0-5 in his career against the team that drafted him in 2006.

A’S AT MARINERS (May 15-17)

Seattle eyes this series with a score to settle after the teams’ first meeting this season. The A’s took three of four from visiting Seattle in April, which pushed the Mariners 51⁄ games out of first 2 place and saddled them with 12 losses in their first 20 games. Seattle has rebounded, but it will face the A’s without injured starters Felix Hernandez and James

Paxton. Oakland is trending the other way, with ace Sonny Gray settling back into the rotation after a shoulder injury.