Twins eager to repay Indians for sweep
ORIOLES AT RAYS (June 23-25)
This is their second meeting of the season. The Orioles took two of three at home in April, including a walk-off, 11-inning win in the finale. Baltimore was 14-6 and in sole possession of first place then but went 20-28 in its next 48 games while Tampa Bay has held its position in the middle of the division. Baltimore is 37-23 against Tampa Bay since 2014.
Adam Jones has 21 career homers and 70 RBI against Tampa Bay. Evan Longoria’s 35 homers against Baltimore are the most he has hit against any opponent.
TWINS AT INDIANS (June 23-25)
The teams meet for the second consecutive weekend after the Indians swept a four-game series at Minnesota to move past the Twins and into first place in the American League Central. The Indians have won eight of 10 games from the Twins this season as Jose Ramirez has hit .390 (16-for-41) with five doubles and three home runs, Edwin
Encarnacion has hit four homers and right-hander Trevor
Bauer has won all three starts.
ROCKIES AT DODGERS (June 23-25)
Is June too early to get supercharged about a series? Not for Rockies fans. Their team is shining on the mound and on the road. The Rockies have won five of the teams’ first nine games this season, led by Nolan Arenado (.853 slugging percentage), Char
lie Blackmon (.412 on-base percentage), Greg Holland (four saves in four tries) and Chris Rusin (no earned runs in 62⁄ innings). The Dodgers got a 3 scoreless outing from starter Alex Wood and production from Corey Seager (two doubles, two home runs, seven RBI).
ASTROS AT MARINERS (June 23-25)
The Mariners hope to flip a disturbing trend when the AL West leaders visit Seattle. Before their season-opening series at Houston, the Mariners were upbeat about challenging for the division title. Then Houston took three of four. The following week, Houston went to Seattle and won two of three. Seattle, which is 13-16 against the AL West, could get a lift if injured shortstop Jean
Segura is able to return.
CUBS AT NATIONALS (June 26-29)
Walking Bryce Harper 13 times in a four-game series worked early last year for manager Joe Maddon’s Cubs because
Ryan Zimmerman was hitting behind Harper and went 2-for-19 as the Cubs swept. Zimmerman is hitting behind Harper again, but this year he has been one of the National League’s top hitters. The Nationals want to keep an eye on
Ben Zobrist, assuming he comes off the disabled list by then. Zobrist homered four times in seven games against them last season.
CARDINALS AT DIAMONDBACKS (June 27-29)
Not a lot went right for the Diamondbacks last season, but they played the Cardinals tough. Arizona went 4-3 against St. Louis after the Cardinals had won 12 of 13 games from the Diamondbacks over the previous two seasons. The Diamondbacks are contenders this year though and will look to build on last season’s success. Right-hander Zack Greinke won both of his starts against the Cardinals in 2016, and second baseman Brandon Drury was 8-for-26 (.308) with two doubles and three home runs.