Murphy, Nats look to build lead on Mets
USA TODAY Sports Weekly’s baseball correspondents weigh in on the top series over the next week in Major League Baseball:
NATIONALS AT METS (July 7-10)
The first time Daniel Murphy came back to Citi Field this year, the fans cheered and the Mets played a highlight video. Murphy’s former team won’t be nearly as happy to see him now, given his 15 hits (including four home runs) and 11 RBI in the first nine games against them. Murphy has hit safely in all nine games and his Nationals have won six of them, including three in a row in Washington in late June. That sweep left the Mets six games behind the Nationals in the National League East standings, further behind than they ever were last season.
TIGERS AT BLUE JAYS (July 7-10)
The four-game series at Rogers Centre will be the teams’ second and final meeting this season. The Tigers took two of three at Comerica Park in June, winning 11-0 and then 3-2 on a walk-off before Toronto won the finale 7-2. The Blue Jays went 4-2 against the Tigers in 2015, outscoring Detroit 48-27 and sweeping the threegame set at Rogers Centre.
YANKEES AT INDIANS (July 7-10)
The Indians will try to build on their American League Central lead when they host the Yankees, who are trying to stay in contention. This is the first meeting between the teams this season after the Indians won five of seven games last year. Cleveland shortstop went 13-for-30 (.433) with one double and two home runs against the Yankees in 2015, and right-hander
scheduled to start the series finale, had 19 strikeouts in 142⁄ innings while going 1-0 with a 1.84 ERA in two starts.
PADRES AT DODGERS (July 7-10)
Non-contenders once again, the Padres still can warm the hearts of what’s left of their fan base by beating L.A. (The Dodgers are the one opponent that still riles up old-guard Padres fans.) Since the Dodgers outscored them 25-0 to sweep a seasonopening series, the Padres are 4-2 against the Dodgers, whose manager, former Padres bench coach and outfielder predicted last month that L.A. would make the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year.
A’S AT ASTROS (July 7-10)
Oakland returns to Houston after being swept in a three-game series at Minute Maid Park last month and getting outscored 23-9. Earlier this year, the A’s took two of three in Oakland. The A’s will use this last series before the All-Star Game as a showcase for some players as the trade deadline approaches. The second-place Astros look to continue the sizzling play that has closed the gap between them and the AL Westleading Rangers.
CUBS AT PIRATES (July 8-10)
The Cubs have beaten up the Pirates this season, winning eight of nine games and outscoring them 58-21 while building a commanding lead in the NL Central. Cubs first baseman
has hit .471 (16-for-34) with seven doubles, four home runs and 12 RBI. Right-hander Arrieta has won all three starts against the Pirates this season and has a 0.86 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 21 innings.