A’s try to end struggles vs. Red Sox
RED SOX AT A’S (May 18-21)
Boston visits for a four-game series, and with the popularity of the Red Sox, the newly uncovered Oakland Coliseum upper deck figures to get some use. The A’s lost five of six vs. the Red Sox last year and were outscored 67-20 in those games. Oakland is playing an AL East foe for the first time this year. The A’s were at least .500 against every AL East club in 2016 except Boston and the New York Yankees.
NATIONALS AT BRAVES (May 19-21)
Bryce Harper hit .267 with five home runs in 42 career games at Turner Field, and he made enemies when Braves fans accused him of disrespecting the “A” logo behind home plate. Harper seems to like SunTrust Park better. He was 7-for-10 with three doubles and two home runs in the Nationals’ three-game sweep there in April. Ryan Zimmerman had seven hits and two home runs in that series.
YANKEES AT RAYS (May 19-21)
The Yankees have a 4-2 lead in the season series but went 1-2 in their season-opening series at Tampa Bay. During their last series, a three-game sweep by host New York, Rays starting pitchers posted a 2.50 ERA while the bullpen had a 12.00 ERA. In their last meeting April 13, Yankees pitchers struck out 15, a season high for a nineinning game. Aaron Hicks is 3-for-8 with two homers against the Rays this season. Evan Lon
goria leads all active players with 101 RBI vs. the Yankees and is second with 33 homers.
BREWERS AT CUBS (May 19-21)
The Cubs have won four of six vs. the surprising Brewers this season, including taking two of three at Wrigley Field on April 17-19, as backup catcher Miguel
Montero has gone 6-for-12 (.500) with a home run and center fielder
Albert Almora Jr. 6-for-13 (.462) with a double, a homer and seven RBI. Left fielder Kyle Schwarber and right fielder Ben Zobrist have hit two home runs each. Brewers catcher Jett Bandy has hit three home runs and two doubles while going 6-for-14 (.429) against the Cubs, who are 40-23 vs. the Brewers since the start of 2014.
INDIANS AT ASTROS (May 19-21)
The two World Series contenders meet for the second time this year. The Indians took two of three on April 25-27 at Cleveland as third baseman Jose Ramirez went 6-for-11 (.545) with two RBI and closer Cody Allen had two saves. Astros utility player Marwin
Gonzalez was 4-for-7 (.571) with a double and a home run. The Indians are 21-10 against the Astros since Houston moved to the American League before the 2013 season.
CARDINALS AT DODGERS (May 23-25)
The Dodgers have been tough at home the last four years, and this season is no different. They were 13-6 at home entering this week, having scored 106 runs and allowed 58. While winning the National League West title for the last four years, the Dodgers have won an average of 50 of their 81 home games a year. Top Dodgers performers at home through 19 games included Alex Wood (3-0, 2.35 ERA), Yasiel Puig (six home runs) and Justin Turner (.383 batting average, eight doubles). L.A. was 2-1 at home against St. Louis last year but will be challenged by the Cardinals, an October nemesis of several Dodgers teams and again NL Central title contenders.