MLB-SCHEDULE
Mets hope to extend lead
UNDATED (AP) — The New York Mets blew a golden opportunity to put significant distance between themselves and the Washington Nationals in the National League East over the weekend. While the Nats were extending their losing streak to six straight and falling below .500 on the season, the Mets dropped three games to the Pirates in Pittsburgh. Consequently the Mets start the day with a 4 ½ game lead over the Nats, who have been blanked in three of their last six games.
This evening the Mets are in Baltimore facing the Orioles, a team now just four games back of the first-place Yankees in the American League East, while Washington is in Denver playing the Rockies. By the way the Nationals are under .500 for the first time this season since May 6.
In that AL East race the Yankees, who lead the Blue Jays by a game, are home to the Twins while Toronto is in Philadelphia. The Jays have won eight of their last 10 games.
Red-hot Clayton Kershaw is looking to win his sixth straight decision tonight as the Dodgers face the Athletics in Oakland. The left-hander is coming off eight scoreless innings in a win over the Nationals and has a 0.75 earned run average over his last six starts.
L.A.’s closest rival for supremacy in the National League West remains San Francisco and the defending World Champs are in St. Louis tonight after losing to the Cardinals last evening. The Giants are 3 games back of the Dodgers.
Houston remains in charge of the American League West with a 2 ½ game lead over the Angels. Tonight the Astros are home to Tampa Bay while the Angeles are entertaining the White Sox.
Tonight’s remaining games feature the Diamondbacks in Pittsburgh, the Red Sox home to Cleveland, the Royals in Cincinnati, the Cubs entertaining the Tigers, Seattle at Texas, Miami in Milwaukee and the Braves in San Diego.
