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The first round went to the St. Louis Cardinals, but the Cincinnati Reds still own a slim lead atop the NL Central standings. Cincinnati will try to protect its advantage on Tuesday when the teams meet in the second contest of an important three-game set. The Cardinals and Reds have made the NL Central a two-team race, and they have been jockeying back and forth for first place for the better part of three months. Cincinnati entered this series with a two-game lead over St. Louis, only to see it cut in half on Monday as the Cardinals posted a 7-3 triumph. St. Louis scored all seven of its runs in the fourth inning and Chris ... more

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With his team's starting rotation in turmoil, David Price came to the Tampa Bay Rays' rescue on Monday night. Price became the first 15-game winner in the American League by lifting the Rays to a crucial victory over the Detroit Tigers. The two teams meet again Tuesday night at Comerica Park. Price lasted just five innings in Tampa Bay's 6-3 win. He allowed two runs on five hits as the Rays snapped a five-game losing streak to move 1.5 games behind the AL East-leading New York Yankees. They also remained 4.5 games ahead of the Boston Red Sox in the wild card standings. The Rays were hit with a pair on injuries over the weekend. Both... more

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One team is red hot at home while the other is ice cold on the road. Let's see if those trends continue on Tuesday as the Philadelphia Phillies (62-49) look to play the part of rude host with the struggling Los Angeles Dodgers (58-54) coming to Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies have won 19 of their last 23 contests at home - and 14 of 17 overall - to climb to within 1.5 games back of the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves. Quite an impressive display since Philadelphia remains without three of its key cogs in its lineup. Former National League Most Valuable Player Ryan Howard (ankle), four-time All-Star second baseman Chase ... more

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Before Monday’s game against the Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter said it was about time that the team became more proactive than reactive. Showalter also said that it was time other teams started adjusting to what the Orioles can do. They may still own the worst record in baseball, but the Orioles are playing with a newfound swagger. Since Showalter’s arrival, Baltimore has won six of seven games. The only other manager in Orioles history to start his career with that mark was Earl Weaver, who went on to win 1,480 games and a World Series before being inducted into the Hall of Fame. The Orioles rec... more

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The Florida Marlins thought their luck was changing for the better thanks to Saturday's comeback victory. But a battle with Stephen Strasburg has a good chance of dispelling that notion. The Marlins hope to build on an emotional win on Tuesday when they begin a three-game road series against Strasburg and the Washington Nationals. Florida was on the verge of halting a five-game losing streak Saturday before closer Leo Nunez squandered a one-run lead against the St. Louis Cardinals by allowing two runs in the top of the ninth. But Dan Uggla led off the bottom half with a home run and Hanley Ramirez delivered a walk-off ... more

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The Oakland Athletics have been like a bunch of gnats in the AL West race lately. They are hanging around and being annoying, but never really causing much trouble. Oakland (56-54) claimed a three-game series from the division-leading Texas Rangers with Sunday’s 3-2 victory and sits 7 1/2 games out of first place. The A’s went 6-6 against first-place teams in a recent stretch, but a .500 record is not going to cut it the rest of the way. Oakland needs to make a run and should get that chance starting Monday night against the AL West cellar-dwelling Seattle Mariners in the opener of a three-game series at Safeco Field. The Athl... more

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When the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim drafted Sean O’Sullivan in the third round of the 2005 draft, they envisioned him developing into a good major-league starting pitcher. They will get a close look at his progress on Monday night. The difference is that the Angels will be facing O’Sullivan, who was recently traded to the Kansas City Royals. The 22-year-old right-hander draws the start in the opening game of a three-game series in Anaheim. O’Sullivan reached the majors last season and made 10 starts for the Angels. He spent most of this season in the minors before being shipped to the Royals as part of the packag... more

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The long road to redemption begins on Monday for Carlos Zambrano. The Chicago Cubs will send their former ace to the mound for his first start since June when they open a four-game series against the San Francisco Giants. The Cubs’ Opening Day starter and one of the highest-paid pitchers in the game at $17.75 million this season, Zambrano went 1-2 in his first four starts with a 7.45 ERA before being banished to the bullpen by manager Lou Piniella. After 13 relief appearances with mixed success, the right-hander was slotted back into the rotation. Zambrano turned in his best start on June 20, allowing one run in seven inn... more

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