The first full week of June features some big series between postseason contenders in both leagues and the expected return of several impact players.
The Astros look to stay red-hot as they bring a 10-game winning steak into Monday's series opener against the Royals in Kansas City. Houston has swept its last three series and owns the best record in the Majors at 41-16, which is the best record for a big league club after 57 games since the 2001 Mariners were 45-12 en route to a 116-win season.
Also on Monday, the first-place Nationals and contending Dodgers open a three-game series in Los Angeles.
It's certainly a big series for the Nationals, who were eliminated from the 2016 postseason by the Dodgers. Nationals star outfielder Bryce Harper elected to serve his suspension last week to be available against the Dodgers, who trail the Rockies by a half-game in the National League West.
Giants outfielder Hunter Pence was activated from the disabled list Sunday, but he did not start the series finale against the Phillies. Expect to see Pence back in the lineup for San Francisco this week. The Giants open a four-game series with the first-place Brewers on Monday in Milwaukee and then return home Friday to host the first-place Twins in a weekend series.
Farewell Friends wrote:Houston is unbelievable right now.
Be interesting to see how they finish out the season...if they stay on pace and have a huge regular season will they be able to get something done in postseason or just wear out?
Farewell Friends wrote:Houston is unbelievable right now.
Be interesting to see how they finish out the season...if they stay on pace and have a huge regular season will they be able to get something done in postseason or just wear out?
If they keep this up they can start resting their regulars some when they expand rosters in September.
- Eduardo Nunez homered for the second straight game, and Aaron Hill said hello to his former team with a go-ahead double off the bench, sending Jeff Samardzija and the Giants to a rare road win, 7-2, over the Brewers on Monday at Miller Park.
The Astros just simply keep rolling. Brian McCann belted a two-run homer and the bullpen held the Royals to one run over four innings to secure a 7-3 victory on Monday night, Houston's 11th straight win and club-record 11th in a row on the road.
It's the Astros' longest winning streak since they won 11 straight at the end of 1986 and the beginning of '87. Houston is now on pace for 117 victories, one more than the 2001 Mariners, and is the first team with 42 wins in its first 58 games since that Seattle club.