A look at what’s happening around the majors today:
HOT HOUSTON
The Astros aim for their 12th straight victory Jason Sanders Color Rush Jersey , which would tie for the longest winning streak in franchise history set in 1999 and duplicated in 2004. Fresh off a 10-0 road trip to Texas, Oakland and Kansas City in which they outscored opponents 74-35, the World Series champions return to Minute Maid Park to take on Tampa Bay. Houston starter Gerrit Cole (8-1, 2.40 ERA) leads the AL with 130 strikeouts; the Rays will start a reliever for the third straight game http://www.seahawksauthorizedshops.com/authentic-byron-maxwell-jersey , with Ryne Stanek opening up.
DOUBLING UP
The New York Yankees and Washington meet for a doubleheader – sort of – at Nationals Park. The teams were tied at 2 in the sixth inning on May 15 when their game was stopped because of rain, and they were postponed the next night. So the Yanks and Nats will pick up in the sixth, with both clubs expected to start out with relievers. Sonny Gray will start Game 2 for the New York against rookie Erick Fedde.
TRY AGAIN
Bartolo Colon goes for his 244th career win, which would break a tie with Hall of Famer Juan Marichal for most by a pitcher born in the Dominican Republic. The 45-year-old Colon gave up a season-high eight runs in his last outing for Texas Authentic Baker Mayfield Jersey , tagged by the Dodgers. Colon has won one of his past five starts going into this game at Kansas City. Ian Kennedy has won just one of his last 27 home starts for the Royals.
OH BABY
Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford will go on paternity leave for the birth of his fourth child and could miss as many as three games. San Francisco returns home from a 10-day road trip to face the Miami Marlins.
General manager Mitch Kupchak wants point guard Kemba Walker to end his NBA career right where it started – with the Charlotte Hornets.Kupchak said Friday that Walker is ”revered” in the Charlotte community, and that he and owner Michael Jordan look at the two-time All-Star as ”the focal point of this franchise going forward.”
The 28-year-old Walker has been the subject of possible NBA trade talks as he prepares to enter the final year of his contract with the Hornets. That speculation has amped up recently because it is a practical impossibility for Charlotte to sign Walker to an extension before he becomes a free agent in July of 2019 since the Hornets are so tight under the salary cap.
”I think everybody is aware of the situation, if you follow basketball a little bit, it is unique that he is on an extension that may make it a challenge going forward to figure out before he becomes a free agent Troy Apke Color Rush Jersey ,” Kupchak said.
At $12 million per year, Walker well underpaid when compared to the other top point guards in the league.
But that doesn’t mean Kupchak is giving up hope the team can keep Walker in Charlotte.
”I don’t think it is anybody’s goal to lose him in free agency,” Kupchak said. ”But going forward, in the community Authentic Saquon Barkley Jersey , in the franchise, this is a player that we hope is with us – not only for the next couple of years, but ends his career here.”
The Hornets don’t have much experience behind Walker at point guard.
They have last year’s first-round draft pick Malik Monk and drafted Devonte Graham from Kansas in the second round on Thursday night.
Graham said he is excited to pick Walker’s brain when it comes to basketball.
”I have never met him, but I remember watching him play when he was at UConn though http://www.cardinalsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-josh-rosen-jersey ,” Graham said. ”I’m just excited man to learn from someone like that and just be around someone like that who is winner, and knows how to win and compete. I am looking forward to being able to learn from him.”
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The Wall