Kansas City Royals vs Washington Nationals Live Streaming

Kansas City Royals vs Washington Nationals Live | Kansas City Royals vs Washington Nationals | Kansas City Royals vs Washington Nationals Streaming | Kansas City vs Washington MLB Live Stream | Kansas City Royals vs Washington Nationals Live Webcast

7:05 pm EDT Mon Jun 21, 2010

When they made their last trip to Washington, the Kansas City Royals were driving toward the first winning season in franchise history. The Royals have plenty of work to do if they want to post one this year, but a matchup with the struggling Nationals could help. In its first visit to the nation’s capital in 39 years, Kansas City will try to avoid a fourth straight defeat Monday night by handing Washington a season-high seventh loss in a row. During their third year of existence, the Royals won four of five over the Washington Senators from Aug. 10-12, 1971, en route to an 85-76 finish. Kansas City was 13-5 in Washington before the Senators moved to Texas in 1972 and became the Rangers. The Royals would like to repeat that success in this three-game series, having dropped eight of 11 away from home and getting swept in Atlanta this weekend. In each of those three games, Kansas City gave up runs in one of the first two innings but came back to tie or take the lead before falling. The Royals trailed 4-0 after the opening frame Sunday but took a one-run lead in the third, only to allow the tying run in the sixth and three more in the eighth for an 8-5 defeat.

Kansas City, among the AL’s worst staffs with a 4.90 ERA, has a 6.67 ERA in its last 10 road games. Monday’s scheduler starter, Bruce Chen, gave up a season-high five runs and 10 hits in 6 1-3 innings of his last road start but was the winning pitcher in a 9-8 victory at Minnesota on June 10. He wasn’t as fortunate Wednesday against Houston, giving up four runs over 5 2-3 innings of a 4-2 loss. Chen lost his only start against the Nationals since their move from Montreal, a 3-1 defeat with Baltimore on May 21, 2006. This time, Chen faces a Washington team that has hit .190 and been outscored 32-14 during a seven-game losing streak. It’s the Nationals’ longest skid since dropping eight in a row Aug. 28-Sept. 5. Washington took a lead Sunday against the Chicago White Sox with a three-run fourth inning but lost 6-3. The Nationals have scored in only three of their last 30 innings.

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Cincinnati Reds vs Oakland Athletics Live Streaming

Cincinnati Reds vs Oakland Athletics Live | Cincinnati Reds vs Oakland Athletics | Cincinnati Reds vs Oakland Athletics Streaming | Cincinnati vs Oakland MLB Live Stream | Cincinnati Reds vs Oakland Athletics Live Webcast

10:05 pm EDT Mon Jun 21, 2010

The Cincinnati Reds received some outstanding pitching over the weekend, but that effort was wasted as their offense stalled. The slumping Reds look to avoid their fourth straight loss Monday night when they open a three-game road series against the Oakland Athletics. After beginning the weekend atop the NL Central, Cincinnati fell 1 1/2 games behind St. Louis for the division lead after getting swept by last-place Seattle. The Reds scored one run and were held to 14 hits in the series, dropping Sunday’s finale 1-0 for their sixth loss in seven games. Cincinnati has scored a total of 13 runs over the last seven games, hitting .204. Joey Votto is one of the few players producing during that stretch, batting .385 with three homers and four RBIs, although he went 0 for 3 Sunday. Like Votto, the Reds pitching did its part, giving up seven runs over the weekend. On Sunday, Aaron Harang allowed one run and three hits in six innings. Cincinnati will send Mike Leake to the mound Monday, hoping it can get its offense back on track in support of the rookie who has struggled his last two starts.

Leake gave up five runs for the second consecutive outing Wednesday in a 6-2 loss to the Dodgers. He allowed nine hits and three walks over six innings in suffering his first defeat in 13 starts. The right-hander is making his first interleague start. He is 2-0 with a 1.67 ERA in four road starts. Oakland has also stumbled recently, but will try for back-to-back wins for the first time since a four-game streak May 26-29 after the club snapped a four-game skid with a 3-2 victory Sunday at St. Louis. Kevin Kouzmanoff went 4 for 4 with a solo homer, and Mark Ellis drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth to help the Athletics close their road trip against the NL 2-7. The Oakland third baseman started the series 0 for 8, but is hitting .419 in interleague play this year. Kouzmanoff, who spent the previous three seasons with San Diego, is batting .397 with seven home runs and 22 RBIs in 73 career at-bats against the Reds. The seven homers are his most against any opponent. The Athletics will turn to Gio Gonzalez on Monday as the left-hander tries to rebound from losses in each of his last two starts.

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New York Yankees vs Arizona Diamondbacks Live Streaming

New York Yankees vs Arizona Diamondbacks Live | New York Yankees vs Arizona Diamondbacks | New York Yankees vs Arizona Diamondbacks Streaming | NY Yankees vs Arizona MLB Live Stream | New York Yankees vs Arizona Diamondbacks Live Webcast

10:10 pm EDT Mon Jun 21, 2010

Owners of baseball’s best record, the New York Yankees theoretically shouldn’t have much trouble beating the lowly Arizona Diamondbacks, but manager Joe Girardi knows it won’t be easy without a designated hitter and two of his top players still not at full strength. The Yankees look to overcome these obstacles in the opener of a three-game series against the Diamondbacks on Monday night at Chase Field. With New York’s 4-0 win over the Mets on Sunday coupled with Tampa Bay’s loss to Florida, the Yankees moved into sole possession of first place in the AL East for the first time since April 21. The Yankees, who have 16 more victories than the Diamondbacks, wrapped up a nine-game interleague homestand with six wins, and play their next six games at NL parks. The absence of a DH poses some problems for New York, as Girardi has been using both Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada at that position as they work their way back from injuries.

While that situation isn’t ideal, New York should be fine if Mark Teixeira can continue his sudden turnaround. Teixeira had a grand slam Sunday after hitting a two-run homer in Saturday’s 5-3 win over the Mets. The struggling slugger had only three home runs and eight RBIs in his previous 29 games. Teixeira has two homers and 11 RBIs in 10 career games against the Diamondbacks despite batting .171. He is also just 3 for 17 lifetime against scheduled starter Rodrigo Lopez. The Yankees counter with A.J. Burnett, who allowed six runs, six hits and four walks in a season-low 3 1-3 innings of Wednesday’s 6-3 loss to Philadelphia. The right-hander has recorded a 9.00 ERA in losing his three June starts. Burnett also needs to do a better job of keeping the ball in the park. He has given up six homers over 16 innings during his losing skid after allowing four in his first 11 starts.

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