New York Mets vs Washington Nationals Live Streaming

New York Mets vs Washington Nationals Live | New York Mets vs Washington Nationals | New York Mets vs Washington Nationals Streaming | NY Mets vs Washington MLB Live Stream | New York Mets vs Washington Nationals Live Webcast

7:05 pm EDT Thu Jul 1, 2010

Johan Santana is still trying to find his rhythm after undergoing offseason elbow surgery. A visit to the last-place Washington Nationals could be just what the two-time Cy Young Award winner needs. Santana looks to avoid losing his third straight start Thursday night when the New York Mets open a four-game series against the Nationals. Santana saw his season come to an end last August due to bone chips in his throwing elbow. He recovered from surgery in time to be the Mets’ 2010 opening day starter, allowing one run in six innings of a win over Florida. The left-hander has been uncharacteristically inconsistent this season, however, posting his highest ERA since 2001 and going 1-3 with a 5.96 ERA in his last four starts. Manager Jerry Manuel feels Santana still needs time to adjust from offseason surgery.

Santana struggled again Saturday, giving up five runs in six innings of a 6-0 loss to Minnesota in his first meeting against his former club. Santana will now try to re-establish his dominance of the Nationals. He didn’t fare well in the last meeting April 11, surrendering five runs in five innings of a 5-2 home defeat. Prior to that, he had beaten them in five consecutive outings - three in Washington - behind a 2.73 ERA. A strong outing from the ace could help New York pull within one game of NL East-leading Atlanta. Jose Reyes’ status is in question after a stiff lower back ruled him out of Wednesday’s 6-5 win over Florida in Puerto Rico. The shortstop, hitting .372 with five homers, 11 RBIs and 21 runs in his last 20 games, will be a game-time decision. The Mets have dropped five of eight to the Nationals and are 1-6 in their last seven meetings in the nation’s capital. The teams split a two-game set there from May 19-20.

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Philadelphia Phillies vs Pittsburgh Pirates Live Streaming

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7:05 pm EDT Thu Jul 1, 2010

The fill-ins for the banged-up Philadelphia Phillies have made some key contributions this week. Now the lineup regulars might need to pitch in more. The Phillies hope to take advantage of a four-game set with the NL’s worst team, starting Thursday night when they visit the Pittsburgh Pirates. Chase Utley and Placido Polanco joined catcher Carlos Ruiz on the disabled list Tuesday, leaving Philadelphia without a trio which has accounted for nearly 30 percent of its hits and runs. The Phillies lost two of three at Cincinnati this week despite the backups coming through with big hits. Catcher Brian Schneider and infielder Wilson Valdez each had three-run homers Tuesday, combining for five hits and seven RBIs in a 9-6, 10-inning win. Valdez had two more hits Wednesday, and Dane Sardinha stepped in for Schneider to hit a three-run homer in a 4-3 defeat.

Jayson Werth has gone six consecutive games without an RBI, while Jimmy Rollins is 1 for 13 this week and hitting .182 in eight games since coming off the disabled list. Rollins, however, has hit .405 in his last 18 games against Pittsburgh. Ryan Howard, trying to avoid a season high-tying fifth straight game without an RBI, is batting .462 with 14 RBIs over his last seven meetings with the Pirates. Cole Hamels also might look forward to facing Pittsburgh, the majors’ lowest-scoring team. He’s coming off arguably his worst outing of the year after giving up five runs - all on three homers - in four innings of a 5-1 loss at Toronto on Saturday. It was the first time since April he allowed more than three earned runs. Hamels, 1-4 in his last six starts, has a 5.40 ERA on the road as opponents have hit .302. The left-hander is 1-0 with a 3.79 ERA in three starts versus the Pirates, who have been limited to seven runs and a .197 average in their last five games.

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Oakland Athletics vs Baltimore Orioles Live Streaming

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7:05 pm EDT Thu Jul 1, 2010

Once uncertain about his future in Oakland, Trevor Cahill has developed into the ace of the Athletics’ staff. The right-hander will take the mound looking for a seventh straight victory in a matchup with the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards on Thursday night. Making a strong case to be selected to the All-Star team in his second season, the 22-year-old Cahill is 6-0 with a 2.24 ERA in eight starts. He has come a long way after beginning the season on the disabled list with a stress reaction in his right shoulder. A key for Cahill of late has been better control. He issued six walks in his last four starts after allowing eight in the previous two. Three of those walks came in his most recent outing Saturday, but Cahill allowed two hits and struck out a career-high 10 in 7 2-3 innings of a 5-0 victory over Pittsburgh. Cahill is 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA in three starts against the Orioles. He allowed a run and two hits in six innings of a 6-1 win at Camden Yards on May 26. Cahill will try to help the A’s bounce back after their four-game winning streak was snapped with a 9-6 loss to the Orioles on Wednesday.

Baltimore tied a season high with five home runs as it rallied from an early 6-3 deficit to win for the fifth time in six games. Adam Jones was 3 for 5 with a home run, his eighth in June. Baltimore will be without left fielder Luke Scott after he hurt his hamstring running out his 12th homer of the season Wednesday. Scott, 4 for 8 with three doubles and four runs in his last three games, could be headed to the disabled list. Rookie Jake Arrieta will try to bounce back from two straight rough starts Thursday. After winning his first two career starts with a 2.77 ERA, the right-hander has gone 0-1 with a 12.27 ERA in two outings. He gave up six runs over 4 1-3 innings Friday in a 7-6 win over Washington. He will have to be cautious with Coco Crisp, who is 11 for 27 in seven games since coming off of the disabled list. The center fielder hit a three-run homer Wednesday.

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Tampa Bay Rays vs Minnesota Twins Live Streaming

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8:10 pm EDT Thu Jul 1, 2010

After a series win over an AL Central rival strengthened the Minnesota Twins’ hold on first place, manager Ron Gardenhire said pitching would be the key to his team’s chances of winning the division. Carl Pavano has given Gardenhire every reason to be confident lately. Coming off his second consecutive complete game, Pavano looks to win his fifth straight start when the Twins host the Tampa Bay Rays in the opener of a four-game series Thursday night. Minnesota improved to 19-10 within the Central by taking two of three from Detroit. That success against division foes has helped put the Twins in first place, 1 1/2 games ahead of the Tigers and 2 1/2 ahead of Chicago. Minnesota built on its lead with a 5-1 victory over Detroit on Wednesday, getting six sharp innings from Kevin Slowey. Gardenhire has to like his club’s chances with Pavano taking the mound. The right-hander has posted a 1.64 ERA during his four-start winning streak. He beat the New York Mets 6-0 on the road Saturday, scattering three hits in his sixth career shutout, which came six days after he threw a four-hitter in a 4-1 win at Philadelphia.

Pavano has gone 5-3 with a 3.73 ERA in 10 starts against the Rays, who are looking to win consecutive games for the first time since a three-game run from June 6-9. Tampa Bay scored six times in the eighth inning to pull away for a 9-4 win over Boston on Wednesday night. The Rays hope their sixth win in 18 games will help them get back on track after an 11-14 June. Maddon hopes his team has another strong day at the plate with Jeff Niemann taking the ball. The right-hander suffered a 1-0 loss to Arizona on Friday as Edwin Jackson pitched the fourth no-hitter in baseball this season. Niemann allowed six hits and struck out eight over 7 1-3 innings in his second consecutive loss. He gave up one run in his only start against Minnesota, lasting 5 2-3 innings in a 7-1 victory April 27, 2009.

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Milwaukee Brewers vs St. Louis Cardinals Live Streaming

Milwaukee Brewers vs St. Louis Cardinals Live | Milwaukee Brewers vs St. Louis Cardinals | Milwaukee Brewers vs St. Louis Cardinals Streaming | Milwaukee vs St. Louis MLB Live Stream | Milwaukee Brewers vs St. Louis Cardinals Live Webcast

8:15 pm EDT Thu Jul 1, 2010

The St. Louis Cardinals have no qualms handing the ball to their top three starters, but injuries have left the bottom two slots in the rotation in flux for the past six weeks. Blake Hawksworth might be making a convincing audition for one of them. Hawksworth’s recent spot start was an eye-opener for manager Tony La Russa, and he’ll look to make another positive impression Thursday night as the Cardinals open a four-game set with the visiting Milwaukee Brewers. Brad Penny and Kyle Lohse were injured a day apart in late May, and St. Louis has tried four different options to fill in for the veteran right-handers. One of those is Hawksworth, who gave up six runs over four innings in his first major league start June 7 in Los Angeles. After another stint in the bullpen, the righty delivered Saturday in his second opportunity, yielding two hits and two runs - one earned - over five efficient innings in a 5-3 win at Kansas City.

He’ll come into his third start with higher expectations, but he’ll go in with a brief positive history against the Brewers. Hawksworth hasn’t allowed a run versus Milwaukee in six relief appearances spanning eight innings. The Cardinals will be trying to bounce back after failing to complete yet another three-game sweep. St. Louis left 14 men on base in a 4-2 loss to Arizona on Wednesday, the eighth time it has won the first two games of a series before dropping the finale. St. Louis has swept one four-game and one two-game series this season, but hasn’t completed a three-game sweep since Sept. 7-9 at Milwaukee. The Brewers swept three from Minnesota to begin a nine-game homestand, and followed by taking two of three from Seattle. But Ken Macha’s club closed with a thud, dropping two of three to Houston after losing Wednesday’s finale 5-1.

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San Francisco Giants vs Colorado Rockies Live Streaming

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8:40 pm EDT Thu Jul 1, 2010

A punchless homestand saw the San Francisco Giants match their longest losing streak of the season. They will try to end that skid in the opener of an 11-game road trip that leads into the All-Star break. Losers of five straight, the Giants face the Colorado Rockies, one of the NL’s best home teams, Thursday night. San Francisco opened a six-game homestand with a 5-4 win over Boston on Friday, but dropped all of the remaining contests while totaling nine runs. The Giants have batted .220 during the slide and gone 3 for 27 with runners in scoring position. They collected seven hits in an 8-2 defeat to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, concluding the home stretch by getting swept in three games by their NL West archrivals. San Francisco is fourth in the West, one-half game behind the third-place Rockies and 5 1/2 behind San Diego for first. The Giants, who have not dropped six in a row since April 10-16, 2009, will need to play better on the road if they’re going to close the gap. They’ve dropped 12 of 18 away from San Francisco as they head into their longest trip of the season. The Giants, making their first visit to Coors Field in 2010, have lost five of six in Colorado. The teams split the first six season meetings at AT&T Park.

Madison Bumgarner, one of the Giants’ top prospects, gets another chance to claim the No. 5 spot in the rotation with Todd Wellemeyer recovering from a strained quadriceps. The 20-year-old left-hander, 7-1 with a 3.16 ERA in 14 Triple-A starts this season, may have been victimized by early nerves in his 2010 debut Saturday. He allowed four runs and four hits with two homers in the opening two innings, but yielded one hit over the next five in a 4-2 loss to the Red Sox. The Rockies are starting a season high-tying 10-game homestand that leads into the July 13 All-Star game. Colorado is 23-14 at home and has won seven of nine there. A return to Coors could be just what the Rockies need to rebound from a 13-3 loss to first-place San Diego on Wednesday. Aaron Cook should also be happy to be home as he tries for his second win in 12 games overall. The right-hander has gone 1-3 with a 4.57 ERA in his last 11 outings, but 3-0 with a 1.99 ERA in his most recent eight home starts dating to last year.

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Texas Rangers vs Los Angeles Angels Live Streaming

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10:05 pm EDT Thu Jul 1, 2010

The Texas Rangers set a franchise wins record and were the majors’ best team in June. Josh Hamilton and Vladimir Guerrero have been at the heart of it, and have showed little signs of slowing. The All-Star sluggers look to help the Rangers get July off to a strong start as they conclude this three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night. Texas went 21-6 last month, capped by a 6-4 victory Wednesday that increased its AL West lead over the second-place Angels to 4 1/2 games. Hamilton and Guerrero have been major reasons for Texas’ surge to the top of the division. Hamilton set team marks for June with 49 hits and 31 RBIs. The left fielder is hitting .457 during a career-high 23-game hitting streak that is also the longest in the majors this year. Guerrero hit .356 with six homers and 24 RBIs last month, finishing June with a torrid stretch in his last seven games. He went 14 for 29 with three homers and 11 RBIs in that span. The 2004 AL MVP with Los Angeles went 4 for 4 with two homers and five RBIs in Wednesday’s win, giving him three homers and eight RBIs in his first series at Anaheim since leaving the Angels via free agency in the offseason.

The Rangers will hand the ball to C.J. Wilson, who is 3-0 with a 3.09 ERA in five starts - all Texas wins - after going 0-2 with a 7.04 ERA in his previous four. The left-hander continued his strong stretch Saturday, yielding two runs in seven innings of a 7-2 victory over Houston. Wilson has limited opponents to a .205 average his last five starts. He’ll try to carry that momentum into this outing after getting roughed up by the Angels at home May 18, when he was tagged for seven runs and seven hits with two homers in 4 1-3 innings of an 8-7 win. The Angels will counter with Jered Weaver, the AL leader with 118 strikeouts who is looking to continue his strong stretch at home. The right-hander is 3-2 with a 1.96 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 64 1-3 innings over 10 starts at Angel Stadium dating to last year. He’s also 3-0 with a 2.16 ERA in his last five home starts against Texas.

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Houston Astros vs San Diego Padres Live Streaming

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10:05 pm EDT Thu Jul 1, 2010

A successful end to June has the Houston Astros feeling confident heading into their second series in the span of a week against a first-place team. The Astros continue their 10-game trip Thursday night against the NL West-leading San Diego Padres. Houston won a combined 17 games in April and May, but after taking two of three at Milwaukee, finished 14-14 in June. San Diego went 15-12 in June, leaving the Astros excited about facing the team with the NL’s best record. Houston opened its trip by losing two of three at AL West-leading Texas before winning its first road series in three weeks at Milwaukee. The Padres took two of three at Houston in early May. Chris Johnson had four hits and drove in two runs Wednesday for the Astros, who have won five of eight. The rookie third baseman is 12 for 29 with six RBIs in seven games since being recalled from Triple-A Round Rock.

Houston could be in for a test against San Diego’s Jon Garland, who looks for a fourth straight win over the Astros. The right-hander is 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA in six starts versus the Astros, but has scattered seven hits in 14 scoreless innings in the last two. Garland gave up two hits in seven innings of a 2-1 win at Houston on May 8. Garland earned his second straight consecutive victory after he yielded a run in 6 2-3 innings of a 2-1 win at Florida on Saturday. Scott Hairston drove in four runs for the second time in three games Wednesday as San Diego avoided being swept with a 13-3 win over Colorado. The Padres, who totaled nine runs in their previous two games, have scored at least 13 on three occasions this season. Scott Hairston went 5 for 13 in the series. Two of his three hits in 11 at-bats against Houston this season have been home runs. Adrian Gonzalez was 1 for 13 against the Rockies. He went 1 for 9 at Houston in May, but is 5 for 12 versus scheduled starter Brian Moehler.

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