Red Sox the favorites in the American League East

Red Sox the favorites in the American League East
After going 11-3 in the postseason en route to winning the 2018 World Series, the Red Sox are taking aim at becoming the first repeat World Series winner since the Yankees won their third consecutive in 2000. History says the Red Sox have an uphill climb. Since 2000, only the 2001 Yankees and 2009 Phillies returned to the World Series after winning it the previous season. Nine of the World Series champions didn't make the postseason. The Yankees and Red Sox are the favorites in the American...
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Exhibition game lineups: Nats vs. Yankees

Exhibition game lineups: Nats vs. Yankees
The Nationals take on the New York Yankees in their final tune-up exhibition before the season begins Thursday at Nats Park against the New York Mets. Weather permitting, right-hander Aníbal Sánchez (0-1, 4.50 ERA) will start for the Nationals against Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes Jr. (0-1, 3.29). It is all regulars in the lineup except for Kurt Suzuki starting instead of Yan Gomes at catcher. Matt Adams will be the designated hitter. Manager Davey Martinez had said during spring...
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Opposite dugout: Yanks look to nail down home field in wild card game

Opposite dugout: Yanks look to nail down home field in wild card game
Manager: Aaron Boone (1st season Record: 93-59 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: DH Giancarlo Stanton (35 HR, 93 RBIs), RF Aaron Judge (.279/.391/.534 with 26 HR), 3B Miguel Andújar (.295/.329/.520 with 84 RBIs), SS Didi Gregorius (84 RBIs, 10 SB), LHP CC Sabathia (3.80 ERA), LHP Aroldis Chapman (31 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 10-6 Pitching probables: Sept. 21: RHP Yefry Ramírez (1-6) vs. LHP CC Sabathia (7-7), 7:05 p.m., MASNSept. 22: RHP David Hess (3-10) vs. TBA, 4:05 p.m.,...
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Opposite dugout: Is a division crown out of reach for the Yankees?

Opposite dugout: Is a division crown out of reach for the Yankees?
Manager: Aaron Boone (1st season) Record: 79-47 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: DH Giancarlo Stanton (.286 with 32 HR, 81 RBIs); 3B Miguel Andújar (.295, 130 hits); 2B Gleyber Torres (.264, 18 HR); LF Brett Gardner (104 hits, 13 SB); LHP J.A. Happ (14-6, 3.84 ERA); RHP Luis Severino (16-6, 3.28 ERA); RHP David Robertson (3.11 ERA, 3 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 6-6 Pitching probables: Aug. 24: LHP CC Sabathia (7-4) vs. RHP Alex Cobb (4-15); 7:05 p.m., MASNAug. 25: LHP J.A. Happ (14-6)...
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Opposite dugout: Powerful Yankees have struggled against Orioles

Opposite dugout: Powerful Yankees have struggled against Orioles
Manager: Aaron Boone (1st season) Record: 67-37 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: 3B Miguel Andújar (.293 with 12 HR, 43 RBIs), SS Gleyber Torres (.286/.335/.534 with 26 HR, 61 RBIs), DH Giancarlo Stanton (242 HR, 64 RBIs), RHP Masahiro Tanaka (8-2, 4.09 ERA), LHP Aroldis Chapman (1.93 ERA, 28 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 5-5 Pitching probables: July 31: RHP Yefry Ramírez (1-3) vs. RHP Masahiro Tanaka (8-2), 7:05 p.m., MASN Aug. 1: RHP Alex Cobb (2-14) vs. RHP Sonny Gray (8-7), 1:05...
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Opposite dugout: Yankees get four games in three days to press pennant chase

Opposite dugout: Yankees get four games in three days to press pennant chase
Manager: Aaron Boone (1st season) Record: 58-29 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: DH Giancarlo Stanton (21 HR, 51 RBIs), SS Didi Gregorius (10 SB), 3B Miguel Andújar (25 doubles), RF Aaron Judge (.280 with 25 HR, 58 RBIs), RHP Masahiro Tanaka (7-2, 1.087 WHIP), LHP Aroldis Chapman (24 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 3-3 Pitching probables: July 9 (Game 1): RHP Luis Cessa (0-1) vs. RHP Jimmy Yacabonis (0-0), 4:05 p.m., MASNJuly 9 (Game 2): LHP CC Sabathia (6-3) vs. RHP Yefry Ramirez (0-2),...
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How Doolittle's routine was altered but still resulted in a save

How Doolittle's routine was altered but still resulted in a save
The pair of rainouts from mid-May against the Yankees set up an unusual day of baseball and challenged normal routines, especially for the Nats' closer, Sean Doolittle. The Nationals won the suspended game, 5-3. The Yankees took the second game of the night, 4-2. In the first game, the Nats and Yankees resumed play in the bottom of the sixth. The Nats benefitted from a two-run shot from rookie Juan Soto to break the 3-3 tie. The home run hit the last row of the second deck in right field, one...
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Despite another tough loss to Yankees, Fedde believes he "can grow from it"

Despite another tough loss to Yankees, Fedde believes he "can grow from it"
The Yankees used a two-run shot by Aaron Hicks and a key RBI double from Giancarlo Stanton to down the Nationals 4-2 on Monday night in the makeup of a rained-out game from May 16. The Nats won the suspended game 5-3 on a mammoth two-run shot by Juan Soto that almost went over the upper deck in right field. Right-hander Erick Fedde surrendered three runs over 5 1/3 innings in the loss, walking two and striking out four, dropping to 0-2. Fedde has given up the lead in two matchups against the...
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Game 43 lineups: Nats vs. Yankees (suspended game)

Game 43 lineups: Nats vs. Yankees (suspended game)
The Nationals limp home from a 1-5 road trip with questions about their offense and seeking a pair of wins against the Yankees. They lost each game in Toronto, and must get right quickly as they take on the Yankees for the second time in five days. Tonight, the Nats will finish two games with the Yankees postponed from May's rained-out affairs. The first game is a continuation of the suspended game from May 15 with the game tied 3-3 heading to the bottom of the sixth inning. About 30 minutes...
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Opposite dugout: Suspended game, makeup bring Yankees back to D.C.

Opposite dugout: Suspended game, makeup bring Yankees back to D.C.
Manager: Aaron Boone (1st year) Record: 46-21 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: 3B Miguel Andújar (.293/.321/.515 with 28 RBIs), 2B Gleyber Torres (.283 with 13 HR, 34 RBIs), RF Aaron Judge (18HR, 46 RBIs), LF Giancarlo Stanton (16 HR, 37 RBIs), C Gary Sánchez (13 HR, 39 RBIs), RHP Sonny Gray (4-4, 4.98 ERA), LHP Aroldis Chapman (1.17 ERA, 20 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 1-1 Pitching probables: June 18: Suspended game resumes at 5:05 p.m. on MASN June 18: RHP Sonny Gray (4-4) vs....
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Opposite dugout: Young Yankees powering way toward AL East crown

Opposite dugout: Young Yankees powering way toward AL East crown
Manager: Aaron Boone (1st year) Record: 42-19 Last 10 games: 8-2 Who to watch: 2B Gleyber Torres (.297/.356/.559), SS Didi Gregorius (36 RBIs, 8 SB), 3B Miguel Andújar (.310/.340/.552), RF Aaron Judge (18 HR, 45 RBIs), DH Giancarlo Stanton (15 HR, 34 RBIs), LHP CC Sabathia (3.59 ERA), LHP Aroldis Chapman (17 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (May 15 suspended game to be completed June 18) Pitching probables: June 12: RHP Tanner Roark (3-6) vs. LHP CC Sabathia (3-1), 7:05...
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Opposite dugout: Yankees bring plenty of punch to the party

Opposite dugout: Yankees bring plenty of punch to the party
Manager: Aaron Boone (1st season) Record: 35-17 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 2B Gleyber Torres (26 RBIs), SS Didi Gregorius (35 RBIs), 3B Miguel Andújar (.290), RF Aaron Judge (15 HR, 40 RBIs), DH Giancarlo Stanton (11 HR, 29 RBIs), LHP Aroldis Chapman (12 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 1-3 Pitching probables: May 31: RHP Sonny Gray (3-4) vs. RHP Andrew Cashner (2-6), 7:05 p.m., MASNJune 1: RHP Masahiro Tanaka (6-2) vs. RHP Kevin Gausman (3-4), 7:05 p.m., MASNJune 2: RHP Domingo...
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Martinez on Austin Voth as his 26th man tonight

Martinez on Austin Voth as his 26th man tonight
The originally scheduled game tonight was slated to begin at 7:05 p.m., with a gem of a matchup: Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer (7-1, 1.69 ERA) against the Yankees left-hander C.C. Sabathia (2-0, 2.23). But rain is again in the forecast, so the 5:05 p.m. resumption of the first game of the series (currently in the bottom of the sixth with the score tied 3-3) and that original start time are definitely not set in stone. The subject of preventing Max Scherzer getting burned for that game...
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Martinez lays out plan for suspended game and nightcap

Martinez lays out plan for suspended game and nightcap
The resumed game from Tuesday's suspended contest is scheduled to begin at 5:05 p.m. ET today. The Nationals and the Yankees were tied at 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth. After a one-plus hour weather delay, the game was suspended. In the bottom of the sixth, Bryce Harper, Anthony Rendon and Matt Adams are scheduled due up for the Nationals. Nationals manager Davey Martinez will have to make a decision with his bullpen when the top of the seventh rolls around. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez went five...
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Rendon homer ignites the offense (game tied 3-3, game suspended)

Rendon homer ignites the offense (game tied 3-3, game suspended)
A fast start for the Nationals against the Yankees' Masahiro Tanaka. Anthony Rendon with a solo homer in the first, his fourth homer of the season, on a 1-1 pitch. In the second, the Nats strung together three hits in four at-bats. Howie Kendrick doubled. Andrew Stevenson single to left-center scored Kendrick. Pedro Severino's RBI double scored Stevenson. Meanwhile, left-hander Gio Gonzalez allowed two base runners in each of the first two innings and got out of jams. His curveball was a...
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Opposite Dugout: Surging Yankees holding down first place in AL East

Opposite Dugout: Surging Yankees holding down first place in AL East
Manager: Aaron Boone (1st season) Record: 28-12 Last 10 games: 8-2 Who to watch: RF Aaron Judge (.311 with 11 HR, 35 RBIs), DH Giancarlo Stanton (10 HR, 26 RBIs), SS Didi Gregorius (10 HR, 31 RBIs), 2B Gleyber Torres (.319), LHP CC Sabathia (2-0, 2.23 ERA), LHP Aroldis Chapman (9 saves), Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (1-3 in 2015) Pitching Probables: May 15: RHP Masahiro Tanaka (4-2) vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez (4-2), 7:05 p.m., MASNMay 16: LHP CC Sabathia (2-0) vs. RHP Max Scherzer...
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Opposite dugout: With high expectations, Yankees stars off to sluggish start

Opposite dugout: With high expectations, Yankees stars off to sluggish start
Manager: Aaron Boone (1st season) Record: 4-2 Last 10 games: 4-2 Who to watch (2017 stats): OF/DH Giancarlo Stanton (59 HR, 132 RBIs with 1.007 OPS), RF Aaron Judge (52 HR, 114 RBIs with 1.049 OPS), C Gary Sánchez (33 HR, 90 RBIs), LHP CC Sabathia (14-5, 3.69 ERA), LHP Aroldis Chapman (3.22 ERA, 22 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (12-7 in 2017) Pitching probables: April 5: RHP Andrew Cashner vs. RHP Masahiro Tanaka, 6:35 p.m., MASN April 6: RHP Kevin Gausman vs. LHP CC...
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Will revival of Yankees-Red Sox rivalry be top AL East storyline?

Will revival of Yankees-Red Sox rivalry be top AL East storyline?
The trendy analysis for the American League East is that the Boston and New York are going to battle for the title, bringing back the usual intensity that goes with a Yankees-Red Sox rivalry. But when does the obvious ever happen in baseball? The Orioles, who had five consecutive .500 or better seasons before their last-place finish in 2017, will contend if they can rebuild a rotation. The Blue Jays have pitching depth and the Rays are the Rays. Predicted finish: Yankees, Orioles, Red Sox, Blue...
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Be ready early: Orioles' April schedule is brutal

Be ready early: Orioles' April schedule is brutal
When the 2018 season begins, the Orioles will be afforded no time to ease into the action. The early season schedule is tough and littered with 2017 playoff teams. Of the 15 American League teams, just five finished over .500 last year and they were all playoff teams. Cleveland won 102 games, Houston won 101 on its way to the World Series title, Boston won 93, New York won 91 and Minnesota 85. Of their first seven series of the 2018 season, the Orioles play each of those five teams once. They...
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Where the AL East stands before the Winter Meetings

Where the AL East stands before the Winter Meetings
We are not breaking any news here when we say the Orioles need starting pitching - at least three starters and certainly more - if they are going to be contenders in the 2018 American League East. The Orioles have Kevin Gausman, who pitched well in the second half after a lousy first half in 2017, and Dylan Bundy at the top of the rotation, but after that, it's all question marks. Baltimore is in catch-up mode. The New York Yankees, who unexpectedly came one win away from making the World...
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