Weekend Watch

Saturday, May 25
The Red Sox and Astros continue their series, a rematch of the American League Championship Series last season. LHP David Price takes the ball, while the Astros look to avenge a series-clinching win by the southpaw in that ALCS battle. The Red Sox are 11-4 across their past 15 road games, and 7-3 in the past 10 against American League West opponents. In addition, they're 16-7 over the past 23 games overall. In addition, they're 5-2 in Price's past seven showings against AL West foes, while going 8-2 in his past 10 road outings against teams with an overall winning record. They're also 7-3 in his past 10 starts while working on four days of rest.

 The Astros have cashed in six of their past seven against AL East foes, and they're also 6-1 over RHP Brad Peacock's past seven outings at home. Houston is 19-7 in his past 26 starts overall, too, but just 2-5 in his past seven at home against a team with a winning record, while going 6-16 over his past 22 while working on four days of rest. Houston has won 35 of the past 51 at home, while going 5-2 in the past seven at home against a left-handed starter. They're also 23-9 in the past 32 overall vs. LHP, and 8-3 in the past 11 at home against teams with a winning overall record.

The under is a perfect 6-0 in Boston's past six against teams with a winning overall record, while going 4-0 in their past four against AL West foes. The under is also 7-2-1 in the past 10 starts by Price, while hitting in each of his past five against winning teams. The under is also 6-1-1 in the past eight starts on grass for the left-hander. For Houston, the under is an impressive 8-1 over the past nine outings, while 5-0-1 in the past six at home against winning teams. The under is also 4-1-1 in the past six vs. LHP, while going 20-8-1 in their past 29 against winning sides. The under is also 8-3-1 in the past 12 home outings by Peacock, and 5-0 in the past five meetings in this series.

In late-night action, the Rangers and Angels will square off in a southpaw battle, as LHP Mike Minor looks to stay hot against LHP Tyler Skaggs. Minor has won each of his past two outings, including a quality start last time out on May 20 against Seattle when he allowed just two earned runs, six hits and a walk with 11 strikeouts, his second double-digit K performance of the season. He allowed just three hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in a complete-game shutout on April 16 against the Halos, too.

Texas has won five in a row, while going a perfect 6-0 across the past six against losing teams. They're also 8-3 across Minor's past 11 inside the division, while going 10-4 in his past 14 against losing squads. The Rangers are a dismal 8-23 across the past 31 road games vs. LHP, however. For the Angels, they have won just once in the past 10 tries against divisional foes, while going 2-12 in the past 14 home games against teams with a winning overall record. They also enter on a five-game losing streak, while going 0-8 in the past eight at home vs. LHP. In addition, the Halos are just 2-5 in the past seven starts for Skaggs against the AL West, and 2-6 in his past eight at home against winning teamggoogoo

Weather Report
Wind will be a huge factor in Saturday's early slate. The winds will be blowing 11-13 mph to straightaway center field for the White Sox-Twins game in Target Field. The same holds true for Game 1 of the Yankees-Royals day-night doubleheader at Kauffman Stadium, blowing 11-14 mph to center. On the north side, the Reds and Cubs will be contending with winds of 11-14 mph blowing to the right-center field power alley.

In the mid-afternoon games wind will also be a factor. The Tigers and Mets will face 12-15 mph winds blowing out to left field. The Rays and Indians will be playing beat the clock, as the rains are expected to move in right before the end of the game. During the contest they'll face a jetstream of 13-16 mph blowing out to right field. 

Sunday, May 26

Sunday's battle between LHP Eduardo Rodriguez and Astros RHP Justin Verlander should be an entertaining pitcher's duel. The BoSox are 13-4 across E-Rod's past 17 road outings, 40-17 in his past 57 starts and 7-3 over his past 10 away assignments against teams with a winning overall mark. And, for what it's worth, they're 7-1 in his past eight starts on a Sunday. As far as the Astros are concerned, they're 4-0 in Verlander's past four at home, and 8-2 across his past 10 outings against teams with a winning overall mark. They're also 41-17 in Verlander's past 58 starts overall.

The Mariners and Athletics tangle in the series finale, with RHP Mike Leake and LHP Brett Anderson locking horns. Seattle has struggled against southpaws, going 1-8 in the past nine vs. LHP and 0-6 in the past six on the road against lefties. They're also just 1-6 in Leake's past seven outings, and 0-4 in his past four on the road. For the A's, they're an impressive 5-1 in the past six home outings by Anderson, while going 10-1 in the past 11 home outings against teams with a losing overall mark. However, they're just 1-4 in Anderson's past five starts inside the division.

RHP Julio Teheran and RHP Jack Flaherty will face each other on Sunday Night Baseball. The Braves are 4-1 in Teheran's past five against NL Central foes, and 22-6 in his past 28 appearnces on a Sunday. Overall, Atlanta likes playing on Sunday, going 25-9 in their past 34. For the Cards, they're in a tailspin lately, and Flaherty might not be the guy to pull them out of their nosedive. The Cards are 5-11 in Flaherty's past 16 starts, and 1-4 in his past five outings against NL East foes. As far as the total is concerned, the under is 5-1 in Teheran's past six starts, and 4-0 in his past four on the road. The under is 4-1 in Flaherty's past five, too, although the over is 9-2 in his past 11 outings against teams with a winning record.

Weather Report

For the second straight day, the Rays and Indians will be facing the threat of rain in the later innings, although the game should get in mostly uninterrupted. The same cannot be said for the finale between the Dodgers and Pirates, as they're facing 30-40 percent chance of showers, increasing as the afternoon progresses.

In the Bay Area, the Diamondbacks and Athletics will face a jetstream of 12-15 mph blowing out to the left-center field power alley with a threat of showers. The Mariners and Athletics will face similar conditions across the bay, with 11-14 mph winds blowing out to left-center field.