LEADING OFF: Price makes 2nd start; McCullers on a roll
A look at what's happening all around the majors today:
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PRICE POINT
David Price makes his second start of the season since coming off the disabled list when the Red Sox face the Orioles at Camden Yards. The 2012 Cy Young Award winner returned from an elbow injury Monday and did not get a decision after allowing three runs and two hits in five innings against the White Sox. The left-hander has made himself at home in Baltimore, where he's 6-0 with a 3.14 ERA in 10 career starts. Dylan Bundy (6-3, 2.89) goes for the Orioles.
ONE-TWO PUNCH
Streaking starter Lance McCullers Jr. (6-1, 2.48 ERA) is on the mound as the major league-leading Astros (39-16) look for their ninth consecutive victory when they visit the rival Rangers. McCullers has won four straight decisions and was just selected the American League pitcher of the month for May, when he was 4-0 with a 0.99 ERA and 37 strikeouts over 36 1/3 innings. Houston also had the AL pitcher of the month for April in ace lefty Dallas Keuchel, who is now 9-0.
STILL CHASING
Angels slugger Albert Pujols takes another crack at hitting his 600th home run, this time against Ervin Santana of the Twins. Santana (7-2) has the second-lowest ERA in the majors at 1.75 and has permitted no more than one run in nine of his 11 starts this season. Pujols has gone 15 at-bats without a homer over the past three games since connecting for No. 599.
STAY CLASSY, SAN DIEGO
The surging Padres are threatening to climb out of the NL West cellar. Tied with San Francisco for fourth place, San Diego goes for its sixth consecutive victory when Jhoulys Chacin faces visiting Colorado - his former team. Chacin (4-4, 4.33 ERA) is 2-0 with a 0.67 ERA this season at Petco Park, where batters are hitting.132 against him.
BAD NEWS, GOOD NEWS
The banged-up Mariners will be without Jean Segura for a while after he was placed on the 10-day disabled list Friday with a high ankle sprain. There is no set timetable for his return, and Taylor Motter will now get most of the playing time at shortstop. Motter hit his second grand slam of the season in Friday night's 12-4 win over Tampa Bay. Segura entered Friday tied for the AL lead in batting average at .341. It's his second stint on the DL this season after missing 12 games in April with a hamstring injury. Seattle did get some positive news about slugger Nelson Cruz, who was back in the lineup after getting hit on the top of his left hand by a pitch Thursday.
FAST START
Cardinals outfielder Magneuris Sierra is making a nice impression in his first major league season. The 21-year-old is hitting .375 (12 for 32) since making his debut last month straight from Class A. Sierra was promoted back to the big leagues this week from Double-A to replace infielder Jedd Gyorko, who went on the paternity list after Thursday's 2-0 victory over the Dodgers. Sierra had an RBI single Friday at Wrigley Field vs. the Cubs.
HE'S AVAILABLE
Will any team that needs bullpen help take a chance on ex-Rangers closer Sam Dyson? He was designated for assignment by Texas after his latest rough outing - he gave up two home runs in the 10th inning vs. Tampa Bay this week. The right-hander is 1-6 with a 10.80 ERA in 17 games and has blown all four of his save chances this year. Dyson had 38 saves last season when the Rangers won their second straight AL West title, and was a key reliever for Team USA when it won the World Baseball Classic in March. Dyson lost his closer's role for Texas in early May, and Matt Bush now has the job.
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