A look at what’s happening around the majors today:
MIDSUMMER SKID
The Nationals open a series against Miami hoping to end a five-game skid and get back to .500. Washington fell to 42-43 with a loss to Boston on Wednesday
Cheap Ronald Jones II Jersey , the first time the preseason NL East favorites have been under .500 this late in the year since being 60-61 on Aug. 21, 2015. The Nationals held a players’ only meeting after a 3-0 loss to the Red Sox highlighted by Adam Eaton’s throwing error and a wild pitch from Ryan Madson. Jeremy Hellickson (2-1, 2.63) makes his second start since returning from the DL, while Marlins righty Pablo Lopez (1-0, 3.00) makes his second MLB start.
NOT VERY VERLANDER
Justin Verlander (9-4, 2.12) tries to stop a personal slide when the Astros open a series against the White Sox. Verlander has allowed nine runs in 11 2/3 innings over his past two starts
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CUETO’S BACK
Johnny Cueto is expected to be reinstated from the disabled list and pitch when the Giants open a four-game series against the Cardinals. Cueto was placed on the disabled list May 1 with inflammation in his right elbow. A few days later, he visited Dr. James Andrews, who diagnosed him with a strained elbow. Cueto is 3-0 with a 0.84 ERA in five starts this season. The Giants are 41-21 in his starts since he joined the team in 2016.
PITCHING IN
Angels rookie Jaime Barria will start against AL West-leading Seattle in place of Tyler Skaggs a day after the left-hander went on the DL with a thigh strain. Barria is making his 12th start of the season and has given up two earned runs or fewer in four of his last five starts. Lefty Marco Gonzales (8-5, 3.77) makes his first start since pitching the first complete game of his career in a 4-1 win over Kansas City.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Joe Mauer needs one double to give him 415 in his career, which would break a tie with Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett for the Twins’ franchise record. Minnesota has lost six straight and returns home from a 1-8 trip to play Baltimore
Cheap Jaire Alexander Jersey , which has the worst record in the majors at 24-61. More good news for the scuffling Twins: Two-time All-Star Ervin Santana (right middle finger surgery) is scheduled to make his next rehab appearance for Class A Fort Myers.
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LOS ANGELES — The season finale between the Dallas Stars and the Los Angeles Kings could be titled “Trading Places” on Saturday night at Staples Center.
The Kings (45-28-6) were considered a toss-up to make the Stanley Cup playoffs but with a win they will record the fifth 100-point season in franchise history and return to the playoffs after a one season absence.
Their first-round opponent is still to be determined and the Kings have a remote chance at home-ice advantage. If Los Angeles wins, both the Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks would have to lose their final games for the Kings to move into second place in the Pacific Division and secure home-ice.
Los Angeles has played well heading into the playoffs, winning four straight at home and have only lost one of its last nine games in regulation (6-1-2).
Dustin Brown registered his first four-goal game of his career in a 5-4 overtime victory over the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night. In his 13th NHL season, Brown established a career-high in points (28 goals, 33 assists) with his four-goal barrage.
With a playoff berth secured and only playoff positioning at stake, Brown said he was not interested in taking a day off to give him additional rest after a grueling season.
“I’m playing Saturday
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The Kings enter the game surrendering the least goals against in the NHL and barring an unforeseen defensive collapse, Jonathan Quick will win the Jennings Trophy. Los Angeles has surrendered 198 goals, four ahead of the Nashville Predators. Quick won the award in the 2013-’14 season when the team surrendered 174 goals.
Although his team has improved offensively this season, coach John Stevens takes pride in his team’s defensive accomplishment.
“I think everybody in this organization takes great pride at keeping the puck out of your net. I think a lot of times you want to talk about defense, sometimes it’s a willingness and not an ability, and our guys are willing to do what it takes to keep the puck out of the net
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The Stars (41-32-8) were a sleeper pick to win the Stanley Cup by some experts at the start of the season and things looked promising entering the final weeks of the season.
But a disastrous close has them on the outside looking in for the postseason for the third time in their last four seasons. On Mar. 5, they had a 37-23-6 record but won only four of their last 15 games (4-9-2) placing them 10th in the Western Conference and by doing so they are the first team in league history to earn 80 points in their first 66 games and miss the postseason.
Despite improving significantly this season, their lack of scoring depth behind the top line of Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin and Alexander Radulov and a poor penalty kill were the major factors in their poor play down the stretch with opponents registering 15 power play goals in the last 13 games against Dallas.
The Stars had a two-game winning streak snapped on Friday night, losing 5-3 to the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center. Benn registered a goal and an assist and Mike McKenna stopped 28 of 33 Anaheim shots. McKenna was victimized by his defense that left him to defend numerous high quality chances.
“We turned the puck over at the top of both zones too many times,” coach Ken Hitchcock said. “We made too many mistakes in where we call ‘critical ice’ and Anaheim took advantage of it. We had a lot of scoring chances
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The teams have matched road shutouts in the first two games of the season series. The Kings won 3-0 in Dallas on Jan. 30 and the Stars returned the favor with a 2-0 victory in Los Angeles on Feb. 22.
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