ScoresandStats.com Latest Sports Previews

After conquering Coors Field in his last outing, Randy Vasquez now looks to tame the Chicago Cubs’ potent attack. The San Diego Padres right-hander tries to keep his outstanding start to the season going Monday night when he takes the mound to open a three-game series against the Cubs at Petco Park. Vasquez (2-0, 1.88) hinted at this progression last September when he won three games that helped San Diego secure a wild-card spot. Aside from allowing four runs in four innings on April 15 against Seattle, he’s yielded just two earned runs over his other four outings. None of those runs were scored last Tuesday night in Denver, when he sailed through seven innings on just 84 pitches in

The New York Yankees are monitoring the status of designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton as they prepare to begin a three-game series against the Texas Rangers on Monday in Arlington, Texas. Stanton has missed the last two games with right calf tightness, and Yankees manager Aaron Boone said the team will decide before Monday’s contest if a trip to the injured list is needed. “I know (Saturday) he felt like it improved,” Boone said. “I think he also feels like he got in front of it a little bit, so we’ll see how it unfolds.” The Yankees had their eight-game win streak snapped in a 7-4 road loss to the Houston Astros on Sunday, while Texas dropped two of three to

After dropping three games by a total of four runs while getting swept at home, the St. Louis Cardinals will look for better fortune on the road as they begin a four-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday. St. Louis has lost four straight and five of six and is tied with the Milwaukee Brewers for fourth in the National League Central, the only division in the majors where every team has a winning record. Rob Refsnyder hit a tiebreaking solo home run in the top of the ninth inning after successfully challenging a third strike call earlier in the at-bat to give the Seattle Mariners a 3-2 victory over the host Cardinals on Sunday. “It sucks that you

A bullpen, like an umpiring crew, often goes unnoticed unless it makes mistakes. The Seattle Mariners would like to challenge that approach. Seattle has enjoyed one of the best bullpens in baseball as of late, and it hopes the trend will continue as it faces the Minnesota Twins to kick off a three-game series Monday in Minneapolis. The Mariners are coming off a 3-2 road win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep. Seattle’s bullpen combined to pitch three scoreless innings, and Jose A. Ferrer closed the door in the ninth inning for his first save. Seattle manager Dan Wilson said he was fortunate to have a top bullpen. “We’ve got guys we trust in