LEADING OFF: Astros go for team record-tying 12th win in row

Posted June 18, 2018 7:00 am

By The Associated Press

Houston Astros' Carlos Correa celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run to tie the Kansas City Royals in the eighth inning of a baseball game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, June 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley) The Associated Press

A look at what's happening around the majors today:

HOT HOUSTON

The Astros aim for their 12th straight victory, which would tie for the longest winning streak in franchise history set in 1999 and duplicated in 2004. Fresh off a 10-0 road trip to Texas, Oakland and Kansas City in which they outscored opponents 74-35, the World Series champions return to Minute Maid Park to take on Tampa Bay. Houston starter Gerrit Cole (8-1, 2.40 ERA) leads the AL with 130 strikeouts; the Rays will start a reliever for the third straight game, with Ryne Stanek opening up.

DOUBLING UP

The New York Yankees and Washington meet for a doubleheader - sort of - at Nationals Park. The teams were tied at 2 in the sixth inning on May 15 when their game was stopped because of rain, and they were postponed the next night. So the Yanks and Nats will pick up in the sixth, with both clubs expected to start out with relievers. Sonny Gray will start Game 2 for the New York against rookie Erick Fedde.

TRY AGAIN

Bartolo Colon goes for his 244th career win, which would break a tie with Hall of Famer Juan Marichal for most by a pitcher born in the Dominican Republic. The 45-year-old Colon gave up a season-high eight runs in his last outing for Texas, tagged by the Dodgers. Colon has won one of his past five starts going into this game at Kansas City. Ian Kennedy has won just one of his last 27 home starts for the Royals.

OH BABY

Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford will go on paternity leave for the birth of his fourth child and could miss as many as three games. San Francisco returns home from a 10-day road trip to face the Miami Marlins.

Washington Nationals' Juan Soto (22) scores on a single by Brian Goodwin during eighth-inning baseball game action against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto, Sunday, June 17, 2018. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

San Francisco Giants' Brandon Crawford watches his RBI groundout during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Tuesday, June 12, 2018, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) The Associated Press

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Bartolo Colon tosses the ball after giving up an RBI single to Los Angeles Dodgers' Chris Taylor during the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 12, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) The Associated Press

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