Player of the Week
Andre Ethier, Dodgers
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With suspended star Manny Ramirez out until July 3 and the team’s lead in the National League West continuing to grow, no one player on the Dodgers has shouldered the offensive burden alone. However, Ethier has been most effective as of late. He has hit safely in the first nine games in June, with five home runs and a .400 batting average. Ethier went 3-for-5 with two homers, including a walk-off against the Phillies at home. Against the Padres, he sent two more balls over the Dodger Stadium fence in a 3-for-4 night at the plate on June 9 — a game in which L.A. prevailed, 6-4.
Story lines
1. Interleague play in full swing » After fans got a sampling of this year’s American League-National League matchups, the next week provides a heap of action. The slate features some of the traditional local rivalries that have been a trademark of interleague action. The Yankees and Mets meet in the Bronx and Oakland battles San Francisco by the bay this weekend. Starting on Tuesday, the two teams from the Second City — White Sox and Cubs — face off. Another area of note will be to see if the AL can continue its trend of success. They’ve gotten the better of the senior circuit in each of the last five seasons. This past year, the AL held a 143-103 advantage.
2. Mets’ tough road ahead » Riddled with injuries — including Carlos Delgado and Jose Reyes — the New York Mets also have to deal with the schedule. New York just completed a series hosting the first-place Phillies. They now embark on a three-game set against the Yankees. After a breather on the road against the Orioles, the Mets have a 10-game homestand with visits from the Cardinals and Yankees. In the coming month, the Mets will play five teams that have winning records — including the Dodgers. Play .500 ball through mid-July, and New York could be in great position when it gets healthy.
3. Cinderella’s staying power » It’s around now when April’s contenders begin to wilt into pretenders. The Royals’ and Marlins’ standout openings are already a distant memory. But three clubs that weren’t expected to be contenders — the Rangers, Reds and Blue Jays — are very much in the thick of the race in their respective divisions. Texas may have the most staying power, mainly because of its competition. Cincinnati’s in a four-team fight, while Toronto may need to leap over either the Yankees or Red Sox just to get in Wild Card position.
Key series
Blue Jays at Phillies (Tuesday-Thursday) » The Blue Jays have treaded water following a nine-game losing streak with help from Roy Halladay, baseball’s first to 10 wins. He’s likely to pitch Wednesday against a formidable Philadelphia offense at Citizens Bank Park. For Toronto as a whole, this series will prove as a test to see if they can hang with the top teams. The Phillies have the most HRs and have driven in the most runs in the NL. Cole Hamels, scheduled to start on Tuesday, is starting to hit his stride after a rough start.
