Preview/Prediction

Even before the 2010 MLB season began, almost every team in baseball was in awe of the offensive potential of the Los Angeles Dodgers powerhouse outfield.

With 2009 Silver Slugger Award winners Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp, along with a rejuvenated Manny Ramirez, the Los Angeles outfield was sure to wreak havoc on the best pitching staffs around the league in 2010.

LOS ANGELES—After going 13 straight games without scoring more than four runs, Mets manager Jerry Manuel has made drastic changes to tonight's starting lineup.

Jason Bay seems to be moving lower in the order by the day. Tonight's Mets lineup is as follows:

SS Jose Reyes
2B Luis Castillo
RF Angel Pagan
3B David Wright
CF Carlos Beltran
1B Ike Davis
LF Jason Bay
C Henry Blanco
P Johan Santana

For the first time as a Met, Jason Bay will be batting seventh in the order. It's a lineup that shows the panic level of Jerry Manuel.

According to reports around the Majors, the Arizona Diamondbacks have changed their stance on Dan Haren possibly being traded this year.

Haren, who is 7-8 with a 4.60 ERA and league leader in strikeouts with 141, had previously been almost impossible to trade. Now, it appears that the D-Backs have taken a more open stance towards trading Haren this year.

The Major League Baseball draft is well on its way to becoming similar to the NFL draft. There is no off-season.

And in the case of most of these players, that's the actual truth.

On getaway day, the Braves concluded their first post All-Star break homestand with an 8-0 shutout of the San Diego Padres at Turner Field. With Tim Hudson leading the way on the mound, and Alex Gonzalez's four-hit day leading an offense that had six different players drive in runs—this was the epitome of a Braves quality win.

Atlanta currently owns a 7.0 game lead in the NL East, with an NL-best 56-39 record, as both Philadelphia and New York look up at the Braves with identical 49-46 records.

The question of whether Adam Dunn would look good in a White Sox uniform should not be the main debate right now.

As a player who has mainly worn a reddish color everywhere he’s been, some might wonder if the grey and black would fit him. That’s something that everyone needs to accept due to the good chances of him going to Chicago.

The main question that White Sox fans should be asking themselves is whether Dunn could be a potential run producer and a hitter who can keep the middle of the lineup busy with his power.

Major League Baseball is running a full schedule again this weekend.  There are some interesting matchups that will probably have an influence on who will make the playoffs and who will not.  These are my picks of the week:

Los Angeles Angels (51-46) at Texas (55-40)

The Los Angeles Dodgers are quickly letting the 2010 season slip away. They have few options for trade bait and haven't been seriously included in many trade talks.

Perhaps the biggest name on the roster, left fielder Manny Ramirez, is currently sitting out with his third stint on the disabled list this season, diminishing his trade value even more.

It is clear Ramirez is showing his age.

PHOENIX: Every Mets season always seems to have its ups and downs. Unfortunately, they normally lead to heartbreak and disappointment.

A season that looked like it was going to be almost magical, from no expectations whatsoever to near first place in June, is starting to fade away.

Yes, it's only July 21. There is still two and half months for the Mets to correct their problems. But right now, there are too many problems.

The starting pitching is an issue with the historic regression of Mike Pelfrey, and the uncertainty of the fifth spot.

With news from multiple media sources that the Phillies are discussing a "major" deal, the question becomes: Who will be stepping onto the mound for the Phillies this next week? And perhaps more importantly, what Phillies will be donning some other teams duds?

It seems almost assured that Jayson Werth, the lone right handed power bat in the Phillies lineup, will be heading out of town. Contract talks have apparently not gone well and the Phillies are concerned that they will not be able to sign him to a long-term deal.