Preview/Prediction

New York Yankees brought out their brooms in the Bronx, as they swept the Houston Astros over the weekend.

The Yankees were without Arod, but you wouldn’t know it by the way the team beat-on the Astros.

Pitching Preview: Champs vs. Phillies Game 2 focuses on the game two match-up, in this 2009 World Series revival between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Yankees .

Game 2:

It’s the 2009 World Series all over again as the Yankees host the Phillies for three games in the Bronx.

The last time the Phillies were in town, the Yankees became world champions—a feeling Yankees fans hope to relive by beating the Phillies once again.

Both line-ups are stacked with power, from Utley to Posada.

The Washington Nationals have stepped up a notch in the MLB with their performance this year after their horrible 103-loss season in 2009.

The Nats did make quite a few moves for Adam Dunn and Josh Willingham before the 2009 season, and they are now the core guys, along with Zimmerman in the lineup. They also traded for the speedster Nyjer Morgan.

With Washington making plenty of wise moves this offseason, they are off to an average start, with a 31-33 record. They are just 6 games back in the National League East. 

In an annual tradition (started last year, but two years in a row makes it annual, right?), I bring to you an interview with a Milwaukee Brewer draftee from the most recently completed Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Last year I brought you fourth-round pick Brooks Hall. That interview can be read here .

You may think that June is too early to start ranking players for next season, but let’s face it—some of us have already fallen out of our leagues and are looking to deal for the future.

Obviously, depending on your league rules these may vary slightly, but let’s take an extremely early look at how I’d rank the top 15 catchers for 2011:

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed veteran right-handed pitcher Kiko Calero to a minor league contracton Friday, but his call-up to the Major League roster can be expected, possibly in the next week.

Following being swept for the first time at Chavez Ravine by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, concerns are once again rising regarding Dodgers pitching. In the three games this weekend, the Dodgers' pitching staff surrendered 20 runs while the offense could only produce eight runs.

2008 was a break-out season for Edinson Volquez. He was a NL all-star and finished the season 17-6 with a 3.21 ERA and 206 strikeouts. However, it has been all down hill for him since a June 1, 2009 start in St. Louis against the Cardinals. That's when he felt numbness in the pinky and ring finger of his right hand.

BALTIMORE—The Mets will be looking for their first road series sweep since September, 2008 at Milwaukee. Believe it or not, the Mets have not had one since then. Last season, the injuries were just too much to overcome.

Today, the Mets will have a shot, and they have plenty of reasons to be confident that they will get it.

First of all, they're facing an Orioles team that's 17-45. Secondly, the pitching match-up is as lopsided as can be. The Mets will start Mike Pelfrey (8-1), the Orioles will start Kevin Millwood (0-7).