Interleague Play: The Big Weekend

What a weekend of games we have coming up in Major League Baseball as three of the National League's best take on three of the American League's best. So, what will happen in these big matchups.

New York Yankees at Washington Nationals

Harper has become baseball's newest star

The Nationals and the Yankees are the hottest teams in baseball as both teams have won six straight as the Nationals have won nine of their last eleven while the Yankees have won eleven of their last thirteen. The Nationals have the second best record in the majors while the Yankees have the third best. This is the undoubtedly best series in Interleague Play this year as both of these teams are World Series contenders. The Nationals rotation has been dominant and despite the fact that Stephen Strasburg is not pitching in this series, the Nationals have Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmermann, and Edwin Jackson pitching. All three of those starters are in the top 30 in ERA along with the aforementioned Stephen Strasburg. The Nationals have the best team ERA in baseball thanks to a dominant bullpen led by Tyler Clippard who has done well at taking the place of closer Drew Storen while he is injured.Offensively, the Nationals have been led by All-Star caliber first baseman Adam LaRoche who is tearing it up with 11 home runs and 42 RBIs which is the most RBIs for any first baseman in baseball. Meanwhile, the Nationals might have the NL rookie of the year in 19-year-old Bryce Harper. The thing that makes Harper a great young player is the fact that he plays the game right with his great hustle and high energy. Harper has earned his way into the Nationals lineup and a return minors may never happen unless he picks up an injury.

Jeter has turned back the clock this year.

The Yankees also have a very strong rotation and despite not having the fron two in their rotation pitching this weekend, the Yankees do have Andy Pettitte pitching this weekend. Pettitte has been a huge surprise this season as he has found his old form that allowed him to dominate. Also, Ivan Nova has got it going rcently as he has only allowed one run in his last 15 innings (last two outings). Just like the Nationals, the Yankees lost their closer Mariano Rivera and then his replacement, David Robertson. However, the Yankees have found the replacement and a dominate one in Rafael Soriano. After a rough first season in New York, Sorianohas refound the form that allowed him to be one of the best closers in baseball in Tampa. Curtis Granderson has become one of the biggest power hitters in the game as Granderson is putting more All-Star numbers with 19 home runs and 39 RBIs while Derek Jeter has turned back the clock and has been the table-setter like he has been in the past. This will be an exciting series and this could even be a World Series preview but I think the Nationals will take two of three from the Yankees.

Adam Jones has had a career year at the plate

Baltimore Orioles at Atlanta Braves
The Orioles have been one of the biggest surprises in baseball while the Braves have had a strong start despite a lack of depth in the rotation. The Orioles have been heating up recently with four straight wins while the Braves have lost four straight and are struggling. The Orioles have not had the best rotation but Jason Hammel has been stellar thisyear as he has become the ace of the staff. However, the Orioles have a great bullpen which is led by closer Jim Johnson who is dominating hitters and having a career year. Pedro Strop and Darren O'Day have also been key to the success of the Baltimore bullpen. The Orioles have alsohad some excellent production from their lineup led by star center fielder Adam Jones. Jones has been a key for the Orioles success this year as he has been driving in tons of runs and has been rewarded with a contract extension. Chris Davis has been secretly putting upbig power number as the Orioles first baseman has twelve home runs.

Brandon Beachy has become the Braves' ace.

The Braves have been in playoff contention though they have had some struggles against some of the best teams in baseball like the Nationals and Yankees. The Braves rotation has a lack of depth at the back end but they have an ace at the front in Brandon Beachy who has had a breakout year. The Braves' bullpen has not been as good as it was last year except for closer Craig Kimbrel who is proving once again why he is one of baseball's best in the ninth inning. Dan Uggla is once again hitting well as he has had a great start with 11 home runs and 41 RBIs as he received some support from teammate Freddie Freeman who is having a breakout year with 37 RBIs. The Braves need wins and they will take two of three from the Orioles in what will be an exciting series.

Adam Dunn has refound his home run stroe

Chicago White Sox at Los Angeles Dodgers
The White Sox have been a major surprise under first year manager Robin Ventura but the Dodgers have been a bigger surprise as they have the best record in baseball. The White Sox were not expected to be AL Central leaders but they are as Chris Sale has gone from a dominant reliever to one of the best starters in the American League. Jake Peavy has returned to the form that made his move to Chicago from San Diego so costly. The White Sox have not found a fit at clsoer as Hector Santiago was not any good while Addison Reed was not much better. However, Jesse Crain and Matt Thornton has been rock solid in the bullpen on the south side of Chicago. The White Sox has been electirc thanks in large part to the revival of Adam Dunn who has had 21 home runs in his second season in Chicago after an awful start to his White Sox career. Paul Konerko once again is swinging the bat well as he has a .366 batting average with 12 home runs and 35 RBIs.

Kershaw has been the ace for the Dodgers' rotation once again

The Dodgers have been baseball best so far and Clayton Kershaw is leading one of the best rotations in baseball as Kershaw has been in Cy Young form all year and will face off against Chris Sale Saturday in a great pitching duel. Kenley Jansen took over the closer's role midseason and has been dominant i that role ever since as Jansen could be the Dodgers' closer for years. Andre Ethier was recently rewarded with a contract extension as he led the Dodgers' offense since the injury of Matt Kemp as he has drove in 55 runs, hit 10 home runs, and has a batting average of .291. AJ Ellis has been a surpise as the Dodgers' catcher has been hitting for a batting average of .303 and an OBP of .436. This will be an exciting series but the White Sox are starting to cool off and that will continue as the Dodgers will sweep the White Sox out of LA.

David Wright: Where will he be in the long term?

David Wright has become one of the best players in baseball but he is also a great trade chip for the Mets in their big rebuilding plans. However, Wright is currently the Mets' franchise player and a long-term contract extension is definitely a possiblity. Wright has a team option after the season so the Mets have some time to work out an extension or wait for the right trade offer to move him for tons of prospects. So, how could this play out for David Wright and where might he be playing in the future.

The possibility that the Mets decide to give Wright the long term cotranct he is looking for is realistic. The Mets would love to keep their franchise player long term but they will have to put an offer similar to that of Ryan Zimmerman's extension and Adrian Beltre's contract. Wright will also have to be convinced that the Mets can make a fairly quick turnaround and become a World Series contender. David Wright could also get the chance to be one of the few stars that stayed with one franchise in his career and he could become a legend in Queens. The Mets would definitely be interested in bringing back Wright but the decision to see if Wright will stay in Queens will be up to the star third baseman.

If Wright decides he wants to leave the Mets for greener pastures, the Mets could get a great deal as tons of teams would love to have a third baseman as good as David Wright. Suitors for Wright could include the Philadelphia Phillies, the Detroit Tigers, the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Los Angeles Angels, the New York Yankees, and the Cleveland Indians. The Mets have the potential to get a really good deal for Wright with teams of this caliber that could use the upgrade at third.

The Dodgers are a realistic candidate to go after David Wright due to their strong start and the stability of the new ownership group of Magic Johnson, Stan Kasten, and company. David Wright would allow Juan Uribe to move to second base and give the Dodgers a tough lineup. The Dodgers would probably have to center a trade around 24-year-old second baseman Ivan DeJesus Jr. due to the impact that shortstop Dee Gordon has made. 19-year-old outfielder Joc Pederson would also have to be a part of the package for the Mets in a David Wright trade. The Dodgers would have to put in a couple of other prospects to get this deal to work but a David Wright to the Dodgers deal is realistic.

The Angels biggest need is a third baseman who can both hit and defend and David Wright is exactly the perfect fit in Anaheim. The Mets could also include lefty SP Jonathon Niese as the Angels have been looking for a good pitcher at the back end of their rotation. 1B/3B Mark Trumbo would immediately become a trade chip and could even be the replacement in New York for David Wright. In this scenario, 23-year-old SP Garrett Richards could be the replacement for Niese in Queens while 19-year-old 3B Kaleb Cowart would give the Mets a long term replacement for David Wright. The Angels would have to thrown in a few other prospects but this would give the Angels the third baseman they needed.

The Diamondbacks need tons of help at third base as a trade for David Wright could turn the D'Backs lineup into one of the best in baseball. Wright would be a huge upgrade over the D'Backs current starting third baseman, Ryan Roberts. The D'Backs could base their trade package around 19-year old pitcher Archie Bradley as his chances of being in the D'Backs rotation could be small due to the fact that the D'backs rotation for his 2014 ETA is already filled. 21-year-old third baseman Matt Davidson and 19-year-old catcher Michael Perez could also be key parts of a Wright trade. They will then only need to throw in an extra prospect on top of that as a David Wright to Arizona deal should be considered by the D'Backs. The only concern for Arizona is how much of a budget impact this will have as Wright may push the Arizona budget near its limit.

The Tigers could use Wright for a defensive upgrade but that would create an even larger logjam between Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder, and Victor Martinez as V-Mart would probably have to be traded. The Yankees would have to wait till the offseason to move for Wright as that would allow them to move Alex Rodriguez to DH. The Phillies need a third base upgrade but it would hard for the Mets to deal Wright to a division rival. Cleveland is an interesting possiblity as third base prospect Lonnie Chisenhall could be the centerpiece of a David Wright trade. The Indians could come out of left field to make this move just like they did last year to get Ubaldo Jimenez.