Houston tries to become the second team to sweep major league-leading Boston this season when the teams complete their three-game series on national TV. The defending World Series champion Astros took the first two games to extend their winning streak to seven http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-david-ross-jersey , including a 5-3 win Saturday backed by Alex Bregman’s 30th homer. The finale will be a matchup of former AL Cy Young Award winners, with Houston’s Dallas Keuchel opposing Boston’s Rick Porcello. The Red Sox were swept for the first time by Tampa Bay in late August.MR. CONSISTENCYJacob deGrom has allowed more than three runs in one start this season, back in April. That’s why he’s a candidate for the NL Cy Young Award despite an 8-8 record for the fourth-place Mets, who’ve struggled to score when he’s been on the mound. He’s winless in his last three starts despite pitching to a 1.35 ERA in those outings. DeGrom will go for his ninth win in a matchup with the contending Phillies, who have their own Cy Young candidate in Aaron Nola (16-4).ROLLING ROBBIERobbie Ray and the playoff-chasing Diamondbacks conclude a series against NL East-leading Atlanta. Ray (5-2, 4.25) hasn’t lost since July 12 and is coming off 6 1/3 electric innings against San Diego, when he struck out 10 and allowed two hits in a 6-0 win. Braves starter Touki Toussaint (1-1, 3.38) pitched no-hit ball through four innings against Boston last time out before getting hit around in the fifth.WEATHER WOESThe Reds moved their series finale against the Padres to 4:10 p.m. to give the teams a better chance of escaping the rain that has interfered with the previous two games in Cincinnati. Friday night’s game ended after midnight because of a 2-hour, 37-minute rain delay, and Saturday’s game was called after seven innings because of more bad weather. If Sunday’s game were postponed Kyle Hendricks Jersey , the Padres would be forced to fly back from San Francisco on Sept. 27 for a makeup game between last-place teams. “We would love, love, love to get these games in here the next couple days,” San Diego manager Andy Green said.Rain also forced a postponement of the Cubs-Nationals game in Washington on Friday night, forcing a doubleheader Saturday with more rain forecast for Sunday. WASHINGTON (AP) — Brian Dozier turned down a more lucrative deal to join what he hopes is a playoff team with the Nationals.The 31-year-old signed a $9 million, one-year contract with Washington that makes him the new second baseman and potentially a bridge from Daniel Murphy to prospect Carter Kieboom. Dozier said Tuesday other clubs offered him more money and longer deals, but he and his wife opted for the opportunity to win now.“We’re not the ones to go with the highest bidder by any means or any of that kind of stuff,” Dozier said on a conference call. “With more years and dollars out there, we felt like this one-year deal with the Nats would be the best fit for us.”Dozier’s contract includes $2 million deferred without interest until Jan. 15, 2020. Next winter could bring an even bigger windfall if he’s able to get his swing back on track.Last season Mike Montgomery Jersey , Dozier battled a bone bruise in his left knee and hit a career-low .215 with 21 homers with the Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Dodgers. He averaged 35 homers over the preceding three seasons, with a career best of 42 for Minnesota in 2016, and is a career .246 hitter.Washington could be counting on Dozier to supply some of that power in the middle of the lineup if star outfielder Bryce Harper signs elsewhere. Dozier can’t control that, but he said his struggles in 2018 serve as motivation to bounce back.“Going into this year personally you kind of have a chip on your shoulder just because you want to make sure you prove people wrong,” Dozier said. “I felt like I’ve done that throughout my career. I had to do that, which is perfectly fine with me because I enjoy that.”Asked if a one-year deal was preferable for him to reset his value for another crack at free agency, Dozier said, “Resetting yourself for next year and all that kind of stuff, that all takes care of itself.”Dozier believes joining Washington puts him in the best frame of mind to take care of all that. With just 27 postseason plate appearances, he said signing on to a perennial playoff contender was a top priority http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-david-ross-jersey , especially because the Nationals have been aggressive in adding left-handed starter Patrick Corbin, catchers Yan Gomes and Kurt Suzuki and reliever Trevor Rosenthal this offseason.“You feed off that, and it brings out the best in yourself,” Dozier said. “That’s exactly how it is and helped make my decision a lot easier.”Only needing to commit one year to Dozier made the decision easier for the Nationals. They only got 56 games out of Murphy during an injury-marred season before he signed a two-year free-agent deal with Colorado in December. Dozier at his pre-2018 form is a significant upgrade at the plate over Wilmer Difo, and he’s confident the knee injury is behind him and helped make him an even better hitter by learning how to adjust.“I was a very learning year,” Dozier said. “Learn how to fight through things and it kind of made me a better player and person, and I’m up for the challenge this year.”