Key things to watch for in today's games
Before fireworks go off around the country to celebrate the Fourth of July, plenty of intriguing matchups will take place on Saturday throughout Major League Baseball. One of those will be in Los Angeles, where ERA leader Zack Greinke looks to continue his dominance. Mets right-hander Matt Harvey will have the tall task of matching Greinke.
Holding the Marlins scoreless during his last start, Greinke hasn't allowed a run in his last three outings, increasing his scoreless streak to 20 2/3 innings and improving his ERA to 1.58. During that stretch, he's surrendered 11 hits while striking out 19 and walking just three.
The 31-year-old has also allowed only three earned runs in 35 1/3 innings over his last five starts and allowed more than one run just twice in his past 11 starts.
Harvey's been on quite a tear as well over his last three starts. He's combined to allow just one earned run in 19 2/3 innings, striking out 14 and walking three in the process. In two career starts against the Dodgers, Harvey is 0-1 with a 5.25 ERA.
Here are a few other games to look forward to on Saturday.
K Zone: SF @ WAS, 11:05 a.m. ET
Expect a fair share of strikeouts in the nation's capital when Giants ace Madison Bumgarner squares off against Nationals fireballer Stephen Strasburg.
Bumgarner got a win in his last outing against the Rockies, allowing two runs on five hits in 7 2/3 innings. After striking out 14 in his previous outing against the Padres, the left-hander fanned eight. Bumgarner last faced the Nationals in Game 3 of last year's National League Division Series, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits in seven innings for the loss.
Video: SFG60: Bumgarner records 1,000th career strikeout
Strasburg continues to excel since returning from the disabled list. In two starts since his return to the Nationals starting rotation, he's won both games and allowed just two runs in 12 innings. In his last start against the Phillies, the right-hander allowed two runs on four hits in seven innings.
AL East Showdown: TB @ NYY, 1:05 p.m. ET
Rays right-hander Nathan Karns will face off against Yankees right-hander Michael Pineda. Both clubs are looking to break away from the pack in the crowded American League East.
In his last start against the Astros, Pineda took the loss despite tossing his first career complete game. He allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits in eight innings. He also struck out eight and walked none. In two starts against the Rays this season, Pineda is 1-0 with a 3.97 ERA.
Karns is coming off a loss against the Indians in which he allowed two runs on nine hits in six innings. The right-hander has tossed at least five innings in 15 of his 16 starts this season. In three starts against the Yankees this season, Karns is 1-0 with a 3.07 ERA.
Success in July? TOR @ DET, 1:08 p.m. ET
After finding plenty of success in June, Blue Jays right-hander R.A. Dickey and Tigers left-hander David Price will look to carry that momentum into July.
Dickey had a fantastic June, even though the numbers didn't show it. The knuckleballer had a 1-3 record, but a 3.32 ERA, and tossed quality starts in five of his six outings. In his last start against the Red Sox, Dickey allowed three runs on six hits in six innings for the loss.
Price went six innings in his last start against the White Sox, allowing four runs on six hits for the no-decision. The left-hander was selected as the Tigers Pitcher of the Month for June, going 3-0 with a 2.02 ERA.