What to watch for in today's games

A slightly abbreviated Major League slate won't dampen enthusiasm Monday as June arrives at the ballparks of the American and National Leagues.

Here are a few more games to keep an eye out for Monday.

Mile High Cy: LAD @ COL, 8:40 p.m. ET
Yes, the Clayton Kershaw we saw cruise to the NL MVP and Cy Young Awards last year hasn't quite resurfaced in 2015. His 3-3 record and 3.86 ERA so far indicate he hasn't fully hit his stride. Then again, take a look at a few numbers. He has 83 strikeouts in 65 1/3 innings. And in his last start on May 26 against the Braves, he twirled seven shutout innings and struck out 10.

Now he gets to take that momentum on the road and in the Coors Field altitude against a Rockies team with some thump in the lineup.

Former teammates collide: NYY @ SEA, 10:10 p.m. ET
Felix Hernandez has been the ace of the Mariners' rotation for much of the last 10 years, but don't forget that Michael Pineda was shaping up to be a pretty good sidekick for the man they call The King. That is, until Seattle dealt the big right-hander to New York for then-prospect Jesus Montero in January 2012.

Pineda's been delivering on his potential this year with a breakout season that has helped the Yankees stay near or at the top of the AL East. The King has been more majestic than ever, at least in the win department. Hernandez takes an 8-1 record into this compelling matchup of old Emerald City buddies.

A Wild one out West: PIT @ SF, 10:15 p.m. ET
The Pirates and Giants battled one another in the Wild Card Game last year, and San Francisco prevailed there and on every other arduous step toward its third World Series title in the last five years.

They'll kick off what should be a doozy of a series at AT&T Park with Pirates ace Gerrit Cole facing Giants veteran Ryan Vogelsong. Both clubs come into this hot and looking very much like postseason contenders again - and maybe they won't even have to use those Wild Cards.