Pirate Galaxy » forwards Rudy Gay (rib cartilage str

HOUSTON -- With their top two starters sidelined and the clock on the regular season winding down, the Houston Astros are in the precarious position of opening an interleague set against the Chicago Cubs with a busted rotation and an overworked bullpen.There is a correlation between the losses of left-hander Dallas Keuchel, shut down earlier this week with left shoulder inflammation, and right-hander Lance McCullers, out since early August with right elbow discomfort, and the Astros current run of abbreviated starts.Right-hander David Paulino, making his major league debut, lasted three innings in a 10-7 loss to the Cleveland Indians on Thursday, the eighth consecutive game that a starter failed to record more than 15 outs for the Astros.It was a big ask for us to expect him to go pretty deep in the game, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said of Paulino. Weve got a start on Tuesday; weve got to figure out whos going to face the Rangers. Well get home and see where it takes us.Complete baseball wins games against good teams.Without Keuchel and McCullers, the Astros (74-66) have plugged holes in their rotation with the likes of right-hander Brad Peacock, an organizational arm who spent most of this season with Triple-A Fresno, and rookies Joe Musgrove and Paulino. Musgrove (2-3, 5.06 ERA) will open the three-game series with his first appearance against the National League Central-leading Cubs (89-50).After a promising start to his career, a stretch that included a dazzling relief appearance and two subsequent starts, Musgrove has struggled over his last four starts. Hes posted an 8.53 ERA and 1.125 opponents OPS while surrendering six home runs in 19 innings pitched. He lasted just 4 1/3 innings in his last start at Texas.The Cubs, 13-4 in interleague play, will start left-hander Jon Lester (15-4, 2.61 ERA) in the opener. Lester is 6-0 with a 1.85 ERA in nine starts since the All-Star break. He has faced the Astros (10-7 in interleague play) once in his career, allowing six runs on nine hits over five innings for Boston on June 28, 2008, at Minute Maid Park.Lester has faced only two current Astros in his career: catcher/designated hitter Evan Gattis (2-for-3) and outfielder Colby Rasmus (3-or-14 with five strikeouts).Maddon flipped his weekend rotation behind Lester, opting to bump right-hander Jake Arrieta to Sunday night while keeping right-hander John Lackey on regular rest. Lackey will start the middle game of the series on Saturday.Its just to break up Lester and Jake, Maddon said to MLB.com. It was strategical because we could. Custom Patriots T-shirts . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break. Patriots Jerseys China .C. United of Major League Soccer. 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TORONTO -- The Sacramento Kings are the latest team to try to hold Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan under 30 points.If they do on Sunday at Air Canada Centre, they will be the first team to do so this season. DeRozan has scored 30 or more points in the Raptors first five games of the season.He scored 34 points in a 96-87 win over the Miami Heat Friday to become the first player to score 30 or more points in five straight games to open a season since Michael Jordan Nov. 1-11, 1986.Jordan extended his streak to six games and DeRozan will be trying to do the same on Sunday.Yeah, I heard it, I dont believe it, DeRozan said. Its tough, its not easy. Everything that goes into it, its just not what you do on the court, its how you take care of yourself physically, mentally, everything. There are things off the court that people dont get a chance to see that are just as important.Two NBA players scored 30 or more points in five straight games last season. Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors (Feb. 22-March 3) and Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers (Feb. 8-23).Hes mine. Hes ours. He belongs to the Raptors, Toronto coach Dwane Casey said of DeRozans torrid start. Hes been great. Hes been a great leader with his approach, being very professional.DeRozan surpassed the previous club record of four straight games with 30 or more points set in 2005 by Mike James.The Raptors (4-1) have won three in a row since losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers in their second game of the seaason.dddddddddddd.They face the struggling Kings (2-5), who lost Saturday night to the Milwaukee Bucks, 117-91.The Kings have lost the first four games of a five-game trip that ends in Toronto. The Kings are dealing with injuries to forwards Rudy Gay (rib cartilage strain) and Anthony Tolliver (knee).Omri Casspi replaced Gay -- who is second on the Kings in scoring with 22.5 points per game -- in the starting lineup Saturday and had six points and six rebounds.The Kings are trying to improve defensively.We have to do a better job individually taking on the challenge of beating the guy in front of us, coach Dave Joerger told the Sacramento Bee. That has not been happening for us. ... Secondly, its where is our second line of help. Our third line of help is at the rim. There have been too many having-to-help situations by our bigs. We end up giving up something, and one thing leads to the next.Joerger said he could adjust his starting lineup based on the opponent.Either we size down or size up a little bit, Joerger said. It gives our other guys an opportunity to step up and have a chance. Guys have been working hard and waiting for their opportunities. Its a good chance for those guys as well.Guard Garrett Temple led Sacramento with 19 points on Saturday, going 5-for-6 in 3-point attempts. DeMarcus Cousins scored 15 points, eight in the first quarter. ' ' '