Dodgers-Padres Preview  —  The slumping San Diego Padres try to avoid a season-high five consecutive losses when they host the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday.  —  The Padres (8-14) were shut out for the second time in three games and only managed two hits in a 3- loss to the Dodgers on Friday …

Pickin' up where they left off  —  Sox triumphant in return to scene of ALCS-clinching wins  —  ANAHEIM — It was like the White Sox never had left Angel Stadium after winning the American League Championship Series.  —  An Angel Stadium sellout crowd of 43,940 booed villain A.J. Pierzynski …

Howe lived a life without restraints  —  The police are saying that Steve Howe wasn't wearing a seatbelt when his pickup truck rolled over early yesterday morning in Coachella, Calif., which should surprise no one who knew the guy.  —  Howe died tragically, though it is not at all clear …

Ellis, Haren lead A's past Royals  —  Second baseman drives in four runs to pace Oakland  —  KANSAS CITY — The Athletics may not have closer Huston Street, but their bullpen has been on the right road without him.  —  Street has not pitched since April 18 because of a strained pectoral muscle …

Pujols supplies thrills in loss  —  The game's outcome had been decided far earlier, with Washington torching Cardinals starter Jason Marquis for seven runs in three innings, but Albert Pujols took a swing at history Friday night before the Nationals clinched their rout at Busch Stadium.

Sox already deep into draft prep  —  ANAHEIM — Scouting director Duane Shaffer has seen about 45 potential candidates for the White Sox's first pick in the June amateur draft.  —  And by this time next month, Shaffer estimates he will have seen from 135 to 175 potentially high picks.

Rocket's coming-out party was striking  —  It was 20 years ago today and relatively few Boston sports fans were paying attention.  —  On the night Roger Clemens set a major league record by striking out 20 batters in a nine-inning game, only 13,414 paid their way into Fenway Park.

When Big Players Do Big Things  —  Now that's a great way to kick off the latest foray into the house of pain.  —  Oh when Larry drove his latest dagger into the New York National League franchise you were sweating weren't you?  I'll tell you when I was sweating...I was sweating …

Griffey, Lopez among Reds on ballot  —  Slugger Dunn also eyes first trip to Midsummer Classic  —  CINCINNATI — In the past two seasons, Reds left fielder Adam Dunn has piled up at least 40 home runs, 100 RBIs and 100 runs scored.  —  One of the few things Dunn hasn't scored yet is an invitation to the All-Star Game.

Power Rankings: Watch out for the NL Central  —  Two NL Central teams are shaking the foundation and another stormed its way into the top 10, but a solid 4-2 week did nothing to knock the White Sox from ESPN.com's Power Rankings pedestal.  —  While the White Sox are No. 1 for the second straight week …

Glavine set to face old team  —  N.Y. Mets (15-7) at Atlanta (9-13), 7:05 p.m. ET  —  Tom Glavine would love to assert himself at Turner Field.  He has won 49 games there, but only one in seven starts as a Met.  He has lost 27 times there, including five times as a Met.

Wood progressing toward rehab start  —  Righty not far from Minor League outing; Prior's velocity normal  —  CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs right-hander Kerry Wood will throw four innings in his next outing on Tuesday, and if all goes well, he could make a Minor League rehab start after that.

Boys will be boys, it's worth Mansioning  —  LOS ANGELES — It was a look I had seen before but couldn't quite place.  —  As the White Sox players and members of the organization boarded a bus destined for the Playboy Mansion on their day off Thursday, in walked the club's manager of media relations, Pat O'Connell.

What's up with the NL Central?  —  The neat thing about April is that you can find all sorts of goofy looking baseball statistics or situations.  For instance, take a look at the NL Central winning percentages.  If you prorated those winning percentages over 162 games, here's what the win totals would look like for the six teams: