Late-inning relief remains an issue for the Tigers, even though Jose Valverde has allowed just one hit in seven innings since returning. ...more

Jordan Zimmermann has the best numbers of any Nationals starter this season, and one scout following the team says it's not a fluke. ...more

Before the season, CBSSports.com said the Tigers and Nationals would meet in the World Series. Now 3 to Watch tells you they meet this week. ...more

In the three weeks that John Lackey has missed with a biceps injury, the Boston Red Sox have gone 12-5 and have shown signs of being a serious contender to win the American League East. But while Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz have been brilliant, the rest of the rotation hasn't. 3 to Watch says Lackey's return on Sunday could make a difference. ...more

On the first two stops of a challenging road trip, the Kansas City Royals ended the Atlanta Braves' 10-game winning streak, and then ended the Boston Red Sox's seven-game winning streak. Next up is Detroit, and while the Tigers don't have a winning streak, 3 to Watch points out that they are the team the Royals must prove themselves against in the American League Central. ...more

Friday night at Fenway Park, the Boston Red Sox play their first home game since Monday's bombings at the Boston Marathon. We go overboard sometimes with the thought that sports teams can heal communities, but Friday figures to be an emotional night at Fenway. 3 to Watch looks at that and two other key matchups. ...more

Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera turned 30 on Thursday. Where do his before-30 numbers stand compared to other stars? Not bad, as it turns out. Cabrera is ahead of Pete Rose's pace for hits and ahead of Derek Jeter's, too. ...more

The two leagues have been playing under different rules for four decades. They've played interleague games under different rules since 1997. But with interleague play expanding this year so that it's going on nearly every day, we have crazy sights like the White Sox being forced to bench their cleanup hitter in the seventh game of the season. ...more

When spring training began, even Jose Valverde's biggest supporters agreed the Tigers couldn't bring him back. Thursday, they brought him back. What changed? ...more

There were 10 blown saves in the major leagues on Wednesday. Through the first three full days of the season, saves are being converted at just a 58-percent rate (70 percent is more normal). Is there something going on here? Indians closer Chris Perez thinks there might be. ...more