MLB » Mets at Nats, Mon-Tues (MASN2); Wed. (MASN-HD), 7:05 p.m.

Well there should be a good crowd at Nationals Park early this week — piggybacking on a big weekend Cubs crowd. But the Nats will catch a break in this divisional matchup — Johan Santana pitched on Saturday and should not start while in D.C.


AC Milan vs. Chelsea, Friday, ESPN, 8 p.m.

The Baltimore Ravens announced last week that a sellout capacity of 70,000 tickets have been sold for the exhibition between the two European powers. The match got even more attractive when U.S. national team defender and Olney-native Oguchi Onyewu’s signed with the Italian side.

Bold Predictions

1. No major deals will be completed by MLB’s trade deadline » The days of blockbuster trades swinging pennant races for one team or another may be over for good. The trade deadline is just 12 days away, but even with ace pitcher Roy Halladay on the market, there just doesn’t seem to be much juice. Part of that is because so many clubs are still in a playoff race. If you include division and wild-card leaders, there are 22 teams within eight games of a postseason berth at the All-Star break. It’s hard to give up on a season when you’re that close. Meanwhile, the eight that can be considered out of it are demanding top prospects for their rent-a-players. But clubs like the Red Sox are reluctant now to give away those promising young players for the likes of Nick Johnson, who can help only in the short-term. Instead, teams can find a player who can help — for cheap — on the waiver wire in August.

2. The Miami Heat will make a splash soon » We think the Miami Heat will finally prove to Dwyane Wade how serious they are about competing. Soon, the Heat will make a deal to keep the dream alive of another NBA championship coming to South Florida by attracting a big-name player — whether it be via trade or free agency. Lamar Odom would be a good bet, considering that team president Pat Riley surely would love to stick it to the Lakers — though down the road he may be doing them a favor by taking the inconsistent, sweet-toothed, money-grubbing forward out of their hair. Another possibility is luring Utah in to trading Carlos Boozer which, depending on the deal, could give Miami a front court strong enough to deal with anyone in the East.  Would either move make Wade stay, instead of the talked about a dream pairing with LeBron James during the pending free agent insanity of 2010? That remains to be seen.

3. Nelson Cruz will lead the AL in home runs this season » The Rangers’ slugger was a late replacement in the Home Run Derby for injured Torii Hunter. Cruz didn’t disappoint, hitting 21 homers and coming in second to Prince Fielder. The 29-year-old broke out last year in the minor leagues — winning the 2008 Pacific Coast League MVP after hitting .342 with 37 home runs and 99 RBI in 103 games. That earned Cruz a spot in the Rangers outfield this season, where his 22 homers entering the weekend matched his career total. Every year it seems Texas, and its hitter-friendly Ballpark in Arlington, has a different player among AL leaders in homers. This year it’s Cruz and he’s among an unusual group atop the AL — Carlos Pena, Russell Branyan and Brandon Inge.

Player to Watch

Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins, C

He won’t be hitting .400 this season. But that’s about the only negative you can pin on Joe Mauer, who shook off what looked like a serious back injury that cost him the first month of the year and, at age 26, is putting together his best season. He leads Major League Baseball with a .373 batting average and is second in both OPS (1.069) and on-base percentage (.447). Only Albert Pujols has been better in those categories. Mauer is also third overall in slugging percentage (.622). The biggest change has been the power numbers. Mauer has already set his career high in homers (15) in just 241 at-bats. With 49 RBI he is only 36 away from setting his career high in that category, too. Defensively, Mauer has just two errors for the Twins, who entered the second half of the season four games out in the American League Central.

Five Up & Five Down

UP

1. Versus » Stunning HD broadcast of Tour de France just as appealing as Lance Armstrong.


2. DaJuan Summers » Better in Las Vegas summer league than three years at Georgetown.

3. Keno Davis » He earned his new seven-year contract at Providence — no way he stays that long.

4. Alana Beard » Washington Mystics star finally earns spot in WNBA All-Star starting lineup.

5. Carl Crawford » MVP catch at All-Star Game jump starts his potential for a big money contract.

Down


1. LeBron James » Ripped by media, players, and Flip Saunders after Nike yanked tapes of him getting dunked on.

2. Diana Taurasi » DUI charges make her first high-profile WNBA star to get in deep trouble.

3. USA vs. Mexico soccer » Telemundo plans to bury the Aug. 12 English broadcast of WC qualifier to obscure channel, mun2.

4. NL All-Stars » Losing streak vs. AL slightly less absurd than what’s on the line at All-Star Game.

5. Lamar Odom » Seriously, who turns down $36 million and another NBA title?