MLB »  Rays at Yankees, Saturday, 1:05 p.m., MLB.TV
It’s still early. But if defending AL East champs want to defend their title then the Rays better make a move soon. No better place to do it than Yankee Stadium against red-hot New York. Tampa Bay has won four of five vs. Yankees so far.

MLB »  Giants at Nationals, Tuesday, 7:05 p.m., MASN HD
The Nats get their first look this year at Giants’ ace Tim Lincecum (4-1), who is back to his dominating self. In his last two outings, Lincecum has given up nine hits in 15 innings while fanning 18. Washington counters with Craig Stammen (0-1), the oldest pitcher on the Nats’ green staff at age 25.

BOLD PREDICTIONS

1. Randy Johnson gets win No. 300 … vs. the Nats »  If something good is going to happen for an opposing player or team then the Nats are probably going to be involved. Barry Bonds celebrated his 756th homer against Washington. The Philles have clinched two NL East titles in a row at Citizens Bank Park with the Nats in attendance. So it only makes sense that Randy Johnson will earn career win No. 300 in the District on Wednesday when the San Francisco Giants come to town. Rookie Jordan Zimmermann will oppose the Big Unit — who fittingly began his career with the Nats’ franchise when the team still resided in Montreal. Johnson earned win No. 299 Wednesday night against the Atlanta Braves.

2. U.S. men’s national team will encounter two big stumbling blocks »  Things have gone swimmingly so far head coach Bob Bradley’s squad on the road to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, with the U.S. pummeling Mexico and Trinidad & Tobago at home while salvaging a remarkable 2-2 tie at El Salvador. But U.S. Soccer has unnecessarily, handed its top team essentially two road matches this week, one of which will produce its first loss in the 10-match final round of regional qualifying. Facing Costa Rica in San Jose (where the U.S. is 0-5-1 all time) is second in difficulty only to playing Mexico in Mexico City. But hosting Honduras at Soldier Field is foolish. Instead of a strong home atmosphere, a packed and pro-Honduras crowd will mean that the national federation’s coffers will benefit more than the team itself. Perhaps U.S. Soccer will think about redirecting some of the plentiful funds to the under-marketed Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

3. John Daly will win this year on the PGA Tour »  Six months ago, John Daly was suspended from the PGA Tour after he was found drunk outside a bar in North Carolina and spent a night in jail. Daly’s suspension has expired and he is expected to return next week for the St. Jude Classic. This is a slimmed-down version of “Wild Thing,” who has dropped 60 pounds since undergoing weight-loss surgery. With a new swing coach, Rick Smith, Daly has played well on the European Tour. Since winning the British Open in 1995, Daly has just one tour victory (Buick in 2004), but invigorated at age 43, Daly has some good golf left in him and is hitting the ball as long as ever.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Jordan Hill, Arizona — The 6-foot-10 junior has emerged as one of a half-dozen players that headline the Washington Wizards’ most discussed options for taking with the No. 5 overall pick in next month’s NBA Draft. And among more high-profile players like Arizona State slasher James Harden, Memphis guard Tyreke Evans, Connecticut center Hasheem Thabeet and Syracuse point guard Jonny Flynn, Hill may also be the most humble. The 21-year-old from Atlanta improved his stock dramatically with breakout junior season for the Wildcats, averaging 18.3 points an 11.0 rebounds. Becoming a top-10 pick hadn’t exactly been at the top of his list after high school. “It was hard to say, ‘I’m going to be an NBA player,’ because nobody knew who I was,” Hill recently told DraftExpress.com, “I just had the heart for the game.” With June 25 just around the corner, Wizards fans may want to get to know him.

FIVE UP

1. Rob Dibble »  Nats analyst gets accused of homerism. But he’s no shrinking violet. Ripped Manny Acta and Randy St. Claire on Wednesday’s MASN broadcast.

2. Tom Brady »  NFL needs its star players. Love him or hate him, Brady taking part in OTAs after last year’s ACL tear is good for 2009 season.

3. Patrick Roy »  Turned down coaching job with Avalanche, his former team. Hall-of-Famer is no dummy. Colorado could be one of NHL’s worst.

4. Hershey Bears »  The season ended early for the Caps. Not so for AHL farm team, which is in Calder Cup finals for third time in four years.

5. San Diego Padres »  Expected to be one of baseball’s worst again, Padres instead had won 11 of 12 games entering weekend series with Colorado.

FIVE DOWN

1. Richard Thomas »  Florida steroid dealer dropped drug allegations on both Caps and Nats. Did he not realize the awful state of D.C. sports teams?

2. Carlos Zambrano »  Trying to eject an umpire is hilarious. But the overreaction to a bad call — and six-game suspension — will cost Cubs.

3. Derrick Rose »  Bulls PG accused of having someone else take SAT so he’d be eligible to play for Memphis. Is ’07-08 Final Four banner tainted?

4. Fernando Martinez »  Mets rookie made himself look bad Wednesday by failing to run out infield pop up. Ball dropped by Nats C Wil Nieves.

5. Manny Ramirez »  Should be in Mannywood leading Dodgers to playoffs. Instead, heads to minors next month for 10-day conditioning stint.