OAKLAND, Calif. -- Having battled three tough games with the American League East leaders and with a four-game war with the Wests best coming up later this week, the AL Central-leading Cleveland Indians got a breather in a three-game series with the Oakland Athletics that begins Monday night.Right-hander Carlos Carrasco will seek to improve upon his already impressive road numbers when he duels As rookie Andrew Triggs in the series opener.The Indians arrive in Oakland having won eight of their last 11, including two of three in a tense series with the Blue Jays over the weekend.All three games were decided by one run, with the Indians gaining the upper hand Sunday on Jose Ramirezs two-run homer in the eighth inning.Ramirez is one of the hottest hitters in baseball. He has reached base at least once in 27 straight games, during which hes hit .377.For whatever reasons, hes able to come through in those spots more often than not, Indians pitcher Corey Kluber gushed of Ramirez after Sundays dramatics. I dont think theres anyone else wed rather have up in that situation.And theres nobody the Indians would rather have pitching on the road than Carrasco. Hes 5-3 away from home with a 1.97 ERA thats second-best in the AL (to Texas Cole Hamels 1.91) and third-best in all of baseball (Colorados Tyler Chatwood is No. 1 at 1.82) among pitchers who have made eight or more road starts.Carrasco has only one win to show for his last five starts, but its worth noting that four of those five games have been played at home.Hes allowed three or more runs just twice in nine road starts this season.Oakland fans already have gotten a taste for Carrascos road brilliance. He pitched a two-hit complete game in Oakland last July, winning 3-1.Its the only time hes pitched in Oakland. Hes 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in three games, including two starts, against the As in his career.Carrasco also is scheduled to pitch Saturday in Texas, when the Indians (71-51) could find themselves battling the Rangers (73-52) for the best record in the AL.The Indians swept three straight from the As in an earlier series in Cleveland, dominating Oakland to the tune of 5-3, 6-3 and 8-0.Carrasco did not pitch in the series.Neither did Triggs, who will be making a fifth start in search of his first major-league.Hes is coming off the best of his first four starts, having held the Rangers to two hits and one run in 5 2/3 innings in a 5-4 loss last Tuesday.The 27-year-old has never faced the Indians. He takes an 0-1 record and 4.98 ERA to the mound, having pitched a total of 21 games this season.The As are coming off a 1-5 trip to Texas and Chicago, during which tempers flared on Friday after a 9-0 win over the White Sox.Billy Butler and Danny Valencia reportedly scuffled out of reporters view in the clubhouse. Butler was injured to the point where he did not play Saturday or Sunday.No comment, Valencia responded to the San Francisco Chronicle, which first reported the incident, after Sundays loss. What happens in the clubhouse stays in the clubhouse.Valencia got two hits in Saturdays game, his sixth straight with multiple hits, before being given Sunday off.Los Angeles Dodgers Pro Shop .com) - Richie Incognito has reportedly been admitted to a psychiatric care unit in Arizona. Stitched Dodgers Jerseys . Giroud, who wasnt in the starting lineup for two matches after allegations about his private life and a decline in form, scored twice in the first half. Tomas Rosickys chip made it 3-0 before half time at Emirates Stadium, while defender Laurent Koscielny scored an unmarked header in the second half. https://www.cheapdodgersonline.com/ . -- Mike Smith never saw his first NHL goal go in. Los Angeles Dodgers Store .com) - The Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks both take aim at their first wins of the season on Saturday, as the Canucks open their home slate at Rogers Arena. Los Angeles Dodgers Gear . -- Peyton Manning will have all of his wide receivers available for the first time in a month when the Denver Broncos begin their playoff run Jan.DALLAS -- The Stars have signed free agent Adam Cracknell to a one-year contract, making Dallas the journeyman forwards fifth team in four seasons.The 30-year-old Cracknell split last season between Vancouver and Edmonton, appearing in 48 games combined. All of his career-high 10 points (five goals, five assists) came with the Canucks.Cracknell, who plays right wing, has 134 career games in six seasons, the first four with St. Louis. Hes also playeed for Columbus.dddddddddddd He has 27 career points (11 goals, 16 assists).A ninth-round pick by Calgary in 2004, Cracknell also has 415 career games with four franchises in the American Hockey League.The Stars lost veteran forward Vernon Fiddler to New Jersey in free agency. Fiddler played in all 82 games last season. ' ' '