MLB, CPBL game previews: Astros' Teng Kai-wei on standby, Dodgers' Yamamoto faces Braves' Sale

Baseball fans can look forward to a full slate of games today, with previews of key matchups in Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL).

In MLB, four games are scheduled. The Houston Astros, potentially featuring Taiwanese pitcher Teng Kai-wei on the bullpen, will take on the New York Yankees. Teng Kai-wei recently pitched five crucial outs in relief. The Los Angeles Dodgers, looking to break a two-game losing streak, will send Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the mound. He faces a tough challenge against the Atlanta Braves' veteran left-hander Chris Sale, a former Cy Young Award winner.

Other MLB matchups include the Arizona Diamondbacks against the San Francisco Giants and the Milwaukee Brewers versus the New York Mets. Gerrit Cole, the ace pitcher for the host Yankees, is expected to start against Houston.

The CPBL will host three games. The Fubon Guardians, led by local pitcher Chiang Kai-hou, will challenge the CTBC Brothers' Felix. The Uni-President Lions will face the Rakuten Monkeys at the Taipei Dome, with Brock Dykxhoorn starting for the Lions against Jake Woodruff. In the third game, the Wei Chuan Dragons will host the TSG Hawks, with Drew Rucinski facing Elih Villanueva.

Additionally, the schedule includes a Japan Professional Baseball (NPB) game between the Seibu Lions and the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. The William Jones Cup international basketball tournament will also feature women's games, with South Korea playing Thailand and Japan facing Chinese Taipei White.