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LEADING OFF: Bogaerts upstaging Ortiz, Ventura still active
June 12, 2016
A look at what's happening all around the major leagues today:
X-MAN CAN
This was supposed to be David Ortiz's weekend in Minnesota - retirement farewell tour and all - but his Red Sox teammate Xander Bogaerts is stealing the show . Bogaerts is 8 for 10 with two homers and seven RBIs in the first two games of the weekend series, both Boston victories. He's batting .358 with eight homers and 43 RBIs on the season, and his defense at shortstop passes the eye test and is adored by advanced metrics. The 23-year-old has played at an MVP level for Boston, which is tied with Baltimore atop the AL East heading into its series finale with the Twins.
PITCHING ON APPEAL
Royals RHP Yordano Ventura (4-4, 5.32 ERA) remains active while he appeals a nine-game suspension resulting from a fight with Baltimore infielder Manny Machado last Tuesday. He'll face the Chicago White Sox and LHP Carlos Rodon (2-5, 4.41), who was pushed back from a scheduled start Thursday because of a sore neck.
UP LATE ON A SCHOOL NIGHT
Teenager Julio Urias (0-1, 6.94) makes his fourth big league start in a primetime showdown with the Dodgers' NL West archrival, the Giants. The 19-year-old lefty bounced back from two disastrous starts with a solid four-inning outing against the Rockies his last time out. He only threw 86 pitches and should be on a similar pitch count most of the season. San Francisco sends out 35-year-old righty Jake Peavy (2-6, 6.41).
DALLAS VS TAMPA BAY
AL Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel (3-8, 5.44 ERA) looks to beat Tampa Bay for the first time. The left-hander is 0-3 with 4.78 ERA in five starts against the Rays. He'll face LHP Matt Moore (2-4, 5.56).
MATZ AN HISTORIC MET
LHP Steven Matz (7-2, 2.39) looks to improve on his franchise best 11-2 start to his career in a series finale against Milwaukee. He is 4-1 with a 1.67 ERA on the road this year. Zach Davies (4-3, 4.29) returns to the mound for the first time since taking a no-hitter into the seventh against Oakland. Davies hasn't lost a decision since April 29.
BREAKOUT ROOKIE
Tigers RHP Michael Fulmer takes a scoreless streak of 22 1/3 innings into a start against the Yankees. Fulmer, a rookie acquired from the Mets for Yoenis Cespedes last season, has won six straight decisions and held opponents to a .100 batting average over his last three starts.
MAKING A PITCH
Coming off a two-hit game Saturday, Cubs ace Jake Arrieta is joining fellow ace Madison Bumgarner in publicly making a plea to participate in the All-Star Home Run Derby. Bumgarner told ESPN last week that he wants to be in the homer-hitting contest. ''If he's in it, I want to be in it,'' Arrieta said, adding ''I honestly think that would probably be the most adrenalin I would ever have.'' Arrieta has a career .171 average with three home runs - all in the past two seasons.
June 12, 2016
A look at what's happening all around the major leagues today:
X-MAN CAN
This was supposed to be David Ortiz's weekend in Minnesota - retirement farewell tour and all - but his Red Sox teammate Xander Bogaerts is stealing the show . Bogaerts is 8 for 10 with two homers and seven RBIs in the first two games of the weekend series, both Boston victories. He's batting .358 with eight homers and 43 RBIs on the season, and his defense at shortstop passes the eye test and is adored by advanced metrics. The 23-year-old has played at an MVP level for Boston, which is tied with Baltimore atop the AL East heading into its series finale with the Twins.
PITCHING ON APPEAL
Royals RHP Yordano Ventura (4-4, 5.32 ERA) remains active while he appeals a nine-game suspension resulting from a fight with Baltimore infielder Manny Machado last Tuesday. He'll face the Chicago White Sox and LHP Carlos Rodon (2-5, 4.41), who was pushed back from a scheduled start Thursday because of a sore neck.
UP LATE ON A SCHOOL NIGHT
Teenager Julio Urias (0-1, 6.94) makes his fourth big league start in a primetime showdown with the Dodgers' NL West archrival, the Giants. The 19-year-old lefty bounced back from two disastrous starts with a solid four-inning outing against the Rockies his last time out. He only threw 86 pitches and should be on a similar pitch count most of the season. San Francisco sends out 35-year-old righty Jake Peavy (2-6, 6.41).
DALLAS VS TAMPA BAY
AL Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel (3-8, 5.44 ERA) looks to beat Tampa Bay for the first time. The left-hander is 0-3 with 4.78 ERA in five starts against the Rays. He'll face LHP Matt Moore (2-4, 5.56).
MATZ AN HISTORIC MET
LHP Steven Matz (7-2, 2.39) looks to improve on his franchise best 11-2 start to his career in a series finale against Milwaukee. He is 4-1 with a 1.67 ERA on the road this year. Zach Davies (4-3, 4.29) returns to the mound for the first time since taking a no-hitter into the seventh against Oakland. Davies hasn't lost a decision since April 29.
BREAKOUT ROOKIE
Tigers RHP Michael Fulmer takes a scoreless streak of 22 1/3 innings into a start against the Yankees. Fulmer, a rookie acquired from the Mets for Yoenis Cespedes last season, has won six straight decisions and held opponents to a .100 batting average over his last three starts.
MAKING A PITCH
Coming off a two-hit game Saturday, Cubs ace Jake Arrieta is joining fellow ace Madison Bumgarner in publicly making a plea to participate in the All-Star Home Run Derby. Bumgarner told ESPN last week that he wants to be in the homer-hitting contest. ''If he's in it, I want to be in it,'' Arrieta said, adding ''I honestly think that would probably be the most adrenalin I would ever have.'' Arrieta has a career .171 average with three home runs - all in the past two seasons.
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