LEADING OFF: Rodríguez vs former team, Nakken makes history

A look at what’s happening around the majors today:

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SWITCHING SIDES

Tigers lefty Eduardo Rodríguez gets a look at his former teammates when he pitches against Boston at Comerica Park.

Rodriguez was 64-39 in six seasons with Rafael Devers, Xander Bogaerts and the Red Sox before signing a $77 million, five-year contract with Detroit as a free agent.

“All in all, I’m going to enjoy having the opportunity to face my old teammates,” he said.

The 29-year-old Rodriguez gave up three runs and four hits in four innings against the White Sox in his Detroit debut.

FIRST ON THE FIELD

One day after suddenly ending up in the spotlight, Alyssa Nakken will be right back at work trying to help the San Francisco Giants beat San Diego.

The 31-year-old Nakken made major league history as the first female coach on the field in a regular-season game Tuesday night during San Francisco’s 13-2 victory over the Padres. She came in to coach first base for the Giants in the third inning after Antoan Richardson was ejected.

When she was announced as Richardson’s replacement, Nakken was greeted with a warm ovation from the San Francisco crowd. She also received a congratulatory handshake from Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer.

Giants manager Gabe Kapler said Nakken had “prepared for this moment” while working with Richardson and others.

“So it’s not a foreign spot on the field for her. She does so many other things well that aren’t seen,” he said. “So it’s nice to see her kind of be right there in the spotlight and do it on the field.”

Nakken is an assistant coach who works heavily with baserunning and outfield defense. She normally watches games from an indoor batting cage near the steps to the dugout — and has a Giants jersey nearby, just in case she needs it.

And in an instant Tuesday night, she did.

Nakken jogged onto the field four days after Rachel Balkovec became the first woman to manage a minor league affiliate of a Major League Baseball team. Balkovec guided the New York Yankees’ Class A Tampa club to a win in her first game.

Nakken had previously coached first base in spring training and during part of a July 2020 exhibition game at Oakland. She started at first again a night later against the Athletics in San Francisco as the teams prepared for the pandemic-delayed season.

KWAN WATCH

Remarkable rookie Steven Kwan has reached base at least three times in all five games of his major league career with Cleveland.

The 24-year-old outfielder kept up his super start with a single, two walks and a sacrifice fly Tuesday in a 10-5 win at Cincinnati.

Kwan is 10 for 15 since making his debut on opening day. He has reached base in 18 of 24 plate appearances, the most times for any player in his first five games since 1901.

Kwan also has swung 39 times and not missed a single time, according to Statcast.

The lefty hitter and the Guardians next face left-hander Nick Lodolo, who will make his big league debut. The Reds picked him seventh overall in the 2019 draft.

MANAEA MAGIC

Off to a sensational start, Padres newcomer Sean Manaea is back on the mound at San Francisco.

Traded from Oakland to San Diego in the final week of spring training, the 30-year-old lefty pitched seven hitless innings against Arizona in his Padres debut. Manaea was pulled after 88 pitches with the no-hitter intact.

Manaea pitched six seasons for the A’s before being dealt. He’s still waiting to settle into San Diego — the trade came while he was in Arizona for spring training, then the Padres opened against the Diamondbacks in Phoenix before heading to San Francisco.

A NEW VIEW

Clayton Kershaw gets his first look at Target Field when he faces the Minnesota Twins for the first time in his career.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner makes his season debut for the Dodgers. He chose to stay with Los Angeles rather than sign as a free agent with the Rangers in his home state of Texas.

Now in his 15th season, the 34-year-old Kershaw was sharp in four spring training starts.

While he’s never taken on the Twins, Kershaw will pitch against a familiar opponent. Chris Paddack makes his first start for Minnesota after being acquired in an opening day trade with San Diego.

Paddack was early in his rookie season of 2019 when he lost to Kershaw in an NL West matchup.

GOING MY WAY?

Robbie Ray impressed in his first game for Seattle, showing the stuff that won him the AL Cy Young Award last year with Toronto.

The 30-year-old lefty was in control last week, winning at Minnesota with seven innings of three-hit ball. Ray now takes on José Abreu, Tim Anderson and the White Sox in Chicago.

Dallas Keuchel starts for the White Sox, trying for his 100th career win. The 34-year-old lefty, who won the 2015 AL Cy Young with Houston, struggled last season and was shaky in spring training last month.

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