LEADING OFF: Unbeaten Musgrove starts for Padres at Wrigley
Jun 15, 2022, 12:08 PM | Updated: Jun 16, 2022, 12:09 am
Atlanta Braves' Austin Riley, right, celebrates his two-run home run with Michael Harris II during the eighth inning of the team's baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Washington. The Braves won 8-2. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
A look at what’s happening around the majors today:
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NO ORDINARY JOE
Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove takes a 47-47 career record over seven seasons into this start at Wrigley Field. But he’s been one of the best pitchers in the majors this year, going 7-0 with a 1.50 ERA in 11 starts.
The 29-year-old Musgrove has allowed just one earned run in 27 innings over his last four starts.
Rookie right-hander Matt Swarmer starts for the Cubs, who have lost nine straight. In his last outing, he was hammered for six home runs in five innings at Yankee Stadium.
OHTANI’S TURN
Angels star Shohei Ohtani is on the mound to begin a five-game series at Seattle.
Ohtani (4-4, 3.64 ERA) is coming off seven impressive innings in a win over Boston. He’s struck out 71 in 54 1/3 innings.
The reigning AL MVP has been doing better at the plate in the last 10 days, raising his batting average from .240 to .260.
Los Angeles was in danger of getting no-hit Wednesday night before Ohtani tripled with one out in the ninth inning against Dodgers starter Tyler Anderson. The skidding Angels lost 4-1 and have dropped 18 of 20.
PINSTRIPE POWER
Luis Severino (4-1, 2.80 ERA) makes his 100th career start as Aaron Judge and the major league-leading Yankees (46-16) go for a three-game sweep of AL East rival Tampa Bay.
New York has won six in a row and 13 of 14. The team’s 13-game home winning streak is its longest since taking 13 straight at the old Yankee Stadium in 1973. The last time the Yankees won 14 consecutive home games was a 15-game run in 1961.
Clay Holmes is also on an impressive roll. The Yankees reliever has matched Mariano Rivera’s club record of 28 straight scoreless appearances while shrinking his ERA to 0.29.
Jalen Beeks (1-1, 1.38) will be Tampa Bay’s opener.
STREAK ON PAUSE
Austin Riley and the Braves enjoy a day off before trying to extend their 14-game winning streak Friday in Chicago against the Cubs.
Atlanta is riding its longest streak since a 14-game run in 2013 and is one victory from tying the franchise’s post-1900 record, a 15-game winning streak early in the 2000 season.
The defending World Series champions have pulled within four games of the NL East-leading Mets.
CLOSED DOWN
Phillies closer Corey Knebel won’t be in that role in the near future.
After another shaky outing in Tuesday night’s 11-9 loss to the Marlins, interim manager Rob Thomson said Knebel will take a step back to focus on his mechanics.
Knebel signed a one-year, $10 million contract in the offseason to help solidify Philadelphia’s leaky bullpen. But he’s blown four saves and posted a 4.91 ERA since May 5, walking 13 in 14 2/3 innings during that stretch.
“For the near future, we’ll put him in a position where he can breathe a little because he’s not throwing the ball where he wants,” Thomson said. “And he knows that.”
Said Knebel: “The decision has been made. I’m going to go do my job.”
Thomson indicated that the Phillies will use a closer-by-committee approach for the time being, with Seranthony Dominguez the likely recipient of most save opportunities.
HADER AWAY
Milwaukee Brewers closer Josh Hader has been put on the paternity list and is expected to miss three days.
The roster move Wednesday came while Hader was tied with San Diego’s Taylor Rogers for the major league lead with 19 saves. The left-hander is 0-1 with a 0.92 ERA in 21 appearances this season.
The Brewers replaced Hader by activating newly acquired Chi Chi Gonzalez and adding him to their bullpen.
BOUNCE BACK?
Rangers lefty Martín Pérez looks to improve on his previous performance when he pitches at Detroit.
Pérez led the AL with a 1.56 ERA when he started last weekend against the White Sox. He was tagged for season highs of seven runs and 12 hits in five innings.
Pérez (4-2, 2.18 ERA) faces a Tigers team that’s been outscored 33-6 during a four-game losing streak. Detroit lost 13-0 to the White Sox on Wednesday and held a players-only meeting after the rout.
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