LEADING OFF: Braves, Phils keep winning, Melvin out

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

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STREAKING

Ozzie Albies and the Atlanta Braves have won 10 straight going into their home game against Pittsburgh while rookie Bryson Stott and the Phillies have a nine-game winning streak as they host Arizona.

This marks just the third time since divisional play started in 1969 that two teams began a day with winning streaks of nine games. The Milwaukee Brewers won 10 in a row and the Boston Red Sox won nine straight through June 17, 1978, and the Houston Astros and St. Louis Cardinals both won nine in a row through Sept. 5, 2004.

The World Series champion Braves are on their longest winning streak since they took 14 in a row in 2013. Kyle Wright (6-3, 2.39 ERA) starts for Atlanta against José Quintana (1-3, 3.19) and the Pirates.

Philadelphia is trying to win 10 straight for the first time since 1984. Ranger Suarez (4-3, 4.42) starts for the Phillies and lefty Kyle Nelson will be used as an opener by the Diamondbacks.

A DOUBLEHEADER SPLIT

San Diego Padres manager Bob Melvin and bench coach Ryan Christenson had to clear out of the Petco Park dugout after entering COVID-19 protocols in between games of a doubleheader against Colorado.

Quality control coach Ryan Flaherty served as acting manager for the second game.

The Padres won the opener 2-1 in 10 innings. That gave them a 37-22 record, the best mark in franchise history through 59 games.

Earlier in the day, the Padres announced that starting pitcher Mike Clevinger and reliever Adrian Morejon were placed on the COVID-19-related injured list.

MINNESOTA MASHING

Big league batting leader Luis Arraez and the Twins try to finish a three-game sweep of Tampa Bay at Target Field.

Arraez hit his first career grand slam…