A look at what’s happening around the majors today:
___
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…
Leave a Reply