Sporting News staff reports
Theo Epstein has seen enough.
The Red Sox’s general manager tells the Boston Herald that there will be a shakeup if the team’s poor play continues.
"We’re still playing bad baseball. Unintelligent, undisciplined, uninspired baseball. It’s got to change. It either changes itself or we have to do something to change it," Epstein said Sunday after Boston was swept by the Orioles in Baltimore.
The Sox responded to the sweep — and Epstein’s rant — by routing the Angels 17-8 Monday night at Fenway Park.
The players’ postgame comments betrayed no outrage toward their boss.
"I don’t have a problem with him saying it," infielder/DH Mike Lowell told reporters. "I think I’d have a problem with him saying it if I thought we were playing good baseball. But I don’t think anyone in here thought we were playing good baseball. Hopefully it will start."
Boston was expected to be an elite team after spending big in the offseason for free agents John Lackey, Adrian Beltre, Marco Scutaro and Mike Cameron, but it has stumbled to a 12-14 start. It trails the first-place Rays by 5 1/2 games in the AL East.
Sporting News staff reports
Theo Epstein has seen enough.
The Red Sox’s general manager tells the Boston Herald that there will be a shakeup if the team’s poor play continues.
"We’re still playing bad baseball. Unintelligent, undisciplined, uninspired baseball. It’s got to change. It either changes itself or we have to do something to change it," Epstein said Sunday after Boston was swept by the Orioles in Baltimore.
The Sox responded to the sweep — and Epstein’s rant — by routing the Angels 17-8 Monday night at Fenway Park.
The players’ postgame comments betrayed no outrage toward their boss.
"I don’t have a problem with him saying it," infielder/DH Mike Lowell told reporters. "I think I’d have a problem with him saying it if I thought we were playing good baseball. But I don’t think anyone in here thought we were playing good baseball. Hopefully it will start."
Boston was expected to be an elite team after spending big in the offseason for free agents John Lackey, Adrian Beltre, Marco Scutaro and Mike Cameron, but it has stumbled to a 12-14 start. It trails the first-place Rays by 5 1/2 games in the AL East.
Sporting News staff reports
Mets right-hander Mike Pelfrey is experiencing tightness in his pitching shoulder but still expects to make his next scheduled start.
MLB.com reports Pelfrey felt uncomfortable before and after Saturday’s start against the Phillies, though Pelfrey insists the tightness did not bother him during the game. Pelfrey was hit hard as his scoreless-innings streak ended at 27; he allowed six runs in the fourth inning.
Pelfrey was examined Monday in New York and rejoined the team in Cincinnati for its series opener against the Reds. He is expected to throw a scheduled bullpen session Tuesday. If that goes well, he’ll start Friday against the Giants.
"It’s nothing crazy," Pelfrey told reporters. "It’s just a little sore, a little tight."
Pelfrey tried to downplay his condition.
"I don’t want to make a big deal out if it, because it’s not," he said. "I’ll be able to make my next start and my next 25 starts after that. It’s not a big deal at all."
In other news, Mets right-hander Kelvim Escobar will have shoulder surgery Wednesday and miss the entire season.
Arm injuries have limited Escobar to one major league appearance since 2007. Still, the Mets signed him to a $1.25 million, one-year contract in the offseason, hoping he could be a late-inning reliever.
Escobar developed a sore shoulder in March, preventing him from pitching, and his condition hasn’t improved.
Sporting News staff reports
Mets right-hander Mike Pelfrey is experiencing tightness in his pitching shoulder but still expects to make his next scheduled start.
MLB.com reports Pelfrey felt uncomfortable before and after Saturday’s start against the Phillies, though Pelfrey insists the tightness did not bother him during the game. Pelfrey was hit hard as his scoreless-innings streak ended at 27; he allowed six runs in the fourth inning.
Pelfrey was examined Monday in New York and rejoined the team in Cincinnati for its series opener against the Reds. He is expected to throw a scheduled bullpen session Tuesday. If that goes well, he’ll start Friday against the Giants.
"It’s nothing crazy," Pelfrey told reporters. "It’s just a little sore, a little tight."
Pelfrey tried to downplay his condition.
"I don’t want to make a big deal out if it, because it’s not," he said. "I’ll be able to make my next start and my next 25 starts after that. It’s not a big deal at all."
In other news, Mets right-hander Kelvim Escobar will have shoulder surgery Wednesday and miss the entire season.
Arm injuries have limited Escobar to one major league appearance since 2007. Still, the Mets signed him to a $1.25 million, one-year contract in the offseason, hoping he could be a late-inning reliever.
Escobar developed a sore shoulder in March, preventing him from pitching, and his condition hasn’t improved.
Sporting News staff reports
Baseball continues to feel the fallout from Arizona’s new immigration law, this time from one of its biggest Mexican American stars.
Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, who holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and Mexico, told FanHouse.com that he would not attend next year’s All-Star Game in Phoenix if the recently signed law is still in effect and that he would like for Major League Baseball to boycott spring training in the state. Gonzalez told the website:
"If they leave it up to the players and the law is still there, I’ll probably not play in the All-Star Game. Because it’s a discriminating law," Gonzalez said.
Sporting News staff reports
Baseball continues to feel the fallout from Arizona’s new immigration law, this time from one of its biggest Mexican American stars.
Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, who holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and Mexico, told FanHouse.com that he would not attend next year’s All-Star Game in Phoenix if the recently signed law is still in effect and that he would like for Major League Baseball to boycott spring training in the state. Gonzalez told the website:
"If they leave it up to the players and the law is still there, I’ll probably not play in the All-Star Game. Because it’s a discriminating law," Gonzalez said.
Sporting News staff reports
Saying his client is "on an island by himself," one of Albert Pujols’ agents hints that Ryan Howard’s contract extension won’t be a large factor in negotiations with the Cardinals on a new deal
"We have to pay attention to any significant multi-year deal, especially one signed by a big first baseman. But the reality is that there are no comparables for Albert. He is on an island by himself," Dan Lozano tells the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Joe Strauss.
Howard last week agreed to an extension that guarantees him $125 million over five years. The pact includes an option that could push it to $138 million over six years. Howard, then, will average between $23 million and $25 million a year. It is believed Pujols could command more than the $27.5 million per year for Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, the game’s highest-paid player.
Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak chooses his words carefully when discussing how Howard’s contract affects the Pujols talks. "People may ask questions about how Ryan Howard affects Albert. It’s completely different," Mozeliak tells the Post-Dispatch. "It will be market driven."
For his part, Pujols says he wants to keep the focus off himself.
"I look at this as his time," Pujols says of Howard. "It’s a great thing for him. It’s not about me. I’m not getting into what it means to me for Ryan Howard to get $25 million. That’s a slap at him. I want to leave that alone."
The Cardinals have a $16 million club option on Pujols for the 2011 season, which it is expected to exercise.
St. Louis likely will also need to monitor negotiations involving Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder, who are in line for large contracts in the near future. The Padres have a club option for 2011 on Gonzalez; Fielder can become a free agent after the ’11 season.
Sporting News staff reports
Saying his client is "on an island by himself," one of Albert Pujols’ agents hints that Ryan Howard’s contract extension won’t be a large factor in negotiations with the Cardinals on a new deal
"We have to pay attention to any significant multi-year deal, especially one signed by a big first baseman. But the reality is that there are no comparables for Albert. He is on an island by himself," Dan Lozano tells the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Joe Strauss.
Howard last week agreed to an extension that guarantees him $125 million over five years. The pact includes an option that could push it to $138 million over six years. Howard, then, will average between $23 million and $25 million a year. It is believed Pujols could command more than the $27.5 million per year for Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, the game’s highest-paid player.
Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak chooses his words carefully when discussing how Howard’s contract affects the Pujols talks. "People may ask questions about how Ryan Howard affects Albert. It’s completely different," Mozeliak tells the Post-Dispatch. "It will be market driven."
For his part, Pujols says he wants to keep the focus off himself.
"I look at this as his time," Pujols says of Howard. "It’s a great thing for him. It’s not about me. I’m not getting into what it means to me for Ryan Howard to get $25 million. That’s a slap at him. I want to leave that alone."
The Cardinals have a $16 million club option on Pujols for the 2011 season, which it is expected to exercise.
St. Louis likely will also need to monitor negotiations involving Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder, who are in line for large contracts in the near future. The Padres have a club option for 2011 on Gonzalez; Fielder can become a free agent after the ’11 season.
Sporting News staff reports
MLB.com reports the Nationals will promote pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg to Triple-A Syracuse as early as Sunday after his scheduled start for Double-A Harrisburg.
Strasburg, the first player taken in last year’s draft, is slated to pitch five innings or throw 85 pitches for Harrisburg. He is 3-0 with an 0.52 ERA in four starts for the club. He has 23 strikeouts in 17 1/3 innings.
His first Triple-A start could come Friday in Syracuse against the Braves’ Gwinnett, Ga., affiliate
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo hinted on Wednesday that a promotion was imminent. "It’s reasonable to assume he is going to be in Syracuse sometime soon," Rizzo told reporters.
Sporting News staff reports
MLB.com reports the Nationals will promote pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg to Triple-A Syracuse as early as Sunday after his scheduled start for Double-A Harrisburg.
Strasburg, the first player taken in last year’s draft, is slated to pitch five innings or throw 85 pitches for Harrisburg. He is 3-0 with an 0.52 ERA in four starts for the club. He has 23 strikeouts in 17 1/3 innings.
His first Triple-A start could come Friday in Syracuse against the Braves’ Gwinnett, Ga., affiliate
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo hinted on Wednesday that a promotion was imminent. "It’s reasonable to assume he is going to be in Syracuse sometime soon," Rizzo told reporters.
Sporting News staff reports
Braves closer Billy Wagner plans to join manager Bobby Cox in retirement after this season.
Wagner on Friday told Cox that this will be his last year as a player. The 38-year-old left-hander wants to spend more time on his Virginia farm with his wife and four children. He said he contemplated retiring after last season but reconsidered.
"I still like the competition, that’s why I do it," Wagner tells The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I like going out and winning, that still drives me. But being home with them last year (while recovering from elbow surgery), I enjoyed it. There’s so much more to offer them at this age, and I need to be home."
Wagner, who is sixth on the all-time list with 387 career saves, tells the AJC he will not play even if his $6.5 million option for 2011 vests. The option takes effect if Wagner finishes 50 games this season.
He will make $7 million in 2010.
Sporting News staff reports
Braves closer Billy Wagner plans to join manager Bobby Cox in retirement after this season.
Wagner on Friday told Cox that this will be his last year as a player. The 38-year-old left-hander wants to spend more time on his Virginia farm with his wife and four children. He said he contemplated retiring after last season but reconsidered.
"I still like the competition, that’s why I do it," Wagner tells The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I like going out and winning, that still drives me. But being home with them last year (while recovering from elbow surgery), I enjoyed it. There’s so much more to offer them at this age, and I need to be home."
Wagner, who is sixth on the all-time list with 387 career saves, tells the AJC he will not play even if his $6.5 million option for 2011 vests. The option takes effect if Wagner finishes 50 games this season.
He will make $7 million in 2010.
Chris Bahr, Sporting News
Carl Crawford has owned the Royals the last two years.
What to expect in the major leagues today:
Royals flushed
The Royals begin a season-long 11-game road trip tonight at Tropicana Field. And there would be better places for them to kick off this extended jaunt. Kansas City is 2-10 in Tampa Bay since 2008, and the Rays won nine of the 10 games overall between the teams last season. It was a balanced attack for the Rays, as no player had more than three homers or eight RBIs against the Royals. However, left fielder Carl Crawford did plenty of damage. He stole seven bases, scored 10 runs, hit .400 and had a .478 on-base percentage in those 10 games.
Solving Lilly
In his first start of the 2010 season Saturday, Cubs lefthander Ted Lilly shut out the Brewers over six innings. He will look to build upon that outing tonight against Arizona. One player who won’t be happy to see him on the mound: Diamondbacks third baseman Mark Reynolds. Reynolds, who has set the single-season strikeout record in each of the past two season, is 1-for-8 with six strikeouts in his career against Lilly. However, Reynolds’ strikeouts are down this season, and he ranks among the major league leaders in homers and RBIs.
A’s and Jays
Oakland’s strong start can be attributed to its AL.-best ERA, while Toronto’s recent slide can be blamed on a team ERA that ranks near the bottom of the league. The Blue Jays, however, pack more pop offensively. In the first of a four-game set at Rogers Centre tonight, it will be Oakland’s pitching against Toronto’s hitting as righthander Justin Duchscherer (2-0, 1.82 ERA) against Vernon Wells and Co. Duchscherer, who missed the entire 2009 season, will take a 19-inning scoreless streak into the outing. Meanwhile, Wells will try to improve on a homer total that already matches the one he posted through June last season.
Chris Bahr is Sporting News’ baseball editor. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
Sponsored link: Rays tickets available
Chris Bahr, Sporting News
Carl Crawford has owned the Royals the last two years.
What to expect in the major leagues today:
Royals flushed
The Royals begin a season-long 11-game road trip tonight at Tropicana Field. And there would be better places for them to kick off this extended jaunt. Kansas City is 2-10 in Tampa Bay since 2008, and the Rays won nine of the 10 games overall between the teams last season. It was a balanced attack for the Rays, as no player had more than three homers or eight RBIs against the Royals. However, left fielder Carl Crawford did plenty of damage. He stole seven bases, scored 10 runs, hit .400 and had a .478 on-base percentage in those 10 games.
Solving Lilly
In his first start of the 2010 season Saturday, Cubs lefthander Ted Lilly shut out the Brewers over six innings. He will look to build upon that outing tonight against Arizona. One player who won’t be happy to see him on the mound: Diamondbacks third baseman Mark Reynolds. Reynolds, who has set the single-season strikeout record in each of the past two season, is 1-for-8 with six strikeouts in his career against Lilly. However, Reynolds’ strikeouts are down this season, and he ranks among the major league leaders in homers and RBIs.
A’s and Jays
Oakland’s strong start can be attributed to its AL.-best ERA, while Toronto’s recent slide can be blamed on a team ERA that ranks near the bottom of the league. The Blue Jays, however, pack more pop offensively. In the first of a four-game set at Rogers Centre tonight, it will be Oakland’s pitching against Toronto’s hitting as righthander Justin Duchscherer (2-0, 1.82 ERA) against Vernon Wells and Co. Duchscherer, who missed the entire 2009 season, will take a 19-inning scoreless streak into the outing. Meanwhile, Wells will try to improve on a homer total that already matches the one he posted through June last season.
Chris Bahr is Sporting News’ baseball editor. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
Sponsored link: Rays tickets available
NEW YORK — Johan Santana and the Mets have been pitching well for weeks. Now, the big bats are beginning to come around. And all of a sudden, after a sluggish start, New York looks like a legitimate threat in the NL East again.
David Wright drove in four runs, Ike Davis added three RBIs and the streaking Mets won their sixth straight game, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 10-5 on Tuesday night for a doubleheader sweep.
"We’re playing with a lot of confidence right now," Jeff Francoeur said.
In the opener, Jason Bay hit his first home run for New York to back another stingy outing by Santana as the Mets marched to a 4-0 victory in a virtually empty stadium.
More fans showed for the originally scheduled nightcap and watched as 35-year-old rookie reliever Hisanori Takahashi (2-1) bailed out a Mets starter for the second time in five days. Wright hit a bases-loaded triple, Davis had a two-run double and New York (12-9) set a season high for runs while improving to 8-1 on its 10-game homestand.
The surge has coincided with the arrival of Davis, a rookie first baseman who was called up from the minors on April 19. He helped the Mets earn their first doubleheader sweep of the Dodgers since Aug. 28, 1971, at Shea Stadium.
"I knew once some of those middle-of-the-order guys hit, it could be a lot of fun," manager Jerry Manuel said.
In the nightcap, New York opened a 3-0 lead against knuckleballer Charlie Haeger (0-3) in the first inning on an RBI single by Jose Reyes, a run-scoring triple by Bay and Davis’ sacrifice fly.
Another walk-filled meltdown by winless left-hander Oliver Perez helped the Dodgers tie it in the fourth, but that’s when Manuel turned to Takahashi.
The left-hander from Japan forced home the tying run with a two-out walk to Reed Johnson, then struck out James Loney on a borderline 3-2 pitch, prompting a vehement argument from Loney that got him ejected by plate umpire Angel Campos.
"I think it was unnecessary. I think it was unfortunate on the umpire’s part, not James’ part," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said.
Takahashi hung around and tossed 3 1-3 strong innings, allowing one run and striking out five for his latest big effort in long relief.
A non-roster invite to spring training, he fanned seven in three impressive innings Friday night against Atlanta for his first major league win. Takahashi entered that game as a replacement for John Maine, who came out early with pain in his non-pitching arm.
"He’s making a strong case for himself to be a part of the rotation if we continue to have issues," Manuel said.
Wright, who began the day in a 7-for-42 slump (.167), punched an RBI single to right-center in the fifth for his 1,000th career hit, snapping a 3-all tie.
"I’m glad I could finally contribute to a win," he said.
Davis followed with a two-run double, and Wright made it 10-3 in the sixth with his triple off George Sherrill moments after a key throwing error by shortstop Jamey Carroll.
"You walk four guys in four-plus innings, you’re going to get hurt," Haeger said. "They grabbed the momentum there in the fifth inning when I walked two."
Wright finished 3 for 3 with a walk in the nightcap.
"Line drives up the middle," Manuel said. "He’s close to heating up."
Santana (3-1) worked his way around early traffic on the bases, tossing six innings of four-hit ball to extend a run of splendid performances by the Mets’ surprising rotation.
Luis Castillo hit a two-run single and New York pitched its second consecutive shutout, following Mike Pelfrey’s 1-0 win Sunday night over Atlanta in a game that was called in the sixth inning because of rain.
"Everybody feels very motivated, and it’s good to see," Santana said.
More wet weather Monday night led to Tuesday’s old-fashioned, single-admission, twinight doubleheader — but few fans made it to blustery Citi Field in time for the first pitch at 4:10 p.m.
There were still sections of empty seats down low by the time Wright dived headfirst to score on a second-inning wild pitch by Hiroki Kuroda (2-1).
More fans began filing in as the night wore on, but the sparse crowd never approached the announced attendance of 32,012.
"At some point it felt like we were down in Port St. Lucie playing a spring training game," Santana said between games. "But we knew it was a very meaningful game for us. And then as the game was going we got more into it."
Including a 1-0 loss Sunday at Washington, Los Angeles was blanked in consecutive games for the first time since June 2008 at San Diego and Detroit.
Missing injured slugger Manny Ramirez, the Dodgers have lost five of six.
"We have to pitch better. We have to play better. It’s as simple as that," Torre said. "We need to get better and we need to win three or four in a row to get that inner-confidence back."
NOTES: After the doubleheader, the Dodgers optioned reliever Jon Link to Triple-A Albuquerque and transferred C Brad Ausmus to the 60-day disabled list to make roster room for RHP John Ely, who was called up from Albuquerque to start Wednesday against the Mets. … It was New York’s first doubleheader sweep since June 2007 at Philadelphia. … Takahashi leads major league relievers with 21 strikeouts, in 14 1-3 innings.
NEW YORK — Johan Santana and the Mets have been pitching well for weeks. Now, the big bats are beginning to come around. And all of a sudden, after a sluggish start, New York looks like a legitimate threat in the NL East again.
David Wright drove in four runs, Ike Davis added three RBIs and the streaking Mets won their sixth straight game, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 10-5 on Tuesday night for a doubleheader sweep.
"We’re playing with a lot of confidence right now," Jeff Francoeur said.
In the opener, Jason Bay hit his first home run for New York to back another stingy outing by Santana as the Mets marched to a 4-0 victory in a virtually empty stadium.
More fans showed for the originally scheduled nightcap and watched as 35-year-old rookie reliever Hisanori Takahashi (2-1) bailed out a Mets starter for the second time in five days. Wright hit a bases-loaded triple, Davis had a two-run double and New York (12-9) set a season high for runs while improving to 8-1 on its 10-game homestand.
The surge has coincided with the arrival of Davis, a rookie first baseman who was called up from the minors on April 19. He helped the Mets earn their first doubleheader sweep of the Dodgers since Aug. 28, 1971, at Shea Stadium.
"I knew once some of those middle-of-the-order guys hit, it could be a lot of fun," manager Jerry Manuel said.
In the nightcap, New York opened a 3-0 lead against knuckleballer Charlie Haeger (0-3) in the first inning on an RBI single by Jose Reyes, a run-scoring triple by Bay and Davis’ sacrifice fly.
Another walk-filled meltdown by winless left-hander Oliver Perez helped the Dodgers tie it in the fourth, but that’s when Manuel turned to Takahashi.
The left-hander from Japan forced home the tying run with a two-out walk to Reed Johnson, then struck out James Loney on a borderline 3-2 pitch, prompting a vehement argument from Loney that got him ejected by plate umpire Angel Campos.
"I think it was unnecessary. I think it was unfortunate on the umpire’s part, not James’ part," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said.
Takahashi hung around and tossed 3 1-3 strong innings, allowing one run and striking out five for his latest big effort in long relief.
A non-roster invite to spring training, he fanned seven in three impressive innings Friday night against Atlanta for his first major league win. Takahashi entered that game as a replacement for John Maine, who came out early with pain in his non-pitching arm.
"He’s making a strong case for himself to be a part of the rotation if we continue to have issues," Manuel said.
Wright, who began the day in a 7-for-42 slump (.167), punched an RBI single to right-center in the fifth for his 1,000th career hit, snapping a 3-all tie.
"I’m glad I could finally contribute to a win," he said.
Davis followed with a two-run double, and Wright made it 10-3 in the sixth with his triple off George Sherrill moments after a key throwing error by shortstop Jamey Carroll.
"You walk four guys in four-plus innings, you’re going to get hurt," Haeger said. "They grabbed the momentum there in the fifth inning when I walked two."
Wright finished 3 for 3 with a walk in the nightcap.
"Line drives up the middle," Manuel said. "He’s close to heating up."
Santana (3-1) worked his way around early traffic on the bases, tossing six innings of four-hit ball to extend a run of splendid performances by the Mets’ surprising rotation.
Luis Castillo hit a two-run single and New York pitched its second consecutive shutout, following Mike Pelfrey’s 1-0 win Sunday night over Atlanta in a game that was called in the sixth inning because of rain.
"Everybody feels very motivated, and it’s good to see," Santana said.
More wet weather Monday night led to Tuesday’s old-fashioned, single-admission, twinight doubleheader — but few fans made it to blustery Citi Field in time for the first pitch at 4:10 p.m.
There were still sections of empty seats down low by the time Wright dived headfirst to score on a second-inning wild pitch by Hiroki Kuroda (2-1).
More fans began filing in as the night wore on, but the sparse crowd never approached the announced attendance of 32,012.
"At some point it felt like we were down in Port St. Lucie playing a spring training game," Santana said between games. "But we knew it was a very meaningful game for us. And then as the game was going we got more into it."
Including a 1-0 loss Sunday at Washington, Los Angeles was blanked in consecutive games for the first time since June 2008 at San Diego and Detroit.
Missing injured slugger Manny Ramirez, the Dodgers have lost five of six.
"We have to pitch better. We have to play better. It’s as simple as that," Torre said. "We need to get better and we need to win three or four in a row to get that inner-confidence back."
NOTES: After the doubleheader, the Dodgers optioned reliever Jon Link to Triple-A Albuquerque and transferred C Brad Ausmus to the 60-day disabled list to make roster room for RHP John Ely, who was called up from Albuquerque to start Wednesday against the Mets. … It was New York’s first doubleheader sweep since June 2007 at Philadelphia. … Takahashi leads major league relievers with 21 strikeouts, in 14 1-3 innings.
Chris Bahr, Sporting News
What to expect in the major leagues today:
Jake Peavy has been ice-cold for the White Sox.
Peavy problems
After four starts this season, White Sox righthander Jake Peavy is winless with a 7.66 ERA and as many walks (15) as strikeouts. He recently said that mechanics, and not injuries, were to blame. Tonight at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Peavy will face a pitcher battling similar problems. Righthander Rich Harden is 0-1 with a 4.58 ERA and an 18/20 K/BB. Harden has pitched past the fifth inning only once this season.
Pirates on the plank
Pittsburgh already has seen enough of Milwaukee this season. Last week at PNC Park, the Brewers outscored the Pirates 36-1 in a three-game sweep. In the final game of that series, Milwaukee put a 20-0 beating on Pittsburgh, which fell below .500 with that loss and still hasn’t recovered. In the first game of the teams’ three-game series at Miller Park on Monday, the Brewers again pounded the Pirates, 17-3. Pittsburgh will give the ball to lefthander Paul Maholm in the series finale this afternoon and hope the lefthander can find a way to shut down Ryan Braun and Co. In five games against Pittsburgh this season, Braun has two homers and eight RBIs.
Surprise, surprise
While would-be contenders such as the Red Sox, Dodgers, Mariners, Braves, White Sox and Rangers continue to wallow below the .500 mark, the Marlins and Padres enter their series finale this afternoon with winning records. As expected, Adrian Gonzalez’s big bat has paced San Diego, but Dan Uggla’s early-season success for Florida is surprising. In the first four seasons of his major league career, Uggla hit only .236 in April. However, he leads the team’s regulars in batting average this season and is among the team leaders in homers, RBIs and on-base percentage. Today, Uggla will face Padres righthander Kevin Correia, whose 8.6 K/9 this season is the best of his career.
Chris Bahr is Sporting News’ baseball editor. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
Sponsored link: Pirate tickets available
Chris Bahr, Sporting News
What to expect in the major leagues today:
Jake Peavy has been ice-cold for the White Sox.
Peavy problems
After four starts this season, White Sox righthander Jake Peavy is winless with a 7.66 ERA and as many walks (15) as strikeouts. He recently said that mechanics, and not injuries, were to blame. Tonight at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Peavy will face a pitcher battling similar problems. Righthander Rich Harden is 0-1 with a 4.58 ERA and an 18/20 K/BB. Harden has pitched past the fifth inning only once this season.
Pirates on the plank
Pittsburgh already has seen enough of Milwaukee this season. Last week at PNC Park, the Brewers outscored the Pirates 36-1 in a three-game sweep. In the final game of that series, Milwaukee put a 20-0 beating on Pittsburgh, which fell below .500 with that loss and still hasn’t recovered. In the first game of the teams’ three-game series at Miller Park on Monday, the Brewers again pounded the Pirates, 17-3. Pittsburgh will give the ball to lefthander Paul Maholm in the series finale this afternoon and hope the lefthander can find a way to shut down Ryan Braun and Co. In five games against Pittsburgh this season, Braun has two homers and eight RBIs.
Surprise, surprise
While would-be contenders such as the Red Sox, Dodgers, Mariners, Braves, White Sox and Rangers continue to wallow below the .500 mark, the Marlins and Padres enter their series finale this afternoon with winning records. As expected, Adrian Gonzalez’s big bat has paced San Diego, but Dan Uggla’s early-season success for Florida is surprising. In the first four seasons of his major league career, Uggla hit only .236 in April. However, he leads the team’s regulars in batting average this season and is among the team leaders in homers, RBIs and on-base percentage. Today, Uggla will face Padres righthander Kevin Correia, whose 8.6 K/9 this season is the best of his career.
Chris Bahr is Sporting News’ baseball editor. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
Sponsored link: Pirate tickets available
