LEADING OFF: Báez, Lindor set to hear from frustrated fans

By: The Associated Press Posted: 9:37 PM CDT Monday, Aug. 30, 2021

A look at what’s happening around the majors on Tuesday:

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A look at what’s happening around the majors on Tuesday:

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/08/2021 (1514 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A look at what’s happening around the majors on Tuesday:

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THUMBS DOWN

Los Angeles Angels' Shohei Ohtani, of Japan, fouls a pitch off his wrist during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the San Diego Padres in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Mets fans get their say after it was revealed stars Francisco Lindor and Javier Báez were among the New York players making derogatory hand gestures at Citi Field crowds.

Frustrated at their team’s poor play in August, Mets fans have been booing the club. Báez said Sunday that he and teammates have been turning double thumbs down on the crowd in response.

“When we don’t get success, we’re going to get booed,” Báez said. “So they’re going to get booed when we have success.”

Mets President Sandy Alderson said the comments and signals were “totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”

The Mets were off Monday. They return to action at home in the afternoon, playing Miami in the resumption of a nine-inning game that was suspended after just one out because of rain on April 11. The Marlins and New York then play a seven-inning game at night.

NO SHO

Shohei Ohtani won’t pitch for the Angels against Yankees in order to give his right hand extra time to heal.

Ohtani was hit in his throwing hand by a fastball while batting last weekend.

“It’s just sore right now. It was going to be problematic if he pitched,” Los Angeles manager Joe Maddon said.

Ohtani is 8-1 with a 3.00 ERA and 127 strikeouts in 19 starts. The only time he permitted more than four runs this season came when he was tagged for seven runs while getting just two outs at Yankee Stadium on June 30.

Ohtani went into this series against the Yankees at Anaheim with a major league-leading 41 home runs. He remains in the lineup in his usual spot as the designated hitter.

VIRUS WOES

The NL West-leading Giants and the playoff-chasing Red Sox are both down a couple of pitchers because of coronavirus concerns.

Johnny Cueto was scratched from his scheduled start for San Francisco on Monday night against Milwaukee because of cold and flu-like symptoms. He’s tested negative and was put on the COVID-related injured list. Fellow Giants starter Alex Wood tested positive for the virus and is experiencing symptoms.

Boston lefty Martín Pérez and righty Matt Barnes were put on the COVID-19 injured list before Monday night’s game at Tampa Bay. Manager Alex Cora said Pérez had tested positive.

CARDINALS CLOSING IN

Tommy Edman, Paul Goldschmidt and the Cardinals are steadily surging, making a late-season playoff push. St. Louis is now within 2 1/2 games of the Reds for the second NL wild-card spot after a 3-1 win at Cincinnati on Monday night.

Quiet for much of the season, the Cardinals improved to 67-63 — they were 53-55 in early August.

Miles Mikolas (0-1), out for much of the year because of an injured right forearm, starts for St. Louis at Great American Ball Park against Sonny Gray (6-6), who has strung together a season-high 13 consecutive scoreless innings over his last two starts.

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