LEADING OFF: Marlins’ Gallen makes debut, Astros meet Yanks

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/06/2019 (2321 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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

WELCOME

Zac Gallen is set to make his major league debut when he starts for the Marlins at St. Louis. The 23-year-old righty was 9-1 with a 1.77 ERA at Triple-A New Orleans, striking out 112 in 91 1/3 innings.

Gallen might see some familiar faces at Busch Stadium. He was traded by the Cardinals to Miami in the deal for outfielder Marcell Ozuna after the 2017 season.

DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS

Alex Bregman and the Astros have lost a season-most four straight as they open a four-game series between AL division leaders at Yankee Stadium.

Houston was swept in Cincinnati this week, but former AL MVP Jose Altuve returned to the lineup after missing 35 games with a hamstring strain. He went 0 for 4 and grounded into a double play Wednesday.

Big-hitting Gary Sánchez and the Yankees have won five in a row, capped by a sweep of the second-place Rays. Slugging outfielder Aaron Judge is expected to rejoin New York on Friday after being sidelined in late April by a strained left oblique.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT

Swept in a doubleheader Wednesday at Washington, the Phillies try to rebound in the series finale behind Aaron Nola (6-1, 4.89 ERA). The right-hander has hit a rough patch lately, going 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA in three starts this month. The Nationals changed pitching plans, bumping Stephen Strasburg to Friday against the Braves. Erick Fedde (1-1, 3.68) will start instead. After losing three straight and seven of 10, Philadelphia is suddenly four games behind first-place Atlanta in the NL East.

MEDICAL UPDATES

Rockies shortstop Trevor Story is scheduled for an MRI after jamming his right thumb on a headfirst slide into second base Wednesday night. Colorado manager Bud Black said X-rays were negative. “I’m always nervous if you have to go get an MRI,” said Story, who leads the majors with 65 runs and is one of two players with at least 15 homers and 10 steals. “You never know.” … Dodgers pitcher Rich Hill also will get an MRI. He left Wednesday’s outing after one inning because of left forearm discomfort. He said he had elbow tightness in his two previous starts and “everything tightened up” after his third warmup pitch before the second inning. “I didn’t feel it would be a wise move to continue,” Hill said. “The MRI will probably show something, but I don’t think it will be in the concerning category.”

HALFWAY TO 100

Julio Urias (3-2, 3.05 ERA) comes out of the Dodgers’ bullpen to make a spot start in place of Walker Buehler, who gets extra rest. Urias hasn’t pitched longer than three innings since April 18.

Madison Bumgarner (3-6, 3.87) seeks his first win against the rival Dodgers since Sept. 23, 2017. He’s 0-3 with a 2.43 ERA in his last six starts against them.

The Dodgers (50-25) became the first 50-win team in the majors Wednesday night and improved to a big league-best 30-9 at home. The NL West leaders are tied with the 1977 club for the second-best start in Los Angeles history. It’s the first time since that year the team has compiled 50 wins by its 75th game.

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“We’re playing free and easy,” Chris Taylor said. “We’re playing our best baseball.”

RUGGED

The Orioles have dropped a season-high eight in a row and have the worst record in the majors at 21-53. They’ll try to break the skid when Dylan Bundy (3-8, 4.44 ERA) pitches at Seattle — he’s made it past six innings only twice in 14 starts this year.

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More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports