LEADING OFF: Paxton gets Red Sox rematch, May Day in LA

By: The Associated Press Posted: 3:48 AM CDT Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019 Last Modified: 2:16 AM CDT Friday, Aug. 2, 2019

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

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

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/08/2019 (2279 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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

NO REINFORCEMENTS

The Yankees came up short trying to acquire pitching help at the trade deadline, and that’s putting more pressure on James Paxton to shake off a rough stretch. The big left-hander is 0-3 with a 6.67 ERA in his past six starts, including a loss at Fenway Park last week when he allowed seven runs in four innings. Paxton (5-6, 4.72) faces the Red Sox again in the opener of a four-game home series. He’ll oppose right-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (13-4, 4.13).

Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Amir Garrett (50) looks to throw a punch as he is held back by a number of Pittsburgh Pirates players during a brawl in the ninth inning of a baseball game in Cincinnati on Tuesday, July 30, 2019. The Pirates won 11-4. (Sam Greene/The Cincinnati Enquirer via AP)

MAY DAY

Top Dodgers pitching prospect Dustin May is expected to make his major league debut against San Diego. The 21-year-old right-hander is nicknamed Gingergaard because his flowing red hair and big-time fastball remind some of Mets ace Noah Syndergaard. May was 6-5 with a 3.38 ERA over 20 starts between Double-A and Triple-A this season.

ENJOY IT

The Tampa Bay Rays will have a rare Friday off before starting a two-game series against Miami on Saturday at Tropicana Field. It will mark the first time in franchise history Tampa Bay has a scheduled idle Friday past the opening week of April.

“That’s odd. I don’t think I’ve ever have had a Friday off,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said before Thursday night’s game at Boston.

Pittsburgh Pirates' Kyle Crick (30) and Cincinnati Reds' Eugenio Suarez, left, and Amir Garrett, center right, brawl during the ninth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 30, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Under scheduling guidelines, MLB teams have some leeway regarding a day off before or after a two-game series.

DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS

Madison Bumgarner, who had been the subject of trade speculation, starts for the Giants when they open a series at Coors Field. San Francisco and Colorado are coming off completely opposite performances last month. The Giants began July at 36-47, but finished the month at 55-53. They became the first major league team to start July at least 10 games under .500 and end with a winning mark. The Rockies, meanwhile, were 44-40 heading into July before going 6-19 — that was the worst showing by any team that went into July with a winning record since the 1888 Boston Beaneaters were 5-17.

PHILLING UP

Jason Vargas (6-5, 4.01 ERA) makes his debut with the Phillies after being acquired this week from the Mets. The 36-year-old lefty has won three straight starts going into this outing in Philadelphia against the White Sox.