By The Associated Press A look at what’s happening all around the majors Saturday:
A look at what’s happening all around the majors Saturday:
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DODGERS LOADING UP
Curtis Granderson could join the Dodgers at Detroit after the veteran outfielder was acquired from the New York Mets late Friday night. Los Angeles is running away with the NL West. The Dodgers are 86-34 after beating the Tigers 8-5 in the series opener. The 36-year-old Granderson – hitting.228 with 19 homers and 52 RBIs this season, gives Los Angeles another option for the outfield along with Cody Bellinger, Yasiel Puig, Chris Taylor and Joc Pederson.
SEEKING NO. 15
Boston’s Chris Sale, Arizona’s Zack Greinke and Kansas City’s Jason Vargas will all be trying to catch the Dodgers‘ Clayton Kershaw for the major league lead with 15 wins. Sale (14-4,2.51 ERA) takes the mound against the Yankees‘ CC Sabathia (9-5,4.05) as the Red Sox look to continue a hot stretch that has seen them win 13 of 15 to open a five-game lead over New York in the AL East. Greinke (14-5,3.01) will start against Minnesota’s Jose Berrios (10-5,4.27) . Greinke has allowed 18 earned runs while going 6-1 in his past nine starts. Vargas (14-6,3.45) goes for his career-best 15th win and will face Cleveland’s Trevor Bauer, who pitched in relief Thursday night.
TEXAS HOMECOMING
White Sox left-hander Derek Holland is set to face the Rangers in Arlington for the first time Saturday night after spending his first eight seasons with Texas. He signed with Chicago as a free agent after going to the World Series twice with the Rangers and becoming a fan favorite. Holland’s old teammates roughed him up for five runs in 5 1/3 innings in a 10-4 Texas victory at Chicago on July 1. „It’s going to be way different, “ Holland said. „Just being able to pitch where it all started. This is where all the memories began.“
REDS‘ ROOKIE ROTATION
Right-hander Robert Stephenson is expected to come off the DL to start against the Braves on Saturday night, giving Cincinnati the chance to have four rookies in its rotation. Sal Ramano started Friday night, Asher Wojciechowski has started seven games and could return to the rotation next week, and Luis Castillo is scheduled to start Sunday.
STRUGGLING
Pittsburgh and Philadelphia will be looking to end six-game losing streaks, tied for the longest current skids in the majors. The Pirates will send Chad Kuhl (5-8,4.64) against St. Louis‘ Michael Wacha (9-5,3.85) . The Cardinals had an eight-run lead in the eighth inning Friday night before holding on for an 11-10 win. The Phillies‘ Jerad Eickhoff (3-7,4.45) faces the Giants‘ Ty Blach (8-8,4.37) in a matchup of the NL’s two worst teams. … Detroit takes an AL-leading five-game skid into the middle game of their series against the Dodgers.
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