A look at what’s happening around the majors today:
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TOP ARMS OUT WEST
The finale of an entertaining four-game series between longtime rivals features an excellent pitching matchup at Dodger Stadium. San Francisco sends Kevin Gausman (5-0, 1.53 ERA) to the mound against Los Angeles lefty Clayton Kershaw (7-3, 2.94), who will make his 50th career start versus the Giants. The three-time Cy Young Award winner is 24-13 with a 1.79 ERA and 0.88 WHIP against them.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Aaron Civale and the Cleveland pitching staff are in for a tough test — the Indians are set to play back-to-back doubleheaders.
After a game cut short by miserable weather Friday night and a rainout Saturday, the Indians will play a twinbill against Toronto at Progressive Field to close the weekend. Civale, second in the AL with seven wins, starts the opener for Cleveland.
On Monday, the Indians will host the Chicago White Sox for a pair of seven-inning games.
Cleveland manager Terry Francona will miss the matchups with Toronto to attend his youngest daughter’s wedding in Newport, Rhode Island. He’s expected to be back for Monday’s doubleheader.
RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY
Weather permitting, two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom (3-2, 0.80 ERA) makes his second start since coming off the injured list when the banged-up New York Mets host NL East rival Atlanta in prime time. The teams were washed out Friday night, and the forecast again calls for rain all day in New York.
After missing a couple of weeks due to tightness on his right side, deGrom struck out nine in five innings of three-hit ball Tuesday against Colorado. Max Fried (2-2, 4.63) is scheduled for the Braves.
DRY IN THE DESERT
The reeling Arizona Diamondbacks are desperate for a win. They've lost 13 games in a row, one short of the franchise record, going into their series finale at home against St. Louis. The Diamondbacks dropped 14 straight in 2004, when they lost 111 games. The team’s 18-35 record this year is the worst in the National League.
“We’re in every game. We’re right there,” catcher Stephen Vogt said. “Tying run at the plate, winning run at the plate. One hit, one pitch away from winning these games. We’re frustrated, we’re upset, we’re unhappy.”
Arizona right-hander Matt Peacock (1-1, 4.91 ERA) faces Kwang Hyun Kim (1-2, 3.09).
SPUTTERING AT THE PLATE
Last in the AL Central, the Detroit Tigers try for a surprising three-game sweep of the visiting New York Yankees. Aaron Judge and the Bronx Bombers had won seven of nine before arriving in town, but they’ve totaled only three runs in the first two games of the series. The Yankees hadn’t lost a series at Comerica Park since August 2014.
“We obviously aren’t doing what we need to do offensively,” manager Aaron Boone said. “We’ve got hitters in their prime with a track record of success at this level. We just need to make sure we’re getting them ready every day.”
Tarik Skubal (1-7, 5.23 ERA) pitches for Detroit against long reliever Michael King (0-1, 2.29), in the New York rotation spot normally occupied by injured Corey Kluber. King went 0-2 with an 8.36 ERA in four starts for the Yankees last year.
ARRESTED
Atlanta Braves star Marcell Ozuna was arrested Saturday on charges of aggravated assault by strangulation and battery after police officers said they witnessed him attacking his wife.
A statement from the Sandy Springs Police Department in Georgia said officers responded to a 911 call Saturday afternoon and entered a home where the front door was open and they heard screaming coming from inside.
The statement said officers witnessed Ozuna grab his wife by the neck, throw her against a wall and strike her with his arm which has a cast from a previous injury. Ozuna was placed on the injured list Friday by the Braves with two dislocated fingers on his left hand.
The police report said the victim had visible injuries but was not transported to a hospital.
Ozuna has been booked into Fulton County Jail. Sandy Springs is a suburb of Atlanta.
Major League Baseball’s Department of Investigations plans to review the matter under the joint domestic violence policy in place between MLB and the players association.
UNLUCKY 13?
The Orioles will try to avoid their 13th straight loss when rookie left-hander Keegan Akin starts in Chicago against the White Sox.
Baltimore was swept in a doubleheader Saturday. The O’s have dropped 12 in a row, their longest skid since losing 13 straight in 2009.
“This is hard, there is no doubt about it. This is very, very challenging. This is very difficult, this is frustrating, embarrassing at times,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said.
Akin has a 6.10 ERA in four relief appearances this season. He earned his only major league win last year.
Lucas Giolito (4-4, 4.04 ERA) starts for Chicago. He outpitched former high school teammate Jack Flaherty to beat St. Louis in his last start while feeling some tightness on his right side.
ROAD WEARY
Texas plays at Seattle looking to snap an 11-game road losing streak. The club record is 12 in a row set in 2003.
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