A look at what’s happening around the majors today:
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O’S-FOR-14
The Baltimore Orioles have lost 14 straight games, the worst skid in the majors since Houston dropped 15 in a row in 2013.
The Orioles’ drought ties for second-longest in team history — they also dropped 14 in a row in 1954, the season the club moved from St. Louis to Baltimore. The Orioles’ worst losing streak came in 1988 when they lost their first 21 games of the year.
“It’s been tough last couple weeks, but we’re trying to keep our head up and trying to keep playing hard,” said Ryan Mountcastle, who homered in a 3-2, 10-inning loss to Minnesota on Monday.
The Twins, who have beaten Baltimore 16 straight times, try to extend their string when Michael Pineda (3-2, 2.62 ERA) starts against Bruce Zimmermann (2-3, 5.15 ERA) at Camden Yards.
ABOUT THE WEATHERS
Rookie left-hander Ryan Weathers makes his first career appearance at Wrigley Field when he starts for the San Diego Padres against Kyle Hendricks and the Chicago Cubs. Weathers' father, David, pitched in 28 games for the Cubs in 2001, going 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA. He made 57 appearances at Wrigley during his 19 years in the majors, finishing with a 3-6 record and a 3.93 ERA at the iconic ballpark.
Ryan Weathers (2-1, 1.31 ERA) tossed four scoreless innings in a no-decision at Milwaukee on Thursday. Hendricks (5-4, 4.63 ERA) is coming off a strong May for Chicago, going 4-1 with a 2.67 ERA in five starts.
SHUFFLE BACK TO BUFFALO
The Toronto Blue Jays return to Sahlen Field in Buffalo, where they played home games last year during the coronavirus-shortened season.
Still barred from playing at Rogers Centre in Toronto by the Canadian government because of virus restrictions, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Blue Jays began this year hosting home games at their spring training site in Dunedin, Florida, going 10-11 there.
Toronto was 17-9 last year in Buffalo, where its Triple-A team plays. No fans were permitted at those games.
Crowds will be allowed starting when Robbie Rays faces Miami’s Sandy Alcantara. The ballpark has undergone changes since last summer, too, with the bullpens being moved off foul territory and put behind the outfield walls.
SIDE SESSION
Cardinals ace Jack Flaherty will be re-evaluated after leaving Monday night's start at Dodger Stadium with tightness on his left side. Flaherty said he exited after five innings “more just to be safe and get it checked out.”
The right-hander equaled his season high with nine strikeouts and walked one in St. Louis' 9-4 loss to Los Angeles. He gave up two runs and two hits against his favorite team while growing up in nearby Burbank.
FRESH START
Willy Adames is making the most of his new opportunity in Milwaukee. The good-fielding shortstop was hitting just .197 with five homers and 15 RBIs when Tampa Bay traded him to the Brewers for relievers J.P. Feyereisen and Drew Rasmussen on May 21.
Adames homered Monday as Milwaukee beat the Tigers 3-2 in 10 innings for its fifth straight win. The 25-year-old is batting .324 (11 of 34) with two homers and nine RBIs in 10 games since the deal.
“I’m just playing the game the way that I always do it,” Adames said. “I’m just happy to see that we’re getting some results now and we’re winning a lot of games.”
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