LEADING OFF: Cole follows Verlander's gem, Darvish scratched
A look at what's happening around the majors today:
TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW
One day after Houston teammate Justin Verlander pitched a no-hitter, Gerrit Cole looks to stay on a roll of his own when the Astros visit Milwaukee on Labor Day. Cole (15-5, 2.85 ERA) is 11-0 with a 2.06 ERA in his last 16 starts and needs six strikeouts to regain the major league lead from Verlander, who whiffed 14 batters Sunday during his third career no-hitter — second in Toronto.
With four weeks to go, Verlander and Cole appear to be running 1-2 in the AL Cy Young Award race.
SCARY
Dodgers rookie pitcher Dustin May is listed as day to day after being hit in the head by a line drive.
May was injured Sunday when a liner by Jake Lamb struck him on the right side of the head in Arizona. The 21-year-old passed a concussion test and was diagnosed with a bruise. The 6-foot-6 May is one of the top pitching prospects for the NL West leaders.
CHECK HIM
The Cubs will see how Yu Darvish is feeling, a day after he was scratched from a start because of tightness in his right forearm.
Darvish is 3-2 with a 2.93 ERA over his last nine starts. He has been dealing with the issue for about five outings. The Cubs haven't sent him for any tests, and manager Joe Maddon thinks Darvish will be able to take his next turn in the rotation Saturday at Milwaukee.
"Just like a precautionary thing," Maddon said.
Ben Zobrist could be in the Cubs' lineup even sooner. The 2016 World Series MVP has rejoined the team after spending almost four months on the restricted list while dealing with a divorce.
The 38-year-old utilityman hasn't appeared in a major league game since May 6. He was on deck to pinch hit Sunday when the final out was made it a 4-0 loss to Milwaukee. Chicago is next home for Seattle.
CHANGES IN MILWAUKEE
As the Brewers chase a playoff spot, they'll be without second baseman Keston Hiura for a while. The impressive rookie sustained a Grade 2 left hamstring strain Friday and is expected to be sidelined for two weeks. Hiura is batting .301 with 16 homers, 43 RBIs and a .941 OPS in 70 games. Meanwhile, reliever Jeremy Jeffress was designated for assignment Sunday after the reliever played a key role in Milwaukee's run to the NL Championship Series last year. The right-hander has struggled this season, going 3-4 with a 5.02 ERA and spending time on the injured list.
STILL A HIT
Ryan Zimmerman and the Nationals try to extend a streak that's seen them win four in a row and 19 of 24, boosting their lead in the NL wild-card race.
Zimmerman returned to the Washington lineup after missing 36 games with a foot problem and hit a home run Sunday in a 9-3 win over Miami.
The Nats open a three-game series at home against the playoff-hopeful Mets.
WELCOME BACK
Orioles slugger Mark Trumbo is expected to be activated before the game at Tampa Bay. The 33-year-old hasn't played in the majors this season while recovering from knee surgery last year. Trumbo led the big leagues with 47 home runs in 2016.
AILING
Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis will have his right wrist examined. He made an early exit Saturday and didn't play Sunday. Cleveland hosts the White Sox. ... Red Sox rookie Michael Chavis (sprained left shoulder) is dealing with upper-body soreness on his right side. The infielder is on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Pawtucket because of a sprained left shoulder. He's set for an evaluation.
