LEADING OFF: Holliday rejoins Rockies, Moreland hurts knee
A look at what's happening around the majors today:
HAPPY HOLLIDAY
Matt Holliday takes aim at getting his first hit of the season. The 38-year-old outfielder returned to the Rockies on Thursday for the first time in a decade and went 0 for 3 against San Diego. The seven-time All-Star signed a minor league deal last month after hitting .231 with 19 home runs for the Yankees last year. Colorado hosts St. Louis this weekend.
"I'm grateful to be back," said Holliday, who hit .319 with 128 homers for the Rockies from 2004-08.
CHECK HIM
The Red Sox will see how first baseman Mitch Moreland is feeling, a day after he bruised his left knee sliding near a photo pit chasing a foul popup at Fenway Park. Moreland left the game soon after that.
Moreland, who had knee trouble earlier this year, is hitting .259 with 15 home runs and 66 RBIs for the team with the best record in the majors. He was an All-Star for the first time this season. Boston plays at Tampa Bay over the weekend.
EASY, ROOK
San Francisco right-hander Dereck Rodriguez (6-1, 2.25 ERA) is set to come off the disabled list to face Texas at home. The son of Hall of Fame catcher Ivan Rodriguez recently strained his hamstring when he ran out of the dugout during a dustup between the Giants and Dodgers. He's won five straight decisions and his name is now in the NL Rookie of the Year conversation.
STUCK
Former home run champ Chris Davis is trying to avoid having the worst batting average for a full-time player since 1900. The Baltimore slugger is hitting .163 heading into this weekend at Camden Yards against the Yankees. Davis is in jeopardy of finishing below the .179 mark by Rob Deer in 1991 and Dan Uggla in 2013. At 32, Davis still has four more seasons left on a $161 million, seven-year contract. He has 15 homers and 41 RBIs, and has struck out 158 times in 386 at-bats this year.
"For me, I want to finish up strong. I want to work on some things and go into the offseason with a head of steam," he said.
SLUMPING
Tigers rookie Mike Gerber is in an 0-for-30 slump, striking out 17 times in that span. The 26-year-old outfielder got four hits in his first 12 at-bats after making his major league debut this season, but nothing since. Detroit continues its home series this weekend against the White Sox.
