LEADING OFF: Red Sox-Yanks; D-backs vs Dodgers; Herrera hits
A look at what's happening around the majors today:
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WE MEET AGAIN
In the latest round of baseball's most storied rivalry, the Red Sox (25-9) and Yankees (24-10) have the top two records in the majors heading into a clash for first place in the AL East. Following their throwback brawl in Boston last month, the teams square off on Yankee Stadium soil for the first time this season. New York ace Luis Severino (5-1, 2.11 ERA), coming off his first career shutout last week in Houston, starts the opener of a three-game showdown against lefty Drew Pomeranz (1-1, 6.14). The streaking Yankees have won six straight and 15 of 16, not to mention nine home games in a row. Boston hopes to have Mookie Betts back in the lineup after the star outfielder left Sunday's game at Texas with a bruised right shoulder.
OUT WEST
Sporting the best mark in the National League, the Diamondbacks (23-11) visit Los Angeles to renew their NL West rivalry with the struggling Dodgers (15-19) in a matchup of injury-depleted teams. While teammate A.J. Pollock has been on a tear at the plate, Arizona slugger Paul Goldschmidt is hitless in his last 23 at-bats. The five-time All-Star is batting .225. Left-hander Rich Hill (1-1, 6.00 ERA), who hasn't pitched since April 14 because of inflammation of the middle finger on his pitching hand, is expected to come off the DL and start for the Dodgers.
SIGH OF RELIEF
Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto will miss six to eight weeks after he was diagnosed with a strained right elbow. But for now, he has avoided season-ending Tommy John surgery. The 32-year-old right-hander was examined by Dr. James Andrews in Florida. Cueto will rest and rehab. ''It is great news,'' manager Bruce Bochy said. ''I was hoping for the best and hoping he would not need surgery.''
DARVISH DOWN
The Cubs put struggling right-hander Yu Darvish on the 10-day disabled list with the flu. The move was made retroactive to Friday. The 31-year-old Darvish is 0-3 with a 6.00 ERA in his first season with Chicago after finalizing a $126 million, six-year contract in February. ''He's fine; he's just ill,'' manager Joe Maddon said. Darvish was scheduled to start Tuesday night against Miami, but the Cubs provided no word on a replacement. ''We're still working on how we're going to do that,'' Maddon said. ''It could be somewhat of a bullpen day.''
PHILLY SPECIAL
Odubel Herrera tries to reach base safely for the 37th consecutive game, dating to last season, when the Phillies host San Francisco. It's the longest streak for a Phillies player since Jimmy Rollins had a 38-game run between the 2005-06 seasons. Herrera homered twice and drove in five runs during Philadelphia's 11-0 rout of the Giants on Monday night. He is batting .341 this year. ''I feel very, very good right now,'' Herrera said. ''It's part of being selective. I want to be disciplined at the plate. I don't want to swing at bad pitches.'' Aaron Nola (4-1, 2.17 ERA) attempts to win his fourth straight start for Philadelphia. But he has a 10.80 ERA over just 8 1/3 innings in two career starts against the Giants.
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