Chicago Cubs

LEADING OFF: Trout HR tear, Reds-Pirates fracas aftermath

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 4:09 p.m. ET

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A look at what's happening around the majors today:

TROUT TEAR

Angels star Mike Trout has homered in four straight games, matching a career best. The two-time AL MVP connected five times in that span, and tries to keep up the streak when Milwaukee visits Anaheim.

The Angels record for consecutive games with a home run is five by Bobby Bonds in 1977.

Angels fans also will see whether a swarm of bees, which delayed Sunday's game for five minutes when it hovered around the bullpens, has found a new place to fly.

PENALTIES?

Major League Baseball will certainly take a look at the recent shenanigans at PNC Park between the Pirates and Reds.

Reds outfielder Yasiel Puig, manager David Bell and pitcher Amir Garrett were ejected, along with Pirates pitchers Keone Kela and Felipe Vazquez, after a bench-clearing fracas Sunday.

The trouble started in the fourth inning when Pirates starter Chris Archer threw his first pitch behind the waist of Derek Dietrich. His previous time up, Dietrich stood and admired his home run bounce into the Allegheny River.

POWER VS. POWER

Astros ace Justin Verlander aims to shut down the Yankees when they open a series at Minute Maid Park.

Gary Sanchez hit three of New York's seven home runs Sunday at Baltimore — that matched the most homers in a road game for the Yankees since May 30, 1961, when Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris and Moose Skowron hit two each and Yogi Berra had one at Fenway Park.

The Yankees connected 14 times in the three-game series at Camden Yards.

READY FOR WRIGLEY

The Chicago Cubs play their home opener after going 2-7 on an extended road trip to start the season. Jon Lester starts for the Cubs when they host Pittsburgh at Wrigley Field.

Chicago has lost seven of eight. Manager Joe Maddon said he was pleased with his team despite a 4-2 loss Sunday at Milwaukee.

"It doesn't always work out as a win, but if you play enough good games and you play the game right, you win your fair share," Maddon said.

TRY AGAIN

Giants lefty Madison Bumgarner (0-2, 1.38 ERA) pitches against visiting San Diego. He is 1-5 in his last eight starts against the Padres.

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