Log in

LEADING OFF: Cubs on win streak, Mariners on losing skid

Posted 5/4/19

LEADING OFF: Cubs on win streak, Mariners on losing skid By The Associated Press , Associated Press A look at what's happening around the majors today: A CUBBIN' DRUBBIN' Javier Baez and the Cubs …

You must be a member to read this story.

Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.


Already have an account? Log in to continue.

Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here

Otherwise, follow the link below to join.

To Our Valued Readers –

Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.

For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.

Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.

Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.

Sincerely,
Charlene Bisson, Publisher, Independent Newsmedia

Please log in to continue

Log in
I am anchor

LEADING OFF: Cubs on win streak, Mariners on losing skid

Posted

LEADING OFF: Cubs on win streak, Mariners on losing skid

By The Associated Press , Associated Press

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

A CUBBIN' DRUBBIN'

Javier Baez and the Cubs look to finish off a three-game sweep of the Cardinals at Wrigley Field. After a 2-7 start that had some fans wondering what was wrong with the Cubbies, a win over St. Louis would put them in the NL Central lead.

"The first 10 games of the season, it was everybody talking about us," said Baez, who hit a go-ahead homer Saturday in Chicago's sixth straight victory. "And now, where's everybody?"

Lefty Jose Quintana, who's 3-0 with a 1.69 ERA in his last four starts, goes against Adam Wainwright, who's won his last two starts for the Cards.

SEATTLE SKID

Despite keeping up their home run barrage, the Mariners have lost six in a row. After starting out the season 13-2, they've dropped 15 of their last 20 games.

Edwin Encarnacion, Daniel Vogelbach, Tim Beckham and Dylan Moore homered Saturday in a 5-4 loss at Cleveland. Seattle leads the majors with 65 homers.

Rookie Erik Swanson (0-3, 6.62 ERA) tries again for his first major league win when he starts against the Indians.

WELCOME BACK

Michael Pineda makes his first start at Yankee Stadium since an elbow injury in 2017 brought his time with New York to a close. Pineda (2-2, 6.21) had Tommy John surgery, became a free agent and signed a two-year deal that offseason with Minnesota, returning to the mound this season after missing all of 2018. The right-hander was 31-31 with a 4.14 ERA in 89 starts from 2014-17 with New York. First pitch was moved from 1:05 p.m. ET to 4:05 p.m. ET due to poor weather forecasts.

MISS YA

Jameson Taillon's surgically repaired right elbow is intact. That's about the only good news for the Pittsburgh ace, who will be shut down for at least a month after the pain he'd been dealing with off and on since spring training was diagnosed as a flexor tendon strain.

The Pirates put Taillon on the 10-day injured list Saturday after he complained of lingering pain following a victory over Texas earlier in the week. The 27-year-old is 2-3 with a 4.10 ERA in seven starts this season. He's the second member of Pittsburgh's rotation to go on the injured list in the last week. Chris Archer is dealing with inflammation in his right thumb.

QUICK TURNAROUND

After the Milwaukee Brewers outlasted the New York Mets 4-3 in 18 innings on Saturday night in the longest game in Miller Park history, the teams will be back at it Sunday afternoon.

Ryan Braun won it with his career-high sixth hit of the game, a two-run single. Both teams used eight pitchers and all of their position players, so fresh arms and legs might be in short supply.

Jason Vargas (1-1) is scheduled to start for the Mets, who are looking to avoid being swept in the three-game series by the Brewers, who will start Zach Davies (3-0).

___

Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.