@
Athletics [10-8, 4-4 Away] / Rangers [6-7, 4-3 Home]
Sat, Apr 13 • 8:05 PM EDT
At Globe Life Park in Arlington
Capacity: 49,170
TV: FSSW+, NBCSCA

Through nine rocky seasons in the Texas Rangers' organization, Jurickson Profar never could move beyond the status of tantalizing prospect. Whether due to injuries or a backlog at his favored positions, Profar could never find a home with the Rangers.

He finally was dealt to the Oakland A's last December.

On Friday night, he made his return to Arlington and stung his former team with a pair of hits, an RBI and a run to help surging Oakland take the first game of a three-game series, 8-6.

Profar will try to keep it going Saturday when the A's and Rangers meet for Game 2.

The two hits were another positive sign for the A's that the second baseman is breaking out of an early slump that saw his average drop to .106 a week ago. He's still hitting just .197 following a breakout series in Baltimore and Friday's encouraging performance.

"Whenever you play against your former team, there's always a little something there," A's manager Bob Melvin told reporters prior to the start of the series. "He has a lot of friends on the other side."

What finally got Profar's bat going?

The Rangers might not want to hear it, but it just might have been a conversation with former Texas third baseman Adrian Beltre, who retired after last season. Beltre was a mentor to Profar in Texas, and the two kept in close contact following the trade.

Profar called Beltre last weekend to wish him a happy birthday, according to the Oakland Tribune, and the conversation turned to baseball. In the last four games prior to playing against his former teammates, Profar went 6-for-15 with two home runs and eight RBI. Two more hits Friday took him to 8-for-19, a .421 batting average.

"I asked him about how he handled himself when he went to a new team. I asked him about my swing, everything," Profar told the Tribune of his chat with Beltre. "He just gave me confidence. He told me he knows I'm going to do good, just relax and do my thing."

On Saturday, he will look to do his thing against Rangers righty Adrian Sampson (0-1, 1.86 ERA). Though he made his major league debut in 2016, Sampson has only eight appearances and five starts in his career. His start Saturday will be his first of the season after two solid relief outings.

In his one appearance against Oakland, on Sept. 7, 2018, Sampson have up three runs (two earned) on four hits in only one-third of an inning -- good for an ERA of 54.00 against the A's. He has also yet to get a win as a major-leaguer. He has never faced Profar in his career.

Oakland will send right-hander Marco Estrada to the mound to counter Sampson. In four starts this season, Estrada is 0-1 with a 4.87 ERA. In seven career games -- all starts -- against the Rangers, Estrada is 3-1 with a 3.40 ERA.

The Rangers' Logan Forsythe is 8-for-17 with a homer in his career against Estrada.


Marco Estrada, RHP, 0-1, 4.87 ERA, 10 SO
Marco Estrada (0-1, 4.87) is trying to rebound from a shaky start in the series opener against the Orioles. He allowed six runs in four innings. The Orioles rolled to a 12-4 victory in that game.


Adrian Sampson, RHP, 0-1, 1.86 ERA, 5 SO
Sampson has made two relief appearances and allowed two runs in 9 2/3 innings. He has allowed eight hits and four walks with five strikeouts. He was 0-3 with a 3.57 ERA in four September starts for the Rangers last year.

Oakland slugger Khris Davis had to wait another day for the chance to homer again against the Texas Rangers, who were rained out at home for the first time in three years.

After a long rainy day in North Texas, officials called Saturday night's game between the Athletics and Rangers nearly an hour after its scheduled start.

The game will be made up as part of a split day-night doubleheader June 8, on the same day that the Rangers will retire the No. 29 jersey of Adrian Beltre. The ceremony for Beltre, who had 3,166 hits in his 21 big league seasons before retiring last November, will be before the night game. Beltre's only World Series appearance came in 2011, his first year in Texas.

In the series opener Friday night, Davis hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the eighth inning of an 8-6 win for the A's after they overcame a five-run deficit. He has 28 homers against the Rangers since the start of the 2016 season, the most by any player against any team in that span. He has eight homers and 21 RBI in his last 10 games in Texas.

"He's just the kind of guy that just wants to be here for his teammates, go out and perform and semi-stay out of the spotlight," manager Bob Melvin said of Davis, the big league leader with 10 homers this season after an MLB-best 48 last season.

The tarp was put on the field after the series opener in anticipation of the rain.

It did rain most of Saturday, but there was a break in the wet weather during the afternoon before it started raining again about two hours before the planned first pitch. The forecast called for continued more rain deep into the night.

There hadn't been a postponement at Texas since April, 17, 2016. The Rangers haven't played a doubleheader at home since Sept. 30, 2012.

Adrian Sampson, who was scheduled to make his first start of the season Saturday night, will start for the Rangers in the finale of the shortened series Sunday.

Left-hander Brett Anderson (3-0) will start Sunday as scheduled for the Athletics. Marco Estrada, who has a career-high six-game losing streak over his last 10 starts since last August, had been slated to start Saturday night.

INJURED ODOR

Rangers 2B Rougned Odor was put on the 10-day injured list with a sprained right knee.

Texas announced the move earlier Saturday, a day after Odor was a last-minute scratch from the starting lineup. Odor is expected to be re-evaluated in about two weeks.

Manager Chris Woodward said Odor was hurt inside about 20 minutes before Friday night's game "stretching in here, doing something, getting ready for the game."

OLSON RECOVERY

Melvin said 1B Matt Olson, who is recovering from right hand surgery, is doing everything but swinging a bat with two hands.

"They're doing strengthening stuff with the hand. Taking groundballs, doing all his conditioning, one-handed stuff in the cage," Melvin said. "We'd all like to see him back sooner than later. Matt Olson's a huge part of our team."

Olson had surgery after the A's opened the season last month against Seattle at the Tokyo Dome. He felt pain near the center of palm after fouling off a pitch during an at-bat. He singled during that at-bat, but was replaced in the field after that.

@
Tigers [8-6, 4-4 Away] / Twins [7-4, 3-1 Home]
Sun, Apr 14 • 2:10 PM EDT
At Target Field
Capacity: 39,500
Attendance: 14,774 [37%]
Game Time: 3:19
Home Plate Umpire - Bill Welke
First Base Umpire - Chris Guccione
Second Base Umpire - Lance Barrett
Third Base Umpire - Mike Everitt
TV: FS-D, FSNO

Right-hander Jose Berrios will make his fourth start in just the 12th game of the season for the Minnesota Twins as they try for a sweep of their abbreviated two-game series with the Detroit Tigers on Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis.

It will be the first time Berrios (1-1, 2.18 ERA) has taken the mound at Target Field since a dazzling performance on Opening Day, when he two-hit the Cleveland Indians over 7 2/3 innings while striking out 10 batters in a 2-0 victory.

Berrios comes in off a tough 2-1 loss at Philadelphia last Sunday during which he allowed just two hits and two runs over six innings. However, one of those hits was a two-run homer by Rhys Hoskins that barely cleared the 368-foot sign in left-center and turned out to be the game-winner.

Detroit will start Jordan Zimmermann (0-1, 2.50), who comes in off an 8-2 loss at Cleveland on Tuesday during which he allowed five runs, including three home runs, in 4 1/3 innings. He allowed just one run and seven hits combined in his two previous starts covering 13 2/3 innings.

Minnesota managed just five hits in a 4-3 win over the Tigers on Saturday as Eddie Rosario capped a four-run third inning with a two-run single that turned out to be the game-winner.

Rosario is batting just .238 this season but leads the Twins with nine RBI. He almost picked up four more in the seventh, when he flew out to the warning track in center with the bases loaded.

"He did get a big hit for us and then almost had another really big hit," Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli said. "Those are just the kinds of swings we're looking for from him. ... He's the kind of guy you want up there when it matters."

"We've got a dangerous team, a dangerous pitching staff, dangerous lineup," added outfielder Byron Buxton, who is batting .300 with five doubles, a triple, four RBI and three stolen basses. "And we've got a great team chemistry together. That's what it takes in the clubhouse for it to all come together, keep doing what we're doing and winning games."

Saturday's loss was a costly one for the Tigers, who lost shortstop Jordy Mercer to the 10-day injured list with a right quad spasm while running out a double in the fifth inning. Detroit manager Ron Gardenhire said the team would announce a move to replace Mercer before Sunday's game.

"It just stinks," said Mercer, who is batting .233. "Not being out there with your teammates is not fun. Hopefully we can get this thing wrapped up and shouldn't be out long. We'll see."

With right fielder Nicholas Castellanos (right big toe tendinitis) out until at least Tuesday and utility man Niko Goodrum battling an illness, Gardenhire was out of bench players Saturday when he sent Gordon Beckham in to replace Mercer. Still, the Tigers, who outhit the Twins 10-5, had their chances but were just 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position.

"We're definitely not coming up with enough big hits," Gardenhire said. "We got a couple of them today, but we're definitely not coming up with enough big hits right now, and that's how you end up losing a ballgame like that."


Jordan Zimmermann, RHP, 0-1, 2.50 ERA, 14 SO
Zimmermann’s hot start to the season cooled from three Indians home runs Monday at Comerica Park. It was his first defeat since a loss to the Twins last September. An effective slider is the key to his new repertoire, which is less reliant on the fastball.


Jose Berrios, RHP, 1-1, 2.18 ERA, 21 SO
In his last start, Berrios was as dominating like he was during his Opening Day start against the Indians. He pitched six innings, allowed two runs and struck out seven during a 2-1 loss to the Phillies.



Jose Berrios pitched into the seventh inning for his first win since opening day, Trevor Hildenberger struck out two with the bases loaded for his first save and the Minnesota Twins beat the Detroit Tigers 6-4 Sunday to complete a two-game sweep.

C.J. Cron homered and drove in three, and Eddie Rosario was a triple short of the cycle for the Twins, who have won three of four.

Blake Parker loaded the bases with one out in the ninth, but Hildenberger came on and got John Hicks and Grayson Greiner swinging.

Berrios (2-1) was hit hard early, including a two-run homer by Gordon Beckham in the second, before settling down to retire 11 straight and 15 of his last 17. The ace yielded four hits with one walk and seven strikeouts through 6 2/3 innings before being lifted for Trevor May to a standing ovation.

The Tigers made it entertaining late. In the eighth, May was pulled for Taylor Rogers after Christin Stewart's no-out double scored Jeimer Candelario to make it 6-3. Greiner legged out an infield RBI single, and Rogers hit Dustin Peterson to load the bases for Ronny Rodriguez with one out. Rodriguez popped out to first, and Beckham struck out swinging.

Cron's two-run shot in the third off starter Jordan Zimmermann (0-2) was one of seven extra-base hits for Minnesota. In his shortest outing of the season, Zimmermann lasted three innings and allowed five runs and eight hits with one strikeout.

Detroit trailed early after RBI by Rosario and Cron in the first, but Beckham quickly tied it after Rodriguez doubled. Beckham sent an 0-2 pitch to left-center for his second homer this season.

Berrios didn't allow another hit, and it didn't take Minnesota long to retake the lead. Mitch Garver led off the second with a double to left and came around to score when Byron Buxton followed with a double of his own to the same spot.

In the third, Rosario doubled and Cron followed with a liner to the left field seats for his first homer as a Twin. Zimmermann made it out of the inning, but Daniel Norris came out for the fourth and threw three scoreless innings before Rosario chased him with a solo shot in the seventh.

TRAINERS ROOM

Tigers: LHP Matt Moore will have surgery this week to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. Moore said he's hoping for a recovery time of 4 to 6 weeks, although the Tigers won't know a timetable until after Wednesday's scheduled procedure in Dallas. Moore originally hurt the knee April 6 when he left in the third inning of his start against Kansas City. Since then, Moore said he's had two setbacks. ... Nicholas Castellanos sat out with an injured big right toe. ... INF/OF Niko Goodrum was still recovering from an illness, and INF Josh Harrison rested with a sore left shoulder, but both were available off the bench.

Twins: 3B Miguel Sano took grounders at third before the game. He's out with a right heel laceration and is scheduled to head to Fort Myers, Florida, this week for extended spring training.

UP NEXT

Tigers: Off Monday before hosting Pittsburgh in a two-game interleague series. LHP Matthew Boyd (1-1) takes the mound against RHP Joe Musgrove (1-1).

Twins: Open a four-game set with Toronto on Monday. Martin Perez (1-0) makes his first start with Minnesota since signing with the club in January. He's made three relief appearances and has a 7.56 ERA over 8 1/3 innings. Perez will start opposite RHP Matt Shoemaker (3-0).

@
Athletics [10-8, 4-4 Away] / Rangers [6-7, 4-3 Home]
Sun, Apr 14 • 3:05 PM EDT
At Globe Life Park in Arlington
Capacity: 49,170
Attendance: 26,350 [54%]
Game Time: 3:05
Home Plate Umpire - Doug Eddings
First Base Umpire - Chris Conroy
Second Base Umpire - Bill Miller
Third Base Umpire - Jansen Visconti
TV: FSSW, NBCSCA

That's one way to cool off the Oakland Athletics' bats.

Gallons of rain unleashed from the Texas sky caused Saturday's contest to be postponed, and the Athletics will look to continue their homer-hitting prowess when they visit the Texas Rangers in Sunday's finale of an abbreviated two-game series.

Oakland matched the club mark of six consecutive multi-homer games when Khris Davis and Ramon Laureano each went deep during Friday's 8-6 series-opening win.

The Athletics have bashed 19 homers during the stretch to raise their season count to 34.

Davis is leading the way with a major league-leading 10. He has smacked five in the past three games.

"It's kind of just old news to us," Oakland catcher Josh Phegley told reporters of Davis' blast on Friday. "It's just like a matter of time every time he comes up, especially with how hot he's been. ... We just feel like with this park, he's where he belongs, he's right at home. We fully expect that to happen."

Davis hit seven homers and drove in 19 runs in nine games at Globe Life Park last season.

And while there appears to be carryover with his performance from Friday, it isn't a topic Davis wants to discuss.

"Ah, shoot. I don't know," Davis told reporters after Oakland's fourth straight victory. "No comment."

Texas right-hander Adrian Sampson will receive the opportunity to silence Davis on Sunday. Sampson is 0-1 with a 1.86 ERA in two relief appearances this season.

He allowed a single to Davis last season in their lone confrontation.

Sampson is 0-5 with a 4.10 ERA in eight career appearances (five starts). He gave up three runs (two earned) and four hits in one-third inning of relief against Oakland last September.

Oakland pushed scheduled Saturday starter Marco Estrada back to Tuesday due to the rainout.

Left-hander Brett Anderson will stay on normal rest and be on the mound for the Athletics on Sunday. He is off to a strong start.

Anderson (3-0, 2.50 ERA) has won each of his three starts and defeated the Baltimore Orioles in his last turn when he gave up two runs and seven hits over 6 2/3 innings.

A win over Texas would allow him to equal last season's victory total. Anderson went 4-5 with a 4.48 ERA in 17 starts last year.

Anderson was 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA against the Rangers last season. That was a stunning development due to his career-long struggles against Texas -- he has gone 3-4 with a 5.01 ERA in 13 career appearances (10 starts) against the Rangers.

Meanwhile, the Rangers have lost five of six games and they will also be without second baseman Rougned Odor, who was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a sprained right knee.

Odor was scratched prior to Friday's game after he was hurt while doing routine stretching exercises. He will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

"Not fun," Rangers manager Chris Woodward told reporters. "Caught us by surprise. Totally. I saw him take early (batting practice), saw him take BP, he felt great. We had a long conversation about how good he felt. At 6:45, he was scratched. Right before the game. Very frustrating."

Odor is off to a slow start with a .167 average and no homers with two RBI. He has twice slugged 30 or more homers in a season.


Brett Anderson, LHP, 3-0, 2.50 ERA, 11 SO
Brett Anderson has racked up three wins in his first three starts, and owns a 2.50 ERA over 18 innings of work. He gets the start over Marco Estrada due to an adjustment caused by Saturday’s rainout.


Adrian Sampson, RHP, 0-1, 1.86 ERA, 5 SO
Sampson has made two relief appearances and allowed two runs in 9 2/3 innings. He has allowed eight hits and four walks with five strikeouts. He was 0-3 with a 3.57 ERA in four September starts for the Rangers last year.




Danny Santana packed a lot into his first major league game of the season despite entering in the eighth inning.

Santana had a two-run, pinch-hit triple and scored the go-ahead run during a four-run inning, lifting the Texas Rangers over the Oakland Athletics 8-7 Sunday.

Santana tripled into the gap in right-center to tie it at 7, then scored on Delino DeShields' bunt single two batters later. Santana, in his sixth major league season, was called up from Triple-A on Saturday to replace Rougned Odor, who was placed on the 10-day injured list.

Jeffrey Springs (2-0) pitched a scoreless eighth, and Jose Leclerc struck out three in the ninth for his third save as Texas rallied from a five-run deficit.

"We always have that dog in us," DeShields said. "A lot of times we don't know how, who's going to come up clutch."

Joakim Soria (0-2) got one out in the eighth and was charged with four runs as Oakland had a four-game winning streak snapped.

"They just made (Soria) throw the ball over the plate, and he got some balls up and got some good swings on them," A's manager Bob Melvin said.

With DeShields up and two out, Santana was told by third base coach Tony Beasley that DeShields might bunt.

"I looked down at Beasley and just kind of said, `Hey, make sure Santana's aware that he might bunt here,' because why not?" Rangers manager Chris Woodward said. "(A's third baseman Matt) Chapman's playing pretty deep."

"They weren't respecting (the bunt) in my opinion," said DeShields, who beat out catcher Josh Phegley's throw to first base.

"He just put it in the one place where our catcher had to go get it," Melvin said. "It was the perfect bunt."

Elvis Andrus was a double shy of the cycle for his ninth multihit game this season. Andrus also had his club-record fifth steal of home plate, coming on a pickoff throw to first base by starter Brett Anderson, who allowed three runs in six innings.

Texas starter Adrian Sampson allowed seven runs in four innings during his first start of the season after getting an extra day of rest following Saturday's rainout. Sampson moved into the rotation to replace Edinson Volquez, who's on the 60-day injured list with a right elbow sprain.

Stephen Piscotty and Chapman hit solo homers for the A's, who hit multiple homers for a club-record seventh straight game. They have 36 homers and went into Sunday second in the majors to the Seattle Mariners with 38.

JUST A BIT SHORT

Khris Davis leads the major leagues this season with 10 home runs and has homered 16 times in 116 at-bats at Globe Life Park. He nearly homered for the fourth straight game when his first-inning opposite-field double came about a foot short of clearing the fence.

"The wind was a little funky early in the game there and kind of blew it down," Melvin said.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Athletics: LHP Sean Manaea (February shoulder surgery) is throwing out to 120 feet.

Rangers: LHP Mason Englert, the team's fourth-round pick in last June's amateur draft, had Tommy John surgery Friday. Englert was drafted out of Forney High School, about 40 miles from the Rangers' home ballpark.

UP NEXT

Athletics: RHP Marco Estrada (0-1, 4.87 ERA) will start Tuesday at home against Houston. Estrada allowed six runs in his previous outing after giving up six runs total in his previous three starts.

Rangers: RHP Shelby Miller (0-1, 9.53 ERA) was also pushed back a day after Saturday's rainout and will start the series opener at home against the Angels on Monday. Miller pitched 5 2/3 total innings in his previous two starts. He's working on seven days of rest, allowing four runs in two innings last Sunday in a 7-2 loss to the Angels.

@
Mets [9-6, 7-3 Away] / Phillies [9-5, 6-3 Home]
Mon, Apr 15 • 7:05 PM EDT
At Citizens Bank Park
Capacity: 43,647
Attendance: 32,423 [74%]
TV: NBCSP+, SNY, ESPN
Jackie Robinson Day
Home Plate Umpire - Lance Barksdale
First Base Umpire - John Tumpane
Second Base Umpire - Ted Barrett
Third Base Umpire - Kerwin Danley

The Philadelphia Phillies will turn to their struggling ace Aaron Nola when they open a three-game series Monday night against the visiting New York Mets.

Nola, who finished third last season in Cy Young voting in the National League, will enter with a 1-0 record and 6.46 ERA.

The Mets will counter with Noah Syndergaard, who's 1-1 with a 4.74 ERA.

The Phillies improved to 9-5 after winning two of three on the road against the Miami Marlins. On Sunday, it took 14 innings for Philadelphia to outlast Miami, 3-1, as Jean Segura drilled a two-run home run to left field in the top of the 14th.

Philadelphia's offense had been scuffling, but it did just enough to pull out win No. 9 on Sunday.

"I think hitting is one of those things that can be a little bit hit and miss," Phillies manager Gabe Kapler told reporters in Miami. "Sometimes, you have to give credit to the opposition for pitching well. I think that we have the ability to score lots of runs in consecutive games. And I think that's going to happen for us."

The bullpen, which has struggled mightily at times, stepped up as a whole in the 14-inning marathon. Victor Arano was especially impressive, striking out all six batters he faced in the 12th and 13th. Arano was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday.

"In Triple-A, that was my main focus, I wanted to work on my slider a lot," Arano told reporters. "I wanted to get it back to where it was last year. It was just a small adjustment I had to make. I wasn't grabbing it hard enough."

The Mets (9-6) arrived in Atlanta and won the first two games of a four-game series. Then the Mets fell 11-7 on Saturday and 7-3 on Sunday night.

New York's offense didn't come through on Sunday. Aside from a solo home run by J.D. Davis, the Mets managed little else on their way to a road loss.

The bullpen continued to have control issues, and its collective ERA ballooned to 6.50.

Syndergaard will look to get the Mets back on track against the Phillies.

Through three starts, he has struck out 20 while walking only two. In his last start, a 9-6 win over Minnesota, Syndergaard threw seven innings and gave up seven hits and four runs.

In 10 career starts vs. Philadelphia, Syndergaard is 5-3 with a 3.23 ERA, but he struggled against the Phillies last season, going 1-2 with a 5.75 ERA in four starts. He also walked 12 batters in those games, compared to just 22 strikeouts.

Nola is 6-1 in his career against the Mets, posting a 3.35 ERA across nine starts. That includes a sparkling 4-0 record with a 2.15 ERA in six starts last season, as Nola struck out 46 in 37 2/3 innings.

Mets manager Mickey Callaway told reporters that third baseman Todd Frazier could join the team during the series against the Phillies. Frazier, who has a strained left oblique, is scheduled to play a minor league game Monday at Class-A St. Lucie.


Noah Syndergaard, RHP, 1-1, 4.74 ERA, 20 SO
Syndergaard’s 4.74 ERA is not indicative of his early-season performance. Last time out, he dominated the Twins over seven one-run innings before allowing three more runs to cross home in the eighth. His FIP is perhaps a better measure, at 2.84.


Aaron Nola, RHP, 1-0, 6.46 ERA, 13 SO
Nola has not been at his best in three 2019 starts. He has lacked command, and his velocity has been up and down. In his start Tuesday vs. the Nats, he could not hold a five-run lead entering the sixth frame. The Phillies say they are not worried.



Once he got the ball, Edwin Diaz made sure he finished.

Juan Lagares scored from second base on Michael Conforto's hard grounder to first in the 11th inning, and Diaz struck out the 3-4-5 batters to preserve the New York Mets' 7-6 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on a blustery Monday night.

Mets manager Mickey Callaway's decision not to use Diaz with two outs and the bases loaded in the eighth backfired, and the closer warmed up three times before finally entering the game. He fanned Bryce Harper, Rhys Hoskins and J.T. Realmuto to end it.

"I'm ready anytime they need me," Diaz said. "I came here to win. I'll be ready in any situation."

Callaway said he prefers to use Diaz for one inning, so that's why Robert Gsellman replaced Jeurys Familia with a two-out jam in the eighth. Gsellman walked Jean Segura on four pitches to force in the tying run, but Harper then swung at the first pitch and popped out.

Lagares led off the 11th with an infield single against Pat Neshek (0-1), and Brandon Nimmo walked. Two outs later, Conforto hit a sharp grounder that Hoskins couldn't field for an error. The ball trickled to second baseman Cesar Hernandez and Lagares kept running, scoring easily because the throw was way off target.

"I was ready to score and I knew he didn't catch the ball," Lagares said.

Luis Avilan (1-0) pitched out of trouble in the 10th, stranding runners on second and third. Diaz got his sixth save in six tries and his 16th in a row dating to last season with Seattle.

Noah Syndergaard had a rough outing for the Mets, giving up five runs and nine hits in five innings while fanning nine.

"I'm having a hard time gripping the ball," Syndergaard said. "Not sure what's going on."

Phillies ace Aaron Nola, who finished third in NL Cy Young Award voting last year, struggled again. He allowed five runs and seven hits in four innings. His ERA rose to 7.45 while Syndergaard's climbed to 5.63.

"He's just not throwing the ball where he wants it," Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said. "I'm concerned he's not where he wants to go. Flip side is he has a long track record of success. He deserves as much confidence as anybody does."

Nimmo connected off Jose Alvarez in the sixth, driving his third homer to the seats in right to give the Mets a 6-5 lead.

The Mets jumped on Nola for three runs in the third. Wilson Ramos, who spent the last two months in Philadelphia last season, ripped a two-run single. Jeff McNeil, who later made a pair of outstanding defensive plays at third base, followed with an RBI single.

The Phillies answered in the bottom half. Harper had an RBI single and Realmuto tied it on a two-run single with two outs.

After Robinson Cano lined a two-run double in the fourth, the Phillies tied it at 5 in the bottom half when Maikel Franco crushed an 0-2 pitch way out to left for his fifth homer.

HONORING JACKIE

Both teams wore No. 42 jerseys to honor Jackie Robinson. Cano, who is named after Robinson, wore Nike cleats featuring images of Robinson sliding into home plate.

ROSTER MOVE

The Mets recalled RHP Drew Gagnon from Triple-A Syracuse and optioned INF Luis Guillorme.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Mets: 3B Todd Frazier is expected to return soon from a left oblique strain, but Callaway isn't certain when.

Phillies: RHP David Robertson was placed on the 10-day injured list because of soreness in his right elbow.

UP NEXT

LHP Steven Matz (1-0, 1.65 ERA) takes the mound for the Mets, and RHP Nick Pivetta (1-1, 9.45) goes for the Phillies on Tuesday night. Matz is 0-2 with a 3.57 ERA in five career starts vs. Philadelphia. Pivetta is 2-2 with a 6.39 ERA in five career starts vs. New York.

@
Jays [5-11, 1-5 Away] / Twins [8-4, 4-1 Home]
Mon, Apr 15 • 7:40 PM EDT
At Target Field
Capacity: 39,500
Attendance: 11,727 [30%]
Game Time: 3:00
TV: SNET-1, FSNO
Home Plate Umpire - Mike Estabrook
First Base Umpire - Paul Emmel
Second Base Umpire - Bruce Dreckman
Third Base Umpire - Sean Barber
Jackie Robinson Day

It took almost three weeks, but No. 5 starter Martin Perez will finally make his first start of the season for the Minnesota Twins on Monday night when they open a four-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays in Minneapolis.

It will be the 129th career start for the 28-year-old left-hander, who signed a one-year free agent contract with the Twins in January following an injury-plagued 2018 season in Texas.

In 22 appearances for the Rangers, including 15 starts, he went 2-7 with a 6.22 ERA. That came a season after he won a career-high 13 games while making 32 starts.

"I think (Monday's) going to be a big day for me," Perez told MLB.com. "I'm going to get the win."

Because of a schedule that featured five days off over the first 15 days of the season, Perez began the year in the bullpen in long relief as Twins manager Rocco Baldelli focused on keeping ace Jose Berrios as close as possible on a normal five-day schedule.

Perez has pitched 8 1/3 innings in three appearances, throwing 82 pitches in one outing and 71 in another to be prepared to later join the rotation.

Perez has allowed seven earned runs and walked nine, while relying mainly on his fastball and cutter, but he told MLB.com he plans to mix in more breaking pitches and changeups as a starter.

"It's not the same when you come from the bullpen and you face only three innings of the lineup," Perez said. "You just come in and it's 'Boom, boom, boom.' Trying to attack because they're going to be ready for everything because they've already seen a lot of pitches."

Baldelli said he didn't have "any expectations as far as pitches or innings or anything like that" for Perez. However, Perez said he is planning on making his first start a lengthy one.

"I talked to these guys, and I'm going to go long," Perez said. "I'm not a young guy. I'm a veteran guy, and I need a chance to pitch to show my teammates and to show the other team that I'm ready for this. I'm ready to win. I don't want a pitch count. I don't like that. They believe in me, and I'm going to do my job."

The Twins are coming off consecutive wins over the Detroit Tigers, after their game Friday was postponed by inclement weather.

Toronto is beginning a seven-game road trip that finishes with three games at Oakland. The Blue Jays, who are 1-5 on the road, have the worst record (5-11) in the American League and have lost seven of their last nine games.

Matt Shoemaker (3-0, 0.92 ERA), tied for second in the American League in wins and also second in the league in ERA, will start for Toronto on Monday. He has allowed just nine hits and two earned runs over 19 2/3 innings while striking out 19.

The Blue Jays come in off an 8-4 home loss to Tampa Bay on Sunday. Jays shortstop Freddy Galvis hit his team-leading fifth home run of the season on Sunday, and he also leads the team in average (.351) and RBI (11).

One question is whether second baseman Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who had a game-winning two-run double in a 3-1 victory over the Rays on Saturday, will make the trip.

Gurriel was yanked at the end of the third inning during Sunday's loss after making his second error in two games, misfiring badly on a routine 30-foot throw to first on a grounder by Ji-Man Choi.

"It's all right here," manager Charlie Montoyo said pointing to his temple. "And it's tough. I've seen it before, and people have worked through it. Hopefully he can work through it."

That could mean a demotion to the minors for Gurriel.

"There's that chance, yes," Montoyo said.


Matt Shoemaker, RHP, 3-0, 0.92 ERA, 19 SO
Shoemaker has allowed two earned runs or fewer in all three of his starts. He has 19 strikeouts vs. five walks and his success continues to be one of the Blue Jays' most positive storylines of the first month. He has a 4.05 ERA in four starts vs. Minnesota.


Martin Perez, LHP, 1-0, 7.56 ERA, 12 SO
After making three "piggyback" appearances out of the bullpen to begin the season, Pérez will make his first start of 2019 on Monday as the Twins expand to a five-man rotation. Pérez has allowed seven earned runs in 8 1/3 innings this season.



Teoscar Hernandez had quite the blooper for Toronto on the basepath, a lapse in focus that could have proved costly.

Two innings later, he more than made up for the mistake.

Hernandez hit the go-ahead three-run homer in the eighth, giving the Blue Jays a badly needed offensive boost with three hits in a 5-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Monday night.

"You forget about things like that when you do things good for the team," Hernandez said.

After his one-out single in the sixth inning with the Blue Jays trailing 3-1 against Martin Perez, Brandon Drury dropped his shin guard and began jogging to first base after drawing what he believed was a walk.

But it was only ball three. Hernandez left for second, prompted by Drury's advancement, and Perez alertly threw to C.J. Cron at first base to complete the unconventional caught stealing before Hernandez could retreat.

"I think I was a little distracted. I know that can't happen," Hernandez said. "I know the situation, the count and everything. It was a bad moment."

The 26-year-old left fielder, who had a breakout 2018 season with 22 home runs in his first crack at being an everyday player in the major leagues, sent an 0-2 slider from Adalberto Mejia (0-1) into the second deck for a 5-3 lead .

"The last couple of games, I've been hitting the ball harder," Hernandez said. "That's a good sign. I've been seeing a lot of pitches."

After Perez finished six innings in his first start for the Twins with only one run allowed and Ryne Harper struck out two batters in a perfect seventh, left-hander Adalberto Mejia was summoned for the eighth with all righties due up for the Blue Jays. Freddy Galvis greeted Mejia with a single, Randal Grichuk doubled for his third hit of the game, and Justin Smoak hit an RBI single to bring up Hernandez. Mejia went to two strikes three of those four batters.

"It's not like he did anything but just not put the hitters away, and that's something that we're going to have to do," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said.

After Hernandez saved starter Matt Shoemaker from his first loss with his new team, Joe Biagini pitched a perfect ninth for his first save. The Blue Jays, who won for only the fourth time in the last 14 games and entered the evening in the bottom five in most American League batting categories, had a season-high 11 hits.

Sam Gaviglio (1-0) picked up the victory with a scoreless seventh.

Shoemaker was one of only five pitchers in franchise history to win his first three starts with the Blue Jays, whom he signed with after five-plus years with the Los Angeles Angels and major forearm trouble over the last two seasons. The right-hander gave up four hits and four walks while striking out four.

Jorge Polanco had three hits and raised his batting average to .420 for the Twins, who took a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning on Cron's three-run homer off Shoemaker but fell to 4-2 at home this season.

Perez worked out of the bullpen to start the season because the Twins wound up with six days off in the first 16 days of their schedule, including one weather postponement. He gave up seven hits and two walks while striking out five.

BALDELLI TOSSED

Baldelli took his first career ejection in the eighth inning, when Cron struck out swinging at a pitch that hit both his fingers and the bat. Baldelli calmly argued for a foul ball, but home plate umpire Mike Eastbrook eventually gave him the heave-ho. The play was not reviewable.

"That's just the kind of guy Rocco is," Cron said. "He's going to have our backs."

GURRIEL GOES DOWN

The Blue Jays will let second baseman Lourdes Gurriel Jr. decide when he's mentally ready for action on defense, planning to initially use him as a designated hitter with Triple-A Buffalo. Gurriel was sent down on Sunday, after a second throwing error in as many games.

"I felt like his dad talking to him. That's tough, what he went through. We're here for him," Montoyo said, adding: "Whenever you say you're ready to play in the infield, we'll play you again, but it's all about you. Take your time. No rush."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Blue Jays: LHP Ryan Borucki (elbow inflammation) moved to the 60-day injured list, pushing his eligible-to-return date back to May 27 to make room for Eric Sogard. ... Biagini subbed in the closer role for RHP Ken Giles (illness).

Twins: Willians Astudillo played 3B for Marwin Gonzalez, who was given a break amid a 5-for-34 start to his first season with the team.

UP NEXT

RHP Aaron Sanchez (1-1, 1.69 ERA) pitches for the Blue Jays on Tuesday night, with RHP Kyle Gibson (0-0, 7.71) taking the mound for the Twins.

@
Rockies [4-12, 4-7 Away] / Padres [11-6, 4-3 Home]
Mon, Apr 15 • 10:10 PM EDT
At Petco Park
Capacity: 42,500
Attendance: 24,867 [59%]
Game Time: 2:38
TV: FSSD, ATT SportsNet-RM, FOX Deportes San Diego
Home Plate Umpire - Phil Cuzzi
First Base Umpire - Chad Whitson
Second Base Umpire - Adam Hamari
Third Base Umpire - Todd Tichenor
Jackie Robinson Day

The San Diego Padres and Colorado Rockies were off to polar-opposite starts to the 2019 season until their respective paths veered slightly Sunday afternoon.

Late Sunday, both teams were headed to Petco Park in San Diego, where they will open a two-game series Monday night.

The Padres had won four straight and were 7-2 on 10-game road trip before they lost Sunday's series finale 8-4 to the Diamondbacks in Arizona. They return home with an 11-6 record and leading the National League West.

The Rockies had lost eight straight games before defeating the Giants 4-0 in San Francisco on Sunday, behind the pitching of German Marquez. Overall, however, the Rockies are 4-12 and tied for the worst record in baseball.

Left-hander Joey Lucchesi (2-1, 4.40 ERA after three starts) will start Monday night's game for the Padres.

Meanwhile, Rockies manager Bud Black has been determinedly "undetermined" about who will start for his Rockies Monday -- although it appears to come down to one of two right-handers, Antonio Senzatela or Jeff Hoffman.

Neither Senzatela or Hoffman were on the Rockies' 25-man roster as the team departed San Francisco on Sunday afternoon. Senzatela, however, was with the club.

Senzatela, a 24-year-old Venezuelan, has been on the Rockies' injured list since the start of the season after suffering an infected blister on his right heel near the end of spring training. The 6-foot-1, 246-pounder had a 6-6 record with a 4.38 ERA and a 1.373 WHIP in 23 appearances (13 starts) for the Rockies last season.

Hoffman, 26, has opened the season with Triple-A Albuquerque, where he has a 0-1 record with a 9.39 ERA in two outings (one start). The 6-foot-5, 227-pounder is a former first-round draft pick, as the ninth overall selection in 2014 by Toronto.

In limited outings, both Senzatela and Hoffman have had past success against the Padres.

Hoffman has made four career appearances (two starts) against the Padres with a 1-1 record, 0.77 ERA and 1.029 WHIP in 11 2/3 innings. But the ERA is a bit misleading. The Padres have scored eight runs off Hoffman, but only one was earned. He has 16 strikeouts against three walks.

Senzatela has made 10 appearances (four starts) against the Padres with a 4-1 record, a 3.55 ERA and a 1.242 WHIP. He has 23 strikeouts against nine walks in 33 innings.

The 25-year-old Lucchesi last season became the first member of the 2016 draft class to reach the major leagues. He opened this season with 10 1/3 straight scoreless innings. But he gave up seven runs on seven hits and two walks in just four innings against the Giants on Tuesday.

"Joey has natural movement on his pitches with a deceptive delivery," Padres manager Andy Green said. "With him, it's throwing strikes. When he is ahead in the count, he is really good."

This will be Lucchesi's fifth start against the Rockies. He is 1-0 in the first four with a 2.05 ERA, a 1.000 WHIP and a .208 opponents' batting average. He has 23 strikeouts against six walks in 23 innings.


TBD


Joey Lucchesi, LHP, 2-1, 4.40 ERA, 17 SO
Lucchesi became the fourth starter in Padres history to open a season with consecutive scoreless outings. Then he was roughed up by the Giants for seven runs. Still, Lucchesi is the team's most reliable starter. He has 17 Ks in 14 1/3 IP.



The Colorado Rockies are starting to get their offense going at the end of a short West Coast swing.

Ian Desmond homered, doubled and drove in three runs, and Nolan Arenado went deep for the second straight game to back Antonio Senzatela in his season debut and lead the Rockies to a 5-2 victory against the San Diego Padres on Monday night.

The Padres came in with the NL's best record before losing their second straight. The Rockies, who began the day tied with Miami for the league's worst record, won consecutive games for just the second time this season.

Desmond, who came in hitting .140, had a two-run double in the second inning and homered to left in the seventh, his first.

Arenado homered to left-center with one out in the sixth, his second. Both long balls came off lefty Joey Lucchesi (2-2).

"I felt I had good at-bats," Arenado said. "I felt good yesterday, had some good at-bats. Today I had some good at-bats again. It's always nice to hit homers. Got a pitch up, was able to hit a mistake."

Manager Bud Black said the Rockies are being a little more patient at the plate. They won 4-0 at San Francisco on Sunday.

"A little bit better again tonight. I thought yesterday against (Derek) Holland up in San Francisco, better at-bats, sort of carried over tonight against this fella," Black said. "This fella's funky. He's got that deceptive delivery, a little life to his fastball, that changeup that's hard to pick up. Our guys did a nice job."

Senzatela (1-0) was recalled from a rehab assignment and reinstated earlier Monday. He began the season on the injured list with an infected blister on his right heel. He held San Diego to one run and six hits in 6 2/3 innings while striking out four and walking one.

His only costly mistake was allowing Franmil Reyes' opposite-field homer leading off the fourth, his fourth.

Wade Davis got one out for his first save of the season. He walked Luis Urias to put runners on first and second before striking out pinch-hitter Ian Kinsler.

Lucchesi allowed five runs and seven hits as he pitched seven innings for the first time in his two-year career. He struck out four and walked two.

"Going in maybe I felt a little timid in the first inning, then I was like, `What's wrong with me?" Lucchesi said. "Then I said, `Let's get after it.' I was talking to myself, then something fired through (catcher Austin) Hedges. I started catching my rhythm, like all right, let's go. Unfortunately I had some bad breaks with those solo shots that killed me today. I know I went seven innings and at least that's one positive, saved our bullpen a bit. I want to keep going longer in the game. The last two games have been kind of bad realistically, but I'm all right. I'm going to get after it in my next game."

Wil Myers hit his 100th career homer leading off the ninth for the Padres, against Scott Oberg. It was his fourth this season.

"It's pretty cool to say you have 100 homers in the big leagues. Other than that, that's it," Myers said.

Myers said the Padres "missed some pitches that we should have hit" against Senzatela. "He left some balls over the plate that we didn't really take advantage of. Hit some balls right at guys, but that's the way it goes sometimes."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rockies: C Chris Iannetta was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right lat strain. Colorado selected the contract of C Drew Butera from Triple-A Albuquerque and recalled OF Noel Cuevas from Triple-A.

UP NEXT

Rockies: RHP Jon Gray (0-3, 4.19 ERA) pitches the finale of the two-game series. He is 8-3 with a 2.69 ERA in 15 career starts against San Diego.

Padres: Rookie LHP Nick Margevicius (1-1, 1.69) is scheduled to make his fourth start.

@
Red Sox [6-11, 3-8 Away] / Yankees [6-9, 3-6 Home]
Tue, Apr 16 • 6:35 PM EDT
At Yankee Stadium
Capacity: 47,422
Attendance: 45,008 [95%]
Game Time: 2:23
TV: NESN, WPIX, MLBN (out-of-market only)
Home Plate Umpire - Marvin Hudson
First Base Umpire - Adrian Johnson
Second Base Umpire - Quinn Wolcott
Third Base Umpire - Gary Cederstrom


A little over six months ago, the Boston Red Sox opened the playoffs with their first step toward winning a fourth World Series since 2004, while the New York Yankees saw their 100-win season halted with a disappointing loss in the American League Division Series.

Having last met officially in that four-game playoff series, the rivalry resumes Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium for a brief two-game series. Both teams are off to slow starts for various reasons.

"Anytime we get together with them, you know it's' going to be tough battles," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "And both teams, before long, will probably be rolling pretty well."

Beset by a lengthy injury list, the Yankees are off to a 6-9 start and have lost their first three home series for the first time since 1982. New York also held a lead in 14 games, including Sunday when it took a 5-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox after Aaron Judge scored the first run and drove in the second run with a single.

Judge is the focal point of a lineup that is missing Aaron Hicks (back), Giancarlo Stanton (biceps), Miguel Andujar (shoulder) and Gary Sanchez (left calf).

"We just have to pick our heads up, tie our shoes a little bit tighter, and get ready to go because these games do count," Yankees first baseman Luke Voit said. "Even though it's April, we should have a lot better record than what we are."

Boston's fourth title defense since breaking an 86-year drought is off to a 6-11 start. It is Boston's worst 17-game start since 2011 and the Red Sox have yet to win a series.

The Red Sox started by going 3-8 on a season-opening 11-game trip through Seattle, Oakland and Arizona, and then split a six-game homestand against Toronto and Baltimore. On Monday, Boston was unable to produce much offense, tying a season low with four hits in an 8-1 loss to Baltimore.

"We know what we have to do as a group from the coaching staff to the players," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "We keep talking the game, preaching the game, trying to get better. It will get better. There's no timetable, obviously the sooner the better."

J.D. Martinez had two hits Monday and is batting .344 while Xander Bogaerts is hitting .304. Mookie Betts was 0-for-3 and is off to a 9-for-44 start. Dustin Pedroia went 0-for-11 in the series and Andrew Benintendi missed the last 14 innings with a foot injury.

Both teams are also experiencing their share of struggles on the mound. Boston heads into the series with a 5.93 ERA while the Yankees own a 4.04 ERA (4.33 ERA by starting pitchers) and a 5.95 ERA in their last six games.

A pair of struggling left-handers will start the series when Boston starts Chris Sale opposite New York's James Paxton.

Sale is off to his first 0-3 start and is winless in his last seven starts since Aug. 12. He also has dropped three straight starts for the fourth time in his career after allowing five runs on seven hits in four innings last Tuesday against Toronto.

"I'm struggling and I don't know if I've really pitched like this in my life," Sale said. "It's a tough spot to be in. But I've got guys up here fighting and I've got to keep fighting. There's no giving up. If something's not working, you gotta go to something else. When that's not working you got to go something else."

Sale is 6-4 with a 1.61 ERA in 17 career appearances (14 starts) against the Yankees. He was 2-0 with an 0.69 ERA in two starts against the Yankees last season.

Paxton will be making his fourth start as a Yankee and is looking to rebound from a rough outing last Wednesday when he allowed five runs on eight hits in four innings at Houston. On Sunday, Paxton said he went over video with Carlos Beltran because he thought he was tipping some of his pitches.

"I did find out I was tipping my pitches when there were guys at second base, so they knew what was coming," Paxton said. "They were fouling off some pretty good pitches, taking some pretty good pitches. There were stealing some signs. So that didn't help."

Paxton is 2-0 with a 2.49 ERA in four career starts against Boston.


Chris Sale, LHP, 0-3, 9.00 ERA, 8 SO
Sale kicks off a two-game rivalry series at Yankee Stadium, where he has thrived (1.86 ERA) throughout his career. However, Sale has not thrived this season, going four innings or fewer in two of his first three starts.

James Paxton, LHP, 1-2, 6.00 ERA, 19 SO
Paxton is coming off a loss to the Astros, in which he allowed five runs and eight hits over four-plus innings. He later learned that he was tipping his pitches. Paxton was 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA in four starts vs. Boston as a member of the Mariners.



James Paxton and Chris Sale came out firing in this year's first edition of baseball's biggest rivalry.

Paxton pumping 99 mph, and Sale nearing 98.

Only one of those hard-throwing lefties got results to match.

Paxton struck out 12 in his first pinstriped clash with Boston, Sale found his fastball but still got smacked around, and the New York Yankees three-hit the Red Sox 8-0 on Tuesday night in the first game this season between the struggling AL East foes.

Paxton (2-2) pitched two-hit ball for eight innings, walking one and going to just two three-ball counts in a swift game that took only 2 hours, 23 minutes.

"I felt like I was searching before this," Paxton said. "I felt like I really found something tonight."

Mike Tauchman hit his first major league homer and drove in four runs, and Clint Frazier and Gleyber Torres also went deep for the Yankees. New York had dropped five of six and is 7-9 a year after winning 100 games.

Sale (0-4) reached 97.5 mph -- a positive sign for Boston after his velocity sagged this spring -- but still allowed four runs and seven hits over five innings. He struck out six and walked one while the World Series champions dropped to 6-12.

"I stink right now," Sale said. "I don't know what it is."

The longtime rivals hadn't played with both teams below .500 this deep into a season since 1992.

Acquired from Seattle in an offseason trade, Paxton adjusted well after Yankees special adviser Carlos Beltran informed the left-hander he was tipping pitches during a lousy start last week in Houston. Yankees manager Aaron Boone also said before the game he thought Paxton's stuff had dulled a bit since spring training.

Between starts, Paxton watched some old film of himself and tweaked his mechanics to match. It all clicked Tuesday. He drilled away with upper 90s fastballs, striking out four of his first six batters and six straight later.

"When I'm throwing that fastball like that, everything plays off of it," Paxton said.

He saluted the cheering crowd after retiring AL MVP Mookie Betts to end his night.

"I think it's a little bit different than anywhere else, being in Yankee Stadium and getting that ovation," Paxton said.

Boston's starters entered with a 7.18 ERA, worst in the majors, leading the club to bring up touted game-caller Sandy Leon from Triple-A and put him at catcher. Blake Swihart was designated for assignment.

Sale responded with some extra juice, just not enough. He entered with a 1.61 ERA in 17 games against the Yankees, best by any pitcher against New York since 1920, with a minimum of 75 innings.

"Throwing was better but still need to pitch better," Sale said. "Got to get results."

Frazier homered off the top of the right field wall to open the fourth. Betts nearly got a glove on it, but he came up short and got up slowly after slamming into the fence. He was still favoring his right wrist a couple of batters later but remained in the game. He said after that he was fine.

Tauchman doubled in a run later that inning, then hit a three-run drive in the sixth. The backup outfielder raised his batting average to .200 since being acquired at the end of spring training from the Rockies.

"As the new guy, you always want to help the team and do whatever you can," Tauchman said. "It's great to contribute to a really quality win."

Xander Bogaerts doubled in the fourth for Boston's first hit. The ball carried just over jumping right fielder Aaron Judge, bounced off the top of the wall and skipped back into play. Red Sox manager Alex Cora asked for a replay review, which upheld the two-base hit, putting runners at second and third.

The only other hit off Paxton was Jackie Bradley Jr.'s double in the eighth.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Red Sox: OF Andrew Benintendi was held out of the lineup with a bruised right foot. He fouled a ball off it Sunday. ... Bradley was back in the lineup after sitting out Monday with the flu. ... 2B Dustin Pedroia got a night off, which should be a regular occurrence this season in his return from a knee injury. ... RHP Erasmo Ramirez was called up from Triple-A and allowed Tauchman's homer.

Yankees: 1B Greg Bird was placed on the 10-day injured list before the game, giving New York a dozen players on the shelf less than three weeks into the season. The oft-injured Bird is expected to miss at least a month. ... CF Aaron Hicks (left lower back strain) ran and threw on the field and said he feels good. He's still working his way up to a minor league rehab assignment.

UP NEXT

Red Sox RHP Nathan Eovaldi (0-0, 8.40 ERA) faces Yankees LHP J.A. Happ (0-2, 8.76) in a matchup of impact 2018 trade acquisitions who are struggling this season.

@
Diamondbacks [7-9, 3-4 Away] / Braves [9-6, 7-3 Home]
Tue, Apr 16 • 7:20 PM EDT
At SunTrust Park
Capacity: 41,149
Attendance: 22,407 [54 %]
Game Time: 3:36
Home Plate Umpire - Mark Wegner
First Base Umpire - Jim Reynolds
Second Base Umpire - Hunter Wendelstedt
Third Base Umpire - Stu Scheurwater
TV: FSSE, FS-A

It will be a matchup of surging southpaw starters when the Arizona Diamondbacks and host Atlanta Braves open their three-game series Tuesday night.

Arizona kicks off a 10-game road trip by sending Robbie Ray (0-1, 3.52) against Atlanta's Max Fried (2-0, 0.00).

The Diamondbacks broke a four-game losing streak by beating the San Diego Padres on Sunday. Atlanta has won two straight after splitting a four-game series with the New York Mets.

Ray received no-decision in his last start on April 10 against the Texas Rangers. He allowed one run on two hits with 10 strikeouts in his five-inning stint. He has allowed three or fewer runs in three straight games to start the season and opponents are batting only .137 against him.

Ray is 0-2 with a 4.11 ERA in three career starts against Atlanta, but will be making his first career start at SunTrust Park.

Fried has not given up an earned run in his two starts and has forced his way into the rotation. He was originally seen as a long man and opened the season in the bullpen. Fried threw his knee-buckling curve ball 37 percent of the time in his last start at Colorado.

"In the bullpen, I noticed all my pitches were breaking about the same as they normally did," Fried said. "So I just wanted to attack them, get ahead, throw some curveballs, some sliders, some changeups, and keep them off balance."

The Diamondbacks have been struggling with offense. They scored four or fewer runs three times over their past seven games. Arizona lost three one-run games during that stretch and hit only .237 overall and .185 with runners in scoring position.

One exception is outfielder David Peralta, who will be happy to see the Braves. He is a career .333 hitter (30-for-98) with two doubles, two homers and 13 RBI in 25 games against Atlanta.

Peralta was given the day off Sunday, but got a chance to pinch-hit in the sixth inning and hit a three-run homer.

"Even if you're not in the lineup, you always have to be ready for the opportunity, any kind of opportunity," Peralta said.

Peralta has been ready all season. His 25 hits through 16 games matches the team record set by Matt Williams in 1999 and his league-leading nine doubles are a franchise best for that span. He's batting .373 with 10 RBI.

Arizona is playing without first baseman Jake Lamb, who has been out since April 3 with a strained left calf. His replacement Christian Walker was 3-for-4 with a homer on Sunday when the Diamondbacks beat the Padres.

The Diamondbacks learned that left-hander T.J. McFarland, who opened the season on the injured list with shoulder inflammation, will began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Reno on Wednesday.

Arizona catcher Alex Avila (strained left quad) has resumed baseball activities and is eligible to come off the injured list on Wednesday.

Atlanta has moved left-hander A.J. Minter into the role of closer now that Arodys Vizcaino has been placed on the injured list with right shoulder soreness. Minter threw a scoreless ninth inning on Sunday.

The Braves also recalled right-hander Dan Winkler and rookie Jacob Webb, who will make his major league debut. Left-hander Sean Newcomb was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett to work on his control.


Robbie Ray, LHP, 0-1, 3.52 ERA, 22 SO
Ray had a no-hitter through five innings last time out against the Rangers before allowing a single to lead off the sixth. His pitch count rose quickly, thanks in part to 10 strikeouts, and he did not record an out in the sixth.

Max Fried, LHP, 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 9 SO
Fried has completed six innings without allowing an earned run in either of his two starts. The lefty has never completed more than 118 innings in a professional season. So, while he may eventually be sent down, the Braves will ride the hot hand.



Max Fried turned in another strong start for the Braves.

Then he turned it over to the bullpen -- and it all fell apart for Atlanta.

Christian Walker homered leading off the ninth and Arizona scored seven runs in the final three innings against the shaky Braves relievers, giving the Diamondbacks a 9-6 victory Tuesday night to begin a 10-game trip.

"To get on their bullpen the way we did, to get some runs out of them late, it's exciting," Walker said. "That's exactly what we want to see."

Fried, going for his third straight win, gave up his first earned runs of the season and left after the sixth with a 5-2 lead. Ronald Acuna Jr. got the Braves going offensively with a massive, knee-buckling homer, and Johan Camargo's three-run double in the fifth put Atlanta ahead.

Chad Sobotka and Jesse Biddle didn't retire anyone as the Diamondbacks pushed across four runs in the seventh to reclaim the lead.

"I was throwing a lot of non-competitive pitches out there," Biddle said. "I was really bad."

After Ozzie Albies went deep in the bottom half to tie the game at 6, Walker drove the second pitch from A.J. Minter (0-2) into the seats for his fifth homer.

"I was just trying to keep it simple," Walker said. "Minter's got really, really good stuff."

Adam Jones brought home two insurance runs with a double against Jacob Webb, who was making his major league debut. Acuna had a shot at it, but the ball ricocheted off his glove after a long run into the left-field corner.

"Max had another great outing, good enough to win," Minter said. "The bullpen came up short. I came up short."

Yoshihisa Hirano (1-1) claimed the win and Greg Holland earned his third save.

Walker went 3-for-4 with two RBI. Eduardo Escobar also drove in two runs for the Diamondbacks.

With his right knee dipping to the ground as he delivered a mighty swing, Acuna launched a 448-foot shot over the Braves' bullpen in right-center field, putting Atlanta on the board in the fourth after Arizona jumped ahead 2-0 in the top half against Fried.

Atlanta tacked on four runs in the fifth against Robbie Ray. Fried sparked the outburst with a one-out single and came around to score the tying run on Freddie Freeman's double into the right-field corner. The Diamondbacks walked Acuna intentionally to load the bases with two outs, but Camargo foiled that strategy with a double to the wall in left-center that brought everyone home.

Fried, who began the year in the bullpen, has quickly become one of Atlanta's most reliable starters. The 25-year-old left-hander went six innings, giving up seven hits, walking one and striking out three.

Over three starts, Fried has worked 18 innings, giving up 13 hits, two walks and two earned runs with 12 strikeouts. His ERA including two relief appearances is 0.93.

Unfortunately for the Braves, their bullpen has a 5.43 ERA, with a staggering 36 walks in 59 2/3 innings. In this latest debacle, six relievers combined to allow seven runs on five hits, six walks and two hit batters.

BASEPATH BLUNDERS

Both teams ran themselves out of scoring chances in the eighth.

With two outs and two runners aboard, a pitch got away from Braves catcher Tyler Flowers. Ketel Marte took off for third and appeared to beat Flowers' throw, only to over-slide the bag and get tagged out by Josh Donaldson.

In the bottom half, Dansby Swanson led off with a double but was doubled off when Flowers lined out to Walker at first base.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Diamondbacks: LHP T.J. McFarland is set to make a rehab appearance Wednesday for Triple-A Reno. He worked a simulated game last weekend, throwing 17 pitches. McFarland has been on the injured list since the end of spring training because of left shoulder inflammation.

Braves: Struggling LHP Jonny Venters went on the 10-day injured list with a right calf strain. In six appearances, the 34-year-old reliever has surrendered six earned runs in 2 2/3 innings for a 20.25 ERA, giving up six hits, two homers and five walks. RHP Shane Carle, who began the season in Atlanta, was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to fill Venters' spot in the bullpen and pitched a scoreless eighth, working around two walks.

UP NEXT

RHP Zack Godley (1-1, 7.41) will go Wednesday night for the Diamondbacks against Atlanta RHP Kevin Gausman (1-1, 2.84). Godley got a win last season against the Braves, allowing one run over six innings in a 2-1 victory. Gausman will be making his third start after beginning the season on the injured list.

@
Royals [5-11, 0-3 Away] / White Sox [6-9, 1-5 Home]
Tue, Apr 16 • 8:10 PM EDT
At Guaranteed Rate Field
Capacity: 40,615
Attendance: 13,583 [33%]
Game Time: 2:39
Home Plate Umpire - Eric Cooper
First Base Umpire - Jansen Visconti
Second Base Umpire - Will Little
Third Base Umpire - Joe West
TV: WGN, FSKC

Chicago White Sox right-hander Reynaldo Lopez may be missing locations, but he's not pulling punches.

Assessing his struggles entering Tuesday night's start against the visiting Kansas City Royals, Lopez -- 0-2 with a 12.15 ERA in three starts this season -- is up front, and then some.

"They have been three bad outings," Lopez recently told reporters. "There's no other way to say it. There's three bad outings. It's frustrating because you know that you need to do better and you want to do better. Not just for yourself but for your team and especially for the bullpen, for the relievers."

Lopez has logged just 13 1/3 innings in 2019, including a March 30 start in Kansas City during which he allowed four runs and six hits in four innings. Lopez walked four and hit a batter during his season debut, and the control issues have not subsided since.

He has walked 12 and allowed six home runs. Opponents are batting .367 against the 25-year-old Lopez, who was 7-10 with a 3.91 ERA in 32 starts last season.

"No excuses," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said recently. "Some of his misses are significant, a foot or two at times. He's trying to put himself back on track. It's a work in progress trying to be consistent, repeat his delivery so he can take advantage of that nice arm angle."

Lopez hopes extra film study with pitching coach Don Cooper and the rest of the club's coaching staff will help him adjust and move past his early-season slump. Lopez has struck out five in each of his past two starts, but also has allowed three home runs in each game.

"I know that I'm going to be able to adjust those things to fix it," Lopez said. "But it's just ... taking me a little bit of time. Definitely something it is in my mechanics. Not mentally. The trouble is in my mechanics."

The Royals are set to start righty Jorge Lopez (0-1, 3.71 ERA), who will look to improve upon his shaky season debut against the White Sox.

Chicago reached Lopez for four runs and six hits -- including two home runs -- in five innings on March 31, taking the loss as the Royals were unable to secure the series sweep.

Kansas City did earn a sweep this past weekend, however, defeating the reigning American League Central champion Cleveland Indians in three straight games at Kauffman Stadium. Hunter Dozier delivered a game-ending single in the finale, boosting a Royals team that had lost 10 straight games entering the series.

"We're a lot better than a 10-game losing streak," Royals manager Ned Yost told the media following the series. "I think that's a really good team over there (the Indians). Of course, they've been touted to be the head of this division. I think they're an extremely good team, but I think we're a good team, too."

The Royals squandered leads of 3-0 and 4-3 in Monday's series opener against the White Sox in their bid for a fourth successive victory. Tuesday marks the second game in a 10-game road trip that also includes visits to the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays.

Jorge Lopez, RHP, 0-1, 3.71 ERA, 13 SO
Lopez gets the start in the second of the three-game set with the White Sox. Lopez was solid on Thursday against a hot Seattle team, holding the Mariners to three hits and two runs over six innings while striking out five in a tough-luck 7-6 loss.

Reynaldo Lopez, RHP, 0-2, 12.15 ERA, 12 SO
Lopez is looking for his first quality start of the season. In his last outing, against the Rays on Wednesday, Lopez allowed eight earned runs in 4 1/3 innings, including three homers.



Yoan Moncada is not looking back at his struggles in the past or forward to the promise of his future.

The 23-year-old switch-hitter said he is having too much fun in the present.

Moncada hit a pair of solo shots for his first multihomer game and Leury Garcia added a two-run drive to power the Chicago White Sox past the Kansas City Royals 5-1 on Tuesday night.

After struggling to consistently produce last year in his first full major league season amid huge expectations, Moncada is off to a fast start with a .333 batting average, five homers and 16 RBI.

"Last year was last year; it's in the past," he said through a translator. "I learned and now I'm just enjoying this moment.

"Let's just wait and see what happens in a month or two. So far, the results have been there."

Yonder Alonso also homered and went 4 for 4 as the White Sox won for the fourth time in five games.

Reynaldo Lopez (1-2) allowed one run and five hits in six innings to rebound from a poor start to his season. The 25-year-old right-hander had permitted 18 earned runs in 13 1/3 innings over his first three games and gave up eight runs on 10 hits in his last outing against Tampa Bay.

"I think he was just attacking the strike zone a lot better this outing," Chicago manager Rick Renteria said. "I think he just concentrated on driving through and hitting his spots and executing, and I think he did a really nice job."

Four relievers worked the final three innings for Chicago. Alex Colome pitched the ninth in a non-save situation.

Daniel Palka, who led the White Sox with 27 homers as a rookie last season, went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts and is hitless in 32 at-bats this year. He is 0 for 34 dating to last season, the longest current skid for a major league position player.

Lucas Duda homered for the Royals, who are 0-5 on the road.

Kansas City starter Jorge Lopez (0-2) had a career-high 10 strikeouts but gave up three homers and allowed four runs on eight hits in six innings.

"There are probably three balls that they did damage on, but outside of that, I thought he threw the ball extremely well," manager Ned Yost said.

Duda's homer leading off the second gave the Royals a 1-0 lead. Moncada tied it with a two-out shot in the third.

Jorge Lopez escaped a jam in the fourth by getting Tim Anderson -- who began the day leading the majors with a .453 batting average -- to hit into a 6-4-3 double play, but the right-hander wasn't as fortunate in the fifth.

Garcia broke the tie with a two-run homer to right-center and Moncada followed with his second solo shot to make it 4-1.

"You have to be really careful because he's going to get you at some point if you make a mistake," Lopez said of Moncada.

Alonso capped the scoring with a solo drive in the eighth off reliever Jake Newberry. Alonso entered batting .152 and raised his average to .220.

DEFENSE

Moncada shifted from second base to third this season and also is off to a strong start with the glove. He started a 5-4-3 double play in the fourth and was in the middle of a 6-5-3 double play as part of a shift in the sixth.

"He told me he was the best third baseman in Cuba," Renteria said, "and I'm starting to believe it."

SEEING DOUBLE

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the first time in the majors both starting pitchers had the last name of Lopez. The previous matchup of starters with the same last name was on Aug. 12, 2017, when JC Ramirez and the Angels faced Erasmo Ramirez and the Mariners.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Royals: C Martin Maldonado was scratched from the original lineup because of illness. "He was going to take it easy and try to play, but no sense pushing it," Yost said. "I was going to give him tomorrow off, but he'll probably play tomorrow."

UP NEXT

Kansas City RHP Brad Keller (2-1, 2.45 ERA) and Chicago RHP Lucas Giolito (2-1, 6.19) are scheduled to start the finale of the three-game series Wednesday afternoon. Keller had a career-high 10 strikeouts in his last outing against Cleveland, while Giolito is 4-0 with a 2.40 ERA in seven career starts vs. the Royals.