Live blog: Keeping up with all the Friday action
So how did April work out for ya?
For the Houston Astros, it was rather lovely. The Astros take a seven-game winning streak, 15-7 record and four-game lead in the AL West into May. That’s quite a month, right?
We’ve also seen the Kansas City Royals show last season was no fluke while both New York teams sit atop their respective divisions. And that’s where Friday’s best matchup comes from. Nope, not the Yankees–Red Sox seemingly-weekly national TV slobberfest.
I speak, of course, of the Nationals–Mets battle. Friday, it pits aces Matt Harvey and Max Scherzer against one another. In and of itself, that’s the best pitching matchup of the day, but there’s more here.
The Nationals started the season in dismal fashion. They were 7-13 and down 9-1 to the Braves on Tuesday night. And then everything changed. They stormed back to win that game and now have taken three in a row and are back to within five games of the Mets in the East.
The Mets were 15-5 and the early darlings of baseball, but have since dropped three straight. With three more games against a talented and now hot Nationals ballclub, the buck has to stop with Harvey Friday evening. It won’t be easy against Scherzer, of course, but this is a real fun one.
Matt Harvey vs. Max Scherzer? Yes please. (USATSI)
That’s not all, though. Tigers-Royals is a dandy. So is Pirates–Cardinals. The Yankees-Red Sox series does come with both teams toward the top of the AL East, too, if you’re into that four-hour game type thing.
We’re in for a great weekend.
Anyway, welcome to The Eye. It is here that we’ll be building out a monster of a daily recap post throughout the day. We’ll have recaps, injury news, rumors, fun stuff and a look ahead to Saturday. Park it here throughout Friday, constantly hitting the refresh button, or just come back Saturday morning, to each his or her own.
Friday’s MLB action (all times ET) (Full scoreboard)
Brewers (Wily Peralta) at Cubs (Jon Lester) FOLLOW LIVE
Rays (Alex Colome) at Orioles (Chris Tillman), 7:05
Blue Jays (Mark Buehrle) at Indians (Carlos Carrasco), 7:10
Nationals (Gio Gonzalez) at Mets (Matt Harvey), 7:10
Yankees (CC Sabathia) at Red Sox (Justin Masterson), 7:10
Phillies (Jerome Williams) at Marlins (Tom Koehler), 7:10
Reds (Anthony DeSclafani) at Braves (Mike Foltynewicz), 7:35
Athletics (Scott Kazmir) at Rangers (Colby Lewis), 8:05
Tigers (Kyle Lobstein) at Royals (Chris Young), 8:10
Mariners (Roenis Elias) at Astros (Asher Wojciechowski), 8:10
White Sox (Jose Quintana) at Twins (Kyle Gibson), 8:10
Pirates (A.J. Burnett) at Cardinals (Lance Lynn), 8:15
Diamondbacks (Rubby De La Rosa) at Dodgers (Carlos Frias), 10:10
Rockies (Eddie Butler) at Padres (Ian Kennedy), 10:10
Angels (C.J. Wilson) at Giants (Chris Heston), 10:15
Milestone Watch
Addison Russell hit his first career home run, giving the Cubs a 1-0 lead early (watch it here).
Daily Awards
Definitely to come.
Injuries, News & Rumors
Blue Jays: A collarbone injury has Devon Travis out of the lineup.
Brewers: Carlos Gomez will likely return to the lineup Saturday (Adam McCalvy).
Dodgers: Top prospect Corey Seager is headed to Triple-A.
Mets: Matt Harvey says he’s feeling the best he’s felt all year.
Nationals: Denard Span has felt some soreness since returning from a core muscle injury (washingtonpost.com).
Reds: Homer Bailey will undergo Tommy John surgery.
Royals: Alcides Escobar has been placed on the seven-day concussion disabled list.
Carlos Quentin: He’s in the process of retiring, reports Ken Rosenthal.
Looking Ahead to Saturday’s MLB action (all times ET)
It’s Saturday, so obviously we get a full 15 games. Gotta love baseball.
Yankees (Nate Eovaldi) at Red Sox (Wade Miley), 1:35
White Sox (Hector Noesi) at Twins (Ricky Nolasco), 2:10
Pirates (Francisco Liriano) at Cardinals (John Lackey), 2:15
Brewers (Mike Fiers) at Cubs (Jake Arrieta), 2:20
Angels (Hector Santiago) at Giants (Tim Hudson), 4:05
Blue Jays (Aaron Sanchez) at Indians (Corey Kluber), 4:10
Phillies (Cole Hamels) at Marlins (Dan Haren), 4:10
Tigers (David Price) at Royals (Edinson Volquez), 7:10
Nationals (Gio Gonzalez) at Mets (Jon Niese), 7:10
Reds (Jason Marquis) at Braves (Eric Stults), 7:10
Mariners (Taijuan Walker) at Astros (Collin McHugh), 7:10
A’s (Drew Pomeranz) at Rangers (Nick Martinez), 8:05
Rockies (Jorge De La Rosa) at Padres (Brandon Morrow), 8:40
Diamondbacks (Jeremy Hellickson) at Dodgers (Scott Baker), 9:10
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