Live: Updates from best of Saturday's games
Welcome to the Eye. It is here that we’ll be building out a monster of a daily recap post throughout the day and night. We’ll have recaps, injury news, rumors, fun stuff and a look ahead to Sunday. Park it here or just come back in the morning, to each his or her own.
As for Saturday, the best pitching match-up may be Matt Harvey of the Mets against A.J. Burnett of the Pirates. Add their 2015 ERAs together — which is admittedly not something you should do for any reason other than to make a point — and you still get a respectable mark of 3.36. Elsewhere, Shelby Miller returns to the mound for the first time for the Braves since coming within one out of a no-hitter. Chris Sale goes for the White Sox, and the struggling Stephen Strasburg of the Nats attempts to regain his form against Cole Hamels and the Phillies.
On the team level, the Marlins are getting desperate. New manager Dan Jennings is 0-5 since taking over for the defenestrated Mike Redmond, and the team has lost eight in a row and 11 of 12 overall. Mat Latos and Henderson Alvarez recently hit the DL (joining Jarred Cosart and, of course, Jose Fernandez), and now the team’s rotation goes as follows: Dan Haren, Tom Koehler, David Phelps and, um, they’ll figure the rest out soon enough. Needless to say, that’s well shy of optimal.
As well, after the Fish wrap up their weekend series with the Orioles, they’ll play 12 of their next 15 on the road. To bottom-line it, FanGraphs presently gives Miami (16-27, 9 1/2 games behind the Nationals) just a 3.9 percent chance of making the postseason. The team’s sequencing and batted-ball outcomes suggest they’ve been unlucky thus far, and the Marlins project as something close to a .500 team moving forward. However, all those losses are in the bank, and it’s highly unlikely that they have the roster strength to make up the ground. As such, it’s shaping up to be a lost season in Miami. — Dayn Perry
So far, so not good for Dan Jennings and the Marlins. (USATSI)
Now let’s get started …
Monday’s MLB action (all times ET) (Full scoreboard)
Milestone Watch
Longest current hit streak: Jose Abreu of the White Sox enters Saturday with a 17-game hitting streak intact.
A-Rod: Alex Rodriguez now has 1,992 RBI for his career. He’s three away from tying Lou Gehrig for fifth on the all-time list, and he needs eight more to become just the fourth player ever to compile 2,000 or more RBI.
Daily Awards
Birthdays
Happy May 23 b-days to Hall of Famer Zack Wheat and active MLBer Jordan Zimmermann, among others. Forthcoming: Mr. Wheat’s Hall plaque …
Tribute of the day
It’s a big day for Paul Konerko on the South Side of Chicago …
Best/worst inning
On Friday, the Yankees allowed the Rangers to score 10 runs. On Saturday, the Yankees allowed the Rangers to score 10 runs … in the third inning. Here’s how that rather busy frame unfolded in the Bronx …
That’s very bad. Or very good!
More to come.
Injuries, News & Rumors
Rangers SP Derek Holland to begin throwing program next week
Reds’ SP Raisel Iglesias to start in place of Cueto on Sunday
Rays SP Matt Moore throws 36 pitches in extended spring game
Rays recall Enny Romero after demoting Tim Beckham to Triple-A
Angels 1B Albert Pujols not too concerned about hand/wrist bruise
Royals’ Chris Young making strong case to remain in rotation
A’s place OF Coco Crisp (neck) on 15-day DL
Orioles agree to deal with Cuban pitcher Ariel Miranda
White Sox OF Avisail Garcia out a second game Saturday
Austin Jackson’s struggles in minors delaying return to Mariners
Braves SP Alex Wood feeling better, plans to make next start
Yankees’ Girardi still has no timetable for Jacoby Ellsbury’s return
Doolittle will not immediately return to A’s closer’s role upon return
Athletics OF Ben Zobrist excels in rehab, could be back Monday
Mets 3B David Wright (back) suffers another setback
Cardinals’ Jon Jay might need rehab assignment before activation
Nationals 3B Anthony Rendon participates in BP Saturday
Wrist remains an issue for Nationals LF Jayson Werth
Roark, Zimmermann to start Monday, Tuesday for Nationals
Looking Ahead to Sunday’s MLB action (all times ET)
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