A look at what’s happening around the majors today:
GETTING GOING, PART I
Dallas Keuchel says he doesn’t expect to need much time tuning up in the minors before he joins his new team, the Atlanta Braves. The club confirmed Friday night that the 2015 American League Cy Young Award winner had agreed to a one-year contract and said he’d start the next day with Triple-A Gwinnett. During a conference call, Keuchel said he has been pitching seven innings in simulated games in Southern California.
GETTING GOING, PART II
All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel is expected to report to the Cubs’ training facility in Mesa, Arizona, as he ramps up after finalizing a three-year contract with Chicago on Friday that guarantees him $43 million. Kimbrel was optioned to Triple-A, and the Cubs want him working back carefully following his extended free agency.
“We’re not going to rush it,” president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said. “It’s going to be tempting to get him here as soon as possible, but we’re trying to plan this thing the right way so that he can be in a position to succeed not just immediately but all the way through October.”
ROYAL PAIN
Breakout White Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito faces the Royals seeking his seventh victory in seven starts. Giolito (8-1, 2.54) ranks among the majors’ best pitchers a year after giving up more earned runs than anybody in the big leagues. The former top prospect is 6-0 with a 1.03 ERA in his last six outings, including a May 28 start against Kansas City when he set a season high with 10 strikeouts.
NICE TO SEE YOU
Shohei Ohtani’s first major league showdown with Yusei Kikuchi is on deck at Angel Stadium. The matchup would pit the AL Rookie of the Year from Los Angeles against Seattle’s rookie left-hander. They faced each other five times in Japan’s top league.
The 24-year-old Ohtani and the 27-year-old Kikuchi attended the same high school in Japan, but never played on the same team.
Ohtani, who isn’t pitching this season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, went into the weekend hitting .250 with five home runs and 20 RBIs. Kikuchi is 3-3 with a 4.43 ERA in 13 starts.
REMEMBER ME?
Yankees lefty CC Sabathia, who began his big league career with the Indians in 2001, makes his final scheduled start in Cleveland.
Before New York began its weekend series at Progressive Field, the 38-year-old Sabathia stopped into his favorite sandwich shop for an Italian sub and swung by his old house to visit neighbors — and their grown kids — he hadn’t seen in a long time. Back in his old neighborhood in suburban Westlake, Sabathia was thrilled to find the outdoor basketball court his late father installed.
Sabathia (3-2, 3.61 ERA), who played eight seasons in Cleveland, will try for his 250th career win.
29 FOREVER
The Rangers are set to retire Adrián Beltré’s No. 29 prior to the nightcap of a doubleheader against Oakland. Beltré retired last offseason after 21 years in the majors, the last eight with Texas. He got 1,277 of his 3,166 hits with the club, most among his four franchises, and also got three of his five Gold Glove Awards in that time.
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