LEADING OFF: Cespedes still limping, Zimmerman eyes return

By AP
Published

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

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YO DOWN

Just days after ending a six-week DL stint, Mets star outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is hobbling yet again, although the slugger isn't so concerned about his latest injury. Cespedes returned Saturday from a strained left hamstring but left Monday's game with a sore left heel. He's also been nagged by trouble in his quadriceps this season. Cespedes said there was nothing to worry about this time. He said the heel has bothered him for years, and that he expects to play in New York's next game. ''I'm just trying to be a little cautious,'' he said through a translator.

RYAN TO GO?

Nationals manager Dusty Baker is hopeful slugger Ryan Zimmerman will return from a back injury in time to face Braves knuckleballer R.A. Dickey. Zimmerman is 12 for 36 (.333) with two home runs and five RBIs against Dickey lifetime. The rest of the Nats' active roster is batting just .240 with three homers against the veteran right-hander.

UNBEATABLE

The Dodgers have won each of Clayton Kershaw's last seven starts, a streak they'll try to stretch against Cleveland. Kershaw (8-2, 2.20 ERA) hasn't lost a game since May 1 against the Giants and has 23 strikeouts in 14 innings over his last two starts. Trevor Bauer (5-5, 6.10) is up for the Indians.

POWERED UP

The Blue Jays are back to doing what they do best: hitting the ball into the outfield seats. Toronto has homered in 33 of 38 games since the start of May, including five long balls during a three-game series at Seattle over the weekend. Josh Donaldson has powered the team of late, hitting five of his eight home runs this season since the start of June. He and the Jays will try to keep the surge going against Jake Odorizzi (4-3, 3.59) and the Rays.

BIG GUY, BIG STREAK

CC Sabathia seeks his sixth straight victory when the Yankees face the Angels. Sabathia (7-2, 3.66) has a 1.11 ERA during his five-start winning streak and threw eight innings in an 8-0 win over Boston in his previous outing. JC Ramirez (6-4, 4.33) is up for Los Angeles.

STRONG BREW

Jimmy Nelson gets the ball when NL Central-leading Milwaukee opens a four-game set against St. Louis. Nelson (4-3, 3.45) has struck out 27 in 21 innings over his past three starts and has a 2.16 ERA in his last seven outings. Lance Lynn (4-3, 2.88) is set to pitch for the Cardinals.

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