LEADING OFF: Daytime ball, Schwarber healing, Freeway Series

By foxsports
Published

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

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DAYTIME VIEWING

Eleven of the 15 games on the schedule for Labor Day are set to begin at 4:10 p.m. ET or earlier, including five games at 1 p.m. ET.

SCHWARBER UPDATE

Cubs manager Joe Maddon is not ruling out OF/C Kyle Schwarber (mild rib cage strain) for the series against St. Louis, but he does not anticipate him playing. Schwarber was out of the lineup for the fourth consecutive game on Sunday in the Cubs' 6-4 win over Arizona. ''We'll see what he feels like when he gets to the ballpark tomorrow,'' Maddon said. ''I'm anticipating not being able to use him, but if we are able to use him, that'd be great.''

FREEWAY SERIES

The Dodgers' Zack Greinke (15-3, 1.59 ERA) starts a three-game series in Anaheim against the Angels. Greinke leads the majors in ERA, quality starts (25) and opponents' batting average (.189). He's won 10 of his past 11 decisions and has thrown at least six innings in every outing this season. Nick Tropeano pitches for the Angels, filling in for Matt Shoemaker, who is being skipped with a forearm strain.

NL EAST SHOWDOWN

The Nationals look to gain ground on the first-place Mets as the teams begin a three-game set in Washington. The Nationals have won five straight games, including a four-game sweep of Atlanta over the weekend, to pull within four games of the Mets, who just lost two of three at Miami. Max Scherzer (11-11, 2.89) squares off against Jonathon Niese (8-10, 4.17).

BIG-BOPPING BLUE JAYS

Jose Bautista leads the Blue Jays into Fenway Park for a three-game series against Boston. The 34-year-old homered for the second straight day on Sunday and now has 33 homers on the season. Toronto leads the majors with three players with 30-plus homers - Josh Donaldson has 36 and Edwin Encarnacion has 30.

ON SALE

Chris Sale (12-7, 3.29) gets the ball in the opener of a three-game series at home against Cleveland. He has struck out 10 or more in 13 starts, the most in a single season since Randy Johnson recorded 13 such starts in 2004. Trevor Bauer (10-11, 4.56) goes for the Indians.

FIERS ON FIRE

The Astros call on Mike Fiers (7-9, 3.54) to begin a three-game set at Oakland. The right-hander allowed six runs in his Houston debut following a trade from Milwaukee, but he's posted a 0.67 ERA in four starts since, including a no-hitter against the Dodgers on Aug. 21. Oakland sends out Felix Doubront (2-1, 3.99).

SMYLY'S RETURN

Drew Smyly returns to Detroit for his first start against the Tigers since being traded to the Rays in a package for David Price in 2014. A torn labrum in his left shoulder sidelined him for more than three months this year, but otherwise, Smyly has been dominant with the Rays, posting a 2.32 ERA in 14 starts.