LEADING OFF: Kershaw makes 1st start at Yankee Stadium

By foxsports
Published

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

---

FIRST-TIMER

Clayton Kershaw has three Cy Young Awards, an MVP trophy and a no-hitter on his resume. But he's never pitched at Yankee Stadium - until now. The ace left-hander is scheduled to start for the Dodgers against New York in a late-afternoon series finale, his second outing since missing more than two months with a back injury. Kershaw (11-3, 1.89 ERA) threw 66 pitches over three innings last Friday in a 4-1 loss at Miami, but manager Dave Roberts wouldn't say how many Kershaw might throw this time. ''It'll be more than his last start,'' Roberts said. ''We expect Clayton to be Clayton.'' Kershaw has faced the Yankees twice at Dodger Stadium, allowing two earned runs over 15 innings (1.20 ERA) in a pair of no-decisions - the last in July 2013.

TOP WINNER

Rick Porcello (20-3) aims to add to his major league-high victory total when AL East-leading Boston faces Kevin Gausman and Baltimore at Fenway Park.

ALMOST SET

Toronto third baseman Josh Donaldson has been out of the starting lineup for two games because of a sore right hip. The reigning AL MVP, stuck in a career-worst seven-game hitless streak, could play in the series finale vs. visiting Tampa Bay.

ACES

Cubs lefty Jon Lester (16-4, 2.51 ERA) closes out the series at Busch Stadium when the NL Central leaders take on the wild card-contending Cardinals and righty Carlos Martinez (14-7, 3.05).

REMEMBER ME?

Former Royals prospect Sean Manaea starts at Kauffman Stadium against Yordano Ventura as Kansas City tries to make up ground in the AL wild-card race. Manaea was traded to the A's in July 2015 as part of the deal for Ben Zobrist.