LEADING OFF: Angels streaking, Homer's odyssey, Reds-Cubs

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

PULLING TOGETHER

The grieving Angels go for their sixth consecutive victory since the All-Star break when they host Houston again. Los Angeles (50-46) has won eight of 11 since the death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs and moved four games above .500 for the first time since June 2018. Star outfielder Mike Trout hopes to return to the lineup after missing the past two games with a mildly strained right calf. All-Star righty Gerrit Cole (9-5, 3.23 ERA), who graduated from nearby Orange Lutheran High School, pitches for the Astros against an opener and Félix Peña (7-2, 4.32 ERA), who threw the final seven innings of the Angels' combined no-hitter last week.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Yu Darvish delivers against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, July 12, 2019, in Chicago. (AP PhotoKamil Krzaczynski)

HOMER'S ODYSSEY

Homer Bailey makes his Oakland Athletics debut against last-place Seattle after being acquired from Kansas City in a trade Sunday. Bailey (7-6, 4.80 ERA) arrived Tuesday in the Bay Area and headed straight to join his new team at the Coliseum, saying he knew "absolutely zero" players on the A's. The right-hander is 3-0 with a 2.83 ERA in his last six starts for his longest winning streak since four consecutive victories in 2014 for Cincinnati. Oakland has won five in a row to move within 4½ games of the AL West-leading Astros, matching their smallest advantage since May 9.

UNFRIENDLY CONFINES

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Sonny Gray works against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, July 12, 2019, in Denver. (AP PhotoDavid Zalubowski)

Cubs right-hander Yu Darvish (2-4, 4.72 ERA) faces Sonny Gray (5-5, 3.42) and the Reds in the rubber match of a three-game series between NL Central foes. Darvish, who has 13 no-decisions in 19 starts this season, is still looking for his first win at Wrigley Field since signing with Chicago last year. Gray will be making his first career appearance at the iconic ballpark.

PLAYING WITHOUT A FULL DECK

Already missing injured regulars Yadier Molina and Marcell Ozuna, the St. Louis Cardinals will also be minus Matt Carpenter for a while after the infielder was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a bruised right foot. Carpenter fouled a pitch off the top of his foot Monday night and left the game. The team said X-rays were negative. "Just got to wear this boot for four to five days and then hopefully the swelling and inflammation goes down and I can start doing what I need to do," Carpenter said. "They're optimistic it won't be more than a week." Carpenter is the seventh Cardinals player on the injured list. He was just activated last Thursday after being sidelined since June 29 with a lower back strain.

FILE - In this April 26, 2019, file photo, Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber throws against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game in Houston. Kluber’s broken arm is healing as hoped and he could soon be throwing bullpen sessions. He sustained a fractured ulna when he was struck by a line drive on May 1 in Miami. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip, File)

ON THE MEND

Indians ace Corey Kluber is scheduled to throw 20 fastballs in his first bullpen since breaking his right arm when he was struck by a line drive May 1. The two-time Cy Young Award winner is on the 60-day injured list. Cleveland manager Terry Francona called the session "a big step, a good step," but cautioned that Kluber is still weeks from potentially beginning a minor league rehab assignment. The surging Indians have won three straight and eight of 10 to move within five games of first-place Minnesota in the AL Central, the tightest margin since May 19.

SUMMER HEAT

New York Yankees' Didi Gregorius leaps and yells back to the dugout after his grand slam during the eighth inning of the team's baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Tuesday, July 16, 2019, in New York. (AP PhotoKathy Willens)

One night after the latest surly clash between Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia and the Tampa Bay Rays, the AL East rivals meet again in the Bronx. Yonny Chirinos (8-4, 3.11 ERA) faces New York right-hander Domingo Germán (11-2, 3.40) in the third game of a four-game set. Chirinos has made seven straight quality starts. Germán is 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA in two starts since returning from the injured list.

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A look at what's happening around baseball Saturday:

CABRERA REIGNS

Miguel Cabrera should get to swing for his 3,000th career hit after his pursuit was delayed a day by a rainout.

The Tigers are set for a day-night doubleheader against Colorado at Comerica Park. The teams were washed out Friday.

Cabrera got to 2,999 hits on Wednesday night, then struck out in his final at-bat of the game. The 39-year-old went 0 for 3 with an intentional walk on Thursday.

Antonio Senzatela (0-1, 2.16 ERA) is ready to pitch the first game of the twinbill for Colorado. The Rockies right-hander and Cabrera are both from Venezuela.

“He’s going to go down as one of the best hitters of all time,” Hall of Famer and former Tigers shortstop Alan Trammell said Friday.

“He realizes that it’s getting toward the end, but he still has something left in the tank. When it’s all said and done this year, I think he’s going to have a heck of a year,” he said.

JAPANESE PERFECTION

The baseball world will be watching this weekend to see whether Roki Sasaki can do it again.

The 20-year-old Japanese pitcher with the 100 mph fastball and devastating splitter has thrown 17 straight perfect innings. He’ll start Sunday for the Chiba Lotte Marines against the Orix Buffaloes in Osaka.

Sasaki pitched a perfect game against Orix on April 10, the first in Japan in 28 years. He followed up with eight more perfect innings on April 17 before he was pulled by manager Tadahito Iguchi after 102 pitches. Sasaki struck out a combined 33 in those games.

Sasaki grew up in the northeastern Japanese prefecture of Iwate. His father was killed in the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and subsequent meltdown on three nuclear reactors that devastated that part of the country.

DOUBLE TROUBLE

White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson is appealing his second suspension this season after Major League Baseball banned him for one game Friday after he gave fans the middle finger two days earlier.

Anderson had three errors in the first two innings of Chicago’s 11-1 loss Wednesday in the opener of a doubleheader. The frustrated 28-year-old made the gesture toward a fan while out in the field. Anderson will remain with the White Sox until his appeal is heard.

Anderson also missed the firt two games of the season serving a two-game suspension for making contact with umpire Tim Timmons during the ninth inning of a game on Sept. 27. Anderson successfully appealed that suspension down from three games.

GIANT PAIN

San Francisco's injured list is getting crowded after right-hander Anthony DeSclafani and outfielder Steven Duggar hit the shelf Friday.

DeSclafani went on the 10-day IL with right ankle inflammation a day after allowing five runs in five innings during a loss to the Mets. Manager Gabe Kapler says DeSclafani will get an MRI on Monday.

Duggar was added to the 60-day IL with a left oblique strain. He was pulled from Thursday's loss in the second inning.

The pair joins starter Alex Cobb and hitters Evan Longoria, LaMonte Wade Jr. and Tommy La Stella on the IL.

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