LEADING OFF: Kluber goes for 100th win, NL rivalries simmer

A look at what's happening around the majors on Sunday:

CENTURY MARK

Corey Kluber goes for his 100th career victory when he starts for the Yankees at home against Detroit.

The 35-year-old Kluber (1-2, 4.15) is 99-60 in a big league career that started in 2011. The two-time AL Cy Young Award winner has posted just three wins in the last three years with Cleveland, Texas and New York while beset by injuries.

Players from both teams come onto the field in the eighth inning during a baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati on Saturday, May 1, 2021. (AP PhotoJeff Dean)

Kluber faces the worst-hitting team in the majors. The Tigers have a team batting average of just under .200 — former Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera went 0 for 5 on Saturday and fell to .125.

PHILLY SPECIAL

A couple of NL East rivals play the rubber game of their three-game series in prime time when slumping Francisco Lindor and the New York Mets visit Philadelphia. Bryce Harper could be back in the Phillies’ lineup -- he’s missed three straight games since getting hit in the face and right wrist by a pitch Wednesday in St. Louis. Harper was ejected from Saturday night’s loss after arguing a questionable call at second base from the top step of the dugout.

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Trevor Rogers throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Monday, April 26, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP PhotoMorry Gash)

Meanwhile, the Mets hope for good news on two regulars after center fielder Brandon Nimmo and third baseman J.D. Davis exited Saturday night with hand injuries.

David Peterson (1-3, 5.59 ERA) pitches for New York against Zach Eflin (1-1, 3.58). Tempers have flared between the teams twice already this season, including Friday night.

RED HOT

The Cubs and Reds are back at it in Cincinnati after a heated exchange Saturday. Reds reliever Amir Garrett struck out Anthony Rizzo with one out in the eighth and celebrated by punching himself in the chest several times, and he appeared to yell something in Rizzo’s direction. Javier Báez yelled at Garrett from the Chicago dugout and Garrett took a few steps in that direction, prompting both benches and bullpens to empty.

“I really don’t know what happened with their team,” Cincinnati manager David Bell said. “This is an emotional game and Amir has been struggling. I know Amir was talking to himself. He was emotional. I think they misinterpreted it.”

No punches were thrown and there were no ejections.

“I think Garrett’s an emotional guy,” Cubs manager David Ross. “He hasn’t had the greatest start to the season. He struck out Anthony and was screaming and raging. That’s his character. He’s trying to fire himself up, because he’s not throwing that well right now.”

NICE START

Rookie left-hander Trevor Rogers has been a bright spot for the Marlins, going 3-1 with a 1.29 ERA in April. The 23-year-old struck out 38 in 28 innings over five outings.

He’ll start at Nationals Park against Max Scherzer (1-2, 3.00), who allowed seven runs over five innings in a loss to Toronto his last time out.

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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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