LEADING OFF: DeGrom clear for next start, Severino set back

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

CONCERN IN QUEENS

Jacob deGrom plans to make his next scheduled start for the Mets despite having to leave his most recent outing because of an elbow ailment. DeGrom played catch and threw a bullpen session Saturday afternoon, a day after he exited after six scoreless innings against San Diego because of right flexor tendinitis.

Baltimore Orioles third baseman Maikel Franco can't make the play on an infield single by Tampa Bay Rays' Manuel Margot during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 12, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP PhotoChris O'Meara)

Manager Luis Rojas said his ace should be ready to face the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. A precautionary MRI showed no problem, Rojas said.

DeGrom was pulled after 80 pitches of one-hit ball against the Padres. He was not concerned the diagnosis will disrupt his dominant season. His 0.56 ERA is the lowest ever by a pitcher through 10 starts.

SEVY’S SETBACK

Yankees right-hander Luis Severino is slated for an MRI a day after being removed from a minor league rehab start with a right groin injury. Severino was making his second rehab appearance following Tommy John surgery in February of 2020, pitching for High-A Hudson Valley against Brooklyn.

The 27-year-old began to hobble quickly after throwing a pitch in the second inning. He limped behind the mound, struggling to put weight on his right leg. Coaches and a trainer had to help him off the field.

Severino, a two-time All-Star and a 19-game winner in 2018, looked sharp in his first rehab appearance, reaching 98 mph with his fastball. He pitched 1 2/3 innings Saturday, allowing a run, a hit and a walk while striking out three.

FALLING FATHERS

The Padres have matched a season high with four straight losses, a skid they hope to snap against the Mets with RHP Chris Paddack (2-5, 4.27) on the mound.

San Diego’s skid has come against a pair of first-place teams -- the NL Central-leading Cubs and NL East-best Mets -- but the club has also lost 10 of 13 overall. The Padres were hitless in two at-bats with runners in scoring position during a 4-1 loss to New York on Saturday and have tied the 1996 team record by going 13 straight games without multiple hits with runners in scoring position.

Paddack is set to face former Padres teammate Joey Lucchesi (1-4, 5.79).

BEST IN SHOW

Athletics right-hander Chris Bassitt (6-2, 3.44 ERA) has won a career-high six straight decisions going into his start against Kansas City at the Coliseum.

The game is set to start in Oakland several hours before the best in show ribbon will be awarded at the 145th Westminster Kennel Club dog show, being held outdoors this year in Tarrytown, New York. Bassitt hopes to do better than basset hounds have fared at America’s top pooch pageant -- no basset has ever won the top prize.

ROAD WOES

The Orioles have lost 14 straight road games, their worst skid since the St. Louis Browns moved to Baltimore in 1954 and became the Birds.

The O’s had 13-game road droughts in 2018 away from Camden Yards and 1988 away from Memorial Stadium.

“It’s not fun to lose,” Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde said.

Orioles lefty Bruce Zimmermann takes his three-game winning streak into his start at Tropicana Field against Rays lefty Josh Fleming.

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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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