Major League Baseball

LEADING OFF: Early start at Fenway, Lackey back in St Louis

Published Apr. 18, 2016 3:26 a.m. ET

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

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WAKE UP!

The annual Patriots' Day game at Fenway Park begins at 11:05 a.m., with the Red Sox hosting Toronto in the finale of a four-game series. The early start coincides with the running of the Boston Marathon.

REMEMBER ME?

John Lackey, off to a 2-0 start for the Cubs despite a 5.68 ERA, returns to pitch at St. Louis. He left the Cardinals in the offseason and signed with Chicago. He has never faced the Cards in the regular season, but beat them in the clinching Game 6 of the 2013 World Series with Boston.

SLUMPING

Rockies rookie Trevor Story still leads the majors with seven home runs, but is 3 for 16 with 10 strikeouts in his last four games. Colorado opens a set at Cincinnati. ... Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton has struck out 15 times in 39 at-bats and is batting just .205. Miami takes on the Nationals.

HIT MAN

Nationals newcomer Daniel Murphy leads the majors with a .432 batting average. He takes a nine-game hitting streak going into the series opener at Miami.

HEATING UP

Noah Syndergaard pitches for the Mets in Philadelphia, trying to keep up his blazing start. He's allowed just one run in 13 innings this season and struck out 21.

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