Major League Baseball

LEADING OFF: Price faces the Rays, Kershaw and Arrieta throw

Published Apr. 21, 2016 3:14 a.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

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

---

OLD FRIEND

Red Sox LHP David Price (2-0, 4.50) is set to face Tampa Bay, the team he entered the majors with in 2008. It'll be his fourth career start against the Rays. He's 1-2 with a 4.26 ERA in his previous three.

DALLAS IN ARLINGTON

AL Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel (2-1, 2.18) has made 14 career starts against Texas, most of any opponent for the lefty. His four wins against the Rangers are tied for the most by a Houston pitcher with Collin McHugh, Roy Oswalt and Wandy Rodriguez. He'll face A.J. Griffin, who has had seven days of rest.

OTHER ACES TO WATCH

Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw will try to improve to 3-0 this season and 3-0 in his career against the Braves. He has a 1.79 ERA in six career starts against Atlanta. ... Cubs RHP Jake Arrieta (3-0, 1.23) will open a four-game series at Cincinnati against LHP Brandon Finnegan (1-0, 2.04). Arrieta has recorded three straight quality starts to begin the season. ... Max Scherzer (2-0, 3.15) goes for the Nationals against Miami, and Gerrit Cole (0-2, 4.22) pitches for Pittsburgh against San Diego.

NOT PITCHING IN

Twins pitchers went 3 for 20 (.150) in interleague play last season and are 56 for 374 since it started in 1997. Manager Paul Molitor worries more about his staff getting injured than driving the ball. ''You're always a little bit fearful when you're asking guys to do things they don't normally do,'' he said. ''You just hope nobody does anything too crazy, either get carried away with their swings or if they do get a chance to run the bases. You hate to lose somebody because of a rare opportunity to get into the game offensively as a pitcher.'' Starter Tommy Milone did have two hits for Minnesota in a 10-5 loss to Milwaukee on Wednesday night.

UP-HILL BATTLE

The Yankees had trouble against left-handed pitching last season and get a tough matchup against Oakland's Rich Hill. The southpaw has 19 strikeouts in 13 innings this season and has furthered the improbable comeback he began last season from independent ball to a major league rotation.

share

Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

Major League Baseball