Major League Baseball

LEADING OFF: Price is right in Boston; Holliday tests thumb

Published Sep. 17, 2016 4:53 a.m. ET

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

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PRICE IS RIGHT

Red Sox left-hander David Price (16-8, 3.81 ERA) looks to extend his career-best winning streak to eight games when Boston hosts the rival Yankees at Fenway Park. Price has allowed two or fewer runs in six consecutive starts. Right-hander Bryan Mitchell (1-1, 6.14) goes for New York, which has lost five of six and is struggling to stay in the AL playoff race.

TOUGH TRIBE

Justin Verlander (14-8, 3.33 ERA) has been roughed up by the Indians this season but gets a chance at some redemption when the Tigers continue their AL Central showdown in Cleveland. Verlander is 0-3 with a 9.18 ERA against the Indians in 2016, part of the reason Detroit trails first-place Cleveland by seven games. The right-hander is 9-14 in 25 career starts at Progressive Field.

THUMBS UP?

Cardinals slugger Matt Holliday will test his broken right thumb when he faces some live pitching with the hope he might be able to return this season as St. Louis makes a playoff push. The outfielder hasn't played since Aug. 11, when he was hit by a pitch. He had surgery to insert a screw for the fracture, but his thumb remains sore. ''It's clearly not 100 percent,'' Holliday said. ''It's more stable than it would be if I had not had the surgery.''

HELP ON THE WAY

With the Mets in a tight NL wild-card race, first baseman Lucas Duda is set to be activated from the disabled list after recovering from a stress fracture in his lower back. Duda hasn't played since May 20, but has been taking batting practice and will be integrated slowly. Left-hander Steven Matz, who has not pitched since Aug. 14 because of shoulder tightness, is scheduled for a bullpen session. And right-hander Jacob deGrom (forearm) will start Sunday's series finale against Minnesota in his first appearance since Sept. 1. In addition, Gold Glove outfielder Juan Lagares (thumb) was activated from the DL before Friday night's win but will be limited to a defensive-replacement role.

BIRD MAN

Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman (16-5, 3.68 ERA) faces Tampa Bay in his second start since returning from shoulder bursitis. Tillman beat Detroit on Sunday and can reach a career high in wins by defeating the last-place Rays. Tampa Bay will counter with Matt Andriese, who is 0-3 with a 9.24 ERA lifetime against Baltimore.

FAB FREDDIE

Braves bopper Freddie Freeman is expected back in the lineup against Washington, looking to reach base safely for a career-best 37th straight game. Freeman was not at the ballpark Friday to spend time with his wife and their first child, a son who was born on Thursday. During the streak, Freeman is batting .362. His run is the longest for Atlanta since Chipper Jones reached safely in 41 consecutive games in 2008.

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