Major League Baseball

LEADING OFF: 'Utley Rule' draws ire, Ortiz climbing charts

Published Apr. 6, 2016 3:36 a.m. ET

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

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BY THE BOOK

Three days into the season, baseball's new ''Chase Utley Rule'' is already under fire. The new decree replaced Toronto's go-ahead run with a game-ending double play in the Rays' 3-2 win on Tuesday. ''Maybe we'll come out wearing dresses tomorrow,'' furious Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. ''Maybe that's what everybody's looking for.''

CHART CLIMBING

David Ortiz will move into sole possession of 26th place on the career homer list with his next long ball. Big Papi tied Hall of Famer Eddie Murray with his 504th homer Tuesday and also picked up his 585th double, matching Rafael Palmeiro for 17th place. Clay Buchholz and the Red Sox face Carlos Carrasco and the Indians.

POCKET ACE

Marlins star Jose Fernandez gets the ball in Miami's second game after he was passed over for Wei-Yin Chen on opening day. Miami said it pushed Fernandez off the opener to help limit his innings in his first full season back from Tommy John surgery. The 23-year-old threw 64 2/3 innings in his return last season.

SICK STUFF

Oakland's Sonny Gray finally makes his season debut against the White Sox after being scratched Monday because of food poisoning that sent him to the emergency room. Gray went 14-7 with a 2.73 ERA last season, when he had a bout of salmonella that hospitalized him for several days. This case wasn't considered nearly as serious, though the team said he had lost some weight.

FIRST LOOK

Japanese star Kenta Maeda gets his first start with the Dodgers after signing a $25 million, eight-year deal that could be worth $106.2 million if he stays healthy. Maeda averaged exactly 200 innings per year over his final seven seasons with Hiroshima while working in a six-man rotation. He'll oppose Andrew Cashner and the Padres in his first major league start.

COMEBACK KID

Tyler Chatwood's long road back to the majors concludes when the Colorado Rockies' right-hander starts against Arizona, his first big league appearance in two years. Chatwood, who underwent two Tommy John surgeries, looked strong this spring. The Diamondbacks counter with left-hander Patrick Corbin, who had his own Tommy John surgery in 2014. This season, he's been cleared of all restrictions.

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Wrigley Field's iconic marquee is scheduled to be installed after an offseason restoration that included structural repairs and cosmetic work. Restored statues of Ron Santo, Billy Williams and Harry Caray were installed Monday outside the Cubs' ballpark in Chicago. The Ernie Banks statue is scheduled to be reinstalled on Friday. The work is part of an ongoing multiyear transformation of the ballpark and surroundings that includes a new home clubhouse this season.

FAMILIAR FACES

The finale of the season-opening series between Seattle and Texas will feel like the end of a family reunion for several Mariners. New manager Scott Servais said the Rangers started his ''second career'' in player development. Bench coach Tim Bogar also spent time in the Texas organization, initially replacing Ron Washington when the franchise's winningest manager resigned suddenly late in the 2014 season. Seattle DH Nelson Cruz became a star slugger as the Rangers went to the World Series in 2010 and 2011, and Leonys Martin spent his first three full seasons with Texas before an offseason trade. Joaquin Benoit was in the Texas bullpen for eight seasons starting in 2001.

DECISION TIME

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said he expects to rule soon on possible discipline for Colorado Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes regarding an offseason incident with his wife. Hawaii prosecutors dropped charges last week and said his wife was not cooperating. Reyes is currently suspended with pay under baseball's new domestic violence policy.