Update on the latest sports
MLB SCHEDULE
Nat’s take first of Double-header to start the day
UNDATED (AP) — The Giants and Nationals got the day’s baseball action started in Washington this afternoon as the Nat’s beat the Giants 2-0. They’ll reconvene at Nationals Park this evening, for the second game of a doubleheader.
Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove faces Mets righty Marcus Stroman this afternoon in a showdown of veteran pitchers who are with their hometown teams.
Musgrove was traded to San Diego in the offseason and has taken a star turn after growing up in nearby El Cajon, California. He threw the franchise’s first no-hitter in April.
Stroman, from nearby Long Island, has returned to peak form since joining New York during the 2019 season. He’s 9-6 with a 3.03 ERA in 23 starts overall with the Mets.
In Tampa Bay, Rays left-hander Rich Hill looks to keep up his impressive run when the 41-year old faces the Baltimore Orioles. Hill is 4-1 with an 0.68 ERA (three earned runs, 39 2/3 innings) in his last seven starts. It’s the lowest ERA by a Rays traditional starter over a seven-start span in franchise history.
The Yankees and Phillies meet in Philadelphia in an unusual Saturday start to a series of only two games. New York sends right-hander Jameson Taillon to the mound against Phillies right-hander Vince Velasquez.
Other day games have Kansas City at Oakland, Toronto at Boston, the L.A. Angels in Arizona, Cincinnati hosting Colorado, Seattle visiting Cleveland, the Chicago White Sox in Detroit, Miami getting a visit from Atlanta and Milwaukee home against the Pirates.
Tonight, it’s Houston at Minnesota, St. Louis versus the Cubs at Wrigley and the Dodgers facing the Rangers in Chavez Ravine.
MLB NEWS
Mets’ ace Jacob deGrom on track for next scheduled start
NEW YORK (AP) — Two-time National League Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom is expected to make his next scheduled start for the New York Mets despite having to leave’s Friday game with tendinitis.
DeGrom played catch and threw a bullpen session Saturday afternoon. 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’s 0.56 ERA is the lowest ever by a pitcher through 10 starts, just ahead of Juan Marichal’s 0.59 in 1966. He threw six scoreless innings, extending his streak to 22.
In other baseball news:
— Reliever Hunter Strickland is switching teams again as the Milwaukee Brewers attempt to see if he can regain his early-season form. The Brewers announced they have acquired Strickland from the Los Angeles Angels for cash. This marks the second time this season that the 32-year-old right-hander has changed teams. The Angels purchased Strickland from the Tampa Bay Rays on May 15 before designating him for assignment Monday. Strickland had a 1.69 ERA in 13 appearances for Tampa Bay but posted a 9.95 ERA in nine games with the Angels. He didn’t have a decision for either team.
NBA PLAYOFFS
Clippers look for win on home court
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Clippers find themselves in familiar territory — down 2-0 in their second straight playoff series and seeing one player outplay their two superstars.
While the Clippers proved they could work their way out of a deep hole before, the challenges are steeper as they prepare to face the Utah Jazz on Saturday as the scene shifts to Staples Center for Game 3 of their Western Conference semifinal series.
The downtown Los Angeles court, which has been the franchise’s home since 1999, has not given them any advantages when it comes to the postseason. They have lost nine of their last 11 home playoff games.
Last Sunday’s 126-111 victory over Dallas in Game 7 snapped a eight-game home playoff losing streak.
NBA NEWS
Nets’ Harden out, Green questionable for Game 4 at Milwaukee
MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Brooklyn Nets again won’t have James Harden but could have forward Jeff Green back for Game 4 of their second-round playoff series with the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday.
Nets coach Steve Nash says Harden is out and Green is questionable. Nash says both players are “progressing well.”
Harden hasn’t played since leaving Game 1 of the series in the opening minute with tightness in his right hamstring. Green hasn’t played at all in the series due to a plantar fascia strain.
The Nets lead the Bucks 2-1 in the best-of-7 matchup.
FRENCH OPEN
Inspired by Novotna, Krejcikova wins 1st Slam title in Paris
PARIS (AP) — Unseeded Barbora Krejcikova (kreh-jih-KOH’-vah) has won her first Grand Slam title by beating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 in the French Open final.
This was only the fifth major tournament in singles for Krejcikova. The 25-year-old from the Czech Republic is the third unseeded women’s champion in the last five years at Roland Garros.
Krejcikova paid tribute to her late coach Jana Novotna in her on-court speech, calling her “an inspiration” and saying felt Novotna was “looking after me.” Novotna, a former Wimbledon champion, died of cancer in 2017.
Krejcikova now will try to become the first woman since 2000 to win the French Open singles and doubles titles in the same year.
The 31st-seeded Pavlyuchenkova was playing in her first Grand Slam final in the 52nd major tournament of her career.
RACING-INDYCAR
Johnson struggling, Rosenqvist injured
DETROIT (AP) — Felix Rosenqvist has been taken to a Detroit hospital following a crash early in the IndyCar race on Belle Isle. The throttle appeared to stick in Rosenqvist’s car as he entered the sixth turn at the Raceway at Belle Isle Park on Saturday.
The Swede slammed into a tire barrier with tremendous force, moving the retaining wall. Rosenqvist’s car was stuck nose-up at a nearly 45-degree angle jammed into the scattered tire barrier.
He seemed to struggle to catch his breath, and IndyCar’s safety team placed Rosenqvist in a neck brace. The race was red-flagged for the wall to be rebuilt
Meanwhile, Jimmie Johnson is struggling at the Raceway at Belle Isle Park, which is just his second career street course and fourth career IndyCar race.
He’s been far off the pace of the leaders headed into the Saturday and Sunday doubleheader races.
But the seven-time NASCAR champion said he’s not the driver who had Will Power so incensed following practice that Power was vowing to fight. Power is annoyed at drivers who are backing up on the track.
Johnson admits he’s the slowest in the field and drivers are having to back up to avoid him.
