A look at what’s happening all around the majors Thursday:
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RED-HOT RED SOX
Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts are on a tear for the Boston Red Sox in Baltimore. Betts homered three times Tuesday and went deep in his first two at-bats Wednesday, giving him five home runs in a span of seven at-bats. Bogaerts has a 25-game hitting streak, the second-longest in the majors this season behind the 29-game run of teammate Jackie Bradley Jr. that ended last Thursday against Colorado. Bradley spent the past two days on the paternity list.
TEENAGE DREAM
Top prospect Julio Urias gets his second major league start when the Dodgers conclude a four-game series against the Cubs in Chicago. The 19-year-old lefty made his debut last week, allowing three runs and four walks over 2 2/3 innings against the Mets. It could be an important audition for Urias – a rotation spot is open with left-hander Alex Wood sidelined at least four weeks with an elbow injury.
MAD WINNER
Giants ace Madison Bumgarner (6-2, 2.12 ERA) puts his five-game winning streak on the line in the finale of a four-game series against the last-place Braves. The left-hander has a 1.28 ERA in his last seven starts – all wins for San Francisco. He has 54 strikeouts and 14 walks while allowing a .196 batting average over 49 1/3 innings during that span.
STRUGGLING ACES
After ending a five-game skid last time out, AL Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel (3-6, 5.58 ERA) tries to begin a winning streak when the Astros finish a series against the Diamondbacks. Keuchel’s average fastball velocity is down to 88.2 mph. Arizona sends out its own struggling ace in Zack Greinke (6-3, 4.71).
WELCOME BACK
Indians right-hander Carlos Carrasco, sidelined since late April with a strained left hamstring, comes off the disabled list to start against Kansas City. Carrasco, who is 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA in four starts, was injured covering first base against Detroit on April 24.
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