LEADING OFF: Cole goes for 21st in row, Tigers’ Mize debuts

A look at what’s happening around the majors on Wednesday:

ACE SEEKS BLACKJACK

Yankees ace Gerrit Cole can set an AL record by winning his 21st consecutive regular season start when New York hosts the AL East rival Rays. Cole’s 20-game run matches Roger Clemens for the best in AL history, and Hall of Famer Carl Hubbell holds the major league record at 24. Cole hasn’t lost a decision in the regular season since May 22, 2019, against the White Sox while with Houston.

FRESH STRIPES

The Tigers will debut another prized pitching prospect when Casey Mize starts against the White Sox. A night after left-hander Tarik Skubal allowed four runs in two innings in his first big league appearance, Mize will try to do better. The right-hander was the first overall pick in the 2018 draft and helped form a dominant rotation at Double-A Erie with Skubal last year.

NEW TEAM, NEW START

Matt Harvey is set to make his debut for the Kansas City Royals, trying to resurrect a career that’s been filled with starts and stops for the former All-Star.

The 31-year-old Harvey is scheduled to start the second game of a seven-inning doubleheader against Cincinnati at Kauffman Stadium. Once dominant with the Mets, Harvey did well enough for the Reds in 2018, but was 3-5 with a 7.09 ERA for the Angels last year.

Harvey pitched in the minors for Oakland late last season and signed with the Royals last month.

”It’s not strange. It’s more exciting than anything,” said Harvey, who pitched against the Royals for the New York Mets in the 2015 World Series.

The Reds have been out of action since a player returned a positive test Friday night. They had home games against Pittsburgh called off Saturday and Sunday, then had Tuesday night’s game in Kansas City postponed and rescheduled as part of this doubleheader.

STREAKING

Corey Seager and the Dodgers have won seven in a row and own the best record in the majors at 18-7. They sent the Mariners to their seventh straight loss, 2-1 Tuesday. The teams went straight from Dodger Stadium, where it was 102 degrees for the first pitch, to the airport for the two-hour flight to Seattle, where Los Angeles sends Julio Urias (2-0, 2.53) against Taijuan Walker (1-2, 4.05 ERA). … Alex Bregman and the Astros have won a season-high six straight after beating Colorado 2-1 at Muinute Maid Park. The clubs now open a series at Coors Field when Houston’s Framber Valdez (1-2, 1.90) opposes Ryan Castellani (0-0, 1.04).

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