A look at what’s happening all around the major leagues Tuesday:
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DARK KNIGHT’S NIGHT
Matt Harvey (12-7, 2.60 ERA) will pitch for the first time since seemingly ending a two-day uproar by declaring in The Players’ Tribune that he will throw for the first-place Mets if they reach the postseason. Harvey had been advised by doctors not to throw more than 180 innings this season, his first back from Tommy John surgery. The Mets said Monday that they will skip a couple of Harvey’s final regular season starts, meaning Tuesday could be one of his final tuneups before any possible postseason appearances. Second-place Washington sends out Jordan Zimmermann (12-8, 3.38) hoping to close the five-game gap in the NL East standings.
KNUCKLE DOWN
The Blue Jays turn to R.A. Dickey (10-10, 4.09) as they try to rebound from an 11-4 thumping by the Red Sox. Dickey has won seven straight decisions and owns a 2.90 ERA in his last nine starts. The knuckleballer threw a complete game in a 5-1 win over Cleveland his last time out. Boston calls on rookie LHP Henry Owens (2-2, 5.87).
STEADY TANAKA
With the news that Nathan Eovaldi will miss at least two weeks with right elbow inflammation, the pressure is on Masahiro Tanaka (11-6, 3.73) to help carry the second-place Yankees. Tanaka faces Baltimore with New York a half-game back of first-place Toronto. He’s settled in as a dependable rotation option for the Yankees, who have had trouble maintaining those this year due to injuries.
CLOBBERING CUBBIES
If the Cardinals are going to hold off the hard-charging Cubs, they’ll have to figure out how to cool Chicago’s powerful bats. The Cubs hit two homers in a 9-0 win Monday and have slugged 51 in the last 30 days, tops in the majors. Chicago has five players with 15-plus homers this year after just two reached that mark in 2014, and Kyle Schwarber (13) and Addison Russell (12) could get there soon, too. Michael Wacha (15-4, 2.69) is tasked with tamping down the Cubs’ offense.
STRONG ARMED
A night after facing Zack Greinke, the Angels square off with the Dodgers’ other ace – Clayton Kershaw (12-6, 2.18). The left-hander has regained his Cy Young form after a disappointing first half of the season, allowing one-or-fewer earned runs in 11 of his past 12 starts. The Angels will counter with rookie LHP Andrew Heaney (6-2, 3.18).
LONGO’S LONG BALLS
Since clubbing 32 home runs and 39 doubles in 2013, Rays 3B Evan Longoria has struggled to replicate that power, but he’ll try to continue a recent surge in a game against Detroit. Longoria homered in a 5-4 loss to the Tigers on Monday and has five homers in his last seven games, giving him 19 for the season. The face of Tampa Bay’s franchise hit 20-plus home runs in six of his first seven seasons.
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