LEADING OFF: Cleveland goes for 15, Fernandez doing it all
A look at what's happening all around the majors today:
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CLEVELAND IN CANADA
A day after spoiling Toronto's Canada Day celebration with a 19-inning victory , the Indians try to extend their franchise-record winning streak to 15 games against the Blue Jays. Cleveland got a homer from Carlos Santana off infielder Darwin Barney in the 19th to win Friday, breaking a record set in 1942 and matched in 1951. ''I guess if you're going to set a record, you might as well do it the hard way,'' said winning pitcher Trevor Bauer, who was Saturday's scheduled starter but instead threw 83 pitches in extra innings Friday.
HITTING JOSE
Jose Fernandez (10-3, 2.28) takes the mound against Atlanta a night after his pinch-hit double in the 12th drove in the decisive runs in a 7-5 win. The Marlins ace has allowed one or fewer runs in eight of his past nine outings, putting together a 1.18 ERA and 7-1 record over that stretch. Oh, and he raised his average to .250 for the season with his double Friday night.
HILL RETURNS
A's left-hander Rich Hill (8-3, 2.25) is expected to come off the disabled list to start against Pittsburgh. He's been out since May 30 with a strained groin after emerging as one of the AL's best pitchers after signing a one-year, $6 million deal in the offseason. Hill should help stabilize Oakland's struggling rotation, and with the A's falling out of contention, he could wind up trade bait for a contender this month, too. Chad Kuhl (1-0, 5.40) makes his second big league start for Pittsburgh after beating Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers in his debut.
DIAZ JUST FINE
Aledmys Diaz returned to the lineup Friday with a red - but no longer swollen - right eye and had two hits. Diaz, a Rookie of the Year contender as the Cardinals shortstop, had missed the previous three games after fouling a pitch off his face on Monday. He also had 11 assists on Friday, the most by a St. Louis rookie since Stu Martin had 11 at second base on June 6, 1936. The Cardinals send out Adam Wainwright (6-5, 5.04) to face Milwaukee's Jimmy Nelson (5-6, 3.60).
SALE A WINNER
Chris Sale (13-2, 2.79) tries to stretch his major league lead to 14 victories when the White Sox face the Astros. Sale has pitched at least seven innings in three straight starts and logged eight innings of two-run ball in a 5-2 win over Toronto his last time out. Houston counters with Doug Fister (8-4, 3.36).
