LEADING OFF
A look at what’s happening around the majors Wednesday:
SHOHEI AND THE RANGERS: Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani pitches at Texas again a month after allowing six runs over 3⅔ innings in a 10-5 loss to the Rangers at Globe Life Field. Ohtani has been stellar on the mound since that second consecutive loss to open the season — after he lost just twice in 23 starts last year. He is 3-0 with a 1.13 ERA and 32 strikeouts in four starts covering 24 innings since that visit to his AL West rival. Speaking of division foes, Ohtani’s 4.56
ERA against the Rangers is the second-highest of any team he has faced at least twice. The highest is Houston (4.75).
MISSOURI MAX: Mets ace and St. Louis-area native Max Scherzer (4-1, 2.66 ERA) makes his 15th career start against the Cardinals, one of three teams against which he has a losing record — he’s 4-6 with a 2.55 ERA versus his hometown club.
He got a no-decision against St. Louis last month despite striking out 10 over seven scoreless innings at Busch Stadium. He’ll face hardthrowing Cardinals right-hander Jordan Hicks (1-3, 4.15) in the third game of a four-game set.
OCTOBER CONTENDERS: Atlanta and Milwaukee, both NL division winners last season, wrap up their playoff rematch when Braves lefty Max Fried (4-2, 3.14 ERA) faces reigning Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes (1-2, 1.77) in the finale of a three-game series.
Atlanta reliever Tyler Matzek went on the injured list Tuesday, retroactive to May 14, with left shoulder inflammation — but star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. returned to the lineup in a 3-0 victory after missing five games with a sore groin.