Bauer starts Twitter spat for comments about Astros pitchers

HOUSTON » Cleveland pitcher Trevor Bauer ignited a Twitter battle on Tuesday when he insinuated Astros pitchers are using sticky substances to increase their spin rates.

It started when Bauer responded to a tweet that read: “Are Astros doctoring baseball or throwing spit balls. Look at spin rates of (Justin) Verlander, (Gerrit) Cole and (Charlie) Morton, increased dramatically pitching in Astros uniform. They (sic) probably using a substance or like chewing gum like Morton did like postseason.”

Bauer’s first tweet was simply 36 thinking emojis before he went further in a sarcastic second tweet that read: “If only there was just a really quick way to increase spin rate. Like what if you could trade for a player knowing that you could bump his spin rate a couple hundred rpm overnight...imagine the steals you could get on the trade market! If only that existed.”

Houston starter Lance McCullers Jr. soon came to the defense of his team with a tweet. It read in part: “Jealousy isn’t a good look on you my man. You have great stuff and have worked hard for it, like the rest of us, no need for this.”

Bauer responded to McCullers, saying he isn’t jealous and that he respects “what you all are doing over there.” He then added that: “My gripe is with the hypocrisy of MLB for selectively enforcing rules when it suits them.”

McCullers refused to talk about it when asked to follow up before the game. Astros manager A.J. Hinch was quick to share his thoughts about Bauer’s tweets.

“Honestly I roll my eyes at it,” Hinch said. “But I do think people need to sweep their own front porch and deal with their own situations more than throw allegations around that are unfounded. I don’t know if it’s a personal vendetta or if he’s got a problem with things. I know sometimes Twitter considers itself the police of the world but in this situation it’s time to get to baseball.”

Houston third baseman Alex Bregman got involved in the spat later Tuesday with a tweet in which he called Bauer the wrong name. He tweeted: “Relax Tyler ... those World Series balls spin a little different.”

Giants’ Cueto hits the DL

SAN FRANCISCO » Right-hander Johnny Cueto has been put on the 10-day disabled list by the San Francisco because of inflammation in his pitching elbow, and the Giants said left-hander Madison Bumgarner has been cleared to resume throwing.

Cueto leads the major leagues with a 0.84 ERA. The two-time All-Star is 3-0 in five starts with 26 strikeouts in 32 innings. He was on the DL from April 7-17 with a sprained left ankle.

Bumgarner broke the pinkie on his left hand in the team’s final spring training game and is at least a month from returning.

Bumgarner was given clearance to throw off flat ground this weekend. The 2014 World Series MVP met in Arizona with Dr. Donald Sheridan, who inserted three pins into Bumgarner’s pitching hand after the lefthander was hit by a line drive.

Twins place Sano on DL

MINNEAPOLIS » The Twins have placed third baseman Miguel Sano on the 10-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring.

The Twins made the before their game against Toronto, retroactive to Saturday. Sano is batting just .213 in 20 games, with four doubles, five home runs, 14 RBIs and nine walks.

Mariners, A’s to open in Japan

NEW YORK » The Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners will play an opening two-game series in Tokyo next season on March 20 and 21, the fifth time Major League Baseball will start its season in Japan.

Major League Baseball said Oakland will be the home team for both games. Both the Athletics and Mariners will play Japanese teams in exhibitions on March 17 and 18.

The A’s and Mariners also faced each other in the last opening series at the Tokyo Dome, splitting two games in 2012.