AROUND THE HORN
Reds: The Reds activated Canadian slugger Joey Votto off the injured list before Friday’s game in Toronto against the Blue Jays. A six-time All-star in 16 seasons, Votto hasn’t played a lot in front of the local fans — only nine games at Rogers Centre, during which he’s hit three home runs while going 8 for 33 (.242) with seven RBIS. Votto, who grew up in Toronto, was in the lineup in the cleanup spot Friday against Blue Jays lefthander Hyun Jin Ryu.
Tigers, Guardians: The Tigers and the Guardians were without their managers for the series opener between the teams Friday night. Detroit’s A.J. Hinch missed the game because he isn’t feeling well but tested negative for COVID19. Bench coach George Lombard managed the team. Cleveland’s Terry Francona missed the game to have a minor surgical procedure and is expected to be back Saturday. Francona returned to the team Wednesday after being out four games with COVID-19. Bench coach Demarlo Hale ran the Guardians.
Phillies: Phillies slugger Bryce Harper missed his fifth straight game when the Phillies opened up a threegame series against the Dodgers on Friday. Harper had a platelet-rich plasma injection in his right elbow on Sunday.
Mets, Rockies: A winter storm warning postponed the opener of the Rockies’ three-game series against the Mets. The forecast calls for 3 to 5 inches of snow at Coors Field in Denver. The teams will attempt to make it up in a split doubleheader on Saturday, but more snow was in the forecast for Saturday morning before it was expected to clear, with a low of 34 degrees in the evening.
Nationals: Nationals infielder Carter Kieboom will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery to address the elbow issue that landed him on the injured list in March. Manager Dave Martinez said before the Nationals’ Friday night game at Milwaukee that Kieboom will have the surgery on May 27. Martinez had more encouraging updates for other injured players. He said Stephen Strasburg and Joe Ross each threw 43 pitches and three innings in a simulated game Thursday in Florida. “They came out of it feeling good,” Martinez said. Both pitchers have side sessions Saturday and will next throw four innings and 60 pitches. Martinez said the Nationals could send both out for minor-league rehabilitation assignments as the right-handers prepare to make their 2022 debuts.
Red Sox: Red Sox second baseman Trevor Story connected again Friday night — this time with a former Boston player seated atop the Green Monster. Story, who hit three home runs in Boston’s victory Thursday, launched a grand slam to give the Red Sox a 4-0 lead over the Mariners in the third inning. Former Red Sox left fielder Jonny Gomes was back in the action, too, sitting atop the Green Monster instead of playing in front of it. Seated in the first row of seats above Fenway Park’s fabled left-field wall, the 41-yearold Gomes, who played on Boston’s 2013 World Series championship team, stood up and moved a step or two to his right before corralling the ball against his body. He pumped his fist and highfived the fan next to him. Did he expect to get a home run ball? “Yeah,” Gomes said with a big smile, the ball sitting on the table in front of him. “That’s why I’m up here. These are the best seats in the game.”