Bauer wants MLB to allow substances on ball

Cleveland Indians right-hander Trevor Bauer believes baseball should allow pitchers to use sticky substances on the ball during games.

The present rules that ban pitchers from doing so are rarely enforced, he said Wednesday. He added sticky substances increase movement on the ball and give pitchers an advantage.

Bauer started a Twitter battle on Tuesday when he insinuated Houston Astros pitchers are using such substances to increase their spin rates. He addressed the issue before Wednesday’s game against Texas.

“I want to make it abundantly clear and not mince words on it,” he said. “I have no problem with any other organization in the league. None. Regarding the Astros, I think they do a great job of player development. I have no accusations against them at all. I’ve never made any. And I’m not accusing them of cheating.”

Bauer had no comment when asked if he has used a substance on the ball.

“We know how it affects spin rate and we know how spin rate affects outcomes and pitches and movements that have a big difference in a game, a season and each individual player’s career,” he said.

Bauer compared the issue to the steroids scandal that rocked baseball.

“If you just look the other way and you let some people do it, the people who chose not to do it are at a competitive disadvantage,” he said. “And that’s what’s going on right now.”

Elbow bothering Cueto: San Francisco right-hander Johnny Cueto may meet with specialist James Andrews on the Giants upcoming road trip to get his sore pitching elbow evaluated.

Cueto was placed on the disabled list Tuesday night with inflammation in his right elbow. Manager Bruce Bochy later acknowledged that Cueto had been pitching with soreness in his previous two starts.

The Giants are awaiting results of an MRI taken on Cueto’s elbow, but Bochy noted Cueto would be seeking a second opinion.

Cueto leads the majors with a 0.84 ERA.