LEADING OFF
A look at what’s happening around the majors today:
$140 MILLION MAN: Patrick Corbin begins earning the $140 million contract he signed with the Nationals, making his first start for his new team against the visiting Mets. The 29-yearold lefty was considered the top starting pitcher on the free agent market and got a six-year deal to slot in behind Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg. The Nationals couldn’t win behind either Scherzer or Strasburg in the first two games of the season, though, and they’ll be hoping Corbin can prevent a sweep and an 0-3 start.
BRYCE ON THE BOARD: Bryce Harper and the Phillies conclude their first series a day after he hit a mammoth home run and got a rather enthusiastic curtain call for the second game of the season. Harper’s homer was projected to 465 feet, traveling well into the second deck in right-center field at Citizens Bank Park. The crowd responded with a long ovation, including the Phillie Phanatic, who wore cleats bearing Harper’s face after Harper did the same for the fuzzy mascot in his Phillies debut. RHP Jake Arrieta is scheduled to start against Braves rookie RHP Kyle Wright.
LATE START: The Astros hope to get Carlos Correa back at shortstop after he missed the season’s first three games with neck stiffness. Aledmys Diaz filled in for the first two games against Tampa Bay and made two errors. Albuquerque’s Alex Bregman slid over from third to short Saturday and hit his first homer of the season on his 25th birthday. Correa dealt with back pain throughout the 2018 season, setting career lows with a .239 average, 15 homers and a .728 OPS. Veteran lefty Wade Miley is slated to make his first start with the Astros after signing a $4.5 million, one-year free agent deal. Tampa Bay is expected to use an opener for the first time this season.
WELCOME BACK: Twins RHP Michael Pineda will step onto a major league mound for the first time since July 5, 2017, when he was pitching for the Yankees. He had Tommy John surgery later that month, signed with the Twins in the offseason, and spent all of 2018 on the disabled list. He’ll face Cleveland RHP Carlos Carrasco, who had 231 strikeouts in 192 innings last season.