Busy night in MLB with 20 games on tap

Major League Baseball had its fullest schedule in nearly a half-century Friday with 20 games set to be played, including five doubleheaders caused by postponements for weather, the coronavirus and protests of racial injustice.

The last time 20 games were on the schedule was Aug. 4, 1974, when there were nine doubleheaders, the Elias Sports Bureau said.

The stats from Friday and that Sunday afternoon 46 years ago are certain to be different.

There were 12 complete games thrown that day, including nine-inning efforts by Catfish Hunter, Luis Tiant and Dave McNally. The pitching star might’ve been someone who got a no-decision — Dan Freisleben threw 13 shutout innings for San Diego against Cincinnati. Only three of those 20 games back then took more than 2 hours, 40 minutes.

INDIANS MANAGER FRANCONA IMPROVING >> Indians manager Terry Francona is feeling better after undergoing surgeries and a hospital stay, but it may be some time before he’s healthy enough to rejoin the AL Central leaders.

“The good news is he is feeling better,” Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said. “He still is recovering, so it will still be a little while before he rejoins us, but I was real encouraged by the way he looked today and I know he said he’s feeling better, which is all great news.

Antonetti said Francona was highly complimentary of the job first-base coach Sandy Alomar has done filling in for him. The Indians are 15-8 under Alomar.

CUBS BRINGING BACK STROP >> The Chicago Cubs agreed to a minor league deal with Pedro Strop, bringing back the popular reliever after he was released by Cincinnati.

Strop will report to the team’s alternate training site in South Bend, Indiana. The Cubs are leading the NL Central, but their bullpen has struggled at times.

Strop had a 2.90 ERA in 411 appearances with the Cubs over seven years. But Strop struggled last season, going 2-5 with 10 saves and a 4.97 ERA. He signed with the Reds in the offseason.

SMALL BALL >> Braves right-hander Max Fried (6-0, 1.60 ERA) is the only qualified starting pitcher in the majors who hasn’t given up a home run this season, a run he’ll try to extend against the Nationals.

NL East-leading Atlanta has won all eight of Fried’s starts.