NL CENTRAL
“It would have hit me directly in the eye socket if I wouldn’t have had the C-flap on. That thing saved my life.” Brewers center fielder Deon Broxton, on escaping with a small nasal fracture when he was struck on the extended flap of his batting helmet by a pitch from the Colorado Rockies’ Antonio Senzatela
Chicago Cubs
Javier Baez has taken over as the primary second baseman while Ben Zobrist has shifted to a super utility role.
Baez started four of the Cubs’ first six games, each at second base. Last year, he made 38 starts at second base, 36 at third base, 21 at shortstop and two at first base in the regular season but started all 17 postseason games at second.
Zobrist made 113 of his 142 regular-season starts at second in 2016. This year, three of his first five starts were in right field and the other two were at second.
Meanwhile, Jason Heyward, who won a Gold Glove Award as a right fielder last year, made three starts in right field and two in center in the first six games.
Third baseman Kris Bryant began the season 0-for-14 before managing a single in the fourth game.
It was the longest hitless stretch to start a season by a reigning National League MVP since another Cubs player, Ryne Sandberg, went 0-for-13 in 1985.
Jake Arrieta allowed one unearned run in six innings to beat the St. Louis Cardinals on April 4. It marked the 30th start in which the right-hander had not given up an earned run since making his Cubs debut July 30, 2013, matching Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw for the most in the major leagues during that span, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
Cincinnati Reds
Amir Garrett had a major league debut to remember. He pitched two-hit ball over six scoreless innings to beat the Cardinals in St. Louis on April 7.
The 6-5 left-hander played college basketball at St. John’s for two seasons and credited the experience of playing in the Big East Conference for steadying his nerve.
“When I went out there, it was, ‘I’ve been here before, just in a different sport,’ ” Garrett said. “I was able to look around for a second and see everything.”
Right-hander Rookie Davis made his major league debut a day earlier and allowed four runs in three innings of a no-decision against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Catcher Devin Mesoraco began a rehab assignment at Class AA Pensacola (Fla.) on April 6 and went 2-for-6 with a home run in his first two games.
The 2014 All-Star played in a combined 39 games for the Reds the last two seasons while having surgeries on both hips and his right shoulder in a 13-month span.
Mesoraco will be activated when he is able to catch nine innings on consecutive days.
Outfielder Tyler Goeddel was claimed off waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies and sent to Class AAA Louisville. He spent all of last season in the major leagues after the Phillies got him from the Tampa Bay Rays as a Rule 5 pick, but he hit .192/.258/.291 with four home runs in 92 games.
Milwaukee Brewers
Left-hander Tommy Milone moved into the rotation from his long relief role after right-hander
Junior Guerra strained his right calf during his opening-day start.
Signed to a minor league con- tract as a free agent in the offseason, Milone lost his first start April 8, getting touched for four runs in four innings by the Cubs. He made 118 starts from 2011 to 2016 with the Minnesota Twins, Oakland Athletics and Washington Nationals.
Guerra, 32, was placed on the disabled list and is expected to be out until mid-May. He was one of the biggest surprises in baseball last season, going 9-3 with a 2.81 ERA in 20 starts as a rookie.
Utility player Nick Franklin was claimed off waivers from Tampa Bay and hit a home run off Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks on April 8 in his Brewers debut. uRight- hander Matt Garza (right groin) is scheduled to make a rehab start for Class AAA Colorado Springs on Wednesday. He was injured in his final outing of spring training.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Andrew McCutchen is making a seamless transition to right field after spending the first eight years of his career as a center fielder.
McCutchen had two defensive runs saved through his first four games. Last year, his -28 DRS was the worst mark in the major leagues at any position.
McCutchen has come to accept the new position after initially being less than thrilled to learn he would be changing spots. Star
ling Marte moved to center field from left, and Gregory Polanco shifted to left from right.
“It’s cool,” McCutchen said. “The outfield is the outfield.”
McCutchen made an outstanding catch in the second game of the season April 6 against the Boston Red Sox on a deep fly ball that carried to Fenway Park’s short bullpen wall.
The Pirates hit two home runs in their first four games, not surprising considering they are missing third baseman Jung Ho
Kang (21 homers last year) and lost utility player Sean Rodriguez (18) and outfielder Matt Joyce (13) in free agency.
Kang is on the restricted list while attempting to secure a work visa in his native South Korea.
Polanco began the season as the regular cleanup hitter. He made 37 starts batting fourth in his first three seasons.
St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals’ biggest news thus far this year has been the $144.5 million in contracts they’ve handed out. Right fielder Stephen Piscotty signed a six-year, $33.5 million contract one day after catcher
Yadier Molina got a three-year, $60 million deal just before the season opener. Right-hander
Carlos Martinez signed a fiveyear, $51 million contract before spring training.
“When you look at the climate of baseball right now and the free agent market, it’s not a place that we’re going to have a lot of success in if we’re going to rely on it,” general manager John Mozeliak said. “To be able to lock up our younger and talented players does mean a lot to our future.”
Piscotty made his major league debut July 21, 2015, and batted .282/.348/.467 with 29 home runs in his first 11⁄ seasons. 2
“This was a pretty easy decision for me,” Piscotty said. “It came down to the fact, one, I love this organization, and two, this deal gives myself and my future family financial security.” uRight- handed reliever Trevor Rosenthal (back muscle) had a 20-pitch bullpen session April 7. He could begin a rehab assignment this week.
Left-hander Tyler Lyons, who had right knee surgery in November, pitched 31⁄ scoreless 3 innings for Class AAA Memphis in his first rehab start.