Harper looks to snap slump; Fernandez goes for 6th straight win
Hitless in his last four games, Washington Nationals star and reigning NL MVP Bryce Harper hopes to get some pitches to hit in his club's series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals in the nation's capital.
Omitted from the starting lineup Wednesday for just the second time this year, Harper ended up grounding out as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning of a 2-0 loss to the New York Mets, making the 23-year-old 0-for-his-last-10 (albeit with a pair of walks and two sacrifice flies).
After smacking nine homers with a 1.121 OPS in April, Harper has struggled in May, with opponents consistently pitching around him. The three-time All-Star is hitting .197 with two homers since the calendar flipped over, but also boasts a .458 on-base percentage thanks to 31 walks.
Here's what else is happening all around the majors:
FERNANDEZ ROLLING
Miami Marlins right-hander Jose Fernandez (6-2, 3.02 ERA) goes for his sixth win in as many starts as his club closes out a four-game series with Florida-rival Tampa Bay. Since allowing five runs over 5 2/3 innings in his season debut, the 23-year-old boasts a 2.44 ERA with a 1.23 WHIP over 48 innings for the 24-22 Marlins, notching double-digit strikeouts in two of his last three outings. Fernandez, who leads all qualified starters with a 35.9 percent strikeout rate in 2016, hasn't allowed a home run since May 4.
SHADES OF GRAY
After stumbling in his last start, Colorado Rockies right-hander Jon Gray (1-2, 6.75) tries to get back on track against the Boston Red Sox. The hard-throwing youngster was pitching well until allowing nine runs in 3 1/3 innings during a 13-7 loss to the Cardinals in his last outing. Clay Buchholz (2-4, 5.92) will pitch for Boston, which has scored eight or more runs 10 times in its last 14 home games.
CC'S
New York Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia (3-2, 3.41) looks to continue his hot May in his club's series finale against the Toronto Blue Jays, having allowed just one run in two starts this month, both victories. Sabathia, who returned to the rotation May 20 after missing two weeks with a groin strain, has held opponents to three-or-fewer runs in each of his six starts. J.A. Happ (5-2, 3.43) will take the mound for Toronto.