MLB tweaks final-day schedule
Major League Baseball is tweaking this year’s schedule for the final day of the season, hoping to create a huge playoff scramble by starting all 15 games on Oct. 4 at virtually the same time.
MLB Chief Operating Officer Tony Petitti said every game will begin shortly after 3 p.m. EDT. The original schedule announced in January had games in Baltimore, Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia starting about a half-hour later than the rest.
The plan, the latest innovation under new Commissioner Rob Manfred, was spurred by the last-day chase in 2011 when four teams dueled for two wild-card spots.
The Los Angeles Times initially reported the move.
Turner has the rights to the time slot. Petitti said there has been talk about whether teams out of the race can shift game times, but there’s been no decision.
Eaton, White Sox agree to $23.5 million, 5-year contract
Outfielder Adam Eaton and the Chicago White Sox agreed to a $23.5 million, five-year contract that includes team options for 2020 and ’21.
Eaton hit .300 with 26 doubles, 10 triples, one homer, 35 RBIs, 76 runs and 15 steals last season, his first with the White Sox.
The deal replaces a $560,000, one-year deal agreed to March 11.
Chicago has options for $9.5 million in 2020 and $10.5 million in 2021. If either option is declined, Eaton would receive a $1.5 million buyout.
Dodgers’ Kershaw loses tooth when hit in face by liner
Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw lost part of a tooth on Friday when he was hit by a line drive in the third inning, but the N.L. MVP and Cy Young Award winner stayed in the game and finished a five-inning outing in Mesa, Arizona.
Kershaw was struck in the jaw by a broken-bat line drive by Oakland’s Andy Parrino.
“It felt like getting hit by a pitch,” said Kershaw.
After being examined by Dodgers trainers, Kershaw got the next batter, Coco Crisp, on a lineout to second base then gave up an RBI single to Craig Gentry.
The tooth, from the back of his mouth, was recovered on the field.
Kershaw gave up three hits and a run in five innings. He struck out four.
MLB says Hamilton decision expected by opening day
Manfred says Major League Baseball expects to make a decision on possible discipline against Los Angeles Angels star Josh Hamilton by opening day.
Hamilton has had a long history of drug and alcohol abuse, and has been suspended in the past. The Angels said Hamilton met with baseball officials last month, but neither side provided details on the reason for the session.
Hamilton is recovering from shoulder surgery and his status for opening day was in jeopardy even before the meeting with MLB.
Around the bases
Chicago Cubs pitcher Jon Lester will miss his scheduled start Saturday because of arm fatigue. Cubs manager Joe Maddon said “he is just going through a little bit of a dead-arm period.” Lester, who signed a $155 million, six-year contract during the offseason, is not experiencing pain, according to Maddon, and has gone through similar periods in previous spring trainings. … New York Mets pitcher Zack Wheeler will have Tommy John surgery early next week and is expecting a 14-month rehabilitation, a schedule that would put him back in the major leagues in June 2016. The 24-year-old right-hander has a complete tear in his ulnar collateral ligament, a partial tendon tear and a calcium deposit on the bone. … David Price is getting the nod as opening-day starter for the Detroit Tigers, ending Justin Verlander’s run of having that honor at seven straight seasons. Price was acquired from Tampa Bay at the July 31 trade deadline and had a better season than Verlander. After a dominant run which included the 2011 A.L. MVP and Cy Young Award, Verlander struggled last year, going 15-12 with a 4.54 ERA. Price went 4-4 with a 3.59 ERA for Detroit and had a 3.26 ERA overall.