LEADING OFF: Ohtani, Schwarber staging own home run derby

A look at what's happening around the majors on Wednesday:

ATTA BABE

Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani (3-1, 2.58 ERA) is expected to become the second player and first since Babe Ruth to start on the mound and hit in the top half of the batting order in the Bronx.

Ohtani has looked plenty comfortable at the plate in New York this week, hitting a home run Monday night and then connecting for two more homers Tuesday night, giving him a major league-leading 28.

This will be Ohtani’s first pitching appearance at Yankee Stadium and his career-high 12th pitching start this season. He’ll oppose Yankees righty Domingo Germán (4-5, 4.32 ERA).

Ruth batted third in his final game on the mound on Oct. 1, 1933. The Bambino homered and threw a 12-hit complete game with three walks and no strikeouts, leading the Yankees over the Boston Red Sox 6-5.

SLUGGING SCHWARBER

Kyle Schwarber tries to extend his amazing string of longballs after launching another leadoff shot in Washington.

Schwarber hit his 12th home run in 10 games Tuesday night, connecting on the first pitch of the game from Tampa Bay's Rich Hill. Schwarber tied Albert Belle in 1995 for the most over that span since at least 1901.

Schwarber hit his major league-leading seventh leadoff home run, all in June. His 16 home runs this month are the second most in any June behind Sammy Sosa’s 20 in 1998.

He has 16 home runs in 18 games since being moved into the leadoff spot in the Nationals’ batting order on June 8.

Schwarber has 25 home runs overall in his first season with the Nationals.

SHORT STAFFED?

Mariners pitcher Héctor Santiago is appealing his 10-game suspension after becoming the first player penalized under Major League Baseball’s crackdown on grip-enhancing foreign...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/LEADING-OFF-Ohtani-Schwarber-staging-own-home-16283097.php