LEADING OFF: Alvarez carries U.S. flag, big rivalries abound

A look at what’s happening around the majors today:

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BANNER DAY

Miami Marlins infielder Eddy Alvarez and four-time Olympic women’s basketball gold medalist Sue Bird will be the U.S. flag bearers for the opening ceremonies of the Tokyo Games.

The 31-year-old Alvarez won a silver medal in speedskating at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

Alvarez becomes the first baseball player to carry the flag for the U.S. The sport returned to the Olympics at the request of Japan after being absent from the previous two Summer Games.

Alvarez made his big league debut last August with Miami and hit .189 in 12 games. He’s been in the minors this year, batting .312 in 27 games.

ACE IN THE HOLE

Cardinals left-hander Kwang Hyun Kim looks to extend his scoreless streak when he faces Anthony Rizzo, Javier Báez and the Chicago Cubs at home in the finale of a four-game series. The South Korean-born Kim (5-5, 2.87 ERA) has not allowed a run over his last 21 innings, covering three-plus starts. He has permitted no more than one run in six of his past seven outings.

Kim, who has won four straight starts, went six innings to beat the Cubs 6-0 at Wrigley Field on July 10.

“He’s been huge for us,” St. Louis slugger Paul Goldschmidt said. “He gives us a good chance to win any time he’s on the mound.”

TEAMS OF RIVALS

In addition to Cubs-Cardinals, two more of baseball’s biggest rivalries are in play on the same day as the New York Yankees open a four-game series at Fenway Park in Boston, and the San Francisco Giants wrap up a four-game set at Dodger Stadium.

The short-handed Yankees took two of three from AL East-leading Boston last weekend at home for their first wins over the Red Sox this year after dropping the first seven meetings. That series also...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/LEADING-OFF-Alvarez-carries-U-S-flag-big-16331531.php