LEADING OFF: Giants vs Dodgers, Nola and Means back on mound

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

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WESTERN STARS

Buster Posey and the surprising San Francisco Giants continue their pivotal four-game series against the rival Dodgers. The star catcher hit a two-run homer his first time up Monday night after missing two weeks with a bruised left thumb, and San Francisco won the opener 7-2 in Los Angeles after putting All-Star shortstop Brandon Crawford on the 10-day injured list due to an oblique strain.

The Giants, in first place since May 31, lead the NL West by two games over the defending World Series champion Dodgers. Alex Wood (8-3, 3.67 ERA) pitches for San Francisco against his former team. The funky left-hander is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA this month.

ALL CLEAR

Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola returns to the mound in New York against the Yankees after missing his last scheduled start because of COVID-19 contact tracing.

Nola never tested positive for the coronavirus but was sidelined after teammate Alec Bohm did July 10 in Boston.

Nola is 6-5 with a 4.53 ERA in 18 starts for the Phillies, who entered Monday's play two games behind the first-place New York Mets in the NL East. Domingo Germán (4-5, 4.72) pitches for the Yankees.

HOME GAME

The Oakland City Council is expected to vote at its meeting on whether to preliminarily approve the Athletics' new ballpark project at Howard Terminal in Jack London Square.

In May, Major League Baseball instructed the club's front office to explore relocation options if no ballpark agreement could be reached.

“Hopefully it goes in our direction,” manager Bob Melvin said. “I’d love to stay in Oakland. I hope the team stays in Oakland. We have a long, rich history here. I think that’s the case with anybody who’s...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/LEADING-OFF-Giants-vs-Dodgers-Nola-and-Means-16325919.php