LEADING OFF: Votto can match HR mark, Tatis hurt again

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

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EIGHT IS ENOUGH

Joey Votto has homered in seven straight games and the Cincinnati Reds slugger can match a major league record by going deep against the New York Mets.

Votto connected for a solo shot off Mets reliever Drew Smith during Cincinnati's 6-2 victory Friday night at Citi Field.

The six-time All-Star and 2010 NL MVP became the eighth player to homer in at least seven straight games and first since Kendrys Morales did it for the Toronto Blue Jays in August 2018. Dale Long (1956), Don Mattingly (1987) and Ken Griffey Jr. (1993) are the only players to go deep in eight consecutive games.

Votto has nine homers and 15 RBIs during his streak, which began last Saturday and includes just one hit that wasn’t a home run — an infield single against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday.

FINGERS CROSSED

The Padres are hoping for good news on star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., who left Friday night’s loss to Colorado in the first inning with a partially dislocated left shoulder following an awkward slide at third base.

It was the third time the 22-year-old Tatis exited a game this year due to a left shoulder injury. San Diego manager Jayce Tingler said this one is similar, and the team will know more on Saturday.

“I don’t know how to compare them. They’ve all been a little bit different,” Tingler said. “We’re of the understanding that this was a possibility, the shoulder coming out and then back in. The good thing is it slid back in. It’s so tough to predict, especially without a lot of information at this point. I will say, for whatever reason, he’s had a phenomenal ability of getting back in there, honestly sooner than we’ve expected. But again, it’s tough to say without...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/LEADING-OFF-Votto-can-match-HR-mark-Tatis-hurt-16354141.php