LEADING OFF: 'Field of Dreams' game grows in Iowa cornfield

A look at what’s happening around the majors on Thursday:

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CAN OF CORN

The diamond is built, and now they will come -- José Abreu, Aaron Judge and all, to Iowa.

More than three decades after “Field of Dreams” became a hit, one of the most famous cornfields in Hollywood history finally gets the opportunity to host real big league ball.

The New York Yankees play the Chicago White Sox in tiny Dyersville, next to the actual site used in the 1989 film. Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones, Ray Liotta and Amy Madigan starred in the movie — Giancarlo Stanton and Eloy Jiménez will be the stars on this evening.

A crowd of about 8,000 is expected, a year after the pandemic postponed the original plans to play at the specially built field.

This has been an especially hot and dry summer in that part of the Midwest, so an irrigation system was installed to keep the corn in good shape -- between 10 and 12 feet high.

Lance Lynn (10-3, 2.04 ERA) is set to start for Chicago against Andrew Heaney (7-8, 5.45).

POWER VS POWER

Shohei Ohtani is set to start for the Angels against Toronto, marking the first time the two-way sensation will pitch to Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

They’re the top two home run hitters in the majors this season. Going into Wednesday night’s game between the Angels and Toronto in Anaheim, Ohtani had 37 homers and Guerrero had 35.

“There are so many great subplots in this whole thing,” Angels manager Joe Maddon said. “I write the phrase ‘Don’t miss it’ on the lineup card every day, just trying to remind myself just not to miss all this stuff. Don’t take this for granted and don’t think it’s going to happen often. It’s not.”

Ohtani (6-1, 2.93 ERA) has excelled on the mound, striking out 106 in 86 innings...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/LEADING-OFF-Field-of-Dreams-game-grows-in-Iowa-16381157.php