LEADING OFF: Miggy seeks 500 vs Ohtani, Bassitt hit in head

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

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HOMER HAPPY

Miguel Cabrera’s next attempt to reach 500 career home runs comes against Los Angeles Angels two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani — who is 7-1 with a 2.93 ERA on the mound and leads the majors with 39 homers this season.

Cabrera, stuck on 499, went 0 for 2 in Detroit’s 8-2 loss to the Angels on Tuesday night. He also enjoyed some playful banter with Ohtani at first base and worked two walks that Los Angeles manager Joe Maddon insisted were not intentional.

“We were just trying to sell tickets for (Wednesday),” Maddon joked.

Although Ohtani’s home run pace has slowed in the second half of the season, his pitching is on the upswing.

Ohtani has won three consecutive mound starts and will try to extend that streak in Detroit. At the plate, he has just two homers in August and six since the All-Star Game at Coors Field, where he made history by batting leadoff and starting on the mound.

In five pitching starts since July 6, the right-hander is 4-0 with a 1.69 ERA. He allowed two runs over six innings against Toronto last Thursday and wasn’t entirely satisfied.

“I feel like I really haven’t hit my potential yet,” Ohtani said after that outing.

SCARY SIGHT

The Oakland Athletics hope for good news on pitcher Chris Bassitt after the right-hander was carted off the field Tuesday night and taken to a hospital. Bassitt was struck on the side of the head by a line drive against the Chicago White Sox.

In the second inning, Bassitt threw an 89.5 mph cut fastball that Brian Goodwin drove right back up the middle. Bassitt went down on the mound when he was hit, holding his head, and his teammates quickly waved to the dugout for assistance.

As players on each side looked...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/LEADING-OFF-Miggy-seeks-500-vs-Ohtani-Bassitt-16394427.php