LEADING OFF: Cortes rolls into Yanks-Red Sox showdown

A look at what's happening around the majors Saturday:

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WILD CHASE

The Yankees and Red Sox continue a three-game set at Fenway Park with huge postseason implications. Boston holds the top AL wild card with eight games left, with AL East foes New York and Toronto not far behind.

Left-hander Nestor Cortes (2-2, 2.79) has been on a bat-missing roll this month for the Yankees, striking out 30 and walking six over 22 1/3 innings spanning four starts. He’ll oppose Red Sox righty Nick Pivetta, who is winless in his past five starts and allowed four runs in 1 2/3 innings against the Yankees on Aug. 18.

RANGER DANGER

The Phillies put their NL East hopes on emerging left-hander Ranger Suarez (6-5, 1.60), who is 1-2 with a 1.99 ERA in 10 starts since moving from the bullpen to the rotation in August. The 26-year-old will face the Pirates in a matinee as Philadelphia tries to catch first-place Atlanta.

Right-hander Wil Crow (4-7, 5.77) is slated to start for Pittsburgh.

CEASE DESISTS

The AL Central-champion White Sox were dealt a potential blow for their playoff prep when starter Dylan Cease was struck in his pitching arm by a comebacker Friday. The club said Cease has a right triceps contusion and X-rays were negative after he was hit by a one-hopper from Cleveland's Bradley Zimmer in the sixth inning.

Cease attempted a few practice pitches before leaving the field, interrupting a shutout performance. He exited with nine strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings, lowering his ERA to 3.95.

BANNED BLUE JAY

Toronto reliever Ryan Borucki will sit out a second straight night against Minnesota after having a three-game suspension reduced to two Friday.

Borucki was punished by Major League Baseball on Thursday for intentionally hitting Tampa...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/LEADING-OFF-Cortes-rolls-into-Yanks-Red-Sox-16486307.php