LEADING OFF: Gausman brings bat, arm for NL West-leading SF

A look at what's happening around the majors on Tuesday:

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PITCH AND POP

Kevin Gausman returns to the mound -- and plate -- as he tries to help the Giants protect their lead in the NL West.

Gausman (14-6, 2.78 ERA) is lined up to start at Petco Park against the wild card-contending Padres. San Francisco holds a one-game edge over the Los Angeles Dodgers for the division lead.

An All-Star this year, Gausman’s latest contribution came with his bat, not his arm. With the Giants out of position players, he stepped up as a pinch-hitter for a rookie reliever who had never batted as a pro and delivered a game-ending sacrifice fly in the 11th inning to beat Atlanta on Friday night.

“Oh man, that was the coolest thing I’ve ever done in my entire career,” said Gausman, a .184 hitter this season.

Joe Musgrove (11-9, 2.99) is lined up to pitch for San Diego.

FOR THE WIN

MLB wins leader Julio Urías and the Dodgers open a series at Coors Field, hoping to gain ground in the NL West chase.

Urías (18-3, 2.99 ERA) is 9-0 in his last 13 starts, a big reason Los Angeles is only one game behind San Francisco in the division race.

The 25-year-old lefty has enjoyed a breakout season -- he was a total of 12-7 in his first five years with the Dodgers, though he played a key role last fall as a starter and reliever when they won their first World Series title since 1988.

REMEMBER ME?

Two-time All-Star pitcher Luis Severino has rejoined the Yankees almost two years after he last played in the majors.

The 27-year-old right-hander had Tommy John surgery in February 2020 and minor setbacks during his minor league rehab.

Manager Aaron Boone says he’ll use Severino out of the bullpen. New York is chasing Toronto and Boston for a wild-card spot.

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source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/LEADING-OFF-Gausman-brings-bat-arm-for-NL-16474349.php