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

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

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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 made his latest contribution 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.

CHAMPAGNE ON ICE

Tim Anderson and the Chicago White Sox can wrap up their first AL Central crown in 13 years — and secure a second consecutive postseason berth for the first time in franchise history — with a win at Detroit and a Cleveland loss to Kansas City.

Dallas Keuchel (8-9, 5.23 ERA) pitches against the Tigers in a game moved from 6:40 p.m. EDT to 1:10 p.m. to try to avoid expected rain. Cleveland hosts the Royals at 6:10 p.m. EDT.

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...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/LEADING-OFF-Gausman-brings-bat-arm-for-NL-16474845.php