LEADING OFF: Key showdown at Fenway, Cards on 12G streak

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

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WILD, WILD EAST

Yankees ace Gerrit Cole starts the opener of a crucial three-game series at Fenway Park with the Red Sox two games ahead of New York for the top AL wild card. Boston has won seven straight to build a small cushion over the Yankees and Blue Jays.

With New York closing the season against AL East foes Boston, Toronto and Tampa Bay, Cole said Wednesday he is drawing inspiration down the stretch from a story he had been told recently about ancient warriors honing their warfare skills against elite fighters from neighboring cities to stay sharp.

“If they weren’t practicing against the best that they could find, they may be surprised if a formidable army came out of somewhere and they hadn’t been practicing against elite opponents,” he said. “So maybe that’s similar to this situation, where we’ve been playing against a lot of elite opponents.

“Sure we’ve lost some of the battles, but we still have the war ahead of us,” he added.

Cole (15-8, 3.03) will face Red Sox RHP Nathan Eovaldi (10-8, 3.58) in a showdown of pitchers likely to receive AL Cy Young Award consideration.

HIGH-FLYING BIRDS

The Cardinals take a 12-game winning streak into a doubleheader at Wrigley Field hoping to extend their best stretch in 39 years. St. Louis has solidified itself as the front-runner for the second NL wild card with this spurt, the longest in club history since a 12-game run in 1982. The franchise record is 14, set in 1935.

St. Louis left-hander J.A. Happ (4-2, 4.33) will face Cubs lefty Justin Steele (3-3, 4.20) in the opener, and Cardinals right-hander Jack Flaherty (9-2, 3.08) is slated to oppose righty Zach Davies (6-11, 5.49) in the nightcap.

BANNED BLUE JAY

Toronto...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/LEADING-OFF-Key-showdown-at-Fenway-Cards-on-12G-16483810.php