LEADING OFF: Rays see what's in the cards with Blue Jays

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

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FINDERS KEEPERS

Kevin Kiermaier is playing for keeps -- and the Toronto Blue Jays may not be too keen on what he’s keeping.

The veteran Rays outfielder scooped up a data card that fell out of Toronto catcher Alejandro Kirk’s wristband during Tampa Bay’s 6-4 victory Monday night and has refused to give it back to the playoff-contending Blue Jays.

Kiermaier was called out sliding into home during the sixth inning and saw a strip of paper lying next to him after the play. He casually picked it up and took it back to Tampa Bay’s dugout, where he discreetly handed it Paul Hoover, the club’s field coordinator.

“I never even looked at it, I’ll say that,” Kiermaier told Sportnet before Tuesday night’s game. “But at the same time, I’m not going to drop it or hand it back.”

Sportsnet reported Toronto sent a bat boy to the Rays dugout to ask for the card’s return. AL East-leading Tampa Bay did not send back the card, which likely included information about the Blue Jays’ plans to pitch to the Rays’ hitters.

There were no incidents when Kiermaier batted for the first time Tuesday, when he hit into a first-pitch double play.

CHICAGO HOPE

The AL Central-leading White Sox will keep evaluating lefty Carlos Rodón after exited his latest start with soreness in his pitching arm.

Rodón was pulled after three innings Monday in a loss to Detroit. An All-Star this year, he is 12-5 with a 2.47 ERA in 23 starts, including a no-hitter in April against Cleveland.

“He was sore this morning,” manager Tony La Russa said a day later. “Hopefully it’s normal soreness. We’ll do a bunch of stuff to get him ready and keep our fingers crossed that Wednesday he’s good to go.”

The White Sox are...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/LEADING-OFF-Rays-see-what-s-in-the-cards-with-16477519.php