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LEADING OFF: Aces up in NL wild card; Puig looking "rusty"

Posted October 07, 2015 7:00 am

By The Associated Press

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Gerrit Cole takes questions during a news conference in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015, for the Pirates upcoming wild-card playoff baseball game against the Chicago Cubs. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic) The Associated Press

A look at what's happening around the major leagues today:

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ANOTHER WILD ONE

The Pirates and Cubs take their turn on the national stage, squaring off in the NL wild-card game at PNC Park. This one features two of the game's best pitchers, as the Bucs' Gerrit Cole shares the rubber with Chicago's Cy Young candidate Jake Arrieta. It'll be the postseason debut for Arrieta, who won 22 games with a 0.75 ERA after the All-Star break this year. Pittsburgh and Chicago had the second- and third-best records in the majors this season, respectively, but one starts their offseason Thursday morning while the other heads to St. Louis for the NL Division Series.

RUST FELT

The Dodgers will face the Mets with Clayton Kershaw on the hill Friday in Game 1 of the other NLDS, but they may do so without outfielder Yasiel Puig. The Cuban star missed a month at the end of the season with a hamstring injury, returning to play the final two games. He has looked "rusty" to manager Don Mattingly, though, and the team isn't ready to commit a roster spot to Puig just yet.

MISSING MATT

The Mets will work out at Citi Field again hoping this time they'll be joined on time by pitcher Matt Harvey, who showed up late without a public explanation to the team's mandatory session Tuesday. David Wright sounded annoyed when he told reporters, "It's about the guys that are here. And the guys that are here, we had a great workout. ... So you will have to talk to Matt about that." Harvey did not clarify why he was late, saying he "just screwed up."

ACE VENTURA

The Royals announced Tuesday that they will start youngster Yordano Ventura in their ALDS opener Thursday night against the Astros, saving Johnny Cueto for Game 2 and Edinson Volquez for the third game. It's been a rollercoaster year for Ventura, who was briefly demoted to Triple-A Omaha before coming back to post a 4-1 record and 3.14 ERA in seven September starts. The defending AL champions finished with the best record in the league this year.

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole throws in the outfield during a baseball practice Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015, for Wednesday's National League Wild Card game against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) The Associated Press

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jake Arrieta, right, throws in the outfield with Clayton Richard watching during workout day, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015, for Wednesday's National League Wild Card baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) The Associated Press

Los Angeles Dodgers' Yasiel Puig, left, stands with Chris Heisey, right, during practice for the upcoming NLDS playoff baseball series against the New York Mets, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015, in Los Angeles. Their NLDS best of five playoff series begins Friday, Oct. 9, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok) The Associated Press

New York Mets starting pitcher Matt Harvey pauses as he speaks to the media to explain his absence during today's practice at Citi Field for the NLDS series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek) The Associated Press

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Yordano Ventura runs onto the field for baseball practice Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015, in Kansas City, Mo. Ventura will start for the Royals when they face the winner of tonight's AL wildcard game Thursday in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) The Associated Press

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