Pro Sports

LEADING OFF: Blue Jays debut in Buffalo; Clevinger out

Posted August 11, 2020 7:00 am

By The Associated Press

FILE - In this July 24, 2020, file photo, the entrance to Sahlen Field, home of the Toronto Blue Jays' Triple-A affiliate, in Buffalo, N.Y., is viewed. The Blue Jays will walk onto the field Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020, as the host team for the first time in 2020. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes, File) The Associated Press

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

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NEW DIGS

Baseball's nomads, the Toronto Blue Jays, finally move into their new home at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York, when they play the Miami Marlins. It'll be the first time this year the Blue Jays are the host team. Canada's government wouldn't let them hold games at Rogers Centre in Toronto, fearful of opponents traveling into the city amid the coronavirus pandemic. Pittsburgh offered to let the Blue Jays play at PNC Park when the Pirates were on the road, but Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf wouldn't sign off on it.

That left the club's Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo, which last hosted a regular-season Major League Baseball game in 1915 when the Buffalo Blues finished sixth in the eight-team Federalist League. The wait hasn't been quite as long for the Blue Jays, who spent the first two-plus weeks of the season bouncing from Tampa to Washington to Atlanta to Boston waiting for preparations at 16,600-seat Sahlen Field (all but a few of which will be empty) to be complete.

'œWe haven't played in Buffalo, so it's still a road trip it feels like,'ť said Toronto manager Charlie Montoyo, whose team is 5-8 after hopscotching up and down the East Coast. 'œBut I'm going to say after the first couple of games, then it kind of becomes our home ballpark.'ť

SUSPENSION SUSPENSE

The A's and Astros are awaiting word from Major League Baseball about likely punishments stemming from a bench-clearing fracas Sunday. Oakland outfielder Ramon Laureano said Monday he charged Houston's dugout after Astros hitting coach Alex CintrÃ³n made a crude remark about his mother, sparking the melee. A's manager Bob Melvin is calling for harsh punishments for CintrÃ³n. Houston skipper Dusty Baker said CintrÃ³n is 'œremorseful.'ť

PARTY FOUL

Indians right-hander Mike Clevinger won't make his scheduled start against the Cubs after Cleveland learned he joined rotation-mate Zach Plesac in violating COVID-19 protocols by going out after a game Saturday in Chicago. Plesac was forced to travel home separately from the club Sunday, while Clevinger flew home with teammates without disclosing that he had been with Plesac.

Cleveland said Clevinger will be quarantined and tested until he registers two negative results in 72 hours. Clevinger and Plesac could be facing additional discipline from the team.

In other Indians news, manager Terry Francona will return to the club after missing eight games to rest while dealing with a gastrointestinal condition that has bothered him since spring training in Arizona.

MAX IS BACK

Nationals ace Max Scherzer (0-1) is set to make his scheduled start against the Mets at Citi Field after leaving his previous outing early because of a hamstring issue. The three-time Cy Young Award winner lasted only one inning last Wednesday against New York due to a hamstring problem that first cropped up July 29 versus Toronto. But he felt good while throwing a bullpen Sunday and will try to keep Washington rolling in the wake of a 16-4 blowout over the Mets in the opener of a four-game series Monday.

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FILE - In this July 24, 2020, file photo, signage at Sahlen Field, home of the Toronto Blue Jays' Triple-A affiliate, in Buffalo, N.Y., is viewed. The Blue Jays will walk onto the field Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020, as the host team for the first time in 2020. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes, File) The Associated Press

Oakland Athletics' Ramon Laureano (22) charges the Houston Astros' dugout after being hit by a pitch thrown by Humberto Castellanos during the seventh inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) The Associated Press

Oakland Athletics and Texas Rangers scuffle after Athletics' Ramon Laureano charged the dugout after being hit by a pitch thrown by Astros' Humberto Castellanos during the seventh inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) The Associated Press

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets in Washington, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) The Associated Press

Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Mike Clevinger delivers in the first inning in a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) The Associated Press

FILE - In this Feb. 23, 2020, file photo, Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona watches during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Surprise, Ariz. Francona continues to undergo medical tests for a gastrointestinal issue, and there remains no clear timetable for when he'll return to the team. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this July 24, 2020, file photo, Sahlen Field, home of the Toronto Blue Jays' Triple-A affiliate, in Buffalo, N.Y., is viewed. The Blue Jays will walk onto the field Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020, as the host team for the first time in 2020. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes, File) The Associated Press

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