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LEADING OFF: Sale tries to turn corner, Harper gets heated

4 years 11 months 3 weeks ago Tuesday, April 23 2019 Apr 23, 2019 April 23, 2019 2:11 AM April 23, 2019 in Sports - AP - National

By The Associated Press

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

PLAYING TWO

After rain postponed his scheduled start Monday, Boston's Chris Sale gets the ball for Game One of a doubleheader against Detroit. Sale (0-4, 8.50) has concerned Red Sox fans with lousy results and subpar stuff this season, though his velocity ticked up in a loss to the Yankees last week. Boston is coming off a three-game sweep over the AL East-leading Rays, which pushed the reigning World Series champs to 9-13.

HEATED HARPER

Bryce Harper is expected back in the Phillies lineup a night after bolting from the bench to angrily confront the plate umpire after being ejected against the Mets. Harper, miffed by a couple strike calls earlier from Mark Carlson, got tossed from the dugout with teammate César Hernández at-bat. Phillies manager Gabe Kapler quickly came out to argue, then Harper followed in a much bigger hurry. Harper yelled and pointed at Carlson over and over from close range, with Kapler repeatedly pushing away his star player from the ump.

CHILLING SCENE

The Pirates await word on reliever Nick Burdi a day after the 26-year-old left the mound in tears with a right arm injury. Burdi, formerly a touted prospect with the Twins, made the Pirates this spring two seasons removed from Tommy John surgery and had 17 strikeouts over 8 1/3 innings before Monday. Burdi shrugged his right arm after releasing a 96 mph fastball, crumpled to the ground and sobbed while teammates tried to console him during a 12-4 loss to Arizona.

FREE GIO

Veteran left-hander Gio González is back on the market after opting out of his minor league deal with the Yankees on Monday to become a free agent. González was 2-1 with a 6.00 ERA in three starts with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after signing a minor league deal with an April opt-out. New York decided not to call him up despite a number of injuries, instead relying on youngsters like Domingo Germán and Jonathan Loaisiga - the former will start Tuesday against the Angels, and the latter was recalled from Triple-A.

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