NEW YORK (AP) — Orioles ace John Means got five days of rest following his no-hitter last week against Seattle, and he heads to the mound again tonight against the Mets in New York. Means, who is 4-and-0, was a wild pitch away from a perfect game against the Mariners. Marcus Stroman starts for New York — hoping to anchor the Mets’ rotation until Jacob deGrom returns from the injured list.
Among the other games on the schedule:
— Luke Voit, last year’s big league home run leader, is expected to make his season debut for the Yankees as they open a series at rival Tampa Bay. The first baseman had left knee surgery on March 29. Voit slugged 22 homers during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and led the team with 52 RBIs. The Rays have won 18 of 23 against New York, including five of six this season.
— Shohei Ohtani is expected to pitch and hit for the Angels when he starts in Houston against Lance McCullers Jr. Ohtani has batted on the same day he’s pitched two times this season but was out of the lineup the last two times he took the ball. The two-way star is tied for the major league lead with 10 homers and has 26 RBIs as Los Angeles’ regular designated hitter. Even his six stolen bases ranked among the top 10 in the majors.
— It’s a rematch of the 2016 World Series when the Chicago Cubs visit Cleveland, where they won Game 7 five years ago 8-7 in 10 innings to finally bust a title drought that dated all the way back to 1908. AL Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber starts for the Indians against rookie Adbert Alzolay. Bieber has struck out at least eight batters in 19 straight games, a major league record.
— Boston hosts Oakland in the opener of a three-game series between American League division leaders. Athletics right-hander Chris Bassitt is 2-0 with a 3.13 ERA over his last five outings. Nathan Eovaldi pitches for the surprising Red Sox, who have the best record in baseball at 22-14. Eovaldi has not given up a homer in 52 innings, the longest active streak in the majors.