Bases Covered is a daily roundup of the most interesting stories in baseball.
Temporary starter?
The Yankees topped the A’s on Thursday, 4–1. Yankees right-hander Ivan Nova put in a good performance, allowing just one run on four hits—though he was pulled after six innings even though he’d only thrown 62 pitches.
Manager Joe Girardi says he’s unsure whether he’ll keep Nova as a starter or use him as a reliever. C.C. Sabathia will return to the Yankees’ rotation on Friday (he’s been on the DL due to a left groin injury).
““I feel really good,” said Nova after the game. “I thought I would keep going, but he took me out.”
The A’s suffered a blow worse than the loss: Josh Reddick injured his thumb during the game and is expected to be out four to six weeks.
That other New York team
Matt Harvey did not have a good night on Thursday, and neither did the Mets. Stephen Strasburg, however, put in a fantastic performance, striking out 10—the 27-year-old is unbeaten this year (he’s now 7-0). The Nationals won, 9–1.
Both Harvey and Strasburg have undergone Tommy John surgery. Despite that similarity, here’s why they may be headed in opposite directions.
Pitching pretty well
Chris Sale improved to 9-0 on Thursday with the White Sox’s 2–1 win over the Astros.
What’s it like to face a guy like Sale? According to a few Houston players, it’s, well, a challenge—obviously.
“He can throw everything for strikes,” said the Astros’ Carlos Correa. “Every single at-bat, I was 0-2. When you’re behind and he’s ahead, he can do whatever he wants with you.”
The difference-maker
The Mariners defeated the Orioles on Thursday, 7–2. They had some help from Adam Lind, who hit a three-run home run to blow open a tight game.
“We needed a big knock, and he hit it into a good spot in the ballpark,” said Seattle manager Scott Servais, speaking of how Lind had enjoyed the hitter-friendly confines of Camden Yards. “He’s hit some balls earlier in the year that could have been homers that weren’t in other spots.”
Free barbecue
Because apparently some people think punching someone in the face is somehow worthy of a reward, Heim Barbecue, a soon-to-be-opened restaurant in Fort Worth, has announced they will give Rougned Odor free barbecue for life.
The restaurant is selling a “Rougned eats free” T-shirt.