A look at what’s happening around the majors today:
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COMFORT ZONE
J.D. Martinez, Kiké Hernandez and the Boston Red Sox certainly will be glad to be back home for Game 3 of the AL Division Series against the Rays with the best-of-five matchup tied at 1-all.
Tampa Bay’s Brandon Lowe might not mind, either.
Lowe batted .455 (10 for 22) with eight walks at Fenway Park this season and is a career .444 hitter in Boston, where the next two games of the ALDS will be played. In 16 games in Boston, he’s 24 of 54 for his highest batting average at any ballpark with six homers, 16 RBIs and a .551 on-base-percentage.
“It’s just something, playing in Boston with the (Green) Monster being over there in left, it’s a comforting feeling that, if I get jammed, I think I can hit a ball 310 (feet) and hopefully get a ball off that wall,” Lowe said. “I’m not jumping and trying to do anything special.
“Honestly, it’s one of my favorite places to hit. It’s just a relaxing place for me to go,” he said.
WAIT, IS THAT ...
An out-of-place Twin has been drawing double takes at the NL Division Series between the Dodgers and Giants.
Minnesota reliever Taylor Rogers was at Oracle Park to watch for the first time as his twin brother, Giants reliever Tyler Rogers, pitched in the majors. Taylor Rogers sat with Tyler’s wife, Jenn Rogers, who posted on Instagram that Taylor was getting odd looks from the San Francisco faithful.
In his postseason debut, Tyler Rogers retired his only batter in the eighth inning of a 4-0 Game 1 win.
“Had fun watching people get confused seeing (Taylor) in the stands thinking it was (Tyler) lol,” Jenn Rogers wrote.
CEASE AND EXIST
Trying to avoid a sweep, the White Sox will start Dylan Cease in Game 3 of the ALDS against Houston.
The Astros won the first two games at home, outscoring Chicago 15-5, and AL Rookie of the Year candidate Luis Garcia (11-8, 3.30 ERA) will try to clinch it for them.
Cease tied Carlos Rodón for the team lead in wins while going 13-7 with a 3.91 ERA in 32 starts. Manager Tony La Russa said Rodón might pitch a potential Game 4 on Monday after being limited down the regular-season stretch because of shoulder soreness and fatigue.
VACANCY
The Pirates have an opening for a third base coach after dismissing Joey Cora.
The 56-year-old Cora, older brother of Boston manager Alex Cora, had the spot for five seasons. The Pirates announced the move Saturday, less than a week after they finished 61-101 and last in the NL Central.
Cora often was criticized by Pittsburgh fans for aggressively waving runners home. The Pirates ranked among the major league leaders in outs made at the plate.
Cora, a second baseman for most of his 11 years in the big leagues, also worked with Pittsburgh infielders. The Pirates made just 70 errors this season, fewest in the majors.
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