LEADING OFF: Pirates-Reds renew bitter rivalry, Acuña ailing

By: The Associated Press Posted: 7:33 PM CDT Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020 Last Modified: 2:01 AM CDT Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020

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

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/08/2020 (2122 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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

KEEP COOL

The Reds and Pirates renew what erupted into one of baseball’s most bitter rivalries last season, with one major change at the top. Long-simmering tensions between the Ohio River rivals over batters getting plunked escalated into a benches-clearing brawl at Great American Ball Park last summer and resulted in Pirates manager Clint Hurdle, Reds manager David Bell and six players suspended. Hurdle was fired after the season and replaced by Derek Shelton. The teams are now set to meet again in Cincinnati.

Pittsburgh Pirates' Phillip Evans (64) celebrates with Kevin Newman (27) after driving him and Bryan Reynolds in with a three run home run against the Detroit Tigers in the fifth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 7, 2020, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

AILING ATLANTAN

Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. will miss the weekend series in Miami because of a sore left wrist.

The 2018 NL Rookie of the Year was a late scratch prior to Tuesday’s series opener at Yankee Stadium and was evaluated further Wednesday, revealing inflammation in his wrist.

JUDGING BY THE LOOK

The Yankees will see how star Aaron Judge is progressing, a day after he was out of the lineup because of tightness in his lower body. It’s uncertain whether the oft-injured slugger will be back Friday night for the start of a weekend series against Boston.

“Hopefully this is something we’re out ahead of and will only be a couple of days,” manager Aaron Boone said.

Judge was leading the majors with nine home runs and tied at the top with 20 RBIs before he sat out.

Atlanta Braves center fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. catches a fly out by Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper during the fifth inning of the second baseball game in a doubleheader, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

A LITTLE LESS

Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly had gotten his suspension for throwing pitches near the heads of Houston hitters reduced to five games on appeal. Kelly was originally penalized eight games by Major League Baseball on July 29, a day after throwing a 96 mph fastball near the head of Houston’s Alex Bregman and two curveballs that brushed back Carlos Correa.

Kelly went on the 10-day injured list retroactive to last Sunday with right shoulder inflammation. He will serve his suspension when he returns.

CLOSING TIME

Pittsburgh closer Keone Kela is set to rejoin the team after recovering from a positive COVID-19 test.

Kela will return to the injury-ravaged Pirates for a four-game series in Cincinnati. Six Pittsburgh pitchers are on the injured list, including relievers Kyle Crick, Clay Holmes and Nick Burdi.

Cincinnati Reds teammates celebrate after defeating the Kansas City Royals in a baseball game at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)

The last-place Pirates were 27th in the majors in ERA (5.32) this week and the turnover in the bullpen has been particularly jarring. Nearly two dozen pitchers took the hill for Pittsburgh through 16 games.

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