A look at what’s happening around the majors Saturday:
GOLDEN GOLDY
Paul Goldschmidt tries to keep up his torrid pace at the plate when the NL West-leading Diamondbacks host the Mets. Goldschmidt entered this month hitting a paltry .209 after slogging his way through May, when he had only 14 hits in 97 at-bats (.144). The slugger has returned to form in June, batting .442 with six homers, 13 RBIs and 15 runs going into Friday night’s game. Overall, he raised his season average nearly 50 points in the first 13 games of the month to .258.
MAD MAX
Washington ace Max Scherzer has won the last two NL Cy Young Awards. The right-hander appears well on his way to a third straight — and fourth Cy Young overall — going into his start at Toronto. Scherzer (10-2, 2.00 ERA) leads the majors with 142 strikeouts in 94 2/3 innings, and he’s allowed more than five hits in a game only twice in 13 starts this season.
KEUCHEL’S STRUGGLES
Houston left-hander Dallas Keuchel (3-8) has had a rough go of things in two June starts, allowing 13 runs over 11 innings as his ERA climbed from 3.65 to 4.45. The 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner will try to turn it around when he starts at Kansas City, which counters with left-hander Danny Duffy (3-6, 5.28).
MAD BUMGARNER
San Francisco Giants ace Madison Bumgarner takes the mound in Los Angeles against the rival Dodgers. Bumgarner is 0-1 with a 4.76 ERA in two starts this season following a two-month stay on the disabled list. He allowed six hits and four runs over 5 1/3 innings last time out vs. Miami. The left-hander is 15-9 with a 2.53 ERA in 29 career appearances against the Dodgers.
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