BUD BLACK

Braves rookie right-hander Bryce Elder will be at home in Texas when he starts the middle game of a three-game series against the Rangers.

The Padres’ hopes of shaking off a disappointing 2021 aren’t off to a great start — San Diego has lost four of five heading into its series finale against the World Series champion Braves.

Jake Arrieta got clobbered by Colorado and left with an injury in his Padres debut, and the Rockies beat San Diego 7-5.

Shohei Ohtani pitched seven strong innings and hit an early RBI single as the Los Angeles Angels earned a 6-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies.

The first-place Mets are waiting for news on Francisco Lindor, who left Friday night’s 4-1 loss in Pittsburgh with soreness on his right side.

For the first time in months, COVID-19 is creating chaos around Major League Baseball.

Josh Fuentes capped a big night with a two-out, walk-off single in the eighth inning after earlier hitting a two-run homer and the Colorado Rockies salvaged a doubleheader split by beating the virus-hampered San Diego Padres 3-2.

The San Diego Padres already were minus star Fernando Tatis Jr. and two backups before the first pitch at Colorado because of COVID-19 concerns.

Ryan McMahon and C.

Jacob deGrom struck out nine straight batters against Colorado, falling one shy of matching Tom Seaver’s major league record.

The Padres said Tatis had discomfort in his non-throwing left shoulder and would be re-evaluated on Wednesday. Corbin Burnes turned in 4 2/3 innings, striking out six while allowing two runs on three hits. Jon Lester allowed one run and three hits in 3 2/3 innings in his second start of the spring for Washington. He gave up five hits, hit two batters and struck out three. PADRES 5, REDS 4MacKenzie Gore worked 3 2/3 innings in his third start for San Diego, allowing two runs on three hits.

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, that Strasburg is in preparation mode not in rehabilitation mode at spring training after having surgery in 2020. So the familiar feel of February spring training has pitchers eager to unleash fastballs, spin a few breaking balls and get ready for the 162-game long haul. “Spring training is 50 days long,” Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais said. But young pitchers — many of whom didn't throw many innings last season — will have to be watched closely. He practiced on the first day of spring training Wednesday but an MRI later revealed the break.

Trailing 3-2, the 40-year-old Pujols lined a fastball from Carlos Estevez (1-3) into the empty seats in left-center for his 660th homer. Pujols now trails only Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714) and Alex Rodriguez (696) on the career home run list. It was a crazy day at the plate for the Angels, who had more walks (10) than hits (six). The Angels took two of three from Rockies and wrapped up a six-game trip with a 3-3 mark. If you’re good, you’re young and you’re not hurt, you’ll work through it.

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)DENVER – Albert Pujols hit his 660th career homer, tying the Los Angeles Angels slugger for fifth on the all-time list with Willie Mays. The 40-year-old Pujols now trails only Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714) and Alex Rodriguez (694) on the career home run list. Pujols has averaged 26 home runs per season over the past eight years with the Angels. His best home run season with the Angels was in 2015 when he hit 40. Pujols, who has one season left on his contract with the Angels after 2020, has gone deep four times this season.

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)DENVER Starling Marte homered and drove in four runs as the Arizona Diamondbacks battered the Colorado Rockies 13-7 Wednesday in a Coors Field slugfest featuring 34 hits, but none by blistering Charlie Blackmon. Blackmon began the game batting an astonishing .500 for the Rockies. Blackmon was on deck when Trevor Story, who doubled twice and singled, grounded into a game-ending double play. Rockies: Following an off day Thursday, the Rockies begin a stretch of 20 games in 20 days starting Friday night in a series opener against the Texas Rangers. Colorado RHP Ryan Castellani (0-0, 0.00 ERA) is slated to start against the Rangers RHP Lance Lynn (2-0, 1.16 ERA).

FILE - In this July 5, 2020, file photo, Miami Marlins shortstop Miguel Rojas fields a ball during a baseball workout at Marlins Park in Miami. Another change: Rojas believes the Marlins will be good. Another change: Rojas believes the Marlins will be good. But like the teams management and some outside observers, Rojas says the Marlins are poised for a big leap forward in Year 3 of Derek Jeters rebuilding program. Im really excited about the starting pitching, and our offense is way better than the last couple of years, Rojas said.

I have felt that way for at least a couple of weeks now, Blackmon said on a video conference call with reporters before taking batting and fielding practice at Coors Field. I had a day and a half of symptoms and after that I started feeling much better, Blackmon said, adding he hopes to be ready for the Rockies July 24 opener at Texas. My symptoms were what I would consider mild flu symptoms, Blackmon said. And Im lucky that my COVID experience was not nearly as severe" as many others who have been infected, Blackmon said. This is a minor, minor glitch, a minor speed bump, he said.