Chipper Jones Jersey , including a three-run homer, and J.T. Realmuto also went deep to lead the MLB All-Stars over Japan 7-3 on Sunday for their first win of the six-game exhibition series after a pair of defeats.Realmuto hit an opposite-field solo homer to right in the fourth at Tokyo Dome, and Mitch Haniger scored the go-ahead run from second in a four-run fifth when Japan starter Shinsaburo Tawata threw wildly for an error on Whit Merrifield’s bunt.One out later, Molina chased Tawata with an opposite-field, three-run homer to right for a 5-1 lead. The nine-time Gold Glove catcher picked off Seiji Uebayashi in the fourth inning.“I felt like Yadi’s pick at first was huge,” MLB manager Don Mattingly said. “We got in a little bit of a jam, pitch count is starting to climb, then Yadi’s pick.”Rookie Juan Soto hit a fly ball in the fourth that was headed for the seats but hit the roof and was caught by right fielder Shogo Akiyama. Soto also hit the roof in Thursday’s warmup game against the Yomiuri Giants.Winner Scott Barlow allowed one run and five hits in 4 1/3 innings and 65 pitches
John Smoltz Jersey , striking out four.Eugenio Suarez hit an RBI double over Seiji Uebayashi in left in a two-run seventh, then scored on Haniger’s single to open a 7-1 lead.“Having Yadi back there makes my life a lot easier,” Barlow said. “I trust him very much and I trusted my defense as well. Not being afraid of contact and letting them run down balls and make their plays.”Hotaka Yamakawa and Ryosuke Kikuchi hit run-scoring doubles in the ninth against John Brebbia. Tawata took the loss.The teams play Tuesday at Hiroshima, then conclude the following two days at Nagoya. How will the rest of the rotation line up?"WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Chicago Cubs recapsChicago Cubs minor leaguesChicago Cubs essaysChicago Cubs game threadsWrigley Field renovationsFull archiveLibrary Bleed Cubbie Blue Community GuidelinesCurrent time in ChicagoBCB Specials & Site InfoWinter 2019 music threadsCubs StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Cubs newsYahoo Cubs team pageYahoo Cubs reportYahoo Cubs depth chartYahoo Cubs transactionsYahoo Cubs photosOdds Shop About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub 鉁旵hicago Cubs newsTo no one’s surprise, Jon Lester will start Opening DayNew,28commentsHow will the rest of the rotation line up?CSTShareTweetShareShareTo no one’s surprise, Jon Lester will start Opening DayRick Scuteri-USA TODAY SportsJon Lester has been the Cubs’ Opening Day starter three of the last four seasons (Jake Arrieta earned the nod in 2016).And now, he’ll make that four out of five:The question remains
Matt Kemp Jersey , though: Who will follow Lester, in what order? The Cubs open against the Rangers in Texas, and the team has two former Rangers (Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish) on the roster. So maybe that would be the way to go, Hamels and Darvish (or Darvish, then Hamels) against their former team.On the other hand, Hamels was horrific in Globe Life Park last year — one of the reasons the Rangers were willing to deal him. He had a 6.41 ERA in 59 innings there in 2018, with 16 (!) home runs allowed. It wasn’t much better in 2017: 4.35 ERA in 70 innings. Thus maybe it’s better to hold Hamels back and have him start the first game in Atlanta.Darvish, though
Hank Aaron Jersey , pitched very well in Texas over his career. So what I think I’d do is have Darvish start the season’s second game Saturday, March 30, then have Kyle Hendricks go on March 31 against the Rangers.Now, that would wind up throwing three lefties against the Braves — Hamels, Jose Quintana and Lester. Last year the Braves were 21-26 vs. LH starters (69-46 vs. RH starters), so that might just be the best way to start off the 2019 season.