MLB teams
Associated Press 8y

LEADING OFF: Porcello perfect at Fenway, Lackey vs Cards

MLB, Boston Red Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, Miami Marlins, Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers

A look at what's happening all around the majors Sunday:

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HISTORY AT FENWAY?

Right-hander Rick Porcello looks to become the first Red Sox pitcher in 70 years to open a season 12-0 at Fenway Park in a series finale against Arizona. Porcello (15-3, 3.40 ERA) is 11-0 in his 12 home starts. Righty Dave "Boo" Ferriss is the last Boston hurler to win his first 12 decisions in Fenway, finishing 13-0 at home when he went 25-6 overall with three saves in 1946. Right-hander Zack Greinke (11-3, 3.67) goes for the Diamondbacks. He's 8-0 with a 2.47 ERA in his last 10 starts.

HELLO OLD FRIEND

Cubs right-hander John Lackey (9-7, 3.56) makes his fourth start against the Cardinals in a primetime game at Wrigley Field. Lackey, who pitched for St. Louis the previous two seasons, is 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA against his former team this year, although the Cards are 2-1 in those games. Righty Mike Leake (8-9, 4.79) signed an $80 million, five-year deal with St. Louis shortly after Lackey left in free agency. He has a 9.00 ERA in his past four starts.

SKIPPING JOSE

The Marlins will skip ace Jose Fernandez's scheduled turn to keep him on pace for his 180-inning limit this season. Instead, righty Tom Koehler will start against White Sox left-hander Chris Sale (14-5, 3.16). In his past four starts, Koehler is 3-0 with an ERA of 0.67, and Miami manager Don Mattingly called him "our best pitcher since the All-Star break." Sale is 0-3 in his past five games and hasn't won since his suspension for cutting up the team's throwback jerseys on July 23.

SIXTH CHANCE AT 10

Tigers right-hander Michael Fulmer (9-3, 2.43), the AL rookie leader in wins, tries again for his 10th victory. The series finale at Texas will be Fulmer's sixth start since his ninth win July 6 at Cleveland. Fulmer gave up only two runs over seven innings in a loss Monday at Seattle after no-decisions in his previous four games -- all Detroit victories. During a 10-start stretch from May 21-July 17, Fulmer was 7-1 with a 0.83 ERA.

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