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Associated Press 8y

LEADING OFF: Day games galore, Bruce back in Cincy

MLB, Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves, Washington Nationals

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

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MATINEE IDOLS

The holiday schedule on Labor Day includes only one true night game, with the other 14 all scheduled to start by late afternoon local time. A pair of prominent pitchers return to their old homes, with Zack Greinke (12-4) going for Arizona at Dodger Stadium and Drew Pomeranz (10-10 overall) up for Boston in San Diego.

HOMECOMING IN THE QUEEN CITY

All-Star outfielder Jay Bruce returns to Cincinnati for the first time since the Reds sent him to the Mets at the Aug. 1 trade deadline. Before the game, the Reds plan to honor Bruce and his wife, Hannah, on the field. After a slow start in New York, Bruce has come on lately. He has two homers and four RBI in his last three games. Robert Stephenson (2-0) attempts to become the first Reds pitcher since Wayne Simpson in 1970 to win his first three major league starts.

BACK IN TOP FORM?

Longtime aces Felix Hernandez (9-5, 3.48 ERA) and Cole Hamels (14-4, 2.91) look to rebound from lackluster outings when Seattle opens a series against Texas. Hernandez allowed six earned runs over four innings in a loss to the Rangers last Wednesday, while Hamels gave up six runs in 4 1/3 innings against the Mariners on Tuesday.

LET'S GET WILD

Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright (9-8) tries to snap his four-game losing streak at Pittsburgh in the opener of a three-game series with NL wild-card implications. Rookie right-hander Chad Kuhl (3-2, 3.70) goes for the slumping Pirates (67-67), who have dropped six in a row to fall 3 1/2 games behind St. Louis in the race for the league's final playoff spot.

YOU AGAIN

Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander (14-7, 3.30 ERA) and White Sox lefty Chris Sale (15-7, 3.10) square off for the second time in six days. They handed a tie game to the bullpens last Wednesday, when Detroit won 3-2 on Tyler Collins' sacrifice fly in the ninth. Verlander is 7-1 with a 2.05 ERA in his last 12 starts, while Sale is 1-5 over his past nine despite a 3.43 ERA.

GOING TO THE BULLPEN

The first-place Indians, who have won six straight, will lean on their bullpen when they open a four-game series with Houston. Right-hander Mike Clevinger will start but is expected to go only a couple of innings in what will be a game pitched by relievers. Right-hander Josh Tomlin, removed from the rotation, could also be used early in the game.

BRAVE NEW DAY

Perhaps few folks have noticed, but the last-place Braves (54-83) have won six in a row and eight of 10 heading into their series at Washington. Center fielder Ender Inciarte has a 15-game hitting streak, and slugger Freddie Freeman has reached base safely in 27 straight games -- the longest active streak in the majors. Next up, Max Scherzer (15-7, 2.89 ERA) and the NL East-leading Nationals. Scherzer's start was bumped back a day to give him extra rest.

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