MLB News and Notes, April 14, 2021

Bieber Outduels Giolito

The Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians engaged in an old-fashioned pitchers’ duel on Tuesday night at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Reigning Cy Young winner Shane Bieber went nine for Cleveland with 113 pitches. He allowed just three hits and walked one while striking out 11. He picked up the win to move to 1-1 on the season as Cleveland won 2-0 in 10 innings.

Chicago’s Lucas Giolito put up seven shutout innings while also allowing three hits. He struck out eight and walked two while throwing 101 pitches.

With both starting pitchers out, the game went to extras scoreless. The Indians started with a runner on second base and scored on a broken-bat single from Roberto Perez and a double by Amed Rosario. James Karinchak nailed down the save for the Indians.

The Indians sit alone in first place in the AL Central after 10 games with a 6-4 record. The White Sox are 1 ½ games back with a record of 5-6, and all five teams in the division are separated by just two games in the loss column.

With Carlos Rodon (1-0, 0.00) on the mound, Wednesday night, the White Sox are -115 to win the rubber game of the series. Cleveland counters with Zach Plesac (1-1, 1.39).

Seattle’s Paxton Done for Season

The Seattle Mariners' reunion with James Paxton didn’t go as planned. The club announced on Tuesday that their left-hander will undergo season-ending elbow surgery, cutting short his first year back in Seattle.

Paxton, 32, was drafted by the Mariners out of the University of Kentucky in the fourth round in 2010. He made his MLB debut with Seattle in 2013 and went 41-26 with a 3.42 ERA over the next six seasons. The Canadian native also threw a no-hitter in Toronto on May 8, 2018, the second Canadian-born pitcher to ever throw an MLB no-no.

Paxton was traded to the New York Yankees in November 2018 for three players, including current Seattle starting left-handed pitcher Justus Sheffield. He went 15-6 with a 3.82 ERA in his only full season with the Yankees in 2019.

Last year, Paxton had preseason surgery and returned to make five starts in the abbreviated season going 1-1 with a 6.64 ERA. He was shut down for the season in late August with a left forearm injury.

Paxton signed a one-year contract with Seattle in the off-season. The $8.5 million deal to reunite the Mariners with Paxton was designed to put him in a position to mentor a young pitching staff. He made one start this season against the White Sox, going just 1 1/3 innings on 24 pitchers before leaving injured.

Seattle is off to a 6-5 start and will likely turn to 25-year-old Justin Dunn to take Paxton’s spot in the rotation. Dunn started the last time around for the Mariners and allowed just one hit over 4 2/3 innings but issued eight walks and gave up three runs in a no-decision. Last yea,r Dunn made 10 starts going 4-1 with a 4.34 ERA as a rookie.

The Mariners starters have struggled so far this season, with only Chris Flexen earning a win in their first 11 games. They are +110 to win in Baltimore on Wednesday, with Dunn making his second start against Orioles RHP Matt Harvey (0-1, 5.59).

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