Each night we'll provide you the nine top story lines from the day's action, beginning with the stars of the day, and look ahead to the next day's matchups.
One hundred years ago Wednesday, Babe Ruth hit the first of his 714 career home runs. In a performance that would make the Babe proud, Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper became the youngest player since 1969 to hit three home runs in a game, including a moon shot estimated at 445 feet. Harper also drove in five runs, giving him eight home runs and 20 RBIs for the season.
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Ruth would also be happy for Dodgers rookie outfielder Joc Pederson, whose last seven hits have all cleared the fences. The 23-year-old hit two solo shots against the Brewers and now has nine home runs to go with a .272/.423/.667 slash line and 18 RBIs.
Reds first baseman Joey Votto showed Ruthian anger. He made contact with home plate umpire Chris Conroy after being ejected. Votto raced from first base to confront Conroy during an expletive-laced tirade. Votto later expressed regret, but he still figures to be in trouble with Major League Baseball.
Some of the highlights from Wednesday's games:
Impact players
C — Russell Martin, Blue Jays: Russ-Mart was 3 for 4, including his seventh homer of the season. He's batting .286/.402/.619 with 18 RBIs for the season.
1B — Freddie Freeman, Braves: Freeman was 3 for 4 with two doubles and three RBIs. He finished Atlanta's series against Philadelphia with seven hits in 12 at-bats.
2B — Dilson Herrera, Mets: Herrera, who entered the night with one hit in 14 plate appearances, had a huge game against the Orioles. He was 3 for 3 with a two-run home run and an RBI single.
SS — Andrelton Simmons, Braves: Simmons was 3 for 4 with a single, a double and a solo homer. He also scored three runs, giving him 20 on the year.
3B — Aaron Hill, Diamondbacks: Hill started both game of the D-backs' doubleheader against the Rockies and finished 6 for 9 with a homer, four RBIs and a stolen base.
OF — Eduardo Escobar, Twins — Escobar raised his average 31 points (albeit to just .225) with a 3-for-4 outing. He collected a single, a double and a homer and drove in five runs.
DH — Víctor Martínez, Tigers — V-Mart finally connected on his first homer of the season. He added a run-scoring single in the eighth to finish with four RBIs.
SP — Mike Leake, Reds — Leake pitched eight shutout innings in picking up his second win of the season. He allowed just six singles to the Pirates while walking none and striking out two.
Key injuries
Cardinals relief pitcher Jordan Walden will be sidelined for the next six to 10 weeks with a strained muscle in his right shoulder. The setup man has an 0.87 ERA and 12 strikeouts over 10 1/3 innings.
The Astros placed outfielder George Springer on the seven-day concussion DL following his collision into the outfield wall while making an incredible catch against the Rangers on Tuesday. The club promoted outfielder Preston Tucker from Triple-A Fresno in a corresponding roster move.
Surprise performers
Good: Blue Jays starter Mark Buehrle earned a victory over the Yankees for the first time in more than a decade. Buehrle entered Wednesday's game with a 1-14 career record against New York. He allowed one run on six hits in five innings for his fourth win of the season.
Bad: Tigers reliever Joba Chamberlain blew a three-run lead in the eighth inning against the White Sox. He gave up four runs and six hits in two-thirds of an inning. He was tagged with the loss and now owns a dismal 6.75 ERA and 1.95 WHIP.
Web gem
Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia makes an impressive diving stop of a ground ball hit by James Loney, then fires to first from the outfield for the out:
Facts of the day
Twins outfielder Eddie Rosario became the first player in Twins history to homer on his first big league pitch, according to baseball-almanac.com.
Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez recorded the 525th double of his career. He passed former teammate Ken Griffey Jr. and is now tied with Ted Williams for 42nd all time.
Phillies slugger Ryan Howard hit career home run No. 339, tying him with Tino Martinez, Dave Parker and Boog Powell for 95th all time.
Reactions
“We’re the team to beat, everybody knows that. And we’re going to get hot. Everybody knows that, too," Harper said after his three-homer game.
"Players have asked about a 154(-game schedule)," commissioner Rob Manfred said, via MLB.com. "I think 154 is a topic that is complicated. It has big competitive and economic ramifications. Having said that, I think in the 20-something years I've worked in the game, there's more conversation about it than there has been in a long time."
Off the field
Although the Yankees' long-held policy on facial hair has prevented players from growing full beards, many of the Bronx Bombers have been growing mustaches since Brett Gardner began growing one in mid-April. The Yankees are 14-5 since Gardner first began growing his mustache.
A day after making his start against the Tigers, White Sox right-hander Jeff Samardzija dropped the appeal of a five-game suspension and began serving it. Samardzija was suspended for his role in a benches-clearing brawl April 23 against the Royals.
The Athletics activated outfielder Coco Crisp from the 15-day disabled list. Crisp had surgery early in April to remove a bone spur and chips from his right elbow.
With the NASCAR circuit racing at nearby Kansas Speedway this weekend, Kansas native and NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Royals.
Scores
American League
Blue Jays 5, Yankees 1
Twins 13, Athletics 0
Rangers 11, Astros 3
White Sox 7, Tigers 6
Indians 10, Royals 3
Rays 5, Red Sox 3
Angels 4, Mariners 3
National League
Nationals 7, Marlins 5
Padres 9, Giants 1
D-backs 13, Rockies 7 (Game 1)
D-backs 5, Rockies 1 (Game 2)
Reds 3, Pirates 0
Braves 7, Phillies 5
Cubs 6, Cardinals 5
Brewers 6, Dodgers 3
Interleague
Mets 5, Orioles 1
A look ahead
Thursday's top games (all times Eastern):
Indians (9-16) at Royals (17-9) 2:10 p.m.: Corey Kluber, the reigning AL Cy Young winner, is 0-3 with a 7.27 ERA in his past three starts. He will face off against Edinson Volquez (2-3, 2.10 ERA) and the Royals, who roughed up Kluber for 10 hits and six runs (four earned) on April 27.
Rangers (11-16) at Rays (15-13), 7:10 p.m.: The teams will meet for the first time this season. Nick Martinez (2-0, 0.84 ERA) will take the hill for the Rangers. Texas has been unlucky with facing tough starting pitching, having seen Felix Hernandez, Dallas Keuchel, Sonny Gray and Scott Kazmir twice each (the Rangers are 1-7 in those games). Thursday will be no different, with Chris Archer (3-3, 1.64 ERA) on the mound for the Rays.
Astros (18-10) at Angels (13-15), 10:05 p.m.: Before being swept by the Rangers, the Astros were on a 10-game win streak. They have a great shot to return to their winning ways as Collin McHugh (4-0, 3.41 ERA) toes the rubber. Houston has won all five of his starts this season. McHugh and the Astros will face Hector Santiago (2-2, 3.14 ERA) and the Angels, who are five games behind first-place Houston in the AL West.