A look at what’s happening all around the majors Wednesday:
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WELCOME
Star outfielder J.D. Martinez joins the Arizona Diamondbacks, a day after they got him from Detroit for a trio of prospects. Martinez is expected to take over in left field and provide sorely needed pop against left-handed pitching. He is hitting .305 with 16 home runs and 39 RBIs going into Arizona’s game at Cincinnati. The Diamondbacks are in firm control of a wild-card spot, but far back of the Dodgers in the NL West.
SCOUTING SONNY
Oakland right-hander Sonny Gray may be auditioning for shopping contenders when he starts against Tampa Bay. Gray (5-4, 3.72) has been one of the sharpest pitchers supposedly on the trade block, going 3-1 with a 1.33 ERA in his past four starts. He’ll try to extend that run against promising Rays rookie Jacob Faria (4-0, 2.00).
SHOCK JOCK
Chris Christie will have plenty to talk about after catching a foul ball during the Cardinals-Mets game at Citi Field. The embattled soon-to-be-ex-New Jersey governor drew cheers when he made a one-handed snag on a high pop by St. Louis rookie Paul DeJong that bounced in the stands — but once it became clear the fan in a blue shirt and red tie was Christie, those cheers turned to boos. Christie, a Republican who’ll leave office in January, had a 15 percent approval rating in recent polls. He tried out this month for a spot on popular New York sports radio station WFAN, and the catch could at least provide fodder for another appearance.
JUST JAKE
Mets ace Jacob deGrom tries to win his seventh straight start when he faces the visiting Cardinals. Snubbed for the NL All-Star team, deGrom (10-3) has a 1.53 ERA during his winning streak.
