LEADING OFF: Nelson back, Sale slumps, Cutch out, umps hurt

A look at what’s happening around the majors today:

WELCOME BACK

Jimmy Nelson makes his long-awaited return to a big league mound when he starts for Milwaukee against Miami at Miller Park. The right-hander hasn’t pitched in the majors since Sept. 8, 2017, when he injured his pitching shoulder diving back to first after rounding the bag on a single. At the time, he was 12-6.

Nelson had surgery and missed last year, when the Brewers reached the NL Championship Series. He had been set to begin a rehab assignment in late April, but that was delayed when his twin daughters were born prematurely.

Now, he’s back. Taking the ball on his 30th birthday, too.

“I’m just real anxious, excited about it,” he said.

Nelson is rejoining the rotation after Milwaukee put pitchers Jhoulys Chacín and Gio González on the injured list Sunday.

TOUGH SELL

Boston lefty Chris Sale is tied for the major league lead in losses, taking his 1-7 record into Kauffman Stadium to face the Royals. Sale ranks among the leaders with 98 strikeouts in 68 1/3 innings, but has a 4.35 ERA through 12 starts.

Sale has started the last three All-Star Games for the American League, and threw the final pitch for the World Series last year when the Red Sox clinched another championship.

MINUS MCCUTCHEN

Phillies outfielder Andrew McCutchen is out for the season with a torn knee, and a couple of newcomers will try to take his place. McCutchen tore his left ACL in a rundown Monday, and hopes to be OK for opening day next year.

The injury came a week after Philadelphia outfielder Odúbel Herrera was put on administrative leave by Major League Baseball, a day after his arrest in a domestic violence case. His leave has since been extended through June 17 - he cannot play until MLB lifts the restriction.

Last weekend, Philadelphia acquired outfielder Jay Bruce in a trade with Seattle. The Phillies also called up Adam Haseley from Triple-A, and 23-year-old made his major league debut when he started in center field at San Diego on Tuesday night.

UMPS THUMPED

A trio of big league umpires will see how they’re feeling a day after they were forced to exit games with injuries.

Plate umpire Mike Everitt left when he was struck in the chest by a 95 mph fastball from White Sox starter Reynaldo Lopez in Washington. The pitch wasn’t touched by swinging hitter Trea Turner or catcher James McCann.

Plate ump Tom Hallion left an inning after he was hit in the mask by a foul ball in the Giants-Mets game at Citi Field. Second base umpire Scott Barry was helped off the field in Milwaukee with an apparent leg injury.

All three games continued with three-man crews.

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