Each night in the 2016 baseball season, we'll run down the top news, facts and highlights from action around Major League Baseball.
Heading into the regular season, few gave the rebuilding Cincinnati Reds much of a chance to succeed this season. But after beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1 on Sunday, the Reds are 5-1 and tied atop the NL Central standings in the early going. They begin a three-game set against the Cubs (also 5-1) Monday night in Chicago.
MORE: Winningest managers in baseball | Is Carlos Correa joining Trout, Harper among baseball's elite?
Leading the way Sunday was a spring training non-roster pitcher who got an opportunity to join Cincinnati's rotation when five pitchers were put on the disabled list last week.
Tim Melville, 26, tossed four innings of one-run baseball against the Pirates with five strikeouts. Though he didn't reach the necessary innings to earn a win, Melville was pleased with his surprise debut despite loading the bases in the first inning.
"It was one of those moments. It's not a dream anymore," Melville said, via ESPN.com. "I was nervous. It happens to the best of us. I told myself to get back to the game plan and get strike one. You're out there by yourself.
Melville got out of the inning without allowing a run, but he threw 37 pitches.
Reds shortstop Eugenio Suarez continued to lead the way offensively. He went 3 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI to raise his average to .435 on the season.
Player of the day:
Orioles third baseman Manny Machado went 4 for 4 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored in a 5-3 win against the Rays on Sunday. After enjoying a career year last season, Machado is off to an even better start this year with three home runs in the first week.
Highlight:
Can anyone stop Rockies shortstop Trevor Story?
This Story is just too good: https://t.co/DdkJWbfrp5
— MLB (@MLB) April 10, 2016
Three things to know:
— Story broke a MLB record with his seventh home run through the season's first six games. Story, a rookie, currently has more home runs than 16 MLB teams.
— Cubs starting pitcher Jake Arrieta's home run of 442 feet was the longest by a pitcher in the last eight seasons. It was also longer than any home run he's allowed in the past five seasons. In his last 22 regular-season starts, Arrieta has hit more homers (3) than he has allowed (2).
— Rangers outfielder Nomar Mazara, 20, who hit a 432-foot home run, is the youngest player in the live-ball era with three hits, including a home run, in his debut.
What's next:
Pirates (4-2) at Tigers (3-1), 1:10 p.m. ET — Pittsburgh heads to Detroit after dropping two of three in Cincinnati. The outfield trio of Andrew McCutchen, Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco will face Detroit's three best pitchers — Justin Verlander, Anibal Sanchez and Jordan Zimmermann — in the four-game series.
Reds (5-1) at Cubs (5-1), 8:05 p.m. ET — No starters, no problem. With three of their projected starters on the disabled list, the Reds have been the most surprising team in MLB. Their team ERA of 2.67 ranks third in the National League. Brandon Finnegan (0-0, 3.00 ERA) goes for the Reds while Jon Lester (1-0, 1.29 ERA) takes the mound for the Cubs in their home opener.