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Around the horn: K-Rod reaches 400 saves

Tigers closer Francisco Rodriguez reacts after recording his 400th save during a game against the Phillies on May 24.
(Carlos Osorio / Associated Press)
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Francisco Rodriguez of the Detroit Tigers became the sixth player in major league history with 400 saves. His first save preserved a victory for John Lackey in 2003; the two still are going strong. Lackey and Rodriguez each made his debut with the 2002 World Series champion Angels; the two accounted for 18 of the 27 outs in the Game 7 victory over the San Francisco Giants. …

The only team without a start from a home-grown pitcher this season? The Chicago Cubs, the best team. … Tampa Bay outfielder Brandon Guyer was hit by a pitch 13 times in the Rays’ first 44 games, the first player to be hit so often so early since the Dodgers’ Chase Utley — then with the Philadelphia Phillies — in 2007. …

April might have been a tease from Mat Latos, who was cast off by the Dodgers and Angels last season. Latos signed with the Chicago White Sox and started 4-0 with a 0.74 ERA. Since then: 2-1 with a 7.09 ERA. He starts Sunday against the World Series champion Kansas City Royals. … For the first time in their 40-year history, the Toronto Blue Jays got home runs from two Canadian players in one game. Russell Martin and Michael Saunders did the honors …

The Cincinnati Reds have used 24 pitchers. The franchise record is 30. The Cubs had lost 14 games through Friday; the Reds’ bullpen alone had lost 14. ... Scrabble matchup Monday in Atlanta: the Giants’ Jeff Samardzija vs. the Braves’ Mike Foltynewicz.

DODGERS NEXT

at Chicago Cubs: Monday, 2 p.m.; Tuesday, 5 p.m.; Wednesday, 5 p.m.; Thursday, 11:15 a.m.

vs. Atlanta: Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 7 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.

On Tuesday, Jake Arrieta faces the Dodgers. Last time he did, he threw a no-hitter.

ANGELS NEXT

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vs. Detroit: Monday, 6 p.m.; Tuesday, 7 p.m.; Wednesday, 4 p.m.

at Pittsburgh: Friday, 4 p.m.; Saturday, 1 p.m.; Sunday, 10:30 a.m.

Matt Joyce for Angels, 2015: 5 HR in 247 AB; for Pirates, 2016: 5 HR in 56 AB.

MLB SERIES OF THE WEEK

Arizona at Houston

Monday through Thursday

These might be baseball’s two most disappointing teams, and no matchup could encapsulate that better than the scheduled one on Thursday. For Arizona: Zack Greinke (5-3, 4.59 ERA through Friday), who posted a 1.66 ERA for the Dodgers last year and parlayed that into a $206-million contract from the Diamondbacks. For Houston: defending American League Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel (2-6, 5.92).

MLB CHATTER

What’s trending on Twitter:

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“My phone keeps telling me that there’s a teenager pitching for us tomorrow! #UriasMania”

--Enrique Hernandez (@kikehrndz), Dodgers utilityman, as news of Julio Urias’ promotion spread Thursday morning. The Dodgers started Urias Friday and returned him to the minor leagues Saturday. Urias, 19, is the youngest player to appear in the major leagues this season.

“Happy Birthday Big Sexy, you are my Yoda. Your apprentice I am.”

--Noah Syndergaard (@Noahsyndergaard), New York Mets pitcher, celebrating the birthday of Bartolo Colon, his 43-year-old teammate. Colon, who faces Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers on Sunday, is the oldest player to appear in the majors this season.

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