LEADING OFF: Seaver tributes, Clevinger debuts for Padres

Tributes will certainly pour in for Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver, a day after the New York Mets announced his death at 75

LEADING OFF: Seaver tributes, Clevinger debuts for PadresBy The Associated PressThe Associated Press

A look at what’s happening around the majors on Thursday:

TOM TERRIFIC

Tributes will certainly pour in for Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver, a day after the New York Mets announced his death at 75.

The ace who steered a stunning transformation from lovable losers to Miracle Mets in 1969 died Monday from complications of Lewy body dementia and COVID-19. Seaver’s family announced in March 2019 he had been diagnosed with dementia and had retired from public life.

Nicknamed Tom Terrific and The Franchise, Seaver was a five-time 20-game winner and three-time NL Cy Young Award winner. He went 311-205 with a 2.86 ERA, 3,640 strikeouts and 61 shutouts.

“He was simply the greatest Mets player of all-time and among the best to ever play the game,” Mets owner Fred Wilpon and son Jeff, the team’s chief operating officer, said in a statement.

WELCOME, PADRE

Mike Clevinger (1-1, 3.18 ERA) makes his Padres debut after being traded this week from Cleveland. He’ll start at Angel Stadium — it’s the ballpark of the franchise that drafted him in 2011 and then regrettably traded him for Vinny Pestano in 2014.

After the deal Monday that beat the trade deadline, Clevinger called the Padres “the most exciting team in baseball by far right now. It’s definitely kind of the place to be right now. I’m stoked that they wanted me here. This is definitely a destination a lot of guys would like to be. Definitely something special brewing here and I think it’s going to be something special for coming years, not just this year.”

The 29-year-old Clevinger went 13-4 with a 2.71 ERA in 21 starts last year. The long-haired right-hander nicknamed “Sunshine” also is contractually controlled through the 2022 season.

The Angels send out Andrew Heaney (2-2, 4.62 ERA), who will look to build on 7 2/3 strong innings last week against Seattle.

QUICK STOP

It’s a one-game Subway Series at Citi Field as the Mets and Yankees make up a game recently called off because of coronavirus concerns.

J.A. Happ (1-1, 4.05) shut out the Mets on three hits in 7 1/3 innings in his last start, striking out five without a walk. The 37-year-old lefty became the first Yankees starter to reach the eighth this season.

Robert Gsellman (0-0, 5.19) starts for the Mets. He opposed Happ in his last start and gave up a home run to Luke Voit on his fourth pitch.

WALK THIS WAY

Blue Jays newcomer Taijuan Walker makes his second start since being acquired in a trade with Seattle. The right-hander pitched six shutout innings against Baltimore in his Toronto last weekend.

Walker (3-2, 3.27 ERA) starts at Boston as the Blue Jays try to keep up their push for a playoff spot.

___

More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports