What's on Tap: Previewing Wednesday evening's action - MLB

Craig filled you in on what’s going on this afternoon. We still have plenty of baseball left in the evening.

Knuckleballer Steven Wright starts for the Red Sox against the Orioles’ Kevin Gausman in a 7:10 PM EDT game at Fenway Park tonight. Did you know that Wright is currently the American League leader, among qualified starters, in ERA at 2.09? Danny Salazar of the Indians is next at 2.19.

This is Wright’s first full season after being used as a spot starter/swingman over parts of the previous three seasons. The 31-year-old put up decent, but not awe-inspiring numbers in the minors which is why the Red Sox weren’t banking on him as a part of the future when they acquired him from the Indians at the trade deadline in 2012 in exchange for Lars Anderson. But he has seemed to figure things out this year, despite giving his own catchers fits — the Sox are by far the leaders in passed balls at 27.

Wright has allowed more than three runs only once in his 12 starts this season and he’s gone at least six innings in all but two starts. The Orioles will try to change that tonight.

The rest of Wednesday night’s action…

Toronto Blue Jays (Marco Estrada) @ Philadelphia Phillies (Jeremy Hellickson), 7:05 PM EDT

Cincinnati Reds (Anthony DeSclafani) @ Atlanta Braves (Bud Norris), 7:10 PM EDT

Pittsburgh Pirates (Jeff Locke) @ New York Mets (Noah Syndergaard), 7:10 PM EDT

Seattle Mariners (Nathan Karns) @ Tampa Bay Rays (Drew Smyly), 7:10 PM EDT

Houston Astros (Collin McHugh) @ St. Louis Cardinals (Adam Wainwright), 7:15 PM EDT

Detroit Tigers (Mike Pelfrey) @ Chicago White Sox (Chris Sale), 8:10 PM EDT

Cleveland Indians (Corey Kluber) @ Kansas City Royals (Ian Kennedy), 8:15 PM EDT

Minnesota Twins (Tyler Duffey) @ Los Angeles Angels (Hector Santiago), 10:05 PM EDT

Texas Rangers (Derek Holland) @ Oakland Athletics (Sonny Gray), 10:05 PM EDT

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TAMPA, Fla. — Anthony Volpe grew up watching Derek Jeter star at shortstop for the New York Yankees.

Now, the 21-year-old is getting the chance to be the Yankees’ Opening Day shortstop against the San Francisco Giants.

The team announced after a 6-2 win over Toronto in spring training that Volpe had won the spot. New York manager Aaron Boone called the kid into his office to deliver the news.

“My heart was beating pretty hard,” said Volpe, rated one of baseball’s best prospects. “Incredible. I’m just so excited. It’s hard for me to even put into words.”

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, hitting coach Dillon Lawson and bench coach Carlos Mendoza were also present.

Volpe was able to share the news with his parents and other family members near the Yankees’ dugout and said it is something he will never forget.

“It was pretty emotional,” Volpe said. “It was just an unbelievable moment to share with them.”

Volpe, who grew up a Yankees fan, lived in Manhattan as a child before moving to New Jersey. Jeter was his favorite player.

“It’s very surreal,” Volpe said. “I’ve only ever been to games at Yankee Stadium and for the most part only watched him play there.”

Volpe is hitting .314 with three homers, five RBIs and a .417 on-base percentage in 17 Grapefruit League games. He has just 22 games of experience at Triple-A.

Spring training started with Volpe, Oswald Peraza and holdover Isiah Kiner-Falefa competing for the everyday shortstop job. Kiner-Falefa was shifted into a utility role midway through camp, and Peraza was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

“While certainly the performance was there, he killed it between the lines,” Boone said of Volpe. “All the other things that we’ve been hearing about showed up. There’s an energy he plays the game with, and an instinct that he has that is evident. He really checked every box that we could have had for him. Absolutely kicked the door in and earned his opportunity.”

Volpe arrived in Florida in December to work out at the Yankees’ minor league complex.

“He’s earned the right to take that spot, and we’re excited for him and excited for us,” Cashman said. “He just dominated all sides of the ball during February and March, and that bodes well obviously for him as we move forward.”

Volpe was selected out of high school with the 30th overall pick in the 2019 draft from Delbarton School in New Jersey. He passed up a college commitment to Vanderbilt to sign with the Yankees.

“It was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get into the organization,” Volpe said. “This day, this feeling, this moment was kind of what I’ve worked my whole life for when I made that big decision.”

“Right now it’s crazy,” he added. “I don’t even know what lies ahead but Thursday I just want to go out and play, and have fun.”

What’s on Tap: Previewing Wednesday evening’s action

Anthony Volpe, 21, wins Yankees’ starting shortstop job