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MILWAUKEE (AP) _ After back-to-back losses in Toronto, the Bucks return home for Game 5 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals looking to snatch back momentum in a series tied 2-2. The Bucks won the first two games, with their bench playing a major role in the team's success. The Bucks reserves played so well in the first two games of the series that the team's apparel shop unveiled a "Bench Mob" T-shirt. But it was the Raptors' bench, led by forward Norman Powell's 18 points, that decided Game 4 — scoring 48 points on Tuesday.
NEW YORK (AP) _ Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg starts today’s series finale against the Mets, a day after the Mets stunned the Nationals 6-1. Washington’s Max Scherzer outpitched fellow Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom, but things went south for the Nationals in the eighth when Juan Lagares hit a three-run double off closer Sean Doolittle and Rajai Davis added a three-run homer. Left-hander Steven Matz starts today’s game for the Mets. Meanwhile, the Mets will check on Robinson Canó, who left yesterday’s game because of tightness in his left quadriceps.
TORONTO (AP) _ Boston star J.D. Martinez wasn't in the lineup for yesterday’s game at Toronto because of a sore back and is unlikely to play again until Friday. Red Sox manager Alex Cora is hesitant to play Martinez in the series finale today in Toronto, citing the artificial surface and the early afternoon start. The Red Sox will certainly miss Martinez's presence in the lineup, but the Blue Jays will not — he has 13 home runs and 41 RBIs in 40 career games against them.
CHICAGO (AP) _ Following a brutal start to the season, Aaron Nola has looked much more like the ace pitcher the Phillies expect him to be. Nola has found his form over the past month, giving up just one earned run in four of his last five starts and struck out 12 against Colorado in his previous outing. He'll be on the mound for Philadelphia at Wrigley Field facing the Chicago Cubs and lefty Jon Lester.
CLEVELAND (AP) _ The Cleveland Indians are going to have to climb out of a hole if they want to win the AL Central for a fourth straight season. The Indians were just swept at home in three games by Oakland and have a 13-16 record since the middle of April. Now they host a four-game set against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Indians will start right-hander Adam Plutko, who gave up just one run and one hit in six innings during his first start of the season in a win over Baltimore last Saturday.
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