MLB notes: Adrian Beltre to break record

It is not difficult to find one’s self on the receiving end of one of Adrian Beltre’s stone-cold, get-out-of-my-face, get-off-my-lawn stares.

Touch his head, for example. Or wander into his space when a popup is in the general vicinity, for another. One more: Try to douse him in Gatorade after a win.

Or for a real “I don’t have time for this,” bring up any of his individual accomplishments.

His three cycles? They are flukes, he’ll tell you. His ascent to the second spot on the all-time games played list at third base? Just means he’s old. The all-time games played leader among natives of the Dominican Republic? Move along.

Wait what?

When Beltre was informed about 10 days ago that he was closing in on Julio Franco’s record of 2,527 games set over three decades, but seemed more like two centuries, he stopped the frown show for just a moment. He may have even let a small smile start to crack at the corner of his lips.

The moment arrives today at Detroit when Beltre is expected to play in game No. 2,528 of his career over the course of an 18-year career that keeps adding Hall of Fame credentials almost by the week. Even this year, in what has been mostly a down season offensively, Beltre surpassed 400 homers to become just the sixth player in history to reach 400 homers and 500 doubles before his 37th birthday. He passed Graig Nettles for second place to Brooks Robinson for most games at third base. He has passed 2,700 hits. Before the season is over, he’ll likely have 1,000 extra-base hits.

Beltre often says he will consider those accomplishments after he’s retired.

The Dominican thing. That stopped him in his tracks.

“I’m proud of it,” Beltre said earlier this week. “I’m accomplishing things I never even thought about. It means I’ve been healthy and able to compete for a long time. But the numbers, I don’t think about the numbers. I just want to a win a World Series.”

And then the scowl started to inch its way back across his face.

Yankees honor Posada

The Yankees retired former catcher Jorge Posada’s No. 20 before Saturday’s game against Cleveland. Posada spent his entire 17-year career in New York, where he helped the Yankees win four World Series titles.

He batted .273 with 275 home runs and 1,065 RBIs. Posada also holds the record for most postseason games as a catcher (119).

Clearing the bases

The Tigers say the fan who was hit by a foul ball in Friday night’s game was released from the hospital Saturday. … The Mets placed 1B Lucas Duda on the 15-day DL with a back injury and recalled LHP Dario Alvarez from Triple-A Las Vegas. The Mets also acquired OF Eric Young from the Braves for cash considerations and assigned him to Triple-A.