A look at what's happening around the majors Saturday:CENTRAL CONTROLThe NL Central-leading Cardinals are sending another red-hot pitcher to the Wrigley Field mound with a chance to ensure a series victory in their crucial four-game set against the Cubs. Right-hander Dakota Hudson (16-7, 3.35) is 6-1 with a 1.59 ERA in his last seven starts. That's bad news for slumping Chicago, which has totaled nine runs while losing four straight games. St. Louis won the first two games of the series, and its starters have given up two runs in 12 innings — including eight one-run innings from emerging ace Jack Flaherty on Thursday.The Cubs are two games behind Milwaukee for the second NL wild card and five back of St. Louis for the NL Central lead. They will start left-hander Jose Quintana (13-8, 3.35), pitching on an extra day of rest after Chicago shuffled its rotation to let veteran Cole Hamels rest his fatigued left shoulder.The Brewers again face Pittsburgh, with right-hander Zach Davies (10-7,... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Marcell Ozuna drove in four runs and threw out a runner at home plate from left field, leading the St. Louis Cardinals over the Washington Nationals 4-2 on Monday night.St. Louis retained its two-game lead over the second-place Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. Washington is one-half game ahead of the Cubs for the top NL wild card.Nationals manager Dave Martinez missed the game following a heart procedure in Washington, and bench coach Chip Hale was in charge of the dugout.Dexter Fowler walked against Sean Doolittle (6-5) with one out in the seventh, Hunter Strickland walked Paul Goldschmidt with two outs and Ozuna doubled just inside the left-field line, just the second hit in 11 at-bats for the Cardinals with runners in scoring position.Dakota Hudson (16-7) won for the sixth time in seven starts. Carlos Martínez got his 20th save in 23 chances.ROCKIES 9, METS 4DENVER (AP) — Pitcher Antonio Senzatela hit a tying, two-run single that ended a year-long 0-for-44 slide at the... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Marcell Ozuna drove in four runs and threw out a runner at home plate from left field, leading the St. Louis Cardinals over the Washington Nationals 4-2 on Monday night.St. Louis retained its two-game lead over the second-place Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. Washington is one-half game ahead of the Cubs for the top NL wild card.Nationals manager Dave Martinez missed the game following a heart procedure in Washington, and bench coach Chip Hale was in charge of the dugout.Dexter Fowler walked against Sean Doolittle (6-5) with one out in the seventh, Hunter Strickland walked Paul Goldschmidt with two outs and Ozuna doubled just inside the left-field line, just the second hit in 11 at-bats for the Cardinals with runners in scoring position.Dakota Hudson (16-7) won for the sixth time in seven starts. Carlos Martínez got his 20th save in 23 chances.ROCKIES 9, METS 4DENVER (AP) — Pitcher Antonio Senzatela hit a tying, two-run single that ended a year-long 0-for-44 slide at the... [More]

Brewers second. Ryan Braun doubles to deep right center field. Eric Thames pops out to shallow center field to Luis Urias. Lorenzo Cain strikes out swinging. Cory Spangenberg singles to center field. Ryan Braun scores. Orlando Arcia grounds out to second base, Greg Garcia to Eric Hosmer.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Brewers 1, Padres 0.Padres fourth. Manny Machado walks. Eric Hosmer doubles to deep center field. Manny Machado scores. Wil Myers strikes out swinging. Josh Naylor lines out to first base to Eric Thames. Luis Urias called out on strikes.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Padres 1, Brewers 1.Brewers fourth. Mike Moustakas flies out to right field to Josh Naylor. Ryan Braun singles to right field. Eric Thames doubles to deep right field. Ryan Braun to third. Lorenzo Cain strikes out swinging. Cory Spangenberg triples to deep center field. Eric Thames scores. Ryan Braun scores. Orlando Arcia called out on strikes.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Brewers 3, Padres 1.Brewers... [More]

Brewers first. Trent Grisham homers to left field. Yasmani Grandal walks. Mike Moustakas reaches on a fielder's choice to second base. Yasmani Grandal out at second. Ryan Braun grounds out to second base. Mike Moustakas out at second.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Brewers 1, Marlins 0.Marlins first. Jon Berti flies out to deep left center field to Ryan Braun. Isan Diaz walks. Garrett Cooper singles to right field. Isan Diaz to third. Starlin Castro out on a sacrifice fly to deep left center field to Ryan Braun. Isan Diaz scores. Neil Walker grounds out to first base, Eric Thames to Zach Davies.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Brewers 1, Marlins 1.Marlins second. Harold Ramirez triples to deep center field. Magneuris Sierra singles to right center field. Harold Ramirez scores. Bryan Holaday called out on strikes. Pablo Lopez strikes out swinging. Magneuris Sierra steals third. Jon Berti grounds out to shortstop, Hernan Perez to Eric Thames.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Marlins... [More]

Cubs third. Ben Zobrist called out on strikes. Kyle Schwarber lines out to left field to Ryan Braun. Nicholas Castellanos homers to center field. Anthony Rizzo grounds out to shallow right field, Cory Spangenberg to Tyler Austin.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Cubs 1, Brewers 0.Brewers third. Lorenzo Cain singles to right center field. Yasmani Grandal singles to left center field. Lorenzo Cain to second. Christian Yelich homers to center field. Yasmani Grandal scores. Lorenzo Cain scores. Ryan Braun lines out to right field to Nicholas Castellanos. Tyler Austin singles to left field. Hernan Perez singles to center field. Tyler Austin to third. Cory Spangenberg singles to shallow infield. Hernan Perez to second. Tyler Austin scores. Orlando Arcia walks. Zach Davies grounds out to shortstop. Orlando Arcia out at second.4 runs, 6 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Brewers 4, Cubs 1.Brewers fourth. Lorenzo Cain lines out to center field to Jason Heyward. Yasmani Grandal homers to center field. Christian... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Anthony Rendon homered and had four hits, including an RBI single in the 11th inning, and the Washington Nationals beat the Chicago Cubs 7-5 on Sunday for their fifth straight victory.Juan Soto added three hits and Stephen Strasburg struck out 10 in six innings, helping Washington finish off its first sweep of Chicago since September 2012. The Nationals outscored the Cubs 23-10 in a three-game series between the top two teams in the NL wild-card standings.Kyle Schwarber, Addison Russell and Victor Caratini homered for Chicago, which had won five in a row before Washington rolled into town. The Cubs fell 2½ games behind first-place St. Louis in the NL Central.The Nationals grabbed the lead for good when Howie Kendrick scored on Tyler Chatwood's wild pitch with Rendon at the plate in the 11th. Rendon then drove in Trea Turner with a single off Chatwood (5-2).Daniel Hudson (7-3) pitched two innings for the win.The Cubs played without Anthony Rizzo, sidelined by tightness in... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Anthony Rendon homered and had four hits, including an RBI single in the 11th inning, and the Washington Nationals beat the Chicago Cubs 7-5 on Sunday for their fifth straight victory.Juan Soto added three hits and Stephen Strasburg struck out 10 in six innings, helping Washington finish off its first sweep of Chicago since September 2012. The Nationals outscored the Cubs 23-10 in a three-game series between the top two teams in the NL wild-card standings.Kyle Schwarber, Addison Russell and Victor Caratini homered for Chicago, which had won five in a row before Washington rolled into town. The Cubs fell 2½ games behind first-place St. Louis in the NL Central.The Nationals grabbed the lead for good when Howie Kendrick scored on Tyler Chatwood's wild pitch with Rendon at the plate in the 11th. Rendon then drove in Trea Turner with a single off Chatwood (5-2).Daniel Hudson (7-3) pitched two innings for the win.The Cubs played without Anthony Rizzo, sidelined by tightness in... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Anthony Rendon homered and had four hits, including an RBI single in the 11th inning, and the Washington Nationals beat the Chicago Cubs 7-5 on Sunday for their fifth straight victory.Juan Soto added three hits and Stephen Strasburg struck out 10 in six innings, helping Washington finish off its first sweep of Chicago since September 2012. The Nationals outscored the Cubs 23-10 in a three-game series between the top two teams in the NL wild-card standings.Kyle Schwarber, Addison Russell and Victor Caratini homered for Chicago, which had won five in a row before Washington rolled into town. The Cubs fell 2½ games behind first-place St. Louis in the NL Central.The Nationals grabbed the lead for good when Howie Kendrick scored on Tyler Chatwood's wild pitch with Rendon at the plate in the 11th. Rendon then drove in Trea Turner with a single off Chatwood (5-2).Daniel Hudson (7-3) pitched two innings for the win.The Cubs played without Anthony Rizzo, sidelined by tightness in... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees manager Aaron Boone got fired up at a rookie umpire in a profane rant, and New York awoke from a sleepy start to rally past the Tampa Bay Rays 6-2 in a doubleheader opener Thursday.New York rallied to win the second game 5-1 and reopen an eight-game AL East lead over the second-place Rays. Luke Voit tied the score in the fifth with his first home run since June 14, and catcher Mike Zunino caused Charlie Morton to balk home the tiebreaking run in a four-run sixth that included Didi Gregorius' two-run single. The Yankees won three straight after wasting a ninth-inning lead in the series opener and improved to 34-11 against the AL East, including 12-5 against Tampa Bay.After Domingo Germán (12-2) gave up solo homers to his first two batters in the first game, Gio Urshela hit a tying home run in the second off Yonny Chirinos (9-5), and Gary Sánchez smashed a go-ahead 110 mph single off the glove of third baseman Yandy Díaz during a three-run fifth. Díaz had helped the... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — DJ LeMahieu and Aaron Judge hit back-to-back homers to begin the bottom of the first inning, giving the Yankees a major league-record 28 straight games with a long ball, and New York held off the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 Tuesday night.Gleyber Torres and Edwin Encarnación each poked a solo shot over the short right field porch for the Yankees, who shook off another injury to Giancarlo Stanton and won for the 10th time in 11 games. The AL East leaders are 8-1 on a 10-game homestand that wraps up Wednesday.Aroldis Chapman allowed a run in the ninth before retiring Freddy Galvis on an easy grounder with two aboard for his 23rd save in 25 tries.Stanton exited in the fourth with a bruised right knee and was scheduled for an MRI. He got tangled up with Toronto pitcher Clayton Richard (0-4) in the first while getting thrown out on a headfirst slide into third base.Yankees rookie Nestor Cortes Jr. (3-0) pitched 4 1/3 solid innings in relief of opener Chad Green.RED SOX 6, WHITE SOX... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — DJ LeMahieu and Aaron Judge hit back-to-back homers to begin the bottom of the first inning, giving the Yankees a major league-record 28 straight games with a long ball, and New York held off the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 Tuesday night.Gleyber Torres and Edwin Encarnación each poked a solo shot over the short right field porch for the Yankees, who shook off another injury to Giancarlo Stanton and won for the 10th time in 11 games. The AL East leaders are 8-1 on a 10-game homestand that wraps up Wednesday.Aroldis Chapman allowed a run in the ninth before retiring Freddy Galvis on an easy grounder with two aboard for his 23rd save in 25 tries.Stanton exited in the fourth with a bruised right knee and was scheduled for an MRI. He got tangled up with Toronto pitcher Clayton Richard (0-4) in the first while getting thrown out on a headfirst slide into third base.Yankees rookie Nestor Cortes Jr. (3-0) pitched 4 1/3 solid innings in relief of opener Chad Green.RED SOX 6, WHITE SOX... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — Max Scherzer struck out a season high 15, allowing three hits over eight innings to lead the Washington Nationals over Cincinnati 4-1 on Sunday, their 12th win in 14 games against the Reds.When manager Dave Martinez visited the mound with a runner on second and two outs in the ninth, Scherzer told him emphatically to keep him in the game. Scherzer then fanned Joey Votto on three straight called strikes.Scherzer (3-5) reached double figures in strikeouts for the fourth time in 13 starts this season and 86th time in his career,Sean Doolittle pitched a perfect ninth for his 12th save as Washington won for the seventh time in nine games.Sonny Gray (2-5) gave up two runs and five hits in five innings.Anthony Rendon had three hits, including an RBI single in the first, and raised his average to .331.YANKEES 8, RED SOX 5NEW YORK (AP) — David Price finally won at Yankee Stadium for the first time with the Boston Red Sox, backed by early homers from J.D. Martinez and Xander Bogaerts.Boston... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — Max Scherzer struck out a season high 15, allowing three hits over eight innings to lead the Washington Nationals over Cincinnati 4-1 on Sunday, their 12th win in 14 games against the Reds.When manager Dave Martinez visited the mound with a runner on second and two outs in the ninth, Scherzer told him emphatically to keep him in the game. Scherzer then fanned Joey Votto on three straight called strikes.Scherzer (3-5) reached double figures in strikeouts for the fourth time in 13 starts this season and 86th time in his career,Sean Doolittle pitched a perfect ninth for his 12th save as Washington won for the seventh time in nine games.Sonny Gray (2-5) gave up two runs and five hits in five innings.Anthony Rendon had three hits, including an RBI single in the first, and raised his average to .331.TWINS 9, RAYS 7ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Jake Odorizzi (8-2) won his eighth straight decision, allowing three hits and striking out nine in six scoreless innings to lower his AL-best... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:CURTAIN UP! LIGHT THE LIGHTS!Max Scherzer, the 2016 and '17 NL Cy Young Award winner, starts for Washington and Jacob deGrom, the 2018 NL Cy Young winner, starts for the New York Mets in a rematch of opening-day starters. The Mets won the opener 2-0 as deGrom struck out 10 and walked one in six innings, allowing six hits. Scherzer gave up two runs and two hits in 7 2/3 innings, striking out 12 and walking three. Robinson Canó homered in the first and added an RBI single in the eighth against reliever Matt Grace.YOU'RE A MAN WHO GOES TRAVELINGCole Hamels (4-0) starts for the Chicago Cubs in his first career start against the Philadelphia Phillies, the team that signed him as a first-round pick in the 2002 amateur draft. Hamels was 114-90 for the Phillies from 2006-15, helping Philadelphia win the 2008 World Series and the 2009 NL pennant. He was traded to Texas in July 2015 and to the Cubs last July. Rookie Cole Irvin (2-0) starts for the... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Christian Yelich hit his major league-leading 17th and 18th homers to help Zach Davies and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Philadelphia Phillies 11-3 Thursday.Yasmani Grandal and Mike Moustakas also went deep as the Brewers won their third in a row.Davies (5-0) allowed three runs — one earned — and four hits in six innings.Yelich homered in the first for a 1-0 lead off Zach Eflin (5-4) and added a solo drive off Edgar Garcia in the eighth to make it 8-3.ATHLETICS 17, TIGERS 3DETROIT (AP) — Jurickson Profar hit his first career grand slam, and Oakland won its 13th straight over Detroit and its eighth in a row at Comerica ParkJosh Phegley had four hits, including one of Oakland's five home runs. Matt Olson and Marcus Semien also homered for Oakland.Detroit has been outscored 41-9 while losing the first four games of a 10-game homestand.Ohio native Chris Bassitt (2-1) pitched eight shutout innings in front of a large group of friends and family.Spencer Turnbull (2-3) allowed... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Christian Yelich hit his major league-leading 17th and 18th homers to help Zach Davies and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Philadelphia Phillies 11-3 Thursday.Yasmani Grandal and Mike Moustakas also went deep as the Brewers won their third in a row.Davies (5-0) allowed three runs — one earned — and four hits in six innings.Yelich homered in the first for a 1-0 lead off Zach Eflin (5-4) and added a solo drive off Edgar Garcia in the eighth to make it 8-3.ATHLETICS 17, TIGERS 3DETROIT (AP) — Jurickson Profar hit his first career grand slam, and Oakland won its 13th straight over Detroit and its eighth in a row at Comerica ParkJosh Phegley had four hits, including one of Oakland's five home runs. Matt Olson and Marcus Semien also homered for Oakland.Detroit has been outscored 41-9 while losing the first four games of a 10-game homestand.Ohio native Chris Bassitt (2-1) pitched eight shutout innings in front of a large group of friends and family.Spencer Turnbull (2-3) allowed... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Christian Yelich hit his major league-leading 17th and 18th homers to help Zach Davies and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Philadelphia Phillies 11-3 Thursday.Yasmani Grandal and Mike Moustakas also went deep as the Brewers won their third in a row.Davies (5-0) allowed three runs — one earned — and four hits in six innings.Yelich homered in the first for a 1-0 lead off Zach Eflin (5-4) and added a solo drive off Edgar Garcia in the eighth to make it 8-3.ATHLETICS 17, TIGERS 3DETROIT (AP) — Jurickson Profar hit his first career grand slam, and Oakland won its 13th straight over Detroit and its ninth in a row at Comerica ParkJosh Phegley had four hits, including one of Oakland's five home runs. Matt Olson and Marcus Semien also homered for Oakland.Detroit has been outscored 41-9 while losing the first four games of a 10-game homestand.Ohio native Chris Bassitt (2-1) pitched eight shutout innings in front of a large group of friends and family.Spencer Turnbull (2-3) allowed... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Saturday:SOMETHING BREWIN'Zach Davies (4-0, 1.56 ERA) starts for the Brewers as they go for their eighth straight win. Ryan Braun homered as Milwaukee won the series opener 7-0 at Wrigley Field on Friday, pulling into a virtual tie with the Cubs for the NL Central lead. Chicago starter Cole Hamels (3-0, 3.38 ERA) is coming off three consecutive no-decisions.MAXED OUTThe Nationals have lost the last five games that ace Max Scherzer has started. The three-time Cy Young Award winner is 1-4 with a 3.78 ERA overall this year. The most consecutive team losses in Scherzer starts is six, starting in 2009 when he played for Arizona and ending in 2010 when he pitched for Detroit.Scherzer next starts at Dodger Stadium against Walker Buehler (4-0, 4.95).SAVE SOME FOR MEOne night after busting loose for their biggest first inning in 30 years (eight runs), the Mets look to give Jacob deGrom (2-4, 3.60 ERA) some offensive support as well for a change.The reigning... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Pinch-hitter Hunter Renfroe hit a grand slam with two outs in the ninth inning off Kenley Jansen to give the San Diego Padres a thrilling 8-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.Renfroe drove an 0-1 pitch into a balcony on the Western Metal Supply Co. Building in the left-field corner. He dropped his bat and raised his arms before beginning his trot.The Padres, who avoided a three-game sweep, started the winning rally with three straight singles off Jansen (2-1), who was trying for his third save in three games. Eric Hosmer hit a leadoff single to left and Manuel Margot and Wil Myers followed with bunt singles to load the bases. Jansen struck out Greg Garcia and got rookie Francisco Mejia to pop up before Renfroe's slam.Adam Warren (2-0) pitched a perfect ninth for the win.CUBS 13, CARDINALS 5CHICAGO (AP) — Kris Bryant hit his fourth career grand slam in Chicago's six-run eighth inning and the Cubs pounded St. Louis for their season-high seventh consecutive victory.Willson... [More]