Cavan Biggio Hits for Cycle in Blue Jays' Win; Marlins' Miguel Rojas Drives In 6; Wild Card Updates

Players of the Day for Tuesday, September 1, 2019

American League

It must be in the genes.

Biggio hits for cycle

On Tuesday night, in an otherwise meaningless game, the Toronto Blue Jays knocked off the Baltimore Orioles, 8-5. While the two teams have only next season to look forward to, rookie Cavan Biggio made the most of it, hitting for the cycle, driving in four runs.

Biggio, son of Hall of Famer, Craig Biggio, began putting together the historic night in the third inning, with a two-run homer that gave Toronto a 3-2 lead. After singling in the sixth inning, he doubled, stole third and scored on a sac fly to tie the game at 4-all in the eighth. Finally, in the ninth, after Justin Smoak put the Blue Jays up, 5-4, Biggio legged out a triple that plated two more runs and came home to score on a Baltimore error.

Biggio's father, Craig, hit for the cycle in 2002. Cavan's cycle was the first ever in the 27-year history of Baltimore's Camden Yards. Batting a mere .230, Biggio has 14 homers and 42 RBI in 313 at-bats. He's also swiped 10 bases and scored 58 runs.

In the wild card race, the Oakland A's have taken the initiative, winning their last seven of eight, with a 2-1 gut-check win over the Royals. The win left them two games up on Tampa Bay, 7-5 losers to the Dodgers in LA.

The Indians are 1/2-game behind Tampa, but have 11 games left, as opposed to just 10 for the Rays and A's.

Already in a good spot, the A's have the lightest schedule remaining, hosting one more game with the Royals, then three with Texas. They finish on the road, playing two with the Angels, then four at Seattle.

Cleveland finishes up its home schedule with two more against Detroit, then three with the Phillies. On the road the final six games, they visit the White Sox for three and end in Washington against the Nationals.

The Rays have a tough week ahead. After one more in LA, they return home for four games with Boston and two against the Yankees. Their season ends with three in Toronto.

National League

In a game that more than likely knocked the Diamondbacks completely out of playoff contention, the Miami Marlins put a 12-6 hurting on Arizona, with Miguel Rojas driving in six runs, fueling the effort.

Rojas: 4-for-6, 6 RBI

Rojas doubled three times and singled in six at-bats. In the third inning, he stroked a double to left center, driving in the first run of the game, then, after grounding out in the fourth, he came to the plate with the bases loaded and cleared them with a double to left field. He singled in two more in the seventh. For good measure, he doubled again in the ninth, but was left stranded as he was after each of his four hits.

For the Diamondbacks, the loss was their eighth in the last 10 games, sending them 5 1/2 behind the Cubs and Brewers, who are tied for the second wild card. With just 10 games remaining, Arizona would have to leapfrog the Phillies, Mets and either the Cubs or Brewers to take a wild card and that's unlikely.

The Brewers appear to be in the best position for either a wild card or the NL Central crown. Their 3-1 win over San Diego Tuesday was their 11th win in their last 12 games. With the Cubs dropping a 4-2 decision to the Reds, the Brewers and Cubs are two games behind St. Louis in the division, after the Cardinals lost, 6-2, to the Nationals.

Washington has a 1 1/2-game lead in the first wild card position and finishes up their three-game series with the Cardinals Wednesday afternoon in St. Louis. Max Scherzer goes to the mound for the Nets, with Adam Wainwright going up the hill for St. Louis.

The Cardinals and Cubs have the toughest roads to the playoffs, playing each other seven times in the closing days. Milwaukee has two more home games with the Padres, then three at home against the Pirates. They finish the season on the road, with three games each in Cincinnati and Colorado.

Washington has the most exotic down-the-stretch schedule after finishing up in St. Louis. They have Thursday off and play three over the weekend in Miami. Then they return home for an eight-game home stand, playing the Phillies five times before ending the regular season hosting Cleveland for three games. The Phillies are still on the fringe of the playoff picture, but the Indians are likely to still be in the AL wild card race until those final games.

Vlad Guerrero Jr. Bombs Orioles with 2 HRs; Cardinals in 1st as Jack Flaherty Blanks Cubs

Players of the Day for Thursday, August 1, 2019

Guerrero Jr.: 2HR, 4RBI

American League

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. smacked a pair of home runs and drove in four as the Blue Jays ripped the Orioles, 11-2, in the opening of their four-game series at Baltimore.

Vlad socked a two-run homer to dead center in the third inning to get Toronto's scoring started. After doubling in another run in the sixth, he mashed a 450-foot solo shot in the eighth, his 13th home run of the year.

Guerrero is batting .267 with 47 RBI, a solid rookie of the year candidate.

Games between the O's and Jays are inconsequential at this juncture, as both teams are hopelessly out of playoff contention.

Elsewhere in the AL East, however, Tampa Bay completed a three-game sweep of the Red Sox in Boston with a 9-4 win. The Rays won their fourth straight and sixth of their last seven. Tampa is seven games behind the Yankees in the division race and have taken over sole possession of the second wild card spot, just 1/2-game better than Oakland. Cleveland holds the first wild card, 1 1/2-games better than Tampa.

With the Red Sox heading to New York for a four-game weekend series with the Yankees beginning Friday, the Rays will be rooting for the team they just swept while they get a rare Friday off before two games against the Marlins, Saturday and Sunday.

National League

Flaherty: 7IP, 1H, 0R, 9K

St. Louis took over first place in the Central division with an 8-0 win over the Cubs.

Taking the series, two games to one, Cardinal starter, Jack Flaherty, showed the way to the top spot in the division, allowing one hit over seven dominating innings. Flaherty walked two and didn't give up a hit until Nick Castellanos laced a single with two out in the sixth.

Flaherty (5-6, 3.91) fanned nine and didn't allow any Cubs past first base. In his second full season, Flaherty is quickly becoming the Cardinals' stopper and most reliable starter.

The Cardinals now hold a one game lead in the division with the Cubs in second place. Milwaukee dropped a 5-3 decision at Oakland and is two games out. All three teams have solid playoff chances to win either the division or take a wild card spot.

Washington, Philadelphia, and Chicago are tied for the wild card lead at 57-51. Milwaukee is a game back, and the Mets, winners of seven straight, are making noise, just four off the wild card pace. In the West, Arizona and San Francisco are also contenting for the wild card, as the Dodgers have run away with the division, now leading by 16 games.

St. Louis has Friday off prior to two weekend games at Oakland.

Cavan Biggio Leads Blue Jays Over Royals; Anthony Rendon's Grand Slam Boosts Nationals Past Braves

Players of the Day for Monday, July 29, 2019

Biggio: 3-4, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI

American League

Cavan Bigio, son of Hall of Fame, Craig Biggio, unknotted a 3-3 tie in the eighth inning with a solo homer, helping Toronto to a 7-3 victory at Kansas City.

In the ninth, Biggio singled home another run and came around to score for the third time in the game. Earlier, he singled to lead off the sixth inning and scored on Randal Grichuk's two-run shot.

While the Blue Jays are hopelessly out of the playoff scenario, the youth movement is alive and well in Toronto, with Biggio, 24, one of the up-and-coming prospects.

With Toronto taking the opener in Kansas City, they'll look to make it two straight over the Royals. Tuesday's game is scheduled for an 8:15 pm ET start.

National League

Rendon: Grand Slam

Anthony Rendon broke a 2-2 tie with a sixth-inning grand slam, leading the Washington Nationals to a 6-3 victory over division-leading Atlanta.

Rendon's bases-full blast was his 23rd home run of the season, a no-doubter that measured 411 feet over the left field wall at Nationals Park. The four RBI boosted his total to 80, tied for third in the National League.

Rendon trails Pittsburgh's Josh Bell (86) and Atlanta's Freddie Freeman (81) in the NL RBI race.

More importantly, the Nationals' win brought them to within 4 1/2-games of the Braves in the NL East.

Washington has been gaining ground since the all-star break, going 9-2. Atlanta won four straight coming out of the break, but are 4-8 over subsequent games.

Game two of the three-game series is slated to begin Tuesday at 7:00 pm ET.

Cardinals Get Big Effort From Adam Wainwright; Randal Grichuck Rallies Blue Jays Past Yankees

Players of the Day for Sunday, September 16, 2018

Grichuck: game-winning 2B

American League

Randal Grichuck doubled home Kevin Pillar in the eighth inning, giving the Blue Jays the lead in a 3-2 win over the Yankees Sunday in New York.

The Yankees, who had scored two runs in the first inning on an Andrew McCutchen homer and a sac fly by Didi Gregorious, failed to score the remainder of the game, despite numerous opportunities. Blue Jay pitching was just good enough to hold them off.

Thomas Pannone, who earning the win, worked seven innings, allowing just two hits and one walk after the shaky first frame.

While Toronto has been eliminated long ago from post-season opportunity, the Yankees are trying to hold onto the first wild card, but have been unsteady of late, losing four of five as the Oakland A's bear down on them.

The A's dropped a 5-4 decision at Tampa Bay Sunday, leaving them 1 1/2 back of New York, at the second wild card.

The Yankees will have to do better if they seek to play the single elimination game at home. They open a three-game series with Boston on Tuesday and then have three against the Orioles. Their final seven games are on the road, with four at Tampa Bay and three at Boston. Oakland may have an easier route. On Tuesday they start a three-game home series with the Angels and then host the Twins for three. They close out the regular season with three at Seattle and three in LA against the Angels.

Oakland is seven games clear of the Rays, so it's likely that the Yankees and Athletics will vie for the two wild card spots. The A's trail Houston by 4 1/2 in the AL West.

National League

Wainwright: 6IP, 0ER, 9K

As the final two weeks of the regular season commence, St. Louis starter, Adam Wainwright, may have come off the disabled list and rediscovered his good stuff just in time for the stretch run.

After dropping three straight at home to the Dodgers, Wainwright tossed six innings of shutout ball, leading the Cardinals to a 5-0 win over Los Angeles Sunday night.

Wainwright, on the shelf since mid-May with inflammation in his throwing elbow, returned from the DL Septmerber 10, but his first start was not encouraging, as he allowed four runs on seven hits over five innings in a loss to the Pirates.

On Sunday, Wainwright, 37, appeared to have found his best stride, fanning nine Dodgers over six innings while limiting them to just two hits. While he walked three, he gave the Cardinals enough solid innings to establish a 3-0 lead, allowing the bullpen to match up and shut down LA the rest of the way.

The win left the Dodgers and Cardinals in a dead heat for the second wild card slot. With the Rockies winning, 3-2, at San Francisco, the Dodgers stand 1/2 game behind in the NL West. St. Louis still has a shot at the NL Central flag, but they're 5 1/2 behind the Cubs, with Milwaukee, current holder of the top wild card position, trailing Chicago by just 2 1/2.

St Louis has a hard path to the playoffs. On Monday, they open a three-game series at Atlanta. The Braves are cruising to the NL East pennant, leading the Phillies by 6 1/2 games. The Cardinals return home after that, with a pair of three-game series against the Giants and Brewers, followed by three at Chicago to close out the season.

Los Angeles has an easier schedule, starting with three-game series at home against the Rockies and then San Diego. They finish on the road, playing three at Arizona and three at San Francisco.

Only one of the two can take a wild card spot unless Milwaukee stumbles badly in the final two weeks.

Jake Arrieta Blanks Marlins, Phillies Extend Lead; Blue Jays Stop Boston Streak, Kevin Pillar 4-for-5

Players of the Day for Friday, July 13, 2018

Pillar: 4-5, 2 2B, 4 RBI

American League

Winners of nine straight, there seemed to be no way to stop the Red Sox.

Toronto figured it out on Friday, outscoring Boston, 13-7, in game two of their three game series at Fenway Park.

Justin Smoak stroked a pair of homers and Kevin Pillar piled up four hits in five at bats with two singles and a pair of doubles, driving in four runs as the Blue Jays rocked Rick Porcello and five Boston relievers for 14 hits.

Pillar broke out of a 4-for-31 slump with his best game of the season.

The win left Boston with a 3 1/2 game lead in the AL East, as the Yankees dropped a 6-5 decision in Cleveland.

Game two is scheduled for Saturday, at 1:05 pm EDT.

National League

Arrieta: 7 scoreless

Jake Arrieta tossed seven scoreless innings as the Philadelphia Phillies opened their three-game series in Miami with a 2-0 victory.

Combined with Atlanta's 2-1 loss to Arizona, the win put the Phillies 1 1/2 games on top in the NL East with just two games remaining before the annual all star break.

Arrieta (7-6) allowed three hits, three walks and struck out three. Relievers Victor Araon and Pat Neschek each pitched perfect frames in the eighth and ninth. Neshek lodges his first save of the year.

The Phillies have been on fire the past three weeks. Starting with a 3-0 win over the Yankees on June 27, they're 12-4, and have surged past the Braves into first place in their division.

Miami hosts the Phillies for game two of the series, Saturday, 4:10 pm EDT.

Yoenis Cespedes Lifts Mets Over Nationals; Toronto's Teoscar Hernandez Homers, Drives In 4 In 15-5 Rout Of KC

Players of the Day for Wednesday, April 18, 2018

American League

Hernandez: 4-6, HR, 4RBI

Boston continued to lead the AL East by three games after taking two straight from the Angels in LA, 10-1 and 9-0, but they're being dogged by the second place Blue Jays, who won their fourth straight with a 15-5 bombing of Kansas City, sweeping the Royals in Toronto.

Traveling to New York on Thursday for a four-game series, the Blue Jays find themselves 3 1/2 in front of the Bronx Bombers, and will be looking to expand their edge after splitting a four-game set with New York in the season's opening series.

A player who could play a big role in the series and maybe for the rest of the season is right fielder Teoscar Hernandez, who came up big in Wednesday's romp with a 4-for-6 effort consisting of two singles, a triple and a two-run homer, his first of the year, driving in four runs and scoring twice.

Hernandez was picked up from Houston last year mid-season, and played in 26 games for the Jays, socking eight home runs in 88 at-bats. This year he's only played four games because the Blue Jays have a loaded outfield, but 25-year-old Hernandez has tried to make his case despite limited playing time. He's batting .421 with six RBI.

The first of the four-game series opens Thursday in New York at 6:35 pm EDT.

National League

Cespedes Slams Nationals

In 2015, the Mets took the NL East, but, in the past two years, they've been overtaken by the Washington Nationals, winners of the division in 2016 and 2017.

Determined to give the Nats a run for their money, the Mets have broken well out of the gate, their 13-4 record the best in the National League, earning them a three-game lead over surprising Atlanta and Philadelphia. The Nationals have struggled to a 9-10 mark, despite taking the first two from the Mets in the series at New York.

In game three, Washington struck first, scoring three runs in the opening frame and taking a 4-2 lead into the eighth, but that was prior to the Mets' nine-run explosion in which they sent 11 men to the plate, capped off by a Yoenis Cespedes grand slam.

Cespedes was 0-for-3 going into the eighth, but singled with no outs and a man aboard, eventually coming around to score. When he went to the plate for the second time in the inning, the bases were loaded and Cespedes struck with his fourth home run of the season, a slam off Nationals' reliever A.J. Cole. The Mets prevailed, 11-3.

The four RBI gave Cespedes 17 on the year, one behind NL leader, Bryce Harper, who could only stand and watch from right field when Cespedes' blast carried into the left field stands of Citi Field.

With their lead in the division intact, the Mets travel to Atlanta for a four-game series beginning Thursday. The Nationals head across the country to start a three-game series with the Dodgers in LA, starting Friday.

Justin Smoak Drives In 6 As Jays Top Yankees; Paul DeJong's 2 HR Lead Cardinals Past Mets

Players of the Day for Sunday, April 1, 2018

American League

Smoak: 2HR, GS, 6 RBI

Trailing the Yankees 4-1 entering the seventh inning, Justin Smoak took matters into his own hands, socking a two-run homer in the seventh to get the Blue Jays closer, then whacking a grand slam in the eighth to give Toronto a split in the four-game series with a 7-4 come-from-behind win.

Smoak, now in his fourth season as a Blue Jay after four full seasons with Seattle, emerged in 2017 as a legitimate power puncher, socking 38 home runs and 90 RBI while upping his batting average to a career-best .280.

He's off to a fast start this season going 7-for-14 (.467) in four games. Sunday's six RBI gave him eight on the season, tops in the majors.

On Monday, the Blue Jays host the White Sox at 7:07 pm EDT. The Yankees will be at Yankee Stadium for their home opener against Tampa Bay at 1:10 pm EDT.

National League

DeJong: 2 HR, 2 RBI

Spoiling the Mets' chance to open the season with a series sweep, the St. Louis Cardinals got their first win of 2018 with a 5-1 victory over the Mets at Citi Field in New York.

Cardinal starter, Luke Weaver, allowed one run over five innings, good enough for the win as St. Louis built a lead, sterted by Paul DeJong's solo homer in the second.

After Weaver departed, the bullpen came on to hold the Mets scoreless over the final four innings. DeJong added an insurance homer in the eighth, capping off the scoring for St. Louis.

With a solid rookie season under his belt (.285, 25 HR, 65 RBI), DeJong looks like a keeper at shortstop for St. Louis.

The Cardinals improved to 1-2, while the Mets dropped to 2-1, falling into a tie for second place with Atlanta, trailing 3-0 Washington in the NL East.

Remaining at home, the Mets start a series with Philadelphia on Monday while the Cardinals head to Milwaukee for another road series.

Luke Maile Leads Blue Jays in Rout of Braves; Tyler Chatwood Improves to 3-0 for Cubs

Players of the Day for Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Maile: 2-3, 4RBI, HR

Grapefruit League

Scoring in every inning except the second and third, the Toronto Blue Jays blasted the Braves in a 13-6 road rout.

The Jays banged out 13 hits, two of them by Toronto catcher Luke Maile, who drove in four runs with a fourth-inning sac fly and a seventh-inning three-run homer. He also singled and scored in the sixth inning, on a triple by Gift Ngoepe.

Maile played portions of the 2015 and 2016 seasons with Tampa Bay, and last year saw action in 46 games with the Blue Jays. Batting just .176 last season, Maile is expected to back up Russell Martin behind the plate.

The win brought the Blue Jays to 9-10, 4 1/2 games off the pace being set by Houston.

Cactus League

Splitting a pair of games on Tuesday, the Cubs held onto a slim, 1/2-game lead in the Cactus League over the charging Brewers, winners of four straight.

Chatwood: 3-0, 5 IP, 1 H

Chicago kept its home record at perfection, winning their eighth straight at the Spring Training home, Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ as Tyler Chatwood hurled five strong shutout innings in a 2-1 victory over the Giants.

Chatwood allowed just one hit, improving his preseason record to 3-0, striking out nine while allowing two walks.

Acquired by the Cubs after the 2017 season, Chatwood broke in with the Angels in 2011, and spent the rest of his time with Colorado, where he went 8-15 last season, with a 4.69 ERA. The Cubs apparently saw something they liked in the 28-year-old right=hander, as they have him listed as their fifth starter in the rotation for 2018.

Josh Donaldson Powers Blue Jays Over Twins, 7-2; Charlie Blackmon Drives Colorado 16-0 Romp

Players of the Day for Saturday, September 16, 2017

American League

Donaldson damages Twins

Despite being eliminated from post-season consideration, Josh Donaldson and the Toronto Blue Jays have played spoiler agains the Minnesota Twins, the current holder of the #2 wild card.

After losing the first game of their four-game series, 4-3, the Jays came back on Friday with a 3-2 victory and Saturday took a 7-2 decision at Minnesota.

Donaldson, who was 1-for-3 with an RBI in the opener, and homered and drove in two in the second game, upped the ante with a pair of solo bombs on Saturday, also singling twice to go 4-for-5 with four runs and two RBI. He has 28 homers and 69 RBI on the year.

The losses for Minnesota have reduced their edge in the wild card race to a mere one game over the Angels, 2-0 winners over Texas Saturday.

The series concludes Sunday at 2:10 pm ET. On Monday, the Twins head to New York for three games with the Yankees, who currently hold a five-game lead as the top wild card.

National League

Blackmon: MVP potential

The Colorado Rockies put on a show Saturday, whacking the Padres 16-0, a subtle reminder to the Arizona Diamondbacks that they are not going to be an easy out in the wild card showdown.

Colorado currently trails Arizona in the wild card by five games and has a 3 1/2 game edge over Milwaukee and 4 1/2 better than St. Louis. If the standing don't change, the single-elimination wild card game would be played in Arizona between the Rockies and Diamondbacks. That appears to be the most likely scenario.

In their rout of San Diego, the Rockies banged out 17 hits, roughing up Padres' starter, Jordan Lyles, for eight hits and seven earned runs over four innings. Charlie Blackmon doubled in a run and scored in the third inning and launched a three run homer - his 35th of the year - in the sixth to lead the assault.

Blackmon should garner quite a few votes for National League MVP. In addition to the outrageous home run numbers (he's a leadoff hitter, after all), Blackmon is carrying a league-leading .333 batting average, has 93 RBI and leads the majors in hits (198) and runs (131).

Colorado has won two straight and eight of their last ten. They'll be looking to sweep the series with the Padres sunday at 3:10 pm ET.

J.D. Martinez Swats 4 HR In Arizona's 13-1 Rout Of LA; Blue Jays Pound Boston Behind Kendrys Morales

Players of the Day for Monday, September 4, 2017

American League

Morales: 2-4, HR, 4 RBI

For a first place team, the Boston Red Sox haven't been exactly knocking the cover off the ball, losing eight of their last 12, including Monday's 10-4 pounding by the last place Blue Jays, a team that deserves to be where it is, losing 12 of the last 17, including three straight to Boston just a week ago.

Kendrys Morales provided the fuel for Toronto's offensive outburst, socking a first-inning, three-run homer off 2016 Cy Young award winner, Rick Porcello, the Boston hurler dropping to 9-15 after allowing seven earned runs on 10 hits over 5 1/3 innings.

Morales added a ninth-inning RBI double, driving in four runs in the game, upping his total for the season to 75.

Coupled with the Yankees' 7-4 win at Baltimore, Boston's tenuous hold on first place in the AL East is down to just 2 1/2 games.

Boston will try to shake out of their slump in game two of the three-game series at Fenway Park, Tuesday at 7:10 pm ET.

National League

Martinez: 4 HR, 6 RBI

J.D. Martinez swatted four home runs in Arizona's no-doubt, 13-0 victory over the LA Dodgers Monday, making the 30-year-old Diamondback outfielder the 18th player in major league history to accomplish the single-game feat, and the second player this season to do so.

Martinez opened the scoring with a two-run homer in the fourth inning. Arizona starter, Robbie Ray (12-5), would make that stand up for 7 2/3 innings, blanking the Dodgers on three hits, fanning 14.

In the seventh, Martinez cranked a solo homer out to right center, the first of two measuring 417 feet, the second coming in his next at-bat, in the eighth, also with bases empty. Competing the feat in the ninth, Martinez swatted his fourth of the game with a man aboard, giving him six RBI on the day.

Martinez has 34 homers on the year, 18 of them with Arizona. He hit 16 for Detroit before being traded to the Diamondbacks in mid-July.

The other player to hit four in one game this season was Cincinnati's Scooter Gennett, who did so on June 6, in a 13-1 win over St. Louis.

Arizona's win came in the opener of a three-game series in Los Angeles and was their 11th straight win. Forgetting for now that the Dodgers lead the NL West by 12 1/2 games, the Diamondbacks are clearly the team to beat as September progresses. While Arizona has gotten hot, the Dodgers have gone cold, losing nine of their last 10.

Game two of the series is Tuesday, at 7:10 pm PT in LA.

Arizona Sweeps Dodgers As Zack Greinke Wins 16th; Blue Jays Snap O's Win Streak On Kendrys Morales 3 HRs

Players of the Day for Thursday, August 31, 2017

American League

Morales: 4-5, 3 HR, 7 RBI

Baltimore was making some serious noise in the wild card race, winning seven straight prior to welcoming the Toronto Blue Jays into Camden Yards for a four-game series, but the night would not go well for the high-flying Orioles, as the scrappy Blue Jays grounded them, 11-8.

The game was not one for pitchers on either squad as the two teams combined for 27 hits and five home runs, three of them by Kendrys Morales, who also singled in five at-bats, driving in seven runs.

Morales socked a two-run homer in the third inning, singled home another run in the fifth, and finished off the O's with a three-run blast in the sixth and a solo shot in the eighth, completing the scoring for the Blue Jays. Morales has 25 home runs and 70 RBI on the year.

The Orioles scored a pair of runs in they eighth to close the gap, but it was not enough and the streak was over, leaving Baltimore 3 1/2 games behind the Yankees and 2 1/2 back of Minnesota for the two wild card spots. Both the Twins and Yankees were winners on Thursday. The Yankees topped Boston, 6-2, while Minnesota won their fourth straight, beating the White Sox, scoring the winning run when Max Kepler was plunked with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth.

Baltimore will try to get back on the winning track when they meet Toronto in game two, Friday at 7:05 pm ET.

National League

Paul Goldschmidt's first inning double plated two runs and that was all Zack Greinke needed to notch his 16th win as the Diamondbacks swept the Dodgers in an 8-1 win.

Greinke: 16-6, 3.08 ERA

Greinke allowed a run in the second inning, but that was all, going six innings to tie Milwaukee's Zach Davies as the only 16-game winners in the major leagues.

While Greinke limited the Dodgers to just four hits, Arizona slammed LA starter Kenta Maeda for seven runs on eight hits over the first three innings. With the huge lead, Greinke sat after the sixth, allowing T.J. McFarland to work a scoreless seventh and eighth innings. Jake Barrett closed out the game and the sweep with a hitless ninth.

The loss was LA's fifth straight, easily their longest losing streak of the season, but that may be the end of it as ace hurler Clayton Kershaw returns Friday night against the San Diego Padres after spending 40 days on the DL with back problems. The Dodgers dropped three straight - though no to the same team - once each in April, May, and June.

Since the All Star break, the Dodgers have only lost two straight once, dropping a pair to Atlanta, July 20 and 21 as they split a four-game series with the Braves.

Greinke fanned six and walked two, increasing his strikeout total to 188, third in the NL behind Max Scherzer (230) and the Mets' Jacob DeGrom (206).

With the sweep, Arizona vastly improved their chances at making the post season, improving their hold on the top wild card position to 3 1/2 games over the Rockies. They still trail the Dodgers by 16 games, so, with fewer than 30 games to play, catching the runaway leaders in the NL West is not realistic.

The Diamondbacks have won seven straight and nine of their last 10. They open a three-game series in Colorado Friday before returning to LA for the final time this season for a three-game series starting on Labor Day.

It will be the last time Arizona plays LA during the regular season. The season series is tied 8-8.

Jays' Josh Donaldson Homers, Scores Game-Winner Over Twins; Anthony Rizzo Leads Cubs' Rout Of Phillies

Players of the Day for Saturday, August 26, 2017

American League

Thanks to the Yankees and especially the Toronto Blue Jays and Josh Donaldson, the AL wild card race has become tighter and more interesting.

Josh Donaldson

New York took game two of their series with Seattle in New York, 6-3, while the Blue Jays managed to hold on for a 10-9 win over the Twins, who are currently in possession of the second wild card spot. The Yanks hold the top position, with a 3 1/2 game bulge.

Donaldson was an integral part of Toronto's victory, going 3-for-5, swatting his 23rd home run and scoring what turned out to be the winning run, scampering home from third on a wild pitch.

Toronto had an 8-3 lead after six, but the Toronto bullpen - one of the worst in baseball - gave up a grand slam to Max Kepler in the eighth, and Roberto Osuna managed to pick up his 34th save, despite allowing two hits and two unearned runs in the top of the ninth.

What Toronto's win and Minnesota's loss did was 1) give the Yankees a larger lead in the wild card top position, 2) Enable the Angels and Orioles to gain ground. LA topped Houston, 7-6, and the Orioles shut out Boston, 7-0. The Angels are tied with Seattle, 1/2 game behind the Twins; Baltimore is just two games out, along with the Rangers. Tampa Bay is three games behind. In the middle of it all is Kansas City, who lost to the Indians, 4-0. The Royals are 1 1/2 behind the Twins.

Meanwhile, Cleveland has opened up a 6 1/2 game lead on Minnesota and is eight games up on the Royals, apparently on their way to a second straight AL Central crown.

The Blue Jays and Twins close out their three-game series Sunday at 1:07 pm ET, with plenty of other intriguing action across the league.

National League

Rizzo: 2 HR, 5 RBI

A three-game series in Philadelphia against a last place team is probably just what the Chicago Cubs would have wanted at this point in the season, and, so far, it's turning out all right as the Cubs pounded the Phillies, 17-2, smashing seven home runs in the process.

Both Tommy La Stella and Anthony Rizzo belted two bombs. Going 3-for-5 with five RBI, Rizzo smacked a three-run homer in the third, a solo shot in the fifth and reached on an infield single in the seventh, driving in another run.

Rizzo has 30 home runs on the year and upped his RBI total to 90, tops on the Cubs.

The win came in game two of the series after Chicago lost game one, 7-1, on Friday, but kept the Cubs three games ahead of the Brewers in the NL Central and 4 1/2 better than the third place Cardinals. Both Milwaukee and St. Louis were winners Saturday.

Game three of the series is scheduled for Sunday, 1:35 pm ET at Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park.

Charlie Blackmon 4-5, 4 R, Rockies Top Nats, 10-6; Steve Pearce Slams Again For Jays; Adrian Beltre Notches #3000

Players of the Day for Sunday, July 30, 2017

American League

Pearce: Walk-off Slam

He did it again.

Just three days after slugging a 10th-inning, walk-off grand slam in Toronto's 8-4 win over the A's, Steve Pearce capped a dramatic seven-run, ninth inning rally with another bases-full round-tripper, leading the Blue Jays over the LA Angels, 11-10.

Pearce's second walk-off grand slam in four days came off Angels' reliever, Bud Norris, who surrendered three hits and a walk and was charged with all four runs off Pearce's bat. Prior to Norris' appearance, Brooks Pounders failed to record an out in the bottom of the ninth. He faced three batters, allowed two hits and a walk and was charged with three runs.

Toronto's win came as the top two teams in the AL East - New York and Boston - were losing, but the Jays still trail by eight games in the division and also have to contend with the Orioles and Rays, both winners on Sunday.

Pearce's and Toronto's flair for the dramatic may have come too late in the season for the Blue Jays, however. They got off to a poor start, had injuries to key players and have not recovered. Despite having a mostly healthy lineup, Toronto is just 8-9 since the all-star break, though they have won five of their last seven.

Toronto begins a six-game road trip Monday, opening with the White Sox, then on to Houston for three games.

Beltre: 3000 Hits

MILESTONE: Adrian Beltre recorded his 3000th major league hit Sunday with a fourth-inning double off Baltimore starter, Wade Miley. Beltre would later score on Rougned Odor's single, but the Orioles out-slugged the Rangers, 10-6. Beltre becomes the 31st player to reach the 3000-hit level, joining Roborto Clemente at the magic mark. Beltre, 38, is a 20 year veteran who has played his entire career - save 2010 in Boston - in the AL West, with the Angels, Seattle, and currently, the Rangers. He is a career .286 hitter, with 454 home runs and 1607 RBI, Hall of Fame numbers for sure.

National League

With a rainout of their scheduled Friday night opener, the three-game series between Colorado and Washington evolved into game one on Saturday and a double-header Sunday. The Rockies won Saturday, 4-2, and took the first game of the double-header, 10-6 at Nationals Park in Washington, DC, thanks to another outstanding game from leadoff hitter, Charlie Blackmon, who's been tearing up opposing pitching all season long.

In five at-bats, Blackmon lashed four singles, drove in a run, stole a base and scored four times, improving his batting average to .329, fourth-best in the National League, .001 behind Washington's Bryce Harper. Blackmon leads the league in runs, with 93; Harper is second, at 86. Colorado's best hitter is also reshaping the way pitchers handle a lineup. He has 25 home runs (tied for 6th) and 70 RBI, 14th overall.

Blackmon: 4-for-5, 4 R

After singling and scoring in the first and third innings, Blackmon got his third single of the game in the fourth, driving in a run, later scoring from second on Nolan Arenado's single.

In the eighth, Blackmon singled again, stole second and scored on Arenado's triple. Arenado was 3-for-3 and his two RBI increased his league-leading total to 91.

In the nightcap, the Nationals came back with a 3-1 win, avoiding being swept and maintaining a 13 game lead over Miami in the NL East. The Rockies are 1/2 game behind Arizona for second place in the West, but 14 1/2 behind the Dodgers, winners of eight straight.

Colorado is 8-7 after the break and returns home Monday to open a six game home stand, starting on Tuesday with the Mets for three, followed by a visit from the Phillies over the weekend. Washington opens a three-game series in Miami on Monday, followed by three games in Chicago against the Cubs, opening Thursday.

Justin Smoak Homers Twice In Toronto Win Over Red Sox; Jake Lamb's 2HR, 6RBI Power Arizona

Players of the Day for Thursday, July 20, 2017

American League

Smoak: 3-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI

It's too late in the season for the Toronto Blue Jays to complain about their poor start to the season. Too many games have been played and the Jays have had ample opportunity to get themselves back into the AL East or wild card race.

The Blue Jays find themselves nine games behind Boston, in last place in the division, even after outlasting the Red Sox at Fenway, 8-6, Thursday, finishing the four-game series tied at two games apiece. That's fine for the Red Sox, but not for Toronto, in need of making up ground.

One bright spot for the Blue Jays is the all-around excellent play of Justin Smoak, the all-star first baseman, who socked a pair of solo homers and drove in another run with a single, going 3-for-5 with three RBI.

Smoak's fifth inning home run padded a 5-3 lead. In the next inning, his single rap put the Jays ahead, 7-3. After the Red Sox plated three on a Dustin Pedroia home run in the seventh, Smoak landed on in the left field stands, giving the Blue Jay relief staff some breathing room.

At .298 with 26 home runs and 62 RBI, Smoak is having a career year. In his eighth year in the majors, Smoak has already surpassed his home run and RBI totals. His batting average is .066 better than his career average.

Roberto Osuna picked up his 24th save, pitching a perfect ninth, fanning two of the three batters he faced.

Toronto opens a three-game series at Cleveland Friday, while the Red Sox - maintaining a 2 1/2 game AL East lead over Tampa Bay - begin a six game westward swing, with three games at the Angels followed by three in Seattle.

National League

Lamb: 2 HR, 6 RBI

Arizona's Jake Lamb is proving to be a hot commodity at the hot corner.

The fourth-year third baseman whacked a pair of three-run homers, driving in six runs in Arizona's 12-2 pounding of Cincinnati Thursday night.

Lamb's power display - his 21st and 22nd home runs - has him trailing just Colorado's Nolan Arenado for the league lead in RBI. Lamb has 76; Arenado leads with 80.

Lamb got the rout started with a first inning blast and ended it with another round-tripper in the ninth inning, giving the Diamondbacks a 2-1 win of the three-game series at Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park.

The 26-year-old's stats are no fluke, nor is Arizona's contention in the National League, thanks largely to his contributions. Last season, Lamb belted 29 home runs and drove in 91 runs.

The win left the Diamondbacks tied with Colorado in second place in the NL West. Even though the Dodgers' 11-game winning streak was broken by the Braves in a 6-3 win, LA leads the division by 10 1/2 games. The Rockies and Diamondbacks have a 5 1/2 game edge over the Cubs in the wild card race.

Arizona hosts a three-game series with the Washington Nationals starting Friday.

Cody Bellinger Blasts Two HR As Dodgers Win 10th Straight; Jose Bautista Leads Blue Jays Over Royals

Players of the Day for Sunday, June 25, 2017

American League

Bautista: Leading Man

Still three games under .500 (36-39) and in last place in the AL East, the Toronto Blue Jays find themselves just five games out of first place in the division, currently shared by the Yankees and Red Sox.

Toronto's good fortune is only partly due to their play, since they're 4-4 recently and just avoided a sweep in Kansas City with an 8-2 win on Sunday. Mostly, the position in the standings is due to the Yankees having lost 10 of their last 12 and the Red Sox going 4-6 in their last ten. It also didn't hurt that Baltimore and Tampa Bay played each other over the weekend, with the Orioles prevailing, two games to one.

The Blue Jays re-jiggered their lineup in a most unusual way in their series-ending win at KC, putting one of their power hitters, Jose Bautista, at the top of the order, when he's most accustomed to batting third or fourth.

Toronto's move paid off in spades as Bautista tied the game at 2-2 in the fifth with a two-run homer, his 13th of the year. Drawing a walk with the bases loaded in the sixth, Bautista gave the Jays a 3-2 lead, and capped off his effort at the leadoff spot with an RBI single in the ninth, going 2-for-4 with four RBI.

Kansas City's loss dropped the Royals back to .500 (37-37), 2 1/2 games behind Minnesota, which took over the AL Central lead with a three-game sweep at Cleveland, including Sunday's 4-0 win. Kansas City hits the road for three games in Detroit on Tuesday, while the Blue Jays begin an important stretch Tuesday, starting with three games at home with Baltimore, followed by a three-game visit from the Red Sox. After that, they head to New York for a three-game series with the Yankees.

By all appearances, the AL East is about to become even more interesting.

National League

Bellinger: 25 HR leads NL

Less than a week ago, the NL West was about as tight as a division race could get, with the Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Rockies all vying for the top spot.

Now that the Dodgers have won 10 straight, including a sweep of their three-game series with visiting Colorado, LA has opened a two-game lead over Arizona, dropping Colorado 4 1/2 back.

Completing the sweep emphatically with a 12-6 mauling of the Rockies, the Dodger bats were live, getting 13 hits off six Colorado hurlers. Rookie phenom, Cody Bellinger, socked a pair of home runs to enhance his National League-leading total to 25. Bellinger's shots were both of the two-run variety, pumping his RBI total to 55.

The Dodgers have now swept their last three series, taking three from the Reds and four from the Mets before shutting down the Rockies. Prior to a 12-5, June 12 loss at Cleveland - their last taste of defeat - the Dodgers had won six straight, so they're on a 16-1 run and are 18-5 in the month of June.

Next up for the Dodgers are a pair of two-game series with the Angels, with two hosted by the Dodgers before heading to Anaheim for the return dates. The home-and-home series starts Monday at 10:10 pm ET.

Devon Travis Grand Slam Carries Blue Jays Past Texas; Charlie Blackmon, Anotonio Senzatela Lead Rockies

Players of the Day for Friday, May 26, 2017

American League

Travis' slam tops Texas

Opening a series with the visiting Texas Rangers, Toronto was happy to have Josh Donaldson and Troy Tulowitzki back in the lineup after both of them had spent more than a month on the DL.

As it turned out, it was an everyday player, second baseman Devon Travis, who propelled the Jays to a 7-6 win, going 3-for-4 with a single, double and second inning grand slam.

Generally not known as a power hitter, Travis took an A.J. Travis pitch into the left field seats, giving Toronto a lead they would never relinquish. The final score was much closer than the game was in reality, as the Rangers scored three runs in the top of the ninth on a Rougned Odor homer. With two outs in the inning, Roberto Osuna came on to strike out Mike Napoli to end the Texas threat.

While Donaldson and Tulowitzki had a hit apiece, it was the play of Travis that carried the day. After singling in the sixth, he scored on a wild pitch by Jeremy Jeffress to complete Toronto's scoring.

The win was important to the Blue Jays, as the Yankees were losing, 4-1, to Oakland, leaving Toronto still in last place, but just 6 1/2 games behind the division leading Yanks.

Toronto hosts Texas in game two of their three-game stint, Saturday at 1:07 pm ET.

Blackmon: 45 RBI leads NL

National League

To say that Colorado leadoff hitter Charlie Blackmon is having a good season would be the understatement of the year.

Senzatela: 7-1

Blackmon went 4-for-4 in the Rockies' 10-0 win over St. Louis in the opener of their three-game series in Denver, missing the cycle for lack of a double. His 45 RBI lead the league; he has 69 hits, 10 more than Ryan Zimmerman, who is second league-wide, and he's eighth in batting with a .337 average.

Blackmon drove in three runs with a triple in the second, a solo homer in the eighth, and an RBI single later in the same inning. Meanwhile, Colorado starter, Antonio Senzatela joined LA's Clayton Kershaw as the only NL hurlers with seven wins. In his rookie season, Senzatela is 7-1, with a 3.19 ERA after blanking the Cardinals for eight innings, allowing five hits, no walks, fanning three.

The win kept the Rockies in first place in the NL West, one game up on Arizona, while the Cardinals fell to third, though only one game behind the Cubs in the Central. Milwaukee is 1/2 behind Chicago.

Game two is scheduled for Saturday night, 9:10 pm ET at Coors Field.

Ryan Goins' Grand Slam Lifts Blue Jays Over Brewers; Anthony Rizzo Socks A Pair In Cubs' Victory Over SF

Players of the Day for Wednesday, May 24, 2017

American League

"Grand Slam" Goins

Prior to opening day, what was considered to be the best division in the majors was the AL East, and, thus far, it hasn't really disappointed. What is making it all the more interesting is the emergence of the Yankee "Baby Bombers" youth movement, that has taken over first place in the division, and the poor start by the team favored to win it all, the Toronto Blue Jays.

While the Orioles have floundered of late, losing their last four and 10 of their last 13, the other teams are gaining ground on second place Baltimore. New York, Boston, Tampa Bay and Toronto all won on Wednesday, tightening the noose around Baltimore.

Toronto, at 21-26, is a work in progress, but they won their third straight, taking down the Brewers in Milwaukee, 8-4. With Josh Donaldson and Troy Tulowitzki on track to return from the DL this weekend, the last place Blue Jays may be about to make things even more interesting.

In the meantime, Grand Slam Ryan Goins got the job done. The gritty shortstop socked a bases-loaded homer in the sixth inning that broke the game open. Goins' shot was one of four Blue Jay homers in the game.

The win trimmed Milwaukee's lead in the NL Central to 1/2 game over the Cubs and Cards, both winners on Wednesday. Toronto is still in last place in the AL East, but they're only 7 1/2 back with more than four months of baseball remaining.

On Thursday, the Blue Jays are headed home, where they will open a three game series with the Rangers on Friday. Milwaukee stays home and starts a four game set with Arizona.

National League

The Cubs are on the prowl.

Rizzo: 2 HR, 2 RBI

After winning their second straight over the visiting Giants, 5-4, Chicago is tied with St. Louis in second place, 1/2 game behind the Brewers in the NL Central Division.

Keying Wednesday's win was first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who belted a pair of home runs and singled in his only other official at-bat, going 3-for-3 and driving in two runs.

Both of Rizzo's solo shots tied the game, at 1-1 in the second inning and 2-2 in the fourth. The Cubs added single runs in the fifth, seventh and eight, before the Giants came back with two in the ninth, when Mac Williamson stroked a two-run homer of closer Wade Davis, who picked up his 10th save, nevertheless.

Rizzo's home runs gave him 11 on the season, along with 28 RBI.

The Cubs and Giants conclude their four-game series on Thursday at Wrigley Field with the Cubs leading, two games to one. Getaway game time is 2:20 pm ET.

Jose Bautista Homers For 4th Straight Blue Jay Win; Bryce Harper's Walk-Off HR Keys Nationals Win

Players of the Day for Saturday, May 13, 2017

Bautista is heating up

American League

Toronto is beginning to find their groove, winning their fourth straight by taking down the visiting Mariners, 7-2, thanks to Jose Bautista's three-run homer.

Bautista came to the plate in the seventh with the score tied and two aboard for the Blue Jays, and promptly delivered his fifth home run of the season 438 feet away into the stands past center field.

The blow broke a 2-2 tie, propelling the Jays to their third straight over the Mariners. They will be looking for the series sweep when the two teams meet on Sunday, 1:07 pn ET at the Rogers Centre.

The fact that the Jays are winning and Bautista - a six-time all-star who led the AL in home runs in 2010 and 2011 - is heating up is no coincidence. His bat is essential to Toronto's attack, especially since trading Edwin Encarnacion in the off-season and extended injuries to Josh Donaldson and Troy Tulowitzki. Bautista has homered in three of his last four games, driving in eight runs.

Harper: Walk-Off HR

Off to a very slow start with just 17 RBI and a .185 batting average, "Joey Bats" may be finding his best stroke as the Jays struggle to get out of last place in the AL East, where they trail the Yankees and Orioles by seven games.

National League

Bryce Harper only had one hit in Washington's 6-4 win over the Phillies Saturday at Nationals Park, but it was a decisive one, a two-run, walk-off blast with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.

The home run was Harper's 11th on the season, to go with 31 RBI, tying him for third in the NL with Colorado's Mark Reynolds. Teammate Ryan Zimmerman leads the league with 36 RBI and also leads in batting (.397) and homers (13, tied with Milwaukee's Eric Thames).

The win was the first over the Phillies in their three-game series. With Friday night's game rained out, the teams will finish up with a double-headed on Sunday, the first game at 1:35 and the second starting at 7:05 pm ET.

Paul Goldschmidt, Kendrys Morales Each Homer Twice As Arizona Downs Rockies, Toronto Rocks Tampa Bay

Players of the Day for Friday, May 5, 2017

American League

Kendrys Morales

Having gotten off to an 11-2 start, the worst of any major league team, Toronto still finds itself mired in last place in the AL East due to a combination of poor play and injuries to key players, such as Troy Tulowitzki and Josh Donaldson.

One player who hasn't been injured and is having a decent season is Kendrys Morales, who helped the Blue Jays defeat the Rays, 8-4 with a pair of home runs and five RBIs.

Down 3-1, Morales got the Jays even with a two-run blast in the seventh, then helped put the game out of reach with a three-run homer, highlighting a five-run eighth inning.

The home runs were numbers five and six for Morales, acquired from Kansas City during the off-season, and the five RBI gave him an even 20 on the year. Toronto took the opener of their three-game series in Tampa and will try to make it two straight when the teams meet on Saturday. Game time is 4:10 pm.

While the Blue Jays are still just 10-19, once they get healthy, they will probably make it tough on the front-runners in the AL East and throughout the majors.

National League

Paul Goldschmidt

It should come as no surprise that Paul Goldschmidt is among the NL leaders in RBI. After all, he's driven in 205 runs in the past two seasons and has been an all-star for Arizona each of the past four seasons.

On Friday, Goldschmidt cranked out a pair of home runs (#6 and #7) against the Rockies and drove in another run with a single, as Arizona pulled to within 1/2 game of first place Colorado with a 6-3 victory.

The game was the first of a three-game series in Denver, but Goldschmidt took advantage early on, socking a solo shot in the first inning, then adding a three-run belt in the third, putting Arizona up 5-0. In the seventh, Goldschmidt knocked in his fifth run of the game with a single to center, plating David Peralta.

Finishing 3-for-3 with a walk, Goldschmidt raised his average to .330, good for eighth in the National League. His 26 RBI are fourth-best in the NL.

The Rockies will try to retain first place when they meet the Diambondbacks in game two, Saturday night at Coors Field. First pitch is slated for 8:10 pm ET.

Ryan Goins Lifts Blue Jays Over Yankees; Travis Shaw Powers Brewers Past Cardinals

Players of the Day for Monday, May 1, 2017

American League

Ryan Goins

Ryan Goins drove in four runs with a two-run homer and the rare score of two players on a sac fly as the Toronto Blue Jays opened a three-game series in New York with a 7-1 win over the Yankees.

The Blue Jays, entering the game with an 8-17 mark, the worst start of any major league team, got going in the second inning when Goins cracked his second home run of the season with a man aboard off Yankee starter Luis Severino.

In the sixth, Goins took a 3-0 offering to the wall in center field, caught by Jacoby Ellsbury, who fell and was unable to throw out either Justin Smoak from third or Devon Travis, who scored all the way from second base.

Meanwhile, Toronto starter, Marco Estrada kept the Yanks at bay, allowing seven hits but just one run through seven innings.

The Yankee loss and Baltimore's 5-2 win at Boston dropped New York into second place, a game behind the Orioles in the AL East. The Yankees will try to even the score with Toronto in game two, Tuesday night at 7:10 pm ET at Yankee Stadium.

National League

Travis Shaw

With the Cubs losing, 10-2, to the Phillies, the Milwaukee Brewers took advantage of the opening to tie Chicago for first place in the NL Central via a 10-inning, 7-5 victory at St. Louis.

After the teams finished nine innings tied at 4-4, Milwaukee third baseman, Travis Shaw, delivered the decisive blow, a three-run homer - his seventh of the season - in the top of the 10th.

St. Louis responded with a solo shot by Jedd Gyorko, but the Cards could not rally further.

Shaw, in his first year as a Brewer after two seasons in Boston, is off to a solid start, batting .263 with 21 RBI on a Milwaukee team that leads the majors in home runs (47) and is second in the NL in RBI (137).

The win by the 14-13 Brewers leaves them and the Cubs a game better than the Red and Cardinals in the division. Pittsburgh is two back.

The Brewers and Cardinals play game two of their four-game series Tuesday night at Busch Stadium in St. Louis at 8:15 pm ET.