Bad news, good news in DC. The bad: Nationals starter Jeremy Hellickson is headed to the DL with a sprained wrist that he suffered while covering home in St. Louis on Wednesday. The good? Stephen Strasburg, who's made just one start in the past two and a half months due to injuries, could return in time to take Hellickson's spot. Strasburg is slated to throw a bullpen session on Saturday. If all goes well, he would be in line to start in place of Hellickson on Tuesday against the Phillies.

Eddie Matz, ESPN Senior Writer3h ago

Aaron Boone says Aaron Judge played catch today and could be in a position to take dry swings this afternoon depending upon how he's feeling after earlier work. Also, Gary Sánchez will head to Tampa on Sunday as he continues his recovery, and will have a rehab start soon thereafter. Sánchez likely will play in a lot of rehab games before he gets back to the big-league roster, Boone said. He didn't want to put a new timeline on when we might see Judge.

Coley Harvey, ESPN Staff Writer5h ago

Mike Montgomery goes on the DL with left shoulder inflammation retroactive to Aug. 14. He felt discomfort in his bullpen session on Thursday leading to the DL stint. It means Tyler Chatwood will start in his place. Randy Rosario was recalled to take Montgomery's place on the roster. Initial prognosis of the injury is encouraging, per the team.

Jesse Rogers, ESPN Staff Writer5h ago

Yu Darvish will leave Pittsburgh on Saturday to throw in a rehab start at Class-A South Bend as he recovers from an elbow injury which has sidelined him since May. He'll take things slow, checking off boxes along the way. It means he'll pitch in at least two games in the minors, if not three, as he won't "air things out" right away. Health is his main concern.

Jesse Rogers, ESPN Staff Writer5h ago

The Nationals snap the Cardinals' eight-game win streak, although for a moment it appeared the Nationals would blow another late-game lead. The Cardinals got the tying run to second base with two outs after Koda Glover walked Matt Carpenter, but Yadier Molina swung at a first-pitch fastball at the knees and flew out to center field.

David Schoenfield, ESPN Senior Writer22h ago

Jon Lester had a great bounce back game as he entered the night with a 10.32 second half ERA. That number came down considerably after he threw 6 shutout innings against the Pirates, allowing just five hits without issuing a walk. He struck out 8 using just 92 pitches. 60 of them were strikes. He looked like the first half pitcher who made the all-star team.

Jesse Rogers, ESPN Staff Writer1d ago

Aaron Boone on watching other teams in the division at this point in the season: "I pay attention to the sport. I know what's going on. But I'm not thinking about what other teams are ahead, behind. That's just frankly a waste of time. It's, we've got to get after the Blue Jays. That is my focus. That is our teams' focus."

Coley Harvey, ESPN Staff Writer1d ago

The Mets are battering the Phillies 22-4 in the first game of their doubleheader, so we've got another position player on the mound. Philly has Roman Quinn out there and it's not going well -- six runs allowed so far. More pertinent are the on-going struggles of the Phillies' defense. Four errors have led to 11 unearned runs. According to the baseball-reference.com play index, that's the most unearned runs Philadelphia has allowed in a game since 1922.

Bradford Doolittle, ESPN Staff Writer1d ago

All signs are a go for Cubs righty Yu Darvish to pitch in a minor league game on Sunday as he rehabs an elbow injury, according to manager Joe Maddon. The Cubs did not announce where he will pitch but Class-A South Bend is at home that day and close enough to Chicago that Cubs brass can make the quick trip to watch him if they desire. That's where Darvish pitched his last rehab start before being shut down. Maddon wouldn't commit to a number of starts in the minors for Darvish but said he wouldn't expect more than three: "He came in and said he felt great so he's ready to roll on Sunday."

Jesse Rogers, ESPN Staff Writer1d ago

MLB announced that José Ureña has received a six-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for intentionally hitting Ronald Acuña Jr. with a pitch in the bottom of the first inning of Wednesday night's game at SunTrust Park in Atlanta.

Marly Rivera, ESPN Writer1d ago

Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier was outspoken Thursday morning in his reaction to Jose Urena hitting Ronald Acuna with his first pitch Wednesday night, which sparked a melee in Atlanta. "I was pissed off. Plain and simple. ... For Urena to do that, just absolutely uncalled for -- and I'm putting that lightly. I'm not gonna use any cuss words -- I could -- [but] totally uncalled for," Kiermaier said. "And I'm speaking for a lot of other guys, but, I got a kid on the way, coming November now, so if you try to hit me on purpose, you go high and tight, that's risking health problems and, I'm not gonna say life-threatening, but, that baseball can do a lot of damage to someone."

Matt Marrone, ESPN.com1d ago

Braves rookie Ronald Acuna, who had homered in five straight games, was drilled by Marlins starter Jose Urena on his first pitch Wednesday night -- and that didn't sit well with his fellow major leaguers. Rays leadoff hitter Mallex Smith, in the Bronx to play the Yankees, had this reaction when he saw the play: "I was pissed. I don't like that they hit him. I don't think he showed nobody up. I don't think he showed nobody up on his home runs. ... You don't hurt a guy to stop a guy -- you stop a guy."

Matt Marrone, ESPN.com1d ago

Gleyber Torres is back in the Yankees' lineup today (along with Kyle Higashioka), and Miguel Andújar is hitting up in the order: Hicks CF Stanton DH Andújar 3B Gregorius SS Torres 2B Walker RF Bird 1B Higashioka C Robinson LF Tanaka SP

Coley Harvey, ESPN Staff Writer1d ago

"We'll take 7-2 on the road any day of the season. I'm very proud of them." –Alex Cora

Marly Rivera, ESPN Writer2d ago

In addition to running bases and reading fly balls and grounders in right field, Aaron Judge took some swings, without a bat, underwater today. Aaron Boone said Judge's wrist has shown "significant improvement over the last couple days ... today was a big step forward in what he's able to do."

Coley Harvey, ESPN Staff Writer2d ago

Austin Gomber tossed six shutout innings and continues to intrigue, but I still can't make the case in mixed leagues: 4 walks tonight (control often an issue), he's a fly baller and his upcoming schedule is tough (at LAD, at Coors the next two).

Tristan H. Cockcroft, ESPN Senior Writer2d ago