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Adrián Beltre was 2-for-4 on Friday and moved to two hits from 3,000 for his career.

David Schoenfield ESPN Senior Writer 

The Royals have won nine games in a row and barely gained any ground on the Indians -- who have won eight in a row. The last time two teams in the same division had simultaneous winning streaks of at least eight games after the All-Star break was 2004, when the Cardinals and Astros did it.

Tristan H. Cockcroft ESPN Senior Writer 

They could just use Brad Ziegler, but another speculative short-term saves guy for the Marlins could be Dustin McGowan, who has a 2.05 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and has made 11 of his past 20 appearances in the seventh inning or later. He has no holds during that time, though, so he's a couple-buck NL-only FAAB bid at best.

Tristan H. Cockcroft ESPN Senior Writer 

Though it's a strange landing spot -- the Mets have been rumored trade-deadline sellers -- New York is one of the few places where A.J. Ramos would've kept his closer job. Addison Reed might be on the move shortly and Ramos is likely to close ahead of Reed even if not, so be pleased that Ramos should remain a top-20 fantasy closer with the Mets (at least for the rest of this year).

David Schoenfield ESPN Senior Writer 

The Yankees move into first place for the first time since June 21 thanks to a gem from Masahiro Tanaka. He fanned 14 in eight innings, six of those coming against his splitter as he generated 12 swings and misses with that pitch, tied for third-highest of his career.

Jesse Rogers ESPN Staff Writer 

Watch Jose Quintana discuss his first loss as a Cub on Friday night.

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ESPN Stats and Information  

How Masahiro Tanaka won: Rays hitters were 1-for-11, with six strikeouts, against his splitter. That's Tanaka's season high in strikeouts with the pitch. In Tanaka's first two games this season against the Rays, they were 8-for-13 against the pitch. Tanaka generated 12 swings-and-misses with the splitter, tied for the third-most in any start in his career.

Jesse Rogers ESPN Staff Writer 

Watch Joe Maddon as he praises the Brewers after their 2-1 win over the Cubs on Friday.

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David Schoenfield ESPN Senior Writer 

In his return to his hometown of Seattle, Michael Conforto homers in the third inning, and his rooting section that must include a couple hundred people goes crazy. With the Royals heating up, the Mariners are desperate to reel off their own winning streak and they need to clean up against a team like the Mets at home -- especially since their August schedule includes the longest road trip in the majors this season.

Jesse Rogers ESPN Staff Writer 

The Cubs lost 2-1 to the Brewers as lefty Brent Suter pitched just well enough to out duel Jose Quintana. The Cubs managed 4 hits and a walk off him over 7 innings. Javy Baez scored the lone run for the Cubs with an 8th inning 449 ft home run to left field but the visitors left the tying run at third base as pinch hitter Kyle Schwarber struck out in the ninth -- with a raucous crowd watching on. The Cubs are a 0.5 game up on the Brewers now.

ESPN Stats and Information  

Aaron Judge homered for the 33rd time this season Friday against the Rays. That ties Giancarlo Stanton for the major league lead. It was the third time he hit a home run on an inside pitch, tying Starlin Castro for the major league lead for home runs on such pitches. Judge has a hit in 17 straight home games, breaking Hideki Matsui's franchise rookie record.

David Schoenfield ESPN Senior Writer 

The Royals are no longer merely a threat to win a wild card, but a threat to win the AL Central. Mike Moustakas had the big blow in their ninth straight win, a three-run homer off Rick Porcello. That's 30 home runs for Moose, eight more than his career high. After a few shaky outings, Jason Vargas had six strong innings. Written off in April, the Royals are obviously very much alive.

Scott Lauber ESPN Staff Writer 

Royals 4, Red Sox 2: Farewell, for now, to first place. Salvador Perez and Mike Moustakas homered off Rick Porcello to send the Red Sox to their fifth loss in the last six games. With the Yankees defeating the Rays, the Red Sox slipped a half-game behind New York in the AL East. It's the first time since June 21 that Boston doesn't have at least a share of the division lead. The Sox mustered only seven hits, two for extra bases.

David Schoenfield ESPN Senior Writer 

Two hits away! Adrian Beltre's RBI single in the fifth inning gives him 2,998 career hits. We can only hope hit number 3,000 is a home run as he falls to his knee.

David Schoenfield ESPN Senior Writer 

Adrian Beltre gets a broken-bat blooper to center for career hit 2,997. I was watching a commentator earlier today who didn't think Beltre is a Hall of Famer. Umm ... this is a top-five third basemen all time and while 3,000 is a round number that maybe means more than it should, in this it will clearly cement Beltre's legacy as one of the best ever at the hot corner.

Jesse Rogers ESPN Staff Writer 

Cubs starter Jose Quintana singled to right off Brewers lefty Brent Suter for his first career hit in the third inning on Friday. On the 7th pitch of the AB Quintana hit a four seam fastball the other way. The Cubs were able to retrieve the ball for him after the hit.