Buster Olney @Buster_ESPN
Sonny Gray owned the lowest sliver of the strike zone in the first inning against Toronto. Two strikeouts and a broken-bat groundout.
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Jesse Rogers ESPN Staff Writer
Watch John Lackey discuss his effort on Tuesday when he hit four batters but only gave up 2 runs in five innings thanks to some help from his bullpen. The Cubs beat the Sox 7-2.
Jesse Rogers ESPN Staff Writer
Watch Kris Bryant react to getting ejected for the first time in the majors. He was tossed once in the minors when he told an ump "that's on you." Bryant wouldn't reveal what he said to Lance Barksdale on Tuesday which resulted in the ejection.
Scott Lauber ESPN Staff Writer
Red Sox believed to still be focusing on relievers and third basemen before the trade deadline. They had scouts watching Philadelphia (Pat Neshek) and Detroit (Justin Wilson), among other teams, within the past few days. Although they're hoping top prospect Rafael Devers gives them the lift that Andrew Benintendi did a year ago, the continued third-base interest is presumably for a fallback option.
Scott Lauber ESPN Staff Writer
Rafael Devers will bat ninth in his major-league debut for the Red Sox tonight at Safeco Field. He will face Mariners ace Felix Hernandez.
Jesse Rogers ESPN Staff Writer
The Cubs beat the White Sox 7-2 despite striking out 17 times. It's the most strikeouts in a win for them since 2011. Willson Contreras was the offensive hero again as he had three hits and 4 RBI's including a 3 run HR in the first inning. John Lackey hit four batters, including three in one inning, but didn't give up much else. The bullpen did the rest as the Cubs moved back into a virtual tie for first place.
Jesse Rogers ESPN Staff Writer
Javy Baez is the first Cub player to strike out 5 times in a game since pitcher Ted Lilly and catcher Geovany Soto did it in 2008.
Eddie Matz ESPN Senior Writer
The issue that caused Stephen Strasburg's early exit on Sunday was nerve impingement in his right forearm. Following a diagnostic ultrasound on Tuesday morning, Strasbrug was feeling better and played catch on flat ground on Tuesday afternoon in keeping with his typical routine. Nats skipper Dusty Baker said he doesn't yet know if Strasburg will make his next start as scheduled.
Jesse Rogers ESPN Staff Writer
Both benches have been warned after White Sox pitcher Chris Beck hit the lead off hitter, Ian Happ, the inning immediately after John Lackey hit three White Sox batters.
Jesse Rogers ESPN Staff Writer
John Lackey is the second pitcher this year (Drew Storen) to hit 3 batters in an inning and the first to hit 4 in a game since 2015. (Josh Smith).
Bradford Doolittle ESPN Staff Writer
This is the kind of outing that makes Carlos Rodon a little maddening to watch. He allowed four runs, seven hits and three walks in four innings, burning through 98 pitches in the process. He's also struck out 11 -- the White Sox have recorded just one out on a ball in play so far. The last time a starter struck out 11 in four innings was Washington's Max Scherzer on June 6, according to ESPN Stats & Info. He went on to whiff 14 in seven frames. The Cubs' Jake Arrieta did it on June 5 of last season, and ended up with 12 Ks in five innings. Rodon, with that high pitch count, is done. Chris Beck is on to pitch the fifth for the White Sox.
Buster Olney @Buster_ESPN
Happ, Almora, Baez due to hit for the Cubs. According to the unwritten rules in the game, White Sox could answer back for the HBPs.
Buster Olney @Buster_ESPN
John Lackey has hit three batters this inning to load the bases. Abreu, Davidson, Moncada.
ESPN Fantasy Sports @ESPNFantasy
Southpaws Madison Bumgarner and Drew Pomeranz rank in @JoeKaiserSports' best DFS buys for Tuesday: es.pn/2tHzLpU
Jesse Rogers ESPN Staff Writer
Kris Bryant has been ejected from a game for the first time in his career after arguing a strike 3 call from home plate umpire Lance Barksdale. The 2-2 pitch from Carlos Rodon was clearly inside, as replays confirmed; Bryant argued the call, and as he was walking away he said enough to be ejected. Bryant left the game after going 0 for 3 with 3 strikeouts, all with runners in scoring position.
ESPN Stats and Information
In his last 15 games José Altuve has gone 37-for-68, collecting multiple hits in 12 of the 15 games. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Altuve is the first player to collect 37 hits in 68 or fewer at bats since Rogers Hornsby in 1923. Hornsby went 37-for-62 during a stretch in July that year.
Jesse Rogers ESPN Staff Writer
Kris Bryant is now hitting .232 with runners in scoring position this season after starting Tuesday's game 0 for 2 with 2 strikeouts. He's also just 7 of 15 getting a runner home from third with less than two outs. He missed on a chance in the second inning today.
Buster Olney @Buster_ESPN
Willson Contreras with five homers and 14 RBI in 11 games since the All-Star break.
Jesse Rogers ESPN Staff Writer
Cubs catcher Willson Contreras has seven home runs and 17 runs driven in this month, good for second and seventh in the NL in July. Four of his last five hits have been home runs as he belted his 16th in the first inning off White Sox starter Carlos Rondon.