Jerry Crasnick ESPN Senior Writer
Dusty Baker says Bryce Harper suffered a "minor setback" in his comeback from a knee injury Monday. He's out with the flu.
Now
Jerry Crasnick ESPN Senior Writer
Bryce Harper is not in the Nationals' lineup tonight. The team says he's not feeling well and his absence is unrelated to his knee injury.
Jesse Rogers ESPN Staff Writer
Jon Jay leads off for the Cubs again while Ben Zobrist bats fifth and plays left field. Willson Contreras will catch Jon Lester who is coming off several rough outings in a row. The Cubs magic number is 2.
ESPN Stats and Information
With two home runs today (so far), Aaron Judge is now the first rookie in MLB history to hit 50 homers in a single season.
Tristan H. Cockcroft ESPN Senior Writer
Opposite-field HR leaders, 2017: J.D. Martinez 18 Aaron Judge 16 Domingo Santana 12
Hector Cruz ESPN
Aaron Judge empató con Mark McGwire con 49 jonrones, la marca para novatos en Grandes Ligas al conectar vuelacercas de dos carreras ante los Reales de Kansas City.
Tristan H. Cockcroft ESPN Senior Writer
Besides tying Mark McGwire's rookie record for home runs (49) today, Aaron Judge is now a .301/.438/.863 hitter in September, his 12 homers in the month his best in any single month this year. He has also lowered his strikeout rate to 27.1 percent in September, which bodes well for him heading into the postseason (as well as 2018, for his fantasy owners).
Leonte Landino ESPN Deportes
Elsa of Arendelle at Yankee Stadium this afternoon!
David Schoenfield ESPN Senior Writer
We're getting close to finalizing our 10 playoff spots, as the Diamondbacks have clinched a wild card, the Twins have all but clinched the second AL wild card, and the Red Sox and Cubs are close to wrapping up division titles. Our magic numbers: Cubs 2 (to win NL Central), Red Sox 3 (to win AL East), Twins 3 (to clinch wild card), Rockies 5 (to clinch wild card).
David Schoenfield ESPN Senior Writer
Despite being shut out three times in their past five games, the Rockies actually have a little breathing room for the second wild card. They beat the Padres to finish with just the second winning road record in franchise history on a day the Brewers and Cardinals both lose, so their lead is 2 games over Milwaukee and 2.5 over St. Louis. You have to like their chances now as they finish with six games at home against the Marlins and Dodgers.
David Schoenfield ESPN Senior Writer
Congrats to the Diamondbacks for not only clinching a playoff spot, their first since 2011, but clinching home-field advantage for the wild-card game when J.D. Martinez delivered the first walk-off hit of his career. Martinez's incredible run with Arizona means he could some down-ballot MVP love. In 57 games with the Diamondbacks, he has 27 HRs and 58 RBIs while slugging .734.
ESPN Stats and Information
Dodgers P Clayton Kershaw reached the 200-strikeout mark for the 7th straight season. That's the most 200 K seasons in Dodgers history - breaking a tie with Hall-of-Famers Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale.
Jesse Rogers ESPN Staff Writer
Watch Willson Contreras discuss pitcher Jose Quintana's complete game shutout on Sunday.
Jesse Rogers ESPN Staff Writer
Watch Ben Zobrist discuss the Cubs 5-0 win over Milwaukee on Sunday. He homered to help draw the Cubs closer to a division title.
Jesse Rogers ESPN Staff Writer
Southern Illinois native Ben Zobrist, on potentially clinching the division in St. Louis this week: "It would be nice to do it there. I'll just say that."
Jesse Rogers ESPN Staff Writer
The Cubs beat the Brewers 5-0 to inch closer to a division title as they took 3 out of 4 in a critical series. Jose Quintana was fantastic getting the three hit complete game shutout. Ben Zobrist homered and Anthony Rizzo had a 2 run double to reduce the Cubs magic number to 2.
ESPN Stats and Information
Aaron Judge is now just one HR shy of tying Mark McGwire for the rookie home run record after hitting his 2nd homer of the day.
David Schoenfield ESPN Senior Writer
Jose Bautista comes off the field in the top of the ninth to a standing ovation and Blue Jays fans singing his name. In what was likely the final home game of his Blue Jays career, Bautista went 2-for-4, popping up to third base in his final at-bat. After a disappointing season where he's hit .203, Bautista could be playing his final week in the majors. He'll go down as one of the best and most popular players in Blue Jays history.
Scott Lauber ESPN Staff Writer
Red Sox 5, Reds 4: Mookie Betts did it almost all by himself. Betts clocked a three-run double, then scored from second base on an infield single as the Red Sox scored four runs in the eighth inning to score a come-from-behind victory and close out an 8-1 road trip. With the Yankees losing in Toronto, the Red Sox's magic number to clinch the AL East will be shaved to 3. Boston has won six consecutive games, nine of 10 and 14 of 17. The Reds, meanwhile, have lost six in a row and 90 games overall.
Nick Wagoner ESPN Staff Writer
Oakland A's catcher Bruce Maxwell again knelt during the national anthem in protest of racial inequality in the United States before Sunday's game against the Rangers. Outfield Mark Canha again had his hand on Maxwell's shoulder as he knelt. Both players have said they will continue to do that during the anthem for the rest of the season.
ESPN Stats and Information
Aaron Judge is now two home runs shy of tying Mark McGwire for most HR by a rookie after hitting another one out of the park today.
Nick Wagoner ESPN Staff Writer
A's OF Mark Canha explained why he chose not to join Bruce Maxwell kneeling and instead put his hand on Maxwell's shoulder during the national anthem. "I thought about it yesterday and I knew it wouldn't feel right to do it just because Bruce is doing it," Canha said. "I have thought about it in the past and I decided against it. It's not to say I'm against kneeling, it's not to say I am for kneeling, it's just to say I thought about doing it and I didn't want to do it. But I'm fully supportive of my teammate and it was coming of a place of agreeing that there has to be change in our social environment in this country and also, mainly from a point of supporting my teammate. We knew he was going to do this and man to man, I didn't want to leave my brother on that island by himself. I asked him if it was OK and he said, ‘Yeah, go for it.'"
Nick Wagoner ESPN Staff Writer
This A's fan offering support for catcher Bruce Maxwell, who became the first MLB player to kneel for the national anthem on Saturday.
Scott Lauber ESPN Staff Writer
In what might be his last stand to win a postseason rotation spot, Doug Fister has struck out four batters in a row, five of the last six and seven through three innings here in Cincinnati. Fister is working quickly and making quick work of the Reds.
Jesse Rogers ESPN Staff Writer
Watch the full discussion between Joe Maddon and reporters regarding athletes protesting and the President's response.
