Each night in the 2016 baseball season, we'll run down the top news, facts and highlights from action around Major League Baseball.
Washington Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg is undefeated no more.
While the right-hander struck out 10 and only walked one, he surrendered six runs over six innings in a home start against the Dodgers on Thursday. Justin Turner was responsible for nearly every run scored against Strasburg, who fell to 13-1 on the year with a 2.83 ERA.
Turner hammered two home runs and drove in five runs — all against Strasburg, whose only run support came on a Bryce Harper sacrifice fly in the first inning. The Dodgers used eight pitchers to finish the 6-3 victory and move to within four games of the Giants in the NL West.
The Nationals will turn to Strasburg again on Wednesday in a potential World Series matchup with the Indians in Cleveland.
Player of the day
David Ortiz, Red Sox — The veteran slugger is showing no signs of slowing in his final season. Big Papi, who hit a baseball so hard on Thursday that it got lodged in Pesky's Pole during batting practice, went 3 for 4 with a homer and four RBIs against the Twins. The two-run blast in the Sox's 13-2 win was Ortiz's 527th career homer (19th all-time).
Highlight
The 2015 World Series-winning Royals visit the White House to meet President Barack Obama and his administration.
Three things to know
— Pirates left-hnder Francisco Liriano's 13 strikeouts without a walk against the Brewers are the second-most by a Pirates pitcher in a game in the last 100 years (Jose DeLeon, 14).
— The Orioles avoided a sweep vs. the Yankees on the arm of Chris Tillman, who became the first Orioles pitcher to win 14 games through 21 starts in a season since Sidney Ponson in 2003.
— An MLB executive told ESPN there is a "70 percent" chance Chris Archer winds up with the Dodgers before the trade deadline. Archer, a 2015 All-Star, has struggled this season with a 4.60 ERA, but is a bargain at just over $38 million through 2021 (team options in '20, '21).
What's next
Phillies (44-53) at Pirates (49-46), 7:05 p.m. ET: The battle for Pennsylvania renews as Gerrit Cole (5-5, 3.11 ERA) takes the hill for the Bucs in his second start since returning from the DL. He gave up four runs on seven hits on Sunday. Zach Eflin (2-3, 4.14 ERA) toes the rubber for the Phillies looking for his sixth consecutive quality start.
Indians (56-38) at Orioles (54-40), 7:05 p.m. ET: A potential ALDS matchup kicks off a three-game series as the AL Central-leading Indians send Trevor Bauer (7-3, 3.36 ERA) to the mound against Dylan Bundy (2-2, 3.70 ERA) and the O’s. Bauer is 5-1 with a 2.78 ERA on the road this season.