Each night in the 2016 baseball season, we'll run down the top news, facts and highlights from action around Major League Baseball.
It's not unreasonable to suggest that Wednesday's interleague meeting between the Indians and Nationals might be a preview of the World Series this October.
That remains to be seen, but the two concluded an interesting two-game series Wednesday, as the Nats earned a series split with a 7-4 victory.
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Outfielder Jayson Werth doubled and scored in the first, then belted a three-run home run — his 15th this season — an inning later to key the win. In the process, he extended his on-base streak to 40 games.
Daniel Murphy and Anthony Rendon doubled to key a three-run fifth for the Nats that broke a 4-4 tie and provided the final margin of victory.
The Nationals did all their damage without Bryce Harper, who sat out his third straight game with a sore neck.
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"It's a spasm, and they've tried to alleviate it and it hasn't worked yet," Washington manager Dusty Baker told reporters. "So we just do what we have to do. Don't assume that it's worse than what I've told you, because it's not."
The Nationals need a healthy Harper for the stretch run. While they're in command with a 7 1/2-game lead in the NL East, their eyes are on home-field advantage in the NL playoffs. They currently trail the Cubs by 4 1/2 games in that pursuit. As for the Indians, they're trying to hold on to the division lead in the AL Central against the resurgent Tigers.
Player of the Day
Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Blue Jays — Tulo homered and drove in five runs in the Blue Jays' 7-0 win over the Rays. After a dreadful start to the season, Tulowitzki now has seven home runs and 27 RBis in his last 30 games.
Highlight
Brewers slugger Chris Carter goes deep (442 feet deep, to be exact) to dead center with a smash off the Miller Park scoreboard.
Three things to know
— The Blue Jays have placed right fielder Jose Bautista on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left knee suffered in Tuesday night's game.
— An emotional Prince Fielder held a media conference to announce his farewell to Major League Baseball. He ends his career with 319 home runs — the same number as his father, Cecil, who played from 1985 through 1998.
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— Red Sox slugger David Ortiz fouled a pitch off his right shin in the ninth inning and had to be helped off the field. Postgame X-rays were negative.
What's next
Cardinals (60-54) at Cubs (71-41) , 8:05 p.m. ET — The Cubs are riding a season-high nine-game winning streak. The Cards are too far back to make a serious run at Chicago for the division title, but they need to do well in this four-game series to bolster their wild-card hopes. Carlos Martinez (10-7, 3.29 ERA) takes the mound for St. Louis. Jon Lester (12-4, 2.93 ERA) gets the ball for the Cubs.
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Yankees (57-56) at Red Sox (61-51) 7:10 p.m. ET — Alex Rodriguez will start against the Sox in his next-to-last MLB game. He'll face left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (2-5, 5.93 ERA). A-Rod has a lifetime average of .385 against him, with a home run in 13 at-bats. Right-hander Michael Pineda (6-10 5.17 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Yanks. His 10.7 K/9 rate leads all American League starters.