Each night in the 2016 baseball season, we'll run down the top news, facts and highlights from action around Major League Baseball.
With the Nationals reportedly interested in acquiring a reliever to strengthen their bullpen, closer Jonathan Papelbon has picked a bad time for his two worst appearances of the season.
In suffering his second consecutive loss Tuesday, Papelbon (2-4, 4.18 ERA) failed to record an out when called upon with a two-run lead in the bottom of the ninth in Cleveland. Papelbon was charged with three runs (two earned) on two hits and two walks.
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Papelbon was pulled by manager Dusty Baker with the bases loaded in a tie game. Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor then ripped a single to right field off Oliver Perez to score Chris Gimenez and saddle Papelbon with the 7-6 loss.
Papelbon allowed four hits, a walk and four earned runs in the top of the ninth on Sunday against the Padres. The six earned runs allowed in his past two games are the most in consecutive appearances in his career.
Player of the Day
Tyler Skaggs, LHP Angels — In his first major league game in nearly two years, Skaggs allowed just three hits over seven scoreless innings in LA's 13-0 rout of the Royals, who have dropped 15 of their past 21 games.
Highlight
The Blue Jays' Devon Travis scores the winning run on a wild pitch by the Padres' Paul Clemens in the bottom of the 12th.
Three things to know
— Mets closer Jeurys Familia converted his 52nd consecutive regular-season save opportunity in New York's 3-1 victory over St. Louis in Game 2 of a doubleheader. He now has the third-longest streak in MLB history.
— Behind James Shields' 7 2/3 scoreless innings in a 3-0 victory against the Cubs, the White Sox have clinched the Crosstown Cup for the third consecutive season.
— With a homer his third consecutive game, Alex Dickerson extended the Padres' home run streak to 24 games, now just three shy of the MLB record.
What's next
Nationals (58-42) at Indians (57-41), 12:10 p.m. ET: Aces duel in Cleveland as Stephen Strasburg (13-1, 2.83 ERA) and Carlos Carrasco (7-3, 2.31 ERA) meet. Strasburg is coming off his first loss of the season while Carrasco has been on a roll, posting a 1.56 ERA in his past eight starts for the Tribe.
Phillies (46-56) at Marlins (54-46), 12:10 p.m. ET: A pair of young guns square off as Zach Eflin (3-3, 3.40 ERA) toes the rubber for the Phillies against Miami southpaw Adam Conley (6-5, 3.58 ERA). Eflin is coming off his second complete game in just eight starts while Conley owns a 2.35 ERA in four July starts. Marlins veteran Ichiro Suzuki is only three hits away from 3,000 for his major league career.