Each night in the 2016 baseball season we'll run down the top news, facts and highlights from around Major League Baseball.
OK, be honest: Did anyone have Rick Porcello or Kyle Hendricks as favorites to win their respective Cy Young awards at the beginning of the season?
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There's a better chance people didn't even have Hendricks as a member of the Cubs' opening day rotation, but the two unlikely stars now find themselves in the driver's seat to win the coveted award.
Porcello continued to make his case Monday when he tossed a complete game and led the Red Sox to a 5-2 win over the Orioles. Porcello gave up just two runs, with no walks, while striking out seven batters to improve to 21-4 with a 3.08 ERA. He needed just 89 pitches, which are the fewest by anyone in a nine-inning complete game this season.
Just to put Porcello's last couple of months in perspective, Monday marked his 11th straight start of seven or more innings and three or fewer runs allowed, tying a Red Sox record with Pedro Martinez and Cy Young himself.
Mookie Betts and David Ortiz helped Porcello out offensively by connecting on home runs. The blast was Ortiz's 35th of the year, tying Dave Kingman for the most by a player in their final season. He also has the most by a player 40 years or older.
The Red Sox also took a four-game lead in the American League Central, their largest of the season.
Players of the day
Freddie Freeman and Dansby Swanson helped the Braves topple Noah Syndergaard and the Mets 7-3 at Citi Field. Freeman had a monster game, collecting four hits with a home run, two runs scored and three RBIs. Swanson added three hits, a run scored, three RBIs and a stolen base.
Highlight
Ladies and gentlemen, Giancarlo Stanton is back:
Souvenir City has no limits when @Giancarlo818 is at the dish. https://t.co/2iExnvB82y https://t.co/Qx5RzABaGh
— MLB (@MLB) September 19, 2016
The home run was calculated at 466 feet. It was his first since re-joining the team following a groin injury.
Three things to know
— After giving up three long balls to the Cubs, the Reds have allowed 242 home runs this season, surpassing the 1996 Tigers for the most home runs allowed in a single season in MLB history.
— Royals starter Yordano Ventura completed an interesting complete game in an 8-3 win over the White Sox. Ventura allowed three runs, two home runs and nine hits, but struck out five batters. Billy Burns helped him at the plate with three hits, two runs scored and a stolen base.
— Marco Estrada led the Blue Jays to a 3-2 win against the Mariners after taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning. Robinson Cano broke up the no-hit bid, but Estrada still pitched seven shutout innings with eight strikeouts to improve Toronto's playoff chances.
What's next
Nationals (88-62) at Marlins (75-75), 7:10 p.m. ET — Marlins ace Jose Fernandez (15-8, 2.99 ERA) will face off against Tanner Roark (15-8, 2.75 ERA) as Miami desperately tries to get back into playoff contention after a much-needed win Monday. The Marlins have won four of their past six games.