Ask and you shall receive.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman warned his team this week that certain underperforming players would be placed on a short leash should their six-game losing streak stretch on further. On Wednesday, without a shelved Alex Rodriguez (hamstring), the Yankees looked like the team that got hot last summer en route to a wild-card appearance.
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Veteran starter CC Sabathia, who entered the game against the Orioles with a 5.06 ERA, tossed seven scoreless innings with six strikeouts while Jacoby Ellsbury shined on offense in a 7-0 win. Ellsbury went 3 for 3 with two walks and two stolen bases to headline a Yankees lineup that had 10 hits.
With their next four games against AL East foes, the Yankees (9-16) can slowly begin chipping away at a 5 1/2-game deficit in the division.
Player of the day
Daniel Murphy, Nationals — Take your pick from Washington’s roster: Every Nats starter contributed in some sort of way in the club’s 16-hit, 13-run drubbing of the defending champion Royals. None more than Murphy, who went 4 for 5 with a home run, four runs scored and three RBIs.
Highlight
The Mets only needed one home run thanks to starter Steven Matz's gem, but Lucas Duda smacked two, Rene Rivera hit one and Asdrubal Cabrera added another as the Mets went deep four times in the span of four innings in an 8-0 win over the Braves.
Three things to know
— Former Indians Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber has only allowed three earned runs in his last 24 innings culminating with a complete-game shutout Wednesday against the Tigers. Kluber struck out seven, allowing just five hits and two walks.
— The Blue Jays' Russell Martin connected on an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth against Rangers reliever Tony Barnette to give the Jays a walk-off 4-3 win. For Texas, it was its fifth walk-off hit allowed on the road this year.
— Houston All-Star Jose Altuve and reigning Rookie of the Year Carlos Correa each came a triple shy of recording the cycle. Both finished with three RBIs in a 16-4 blowout of the Twins.
What's next
Nationals (19-8) at Cubs (20-6), 8:05 p.m. ET — In a potential NLCS matchup, Joe Ross (3-0, 0.79 ERA) and the NL East-leading Nationals take on Kyle Hendricks (1-2, 3.91 ERA) and the Cubs. Chicago owns the franchise's best record through 26 games since the 1907 Cubs started 22-4.
Rangers (15-13) at Blue Jays (14-15), 7:07 p.m. ET — A pair of lefties off to hot starts go head to head as Derek Holland (3-1, 2.48 ERA) and the Rangers finish a four-game series against J.A. Happ (3-0, 2.76 ERA) and the Blue Jays.