Esmerlyn Valdez (hand) exits after hit-by-pitch

This one didn’t come easy for Cruz, who allowed two of the first three batters he faced to reach base and hit Travis Bazzana with a pitch to load the bases with two outs. Fortunately for Cruz, he was able to get pitch hitter Angel Genao to ground out to end the bases-loaded threat, but this could have easily turned into a disastrous appearance for the 27-year-old righty. Cruz is now a perfect 4-for-4 in save opportunities this month, but Friday marked his first save opportunity since August 17th. Unless he emerges as the clear-cut closer for the Royals, Cruz shouldn’t be counted on as a closer for fantasy purposes.

Iglesias allowed a leadoff single to Hunter Goodman to begin the frame, but would force T.J. Rumfield to ground into a double play in the next at-bat and got Willi Castro to line out to end the game. It was the 29th save of the season for Iglesias, who has converted on six of his seven save opportunities on the month.

Bednar’s 31st save comes a week after he tallied his 30th save of the season. The veteran reliever needed only 12 pitches to get through the inning, forcing all three batters he faced to pop up to end the inning. He continues to be one of the more reliable closers in the game and has converted 15 of his last 16 opportunities.

On most nights, allowing just one earned run would be enough for a pitcher to, at worst, get hit with a no-decision. Unfortunately for Sandoval, when the opposing pitcher is Cam Schlittler, as it was on Friday, one earned run can prove to be too much. Sandoval’s lone blemish came in the third inning when he allowed a solo homer to Paul Goldschmidt to put the Yankees up 1-0. Sandoval wouldn’t allow another run the rest of the night and was pulled in the sixth inning after loading the bases after recording just one out. It’s a tough way to close out the month for Sandoval, who allowed two earned runs or fewer in four of the five starts he made this month. If he can replicate tonight’s outing in his next start, Sandoval could find himself on the winning side of things when he toes the rubber on Wednesday at home against the Mariners.

Rafaela was responsible for two of the five hits the Red Sox totaled in Friday’s 1-0 loss to the Yankees. Rafaela has now hit safely in six of his last seven games and is slashing .284/.312/.451 in August with nine extra-base hits and 12 RBI.

Goldschmidt put the Yankees on the board in the third inning when he blasted a solo homer off Red Sox starter Patrick Sandoval to put his team up 1-0. It was the 17th homer of the season for Goldschmidt, and the only run the Yankees would score on the night. Fortunately for the Yankees, that run would prove to be plenty as Cam Schlittler and the Yankees bullpen blanked the Red Sox to pick up the 1-0 shutout victory.

Schlittler continues to do his part to keep runs off the board despite his struggles at times with his command. The righty would walk five batters in this one, which tied a season high, but also limited the Red Sox to just two hits over 5 2/3 innings of work. Schlittler was pulled in the sixth inning after allowing a two-out walk to Caleb Durbin. Schlittler was dominant throughout the month of August, allowing just seven earned runs over 26 innings while firing 36 strikeouts. Schlittler’s next start is scheduled for Wednesday on the road against the Angels.

This obviously makes the most sense, since Fried will be coming off the IL and there’s no reason to send someone down prior to the first game, but the Yankees didn’t want to confirm anything until after tonight’s game finished.

All three of Goodman’s hits were singles. His lone RBI on the night came on a single in the fifth inning that brought home Ezequiel Tovar. Goodman has hit safely in three of his last four games and is slashing .255/.280/.617 on the month with five homers and 12 RBI.

Harris got the scoring started for the Braves in the second inning when he doubled to bring home Ronald Acuña. He would later come around to score on an RBI double by Sean Murphy, and in the fifth inning he blasted a two-run homer off Tomoyuki Sugano to push the Braves’ lead to 6-3. It was the 22nd homer of the season for Harris, who has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games and is slashing a solid .289/.312/.444 in August.