Louis Varland picks up 22nd save vs. Nationals

Tucker came up just a triple shy of the cycle, and he has never actually hit for the cycle in his career. In September of last year, he came a double shy of hitting for one against the Marlins. Tucker’s first-inning home run off Brady Singer was his 16th of the season to go along with 69 RBI. He came into this game hitting .193/.300/.369 in 52 games in the second half. He hasn’t been striking out, and he has a 7.2 percent barrel rate over that timeframe, so maybe he can get it going before the playoffs begin.

Muncy drove in two on a fourth-inning double that gave him 73 RBI on the season. He came into this one hitting just .239/.352/.435 in September with three RBI and a 17/6 K/BB ratio. He also had only one multi-RBI game since August 21st, so perhaps this gets him going a little bit.

Stewart clobbered a solo shot off Blake Treinen in the fourth inning for his 32nd home run and 109th RBI on the season. He has a .271/.339/.477 slash line and seems to be en route to winning NL Rookie of the Year. He’s been one of the few bright spots for the Reds in a disappointing season.

He also walked four and didn’t strike out a single batter while throwing just 55 percent of his pitches for strikes and registering just a five percent swinging strike rate. It was a poor outing overall for Singer, who allowed three extra-base hits, including a home run, and gave up runs in three of the four innings he pitched in. He’ll take a 5.67 ERA into his final start against Atlanta next week.

The Dodgers couldn’t have asked for more from Wrobleski, who was always going to be on an abbreviated pitch count. The left-hander threw 72 percent of his pitches for strikes while posting a 16 percent swinging strike rate and 41 percent CSW. His four-seamer averaged 96.2 mph, and his sinker was 96.8, both of which are well above his season average. Obviously, he only threw 32 pitches in this one, but he seemed healthy after his earlier battle with forearm inflammation.

Trammell is back after two days away and is starting in left field and batting seventh against the Royals tonight.

Loperfido struck out in his only at-bat in two days with the team. That the Astros seem to think he’s a weaker outfield option than Taylor Trammell, LaMonte Wade Jr. and Jorge Barrosa wouldn’t seem to bode well for his chances of remaining on the 40-man roster this winter.

Stephenson was checked on by the trainer while seemingly dealing with leg cramps behind the plate in the top of the seventh. He remained in then, but he struggled mightily to get out of the box after a single in the bottom of the inning and was replaced by Will Banfield. If it was just cramps, he could be back Friday, at least as a DH.

Gray is back on the Nationals’ active roster for the first time since injuring his elbow a week into the 2024 season. He wound up having Tommy John that year, and he had a setback this spring with a torn flexor tendon. Since beginning a rehab assignment a month ago, he’d allowed four earned runs with an 8/4 K/BB in 12 innings over 11 appearances. He’ll obviously finish out this season as a reliever, but he could compete for a rotation spot next spring.

The move opens up a spot on the 40-man for Josiah Gray. Mills hadn’t pitched since the Nationals claimed him off waivers from the Dodgers last month. He had a 5.68 ERA in six appearances for L.A. before the Dodgers let him go.