Max Scherzer strikes out four in return vs. Nats

Springs allowed just two hits and struck out six in his second scoreless start of the year. The other was against the Yankees way back on Apr. 9. He won that one and then beat Texas five days later to improve to 3-0 on the season. Since then, though, he had been 0-10 in 21 starts. The showing tonight lowered his ERA to 6.02. He’ll face the A’s again in Sacramento next weekend.

Kirby’s recent struggles had been limited to his road outings, but back at home tonight, he was outpitched by Jeffrey Springs in another Mariners loss. He has a 6.35 ERA in his last five starts, leaving him 9-11 with a 4.18 ERA overall. He’s neck and neck with Seth Lugo for the most hits allowed in the AL. If he ends up on top, it’d be his second time in three years leading the AL, which seems unfathomable for a pitcher who gets to spend half of his time in a ballpark that just kills batting average. He’ll face the A’s again next weekend, this time in Sacramento. It makes him a poor option in mixed leagues.

With Tommy White needing a break, Muncy has started three straight games, including the last two at DH, and he’s homered in back-to-back contests. The success might get him some extra playing time after White returns; the 24-year-old is not necessarily one of the Athletics’ best options, but there isn’t much reason to play Donovan Walton and Michael Stefanic over him.

Montes was able to come off the bench as a DH tonight after leaving Friday’s game with hip soreness. He probably won’t start Sunday with the Mariners facing another lefty, but he should again be available.

Leading off in Shohei Ohtani’s place, Edman hit his sixth homer off Clayton Beeter, giving him 32 RBI in 65 games since he returned from ankle surgery. He’s batting a solid .273/.348/.414.

Glasnow was hit pretty hard and issued three walks, but he struck out eight and would have had a quality start if he hadn’t been brought back out to give up a double to start the seventh. The runner later scored off Alex Vesia. It’s the second time in 10 starts this season that Glasnow has allowed four runs. Thanks to the Dodgers’ comeback, he still hasn’t taken a loss while going 4-0 with a 3.12 ERA. He’ll face the Marlins next weekend.

The six hitters Scott faced tonight combined for three hits and three strikeouts. It’s the fourth time in six appearances that Scott has given up a run, but he still hasn’t allowed more than one run in an outing since July 6.

Cavalli, who struck out eight and walked none, departed with a two-run lead that immediately disappeared in the bottom of the seventh. It’s the fourth time this year that he’s left in line for a win and watched the bullpen blow it, but he’s a fine 12-5 anyway. He’ll face the Angels next weekend.

Beeter did pretty decent work back when the Nationals were treating him as a one-inning closer, but he’s about a month removed from his last save chance now and the fireman role of coming into games in the seventh and pitching more than an inning doesn’t really seem to suit him. Giving up six runs in his last two appearances has taken his ERA from 3.45 to 4.50. It doesn’t seem like anyone in the Nationals pen will be worth rostering over the final three weeks.

Báez’ home run was his seventh of the season. He hit a solo shot off Mason Adams in the second inning. Báez is now 8-for-21 (.380) with three home runs and six RBI over his last seven games. He’s hitting .229 with an .872 OPS and 15 RBI in his first taste of the major leagues. Báez’ tools are loud enough to put up with the strikeouts and low average.