Max Scherzer strikes out four in loss

It’s the fourth consecutive contest that Rafaela has missed due to a lingering quad injury. He’s still hopeful that he’ll be able to avoid a trip to the injured list, but if this lingers into next week the Red Sox may be forced to make a move. Eli White will once again start in his place in center field and will bat ninth against O’s right-hander Kyle Bradish.

The Brewers have been using Sunday afternoon games to get Contreras a breather recently and that trend will continue here. Bo Naylor will do the catching for the Brewers and will bat eighth against Reds’ right-hander Brady Singer.

Dodgers’ skipper Dave Roberts said that they’ll see how he feels on Sunday and was optimistic that he could return to the lineup then. The club has been mulling a trip to the injured list for the superstar slugger, but it sounds like he may just need another day or two.

Rushing was scratched from the team’s starting lineup on Saturday after experiencing soreness in his elbow while ramping up his throwing program before the game. He went for imaging after the game and depending on what that shows, a trip to the injured list could be in store.

Nelson needed just 15 pitches (nine strikes) to retire the side in order on a pair of strikeouts and a fly out. Since there isn’t time to get him fully stretched out before the end of the season, the expectation is that Nelson could rejoin the Diamondbacks’ in a bullpen role for the stretch run.

Hollowell missed the entire month of August due to inflammation in his shoulder, but he’s now making tangible strides toward a return to the Cubs’ bullpen. He should only need a couple of tune-ups in a minor league setting before he’s cleared to return. The 28-year-old righty had registered a 2.51 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and a 13/8 K/BB ratio over 14 1/3 innings before landing on the injured list.

The 30-year-old southpaw had been shelved since late April due to inflammation in his pitching shoulder. He’s going to need several outings in a minor league setting before he’s ready to rejoin the Rangers’ bullpen for the stretch run.

The 33-year-old right-hander twirled 4 1/3 scoreless frames in his last minor league rehab start at Triple-A El Paso. He was scheduled to throw a bullpen at Petco Park over the weekend and as long as everything goes smoothly, it sounds like his next outing could come with the Padres. Whether he works out of the rotation or the bullpen down the stretch remains to be seen though.

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.