Pete Alonso and Jesse Winker hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning and the New York Mets beat the skidding White Sox 5-3 on Saturday night, handing Chicago its 106th loss to tie a franchise record.
The White Sox (31-106) dropped their ninth straight to match their mark for most defeats in a season set in 1970. Chicago is 4-35 since the All-Star break and on track to break the modern major league record for most losses -- 120 by the expansion 1962 Mets.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have placed veteran left-hander Clayton Kershaw on the 15-day injured list.
Kershaw, who left Friday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second inning, was diagnosed with a bone spur in his left big toe.
"There's so much swelling, he can barely move around," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before Saturday's game.
The Chicago Cubs added right-hander Shawn Armstrong to their active roster on Saturday, one day after they claimed him off waivers from St. Louis.
Armstrong is 3-2 with a 4.85 ERA in 49 games for the Rays and Cardinals this season, including seven starts. He has pitched 6⅔ scoreless innings of three-hit ball over his past seven appearances.
Max Scherzer said he feels confident that he has figured out what was causing a nerve issue that has kept him from pitching for a month, and the three-time Cy Young Award winner is ready to rehab to get back on the mound for the Texas Rangers.
Scherzer said Saturday that a change in mechanics alleviated the irritation of the triceps nerve that was only happening when he was pitching. He came out of a full bullpen session Friday without any pain.
"I feel like I can overcome this, because there's nothing wrong. ... I don't have an injury here. This was just nerve irritation," Scherzer said. "I feel like I potentially have solved this, and now I can actually build back up."
With a potential playoff berth in sight, the Kansas City Royals made multiple moves Saturday in the wake of Vinnie Pasquantino's injury, adding outfielders Tommy Pham and Robbie Grossman off waivers and acquiring Yuli Gurriel in a trade.
Both Pham and Grossman participated in last year's World Series, with Pham on the Arizona Diamondbacks and Grossman on the champion Texas Rangers.
Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw exited his start against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night due to pain in his left big toe.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the pain is a lingering issue from a bone spur, adding that Kershaw could end up on the injured list.
Bryce Harper says he'll be fine for October, that the elbow and wrist injuries the two-time NL MVP has played through this Philadelphia Phillies season are more a nuisance than a concern for the postseason.
What choice does Harper have but to feel otherwise?
"I just have to," Harper said after Friday night's 7-2 loss to Atlanta. "It's part of the game. It's part of the process of going through a season. Just got to stay the course and understand that I rely heavy on my body."
Pitcher Johnny Cueto was designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Angels on Friday after two rough outings.
Cueto, 38, gave up nine runs in 11⅓ innings in his two starts for the Angels, both losses. He gave up six runs in five innings in Tuesday night's 6-2 loss at Detroit, with three of the six hits being home runs.
The St. Louis Cardinals designated Tommy Pham for assignment Friday, ending the outfielder's second stint with the team after one month, and recalled outfielder Jordan Walker, who had a strong rookie season in 2023 before struggling this year.
Pham was acquired along with starting pitcher Erick Fedde from the Chicago White Sox on July 29 as part of a three-team trade that sent Michael Kopech and Tommy Edman to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The San Francisco Giants have placed reliever Taylor Rogers on waivers, according to a report.
The club also placed left-hander Tyler Matzek and infielder Thairo Estrada on waivers as they fade out of the National League playoff picture.
The trio will be allowed to play for the Giants until they're claimed by another team.
The Giants would not be compensated with any return should that scenario come to pass, but they would receive some financial relief with the claiming team responsible for the player's remaining salary.
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