AROUND THE HORN
Nationals: Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer was placed back on the 10-day IL with a minor rhomboid strain. The injury is in the same area as the inflammation under his right shoulder that forced the Nats ace to the IL for 19 days earlier this month. The 35-yearold Scherzer (9-5, 2.41 ERA) was dominant in June and won seven consecutive starts as the Nats worked their way back into playoff contention. The right-hander returned from the IL on Thursday and allowed three runs in five innings in a no-decision against the Rockies. The next day, he had an MRI that revealed the injury. The most recent move to the IL is retroactive to Friday, which means Scherzer could pitch as soon as Aug. 5. “That’s not by any means a target date,” Nats manager Dave Martinez said. “We just want him to be 100 percent.”
Phillies: The Phillies acquired LHP Jason Vargas from the Mets for Double-A catcher Austin Bossart. Vargas, 36, is 6-5 with a 4.01 ERA, winning his last three starts. He became expendable when the Mets acquired RHP Marcus Stroman from the Blue Jays on Sunday for a pair of pitching prospects. Vargas, who’s expected to start this weekend against the White Sox, is 98-95 with a 4.26 ERA in 266 career starts and 21 relief appearances with five teams. He won 18 games for the Royals in 2017 and was part of their 2015 World Series championship team.
Brewers: The Brewers acquired RHP Jordan Lyles from the Pirates for pitching prospect Cody Ponce. Lyles, 28, was 1-0 with a 3.31 ERA in 11 appearances for the Brewers late last season, helping them win the NL Central. He agreed to a one-year, $2.05 million contract with the Pirates during the offseason and earned a rotation spot, going 5-7 with a 5.36 ERA. He won five of his first six decisions with the Pirates but has a 9.58 ERA in eight starts since May 28. Cardinals, Dodgers:
The Cardinals acquired Zac Rosscup from the Dodgers for cash. Rosscup, 31, will be joining his fourth team this season. He’s 2-0 with a 5.00 ERA in 28 combined appearances this season .... The Dodgers placed utility man Enrique Hernandez on the IL with a sprained left hand.
Blue Jays: Top prospect Bo Bichette was called up before the Blue Jays’ road game against the Royals and started at shortstop and batted sixth. Bichette, the son of longtime major league OF Dante Bichette, is the third legacy player to join the Blue Jays roster. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Cavan Biggio arrived with the club earlier this season.
Astros: MLB upheld the two-game suspension of Astros OF Jake Marisnick for his violent home plate collision with Angels C Jonathan Lucroy on July 7. Lucroy suffered a concussion and a broken nose. Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre had said he didn’t believe Marisnick intended to injure Lucroy, but Marisnick’s actions warranted discipline because they violated MLB rules designed to protect catchers. Marisnick will serve the suspension Tuesday and Wednesday against the Indians.