Losing an ace

Brandon Woodruff, Milwaukee’s most effective starter, could miss 6 weeks.

All- Star pitcher Brandon Woodruff could miss up to six weeks with a left oblique strain, Brewers manager Craig Counsell said.

The right- hander allowed four runs in three innings against Arizona Sunday before exiting after throwing two pitches in the fourth. He had an MRI and was placed on the 10- day injured list Monday.

“Less than 24 hours out, we’re looking at six weeks. That’s probably our best guess,” Counsell said. “Kind of what we expected. Obviously, that’s significant and he’s going to miss some time. He’ll do his best and we’ll do our best to get him back as fast as we can.”

Woodruff ( 11- 3, 3.75 ERA) has been the most effective starter for the Brewers, who entered Monday at 53- 48 and two games behind the Cubs in the National League Central Division. Milwaukee is 16- 4 in games Woodruff started.

Woodruff’s 11 victories are tied for second in the NL He leads the Brewers in victories, innings pitched ( 117⅔), and strikeouts ( 136). Woodruff also was hitting .267 with four doubles and four RBIs and was used as a pinchhitter five times.

White Sox

Chicago became the first team in the major leagues to extend protective netting from foul pole to foul pole, starting Monday night against the Miami Marlins. The extra netting at Guaranteed Rate Field was in place for Chicago’s first home game since the All- Star break. The White Sox announced the safety measure a month ago, a week after a foul ball at the park sent a woman to the hospital with her head bleeding. “It’s a great idea,” White Sox pitcher Evan Marshall said. “It’s a shame it wasn’t done sooner and just almost a standard across baseball. Finally the players are speaking out because everybody is tired of seeing people get hit.”

Twins

Minnesota picked the perfect time to turn a triple play for the first time in two years, squelching a first- inning rally in a series opener against the New York Yankees. After DJ LeMahieu and Aaron Judge drew walks against Martin Perez, Edwin Encarnacion hit a sharp grounder to third baseman Luis Arraez, who stepped on the bag and whipped the ball to second baseman Jonathan Schoop in the same motion. The relay to first baseman Miguel Sano beat Encarnacion by a step.

Rangers

Texas placed closer Shawn Kelley on the 10day injured list with biceps soreness in his right arm, but manager Chris Woodward said the injury appears far less severe than first believed. The Rangers made the move with Kelley before opening a three- game series in Seattle.

Nationals

Nationals ace Max Scherzer is nearing a return after being kept out with inflammation under his right shoulder. He completed a bullpen session before a game against Colorado was postponed. The rainout will be made up Wednesday as part of a day- night doubleheader.