MLB hitting on few cylinders

The batting average for the major leagues is on track for its lowest finish in nearly a halfcentury.

This comes despite slightly more robust offense of late — hits topping strikeouts the past two months.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, there were 7,134 hits and 6,818 strikeouts in August. That left the season totals at 34,350 hits and 34,103 strikeouts, the first time this season hits led at the end of a full month.

The season’s batting average rose one point during August to .249. Unless it goes up to at least .251, it would be the lowest since .244 in 1972.

Strikeouts per game averaged 16.47 in August, down from 16.6 in July, 16.9 in June, 16.75 in May and 17.5 in April, which was a record for a full calendar month.

Strikeouts project to 40,964, which would be the 11th consecutive season setting a record, topping last year’s 40,104. The total was 32,884 in 2008.

There were 989 home runs in 414 games last month, an average of 2.39 that raised the season average to 2.31. The record of 2.51 was set last year.

Donaldson hits slam in rehab: Josh Donaldson hit a grand slam in Triple-A, soon after the Indians put the new arrival on the disabled list to give him more time to rehab a calf injury in the minor leagues.

Donaldson connected for Columbus. He walked and lined out before homering against Toledo.

The AL Central-leading Indians acquired the 2015 AL MVP from Toronto on Friday.

Donaldson has been limited to 36 games in the majors this year — none since late May — and the Indians are hoping he can get healthy enough to help them in the postseason.

The former A’s third baseman played third base and batted second in Columbus’ final game of the season.

Cleveland manager Terry Francona said Donaldson will work out with the Indians on Tuesday and then join Double-A Akron for the Eastern League playoffs.

Briefly: Colorado reliever Mike Dunn says he is planning on having season-ending shoulder surgery. The lefthander has been on the disabled list since July 7 with discomfort in the AC joint . ... Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge took his first swings off a tee since breaking his right wrist July 26, a significant early step in what he hopes is a return to the field in a couple of weeks . ... St. Louis pitcher Adam Wainwright will make his first major-league appearance in nearly four months when he starts Monday against the Pirates . ... The Diamondbacks recalled right-hander Yoan Lopez from Double-A Jackson and transferred third baseman Jake Lamb to the 60-day disabled list. Arizona signed Lopez, now 25, to an $8.27 million bonus coming out of Cuba in 2015, but he has spent four seasons in the minor leagues and at one point considered leaving baseball.