THE HOT CORNER

1 INDIANS: Right-hander Carlos Carrasco is expected to return this weekend. He was diagnosed with leukemia and has been out of major league action since late May.“When he comes back now, it’s to help us win games,” manager Terry Francona said.“That doesn’t mean we don’t care about his health and his well-being because we do, but we wanted to make sure that he was ready to help us win.” Francona said Carrasco has shown in the past that he can pitch out of the bullpen and is open to that role.

2 NATIONALS: Max Scherzer took another step toward returning to All-Star form, reached another milestone and helped Washington get back on track in its pursuit of a playoff berth. Scherzer struck out eight to notch 200 for an eighth straight season as Washington cruised past the Orioles 8-4. Scherzer allowed two runs and six hits over 4⅓ innings in his second start since missing a month with a strained back.

3 RED SOX: Left-hander David Price (wrist) will start Sunday at the Los Angeles Angels . ... Left-hander Chris Sale (left elbow inflammation) went to Fort Myers, Florida, for treatment and to visit family with the team on the road.

4 ATHLETICS: Third baseman Matt Chapman was out of the starting lineup Thursday after taking a pitch off his helmet from the Royals’ Jakob Junis in the first inning Wednesday night.“He’s got a little bit of a headache,” manager Bob Melvin said,“but I haven’t heard anything that would suggest that it’s a concussiontype thing.”

5 CUBS: First baseman Anthony Rizzo sat out again Wednesday night because of tightness in his back and thought it was unlikely he’d return Thursday. Rizzo was pulled from a game Saturday and hasn’t played since.