AROUND THE HORN
Braves: The Braves signed RHP Charlie Morton to a one-year, $20 million deal. The deal includes a $20 million club option for 2023 with no buyout. The 37-year-old has been a stalwart of the rotation for the first-place Braves, going 13-5 with a 3.47 ERA in 28 starts. Morton leads the team in wins. The Braves signed Morton to a one-year, $15 million contract in free agency after he helped the Rays reach the 2020 World Series.
Indians: Manager Terry Francona will undergo surgery on his left big toe on Tuesday at Cleveland Clinic. The 62-year-old Francona stepped down for the season July 29 and had hip replacement surgery a few days later. Francona had surgery for a staph infection in his toe in February and wore a walking boot while managing this season. The rehab for Tuesday’s surgery is expected to take eight to 10 weeks. Francona, a two-time World Series champion with the Red Sox, managed only 14 games last season because of his health.
Phillies: Bryce Harper hit an early HR, Brad Miller connected twice and Jean Segura added a grand slam, leading Zack Wheeler and the visiting Phillies to a 12-0 romp over the Brewers. Andrew McCutchen and Freddy Galvis also homered as the Phillies won for the eighth time in the last 10 games to stay in the playoff chase. The Phillies have beaten the NL Centralleading Brewers five straight times this season. Harper is hitting .383 (18-for-47) with five HRs and 14 RBIs in his last 12 games. Wheeler (12-9) threw six crisp innings, outpitching Brandon Woodruff (9-8) in a rematch of All-Star righties. On May 6 in Philadelphia, Wheeler tossed a three-hitter for a 2-0 win over Woodruff, who struck out 11 in that loss.
Dodgers: Max Scherzer struck out 13 in his hometown and Chris Taylor hit a two-run HR, leading the Dodgers to a 5-1 victory host Cardinals. Scherzer (13-4) permitted one unearned run and six hits in eight innings in his 104th double-digit strikeout game, including six against the Cards. That ties him for fifth place in MLB history. Scherzer, 37, also recorded the ninth
200-plus strikeout season of his career. The three-time Cy Young Award winner is six away from becoming the 19th player in big league history to reach 3,000 strikeouts.
Rays: Austin Meadows hit a tying, inside-the-park HR in the ninth, Nelson Cruz had a go-ahead single in the 10th and the Rays rallied from a six-run deficit to beat the host Red Sox 11-10. The AL East-leading Rays took advantage of four errors. Cruz also homered and had a pair of RBI singles as the Rays increased their division lead to 8 ½ games over the Yankees.
Blue Jays: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his 40th HR, Marcus Semien went deep twice and the visiting Blue Jays beat the Yankees 8-0 for their fifth straight win. Hyun Jin Ryu (13-8) pitched six effective innings as the Jays won for the eighth time in nine games. Guerrero hit his 40th HR on Jameson Taillon’s 13th pitch, a full-count curveball. The slugger and his Hall of Fame father joined Cecil and Prince Fielder as the second father-son duo to hit 40 HRs. Guerrero finished with three hits, extending his hitting streak to a careerhigh 14 games.