Nats’ Harper moves to leadoff spot

Bryce Harper was hitting leadoff for the Washington Nationals on Tuesday for the first time since 2013. The five-time All-Star and 2015 NL MVP leads the major leagues with 38 walks — eight of them intentional — but entered Tuesday in a 5-for- 35 slump. He had not had an extra-base hit since April 16.

Braves: Called up pitcher Mike Soroka, who was scheduled to start Tuesday night’s game against the New York Mets. The 20-year-old righthander from Canada gives the Braves the three youngest players in the major leagues. He joined outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr., who is about four months younger than Soroka, and 21-year-old second baseman Ozzie Albies.

Twins: Placed third baseman Miguel Sano on the 10-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring.

ODDS AND ENDS

NHL: Guy Boucher will be back behind the Ottawa Senators bench next season and so will his entire staff, Senators general manager Pierre Dorion confirmed, despite the club’s secondto-last place finish in 2017-18.

College football: The American Football Coaches Association wants the NCAA to consider allowing players who transfer and sit out a season at their new school to earn back that year of eligibility by graduating. AFCA Executive Director Todd Berry said the association’s board of trustees unanimously backed the proposal to contribute to the NCAA’s work on reforming transfer rules. An NCAA working group has been crafting what it hopes will be comprehensive changes to transfer rules for all sports.