AROUND THE HORN

Indians: Unchallenged for months, the Indians clinched their third straight AL Central title with a 15-0 blowout of the Tigers. Francisco Lindor and Michael Brantley connected for back-to-back homers in the first inning off Michael Fulmer (3-12), Jose Ramirez had three hits and the Indians built an 11-0 lead after two innings on the way to becoming the first team to clinch a division championship. Fulmer was pulled after five pitches because of knee inflammation. ... Trevor Bauer moved a little closer to pitching in the postseason by throwing 40 pitches off a mound, a positive step in the right-hander’s recovery from a broken leg that has kept him out for more than a month.

Nationals: Rookie Juan Soto at 19 become the youngest player to steal three bases in a game, had an RBI single and scored the tiebreaking run as the Nationals stopped the Braves’ six-game winning streak with a 7-1 victory. Soto hit an RBI single in the first inning and stole second, then walked in the fourth, stole two bases and came home on a bases-loaded walk. He surpassed the mark set by the Athletics’ Rickey Henderson at 20 years, 241 days on Aug. 23, 1979, against the Indians. Soto also extended his on-base streak to 20 games, one night after joining Hall of Famers Mel Ott, Mickey Mantle and Al Kaline as the only teen- agers to reach safely in 19 straight. ... RHP Jeremy Hellickson may miss the rest of the season after reinjuring his right wrist while batting in the fourth inning. Hellickson sprained his right wrist Aug. 15 covering home plate. He made his first appearance since and got hurt again.

Cubs: RHP Brandon Morrow, who had 22 saves in 24 chances before going on the disabled list on July 18, hopes to be reactivated in the next few days after throwing a 19-pitch simulated game. “It all depends on how I come in tomorrow,” Morrow said. “I expect to feel good enough. It was a successful day.” Morrow revealed his injury was a bone bruise in his right forearm.