Baseball

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez hit his 20th home run of the season in Sunday's 10-4 win over the Boston Red Sox, becoming the first player in Royals history to record multiple 20-homer seasons while primarily playing behind the plate, per ESPN Stats & Info.

The San Francisco Giants accomplished a rare feat in Sunday's 13-4 win over the Atlanta Braves, joining the Cleveland Indians as the only teams to record three triples in an inning this season, per ESPN Stats & Info.

When Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell knocked one over the fence in the second inning of last Monday's game against the San Diego Padres, it made him just the third shortstop in franchise history to collect 80 RBI in a single season, per ESPN Stats & Info.

The Chicago Cubs are the best team in baseball by almost every measure.

They have the best record (82-47) and the best run differential (plus-217). They rank among MLB's top five in OPS (.777) and runs scored (655). They lead both leagues in ERA (3.12).

They can hit. They can pitch. Their rivals have plenty of reasons to fear them.

Now, there's another: Addison Russell, masher of baseballs.

The Baltimore Orioles' starting rotation is a mess bordering on a full-blown garbage fire. That's no secret, and it's certainly not hyperbole. 

Kevin Gausman to the rescue?

That sentence contains a question mark for good reason. Gausman's ERA hovered over 4.00 for most of August, and he's lost five of his last 10 decisions.

Fact: Cincinnati Reds pitcher Anthony DeSclafani pitched a complete-game shutout against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday, the first of his career.

Bleacher Report will be bringing sports fans the most interesting and engaging Cold Hard Fact of the day, presented by Coors Light.

Source: B/R Insights

We've talked plenty about David Ortiz, for reasons that amount to "duh." We've talked about Mookie Betts, who's an MVP candidate. We've had good things to say about Xander Bogaerts and Jackie Bradley Jr., too.

San Francisco Giants outfielder Hunter Pence suffered a hamstring injury Friday. It's unclear when he'll return to the field. 

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The San Francisco Giants have lost some pitching depth heading into the season's final month, as Jake Peavy has gone on the disabled list.  

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Scott Van Slyke's disappointing season will come to a premature end, as the Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder will have surgery on his ailing right wrist. 

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