Ohtani delays mound return as Dodgers edge Mets

Shohei Ohtani's pitching return stalls on knee discomfort

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani skipped a tentatively scheduled bullpen session Saturday and will not throw off a mound again until his irritated left knee feels 100%, manager Dave Roberts said before the team's game against the New York Mets. Ohtani has not pitched in a game since July 3, and Roberts described a "little bit of regression" after Ohtani threw about 30 pitches off a mound Wednesday in Philadelphia. The Dodgers said the knee does not bother him while batting, and the four-time MVP has remained in the starting lineup, though Roberts insisted there is "no worry, no concern" beyond caution.

Dodgers capitalize on Mets mistakes to take the series

Kyle Tucker hit his second home run in as many nights, clanking a solo shot off the right-field foul pole in the third inning, as the Dodgers beat the Mets 4-3 on Saturday at Citi Field to clinch a third straight series coming out of the All-Star break. Yoshinobu Yamamoto grinded through six innings of one-run ball. The Mets unraveled after Tucker's blast, with pitcher Nolan McLean failing to cover first on a return throw and catcher Francisco Alvarez dropping an outside sweeper that allowed a run to score. Los Angeles improved to 67-38 and will try to finish a nine-game road trip 7-2 with a Sunday sweep.

Acuña Jr. ready to rejoin the Braves

Ronald Acuña Jr. pronounced himself fit Saturday after a rehab stint with Triple-A Gwinnett for a left hamstring strain suffered June 9, saying "I'm ready to go" and that his timing is "way better than before" after working in Florida. The Braves slugger is expected to be activated in time for Monday's start of a three-game road series against the New York Mets. It was Acuña's second IL stint this season for the same hamstring, an injury history that has limited him to 197 of the team's 428 games since his 2023 NL MVP campaign.

Cubs rout Pirates and Cy Young winner Skenes

Pete Crow-Armstrong went 4-for-5 with a home run, falling a triple shy of his second cycle, as the Cubs blew out the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-0 on Saturday at PNC Park and tagged reigning NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes for five runs. Skenes struck out a season-high 11 but yielded a first-inning RBI double off the wall by Crow-Armstrong that started the scoring. Left fielder Ian Happ drew a walk to stretch his on-base streak at PNC Park to 43 games, the longest such streak in the park's history. Shota Imanaga worked six shutout innings and now carries a 2.00 ERA over his last eight starts.

Phillies drop fourth straight, deadline needs on display

The Philadelphia Phillies lost 3-1 to the New York Yankees on Saturday at Citizens Bank Park, their fourth consecutive defeat and 11th straight loss in a game started by their No. 5 rotation spot. With nine days before the trade deadline, the Phillies' pressing needs were again on display: Philadelphia managed only seven hits against Yankees lefty Ryan Weathers, committed two errors at third base and shortstop and saw their bullpen give up a go-ahead single after a shallow pop-up fell between Trea Turner and Edmundo Sosa. The Phillies fell to 56-49 and are now 2-6 since the All-Star break, with Cristopher Sánchez scheduled to start Sunday as they try to avoid a sweep.