Nationals embarrassment: GM Mike Rizzo officially waves the white flag  —  The shameful, national embarrassment in Washington, mercifully is over.  —  At least.  —  Folks, we're talking about the baseball team, here.  —  The team was once again projected to be a World Series contender, and the runaway favorites to win the NL East.

Yu Darvish Out For Season With Stress Reaction In Elbow  —  Cubs righty Yu Darvish has been diagnosed with a stress reaction in his right elbow and will be out for the remainder of the season, president of baseball operations Theo Epstein told reporters (Twitter links via Mark Gonzales …

Mets botch popup in 13th, Giants wind up with 2-1 win  —  NEW YORK (AP) Mets left fielder Dominic Smith readily took the blame for plowing into shortstop Amed Rosario on the potential inning-ending play in the 13th inning that ended up costing his team the game.

Giancarlo Stanton returns to Miami, still rooting for the Marlins  —  MIAMI — By the final time Giancarlo Stanton put on a Miami Marlins home uniform last season, he was worn down, beaten up, drained.  —  But that wasn't all.  —  At what would prove to be the end of a decade-long roller-coaster ride …

Promising MLB debut from White Sox's Michael Kopech cut short by lengthy rain delay  —  CHICAGO — One thing you can say about Michael Kopech's big league debut: The White Sox phenom left them wanting more.  —  Kopech pitched two scoreless innings in Chicago's 5-2 loss to the Minnesota Twins …

Diamondbacks closer Brad Boxberger searches for consistency in a volatile role  —  If you were to ask those in the Diamondbacks clubhouse to use one word to describe right-hander Brad Boxberger, one answer would come back as a clear favorite: consistent.  —  Steven Souza Jr. has known Boxberger since …

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Preston Tucker trying to make the most of his new opportunity  —  Bobby Nightengale, Cincinnati Enquirer  —  MILWAUKEE - After a few of the Reds games, outfielder Preston Tucker finds a TV and tries to catch as much as he can of Houston Astros games.

Rays journal: C.J. Cron gets caught in numbers game  —  ST. PETERSBURG — 1B/DH C.J. Cron is in a difficult spot with the Rays, trying to build on career-high numbers without the opportunity for regular playing time.  —  Now the question is whether he ends the season playing somewhere else.

Dodgers' August woes continue in 5-2 loss to the Cardinals  —  At least there was no late-game anguish, no stirring comebacks wasted, no triumphant returns dashed.  At least, by the ninth inning of a 5-2 loss to St. Louis, the outcome was not really in doubt.

Cubs' offensive struggles overshadowing their prowess at pitching, defense  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Even when the Cubs do something right lately, there's a price to be paid.  —  That was the case Tuesday night when Anthony Rizzo slipped out of the batter's box before his long drive …

Last Slide  —  Michael Fulmer was back in the Detroit Tigers clubhouse on Tuesday afternoon, providing an answer to one question, no answer to another, letting reporters read between the lines instead.  —  After two strong minor league injury rehabilitation starts with Class A Lakeland …

Blue Jays hit 3 home runs off Bundy, rout slumping O's 8-2  —  TORONTO (AP) — An awful August for Baltimore's  —  Dylan Bundy keeps getting worse.  —  Kendrys Morales hit back-to-back home runs off the right-hander,  —  Aledmys Diaz and Billy McKinney also connected, and the

Swanson, Gausman carry Braves over Pirates 6-1  —  Dansby Swanson had two homers and four RBIs,  —  Kevin Gausman breezed through eight innings and the  —  Pittsburgh Pirates 6-1 on Tuesday night.  —  Swanson's first homer gave the Braves a 2- lead in the fifth before he sent another …

Gennett homers as Reds beat Brewers 9-7  —  MILWAUKEE — Scooter Gennett burned his former team in a big way Tuesday night.  —  Gennett hit a tiebreaking solo homer with two out in the ninth, helping the Cincinnati Reds beat Milwaukee 9-7 and prevent the Brewers from gaining ground in the National League playoff race.

Unlikely duo may patch Indians' holes in the outfield  —  BOSTON — With the notable exception of Michael Brantley, the outfield has been a medical and statistical wasteland for the Cleveland Indians this season.  —  Cleveland's center fielders rank 28th in the majors with a combined .628 OPS …