As is typically the case on Tuesdays, we've got a full slate of MLB action, including a key matinee at Wrigley. Let's do this ... 

Monday's baseball schedule and scores

Dodgers brawl with Giants, lose again

Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig has a bit of a history with the Giants, and the latest episode went down Tuesday night in Los Angeles. With two out in the seventh inning of a 1-0 game, Puig fouled a pitch from Tony Watson. Said pitch was middle in and certainly one Puig could've hit hard. Since he did not, he reacted with frustration. Giants catcher Nick Hundley did not seem to appreciate Puig's frustration, and that led to these benches-clearing hostilities ... 

And since we have at least one confirmed punch/slap thrown ... 

We can officially refer to this as a brawl, even if the definition is being stretched just a bit. Both Puig and Hundley were ejected, and possible discipline may be forthcoming. 

You'll recall of course that Puig and Madison Bumgarner have a history of unkind words directed toward one another, but Mad Bum decided to sit this one out ... 

As for the Giants and Dodgers in general, they still do not care for one another, it would seem.

Insofar as the actual game is concerned, Alex Wood pitched well for the Dodgers in his return from the DL, and they broke through to tie it in the bottom of the eighth. However, Kenta Maeda yielded three hits and a run in the ninth, and Will Smith brought home the save. As a result, the Dodgers have now lost five straight, and they're now in third place in the NL West. 

A's edge M's in Cano's return

Seattle's Robinson Cano returned from suspension on Tuesday night and went 1-for-4 in his first-ever start at first base. As well, Felix Hernandez made his first-career relief appearance (James Paxton was forced to leave in the first inning after taking a liner off the arm -- he's day to day) after 398 starts. He pitched a solid 5 2/3 innings. Speaking of all that ... 

In the end, though, the A's prevailed thanks to Jed Lowrie and Marcus Semien homers, Mike Fiers' quality start, and Matt Chapman's typically stellar glovework ... 

In addition to being one of the best defensive third basemen in baseball, Chapman -- after doubling and drawing a walk in this game -- is now batting .280/.366/.509. He should be in line for a top-10 finish in the AL MVP balloting. 

More important, the win gives the Athletics a 3.5 game lead over the Mariners for the second AL wild-card spot, and they're also now only one game behind the Astros in the AL West. It so happens, the Astros and A's play a three-game set in Oakland this weekend.

Acuna does it again (and again)

Braves rookie phenom Ronald Acuna got work done early against the Marlins on Tuesday night ... 

That's his 18th home run in just 67 games this season. It's also, as noted, his fifth straight game with a home run. Some further info on that streak ... 

But wait, that's not all. Here's Acuna in the seventh ... 

So that's 19 home runs in just 67 games, and he's also batting .288/.346/.576 with eight stolen bases and plus defense. Insofar as his recent hot streak is concerned ... 

Acuna came into 2018 as the top prospect in baseball, and thus far he's exceeded even those lofty expectations. The 20-year-old is looking every bit like a present and future superstar. 

Acuna's first-place Braves are now 10-4 in August. 

Cardinals win seventh in a row

The Cardinals topped the Nationals again and in doing so won for the seventh straight game. They're also now a season-best 10 games over .500, and they're 18-9 since Mike Shildt took over as manager. In this one, starter John Gant notched the first hit of his career, and it was not a cheap one ... 

Gant had been 0-for-30 in his career before that blast. And speaking of Matt Carpenter, he drew a walk and extended his on-base streak to 32 games. 

The Nationals made things interesting in part because Bryce Harper hit his 30th home run of the season, but in the end ... 

While the Cardinals are very much alive in the NL Central and especially the NL wild-card chase, the Nationals are running out of time.

Astros lose again

Their loss to the Rockies in Houston on Tuesday night means that the champion Astros have now lost five in a row and nine in a row (!) at Minute Maid Park. Despite winning 102 games a season ago and fortifying the roster both over the offseason and leading up to the trade deadline, the Astros are now on pace for "just" 98 wins. Of more pressing concern is that the A's and Mariners are both within striking distance in the AL West. 

As for the Rockies, who remain in the thick of the NL West and NL wild-card races, MVP candidate Nolan Arenado hit his 30th homer of the season (good for his fourth straight 30-homer campaign), and Trevor Story cracked his 25th. German Marquez allowed just three hits and one run in seven innings of work. 

Porcello pitches Red Sox to fifth straight win

The mighty Red Sox are now 11-1 in August, 51 games over .500, and on pace for 115 wins. Tuesday night's win over the contending Phillies was in large measure because of Rick Porcello, who went seven innings and allowed only one run. Also ... 

Yep, that's just the sixth time ever a Sox hurler has been similarly dominant. Porcello has not been particularly consistent this season, but he has been occasionally brilliant. He was certainly the latter on Tuesday night in Philly. On offense, the Sox got solo homers from Sandy Leon and Brock Holt.

As for the Phillies, they came in ranking just 11th in the NL in OPS and runs scored, so despite their contending status, they're not strangers to offensive struggles. 

Happ delivers for Yankees

Deadline acquisition J.A. Happ came into his Tuesday night start against the Rays with a 3.00 ERA and two quality starts in as many chances for the Yankees, and then he went out and had his best Yankee outing yet ... 

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J.A. Happ
STL • SP • #34
vs. TB, 8/14
IP7
H1
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He walked four, but by limiting contact he lowered his ERA as a Yank to 1.89 after three starts. As for those Yankees, that's win No. 75 on the season. 

Indians crush Reds

Corey Kluber struck out seven in as many innings and allowed only one run en route to his 15th win of the season. In the process he lowered his seasonal ERA to 2.68. Jose Ramirez stayed in the AL MVP discussion as he hit his 36th home run of the season (only J.D. Martinez has more) and wound up a triple shy of the cycle. 

The highlight of the night, though, goes to Billy Hamilton, who even in defeat managed to do the fans a solid ... 

Brewers draw first blood in big series against Cubs

The Brewers and Cubs began a two-game set in Wrigley on Tuesday, and the Brewers struck the first blow. Jhoulys Chacin fired seven shutout innings and struck out 10 along the way. On offense, Ryan Braun did big damage twice in this one ... 

That second one left the bat at almost 109 mph and traveled 443 feet. Braun how has 14 jacks on the season, and he's now batting .255/.304/.466 in this, his age-34 campaign. Erik Kratz and Lorenzo Cain also homered for the Crew. (Speaking of Cain, our own Matt Snyder recently broke down the center fielder's big first season in Milwaukee.)

On the other side, Jose Quintana of the Cubs got knocked around for the third time in his last four starts ... 

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Jose Quintana
NYM • SP • #62
vs. MIL, 8/14
IP5
H6
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BB1
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Quintana after a strong start against the Cardinals on July 22 had an ERA of 3.87. Now that figure is up to 4.46. Given the downward-trending performance of Jon Lester, the Cubs have some rotation concerns. The addition of Cole Hamels of course helps, but what they could really use is a return to health and form from Yu Darvish. 

The Brewers win means the Cubs' lead in the NL Central is down to two games. The SportsLine Projection Model (@SportsLine on Twitter) still likes the Cubs in the division by a large margin, but the Brewers continue to pester the back-to-back NL Central champs.

Quick hits

  • The Indians have placed RHP Trevor Bauer on the DL with a small stress fracture in his right fibula. Get the details here. 
  • The Rays received a top-100 prospect from the Pirates to complete the Chris Archer trade. 
  • The Nationals have placed RHP Ryan Madson on the DL with back problems.
  • The Dodgers have placed RHP John Axford on the DL with fractured right fibula.
  • Our R.J. Anderson breaks down J.D. Martinez's ridiculous last calendar year. 
  • The Rangers have acquired OF Alexander Ovalles from the Cubs to complete the Cole Hamels trade.
  • The Angels have acquired RHP Odrisamer Despaigne from the Marlins in exchange for cash.

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