IF YOU READ ONLY ONE THING…

Madison Bumgarner capped off a four-game sweep of the Nationals with an outstanding performance on Sunday. Bumgarner looked exactly like the pitcher who carried the Giants to the World Series last year with a complete game shutout while striking out 14 and only walking one. While the Giants got another critical win to chase down the Dodgers in the National League West, the Nationals are going the other direction after Sunday’s loss drops them below .500. After not pitching up to his normal standards in early July, Bumgarner now has put together five straight starts of at least seven innings including back-to-back complete games. The Giants will be leaning heavily on Bumgarner over the next seven weeks as they look to overcome a 2.5 game deficit in their division.

JUST AS WE EXPECTED…

Chris Sale’s strikeout totals this season are nothing short of amazing. Sale went seven shutout innings on Sunday and only walked one as the White Sox downed the Cubs 3-1. Sale posted another 15 strikeouts against the strikeout prone young Cubs lineup. After his first 23 starts, Sale is now on pace for 298 strikeouts over the course of 33 starts. There has not been a pitching who has struck out 300 batters in a season since Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson did so for the Diamondbacks in 2002. Sale’s chase of 300 Ks will at least be one thing for White Sox fans to track as another disappointing season winds down.

In a losing effort, Miguel Cabrera homered for the first time since returning from the disabled list on Friday. Cabrera went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and added two runs scored. Cabrera has been slotted as the Tigers’ first basement in two of the three games since his return from the disabled list while serving as the team’s designated hitter in the other game. The Tigers are well out of the A.L. Central and wild card races so Cabrera’s return to the lineup is an assurance that Cabrera is fully healthy. Fantasy owners who suffered through his six-week DL stint will hopefully reap the benefit of consistent playing time down the stretch for the Tigers’ slugger.

BUT WE DIDN’T SEE THIS COMING…

Taylor Jungmann had a fantastic outing for the Brewers as they topped the Phillies 6-1 in Milwaukee on Sunday. Jungmann went six and a third shutout innings with nine strikeouts and two walks. Jungmann will likely be one of the bright spots for the Brewers in the last couple months of the season. Since being called up in the beginning of June, the former first round pick has a 2.42 ERA. After a disappointing outing the last time out, Jungmann bounced back nicely on Sunday to lead the Brewers to the win.

The Orioles offense scored early and often in an 18-2 onslaught of the Oakland Athletics on Sunday. Led by two Adam Jones’ home runs, the Orioles racked up 26 hits on the day. Jones, now with 22 home runs on the year, is turning in another solid offensive year. Since 2011, he has hit at least 25 home runs every year and has been reliable playing in over 150 games in each of those years.

THE REST OF THE DETAILS

SAVE CHANCES

–Roberto Osuna, TOR (13)

–Danny Farquhar, SEA (1)

–Carson Smith, SEA (Blown Save)

–David Robertson, CWS (24)

–Glen Perkins, MIN (31)

–Francisco Rodriguez, MIL (29)

–A.J. Ramos, MIA (19)

–Shawn Tolleson, TEX (23)

–Kenley Jansen, LAD (24)

INJURIES

-After being scratched from his start because of back spasms earlier this week, Sonny Gray will start for the A’s on Monday.

–Freddie Freeman will likely return to the Braves’ lineup sometime during the middle of this week after suffering a right oblique strain.

–Randal Grichuk exited Sunday’s game early with right elbow tightness. The Cardinals are saying he is day-to-day.

-After pinch-hitting Saturday, Lucas Duda remained out of the Mets’ starting lineup Sunday with back tightness.

–Maikel Franco is expected to return to the Phillies’ lineup on Tuesday after dealing with a bruised left wrist.

-After leaving Saturday’s game early, Bryce Harper returned to the lineup on Sunday.

RUMORS & TRANSACTIONS

-Ken Rosenthal reported today that there is a chance that Chase Utley will stay put in Philadelphia. While rumors have heated up in recent days about Utley moving to a contender on the West Coast like Giants, Dodgers or Angels, these teams have reluctant to give up for a rental player who is owed over six million dollars including a two million dollar buyout on next year’s option. The Cubs have also been reported to be in the mix for acquiring Utley.