NICK MADRIGAL

Albert Pujols hit career homer No. 693, Jordan Montgomery pitched a one-hitter and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 1-0 for their season-high eighth straight victory.

After the Griffeys played catch in Iowa, Drew Smyly took over.

Adam Wainwright pitched seven spotless innings with longtime catcher Yadier Molina back behind the plate, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 6-0.

Anthony Santander hit a two-run double to spark Baltimore’s three-run first inning, Spenser Watkins and four relievers scattered six hits and the Orioles extended their winning streak to 10 games with a 7-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

Manny Machado lined a single for his 1,500th hit and hit a two-run homer in a four-RBI night to help the San Diego Padres beat the reeling Chicago Cubs 19-5.

Aaron Judge hit two of the Yankees’ six solo homers off rookie Matt Swarmer, and New York routed the Chicago Cubs 8-0 for its 10th win in 11 games.

Matt Swarmer earned his first big league win and Frank Schwindel homered in a three-hit showing to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 6-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in the first game of a doubleheader.

Kyle Farmer homered and had five RBIs to power the Cincinnati Reds to their high-scoring game in 23 years, a 20-5 rout of the Chicago Cubs.

Good morning, Chicago. Here are some of the top stories you need to know to start your day.

With opening day less than a week away, every team in Major League Baseball is hoping to finish spring training without any significant injuries.

Good morning, Chicago. Here are some of the top stories you need to know to start your day.

The Miken factory in Caledonia, Minnesota, is one of the town's largest employers. However, the factory is expected to move its bat production to China. Kris Van Cleave shows how it will impact the community.

Cubs Cardinals Baseball Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel throws during the ninth inning of the team's baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz) (Joe Puetz)CHICAGO — (AP) — The Chicago White Sox acquired closer Craig Kimbrel from the crosstown Cubs on Friday, a move that should give the AL Central leaders a fearsome bullpen for their playoff push. The White Sox already had one of baseball's best closers in All-Star Liam Hendriks. The White Sox paid quite a price to get him: They sent second baseman Nick Madrigal, a budding star who is out for the season with a torn right hamstring, to the Cubs along with right-handed reliever Codi Heuer. The White Sox had already addressed the loss of Madrigal by acquiring slugging second baseman Cesar Hernandez from the Cleveland Indians on Thursday.

The Chicago White Sox have acquired closer Craig Kimbrel from the crosstown Cubs.

Diamondbacks Giants Baseball Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Humberto Castellanos reacts after allowing a grand slam home run to San Francisco Giants' Mike Yastrzemski during the eighth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, June 15, 2021. Arizona can match a dubious mark shared by the 1963 New York Mets and 1943 Philadelphia Athletics when it plays the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. The Diamondbacks blew a seven-run lead Tuesday night in San Francisco and lost 9-8 when Mike Yastrzemski hit a go-ahead grand slam with two outs in the eighth inning. GET A GRIPNow that Major League Baseball has detailed the coming crackdown on illegal substances, pitchers must get prepared to command their stuff without the same sort of tacky aides. “Just don’t throw for a while, but they also said no surgery,” Glasnow said.

The beleaguered Arizona Diamondbacks have dropped 21 straight on the road, one short of the major league record.

Padres Mets Baseball New York Mets' Jacob deGrom delivers a pitch during the third inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Friday, June 11, 2021, in New York. RIGHT ON SCHEDULEJacob deGrom (6-2) is set to take his regular turn for the New York Mets against the Chicago Cubs after leaving Friday’s outing with right flexor tendinitis. Glasnow is 5-2 with a 2.66 ERA in 14 starts, tied for the most in the majors. “Just don’t throw for a while, but they also said no surgery,” Glasnow said. Center fielder Luis Robert is out with torn right hip flexor and also could be back late in the season.

Now that Major League Baseball has detailed the coming crackdown on illegal substances, pitchers must get prepared to command their stuff without the same sort of tacky aides.

Blue Jays White Sox Baseball Chicago White Sox's Nick Madrigal (1) favors his right foot as he is helped off the field by third base coach Joe McEwing (47) and members of the medical staff during the seventh inning of the team's baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday, June 9, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) (Charles Rex Arbogast)CHICAGO — (AP) — White Sox second baseman Nick Madrigal will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery Tuesday to repair tears in his right hamstring. The AL Central leaders, who have overcome significant injuries this season, said Madrigal was expected to be fully recovered by next spring. The 24-year-old rookie had been a sparkplug for the White Sox, hitting .305 while scoring 30 runs and driving in 21 over 54 games. He was cleared this week to resume baseball activities and the White Sox hope to have him in the lineup down the stretch.

Chicago White Sox second baseman Nick Madrigal will miss the rest of the season after having surgery to repair tears in his right hamstring.

Rookie Yermín Mercedes hit a game-ending single, Yasmani Grandal homered twice and the Chicago White Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 9-8.

(AP Photo/Tony Dejak) (Tony Dejak)NEW YORK — (AP) — The major league batting average rose slightly in May, though it remained at its lowest level in 53 years. Hitters batted .239 in May, up from .232 in April and the lowest average for May since .237 in 1972, the Elias Sports Bureau said Tuesday. The .236 average for the season through May 31 is the lowest since .229 in 1968 — the last season before the pitcher's mound was lowered from 15 inches to 10. May's .315 on-base percentage was up from .309 in April but the lowest for May since .314 in 2015. Home runs have averaged 1.13 per team per game, down from 1.28 last year and the lowest since 2015's 1.01.

The major league batting average rose slightly in May, though it remained at its lowest level in 53 years.

Lucas Giolito struck out 12 and the Chicago White Sox sent Baltimore to its 13th straight loss, beating the Orioles 3-1.

White Sox manager Tony La Russa wound up a winner in his first game against the team that ensured his Hall of Fame induction as Chicago beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-1 behind Lance Lynn’s arm and Andrew Vaughn’s bat.

Shane Bieber struck out 11, setting a major league record in the process and pitching the Cleveland Indians past the Chicago White Sox 5-3.

Cleveland Indians first baseman Yu Chang shared some racist tweets he received after making a costly error in Monday night’s game in Chicago.

Shohei Ohtani hit a 451-foot homer and pitched two-hit ball into the fifth inning in a historic two-way performance, and Jared Walsh hit a walkoff homer in the Los Angeles Angels’ 7-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

Sixto Sánchez made his third start, yielding a run on three hits and a walk in 3 1/3 innings. Austin Gomber gave up five runs on eight hits, four of them home runs, 5 1/3 innings. Arizona starter Luke Weaver struck out eight over 5 1/3 innings. Right-hander Adbert Alzolay continued to struggle for Chicago, allowing two runs in 3 1/3 innings. BREWERS 2, GIANTS 2Brett Anderson pitched two-run ball over 5 2/3 innings, allowing five hits and striking out three for Milwaukee.

Now, the slugging A's are right back in a familiar fall position: one winner-take-all postseason game with the season on the line. Semien and Davis connected early and Oakland's bullpen barely held off José Abreu and the Chicago White Sox late for a 5-3 win Wednesday that sent the AL playoff series to a deciding Game 3. The White Sox went 14-0 in the regular season against left-handed starters and beat southpaw Jesús Luzardo in the playoff opener. “I'm pretty sure we're pretty dang confident in anyone we throw against the White Sox,” Bassitt said. He went just 3 for 18 against the White Sox last season.

Chicago White Sox's Jose Abreu (79) and Eloy Jimenez celebrate the team's 4-3 win over the Minnesota Twins in baseball game Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020, in Chicago. The White Sox clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)CHICAGO – After clinching a postseason berth for the first time since 2008, the Chicago White Sox were low key during their on-field celebration. The White Sox assured themselves of no worse than a wild-card berth. White Sox: RHP Jonathan Stiever (0-0, 2.45 ERA) starts the opener of a three-game series Friday night at Cincinnati.

Chicago White Sox's Adam Engel (15) celebrates with catcher Yasmani Grandal and relief pitcher Alex Colome the team's 3-1 win over the Minnesota Twins after a baseball game, Monday, Sept. 14, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)CHICAGO – Adam Engel delivered a tiebreaking pinch-hit single in the eighth inning, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 3-1 on Monday night to increased their lead in the AL Central. The White Sox (31-16) moved two games ahead of the second-place Twins (30-19). White Sox reliever Gio González retired the first two batters in the eighth before issuing consecutive walks. The White Sox are off to their best start since they were 31-15 in 2006.