Diamondbacks
Slugger Mark Trumbo missed 71 games with a right broken foot and has spent the second half of the season trying to regain his form. Sunday ended a streak of 16 games having gotten on base, and he said he’s feeling stronger now than in any September he can remember.
“I missed almost half the year with a broken foot, so I feel I probably have more energy now than I have in any other seasons past just because I wasn’t active for a while,” Trumbo said. “I feel good. I feel motivated. This isn’t going to be a banner year for me statistically, but I’m trying to end as strong as I can and carry that confidence into next year.”
Dodgers
Clayton Kershaw became the majors’ first 18-game winner this season Monday. With an 82nd win, the Dodgers reached the high-water mark of 20 games above .500 and are assured of a winning season. Kershaw had won 15 of his last 16 decisions, is 18-3 after 24 starts and has the best record for a Dodgers pitcher since Orel Hershiser was 19-3 in 1985. Because he spent six weeks on the disabled list after opening the season with a win in Australia and won so many decisions since returning, Kershaw has a chance of joining Boston’s Pedro Martinez in 1999 as the only pitchers since World War II with 20 wins accomplished in fewer than 30 starts.
Giants
Michael Morse’s return to the lineup is drawing near. He took a day off from treatment for his strained oblique Sunday, and manager Bruce Bochy upgraded Morse’s status to day to day. … According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Hunter Pence’s games-played streak of 364 is the longest for the Giants since Bill Terry (1930-33).
Padres
Shortstop Everth Cabrera could return to the Padres for their weekend series in Arizona, manager Bud Black said. Cabrera, who has been on the disabled list since Aug. 12 with a left hamstring strain, was arrested early Sept. 3 on suspicion of driving under the influence of marijuana, according to the California Highway Patrol. Black said he hadn’t yet spoken with Cabrera regarding the incident. Cabrera has missed 25 games with the hamstring strain and missed 21 games in July with the same injury. He’s hitting .232 on the season with a .272 on-base percentage in 90 games. Cabrera was suspended for the final 50 games of the 2013 season for his relationship to Biogenesis.
Rockies
Nolan Arenado’s tiebreaking home run off Mets reliever Vic Black on Monday was a true odds-beater. In 100 career plate appearances in which he was down 0-2, Arenado had managed two extra-base hits — neither of them homers. In 24 career plate appearances in which he was ahead 0-2, Black had allowed one hit — a single.
Compiled by Rachel Lister from wire reports.
About the Author
