Pete Alonso was having a rather disappointing evening in what could have been his final game for the New York Mets.

Nearly half of the 212 players who made their MLB debuts during the pandemic-altered 2020 season are still playing or have been in the big leagues this year.

Joey Ortiz and William Contreras each drove in two runs, and the Milwaukee Brewers moved a step closer to clinching the NL Central title by beating the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies 6-2.

Paul Skenes struck out 11 in seven no-hit innings in another dominant performance, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Milwaukee Brewers 1-0.

Pittsburgh Pirates rookie right-hander Paul Skenes allowed no hits through seven innings against the Milwaukee Brewers but left-hander Colin Holderman started the eighth and gave up a single to the first batter, Jake Bauers.

Shohei Ohtani has become the first player elected to start at designated hitter in four straight All-Star Games.

Catchers are finding a way to contribute as much at the plate as behind it while withstanding the challenges that come from playing the game’s most taxing position.

When Willson Contreras was struck on his left arm by a swing, it was felt by former and current catchers all over the major leagues.

The Houston Astros and free-agent catcher Victor Caratini have finalized their $12 million, two-year contract.

Catcher Victor Caratini and the Houston Astros have agreed to a $12 million, two-year contract, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press.

Rookie Bobby Miller tossed six innings of one-run ball and the Los Angeles Dodgers won their ninth straight game, beating the Milwaukee Brewers 6-2 in a matchup of NL division leaders.

Elly De La Cruz became the first Reds player since 1919 to steal second, third and home in the same inning and Cincinnati beat the Milwaukee Brewers 8-5.

Francisco Mejía had an eighth-inning sacrifice fly and the major league-leading Tampa Bay Rays beat the Milwaukee Brewers 1-0 on Friday night.

The Atlanta Braves have signed newly acquired catcher Sean Murphy to a $73 million, six-year contract, locking up another key player with a long-term deal.

The Atlanta Braves have acquired catcher Sean Murphy from the Oakland Athletics as part of a three-team deal that also sent All-Star catcher William Contreras to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Nick Castellanos drove in three runs and made a potentially game-saving catch in the ninth inning, lifting the Philadelphia Phillies over the reigning World Series champion Atlanta Braves 7-6 in the opener of their NL Division Series.

Philadelphia Phillies reliever David Robertson will miss the NL Division Series after injuring his right calf jumping to celebrate Bryce Harper’s home run in their clinching wild-card victory at St. Louis.

William Contreras drove in the go-ahead run in the fifth, and the Atlanta Braves clinched their fifth consecutive NL East title by defeating the Miami Marlins 2-1.

Kyle Wright pitched seven scoreless innings to earn his major league-leading 17th victory, Austin Riley and Ronald Acuña Jr. homered, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Colorado Rockies 3-2.

Travis d'Arnaud run-scoring single in the 11th capped Atlanta's second comeback in extra innings, and the Braves beat the Houston Astros 5-4.

Max Scherzer tied a season high with 11 strikeouts over seven innings and the New York Mets beat the sloppy Atlanta Braves 6-2 to complete a doubleheader sweep.

Nick Castellanos hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning as the Philadelphia Phillies took full advantage of an overturned call to beat the Atlanta Braves 3-1.

The Chicago Cubs are keeping All-Stars Willson Contreras and Ian Happ for now after Tuesday’s trade deadline passed with no deal for either.

Willson and William Contreras will become the fifth brothers to start together in the All-Star Game, and they’re batting back to back in the National League’s lineup.

Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw will start for the National League on Tuesday night in the first All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium since 1980, and Tampa Bay’s Shane McClanahan will be on the mound for the American League.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout will miss the All-Star Game because of back spasms, joining Bryce Harper on the sidelines and depriving the showcase of two of baseball’s best-known players.

Max Scherzer misses hitting.

San Francisco left-hander Carlos Rodón, Boston designated hitter J.

There were 15 MLB players who signed new contracts worth $100 million or more before this season.

Atlanta Braves designated hitter William Contreras joined Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras as just the fifth brothers to start together in baseball’s All-Star Game.

Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge and Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. were elected Thursday to start in the July 20 All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium.

Trea Turner had three hits, including a home run, Freddie Freeman reached base three times in his emotional return to Atlanta and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Braves 4-1.

Willson Contreras had three hits and stole a base in his first game against younger brother William, helping the Chicago Cubs beat the Atlanta Braves 6-3.

Adam Duvall homered twice off José Quintana, William Contreras and Matt Olson also connected, and the Atlanta Braves won their 11th straight game, 5-3 over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Dansby Swanson scored the tiebreaking run in the fifth inning on an excruciating defensive sequence by the Phillies, and the Atlanta Braves beat Philadelphia 8-4.

Marcell Ozuna homered and Austin Riley hit a tiebreaking double during a four-run rally in the eighth inning that lifted the Atlanta Braves to a 6-5 victory over the San Diego Padres.

Ronald Acuña Jr. went 1 for 5 with two stolen bases in his return to the Braves lineup, but it was Kyle Wright who claimed a starring role, pitching three-hit ball over a career-high seven innings to give Atlanta a 5-1 win over the Cubs.

The World Series champion Atlanta Braves have added depth at catcher by signing Manny Piña to a two-year, $8 million contract.

Making his first start since testing positive for COVID-19, Jorge Soler became the first player to begin a World Series with a home run and the Atlanta Braves, despite the loss of pitcher Charlie Morton to a broken leg, hushed the Houston Astros 6-2 in Game 1.

Ian Anderson pitched two-hit ball over six-plus innings and Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies and Freddie Freeman homered as the Braves beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-2.

Giancarlo Stanton homered and drove in three runs to carry the New York Yankees to their 10th straight victory, cooling off the streaking Atlanta Braves 5-1.

Ian Anderson took a no-hit try into the seventh inning, Freddie Freeman hit a two-run homer and the Atlanta Braves beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-1.

Albert Pujols didn’t have to travel far to find a new opportunity.

Ehire Adrianza capped a night full of comebacks for Atlanta with a game-ending RBI single in the 12th inning, helping the Braves stun the Philadelphia Phillies for a chaotic 8-7 victory.

Huascar Ynoa hit a grand slam and pitched seven stress-free innings in a dominant two-way performance, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 6-1 victory over the Washington Nationals.

Madison Bumgarner threw a seven-inning no-hitter, an achievement that won’t count in the Major League Baseball record book but completed a dominant day of Arizona Diamondbacks pitching for a 7-0 win over the Atlanta Braves and a doubleheader sweep.

Bieber bounced back with a pair of strikeouts, but Nick Heath hit a single to put the Royals up 3-0. DODGERS 10, ROCKIES 0 (6 INNINGS)Trevor Bauer, pitching for the first time since signing a $102 million, three-year contract, debuted in Dodger blue with two scoreless innings. Jameson Taillon followed with a scoreless inning. CUBS 1, PADRES 0 (7)Chicago starter Kyle Hendricks struck out two in two scoreless innings. BREWERS 7, DIAMONDBACKS 1 (8)Corbin Burnes and Freddy Peralta each threw a scoreless inning for Milwaukee before Jordan Zimmermann gave up a run.

Atlanta Braves pitcher Max Fried fields a ground ball by New York Mets' Jeff McNeil during the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 25, 2020, in New York. Ozuna, signed to an $18 million, one-year free agent deal in January, energized Atlanta's struggling offense with his opposite-field drive against Daz. Ozuna went with a 3-2 fastball just off the outside corner and roped it out to right field for his first home run with the Braves. McNeil countered with a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the fifth, but Daz couldn't make it stand. An All-Star with Seattle in 2018, Daz labored through a brutal 2019 with a 5.59 ERA and seven blown saves.

New York Mets' Yoenis Cespedes, right, celebrates his solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field, Friday, July 24, 2020, in New York. Rules changes for this shortened season delayed by the coronavirus provided a DH in NL games for the first time giving the Mets a perfect slot for Cspedes as he gets back in the swing of things. Edwin Daz, who lost his job as closer during a miserable 2019 season, struck out two in a hitless ninth for the save. Braves All-Star starter Mike Soroka, who won his previous two matchups with deGrom, allowed four hits in six outstanding innings. Coming off consecutive Cy Young Awards, deGrom fanned eight and permitted only a broken-bat single and a walk.