Improving bullpen vital to Phillies' hope for the future  —  That streak will end when the Nationals begin a three-game series on Monday against the Phillies.  —  “I am excited to play in front of some friends and family in Philadelphia,” Doolittle said earlier this month in an interview before a Nationals game in Milwaukee.

Orioles on deck: What to watch Thursday vs. Rays  —  Orioles manager Buck Showalter talks about Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale after he got his 300th career strikeout during the game.  (Lloyd Fox, Baltimore Sun video)  —  The Orioles lose to the Red Sox, 9-0.  The Red Sox sweep the series.

BAR: Zack Cozart on fans hit: 'It's crazy to think it doesn't happen more often'  —  The Blog Above Replacement a daily look at the Reds, their minor leagues and whatever else is on the mind of Enquirer Reds beat writers, C. Trent Rosecrans and Zach Buchanan.

Braves ‘not optimistic’ Foltynewicz makes next start  —  The Braves don't expect Mike Foltynewicz to make his next start Monday in New York.  Foltynewicz left his Sept. 14 outing in Washington with a lacerated finger and missed his scheduled start Wednesday.

Ben Zobrist out of Cubs lineup vs. Brewers ace Zach Davies  —  Cubs manager Joe Maddon discusses the upcoming returns of pitchers Jake Arrieta and Hector Rondon and looks ahead to the series at the Brewers on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017.  (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)

Zimmermann ready to go as Tigers host Twins (Sep 21, 2017)  —  DETROIT — Jordan Zimmermann got rid of the pain in his neck, at least on a temporary basis.  He will now try to finish an otherwise unpleasant season on an upbeat note.  —  The Detroit Tigers right-hander will make his first …

Rockies continue wild trip with series vs. Padres (Sep 21, 2017)  —  SAN DIEGO — The Colorado Rockies roll into San Diego for a four-game series with the Padres starting Thursday, their second soft spot in a six-game trip.  —  The first turnout in Colorado's West Coast excursion was a disaster, though.

Angels again fall short against red-hot Indians  —  ANAHEIM, CALIF.  —  The Los Angeles Angels have proved they can hang with the American League's best teams.  What's still unclear is whether they have enough assembled talent to beat them.  —  They played another tight …

Rob Manfred says MLB will ‘double our efforts’ to protect fans after young girl hit by foul ball at Yankee Stadium  —  In the wake of yesterday's terrifying moment at Yankee Stadium, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has finally spoken out.  —  “The events at yesterday's game involving a young girl …

Yankees' rebuild ahead of schedule as Bombers remain in driver's seat for postseason berth  —  TORONTO — The Yankees are 14-5 in September and on the verge of qualifying for the playoffs, looking more like an eventual 90-plus-win contender than the 85-win team myself and many others predicted they would be before the season began.

Nats' Roark looks to continue strong finish vs. Braves (Sep 21, 2017)  —  ATLANTA — The final starts of the season carry significance for Tanner Roark of the Washington Nationals and the Atlanta Braves' R.A. Dickey, pitchers on different trajectories who face each other Thursday night.

Terry Collins, Mets considering their options for next season  —  Terry Collins and the Mets return to Citi Field Friday night to begin the final homestand of the 2017 season with an uncertain future.  After seven seasons at the helm, the Mets manager's contract expires after this season …

Orioles have no intention of shopping Manny Machado  —  The Baltimore Orioles have no intention to shop Manny Machado, though they haven't yet decided whether they will make a second big attempt to lock him up long-term.  —  Owner Peter Angelos has not yet made the commitment to extend an offer to Machado …

Aaron Hernandez Found to Have Severe C.T.E.  —  Aaron Hernandez, the former New England Patriots tight end who committed suicide in April while serving a life sentence for murder, was found to have a severe form of C.T.E., the degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head trauma …

Daily fantasy baseball cheat sheet for Thursday  —  Thursday's slate boasts ugly pitching and one offense that is vastly underrated by DFS players who rely on Vegas lines.  If you have any questions, feel free to hit me up on Twitter.