LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jacob deGrom turned in another stellar no-decision for the Mets. Broke a couple of records Chad Kuhl Jersey , too. Yet still not a victory that might boost his NL Cy Young Award candidacy.And don’t think his teammates aren’t feeling a little guilty. Pinch-hitter Brandon Nimmo slugged a go-ahead, three-run homer in the ninth inning, rallying New York past the Dodgers 4-2 on Monday night to snap a 12-game skid against Los Angeles.DeGrom pitched six innings of one-run ball and drove in the tying run for the Mets, but didn’t factor into the decision. He’s 8-8 this season despite a 1.68 ERA.DeGrom has held opponents to three runs or fewer in 25 consecutive starts, the longest single-season streak in the majors since 1913, breaking a tie with Mets star Dwight Gooden (1985).“He went out there and pitched another gem,” Nimmo said. “It is what we come to expect from Jake every time, it is almost not fair. We expect him to go out there and pitch seven innings and give up zero or one run every time. For him to keep doing that and then not get these W’s is unfortunate.”The loss ended the Dodgers’ three-game winning streak and dropped them out of first in the NL West. They trail Colorado by a half-game.“Everybody knew from the beginning it was going to be a battle,” Dodgers center fielder Alex Verdugo said. “DeGrom was on today like he has been all season.”Jay Bruce opened the ninth with a double off Kenta Maeda (8-9) and was sacrificed to third by Kevin Plawecki. Maeda hit Jeff McNeil with a pitch before Nimmo’s second career pinch-hit homer on an 0-2 pitch went over the right-field wall.The Dodgers briefly threatened in the ninth. Newly called up Verdugo singled leading off and Cody Bellinger followed with a single that hit chalk on first-base line while eluding the glove of Wilmer Flores. Initially, it was ruled foul, but the call was overturned upon video review. Verdugo went to third and Bellinger stayed at first. Yasmani Grandal’s sacrifice fly got the Dodgers to 4-2. Matt Kemp followed as a pinch-hitter but grounded into a game-ending double play after providing game-ending hits in the ninth the previous two days.The Mets hadn’t beaten the Dodgers since May 27, 2016, New York’s longest losing stretch against them in team history. David Wright homered in that game and hasn’t played for the Mets since.Drew Smith (1-0) got the win with one inning of relief. Robert Gsellman worked the ninth for his 10th save.The Dodgers have scored three runs or fewer in their last six games.Justin Turner went deep in the first to put the Dodgers up 1-0, just the ninth homer off deGrom this season.DeGrom allowed two hits. He struck out six — snapping a run of six straight starts with at least nine — and walked one. His 20 straight quality starts are the longest active streak in the majors and the longest in franchise history.“I honestly have not been looking at stuff like that, just trying to get ready for my next start,” he said about his two records. “I am out there trying to put this team in a position to win. I don’t like giving up runs.”As if his pitching isn’t enough, deGrom is contributing on offense http://www.piratesfanproshop.com/authentic-ivan-nova-jersey , too. He was 2 for 2, and his two-out RBI single in the fifth drove in the Mets’ first run in his second straight multihit game.“Just trying to do my part anyway I can,” he said.The Dodgers ran up deGrom’s pitch count in the sixth when he needed 34 pitches against the heart of their order. After deGrom struck out Joc Pederson, Turner worked a 12-pitch at-bat into putting the go-ahead run at first on an error by shortstop Amed Rosario. DeGrom struck out Manny Machado on seven pitches and Max Muncy grounded out to second to end deGrom’s outing.“He has been the best pitcher in all of baseball,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said. “He doesn’t pitch for himself, he pitches for the team and that is why he has been able to do what he has been able to do.”With Seth Lugo pitching in the seventh, the Dodgers had runners at the corners with one out. Verdugo doubled leading off and Bellinger followed with a single to set up Yasiel Puig. But he grounded into an inning-ending double play.Los Angeles had runners at second and third with two outs in the eighth when Enrique Hernandez flied out to center.Dodgers starter Alex Wood gave up one run and five hits in five innings. He struck out three and walked two.TRAINER’S ROOMMets: C Devin Mesoraco singled in the fifth and then left the game after sustaining neck and back stiffness on his swing. He’s day-to-day. … INF David Wright, trying to come back after surgeries on his neck, right shoulder and back in addition to chronic spinal stenosis, will continue taking ground balls and hit in the cage. Without more minor league games for him to play in, manager Mickey Callaway says the team will need to get creative in offering Wright game-like situations. Callaway was non-committal about the possibility of Wright being activated during the next homestand, saying he will be re-evaluated on a daily basis.Dodgers: They’re evaluating whether closer Kenley Jansen will make the trip to Colorado on Friday. He experienced an irregular heartbeat and went on the 10-day DL during his last visit. If doctors say the high altitude could affect him, he would likely stay back. … RHP Walker Buehler, who experienced muscle spasms in his left foot during Sunday’s start, had precautionary X-rays that were negative. He expects to make his next start.WINLESS VS LADeGrom has yet to beat the Dodgers in eight career starts. He’s 0-4 with a 3.20 ERA and has held their hitters to a .190 average, while striking out 50 and walking 17.UP NEXTLHP Jason Vargas (5-8, 6.56 ERA) starts for the Mets on Tuesday. His three-game winning streak is his longest since taking four in a row last September. He recently notched his 1 http://www.piratesfanproshop.com/authentic-jameson-taillon-jersey ,000th career strikeout. LHP Rich Hill (6-5, 3.59) goes for the Dodgers. In five starts against New York, he is 1-2 with a 7.66 ERA, averaging 11.28 strikeouts per nine innings. It's fair to say the 2018 season has not played out ashoped for Bryce Harper on a number of levels.On an individual level, his numbers are down across the board from his standout 2017 level of production:2017:492 PA, .319/.413/.595, 29 HR, 87 RBI, 4.7 WAR2018:490 PA, .234/.378/.501, 28 HR, 71 RBI, 1.0 WAROn a team level, the Washington Nationals have limped along to a 58-56 record, leaving them third in the NL East standings and in danger of missing the postseason after they entered the year with lofty expectations.That being said, Harper is still a 25-year-old superstar with six All-Star appearances and an NL MVP award under his belt.He's also hitting .367/.457/.767 with three doubles, three home runs and seven RBI in 35 plate appearances in August Brad Hand Jersey , and starting to look more like the impact slugger we've seen in recent seasons.So where does that leave his free-agent stock?Buster Olney of ESPN offered up his take:"Since Harper began his career, there has been an expectation that he would approach a record-setting contract in free agency. But some executives wonder if Harper鈥檚 2018 struggles continue, a better option could be to take a shorter-term deal with an opt-out, to give Harper a mulligan and another launch year; after all, Harper is only 25 years old. 'That could work for him, and for the Nationals,' one evaluator said."That could conceivably increase the chances of him returning to the Nationals.Executives from others teams speculated to Olney: "Adown year for Harper could increase the chances he returns to the Nationals鈥攂ecause they understand Harper more than other teams and understand that in those periods when he eases the paralytic pressure he places on himself, he is a dynamic force."The Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and all the other big-market teams capable of offering up the massive contract that's been speculated for years will still be in the mix.Prediction:Nationals re-sign Harper to a three-year, $120 million deal that includes an opt-out after 2019 and 2020.Manny MachadoJayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty ImagesThe Los Angeles Dodgers landed the biggest trade chip on the market when they acquired Manny Machado from the Baltimore Orioles for a package of prospects built around toolsy outfielder Yusniel Diaz.There's no guarantee he's anything more than a rental, though.In fact, with Corey Seager expected to return at the start of next season and Justin Turner hopefully putting this season's injury woes in the rearview, an argument can be made that Machado doesn't fit into the team's long-term plans even if he was interested in sticking around.So where will the 26-year-old slugger land?The Philadelphia Phillies were one of the other teams that were hot on his trail before he was traded to the Dodgers, with Jayson Stark of MLB Network noting that the Baltimore front office did some extensive scouting on a number of the top prospects in the Philadelphia system.Even after signing Jake Arrieta and Carlos Santana last offseason, the Phillies payroll still stands at just over $102 million. That's 23rd in the majors, according to Spotrac.Compare that to the 2014 season http://www.padresfanproshop.com/authentic-chase-headley-jersey , when the Phillies ranked third in baseball with a payroll over $175 million, and it's clear they have the resources to offer up the megadeal that Machado will be seeking.If there's a dark horse in the race to land Machado, it might be the Miami Marlins, as Ely Sussman of SBNation speculated.Machado grew up in the Miami area, and the Marlins have plenty of money to spend after slashing payroll this past offseason. While replacing the contract of Giancarlo Stanton with another massive long-term deal for Machado might seem like a contradictory move, Machado is two years younger and doesn't have the same injury history as Stanton.Prediction:Phillies sign Machado to an eight-year, $304 million deal.Josh DonaldsonTom Szczerbowski/Getty ImagesOh, what could have been for both Josh Donaldson and the Toronto Blue Jays.Donaldson was one of baseball's truly elite players from 2013 to 2017. During that span, he racked up an impressive 31.3 WARwhile taking home 2015 AL MVP honors and finishing in the top five in the voting two other times.Even in an injury-plagued 2017 campaign, he still posted a 147 OPS+ with 33 home runs in 113 games en route to a 4.8 WAR season.Unfortunately, he's been unable to shake a nagging calf injury this season that has been sidelined since May 28. He's played in just 36 games and was hitting a less-than-stellar .234 with a 107 OPS+ at the time of the injury.As a result, he likely cost himself a good chunk of change on the free-agent market, while simultaneously costing the Blue Jays an incredibly valuable trade chip.There's still a chance he returns healthy before the Aug. 31 waiver-trade deadline and shows enough that the Blue Jays are willing to flip him for a decent return.General manager Ross Atkins told reporters that the team had "a lot of discussions" about Donaldson leading up to the deadline. So it stands to reason that if he can get back on the field, interest would only increase.If they don't find an offer to their liking, a qualifying offer is a given and the Blue Jays would then be able to recoup some prospect talent through the draft.But might Donaldson consider accepting the offer?The 32-year-old is making $23 million this season, and the qualifying offer last season was worth $17.4 million, so it would likely mean a marginal pay cut.However Tyson Ross Jersey , it would give Donaldson a chance to rebuild his value without rolling the dice on a free-agent market that has been wildly unpredictable in recent years.Otherwise, he might be inclined to settle for a one-year deal with a second-year player option, which would be an attractive roll of the dice for more than a few teams.Prediction:Indians sign Donaldson to a two-year, $50 million deal that includes an opt-out after 2019.Other Notable Free-Agent Hitters:IF Asdrubal Cabrera (PHI), DH Nelson Cruz (SEA), 2B Brian Dozier (MIN),C Yasmani Grandal (LAD), CF Adam Jones (BAL), 2B Jed Lowrie (OAK), RF Nick Markakis (ATL), CF A.J. Pollock (ARI), C Wilson Ramos (PHI)All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference and FanGraphs, unless otherwise noted.
