With center fielder Carlos Gomez returning to Milwaukee to rest a sprained left wrist, there’s more pressure than ever for Ryan Braun or Aramis Ramirez to awaken a lineup that was the second-best in the National League before the All-Star break, averaging 4.4 runs per game. But Doug Melvin’s been in baseball too long to point a spotlight at any player.

With a pair of 21 year-olds belting the baseball all over Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night, the Red Sox were treated to an intriguing glimpse of what the future could hold in a 9-4 win over their rivals.

Juan Lagares had the type of night he needed to continue establishing himself with a month left in the season. And it was the type of night the Mets were all too happy to accept, combining it with David Wright’s breakout in an 8-6 win over the Marlins at Marlins Park.

Justin Upton exited Tuesday night’s game against the Phillies with a bruised left triceps muscle. The Braves said his status is day to day.

Giancarlo Stanton got the best of a Jon Niese four-seam fastball in the third inning against the Mets on Tuesday to eclipse the 100-RBI mark.

With a single and a home run in his first two-bats on Tuesday night, Jose Altuve achieved base hits in six consecutive plate appearances. He also stole his 50th base of the season.

Outfielder Carlos Gomez has been diagnosed with a sprained left wrist, and the All-Star could be out of the lineup multiple weeks, manager Ron Roenicke said.

Brett Bochy, who once patrolled the Padres dugout as a bat boy when father Bruce Bochy managed the club, joined dad once again on Tuesday, only this time as a player. The right-hander joined the second round of Giants September callups.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly benched the slumping Yasiel Puig on Tuesday, giving Joc Pederson, the team’s No. 3 prospect, his first Major League start against the Nationals.

The Blue Jays made a series of moves to expand their roster on Tuesday, recalling the club’s No. 1 prospect — lefty Daniel Norris — from Triple-A and reinstating first baseman Dan Johnson and right-hander Brandon Morrow from the disabled list.

Don’t count out Henderson Alvarez returning to the Marlins’ rotation this month. It’s just a matter of exactly when. If Alvarez is not ready, an option to fill in is Miami’s No. 1 prospect, Andrew Heaney.

An MRI revealed Anthony Rizzo has a mild low back strain and he will be sidelined indefinitely, although the Cubs first baseman said if he’s shut down for the year, he can accept that.

The Yankees announced on Tuesday that they plan to wear a patch depicting Derek Jeter’s final season logo on the left sleeve of their uniform and cap. The patch will be worn by the team from Sunday through the end of the 2014 season.

Homer Bailey’s season was officially ended on Monday when the Reds right-hander was transferred to the 60-day disabled list.

I let the news settle in over the weekend, and I realized that it doesn’t really matter if Michael Sam was let go by the Rams or ever plays a down in the NFL. He is one of the bravest young men I have ever met. He’ll inspire others for the rest of his life, a hero to so many people gay or straight.

Denard Span hit two of Washington’s four home runs off Dodgers righty Roberto Hernandez as the Nationals won the series opener, 6-4, on Monday night in Los Angeles. Gio Gonzalez earned the win with six-plus innings pitched.

After a three-game dry spell and one very wet suspended game, the Royals got back in the win column. Salvador Perez knocked in three runs with a home run and a double as Kansas City worked on a 4-3 Labor Day victory over the Texas Rangers on a 75-degree Monday evening.