Second baseman Danny Espinosa seemed surprised, if not agitated, to see his name out of the Nationals’ starting lineup on Wednesday, insisting his sore left shoulder feels “100 percent.”

David Wright’s record-setting knock came in the third inning Wednesday, when he dribbled an infield single down the third-base line for his 1,419th career hit. With that, he snapped a tie with Ed Kranepool to become the Mets’ all-time hits leader in his ninth big league season.

At least from a team standpoint, David Ortiz’s 10th season in Boston has been by far his most disappointing. But that hasn’t diminished Ortiz’s desire to remain with the Red Sox.

A’s lefty Brett Anderson has his eyes set on postseason action, and the encouraging strides he’s making in his rehab make it possible he could enjoy such a thing should the A’s earn a playoff berth.

Starting pitcher Martin Perez allowed five runs on six hits in two-thirds of an inning and the Rangers couldn’t recover on Wednesday night against the A’s.

With Neil Walker having to sit out a second consecutive game for the first time since returning from injury, manager Clint Hurdle on Wednesday conceded the possibility of the second baseman just being shut down for the season’s final week.

With less than a week’s worth of regular-season games remaining in his career, Chipper Jones has found himself taking time to reflect and soak in his final days of playing at the Major League level.

Center fielder Michael Bourn was out of the Braves’ lineup with a jammed left thumb for the third straight game Wednesday.

On Wednesday, Cleveland announced that right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez has been shut down for the rest of the season because of a minor right ankle sprain.

Manager Buck Showalter on Wednesday declined to name his three starting pitchers for this weekend’s series against the Red Sox.

No matter how tough the season has been for the Padres on and off the field, it will be remembered as the one dedicated to the memory of Darrel Akerfelds, their bullpen coach who died on June 24 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

As a precaution, the Marlins aren’t rushing Giancarlo Stanton back just yet.

Charlie Manuel wouldn’t say for sure that Chase Utley would play third base before season’s end. But the Phillies’ manager did say he would have no problem penciling Utley’s name in the lineup card there if the five-time All-Star second baseman was ready.

After throwing 32 pitches in a bullpen session Wednesday, Roy Halladay is expected to start as scheduled Saturday against the Marlins in Miami.

Try figuring this one out: The Brewers’ offense is better without Prince Fielder.

One thing is certain heading into R.A. Dickey’s first attempt at 20 wins: the gravity of that potential achievement is not lost on its protagonist.

Stephen Drew led off a five-run first inning with one of his four hits as the A’s came alive early and cut the Rangers’ AL West lead to three games on Wednesday.