2017 – There is a wave of pitchers changing teams today. The Twins complete a long-rumored trade for Braves P Jaime Garcia, also getting back-up C Anthony Recker in the process, while sending pitching prospect Huascar Ynoa in return. Meanwhile, the Royals acquire three hurlers from the Padres – Ryan Buchter, Trevor Cahill and Brandon Maurer – in return for Ps Matt Strahm and Travis Wood and minor league IF Esteury Ruiz.

In a doubleheader in the Gulf Coast League, both games end as seven-inning no-hitters tossed by the GCL Nationals against the GCL Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium in West Palm Beach, FL. In the opener, Joan Baez (6 innings) and Jose Jimenez (1 inning) combine on a 4 – 0 shutout, then in the second game Jared Johnson, making only his second professional start, starts off with four hitless innings before handing the ball to Gilberto Chuwho finishes the feat by tossing three perfect frames, completing the 1-0 win.

The Cubs defeat the Cardinals, 5 – 3, thanks to a two-run homer by Willson Contreras off Michael Wacha in the 6th, to clinch a first-place tie with the Brewers in the NL Central. Kyle Schwarber also homers for Chicago, while Randal Grichuk and Paul DeJong hit solo shots off Jose Quintana, who wins his second straight start since being acquired by the Cubs in a mid-season trade. Milwaukee has blown a 5 1/2 game lead since the All-Star break, while the Cubs had not been in first since June 6th.

The Diamondbacks start off their game with three consecutive homers off Nationals’ ace Max Scherzer, as David Peralta, A.J. Pollock and Jake Lamb all hit long balls. However, the game is not decided until the 9th, when Brandon Drury hits a bases-loaded single to give Arizona a 6 – 5 win.

In a trade of prospects, the Cardinals send P Marco Gonzales to Seattle for OF Tyler O’Neill.

Nolan Arenado leads the charge by going 5-for-6 with 3 homers and 7 RBIs in an 18 – 4 Rockies win over the Padres. Coming to bat in the 8th with a chance at a four-homer game, he flies out to left against Kirby Yates. His three homers tie the club record, last set in 2004, while he is one shy of the team mark for RBIs.

Alex Meyer allows only one hit and one walk in 7 scoreless innings, and David Hernandez and Jose Alvarez both pitch a hitless inning as the Angels defeat Washington, 7 – 0, on a one-hitter. Meyer is a former first-round draft choice of the Nationals whose struggles with control have kept him from harnessing his raw talent until now. Mike Trout and C.J. Cron both hit two-run homers for Los Angeles.

2017 – The trading deadline frenzy heats up two weeks early this year as the Yankees pull off a big trade, acquiring 3B Todd Frazier and RP David Robertson, two former All-Stars, as well as P Tommy Kahnle from the White Sox for P Tyler Clippard and prospects Blake Rutherford, Ian Clarkin and Tito Polo. The Diamondbacks also make a move, getting OF J.D. Martinez from Detroit for three prospects. Both trades will prove vert profitable for

Hosting the Cleveland Indians for a make-up game, the Giants fail to sell out AT&T Park for the first time since 2010, ending the longest streak of sell-outs in National League history at 530 games. They still draw over 39,000 fans, just short of the ballpark’s capacity of 41,500. The Indians add to the Giants’ miserable season with a 5 – 3 win as Matt Moore loses his fifth straight home start.

The Nationals move to address the team’s main area of concern – the bullpen – by sending P Blake Treinen and prospects Sheldon Neuse and Jesus Luzardo to the Athletics in return for two relievers with proven track records, Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle.