NL CENTRAL NEWS AND NOTES

PITTSBURGH PIRATES

The Pirates continued to claw their way back into contention with a three-game sweep at Cincinnati that ran their winning streak to nine games.

The Pirates, who had swept a five-game series from the Milwaukee Brewers before the break, drew within 4 1 / 2 games of the second NL wild-card berth.

The Pirates outscored the Reds 27-5 in the series. They hit four home runs in the finale, when left fielder Corey Dickerson connected for the fifth time in four games.

❚ Sean Rodriguez was activated from the disabled list on July 20 after being out nearly a month because of a strained right quadriceps. Hitting just .145 and in a 2-for-39 slump when he was injured, Rodriguez went 6-for-12 with two home runs and five RBI against Reds. He filled in at second base for Josh Harrison, who had left hamstring discomfort.

CHICAGO CUBS

Jesse Chavez had a fine debut with the Cubs.

The veteran right-hander pitched two hitless relief innings July 21 in a 7-2 victory over the Cardinals. Chavez was acquired two days earlier from the Texas Rangers in a trade for a minor league pitcher.

Chavez, who pitched another scoreless inning the next day, had a 3.51 ERA and one save in 30 games with the Rangers this season. The Cubs are his ninth team in 11 major league seasons.

❚ Closer Brandon Morrow (biceps) was placed on the disabled list, but the injury wasn’t believed to be serious.

CINCINNATI REDS

Matt Harvey has turned things around so much since being acquired May 8 from the New York Mets, the right-hander seems likely to be dealt before the July 31 no waiver trade deadline.

Harvey is 5-4 with a 4.50 ERA in 13 starts for the Reds. With the Mets, he was 0-2 with a 7.00 ERA in eight games, including four starts. However, Harvey had a rough outing July 22 in a 9-2 loss to the Pirates — he was hammered for eight runs and eight hits, including four home runs, in 3 2 / 3 innings. He had not allowed a homer in his previous six starts.

❚ Right-hander Homer Bailey was scheduled to be activated from the disabled list July 24 to start against the Cardinals. He had been sidelined since May 30 because of a sore right knee after going 1-7 with a 6.68 ERA in 12 starts.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS

Left-handed reliever Josh Hader returned from a controversial trip to the All-Star Game to cheers when he made his first appearance in front of the home fans at Miller Park.

While Hader was making his first All-Star appearance July 17 at Washington, racist and homophobic tweets surfaced from when he was in high school. A day later, Major League Baseball ordered the 24-year-old to undergo sensitivity and diversity training, then meet with MLB diversity and inclusion special assistant Billy Bean.

Hader received a warm welcome from the crowd of 36,242 on July 21 when he entered the game to start the seventh inning against Los Angeles Dodgers. He pitched two scoreless innings in the Brewers’ 4-2 victory.

❚ The Brewers’ need for starting pitchers became even more acute when it was announced that left-hander Brent Suter needs Tommy John elbow surgery. Suter had to leave his July 22 start against the Dodgers after three innings because of elbow pain. An MRI revealed a torn ulnar collateral ligament.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

Ace right-hander Carlos Martinez has landed back on the disabled list, this time because of a strained muscle in his right side.

Martinez was injured July 19 while pitching in the first game after the All-Star break. He allowed six runs (five earned) in five innings against the Cubs.

Martinez missed most of May because of a strained right lat, but the Cardinals don’t think this injury is as serious. They placed Martinez on the DL this time partially because they needed extra relief pitching for a doubleheader with the Cubs.

Right-hander Dakota Hudson was expected to be called up from Class AAA Memphis (Tenn.) to take Martinez’s rotation spot and make his major league debut.

❚ Third baseman Matt Carpenter, despite playing just six innings, tied the major league record with five extra-base hits in a game July 20 against the Cubs. He had home runs in six consecutive games before the streak ended July 22.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT

JESSE WINKER, REDS: The 24-year-old right fielder is showing a knack for making things happen in his rookie season. His on-base percentage was .407 through 88 games, driven in part by drawing49 walks, and he had a .300 batting average and seven home runs. He had a strong finish to the first half, batting .424 with four homers and a .542 on-base percentage in his past 23 games.