NL EAST NEWS AND NOTES

ATLANTA BRAVES

Second baseman Ozzie Albies has been leading the National League in extra-base hits, and the 21-year-old from Curacao is making history with the pace he has been on.

Albies joined Hank Aaron and Darrell Evans as the only Braves to collect 50 extra-base hits before the All-Star break.

Albies is in his first full season in the major leagues. Aaron already was in his sixth season when he had 53 extra-base hits at the All-Star break in 1959. Evans had spent parts of four seasons in the big leagues before he had 51 extra-base hits at the break in 1973.

❚ The Braves failed to sign right-hander Carter Stewart, whom they chose with the eighth overall pick in the June draft. MLB.com reported that the two sides were far apart in negotiations, apparently because the Braves were uncomfortable with what a physical exam showed about Stewart’s right wrist.

MIAMI MARLINS

After taking over the trade market last winter by dealing Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna and Dee Gordon, the Marlins don’t seem to be as motivated to make more big deals this month.

Catcher J.T. Realmuto and reliever Kyle Barraclough both would be of interest to contending teams, but they also could be part of the Marlins’ future.

❚ Third baseman Martin Prado, who missed more than a month because of a left hamstring strain, was activated July 5 and hit a home run in his first game back and had four hits in his third game.

NEW YORK METS

While the Mets haven’t completely ruled out the possibility of trading Jacob deGrom or Noah Syndergaard, their public stance is that they’d prefer to rebuild around their two top starting pitchers.

DeGrom has been leading the major leagues in ERA, and the Mets have him under control through 2020. That makes it attractive to keep him, but it also gives him great value in a trade market that doesn’t include many top starting pitchers.

Syndergaard is under control through 2021, but he has been on the disabled list since late May because of a strained ligament in his right index finger. The Mets hope he can return to face the Nationals on July 13.

❚ Jose Bautista had 333 career home runs before he signed with the Mets in May, but head never hit a walk-off homer until his grand slam off Chaz Roe beat the Tampa Bay Rays on July 6. According to STATS, Inc., the only player with more career home runs before his first walkoff was Mark Teixeira (408).

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

The Phillies moved into a first-place tie with the Braves atop the NL East on July 6, but general manager Matt Klentak said their strategy leading up to the July 31 no waiver trade deadline still will blend short-term success with long-term development.

The Phillies could be in the market for a third baseman, given that Maikel Franco has underperformed and J.P. Crawford is on the disabled list. They also could use bullpen help.

❚ When Andrew Knapp batted leadoff July 8 against the Pittsburgh Pirates; he became the first Phillies catcher in the live-ball era to start a game in the leadoff spot, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS

After the Nationals were swept at home by the Boston Red Sox to fall below .500 for the first time in July since 2013, the team’s veterans called a players- only meeting. The next three days went much better.

First, the Nationals overcame a nine-run deficit to beat the Marlins 14-12 for the largest comeback win in franchise history. Shortstop Trea Turner drove in eight runs.

Then came a walk-off 3-2 win over the Marlins on a Mark Reynolds home run.

Reynolds followed that with a 10-RBI game the next night in an 18-4 Nationals win. The 10 RBI tied a team record.

❚ Outfielder Victor Robles, who hyperextended his left elbow in April while playing for Class AAA Syracuse (N.Y.), began a rehab assignment July 7 in the rookie Gulf Coast League. Robles is one of the team’s top prospects and likely would have been in the major leagues already if he hadn’t gotten hurt. Reliever Koda Glover, out since June 2017 because of a shoulder injury, also was on a rehab assignment in the GCL.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT

NICK MARKAKIS, BRAVES: Braves manager Brian Snitker lovingly refers to Markakis as a “boring pro,” but the 34-year-old is earning some attention on the way to what could be a career-best season. Notonly did Markakis make the All-Star team for the first time in his 13-year big-league career; he also led National League outfielders with 3.5 million votes. Markakis’ 113 hits through July 8 led the league.