METS
Matz scratched today
NEW YORK -- The New York Mets said left-hander Steven Matz will miss his scheduled start today because of shoulder soreness.
Matz (9-8, 3.40 ERA) hasn't pitched since Aug. 14 because of tightness in his left shoulder. He was penciled in to return on Sept. 1 but scratched after feeling discomfort when playing catch a day after throwing off the mound.
General Manager Sandy Alderson said the rookie's shoulder felt sore again after he threw a bullpen session Wednesday.
The team had tweeted a ticket advertisement featuring a returning Matz on Thursday, but it was quickly deleted.
Right-hander Gabriel Ynoa, in line to follow Matz today, will instead get the start. The Mets entered Thursday night's game against Philadelphia in a three-way tie for the two NL wild-card sports with St. Louis and San Francisco.
PIRATES
Marte leaves game
MILWAUKEE -- Starling Marte left with an apparent injury during his first start since returning to the Pittsburgh Pirates following a 16-game absence caused by lower back discomfort.
Marte immediately grabbed his lower back after fouling off a pitch from Brewers starter Chase Anderson in the third inning Thursday night. Manager Clint Hurdle and trainer Todd Tomczyk stood with Marte near home plate as he slowly walked in a circle, and after a few moments, the trio headed to the Pirates' dugout.
Matt Joyce pinch hit for Marte and flied out on a 1-2 pitch.
Marte singled to center in his first at-bat Thursday. He also pinch hit in the eighth inning of a 4-1 win Wednesday night and struck out looking.
YANKEES
Tanaka strains arm
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- New York Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka will miss his scheduled start Monday at Toronto because of what Manager Joe Girardi called a slight lower right forearm strain.
Girardi announced Tanaka's strain before the Yankees' game Thursday night at Tampa Bay. He said Tanaka won't throw for five days but could start again before the regular season ends a week from Sunday.
Tanaka had an MRI exam Thursday, one day after he picked up his 14th victory despite allowing four home runs in the third inning of a 11-5 victory over the Rays.
BRAVES
'More upside' after move
ATLANTA -- The chief executive of Atlanta Braves owner Liberty Media took note of the team's improved play at an investment conference in New York on Thursday and predicted "more upside" when it moves to SunTrust Park next year.
"We have a young team, not invested a lot, opportunity to improve it, and (are) excited about where we can go with the team," Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei said. "I think there's more upside when we bring the new stadium on-line, when we complete The Battery, the retail/mixed-use development that we have next door to the stadium."
Braves officials have said they plan to increase the player payroll an undisclosed amount next season.
Maffei noted the Braves' on-field performance has been "much improved" since the All-Star break, pointing out the team entered Wednesday's play with "the highest batting average in major-league baseball" since the break at .280.
BREWERS
Owner approves of rebuilding
MILWAUKEE -- Brewers owner Mark Attanasio said he thinks the team's rebuilding is farther along than he envisioned at the season's start.
Attanasio gave high marks to first-year General Manager David Stearns and said he is pleased with the overall performance of Manager Craig Counsell.
Milwaukee began Thursday 68-84 after finishing last season 68-94. The Brewers have not reached the postseason since 2011.
"We don't have a schedule for what we're trying to do in terms of getting back to the playoffs, but we had more positive performances from younger players this year than I was expecting," said Attanasio, the Los Angeles businessman who has been the team's principal owner since 2005.
"I want to get David's assessment on Craig, but from an owner's seat, it was important for our guys to play with enthusiasm and with an edge, and they've certainly done that," Attanasio said.
Counsell has one season remaining in the deal he signed when he replaced the fired Ron Roenicke in May 2015.
"Once the season is over, David is going to address a number of things, and that's, obviously, on the list," Attanasio said.
Asked when he thought the Brewers could compete for a playoff spot again, Attanasio said "there are more guys on the field right now, and on this roster now, that can be part of that winning effort."
ORIOLES
Ortiz receives surprise
BALTIMORE -- David Ortiz received a surprising -- and apparently unwanted -- gift from the Baltimore Orioles before his final regular season game at Camden Yards.
In a ceremony before the Red Sox faced the Orioles on Thursday night, Ortiz was given the phone box he destroyed inside the visitor's dugout during a tirade on July 27, 2013.
Wearing a huge grin, Baltimore center fielder Adam Jones handed Ortiz the shattered phone box, which was mounted to a wooden case.
Ortiz, 40, will retire after this season. His 30 home runs at Camden Yards are second among visiting players behind Alex Rodriguez (34).
Before giving Ortiz the phone, Baltimore played a montage of his notable home runs against the Yankees -- a sight to be enjoyed by fans of the Orioles and the Red Sox.
At the end of the ceremony, the Orioles gave Ortiz an oversized $10,000 check to be used as a donation in his name to the World Pediatric Project, which benefits ill children in Ortiz's native Dominican Republic.
Ortiz walked off with the check but left the phone. Jones kiddingly gestured to the slugger that he'd forgotten his gift.
Sports on 09/23/2016