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Merrill Kelly SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: May have tipped pitches
Kelly and the Diamondbacks believe that Cubs third-base coach Quintin Berry was stealing pitches and relaying signs to hitters in Monday's 7-0 loss, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports. "Stealing signs is as old as baseball, I think it's a little [expletive] when it comes from the coach," Kelly said.
While Kelly noted that he considers it fair game for players on the field to recognize tipped pitches, he acknowledged that he needs to review what he's doing to better conceal his offerings. The Cubs weren't the only team to get the better of Kelly of late; the right-hander is 0-4 with a 7.46 ERA and 1.82 WHIP across 25.1 innings over his five August starts.
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Rafael Devers 1B | SF
Giants' Rafael Devers: Blasts 27th homer
Devers went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and an additional run scored in Monday's 5-0 win over the Reds.
Devers walloped a Chase Burns fastball over the fence in right-center field for a three-run homer in the second inning. The 29-year-old slugger has launched five long balls in 21 August games, though he's posted just a .224 batting average this month. Overall, Devers is slashing .243/.321/.475 with 27 homers, 73 RBI and 71 runs across 131 tilts.
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Chase Burns SP | CIN
Reds' Chase Burns: Rough night in third loss
Burns (14-3) took the loss Monday, allowing five runs on nine hits and a walk over 3.2 innings against the Giants. He struck out five.
Burns was blitzed by the Giants offense, allowing two runs in the first inning before surrendering a three-run homer to Rafael Devers in the second frame. Monday marked the right-hander's shortest outing of the year, as he had logged at least five innings in every previous start. Burns has looked more human in August, pitching to a 4.33 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 36:8 K:BB across 27 innings (five starts) this month. Overall, the 23-year-old owns a sterling 2.77 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 164:49 K:BB across 139.2 innings (25 starts) and will look to get back on track next time out, tentatively scheduled for Sunday against the Cubs.
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Carson Kelly C | CHC
Cubs' Carson Kelly: Goes yard in Monday's win
Kelly went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Monday's 7-0 win over Arizona.
Kelly followed Michael Conforto's two-run homer with a solo shot over the left-field fence in the sixth inning, as the duo went back-to-back. After a poor July, the veteran catcher has looked better at the plate in August, slashing .273/.310/.418 with two homers, eight RBI and seven runs across 16 contests this month. Overall, Kelly is hitting .262/.343/.379 with eight homers, 45 RBI and 45 runs in 98 games this season.
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Michael Conforto DH | CHC
Cubs' Michael Conforto: Homers in three-hit effort
Conforto went 3-for-3 with a two-run home run, a double, an additional run scored and a walk in Monday's 7-0 win over Arizona.
Conforto picked up a trio of hits, highlighted by a two-run homer to right field in the sixth inning. The 33-year-old has now homered in consecutive games for the first time this season after launching a long ball in Sunday's win over Seattle. With sporadic playing time, Conforto is slashing .232/.326/.473 with 12 homers, 33 RBI, 28 runs and a stolen base across 236 plate appearances in 2026.
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Merrill Kelly SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Tagged with 12th loss
Kelly (8-12) took the loss Monday, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks over 5.2 innings against the Cubs. He struck out four.
Kelly fell just short of recording a quality start, departing with two outs in the sixth inning after throwing 99 pitches (60 strikes). The right-hander has now lost three straight games and is 0-4 with a 7.46 ERA, 1.82 WHIP and 17:18 K:BB across 25.1 innings (five starts) in August. The 37-year-old will take an overall 5.35 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 88:60 K:BB across 134.2 innings (24 starts) into his next outing, tentatively scheduled for Saturday against the Giants.
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Kevin Gausman SP | CHC
Cubs' Kevin Gausman: Stellar in seventh win
Gausman (7-11) earned the win Monday, allowing three hits and a walk over seven scoreless innings in a 7-0 win over the Diamondbacks. He struck out six.
After exiting his previous start due to a left hand cramp, Gausman turned in an excellent effort in the desert, throwing 67 of 94 pitches for strikes and keeping the Diamondbacks off the board across seven frames. In four outings with the Cubs, the right-hander has posted a 4.30 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 22:5 K:BB in 23 innings. Overall, the 35-year-old owns a 4.37 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 149:41 K:BB across 150.1 innings (27 starts) and is tentatively scheduled to pitch Sunday against the Reds.
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Henry Bolte CF | ATH
Athletics' Henry Bolte: Scores three times Monday
Bolte went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and a walk in Monday's 9-6 loss to the Twins.
Bolte didn't drive in a run but crossed the plate a career-high three times. The rookie has been hot at the plate in August, slashing .345/.406/.494 with three homers, eight RBI, 17 runs and two stolen bases over 22 games. On the year, he's hitting .276/.352/.374 with six homers, 26 RBI, 37 runs and 14 stolen bases across 89 contests.
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Jeff McNeil 2B | ATH
Athletics' Jeff McNeil: Trio of hits in loss
McNeil went 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in Monday's 9-6 loss to the Twins.
McNeil sparked the Athletics' rally in the ninth inning with a two-RBI double, though the comeback ultimately fell short. The veteran has mashed since the All-Star break, slashing .373/.393/.520 with three homers, 19 RBI, 14 runs and five stolen bases over his past 30 games. His season marks remain fairly pedestrian, however, as McNeil is hitting .267/.318/.362 with six homers, 45 RBI, 37 runs and six stolen bases in 115 contests.
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Kaelen Culpepper SS | MIN
Twins' Kaelen Culpepper: Logs four hits in win
Culpepper went 4-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored in Monday's 9-6 win over the Athletics.
Culpepper sprayed a quartet of singles, marking the first four-hit performance of his young career. The 23-year-old has taken over as the primary shortstop since debuting Aug. 7 and has made a strong impression at the plate. Through 55 plate appearances, Culpepper is slashing .340/.382/.480 with two homers, a double, four RBI and six runs scored.