WASHINGTON — Daniel Murphy returns to Nationals Park on Thursday after helping the Chicago Cubs gain some breathing room over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday.Murphy Adam Jones Jersey , who was acquired from the Nationals on Aug. 21, had three hits, including a home run, as the Cubs beat the Brewers 6-4 to snap a two-game losing streak and increase their lead in the National League Central to four games.Chicago is 11-5 in a stretch of 23 games in 23 days and manager Joe Maddon said he’s proud of the way his team is handling it.Article continues below ...“I don’t sense fatigue, the energy is good, pregame is good, talk in the dugout good,” Maddon told mlb.com. “Normally at this time of the year, you feel more of that (fatigue). I think our ability to manipulate lineups and keep guys fresh helps. I think they know how to react.”Ironically, the other player Washington traded Aug. 21 — Matt Adams — homered twice Wednesday night to lead the Cardinals to a 7-6 win over the Nationals in the rubber game of that series. The Cardinals remain 4 1/2 games behind Chicago in the Central and are second in the wild-card race, two games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the final spot.The Nationals continued the selloff they began Aug. 21 when they traded pitchers Gio Gonzalez and Ryan Madson last week. Meanwhile, the Braves and Phillies are slumping. Both have played sub-.500 baseball since Aug. 15, but so have the Nationals (9-10) http://www.oriolesfanproshop.com/authen … ado-jersey , failing to gain much ground.Washington (69-71) dropped the final two games against St. Louis as late rallies fell short.“We gotta finish some comebacks, we really do,” Martinez said. They jump out to a 5-0 lead. Our guys don’t quit. it’s tough.”Martinez was speaking hours after general manager Mike Rizzo was asked during a session with reporters if his rookie manager — formerly the Cubs bench coach — would be back next season.“I haven’t considered any other scenario,” Rizzo responded, later praising his manager’s handling of the team.Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks (11-10, 3.37 ERA) opposes right-hander Stephen Strasburg (7-7, 4.09) on Thursday night.Hendricks got a win last time out when he held the Phillies to a run on six hits in six innings Sept. 1. He was 3-1 with a 3.41 ERA in August and got a no-decision against Washington on Aug. 10, when he allowed two runs in six innings.In his career, Hendricks is 2-2 with a 2.72 ERA in six starts versus Washington.The Nationals have won all three of Strasburg’s starts since he returned from a cervical nerve impingement. Last time out, he picked up the win against Milwaukee when he allowed two runs on five hits over six innings, with seven strikeouts and two walks. It was his best outing since his return.“His velo’s back plus the first few innings he was lights out,” Martinez told mlb.com after the game. “That’s the Strasburg that we’ve seen in the past. So hopefully he’s got it now and he’s good, and in five days we see that same Stras.”Strasburg is 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in five regular-season starts versus the Cubs. In last year’s divisional playoff series Chris Davis Jersey , he was 1-1 with a 0.00 ERA after allowing two unearned runs over 14 innings. He threw seven shutout innings to win Game 4 in Chicago.Strasburg will try to stop the recent home run barrage against Washington pitchers, who have surrendered eight in the past two games.“The home runs have really killed us,” Martinez said. “I look back, and we’re giving up way too many homers. We have to figure that out. We really do.” NEW YORK (AP) — In a lopsided win, this was not the kind of big hit the New York Yankees hoped to see.Didi Gregorius hurt his left heel in a collision at first base during a 10-2 romp over Toronto on Sunday, an injury that could sideline the star shortstop for a while.“It’s something that we’ll monitor over the next 24 hours, could potentially be a DL thing,” said manager Aaron Boone, who Gregorius had a “pretty bad bruise.”The Yankees, with the second-best record in the majors behind AL East-leading Boston, already have sluggers Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez on the disabled list. Gregorius is batting .270 with 22 home runs and 74 RBIs, and has 48 extra-base hits this season.Boone said rookie second baseman Gleyber Torres could fill in at short if Gregorius is out for an extended time.Gregorius, who was hitting cleanup http://www.oriolesfanproshop.com/authen … son-jersey , was hurt while beating out an infield hit in a six-run first, an inning capped by Greg Bird’s grand slam.Blue Jays second baseman Devon Travis fielded Gregorius’ grounder and made an off-balance throw that first baseman Kendrys Morales fielded on one hop. Morales was in the baseline and Gregorius tumbled over him.Gregorius remained in the game for the moment, but was lifted prior to the start of the top of the third.J.A. Happ stayed unbeaten with New York by topping his former Toronto teammates and Greg Bird hit a grand slam during a six-run first inning.Happ (14-6) faced the Blue Jays for the first time since they traded him to the Yankees on July 26. The 35-year-old lefty has won all four of his starts for New York.“It was strange, I think I can admit that,” Happ said. “I think I probably prefer not knowing the opposition the way that I know those guys.”Happ allowed two runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out eight. Randal Grichuk hit a solo homer in the first.Blue Jays manager John Gibbons joked that his former pitcher had no idea about his club’s offensive approach there.“I guess Happ hadn’t been paying attention while he was here because we swing 3-0 a lot and Grich got him,” he said.Rookie Miguel Andujar drove in two runs and backup infielder Ronald Torreyes, who replaced Gregorius, added three hits as the Yankees finished off a three-game sweep.The Yankees’ first six batters each reached base against Ryan Borucki (2-3).Aaron Hicks and Giancarlo Stanton walked and Andujar hit a tying single. Gregorius followed with his hit and Torres reached on an infield single, setting up Bird’s slam into the right field stands. Borucki got the next two batters out before he was replaced.Happ allowed a leadoff homer to Morales in the sixth.The Yankees scored four more runs in the sixth, with Gibbons getting ejected for arguing a call at first base.HOMECOMINGThe Yankees start a series Monday night at Miami, where Stanton played his first eight years in the majors. Stanton led the majors with 59 home runs last season and was the NL MVP. This will be his first game at Marlins Park since being traded to the Yankees in December. And by the way, he is just one home run shy of his 300th.“It’s going to be weird for sure walking in Cal Ripken Jersey , going to the visitors’ side,” Stanton said. “But I am looking forward to it. It’s a big part of my life, my time down there. It will be a cool experience.”TRAINER’S ROOMBlue Jays: RHP Marcus Stroman (right middle finger blister) was put on the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to Aug. 16. … LHP Thomas Pannone was called up from Triple-A Buffalo. He is scheduled to start Wednesday against Baltimore, but pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief. … Purchased the contract of RHP Justin Shafer from Buffalo. He pitched one scoreless inning in his big league debut. … LHP Luis Santos was optioned to Buffalo. … RHP Aaron Sanchez was moved to the 60-day disabled list.Yankees: C Austin Romine, who took a hard foul tip to his mask on Saturday, was held out of the game. He said he did not have a concussion. . After the game, Judge said he participated in some baseball activities earlier in the day. He is still experiencing pain in his right fractured wrist.UP NEXTBlue Jays: RHP Marco Estrada (6-9, 4.87 ERA) will be on the mound Monday night to start the first game of three at home against Baltimore.Yankees: RHP Masahiro Tanaka (9-4, 4.03) starts the opener a two-game set at Miami. Tanaka lost his last start against Tampa Bay on Thursday, giving up two runs in six innings while striking out six.