NATIONALS
Harper gets MRI
WASHINGTON -- Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper has gotten an MRI for a neck injury that has sidelined the reigning NL MVP this week.
Harper was out of the lineup Saturday night for a fifth consecutive game when the NL East leaders played Atlanta.
"Bryce is day to day," General Manager Mike Rizzo said. "We haven't discussed disabled list with him today. He did have an MRI today and it was clean, so that's good news. He feels good about it."
"He's got a stiff neck that's lingered on for five or six days. Hopefully, that's behind us now," he said.
Harper is batting .233 with 20 home runs and 57 RBI. The Nationals want to give him every chance at returning before making a roster move involving the DL.
"Sometimes you have to wait until it lets you go," Nationals Manager Dusty Baker said of the neck injury.
Papelbon released
The Nationals have released former closer Jonathan Papelbon.
The move came Saturday when the Nationals needed a roster spot to recall right-hander Reynaldo Lopez to start against the Atlanta Braves.
A little over a year after the Nationals acquired him from the Philadelphia Phillies to replace Drew Storen as their closer, Papelbon became a free agent. He can sign with any team. The Nationals are responsible for the remainder of his $11 million salary this year.
The six-time All-Star had a tumultuous tenure in Washington that included him grabbing National League MVP Bryce Harper by the throat during a dugout altercation in September. This season, Papelbon converted 19 of 22 save opportunities but struggled in July and has a 4.37 ERA.
The 35-year-old right-hander allowed 8 runs on 7 hits in 3 outings before the Nationals traded for new closer Mark Melancon.
MARLINS
No talk on A-Rod
MIAMI -- Don Mattingly said Miami Marlins officials haven't discussed trying to coax Alex Rodriguez into a comeback, but he didn't rule out the idea.
The Marlins manager was asked Saturday about the possibility of signing Rodriguez, who played his final game for the New York Yankees on Friday. Mattingly noted Rodriguez hasn't played in the field much since 2013 and added, "I don't know where he fits right now."
Rodriguez grew up in Miami and still lives in South Florida. He's friendly with Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria, who brought home run king Barry Bonds back to the majors this season as the Marlins' hitting coach.
Mattingly was a Yankees coach in 2004-07 when Rodriguez played there.
INDIANS
Brantley surgery set
CLEVELAND -- Cleveland Indians outfielder Michael Brantley, who has played in only 11 games this season for the AL Central leaders, will undergo season-ending surgery on his right shoulder Monday.
Brantley had surgery in November and began the season on the disabled list. He was activated in late April but returned to the DL on May 10 with biceps tendinitis.
Brantley has attempted to return several times but was shut down with soreness in the shoulder while he was hitting. He received two cortisone shots and underwent a procedure to remove scar tissue, but the shoulder didn't progress enough for him to return.
Brantley hit .327 in 2014, when he finished third in the AL MVP balloting. Brantley batted .310 and led the league in doubles last season. He suffered a torn labrum diving for a fly ball in September.
DODGERS
Kershaw throwing
LOS ANGELES -- Clayton Kershaw has taken another step forward in his attempt to return to the Los Angeles Dodgers' rotation this season, playing catch Saturday for the second day in a row.
Sidelined since his last start on June 26, Kershaw (mild disk herniation) extended his throwing to 90 feet during the pre-game session, one day after a session from 65 feet. The three-time Cy Young Award winner resumed his baseball activities last Sunday.
Kershaw (11-2, 1.79) complained of lower back stiffness in his last start and was placed on the disabled list on July 1, retroactive to June 27. His first rehab progressed as far as throwing a simulated game on July 16, after which he was shut down again.
Moved to the 60-day DL on Aug. 3, Kershaw is eligible to return to the Dodgers on Aug. 27. The Dodgers are hopeful Kershaw returns to their rotation by mid-September.
Sports on 08/14/2016