Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale struck out 11 batters over seven innings of one-run ball in his strong performance against the hosting Chicago White Sox on Thursday afternoon, but he was left with a tough-luck loss despite a wonderful showing on the mound. The former White Sox ace dominated his former team on Thursday, but he was provided no run support to spoil the outing a bit. Sale has flourished during his first season in Atlanta, registering a 2.79 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and a tidy 118:17 K:BB across 93 2/3 innings. The 35-year-old All-Star southpaw will take the ball again for the Braves in a favorable matchup at home against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday.

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Davis Daniel dominated the Detroit Tigers on Thursday, throwing eight innings of shutout ball in his first major league start. Daniel allowed only four hits and walked none while striking out eight in a sensational performance. This start wasn't a fluke either, as Daniel generated soft contact and plenty of whiffs. All that said, he wasn't a well known prospect and didn't have great results in the minors, so he will need to have more than one good start to become fantasy relevant. Still, it is worth keeping an eye on the 27-year-old.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer had a monster day at the plate on Thursday, going 3-for-3 with a pair of three-run homers to lead the Jays to a 9-2 win over the New York Yankees. Springer hit both his homers off Yanks starter Carlos Rodon, with one coming in each of the first two innings. It has been an abysmal year for Springer, but he is finally showing signs of life with three homers in his last two games. That doesn't mean he's back to his old self, but it is certainly a welcome sign of life for the veteran.

Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton had another great game on Thursday, going 3-for-4 with a three-run homer in a 13-6 thumping of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Buxton added three runs scored to round out his impressive line. The 30-year-old now has three homers in the last four games and has hit safely in 13 of his last 16 games. His overall numbers don't look so bad either, with a .261 AVG to go along with 32 runs, seven homers, 30 RBI, and five steals in 207 at-bats. He should be in all category leagues at this point.

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Porter Hodge picked up his first MLB save on Thursday, locking down a 5-3 win over the San Francisco Giants. Hodge was tasked with working the 10th inning after the Cubs scored a pair of runs in the top half of the inning. The 23-year-old allowed one hit and struck out one to get the job done. The Cubs closer situation is an absolute mess right now, but it should be noted that Hector Neris pitched a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts to earn the win in this one. It is likely that Neris gets most of the Cubs save opportunities from now on, but if he falters again it could be Hodge who gets the next shot.