Atlanta Braves left-hander Chris Sale (3-4) took his fourth loss of the season in a 2-1 defeat against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday. Sale was outstanding despite a lack of run support, tossing six innings of three-hit, one-run ball with 10 strikeouts and four walks. The reigning National League Cy Young winner owned a 6.00-plus ERA for a large chunk of April, but that number has shrunk below 3.00 with a run of dominance over the past month-plus. Sale has now racked up four straight quality starts. Over that span, Sale has combined for 26 innings, allowed three runs on 14 hits, and amassed 32 strikeouts against 10 walks. His season ERA sits at 2.93 with 96 punchouts and 23 walks through 73 2/3 frames. The 36-year-old ace will go on the road to challenge the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward belted his 17th home run of the season on Wednesday in an 11-9 loss to the Boston Red Sox. With two runners on in the top of the first inning, Ward crushed a changeup from right-hander Lucas Giolito 383 feet over the Green Monster. It was the sole hit for Ward during a 1-for-4 afternoon, though he did add a fourth RBI on a sacrifice fly. Along with his lofty HR total, Ward ranks near the top of the league in RBI (42) this season. However, a dismal average (.214) and a low on-base percentage (.265) have limited the 31-year-old to an unspectacular .762 OPS through 257 plate appearances. He'll face Seattle Mariners right-hander Bryce Miller on Friday. Their matchups have gone well for Ward, who is 4-for-10 with two doubles, a homer, three strikeouts, and a walk against Miller.

Chicago Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd (5-3) suffered his third loss of the year in a 2-0 decision against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday. Although Nationals lefty MacKenzie Gore outdueled Boyd, the Chicago southpaw was terrific in his own right. He chipped in 7 1/3 innings of two-run, four-hit ball while striking out six and issuing only one walk. Boyd, who has totaled five quality starts in six chances since the beginning of May, is thriving in his first season as a Cub. The 34-year-old has logged a 3.01 ERA with 70 strikeouts and 16 walks in 68 2/3 innings. He'll go on the road to face a formidable Philadelphia Phillies offense on Monday.

Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe collected three hits on Wednesday to help the team to a 5-4 win over the Texas Rangers. Lowe went 3-for-4 with a homer, a double, two RBI, and an additional run scored. Although Lowe got off to a sluggish start this season, his production has improved dramatically since the beginning of May. Overall, the 30-year-old has slashed .251/.302/.451 with 12 HRs and 33 RBI in 232 plate appearances. He leads all second basemen in both categories and is well on his way to a third straight season of 20-plus HRs. The lefty-swinging Lowe will try to keep rolling Thursday against Rangers righty Jack Leiter.

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Travis Jankowski cleared waivers on Wednesday and elected free agency instead of accepting an outright assignment to the minors leagues after returning from the 10-day injured list with a strained left groin. Jankowski was valuable to the Rays earlier this season when the team was dealing with multiple injuries to starting outfielders, but he'll now seek another opportunity elsewhere in 2025. Wherever the 33-year-old surfaces, he'll merely be providing outfield depth with some speed if he gets another shot in the big leagues. The former 44th overall pick by the San Diego Padres in 2012 began the year with the Chicago White Sox and has gone 11-for-45 (.244) with no homers, two RBI and two steals in 21 combined games with Chicago and Tampa. Jankowski is a career .236 hitter with only 11 homers, 98 RBI and 104 steals in 702 big-league games since 2015.