The July 31 non-waiver trade is of course just ahead, and on that front we've got you covered with our daily rumor roundup and our updated trade tracker. As for the on-field action, let's jump into Saturday's overstuffed slate that brought us 16 games thanks to a doubleheader in the Bronx ... 

Saturday's scores

Royals 10, Yankees 5, Game 1 (box score)
Cardinals 6, Cubs 2 (box score)
Tigers 2, Indians 1 (box score)
Reds 6, Phillies 2 (box score)
Yankees 5, Royals 4, Game 2 (box score)
Orioles 11, Rays 2 (box score)
Pirates 5, Mets 0 (box score)
Rangers 7, Astros 3 (box score)
Red Sox 10, Twins 4 (box score)
Dodgers 5, Braves 1 (box score)
Marlins 2, Nationals 1 in 10 innings (box score)
White Sox 9, Blue Jays 5 (box score)
Rockies 4, Athletics 1 (box score)
Diamondbacks 9, Padres 4 (box score)
Brewers 7, Giants 1 (box score)
Angels 11, Mariners 5 (box score)

Yanks' Severino struggles again

Yankees ace Luis Severino came into Saturday's start against the Royals coming off a rough stretch. Following a strong outing against the Red Sox on July 1, Severino boasted a 1.98 ERA with 138 strikeouts against 29 walks. In his next three starts, however, Severino worked just five innings each time out while allowing 14 runs and six home runs. 

Still, opposing a punchless, post-Moustakas Royals lineup on Saturday in Yankee Stadium, where Severino had pitched to a 1.64 ERA this season, would surely provide a reversal of fortunes. Well, here's what happened ... 

player headshot
Luis Severino
ATH • SP • #40
vs. KC, 7/28
IP4 1/3
H8
ER6
SO5
BB1
HR1
Pitches95
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So that comes to 20 runs allowed in his last 19 1/3 innings pitched. While his command looked spotty on Saturday, the problem has been that he's getting squared up easily -- Severino's given up 33 hits over those 19 1/3 innings. It bears repeating that the latest round of damage was done by a lineup that included Alcides Escobar, Adalberto Mondesi, Rosell Herrera, and Jorge Bonifacio. It also included a No. 3 hitter -- Salvador Perez -- who came in with an OBP of .263. 

This remains a small sample of games in the larger scheme, but Severino has been getting tagged since before the All-Star break. The extended rest didn't help, and neither did the Triple-A lineup he faced. Yes, the Yankees have fortified the rotation and the bullpen via trade in recent days, but Severino's last start before the deadline raises the matter of whether GM Brian Cashman should do even more on the pitching front. 

Nats drop heartbreaker to Marlins

With a potential trade deadline sale looming, the Nationals dropped Saturday's game to the Marlins in heartbreaking fashion. J.T. Realmuto blooped a walk-off single along the right field foul line in the 10th inning. Washington was using a five-man infield and the ball managed to land where the outfielders weren't positioned.

After the game Bryce Harper, who was at first base as part of the five-man infield when the walk-off bloop fell in, was asked about Realmuto's single. His response: "If that guy was on our side, that wouldn't have happened." Hmmm. The Nationals have reportedly had interest in Realmuto for weeks.

As for the Nationals, the loss snaps their three-game winning streak with one game to play prior to Tuesday's trade deadline. They are 52-52 overall and six games back in the NL West, as well as five games back of the second wild card spot. Close enough for GM Mike Rizzo to pass on selling? The decision could very well hinge on Sunday's series finale in Miami.

Cards' Ozuna slams Cubs early

The Cubs and Cardinals played the second game of their weekend set in St. Louis on Saturday, and the hosts hung six first-inning runs on Chicago starter Jose Quintana. The big blow came courtesy of Cards outfielder Marcell Ozuna ... 

That's Ozuna's 11th homer of the season. Considering he mashed 37 last season, that's a disappointing tally. He's also batting just .265/.309/.381 on the year. That said, a grand slam against the Cubs is always a welcome thing from the Cardinals standpoint. 

The Cardinals are at best fringe wild-card contenders this season, while the Cubs are heavy favorites to win the NL Central for a third straight season. Even so, the Cardinals prevailed on Saturday, moving to 9-6 against their rivals this season. That's not much, but it's something. 

Harvey makes final start before deadline

Chances are Matt Harvey made his final start with the Reds on Saturday night. Harvey, who went into Saturday's start with a 4.50 ERA in 13 starts with the Reds, is a prime trade candidate before Tuesday's trade deadline. He'd pitched to a 1.86 ERA in five starts before getting hammered for eight runs in 3 2/3 innings last time out.

On Saturday, Harvey struck out five in five innings, allowing only a two-run home run to the molten hot Rhys Hoskins.

player headshot
Matt Harvey
BAL • SP • #32
July 28 vs. Phillies
IP5
H2
R2
ER2
BB2
K5
HR1
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Beyond the results, Harvey also showed premium velocity Saturday night. His fastball averaged 95.9 mph and topped out at 98.6 mph. It was not just his best velocity of the season. It was his best velocity in almost three years.

The results can't be ignored, of course, but interested teams are going to be quite pleased with that velocity. Chances are Harvey will never again be the guy he was in 2013 and 2015, though any sign he is close to being that guy are a positive. Saturday's velocity was a good sign and it came at a good time for the Reds, who were hoping Harvey would do all he could to maximize his trade value.

Gurriel extends multi-hit game streak

Another day, another multi-hit game for Blue Jays infielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Gurriel went 2 for 5 on Saturday to extend his multi-hit game streak to a franchise record 10 games, breaking a tie with Tony Fernandez.

The last player with 10 consecutive multi-hit games was Bernie Williams with the 2002 Yankees. The longest multi-hit game streak in baseball history belongs to Trent McCotter, who had multiple hits in 15 straight games with the St. Louis Browns in 1890.

Odor has huge game in Rangers win

Have yourself a day, Rougned Odor. The Rangers second baseman went 5 for 5 with a double and two home runs against the Astros on Saturday night. Odor didn't just hit two homers. He hit one inside-the-park and one outside-the-park home run.

Believe it or not, Odor is not the first player with an inside-the-park and an outside-the-park home run in the same game this season. Aaron Hicks of the Yankees did it back in April. That doesn't make what Odor did any less impressive, of course.

A recent hot streak has helped Odor raise his season batting line to .270/.343/.437.

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