LEADING OFF: Cubs check Bryant, Nats still rolling vs Astros

A look at what's happening all around the majors today:

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BRUISED BRYANT

The Cubs will see how Kris Bryant is feeling, a day after he was hit by a pitch in the left hand and exited the game. The MVP was nicked in the ninth inning, and left-hander Anthony Rizzo shifted across the diamond from first base to make his first career appearance at third. Bryant will likely miss the NL Central leaders' game at Cincinnati.

DIVISION DOMINANCE

NL East-leading Washington is once again making things tough on the Astros. The Nationals beat Houston for the ninth straight time Tuesday night, a winning streak that dates to 2012. Edwin Jackson will try to help the Nats make it 10 in a row when he starts on the road vs. Mike Fiers and the AL West leaders.

BACK AGAIN

Indians ace Corey Kluber, who is 8-1 with a 2.09 ERA at home this season, faces Boston in a matchup of division leaders. Drew Pomeranz was pitches for the Red Sox - the left-hander was forced to leave his last start in the fourth inning with back spasms.

ANOTHER START

Left-hander Mike Montgomery returns to the Cubs' rotation, filling in for the injured Jon Lester. It'll be Montgomery's ninth start of a season that's seen him move back-and-forth between roles for Chicago. In his last appearance on Aug. 17, he threw 4 1/3 shutout innings in relief against the Reds. The Cubs envision him as a starter long-term, but have used him to supplement the rotation and the bullpen this season.

ON THE MEND

Mets All-Star closer Jeurys Familia is expected to pitch for Class A Brooklyn, a day after throwing a hitless inning for the Cyclones. He could rejoin the Mets this weekend in Washington. Familia has been out since May following surgery for a blood clot in his shoulder.

LEADING OFF: Dodgers chase 12th straight, Bryant heals

A look at what's happening all around the majors today:

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A DODGER DOZEN?

The Dodgers are bringing home their longest winning streak of the season, seeking a 12th straight victory as they host Atlanta. Los Angeles has won 31 of 35 - its best stretch of that length ever - and can extend it when Brandon McCarthy (6-3, 3.38 ERA) faces Mike Foltynewicz (7-5, 3.84).

PINKIE PROBLEM

The Cubs are hopeful that NL MVP Kris Bryant won't miss much time after he sprained his left pinkie during a headfirst slide in Wednesday's win over Atlanta. X-rays were negative, and Bryant is considered day-to-day. "I think we really kind of dodged the bullet right there," manager Joe Maddon said. Bryant, the 2016 NL MVP, is hitting .273 with 19 homers and 40 RBIs. Chicago has a day off before opening a series against St. Louis at Wrigley Field on Friday.

BUMGARNER'S RETURN

Madison Bumgarner makes his first home start since missing three months following a dirt bike accident. Bumgarner (0-3, 3.18 ERA in five starts) threw 103 pitches and allowed three runs in seven innings in his first start back, taking a no-decision in a loss to the Padres. The Giants have the second-worst record in the majors.

TRY AGAIN

J.D. Martinez's debut with the Diamondbacks turned out to be more of a soft open, as the slugger bruised his left hand in his first game since a trade from the Tigers. X-Rays were negative, and Arizona will hope to get him back in the lineup soon as they close out a series in Cincinnati. Taijuan Walker (6-4, 3.61) gets the ball for the Diamondbacks against Reds rookie Luis Castillo (1-2, 3.41).

SEVERINO AND SUPPORT

Yankees All-Star Luis Severino (5-4, 3.40) will take the mound to open a four-game series at Seattle. The 23-year-old has 16 strikeouts in 14 innings over his past two starts, with four runs allowed. He's likely to get a boost in the starting lineup from slugger Todd Frazier, who was acquired Tuesday night along with relievers David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle, but only arrived in time to pinch hit for New York on Wednesday. Felix Hernandez (5-3, 4.20) is up for Seattle and has allowed one earned run in 11 innings over his past two starts, both victories.

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Bryant, Hendricks, Turner named NL monthly award-winners for August

Third baseman Kris Bryant of the Chicago Cubs, starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks of the Cubs and second baseman-outfielder Trea Turner of the Washington Nationals have been voted the Budweiser Presents National League Player of the Month, National League Pitcher of the Month and National League Rookie of the Month, respectively.

Budweiser, the official beer sponsor of Major League Baseball and sponsor for 24 of 30 MLB clubs, is also the presenting sponsor of the American League Player of the Month Award.

In 27 games last month, Bryant led the NL with a .748 slugging percentage and was tied for second in home runs with 10. The two-time All-Star ranked second in on-base percentage (.472) and total bases (80), while his .383 (41-for-107) batting average ranked third among qualifying NL hitters. The second-year slugger's 22 RBI were the eighth-most in the NL last month. This is his first career Player of the Month honor after being voted Rookie of the Month twice last season (May and August).

In six starts last month, Cubs hurler Kyle Hendricks posted a 4-0 record with a Major League-leading 1.28 ERA (six earned runs in 42.1 innings pitched). The right-hander was tied for the NL lead in wins last month, while his 36 strikeouts were tied for the fifth-most among NL pitchers. Hendricks held opposing hitters to a .179 batting average across his six outings last month, and he tossed his second career complete-game shutout on August 1st vs. Miami. This is his first career Pitcher of the Month honor.

In 28 games during the month of August, Nationals rookie Trea Turner was tied for the Major League lead in hits (45), while pacing NL rookies with a .357 batting average (45-for-126). The Florida native also ranked among the NL rookie leaders in total bases (1st, 72); stolen bases (T-1st, 11); runs scored (T-1st, 27); slugging percentage (2nd, .571); home runs (T-3rd, 5); and RBI (3rd, 15). This is his first career monthly award.

Other players receiving votes for the Budweiser Presents National League Player of the Month Award were Colorado's Nolan Arenado (.356, 10 HR, 36 RBI, 4 2B, 27 R), DJ LeMahieu (.439, 4 HR, 16 RBI, 4 2B, .534 OBP), and Charlie Blackmon (.360, 11 HR, 21 RBI, 6 2B, 30 R); Atlanta's Freddie Freeman (.313, 9 HR, 24 RBI, 9 2B, .460 OBP; and Washington's Turner.

For the NL Pitcher of the Month Award, other pitchers receiving votes included Chicago's Jon Lester (3-0, 1.71 ERA, 31.2 IP, 7 BB, 35 SO) and Aroldis Chapman (0-1, 1.38 ERA, 11 SV, 13.0 IP, 5 BB, 22 SO); Julio Urias (4-0, 1.99 ERA, 22.2 IP, 8 BB, 22 SO) of the Los Angeles Dodgers; Washington's Tanner Roark (4-1, 2.56 ERA, 38.2 IP, 14 BB, 26 SO); and Pittsburgh's Ivan Nova (4-0, 2.87 ERA, 1 CG, 31.1 IP, 1 BB, 22 SO).

Other rookies receiving votes included Urias; San Diego's Ryan Schimpf (.253, 7 HR, 20 RBI, 6 2B, 4 3B, 22 R); Corey Seager of the Dodgers (.330, 5 HR, 12 RBI, 7 2B, 36 R, .411 OBP); and Colorado's David Dahl (.324, 3 HR, 14 RBI, 7 2B, 3 3B, 36 R).

All three August monthly award winners will receive a specially designed trophy, suitably engraved, in recognition of their accomplishments.