MLB

Knuckleball pitchers stick together.

They understand each other in a way that no one else can. They ask each other questions that no one else can answer.

And when one of their own is pitching on national TV, they're going to do what they can to watch.

So last Sunday night, Steve Sparks skipped the NBA playoffs and watched baseball's latest knuckleball king instead.

Take a bow, Max Scherzer.

One season after twirling a pair of no-hitters, the Washington Nationals right-hander struck out 20 Detroit Tigers on Wednesday in a 3-2 victory, tying the all-time record for a nine-inning game and carving his place in baseball history.

The Washington Nationals lost five of their last six games coming into Wednesday's contest, but Max Scherzer wasn't about to let them lose another. All the dominant right-hander did was tie a major league record with 20 strikeouts in one game as he led Washington to the 3-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers.

The Oakland Athletics placed second baseman Jed Lowrie on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a bruised right shin, per MLB.com's Jane Lee.

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New York Mets starting pitcher Steven Matz's elbow has "flared up," and he will miss his next start Saturday against the Colorado Rockies, Adam Rubin of ESPN.com reported Wednesday. 

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Chicago Cubs ace Jake Arrieta has been the hottest pitcher on the planet since the beginning of last season. 

Once a little-known back-end starter with the Baltimore Orioles, Arrieta was dealt in 2013 to Chicago, where he transformed into a Cy Young Award winner and one of the most unhittable pitchers the game has seen in this millennium.

Major League Baseball announced Wednesday it suspended Washington Nationals slugger Bryce Harper one game for his actions during the Nats' 5-4 win over the Detroit Tigers on Monday.

According to MLB's announcement, Harper also received an "undisclosed fine." 

Chicago White Sox third baseman Todd Frazier suffered an injury to his mouth on Wednesday against the Texas Rangers after heading into the crowd in an attempt to a catch a foul ball. However, he will return to the lineup quickly.

Continue below for updates.

Frazier Comments on Injury and Return

Thursday, May 12

Needing to fill multiple holes in their injury-depleted starting rotation, the Los Angeles Angels acquired right-hander Jhoulys Chacin from the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday.

How exactly does a player become one of the faces of his respective sport?

From on-field ability and playing style, to off-field marketability and personality, there are a cornucopia of factors that go into a player becoming one of the ambassadors of a sport.

With MLB icon Derek Jeter hanging it up after the 2014 season and another of the game's most recognizable stars in David Ortiz set to call it quits at the end of this year, we're undergoing a changing of the guard in baseball.