Straw and Lukes each drive in 2 as Blue Jays avoid sweep, beat majors-leading Brewers 8-4

TORONTO (AP) — Myles Straw and Nathan Lukes each drove in two runs, George Springer reached base three times and scored twice, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Milwaukee Brewers 8-4 on Sunday to avoid a three-game sweep.

Tommy Nance (2-0) pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth inning as Toronto improved to 59-4 when scoring at least five runs.

Nance was one of five relievers who combined for five shutout innings in relief of a shaky Max Scherzer, who allowed four runs and a season-high nine hits in four innings. Manager John Schneider said Scherzer was removed because of tightness in his upper back.

William Contreras hit a two-run home run, his 17th, and Brice Turang added a solo shot, his 16th, but the Brewers failed to set a club record with a 22nd win in August. Milwaukee went 21-9 this month.

The Brewers still own the best record in baseball at 85-53.

Milwaukee's Jackson Chourio went 4 for 5 and scored twice in his second game after missing a month because of a strained right hamstring.

Milwaukee made a costly fielding error in Toronto’s three-run first inning, and had runners thrown out at third base and home plate in a mistake-filled performance.

The AL East-leading Blue Jays were also sloppy. Left-hander Brendon Little made two errors and outfielder Addison Barger lost a fly ball in the sun.

Milwaukee’s Brandon Woodruff (5-2) allowed eight runs, five earned, and a season-high 10 hits in 4 1/3 innings. Woodruff also gave up five earned runs in his previous start, Aug. 25 against Arizona.

The Blue Jays chased Woodruff and scored three runs with four straight one-out hits in the fifth.

Scherzer struck out one of the 19 batters he faced.

Brewers: RHP Jacob Misiorowski (4-2, 4.33 ERA) is scheduled to start Monday against Phillies RHP Taijuan Walker (4-7, 3.63).

Blue Jays: RHP Chris Bassitt (11-7, 4.14 ERA) is expected to start at Cincinnati on Monday against Reds RHP Hunter Greene (5-4, 2.81).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter George Springer (4) reacts after getting hit by a pitch from Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Ernie Clement (22) hits an RBI single during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers in Toronto on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter Christian Yelich (22) grounds out against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Sunday Aug. 31, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff (53) throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Addison Barger, right, and Ernie Clement take to the field prior to the start of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers in Toronto on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

CHICAGO (AP) — Matt Shaw was watching TV with his wife when she got a notification on her phone: Alex Bregman had agreed to a contract with the Chicago Cubs.

Shaw was Chicago's regular third baseman during his rookie season, so he wondered what the move meant for him.

“You're kind of looking at it like ‘Oh man, where am I going to play?’ And you get a little anxious about those things,” Shaw said Friday at the team's annual fan convention. "The team knows me good enough at this point to know I just want to be prepared when the season comes around.

“So of course I immediately have questions like ‘Am I going to go here? Am I going to go there?’”

The answer to many of those questions was yes.

Shaw is preparing for a super-utility role after Chicago finalized a $175 million, five-year contract with Bregman on Wednesday. In addition to backing up Bregman at third and Nico Hoerner at second, Shaw also is expected to play in the outfield.

There is always the possibility of a trade with Hoerner, who is going into the last year of a $35 million, three-year contract, or Shaw, a first-round pick in the 2023 amateur draft who turned 24 in November. But the Cubs sound as if they are inclined to hold on to their infield depth as an insurance policy for injuries.

“I don’t think we have enough guys yet,” manager Craig Counsell said with a chuckle. “If you think there’s too many, I don’t know what you’re looking at.”

Counsell said the team was “fortunate” last year in terms of injuries.

“We’re now protecting a lot against what can happen, but I think that’s an important part of building a roster and building a team,” he said.

Hoerner, 28, was a key performer last season as Chicago won 92 games and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2020. He batted .297 with seven homers, 61 RBIs and 29 steals in a career-best 156 games. He also won his second Gold Glove.

Amid increased trade speculation in the wake of Bregman's deal, Hoerner said he loves the Cubs and attributed the rumors to his contract situation and playing in a big market.

“I think, above all, just remembering that it’s not a personal thing and that the team’s job is to always make the best possible roster that they have the ability to do for this year and for years to come,” he said. “And you look at the things that we’ve done this offseason, I think it’s pretty evident that’s their goal. And we’re in a really strong place.”

Dansby Swanson, Hoerner's double-play partner at shortstop, said the second baseman was irreplaceable.

“Nico means the world to me and to this team, just who he is as a person,” Swanson said. “He brings the same type of energy and competitive spirit that Alex does.”

Shaw was relatively inexperienced at third base going into last season, but he was named a Gold Glove finalist in October. Shaking off a slow start and a stint in the minors, he hit .226 with 13 homers, 44 RBIs and 17 steals in 126 games with the Cubs.

Shaw was a shortstop growing up in Massachusetts, but he spent some time as an outfielder early in his collegiate career at the University of Maryland.

“I played outfield growing up a lot, so I look forward to running around out there,” he said. “Outfield's definitely fun. And the at-bat stuff, I think there's at-bats there, and obviously it's up to me as it's up to all the guys to earn their spots and to play well.”

Shaw also is looking forward to playing with Bregman, a two-time World Series champion with Houston.

“We had a great year last year. We had a lot of great pieces,” Shaw said, “and then you add Bregman and it's like, you look at this team up and down and we're in an amazing spot.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

FILE - Chicago Cubs' Nico Hoerner hits a sacrifice fly ball during a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Sept. 30, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Huh, File)

FILE - Chicago Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw prepares to field the ball during the a baseball game, Oct. 6, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf, File)