The Philadelphia Phillies acquired outfielder Austin Hays from the Baltimore Orioles on Friday in exchange for right-handed pitcher Seranthony Domínguez and outfielder Cristian Pache, in a deal between the East Division leaders in both leagues.

The starting center fielder in the 2023 All-Star Game for the American League, Hays got off to a terrible start and has just three homers and 14 RBI in 63 games this season for the Orioles.

Baltimore entered Friday at 61-41 and held a two-game lead over the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Phillies boast the best record in baseball at 64-38.

Originally selected by the Orioles in the third round of the 2016 MLB Draft, Hays played 557 games for Baltimore over parts of seven seasons and had 121 doubles, eight triples, 66 home runs, 242 RBI and 126 walks. Against left-handers in his career, he has hit .272 with a .328 on-base percentage and .463 slugging percentage.

The Phillies could use Hays in a platoon with left-handed hitting Brandon Marsh in left field as they chase their third straight trip to the playoffs and their first World Series championship since 2008.

The 29-year-old Domínguez appeared in 230 games for the Phillies over parts of six seasons. He is 3-2 with one save and a 4.25 ERA this season in 38 games.

Pache hit .202 in 50 games for the Phillies this season.

 ORIOLES-RAYS TRADE: The Orioles bolstered their starting rotation, acquiring right-hander Zach Eflin from the Tampa Bay Rays for three minor leaguers.

AL East-leading Baltimore is trying for its second straight division title, but the Orioles have had to work around season-ending injuries to starting pitchers Kyle Bradish, John Means and Tyler Wells. The 30-year-old Eflin is 5-7 with a 4.09 ERA.

YANKEES: Slugger Giancarlo Stanton could be activated for Monday’s series opener at Philadelphia.

Stanton hasn’t played since straining his left hamstring while running the bases on June 22.

Stanton is on the injured list for the eighth time in six years. The 34-year-old played in 69 of the Yankees’ first 79 games – none in the field – and is hitting .246 with 18 homers and 45 RBI. By not playing the field, it actually is helping the possibility of a quicker return to the big leagues.

DODGERS: All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman was scratched from the starting lineup for Friday night’s game at Houston and will return to Los Angeles to be with his family, according to Manager Dave Roberts.

Roberts did not detail the reason said there was no timetable for when Freeman will rejoin the team.

TIGERS: Detroit placed All-Star outfielder Riley Greene on the injured list with a right hamstring strain.

The 23-year-old Greene has been a bright spot for the struggling Tigers’ offense. He is hitting .264 and leading Detroit in homers (17), runs (57) and RBI (51).

The fifth-overall pick in 2019, Greene made his first All-Star appearance earlier this month and has become the face of Detroit’s lengthy rebuilding project. Health has been his biggest issue. He has played 293 games in his first three big league seasons.

BREWERS: Closer Devin Williams appears on the verge of making his season debut after missing four months with stress fractures in his back.

“We’re hoping for Devin here in the next few days, if things go well,” Brewers President of Baseball Operations Matt Arnold said.

Williams has struck out six and walked two without allowing a hit in three scoreless innings during a rehabilitation assignment that has included one appearance with Single-A Wisconsin and two outings with Triple-A Nashville.

After going 8-3 with 36 saves and a 1.53 ERA last season to earn his second NL reliever of the year award, Williams hasn’t pitched in the majors this year. The Brewers announced in mid-March that Williams’ back issue would sideline him.

MARINERS-BLUE JAYS TRADE: Seattle bolstered its bullpen acquiring right-hander Yimi García from Toronto in a deal that sent top prospect Jonatan Clase to the Blue Jays.

Just hours after Seattle acquired outfielder Randy Arozarena from Tampa Bay, the Mariners added another arm to their bullpen. Both players could be with the team in time for Saturday’s game in Chicago against the White Sox.

The move to add Arozarena came late Thursday night and should help an offense that’s badly struggled. Seattle has scored two runs or fewer in seven of its past nine games and is without center fielder Julio Rodríguez and shortstop J.P. Crawford, who are both on the injured list.

“He’s a proven run producer. Certainly is a dynamic player. Is a really good base stealer,” Servais said. “He’s got power, he’s hit for average in the past. … He brings a lot of energy along with it and we need all those things right now – the production, the energy, the personality.”

RAYS: Tampa Bay reinstated first baseman Yandy Díaz from the restricted list after the defending AL batting champion missed seven games because of personal family reasons.

Díaz, who had not played since the All-Star break, was back in his customary leadoff spot when the Rays opened a three-game weekend series against the Cincinnati Reds.

“I’d rather not talk about it. I’m here to focus on baseball,” Díaz said through a team translator.

METS-MARINERS TRADE: Right-hander Ryne Stanek was acquired by the Mets from the Seattle Mariners for minor league outfielder Rhylan Thomas in a move by New York to bolster its bullpen.

Stanek, who turned 33 Friday, was 6-3 with a 4.38 ERA and seven saves in 46 relief appearances for the Mariners but struggled over his last nine outings, going 1-2 with a 6.45 ERA and two blown saves. He was dealt hours after Seattle acquired Yimi García from Toronto.