HOUSTON — Much as they did for most of this season of ups and downs, the Rays rebounded from the disappointment of the previous night to win their way into the playoffs Friday, beating the Astros, 7-3.

In reaching the postseason for a fourth straight season, the Rays joined the Blue Jays in the three-team American League wild-card field, with...Read more

ST. LOUIS — While Jack Flaherty had an impressive audition Friday night not only for a postseason roster spot but a chance to be in the rotation in next weekend's first round, Albert Pujols took another step toward the National Baseball Hall of Fame, not that his route wasn’t already mapped out.

The St. Louis fans who were disappointed not ...Read more

The Red Sox are going from bad to worse.

It’s one thing for a team to come up short of the playoff race, but the Sox are now falling into obscurity.

After getting steamrolled by the Blue Jays, who hammered three home runs, including a 447-foot blast by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., in a 9-0 win over the Sox at Rogers Centre on Friday night, the ...Read more

This season, Brady Singer proved he’s capable of being the lead figure in the Kansas City Royals’ pitching rotation. But a season of maturity and strides ended on a sour note as Singer got roughed up by a division rival for a five-run inning in his final start of the season.

Singer lost for the first time since the first week of August as ...Read more

ATLANTA — True to form, Jacob deGrom was mostly dominant Friday night at Truist Park. But his mistakes were big and the Atlanta Braves made him pay for three mistakes he made right down the middle.

The Mets fell, 5-2, and the two teams are now tied atop the NL East standings with 98-59 records.

With a packed crowd on hand to see a series ...Read more

NEW YORK — The Yankees locked up the playoffs a while ago. They are locked into the second seed in the American League and the first-round bye that comes with it. They can’t overtake the Astros for home-field advantage in these final seven games. And Aaron Judge is still sitting on 61 home runs after going without a home run Friday night in ...Read more

It seemed odd and unwarranted at the time, giving a rookie the honor of starting on opening day. Six months later, Joe Ryan might have locked up the job for 2023, too.

Ryan, the young fastball specialist, finished up a splendid first full season on Friday by shutting out the Tigers for six innings, setting a new Twins record for strikeouts by a...Read more

CHICAGO — A Chicago Cubs employee bent down near third base an hour before the team’s 6-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday and carefully scooped a handful of dirt into a glass vial.

After the season, the vial of Wrigley Field dirt will be mailed to a season ticket holder as a reward for their loyalty to the organization.

The Cubs ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer and his attorneys misrepresented the findings of the judge who denied a restraining order to a woman who accused him of sexual assault, according to a tentative ruling posted on a federal court website Friday.

The ruling, if it stands, would throw out Bauer's defamation case against Fred Thiagarajah,...Read more

WASHINGTON — Need an elixir for a losing streak? How about something potent to stave off a late-season collapse?

Book an appointment with the Washington Nationals.

The Phillies couldn’t have timed it better. After scoring a total of three runs in three games this week in Chicago and pulling into town on a five-game skid, just a whiff of ...Read more

CHICAGO — Jason Heyward’s career with the Chicago Cubs is coming to a close, ending with one year and $22 million remaining on his eight-year, $184 million contract.

It didn’t pan out the way former President Theo Epstein envisioned in 2015 when he gave Heyward the long-term deal, and current President Jed Hoyer decided in August to cut ...Read more

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Shohei Ohtani made a run at history in his final home start of the season.

The Angels’ two-way star was just four outs away from a no-hitter in a 4-2 victory over the Oakland A’s on Thursday night, working amid chants of “M-V-P! M-V-P!” from the Angel Stadium crowd.

Oakland outfielder Connor Capel hit a bouncer that...Read more

SAN DIEGO — Developments in the Midwest went the San Diego Padres’ way Thursday.

A playoff berth is creeping up on them.

But the plastic and champagne and goggles will remain in storage at least one more day, as the Padres could not beat the team they will eventually need to win a series against if their season is to be truly successful.

...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — Two grand slams, separated by about 10 minutes but thousands of miles, could change the course of baseball’s playoff race. What’s crazy isn’t the coincidence; it’s the fact that it matters at all.

On the cusp of elimination seemingly since the All-Star break, the San Francisco Giants are hanging by a thread to the ...Read more

CLEVELAND — The Rays let a chance to clinch a playoff spot slip away Thursday when they let a one-run lead get away in the eighth inning.

The 2-1 loss to the Guardians ruined plans for a party to celebrate earning a spot in the postseason, but the Rays will have another chance Friday night in Houston and, if necessary, five more after that.

...Read more

Where are all the people who wanted to know why nobody was going to Phillies games this summer?

This.

This is why.

This is why Citizens Bank Park had all the energy of a larvae convention. This is why a Friday night in the upper deck looked like a Tuesday night at the zoning board. This is why the Phillies couldn’t attract a crowd if they ...Read more

CLEVELAND, Fla. — Rays officials are in the process of assessing the extent of the damage to their Port Charlotte training facility in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.

Some was obvious from the outside.

Metal roofing wrapped around leaning palm trees. Letters were missing off of the welcoming Home Plate main fan entrance. Fences hovered feet ...Read more