LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers are tied with the Philadelphia Phillies for the best record in baseball heading into the final three weeks of the regular season, and it hasn’t guaranteed them much, not with San Diego and Arizona breathing down their necks in the National League West.

“We’re feeling the Padres and Diamondbacks ...Read more

BOSTON — It was only fitting that the Red Sox quarterback returned on the first Saturday of the NFL season.

“He’s the quarterback,” manager Alex Cora said of Trevor Story, who returned after missing 133 games with what was thought to be a season-ending shoulder injury, and helped the Red Sox beat the visiting Chicago White Sox, 7-5. “...Read more

ATLANTA — The Braves lost 9-5 to the Blue Jays at Truist Park on Saturday, falling out of postseason position in the process.

Here are five takeaways from Saturday:

1. It was an ugly outing for rookie Spencer Schwellenbach, who’s been so brilliant throughout his rookie campaign. He surrendered six runs (three earned) on 10 hits, allowing ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — All eyes are on the Giants’ contingent of young players this September as they attempt to carve out roles for next season.

And if you ask Grant McCray, good thing folks are watching.

McCray, 23, started the season in Double-A and didn’t reach Triple-A until the middle of June, but in 19 games since getting the call to the ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — The top wild-card team in the NL, the Padres control their own destiny.

A little more breathing room would be nice.

Dylan Cease coughed up an early lead and a lineup missing Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill squandered opportunity after opportunity in a 6-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants on Saturday, costing the Padres a ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — In their first loss of the day, it was a lack of offense that served as the key issue. In loss No. 2, it was the bullpen. Ahead 4-2 after six strong innings from Mitch Keller, the Pirates’ unit of reserve arms once again failed to hold onto their team’s lead, blowing multiple advantages en route to an 8-6 loss at PNC Park.

...Read more

ST. LOUIS — Kyle Gibson turned in one of his best performances in a Cardinals uniform. He and Seattle Mariners pitcher Logan Gilbert locked in a thrilling, no-margin-for-error pitchers' duel, and it took Gibson’s batterymate Pedro Pages to deliver a decisive swing in the eighth inning.

Gibson and the Cardinals' bullpen powered their way to ...Read more

CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs’ playoff odds stood at 1.1% Saturday before a nondescript 2-0 loss to the New York Yankees at Wrigley Field.

They may be on life support, but that didn’t stop a crowd of 40,080 from turning out on a sun-chilled September afternoon. Some came out to see the Yankees or to witness the game’s biggest star, Aaron ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Bailey Ober surrendered one hit through seven scoreless innings against the Kansas City Royals, and manager Rocco Baldelli hit Ober with an early hook.

As the Twins attempt to stop their freefall in a playoff race, it was a pitching decision that backfired into a stunning 4-2 loss at Kauffman Stadium. Jhoan Duran entered ...Read more

NEW YORK — If there’s anyone the Mets can count on to put a ball in play, it’s Jose Iglesias.

Iglesias broke up a no-hitter with an opposite-field double off of Cincinnati Reds right-hander Jakob Junis with two outs in the fifth Saturday at Citi Field. But it was Harrison Bader who had the hero home-run, taking left-hander Sam Moll deep ...Read more

MIAMI — Maybe it wouldn’t have mattered.

With Aaron Nola lacking his best stuff and the Phillies generating little offense through seven innings save for a pair of Garrett Stubbs bunt singles, maybe manager Rob Thomson’s choice to use Taijuan Walker with only a three-run deficit Saturday would’ve been inconsequential.

But the Phillies ...Read more

The Yankees’ series losing streak will stop at three.

The Bombers put out another strong pitching effort in their second consecutive shutout of the Chicago Cubs in a 2-0 win on Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field. A day after Luis Gil returned from an injury, it was Clarke Schmidt’s turn in his first outing since May 26 as he missed several...Read more

NEW YORK — The Mets left the ballpark Friday night expecting to be without Jeff McNeil for maybe a day or two with a bruised wrist. But Saturday morning they received surprising news: They would be without the 2022 National League batting champ for the rest of the regular season.

McNeil was hit on the right wrist with a pitch by Cincinnati ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — For the third time this week, Derek Shelton’s Pirates entered the seventh inning of a game looking for their first hit.

And while a pair of knocks against the Nationals bullpen prevented embarrassment similar to what the team experienced Wednesday at Wrigley field, their sluggish day at the plate was still too much to overcome,...Read more

SAN DIEGO — Friday’s game had history and a scare, and it provided a bit of breathing room.

The San Diego Padres three early runs for the second straight night, but this time they added on and held on to beat the San Francisco Giants 5-1.

Along the way, they got excellent pitching, lost rookie Jackson Merrill and saw Manny Machado tie the ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Landon Knack has been a human life preserver for the Los Angeles Dodgers, an unsung rookie right-hander who has helped keep the rotation afloat when seas get a little rough.

With Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Gavin Stone and Clayton Kershaw on the injured list, the Dodgers summoned the 27-year-old right-hander from triple-A...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals continued to shake off the doldrums of their recent seven-game losing streak on Friday night.

The Royals earned a pivotal 5-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium. The win vaulted the club into second place in the American League Central race.

KC improved to 77-65 and sits a half-game...Read more

ST. LOUIS — Bryce Miller threw six scoreless innings, Dylan Moore hit a two-run home run and the Mariners scored three insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning to pull away for a 6-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night.

At 72-70, the Mariners remain 4.5 games back of the Astros in the AL West.

The Mariners are an MLB-...Read more

BALTIMORE — For half an hour six days ago, it appeared Dean Kremer’s season might be over.

The Orioles pitcher was struck on the forearm with a 103.1-mph line drive. The ball was hit so hard it ricocheted off Kremer’s arm and went all the way to Gunnar Henderson at shortstop. Within seconds, a large welt appeared on Kremer’s throwing ...Read more

NEW YORK — Mark Vientos hit two home runs, including a walk-off shot in the 10th inning to help the Mets extend their winning streak to a season-high eight games on Friday night.

Vientos hit a two-run homer in the first inning and one in the 10th off former Mets reliever Justin Wilson to lead the Amazins’ over the Cincinnati Reds, 6-4.

The...Read more