NEW YORK -- It took Lucas Sims a little longer than anticipated to get to the majors, but Sims is starting to pitch like he belongs and he could be a legitimate contender for a spot in next year's rotation.

Sims took a four-hit shutout into the seventh inning Monday and got plenty of late offensive support as the Braves beat the Mets 9-2 in the...Read more

HOUSTON -- Five times this season, Luis Valbuena had faced Chris Devenski, and five times Devenski had struck him out, wielding his wicked changeup to great success. So, when Valbuena stepped up to face him with the bases loaded in a tied seventh inning Sunday at Minute Maid Park, he resolved to locate redemption, as long as it took. He wanted ...Read more

LOS ANGELES -- As the calendar runs out on the regular season, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts admits he has a lot of decisions to make before the playoffs begin.

He faces issues in the bullpen, is unsettled over his roster and may still juggle his postseason rotation. But one thing is already settled: Clayton Kershaw will get the ball...Read more

SAN DIEGO -- On video, in the cage, even in the on-deck circle, there is nowhere Wil Myers hasn't turned to in a months-long search to steer out of the most frustrating skid of his career.

He may not have all the answers as a second up-and-down season in San Diego winds down.

Myers does, however, have momentum.

In an 8-4 loss to the playoff-...Read more

LOS ANGELES -- The number 40 is mentioned 146 times in the Bible, usually to represent an extended time of struggle or trial or test of faith.

This is worth mentioning because Clayton Kershaw made his 40th career start against the Giants on Sunday. Keep your locusts. Kershaw's overhand curve and deceptive delivery and 95-mph pointillism have ...Read more

MILWAUKEE -- Ben Zobrist has earned World Series rings in consecutive seasons, so he has a pretty accurate gauge of the Cubs' sense of urgency.

"It's the playoffs already for this team," Zobrist said Sunday after the Cubs shut out the Brewers 5-0 on Jose Quintana's three-hitter and reduced their magic number to clinch the National League ...Read more

CHICAGO -- Ian Kennedy pressed through a doorway and appeared in the visitors clubhouse Sunday afternoon, his right hand clutching a plate of sushi in the moments after an 8-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

All around him, teammates sat at tables and ate from the postgame spread inside a somber room. Kennedy had no wish to delay the inevitable....Read more

SEATTLE -- The Mariners' obituary could've been written a few days ago when they were swept by the Rangers to start the season's final homestand and extending a six-game losing streak. For all intents and purposes, the Mariners were done then.

But on a sun-drenched Sunday afternoon where the fall chill was apparent, the Mariners were ...Read more

PITTSBURGH -- In the past few seasons, September has been a time for the Pirates to position themselves for the playoffs -- or at least a possible postseason run. This year is different: The Pirates were out of contention by August, so September has been less of a chase for October than a chance to spoil others' postseason hopes and audition the...Read more

ATLANTA -- The slog to this season's finish line matched a Canadian right-hander against a Brazilian left-hander, both with ERAs above 6.00, but one rookie had a little more to prove than the other. Nick Pivetta has endured a beating. He has vowed it will transform him into a better player. The Phillies believe in Pivetta's fortitude, and that ...Read more

BALTIMORE -- The Orioles haven't had much of a September, but they wrapped up their home schedule with a 9-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday before 23,424 at Camden Yards.

J.J. Hardy delivered a tie-breaking two-run home run in the fourth inning and the O's prevailed even though scheduled starter Dylan Bundy had to be scratched before...Read more

DETROIT -- It was the first of what could be a few memorable achievements for the Twins this week.

Right-hander Jose Berrios was dominant early and the offense was a constant threat as the Twins whipped the Tigers 10-4 to complete a sweep of the four-game series and, with an 82-74 record, guarantee a winning season.

And that's nothing to take ...Read more

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Just as Seren Smith Wheelwright walked to the microphone to sing the national anthem, Bruce Maxwell, his back facing the crowd and his face toward the flag out in left field, dropped down to a knee on the Coliseum dirt. He covered the left side of his chest with the classic A's green and gold hat held in his right hand. To his...Read more

HOUSTON -- The Major League Baseball season is a beast, a monstrosity unlike anything else in sports. For at least eight months, there is almost always a game the next day. That truth offers unceasing opportunities to avenge defeat, constant chances to spoil victory and, at the end, a particular sense of torment.

After their sixth straight loss...Read more

CHICAGO -- Eighteen days ago, Alex Gordon finished 0 for 4 in a blowout loss in Detroit. His batting average sank to .196, matching its low point since July 19. His slugging percentage was a dreadful .282. He owned just five home runs in more than five months.

To have a starting left fielder performing at such an offensive level represented a ...Read more

ATLANTA -- Johan Camargo's stock soared earlier this season, and the Braves rookie provided another reminder why Saturday night.

Camargo's two-out, two-run pinch-hit double in the eighth inning lifted the Braves to a 4-2 win against the Phillies in the penultimate home game of the season at SunTrust Park.

Julio Teheran pitched seven solid ...Read more

DETROIT -- If the Twins will be playing deep into the postseason, surely they can expect to face starting pitchers that tie them up for most of the game.

That happened Saturday night against the last-place Tigers, when left-hander Matt Boyd gave up a fluke run to the first batter of the game, then nearly shut down the Twins from there.

But the...Read more

BALTIMORE -- Before their biggest home crowd in a month at Camden Yards, the Orioles played out an array of inevitable outcomes Saturday night that combine to explain plenty about their lost 2017 season.

With a 9-6 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays before an announced 42,802 fans Saturday, combined with a Minnesota Twins win, the Orioles were ...Read more

PITTSBURGH -- In short, it was the worst of 160 starts in Lance Lynn's big-league career. And it scarcely could have come at a worse time.

The St. Louis Cardinals' righthander failed to last the first inning Saturday night as the Pittsburgh Pirates laid into him for eight runs and then played out an 11-6 victory, costing the Cardinals position ...Read more