SEATTLE -- Goodbye was inevitable.

This mutual parting of ways, at least in the beginning, seemed unimaginable to those who can remember what it was like when it was good.

Yet the sobering reality of the end to this relationship became apparent three years ago.

On Thursday night, Felix Hernandez will make his final start for the team that ...Read more

CHICAGO -- If you believe a team's chemistry is dictated by its core players, it's easy to connect the dots and point to the summer hiatus of Ben Zobrist as a leading factor to the Cubs' up-and-down season.

The Cubs no doubt missed Zobrist in the clubhouse, probably even more than in the lineup, but it's impossible to quantify a vibe, even for ...Read more

HOUSTON --After George Springer launched a career-high three home runs to propel the Houston Astros to a 13-5 win over the Los Angeles Angels, the manager of the losing team was asked if he thought his squad was close to competing with the behemoths who had just secured their third consecutive division title.

Brad Ausmus' answer was succinct.

...Read more

CLEVELAND -- Oscar Mercado on Friday night hinted that the Philadelphia Phillies might want to be a bit afraid of him, too, and not just Francisco Lindor. They didn't listen.

On Sunday night, Mercado made sure they did, as his go-ahead, three-run home run propelled the Indians to an 10-1 win over the Phillies at Progressive Field.

The Tampa ...Read more

OAKLAND, Calif. -- No matter what the Texas Rangers were going to do Sunday afternoon at Oakland Coliseum, they were going to finish the road portion of their 162-game schedule with a dismal record away from home.

The best they could hope for was to match last season's record, also dismal at 33-48, and they did behind five home runs and 12 ...Read more

SAN DIEGO -- A.J. Preller envisioned a top-of-the-rotation piece when he signed Garrett Richards, in the midst of Tommy John rehab, to a two-year, $15 million last December.

Sunday served as a reminder of the reality of that promise: The 31-year-old Richards has quite ways to go to return to form.

Making just his second start with a ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS -- Nelson Cruz is a man of his word. He told Twins officials during spring training that he was going to reach the 40 home run level this season, and the 39-year old proved his swing is just as lethal as ever.

On the final home game of the regular season, Cruz swatted his 40th home run of the season to help the Twins beat the Royals...Read more

LOS ANGELES -- Kenta Maeda faced as many media scrums as opposing hitters Saturday night.

Between his two separate chats with foreign reporters and the local press, Maeda chuckled. After logging just two-thirds of an inning, he wasn't expecting to be the center of attention postgame.

But, on a night when Dodgers manager Dave Roberts wanted to ...Read more

CHICAGO -- The balance of Kris Bryant's 2019 season could be in question after the Cubs third baseman suffered a right ankle sprain Sunday while unsuccessfully trying to avoid a double play in the third inning.

As for the Cubs, their declining chances of earning a playoff berth virtually vanished as quickly as the Cardinals' two-run rally off ...Read more

BALTIMORE -- As Chris Davis neared the end of his first home run trot of September, he slowed, giving himself time to look around the Orioles' final home crowd of 2019. His mind drifted back to 2015, when he homered twice in Baltimore's last game at Camden Yards and what he figured could be his last as an Oriole as he approached the uncertainty ...Read more

ATLANTA -- For the second time in three seasons at SunTrust Park, the Braves' home schedule won't end with their final homestand.

The Braves lost their final home game, 4-1, to the Giants on Sunday afternoon. They finished 50-31 at home, their first time winning 50 at home since 2003.

But that isn't a wrap on SunTrust Park's third season quite...Read more

LOS ANGELES -- A Dodger Stadium crowd of 50,705, dormant for much of the evening, roared to life Saturday night when center fielder Enrique Hernandez fired a 94-mph one-hop throw to the plate to nail Raimel Tapia to end the top of the eighth inning.

The energy that has helped fuel the team's best home record since it moved to Los Angeles in ...Read more

BALTIMORE -- A late home run that erases an Orioles lead is nothing new.

Allowing Seattle's Mallex Smith, one of the fastest men in the game, to reach on an error, steal second and score from there on an infield single to third base?

That's the latest in a long line of Orioles losses, 7-6, to the Seattle Mariners before an announced crowd of ...Read more

CLEVELAND -- Bryce Harper stepped on home plate and made an "O-H" motion to the crowd, a nod to his wife's alma mater. This is Ohio State country after all, so Harper figured he would try to fit in with the locals, especially after the Buckeyes scored 76 points on Saturday.

Oh, and the gesture served as a helpful reminder, too, that the results...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS--Have no fear, Jose Berrios. Once the playoffs arrive, the Kansas City Royals can't bother you again.

Berrios, whose two bounceback starts after a monthlong slump allayed some Twin Cities fears about the righthander's readiness for a postseason series, fell victim to an odd pattern Saturday night. He has faced the Royals three times...Read more

ATLANTA -- Manager Bruce Bochy and San Francisco Giants players insist their focus has not shifted.

Despite being eliminated from playoff contention, they say they're determined to win as many games as possible and finish the season with some of their best baseball.

Words do not always match actions.

The season isn't officially over for the ...Read more

DETROIT -- The last time Tyler Alexander pitched at Comerica Park, he picked up his first major league win.

That was on Monday, when the Detroit Tigers said their season good-bye to the Baltimore Orioles, their chief competition for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 MLB draft.

Since then, the Tigers have not won a game. The Orioles have won ...Read more

CHICAGO -- Craig Kimbrel put his hands on his hips in disbelief as Paul DeJong rounded the bases with gusto.

After the Cubs overcame three deficits and were three outs from regaining momentum toward an increasingly improbable National League playoff berth, the Cardinals stunned them. Yadier Molina and DeJong hit home runs on Kimbrel's first two...Read more