TAMPA, Fla. — With a playoff berth clinched dramatically and celebrated exuberantly Friday night, several Rays said Saturday afternoon they had fully turned their attention to the next goal, which is to secure the American League East division title.

“Yesterday was yesterday,” designated hitter Yandy Diaz said via team interpreter Kevin ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Emmanuel Rodriguez provided a spark during his major league debut Saturday, belting a solo homer in his first career at-bat and recording an outfield assist within the first three innings.

The Twins needed every ounce of Rodriguez's energy during a 4-3 victory over the Cleveland Guardians at Target Field.

Rodriguez's 420-foot ...Read more

MIAMI — The way right-handed starter Tyler Glasnow has pitched this year when healthy made him an obvious choice for the Dodgers’ postseason rotation. But during the Dodgers’ 4-3 loss to the Marlins on Saturday, with the team on the cusp of clinching a playoff berth, he didn’t look like that version of himself.

“I just think it was ...Read more

TORONTO — These technically aren’t must-win games.

The Orioles’ 7-3 loss to the Blue Jays on Saturday didn’t mathematically end Baltimore’s playoff hopes. A loss Sunday wouldn’t either.

But with only two weeks remaining in the season and the Orioles clinging to the fringes of wild-card contention, every game carries massive ...Read more

Paul Skenes had one of his best starts in months. Ryan O’Hearn came off the injured list and flipped the game with a go-ahead, three-run homer.

It wasn’t enough for a win.

The Chicago Cubs beat the Pirates, 4-3, on Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field. O’Hearn’s blast had given the Pirates the lead when Skenes left after seven innings, ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — For three straight games, the Giants have looked dead in the water. For three straight games, the Giants have stormed back to life.

On Wednesday, they trailed the St. Louis Cardinals by five runs going into the bottom of the eighth before putting up six runs to record their first three-game sweep of the season. On Friday, they...Read more

BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox decided earlier this week to bump back Ranger Suarez’s start by a day as they look to have the him fresh for the stretch run and the playoffs.

And the Red Sox got the intended results from Suarez on Saturday against the Kansas City Royals.

Suarez was in top form and superbly efficiently, mowing down the Royals ...Read more

DETROIT — The Tigers just kept coming, kept applying pressure. Going into the bottom of the eighth, they were down 7-4 but they had 13 hits and had created 17 at-bats with runners in scoring position.

It seemed only a matter of time until the dam broke. It didn't so much break as it was shattered.

The Tigers sent 11 hitters to the plate and ...Read more

ST. LOUIS — The Chicago White Sox held a 51/2-game lead in the American League Central on Aug. 16.

That lead is down to a half-game after the Sox suffered their fourth straight loss Friday, falling 7-3 to the St. Louis Cardinals in front of 30,274 at Busch Stadium.

“Just an ugly one all the way around,” manager Will Venable said. “...Read more

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Two things we’ve learned about Lazaro Montes in his first two weeks in the big leagues:

The unabashed joy with which he plays is real and it’s authentic.

The power absolutely is, too.

Both elements have been in short supply for the underperforming Seattle Mariners, and both were on display again Friday night ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — Near the end of July, Robbie Ray pitched in a game for the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park.

He allowed one run on four hits and a walk over six innings.

Four days later, he was traded to San Diego. He was acquired to help bolster the Padres’ starting rotation and their chances of making the postseason, as he had at the ...Read more

ATLANTA — Bryce Harper was off and running.

Alec Bohm had hit a grounder right to Braves shortstop Mauricio Dubón, but by the time Harper realized his mistake, it was too late. He was frozen between second and third, and Dubón had him dead to rights.

Harper was tagged out for the second out in the top of the ninth, and the Phillies’ best...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — The Twins acquired three pitchers at the trade deadline, hopeful it would bolster their bullpen for a playoff push over the last two months of the season.

Those playoff dreams ended sometime in the past week, and the bullpen didn't even let the Twins play spoiler Friday at Target Field.

Twins closer Yoendrys Gómez gave up ...Read more

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Missing the playoffs the past two seasons seemed like a very long time for the Rays, especially after making them for five straight.

With the chance in their own hands to get back in with a win on Friday, they did so in dramatic fashion.

Junior Caminero hit a two-run homer with one out in the ninth inning to give the ...Read more

DETROIT — Riley Greene just wouldn’t give in.

It was a 1-1 game in the sixth inning. There were two outs and Gleyber Torres was on first. It looked like lefty reliever Mark Manfredi had Greene struck out when home plate umpire Ron Kulpa went up with his right hand on a 2-2 fastball.

Greene, who rarely uses a challenge, tapped his head. The...Read more

BOSTON — This week the MLB schedule presented the Red Sox with a golden opportunity to effectively lock up their playoff spot and potentially make one last push to catch the Yankees, with back-to-back home series against the last place Los Angeles Angels and Kansas City Royals.

It might not wind up mattering, but the Red Sox haven’t exactly...Read more

NEW YORK — As the Yankees’ pitchers and hitters began their respective pregame meetings on Friday afternoon, the daily seminars opened with a twist.

Shown to them was what Aaron Boone called an “outstanding,” three-minute video on the significance of Sept. 11, 2001. With Friday marking the 25th commemoration of the terrorist attacks ...Read more

TORONTO — If Baltimore fans were told during spring training that the Orioles and Blue Jays would play meaningful games in mid-September while fighting for a playoff spot, they would’ve surely assumed that was a positive outcome.

They certainly wouldn’t have thought it would look like this.

For months, the Orioles and Blue Jays have ...Read more

MIAMI — Dodgers top prospect Josue De Paula wasn’t going to be overwhelmed by the moment. Manager Dave Roberts was quite sure of that.

“I think he’s gonna swing at strikes, take balls, put together good at-bats,” Roberts said before De Paula’s major league debut Friday.

Sure enough, when De Paula stepped into the batter’s box at ...Read more