SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants entered this weekend needing just one win to avoid losing 100 games in a single season for the second time in franchise history. As they embark upon their final trip of the year, they are still searching for that one win.

Following the announcement that Rafael Devers would miss the rest of the season, ...Read more

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Lawrence Butler launched a sky-high, two-run home run off Mariners closer Andrés Munoz in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Athletics stunned the Mariners for the second time this weekend in an 8-7 walk-off victory Sunday afternoon.

The loss further sinks the Mariners’ already thin playoff chances.

Donovan ...Read more

BOSTON — Only two pitchers in Red Sox history have opened a game with an immaculate inning — three batters, nine pitches, three strikeouts.

One is Pedro Martinez. The other, as of Sunday, is Payton Tolle.

Boston’s rookie standout buzzed through the first inning of his team’s rain-delayed matchup against the Royals at Fenway Park, ...Read more

ST. LOUIS — Chicago White Sox starter David Sandlin retired the first 16 batters he faced on Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Sandlin’s bid for perfection ended when Nathan Church singled to right field with one out in the sixth inning. The one-run lead the Sox held at the time didn’t last much longer.

The Cardinals scored three ...Read more

It was a winning trip to Chicago for the Pittsburgh Pirates, even if it wasn’t the final record they hoped for.

The Pirates ended their week in the Windy City with a 4-3 win against the Chicago Cubs at a drizzly Wrigley Field on Sunday afternoon, avoiding a three-game sweep. Brandon Lowe provided the winning hit, a two-run pinch-hit single in...Read more

ATLANTA — Luis Arraez went after a first-pitch slider, and popped it straight up.

Braves third baseman Austin Riley settled underneath it, making the catch for the second out of the eighth in yet another wasted opportunity for the Phillies. They were on the verge of stranding yet another pair of runners in scoring position on Sunday.

The ...Read more

MIAMI — Dodgers rookie Josue De Paula’s first major-league hit was a no-doubter off the bat.

He’d already fouled off three sinkers in the at-bat and was rewarded with a four-seam fastball on the inner third of the plate. He extended through it and admired the ball’s flight to loanDepot Park’s right-field upper deck, his bat at his ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Joe Ryan threw pitches at his normal velocity Sunday, and he pounded the strike zone with his usual consistency, but those were probably the only elements of his start that looked normal.

Ryan labored through four innings in his second start since returning from a monthlong stint on the injured list because of left glute strain....Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Leading up to and after Friday’s clinching of a playoff berth, the Tampa Bay Rays have been talking a lot about grander goals — about beating out the New York Yankees to win the American League East and earn a first-round bye, and then advancing through the playoffs.

This weekend, they played like a team capable of winning a...Read more

NEW YORK — Ben Rice is proving to be a solid solution atop the Yankees’ batting order.

Serving as the Yankees’ leadoff hitter for the ninth time since Aug. 31, Rice kicked off Sunday afternoon’s 2-0 win over the Mets in the Bronx with a first-inning home run.

The lefty-swinging Rice jumped on a hanging splitter from Mets right-hander ...Read more

TORONTO — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stood at home plate and admired his big fly like it was a walk-off home run.

After the ball landed in the Toronto Blue Jays’ bullpen, Guerrero enjoyed his jog around the bases. The loud crowd made Rogers Centre shake, giving their superstar a standing ovation. The fans demanded more. Once Guerrero reached the...Read more

DETROIT — How does this sound? Justin Verlander, taking the mound on Sept. 26 in a farewell outing during a weekend when the Detroit Tigers are honoring his Hall of Fame-worthy career.

Pretty special and it is trending toward being a reality.

“I’m cautious to throw it out there too firmly,” manager AJ Hinch said. “Because a lot of ...Read more

DETROIT — They don’t deduct points for beating the worst team in baseball. All wins count the same.

And the Detroit Tigers will demand full value for their three-game sweep of the 94-loss Colorado Rockies.

Riley Greene continued his scorching run and right-hander Jackson Jobe was in peak form as the Tigers capped the weekend with a ...Read more

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Show up. Play hard.

With two weeks left in a disappointing season, that’s the simple mindset the Seattle Mariners are taking with them to the ballpark.

What else can they really do at this point?

“The thing I tell myself is: ‘Show up,’” Julio Rodríguez said before Saturday night’s game. “‘Show up. ...Read more

ATLANTA — Bryson Stott had a brief moment of hesitation.

As the ground ball bounced into his glove at third base, he paused to take a peek over at second. But Braves outfielder Mauricio Dubón was already sliding in, and it was clear Stott’s only play would be across the diamond.

After he double-clutched, Stott’s throw to first was low, ...Read more

ST. LOUIS — After being lifted to a one-run lead in the eighth inning thanks to a solo homer by rookie catcher Leo Bernal, Cardinals closer Riley O’Brien came within one strike away from sealing a Saturday win over the White Sox at Busch Stadium.

The chance, however, was dashed on the second 1-2 pitch O’Brien threw to White Sox slugger ...Read more

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