CLEVELAND — Chicago White Sox relievers lost their command in the sixth inning Wednesday against the Cleveland Guardians.

And the Sox lost their grip on the American League Central.

The Sox fell to second place in the division with a 6-3 loss to the Guardians in front of 23,336 at Progressive Field. The Sox had held at least a share of the ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Carlos Correa is out. Max Fried is back. Shohei Ohtani is somewhere in between. And questions linger over the postseason availability of several other MLB difference-makers as October approaches.

Here is a look at the injury status and hopeful returns of impact players on playoff qualifiers and contenders:

American League East ...Read more

CINCINNATI — Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell left his start against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday after one inning, with what the team identified as left groin tightness.

Snell gave up one hit, a single to Sal Stewart, which he quickly erased with a successful pick-off that caught Stewart in an inning-ending run-down.

Snell threw 19 ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — After all the ways the Twins have lost to the New York Yankees this century, all the letdowns in their long saga of misery, maybe they were due for a game like Wednesday's 5-4 win.

Victor Caratini, a pinch hitter, ended the longest (and maybe wackiest) game of the Twins season with a walk-off single in the 13th inning, a ground ...Read more

MINNESOTA — Aaron Judge’s health has the Yankees holding their breath once again.

The slugger left Wednesday’s 5-4, 13-inning loss to the Twins prematurely when Heliot Ramos pinch hit for him with a runner on and one out in the top of the sixth inning. It was a concerning development, as the Yankees were only down two runs at the time, ...Read more

One of the many oddities for the Giants this season is how many players they’ve used in the leadoff spot. Manager Tony Vitello has penciled in 15 different starters to bat first, the most in franchise history. The list includes one-offs from Will Brennan, Victor Bericoto and Nate Furman, as well as cameos from Bryce Eldridge and Matt Chapman. ...Read more

ANAHEIM — It was clear immediately that Ryan Johnson was going to go right at the Seattle Mariners.

Johnson didn’t throw a ball until the second inning, on his way to six strong innings and another statement about his place in the Angels’ rotation next season.

After pitching the Angels to a 2-1 victory over the Mariners on Tuesday night,...Read more

DENVER — The Rockies are young and unknown and not good on the whole.

But they have some players who can hit a bit, and especially at their mile-high ballpark.

In Tuesday’s game at Coors Field between one team on an eight-game winning streak and one on an eight-game losing streak, it was a young player from somewhere familiar who ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — The Twins had a two-run deficit after two batters Tuesday, following a two-run homer from Cody Bellinger, and the rest of the game wasn't much better.

One day after the Twins watched the New York Yankees celebrate clinching a playoff spot, they were routed in an 8-1 loss at Target Field.

If that wasn't enough bad news, rookie ...Read more

The 1985 San Francisco Giants will not have company.

With a 10-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night at Busch Stadium, the Giants won their 63rd game under rookie manager Tony Vitello, guaranteeing that they will not lose 100 games in a single season for the second time in franchise history. San Francisco, at 63-89, had far ...Read more

HOUSTON — Michael Wacha continues to prove his worth to the Kansas City Royals. And on a night when he didn’t have his best stuff, Wacha still gave the club a chance.

Wacha tossed six innings against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. However, his Tuesday start was an uncharacteristic showing. Wacha allowed three homers — including two ...Read more

Patrick Sandoval has had a rocky month. Entering Tuesday the Red Sox left-hander had allowed a 6.12 ERA over his last five starts, but coming out of the gate Sandoval looked like he’d finally figured things out.

But after striking out the first four batters he faced, the wheels came off in the bottom of the second.

Sandoval allowed four runs...Read more

WASHINGTON — Jesús Luzardo spent most of his first night on the injured list seated at the end of a dugout bench, an injured ace unable to pitch due to shoulder stiffness.

Yet, somehow, the Phillies have a bigger problem.

It hardly seems possible given Luzardo’s importance to the entire operation. He’s been the best pitcher in the ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates had a golden opportunity to tie the game against Jacob Misiorowski and the Milwaukee Brewers.

Down a run with two runners on in the fourth, Rafael Flores Jr. hit a grounder that deflected off third baseman David Hamilton’s glove and into shallow left field. Third base coach Tony Beasley, evidently missing...Read more

NEW YORK — Pete Alonso had one more iconic Citi Field moment left in him.

The longtime New York Mets first baseman got all the emotions out of the way Monday in a ceremonious return to Queens, complete with a tribute video, standing ovations and chants all night long. On Tuesday, he gave Mets fans a reminder of what they were missing after ...Read more

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The series against the A’s that opened Tuesday night at Tropicana Field is the Rays’ only one since early September — and until the end of the season — against a team not in the playoff race.

Easy, right?

Not so much.

Tampa Bay prevailed at the end for a 2-1 win in dramatic fashion, as Junior Caminero ...Read more

CINCINNATI — A simple change opened up a dramatic offensive turnaround for Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hernández.

Hernández’ two-run homer Tuesday, in the Dodgers’ 4-0 win against the Reds on Tuesday was his second home run in as many nights, as they trimmed their magic number to clinch the division to two. And, significantly, this one...Read more

WASHINGTON — If Jesús Luzardo starts again for the Phillies this season — suddenly an enormous “if” — it almost certainly won’t be until the playoffs.

Luzardo went on the 15-day injured list, the Phillies announced Tuesday, because the stiffness in his inflamed left shoulder lingered after three days of not throwing. The All-Star ...Read more

DENVER — It was stressful like September should be. It was crazy like Coors Field almost always is.

“Coors Field special right there,” Padres manager Craig Stammen said afterward. “A lot of hits, walks, crazy bounces. One last bounce went our way at the end.”

That about summed up a the Padres’ 8-7 victory over the Rockies on Monday...Read more

ANAHEIM — Reid Detmers wasn’t as dominant as he had been, but it was good enough on a night when the offense, defense and bullpen all did their jobs.

The Angels’ left-hander gave up three runs, more than he had in any start in more than a month, but the Angels still beat the Seattle Mariners, 6-4, on Monday night.

Shortstop Zach Neto ...Read more