LOS ANGELES The Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t win a game Thursday. But they got something far more valuable before even taking the field for their 4-2 loss to the San Diego Padres.

With the Atlanta Braves’ loss to the Cincinnati Reds earlier in the day, the Dodgers clinched the second seed in the National League playoffs and the first-round ...Read more

SEATTLE — While the rest of his teammates headed into the clubhouse ready to wash another loss away in a season filled with them, Bryan Woo remained in the dugout, staring at the field — the handheld scoreboard reading a 6-4 loss to the Angels in the distance.

“Last game,” he said quietly. “If you can use the season and use this time ...Read more

NEW YORK — In his final start of a historic regular season, Cam Schlittler put the finishing touches on what is all but certain to be an American League Cy Young Award campaign.

The Yankees ace allowed two runs (one earned) in three innings with five strikeouts on 70 pitches in Thursday night’s 6-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in the Bronx. ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — For the second straight night, the Phillies had an opportunity to close in on a playoff spot. And for the second straight night, the Phillies laid an egg.

A stagnant offense and yet another late bullpen collapse doomed them in a 5-1 loss to the Brewers on Thursday night. Milwaukee secured its 100th win of the season, setting a ...Read more

CHICAGO — It was a moment of serendipity no one could’ve imagined when the baseball season began six months ago.

Cubs and White Sox clinchers, dueling champagne parties and thousands of fans celebrating in living rooms, offices and bars from Mount Greenwood to Edison Park.

On a crisp fall afternoon in Chicago, the Cubs beat the Miami ...Read more

BOSTON — It’s long been assumed that the Red Sox are headed for a rematch with the New York Yankees in next week’s American League Wild Card Series, and to be sure, that is still the most likely outcome by far.

But it isn’t 100% locked in, and with Thursday’s lifeless 1-0 loss to the Cleveland Guardians a path remains for the Red Sox ...Read more

CHICAGO — The sneak-attack champagne and beer showers quickly made nobody safe in the Chicago Cubs clubhouse.

Multiple players victimized manager Craig Counsell, whose eyes had become so blinded by the deluge of alcohol he couldn’t make out who got him. Michael Conforto dumped a full beer down the back of an unsuspecting Carson Kelly while ...Read more

It is over now, finally, mercifully, the Rockies’ home schedule ending Thursday afternoon with a 12-8 loss on a field that mocked them, surrounded by fans who are struggling to see progress through anger.

A new front office brought Colorado from dial-up connections to fiber optics, incorporated analytics and took successful swings on ...Read more

The Yankees may be down a few sluggers entering the postseason, however, they certainly are equipped with a player capable of picking up some of the slack.

Ben Rice continued his special season in Wednesday night’s 9-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. The 27-year-old clobbered his 40th homer of the season in the first inning and performed an ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — No team had ever made the postseason after losing 100-plus games in each of the previous two seasons, let alone three.

Until the 2026 Chicago White Sox, that is.

The Sox completed a feat few saw coming, qualifying for the playoffs Thursday with a 9-1 victory against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.

It’s an ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Paul Skenes could’ve ended his season in the sixth inning with a groundout. He left to warm applause.

Then, it seemed, came a realization. Yohan Ramirez was ready, but Skenes was one strikeout away from 200 for the season.

So Skenes came back for the seventh. He fell behind St. Louis designated hitter Leo Bernal, then threw ...Read more

Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong’s combination of incredible speed and power has put him among the upper echelon of elite multitool players in Major League Baseball history.

With his steal of second base in the first inning Thursday after a leadoff walk against Miami Marlins right-hander Tyler Phillips, Crow-Armstrong became ...Read more

One strike away from officially being eliminated from the American League West race, the Mariners wouldn’t give into their expected fate.

Trailing by a run with two outs in the bottom of the 10th, Julio Rodríguez worked a bases-loaded walk against Astros closer Josh Hader, who was in his second inning of work, and Josh Naylor gave the ...Read more

WEST SACRAMENTO — Mike Trout found a way to make history again on Wednesday night with a home run in the top of the fourth inning, but it wasn’t nearly enough as the Angels fell to the Athletics, 7-3, for their 98th loss of the season.

With his blast at Sutter Health Park, Trout has now hit a home run in 31 different MLB stadiums. With his ...Read more

ARLINGTON, Texas — Nolan McLean put the last lines on his NL Rookie of the Year resume Wednesday night, giving the Mets as dominant a start as they could have asked for.

The rookie right-hander capped a stellar season with a seven-inning performance against the Texas Rangers. The Mets were unable to give him much run support, but his overall ...Read more

NEW YORK — Aaron Judge keeps saying he wants to return in time for the postseason.

On Wednesday, the Yankees’ captain told ESPN’s Jorge Castillo that he intends to be ready for Game 1 of the wild-card series. That will take place on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium.

“That’s what the plan is,” Judge told ESPN. “Try to get my body ready ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — The cans of beer and bottles of champagne will remain unopened for now, and the protective plastic lining the ceiling of the Phillies clubhouse will have to stay rolled up at least another day.

Because following their 4-1 loss to the Brewers, the Phillies were unable to clinch a playoff spot on Wednesday, regardless of what ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Rookie JJ Wetherholt had three hits and primed the Cardinals' offense Wednesday while playing close to home, and lefty Matthew Liberatore had the kind of start to build on wherever this offseason takes him next.

In his final start of the season, Liberatore held Pittsburgh to one run on six hits through 5 2/3 innings. He leaned ...Read more

BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox pulled off a 1-0 series-evening win over the visiting Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday night, despite the ongoing dearth of situational hitting that has plagued them for the last two weeks.

Boston batters tallied 12 hits, but went 2 for 14 with runners in scoring position, and left 11 men on base in eight innings. ...Read more