NEW YORK — It’s crunch time for the Mets.

If they’re going to show that they’re worthy of a playoff spot, they need to prove it over the next two weeks. Their schedule the rest of the way through is unforgiving, with the only soft spot coming this week with three games against the Washington Nationals on the road. But then they continue...Read more

DETROIT — This is a completely different looking Detroit Tigers team from a month ago.

They weren't pitching very well, didn't generate much offense during the mid-July slump and looking like a team with waning confidence.

They took apart the AL West-leading Houston Astros 10-0 Monday, further putting away the mystifying blip of a month ago ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Some late game fireworks — and a late game defensive implosion from the Toronto Blue Jays — gave the Pittsburgh Pirates a 5-2 win against Toronto on Monday night at PNC Park.

The Blue Jays had three errors and a wild pitch in the final two innings, allowing the Pirates to score three runs. The winning run scored in the ...Read more

CHICAGO — The second game of Monday’s split doubleheader between the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field was postponed because of the threat of storms.

The game will be played Tuesday as part of a split doubleheader. The first game will begin at 1:20 p.m. CDT, with the second game at 7:05 as originally scheduled.

The Cubs ...Read more

CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer glanced from the dugout to the visitors’ side Monday morning, where the Milwaukee Brewers were doing light pregame work.

It’s not quite at the point of the year where Hoyer and the Cubs are regularly checking the scores of other National League playoff-contending teams. ...Read more

CHICAGO — Where will the Chicago Cubs be in 2032?

It’s anyone’s guess, and the way the country is heading, we’re not even sure if there will be a 2032.

But at least we know the Cubs are thinking ahead, making sure their fans will be excited about the team’s 2032 stretch run, which presumably will be led by manager Pat Murphy after ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Rob Manfred normally does what many fans consider an annoyingly effective job of keeping Major League Baseball's strategic plans out of the public square.

So maybe the MLB commissioner was caught in an unguarded moment, staring down at a diamond from the ESPN "Sunday Night Baseball" booth in the cozy confines of Williamsport, Pa...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Zack Wheeler underwent a successful thrombolysis procedure to remove a blood clot in his upper right arm Monday morning, the Phillies announced.

The procedure was completed by Paul DiMuzio at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. Wheeler, who is on the 15-day injured list, felt heaviness in his shoulder following his start on ...Read more

LOS ANGELES – A dugout full of San Diego Padres cheered Jose Iglesias as he returned to them Sunday after tying the game in the eighth inning at Dodger Stadium.

Iglesias had hit a run-scoring groundout while batting for Jake Cronenworth, who was among those to congratulate him.

Finally, the Padres were looking the Los Angeles Dodgers eye to ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Slammed Diego.

Those pesky rivals from down south staggered away from their weekend stay at Dodger Stadium Sunday with spirits bruised, egos bloodied and Manny Machado flattened.

Canned Diego.

Arriving here shortly after stealing first place, little brother spent the next three days giving it back to a Dodger team that met the...Read more

NEW YORK — The Mets used small ball to build an early lead before turning the power on in the fifth inning.

Mark Vientos had four RBI (including a three-run round-tripper during that four-run fifth) and Clay Holmes struck out four over five innings of one-run ball to carry the Mets (66-58) to a 7-3 win over the Seattle Mariners (68-57) in the...Read more

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. —The Los Angeles Angels finished a disappointing weekend on a high note.

After losing the first two games against the Athletics, the Angels salvaged the final game of the series by winning, 11-5, in 10 innings on Sunday afternoon.

Jo Adell, who started the day with a three-run homer, drove in the tie-breaking run with...Read more

CHICAGO — Fans gathered in the parking lot in front of Rate Field’s Gate 5 for the Before the Peel party. A swarm of yellow crowded in front of the stage to watch the festivities take place.

This is where the first celebrity cameo happened. The afro-mohawk, big gold chain, sideburns, yellow sleeveless vest, blue shorts and a layer of sweat ...Read more

The New York Yankees had a need for speed.

That’s why they acquired the pesky José Caballero before last month’s trade deadline, identifying him as a versatile weapon who could wreak havoc on the basepaths.

That vision came to fruition in Sunday afternoon’s 8-4 win over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Caballero manufactured the go-ahead run ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals continue to take care of business at home.

This weekend, the club secured a series victory over the Chicago White Sox. With a winning record for the first time since June 10, the Royals (63-61) are squarely in the American League wild-card race with 38 games to play.

Now the real test begins.

The ...Read more

CHICAGO — Isaac Mattson has been perhaps the most consistent reliever in Don Kelly’s bullpen over the past few months. Unfortunately for the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Chicago Cubs were able to force a rare off-day for the right-hander Sunday afternoon at Wrigley Field.

Entering the game with the score tied at three in the bottom of the eighth...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants could’ve settled for two runs. Willy Adames was not in the business of settling.

With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Dominic Smith muscled a broken-bat single to left field. Heliot Ramos, celebrating his bobblehead day, scored easily. Rafael Devers followed behind Ramos and crossed home plate. It would’ve ...Read more

DENVER — The Colorado Rockies’ rally thing has become a thing.

Showing scant signs of life at the plate and trailing Arizona 4-1, the Rockies scored four runs in the seventh inning to eek out a 6-5 victory on Sunday afternoon at Coors Field.

Colorado’s third straight win clinched the four-game series with the Diamondbacks. It was ...Read more