A look at what's happening around the majors Friday:POPPIN'Ronald Acuña Jr. and the Braves are poised to break out the bubbly, with a magic number of one to clinch their second straight NL East title. They can celebrate when Mike Foltynewicz (7-5, 4.80 ERA) starts at SunTrust Park against San Francisco. A win by Atlanta or a loss by second-place Washington at Miami will seal it.At 21, Acuña will be able to take part in a champagne toast. The star outfielder with 40 home runs wasn't yet of legal age when the Braves won the division a year ago."They wouldn't let me drink because I was a minor," Acuña recalled, breaking into a big smile. "This year, it's going to be different. I'm looking forward to it."CHICAGO BLUESThe Cubs have fallen to third place in the NL Central for the first time since April, but they can fix that as they continue a four-game set against first-place St. Louis. The Cardinals regrouped after blowing a late lead in the opener, winning on Matt Carpenter's 10th-inning homer... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Cubs slugger Anthony Rizzo hit a tying home run in his surprise return to the lineup Thursday night for the opener of a crucial four-game series against the NL Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals.Four days after suffering a sprained right ankle that threatened his status for the rest of the regular season, Rizzo was inserted atop Chicago's lineup 20 minutes before first pitch. He homered off Jack Flaherty in the third inning to tie the game at 1, and fans at Wrigley Field celebrated wildly as he slowly circled the bases.Rizzo left a game against Pittsburgh on Sunday after spraining the ankle fielding a bunt, and he was expected to be in a walking boot for up to a week. He warmed up in the outfield prior to Thursday's game while team medical personnel looked on, then was inserted into the leadoff spot and tabbed to play first base.The Cubs also got closer Craig Kimbrel and infielder Addison Russell back.Kimbrel has been out since Sept. 1 due to inflammation in his right elbow.... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs have activated closer Craig Kimbrel from the injured list before opening a crucial four-game series against the NL Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals.Kimbrel has been out since Sept. 1 due to inflammation in his right elbow. He'll be available Thursday against the Cardinals, who are three games ahead of the Cubs.The 31-year-old Kimbrel signed a $43 million, three-year contract as a free agent in June. He's converted 13 of 15 save chances, posting a 5.68 ERA in 21 appearances. He also spent time on the IL with right knee inflammation in August.The Cubs also got infielder Addison Russell back Thursday. He cleared concussion protocol and was set to be available off the bench. He missed 10 games after being hit in the head by a fastball.Left-hander Cole Hamels will miss his next rotation turn because of persistent fatigue in his left shoulder. The veteran hopes to pitch again during a three-game series at Pittsburgh next week.Righty Alec Mills will start Friday,... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Marcell Ozuna drove in four runs and threw out a runner at home plate from left field, leading the St. Louis Cardinals over the Washington Nationals 4-2 on Monday night.St. Louis retained its two-game lead over the second-place Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. Washington is one-half game ahead of the Cubs for the top NL wild card.Nationals manager Dave Martinez missed the game following a heart procedure in Washington, and bench coach Chip Hale was in charge of the dugout.Dexter Fowler walked against Sean Doolittle (6-5) with one out in the seventh, Hunter Strickland walked Paul Goldschmidt with two outs and Ozuna doubled just inside the left-field line, just the second hit in 11 at-bats for the Cardinals with runners in scoring position.Dakota Hudson (16-7) won for the sixth time in seven starts. Carlos Martínez got his 20th save in 23 chances.ROCKIES 9, METS 4DENVER (AP) — Pitcher Antonio Senzatela hit a tying, two-run single that ended a year-long 0-for-44 slide at the... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Marcell Ozuna drove in four runs and threw out a runner at home plate from left field, leading the St. Louis Cardinals over the Washington Nationals 4-2 on Monday night.St. Louis retained its two-game lead over the second-place Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. Washington is one-half game ahead of the Cubs for the top NL wild card.Nationals manager Dave Martinez missed the game following a heart procedure in Washington, and bench coach Chip Hale was in charge of the dugout.Dexter Fowler walked against Sean Doolittle (6-5) with one out in the seventh, Hunter Strickland walked Paul Goldschmidt with two outs and Ozuna doubled just inside the left-field line, just the second hit in 11 at-bats for the Cardinals with runners in scoring position.Dakota Hudson (16-7) won for the sixth time in seven starts. Carlos Martínez got his 20th save in 23 chances.ROCKIES 9, METS 4DENVER (AP) — Pitcher Antonio Senzatela hit a tying, two-run single that ended a year-long 0-for-44 slide at the... [More]

Padres fifth. Manuel Margot homers to left field. Nick Martini grounds out to shallow infield, Cole Hamels to Anthony Rizzo. Manny Machado walks. Wil Myers grounds out to shortstop, Nico Hoerner to Anthony Rizzo.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Padres 1, Cubs 0.Padres sixth. Ty France walks. Seth Mejias-Brean strikes out swinging. Luis Urias singles to left field. Ty France to third. Austin Hedges strikes out swinging. Josh Naylor pinch-hitting for Chris Paddack. Josh Naylor lines out to deep left field to Kyle Schwarber.1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 left on. Padres 2, Cubs 0.Padres seventh. Manuel Margot singles to first base. Nick Martini walks. Manny Machado grounds out to shortstop, Nico Hoerner to Anthony Rizzo. Travis Jankowski to second. Manuel Margot to third. Wil Myers singles to center field. Travis Jankowski scores. Manuel Margot scores. Ty France strikes out on a foul tip. Seth Mejias-Brean grounds out to shallow infield, Duane Underwood Jr. to Anthony Rizzo.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Padres 4, Cubs 0.

DETROIT (AP) — The Minnesota Twins capped a night of sensational slugging by breaking the major league record for home runs in a season, but that wasn't enough to overcome Detroit's seven-run third inning in the Tigers' 10-7 victory Saturday.The Twins homered six times to bring their season total to 268, one more than the New York Yankees managed last year. Minnesota broke the mark when Mitch Garver led off the ninth with a drive to left for his second homer of the game.Max Kepler, Jorge Polanco, C.J. Cron and Nelson Cruz also went deep for Minnesota, which passed the 1997 Mariners (264 homers) during the game. Martín Perez (9-6) got the loss.Ronny Rodriguez hit a pair of two-run homers for the Tigers, who snapped a six-game skid and halted a six-game winning streak by the AL Central-leading Twins. Matthew Boyd (7-10) earned the win.ANGELS 10, RED SOX 4ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Albert Pujols homered in a seven-run eighth inning, Mike Trout became the youngest player to reach at least 275 home... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — The Minnesota Twins capped a night of sensational slugging by breaking the major league record for home runs in a season, but that wasn't enough to overcome Detroit's seven-run third inning in the Tigers' 10-7 victory Saturday.The Twins homered six times to bring their season total to 268, one more than the New York Yankees managed last year. Minnesota broke the mark when Mitch Garver led off the ninth with a drive to left for his second homer of the game.Max Kepler, Jorge Polanco, C.J. Cron and Nelson Cruz also went deep for Minnesota, which passed the 1997 Mariners (264 homers) during the game. Martín Perez (9-6) got the loss.Ronny Rodriguez hit a pair of two-run homers for the Tigers, who snapped a six-game skid and halted a six-game winning streak by the AL Central-leading Twins. Matthew Boyd (7-10) earned the win.NATIONALS 7, MARLINS 0WASHINGTON (AP) — Stephen Strasburg struck out 14 in eight crisp innings and Anthony Rendon homered twice, powering the Nationals to the... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — The Minnesota Twins capped a night of sensational slugging by breaking the major league record for home runs in a season, but that wasn't enough to overcome Detroit's seven-run third inning in the Tigers' 10-7 victory Saturday.The Twins homered six times to bring their season total to 268, one more than the New York Yankees managed last year. Minnesota broke the mark when Mitch Garver led off the ninth with a drive to left for his second homer of the game.Max Kepler, Jorge Polanco, C.J. Cron and Nelson Cruz also went deep for Minnesota, which passed the 1997 Mariners (264 homers) during the game. Martín Perez (9-6) got the loss.Ronny Rodriguez hit a pair of two-run homers for the Tigers, who snapped a six-game skid and halted a six-game winning streak by the AL Central-leading Twins. Matthew Boyd (7-10) earned the win.NATIONALS 7, MARLINS 0WASHINGTON (AP) — Stephen Strasburg struck out 14 in eight crisp innings and Anthony Rendon homered twice, powering the Nationals to the... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — The Minnesota Twins capped a night of sensational slugging by breaking the major league record for home runs in a season, but that wasn't enough to overcome Detroit's seven-run third inning in the Tigers' 10-7 victory Saturday.The Twins homered six times to bring their season total to 268, one more than the New York Yankees managed last year. Minnesota broke the mark when Mitch Garver led off the ninth with a drive to left for his second homer of the game.Max Kepler, Jorge Polanco, C.J. Cron and Nelson Cruz also went deep for Minnesota, which passed the 1997 Mariners (264 homers) during the game. Martín Perez (9-6) got the loss.Ronny Rodriguez hit a pair of two-run homers for the Tigers, who snapped a six-game skid and halted a six-game winning streak by the AL Central-leading Twins. Matthew Boyd (7-10) earned the win.NATIONALS 7, MARLINS 0WASHINGTON (AP) — Stephen Strasburg struck out 14 in eight crisp innings and Anthony Rendon homered twice, powering the Nationals to the... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — The Minnesota Twins capped a night of sensational slugging by breaking the major league record for home runs in a season, but that wasn't enough to overcome Detroit's seven-run third inning in the Tigers' 10-7 victory Saturday.The Twins homered six times to bring their season total to 268, one more than the New York Yankees managed last year. Minnesota broke the mark when Mitch Garver led off the ninth with a drive to left for his second homer of the game.Max Kepler, Jorge Polanco, C.J. Cron and Nelson Cruz also went deep for Minnesota, which passed the 1997 Mariners (264 homers) during the game. Martín Perez (9-6) got the loss.Ronny Rodriguez hit a pair of two-run homers for the Tigers, who snapped a six-game skid and halted a six-game winning streak by the AL Central-leading Twins. Matthew Boyd (7-10) earned the win.NATIONALS 7, MARLINS 0WASHINGTON (AP) — Stephen Strasburg struck out 14 in eight crisp innings and Anthony Rendon homered twice, powering the Nationals to the... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — DJ LeMahieu homered on the first pitch in the bottom of the 11th inning and the New York Yankees beat Oakland 4-3 on Saturday for their first victory in five tries against the Athletics this season.Aaron Judge hit a tying homer for New York with two outs in the eighth, his 19th of the season and sixth in eight games. The 6-foot-7 Judge also took a potential home run away from Matt Chapman in the 10th, barely needing to leave his feet for a grab at the right field wall.Gary Sánchez went deep twice for the AL East leaders, and Cory Gearrin (1-2) got his first win with New York.Lou Trivino (4-6) was beginning his third inning of work when he surrendered LeMahieu's 24th homer.METS 6, PHILLIES 3PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Wilson Ramos matched his career high with four hits and extended his hitting streak to 24 games, helping the Mets to the road win.Todd Frazier had three hits and two RBIs for the Mets, who pulled within four games of the Cubs for the second NL wild card. Frazier also... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — DJ LeMahieu homered on the first pitch in the bottom of the 11th inning and the New York Yankees beat Oakland 4-3 on Saturday for their first victory in five tries against the Athletics this season.Aaron Judge hit a tying homer for New York with two outs in the eighth, his 19th of the season and sixth in eight games. The 6-foot-7 Judge also took a potential home run away from Matt Chapman in the 10th, barely needing to leave his feet for a grab at the right field wall.Gary Sánchez went deep twice for the AL East leaders, and Cory Gearrin (1-2) got his first win with New York.Lou Trivino (4-6) was beginning his third inning of work when he surrendered LeMahieu's 24th homer.CARDINALS 10, REDS 6, GAME 1ST. LOUIS (AP) — Dakota Hudson pitched a career-high 7 2/3 innings, and the Cardinals beat the Reds in the opener of a doubleheader weekend.Dexter Fowler and Yadier Molina homered as St. Louis won for the seventh time in eight games. Molina, Kolten Wong and Paul Goldschmidt each... [More]

Brewers first. Ben Gamel doubles to left field. Hernan Perez strikes out swinging. Christian Yelich walks. Yasmani Grandal walks. Christian Yelich to second. Ben Gamel to third. Manny Pina singles to center field. Yasmani Grandal to second. Christian Yelich scores. Ben Gamel scores. Trent Grisham strikes out swinging. Orlando Arcia grounds out to shallow infield, Cole Hamels to Anthony Rizzo.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Brewers 2, Cubs 0.

Sept. 11906 — The Philadelphia Athletics beat the Boston Red Sox 4-1 in 24 innings. Jack Coombs of the Athletics and Joe Harris of the Red Sox pitched all 24 innings. Coombs fanned 18.1930 — Wes Ferrell of Cleveland beat the St. Louis Browns 9-5 for his 13th straight victory.1931 — Lou Gehrig hit his third grand slam in four days as the Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 5-1.1945 — The Philadelphia Phillies, behind Vince DiMaggio's grand slam, beat the Braves 8-3 in Boston. It was the fourth grand slam of the year for DiMaggio to tie a major league mark.1958 — Vinegar Bend Mizell of the St. Louis Cardinals set a National League record by walking nine batters and tossing a shutout. Mizell beat Cincinnati 1-0 in the first game of a doubleheader.1963 — Curt Simmons of the St. Louis Cardinals allowed six hits, drove in two runs with a triple and stole home plate in a 7-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. Simmons' steal of home is the last by a pitcher.1967 — Cincinnati's Bob Lee walked Dick... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Anthony Rizzo remained out of the Chicago Cubs' lineup Tuesday night against the New York Mets because of tightness in his back.Ian Happ started in Rizzo's place at first base again in the opener of a critical three-game series. Chicago entered with a one-game lead over Philadelphia for the second NL wild card, while the Mets were two back. The Cubs were three games behind first-place St. Louis in the NL Central.Cubs manager Joe Maddon and president of baseball operations Theo Epstein acknowledged Rizzo could miss the entire series. If he is able to return against the Mets, it would most likely be in Thursday's finale, Epstein said.The team wants to be smart about the injury so Rizzo doesn't wind up missing an extended stretch."I know he's really frustrated by it," Epstein said. "We're hopeful it's just a couple days."Rizzo left Saturday's game against Washington in the fifth inning and sat out Sunday, when the slumping Happ made his third career start at first base. Chicago... [More]

Nationals fourth. Anthony Rendon homers to left field. Juan Soto singles to right center field. Asdrubal Cabrera flies out to deep center field to Jason Heyward. Kurt Suzuki strikes out swinging. Brian Dozier flies out to left center field to Kyle Schwarber.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Nationals 1, Cubs 0.Cubs fifth. Kyle Schwarber strikes out swinging. Jonathan Lucroy grounds out to third base, Anthony Rendon to Asdrubal Cabrera. Addison Russell homers to left field. Ian Happ walks. Cole Hamels strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Nationals 1, Cubs 1.Nationals sixth. Juan Soto doubles to right field. Asdrubal Cabrera singles to left field. Juan Soto to third. Kurt Suzuki grounds out to shortstop. Asdrubal Cabrera out at second. Juan Soto scores. Brian Dozier pops out to shallow infield to Kris Bryant.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Nationals 2, Cubs 1.Cubs sixth. Jason Heyward hit by pitch. Nicholas Castellanos singles to center field. Jason Heyward to third.... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:WHO ARE THOSE GUYS?A marquee matchup is set at Dodger Stadium when major league wins leader Domingo Germán (16-3, 4.15 ERA) starts for the Yankees against Los Angeles ace Clayton Kershaw (13-2, 2.71).It's the last game of the day, meaning the final time we'll see those, um, unusual uniforms big leaguers have been wearing during Players' Weekend. The all-white and all-black, monochromatic outfits have been widely panned by fashionistas — not to mention that it's hard to read the numbers and nicknames on the jerseys."What's the slogan, 'Let the kids play'?" Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. "Let the grown-ups look like morons."Said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts: "It's not our proudest moment rockin' these all-white milkmen jerseys."Added Yankees manager Aaron Boone: "When I put the uniform on I felt a little silly."BRAVES NEW WORLDFrancisco Cervelli and the NL East-leading Braves try for a three-game sweep at Citi Field and their eighth... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Sunday:WHO ARE THOSE GUYS?A marquee matchup is set at Dodger Stadium when major league wins leader Domingo Germán (16-3, 4.15 ERA) starts for the Yankees against Los Angeles ace Clayton Kershaw (13-2, 2.71).It's the last game of the day, meaning the final time we'll see those, um, unusual uniforms big leaguers have been wearing during Players' Weekend. The all-white and all-black, monochromatic outfits have been widely panned by fashionistas — not to mention that it's hard to read the numbers and nicknames on the jerseys."What's the slogan, 'Let the kids play'?" Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. "Let the grown-ups look like morons."Said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts: "It's not our proudest moment rockin' these all-white milkmen jerseys."Added Yankees manager Aaron Boone: "When I put the uniform on I felt a little silly."BRAVES NEW WORLDFrancisco Cervelli and the NL East-leading Braves try for a three-game sweep at Citi Field and their eighth... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — J.T. Realmuto hit a grand slam, Bryce Harper went deep twice and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Chicago Cubs 11-1 in Charlie Manuel's first game as hitting coach, ruining Cole Hamels' return home Wednesday night.Manuel was back in red pinstripes in his old dugout exactly six years to the day the franchise icon managed his last game for the Phillies. He heard "Charlie! Charlie! Charlie!" chants after Realmuto connected to make it 10-0 in the third.Hamels, the 2008 NLCS and World Series MVP with Manuel's Phillies, was roughed up in his first game in Philadelphia since he was traded to Texas in July 2015. Hamels (6-4) gave up eight runs and nine hits in two-plus innings.Aaron Nola (11-3) benefited from the offense's rare outburst. He allowed three hits, including Kris Bryant's homer, and struck out seven in seven innings.Hamels received the loudest applause during pregame introductions and got a standing ovation when he came to the plate already trailing 4-0 in the... [More]