A look at what's happening around the majors on today:ONE MORE TIMEJacob deGrom will make the final start of what has been a remarkably consistent season that has him a favorite for the NL Cy Young Award. It also is the last chance for deGrom (9-9) to have a winning record and reach double digits in victories. The Mets right-hander's win total likely would have made him an underdog for the Cy Young in previous decades, but voters are increasingly looking beyond win-loss record to numbers that are more within a pitcher's control. And nobody has controlled opposing hitters like deGrom, who has a record 23 consecutive quality starts, 28 starts in a row allowing three runs or fewer and a 1.77 ERA. He is to face the NL East champion Braves and Sean Newcomb (12-9, 4.04 ERA), who will make his last start before the playoffs.SHORT-TERM SALERed sox ace Chris Sale gets one more chance to work his way back into form after missing a month with a shoulder injury. The left-hander (12-4, 2.00 ERA) threw... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — The Houston Astros clinched another AL West title and reached 100 wins for the second straight season, beating the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1 Tuesday night behind Alex Bregman's two-run homer.Houston improved to 100-57 and was assured of first place hours later when second-place Oakland (95-63) lost at Seattle. The Astros will open the Division Series at home against Cleveland on Oct. 5.The Astros need three wins in their final five games to break the franchise record for victories in a season, set in 1998.Houston is 18-4 in September and 54-22 on the road, both best in the major leagues.Roberto Osuna needed just six pitches in the ninth for his 20th save in 21 chances. Earlier Tuesday, assault charges against Osuna were dropped because the complainant, who lives in Mexico, made clear she would not travel to Toronto to testify.Josh James (2-0) allowed one run and four hits in five innings in his third big league start.Bregman went 2 for 5 and extended his club-record streak of... [More]

DENVER (AP) — David Dahl homered for a second straight night, a three-run shot in the third, and the Colorado Rockies vaulted into the final NL wild-card spot by beating the Philadelphia Phillies 10-3 on Tuesday night.The Rockies' fifth straight win moved them a half-game in front of St. Louis for the second wild-card after the Cardinals lost 12-4 to Milwaukee. Colorado trailed the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers by 1½ games entering the night and still has a chance to win its first division title. The Rockies have five games remaining.The game-changing hit was delivered by Dahl, who lined a fastball from Vince Velasquez (9-12) to left for his 12th homer — nearly to the same spot where Dahl hit a two-run homer the previous night. Dahl also added a run-scoring single as part of a 3-for-5, 4-RBI evening.The Rockies used seven relievers, with DJ Johnson (1-0) getting one out in the third to earn his first big league win.BREWERS 12, CARDINALS 4ST. LOUIS (AP) — Christian Yelich homered and... [More]

DENVER (AP) — David Dahl homered for a second straight night, a three-run shot in the third, and the Colorado Rockies vaulted into the final NL wild-card spot by beating the Philadelphia Phillies 10-3 on Tuesday night.The Rockies' fifth straight win moved them a half-game in front of St. Louis for the second wild-card after the Cardinals lost 12-4 to Milwaukee. Colorado trailed the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers by 1½ games entering the night and still has a chance to win its first division title. The Rockies have five games remaining.The game-changing hit was delivered by Dahl, who lined a fastball from Vince Velasquez (9-12) to left for his 12th homer — nearly to the same spot where Dahl hit a two-run homer the previous night. Dahl also added a run-scoring single as part of a 3-for-5, 4-RBI evening.The Rockies used seven relievers, with DJ Johnson (1-0) getting one out in the third to earn his first big league win.BREWERS 12, CARDINALS 4ST. LOUIS (AP) — Christian Yelich homered and... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Hanging on a hook in David Wright's locker, above the baseball spikes and opposite the helmets of his favorite football teams, the New York Giants and Virginia Tech Hokies, was a blue and orange Mets cap and white jersey with pinstripes.No. 5 as always, with his name across the back.And for the first time in nearly 2½ years, Wright was ready to grant himself the privilege of putting it on."When I'm hurt, I never put my uniform on. I wear a hoodie or something like that," he said. "So to put that thing on again means the world to me, and is something that you tend to take for granted."After countless hours of rehab during an arduous comeback, Wright was reinstated from the disabled list Tuesday and added to New York's active roster for the first time since June 3, 2016. Following a long road back from several serious injuries, the 35-year-old team captain was eligible off the bench against NL East champion Atlanta."To say it's a good feeling is an understatement. It's been... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Slugger Kris Bryant has left the Chicago Cubs' game against the Pittsburgh Pirates because of a bruised left wrist after he was hit by a pitch.The 2016 National League MVP was hit in the wrist by a pitch from Chris Archer during the fourth inning on Tuesday night. Ian Happ replaced him at third base in the sixth after entering as a pinch-hitter in the fifth.The 26-year-old Bryant was on the disabled list from July 26 to Sept. 1 with left shoulder inflammation. He missed time earlier in the season with the same issue.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Hanging on a hook in David Wright's locker, above the baseball spikes and opposite the helmets of his favorite football teams, the New York Giants and Virginia Tech Hokies, was a blue and orange Mets cap and white jersey with pinstripes.No. 5 as always, with his name across the back.And for the first time in nearly 2½ years, Wright was ready to grant himself the privilege of putting it on."When I'm hurt, I never put my uniform on. I wear a hoodie or something like that," he said. "So to put that thing on again means the world to me, and is something that you tend to take for granted."After countless hours of rehab during an arduous comeback, Wright was reinstated from the disabled list Tuesday and added to New York's active roster for the first time since June 3, 2016. Following a long road back from a string of serious injuries, the 35-year-old team captain was eligible off the bench against NL East champion Atlanta."To say it's a good feeling is an understatement. It's... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Hanging on a hook in David Wright's locker, above the baseball spikes and opposite the helmets of his favorite football teams, the New York Giants and Virginia Tech Hokies, was a blue and orange Mets cap and white jersey with pinstripes.No. 5 as always, with his name across the back.And for the first time in nearly 2½ years, Wright was ready to grant himself the privilege of putting it on."When I'm hurt, I never put my uniform on. I wear a hoodie or something like that," he said. "So to put that thing on again means the world to me, and is something that you tend to take for granted."After countless hours of rehab during an arduous comeback, Wright was reinstated from the disabled list Tuesday and added to New York's active roster for the first time since June 3, 2016. Following a long road back from a string of serious injuries, the 35-year-old team captain was eligible off the bench against NL East champion Atlanta."To say it's a good feeling is an understatement. It's... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors on Wednesday:ONE MORE TIMEJacob deGrom will make the final start of what has been a remarkably consistent season that has him a favorite for the NL Cy Young Award. It also is the last chance for deGrom (9-9) to have a winning record and reach double digits in victories. The Mets right-hander's win total likely would have made him an underdog for the Cy Young in previous decades, but voters are increasingly looking beyond win-loss record to numbers that are more within a pitcher's control. And nobody has controlled opposing hitters like deGrom, who has a record 23 consecutive quality starts, 28 starts in a row allowing three runs or fewer and a 1.77 ERA. He is to face the NL East champion Braves and Sean Newcomb (12-9, 4.04 ERA), who will make his last start before the playoffs.SHORT-TERM SALERed sox ace Chris Sale gets one more chance to work his way back into form after missing a month with a shoulder injury. The left-hander (12-4, 2.00 ERA)... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer has become the 17th major league pitcher since 1900 to strike out at least 300 batters in a season.Scherzer reached the milestone by getting Austin Dean of the Miami Marlins to whiff on an 85 mph slider for the second out of the seventh inning Tuesday night. That was Scherzer's 10th K of the game.He has 10 strikeouts or more in a majors-high 18 of his 33 starts in 2018.Scherzer entered Tuesday 17-7 with a 2.57 ERA as he tries to earn a third consecutive NL Cy Young Award with Washington. He also won the AL honor in 2013 for the Detroit Tigers.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Angels two-way rookie Shohei Ohtani will have Tommy John surgery next week.The Angels confirmed Ohtani's long-expected decision on elbow ligament replacement Tuesday. Dr. Neal ElAttrache will perform the surgery in Los Angeles."I think it was the proper decision Shohei made to have surgery, and the sooner the better," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said before his club faced the Texas Rangers, with Ohtani batting cleanup as the designated hitter.Ohtani won't be able to pitch for the Angels in 2019, but he is likely to hit at some point early next season. When asked whether Ohtani is likely to be ready for opening day as a hitter, Scioscia said there are "too many variables" to make a confident prediction.Ohtani wasn't available to reporters before the game, but Scioscia confirmed general manager Billy Eppler's earlier statements that the Angels are committed to Ohtani's determination to be a two-way player in the majors."It obviously puts him out of pitching... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Manager Joe Maddon says it would not be a distraction if shortstop Addison Russell plays again for the Chicago Cubs.Maddon has "no idea" if he will and knows "nothing about the process ... playing itself out." He spoke prior to Tuesday's game against Pittsburgh.Russell has not been with the team since Major League Baseball placed him on administrative leave Friday following a blog post attributed to Melissa Reidy containing allegations of emotional and physical abuse while they were married. Reidy also suggested on Instagram last year Russell was unfaithful and a friend of hers accused him of hitting his wife in a post later deleted.Russell has denied the accusations. The leave could be extended for seven-day periods if the union agrees.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

TORONTO (AP) — Canadian prosecutors dropped a domestic assault charge on Tuesday against Houston Astros closer Roberto Osuna, who agreed to stay away from the alleged victim for one year and continue counseling.Osuna, formerly with the Toronto Blue Jays, was charged with assault in May. The 23-year-old player was suspended without pay for 75 games for violating Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy, and the Blue Jays dealt him to Houston on July 30.Speaking in court, prosecutor Catherine Mullaly said the complainant, who lives in Mexico, had made clear she would not travel to Toronto to testify against Osuna."The Crown does not have a reasonable prospect of conviction on this charge absent her testimony," Mullaly told Judge Melvyn Green.Osuna nodded when Green asked if he understood the agreement, known as a "peace bond.""Now I can begin to put these allegations behind me and focus on baseball," Osuna said in a statement. "I am grateful to the Astros for providing me with the... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — David Wright has been reinstated from the disabled list and added to the New York Mets' active roster for the first time since June 3, 2016.After a long road back from a string of injuries, the 35-year-old team captain will be eligible off the bench Tuesday night against NL East champion Atlanta — if the game is played. Heavy rain has been falling throughout the day in New York, and the tarp is covering the infield at Citi Field.Assistant general manager John Ricco says it's unlikely Wright will play during the three-game series because the Braves are trying to earn home-field advantage in the Division Series, and the Mets don't want to compromise the integrity of the pennant race.It's possible Wright could pinch-hit if the score is lopsided.Wright is scheduled to start at third base in his farewell game Saturday night against last-place Miami. He hasn't played in the majors since May 27, 2016, due to neck, back and shoulder injuries that required surgery.Unable to get healthy enough to resume his career in earnest, Wright said he expects this weekend to be his last big league appearance.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Aaron Hicks should recover from a tight left hamstring in a few days and return to the New York Yankees lineup this week, according to manager Aaron Boone.Hicks left Monday night's 4-1 win over Tampa Bay in the fourth inning, one inning after aggravating the hamstring while running to first and avoiding a double play."It's still a little bit tight in there, so it's kind of a day to day thing," Boone said Tuesday. "We do feel like we dodged a bullet and feel like he'll definitely be back."Hicks' 11th-inning double on Saturday drove in Didi Gregorius, and on Sunday the Yankees learned the shortstop had torn cartilage in his right wrist during his headfirst slide across the plate that secured a postseason spot.Gregorius took grounders before Tuesday's game but didn't throw. He is to be re-evaluated by team doctors Wednesday."I think tomorrow is a big day," Boone said. "Hopefully that goes well. It's been exciting to hear that it seems like he's improving every day."Gleyber Torres was in the original starting lineup but was scratched due to minor hip/groin area discomfort. Boone expects the rookie to be back in Wednesday night's lineup."He just had a little bit of tightness where he gets it sometimes," Boone said.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

TORONTO (AP) — Canadian prosecutors dropped a domestic assault charge on Tuesday against Houston Astros closer Roberto Osuna, who agreed to stay away from the alleged victim for one year and continue counseling.Osuna, formerly with the Toronto Blue Jays, was charged with assault in May. The 23-year-old player was suspended without pay for 75 games for violating Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy, and the Blue Jays dealt him to Houston on July 30.Speaking in court, prosecutor Catherine Mullaly said the complainant, who lives in Mexico, had made clear she would not travel to Toronto to testify against Osuna."The Crown does not have a reasonable prospect of conviction on this charge absent her testimony," Mullaly told Judge Melvyn Green.Osuna nodded when Green asked if he understood the agreement, known as a "peace bond.""Now I can begin to put these allegations behind me and focus on baseball," Osuna said in a statement. "I am grateful to the Astros for providing me with the... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — An assault charge against pitcher Roberto Osuna has been dropped.In exchange, he agreed Tuesday to a one-year "peace bond," requiring him to not contact the woman and to continue counseling.Osuna, formerly with the Toronto Blue Jays and now with the Houston Astros, was charged in May with assault in a domestic violence case.The 23-year-old player did not speak to reporters as he left court following a hearing. His lawyer has said his client was remorseful but planned to plead not guilty had the matter gone to trial.Major League Baseball suspended Osuna without pay for 75 games for violating its domestic violence policy. The Blue Jays then dealt him to Houston on July 30.Osuna was met with boos when the Astros beat the Blue Jays in Toronto on Monday.

A look at what's happening around the majors today:ON THE CUSPHouston can clinch its second consecutive AL West title — and a best-of-five playoff matchup against Cleveland — with a win at Toronto and an Oakland loss in Seattle. Rookie right-hander Josh James (1-0, 2.81 ERA) makes his third career start for the defending World Series champions, already assured a postseason spot. Alex Bregman and the Astros, with the top road record in baseball at 53-22, are 99-57 overall and a major league-best 17-4 in September. "Everybody is really excited about us closing in on 100 wins and closing in on a division title," Bregman said, "but there's only one thing on our mind and that's winning the World Series again." The second-place A's locked up at least a wild card Monday night.PARTY CITYLooking to wrap up a franchise-record fourth straight trip to the playoffs, the Cubs can punch their ticket with a win over Pittsburgh at Wrigley Field and a loss by either Colorado or St. Louis. Mike Montgomery... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — The Oakland Athletics clinched their first playoff berth in four years Monday night, earning at least an American League wild card when the Tampa Bay Rays lost to the New York Yankees.Following three straight last-place finishes in the AL West, the A's found out just a couple of minutes after the first pitch of their game against Seattle that they are in the postseason for the first time since 2014.Tampa Bay's 4-1 loss to the Yankees eliminated the Rays from playoff contention. Oakland still has an outside shot at overtaking Houston for the division title, but is more likely headed toward a wild-card matchup with the Yankees.The A's could still host that game. They beat the Mariners 7-3 to remain 1½ games behind the Yankees for the top wild card.Few people imagined the A's could make the playoffs this season, a young team with few proven stars after finishing 75-87 a year ago. Oakland won only 68 games in 2015 and 69 in 2016.The A's have the third-lowest payroll among the... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — The Oakland Athletics clinched their first playoff berth in four years, then beat the Seattle Mariners 7-3 Monday night behind Khris Davis' major league-leading 46th home run.Jonathan Lucroy, Jed Lowrie and Matt Chapman also homered for the A's, assured no worse than an AL wild card.Oakland was one out into the game when Tampa Bay was eliminated with a 4-1 loss to the New York Yankees. The A's went on to win after Chapman broke a 3-3 tie with a two-run drive in the seventh off Shawn Armstrong (0-1).Coming off three straight last-place finishes in the AL West, the A's (95-62) are 4½ games behind AL West-leading Houston. They trail the Yankees by 1½ games for home-field advantage should they meet in a wild-card matchup.Robinson Cano and Dee Gordon homered for the Mariners.The Athletics will be making their fourth playoff appearance in the last seven seasons, all under manager Bob Melvin, and their 27th overall. The A's lost at Kansas City 9-8 in 12 innings in the 2014 wild-card... [More]