w Page 49 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Playoff-bound Mariners eager to continue party vs. Rockies
Cal Raleigh was handed a microphone to address the crowd as he stood on the warning track Tuesday night after the Seattle Mariners clinched just their second playoff berth since 2001.,"Might as well go win the whole (expletive) thing," the Mariners' catcher and MLB home-run leader said as fans chant...

Diamondbacks continue surprising quest for wild card vs. Dodgers
The Arizona Diamondbacks continue to stack series wins in their improbable run toward a potential playoff spot, and they will go for their seventh series victory in the past eight when they meet the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday in Phoenix.,The Diamondbacks spoiled Shohei Ohtani's six scoreless i...

Team Europe would gladly accept Ryder Cup trophy from Trump
If Donald Trump hangs around for a trophy presentation and Europe defends its Ryder Cup title at Bethpage Black this week, Justin Rose would gladly accept the spoils from the President of the United States.,"One hundred percent, yeah," Rose said Wednesday of the potential for a shared stage with the...

Playoffs no longer in sight, Royals still eager to 'play like crazy' vs. Angels
Shortly before taking the field on Tuesday night, the Kansas City Royals learned they officially had been eliminated from the American League postseason race thanks to Cleveland's win over Detroit.,Although disappointed about not attaining their goal of the playoffs, Royals manager Matt Quatraro sai...

Reeling Rangers go to Jacob deGrom in rematch vs. Twins
Two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom will start for the final time in the 2025 season when the slumping Texas Rangers host the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night in Arlington, Texas.,The second contest of the three-game series will be a battle of right-handers as deGrom (12-8, 3.01 ERA) oppos...

Blue Jays turn to battle-tested Max Scherzer in key game vs. Red Sox
The American League East race just got closer, and the Toronto Blue Jays could help themselves with a big response Wednesday night against the visiting Boston Red Sox.,The Red Sox (86-71) defeated the Blue Jays (90-67) in the opener of a three-game series 4-1 on Tuesday, with Nathaniel Lowe and Carl...

Mets already in playoff mode in must-win game against Cubs
The New York Mets briefly lost control of their playoff destiny when they lost 11 of 15 games. But on Tuesday, they regained the upper hand following their spirited victory over the Chicago Cubs.,Fresh off overcoming a five-run deficit in a 9-7 win in the opener of a three-game series, New York will...

Yankees keep 'ultimate goal' in sight ahead of matchup vs. White Sox
The New York Yankees are seeing the best of Max Fried as they inch closer to the start of another postseason.,After the Yankees clinched a playoff spot for the eighth time in nine seasons, Fried will be on the mound Wednesday night when New York hosts the Chicago White Sox and attempts to move into ...

After 6 months atop AL Central, Tigers tangle with now-tied Guardians
For the first time in 184 days, the Detroit Tigers no longer have first place in the American League Central to themselves, and now they are playing for their postseason lives.,The Tigers, who held a 9 1/2-game division lead just two weeks ago -- on Sept. 10 -- are now tied with the Cleveland Guardi...

Phillies, Marlins pursue cleaner performances in rematch
Jesus Luzardo is going to be a key part of the Philadelphia Phillies' postseason rotation.,The left-hander will take the ball for the final time in the regular season on Wednesday night when the Phillies host his former team, the Miami Marlins.,Luzardo (14-7, 4.08 ERA) had lost only once in his prev...

Paul Skenes, Pirates plot to slow Reds' playoff push
The final week of the season will feature one of baseball's best power pitching matchups when the Cincinnati Reds host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night in the second game of a three-game series.,The Reds will start Hunter Greene (7-4, 2.74 ERA) against the Pirates' Paul Skenes (10-10, 2.03...

Orioles' quest: Catch Rays to escape last place
The Baltimore Orioles have a clear target for the final week of the season: moving out of the American League East cellar.,They will continue that quest in the middle game of a three-game series against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night.,Fourth-place Tampa Bay (76-81) sits two games ahe...

Padres, Brewers still jockeying for playoff position
San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt is trying to do it all in the last week of the regular season.,Not only is he trying to run down either the Chicago Cubs or Los Angeles Dodgers to earn homefield advantage for the first round of the National League playoffs next week, he's also looking to rest st...

Braves, riding majors-best winning streak, chase sweep of Nats
Michael Harris II will try to continue his hot hitting on Wednesday afternoon when the Atlanta Braves go for their 11th straight win and a sweep of a three-game series against the visiting Washington Nationals.,The Braves (75-83) have their first double-digit winning streak since winning 14 straight...

After ugly loss, No. 23 Illinois plots turnaround vs. No. 21 USC
Illinois coach Bret Bielema hopes to turn the page from a disastrous game, welcoming 21st-ranked Southern California to Champaign, Ill., to face the 23rd-ranked Fighting Illini on Saturday.,"The first thing we have to do is address what we did as coaches," Bielema said of getting his team back on tr...

Padres blank Brewers, tighten division, wild-card races
Ryan O'Hearn hit a grand slam, Luis Arraez and Jose Iglesias also homered and the San Diego Padres blanked the visiting Milwaukee Brewers 7-0 on Tuesday to gain ground in the playoff race on multiple fronts.,San Diego (87-71) moved within 1 1/2 games of the first-place Dodgers (88-69) in the Nationa...

Virginia Tech set on continuing momentum at NC State
North Carolina State coach Dave Doeren doesn't want to read too much into the fact that this week's opponent, Virginia Tech, finally won a game.,Virginia Tech visit the Wolfpack for Saturday night's game at Raleigh, N.C.,The Hokies will be in their second game under interim coach Philip Montgomery, ...

Padres blank Brewers, tighten race for top NL wild card
Ryan O'Hearn hit a grand slam, Luis Arraez and Jose Iglesias also homered and the San Diego Padres blanked the visiting Milwaukee Brewers 7-0 on Tuesday to gain ground in the race for the National League's top wild-card spot.,San Diego (87-71) moved within 1 1/2 games of the Chicago Cubs (88-69), a ...

Twins eliminate Rangers from playoff picture with 4-1 win
Koby Clemens had a double, an RBI single and scored a run to back seven solid innings from starter Zebby Matthews as the Minnesota Twins defeated the reeling Texas Rangers 4-1 on Tuesday in the opener of a three-game series in Arlington, Texas.,The loss was a season-high eighth straight for the Rang...

Guardians' David Fry hit in face by fastball, hospitalized
Guardians designated hitter David Fry was struck in the face by a pitch and was carted off the field on Tuesday in Cleveland.,Fry was initially transported to Lutheran Medical Center then transferred to Cleveland Clinic, where he is undergoing further testing and observation and is likely to be held...