MLB

LEADING OFF: Cubs can clinch, Harper hopes to get wellBy The Associated PressA look at what's happening all around the majors Tuesday:---PARTY TIME?The Cubs can clinch the NL Central for a second straight year with a win against St. Louis or a loss by Milwaukee. Jake Arrieta (14-9, 3.43...

LEADING OFF: Cubs and Twins can clinch, Harper getting closeBy The Associated PressA look at what's happening all around the majors today:---PARTY TIMEThe Cubs can clinch the NL Central for a second straight year with a win against St. Louis or a loss by Milwaukee. Jake Arrieta (14-9, 3.43...

AP Baseball WriterMLB rules no intent on Tigers pitch that hit plate umpireBy BEN WALKERNEW YORK (AP) Major League Baseball has ruled that the Detroit Tigers did not intend to throw a pitch that struck the plate umpire in the shoulder and knocked him to the ground.MLB said...

Leading Off: Playoff pairings set; Stanton's last licksBy The Associated PressA look at what's happening around the majors today:---THAT'S A WRAPEven though all 15 games start just after 3 p.m. EDT, the final day of the regular season figures to be a quiet one. With every spot secured and...

Japanese slugger Kotaro Kiyomiya elects to turn professionalTOKYO (AP) Japanese high school baseball standout Kotaro Kiyomiya said on Friday he had decided to turn pro rather than attend university.Kiyomiya, who holds the unofficial record of 111 home runs during his high school career, has impressed pro scouts in...

AP Baseball WriterMLB rules no intent on Tigers pitch that hit plate umpireBy BEN WALKERNEW YORK (AP) Major League Baseball has ruled that the Detroit Tigers did not intend to throw a pitch that struck the plate umpire in the shoulder and knocked him to the ground.MLB said...

AP Sports WriterLeBron James congratulates Indians on 21-game winning streakBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) LeBron James has bounced some love toward the Cleveland Indians for their winning streak.Shortly after the Indians set the AL record with their 21st straight win on Wednesday, the NBA star posted a video to...

Nationals' Scherzer says hamstring tweaked, not strainedWASHINGTON (AP) Washington Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer says an MRI exam on his right hamstring shows he just tweaked it and did not strain the muscle.Scherzer said Sunday that he does not think the leg issue is a big deal and that...

Associated PressFans denounce racism with sign above Green MonsterBy KEN POWTAKBOSTON (AP) A few fans seated above the Green Monster dropped down a sign denouncing racism during the fourth inning of Boston's game against Oakland at Fenway Park on Wednesday night.The sign - draped over the top middle...

AP Sports WriterAltuve looks for more as Astros prepare for ALCSBy KRISTIE RIEKENHOUSTON (AP) Jose Altuve hit .346 to win the American League batting title for the second straight year before batting .533 in the ALDS to help the Houston Astros eliminate the Boston Red Sox.As Houston prepares...

AP Baseball WriterIndians' Encarnacion held out of Game 3 with sprained ankleBy MIKE FITZPATRICKNEW YORK (AP) Injured slugger Edwin Encarnacion did not play for the Cleveland Indians on Sunday night in Game 3 of their AL Division Series against the New York Yankees.Michael Brantley replaced Encarnacion at designated...

AP Sports WriterCubs' bullpen implodes in Game 2 loss to NationalsBy STEPHEN WHYNOWASHINGTON (AP) Carl Edwards Jr. knew the ball was gone as soon as it left his hand. Mike Montgomery wasn't sure until it went just over the fence.The sinking feeling was the same for each reliever,...