MLB

LEADING OFF: Scherzer, Nats open MLB playoffs vs BrewersBy The Associated PressA look at what's happening around the majors today:START `EM UPMax Scherzer throws the first pitch of this year's playoffs when Washington takes on the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL wild-card game at Nationals Park (8:08 p.m. EDT).Since...

A capsule look at the Rays-Athletics playoff gameBy The Associated PressA look at the American League wild-card game between the Tampa Bay Rays and Oakland Athletics:---Schedule: Wednesday, at Oakland, California, 8:09 p.m. EDT (ESPN).---Season Series: Athletics won 4-3.---Projected Lineups:Rays: 2B Joey Wendle (.231, 3 HRs, 19 RBIs in 75...

AP Sports WriterAngels drop pitching coach, bench coach after Ausmus' firingBy GREG BEACHAMANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) Pitching coach Doug White and bench coach Josh Paul will not return to the Los Angeles Angels next season.The Angels announced the moves Tuesday, one day after firing manager Brad Ausmus.White was in...

AP Sports WriterMariners get mixed results in Stage 1 of rebuildBy TIM BOOTHSEATTLE (AP) There were bound to be bumps and headaches along the way when the Seattle Mariners embarked on a major makeover.After using a major league-record 67 players in one season, the first year of Seattle's...

AP Sports WriterA year after World Series win, Red Sox looking to rebuildBy JIMMY GOLENBOSTON (AP) Getting under baseball's luxury tax threshold next year ''is a goal, but not a hard-and-fast mandate,'' Boston Red Sox team president Sam Kennedy said Monday, a day after the defending World Series...

AP Sports Writer'Mad Max' carries playoff skid into Brew-Nats wild-card gameBy HOWARD FENDRICHWASHINGTON (AP) Based on what everyone says about Washington Nationals righty Max Scherzer, he seems like an obvious choice to start the NL wild-card game against Milwaukee.Scherzer is, in the words of Brewers manager Craig Counsell,...

AP Baseball WriterRangers working to lay foundation for success in new parkBy STEPHEN HAWKINSARLINGTON, Texas (AP) Elvis Andrus and the Texas Rangers have left the building, the ballpark the team called home for 26 seasons.While their new stadium with a retractable roof is still being built across the...

AP Sports WriterDavid Ross on list of possible candidates for Cubs managerBy JAY COHENCHICAGO (AP) The field of candidates to be the next manager of the Chicago Cubs is beginning to take shape.President of baseball operations Theo Epstein said Monday that former catcher David Ross is on the...

AP Sports WriterPadres try to put another 90-loss season in rear-view mirrorBy BERNIE WILSONSAN DIEGO (AP) The San Diego Padres couldn't wait to put another lost season behind them and move on to 2020.They'll have new uniforms, a new manager and, maybe, just maybe, it will finally be...

AP Baseball WriterGiants face busy offseason finding Bochy's replacementBy JANIE McCAULEYSAN FRANCISCO (AP) An era is over, that's certain.Manager Bruce Bochy is retiring from the San Francisco Giants, and one of his top pitchers - Madison Bumgarner - might be gone, too. And that might just be the...

D-backs, pitching coach Butcher part ways after 4 seasonsPHOENIX (AP) Pitching coach Mike Butcher will not return to the Arizona Diamondbacks next season.The announcement was made Monday, one day after the Diamondbacks finished with an 85-77 record. Arizona was in the National League wild-card race until the last...

AP Sports WriterReds take only small steps in 6th straight losing seasonBy JOE KAYCINCINNATI (AP) The bases were loaded and the 27,774 fans were on their feet begging for a hit that would allow retiring broadcaster Marty Brennaman to proclaim one final, glorious time: ''This one belongs to...