MLB

A capsule look at the Reds-Braves playoff seriesBy The Associated PressA capsule look at the best-of-three playoff series between the Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves beginning Wednesday. All games in Atlanta:---CINCINNATI REDSRecord: 31-29.Playoff Entry: NL wild card.Playoff Seed: No. 7.Manager: David Bell (second season).Projected Rotation: RHP Trevor Bauer (5-4,...

A capsule look at the Cardinals-Padres playoff seriesBy The Associated PressA capsule look at the best-of-three playoff series between the St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Padres beginning Wednesday. All games in San Diego:---ST. LOUIS CARDINALSRecord: 30-28.Playoff Entry: second place, NL Central.Playoff Seed: No. 5.Manager: Mike Shildt (third season).Projected...

AP Sports WriterCubs, Marlins set to meet after bumpy paths to postseasonBy ANDREW SELIGMANCHICAGO (AP) Cubs manager David Ross had to remind himself Monday night that Chicago was still two days away from opening a best-of-three wild-card series against the Miami Marlins.Game 1 is Wednesday at Wrigley Field,...

Yanks to start C Higashioka, sit Sánchez in wild-card openerCLEVELAND (AP) Slumping slugger Gary Sanchez will be benched in favor of Kyle Higashioka in the New York Yankees lineup for their wild-card opener Tuesday night.Yankees manager Aaron Boone confirmed Monday that Higashioka would catch ace Gerrit Cole to...

AP Sports WriterTwins tout home-field edge against Astros, even without fansBy DAVE CAMPBELLMINNEAPOLIS (AP) The Minnesota Twins were determined to defend their division title and start this unusual postseason at home, even if the audience at Target Field this week will be confined to family members and cardboard...

AP Baseball WriterYoung pitchers arrive for Detroit, but growing pains followBy NOAH TRISTERDETROIT (AP) Shortly after his final start of the season, Casey Mize sounded ready to get right back to work.''I'm going to be really motivated to get a lot better,'' the Detroit right-hander said.Mize's arrival -...

AP Baseball WriterAL West champion Athletics finally get their playoff seriesBy JANIE McCAULEYOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Marcus Semien and the Oakland Athletics are finally getting a full playoff series.After consecutive losses in the wild-card game, the AL West champions hope a longer series boosts their chances for a deep...

AP Sports WriterFor Marlins, playoff berth could be start of a new eraBy STEVEN WINEMIAMI (AP) The Miami Marlins' first playoff appearance since 2003 is not supposed to last long.They're regarded as young, inexperienced overachievers who benefited from the short season and expanded playoff format. They were...

AP Sports WriterPocket Aces: Bieber, Cole square off as Yankees play IndiansBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) Shane Bieber's first playoff appearance for Cleveland will come against the team that personifies postseason baseball excellence.All those pinstripes. The roll call of Hall of Famers. The 27 World Series titles. The history.Here...

AP Sports WriterJohnstone, 2-time WS champ and popular prankster, dies at 74By BETH HARRISLOS ANGELES (AP) Jay Johnstone, who won World Series championships as a versatile outfielder with the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers while being baseball's merry prankster, has died. He was 74.He died last...

AP Baseball WriterAL West champion Athletics finally get their playoff seriesBy JANIE McCAULEYOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Marcus Semien and the Oakland Athletics are finally getting a full playoff series.After consecutive losses in the wild-card game, the AL West champions hope a longer series boosts their chances for a deep...

AP Sports WriterRed Sox face more changes (again) after firing RoenickeBy JIMMY GOLENBOSTON (AP) The manager won't be back, and there could be more changes for the Boston Red Sox after their last-place finish in the pandemic-shortened season.J.D. Martinez is eligible to opt out of his contract, Jackie...