ST. LOUIS (AP) — Matt Carpenter is in the St. Louis Cardinals' lineup for Game 3 of the NL Division Series on Sunday.Carpenter got the start at third and was hitting sixth in the order against the Atlanta Braves. He made a pinch-hitting appearance in the series opener on Thursday and singled home a run in St. Louis' 7-6 victory.The 33-year-old Carpenter struggled for much of the season, but he hit .288 with two homers and seven RBIs in September."Just getting back to who he is, his anchor, what makes him successful," manager Mike Shildt said. "I like the fact he's been aggressive. You see him with really assertive swings, but you've also seen him take those swings in the zone. Seeing the ball really well. I think he's on time with his eyes and his body."Braves manager Brian Snitker stayed with the same lineup he used in the first two games except for pitcher Mike Soroka, who is making his postseason debut.The addition of Carpenter put Harrison Bader on the bench after he started the first... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Matt Carpenter is in the Cardinals' lineup for Game 3 of the NL Division Series.Carpenter got the start at third and was hitting sixth in the order for the matchup against Atlanta. He made a pinch-hitting appearance in the series opener and singled home a run in St. Louis' 7-6 victory.Braves manager Brian Snitker stayed with the same lineup he used in the first two games except for pitcher Mike Soroka, who is making his postseason debut.The addition of Carpenter put Harrison Bader on the bench after he started the first two games in center field. Rookie Tommy Edman shifted from third to right, and Dexter Fowler moved over to center.Cardinals manager Mike Shildt also announced that Dakota Hudson will start Game 4 on Monday. Hudson will be making his postseason debut after going 16-7 with a 3.35 ERA this season.Snitker said he is waiting to see what happens Sunday before finalizing his starter for Game 4. The teams split the first two in the best-of-five series.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A look at what's happening around the majors Sunday:PROBABLE — BUT NOT DEFINITEWith Washington and the Los Angeles Dodgers tied 1-1 in their NL Division Series, Nationals ace Max Scherzer is scheduled to start Game 3 at home on Sunday.Scherzer threw 77 pitches over the first five innings of the NL wild card game against Milwaukee on Tuesday and allowed three runs and four hits — including Yasmani Grandal's two-run homer in the first and Eric Thames' solo drive in the second.He returned on two days' rest Friday to make his fourth career postseason relief appearance, striking out the side in the eighth inning to help Washington win 4-2."I felt I could really go one inning and recover from that," Scherzer said.In the event Scherzer can't start, manager Dave Martinez indicated right-hander Anibal Sánchez replace him.Left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu starts for the Dodgers.THE (WAINW)RIGHT STUFFAdam Wainwright starts for the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday against Atlanta, the team that selected him in... [More]

A look at the best-of-five National League Division Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves:___Schedule: (All times EDT) Game 1, Thursday, at Atlanta, 5:02 p.m. (TBS); Game 2, Friday, at Atlanta, 4:37 p.m. (TBS); Game 3, Sunday, at St. Louis, TBA (TBS); x-Game 4, Monday, at St. Louis, TBA (TBS); x-Game 5, Wednesday, Oct. 9, at Atlanta, TBA (TBS).x-if necessary.___Season Series: Braves won 4-2.___Projected Lineups:Cardinals: RF Dexter Fowler (.236, 18 HRs, 65 RBIs), 2B Tommy Edman (.307, 11, 36) or Kolten Wong (.285, 11, 59), 1B Paul Goldschmidt (.256, 33, 95), LF Marcell Ozuna (.242, 29, 88), C Yadier Molina (.271, 10, 57), 3B Matt Carpenter (.226, 14, 43), SS Paul DeJong (.234, 30, 78), CF Harrison Bader (.207, 12, 39).Braves: CF Ronald Acuña Jr (.280, 41, 101, 37/46 SBs), 2B Ozzie Albies (.295, 24, 86, 15/19 SBs), 1B Freddie Freeman (.295, 38, 121, .389 OBP), 3B Josh Donaldson (.259, 37, 94, .379 OBP), LF Nick Markakis (.285, 9, 62), RF Matt Joyce (.295, 7, 23) or Adam... [More]

Justin Verlander didn't intend to alter his pitching strategy, not after 14 seasons as a major league ace. But then the home runs stopped making sense.A long drive by Yankees slugger Aaron Judge? The Houston Astros ace can live with that. This season, though, was full of surprises. Like when spindly utility man Ehire Adrianza drove a fastball into the right field party deck in Minnesota. Or the time light-hitting Angels infielder David Fletcher nearly put one into a parking lot beyond left field during a series in Monterrey, Mexico. Routine fly balls had become wall-scraping homers, and every hitter was suddenly strong enough to reach the second deck."The game has changed completely," Verlander said.Expect more of the same this October.Hitters smashed a record 6,776 home runs in 2019, soaring past the previous high of 6,105 from two years earlier. It's a rise of over 60% from 2014, a year before a seismic home run spike attributed to tweaks in the baseballs. Major League Baseball commissioned... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Juan Soto and Victor Robles took a moment to themselves off to the side of the clubhouse mayhem as the Washington Nationals celebrated clinching an NL wild card.They chatted, then they hugged.The two young Dominican outfielders — Soto is 20, Robles 22 — were a big part of Washington's success and two examples of the fresh faces around the majors who could become more familiar during the playoffs, which open Tuesday night with the Nationals hosting the Milwaukee Brewers."They put on a show during normal games, so I can only imagine what they're going to be feeling when they go to the postseason," said Adam Eaton, who plays right field, with Robles in center and Soto in left. "It's pretty neat that they get to display their talents to a wider audience. They should be household names already, and if they're not, they will be by the end of the postseason."There are guys like that all around, even if players like the Los Angeles Dodgers' Cody Bellinger and New York Yankees'... [More]

Braves first. Dansby Swanson doubles to left center field. Ozzie Albies flies out to left field to J.D. Davis. Freddie Freeman strikes out swinging. Nick Markakis walks. Adeiny Hechavarria singles to center field. Nick Markakis to second. Dansby Swanson scores. Brian McCann grounds out to shallow center field, Robinson Cano to Pete Alonso.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Braves 1, Mets 0.Mets first. Brandon Nimmo lines out to right field to Matt Joyce. Pete Alonso singles to right field. Michael Conforto singles to right field. Pete Alonso to third. Robinson Cano out on a sacrifice fly to left field to Nick Markakis. Pete Alonso scores. J.D. Davis homers to center field. Michael Conforto scores. Amed Rosario singles to shallow infield.3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Mets 3, Braves 1.Braves fourth. Adeiny Hechavarria flies out to center field to Brandon Nimmo. Brian McCann lines out to shallow right field to Robinson Cano. Matt Joyce singles to left field. Rafael Ortega homers to... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:PLAYOFF POSITIONThe 10-team field for the postseason is set — Oakland and Tampa Bay clinched the last two spots and will meet in the AL wild-card game Wednesday night. The clubs are now tied and the A's will host the matchup if they wind up even.The Houston Astros have clinched home-field advantage throughout the AL playoffs and will play the wild-card winner in the Division Series. The Yankees and Twins meet in the other ALDS.In the NL, division champs Atlanta and the Dodgers are in, along with Washington, St. Louis and Milwaukee. The Cardinals and Brewers are still competing for the Central title, with the loser facing the Nationals in the wild-card game Tuesday night.CHECK HIMThe Yankees will see how lefty James Paxton is feeling, a day after he was pulled from a start after one inning because of a tight left glute muscle.Paxton's departure at Texas ended his career-best streak of victories in 10 consecutive starts. The AL East champs... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Saturday:PLAYOFF POSITIONThe 10-team field for the postseason is now set — AL division champions Houston, Minnesota and the Yankees, with Oakland taking on Tampa Bay in the AL wild-card game Wednesday night.In the NL, division champs Atlanta and the Dodgers are in, along with Washington, St. Louis and Milwaukee. The Cardinals and Brewers are still competing for the Central title, with the loser facing the Nationals in the wild-card game Tuesday night.CHECK HIMThe Yankees will see how lefty James Paxton is feeling, a day after he was pulled from a start after one inning because of a tight muscle in his buttocks.Paxton's departure at Texas ended his career-best streak of victories in 10 consecutive starts. The AL East champs say he was taken out as a precaution with a tight left glute muscle.The 15-game winner gave up a two-run homer to Danny Santana before finishing his only inning with a strikeout of Rougned Odor. It was Paxton's final start... [More]

Braves third. Tyler Flowers singles to third base. Mike Soroka out on a sacrifice bunt to shallow infield, Scott Kingery to Cesar Hernandez. Tyler Flowers to second. Ronald Acuna Jr. homers to left field. Tyler Flowers scores. Ozzie Albies singles to right field. Freddie Freeman flies out to left field to Brad Miller. Adam Duvall singles to third base. Ozzie Albies to second. Adeiny Hechavarria strikes out swinging.2 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Braves 2, Phillies 0.Phillies fifth. Jean Segura grounds out to first base to Freddie Freeman. Scott Kingery triples to deep center field. Adam Haseley doubles to deep right field. Scott Kingery scores. Aaron Nola singles to left center field. Adam Haseley to third. Cesar Hernandez reaches on a fielder's choice to first base. Aaron Nola out at second. Adam Haseley scores. J.T. Realmuto grounds out to shortstop, Adeiny Hechavarria to Freddie Freeman.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Phillies 2, Braves 2.Braves fifth. Matt Joyce pinch-hitting... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:SO CLOSEThe Yankees can clinch their first AL East title since 2012 with a win over the Angels in the Bronx. New York pushed back J.A. Happ's scheduled start by a day and will throw Masahiro Tanaka (10-8, 4.60 ERA) against Los Angeles.The Yankees' magic number stayed at one Wednesday night when they lost to the Angels 3-2 and second-place Tampa Bay rallied past the Dodgers 8-7 in 11 innings.HEAD TO HEADOld rivals meet at Wrigley Field when the first-place Cardinals face the Cubs in the opener of a four-game series that could go a long way toward deciding the NL Central. Jack Flaherty (10-8, 3.05 ERA) pitches against Chicago right-hander Kyle Hendricks (11-9, 3.26). The teams play seven times in their final 10 games, pivotal matchups in a three-way division race that also includes Milwaukee. St. Louis is three games ahead of both the Cubs and Brewers."Now we've got to beat those Cubs in Chicago," veteran Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Thursday:SO CLOSEThe Yankees can clinch their first AL East title since 2012 with a win over the Angels in the Bronx. New York pushed back J.A. Happ's scheduled start by a day and will throw Masahiro Tanaka (10-8, 4.60 ERA) against Los Angeles.The Yankees' magic number stayed at one Wednesday night when they lost to the Angels 3-2 and second-place Tampa Bay rallied past the Dodgers 8-7 in 11 innings.HEAD TO HEADOld rivals meet at Wrigley Field when the first-place Cardinals face the Cubs in the opener of a four-game series that could go a long way toward deciding the NL Central. Jack Flaherty (10-8, 3.05 ERA) pitches against Chicago right-hander Kyle Hendricks (11-9, 3.26). The teams play seven times in their final 10 games, pivotal matchups in a three-way division race that also includes Milwaukee. St. Louis is three games ahead of both the Cubs and Brewers."Now we've got to beat those Cubs in Chicago," veteran Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Thursday:HEAD TO HEADOld rivals meet at Wrigley Field when the first-place Cardinals face the Cubs in the opener of a four-game series that could go a long way toward deciding the NL Central. Jack Flaherty (10-8, 3.05 ERA) pitches against Chicago right-hander Kyle Hendricks (11-9, 3.26). The teams play seven times in their final 10 games, pivotal matchups in a three-way division race that also includes Milwaukee. St. Louis is three games ahead of both the Cubs and Brewers."Now we've got to beat those Cubs in Chicago," veteran Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright said after Wednesday's win over Washington. "We haven't beat them all year in Chicago. We've got to beat them this time."CLEVELAND CLUBBINGFrancisco Lindor, Carlos Santana and the contending Cleveland Indians get their last look at the Tigers — that'll be a relief for Detroit, no doubt.The Indians have won 16 in a row against Detroit this season, including a 2-1 victory Wednesday night on... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Thursday:HEAD TO HEADOld rivals meet at Wrigley Field when the first-place Cardinals face the Cubs in the opener of a four-game series that could go a long way toward determining who wins the NL Central. Jack Flaherty (10-8, 3.05 ERA) pitches against Chicago right-hander Kyle Hendricks (11-9, 3.26). The teams play seven times in their final 10 games, pivotal matchups in a tight division race that also includes Milwaukee."Now we've got to beat those Cubs in Chicago," veteran St. Louis pitcher Adam Wainwright said after Wednesday's win over Washington. "We haven't beat them all year in Chicago. We've got to beat them this time."CLEVELAND CLUBBINGFrancisco Lindor, Carlos Santana and the contending Cleveland Indians get their last look at the Tigers — that'll be a relief for Detroit, no doubt.The Indians have won 16 in a row against Detroit this season, including a 2-1 victory Wednesday night on Yasiel Puig's walkoff single in the 10th inning. Overall,... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Anthony Rizzo hit a grand slam, Willson Contreras had two long solo homers and the Chicago Cubs kept pace in the NL wild-card race with a 17-8 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday.Rookie Nico Hoerner hit a two-run shot for his first major league homer and had four RBIs for the Cubs. Chicago moved a game ahead of Milwaukee for the second NL wild card.Contreras, Hoerner and Nicholas Castellanos homered in the first with the wind blowing out as Chicago scored five times after Pittsburgh jumped on Jon Lester (13-10) for a 4-0 lead.Hoerner elevated a low pitch to the center field batter's eye in his first plate appearance at Wrigley Field. He drove in two more runs with a single in Chicago's seven-run fifth. The 22-year-old infielder made his debut with the Cubs on Monday at San Diego after the team announced All-Star shortstop Javier Báez would be out of the season with a hairline fracture in his left thumb.Alec Mills pitched the final three innings for his first save.... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Anthony Rizzo hit a grand slam, Willson Contreras had two long solo homers and the Chicago Cubs kept pace in the NL wild-card race with a 17-8 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday.Rookie Nico Hoerner hit a two-run shot for his first major league homer and had four RBIs for the Cubs. Chicago moved a game ahead of Milwaukee for the second NL wild card.Contreras, Hoerner and Nicholas Castellanos homered in the first with the wind blowing out as Chicago scored five times after Pittsburgh jumped on Jon Lester (13-10) for a 4-0 lead.Hoerner elevated a low pitch to the center field batter's eye in his first plate appearance at Wrigley Field. He drove in two more runs with a single in Chicago's seven-run fifth. The 22-year-old infielder made his debut with the Cubs on Monday at San Diego after the team announced All-Star shortstop Javier Báez would be out of the season with a hairline fracture in his left thumb.Alec Mills pitched the final three innings for his first save.... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Anthony Rizzo hit a grand slam, Willson Contreras had two long solo homers and the Chicago Cubs kept pace in the NL wild-card race with a 17-8 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday.Rookie Nico Hoerner hit a two-run shot for his first major league homer and had four RBIs for the Cubs. Chicago moved a game ahead of Milwaukee for the second NL wild card.Contreras, Hoerner and Nicholas Castellanos homered in the first with the wind blowing out as Chicago scored five times after Pittsburgh jumped on Jon Lester (13-10) for a 4-0 lead.Hoerner elevated a low pitch to the center field batter's eye in his first plate appearance at Wrigley Field. He drove in two more runs with a single in Chicago's seven-run fifth. The 22-year-old infielder made his debut with the Cubs on Monday at San Diego after the team announced All-Star shortstop Javier Báez would be out of the season with a hairline fracture in his left thumb.Alec Mills pitched the final three innings for his first save.... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Anthony Rizzo hit a grand slam, Willson Contreras had two long solo homers and the Chicago Cubs kept pace in the NL wild-card race with a 17-8 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday.Rookie Nico Hoerner hit a two-run shot for his first major league homer and had four RBIs for the Cubs. Chicago moved a game ahead of Milwaukee for the second NL wild card.Contreras, Hoerner and Nicholas Castellanos homered in the first with the wind blowing out as Chicago scored five times after Pittsburgh jumped on Jon Lester (13-10) for a 4-0 lead.Hoerner elevated a low pitch to the center field batter's eye in his first plate appearance at Wrigley Field. He drove in two more runs with a single in Chicago's seven-run fifth. The 22-year-old infielder made his debut with the Cubs on Monday at San Diego after the team announced All-Star shortstop Javier Báez would be out of the season with a hairline fracture in his left thumb.Alec Mills pitched the final three innings for his first save.... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Anthony Rizzo hit a grand slam, Willson Contreras had two long solo homers and the Chicago Cubs kept pace in the NL wild-card race with a 17-8 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday.Rookie Nico Hoerner hit a two-run shot for his first major league homer and had four RBIs for the Cubs. Chicago entered the day tied with Milwaukee for the second NL wild card.Contreras, Hoerner and Nicholas Castellanos homered in the first with the wind blowing out as Chicago scored five times after Pittsburgh jumped on Jon Lester (13-10) for a 4-0 lead.Hoerner elevated a low pitch to the center field batter's eye in his first plate appearance at Wrigley Field. He drove in two more runs with a single in Chicago's seven-run fifth. The 22-year-old infielder made his debut with the Cubs on Monday at San Diego after the team announced All-Star shortstop Javier Báez would be out of the season with a hairline fracture in his left thumb.Alec Mills pitched the final three innings for his first... [More]

Braves fourth. Josh Donaldson lines out to shortstop to Trea Turner. Nick Markakis doubles to deep center field. Matt Joyce singles to right center field. Nick Markakis scores. Tyler Flowers flies out to deep right center field to Victor Robles. Dansby Swanson doubles to deep right center field. Matt Joyce scores. Mike Soroka grounds out to first base to Ryan Zimmerman.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Braves 2, Nationals 0.Braves fifth. Ronald Acuna Jr. singles to left field. Ozzie Albies singles to left field. Ronald Acuna Jr. to second. Charlie Culberson reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield. Ozzie Albies out at second. Ronald Acuna Jr. to third. Josh Donaldson walks. Charlie Culberson to second. Nick Markakis out on a sacrifice fly to deep center field to Victor Robles. Charlie Culberson to third. Ronald Acuna Jr. scores. Matt Joyce called out on strikes.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Braves 3, Nationals 0.Braves seventh. Ozzie Albies homers to center field. Charlie... [More]