A look at what's happening around the majors today: FINAL WEEK Fernando Tatis Jr. and the Padres are headed to the playoffs, so are DJ LeMahieu and the Yankees. But going into this last week, a lot of postseason spots are still wide open. San Diego and the Yankees clinched berths in the expanded 16-team field Sunday. Yet overall, only seven slots are claimed. Tampa Bay, Oakland, the White Sox and Minnesota also have earned AL spots, and Cleveland, Toronto and Houston have the inside track on the three remaining positions. But the NL playoff picture is a scramble — only the Dodgers and Padres are in so far. Atlanta and the Cubs hold division leads, Miami and Philadelphia are the break-even point. With six spots in play, it should be an entertaining week with Cincinnati, Milwaukee and San Francisco all at .500. Brandon Woodruff (2-4, 3.45 ERA) and the Brewers begin a three-game series at Cincinnati. Reds righty Luis Castillo is 3-5 in 10 career starts against the Brewers, including 1-3 over... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres are returning to the playoffs for the first time in 14 years after beating the Seattle Mariners 7-4 Sunday with a three-run rally in the 11th inning that included a go-ahead double by newcomer Mitch Moreland. The clincher came in the finale of a series that was moved from Seattle because of poor air quality due to wildfires, so the Mariners were considered the home team and batted last. After closer Trevor Rosenthal (1-0), another newcomer, struck out Phillip Ervin for the final out, the Padres had a brief but joyous celebration in the infield. Then they gathered near the dugouts to get playoff caps and T-shirts. Although Petco Park was devoid of spectators, a handful of fans watched from a rooftop bar just beyond left-center field and several others watched from balconies on an office building high above right field. Casey Sadler (1-1) took the loss. RED SOX 10, YANKEES 2 BOSTON (AP) — Tanner Houck took a no-hitter into the sixth inning of his second... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors on Monday: FINAL WEEK Fernando Tatis Jr. and the Padres are headed to the playoffs, so are DJ LeMahieu and the Yankees. But going into this last week, a lot of postseason spots are still wide open. San Diego and the Yankees clinched berths in the expanded 16-team field Sunday. Yet overall, only seven slots are claimed. Tampa Bay, Oakland, the White Sox and Minnesota also have earned AL spots, and Cleveland, Toronto and Houston have the inside track on the three remaining positions. But the NL playoff picture is a scramble -- only the Dodgers and Padres are in so far. Atlanta and the Cubs hold division leads, Miami and Philadelphia are the break-even point. With six spots in play, it should be an entertaining week with Cincinnati, Milwaukee and San Francisco all at .500. Brandon Woodruff (2-4, 3.45) and the Brewers begin a three-game series at Cincinnati. Reds righty Luis Castillo is 3-5 in 10 career starts against the Brewers, including 1-3 over... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Brandon Kintzler escaped a bases-loaded jam to end it and the Miami Marlins kept up their playoff push, scratching out a late unearned run off Max Scherzer to beat the Washington Nationals 2-1 Sunday to open a doubleheader. The Marlins began the day with a half-game lead over Philadelphia for second place in the NL East. The top two teams in each division are assured spots in the expanded postseason field — two extra wild-card clubs will advance, too. A two-out error by first baseman Eric Thames in the sixth inning gave Miami the go-ahead run. Washington threatened in the seventh and final inning when Luis Garcia led off with a single and pinch hitter Yadiel Hernandez followed with a ground-rule double off Kintzler. After Andrew Stevenson flied out to short right, Trea Turner hit a hard smash to Kintzler, who got Garcia out on a rundown that left runners still at second and third. Juan Soto was intentionally walked before Kintzler struck out Kurt Suzuki for his 10th save. Matt... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Powered by the steady presence of José Abreu, the White Sox revival is roaring on the South Side. On the North Side, Yu Darvish is pitching like an ace again, and the Cubs are eyeing another October run. Chicago's major league teams are linked by more than just geography these days. They also share a most enviable position this time of year — first place. "I think that every time we take the field, we feel invincible,” White Sox rookie Luis Robert said through a translator. Sure looks that way. The playoff-bound White Sox have won 24 of 31 to rise to the top of the AL Central. Heading into Sunday's game at Cincinnati, they had a magic number of four for clinching their first division title since their last postseason appearance in 2008. Under first-year manager David Ross, the Cubs jumped out to a 13-3 start and then faltered before picking up their play as the pandemic-shortened season barreled toward the finish. They are closing in on their first NL Central championship... [More]

Sept. 21 1934 — Daffy Dean of the St. Louis Cardinals pitched a no-hitter against the Brooklyn Dodgers for 3-0 victory in the second game of an Ebbets Field doubleheader. Daffy’s brother Dizzy, held Brooklyn hitless until the eighth inning in the opener and won 13-0. 1947 — Boston’s Johnny Pesky had two hits in each game of a doubleheader and finished the day with 202 hits. Pesky surpassed the 200-hit mark for the third time in as many major league seasons. He is the only player to lead a league in hits in his first three seasons in the game. 1964 — Manager Gene Mauch’s first-place Phillies lost 1-0 to the Cincinnati Reds on Chico Ruiz’s steal of home in the sixth inning. It was Philadelphia’s first of 10 straight losses, a streak that cost them the NL pennant. 1970 — Oakland’s Vida Blue pitched a no-hitter in his eighth major league start, beating Minnesota 6-0. 1995 — Colorado’s John Vander Wal set a major league record with his 26th pinch-hit of the season with a home run in the seventh... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today: ___ GONE STREAKING The Yankees can clinch their fourth consecutive postseason berth and set a new mark for supremacy in their rivalry with Boston in the finale of a series at Fenway Park. New York has won 10 straight games since ending a 5-15 slump, improving to 31-21 and ensuring their 28th consecutive winning season, second in big league history behind their 39 in a row from 1926-64. They'll lock up a playoff spot if they beat the Red Sox or if Seattle loses to San Diego. The Bronx Bombers have also beaten Boston in 12 straight meetings, matching their best run ever in the rivalry. The Yankees also won 12 straight spanning the 1952-32 seasons while Red Sox star Ted Williams was off fighting in the Korean War. SHUT DOWN Justin Verlander’s bid to rejoin the Astros for a playoff push is over. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner says he needs Tommy John surgery, likely putting him out of action through all of next year. The 37-year-old... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — Tim Anderson hit two of Chicago’s five solo homers, and the White Sox — already guaranteed a playoff spot — took another step toward the AL Central title by overpowering the Cincinnati Reds 5-0 on Saturday night. Chicago has won eight of its last 10 games, securing at least a wild card and its first postseason appearance since 2008. José Abreu hit his fifth homer in eight games as the White Sox piled them up, including three in a row in the eighth off Robert Stephenson. Abreu has 18 homers overall. The Reds managed six hits as they had their season-high winning streak snapped at six games. Cincinnati (26-27) wasted a chance to move above .500 for the first time since its season-opening win over the Tigers. Nomar Mazara was in a 3-for-25 slump with 11 strikeouts when he connected off Trevor Bauer (4-4) in the fifth inning for his first homer. One out later, Anderson’s ninth homer made it 2-0. Bauer went seven innings and gave up five hits while throwing 107 pitches. Matt... [More]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Mitch Keller has a no-hitter through six innings against the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday night. Keller is making his second start since missing six weeks with a strained left oblique. He walked Tommy Edman and hit Brad Miller with a pitch in the first inning, and Tyler O’Neill drew a walk in the second. Keller set down the next 14 batters. He’s thrown 84 pitches and struck out six. The 24-year-old entered the game with a 1-1 record and 5.06 ERA in three games. He was activated from the injured list Monday after being sidelined since Aug. 2. The Pirates led 2-0 as Ke’Bryan Hayes and Jose Osuna hit solo home runs off Kwang Hyun Kim. White Sox ace Lucas Giolito and Cubs journeyman Alec Mills have thrown no-hitters during this pandemic-shortened season. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres activated first baseman Eric Hosmer from the 10-day injured list on Saturday, just 12 days after he broke his left index finger while trying to bunt. Hosmer started and batted fifth against the Seattle Mariners. The Padres had the chance to clinch their first playoff berth in 14 seasons. The Padres also recalled right-hander Luis Patiño to start in place of Mike Clevinger, who will have his next start pushed back a few days due to right biceps tightness. To make room on the roster, catcher Francisco Mejía and right-hander Luis Perdomo were optioned to the alternate training site.

A look at what's happening around the majors Sunday: ___ SHUT DOWN Justin Verlander’s bid to rejoin the Astros for a playoff push is over. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner says he needs Tommy John surgery, likely putting him out of action through all of next year. The 37-year-old right-hander threw to hitters on the side Wednesday for the first time since he was injured in the team’s opener on July 24. “I tried as hard as I could to come back and play this season,” Verlander said. “Unfortunately, my body just didn’t cooperate.” The Astros hold the eighth and final spot in the AL playoff race. Verlander went 21-6 with a 2.58 ERA last year, striking out a career-high 300 and throwing his third no-hitter. He pitched 223 innings, most in the majors, and then made six more starts in the postseason as the Astros reached the World Series. TRY AGAIN Madison Bumgarner makes another attempt at his first win since signing an $85 million, five-year contract in the offseason as a free agent with... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the rest of the season. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner announced the news Saturday on his Instagram account in a 1½-minute video. “In my simulated game a couple days ago, I felt something in my elbow, and after looking at my MRI and conversing with some of the best doctors in the world, we’ve determined that Tommy John surgery is my best option,” Verlander said. He threw to hitters on Wednesday for the first time since he was injured in the team’s opener on July 24. He threw 50 pitches in the bullpen before throwing about 25 pitches to hitters in two simulated innings. “I tried as hard as I could to come back and play this season,” Verlander said. “Unfortunately, my body just didn’t cooperate.” Verlander has been on the injured list with a right forearm strain. He went 21-6 with a 2.58 ERA in 2019. “Obviously, this is not good news,” Verlander said. “However, I’m going to handle this the only... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander says he needs Tommy John surgery.

Sept. 20 1902 — Chicago’s Jim Callaghan tossed the White Sox’s first no-hitter, beating Detroit 2-0. 1907 — Pittsburgh’s Nicholas Maddox became the first Pirates pitcher to throw a no-hitter by defeating the Brooklyn Superbas, 2-1, at Exposition Park. Pirates player-manager Fred Clarke had the only two hits of the game, both off Elmer Stricklett. All three runs in the game were unearned. Brooklyn scored its run in the fourth, thanks to errors by Maddox and shortstop Honus Wagner. Maddox made a high throw over first baseman Harry Swacina’s head, allowing Emil Batch to reach base. Batch scored when Wagner threw away Al Burch’s ground ball. 1908 — Frank Smith of the Chicago White Sox threw his second career no-hitter for a 1-0 victory over the Philadelphia Athletics. 1912 — The Detroit Tigers snapped Joe Wood’s 16-game win streak with a 6-4 win over the Boston Red Sox. 1924 — Grover Cleveland Alexander won his 300th game as the Chicago Cubs beat the New York Giants 7-3 in 12 innings. 1958... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today: ___ BACK AT IT Cubs journeyman Alec Mills (5-3, 3.93) is set to pitch for the first time since his unexpected no-hitter a week ago against Milwaukee. The 28-year-old will face the Twins in just the 16th start of his big league career. Johnny Vander Meer in 1938 is the only pitcher to throw consecutive no-hitters. Mills will face Minnesota right-hander Michael Pineda (1-0, 3.57). MINUS MEADOWS The playoff-bound Rays will be missing outfielder Austin Meadows into the postseason because of a strained oblique. Meadows was hurt while taking a swing this week for the AL East leaders during a game in Baltimore Meadows is batting just .205 with four homers and 13 RBIs. Last year, he hit .291 with 33 home runs and 89 RBIs. “I don’t need to talk about how important Austin is,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. ACE CARD Cardinals left-hander Kwang Hyun Kim starts at Milwaukee, trying to keep up his remarkable run. The 32-year-old Kim, who starred... [More]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Angels slugger Albert Pujols passed Willie Mays for fifth place on the career home run list, hitting No. 661 on Friday night against Texas. The 40-year-old Pujols connected for a solo homer with two outs in the fifth inning. He sent Wes Benjamin's fastball on a 1-2 count over the wall in left field. Pujols has hit five homers this season. He tied Mays last Sunday at Colorado. It is only Pujols' second home run since Aug. 4. He now trails only Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714) and Alex Rodriguez (696). Pujols has one more season left on his contract with the Angels after this year. Benjamin was the 428th different pitcher Pujols homered against in his career. Only Bonds has homered against more pitchers (449). ___ AP Sports Writer Tim Booth in Seattle and Baseball Writer Stephen Hawkins in Texas contributed to this report. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Angels slugger Albert Pujols hits 661st home run, passing Willie Mays for fifth on career list.

CINCINNATI (AP) — Slumping Jesse Winker hit a three-run homer — one of four off White Sox starter Jonathan Stiever — and the Cincinnati Reds extended their surge into playoff contention with a 7-1 win Friday night for their season-high sixth victory in a row. The Reds moved to .500 (26-26) for the first time since Aug. 3. Their winning streak has them in playoff position, in second place in the NL Central behind the Cubs. The AL Central-leading White Sox clinched their first playoff berth since 2008 with a win over the Twins on Thursday night. Their momentum hit a snag as Stiever (0-1) got hit hard in his first major league road appearance. The 23-year-old right-hander allowed Winker’s shot and solo homers by Joey Votto, Nick Castellanos and Tucker Barnhart. Tyler Mahle (2-2) got his first win since Aug. 28, allowing four hits and fanning eight in 5 2/3 innings. CARDINALS 6, PIRATES 5, 1st game PITTSBURGH (AP) — Kolten Wong hit the second leadoff home run of his career, Tyler O’Neill added... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Saturday: ___ BACK AT IT Cubs journeyman Alec Mills (5-3, 3.93) is set to pitch for the first time since his unexpected no-hitter a week ago against Milwaukee. The 28-year-old will face the Twins in just the 16th start of his big league career. Johnny Vander Meer in 1938 is the only pitcher to throw consecutive no-hitters. Mills will face Minnesota right-hander Michael Pineda (1-0, 3.57). MINUS MEADOWS The playoff-bound Rays will be missing outfielder Austin Meadows into the postseason because of a strained oblique. Meadows was hurt while taking a swing this week for the AL East leaders during a game in Baltimore Meadows is batting just .205 with four homers and 13 RBIs. Last year, he hit .291 with 33 home runs and 89 RBIs. “I don’t need to talk about how important Austin is,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. ACE CARD Cardinals left-hander Kwang Hyun Kim starts at Milwaukee, trying to keep up his remarkable run. The 32-year-old Kim, who starred... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Austin Meadows was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday with an oblique strain that will keep him sidelined into the postseason. The injury occurred while Meadows took a swing in the opener of Thursday's doubleheader against the Orioles. The Rays won both games to earn a berth in the AL playoffs, and they'll need a deep run to get Meadows back in the lineup. “We’re going to have to play really, really well to see him at any point the rest of the season," manager Kevin Cash said. Meadows is batting .205 with four homers and 13 RBIs. Last year he hit .291 with 33 home runs and 89 RBIs, so his bat is always welcome in the Tampa Bay lineup. “I don’t need to talk about how important Austin is," Cash said. To fill the roster spot, Tampa Bay selected left-hander Sean Gilmartin from its alternate site. In order to add Gilmartin to the 40-man roster, the Rays transferred pitcher Cody Reed (left pinky irritation) to the 45-day IL, ending his season.... [More]