Padres fall into tie for wild-card lead  —  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Bud Black still likes San Diego's situation with six games to go, even though the Padres' problems are mounting.  —  Fast.  —  Missing two injured outfielders, San Diego lost its fourth straight game Monday night — and sole possession of the wild-card lead.

Washington (69-87) at NY Mets (87-68)  —  The NL East-leading New York Mets hope the lowly Washington Nationals don't give them trouble this time as the teams open a three-game set Monday.  —  New York (87-68) squandered a pair of early four-run leads in losing two of three contests at Washington (69-87) last week.

Pitching coach opts to 'explore options'  —  Pitching coach Rick Kranitz has left the Marlins because of what sources described as a dispute over his salary for next season.  —  With a 66-90 record and six games left, the Marlins are headed toward one of the worst finishes in their 15-year history, largely because of poor pitching.

Yankees Rookies Dress Up in Oz Costumes  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Joba Chamberlain raised his oversized paws, shook his shaggy brown mane and let out a feeble roar.  Looking and acting every bit the Cowardly Lion, the big reliever was ready for a scrap Monday.  —  "Put 'em up!

Drafting in the Top 10 a risky business  —  White Sox will be careful when selecting a prospect next June  —  CHICAGO — Remember Mark Merchant?  How about Ty Griffin or Jeff Jackson?  —  The last two names potentially hold some significance for White Sox fans, but all three players serve …

Resilient Mets beat Marlins, 7-6; up NL East lead  —  MIAMI - It could come down to the final minute of this week before the Mets know their postseason fate for sure.  But regardless of what happens, their playoffs-or-bust attitude was evident yesterday at steamy Dolphin Stadium.

Lynn: Ellsbury has familiar look  —  In 15 games as a September call-up, the Red Sox [team stats]' 6-foot-1, lean, left-handed center fielder went 18-for-43, hitting .419 with two doubles, two triples, two home runs and 10 RBI, setting the stage for a historic rookie season.

Sox playoff roster: Pick the pitching staff  —  With the Sox having locked up a playoff spot, it's time to start talking about which players will be on the 25-man roster for the ALDS and which will be left off.  The team will have to make some particularly tough decisions about the pitching staff.

Hill shut down for season  —  Righty will need surgery for nerve problem in forearm  —  NEW YORK — Nationals right-hander Shawn Hill will miss the rest of the season because of a nerve problem in his right forearm.  Like right-hander John Patterson before him, the radial nerve needs to be decompressed.

Buehrle shut down after killing bear  —  MINNEAPOLIS — The deal was if Mark Buehrle got his bear, he was out of the starting rotation for the rest of the season.  —  Saturday night, the White Sox left-hander kept up his end of the bargain.  —  Buehrle went bear hunting in northern Minnesota …

Mazzone's magic yet to mend Orioles' mound woes  —  BALTIMORE — Leo Mazzone arrived in Baltimore nearly two years ago armed with immaculate credentials, a three-year, $1.5 million contract and a Herculean assignment: return the Orioles pitching staff to respectability.