Latos or Leake the options for Reds in Game 4  —  Latos would go on three days' rest, while Leake would replace Cueto on roster  —  CINCINNATI — Who will start for the Reds in Game 4 of the National League Division Series opposite Barry Zito and the Giants?  —  As of Tuesday night, his name was TBA.

Nationals sure could use Strasburg  —  WASHINGTON, D.C.  —  Sorry, it's time to utter the “S” word.  —  Heck, some of the Washington Nationals' players are saying it, with very little prompting.  —  “If we had 'Stras, we'd be up 2-0,” one player told me Tuesday.

HOLDING COURT WITH THE HIT KING  —  LAS VEGAS — If there is one undeniable thing about Peter Edward Rose, it is this: The man cannot tolerate silence.  It is a defining trait.  He simply cannot endure quiet.  He has to fill it.  He leans toward noise and cheers and buzz the way a plant leans to the sun.

Top prospect Puig to miss Fall League play  —  LOS ANGELES — Top Dodgers outfield prospect Yasiel Puig will miss the Arizona Fall League because of a staph infection in his right elbow that required a surgical procedure.  —  Puig is expected to be fully healed in three to five weeks …

Garcia to seek second opinion about shoulder  —  WASHINGTON  • The Cardinals made a change on their division series roster Tuesday, replacing lefthanded starting pitcher Jaime Garcia with rookie Shelby Miller.  The move represents the second time this season and third …

Cubs may lose Brenly, but Stone staying with Sox  —  Diamondbacks could make run at Brenly; Stone to stick with Sox  —  Bob Brenly is a man in demand in the television booth.  —  The Cubs' television analyst, whose contract recently expired, is attracting interest from the Diamondbacks …

Mets expected to offer about $100M to start as they try to make David Wright a Met ‘for life’  —  Wright fell off a little in the second half but still finished with 21 homers and 93 RBI.  (US Presswire)  —  The Mets are expected to open negotiations with an offer for somewhere in the neighborhood …

Nationals playoff game will create gridlock  —  Massive crowds are expected to descend on the Navy Yard area Wednesday for the first playoff game at Nationals Park, but the big problems could begin after the final out.  —  The game is scheduled to start at 1 p.m., which means that tens …

Arbitration Eligibles: New York Mets  —  The Mets are next in our 2013 Arbitration Eligibles series.  Matt Swartz's salary projections are below.  — First time: Daniel Murphy ($3MM), Bobby Parnell ($1.5MM), Josh Thole ($1.2MM), Rob Johnson ($600K), Ike Davis ($2.8MM)