Blue Jays host Rays with wild card spot on the line  —  The Sports Network  —  (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Rays appeared headed toward a postseason spot this weekend, but losing the first two meetings of a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays has their playoff fate in a cloud.

Fresh off new $90M deal, Pence leads Giants over Padres  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Hunter Pence followed his first long-term contract with his first game-ending hit with San Francisco.  —  Pence singled in the winning run with no outs in the ninth inning to give the Giants a 7-6 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday.

Dodgers shut down Matt Kemp  —  LOS ANGELES — Just days before their first playoff appearance in four seasons, the Los Angeles Dodgers learned Sunday they'll be without center fielder Matt Kemp throughout the postseason.  —  A Sunday morning MRI to Kemp's injured left ankle showed significant swelling …

Astros' strikeouts set single-season record  —  HOUSTON — The Houston Astros have broken the major league record for strikeouts by batters in a season.  —  J.D. Martinez took a called third strike from New York Yankees reliever Dellin Betances that ended the ninth inning Sunday …

Mike Piazza returns to enter Mets Hall of Fame as chilly relationships begin to thaw  —  Will his return to Queens on Sunday for the induction signal the beginning of a phase in which the former Met catcher inches toward becoming a more regular presence?  —  This happens when a memory is so intense …

Alvarez in the Ninth  —  Henderson Alvarez comes out for the top of the ninth inning, pitching a no-hitter in a scoreless game.  He'll face the pitcher's spot, Don Kelly, and Andy Dirks as the Tigers and Marlins continue to look for offense.  —  Update: Alex Avila pinch hits and grounds back to the pitcher.

Final Score: Mets 3 Brewers 2  —  The Least You Should Know...  The Mets tied the game at two in the eighth inning when Juan Centeno attempted to sacrifice Juan Lagares to second, but the Brewers threw the ball away at first, allowing Lagares to score all the way from first base.

Baker turns to Cueto for NL Wild Card Game  —  CINCINNATI — At the beginning of the season, pitching Johnny Cueto in an elimination game such as Tuesday's National League Wild Card Game would have been a no-brainer.  But after three trips to the disabled list for Cueto this year …

Marlins name Hill president, Jennings GM  —  MIAMI — The Marlins on Sunday announced a new structure for their front office, naming Michael Hill president of baseball operations and Dan Jennings general manager.  —  Jennings has been with the club for 12 seasons, as the organization's vice president …

Royals beat White Sox to end best season in 24 years  —  CHICAGO — Bruce Chen pitched four-hit ball into the seventh inning and Kansas City beat the Chicago White Sox 4-1 on Sunday in the finale of the Royals' best season in 24 years.  —  Kansas City won three of four in Chicago and went 17-10 …