Source says Gamel, Green on waivers  —  Brewers infielders Mat Gamel and Taylor Green are on waivers today and would come off Milwaukee's crowded 40-man roster on Thursday if they clear, according to a baseball source.  —  Neither player saw the field during the 2013 season.

Braves Happy Entering Playoffs Under the Radar  —  (Reuters) - For the first time in nearly a decade, the Atlanta Braves have won the National League East division crown, raising fresh hopes they can rekindle their glory days and make a charge at winning the World Series.

What Royals GM Dayton Moore really meant by his ‘World Series’ comment  —  Dayton Moore said something stupid.  This stupid thing he said will hang on him.  His words will be mocked.  —  To some, Moore has already been the Royals' general manager too long.  Seven years already.

Astros Claim Raul Valdes, Decline Humber's Option  —  The Astros have issued a press release announcing that they have claimed left-hander Raul Valdes off waivers from the Phillies and declined their 2014 club option for right-hander Philip Humber.  Humber is one of four players …

Alex Rodriguez tells panel he was duped into taking steroids: source  —  The embattled Yankee and his lawyers have presented a case based partly on the idea that Rodriguez believed the substances he procured from the Biogenesis anti-aging clinic were innocent legal supplements.

Sources: Cubs have serious interest in Girardi  —  Brian Cashman's meeting with Joe Girardi's agent Wednesday comes at a time when the Chicago Cubs have serious interest in hiring the New York Yankees manager, sources told ESPN.  —  Chicago fired Dale Sveum on Monday, and sources …

Casey McGehee Considering Return To MLB  —  Masahiro Tanaka has gotten most of the attention from those looking at the Rakuten Golden Eagles' roster this season (and deservedly so), but the team's third baseman warrants some consideration as well.  Former Major League infielder Casey McGehee …

Cobb, Rays quiet Indians, move into ALDS  —  CLEVELAND — The Tampa Bay Rays' road show rolls on.  Next stop: Boston.  —  Alex Cobb dodged trouble for nearly seven innings and the Rays pitched their way to another must-have win on the road, beating the Cleveland Indians 4-0 Wednesday night in the AL wild-card game.

Santo family to receive memorabilia tossed out by Cubs  —  The Ron Santo memorabilia mistakenly tossed into a dumpster by the Cubs on Monday was fished out by bartenders at Murphy's bar and will be given to the Santo family.  —  “I'm glad the stuff was saved by Beth Murphy and I'm looking forward …

Red Sox tab LHP Lester as Game 1 starter  —  BOSTON — Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell confirmed Wednesday what many thought for the better part of a week, naming Jon Lester as his Game 1 starter in the American League Division Series, which begins Friday at Fenway Park.

Highlights and Analysis: 2013 N.L. Wildcard — Pirates 6, Reds 2  —  Anyone who has even casually followed the Pittsburgh Pirates this season is probably familiar with one particular number: 21.  That's how many years it had been since the Pirates have made the postseason, let alone had a winning season.