Duda's two homers help cut magic number to 1  —  Lucas Duda hit two three-run home runs and Noah Syndergaard pitched into the eighth inning as the New York Mets cut their magic number to clinch the NL East to one game with a 12-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday at Great American Ballpark.

Dickey Earns 100th Win as Blue Jays Beat Rays 5-3  —  TORONTO — R.A. Dickey pitched seven innings to earn his 100th career win, Josh Donaldson hit his 40th home run and the Toronto Blue Jays moved closer to clinching their first playoff berth in 22 years with a 5-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night.

Altherr Homers Twice in Phillies' 8-2 Win Over Nationals  —  WASHINGTON — Rookie Aaron Altherr had four hits, including an inside-the-park grand slam and a solo homer, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Washington Nationals 8-2 Friday night in what was likely Jordan Zimmermann's home farewell.

Inside Baseball: 25 heroes for 2015; plus notes from all over MLB  —  Here goes, our 25 heroes of 2015 ...  Not only did he win the winter, he won the summer, too.  It was his relentless pursuit of Josh Donaldson, a player who wasn't believed to be available, that netted the probable AL MVP.

Red Sox Name Frank Wren Senior VP Of Baseball Operations  —  The Red Sox announced this afternoon that former Braves GM Frank Wren has been hired as the team's senior vice president of baseball operations.  Wren, 57, worked with president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski previously in the Marlins and Expos organizations.

Fastball velocity of 97.26 mph best in NL since All-Star break  —  9/15/15: Carlos Martinez permits one run on four hits over eight innings, striking out nine and walking just two in the Cardinals' win  —  There was a time when it wasn't certain Carlos Martinez would ever even be in the St. Louis Cardinals' rotation.

Cole Outpitches Lester, Leads Pirates Over Cubs 3-2  —  CHICAGO — Gerrit Cole outpitched Jon Lester as the Pittsburgh Pirates hung on for their seventh straight win, beating Chicago 3-2 Friday to delay the Cubs' playoff celebration.  —  Pittsburgh increased its lead for the NL's top wild card …

Sabathia Gives Up Costly Homers, Yanks Lose 5-2 to White Sox  —  NEW YORK — CC Sabathia gave up two costly homers in the seventh inning and prized rookie Carlos Rodon pitched out of trouble all night as the Chicago White Sox damaged New York's playoff drive Friday with a 5-2 victory over the Yankees.

2015 New York-Penn League Top 20 Prospects  —  NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE TOP 20 PROSPECTS  —  In their first season in the short-season New York-Penn League, West Virginia won the league championship, taking down Staten Island in two games.  —  It wasn't an easy road for the Black Bears …

The attempted reinvention of Elvis Andrus  —  There's no simple explanation for why the Rangers are in first place in the AL West.  I mean, there kind of is, if you accept “they have the best record” as an explanation, but for explaining that record — it's complicated.

“I've pitched fine on the road,” Gray said.  “I just can't find that whatever it is to make an adjustment and pitch in this place.”  —  The Denver Post  —  Jon Gray (55) of the Colorado Rockies works in the first inning against the San Diego Padres during a National League west game at Coors Field.

For a Major League Hair Cut, Baseball Players Pick Miami's Juice  —  MIAMI — Before Miami Marlins ace Jose Fernandez takes the mound Friday night seeking to make pitching history, his pre-game ritual will involve a trip to the barbershop.  —  Not just any barber, however.