Mariners hope to stay alive against surging Indians (Sep 22, 2017)  —  SEATTLE — Just as the Seattle Mariners are looking for any break they can muster to remain in the postseason race, they get to welcome one of the hottest teams in baseball history — not the sort of break they needed.

5 positives, 5 negatives from Brad Ausmus' tenure with Detroit Tigers  —  Free Press sports writer George Sipple looks at five positive ways he'll remember Brad Ausmus and five negative ways he'll remember Ausmus' tenure as manager of the Detroit Tigers.  —  Five positives

Freeman, Braves open last home series vs. Phillies (Sep 22, 2017)  —  ATLANTA — Freddie Freeman stopped taking batting practice several weeks ago to save some of the remaining strength in his left wrist that was broken by a pitch in mid-May, but don't think about giving the Atlanta Braves first baseman any other kind of rest.

Cubs rally in 9th, beat Brewers 5-3 in 10th to extend lead (Sep 21, 2017)  —  MILWAUKEE (AP) The pressure was on and Javier Baez delivered for the Chicago Cubs.  —  Baez grounded a tying single with two outs in the ninth inning, Kris Bryant hit a two-run homer in the 10th and the Cubs widened …

Yankees will ‘probably’ use a six-man rotation for next turn as regular season winds down  —  TORONTO — The Yankees are “probably” going to use a six-man rotation for the next turn, according to Joe Girardi.  But the situation remains fluid as the team waits to see where it stacks up in the postseason race.

Reds Sign Tucker Barnhart To Four-Year Extension  —  The Reds announced on Friday morning that they've signed catcher Tucker Barnhart to a four-year contract extension that will keep him around through at least the 2021 season.  Barnhart's new contract also contains a club option for the 2022 season.

Yankees' Todd Frazier says expanded netting should go up this year  —  TORONTO — After speaking with the family of the young girl hit in the face by his foul ball, the New York Yankees' Todd Frazier thinks teams should move quickly to expand protective netting at major league ballparks.

Noah Syndergaard to start Saturday for Mets; Matt Harvey to pitch in relief  —  NEW YORK — Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard finally will return to a major league mound, albeit briefly.  —  The right-hander will start Saturday's game against the Washington, pitching one inning.

Catching up with the Marlins  —  For a few days in late August, the Marlins looked like darkhorse contenders for one of the National League wild card spots.  But that dream ended after a 1-10 stretch from Aug. 28-Sept. 7 left them buried in the standings.  RF Giancarlo Stanton has cooled …

Mets rookie follows father's advice, and it's paying off … The advice that would come to serve Brandon Nimmo the best in his baseball career was delivered by his father, Ron, over the years, during their frequent visits to the batting cage.  —  “My dad was always big on swinging at strikes …

Padres' Lyles looks to extend Rockies' skid (Sep 22, 2017)  —  SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres will turn to Jordan Lyles to stifle the Colorado Rockies on Friday.  And that reminded San Diego manager Andy Green of a recent conversation he had with catcher Austin Hedges.

Cardinals continue climb with visit to Pirates (Sep 22, 2017)  —  PITTSBURGH — The St. Louis Cardinals have a short, steep climb if they are going to push their way into the playoffs.  —  Next up is a club, the Pittsburgh Pirates, that could be spoilers after they got a confidence shot in their last game.

BREWERS  —  Yes, the Rockies at present have dropped four straight despite playing the likes of the Giants and Padres over that span.  Still, they'll play three more against the .451 Padres before getting the .474 Marlins at home for three.  Then comes an off day before they close up with three against the Dodgers in Coors Field.

Has DeShields raced his way into Rangers' 2018 lineup?  —  SEATTLE  —  Carlos Gomez, bad ankle and all, finally talked himself back into the Texas Rangers' lineup Thursday, though it helped that a left-hander was pitching for the Seattle Mariners.  —  Gomez, who hadn't started since Sept. 9 …