Cubs close in on NL Central title, Quintana tops Brewers 5-0 (Sep 24, 2017)  —  MILWAUKEE (AP) Jose Quintana pitched a three-hitter for his second big league shutout, and the Chicago Cubs beat Milwaukee 5-0 Sunday to close in on a second straight NL Central title and damage the Brewers' playoff hopes.

Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera has 2 herniated discs in his back  —  In the least surprising news of the Detroit Tigers season, first baseman Miguel Cabrera has been diagnosed with two herniated discs in his back.  —  Cabrera received the diagnosis after undergoing an MRI on Sunday afternoon.

Mookie Betts' three-run double rallies Boston Red Sox past Cincinnati Reds  —  CINCINNATI — Outfielder Mookie Betts removed the ice and bandage from his right foot to talk to reporters about the latest Boston Red Sox rally, one that has them going back to Fenway Park that much closer to an American League East title.

Marlins try to get in the way of Diamondbacks (Sep 24, 2017)  —  The Miami Marlins have been eliminated from playoff contention, but they haven't stopped fighting.  —  The Arizona Diamondbacks are closing in on their first playoff berth since 2011, but they haven't stopped working to accomplish their goal.

Is big 2018 looming for Perez despite Sunday slip?  —  No matter what happened Sunday and what is to happen Friday, the final two months of Martin Perez's 2017 season are going to be remembered as one of the best stretches of his career.  —  Those final two months started with a stinker …

Nick Pivetta mows down Braves as Phillies win, 2-0  —  ATLANTA — The slog to this season's finish line matched a Canadian righthander against a Brazilian lefthander, both with ERAs above 6.00, but one rookie had a little more to prove Sunday than the other.  Nick Pivetta has endured a beating.

With AL East hopes in doubt, Yankees need to start preparing for wild-card matchup vs. Twins  —  TORONTO — The Yankees remain mathematically alive in the AL East, but given that they trail the Red Sox by five games in the standings with just seven games left in the regular season, it hardly feels that way.

Jameson Taillon, relievers fuel Pittsburgh Pirates past St. Louis Cardinals  —  PITTSBURGH — With his club nearly out of contention in the National League Central but still locked in a three-way wild-card race, St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny on Sunday handed the ball to a rookie right-hander making his first start of 2017.

Rockies thinking wild card in last road game vs. Padres (Sep 24, 2017)  —  SAN DIEGO — The Colorado Rockies are headed home after Sunday's game against the San Diego Padres.  They hope their final destination after the regular season is the playoffs.  —  Colorado plays its last road game to wrap up its four-game series in San Diego.

Oakland Athletics' Bruce Maxwell becomes first MLB player to kneel during national anthem  —  OAKLAND, Calif. — Oakland Athletics catcher Bruce Maxwell became the first major league baseball player to kneel during the national anthem Saturday night as he joined a protest against racial injustice …

Scherzer, deGrom to duel in Nationals-Mets matchup (Sep 24, 2017)  —  NEW YORK — Two of the National League's best pitchers will square off Sunday afternoon when the New York Mets host the Washington Nationals in the finale of a three-game series at Citi Field.

Orioles scratch RHP Bundy from start with hamstring strain  —  BALTIMORE (AP) — The Orioles have scratched starting pitcher Dylan Bundy with a left hamstring strain.  —  Bundy was supposed to take the mound Sunday for the team's home finale, but the right-hander's status for the rest of the season now appears to be in flux.

Giants look to win series against Dodgers (Sep 24, 2017)  —  LOS ANGELES — The San Francisco Giants have been looking ahead to next season for a while, and they'll put rookie right-hander Chris Stratton back under the microscope in their series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday afternoon.

Jacob deGrom reaches significant 200-inning plateau for first time in career  —  Jacob deGrom has been the last ace standing for the Mets for most of this season, pitching more innings than Noah Syndergaard, Matt Harvey and Steven Matz have thrown combined.  —  Coming off of season-ending elbow …

Royals' Raul Mondesi focuses on baseball, not family issues back home  —  CHICAGO  —  Raul Mondesi has had a difficult year.  In January, he grieved the loss of Yordano Ventura, his dear friend and Royals teammate.  In the months that followed, club officials learned that Mondesi's father …