Cubs battling more than Brewers during tiring stretch run  —  CHICAGO — They can blame the weather, an awful late-season schedule and myriad other non-baseball related factors, but if the Chicago Cubs want to return to the playoffs for a fourth consecutive year, they'll have to rise above …

Mets to make major announcement on David Wright as source says team captain still hopes to return  —  The Mets and David Wright are expecting to announce Thursday their plans for the team captain's attempted comeback.  —  The Mets' third baseman has not played in a major league game since May 2016 …

New York Yankees feeling the heat as the A's take dead-aim at their wild card lead  —  MINNEAPOLIS - Suddenly, the out-of-town scoreboard means something to the Yankees.  —  Despite an injury-wrecked rotation, the Oakland Athletics' potent lineup and electric relief corps have created …

Athletics use 10-run 3rd inning to beat Orioles 10-0  —  BALTIMORE (AP) - Matt Olson homered during a 10-run third inning in which the first 11 batters reached base, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Baltimore Orioles 10-0 Wednesday night for their sixth straight victory.

Last Slide  —  The Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Dodgers are battling for the NL West division title and the automatic berth in the 2018 MLB playoffs that comes with it.  —  Who has the edge as we head down the final stretch of the season?  —  The Heat Index takes a look at the NL West race now.

Tampa Bay Rays' Blake Snell no-hit bid into 7th, 19th win tops Cleveland Indians 3-1  —  Cleveland's magic number to clinch a third consecutive AL Central title remained at three.  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - Blake Snell took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning and got his major league-leading 19th win …

Taillon helps Pirates to 4-3 win, slowing Cardinals  —  ST. LOUIS —  Jameson Taillon won his fourth straight start, Jacob Stallings drove in three runs and the Pittsburgh Pirates slowed the Cardinals with a 4-3 victory Wednesday that stopped the Cardinals' three-game winning streak.

5 things to know about new White Sox reliever Rob Scahill  —  Chicago Tribune  —  When Michael Kopech suffered a season-ending elbow injury, it opened the door for Rob Scahill, who played for Willowbrook in high school and at Bradley in college, to fulfill a lifelong dream to play for the White Sox.

Soto HR in 10th gives Nats doubleheader sweep over Phils  —  PHILADELPHIA (AP) Juan Soto made a leaping catch in foul territory in the first game of a doubleheader and ended eight hours of baseball with a milestone homer in the second game.  —  Both plays from the talented teen keyed a sensational sweep for the Nationals.

A's might be down another starter; Trevor Cahill dealing with back muscle issue  —  BALTIMORE - Yet another member of the A's rotation is dealing with an injury, The Chronicle has learned.  —  Oakland, which has absorbed blow after blow to its group of starters, is looking at losing Trevor Cahill for at least one start this weekend.

Last Slide  —  DENVER - When asked about losing playing time, Diamondbacks infielder Ketel Marte sounded like he was trying to say the right things despite being severely disappointed by the outcome.  And it seemed like being out of the lineup on Wednesday after delivering a pair of key hits …

Springer's catch helps Astros hold off Tigers 5-4  —  George Springer made a diving catch in the eighth inning to help preserve Houston's lead, and the  —  Astros swept a series at Comerica Park for the first time, wrapping up a three-game set with a 5-4 victory over the  —  Detroit Tigers on Wednesday.

The 2018 World Series matchups we most (and least) want to see  —  Barring a miracle, we know the five playoff teams in the American League.  We basically know nothing in the National League, except the Braves are getting pretty close to a sure thing in the NL East.

David Price's Boston Red Sox contract opt-out clause: 'Why would I leave here to go to a team that's not as good?'  —  BOSTON — David Price is in the midst of his most dominant stretch since signing a seven-year, $217-million contract with the Red Sox on Dec. 4, 2015.

Braves sweep Giants, complete 6-1 western trip  —  Wednesday was an afternoon of missed scoring chances and men stranded on base.  The Braves just barely scraped by with their last chance.  —  In the ninth, Charlie Culberson sat at third with two outs for Tyler Flowers.

Mike Foltynewicz looks ready to lead Braves in postseason  —  Mike Foltynewicz understandably hasn't given it any thought, but when the Braves play their first postseason game since 2013, it's likely going to feature him on the mound.  —  The righty took the mound Tuesday in San Francisco's 62-degree weather with a pleasant breeze.