Cubs know Brewers are coming for them as NL Central tightens  —  CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon often says a team has to go out and take what they desire because nothing is going to be given in baseball.  Not over 162 games.  The Milwaukee Brewers are heeding Maddon's advice …

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 …

Yankees feel sense of urgency with wild-card lead down to 1 game  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Suddenly in the fight for their postseason lives, the New York Yankees are heading back home from a rocky road trip with a heightened sense of urgency as their wild-card lead has shrunk to one game.

Red Sox go for 101st win against Blue Jays  —  BOSTON — Having reached 100 victories for the first time in more than seven decades, the Boston Red Sox send Eduardo Rodriguez to the mound hoping to sweep their three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday night at Fenway Park.

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.

A west coast trip later, the Braves are running away with NL East  —  The Braves traveled to Phoenix with a 3.5-game lead in the National League East, a fortunate outcome after they were devastatingly swept at home by the Red Sox.  —  Their flight back East was much more exultant.

Marlins-Mets doubleheader bumped back after 5 1/2 hour delay  —  NEW YORK (AP) - The New York Mets and Miami Marlins have bumped their doubleheader back a day after the opener of Wednesday's scheduled twinbill was delayed by rain for 5 hours, 35 minutes.  —  The teams will play …

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.

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 …

Tim Anderson's 12th-inning homer lifts White Sox over Royals  —  Tim Anderson hit a two-run homer in the 12th inning, and the White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 4-2 on Wednesday night.  —  Anderson's blast off Burch Smith (1-5), the sixth Royals pitcher, landed just beyond the fence in left-center.

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 …

Mauer considers retirement as Twins face Royals  —  Joe Mauer has been the face of the Minnesota Twins for most of the century.  —  Mauer, a native of St. Paul who attended Cretin-Derham Hall High School, was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2001 draft and made his big league debut three years later …

Keith Law's Prospect of the Year: Vlad Jr. makes it an easy call  —  With the minor leagues' regular seasons over, it's time to present our annual Prospect of the Year award, given to the prospect who showed the best performance in the minor leagues in 2018.

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.

Cincinnati Reds' magic against the Los Angeles Dodgers ends in an 8-1 loss  —  The Reds' magic against the Los Angeles Dodgers ended with a thud Wednesday.  —  The Dodgers beat up on Reds pitching in an 8-1 loss before a crowd of 15,633 at Great American Ball Park.

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.