Cubs return home to face Reds  —  CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs have a razor-thin margin for error as they attempt to hold onto first place in the National League Central down the stretch.  —  So if there was a time when a team that has already experienced its share of injuries this season …

NL Central tracker: Cubs magic number down to 14, but Brewers keep pace  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The Cubs reduced their magic number for winning their third consecutive National League Central title to 14, edging the Reds 3-2 on Friday night at Wrigley Field.

Diamondbacks pitcher Clay Buchholz's season likely over due to flexor strain in elbow  —  HOUSTON - Right-hander Clay Buchholz was diagnosed with a flexor strain in his right arm, a similar injury to the one that bothered him off and on for years before eventually requiring surgery last year.

Last Slide  —  HOUSTON - When Brad Ziegler took the mound in the seventh inning on Friday night at Minute Maid Park, it marked the 76th time he had appeared in a game this season, the most in the National League.  —  Ziegler is not alone among Diamondbacks relievers on that list.

Jon Jay's bizarre triple lifts Diamondbacks to much-needed win over Astros  —  HOUSTON - A small shard of wood broke off Jon Jay's bat in the eighth inning on Friday night, and in the moment Jay did not seem to know just what had happened.  He stood briefly in the box after his swing, as he would after a foul ball.

Dodgers paying back Cardinals  —  ST. LOUIS — The Los Angeles Dodgers' goal of turning the tables on the St. Louis Cardinals is well within reach heading into the third game of a four-game series on Saturday at Busch Stadium.  —  Three weeks after the Cardinals rolled to a three-game sweep in Los Angeles …

Cardinals notebook: Bader works overtime on swing  —  With his hitting coach leaning nearby and several other coaches scattered around Busch Stadium's field, Harrison Bader, the Cardinals' perpetual motion center fielder, slowed long enough to take batting practice alone Friday, hours before the game.

Cincinnati Reds reliever Lucas Sims possibly out for season with injury  —  Scott Schebler talks about Luis Castillo's start and the Reds' 3-1 victory over the Dodgers.  The Reds have a 6-0 record vs. the Dodgers this year.  Bobby Nightengale, Cincinnati Enquirer  —  CONNECT

Boston's Porcello looks to right himself vs. Mets  —  BOSTON — Rick Porcello will be counted on to be one of the Boston Red Sox starters in the coming postseason.  —  But the veteran right-hander, who won the Cy Young Award two years ago, will use the rest of September to straighten himself …

MLB: Cubs' Strop is out for season  —  It looks like the back end of the Chicago Cubs' bullpen will be a big question mark down the stretch.  —  Pedro Strop will miss the rest of the regular season with a left hamstring strain, leaving the NL Central leaders with a closer-by-committee approach …

White Sox look to take season series from Orioles  —  BALTIMORE — On Saturday, the Chicago White Sox will have the chance to accomplish something they haven't done in 10 years — win a season series against the Baltimore Orioles  —  A victory for the White Sox would give Chicago a 4-2 lead …

RECAP: Cleveland Indians' ninth-inning rally falls short in 5-4 loss to Detroit Tigers  —  The Cleveland Indians' ninth-inning rally fall a run short, as they dropped a 5-4 decision to the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field Friday night.  —  10:17 p.m.-INDIANS' NINTH-INNING RALLY FALLS SHORT AGAINST TIGERS