Gregory Polanco likely to miss 7-9 months after shoulder surgery  —  PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates say right fielder Gregory Polanco could be out until June after having surgery on his left shoulder.  —  Polanco dislocated his throwing shoulder on an awkward slide into second base on a double last Friday against Miami.

Learning the outfield could help Cincinnati Reds top prospect Nick Senzel reach the Majors  —  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

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.

Mets' David Wright could pinch hit before farewell game  —  New York Mets infielder David Wright could be used as a pinch hitter ahead of his final start on Sept. 29, manager Mickey Callaway said Friday.  —  Wright will be activated from the 60-day disabled list when the team returns home Sept. 25 …

Braves, Giants franchises molded by 1993, MLB's last great pennant race  —  SAN FRANCISCO — The last great pennant race left some with the most beautiful memories in their careers and others with the ugliest of scars.  —  It created the most radical change in baseball's playoff format …

Khris Davis homers as A's edge Rays in 10 to win another one-run game  —  Tampa Bay Rays' C.J. Cron breaks his bat as he lines out during the 10th inning of Friday's loss to the A's.  —  Khris Davis helped Oakland win another close one.  —  Davis led off the 10th inning …

Braves to begin sales of single-game NLDS tickets next week  —  The Braves announced that single-game tickets for a potential National League Division Series will go on sale Wednesday.  —  The Braves lead the National League East Division by 7-1/2 games over the second-place Phillies entering play Friday.

Yankees activate Aaron Judge from DL, but will be limited  —  Check back for updates  —  The New York Yankees activated Aaron Judge before Friday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays.  —  However, Judge will be limited to only defense and base running.  He will not be able to hit yet.

Mets' Noah Syndergaard on Boston rodent: New York rats way worse  —  Noah Syndergaard's first start at historic Fenway Park was everything the right-hander could have asked for.  —  Seven shutout innings.  Three hits allowed.  An 8-0 New York Mets win.  —  The only thing not that impressive to Thor?

Chris Stratton throws first career complete game, shuts out Rockies as Giants break losing streak  —  AT&T PARK — Over the course of their 11-game losing streak — the longest since they came west in 1958 — the San Francisco Giants have hit a paltry .193 and averaged just 2.36 runs per game.

Trey Mancini homers twice, but Orioles' pitching crisis continues in 8-6 loss to White Sox  —  Orioles manager Buck Showalter has spent the past week trying desperately to backfill his beleaguered starting rotation, but if it isn't one minor disaster it's another.

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.

Flaherty-Buehler rematch highlights Cards vs. Dodgers  —  Two of baseball's top young righthanders — Jack Flaherty of the Cardinals and the Dodgers' Walker Buehler — will square off Friday in a 7:15 p.m. showdown at Busch Stadium.  —  Los Angeles won 9-7 in the opening game of the four-game series …

How the Brewers' rotation defied low expectations  —  What would your expectations have been for the Milwaukee Brewers' starting rotation during the 2018 season if you had this information at the outset:  —  » Jimmy Nelson would not throw a pitch in a major-league game.

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