What were Victor Martinez's best games and seasons?  —  Victor Martinez, the 39-year-old designated hitter, is retiring after the 2018 season.  Free Press sports writer Ryan Ford takes a look at his career.  Wochit  —  CONNECT  —  Detroit Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez is set …

Astros clinch playoff berth with win over Angels  —  HOUSTON - Yuli Gurriel hit a grand slam and a two-run homer on his way to a career-high seven RBIs, and the Houston Astros clinched a postseason berth by routing the Los Angeles Angels 11-3 on Friday night.

What factors have positioned Braves for NL East crown?  —  The Braves are on the verge of winning their first National League East title since 2013.  —  Here are a few reasons why:  —  One run games: The Braves are 22-12 in one-run contests.  That's the best record in the NL, and third best overall.

Ohtani, ‘openers’ and Moneyball 2.0: My 10 favorite MLB stories of 2018  —  It feels like we're trudging a bit to the end of the regular season.  The American League playoff teams are essentially set, with the only real question whether the Yankees or A's will host the wild-card game.

Column: Cubs know what they don't know concerning Addison Russell the person  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Sometimes saying nothing says everything.  —  Cubs President Theo Epstein sat in a conference room Friday at Guaranteed Rate Field — oddly at the same ballpark his team addressed …

MLB Insider: Roster expansion debate persists  —  When Tony La Russa managed the Cardinals, he took advantage of the September rules for roster expansion as much as anybody else.  —  In 2011, his last season, as the Cardinals tried to complete a charge for a wild-card berth …

Wakamatsu-led Rangers look to beat Mariners again  —  The Texas Rangers won their first game with interim manager Don Wakamatsu at the helm, and did so emphatically, trouncing the Seattle Mariners 8-3 on Friday in the opening game of Rangers' final three-game home series.

Put it on the board, Hawk Harrelson's career unlike any other  —  On an overcast Sunday earlier this season, Ken Harrelson sat behind the wheel of his white Hyundai Genesis and began the 90-minute commute from his home in Granger, Indiana, to the ballpark on Chicago's South Side.

Last-place Padres beat NL West-leading Dodgers 5-3  —  Freddy Galvis added a solo shot and the last-place  —  Los Angeles Dodgers 5-3 on Friday night.  —  The Dodgers' NL West lead was trimmed to 1 1/2 games over Colorado, which won 6-2 at Arizona.  —  San Diego had dropped five in a row against Los Angeles.

Urena, DeSclafani face off in Marlins-Reds series  —  MIAMI — Jose Urena and Anthony DeSclafani, who were both part of the Miami Marlins' organization in 2014, will face each other on Saturday night.  —  Urena (7-12, 4.21 ERA) signed with the Marlins as a 16-year-old out of the Dominican Republic in 2009 …

Adams beats the odds with winning hit off lefty  —  ‘Big City’ fisted a two-run double past third baseman Evan Longoria to drive in Harrison Bader and Yairo Munoz as the Cardinals remained on the right path to the wild

Three up, three down: Old rotation has propelled A's to verge of playoffs  —  A look at who's hot and who's not in MLB this week:  —  THREE UP  —  Winning brew: In an era where teams are more than happy to ride a bullpen to October success, the Milwaukee Brewers could enjoy a long postseason ride.

Could Clayton Kershaw have pitched his final regular-season home game for the Dodgers?  —  There is no finality in Clayton Kershaw's future.  There is uncertainty, which is why he took the mound at Dodger Stadium last Tuesday with thoughts beyond that night's game.

Last Slide  —  The Diamondbacks' 6-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies had barely ended before reliever Brad Ziegler had taken to Twitter to voice his displeasure at what he saw as a game-altering mistake by the replay umpires in New York on Friday night.  —  Ziegler couldn't understand how anyone …

Nationals look to take down deGrom, Mets  —  WASHINGTON — The Washington Nationals will be in a position few expected them to be in when they host the New York Mets Saturday in their third game of their series.  —  Cy Young Award contender Jacob deGrom and the Mets downed the Nationals 4-2 Friday night …

Column: Brewers strong bullpen a big asset down the stretch  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Bullpenning takes on a new meaning in October, when starters are yanked in the blink of an eye and relievers are asked to carry the load.  —  So which teams are best positioned for the postseason?