Cubs counting on Javier Baez to keep them covered at shortstop  —  CHICAGO — If there wasn't enough riding on the shoulders of Chicago Cubs MVP candidate Javier Baez before, then there is now, as he'll take over the full-time shortstop duties while teammate Addison Russell is on administrative leave …

Why have the Red Sox won almost 20 games more than the Indians?  —  Going into the season, I thought the Cleveland Indians would be better than the Boston Red Sox.  Not a lot better, a little better.  But better.  —  EDITOR'S PICKS  —  My opinion on this matter was based on numbers …

Inside Detroit Tigers' Victor Martinez's final game, start to finish  —  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  —  The hardest part, Victor Martinez said, was the drive to the ballpark.

J.A. Happ could be AL wild card starter, but Yankees say they're still weighing options  —  Pete Caldera, Staff Writer, @pcaldera  —  NEW YORK — J.A. Happ just might be the Yankees' choice to start the AL wild card game, though it's hard for the veteran lefty to publicly campaign for that assignment.

Dodgers hit 3 home runs in 7-2 win over Padres  —  LOS ANGELES — Manny Machado caught his wife's first pitch before the game and hit a three-run homer to notch the first 100 RBI season of his career.  —  “It can't get any better than this,” Machado said.  —  Except maybe reaching the World Series and winning.

Mets one-hit by Nats in meaningless loss between preseason NL-East favorites  —  The two teams originally favored to compete for an NL East title played meaningless baseball Saturday.  —  But the Nats got revenge on the Mets for playing a role in Washington's elimination from postseason contention …

Astros rally for 9 runs in 8th, beats Angels 10-5  —  Justin Verlander reached double digits in strikeouts for the third straight outing and has 12 such games this season.  —  HOUSTON — Justin Verlander struck out 11 in six dominant innings, Jose Altuve capped a nine-run eighth with a two-run homer …

Brian Snitker's journey reaches latest apex: the playoffs  —  Brian Snitker devoted 42 years to the Braves.  On Saturday afternoon, the latest pinnacle of his commitment was realized.  —  The manager, who took over as interim in May 2016, hugged bench coach Walt Weiss after the final …

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Michael Lorenzen will be limited to 60-70 pitches in his 2nd start  —  Bobby Nightengale, Cincinnati Enquirer  —  MIAMI - As Michael Lorenzen prepares to make his second start of the season Sunday against the Miami Marlins, he will throw again with another pitch count.

Martinez thriving in closer role; Flaherty will open Brewers series  —  Adam Wainwright has stood where Carlos Martinez stands.  Both at the start of a game, and at the end.  —  In 2006, Wainwright became the Cardinals' closer at the end of that World Series championship season when Jason Isringhausen got hurt.

Last Slide  —  It was hot as hell the day Eddie Guardado's life changed, probably 90 degrees as he ran from foul pole to foul pole on a summer day in 1992, trying to sweat out the struggles that had the young right-hander questioning his baseball-playing future.

Photos: Cardinals win with walk-off homer  —  The Cardinals beat the Giants on Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018.  —  1 of 32  —  St. Louis Cardinals' Yadier Molina (4) is congratulated by teammate Jedd Gyorko (3) after hitting a two-run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game …

Kris Bryant out of Cubs lineup; Yoan Moncada leads off for White Sox  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Kris Bryant is out of the Cubs lineup Sunday as they try to win the third and deciding game of the City Series against the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field.  —  Bryant is 2-for-10 this series.

Sandy Leon gives Boston a new Tek solution behind the plate  —  CLEVELAND — Sandy Leon was raised by his parents to be respectful, to treat others the right way, to act the right way.  He could have fun and run around and play with his friends in Maracaibo, Venezuela, but at the Leon dinner table …