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 …

Yankees ride Happ in series finale with Orioles  —  NEW YORK — For the New York Yankees, the question is do they start J.A. Happ in the wild-card game or hold off on using him until a possible division series matchup with the Boston Red Sox.  —  Based on the fact Happ is lined …

Braves clinch 1st NL East crown since 2013, top Phillies 5-3  —  ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves capped a most surprising season by clinching their first NL East crown since 2013, with Mike Foltynewicz taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning Saturday in a 5-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

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 …

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.

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.

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 …

Yankees continue to bet on potential over production with slumping Gary Sanchez, who will unsurprisingly start wild card game  —  There was never a doubt given the way Gary Sanchez has been coddled and propped up by Brian Cashman.  —  But Aaron Boone made it official Saturday when asked …

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 …

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.

Saturday may have been Corbin's last Chase Field start as a Diamondback  —  Patrick Corbin's start on Saturday did not go according to plan.  In giving up four runs in three innings to the Colorado Rockies, the Arizona Diamondbacks found themselves even further away from the playoff picture than when they entered the game.