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.

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 …

Cincinnati Reds end their final road trip with another shutout loss to Miami Marlins  —  MIAMI - When Michael Lorenzen returned to the dugout following the fourth inning Sunday, he took off his glove and threw it toward the bench.  Then he threw his hat.  —  In the final game of a 10-game road trip …

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' need for more effective lefty reliever magnified in 6-0 loss to Nats  —  WASHINGTON — A dependable lefty reliever would be a nice offseason addition.  —  Southpaw reliever Jerry Blevins' poor season continued Saturday when he allowed a game-sealing three-run homer in the sixth inning …

Rays' Snell continues Cy Young bid versus Blue Jays  —  TORONTO — Blake Snell tied a Tampa Bay Rays record when he reached 20 wins Tuesday against the Texas Rangers.  —  The left-hander will try for No. 21 on Sunday afternoon in the finale of a four-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre.

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 …

Pedro Strop believes he can return to Cubs this week  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Reliever Pedro Strop remains optimistic he could rejoin the Cubs before the end of the regular season.  —  “I feel a lot better,” Strop said before running to the field to play catch Sunday morning.

New York Mets, Washington Nationals announce Sunday lineups  —  The New York Mets wrap up their season series with the Nationals down in D.C. on Sunday (1:35 p.m.) before heading home to close out the season.  —  Steven Matz (5-11, 4.03) will be on the mound for the Mets, while Washington will counter with Erick Fredde (2-3, 5.02).

Wong still out; Cardinals call up infielder Sosa  —  Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong still is out of the lineup with hamstring issues.  He hurt both hamstrings during Friday's game, although he said his left leg was better than his right on Sunday.  —  There is still no real guarantee …

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.

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 …