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 …

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.

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 …

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.

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.

Cincinnati Reds' Scott Schebler moving to left field, Jesse Winker to right field next season  —  Bobby Nightengale, Cincinnati Enquirer  —  MIAMI - Scott Schebler made his first start of the season in left field Saturday and was back in left for Sunday's game against the Miami Marlins.

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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.