Your Thursday ALCS guide: David Price takes aim at World Series  —  After a positively heart-stopping Game 4, the Red Sox have a chance to close out the American League Championship Series and send the defending World Series champs home for the winter.  —  MLB Postseason on ESPN Radio

MLB says Astros didn't cheat, considers ‘the matter closed’  —  CLEVELAND — The Houston Astros didn't cheat.  They didn't want to get cheated.  —  That's their story, and Major League Baseball agrees.  —  Following an investigation into two incidents this postseason …

Dodgers' Max Muncy finds his swing against Brewers' unpredictable bullpen  —  Max Muncy stood at the plate one botched swing away from what would have been his third strikeout of the game.  But this time, he knew what to do.  —  In his third at-bat against Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff on Wednesday …

Dodgers shortstop Manny Machado fined $10,000 for altercation with Brewers' Jesus Aguilar  —  Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Manny Machado talks about his NLCS Game 4 collision with the Milwaukee Brewers' Jesus Aguilar.  —  Manny Machado was fined $10,000 by Major League Baseball for an incident …

Cincinnati Reds blog: Ballclub is willing to pay to get its next manager  —  Three things are apparent with word the Cincinnati Reds are bringing back David Bell, Brad Ausmus and Joe Girardi for second interviews:  — The Reds are willing to spend money to get their guy.  Girardi would not be on the list otherwise.

Offseason renovations resume at Wrigley Field — and the Captain Morgan Club is the first to go  —  Renovations are underway at Wrigley Field on Oct. 17, 2018, in Chicago.  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The Captain got the hook.  —  Offseason renovations at Wrigley Field have begun …

Eight have interviewed (so far) to be Rangers manager.  Here's a look at each candidate  —  Just in case there's a sense that the eight candidates interviewed to replace Jeff Banister don't check all the boxes the Texas Rangers are seeking in their new manager, general manager Jon Daniels and crew are keeping the phone lines open.

Last Slide  —  Among the player-personnel decisions the Detroit Tigers face this offseason, perhaps the toughest comes behind the plate.  —  And when the team makes a final decision on James McCann's fate, the answer could have more to do with Grayson Greiner than McCann.

Cubs' prescription for a better offense: Improved health and focus  —  Chicago Tribune  —  How do you fix an offense productive enough to contribute to a 95-win season?  —  The Cubs took the first step toward addressing their flaws when they dropped hitting coach Chili Davis for Anthony Iapoce.

Manny Machado would give the Yankees something they have desperately missed since A-Rod retired ... a villain  —  The Yankees won 100 games in 2018, nine more than they did the year before, but all season long I had the sneaking suspicion something was missing.  Now, I know what it was.  —  A villain.

Yanks' Gregorius has Tommy John surgery, return uncertain  —  NEW YORK — Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius has undergone Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and is expected to be out of action for much of next season.  —  The Yankees said Wednesday's surgery went as expected.

Cards trying to figure out what to do with 11 starters  —  The Cardinals still have the five starting pitchers they counted on at the beginning of this past season and also the five who were in Memphis' rotation in April.  Neither tally includes Alex Reyes, who made one record-setting-strikeout outing …

Top 50 High School Prospects … Updated on: 10/10/2018  —  SEE FULL LIST  —  1  —  Bobby Witt Jr.  —  SS  —  VIDEO  —  Notes:  —  School: Colleyville (Texas) Heritage HS  —  Ht: 6-1 |  Wt: 183 |  B-T: R-R  —  Commit: Oklahoma  —  Scouting Report: A five-tool talent …

Cleveland Indians All-Star Trevor Bauer to be guest analyst on MLB Network's postseason coverage  —  Bauer says he is looking forward to breaking down the games as well as “providing some jokes that are terrible.”  —  The postseason may be over for the Indians, but not for Trevor Bauer, apparently.