‘We have no choice’: Success of Dodgers, Astros has MLB teams scrambling to keep up  —  BALTIMORE - Baseball's hyperactive transformation has played out at least partially in the public eye, be it a lopsided defensive shift, an exotic breaking pitch thrown in a 3- count or a uniformed coach …

After honoring 9/11 first responders, Mets score 9 runs on 11 hits in rout of Arizona Diamondbacks  —  On the 18th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, and with the memorial lit up by two bright beams in the distance, the Mets recorded nine runs and 11 hits.  The commemorative evening helped lead …

Going, going, gone!  Inside MLB's new home run record  —  It's official: 2019 is the Year of the Home Run.  —  Jonathan Villar of the Baltimore Orioles hit the 22nd home run of Wednesday night, and the 6,106th of the season, setting the major league record.  The former mark of 6,105 was set in 2017.

NFL will consider placing Antonio Brown on paid leave and making him ineligible to play  —  The NFL will give serious consideration to placing Antonio Brown on paid leave via its commissioner's exempt list, according to multiple people familiar with the situation, after he was accused …

Zimmerman, Strasburg lead Nationals past Twins 6-2  —  Ryan Zimmerman homered and drove in three runs in support of  —  Washington Nationals six strong innings to beat the  —  Minnesota Twins 6-2 on Wednesday night for just their third win in the last nine games.

Say goodbye to J.D. and Mookie?  Red Sox payroll decisions are about to get ugly  —  Red Sox ownership really wants to reset the luxury-tax clock, then the new GM should expect the following item to be missing from his new office: a checkbook.  —  For the Red Sox actually to drop below …

Latest On Garrett Richards  —  Having scored a 10-year, $300MM contract, Manny Machado was easily the Padres' biggest free-agent signing last winter.  Long before that addition, though, the Padres made headlines by awarding right-hander Garrett Richards a two-year, $15.5MM guarantee.

Senzatela's strong outing leads Rockies past Cards 2-1  —  Antonio Senzatela pitched six strong innings for his first win in two months,  —  Ian Desmond hit a go-ahead home run and the  —  St. Louis Cardinals 2-1 Wednesday night.  —  It was the second straight 2-1 victory for the Rockies …

Moustakas hits 2 HRs, Brewers minus Yelich top Marlins 7-5  —  Mike Moustakas homered twice, including a tiebreaking, two-run shot in the ninth inning as the  —  Miami Marlins 7-5 Wednesday night in their first game following star outfielder  —  Christian Yelich's season-ending injury.

Cueto dazzles in season debut, Giants beat Pirates 5-4  —  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Cap on backward, Johnny Cueto punctuated his pitches with confident head shakes and fist pumps.  —  “Dia De Cueto,” read the sign held by one of his sons.  —  The Day of Cueto, indeed.

Latest On Aaron Hicks  —  The Yankees seem increasingly unlikely to receive a late-season (or postseason) contribution from outfielder Aaron Hicks.  He's slated to rest for several more weeks after a visit to the offices of Dr. Neal ElAttrache, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post (Twitter links).