Astros strike back to win Game 2 vs. Phillies, evening up World Series  —  HOUSTON - They were professional valleys for both players, even if Jose Altuve has 12 seasons and eight All-Star honors to his name, and Framber Valdez is still crafting his career narrative.

Heat, after rally fails from 22 down, drop to 2-5 with 119-113 loss to Kings  —  SACRAMENTO — It was as if the Sacramento Kings purchased an E-ZPass for the first half of Saturday's game against the Miami Heat at Golden1 Center.  —  It wasn't just the previously winless Kings scoring 71 points …

Dusty Baker set to return as Astros manager regardless of World Series fate  —  Whether Houston wins or loses the World Series, sources say Dusty Baker wants to return to the Astros.  So no riding off into the sunset following a potential first managerial World Series title.  The team also wants him back.

Zach Charbonnet leads No. 12 UCLA to bounce-back win over Stanford  —  Charbonnet, one the nation's top rushers, ran all over the Cardinal defense as No. 12 UCLA began a stretch of three games against opponents with records below .500 with a 38-13 victory  —  PASADENA — After losing at Oregon …

Ravens overcome injuries behind QB Lamar Jackson, running game to rally past Buccaneers, 27-22  —  ExpandAutoplay  —  1 of 38  —  TAMPA, Fla. — In a strange half-season of soaring starts, wild finishes and everything imaginable in between, Thursday night offered maybe the strangest ending yet …

White Sox rule out Espada as manager search continues (source)  —  CHICAGO — Who will be the next White Sox manager?  —  That question has yet to be answered, and the organization is keeping the candidates quiet during this ongoing process.  It will not be Houston bench coach Joe Espada …

Cardinals' Nolan Arenado opting into remainder of contract: Source  —  Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado has informed the organization he will be opting into the remainder of his five-year, $144 million contract, a league source told The Athletic on Saturday.

An Astros-Phillies World Series leaves New York baseball fans in a no-win situation  —  Nobody will feel bad for New York baseball fans, ever.  —  Fans of the Yankees get to cheer for the most successful, most recognizable team in North American sports.  Mets fans (for most of the season …

Detroit Tigers hire Mark Conner from San Diego Padres as new amateur scouting director  —  The Detroit Tigers have a new scouting director.  —  Mark Conner, who has worked for the San Diego Padres since 2010, has been hired as the Tigers' amateur scouting director under …

Here comes league-worst Detroit defense to put Dolphins' offense back on track  —  South Florida Sun Sentinel's Chris Perkins and Dave Hyde discuss the return of QB Tua Tagovailoa but still seeing the offense struggle, not being consistent. (, , /South Florida Sun Sentinel)  —  They need to score more?