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Baseball Capsules


October 4, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) Max Scherzer pitched his second no-hitter this season for Washington, striking out a team-record 17 and leading the Nationals over the NL East champion New York Mets 2-0 on Saturday night for a doubleheader sweep.


Only one batter reached base against Scherzer, and that came when third baseman Yunel Escobar bounced a throw for an error on Kevin Plawecki's leadoff grounder in the sixth inning.


He became the sixth pitcher to throw two no-hitters in a year, and the first since Roy Halladay in 2010 - the former Phillies ace had one in the regular season and another in the playoffs.


Scherzer struck out nine straight batters before Curtis Granderson hit an easy popup to Escobar to end it on his 109th pitch.


Scherzer (14-12) added to the no-hitter he threw against Pittsburgh on June 20, when he came within one strike of a perfect game.


The Mets lost their fifth straight, having dropped the opener 3-1. They will have to play their postseason series at the Los Angeles Dodgers for Games 1 and 2 and 5, if necessary.


Matt Harvey (13-8) lost allowing one unearned run and four hits in six innings with 11 strikeouts.


The teams combined for 35 strikeouts, a big league record for a nine-inning game. The previous mark was 31 set by Texas and Seattle in 1997, STATS said.


The Nationals won the opener when Bryce Harper hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the eighth off Addison Reed (3-3). It was Harper's 42nd homer. Rafael Martin (2-0) got one out as the Nationals ended a six-game skid against the Mets. Felipe Rivero worked the ninth for his second save.


DODGERS 2, PADRES 1


LOS ANGELES (AP) - Zack Greinke earned the NL ERA title and the Dodgers clinched home-field advantage in their upcoming playoff series with the New York Mets.


The Dodgers' win combined with Washington's doubleheader sweep of the Mets (89-72) ensured Los Angeles (91-70) will open the Division Series at home Friday.


Greinke (19-3) allowed one run and four hits in eight innings to conclude the regular season with a 1.66 ERA, beating out Cubs ace Jake Arrieta, who finished at 1.77. Arrieta tossed a no-hitter against the Dodgers in August.


Greinke had the lowest ERA by a qualifying pitcher since Greg Maddux's mark of 1.63 for Atlanta in 1995. It is the lowest for a Dodgers pitcher since Rube Marquard's 1.58 in 1916.


Greinke struck out eight, giving him 200 for the season and marking the fifth time in his career he reached that mark.


Kenley Jansen earned his 36th save in 38 chances.


Padres starter Robbie Erlin (1-2) gave up two runs and five hits in seven innings while auditioning for a spot in next year's rotation. The left-hander struck out four and walked none.


ANGELS 11, RANGERS 10


ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - The Los Angeles Angels rallied for five runs in the ninth inning, taking their playoff hopes into the final day of the regular season with a wild win that again kept Texas from clinching the AL West.


Rangers closer Shawn Tolleson, pitching for the fifth straight day, entered with a 10-6 lead and allowed consecutive homers to Erick Aybar and Kole Calhoun.


Ross Ohlendorf (3-1) relieved and retired Mike Trout on a grounder, then gave up Albert Pujols' double on a difficult popup to short right that ricocheted off first baseman Mike Napoli's glove, whose back was to the plate.


C.J. Cron, David Freese, Carlos Perez and Giavotella had consecutive two-out singles, with Cron, Perez and Giavotella driving in runs.


Josh Hamilton homered twice for Texas against his former team.


ASTROS 6, DIAMONDBACKS 2


PHOENIX (AP) - Collin McHugh earned his 19th victory, Colby Rasmus homered twice and Houston clinched at least a tie for the American League's second wild card.


The Astros remained in contention for the AL West title as well as the league's first wild card.


McHugh (19-7) allowed a run and six hits in seven innings to improve to 6-0 in his last seven starts. Jose Altuve homered and doubled for Houston.


Paul Goldschmidt hit his 32nd home run for the Diamondbacks.


The Astros have won six of seven to help scramble the AL playoff picture.


Rasmus led off the fourth and eighth with his 24th and 25th home runs, respectively.


Altuve doubled and scored on Carlos Correa's sacrifice fly in the first, then hit a solo home run off Jeremy Hellickson (9-12) in the fifth.


RAYS 4, BLUE JAYS 3


ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - Tim Beckham had a two-run single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning for Tampa Bay.


Grady Sizemore had a leadoff double off Roberto Osuna (1-6), who later loaded the bases with two outs with two walks. Beckham won it with his liner to left.


Edwin Encarnacion homered for the fourth consecutive game for the Blue Jays, who fell one game behind Kansas City for the AL's best record and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs heading into Sunday's end of the regular season. Toronto holds the tiebreaker.


John Jaso and Asdrubal Cabrera homered for the Rays. Alex Colome (8-5) worked the ninth to get the win.


Encarnacion put the Blue Jays up 3-1 on his 39th homer this season, a two-run shot off Brandon Gomes in the sixth.


ROYALS 5, TWINS 1


MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The Minnesota Twins were eliminated from the AL playoff race when they were stifled by Yordano Ventura for seven innings in a loss to Kansas City.


Ventura (13-8) carried a no-hitter into the fifth and struck out 11 to win his third straight decision for Kansas City, which took a one-game lead over Toronto, which lost to Tampa Bay, for home-field advantage throughout the postseason.


Blaine Boyer (3-6) allowed two runs, one earned, while getting two outs for Minnesota (83-78), which committed two errors in a costly four-run seventh inning for the Royals.


Minnesota loaded the bases in the ninth before Wade Davis struck out Kennys Vargas and Eduardo Escobar for his 17th save in 18 chances.


ORIOLES 4, YANKEES 3, 2nd game


ORIOLES 9, YANKEES 2, 1st game


BALTIMORE (AP) - The New York Yankees failed to clinch home field in the AL wild-card game, getting swept by Baltimore in a day-night doubleheader.


Only needing one win to host Tuesday's one-game playoff, reliever Dellin Betances allowed the go-ahead run in the second game to score on a wild pitch in the eighth inning. The Orioles roughed up Ivan Nova in the opener.


New York (87-74) has lost five of six. Should the Yankees and the Astros end up tied, Houston holds the tiebreaker and the game would be played at Minute Maid Park.


In the night game, Paul Janish led off the eighth with a single, reached second on a wild pitch by Betances (6-4), and got to third on Gerardo Parra's bunt single before scoring on a second wild pitch with one out.


T.J. McFarland (2-2) pitched two scoreless innings for Baltimore and Zach Britton got his 36th save in a ninth inning in which pinch-runner Rico Noel was picked off first.


Manny Machado hit his 35th home run, connecting for a fourth consecutive game, and Nolan Reimold hit the first leadoff homer of his career.


New York was 3 for 19 with runners in scoring position in the doubleheader.


In the first game, Nova (6-11) allowed eight hits in 5 2-3 innings, walked three and hit a batter to raise his ERA to 5.07.


Baltimore's Wei-Yin Chen (11-8) allowed two runs in six-plus innings. Parra had four hits and three RBIs. Machado drove in three runs and J.J. Hardy had three hits.


REDS 3, PIRATES 1


PITTSBURGH (AP) - A.J. Burnett was outpitched by a rookie in the final regular-season start of his career, and Cincinnati prevented Pittsburgh from clinching home-field advantage in the NL wild-card game by snapping a 13-game skid.


Pittsburgh still needs a win Sunday or a loss by the Chicago Cubs to host the one-game playoff Wednesday night. If the Cubs beat Milwaukee - and the Pirates lose to Cincinnati again - the wild-card showdown would be played at Wrigley Field.


Brandon Finnegan (5-2) limited the Pirates to one run in six innings. Adam Duvall hit his fifth homer and Aroldis Chapman got four outs for his 33rd save, ending Cincinnati's longest losing streak in 70 years.


Burnett, who plans to retire after 17 seasons, gave up three runs and five hits with four walks in 6 2-3 innings. His nine strikeouts gave him 2,513 in his career, pushing Burnett (9-7) past Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson and into 30th place on the all-time list.


CUBS 1, BREWERS 0


MILWAUKEE (AP) - Kyle Hendricks allowed one hit and struck out eight in six innings, and Chicago kept alive its hopes to host to the NL wild card game.


Chicago won its seventh straight game behind a stellar effort from Hendricks (8-7). He held Milwaukee without a baserunner until Martin Maldonado singled with one out in the sixth.


Hector Rondon tossed the ninth for his 30th save.


Addison Russell drove in the game's only run off Tyler Wagner (0-2), singling home Chris Coughlan from third in the second inning.


INDIANS 2, RED SOX 0


CLEVELAND (AP) - Corey Kluber pitched eight innings while Carlos Santana and Ryan Raburn homered for Cleveland.


Kluber (9-16) ended his rocky season with a strong performance, allowing three hits and striking out nine. The right-hander, who won the AL Cy Young Award last season, recorded his first victory since Aug. 14.


Santana led off the second with a home run while Raburn's homer started the fourth. Both landed several rows deep in the bleachers in left field.


Craig Breslow (0-4) gave up both home runs, his only mistakes in 5 1/3 innings. The veteran left-hander made his second career start after 522 relief appearances.


Cody Allen pitched the ninth for his 33rd save.


WHITE SOX 4, TIGERS 3


CHICAGO (AP) - Leury Garcia singled home the winning run in the ninth as the White Sox avoided finishing last in the AL Central.


Pinch-hitter J.B. Shuck doubled to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth. After Jose Abreu was intentionally walked, Garcia singled.


Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run home run for the Tigers and virtually locked up the AL batting title. He had three hits to raise his AL-best average to .338 while Boston's Xander Bogaerts was hitless in four at-bats to drop to .320.


Detroit is 2 1-2 games behind Chicago for last place in the division after winning the Central the last four seasons.


Nate Jones (2-2) struck out one for the victory. Neftali Feliz (3-4) allowed two runs while only getting two outs for his seventh blown save.


GIANTS 3, ROCKIES 2


SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Jake Peavy pitched five innings for his fifth consecutive win, and rookie Kelby Tomlinson hit an inside-the-park home run during San Francisco's victory over Colorado.


Brandon Crawford and Marlon Byrd also homered off Chris Rusin (6-10) for the Giants, who beat the Rockies for the eighth time in 18 meetings this year.


Peavy (8-6) allowed one run and four hits to improve to 5-0 over his last eight starts.


Ben Paulsen homered for the Rockies, who have lost four of five.


MARLINS 5, PHILLIES 2, 2nd game


MARLINS 7, PHILLIES 6, 1st game


PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Dee Gordon got his 200th hit of the season in the opener, and Christian Yelich tied a club record with hits in eight straight at-bats as Miami swept a doubleheader.


Yelich was 5 for 5 in the first game then hit safely in his first three at-bats in the second. In the first game, Gordon became the first Marlins player since Hanley Ramirez in 2007 to record 200 hits with a sixth-inning single.


The Phillies were assured last place in the NL East and the first pick in the 2016 draft.


Gordon went 4 for 9 on the day to raise his average to .331. He trails Washington's Bryce Harper for the NL batting crown by .0001 entering Sunday's final game.


Gordon had two steals to up his season total to 58, overtaking injured Reds outfielder Billy Hamilton for the league lead.


Philadelphia needs to win Sunday's regular-season finale to avoid losing 100 games in a season for the 15th time in club history.


Rookie left-hander Justin Nicolino (5-4) gave up two runs on six hits in seven innings to earn the Game 2 victory. A.J. Ramos recorded his second save of the day by striking out the side in a scoreless ninth, earning his 32nd save in 38 chances.


Phillies rookie right-hander Alec Asher (0-6) failed to earn a win in his seven starts this season, allowing three runs and six hits in two innings.


Maikel Franco homered for Philadelphia in his first start since fracturing his left wrist on Aug. 11 when he was hit by a pitch.


ATHLETICS 7, MARINERS 5, 13 innings


SEATTLE (AP) - Marcus Semien hit a two-run homer in the 13th for Oakland.


Semien's 15th home run gave the Athletics their first three-game winning streak in more than a month after Tom Wilhelmsen blew a save opportunity in the ninth inning for the Mariners.


J.C. Ramirez (0-1) pitched a perfect 12th inning before running into trouble in the 13th, giving up a leadoff single to Stephen Vogt and then Semien's homer.


Pat Venditte (2-2) entered in the 10th and pitched three scoreless innings for the Athletics. Felix Doubront worked the 13th for his first save.


Robinson Cano had a three-run homer and extended his hitting streak to 15 games for the Mariners.


Oakland's Danny Valencia homered for the second straight game.

LEADING OFF: AL playoff positioning down to last day


October 3, 2015


A look at what's happening around the major leagues Sunday:




GO WEST


After a rousing comeback win against Texas, the Angels send Garrett Richards to the mound on three days' rest with a chance to force a tiebreaker for the second AL wild card. Cole Hamels starts for Texas - the Rangers have won each of Hamels' last nine starts. Should Los Angeles win it would also need the Astros to lose at Arizona to force a tiebreaker Monday.


HOME, AT LAST


Pittsburgh still needs a win or a Chicago Cubs loss to secure home-field advantage Wednesday night in the NL wild-card game. If the Cubs beat Milwaukee - and the Pirates lose to Cincinnati - the one-game playoff would be held at Wrigley Field. J.A. Happ starts the regular-season finale for the Pirates. The left-hander is 6-2 with a 2.04 ERA in 10 starts since being acquired from Seattle at the trade deadline. Dan Haren (10-9), a midseason addition to the Cubs, gets the ball against the Brewers.


PINSTRIPED PROBLEMS


The Yankees entered Saturday with an opportunity to clinch home field in the AL wild-game but were swept by the Orioles in a doubleheader. If they win the regular-season finale against Baltimore with Michael Pineda (12-11) starting, they will play Tuesday at Yankee Stadium. Otherwise, they need help from the Astros.


BATTNG CROWNS


Detroit's Miguel Cabrera heads into Sunday with a .338 average and was headed to his fourth AL batting title in five years. In the NL, Washington's Bryce Harper was just ahead of Miami's Dee Gordon, .330754 to .330606


SWING AND A MISS


The Los Angeles Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw, the reigning NL MVP and Cy Young Award winner, enters his final regular-season start Sunday against San Diego with 294 strikeouts and could become the first pitcher to fan 300 in a season since Arizona's Randy Johnson in 2002.


MARK UP?


Mark Buehrle may make the last regular-season start of his career, and on one day's rest to boot, in Toronto's season finale against Tampa Bay. The 16-year veteran is two innings shy of his 15th consecutive season with 200 or more innings, and so even though he threw 6 2-3 innings on Friday, manager John Gibbons is considering pitching the 36-year-old to get him to the mark. ''We'll see how Mark feels,'' Gibbons said Saturday.


ALL AT 3


Major League Baseball made the schedule for the final day of the regular season with all 15 games set to start at 3 p.m. EDT to add a bit of suspense to any remaining playoff races. The plan did get washed out, though. Atlanta and St. Louis were postponed by rain Saturday night and will play a doubleheader, with the first game starting at 1 p.m.

Preview: Yankees (87-74) at Orioles (80-81)
Game: 3
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: October 04, 2015 3:05 PM EDT

The New York Yankees are all of a sudden in jeopardy of having to head to the state of Texas to begin the playoffs.


They can ensure they will host the AL wild-card game by winning Sunday's regular-season finale against the Baltimore Orioles and red-hot Manny Machado.


New York (87-74) is sliding toward the postseason by losing five of six after being swept in Saturday's doubleheader at Camden Yards.


The Yankees no longer have any margin for error to host Tuesday's contest. A loss Sunday and a victory by Houston at Arizona would force New York to go on the road in two different scenarios.


If the Yankees and Astros are tied for the wild-card spots, Houston will host the one-game showdown by virtue of winning the season series. If the Yankees lose Sunday and Houston wins and finishes in a tie for the AL West crown with Texas, those division rivals will play Monday to settle the West and the loser would host New York on Tuesday.


"I think you'd have to have your head in the sand not to know what we need to do," manager Joe Girardi said. "We need to win."


Girardi will start Michael Pineda (12-9, 4.24 ERA) and the manager indicated that his entire bullpen will be available Sunday, though he said he wasn't sure whether he will use reliever Dellin Betances. The right-hander said he'd be ready.


'If they want me to go, why not?' said Betances, who has made 15 appearances since Sept. 1 and leads all relievers with 84 innings pitched.


Pineda went 3-0 with a 3.14 ERA in five outings before allowing seven runs in six innings in Tuesday's 10-4 home defeat to Boston.


The right-hander is 2-1 with a 5.70 ERA in four starts against Baltimore (80-81) this year, including a career-best, 16-strikeout effort in a 6-2 win May 10.


Machado is 5 for 11 against him this year without going deep.


That could change Sunday since the third baseman is enjoying the best power stretch of his career with homers in four straight games. Machado has connected five times in that span with solo shots in each game Saturday. He has career highs of 35 homers and 86 RBIs.


'We're just trying to finish the season strong,' Machado said. 'That's the way we've played all season and we're not going to stop now.'


The Yankees will try to take advantage of Orioles starter Chris Tillman (10-11, 5.05), who is 2-4 in 10 day outings with a 7.80 ERA that is baseball's second-worst mark in such games. He is 0-2 with a 6.00 ERA in his last four home starts.


The right-hander has a career 3.14 home ERA against the Yankees compared to a 7.30 mark versus them on the road. Alex Rodriguez is 6 for 12 with four homers off Tillman.


Rodriguez, however, is batting .218 since the All-Star break for one of the league's worst marks.


He's got company in that department since Brian McCann is batting an AL-worst .199 since the break and Brett Gardner is second-worst at .210.


Baltimore has won four straight and needs a win to avoid its first losing season since 2011. Chris Davis, who has 45 homers, will try to hold off Seattle's Nelson Cruz for the major league lead in that category.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Yankees at Orioles
Fri, Oct 2 - Final 2 to 9
Recaps


GAME 2
Yankees at Orioles
Sat, Oct 3 Final 3 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Yankees at Orioles
Sun, Oct 4 - 3:05PM EDT

Preview: Angels (85-76) at Rangers (87-74)
Game: 4
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: October 04, 2015 3:05 PM EDT

After a furious ninth-inning rally kept their postseason chances alive, the Los Angeles Angels are hoping things continue to fall their away on the final day of the regular season.


They may be taking some luck out of the equation by bringing back Garrett Richards on short rest against the Texas Rangers, who take another shot at clinching the AL West title.


Richards will try to help the visiting Angels reach the playoffs on Sunday when he looks to extend one of the majors' longest winning streaks versus the Rangers over the past 33 years.


Los Angeles was on the brink of elimination Saturday when it trailed by four runs heading into the top of the ninth in Arlington. Instead, the club rallied off Texas closer Shawn Tolleson, who was pitching for the fifth straight day, en route to an improbable 11-10 victory.


Erick Aybar and Kole Calhoun homered before C.J. Cron, David Freese, Carlos Perez and Johnny Giavotella delivered consecutive two-out singles. According to MLB's Twitter account, the Angels had lost 1,761 consecutive road games when trailing by four or more runs in the ninth.


Texas (87-74), which has already clinched a playoff berth, needs a victory or a Houston loss at Arizona on the final day of the regular season to win its first division title in four years. Otherwise, the Rangers will host the Astros on Monday with the AL West crown at stake and the loser to play in the wild-card game.


'I trust that we bounce back, just like we've bounced back all year long,' manager Jeff Banister said.


Los Angeles (85-76), meanwhile, needs a win and an Astros loss to force a tie for the second wild-card spot. The club would then travel to Houston for the tiebreaker contest on Monday.


'The only thing we can do is win it. We can't control what Houston does,' center fielder Mike Trout said.


The Angels appear to be in good hands as they go after their 10th victory in 12 games, though Richards will have to work on three days' rest for the first time since July 2013.


The right-hander has posted a 2.11 ERA while winning his last seven starts versus Texas. That's tied for the second-longest run of winning starts against the Rangers since the franchise moved to Texas in 1972. It's also the second-longest active streak against any one team.


Rougned Odor has gone 1 for 14 with seven strikeouts when facing Richards (15-11, 3.62 ERA). Former Angel outfielder Josh Hamilton is 1 for 9, but Mike Napoli has gone 5 for 9 with two home runs and Prince Fielder is 7 for 17 in the matchup.


Hamilton hit a pair of home runs and Odor added his 16th Saturday, while Adrian Beltre and Elvis Andrus had three hits apiece. Beltre has heated up, batting .424 in his last 21 games.


Although he's won his last six decisions, Cole Hamels (6-1, 3.86) will try to bounce back after allowing six runs and seven hits over six innings in Tuesday's 7-6 home win over Detroit. The left-hander had posted a 2.78 ERA over his previous eight outings - all Texas victories.


Hamels hasn't faced Los Angeles since June 2008 when he was with Philadelphia. Albert Pujols has struggled against him, batting .174 with two homers in 23 at-bats dating to their time in the NL.


Pujols, however, is batting .400 with eight RBIs over a seven-game hitting streak in Arlington




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Angels at Rangers
Thu, Oct 1 Final 3 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Angels at Rangers
Fri, Oct 2 Final 2 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Angels at Rangers
Sat, Oct 3 Final 11 to 10

GAME 4
Angels at Rangers
Sun, Oct 4 - 3:05PM EDT

Preview: Marlins (71-90) at Phillies (62-99)
Game: 3
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: October 04, 2015 3:05 PM EDT

The Philadelphia Phillies already have their manager for next season but it isn't entirely clear if one of their all-time leading sluggers will be back even though he is under contract through 2016.


Miami's managerial situation is also up in the air, and Dan Jennings could sit in the Marlins dugout for the final time when Dee Gordon pursues the NL batting title Sunday against the Ryan Howard-less Phillies, who will try to avoid 100 losses.


The Phillies turned interim manager Pete Mackanin into a permanent one Sept. 22 in a contract that extends through next season with a team option for 2017. Philadelphia (62-99) went 6-3 in its first nine games after that announcement but was swept by the Marlins (71-90) in a doubleheader Saturday.


That means the Phillies need a win Sunday to avoid their first 100-loss season since 1961.


Howard won't get to contribute to that attempt because of a bruised left knee that's kept him out since Sept. 14.


"I don't think I'll play him the rest of the year," Mackanin told MLB's official website. "I don't see the point of that."


The future for the first baseman, who will turn 36 in November, appears at least a little murky after he hit .229 with 23 homers and posted an abysmal .418 OPS against left-handed pitchers while platooning with Darin Ruf.


Those struggles versus southpaws are among the issues that have made it difficult to move Howard but a forthcoming $25 million salary would seem an even greater hindrance. He's also set to make another $10 million should the Phillies buy out their 2017 team option on his deal.


Howard's 357 homers are second in franchise history to Mike Schmidt's 548.


Jennings' prospects of returning in 2016 as Miami's manager appear even fuzzier. The Marlins put their former general manager - who had no experience as an MLB field manager or a player - in the dugout May 18 to replace the fired Mike Redmond.


It's unclear if Jennings will return to the front office after Sunday's game.


"If I'm asked to go back upstairs, then there are conversations that are going to have to take place," Jennings said. "I want to understand where things are, because I've been removed for 4 1/2 months. So, there is catchup I have to be involved in."


Gordon will try to become the second Marlins player to win an NL batting title after Hanley Ramirez in 2009. Gordon went 4 for 9 in the doubleheader to surpass 200 hits and boost his average to .331, putting him a mere .0001 behind Washington's Bryce Harper.


Gordon is 2 for 6 lifetime against David Buchanan (2-9, 7.54 ERA), who is 0-4 with a 9.49 ERA in his last six starts.


The right-hander is 1-0 with a 2.49 ERA in four starts versus Miami and allowed two runs in five innings Sept. 23 in a 4-3 loss.


Marlins rookie left-hander Adam Conley (4-1, 3.84) will seek to close out 2015 with a fourth consecutive victory. He has a 2.97 ERA in his last six starts and gave up two runs over six innings in a 4-2 loss in Tampa Bay on Tuesday.


He's 0-1 with a 1.50 ERA in two starts against Philadelphia and pitched opposite Buchanan last month, yielding one run in six innings with a season-high eight strikeouts in the 11-inning victory.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Marlins at Phillies
Fri, Oct 2 - Final 7 to 6
Recaps


GAME 2
Marlins at Phillies
Sat, Oct 3 Final 5 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Marlins at Phillies
Sun, Oct 4 - 3:05PM EDT

Preview: Reds (64-97) at Pirates (97-64)
Game: 3
Venue: PNC Park
Date: October 04, 2015 3:05 PM EDT

Hosting a third consecutive NL wild-card game remains uncertain for the Pittsburgh Pirates entering the regular season's final day.


The Pirates still have plenty to play for in Sunday's finale with Cincinnati after losing 3-1 to the Reds Saturday and the Chicago Cubs winning 1-0 at Milwaukee. The NL Central rivals are separated by one game, and the Cubs own the tiebreaker by winning the season series 11-8.


'We do hard,' Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. 'We've done hard from the start.'


Pittsburgh (97-64) has dropped four of six following an eight-game winning streak and managed four hits against Brandon Finnegan and three relievers as Cincinnati (64-97) ended a 13-game skid, its longest since 1945.


'It's been a month of just a bunch of bad luck,' Finnegan said. 'Nothing's been going our way, really, so it felt good to have something finally come on our side.'


The Pirates, 52-28 at PNC Park, will turn to J.A. Happ (6-2, 2.04 ERA) to secure home field for Wednesday's wild-card game while the left-hander makes one last case for a rotation spot should they win it.


Hurdle announced Saturday that Gerrit Cole will start Wednesday. Francisco Liriano and the retiring A.J. Burnett, who allowed three runs before exiting to a standing ovation with two outs in the seventh inning Saturday, also have spots locked up if Pittsburgh reaches the NLDS.


Happ has already made a strong argument for his place by going 6-1 with a 1.51 ERA over his last eight starts and striking out eight or more in four straight before Monday's outing against St. Louis, during which he yielded one hit over six scoreless innings in Pittsburgh's 3-0 loss.


The midseason pickup fanned a season-best 10 while holding the Reds to two runs and three hits over six innings in a 5-4 victory at Great American Ball Park on Sept. 9.


Happ does own a 6.25 ERA in seven career starts against Cincinnati, however, and has struggled against two of the Reds' top hitters. Brandon Phillips is 7 for 17 with three homers off him and Joey Votto is 8 for 19 with four doubles.


Phillips went 2 for 3 with a run scored Saturday, but Votto was 0 for 4 to end his 48-game streak of reaching base. The run equaled Pete Rose's club record set in 1978.


Votto has reached base an MLB-leading 317 times this season, one more than his previous franchise mark in 2013.


Josh Smith (0-3, 7.22) takes another shot at an elusive first major league victory as the Cincinnati rookie makes his seventh start and fourth since rejoining the rotation in mid-September.


Smith is 0-1 with a 7.07 ERA over that three-game stretch. He notched a career-high seven strikeouts Tuesday against the Cubs, but walked five and allowed four runs in five innings of a 4-1 home loss.


The 28-year-old's lone appearance against Pittsburgh came at PNC Park in relief June 23, with Smith walking six and surrendering a three-run homer to Francisco Cervelli while reached for four runs in three innings during his MLB debut.


Cincinnati is 30-50 on the road but has won five of eight at PNC Park this season.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Reds at Pirates
Fri, Oct 2 Final 4 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Reds at Pirates
Sat, Oct 3 Final 3 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Reds at Pirates
Sun, Oct 4 - 3:05PM EDT

Preview: Rockies (67-94) at Giants (84-77)
Game: 3
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: October 04, 2015 3:05 PM EDT

Matt Cain was once the ace of the San Francisco Giants during their run to the 2012 World Series before several injuries sidetracked his career over the past three seasons.


As he tries to work his way back to being an effective starter, the right-hander hopes to put together a performance worth building on during the offseason Sunday against the Colorado Rockies.


Cain (2-4, 6.31 ERA) hadn't spent any time on the disabled list over his first eight seasons, and shined in 2012 when he went 16-5 with a 2.79 ERA for the World Series champs. He hasn't reached double-digit victories since, however, going on the DL six times in the past three years.


The 31-year-old has missed 3 1/2 months this season because of a right forearm flexor strain and right elbow nerve irritation. After going 2-4 with a 6.15 ERA in 10 starts, he was moved to the bullpen in late August when the Giants attempted to chase down a playoff berth.


With the club eliminated from the postseason race, Cain will get another opportunity as a starter after he allowed three runs over three innings in relief appearances earlier this month.


"He needed competition," manager Bruce Bochy told MLB's official website. "We'll see how far he goes. He's not stretched out. It'll be short work."


Cain has been solid at home against the Rockies, going 11-5 with a 2.50 ERA in 19 career starts.


Carlos Gonzalez is batting just .089 with 17 strikeouts in 45 at-bats off him, while Nolan Arenado is 3 for 16 with a home run. Arenado, though, is hitting .333 with 10 homers in the season series.


With 42 home runs, Arenado is tied with Washington's Bryce Harper for the NL title and they're both two ahead of Gonzalez. Arenado would become the club's first home run champion since Dante Bichette, Andres Galarraga and Larry Walker went back-to-back-to-back from 1995-97.


Ben Paulsen delivered his 11th home run in Saturday's 3-2 loss that evened this series at AT&T Park. The NL West-worst Rockies finished with seven hits and went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position.


Colorado (67-94) will try to get back on track for Christian Bergman (3-1, 4.68) while looking to avoid closing this season-ending trip 1-5. The right-hander makes his third start since joining the rotation Sept. 23, going 0-1 with a 10.38 ERA in his previous two outings.


Bergman, 1-0 with a 2.82 ERA in three starts against the Giants (84-77), allowed no runs and four hits but lasted just four innings in a 4-1 road win April 14. However, he yielded five runs and nine hits over six innings in three relief appearances versus San Francisco this season.


Matt Duffy is 3 for 4 with a home run off him, while Gregor Blanco is 5 for 10. Angel Pagan has gone 4 for 8 and Buster Posey is 4 for 8 with a homer in the matchup.


Crawford, who is 1 for 11 versus Bergman, hit his 21st home run Saturday. Marlon Byrd added his 23rd and rookie Kelby Tomlinson hit an inside-the-park homer.


Tomlinson has provided a spark of late, batting .378 over his last 10 games.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Rockies at Giants
Fri, Oct 2 Final 9 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Rockies at Giants
Sat, Oct 3 Final 2 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Rockies at Giants
Sun, Oct 4 - 3:05PM EDT

Preview: Tigers (73-87) at White Sox (76-85)
Game: 3
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: October 04, 2015 3:10 PM EDT

Miguel Cabrera may get a well-deserved rest after cementing his fourth batting title in five years.


The slugger is not expected to play in Sunday's season finale against the Chicago White Sox as his Detroit Tigers seek to avoid a series sweep.


Cabrera drilled a two-run homer in Saturday's 4-3 loss, going 3 for 4 to raise his major league-leading average to .338. Boston's Xander Bogaerts is a distant second in the AL race at .320.


The superstar rested in the series opener and likely will do so again since manager Brad Ausmus said Cabrera will likely not play Sunday.


Cabrera will become the first AL player to win four batting titles in a five-year span since Wade Boggs won four straight from 1985-88. His 1,489 hits with the Tigers are one behind Willie Horton for 13th on the team's list.


'He's very gifted with the bat. I haven't come across a hitter like Miggy,' Ausmus said.


Cabrera was a major bright spot in a season in which Detroit (73-87) will finish last for the first time in seven years. The Tigers, winners of the previous four AL Central titles, guaranteed that fate after closer Neftali Feliz blew a ninth-inning lead Saturday.


Pinch hitter J.B. Shuck doubled in the tying run and Leury Garcia singled him in as Chicago (76-85) moved within one win of its first three-game home sweep of Detroit since Aug. 11-13, 2006.


"Any walk-off is fun," manager Robin Ventura said.


White Sox rookie Frankie Montas (0-1, 5.73 ERA) will make his second career start after his first one didn't go well in his last outing. Montas was rocked for six runs over three innings Sept. 23 against a Tigers lineup that didn't feature Cabrera.


Victor Martinez became the first hitter to homer off the right-hander, who posted a 1.13 ERA in five relief appearances prior to that outing.


'Things didn't go like I wanted,' Montas said. 'But even though I didn't get the win, I actually enjoyed it.'


It's unclear if he will face Martinez, who has missed four straight games after injuring his left quadriceps Monday at Texas.


'I'd say he's day-to-day, but really there's only one day left, so he's 'day'," Ausmus quipped.


Ausmus will give the ball to Daniel Norris (2-2, 4.09), who was similarly ineffective in his last outing like Montas. Norris was charged with six runs - two earned - and recorded five outs Tuesday in a 7-6 loss to the Rangers.


The left-hander pitched five hitless innings before being lifted since he was on a pitch count in a 2-1, 10-inning win over Chicago on Sept. 22.


He'll see a red-hot batter in Adam Eaton, who is baseball's second-best hitter since the start of September with a .377 average. Eaton is at .400 during a nine-game streak.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Tigers at White Sox
Fri, Oct 2 Final 1 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Tigers at White Sox
Sat, Oct 3 Final 3 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Tigers at White Sox
Sun, Oct 4 - 3:10PM EDT

Preview: Red Sox (78-83) at Indians (80-80)
Game: 3
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: October 04, 2015 3:10 PM EDT

Both the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox entered 2015 with playoff aspirations that went unmet.


The Indians do have a chance to close out their campaign with a series sweep Sunday when the clubs face off at Progressive Field.


Cleveland (80-80) couldn't overcome a 10-19 start but is finishing strong, having gone 22-15 since Aug. 25 for the AL's third-best winning percentage behind playoff entrants Toronto and Texas. A victory can secure a third finish above .500 in ex-Red Sox skipper Terry Francona's four seasons.


'In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't mean a lot but cosmetically it looks better," Francona said. "Regardless of what happens, it's the last game of the season and since we have a game I'd prefer to win,'


Boston (78-83) is 17-11 since Sept. 4 but has scored just three runs while losing three straight. After recording five hits in Friday's 5-2 defeat, the Red Sox managed three singles off Corey Kluber in eight innings of their 2-0 setback on a cold and soggy night.


'Pitchers probably had an advantage in these conditions, but that was not the reason why we struggled,' Red Sox manager Torey Lovullo said. 'Give all the credit to Kluber. I think he was feeling very good out there tonight.'


Kluber fanned nine to finish with 245. The Indians lead the AL with 1,397 strikeouts with Kluber, Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar all among the top eight in that category.


Salazar (13-10, 3.51 ERA) has dealt with scant support as well of late, with the Indians scoring once in consecutive road losses to Minnesota and Kansas City. He received no backing while allowing two runs over 5 1-3 innings in a 3-0 defeat to the Royals on Sept. 27.


Cleveland has won five of Salazar's last five home assignments, during which he's 3-1 with a 1.75 ERA and permitted two or less runs each time. The right-hander is 6-2 with a 3.06 in 11 overall starts at Progressive Field in 2015.


Salazar also won his lone prior encounter with the Red Sox Aug. 17, yielding a run and four hits through seven innings of an 8-2 triumph at Fenway Park.


The Red Sox have lost five straight in Cleveland since a three-game sweep April 16-18, 2013.


Rick Porcello (9-14, 5.02) has had more recent success against the Indians, having won four consecutive meetings while posting a 1.09 ERA. He's 5-2 with a 2.86 ERA in 11 starts at Progressive Field, where he last tossed six shutout innings with Detroit on June 20, 2014.


Porcello is 4-3 with a 3.22 ERA in seven starts since returning from a triceps strain Aug. 26 and stopped a two-start losing streak by permitting four runs with eight strikeouts over eight innings in Tuesday's 10-4 win over the New York Yankees.


The right-hander has also made strides on the road, compiling a 3-1 record with a 3.86 ERA in his last four starts after having a 5.82 ERA through his first 14.


Carlos Santana went 2 for 3 with a solo homer Saturday and is hitting .324 with three homers off Porcello, while Yan Gomes is 5 for 10 in the matchup.


Boston's Mookie Betts drew a walk Saturday to reach base safely in his 36th consecutive game. He's hitting .360 with 32 runs scored over the stretch.


David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia were held out of Saturday's lineup due to the wet conditions but are expected to play in the finale.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Red Sox at Indians
Fri, Oct 2 Final 2 to 8
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Red Sox at Indians
Sat, Oct 3 Final 0 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Red Sox at Indians
Sun, Oct 4 - 3:10PM EDT

Preview: Cubs (96-65) at Brewers (68-93)
Game: 3
Venue: Miller Park
Date: October 04, 2015 3:10 PM EDT

The Chicago Cubs have put themselves in position to perhaps conclude a special regular season with another memorable accomplishment.


Still in the hunt to host next week's NL wild-card game, the visiting Cubs try to close out the season with an eight-game win streak Sunday against the Milwaukee Brewers.


Kyle Hendricks allowed one hit and struck out eight in six innings and Addison Russell delivered a RBI single in the second that was the difference in Saturday's 1-0 victory. Winners in 14 of the last 18, the Cubs (96-65) are one game behind Pittsburgh in the race for the top wild-card spot.


"It's pretty interesting isn't it? I'm really proud of our guys,' manager Joe Maddon said.


With a victory Sunday and a Pirates' loss to Cincinnati, Chicago would host Wednesday's wild-card contest by virtue of owning the head-to-head tiebreaker between the clubs.


'It'd be huge,' Hendricks said about the possibility of playing at Wrigley Field. 'We feel confident in our team no matter where we play, but obviously the home atmosphere has been unbelievable ... and would help use out that much more.'


Chicago's starting pitchers have dominated over the last seven games, yielding one earned run, striking out 53 and walking two over 45 1-3 innings.


Dan Haren (10-9, 3.67 ERA) allowed three hits and struck out six without a walk in 7 1-3 innings of Tuesday's 4-1 victory at Cincinnati to finish 2-0 with a 2.36 ERA in five September starts.


'That's really the best he's thrown the ball for us," Maddon said about Haren, who is 3-2 with a 4.30 ERA in 10 starts since coming over from Miami in late July.


If Chicago is to top Pittsburgh and face St. Louis in the division series, it's uncertain if Haren would make that roster. However, the veteran right-hander can at least take comfort with the way he's thrown the ball of late.


'The last few times out have been a lot better," he said. "I'm confident I can get the job done.'


Haren wasn't overly effective Aug. 11 when he allowed three runs and five hits in 5 1-3 innings of a 6-3 win over Milwaukee.


The Brewers (68-93) have totaled two runs and 13 hits while losing their last three games. They've scored 25 runs, hit .180 and fanned 118 times while losing 11 of their last 12 to the Cubs.


A possible candidate for the Brewers third base job in 2016, Hernan Perez had one of his team's two hits Saturday and is 6 for 14 in the last four games.


Jorge Lopez (1-0, 5.40) takes the ball for Milwaukee after he allowed three runs, eight hits and struck out seven in five innings to win his major league debut, 4-3 at San Diego on Tuesday.


"It was amazing," the right-hander said. "I was excited at first. I was like, 'Here I am.' I was thinking, 'Let's go and pound and attack the zone.''


Lopez was the Brewers' minor league pitcher of the year, and earned the same honor in the Southern League after going 12-5 with 2.26 ERA in 24 starts for Double-A Biloxi.


"I like to win games, compete," he said.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Cubs at Brewers
Fri, Oct 2 Final 6 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Cubs at Brewers
Sat, Oct 3 Final 1 to 0
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Cubs at Brewers
Sun, Oct 4 - 3:10PM EDT

Preview: Royals (94-67) at Twins (83-78)
Game: 3
Venue: Target Field
Date: October 04, 2015 3:10 PM EDT

Given that they have the AL's second-best home record, the Central-champion Kansas City Royals insist they're going hard after home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.


A day after eliminating the Minnesota Twins from playoff contention, the visiting Royals can lock up the league's best record Sunday by closing out the regular season on a five-game winning streak.


Kansas City (94-67) kept the pressure on East-champ Toronto on Saturday by continuing its late surge with a 5-1 victory at Target Field. The Blue Jays couldn't keep pace later in the evening, falling one game behind Royals in the chase for home-field advantage in the postseason.


Toronto holds the tiebreaker between the teams, making Sunday's finale a must-win for Kansas City.


"(Sunday is) going to be a meaningful game,' manager Ned Yost said. 'We have to do everything we can to try to win.'


Yost's club, which seeks its longest winning streak since Aug. 14-19, has gotten a 1.42 ERA from its starters over the past four games after they posted a 5.37 ERA during a 8-16 stretch.


The rotation has an 0.83 ERA during a five-game run at Target Field after Yordano Ventura allowed one run over seven innings Saturday. Ventura and Sunday's scheduled starter Johnny Cueto are lined up to pitch on normal rest for the first two games of the AL Division Series.


Cueto (3-7, 4.95 ERA) has gotten on track after posting a 9.57 ERA over a five-start losing streak, thanks in part to a slight change in the way Salvador Perez is setting up behind the plate. Since the 6-foot-3 catcher has gone to a low target, Cueto has put up a 3.60 ERA in three starts.


In his only start against the Twins this season, the right-hander gave up one run and four hits while striking out eight over eight innings in a 2-1 win July 1, when he was still with Cincinnati.


Minnesota (83-78), which was officially eliminated Saturday, has totaled two runs while going 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position in losing the first two games of the series.


'The curtain came down so to speak, but it was a pretty good show,' manager Paul Molitor said. 'Some of the acts were a little sketchy at times and we tried to move on to the next scene.'


Kyle Gibson was scheduled to pitch on short rest if the Twins were still in playoff contention. But now they'll give the ball to Ricky Nolasco (5-1, 5.97), who makes his first start since May 31.


The right-hander had ankle surgery in July before working his way back to pitch two innings of relief Sept. 30. He'll get a chance to end on a positive note despite working on a strict pitch count.


Nolasco has gone 2-1 with a 3.15 ERA in three career home starts against the Royals. Eric Hosmer and Ben Zobrist have both gone 5 for 10 lifetime versus Nolasco, and Alcides Escobar is 7 for 17.


Lorenzo Cain, who missed the previous two games after fouling a ball off his knee, went 3 for 4 with two doubles Saturday. He's batting .362 with 11 RBIs in 16 meetings with Minnesota this season.


This could be the last career game for Torii Hunter, who has not decided whether he'll return next season. The 40-year-old Hunter, a 19-year veteran, is batting .240 with 22 home runs and 81 RBIs in 139 games.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Royals at Twins
Fri, Oct 2 Final 3 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Royals at Twins
Sat, Oct 3 Final 5 to 1


GAME 3
Royals at Twins
Sun, Oct 4 - 3:10PM EDT

Preview: Athletics (68-93) at Mariners (75-86)
Game: 3
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: October 04, 2015 3:10 PM EDT

After reaching the postseason in three straight years, the Oakland Athletics hit rock bottom with their first last-place finish in six years.


The Seattle Mariners will go into the offseason as owners of baseball's longest postseason drought.


These AL West clubs are among baseball's biggest disappointments and finish 2015 on Sunday at Safeco Field.


Oakland (68-93) won consecutive AL West crowns and then earned a wild-card berth last year before plummeting to the league's worst record in 2015. The Athletics are 19-34 in one-run games for baseball's second-worst mark and their 52 losses by one or two runs are the franchise's most since the 1945 Philadelphia Athletics dropped a club-record 55.


The team will finish with its most defeats since going 65-97 in 1997.


The Athletics' misery has company in Seattle (75-86), which has not reached the playoffs since 2001 and now owns the majors' longest such drought since Toronto captured the AL East to end its dry spell of 22 years. The Mariners can expect changes after Jerry Dipoto was hired as general manager Monday.


Oakland can complete its first three-game sweep in Seattle since Sept. 7-9, 2012.


There is a chance that Sunday could mark the final appearance in the career of Barry Zito, who worked four innings on three days' rest as a starter Wednesday against the Los Angeles Angels. Manager Bob Melvin said the left-hander may pitch in relief this weekend, with the finale representing the last chance.


"I would not say it's out of the question that I would use him again," Melvin told MLB's official website. "We'll see how it all plays out."


Seattle second baseman Robinson Cano is batting .361 in a season-high 15-game hitting streak after going 2 for 5 with a three-run homer in Saturday's 7-5, 13-inning defeat. Cano, whose .331 average since the start of July is the AL's third-best mark, is set to undergo sports hernia surgery Oct. 13.


Oakland's Danny Valencia is 4 for 10 in this series with a two-run homer in Friday's 4-2 victory and a three-run shot the next night. Marcus Semien's two-run homer in the 13th was the difference Saturday.


Valencia's home run was his 18th of the season, and his 11th in 46 games with Oakland. He has the most homers (tied with Rico Carty in 1978) and RBIs (37) of any Athletics player who played fewer than 50 games in a season.


The Athletics have lost seven of eight road games started by Chris Bassitt (1-8, 3.60 ERA), who is 0-3 with a 5.51 ERA in those contests. The right-hander has posted a 7.13 ERA in losing his last four outings overall.


Bassitt is 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA in two 2015 starts against Seattle.


He'll be opposed by left-hander Vidal Nuno (1-4, 4.19), who has a 5.36 ERA as a starter this year compared to 1.91 as a reliever. Nuno has pitched 1 1-3 innings in three relief appearances against the A's this year after going 0-1 with a 11.74 ERA in two starts versus them last year with the New York Yankees.


Seattle's Nelson Cruz has a career-high 44 home runs, one behind Baltimore's Chris Davis for the major league lead, but is unlikely to play the finale after he was removed for a pinch-hitter in the 12th inning Saturday with a tight groin.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Athletics at Mariners
Fri, Oct 2 Final 4 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Athletics at Mariners
Sat, Oct 3 Final 7 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Athletics at Mariners
Sun, Oct 4 - 3:10PM EDT

Preview: Nationals (83-78) at Mets (89-72)
Game: 3
Venue: Citi Field
Date: October 04, 2015 3:10 PM EDT

A Hollywood ending to Max Scherzer's season has the New York Mets beginning the playoffs in Los Angeles.


Having lost five straight after Scherzer's second no-hitter of 2015, the reeling Mets hope to get their sagging offense on track in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Washington Nationals.


Scherzer's 17-strikeout, near-perfect game finished off a doubleheader sweep Saturday that ensured New York (89-72) will begin the NLDS on the road Friday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Mets' lone base runner came on a throwing error by third baseman Yunel Escobar in the sixth inning of the Nationals' 2-0 win.


Washington won the opener 3-1, with Bryce Harper's 42nd homer snapping a 1-all tie in the eighth inning.


The Mets were held to five hits in game one after managing six in a shutout loss at Philadelphia on Wednesday. They didn't come close to one against Scherzer, who fanned nine straight before Curtis Granderson's popup made him the sixth pitcher to throw two-hitters in a season and first since Nolan Ryan in 1973 to do so in a regular season.


'These things are special,' Scherzer said. 'To do it twice in one season, my gosh, it doesn't seem possible.'


The Mets are hitting .163 during this skid. They averaged 5.7 runs while going 36-19 in August and September to overtake Washington (83-78) for the NL East lead.


'Win or lose is not the issue right now. We're going to party on here,' manager Terry Collins said. 'We're playing Friday. I don't care where it's at.' 'But we've got to get the edge back. We got to get the focus back, the concentration back. Those are the things that when you clinch early, you can lose. And those are the things we've got to regain."


Collins announced following the doubleheader that Jacob deGrom (14-8, 2.60 ERA) will pitch Game 1 on regular rest following the 2014 NL Rookie of the Year's start Sunday.


DeGrom had 11 days between his most recent start, an 8-1 victory at Cincinnati on Sept. 27 in which he yielded a run in six innings and struck out nine to stand two shy of 200.


He's won just once in his last eight outings at Citi Field despite posting a 2.81 ERA, however, getting just 13 runs of support over that span.


Harper, tied for the NL's home run lead with Colorado's Nolan Arenado, is 7 for 13 against deGrom this season and homered off him in a 5-3 Mets' win Sept. 9 in Washington. The 22-year-old slugger also enters the finale with 99 RBIs and slightly ahead of Miami's Dee Gordon for the NL batting title.


Tanner Roark (4-7, 4.63) gets the call as the 2014 NL East champion Nationals conclude a disappointing and turbulent season, with the right-hander seeking to win a sixth consecutive start against New York. Three of those victories have come at Citi Field, where Roark allowed two runs over 6 1-3 innings in the most recent Sept. 11, 2014.


Roark, 0-3 with a 4.91 ERA in five starts since rejoining the rotation in September, has faced the Mets four times in relief this season.


The right-hander surrendered a pair of solo homers to A.J. Pierzynski in 6 2-3 innings of Tuesday's 2-1 loss to Atlanta and has allowed five homers over his past three starts.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Nationals at Mets
Fri, Oct 2 - Final 3 to 1
Recaps


GAME 2
Nationals at Mets
Sat, Oct 3 Final 2 to 0
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Nationals at Mets
Sun, Oct 4 - 3:10PM EDT

Preview: Astros (86-75) at Diamondbacks (78-83)
Game: 3
Venue: Chase Field
Date: October 04, 2015 3:10 PM EDT

The Houston Astros' special season won't end with game 162. Whether they'll head into next week as a playoff team still remains to be seen.


However, the easiest way for the visiting Astros to reach the postseason for the first time in 10 years is to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday.


Collin McHugh pitched seven strong innings to earn his 19th victory and Colby Rasmus homered twice as Houston (86-75) won for the sixth time in seven games, 6-2 on Saturday.


Heading into the final scheduled regular-season game, the Astros have a one-game lead over the Los Angeles Angels for the AL's second wild-card spot. They are also one back of the New York Yankees for the first wild-card position and one behind playoff-bound Texas for first place in the West.


"To be in this position at the end of the year is what you play for, what makes it fun," catcher Jason Castro told MLB's official website. "It's one of the most exciting seasons of my career.


"I'm happy about it, but we're not done. We're still hungry and we still have a lot left to prove."


Should the Astros lose and the Angels beat Texas on Sunday, Houston and Los Angeles would meet in a one-game tiebreaker to determine which club gets the final wild-card spot. A Houston victory and a Texas loss would leave those teams to square off in a tiebreaker where the winner takes the division crown and the loser gets a wild-card spot.


'Nothing can happen to us negatively if we win (Sunday),' manager A.J. Hinch said. 'We'll be playing for the division or be in the wild card.'


Houston last reached the postseason in 2005 when it was swept by the Chicago White Sox in the World Series.


"You've got to give them credit. They're really playing well," Arizona manager Chip Hale said of the Astros. "They're playing like a playoff team."


Colby Rasmus hasn't been to the playoffs since he went 4 for 9 with three doubles for St. Louis in the 2009 division series. He's homered three times in two games to record a career-high 25, and is 7 for 12 with six RBIs in the last three.


The Astros will turn to rookie Lance McCullers (6-7, 3.21 ERA), who went 0-4 with a 4.70 ERA during a seven-start stretch before yielding two runs and striking out seven over six-plus innings in a 3-2 win at Seattle on Monday. Making his first appearance against the Diamondbacks (78-83), the right-hander has not posted back-to-back wins in any of his 21 career starts this season.


Arizona hands the ball to Robbie Ray (5-12, 3.50), who has a 2.51 ERA while going 2-2 in his last six starts. He allowed two earned runs in six innings of a 4-3, 11-inning win over Colorado on Tuesday.


The left-hander yielded four runs, seven hits and walked three in five innings of a 4-1 loss at Houston on Aug. 2.


Batting a career-best .319 and looking to finish in the top 5 among NL hitters, Arizona's Paul Goldschmidt is 7 for 16 with a homer in the last five games.


It's uncertain if Houston's Carlos Gomez will be out of the lineup for a third consecutive game with sore ribs. Hinch said Gomez could be available to pinch-hit or play in the field.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Astros at Diamondbacks
Fri, Oct 2 Final 21 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Astros at Diamondbacks
Sat, Oct 3 Final 6 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Astros at Diamondbacks
Sun, Oct 4 - 3:10PM EDT

Preview: Blue Jays (93-68) at Rays (79-82)
Game: 3
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: October 04, 2015 3:10 PM EDT

After failing to keep pace in the race for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, the Toronto Blue Jays have one more opportunity to possibly make that happen.


In order to do so, the visiting Blue Jays must beat the Tampa Bay Rays and get some help Sunday.


Toronto (93-68) led by two runs after six innings and held a one-run advantage with two outs in the ninth before Tim Beckham's two-run single gave Tampa Bay (79-82) a 4-3 victory Saturday.


Losers in three of four since winning six in a row, the East champion Blue Jays trail Kansas City by a game in the race for the best record in the AL. Should Toronto win and the Royals lose at Minnesota on Sunday, the Blue Jays would earn home-field advantage because they own the head-to-head tiebreaker.


'We'll go out and try and win our game,' Toronto manager John Gibbons said. 'Let everything fall into place.'


The loss overshadowed Edwin Encarnacion's fourth consecutive game with a home run when he clubbed a two-run shot in the sixth. He helped the Blue Jays break a team record for most homers by three players - Josh Donaldson (41) and Jose Bautista (40) - in one season with 120.


'That's what they do,' Gibbons said.


If Encarnacion can homer in a fifth straight contest for the first time Sunday, Toronto would become the fourth team in baseball history and first since Colorado in 1997 to have three players with at least 40.


Batting .444 with six RBIs in his last five games, Encarnacion is 4 for 12 with a homer against Matt Moore (2-4, 5.84 ERA).


Facing Toronto for the first time this season, Moore ends his abbreviated comeback season from Tommy John surgery by trying to build on a three-start stretch where he's gone 1-0 with a 1.31 ERA. The left-hander allowed a run in seven innings while not factoring in the decision of Tuesday's 4-2 win over Miami.


"It does feel good to roll out a few in a row,' said Moore, who went 1-4 with an 8.42 ERA over his first eight starts and had that stretch interrupted by a month's stay in the minors since making his season debut July 2.


It appears Toronto is leaning on starting the struggling Drew Hutchison (13-5, 5.47) in this contest, but also could give Mark Buehrle (15-7, 3.82) the nod, or the ball at some point to pitch the two innings he needs for a 15th consecutive season of at least 200. Buehrle gave up four runs in 6 2-3 innings of a Friday's 8-4 victory.


'We'll see how Mark feels,' Gibbons said.


Hutchison has a 14.46 ERA while losing three straight starts, and yielded three runs and four hits in one inning before a lengthy rain delay ended his outing in Thursday's 6-4 loss at Baltimore. The right-hander is 2-3 with a 9.76 ERA in 13 road starts this season but 2-0 with a 4.09 ERA overall against Tampa Bay in 2015.


Despite going 0 for 3 on Saturday, the Rays' Kevin Kiermaier is batting .385 in seven home games against the Blue Jays this season. He's 5 for 9 with two doubles against Hutchison.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Blue Jays at Rays
Fri, Oct 2 Final 8 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Blue Jays at Rays
Sat, Oct 3 Final 3 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Blue Jays at Rays
Sun, Oct 4 - 3:10PM EDT

WNBA


Sunday, October 4

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Trend Report
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3:00 PM
INDIANA vs. MINNESOTA
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Indiana's last 12 games when playing on the road against Minnesota
Indiana is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Minnesota
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Minnesota's last 8 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Minnesota's last 15 games

Fever-Lynx Preview


MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Maya Moore and the Minnesota Lynx waltzed into the 2012 WNBA Finals ready for a coronation.


It was supposed to be the beginning of a dynasty, with the powerful Lynx sure to overwhelm heavy underdog Indiana for their second straight championship.


Tamika Catchings had other ideas.


Catchings and the Fever took it to the defending champions, stunning them in Game 1 in Minnesota and taking the best-of-five series 3-1 for the franchise's first championship.


Three years later, the two teams are meeting again. And this time, Moore said the Lynx will be ready for them.


''Coming into the finals that year, feeling like we weren't as mentally tough as we needed to be,'' Moore said. ''It was a great lesson for us. It's just exciting for us to get back here and get another opportunity to be even better than we were, not just in 2012 but in any year we've been here.''


The Lynx are in the finals for the fourth time in five years. They rebounded after the 2012 disappointment to win their second title, but lost to Phoenix in the Western Conference finals last season to miss out on their fourth straight finals trip.


The Lynx swept the Mercury in the Western finals this season, but they have expressed little interest in the revenge angle that was brought up before that series and is resurfacing again this time around as the two teams prepare for Game 1 on Sunday in Minneapolis. It's more about redemption for the Lynx, who don't believe they gave the best accounting of themselves in that series against the Fever.


''I think it's just easy to remember those feelings of feeling like we didn't play up to the ability that we could,'' Moore said. ''They totally fought and earned those wins. But wanting to end the season better than how we performed that year is something we can easily draw on as motivation.


''But I don't think we even need that this year. We're hungry. We're playing hard and playing well and we understand what it takes by learning through our mistakes this year.''


The Fever enter the series on a roll themselves and with a similar chip on their collective shoulder. They beat the top-seeded Liberty in the Eastern Conference finals, coming back from 18 down in Game 2 to force a series-deciding Game 3 in New York that they won easily.


''We just have to believe in ourselves and not worry about what anyone else says,'' Catchings said. ''We know what we're capable of doing. If we play defense the way we're capable of and on offense move the ball and everything's clicking there's no one who can beat us. It's all about believing. Believe in the system and believe in your teammates.''


The Lynx dealt with injuries to key players for much of the season and entered the playoffs with the starting group of Moore, Seimone Augustus, Lindsay Whalen, Rebekkah Brunson and Sylvia Fowles having played a total of 52 minutes together in the regular season.


Moore suffered a broken nose late in the regular season while Augustus and Whalen each missed big chunks of times with injuries. Somehow, the Lynx still managed to post the best record in the West, and the homecourt advantage that came with it proved key in the first two series.


''My black eye's gone, but it's still there underneath,'' Moore said. ''We've definitely been battle-tested, which is great.''


Catchings and the rugged Fever will test them some more. One of the greatest stars the league has ever seen said she is retiring after next season, so the sense of urgency has never been higher for her.


''It's going to take a lot more than what we just did in the last two series,'' Catchings said. ''Our focus needs to be a lot more fine-tuned. They got a lot of really good players. Getting down to the details and staying focused, stay in the moment. Every single possession matters.''