Woodruff's shoulder injury leaves Brewers down a starter against Diamondbacks in Wild Card Series

One of Milwaukee's biggest strengths just got a little weaker on the eve of the postseason. Right-hander Brandon Woodruff, slated as a potential Game 3 starter, will miss the NL Wild Card Series with a shoulder injury, leaving the Brewers without one of the top arms against the...

Astros beat Diamondbacks 8-1 to earn third straight AL West title

PHOENIX (AP) — The Houston Astros celebrated clinching a playoff spot with T-shirts and a subdued toast. A day later, after rallying to claim a bigger prize in their crosshairs, the Astros held an all-out locker room rager of cigars and champagne-and-beer showers that left puddles...

October baseball arrives with 12-team bracket set and postseason action beginning Tuesday

PHOENIX (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson and the hard-hitting Atlanta Braves have earned a couple days of rest and relaxation after Major League Baseball's long 162-game regular season. So have Jose Altuve, Justin Verlander and the defending World Series champion Houston Astros...

Taylor homers, Houser pitches NL Central champion Brewers past Cubs 4-0 in final playoff tune-up

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Tyrone Taylor homered and Adrian Houser pitched five sharp innings as the NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers beat the Chicago Cubs 4-0 on Sunday in their final playoff tune-up. After wrapping up their third division title in six years last week, the Brewers will...

Houston Astros clinch the AL West with 8-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks

Verlander leads Astros over D-backs 1-0, and both teams clinch postseason spots

PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks celebrated their return to the postseason with the typical party, a champagne-soaked fun fest in the clubhouse that eventually included a dip in the Chase Field swimming pool behind the right-center field wall. The Houston Astros celebrated...

Urquidy brilliant in emergency start, pitches Astros to crucial 2-1 win over Diamondbacks

PHOENIX (AP) — José Urquidy had already delivered five brilliant innings in an emergency start when Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker ambled to the mound in the sixth, ready to take the right-hander out of the game after Arizona's Ketel Marte reached on a leadoff single. Urquidy...

France can't start for Astros because of family emergency, Urquidy on mound vs. D-backs

PHOENIX (AP) — The Houston Astros had to shuffle their pitching staff during some of the most important games of the season. Right-hander J.P. France was scratched from Friday's start against the Arizona Diamondbacks because of a family emergency. Manager Dusty Baker didn't...

MLB has its most productive class of rookie hitters ever. Managers and players believe they know why

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Royce Lewis has played in 70 games for the Minnesota Twins. He has five grand slams. The AL Central champion Twins haven't had a rookie so ready for major league stardom since Joe Mauer nearly two decades ago. Despite a decided lack of live games over the last...

Diamondbacks delay clinching playoff berth as Vaughn, Moncada homer for White Sox in 3-1 win

CHICAGO (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks delayed clinching an NL wild card berth, losing to the White Sox 3-1 on Thursday as Andrew Vaughn and Yoán Moncada homered for Chicago. Arizona (84-75) is in position for the second NL wild card and its first postseason appearance since...