11:43 PM ET Associated Press DENVER — The National League West-leading Colorado Rockies locked up a playoff berth for the second straight season, beating the Washington Nationals 5-2 on Friday night for their eighth win in a row behind a resilient start from Kyle Freeland. David Dahl homered for the fifth consecutive game and Ian

1:49 AM ET BOSTON — Yankee Stadium will host at least one more baseball game this year. Thanks to an 11-6 rout of the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Friday night, the New York Yankees solidified home-field advantage in Wednesday’s American League wild-card game against the Oakland Athletics. Whichever team wins that game

4:39 PM ET New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius is back in the team’s lineup Friday, batting sixth less than a week after tearing cartilage in his right wrist. The Yankees had initially feared that Gregorius would not return during the regular season and might miss some of the postseason, however the 28-year-old was cleared

1:37 AM ET CHICAGO — If the upcoming weekend plays out for the Chicago Cubs like the beginning of the week did — and the way much of the season has gone, for that matter — then the Cubs will look down-and-out at some point before dusting themselves off to take their third consecutive NL

11:44 PM ET Associated Press CHICAGO — Jon Lester combined with three relievers on a four-hitter, David Bote hit an early two-run triple and the Chicago Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0 on Thursday night to open a one-game NL Central lead over Milwaukee heading into the final weekend of the season. A day after

3:53 PM ET ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — New York Yankees starter CC Sabathia, in the middle of a one-hitter and two innings shy of earning a $500,000 incentive-based bonus, was ejected from Thursday afternoon’s game at Tropicana Field. Sabathia entered Thursday’s game having pitched 148 innings this season. In what will be his final start

7:18 AM ET Every young player can use an experienced tour guide in navigating his first stretch run. For Cleveland outfielder Greg Allen, that knowing voice emerged during a late-August game in Boston. As the Indians took the field in the bottom of the eighth inning, a veteran teammate sidled up and told him to

11:20 PM ET Associated Press DENVER — Colorado Rockies right-hander German Marquez tied a modern-day major league record with eight straight strikeouts to begin a game on his way to setting the franchise record for most K’s in a season. Marquez matched a mark Wednesday against Philadelphia that was set by Houston lefty Jim Deshaies

3:44 PM ET WASHINGTON — Three and a half hours before the first pitch, Bryce Harper was the only one in full uniform for what could be his final home game at Nationals Park. “It’s definitely crazy walking in today and knowing this could be my last game at Nats Park in my white jersey,”

2:23 AM ET Associated Press TORONTO — Houston is heating up as October approaches. The Astros clinched another AL West title and reached 100 wins for the second straight season, beating the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1 Tuesday night behind Alex Bregman‘s two-run homer. Houston improved to 100-57 and was assured of first place hours later