TEst 4

In baseball, 5-foot-9 is the new 6-4. Boston's Mookie Betts and Cleveland's equally compact Jose Ramirez are pint-sized sluggers who are built for big moments.

The American League might be riding high, but the National League teams that must win or go home will command center stage.

The 24-year-old righty is pitching so well after Tommy John surgery, L.A. no longer needs to treat him with kid gloves.

Yasiel Puig's pinch-hit home run in the seventh inning against the Rockies ignited the Dodgers to victory. It was Puig's sixth homer in his past 18 at-bats. "We're going to win the West," Puig declared, "and go to the playoffs."

It's looking like this season could have the fewest .300 hitters since 1969. Is this a one-year thing or a sign of the times?

Jason Kipnis made his 1,000th career hit count Wednesday night, as it came on a walk-off grand slam with one out in the ninth inning to lift the Cleveland Indians to a 4-1 win over the Chicago White Sox.

How Joe Maddon utilizes his relievers without a clear-cut closer figures to play a big role in how far Chicago goes in the playoffs.

Rockies slugger Trevor Story is receiving treatment for right elbow inflammation in Arizona, and the team remains encouraged that he will return soon.

White Sox slugger Jose Abreu has been released from a Cleveland hospital after undergoing treatment for an infection in his right thigh.

Indians right-hander Trevor Bauer will start against the Red Sox on Friday when he comes off the disabled list, manager Terry Francona said Wednesday. Bauer suffered a stress fracture in his right fibula last month when he was hit by a line drive.

Mookie Betts, who sat out Tuesday's series opener vs. the Yankees after injuring his side while making a throw on Sunday, will serve as DH for the Red Sox on Wednesday.

Mets manager Mickey Callaway said Wednesday that Zach Wheeler is being shut down for precautionary reasons and won't make his final two starts this season. Wheeler has gone 12-7 with a 3.31 ERA in 29 starts.

On a solemn anniversary for her native Puerto Rico, ESPN's Marly Rivera recalls the aftermath of the deadly storm.

Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman, who was placed on the DL on Aug. 22 with left knee tendinitis, has been activated. He is 3-0 with 31 saves this season.

Even when your playoff odds drop to absolute zero, there's still a chance to do something absolutely special on the diamond.

They're rich. They're smart. They still might miss the playoffs. Here's why the Dodgers should be dominating the National League -- but aren't.

As the Yankees slugger returns to the lineup after a broken wrist, the focus is getting him prepared to deliver in the postseason.

The Red Sox have not clinched this year's AL East, but a banner marking the accomplishment has already been accidentally unveiled.

The Dodgers beat the division-rival Rockies for the second straight night Tuesday, pushing their National League West lead to 1 1/2 games and prompting manager Dave Roberts to say "things are coming together at the right time."

The Cubs might have an unorthodox solution to their closer quandary after losing two key relievers: score early, score often and skip saves.