AL playoff picture takes shape  —  Rays to start Thursday, while Angels face Red Sox Wednesday  —  ANAHEIM — From a rain-soaked Fenway Park to a champagne-soaked Rays clubhouse in Detroit to Angels manager Mike Scioscia's office in Anaheim, the American League playoff picture took shape on Friday night.

Hart, Weeks send Crew atop Wild Card  —  Mets lose to Fish; Brewers can clinch playoff spot Saturday  —  MILWAUKEE — At some point on Saturday morning, a local liquor store will deliver 20 cases of champagne and 20 cases of beer to Miller Park's home clubhouse.  —  Now it's up to the Brewers to pop the cork.

Phils trim NL East magic number to one  —  Howard's homer, Utley's double back Blanton's solid effort  —  PHILADELPHIA — The ball seared through the mist, rising quickly into the black sky as it went, illuminated only by stadium lights and thousands of white rally towels.

postGame: Marlins 6 Mets 1  —  The Mets lost to the Marlins by the score of 6 to 1 tonight at Shea Stadium.  —  For a recap, boxscore and stats, click here.  —  Now I'm wishing it rained.  —  The Marlins mean business and completely throttled the Mets from the start tonight.

Game 160: Yankees at Red Sox  —  YANKEES (87-72)  —  RED SOX (94-65)  —  Alfredo Aceves (1-0, 1.38) has never faced any of the Boston hitters.  —  Daisuke Matsuzaka (18-2, 2.80) vs. the New York hitters.  —  Notes: The Yankees have won seven of eight and 10 of their last 12. ...

Liriano roughed up in blowout loss  —  Twins maintain half-game lead as White Sox fall as well  —  MINNEAPOLIS — After pulling off their biggest win of the season on Thursday night against the White Sox, the Twins' veteran players tried everything to assure that the club wouldn't suffer …

Latest “This is SportsCenter” Ad to Feature Stephen King  —  User Rating: / 1  —  PoorBest  —  Is it because the Red Sox are headed to another postseason, or that Halloween is around the corner?  —  Starting Monday the 29th, the latest ESPN “This is SportsCenter” …

Jeff Kent, Rafael Furcal want to keep playing  —  Veteran infielders vying for spots on playoff roster after returning from injuries.  —  SAN FRANCISCO— Jeff Kent and Rafael Furcal are determined to make the Dodgers' postseason roster after rejoining the team this week and, as of Friday night, Manager Joe Torre concurred.

Mariners hint they may hire woman as next GM  —  SEATTLE (AP) — Mariners president Chuck Armstrong said his team is vetting a wide range of general manager candidates, pointedly leaving open the possibility of Seattle hiring the first female general manager in major league history.

Black reflects on tough season  —  With his fate the subject of conjecture, Bud Black reflected on his second season as Padres manager last night.  —  “It's frustrating the way this season went ... it doesn't feel good, any of it,” Black said.  —  “This has been a difficult season for all of us …

Ex-mates ready to take Michael Bay's postseason trip  —  It didn't get much media coverage, but the Pittsburgh Pirates were celebrating a trip to the postseason this past Tuesday night.  —  There was no champagne involved, no brassy, on-field celebrations, no reporters doing live interviews on the field.

Texas Rangers rout Angels, 12-1  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. - For a club that's been eliminated from playoff contention for more than two weeks, the Texas Rangers sure did accomplish a lot Friday night with a 12-1 pounding of Los Angeles.

ChiSox lose fourth straight, stay in 2nd  —  CHICAGO (AP)—A missed opportunity and a sloppy performance left the White Sox in second place and had manager Ozzie Guillen as frustrated as he's been all season.  —  “That's the only thing I hear, ‘We have a chance.’ We don't have a chance …