What We Learned From MLB's Wild-Card Series  —  Baseball has finished its first round of the playoffs under its new expanded system for this year.  (Congratulations to everyone who lived through eight games in one day and lived to tell the tale.)  As has been the case with so much else this season …

Season ends for Cardinals, does an era?  Molina, Wainwright could be departing  —  SAN DIEGO — The Cardinals weren't 30 minutes into their offseason with months of inevitable, critical, and potentially dramatic changes still ahead, and manager Mike Shildt already had an idea of what he'd like to see at the start of the 2021 season.

Astros' McCullers, Athletics' Bassitt Share Bond of Tommy John Surgery Recovery  —  Lance McCullers and Chris Bassitt, the starters respectively for the Astros and the A's in Game 1 of the American League West Division playoffs that begin Monday at 1:7 p.m. in Dodger Stadium, have plenty in common.

New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays predictions: Our experts make their ALDS picks  —  The New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays are building quite a rivalry in the AL East, and now they're meeting each other in the playoffs for the first time.  —  The Rays finished with the American League's best record …

Matt Klentak Steps Down As Phillies GM  —  4:11 pm: Team President Andy MacPhail, who was instrumental in Klentak's initial hiring, will remain in that position, Middleton confirmed to reporters (including Matt Breen of the Philadelphia Inquirer).  MacPhail will be involved in the search for the club's next GM, the owner added.

SCOTUS Declines To Hear MLB's Appeal On Ruling Of MiLB Pay Lawsuit  —  On Monday, Oct. 5, the Supreme Court declined to hear Major League Baseball's appeal of the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals' ruling that granted class action status to minor league players who allege they were paid less than minimum wage.

Former MLB player suspected of killing ex-girlfriend found dead of self-inflicted gunshot wound  —  Former professional baseball player Charles Haeger, 37, who is suspected of shooting and killing his ex-girlfriend, was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on a Grand Canyon trail Saturday evening.

Ron Perranoski, 2-time World Series champ with Los Angeles Dodgers, dies at 84  —  LOS ANGELES — Ron Perranoski, the left-handed ace of the Los Angeles Dodgers' bullpen who helped them win a pair of World Series championships in the 1960s, has died.  He was 84.

Arizona Diamondbacks coaching staff to return intact in 2021  —  The Diamondbacks' coaching staff under manager Torey Lovullo will remain unchanged for 2021, team sources said, an indication of how the organization is framing a disappointing season within the context of playing just 60 games due to the pandemic.

Nationals Part Ways With Pitching Coach Paul Menhart  —  The Nationals are moving on from pitching coach Paul Menhart, reports Byron Kerr of MASNsports.com (Twitter link).  The 51-year-old's contract was set to expire this offseason, and the organization has made the decision not to bring him back …