A Dodgers vs. Padres NLDS is Nice, But an NLCS Matchup Would've Been Better  —  It's the Dodgers and the Padres in the National League Division Series, which is as it should be.  Well, there should've been a re-seeding after the ridiculously-conceived wild card thing, with Los Angeles playing …

Rangers Part Ways With Pitching Coach Julio Rangel  —  Rangers pitching coach Julio Rangel and catching coordinator Hector Ortiz won't be returning to their positions in 2021, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.  Rangel's contract won't be renewed, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram adds …

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.

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 …

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.

Yankees Turn to a 21-Year-Old Rookie for His Unflappability  —  Deivi Garcia, who was picked over the veteran Masahiro Tanaka, will be the youngest starting pitcher in Yankees postseason history.  —  SAN DIEGO — In an exhibition game just before the season began on July 23 …

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.

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 …

MLB Sees Local TV And Streaming Viewership Up Over 4% For 2020  —  In a season unlike any other, Major League Baseball saw viewership increase while ratings were down because of a lower number of households being tracked.  This is how, in an upside-down season, comparing sports viewership numbers …

Braves: ‘You want your best’ to open NLDS  —  ATLANTA — Braves manager Brian Snitker wasn't ready to officially announce his rotation plans for his team's National League Division Series against the Marlins.  But he provided an expected response when asked if there would be any benefit to not starting Max Fried in Game 1.

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.

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.

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.

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 …

Ross Atkins Discusses Blue Jays' Offseason  —  After a 95-loss season in 2019, the Blue Jays' rebuild began to bear fruit in 2020 as the team went 32-28 and earned a wild card playoff berth.  This result has left the Jays eager for more, and general manager Ross Atkins told reporters …