Oswald Peraza gets his first postseason start, rookie shortstop bats eighth in the order  —  HOUSTON — Oswald Peraza got his first playoff start on Thursday night.  The shortstop made a pinch running appearance Wednesday, but he was the starting shortstop for Game 2 of the American League Championship Series against the Astros.

Clippers |  Balanced Clippers hold off Lakers in Kawhi Leonard's return  —  Leonard has 14 points in his first game in 16 months, and the Clippers begin their season of lofty expectations with their eighth consecutive victory over their cold-shooting rivals, 103-97

Cristian Arango boots LAFC past Galaxy, into Western Conference final  —  Arango scores on a rebound in the 93rd minute as LAFC advances with a 3-2 victory in the latest dramatic edition of the ‘El Trafico’ rivalry.  LAFC will host Austin FC or FC Dallas on Oct. 30  —  Show Caption  —  of

The Padres Catch Fire at Home to Even Series With Phillies  —  A wild fifth inning turned a two-run deficit into a three-run lead, letting San Diego salvage a split before the series heads to Philadelphia.  —  SAN DIEGO — It opened with a star and ended with a bell, which is how these teams like to do it.

7 takeaways from the Chicago Bulls' season-opening win over the Miami Heat, including DeMar DeRozan already in mid-season form  —  ExpandAutoplay  —  1 of 12  —  Bulls guard Alex Caruso, left, congratulates guard Ayo Dosunmu after scoring during the first half against the Heat on Wednesday in Miami.

Walt Weiss turns down Marlins interview as manager searches heat up  —  Rarely does anyone turn down a managing opportunity, but Walt Weiss did when he declined an interview for the Marlins job.  Unless something unforeseen happens, Weiss will remain as Braves coach.

Here are the 2022 Gold Glove finalists  —  The 2022 Rawlings Gold Glove Award finalists were announced Thursday, with winners to be unveiled during a one-hour, special edition broadcast of “Baseball Tonight” on Nov. 1 at 5 p.m. ET, airing on ESPN prior to Game 4 of the 2022 World Series.

Ja Morant puts on a show, Grizzlies drop Knicks 115-112 in OT  —  MEMPHIS — Ja Morant pulled up for a floater in the fourth quarter, glared at the Knicks bench, tapped his wrist and repeated, “It's about that time.”  —  That was earlier in the fourth quarter, and Morant's “time” extended well beyond.

Ted Leonsis group is front-runner to buy Nationals, sources say  —  A group led by Washington Wizards, Capitals and Mystics owner Ted Leonsis is emerging as the clear front-runner to buy the Washington Nationals from the Lerner family, according to sources within the organization …