The Yankees started meetings with their professional scouts on Monday in New York, with general manager Brian Cashman’s staff entering the beginning stages of outlining what must be done to get the team back to the postseason in 2015.

The industry expectation is that, one of these days, Sandy Alomar Jr. will get his shot at a full-time managerial gig. But that chance won’t be with the Arizona D-backs in 2015.

Atop the Marlins’ offseason shopping list is a starting pitcher. The market will determine their options, but an ideal candidate would be a left-hander to offset a predominantly right-handed unit.

A down year from a talented player can create an enticing buying opportunity for smart fantasy owners in the following season. Among the players that could boost a fantasy team in 2015 are Prince Fielder, Shin-Soo Choo, Shane Victorino, Jay Bruce and Eric Hosmer.

At the age of 25, the lanky 6-foot-3, 200-pound Kyle Lobstein made his debut for the Tigers on Aug. 23. He pitched in some important games for the club during its successful drive for the American League Central title.

If the Tigers want Torii Hunter back for 2015, he wants to play another year. If Detroit doesn’t want him back, then he might have a decision to make on whether he wants to keep playing.

The smile he wore while answering tough questions on Sunday said Trevor Rosenthal’s latest bout of ninth-inning drama did not shake the second-year closer’s confidence.

The Giants appeared devoid of disappointment after their 5-4 loss Sunday night to the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series. And why not?

By connecting with a changeup from Giants right-hander Sergio Romo in Game 2 of the NLCS on Sunday, Kolten Wong delivered only the Cardinals’ fourth walk-off homer in their long postseason history, and the first since David Freese’s blast in Game 6 of the 2011 World Series against the Rangers.

The labor-intensive ways that limited the Cardinals’ offense during the regular season have given way to an October long-ball attack, which, after carrying the Cards past the Dodgers, sent them soaring to San Francisco with a home split secured with a come-from-behind, 5-4 win over the Giants in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday.

Statcast tracking technology has provided a whole new way of analyzing the postseason, and Game 2 of the NLCS between the Giants and Cardinals gave us plenty of fodder. In one of the wilder plays of an already wild 2014 postseason, Giants pinch-runner Matt Duffy raced all the way home from second base on a wild pitch to tie the game in the top of the ninth inning.

Kolten Wong’s walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth put an end to what proved to be the 11th one-run game this postseason. That’s already just two shy of the postseason record of 13 such games, set in 2011 and duplicated last year. With a minimum nine games left — and a maximum of 17 — this postseason seems to be shaping as a potential record-setter.

The wide-open spaces of home at AT&T Park should be a sight for sore Giants eyes in Game 3 against the Cardinals on Tuesday of a suddenly wild and wacky National League Championship Series.

Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina left Game 2 of the National League Championship Series against the Giants on Sunday with a strained left oblique muscle. Molina departed Busch Stadium after the game for further examination. The team said that he would not fly on the charter to San Francisco, nor was there a timetable for him to rejoin the team.

A day after getting away with what appeared to be a textbook balk in the seventh inning of the Giants’ 3-0 win in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, San Francisco left-hander Madison Bumgarner admitted on FOX Sports 1’s broadcast that he did, indeed, move his front foot before stepping off the rubber. Immediately after Game 1, Bumgarner had said that he did not balk.

Confirming plans that appeared obvious, Giants manager Bruce Bochy officially announced Sunday that Tim Hudson will start Tuesday’s Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, followed by Ryan Vogelsong in Wednesday’s Game 4.

The Royals are perceived as a team devoid of stars, but they don’t lack a cornerstone player. It’s Alex Gordon, the lifelong Royals fan, whose work ethic is beyond compare.