D-backs general manager Kevin Towers wanted to make one thing perfectly clear Wednesday morning: He is not saying he wants his pitchers to start hitting batters on purpose next year.

Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr., told NFL Network’s Rich Eisen in an interview last week that he is “starting to get an itch” to return to Major League Baseball, perhaps as a manager. While Ripken didn’t report any substantive interest from big league clubs, he said he is thinking about taking an opportunity if one comes along.

In a gritty performance all the way around, the Red Sox dispatched the pesky Tampa Bay Rays, 3-1, in a tense Game 4 of the American League Division Series on Tuesday night at Tropicana Field.

After dominating the Athletics in Game 2 of the American League Division Series — seven shutout innings, four hits, 11 strikeouts — Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander began preparing himself to pitch the decisive Game 5 if this playoff matchup got that far. Which is kind of interesting since he wasn’t supposed to start Game 5. Max Scherzer was.

Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez’s solo shot in the seventh inning of Game 4 took a replay review to figure out after fans reached over Comerica Park’s right-field railing to try to grab it. In the end, the ruling stood, giving Detroit new life in a must-win game.

Miguel Cabrera’s health has left him limited at the plate for a while. Even at less than full strength, however, he has reached a postseason record.

The Cardinals might just look back at June 9-11, 2009, as the defining three-day period in the organization’s concentrated efforts to rebuild its farm system. Consider the coup: Shelby Miller (first round), Joe Kelly (third), Matt Carpenter (13th), Trevor Rosenthal (21st) and Matt Adams (23rd).

Starling Marte and Neil Walker have combined to go 1-for-31 atop the lineup in the NLDS, but manager Clint Hurdle expects a pickup from his usually reliable one-two punch.

At PNC Park, the Pirates have depended on their 10th Man, those crowds clad in black that raised a racket and likely the hairs on the backs of some of the Cardinals’ necks. In Busch Stadium on Wednesday, the Bucs will rely on their Ninth Man, Gerrit Cole.

The Cubs have signed outfielder Ryan Sweeney to a two-year, $3.5 million contract. Sweeney will get $1.5 million in 2014 and again in ’15, and the Cubs hold a $2.5 million option for ’16 that includes a $500,000 buyout.

Here is a look at Tuesday’s starting lineups for Game 4 of the American League Division Series between the Red Sox and Rays.

Shelby Miller is on standby. After starting 31 games in the regular season, the rookie right-hander was relegated to the bullpen for the National League Division Series, and he is ready in his new role for whenever his name is called.

Second looks, which Pittsburgh will be getting on Wednesday at the Cardinals’ Game 1 starter, have not be as easy for Adam Wainwright. In this era of 15-team leagues plus Interleague Play games, two series between teams in a concentrated timeframe are rare, and Wainwright has had to make consecutive starts against the same team only three times the last couple of years.

Adam Wainwright is the absolute right man to be on the mound for the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 5 of the National League Division Series.

There was little doubt that Torii Hunter would be in the Tigers’ lineup for Game 4 of their American League Division Series against the A’s on Tuesday, despite the bruised shoulder he suffered on a diving attempt at a catch in Game 3. The only question would be how healthy he’d be.

Former Phillies Larry Bowa and Pete Mackanin joined the team’s coaching staff on Tuesday, while it also was revealed that Steve Henderson will return as hitting coach next season and Wally Joyner has declined to return as assistant hitting coach.

After Jarrod Parker looked off while exiting after five innings in Game 3 of the ALDS, the A’s will monitor the right-hander to make sure he’s on track for a potential start in the ALCS.