The Tigers travel to Anaheim to open a critical series on Friday, as both teams look to boost their playoff stock after up-and-down seasons. Fireballer Max Scherzer takes the ball for Detroit, while Ervin Santana figures to start in Jered Weaver's place.

It might look like the Astros are going about things in a strange manner, but it's a good idea for a team that is so out of it to be trying to do things differently.

Troy Tulowitzki played five innings in a rehab game on Wednesday and Jorge De La Rosa threw three shutout innings in a rehab appearance.

On Sept. 6 last year, there were several things we thought we knew regarding September's pennant races. Of course, we were wrong. Could September comebacks happen again this year?

Four weeks remain as baseball's annual drama plays out toward October, and the only thing certain is that the ending to another remarkable Major League season has hardly begun to reveal itself.

Derek Jeter is doing things that only a few players have ever done. His combination of effectiveness, durability and position is nearly unprecedented for a 38-year-old shortstop.

Today, the world of autograph collecting is better than ever, because in addition to the traditional means, the next-generation treasures called egraphs were launched after the All-Star Game and are drawing rave reviews among fans as shareable digital signatures complete with personalized audio recording.

If the second half of the season is any indication, both the Blue Jays and Red Sox will welcome their day off Thursday, likely needing to turn to their bullpens for length in Friday's series opener at Fenway Park. Starters Henderson Alvarez and Felix Doubront enter the weekend series with mirroring struggles.

After a stint on the DL, Andrew Cashner will make his first start since July 3 as the Padres open a three-game set on Friday against Tyler Skaggs and the D-backs.

After winning nine straight games, the A's were swept by the Angels and will now have to solve Felix Hernandez to break out of their skid on Friday. A.J. Griffin gets the ball for Oakland in the series opener at Safeco.

The latest edition of the Dodgers-Giants rivalry sees a crucial series open Friday when the two clubs meet for three games in San Francisco, with the Giants' lead sitting at 4 1/2 games. Friday's game features a matchup of a pair of former aces, whose disappointing seasons have been well documented. But both Josh Beckett and Tim Lincecum have plenty of time to turn it around.

With just a few potential starts left this season, Twins right-hander Liam Hendriks is hoping Friday is the day he finally picks up his first Major League victory. He'll have to defeat Jeanmar Gomez and the Indians in the opener of a four-game series at Target Field.

With their star first baseman back in the fold, the Reds look to continue to build on a comfortable lead in the National League Central when they host the last-place Astros in the first of a three-game series on Friday.

Mike Minor proved brilliant on Wednesday, allowing just one hit over seven innings, and he benefited from the defensive miscue that gave the Braves the only run they needed to secure a 1-0 win over the Rockies at Turner Field.

The Tigers' offense gave starter Doug Fister more than enough run support in Wednesday's 7-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians.

Lefty Gio Gonzalez is considered a happy-go-lucky guy. On Wednesday night, however, Gonzalez wasn't joking around on the mound, as he pitched seven shutout innings and helped shut down the Cubs, 9-1, in front of 21,244 fans at Nationals Park.

Kevin Correia, making his first start since Aug. 20, allowed one run over six innings as the Pirates beat the Astros, 6-3, on Wednesday at PNC Park.