Theo Epstein has agreed to a five-year deal to join the Cubs, but the pact will not be finalized until Chicago and Boston agree on compensation for the Red Sox.

First baseman Mitch Moreland was back in the Rangers' lineup for Game 5 of the AL Championship Series. Moreland sat out the previous two games with Michael Young at first base. Young was back at designated hitter on Thursday.

Jose Valverde has been golden in save situations, but put the Tigers closer in a non-save situation and he performs like most shutdown relievers.

If you're looking for dramatic finishes, this year's postseason is close to setting a recent precedent. There have already been 10 games decided by one run in the MLB playoffs — more than all but one of the last seven seasons and within striking distance of exceeding them all.

All-Star outfielders Lance Berkman of the Cardinals and Jacoby Ellsbury of the Red Sox were named the winners of the 2011 Comeback Player of the Year Awards.

When a guy is beating you with his bat like Albert Pujols has been over the past two games, the only logical choice is to put him on first and take your chances with the guy batting behind him.

Given a rare start in center field against a top-flight starting pitcher amid the pressure of a postseason setting, Brewers outfielder Mark Kotsay was fueled by an abundance of adrenaline that proved destructive during a first inning that he and many others will not soon forget.

The Cardinals — the "old school," far-less-abrasive ones in this National League Championship Series — have put together an epic six weeks by muting the outside world and rising above the noise.

Credit a point to the prognosticators, for on this night, their predictions that a pitchers' duel would ensue at Busch Stadium were backed up by the box score. Only thing is, this duel had nothing to do with a pair of staff aces.

David Ortiz addressed several issues on Wednesday, including recent reports of a fractured clubhouse, and also said he wouldn't rule out playing for the Yankees.

When the skies cleared long enough to pull the tarp and pull open the curtain for ALCS Game 4, two hours and 13 minutes after it was originally scheduled to begin, what we witnessed was, as Jim Leyland said, as enthralling a ballgame as you'll ever see.

It was another fast and furious first inning for the Cardinals on Wednesday night. St. Louis stormed out to a four-run lead in the first inning, extending its streak to five straight postseason games of scoring in its first at-bat.

For all the love Brandon Inge has received from the fans of the Detroit Tigers over his 11 seasons, he had never had the honor of a curtain call at Comerica Park.

It was more than a little bit scary, but it still counts. The Cardinals took control of the NLCS with an agonizing 4-3 victory over the Brewers on Wednesday night. St. Louis is now two wins from its third trip to the World Series in eight years.

On Wednesday night, in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke pressed the wrong button. It was the button marked: "Mark Kotsay, center field."

Nelson Cruz continued to be a one-man Detroit wrecking crew, crushing a three-run homer in the 11th and saving a run in the eighth with a strong throw in Texas' 7-3 win in Game 4 of the ALCS.

The first time the Rangers rallied in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series on Wednesday, there was no Nelson Cruz home run or anything even close — just a few hits and some National League moves on the basepaths.