Alex Presley's go-ahead, two-out double in the seventh ensured the Pirates of winning at least one game at Miller Park this season. It lifted Pittsburgh to a 9-8 win over the Brewers on Monday and snapped the club's 12-game losing streak in Milwaukee.

Justin Smoak, who has been battling a sore groin for the past two weeks, launched a sixth-inning three-run homer that provided the necessary cushion for stellar starter Jason Vargas and helped the Mariners to a 4-2 win over Oakland in front of 17,057 at Safeco Field.

When the Tigers announced a trade for Doug Fister on July 30, they held a 2 1/2-game lead over the Indians, who announced a trade for Ubaldo Jimenez the next day. Since then, the teams have gone in opposite directions, punctuated by Fister and the Tigers' 14-0 win over Jimenez and the Indians on Monday.

Fractions of percentage points now separate Jose Reyes from Ryan Braun in the National League batting race, with two games left for each. After recording three hits in Monday's 6-5 loss to the Reds, he stands a scant few hits — if even that many — from the first batting title in franchise history.

Chris Heisey slugged a three-run homer in the top of the seventh inning to lift the Reds to a 6-5 win over the Mets on Monday in the opener of the final three-game series of the season.

Cliff Lee overcame some early-inning struggles and Raul Ibanez foiled Atlanta's bullpen with a couple of RBI singles that extended the Braves' woes and gave the Phillies a 4-2 win at Turner Field on Monday night.

James Shields worked 8 2/3 stellar innings on Monday, lifting the Rays to a 5-2 win over the Yankees that, coupled with Boston's loss, propelled Tampa Bay into a tie atop the AL Wild Card standings with the Red Sox.

The Phillies said they would get their mojo back in Atlanta, where the Braves are fighting for the National League Wild Card. They followed through Monday with a 4-2 victory.

It's panic time for the Atlanta Braves. It really is. Even so, those in the home clubhouse at Turner Field keep sounding as if life is at least tolerable, even with their baseball world collapsing around them.

After eight seasons, two American League Central titles, one World Series championship and countless entertaining moments on the South Side of Chicago, Ozzie Guillen is departing the White Sox.

Tampa Bay is enjoying the ride. Even though they still trail the Red Sox, the Rays have a carefree look about them, while Boston brings to mind a balled fist.

Ian Kennedy is meticulous in preparing for his starts, which could present a bit of a problem for the right-hander when it comes to the National League Division Series.

D-backs outfielder Justin Upton was held out of the lineup Monday, one day after being hit in the helmet by a Tim Lincecum fastball.

Not only did Johnny Damon's third-inning single on Monday drive home a run to put the Rays ahead of the Yankees, 3-2, the hit also tied him with Lou Gehrig for 57th place on the all-time hit list.

If the Red Sox, Rays and Angels finish tied after their regular-season finales Wednesday — all clubs have three games remaining — one game would be played Thursday and another Friday to determine the AL Wild Card winner.

Mike Napoli will start every playoff game, manager Ron Washington said, be it at catcher, first base or designated hitter.

Aside from C.J. Wilson working Game 1, the Rangers' postseason rotation is not set, at least in part because they don't know their opponent.