A team of Major Leaguers will visit Taiwan this November to play against the Chinese Taipei national team in the 2011 Taiwan All-Star Series, Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association announced Thursday.

Manny Ramirez, who is on the inactive list following a 100-game suspension for a second violation of Major League Baseball's drug policy, is ineligible to play winter ball in the Dominican Republic.

Matt Holliday, who is out after experiencing inflammation in his right middle finger, took swings off a tee Tuesday, took more swings and also threw on Wednesday and on Thursday morning spent time in the indoor batting cage taking swings.

Two decades after introducing Tom Glavine, John Smoltz and Steve Avery as the cornerstones of what would become one of the best starting rotations in Major League history, the Braves have once again assembled a group of talented young pitchers who also seemingly have the potential to be part of something special in Atlanta.

With a rebuilt pitching staff worthy of a long-potent offense, the Brewers are closing in on their first division title in 29 years in what will probably prove Prince Fielder's final season.

Cardinals right fielder Lance Berkman has agreed to a one-year contract extension, the team announced on Thursday.

Question of the day: Who's the NL MVP?

As teams close in on postseason opportunities, certain veterans are feeling the hunger pangs to step up to the October buffet a little stronger than others. Having never tasted life on baseball's biggest stage, these guys have fork in one hand, knife in the other, napkin on their laps, and they're ready to dig in.

"'Moneyball' is a classic underdog story," said Brad Pitt, who also serves as one of the producers of the film.

Justin Christian, Brett Pill and Mike Fontenot, all seeking bit parts or more for next season, contributed heavily to Wednesday night's robust offensive effort that lifted the Giants to an 8-5 decision over the Los Angeles Dodgers and sustained their faint postseason hopes.

Following Wednesday's 7-2 victory against the Blue Jays, a double assist from the newly-crowned AL East champion New York Yankees, and a little help from the Orioles, the Angels have found themselves in the middle of the hunt for the AL Wild Card and could very well find themselves playing in October.

The A's reached agreement on a three-year contract with manager Bob Melvin, whose interim role was shed in favor of a permanent one that will keep him at the helm through at least the 2014 season.

Ian Kinsler and Josh Hamilton hit home runs in the eighth inning to lift the Rangers to a 3-2 victory over the A's on Wednesday, cutting their magic number to three.

The D-backs did what they had to on Wednesday at Chase Field by defeating the Pirates, 8-5. Now they must sit around and wait for the Giants, who won, 8-4, on Wednesday and play the Dodgers in the series finale on Thursday at Dodger Stadium.

The New York Yankees captured their 12th American League East championship in 16 years Wednesday at Yankee Stadium with a 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Pinch-hitter Jorge Posada leveled the final blow in the eighth inning, a two-out, bases-loaded single that broke a 2-2 tie and put New York ahead for good.

The American League East race officially came to an early end with a checked-swing third strike on Wednesday, as the Yankees rushed their home diamond and put the exclamation marks on their 17th division title.

These are the games that challenge the Tigers in the final week of the regular season. The fact that they got out of town with a 6-3 win over the Royals on Wednesday night made it slightly easier, thanks to their .333-hitting, 98-RBI pinch-hitter.