Baseball

PHOENIX (AP) — Houston Astros pitcher Hector Neris once again denied using a homophobic slur and said Friday he does not expect to be disciplined by Major League Baseball for his part in a benches-clearing incident against the Seattle Mariners this w

NEW YORK (AP) — Detroit Tigers pitcher Luis Acosta and Colorado Rockies infielder Ronny Ugarte were suspended for 56 games each Friday following positive tests under baseball's minor league drug program.

BALTIMORE (AP) — Maryland Gov. Wes Moore's office released a few details Friday about the agreement with the Baltimore Orioles keeping the team in the city for at least 30 more years.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Royce Lewis has played in 70 games for the Minnesota Twins. He has five grand slams . The AL Central champion Twins haven't had a rookie so ready for major league stardom since Joe Mauer nearly two decades ago.

ATLANTA (AP) — The last time the Braves made a run to the World Series championship, Ronald Acuña Jr. could only watch.

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets' series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night was postponed because of persistent rain. The game was rescheduled as part of a single-admission doubleheader Saturday beginning at 4:10 p.m.

NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani’s soaring popularity was even more evident when it came to jersey sales. Ohtani had the best-selling jersey in Major League Baseball this season, the first time a Japanese player finished in the top spot.

ATLANTA (AP) — Matt Olson hit his major league-leading 54th homer, and the Atlanta Braves clinched home-field advantage throughout the postseason with a 5-3 win over the slumping Chicago Cubs on Thursday night.

TORONTO — It's time to put the champagne on ice at Rogers Centre. The Toronto Blue Jays are on the cusp of locking up a playoff berth.

Cincinnati Reds (81-78, third in the NL Central) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (69-90, fifth in the NL Central) St. Louis; Friday, 8:15 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Reds: Brandon Williamson (4-5, 4.46 ERA, 1.