Forget momentum, forget psychological advantage, and forget proclamations that this year feels different. This story is well on its way to the usual perplexing conclusion. Just two days after the Nationals appeared to shake their postseason reputation and wrest control of the NLDS with a dramatic comeback win against the Cubs, the same ol’ October Nationals showed up Monday at Wrigley Field for Game 3. So, naturally, they lost....

Beltre left Thursday’s AL Division Series opener in Toronto with a stiff back, and based on the pain he appeared to be in before departing the game, it’s no surprise he won’t be ready for the 12:37 p.m. ET start. SN’s POSTSEASON PICKS: Jesse Spector | Ryan Fagan | MLB 15: The Show Texas obviously will lose quite a bit with the seasoned Beltre out of the lineup, but the Rangers can at least take solace in having a game in hand on the road....

Toronto jumped out to a huge 8-1 lead through 6 1/2 innings, but there were some nervy moments in the later innings when David Price came on in relief for starter R.A. Dickey and served up three runs in three innings of work. MORE: Best photos from AL Division Series games But Aaron Sanchez and Roberto Osuna closed out the game, forcing a decisive Game 5 back in Toronto on Wednesday....

With modern technology at the tips of our fingers, we can all relive this moment for as long as we want from wherever, whenever. MORE: Get to know your Blue Jay visuals | When will MLB embrace Latino culture? | The joys and pain of Game 5 But one fan, perhaps fearful of technology, or just perhaps a devout Blue Jays fan, wants to keep the moment close to his/her heart....

When glancing at the offensive totals on the two-way props, a few appear high considering how pitching has come to dominate today’s game. Pitching has become so dominant, in fact, that MLB is considering raising the lower portion of the strike zone. The rules committee will be analyzing the zone this season with a change potentially enacted for 2016. But bookmakers know that most gamblers tend to bet to OVERs, and that anticipation is factored into the numbers....

CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman later reported the Mariners may be prepared to offer Cano $225 million over nine years. The All-Star second baseman flew to Seattle on Thursday to meet with team executives, the ESPNDeportes.com says. — SN selects Public Enemy No. 1 for every MLB team A Mariners source later confirmed to The Seattle Times that Cano and Jay Z, whose Roc Nation agency represents Cano, are headed west to meet with team officials....

Teagarden was linked to steroids in an Al Jazeera documentary that also mentioned Peyton Manning, Ryan Howard and Ryan Zimmerman, among other professional athletes. MORE: Highlights from the documentary | Manning hired private investigators to vet documentary In the documentary, Teagarden admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs. “I used it last year, I was very … I was scared to be honest with you," he said in the footage, via CBS Sports....

Getting that help, though, won’t be easy. Costs are high. Supplies are low. Think of the trade market like trying to find a cheap rental car or baseball/basketball cards are a retail store. Probably ain’t happening. MORE: MLB mock draft roundup: 23 players likely to go in the first round Cardinals president of operations John Mozeliak was looking for help on the market a few weeks ago, after ace Jack Flaherty landed on the IL, and talked with reporters about that experience on Monday: “We didn’t really see a whole lot out there that we thought was going to make a difference....

Here's a look at some of the latest, and how seriously they can be taken ... BOSTON RED SOX Ben Cherington, the Sporting News Executive of the Year, told reporters in Orlando, Fla., that his team would like to bring back free agent shortstop Stephen Drew. He was quoted in a Boston Globe report that also included word that Jacoby Ellsbury staying with the world champions is a "long shot....

The first place to look for potential midseason trade acquisitions is at the list of potential after-the-season free agents. Well, that list is pretty bare. Front offices will have to get creative. MORE: Track games live | Meet Nats’ Trea Turner | Prospect ranking But the needs will be there. Teams have playoff pushes to make. On Wednesday, we looked at five AL teams that will be buyers at the non-waiver trade deadline (it’s Aug....

The Yankees are interested in dealing for the 29-year-old starter and the Mets will “have no issues” sending him to their crosstown rivals, according to a report from SNY. The two New York teams have, at times, been hesitant to complete trades in the past. Wheeler holds a 6-5 record with a 4.42 ERA in 18 starts so far in 2019. He has spent his entire MLB career with the Mets....

Given that San Diego is headed nowhere this season, is the team looking to trade the 29-year-old to a contender that needs starting pitching? Probably not, according to Denni Lin of the the Union-Tribune. “(Y)ou have to give something to gain something, and it remains highly improbable the Padres would receive immediate offense in return,” Lin writes. “That’s the asking price if they’re to compete sooner than later, as ownership desires....

The 28-year-old outfielder is “a particularly strong candidate to be moved” by the Reds before the July 31 trade deadline, according to a report from The Athletic, which cited unidentified league sources. Puig is slashing .262/.311/.496 with 22 home runs and 59 RBIs in 94 games with Cincinnati this season. He has also scored 49 runs and stolen 13 bases. “When I’m going into each AB, (I’m) looking for something I can hit, something in the zone that I can make contact (with),” Puig said about his success this season, via Cincinnati....

It’s an unprecedented event for more reasons than one. First off, it’s happening in November and December, far later than it has in years past. Secondly, all three North American sides — the United States, Canada and Mexico — are participating, something that has never happened before. Those three sides have gone from strength to strength over the past few years, overcoming sloppy displays at the World Cup (or missing out on the tournament entirely) to put themselves in position for optimism....

There were plenty of chances during regulation but the goalkeepers, one questionable offside call and the woodwork all combined to keep the match at 0-0. After 30 minutes of extra time produced even more chances, with Atlanta defender Michael Parkhurst coming up with a massive clearance off the goal line in the final minutes, the match was decided from the spot. Steffen, who was outstanding throughout the match, opened the shootout with an athletic save on Julian Gressel....

The Dynamo cruised to a 5-1 win over Real Salt Lake on Wednesday to jump above Sporting Kansas City atop the table. U.S. U-20s lean on bench Alex, Mauro Manotas, Erick Torres and Leonardo were on the scoresheet, along with a Justin Schmidt own goal, in the big win. Schmidt turned in a Manotas cross in just the third minute before Alex struck after being allowed to skip into the area following a short corner....

Something else you might notice is that, among that 10, there is only one American. That American is Minnesota United’s Christian Ramirez, whose 10 goals are the fifth most in the league. Most MLS observers outside of Minnesota wouldn’t have pegged him to be the top American goal-scorer in the league, but then Ramirez’s career has been built on blowing away expectations, and driven by his desire to prove he can play at the highest level in America....

Ibrahimovic scored and provided an assist as the Galaxy returned to second in the Western Conference courtesy of a 2-0 win over Sporting Kansas City. The Swedish star headed a cross into the path of Favio Alvarez to nod in the opener in the 55th minute. Ibrahimovic, returning from a two-game suspension, sealed the win late, volleying in an Uriel Antuna cross for his 10th goal of the season....

Brooks, previously known as a staunch ally of the former president, is currently facing a U.S. Senate GOP primary runoff election against Trump-endorsed Katie Britt. Trump withdrew his endorsement of Brooks in March as he was lagging in polls, while maintaining that he ditched Brooks because he had gone “woke” by urging Republicans to put 2020 election fraud claims “behind” them during an August 2021 rally. Brooks slammed the former president for being disloyal during an interview published Wednesday by AL....

Perviy Otdel said on Telegram Wednesday that Russian authorities are illegally rushing conscripts to war zones in Ukraine without training exercises or medical examinations. The report is the latest in a string of alleged disarray that’s followed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s order last week to begin calling up reservists in a bid to shore up his invasion of Ukraine. According to the post by Perviy Otdel, the group has begun receiving confirmation that conscripted men are being forced to write reports stating they are ready to fight in Russia’s “special military operation” despite receiving only two days of training....