Here’s how the magic numbers for MLB’s division titles look entering play on Friday, Sept. 29: MORE: Postseason schedule | Playoff bracket MLB standings: Magic numbers, playoff picture AL East First-place team: Red Sox Magic number to eliminate: 2. Yankees (Eliminated) 3. Rays (Eliminated) 4. Orioles (Eliminated) 5. Blue Jays (Eliminated) AL Central First-place team: Indians (clinched division) Magic number to eliminate: 2. Twins (Eliminated) 3. Royals (Eliminated) 4. White Sox (Eliminated) 5....

Toronto sits with a record of 54-43 as of July 26 and in the top wild-card spot in the AL. However, the playoff race is tight and teams will be looking to add an extra bat or arm at the deadline to bolster their chances at winning the World Series. While a left-handed bat in the order could be a nice addition, GM Ross Atkins should be focused on pitching....

That was way back in 2009. So, yeah, the Rockies are doing their best to seize the opportunity in front of them. They’re 60-46, a half-game behind the Diamondbacks in third place in the NL West, though both are light-years behind the division-leading Dodgers. More importantly, they own the second wild-card spot, and the closest contenders are the Brewers (5.5 games back) and the Cardinals (7.5 games back). SN’s TRADE TRACKER: Analysis of all deals leading up to deadline...

Cincinnati has acquired Trevor Bauer from Cleveland in a three-team trade involving the Padres, the teams announced Wednesday morning. As part of the deal, the Indians will receive Yasiel Puig and top prospect Taylor Trammell will go to the Padres. The Indians will also get outfielder Franmil Reyes, pitcher Logan Allen and minor league infielder Victor Nova from San Diego in the deal, as well as acquiring minor league pitcher Scott Moss from the Reds....

The rumor: The Braves are “very much shopping” slugger Justin Upton, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. The rationale: If there were any doubts the Braves are looking to revamp their major league roster after a disappointing 2014, those disappeared when Atlanta traded home-grown star Jason Heyward to the Cardinals on Monday. Heyward is scheduled to be a free agent after the 2015 season, and trading him now maximized the return the Braves could get....

New York believes it can “still get a solid return” for the 29-year-old right-hander, even though he is on the injured list with shoulder fatigue, according to a report from the New York Post, which cites an unidentified team source. Wheeler is expected to throw a bullpen session sometime early this week and there’s a chance he could make at least one start, and possibly two, before the July 31 deadline, the report says....

THE RUMOR: The Mets may trade right-hander Dillon Gee within the month. REPORTED BY: ESPN New York THE DETAILS: Despite losing No. 2 starting pitcher Zack Wheeler to season-ending Tommy John surgery, the Mets have a number of pitching prospects that some in the organization prefer over Gee, who will be free agent after this season. LAST SEASON: Gee held a 4.00 ERA with a 94/43 K/BB ratio over 137 1/3 innings a year ago for the Mets....

For one thing, even New York has to realize the inherent risk of adding a 30-year-old shortstop who has missed 222 games over the past three seasons, and is due $114 million through 2020. For another thing, the Yankees would be hard pressed to come up with a trade package that would entice Colorado to give up its best player. According to a report from Andy Martino of the New York Daily News , though, not only does a deal to send Tulowitzki to the Yankees appear to be a pipe dream, the four-time All-Star shortstop does not appear to be headed anywhere....

DETAILS: The Royals lost Gold Glove outfielder Alex Gordon (wrist) for 3-4 weeks on Monday but can still use Markakis in right field over Jarrod Dyson when Gordon returns. The Phillies (25-19), perhaps the best surprise of MLB in the young season, could suddenly be buyers at the trade deadline if they can maintain their pace in the NL East. Philadelphia’s glaring weakness in the outfield lies with right fielder Peter Bourjos (....

RUMOR: Cardinals are interested in acquiring Carlos Gonzalez from the Rockies REPORTED BY: St. Louis Post Dispatch THE DETAILS: After missing out on re-signing right fielder Jason Heyward — he chose to sign for eight years, $184 million with the Cubs — St. Louis was left with a gaping hole in its outfield. Justin Upton and Alex Gordon are options in free agency, but Gonzalez is available in Colorado if anyone is willing to meet the Rockies’ asking price....

Halem wrote to union attorney Bruce Meyer that the results, and MLB’s fear that infections will spike again in mid-autumn, are why baseball wants to end the regular season on Sept. 27 — not that it wants to save millions of dollars in prorated salaries. MORE: Cardinals owner tries to convince fans that team executives are victims “We strongly disagree with your assertion that our concern about player health and safety in the midst of the greatest health crisis in our lifetime is a ‘pretext’ to play fewer games,” Halem wrote to Meyer in a letter obtained by USA Today....

Daily lines have plenty of time to be tinkered with, but future wagers are happening now — and quickly — as bettors invest on several teams that were active this past week and try to exploit an edge on numbers they believe the books may not have moved enough. The most popular team being bet before and after the San Diego winter meetings has been the Cubs. William Hill sports books, with over 100 locations across Nevada, has seen 18 percent of its overall World Series handle come on the Cubs, as well as 15 percent of overall tickets written....

New York and Los Angeles only totaled six hits total in the contest, but the Mets got a big hit at an opportune time. Rajai Davis hit a three-run double in the eighth inning to give his team the lead, helping keep the Mets’ postseason hopes alive with a 3-0 victory. Jacob deGrom’s stellar pitching held the Dodgers off through seven innings of work. He notched eight strikeouts and pitched like the Cy Young winner he is....

But the 2019 chapter of baseball’s most bitter rivalry has been all Yankees so far, with New York beating Boston 4-1 in the opener of a three-game series in Yankee Stadium (Thursday’s game was rained out). With the win, the Yankees (37-19) are now 3-0 against the rival Sox this season. The victory also pushed New York’s lead in the AL East to 1 1/2 games over the Rays, and 8 1/2 games over the third-place Red Sox (29-28)....

MLS owners announced discussions Saturday to expand the league to 28 teams. The league has 20 teams, with Los Angeles, Atlanta and Minnesota slated to join during the next three years and Miami, with David Beckham leading the charge, not far behind after purchasing land for a stadium earlier in the week. MORE: Six most hated MLS teams | Iker Casillas leaves door open to U.S. move However, MLS doesn’t want to stop there....

Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel on Monday said that the variant’s many mutations make it likely to have a higher resistance to all vaccines currently offered. However, he also estimated that it could take several weeks of more research before the full extent of its resistance is known. These comments echoed earlier ones from Paul Burton, Moderna’s chief medical officer. Bancel also noted that Omicron is believed to be highly infectious, potentially more infectious than the Delta variant....

Moderna reported Monday that then half-dose given of their vaccine is safe and appears to work in young children ages 6 to 11. Moderna has not gotten approval to offer its shot to children yet but is currently studying the results from lower doses on volunteers in hopes to expand vaccines to children soon. Moderna tested two child-sized doses a month apart, and found the children developed virus-fighting antibodies similar to the levels vaccinated adults received from a full dose, Moderna said in a release....

The injury occurred on the last play of the third quarter, a short run right for no gain; a slow-motion replay of the incident seems to suggest that something in his lower left leg popped. The senior tried limping off the field before falling to the turf. He was helped off by trainers and eventually left the field in a walking boot. MORE: Ohio State vs. Minnesota live updates, highlights...

Salah who joined the Merseyside outfit for a club record fee this summer has scored 12 goals in 15 league appearances this campaign and he is on course to match Saurez’s 31 league goals for the Reds in the 2013-14 season. Following his assist for Roberto Firmino in Liverpool’s 5-1 win over Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday, the Egypt international has now had a hand in 15 goals in as many league games this season....