4 big takeaways from the Phillies-Braves back-and-forth WC opener  —  ATLANTA — What started as a Game 1 pitchers' duel devolved into a back-and-forth battle of clutch hits and wild moments on Tuesday afternoon at Truist Park.  —  Austin Riley ultimately got the last — and biggest …

Alec Zumwalt out as KC Royals hitting coach, reassigned to new role: Reports  —  Key Takeaways  —  AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.  — The Royals reassigned hitting coach Alex Zumwalt to a different role Tuesday.  — Zumwalt will keep his directorial role next season but leave on-field coaching.

Padres pummel Cubs behind Tatis' leadoff blast, King's gem in Game 1  —  SAN DIEGO — In the wake of a mad dash that took him from a stolen-base attempt to scoring from second on a throw that landed in shallow left-center field, Fernando Tatis Jr. felt he might pass out as he made his way through the dugout in Tuesday's seventh inning.

Astros players blast their own fans for booing, not showing up to playoff loss  —  HOUSTON — This is a forgiving city, calmer and more composed than Chicago, Philadelphia or other places where underperforming teams are inundated with invective.  Boos are rare in Houston …

MLB playoff bracket: The 12 teams fighting for a World Series title  —  The MLB playoffs are set to begin.  First up, the wild card round.  —  Everything starts with postseason quadruple-headers on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the action doesn't stop until the final out of the World Series.

Karl-Anthony Towns had the last laugh.  And he's not done smiling yet  —  NEW YORK — Karl-Anthony Towns stepped out of the elevator and walked into a cocktail room at his Manhattan high-rise, a smile of vindication stretching from cheek to cheek.  —  It was four days after the New York Knicks captured …

After a prospect path marked by injury, White Sox starter Sean Burke is grateful for postseason opportunity  —  After being the team's best starting pitcher in the regular season, Burke will get the nod to start Game 2 and attempt to deliver the White Sox to the ALDS.

WNBA has best regular-season viewership since 2000 in Year 1 of new media deal  —  The WNBA had its best season since 2000, as games averaged 771,000 viewers in the first year of a new media-rights pact.  That's up 17% from last season as well.  Even when including Peacock-exclusive games …

Marlins' Bendix dishes on various players, starters in pen.  McCullough to return  —  The Marlins are retaining manager Clayton McCullough and are open to using their starting pitchers in save situations again next season if they're interested in doing that.

MLB Gameday: Cubs 0, Padres 8 Final Score (09/29/2026)  —  Follow MLB results with FREE box scores, pitch-by-pitch strikezone info, and Statcast data for Cubs vs. Padres at Petco Park

Aaron Judge out for AL wild-card series in crushing blow to Yankees  —  NEW YORK — The New York Yankees will have to survive their American League wild-card series against the Boston Red Sox without Aaron Judge.  —  The reigning American League MVP will not play in the best-of-three set …