ALEJANDRO KIRK

The surging Cardinals will try for a franchise-record 15th consecutive win in a game at Wrigley Field.

The surging Cardinals will try for a franchise-record 15th consecutive win in a game at Wrigley Field.

Yankees ace Gerrit Cole starts the opener of a crucial three-game series at Fenway Park with the Red Sox two games ahead of New York for the top AL wild card.

Toronto Blue Jays reliever Ryan Borucki has been suspended for three games by Major League Baseball for intentionally hitting Tampa Bay’s Kevin Kiermaier with a pitch.

Blue Jays Rays Baseball Tampa Bay Rays' Kevin Kiermaier talks to reporters before a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Kiermaier was answering questions about picking up the Blue Jays pitch data card after being tagged out at home plate by catcher Alejandro Kirk during Monday's game. Reliever Ryan Borucki hit Kiermaier on the back with his first pitch of the eighth inning, when the Rays led 7-1. The Blue Jays lost two of three to Tampa Bay and are 16-5 in September. Six Tampa Bay pitchers combined on a four-hitter. Guerrero got the Blue Jays’ second hit with a sixth-inning double off Adam Conley and scored when Teoscar Hernández picked up his 109th RBI on a sacrifice fly.

Kevin Kiermaier was hit by a pitch after scooping up a Toronto scouting report two days earlier, and the Tampa Bay Rays clinched a postseason berth with a 7-1 victory over the Blue Jays.

Blue Jays Rays Baseball Tampa Bay Rays' Kevin Kiermaier talks to reporters before a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Kiermaier was answering questions about picking up the Blue Jays pitch data card after being tagged out at home plate by catcher Alejandro Kirk during Monday's game. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (Chris O'Meara)ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — (AP) — Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier is “shocked to see what has transpired” and finds reaction “just hard to believe" to his scooping up a scouting a card that fell out of Toronto catcher Alejandro Kirk’s wristband. Kiermaier reiterated before Wednesday's series finale that he had no bad intentions. Kiermaier thought the card was his scouting report. “A couple seconds after I realized it wasn’t ours and at that point, I’m not giving it back,” Kiermaier added.

Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier says he is shocked by reaction to his scooping up a scouting a card that fell out of Toronto catcher Alejandro Kirk’s wristband.

Cash said he reached out to Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo, pitching coach Pete Walker and general manager Ross Atkins to make the apology before Tuesday night's 4-2 loss to Toronto. Tampa Bay did not send back the card, which likely included information about the Blue Jays' plans to pitch to the Rays' hitters. “I had no idea we had the card,” Cash said. When asked if it was an inappropriate action by Kiermaier, Cash said he didn't think so. The Red Sox and Blue Jays are in position for the AL's two wild cards.

Blue Jays Rays Baseball Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk (30) tags out Tampa Bay Rays' Kevin Kiermaier trying to score during the sixth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 20, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (Chris O'Meara)A look at what's happening around the majors on Wednesday:___FINDERS KEEPERSKevin Kiermaier is playing for keeps -- and the Toronto Blue Jays may not be too keen on what he’s keeping. The veteran Rays outfielder scooped up a data card that fell out of Toronto catcher Alejandro Kirk’s wristband during Tampa Bay’s 6-4 victory Monday night and has refused to give it back to the playoff-contending Blue Jays. “But at the same time, I’m not going to drop it or hand it back.”Sportsnet reported Toronto sent a bat boy to the Rays dugout to ask for the card’s return. AL East-leading Tampa Bay did not send back the card, which likely included information about the Blue Jays’ plans to pitch to the Rays’ hitters. With 10 games remaining, New York is locked in a tight race with Boston, Toronto, Oakland and Seattle for two AL wild cards.

Kevin Kiermaier is playing for keeps -- and the Toronto Blue Jays may not be too keen on what he’s keeping.

Blue Jays Rays Baseball Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk (30) tags out Tampa Bay Rays' Kevin Kiermaier trying to score during the sixth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 20, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (Chris O'Meara)ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — (AP) — Rays veteran Kevin Kiermaier scooped up a data card that fell out of Toronto catcher Alejandro Kirk's wristband during Tampa Bay's 6-4 victory Monday night and refused to give it back to the Blue Jays. Kiermaier was called out sliding into home during the sixth inning and saw a strip of paper lying next to him after the play. Tampa Bay did not send back the card, which likely included information about the Blue Jays' plans to pitch to the Rays' hitters. Rays manager Kevin Cash was seen chatting with Blue Jays skipper Charlie Montoyo before Tuesday's game. The Red Sox and Blue Jays are in position for the AL's two wild cards.

Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash apologized to Blue Jays management a day after Rays veteran Kevin Kiermaier scooped up a scouting data card that fell out of Toronto catcher Alejandro Kirk’s wristband and refused to give it back.

Albert Pujols wants to hook on with a new team and play first base.

Blue Jays outfielder George Springer is not expected to be ready to return to Toronto’s lineup when his stint on the 10-day injured list ends May 13.

Toronto Blue Jays players, coaches and staff celebrate a 4-1 win over the New York Yankees in a baseball game in Buffalo, N.Y., Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)BUFFALO, N.Y. – Barred from playing in their own ballpark this year because of COVID-19, the vagabond Toronto Blue Jays have found a home in the playoffs. The Blue Jays extended their lead when Biggio and Bo Bichette hit back-to-back, two-out doubles in the third. SEVEN UPRyu became the first Blue Jays starting pitcher since Aug. 22, 2019, to pitch into the seventh. Blue Jays: RHP Taijuan Walker (4-3, 2.86) starts Friday in the opener of a three-game series against Baltimore.