Baseball

The Boston Red Sox continue to fill out their front office, with Frank Wren joining the team as senior vice president of baseball operations. 

Washington Nationals closer Jonathan Papelbon was suspended for three games by Major League Baseball on Friday for throwing a pitch toward the head of Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado.

The Curse of the Billy Goat has hovered over the Chicago Cubs for 70 years. But competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi tried to change that.

He and four others powered home an entire goat on Thursday, and brief chants of “Break the curse!” could be heard from Cubs fans.

NEW YORK — Over in the National League, the Wild Card Game matchup seemed set weeks ago.

Here in the American League, no one wants to acknowledge that any part of it is set yet.

First off, congratulations are in order. The Kansas City Royals, longtime doormats of the American League, are AL Central champions, which is something they've never been. That has to feel good.

The inevitable crowning is finally upon us. With a 10-4 win over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday, the Kansas City Royals clinched their first AL Central championship and first division title overall since their 1985 World Series run.

After battling a left forearm contusion, jammed thumb and right elbow contusion, Boston Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval has been diagnosed with pneumonia, according to CSN New England's Sean McAdam. 

Continue for updates. 

The Boston Red Sox officially promoted Mike Hazen to general manager Thursday, the team confirmed. Hazen takes over for Ben Cherington, who resigned shortly after Dave Dombrowski was named president of baseball operations.    

A frustrating season for Washington Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa will end early, as the 28-year-old is battling a hamstring injury.   

Continue for updates.

With the MLB postseason around the corner, Bleacher Report brought in a couple of very qualified individuals to give their predictions.