MLB

The Baltimore Orioles have been on a tear in the past week, winning eight of their last nine games and further lengthening their division lead in the AL East to 12.5 games over the Toronto Blue Jays.

At this point, the Orioles have managed to dwindle down their magic number to clinch the division all the way to just one game, which means they could capture the division crown as early as Tuesday night.

If it feels like it's been a while since the baseball-consuming world has been captivated by Yasiel Puig, that's because it has.

A little less than two months ago, the Los Angeles Angels were six games out in the AL West. Now, with two weeks to go still in the regular season, they have a 10.5-game lead and are the first team in the majors to clinch a spot in the postseason. 

Following the team's 8-1 drubbing of the Seattle Mariners on Monday, the MLB's official Twitter feed celebrated the news with a fancy Mike Trout gif: 

The Los Angeles Angels are cruising toward October. And now, they know for sure that they will be playing in it, after becoming the first team in MLB to clinch a playoff berth on Monday night.

For so long it was the same trio of franchises bullying their way into perennial October positions. This happened for two decades, and other teams hardly ever had anything to say about it.

There are guys who hit home runs, and then there are home run hitters. For most of his superlative career, the Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera has landed squarely in the second category.

He's a beast, a masher. A hitter opposing pitchers genuinely fear. A hitter you assume is going to launch one every time he takes a cut.

Updates from Tuesday, Sept. 16

Angels communication director Eric Kay confirms Albert Pujols' status for tonight's game vs. the Mariners: 

Original Text 

The Cleveland Indians are doing their best to stay loose as they try to make a playoff push. That means players, like rookie reliever C.C. Lee, have to be alert for possible pranks by their teammates.

On Monday night, at least one of Lee's Indians teammates—reliever Marc Rzepczynski was allegedly involved—was able to pull off the old cup-on-the-hat trick on Lee. 

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jonathan Papelbon will begin serving a seven-game suspension during Monday's contest against the San Diego Padres.

MLB Public Relations reported the news of Papelbon's punishment:

Updates from Tuesday, Sept. 16

CSN's Andrew Baggarly has more on Pagan's status:

MLB Lineups indicates Angel Pagan is out of the Giants' lineup:

Bruce Bochy commented on Pagan's status via Andrew Baggarly of Comcast SportsNet Bay Area: