Two of the best teams in baseball will meet Tuesday in a potential World Series preview, and the subplot figures to carry at least as much intrigue, if not more.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros will match up for a second consecutive season since the Astros' 2017 cheating scandal was unearthed, although games Tuesday and Wednesday at Los Angeles will have a far different feel than the meetings in 2020 possessed.

With fans in the stands this time around, the Dodgers' faithful will get a chance to show the Astros how they really feel about 2017, when Houston's use of electronic means to steal opponents' pitching signs ultimately contributed to a championship. That title came at the expense of the Dodgers, who lost the 2017 World Series in seven games.

Read More...

NEW YORK (AP) Yankees ace Gerrit Cole has tested positive for COVID-19 and will not make his scheduled start Tuesday, the latest virus setback for the team.

New York manager Aaron Boone made the announcement after Monday night's 7-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. He said he was told of the positive test in the second inning.

MILWAUKEE (AP) All-Star closer Josh Hader has joined the growing collection of Milwaukee Brewers on the COVID-19 injured list.

Brewers manager Craig Counsell said Hader reported contact with someone experiencing "COVID-like symptoms."

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) Jake Fraley had a two-run single during a five-run third, Chris Flexen went 6 2/3 solid innings, and the Seattle Mariners beat the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays 8-2 on Monday night.

Fraley, who was activated before the game after being on the COVID-19 injured list since July 18, also made a diving catch in left field on Brandon Lowe's liner in the third. He went 2 for 4 with a walk and stole a base.

NEW YORK (AP) This fast kitten followed all the fancy hittin'.

In a game delayed for several minutes while a bunch of groundskeepers tried to corral a scaredy cat in the outfield, the Baltimore Orioles hit four solo homers off Yankees newcomer Andrew Heaney to beat New York 7-1 Monday night.

MIAMI (AP)

Lewis Brinson connected for a first-inning grand slam to back Jesus Luzardo in his Miami debut, and the last-place Marlins beat the NL East-leading New York Mets 6-3 Monday night.

PHOENIX (AP) Buster Posey didn't have the best night at the plate, yet the Giants' All-Star catcher impressed manager Gabe Kapler with his tenaciousness - and his baserunning.

Posey doubled in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning for San Francisco, then hustled to third on a fly ball to set up a bigger inning as the Giants beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 11-8 on Monday night.

TORONTO (AP) Jose Ramirez homered to cap a three-run 10th inning and the Cleveland Indians beat the Blue Jays 5-2 Monday, snapping Toronto's four-game winning streak.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his 34th home run for the Blue Jays, who lost for the first time in four games since returning north of the border to Rogers Centre.

MILWAUKEE (AP) Eduardo Escobar made one heck of an initial impression on Milwaukee fans in his first home game as a Brewer.

Escobar hit a three-run homer and an RBI triple to back up Eric Lauer's five shutout innings in the Brewers' 6-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night.