:BRAVE NEW WORLDRookie phenom Ronald Acuna Jr. will try to get the first-place Atlanta Braves off to another fast start when they visit Arizona in a matchup of NL playoff contenders. Acuna hit his eighth leadoff homer Wednesday Denny McLain Jersey , setting a club single-season record, but the Braves blew a late six-run lead in an excruciating 9-8 loss to Boston at home. Brandon Phillips’ two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning of his long-awaited season debut capped the biggest comeback by the Red Sox this year. On the heels of a three-game sweep, Anibal Sanchez (6-5, 2.98 ERA) looks to get Atlanta back on track when he faces Zack Greinke (13-9, 2.97) and the Diamondbacks in the opener of a four-game series. Acuna has 24 homers, including 17 since the All-Star break.GETTING CLOSERWith their magic number down to eight http://www.tigersfanproshop.com/authentic-joe-jimenez-jersey , the Cleveland Indians attempt to move closer to a third consecutive AL Central title when they play at Toronto. Lefty reliever Andrew Miller (sore shoulder) is expected to throw a bullpen before the game. He’s been on the disabled list since Aug. 29.CLOSING TIMENo telling who the Chicago Cubs will use as their closer when the NL Central leaders open a series at Washington. Brandon Morrow held the job through the All-Star break, but hasn’t pitched since then because of a biceps injury. He hasn’t thrown off a mound during his recovery. Pedro Strop has gotten the ball in the ninth inning lately, but has never been a full-time closer. Steve Cishek and Justin Wilson also could perhaps fill in. Manager Joe Maddon says even if Morrow heals, it’s hard to say how he’d be used.CHECK HIMPhillies third baseman Maikel Franco has returned to Philadelphia to have his sore right wrist examined by a specialist. He didn’t play in the three-game series at Miami this week. Franco is expected to rejoin the team later this week. The Phillies, who have lost four of five while trying to catch Atlanta in the NL East, play this weekend vs. the Mets in New York. A look at what’s happening around the majors today:OPENER FOR THE OPENERThe Brewers will begin their NL Division Series against the Rockies with a bullpen game at Miller Park. Manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday he had not decided on the order of his relievers. The group will almost certainly include All-Star left-hander Josh Hader Kirk Gibson Jersey , though Colorado will have a tough test start to finish — Milwaukee led the majors with a 1.98 bullpen ERA in September.Colorado counters with Antonio Senzatela, a right-hander who is 6-6 with a 4.38 ERA in 23 games, including 13 starts. It will be the postseason debut for the 23-year-old.THE ACE AWAITSThe Braves and Dodgers open their NLDS in Los Angeles, and Atlanta has a chance to jump ahead before facing Clayton Kershaw in Game 2. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts decided to hold back his ace left-hander and will instead start Hyun-Jin Ryu in Game 1. The left-handed Ryu was 7-3 with a 1.97 ERA in 15 starts this season.Mike Foltynewicz is up for the Braves. The hard-throwing right-hander put it all together this season, posting career bests with a 2.85 ERA over 183 innings. Atlanta might be without shortstop Dansby Swanson, who appears a long shot to make the team’s roster after partially tearing a ligament in his left hand last month.RIVALRY RENEWEDThe Yankees are headed up to Fenway Park ahead of their AL Division Series opener against the Red Sox on Friday night. It’s the first time New York and Boston will clash in the postseason since the 2004 AL Championship Series. The Yankees beat the Athletics 7-2 Wednesday night in the AL wild-card game to set up the AL East showdown.Boston manager Alex Cora said Wednesday he was still deciding on his bullpen alignment for the ALDS. He has two spots available to righties Joe Kelly http://www.tigersfanproshop.com/authentic-joe-jimenez-jersey , Heath Hembree, Brandon Workman and lefty Bobby Poyner. Relief was the biggest weakness for the team while it won a franchise-record 108 games. The Red Sox had an AL-worst 4.84 ERA in September.TAKE YOUR PICKRajai Davis has his name cemented in October baseball lore, but it might not be on Cleveland’s playoff roster this year. Indians manager Terry Francona has one spot left on his 25-man roster for the AL Division Series against the Houston Astros and it will go to either Davis or utility infielder Erik Gonzalez.“We’re debating the last spot,” Francona said Wednesday. “We’re going back and forth.”The Indians will open the ALDS in Houston on Friday and Francona must submit his roster to Major League Baseball by 10 a.m. that morning for the best-of-five series.SUSPENDEDAddison Russell’s future with the Cubs is in question after Major League Baseball suspended the Chicago shortstop 40 games for violating the league’s domestic violence policy after a series of allegations made by his ex-wife. Russell’s unpaid suspension includes the 11 regular-season games he missed after being placed on administrative leave Sept. 21.Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said he’s not sure what the odds are of Russell playing another game for the Cubs.“Domestic violence is everyone’s problem,” he said. “Because of that, we all have an obligation to be part of the solution as well. The discipline in a case like this is part of the solution going forward and so we support Major League Baseball’s decision and we think it’s appropriate. But prevention is also a big part of the solution and maybe a more important solution.”PASSING THE BUCKThe Orioles are beginning a search for a new manager and general manager a day after firing Buck Showalter and Dan Duquette. Baltimore staggered through its worst season since the team moved to Baltimore in 1954 Victor Martinez Jersey , losing a franchise-record 115 games. The club wants fresh faces to take over a potentially long rebuilding project. Director of Player Development Brian Graham will handle day-to-day oversight of baseball operations while the Orioles search for Duquette’s successor.