1.   ...the American League series between the Boston Red Sox and World Champion Oakland Athletics.

2.   The play-off series between the two teams begins next week.

3.   An error has been reported in the results of the Western Conference semifinal playoff series between the Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz.

4.   Another series between the teams in mid-October would be big, though.

5.   Astros righthander Chris Holt, who is from Dallas, hopes the possibility of a home-and-home series between the Astros and Rangers becomes a reality.

6.   Atlanta will meet the winner of the division series between the Florida Marlins and San Francisco Giants.

7.   Batting practice was going on before the second game of the series between the Yankees and the Indians.

8.   Before the start of a three-game series between the Indians and Orioles on Monday, former teammates Robbie Alomar and Brady Anderson talked.

9.   Bob Davidson came from Houston, where he was umpiring the series between the Astros and the Mets, presumably his last.

10.   A feeling-out process is not only necessary, it is an indispensable ingredient to any playoff series between two teams with pulses.