Labor Day weekend is going to revolve around the National Pastime, as it always does. It will be that way right through the busiest Monday of the baseball season, featuring 16 games.

With Massachusetts in a state of emergency as a result of Hurricane Earl, Friday's series opener between Red Sox and White Sox at Fenway Park will be played Saturday as part of a doubleheader.

Nyjer Morgan was surprised and upset upon learning that he had been suspended for eight games Friday as a result of his role in a benches-clearing fracas in Miami two nights earlier.

The Rangers made a series of moves on Friday, calling up catcher Taylor Teagarden and left-hander Clay Rapada from Triple-A Oklahoma City, reinstating right-hander Dustin Nippert off the 15-day disabled list and assigning outfielder Brandon Boggs to Triple-A after he cleared waivers.

After beginning the season with an up-and-down showing in 30 relief appearances, then getting sent to the Minors to convert back to the rotation, Jenrry Mejia will finally make his big league debut as a starter Saturday.

The Mets didn't learn much about Johan Santana's immediate status Friday, as he wasn't scheduled for any activity. The team is taking a wait-and-see approach as to whether Santana will take his next turn in the rotation.

With Tom Gorzelanny unavailable, the Cubs have tweaked their rotation and will have Carlos Zambrano (6-6, 4.36 ERA) start Saturday and Ryan Dempster (12-9, 3.71 ERA) on Sunday in the series against the New York Mets. Carlos Silva could return Monday.

Lance Berkman was back in the Yankees' starting lineup on Friday for the first time since coming back from the disabled list.

Alex Rodriguez confirmed on Friday that he has ended his relationship with agent Scott Boras.

Alex Rodriguez took batting and infield practice before Friday's contest against the Blue Jays, and Yankees manager Joe Girardi expects his third baseman to be back in the starting lineup when he's eligible to come off the disabled list on Sunday.

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry, who met this past week with managerial candidate Ryne Sandberg, said there is no front-runner for the Cubs' job and he is still in the early stages of the interview process.

Yunel Escobar and Fred Lewis did not start on Friday against the Yankees, though Escobar appears closer to returning than Lewis.

After missing a week with what he described as a "heavy head" and other head-injury symptoms, Lyle Overbay returned to the Blue Jays' starting lineup on Friday, batting fifth and playing first base against the Yankees.

FOX's "This Week in Baseball," where viewers will be treated to an inside look at the lesser-known jobs in baseball that are crucial to making each game a reality on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET.

Several hard-nosed players who grinded through double-digit seasons of Minor League baseball, endured hundreds of bus trips, and dealt with multiple Spring Training cuts only to get their first real shot this week at the pinnacle of professional baseball.

While there is no such thing as an easy road to the playoffs, it appears likely that some contenders will face more scheduling potholes than others during the next month.

The battle between the White Sox and the first-place Twins is going to come down to pitching, plain and simple. Because on two teams similar statistically (if not stylistically), the playoff race inevitably becomes an arms race in the September stretch run.

It took a 13th-inning solo homer from Gerald Laird and a third inning of relief from Jose Valverde to send the Tigers out of town with a 10-9 victory on Thursday night at Target field.

Though the Major Leagues were operating on a limited slate of six games on Thursday, the action was furious with several playoff races affected.

The Tigers have to hope that their star slugger and American League MVP candidate can return quickly from his bout of biceps tendinitis in his left shoulder.