Finding a Path for a Talented but Shaken Franchise

By BY TYLER KEPNER from NYT Sports A cheating scandal and a tainted World Series title had the Houston Astros in disarray. James Click got the franchise right back in the business of trying to win championships.https://nyti.ms/3pv8jYc

‘Let Them Talk’: Astros Spend a Rainy Day Discussing Allegations

By BY JAMES WAGNER from NYT Sports Monday’s game was postponed because of poor weather, but comments by a Chicago reliever had Houston playing defense.https://nyti.ms/3FCUTPm

A Series of Uncomfortable Events

By BY JAMES WAGNER from NYT Sports As M.L.B. rolls out its “enhanced enforcement” of rules on prohibited substances, pitchers have faced T.S.A.-like checks on their way back to the dugout.https://nyti.ms/3jdWget

M.L.B. Commissioner: ‘We’re Moving the Game in the Right Direction’

By BY TYLER KEPNER from NYT Sports Despite a few notable incidents on day two of baseball’s enhanced enforcement for foreign substances, Rob Manfred believes things are going well.https://nyti.ms/3zLp5Vs

Once Again, M.L.B. Faces a Crisis of Its Own Making

By BY TYLER KEPNER from NYT Sports As it did with steroids, baseball spent decades fostering a breeding ground for blatant ball doctoring. A handful of 10-game suspensions can’t change that.https://nyti.ms/3wzV9da

M.L.B. Says It Will Punish Ball Doctoring

By BY DAVID WALDSTEIN from NYT Sports Pitchers found using prohibited foreign substances will be ejected and receive a 10-game suspension in an effort to curb a widespread trend.https://nyti.ms/2Uddoqx

Baseball’s Sticky Situation

By BY DAVID WALDSTEIN from NYT Sports Doctoring baseballs with ultra-tacky substances has pitchers dominating and some questioning the game’s integrity. Can cleaning up the balls liven up the sport?https://nyti.ms/3xdZaDS

Gerrit Cole Stumbles Through Answer About Doctoring Baseballs

By BY TYLER KEPNER from NYT Sports “I don’t know quite how to answer that,” the Yankees pitcher said when asked if he uses Spider Tack to increase his spin rate.https://nyti.ms/3pxwzqq

On the Airwaves, Baffert Rails Against Cheating Allegations

By BY JOE DRAPE from NYT Sports A day after the Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit was revealed to have failed a drug test, the horse’s trainer cited “cancel culture” in his denials.https://nyti.ms/3fbapW3

Trevor Bauer Finds Himself at Center of Ball-Doctoring Inquiry

By BY DAVID WALDSTEIN from NYT Sports Denying a report that suggested otherwise, Bauer, a reigning Cy Young Award winner, says balls were removed from his start for routine inspection.https://nyti.ms/3mGenJN

M.L.B. Will Analyze Spin Rate to Detect Ball Doctoring

By BY BENJAMIN HOFFMAN from NYT Sports In a continuing effort to combat the use of foreign substances to increase ball movement, baseball will incorporate Statcast data.https://nyti.ms/3lQYqjI

Deep Within Relief Bill, Horse Racing Gets New Tools to Clean Up

By BY JOE DRAPE from NYT Sports A provision deep in the coronavirus stimulus package puts the United States Anti-Doping Agency in charge of regulating thoroughbred racing.https://nyti.ms/3812kBj

Virtual Cycling and Real Cheating: Cracking Down on ‘Digital Doping’

By BY NICK BUSCA from NYT Sports A highly anticipated race on Wednesday, sponsored by the Zwift cycling app and the sport’s world governing body, will test new controls on cheating in virtual competitions.https://nyti.ms/3guzVGf

Saying He Was a ‘Scapegoat,’ Jeff Luhnow Sues the Astros

By BY TYLER KEPNER from NYT Sports In a $22 million lawsuit, Houston’s former general manager claims that the actual culprit of the team’s cheating scandal is still employed by the club.https://nyti.ms/3k8NhIo

A Friday Full of M.L.B. News and Mercy

By BY TYLER KEPNER from NYT Sports The era of outrage took a timeout as Steven Cohen took over the Mets, Alex Cora was rehired by the Red Sox and Justin Turner escaped punishment for a controversial on-field celebration.https://nyti.ms/36aLQ7j

After a Suspension, Alex Cora Nears a Return to the Red Sox

By BY JAMES WAGNER from NYT Sports The popular manager led Boston to a World Series title in 2018, but he was suspended as part of the Houston Astros’ cheating scandal.https://nyti.ms/2I67ilz

A.J. Hinch Hired by Tigers After Suspension for Astros Cheating

By BY DAVID WALDSTEIN from NYT Sports Thirty minutes after Hinch’s season-long punishment officially ended on Tuesday, Detroit contacted him. Three days later, he was officially introduced as manager.https://nyti.ms/2JerDpg

A Man, a Megaphone and a Mission to Shame the Astros

By BY JAMES WAGNER from NYT Sports A White Sox fan had a balcony overlooking the stadium where the Astros were playing. He couldn’t pass up the opportunity to shame them for their cheating scandal.https://nyti.ms/3582WCu

The Astros Are Moving On, Even if the Rest of You Aren’t

By BY TYLER KEPNER from NYT Sports A cheating scandal still shadows Houston, but in empty stadiums its players are tuning it out. “The more we win, the closer it brings us together.”https://nyti.ms/2G7fGAQ

Mike Fiers Is Moving On, Just Like He Always Has

By BY JOE DRAPE from NYT Sports Fiers revealed the cheating scheme by the Houston Astros, his former club, but he has fended off attention ever since. “He wants the game to be straightaway,” his father said.https://nyti.ms/2XyQJ6R