The New York Mets and Kansas City Royals opened the season against each other back in April in a rematch from last years World Series.Its been mostly downhill from there.Beset by injuries and a general sense of malaise, the Royals and Mets would both miss the playoffs if the season ended now. Kansas City (57-60) is 7 + games behind the second wild card in the AL, and the Mets (59-58) are 2 + back in the NL.The last time both pennant winners from the previous season failed to make the playoffs was in 2007, when the Tigers and Cardinals fell short. The last time both finished below .500 was in 1994 (Blue Jays and Phillies) -- and in a non-strike year the last time was 1986 (Royals and Cardinals).While the Royals are facing an uphill climb, the Mets are still in the thick of the race for a wild card, but its been an ugly August for New York, which now trails St. Louis, Miami and Pittsburgh in the postseason race.With Matt Harvey, Yoenis Cespedes, David Wright and Lucas Duda all on the disabled list, New Yorks lineup looks nothing like it did during the run through last years postseason.The Royals can relate, with Mike Moustakas and Wade Davis both currently on the DL. Kansas City also had to deal with earlier injuries to Alex Gordon and Lorenzo Cain.The Mets did get Jose Reyes back from the DL over the weekend, and Cespedes is expected back soon.Were scratching and clawing right now, but we know that theres some reinforcements on the way, second baseman Neil Walker said.Here are a few other developments from around baseball:SECOND WINDThe Chicago Cubs are back on pace for over 100 wins after an 11-game winning streak that lasted until Saturday. The Cubs had a 5-15 stretch shortly before the All-Star break, which took some of the luster off their terrific start -- but after this recent surge, Chicago is 12 games ahead of second-place St. Louis in the NL Central.RUNNING AWAYThe Cleveland Indians have stolen an AL-best 95 bases this season, which is nine more than they had all of last year. The Indians are also stealing at an 81-percent clip. Rajai Davis (31 for 35), Jose Ramirez (18 for 23), Francisco Lindor (15 for 20) and Jason Kipnis (11 for 14) are all threats on the bases.Cleveland tied a team record with eight steals Friday night in a win over the Los Angeles Angels.FANTASY FOCUSAlex Rodriguezs departure from the New York Yankees doesnt change much from a fantasy perspective -- he wasnt playing a lot anyway. But if the youth movement is underway now, it certainly looked promising Saturday, when New Yorks Tyler Austin and Aaron Judge each homered in his first major league at-bat -- in back-to-back plate appearances.Judge is the more highly touted prospect -- he was ranked No. 42 on Baseball Americas midseason list and No. 18 by Baseball Prospectus at the beginning of the season. But its hard to ignore what Austin did at Triple-A this year, hitting .323 with 13 homers in only 57 games.LINE OF THE WEEKBrandon Crawford had seven hits in San Franciscos 14-inning win over Miami on Monday. Crawford became the first major leaguer with seven hits in a game since Pittsburghs Rennie Stennett in 1975. Remarkably, Crawford only scored one run Monday despite all those times on base. The next three hitters in the batting order were a combined 2 for 15, and the pitchers spot was next after them.Honorable mention goes to the three-homer games by Colorados Charlie Blackmon and Bostons Mookie Betts later in the week.---AP Baseball Writer Mike Fitzpatrick contributed to this report. Custom Cincinnati Reds Jerseys .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward Kevin Porter and defenceman Chad Ruhwedel from the minors as part of a five-player roster shuffle made by the NHLs worst team. Scott Feldman Jersey . After Martin Skrtel put the Reds in front from close range at Stamford Bridge after only four minutes, Hazard hit back in the 17th with a superb strike. Etoo gave Jose Mourinhos team a decisive lead from Oscars back pass in the 34th. http://www.redsgearshop.com/Reds-Joey-Votto-Kids-Jersey/ .Y. - Free agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, fresh off winning the World Series with Boston, reached agreement with the rival New York Yankees on a seven-year contract worth about $153 million, a person familiar with the negotiations said Tuesday night. Eugenio Suarez Jersey . Brandon Morrow allowed five runs on six hits over three innings. He struck out two, walked one and hit a batter. Edwin Encarnacion had a two-out, bases loaded two-RBI double in the third inning. Tom Seaver Jersey . Only three players drafted by NHL clubs were included on the Czech selection camp roster on Wednesday. Those players were Dallas Stars 2012 first-rounder Radek Faksa, Winnipeg Jets 2013 fourth-rounder Jan Kostalek and Phoenix Coyotes 2012 seventh-rounder Marek Langhamer. SUN CITY, South Africa -- There was a hole-in-one and an albatross two on a par-5 hole at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa on Friday, while Alex Noren collected five birdies over the back nine holes to take a 2-shot lead at the halfway mark.Noren, the tours form player who is seeking a fourth title since July, shot a 5-under 67 at Sun City to move 8 under overall. As Noren climbed to the top of the leaderboard, Swedish compatriot and European Tour money list leader Henrik Stenson fell off the pace, a blow to his hopes of wrestling the Race to Dubai crown from Rory McIlroy.Stenson was one off the lead after the opening round but found the going tougher Friday with three straight bogeys on the front nine and a double-bogey seven on the back. Seeking the victory that could wrap up the Race to Dubai, Stenson carded a 2-over 74 for 1-under overall and a tie for 17th.The Nedbank Challenge is the penultimate event of the tours season, with just the World Tour Championship in Dubai to come next weekend.Norens back-nine surge, which saw birdies at Nos. 10, 11, 13, 15 and 17 saw him overtake Paraguays Fabrizio Zanotti, who slipped back into a share of second with successivve bogeys on his last two holes.dddddddddddd Four other players, including former British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, were level with Zanotti on 6 under, two behind Noren.Zanotti had earlier recorded the first hole-in-one in the history of the tournament with his 7-iron from the tee on the short fourth hole rolling in. Denmarks Lasse Jensen provided something as spectacular when he holed his second shot from way out on the par-5 No. 14.If Stenson wins in Sun City and Danny Willett, his nearest challenger in the Race to Dubai, fails to finish second on his own, Stenson will take the money list title.Willett was 5-over-par and way down the leaderboard after opening with rounds of 75 and 74 at Sun City. But with Stensons struggles on Friday, the race could well go down to Dubai next weekend when McIlroy may be back in contention. McIlroy, who has won the money list the last two seasons and is third in the current standings, skipped last weekends Turkish Airlines Open and the Nedbank and is due to return to action for the season-closer in Dubai. 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