Lopez to Sit Out Rest of Season

Atlanta catcher Javy Lopez probably will miss the last week of the regular season after spraining his left ankle during Sunday’s loss to the New York Mets.

General Manager John Schuerholz said Lopez’s chances of playing in the postseason--if the Braves advance--depends on how quickly the ankle heals.

Dr. Joe Chandler, the team orthopedist, examined Lopez on Monday. Schuerholz said Lopez’s availability for the rest of the regular season is “extremely unlikely.”

Lopez was hurt when Robin Ventura crashed into him at the plate during the Mets’ 9-6 victory.

Kansas City Royals owner David Glass said that Manager Tony Muser will return despite this season’s 61-95 record, the third-worst in the major leagues.

Glass had appeared to back off his support of Muser two weeks ago, and speculation grew that a change was imminent.

“We all believe Tony should be back,” Glass said. “I never considered that he shouldn’t be back.”

Muser, in his fifth full season, has more than losses than any other manager in Royal history.

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The commissioner’s office hasn’t determined whether the Yankees will need to make up two games called by rain as part of a three-team doubleheader next Monday.

If the Yankees finish with the same number of wins as the Indians, they would clinch home-field advantage in the first round.

If New York is one or two wins behind, it might play makeup games against Boston and Baltimore to see which team opens the playoffs at Seattle and which team opens at home against Oakland.