CLEVELAND (AP) — The Houston Astros may be defending more than their World Series title.The champions are under scrutiny after Cleveland filed a complaint to Major League Baseball about a man associated with Houston attempting to film in the Indians’ dugout during Game 3 of the AL Division Series last week.During the Astros’ series-clinching win on Oct. 8 at Progressive Field in Cleveland [url=http://www.philliesfanproshop.com/authentic-chase-utley-jersey]http://ww... , a man with a cellphone standing by the photographer’s pit was removed “several times” by security personnel, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Tuesday night. The man’s credential was requested by Houston, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.MLB also says it is aware of a report by Metro Boston that a man claiming to be an Astros employee was removed from a credentialed area near the Boston Red Sox dugout during the AL Championship Series opener at Fenway Park. The Red Sox dropped the series opener but have won the past two to take a 2-1 lead.In a statement, MLB said the matter “will be handled internally” and offered no other details.While it’s yet to be proven if the Astros were doing anything illegal, the two incidents have raised further questions about the use of electronic equipment during games and whether Houston has been cheating.According to the Metro report, which cited multiple security sources who were on the scene, a man was removed during the third inning of Game 1 on Saturday night at Fenway Park but allowed to stay in the ballpark after another Astros staffer intervened. The report said the man had a small camera and was texting frequently, but did not have a media credential.Houston manager AJ Hinch and Red Sox manager Alex Cora both said after Boston’s 8-2 win Tuesday night in Houston they had heard about the alleged incident.“I’m aware of something going on, but I haven’t been briefed [url=http://www.philliesfanproshop.com/authentic-richie-ashburn-jersey]Richie Ashburn Jersey[/url] ,” Hinch said. “I’m worried about the game.”Cora said he has been concerned throughout the season about Red Sox signs being stolen.“So I mean we do a good job changing sequences and paying attention to details. And we don’t get caught up on the whole paranoia thing of the signs,” he said. “We try to slow it down. If we feel there’s something going on we switch the signs.”When asked if he felt like anything was going on the first two ALCS games at Fenway Park, Cora responded, “No, I don’t.”This isn’t the first time the Astros have been suspected of cheating.Earlier this season, Indians pitcher Trevor Bauer intimated on Twitter that Houston’s pitchers may have been using banned substances to improve the spin on their pitches. Bauer didn’t provide any specifics but his insinuations triggered a social-media storm, which included responses from several Astros players, including pitchers Lance McCullers Jr. and Collin McHugh.The Indians were swept by the Astros, who after winning twice at home, rolled to an 11-3 win in Game 3. Cleveland was eliminated in the first round for the second year in a row as the AL Central champions batted just .144 as a team and some of the club’s top hitters [url=http://www.philliesfanproshop.com/authentic-chuck-klein-jersey]Chuck Klein Jersey[/url] , including All-Star second baseman Jose Ramirez, had brutal series. Ramirez went hitless in 11 at-bats.Following the game, center fielder Jason Kipnis was critical of his team’s performance and said he felt the Indians were overmatched.“We were just outplayed,” Kipnis said. “I wish it weren’t that simple. It just seems from top to bottom we were out-scouted, out-pitched, out-coached a little bit. They really did just a fantastic job over there of being ready and prepared before the series. I don’t think we were underprepared, they just went out and executed and played the way you need to play to win.” One might think that the St. Louis Cardinals are due for a fall after nine consecutive series wins.Don’t run that theory by first baseman and MVP candidate Matt Carpenter.“I don’t know why it shouldn’t last the rest of the year,” he said Sunday after a 12-3 win at Colorado capped a 5-1 road trip and made them 22-7 since July 27. “I don’t see why it couldn’t.”Article continues below ...Carpenter and St. Louis will get a chance to test that theory Tuesday night when they welcome the Pittsburgh Pirates for the opener of a three-game series in Busch Stadium.The Cardinals (72-58) own the National League’s first wild-card spot and sit four games behind the Chicago Cubs in the National League Central. They also have a home-heavy schedule in the season’s last five weeks, playing 19 of their final 31 games in front of friendly fans. They have just one road trip longer than three games for the year’s remainder.For a team that is 11-4 at home under interim manager Mike Shildt, the chance to spend most of the year’s remainder in familiar surroundings has to be an advantage. Then again [url=http://www.philliesfanproshop.com/authentic-jimmy-foxx-jersey]http://www... , St. Louis fans were last heard turning Coors Field into Busch Stadium West in the last few innings on Sunday, even chanting “MVP” as Carpenter did a postgame interview on FS Midwest.“That was cool to hear the fans, especially as many as we had here today,” Carpenter said. “It was a neat experience.”Watching Jack Flaherty (7-6, 2.97 ERA) pitch has been a neat experience at times. The rookie right-hander, who takes the mound for the series opener, has received the endorsement of none other than Hall of Famer Bob Gibson, who probably likes how Flaherty works inside with purpose.Flaherty had everything going for him in his last start Wednesday night at the Los Angeles Dodgers, although he settled for a no-decision in a 3-1 Cardinals win. Flaherty took a no-hitter into the sixth inning for the third time this year before a Joc Pederson homer knee-capped that bid.In Flaherty’s last four starts, including a 2-1 win on Aug. 5 at Pittsburgh [url=http://www.philliesfanproshop.com/authentic-darren-daulton-jersey]Darren Daulton Jersey[/url] , he was allowed just 10 hits and two runs in 25 innings, walking nine and whiffing 33. He has faced the Pirates four times this year, going 2-1 with a no-decision.Opposing him will be veteran right-hander Ivan Nova (7-8, 4.20), who has pitched well in his last three starts but is just 1-2 despite giving up no more than two runs in each game. Nova permitted only four hits and two runs in six innings Wednesday night against Atlanta at PNC Park but suffered a 6-1 defeat.The former New York Yankees pitcher’s last appearance against St. Louis resulted in an 8-4 loss on Aug. 4, when he gave up eight hits and four runs in four innings, walking three and fanning three.Pittsburgh (64-67) has lost seven of 10 to fall out of contention in the division and wild-card races.