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Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras gave a young fan a pleasant surprise on Thursday.Per Madeline Kenney of theChicago Sun-Times http://www.rangersfanproshop.com/authentic-russell-wilson-jersey , Contreras arrived at Franklin Park's Engel School for kids with special needs to hang out with Daniel Rodriguez, who has Down syndrome, and 60 of his classmates.Rodriguez, 11, first met Contreras at Advocate Children鈥檚 Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois, in 2017. He also got to spend time with the Cubs All-Star at spring training in 2017 and last year when Rodriguezreceived a VIP experience at Wrigley Field and was gifted with a signed helmet, batting gloves and jersey. Contreras hit a three-run homer in that game against the Chicago White Sox."From the first moment that he saw him, that they interacted 鈥?they were just communicating in their own little way," Rodiguez's mother Martin Perez Jersey , Nyvia Crespo, told Kenney. "That first impression has lasted him until this day 鈥?Willson just made him feel so much better that day. It's like his medicine."During their time together Thursday, Contreras and Rodriguez played whiffle ball and corn hole. BOSTON (AP) — Thanks to a miscue by Toronto, the Boston Red Sox moved one step closer to clinching the AL East title.J.D. Martinez hit his 41st home run and the Red Sox scored the tiebreaking run on an eighth-inning error, completing a three-game sweep of the Blue Jays with a 4-3 victory Thursday night.After the Blue Jays rallied for two runs to tie it at 3 in the top of the eighth, Xander Bogaerts doubled in the bottom half and stole third. He came home when Toronto second baseman Yangervis Solarte dropped a popup in shallow right field.“That was a huge situation,” Bogaerts said. “I’ve made errors to make us lose, so I definitely know how he feels. But it’s good we’re on the good side.”Rafael Devers also went deep for the major league-leading Red Sox (101-46), who pulled 10½ games ahead of the idle New York Yankees and decreased their magic number to six for securing a third straight division crown.Boston is the only team in the majors that’s already locked up a playoff berth.Brandon Workman (5-0) faced one batter, ending Toronto’s eighth-inning rally with just three pitches Jurickson Profar Jersey , and got the win. Craig Kimbrel earned his 40th save.Danny Barnes (3-3) took the loss for the Blue Jays, who were down 3-1 entering the eighth.“We clawed back into it after the bullpen did a nice job,” manager John Gibbons said.Lourdes Gurriel Jr. homered in the eighth for Toronto and the Blue Jays added another run after Justin Smoak walked with two outs and Kendrys Morales followed with a single. Joe Kelly hit Randal Grichuk with a pitch to load the bases, then plunked Kevin Pillar to force in the tying run.“He knows that tonight wasn’t a great night for him,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said about Kelly.Devers hit a solo homer with two outs in the sixth off Mark Leiter Jr., putting Boston up 3-1.Martinez went deep in the second, tying Oakland’s Khris Davis for the major league lead in homers.Sam Gaviglio pitched 3 1/3 innings for Toronto, allowing two earned runs and six hits.ON THE RUNBogaerts said he wanted to be aggressive after his double in the eighth and he got a great jump as Barnes was pitching to Blake Swihart.“I was just trying to get to third and make things a little bit easier,” Bogaerts said. “Trying to get a guy home from third with one out is better than trying to get a guy in from second.”Bogaerts was halfway down the third-base line and had a clear view as Solarte tried to get under the ball before it bounced off his glove.“You have to make that play. It’s not always easy when the infield is in,” Gibbons said.SOLID STARTBoston starter Eduardo Rodriguez recovered from a rough outing in a 6-3 loss to Houston last Friday http://www.rangersfanproshop.com/authentic-delino-deshields-jersey , when the Astros tagged him for five runs and six hits over 3 1/3 innings.Rodriguez struck out seven in six innings this time, retiring the last nine batters he faced. He struck out two in the sixth before the Red Sox turned it over to their bullpen in the seventh. He allowed one run on five hits and didn’t walk a batter.It was only his third start since coming off an extended stint on the disabled list with a sprained right ankle.Cora said he wasn’t about to push Rodriguez.“It was more about taking care of him,” the manager explained. “I felt that six was good. The way he threw the ball in the sixth inning was good enough for me.”TRAINER’S ROOMRed Sox: 3B Eduardo Nunez left in the fourth with soreness in his right knee after hitting a leadoff double. Nunez, who tripped and stumbled over first base while running out a fielder’s choice in the second, was replaced by Devers.UP NEXTBlue Jays: RHP Marco Estrada (7-11, 5.32 ERA) starts Friday for Toronto in the first of three games at Yankee Stadium.Red Sox: RHP Hector Velazquez (7-2, 3.29) gets the ball when Boston opens a three-game series at home against the New York Mets.

The Chicago White Sox will try to maintain their recent success when they open a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers on Monday afternoon at Guaranteed Rate Field.Chicago (55-82) has endured a difficult season but has played much better in the past few weeks. The White Sox are coming off a dominant 8-0 win over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday and have won seven of 10 Josh Harrison Jersey , 13 of 19 and 18 of 30.“The second half has just been a whole different team,” said Daniel Palka, a rookie outfielder who slugged his 20th home run of the season in the series finale against Boston. “Same guys, things are just clicking more consistently.Article continues below ...“We are good despite what the record is. We are playing our best right now, and it’s showing off with these series records.”Meanwhile, Detroit (55-82) comes to town sliding in the opposite direction. The Tigers have lost seven of their past nine but looked better Sunday with an 11-7 win over the New York Yankees.Nicholas Castellanos shined in the victory by going 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs. He leads the team with 20 homers.Tigers right-hander Michael Fulmer (3-10, 4.71 ERA) will aim for his first victory since June 14 when he takes the mound for his 22nd start. Fulmer is 0-5 with a 5.90 ERA in his past seven starts but is feeling healthy after a stint on the disabled list.“Just glad to be back,” Fulmer recently said to the Detroit Free Press. “Everything felt good (the last outing) — that’s the big thing. Mechanics still need some repetition, but for the most part http://www.piratesfanproshop.com/authentic-gregory-polanco-jersey , everything was a little better than it has been all year.”In seven career starts against the White Sox, Fulmer is 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA. He has walked 12 and fanned 28 in 42 2/3 innings.The White Sox will counter with right-hander Reynaldo Lopez (5-9, 4.51 ERA), who will make his 28th start of the season. The 24-year-old is coming off one of his best performances of the year after limiting the Yankees to one run and five hits in seven innings.Lopez is 1-1 with a 3.58 ERA in six career starts against the Tigers. He has walked 14 and struck out 21 in 37 2/3 innings.White Sox manager Rick Renteria said he was proud of the way his team has played as of late.“I think for all of us, the team, myself, the whole organization, we should feel really good about how they’re going about doing their business,” Renteria said. “I think we’ve talked about hopefully having them settle in and get a feel of who they are and what they’re capable of doing. We’ve played two pretty strong offensive clubs (in New York and Boston).“The pitching http://www.piratesfanproshop.com/authentic-jung-ho-kang-jersey , I still believe that on any given club, the pitching is the key to allowing you to have a chance to win. You get some timely hitting and or catch the ball, which you should, and minimize mistakes, you always give yourself a chance. Right now, our guys are doing a lot of those things.” DETROIT (AP) Miguel Cabrera can now say it with a good deal of certainty: Baseball is harder than it looks on TV.”It’s so easy when you watch the game on TV. It’s so slow,” the Detroit slugger said. ”The game is so simple on TV.”It’s not nearly as simple on the field, of course, and right now all Cabrera can do is watch. The Tigers lost their star first baseman in the middle of June to a ruptured biceps tendon Francisco Cervelli Jersey , and he’s out for the season. Detroit was in a rebuilding mode anyway, but losing one of the team’s top hitters was a significant blow.Cabrera was back at Comerica Park on Monday night to host an event supporting children’s health and youth baseball programs. He seemed to be feeling good, but he has a long way to go before playing again.”Right now it’s a little slow,” Cabrera said. ”Hopefully in a couple weeks I starting do more stuff, to be healthy again.”Cabrera said he goes back and forth between Michigan and Florida, and he thinks he’s making good progress toward being ready for spring training next year. The two-time American League MVP is 35 now, and this was supposed to be a crucial year for the veteran to show if he could still be one of the game’s most feared hitters after a poor showing in 2017.Instead, Cabrera has played only 38 games after never playing fewer than 119 in his previous decade with the Tigers.”Really hard, watch the games on TV. It’s really hard don’t be on the field with my teammates. It doesn’t matter if we win or lose. I want to be part of this process John Jaso Jersey ,” Cabrera said. ”Right now, I’m focused to be back next year and healthy.”Cabrera’s big contract extends through at least 2023, which means Detroit may have a hard time trading him as part of its rebuild. In 2016, he hit .316 with 38 home runs and 108 RBIs – his eighth straight year finishing in the AL’s top seven in batting average.Then last season, he hit .249 with only 16 homers and an unsightly .399 slugging percentage.There were some decent signs early this year. Cabrera hit .299 with a .395 on-base percentage. But he had only three home runs. He was hitting .323 when he went on the disabled list in early May with a hamstring strain . He came back June 1, but his bat was quiet from then until his season-ending injury June 12.Cabrera’s absence has left a big hole in the lineup, and Detroit has backup catcher John Hicks playing first base quite a bit in his place.Only six players have reached both 500 home runs and 3,000 hits, and with 465 homers and 2 http://www.piratesfanproshop.com/authentic-jordy-mercer-jersey ,676 hits, Cabrera still has a good chance to join that group if he can come back and play several more seasons. His pursuit of those milestones is on hold now, though. And Detroit fans can only wonder how effective he’ll be going forward.Cabrera was cheerful Monday night and quick with a laugh, but it’s clear that being out of action is tough for him.”I can’t describe what I’m feeling right now,” Cabrera said. ”I need to stay focused, mentally stay focusing on trying to be back healthy next year.”—

Matt Harvey knew the moment he was traded from the New York Mets to the Cincinnati Reds that he was pitching as much for 2019 as he was for 2018.The right-hander realized that if he didn’t regain in 2018 some of the form he displayed while briefly becoming the Mets’ staff ace three years ago Fernando Valenzuela Jersey , his 2019 season was in doubt following several seasons filled with injuries and subpar performances.Now, four months after that trade, Harvey is erasing with every start many of the doubts about whether he’s still a reliable major league starter. His next start comes Saturday as the Reds and San Diego Padres play the third game of a four-game series matching last-place teams at Great American Ball Park.Article continues below ...Harvey, who’s been reliable and fairly consistent, opposes Padres left-hander Robbie Erlin (3-5), whose 33 career starts are far fewer than Harvey’s 124. Erlin lost his last two decisions, to the Rockies and Dodgers, by giving up eight runs in 10 innings.On Friday, Phillip Ervin went 3-for-3 with a pair of homers, driving in four runs and scoring four and Scott Schebler hit a grand slam as Reds stopped a four-game losing streak and evened the series at a game apiece by winning 12-6.It was a long night for the Padres in a lot of ways — not only did they fall behind 12-4, but they waited out a pregame rain delay of 2 hours, 37 minutes merely to play. But a short night for starting pitcher Brett Kennedy, who gave up only one hit but walked four and allowed four runs in 1 2/3 innings.“It was pretty evident early that his velo (velocity) wasn’t where it had been before,” Padres manager Andy Green said. “His command wasn’t there. It wasn’t like they were close misses, they were fairly significant. From a baseball perspective, we felt it prudent to go to the bullpen as quickly as possible and give ourselves the best chance to win that baseball game.”Now they’ll go against Harvey, who was effectively jettisoned by the Mets after going 0-2 with a 7.00 ERA in eight games, including four starts, but looks to be rejuvenating his career.He’s 6-6 with a 4.43 ERA for the Reds despite pitching in a homer-friendly ballpark for a last-place team. And his 132 2/3 innings are the most he’s pitched in a season since he threw 189 1/3 innings while going 13-8 with a 2.71 ERA for the Mets in 2015.“Obviously http://www.dodgersfanproshop.com/authentic-jackie-robinson-jersey , the way this season started (with the Mets casting him off to the Reds), getting to 130-plus innings … I bet you there’s a lot of people that didn’t think that was possible,” Harvey told reporters following his most recent start Monday in Pittsburgh. “I think there’s still a lot of work to be done for this season — four or five more starts, whatever it is. Just got to go out and try to get better each time.“Kind of flush an interesting (2018) season, and get ready for the offseason.”And for next season, wherever that may be. Harvey turns 30 in March and, as a free agent, he’s not quite sure yet whose uniform he will wear in 2019. The Reds would like it to be theirs, and ownership reportedly is very interested in bringing him back if financial terms can be worked out.But, as he said, there’s still work to be done beginning with Saturday.This will be Harvey’s fourth appearance against the Padres this season but only his second start; he pitched an inning apiece as a reliever in two April games while with the Mets. With the Reds, he took the loss in an 8-2 Padres victory at Petco Park on June 2, yielding six hits and four earned runs in five innings. He’s 3-2 with a 4.00 ERA in eight career games against them.Harvey was coming off three consecutive effective starts — three runs allowed in 18 2/3 innings — before giving up five runs in four innings of what turned out to be a 13-12 Reds loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Aug. 29.He followed that up by giving up three runs and seven hits in six innings Monday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, who began a three-game sweep of the Reds by winning 5-1. Harvey yielded a pair of homers, to Adam Frazier and Gregory Polanco.“It’s about two pitches,” Harvey said. “You throw a bad change-up and he (Frazier) hits it out. You throw a good pitch and it finds a hole, like they did most of the game. Then you throw a fastball right down the middle to a power hitter (Polanco) and you give up two more runs.”Now, for Harvey, it’s about September Kenley Jansen Jersey , for sure, but also all about 2019. A strong start from rookie Walker Buehler would go a long way for the Dodgers as they look to swing the series momentum in front of the home crowd.The 24-year-old has a 1.93 ERA at home this season, and he's stood up well to the pressure of October baseball so far, turning in a solid outing in Game 7 of the NLCS his last time out.David Adler of MLB.comcalled attention to the Red Sox's abilities as a fastball-hitting team, so the key for Buehler could be his ability to locate his curveball.Adler wrote: "One area Boston showed just a sliver of vulnerability is against high-spin curveballs, and Buehler has one. The MLB average curveball spin rate in 2018 was 2,492 rpm. Buehler's averaged2,756 rpm as a starterin the regular season, and it is averaging 2,800 rpm in the playoffs. More spin on a curveball generally means more movement and better outcomes for the pitcher."Buehler threw his curveball 14.1 percent of the time during the regular season, holding opposing hitters to a .179 batting average and a stingy .036 ISO, according to Brooks Baseball.Offensively, keep an eye on Manny Machado, who has enjoyed significant success against Red Sox starter Rick Porcello in his career with a13-for-38line that includes two home runs.Red SoxJ.D. MartinezMaddie Meyer/Getty ImagesFiguring out how to get J.D. Martinez into the lineup with the DH no longer in play will be the biggest pregame decision for Alex Cora.Mike Petriello of MLB.com spelled out his two choices:Start Brock Holt at 2B, Mookie Betts in CF, J.D. Martinez in RF, bench Jackie Bradley and Ian Kinsler.Start Mookie Betts at 2B, Jackie Bradley in CF, J.D. Martinez in RF http://www.dodgersfanproshop.com/authentic-corey-seager-jersey , bench Brock Holt andIan Kinsler.Martinez played left field (32 games) and right field (25 games) sparingly this season, while Betts played six innings at second base and has ample experience from his time in the minors, so option No. 2 is not as far-fetched as it might seem.Martinez is hitting .333/.429/.538 with two home runs and 13 RBI in 11 games this postseason, so there's no way he won't be part of the starting lineup.It's also worthmentioning that the versatile Holt was an excellent5-for-13 with two doubles, one triple and two home runs as a pinch-hitter during the regular season, so he has a chance to be a real weapon off the bench.On the pitching side, manager Alex Cora will need to decide whether to use Nathan Eovaldi in the eighth inning again if the score is close. The standout starter pitched a scoreless eighth in Game 1 and Game 2, and Cora didn't rule out a similar approach in Game 3, despite the fact that Eovaldi is currently in line for the Game 4 start."You never know," Cora told reporters. "Like I've been saying all along, we're all-in every day. If we feel there's a chance to close the door with them, we'll use him. The way it's mapped out, it's Rick in Game 3 and maybe Nate in Game 4. But Nate might come in in the eighth again. If we have a chance to be up 3-0 with him on the mound, and then [Craig Kimbrel], we'll do it. And then we'll figure out Game 4."If Eovaldi does wind up pitching on Friday, that could mean a start for Eduardo Rodriguez.One thing is for sure, there's no shortage of interesting storylines heading into Game 3 of the 2018 World Series.All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference and FanGraphs, unless otherwise noted.

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty ImagesMike Shildt has earned the full-time managerial job for the St. Louis Cardinals Bobby Jenks Jersey , agreeing to a three-year contract Tuesday, the team announced.Derrick Goold and Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatchwere the first to report.The 50-year-old had been serving as the team's interim manager since Mike Matheny was fired in July. Over the next six weeks, Shildt helped transform the Cardinals from a middling squad into a playoff contender.After going 47-46 under Matheny, St. Louis entered Tuesday with a 26-12 record under the new leadership. The team currently holds the first wild-card spot in the National League and is only 4.5 games behind the Chicago Cubs for first place in the Central division.While the organization had apparently been planning to conduct a search for a new manager in the offseason http://www.whitesoxfanproshop.com/authentic-michael-jordan-jersey , per Goold, Shildt was too impressive to ignore.Bob Nightengale of USA Today agreed with the team's strategy:Bob Nightengale BNightengaleMike Shildt certainly deserved to have the interim tag taken off with the job he鈥檚 done with the #STLCardsThis has been Shildt's first opportunity as a major league manager after serving as a bench coach at the start of the season. However, he has plenty of experience as a skipper in the minors coming into this season.According toJared Diamondof theWall Street Journal, he started with the Cardinals organization in 2004 and has "done just about everything...from scouting to player development to coaching." He was the team's Triple-A manager last season.He has turned this experience into a full-time manager job with St. Louis as he tries to bring the club back to prominence for the rest of this season and beyond. The New York Mets announced Wednesday left fielder Yoenis Cespedes will miss the rest of the 2018 MLB season in order to undergo surgery on both heels.Mets assistant general manager John Ricco said the outfielder faces an eight-to-10-month recovery timetable Carlton Fisk Jersey , per Mike Puma of the New York Post. Rizzo also noted the Mets have an insurance policy on Cespedes' contract.This is far from the first setback for the slugger, as he suffered theheel injuryafter missing significant time with a hip problemearlier in the campaign.When healthy, Cespedes is one of the best players in the Mets lineup as a two-time All-Star, Gold Glove winner and Silver Slugger winner. He played just 81 games in 2017 and 38 games in 2018 prior to his heel setback http://www.whitesoxfanproshop.com/authentic-jose-abreu-jersey , but he tallied 35 home runs and 105 RBI in 2015 with the Mets and Detroit Tigers and 31 long balls and 86 RBI in 2016 with New York.Injuries have prevented Cespedes from reaching his full potential on the Mets, and the National League East team has grown accustomed to playing without his power in the lineup.It will need to do so again following this latest setback and will likely turn toward the combination of Michael Conforto, Jose Bautista and Matthew den Dekker in left field for the rest of 2018.Cespedes is going to need a setback-free recovery to be ready for the start of next season.

Cleveland right-hander Carlos Carrasco Babe Ruth Jersey , who is expected to start Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the Houston Astros on Saturday, will start the Indians‘ final game of the regular season Sunday afternoon against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.Carrasco isn’t expected to go more than 70 or 80 pitches, as manager Terry Francona wants to keep the 31-year-old right-hander fresh for his start in Houston.“We need to get Carlos ready,” Francona said.Article continues below ...Trevor Bauer will follow Carrasco to the mound. The Indians have yet to decide whether Bauer will be used as a starter or reliever in the postseason.Carrasco’s last appearance came as a reliever Sept. 25, a 5-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox. Carrasco in that game relieved Bauer in the fifth inning, as the two starters were getting limited work in preparation for the postseason.In that relief stint, Carrasco pitched four scoreless innings on one hit before giving up a walk, three consecutive singles and three runs in the ninth inning. In 4 1/3 innings overall, he allowed three runs and four hits, with eight strikeouts and four walks.“Carlos was very good until the ninth inning http://www.redsoxproshops.com/authentic-david-ortiz-jersey ,” Francona said.Carrasco’s last win came Aug. 28. He is 0-3 with a 3.62 ERA in five appearances (four starts) since.His last start against Kansas City, his only outing against the Royals this year, came in his second start of the season, a 3-2 win on April 6. In that game, Carrasco pitching six innings, allowing two runs and five hits, with four strikeouts and one walk. In 23 career appearances (18 starts) against the Royals, Carrasco is 10-6 with a 3.55 ERA.The Indians go into Sunday’s game with a record of 90-71. It’s the third time in team history that they have had three consecutive seasons with 90 or more wins. The other two times were from 1999-2001, and from 1950-1955.The Indians’ starting lineup Sunday will probably be the one they use in Game 1 of the Division Series against Houston, which will include Jason Kipnis in center field.Kipnis was moved from second base to the outfield after the Indians traded for third baseman Josh Donaldson at the end of August.Donaldson’s arrival pushed Jose Ramirez from third to second base Bobby Doerr Jersey , and Kipnis from second to center field, where he’s played well offensively and defensively. Kipnis is hitting .275 as a center fielder after hitting .228 while at second base.“He looks more comfortable out there in center. He looks pretty good,” Francona said.The Royals (58-103) will conclude the season with left-hander Eric Skoglund on the mound. Skoglund (1-5, 5.40) will make his 13th start of the season. He missed three months with a strained ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow.His last start was an abbreviated one. On Sept. 25, he got no decision in a 4-3 Royals win over the Cincinnati Reds. Skoglund pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings and giving up one hit but left the game after a long rain delay.Skoglund’s only win of the season came April 28. In nine appearances (eight starts) since then, he is 0-3 with a 4.98 ERA.His last start against Cleveland, on Aug. 27, 2017, was ugly. In 1 1/3 innings, he gave up seven runs and seven hits http://www.redsoxproshops.com/authentic-jimmie-foxx-jersey , with one strikeout and two walks.In two career appearances against the Indians, Skoglund is 0-2 with a 29.70 ERA, having given up 11 runs, 11 hits and four walks in 3 1/3 innings. Heading into the final weekend of the 2018 Major League Baseball season, Mookie Betts of the Boston Red Sox and Christian Yelich of the Milwaukee Brewers are favored to win their respective league's MVP award.Per Odds Shark, Yelich is an even-money favorite to capture the National League honor. Betts is a -200(bet $200 to win $100)to take home the AL trophy.OddsShark OddsSharkUpdated odds to win National League MVP (BovadaOfficial):Christian Yelich EVENJavier Baez +135 Nolan Arenado +550Matt Carpenter +700Paul Goldschmidt +850OddsShark OddsSharkUpdated odds to win American League MVP (BovadaOfficial):Mookie Betts -200Mike Trout +300J.D. Martinez +500Jose Ramirez +700Using some traditional stats, Betts' teammate J.D. Martinez would likely be the leading candidate. Martinez's 127 RBI lead MLB and his 42 homers rank second.Advanced metrics, though, point to Betts being the AL's best player in 2018.Craig Edwardsof FanGraphs noted how special the Red Sox right fielder has been this season."What makes this campaign especially historic is that Betts has reached double-digits in WAR (10.1) for the year," Edwards wrote. "Since 1901 Johnny Pesky Jersey , there have only been 50 10-plus WAR seasons. Since 1947, there have only been 23 10-plus WAR seasons. Betts鈥?2018 campaign is just the 12th 10-plus WAR year in the past 50 seasons."Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels is having another outstanding season鈥攈is .462 on-base percentage is 25 points higher than Betts (.437) and his 1.090 OPS leads MLB. The two-time AL MVP could be punished in the voting because his team is currently 78-81 and won't make the playoffs.Yelich has the perfect combination of performance and narrative working in his favor. The 2018 All-Star leads NL position players inFanGraphs WAR(6.9), batting average (.321), slugging percentage (.583), is tied for fourth in RBI (104) and tied for seventh in homers (33).The Brewers clinched their first playoff berth since 2011 with a 2-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday.Javier Baez of the Chicago Cubs is Yelich's closest MVP competition among bettors at +135. He leads the NL with 111 RBI and has played four different positions鈥攆irst base, second base, third base and shortstop鈥攖his season due to injuries.The Cubs currently lead the Brewers by 0.5 games in the NL Central, leaving the possibility that the MVP will be determined by the team that finishes atop the standings after the final day of the season on Sunday.

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone has been suspended for one game and fined an undisclosed amount after he made contact with home-plate umpire Nic Lentz while arguing balls and strikes during Friday's 7-5 victory over the Detroit Tigers Kole Calhoun Jersey , according to MLB.com.Bench coach Josh Bard is expected to serve as acting manager for Sunday's series finale against Detroit, per Jack Curry of YES Network.With his team trailing 3-0 and being no-hit by Tigers right-hander Jordan Zimmermann into the fifth inning of Friday night's contest, Boone had had enough of Lentz's strike zone. While Lentz warned Boone not to argue balls and strikes, the skipper emerged from the New York dugout, getting tossed in the process, and gave the umpire an earful. In doing so, though, the irate manager bumped his hat into the umpire's head.An infielder throughout his playing career, the 45-year-old Boone went on to do his best catcher impression to show Lentz what should be called a strike and what should be a ball.Bill Kostroun/Associated PressAfterward, Boone explained his ejection:"I hadn't stretched yet, so I wanted to make sure I was good and loose," Boone said, viaESPN'sColey Harvey. "I guess, [it was about] giving my kids something to make fun of me about."That outburst seemed to give the team some life. The Yankees would go on to take the lead in the next inning with four runs in the bottom of the sixth. They outscored the Tigers 7-2 over the final four frames following Boone's ejection.New York players let it be known after the game that they appreciated their manager sticking up for them."It was great Garrett Richards Jersey ," Yankees pitcher Luis Severino said, via Harvey. "That's how a manager has to act in that situation."Severino wasn't the only one to show his support for Boone, though."He protected all the guys, for sure," New York rookie Gleyber Torres, who was at the plate at the time of the ejection, said, via Harvey. "He's the manager. He does a good job, and we're proud for that. After that, we started [to get] a little more excited and we tried to win."Boone will be eligible to return to the dugout when the Yankees face the Oakland Athletics on Monday afternoon. WASHINGTON (AP) — With a bottle of bubbly at his feet and a baseball with the inscription “300 Ks” in a case in his locker, Max Scherzer allowed himself a moment to consider what he’d just accomplished.“It was something I dreamed of, reaching this mark,” Scherzer said, “because I know how hard it is to consistently go out there and strike guys out.”Scherzer became the 17th pitcher since 1900 to strike out 300 batters in a season Andrew Heaney Jersey , reaching that milestone by fanning 10 in seven innings Tuesday night during the Washington Nationals‘ otherwise meaningless 9-4 victory over the Miami Marlins.“A big number,” Nationals catcher Matt Wieters said, “when you’re talking about strikeouts.”Scherzer (18-7) lowered his ERA to 2.53 by allowing one run in seven innings as he bids for a third consecutive NL Cy Young Award; he also won the 2013 honor in the AL for Detroit. He threw 70 of his 100 pitches for strikes, gave up five hits and didn’t walk a batter.The righty reached 300 by getting Austin Dean to whiff on an 85-mph slider at the end of a 10-pitch at-bat for the second out of the seventh. Scherzer pumped his fist while much of the announced crowd of 26,483 — including his wife, Erica May-Scherzer — joined players in the home dugout and home bullpen by saluting the ace with a standing ovation.“I definitely wanted to do it here at home,” said the 34-year-old Scherzer, who is currently slated to make one more start, in Sunday’s season finale at Colorado. “The fans — unbelievable support.”They would chant, “Let’s go, Max!” They would rise and cheer when he had two strikes on a hitter. They would emit a collective “Awwwwwww” when a pitch near the plate was ruled a ball — or even when a pitch resulted in any sort of out that wouldn’t add to his strikeout total.Sweating profusely on a muggy, 78-degree evening, Scherzer had all of his repertoire working, from the 97-mph fastballs he threw past Lewis Brinson for strikeouts in the fourth and seventh innings Huston Street Jersey , to the 84-mph changeup that JT Riddle missed for a K leading off the game.As is Scherzer’s wont, he stalked around the grass after strikeouts.Asked whether he considered pulling his famously intense pitcher before No. 300, Nationals manager Dave Martinez laughed.“I value my life,” Martinez joked. “He was going to get 10 today, somehow.”Scherzer now has 10 strikeouts or more in a majors-high 18 of his 33 starts in 2018, and 82 such games for his career.He got Dean by throwing fastball after fastball with a full count, then getting him to chase a slider.“That’s probably where you can see Max has become a more complete pitcher than he was earlier in his career,” Wieters said, “where he was able to go with the slider and execute it and realize that with where that fastball was starting, (Dean is) going to be way out in front of it.”Dean’s take?“He’s the best pitcher in baseball,” the Marlins rookie said.The case certainly can be made. This is, after all, a guy with two no-hitters and a 20-strikeout game on his resume, along with the Cy Youngs.Scherzer entered Tuesday ranked No. 1 in the NL in eight significant statistical categories http://www.angelsfanproshop.com/authentic-rod-carew-jersey , including strikeouts, strikeouts-to-walks ratio (5.69), opponents’ batting average (.188) and innings pitched (213 2/3). He was also tied for No. 1 in two others: wins and quality starts (27).The expectation is that Scherzer and New York Mets starter Jacob deGrom are the main Cy Young contenders in the NL. DeGrom is 9-9 with a 1.77 ERA and single-season records of 23 consecutive quality starts and 28 starts in a row allowing three or fewer earned runs.“There’s more to pitching than just striking guys out,” Scherzer said, “but also, it is a big reason why you can have success.”RENDON AND HARPERNationals 3B Anthony Rendon hit a three-run shot in the first inning off Jeff Brigham (0-4), increasing his season totals to 24 homers and 90 RBIs and extending his streak of reaching base to 33 straight games. Rendon added an RBI double in the seventh, when Washington batted around and tacked on six runs. … Bryce Harper scored twice to surpass 100 runs for the season; he already had a career-best 100 RBIs and more than 100 walks. Harper can become a free agent in the offseason, so Wednesday’s series finale could be the 2015 NL MVP’s last home game at Nationals Park.UP NEXTThe Nationals will give 26-year-old RHP Kyle McGowin his first start in the majors Wednesday. Miami will start LHP Wei-Yin Chen (6-11, 4.66 ERA).

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty ImagesVideo has emerged of the 2014 brawl outside of an Illinois strip club involving St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez and then-Miami Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna.The video http://www.pantherscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-christian-mccaffrey-jersey , which was taken by a cab driver and published Friday by theSt. Louis Post Dispatch's Christine Byers, allegedly shows Martinez "rushing toward a crowd of about a dozen people gathered near a barbecue stand and appearing to throw at least one punch before bouncers push him back."Byers added that Ozuna allegedly canbe seen punchingAndrew D'Angelo鈥攚ho filed civil suits against Ozuna and Martinez.(Warning: video contains profanity.)Ozuna, now a member of the Cardinals reportedly reached a settlement with D'Angelo. However, Martinez is still being sued for more than $150,000 to cover "significant medical injuries."Former Cardinals outfielderOscar Taveras, who died in a car crash in the Dominican Republic in 2014, was also with Ozuna and Martinez at the time of the fight.Criminal chargeswere not filed after D'Angelo told police he didn't want to cooperate with the investigation.The civil suit against Martinez will reportedly go to trial in May 2019. Tim Warner/Getty ImagesThe World Series champion Houston Astros will try to continue their recent success at Fenway Park on Saturday http://www.clevelandbrownsteamonline.com/baker-mayfield-jersey , when they visit the Boston Red Sox as small road underdogs at sportsbooks for Game 1 of the American League Championship Series.The Astros have won six of their past nine games against the Red Sox at Fenway, according to the OddsShark MLB Database, and knocked them out of last year's playoffs with a 5-4 victory in Game 4 there. Boston will be out to avenge that defeat. MLB betting line: The Red Sox opened as -110 favorites (wager $110 to win $100); the total is at seven runs, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. Line updates and matchup report.MLB betting pick, via OddsShark computer: 5.5-2.1, Astros.MLB picks on every game.Check out the OddsShark podcast on iTunes or Spotify or at OddsShark.libsyn.com for more odds information, betting picks and a breakdown of this week's top sports betting news.Why the Astros Can Pay on the MLB LinesHouston may be a slight underdog in Game 1 but is favored to win the series as an even better team statistically than last year. The Astros won two more games during the regular season this year than last and four more on the road Authentic Baker Mayfield Jersey , where they led MLB with an outstanding 57-24 mark.In fact, Houston's road record was better than every other team's in baseball at home except that of Boston, which went 57-24 at Fenway. The Astros will send Justin Verlander (16-9, 2.52 ERA) to the mound in the series opener, and he earned three-quarters of his wins away from home in 2018, going 12-2 with a 2.14 ERA.Why the Red Sox Can Pay on the MLB LinesThe Red Sox will count on ace Chris Sale (12-4, 2.11 ERA) to come through for them in this crucial spot Greg Joseph Jersey Elite , and he picked up a victory in Game 1 of the AL Division Series versus the New York Yankees after allowing two runs and five hits in 5.1 innings with two walks and eight strikeouts.Sale let his team down in last year's ALDS matchup and will be out to redeem himself here, and Boston's bats have improved since then, with the two league MVP favorites in Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez. While Betts is expected to win MVP honors, Martinez has been much better in the playoffs with a .357 batting average, one home run and six RBI in the four-game series win over New York. Smart Betting PickMartinez may make the difference for the Red Sox this time around, as he has hit well against most of Houston's pitchers over the course of his career, including Verlander (2-for-3 with two RBI). That said http://www.clevelandbrownsteamonline.com/greg-joseph-jersey , this is a must-win matchup for the Red Sox鈥攁nd especially Sale. If they lose Game 1, they will be big dogs to win the series. That will not happen.MLB Betting TrendsThe total has gone over in five of Houston's past six games when playing Boston.Boston is 4-1 in its past five games.The total has gone over in seven of Boston's past nine games. All MLB odds and betting trends according to Bleacher Report's official odds partner, OddsShark. Check out OddsShark on Twitter and Instagram or head to YouTube for more betting picks and analysis on this week's top games. You can also download the free odds tracker app.

Although Robinson Cano is ready to return from an 80-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs Kolten Wong Jersey , his comeback is doomed to be short-lived. Even if the Seattle Mariners qualify for the postseason, Cano will be ineligible to participate.Meanwhile, in Houston, Roberto Osuna is fresh off a 75-game banfor violating Major League Baseball'sdomestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy. And he's ready, willing and permitted to help the Astros win a second straight World Series championship.Something seems wrong, no?If the question is how much cynicism MLB is willing to tolerate, there is.For their part, Cano and the Mariners would undoubtedly love to be together if the team does indeed make its first postseason since 2001. He betrayed everyone's trust when he got popped for using a banned masking agent,but he's still a $240 million megastar who had been going strong (see his .825 OPS) even at the age of 35.However, this isn't about what's best for Cano and the Mariners.Mark Cunningham/Getty ImagesAlong with harsher regular-season penalties, postseasonbans became an official part of MLB's and the MLB Players Association's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program in 2014. That promised an additional blow to violators' wallets. It would also bar them from redemption on baseball's biggest stage."Our hope here is that the adjustments that we鈥檝e made do inevitably get [the number of violators] to zero," said MLBPA chief Tony Clark, per the Associated Press (via theNew York Times). He added: "I am hopeful that players make the right decisions that are best for them, for their careers and for the integrity of the game."Clark may be getting his wish.Per Baseball-Almanac.com, there were 21 PED suspensions in 2012 and 2013 alone. There have been only 22 since 2014. Not surprisingly, none of the players involved was traded to a contender later in a given season.Which brings us back to Osuna and a cringe-worthy situation that might be avoided in the future.Since the details of his case are being kept under wraps, only so much is known about how, exactly, the former Toronto Blue Jays right-hander has found himself in hot water. But there is a clear timeline:May 8:Osuna isarrested and charged with assault of a female victimMay 17: According toVjosa Isai and Wendy Gillisof theToronto Star,Osuna is ordered to stay away from a specific Toronto building, not communicate with his alleged victim and not consume alcohol or possess weaponsJune 18:Osuna's attorney, Domenic Basile, confirms to Betsy Powell of Star that the charge revolves around an "alleged domestic abuse" for which Osunawill plead not guiltyJune 22:MLB concludes its investigation, and Commissioner Rob Manfred hands Osuna the third-longest suspension under its domestic violence policy Trevor Rosenthal Jersey , which went into effect August 2015July 30:Following supposed "unprecedented" due diligence, the Astrosacquire Osuna from the Blue JaysAugust 6:Osuna returns to the moundWhile Osuna's suspension is over, his criminal case is not.According to Matt Young of theHouston Chronicle, the All-Star closer has a court date in Toronto on Sept. 5. Basile plans to seek a postponement and a "peace bond," which would result in the charges being dropped in exchange for Osuna's promise that he will stay on good behavior.If that doesn't pan out, things will proceed and possibly result in Osuna being convicted and/orbarred entry from the United States.In the meantime, the Astros have a public relations nightmare on their hands.There's no taking issue with the actual content of the trade. Houston only sent three spare assets (right-handers Ken Giles, David Paulino and Hector Perez) to Toronto in exchange for Osuna, who's still only 23 and under team control through 2020.Still, general manager Jeff Luhnow sought to get out ahead of the inevitable backlash. Thus came astatement that expressed confidence that "Osuna is remorseful" and that he'll "fully comply with our zero tolerance policy related to abuse of any kind."Luhnow's bit on "zero tolerance" was rightfully panned as being blatantly disingenuous, however. The bit about Osuna being remorsefulearned a pointed clarification from Basile. Via ESPN's Buster Olney:Buster Olney Buster_ESPNRoberto Osunas lawyer speaking about the word quot;remorsefulquot; that was used by the Astros in reference to their new reliever: quot;My client is not remorseful of being guilty of any criminal activity,quot; Basile said Wednesday. quot;Hes obviously remorseful of the circumstances.quot;Luhnow may have been hoping that his team and its fans would graciously accept Osuna, but there's been some hesitance for both. Ace pitcher Justin Verlander referred to the trade as a "tough situation." When one female fan expressed her frustration on social media, the reaction was swift and severe."Astros fans have always stuck together," the fan told Jenny Dial Creech of the Houston Chronicle. "It was crazy to see how this trade tore them apart a little. Everyone took a side."But then, it's doubtful that Luhnow and the rest of Houston's decision-makers ever thought everything would be hunky-dory after they went ahead with the trade. Or even cared, for that matter.They're poker-faced pragmatists whose chief concern is winning another World Series.Since there's no guarantee that Osuna's legal situation will keep him on the field beyond 2018, that was almost certainly the Astros' primary motivation in trading for himnow rather than waiting until after he had cleared his suspension and/or his name. If it ends with Osuna getting the last out in the World Series, they're not going to be quick to regret it.This isn't the first situation of its kind that MLB has encountered in the years since it implemented its domestic policy. That distinction belongs to Aroldis Chapman, who still bears a scarlet letter after his girlfriend told police he choked her during an argument inOctober 2015.But even with him, there's no comparison to Osuna.Elsa/Getty ImagesChapman hadn't been charged when the New Yankees first acquiredhim from the Cincinnati Reds in December 2015, and he ultimately never was. And while the Chicago Cubs eventually traded for him in July and he helped them win their first World Series in 108 years, that was after the flame-throwing lefty had already served a30-game suspension.Granted, Major League Baseball may never be able to implement a perfect domestic violence policy鈥擣anGraphs' Sheryl Ring wrote an excellent rundown of the complications on that front. But for the sake of its reputation with the legions of baseball fans withactualzero tolerance policies for such matters, theunparalleled cynical nature of the Osuna trade should have the league scrambling to try to do better.Given the latest circumstances http://www.stlouiscardinalsteamshop.com/authentic-jedd-gyorko-jersey , the most apparent way to do that is by copying the postseason ban portion of the Joint Drug Agreement and pasting it onto the domestic violence policy. If it must only come in tandem with a specific regular-season suspension threshold鈥攕ay, 50 games鈥攖hen so be it.If nothing else, it would add another layer of deterrence for players. It could also help prevent trades like one that sent Osuna to Houston, in which the acquiring team elevates baseball matters above basic human decency.Understand, this isn't about drawing a moral equivalence between the transgressions of Cano and Osuna.Assuming hisexcuseof trying to treat a medical condition is as bunk as it sounds, Cano was only trying to improve his ability to entertain. He just didn't do so in a way that MLB has deemed appropriate.Relative to that, an alleged act of violence against another human being is more severe.Ultimately, this is about what MLB must do to be both a lucrative institution and one that its fans can be proud of. To this end, more compassion and a little consistency would be a good start. PHOENIX — After signing Zack Greinke in late 2015, the Arizona Diamondbacks made a trade designed to turn them into an instant contender. It did not work as intended, but Atlanta is not complaining. The Braves acquired Ender Inciarte and Dansby Swanson, adding them to a group of veterans and up-and-coming young players who helped make the Braves relevant again.Article continues below ...After finishing a combined 71 games below .500 in the previous three seasons, the Braves have a 3 1/2-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East entering the final game of a four-game series on Sunday in Arizona.Inciarte and Swanson — the principles sent from Arizona to Atlanta for right-hander Shelby Miller in a deal that was widely panned at the time — have helped. Inciarte leads the Braves and is fifth in the NL with 25 stolen bases. Swanson has 55 RBIs for a team that is second in the NL in runs.Miller has missed most of the last two seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery.Swanson threw out the potential tying run at the plate in the Braves’ 5-4, 10-inning victory on Saturday. “Everybody knows the last couple of years have not been the best around here, but to be in this situation now is great,” first baseman Freddie Freeman said. “I’ve been through it all, so this is great when you start winning again. It is kind of like when I just got called up. We were winning all the time. We have the right group of people in this clubhouse to hopefully carry us into the postseason.”Another former Diamondbacks prospect, right-hander Touki Toussaint (1-1), is scheduled to make his third career start Sunday opposite Arizona left-hander Robbie Ray (5-2) as the teams shoot for a series split.Toussaint, like Swanson a Diamondbacks first-round draft pick, was traded to Atlanta in mid-2015 along with veteran right-hander Bronson Arroyo and his $9.5 million contract when management ordered a payroll cut.“It feels great to be a part of this,” Enciarte said. “The goal is to play meaningful games in September. You see new guys, but you see everybody developing quick. It wasn’t bad years at all.“I know the Diamondbacks are in a great position. We are in a good position, too. Both teams are winning, and I know we are happy with what we have. We don’t look back on what happened because we believe everything happens for a reason. We’re here where we want to be Carlos Martinez Jersey , and we want to be a part of this for a long time.”The Diamondbacks begin a seven-game road trip with the opener of a four-game series in Colorado on Monday, part of a schedule that could include a major league-record 17 straight games against division leaders. They play Colorado twice, Houston and the Chicago Cubs in the next two weeks.“September baseball, when you are in a pennant race is pressure enough,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said.“So I don’t want any situation to override how they perform. How do I do that? Different ways with different guys. Distract them. Make them smile. Make them laugh. Make them remember how good they are and how fun the game is when you are doing your job.”Atlanta has seven games remaining against Philadelphia and three against St. Louis.Ray, who has a 4.25 ERA in 19 starts, gets the start after his most effective outing of the season, a 6-0 victory in which he struck out 10 and gave up two singles in 6 1/3 scoreless innings.“My last two starts are about as mechanically sound as I’ve felt all year,” Ray said. “It’s a combination of my direction to the plate and my tempo. Just getting the ball back, getting back on the mound and going. I think that’s the biggest thing, not too much time between pitches.” Ray, who missed two months because of an oblique injury, is 2-0 with a 1.02 ERA in his last three starts. He had a good feel for his curveball in the victory over the Padres.“I think I have thrown it more often lately because it is a pitch I feel I can also land (in the strike zone) but also bounce,” Ray said.Ray has lost both of his career starts against Atlanta with a 4.82 ERA.Toussaint beat Miami in his first major league start on Aug. 13 and lost his most recent, an 8-2 defeat to Boston last Sunday in which gave up three runs and struck out six in 4 2/3 innings. He threw four scoreless innings before the Red Sox knocked him out in the fifth.“I haven’t liked him, I’ve loved him,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said.“He’s very impressive young man. Very impressive player. Carries himself very well. Love his assortment. His arsenal is very good. He’s a very athletic kid. He’s handled himself tremendous in the two starts he’s hard here.” Toussaint was 9-6 in 24 minor league starts this season, going 5-0 with a 1.43 ERA in eight starts with Triple-A Gwinnett.He has not appeared fazed by being thrust into a pennant race.“He faced the best team in baseball the other day and did a really good job,” Snitker said. “The maturity, the game awareness, how he’s handled himself. The whole thing has been very impressive.”

Although Robinson Cano is ready to return from an 80-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs Kolten Wong Jersey , his comeback is doomed to be short-lived. Even if the Seattle Mariners qualify for the postseason, Cano will be ineligible to participate.Meanwhile, in Houston, Roberto Osuna is fresh off a 75-game banfor violating Major League Baseball'sdomestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy. And he's ready, willing and permitted to help the Astros win a second straight World Series championship.Something seems wrong, no?If the question is how much cynicism MLB is willing to tolerate, there is.For their part, Cano and the Mariners would undoubtedly love to be together if the team does indeed make its first postseason since 2001. He betrayed everyone's trust when he got popped for using a banned masking agent,but he's still a $240 million megastar who had been going strong (see his .825 OPS) even at the age of 35.However, this isn't about what's best for Cano and the Mariners.Mark Cunningham/Getty ImagesAlong with harsher regular-season penalties, postseasonbans became an official part of MLB's and the MLB Players Association's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program in 2014. That promised an additional blow to violators' wallets. It would also bar them from redemption on baseball's biggest stage."Our hope here is that the adjustments that we鈥檝e made do inevitably get [the number of violators] to zero," said MLBPA chief Tony Clark, per the Associated Press (via theNew York Times). He added: "I am hopeful that players make the right decisions that are best for them, for their careers and for the integrity of the game."Clark may be getting his wish.Per Baseball-Almanac.com, there were 21 PED suspensions in 2012 and 2013 alone. There have been only 22 since 2014. Not surprisingly, none of the players involved was traded to a contender later in a given season.Which brings us back to Osuna and a cringe-worthy situation that might be avoided in the future.Since the details of his case are being kept under wraps, only so much is known about how, exactly, the former Toronto Blue Jays right-hander has found himself in hot water. But there is a clear timeline:May 8:Osuna isarrested and charged with assault of a female victimMay 17: According toVjosa Isai and Wendy Gillisof theToronto Star,Osuna is ordered to stay away from a specific Toronto building, not communicate with his alleged victim and not consume alcohol or possess weaponsJune 18:Osuna's attorney, Domenic Basile, confirms to Betsy Powell of Star that the charge revolves around an "alleged domestic abuse" for which Osunawill plead not guiltyJune 22:MLB concludes its investigation, and Commissioner Rob Manfred hands Osuna the third-longest suspension under its domestic violence policy Trevor Rosenthal Jersey , which went into effect August 2015July 30:Following supposed "unprecedented" due diligence, the Astrosacquire Osuna from the Blue JaysAugust 6:Osuna returns to the moundWhile Osuna's suspension is over, his criminal case is not.According to Matt Young of theHouston Chronicle, the All-Star closer has a court date in Toronto on Sept. 5. Basile plans to seek a postponement and a "peace bond," which would result in the charges being dropped in exchange for Osuna's promise that he will stay on good behavior.If that doesn't pan out, things will proceed and possibly result in Osuna being convicted and/orbarred entry from the United States.In the meantime, the Astros have a public relations nightmare on their hands.There's no taking issue with the actual content of the trade. Houston only sent three spare assets (right-handers Ken Giles, David Paulino and Hector Perez) to Toronto in exchange for Osuna, who's still only 23 and under team control through 2020.Still, general manager Jeff Luhnow sought to get out ahead of the inevitable backlash. Thus came astatement that expressed confidence that "Osuna is remorseful" and that he'll "fully comply with our zero tolerance policy related to abuse of any kind."Luhnow's bit on "zero tolerance" was rightfully panned as being blatantly disingenuous, however. The bit about Osuna being remorsefulearned a pointed clarification from Basile. Via ESPN's Buster Olney:Buster Olney Buster_ESPNRoberto Osunas lawyer speaking about the word quot;remorsefulquot; that was used by the Astros in reference to their new reliever: quot;My client is not remorseful of being guilty of any criminal activity,quot; Basile said Wednesday. quot;Hes obviously remorseful of the circumstances.quot;Luhnow may have been hoping that his team and its fans would graciously accept Osuna, but there's been some hesitance for both. Ace pitcher Justin Verlander referred to the trade as a "tough situation." When one female fan expressed her frustration on social media, the reaction was swift and severe."Astros fans have always stuck together," the fan told Jenny Dial Creech of the Houston Chronicle. "It was crazy to see how this trade tore them apart a little. Everyone took a side."But then, it's doubtful that Luhnow and the rest of Houston's decision-makers ever thought everything would be hunky-dory after they went ahead with the trade. Or even cared, for that matter.They're poker-faced pragmatists whose chief concern is winning another World Series.Since there's no guarantee that Osuna's legal situation will keep him on the field beyond 2018, that was almost certainly the Astros' primary motivation in trading for himnow rather than waiting until after he had cleared his suspension and/or his name. If it ends with Osuna getting the last out in the World Series, they're not going to be quick to regret it.This isn't the first situation of its kind that MLB has encountered in the years since it implemented its domestic policy. That distinction belongs to Aroldis Chapman, who still bears a scarlet letter after his girlfriend told police he choked her during an argument inOctober 2015.But even with him, there's no comparison to Osuna.Elsa/Getty ImagesChapman hadn't been charged when the New Yankees first acquiredhim from the Cincinnati Reds in December 2015, and he ultimately never was. And while the Chicago Cubs eventually traded for him in July and he helped them win their first World Series in 108 years, that was after the flame-throwing lefty had already served a30-game suspension.Granted, Major League Baseball may never be able to implement a perfect domestic violence policy鈥擣anGraphs' Sheryl Ring wrote an excellent rundown of the complications on that front. But for the sake of its reputation with the legions of baseball fans withactualzero tolerance policies for such matters, theunparalleled cynical nature of the Osuna trade should have the league scrambling to try to do better.Given the latest circumstances http://www.stlouiscardinalsteamshop.com/authentic-jedd-gyorko-jersey , the most apparent way to do that is by copying the postseason ban portion of the Joint Drug Agreement and pasting it onto the domestic violence policy. If it must only come in tandem with a specific regular-season suspension threshold鈥攕ay, 50 games鈥攖hen so be it.If nothing else, it would add another layer of deterrence for players. It could also help prevent trades like one that sent Osuna to Houston, in which the acquiring team elevates baseball matters above basic human decency.Understand, this isn't about drawing a moral equivalence between the transgressions of Cano and Osuna.Assuming hisexcuseof trying to treat a medical condition is as bunk as it sounds, Cano was only trying to improve his ability to entertain. He just didn't do so in a way that MLB has deemed appropriate.Relative to that, an alleged act of violence against another human being is more severe.Ultimately, this is about what MLB must do to be both a lucrative institution and one that its fans can be proud of. To this end, more compassion and a little consistency would be a good start. PHOENIX — After signing Zack Greinke in late 2015, the Arizona Diamondbacks made a trade designed to turn them into an instant contender. It did not work as intended, but Atlanta is not complaining. The Braves acquired Ender Inciarte and Dansby Swanson, adding them to a group of veterans and up-and-coming young players who helped make the Braves relevant again.Article continues below ...After finishing a combined 71 games below .500 in the previous three seasons, the Braves have a 3 1/2-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East entering the final game of a four-game series on Sunday in Arizona.Inciarte and Swanson — the principles sent from Arizona to Atlanta for right-hander Shelby Miller in a deal that was widely panned at the time — have helped. Inciarte leads the Braves and is fifth in the NL with 25 stolen bases. Swanson has 55 RBIs for a team that is second in the NL in runs.Miller has missed most of the last two seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery.Swanson threw out the potential tying run at the plate in the Braves’ 5-4, 10-inning victory on Saturday. “Everybody knows the last couple of years have not been the best around here, but to be in this situation now is great,” first baseman Freddie Freeman said. “I’ve been through it all, so this is great when you start winning again. It is kind of like when I just got called up. We were winning all the time. We have the right group of people in this clubhouse to hopefully carry us into the postseason.”Another former Diamondbacks prospect, right-hander Touki Toussaint (1-1), is scheduled to make his third career start Sunday opposite Arizona left-hander Robbie Ray (5-2) as the teams shoot for a series split.Toussaint, like Swanson a Diamondbacks first-round draft pick, was traded to Atlanta in mid-2015 along with veteran right-hander Bronson Arroyo and his $9.5 million contract when management ordered a payroll cut.“It feels great to be a part of this,” Enciarte said. “The goal is to play meaningful games in September. You see new guys, but you see everybody developing quick. It wasn’t bad years at all.“I know the Diamondbacks are in a great position. We are in a good position, too. Both teams are winning, and I know we are happy with what we have. We don’t look back on what happened because we believe everything happens for a reason. We’re here where we want to be Carlos Martinez Jersey , and we want to be a part of this for a long time.”The Diamondbacks begin a seven-game road trip with the opener of a four-game series in Colorado on Monday, part of a schedule that could include a major league-record 17 straight games against division leaders. They play Colorado twice, Houston and the Chicago Cubs in the next two weeks.“September baseball, when you are in a pennant race is pressure enough,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said.“So I don’t want any situation to override how they perform. How do I do that? Different ways with different guys. Distract them. Make them smile. Make them laugh. Make them remember how good they are and how fun the game is when you are doing your job.”Atlanta has seven games remaining against Philadelphia and three against St. Louis.Ray, who has a 4.25 ERA in 19 starts, gets the start after his most effective outing of the season, a 6-0 victory in which he struck out 10 and gave up two singles in 6 1/3 scoreless innings.“My last two starts are about as mechanically sound as I’ve felt all year,” Ray said. “It’s a combination of my direction to the plate and my tempo. Just getting the ball back, getting back on the mound and going. I think that’s the biggest thing, not too much time between pitches.” Ray, who missed two months because of an oblique injury, is 2-0 with a 1.02 ERA in his last three starts. He had a good feel for his curveball in the victory over the Padres.“I think I have thrown it more often lately because it is a pitch I feel I can also land (in the strike zone) but also bounce,” Ray said.Ray has lost both of his career starts against Atlanta with a 4.82 ERA.Toussaint beat Miami in his first major league start on Aug. 13 and lost his most recent, an 8-2 defeat to Boston last Sunday in which gave up three runs and struck out six in 4 2/3 innings. He threw four scoreless innings before the Red Sox knocked him out in the fifth.“I haven’t liked him, I’ve loved him,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said.“He’s very impressive young man. Very impressive player. Carries himself very well. Love his assortment. His arsenal is very good. He’s a very athletic kid. He’s handled himself tremendous in the two starts he’s hard here.” Toussaint was 9-6 in 24 minor league starts this season, going 5-0 with a 1.43 ERA in eight starts with Triple-A Gwinnett.He has not appeared fazed by being thrust into a pennant race.“He faced the best team in baseball the other day and did a really good job,” Snitker said. “The maturity, the game awareness, how he’s handled himself. The whole thing has been very impressive.”

Kevork Djansezian/Getty ImagesThe Los Angeles Dodgers are one win away from the World Series after their 5-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 5.The Brewers tried some trickery at the start of Wednesday's game with starter Wade Miley only facing one batter Aaron Altherr Jersey , but it didn't matter against Clayton Kershaw. The Dodgers starterbounced back from a rough Game 1 outing to allow only one run allowed in seven innings.Yasiel Puig went 2-for-2 off the bench, including a clutch RBI single in the sixth inning, to help Los Angeles build a 3-2 lead in the National League Championship Series.Craig Counsell's Gamble Gave Brewers Best Chance to Win SeriesWade Miley was the listed starter in Wednesday's game and pitched to the first batter, but that was the end of his night. Brewer manager Craig Counsell pulled Miley in place of Brandon Woodruff, who took over and struck out eight batters in 5.1 inningswhile allowing three runs (two earned).AsKen Rosenthalof Fox Sports noted, this switch was the team's plan all along. Miley will instead pitch Game 6.The move was surprising, but there were several good reasons behind it:Ryan Rosenblatt RyanRosenblattDid the Brewers try to bait the the Dodgers into a righty-heavy lineup and Roberts called their bluff?This series is so smart it鈥檚 dumb.Bill Barnwell billbarnwellPut Craig Counsell in the Hall of Fame for rope-a-doping the DodgersMike Petriello mike_petrielloThis might be a good idea and it might not be, but remember, the alternative here was Wade Miley on short rest. You got to screw with the Dodgers by misleading them about who was starting, and you dont actually have to have Wade Miley on short rest. Well, yeah. Why notLos Angeles didn't go as righty-heavy against the left-handed Miley as it did in Game 1, but David Freese was still in the No. 3 spot in the lineup and was pulled after only one at-bat.Perhaps more importantly, the Brewers' rotation was not lined up well going forward. Not only was Miley starting on three days of rest, butJhoulys Chacin also would have had to go on short rest in Game 6.With the team's lack of starting pitching depth http://www.philliesfanproshop.com/authentic-chase-utley-jersey , Game 7 would have been a complete mystery.Suddenly, the Brewers have their top two starters available on full rest in the next two games if needed, both of which will be at home.Meanwhile, this was more than just punting one game to get an advantage in the others. Woodruff had been one of the team's best pitchers down the stretch, and he put forth an excellent performance Wednesday.His 5.1 innings were his longest outing of the season.Though things went south the third time through the order, Woodruff gave the Brewers a chance to win and helped prove Counsell right, despite the loss. Clayton Kershaw Still Has More to Prove Before Changing Playoff NarrativeIt's almost undeniable that Kershaw has been the best pitcher in baseball over the past decade. The problem is his reputation has been held back due to his struggles in the playoffs.He has a career 2.39 ERA in the regular season, but he entered Wednesday with a 4.26 mark in the playoffs. That included a 5.24 ERA in 11 appearances in the NLCS.Kershaw did everything he could to show he was past his struggles Wednesday, going seven innings with only one run allowed on three hits. He also struck out nine batters while walking only two.Andy McCullough McCulloughTimesSeven innings of one-run baseball from Clayton Kershaw. Fresh off the worst postseason start of his career, this is one of his best.He was aggressive with his curveball, which was especially impressive:Bleacher Report MLB BR_MLBThat was nasty, Kershaw 馃敟 AFSdoQBYDYAs we have seen so many times throughout his MLB career, Kershaw was the biggest reason the Dodgers came away with a win.On the other hand, we have also seen him pitch well in the playoffs before Richie Ashburn Jersey , including when he shut down the Atlanta Braves in Game 2 of this year's NLDS. The postseason monkey seemed to be off his back, but then he failed to get past the fourth inning in Game 1 of this series.Last year, he followed up a gem in Game 1 of the World Series with a dud in Game 5.When Kershaw is at his best, there is no one better in the game, but the Dodgers need him to be at least close to his best every time out when the stakes are this high. Failing to get out of the fifth inning won't get it done.As well as he pitched against the Brewers on Wednesday, one game in the NLCS will not define his legacy. If the Dodgers advance to World Series, Kershaw will need to produce more quality starts to change his negative playoff narrative. Brewers Won't Reach World Series Unless Christian Yelich Wakes UpHarry How/Getty ImagesChristian Yelich is the favorite to win MVP of the National League, and he is one of the biggest reasons the Brewers are still alive in the playoffs. However, he hasn't looked like himself so far this series.The outfielder finished 0-for-4 in Game 5 with one strikeout, which is the first time he failed to reach base so far this postseason.Although he had been drawing some walks prior to Wednesday, he is now hitting .150 in five games this series with only three singles.His last extra-base hit came in Game 1 of the NLDS when he hit a home run against the Colorado Rockies. Since then, he is just 3-of-25 at the plate in seven games.No one was hotter than Yelich in the second half of the season, and he was especially dominant in the final week. While the Brewers were closing the regular season with eight straight wins, the outfielder had a .458 batting average and an outrageous 1.857 OPS.It's impossible for someone to stay that hot forever Chuck Klein Jersey , but the Brewers weren't expecting him to go so cold this quickly.While Milwaukee has other quality hitters on the roster, its offense has been nonexistent over the past two games. The Brewers' season may end Friday unless Yelich turns things around in a hurry. What's Next?The series now returns to Milwaukee for Game 6 on Friday. Wade Miley will likely make a real start for the Brewers, while Hyun-Jin Ryu will be available for the Dodgers. ATLANTA — Juan Soto’s season has been historic for a 19-year-old and that would normally make the Washington Nationals outfielder a lock for National League Rookie of the Year.Not in 2018, though, with the way 20-year-old outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. is performing for the Atlanta Braves.The phenoms will be on the field together for the last time this season Sunday as the National League East-leading Braves (83-65) and disappointing defending two-time champion Nationals (75-74) conclude their three-game series.Article continues below ...“You’re seeing two premium young players in baseball right now,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “You’ve got to appreciate the way they play the game. It shows how mature they are at that age.”Acuna was a home run short of the cycle in his first three at-bats against three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer in the series opener Friday night and Soto became the second youngest player to reach 20 homers in the same game.Soto had his homer streak snapped at four games in Saturday’s 7-1 victory by the Nationals but extended his on-base streak to 20 games with a hit and three of Washington’s 14 walks. He also stole three bases.Soto, who has drawn 74 walks in 103 games, is batting .304 with 72 runs scored and 63 RBIs. Acuna, who had his first four-hit game Friday, has a .296 average with 25 homers, 71 runs scored, 55 RBIs and 14 stolen bases in 97 games.Acuna joined the Braves on April 25 and Soto was promoted May 19. The only thing that has stopped either since is Acuna’s monthlong stay on the disabled list because of a knee injury suffered at the end of May.Acuna, who moved into the leadoff spot after the All-Star break, and Soto have regularly put on shows when the Braves and Nationals play.Acuna has batted .424 in 33 at-bats with three home runs http://www.philliesfanproshop.com/authentic-jimmy-foxx-jersey , a triple and three doubles, and six RBIs in seven games against the Nationals.Soto has four homers and nine RBIs in 12 games versus the Braves while batting .289 with 12 walks.They appear to have established a mutual admiration society despite their competition for NL Rookie of the Year.“I’m having fun sharing the field with him,” Acuna said through a translator.“Everything he does is fun,” said Soto, also through a translator. “I keep watching him.”Braves second-year left-hander Sean Newcomb (12-8, 3.82 ERA) will try to break a four-game pratfall at SunTrust Park as he opposes veteran Nationals right-hander Tanner Roark (8-15, 4.37) in the finale of the 1-1 weekend series.Newcomb is 0-3 with 10.70 ERA in his past four home starts, yielding 21 runs and 33 hits in 17 2/3 innings. But he is coming off a strong road outing at San Francisco, tossing six innings of one-run ball and not issuing a walk for the second time in his 47 career starts.Newcomb is 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA in three starts against the Nationals this year.Roark has posted an 8.62 ERA in his past three starts but has had mostly career success against the Braves.Although he’s 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in three games (two starts) this season, Roark is 7-5 with a 3.08 ERA lifetime against Atlanta in 22 games (15 starts).Braves center fielder Ender Inciarte is 12-for-29 with a homer against Roark,and Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon is 4-for-9 with two doubles against Newcomb.