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NEW YORK (AP) — Manuel Guzman had never seen his son play major league ball in person because he’s never been fan of planes.He might want to rethink it going forward.Ronald Guzman became the first rookie to hit three home runs in a game against the Yankees Keon Broxton Jersey , powering the Texas Rangers past New York 12-7 on Friday night.“In BP I was going at it. I (told him) don’t worry for today, if it’s a pitch over the plate, I am going to try to hammer it,” Guzman said.Eight days after Boston’s Steve Pearce connected three times off the Yankees, the 23-year-old first baseman from the Dominican Republic duplicated the feat.Guzman grounded out his first time up, then hit solo home runs in three straight at-bats. He batted again in the eighth with a chance to tie the big league record for homers in a game — no rookie has ever hit four — but struck out swinging against Chad Green.Guzman had a total of 10 guests in the stands, including his mother, sister, two brothers and his Little League coach.“That might be one of the coolest things ever, for a major league player (to have) his dad see him play for the first time,” Texas manager Jeff Banister said. “A number of people that really had an opportunity to impact his life.”“A night he was able to give back to them, give them some excitement, something they’ll all share together tonight and from now on. It will be one of those nights he will never forget http://www.brewersfanproshop.com/authentic-zach-davies-jersey ,” he said.Guzman’s two homers off Masahiro Tanaka and one off A.J. Cole made him the first Texas player to hit three home runs in a game since teammate Adrian Beltre in 2012. Guzman became the first Rangers rookie to accomplish the feat.For someone who idolized Manny Ramirez and rooted against the Yankees as a kid, it meant a bit more.“I never liked the Yankees growing up. I mean it’s just the fact that every Dominican Yankees fan is so loud that they talk so much,” Guzman said.“Now I know they hate me right now, but I am happy about it,” he said.Guzman is the youngest player to hit three homers in a game in the Bronx since Mickey Mantle, who was a younger 23, did it in 1955 against Detroit.Overall, Guzman has 12 home runs this season, six against the Yankees.Beltre also joined in the fun with his seventh homer of the season, tying recent Hall of Fame inductee Chipper Jones for the 33rd spot on baseball’s all-time list with 469.Mike Minor (9-6) won his third straight start, allowing six hits and four runs in 5 2/3 innings. The lefty had not won three consecutive starts since September 2014 while pitching for the Atlanta Braves. He missed the 2015 and 2016 seasons because of a torn labrum.Tanaka (9-3) had been 7-0 in his previous 14 starts, but again couldn’t figure out the Rangers. He entered the night with having gone 1-2 with a 6.52 ERA in his first five starts against Texas.Tanaka had not been charged with a loss since his second start of the season, April 5 against Baltimore.“I thought about it after I came off the mound and I’m not here to explain everything Brent Suter Jersey ,” he said through a translator. “But I have an idea of what’s wrong so I’ll make an adjustment my next start.”Guzman pulled homers to right field in the fourth, pointing to his family after reaching home plate, and in the sixth that made it 6-1 and chased Tanaka. Guzman went the opposite way for a drive to left in the seventh off Cole.Guzman was the first visiting player with three homers at Yankee Stadium since Lorenzo Cain in 2016 with Kansas City.Austin Romine, who drove in three runs, and Brett Gardner homered for the Yankees. Luke Voit added a two-run single.TRAINER’S ROOMRangers: OF Delino DeShields should return for Sunday’s series finale. DeShields, who banged his head trying to make a catch on July 11 at Boston, was placed last Saturday on the 7-day concussion disabled list after experiencing headaches. “Everything is good. They said it could have been triggered by different things,” he said. “But they don’t think it was related to a concussion.”Yankees: C Gary Sanchez (groin) has been on the disabled list since July 24. “I would say Monday will really ramp up as far as the hitting, start to do catching things,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “And then the normal conditioning as well. But he’s progressing well, feeling good.” … Boone is confident OF Aaron Judge (broken right wrist) can swing a bat next week. He’s been on the disabled list since July 27. “Still just better and better every day. The range of motion is all there, just still barely feeling it and that was even today, barely feeling it at the end range and we just want to get that pain completely out of there Boone Logan Jersey ,” Boone said. “Optimistic that in the next couple of days that potentially could happen and we get a bat in his hand and hopefully it starts to progress really quickly from there.”UP NEXTRangers: RHP Drew Hutchinson (1-2, 6.29 ERA) starts Saturday.Yankees: RHP Lance Lynn (8-8, 4.58) makes his first start in pinstripes at Yankee Stadium. Acquired from the Twins on July 30, Lynn gave up just two hits over 7 1/3 innings in his first start with New York on Monday vs. the White Sox. NEW YORK — Catcher J.T. Realmuto played in his last game of the season Friday. He wasted absolutely no time preparing for his next task: managing the Miami Marlins in the season finale on Sunday.Marlins manager Don Mattingly is handing the reins to Realmuto when Miami closes out 2018 by visiting the New York Mets in a battle of the National League East’s fourth- and fifth-place teams at Citi Field.The Marlins’ Sandy Alcantara (2-2, 4.00 ERA) is scheduled to oppose the Mets’ Noah Syndergaard (12-4, 3.22 ERA) in a matchup of right-handers.Article continues below ...The Mets posted a 1-0, 13-inning victory Saturday night when Austin Jackson’s walk-off RBI double ensured David Wright would exit a winner in his final big-league game. Wright, whose pinch-hitting appearance Friday was his first major league at-bat since May 27, 2016, went 0-for-1 with a walk before leaving to a standing ovation in the top of the fifth inning.Wright, who has undergone neck, back and shoulder surgeries since 2016 and is battling spinal stenosis, said earlier this month that he can no longer physically play baseball. It is believed he and the Mets (76-85) will negotiate a settlement on the remainder of his contract http://www.brewersfanproshop.com/authentic-josh-hader-jersey , which runs through 2020.“I’m at peace with the work and the time and the effort and the dedication that I put into this,” Wright said afterward. “I’m certainly not at peace with the end result, but tonight was special.”The Marlins (63-97) are hoping for a memorable afternoon when Realmuto slides into Mattingly’s spot on the bench. Mattingly tries to let a player manage the season finale when the game has no playoff implications, a tradition he learned while serving as a coach with the New York Yankees under Joe Torre. Infielder Martin Prado was the Marlins’ manager in the season finale last year, which Mattingly said was an eye-opening experience for the player.“Prado’s like ‘I’m never going to question you again,’ there was so much stuff going on in that game he managed,” Mattingly said with a grin Saturday afternoon. “It’s good for them to see the other side a little bit.”Mattingly said Realmuto jumped right into managerial mode after the Marlins’ 8-1 win Friday night.“He told me (Friday) night that we had to talk about who I used out of the bullpen (Saturday), because he wanted to keep certain guys available for (Sunday),” Mattingly said. “He was taking over. He took over as soon as the game’s over (Friday) night.”Alcantara took the loss in his most recent start last Monday, when he gave up six runs in four innings as the Marlins fell to the Washington Nationals 7-3. Syndergaard didn’t factor into the decision Tuesday, when he allowed three hits in six scoreless innings as the Mets lost to the Atlanta Braves 7-3.Alcantara is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in two career starts against the Mets. He beat the Mets on June 29 when he gave up one run in five innings and allowed two runs in seven innings of a no-decision on Sept. 13.Syndergaard is 5-0 with a 1.96 ERA in seven career starts against the Marlins. This season, he’s 2-0 against them and has allowed four earned runs in 13 innings.

NEW YORK (AP) — On his 3 Jason Heyward Jersey ,102nd pitch of a special season, Jacob deGrom was determined to reach one more milestone, rather than letting it linger until next year.So facing his final batter, he reached back and threw a 92 mph slider past Ozzie Albies for his 1,000th career strikeout.Now deGrom will wait a few more weeks to see if his remarkable run will win him the National League’s top pitching prize.DeGrom was dominant in what almost certainly was his last pitch for the Cy Young Award, throwing eight stellar innings and leaving with a major league-best 1.70 ERA as the New York Mets blanked the Atlanta Braves 3-0 on Wednesday.“I’m really excited with how the night went,” deGrom said. “I had the goal to get to that tonight. It was a lot cooler to get my 1,000th strikeout on my last pitch of the year than my first batter next year.”DeGrom (10-9) made his last regular-season start, striking out 10 and allowing just two singles against the NL East champions. He retired the final 20 hitters after allowing a single to Johan Camargo.DeGrom gave up no more than three runs in his last 29 starts to extend his own single-season record. He also matched the overall mark set by Jake Arrieta in 2015-16.“For me it’s just watching a dominant starter and the best pitcher in baseball every five days,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said.The Braves (89-69) had a six-game winning streak snapped. They began the day two games behind the Cubs for the best record in the NL.DeGrom recorded his 11th double-digit strikeout game this season and 32nd of his career. Most of his strikeouts came on sliders in the low-90s mph and his velocity was in the high 90s on his fastball throughout the night.The All-Star ace finished with 24 quality starts, the most in a single season, the Elias Sports Bureau said.DeGrom received numerous ovations from the crowd of 23,205, even when he struck out in the seventh. By the eighth, the crowd was hanging on every pitch and, after he fanned Tyler Flowers for the third time, the fans began “MVP” chants.“He was really good,” Flowers said. “I just want to watch the game on TV later. I know I didn’t get anything to hit. I know that. I think most of the other guys would say the same thing.”As the Mets batted in the eighth http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-john-lackey-jersey , the crowd began chanting “We Want Jake” and booed when Seth Lugo entered. Lugo finished off deGrom’s latest gem by tossing a scoreless ninth for his third save.DeGrom also won for the first time in six starts against Atlanta this year. He allowed four runs in 41 innings against the Braves.“I don’t know that I’ve ever seen him (pitch) bad,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. “That guy’s so good.”Dominic Smith drove in the first run with an RBI single in the sixth off Luke Jackson.Smith’s hit was enough for deGrom, who allowed one or no runs in 18 of 32 starts this year, the most in the National League.“He’s unbelievable,” Smith said.Michael Conforto hit his career-high 28th homer in the eighth with a long drive off Kyle Wright. Two batters later, Smith homered to make it 3-0.Atlanta left-hander Sean Newcomb allowed one hit in five scoreless innings but four walks raised his pitch count.Ronald Acuna Jr. opened the game with a single and stole second, but deGrom retired Ender Inciarte, Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis. Camargo opened the second with a single, but deGrom fanned Flowers and induced a double play by Albies and did not allow a baserunner the rest of the way.HONORARY COACHOzzie Virgil Sr. was an honorary coach and exchanged lineup cards. Virgil, 86, was the first Dominican-born player in the major leagues when he made his debut for the New York Giants in 1956. During an eight-year career with the Giants in New York and San Francisco, Detroit, the Kansas City Athletics, Baltimore and Pittsburgh, Virgil appeared at catcher, third base and outfield. He currently serves as a special catching instructor for New York’s teams in the Dominican Summer League and has spent the last 11 seasons doing so.TRAINER’S ROOMBraves: SS Dansby Swanson has a partially torn ligament in his left hand and it’s unclear if he will be available in the postseason. He flew from New York to Atlanta Wednesday to get his wrist and hand examined by team doctors. He will undergo treatment while missing the rest of the regular season, which ends Sunday. Swanson will be revaluated next week before the best-of-five Division Series begins on Oct. 4.UP NEXTBraves: RHP Julio Teheran (9-8, 4.03 ERA) makes his final regular-season start Thursday. He is 9-6 with a 2.42 ERA in 24 career appearances against the Mets.Mets: LHP Jason Vargas (6-9 Ben Zobrist Jersey , 6.25) concludes a disappointing first season of a two-year deal for New York. NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge got the party started with a two-run homer nine pitches in . By the time Giancarlo Stanton capped the mauling with monstrous drive in his postseason debut , New York Yankees fans already were looking ahead. “We want Boston!” they chanted.Coming up next.“It’s going to be intense,” CC Sabathia predicted after the Yankees pounded the Oakland Athletics 7-2 on Wednesday night to win their second straight AL wild-card game.New York will take a train to Boston for a best-of-five Division Series starting Friday night, a matchup of 100-win heavyweights.“I think they’re ready and relish the opportunity to go up against the game’s best this year,” Yankees rookie manager Aaron Boone said of his players.Boone remains a dirty word among the Fenway Park faithful. His 11th-inning homer in Game 7 of the 2003 AL Championship Series beat the Red Sox. A year later Boston overcame the Yankees and became the first major league team to bounce back from a 3-0 postseason deficit. The Red Sox went on to win their first World Series since 1918, but Boone’s drive off Tim Wakefield has not been forgotten or forgiven.Boston went 10-9 against the Yankees this year and set a club record with 108 wins. New York became the first team since the 2001 A’s to reach triple digits in wins and fail to finish first.“We’ve just got to do our homework and come out swinging,” said Luke Voit, who broke open the game with a two-run triple in a four-run sixth .Luis Severino atoned for last year’s flop in the wild-card game against Minnesota, pitching no-hit shutout ball into the fifth . Dellin Betances entered with two on and got six straight outs as part of a five-hitter, and the Yankees extended their home postseason winning streak to seven. Severino let out a primal scream after escaping a bases-loaded jam in the fourth with a 99.6 fastball — his fastest pitch of the night — to strike out Marcus Semien .Yankees fans fretted about an all-or-nothing knockout match, thinking back to last year when Severino fell behind Minnesota 3-0 just 10 pitches in. New York rallied for an 8-4 win against the Twins, but the memory remained raw.Severino retired his first three batters in order on 10 pitches“I think the first inning was huge for me, after all the stuff that people say on social media, all of that stuff,” he explained.Andrew McCutchen walked leading off the bottom half against reliever-turned starter Liam Hendricks, and Judge hit a drive over the left-field scoreboard, joining Reggie Jackson as the only Yankees with four home runs in their first seven postseason home games.“I was already excited from the national anthem on,” said Judge http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-anthony-rizzo-jersey , who hit his second homer since returning in mid-September after missing seven weeks with a broken right wrist.Short on options, A’s manager Bob Melvin opted for baseball’s latest fad: starting a reliever. Hendriks (the loser) had not allowed a home run since June 24, the night before he was cut from the major league roster.“Got into some bad counts and they made me pay,” Hendriks said.Voit’s two-run triple missed a home run by inches. Stanton added a 443-foot drive off closer Blake Treinen in the eighth that landed in left field’s second deck, completing a power show by the team that set a major league record for most home runs in a season. Stanton’s drive left the bat at 117.4 mph and Judge’s 116.1 mph, the hardest-hit postseason home runs since measuring began in 2015.A sellout crowd enjoyed one of those boisterous Bronx celebrations that used to be an October staple.“Early in the game they’re going to be loud. It’s our job to try to take them out of it,” Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. “This is a tough ballpark to play in.”Oakland has lost eight straight winner-take-all postseason games since beating Willie Mays and the New York Mets in Game 7 of the 1973 World Series, and dropped all four of their postseason matchups against the Yankees.“It’s pretty hard but I’m not disappointed at all,” said big league home run champion Khris Davis, who hit a two-run homer off Zach Britton in the eighth . “I think we showed some people we can do some things and I think next year, we’re a little bit more of a threat.”Severino was 14-2 at the All-Star break this year but slumped badly in the second half, and Boone’s decision to start the 24-year-old right-hander against the A’s instead of J.A. Happ or Masahiro Tanaka was intensely debated — the type of argument Boone used to enjoy as a television analyst who broadcast last year’s wild-card game.Severino made the move look like genius. He threw nine fastballs in the first inning, then switched to more offspeed. He threw 36 fastballs, 37 sliders and 14 changeups in all.“Because they’re patient and they’re dangerous, you’ve got to be able to mix those pitches and you’ve got to be able to throw strikes with all those pitches,” Boone said.He struck out seven his first time through the batting order, but wound up walking four as he pitched carefully. Jonathan Lucroy and Nick Martini singled leading off the fifth, and Boone signaled for Betances to relieve.This time Kosuke Fukudome Jersey , Severino had a no-decision to savor.Betances retired Matt Chapman on a liner to right and Jed Lowrie on a fly to center, then struck out Davis with a slider and gleefully backpedaled off the mound .“I’ve been waiting for this moment a long time. Last year I was a cheerleader,” Betances said, reflecting on his reduced role last October after late-season control problems.New York opened a 6-0 lead in the bottom half. Judge started it with a double — his grounder hit about a foot foul just beyond the batter’s box, then twisted fair down the line . Aaron Hicks followed with another double off Fernando Rodney.After Treinen walked Stanton, and Voit hit an opposite-field drive to right, thinking it was a home run and raising his right arm at the plate. He chugged into third with his first big league triple and let loose with a holler.The burly Voit tumbled across the plate, actually making a nifty slide , to just make it home on Didi Gregorius‘ sacrifice fly.Betances (the winner) pitched a perfect sixth and David Robertson a 1-2-3 seventh. Aroldis Chapman followed Britton and finished with the final two of 13 strikeouts by New York pitchers .Oakland was a little engine that could, coming off three straight last-place finishes and last in opening-day payroll before creeping up to 28th following midseason acquisitions to bolster its injury devastated pitching staff. The A’s managed to win 97 games despite a half-dozen starting pitchers getting hurt.“We feel like with the group that we have here together that we’re going to get better each and every year,” Melvin said.While he spoke, the Yankees were spraying Chandon in a soggy clubhouse filled with the sweet smell of California brut.“This place was crazy tonight,” Stanton said. “Everything I would have expected and more.”

NEW YORK (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton hit the hardest homer ever measured by Major League Baseball’s Statcast system Noah Syndergaard Jersey , Neil Walker hit two more home runs and the New York Yankees beat the Texas Rangers 7-3 on Thursday night.Stanton’s 28th homer was measured at 121.7 mph, the fastest long ball tracked by Statcast since the system was introduced in 2015. Miguel Andujar and Aaron Hicks also went deep, helping the Yankees win their fourth straight since a five-game skid that included a four-game sweep at AL East-leading Boston.J.A. Happ (12-6) pitched six effective innings in his return from hand, foot and mouth disease. Happ was acquired from Toronto last month and has won both his starts with New York. He allowed three runs, four hits, a walk and struck out nine Thursday.Rookie Ariel Jurado (2-2) got Stanton to hit into a double play in the first inning, then intentionally walked Didi Gregorius before Hicks homered to make it 2-0.All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman walked two in the ninth before getting a fielder’s choice from pinch-hitter Isiah Kiner-Falefa and striking out Choo and Odor.BLUE JAYS 8, RED SOX 5TORONTO (AP) — Mookie Betts homered for Boston in the ninth inning to complete his first career cycle, and Toronto held on to beat the Red Sox.Betts is the 21st Red Sox player to hit for the cycle and the first in the major leagues this season. He singled and scored in the first inning, tripled in the second and doubled in the fourth against starter Ryan Borucki (2-2). After walking in the sixth, Betts hit his 27th homer in the ninth off Ken Giles.The AL MVP candidate was 4 for 4 to raise his average to .347 with 59 RBIs and a 1.102 OPS.Boston (81-35) lost for the first time in seven games but still has the best record in baseball.Randal Grichuk hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the fifth inning and Teoscar Hernandez added a solo shot to help Toronto avoid a three-game sweep. Red Sox slugger J.D. Martinez hit his major league-leading 35th home run http://www.metsfanproshop.com/authentic-yoenis-cespedes-jersey , a solo drive in the fifth. Rick Porcello (14-5) was the winner.DODGERS 8, ROCKIES 5DENVER (AP) — Chris Taylor and Brian Dozier homered off closer Wade Davis in the ninth inning and Los Angeles exploited Colorado’s shaky bullpen to beat the Rockies.Taylor lined the first pitch he saw from Davis (1-6) — a knuckle-curve — into the left-center bleachers to make it 6-5. Two batters later, Dozier followed with a two-run shot to cap off another late-inning, flip-flopping game at Coors Field.Caleb Ferguson (3-1) threw 1 2/3 innings for the win, and Scott Alexander got his second save.The Rockies bullpen surrendered five homers and seven runs as the Dodgers pulled into a first-place tie with idle Arizona in the NL West. It was Los Angeles’ sixth straight win at Coors Field.Chris Iannetta gave the Rockies a 5-3 lead with a three-run homer in the seventh. It didn’t last, as Cody Bellinger connected on a two-run shot off reliever Seunghwan Oh to tie it with two outs in the eighth. Rockies eliever Scott Oberg allowed solo homers to pinch-hitters Joc Pederson and Max Muncy in the seventh to give the Dodgers a 3-1 lead.MARINERS 8, ASTROS 6HOUSTON (AP) — Mitch Haniger homered while Seattle jumped on Justin Verlander for six runs in two innings, and the Mariners beat Houston.Haniger, Denard Span and Jean Segura combined for 10 hits and seven RBIs with a homer each off Verlander. Verlander (11-7) was ejected for arguing a balk call after setting a season high for runs allowed and missing a chance for his 200th career victory.James Paxton (10-5) continued his success against the Astros, yielding seven hits and four runs in 5 2/3 innings to improve to 4-0 against them this season. Edwin Diaz allowed a home run to Tyler White with two outs in the ninth before striking out Josh Reddick for his 43rd save.Haniger had a season-high four hits with two RBIs, Span had three RBIs and finished a double shy of the cycle Michael Conforto Jersey , and Segura added three hits and drove in two runs.INDIANS 5, MINNESOTA 4CLEVELAND (AP) — Michael Brantley’s ninth-inning single gave Cleveland its second straight walk-off victory over Minnesota.Brantley grounded a 2-1 pitch off Addison Reed (1-6) past the diving Miguel Sano at first base to score Greg Allen. Francisco Lindor’s three-run homer in the ninth inning Wednesday gave Cleveland a 5-2 victory. Brantley’s hit set off another celebration as he was mobbed by his teammates.Allen started the rally with a single off Reed and stole second with Lindor batting. Lindor’s groundout to first moved Allen to third.Andrew Miller (2-3) struck out a batter in the ninth. The left-hander made his fourth appearance since missing two months because of an inflamed right knee.Minnesota rallied from a 4-0 deficit against reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber. Jake Cave’s fifth-inning sacrifice fly scored a run before Jorge Polanco hit first home run of the season — a three-run shot in the sixth — to tie the game. Polanco missed the first 80 games of the season because of a suspension for violating baseball’s drug program.PADRES 8, BREWERS 4MILWAUKEE (AP) — Hunter Renfroe hit a go-ahead grand slam in the ninth inning, his fourth straight game with a home run, and San Diego rallied to beat Milwaukee.Down 4-2 entering the ninth, San Diego came back against relievers Corey Knebel and Joakim Soria.Knebel (2-3) walked the bases loaded and allowed a run-scoring infield single to Travis Jankowski before Soria entered to try to escape the jam. Soria retired Eric Hosmer before Renfroe hammered a 1-2 pitch deep into the left-field bleachers for his grand slam. Renfroe became the first Padres player to hit home runs and have multiple RBI games in four consecutive games.Franmil Reyes added a solo homer to right off Jacob Barnes to cap the Padres’ six-run rally. Kirby Yates (4-0) pitched a scoreless eighth for the victory and Craig Stammen closed it with a scoreless ninth.NATIONALS 6, BRAVES 3WASHINGTON (AP) — Gio Gonzalez pitched seven strong innings for his first victory since May 28 to help Washington split a four-game series with Atlanta.Gonzalez (7-8) snapped a personal seven-game losing streak and had gone 11 consecutive starts without a victory. He allowed three hits and one walk while striking out three. Nick Markakis’ solo homer to lead off the second was the lone run he allowed.Ronald Acuna Jr. homered for Atlanta. Wes Parsons (0-1) was the loser.Washington outfielder Bryce Harper was scratched from the lineup with right knee soreness. Atlanta reliever Dan Winkler hit Harper just below the right knee in the seventh inning Wednesday night.RAYS 5, ORIOLES 4ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Jake Bauers drove in two of his three runs with a go-ahead two-run single in the seventh inning and Tampa Bay beat Baltimore.Bauers’ decisive hit off Cody Carroll (0-1) came in the Rays’ franchise record-tying sixth consecutive one-run game. Baltimore took a 4-3 lead earlier in the seventh when Renato Nunez hit a solo homer off Yonny Chirinos (1-4). Sergio Romo worked the ninth to get his 14th save.PIRATES 10, GIANTS 5SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — David Freese hit his 100th career home run, Elias Diaz and Josh Bell went deep on consecutive pitches and the Pirates beat the Giants.Ivan Nova (7-6) allowed two runs in six innings to continue a stellar stretch on the road for Pittsburgh’s starters. Adam Frazier added three singles and two RBIs http://www.metsfanproshop.com/authentic-jose-reyes-jersey , his fourth multi-hit game in the last six.The Pirates have won three straight overall and improved to 8-2 in their last 10 at AT&T Park.Joe Panik and Steven Duggar drove in two runs apiece for San Francisco.Diaz and Bell homered off starter Andrew Suarez (4-8) in the second. ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Texas Rangers declined their 2019 options for catcher Robinson Chirinos and three pitchers on Friday, when their longest-tenured player stayed put.While the Rangers had been expected to let pitchers Doug Fister, Matt Moore and Martin Perez become free agents, the decision on Chirinos was a bit of a surprise. Their primary starting catcher had a $4.5 million option for next season with a $100,000 buyout.“We wanted to explore some things in the marketplace. We haven’t necessarily closed the door on Robbie by any stretch,” Daniels said. “It’s just the timing of it. We weren’t ready to commit. We wanted to explore potential alternatives behind the plate.”Shortstop Elvis Andrus, at 30 and already with the team 10 seasons, is halfway through a $120 million, eight-year deal that offered him the opportunity to become a free agent this offseason. He also has that option next year.Andrus, the only player remaining who was part of both of the team’s World Series appearances (2010 and 2011) Jeurys Familia Jersey , had indicated that he was staying, but Friday was the deadline for that decision.Andrus hit .256 this season, when he went on the disabled list for the first time in his career and played only 97 games. He missed two months because of a fractured right elbow after getting hit by a pitch in April.The Rangers last offseason exercised a $6 million club option on Perez before he broke a bone in his right (non-throwing) elbow that required surgery. This time, they chose a $750,000 buyout over a $7.5 million option after he went 2-7 with a 6.22 ERA in 22 games. Daniels said the team could consider bringing him back at a lower price.“He really didn’t bounce back from the injury,” Daniels said. “I think it really affected him and led to some mechanical issues.”Moore ($750,000 buyout) and Fister ($500,000) were acquisitions last offseason. Fister began the season as the team’s No. 2 starter, but went 1-7 with a 4.50 ERA in 12 starts before going on the disabled list in June with a strained right knee that kept him from pitching again. Moore was 3-8 with a 6.79 ERA in 39 games (12 starts, 27 relief appearances).The Rangers did add a potential starter when they acquired lefty Drew Smyly from the Chicago Cubs.That deal, for a player to be named later Mike Piazza Jersey , came after the Cubs exercised the $20 million option on Cole Hamels, the lefty the Rangers traded to Chicago this summer. Texas would have had to make an additional $6 million payment to the Cubs if the pitcher’s option had been declined, triggering a $6 million buyout.Smyly signed a $10 million, two-year contract with Chicago last December that includes a $7 million salary for next year. He was healthy at the end of last season after recovering from Tommy John surgery. Daniels said Smyly had a physical in Texas, and is expected to have a normal offseason before spring training.Fister was one of six right-handers Texas activated from the 60-day disabled list. The others were Clayton Blackburn, Matt Bush, Nick Gardewine and Ronald Herrera.Blackburn, right-hander Austin Bibens-Dirkx, lefty Brandon Mann, catcher Carlos Perez and outfielder Ryan Rua to Triple-A Nashville. All are expected to decline the outright assignment and elect free agency.

Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesThe Chicago Cubs clinched a spot in the 2018 MLB postseason thanks to the Milwaukee Brewers' 2-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday.Chicago Cubs CubsIn. 鉁旓笍 WQy3PbrWDGAt the conclusion of Milwaukee's victory http://www.indiansfanproshop.com/authentic-jim-thome-jersey , Chicago (91-66) was neck-and-neck with the Brewers (92-67) in the race for the National League Central title.It marks the Cubs' fourth consecutive playoff appearance, as they have not missed the postseason since Joe Maddon took over as manager in November 2015. The team has made it to the National League Championship Series in each of the last three seasons and snapped a 108-year championship drought in 2016.Chicago hovered around .500 for the first month in the ultra-competitive NL Central, but the team hit a groove in May and later put itself in prime playoff position with a seven-game winning streak near the end of August.The North Siders have been propelled by MVP candidate Javier Baez, who is hitting .294this season with 34home runs, 38 doubles, ninetriples and an NL-leading 110 RBI. And, of course, he is among the best defenders in baseball.Although the Cubs are once again ready to play for a championship, it hasn't been the easiest of rides.During his second stint on the disabled list, 2016 NL MVP Kris Bryant missed 35 games because of left shoulder inflammation. Prized free-agent signing Yu Darvish (1-3, 4.95 ERA in eight starts) struggled before Chicago lost him for the season on May 20, and he underwentarthroscopic surgery on his right elbow in early September. The club, however, did bolster its roster this summer, adding starting pitcher Cole Hamels, relievers Jesse Chavez and Brandon Kintzler and second baseman Daniel Murphy.With Baez, Bryant, Anthony Rizzo Manny Ramirez Jersey , Jon Lester and Co. having already proved themselves capable of winning a championship, adding new blood to the clubhouse provided a boost for the stretch run.With a playoff spot wrapped up, the Cubs will look to finish the regular season with some momentum as they chase their second World Series title in three years. It took a historic marathon of a National League Wild Card Game, but the Colorado Rockies' dreams of a first World Series title are still alive.Colorado defeated the Chicago Cubs, 2-1, in a 13-inning showdown Tuesday at Wrigley Field. It was the longest win-or-go-home playoff game in MLB history, and it prevented the Cubs from reaching their fourth straight National League Championship Series.Tony Wolters, who did not start the game, delivered the game-winning RBI single in the top of the 13th, and Scott Oberg closed the door on the North Siders in the bottom of the frame. Rockies Bats Must Find Road Magic for World Series RunColorado's offensive struggles on the road were a primary talking point entering the playoffs, for good reason.According toESPN.com,the Rockies led MLB in OPS at home but were an ugly 27thawayfrom Coors Field. Those issues were on full display during Monday's National League West tiebreaker loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers,as they didn't score until the ninth inning, and they looked to rear their ugly head again Tuesday when Nolan Arenado's sacrifice fly in the first inning was their only run until the 13th.However, October often comes down to unexpected heroes, as Colorado can now attest.ESPN espnBIGGEST HIT OF HIS CAREER!Tony Wolters comes up CLUTCH to give the Rockies the lead. Za9rxVoWyTJeff Passan JeffPassanOf course its the Rockies third catcher who gives them the lead. Tony Wolters, two-strike single, Rockies up 2-1.With two outs and nobody on base Danny Salazar Jersey , Trevor Story and Gerardo Parra singled before Wolters drove home the winner. While Story is a notable name, Parra and Wolters were not exactly the expected heroes in a lineup featuring Arenado, Charlie Blackmon, DJ LeMahieu, Carlos Gonzalez and Ian Desmond.The Rockies will need that type of October magic to deliver a championship to Colorado. Otherwise, their pitchers will need to be brilliant, like starter Kyle Freeland was against the Cubs with 6.2 scoreless innings and six strikeouts.The Rockies' road issues aren't going to disappear overnight, but a timely hit in clutch moments can be the difference between an early exit and a deep postseason run.Toothless Cubs Must Find Offensive Answers Next SeasonJon Lester deserved better.The three-time World Series champion entered Tuesday's contest with a 2.55 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 25 playoff appearances, and he threw another masterpiece, allowing one run, four hits and one walk while striking out nine in six brilliant innings. He was the emotional leader for the team, consistently imploring the offense and crowd to deliver.James Neveau JamesNeveauJon Lester is on the Mount Rushmore of Chicago free agent signings and I will hear no protest on the matter.Sahadev Sharma sahadevsharmaWhat a great performance by Lester. Sure, he was a little lucky with some hard contact finding gloves, but man, 9 Ks, just 1 walk and 1 run allowed in six strong. Thats usually enough to win a game. Usually... Happ is going to pinch-hit for him. Impressive performance.It was all for naught, as one of the worst offenses in baseball over the final month put up one measly run.Chicago ranked 24th in OPS in September, perESPN.com http://www.indiansfanproshop.com/authentic-trevor-bauer-jersey , which is a primary reason the Milwaukee Brewers caught them and won the National League Central. There was also a power outage on the North Side, as an offense that was third in the National League in homers in 2017 was a mere 11th this year.Javier Baez鈥攊n a fitting metaphor for a season in which he carried Chicago's offense on his back for extended stretches鈥攄elivered a game-tying double in the eighth, but that was the Cubs' only run.Jason Patt Bulls_JayTheo is probably writing up a $500M contract for Bryce Harper in his suite right now.The offense on display in the most important games of the year will not cut it for a win-now team with a number of core pieces still in place. The Cubs must find offensive answers this offseason, whether it is signing Bryce Harper, changing some of the coaching staff, adding lower-profile but impactful bats or rehabbing Kris Bryant after he dealt with injuries throughout the season.Otherwise, they won't be World Series contenders in 2019.Brewers Bullpen vs. Rockies Starters Will Determine NLDSThe battle within the battle in the Division Series between the Rockies and Brewers will be which team can beat the other's strength.Milwaukee can build an early lead with Christian Yelich, Lorenzo Cain and the rest of the offense and then drastically shorten contests with a dominant bullpen featuring the likes of Josh Hader, Joakim Soria, Corey Knebel and Jeremy Jeffress. All manager Craig Counsell needs is four or five effective innings from the starters, and the bullpen can do the rest.That was the blueprint the Brewers used to beat the Cubs in Monday's divisional tiebreaker game when Jhoulys Chacin allowed one run in 5.2 innings before the bullpen slammed the door.On the other side, Freeland and German Marquez form a daunting one-two punch of starting pitchers who can dictate the series with three starts between them. Freeland's prowess was on full display at Wrigley, while Marquez wasnamedNational League Pitcher of the Month in September with a 2.14 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 33.2 innings.Jeff Passan JeffPassanKyle Freeland is a boss. The pitch after David Dahls egregious not-an-error-but-totally-was-an-error in right field, Freeland induces a double-play groundball from Anthony Rizzo to escape a jam. Hes at just 71 pitches through six shutout innings. Rockies still lead, 1-0.Jerry Crasnick jcrasnickHow impressive is Kyle Freeland? Kid has no pulse.Joel Sherman Joelsherman1Jon Lester was terrific as usual in October. But he is a familiar face. It is good for baseball that the past 2 days those who do not pay deep attention during the season have gotten introduced to Walker Buehler and Kyle Freeland. #Dodgers #Rockies #TheFutureThe Brewers have plenty of potent bats, but Marquez and Freeland are talented enough to take over the short series and send the NL Central champions home quickly.Colorado knows it has to get to Milwaukee's starters early before the bullpen, while the Brewers have to battle the Rockies' one-two punch and force the bullpen to throw plenty of innings.Game on.What's Next?The Rockies turn their attention toward a National League Division Series showdown with the Brewers. The best-of-five series starts Thursday in Milwaukee.

The matchup is set. Thanks to a 5-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers Kendrys Morales Jersey , the Los Angeles Dodgers won the National League pennant and clinched their place in the 2018 World Series against the Boston Red Sox.Boston, which will represent the American League, previously earned its spot after knocking out the defending champion Houston Astros in five games.The World Series will pit a pair of dynamic offenses against two excellent pitching staffs. During the regular season, both squads held top-10 rankings in runs scored and team ERA.No matter the result, this should be a gripping series to watch.How They Got HereBoston Red SoxALDS (best-of-five): Red Sox 3, New York Yankees 1ALCS (best-of-seven): Red Sox 4, Astros 1 Los Angeles DodgersNLDS (best-of-five): Dodgers 3, Atlanta Braves 1NLCS (best-of-seven): Dodgers 4, Brewers 32018 World Series ScheduleBillie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty ImagesGame 1, Oct. 23: Dodgers at Red Sox, 8:09 p.m. ETGame 2, Oct. 24: Dodgers at Red Sox Jesse Barfield Jersey , 8:09 p.m. ETGame 3, Oct. 26: Red Sox at Dodgers, 8:09 p.m. ETGame 4, Oct. 27: Red Sox at Dodgers, 8:09 p.m. ETGame 5, Oct. 28*: Red Sox at Dodgers, 8:15 p.m. ETGame 6, Oct. 30*: Dodgers at Red Sox, 8:09 p.m. ETGame 7, Oct. 31*: Dodgers at Red Sox, 8:09 p.m. ETNote: *if necessary. All matchups will be televised on Fox.Players to WatchMookie Betts, RF Brett Anderson Jersey , Boston Red SoxThe potential American League MVP, Mookie Betts posted a .346 batting average with 84 extra-base hits鈥攊ncluding 32 home runs鈥攁nd 80 RBI during the regular season.Betts' scorching year at the plate hasn't continued in the playoffs. So far, he's mustered only eight hits in 39 total at-bats with three doubles, zero homers and three RBI.However, that doesn't mean he's not making an impact. Even excluding the controversial non-home run from Game 4 of the ALCS, Betts made several outstanding defensive plays. His most notable happened in Game 5, robbing Astros star Alex Bregman of extra bases.Despite only having eight hits and four walks, Betts has scored eight runs this postseason. If his excellence at the plate returns, Betts might add World Series MVP to an expanding trophy case. Clayton Kershaw, SP, Los Angeles DodgersKevork Djansezian/Getty ImagesClayton Kershaw is working toward becoming one of the greatest pitchers in major league history. Anyone who still disagrees, though http://www.bluejaysfanproshop.com/authentic-george-bell-jersey , will quickly point out his minimal postseason success.Since 2013, the southpaw has opened 20 playoff games鈥?1 of which are considered quality starts (six-plus innings, three runs or fewer). Compared to his regular-season dominance, that 55 percent rate is quite disappointing.Put simply, Kershaw's 9-8 overall record and ERA above 4.00 is disappointing.In Game 2 of the NLDS, he dominated the Braves with eight scoreless innings. Milwaukee pounced on Kershaw for five runs (four earned) during Game 2 of the NLCS, but he responded in Game 5 and allowed only one run over seven innings of work.Kershaw will likely start two World Series tilts, potentially being available in relief for Game 6 or 7, if needed. If he can finally thrive on the biggest stage, any doubts about his legacy will be eliminated.Follow Bleacher Report writer David Kenyon on Twitter Kenyon19_BR. With a chance to opt out of his current contract and hit free agency this winter, David Price appears to be in it for the long haul with the Boston Red Sox.The veteran southpaw was recently asked if he plans to test the open market after this season, and he made it clear that he doesn't see a point in doing so."Why would I think about that?" Price said Dave Winfield Jersey , per Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. "... Go to a lesser team. For what?Why would I leave here to go to a team that's not as good as this team? I came here to win. I don't worry about all the other stuff. Just come here to win. We're going to have a really good chance to do that."The 33-year-old still has four years and $127 million remaining on theseven-year, $217 millionmegadealhe signed back in December 2015.Price's time in Boston did not get off to a smooth start. While he went 17-9 in his first season in a Red Sox uniform, his earned run average ballooned to 3.99, the highest since his first full year in the majors. Then, he had a number of clashes with the Boston media, as detailed by Boston.com'sNikDeCosta-Klipa.To make matters worse, the $217 million pitcher has continued to struggle in the postseason. He is just 1-3 in seven playoff appearances with the Red Sox, with the lone victory coming in a relief outing. He is 0-8 with a 5.74 ERA in nine career postseason starts, numbers that have drawn the ire of Boston fans.However, Price is in the midst of the best season of his Red Sox career to date. He is 14-6 with a 3.57 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP while striking out 162 batters in 158.2 innings. Since the All-Star break, he is 4-0 with a 1.78 ERA in eight starts.A hot stretch like that could tempt Price to see if he could cash in even more. But as he noted, he wants to win a World Series.With Price Jack Morris Jersey , Chris Sale,MookieBetts and J.D. Martinez leading the way, Boston (99-46) appears to be the favorite as it continues to run away with the best record in the majors. On Tuesday, the Red Sox became the first team to clinch aplayoffberth.A strong postseason performance that results in a championship could give Price something to think about. Then again, after many of last year's free agents struggled to find contracts, it may be tough for Price鈥攅specially at his age鈥攖o cash in even more regardless of how he pitches the rest of the season.

BOSTON (AP) — The Red Sox hope home-field advantage makes a difference after consecutive Division Series eliminations.Boston began the postseason 0-2 on the road at Cleveland in 2016 and again at Houston last year.By winning a club-record 108 games this season Steve Pearce Jersey , the Red Sox ensured home-field advantage through the postseason. They split at home against the Yankees last weekend, swept a pair of games in New York to advance and open the AL Championship Series against the World Series champion Astros on Saturday night.Chris Sale starts for the Red Sox and Justin Verlander for the Astros.Sale gave up seven runs in last year’s opening 8-2 loss to Houston, including two home runs by Jose Altuve and by Alex Bregman. Sale made a rare relief appearance in Game 4 at Fenway Park, replacing Rick Porcello to start the fourth inning with Boston trailing 2-1. After Andrew Benintendi’s two-run homer put the Red Sox ahead, Sale allowed Bregman’s tying home run leading off the eighth and a one-out single to Evan Gattis, who gave Houston the lead for good when he scored on Josh Reddick’s single against Craig Kimbrel.“Going through that the last two years helped,” Brock Holt. “We’re better because of what happened last year.”Boston was 57-24 at Fenway Park this year, the best home record in the major leagues, and Sale has a 1.29 ERA and .199 opponents’ batting average in his last eight home starts.“I think he just feeds off the crowd and he just feels more comfortable at home,” Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts said.Boston won the AL pennant in four of the six times it opened the Championship Series at Fenway, in 1975, 1986, 2007 and 2013, the last two en route to World Series titles. The Red Sox failed at this stage in 1988 and 1990.“It’s a big difference to be able start at home against a good team http://www.bluejaysfanproshop.com/authentic-aaron-loup-jersey ,” Holt said.With its quirky dimensions that include the Green Monster in left, Fenway can be difficult for visiting teams defensively. Marwin Gonzalez has played just 24 regular-season innings in left field at Fenway plus the two games last October.After beating the 100-win Yankees, the Red Sox face the 103-victory Astros. The only other year Boston met a pair of teams in the postseason with triple-digit regular-season wins was in 2004, when the Red Sox beat the Yankees (101) to become the first major league team to rebound from a 3-0 postseason deficit, then swept St. Louis (105) for their first title since 1918.Red Sox manager Alex Cora said thus year’s win over the Yankees provides a mental boost, especially after the Game 2 loss at home.“I think we grew up as a group,” he said.Cora was Houston’s bench coach last year before he was hired by Boston.“Like Verlander said in spring training, to get to the World Series, you have to go through Houston,'” Cora said. “Here we are.”Notes: 1B Mitch Moreland, who injured his right hamstring in Game 2 against the Yankees while running the bases, participated in batting practice on Thursday. “He’s feeling better,” Cora said. “We’ve still got time to see where we’re at with him. Hopefully he keeps getting better and he’ll be ready to go on Saturday.” … 3B Eduardo Nunez appeared to injure himself while making the throw to first for the final out Tuesday. “He’s OK. I think he slipped on that play, but then he was jumping up and down celebrating Matt Adams Jersey ,” Cora said. Blake Snell’s teammates did him a huge favor by knocking Corey Kluber out in the second inning of Monday night’s dramatic win by the Tampa Bay Rays over the Cleveland Indians.Now, Snell, emerging as more and more of a Cy Young Award contender, can help himself when he faces the Indians — and Carlos Carrasco — in the finale of a three-game series at the Trop on Wednesday.The Rays had their 12-game home winning streak stopped and moved a step closer to postseason elimination as the Indians won 2-0 on Tuesday night as Cleveland moved a step closer to clinching the American League Central.Article continues below ...“It is a little weird,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “But, you know what we can start another one here, we can get going. The guys have played really, really well.”The Indians, who added Josh Donaldson to their lineup Tuesday, reduced their magic number for clinching a third straight division title to three with their 15th shutout of the season. Rookie Shane Bieber struck out a career-high 11 and improved to 10-3.Donaldson went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in his Indians debut in a game that saw Edwin Encarnacion reach the 30-homer mark for a seventh straight season.Snell, 18-5 with a 2.06 ERA on the season, is 6-0 with a 1.42 ERA in seven starts since coming off the disabled list.“I really think this team can do it,” Snell said Tuesday. “I think we can prove a lot of people wrong. Just got to keep playing the baseball we’ve been playing.”On Sept. 1, he beat the Indians in Cleveland http://www.nationalsfanproshop.com/authentic-kevin-long-jersey , working 6 2/3 innings while allowing eight hits and one unearned run — his first career victory in three career starts against Cleveland. He is 1-1 with a 1.83 ERA in three career starts against the Indians.In his last start, a win over Baltimore, Snell had his streak of 14 consecutive home starts of one run or fewer allowed snapped by a two-run homer by Joey Rickard in the sixth inning. But he is 17-8 with a 2.45 ERA in 32 career starts at Tropicana Field with opponents hitting .212 against him in those outings.Carrasco is coming off a 14-strikeout game in his last start and comes into this one 16-8 with a 3.41 ERA. He lost to the Rays on Sept. 2, yielding five runs on nine hits in 6 1/3 innings and is 4-4 with a 3.21 ERA in 10 games (nine starts) against the Rays in his career.However, while Snell loves pitching at the Trop, so does Carrasco, who comes into this start 4-0 with a 1.11 ERA in five games (four starts) at Tropicana Field.The Tampa loss, combined with yet another Oakland win, dropped the Rays 8 1/2 games behind the A’s for the second wild-card spot. Oakland comes to St. Petersburg this weekend, but the lead appears insurmountable.The Indians announced Kluber will be skipped this weekend, giving him rest for the upcoming playoffs.“At some point Corey was going to have an extra two days off,” manager Terry Francona said before Tuesday night’s game. “There was no way around it. So Carl (Willis, pitching coach) and he decided that this week he’ll take it.”Kluber, closing in on a possible third Cy Young Award http://www.nationalsfanproshop.com/authentic-joaquin-benoit-jersey , wasn’t thrilled, Francona said, “So, he’s going to get a week (off) this week, which is too long. Now, the good news is he can throw a good side (session) and all that, but barring anything crazy, he can go into a playoff game with one extra day’s rest, which is what he wants. And that was the only way to do it.”Trevor Bauer, out with a right fibula stress fracture, is slated to throw off the bullpen mound as he starts his road back.For Tampa Bay, Matt Duffy missed his second straight start with back stiffness, pinch hit but is likely to rest again Wednesday. Kevin Kiermaier (illness) also missed his second straight but was on deck to hit when the game ended.Cash was ejected for the first time this season for arguing a balk in the eighth inning.Tampa’s Tommy Pham extended his hitting streak to a career-high 15 straight games.

Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty ImagesNow that the finalists for Major League Baseball's awards have been announced http://www.piratesfanproshop.com/authentic-ivan-nova-jersey , oddsmakers have released the latest betting lines for who will take home the hardware.Per Bovada (h/t B/R Betting), Mookie Betts of the Boston Red Sox and Christian Yelich of the Milwaukee Brewers are the favorites to be named American League and National League MVP:B/R Betting br_bettingUpdated MLB Awards favorites from BovadaAL MVP: Mookie Betts (-550)AL Cy Young: Blake Snell (-240)AL ROY: Shohei Ohtani (-225)NL MVP: Christian Yelich (-550)NL Cy Young: Jacob deGrom (-500)NL ROY: Ronald Acuna (-300) 64HyFh8Gq0The closest race is for American League Rookie of the Year, which has Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani at -250 (bet $250 to win $100).Ohtani led all AL rookies with 3.8FanGraphswins above replacement (2.8 as an outfielder; 1.0 as a pitcher). Among rookies in the AL with at least 300 plate appearances, the Japanese sensationled the waywith a .361 on-base percentage and .564 slugging percentage.New York Yankees infielders Miguel Andujar (.297/.328/.527) and Gleyber Torres (.271/.340/.480) are Ohtani's competitors for the award. Andujar tied for the AL rookie lead with 27 homers and tied for third in MLB with 47 doubles.Cy Young favoritesBlake Snell of the Tampa Bay Rays (-240) and Jacob deGrom of the New York Mets (-500) were theonly qualified starterswith sub-2.00 ERA totals. Both pitchers would make history if they walk away with the awards.DeGrom finished 2018 with 10 wins, despite posting a 1.70 ERA. Felix Hernandez currentlyholds the record for fewest winsin a full season by a starting pitcher to win the Cy Young (13 in 2010).Thefewest innings pitchedin a 162-game season by a starting pitcher to win the Cy Young award was Clayton Kershaw with 198.1 in 2014. Snell only threw 180.2 innings for the Rays in 31 starts, though he made them count with an AL-best 1.89 ERA.Betts led MLB with 10.4FanGraphswins above replacement, .346 batting average and .640 slugging percentage. His .438 on-base percentage ranked second to fellow AL MVP finalist Mike Trout.Yelich led the NL with a .326 batting average and .598 slugging percentage. The 26-year-old caught fire down the stretch, hitting .367/.449/.770 after the All-Star break and .370/.508/.804 in September to help Milwaukee surpass the Chicago Cubs, who also have an NL MVP finalist in Javier Baez, for the franchise's first NL Central title since 2011. DENVER — Colorado left-hander Kyle Freeland http://www.piratesfanproshop.com/authentic-jameson-taillon-jersey , who has been remarkably consistent all season and particularly effective at Coors Field, will start Friday for the surging Rockies against the Washington Nationals.The Rockies took another step Thursday toward making the postseason in back-to-back years for the first time in their 26-year history with a 5-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday. A four-game sweep of the Phillies has extended Colorado’s winning streak to a season-high-tying seven games and reduced their magic number for a postseason appearance to two.In quest of their first National League West title, the Rockies (89-70) lead the division by one game over the Los Angeles Dodgers (88-71), who were off Thursday. The Rockies are two games ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals for the second NL wild-card spot. The Cardinals were also idle Thursday.Article continues below ...Freeland (16-7, 2.84) will oppose Joe Ross (0-1, 4.09), who will make his third start for the Nationals since returning from Tommy John surgery in July 2017.Freeland is 7-0, 2.10 in his past 10 starts, nine of which the Rockies have won. The Rockies are 22-10 in games started by Freeland, who has recorded 10 consecutive quality starts and 23 this season.He’s 9-2 Brad Hand Jersey , 2.36 in 14 starts at Coors Field and ranks third in home ERA among NL pitchers, trailing only Jacob deGrom of the New York Mets (1.54) and the Cardinals’ Miles Mikolas (2.17).Freeland, 25, was 0-3, 5.85 after his first four starts this season. At that point, he and catcher Chris Iannetta realized Freeland had to come inside more often with his four-seam fastball to right-handed hitters. At the same time, Freeland was beginning to get better results from his changeup as a result of following a suggestion from bullpen coach Darren Holmes and dragging his left toe hard when throwing the pitch to take velocity off it.After those first four starts, Freeland has gone 16-4, 2.50 in his subsequent 28 starts, limiting opponents to a .229 average and .629 OPS.“It was early in the season http://www.padresfanproshop.com/authentic-chase-headley-jersey ,” Freeland said. “I knew there was a long way to go, and there’s no reason to wash this season just because my first four starts weren’t what I wanted them to be.“There were things I had to realize quickly and I did with the help of Chris and our pitching coaches, realizing we had to stay with my strengths. We have to pitch inside. We have to make the hitters uncomfortable. We can’t just let them get extension all the time and hope that that two-seam (fastball) just gets hit in the ground every single time, because that’s just not going to happen over the course of 30-32 starts.”Freeland is 1-0, 3.72 in two starts against Washington. Ross is 0-0, 9.64 in one four-inning relief appearance against the Rockies on April 25, 2017, at Coors Field.Ross gave up four runs (three earned) in six innings Friday in a 95-pitch start against the Mets and was the losing pitcher as the Nationals fell 4-2.“The uncertainty of how it will end, if you’ll be back, was the toughest part Tyson Ross Jersey , I think, for me,” Ross told the Washington Post before his first start for the Nationals earlier this month, referring to his comeback from Tommy John surgery. “But I kind of just went day-by-day, and I am back here now, so it paid off in the end.”

BOSTON (AP) — In what has become a championship tradition in the city Mike Moustakas Jersey , the Boston Red Sox will climb aboard duck boats for a parade to celebrate the team’s fourth World Series title in 15 years, city officials announced Monday.The parade Wednesday will begin at 11 a.m. at Fenway Park. The team is expected to return to Boston later Monday with the World Series trophy.Mayor Marty Walsh said that he expected large crowds for the parade and that traffic and parking restrictions would be in place, along with tight security. Police said alcohol would be prohibited along the parade route and no one would be allowed to carry weapons of any kind.“We’ve been here before, let’s act like it,” said Police Commissioner William Gross.The tradition of players climbing aboard the amphibious duck boats, one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions, to celebrate championships dates back to 2004, the year the Red Sox won the World Series for the first time since 1918.In all, the city has had 11 sports championships since 2002, with the New England Patriots winning five and the Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins each winning once during that period.“Boston has certainly set a new tone around celebrations Salvador Perez Jersey ,” Walsh said. “Maybe it’s because we have a lot of them or maybe it’s because of the way we conduct ourselves.”Jubilant fans, many of them college students, spilled out in the streets late Sunday and early Monday morning after the Red Sox’ clinching 5-1 win over the Dodgers in Los Angeles.Boston police said the crowd was largely well-behaved, and only one arrest was reported. A 22-year-old Connecticut man was charged with malicious destruction of property after climbing a light pole and punching the plastic light fixture, causing the lens to break, officials said.Police closed off several streets around Fenway Park. A World Series championship banner was unfurled outside it just before dawn.Two students at Bridgewater State University were arrested early Monday after being accused of vandalizing two life-sized bear sculptures on the campus during a celebration of the Red Sox win, the Enterprise of Brockton reported.A crowd of about 2,000 students also gathered to celebrate following the game at the University of Massachusetts’ flagship campus in Amherst, MassLive.com reported. A spokeswoman for the university said there were no arrests and no injuries reported.Boston has experienced incidents in the past during spontaneous celebrations, some leading to deaths.In 2004 http://www.royalsfanproshop.com/authentic-brandon-moss-jersey , an Emerson College student was struck in the eye with a pepper-pellet gun fired by police trying to disperse a crowd celebrating the Red Sox’s American League Championship Series win over the New York Yankees. The city later paid a $5.1 million settlement to Victoria Snelgrove’s family and agreed never to use that type of weapon again.A settlement was also reached with police and the parents of David Woodman, a 22-year-old Celtics fan who stopped breathing and later died after being taken into custody on a public drinking charge during street celebrations after the team’s 2008 championship. If the Los Angeles Angels move on from manager Mike Scioscia, former MLB third basemanEric Chavez is the front-runner for the job, according toUSA Today'sBob Nightengale.Chavez is a special assistant in the Angels organization and finished the 2018 minor league season as skipper of the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees.The Athletic'sKen Rosenthalreported in early August thatScioscia鈥攚ho is about to reach the end of a10-year contracthe signed in January 2009鈥攊s expected to step down at the end of the season after 19 years on the job. He went 1,646-1,427 with the Angels. He also made seven postseason appearances and won the 2002 World Series.With five games to play, the Angels are 76-81 and sit 23.5 games back in the American League West. This marks the fourth consecutive season they'll miss the playoffs.Although Rosenthal reportedScioscia is not expected to be back with the Angels next season, the skipper toldKLAA-AM radio Monday (h/tESPN.com) that he'd "like to" keep managing, whether it's in Los Angeles or elsewhere:"We'll continue to evaluate things this week. I'll speak with [Angels owner] Arte [Moreno] and speak with [general manager] Billy [Eppler] and kind of come to a decision. But I think that if you love something, you want to continue to keep doing it. If you can Bo Jackson Jersey , great. And if it doesn't happen, so be it. But I love the dugout."If the Angels move on, Chavez could get the nod.The 40-year-old played 17 seasons in the majors, suiting up for the Oakland Athletics (13 years), the New York Yankees (two) and the Arizona Diamondbacks (two). He retired in July 2014, wrapping up a career in which he hit .268 with 260 home runs and won six Gold Gloves as well as a Silver Slugger.Chavez then worked on the A's broadcast crew. In October 2014, the Yankeeshiredhim as a special assignment scout. He then joined the Angels after the 2015 season as aspecial assistantto general manager Billy Eppler, who was part of the front office that brought Chavez to New York before Eppler moved to Los Angeles in 2015.Scioscia's 1,646 managerial victories are the most in franchise history.Bill Rigney (1961-69) ranks second with 625 wins. Replacing him with someone who has no experience as a big league manager may seem risky, but Chavez does have a good relationship with the general manager."He can bring a high sense of baseball acumen in a number of areas Paulo Orlando Jersey , through experience, through just how he relates to people, how he'll relate to young players, older players, coaches, scouts, front office people," Eppler said of Chavez in October 2015, per MLB.com'sAlden Gonzalez. "He's just a really magnetic personality and someone I have a lot of trust and a lot of faith in."The Angels' final 2018 game will take place Sunday.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Gio Gonzalez is getting comfortable with his new team.The left-hander pitched six smooth innings on his 33rd birthday and Jesus Aguilar hit a three-run homer in the Milwaukee Brewers‘ 7-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night.Manny Pina also had a three-run shot and Aguilar finished with four RBIs as he reached 103 for the season. Gonzalez’s stellar showing helped the Brewers boost their lead for the top NL wild card to three games over St. Louis http://www.oriolesfanproshop.com/authentic-jonathan-schoop-jersey , which lost to Atlanta earlier.The Brewers also moved within 2½ games of the first-place Cubs in the NL Central. Chicago lost 9-0 at Arizona.Gonzalez (9-11) was acquired in a trade with Washington on Aug. 31 in an effort to bolster the Brewers’ starting rotation. He has picked up a victory in two of his three starts with Milwaukee, and the Brewers have won all three games.“It’s been easy to play with these guys because they make you feel welcome,” Gonzalez said. “There’s no added pressure. Just go out there and play the best you can.”He allowed just two hits Wednesday — both singles — while striking out five and walking two.Reds right-hander Matt Harvey (7-9), a pitcher the Brewers nearly acquired a few weeks ago before a proposed deal fell through, gave up Aguilar’s game-changing home run.Aguilar, however, said his infield hit in the first inning for his 100th RBI set up his big night.“I was thinking about the RBI almost every night,” he explained. “After that, I’m good. It was an unbelievable feeling. When I get that 100, I’m a new guy.”A leadoff walk to Gonzalez put Harvey in trouble in the third inning. Christian Yelich reached on a one-out infield hit when no one covered first base on a bouncer fielded by Harvey.Aguilar followed with a high drive into the right-field bleachers, his team-leading 33rd home run of the season, to give the Brewers a 4-0 lead.Milwaukee broke open the game in the sixth on a three-run homer by Pina, who worked a 13-pitch at-bat, finally belting a hanging slider from Harvey into the left-field bleachers. Domingo Santana tripled and Mike Moustakas was intentionally walked before Pina’s ninth homer of the season extended the lead to 7-0.The Reds had a conference on the mound during the long at-bat Zach Britton Jersey , but it didn’t bother Pina.“I was so focused, man,” he said. “After they gave an intentional walk to Moose, I was like, I need to do something this at-bat. He threw me pitches inside, outside, changeups, fastballs, sliders.“He’s kind of tight. I knew he was going to hang any pitch and that’s the pitch I hit for a homer.”Harvey was not happy with his outing, which dropped him to 1-3 with a 6.39 ERA in six career starts against the Brewers. He allowed seven earned runs in 5 1/3 innings.“The whole start was not good,” he said. “I have to be better.”Corey Knebel, Junior Guerra and Freddy Peralta finished up for Milwaukee, each pitching one inning in the combined two-hitter.CHASE STILL ONBrewers manager Craig Counsell has not given up on catching the Cubs for a division title.“We’ve got nine games to go,” Counsell said. “We’ve got plenty of baseball left. There are going to be some great moments. There are going to be plenty of tough moments. That’s all still ahead of us.“We’re just ready for it to happen. We’ve put ourselves in a great position to enjoy the last 10 days of the season.”The Brewers have six road games remaining (three vs. Pittsburgh and three vs. St. Louis) and the final three at home (against Detroit).Milwaukee ended its homestand with a 3-3 record against the Pirates and Reds.TRAINER’S ROOMBrewers: CF Lorenzo Cain was not in the lineup after being taken out of Tuesday’s game with a right ribcage injury. Counsell said he wanted to be cautious with Cain http://www.oriolesfanproshop.com/authentic-darren-o_day-jersey , who ranks fourth in the NL in batting average (.308). The Brewers are off Thursday and Cain will be reassessed before Friday’s series opener in Pittsburgh. “I definitely don’t want to miss a game,” Cain said. “They told me that I’m not looking myself up there right now.” Santana got the start in right field — his first game as a starter since June 12 — and Yelich moved to center with Curtis Granderson in left. Infielder Travis Shaw was back in the lineup after being hit by a pitch Tuesday and leaving the game with a bruised right knee.UP NEXTReds: LHP Cody Reed (0-2, 4.32 ERA) will make his fifth consecutive appearance as a starter as Cincinnati opens a four-game series in Miami. He posted a career-high 10 strikeouts in five innings against the Chicago Cubs on Saturday, allowing no runs and two hits in a game the Reds lost 1-0.Brewers: RHP Jhoulys Chacin (14-8, 3.54 ERA) opens a three-game set in Pittsburgh. He has lost his last three starts, including a 3-2 defeat (allowed three hits, two runs) against the Pirates on Sunday. He is 2-6 with a 4.04 ERA in 11 career starts vs. the Pirates. TORONTO — The Houston Astros have a club record for wins within sight as they move closer to clinching the American League West.After taking the first two games of a three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays, including a 4-1 victory Tuesday night, the 2017 World Series champions have won 100 games in a season for the second straight season and the third time in franchise history.“That’s a lot of wins. I’m proud of this team and we’re not done yet,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “It’s hard to win in this league in general when everybody expects you to and there’s such a small margin for error where there’s a reaction every time you don’t win. So, to be at a 100 and climbing is remarkable for this team.”Article continues below ...The club record is 102 wins set in 1998.The victory on Tuesday was the Astros 54th on the road this season, also a club record.The Astros entered Tuesday with a 4 1/2-game lead over the Oakland Athletics in the division.The Astros (100-57) will start right-hander Chris Devenski (2-2, 4.12 ERA) in the series finale Wednesday afternoon. The Blue Jays (71-87) will counter with right-hander Sean Reid-Foley (2-4, 5.40).Reid-Foley could pitch only two or three innings — he’s already thrown 159 2/3 innings Frank Robinson Jersey , including his minor-league season. In four starts in September, he is 2-2 with a 3.92 ERA.He has never faced the Astros.Devenski has made 47 relief appearances and no starts this season. In five career starts, he is 1-2 with a 4.01 ERA. In four relief appearances against Toronto he is 0-0 with a 5.14, including one scoreless inning this season.Both teams seem prepared to empty the bullpens.Blue Jays shortstop Lourdes Gurriel Jr. did not play Tuesday and will sit out the rest of the season because of a strained hamstring. He left the game Monday after grounding into a double play in the first inning.His brother, Astros infielder Yuli Gurriel, was 2-for-4 to extend his hit streak to 11 games in which he is batting .444 (20-for-44). The series was the first time they had played against each other in the majors and it lasted only the one inning.The Blue Jays also announced that right-hander Aaron Sanchez had surgery on his injured right index finger on Tuesday.Sanchez has been limited by finger injuries the past two seasons after winning the American League ERA title in 2016. Last season, it was a blister problem and this season the finger got caught in his suitcase in June. “Hopefully this clears it all up, because he’s important to this team,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. “He was on top of the world a couple years ago and he’s been knocked down. That’s a big part of the frustration; he hasn’t been able to do much the last two years.”The Astros were again without shortstop Carlos Correa, who is resting lingering back and oblique issues. He could return to the lineup Wednesday as designated hitter.Correa was on the disabled list from June 26-Aug. 10 with a sore back. He is batting .174 with four extra-base hits in 121 at-bats since being activated from the DL.He has missed the past five games.“It’s a lot more comfortable,” Correa said Tuesday. “It felt good enough for me to go out there and play tomorrow and try to get these last two series for me to get some at-bats before going to the postseason.”Correa said the final five games will help prepare him for the playoffs.“It’s something that never goes away, I feel like,” Correa said. “I’m looking forward to helping the team in the postseason and getting my rest in the offseason.”The Astros lead the season series with the Blue Jays 4-1.The series finale will be the final home game of the season for the Blue Jays and could be the final home game for Gibbons as manager.

Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesThe NLDS kicked off on Thursday http://www.dodgersfanproshop.com/authentic-ross-stripling-jersey , with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers jumping out to an early 1-0 lead in their respective series.Now it's time for Game 1 from the two ALDS matchups.The New York Yankees' victory over the Oakland Athletics set up a meeting with the rival Boston Red Sox, while the Houston Astros and Cleveland Indians will meet on the other side of the bracket in a battle of stacked rotations and potent offenses.Ahead is a full preview of what to expect on Friday, complete with all the pertinent TV and streaming information:Friday's ScheduleCleveland Indians at Houston Astros, 2:05 p.m. ET (TBS)New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox, 7:32 p.m. ET (TBS)All postseason games can be live-streamed at MLB.tv. PreviewIndians vs. AstrosJustin VerlanderPatrick McDermott/Getty ImagesThis game will feature two of the game's best starting pitchers, with Corey Kluber (20-7, 2.89 ERA, 222 K) toeing the rubber for the Indians and Justin Verlander (16-9, 2.52 ERA, 290 K) on the hill for the Astros.The Astros won the season series 4-3, with both series coming back in May.Kluber picked up the win on May 19, allowing six hits and two earned runs while striking out 10 over seven strong innings. He was equally impressive less than a week later on May 25, when he scattered seven hits over 6.1 scoreless innings in a no-decision.The Indians missed Verlander this year, but they saw plenty of him in past seasons while he was pitching for the Detroit Tigers.Utility man Marwin Gonzalez is 9-for-20 with two home runs against Kluber in his career, as he's had far and away the most success against him of any current Astros player.The Indians' Michael Brantley has seen a ton of Verlander, going 22-for-76 (.289 BA) with two doubles and a triple, as the two shared the AL Central division for years.Francisco Lindor (10-for-29 Yasmani Grandal Jersey , 2B, 3B, HR), Jose Ramirez (11-for-27, 3 2B, 2 HR) and Josh Donaldson (6-for-18, 1 2B) all have strong numbers against Verlander as well.With both teams featuring stacked rotations, a Game 1 victory with their aces on the mound doesn't carry quite as much weight as it would for most teams, but there's still a distinct advantage to jumping out to an early lead.Yankees vs. Red SoxChris SaleJason Miller/Getty ImagesThe Red Sox won the season series between these two rivals 10-9, but it was the Yankees who came out on top both times they met in September.The Yankees will turn to deadline-addition J.A. Happ (7-0, 2.69 ERA, 63 K in 10 starts following a trade from the Toronto Blue Jays) for the Game 1 start, while the Red Sox will send out ace Chris Sale (12-4, 2.11 ERA, 237 K).Look for Steve Pearce to be penciled into the Red Sox lineup somewhere. The veteran has absolutely worn out Happ in his career, going 11-for-32 with two doubles, six home runs and 16 RBI.Mookie Betts and Ian Kinsler also have two home runs each off Happ.Sale has held active Yankees hitters to a .193/.243/.265 line with 67 strikeouts in 166 at-bats.Aaron Judge has taken him deep once http://www.dodgersfanproshop.com/authentic-joc-pederson-jersey , but he's also fanned 13 times in 18 at-bats. Aaron Hicks has enjoyed the most success, with an 8-for-25 track record that includes a pair of doubles.These two teams have met three other times in the postseason.The Yankees bested the Red Sox in four games in the 1999ALCS. The 2003ALCS belonged to the Yankees as well, as it provided the memorable Pedro Martinez vs. Don Zimmer "fight" and Aaron Boone's walk-off home run. And of course, there is the 2004 ALCS, in which the Red Sox pulled off the greatest comeback in MLB history after falling behind 3-0 in the series.All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, unless otherwise noted. LOS ANGELES (AP) — Now Alex Cora’s in trouble.Boston’s manager went for a commanding lead in the World Series, using David Price and Nathan Eovaldi out of the bullpen in Game 3 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.But Los Angeles won 3-2 in 18 innings Friday night, trimming Boston’s lead to 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. Now Cora has to come up with a starting pitcher for Game 4.After failing to answer the first time when asked, Cora spelled out his situation.“TBA” he said, then repeating for extra emphasis: “TBA.”Cora’s Game 3 moves almost worked. Jackie Bradley Jr.’s eighth-inning home run off Kenley Jansen tied it at 1, and the Red Sox went ahead in the 13th when Eduardo Nunez reached on an infield single that pitcher Scott Alexander threw wildly to first for an error that allowed Brock Holt to come home from second.But Max Muncy walked off Nathan Eovaldi leading off the bottom half, tagged up and went to second when third baseman Eduardo Nunez fell into the seats catching Cody Bellinger’s popup. Muncy then scored when second baseman Ian Kinsler slipped on the infield and bounced his throw wide of first on Yasiel Puig’s grounder up the middle , ruled a single and an error. Muncy ended the game when he homered off Eovaldi leading off the 18th inning on the reliever’s 97th pitch.Boston and Los Angeles tied World Series records by using 23 players, including nine pitchers. All those moves created a short pitching staff for Cora for the rest of the weekend after he pulled starter Rick Porcello after 4 2/3 innings.“We’ll map it out tomorrow,” Cora said. “There are a few guys that are lining up in my office to start the game tomorrow. We’ll decide what we’ll do and we’ll be fine.”Cora’s choices to start Saturday night are Game 1 starter Chris Sale on three days’ rest; Eduardo Rodriguez, who followed Porcello and threw just six pitches in striking out Joc Pederson for the final out of the fifth; or Drew Pomeranz, who hasn’t pitched since the regular-season finale Sept. 30 and last started on Aug. 7.“Somebody will start. Most likely a lefty Clayton Kershaw Jersey ,” Cora said to laughter.Insisting he’s no genius, Cora refused before the game to take credit for making the right moves.“No. It’s all about the players,” the rookie manager said. “They’re talented. We got information. We put them in spots that we feel that they’re going to be successful. But in the end they’re the ones that hit homers and make plays and actually they make managers look good. That’s it.”Cora’s agent, the always glib Scott Boras, coined the term “Coralytics,” describing the 43-year-old as a synergy of psychological prowess and analytical aptitude.“Alex is one of the most intelligent teammates I had and the most caring,” said Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts, who was together with Cora on the 2003-04 Dodgers. “He’s always played the game the way you’re supposed to play.”Cora seems unflappable.“More than anything, he’s just brought consistency,” Sale said. “He’s the same guy in the first inning as he is in the ninth inning of a 10-1 ballgame or 3-3 ballgame. I think that’s the overall thing as players that we take from him. … Ninth inning, bases loaded, one out of a one-run ballgame, and he’s sitting there eating seeds, doing the same thing as a 10-1 ballgame in the fourth inning. And I think that goes very well with us as players, when if he’s not panicking, why should we?”That will matter more than ever this weekend