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Greg Fiume/Getty ImagesThe Cleveland Indians http://www.redsoxproshops.com/authentic-rusney-castillo-jersey , Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants are reportedly showing interest in Baltimore Orioles outfielder Adam Jones ahead of the July 31 MLB non-waiver trade deadline.On Thursday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported the list of teams keeping tabs on Jones' availability and noted the veteran "likely will waive no-trade rights to a contender."Jones is the latest O's star to land in the rumor mill ahead of the deadline. Baltimore already traded shortstop Manny Machado to the Los Angeles Dodgers and closer Zach Britton to the New York Yankees in exchange for packages headlined by prospects.The 32-year-old slugger has put together a mediocre campaign at the plate in 2018. He's posted a .277/.303/.421 triple-slash line with 10 home runs through 97 appearances. It puts him on pace to fall short of 20 homers for the first season since 2010.Jones has spent the past decade with Baltimore after arriving in a 2008 trade with the Seattle Mariners. He's earned five All-Star Game selections, four Gold Glove Awards and a Silver Slugger Award with the organization.Moving the longtime face of the franchise would be a clear sign the Orioles are moving toward a complete rebuild after struggling to remain competitive in the AL East.Jones comes with a high price tag鈥?17 million this season, per Spotrac鈥攂ut he's set to become a free agent at season's end, so it's a short-term, prorated financial investment for a contending club willing to give up a prospect or two for a likely rental acquisition.The Indians have the most pressing need in center field among the trio of interested teams.Cleveland ranks 29th in OPS from center fielders (.567) and has received just four homers from players occupying the position, perESPN.com.That said Chris Sale Jersey , the Tribe are third in runs scored this season, while Philly is 19th and San Francisco is 23rd, so all three teams are logical landing spots, albeit for different reasons. PHOENIX (AP) — Evan Longoria’s last hit was the biggest one — a tiebreaking homer in the eighth.Longoria’s solo shot in the eighth led the San Francisco Giants to a 3-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday.He drilled Diamondbacks reliever Archie Bradley’s 2-2, 97 mile-per-hour fastball with one out into the outcropping of seats in left-center field. It was Longoria’s 12th home run of the season.“You just try to get the barrel on the ball. I thought it might go,” Longoria said. “The wall is pretty high out there so you have to hit it pretty high. I’m glad it just scraped over.”The Diamondbacks’ loss and the Los Angeles Dodgers’ win Sunday created a tie for first place atop the NL West between the two teams.Bradley (3-3) entered the game leading the NL in holds with 30. He had not allowed a run to the Giants in 12 straight games against them.“Archie just made a mistake to a really good hitter,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “I thought he threw the ball well outside of that.”Right-hander Ray Black (1-0) earned his first major league win with a scoreless seventh inning. The Diamondbacks loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth with two outs against Giants relievers Tony Watson and Sam Dyson Steven Wright Jersey , but Dyson got Ketel Marte to fly out to end the inning.Will Smith retired the Diamondbacks in order with two strikeouts in the ninth for his seventh save.“The pitching was there and we needed it,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.Giants All-Star catcher Buster Posey returned to the lineup after missing Saturday’s game for concussion testing. Posey played first base and reached base twice.Both starters lasted 5 1/3 innings in no-decision efforts. The Giants’ Derek Holland allowed two runs on three hits and struck out six with two walks. The Diamondbacks’ Robbie Ray walked four and struck out eight, giving up two runs on seven hits.Steven Souza Jr.’s third home run of the season sailed into the left field seats and gave Arizona a 1-0 lead in the second inning. But the Giants tied the game in the third.Longoria, who had three hits on the day, beat the defensive shift with a two-out single to drive in Andrew McCutchen. He has reached base in eight of his last nine plate appearances.Marte bounced a single to right field to drive in Eduardo Escobar from second base for a 2-1 Diamondbacks lead in the fourth.The Giants had a chance for a big inning in the sixth. Longoria led off with a double and scored on Nick Hundley’s single, but Hundley was thrown out by left fielder David Peralta trying to reach second base on the hit. Austin Slater followed with a single and reached third base before the inning ended with Yoshihisa Hirano striking out Gorkys Hernandez.PREGAME ACCIDENTRay said he was thinking about a little boy he accidentally hit with an errant throw during pregame long toss. The boy, whom Ray believed to be 4 or 5 years old Tyler Thornburg Jersey , was fine and did not have to leave the stadium.“If he wouldn’t have been all right, I don’t know how I would have went out there and pitched today,” Ray said.Ray and catcher John Ryan Murphy spoke to the boy and the two players signed autographs for him. “Him staying there and watching the game, that was big for me from a mental standpoint,” Ray said.WINNING AWAYThe Giants finished a six-game road trip to San Diego and Arizona with a 4-2 record after earning a series split against the Diamondbacks. It’s their first winning road trip this season and the first since going 4-2 at Pittsburgh and Detroit last year from June 30 to July 6.“It has been a while for us,” Bochy said. “It’s good to have a little success on the road.”TRAINER’S ROOMGiants: Posey, who left Friday’s game in the third inning after he took a foul ball to his mask http://www.redsoxproshops.com/authentic-jackie-bradley-jr-jersey , could catch in Monday’s game if he continues to feel OK, Bochy said.Diamondbacks: IF Deven Marrero (strained oblique) played nine innings of a rehab assignment game with Triple-A Reno Saturday and was scheduled to play again Sunday. … OF Jarrod Dyson (groin strain) is hitting and throwing, but not doing serious running yet.UP NEXTGiants: RHP Dereck Rodriguez (5-1) is scheduled to pitch the opener of a two-game series against the Houston Astros Monday in San Francisco.Diamondbacks: RHP Zack Godley (12-6) pitches the series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies Monday at Chase Field.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Chicago White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow Tuesday and will miss the 2019 season.Kopech Marcus Stroman Jersey , the top pitching prospect in the organization, is expected to be ready for spring training in 2020. The surgery was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles.Kopech, 22, was 1-1 with a 5.02 ERA in four starts this season. He was placed on the 60-day disabled list with a torn elbow ligament Sept 8.“Michael understands intellectually what it’s going to require to come back,” manager Rick Renteria said. “We’re confident that he’ll be able to do that and become the kind of pitcher we know he can be.”Kopech was acquired in the trade that sent star pitcher Chris Sale to Boston following the 2016 season. He was drafted by Boston in the first round in 2014. Sean M. Haffey/Getty ImagesThe Los Angeles Dodgers probably won't return to the World Series if they again commit four errors and surrender a home run to an opposing pitcher in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series.Those improbable outcomes likely won't carry over into Saturday's showing. Yet they nearly overcame these obstacles, as the Milwaukee Brewers' revered bullpen barely salvaged a dramatic 6-5 victory Friday.For the second day in a row, each squad willcommence the game with a left-handed starter on the mound. Both of them kept the opposition scoreless in National League Division Series sightings.After horrid defense and a Brandon Woodruff homer undid Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers will turn to Hyun-Jin Ryu http://www.bluejaysfanproshop.com/authentic-devon-travis-jersey , an unheralded ace over the past two months. The Brewers will counter with Wade Miley, an innings-eater who has transformed his career by overhaulinghis pitch arsenal. Dodgers vs. Brewers: Game 2 ScheduleWhen: Saturday, Oct. 13 at 4:09 p.m. ETTV: FoxLive Stream: Fox Live TVTickets: StubHubSurging SouthpawsWade Miley will look to continue his career revival in the NLCS.Dylan Buell/Getty ImagesAt first glance, Ryuvs. Miley doesn't represent a superb pitching duel befitting the grand stage. After all, Chris Sale and Justin Verlander clash later in the evening.While Ryu can't match the pedigree of his superstar rotation teammate, the 31-year-old quietly registered a 1.97 ERA and career-high 27.5 strikeout percentage in 15 superb regular-season starts. He then opened the NLDS by scattering eight strikeouts and no walks over seven shutout innings against the Atlanta Braves:ESPN Stats amp; Info ESPNStatsInfoThis is Hyun-Jin Ryus 2nd career postseason start of 7 scoreless innings (2013 NLCS).The only other Dodgers to do it multiple times are Sandy Koufax, Jerry Reuss and Orel Hershiser. l9GV2AopwdDominating in a Game 1 nod received over Kershaw marks quite a turnaround for someone left off last year's postseason roster. Havingundergoneshoulder labrum surgery in 2015, he hadn't made a playoff appearance since 2014 despite the Dodgers' winning the NL West in each of the past six years.Following his latest gem http://www.bluejaysfanproshop.com/authentic-roy-halladay-jersey , Ryu has relinquished one run in his past four starts. He has also not given up more than three earned runs in a single turn this year, so the Dodgers can at least count on a competitive outing.He's somehow not even this matchup's most improbable Game 2 starter. Playing for his fifth team in as many years, Miley posted an ERA north of 5.00 in each of the past two seasons. That makes this season's 2.57 clip extra shocking when paired with a mediocre 50 strikeouts and 27 walks in 80.2 innings.A 37.1 hard-hit percentage and 4.66 skill-interactive ERA (SIERA) foreshadow a vengeful regression. Yet perhaps those predictive measures don't appreciate the journeyman's adjustments.Miley sidelined his fastball for a previously seldom-used cutter. The pitch's usage skyrocketed from 11.5 to 41.8 percent, and opponents are hitting .190/.258/.303 against the offering.Buoyed by his new weapon, Miley accomplished exactly what the Brewers needed in the NLDS by holding the Colorado Rockies scoreless for 4.2 innings at Coors Field. Their extraordinary bullpen yielded one hit the rest of the way.Brewers manager Craig Counsell will hope to execute the same plan on Saturday. He won't, however, have Josh Hader at his disposal after the shutdown reliever recorded nine outs over46 pitches鈥攁 longer appearance than starter Gio Gonzalez鈥攖o secure Game 1's victory:ESPN Stats amp; Info ESPNStatsInfoJosh Hader made it difficult on the Dodgers in Game 1.He induced 15 swings and misses, tied for his most in a game in 94 career outings (regular season amp;amp; postseason).Haders 15 swings and misses are 2 more than any other reliever in a postseason game in the last 10 seasons. qQxrzxaoyLBy using another starting southpaw Dalton Pompey Jersey , Counsell is daring Dodgers counterpart Dave Roberts toagain sit Max Muncy鈥攈ardly a necessary move since he managed an .891 OPS against fellow lefties鈥攁nd Yasiel Puig. Their weighted runs created plus (wRC+) dropped from 117 against righties to a slightly above-average 101 versus leftiesduring the season."There's going to be some kind of chess played this series, and that's part of the fun," Roberts said prior to Game 1, per The Ringer's Michael Baumann.Yet they have plenty of depth to deal with any adversary, especially after adding right-handed infielders Brian Dozier and David Freese during the summer.Travis Shaw is the only Milwaukee regular who's a major liability (66 wRC+) with a lefty on the mound, but Counsell replaced the out-of-position second baseman for Hernan Perez on Friday.Pick: Dodgers 5, Brewers 3The Dodgers can again field a nearly all-righty lineup鈥攚ith exception to Cody Bellinger鈥攖hat saves Muncy, Puig and Joc Pederson for big spots against Milwaukee's premier bullpen. With Woodruff and Hader almost certainly unavailable http://www.bluejaysfanproshop.com/authentic-roberto-osuna-jersey , Counsell may think twice before again turning to a righty so early.Yet Miley tallied the sixth-lowest strikeout percentage (14.8) of any starter with at least 80 innings pitched, so the Dodgers could force an early hook by jumping to a significant lead.Propelled by major league-caliber defense and a strong performance from Ryu, look for the Dodgers send the series back to Los Angeles even. It's impossible, however, to feel overly confident about any prediction in a series wherein a reliever who was batting from the left side took Kershaw deep.All advanced stats courtesy of FanGraphs unless otherwise noted.

Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Angels got good news ahead of the second half of the 2018 MLB season.The team announced on Thursday that Ohtani has been cleared to resume pitching activities after being re-evaluated:Angels AngelsMEDICAL UPDATE on Shohei Ohtani: mHQPcVzYNHThe two-way phenom had been limited to just hitting since being placed on the disabled list back in early June after being diagnosed with aGrade 2 UCL sprain. Theinjury threatened to keep him off the mound for the rest of this season鈥攁nd possibly until 2020.Ohtani has hit .333/.458/.792 with one home run Albert Almora Jr Jersey , two doubles and two RBI in 11 appearances since being activated after missing nearly a month of action. He is hitting .283 with seven home runs, 10 doubles and 22 RBI overall at the plate this season.As solid as he has been at designated hitter, though, Los Angeles misses his arm in the rotation. He is 4-1 with a 3.10 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP in nine starts Kyle Hendricks Jersey , striking out 61 batters in 49.1 innings this season.The right-hander has not pitched in a game since June 6.If Ohtani can indeed make his way back to the mound this season and avoid Tommy John surgery, it would be a major relief for the Angels. Not only does the organization have high hopes for him for the future, but it has also been hit hard by the injury bug this season. The rotation has already lost Garrett Richards, John Lamb and J.C. Ramirez to Tommy John surgery http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-mike-montgomery-jersey , with relieverKeynan Middleton also going under the knife.Southpaws Andrew Heaney andTyler Skaggs have both put together solid seasons, but with how injury-riddled the pitching staff has been this year, getting Ohtani back would provide a huge boost. After 12 seasons, Andre Ethier's career in Major League Baseball has come to an end.The Dodgers announcedthey will honor Ethier with apregame retirement ceremony before their Aug. 3 game against the Houston Astros.The 36-year-old was barely able to play over the past two seasons because of injuries Ian Happ Jersey , only appearing in 38 games since 2016. He spent the bulk of the 2017 season on the disabled list with aherniated diskin his back.The Dodgers tried to move Ethier before the 2015 season, withJon Heyman, then of CBSSports.com, reporting Los Angeles was telling interested teams it would be willing to pay "about half" of the $56 million he was still owed.After no one chose to take Ethier Jose Quintana Jersey , he mainly served as a bench option when he was healthy enough to get on the field. The outfielder only appeared in 22 games during the 2017 season, hitting .235/.316/.441 with two homers in 34 at-bats.Last NovemberLos Angeles declined Ethier's option of $17.5 million for 2018, making him a free agent for the first time in his career.Ethier denied reports that he was considering retirement, but a market for his services never developed. The regular season began without him receiving a contract offer from any team.Despite the unceremonious end to Ethier's career http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-yu-darvish-jersey , he carved out an excellent run with the Dodgers from 2006 to 2017. He was a two-time All-Star, won a Gold Glove Award in 2011 and finished sixth in NL MVP voting in 2009 after hitting a career-high 31 homers and driving in 106 runs.

A look at what’s happening around the majors today:BLUE BIRTHDAYMike Trout is likely to sit out the Angels‘ game against Detroit because of a sore right wrist Ervin Santana Jersey , depriving Los Angeles‘ fans of what’s become an annual treat: Seeing Trout do incredible things on his birthday. Trout will turn 27 on Tuesday, and he has a history of throwing celebrations for himself. He has homered on his birthday four times in his first six full big-league seasons. He did it at the Big A last season, homering and also getting his 1,000th career hit. Trout received a cortisone injection on his wrist Monday, and the Angels are hopeful he can return to the lineup on the weekend. He missed his fifth straight game Monday.PITCHING PALSPittsburgh’s Jameson Taillon and Colorado’s Chad Bettis will pitch in a game featuring two starters bouncing back from testicular cancer. Bettis underwent surgery in November 2016 for testicular cancer and continued cancer treatments through that spring and into last season. So when Taillon had surgery to treat testicular cancer on May 8, 2017, he had an instant line of support. Taillon spoke a few times with Bettis during his treatment http://www.twinsfanproshop.com/authentic-miguel-sano-jersey , calling their exchanges “comforting.”“I just felt like if I needed anything or had a question, I was very comfortable going to ask him about any part of the process,” Taillon said.DOUBLE UPThe Braves and Nationals open a four-game series with a doubleheader. Atlanta is right on Philadelphia’s heals in the NL East race, while Washington is five games back of the Braves. Atlanta’s Max Fried (1-4, 3.38 ERA) faces Jefry Rodriguez (0-1, 6.86) in the opener, and Nationals ace Max Scherzer (15-5 Jason Castro Jersey , 2.33) opposes Sean Newcomb (10-5, 3.23) in the nightcap.HAPP HEALINGThe sputtering Yankees got some good news Monday when left-hander J.A. Happ moved a little closer to returning from hand, foot and mouth disease. Manager Aaron Boone said Happ is no longer contagious. Assuming everything goes well over the next couple of days, Happ is on track to start Thursday against Texas in the opener of an 11-game homestand. “He’s out of the woods, virus-wise,” Boone said.FAR FROM CY YEARSStruggling former AL Cy Young Award winners Bartolo Colon and Felix Hernandez will be on the mound when the Rangers host the Mariners in the middle game of their three-game series. The last victory for both hefty right-handers came on June 30. Colon (5-10, 5.18 ERA) http://www.twinsfanproshop.com/authentic-phil-hughes-jersey , the 45-year-old hurler who was the 2005 Cy Young winner while with the Angels, has lost five consecutive starts for Texas since his 246th career win that matched Dennis Martinez for the most by a player born in Latin America. The 32-year-old Hernandez (8-9, 5.49), who won the Cy Young with the Mariners in 2010, is 0-3 with a 7.64 ERA his last four starts.ROBINSON GETTING READYRobinson Cano has begun his minor league rehab assignment ahead of his return from an 80-game suspension for violating baseball’s joint drug agreement. Cano played Monday for Triple-A Tacoma and is scheduled to play there again Tuesday. After that, he may play some games for Class A Everett later in the week. Cano is eligible to rejoin Seattle on Aug. 14. When he does, he’s expected to play first Jose Berrios Jersey , second and third base. Jamie Sabau/Getty ImagesCincinnati Reds pitcher Matt Harvey has already been traded once this season and could be on the move again given the latest report.According to Robert Murray of The Athletic, an unknown team claimed Harvey on revocable waivers, which opens up the possibility Cincinnati could trade him even though the non-waiver trade deadline has passed.Andrew Simon of MLB.com provided a rundown of what can happen after a player is claimed on waivers:"Once a player is claimed, his team faces three options. It can pull the player back and keep him, negotiate a trade with the claiming team or let the player go. In the last scenario, the claiming team takes full responsibility for the player's remaining salary. If the two sides decide to work out a trade, they have two days to do so."The New York Mets traded Harvey to the Reds in May in exchange for catcher Devin Mesoraco after the right-handed pitcher posted an ugly 7.00 ERA in eight appearances in New York this season.However http://www.twinsfanproshop.com/authentic-erick-aybar-jersey , he has shown improvement for the Reds and has a 4.28 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 17 starts, making him a more valuable trade piece. It makes sense for Cincinnati to move him since it is in last place and could acquire a young asset to bolster its rebuild in a deal before Harvey potentially leaves in free agency this offseason.While there was a time when Harvey was one of the best pitchers in baseball, he posted a 4.86 ERA in 2016 and 6.70 ERA in 2017 before this up-and-down year. The Mets also shut him down in 2016 to undergo surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome.Still, he is just 29 years old, was a 2013 All-Star and won the 2015 National League Comeback Player of the Year Award while helping lead the Mets to the World Series. He is a low-risk option for potential contenders at this point and likely wouldn't command a significant return package in a trade.Harvey has October experience and has proved himself in the past, and at least one unknown team took a step toward landing him for the stretch run.

NEW YORK (AP) — Mariano Rivera http://www.nationalsfanproshop.com/authentic-shawn-kelley-jersey , Andy Pettitte and Jorge Posada returned to the Bronx on Saturday for the New York Yankees‘ celebration of their 1998 World Series championship team.Darryl Strawberry and former manager Joe Torre also attended the ceremony before New York’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Derek Jeter did not make the trip because of his daughter Bella’s first birthday, but sent a video message for the fans.Jeter, a one-time fixture at Yankee Stadium ceremonies, hasn’t made a public appearance at his longtime home since becoming the chief executive officer of the Miami Marlins.The 1998 Yankees finished with a then-AL record 114 wins and added 11 more in the postseason to set a major league record with 125 victories. New York swept San Diego to win the World Series.The 1906 Chicago Cubs hold the National League record with 116 wins, but they lost to the Chicago White Sox in the World Series. The Seattle Mariners broke New York’s record just three seasons later, matching the Cubs’ total, but they were eliminated by the Yankees in the AL Championship Series in five games.Of the top 11 teams on baseball’s single-season wins list, Seattle is the only one to fall short of the World Series.The impressive 1998 season for the Yankees “wasn’t the big thing for me,” Rivera said. “The next 11 wins was the thing to wrap up everything. Seattle won 116, but they didn’t win the championship. The season is there but is erased.”So that is the challenge for Boston as it threatens the wins record this year. Members of the 1998 Yankees say it doesn’t mean very much without a title.“At the end of the day, if you don’t win, you don’t remember.” Posada said.The major league-leading Red Sox began the day with an 87-36 record. They need 30 wins over their last 39 games to break the record.“They’re a great team. They’ve been playing really well Trea Turner Jersey ,” said Torre, who managed the Yankees for 12 seasons, winning four championships. “But I tell you what, when you get to postseason, there is a whole lot of pressure on you. As proven by Seattle in ’01, you have to remind people that they did that because they didn’t go anywhere. They won the division, but they didn’t beat us.” NEW YORK (AP) — One of the few teams to have much success against Jacob deGrom all year has been the last-place Miami Marlins.Go figure.In his latest hard-luck loss during a record-setting season, deGrom was outpitched by Jose Urena as the Marlins beat the New York Mets 5-3 on Tuesday night.“These guys, they want to score for him so bad, you can see it,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said. “Unfortunately, we just haven’t done that very much.”Locked in a compelling race for the NL Cy Young Award despite his pedestrian record http://www.nationalsfanproshop.com/authentic-matt-wieters-jersey , deGrom (8-9) gave up only Lewis Brinson’s two-run double in seven stellar innings. The right-hander allowed three hits and struck out nine , his major league-low ERA climbing just a tick from 1.68 to 1.71.Even still, he fell to 0-2 in four starts against Miami (57-86), which has won three of those games.“You just have to scrap for your hits,” manager Don Mattingly said. “We just hang in there. I think the games we’ve been able to beat him, I think our starters have been good.”Urena (6-12) permitted one run and four hits in 6 1/3 innings for the Marlins, who were rained out the previous two days. He is 3-0 with a 2.22 ERA in his last four starts, and 3-0 with a 0.98 ERA in three career starts at Citi Field.After his outing was pushed back two days because of rain, deGrom held his opponent under four runs for the 26th straight start — breaking a big league single-season mark set by King Cole in 1910 with the Chicago Cubs.“I wasn’t as comfortable as I normally am. What was I at, eight days or so?” deGrom said. “To go that long without being on the mound, I felt a little off. But I was able to kind of correct myself as the game went on.”In a recurring theme, however Joe Blanton Jersey , the Mets didn’t provide much help. All they could muster at the plate was Michael Conforto’s solo homer off Urena and Kevin Plawecki’s two-run shot against Drew Steckenrider with two outs in the ninth.Conforto has homered in three consecutive games for the first time in his career.JT Riddle came off the bench and homered into the second deck in right field in his first at-bat for Miami since returning from a sore left wrist.“Those two rainouts really helped. Got me two extra days to rest,” he said. “It felt really good, especially being off a week now.”After missing five games, Riddle connected in the eighth against reliever Anthony Swarzak, who made his first major league appearance since Aug. 3. The right-hander was recently activated from the disabled list after missing time with shoulder inflammation.Miami got three straight hits off Robert Gsellman to start the ninth, including an RBI triple by Brian Anderson and Derek Dietrich’s run-scoring double.A resurgent Brinson doubled off the center-field fence with two outs in the fourth. After that, deGrom set down his final 10 batters and finished the night with 239 strikeouts, equaling the career high he set last season.“I think you kind of understand that you’re only going to have a couple opportunities off a guy like him,” Anderson said. “Usually it’s one or two a game. And he’s really good at shutting down those opportunities. I think with runners in scoring position, guys are hitting under .100 off of him. Having a guy like Lewis come in there and get that hit against him, and with two strikes, really helped our morale and really got us going there.”Mets third baseman Todd Frazier was ejected after the sixth by plate umpire Dan Bellino.MAKING STRIDESBrinson is batting .400 (12 for 30) with a homer Howie Kendrick Jersey , three doubles and six RBIs since coming off the disabled list Sept. 1. He has upped his season average to .206.TRAINER’S ROOMMarlins: RHP Dan Straily (strained left oblique) felt discomfort while throwing for the first time since leaving his last start. He could miss the rest of the season, Mattingly said.Mets: 3B David Wright took live batting practice on the field as the Mets’ captain tries to complete his comeback from a string of debilitating injuries.UP NEXTA single-admission doubleheader Wednesday to make up Monday’s rainout. RHP Trevor Richards (3-8, 4.73 ERA) and RHP Jeff Brigham (0-1, 9.00) are the scheduled Miami starters, with RHP Zack Wheeler (10-7, 3.39) and LHP Jason Vargas (5-9, 6.75) set to go for the Mets.

PHOENIX — For the second time in a month http://www.dodgersfanproshop.com/authentic-babe-herman-jersey , Arizona right-hander Zack Godley did not appear comfortable fielding his position in a loss to Seattle on Friday, the one blip in what is shaping up as a career year.Godley made a wild throw past third base when Mariners center fielder Dee Gordon attempted a delayed steal of third, and enabling Gordon to score the first run of a four-run third inning in a 6-3 victory.Godley, who has a career-high 13 victories and is on target to set a handful of other personal records this season, threw past first base on a come-backer against Colorado last month and later that game opted not to attempt a pickoff throw when a runner broke for second.Article continues below ...It has caught the Diamondbacks‘ attention as the stretch drive begins.“These are a couple of situations that have popped up on him,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo acknowledged. “What happens now, this is a smart league.“Teams are going to start to lock in on what happened in Arizona here tonight and perhaps take another poke at it. We have to figure out a way to make that not happen. There are a lot of things we can do to help. If it is a limitation, and it is certainly pointing in that direction, or it could be, we can’t ignore it. We are going to figure out the best solution.”The Diamondbacks lost to Seattle 4-2 in 10 innings in the second game of the series between playoff contenders Saturday and fell into a tie with Colorado for first place in the NL West.They will send right-hander Zack Greinke (12-8, 3.06) to oppose Mariners right-hander Mike Leake (8-7, 3.90) in the rubber final game Sunday.The Mariners won their first series since sweeping four in Houston from Aug. 9-12 Mike Piazza Jersey , helped by another homer from Mitch Haniger, who has two in the series and a career-high 22 this season.“I think it is going to be a fight,” Haniger said of the AL West race. “We have a really good team here, and I think we are getting hot at the right time.”Greinke is 0-3 in his last four starts, breaking a seven-game winning streak, although the Diamondbacks offensive support has been complicit in the recent slump. Three of his last four starts were quality starts, but the offense scored only seven runs in those four when he was on the mound.Still, Greinke is one of three double-digit winners on the D-backs’ staff (only Colorado has as many) and ranks seventh in the league in ERA. He is fifth in the NL with 165 strikeouts and sixth with a 1.05 WHIP.“I know Patrick (Corbin) has had a great year as well, but Zack has been the main guy for all of us to jump on board with him,” Lovullo said. “It starts with fastball command. It starts with a game plan, attacking zones. Preparation. Any time he starts a game, we know we are in the game.”Greinke’s strikeout-to-walk ratio of 5.1:1 is third in the league behind Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom. Greinke has made 16 quality starts http://www.dodgersfanproshop.com/authentic-andre-ethier-jersey , tied for fifth in the league.Leake, who was courted by the Diamondbacks in the same offseason they signed Greinke to a six-year, $206.5 million contract, missed his last scheduled start because of an illness.He has not pitched since his best and perhaps most important outing to date, a no-decision in a 2-0, 12-inning victory at Oakland on Aug. 15 in which he gave up two hits and struck out six.“He’s been one of most consistent guys, going out there and doing his thing,” Servais said. “He does it a little bit different every time out. When he is right, he has a good sinker and the ball is on the ground the lot. He throws a ton of strikes.“We missed him with the illness. Not having him in there hurt, but glad to have him back. It’s been a really good season for him.”Leake, who helped nearby Arizona State to the College World Series in 2009, leads the AL with 164 hits allowed but his ERA is the lowest it has been since mid-April. He is 5-3 with a 4.96 ERA in 11 career starts against the Diamondbacks Chase Utley Jersey , one in each of the last two seasons while with St. Louis. Wednesday night was that rare game for the St. Louis Cardinals where things didn’t fall into place. Where they didn’t come up with the key strikeout or clutch hit that they’ve produced with frequency the last six weeks.And where they took another injury hit, in addition to an illness that chased MVP candidate Matt Carpenter off the field in the fourth inning.The Cardinals’ 2-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates also puts their streak of series victories on the line in Thursday night’s final game of the three-game set at Busch Stadium. Nine consecutive series wins have brought St. Louis (74-59) from mediocrity to the National League’s first wild-card spot.Article continues below ...But a wave of injuries has suddenly left the Cardinals scrambling just before they can expand their roster on Saturday. Before Wednesday night’s game, they disabled infielder Jedd Gyorko (groin), making him the third player in the last week to hit the 10-day DL.After Gyorko joined left fielder Marcell Ozuna (shoulder) and second baseman Kolten Wong (hamstring) on the shelf, Carpenter hurried off the field in the fourth inning. He tried to play through what manager Mike Shildt termed a 24-hour bug, only to vomit near first base.“Looks like Carp will be just fine,” Shildt said. “He was trying to power through it.”It was that type of night for St. Louis, which missed on a golden opportunity to punish Trevor Williams in the first inning when it got runners to second and third with no outs and couldn’t even manage a run. Williams went on to fire six shutout innings for his 11th win of the year, extending a dominant stretch which has seen him allow just four runs in his last 48 innings over eight starts.“We had an opportunity in the first to make a mark and didn’t get on the board,” Shildt said. “Guys kept taking tough at-bats, but we came up short.”The Cardinals will try to capture another series behind right-hander John Gant (5-5, 3.56 ERA) Kirk Gibson Jersey , who has pitched the best baseball of his career over his last four starts. In that span Gant has ceded only five runs in his last 22 2/3 innings, and he tied a career high Saturday by lasting seven innings in Colorado while permitting only one run.Gant’s last poor start took place on Aug. 3 in Pittsburgh, when he was pounded for six runs on eight hits over four innings in a no-decision. Gant is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in five career games, three of them starts, against the Pirates. In two starts against Pittsburgh this season, Gant is 0-1 with an 8.68 ERA.Pittsburgh (65-68) will try to play spoiler for the second straight game behind hard-throwing right-hander Joe Musgrove (5-7, 3.56), who is coming off a short start Friday night at Milwaukee. He gave up six hits and four runs in four innings of a 7-6, 15-inning loss, walking none and fanning four.Musgrove fired seven shutout innings against St. Louis on May 25 in his first start of the season, allowing just five hits and whiffing seven with no walks in an 8-1 victory. That was his only career appearance against the Cardinals.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — David Freese is hitting third for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the NL Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers Billy Williams Jersey , returning to a city where he enjoyed postseason success in 2011.Freese was the 2011 NLCS MVP after hitting .545 with three homers and nine RBIs for St. Louis in the Cardinals’ six-game series victory over the Brewers.The Dodgers acquired Freese this season in August from the Pittsburgh Pirates. He hit .385 in 19 games in the regular season with Los Angeles.The right-handed hitting Freese is in the lineup at first base against Brewers left-handed starter Gio Gonzalez. Lefty slugger Max Muncy, who leads the Dodgers with 35 homers, will come off the bench.Chris Taylor and Justin Turner hit ahead of Freese, who is followed by cleanup hitter Manny Machado, Matt Kemp and Kike Hernandez.Cody Bellinger, the only left-handed hitter in the lineup, is seventh. Switch-hitter Yasmani Grandal hits eight, followed by starter Clayton Kershaw.The Brewers are going with right handed-hitting Hernan Perez at second and shortstop Orlando Arcia at shortstop against the Dodgers’ ace left-hander. Lefty-swinging infielder Travis Shaw is on the bench.Lorenzo Cain leads off for Milwaukee, followed by MVP candidate Christian Yelich, one of two lefties in the lineup.They’re followed by Ryan Braun, Jesus Aguilar and Perez, while the left handed-hitting Mike Moustakas bats sixth. Manny Pina, Arcia and Gonzalez round out the lineup. Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard are two of MLB's biggest potential trade-deadline prizes, and they probably aren't going anywhere.The New York Mets right-handers are 30 and 25 years old, respectively. DeGrom is under club control through 2020; Syndergaard won't hit free agency until after the 2021 season at the soonest. DeGrom is in the midst of a Cy Young Award-caliber season http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-jon-lester-jersey , and Syndergaard, injury issues aside, owns one of baseball's most electric arms.The Mets are buried in last place in the National League East. But those are the type of assets you build around, not the kind you ship away.What if New York could loan out its co-aces, however, with the assurance they'd return to Queens after the season?It's nothing more than a thought exercise, obviously. League officials won't rewrite the trade rules in the middle of summer.There is a precedent, however. Professional soccer players in the English Premier League can be "loaned" out for limited periods before returning to their club of origin. Sometimes, they make a significant difference for their new squads.What if the same standard were applied to MLB?To give credit where it's due, NBC Sports' Christopher Crawford recently floated the notion:Christopher Crawford Crawford_MILBA thought:Lets say that MLB had a rule where a team could quot;borrowquot; an MLB player starting July 31. It would be like any other trade, only the player -- if hes under contract -- returns to the team in November.What would a player like Mike Trout get in that situation?That's a fascinating hypothetical. What wouldan offense-hungry contender pay for a few months of Mike Trout's services? At least one top-level prospect, probably, plus ancillary pieces.The Los Angeles Dodgers surrendered power-hitting prospect Yusniel Diaz to the Baltimore Orioles to rent Manny Machado in June. Diazbecame the Orioles' No. 2 prospect, perMLB.com, and the O's also nettedbat-missing right-hander Dean Kremer and third baseman Rylan Bannon Fergie Jenkins Jersey , who'd hit 20 homers at High-A, as well as right-hander Zach Pop and infielder Breyvic Valera.Renting out Trout would help the Los Angeles Angels to rebuild their farm system and set them up for future contention. And it would put the game's best player in a position to perform on the postseason stage, where he's logged a scant 15 plate appearances in seven-plus big league seasons.Picture Trout temporarily in the middle of the Chicago Cubs' or New York Yankees' lineups. Are you not intrigued?Jim McIsaac/Getty ImagesThe same could be said for any number of star players who are toiling for teams on the fringe of or essentially eliminated from contention: the Miami Marlins' J.T. Realmuto, the San Francisco Giants' Madison Bumgarner, the Cincinnati Reds' Joey Votto. They'd tip the balance of power wherever they landed while adding exponential excitement to October.This proposal will engender hired-gun cynicism. It's the antithesis of loyalty. If your loyalty lies with the guy donning the laundry of your choice above all else, surely you're fuming.But as MLB wrestles with declining attendance and waning enthusiasm, it needs to get creative. It needs to find ways to put the best players in the spotlight and crank up the drama.Plus, free agency has already decimated the concept of franchise fealty. Whatever lip service they pay to the fans and cities they temporarily call home, most players follow the money. As they should.Let's cast aside the charade, then, and admit it's about entertainment. Many in the NBA have embraced the superteam, where contenders load up on superstars intent on winning a title. Why shouldn't baseball follow suit?"I'd give up everything I have, all of the individual awards I've ever won, for a World Series," Trout said in June http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-greg-maddux-jersey , per USA Today's Bob Nightengale. "It would be so sick to win the World Series, ride around with that trophy, and see everyone so happy. That's something you dream about."Jae C. Hong/Associated PressUnfortunately for Trout, the Angels entered play Sunday 13 games behind the Houston Astros in the American League West and eight games off the wild-card pace. The odds that he'll realize his dream with the Halos in 2018 hover somewhere in the vicinity of zero.Would it be as sweet if he did it in another uniform? That's an open question. But it would be sweeter than watching the postseason from his couch.Trout, deGrom, Syndergaard et al. will likely remain with their current clubs in 2018. If you root for the Angels and Mets, then you're probably happy about that.If you're a fan of the game, on the other hand, it's an unfortunate reality鈥攚ith a possible, if drastic, fix.

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles trudged off the field following a historic loss http://www.metsfanproshop.com/authentic-jason-vargas-jersey , still not absorbing that they are part of one of the worst teams in franchise history.The Orioles lost to the Toronto Blue Jays 6-4 on Tuesday. It was the team’s 108th loss, the most in a season since arriving in Baltimore in 1954.“You’re either playing in October or you’re not,” manager Buck Showalter said. “But these types of things make people think how far away you are. Like I said before, those things can change quickly. A lot of things can get better.”The 1988 Orioles opened the season 0-21 and held the previous record for losses with a 54-107 finish. The overall franchise record for defeats is 111 set by the 1939 St. Louis Browns — a mark that could also be eclipsed by this year’s team.The Orioles led 4-2 in the seventh before a throwing error by third baseman Steve Wilkerson on a grounder by Teoscar Hernández allowed two runs to score. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. followed with a two-RBI single off reliever Paul Fry that that provided the margin of victory.Gurriel has reached base safely in 34 of his last 38 starts, batting .316 in that stretch.“I’ve noticed that (pitchers) changed a little bit, the way they approach me, and they are a little bit more careful,” Gurriel said through an interpreter. “But I have to do the same thing on my side to make adjustments. But I hit the ball hard lately, as well. I knew that was going to happen.”Dylan Bundy (8-15) started strong for the Orioles before being lifted with two outs in the seventh when the game unraveled. He was charged with five runs (two earned) and seven hits and six strikeouts. Bundy did not allow a home run for the first time since June 23, a span of 13 consecutive starts.“The season ain’t over yet, so I haven’t really wrapped my head around it yet,” Bundy said about the 108 losses. “I haven’t really thought about it too much. Just try to show up to work every day and get better.”Reliever Jake Petricka (3-1) pitched two scoreless innings. Tyler Clippard held the Orioles down in the eighth http://www.metsfanproshop.com/authentic-pedro-martinez-jersey , setting up Ken Giles to earn his 23rd save.“Sometimes you win ugly, sometimes you win pretty,” Toronto manager John Gibbons said.Cedric Mullins led off the first inning with his fourth home run.The Orioles extended the lead to 4-0 off Aaron Sanchez in the fourth. Trey Mancini led off with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by Breyvic Valera. Mancini was initially called out but a review showed he touched the plate before catcher Reese McGuire applied the tag. DJ Stewart followed with his first career single and Chris Davis scored on a throwing error by right fielder Billy McKinney. Stewart scored on a throwing error by Sanchez.“You run through things many times in your head about how you think it’s going to go, but that’s the great thing about this game,” Stewart said about his first hit. “You never know what it will bring you and I’m just happy I got it done.”The Blue Jays got on the board in the fifth on an RBI single by Dwight Smith Jr. A fielder’s choice by Justin Smoak an inning later cut the margin to 4-2.ANOTHER FIRST FOR ORIOLESThe Orioles players and coaches wore specially designed jerseys and became the first American pro team to wear jerseys with Braille lettering. Tuesday was National Federation of the Blind Night at Oriole Park, in recognition of the team moving its headquarters to Baltimore 40 years ago.DOMINANCEThe Blue Jays have struggled, but more than 20 percent of their wins have come against Baltimore, going 14-4. Toronto can complete a three-game sweep Wednesday.TRAINER’S ROOMOrioles: RHP Alex Cobb (blister) threw off a mound, but there is no timetable for his return. RHP Andrew Cashner is making progress with his injured knee, but manager Buck Showalter was uncertain if he will be pitch again this season. “Obviously, they’re both going to be with us next year and that will take precedent, to make sure that it’s in the best interest of their health Giancarlo Stanton Jersey ,” Showalter said. . Rookie RHP Luis Ortiz (hamstring) will not pitch over the final two weeks.UP NEXTBlue Jays: Marco Estrada (7-12, 5.75 ERA) was moved up a day after throwing only 55 pitches in his last outing against the Yankees, allowing eight runs and six hits.Orioles: Jimmy Yacabonis (0-2, 7.22 ERA) will make his fifth start of the season. ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves swept a three-game series in Pittsburgh last week, holding the Pirates to two total runs.The Braves, though, scored only nine runs themselves, and two of the victories were by one run.The teams meet in a three-game series at Atlanta’s SunTrust Park beginning Friday night with the Braves trying to hold off Philadelphia in the National League East and the Pirates no longer in playoff contention.Article continues below ...Anibal Sanchez (6-5, 3.05 ERA) is the scheduled starter for the Braves in the series opener, with fellow right-hander Jameson Taillon (10-9, 3.49) set to get the starting assignment for the Pirates.The Braves (74-59) saw their lead in the NL East cut to three games over the idle Phillies with a 5-4 loss to the Chicago Cubs in a makeup game Thursday night.It was the Braves’ sixth loss in their past seven home games and left them just 35-30 at SunTrust Park compared to 39-29 away from Atlanta.After losing two of three in St. Louis, the Pirates (65-69) are 12-20 since putting together an 11-game winning streak in July that kindled playoff hopes for the NL Central team. Taillon http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-derek-jeter-jersey , who is in his third major-league season, has never faced the Braves, and it has been two years since 13-year veteran Sanchez faced the Pirates, against whom he is 3-5 with a 3.62 ERA in eight career starts. Sanchez, 34, lost his two most recent starts, but allowed just nine hits and four runs over 12 1/3 innings against the Colorado Rockies and Miami Marlins.After allowing two hits over five scoreless innings at Miami on Saturday, Sanchez allowed a run in the sixth that put the Braves behind for good. He then left the game with two outs in the sixth with what the Braves termed right hamstring tightness.“He didn’t pop it, didn’t pull it, it was more I think probably a dehydration thing,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said afterward.Sanchez has had no lingering issues with the hamstring, although the injury did throw him off against the Marlins. “In the last hitters Alex Rodriguez Jersey , I started thinking I can push my body and that’s why I lost my command,” Sanchez said.Taillon, 26, hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in a start since May 22 and has a 2.95 ERA in the 16 starts since then.Taillon gave up one run in a victory over Milwaukee in his most recent outing on Saturday, going at least six innings for the sixth straight time and the eighth time in his past nine starts.“I knew the team needed innings,” Taillon said after beating the Brewers. “I enjoy that feeling. When the team needs me, that kind of sparks some extra energy.”Taillon has been especially tough on the road of late, going 6-2 with a 2.44 ERA in his last nine outings away from Pittsburgh.Pittsburgh is 9-18 against the NL East. Atlanta is 15-11 versus the NL Central.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Willians Astudillo has quickly become a fan favorite in Minnesota. Games like the one Astudillo had Thursday only help add to the reputation of the player affectionately known as “La Tortuga.”Astudillo had a career-high four RBIs http://www.indiansfanproshop.com/authentic-yan-gomes-jersey , Tyler Austin added three and the Twins beat the Detroit Tigers 9-3.Astudillo, playing in his 26th big league game, capped Minnesota’s five-run third inning when his two-out single drove in a pair of runs to give the Twins the lead. He also added a two-run double in the fifth.“I’m just trying to go out there and try to swing at good pitches and it’s working out for me so far,” Astudillo said through a translator. “Just swinging at good pitches, and thankfully I’m executing.”Minnesota took two of three against Detroit in the final series between the teams this year. The Twins won the season series 12-7.Tigers starter Francisco Liriano (5-12) left after just 2 1/3 innings due to lower back tightness. The former Twin exited with the bases loaded and wound up being charged with four runs.“He was having a hard time breathing out there,” manager Ron Gardenhire said. “He was trying not to land hard on his front foot, every time he landed hard on his front foot, he felt shooting pain. Just got to get him out of the game.”It was Liriano’s shortest start since the last time he faced the Twins back on Aug. 16, when he went just 1 2/3 innings.“This is not the way you want to finish the year, especially when you’re going to be a free agent,” Liriano said. “Very disappointed. I tried to pitch through it, but it didn’t get better, it was getting worse.”Austin tied the game in the third with a double that scored Joe Mauer and Logan Forsythe. He also plated Forsythe in the fifth inning with a ground-rule double.Astudillo has put together some impressive numbers since debuting with Minnesota in late June. Including Thursday’s two-hit, four-RBI game, Astudillo is now batting .357 with 19 RBIs. In the last two weeks Kenny Lofton Jersey , Astudillo is hitting .415 (22 for 53) and has 15 RBIs in that span.With a roster very much in question heading into the offseason, Astudillo is doing what he can to make a case for a roster spot in 2019.“It’s important, these guys that are trying to get at least somewhat established,” said Twins manager Paul Molitor. “It takes longer than a month to get yourself on the map, but you can make an impression.”The versatile Astudillo also struck out on a check swing in the second inning, just the third time on what was his 83rd plate appearance that he’s struck out with the Twins.“He doesn’t get to two strikes all that often,” Molitor said. “I was surprised to see a couple three-ball counts today. Liriano’s slider got him.”The Tigers threatened in the fifth with the bases loaded and one out. Minnesota reliever Matt Magill recorded two big outs to end the inning. Magill struck out Grayson Greiner looking before getting JaCoby Jones to go down swinging for the third out.Minnesota once again employed the opening pitcher strategy, with Gabriel Moya tossing just the first inning. The lefty gave up the game’s first run on a sacrifice fly by Nicholas Castellanos.Stephen Gonsalves (2-2) took over for Moya in the second and pitched 3 1/3 innings. Gonsalves was tagged for a pair of runs on three hits and four walks but earned his second career win.TRAINER’S ROOMTwins: Molitor didn’t sound optimistic that 3B Miguel Sano (leg) would return in the team’s final few games this season. “Each day it’s looking less and less,” Molitor said. “He’s not really changing how he’s feeling, and I’m certainly not going to be someone to push him out there if he’s not comfortable playing.” Sano last played on Sept. 18.UP NEXTTigers: RHP Jordan Zimmermann starts Friday’s game against the Brewers at Miller Park. He’s winless in his last three outings.Twins: RHP Jose Berrios (11-11, 3.93 ERA) starts the first game of a doubleheader Friday against the White Sox. Berrios is looking for his first win since Aug. 4. Two of the most decorated franchises in Major League Baseball are still alive in the postseason.The Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox have 31 World Series appearances between them, while their opponents, the Houston Astros and Milwaukee Brewers, have been to a combined three World Series.After the first two games of the ALCS and NLCS, the Dodgers and Astros appear to be in the best shape to advance to the Fall Classic since they each picked up a road victory.If the Astros and Dodgers make it to the World Series http://www.indiansfanproshop.com/authentic-jim-thome-jersey , they'll participate in the first World Series rematch since 1978, when the Dodgers took on the Yankees (New Yorkwon both).Boston is aiming to get back to the World Series for the first time since winning the championship in 2013, while Milwaukee is in search of its first Fall Classic berth since 1982.2018 World Series ScheduleGame 1:Tuesday, October 23 (Time TBD, Fox)Game 2:Wednesday, October 24 (Time TBD, Fox)Game 3:Friday, October 26 (Time TBD, Fox)Game 4:Saturday, October 27 (Time TBD, Fox)Game 5:Sunday, October 28 (Time TBD, Fox)Game 6:Tuesday, October 30 (Time TBD, Fox)Game 7:Wednesday Manny Ramirez Jersey , October 31 (Time TBD, Fox) PicksLos Angeles DodgersBefore the NLCS began, the Brewers appeared to have an advantage because of their hot bats, home field and strong bullpen.In two games, the Dodgers erased that home-field advantage by winning Game 2, held the Brewers to a .269 batting average and scored eight runs off Milwaukee's relievers.The Dodgers could take a commanding 2-1 lead Monday, with the impressive Walker Buehler starting.Jeff Roberson/Associated PressJustinTurner's game-winning home run in Game 2 might turn out to be the most important play of the series. Leadoff hitter Chris Taylor leads the series with five hits, and Manny Machado has a home run and three RBI out of the cleanup hole.Adding Turner's production out of the No. 2 spot in the lineup makes the Dodgers even more difficult to contain, and it puts the pressure on Milwaukee to match that level of production.One of the biggest concerns for the Brewers heading into the three games at Dodger Stadium is Christian Yelich's cold streak at the plate.The National League MVP front-runner has one hit in eight at-bats and has struck out on three occasions, while Ryan Braun is also 1-for-8 in the heart of the Milwaukee order.The other problem the Brewers have to deal with is the effectiveness of their bullpen and how manager Craig Counsell arranges his pitchers after he takes out his starter.Counsell removed Gio Gonzalez and Wade Miley earlier than he should have in Games 1 and 2, which led to the bullpen being overworked.If the Brewers are able to get quality outings out of their starters, beginning with Jhoulys Chacin in Game 3, they should be able to hold up against a Dodgers team that has a much easier time getting the ball to closer Kenley Jansen because of the long starts out of their staff.However, one slip-up will cost the Brewers, as the Dodgers lineup appears to be finding its form at the perfect time. Boston Red SoxBoston responded to a Game 1 defeat at home with a 7-5 victory at Fenway Park on Sunday night.Although David Price didn't get credit for the victory Danny Salazar Jersey , he pitched 4.2 decent innings to keep the Red Sox in the lead.If he's able to throw five or six innings without being torched by Houston in his next start, the Red Sox will take it.David J. Phillip/Associated PressBefore we can even think about a Chris Sale vs. Justin Verlander rematch of any kind in one or more of the final three games of the ALCS, the focus must shine on Games 3 and 4.Nathan Eovaldi and Rick Porcello will take the mound for the Red Sox against Dallas Keuchel and Charlie Morton, and while those matchups aren't the most intriguing on paper, they're going to make both games tight.Eovaldi is the only pitcher of the quartet with little playoff experience, but he impressed in his first career postseason start in Game 3 of the ALDS.The difference-making bats in the series have yet to emerge, as both teams are hitting .188 through two games despite combining for 21 runs.The Astros will hit more home runs over the course of the series, but the Red Soxwill be able to get more runners on base in order to capitalize on scoring opportunities.American League MVP favorite Mookie Betts will be the catalyst of Boston's lineup, as he'll add to his three ALCS hits with seven more in Houston.By setting the tone early through Betts, the Red Sox starters should be able to settle into a rhythm with a lead behind them.By following that path to victory in three of the remaining five games, the Red Sox will advance back to the World Series for a high-profile showdown with the Dodgers.Follow Joe on Twitter, JTansey90.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Matt Adams could see something special going on with the St. Louis Cardinals from the opposing side of the field with the Washington Nationals.He recognized the solid pitching and timely hitting that have made the Cardinals baseball’s hottest team in the dog days of August. So Adams couldn’t believe his luck when he found out St. Louis had claimed him off waivers earlier this week.The move brings Adams back to the organization that drafted him in 2009. More importantly Steve Pearce Jersey , he’s on a team that has gone from wild-card hopeful to threatening the NL Central-leading Cubs.“They’re playing with a fire and taking every pitch like it’s the last pitch they’ll ever play,” Adams said. “How they go about their daily business is something special to watch.”St. Louis has undergone quite a transformation since firing manager Mike Matheny on July 14.At that time, the Cardinals were 47-46 and trailed the Cubs by 7 ½ games. After sweeping the Dodgers on Wednesday to win their eighth consecutive series, the Cardinals have won 24 of 35 and are 17-4 this month to pull within 2 ½ games of Chicago.They’re tied for the NL’s top wild-card spot, too.Riding an eight-game road winning streak, St. Louis visits Colorado on Friday. The Cardinals are 37-29 away from home this season.“Everyone’s kind of getting amped up,” second baseman Kolten Wong said.The turnaround is happening under bench coach Mike Shildt, who replaced Matheny when he was fired after seven years in a dramatic move by a club that hasn’t changed managers often. Matheny was just the second since 1996.Shildt began as a scout with the Cardinals organization and eventually combined those duties with being a part-time minor league coach. Elevating the 50-year-old veteran to interim status has gone over well in the clubhouse.“Shildt’s been really good at letting us play our own game and letting us play the way we want to play. That’s the biggest thing,” Wong said. “We have so many different personalities and different guys in this clubhouse. You just have to allow people to be themselves and eventually people are going to mesh together.”Adams is eager to contribute, although there is no defined role for him. He could see time at first base against right-handed pitching or in left field with Marcell Ozuna on the disabled list or in right field.The Cardinals could use his left-handed bat off the bench. He hit 56 homers in his six previous seasons with the team.“I just kind of want to stay out of everybody’s way and do my part and mesh with them,” Adams said. “I don’t want to be that guy who comes in here and tries to do too much and messes up something special.”The Cardinals outscored Los Angeles 13-6 over three games in their first sweep at Dodger Stadium since 2006 http://www.bluejaysfanproshop.com/authentic-aaron-loup-jersey , putting the five-time defending NL West champions into a tailspin.St. Louis is succeeding with a mix of youngsters and veterans that have embraced each other.Rookies Jack Flaherty, Dakota Hudson and Jordan Hicks combined to hold the Dodgers to two hits Wednesday, when rookie Tyler O’Neill tied the game with a homer and Paul DeJong won it with a two-run shot.Yadier Molina has found his stride, too, hitting a go-ahead two-run homer Tuesday. Wong made what Shildt called a “Gold Glove-caliber” defensive play the same night. The defense is holding the opposition to an average of 3.44 runs, best in the NL since the All-Star break.“These guys have ability and they have aggression. They believe in themselves and they’re in attack mode,” Shildt said. “It’s about not giving in, regardless of the situation.”In just over a month, the Cardinals have gone from a team in line to miss the playoffs for a third straight year — something they haven’t done since 1997-99 — to contending for a division title.Adams has fond memories of his previous playoff runs with the Cardinals.“I want to get back there this year,” he said. ATLANTA (AP) — Rookie star Ronald Acuna Jr. was back in the lineup for the Atlanta Braves on Thursday, one day after being plunked in the left arm with a pitch that sparked a national debate about whether it’s ever acceptable to throw at a hitter intentionally.Acuna said his elbow felt fine less than 24 hours after he took a 97 mph fastball from Miami’s Jose Urena .Major League Baseball doled out a six-game suspension to the Marlins pitcher.In the opener of an important four-game series against the Colorado Rockies Matt Adams Jersey , Acuna received a standing ovation from the crowd at SunTrust Park. He playfully patted umpire Pat Hoberg on his way to the plate and started the bottom of the first with a sharp single up the middle.The 20-year-old phenom finished 1 for 4, snapping a streak of five straight games with a homer that tied a franchise record. In his final chance to set a mark all his own, Acuna lined out to right in the eighth. The Rockies rallied for three unearned runs in the ninth to beat the Braves 5-3, shaving Atlanta’s NL East lead to 1½ games over Philadelphia.As a precaution, Acuna wore a red protective pad on his left arm.“Obviously, it was kind of a hard hit,” Acuna said through a translator after taking an early session of batting practice at SunTrust Park . “But I’m not feeling any pain and I feel good right now.”The Braves breathed a big sigh of relief, knowing what a significant injury would have meant to their postseason chances.Acuna tried to stay in the game after being hit by Urena’s first pitch Wednesday, but he had to leave in the second inning . X-rays taken shortly afterward were negative, and the Braves also ordered a CT scan to make sure their prized rookie was OK. The scan came back normal, and Acuna was cleared to play.With help from multilingual teammate Ender Inciarte http://www.nationalsfanproshop.com/authentic-kevin-long-jersey , Acuna even crafted a text to Brian Snitker letting the Braves manager know he was ready to go.Snitker, who was ejected the previous night along with Urena for leading a charge from the Atlanta dugout, was clearly relieved.“It’s nice to be 20 and strong,” the manager said with a smile. “I’m as excited as I can be that he gets to go out there and play today.”Acuna has lived up to the hype since being called up by the Braves early in the season. In recent days, he’s been downright unstoppable with homers in five straight games — including leadoff shots in three straight games before he was struck by Urena’s pitch.The five-game homer streak remained intact under baseball rules because Acuna didn’t have an official at-bat in the finale of the series against the Marlins, which was won by the Braves to complete a four-game sweep . In a quirk of baseball scoring, the leadoff streak ended.Now, both streaks are over.Acuna failed in his bid to become the first Braves player in the modern era to homer in six straight games. The major league record is eight in a row, shared by Ken Griffey Jr. (1993), Don Mattingly (1987) and Dale Long (1956). While Urena insisted he was merely trying to pitch inside to set up Acuna for an outside pitch , Snitker was livid about the incident. The manager said he had no doubt about the Miami right-hander’s intent: It was intentional.“Absolutely http://www.nationalsfanproshop.com/authentic-joaquin-benoit-jersey ,” Snitker said. “Just watching it, I can tell.”It’s long been an unwritten rule in baseball that a hot hitter can expect to be brushed back. Former first baseman Keith Hernandez, now a New York Mets broadcaster, took it a step further by saying the Marlins had every right to bean Acuna under the circumstances .“You’ve lost three games. He’s hit three homers. You’ve got to hit him,” Hernandez said during the Mets-Orioles game. “I’m sorry. People are not going to like that, but you’ve got to hit him.”Snitker scoffed at Hernandez’s logic.“I don’t buy that at all,” the Braves manager said. “I would not ever begrudge somebody for doing the job they’re trying to do. You don’t want him to hit hitters? Pitch better.”Joe Torre, MLB’s chief disciplinary officer, imposed a suspension that would begin Friday unless Urena appeals. The pitcher would have to push back a scheduled start but could make his return against the Braves; the NL East rivals meet in another four-game series at Miami beginning next Thursday.An appeal would likely push back Urena’s next appearance against the Braves to 2019.Torre also handed Braves first base coach Eric Young a one-game suspension for his actions during the melee after both dugouts emptied. Young accepted the punishment and missed Thursday’s game.Colorado manager Bud Black said there will always be a fine line between pitching inside and hitting a batter intentionally.“Hitting home runs is part of the game, right? Hitters are trying to hit the ball hard. Pitchers are trying to do everything they can to keep hitters from hitting,” said Black Ryan Zimmerman Jersey , a former pitcher. “A lot of that is disrupting timing, a lot of that is throwing the ball down and away — tough to hit a homer down there — and some of that is pitching inside aggressively to keep guys from looking out over the plate.”Acuna has really flourished since moving into the leadoff spot right after the All-Star break. He raised his average to .287 with 19 homers, 43 RBIs and nine stolen bases, igniting the Braves with his enthusiasm and seemingly boundless energy while making sure never to show up an opponent.“I feel he’s respecting the game,” Inciarte said. “You don’t want to see anybody getting hit for no reason.”