American League Finalists: Blake Snell Ozzie Albies Jersey , SP, Tampa Bay Rays; Justin Verlander, SP, Houston Astros; Corey Kluber, SP, ClevelandNational League Finalists: Jacob deGrom, SP, New York Mets; MaxScherzer, SP, Washington Nationals; Aaron Nola, SP, Philadelphia PhilliesSnell was absurd in 2018, finishing 21-5 with a 1.89 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 221 strikeouts. While his career is on the rise, the ageless Verlander may pitch forever, finishing his age-35 season with an incredible 2.52 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and a league-leading 290 strikeouts.They're the favorites, though Kluber was no slouch, posting a 2.89 ERA, 0.99 ERA and 222 strikeouts.The National League, meanwhile http://www.bravesfanproshop.com/authentic-mike-foltynewicz-jersey , was always a three-man race.Mike Puma NYPost_MetsThe NL鈥檚 3 Cy Young finalists: deGrom, Nola and Scherzer. ... but you knew that a few months ago.DeGrom is the favorite (1.70 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 269 strikeouts), while Scherzer (2.53 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, league-leading 220.2 IP and 300 strikeouts) is nipping on his heels. Nola was amazing as well, finishing with a 2.37 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 224 strikeouts. Rookie of the YearVictor Decolongon/Getty ImagesAmerican League Finalists:Shohei Ohtani, SP/DH, Los Angeles Angels;Miguel Andujar, 3B, New York Yankees; Gleyber Torres, 2B, New York YankeesNational League Finalists: Ronald Acuna Jr., OF, Atlanta Braves; Walker Buehler, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers; Juan Soto, OF, Washington NationalsWhat didn't Ohtani do this season?He impressed on the mound (3.31 ERA Danny Santana Jersey , 1.16 WHIP, 63 strikeouts in 10 starts) before needing Tommy John surgery. He also impressed at the plate, hitting .285 with 22 homers and 61 RBI. It's been a long time since baseball has seen a player who could make an impact as a pitcher and a hitter. While the pitching has been shelved for a while, he's more than dangerous enough at the plate to make a difference for the Angels.Bill Shaikin BillShaikinShohei Ohtani (#Angels) is one of the three AL Rookie of the Year finalists. The other finalists: Miguel Andujar (Yankees), Gleyber Torres (Yankees).Winner announced next Monday. I dont have a vote. If I did? Gotta be Ohtani: GPjvwF0milAdam Rank adamrankAngels If Ohtani doesnt win we riot.After Ohtani comes a pair of Yankees. Torres hit 24 homers and 77 RBI in just 123 games, while Andujar was just as impressive, blasting 27 dingers and recording 92 RBI.In the NL, good luck distinguishing these three candidates, as each were magnificent in 2018. Acuna is probably the slight front-runner after hitting .293 with 26 homers and 64 RBI, but both Buehler (8-5, 2.62 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 151 strikeouts) and Soto (.292 with 22 dingers and 70 RBI) are deserving of the award.Manager of the YearAdam Glanzman/Getty ImagesAmerican League Finalists: Kevin Cash, Tampa Bay Rays; Alex Cora, Boston Red Sox; Bob Melvin, Oakland AthleticsNational League Finalists: Bud Black, Colorado Rockies; Craig Counsell, Milwaukee Brewers; Brian Snitker, Atlanta BravesCash and the Rays didn't make the postseason, but they did win 90 games with the second-lowest Opening Day payroll in baseball. The lowest payroll? That belonged to the Athletics, who won 97 games and reached the postseason.And then there's Cora, who led the Red Sox to 108 wins http://www.bravesfanproshop.com/authentic-brandon-mccarthy-jersey , the most in baseball and a franchise record. Boston's World Series title won't factor into this award, but Cora did enough during the regular season to justify winning it.There aren't any surprises in the NL, either, with Snitker and Counsell leading their clubs to surprising division titles this season (and Counsell leading the Brewers to a franchise-record 96 wins), while Black got the Rockies to the postseason for the second straight year. TOKYO (AP) — All-Star catcher Yadier Molina hopes to throw out some speedy runners. Don Mattingly looks forward to seeing Japan’s national team.Mattingly and Molina are in Japan as part of a Major League Baseball All-Star tour that features six games against Japan.The series begins on Friday with three games on consecutive nights at Tokyo Dome followed by one game in Hiroshima on Nov. 13 and two games in Nagoya on Nov. 14 and 15.Mattingly was a coach with the New York Yankees when Hideki Matsui played there, and got to know Ichiro Suzuki with the Miami Marlins.But this will be his first experience managing against a Japanese team.“I’ve been able to work with Hideki in New York and had Ichiro in Miami,” Mattingly said Wednesday. “The culture and the love for baseball is something that is fun to watch, the work ethic of the Japanese players and the fundamentals seem so solid.”In addition to St. Louis Cardinals’ catcher Molina, the MLB squad includes three other 2018 All-Stars; Seattle Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger, Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto, and infielder Eugenio Suarez of the Cincinnati Reds.Molina, who won a ninth Gold Glove award this season, is one of three catchers on the tour along with Realmuto and Robinson Chirinos of the Texas Rangers.The two leading contenders for 2018 National League Rookie of the Year are also part of the tour— Juan Soto of the Washington Nationals and Ronald Acuna Jr., of the Atlanta Braves.MLB will return to Japan next spring with a two-game opening series between the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners at Tokyo Dome, marking the fifth time MLB has opened a season in Tokyo and first since 2012, when the A’s and Mariners also played.Mattingly was previously in Japan in 2004 when the Yankees opened the season against Tampa Bay in Tokyo.Matsui, who started his professional career at Tokyo Dome with the Yomiuri Giants, will serve as a first base coach for the MLB All-Stars.“It’s great to be back in Japan with this Yankees uniform on,” Matsui said. “I’ve never been a first base coach before so I’m a bit anxious. I’ll try not to hurt the team.”Pitchers will not be allowed to throw more than 80 pitches per game. If a pitcher throws more than 50 pitches, he must have four days of rest before being able to throw in another game.