DENVER (AP) — Kyle Freeland was a 14-year-old Rockies fan when Colorado made its improbable run to the 2007 World Series.Eleven years later http://www.redsfanproshop.com/authentic-cliff-pennington-jersey , he has gone from fanatical follower to a reason the franchise is in the hunt for its first division title.Freeland pitched six strong innings, Wade Davis worked out of a ninth-inning jam and the Rockies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2 on Saturday night to remain atop the NL West.The Rockies are 6-1 in September, evoking memories of Rocktober 11 years ago when Freeland, born and raised in Denver, was in middle school.“I remember it like it was yesterday. I think about it quite a bit, something that was very special to me,” he said. “Even though I wasn’t part of the organization, I was part of the city and it holds a special place in my heart, being here and being a part of this team that has a chance to do something special like that again.”Chris Iannetta and Charlie Blackmon homered for Colorado, and Davis allowed a run before striking out Yasmani Grandal with a man aboard to finish his 39th save.Colorado moved 1 1/2 games ahead the second-place Dodgers. The Rockies are alone in first place after August for the first time since 1995 and have never won a division title.Chris Taylor homered for Los Angeles, which made it interesting in the ninth. Max Muncy hit an RBI double with two outs before Davis struck out Grandal looking.The Dodgers have scored three or fewer runs in seven of their last nine games.“Offensively, we just can’t get synced up,” manager Dave Roberts said. “I think the at-bats are there. It’s just the results aren’t there.”Freeland (14-7) had something to do with that in his career-high 28th start. He lowered his ERA to 2.91 with another strong outing against a lineup of all right-handed hitters. He allowed one run and four hits and struck out eight for his seventh consecutive quality start and 20th of the season.With three weeks left in the season, he has a chance to record the best ERA ever by a Rockies starter. Ubaldo Jimenez’s 2.88 ERA in 2010 is the lowest in franchise history.Freeland has a 2.99 career ERA at Coors Field Anthony DeSclafani Jersey , the lowest in the park’s history among pitchers with 50 innings.“I think you saw what we’ve seen from Kyle all year,” manager Bud Black said. “He pitched outstanding.”Iannetta gave Colorado a 1-0 lead with his 10th homer leading off the second against Walker Buehler (6-5). Ian Desmond drove in David Dahl with a single in the third and Blackmon hit a two-run shot in the fifth to make it 4-1.Taylor homered off Freeland in the top of the fifth for Los Angeles’ first run.“He’s got really good stuff and you try to take advantage when he makes a mistake and leaves it out over the plate,” Taylor said.RESTLESS NIGHT OFFColorado third baseman Nolan Arenado understood why he wasn’t in the starting lineup, but he wasn’t happy with sitting. The All-Star and five-time Gold Glove Award winner is 5 of 39 at the plate in his last 10 games, which has dropped his average below .300. He hasn’t hit a home run since Aug. 24 and has gone deep only three times since the end of July.Despite the prolonged power outage, he wanted to play.“I don’t make those calls,” he said. “I don’t want it, but there’s no beating around it, I’m not play well. That’s why I’m not playing today.”Arenado has been battling a sore right shoulder that bothers him when he throws but not his swing. Manager Bud Black said a night off might help.“Offensively, it just doesn’t feel right,” he said. “His timing’s off, there’s some other things going on.”EXTRA! EXTRA!With Taylor’s home run, the Dodgers now have seven players with at least 15 homers and 15 doubles in a season for the first time in franchise history.Los Angeles had six players reach those marks in two previous seasons (1949 and 2017).GRAND MILESTONERockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu’s single in the first inning was the 1,000th hit of his career. He added another single in the eighth inning.UP NEXTIt will be a battle of lefties in the finale of the three-game series on Sunday. The Dodgers will send Rich Hill (7-5 Adam Duvall Jersey , 3.73) to the mound and the Rockies will counter with Tyler Anderson (6-7, 4.80). An important lesson in transcribing interviews."UPDATE (February 7): Cleveland.com has since edited the original interview to clarify Chris Antonetti’s statements on signing players long-term. Turns out he was, in fact, not trying to call out his star player for not being an ideal player on and off the field, but was asked a completely separate question, which was not in the original article. While it’s still ultimately disappointing that the Indians haven’t reached an extension with Lindor, at least now it sounds like the very reasonable explanation of “Francisco Lindor wants an absolute boatload of money which he absolutely deserves” and not that the Indians don’t believe in him. Below is my original post about the question, unedited for posterity. Take a second and breathe. Let’s all be rational adults here. Chris Antonetti answered a bunch of questions from Paul Hoynes, none of which had any kind of follow-up, and in one of them he sort of sounded like he was trashing his best player who is slated to be a free agent in two years. It’s fine. Everything is fine. This is fine. Let’s just look at the quote, surely it’s fine. Oh mama. Surely there’s some context we’re missing. What does he say next? Oh noooooooo.Ok, hold up. Maybe he’s not talking about Lindor, specifically. Just one of those overly broad corporate answers. Of course they need to find the right player, but there’s nothing in Hoynes’ question that would suggest he’s talking about Frankie Michael Lorenzen Jersey , right?Oh nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.I’ve looked over these quotes countless times now, trying to find a way that I’m possibly reading it wrong. Is there any way that Indians President Chris Antonetti is not implying his All-Star shortstop is not the “right type of person that will positively contribute on the field and in our clubhouse?” Hoynes asked nothing about either one of those things, only if recent paycuts had to do with extending Lindor and yet here he goes on this mini spiel about it. Implying that they haven’t made a “bet” on Lindor yet because they have to be sure he brings on field production and in the clubhouse is just flat-out bizarre. Did Antonetti forget that he was asked specifically about Lindor and initiated his Generic Response to Contract Extension Protocol? Because I’m pretty sure Lindor has proved he can contribute on the field, unless the Indians are really going off the deep end about not retaining players over 30. At the very least, the implication of the first quote is that the Indians front office still isn’t sure that Lindor can contribute and being a clubhouse presence going forward and that’s why they haven’t pulled the trigger on an extension. The second quote could make sense, given that the Indians have reportedly been trying to sign Lindor to a long-term as far back as spring training 2017 — a story broken by small child Brody Chernoff. At the time, the deal was supposedly $100 million for seven years, but that was when Francisco Lindor was only a Rookie of the Year runner-up and All-Star, World Series starting shortstop. Now he also has an additional 7.6 fWAR season under his belt and a looming CBA negotiation that could mean more money in his pocket down the road. He bet on himself and won, big time. What I’m saying is, I wouldn’t blame Lindor for not signing and extension now, and I wouldn’t blame Antonetti for feeling like the Indians have tried but nothing is working. But good lord, phrasing things the way he did mere weeks after losing a pair of clubhouse guys in Yan Gomes and Michael Brantley and potentially alienating another in Corey Kluber by dangling him on the trade market just doesn’t sit right. This feels weird.
Is Kikuchi the next Shohei Ohtani?"Let’s go ahead and take care of one question right away - no http://www.brewersfanproshop.com/authentic-orlando-arcia-jersey , Yusei Kickuchi is not the next Shohei Ohtani. First, Kikuchi is 27, is 3 years older than Ohtani. Second, he is not a two-way player. Third, he has his natural UCL still intact. Too soon?The cost of acquiring Kikuchi is a moving number based on his age and new posting rules that went into effect this off-season. Ohtani was subject to International spending restrictions because of his age Boone Logan Jersey , but Kikuchi is not. Teams will need to negotiate a contact with Kikuchi and then pay the Seibu Lions a fee based on that contract:Contract worth $25 million or less: 20 percent of total guaranteeContract worth $25 million and $50 million: $5 million plus 17.5 percent of amount over $25 millionContract worth $50 million: $9.375 million plus 15 percent of amount over $50 millionWhy would the Angels want him?Kikuchi has been NPB’s best pitcher the last few seasons and has been pretty durable as well, tossing 350.4 innings over the past two years. Over his career, he’s logged 1035.1 innings with 925 Ks and a 2.81 ERA in 8 seasons.Like most Japanese pitchers, Kikuchi has a nice arsenal of pitches. His fastball sits in the mid 90s, and he throws a curve Josh Hader Jersey , slider, and splitter that are all above average pitches. Can they land him?It’s unknown if Ohtani would welcome Kikuchi into the fold, given that he came to MLB last year looking for a team that didn’t have a Japanese star already on their roster. But now that he has arrived, that may be a moot point AND it may have just been a rumor as well.Scott Boras could be a factor in that his being involved should drive up the price on Kikuchi and push it up to teams with larger payrolls. However, there may be an appeal for Kikuchi to play in Anaheim and throw alongside Shohei Ohtani while taking the field with the greatest player in the game - Mike Trout.Certainly the Angels could benefit from a strong lefty arm on the roster Starlin Castro Jersey , and so far they have been very silent on the starting pitcher front. Of course Billy Eppler always plays it close to the vest and if he is indeed in on Kikuchi, we probably won’t catch any wind of it until the signing is announced. Go get him Billy! SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Outfielder Matt Joyce has reached agreement on a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants following his release by Cleveland.The Giants announced Wednesday the non-roster addition of Joyce, who is 34 and spent the past two seasons across the bay with Oakland. He played in just 83 games last season while dealing with a lingering back injury, batting .208 with seven home runs and 15 RBIs.The Indians signed Carlos Gonzalez to a minor league deal Tuesday, making Joyce expendable. He was released from his minor league contract http://www.marlinsfanproshop.com/authentic-starlin-castro-jersey , making him a free agent.Joyce, a left-handed hitter, had 25 homers and 68 RBIs while batting .243 in 141 games for the Athletics in 2017. He gives manager Bruce Bochy more depth for now in an outfield that is expected to feature Steven Duggar, Gerardo Parra and Mac Williamson. Cameron Maybin also joined the Giants on a minor league deal this spring.
PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks have been baseball’s best first-inning team and they added to those numbers with Paul Goldschmidt’s two-run homer Wednesday night.The way Clay Buchholz has been pitching Roberto Alomar Jersey , it was more than enough.Goldschmidt homered to set the all-time mark at Chase Field, Buchholz pitched seven scoreless innings and the Diamondbacks earned a 5-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.“It seems like every day. This team is pretty amazing when you look at the runs scored in the first inning,” Buchholz said.The Diamondbacks have a knack for jumping on teams early, leading the majors in first-inning runs with 109.Goldschmidt increased the total with his two-run shot off Odrisamer Despaigne (2-2), passing Luis Gonzalez with his 96th homer at Chase Field. Goldschmidt had three hits to extend his hitting streak to 14 games and has reached safely in 27 straight.Buchholz (7-2) yielded four hits and struck out seven with no walks for his eighth straight game of at least five innings and three runs or fewer allowed.David Peralta also hit a two-run shot to homer for the third straight game. The Diamondbacks have won six of seven to maintain a 1 1/2-game lead in the NL West over Colorado.“It all started with Clay tonight,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “He goes out and gives us seven scoreless and really set the tone for us for the course of this game.”The injury-depleted Angels had five hits — two by Rene Rivera — and lost for the fifth time in six games.“I thought we had some pretty good looks at him (Buchholz), hit some balls hard, but he got in his rhythm and started to change some speeds midway through,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.Buchholz has been sharp the past two months, entering Wednesday’s game 5-1 with 2.00 ERA over seven starts, including his 10th career complete game against San Diego last Thursday. He kept the Angels off balance most of the night, allowing three singles and a double.Despaigne gave up five runs and seven hits in four innings against Texas on Friday in his second start since being acquired from Miami on Aug. 14 for cash. The right-hander served up Goldschmidt’s first-inning homer and a run-scoring single to Nick Ahmed in the fourth.Despaigne allowed three runs and five hits in four innings.“He made a couple of mistakes: One to Goldschmidt and the other one to Ahmed,” Rivera said. “Besides that he was OK. His pitch count was a little high but overall he did OK.”PUJOLS’ PLAYAngels 1B Albert Pujols made a spectacular play in the sixth inning to take a hit away from Steven Souza Jr. Souza hit a ball off the end of the bat down the line and Pujols made a diving stop Nick Markakis Jersey , tossing the ball to pitcher Ty Buttrey as he was rolling over to get the out.PERALTA’S RUNPeralta has been one of the best hitters in baseball in August, going 21 for 51 with eight homers and 14 RBIs in his past 12 games. He has six homers in nine games and 25 on the season after going 2 for 4 against the Angels.“I keep saying it, he’s on his way to having a special year,” Lovullo said.TRAINER’S ROOMAngels: 2B David Fletcher was replaced by Kaleb Cowart in the fourth after fouling a pitch off his left knee in the top half. Scioscia said Fletcher is day-to-day with a bruise and hopes to have him back Friday against Houston.UP NEXTAngels: LHP Andrew Heaney is 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in two starts against the Astros going into Friday’s game.Diamondbacks: RHP Zack Godley is 4-0 with a 3.26 ERA over his last eight starts heading into Friday’s home game against Seattle. KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Brad Keller kept up his recent pitching surge with another strong outing.Keller gave up a home run to the first batter of the game — Cedric Mullins — but quickly settled in to pitch eight strong innings in the Kansas City Royals‘ 9-2 win over the Baltimore Royals in a matchup of the teams with the worst records in the majors.“Every time he takes the mound, you expect him to keep you in the ballgame,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “He just did what he does so well. He keeps the ball on the ground and did a nice job doing that.”Keller (7-5) gave up two runs and four hits with two walks and four strikeouts to improve to 3-0 with a 2.16 ERA in his last four starts.“I was just trying to get in a groove and throw strikes,” he said. “I just made a mistake (to Mullins). You’ve got a long game after that. You’ve got to flush it and lock it back in.Ryan O’Hearn homered among his three hits and drove in four runs, Whit Merrifield scored three runs, and Hunter Dozier and Cam Gallagher also went deep to help the Royals win for the fifth time in six games on their current homestand.“They’re not exactly household names yet, O’Hearn, Dozier and Gallagher,” Yost said. “But they’re doing okay. You watch Dozier who looks totally comfortable now. O’Hearn has always been a guy with a lot of confidence that he can hit. It’s nice to see Cam get off to a good start too.”With the scored tied 1-1 in the fourth Babe Ruth Jersey , Andrew Cashner (4-13) gave up a sacrifice fly to Merrifield after loading the bases on two walks and a single. Dozier led off the fifth inning with a 423-foot home run to left field to make it 3-1.“(Cashner) was having trouble gripping his breaking ball,” Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said. “He never really got a feel for it. He’d throw a couple and it’s just hard to go through that many hitters, especially lefthanders, without a feel for a breaking ball. I think the last home run is the one that’s going to stick with him. He could have come out of that with three runs, not being able to do the things he normally does.”The Orioles pulled within a run in the sixth when Mullins led off with a double just beyond the reach of Dozier at third, advanced to third on a fly ball and scored on Trey Mancini’s sacrifice fly to the wall in right.The Royals answered in the bottom of the inning as Gallagher hit his first home run of the season, ending Cashner’s night.“I think he was trying to get it out over the plate but it backed up on him,” said Gallagher, who was recalled from Triple-A Omaha Friday after the Royals traded catcher Drew Butera to the Colorado Rockies. “He just left it middle-in and I was able to get a good swing on it.”Cashner, who has given up a career-high 21 homers, allowed four runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out one.“That was probably some of the worst stuff I’ve carried into a game,” Cashner said. “My sinker was not there tonight. (My) offspeed pitches were not there. (I) didn’t really command anything for a strike.”O’Hearn added a two-run single off Yefry Ramirez later in the sixth to push Kansas City’s lead to 6-2. Dozier’s RBI single in the eighth drove in Merrifield for his third run scored of the game, and O’Hearn added a two-run homer off Ryan Meisinger to cap the scoring.TRANSACTIONSOrioles: OF Joey Rickard was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk. … RHP Jhan Marinez was reinstated from the 10-day disabled list (right hamstring strain). He cleared waivers and was assigned outright to Norfolk. … OF Craig Gentry was designated for assignment.Royals: Butera was traded to the Colorado Rockies for LHP Jerry Vasto http://www.bravesfanproshop.com/authentic-nick-markakis-jersey , who was assigned to Triple-A Omaha. … OF Brian Goodwin was reinstated from the 10-day disabled list.TRAINER’S ROOMOrioles: OF Mullins, who missed Wednesday’s game with a hip injury, was back in the lineup in the leadoff spot. “I’m feeling good,” he said prior to Friday’s game. “I’m excited to get back out. I’ve been with the trainers; we’ve had some intense treatment going on, but I feel really good.”Royals: C Salvador Perez was held out of the lineup for precautionary reasons with a mild strain of his left thumb. Perez, who missed Wednesday’s game against Detroit, hurt the thumb on Tuesday when he lost his grip on the bat during a swing against the Tigers. Manager Ned Yost said Perez could have caught Friday, but swinging would be difficult. Perez was replaced in the lineup by Gallagher.UP NEXTOrioles RHP Dylan Bundy (7-13, 5.37 ERA) will face another Royals rookie pitcher as RHP Heath Fillmyer (2-1, 4.21) takes the mound for Kansas City. Fillmyer will make his first career start against the Orioles. Bundy is 1-1 with a 5.87 ERA all-time against Kansas City, including one start this year May 8 in Baltimore, in which he gave up seven earned runs without recording an out.
Purple Row’s Sam Bradfield joined the BSN Rockies podcast to recap the Rockies’ performance in the Arizona Fall League."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Scaling the RocksPebble ReportRockpileRockies Game ThreadsRockies Fan ExperienceRockpileColorado Rockies’ young talent shines in the Arizona Fall LeagueNew http://www.giantsfanproshop.com/authentic-evan-longoria-jersey ,26commentsRockies news and links for November 24, 2018each MLB team that could conceivably be included in contract swaps. The reason behind such a swap is typically due to financial reasons, but “change of scenery” deals are also possible motivations. There is an admitted liberalness to the number of players included, as players like Goldschmidt, Od煤bel Herrera and Brandon Crawford are certainly in different situations from the albatross contracts of players such as Miguel Cabrera, Albert Pujols and Chris Davis. Rather, an organization could be looking to move a player to achieve more financial flexibility when adding other components to their roster.For the Rockies, Ian Desmond, Wade Davis, Jake McGee and Bryan Shaw are given a mention as candidates, though it would be tough to imagine any team willing to take on any of these contracts given performance and/or salary, as the case may be. The Rockies also haven’t necessarily expressed an interest in moving on from any of the aforementioned contracts. Nelson Cruz doesn’t have a lot of options in free agency | Beyond the Box ScoreAs Luis Torres of Beyond the Box Score points out http://www.giantsfanproshop.com/authentic-evan-longoria-jersey , there aren’t many options available to 38-year-old Nelson Cruz in free agency. Cruz has bestowed one of the best bats in baseball over the past several seasons, but even if he somehow possesses the durability to handle everyday outfield play, his defense will assuredly still leave something to be desired. However, according to Cruz’s Instagram, he is learning first base. The Rockies haven’t been averse to handing the first base reins to those inexperienced at the position in the past. Cruz will probably sign with an American League team that will give him the opportunity to be a full-time designated hitter and things would have to get really creative if Cruz were to join the Rox, but this is one of the more productive right-handed bats on the market for the price. Just something fun to imagine鈥 The Milwaukee Brewers are one win away from sweeping the National League Division Series after their4-0victory over the Colorado Rockies in Game 2 at Miller Park on Friday.After their dramatic 10th-inning walk-off in Game 1, the Brewers once again held Colorado's offense at bay. Jhoulys Chacin, starting on three days rest, tossed five shutout innings with three hits, three walks and three strikeouts.Mike Moustakas, who delivered the game-winning single Thursday, carried over his momentum to Game 2. The two-time All-Star went 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored. Christian Yelich made an impact without recording a hit Mark Melancon Jersey , going 0-for-2 with two walks and a run scored.Meanwhile, offense remains a problem for the Rockies. They have scoredfour runs in three playoff games dating back to the NL Wild Card Game against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday.Brewers' Bullpen Receives Huge Boost with Jhoulys Chacin's Strong StartMilwaukee manager Craig Counsell went with a bullpen day in Game 1, using six pitchers in 10 innings, so going with Chacin on short rest had the potential to be a disaster.Instead, the former Rockies ace responded with his third straight start of allowing one or fewer runs over at least five innings. He did it Friday under all-new circumstances:Todd Rosiak Todd_RosiakPitching on three days rest for the first time in his career, Jhoulys Chacin threw 85 pitches. Thats the most hes thrown in a start since Aug. 31 (102).In recording the first 15 outs, Chacin allowed Counsell to set up the bullpen how he wanted over the final four innings. Corey Knebel only threw 12 pitches in the sixth after going for 1.2 innings in Game 1.The Rockies were able to get the tying run on third with one out in the top of the seventh. But Joakim Soria struck out Matt Holliday, and Josh Hader only threw two pitches before getting Charlie Blackmon to line out to end the threat.Jeremy Jeffress responded after blowing the save Thursday by allowing two runs in the ninth and had two scoreless innings to close out Game 2.The strength of Milwaukee's pitching staff is the bullpen, but that unit needs starters to eat some of the innings to avoid being taxed early in the playoffs. Chacin gave the Brewers what they needed.Now, the pitching staff gets a day off before trying to finish off the series Sunday. Rockies' Quiet Bats Must Take Advantage of Coors FieldThese aren't your parents' Rockies, who used to be built on a lineup that was capable of scoring 10 runs seemingly at the drop of a hat.Depth has been a significant problem throughout the 2018 campaign. The Rockies had the third-worst weighted on-base average (.289) and the second-worst weighted runs created plus (78) in road games this season, perFanGraphs.Going byBaseball Reference's OPS+ Deion Sanders Jersey , where 100 is average, only Blackmon (115), Trevor Story (127) and Nolan Arenado (133) were above that threshold. That trio is 3-for-23 with two RBI and nine strikeouts against the Brewers.Dave Althouse davealthouseThe Rockies offense in this series... rs95DldlJEMark Haas markhaastvThe #Rockies pitching staff deserves to be heading home with the series at least 1-1. The #Rockies offense deserves to be heading home down 0-2.The results through three playoff games away from Coors Field have been alarming. The Rockies have 21 hits in 32 innings, including one for extra bases in two games against the Brewers.Despite the dire results so far, there is hope. The Colorado offense had an OPS 187 points higher at Coors Field (.852) than on the road (.665).The Brewers will be starting Miley in Game 3. The Rockies hit .272/.336/.462 against southpaws and led MLB with 258 runs scored against them during the regular season.Milwaukee's Timely Hitting Has Rockies Searching for AnswersEven though the Brewers are celebrating a 2-0 series lead, their lineup isn't setting the scoreboard on fire.They did break through with three runs in the eighth inning of Game 2, nearly matching their total from the first 17 innings of the series (four).But baserunning blunders have cost Milwaukee additional runs.Ryan Braun was thrown out trying to score from second on a wild pitch in the first inning of Game 1.On Friday,Hernan Perez was thrown out at third after being caught in a rundown as he attempted a double steal in the bottom of the fourth inning, withRockies starter Tyler Anderson walking a tight rope to keep it a one-run deficit.Unlike the Rockies, though, the Brewers have been able to get timely hits that make up for those blunders. Moustakas and Yelich have carried the offense through the first two games.FOX Sports: MLB MLBONFOXMoose has just gone straight clutch mode for the #Postseason fCJUIg1UG8That duo has combined to go 5-for-13 with one home run, one double Alen Hanson Jersey , four RBI, four runs scored and five walks. Erik Kratz broke open Game 2 with a two-run single in the bottom of the eighth to make it 4-0.The Rockies couldn't have asked for more from their pitching staff, yet their efforts have been for naught. Coors Field has been their great equalizer this year. Only three NL teams鈥攖he Brewers, Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies鈥攈ad more home wins than the Rockies (47). What's Next?German Marquez (14-11, 3.77 ERA) will attempt to keep the Rockies' season alive against Brewers left-hander Wade Miley (5-2, 2.57 ERA) as the series shifts to Coors Field for Game 3 on Sunday at 4:37 p.m. ET.
He’s made 73 big league appearances in parts of three seasons."The Milwaukee Brewers reportedly added another name to their bullpen mix yesterday Manny Pina Jersey , inking a hurler with a good bit of MLB experience under his belt. According to Adam McCalvy, right-hander Deolis Guerra has agreed to a minor league pact that includes an invitation to come and compete in big league camp next spring:Guerra, 29, has become quite the well-traveled arm since signing his first pro contract with the Mets as an international free agent back in 2005. He was part of the 2008 blockbuster that brought Johan Santana to New York, but never found his way to the big leagues after parts of seven seasons in Minnesota’s system. He signed with the Pirates in 2015 and made his big league debut that year, was outrighted the following offseason and selected by the Angels in the Rule 5 Draft, pitched with them for parts of 2016 and 2017 before becoming a free agent, and last year he pitched in the minors for the Rangers.Guerra hasn’t pitched regularly as a starter since 2011 but has been used in a swingman/multi-inning relief capacity regularly throughout his career. He’s made 328 appearances (128 starts) and pitched 948.0 innings during thirteen minor league seasons, working to a 4.48 ERA with 7.4 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9. In parts of three years at the Major League level http://www.brewersfanproshop.com/authentic-orlando-arcia-jersey , Guerra has made 73 appearances and tossed 95.0 innings with a 4.17 ERA, 7.11 K/9, and 2.08 BB/9.At first glance, it’s easy to think of Guerra solely as a camp arm after not appearing in the big leagues at all in 2018. Digging in a little deeper, though, may help one find the Guerra signing a bit more compelling. First, Deserved Run Average (DRA) is a fan of his work in at the game’s highest level, valuing his work in 95.0 innings as 12% better than league average according to DRA-. Guerra has held batters to a below-average rate of hard contact as a big leaguer and, in general http://www.brewersfanproshop.com/authentic-orlando-arcia-jersey , has done quite well at limiting walks.Guerra also recently made an interesting change to his pitch mix. He’s always been a predominantly fastball/changeup pitcher in his career, mixing in a curveball and, at times, a cutter. But in 2017, he incorporated a new slider into his arsenal in an effort to fight back against his wicked reverse-platoon split. He selected the new offering nearly 19% of the time that year, throwing it solely against right-handers (who have torched him for a .384 wOBA in the big leagues, versus a .260 wOBA against lefties). Batters did record four hits in nine at-bats against Guerra’s slider in 2017, but he also induced a 23.26% whiff rate and 48.78% whiff/swing with it, the best of any of his pitches. His overall 14.9% swinging strike rate during his 25.0 MLB innings in 2017 was nearly five percent higher than his other two big league seasons. Deolis also picked up a mile-and-a-half on his fastball Domingo Santana Jersey , averaging a career-high 91.7 MPH in 2017 and ranking in the top 20% of all pitchers in terms of spin rate with 2,362 RPM. Guerra battled his control while working to harness his new slider, issuing 4.32 BB/9 in 2017 after posting marks of 1.62 and 1.18 BB/9 during his MLB stints in 2015 and 2016. But he seemed like he was able to put everything together during his 2018 season in the Rangers system for AAA Round Rock. Guerra found work in 40 games (4 starts) for the Express, pitching 59.1 innings during those outings with a 3.79 ERA. But, he also walked only 2.4 batters per nine innings and started translating all those swinging strikes into actual punchouts. Guerra’s 10.77 K/9 and 30% strikeout rate were both the highest totals that he’s ever recorded during a full season in the majors or minors. Right-handed batters were still more effective against him than lefties, but using his new slider Guerra was able to limit the split to a much more palatable .681 OPS/.560 OPS. His AAA competition hit only .216 on the year against Guerra, and Deserved Run Average graded him as one of the top relievers on the circuit - his 2.43 DRA and 52 DRA- checked in at 58% more effective than the league average.Guerra will have to earn his way back to the big leagues with Milwaukee next spring, but he’s certainly a name to consider when pondering what minor league free agent could turn in a breakout campaign in 2019. Guerra is currently pitching in the Venezuelan Winter League for Magallanes, and through 21 appearances and 21.1 innings he’s compiled a 2.11 ERA with a sparkling 23:4 K/BB ratio.Statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference Eric Sogard Jersey , Baseball Prospectus, and Fangraphs Wilson vs. Pivetta"WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Talking Chop User’s GuideTalking Chop PodcastAround the NL EastBaseball Analysis PrimerBraves vs. Phillies game threadNew,1269commentsWilson vs. PivettaEDTShareTweetShareShareBraves vs. Phillies game threadButch Dill-USA TODAY SportsWith Atlanta (finally) back in action today Talking Chop has got you covered from every angle, so make sure to take some time and check out our preview of today’s pitching matchup along with our post of today’s starting lineups for both squads. In case you might’ve already missed those you can find links to both posts right here:Preview | LineupsWe welcome you to join us in the comment section of this post during the game to discuss every hit, out, awesome pitch or angry moment with fellow Braves fans. We simply ask that everyone keep things civil.Now, sit back and relax. It’s time for Braves baseball!
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Starling Marte and shortstop Erik Gonzalez’s full-speed collision in the outfield on Friday night sent both players to the injured list.Marte will be out at least 10 days while recovering from bruises to his abdominal wall and right quadriceps. Gonzalez will miss at least two months after being put on the 60-day injured list with a fractured collarbone.Both players were injured when they ran into each other trying to chase down a fly ball by San Francisco’s Yangervis Solarte in the eighth inning of Pittsburgh’s 4-1 victory on Friday night. Neither appeared to see the other. The ball squirted free after the collision. Gonzalez was able to walk off the field but Marte left in a cart as a precaution.Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Marte was running 25 mph and Gonzalez 19 mph at the moment of impact.The team did not put an immediate timetable on when either player could return Bill Melton Jersey , though Tomczyk said both players will be back this season. Tomczyk called Gonzalez’s fracture “stable,” meaning he will probably not need surgery.Marte is the third member of Pittsburgh’s starting outfield to go on the injured list. Right fielder Gregory Polanco is still recovering from shoulder surgery last fall and leftfielder Corey Dickerson is nursing a strained right shoulder.The Pirates called up shortstop Cole Tucker and outfielder Bryan Reynolds from Triple-A Indianapolis to fill in for Gonzalez and Marte.Pittsburgh’s first-round pick in 2014, the 22-year-old Tucker is hitting .333 with three home runs, seven RBIs and five stolen bases for Indianapolis. He hit leadoff in his major league debut on Saturday against San Francisco’s Derek Holland.Reynolds hit .367 with five homers and 11 RBIs in 13 games at Triple A. He started in center field in place of Marte and hit fifth for the Pirates against the Giants, who sent Reynolds to Pittsburgh in January 2018 as part of the deal for Andrew McCutchen. LOS ANGELES (AP) — After every unusual thing that had already happened between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks this week, two catchers taking the mound wasn’t even the height of wackiness for this weird series.There’s nothing weird about the Dodgers’ prolific offense, which shook off the disappointment of a 13-inning loss and just kept pounding away.Cody Bellinger hit two homers and drove in a career high-tying six runs, Justin Turner added five RBIs and Los Angeles rebounded splendidly from that early-morning defeat with an 18-5 victory over Arizona on Saturday night.Bellinger had four hits and Joc Pederson had three after leading off the game with his third homer for the Dodgers, who got 19 hits from 11 players. The two-time defending NL champions have scored 34 runs in their first three games, hitting 13 homers and looking like a powerhouse even before April begins.“It’s tough to navigate our lineup,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.These NL West rivals’ seasons are just three games old, but they’ve already been extraordinarily eventful. The Dodgers set a franchise single-game record by hitting eight homers Thursday to win on opening day http://www.whitesoxfanproshop.com/authentic-paul-konerko-jersey , but they stranded 17 runners Friday night while losing the longest regular season game in Dodger Stadium history, a 365-minute affair.By comparison, this win was a fairly ordinary blowout — except for the two catchers making their big league pitching debuts in the late innings.Arizona backup John Ryan Murphy gave up seven runs in two innings of mop-up relief, including homers by Bellinger and Austin Barnes in the eighth.Dodgers backup Russell Martin also made his first pitching appearance, closing it out with a perfect ninth inning on 10 pitches.“It would have been really, really hard to blow that lead,” the 36-year-old Martin said. “It was weird going toward the catcher (after the final out). I’ve never had that happen before.”Turner, Bellinger and A.J. Pollock had consecutive RBI singles during the Dodgers’ four-run third inning, while Corey Seager, Bellinger and Max Muncy drove in runs during a five-run sixth.Jarrod Dyson hit a leadoff homer for the Diamondbacks. Alex Avila, Adam Jones and David Peralta also homered for Arizona, but only after the Dodgers had built up a big lead.Zack Godley (0-1) had the Diamondbacks’ third straight disappointing start Early Wynn Jersey , but he stayed in even after eight consecutive Dodgers reached base in the third. Manager Torey Lovullo didn’t have many other options.“It’s got to get better, there’s no other way to look at it,” Lovullo said of his starting pitching. “We depend on the starters, and they’ve just got off to a slow start. We haven’t quite hit our stride on the mound.”Both managers let their starters go long in a bid to save their bullpens, and Kenta Maeda (1-0) gave the Dodgers 6 2/3 innings of five-hit ball in the third straight excellent start by Los Angeles’ rotation. Maeda even chased Godley in the sixth with a bloop double over the head of a badly fooled Peralta in left.Godley yielded eight hits and seven earned runs while pitching into the sixth, but he lamented his throwing error early in the Dodgers’ big third inning.“That inning is the big thing for me,” Godley said. “I’ve got to be able to minimize it a little bit more, and cut it down from four runs to maybe one or two.”Jones’ homer in the seventh was his second in three games with his new club after 11 years in Baltimore.PITCHING CAMEODown by eight runs, Arizona sent Murphy to the mound in the seventh, and the former high school pitcher nearly escaped unscathed. The Dodgers loaded the bases but didn’t score in the seventh against Murphy, whose pitches rarely topped 65 mph.“I’m not a huge fan of it, but sometimes you have to do it Avisail Garcia Jersey ,” Lovullo said of his decision to put a position player on the mound. “We felt like whoever threw (out of the bullpen) today would be missing tomorrow.”TRAINER’S ROOMDiamondbacks: 1B Steven Souza Jr. will have surgery on his badly injured knee Tuesday in Cincinnati. The slugger will miss the entire season after stepping awkwardly on home plate Monday. “He’s in for a grinding year (of rehab), we know that,” Lovullo said.Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw threw a 50-pitch, three-inning simulated game on the field, taking another step in his return from shoulder inflammation. Roberts said Kershaw will throw on the side Monday before the Dodgers decide whether to send him to Oklahoma City or Tulsa for a minor-league rehab start. After that, Kershaw and the team will determine whether he needs one more start before returning to the majors.UP NEXTIn the series finale, Walker Buehler makes his season debut for the Dodgers after going 8-5 with a 2.62 ERA in his breakthrough 2018. He faces Luke Weaver, who debuts for Arizona after being the Diamondbacks’ primary return in the trade that sent Paul Goldschmidt to St. Louis. Weaver went 7-11 for the Cardinals last season.
This will probably will be a somewhat controversial article as I know there are still mixed feelings on Osuna http://www.diamondbacksfanproshop.com/authentic-zack-greinke-jersey , but it warrants a discussion to me. I’m asking us to stay strictly to the baseball..."This will probably will be a somewhat controversial article as I know there are still mixed feelings on Osuna, but it warrants a discussion to me. I’m asking us to stay strictly to the baseball side of the equation for this discussion as the other side has been discussed ad nauseam.Last year, in a controversial move, the Astros acquired Roberto Osuna. What was surprising, is that the 2018 season was a “down” season for Osuna, with some wondering if he had lost a step and should still be considered the closer, although he continued to improve as the season went by.Now for some clarification, for most relievers in baseball, a 21 save season with a 2.37 ERA could be a career best. But there was a notable drop in strikeout rate from a career K/9 of almost 10 to 7.58, makes people wonder if something was off, or if he was just rusty and distracted. Then the clock struck 2019. Now it’s an extremely small sample size, all of 8.1 IP so far this season, so there’s a huge grain of salt that goes into this evaluation, but he has simply been dominant enough to warrant a second look. He’s currently converted all 19 save opportunities in the regular season since joining the Astros. His K/9 has jumped back to 9.72, and while he has always had excellent control (1.52 BB/9 for his career), he has yet to walk someone this year. His current ERA is a sparkling 1.08 Shelby Miller Jersey , his WHIP? A ridiculous 0.24 (0 walks and only 2 hits through his first 9 appearances).On the good side, his fastball has regained a tick in velocity, throwing the hardest he has since 2016. It’s easy to forget that Osuna is only 24 years old. He’s the youngest player on our team edging out Carlos Correa by abouta half a year. There’s a strong possibility that Osuna has not hit his peak yet.So it’s easy to think, it’s a small sample size and Osuna just got lucky. I mean his BABIP is .111, which is generally indicative of pure luck. Which could very well be true, but some of the advanced stats seem to support his utter dominance. Utter dominanceBaseball Savant / StatcastFor those of you who don’t frequent baseball savant, they have a simple slider at the top which gives you a quick glimpse at how the player is performing. The further to the right and the darker the red, the better the player is doing (or blue for poor performance). Doing a quick look, obviously, Osuna looks dominant. But when you look closer, he gets even better. K%? He’s in the top 11% of the leagueExit Velocity? Top 20% of the leagueHard Hit %? Top 1% of the leaguexBA? Top 1% of the leaguexSLUG? Top 1% of the leaguexwOBA? The best in baseballI’m a huge fan of xwOBA. For those who aren’t familiar, xwOBA looks at the launch angle, exit velocity, sprint speed etc of every ball that was hit and based on a percentage of plays that were made at that same type of contact assigns a value to it. It removes the “luck” of a diving play or jump over the fence that saves runs, or the silly non-error that bounced between a players legs to give a more realistic view of the contribution of the player while removing the luck factor. They normalize xwOBA to look like OPS - so when you’re looking at the results,For more info Chris Owings Jersey , here’s the full description and the why it’s useful: xwOBA is more indicative of a player’s skill than regular wOBA, as xwOBA removes defense from the equation. Hitters, and likewise pitchers, are able to influence exit velocity and launch angle but have no control over what happens to a batted ball once it is put into play.Based on the contact so far, Baseball Savant would expect a .117/.117/.162 line against Osuna for a .121 xwOBA And xwOBA say that so far, he has been the absolute best in all of baseball. The Diamondbacks GM discusses the big trade and the players coming back"WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Diamondbacks Farm TeamsGameday ThreadsDiamondbacks NewsDiamondbacks Game ReportsFang FoodReactions fromMike Hazen on the Paul Goldschmidt tradeNew,80commentsThe Diamondbacks GM discusses the big trade and the players coming backSoria rumors are not without some basis.The M.O. with this front office is to go with veteran relievers. But it seems incongruous in a rebuild atmosphere. My own quick take on the trade:Luke Weaver is going to have to be very mentally strong and have thick skin, especially when pitching at home.He will be viewed as the primary guy that Goldy was traded for, and as a back of the rotation type guy, you know he is going to have his nights where he is booed off the mound at Chase field.I don’t know if he has mid rotation upside or not.12 months ago most people would have said yes. But he clearly needs some fixing .His FIP is considerably lower than his ERA each year and for career. So there is some hope there. But his careerBABIP against, .332 indicates he’s pretty hittable perhaps.On the other hand, his career BABIP on groundballs is very high,.290, vs leage avg around .240.Hopefully a good Arizona infield will help him there.Per Hazen, his stuff was still good, but his delivery was inconsistent and obviously results not good.His Steamer projection is for a low 4’s ERA. Andrew Young gets hit by pitch A LOT http://www.diamondbacksfanproshop.com/authentic-zack-greinke-jersey ,(48 times the last two years) and that props up his minor league OBP to a great extent.But he doesn’t walk much, and it’s my belief he will need to either be able to stay healthy while still exhibiting a HBP skill, or his OBP’s will suffer when he eventually gets his shot at the majors.He has hit 38 homers the last two seasons, but is a bit old for level. Don’t expect much here, but he may be a gritty surprising player.For some reason I am thinking Ryan Roberts type gritty with some pop. For me, thisall boils down toCarson Kelly.Is his defense really as good as his reputation ? If it is, then even an 85-90 OPS+ would make him a valuable player.His AAA track record at Memphis each of the last two years gives one hope. But his threeMLB stints have all been brief and he hasn’t hitat all yet in limited major league at bats. In 2019 he’ll probably get at least 200-250 PA and we’ll should have a better idea. Remember,Goldy’s trade value was estimated at about 30M + a draft pick.If Kelly is a 2 WAR catcher for several years, then the DBacks will get that value back and then some, even if Weaver never improves.With 6 years of control of Kelly and 5 years of Weaver, the Dbacks will have a good chance to recoup much more than the 30M in performance value they gave up by trading Goldy.It won’t help them on the PR front in the short term, but both these players are under control long enough to be part of the next good DBacks team.Anything they might get out of Young would be gravy.
ANAHEIM Kurt Suzuki Jersey , Calif. (AP) — Pitching without his best stuff, Mike Minor was still able to continue his second-half success.Minor threw six solid innings, allowing just one run on eight hits as the Texas Rangers ended a four-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night.“The last two outings, I haven’t felt great — mechanically off a little bit. But I felt like they had chances to capitalize and I only gave up the one,” Minor said. “I felt really lucky for that.”Ronald Guzman homered and Joey Gallo drove in three runs for Texas. Guzman hit a two-run shot, his 15th, in a four-run second to give Minor (12-7) a comfortable lead.After starter Jaime Barria walked Adrian Beltre and Jurickson Profar, Gallo doubled them in for a 2-0 lead. Barria walked Hanser Alberto and then gave up the home run to Guzman.Minor (12-7) had shoulder surgery in 2015, and his 12 wins are his most since then. He had a career-high 13 wins with the Atlanta Braves in 2013.Over his last seven starts http://www.bravesfanproshop.com/authentic-nick-markakis-jersey , Minor is 6-1 with a 2.59 ERA. He’s won four straight on the road.“The first half, especially the first couple of months, were really bad,” Minor said. “I don’t know but it started in spring training where I didn’t feel great, mechanically and stuff. I wasn’t attacking hitters the way I knew I could. Now, I’ve made more quality pitches. I feel better, more comfortable out there. Feels like (2014) seems so long ago. I thought I was going to step up there and be an easy transition because I’ve (started) my whole career besides last year. I thought it wasn’t going to be an issue. It was just getting out there every six days and getting some innings underneath me.”Jose Leclerc pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his 10th save as Texas stopped the Angels’ four-game winning streak.Barria (10-9) walked four batters in three innings. He gave up four runs and three hits while throwing only 31 of 60 pitches for strikes.The four-run second snapped his scoreless streak at 12 innings.“Jaime was out of sync,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.Shohei Ohtani had two hits and an RBI for Los Angeles. Mike Trout added two infield singles and made a couple of fantastic catches in center field. Taylor Cole pitched four scoreless innings of relief, retiring all 12 batters he faced.Cole had shortstop Andrelton Simmons to thank for retiring Elvis Andrus in the fifth. Simmons fielded a grounder deep in the hole and made a one-hop throw from the outfield grass to get Andrus.Simmons made another terrific play in the eighth to catch a ball over his head. Trout robbed Beltre of two hits http://www.bravesfanproshop.com/authentic-nick-markakis-jersey , including a diving grab in the eighth.CAMPAIGN SEASONOhtani was selected the American League player of the week after batting .474 with four homers, eight runs, 10 RBIs and two stolen bases. It was recently recommended that the two-way player have Tommy John surgery, but he’ll still hit the remainder of the season. And he could continue to make his case for AL Rookie of the Year.“I think the whole Rookie of the Year embodies much of what a player does. It’s not just one statistic,” Scioscia said. “If you look at how dominant he was when he was healthy pitching, to now the way he’s swinging the bat in the batter’s box and the numbers he’s putting up, it’s been a performance so far worthy of Rookie of the Year consideration, and in my mind winning Rookie of the Year.”TRAINER’S ROOMRangers: OF Ryan Rua (muscle spasms in back) was reinstated from the disabled list. He had been on the DL since July 27.Angels: Ohtani was scheduled to meet with general manager Billy Eppler to discuss whether to have Tommy John surgery on his pitching arm. … Albert Pujols, who recently had knee surgery Mike Foltynewicz Jersey , will also undergo surgery on his right elbow Wednesday to remove bone spurs. “It was time to shut it down,” Pujols said. “You have to look at the long run to be able to get myself ready for next year. And on top of that take care of my elbow and the little things.” … LHP Tyler Skaggs (left adductor strain) is scheduled to throw a simulated game in the next day or two and then will be re-evaluated.UP NEXTRangers: RHP Adrian Sampson will make his second career start Tuesday night and first for Texas. He made one start with Seattle in 2016 but was injured warming up for what would’ve been his second start and had surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon.Angels: Right-handed reliever Jim Johnson (5-3, 3.81 ERA) is scheduled to start a “bullpen game” for Los Angeles. The game was essentially already over when the New York Yankees sent catcher Austin Romine to the mound in the ninth inning of Monday's blowout Game 3 of the American League Division Series.While they were just playing out the string and preserving the bullpen, Brock Holt had history to make.Holt launched a two-run homer into the right-field stands to cap off the scoring in the Boston Red Sox's overwhelming 16-1 victory at Yankee Stadium. In doing so, he became the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit for the cycle in a playoff game, per MLB Stat of the Day.Bleacher Report BleacherReport馃毃 FIRST CYCLE IN MLB POSTSEASON HISTORY 馃毃(via MLB)JrM7J1JyeNDavid Schoenfield of ESPN noted this isn't the first time the Red Sox second baseman hit for the cycle, as he did so in 2015 against the Atlanta Braves as well.He said it was the first time he attempted to go deep in his career, but his success suggests he should have tried it in the past:Pete Abraham PeteAbeHolt said he went up in the ninth trying to homer. Moved up in the box and let it fly. Said it was the first time in his career he was trying to hit a homer.It highlighted a record-breaking performance from the offense. According to David Adler of MLB.com, Boston set the all-time record for runs scored against the Bronx Bombers in a playoff contest (previously held by the Arizona Diamondbacks with 15 in Game 6 of the 2001 World Series) and its own franchise record for runs scored in a postseason game.Much of Boston's damage came in a seven-run fourth inning http://www.bravesfanproshop.com/authentic-nick-markakis-jersey , which Holt appropriately started off with a single. He added a two-run triple later in the frame to break open the game at 10-0.His double was also of the RBI variety and came in the eighth inning.The offensive explosion was notable for the Red Sox, but it was also a continuation of what they did throughout the season. They led the league in runs scored and feature MVP candidates in Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez alongside impressive contributors such as Holt.Perhaps more importantly in terms of their World Series fortunes, the Red Sox received a notable pitching performance from a starter other than Chris Sale. That remains an October concern since David Price sports a 5.28 playoff ERA and Rick Porcello's checks in at 5.33, but Nathan Eovaldi threw a gem with one earned run and five hits allowed in seven innings.It is not difficult to envision the Red Sox winning the World Series if Eovaldi continues to pitch like that in support of Sale and Holt continues to hit like he did Monday in support of Betts and Martinez.
NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball is lifting restrictions on which players can be sent to the Arizona Fall League for prospects and moving up the season by nearly a month.The commissioner’s office said Tuesday that a team can send any player to the AFL. Previously Kevin Long Jersey , a player had to be at Double-A or Triple-A by Aug. 1, with one player from a lower level allowed per organization. In addition, players with one year of major league service as of Aug. 31 were excluded, with the exception of one player per organization who had been selected in the most recent winter meeting draft of unprotected players. There also was a limit on foreign players.This year’s season will run from mid-September through Oct. 27. Last year’s started Oct. 9 and ended Nov. 17.Former Angels and Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi will oversee the fall league, which launched in 1992 and will play this year in Peoria, Phoenix, Mesa and Scottsdale. TORONTO (AP) — Canadian prosecutors dropped a domestic assault charge on Tuesday against Houston Astros closer Roberto Osuna http://www.nationalsfanproshop.com/authentic-matt-adams-jersey , who agreed to stay away from the alleged victim for one year and continue counseling.Osuna, formerly with the Toronto Blue Jays, was charged with assault in May. The 23-year-old player was suspended without pay for 75 games for violating Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy, and the Blue Jays dealt him to Houston on July 30.Speaking in court, prosecutor Catherine Mullaly said the complainant, who lives in Mexico, had made clear she would not travel to Toronto to testify against Osuna.“The Crown does not have a reasonable prospect of conviction on this charge absent her testimony Ryan Zimmerman Jersey ,” Mullaly told Judge Melvyn Green.Osuna nodded when Green asked if he understood the agreement, known as a “peace bond.”“Now I can begin to put these allegations behind me and focus on baseball,” Osuna said in a statement. “I am grateful to the Astros for providing me with the opportunity to play baseball and compete for a World Series championship.”He said he would have no further comment on the matter, declining to address reporters for a second straight day before Tuesday’s game against the Blue Jays, citing advice from his attorney.Osuna’s attorney, Domenic Basile, had said his client was remorseful but planned to plead not guilty had the matter gone to trial.“I wish to make it clear that this is not an admission of criminal or civil liability http://www.nationalsfanproshop.com/authentic-matt-adams-jersey ,” Basile said Tuesday. “He is content to enter into the peace bond (and) is aware of the conditions and will abide by the conditions.”At Rogers Centre on Tuesday, Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow acknowledged that Osuna’s case had been “a distraction for everybody” since the closer was acquired from Toronto.“You never know how a legal case is going to get resolved,” Luhnow said. “We’re thankful it’s behind us now and we can focus on what’s ahead.”Houston, the reigning World Series champion, is on the brink of its second straight AL West title and a second straight 100-win season. Monday’s win moved the Astros to 99-57, and their magic number to clinch the division is two.Osuna was met with boos when the Astros beat the Blue Jays in Toronto on Monday. The Astros have said they would not tolerate another incident involving their closer and that the organization is committed to supporting victims of domestic violence.
HOUSTON — Just as the Houston Astros approach optimal health for the first time in two months Travis Wood Jersey , the Oakland Athletics received on Tuesday a double dose of troubling news related to injuries.Left-hander Brett Anderson, shelled for five runs over 2 2/3 innings on Monday against the Astros, returned to Oakland to undergo tests after experiencing forearm discomfort during the appearance.Anderson struggled to throw his breaking ball and recorded zero swings and misses on his 16 sliders. He had allowed just two earned runs over four August starts prior to suffering the loss, and was placed on the 10-day disabled list for the second time in 2018.Article continues below ...Additionally, ace left-hander Sean Manaea was, following further examination, diagnosed with rotator cuff tendinitis after initially being placed on the DL over the weekend with a left shoulder impingement. Manaea, who far and away leads the Athletics with 160 2/3 innings pitched, has been shut down with no immediate timetable for his return. Right-handers Daniel Mengden and Frankie Montas will replace Anderson and Manaea in the rotation, with Montas slated to start on Thursday and Mengden on Saturday against the Seattle Mariners.Oakland starting pitchers have now combined for 11 stints on the DL.“Obviously not ideal to lose two more starters this late in the season but again, like it has all season for us, gives somebody else an opportunity,” Athletics manager Bob Melvin said. “Mengden and Montas have both done a good job for us over the course of the season and they’ll be the next two guys up.“We’ve kind of had waves as the season’s went along starting in spring training. With Sean being the only guy that was in the rotation the entire season, that one’s probably a little more difficult, not that any of them aren’t difficult. But to lose your guy who’s been the ace of your staff for the better part of the season, that one’s a little tougher to digest. But again, it’s what we have to deal with and we move forward.”Oakland evened the three-game series with a 4-3 win Tuesday night.Right-hander Trevor Cahill (5-2, 3.44 ERA) will start the rubber match Wednesday for the Athletics (80-53). For Cahill http://www.tigersfanproshop.com/authentic-joe-jimenez-jersey , it will mark his 300th career appearance. He is 1-3 with a 6.92 ERA over eight road starts this season and is 2-1 with a 4.13 ERA over five career appearances (four starts) against Houston. Cahill is 1-1 with a 3.24 ERA over three starts against the Astros this season.Left-hander Dallas Keuchel (10-10, 3.54 ERA) starts on Wednesday for Houston (81-51). He is 6-6 with a 2.99 ERA in his career against Oakland, 1-2 with a 5.23 ERA over three starts in 2018.When Astros right-hander Charlie Morton completed his outing in Tuesday’s loss with 89 pitches on his ledger, it marked the fifth time in as many starts this month that he tossed fewer than 100 pitches. In fact, of the 20 combined starts from Justin Verlander, Dallas Keuchel, Gerrit Cole and Morton in August, that quartet has totaled five 100-pitch outings. All four are averaging fewer than 100 pitches per start this month.“I think my mindset is to go with the starter as long as he’s effective, as long as we feel like he’s the best option at the current time,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “Our bullpen, as deep as it’s gotten, has created some earlier opportunities for me to get guys off the field in the early- to mid-90s. But I’m always mindful.” CLEVELAND — Trevor Bauer will take the mound Friday night for the first time in more than a month as the Cleveland Indians host the Boston Red Sox in the first contest of a three-game series at Progressive Field.Both teams have clinched their respective divisions, but the game is still important for both, considering the starting pitchers: Bauer and Boston’s Chris Sale. They were leading candidates for the Cy Young Award when they went on the disabled list, almost simultaneously, six weeks ago.Bauer’s last start was Aug 11, when he was hit in the right leg and suffered a stress fracture of his fibula. Sale started the next day before being placed on the disabled list with left shoulder inflammation.Article continues below ...Friday night will be Sale’s third start since he was activated off the DL. Indians manager Terry Francona said Bauer will pitch “a couple” innings, and then be relieved by Shane Bieber. The Indians’ plan Jose Iglesias Jersey , if Bauer has no setbacks, is for him to start three of their 10 remaining games.“To give him a chance to start (in the postseason), we felt he needed to have three outings, and this was the way to do it,” Francona said.Bauer will pitch Friday, Tuesday and Sept. 30, the last game of the regular season.The hope is that Bauer will progress enough in the three starts so that he can be used as a starter in the postseason. If not, they haven’t ruled out using him as a reliever.“He gave himself a chance (to be a starter in the postseason),” Francona said, “by the way he attacked his rehab.”Prior to his injury, Bauer (12-6, 2.22 ERA) was having a career year. He hasn’t lost a game since June 29. In eight starts since he is 5-0 with a 1.72 ERA, while striking out 66 batters in 52 1/3 innings, and holding opposing hitters to a .199 batting average.In his last start, which he left after 6 1/3 innings after getting hit in the leg by a line drive off the bat of White Sox slugger Jose Abreu, Bauer gave up one run and two hits, with eight strikeouts and no walks.Friday will be Bauer’s first start against Boston this year. The last time he faced the Red Sox was a 13-6 win on Aug. 24, 2017 Denny McLain Jersey , when he pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing four runs and seven hits, with three walks and eight strikeouts.In two starts against Boston last year, Bauer was 2-0 with a 5.25 ERA, having allowed seven runs and 14 hits, including four home runs, in 12 innings. In five career appearances (four starts) against Boston, Bauer is 2-2 with an 8.24 ERA.Sale has likewise struggled against Cleveland historically. In 29 career appearances (18 starts) against the Indians, he is 5-8 with a 4.78 ERA. The only team that has beaten Sale more times than the Indians is Kansas City, against whom Sale is 11-10.In 25 starts this year, the same number as Bauer, Sale is 12-4 with a 1.92 ERA. In two starts since coming off the DL Sale has pitched four scoreless innings on two hits, with three strikeouts and no walks.His last start against Cleveland was opposite Bauer on Aug. 24, 2017, when he pitched three innings, allowing seven runs and seven hits, with three strikeouts and three walks
PHOENIX (AP) — Those days of playing every day Billy Williams Jersey , they’re done for Ryan Braun. Most important for the longtime Milwaukee Brewers star these days is making the most of the time he’s in the lineup.Now 35, Braun is inching closer to the downside of his career. And while he is still capable of being a game-changing presence, staying healthy and on the field on a regular basis is not nearly as easy as it was when he was 28 and just hitting his prime.Managing Braun’s playing time to keep him fresh has been an annual challenge for Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell. He, Braun and the team’s training staff try to map out a plan each year to build in scheduled rest days along the way — day games after night games, especially ahead of scheduled team off-days — to keep Braun as available as possible.“We’ll continue to do that this year,” Counsell said.“We have to just monitor usage. We have to be careful there. The point is to get the player out there when he’s as close to healthy as we can get him. And we have to do that with Ryan.”The plan worked a year ago. The outfielder missed 16 games with two separate stints on the injured list for back soreness, but appeared in 125 games overall and started all but five of those contests.Most importantly for the Brewers, Braun was at full strength down the stretch. Braun helped power them to the NL Central crown and within one win of the World Series.And such is the goal again in 2019. Braun reported no issues upon arriving to camp over the weekend and doesn’t have a goal for games played in mind. He just wants to be ready if the Brewers find themselves in the thick of another pennant race.“I know, realistically, it’s unlikely I’m going to play in 155 or 160 games anymore Jon Lester Jersey ,” Braun said “But the goal for most of us is to play as many of those games as close to possible at 100 percent.”Braun hit 20 home runs with 64 RBIs last season, but his .256 batting average and .313 on-base percentage marked career lows.Blaming his age would be an easy answer but a closer look at advanced metrics reveal a different story: Braun finished 20th among qualified big leaguers in average exit velocity and posted a 43 percent hard-hit ball rate, the second-highest total of his career. Even so, his batting average on balls put in play plummeted to a career-low .274.He hopes his tweaks will change his launch angles just enough to change his luck.“You’ll probably be able to recognize some subtle differences but nothing too drastic,” Braun said. “But it’s something I hope everybody recognizes at the end of the season the end results.”Unlike last year, Braun won’t have to worry about learning a new position this spring.Looking to solve what was, at the time, a glut of outfielders after acquiring Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain, the Brewers tried out Braun at first base during Cactus League play. The thought was such a move would open up playing time in the outfield for Domingo Santana or Keon Broxton, both of whom have been traded http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-david-ross-jersey , and provide a right-handed backup to Eric Thames while also easing Braun’s workload.That plan was shelved when Santana was demoted to Triple-A and Thames lost his starting job to Jesus Aguilar. Braun won’t see much action outside of left field this spring. CLEVELAND (AP) — Jason Kipnis has been in this position before. That’s the positive.That doesn’t mean he’s happy about it.Kipnis took fly balls in center field on Tuesday as he transitioned from playing second base after the Indians acquired third baseman Josh Donaldson in a trade last week from the Toronto Blue Jays.Donaldson’s arrival — he’s currently on the disabled list with a calf injury — has caused an infield shift. Jose Ramirez is moving from third to second, dispatching Kipnis into the outfield. The former All-Star made a similar move last September, but those were different circumstances as Kipnis was coming off the disabled list and the Indians were thin in the outfield because of injuries.This time, Kipnis is being moved to accommodate a star who may help the Indians reach the World Series. And Kipnis has struggled all season.“I’m not going to make it about me this year,” Kipnis said before starting Tuesday’s game against Kansas City at second. “I understand what he can bring to the table and I’m hoping he does it. I’m excited for this team and this organization. I understand where they’re coming from and I understand that I probably put us in this situation with not having the year I’m capable of having.“It’s a little bit of cause and effect. But I’ve got a job to do. I show up every day and work hard and if that means switching positions, I’m switching positions. I look forward to most challenges. I’m excited to get going.”Donaldson worked out with the Indians after playing one game for Triple-A Columbus. Donaldson was placed on the disabled list Monday so he could rehab in the minors, and he hit a grand slam in the Clippers’ final game.Donaldson will resume his rehab stint with Double-A Akron. The 2015 AL MVP is eligible to be activated on Sept. 11.Kipnis could get some playing time in center before Donaldson is ready. He played 11 of Cleveland’s final 12 regular-season games there last year and started all five playoff games in the outfield.“I actually have some legs under me,” said Kipnis, who is batting .226 with 14 homers and 57 RBIs. “Having some kind of starting point to fall back on now is nice. We’re not just starting from eight years scratch or something like that. Do I love it? No. But I don’t have to love it. That’s the part. I’ve got a job to do. It’s OK as long as all of our goals are the same and that’s to win a World Series for this city and this organization, then you’re not really going to hear too many problems from me.”But unlike last year http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-david-ross-jersey , Kipnis has to earn any playing time. Greg Allen has played in 70 games, and he’s better defensively than Kipnis.Indians manager Terry Francona explained to Kipnis that nothing will be given to him.“We feel like we’re a better team when Kip’s playing well,” Francona said. “I told him, ‘You have to be our best option out there. And I told Greg the same thing.’ It’s a little unsettling. It’s a guy — I’ve known Kip for six years now. He’s been a guy that we’ve depended on. Now, all of a sudden you’re having a conversation with him that’s probably not exactly what he wants to hear, so it’s not the funnest thing in the world.“But I think the best way to start those is by being honest.”
Bryce Harper meets with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the very next day Bo Jackson Jersey , a Brinks truck is parked right outside the team’s spring training complex.Coincidence or correlation?With the first full week of exhibition games on deck, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed he joined club executives in meeting with Harper in Las Vegas on Sunday night.Roberts said it was a good session and gave the sides a chance to “get to know each other.” Roberts says the Dodgers were “vetting a certain process.”Harper has been connected to the Philadelphia Phillies and the San Francisco Giants during a second consecutive slow free-agent market for the sport. Manny Machado, the other top free agent this winter, signed a $300 million, 10-year deal with the San Diego Padres on Thursday.The 26-year-old Harper was the 2015 NL MVP and made six All-Star teams in seven big league seasons with the Washington Nationals. He batted .249 with 34 home runs, 100 RBIs and an .889 OPS last season.FROM AROUND THE GRAPEFRUIT AND CACTUS LEAGUESBRAVES 9, NATIONALS 4Patrick Corbin, who signed a $140 million, six-year contract, made the 2½-hour bus ride to start for Washington. He allowed one hit in two innings, struck out two and walked none.Freddie Freeman hit a two-run homer. Catcher Alex Jackson, the sixth overall pick by Seattle in 2014, doubled and drove in two runs for Atlanta.Juan Soto doubled and drove in two runs for the Nats.METS 3, ASTROS 3, 9 INNINGSJustin Verlander pitched two perfect innings, striking out one and getting five flyball outs. Reaching 96 mph, Verlander threw 20 of 25 pitches for strikes, concentrating on his changeup and pitching inside to right-handed batters.New York’s Noah Syndergaard opened with three consecutive 98 mph fastballs and allowed first-inning hits to George Springer and Josh Reddick. Syndergaard struck out the final two hitters of his two-inning outing, including Robinson Chirinos on a 99 mph fastball.David Thompson hit a three-run homer off Houston’s Kent Emanuel.YANKEES 3, BLUE JAYS 0James Paxton made his Yankees debut, working two innings and combining with five relievers on a one-hitter. Troy Tulowitzki went deep in his first at-bat as a Yankee, homering off former Toronto teammates Marcus Stroman. Aaron Judge doubled in his spring training debut.Stroman gave up two homers in his spring debut for Toronto. Teoscar Hernandez Luis Aparicio Jersey , considered a project for new manager Charlie Montoyo, collected the lone hit, then promptly stole second.TWINS 7, ORIOLES 1Mike Yastrzemski, a 28-year-old grandson of Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski who has played six seasons in the minor leagues, entered in the sixth inning for the Orioles. He played center field and flied out in his only at-bat.Byron Buxton singled, doubled and homered to drive in five runs for Minnesota.Eric Young Jr. homered for Baltimore.TIGERS (SS) 3, CARDINALS 3, 9 INNINGSMiguel Cabrera singled and drove in a run for the Tigers. Daz Cameron, a 22-year-old son of former major league center fielder Mike Cameron, started in center field and went 1 for 2 with a double.Jose Martinez, the son of Carlos Martinez, walked and singled for St. Louis.PHILLIES 12, TIGERS (SS) 7Jean Segura, acquired in a December trade with Seattle, had two hits and scored twice. Philadelphia newcomers Andrew McCutcheon and J.T. Realmuto each singled and scored a run. James Pazos, obtained along with Segura trade, won in relief.Jordan Zimmermann struck out four in two innings the Tigers. Christin Stewart, selected 34th overall by in the 2015 amateur draft, homered.MARLINS 5, RAYS 0Jon Berti, a non-roster invitee http://www.whitesoxfanproshop.com/authentic-paul-konerko-jersey , tripled for Miami. Austin Dean had two hits and two RBIs.Brandon Lowe and Joe McCarthy each had two hits for Tampa Bay.PIRATES 4, RED SOX 3Pittsburgh starter Jordan Lyles pitched two innings, giving up a solo home run to Bryce Brentz. Melky Cabrera doubled for Pittsburgh.ROCKIES 12, ROYALS 5Mark Reynolds hit a grand slam for Colorado. Bubba Starling hit a pair of solo home runs and Jorge Soler also connected for Kansas City.RANGERS 11, INDIANS 5Mike Minor, a 12-game winner last year, started for Texas and gave up a home run in two innings. Danny Santana tripled and drove in two runs.Trevor Bauer worked three innings in his spring debut for the Indians.WHITE SOX 4, GIANTS 4, 9 INNINGSChicago starter Manny Banuelos struck out four in two innings. Yoan Moncada had two hits, drove in a run and scored.Derek Holland had a rough one-inning spring debut, allowing three runs on three hits for San Francisco. Drew Pomeranz threw two innings out of the bullpen, giving up a pair of hits and striking out two. Yangervis Solarte homered.DODGERS 11, CUBS (SS) 2Justin Turner homered and drove in three runs with three hits, scoring three times for Los Angeles.Trent Giambrone doubled and homered for Chicago.CUBS (SS) 6, PADRES 4Wil Myers singled and highly regarded shortstop prospect Fernando Tatis Jr. had a hit and scored a run. Ty France, drafted in the 34th round out of San Diego State, homered.Willson Contreras hit a three-run homer for the Cubs and Jon Lester struck out three in his two-inning spring debut.ANGELS 4, BREWERS 3Jarrett Parker homered and walked twice for the Angels. Julian Leon doubled and drove in two runs.Third baseman Cory Spangenberg, starting at short, homered for the Brewers.MARINERS 11, REDS 3Yusei Kikuchi made his spring training debut, working two innings for Seattle. The nine-year Japanese league veteran lefty struck out Joey Votto on a 2-2 curveball the veteran slugger missed. Edwin Encarnacion doubled and 2016 first-round draft pick Kyle Lewis homered. Domingo Santana added a two-run homer for the Mariners.Cincinnati starter Alex Wood gave up three runs in one inning.DIAMONDBACKS 4 Bill Melton Jersey , ATHLETICS 3Zack Greinke made his spring debut and worked two clean innings for Arizona.Dustin Fowler homered and Cliff Pennington and Nick Martini each had two hits for Oakland. The Milwaukee Brewers held onto first place in the National League Central throughout most of the first half of the season.However, they lost that lead in the final days before the All-Star break and will have to chase down the Chicago Cubs to regain it. While the Brewers appear to be a stronger team than the one that struggled in the second half of last season, they will almost certainly need to make some moves prior to the July 31 trade deadline.The Brewers were reportedly involved in the Manny Machado trade talks before the Baltimore Orioles ultimately sent him to the Los Angeles Dodgers for five prospects.They fell short in their attempt to get Machado, but they should be in a position to make several other moves. One of them could come in a deal with the Minnesota Twins for power-hitting second baseman Brian Dozier, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports and The Athletic.Rosenthal also reported the Brewers have some interest in acquiring additional pitching help. That would seem to be the case with most of the contenders, with the possible exception of the defending World Series champion Houston Astros.Dozier had 16 home runs and 48 RBI in the first half of the season, and he has been strong in the second half in each of the last two years, hitting hit 28 home runs in 2016 and 21 last year after the All-Star break.The New York Mets sit 4th in the NL East (40-55) and are not in contention for a playoff spot, even after their 11-1 start.However, the Mets' pitching is a strength despite clear problems with their hitting, fielding and base running.While it may take a blockbuster offer before they would consider trading Noah Synedegaard or Jacob deGrom, other hurlers such ashard-throwing righthander Zack Wheeler could come at a more reasonable price.A source who had discussed the matter with the Mets' front office said it was "better than 50-50" that Wheeler would be traded by the trade deadline, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post.Wheeler has a 3-6 record and a 4.44 earned run average. However, he has a 3.67 ERA since June 1 and has struck out 106 batters in 107.1 innings in total. Wheeler's ability to come up with a big strikeout when it is needed most could make him a much-coveted commodity.Steven Matz could also be a trade target, but he is likely not as highly thought of as Wheeler.Additionally, Tom Verducci reported Friday night during the MLB Network's broadcast of the Mets' game against the New York Yankees that "several teams" are involved in talks for closer Jeurys Familia.Rosenthal went a bit further, tweeting Familia "was on the verge" of being traded, with a tweet from ESPN's Buster Olney suggesting the Oakland A'sas one of the teams to be seriously interested.
The New York Yankees might have shortstop Didi Gregorius available at some point during the 2018 season after all.According to MLB.com'sBryan Hoch Bob Uecker Jersey , Gregorius "is encouraged by how much better his wrist feels" and "believes" he will suit up again at some point this year.This comes after Lindsey Adler of The Athletic reported Gregorius tore cartilage in his wrist and underwent an MRI and cortisol treatment. At the time, manager Aaron Boone said he was "unsure" if the shortstop would return in 2018.This is welcome news for a Yankees team that will need all the firepower it can get in the pressure-packed, win-or-go-home, American League Wild Card Game.Gregorius has appeared in 132 games for the Bronx Bombers this season and is slashing .268/.336/.498 with a career-best 27 home runs and 86 RBI. He also brings some speed to the base paths with 10 steals and gives New York a left-handed bat to help balance out a powerful lineup featuring right-handers such as Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Gary Sanchez.Boone discussed the importance of having Gregorius available and on the field when he went on the disabled list earlier this season, perColey Harveyof ESPN.com."Obviously, Didi is so important to what we do, he's such an important player to us, the middle of our lineup Tyler Flowers Jersey , the middle of our field鈥攈e's kind of our quarterback out there," Boone said. "He does so many things intangibly well that we certainly will miss him. But we also feel like we have the people capable of stepping up for him while he's down."New York can move Gleyber Torres to shortstop and rely on the likes of Neil Walker and Ronald Torreyes at second base while Gregorius is out, but it likely needs its powerful shortstop back and in the lineup if it is going to challenge for a World Series crown. ATLANTA (AP) — Even with all their star power and deep pockets, all their booming hitters and ace pitchers, the Los Angeles Dodgers are approaching three decades since their last World Series championship.They’re making another run at that elusive title.Only this time, Manny Machado is along for the ride.The slugging shortstop hit a three-run homer that wrapped up a 6-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Monday, sending Los Angeles to the NL Championship Series for the third year in a row and fourth time in six seasons.This is what the Dodgers had in mind when they acquired the free agent-to-be from the lowly Baltimore Orioles back in July.They’re hoping Machado is the one who turns Tinseltown into Titletown for the first time since 1988.“Can’t say enough about him,” Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said. “A player of his caliber, there are so many expectations put on him.”Machado had only three hits in a 3-1 division series victory over the Braves http://www.bravesfanproshop.com/authentic-nick-markakis-jersey , but two of them were homers. He finished with six RBIs.“We prepared ourselves to get here,” Machado said. “We’re not going to stop till we get what we want.”Clearly, nothing less than a World Series title will do. While the Dodgers went through the customary celebration that follows any postseason victory — they doled out T-shirts and caps, posed for pictures in the middle of SunTrust Park, then doused themselves with beer in the clubhouse — the focus turned quickly to the next round.The Dodgers will face the Brewers in the NLCS. Game 1 is Friday night in Milwaukee.“We all know that there’s a lot more work to be done,” Roberts said. “We have eight more wins to go.”Los Angeles spent much of the season locked in a tight race with division rivals Colorado and Arizona, and required a one-game playoff with the Rockies to clinch its sixth straight NL West title.“We took a hard path to get to this point, but I do think it made us stronger and kind of galvanized our team,” Roberts said.It certainly helps to have a player of Machado’s caliber bolstering an already potent lineup. The Dodgers hit a franchise-record 235 homers during the regular season Phil Niekro Jersey , and added eight more in the NLDS.“They’re a very powerful team,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. “It’s what they’ve done all year is hit home runs. We’re not built like that yet.”Indeed, the Baby Braves were thoroughly overmatched in their first postseason appearance since 2013, hitting .154 overall and scoring just eight runs. Though the future looks bright for a team that pulled off a massive rebuilding job much quicker than expected, Atlanta was not quite ready to contend with a team of the Dodgers’ quality.Los Angeles had too much power, too much depth, too much pitching.Not to mention too much Machado.“It was a great ride,” Snitker said. “We took a huge step forward this year. We had some very young players get a lot of great experience, both during the regular season and the postseason. And we have some really good players coming up. I really am excited about the future of the Atlanta Braves right now.”The Dodgers are locked firmly in the present.This is a franchise desperate to win one more game than it did a season ago http://www.bravesfanproshop.com/authentic-nick-markakis-jersey , when the Houston Astros took Game 7 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium.That’s why they acquired Machado.“Coming over from Baltimore midway through the season — new ball club, new atmosphere, new teammates, new coaching staff, new front office, I mean, it’s always a bit of an adjustment,” he said. “But they’ve been nothing but amazing to us, to myself and my family. And coming here to a winning ballclub that’s been determined the whole way since last year to get into this situation and further Chipper Jones Jersey , I’m just sitting here enjoying everything, enjoying the ride.”Machado wasn’t the only in-season acquisition to play a key role in the clinching victory over the Braves. David Freese, picked up from Pittsburgh just minutes before the trade deadline, came through with a pinch-hit, two-run single that put the Dodgers ahead to stay in the sixth.The MVP of St. Louis’ improbable victory in the 2011 World Series, Freese is eager to take part in another magical postseason run.“You never know what this game is going to give you, what opportunities arise for you,” Freese said. “You just gotta be ready.”
SEATTLE (AP) — Mitch Haniger hit the deck three times for the Mariners late in Sunday’s game. The first two put Seattle ahead against the New York Yankees. The next converted the lead into a victory.Haniger dashed home to score the go-ahead run on a grounder in the eighth inning http://www.twinsfanproshop.com/authentic-max-kepler-jersey , then made a diving catch for the final out that gave the Mariners a 3-2 win over the Yankees.Haniger started the eighth with a walk off reliever Dellin Betances (4-5) before stealing second by reaching in with his right hand at the last second.“I was just trying to miss the tag,” Haniger said. “I knew if I went in with my left hand it would have been a lot closer.”Haniger reached third on Jean Segura’s sacrifice bunt. With the infield in, Robinson Cano hit a broken-bat roller up the middle. Haniger was running on contact and shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria made a quick throw home, but Haniger just got his right hand on the plate before the tag from catcher Austin Romine.“I just wanted to get as low as possible to avoid the tag by making the catcher reach as far as possible,” Haniger said. “I take pride in every facet of the game. I had some great coaches coming up that taught me how to play the game right.”Edwin Diaz pitched the ninth for his 54th save and 27th one-run save, both the most in baseball. But it took a diving grab by Haniger on Giancarlo Stanton’s fly ball to stop a possible New York rally.Andrew McCutchen was hit by a pitch with two outs before Haniger’s catch off Stanton’s broken-bat fly to shallow right.“I had to play real deep to respect his power,” Haniger said. “It kind of blooped in there and hauled over as fast as I could and made the play. Once I got to full speed, I felt I was going to get it.”Haniger, an All-Star for the first time this year, has 24 homers and 85 RBIs this season.“Mitch is a very good all-around player,” manager Scott Servais said. “We all know about his power Fernando Rodney Jersey , but his defense and the way he runs the bases makes him a heck of a player.”The loss kept the Yankees from sweeping the three-game series and leaves New York only 2 1/2 games ahead of Oakland for the league’s top wild-card spot.Miguel Andujar’s double down the left field line gave the Yankees a 1-0 lead in the first inning after Stanton hit a towering pop to shallow left that dropped for a double.The Mariners answered with two runs in the bottom of the first off four consecutive singles against starter CC Sabathia, with Ryon Healy and Cameron Maybin each driving in a run.The Yankees loaded the bases with three singles to start the fourth against starter Erasmo Ramirez, but only score one run off a walk to McCutchen, tying the game at 2-2.“Disappointing, no question,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “That fourth inning, had them on the ropes there and a chance to do some damage, and just couldn’t get that hit to push us over. It was a chance to have a great weekend. Obviously, a tough one here.”GARDNER TOSSEDBrett Gardner was ejected after his at-bat in the ninth inning when he had a heated argument with plate umpire Jeremie Rehak after he struck out. Garner didn’t like the called second strike.“I just felt like that was a big pitch. My at-bat went from being 3-0 to being 2-1 against a guy that throws 100,” Gardner said. “I let my emotions get the best of me and was frustrated a little bit, and obviously http://www.twinsfanproshop.com/authentic-max-kepler-jersey , I said too much.”TRAINER’S ROOMYankees: Andujar was the DH Sunday after leaving the game Saturday night in the ninth inning when he was hit by a pitch on the right forearm. … SS Didi Gregorius, who came off the 10-day DL Friday, did not start after starting Saturday night before leaving the game in the seventh inning. He pinch hit in the ninth and grounded out. Boone has said they plan to bring Gregorius back gradually.Mariners: Cano started at second base after leaving Saturday’s night’s game in the ninth when he was hit by a pitch on the left foot. … Servais wasn’t sure when RHP Felix Hernandez will make his next start after leaving Saturday’s game in the fifth inning because of tightness in his right hamstring. “We’ll see where we slot him back in,” Servais said. “He might need an extra day. We’ll wait to pencil him in for his next start.”UP NEXTYankees: The road trip continues with a three-game series at Minnesota. LHP J.A. Happ (14-6, 3.90 ERA) will make his eighth start with New York on Monday and his 28th of the season. Happ is 5-0 with a 3.10 ERA in seven starts with the Yankees.Mariners: After a day off Monday, Seattle ends the homestand with a two-game series against the Padres that starts Tuesday. LHP Marco Gonzales (12-9, 4.32 ERA) is expected to come off the 10-day DL (neck strain) and make his 26th start to the season Tuesday. Gonzales lost four consecutive starts before going on the DL Aug. 27, allowing 23 earned runs over 20 innings. TORONTO — The Houston Astros are on the verge of clinching first in the American League West.They moved one step closer by defeating the Toronto Blue Jays 5-3 Monday night in the opener of a three-game series at the Rogers Centre.The 2017 World Series champions own a 4 1/2-game lead over the Oakland Athletics in the division.Article continues below ...They Astros (99-57) will start rookie right-hander Josh James (1-0, 2.81 ERA) Tuesday in the second game. The Blue Jays (71-86) will start right-hander Sam Gaviglio (3-8, 5.16).James has never faced the Blue Jays. He will be making his third start in his fifth big-league appearance.Gaviglio has not won since Aug. 21 and in four starts since is 0-2 with a 6.38 ERA. In two career starts against the Astros, both last season Joe Mauer Jersey , he is 0-2, 5.25.“I think everybody’s really excited about us closing in on 100 wins, closing in on the division title,” said Astros third baseman Alex Bregman who had an RBI double Monday and has reached base safely in 52 straight road games, a club record. “But there’s only one thing on our minds, that’s winning the World Series again.”In addition to the division race, there were other story lines to the series.One of them received a jolt after the first inning Monday when Blue Jays shortstop Lourdes Gurriel Jr. left the game with a tight left hamstring after hitting into a double play.The 24-year-old Cuban was playing against his older brother Yuli for the first time in the majors Monday and it is not certain whether he will return to play in the series.Yuli, 34, extended his hit streak to 10 games with an RBI single in the first. The Astros first baseman went 2-for-4 and is batting .439 (18-for-41) during his streak.The other story involved Roberto Osuna, the former Blue Jays closer who was booed all during the ninth when he pitched around a single for his 10th save since he was traded to the Astros July 30 and his 19th overall this season. Osuna faces an assault charge that brought a 75-game suspension from major league baseball.“It was really weird,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons. “Kind of mixed emotions Glen Perkins Jersey , but I knew there was a good chance he was probably going to get it done. I’ve seen him do it too many times.”“I think he wanted the save,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “I think he wanted the ball like he always does. I’m sure it was emotional for him.”As for the crowd reaction, Hinch said: “It was pretty expected.”Closer, Ken Giles, who was traded by the Astros to the Blue Jays as part of the deal for Osuna, did not pitch Monday.The Astros continued to play without shortstop Carlos Correa Monday. He was shut down during the Astros’ recent homestand with lingering back and oblique tightness. Hinch said the earliest he could return is Wednesday.“He’s feeling a little bit better,” Hinch said. “I’m encouraged by the fact that he’s doing baseball activities and feeling pain-free, which is the key.”The Astros reinstated right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. from the 10-day disabled list Monday and recalled left-hander Reymin Guduan.The Astros are 17-4 during September, the best record in the majors. They are 53-22 away from home, matching their club-record road win total set last season.Houston is 3-1 against Toronto this season. The Blue Jays outhit the Astros 11-10 Monday. It was the second time in as many games that they have lost while outhitting the opposition and the 10th time this season overall.
The Los Angeles Dodgers can clinch the fifth and final playoff berth in the National League on Saturday with a victory over the San Francisco Giants or a loss by the St. Louis Cardinals against the Chicago Cubs.Although the NL postseason field is nearly set Nelson Cruz Jersey , the teams' respective seeding is still up in the air, with races between the Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central as well as the Dodgers and Colorado Rockies in NL West separated by just a single game apiece with two days remaining.The NL East champion Atlanta Braves are also set to play October baseball, but they are fighting for home-field advantage in the Division Series.Here's how the standings look heading into Saturday's action:1. Cubs (94-66; NL Central leaders)2. Rockies (90-70; NL West leaders)3. Braves (90-70; NL East winners)4. Brewers (93-67; No. 1 wild card)5. Dodgers (89-71; No. 2 wild card)6. Cardinals (87-73; first team out)Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner said after Friday's win they don't want to rely on other teams' results to decide their playoff fate."We want to win our way into the postseason," Turner told reporters. "We don't want to rely on someone else losing to get us in. So鈥攁nother big one tomorrow."MLB's wild-card system makes these final few days crucial. The division winners advance directly to the NLDS Carlos Ruiz Jersey , while the wild cards must face each other in a one-game elimination contest. So the Brewers could win 95 games and be ousted from championship contention because of one bad night.Along with the Dodgers vs. Giants and Cardinals vs. Cubs, the other key series this weekend include the Rockies taking on the Washington Nationals, the Braves battling the Philadelphia Phillies and the Brewers hosting the Detroit Tigers.Here's a prediction for how the NL playoffs will set up following the conclusion of the regular season and any necessary tiebreaker games:1. Cubs2. Braves3. Dodgers4. Brewers5. RockiesThat would pit the Braves against the Dodgers in the NLDS, while the Cubs would own home-field advantage throughout the NL postseason and face the winner of the wild-card game between the Brewers and Rockies as they seek their second World Series title in the past three years. Scott Taetsch/Getty ImagesThe San Francisco Giants recently joined the Bryce Harper sweepstakes and left their meeting with the 2015 National League MVP "very impressed http://www.marinersfanproshop.com/authentic-edgar-martinez-jersey ," according to Jon Heyman of Fancred.That comes after San Franciscopresident of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi let it be known the team has serious interest in the outfielder."There's obviously mutual interest on both sides, so we thought it made sense to get together," Zaidi said, according toUSA Today'sJesse Yomtov. "We had a good conversation over a few hours and he's obviously got a lot of suitors and a lot of interest. He's going to have some decisions to make http://www.marinersfanproshop.com/authentic-edgar-martinez-jersey , but again I think it's fair to say that was an expression of our interest level to make the trip out there and meet with him."Of course, it would be foolish for a franchise to not want a player of Harper's caliber on its roster.Harper hit .249/.393/.496 with 34 home runs, 34 doubles and 100 RBI in 2018. While his average may have been lower than normal, he finished the season strong by hitting .300 after the All-Star break.That second-half tear was ignited by an unforgettable performance in the 2018 Home Run Derby in front of the hometown crowd in the nation's capital:Along with an MVP award and a Derby title Jay Buhner Jersey , Harper has earnedsix All-Star selections, the 2012 NL Rookie of the Year award and a 2015 NL Silver Slugger. That's quite the resume鈥攁nd he's only 26.Meanwhile, San Francisco has missed out on the postseason in back-to-back years and won just 73 games in 2018. The offenseranked29th both in runs scored and in home runs. With spring training right around the corner, the Giants' outfield isshaping upto consist ofChris Shaw Denard Span Jersey ,Steven Duggar and Austin Slater.San Francisco may have to engage in a bidding war if it wants Harper. The Athletic'sKen Rosenthalreported on Friday that Harper is seeking $300 million, with the Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres among the teams also interested.Bob NightengaleofUSA Todayreported in November that Harper had rejected a 10-year, $300 million offer from the Washington Nationals in September.
If Mike Trout is swinging a hot bat Paul O'Neill Jersey , then Shohei Ohtani is swinging something akin to burning lumber.Both stars will look to continue their success at the plate when the Los Angeles Angels go for a three-game sweep over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday afternoon at Guaranteed Rate Field.Trout is coming off a tremendous performance in which he went 5-for-5 with two home runs and five RBIs. The 27-year-old has 33 home runs on the year, matching his total from 2017, and is eight homers shy of his career high of 41 with 20 games to go in the season.Article continues below ...It seems unlikely that Trout will reach that mark, but anything is possible when he goes on a hot streak.Ohtani has been even better the past few days. He learned Wednesday he needed Tommy John surgery to fix a torn ligament in his elbow that will prevent him from pitching in 2019. But he still is able to swing a bat without pain, and he has made every at-bat count since.In his past three games, the 24-year-old Ohtani is 7-for-12 with a triple http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-giancarlo-stanton-jersey , three home runs and nine RBIs. He has increased his season batting average to .290 with 19 homers and 53 RBIs in 255 at-bats.“When he got injured on one thing, he can do another,” Trout told reporters in Chicago. “It’s pretty amazing. He could easily shut the season down, but he wants to finish out strong, and he’s worked hard in the (batting) cage and just in general coming to the field.”Los Angeles (70-72) will wrap up a 10-game road trip. The Angels enter the series finale with a 6-3 record on the trip, but have struggled overall since the All-Star break with a 21-24 record.Chicago (56-86) has fallen into another rut after playing well over the past few weeks. The White Sox have lost four games in a row http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-giancarlo-stanton-jersey , including the last two since learning that prized pitcher Michael Kopech also needs Tommy John surgery and will miss all of the 2019 season.Angels left-hander Andrew Heaney (8-9, 4.16 ERA) will make his 27th start. He has struggled on the road this year, posting a 1-6 record and a 5.02 ERA, compared with a 7-3 record and 3.26 ERA at home. In two career starts against the White Sox, he is 0-0 with a 2.31 ERA.Chicago will counter with right-hander Reynaldo Lopez (5-9, 4.37 ERA) http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-giancarlo-stanton-jersey , who will make his 29th start. He is looking for his first win at home since June 26, when he topped the Minnesota Twins.Lopez has faced the Angels once, allowing four runs in six innings last season. He did not factor into the decision.The White Sox will conclude a 10-game homestand, during which they are 3-6, before heading on a nine-game, 11-day trip with series against the Kansas City Royals http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-giancarlo-stanton-jersey , Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Indians.The White Sox remain without right-handed relief pitcher Nate Jones, who has been out since June 12 because of a strained muscle in his forearm. He has intensified his throwing regimen and could return before season’s end. He is 2-2 with a 2.25 ERA and four saves in 27 games.“Our hope is he will be back,” White Sox manager Rick Renteria told reporters. MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Left-hander Brett Anderson is back with the Oakland Athletics for a third stint 10 years after breaking into the big leagues with the club.He received a $1.5 million, one-year contract, announced Wednesday at spring training. He can earn an additional $1 million in performance bonuses for starts: $200 http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-giancarlo-stanton-jersey ,000 each for 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24.Anderson went 4-5 with a 4.48 ERA in 17 starts and 80 1/3 innings last season for the A’s.The 31-year-old spent the 2009-13 seasons with Oakland before being traded to the Rockies in December 2013.Also Wednesday, the A’s placed left-hander Sean Manaea on the 60-day injured list to clear roster room for Anderson.Manaea pitched a no-hitter against Boston on April 21 in a bright start to a season that ended with the ace undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery in September. He is expected to be out until around the All-Star break.
A look at what’s happening around the majors on today:THE HAPPENINGThe Yankees know they’ll be playing in the AL wild-card game on Oct. 3 http://www.whitesoxfanproshop.com/authentic-paul-konerko-jersey , and J.A. Happ on track to be their starter. New York clinched a wild-card berth with a 3-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles in 11 innings on Saturday. Happ, 6-0 with a 2.39 ERA for New York after he was acquired from Toronto, is scheduled to start Sunday against Boston and would be on normal rest next Friday at Boston and for the wild-card game. The left-hander allowed one run and two hits over six innings to win on Sept. 4 at Oakland, New York’s probable wild-card opponent.ON A ROLLThe Tampa Bay Rays will look to keep their faint postseason hopes alive behind streaking left-hander Blake Snell in their series finale against Toronto. Snell (20-5, 1.97 ERA) is 8-0 with a 1.17 ERA in his past eight starts, striking out 63 over 46 innings in that stretch. The Blue Jays will counter with lefty Ryan Borucki, who pitched eight shutout innings to beat Baltimore in his previous outing. The Rays would need a collapse by Oakland in the season’s final week to earn a wild-card berth. If not, the A’s would face the Yankees in the winner-take-all game.TWO’S ENOUGHThe Cardinals shouldn’t expect to need an offensive outburst to maintain their position in the NL wild-card race. Miles Mikolas (16-4 Welington Castillo Jersey , 3.01 ERA), who starts Sunday against San Francisco, is 16-0 when receiving two or more runs of support. St. Louis holds the second wild-card position behind the Milwaukee Brewers, with the Colorado Rockies chasing.LOOKING AHEADNow that they’ve won their first NL East crown since 2013, the Atlanta Braves can start figuring out their postseason rotation. Mike Foltynewicz has been the Braves’ most consistent starter and took a no-hitter into the seventh inning in Saturday’s division-clinching win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Kevin Gausman has been solid since coming over in a trade with Baltimore and could start Game 2 of the NL Division Series. Beyond that, the Braves have Anibal Sanchez (6-6, 3.01 ERA), Julio Teheran (16-9 David Ross Jersey , 4.03) and Sean Newcomb (16-12, 4.04). Sanchez can begin stating his case on Sunday when he pitches against the Phillies and ace Aaron Nola. PITTSBURGH (AP) — When veteran pitcher Chris Archer faltered and regular right fielder Gregory Polanco left a game Friday night against Miami with an injury, Pittsburgh turned to the kids to get the job done.Kevin Kramer recorded his first major league hit and RBI, fellow rookie Jordan Luplow hit a tiebreaking two-run home run and the Pirates rallied to beat the Marlins 5-3.Archer took a shutout into the sixth, but served up a three-run home run to Miami’s Lewis Brinson to concede the lead. Walking off the field, he pointed to Kramer, making his first big league start, as the player that would be the spark to get the Pirates back in it.“I said http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-david-ross-jersey , ‘You’re going to get the knock that’s going to tie the game,'” Archer recalled. “And he did. It was huge. It’s not like the dude was throwing slow.”Facing reliever Tayron Guerrero (1-3), who regularly tops 100 mph, Kramer just wanted to be quick to the ball.“I knew he threw hard,” Kramer said. “I had never faced him before. I just wanted to be early, because I knew it would be impossible to be early.”After Kramer’s single up the middle tied the game, Luplow squared up a 1-2 offering for his third homer to put the Pirates ahead for good.“It was a great team win,” Archer said. “Baseball can be trying at times Drew Smyly Jersey , but tonight was a lot of fun.”Archer struck out six, walked three and gave up five hits. He was disappointed with the walks, particularly one to Brian Anderson just ahead of Brinson’s homer.Luplow was in the game because Polanco exited with left shoulder and left knee discomfort after sliding into second base awkwardly in the sixth inning. The Pirates didn’t have any further update on his condition.Richard Rodriguez (4-2) pitched a scoreless inning. Felipe Vazquez worked the ninth for his 31st save.Josh Bell also hit a two-run shot for Pittsburgh in the second, his first homer since Aug. 11 and ninth of the season.Miami starter Dan Straily allowed two runs in 4 2/3 innings. After giving up a double to Archer in the fifth, Straily left the game with a left oblique strain. He had thrown just 78 pitches. The Marlins said Straily is day-to-day.“If he keeps trying to go out there and pitch and then he rips it up, then you’re really in trouble because everyone knows how serious that kind of injury can be,” manager Don Mattingly said.Brinson’s homer was his 11th of the season. He also doubled and finished 3 for 4. Since returning from the minors on Sept. 1, he is 11 for 22.“It’s all about keeping his backside from collapsing because he has lightning hands and his lower half is solid Brandon Morrow Jersey ,” Mattingly said. “If he keeps his lower half solid, then he’s going to hit like this.”TRAINER’S ROOMMarlins: SS JT Riddle (wrist) did not start for the fourth straight game and remains day-to-day. Mattingly said he was available to play defense or pinch run.Pirates: RHP Chad Kuhl (right forearm strain) pitched off flat ground and off a mound, throwing 20 changeups in his first bullpen work since being placed on the disabled list in late June. He remains on track to return to the mound this season.UP NEXTMarlins: LHP Wei-Yin Chen (6-9, 4.64 ERA) is scheduled to start Saturday. He has a 1.77 ERA in 12 home starts and a 9.35 ERA in 10 road starts.Pirates: RHP Ivan Nova (7-9, 4.35 ERA) has lost three straight. He has a 3.86 ERA in that span, but the Pirates have not scored a run while he’s been in the game.
By the time the All-Star break concludes http://www.athleticsfanproshop.com/authentic-khris-davis-jersey , Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado likely will be wearing a different uniform.According to Jim Bowden of The Athletic, "Machado will represent the Orioles in the All-Star Game....but he is expected to be traded before the regular season resumes later in the week, according to sources involved in the trade discussions."There have been no shortage of Machado reports in recent days:Ken Rosenthal Ken_Rosenthal#Dodgers remain in mix for Machado, sources tell The Athletic. #Brewers in consistent contact with #Orioles; #Phillies as well. Yankees seem less involved. Talks fluid. BAL鈥檚 internal politics make nothing a sure thing.Buster Olney Buster_ESPNSource indicated last Sunday his sense was that the Orioles were at the 35-yard-line and driving in the Machado trade conversations. Same source this Sunday: quot;10-yard-line.quot; PHI, Brewers, Dodgers waiting for the goal line call. As mentioned yesterday, Orioles have narrowed focus.Nick Cafardo nickcafardoMultiple teams still in the hunt for Manny Machado. Yankees are quot;seriousquot; according to a source with knowledge of the situation. Also, growing number of teams lining up their bids for closer Zach Britton.The Machado chase remains the most fascinating story in baseball because of his pending free agency.How much will interested teams be willing to give up for a potential rental? Will Machado give extra consideration to re-signing with the team that trades for him Chad Pinder Jersey , or is he simply going to seek the most lucrative offer and biggest market? If Machado's new team doesn't win the World Series, was it worth it to sacrifice prospects?Those aren't easy questions for prospective suitors to answer. One thing is all but certain, however: Machado's time in Baltimore has come to a close.During the Orioles' 6-5 win over the Texas Rangers on Sunday, Machado was removed from the game ahead of the fifth inning following a brief rain delay. Manager Buck Showalter told reporters field conditions played a part in the decision but alluded to a potential trade."Obviously, there's a different situation going on with Manny," he said, per Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun. "You all know that. That had a lot to do with it. ... A month ago, he wouldn't have come out of the game. We know that. You know it. You're smart. I think you know what's going on."The non-waiver trade deadline isn't until July 31 http://www.athleticsfanproshop.com/authentic-khris-davis-jersey , but it appears the Machado sweepstakes is nearing its end. By the time the regular season resumes, it seems likely the superstar shortstop will have finally been dealt. Much has changed since Los Angeles Angels left-hander Tyler Skaggs threw one of his best games of the season against the Oakland A’s on June 15.Skaggs has since been on the disabled list three times, while the A’s morphed into the hottest team in baseball over the next three months, making up a 10-game deficit for the final American League wild-card spot and, ultimately, clinching a postseason berth on Monday.Skaggs is scheduled to start Saturday night against the A’s at Angel Stadium, the fifth time he’ll take the mound against Oakland this season. He might face a different A’s lineup now that they’ve locked up the second wild-card spot.Article continues below ...The New York Yankees clinched the first wild-card position and home field for the one-game playoff on Wednesday with an 11-6 win at the Boston Red Sox on Friday night. The victory came about 45 minutes after the A’s started their series opener against the Angels. Oakland went on to lose 8-5.The A’s needed to sweep the Angels this weekend and hope the Red Sox swept the Yankees to send the wild-card game to Oakland.Skaggs (8-9, 3.91 ERA) did not allow an earned run over seven innings in the 8-4 win against the A’s on June 15 in Oakland. He improved to 6-4 with the victory and lowered his ERA to 2.81.The A’s Blake Treinen Jersey , meanwhile, fell to 34-36 with the loss and dropped 10 games behind the Seattle Mariners for the second wild-card spot.Oakland (96-64) has since gone 62-28 to surge past the Angels and Mariners, clinch a playoff spot and put pressure on the Yankees up until New York’s win on Friday night.Skaggs, meanwhile, has battled groin issues most of the summer.Saturday will be his third start since missing five weeks with a left adductor strain. The Angels (79-81) kept his pitch count in the 50s in his past two outings.He threw three shutout innings against the A’s on Sept. 18 in a 9-7 win, but wasn’t nearly as sharp his next time out, allowing four runs and five hits in 2 1/3 innings of a 6-2 loss to the Houston Astros last Sunday.“Luckily, it’s September Chris Hatcher Jersey , our bullpen is deep,” he told MLB.com after the game. “At the same time, it’s just frustrating.”Skaggs last pitched at Angel Stadium on Aug. 11, also against the A’s, and was rocked for seven runs and 10 hits in 3 1/3 innings of the 7-0 loss. That was his first start game since coming off the disabled list for a second time with an adductor strain.He was much better against Oakland in his other two starts this season. In addition to his outing on June 15, he threw 6 1/3 shutout innings in the second game of the season, earning the victory in the 2-1 win.For his career, Skaggs is 2-5 with a 4.98 ERA in nine starts against the A’s.Trevor Cahill is scheduled to start for Oakland. Cahill (6-4 http://www.athleticsfanproshop.com/authentic-khris-davis-jersey , 3.91) allowed five runs (three earned) and five hits in 3 1/3 innings of a 5-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Sunday, which forced the A’s to wait another day to clinch their playoff spot. The left-hander missed a pair of starts before that outing because of upper back discomfort.“All things considered, I think it was a step in the right direction for him,” A’s manager Bob Melvin told reporters after the game. “The last time we saw him, he was completely out of whack and hurting a little bit.”Cahill faced the Angels in Anaheim on Aug. 12 and entered the fifth inning with an 8-3 lead, but he was lifted after allowing a two-out run-scoring double, leaving him ineligible for the win in the 8-7 victory.He is 5-3 with a 2.44 ERA in 12 career appearances (11 starts) against the Angels.Cahill is 1-3 with a 7.02 ERA on the road this season.
SEATTLE — The Houston Astros on Monday night concluded what was their longest stretch without All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve since he made his debut as a 21-year-old on July 20 Mike Trout Jersey , 2011.Altuve will be reinstated from the 10-day disabled list Tuesday and will rejoin the starting lineup following a 21-game hiatus caused by right knee discomfort when Houston visits the Seattle Mariners.Altuve exited in the fifth inning July 25 against the Colorado Rockies in Denver. He landed on the DL for the first time in his decorated eight-year career later that week. The Astros (75-50) dropped the opener of their three-game series with the Seattle Mariners on Monday and fell to 8-13 without Altuve.Article continues below ...Altuve made one rehab assignment start Sunday for Triple-A Fresno at Tacoma, finishing 1-for-3 with a hit by pitch. He got all the requisite work in advance of his return to action and declared himself fit to play following what has been an unusual experience.“That was my first Triple-A game. Believe it or not, I was a little excited,” said Altuve, who made the jump to the majors from Double-A Corpus Christi. “It’s been a long time since I played in the minor leagues … but I know this was just part of my rehab.“I have what I was looking to have.”Said Astros manager A.J. Hinch: “He had a successful day of building some confidence and getting himself active where he could test himself. He did just about everything: he got a hit, he got on the bases, he made a hard turn http://www.angelsfanproshop.com/authentic-zack-cozart-jersey , he sprinted to second base on a bloop single. They were reaction plays that we can’t really simulate in early work. It takes game competition to do that.”For the first time this season, the Astros will utilize a sixth starter. Hinch has declared the second game of the series a bullpen day, with right-hander Brad Peacock (2-4, 3.19 ERA) slated to get the start against Seattle. The rotation void was created when right-hander Lance McCullers was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a right forearm strain Aug. 5.Peacock is 5-4 with a 4.42 ERA in 15 games (nine starts) versus Seattle, including four scoreless relief appearances over 5 1/3 innings this season.Right-hander Mike Leake (8-7, 3.90 ERA) will start for the Mariners. Leake has recorded six consecutive quality starts, going 0-1 with a 2.54 ERA during that stretch. Despite allowing only two hits and one walk over eight scoreless innings in his previous outing against the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday Garrett Richards Jersey , Leake did not factor into the decision. He is 6-6 with a 3.67 ERA over 15 career appearances (13 starts) against the Astros, including 0-2 with a 5.00 ERA this season.The Mariners (72-54) pulled to within 3 1/2 games of Houston and the Athletics in the American League West after rallying for a 7-4 victory in the series opener. The Mariners have won five consecutive games against the slumping Astros, who have dropped eight of 10 to fall back into a tie with the Athletics atop the division.Closer Edwin Diaz has saved each of the last six Seattle victories over the Astros and matched the franchise record with his 48th save Monday. WASHINGTON — The Washington Nationals to a man insisted Tuesday night their season is not over despite the trades of Daniel Murphy and Matt Adams.They walked the walk in the opener against the Phillies and look to keep it going Wednesday night.Andrew Stevenson and Wilmer Difo hit back-to-back home runs in a five-run sixth inning and Washington (63-63) rallied past the Phillies 10-4 in a game that was delayed 1:42 by rain in the third inning. Article continues below ...Stevenson, who was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse earlier in the day, drove to Washington and, thanks to the delay, was there to tie the game with his first career homer http://www.angelsfanproshop.com/authentic-zack-cozart-jersey , a two-run pinch-hit shot to center. Difo, Murphy’s replacement at second base, followed with a go-ahead shot.Ryan Zimmerman also homered and Matt Wieters drove in three runs.“That was a long day, but it ended well,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said following a game that ended after midnight.“That shows the character of these guys, it really does. They haven’t given up all year. I said before, these guys could have folded a long time ago and they’re not. … I’m proud to see the way they came out Huston Street Jersey , we fell behind, and they kept battling.”The Phillies (68-57) had taken a 4-1 lead in their half of the sixth, but their bullpen couldn’t hold it as the Nationals pounded out 14 hits.“I would say that the Nationals have been dangerous since opening day and they will be a dangerous team until the last game of the season,” Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said.Right-hander Zach Eflin (9-4, 3.70 ERA) opposes Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg (6-7, 3.90) in the middle game on Wednesday.Eflin was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley following his Aug. 10 start and recalled as the 26th man to pitch the second game of a doubleheader Aug. 16 against the Mets. He allowed four runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings to earn the win and was optioned back to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, losing major league service time and salary.“We trust that our players are strong-minded http://www.angelsfanproshop.com/authentic-zack-cozart-jersey ,” Kapler told mlb.com, “and we trust that they can put things like what happened with the option behind them and focus on the step right in front of them.”Eflin is 1-0 against the Nationals for his career. He beat them on June 22 when he allowed two runs in five innings.Strasburg (cervical nerve impingement) made his last start on July 20, when he returned from a six-week disabled list stint due to shoulder inflammation. He went back on the DL five days later. He’s thrown several bullpens and a simulated game in recent weeks but did not make a rehab start.“Credit to Stras that he got himself ready to pitch for us and have that opportunity to go up against a team we’re trying to catch,” Martinez said. “He’s been working diligently and he feels good.”This will be his first start against the Phillies this season. He’s 10-2 with a 2.22 ERA in 21 career starts against them, his lowest ERA versus an NL East foe.The Nationals need Strasburg to hit the ground running if they want to climb back into the NL East race.“We’ve still got a great lineup and a great staff — getting Stephen Strasburg back here awfully soon — and a couple of our bullpen pieces back as well,” Bryce Harper said Tuesday. “Just gotta battle. Keep going and keep playing ball.”
KANSAS CITY Lucas Giolito Jersey , Mo. (AP) — Mike Montgomery continues to dominate the club that drafted him out of high school.Montgomery allowed five hits over six-plus innings, David Bote drove in a career-high three runs and the Chicago Cubs beat the Kansas City Royals 5-0 Tuesday night.The Cubs upped their NL Central lead to 2 ½ games over second-place Milwaukee, which lost in San Diego.Montgomery (4-4), who the Royals drafted in the first round in 2008, picked up his first win since June 29. Montgomery is 3-0 with a 0.40 ERA in four appearances against the Royals.“I’ve heard the numbers of what I’ve got against them throughout my career,” Montgomery said. “I think it’s a coincidence. Sometimes you just have a team that you do well against. It happens to be them. They’ve had some good teams over the last couple of years. The team that drafts you, you always want to pitch good against them.”Bote’s first career triple with two out in the first scored Ben Zobrist and Jason Heyward. His fifth inning single scored Javier Baez.“It’s kind of just morphed in over the years,” said Bote, who is in his fifth stint with the Cubs this season after six-plus years in the minors. “The nerves are always there. The adrenalin’s there. Being able to use those emotions into a good avenue, being able to think ‘I’m going to attack this baseball’ or ‘I’m ready for this pitch.’ Put a positive spin on it and just executing.”Victor Caratini, who led off the inning with a single, scored on Zobrist’s sacrifice fly. Zobrist left in the bottom of the inning with left hip tightness, but will likely play Wednesday.“That fifth inning just kind of snowballed on me,” losing pitcher Brad Keller said.Ian Happ’s sacrifice fly in the eighth scored Bote with the final run.Keller (4-5) was removed after six innings, allowing four runs on seven hits and three walks.“He kept us in the game,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “He made pitches and limited the damage when he needed to. I thought he was going to get out of the first inning scoreless http://www.whitesoxfanproshop.com/authentic-paul-konerko-jersey , but he threw a slider that Bote hit off the wall in the right field for two runs.”The Royals had only one runner past second base, when Adalberto Mondesi swiped third in the seventh.“We just couldn’t do anything against Montgomery,” Yost said. “He did a nice job of mixing up his pitches. He was ahead in the count for the most part and did a good job of keeping us off balance.”The Royals have lost six straight and are 14-43 since May 30. They are tied with Baltimore for the worst record, 34-79, in the majors.BRYANT UPDATECubs 3B Kris Bryant took grounders and played catch, but has not picked up a bat since going on the disabled list on July 24 for the second time with left shoulder inflammation. “I’m really bored, not fun at all,” Bryant said. “But you gotta do what you gotta do to get healthy and hopefully it never happens again. It’s frustrating. It’s not fun to go in the trainer’s room every day. I feel like I’m normal but it’s only when I’m swinging the bat.” No timetable has been set on when the 2016 NL MVP player will return. “I’m not going to get ahead of myself,” he said.HEYWARD BATS FOURTHRF Jason Heyward batted cleanup for the first time this season for the Cubs.ROYALS MAKE TRADEThe Royals acquired RHP Jon Perrin from the Brewers in a minor league trade. Perrin, 25, went to Olathe East, a suburban Kansas City high school, and Oklahoma State. He was assigned to their Double-A Northwest Arkansas club. The Royals sent Lexington RHP Sal Biasi to the Brewers.TRAINER’S ROOMCubs: RHP Anthony Bass (right mid-thoracic strain) tossed a flawless inning Tuesday for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs against Las Vegas. Bass threw eight pitches, all strikes, in his second rehab appearance since going on the DL on July 21.Royals: RHP Ian Kennedy (left oblique strain) threw a bullpen session for the first time since going on the DL on July 11. . OF Brian Goodwin (left groin strain) is eligible to come off the disabled list Wednesday, but manager Ned Yost said he would not. “I’m not sure what their timeline is Reynaldo Lopez Jersey ,” Goodwin said. “I just keep getting better every day.”UP NEXTCubs: LHP Jose Quintana, who is 3-9 versus the Royals, will start the series finale.Royals: RHP Heath Fillmyer is looking for his first big league victory. One half of the participants for the 2018 World Series has been determined, as the Boston Red Sox captured the American League pennant Thursday night.We'll know Boston's opponent by Saturday, and possibly as early as Friday, as the Los Angeles Dodgers hold a 3-2 NLCS lead over the Milwaukee Brewers going into Friday's Game 6 at Miller Park.Boston is making its first appearance in the Fall Classic since 2013, when it defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in six games.When the World Series begins Tuesday at Fenway Park, the Red Sox will be facing their third different National League foe in their fourth World Series appearance since 2004.In every World Series, a few breakout stars emerge, and Boston's ALCS victory gave us a glimpse as to which players might fill that role. Meanwhile, we have an idea who could feature in a starring spot for the eventual National League champion. 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 Bruce Rondon Jersey , 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, October 31 (Time TBD, Fox) Players Who Will Decide ChampionshipDavid PriceDavid Price's ALCS Game 5 start was hopefully a turning point in his postseason career.Price, whose playoff struggles have been well documented in recent weeks, tossed six scoreless innings to help the Red Sox down the Houston Astros 4-1 Thursday.Thursday's outing marked the first time Price gave up less than two runs in a postseason start, which is a welcome development for a Boston team counting on its rotation to alleviate the pressure on the bullpen.Elsa/Getty ImagesChris Sale should start Game 1 of the World Series, which would set up Price for a Game 2 outing on the mound, similar to what we saw in the ALDS and ALCS.Now that Price has confidence behind him from earning his first postseason victory as a starter, he could produce a similar performance at Fenway Park against the NL champion.Before Thursday, the idea of using Price out of the bullpen was a good one http://www.whitesoxfanproshop.com/authentic-paul-konerko-jersey , and it still might be if the Red Sox need to close out a tight game on the road.If Boston manager Alex Cora sticks with the same rotation he utilized in the ALCS, Price would be available for an inning or two between Games 2 and 6.Cora showed in the clinching victory over the Astros that he's not afraid to use a starter in a key relief role, as ALCS Game 3 starter Nathan Eovaldi threw 1.1 innings to set up closer Craig Kimbrel.No matter which role he fills late in the series, Price will benefit from another strong start in Game 2 and be the difference-maker no one expected he could be as recently as Thursday afternoon.Yasiel PuigThe Dodgers will clinch the National League pennant in Milwaukee, and after that, they will rely on an unlikely star at the plate to be competitive at Fenway Park in Games 1 and 2 of the World Series.In each of his past six postseason series, Yasiel Puig hasrecorded at least three hits, with the 2017 NLDS and NLCS being his most successful outings.Puig's bat is starting to come alive against the Brewers, as he has four hits in the past three NLCS games, and he will increase that production in the World Series with the Red Sox more concerned with other batters in the Los Angeles order.Kevork Djansezian/Getty ImagesThe Boston pitchers will be forced to pitch to Puig, who normally resides further down the order, because they will have so much focus on limiting the production of Justin Turner, Manny Machado and others.That careful strategy will end up in a few walks that set the stage for the back end of the Los Angeles lineup to drive in runs.With Puig beginning to heat up at the plate again, he will come up with a few hits in clutch situations and record a game-winning hit at some point in the series. 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Mon May 13, 2019 4:43 am
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