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MIAMI (AP) — Cody Reed is enjoying his starter’s role.After spending the majority of his three-year career in the bullpen http://www.metsfanproshop.com/authentic-jose-reyes-jersey , Reed joined the Cincinnati Reds rotation last month, and on Thursday night the left-hander won his first decision as a starter.Reed pitched six shutout innings and Scooter Gennett homered and doubled to lead the Reds to a 4-2 victory over the Miami Marlins.“I was happy I got the first but the team got the win, that’s the most important thing,” Reed said. “I feel good.”Reed (1-2) scattered five hits and struck out six and extended his scoreless streak to 11 innings.“I was just throwing the ball over the plate,” Reed said. “Getting those quick outs and getting the team off the field and back swinging the sticks was good.”Gennett’s two-run home run in the seventh gave Cincinnati a 4-0 lead. Gennett’s blast off Miami reliever Elieser Hernandez landed in the upper deck in right field and was his 23rd homer.“I knew I got that one,” Gennett said.The Marlins threatened in the sixth as Starlin Castro and J.T. Realmuto singled, but Reed retired Peter O’Brien on a double-play grounder and Austin Dean on a fly to center.“He could be a real weapon for us as we face our division where none of those left-handed hitters sit,” Reds manager Jim Riggleman said of Reed. “We talk about it all the time. In our own division, we have to find somebody to get those left-handed hitters out and we’re hoping he can be one of the guys that can do it.”Realmuto’s two-out RBI double off reliever Jared Hughes cut Cincinnati’s lead to 4-1. Raisel Iglesias inherited Realmuto and allowed a run-scoring single by O’Brien before retiring pinch hitter Derek Dietrich on a fly to center.“Everybody went up there and tried to compete,” Castro said. “There is nothing more important than coming in here and try to finish strong.”Iglesias walked two in the ninth before Gennett made a diving stop on a hard grounder by Miguel Rojas and threw him out at first for the final out. Iglesias earned his 29th save in 33 opportunities.“I was just trying to get to the clubhouse and shower, quickest way to do it,” Gennett said of his game ending play. “I was kind of playing more straight up rather than pull. If I was, I probably wouldn’t have been able to get to it.”The Reds struck early on Gennett’s two-run double off Miami starter Jeff Brigham in the third. Gennett drove in Billy Hamilton and Scott Schebler, who had reached on walks.Brigham (0-3) allowed two runs, three hits, four walks and struck out six in his third major league start since being promoted from Triple A New Orleans on Sept. 1“I think I learned a lot again in this start Wilmer Flores Jersey ,” Brigham said. “Every start is a step forward.”REALMUTO VOTED TEAM MVP:Realmuto, the Marlins’ leader in home runs, runs batted in and OPS, has been selected the team’s Most Valuable Player in a vote by the South Florida chapter of the Baseball Writers Association. 3B-RF Brian Anderson won the Rookie of the Year award. . The Marlins named OF Austin Dean the organization’s Minor League Player of the Year and Nick Neidert Pitcher of the Year. A September call-up, Dean hit .345, 12 home runs and had 68 RBI, in stops at Double-A Jacksonville and Triple-A New Orleans. Neidert, acquired from Seattle for Dee Gordon in the offseason, finished 12-7 with a 3.26 ERA at Double A Jacksonville.FAMILIAR LINEUPS AHEAD:The Reds just completed three series against playoff contending teams but Riggleman said he will continue using offensive leaders Gennet, Joey Votto, Eugenio Suarez and Jose Peraza now that the club will play Miami and Kansas City, last in their respective divisions. “I don’t anticipate looking at too many different lineups,” Riggleman said. “I’ve been using them as I have to this point.”TRAINER’S ROOM:Reds: RHP Tyler Mahle, bothered by right shoulder fatigue, will miss his next scheduled start on Sunday and Riggleman is uncertain if he will pitch again this season. “If I had an update as to when he will pitch in a game, I will say so http://www.metsfanproshop.com/authentic-neil-walker-jersey ,” Riggleman said. “We don’t even know if he will pitch in a game between now and the end of the year. He feels fine but we’re just going to make a determination – do we want to do it in a controlled simulated situation or putting him a game for two innings?”UP NEXT:Reds: RHP Luis Castillo (10-12, 4.52), a former Marlins prospect, will start the second game of the series Friday. Castillo, acquired for RHP Dan Straily before the 2017 season, pitched eight innings, allowed one run and three hits and got the victory in his other previous start against his former team on July 30, 2017.Marlins: LHP Wei-Yin Chen (6-11, 4.93) will attempt to continue his home success on Friday. Chen has a 1.77 ERA in 12 home starts while his road ERA in 12 starts balloons to 9.29. ST. LOUIS (AP) — Two weeks ago, St. Louis infielder Matt Adams couldn’t buy a hit.He struggled just to make contact, and was mired in a 0-for-27 slump.Those days are apparently over.Adams hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning on Monday night to rally the Cardinals to an 8-7 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.St. Louis, which overcame deficits of 4-0 and 6-4, moved two games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the race for the second wild card spot in the NL. Cincinnati beat Los Angeles 10-6 Monday.Josh Harrison, Colin Moran and Starling Marte homered for Pittsburgh, which had its five-game winning streak snapped.Adams homered off Edgar Santana (2-3) to erase a 6-4 deficit.“He threw a slider middle of the plate, it stayed up and I put the barrel to it Adrian Gonzalez Jersey ,” Adams said.Adams, a former Cardinals player claimed off waivers from Washington on Aug. 21, hit his first homer at Busch Stadium since Sept. 27, 2016. It was his 21st of the season, a career high.St. Louis manager Mike Shildt remained confident in Adams despite his struggles. Adams struck out eight times during his hitless skid, which spanned Aug. 5-28.“You have to have a short memory at this level,” Adams said. “Or it tends to have a snowball effect.”John Brebbia (2-3) picked up the victory for St. Louis, which has won two in a row.Carlos Martinez, a former starter, recorded his third save in as many chances. He gave up run-scoring double to Josh Bell with two out. But Martinez got Francisco Cervelli to ground out to Paul DeJong at deep short to end the game. The bang-bang play at first was challenged, but Cervelli was ruled out after a 31-second video review.DeJong ranged onto the outfield grass to make the play.“He knows the speed of the runner, he knows the speed of the ball,” Shildt said. “He can beat you in a lot of different ways.”St. Louis right-hander Adam Wainwright, making his first start since May 13, gave up four runs on seven hits in five innings. He retired the last eight batters after giving up three runs in the third.“I’ve got to execute a lot better than I did today,” Wainwright said. “It’s good to be back competing. I love being out there.”Shildt said Wainwright will get another start.“He’s earned the opportunity to go again Jose Bautista Jersey ,” Shildt said. “I trust his stuff, he’s still making pitches.”Matt Carpenter walked to start the go-ahead rally. Jose Martinez followed with a hit to set the stage for Adams’ heroics.Harrison broke a 4-4 tie with a solo shot off Chasen Shreve in sixth. Adam Frazier added a run-scoring hit for a 6-4 lead.The Cardinals scored four times in the fourth off Trevor Williams, who had allowed just four earned runs over his previous nine starts. DeJong had a two-run double and scored on Harrison Bader’s game-tying sacrifice fly.Williams allowed six hits, struck out six and didn’t walk a batter. He was making his sixth start of the season against St. Louis.“I’m just thankful I’m not pitching against the Cardinals again for the rest of the year,” Williams said. “They’re a great ball club and I wish them nothing but success going into October.”Williams came into the game on a big-time roll.“It’s been really a strong stretch,” Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. “(Tonight) he rolled his sleeves up, went to work, stopped the bleeding that was going on.”Moran homered in the second off Wainwright, who struck out three and did not walk a batter. Marte ripped a two-run shot in the third, his 19th of the season, for a 3-0 lead.St. Louis is 33-18 under Shildt, who took over for Mike Matheny on July 15.TRAINER’S ROOMCardinals: C Yadier Molina missed his fourth straight game with left hamstring tightness suffered Wednesday in Washington. He is expected to return sometime during the current seven-game homestand that began on Monday. … RHP Adam Wainwright was activated from the 60-day disabled list prior to the game.UP NEXTRHP Joe Musgrove (6-8, 3.75) takes on RHP Miles Mikolas (14-4, 3.06) in the second game of the three-game set on Tuesday. Musgrove has gone at least seven innings in five of his last nine starts. The Cardinals are 7-1 in Mikolas’ last eight starts.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — This was one rerun Dodgers fans were happy to watch again. Matt Kemp beat the Diamondbacks for the second straight game Fernando Rodney Jersey , hitting a two-run double in the ninth inning that lifted Los Angeles over Arizona 3-2 Sunday for sole possession of first place in the NL West.A day after Kemp launched a go-ahead, three-run homer in the eighth against Archie Bradley, the Dodgers slugger tagged him again on the first pitch to break a tie for the division lead.“When I was walking up to the plate they showed what I did last night,” Kemp said. “He threw a fastball that was pretty much in and I got the barrel on it and made something happen.”Kemp chucked his helmet in the air rounding second base and his teammates chased him down for a wild celebration along the third-base line.“I’m a little upset right now,” Bradley said.Bradley also a message for Arizona rooters: “To our fans, don’t panic. It’s only one loss.”But a costly one. The D-backs dropped a game back of the Dodgers and Rockies, who beat San Diego 4-2.The Dodgers were 4 1/2 games out of first after a loss on Aug. 22, but have gone 8-1 in their last nine games to regain the division lead for the first time since Aug. 7.“Just grinding http://www.twinsfanproshop.com/authentic-addison-reed-jersey , not panicking,” Kemp said.The Dodgers beat the Diamondbacks by identical 3-2 scores three days in a row, after Arizona won the series opener at Dodger Stadium.“We had our mojo back, but this series clarified that,” Cody Bellinger said.Brad Boxberger (2-5) started the ninth and put the potential tying and go-ahead runs on with consecutive walks to pinch-hitter Alex Verdugo and Max Muncy. The runners advanced on Enrique Hernandez’s sacrifice bunt and set up Kemp, who pinch-hit in the seventh and stayed in the game.“That’s why we call him Hollywood,” Bellinger said. “He likes the big moments.”Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said he considered walking Kemp, but wanted to avoid pitching to Justin Turner and Manny Machado.“I brought in Archie because I thought it would be a good spot (after Saturday’s game) http://www.twinsfanproshop.com/authentic-joe-mauer-jersey ,” Lovullo said. “He’s been doing it for us all season, but Kemp has our number.” Daniel Descalso homered leading off the ninth to put Arizona ahead 2-1. Descalso went deep to center field off Caleb Ferguson with the ball just eluding Bellinger’s glove as he reached over the wall.“This loss stings a bit because we clawed our way back and took the lead,” Descalso said. “There has been a lot of low-scoring games and that’s the way it is when it’s high stress and you’re in a pennant race. You’re not going to blow out too many teams.”Kenley Jansen (1-5) took over for Ferguson and got three outs.“That was crazy,” Jansen said.The D-backs tied it at 1 on Alex Avila’s bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the seventh.Rookie Walker Buehler gave up a leadoff single to Paul Goldschmidt and a one-out walk to Descalso. Ryan Madson came on in his Dodgers debut after being acquired from the Nationals and promptly loaded the bases on a walk to Ketel Marte.Bellinger caught Avila’s fly and fired home. Goldschmidt’s left leg caught the corner of the plate before catcher Yasmani Grandal tagged his upper body.Goldschmidt was called out, but Arizona challenged it. After a 2 1/2-minute review, it was overturned, tying the game as Dodgers fans booed.Muncy hit his 31st homer leading off the fifth for a 1-0 lead. The ball landed in the D-backs’ bullpen in right, ending Arizona starter Clay Buchholz’s streak of not allowing a run at 19 innings.Buehler allowed one run and two hits in 6 1/3 innings. He tied his career high with nine strikeouts and walked three. He had two of the Dodgers’ five hits Glen Perkins Jersey , getting a pair of singles.TRAINER’S ROOMDodgers: Recalled RHP Brock Stewart from Triple-A Oklahoma City and placed him on 60-day DL with a right oblique strain. … RHP Ross Stripling (low back inflammation) had a bullpen in which he threw 20 pitches, rested and then threw another 25. He’s set for a simulated game Wednesday against Dodgers hitters and could be activated late next week.FIRST TIMEThe Dodgers earned their first-ever four-game series win over Arizona at Dodger Stadium. They improved to 7-9 against the D-backs. The teams play again Sept. 24-26 in Phoenix.RARE STUMBLEArizona ended its California trip going 2-5 against the Giants and Dodgers. The D-backs have lost three in a row for the first time since July 15-21, and have lost six of their last nine away from home.GOLDY STILL GOINGGoldschmidt singled in the first to extend his streak of reaching base to a club-record 45 straight road games, tied with Houston’s Alex Bregman for the longest such stretch by a major leaguer this season.UP NEXTD-backs: RHP Zack Godley (14-7, 4.42 ERA) starts Monday at San Diego in the opener of a two-game set. He is just shy of career highs in innings and strikeouts.Dodgers: LHP Alex Wood (8-6, 3.42) starts Monday in the opener of a three-game series against the Mets and RHP Jacob deGrom (9-8, 1.68). A look at what’s happening around the majors today:PRIZE FIGHTTop contenders for the NL Cy Young Award square off when Aaron Nola (14-3, 2.24 ERA) and the Phillies face Max Scherzer (16-5 Harmon Killebrew Jersey , 2.11) and the Nationals in their series finale. Nola is 2-0 with a 1.98 ERA in two starts this season against Washington, which has won consecutive games against Philadelphia since trading away Daniel Murphy and Matt Adams. The second-place Phillies are three games behind Atlanta in the NL East, while the Nationals are 7½ games back.PAIR OF ACESIn another marquee matchup on the mound, it’s Jacob deGrom (8-7, 1.71 ERA) and the Mets hosting Madison Bumgarner (4-5, 3.05) and the Giants for a Citi Field matinee. Also a leading candidate for the NL Cy Young, deGrom is coming off his third career complete game and first this season last Saturday in a 3-1 win at Philadelphia. Bumgarner is 5-0 with a 0.47 ERA in five starts at Citi Field. He last faced New York in the 2016 NL wild-card game, pitching a four-hit shutout that sent San Francisco to the NLDS.E-WING SWINGIN’Boston tries to slow down Edwin Encarnacion and the Indians as the major league-leading Red Sox seek a split of their four-game series between AL division leaders. Encarnacion cleared the Green Monster twice Wednesday night after being sidelined since Aug. 12 with a bruised right wrist Paul Molitor Jersey , though Boston still beat Cleveland 10-4 to end a three-game skid. Encarnacion has 27 homers and is trying to reach 30 for the seventh straight season, stretching the longest active streak in the majors. Red Sox left-hander David Price (13-6, 3.69) is 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA since the All-Star break.IMMEDIATE DIVIDENDSCole Hamels is 3-0 with a 0.72 ERA in four starts for the NL Central-leading Cubs since they acquired him from Texas in a July 27 trade. Hamels pitches the opener of a four-game series at Wrigley Field against last-place Cincinnati. One day after obtaining Daniel Murphy from Washington to boost their sagging lineup, the Cubs finally broke loose Wednesday night in an 8-2 victory at Detroit. Chicago, which homered three times, had scored exactly one run in each of its previous five games. Murphy singled home a run in his first game with the Cubs.TOO HOT CORNERWil Myers’ move to third base got messy Wednesday. The Padres‘ infielder was scratched from a game against Colorado with a cut on his nose after taking a grounder to the face while practicing at his new position. Myers was fielding grounders at third during batting practice when a ball went over his glove and struck him. He left the field holding a towel over his face with a trainer near his side. Myers was scheduled to make his eighth start at the hot corner as San Diego experiments with sliding the veteran outfielder and first baseman across the diamond.

CINCINNATI (AP) — Paul Goldschmidt and the Arizona Diamondbacks powered their way to a sorely needed win.Goldschmidt hit two of Arizona’s five homers Aaron Donald Jersey Elite , and the Diamondbacks avoided a sweep by pounding the Cincinnati Reds 9-2 on Sunday.Daniel Descalso, Eduardo Escobar and David Peralta also connected for Arizona, and Zack Godley pitched 6 2/3 innings of two-run ball. Goldschmidt finished with three hits and three RBIs, and Descalso also drove in three runs.“You don’t want to get swept,” said Descalso, who hit his first homer since June 27. “You want to win every series, but you don’t want to leave here 0-3. I don’t know if it was a must-win, but there was a little sense of urgency.”Godley (13-6) snapped a tie with Zack Greinke for the team lead in wins. The right-hander allowed six hits, struck out six and walked one while improving to 5-0 with a 3.09 ERA over his last six road starts.“Zack did a great job of setting the tone, and we played our type of game,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “The right guys stepped up.”The Diamondbacks were tied with the Dodgers for the NL West lead coming into the day.Last-place Cincinnati had won three of four, including the first two games of the weekend series. Jose Peraza and Eugenio Suarez each had two hits, but Luis Castillo (6-10) was tagged for five runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings.Homers accounted for each of Arizona’s runs. Descalso hit a three-run shot in the first on a two-strike pitch http://www.sandiegochargersteamonline.com/derwin-james-jersey , and Goldschmidt made it 5-2 with a two-run drive in the sixth.“I was supposed to throw inside on the 0-2 pitch, but it was over the plate and he took advantage of it,” Castillo said. “The pitch to Goldschmidt, I got it where I wanted, but he’s a big strong man and put a good swing on it. I thought it was a fly ball, but it kept going and going. I thought overall, I pitched well. The only mistake I made was to Descalso.”The Diamondbacks scored four more runs off Keury Mella in the ninth. Escobar hit a two-run shot, and Goldschmidt and Peralta added back-to-back homers.Joey Votto drove in Peraza with a sacrifice fly in the third. Cincinnati scored its first run when Arizona shortstop Nick Ahmed committed a throwing error on a potential double-play ball in the second, allowing Suarez to score from second.IN THE PARKGodley has not allowed a home run to any of the last 211 batters he has faced over nine games, including eight starts, since Starlin Castro went deep on June 26 at Miami.KNOWS HIS STUFFDescalso also doubled in the sixth to improve to 4 for 10 with two homers and six RBIs in his career against Castillo.UP NEXTDiamondbacks: Greinke (12-7) starts Monday night at Texas against Bartolo Colon (6-10). Greinke has allowed a combined three runs over 13 innings in his last two starts and lost both.Reds: Injury-plagued RHP Homer Bailey (1-9) makes his first start against Cleveland since Aug. 7, 2014. Mike Clevinger (7-7) pitches Monday night for Cincinnati. CHICAGO (AP) — Cole Hamels gave the Chicago Cubs something to celebrate when he hit his second career home run.They’ll have to wait at least another day for a playoff party.Jameson Taillon outpitched Hamels, Francisco Cervelli hit a two-run homer and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Cubs 5-1 victory on Monday night.The Cubs needed a win plus a loss by Colorado to Philadelphia to assure a franchise-record fourth straight trip to the playoffs http://www.losangelesramsteamonline.com/aaron-donald-jersey , a run that includes a drought-busting World Series championship in 2016. Instead, they lost for the third time in five games, and the Rockies defeated the Phillies 10-1.Seeking its third straight NL Central championship, Chicago saw its lead over second-place Milwaukee shrink to 1½ games when the Brewers beat the Cardinals 6-4.Hamels (4-2) had the fans and the dugout rocking when he connected leading off the third inning. But he lost his second straight start after going 4-0 in his first nine following a trade from Texas. The left-hander gave up three runs — two earned — and five hits in six innings.“Anytime, I guess, you hit a home run it’s pretty exciting,” Hamels said. “It feels better when you win. You really have to give it to Taillon. He came after us and threw the ball really well. I just was able to get a pitch that I could hit in the count.”Hamels’ drive to center on a 3-1 pitch sure was impressive, though.“I think him and (Jon) Lester, mechanically, have really good swings,” manager Joe Maddon said. “They have very good mechanics. And he timed it perfectly and got it all.”Taillon (14-9) gave up one run and five hits in seven innings, improving to 5-0 in his past seven starts. The right-hander has not allowed more than three earned runs in his past 21 outings.“It’s one of the best runs I’ve seen a starting pitcher have in my coaching experience,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “He must be a master craftsman http://www.losangelesramsteamonline.com/todd-gurley-ii-jersey , he’s making pitches, studying swings, in-game adjustments, following the catcher.”Cervelli hit a two-run homer in the first after missing the previous two games because of gastrointestinal discomfort. He also reached on an infield single in the sixth and scored on Jose Osuna’s second double.Pablo Reyes added an RBI single in the seventh against Steve Cishek and a solo homer in the ninth off Brian Duensing. A day after they were eliminated, the Pirates won for the seventh time in nine games.GOING DEEPHamels’ only other homer was in a home game for Philadelphia against San Francisco’s Matt Cain on July 21, 2012. It was also the second homer by a Cubs pitcher this season. Lester connected against Minnesota on July 1.TRAINER’S ROOMPirates: CF Starling Marte (left calf) was out of the lineup after leaving Pittsburgh’s loss to Milwaukee on Sunday.Cubs: 3B Kris Bryant was back in the lineup after being held out of Sunday’s win over the crosstown White Sox because of fatigue in his left shoulder. The 2016 NL MVP was on the disabled list from July 26 to Sept. 1 with left shoulder inflammation and missed time earlier in the season because of the same issue. … RHP Pedro Strop (strained left hamstring) played catch. The reliever hopes to pitch in a game prior to the playoffs after being sidelined since Sept. 13, when he was hurt running to first on a double-play grounder at Washington.UP NEXTPirates: RHP Chris Archer (5-8, 4.49 ERA), coming off a 2-1 win over Kansas City last week, has a 3.38 ERA in four starts this month after posting a 6.45 ERA in his first nine outings with Pittsburgh following a trade from Tampa Bay.Cubs: LHP Mike Montgomery (5-5, 3.75) looks to win his second straight start after throwing six solid innings at Arizona last week. He has won all three career starts against the Pirates and is 3-0 with a 2.30 ERA in nine outings against them.

Results are results Kosuke Fukudome Jersey , though, and the 27-year-old is producing them in bunches."Like me. Love me. Hate me. Whatever," Bauer told reporters at the All-Star Game in late July. "Hopefully, you just remember who I was."What has changed for Bauer in 2018? How has he gone from a mercurial mid-rotation piece to a front-line starter?One explanation is his offseason workout regimen, which included throwing a three-ounce baseball 116.9 mph (what the heck, let's round up to 117 mph) in January:Driveline Baseball DrivelineBBIn other news, heres baueroutage pulling down a new facility record of 116.9mph with a 3oz 馃槼馃槼 a21va55HyNCall it a stunt. Call it circus-style grandstanding. Just don't call it unimpressive.Bauer has been noted for his live arm and unorthodox training methods since the Arizona Diamondbacks selected him third overall in the 2011 amateur draft. That same year, Sports Illustrated's Lee Jenkins compared Bauer to Tim Lincecum and Stephen Strasburg while outlining his grueling throwing program:"Here is the modern pitcher http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-andre-dawson-jersey , New Age but down-home, a product of both Southern California think tanks and East Texas back roads. Bauer throws at least six days a week with baseballs, weighted balls or medicine balls. He long-tosses 380 feet, even before starts. He warms up for his outings with about 45 pitches in the bullpen, and during especially long innings when his team is at bat, he heads back to the pen for more work. On his first warmup toss between innings, he crow hops across the mound and unleashes a fastball more than 100 miles per hour."More than a half-decade later, Bauer is apparently reaping the rewards.He's also relied more heavily on his slider Ron Santo Jersey , throwing it 13.9 percent of the time compared to 5.6 percent in 2017 and 0.4 percent in 2016. His 94.9 mph average fastball velocity sits above his career average of 94.4 mph, but turning increasingly to the slider may explain at least a portion of Bauer's newfound effectiveness."Trusting his stuff" is a tired cliche when it comes to pitchers, as is "thrower versus pitcher." But they're cliches for a reason. Bauer is evolving into a guy who understands matchups and how to play the cerebral game as well as the blow-'em-away game. That matters.In a recent showdown against Cincinnati Reds star Joey Votto, Bauer shook off catcher Roberto Perez eight times (no, that's not a typo) before settling on a pitch."He can hit everything. It's a chess match, like I said earlier," Bauer told reporters afterward. "So I went to throw something that I don't typically throw in those counts. That makes it tough for 'Berto."Tony Dejak/Associated PressThere are tough things about Bauer. His brashness. His bravado. The strain he puts on his arm with his triple-digit tosses that inevitably conjure fears of future injuries. And, by the way Ernie Banks Jersey , not-so-subtly showing up his catcher (though, to his credit, Bauer did eventually retire Votto).Good as he's been this season, his body of work suggests the possibility for regression. Fewer than six months of sustained excellence don't make an unassailable No. 1.That said, the Indians are unambiguously lucky to have Bauer in their starting corps as they waltz toward another AL Central crown and try to bust baseball's longest active championship drought.Watching him perform on the October stage should be a ton of fun.Provided, of course, he stays far, far away from drones.All statistics current as of Wednesday and courtesy of FanGraphs and Baseball Reference. WORCESTER http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-ryne-sandberg-jersey , Mass. (AP) — The Latest on a plan to move the Pawtucket Red Sox from Rhode Island to Massachusetts (all times local):2:30 p.m.The Pawtucket Red Sox say they have signed a letter of intent to build a new ballpark in Worcester, Massachusetts.The Triple-A affiliate of the of the Boston Red Sox made the announcement Friday, signaling an end to its effort to find a new stadium during the past three years. The team is leaving its aging park in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, for a city 40 miles (64 kilometers) northwest.PawSox Chairman Larry Lucchino says the team is “eager to build an innovative, family-friendly ballpark” in central Massachusetts.The move is subject to approval from the Worcester City Council and Minor League Baseball.Rhode Island’s Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo told WPRI-TV that she will ask for another chance.The PawSox say they will continue to play at 77-year-old McCoy Stadium for the next two years.

The St. Louis Cardinals won Game 3 of the 2013 World Series on a walk-off Bob Gibson Jersey , in the least traditional sense of the term.Cardinals runner Allen Craig got tied up with Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks on his way to the plate. Craig was the winning run, but he was thrown out...except he wasn't.Umpire Jim Joyce called obstruction on Middlebrooks, which meant Craig scored the winning run. Game over."Instinctively, it comes out. It just comes out: 'Obstruction,'" Joyce said after the fact, per ESPN.com's Jayson Stark.The Red Sox went on to win the series, 4-2. But it was a call that confused viewers, sparked debate and ushered in the era of instant replay.No. 8: The 1951 Giants Sign Stealing3 of 10Transcendental Graphics/Getty ImagesThe 1951 season will be remembered for one moment: the shot heard 'round the world.You know the story: The New York Giants engineer a furious comeback and ultimately defeat the rival Brooklyn Dodgers in a three-game series for the pennant on a home run by Bobby Thompson.Close your eyes and hear it: "The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!"Those same Giants would go on to lose in a six-game World Series against the Yankees.The untold story, however, involved the Giants stealing signs. The allegation has percolated since Thompson's iconic blast and was detailed by the Wall Street Journal's Joshua Harris Prager in 2001.Granted, the Giants' win over the Dodgers wasn't in the World Series, but it got them there. And who knows how much their (ahem) alleged malfeasance contributed to their deep run.No. 7: Kenny Rogers Ball-Doctoring Controversy4 of 10Jeff Roberson/Associated PressIn Game 2 of the 2006 World Series, Detroit Tigers left-hander Kenny Rogers twirled eight scoreless innings en route to a Tigers victory. Overall, he threw 23 spotless frames in the '06 postseason.But was his performance dirty?Questions immediately swirled around a mysterious substance on Rogers' hand."It was a big clump of dirt," Rogers told reporters at the time. "I didn't know it was there. They told me about [it], but it was no big deal."Others disputed that explanation."Somebody said they thought they saw pine tar on him," Cardinals second basemanAaron Milestold reporters.ESPN reported that "in starts against both the Yankees and Athletics [in the 2006 postseason], a similar-looking brown substance was spotted on Rogers' hand." Take a look for yourself.The Cardinals won the series in five games, but Rogers' Game 2 dominance will forever be in question.No. 6: Denkingers Blown Call5 of 10Rich Pilling/Getty ImagesIn 1985, the Cardinals led their World Series tussle with the Kansas City Royals, 3-2. In the bottom of the ninth in Game 6, St. Louis was up 1-0.Pinch hitter Jorge Orta hit a bouncer to the right side. He was clearly out鈥攂ut not according to umpire Don Denkinger.The Royals won the game and claimed the series 4-3, making this among the most notorious blown calls in history."If it happened now, they'd review it and overturn it http://www.stlouiscardinalsteamshop.com/authentic-willie-mcgee-jersey ," Denkinger reflected in 2014, per MLB.com's Doug Miller. "Just like that."No. 5: Burkharts Ball-in-the-Hand Call6 of 10Anonymous/Associated PressIf there was ever an ironclad argument for instant replay, it came in Game 1 of the 1970 World Series.With the score tied 3-3, the Cincinnati Reds' Ty Cline hit a weak chopper in front of home that was just fair. Bernie Carbo broke for the plate, representing the go-ahead run. Baltimore Orioles catcher Elrod Hendricks picked up the ball and slapped on the tag, and Carbo was called out by umpire Ken Burkhart.The problem? Hendricks tagged Carbo with his glove while clutching the ball in his other hand, and Carbo missed the plate.The Orioles won the game, 4-3, and the series, 4-1.Maybe the outcome would have been the same regardless. Then again, maybe not.No. 4: Reggie Jacksons Hip Check7 of 10Associated PressReggie Jackson is known as Mr. October because of his 18 career postseason home runs and pair of World Series MVP trophies.But he authored another, less noble Fall Classic moment.In the 1978 World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers were up 2-1 in the series and 3-1 in Game 4. With runners at first and second, Lou Piniella hit a low liner that Dodgers shortstop Bill Russell fielded on a hop.Russell forced Jackson out at second and threw to first, but Jackson's hip got in the way, deflecting the throw and allowing the run to score.Was it intentional? You be the judge.Here's what we know: The Yankees won the game and the series.No. 3: Jon Lester Ball-Doctoring Controversy8 of 10David J. Phillip/Associated PressIn 2013, Jon Lester went 2-0 with a 0.59 ERA in the World Series as the Red Sox defeated the Cardinals in six games.Yet, his iconic output was tainted by accusations of ball doctoring.As ESPN.com's David Schoenfield reported at the time, "There appears to be some pretty strong evidence that in Game 1 of the World Series, [Lester]was applyingsomethingto his fingertips in his victory over the Cardinals, probably to help get a better grip on the ball in the 45-degree weather."Added Schoenfield: "You can see Lester wipe his fingertips inside his glove, where another photo reveals some sort of yellowish-green substance. I mean, it could just be a nervous tic and maybe an optical illusion of some sort. Right. And the Cubs will win the World Series next year."He was off by two years on his Cubs prediction. But his analysis on Lester is legitimate, if inconclusive.No. 2: 1994 Strike Cancellation9 of 10Jed Jacobsohn/Getty ImagesThe 1994 season was shaping up to be a humdinger. The Montreal Expos were on track to make their second postseason appearance in 26 years of existence. San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Williams was in the midst of a credible chase for Roger Maris' single-season home run record.Then Mike Matheny Jersey , it all came crashing down.A labor dispute between the MLB Players Association and baseball's owners led to a strike. Negotiations stalled. The World Series didn't happen.Technically, it wasn't the first time the Fall Classic was canceled. In 1904, the NL champion New York Giants refused to play the AL champion Boston Americans. At that point, however, the series was in its infancy.By 1994, it was a hallowed event. The strike and subsequent cancellation irreparably damaged the sport. You could argue '94 was the year baseball ceased to be our national pastime.Undeniably, it was the biggest scandal since...No. 1: The Black Sox Scandal10 of 10Transcendental Graphics/Getty ImagesSimply put, there will never be a World Series controversy as bad as the Black Sox scandal.You know the story: In 1919, a contingent of Chicago White Sox players got in bed with a bunch of shady gamblers and agreed to throw the Fall Classic.The series was a sham. The Cincinnati Reds ended up with the mother of all pyrrhic victories. Eight White Sox players implicated in the scheme were banned from the game for life by then-Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis, including "Shoeless" Joe Jackson.To cite a possibly apocryphal quote from a young boy reported by Charley Owens of the Chicago Daily News, "Say it ain't so, Joe." All statistics courtesy of Baseball Reference. MILWAUKEE (AP) — The bullpen day has come to October.The Milwaukee Brewers plan to open their first postseason series in seven years with a reliever. Manager Craig Counsell hadn’t decided who would go first when the Brewers host the Colorado Rockies in Game 1 of the NL Division Series on Thursday.Milwaukee led the majors with a 1.98 bullpen ERA in September, so why not go straight to a great strength?“We’re going to share the outs a little bit more, but we really are confident with the days off in the series, the way we’re coming into the series, that we’ll certainly be able to do it,” Counsell said.Those relievers will face a Rockies lineup that finally got a day off Wednesday after three games in three days in three different time zones.Colorado faced the Cubs‘ tough left-handed starter Jon Lester in the NL wild-card game Tuesday night, a 2-1 win in 13 innings. The Rockies managed just one hit in 6 2/3 innings off Dodgers righty Walker Buehler in a 5-2 loss in Los Angeles in the tiebreaking game for the NL West crown.Now for something completely different.“Well, I’ve never experienced that in the postseason, facing a bullpen, facing so many different guys,” Rockies veteran outfielder Carlos Gonzalez said.The Oakland Athletics started reliever Liam Hendriks against the New York Yankees in the AL wild-card game Wednesday night. The trend of using a relief “opener” started with the Tampa Bay Rays this year.Facing a traditional starter, hitters hope to get a better read on pitches the second and third times through the lineups. Hitters may not have that luxury in a bullpen day.Colorado manager Bud Black is adhering to a simple approach.“Again, I think the ultimate challenge is just have good at-bats http://www.stlouiscardinalsteamshop.com/authentic-red-schoendienst-jersey , play baseball, have a good approach against any pitcher that the Brewers throw out there,” he said.Milwaukee’s best starter, Jhoulys Chacin, started the tiebreaking game for the NL Central title Monday, a win over the Cubs at Wrigley. He’s going in Game 2 on Friday on three days’ rest.Otherwise, the Brewers have been going with a rotation the last few weeks that includes left-handers Wade Miley and Gio Gonzalez, along with right-hander Zach Davies. Miley and Davies would have been available on regular rest for Game 1.The Rockies are sticking with a traditional starter for the opener. Right-hander Antonio Senzatela is 6-6 with a 4.38 ERA in 23 games, including 13 starts.Senzatela made his big-league debut at Miller Park last year. He allowed two hits and struck out six over five shutout innings in a 2-1 win.His biggest challenge in a formidable Brewers lineup will be to contain Christian Yelich, the MVP candidate who hit an NL-high .326 this season and nearly won the Triple Crown.“Just got to throw quality pitches and compete,” Senzatela said.Other notes and things to watch ahead of the series:REBUILD COMPLETENot only are the Brewers in the playoffs just three years after being sellers at the trade deadline, they’ve got home-field advantage in the National League.“We earned the right to sit and wait,” Brewers infielder Travis Shaw said Wednesday.Sure did, capping an eight-game winning streak to finish the regular season with a victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field in an NL Central tiebreaker game.It’s Milwaukee’s first postseason appearance since 2011, when they also last won the Central.ROAD WEARYThe road-weary Rockies celebrated at Wrigley in the visiting clubhouse Tuesday, just like the Brewers did Monday.“We’re a little tired, there was a lot of jumping last night,” Gonzalez said.But they’re used to winning away from Coors Field — no small feat considering the adjustment from Denver’s high altitude. The Rockies were 44-38 on the road this season, which marked their most road victories in franchise history. The previous mark was 41 in 2009 and matched in ’17.TERRIFIC YELICHYelich hit .367 with 25 homers and 67 RBIs after the All-Star break to lead the Brewers’ second-half surge. The offseason deal that general manager David Stearns made to acquire Yelich from the Miami Marlins has paid off.“I think that’s the goal every year, is to get better as a player and learn something about yourself every single season and try and make adjustments,” Yelich said. “I think that’s what happened this year.”HOT BATSlick fielding third baseman Nolan Arenado enters the series on a 10-game hitting streak, which is his longest of the season. Over the stretch, he’s hitting .341 with four homers. He drove in the game’s first run against the Cubs in the wild-card game with a sacrifice fly in the first inning. Arenado is coming off a regular season in which he led the NL with 38 homers.

Ed Zurga/Getty ImagesThe Toronto Blue Jays reportedly reached an agreement Friday to trade third baseman Josh Donaldson to the Cleveland Indians http://www.oriolesfanproshop.com/authentic-mark-trumbo-jersey , according to Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan.Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported Toronto will send $2.7 million to Cleveland.Donaldson enjoyed a late surge during the 2017 season after a sluggish start. The three-time All-Star posted a .270/.385/.559 triple-slash line with 33 home runs in 113 games. He also missed six weeks of action with a strained right calf.He's tallied five homers in 36 games this season, once again forced to the disabled list for an extended stretch鈥攖his time because of right shoulder inflammation.The 32-year-old possesses a strong track record, though.He earned the 2015 American League MVP Award after finishing the campaign with a .939 OPS to go along with 41 homers, 123 RBI and 122 runs scored. He's also hit at least 24 long balls in five straight seasons.With Donaldson set to hit free agency after the 2018 season, he said in January that he hoped to remain in Toronto."As we talked about at the end of the season last year, I've definitely voiced my opinion that I would like to stay here," Donaldson told reporters. "That hasn't changed."His continued injury issues paired with the Jays' inability to keep pace in the AL East led the front office to trade him, though.Now Donaldson will shift his focus to getting back on track with the Indians. The fact he's two seasons removed from a campaign in which he posted a career-best .404 on-base percentage and smacked 37 homers bodes well for a return to form.While his long-term future remains uncertain because he's headed for the open market, look for him to provide some reinforcements to an Indians team that's well on its way to a third straight AL Central title. The Chicago White Sox will try to maintain their recent success when they open a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers on Monday afternoon at Guaranteed Rate Field.Chicago (55-82) has endured a difficult season but has played much better in the past few weeks. The White Sox are coming off a dominant 8-0 win over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday and have won seven of 10 Chris Tillman Jersey , 13 of 19 and 18 of 30.“The second half has just been a whole different team,” said Daniel Palka, a rookie outfielder who slugged his 20th home run of the season in the series finale against Boston. “Same guys, things are just clicking more consistently.Article continues below ...“We are good despite what the record is. We are playing our best right now, and it’s showing off with these series records.”Meanwhile, Detroit (55-82) comes to town sliding in the opposite direction. The Tigers have lost seven of their past nine but looked better Sunday with an 11-7 win over the New York Yankees.Nicholas Castellanos shined in the victory by going 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs. He leads the team with 20 homers.Tigers right-hander Michael Fulmer (3-10, 4.71 ERA) will aim for his first victory since June 14 when he takes the mound for his 22nd start. Fulmer is 0-5 with a 5.90 ERA in his past seven starts but is feeling healthy after a stint on the disabled list.“Just glad to be back,” Fulmer recently said to the Detroit Free Press. “Everything felt good (the last outing) — that’s the big thing. Mechanics still need some repetition, but for the most part Eddie Murray Jersey , everything was a little better than it has been all year.”In seven career starts against the White Sox, Fulmer is 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA. He has walked 12 and fanned 28 in 42 2/3 innings.The White Sox will counter with right-hander Reynaldo Lopez (5-9, 4.51 ERA), who will make his 28th start of the season. The 24-year-old is coming off one of his best performances of the year after limiting the Yankees to one run and five hits in seven innings.Lopez is 1-1 with a 3.58 ERA in six career starts against the Tigers. He has walked 14 and struck out 21 in 37 2/3 innings.White Sox manager Rick Renteria said he was proud of the way his team has played as of late.“I think for all of us, the team, myself, the whole organization, we should feel really good about how they’re going about doing their business,” Renteria said. “I think we’ve talked about hopefully having them settle in and get a feel of who they are and what they’re capable of doing. We’ve played two pretty strong offensive clubs (in New York and Boston).“The pitching Kevin Gausman Jersey , I still believe that on any given club, the pitching is the key to allowing you to have a chance to win. You get some timely hitting and or catch the ball, which you should, and minimize mistakes, you always give yourself a chance. Right now, our guys are doing a lot of those things.”

Manny Machado is settling in nicely with the Los Angeles Dodgers Troy Tulowitzki Jersey , and there's an excellent chance he can be the piece the team needed to remain in front of the National League West through the regular season. Perhaps the ex-Baltimore Oriole's presence will be enough to get the Dodgers back to the World Series once again.Other trades will likely be executed before the July 31 deadline, and the Orioles could be involved in more of them, and it would not be a shock if the New York Yankees become a trade partner.Teams usually don't like to trade within their own division, but it appears the O's are multiple seasons away from contender status, so they might not mind making a deal with one of their traditional rivals.As strong as the New York bullpen appears on paper, there have to be a number of concerns with left-hander Aroldis Chapman. He had a disastrous performance Saturday against the New York Mets in which he could not retire a batter with a big lead in the ninth inning, and if he had not been rescued by Chasen Shreve, the Yankees could have allowed a sure victory to turn into an embarrassing loss.But even if Chapman was performing better, the Yankees would still have an interest in Oriole reliever Zach Britton. When Britton is on his game Marcus Stroman Jersey , his power sinker is a nearly unhittable pitch.According to MLB Network'sJon Heyman, the Yankees are one of seven teams with interest in bringing Britton aboard.The other teams include the Atlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies, Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros and Dodgers are all involved in the possible transaction. Heyman also tweeted that other teams could also pursue Britton.Britton has a 1-0 record with a 3.45 earned-run average and four saves in his 16 appearances since his Achilles injury kept him out in the first part of the year.General manager Brian Cashman is never going to be satisfied with his roster until the Yankees bring home another World Series title, and since they are five games behind the Red Sox in the American League East, there is much to do.The changes on the roster could come in the form of J.A. Happ of the Toronto Blue Jays or Cole Hamels of the Texas Rangers.Happ or Hamels could fill the role of a No. 4 or 5 starter, but the key is the price the Yankees will have to pay to pick up one of the two pitchers.Neither pitcher would require the Yankees to give up a top prospect like pitcher Justus Sheffield or center fielder Estevan Florial http://www.bluejaysfanproshop.com/authentic-devon-travis-jersey , according to Andy Martino of SNY.tv. Instead, it would most likely require the Yankees to give up a solid minor leaguer.That still may be too high a price for the Yankees at this point.However, as the trade deadline comes closer, Cashman may have to change his assessment if the Bronx Bombers are going to complete a deal for starting pitching depth. HOUSTON (AP) — Even Andrew Heaney couldn’t remember his last road win.“Apparently, it’s been awhile,” the left-hander said.Heaney pitched six scoreless innings, Andrelton Simmons capped a four-run sixth inning with a three-run double and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Houston Astros 5-2 Thursday night.Heaney (8-8) scattered five hits with six strikeouts to earn his first road win since Sept. 2, 2015, at Oakland http://www.bluejaysfanproshop.com/authentic-roy-halladay-jersey , a span of 17 straight road starts.“Heater was good,” Heaney said. “Breaking ball mixed in at times, and I really didn’t throw the changeup all that much. … I got some timely outs. I kept them from building that big inning.”After missing all but one start in 2016 with Tommy John surgery and starting just five games in 2017 — including three on the road— he began the day 0-5 in 12 road starts this season.Heaney, who allowed five runs in six innings in his last start Friday against the Astros, improved to 3-1 against Houston this season and allowed fewer than two runs in three of the four outings.“Coming from just facing them last week, it looked like his command was where it needed to be,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “He had all his pitches working. He pitched ahead in counts. He checked all the boxes that should lead to a great outing.”Heaney’s only other shutout start this season was June 5 against Kansas City in which he threw a one-hitter. He had allowed 11 runs in his last two starts.“We saw him a couple days ago and he didn’t quite have the velo that he had tonight,” Houston manager AJ Hinch said. “And then I think four out of the first five innings we had baserunners and they were erased one way or another, so he was able to escape any baserunners that we had. He threw a really good game.After Tony Sipp walked Shohei Otani to load the bases in the sixth Dalton Pompey Jersey , Simmons cleared them with a double off Will Harris to push the Angels’ lead to 4-0. Simmons finished with three hits.Justin Upton, who was reinstated off the disabled list earlier in the day, put the Angels on top 1-0 with an RBI single to right earlier in the inning, chasing Justin Verlander. Kole Calhoun started the inning with a double and moved to third on Mike Trout’s one-out single.“We got some big hits in the sixth inning,” Scioscia said. “We haven’t gotten too many good looks at Justin all year, but tonight, we got him in the sixth.”Ohtani scored on Chris Devenski’s balk in the eighth to increase the lead to 5-0.The AL-West leading Astros began the day 2 1/2 games up on Oakland.Verlander (13-9) allowed three runs and five hits but struck out 11 in 5 1/3 innings. He allowed three or more runs for the third straight start.“Not great; we lost,” Verlander said of his night. “Feel like I had good stuff. Unfortunately, I gave up a couple hits in a row and those guys were able to capitalize on it.”Tyler White hit a two-run homer to left field in the ninth as Houston avoided the shutout.TRAINER’S ROOMAngels: RHP Ohtani (right UCL sprain) will start Sunday against the Astros. Ohtani http://www.bluejaysfanproshop.com/authentic-roberto-osuna-jersey , who threw a simulated game on Saturday, last pitched for the Angels on June 6. … 1B Albert Pujols (left knee) was placed on the 10-day disabled list after undergoing an arthroscopic debridement in Los Angeles on Wednesday. The general timetable to return to playing from the procedure is at least six weeks. “That’s a big loss for us,” Scioscia said. “I think Albert is part of the heart and soul of this club.” … RHP Matt Shoemaker will join the team in Houston and throw a bullpen sometime during the weekend, with the possibility of joining the rotation sometime early next week if everything goes well, Scioscia said. Shoemaker threw four hitless innings allowing one unearned run on two walks and six strikeouts Wednesday in a rehab start with Class A Inland Empire. … C Jose Briceno was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake Thursday.Astros: C Brian McCann (right knee) will catch on Saturday, Hinch said. McCann has been on the disabled list since July 1.UP NEXTAngels: RHP Jaime Barria (8-8, 3.67 ERA) will make his 21st start of the season Friday against the Astros looking to rebound after allowing four runs in three innings in his last start Saturday against them.Astros: LHP Framber Valdez (2-0, 0.96) will make his first career home start Friday against the Angels looking for another good outing after allowing one run in five innings in his last start Saturday against them.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nationals right-hander Kelvin Herrera was placed on the 10-day disabled list Wednesday with a right rotator cuff impingement Gregor Blanco Jersey , a move that further thins the back of Washington’s bullpen.The injury occurred Tuesday night in the ninth inning of a 3-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves. After allowing a two-run triple, Herrera was examined by a team trainer and left the game.Nationals manager Dave Martinez said the problem is inflammation, stressing that there is no structural damage. He hopes Herrea can start to throw by the end of next week.Washington already is without closer Sean Doolittle, who’s on the DL with a foot injury. Herrera, obtained in a trade with Kansas City in June, was serving as the closer in Doolittle’s absence.Herrera was 1-2 with a 4.76 ERA and three saves in 19 games with the Nationals, who are chasing Philadelphia and Atlanta in the NL East.With Doolittle and Herrera out, the closer becomes right-hander Ryan Madson http://www.giantsfanproshop.com/authentic-pablo-sandoval-jersey , who’s 2-4 with a 4.32 ERA and has converted four of six save opportunities.“Madson is going to close, and the days he needs off, we’ll figure it out,” Martinez said.Doolittle took the boot off his left foot Wednesday and threw gingerly. Although the Nationals certainly could use the left-hander, who has 22 saves and a 1.45 ERA, they won’t rush him back.“We want to make sure he’s healthy and nothing goes backward on him,” Martinez said.Washington recalled Koda Glover from Triple-A Syracuse. As a rookie last season, Glover notched eight saves in 23 games before rotator cuff tendinitis ended his season in June.He developed a shoulder issue at spring training this year and pitched in eight games with Syracuse before the Nationals summoned him on Wednesday.“He’s here to pitch Duane Kuiper Jersey ,” Martinez said. “He’s ready to go. I’m excited that he’s here.” The Cleveland Indians have exercised pitcher Carlos Carrasco's $9.75 million team option for the 2019 season, according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian.The club confirmed the news.Per Bastian, the club also declined outfielder Brandon Guyer's $3 million option, instead paying a $250,000 buyout. The 32-year-old will become an unrestricted free agent.Carrasco has turned into one of baseball's best bargains since he signed afour-year, $22 million extensionin April 2015. In those four seasons, the right-hander has gone 60-36 with a 3.40 ERA in 119 games. He has thrown 183-plus innings in three of the past four years, including 200 in 2017.The 31-year-old went 17-10 with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP in 32 games (30 starts) http://www.diamondbacksfanproshop.com/authentic-nick-ahmed-jersey , striking out a career-high 231 in 192 innings. He posted a 2.52 ERA in 14 games (13 starts) after the All-Star break.Not only has he had regular-season success, but he has also shown up on the big stage. He has allowed just two runs in 11 innings over two postseason starts, including a 2017 outing in which he shut out the New York Yankees for 5.2 frames while allowing just three hits and striking out seven.Carrasco's emergence has given Cleveland one of the best rotations in baseball. Headlined by Carrasco, two-time American League Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber and 2018 AL All-Star Trevor Bauer, the Indians rotationrankedthird in the majors with a 3.39 ERA and ranked second to only the Houston Astros in strikeouts.Meanwhile, ClevelandacquiredGuyerin a 2016 trade-deadline deal. He later re-signed on atwo-year contract, which included a club option. He hit .206 with seven home runs, 11 doubles and 27 RBI in 103 games in 2018.While his numbers may not jump off the page Jake Lamb Jersey , Guyer will best be remembered in Cleveland for his performance during the 2016 playoffs. As the Indians made a run to the World Series, he posted a .333 average with one double, six runs and three RBI in 10 appearances.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The street corner outside Petco Park’s main entrance is now the intersection of Tony Gwynn Drive and Trevor Hoffman Way.Hoffman http://www.piratesfanproshop.com/authentic-sean-rodriguez-jersey , the former closer who was inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 29, helped unveil a street sign bearing his name on Friday afternoon, along with Mayor Kevin Faulconer and executive chairman Ron Fowler“It’s the coolest intersection in San Diego, there’s no doubt about it,” Faulconer said.It was the latest honor for Hoffman, who amassed 552 of his NL-record 601 saves with the Padres.“To have the opportunity to once again be in connection with the great Tony Gwynn, to be at the corner of Petco Park, the front of it Felipe Vazquez Jersey , on a chamber of commerce day, I don’t think I can elaborate much more on the fact that I’m honored to be again a part of Tony’s legacy and commitment that it was to the San Diego Padres,” Hoffman said.The address of Petco Park, which opened in 2004, is 19 Tony Gwynn Drive.On Aug. 18, the Padres unveiled a statue of Hoffman in the Park beyond center field, just as they unveiled a statue of Gwynn during his Hall of Fame summer of 2007. Gwynn died of cancer in 2014 at age 54.“It’s tough to come up with a better summer than Trevor Hoffman had this year,” the former closer cracked.Each of the honors “in its own right is equally special Starling Marte Jersey ,” Hoffman added. “The statue, obviously the Hall of Fame ceremony was incredible, the parties surrounding it, and now to be able to drive down the street I come in every day and where I finished some of my running when I was player, now named after you is pretty cool.”Hoffman is a special adviser in the Padres’ baseball operations department.Fowler said it was the Padres’ idea to rename a one-block of stretch of Park Boulevard for Hoffman, and the City Council approved.“Naming a street for someone is not something you do every day,” Fowler said. “It should be reserved for a special few, and Trevor is among the special few. … He’s right at the top http://www.piratesfanproshop.com/authentic-willie-stargell-jersey , with Tony. He deserves it. Sort of icing on the cake for the summer he had. But it was fun to have a summer of Trevor.” The Houston Astros and New York Yankees are reportedly among the teams interested in trading for Seattle Mariners pitcher James Paxton, perKen Rosenthal of The Athletic, who noted themarket for Paxton is "active."Paxton, 30, went 11-6 with a 3.76 ERA and 1.10 WHIP last season. He struck out 208 batters in 160.1 innings, setting a career high with 11.68 strikeouts per nine innings.The Astros and Yankees are expected to be among the most active teams in the pitching market this winter. Houston, which has boasted one of the most impressive rotations in baseball over the last few years, is looking vulnerable due to Lance McCullers' impending Tommy John surgery andDallas KeuchelandCharlie Mortonhitting the free-agent market.Adding Paxton would help solidify the rotation Barry Bonds Jersey , asgeneral manager Jeff Luhnow said the team plans on returning Collin McHugh to a starter's role in 2019."I鈥檇 say we have three spots fairly well locked up, if we choose to go down the path of putting (Collin) McHugh back in the rotation. With Lance not being there, it probably increases the odds of that happening," Luhnowtold reporters.The Yankees boast perhaps the best lineup in baseball but have major questions in their rotation. General manager Brian Cashman has been open about wanting to acquire multiple starting pitchers this winter, and the Yankees' one-year deal with C.C. Sabathia should set the stage for a couple big splashes. Sabathia will slot in the back half of the rotation and will be joined by the returning Luis Severino and Masahiro Tanaka.That leaves guys like Paxton and Corey Kluber as potential trade targets in New York. The Yankees may also target free agentPatrick Corbin.Paxton has been among the best pitchers in the American League when healthy but has had trouble staying on the mound. He has never started more than 28 games in a season.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — This trade was too good for Joey Votto to turn down.The Cincinnati Reds star first baseman spotted a fan sitting along the first base line Monday at PNC Park wearing a T-shirt that read “Votto for President.” It was from a Nike promotional campaign in 2012 and Votto hadn’t kept any of the shirts.Votto got the shirt http://www.redsoxproshops.com/authentic-carl-yastrzemski-jersey , but wound up with little else, shut down by Trevor Williams and the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1.In the middle of the fourth inning, Votto walked over to the fan and asked for the shirt, offering an autographed jersey in return. The man agreed and the suddenly bare-chested fan and Votto exchanged first bumps along with Labor Day gifts.“I was trying to find (the T-shirt) for a while and I was excited to see if I could trade a jersey for a shirt and he obliged,” Votto said.“He was willing to take his shirt off in the middle of the stands and thanks to him for being willing to do that,” he said.That was the highlight of the day for Votto, who went 1 for 4 and grounded into a double play as the Reds lost for the ninth time in 12 games.Trevor Williams (12-9) continued his stretch of strong starts by pitching 6 2/3 scoreless innings. He allowed five hits while striking out four and walking one.Williams improved to 6-2 with a 0.66 ERA in his last nine starts, giving up four runs in 54 2/3 innings. It was his ninth outing of at least five innings without allowing a run this season.“It’s trusting my stuff and being able to put the fastball where I want to put it,” Williams said. “We go into every start knowing the fastball command is going to be there and everything comes off that. It’s fun to throw the ball to all four quadrants of the strike zone.”Adam Frazier had career high-tying four hits Ted Williams Jersey , including a solo home run off Matt Harvey (6-8) in the first and a two-run single in the seventh that stretched the Pirates’ lead to 5-0. Frazier also had a double and three RBIs.Pittsburgh’s Gregory Polanco and Cincinnati’s Scooter Gennett homered and had two hits each.Polanco hit a two-run shot in the sixth inning that made it 3-0.Gennett, the NL batting leader with a .320 average, broke up the Pirates’ shutout bid with a solo drive off Kyle Crick in the eighth. Gennett also doubled in the first inning, but Williams worked out of a second-and-third jam with one out by striking Eugenio Suarez and getting Scott Schebler to fly out.“He’s kind of like the guy who can get you a stolen base when you need a stolen base,” Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said of Williams. “He had four strikeouts today, but he can get you a punchout when you need a punchout.”Harvey surrendered three runs and seven hits in six innings with three strikeouts and no walks.“It was one of those (starts) where you look back and the numbers obviously don’t go with how the game went but two pitches definitely cost me,” Harvey said.TRAINER’S ROOMPirates: C Elias Diaz (strained right hamstring) missed his third straight game.TRAHAN DEBUTReds SS Blake Trahan was 1 for 3 in his major league debut, hitting a single off Williams in the seventh inning. He was promoted from Triple-A Louisville on Saturday.UP NEXTReds: LHP Cody Reed (0-1, 3.26 ERA) will make his third start and 13th relief appearance of the season Tuesday night after limiting Milwaukee to one run in 4 2/3 innings in his last outing.Pirates: RHP Joe Musgrove (5-8 Jim Rice Jersey , 3.80 ERA) is 1-4 in his last six starts despite a 3.65 ERA. SAN DIEGO (AP) — Even after watching Nelson Cruz drive his 79th pitch over the center field fence to make it a one-run game with one out in the ninth, San Diego Padres rookie Jacob Nix hoped manager Andy Green would let him finish.“I thought for sure he was going to leave me in there because of my pitch count,” Nix said after coming within two outs of his first complete game in his fourth big league start, a 2-1 victory against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night. “I thought for sure I was going to be able to finish.”Green wasn’t buying it.“He’d done enough today. I didn’t want to put him in a situation where he was walking off that mound in a tie situation or a losing situation,” Green said.Nix, backed by stellar defense by shortstop Freddy Galvis and 21-year-old second baseman Luis Urias, who was making his big league debut, had the low pitch count because he had the Mariners swinging early and putting the ball in play. The 22-year-old Nix allowed one run and eight hits, walked none and struck out none.“That was crazy efficient. Clearly he had enough pitches to get the last few outs. He showed a glimpse http://www.redsoxproshops.com/authentic-nomar-garciaparra-jersey ,” Green said.“One day I’ll go nine,” Nix said. “And maybe I’ll mix in some punch-outs, too. I didn’t really get to two strikes a whole lot. They were putting the ball in play really early. Outs are outs. I’m here to get outs. I don’t care how I get them.”Travis Jankowski homered on Felix Hernandez’s first pitch and Urias had a nice game for the Padres, who snapped a five-game losing streak and won for just the second time in seven games.Nix (2-2) retired Jean Segura to open the ninth before Cruz homered to center, his 32nd. Kirby Yates came on to get the final two outs for his sixth save.Hernandez (8-12) pitched well but lost his sixth straight decision over eight starts. The former AL Cy Young Award winner, who briefly was demoted to the bullpen earlier this month, struck out a season-high nine and walked only two in seven innings. He allowed only four hits but three of them factored into the scoring.Jankowski drove Hernandez’s first pitch over the fence in right field, his third homer. Wil Myers doubled off Hernandez with one out in the fourth and scored on Hunter Renfroe’s two-out single to left.King Felix said there was “frustration about the loss for sure. I haven’t won since June 30. It’s tough. I think I did a good job except for the bunts. The second bunt was pretty good.”Hernandez twice bunted into inning-ending double plays.Manager Scott Servais said that other than Jankowski’s homer, Hernandez “controlled the strike zone pretty well.”It was Jankowski’s first career leadoff homer.“Obviously I’d never done that before and to do it off a guy of his caliber Christian Vazquez Jersey , that felt good,” Jankowski said. “More importantly it got the team on the board early and got that energy going, that fire going early.”Urias, one of baseball’s top prospects, was called up earlier in the day even though Triple-A El Paso has qualified for the Pacific Coast League playoffs and the Padres are on pace to lose 100 games for the first time since 1993.Urias was brilliant in making his first play, diving to his left to field a bouncer by leadoff hitter Mitch Haniger and throwing him out. Urias went 0 for 3 with a walk.“I don’t know how I made it,” Urias said. “To be honest, I wasn’t nervous the whole game, maybe because of the diving play. I just enjoyed the moment.”Said Nix: “They were making some ridiculous plays back there. Freddy and Uri both were making some really http://www.redsoxproshops.com/authentic-fred-lynn-jersey , really good plays.”TRAINER’S ROOMPadres: Green said LHP Clayton Richard will have season-ending surgery on his left knee. He was placed on the disabled list on Tuesday. Richard was 7-11 with a 5.33 ERA.UP NEXTMariners: RHP Erasmo Ramirez (1-2, 4.56) is scheduled to start Wednesday afternoon’s series finale.Padres: Rookie LHP Joey Lucchesi (6-7, 3.74) is scheduled to make his third start against an AL club. He’s 0-1 with a 6.35 ERA in interleague starts.