Top News:
Mark Lamport-Stokes / Reuters:
Dodgers the Focus for Kershaw, Not Personal Redemption — LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw enters this postseason with a chance to atone for bitter playoff disappointment over the past two years but says team success, not personal satisfaction, is his main goal.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, Yahoo Sports, AZ Snake Pit and True Blue LA
RELATED:
Peter Botte / New York Daily News:
Don Mattingly says Dodgers will have ‘hands full’ against Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Matt Harvey — LOS ANGELES — The Mets will be facing two of the top pitchers in baseball in the first two games — and possibly twice more — in the NL Division Series.
Discussion:
True Blue LA and Metsblog
Rick Morrissey / Chicago:
Hard to believe, but Cubs-Cardinals rivalry could go to a new level — ST. LOUIS — Could it get any better than this? Of course it could. For extra tension, the Cubs and the Cardinals could be playing each other in the National League Championship Series instead of the N.L. Division Series.
Discussion:
Over the Monster and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Associated Press:
Rangers' Beltre Leaves Playoff Game With Stiff Back — TORONTO — Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre left Thursday's AL Division Series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays in the third inning after hurting his back on a slide. — Beltre could hardly run to first base after hitting …
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports and Lone Star Ball
RELATED:
Baseball Prospectus:
Playoff Prospectus: PECOTA Odds and ALDS Game Two Previews by R.J. Anderson and Sam Miller — PECOTA Odds and ALDS Game Two Previews — Rangers/Blue Jays — Have you ever heard a Game Two described as pivotal? If not, welcome to your first postseason.
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter, Lone Star Ball and Yahoo Sports
Associated Press:
Donaldson Leaves Playoff Game After Taking Knee to Head — TORONTO — Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson left Thursday's AL Division Series opener against Texas after he was kneed in the head while breaking up a double play. — Ezequiel Carrera pinch hit for Donaldson with two outs …
Bill Price / New York Daily News:
Mets' Steven Matz pitches five innings, ‘ready to go’ — NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Today, 12:17 PM ET — Now the waiting begins. — Steven Matz, the Mets lefty who has been battling back stiffness for a week, pitched five innings in an instructional league game Thursday morning in Port St. Lucie …
Discussion:
Metsblog
RELATED:
Barbara Barker / Newsday:
Mets' Yoenis Cespedes learned early in life that his mother knows best
Mets' Yoenis Cespedes learned early in life that his mother knows best
Discussion:
Metsblog
Justin Tasch / New York Daily News:
Mets Insider: Matz says ‘I feel better’ after pen session
Mets Insider: Matz says ‘I feel better’ after pen session
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus and Inside the Dodgers
Ingrid Lunden / TechCrunch:
With Reactions, Facebook Supercharges The Like Button With 6 Empathetic Emoji — In September, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg made some waves when he hinted Facebook was working on a way to expand its famous Like button — not by adding the much-fabled “dislike” option, but by making it way more empathetic …
Discussion:
CBS Philly and WCTX-TV
Associated Press:
McHugh Pitches Astros to 5-2 Win Over Royals to Open ALDS — KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Collin McHugh and the Houston Astros beat the Kansas City Royals at their own game Thursday night, relying on sharp pitching and stingy defense for a 5-2 victory in the opener of their AL Division Series.
RELATED:
Blair Kerkhoff / Kansas City Star:
Breakdown of the Royals vs. Astros in the regular season
Breakdown of the Royals vs. Astros in the regular season
Discussion:
Royals Review
Andy McCullough / Kansas City Star:
The conversation that led Ryan Madson back to baseball, and the Royals' bullpen — Madson retired after failed comebacks to pitch in 2013, 2014 — A connection with high school pitcher sparked his return — Madson forms a devastating bullpen trio with Wade Davis, Kelvin Herrera
Discussion:
Royals Review
Associated Press:
Pirates Head Into Offseason After Another October Stumble — PITTSBURGH — The man who symbolized the Pittsburgh Pirates' resurgence offered one final bit of advice before hopping onto his custom-made, Batman-inspired ride and zooming off into retirement. — “Win the division,” …
RELATED:
J. Brady McCollough / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Could Pirates' window of success soon be closing?
Could Pirates' window of success soon be closing?
Discussion:
GammonsDaily.com and Bucs Dugout
Anthony Rieber / Newsday:
Ron Darling adds perspective to Matt Harvey's late arrival to Mets' practice … Mets want to move on from Harvey incident — Mets vs. Dodgers: Who has the edge in the NLDS?
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue and Metsblog
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
Anthopoulos' trade for Donaldson could prove historic — JP Morosi — Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos should prepare to take a bow. He's on the verge of becoming the first general manager in over 30 years to acquire the subsequent season's Most Valuable Player in an offseason or spring training trade.
Discussion:
Athletics Nation
Associated Press:
Broadcaster Vin Scully to Miss Postseason After Procedure — LOS ANGELES — Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully won't be calling any games in the baseball playoffs after undergoing a medical procedure. — The Los Angeles Dodgers said Thursday that Scully was resting comfortably after a recommended procedure earlier in the day.
Teddy Cahill / Baseball America:
2015 Pacific Coast League Top 20 Prospects — PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE TOP 20 PROSPECTS — Last fall's affiliation shuffle changed the look of the Pacific Coast League, as six of the league's 16 teams went into this season with a new parent club. Some of the league's longest standing relationships ended …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball