Top News:
John Lott / National Post:
Nerves get to David Price early in Blue Jays' loss to Rangers: 'I didn't throw the ball well enough' — TORONTO - David Price has pitched for eight years in the big leagues. His career ERA is 3.09. He has won a Cy Young Award and he's a candidate for another.
Discussion:
Fox Sports, The Crawfish Boxes, Bluebird Banter, FanGraphs Baseball and ESPN
RELATED:
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, Federal Baseball and Lone Star Ball
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
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, True Blue LA, AZ Snake Pit and Yahoo Sports
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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
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
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
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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.
Justin Tasch / New York Daily News:
Mets Insider: Matz says ‘I feel better’ after pen session — Things are looking up for Steven Matz. The southpaw threw a successful bullpen session on Tuesday at Citi Field and will fly to Florida to pitch in a simulated game on Thursday, Sandy Alderson said.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, Baseball Prospectus and Inside the Dodgers
RELATED:
Bill Price / New York Daily News:
Mets' Steven Matz pitches five innings, ‘ready to go’
Mets' Steven Matz pitches five innings, ‘ready to go’
Discussion:
Metsblog
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
Ryan Divish / The Seattle Times:
Lloyd McClendon will not return as Mariners' manager — Baseball sources say Angels special assistant Tim Bogar is a favorite to get the job. McClendon's replacement will be the Mariners' ninth overall manager since they last made the playoffs in 2001. — The offseason of change continues for the Mariners.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, CBSSports.com, NBCSports.com, MLB Daily Dish and Bleacher Report
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
Marc Carig / Newsday:
Terry Collins: Mets manager is relaxed and rewarded — Here, out of view from most, Terry Collins can have his way. In the manager's office at Citi Field, nothing is out of place. After all these years, his devotion to order remains unchanged. — The only papers on his desk are the ones he needs that day.
Discussion:
NorthJersey.com and Metsblog
Pete Thamel / SI.com:
Loss to UW makes clear USC made wrong decision in hiring Sarkisian — LOS ANGELES — Win Forever. That's the catch phrase, ethos and inspirational book Pete Carroll left behind after his nine-year stint at USC ended in 2010. He resurrected the program back into college football's elite …
Discussion:
ProFootballTalk and CBS Philly