Top News:
Fox Sports:
LEADING OFF: Dodgers get weary Cubs; Verlander vs. Severino — A look at what's happening all around the majors Saturday: — RESTED DODGERS, WEARY CUBS — Los Angeles has been waiting comfortably at home since Tuesday to begin their NL Championship Series, while Chicago enters the opener fatigued and well-traveled.
RELATED:
Bradford DoolittleESPN / ESPN:
Dodgers stick with division series rotation as they prep to face Cubs in NLCS — LOS ANGELES — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced his rotation for L.A.'s National League Championship Series matchup against the Chicago Cubs on Friday. — Roberts said that after Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw starts …
Discussion:
True Blue LA
Fox Sports:
Dodgers look to turn tables on Cubs in NLCS (Oct 14, 2017) — LOS ANGELES — One year later, the teams in the National League Championship Series are the same so it makes sense that the plot lines are similar. — There is a team four victories away from getting a chance to vanquish a long World Series drought.
Fox Sports:
A capsule look at the Cubs-Dodgers playoff series — A look at the best-of-seven National League Championship Series between the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers: — Schedule: (All times EDT) Game 1, Saturday, at Los Angeles, 8:08 p.m. (TBS); Game 2, Sunday, at Los Angeles, 7:38 p.m. …
UPI:
NLCS Game 1: Chicago Cubs arrive late in Los Angeles after unscheduled stop — The Chicago Cubs' overnight flight to Los Angeles lasted into Friday afternoon before arriving more than five hours behind schedule. — The United charter plane landed at Los Angeles International Airport at 12:09 p.m. PT …
New York Daily News:
Cubs come back to stun Nationals, 9-8, in NLDS Game 5 thriller — The Chicago Cubs win whenever they need to, with whatever it takes, even a seven-out save by Wade Davis to preserve a shrinking lead and a “Did that really happen?” four-run inning against Washington's Max Scherzer in a thriller of a Game 5.
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers-centric observations from 2017 MLB postseason — An incredible first round of the MLB postseason is officially complete, after the Cubs outlasted the Nationals in Game 5 of the National League Division Series on Thursday night. It lived up to its billing.
Discussion:
USA Today
Jeff Barker / Baltimore Sun:
No billy goat or ‘Bambino’ but Washingtonians wonder if baseball team is jinxed
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs-Dodgers in NLCS: Who has the edge?
Cubs-Dodgers in NLCS: Who has the edge?
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune
USA Today:
Jon Lester says he ‘blacked out,’ only saw last three outs of Cubs' win against Nationals
Jon Lester says he ‘blacked out,’ only saw last three outs of Cubs' win against Nationals
Discussion:
CBS Chicago and The Week
Chris Kuc / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs plane diverted to Albuquerque
Cubs plane diverted to Albuquerque
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune and MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Jorge Castillo / Washington Post:
For vanquished Nationals, an inning that will live in infamy
Jeff Seidel / UPI:
NLCS: Chicago Cubs' bats come alive at right time
Paul Skrbina / Chicago Tribune:
15 pivotal moments in Cubs' 9-8 victory over Nationals in Game 5 of NLDS
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Rotation, roster decisions await Cubs vs. Dodgers in NLCS rematch
Rotation, roster decisions await Cubs vs. Dodgers in NLCS rematch
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports, Chicago Tribune, Bleed Cubbie Blue and True Blue LA
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs outlast Nationals 9-8 in decisive NLDS Game 5 to clinch series, advance to NLCS
Cubs outlast Nationals 9-8 in decisive NLDS Game 5 to clinch series, advance to NLCS
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune and The Daily Beast
Thomas Boswell / Washington Post:
All defeats are not created equal. For Nats, this one is a special kind of painful.
All defeats are not created equal. For Nats, this one is a special kind of painful.
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter, MLB on Yahoo! Sports and Let Teddy Win!
ESPN:
Yankees manager Joe Girardi has no plans to drop Aaron Judge in order during ALCS — HOUSTON — Despite Aaron Judge's struggles in the ALDS, New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi said he has no plans to move Judge down in the order during the ALCS. — “I never talked about moving him down,” Girardi said.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Stefan Stevenson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers' fans forced to choose lesser of two evils in postseason — sstevenson@star-telegram.comBy Stefan Stevenson — Here's your quandary: You're a diehard Texas Rangers fan. But you're also, at heart, a lover of the great game. This should be your favorite time of the baseball season …
Fox Sports:
Keuchel looks to continue success against Yankees in ALCS — HOUSTON (AP) Dallas Keuchel is tired of talking about his success against the New York Yankees. — It didn't matter on Thursday, though. It was an unavoidable subject for Houston's ace as he prepares to start against them in Game 1 …
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports, The Crawfish Boxes and Federal Baseball
Scott LauberESPN / ESPN:
Jose Altuve: Aaron Judge's power, humbleness makes him MVP favorite — HOUSTON — If it was up to Jose Altuve, Aaron Judge will be crowned MVP of the American League. — With the two leading MVP candidates converging Friday night for Game 1 of the AL Championship Series …
Peter Botte / New York Daily News:
Jose Altuve makes the case for Yankees rookie slugger Aaron Judge as AL MVP
Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
ALCS stacks up teams with MVP candidates
ALCS stacks up teams with MVP candidates
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Scott LauberESPN / ESPN:
Your guide to Friday's Game 1: Astros-Yankees is closer than you think
Your guide to Friday's Game 1: Astros-Yankees is closer than you think
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score and The Crawfish Boxes
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Matt Holliday to make Yankees playoff debut in Game 1 of ALCS vs. Astros
John Harper / New York Daily News:
After emotional ALDS comeback, Yankees seem destined to beat Astros and advance to World Series
Matt Snyder / CBSSports.com:
Yankees, Astros set ALCS rotations: Tanaka squares off against Keuchel in Game 1
Yankees, Astros set ALCS rotations: Tanaka squares off against Keuchel in Game 1
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports, The Crawfish Boxes and AZ Snake Pit
ESPN:
Alex Rodriguez on PED suspension: ‘How stupid can you be?’ — Alex Rodriguez said his admitted use of steriods during his 23-year MLB career cost him millions of dollars and potential spot in Cooperstown. But the desire to put up big numbers and chronic pain in his hip pressured Rodriguez to take performance-enhancing drugs.
RELATED:
Christian Red / New York Daily News:
‘Jackass’ Alex Rodriguez makes lame excuse for using performance-enhancing drugs — Alex Rodriguez says he used performance-enhancing drugs through Biogenesis and its founder Anthony Bosch because he felt a “responsibility” to bounce back from injuries and give the Yankees a positive return …
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Jeff Fletcher / Orange County Register:
Angels Notes: ‘Dialogue’ ongoing with Justin Upton — Angels general manager Billy Eppler said Friday he recently had a “positive conversation” with Justin Upton and agent Larry Reynolds and “there is dialogue going on,” although he wouldn't characterize the situation any further.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors