Top News:
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
After bad Game 1, Yasmani Grandal out of starting lineup for Game 2 — MILWAUKEE — Yasmani Grandal, coming off a historically bad night behind the plate, wasn't in the Los Angeles Dodgers' starting lineup for Game 2 of the National League Championship Series, paving the way for Austin Barnes to catch Hyun-Jin Ryu on Saturday.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Dodgers' relievers taking focus on Brewers' bullpen personally — MILWAUKEE — After winning Game 2 of the NLCS, 4-3, over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday, the Los Angeles Dodgers sent a message to the rest of baseball: Their bullpen is pretty darn good, too. — EDITOR'S PICKS
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Justin Turner shrugs off 0-for-5 night to spark Dodgers' Game 2 win — MILWAUKEE — It was admittedly the worst game of his career and one of the worst games in baseball history. Justin Turner — among the sport's hottest hitters since the start of August, including in a first-round playoff series …
Bradford Doolittle / ESPN:
Ups and downs of bullpenning on display as Brewers take Game 1 — MILWAUKEE — The aim of bullpenning is supposed to be to prevent runs, not generate them. Even when it comes to that, it seems the Milwaukee Brewers cannot follow convention. — EDITOR'S PICKS
Discussion:
Cubs Insider
Genaro C. Armas / Toronto Sun:
Reliever Woodruff's homer stuns Kershaw, Brewers take Game 1 — MILWAUKEE (AP) The high-five at the plate from Brandon Woodruff nearly took out Lorenzo Cain. — It's not often that reliever hits a home run. — Batting left-handed. Off lefty Clayton Kershaw. In the playoffs.
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball and AZ Snake Pit
Gulf News:
Brewers hang on for 6-5 win over Dodgers — Grab 1-0 lead in National League Championship series — Los Angeles: The Milwaukee Brewers chased Los Angeles Dodgers ace pitcher Clayton Kershaw early then held on for a 6-5 victory to seize the advantage in their Major League Baseball play-off series.
ESPN:
Saturday LCS guide: Red Sox take aim at the champs; and can the Dodgers even up? — The league championship series started with a bang as the Milwaukee Brewers ran their winning streak to 12 games and handed Clayton Kershaw the shortest postseason start of his career to seize a quick lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Inside the inning when Brandon Woodruff's swing rocked the NLCS
Discussion:
Press Gazette Media, Los Angeles Times, Sports Illustrated, USA Today, The Ringer and Beyond the Box Score
Andrew Wagner / UPI:
Dodgers look to clean up their act against Brewers in Game 2
Discussion:
True Blue LA
Ted Berg / USA Today:
Justin Verlander, like many pitchers, improved immediately upon joining the Astros — BOSTON — When Justin Verlander takes the mound Saturday night for Game 1 of the ALCS, he'll do so as one of baseball's most recognizable players: A seven-time All-Star, a former Cy Young and MVP Award winner …
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ESPN:
Astros' Justin Verlander: ‘No set number’ of seasons left in career — With one World Series ring in his possession and a second in his sights, Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander said he hasn't given any thought as to walking away from baseball after 14 seasons.
Tim Kurkjian / ESPN:
Three reasons the Astros will beat the Red Sox in the ALCS — The American League Championship Series hasn't even started, and it is already historic. The Boston Red Sox vs. the Houston Astros matchup marks the first time in major league history that a team with as many as 108 victories in a season …
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
David Schoenfield / ESPN:
Buckle up for an epic ALCS as 108-win Red Sox and 103-win Astros collide
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Maria Torres / Los Angeles Times:
Martin Maldonado won't mind trading in a halo for a ring
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Over the Monster and The Crawfish Boxes
USA Today:
Alex Rodriguez wears full Red Sox uniform on air after Yankees' ALDS loss
Discussion:
Boston Globe, SBNation.com and Awful Announcing
Scott Boeck / USA Today:
Chris Sale weighs in on Mookie Betts-J.D. Martinez debate for AL MVP
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and The Crawfish Boxes
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Red Sox deal for Chris Sale will pay postseason dividends for years to come
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, The Crawfish Boxes and Surviving Grady
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Reds Xtra: The snowball started rolling downhill six years ago — We're a couple days past the sixth anniversary of what for at least one man — me — believes is the game or the moment that led to the predicament the Reds are in. — Game 5, National League Division Series, Reds versus the San Francisco Giants, the bottom of ninth.
RELATED:
ESPN:
Ryan Braun, Yasiel Puig meet in NLCS two years after near trade — Here's a stupid and obvious thing to say at the start of an article: Two teams are more interesting than one. We could test the Dodgers against an anthropomorphized algorithm, and we could have the Brewers play a simulated opponent …
