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:
Scott Boeck / USA Today:
Hall of Famer Jim Palmer criticizes Manny Machado for lack of hustle in Game 2 of NLCS — Manny Machado's baserunning in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series did not go unnoticed. — The Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop was roasted on social media and during the Fox Sports broadcast …
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 …
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.
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:
AZ Snake Pit and Brew Crew Ball
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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Ken Davidoff / New York Post:
Yankees lost out on pitcher who's regained ace status with Astros … BOSTON — On July 6, 2014, the Yankees acquired Brandon McCarthy from the Diamondbacks, struggling for a year and a half at that juncture, and convinced him to start using his cut fastball again.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Tim Kurkjian / ESPN:
Three reasons the Astros will beat the Red Sox in the ALCS
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
David Schoenfield / ESPN:
Buckle up for an epic ALCS as 108-win Red Sox and 103-win Astros collide
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and baseballmusings.com
Maria Torres / Los Angeles Times:
Martin Maldonado won't mind trading in a halo for a ring
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, baseballmusings.com, Over the Monster and The Crawfish Boxes
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:
Cincinnati.com:
Jonathan India, the Cincinnati Reds' 1st-round pick, learns from first minor league season — GOODYEAR, Arizona - With only a couple of days remaining in the instructional league, Jonathan India made sure that he would enter his offseason on a high note. — Facing various minor league pitchers …
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 …
