Top News:
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
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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
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.
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
After bad Game 1 Yasmani Grandal kept out of starting lineup for Game 2 — MILWAUKEE — Yasmani Grandal, coming off a historically bad night behind the plate, wasn't in the 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.
Andrew Wagner / UPI:
Dodgers look to clean up their act against Brewers in Game 2 — MILWAUKEE — The Los Angeles Dodgers came up empty against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, but after rallying to within a run in the ninth inning …
Discussion:
True Blue LA
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Why the Dodgers are in big trouble — and why they might be just fine — MILWAUKEE — In spite of all that went wrong — the errors, the passed balls, that home run by Brandon Woodruff, of all people — the Los Angeles Dodgers wound up with the tying run only 90 feet away on Friday night.
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Christian Yelich vs. Clayton Kershaw a matchup we're eager to see
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
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 and Associated Press
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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 …
Discussion:
Over the Monster
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.
David Schoenfield / ESPN:
Buckle up for an epic ALCS as 108-win Red Sox and 103-win Astros collide — BOSTON — As the Boston Red Sox took the field for their workout Friday, the day before the opening game of their American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros, the sun suddenly broke through …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
USA Today:
Alex Rodriguez wears full Red Sox uniform on air after Yankees' ALDS loss
Discussion:
SBNation.com, Awful Announcing and NESN.com
Scott Boeck / USA Today:
Chris Sale weighs in on Mookie Betts-J.D. Martinez debate for AL MVP
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Red Sox deal for Chris Sale will pay postseason dividends for years to come
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes, MLB Baseball News … and Surviving Grady
Associated Press:
MLB: Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius needs Tommy John surgery — Yankees star shortstop Didi Gregorius needs Tommy John surgery on his right elbow after injuring himself making a throw in Boston during the AL Division Series, and there's no telling exactly when he'll be able to play again.
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Coley Harvey / ESPN:
Yankees' Aaron Boone says he was ‘greedy’ with pitching moves in ALDS
Discussion:
Bleacher Report and Pinstripe Alley
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Brian Cashman addresses Yankees' state after disappointing end to promising season
Discussion:
NorthJersey.com
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Aaron Boone regrets the way he handled Luis Severino in Game 3, but Yankees are doubling down on Giancarlo Stanton
Coley Harvey / ESPN:
Yanks' Didi Gregorius to have Tommy John surgery, miss part of 2019
Discussion:
New York Post, FanGraphs Baseball, Pinstripe Alley, USA Today, baseballmusings.com and NESN.com
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Didi Gregorius To Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Discussion:
Over the Monster, New York Daily News, MLB Baseball News … and Pinstripe Alley
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 …
Stephen Hawkins / Associated Press:
Rangers interview Joe Girardi for their open manager job — Joe Girardi was interviewed Friday by the Rangers during their search for a new manager. — Girardi, the former Yankees and Marlins manager, was the first person with big-league managerial experience interviewed by the Rangers …
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Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Sources: Rangers interview former Yankees manager Joe Girardi
Discussion:
Bleacher Report, CBSSports.com and Lone Star Ball
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays Tales: Is moving on from C.J. Cron the right move? — ST. PETERSBURG —The Rays' primary target this offseason seems to be adding a right-handed impact bat. — And to do so, they are likely to get rid of the one they have, 30-homer hitting 1B/DH C.J. Cron. — Why? — In short, to try to upgrade.
