Top News:
Associated Press:
Altuve is Astros DH vs. Red Sox in ALCS Game 3 — HOUSTON (AP) — Six-time All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve is a designated hitter for the Houston Astros in the playoffs for the first time. — Astros manager A.J. Hinch has Altuve as the DH for Game 3 of the American League Championship Series against Boston.
RELATED:
David Schoenfield / ESPN:
Nathan Eovaldi, Dallas Keuchel part of ALCS Game 3 intrigue — HOUSTON — Nathan Eovaldi is only the second-best pitcher ever who can throw 100 mph and hails from Alvin, Texas. — That's not an insult. — The other one is Nolan Ryan. — Alvin is a town of 26,000, located 30 miles south of Houston.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, MLB Baseball News … and Bless You Boys
Bob Nightengale / KHOU-TV:
Alex Bregman trolls Red Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi with Instagram post — The Astros third baseman, who faces Boston Red Sox starter Nate Eovaldi on Tuesday night, showed a clip on his Instagram account with the Astros hitting three consecutive homers off Eovaldi earlier this year when he was still with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Discussion:
USA Today, The Sports Daily and Lookout Landing
Marly Rivera / ESPN:
Role players give Astros pop through the lineup, championship edge — The dramatic turnaround of the Houston Astros franchise from historically bad — they were the second team in MLB history to have three consecutive seasons of at least 106 losses — to world champions in just five years …
Rob Bradford / WEEI:
Pearce on Bregman: 'We'll see who is talking at the end of the series'
Discussion:
Boston Globe, baseballmusings.com, MLB Baseball News …, CBS Boston and NESN.com
Associated Press:
Chris Sale released from hospital, but Red Sox won't say when ace will pitch next in ALCS
Jamie Galvan / KHOU-TV:
LIVE BLOG: Astros aim to take lead in ALCS at Minute Maid
Discussion:
South Side Sox and The Crawfish Boxes
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Miscues, missed opportunities catching up with Dodgers — LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers navigated the 2018 regular season as a persistent enigma. They were loaded with talent and rich in depth, clearly and significantly superior to the vast majority of their competition.
Discussion:
New York Times and Cubs Insider
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Yasmani Grandal hears chorus of boos at Dodger Stadium and Enrique Hernandez rips L.A. fans — When the Dodger Stadium crowd wasn't booing Yasmani Grandal or chanting his backup's name, the fans largely sat in a disappointed hush while the Milwaukee Brewers' pitching staff mowed down their team.
Discussion:
USA Today, Sports Illustrated, True Blue LA, Associated Press, CBSSports.com and MLB Baseball News …
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw hasn't decided whether he'll opt out — LOS ANGELES — Clayton Kershaw, preparing to make what could possibly be his final start with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday afternoon, has not decided whether to exercise the opt-out clause in his contract …
Scott Boeck / USA Today:
Dodgers' Manny Machado says being ‘Johnny Hustle’ isn't his ‘cup of tea’ — Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop, and soon-to-be free agent, Manny Machado has been the club's best hitter in the National League Championship Series. — He is 5-for-11 with a homer, double and three RBI on a team batting a collective .220.
Steve Gardner / USA Today:
Dodgers' Enrique Hernandez turns tables on critics with humorous ‘ED’ tweet to fans
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times
Ken Rosenthal / The Athletic:
Manny Machado still has work to do if he wants to keep the focus on his performance
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, USA Today, Bleacher Nation and NESN.com
Scott Boeck / USA Today:
Enrique Hernandez calls out LA Dodgers fans after Game 3 for having ‘no energy’
Discussion:
True Blue LA, Bleacher Nation and NESN.com
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Boo birds give Yasmani Grandal an earful
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and baseballmusings.com
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Chili Davis ‘not going to blame myself,’ wishes next Cubs hitting coach better — About the time the Cubs announced the hiring of the sixth hitting coach in eight seasons of Theo Epstein's front office regime, Chili Davis got in his truck and headed out of Chicago on Monday …
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, Daily Herald, MLB Baseball News …, Cubs Insider, Bleacher Nation and TMZ.com
RELATED:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Jason McLeod interviews with Giants as Cubs brace for front office moves — Chicago Tribune — The Cubs were eliminated from the postseason two weeks ago, but their front office personnel remains in demand. — Jason McLeod, who was instrumental in drafting first-round picks Albert Almora Jr. …
Bruce Levine / 670 The Score:
Sources: Giants Interview Cubs' McLeod For GM Job
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Cubs Insider, McCovey Chronicles and Bleacher Nation
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs hire Anthony Iapoce from Rangers to replace Chili Davis as hitting coach
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation and Cubs Insider
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
7 things to know about new Cubs hitting coach Anthony Iapoce
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds mum on finalists for managerial job, but new manager will be one of 12 interviewed — Bobby Nightengale, Cincinnati Enquirer — The Cincinnati Reds have or will shortly narrow the list of managerial candidates from 12 to three or four. — But word on who the finalists are will not come from the Reds.
Discussion:
redsminorleagues.com
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Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Angels tell Anaheim they're opting out of their lease on Angel Stadium — The Angels opted out of their lease with the city of Anaheim on Tuesday, setting the stage for another round of negotiations over whether the team remains in their longtime host city or finds a new home elsewhere in Southern California.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and MLB Trade Rumors
RELATED:
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves payroll will increase, but that doesn't mean Harper or Machado — The Braves will have an increased payroll for 2019, general manager Alex Anthopoulos confirmed Monday. And they'll be advantageous in exploring avenues to maximize that flexibility. — After trading Matt Kemp …
RELATED:
Jason Foster / Sporting News:
Craig Counsell, Brian Snitker voted Sporting News NL Co-Managers of the Year
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Who's on first? That's a key question facing the Yankees this offseason — At the end of the season, Aaron Boone said that Luke Voit took the first base job heading into 2019. With Greg Bird having a disastrous year and the 27-year-old Voit having a breakout season, it makes sense the first-year manager would indicate that.
