Top News:
David Purdum / ESPN:
Astros biggest World Series favorites since 2007 — The Houston Astros have been installed as the favorites over the Washington Nationals in the World Series. — Caesars Sportsbook on Sunday opened the Astros as -235 favorites to beat the Nationals in the best-of-seven series.
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Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
As pitch-tipping paranoia lingers, Astros and Nationals will have their eyes on each other in World Series — There is no nightmare in baseball, no feeling of competitive vulnerability, quite like seeing your pitcher getting peppered by a lineup that knows exactly what pitch is coming.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, McCovey Chronicles, Over the Monster and Pinstripe Alley
Mark Townsend / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Altuve's dinger sends Astros to World Series — The Houston Astros are going back to the World Series. — In a classic battle that produced countless thrilling moments, the Astros ultimately prevailed in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series, defeating the New York Yankees 6-4 …
Discussion:
Houston Astros on Yahoo! …, USA Today, NESN.com and The Crawfish Boxes
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Get ready for chaos in Astros-Yankees battle of the bullpen games — NEW YORK — It's just like any other day, and it's nothing like any other day. As the New York Yankees and Houston Astros packed their gear and headed to the airport for a 3½-hour overnight flight …
Discussion:
New York Post, MLB Trade Rumors, Bleacher Nation and Amazin' Avenue
ESPN:
CC Sabathia's career done as Yankees add Ben Heller to ALCS roster — The New York Yankees officially removed CC Sabathia from the roster for the American League Championship Series on Friday, replacing him with right-handed reliever Ben Heller. — Sabathia would not be eligible to return …
Discussion:
Associated Press, Beyond the Box Score and Pinstripe Alley
Stephanie Apstein / Sports Illustrated:
Astros Staffer's Outburst at Female Reporters Illustrates MLB's Forgive-and-Forget Attitude Toward Domestic Violence — After the Astros clinched the AL pennant, a staffer looked at female reporters and shouted “Thank God we got Osuna! I'm so f— glad we got Osuna!
Discussion:
New York Times, Houston Chronicle, NBCSports.com, MLB Baseball News … and New York Post
ESPN:
Olney: What scenes from Astros' celebration, Yankees' exit tell us about both teams — The titans of the AL parted with gestures of respect, but the Bombers head into the offseason trying to level up to get past Houston.
Discussion:
MLB.com, New York Post, NESN.com and MLB Trade Rumors
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Martinez has ‘small procedure’ to address recurring shoulder soreness — Cardinals closer Carlos Martinez, who moved into a relief role this past season because of recurring soreness and weakness in his right shoulder that he felt limited him as a starter, had a procedure last last week …
Discussion:
NBCSports.com and MLB Trade Rumors
ESPN:
Eric Cooper, MLB umpire for 21 years, dies at 52 — Major League umpire Eric Cooper has died at the age of 52, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announced in a statement on Sunday. — “This is a very sad day across Major League Baseball,” Manfred said in the statement.
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated
AJ Cassavell / MLB.com:
Source: Two front-runners for Padres manager — And then there were two. — The Padres' managerial search has narrowed to two front-runners, according to people with knowledge of the team's thinking, and a decision looms in the near future. — Jayce Tingler and Ron Washington …
Discussion:
True Blue LA, Gaslamp Ball, Bleacher Nation and MLB Trade Rumors