Cardinals Slug Their Way to NLCS

The Cardinals, who were healthy underdogs going into this series, have taken three of five over the Braves and move on to face either the Dodgers or Nationals in the NLCS. They exploded with 10 first-inning runs in game five and never looked back. Jack Flaherty pitched a solid game and they ended up taking […]

Joey Bart Injured In AFL

San Francisco Giants catching prospect Joey Bart (thumb) suffered a right thumb fracture after he was hit by a pitch in the Arizona Fall League on Tuesday night. He is seeing a hand specialist on Wednesday. Bart just couldn't get away from hand injuries this year, as he also suffered a hand fracture earlier this […]

Kike Hernandez Getting Nod In Left Field

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kike Hernandez is starting in left field and is batting seventh in Game 5 of the National League Division Series against Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg on Wednesday. Rookie Gavin Lux is starting on the bench with Max Muncy at the keystone. Hernandez has a double and two RBI in three at-bats […]

Victor Robles Still Out For Game 5

Washington Nationals outfielder Victor Robles (hamstring) remains out of the starting lineup for Game 5 of the National League Division Series against the Dodgers on Wednesday. Michael A. Taylor will remain in center field and bat eighth against Dodgers starter Walker Buehler. Taylor is 3-for-7 (.429) with a walk and strikeout in the series, but […]

Cardinals Stun Braves With 10 First-Inning Runs

Wow. In a deemed pick-em by Vegas, Jack Flaherty and Mike Foltynewicz were supposed to duel and hold each other to one or two runs, at most. The Cardinals had other ideas, demolishing Foltynewicz and putting up 10 runs in the first inning. What might be more surprising is the Cardinals put up 10 runs […]

Aroldis Chapman, Zack Britton Are Fine

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that closer Aroldis Chapman (hand) "is fine" after getting hit on the hand during the celebration after beating the Twins in the American League Division Series. Boone also said that reliever pitcher Zack Britton (ankle) could pitch on Wednesday if needed. The Yankees will have both lefties at […]

Aaron Hicks Could Be Added To ALCS Roster

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that outfielder Aaron Hicks (elbow) is in "consideration" to be added to the roster for the American League Championship Series against either the Astros or Rays. Hicks is doing some hitting at the stadium on Wednesday. Injuries have kept Hicks to only 59 games this year, and he's […]

Twins To Pick Up Nelson Cruz's Option

The Minnesota Twins will pick up veteran designated hitter Nelson Cruz's $12 million option for the 2020 season. Despite being 39 years old in 2019, Cruz managed to hit .311/.392/.639 with 41 home runs, 81 runs and 108 RBI in just 120 games. He's had at least 40 dingers in four of the last six […]

Tyler Glasnow To Start Game 5 Of ALDS

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow will start Game 5 of the American League Division Series against the Astros on Thursday, according to manager Kevin Cash. Glasnow has electric stuff that is downright unhittable at times, it's just a matter of whether he can throw strikes. In Game 1 of the series he limited […]

Rays Down Astros 4-1 to Force Game 5

The Rays bullpen stepped up huge, allowing just one run over nine innings of work. Diego Castillo started it off, but Ryan Yarbrough and Nick Anderson did the bulk of the work. Blake Snell came in for two batters in the ninth and closed it out with runners on first and third. On offense, the […]

Justin Verlander Goes 3.2 Innings, Allows Four Runs

It was a terrible day on the mound for Verlander, who gave up three runs in the first inning and another home run to Willy Adames in the fourth. He was pitching in just three days rest and it obviously bothered him. He left pitches over the plate that we usually wouldn’t see and his […]

Ryan Yarbrough Goes Two Shutout Innings in Relief

Yarbrough relieved Diego Castillo after just 1.2 innings and went through the order once. He gave up two hits and was pretty lucky with Jose Altuve being thrown out trying to get home on the Alvarez double. Nick Anderson, who has been phenomenal this season, has taken over and will likely get two innings as […]

Willy Adames Homers Off Verlander to Give Astros 4-0

The Rays continue to grow the gap between these teams in game four, with Willy Adames mutilating a pitch 419 feet to left-center. Adames isn’t the greatest hitter against righties that can throw hard, but Verlander is obviously not his usual-self and has left a few pitches over the plate. Let’s see if this Rays […]

Tommy Pham Homers to Open Game 4

Pham has been a lot better against lefties this season, but he jumped on a possibly-tired Justin Verlander and sent a 388-foot bomb to left-center. Verlander wasn’t sharp in the first inning, allowing three runs and four hits. The Rays currently lead 3-0 and are battling with an offense that can go crazy at any […]

Justin Verlander Gives Up Three Runs In First Inning

Verlander is coming off of three days rest and got roughed up in the first inning by these Rays. Tommy Pham homered in the two-hole, followed by an Avisail Garcia single and Ji-Man Choi walk. A single by D’Arnaud and a double by Wendle drove the pair in and gave the Rays an early 3-0 […]

Diego Castillo Strikes out Three in 1.2 Innings

Castillo wasn’t asked to do much tonight, but he did his job. He struck out three batters, walked one and gave up a single. The Astros had already planned to bring Yarbrough in when Reddick was coming to the plate, so he got to face a lefty and so Castillo didn’t have to see anyone […]

Yuli Gurriel Hitting Sixth Against Rays

Houston Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel will start at first base and hit sixth in Game 4 against the Rays. Gurriel has hits in each of the first three games of the series, going 5-for-12 (.417) with one double and three runs batted in. The Astros offense is so deep and dynamic that it is […]

Yordan Alvarez Hitting .417 In ALDS

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez will start and hit fifth in Game 4 against the Rays. Alvarez has taken a phenomenal rookie season into the playoffs, going 5-for-12 with one RBI and two doubles through the first three games. Alvarez just keeps hitting no matter the situation and posted a .985 OPS away from […]

Alex Bregman Hitting .315 In Road Games

Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman will look to finish off the Rays in Game 4 of the ALDS. Bregman has enjoyed a fantastic series thus far, going 4-for-9 (.444) with one double, one home run, one RBI, three walks and five runs scored. Bregman should be able to deliver on the road, where he […]

Jose Altuve Slugging .923 In ALDS

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve will hit third in Game 4 of the ALDS against the Rays. Altuve has been fantastic all series, going 4-for-13 (.308) with two doubles, two home runs, two runs scored and three runs batted in through the first three games. Altuve has a history of bringing his power game […]

Michael Brantley To Hit Second In Game 4

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley will start and hit second for the Astros in Game 4 against the Rays. Brantley is hitting only .167 in the series and his offensive production has been on a steep decline for over a month now. The veteran has been fantastic this season but hit only .179 in the […]

Tommy Pham Needs To Deliver In Game 4

Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Tommy Pham will start and hit second against the Astros ace, Justin Verlander, in Game 4. Pham has a hit in each of the four playoff games the Rays have played, going 6-for-16 (.375) with one home run and two runs batted in. Pham posted a .822 OPS at home […]

Willy Adames Hopes To Stay Hot

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Willy Adames will try to stay hot and stave off elimination against the Astros in Game 4. Adames went 3-for-3 with a double and a home run in Game 3 and is 4-for-7 in his last two games. Adames hit a solid .292 against right-handed pitching this season and will face […]

Avisail Garcia Slotted In Cleanup Spot Against Verlander

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Avisail Garcia will start and hit cleanup as the team will try and extend the ALDS against the Astros. Garcia powered a home run against the A's in the Wild Card play-in game and singled and scored twice in the Rays Game 3 win. Garcia has played his best baseball at […]

Justin Verlander Has Series Win In His Sights

Houston Astros starter Justin Verlander will take the mound with the intention of ending the Rays season in Game 4 of the ALDS. Verlander twirled seven shutout innings in Game 1 and, over the course of his career, has been a 'Grim Reaper' when it comes to elimination games. In series-clinching starts, Verlander is 3-1 […]

Austin Meadows To Hit Leadoff In Game 4

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Austin Meadows will hit leadoff as the team will try and stave off elimination against the Astros ace Justin Verlander. Meadows went hitless in Game 1 against Verlander but has hits in each of the last three games, going 3-for-11 with two doubles, two runs scored and three runs batted in. […]

Angels Expected To Sign Joe Maddon

It's looking like Maddon will return to organization he started his career and coached 31 years at. Maddon and the Chicago Cubs had an extremely disappointing season and peacefully parted ways after the regular season. According to Buster Olney, Maddon is the Angels' top choice and the Angels are Maddon's top choice. Unless something goes […]

Diego Castillo Will Head Bullpen Game 4 for Rays

The Rays will toss Diego Castillo our there for two or three innings before handing the ball to one of the best bullpens in baseball. They are pretty tired, but there’s no time for that right now. It’s playoff baseball and all hands are on deck. They’ll certainly need to be if the Rays have […]

Nelson Cruz Strands Five Runners Game 3 Loss

Minnesota Twins designated hitter Nelson Cruz went 0-for-4, stranding five base runners, in the Twins 5-1 loss to the Yankees in the Game 3. Cruz homered in Game 1 but was unable to generate offense in an elimination game for the Twins. Cruz came into the series with a fabulous playoff resume and a 1.053 […]

Aroldis Chapman Finishes Off Twins

New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman pitched 1 2/3 innings to sweep the Twins and catapult the Yankees into the ALCS. Chapman struck out three batters in his second appearance in the series. The Yankees offense has been impressive through one round but Chapman anchors a nasty bullpen. Chapman finished his regular season strong, striking […]