Spring Games Begin Sunday, February 28; Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues Geared Up for 2021

MLB's Spring Training schedule has been out since September. Here's a link to it.

The first games are on February 28, with 28 of 30 teams playing, the reason not all teams play the first day is beacuse there are 15 teams in Florida's Grapefruit League and 15 in Arizona's Cactus League. The Mets and Cubs open the following day, March 1, with the Mets at the Marlins and Cubs at Padres.

This Baseball on Deck blog was pretty much idled last year, but it's back up for the 2021 season, hoping all goes well now that the coronavirus seems to be a fading memory.

Fans without masks? Probably not right away, but likely by the first of June at the latest in most ball parks. COVID's been a major P.I.T.A. for most of us, but government restrictions have been worse. Hopefully, the governors in baseball states will back off and allow us the national pastime without undue influence on the rules and the fans.

This blog is likely to be undergoing some changes, such as a new name, leaning towards "Baseball Beat", and a new home, at Downtown Magazine, though we'll likely continue to mirror here at Blogger under the same URL.

Players of the Day will continue, most likely, to be the main focus, but yours truly, Fearless Rick, a baseball fanatic to the core, desires more in-depth articles and insights. I'll see how that develops, as I wear more hats than are good for me, but hopefully will not be too busy to enjoy watching major league games and writing about the great sport of baseball.

See you in the bleachers, ya bums!

-- Fearless Rick

Spring Training Arrives: Pitchers and Catchers Report

After months of drab, cold weather and a shortened 2020 season, Spring Triaing has officially opened for Major League Baseball. MLB has more details here.

Owners, execs, coaches, players, and fans are all looking forward to a full 162-game season in 2021, with fans in attendance. While details are sketchy at this time, all major league ballparks are readying for at least 20% capacity for Opening Day, which is April 1.

As the coronavirus fades and vaccinations help ease the fears going forward, there's the possibility of full stadiums by October, but more likely, 50% capacity, which, for most fans - and players - would be welcome.

More next week...

Jake Adams, Corey Julks Power Astros; Albert Almora Jr. Leads Cubs Past Mariners

Players of the Day for Monday, February 24, 2020

Grapefruit League

Either the Houston Astros have found a new, undetectable way of stealing signs or they've got a couple of heavy-handed rookies on their 2020 roster.

Jake Adams socked a ninth-inning, three-run homer in his only official at-bat after walking with the bases loaded in the seventh inning as the Houston Astros dropped the Detroit Tigers like a sack of flour Monday, in an 11-1 blowout.

Prior to Adams blowing up the scoreboard, Corey Julks ripped a seventh-inning grand slam, scoring Adams and two more of his new teammates. Julks finished 2-for-3. Like Adams, he drove in four runs.

Almora Jr. 3-3, HR, 4RBI

Cactus League

After a sub-par year in 2019, Cubs' shortstop Albert Almora, Jr. is showing signs that it was a one-off and 2020 will be much improved as he fights for the starting center field position with the Cubs in Florida.

Almora singled twice and homered in three at-bats, driving in four runs and scoring twice as the Cubs outlasted the Mariners, 16-12.

Last season, Almora hit just .232, well off his .286 from 2018 and the .298 average he posted in 2017.

The Cubs improved to 2-1 in Grapefruit League standings, while the Mariners dropped their second straight in as many tries.

5,265 fans attended the game in Peoria, Arizona.

Bats and Balls All the Rage as Spring Training Games Get Underway

Spring Training has been underway for a month now, and the first games in the Grapefruit and Cactus leagues were played over the weekend.

It's time for baseball to re-emerge from the cold, snow and dreariness of winter, as players twist and turn their bodies into shape for the long, demanding season ahead.

Overhanging the upcoming regular season a little more than a month away are the scandals stemming from creative sign-stealing in the 2017 regular season, playoffs and World Series and 2018 regular season by the Houston Astros. Their victory over National league rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers, in the 2017 World Series has been tainted by what amounts to a combination of high-tech and low-tech method of informing batters of incoming fast balls, the easiest to hit for professional hitters.

The World Series title will not be vacated by MLB, but the damage has been done. Astros' general manager Jeff Luhnow and field manager A. J. Hinch have been suspended for the entire 2020 season for failing to prevent the rules violations. Boston Red Sox manager Joey Cora was released by the team in January when it was alleged that he was the mastermind behind the scheme. Recently hired by the Mets as their 2020 manager, Carlos Beltran - a player for the Astros in 2017 - was also released in January after his name came up in the MLB report.

Stealing signs is as old as the game itself. It's part of the nomenclature of the sport, as getting an edge in any sporting event, by whatever means, can often result in the difference between winning and losing, and being a superstar as opposed to an ordinary player. While cheating is universally frowned upon from a moral perspective, there's always a few rotten apples in the barrel who will go to extraordinary lengths to secure an advantage.

By the time the regular season rolls out, the sign-stealing scandal will be back page news, overtaken by the timelessness of opening day, pitchers with wild arms, rookies with big smiles, batters with adjustments to their swings, and a fresh slate of 162 games ahead for everybody.

With Spring games now underway, it's time again to pick up the bats and balls and head to the field, where the glory of America's game will add another chapter to its rich, enduring history.

Baseball on Deck will begin its usual coverage of players of the day on Tuesday, February 25 with highlights from the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues.

Yankees' Derek Jeter, Rockies' Larry Walker Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame

Derek Jeter

Former New York Yankee shortstop, Derek Jeter, and outfielder Larry Walker were both elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame Tuesday night, though their paths to glory could not have been more different.

Jeter, now the CEO of the Miami Marlins, received all but one first place vote in his first time on the ballot. Walker got 76.6% of the votes on his 10th and final try, making the grade by a mere 10 votes. Walker joins former Cubs' pitcher Ferguson Jenkins as the only other Canadian-born member of the Hall.

Jeter played every season of his 20-year career - from 1995 though 2014 - with the New York Yankees, during which the Bronx Bombers won five World Series, reaching the playoffs in all but four seasons. Jeter won various awards including Rookie of the Year (1995), All-Star game MVP, World Series MVP (2009), and five gold gloves.

During his run, Jeter had 3465 hits in 11195 at-bats for a .310 regular season average.Jeter socked 260 home runs, drove in 1311, and scored 1923 times. He swiped 358 bases and finished with an on-base percentage of .377.

For all his accomplishments, Jeter never won a batting title nor a regular season MVP award, finishing second in 2006, and third in the voting in both 1998 and 2009. His base hits total of 3465 is sixth all-time, trailing only Pete Rose, Ty Cobb, Hank Aaron, Stan Musial, and Tris Speaker.

Larry Walker

Walker, a five time All-Star, played 17 seasons starting in 1989, six of them with the Montreal Expos, nine full seasons with the Colorado Rockies, and part of 2004 with the St. Louis Cardinals, with whom he finished his career in 2005.

A prolific hitter, Walker had 2160 hits in 6907 at-bats for a lifetime .313 regular season batting average. He led the National League in batting three times, hitting .363 in 1998, .379 in 1999, and .350 in 2001. He earned the NL MVP award in a season in which he did not win the batting title. In 1997, he batted .366 and led the league with 49 home runs, 409 total bases, a .452 on-base percentage, .720 slugging, and 1.172 OPS.

Walker's post-season play was limited to just three seasons, two with the Cardinals (2004 and 2005) and one with the Rockies (1995). His best performance was in 2004, when the Cardinals were swept by the Red Sox. Walker batted .357 (5-for-14) with two doubles, two homers, and three RBI.

Induction to the Hall will be made official on July 26 at Cooperstown, NY along with catcher Ted Simmons and former players' association head Marvin Miller, who were voted in last month by the Hall's Modern Era Committee.

MLB Pitchers, Catchers, Full Squad Reporting Dates

Baseball season isn't as far away as some people might think.

The Sporting News has information on reporting dates for all MLB teams, broken down by dates for pitchers and catchers, and then, full squad.

All major league teams will have pitchers and catchers report on either February 12 or 13, and full squads have their first scheduled practices on either the 17th or 18th.

The Royals and Rangers will open the exhibition season with the first spring training game, played February 21st at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona. That game starts the Cactus League schedule.

Florida's Grapefruit League opens the following day with eight games on the slate.

World Series Game Seven: Howie Kendrick Lifts Nationals to World Series Title Over Houston

Players of the Day for Wednesday, October 30, 2019

World Series Game Seven

Washington Nationals 6 Houston Astros 2

Kendrick's 2-run homer
gave Washington the lead.

America's pastime has a new champion.

50 years in the making, the Washington Nationals captured the first World Series in franchise history, coming from behind for a 6-2 game seven victory at Houston.

In an historic series that saw the road team win every game, the Nationals teed off on the Astros' relief staff, scoring all of their runs in the final three innings.

Zack Greinke had kept the Nationals at bay for the first six innings - blanking them on one hit - but, when Anthony Rendon cut the lead to 2-1 with his second series home run, and Greinke followed by walking the next batter, Juan Soto, manager AJ Hinch opted for the usually-reliable right arm of Will Harris.

On Harris' second pitch, 36-year-old Howie Kendrick connected, launching a curving fly to left that eventually banged off the foul pole screen for a two-run homer. Just like that, in the blink of an eye, the Nationals had taken the lead and the momentum of game seven would never swing back to the home team.

In the eighth, Soto singled home Adam Eaton, and Eaton drove in a pair of runs in the top of the ninth to put the game away. While the Nationals were pulling away, the Astros were flailing fruitlessly at pitches from Patrick Corbin, who came on in the sixth in relief of Max Scherzer, delivering three scoreless innings on two hits, fanning three. Daniel Hudson struck out two in a perfect ninth to finish the job and bring the first title to Washington since the franchise was formed as the Montreal Expos in 1969.

Strasburg: MVP award

Moving from Montreal to Washington in 2005, the Nationals had come close before but never reached the World Series. In their first appearance, they made good, despite taking seven games to do so.

The last time a team based in the nation's capitol won a World Series was 1924, when the Washington Senators defeated John McGraw's New York Giants, four games to three.

Stephen Strasburg, who won two games in the series, was awarded Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors.

And so, another baseball season ends. After all the balls and strikes, hits, runs, errors, balks, homers and strikeouts, the final two teams battled through seven games, eventually deciding the champion by that slim a margin. Kudos to the Houston Astros, who led the majors with 107 wins, but the trophy goes to the Nationals, the team that never gave up, never quit, and eventually earned the game's ultimate reward.

Baseball takes a break for the winter, but it returns on February 22, when these same two teams - who share a practice facility in West Palm Beach, Florida - play an exhibition game.

Until then, rest up and get ready. The boys of summer will be back before you know it.

World Series Game Six: Stephen Strasburg, Anthony Rendon Lead Nationals to Game Six Victory

Players of the Day for Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Strasburg: 8 1/3 IP, 2R, 7K

World Series, Game 6

Washington Nationals 7 Houston Astros 2

There will be a game seven.

Stephen Strasburg, who has been nothing short of brilliant throughout the regular season, playoffs and World Series, allowed two runs in the first inning, but shut down the Astros over the next seven innings en route to a 7-2 victory by the visiting Nationals, the sixth straight game in which the visitors have emerged victorious.

After being told in the dugout by teammates that he may have been tipping off his pitches with his gloved hand, Strasberg changed his delivery slightly and the results spoke loudly. He set down the Astros in order in the second and third innings, issued two walks in the fourth but didn't give up another hit until Josh Reddick singled in the fifth, followed by George Springer's double that left men on second and third with one out.

Strasburg struck out Jose Altuve and induced a pop out from Michael Brantley to end the threat. After Alex Bregman reached on a single to open the sixth, Strasburg was untouched, retiring the next ten batters in order before giving way to Sean Doolittle with one gone in the Astros' ninth. Strasburg threw 104 pitches and struck out seven.

Rendon: 5 RBI in Game 6

While Strasburg dealt hitless offerings to the assembled Astros, his counterpart, Justin Verlander, was having the same problems that plagued him in his five previous World Series losses. Getting behind on batters able to identify hittable pitches on positive counts led to a run in the first when Anthony Rendon drove in Trea Turner from third and solo homers by Adam Eaton and Juan Soto in the fifth. With the Nationals up, 3-2, Verlander was done after five innings, eventually handed his sixth World Series loss without a win as the Nationals piled on in the late innings.

Strasburg is 5-0 with a 1.98 ERA this post-season and 2-0 in the World Series, picking up the win in games two and six.

Anthony Rendon was an unstoppable force down the stretch, socking a two-run homer in the seventh and a two-run double in the ninth, finishing with five of Washington's seven RBIs.

Washington winning their third game at Houston means that home field advantage has, for the most part, been eliminated from the 2019 World Series. No home team has won a single game.

Game seven is Wednesday night, at Houston, with Zack Greinke on the mound for the Astros and Max Scherzer starting for the Nationals. Game time is 8:07 pm ET.

World Series Game Five: Houston Storms to 3-2 Series Edge Behind Gerrit Cole's Seven Innings

Players of the Day for Sunday, October 27, 2019

World Series, Game 5

Cole fans 9 in Gave Five

Houston Astros 7 Washington Nationals 1

Bouncing back from his first loss since May 22, Gerrit Cole worked seven powerful innings to earn the win in game five of the World Series, as the Astros won their third straight over the Nationals, 7-1.

In game one, Cole took the loss, allowing five runs on eight hits and a walk as the Nationals won, 5-4. It was a different result for game five, as Cole dominated, striking out nine while allowing three hits. Washington didn't score until the seventh inning, when Juan Soto launched a home run to center with one out.

Cole had command of all his pitches, throwing 71 of 110 for strikes. After escaping a one-out, first and third situation in the second inning via a double play, Cole did not allow a Washington hit until Soto's seventh inning homer. Cole put down the Nationals in order in the first, third, fifth and sixth innings.

Cole was 20-5 during the regular season and is 4-1 in the 2019 post-season with a 1.72 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 36 2/3 innings.

Houston's offense was powered by home runs. Yordan Alvarez, who was 3-for-3 on the night, started the long-ball barrage with a two-run liner to center in the second inning off Washington starter, Joe Ross. Carlos Correa followed with the second two-run belt off Ross with a blast to right in the fourth.

After Yuri Guriel knocked in George Springer from third with a single in the eighth, Springer whacked the third two-run rip for Houston in the ninth, completing the scoring.

Houston, after losing games one and two at home, has responded with three straight wins at Nationals Park, outscoring the home team in those three games, 19-1, and has rebounded to a 3-2 lead in the series.

When play resumes Tuesday night in Houston (8:07 pm ET), the Astros will be looking to win their second World Series in three years; the Nationals will be facing elimination or forcing a game seven, also, if necessary, at Houston.

Justin Verlander is expected to take the mound for the Astros in game six. The Nationals will start Stephen Strasberg.

World Series Game Four: Alex Bregman's Grand Slam Evens Series for Astros

Player of the Day for Saturday, October 26, 2019

World Series, Game Four

Bregman: Grand Slam, 5RBI

Houston Astros 8 Washington Nationals 1

Already up by a 4-1 score, Houston's Alex Bregman removed all doubt with his seventh-inning grand slam, sending Houston to an 8-1 win in game four of the 2019 World Series.

Bregman, who was 1-for-13 in the previous three games, took a low inside fastball from Washington reliever, Fernando Rodney, and deposited it in the left field stands, just inside the foul pole. Coming on in relief of starter Patrick Corbin, Washington hurler, Tanner Rainey, had put two aboard in the inning on back-to-back walks to Kyle Tucker and George Springer. After getting Jose Altuve to fly out, on came Rodney, who immediately loaded the bases by giving up a single to red-hot Michael Brantley.

Bregman took a called first strike from Rodney on his first pitch, an inside changeup, but didn't miss the second offering. In the first inning, Bregman knocked in Houston's first run, sending Altuve home with a single to left center. He finished 3-for-5, with five RBI, knocking a two out single in the eighth, but was left stranded.

Houston benefitted from a strong pitching performance from starter, Jose Urquidy, who threw five shutout innings, allowing two hits, no walks, fanning four. After a Yan Gomes double to lead off the third inning, Urquidy put down the next nine batters in order. He was relieved to open the sixth and picked up the win.

The five hurlers who followed Urquidy breezed through the Nationals over the final four frames.

With the victory, Houston has tied the series at two games apiece. Neither team has been able to assert home field advantage. Visitors have won all four games.

Game five is Sunday, 8:07 pm ET at Washington's Nationals Park. After a day off Monday, the series returns to Houston for game six, and, if necessary, game seven.

World Series: Houston Takes Game Three Behind Jose Altuve, Michael Brantley

Players of the Day for Friday, October 25, 2019

World Series, Game 3

Houston Astros 4 Washington Nationals 1

Brantley: 2-4, 2 RBI

Houston displayed some teamwork on Friday night, taking game three of the World Series, 4-1, as Jose Altuve and Michael Brantley teamed up to produce two of Houston's runs.

Altuve: 2-5, 2 doubles, 2R

In the third inning, Altuve doubled down the left field line and took third base as Washington left fielder, Juan Soto, mishandled the ball in the corner. The next batter, Brantley, singled off of the Nationals' starter, Anibal Sanchez, sending Altuve to the plate for a 2-0 Houston lead.

In the fifth inning, the duo struck again, Altuve lacing a double to left and scoring on Brantley's single to right field.

Houston starter, Zack Greinke, allowed seven hits, but limited the Nationals to a lone fourth inning run. Five relievers followed, culminating in Roberto Osuna, who picked up the save by pitching the ninth.

Houston's win got them back in the swing of things after dropping the first two games at home. The Nationals lead, two games to one, with game four scheduled for an 8:07 pm ET start on Saturday. Sunday's game five will also begin at 8:07 pm ET at Nationals Park in Washington, DC.

World Series Game Two: Stephen Strasburg, Asdrubal Cabrera Power Nationals' 12-3 Rout of Astros

Players of the Day for Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Cabrera: 2-for-5, 3 RBI

2019 World Series - Game 2

Washington Nationals 12 Houston Astros 3

A wild card entrant into the post-season, the Washington Nationals took a commanding, two game lead over the Houston Astros with a 12-3 rout in game two of the World Series.

Washington won for the second straight night at Houston's Minute Maid Park, wiping out home field advantage, as the series shifts to Washington for games three, four, and, if necessary, five.

Both teams score a pair of runs in the first inning, Washington's coming on a double to left by Anthony Rendon. Houston struck back with a two-run homer by Alex Bregman.

The score continued knotted until the decisive seventh inning, when the Nationals sent Houston starter, Justin Verlander, to the showers when he allowed a Kurt Suzuki solo homer and a walk to Victor Robles without retiring a batter.

Strasburg wins Game 2

Washington was just getting warmed up, however, as they sent eight more men to the plate in the frame, scoring six runs, highlighted by Asdrubal Cabrera's two out single that plated two runs. Adam Eaton added two more in the seventh with a two run blast to right, and Cabrera capped his night with another RBI single.

Michael Taylor finished Washington's scoring with a solo home run in the top of the ninth. Martin Maldonado socked a solo shot for the Astros in the bottom of the ninth for Houston's only run since the first inning.

Stephen Strasburg picked up the win for the Nationals, going six innings and allowing only the two first inning runs. He gave up seven hits, walked one, and fanned seven. Having a fantastic post-season, Strasburg is 4-0 with a 1.93 ERA. In 28 innings pitched, the 31-year-old has struck out 40 batters. Over the course of the regular season, Strasburg was 18-6 with a 3.32 ERA and is a leading candidate for NL MVP.

With two games in hand, the Nationals and Astros head to the nation's capitol for game three, Friday, 8:07 pm ET.

World Series: Juan Soto Stars As Nationals Steal Game One In Houston

Players of the Day for Tuesday, October 22, 2019

World Series Game 1

Soto drives Nats to win

Washington Nationals 5 Houston Astros 4

Left fielder Juan Soto came up big for the Nationals, taking game one of the 2019 World Series in Houston, 5-4.

The Astros jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but solo homers by Ryan Zimmerman in the third and Soto in the fourth tied the game.

After Adam Eaton singled in a run in the fifth, Soto followed with a double that plated two more. The Nationals' three-run fifth would prove to be the difference.

George Springer got the Astros as close as they would get with a seventh inning solo shot of his own, and an RBI double in the eighth, but Sean Doolittle, who got the final out in the eighth, pitched a perfect ninth to seal the victory and put Washington in the driver's seat with a one game to none edge.

Soto, a 20-year-old from the Dominican Republic, had an excellent regular season, batting .282 with 34 home runs and 110 RBI. During the playoffs he's averaging .286 with three homers and 10 RBI.

Game two of the series is Wednesday, 8:07 pm ET, at Houston's Minute Maid Park.

Jose Altuve Sends Astros Back to World Series with Walk-Off Homer, Defeating Yankees

Players of the Day for Saturday, October 19, 2019

American League

Altuve: ALCS MVP

Houston Astros 6 New York Yankees 4

After a year's absence, Houston is heading back to the World Series.

With two down in the bottom of the ninth, Jose Altuve launched a home run over center field, snapping a 4-4 tie for the walk-off win.

George Springer was aboard for the ride, having worked out a walk from Aroldis Chapman ahead of Altuve's at-bat.

Chapman, who had just earned his first save in Friday's 4-1 Yankee win, was saddled with the loss.

Altuve, the 2017 AL MVP, was at his best in game six, doubling and scoring the Astros' first run on Yuri Guriel's three-run, first inning homer. Opening the sixth inning with a walk, Altuve went to third on Michael Branley's single and scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Alex Bregman.

Houston maintained the lead until New York tied it in the top of the ninth on DJ LeMaheiu's two-run homer, but the Yankee's hopes came crashing down in the bottom of the frame.

Altuve was 3-for-4 on the night, with three runs and two RBI. For the series, he batted .348 (8-for-23) with two home runs, three RBI and six runs, earning AL Championship Series MVP.

Having achieved the best regular season record in the majors, Houston will have home field advantage for the World Series against the Washington Nationals. The Nationals earned their spot in the fall classic by sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS. Games one and two will be in Houston, with games three, four, and five (in needed) in Washington. If the series is extended, games six and seven will be played back in Houston.

The series begins Tuesday, October 22, at 8:08 pm ET. All games will be televised nationally by Fox.

Yankees Get One Back as Aaron Hicks, James Paxton Stymie Astros in Game Five

Players of the Day for Friday, October 18, 2019

American League

Paxton: 6IP, 4H, 1ER, 9K

New York Yankees 4 Houston Astros 1

After Houston pushed across a run in the top of the first, Justin Verlander ran into immediate trouble in game five of the AL Championship Series, allowing a leadoff home run to DJ LeMaheiu, followed by a three-run blast off the bat of Aaron Hicks in the bottom of the inning.

Hicks belts 3-run homer

Those four runs were more than enough for Yankee starting pitcher, James Paxton, who shut down the Astros over the next five innings, keeping them from scoring again. Paxton worked six solid frames, giving up four hits and four walks, striking out nine. After 112 pitches, Paxton hit the bench, Tommy Kahnle, Zack Britton, and Aroldis Chapman finished up, Chapman firing a hitless ninth inning for his first save of the series.

Paxton was 15-6 with a 3.82 ERA during the regular season. Friday's victory was his first of the post-season. In just 221 regular season at-bats, Hicks batted .235 with 12 home runs and 36 RBI in a season shortened by injuries.

With five games on the books, Houston still leads, three games to two, with game six slated for an 8:08 start on Saturday night at Yankee stadium.

The winner of the AL pennant will face the Washington Nationals, champions of the National League, in the 2019 World Series.

ALCS: George Springer, Carlos Correa Lead Astros to 8-3 Game Four Win over Yankees

Players of the Day for Thursday, October 17, 2019

American League

Houston Astros 8 New York Yankees 3

Carlos Correa

George Springer and Carlos Correa each knocked three-run homers and that was enough to squash the Yankees in game four of the AL Championship Series.

George Springer

Springer unloaded off Yankee starter, Masahiro Tanaka in the third. Correa's three-run bomb was launched off reliever Chad Green. It was Correa's second homer of the series; Springer's was his first.

The result was the Astros with a 3-1 edge in the series, leaving the Yankees on the verge of elimination and the Astros poised to head to their second World Series in the past three years. Houston was the best team in baseball in 2017, defeating the LA Dodgers, four games to three.

The Washington Nationals await the winner of the AL series after sweeping the Cardinals four straight in the NLCS.

Game five is Friday at Yankee Stadium, 7:08 pm ET.

NLCS: Trea Turner Sets Up Nationals Sweep of Cardinals; ALCS: Astros Take 2-1 Lead over Yankees

Players of the Day for Tuesday, October 15, 2017

American League

Houston Astros 4 New York Yankees 1

Behind Gerrit Cole's seven shutout innings, Houston took a two games to one advantage in the AL Championship Series, dumping the Yankees in game three, 4-1.

The leading candidate for the AL Cy Young award, Cole allowed four hits, walked five, and struck out seven. Staked to a 2-0 lead by Jose Altuve's home run on the first pitch of the game and Josh Reddick's second inning solo shot, Cole was able to relax and employ his entire repertoire to dominate the Yankees from the mound.

Game four is slated for Wednesday, 8:08 pm ET. Game five is Thursday, with the same start time.

National League

Washington Nationals 7 St. Louis Cardinals 4

Turner set the Nats' table

For the first time since 1933, a world series will be played in Washington, DC.

86 years ago, the American League's Washington Senators played the New York Giants in the fall classic, losing four games to one. This season's National League entrant, the Washington Nationals, are hoping for a better result after ousting the St. Louis Cardinals in four straight.

The final touches to complete the sweep actually occurred early in game four. In Washington's first at-bat, Trea Turner led off with a single, moved to third on an Adam Eaton double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Anthony Rendon.

A 1-0 lead for National's starter, Patrick Corbin, was a good start, but Washington was just getting going, eventually sending 10 men to the plate and scoring seven first inning runs, capped by Turner's second single of the frame, which plated a pair.

Dakota Hudson, the St. Louis starter, managed to retire just one batter before Adam Wainwright came on as a replacement with five runs already plated. Hudson was saddled with four earned runs (three were unearned) and the loss.

The Nationals did not score again in the game, but it was more than enough as the Cardinals were only able to muster a run in the fourth and three in the fifth inning. For the series, the Cardinals only scored six runs.

Champion of the National League for the first time in franchise history, the Nationals await the winner from the American League. Whether it's Houston or New York, the 2019 World Series will start at the home of the AL team.

NLCS: Washington Looking For Series Sweep After Howie Kendrick Leads 8-1 Romp

Players of the Day for Monday, October 14, 2019

American League

There were no games in the American League on Monday. The ALCS resumes on Tuesday when the New York Yankees host the Houston Astros in game three of their best of seven series at 4:08 pm ET. The series is tied at one game apiece.

Kendrick 3-for-4, 2R, 3RBI

National League

Washington Nationals 8 St. Louis Cardinals 1

Washington will be looking for the series sweep when they play game four of the NL Championship Series on Tuesday after blowing out the Cardinals in game three. While Stephen Strasburg was scattering seven hits over seven innings, Howie Kendrick led the Nationals' offense with three doubles, two runs and three RBI.

Kendrick's first two-bagger came in the third, after Washington had already scored a pair of runs. His opposite field gash went to the wall in right-center field driving in two more runs for a 4-0 lead.

In the fifth, Kendrick doubled again, driving in Anthony Rendon. He later scored on Ryan Zimmerman's double. Kendrick doubled again in the seventh, coming home on a single by Zimmerman.

Kendrick is batting .417 over the three games of the series. In nine post-season games, the 36-year-old veteran has 11 hits in 35 at-bats (.314) with one home run and nine RBI.

The Cardinals managed only to score an unearned run in their half of the seventh inning. Over the first three games of the series, the Cardinals have scored a mere two runs.

Washington's pitching has been nothing short of sensational, holding the Cardinals to a combined batting average of .121 (11 for 91). Through three games, the Nationals' ERA is 0.67.

Game four is at Nationals Park in Washington, DC, Tuesday, 8:05 pm ET. Washington leads, three games to none.

ALCS: Carlos Correa Blasts Walk-Off 11th-Inning Homer As Houston Evens Series With Yankees

Players of the Day for Sunday, October 13, 2019

Correa: Walk-Off HR

American League

Houston Astros 3 New York Yankees 2, 11 innings

After dropping the opening game of the ALCS at home, the Astros needed a big effort and they got it from shortstop Carlos Correa.

Correa got Houston on the board in the second inning, belting a double that plated Alex Bregman with the game's first score.

Aaron Judge socked a two-run homer for the Yankees in the fourth, countered by George Springer's solo mash in the fifth, tying the game at two-all. Correa was also brilliant in the field, fielding a deflected ground ball and throwing out DJ LeMaheiu at the plate in the top of the sixth.

The game remained tied through the ninth and into extra innings, but Correa ended it with a leadoff homer in the 11th that sailed into the right field stands, evening the series at a game apiece.

Monday is a travel day for the teams, back to New York for games three, four, and five. Game three is Tuesday at 4:08 pm ET.

National League

There were no National League games on Sunday. The NLCS resumes Monday, as Washington hosts St. Louis in game three at 8:05 pm ET. The Nationals lead the series, two games to none.

ALCS: Yankees Grab Game One Behind Gleybar Torres; NLCS: Nationals Take 2-0 Lead Over Cardinals

Apologies in advance for the brevity of this reporting. Half of the internet seems to be down (possibly due to rolling blackouts in California?) and access is limited and slow.

Players of the Day for Saturday, October 12, 2019

American League

Torres: 3-for-5, HR 5 RBI

New York Yankees 7 Houston Astros 1

Opening the AL Championship Series in Houston, the New York Yankees took the initiative with a 7-0 whitewash of the Astros, on a big night for second baseman Gleyber Torres.

Torres got the Yankees on the board first with a double in the fourth inning, plating DJ LeMaheiu. In the sixth, Torres homered to put New York ahead 2-0. Giancarlo Stanton added a solo shot in the same inning.

In the seventh, Torres' bases-loaded single brought in two more runs as the Yankees pulled away. Torres completed the scoring with a ground out to short that brought home LeMaheiu from third base.

Yankee starter, Masahiro Tanaka held the Astros scoreless though the first six innings, allowing one hit and a walk, striking out four. Three New York relievers finished up, each throwing a scoreless inning.

Game two is Sunday at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Game time is

National League

Washington Nationals 3 St. Louis Cardinals 1

Washington took a two games to one edge in the NLCS, taking down St. Louis 2-0 on Friday night and taking the second of the Cardinals' home games by a 3-1 score on Saturday.

The series heads to Washington for the next three games, beginning with game three on Monday. Game four is Tuesday and game five, if needed, is Wednesday.