NLDS: Russell Martin, Dodgers Power Past Nationals; Braves Rally Over Cardinals

Players of the Day for Sunday, October 6, 2019

National League

Martin: 2-for-4, HR 4 RBI

LA Dodgers 10 Washington Nationals 4

Taking a two games to one lead in their divisional series, the LA Dodgers let their bats do the talking in game three, banging out 14 hits against six beleaguered Nationals' hurlers.

On a team loaded with youthful stars, it was 36-year-old Russell Martin who did much of the damage for the Dodgers. Going 2-for-4 with four RBI, Martin doubled in a pair of runs and came around to score in the sixth inning, putting the Dodgers up 3-2, and it was off to the races after that. LA scored seven runs in the frame.

Martin finished off the Nationals with a two-run homer in the top of the ninth. Max Muncy and Justin Turner also homered for the Dodgers.

Game four is Monday, 6:40 pm ET.

---

Atlanta Braves 3 St. Louis Cardinals 1

Adam Wainwright tossed 7 2/3 scoreless innings and Andrew Miller got the Cardinals out of a bases loaded jam in the eighth inning, but the Braves scored three runs in the top of the ninth off closer Carlos Martinez, erasing St. Louis' 1-0 lead.

Adam Duval had the key hit, singling home two runs after the Braves had tied the score.

Atlanta takes a 2-1 lead in the series, which resumes Monday at 3:07 pm ET.

American League

There were no American League games on Sunday. Minnesota hosts the Yankees, and Tampa Bay hosts Houston on Monday. New York leads their series two games to one, as does Houston. Game three in Tampa starts at 1:07 pm ET; the Yankees and Twins take the field in Minnesota at 8:40 pm ET

NLDS: Walker Buehler, Max Muncy Lead Dodgers Past Nationals

Players of the Day for Thursday, October 3, 2019

National League

Buehler: 1 hit over 6 innings

While Walker Buehler was frustrating Washington hitters, Max Muncy was busy building a lead for his starter as the Dodgers showed their NL East rivals what they were up against in a 6-0 game one victory.

Buehler, who was 14-4 over the course of the regular season, gave up just one hit over six innings: a second inning leadoff single by Juan Soto. Buehler walked three and struck out eight before leaving the mound after six full innings with a 2-0 lead.

Muncy went 2-for-3 with three RBI. In the first inning, he was credited with an RBI on his bases-loaded walk off Washington starter, Patrick Corbin. It was Corbin's fourth walk of the inning. LA scored their first run without benefit of a hit.

Muncy: 2-for-3, 3 RBI

In the fifth, Muncy reached on an error by first baseman, Howie Kendrick, scoring Cody Bellinger from third. In the seventh, Muncy added to the lead with a bases-loaded, two-run, two out single, giving the Dodgers a 4-0 lead.

The Dodgers used three relievers over the final three innings, holding the Nationals to one hit.

Game two of the series is Friday, 9:37 pm ET.

In the other NL divisional series, the St.Louis Cardinals rallied and held on for a 7-6 win over the Atlanta Braves, taking a 1-0 lead. Trailing, 3-1, St. Louis scored two in the eighth and three in the ninth for a seemingly safe, 7-3 advantage. Atlanta tallied three in the bottom of the ninth on homers by Ronald Acuna Jr. and Freddie Freeman before finally surrendering.

Game two is Friday, 4:37 pm ET in Atlanta.

American League

There were no American League games on Thursday. Both divisional series begin Friday. Tampa Bay is at Houston (2:05 pm ET), and Minnesota is at New York (7:07 pm ET).

Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers Ready for Playoffs; Matt Chapman Gets A's Closer to wild Card

Players of the Day for Thursday, September 26, 2019

American League

Chapman belts 2-run HR

Game by game, little by little, the Oakland A's continue to charge toward the playoffs.

On Thursday, the A's took a 3-1 win at Seattle, holding a one-game lead over Tampa Bay for the first wild card.

Matt Chapoman's second inning, two-run homer off Felix Harnandez was all the A's needed in support of Sean Manaea's six innings of four hit ball. Manaea allowed one run, before the Oakland bullpen took over, holding the Mariners hitless over the final three innings.

Chapman's home run was his 36th. He's driven in 91 runs this season.

Oakland's win, and Cleveland's 8-0 loss to the White Sox, left the A's one win short of clinching a playoff spot. The A's will close out the regular season this weekend, playing three more games in Seattle, while the Rays finish with three in Toronto and the Indians have three in Washington against the Nationals.

National League

Kershaw: 6 scoreless

Clayton Kershaw is ready for October baseball.

In a final tuneup in preparation for the playoffs, the Dodgers' ace shut out the Padres Thursday night on two hits over six innings, improving to 16-5 with a 1-0 win at San Diego. Kershaw threw just 90 pitches for the win, striking out seven with one walk.

The Dodgers have already locked up home field for the duration of their National League playoff run.

In other games that mattered, the Washington Nationals topped the Phillies for the fifth straight time, maintaining their one-game lead over Milwaukee in the wild card race. The Brewers won again, defeating the Reds in Cincinnati, 5-3.

Milwaukee remains alive for the Central division crown. They are one game behind St. Louis in the division race.

The Brewers close out their season with three games at Colorado. St. Louis hosts three with the Cubs, while the Nationals finish up at home, hosting three games with the Cleveland Indians.

George Springer's 3 HRs Bring AL West Crown to Houston; Cody Bellinger Slams Rockies in Dodger Win

Players of the Day for Sunday, September 22, 2019

American League

Springer: 3 HR, 4 RBI

George Springer cracked a trio of home runs, leading the Houston Astros to a 13-5 victory over the LA Angels, securing the AL West pennant for the third consecutive season.

Springer led off the bottom half of the first inning with a solo homer, spanked a two-run shot in the second, and belted another solo shot in the fourth, giving him 38 homers on the year. Springer's four RBI upped his total to 94.

The Astros cruised to the win, their 102nd against 54 losses, clinching the division in their final home game of the regular season. They also hold a 1/2-game edge on the Yankees for the best record in the league and home field advantage through the playoffs.

Houston will finish on the road, with two games in Seattle and four in Anaheim against the Angels.

The Al wild card race tightened up, as Oakland and Tampa Bay both lost, as Cleveland downed the Phillies, 10-1. The A's hold a two-game edge on both the Rays and Indians. All three have six games left in the regular season.

National League

Bellinger: Grand Slam

With a 7-4 win over the visiting Rockies, the LA Dodgers won their 100th game of the season and need just two more wins - or Atlanta losses - to secure home field for the duration of their playoff run.

After starting pitcher, Hyun-Jin Ryu, tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth with a solo shot, the Dodgers loaded the bases for slugger Cody Bellinger, who promptly unloaded them with a grand slam, his 46th home run of the season.

Bellinger is third in home runs league-wide, trailing the Mets' Pete Alonso (50) and the Reds' Eugenio Suarez (48). His 114 RBI ranks seventh among NL hitters.

In other NL happenings, the St. Louis Cardinals secured a post-season berth after sweeping the Cubs in a four-game series in Chicago, winning Sunday's finale, 3-2. By sweeping the Cubs, the Cardinals eliminated Chicago from the NL Central race, which is now down to St. Louis and Milwaukee. The Cardinals lead the Brewers by three games with six games remaining.

Washington dropped a 5-3 decision at Miami, leaving them tied with the Brewers for the top wild card spot. The Cubs are four games back. The Phillies, Mets, and Diamondbacks are nearing elimination.

Dodgers Clinch NL West Behind Walker Buehler, Corey Seager; A's Rip Astros, 21-7, Sean Murphy, Matt Olson 2HR Each

Players of the Day for Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Olson: 2 HR, 4 RBI

American League

After being hammered, 15-0, in the opener of their four-game series at Houston, the Oakland A's did some mashing of their own, socking six homers in a 21-7 payback over the Astros in game two.

Ripping a total of 25 hits, the A's scored in every inning except the seventh and eighth, putting up seven in the first and six more in the fourth.

Murphy: 2 HR, 4 RBI

Sean Murphy and Matt Olson each sent two into the stands. After singling in a run in the opening frame, Murphy launched a two-run job in the fourth and a solo shot in the sixth. Olson's homers - his 30th and 31st - were each of the two-run variety, one each in the third and fourth innings.

Murphy has been in the majors only enough to amass 14 at-bats, but he has three homers to his credit and six RBI with a .357 batting average.

Trailing the Astros now by 9 1/2 games, the A's will try to go one up on Houston in the series on Wednesday. Game time at Minute Maid Park is 8:10 pm ET.

National League

Buehler: 7IP, 4H, 0ER, 11K

Walker Buehler kept the Orioles scoreless over seven innings and Corey Seager knocked two balls out of Camden Yards as the LA Dodgers defeated Baltimore, 7-3, clinching the NL West in the unlikeliest of locations.

Buehler (13-3, 3.14), the second year phenom, held the O's to four hits, notching his third win in as many starts. He fanned 11, walked none, and no Baltimore base runner got past second. Buehler struck out the side in the third inning and upped his overall total to 201, becoming the eighth National League hurler to record 200 or more strikeouts this season. Jacob deGrom leads the league with 231.

Seager: 2 HR, 5 RBI

Seager's two homers resulted in five early runs. The Dodger shortstop belted a three-run shot in the first, and followed up with a two-run dinger in the third inning. He has 16 on the year to go with 74 RBI. Seager has three homers in his last two games.

The result landed the Dodgers the NL West crown, with an 18 1/2 game lead on second place Arizona. The September 10 division clinch was the earliest of any team in the majors since the 1998 Yankees nabbed the AL East on September 9. The Indians clinched the AL Central on September 8, 1995, the first year of the wild card.

Elsewhere, the six teams vying for the two wild card spots stack up this way after Tuesday's games:

Washington +2 1/2
Chicago ---
Milwaukee -1
Philadelphia -2
Arizona -2 1/2
New York Mets -3

Clayton Kershaw Near Perfect in 9-1 Dodger Win; James McCann Slam Lifts White Sox Over Astros

Players of the Day for Wednesday, August 14, 2019

American League

McCann: Grand Slam

Along the way to what should be their fourth straight NL West title, the Houston Astros are likely to find a few bumps in the road, such as what happened late in the game on Thursday in a 13-9 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

With the score knotted at nine and the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth, James McCann launched a drive off an 0-2 pitch that rose and carried out over the fence and into the bullpen in left field.

McCann's grand slam was more than enough to secure the win for the home-standing Sox. Alex Colome slammed the door shut on the Astros in the ninth with a 1-2-3 inning.

McCann also singled and scored in the third inning, going 2-for-4 with two runs and four RBI.

The White Sox took two of three in the series against Houston, who lost a game on their lead over Oakland in the division. The Astros lead the West by 9 1/2, and open a four-game series in Oakland on Thursday.

The road to the playoffs may just get a little bumpier.

National League

Kershaw: 7IP, 2H, 0ER, 10K

For the rest of the National League and teams looking forward to the playoffs, the good news is that Dodgers' ace, Clayton Kershaw, doesn't pitch every day.

The bad news is that when he does, he's sharp as a razor and nearly impossible to defeat.

In Wednesday's 9-1 win at Miami, Kershaw shut down the Marlins on two hits over seven innings without allowing a run.

That wasn't the half of it. Kershaw fanned the first seven batters he faced, didn't allow a hit until the fourth inning, issued no walks and no Marlin made it safely past first base. He finished with 10 strikeouts. It was total domination, start to finish, by the 31-year-old, three-time Cy Young award winner (2011, 2013, 2014).

Kershaw (12-2, 2,41) hasn't lost a decision since June 29. In seven starts since then, he's 5-0, with a 1.40 ERA and 59 strikeouts over 45 innings.

LA has won four straight and nine of their last ten games. They lead the NL West division by a stunning 19 1/2 games. Ostensibly, Kershaw will be watching from the bullpen on Thursday when they wrap up their three-game series in Miami. Game time is 3:05 pm ET.

Shane Bieber Goes Distance As Indians Keep Pace; Dodgers Rally Past Padres On Max Muncy's 4-for-5 Effort

Players of the Day for Sunday, August 4, 2019

American League

Bieber: Complete game W

The best race in the AL is clearly in the Central division, where the Minnesota Twins are clinging to a three-game lead over the streaking Cleveland Indians.

Over the weekend, the two front-runners each swept their series on home turf. The Twins took three from Kansas City while the Indians were busy taking down the visiting Angles, winning by scores of 7-3, 7-2, and Sunday, 6-2.

It's obvious that the Indians are getting timely hitting and quality pitching. Sunday's conquest was engineered from the mound by Shane Bieber, who went the distance, allowing two runs on five hits, with no walks and eight strikeouts.

Bieber improved to 11-4, and has been one of the top throwers in the league since before the all-star break. In his last seven starts, the 24-year-old righty is 5-1 with a 2.38 ERA, allowing 34 hits and 14 earned runs in 53 innings. During that span he's averaging more than seven innings per start and is a big reason the Indians are well paving a way to the post-season, whether they catch the Twins or not.

Cleveland leads the wild card race by two games over Tampa Bay and three over the Oakland A's.

Next up for the Indians are three games with the Rangers, starting Monday, after which they head to Minnesota for a crucial four-game series with the Twins, beginning Thursday.

National League

Muncy: 4-5, HR, 3R, 3RBI

Why are the Dodgers running away with the NL West?

Cody Bellinger? Clayton Kershaw?

How about Max Muncy?

Muncy's 4-for-5 effort in Sunday's comeback 11-10 win over the Padres was further evidence that he has been the unsung hero of 2019 for Los Angeles.

Not only did Muncy sock his 27th home run of the season with a second inning solo shot that got the Dodgers on the board, but he added a pair of doubles and a single, scored three times, drove in three runs, the last two in the bottom of the ninth, when he doubled home the game-tying and winning runs.

The Dodgers rallied from deficits of 6-3 and 10-7 to take the third of their four-game home series against San Diego, sending the Padres reeling into last place in the division, 21 1/2 games off the pace.

The scrappy 28-year-old infielder is on track to better his outstanding 2018 campaign in which he batted .263 with 35 home runs and 79 RBI. This season, he's batting .265 with 27 long balls and 74 ribbies and the Dodgers are looking to clinch the division by mid-September, if not sooner.

LA is clearly the class of the National League. Their 74-40 record is the best in the majors and far ahead of the pack in the NL. Atlanta has the second-best mark, at 66-47.

With San Diego put away, the Dodgers host St. Louis for three games beginning Monday at 7:10 pm PT.

Dodger Rookie Will Smith Rips Nats With 6 RBI; Indians Top Royals, 9-1, on Jason Kipnis Grand Slam

Players of the Day for Saturday, July 27, 2017

American League

Kipnis: Grand Slam

Oscar Mercado went 4-for-5, Jose Ramirez socked his 100th career home run, Jason Kipnis whacked a first-inning grand slam and Mike Clevinger (5-2) scattered eight hits over seven innings as the Indians routed the Royals, 9-1, in Kansas City Saturday.

The Kipnis slam off Royals' starter, Glenn Sparkman, ignited Cleveland's offense. Following the four runs in the first and one in the second, Ramirez sent Sparkman to the showers in the fifth with a three-run blast.

Cleveland's steady second baseman, Kipnis is batting .248 with eight home runs and 42 RBI in 83 game.

Coupled with Minnesota's 5-1 loss to the White Sox in Chicago, the Indians closed to within one game of the Twins, who hold a tenuous lead in the AL Central.

The Indians have been red hot since the all-star break. They dropped a pair of home games to Minnesota on July 12 and 13, but have gone 12-2 since, currently riding a four-game winning streak.

Cleveland will be looking to sweep the Royals in game four of their series, Sunday, at 2:15 pm ET. An Indians win and a Minnesota loss would produce a tie atop the Central division.

National League

Smith: 6 RBI Rookie

With a double-digit lead in the NL West, the Dodgers appear to be on cruise control for their seventh straight divisional title. LA has taken the conference crown every year since 2013. The last time the Dodgers missed the playoffs was 2012, when they finished with a record of 86-76, eight games behind the Giants.

So, what exactly do the Dodgers need, given the best record in the majors (69-37) their 15 1/2-game bulge over Arizona and San Francisco?

Another slugger might fill the bill, particularly a raw rookie like Will Smith, who drove in six runs in Saturday's 9-3 beatdown of the Washington Nationals with a home run, single, double and a sac fly.

Smith, who was called up from Oklahoma City for brief stints in May and June, has only 29 at-bats with the Dodgers, but, he's made the most of them, batting .345 with four homers and 12 RBI.

Those impressive numbers should not come as a surprise. The 24-year-old has been tearing up the Pacific Coast League this season, with 20 home runs and 54 RBI in 61 games.

In the win at Washington, Smith socked a solo shot in the third, drove in another run with a sac fly in the fourth, doubled in another run in the sixth, and put the game out of reach with a three-run double in the seventh.

A catcher by trade, Smith may be seeing more playing time as the Dodgers adjust their roster for the post-season.

Sunday will conclude the three-game series in the nation's capitol, with LA sending out Walker Buehler (9-1, 3.23) against Stephen Strasburg (13-4, 3.37) at 1:35 pm ET. The Dodgers are seeking the sweep.

NOTES: Paul Goldschmidt tied the franchise record by homering in his sixth straight game, though it was not nearly enough, as St. Louis fell to Houston, 8-2. He shares the mark with Mark McGuire and Matt Carpenter.

Max Kepler Leads Twins In Walk-Off Win Over A's; Walker Buehler Blanks Marlins in 9-0 Dodger Victory

Players of the Day for Sunday, July 21, 2019

American League

Kepler: Game-winner

With the Cleveland Indians bearing down upon them, the Minnesota Twins needed some magic in the final game of their four-game series with the tough Oakland A's.

They got just enough tricks from leadoff hitter Max Kepler to come away with a walk-off, 7-6, victory and a split in the series.

After doubling and scoring the game's first run in the opening frame, Kepler uncorked a three-run bomb in the second - his 24th home run of the year - to give the Twins a commanding 4-0 lead. Oakland battled back, and, by their at-bat in the bottom t=of the eighth, Minnesota found themselves down, 6-5. Oakland maintained the lead through the eighth and into the ninth, but closer Liam Hendriks could not contain the Minnesota hitters.

Luis Arraez got things started with a one-out single in the ninth, followed by Ehire Adrianza's triple to right field, tying the score. After Jason Castro struck out swinging, Kepler delivered a scratch single to left center, bringing home Adrianza with the winning run.

Kepler was 3-for-6 with four RBI and two runs. The Twins maintained their three-game lead over Cleveland, who topped Kansas City, 5-4.

Minnesota remains home to open a three-game series with the Yankees on Monday. Game time is 8:10 pm ET.

National League

9-1 Buehler: 7 scoreless

Looking very much like the team with the best record in baseball, the LA Dodgers dismantled the Miami Marlins in the finale of their three-game series, completing the sweep with a 9-0 win.

Starting pitcher, Walker Buehler, improved to 9-1 with seven innings of five-hit, shutout ball. Buehler fanned 11, didn't walk a batter and threw 71 of 94 pitches for strikes. The Marlins were flailing away at his tosses all day.

In just his second full season, Buehler has an ERA of 3.23. He's struck out 131 batters in 117 innings while issuing just 17 bases on balls.

Since the all-star break, the Dodgers have seven wins against three losses and lead the NL West by a whopping 16 games. At 67-35 on the season, they've outclassed and outpaced the rest of the league. The Braves have the league's second-best record, at 59-41. In the AL, the Yankees are 64-34; the Astros, 64-37.

With Monday off, the Dodgers host the crosstown rival Angels for two games starting Tuesday.

National League Roundup: Mets, Padres On Top; Cardinals Win Five Straight, Tie Brewers in Central

National League

Yesterday, we took a quick look at the American League, so today it's the senior circuit in view after nearly two weeks of play.

Mets Hold Slim Lead in East

With their 6-3 win at Atlanta Thursday, the Mets leapfrogged over the idle Phillies into first place in what appears to be baseball's most contentious division. The only team likely to be out of it by August 1 or sooner is the Miami Marlins, though with the Braves, Mets, Nats, and Phillies all flawed to some extent, that's not exactly a surety.

New York is just 1/2 game to the good over the Phillies, who did themselves loads of good in the off-season, snatching up the biggest free agent prize in Bryce Harper among other pick-ups, including All-Star infielder Jean Segura. The deal sent first baseman Carlos Santana and shortstop J.P. Crawford to Seattle.

Segura was one of the top hitters in the AL last season, notching a .304 batting average. A sure-handed fielder, Segura fills a big hole in Philadelphia at short, though he's unlikely to add much power. He hit just 10 homers last season with 63 RBI. Look for him to up his runs total of 91 last season to over 100 if he's batting at or near the top of the lineup. He's batting .304 though 11 games and has crossed the plate 10 times.

Harper is off to a decent start, with four homers and 10 RBI to go with a .314 batting average. In his new surroundings, Harper may challenge for the batting title. He hit .330 with Washington in 2015 and is in a good spot in a hitter's ball park. Last year's .249 average will be overlooked if he produces as expected.

The Mets have as good a shot as any team to take the division if they get quality starts from the rest of the rotation and score runs for Jacob deGrom. The keys are the keep Noah Snydergaard healthy, get Steven Matz though six innings and get solid innings from middle relievers Robert Gsellman, Jeurys Familia, and Seth Lugo. Closer Edwin Diaz, with five saves already in the books, appears to have his role nailed down.

Washington still may have the best rotation in the division, but will miss Harper's bat. Atlanta, last season's division winner, will be in it as long as Freddie Freeman, Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuña Jr. stay healthy. Their pitching matches up well anywhere they play.

Cards Catch Brewers With Five Straight Wins

After a 3-5 start, St. Louis has reeled off five straight wins, including Thursday's 11-7 rip over the visiting Dodgers. The Cardinals may not have much thunder in their lineup, but as long as they get good pitching, their youthful lineup seems capable of keeping them in games, especially if the old man behind the plate - 36-year-old Yadier Molina - continues to play like a future Hall of Fame inductee.

Paul DeJong, Kolten Wong, Harrison Bader, and Marcel Ozuna form the nucleus of the offense, and the pickup of Paul Goldstein from Arizona gives the Cards' long-ball potential. Goldstein is batting just .180, but he's already swatted six homers. He needs to be more consistent (and he likely will be) for the Cardinals to hang in over the long haul.

In Milwaukee, the Brewers - also at 8-5 with the Cards - will have every opportunity to defend their 2018 division title and move forward in the playoffs. With the remarkable Christian Yellich leading the charge, Milwaukee is likely to repeat, especially if the Cubs continue to flounder. At the moment, Chicago is tied with the Reds for last place at 4-8, 3 1/2 back of the Brew Crew and Cardinals.

San Diego Improved With Machado

The Padres couldn't get much worse than their 66-96 mark in 2018, so they pulled the trigger and landed Manny Machado in the off-season after Machado had bailed on the Orioles mid-season for a playoff shot with the Dodgers in 2018.

A post-season hero Machado is not. His lifetime .213 average in the playoffs and World Series included 16 games with the Dodgers, a .227 batting average, three homers and 12 RBI. Those numbers are unlikely to raise any eyebrows, save those of Machado's detractors. Over the course of a full season in San Diego, Manny is likely to be "the Man" in bordertown California.

Thus far, Manny's helped the Padres to first place in the West, their 9-5 mark a game better than LA's 8-6 record. With three homers, seven RBI and a .245 batting average, Machado is probably trying a little too hard to impress his new team and fans. If he shakes off the nerves, he's capable of 35 homers and 100 RBI for the next six years or so. He had 35 and 86 in 2015, 37 and 96 in 2016, 33 and 95 in 2017, and 37 and 107 splitting time between Baltimore and LA.

Obviously, Machado can't do everything for the Padres. He'll need help, especially from the pitching staff, which includes left-handed rookie, Nick Margevicius, who has shown promise in three starts, winning two of them, against one loss. in 16 innings, quick Nick has fanned 12 and sports an ERA of 1.69.

It's a long season, and while the Padres probably won't go worst to first, the contenders in the division are few and far between. The Giants haven't been able to figure it out for a few years and don't look very competitive in 2019. Ditto the Rockies. Arizona has a good mix of veterans and good pitching, but the Dodgers, should they play to their potential, may run away and hide in the West.

The Dodgers are just a game off the pace and that's without Clayton Kershaw, who started the season on the 10-day IL. He's slated to make his seasonal debut Friday night, agains the Brewers. LA opens a three-game series with Milwaukee and will host the Reds for three following the weekend. Cody Bellinger has been carrying the team, batting .411, with seven HRs and 19 RBI.

Other series of note this weekend are San Diego at Arizona and the Mets at Atlanta. Both series began on Thursday, with the Mets topping the Braves, 6-3, and the Padres nipping the D-Backs, 7-6.

Max Muncy's 18th-Inning Homer Lifts Dodgers Over Boston; Red Sox Lead Series, 2-1

Players of the Day for Friday, October 26, 2018

World Series Game Three: LA Dodgers 3 Boston Red Sox 2 (18 innings)

Muncy: Game-winning HR in 18th

The longest game in World Series history came down to one pitch, a 3-2 offering from Nathan Eovaldi to Max Muncy, a two-seam fast ball that Muncy deposited in the left field stands at Dodger Stadium.

It was well after midnight in Los Angeles (after 3:00 am ET) when Muncy finalized the 18-inning marathon, giving the Dodgers new life with a 3-2 win and the Red Sox up two games to one. Muncy, who scored a tying run in the 13th after Boston had taken a 2-1 lead in the top of the inning, socked his third post-season home run with no outs and the bases empty.

Eovaldi was starting his seventh inning of relief work after being called out of the bullpen by manager Alex Cora to start the 12th inning. He was the ninth Boston pitcher to go to the mound. The Dodgers also employed nine hurlers. Alex Wood worked a hitless top of the 18th for Los Angeles to receive the win.

Muncy finished the game 2-for-6 with two runs and the lone RBI from his walk-off homer. His other hit was a two-out, ground rule double in the 10th inning, but he was left stranded when Manny Machado popped out to short. Muncy had come close to ending the game in the bottom of the 15th when he lofted a fly ball down the right field line that hooked just short of the foul pole and into the stands.

The game lasted seven hours and 20 minutes, and was four innings longer than the previous record of 14, which had been done three times, according to USA Today. In 1916, Game 2, the Brooklyn Robins beat the Red Sox, 2-1. In 2005, Game 3, the Chicago White Sox beat the Houston Astros, 7-5, and in 2015, Game 1, the Kansas City Royals beat the New York Mets, 5-4.

Noteworthy numbers:

• Red Sox hitters went 7-for-57; LA batters were 11-for-61.
• There were three home runs, all solo shots: one by Boston's Jackie Bradley Jr. which tied the game in the eighth inning at 1-1, and two by the Dodgers: Joc Pederson's third inning blast, and Muncy's game-winner.
• 18 pitchers were used, nine by each side
• Red Sox hurlers threw 283 pitches, 186 for strikes, struck out 15 and issued five walks.
• Dodger pitchers threw 278 pitches, with 173 strikes. They fanned 19 and walked seven.

Game four is scheduled for 8:09 pm ET Saturday at Dodger Stadium. Eovaldi had been scheduled to start for the Red Sox, but he threw 97 pitches in relief. Left-hander Rich Hill starts for the Dodgers. The Red Sox will likely start Drew Pomeranz, who was 2-6 during the regular season.

Yasiel Puig, Cody Bellinger Power Dodgers Over Brewers In NLCS Game Seven

Players of the Day for Saturday, October 20, 2018


National League

NL Championship Series Game 7: LA Dodgers 5  Milwaukee Brewers 1

Puig: 3-for-4, 3-run HR

The Los Angeles Dodgers advanced to the World Series with a 5-1, game seven win over the Brewers in Milwaukee Saturday. Cody Bellinger socked a two-run home run in the bottom of the first and Yasiel Puig's sixth-inning, three-run homer sealed the deal for Dodger starter, rookie Walker Buehler, and five relief pitchers.

Bellinger: 2-run homer

Buehler worked 4 1/3 innings and did not get the win. That went to Ryan Madsen, the only reliever to allow a hit, for his 1 2/3 innings in the sixth and seventh. Dodger relievers allowed one hit over the final 4 2/3 innings, striking out seven. Buehler gave up six hits and the only run for the Brewers - Christian Yelich's first-inning solo shot - while fanning seven. 14 of the 27 Milwaukee outs were strikeouts.

Kenley Jansen struck out three in 1 1/3 hitless innings, and Clayton Kershaw closed out the win with a perfect ninth inning, fanning two of the three batters he faced.

The Dodgers will be off until Tuesday when they open the World Series at Fenway Park in Boston. Game one is slated for a 8:09 pm ET start at Fenway Park. Every game of the World Series will be televised exclusively on FOX. Game two is also in Boston, while games three, four, and five (if necessary) will be played in Los Angeles. Should the series extend to games six and seven, they would be back in Boston.

Jackie Bradley Jr. Homers In Boston Victory; Clayton Kershaw Dominates Brewers As Dodgers Take Game Five

Players of the Day for Wednesday, October 17, 2018

American League

AL Championship Series Game Four: Boston Red Sox 8 Houston Astros 6

Bradley Jr. does it again!

Jackie Bradley Jr. did it again. The Boston center fielder belted a two-run homer in the sixth inning, turning a 5-4 deficit into a 6-5 Boston lead that the Red Sox would never relinquish.

Bradley Jr. has become an instant superstar, reminiscent of the Reggie Jackson heroics in the 70s that earned him the name "Mr. October."

In four games against Houston in the Championship Series, Bradley is hitting only .250 (3-for-12), but his hits have been timely and game-changing. In game two, he doubled and drove in three runs. Game three's grand slam sealed Boston's win and another homer put Boston ahead in game four.

The win leaves Boston with a 3-1 lead in the series, with game five scheduled for Thursday at 8:09 pm ET in Houston. A Boston win sends the Red Sox to the World Series. A Houston victory sends the series back to Boston for game six and, if necessary, game seven.

National League

NL Championship Series Game Five: LA Dodgers 5 Milwaukee Brewers 2

Kershaw: 7IP, 3H, 1R, 9K

Clayton Kershaw was at his best, holding the Brewers to one run over seven innings, taking the Dodgers to the brink of their second straight World Series appearance with a 5-2 win over Milwaukee and a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven championship series.

On Lorenzo Cain's double with two aboard, the Brewers took a 1-0 lead in the third, but that was all they would get off Kershaw, who struck out Christian Yelich, walked Ryan Braun, and struck out Jesus Aguilar to end the bases-loaded threat. After that, he was perfect, retiring the next twelve batters in order from the fourth through seventh innings. He walked two and fanned nine.

During that stretch, the Dodgers rallied with a run in the fifth inning, two in the sixth, and two more in the bottom of the seventh. Kershaw walked in the seventh and came around to score on Justin Turner's single.

With the lead safely in hand, the Dodgers went to the bullpen, needing four relievers to hold down the Brewers. Milwaukee struck for a run in the ninth, but, with Curtis Granderson on second base, Kenley Jansen fanned Jesus Aguilar to shut down the rally and end the game.

The Dodgers find themselves one win away from the World Series as the series heads back to Milwaukee on Friday for game six and seven, if necessary, on Saturday.

Red Sox Hammer Astros, 8-2, On Jackie Bradley Jr. Grand Slam; Cody Bellinger Evens Series For Dodgers

Players of the Day for Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Bradley Jr.: Grand Slam

American League

AL Championship Series Game Three: Boston Red Sox 8  Houston Astros 2

Nursing a 3-2 lead provided by Steve Pearce's solo homer in the sixth, the Red Sox struck for five runs in the eighth, when they loaded the bases, scored a run on a hit batsman and Jackie Bradley Jr. put the game out of reach, mashing a grand slam over the right field wall.

Bellinger: Game winner

The victory put the Red Sox up, two games to one, over the reigning world champion Astros. Game four is on tap for Wednesday, 8:39 pm ET.

National League

NL Championship Series Game Four: LA Dodgers 3  Milwaukee Brewers 2, 13 Innings

In the bottom of the 13th, Cody Bellinger lined a single to right, scoring Manny Machado with the winning run as the Dodgers evened the NLCS at two games apiece.

Game five starts at 5:05 pm ET.

Justin Verlander Hurls Astros Past Red Sox; Justin Turner's HR Powers Dodgers In Game 2 Win

Players of the Day for Saturday, October 13, 2018

American League

Justin Verlander

AL Championship Series Game One: Houston Astros 7 Boston Red Sox 2

Houston took the opening game of the AL Championship Series behind the capable arm of Justin Verlander, who worked six innings, allowing two hits and two runs for the victory.

Game two is Sunday at Boston's Fenway Park.

Justin Turner

National League

NL Championship Series Game Two: LA Dodgers 4 Milwaukee Brewers 3

Justin Turner's eighth inning, two-run homer proved decisive as the Dodgers rebounded from a 3-0 deficit to take game two of the NLCS, 4-3. Turner's blast ended the Brewers' 12-game winning streak which had extended back into the final eight games of the regular season and included a three-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies in the divisional series.

With the series tied at a game apiece, game three shifts to Los Angeles on Tuesday.

Brock Holt First To Hit For Post-Season Cycle In Boston Rout; George Springer Leads Astros; Manny Machado Powers Dodgers Into NLCS

Players of the Day for Monday, October 8, 2018

Holt hits for cycle

American League

Brock Holt became the first player ever to hit for the cycle in the post-season, completing his historic feat in the ninth inning with a home run off Yankee emergency reliever, catcher Austin Romine.

Romine was called to the mound due to the game's out-of-control condition, as Boston handed the Yankees the worst post-season loss in their long history, whipping the home squad 16-1.

Holt, batting seventh, didn't begin his assault on Yankee pitching until the fourth inning. After grounding out harmlessly in the second, Holt led off the fourth with a scratch single to center and later scored on a bases-loaded walk to Mookie Betts. Later in the frame, he tripled in a pair of runs as the Red Sox plated seven runs.

After grounding out to first in the sixth inning, Holt lashed a ground rule double to center in the eighth, driving in two more runs and smacked his homer with one on base in the ninth.

The win left the Yankees down in the series two games to one, facing elimination when the teams meet at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night. Game time is 8:07 pm ET. C.C. Sabathia goes to the mound for New York. Rick Porcello is the starter for the Red Sox.

Springer: 2 HR, 2 RBI

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Houston will be returning to the AL championship series for the second straight year after sweeping the Indians, finishing off the Central division champs with an 11-3 romp.

George Springer led a 13-hit attack with two solo homers and a single in six at-bats. He hit .429 over the three-games of the divisional series.

The Astros completely outclassed the Indians in the sweep, outscoring their opponent by a combined score of 21-6.

Machado: 2-4, HR, 4 RBI

Houston awaits the winner of the Boston-New York series in their quest to win a second straight AL championship.


National League

The Dodgers dusted off the Braves in game four of the divisional series with a 6-2 victory, as Manny Machado led the way, going 2-for-5 with four RBI.

Machado got the Dodgers going with an RBI double in the first, driving in Max Muncy, and finished off the Braves with a three-run homer in the seventh.

LA returns to the NL championship series for the third straight season, meeting the Brewers for the right to go to the world series. The best-of-seven series begins Friday in Milwaukee.

J.D. Martinez Lifts Boston Past New York; Clayton Kershaw Blanks Braves

Players of the Day for Friday, October 5, 2018

Martinez: 3-run homer

American League

Boston took a 1-0 lead in their best-of-five division series with a 5-4 win over the New York Yankees.

J.D. Martinez got the Red Sox on the board in the bottom of the first inning with a three-run homer over Fenway Park's famous Green Monster and Boston added two more runs in the third, for an early 5-0 lead. Yankee starter, J.A. Happ allowed all five Boston runs, lasting only into the third inning, failing to get any outs in that frame.

The Yankee bullpen shut the door on Boston's hitters after that, but New York could only muster enough runs to make the game interesting. Aaron Judge's solo homer in the ninth was all the Yankees managed off closer Craig Kimbrel. Chris Sale picked up the win.

The teams tangle again in game two of the series, Saturday, 8:15 pm ET

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Houston won the opener of their divisional series with the visiting Indians, topping Cleveland, 7-2. Justin Verlander turned in 5 1/3 solid innings and Houston batters got the best of Cleveland ace, Cory Kluber, nicking him for six hits and four runs over 4 2/3 innings. Alex Bregman, George Springer, and Jose Altuve each hit solo homers off Kluber.

Game two is Saturday at 4:37 pm ET.

National League

Kershaw: 8IP, 2H, 0ER

Clayton Kershaw put the Dodgers up 2-0 in the NL divisional series, with a brilliant post-season start, limiting the Atlanta Braves to two hits over eight innings in a 3-0 Dodger victory.

Kershaw, a seven-time all star and three time NL Cy Young award recipient, needed just 84 pitches to keep the Braves off the bases and the scoreboard. After a leadoff double to Ronald Acuna Jr., Kershaw retired 14 straight batters, going into the fifth inning before surrendering his second hit.

Manny Machado staked Kershaw to an early lead with a two-run, first-inning homer. The series moves to Atlanta for game three, Sunday at 8:07 pm ET.

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Jouyls Chacin and four relievers blanked the Colorado Rockies on six hits as the Milwaukee Brewers took a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five NL division series with a 4-0 win. Game three is in Denver, Sunday at 4:37 pm.

Christian Yelich Leads Brewers Over Rockies; Max Muncy's 3-Run Homer Enough For Dodgers' Win Over Braves

Players of the Day for Thursday, October 4, 2018

National League

Yelich stars again

Milwaukee's 3-2 win over Colorado took 10 innings but when Mike Moustakas singled home the game winner, guess who scored the winning run?

Who else? It was none other than Christian Yelich skipping home run Milwaukee's third run after he had walked to open the inning, took second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on Curtis Granderson's fielder's choice.

Not only did Yelich reach base safely four of the five times he appeared at the plate, he was also responsible for the Brewers' first two runs, socking a third-inning, two-run homer which, until the ninth inning, had held up.

The Rockies plated a pair of runs in the ninth inning to tie the game, but Yelich and Moustakas made sure their hard work didn't go for naught.

The win gives the Brewers a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series, with game two slated for Friday, 4:15 pm ET.

Muncy: 3-run homer

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In Los Angeles, the Dodgers grabbed game one from the visiting Braves, 6-0.

Max Muncy's three-run homer in the second inning provided more than enough runs for LA, as Hyun-Jin Ryu worked seven scoreless innings, giving up just four hits, fanning eight Braves.

Muncy had 35 homers and 79 RBI during the regular season. Braves hurlers couldn't deal with the second year first baseman, walking him the other three times he appeared at the dish.

Game two is Friday, 9:37 pm ET.

American League

There were no games in the American League on Thursday. The two division series open on Friday with Cleveland at Houston at 2:05 pm ET and the Yankees at Boston at 7:32 pm ET.

Orlando Arcia 4-for-4 As Brewers Dump Cubs; Walker Buehler Blanks Rockies, Dodgers Win West

Players of the Day for Monday, October 1, 2017

Arcia: 4-for-4, 2 runs

National League

The Milwaukee Brewers completed their run-down of the Cubs in the NL Central, winning their eighth straight game to capture the division title with a 3-1 tie-breaker win at Chicago Monday.

Orlando Arcia stroked four singles in four at-bats and scored two of Milwaukee's runs in the division-clincher. Arcia came home on Christian Yelich's single in the third to open the game's scoring and scored the go-ahead run in the eighth after Chicago's Anthony Rizzo had tied it at 1-all in the fifth. Lorenzo Cain delivered Arcia, and also scored an insurance run in the eighth on a Ryan Braun single.

Josh Bader worked a two-inning save, putting the Cubs down in order in the eighth and surrendering a two-out single to Jose Baez in the ninth. Rizzo flied out to right field to end the game.

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Buehler: 6 2/3 scoreless

Rookie hurler, Walker Buehler, took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, and gave up just one hit, blanking the Rockies over 6 2/3 innings as the Dodgers wrapped up the NL West with a 5-2 victory over Colorado in the single-game tie-breaker.

Charlie Blackmon broke up the no-hit bid with a single through the infield with one out in the sixth.

Thanks to two-run homers by Cody Bollinger and Max Muncy in the fourth and fifth innings and another run in the sixth, Buehler worked into the seventh with a five-run lead, getting two outs before walking Carlos Gonzalez. He was lifted for reliever, Pedro Baez, who walked Ian Desmond but finished the frame by getting Matt Holliday to pop out to short, ending the threat.

Buehler struck out three and walked three throwing 93 pitches, 59 of which went for strikes.

The Rockies finally did hit the scoreboard in the top of the ninth, on back-to-back home runs by Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story off Dodger closer Kenley Jansen, but the Dodger pitcher regrouped and finished the job, making the Dodgers the NL West champion for the sixth straight season.

The Cubs will host the Rockies in the NL wild card game Tuesday at 8:00 pm EDT, while the Brewers, thanks to their late-season surge, will have home field advantage throughout their NL playoff run. Milwaukee will host the winner of the wild card game in one of the two division series, while the the Dodgers will host the Atlanta Braves in the other. The Atlanta-LA series begins Thursday.

American League

There were no games in the American League on Monday. The AL wild card game is Wednesday, October 3, at Yankee Stadium in New York City with the Yankees playing the Oakland A's.

Yasiel Puig's 3 HR Put Dodgers Back In First Place; Yonder Alonso, Jose Ramirez Power Indians To Clinch AL Central

Players of the Day for Saturday, September 15, 2018

Jose Ramirez

American League

The Cleveland Indians clinched the AL Central division outright, doing it in style with a 15-0 blowout of the visiting Detroit Tigers.

Jose Ramirez and Yonder Alonso each had three hits, three scores and two RBI in the rout.

Yonder Alonso

Ramirez, singled, doubled and tripled in four at-bats. Alonso got to the place officially six times, delivering a pair of singles and his 23rd home run of the year.

Mike Clevinger was outstanding on the Cleveland mound, allowing one hit over six innings.

Cleveland is the first team in the majors to clinch a division title and they did it with 14 games left in the regular season.

The Tigers and Indians tangle again in Cleveland, Sunday, 1:10 pm EDT.

National League

Puig: 3 HR, 7 RBI

There was some outstanding work at the plate by the Dodgers in LA's 17-4 hammering of the Cardinals in St. Louis Saturday.

Max Muncy drove in four runs, Cody Bellinger had three hits, one of them a home run, and drove in six, but Yasiel Puig did them all better, smashing three homers and driving in seven runs.

Puig, who was sidelined to open the season and again in mid-July with minor injuries, began his assault on the St. Louis bleachers with a bases empty, 423 bomb to center in the fourth inning, then cracked a three-run homer to left in the fifth, followed by another three-run blast in the eighth.

Puig hit two dingers in the Dodgers' win over St. Louis Monday and is hitting a cool .407 for the month of September. He has 21 homers and 58 RBI on the season.

The third straight win at St. Louis pushed the Dodgers into first place in the NL West, as Colorado dropped its second straight at San Francisco, 3-0. The result also put the Rockies back into the wild card race, now 1/2-game to the good over St. Louis for the second spot.

LA will be looking for a four-game sweep of the Cardinals when the teams hit the field on Sunday, 8:00 pm as the featured game on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball.