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Strop to act as Cubs' closer down the stretch

Pedro Strop will serve as the Cubs' closer for the remainder of the 2013 regular season.

Kevin Gregg will operate in a setup role. "It’s going to be an opportunity [for Strop]," manager Dale Sveum said Thursday. "We want to see what he does in that role. Kevin [Gregg] has been one of the better closers in all of baseball. God knows where we’d be without him."

Source: MLBlogs.com

Thu, Sep 19, 2013 01:13:00 PM

Red Sox announce hiring of Cora as manager

The Red Sox have announced the hiring of Alex Cora as their new manager.

Cora has looked like the favorite to replace John Farrell from the beginning and now his hiring is official. He was given a three-year contract, with the Red Sox holding an option for a fourth year. Cora's only managerial experience has been in winter ball in his native Puerto Rico, but he's been the Astros' bench coach this season and is viewed as a rising star in the coaching profession.

Source: Sean McAdam on Twitter

Oct 22 - 3:36 PM

Mets to hire Mickey Callaway as new manager

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that the Mets are offering their manager job to Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway.

The two sides are expected to finalize a three-year contract Sunday and officially announce it Monday. Previous reports had indicated that hitting coach Kevin Long and Mariners third base coach Manny Acta were the favorites for the job after a round of interviews, but obviously the Mets are going in a different direction. Callaway had also been a candidate for the Phillies' gig. He's been the Tribe's pitching coach for the last five seasons.

Source: Joel Sherman on Twitter

Oct 22 - 1:47 PM

Keuchel will start Game 1 of World Series

Dallas Keuchel will start Game 1 of the World Series for the Astros on Tuesday versus the Dodgers.

Keuchel is the obvious choice with Justin Verlander having pitched on Friday. He will be taking the ball on an extra day of rest when he opposes Clayton Kershaw at Dodger Stadium, while Verlander will go in Game 2 Wednesday on regular rest. The Dodgers have not announced who will pitch for them in Game 2, but it will likely be Rich Hill.

Source: Astros.mlb.com

Oct 22 - 11:06 AM

Verlander named AL Championship Series MVP

Justin Verlander on Saturday was named the American League Championship Series MVP.

Verlander didn't have a hand in the decisive Game 7, but that's because he was recovering from tossing seven scoreless innings the night before. That outing, coupled with the single-most dominant performance from a starting pitcher this postseason in a Game 2 complete-game victory, earned him the recognition. Verlander allowed just one run in 16 innings in the ALCS, striking out 22, and he's got a 1.46 ERA and 0.93 WHIP in four starts overall this postseason. He'll start Wednesday's Game 2 of the World Series against the Dodgers.

Oct 21 - 11:44 PM

Morton, Astros shut out Yankees in Game 7 win

Charlie Morton delivered the biggest start of his life Saturday, tossing five scoreless innings as the Astros shut out the Yankees in a decisive 4-0 win in Game 7 of the ALCS.

History was made, as the shutout was the first ever in a Game 7 in the ALCS. Morton gave up a single and a double and walked one over his five innings, striking out five -- including two in a tone-setting first inning -- in the win. The only real danger he faced all night was in the top of the fifth, when Greg Bird doubled to lead off the frame and advanced to third on a wild pitch with one out. But a great play by Alex Bregman and Brian McCann to nail Bird at home on a ground ball erased the threat, and Morton was able to escape the inning unharmed. The strong start was a stark contrast from his Game 3 start, in which Morton gave up seven runs over 3 2/3 innings. Morton will likely start Game 3 of the World Series, which will be in Houston on Friday.

Oct 21 - 11:21 PM

Seager (back) still up in air for WS Game 1

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Corey Seager (back) is progressing, but his availability for Game 1 of the World Series is still uncertain.

Roberts said Seager has been hitting off a tee and taking some soft toss, and running curves in the infield, but no determination has been made. The next step for Seager is live at-bats in a simulated game. Given the stakes, it's hard to imagine the shortstop won't be out there if at all possible when the Series starts next week.

Source: Bill Plunkett on Twitter

Oct 21 - 8:05 PM

Yankees keep lineup static for ALCS Game 7

Gary Sanchez will bat cleanup and play catcher for the Yankees in Saturday's ALCS Game 7 against the Astros.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi kept the exact same lineup from Friday night's Game 6 loss, including keeping Sanchez in the cleanup spot. It's a vote of confidence for the 24-year-old, who has scuffled to a .204/.216/.429 line with 18 strikeouts in 49 postseason at-bats heading into Saturday's game. The rest of the Yankees lineup behind CC Sabathia Saturday: Brett Gardner LF; Aaron Judge RF; Didi Gregorius SS; Sanchez C; Greg Bird 1B; Starlin Castro 2B; Aaron Hicks CF; Todd Frazier 3B; Chase Headley DH.

Source: Rotoworld MLB Daily Lineups

Oct 21 - 4:56 PM

Bregman moves up in lineup for Astros in G7

Alex Bregman is batting second and playing third base for the Astros in Saturday's ALCS Game 7 against the Yankees.

Bregman had moved down in the lineup for Game 6 against hard-throwing right-hander Luis Severino, but against southpaw CC Sabathia he's back in a prime production spot for the decisive game. The postseason hasn't been kind to the 23-year-old thus far, as he's hitting just .184/.244/.395 in 10 playoff games. The rest of the Astros lineup in support of Charlie Morton goes like this: George Springer CF; Bregman 3B; Jose Altuve 2B; Carlos Correa SS; Yuli Gurriel 1B; Evan Gattis DH; Brian McCann C; Marwin Gonzalez LF; Josh Reddick RF.

Source: Rotoworld MLB Daily Lineups

Oct 21 - 4:23 PM

Nationals ask permission to interview Cora

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports that the Nationals have asked the Astros' permission to interview Alex Cora after the conclusion of the ALCS.

Cora has already interviewed with the Tigers and the Red Sox and Astros' manager A.J. Hinch seems to fully support the idea of Cora getting his own managerial gig. The Nationals canned Dusty Baker in a surprising move on Friday, leaving one of the most talented teams in the league with a major vacancy at the helm.

Source: Nick Cafardo on Twitter

Oct 21 - 8:21 AM

Verlander fires seven shutout frames vs Yanks

Justin Verlander struck out eight batters while firing seven shutout frames to beat the Yankees 7-1 in Game 6 of the ALCS on Friday.

He was on top of his game and didn't give the Yankees any chance to do much damage all night. He scattered five hits -- all singles -- issued one walk and hit one batter. It was his second win in the series to go with a 0.56 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 16 innings. The Astros gave up a ton of money and a load of prospect talent to get Verlander on September 1st but his performance in the playoffs has made it all worthwhile. He is 4-0 with a 0.93 ERA in 24 2/3 post-season innings.

Oct 21 - 12:35 AM

Altuve goes 2-for-4 with a homer, three RBI

Jose Altuve went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and three RBI in Friday's ALCS Game 6 win over the Yankees.

His two-RBI single in the fifth inning gave his team a 3-0 lead and knocked opposing starter Luis Severino out of the game. He tacked on a solo home run off reliever David Robertson leading off the bottom of the eighth inning. The Astros scored four runs in the frame to put the game on ice. It was the MVP candidate's first home run of the championship series and fourth of the post-season. The series wraps up tomorrow with the winner advancing to the World Series.

Oct 21 - 12:07 AM