MLB

AP Sports WriterAstros aces amped to face Rays in AL Division SeriesBy KRISTIE RIEKENHOUSTON (AP) In an era when openers are in vogue and they're facing the team who started the trend, everything's coming up aces for the Houston Astros this postseason.Houston will start Justin Verlander in Game...

AP Baseball WriterAiling shoulder knocks Yankees lefty Sabathia out of ALDSBy RONALD BLUMNEW YORK (AP) CC Sabathia will be watching the AL Division Series from the dugout, unable to contribute from the New York Yankees bullpen because of a sore left shoulder.''I didn't want to put the team...

A capsule look at the Twins-Yankees playoff seriesBy The Associated PressA look at the best-of-five American League Division Series between the Minnesota Twins and New York Yankees:---Schedule: (All times EDT) Game 1, Friday, at New York, 7:07 p.m. (MLB); Game 2, Saturday, at New York, 5:07 p.m. (FS1); Game...

AP Baseball WriterMets fire manager Mickey Callaway after 2 bumpy seasonsBy MIKE FITZPATRICKNEW YORK (AP) Mickey Callaway went 11-1 in his first 12 games as manager of the New York Mets. After that, nothing ever seemed to go smoothly for him again.Following more than a year of near-constant...

AP Baseball WriterYanks’ Paxton to start opener vs Twins, Sabathia off rosterBy RONALD BLUMNEW YORK (AP) James Paxton will start the New York Yankees’ AL Division Series opener against the Minnesota Twins on Friday night, and 39-year-old left-hander CC Sabathia will not be included on the roster because...

AP Baseball WriterYanks-Twins: the Bronx Bombers vs. the Bomba SquadBy RONALD BLUMNEW YORK (AP) The Bronx Bombers vs. the Bomba Squad, matchup of the big league heavyweights.Given the peerless power of the New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins, their AL Division Series seems as much bout as baseball.''It's...

Dodgers start 1 of 4 rookies in Game 1 of NLDSLOS ANGELES (AP) The Los Angeles Dodgers are starting just one of their four rookies in Game 1 of the National League Division Series.Will Smith is catching right-handed starter Walker Buehler on Thursday night against the Washington Nationals.Their...

Record heat greets Cardinals-Braves NLDS opening gameATLANTA (AP) The hottest October day in Atlanta history created sweltering conditions for Game 1 of the National League Division Series.The first-pitch temperature was 94 degrees Thursday for the opener of the best-of-five series between the St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves.The...

AP Sports WriterIndians to exercise Kluber’s option, decline KipnisBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) The Indians wasted no time on one of their biggest offseason decisions: Bringing back Corey Kluber was a no-brainer.Cleveland said it intends to exercise Kluber's $17.5 million contract option for next season, when the two-time Cy...

AP Sports WriterIndians exercise $17.5M option on ace Corey KluberBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) The Indians are exercising ace Corey Kluber’s $17.5 million option for next season.Kluber was limited to just seven starts after breaking his right arm on May 1, when he was hit by a line drive...

LEADING OFF: A's choose Manaea, Rays start Morton in WC gameBy The Associated PressA look at what's happening around the majors today:THAT'S WILDOakland tabbed left-hander Sean Manaea (4-0, 1.21 ERA) to start the AL wild-card game against Tampa Bay. The 27-year-old Manaea was sidelined last year when the Athletics...

AP Sports WriterHader, Grisham combine to give away NL wild-card gameBy HOWARD FENDRICHWASHINGTON (AP) Trent Grisham's eyes were still red, his cheeks stained by tears, as a group of Milwaukee Brewers teammates gathered near his locker in the visitors' clubhouse at Nationals Park to offer hugs and words...