LOS ANGELES — For the second time in the past week, the Dodgers have lost a postseason hero from the franchise’s past. “Sweet Lou” Johnson who stepped in for an injured Tommy Davis during the 1965 World Series passed away Thursday night. He was 86. Born Louis Brown Johnson in Lexington, Kentucky, “Sweet Lou” toiled…
Former Dodger World Series hero ‘Sweet Lou’ Johnson dies — Press Telegram
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brent Suter is one of two active major league players who attended Harvard University. He was a dual major in environmental science and public policy. The space between his ears contains multitudes and, for a time Wednesday night, Suter couldn’t escape it. Chosen at the last minute to start Game 1 of…
Brewers’ Brent Suter melts down, Dodgers take advantage in Game 1 — Press Telegram
The Deets is a weekday morning dose of commentary — delivered at 7 a.m. — from sports columnist Dieter Kurtenbach that wraps up everything important in the world of sports and looks forward to another crazy day ahead. The Houston Astros still don’t get it. It’s on the Oakland A’s or the Chicago White Sox…
Kurtenbach: Karma is coming for the bratty Astros and Carlos Correa — Times-Standard
[ad_1] Before Rays right-hander Nick Anderson entered Game 1 of the AL wild card round on Tuesday, the typically prolific Blue Jays lineup managed just two hits and whiffed 10 times through 6 1/3 innings. With runners on first and second in the seventh, Anderson jammed Teoscar Hernandez with a two-strike fastball, forcing a pop […]
Blue Jays have their greatest strength sapped in Game 1 loss to Rays — The Latest News
Earlier than Rays right-hander Nick Anderson entered Recreation 1 of the AL wild card spherical on Tuesday, the usually prolific Blue Jays lineup managed simply two hits and whiffed 10 occasions via 6 1/3 innings.
With runners on first and second within the seventh, Anderson jammed Teoscar Hernandez with a two-strike fastball, forcing a come out, and retired Joe Panik through line out. Anderson labored round a pair of hits the following body, permitting one run, to arrange teammate Peter Fairbanks for his first save of the season.
In limiting harm, Anderson preserved among the finest staff pitching performances towards the potent Blue Jays in 2020. Toronto averaged greater than 5 runs per recreation this 12 months earlier than shedding 3-1 in Recreation 1. Tampa Bay starter Blake Snell carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning.
Toronto now faces elimination as a result of its offense disappeared, not as a result of the employees it frightened could be inadequate didn’t carry out.
MORE: MLB playoff predictions
The Blue Jays are poised to be offensive juggernauts for a few years, largely due to Cavan Biggio (116 profession OPS+), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (109 profession OPS+) and Bo Bichette (137 profession OPS+) on the high of their order. The younger trio will not hit free company till 2026. Complementary mashers Randal Grichuk (106 profession OPS+), Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (123 profession OPS+) and Hernandez (114 profession OPS+) are beneath contract till not less than 2024.
However the group’s first go at October baseball Tuesday went poorly and, barring a fast turnaround on this best-of-3 sequence, its postseason debut will likely be short-lived.
Whereas some Blue Jays followers blamed supervisor Charlie Montoyo for making too many pitching adjustments in Recreation 1, the mixture of Matt Shoemaker and 4 relievers allowed solely 4 hits and stored the competition shut. The highest 4 spots in Toronto’s order, in the meantime, struck out eight occasions and went 1 for 13.
The Rays current a tricky impediment for Blue Jays batters, maybe jittery on a stage they weren’t supposed to achieve so quickly. Snell is without doubt one of the high left-handed aces in MLB, and projected Recreation 2 starter Tyler Glasnow will be equally efficient at getting hitters to chase pitches out of the strike zone. Tampa Bay’s bullpen is loaded with rocket arms.
Plus, because the No. 8 seed within the AL, it was at all times going to be a problem for Toronto to advance.
Worst-case situation, the Blue Jays’ batch of proficient however inexperienced hitters will depart a busy 2020 having internalized the sensation of being within the playoffs. Whatever the Recreation 2 outcome and a possible Recreation 3, then, the membership can take solace in gaining that psychological edge, even when it might be mystifying for its bats to cease producing after being dependable all year long.
The Houston Astros could have been dethroned within the AL West by the relentless Oakland Athletics. They could be public enemy No. 1 for baseball followers following the revelation of their elaborate sign-stealing scandal. And who is aware of, the 2020 model won’t even be that good. But regardless of all of it, they’re postseason […]
Say hello to the bad guys: Astros clinch final AL playoff spot — Daily News website
BUFFALO – They can read the standings and adhere to the slim caution of the magic number still lurking, but when the Blue Jays arrived here at Sahlen Field on Wednesday afternoon, there was a fresh excitement. Read More
Blue Jays on the brink of clinching after blowout win over Yankees — Toronto Sun
By Rob Longley
BUFFALO — They can read the standings and adhere to the slim caution of the magic number still lurking, but when the Blue Jays arrived here at Sahlen Field on Wednesday afternoon, there was a fresh excitement.
With all but the most feint of mathematical probabilities in the way of clinching a playoff spot, the Jays could smell it. And perhaps there was a whiff of blood in the air as well as they laid a 14-1 beating on the New York Yankees.
Second-year manager Charlie Montoyo said felt it as soon as he walked into the clubhouse hours before first pitch. So, too, did his versatile lead-off man Cavan Biggio, who didn’t want to get ahead of himself but acknowledged the imminent accomplishment.
And that feeling carried onto the field for a statement blow-out to reduce that magic number to one with four games to play.
The clinching celebration was denied as both the Angels and Mariners clung to life with wins, but it’s now near impossible to envision a scenario where the Jays don’t return to the post-season for the first time since 2016.
And with ace Hyun-Jin Ryu on the mound for Thursday’s series finale against the Yankees, playoff fever will be spiking.
“I’m going to sleep good tonight knowing he’s going tomorrow,” Montoyo said after Wednesday’s game when asked of about having the big lefty on tap with the stakes so high.
The fact that the imminent thrill of October baseball arrived this year is further encouragement for the young Jays, who have not lacked in self-belief.
“We have a lot of work to do,” said Biggio, who scored Wednesday’s first run after drawing a leadoff walk in the first then drove in two more in the Jays eight-run sixth. “I think we’re just scratching the surface on what we’re going to be able to do at this level.
“To see it coming this early on in our careers gives us a little glimpse of what we can end up doing in the future.”
Montoyo was of the same mind, candidly acknowledging that he didn’t think that true playoff contention would come for his team until 2021.
That they are on the brink of it now — and sure they took advantage of the expanded playoff format — is both a bonus and a boost to the confidence of a team that is driven by its young core.
“I’m very proud of my team to be in this position at this time, to be in a position to clinch a playoff spot,” Montoyo said. “No one expected us to be here and you can feel the vibe in there.
“This is a great experience for them. Just going through this for the first time, it’s petty cool for these kids. You can see it. This is going to help them from now until they retire.”
Though the Jays had fallen from form somewhat last week, some swagger is returning. From the outset of a challenging season — one that had then turfed from their Canadian home and denied shared arrangements in other major league cities — the team has responded favourably and thrived.
“You can make it as bad as it is or as good as you want,” Biggio said of the hurdles they’ve negotiated. “Going into the season and our situation not being able to play in Toronto and coming into Buffalo … we could have easily looked at it like, man, our backs are up against the wall. It’s okay if we don’t win this year, it’s kind of a crazy year.
“But the way we took it was is we’re here for each other. The biggest thing we’ve had is chemistry.”
They are close enough to feel it now, just a win on Thursday to set up a weekend to reset and prepare for a playoff opener next Tuesday.https://www.youtube.com/embed/IUgq0BKD818?embed_config={%27relatedChannels%27:%20[],%27autonav%27:true}&autoplay=0&playsinline=1
Once that playoff spot is verified — as presumptive as that may be, the odds against it happening are prohibitive — the Jays feel they can make some noise. Put it this way, a potential first-round date with the Tampa Bay Rays doesn’t intimidate them given how tough they played their division rivals earlier in the season.
“We’ve got to get there first,” Biggio cautioned. “That being said, I think this team plays with a lot of excitement and a lot of energy. The cool part of this team is we’re never really out of a game.”
And now just a game away from getting to play at the next level.
POST-GAME NOTES
It was a mixed bag from Jays starter Robbie Ray, though he probably did enough to move himself into some playoff work. Ray allowed just one run on three hits but with an elevated pitch count of 90 lasted just four innings. … Montoyo won’t be tipping his hand for a while, but we could see Ray splitting a start with Matt Shoemaker in the post-season … Not so fast, Alejandro Kirk, Danny Jansen sees you. The regular Jays catcher had a four-hit night with a single, double and a pair of home runs. “I just tried to be aggressive on him and try to put the barrel on it,” Jansen said of the first dinger, a line-drive shot over the wall in left off of Masahiro Tanaka … Something about the sixth. The Jays put up eight in that inning on Wednesday following up the 10-spot they inflicted on the Yankees here on Sept. 7 … After a season-long six-game losing streak the Jays are building momentum again with wins in three of their past four to improve to 29-27 … Solid relief effort from Ross Stripling who pitched four shutout innings to close things out … Besides a chance to clinch on Thursday, the Jays could salvage a split on the 10-game season series with the Yanks currently holding a 5-4 edge.
Boston Herald
The Red Sox may be in the driver’s seat for a Top 5 pick in next year’s draft, but they’re not playing like they’re trying to ensure that.
Christian Vazquez’s three-run homer in the sixth helped seal an 8-3 victory in Nick Pivetta’s debut as the Red Sox moved within two games of the Orioles for fourth place in the division on Tuesday night at Fenway Park.
Some takeaways and observations as the Red Sox moved to 21-34 with five games to go:
Pivetta on point in debut
Nick Pivetta wasn’t exactly dominant in his first start in a Red Sox uniform, but given how poorly the team’s starting rotation has performed this season, it was a good starting place to work from and good enough to show promise as a cog in the rotation moving forward.
It only took two months and 16 different starting pitchers, but the Red Sox finally have some reason to be encouraged about their starting rotation, with Nathan Eovaldi and Martin Perez coming on strong, Tanner Houck looking terrific in his first two starts, and now Pivetta. The right-hander they acquired in a trade with the Phillies last month showed a lot to like in his Red Sox debut, allowing just one run on four hits and striking out eight over five innings.
It took a month for Pivetta to finally make his debut because the Red Sox likely were waiting to call him up to take advantage of an extra year of service time, but also because they were working to stretch him out since he hadn’t started a game since last July and had only appeared in three games for the Phillies this season. But he showed little rust in his return.
Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke said that with Pivetta, a native of Victoria, B.C., who had a career 5.50 ERA coming in, it’s all about location. On Tuesday, he was putting almost everything where he wanted, save for the three walks, two of which came in the first inning as the Orioles took a 1-0 lead. Pivetta took advantage of a chasing Orioles lineup to aid his eight strikeouts, which included 14 swings and misses, the third most by a Red Sox pitcher this season. Seven of those came via his slider.
Chavis has a tough night in left
Two weeks ago, with a need in the outfield and a willing participant, Michael Chavis moved over to left field, where he had never played professionally before. The idea was to get him in the lineup any way possible, and a year after he got a look defensively at second, to expand his versatility.
Chavis had mostly been solid in his first foray into left, but playing left at Fenway Park may take some time getting used to. Two days after a two-homer game, Chavis misplayed a pair of line drives in the sixth inning that ultimately cost the Red Sox a run. The first one off the bat of Pedro Severino and was ruled an error as a catchable ball deflected off his glove, and the second one, a liner from Rio Ruiz, cleared his head for a double.
Bradley Jr. continues late surge
This could be Jackie Bradley Jr.’s last week in a Red Sox uniform, and the impending free agent is making a case for potential suitors this winter. Two days after a four-hit performance in Sunday’s win over the Yankees, Bradley recorded two more hits in Tuesday night’s victory, which included a second-inning single that helped ignite a three-run frame.
Bradley has now hit safely in 27 of his last 32 games, and he’s having a terrific September at the plate, with a .333 average, eight extra-base hits, eight RBI and 13 runs scored in 19 games while raising his season average to .279, which would be a career high even if the season is a much smaller sample size. Either way, Bradley, who has publicly stated that he’s interested in testing free agency, seems intent on closing the season strong.
It’s been rare as of late, but J.D. Martinez also had a strong night at the plate, as he went 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and an RBI. It was just the third three-hit night of the season for Martinez, who raised his average to .216.
Stephen Hewitt | September 22, 2020 at 11:07 pm | Tags: Orioles, Red Sox | Categories: Red Sox, Sports | URL: https://wp.me/panY8T-8Uwn
The Oakland A’s clinched the American League West for the first time since 2013. What’s more, they won it on a day off in Los Angeles. The division championship came to them courtesy of a Houston Astros 6-1 loss to the Seattle Mariners Monday night. Related Articles A’s postseason preview: The questions Oakland must answer…
Oakland A’s clinch American League West for first time since 2013 — Times-Standard
PHILADELPHIA — Bryce Harper hit a tying, two-run double and scored the go-ahead run on an error following Alec Bohm’s infield single, helping the Philadelphia Phillies rally to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-7 Friday night and earn their first doubleheader sweep in eight years. Zach Eflin struck out nine in a four-hitter and Harper […]
Blue Jays swept in doubleheader by Phillies after Harper leads late rally – Sportsnet.ca — PressNewsAgency
HILADELPHIA — Bryce Harper hit a tying, two-run double and scored the go-ahead run on an error following Alec Bohm’s infield single, helping the Philadelphia Phillies rally to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-7 Friday night and earn their first doubleheader sweep in eight years.
Zach Eflin struck out nine in a four-hitter and Harper went deep in Philadelphia’s 7-0 win in the opener.
The Phillies came back twice in the nightcap.
Rafael Marchan hit his first career homer as a professional, a three-run drive in the fourth that tied it at 5. That came after Mickey Moniak, the 2016 No. 1 overall pick in the amateur draft, lined a single to right for his first hit in the majors.
Marchan didn’t go deep in 846 plate appearances over four seasons in the minors, but the 21-year-old Venezuelan catcher connected in just his fifth time up in the big leagues.
Randal Grichuk’s sacrifice fly gave the Jays a 6-5 lead in the fifth and Connor Brogdon walked No. 9 batter Danny Jansen on a 3-2 pitch with the bases loaded and two outs, forcing in another run.
Rafael Deolis (2-2) struck out Andrew McCutchen looking with runners on second and third for the second out in the sixth. With a base open, the Blue Jays went after hot-hitting Harper and he delivered.
Harper hit a drive high off the wall in left-centre, slid into the second and got up pumping his fist. Bohm followed with a grounder to second baseman Joe Panik. He beat the throw to Deolis covering first and the ball got away for an error, allowing Harper to score.
Brogdon (1-0) tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings for his first career win. Hector Neris finished for his fifth save in eight chances. He retired Cavan Biggio on a liner to centre with two runners on to end it.
Jays starter Ross Stripling yielded three runs in 3 1/3 innings.
McCutchen hit a solo homer in the third.
Philadelphia’s David Hale made his first start since 2015, allowing two runs and four hits in 3 1/3 innings. JoJo Romero gave up three runs on three hits, recording just one out.
Teoscar Hernandez blasted his 15th homer out to left to cut it to 2-1 in the fourth. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Santiago Espinal had RBI singles, and Biggio’s two-run single extended the lead to 5-2.
In the opener, Eflin (3-2) threw 92 pitches for his third career shutout and fifth complete game, though this one was seven innings. All of his strikeouts were swinging, including three in the first on curveballs.
“We had a game plan going in of mixing a little more offspeed so that worked out obviously in the first inning and I kind of really just carried that momentum,” Eflin said. “Had good spin on it and I knew it was going to work so I just went with that and made them respect all the pitches I was throwing.”
Harper hit 878 feet of homers in a loss Thursday night against the Mets and connected for his third shot in two games to ignite a five-run fifth against Robbie Ray (2-5).
Toronto has lost five in a row but entered with a 4 1/2-game lead over Seattle for the final wild card in the AL.
The injury-depleted Phillies, missing Nos. 2, 4 and 6 hitters Rhys Hoskins, J.T. Realmuto and Jean Segura, are 26-25. They began the day with a half-game lead over St. Louis for the last wild card in the NL.
Philadelphia hadn’t won a doubleheader since Sept. 9, 2012 against Colorado, going 0-12-9 before rallying for the sweep.
Ray gave up five runs and five hits in 4 1/3 innings in his third start for the Blue Jays after being acquired from Arizona before the trade deadline.
TRADE COMPLETE
The Phillies sent right-handers Juan Geraldo, Brandon Ramey and Israel Puello to the Milwaukee Brewers to complete the trade for right-hander David Phelps on Aug. 31.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Phillies: Segura didn’t play after he was drilled with a 98 mph fastball in the left elbow Thursday night. … Realmuto (hip) is expected to miss the weekend. … Hoskins (elbow) is uncertain to return this season. … OF Jay Bruce was reinstated from the injury list.
UP NEXT:
RHP Vince Velasquez (0-1, 6.46 ERA) starts for the Phillies on Saturday night while the Blue Jays haven’t announced a starter yet.
Source linkPressNewsAgencyhttps://PressNewsAgency.org
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to take an economic toll around baseball, the Red Sox announced more layoffs within the business side of the organization on Thursday. 167 more words
Red Sox announce more layoffs as COVID-19 continues to take its toll — Boston Herald
Sign In COVID-19 apparently has struck Major League Baseball once again. Only this time, an umpire reportedly has tested positive for the coronavirus. The reported positive test triggered a sudden change in two crew assignments in Florida to help fill the gaps, sources told The Associated Press. Tuesday’s Washington Nationals-Tampa Bay Rays game at Tropicana…
MLB Rumors: Umpire Tests Positive For COVID-19, Triggers Crew Change — NESN.com
COVID-19 apparently has struck Major League Baseball once again.
Only this time, an umpire reportedly has tested positive for the coronavirus.
The reported positive test triggered a sudden change in two crew assignments in Florida to help fill the gaps, sources told The Associated Press.
Tuesday’s Washington Nationals-Tampa Bay Rays game at Tropicana Field began with three umpires, with fill-in Clint Vondrak arriving in the fourth inning.
Roughly 280 miles away, veteran ump Andy Fletcher joined three younger umpires for the Boston Red Sox-Miami Marlins series at Marlins Park.
MLB medical experts don’t think there is a threat of infection to personnel, sources told The AP.
Thumbnail photo via Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports ImagesMore MLB: Rob Manfred ‘Hopeful’ For Limited Fan Attendance For MLB PlayoffsMLB
https://torontosun.com/sports/baseball/toronto-blue-jays/blue-jays-continue-to-get-bombed-in-the-bronx/wcm/b4bdfe13-e2e1-4894-9f7d-5e1f74482https://torontosun.com/sports/baseball/toronto-blue-jays/blue-jays-continue-to-get-bombed-in-the-bronx/wcm/b4bdfe13-e2e1-4894-9f7d-5e1f744826fd/6fd/
Author of the article:Frank ZicarelliPublishing date:Sep 17, 2020 • Last Updated 2 hours ago • 4 minute read
Six home runs one night, seven the next as the Blue Jays once again showed they are not in the same ball park as the surging New York Yankees.
Two games into a three-game series and it’s been men against boys, no contest, with New York taking big leads early, fuelled by its booming bats, and cruising the rest of the way, including Wednesday’s 13-2 win.
Two games and the Bronx Bombers have outscored the Jays by a combined 33-8 in back-to-back blowouts.
How bad was it? Yankees backup catcher Kyle Higashioka slammed three of the seven homers on the night, one to each field.
And as hot as the Yankees’ bats have been, their pitching has been just as good.
Deivi Garcia stymied the Jays on Tuesday. Then along comes baseball’s premier hired gun, Gerrit Cole, and his $36-million-a-year right arm.
Cole no-hit the Jays through five innings, the bid coming to an end when Jonathan Villar jumped on his first pitch of the sixth with a double to right.Villar came around to score Toronto’s first run.
Cole went seven strong and threw 95 pitches.
Joe Panik hit his first homer of the season for the Jays with two out in the ninth.
Jays starter Tanner Roark faced the Yankees last week and didn’t hold back when asked why he wasn’t allowed to pitch deeper into the game.
In today’s analytics-obsessed world, the Jays never wanted their big right hander to face the Yankees’ batting order for the third time and hence the hook after four innings.
Roark couldn’t get into the fifth once again, allowing six earned runs to drop to 2-2.
Roark convened with catcher Danny Jansen for a mound meeting in the fourth as D.J. LeMahieu came to the plate for the third time on the night with two out and a runner at first.
With the count full, LeMahieu went the opposite way for a two-run blast, his second deep ball of the night.
The Yankees, now with seven wins in a row, are only going to get stronger with Giancarlo Stanton (on Tuesday), Aaron Judge (on Wednesday) and Gleyber Torres (soon) rejoining the lineup off the injured list
In their absence, players such as LeMahieu and Luke Voit have received more attention and acclaim. Voit hit two homers Tuesday to raise his MLB-leading total to 18, the added No. 19 on Wednesday.
GILES ON THE SHELF
Ken Giles’ regrettable season hasn’t officially come to an end, but all signs point to that unfortunate fate.
The lights-out closer strained his right forearm when the team opened its 60-game season in Tampa.
Giles missed close to seven weeks. When he returned, he made two appearances in low-leverage situations, including a one-inning outing Tuesday.
In each outing, Giles gave up a homer.
Officially, Giles moves to the 10-game injured list.
During his pre-game availability Wednesday, manager Charlie Montoyo said the team is awaiting results of an MRI.
“He gave it all he had and it just didn’t work out,” said Montoyo. “That’s how he felt (Wednesday). I wouldn’t think he’s coming back this year. That’s just speculating. I don’t know that for a fact, but there’s not that much time left.”
The Jays have 12 games left in the season and are 1.5 games behind the Yankees for second place in the AL East.
GONE FISHIN’
Derek Fisher, who struggled mightily in the outfield on Tuesday, has been placed on the injured list. During one of his mishaps, Fisher awkwardly collided with the wall.
Then, during Wednesday’s batting practice, Fisher was hit by a pitch on the right knee by Matt Shoemaker.
Everyone was pinning Toronto’s blowout loss on Fisher, but the truth is the Jays have been among the worst fielding teams in baseball.
In other moves, the Blue Jays optioned left-hander Anthony Kay and activated outfielder Teoscar Hernandez along with right-handers Hector Perez and Jacob Waguespack.
Montoyo also confirmed RHP Chase Anderson will start Thursday’s series finale.
Perez made his MLB debut when he entered Wednesday’s lopsided loss in the seventh. He became the seventh Blue Jays player this season to make their big-league debut.
The first batter Perez faced drew a walk. He then coaxed a double play ball on a routine 6-4-3 out. And then came another walk before yielding d Higashioka’s third moon shot on the night. Aaron Hicks struck out on a 97-mph fastball as Perez recorded his first major-league K.
SPRING IN THEIR STEP
All 30 big-league teams will begin their 2021 spring training games on Feb. 27. Toronto will open against the Phillies in Clearwater before wrapping up its exhibition schedule on March 29.
The 2021 regular season will open on April 1 with the Blue Jays playing against the Bronx Bombers at Yankee Stadium.
MLB also announced the spring training schedule is subject to change as the sport continues to deal with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The view from left field 