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Mets blown out for third time in NLCS as Dodgers take commanding 3-1 series lead with Game 4 victory

Sports / Baseball /

NEW YORK — It’s becoming increasingly apparent that the Los Angeles Dodgers are a bad matchup for the Mets. It was a bad matchup for left-hander Jose Quintana in Game 4 of the NLCS on Thursday night, and a bad matchup for Jose Butto, the right-hander who relieved him.

It was a bad matchup for a lineup that has suddenly gone as cold as the ...Read more

Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/TNS

How much for two tickets for a World Series in L.A.? Thousands, not hundreds.

Sports / Baseball /

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers put World Series tickets on sale Thursday morning, selling out quickly despite prices that started above $800.

The Dodgers did not make a formal announcement of the sale, or issue a news release about it. Instead, they posted the news on social media and sent an email to previous ticket buyers and other fans who had ...Read more

Nick Cammett/Getty Images North America/TNS

David Fry hits two-run, walk-off homer in 10th as Guardians stun Yankees in Game 3 of ALCS

Sports / Baseball /

CLEVELAND — After a few closers imploded in Game 3 of the ALCS, a former closer did the same on Thursday when David Fry smoked a two-run, walk-off homer off Clay Holmes in the 10th inning of Game 3 of the ALCS.

The heroic effort resulted in a 7-5 win for the Guardians and came shortly after Jhonkensy Noel demolished a Luke Weaver change-up to...Read more

Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/TNS

As speculation swirls about a possible White Sox sale, a by-the-numbers look at Jerry Reinsdorf's ownership tenure

Sports / Baseball /

CHICAGO — Jerry Reinsdorf recently completed his 44th season as Chicago White Sox chairman. He’s only the seventh individual in Major League Baseball history to surpass 40 years as a team owner.

How much more he adds to that total has become a focus after Wednesday’s report by The Athletic that the 88-year-old Reinsdorf is “open to ...Read more

Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Bill Plaschke: Dodgers poised to defeat Mets in a New York minute after dominant Game 3 win

Sports / Baseball /

NEW YORK — Start spreading the news ...

The Dodgers are on the verge of finishing the National League Championship Series before you can say New York twice.

They're turning the Mets into little-town blues that are melting away.

They're defrocking the Mets down to their vagabond shoes that are longing to ... oh, forget it, one shouldn't need...Read more

Heather Khalifa/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

Marcus Hayes: The Phillies plan to run it back, says Dave Dombrowski. Smart. They're really good. They will be, for years.

Sports / Baseball /

PHILADELPHIA — Fire Topper, break up the team, and do it before it’s too late for this $250 million payroll to win a World Series.

Right? Wrong.

Losing to the Mets in the NLDS last week might sting today, but tomorrow looks as bright as ever for the Phillies. Zack Wheeler might be their best pitcher ever, and Aaron Nola’s not far behind....Read more

Tammy Ljungblad/Kansas City Star/TNS

Sam McDowell: Five things the Royals need to accomplish this offseason -- and how they can do it

Sports / Baseball /

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Ten minutes after baseball’s most unlikely playoff team vanished from the postseason, its manager, Matt Quatraro, didn’t have much interest in recognizing or appreciating the surprise of it.

The Royals won 30 more games this season than the previous one, a stunning single-year turnaround that prompted their first ...Read more

Luke Hales/Getty Images North America/TNS

Mets blanked for second time in NLCS as Dodgers dominate in Game 3 to take 2-1 series lead

Sports / Baseball /

NEW YORK — When the NLCS began, the Mets had an obvious edge over the Los Angeles Dodgers when it came to starting pitching. The Dodgers have 10 pitchers on the injured list, including three starting pitchers, while the Mets have a deep rotation full of starters who have been pitching deep into games.

But some bad habits came back to haunt ...Read more

Luke Hales/Getty Images North America/TNS

Shohei Ohtani puts stamp on NLCS with moonshot HR as missed opportunities cost Mets in loss to Dodgers

Sports / Baseball /

NEW YORK — A bad night for the Mets became much, much worse as Shohei Ohtani sent a ball into orbit.

The superstar slugger punctuated the Dodgers’ 8-0 win in NLCS Game 3 with an exclamation point on Wednesday when he pummeled a belt-high cutter from Tylor Megill well above the right-field foul pole and halfway up Citi Field’s second deck....Read more

Luke Hales/Getty Images North America/TNS

Dodgers follow their October script to perfection in NLCS Game 3 win over Mets

Sports / Baseball /

NEW YORK — This was the script the Dodgers were envisioning.

An early lead from the lineup. A solid, albeit short, outing from their starter. And then a parade of scoreless innings from the bullpen.

It might not be an orthodox October plan, but it’s the one best suited to the Dodgers’ banged-up pitching staff and short-handed starting ...Read more

Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune/TNS

Jerry Reinsdorf reportedly 'in active discussions' to sell White Sox after worst season in franchise history

Sports / Baseball /

CHICAGO — Chicago White Sox fans who chanted “Sell the team” at Guaranteed Rate Field this summer might get their wish after all.

According to a report Wednesday in The Athletic, Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf has changed his stance about keeping the team he has owned since 1981 and is in “active discussions” with a group led by Dave ...Read more

Harry How/Getty Images North America/TNS

Why the Mets are planning to use Kodai Senga in Game 5 after his rough outing

Sports / Baseball /

NEW YORK — Despite a disastrous start in Los Angeles, the Mets are ready to use Kodai Senga in the NLCS once again. The right-hander is scheduled to pitch Friday in Game 5 against the Dodgers, but the Mets are still discussing how they want to use him.

“At what capacity? We’ll see,” manager Carlos Mendoza said Wednesday ahead of the ...Read more

Megan Briggs/Getty Images North America/TNS

Shohei Ohtani's 50th home run ball can be sold, judge says. But who will pocket the cash?

Sports / Baseball /

LOS ANGELES — The auction and sale of Shohei Ohtani's 50th home run ball will proceed as planned.

The historic ball, which made the Dodgers superstar the first MLB player to have 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season, is already on its way to fetching almost $2 million.

It remains to be seen who will pocket all that cash.

The ...Read more

Luke Hales/Getty Images North America/TNS

With Aaron Judge's October homer drought over, Yankees could use a surge on way to World Series

Sports / Baseball /

NEW YORK — As Aaron Judge lofted a fly ball to deep center field in the seventh inning on Tuesday night, Gleyber Torres made a mistake.

The second baseman, unsure just how far the ball would travel on a windy night at Yankee Stadium, tagged up at first base. He wasn’t alone in the error, as Yankees first base coach Travis Chapman also ...Read more

K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS

Tom Krasovic: Padres' Yu Darvish showed he's a Mr. October, painting in many hues

Sports / Baseball /

SAN DIEGO — It’s too bad Yu Darvish won’t pitch again this postseason.

For baseball fans who enjoy a creative type of pitching that’s a fading art, he will be missed.

In the recent National League Division Series, the Padres’ 38-year-old starter had strong outings in Games 2 and Game 5 against the top-seeded Dodgers despite lacking ...Read more

Yong Kim/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

As Phillies stress continuity, outfield will be the most likely spot to bring change and lineup balance

Sports / Baseball /

PHILADELPHIA — When the bats turned from torches to ice picks in a span of five games last October, the Phillies’ remedy was to coach up a bunch of aggressive hitters to swing at fewer pitches out of the strike zone.

A year later, after a playoff ousting one round earlier, the issue remains.

So, what now?

“The reality is,” Dave ...Read more

Elsa/Getty Images North America/TNS

Anthony Rizzo leads charge for bottom of Yankees' order in Game 2 win over Guardians

Sports / Baseball /

NEW YORK — Anthony Rizzo‘s place on the ALCS roster was far from a sure thing. It remained to be seen just how much the first baseman could contribute with two fractured fingers.

The Yankees took a gamble and trusted the word of their veteran that he was good to go, and they are reaping the benefits. It wasn’t even a guarantee that the ...Read more

Elsa/Getty Images North America/TNS

Gerrit Cole disappoints again, Aaron Judge finally homers as Yankees take 2-0 ALCS lead over Guardians

Sports / Baseball /

NEW YORK — With the Yankees looking to take a 2-0 ALCS lead over the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday, Gerrit Cole lacked his best stuff for the second time this postseason.

While the ace twirled a dominant clincher in Game 4 of the ALDS, he also allowed four runs (three earned) over five innings in Game 1 of that series against the Kansas City...Read more

Luke Hales/Getty Images North America/TNS

Yankees' Aaron Judge breaks through with first homer of postseason in ALCS Game 2 win over Guardians

Sports / Baseball /

NEW YORK — Aaron Judge is on the board.

The slugger smashed his first home run of the postseason in the Yankees’ 6-3 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday night in the Bronx, delivering a two-run dagger in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series.

Judge flashed a smile as he rounded the bases after his 414-foot blast off of ...Read more

Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Bill Shaikin: Don't blame big payrolls for the success of Dodgers, Yankees and Mets

Sports / Baseball /

LOS ANGELES — It's a cyclical thing, and the cycle has come back around to the tired lazy narrative. The teams with the three largest payrolls are three of baseball's final four. Those three teams play in New York or Los Angeles. Baseball is doomed.

But think back to this time last year. There was a narrative last October too.

Tony Clark, ...Read more