MLB 2018 Season Long Thread Thru the World Series / Picks,Trends,News Etc. !!

[StarDust Bum]

Yelich's steady demeanor balances big production at plate
October 4, 2018
By The Associated Press

MILWAUKEE (AP) With every home run and big hit, it's getting more difficult for Christian Yelich to go out in Milwaukee without being recognized.

It didn't stop the potential National League MVP from making a run to the supermarket for groceries, so his mother could make his favorite dish when she recently visited.

Taco night must go on for the Milwaukee Brewers' All-Star outfielder and his family.

''So actually, he went to the market and bought everything. I sent him a list, so when I got there it was all ready to go and I just had to cook,'' said his mother, Alicia Yelich.

She said the increased attention isn't going to her son's head, even with a late-season push for the Triple Crown that fell just short.

The spotlight will shine brighter on Thursday when Yelich makes his postseason debut when the Brewers host the Colorado Rockies in Game 1 of their National League Division Series.

The 26-year-old Yelich is known for his humility and steady demeanor, along with his talent at the plate. It's a lesson handed down in the family.

''I always say you've got to stay humble in life, right? The game is so hard that you really don't know how your night is going to be,'' Alicia Yelich said. ''You can hit for the cycle or you get four (strikeouts). You've got to stay humble.''

Yelich has hit for the cycle twice this year, the first major leaguer to do so in one season against the same team, the Cincinnati Reds.

Last week against Detroit, Yelich made the first curtain call of his career after hitting his second home run to break a tie in the seventh inning of a 6-5 win.

It was about as close as Yelich has come to showing emotion.

''First one ever, so I don't really know what to do,'' he said then.

The loud fans at Miller Park chanted ''MVP! MVP!'' after the solo shot. He obliged with a brief appearance, lifting his helmet in the air about halfway up the dugout steps.

''Everyone was yelling at me to get up there, so I went up there really quick and went right back down,'' he said.

Opponents are impressed by the demeanor, too. Rockies manager Bud Black got to talk to Yelich at the All-Star Game in July.

''You can't engage with everybody, but I found time to engage with him,'' Black said Wednesday. ''And what a nice kid - I mean, really, really great to talk to, and really in a way humble and sort of shy, right?

''That's sort of how I got it. But what a great kid. So, I'm very happy for him,'' Black said.

Yelich hit an NL-best .326 to become the Brewers' first batting champion. He finished tied for third in home runs (36) and tied for second in RBIs (110).

He's the favorite in the NL MVP race after batting .367 with 25 homers and 67 RBIs in 65 games after the All-Star break. His second-half surge is a big reason why the Brewers won the NL Central, making their first playoff appearance since 2011.

Asked if success had changed her son, Alicia Yelich said, ''Christian? No, no.''

''He's very even-keeled,'' she said. ''And being even-keeled helps to be successful at this game.''


***********************


Brewers turn to Woodruff to open bullpen day vs Colorado
October 4, 2018
By The Associated Press

MILWAUKEE (AP) Young right-hander Brandon Woodruff not only made the Milwaukee Brewers' playoff roster, but he's starting Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Colorado Rockies.

The Brewers' playoff roster announced before the Game 1 on Thursday features an 11-man pitching staff that includes rookie right-handers Corbin Burnes and Freddy Peralta. Like Woodruff, they are promising starters who have been pitching out of the bullpen.

Woodruff leads off what manager Craig Counsell called bullpen day on Thursday against the Rockies, who are starting right-hander Antonio Senzatela (6-6, 4.38 ERA).

Woodruff is 3-0 with a 3.61 ERA in 19 games this year with four starts. The 25-year-old has pitched exclusively in relief after Sept. 1, going 1-0 with a 0.73 ERA over 12 1/3 innings in seven appearances.

One of Woodruff's four starts came at Colorado, when he allowed seven runs on nine hits in three innings on May 11. The Brewers still won 11-10.

Jhoulys Chacin (15-8, 3.50), the Brewers' best starter this year, is scheduled to take the hill in Game 2 on Friday, when he will be opposed by Colorado's Tyler Anderson (7-9, 4.55).

Left-handers Wade Miley and Gio Gonzalez are the other starters on the Brewers' roster. Miley (5-2, 2.57) has pitched well in the second half, while Gonzalez is 3-0 with a 2.13 ERA in five starts after being acquired from the Washington Nationals.

Outfielder Keon Broxton is on the NLDS roster to give Counsell a pinch runner and late-inning defensive replacement off a bench that includes right-handed slugger Domingo Santana and left-handed veteran Curtis Granderson.

Among those left off the roster were left-handed power hitter Eric Thames, who came off the bench in September. He initially split playing time with Jesus Aguilar at first base before getting hurt in April. Aguilar went on to have a breakout season, making the All-Star team and hitting 35 homers.

Right-handed starter Zach Davies was also left off the roster. He was 2-7 with a 4.77 ERA but pitched better in September after returning from injury.

Right-handed starter Chase Anderson, who gave up an NL-high 30 homers, didn't make the roster.

[StarDust Bum]

Dodgers look to Ryu, not Kershaw, to set tone in opener
October 3, 2018
By The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) These aren't the same Dodgers that won 104 games, ran away in the NL West, and fell one victory short of a World Series title last year.

Example A: After a slow start, they won 92 games and needed Game 163 to earn their sixth straight division title.

Example B: Clayton Kershaw won't be opening the postseason as the Game 1 starter for the first time in six consecutive playoff appearances.

Example C: Kershaw told Hyun-Jin Ryu that the South Korean left-hander was going to take the mound on Thursday night against Mike Foltynewicz and the Atlanta Braves to begin the best-of-five Division Series.

''I'm obviously kind of nervous, but I think it's a good thing,'' Ryu said through a translator Wednesday.

The Dodgers obviously think flip-flopping Kershaw and Ryu is the right move, with manager Dave Roberts saying it allows both pitchers to have five days' rest between starts. If Kershaw started Game 1, he would be on four days' rest, while Ryu would be on six days' rest.

Kershaw starting the opener has always been the surest sign that it's October. The face of the franchise has started eight of the past 10 postseason Game 1s. He can opt out of his contract after the World Series.

''He obviously wanted to pitch Game 1 and expected to,'' Roberts said. ''But after talking to him and explaining our thoughts, he accepted it and he just said he'll be ready to go for the second game.''

Kershaw often has started on short rest in recent postseasons, but the Dodgers don't plan on that this time. Rookie Walker Buehler is set to go in Game 3, having impressed enough to be the heir apparent to Kershaw.

''It doesn't have to all fall on his shoulders like it has in the past,'' starter-turned-reliever Alex Wood said of Kershaw.

Slugger Matt Kemp added, ''We got a lot of guys who can get the job done.''

Ryu is eager to make a mark after not pitching in the postseason since 2014, having been injured for most of the 2015 and '16 seasons. He was left off last year's playoff rosters after going 5-9 with a 3.77 ERA.

Still, Ryu has posted a better ERA (2.81) in his three career postseason games than Kershaw (4.35) in his 24 playoff games.

''Finding out that I made the postseason roster, especially not making it last year, was definitely huge for me,'' he said. ''I'm going to go full throttle from the very first pitch in the very first inning.''

Ryu was 7-3 with a 1.97 ERA in the regular season. Fellow lefty Kershaw was 9-5 with a 2.73 ERA and team-high 155 strikeouts.

Ryu had an edge over the final month of the season, posting a 1.88 ERA after overcoming a groin injury. Kershaw, also injured this season, had a 3.89 ERA in September.

''I think it's pick your poison between the two of them,'' Wood said.

If needed, Kershaw could still start Game 5 in Los Angeles on normal rest, so the move allows him to be available twice in the best-of-5 series.

''If we get to that point, then we'll have a discussion,'' Roberts said.

Like the Dodgers, the Braves aren't the same team they were a year ago.

Atlanta is back in the postseason for the first time since 2013, when they were beaten by the Dodgers in four games.

Under manager Brian Snitker, the Braves went from 72 wins in 2017 to 90 and the NL East title this year, surprising many with the quick turnaround.

''No one really followed us until the end of the season,'' Foltynewicz said. ''Just because we started off hot, no one thought we would continue being that good and we did the whole season.''

Led by so-called ''Baby Braves'' - 20-year-old left fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. and 21-year-old second baseman Ozzie Albies - Atlanta has gotten production from veterans Nick Markakis and Freddie Freeman as well.

What the Braves lack is playoff experience, especially compared to the battle-tested Dodgers.

''We got a bunch of young guys that they had never experienced September either, having to win and chasing a division,'' Snitker said, ''and then it didn't faze them a bit.''

[StarDust Bum]

wild card/division/championship series/world series /record and best bets:


Date w-l-t % units record

10/03/2018 1-1-0 50.00% +0
10/01/2018 2-1-1 66.67% +585

total..............3-2-1........60.00%.....+5.85


best bets:................ats.....................units ..................o/u..................units............days total

10/03/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+0.00
10/01/2018...............1 - 1....................+5.85..................1 - 0.................+0.00.............+5.85

total.......................1 - 2....................+0.85..................2 - 0.................+5.00.............+5.85


note: As in the regular season i only play dogs and totals.......good luck all !!

[StarDust Bum]

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

COL at MIL 05:07 PM

COL +146

U 8.5

ATL at LAD 08:37 PM

U 7.0

[StarDust Bum]

Rockies' bats go mostly quiet in Game 1 of NLDS
October 4, 2018
By The Associated Press

MILWAUKEE (AP) Nolan Arenado and Colorado had one good stretch at the plate. That was it for the whole afternoon.

Tough couple of days for the Rockies' star-studded lineup.

Arenado helped Colorado rally against Milwaukee's vaunted bullpen in Game 1 of the NL Division Series, but the Rockies were unable to finish off Jeremy Jeffress. Mike Moustakas then hit an RBI single in the 10th inning to lift the Brewers to a 3-2 win Thursday.

Led by Arenado and Trevor Story, Colorado finished among the major league leaders in several offensive categories this year. But the Rockies have been held in check since they bashed five homers in a 12-0 victory over Washington last Sunday, leaving them in a tie for the NL West lead.

''We've got to put better at-bats together, all of us,'' Arenado said. ''I think we're having a little trouble there the last few games. But at the same time, we're facing good pitching. It's tough. These guys are good.''

Colorado had just one hit Thursday before Gerardo Parra and Matt Holliday opened the ninth with consecutive singles off Jeffress, who had made 11 consecutive scoreless appearances since Aug. 31. Charlie Blackmon singled in Parra and DJ LeMahieu reached on an error before Arenado tied it at 2 with a sacrifice fly to center.

The Rockies had a chance for more, but Blackmon was tagged out in a rundown on David Dahl's grounder to first and Jeffress struck out Story to end the inning.

''I thought we did a good job at the end, stringing together some hits, put a couple runs up when it didn't look good,'' Blackmon said. ''We didn't really do a whole lot offensively until that ninth inning.''

That missed opportunity proved costly when Moustakas came up with the game-ending hit against Adam Ottavino.

Game 2 of the best-of-five series is back at Miller Park on Friday.

''We just got to be ready to go tomorrow,'' Arenado said. ''It's a borderline must-win really.''

Colorado had a chance to win the NL West before it lost 5-2 in the tiebreaker at Los Angeles on Monday. It had just two hits before Arenado and Story hit back-to-back homers in the ninth inning.

Arenado hit a sacrifice fly in the first in the wild-card game Tuesday night in Chicago, and Colorado didn't score again until Tony Wolters' 13th-inning RBI single in a 2-1 victory over the Cubs. The Rockies finished with 11 hits, but went 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position and left 11 runners on base.

Playing in their fourth city in five days - covering approximately 2,700 miles - it was more of the same in the NLDS.

Perhaps that shouldn't be such a surprise. Playing away from hitter-friendly Coors Field, the Rockies ranked 20th in runs (335) and 29th in batting average (.225) on the road.

Carlos Gonzalez tripled with two out in the fifth for Colorado's first hit. But Ian Desmond tapped back to the mound on Corbin Burnes' next pitch, ending the inning.

LeMahieu and Ryan McMahon each walked, and then were thrown out trying to steal second.

''I think it was more about how they threw the ball than our at-bats,'' manager Bud Black said. ''I mean, they pitched really, really well.''

Arenado hit .297 with an NL-best 38 homers this year, helping stop the Triple Crown bid by Brewers star Christian Yelich. But the 27-year-old Arenado went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts in just the third playoff game of his stellar career.

Story, who set career highs with 37 homers and 108 RBIs this season, also struck out three times, and Dahl went 0 for 4 with two Ks.

None of the Rockies' hitters saw a pitcher more than once.

''They have a good bullpen. We knew that coming in,'' Arenado said. ''But we feel like we had some good at-bats. Hit the ball hard, just right at people sometimes.''


*****************************


Ryu sharp, Dodgers hit 3 HRs, beat Braves 6-0 in NLDS opener
October 4, 2018

LOS ANGELES (AP) The Dodgers made a surprising and much talked-about decision to start Hyun-Jin Ryu over Clayton Kershaw in Game 1 of the NL Division Series.

Swell choice.

The South Korean left-hander pitched seven dominant innings and Los Angeles launched three home runs to beat the Atlanta Braves 6-0 on Thursday night.

Ryu delivered in his first postseason start since 2014. He allowed four singles - all with two outs - struck out eight and walked none.

''I think we feel pretty good about it. He pitched well. He pitched well,'' Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

The only slip Ryu made was when he mistook the second out of the fourth inning for the last out and started walking toward the dugout. He laughed upon realizing the gaffe.

The 31-year-old Ryu missed 3 1/2 months of the season with a groin strain and returned Aug. 15 to post a 1.88 ERA in 52 2/3 innings. Dodgers great Sandy Koufax was among those who gave Ryu a standing ovation as he walked to the dugout after his final pitch.

The Dodgers set franchise and National League records by hitting 235 homers during the regular season, and their tear continued with three more to begin their playoffs. The defending NL champions actually were outhit 6-5 by Atlanta, but the Braves only got singles.

Game 2 in the best-of-five matchup is Friday at Dodger Stadium, with Kershaw starting for Los Angeles against Anibal Sanchez.

The Braves have lost eight straight series openers in the postseason. They haven't won a Game 1 since 2001 when they went on to sweep Houston in the NLDS.

Rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. struck out twice and went 0 for 4 as the Baby Braves were blanked. This was Atlanta's first playoff appearance since 2013, when they lost to the Dodgers in four games.

Joc Pederson's leadoff shot in the bottom of the first rattled Mike Foltynewicz in his postseason debut.

Foltynewicz gave up four runs and three hits in two innings. The right-hander struck out five and walked two. He got out of a two-out, bases-loaded jam in the first by striking out Yasiel Puig.

Foltynewicz found trouble again in the second.

With two outs, he hit Pederson and walked Justin Turner before Muncy sent a 1-0 pitch over the wall in center, making it 4-0.

Enrique Hernandez hit a solo shot with two outs in the sixth off Brad Brach. Pinch-hitter David Freese added a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

Ryu allowed a two-out single to Freddie Freeman in the first.

After that, he retired 12 consecutive batters before a pair of two-out singles to Ender Inciarte and former Dodger Charlie Culberson in the fifth. Puig charged in on pinch-hitter Kurt Suzuki's fly to right field to end the inning. The Braves didn't advance a runner past second base in the game.

Ryu gave up another two-out single to Ozzie Albies in the seventh. With fans on their feet waving blue towels and the crowd of 50,947 chanting his name, Ryu got Inciarte on a swinging strikeout to end the inning.

Relievers Caleb Ferguson, Alex Wood and Dylan Floro completed the combined six-hitter.

UP NEXT

RHP Anibal Sanchez (7-6, 2.83 ERA) starts Game 2 for Atlanta. He is 2-4 with a 2.79 ERA in seven postseason starts. He last pitched in the playoffs in 2014 with Detroit. Kershaw (9-5, 2.73) goes for the Dodgers. The veteran ace is 7-7 with a 4.35 ERA in 24 postseason games. He gave up four homers in Game 1 of last year's NLDS, the most allowed by a Dodgers pitcher in playoff history.

[StarDust Bum]

wild card/division/championship series/world series /record and best bets:


Date w-l-t % units record

10/04/2018 2-1-0 66.67% +5.00
10/03/2018 1-1-0 50.00% +0
10/01/2018 2-1-1 66.67% +5.85

total.................5-3-1........62.50%.....+10.85


best bets:................ats.....................units ..................o/u..................units............days total

10/04/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................2 - 0.................+10.00...........+5.00
10/03/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+0.00
10/01/2018...............1 - 1....................+5.85..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+10.85

total.........................1 - 3....................-4.15...................4 - 0.................+20.00...........+15.85


note: As in the regular season i only play dogs and totals.......good luck all !!

[StarDust Bum]

Friday’s six-pack

Six highest-paid coaches in college football:

6) Kirby Smart, Georgia, $6.6M

5) Gus Malzahn, Auburn, $6.7M

T3) Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M, $7.5M

T3) Jim Harbaugh, Michigan, $7.5M

2) Urban Meyer, Ohio State, $7.6M

1) Nick Saban, Alabama, $8.3M

Quote of the Day
“Alex (Smith) was being Alex. He left the door open for Patrick (Mahomes) to join him. He said I’m gonna be here at the same time, lifting, eating dinner, watching tape, watching more tape, studying the pictures of the game plan versus all the coverages and doing your own little doodles to figure it out. He (Smith) gave that freely to Patrick, and that doesn’t always happen. That’s a big ego position. The QB room can be a little snitty at times. But Patrick came into a great situation. Alex didn’t make any demands of him, but he didn’t close the door on him in any way. Patrick can’t pay him enough for that opportunity.”
Andy Reid, talking to SI.com

Friday’s quiz
Before the Astros were the Astros, what was their team’s nickname?

Thursday’s quiz
Steve Spurrier coached the Washington Redskins in 2002-03.

Wednesday’s quiz
Paul Silas was Lebron James’ first head coach in the NBA.

********************

Friday’s List of 13: Random stuff with the weekend here…….

13) Took a walk on Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas this afternoon; there were three guys who appeared to be close to my age (in my 50’s) who were naked except for a thong, and they were posing for pictures, in exchange for money. Ummm, no thanks.

Can’t help but be curious, though, how much cash they make in a day.

12) Brewers 3, Rockies 2 (10)— Mike Moustakas got the game-winning hit (should Colorado have walked him and pitched to Manny Pina?) after the Brewers blew a 2-0 ninth-inning lead. Rockies were playing in their 4th city in five days; Game 2 is Friday, also in Milwaukee.

11) Colorado Buffaloes have a WR named Laviska Shenault who I think will be an NFL player, but the reason he plays football is unusual, and a little sad.

When Shenault was 10 years old, his dad was hit by a car and killed, with Laviska watching; from that point on, the young man starting growing his hair out in dreadlocks and vowed never to cut his hair, to honor his late father.

When he got to high school and was a hotshot basketball player, Shenault was told he couldn’t play on the school’s team unless he cut his hair, but Shenault declined, started concentrating instead on playing football. Not really sure what the basketball coach was thinking about, but this young man is two years away from playing football on Sundays.

10) Was nice to read an Andy Reid quote today about how much Alex Smith helped Patrick Mahomes LY, when Mahomes was Smith’s backup with the Chiefs. Not all QB’s are helpful to their backups, seeing how backups have sometimes taken the starter’s job. Lot of $$$ at stake.

9) 24 college football coaches are making $4M+ this season, led by Nick Saban’s $8.3M.

8) 58% of NFL plays last season were passes; so far this year, that number is up to 61%.

7) In 63 NFL games this season, there have been 72 games where a receiver gained 100+ yards.

All of last season, in 256 games, there were 140 receiving games of 100+ yards.

6) Houston 41, Tulsa 26— Golden Hurricane led 23-17 after three quarters, but Cougars stormed back and now they’re 4-1, while Tulsa is 0-4 vs I-A opponents.

5) Games scoring zero or one run this season: Orioles 40, Cubs 39. Surprising.

4) Top college football teams at going over the total:

Rice 5-0; South Alabama, Utah State 4-0; Appalachian State, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico, Ohio U, Toledo, all 3-0. Missouri 3-0-1

3) Former major league pitcher Mark Mulder is playing in the PGA’s Safeway Open this week, on a sponsor’s exemption. Mulder shot +3 Thursday, and actually beat five pro golfers.

2) Patriots 38, Colts 24— Julian Edelman was back and New England scored 38 points, which is no huge surprise. Andrew Luck threw for 365 yards and didn’t have all that much help from his receivers, who dropped several passes.

1) Dodgers 6, Braves 0— Hyun-Jin Ryu allowed four hits in seven scoreless IP for LA.

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Dunkel

Friday, October 5


NY Yankees @ Boston

Game 905-906
October 5, 2018 @ 7:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
NY Yankees
(Happ) 14.717
Boston
(Sale) 18.256
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Boston
by 3 1/2
9
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Boston
-180
7 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Boston
(-180); Over

Cleveland @ Houston

Game 907-908
October 5, 2018 @ 2:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Cleveland
(Kluber) 16.802
Houston
(Verlnder) 15.142
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Cleveland
by 1 1/2
5
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Houston
-150
6 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Cleveland
(+130); Under

Colorado @ Milwaukee

Game 909-910
October 5, 2018 @ 4:15 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Colorado
(Andrson) 17.504
Milwaukee
(Chacin) 19.169
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Milwaukee
by 1 1/2
7
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Milwaukee
-155
8
Dunkel Pick:
Milwaukee
(-155); Under

Atlanta @ LA Dodgers

Game 911-912
October 5, 2018 @ 9:35 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Atlanta
(Sanchez) 14.171
LA Dodgers
(Kershaw) 19.476
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
LA Dodgers
by 5 1/2
9
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
LA Dodgers
-220
7
Dunkel Pick:
LA Dodgers
(-220); Over

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Friday, October 5

American League
New York (101-62) @ Boston (108-54)
Happ is 2-0, 2.17 in his last five starts; over is 5-2-1 in his last eight. He is 1-1, 3.97 in four starts vs Boston this year; two with the Blue Jays, two with NY. Team in his starts: 9-2, 4-0 road
5-inning record: 7-2-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-11

Sale allowed one run in 47 IP from June 17-Sept 16, with two DL stints in there; he allowed five runs in eight IP in his last two appearances. Sale is 2-0, 0.69 vs New York this year. Team in his starts: 18-9, 8-4 home
5-inning record: 16-5-6 Allowed run in 1st inning: 6-27

New York is 10-4 in its last 14 games, 5-2 in last seven road games. Red Sox are 3-5 in their last eight games; they’ve been coasting for long time, with such a big lead in division. Boston is 10-9 vs New York this season; 7-3 at home, 3-6 in the Bronx.

New York is in playoffs for third time in last six years; they haven’t been to a World Series since 2009. Red Sox are in playoffs for third year in row; they won World Series in 2013. Both managers here are rookie managers.

Indians (91-71) @ Astros (103-59)
Kluber is 4-0, 2.80 in his last six starts; under is 4-2-1 in his last seven. He is 1-0, 1.35 in two starts vs Houston this year. Team in his starts: 21-12, 9-7 road
5-inning record: 19-8-6 Allowed run in 1st inning: 8-33

Verlander is 3-0, 1.09 in his last five starts; under is 4-2 in his last six. He didn’t pitch against the Indians this year. Team in his starts: 21-13, 7-11 home
5-inning record: 22-6-6 Allowed run in 1st inning: 7-34

Cleveland-Houston split six games back in May; home side went 2-1 in both series. Indians are in playoffs for 3rd year in row; they haven’t won World Series since 1948, but Francona won two WS titles with the Red Sox. Cleveland won a terrible AL Central; they won six of last nine games, are 6-7 in last 13 road games.

Astros won World Series LY; they’re in playoffs for third time in four years. Houston won eight of its last ten games.

National League
Rockies (92-73) @ Brewers (97-67)
Anderson is 1-1, 1.83 in his last three starts; over is 8-3-1 in his last 12. Team in his starts: 13-20, 7-9 road (lost his last five road starts) Anderson allowed seven runs in four IP in a 8-4 loss at Miller Park, back on August 4.
5-inning record: 14-10-9 Allowed run in 1st inning: 16-33

Former Rockie Chacin is 1-1, 3.20 in his last four starts; four of his last five starts stayed under. Team in his starts: 23-12, 8-6 home (lost last 3 home starts). Chacin beat Colorado 5-2 at Coors Field May 10, allowing two runs in 5.1 IP.
5-inning record: 16-10-6 Allowed run in 1st inning: 8-35

Colorado won ten of its last 13 games, including four of last six on road. Brewers won their last nine games, only four of which were at home. Milwaukee is 6-2 against the Rockies this season, 3-1 at Miller Park.

Colorado lost Wild Card game LY, their first playoffs appearance since 2009. Brewers are in the playoffs for first time since 2011.

Braves (90-72) @ Dodgers (92-71)
Sanchez is 1-1, 1.57 in his last four starts; under is 6-2 in his last eight starts. Team in his starts: 13-11, 8-5 road
5-inning record: 8-12-4 Allowed run in 1st inning: 5-24

Kershaw is 3-0, 4.80 in his last five starts; over is 3-1 in his last four. Kershaw beat the Braves 4-1 in Atlanta July 27, allowing two runs in 7.2 IP. Team in his starts: 16-10, 6-6 home
5-inning record: 15-7-4 Allowed run in 1st inning: 4-26
Kershaw is 4-1, 4.24 in his last 11 postseason starts.

Braves lost five of their last six games; they’re in playoffs for first time since 2013. Dodgers won five in row, 11 of last 14 games; they won seven of last eight home games. LA is in playoffs for sixth year in row; they haven’t won a World Series since 1988.

______________________________

Teams’ records in first five innings:
Team (road-home-total)- thru 9/18
Atl 32-30-13…..35-31-10………67-61
Colo 35-29-15……37-26-11……71-55
LA 40-28-8…….34-29-16……74-57
Milw 31-34-10…..39-30-8…….70-64

Boston 37-28-14……47-20-7……..84-48
Clev 30-30-14……46-21-10……..76-51
Astros 41-20-15……41-21-15…….82-41
NYY 34-24-15……44-25-8………78-48

%age of times teams score in first inning (road/home/total- 9/18)
Atl 23-74……31-77………54
Colo 23-78…….29-74.…….52
LA 26-75……..29-78..…..55
Milw 27-74…..…30-79…….57

Boston 19-76……29-74………47
Clev 20-73…….31-76…….51
Astros 21-75…..…18-76………39
NYY 18-74……..31-76………49

[StarDust Bum]

MLB

Friday, October 5

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cleveland Indians
Cleveland is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Cleveland is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games
Cleveland is 4-9 ATS in its last 13 games on the road
Cleveland is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games when playing Houston
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Cleveland's last 6 games when playing Houston
Cleveland is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Houston
Cleveland is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Houston
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Cleveland's last 16 games when playing on the road against Houston
Houston Astros
Houston is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
Houston is 8-2 SU in its last 10 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Houston's last 5 games
Houston is 4-8 SU in its last 12 games when playing Cleveland
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Houston's last 6 games when playing Cleveland
Houston is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Cleveland
Houston is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Cleveland
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Houston's last 16 games when playing at home against Cleveland


Colorado Rockies
Colorado is 10-2 ATS in its last 12 games
Colorado is 10-2 SU in its last 12 games
Colorado is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Colorado is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Colorado's last 16 games on the road
Colorado is 2-7 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Milwaukee
Colorado is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games when playing Milwaukee
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Colorado's last 12 games when playing Milwaukee
Colorado is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games when playing on the road against Milwaukee
Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Milwaukee's last 8 games
Milwaukee is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Colorado
Milwaukee is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games when playing Colorado
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Milwaukee's last 12 games when playing Colorado
Milwaukee is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games when playing at home against Colorado


New York Yankees
NY Yankees is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
NY Yankees is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of NY Yankees's last 5 games
NY Yankees is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
NY Yankees is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of NY Yankees's last 5 games on the road
NY Yankees is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Boston
The total has gone OVER in 5 of NY Yankees's last 5 games when playing Boston
NY Yankees is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Boston
Boston Red Sox
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Boston's last 5 games
Boston is 5-10 ATS in its last 15 games at home
Boston is 9-4 SU in its last 13 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Boston's last 5 games at home
Boston is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing NY Yankees
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Boston's last 5 games when playing NY Yankees
Boston is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against NY Yankees


Atlanta Braves
Atlanta is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games
Atlanta is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Atlanta's last 6 games
Atlanta is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Atlanta is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Atlanta's last 6 games on the road
Atlanta is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing LA Dodgers
Atlanta is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing LA Dodgers
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Atlanta's last 5 games when playing LA Dodgers
Atlanta is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against LA Dodgers
Atlanta is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against LA Dodgers
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Atlanta's last 5 games when playing on the road against LA Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
LA Dodgers is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
LA Dodgers is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
LA Dodgers is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games at home
LA Dodgers is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Atlanta
LA Dodgers is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Atlanta
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of LA Dodgers's last 5 games when playing Atlanta
LA Dodgers is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Atlanta
LA Dodgers is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Atlanta
The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Dodgers's last 5 games when playing at home against Atlanta

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Long Sheet

Friday, October 5

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES (101 - 62) at BOSTON (108 - 54) - 7:35 PM
J.A. HAPP (L) vs. CHRIS SALE (L)
Top Trends for this game.
NY YANKEES are 15-27 (-16.0 Units) against the money line in road games when playing on Friday over the last 3 seasons.
NY YANKEES are 49-65 (-20.4 Units) against the money line in road games against division opponents over the last 3 seasons.
NY YANKEES are 59-43 (-20.0 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
BOSTON is 108-54 (+31.6 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
BOSTON is 43-12 (+19.5 Units) against the money line as a home favorite of -175 to -250 over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 52-24 (+17.8 Units) against the money line against division opponents this season.
BOSTON is 73-34 (+22.5 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
NY YANKEES are 98-65 (+22.4 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
HAPP is 11-3 (+8.6 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season. (Team's Record)
BOSTON is 543-493 (-66.1 Units) against the money line against left-handed starters since 1997.
BOSTON is 457-413 (-77.6 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.
BOSTON is 239-239 (-64.9 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 10-9 (+1.0 Units) against NY YANKEES this season
11 of 17 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+4.6 Units)

J.A. HAPP vs. BOSTON since 1997
HAPP is 8-4 when starting against BOSTON with an ERA of 3.00 and a WHIP of 1.256.
His team's record is 13-7 (+7.2 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 12-8. (+3.0 units)

CHRIS SALE vs. NY YANKEES since 1997
SALE is 6-4 when starting against NY YANKEES with an ERA of 1.76 and a WHIP of 0.894.
His team's record is 7-7 (-3.4 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 8-6. (+1.2 units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND (91 - 71) at HOUSTON (103 - 59) - 2:05 PM
COREY KLUBER (R) vs. JUSTIN VERLANDER (R)
Top Trends for this game.
CLEVELAND is 91-71 (-24.5 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
CLEVELAND is 41-38 (-15.7 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
CLEVELAND is 11-15 (-14.2 Units) against the money line when playing on Friday this season.
CLEVELAND is 69-50 (-16.4 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
CLEVELAND is 48-42 (-20.0 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
CLEVELAND is 25-34 (-21.4 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
HOUSTON is 152-76 (+33.1 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
HOUSTON is 5-9 (-10.1 Units) against the money line when the total is 7 or less this season.
HOUSTON is 46-35 (-27.3 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
HOUSTON is 39-35 (-15.5 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
HOUSTON is 7-12 (-16.1 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
VERLANDER is 0-5 (-9.7 Units) against the money line when the total is 7 or less this season. (Team's Record)
VERLANDER is 8-11 (-19.3 Units) against the money line in home games this season. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
HOUSTON is 4-3 (+0.9 Units) against CLEVELAND this season
5 of 7 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+2.9 Units)

COREY KLUBER vs. HOUSTON since 1997
KLUBER is 5-3 when starting against HOUSTON with an ERA of 3.04 and a WHIP of 1.207.
His team's record is 5-4 (-0.6 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 5-4. (+0.5 units)

JUSTIN VERLANDER vs. CLEVELAND since 1997
VERLANDER is 20-24 when starting against CLEVELAND with an ERA of 4.68 and a WHIP of 1.315.
His team's record is 23-29 (-13.6 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 21-29. (-12.8 units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

COLORADO (92 - 73) at MILWAUKEE (97 - 67) - 4:15 PM
TYLER ANDERSON (L) vs. JHOULYS CHACIN (R)
Top Trends for this game.
COLORADO is 260-458 (-81.3 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +125 to +175 since 1997.
ANDERSON is 10-22 (-12.6 Units) against the money line after a loss over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
MILWAUKEE is 97-67 (+24.7 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
MILWAUKEE is 52-34 (+16.0 Units) against the money line when the total is 8 to 8.5 this season.
MILWAUKEE is 22-7 (+11.7 Units) against the money line as a home favorite of -125 to -175 this season.
MILWAUKEE is 52-30 (+14.8 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
MILWAUKEE is 31-16 (+11.1 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 8 to 8.5 this season.
MILWAUKEE is 19-8 (+11.6 Units) against the money line when playing on Friday this season.
MILWAUKEE is 71-55 (+23.6 Units) against the money line against left-handed starters over the last 3 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 98-82 (+13.2 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 2 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 45-34 (+13.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
MILWAUKEE is 23-14 (+11.6 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
CHACIN is 23-12 (+10.7 Units) against the money line in all games this season. (Team's Record)
CHACIN is 21-12 (+10.7 Units) against the money line when the total is 8 to 8.5 over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
CHACIN is 13-7 (+9.2 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
CHACIN is 19-14 (+9.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
COLORADO is 92-73 (+19.9 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
COLORADO is 23-17 (+9.3 Units) against the money line when the total is 8 to 8.5 this season.
COLORADO is 45-39 (+15.4 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
COLORADO is 23-17 (+9.3 Units) against the money line on the road when the total is 8 to 8.5 this season.
COLORADO is 58-46 (+13.7 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
COLORADO is 54-40 (+19.8 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
COLORADO is 40-25 (+20.4 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
MILWAUKEE is 6-2 (+4.8 Units) against COLORADO this season
5 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+2.8 Units)

TYLER ANDERSON vs. MILWAUKEE since 1997
ANDERSON is 1-2 when starting against MILWAUKEE with an ERA of 8.59 and a WHIP of 1.636.
His team's record is 1-2 (-1.1 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 1-2. (-1.2 units)

JHOULYS CHACIN vs. COLORADO since 1997
CHACIN is 2-1 when starting against COLORADO with an ERA of 3.32 and a WHIP of 1.200.
His team's record is 3-1 (+3.4 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-3. (-2.3 units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ATLANTA (90 - 73) at LA DODGERS (93 - 71) - 9:35 PM
ANIBAL SANCHEZ (R) vs. CLAYTON KERSHAW (L)
Top Trends for this game.
ATLANTA is 45-57 (-29.8 Units) against the money line in October games since 1997.
ATLANTA is 30-42 (-25.0 Units) against the money line in playoff games since 1997.
SANCHEZ is 12-26 (-14.6 Units) against the money line after a loss over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
KERSHAW is 40-11 (+20.7 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
ATLANTA is 90-72 (+18.7 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
ATLANTA is 28-34 (+23.2 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +175 to +250 over the last 3 seasons.
ATLANTA is 47-35 (+18.6 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
ATLANTA is 59-50 (+7.8 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
ATLANTA is 20-12 (+10.1 Units) against the money line in road games after a loss this season.
ATLANTA is 104-85 (+31.1 Units) against the money line in road games after 3 or more consecutive losses since 1997.
ATLANTA is 46-40 (+12.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
ATLANTA is 30-33 (+18.0 Units) against the money line in road games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
LA DODGERS are 93-71 (-20.5 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
LA DODGERS are 46-37 (-20.1 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
LA DODGERS are 9-12 (-13.0 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 7 or less this season.
LA DODGERS are 65-53 (-18.2 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
LA DODGERS are 53-46 (-19.2 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
LA DODGERS are 12-16 (-15.5 Units) against the money line after 3 or more consecutive wins this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
LA DODGERS is 6-2 (+2.9 Units) against ATLANTA this season
4 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=-0.8 Units, Under=-0.4 Units)

ANIBAL SANCHEZ vs. LA DODGERS since 1997
SANCHEZ is 1-2 when starting against LA DODGERS with an ERA of 3.63 and a WHIP of 1.185.
His team's record is 3-4 (-0.7 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 2-5. (-3.4 units)

CLAYTON KERSHAW vs. ATLANTA since 1997
KERSHAW is 5-0 when starting against ATLANTA with an ERA of 1.32 and a WHIP of 0.915.
His team's record is 10-2 (+6.6 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 5-6. (-2.0 units)

[StarDust Bum]

STARTER STAT OF THE DAY

Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers (9-5, 2.73 ERA, -$452): This isn't about Kershaw finishing outside the top 300 in player value despite putting up decent numbers in 2018. This is about the sensational Dodgers left-hander having allowed three or more runs in three of his previous starts while being taken deep seven times over his previous seven turns – signs that things might not be so rosy for him.

Add in the omnipresent narrative of Kershaw struggling in the postseason, and suddenly, the Braves are an intriguing option at +*** for Game 2. Kershaw is always capable of a big game, but we can't help wondering if that game is coming Friday night.


Runs Galore?

You can say this about the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry: it has produced some high-scoring affairs of late, with the teams having cashed the over in each of their last four encounters. And there are plenty of other over trends at work, as well: The Yankees have gone above the total in seven consecutive games, while the Red Sox are on a 9-1-1 O/U run over their past 11 games.

With questions swirling about Sale's effectiveness and Happ allowing four runs over five innings in his previous meeting with the Red Sox on Sept. 28, there's a lot to like about the over-8 play in this one.


The Wrong Man for the Job?

The playoffs take on an entirely different complexion than the regular season, but you must wonder if the Rockies have the right guy on the mound as they look to get back in their National League Division Series in Milwaukee. Friday starter Tyler Anderson is on a dismal run, with the Rockies having won just two of his previous 12 starts dating back to the end of July.

Anderson has straightened things out a little over his past three turns (19 2/3 IP, 4 ER), but he was torched for seven runs in four innings in his only visit to Milwaukee this season. The Brewers are a solid run-line play Friday at +135.


One-Run Wonders?

It seems like there is one team every year that uses an incredible record in one-run games to propel itself to playoff prominence. This year's edition: The Atlanta Braves, who enter Game 2 of their National League Division Series with the Dodgers having posted an incredible 23-12 mark in one-run games during the regular season.

Atlanta starter Anibal Sanchez will have his hands full keeping up with Kershaw and the Dodgers, but if this one is close, the Braves might just have the upper hand; consider the visitors to win by exactly one run and even this series at a game apiece.

[StarDust Bum]

LEADING OFF: Astros, Indians buck opener trend; Yanks-Sox
October 4, 2018
By The Associated Press

A look at what's happening around the majors today:

NO OPENERS NEEDED

Cy Young Award winners Justin Verlander and Corey Kluber will start the AL Division Series between the Astros and Indians at Minute Maid Park in a matchup that figures to buck the October trend of bullpen ''openers.''

Verlander, a 14-year veteran, believes the AL West champion Astros and AL Central champion Indians have the top two rotations in the AL. He thinks the performance of each team's starters will be paramount to success.

''Us and the Indians probably being 1 and 2, however you like to slice it, us and them, them and us,'' he said. ''Pick your poison. We both have very defined starters who have a great track record and have good stuff. This should be a really fun series.''

ON SALE

Chris Sale waited eight years to make his first postseason start and then another 365 days for a chance to put that memory behind him. The Red Sox left-hander will open Game 1 of the AL Division Series against the New York Yankees, one year after he was bombarded by the championship-bound Houston Astros in his playoff debut.

''Last year, obviously, I got my feet wet. Didn't do too well. But sometimes you learn from the bad more than the good,'' Sale said Thursday, a day before the AL East rivals open their best-of-five series.

He'll oppose J.A. Happ at Fenway Park as the Yankees and Red Sox begin their first postseason series since the 2004 AL Championship Series.

THE ACE AWAITS

Clayton Kershaw pitches Game 2 of the Dodgers' NLDS against Atlanta showing no signs that he's miffed about being passed over for Game 1. Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts went with Hyun-Jin Ryu in the series opener at Dodger Stadium instead of the longtime face of the franchise, setting up Kershaw to pitch on five days of rest. Ryu responded with seven sharp innings in a 6-0 win.

Roberts says the vibe with Kershaw is ''great.'' Kershaw can opt out of the final two years of his contract after the World Series.

''Obviously, it's a huge sacrifice for him,'' Roberts said. ''But to not let it influence his mind or psyche, that doesn't surprise me.''

Atlanta will counter with veteran Anibal Sanchez.

QUIET COLORADO

The Rockies' bats have gone mostly silent this October, a slump try to snap against Brewers starter Jhoulys Chacin in Game 2 of their NLDS at Miller Park. Colorado had just four hits in a 3-2, 10-inning loss Thursday, two days after beating the Chicago 2-1 in 13 innings in the wild-card game.

At least they'll get a respite from Milwaukee's vaunted bullpen. Relief pitcher Brandon Woodruff pitched three hitless innings as the ''opener'' in Game 1 and the bullpen cruised until Jeremy Jeffress' ninth-inning hiccup. Chacin will be pitching on three days of rest against left-hander Tyler Anderson.

FUTURE LOOK

Three Cuban prospects, including top international free agent Victor Victor Mesa, will try out for major league scouts at Marlins Park. Also participating will be Mesa's brother, Victor Mesa Jr., and pitcher Sandy Gaston. All teams are invited to attend. The Mesas, both outfielders, were recently declared free agents by Major League Baseball and can be signed by any team.

[StarDust Bum]

Davis cracks Indians' roster for ALDS
October 4, 2018
By The Associated Press

HOUSTON (AP) Rajai Davis is getting the chance to further his October legacy.

Indians manager Terry Francona said Thursday the speedy outfielder will get his team's final spot on the 25-man roster for the AL Division Series against the Houston Astros.

Davis was given the nod over backup infielder Erik Gonzalez. Davis cemented his place in October baseball lore with a tying home run in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series before Cleveland lost to the Chicago Cubs in 10 innings.

Houston manager A.J. Hinch chose to carry just two catchers, leaving off Max Stassi for rookie Myles Straw, another speedy outfielder who has been mostly used as a pinch-runner. The Astros bullpen will consist of closer Roberto Osuna, Lance McCullers Jr., Ryan Pressly, left-hander Tony Sipp, Collin McHugh, Will Harris and hard-throwing rookie Josh James.

Hinch chose to go with James over Hector Rondon, who has struggled over the last month, for his ability to pitch multiple innings. Also left off the roster were right-hander Brad Peacock, who appeared in seven games with one start last postseason, and 2017 All-Star Chris Devenski.


*********************


Sale eager to amend for 2017 clunker
October 4, 2018
By The Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) Chris Sale waited eight years to make his first postseason start and then another 365 days for a chance to put that memory behind him.

The Red Sox left-hander will start Game 1 of the AL Division Series against the New York Yankees on Friday night, one year after he was bombarded by the championship-bound Houston Astros in his playoff debut.

He's thought about it. He's learned from it.

And he wants to make sure he doesn't make the same mistakes again.

''Last year, obviously, I got my feet wet. Didn't do too well. But sometimes you learn from the bad more than the good,'' Sale said Thursday, a day before the AL East rivals open their best-of-five series.

''It happened. I'm not going to run away from it. I don't think that's the right thing to do,'' he said. ''I'm not going to hide from it. You can Google it now, tomorrow and 100 years, and it's going to be there. I own it. I accept it. And like I said, I'm going to be better. I'm going to go do everything I can to be better. That's all I can do.''

A seven-time All-Star who was the ace of the White Sox staff before coming to the Red Sox in 2017, Sale had never pitched for a playoff team before starting the opener of Boston's series against Houston. He gave up seven runs in five innings; he pitched well in an emergency relief appearance in Game 4 but couldn't keep the Astros from advancing.

On Friday night, Sale will face Yankees lefty J.A. Happ in the first-ever meeting of the teams in the ALDS. They have not met at all in the postseason since Boston's epic comeback in the 2004 AL Championship Series before the Red Sox went on to win the World Series and their first title in 86 years.

''This is everything we show up for,'' Sale said. ''We don't play the game for anything else. Personal stats, wins in the regular season are obviously what get us here. And winning games and winning the division and having the record and all that. We appreciate it, don't get me wrong. We worked hard for that. We grinded for that, and we earned it.

''But now is the crunch time,'' he said, punctuating his comments by pounding his finger on the table in front of him. ''We know what's ahead of us. And we know what we have to do.''

And what they have to do now is get past their longtime nemesis, a 100-win team that is coming off of a 7-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics in the AL wild-card game. The Red Sox watched that game on TV as a team.

''It was fun. It was very relaxing,'' Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. ''Hopefully we can do it a few more times in October, get together.''

After partying into the night and then riding what manager Aaron Boone called ''a slow-moving train'' to Boston, the Yankees decided not to work out at Fenway Park on Thursday.

Boone, whose extra-inning homer in Game 7 of the ALCS in 2003 eliminated Boston, said what he remembered from that series was that neither team could count on any momentum from one game to the next.

''I kind of throw that out the window,'' he said. ''In those years, both teams were so good. And one team would kill the other team one day, and you would think, `here we go.' And the next day the other team would answer back.''

Happ went 7-0 for the Yankees after coming to New York before the trade deadline. Masahiro Tanaka will pitch Game 2 of the series against David Price. Boone added reliever Stephen Tarpley and lefty CC Sabathia to the roster in place of infielder Tyler Wade and catcher Kyle Higashioka.

Cora has said that 2016 Cy Young winner Rick Porcello will pitch Game 3, with Nathan Eovaldi scheduled to go in Game 4.

Sale is still recovering from left shoulder inflammation that landed him on the disabled list twice in the second half of the season and limited him to 12 innings from July 11 until Sept. 11. He made four starts down the stretch as he tried to build up arm strength, but in his previous outing last Wednesday his fastball was the slowest he's had all year.

Sale adjusted his preparation because of rain Tuesday, pushing back some of his work to Wednesday so he could pitch off a regular mound instead of in the batting cage. Manager Alex Cora said Sale is ''a full go,'' and the problems with his velocity were related to his mechanics and not his health or arm strength.

Either way, Sale insisted, ''if I take the mound, I expect to win.''

''Sometimes you go out there and you have your best, sometimes you don't,'' he said. ''You have to find a way with whatever you have on any given day, and roll with it.''


*****************************


Red Sox, Yanks ready to rumble again
October 4, 2018
By The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) Fans have been waiting for another one of these rumbles: baseball's most-bitter rivals set to tangle again, this time as 100-win heavyweights in the playoffs.

Munson vs. Fisk, Pedro vs. Popeye , A-Rod vs. Varitek and earlier this year Brock Holt vs. Tyler Austin .

The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees back at each other in the postseason for the first time in 14 years.

''We're a team that can play with anybody, and we're not afraid to go in there,'' Yankees center fielder Aaron Hicks said after a 7-2 wild-card win over Oakland sent New York to a best-of-five AL Division Series that starts Friday in Fenway Park.

Yankees fans were chanting ''We want Boston!'' during the late innings. The Red Sox tweeted ''We want New York'' after the final out in the Bronx.

''I think they're ready and relish the opportunity to go up against the game's best this year,'' Yankees rookie manager Aaron Boone said of his players.

That is the same Aaron Boone whose 11th-inning homer in Game 7 of the 2003 AL Championship Series beat the Red Sox. A year later Boston overcame the Yankees and became the first major league team to bounce back from a 3-0 postseason deficit. The Red Sox went on to win their first World Series since 1918, but Boone's drive off Tim Wakefield has not been forgotten or forgiven.

Boston was 10-9 against the Yankees this year and set a club record with 108 wins under new manager Alex Cora, boosted by MVP candidate Mookie Betts, slugger J.D. Martinez and ace Chris Sale. New York finished eight games back and became the first team since the 2001 Athletics to reach triple digits in wins and fail to finish first - New York also set the major league mark for home runs, powered by the likes of Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.

These teams also have a history of hitting each other.

Back on April 11, Austin charged the mound at Fenway after Red Sox reliever Joe Kelly threw at him twice, hitting Austin in the side with the second pitch. Boston players were livid Austin slid spikes-first into shortstop Brock Holt earlier in the game. A bench-clearing brawl led to suspensions and fines, but Auston won't be around for a rematch - he was dealt to Minnesota in July.

''It's Yankees-Red Sox. That's what everybody wants. That's what they got,'' Red Sox star pitcher David Price said then.

Just another in a long history of bad blood between rivals a little more than 200 miles apart.

Boston player-manager Joe Cronin and New York outfielder Jake Powell fought on the field and beneath the Yankee Stadium stands in 1938, and Jimmy Piersall of the Red Sox and Billy Martin of the Yankees brawled beneath Fenway Park's stands in 1952.

A fight broke out in 1967 at Yankee Stadium after New York's Thad Tillotson hit Joe Foy with a pitch and Boston's Jim Lonborg hit Tillotson - who after the scrap hit Dick Howser with a pitch.

In 1973, Thurman Munson crashed into catcher Carlton Fisk at Fenway after Gene Michael missed a bunt, and the All-Stars fought. Then at Yankee Stadium in 1976, New York's Lou Piniella charged into Fisk at the plate , and Boston pitcher Bill Lee was body-slammed during the fighting and wound up with a broken collarbone.

A notorious brawl took place during Game 3 of the 2003 AL Championship series, when Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez threw 72-year-old Don Zimmer to the ground.

Zimmer, a former Boston manager and then a Yankees coach, ran across the infield and lunged at Martinez during the fighting.

Then the following July, Boston's Bronson Arroyo hit New York's Alex Rodriguez with a pitch, A-Rod stared at the pitch as he walked toward first, catcher Jason Varitek got between them and pushed the AL MVP, leading to dugouts and bullpens emptying.

That October the rivals met again in the 2004 ALCS. The Yankees took a 3-0 lead and were one inning from reaching the World Series when Mariano Rivera walked Kevin Millar and pinch-runner Dave Roberts - now the Los Angeles Dodgers manager - stole second. Bill Mueller hit a tying single and the Red Sox won 6-4 in 12 innings when David Ortiz hit a game-ending, two-run homer at 1:22 a.m.

Boston won 5-4 the next day on Ortiz's RBI single in the 14th inning, won Game 6 in New York 4-2 behind Curt Schilling and his bloody sock, then blew out the Yankees 10-3 in the finale.

''All empires fall sooner or later,'' Red Sox president Larry Lucchino said.

Boston swept St. Louis in the World Series, swept Colorado four years later and beat the Cardinals in a six-game series in 2013. Over that same span, the Yankees have won just one title, in 2009.

Fast forward to this week, with the teams ready to meet again.

''It's going to be intense,'' New York pitcher CC Sabathia said.

[StarDust Bum]

wild card/division/championship series/world series /record and best bets:


Date w-l-t % units record

10/04/2018 2-1-0 66.67% +5.00
10/03/2018 1-1-0 50.00% +0
10/01/2018 2-1-1 66.67% +5.85

total.................5-3-1........62.50%.....+10.85


best bets:................ats.....................units ..................o/u..................units............days total

10/04/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................2 - 0.................+10.00...........+5.00
10/03/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+0.00
10/01/2018...............1 - 1....................+5.85..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+10.85

total.........................1 - 3....................-4.15...................4 - 0.................+20.00...........+15.85


note: As in the regular season i only play dogs and totals.......good luck all !!


**************************


FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

CLE at HOU 02:05 PM

CLE +139

O 6.5

COL at MIL 04:15 PM

COL +146

O 8.0