NEW YORK (AP) — The Yankees and Astros plan all-bullpen games from the start in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series in a sign of the times.With the best-of-seven series tied 1-1, New York's Luis Severino starts Game 3 on Tuesday against Gerrit Cole. Masahiro Tanaka began the opener for the Yankees and James Paxton was on the mound for Game 2.Neither team had a starting pitcher it wanted to use for Game 4 on Wednesday."J.A. Happ could very much be in the mix, as well as I picture our bullpen being unleashed on that day," New York manager Aaron Boone said Monday as the series shifted to Yankee Stadium.A starter during the regular season, Happ has relieved during the playoffs. The 36-year-old left-hander entered in the 10th inning of Game 2, escaped a two-out jam, then allowed Carlos Correa's home run leading off the 11th that gave the Astros a 3-2 win.Houston manager A.J. Hinch started Zack Greinke in the opener followed by Justin Verlander in Game 2. Hinch anticipates rookie right-hander... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The Yankees and Astros plan all-bullpen games from the start in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series in a sign of the times.With the best-of-seven series tied 1-1, New York's Luis Severino starts Game 3 on Tuesday against Gerrit Cole. Masahiro Tanaka began the opener for the Yankees and James Paxton was on the mound for Game 2.Neither team had a starting pitcher it wanted to use for Game 4 on Wednesday."J.A. Happ could very much be in the mix, as well as I picture our bullpen being unleashed on that day," New York manager Aaron Boone said Monday as the series shifted to Yankee Stadium.A starter during the regular season, Happ has relieved during the playoffs. The 36-year-old left-hander entered in the 10th inning of Game 2, escaped a two-out jam, then allowed Carlos Correa's home run leading off the 11th that gave the Astros a 3-2 win.Houston manager A.J. Hinch started Zack Greinke in the opener followed by Justin Verlander in Game 2. Hinch anticipates rookie right-hander... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Victor Robles is back in the Nationals' lineup for Game 3 of the NL Championship Series after missing the past five games with a hamstring injury.Robles was starting in center field and batting eighth Monday night with Washington looking to take a commanding 3-0 series lead over the St. Louis Cardinals. Michael A. Taylor, who hit a solo home run in Game 2 Saturday at St. Louis, had been in that spot.Robles took some swings in the batting cage Sunday and looked strong enough working out for manager Dave Martinez to plug the 22-year-old back in. Martinez didn't hesitate to say that Robles would "get a chance to play" over Taylor when he was 100%."He ran the bases (Sunday) and ran them at full tilt. He looked really good," Martinez said. "He's raring to go and excited to get back on the field."Robles hit .255 with 17 home runs and 65 RBIs and had 28 stolen bases during his first full season in the majors. He last played in Game 2 of the NLDS against Los Angeles.The Cardinals... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The Yankees plan to use their bullpen against Houston from the start in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series.With the best-of-seven series tied 1-1, Luis Severino starts Game 3 on Tuesday against Gerrit Cole. Masahiro Tanaka started the opener and James Paxton was on the mound for Game 2. Manager Aaron Boone plans to use pitchers who have been in the bullpen in the postseason during the fourth game on Wednesday night."J.A. Happ could very much be in the mix, as well as I picture our bullpen being unleashed on that day," Boone said Monday as the series shifted to New York.A starter during the regular season, Happ has relieved during the playoffs. The 36-year-old left-hander entered in the 10th inning of Game 2, escaped a two-outs jam, then allowed Carlos Correa's home run leading off the 11th that gave the Astros a 3-2 win.Weather could cause New York to alter its plans. Heavy rain is forecast for Wednesday, and if Game 4 is postponed, the Yankees would be able to bring back... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The Yankees plan to use their bullpen against Houston from the start in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series.With the best-of-seven series tied 1-1, Luis Severino starts Game 3 on Tuesday against Gerrit Cole. Masahiro Tanaka started the opener and James Paxton was on the mound for Game 2. Manager Aaron Boone plans to use pitchers who have been in the bullpen in the postseason during the fourth game on Wednesday night."J.A. Happ could very much be in the mix, as well as I picture our bullpen being unleashed on that day," manager Aaron Boone said Monday as the series shifted to New York.A starter during the regular season, Happ has relieved during the playoffs. The 36-year-old left-hander entered in the 10th inning of Game 2, escaped a two-outs jam, then allowed Carlos Correa's home run leading off the 11th that gave the Astros a 3-2 win.Weather could cause New York to alter its plans. Heavy rain is forecast for Wednesday, and if Game 4 is postponed, the Yankees would be able to bring back Tanaka, the Game 1 winner, on normal rest.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) — Victor Robles is back in the Nationals' lineup for Game 3 of the NL Championship Series after missing the past five games with a hamstring injury.Robles is set to start in center field and bat eighth Monday night with Washington looking to take a commanding 3-0 series lead over the St. Louis Cardinals. Michael A. Taylor, who hit a solo home run in Game 2 Saturday at St. Louis, had been in that spot.Manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that Robles would run and work out before the team decided whether he'd play. Roberts didn't hesitate to say that Robles would "get a chance to play" over Taylor when he's 100%.Robles hit .255 with 17 home runs and 65 RBIs and had 28 stolen bases during his first full season in the majors. He last played in Game 2 of the NLDS against Los Angeles.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Oct. 151917 — The Chicago White Sox won the World Series when the New York Giants left home plate uncovered and Eddie Collins dashed home with third baseman Heinie Zimmerman chasing him in helpless pursuit.1925 — Kiki Cuyler's bases-loaded double in the eighth inning gave the Pittsburgh Pirates a 9-7 victory over Walter Johnson and the Washington Senators in Game 7 of the World Series, capping a comeback from a 3-1 deficit.1946 — Enos Slaughter scored from first on Harry Walker's double to give the St. Louis Cardinals to a 4-3 victory and the World Series title in the seventh game against the Boston Red Sox.1981 — Dave Righetti, Ron Davis and Goose Gossage combined on a 4-0 shutout of the Oakland A's to give the New York Yankees their 33rd American League pennant.1986 — The Boston Red Sox capped one of the greatest comebacks in history by defeating the California Angels 8-1 to win the American League pennant after trailing three games to one in the playoffs.1986 — Ray Knight keyed a three-run... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:MAKING THEIR PITCHStephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals try to move within a win of the World Series. They lead St. Louis 2-0 in the NL Championship Series after dominant starts by Max Scherzer and Aníbal Sánchez — the Cardinals totaled just four hits in their two losses at Busch Stadium and are batting .070 in the best-of-seven matchup.Strasburg faces Cardinals star Jack Flaherty as the series shifts to Nationals Park. Strasburg has a 1.32 ERA in six postseason games, five of them starts. He's 2-0 in the playoffs this fall.Cardinals manager Mike Shildt wouldn't reveal his lineup a day before Game 3. It's possible he makes a tweak, but after analytics showed his hitters aren't chasing the ball out of the strike zone at a higher rate, St. Louis is ready to stay the course without major changes.Teams that have taken a 2-0 lead on the road in a best-of-seven series have gone on to win 88% of the time in MLB history.LEGGED OUTYankees... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — A man in the Astros dugout who was not in uniform was hit by a foul ball off the bat of Houston's Michael Brantley during Game 2 of the AL Championship Series and exited with a towel over his head.The Astros released a statement late in Sunday night's game on behalf of Harris County Emergency Corps, which said one of its employees was hit and taken to a hospital, where he was evaluated and in stable condition. The company, which provides paramedic services, provided no other details."My thoughts and prayers are with his family and him, and I hope I can talk to him soon," Brantley said after the Astros beat the New York Yankees 3-2 in 11 innings.Play was briefly halted after the accident in the fifth inning, and Houston manager AJ Hinch came on the field to console a shaken-up Brantley.Several Astros players were shown in the dugout looking distraught, as were Yankees players who had a view into Houston's dugout. Houston stars Carlos Correa and George Springer both could be... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Yankees went to the bullpen early and kept a parade of relievers going to the mound — even CC Sabathia.But New York's bullpen buckled in the 11th inning when Carlos Correa led off with a home run off J.A. Happ, the Yankees' ninth pitcher, to give the Houston Astros a 3-2 win Sunday that tied the AL Championship Series at one game apiece.On a night when starter James Paxton lasted just 2 1/3 innings and 51 pitches, Yankees manager Aaron Boone treated the third inning like he would the sixth during the regular season."Just felt like we were covered as far as today with getting some length and having guys rested. Obviously going into an off day tomorrow we're just going to be aggressive," Boone said.Paxton allowed Correa's RBI double in the second, escaped further trouble, then was replaced by Chad Green with one on and one out in the third."Thought he was struggling with his command," Boone said.Green retired six straight batters, and Yankees went ahead 2-1 on Aaron Judge's... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Yankees went to the bullpen early and kept a parade of relievers going to the mound — even CC Sabathia.But New York's bullpen buckled in the 11th inning when Carlos Correa led off with a home run off J.A. Happ, the Yankees' ninth pitcher, to give the Houston Astros a 3-2 win Sunday night that tied the AL Championship Series at one game apiece.On a night when starter James Paxton lasted just 2 1/3 innings and 51 pitches, Yankees manager Aaron Boone treated the third inning like he would the sixth during the regular season."Just felt like we were covered as far as today with getting some length and having guys rested. Obviously going into an off day tomorrow we're just going to be aggressive," Boone said. "Thought he was struggling with his command. And it ends up ... doesn't end well."Chad Green relieved Paxton with one on and one out, then retired all six batters he faced. The Yankees went ahead 2-1 on Aaron Judge's two-run homer in the fourth off Justin Verlander, but... [More]

Astros second. Alex Bregman singles to deep left field. Yordan Alvarez walks. Alex Bregman to second. Yuli Gurriel lines out to right field to Aaron Judge. Alex Bregman to third. Carlos Correa doubles to deep left field. Yordan Alvarez to third. Alex Bregman scores. Robinson Chirinos strikes out on a foul tip. Jake Marisnick strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Astros 1, Yankees 0.Yankees fourth. DJ LeMahieu walks. Aaron Judge homers to center field. DJ LeMahieu scores. Gleyber Torres flies out to right field to George Springer. Edwin Encarnacion strikes out swinging. Brett Gardner strikes out swinging.2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Yankees 2, Astros 1.Astros fifth. Kyle Tucker pinch-hitting for Jake Marisnick. Kyle Tucker strikes out swinging. George Springer homers to center field. Michael Brantley reaches on third strike. Jose Altuve singles to shortstop. Michael Brantley to second. Alex Bregman called out on strikes. Yordan Alvarez strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Yankees 2, Astros 2.Astros eleventh. Carlos Correa homers to right field.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Astros 3, Yankees 2.

HOUSTON (AP) — A man in the Astros dugout who was not in uniform was hit by a foul ball off the bat of Houston's Michael Brantley during Game 2 of the AL Championship Series and exited with a towel over his head.The Astros released statement late in Sunday night's game on behalf of Harris County Emergency Corps, which said one of its employees was hit and taken to a hospital, where he was evaluated and in stable condition. The company, which provides paramedic services, provided no other details.Play between the Astros and New York Yankees was briefly halted after the accident in the fifth inning, and Houston manager AJ Hinch came on the field to console a shaken-up Brantley.Several Astros players were shown in the dugout looking distraught, as were Yankees players who had a view into Houston's dugout. Houston stars Carlos Correa and George Springer both could be seen putting their hands on their heads and then looking away seconds after the ball entered the dugout.Play resumed after a couple of minutes and Brantley struck out but reached first on a wild pitch by Adam Ottavino.The Astros extended the protective netting at Minute Maid Park to cover more of the seating area earlier this year, but there is no such protection for the dugouts. The move came after a 2-year-old girl sustained a skull fracture when she struck by a foul ball during a May game in Houston.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

HOUSTON (AP) — A man in the Astros dugout who was not in uniform was hit by a foul ball off the bat of Houston's Michael Brantley during Game 2 of the AL Championship Series and exited with a towel over his head.It was unclear who the person was, but he was not an Astros player or coach. A report by Fox, which was televising the game Sunday night, said he was a security officer. A team spokesman said the club did not have any details or an update on the man's condition.Play between the Astros and New York Yankees was briefly halted after the accident in the fifth inning, and manager AJ Hinch came on the field to console a shaken-up Brantley.Several Astros players were shown in the dugout looking distraught, as were Yankees players who had a view into Houston's dugout. Houston stars Carlos Correa and George Springer both could be seen putting their hands on their heads and then looking away seconds after the ball entered the dugout.Play resumed after a couple of minutes and Brantley struck out but reached first on a wild pitch by Adam Ottavino.The Astros extended the protective netting at Minute Maid Park to cover more of the seating area earlier this year, but there is no such protection for the dugouts. The move came after a 2-year-old girl suffered a skull fracture when she struck by a foul ball during a May game in Houston.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A look at what's happening around the majors Monday:MAKING THEIR PITCHStephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals try to move within a win of the World Series. They lead St. Louis 2-0 in the NL Championship Series after dominant starts by Max Scherzer and Aníbal Sánchez — the Cardinals totaled just four hits in their two losses at Busch Stadium and are batting .070 in the best-of-seven matchup.Strasburg faces Cardinals star Jack Flaherty as the series shifts to Nationals Park. Strasburg has a 1.32 ERA in six postseason games, five of them starts. He's 2-0 in the playoffs this fall.Cardinals manager Mike Shildt wouldn't reveal his lineup a day before Game 3. It's possible he makes a tweak, but after analytics showed his hitters aren't chasing the ball out of the strike zone at a higher rate, St. Louis is ready to stay the course without major changes.Teams that have taken a 2-0 lead on the road in a best-of-seven series have gone on to win 88% of the time in MLB history.LEGGED OUTYankees... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton was out of the New York Yankees' starting lineup for Game 2 of the AL Championship Series because of a right quad strain that happened before he homered in the opener against the Houston Astros.Manager Aaron Boone said before Sunday night's game he didn't know Stanton was hurt until after the end of Game 1. Boone said the slugger was injured running out a single in the second inning. That was four innings before he hit a solo home run off Zach Greinke in New York's 7-0 victory, and the left fielder also made a nice defensive play when moving to catch a liner."So hoping that it's something that with today and the off day, that he would be back in play for Game 3," Boone said. "We'll just kind of see how these next 48 hours unfold."Boone said Stanton could be a pinch-hitting option in Game 2 and could play the field in an emergency. There is a day off in the series Monday before Game 3 in New York on Tuesday night.Stanton was limited to 18 games during the... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton is not in the New York Yankees' starting lineup against Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander for Game 2 of the AL Championship Series with a strained right quad.Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Sunday that Stanton was hurt running out an infield single in the second inning of Game 1 a night earlier. Stanton remained in the game and homered off Zack Greinke in a 7-0 New York victory.Stanton had an MRI that revealed the strain. Boone says Stanton is available to pinch hit and could start again later in the series.Cameron Maybin was set to play left field and bat seventh in place of the 2017 NL MVP.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

HOUSTON (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton is not in the New York Yankees' starting lineup against Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander for Game 2 of the AL Championship Series.Cameron Maybin was starting in left field instead and hitting seventh on the lineup posted by the Yankees before Sunday night's game. Stanton, the 2017 NL MVP, homered against Zack Greinke during a Game 1 victory Saturday.New York didn't immediately specify whether Stanton was held out due to health or for matchup concerns. The big right-handed hitter missed most of the regular season with injuries, including a strained ligament in his right knee that was still limiting his workload near the end of the regular season.Stanton has one hit — a homer — and five strikeouts in nine plate appearances against Verlander.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Oct. 141905 — Christy Mathewson blanked the Philadelphia Athletics 2-0 to give the New York Giants the World Series in five games. All were shutouts, with Mathewson getting three, Joe McGinnity one, and Chief Bender of Philadelphia one.1929 — The Philadelphia A's rallied for three runs in the ninth inning to beat the Chicago Cubs 3-2 and take the World Series in five games. Mule Haas' two-run homer tied the game and Bing Miller's RBI double won it.1965 — Sandy Koufax tossed his second shutout to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 2-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins and the world championship in seven games.1969 — New York's Tommie Agee made two spectacular catches to save five runs and secure a 5-0 victory over Baltimore as the Mets took a 2-1 lead in the World Series.1971 — Pittsburgh's Nelson Briles threw a two-hitter against the Orioles for a 4-0 victory to give the Pirates a 3-2 edge in the World Series.1972 — Oakland catcher Gene Tenace became the first player to hit home runs in each... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:Justin Verlander starts for Houston in Game 2 of the AL Championship Series, trying to even the best-of-seven matchup with the Yankees. New York won the opener 7-0 at Minute Maid Park behind Gleyber Torres' hitting and Masahiro Tanaka's pitching.Verlander topped the majors with 21 wins this season and is 14-8 with a 3.20 ERA in postseason play. But he wasn't at his best in his last start, chased in the fourth inning at Tampa Bay when the Astros had a chance to clinch the AL Division Series. That game came when Verlander started on three days' rest — he'd done that just once before, after a rain-shortened outing in the 2011 playoffs.Verlander will be on regular rest when he faces James Paxton. The New York lefty made his first postseason start last week in the ALDS opener against the Twins and was driven out in the fifth inning.TAKE A BREAKStephen Strasburg and his Washington teammates get a day off before resuming the NL Championship Series... [More]