NEW YORK (AP) — Stephen Strasburg opted out of the final four years of his contract with the Washington Nationals, three days after the star pitcher was chosen MVP of the World Series.The move Saturday makes the 31-year-old right-hander a free agent. Strasburg gave up $100 million he had been guaranteed from 2020-23 as part of a $175 million, seven-year contract he agreed to with the Nationals in May 2016.Strasburg was 18-6 with a 3.32 ERA this season, topping 30 starts for the second time in his career and leading the NL with 209 innings pitched. Then he went 5-0 with a 1.98 ERA in five postseason starts and one relief appearance, including wins in Games 2 and 6 of the World Series against Houston.Washington also won Game 7 to claim the first championship in franchise history.Just a few days later, however, the roster has already begun to change.The club declined its $18 million option for next season on 35-year-old first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, the only player who has been a member of... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Stephen Strasburg opted out of the final four years of his contract with the Washington Nationals, three days after the star pitcher was chosen MVP of the World Series.The move Saturday makes the 31-year-old right-hander a free agent. Strasburg gave up $100 million he had been guaranteed from 2020-23 as part of a $175 million, seven-year contract he agreed to with the Nationals in May 2016.Strasburg was 18-6 with a 3.32 ERA this season, topping 30 starts for the second time in his career and leading the NL with 209 innings pitched. Then he went 5-0 with a 1.98 ERA in five postseason starts and one relief appearance, including wins in Games 2 and 6 of the World Series against Houston.Washington also won Game 7 to claim the first championship in franchise history.Just a few days later, however, the roster has already begun to change.The club declined its $18 million option for next season on 35-year-old first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, the only player who has been a member of... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Washington third baseman Anthony Rendon became a free agent Thursday, a day after homering to spark Washington's seventh-inning comeback in Game 7 of the World Series.Houston pitcher Gerrit Cole also went free after warming up in the bullpen but never getting into the season finale.And Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg, the World Series MVP, could be joining them in the next few days. He has the right to opt out of his contract, which has $100 million over four years remaining.Baseball's business season starts shortly after the final out."I think it's hard to kind of fast-forward," Astros manager AJ Hinch said. "Seasons end really fast. I don't care if you get all the way to the seventh game of the World Series. It's all of a sudden — boom! — it's over."Cole, Rendon and Strasburg all are represented by Scott Boras, known for slow, methodical negotiations. Last winter, he reached outfielder Bryce Harper's $330 million, 13-year contract with Philadelphia on Feb. 28.Cole,... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — It was well within their grasp.The Houston Astros had a shot at a mini dynasty with a second title in three seasons. Instead, they failed to get one win in two chances at home against the Washington Nationals and have an offseason as runner-ups to ponder what might have been."I've got a group of heartbroken men ... that did everything they could to try to bring a World Series championship to this city," manager AJ Hinch said. "And we fell one win shy."The Astros won a franchise-record and MLB-best 107 games to earn home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. It didn't help in a World Series in which they dropped all four games in Houston, capped by Wednesday night's 6-2 loss that left them to watch the Nationals celebrate on their home field.In a season where aces Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole powered their spectacular success, a bullpen implosion in the seventh inning in Game 7 ensured the Astros wouldn't get a second ring this year.Zack Greinke, picked up at the trade... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Astros manager AJ Hinch had options.There was Zack Greinke, a veteran ace showing his first signs of fatigue. Out in the bullpen, Gerrit Cole was watching. And of course, Will Harris was warming.What came next, Hinch will contemplate for years."It's a decision I'll have to live with," he said.After Greinke allowed a homer to Anthony Rendon and walked Juan Soto, Hinch handed a 2-1 lead to Harris in the seventh inning of World Series Game 7. On Harris' second pitch, Howie Kendrick drove a two-run, go-ahead homer off the right field foul pole screen — a haymaker that stunned Houston in a 6-2 defeat that cost them the chance at a second title in two years."It's every reliever's nightmare that I get a chance to live," Harris said, his eyes red-rimmed from the emotional ending.Greinke, the 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner who joined the Astros from Arizona at the trade deadline, had looked strong all night. He threw only 80 pitches, was just starting his third turn through the order,... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Astros manager AJ Hinch had options.There was Zack Greinke, a veteran ace showing his first signs of fatigue. Out in the bullpen, Gerrit Cole was watching. And of course, Will Harris was warming.What came next, Hinch will contemplate for years."It's a decision I'll have to live with," he said.After Greinke allowed a homer to Anthony Rendon and walked Juan Soto, Hinch handed a 2-1 lead to Harris in the seventh inning of World Series Game 7. In Harris' first at-bat, Howie Kendrick drove a two-run, go-ahead homer off the right field foul pole screen — a haymaker that stunned Houston in a 6-2 defeat that cost them the chance at a second title in two years.It was the second straight night Harris surrendered a home run after Rendon took him deep for two runs in Houston's 7-2 loss in Game 6. Harris hadn't allowed a run this postseason before that shot.Greinke, the 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner who joined the Astros from Arizona at the trade deadline, had looked strong all night.... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Astros manager AJ Hinch had options.There was Zack Greinke, a veteran ace showing his first signs of fatigue. Out in the bullpen, Gerrit Cole was watching. And of course, Will Harris was warming.What came next, Hinch will contemplate for years."It's a decision I'll have to live with," he said.After Greinke allowed a homer to Anthony Rendon and walked Juan Soto, Hinch handed a 2-1 lead to Harris in the seventh inning of World Series Game 7. In Harris' first at-bat, Howie Kendrick pulled a two-run, go-ahead homer off the right field foul pole screen — a haymaker that stunned Houston in a 6-2 defeat that cost them the chance at a second title in two years.It was the second straight night Harris surrendered a home run after Rendon took him deep for two runs in Houston's 7-2 loss in Game 6. Harris hadn't allowed a run this postseason before Rendon's shot.Greinke, the 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner who joined the Astros from Arizona at the trade deadline, had looked strong all night.... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Game 7 of the World Series (all times local):10:50 p.m.Howie Kendrick and Anthony Rendon homered in the seventh inning as the Washington Nationals overcame a two-run deficit and rocked the Houston Astros 6-2 Wednesday night in Game 7 to claim the first World Series title in franchise history.With all eyes on Max Scherzer and his remarkable recovery following an injection, the Nationals embraced their shot in a Series where the road team won every game. Even more against the odds: Juan Soto and Washington rallied from behind to win five elimination games this postseason.Stephen Strasburg, Patrick Corbin and the Nats brought the first World Series championship to the nation's capital since Walter Johnson delivered the crown for the Senators in 1924.___10:22 p.m.The Washington Nationals added to their lead going into the ninth inning of Game 7 after another hit by their young slugger.Juan Soto's RBI single in the eighth inning extended Washington's lead over the... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Game 7 of the World Series (all times local):10:22 p.m.The Washington Nationals added to their lead going into the ninth inning of Game 7 after another hit by their young slugger.Juan Soto's RBI single in the eighth inning extended Washington's lead over the Houston Astros to 4-2.Houston will have the top of its order coming up in the bottom of the ninth, needing at least two runs as they try to win their second World Series title in three years.Washington, with the Nationals in their 15th season, will try to take a World Series title with the visiting team winning every game.Soto, who turned 21 last Friday, has two hits in the Series finale and 18 this postseason, with only one player younger than him matching that. Miguel Cabrera had 18 hits as a 20-year-old rookie for the World Series champion Marlins in 2003.___9:53 p.m.Anthony Rendon homered off Zack Greinke and Howie Kendrick followed with a go-ahead, two-run drive against Will Harris in the seventh inning,... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Game 7 of the World Series (all times local):9:53 p.m.Anthony Rendon homered off Zack Greinke and Howie Kendrick followed with a go-ahead, two-run drive against Will Harris in the seventh inning, giving the Washington Nationals a 3-2 lead over the Houston Astros in Game 7.Greinke cruised through six innings with a one-hit shutout, needing just 67 pitchesWith Washington trailing 2-0, Rendon drove a changeup into the left-field Crawford boxes with one out in the seventh, then Juan Soto walked on five pitches.Harris relieved and Kendrick swung past a curveball, then drove a cutter to the opposite field, where it hit off the screen attached to the right-field foul pole, stunning the crowd at Minute Maid Park.Yuli Gurriel singled off Patrick Corbin with two outs in the bottom half but became the Astros' 10th stranded runner when Yordan Álvarez grounded out.___9:16 p.m.Zack Greinke put up another zero in the sixth while Patrick Corbin took over for Max Scherzer in... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Game 7 of the World Series (all times local):9:16 p.m.Zack Greinke put up another zero in the sixth while Patrick Corbin took over for Max Scherzer in Game 7 with Houston leading the Nationals 2-0.Greinke breezed through a 1-2-3 sixth inning. He has allowed just one hit, walked one and has thrown 67 pitches in this efficient outing.Pinch-hitter Jake Marisnick led off Houston's sixth with a single. But Corbin struck out George Springer before Jose Altuve grounded into a double play to end the inning.___9 p.m.Zack Greinke is providing quite an assist for the Houston Astros as they try to clinch their second World Series title in three seasons.Houston leads the Washington Nationals 2-0 through five innings, and finally got a hit with a runner in scoring position.Greinke has allowed only two runners, giving up a single in the second inning and a walk in the fifth. The five-time Gold Glove-winning pitcher and former Cy Young winner, a trade deadline acquisition for... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Game 7 of the World Series (all times local):9 p.m.Zack Greinke is providing quite an assist for the Houston Astros as they try to clinch their second World Series title in three seasons.Houston leads the Washington Nationals 2-0 through five innings, and finally got a hit with a runner in scoring position.Greinke has allowed only two runners, giving up a single in the second inning and a walk in the fifth. The five-time Gold Glove-winning pitcher and former Cy Young winner, a trade deadline acquisition for the Astros this year, already has five fielding assists — the most by a pitcher in a World Series game since Greg Maddux's five while throwing eight scoreless innings for Atlanta against the Yankees in Game 2 in 1996.Yuli Gurriel led off the Astros second with a homer off three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer.The Astros have had runners every inning, with seven hits and four walks. But they were 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position until Carlos Correa's... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Game 7 of the World Series (all times local):8:29 p.m.Houston's Zack Greinke pitched one-hit ball through four innings against the Nationals in World Series Game 7, facing the minimum 12 batters as the Astros maintained their 1-0 lead.Washington's Max Scherzer kept escaping trouble, failing to pitch a 1-2-3 inning but holding the Astros to 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position. Houston stranded seven runners.A five-time Gold Glove winner, Greinke induced four comebackers, including one he turned into a double play following Juan Soto's leadoff single in the second, Greinke needed just 41 pitches for his first 12 outs.Scherzer allowed five hits and three walks but just the one run, on Yuli Gurriel's home run leading off the second. He threw 76 pitches,After Josh Reddick's two-out single in the fourth, George Springer walked on four pitches and José Altuve flied out to center.___8:10 p.m.Max Scherzer and Zack Greinke both threw scoreless third innings in Game... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Game 7 of the World Series (all times local):7:44 p.m.The Houston Astros have taken a 1-0 lead in Game 7 and missed a chance to add more runs off three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer.Yuli Gurriel led off the Astros second with a homer into the Crawford Boxes in left field, sending the orange-clad crowd into a frenzy.Rookie slugger Yordan Alvarez and shortstop Carlos Correa followed with sharp singles. But Robinson Chirinos popped out on an attempted sacrifice bunt before Josh Reddick grounded out. The inning ended on George Springer's liner that was caught just off the ground by left fielder Juan Soto.With Scherzer and Zack Greinke on the mound, it is the first time Cy Young winners have matched up in Game 7 of a World Series. Neither has a strikeout through the first two innings.Greinke has allowed one hit while throwing 12 of 20 pitches for strikes. Scherzer, the Game 1 winner who missed his Game 5 start because of an irritated nerve near his neck, has... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Game 7 of the World Series (all times local):7:25 p.m.Washington and Houston were scoreless after a hitless first inning in Game 7.Zack Greinke need just eight pitches to retire Trea Turner on a lineout, Adam Eaton on a squib in front of the plate and Anthony Rendon on a groundout.Averaging 97 mph with his fastball, Max Scherzer retired George Springer on a flyout and José Altuve on a groundout, walked Michael Brantley, then got Alex Bregman on a flyout. Scherzer, recovered from an irritated nerve near his neck with the help of a cortisone injection, threw 15 pitches.___7:11 p.m.Texas-born actor Matthew McConaughey kicked off Game 7 of the World Series by declaring: "Let's play ball." Wearing the same orange jersey the team was wearing Wednesday night, McConaughey worked the packed crowd into a frenzy by asking: "Houston are you ready," when he took the microphone.Earlier, two of Houston's famed Killer B's, Hall of Famers Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell threw... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Game 7 of the World Series (all times local):5:30 p.m.Umpires apparently wouldn't have gotten much of an argument from Astros manager AJ Hinch if that disputed interference call hadn't been made in Game 6.Nationals leadoff hitter Trea Turner was ruled out on interference with the first baseman when running on his slow roller that was fielded by pitcher Brad Peacock in the seventh inning. The game was stopped for about 10 minutes, including about 4 ½ minutes with the umpires on headsets discussing the situation, before Turner was called out and another runner was returned to first base."That one I wish common sense prevails," Hinch said before Game 7, when asked if he would like to see the base running rule altered. "I actually side with Turner on this one, that I didn't think that he was getting in the way of anything. It was an errant throw."___4:55 p.m.Nationals manager Dave Martinez says Game 7 starting pitcher Max Scherzer has told him that he feels great... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Game 7 of the World Series (all times local):4:55 p.m.Nationals manager Dave Martinez says Game 7 starting pitcher Max Scherzer has told him that he feels great and is ready to go."He's going to go, he's going to pitch," Martinez said before the deciding game Wednesday night. "We'll see how far he will take us."Scherzer, the Game 1 winner, wasn't able to make his scheduled start in Game 5 on Sunday night because of an irritated nerve near his neck. The three-time Cy Young winner had an injection that night and threw on flat ground before Game 6. He was later seen throwing in the bullpen during that game Tuesday night.Martinez wasn't sure Scherzer would be able to pitch again in this World Series after he couldn't move Sunday. The manager even scrunched his shoulders and grimaced while trying to imitate how the pitcher looked before the shot.Scherzer will be throwing to catcher Yan Gomes instead of Kurt Suzuki, who was initially in the starting lineup for Game... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Game 7 of the World Series (all times local):5:35 p.m.Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki has been scratched from Washington's starting lineup for the deciding Game 7 of the World Series against the Houston Astros.Suzuki missed the last three games while dealing with a hip flexor strain. The 36-year-old was initially listed in the starting lineup but was replaced again by Yan Gomes just under three hours before the first pitch.Gomes will be behind the plate for Max Scherzer, the three-time Cy Young winner who was unable to make his start in Game 5 because of an irritated nerve near his neck. Scherzer is starting the finale after a cortisone shot.Gomes was listed eighth, the same spot Suzuki was to bat.___5:20 p.m.Alex Bregman and Houston manager AJ Hinch spoke three times Tuesday night about the third baseman carrying his bat to first base after hitting a home run in the first inning.Hinch said he talked to Bregman about it during the game, after the game at the stadium... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Game 7 of the World Series (all times local):5:00 p.m.Houston manager AJ Hinch said Game 6 starter Justin Verlander won't be available for Game 7 against the Washington Nationals.After taking the loss in Game 6 to fall to 0-6 in seven career World Series starts, Verlander said he would be available on Wednesday if Hinch needed him. But Hinch shut that down."All hands on deck means most hands on deck," Hinch said.While Verlander is out while Houston tries to win a second championship in three seasons, fellow ace Gerrit Cole could be used out of the bullpen.Cole got the win in Game 5 on Sunday. Hinch said he'll talk to him before the game about how he might use him on Wednesday."It would be in a limited capacity if I ask him to do anything," Hinch said.___3:45 p.m.Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki is back in Washington's lineup for the deciding Game 7 of the World Series against the Houston Astros.Suzuki hadn't played the last three games while dealing with a hip... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — All of Justin Verlander's illustrious accomplishments mean little right now.Not those 225 wins, not the 3,006 regular season strikeouts, not the record 202 postseason Ks. Not the eight All-Star selections, not the 2011 Cy Young Award and Most Valuable Player prize.Verlander dropped to 0-5 in World Series games Wednesday night as the Washington Nationals routed the Houston Astros 12-3 for a 2-0 Series lead. That skid on baseball's biggest stage is dragging the right-hander's reputation down like ballast sinking a ship to the bottom of the sea.Never before has a pitcher lost his first five World Series decisions."We don't dwell on win-loss record anymore, right?" he said with a smile, a reference to modern analytics by one of the sport's most knowledgeable players. "I'd like to win a couple. Hopefully, I'll have another opportunity."He wound up flat on his back in the fourth inning, slipping on Ryan Zimmerman's grounder and firing the ball off his own left leg . Verlander could... [More]