Justin Verlander didn't intend to alter his pitching strategy, not after 14 seasons as a major league ace. But then the home runs stopped making sense.A long drive by Yankees slugger Aaron Judge? The Houston Astros ace can live with that. This season, though, was full of surprises. Like when spindly utility man Ehire Adrianza drove a fastball into the right field party deck in Minnesota. Or the time light-hitting Angels infielder David Fletcher nearly put one into a parking lot beyond left field during a series in Monterrey, Mexico. Routine fly balls had become wall-scraping homers, and every hitter was suddenly strong enough to reach the second deck."The game has changed completely," Verlander said.Expect more of the same this October.Hitters smashed a record 6,776 home runs in 2019, soaring past the previous high of 6,105 from two years earlier. It's a rise of over 60% from 2014, a year before a seismic home run spike attributed to tweaks in the baseballs. Major League Baseball commissioned... [More]

It's been three years since Andrew Miller led the Cleveland Indians to the brink of a World Series championship by coming out of the bullpen early and often, and bulk work from relievers has been an October staple since. Whether it's Brewers All-Star Josh Hader stretching out for three innings or Astros ace Justin Verlander moonlighting in middle relief, aggressive bullpen management has become standard postseason practice.As the calendar flips, a look at the best relief options — for the biggest outs, and for a bunch of them — for each of the 10 playoff clubs.NEW YORK YANKEESFor The Big Out: In baseball's deepest bullpen, the difference maker is Aroldis Chapman. The 31-year-old left-hander has lost some steam — he averaged about 98 mph on his fastball this year, down from 101 at his peak in 2016 — but he's made up for it with an improved slider that he's throwing more than ever. Although he famously blew a lead for the Cubs in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, Chapman has been fantastic... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Mets slugger Pete Alonso hit his 53rd home run of the season Saturday night, breaking the rookie record Yankees star Aaron Judge set in 2017.Alonso launched a 93 mph fastball on a 1-2 count from Atlanta Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz just to the right of straightaway center field. The solo shot gave New York a 3-0 lead in the third inning.As the 415-foot drive landed in the seats, Alonso raised both arms in triumph while running to first base — and Mets teammates came out of the dugout to congratulate the 24-year-old first baseman. Fans at Citi Field gave him a standing ovation and Alonso raised both arms again, tilted his head back and looked skyward as he stood in front of the dugout.Overcome with emotion, Alonso had tears in his eyes when he went to first base in the fourth."He's not moved to tears often," his mother, Michelle, said on the Fox telecast. "So for him to feel that reward and be moved to tears, that warms my heart because I was certainly falling in my seat... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Mets slugger Pete Alonso has hit his 53rd home run of the season, breaking the rookie record Yankees star Aaron Judge set in 2017.Alonso hit a 93 mph fastball on a 1-2 count from Atlanta starter Mike Foltynewicz just to the right of straightaway center field on Saturday night. The solo shot gave New York a 3-0 lead in the third inning.As the 415-foot drive landed in the seats, Alonso raised both arms in triumph while running to first base, and Mets teammates came out of the dugout to congratulate the 24-year-old first baseman. Fans at Citi Field gave him a standing ovation, and Alonso raised both arms, tilted his head back and looked skyward as he stood in front of the dugout.Overcome with emotion, Alonso had tears in his eyes when he went to first base in the fourth inning.Alonso has already set franchise records for homers, total bases (347) and extra-base hits (85). He has 120 RBIs and 102 runs, becoming the first Mets rookie to reach triple digits in both categories. The home run was his 11th of September.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A look at what's happening around the majors today:PLAYOFF POSITIONThe 10-team field for the postseason is set — Oakland and Tampa Bay clinched the last two spots and will meet in the AL wild-card game Wednesday night. The clubs are now tied and the A's will host the matchup if they wind up even.The Houston Astros have clinched home-field advantage throughout the AL playoffs and will play the wild-card winner in the Division Series. The Yankees and Twins meet in the other ALDS.In the NL, division champs Atlanta and the Dodgers are in, along with Washington, St. Louis and Milwaukee. The Cardinals and Brewers are still competing for the Central title, with the loser facing the Nationals in the wild-card game Tuesday night.CHECK HIMThe Yankees will see how lefty James Paxton is feeling, a day after he was pulled from a start after one inning because of a tight left glute muscle.Paxton's departure at Texas ended his career-best streak of victories in 10 consecutive starts. The AL East champs... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Saturday:PLAYOFF POSITIONThe 10-team field for the postseason is now set — AL division champions Houston, Minnesota and the Yankees, with Oakland taking on Tampa Bay in the AL wild-card game Wednesday night.In the NL, division champs Atlanta and the Dodgers are in, along with Washington, St. Louis and Milwaukee. The Cardinals and Brewers are still competing for the Central title, with the loser facing the Nationals in the wild-card game Tuesday night.CHECK HIMThe Yankees will see how lefty James Paxton is feeling, a day after he was pulled from a start after one inning because of a tight muscle in his buttocks.Paxton's departure at Texas ended his career-best streak of victories in 10 consecutive starts. The AL East champs say he was taken out as a precaution with a tight left glute muscle.The 15-game winner gave up a two-run homer to Danny Santana before finishing his only inning with a strikeout of Rougned Odor. It was Paxton's final start... [More]

Braves first. Ronald Acuna Jr. walks. Ozzie Albies singles to center field, advances to 2nd. Ronald Acuna Jr. to third. Freddie Freeman out on a sacrifice fly to deep left field to Alex Dickerson. Ronald Acuna Jr. scores. Josh Donaldson grounds out to third base, Evan Longoria to Brandon Belt. Nick Markakis grounds out to second base, Mauricio Dubon to Brandon Belt.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Braves 1, Giants 0.Braves third. Mike Foltynewicz grounds out to first base to Brandon Belt. Ronald Acuna Jr. doubles to deep left field. Ozzie Albies singles to center field. Ronald Acuna Jr. scores. Freddie Freeman reaches on a fielder's choice to second base. Ozzie Albies out at second. Josh Donaldson strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Braves 2, Giants 0.Braves fifth. Mike Foltynewicz singles to shallow infield. Ronald Acuna Jr. homers to center field. Mike Foltynewicz scores. Ozzie Albies strikes out swinging. Freddie Freeman pops out to Brandon Crawford. Josh Donaldson grounds out to shortstop, Brandon Crawford to Brandon Belt.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Braves 4, Giants 0.Braves sixth. Nick Markakis lines out to deep left center field to Kevin Pillar. Matt Joyce singles to center field. Brian McCann homers to center field. Matt Joyce scores. Dansby Swanson grounds out to shallow infield, Tyler Beede to Brandon Belt. Mike Foltynewicz called out on strikes.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Braves 6, Giants 0.

Sept. 221911 — Cy Young, 44, beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 1-0 for his 511th and final major league victory.1936 — The Detroit Tigers swept the St. Louis Browns 12-0 and 14-0 to record the biggest double shutout in major league history.1954 — Karl Spooner of Brooklyn became the first pitcher in the majors to strike out 15 in his first game as the Dodgers beat the New York Giants 3-0.1966 — The Baltimore Orioles clinched their first AL pennant in 22 years with a 6-1 victory over the Kansas City A's. Their last pennant came in 1944 when they were the St. Louis Browns.1968 — Cesar Tovar played one inning at each position for the Minnesota Twins, becoming the second major leaguer in history to do it. Bert Campaneris of the Oakland A's was the other.1969 — Willie Mays of the San Francisco Giants became the second player to hit 600 career home runs — joining Babe Ruth. The two-run shot off San Diego's Mike Corkins in the seventh inning, gave the Giants a 4-2 win.1973 — Baltimore's Al Bumbry tied... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:POPPIN'Ronald Acuña Jr. and the Braves are poised to break out the bubbly, with a magic number of one to clinch their second straight NL East title. They can celebrate when Mike Foltynewicz (7-5, 4.80 ERA) starts at SunTrust Park against San Francisco. A win by Atlanta or a loss by second-place Washington at Miami will seal it.At 21, Acuña will be able to take part in a champagne toast. The star outfielder with 40 home runs wasn't yet of legal age when the Braves won the division a year ago."They wouldn't let me drink because I was a minor," Acuña recalled, breaking into a big smile. "This year, it's going to be different. I'm looking forward to it."CHICAGO BLUESThe Cubs have fallen to third place in the NL Central for the first time since April, but they can fix that as they continue a four-game set against first-place St. Louis. The Cardinals regrouped after blowing a late lead in the opener, winning on Matt Carpenter's 10th-inning homer... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Friday:POPPIN'Ronald Acuña Jr. and the Braves are poised to break out the bubbly, with a magic number of one to clinch their second straight NL East title. They can celebrate when Mike Foltynewicz (7-5, 4.80 ERA) starts at SunTrust Park against San Francisco. A win by Atlanta or a loss by second-place Washington at Miami will seal it.At 21, Acuña will be able to take part in a champagne toast. The star outfielder with 40 home runs wasn't yet of legal age when the Braves won the division a year ago."They wouldn't let me drink because I was a minor," Acuña recalled, breaking into a big smile. "This year, it's going to be different. I'm looking forward to it."CHICAGO BLUESThe Cubs have fallen to third place in the NL Central for the first time since April, but they can fix that as they continue a four-game set against first-place St. Louis. The Cardinals regrouped after blowing a late lead in the opener, winning on Matt Carpenter's 10th-inning homer... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Friday:POPPIN'Ronald Acuña Jr. and the Braves are poised to break out the bubbly, with a magic number of one to clinch their second straight NL East title. They can celebrate when Mike Foltynewicz (7-5, 4.80 ERA) starts at SunTrust Park against San Francisco. A win by Atlanta or a loss by second-place Washington at Miami will seal it.At 21, Acuña will be able to take part in a champagne toast. The star outfielder with 40 home runs wasn't yet of legal age when the Braves won the division a year ago."They wouldn't let me drink because I was a minor," Acuña recalled, breaking into a big smile. "This year, it's going to be different. I'm looking forward to it."GOING, GOING ...A year after setting a team record with 108 wins on their way to the World Series championship, Mookie Betts and the Red Sox are on the brink of being eliminated from playoff contention.Boston (80-72) will be bounced with one loss in this weekend's series against Tampa Bay.... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr. ignited a four-run rally with the go-ahead, two-run double, and the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves clinched a playoff berth with a 10-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Saturday.Acuña's double down the left-field line off reliever Fernando Rodney added fuel to a dramatic seventh inning for the Braves (93-57), who reduced their magic number to four to clinch their 19th division title.Earlier in the seventh, Charlie Culberson was struck directly on the right cheekbone by a 91-mph fastball on Rodney's first pitch of the game.Culberson remained on his back for several minutes as trainers pressed a towel to his face. He was eventually helped to his feet and onto the back of a cart.The Braves have won the last 11 games started by Mike Foltynewicz (7-5), who pitched six solid innings.Wander Suero (5-8) was charged with the loss as the Washington bullpen gave up nine runs over the final four innings. The Nationals saw their lead in the NL wild card race... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr. ignited a four-run rally with the go-ahead, two-run double, and the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves clinched a playoff berth with a 10-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Saturday.Acuña's double down the left-field line off reliever Fernando Rodney added fuel to a dramatic seventh inning for the Braves (93-57), who reduced their magic number to four to clinch their 19th division title.Earlier in the seventh, Charlie Culberson was struck directly on the right cheekbone by a 91-mph fastball on Rodney's first pitch of the game.Culberson remained on his back for several minutes as trainers pressed a towel to his face. He was eventually helped to his feet and onto the back of a cart.The Braves have won the last 11 games started by Mike Foltynewicz (7-5), who pitched six solid innings.Wander Suero (5-8) was charged with the loss as the Washington bullpen gave up nine runs over the final four innings. The Nationals saw their lead in the NL wild card race... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr. ignited a four-run rally with the go-ahead, two-run double, and the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves clinched a playoff berth with a 10-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Saturday.Acuña's double down the left-field line off reliever Fernando Rodney added fuel to a dramatic seventh inning for the Braves (93-57), who reduced their magic number to four to clinch their 19th division title.Earlier in the seventh, Charlie Culberson was struck directly on the right cheekbone by a 91-mph fastball on Rodney's first pitch of the game.Culberson remained on his back for several minutes as trainers pressed a towel to his face. He was eventually helped to his feet and onto the back of a cart.The Braves have won the last 11 games started by Mike Foltynewicz (7-5), who pitched six solid innings.Wander Suero (5-8) was charged with the loss as the Washington bullpen gave up nine runs over the final four innings. The Nationals saw their lead in the NL wild card race... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr. ignited a four-run rally with the go-ahead, two-run double, and the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves clinched a playoff berth with a 10-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Saturday.Acuña's double down the left-field line off reliever Fernando Rodney added fuel to a dramatic seventh inning for the Braves (93-57), who reduced their magic number to four to clinch their 19th division title.Earlier in the seventh, Charlie Culberson was struck directly on the right cheekbone by a 91-mph fastball on Rodney's first pitch of the game.Culberson remained on his back for several minutes as trainers pressed a towel to his face. He was eventually helped to his feet and onto the back of a cart.The Braves have won the last 11 games started by Mike Foltynewicz (7-5), who pitched six solid innings.Rodney (0-6) was charged with the loss in the latest bullpen meltdown for the Nationals, who saw their lead in the NL wild card race shrink to 1½ games over the Chicago Cubs.YANKEES... [More]

Braves first. Ronald Acuna Jr. homers to center field. Ozzie Albies singles to right field. Freddie Freeman doubles to deep right field. Ozzie Albies to third. Josh Donaldson walks. Matt Joyce grounds out to second base. Josh Donaldson out at second. Freddie Freeman to third. Ozzie Albies scores. Brian McCann strikes out on a foul tip.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Braves 2, Phillies 0.Braves second. Dansby Swanson doubles to deep left field. Rafael Ortega grounds out to second base, Cesar Hernandez to Rhys Hoskins. Dansby Swanson to third. Mike Foltynewicz strikes out swinging. Ronald Acuna Jr. walks. Ozzie Albies singles to right field. Ronald Acuna Jr. to third. Dansby Swanson scores. Freddie Freeman singles to left field. Ozzie Albies to second. Ronald Acuna Jr. scores. Josh Donaldson flies out to deep right center field to Adam Haseley.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Braves 4, Phillies 0.Phillies fifth. Rhys Hoskins flies out to left field to Rafael Ortega. Corey Dickerson... [More]

Braves first. Ronald Acuna Jr. triples to deep right field. Ozzie Albies singles to shallow left field. Ronald Acuna Jr. scores. Freddie Freeman doubles to left field. Ozzie Albies to third. Josh Donaldson singles to left field. Freddie Freeman to third. Ozzie Albies scores. Matt Joyce lines out to first base to Rowdy Tellez. Josh Donaldson doubled off first. Dansby Swanson strikes out swinging.2 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Braves 2, Blue jays 0.Braves fifth. Charlie Culberson pinch-hitting for Mike Foltynewicz. Charlie Culberson grounds out to third base, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to Rowdy Tellez. Ronald Acuna Jr. walks. Ozzie Albies flies out to deep right field to Randal Grichuk. Freddie Freeman walks. Ronald Acuna Jr. to second. Josh Donaldson doubles to deep left field. Freddie Freeman scores. Ronald Acuna Jr. scores. Matt Joyce called out on strikes.2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Braves 4, Blue jays 0.Blue jays seventh. Rowdy Tellez homers to center field. Randal Grichuk grounds... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Manager Aaron Boone, Brett Gardner and the New York Yankees again hammered away at the umpires, this time in prolonged rants that brought several members of the team spilling onto the field, while beating the Cleveland Indians 6-5 Saturday.Gleyber Torres hit two home runs and Didi Gregorius and DJ LeMahieu also connected for the AL East-leading Yankees.But what really fired up the crowd of 47,347 at Yankee Stadium occurred in the sixth inning after Cameron Maybin was called out on strikes by Triple-A ump Ben May.For the third time in a month — each time with a minor league call-up umpire behind the plate — the team with the best record in American League lost its temper in a big way. This episode led to Boone, Gardner and pitcher CC Sabathia being ejected.James Paxton (9-6) went five innings for the win. Zach Plesac (6-4) was chased in the fifth.Aroldis Chapman closed for his 35th save in 40 chances.BREWERS 15, NATIONALS 14, 14 INNINGSWASHINGTON (AP) — Eric Thames hit a... [More]

Braves third. Adeiny Hechavarria doubles to deep right center field. Mike Foltynewicz out on a sacrifice bunt to shallow infield, Edwin Rios to Max Muncy. Adeiny Hechavarria to third. Ronald Acuna Jr. walks. Ozzie Albies doubles to deep left field. Ronald Acuna Jr. scores. Adeiny Hechavarria scores. Freddie Freeman grounds out to shortstop, Corey Seager to Edwin Rios. Ozzie Albies to third. Josh Donaldson called out on strikes.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Braves 2, Dodgers 0.Dodgers fourth. Matt Beaty homers to right field. Edwin Rios lines out to center field to Ronald Acuna Jr.. Russell Martin strikes out swinging. Hyun-Jin Ryu singles to center field. Joc Pederson strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Braves 2, Dodgers 1.Dodgers fifth. Max Muncy flies out to deep center field to Ronald Acuna Jr.. Justin Turner walks. Cody Bellinger singles to right field. Justin Turner to second. Corey Seager flies out to right field to Charlie Culberson. Matt Beaty singles... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:STAR ATTRACTIONSThe top two teams in the National League meet again when Cody Bellinger and the Dodgers visit Atlanta. Los Angeles starter Hyun-Jin Ryu (12-2) leads the majors with a 1.45 ERA. Mike Foltynewicz (4-5, 6.24 ERA) gets the ball for the Braves.Bellinger hit his 41st home run Friday night, tied with Angels star Mike Trout for most in the majors, and the Dodgers won the series opener 8-3 while setting a big league record with 22 homers in a five-game span. The two-time defending NL champions also eliminated the Braves from the playoffs last year and swept them at home in May.Atlanta outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. leads the NL in stolen bases and needs one more to join Trout in 2012 as the only players with a 30-30 season before their 22nd birthday. Acuña has 35 home runs.KEEP 'EM IN THE PARK, KIDTop prospect Logan Webb makes his major league debut for the Giants against Arizona. The 22-year-old Webb has pitched at four minor league... [More]