NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is a finalist for the AL Rookie of the Year award along with two New York Yankees infielders.The Baseball Writers' Association of America revealed the finalists for its major awards Monday night. The winners will be announced next week.Ohtani figures to be in a tight race with Yankees infielders Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres after a historic first season with the Los Angeles Angels. The two-way Japanese sensation is the first player ever to hit 15 home runs and strike out 50 batters in a season, and he joined Babe Ruth as the only players ever to hit 15 homers and pitch 50 innings.The World Series champion Boston Red Sox might be in line for more hardware. Mookie Betts is a finalist for AL MVP, and Alex Cora is in the final three for AL Manager of the Year in his first season. Los Angeles' Mike Trout and Cleveland's Jose Ramirez are also finalists for AL MVP.Milwaukee's Christian Yelich is the favorite for NL MVP, and Colorado's Nolan Arenado and Chicago's Javier Baez were also revealed as top vote-getters.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Mookie Betts and the Boston Red Sox just keep winning.Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Ian Kinsler won Gold Gloves for the World Series champion Red Sox on Sunday night, and the Atlanta Braves also were recognized for their fielding excellence this season.The 26-year-old Betts won for the third straight year. He also is a top contender for the AL MVP award.Kinsler got his second Gold Glove at second base, and Bradley won for the first time in center. Teammate Andrew Benintendi also was nominated, but Kansas City Royals left fielder Alex Gordon took home his sixth Gold Glove instead.Atlanta added three Gold Gloves to its surprise NL East title this season. Freddie Freeman and Cubs slugger Anthony Rizzo tied for the award at first base, and center fielder Ender Inciarte and right fielder Nick Markakis also were honored for the Braves.It's the third straight Gold Glove for Inciarte. Markakis won for the first time in the NL and third time overall, ending Jason Heyward's run of four in a row.Oakland,... [More]

DENVER (AP) — The immediate picture for the Colorado Rockies looks grim: a slumping offense that couldn't support solid pitching led to a quick end of Rocktober .The larger view, now that's one third baseman Nolan Arenado prefers to take with him into the offseason.Although the season ended with a three-game sweep by Milwaukee in the NL Division Series, the Rockies took a step forward in 2018. A year ago, they were eliminated in the NL wild-card game. This season, they beat Chicago in the wild-card contest to make it to the division series, only to run into the Brewers and their dominant arms.Colorado (91-72) won the second-most games in franchise history and came one victory short of its first NL West title. The bats simply went silent at the wrong time."It's on the offense," said Arenado, whose team hit a franchise-worst .256 in the regular season. "We couldn't get anything going. But it was a solid year. We played really well."On a gloomy Sunday at Coors Field, the Rockies were eliminated... [More]

DENVER (AP) — For once, the Colorado Rockies head into the offseason searching for more pop at the plate to go with excellent pitching, not the other way around.The Rockies lacked patience at the plate in getting swept by Milwaukee in the best-of-five NL Division Series with a 6-0 loss Sunday, their second straight shutout.They were outscored 13-2 as they hit .146 with three extra-base hits and no homers . They didn't score in their last 19 innings and set an NL Division Series low for runs,So much for a return to the thin air of Coors Field to spark a dormant offense."I don't know what it is," third baseman Nolan Arenado said. "It's just a bad stretch at the wrong time."Rockies fans have a long winter to lament that and manager Bud Black's decision to start German Marquez in Game 3 rather than hometown hero Kyle Freeland, who was 17-7 and pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings in the 2-1 wild-card win at Wrigley Field last Tuesday."Everyone wants to be the guy that takes the ball or has a big... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Colorado's wait for a World Series title will extend past a quarter century.The Rockies scored in one of 28 innings against Milwaukee, hit .146 with three extra-base hits, no homers and two runs — none in their last 19 innings.So much for a return to the thin air of Coors Field to spark a dormant offense.Colorado was swept in the best-of-five NL Division Series when Milwaukee won 6-0 Sunday. The Rockies, an expansion team that started play in 1993, are 2-11 in the postseason since reaching their only World Series 11 years ago.Rockies fans have a long winter to lament manager Bud Black's decision to start German Marquez in Game 3 rather than hometown hero Kyle Freeland, who was 17-7 and pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings in the 2-1 wild-card win at Wrigley Field last Tuesday.After losing the NL West tiebreaker 5-2 in Los Angeles to the Dodgers and flying to Chicago for the win over the Cubs, the Rockies seemed flat as they lost 3-2 in 10 innings at Miller Park and then 4-0."It... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Christian Yelich feels like he's not really locked in — no more than usual, anyway."Just taking it day by day," the Milwaukee outfielder said.He and the Brewers are certainly dialed in, though. They have won 10 straight and seized a 2-0 lead against Colorado in the NL Division Series heading into Game 3 on Sunday in what could be a cool and damp afternoon in Denver.The Rockies hope a return to Coors Field can ignite their frigid bats. The team hit .154 over the opening two games and went 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position.A rest day couldn't have come at a better time after a week that included travel to Los Angeles and Chicago, on to Milwaukee and then back home."Clear the mind a little bit," Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado said Saturday. "I'm ready to go. We'll be ready to go. It's no problem."Colorado's scuffle at the plate isn't exactly a new phenomenon. The Rockies hit .287 at Coors Field this season, one of their lowest averages in franchise history. Their... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The thin mountain air in Denver might do wonders for the slumping Colorado Rockies.They're going home again, down 2-0 in the NL Division Series to the Milwaukee Brewers. Game 3 in the best-of-five series is Sunday at Coors Field."I don't have a doubt that we're going to get things going," Rockies veteran outfielder Carlos Gonzalez said.If not, Gonzalez could be gone.The one-year, $5 million deal he signed last offseason to return to Colorado expires at the end of the year. After 11 seasons playing on Blake Street, the three-time Gold Glove winner and 2010 NL batting champion is about as synonymous with Colorado as dry air and beer.He's a lifetime .323 hitter at Coors Field, 72 points higher than his career road average. He knows how much of a difference playing at home can make for hitters.Playing in front of a friendly crowd might have help the team relax after a frustrating Friday night of breaking bats and slamming batting gloves into helmets.The Rockies finished among... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:SPRINGTIMEAstros leadoff man George Springer has a chance to tie the postseason record for most consecutive games with a home run. Springer connected for the fifth game in a row Friday as Houston beat Cleveland 7-2 to open their AL Division Series.Springer homered in the final four games of the World Series last year, earning the MVP award and powering Houston to its first championship. He'll next face Carlos Carrasco of the Indians in Game 2 at Minute Maid Park.Daniel Murphy set the big league mark by homering in six straight postseason games for the Mets in 2015. Springer's five in a row is tied for second with Carlos Beltran, who did it with the Astros in 2004.PRICE CHECKDavid Price (16-7, 3.58 ERA) pitches against Masahiro Tanaka (12-6, 3.75) and the rival Yankees as Boston tries to take a 2-0 lead in their AL Division Series at Fenway Park. Price has a 4.90 ERA in 42 career appearances (41 starts) vs. the Yankees and has struggled... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Saturday:SPRINGTIMEAstros leadoff man George Springer has a chance to tie the postseason record for most consecutive games with a home run. Springer connected for the fifth game in a row Friday as Houston beat Cleveland 7-2 to open their AL Division Series.Springer homered in the final four games of the World Series last year, earning the MVP award and powering Houston to its first championship. He'll next face Carlos Carrasco of the Indians in Game 2 at Minute Maid Park.Daniel Murphy set the big league mark by homering in six straight postseason games for the Mets in 2015. Springer's five in a row is tied for second with Carlos Beltran, who did it with the Astros in 2004.PRICE CHECKDavid Price (16-7, 3.58 ERA) pitches against Masahiro Tanaka (12-6, 3.75) and the rival Yankees as Boston tries to take a 2-0 lead in their AL Division Series at Fenway Park. Price has a 4.90 ERA in 42 career appearances (41 starts) vs. the Yankees and has struggled... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Saturday:SPRINGTIMEAstros leadoff man George Springer has a chance to tie the postseason record for most consecutive games with a home run. Springer connected for the fifth game in a row Friday as Houston beat Cleveland 7-2 to open the AL Division Series.Springer homered in the final four games of the World Series last year, earning the MVP award and powering Houston to its first championship. He'll next face Carlos Carrasco of the Indians in Game 2 at Minute Maid Park.Daniel Murphy set the big league mark by homering in six straight postseason games for the Mets in 2015. Springer's five in a row is tied for second with Carlos Beltran, who did it with the Astros in 2004.PRICE CHECKDavid Price (16-7, 3.58 ERA) pitches for Boston against Masahiro Tanaka (12-6, 3.75) and the rival Yankees in Game 2 of their AL Division Series at Fenway Park. Price has a 4.90 ERA in 42 career appearances (41 starts) vs. the Yankees and has struggled badly against... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Chris Iannetta made contact, all right.He slammed his bat over his right knee, splitting it in half after a strikeout with the potential tying run at third base in the seventh inning.Connecting with the ball? Not so much.It was the same old story for the Colorado Rockies in Game 2 of the NL Division Series: Their power-laden lineup couldn't score runs.No wonder they're down 2-0 in the series following a 4-0 loss on Friday at Miller Park. Game 3 is Sunday in Denver, with the Rockies sending German Marquez to the mound against Milwaukee's Wade Miley.Facing elimination, maybe the thin mountain air will do Colorado some good."You just keep fighting through it and having good at-bats," manager Bud Black said. "So we've got to keep fighting the good fight."The Rockies finished among the major league leaders in several offensive categories this year. But they've scored just six runs in four games since slugging five homers in a 12-0 victory over Washington on Sunday that left... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Chris Iannetta made contact, all right.He slammed his bat over his right knee, shattering it in half after a strikeout with the potential tying run at third base in the seventh inning.Connecting with the ball? Not so much.It was the same old story for the Colorado Rockies in Game 2 of the NL Division Series: Their power-laden lineup couldn't score runs.No wonder they're down 2-0 in the series following a 4-0 loss on Friday at Miller Park. Game 3 is Sunday in Denver, with the Rockies sending German Marquez to the mound against Milwaukee's Wade Miley.Facing elimination, maybe the thin mountain air will do Colorado some good.The Rockies finished among the major league leaders in several offensive categories this year. But they've scored just six runs in four games since slugging five homers in a 12-0 victory over Washington on Sunday that left them tied for the NL West lead after 162 games.They dropped a tiebreaker with the Dodgers for the division title and then squeaked... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Right fielder Carlos Gonzalez will hit cleanup when the Colorado Rockies try to break out of their slump in Game 2 of the NL Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers.The left-handed slugger moved up after hitting sixth in the order in a 3-2 loss in 10 innings in Game 1 on Thursday at Miller Park.Manager Bud Black also inserted Gerardo Parra into the lineup, hitting sixth and playing in left. Parra has hits in both postseason games for Colorado. David Dahl, who started Game 1 in left, will come off the bench.The Rockies have managed just six runs in three games since a 12-0 win over Washington on Sunday.The top of the order hasn't changed with center fielder Charlie Blackmon, second baseman DJ LeMahieu and third baseman Nolan Arenado leading off. They're followed by Gonzalez, shortstop Trevor Story and Parra.First baseman Ian Desmond, catcher Chris Iannetta and starter Tyler Anderson round out the lineup.For the Brewers, Mike Moustakas has moved up one spot in the order to fifth, a day after driving in the winning run in Game 1.Center fielder Lorenzo Cain, right fielder Christian Yelich and left fielder Ryan Braun top the lineup. First baseman Jesus Aguilar, Moustakas and shortstop Hernan Perez are next.Second baseman Travis Shaw hits seventh after hitting cleanup in Game 1. He's followed by catcher Erik Kratz and starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacin.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Colorado Rockies have some of baseball's best hitters — and not much to show for it on the scoreboard lately.Nolan Arenado helped Colorado rally against Milwaukee's vaunted bullpen in Game 1 of the NL Division Series on Thursday, but the Rockies were unable to finish off Jeremy Jeffress. Mike Moustakas hit an RBI single in the 10th inning to lift the Brewers to a 3-2 win.Colorado had just one hit 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 then 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 Trevor Story to end the inning.That missed opportunity proved costly when Moustakas came up with the game-ending hit against Adam Ottavino.Game 2 is back... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Ryan Braun will hit third for the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 1 of their National League Division Series against the Colorado Rockies.The veteran outfielder, who hit .346 with five homers over the final seven games of the regular season, will hit behind table-setters Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich.A third-place hitter for most of his career, Braun has been hitting lower in the order at times this season, especially with the emergence of power-hitting first baseman Jesus Aguilar.But the Game 1 lineup has second baseman Travis Shaw and Aguilar following Braun. Third baseman Mike Moustakas, catcher Manny Pina, shortstop Orlando Arcia and pitcher Brandon Woodruff round out the rest of the lineup.The Rockies will lead off with a formidable top three of center fielder Charlie Blackmon, second baseman D.J. LeMahieu and third baseman Nolan Arenado.He's followed by left fielder David Dahl, shortstop Trevor Story and right fielder Carlos Gonzalez. First baseman Ian Desmond, catcher Chris Iannetta and starter Antonio Senzatela round out the lineup.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A look at the best-of-five National League Division Series between the Colorado Rockies and Milwaukee Brewers:___Schedule: (All times EDT) Game 1, Thursday, at Milwaukee, 5:07 p.m. (FS1); Game 2, Friday, at Milwaukee, 4:15 p.m. (FS1); Game 3, Sunday, at Denver, 4:37 p.m. (MLB); x-Game 4, Monday, Oct. 8, at Denver, TBA; x-Game 5, Wednesday, Oct. 10, at Milwaukee, TBA.x-if necessary.___Season Series: Brewers won 5-2.___Projected Lineups:Rockies: CF Charlie Blackmon (.291, 29 HRs, 70 RBIs), 2B DJ LeMahieu (.276, 15, 62), LF David Dahl (.273, 16, 48) or Matt Holliday (.283, 2, 3, 12 walks, .849 OPS in 65 plate appearances), 3B Nolan Arenado (.297, 38, 110), SS Trevor Story (.291, 37, 108), RF Carlos Gonzalez (.276, 16, 64), 1B Ian Desmond (.236, 22, 88), C Chris Iannetta (.224, 11, 36).Brewers: CF Lorenzo Cain (.308, 10s, 38, 30/37 steals, .395 OBP), RF Christian Yelich (NL-best .326, 36, 110, 22/26 steals, 1.000 OPS), 1B Jesus Aguilar (.274, 35, 108, .890 OPS), 2B Travis Shaw (.241, 32, 86)... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The bullpen day has come to October.The Milwaukee Brewers plan to open their first postseason series in seven years with a reliever. Manager Craig Counsell hadn't decided who would go first when the Brewers host the Colorado Rockies in Game 1 of the NL Division Series on Thursday.Milwaukee led the majors with a 1.98 bullpen ERA in September, so why not go straight to a great strength?"We're going to share the outs a little bit more, but we really are confident with the days off in the series, the way we're coming into the series, that we'll certainly be able to do it," Counsell said.Those relievers will face a Rockies lineup that finally got a day off Wednesday after three games in three days in three different time zones.Colorado faced the Cubs' tough left-handed starter Jon Lester in the NL wild-card game Tuesday night, a 2-1 win in 13 innings. The Rockies managed just one hit in 6 2/3 innings off Dodgers righty Walker Buehler in a 5-2 loss in Los Angeles in the tiebreaking... [More]

A look at the best-of-five National League Division Series between the Colorado Rockies and Milwaukee Brewers:___Schedule: (All times EDT) Game 1, Thursday, at Milwaukee, 5:07 p.m. (FS1); Game 2, Friday, at Milwaukee, 4:15 p.m. (FS1); Game 3, Sunday, at Denver, 4:37 p.m. (MLB); x-Game 4, Monday, Oct. 8, at Denver, TBA; x-Game 5, Wednesday, Oct. 10, at Milwaukee, TBA.x-if necessary.___Season Series: Brewers won 5-2.___Projected Lineups:Rockies: CF Charlie Blackmon (.291, 29 HRs, 70 RBIs), 2B DJ LeMahieu (.276, 15, 62), LF David Dahl (.273, 16, 48) or Matt Holliday (.283, 2, 3, 12 walks, .849 OPS in 65 plate appearances), 3B Nolan Arenado (.297, 38, 110), SS Trevor Story (.291, 37, 108), RF Carlos Gonzalez (.276, 16, 64), 1B Ian Desmond (.236, 22, 88), C Chris Iannetta (.224, 11, 36).Brewers: CF Lorenzo Cain (.308, 10s, 38, 30/37 steals, .395 OBP), RF Christian Yelich (NL-best .326, 36, 110, 22/26 steals, 1.000 OPS), 1B Jesus Aguilar (.274, 35, 108, .890 OPS), 2B Travis Shaw (.241, 32, 86)... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Last year's World Series between the Astros and Dodgers was a thriller, ending in Houston's Game 7 victory for its first championship.Might they have an encore in store? Perhaps one with a Hollywood ending this time?Time to find out. After two tight NL division races stretched the regular season to a pair of Game 163s, the Rockies and Cubs are set to begin the playoffs Tuesday night with the NL wild-card game at Wrigley Field.Before they do, a look at the 2018 postseason, from A to Z:A: ACES OUT — Good news for NL hitters: Many of the league's top starting pitchers have already begun their offseasons. Cy Young Award favorites Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer and Aaron Nola won't throw a postseason pitch. Same for Patrick Corbin and 18-game winner Miles Mikolas. Of course, longtime rotation leaders like Clayton Kershaw and Jon Lester are still in play.B: BETTS IN SHOW — Mookie Betts enters his third postseason as the AL MVP favorite, though Boston's dynamic leadoff hitter has a... [More]