WASHINGTON (AP) — As Sean Doolittle and the rest of the Nationals geared up for Washington's first World Series appearance in 86 years, the lefty reliever thought back to when he first joined the team in a 2017 trade.The attitude, he found, was not exactly reflective of a win-big mindset, much like the malaise that hung over the rest of the major professional sports scene in the nation's capital at the time."There were a lot of people close to the team, around the city, that were like: 'This is the year we're going to do it! We're going to get past the first round of the playoffs!'" Doolittle recalled. "And the new guys that got traded over were like: 'What are you guys talking about?! We have a team that can win the World Series. What are we talking about?' So I know people, D.C. fans, they had to wait a while."So bad for so long, D.C. is suddenly turning into the District of Champions. It's no Boston, where there have been 11 titles in the past two decades, but things in Washington suddenly... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — What a relief for Houston Astros pitcher Joe Smith that manager AJ Hinch was only joking about his team's makeup for the World Series."I would bring (him) in my office and pretend like he's not going to make the roster, just to get a reaction from him, and he wouldn't buy it," Hinch said.Smith has waited 13 seasons, playing for six big league teams and overcoming a ruptured left Achilles last winter, for the opportunity to pitch this late in October. He was left off the postseason roster three years ago by the Chicago Cubs, the only other team he has been with that made it to the World Series."I'm proud for him. I'm anxious to get him in the game. It will probably be one of the first games he's nervous," Hinch said. "He's hardly ever nervous, but I bet he'll be a tick nervous just because of the stage and the World Series and the excitement of having to endure all that before he gets to throw his first pitch in the World Series."The 35-year-old right-hander, whose 782 regular-season... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Max Scherzer was taunted over his eyes as a kid. Now he treasures them.Washington's Game 1 starter in the World Series against Houston has baseball's most unusual orbs: blue on the right, brown on the left, a condition known as Heterochromia iridis."I've always celebrated it," he said Monday, a day ahead of the opener. "Whether you liked it or not, that's who I am."Known for his strikeouts, stamina and success, Scherzer has had different eye colors since he was a baby. When he was in grade school, all the people in his drawings had two different eye colors."Whatever picture he had, he just figured that was just part of normal," said his father, Brad. "From first grade on, he's always embraced it. He's always thought it was fun. He's always made light of it. It makes Max unique. So that's why he likes it so much, I guess."Former big league pitcher Tommy Layne recalled facing Scherzer in youth ball back in suburban St. Louis. Scherzer was far bigger than Layne's teammates and... [More]

A position-by-position look at the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros going into the World Series, starting Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park:___First Base:Nationals: Ryan Zimmerman. The longtime face of the franchise, Zimmerman was Washington's first draft pick in 2005 after the team moved to the nation's capital from Montreal. The fan favorite has been through all of the Nationals' ups and downs, from a string of painful early playoff exits to the feel-good story of his first trip to the World Series this season. A converted third baseman, he's been hampered by injuries much of the past six years — including shoulder problems that affect his throwing. But at age 35, he's become an everyday player again during a solid postseason.Astros: Yuli Gurriel. From a family of baseball royalty in Cuba, the highly touted Gurriel got a $47.5 million contract and has established himself as a productive RBI man during three full years in the majors. He took off in late June and put together a big... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Max Scherzer was taunted over his eyes as a kid. Now he treasures them.Washington's Game 1 starter in the World Series against Houston has baseball's most unusual orbs: blue on the right, brown on the left, a condition known as Heterochromia iridis."I've always celebrated it," he said Monday, a day ahead of the opener. "Whether you liked it or not, that's who I am."Known for his strikeouts, stamina and success, Scherzer has had different eye colors since he was a baby. When he was in grade school, all the people in his drawings had two different eye colors."Whatever picture he had, he just figured that was just part of normal," said his father, Brad. "From first grade on, he's always embraced it. He's always thought it was fun. He's always made light of it. It makes Max unique. So that's why he likes it so much, I guess."Former big league pitcher Tommy Layne recalled facing Scherzer in youth ball back in suburban St. Louis. Scherzer was far bigger than Layne's teammates and... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Anthony Rendon vividly remembers his one visit to the Astrodome as a child to see the Houston Astros and his beloved Killer B's."I was really young at that time but that memory still sticks in my head," the Washington Nationals star said.And along with the excitement of seeing Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell and Derek Bell, something else is seared in his senses. It has to do with the condition of the once-famed stadium that was in disrepair near the end of its run as the home of the Astros."It was a very smelly place," he said. "We got a tour, a behind the scenes kind of deal, and that place was really dirty and really stinky."This week Rendon is back in his hometown, and it's not as a fan. Instead, he's leading the Nationals to their first World Series against the team he rooted for as a child.The Astrodome has long been closed and he'll get a chance to put on a show for friends and family in the domed (and very pleasant smelling) confines of Minute Maid Park.The third baseman... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Howie Kendrick is in the postseason for the eighth time in his 14 major league seasons, having played in October for three different teams. This time, he is finally on a World Series team."This is a dream come true," the 36-year-old utilityman, who has been in 43 playoff games, said Monday before the Washington Nationals worked out in Houston. "Been in the playoffs many times, and this is truly special."Washington's appearance in the World Series also means the first time for Ryan Zimmerman, the first guy ever drafted by the Nationals in 2005 and the only player to wear their uniform in each of their 15 seasons."This has obviously been an unbelievable ride, and I'm just trying to soak it all in," the 35-year-old Zimmerman said.They aren't the only players with more than a decade of big league service time that are World Series first-timers.Astros reliever Joe Smith has made 782 appearances for six teams over the past 13 seasons. Asdrúbal Cabrera, who rejoined the Nationals... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on the World Series (all times local):5:55 p.m.Ryan Zimmerman, the longtime "face of the franchise" for the Washington Nationals, remembers the first time he saw the 5-foot-6 player who has grown into that role with the Houston Astros.Jose Altuve made his big league debut with the Astros on July 20, 2011, in a home game against the Nationals, who they will host in Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday night."He was in the hotel, and I remember seeing him and you look at him and like what everyone used to do, 'Who is this guy?'," Zimmerman said. "I remember watching him. He had some good at-bats. ... He's obviously incredible to watch."Altuve went 1 for 5 with a strikeout in that game eight years ago — which was six years after Zimmerman became the first player ever drafted by the Nationals.Houston's second baseman has since become the 2017 American League MVP, and a six-time All-Star with three AL batting titles. Altuve was the MVP of the AL Championship Series... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on the World Series (all times local):4:38 p.m.Max Scherzer will start the World Series opener for the Washington Nationals against the Houston Astros' Gerrit Cole on Tuesday night.Stephen Strasburg will start Game 2 on Wednesday for Washington against Justin Verlander. Nationals manager Dave Martinez says he has not decided how he will order Patrick Corbin and Aníbal Sánchez for Games 3 and 4. Asked whether Corbin could pitch in relief in the first two games, Martinez smiled and playfully said: "We shall see."Zack Greinke starts Game 3 for the Astros when the action shifts to Nationals Park on Friday. Houston manager AJ Hinch says he likely will use a combination of relievers for the fourth game.Howie Kendrick will be the Nationals' designated hitter in the opener.___4:10 p.m.Michael Brantley will finally get the chance to play in a World Series. The four-time All-Star outfielder could only watch three years ago.After 10 seasons with the Cleveland Indians, Brantley... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Take out pennant-clinching home run hitter Jose Altuve, and the Houston Astros' bats are really scuffling this postseason.After leading the majors with a .274 team batting average during the regular season, the Astros hit only .208 in their two American League playoffs series while making it to their second World Series in three seasons. That drops nearly 20 points without the AL Championship Series MVP."The playoffs aren't about statistics. It's about moments," George Springer, the 2017 World Series MVP, said Monday. "It takes only at-bat a day to help your team. One at-bat a day can impact a game."Springer hit five home runs in that 2017 World Series after going 3 for 26 (.115) in the seven-game AL Championship Series, when he had three singles and didn't drive in a run.The Astros are hoping for similar performances from several players going into Game 1 against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night.First baseman Yuli Gurriel, who hit .289 in 144 regular-season games,... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on the World Series (all times local):4:10 p.m.Michael Brantley will finally get the chance to play in a World Series. The four-time All-Star outfielder could only watch three years ago.After 10 seasons with the Cleveland Indians, Brantley signed a two-year deal last offseason with the Houston Astros.When the Indians went to the World Series in 2016, Brantley was limited to only 11 games early that season because of a right shoulder injury.So Brantley took a moment to absorb what had just happened when the Astros clinched the American League pennant on Saturday night."This is not guaranteed to anybody," Brantley said Monday. "I didn't get to play in the last one. ... I'm just going to enjoy the experience. I don't take for granted how hard it is to get here, so I just really want to enjoy the moment and stay in the moment."___3:50 p.m.Alan Porter will work home plate for Tuesday night's World Series opener as part of an umpiring crew headed by Gary Cederstrom.Doug... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on the World Series (all times local):3:50 p.m.Alan Porter will work home plate for Tuesday night's World Series opener as part of an umpiring crew headed by Gary Cederstrom.Doug Eddings will be at first, Cederstrom at second, James Hoye at third, Lance Barksdale in left and Sam Holbrook in right.Jim Wolf will be in the replay room in New York for the first two games, then join the crew in Washington for Game 3 as Porter moves to the replay room. That puts Porter in position to umpire behind home plate in a Game 7.Jerry Meals will be the replay assistant throughout the Series.Cederstrom is working the Series for the fourth time, Holbrook for the third, Wolf for the second, and Barksdale, Eddings, Hoye and Porter for the first.The crew will wear a patch in memory of Eric Cooper, who died last weekend after developing a blood clot following knee surgery. Cooper had worked the Division Series between the New York Yankees and Minnesota as part of Cederstrom's crew.___3:30... [More]

A look at the best-of-seven World Series between the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros:___Schedule: (All times EDT) Game 1, Tuesday, at Houston, 8:08 p.m.; Game 2, Wednesday, at Houston, 8:07 p.m.; Game 3, Friday, at Washington, 8:07 p.m.; Game 4, Saturday, at Washington, 8:07 p.m.; x-Game 5, Sunday, Oct. 27, at Washington, 8:07 p.m.; x-Game 6, Tuesday, Oct. 29, at Houston, 8:07 p.m.; x-Game 7, Wednesday, Oct. 30, at Houston, 8:08 p.m. (All games on FOX).x-if necessary.___Season Series: Did not play.___Projected Lineups:Nationals: SS Trea Turner (.298, 19 HRs, 57 RBIs, 37 2Bs, 35 SBs, 96 runs), RF Adam Eaton (.279, 15, 49, 15 SBs, 103 runs), 3B Anthony Rendon (.319, 34, 126, 44 2Bs, 117 runs, 1.010 OPS), LF Juan Soto (.282, 34, 110, 110 runs, .949 OPS), 2B Howie Kendrick (.344, 17, 62), 1B Ryan Zimmerman (.257, 6, 27 in 52 games), DH Asdrúbal Cabrera (.260, 18, 91 in 131 games with Texas and Washington) or Matt Adams (.226, 20, 56, 115 Ks, 310 ABs in 111 games), C Kurt Suzuki (.264,... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on the World Series (all times local):3:05 p.m.Astros reliever Ryan Pressly says he expects to be able to pitch in the World Series.Pressly threw only one pitch in the clinching Game 6 of the ALCS on Saturday night, getting Didi Gregorius of the Yankees on a soft grounder. But the reliever had to leave the game after aggravating his surgically repaired right knee — he had the procedure in August and missed time."Not going into too much detail about my knee," Pressly said before a workout. "I think we'll be fine."Manager AJ Hinch said the Astros would announce their roster prior to Game 1 on Tuesday night."Quite honestly, the health of Ryan Pressly is going to be key in those decisions. He's going to do some things on the field today. Hopefully get off the mound. He's feeling better. We anticipate him being available and ready to go," Hinch said."But until we clear him as active we're going to have to hold off on our roster," he said. "There could be a change or... [More]

I get it. Today the game is asking for home runs. The temptation is too great, analytics support it, and coaches coach it.Small parks, maple bats, a new ball and shifting defenses have given hitters the green light to let it fly. Hitting into the shift is flat-out dumb.I didn't hit against a shift, or in a small park, or with a new ball every pitch. I faced Nolan Ryan, J.R. Richard and that Houston crew, but I didn't hit every day against a 6-foot-5 pitcher throwing 98 mph.OK, so why can't I just accept that now the game is all about power?It's the Year of the Home Run. Pete Alonso broke the rookie record with 53. The Twins had five guys with 30-plus dingers. Half the teams set franchise marks.Why hit a groundball when 1 for 4 with three Ks and a home run is a great game?To me, it's crazy.Has baseball's charm given way to all-or-nothing entertainment, trading its subtlety — what made it special — for home runs and their partner, strikeouts?What happened to the sac bunt, the hit-and-run,... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — NL MVP candidate Anthony Rendon surveyed his teammates scattered around the Nationals Park diamond, whoopin' it up after clinching a World Series berth.There were starting pitchers Max Scherzer and Aníbal Sánchez, each 35 — and each responsible for taking a no-hit bid into at least the seventh inning as Washington won Games 1 and 2 of the NL Championship Series. So was Howie Kendrick, 36, the second baseman who earned NLCS MVP honors with four doubles and four RBIs in the sweep. And Ryan Zimmerman, 35, the first baseman slugging .484 this postseason."A lot of old guys on the team," Rendon observed. "They call themselves 'Viejos.'"Indeed, they do, and "Los Viejos" — Spanish for "The Old Guys" — are a big part of why the Nationals are getting ready to face the Astros in the Fall Classic, which opens Tuesday night in Houston.There's also catcher Kurt Suzuki, 36, and reliever Fernando Rodney, 42, the oldest active player in the majors."People think we are old men and we can't... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on the World Series (all times local):2:45 p.m.Before playing in the World Series, Gerrit Cole attended the Fall Classic as a fan in 2001, 2002, 2012 and 2017. The 2001 matchup of Arizona and the New York Yankees went seven games, and the Diamondbacks won when Luis Gonzalez singled in the ninth inning off Mariano Rivera."That was just a really special World Series I think for the whole country," Cole said. "It was probably the only time most people felt some empathy for the Yankees. And then Gonzo just ripped it right out."__2:17 p.m.Justin Verlander will follow Gerrit Cole and start Game 2 of the World Series for Houston against Washington on Wednesday.Zack Greinke will start for the Astros on Friday when the Series resumes at Nationals Park."Greinke gets to hit. That's going to be fun for him," Astros manager AJ Hinch said Monday.Greinke has a .225 batting average with nine homers, including three this season for Arizona before he was traded to Houston on July 31.Houston plans a bullpen game for Game 4 on Saturday.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

HOUSTON (AP) — Justin Verlander will follow Gerrit Cole and start Game 2 of the World Series for Houston against Washington on Wednesday.Zack Greinke will start for the Astros on Friday when the Series resumes at Nationals Park."Greinke gets to hit. That's going to be fun for him," Astros manager AJ Hinch said Monday.Greinke has a .225 batting average with nine homers, including three this season for Arizona before he was traded to Houston on July 31.Houston plans a bullpen game for Game 4 on Saturday.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) — NL MVP candidate Anthony Rendon surveyed his teammates scattered around the Nationals Park diamond, whoopin' it up after clinching a World Series berth.There were starting pitchers Max Scherzer and Aníbal Sánchez, each 35 — and each responsible for taking a no-hit bid into at least the seventh inning as Washington won Games 1 and 2 of the NL Championship Series. So was Howie Kendrick, 36, the second baseman who earned NLCS MVP honors with four doubles and four RBIs in the sweep. And Ryan Zimmerman, 35, the first baseman slugging .484 this postseason."A lot of old guys on the team," Rendon observed. "They call themselves 'Viejos.'"Indeed, they do, and "Los Viejos" — Spanish for "The Old Guys" — are a big part of why the Nationals are getting ready to face the Astros in the Fall Classic, which opens Tuesday night in Houston.There's also catcher Kurt Suzuki, 36, and reliever Fernando Rodney, 42, the oldest active player in the majors."People think we are old men and we can't... [More]

Oct. 221910 — After three straight losses and trailing Philadelphia 3-2 in the ninth, the Chicago Cubs tied the score and won 4-3 in 10 innings for their only victory in a World Series won by the A's in five games.1972 — The Oakland A's won their first World Series with a 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in Game 7. It was the first championship since 1930 for the franchise, then located in Philadelphia.1975 — A ninth-inning RBI single by Joe Morgan gave the Cincinnati Reds a 4-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox and the World Series title in seven games. It was the first title for the Reds in 35 years.1986 — Gary Carter's two home runs at Fenway Park gave New York a 6-2 victory and pulled the Mets even with Boston Red Sox in the World Series after four games.1987 — The St. Louis Cardinals won their third straight home game to take a 3-2 lead in the World Series with a 4-2 victory against the Minnesota Twins.2000 — In their first matchup since Roger Clemens beaned Mike Piazza in July,... [More]