Kluber logs 6 K's in final AL Cy Young case By Jordan Bastian MLB.com @MLBastian KANSAS CITY -- The American League Cy Young Award race is going to come down to volume versus value in the eyes of voters. It is no surprise that Indians ace Corey Kluber once again finds himself in the annual conversation.

In a 9-4 loss to the Royals on Saturday night, Kluber put the final touches on his Cy Young campaign, which will likely net a top-five finish rather than a third career plaque. Working on a limited pitch count, Kluber had mixed results in his final regular-season outing of 2018, walking away with a no-decision before the Tribe's bullpen concerns returned. "I'm going to always vote for Kluber," manager Terry Francona said. "And I don't apologize for that."

Relief ace Andrew Miller and late-inning reliever Cody Allen combined to allow six runs across the sixth and seventh innings to help the Royals pull away. Both relievers have endured trying seasons, but they saw progress throughout the month of September. Over the past two games, though, the issues returned in the form of 10 combined runs allowed.

While the bullpen will continue to be a talking point in the days leading up to the AL Division Series against the Astros, the Indians can at least move forward knowing the rotation has been the roster's strength. That starts at the top with Kluber, who is the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner.

Kluber is currently lined up to be the Game 1 starter on Friday at Minute Maid Park. "He'll take the ball on Friday," Francona said. "And that's a big honor in itself, and he knows that. But, he's the guy we want to lead our staff."

Limited to 80 pitches on Saturday, Kluber was charged with three runs on seven hits in five innings for the AL Central champions. One run scored on a bloop single by Meibrys Viloria in the second and two more crossed the plate on a Whit Merrifield double in the fourth that bounced off right fielder Melky Cabrera's glove.

Against Royals righty Jakob Junis, the Indians managed three runs over six innings. Tribe slugger Jose Ramirez also launched a solo homer off reliever Kevin McCarthy in the eighth, marking the 39th shot of the season for the second baseman. Ramirez, who finished the night a triple shy of a cycle, entered the game batting .164 with one homer in 35 games dating back to Aug. 19, when his season average last stood at .300.

"He just hit one the way you're supposed to," Francona said of Ramirez's home run. "That was so pretty."

Kluber ended with six strikeouts and two walks in the performance, giving him 222 strikeouts vs. 34 walks on the season across his 33 starts. Overall, he finishes the regular season 20-7 with a 2.89 ERA in an AL-leading 215 innings. Kluber's 4.0-percent walk rate is the lowest mark in the AL and his 5.6 WAR (per Fangraphs) ranks sixth overall.

"Innings pitched is important," Kluber said. "I think that's a reflection of being able to take the ball every fifth day or being able to work deep in the games, and hopefully give your team a chance to win. I think there's value in that. I don't think that it's the be all, end all, but I think it's important to be able to log a lot of innings."

When it comes to wooing AL Cy Young voters, Kluber has competition.

Astros ace Justin Verlander started on Saturday and finished 16-9 with a 2.52 ERA in 214 innings, in which he struck out 290, walked 37 and posted an AL-high 6.8 WAR. Rays lefty Blake Snell is also very much in the mix, going 21-5 with a pristine 1.89 ERA in 180 2/3 innings.

Other candidates for the AL Cy Young Award include Boston's Chris Sale (12-4, 2.11 ERA, 158 innings), Cleveland's Trevor Bauer (12-6, 2.26 ERA in 171 1/3 innings) and Houston's Gerrit Cole (15-5, 2.88 ERA in 200 1/3 innings).

"There's something to be said for guys that face the lineup that third or fourth time," Francona said. "That's when the majority of damage gets done with pitchers. Guys like Kluber or Verlander, they kind of stay out there. So, I think there's something to be said for that."

"It wasn't the easiest year [for Kluber]," the manager added later. "Not everybody gets to see it, but I do -- how hard he works and how diligent he is. He finds a way, man, to be one of the best. We're proud of him."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Miller unravels: Heading into the game against the Royals, Miller had a 2.37 ERA with 21 strikeouts against five walks in 19 innings, dating to Aug. 1. The lefty has looked solid in September, but he encountered a setback in the sixth. With two out, Miller issued a walk and then yielded four consecutive hits, including a three-run homer to Adalberto Mondesi and an RBI single to Ryan O'Hearn. The five hits were the most allowed by Miller in a single appearance since Sept. 8, 2011, when he was a starting pitcher for the Red Sox.

"I just didn't think he leveraged the ball downhill quiet as well," Francona said. "I think his stuff is still good and he got out to over 30 pitches again, which is really good. I just didn't think he was quite as downhill as he's been."

Error in judgment: With two out, runners on the corners and Cleveland holding a 3-1 lead in the fourth, Merrifield lined a pitch from Kluber to right field. Cabrera broke in on the ball, tried to correct his route and then made a jumping attempt to catch the ball. On a play with a 99-percent catch probability, per Statcast™, the ball struck Cabrera's glove and fell to the grass, allowing two runs to score on what was ruled a game- tying double.

"We didn't finish some plays," Francona said. "Shoot, it's 3-1, and Melky kind of came in and then didn't make the play, and that ended up being [two runs]. And then after that, the game got ugly."

GOMES EXITS WITH INJURY All-Star catcher Yan Gomes left Saturday night's game in the third inning after hitting his right hand on Alex Gordon's bat. With none out, Mondesi attempted to steal second and Gordon swung at the pitch from Kluber. Gomes came up firing, hitting his throwing hand at full force as Gordon's bat lingered behind him on his backswing. Gomes immediately exited the game and was replaced by backup Roberto Perez. The Indians announced that Gomes sustained a right thumb contusion and laceration, but X-rays came back negative for any structural damage. "I think we kind of dodged a bullet there," Francona said. "He got a couple stitches, but it's just a contusion and the doctors feel like in a couple days, he'll get the swelling out of there and all that stuff. He could play with the stitches, but I think they think they can have them out of there by Tuesday or Wednesday. Again, I'm sure he's going to be sore for a few days, but it looks like he's going to be OK."

HE SAID IT "I think you'll be able to see the difference a little bit here. Maybe before, I wasn't as focused and I was trying to hit the ball out a little bit too much. I just really don't think I was as focused as much as I am now." -- Ramirez, on his recent slump, via team interpreter Will Clements

UP NEXT Indians right-hander Carlos Carrasco (16-10, 3.42 ERA) will get the ball for the regular-season finale at 3:15 p.m. ET on Sunday against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Carrasco is scheduled to throw around 80 pitches in order to allow Trevor Bauer to enter in relief and build up his pitch count prior to the American League Division Series. Kansas City will counter with lefty Eric Skoglund (1-5, 5.40 ERA).

Gomes has bruised thumb after hand hits bat By Jordan Bastian MLB.com @MLBastian KANSAS CITY -- Indians catcher Yan Gomes dropped to a knee, inspected his bleeding right hand and immediately introduced another layer of uncertainty for the club ahead of the American League Division Series.

In the third inning of the Tribe's 9-4 loss to the Royals on Saturday night at Kauffman Stadium, Gomes sustained a right thumb contusion and laceration in a freak play behind the plate with six days remaining until the ALDS against the Astros (Game 1 is on Friday at Minute Maid Park). Gomes, who hit his hand on the bat of Royals outfielder Alex Gordon, received two stitches, but X-rays came back negative for any structural damage. Now, the Indians will wait to see how their All-Star catcher heals over the next handful of days.

"It's just a contusion," manager Terry Francona said. "And the doctors feel like in a couple days, he'll get the swelling out of there and all that stuff. He could play with the stitches, but I think they think they can have them out of there by Tuesday or Wednesday. Again, I'm sure he's going to be sore for a few days, but it looks like he's going to be OK."

Backup Roberto Perez, who took over in the third inning, would assume the starting job if Gomes were to miss any time. This is a similar situation to 2016, when Perez moved into the starting role for the postseason after Gomes sustained a fractured right wrist in September. Rookie Eric Haase is currently the third-string option.

Beginning on Monday, the Indians have four days off leading up to Game 1 of the ALDS.

While Gomes and Perez are plus defenders, framers and game-callers for the AL Central champions, the former is currently in the midst of a standout campaign overall. In 112 games this season, Gomes is hitting .266 with 16 home runs and a career-high 26 doubles, along with a .313 on-base percentage and a .449 slugging percentage. He entered Saturday hitting .317/.346/.508 in 34 games, dating to Aug. 1.

"As tough as that is," Indians ace Corey Kluber said of potentially losing Gomes for any period of time, "if need be, Roberto's been in this position before and he's been called upon to catch every day. If that's what's asked of him, I think he's ready to handle it, too."

With none out in the third, Gomes came up firing to second base when Adalberto Mondesi sprinted from first on a stolen-base attempt. Gordon swung at the pitch from Kluber, but the bat lingered over the plate for a moment on his backswing. Gomes was unable to avoid the bat and he hit his fingers on the wood at full force, sending the baseball flying errantly over the infield.

Gordon was ruled out on batter's interference on the play, forcing Mondesi to retreat to first base.

After falling to the dirt, Gomes shifted to his feet, tossed away his mask in frustration and was quickly met by head athletic trainer James Quinlan. They made a prompt exit, while Perez scrambled to get his gear on to enter the game.

"It's never happened to me before," Gomes said. "I've never done that on a backswing before. I've been hit with plenty of bats, but I've never hit a bat. There's nothing you can do. I just have to wait."

The results of the X-rays were welcomed news.

"I was worried," Gomes said. "To be honest with you, I'm sitting in [the X-ray room] thinking, 'There's no doubt my thumb is broken,' just by the way it looked."

Francona was hopeful that Gomes can still be ready for the ALDS.

"We kind of dodged a bullet there," said the manager.

Tribe sets pitching staff up for playoff success By Jordan Bastian MLB.com @MLBastian KANSAS CITY -- Indians manager Terry Francona is looking forward to being able to use his pitchers based on situations instead of schedules. That freedom will return when the club begins the American League Division Series against the Astros on Friday at Minute Maid Park.

In the season's last month, Francona has closely monitored Trevor Bauer's workload as the starter makes his way back from a six-week absence due to a stress fracture in his right fibula. The manager has gradually worked relief ace Andrew Miller back to unrestricted duty after three DL stints this season. Francona gave closer Cody Allen an extended break before ramping him back up in the final week. Needless to say, there might be no one more ready for the best-of-five ALDS than Francona.

"I can't wait," Francona said prior to Saturday's game against the Royals. "Again, there's reasons we do it. But, man, part of the reason you do this job is because you're competitive. It just kind of goes against [your nature]. Sometimes, you like have to put your seatbelt on, or the restraints. It's hard to do. But, hopefully, it pays dividends. That's why we're doing it."

The seatbelt will remain buckled for Sunday's regular-season finale at Kauffman Stadium.

In the last game of the year against the Royals, right-hander Carlos Carrasco will start and log around 80 pitches, but then Bauer (activated from the DL on Sept. 21) will come out of the bullpen with the goal of handling the remainder of the innings. With limited innings available for the regular relievers on Sunday, Francona said he would aim to get Allen, Miller, Brad Hand and Oliver Perez work in Saturday's tilt.

There will be more innings available in Tuesday's intrasquad game at Progressive Field.

Miller agreed it will be nice to start the playoffs, when Francona can use his arms with wins (not just repetitions) in mind. Over the past two postseasons, Francona has actually used his relievers in more innings (91 1/3) than his starters (89 2/3). Miller has led the way with 24 1/3 innings, followed by Allen with 19. The bullpen overall turned in a combined 2.07 ERA in the 2016 and '17 playoffs. "It should be fun," Miller said. "We really haven't had a chance to kind of put everybody out there the way that maybe [you'll see in October]. Whether it's been because I've been hurt or whether the games just aren't meaning that much, or whatever it is, we haven't really put our foot on the gas. And our starters have been so good that there haven't been too many days where we need to cover more than about an inning or two.

"In the playoffs, that'll change. The games are different. I'm excited. I think it's been, for me personally, a little bit of a grind this year. But, I feel like everything's kind of putting in the right direction and I can't wait for these games to get here."

Worth noting • Francona indicated that utility man Erik Gonzalez (hit in the head with a pitch on Wednesday) continues to make progress. Gonzalez, who has been in MLB's concussion protocol, was cleared to do some activity in the weight room on Saturday. The Indians are hopeful he will be cleared to participate in Tuesday's intrasquad game at Progressive Field.

• The Indians went with an 11-man pitching staff for the ALDS last season. Francona was asked on Saturday if he would go with the same alignment this year, but he would not tip his hand. Said Francona: "We [need to] get through tomorrow. I just want to make sure everybody's intact and then we'll figure it out."

• Entering Saturday, the Indians' rotation had issued 240 walks, marking the club's second-lowest total since at least 1908. Only the 1981 rotation had fewer (235). The 4.39 strikeout-to-walk ratio by the Tribe's rotation this season stands as the highest single-season mark in MLB history.

Reminder: The Indians acquired Mike Clevinger for 21 innings of Vinnie Pestano Zack Meisel Sep 29, 2018 6 KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Four years ago, the Indians traded away one of Jason Kipnis’ best friends.

On Friday night, following a 14-6 victory at Kauffman Stadium, Kipnis stood at his locker, sporting a bright yellow T-shirt with a depiction of the guy the Indians received in return for his longtime roommate and locker mate.

No, in August 2014, Kipnis didn’t dig through Mike Clevinger’s history, scoff at his Class A numbers or declare that the right-hander needed to produce a memorable major-league career to validate the trade.

Clevinger reached the 200-inning mark Friday night. He eclipsed the 200-strikeout mark last week. He’ll finish the season with a 3.02 ERA (and it would’ve been 2.97 had Kansas City’s official scorer not done José Ramírez a favor).

Clevinger has followed through on his aim to join Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco and Trevor Bauer as reliable cogs in the Indians’ robust rotation, the foundation of the club that has captured three consecutive division titles.

And he has a fan in Kipnis.

Vinnie Pestano, once a core member of the Cleveland bullpen, logged only 21 innings for the Angels after the swap. He bounced around the minors and independent leagues before his arm begged for mercy. He retired in June. As for the trade, a lengthy prison sentence typically accompanies that sort of theft.

“He was a best friend, but as a teammate and as someone who was looking to win,” Kipnis told The Athletic, “that’s a fantastic trade.”

Entering his final start of the regular season, Clevinger stood 6 2/3 innings from his goal of 200 — not that he needed to complete any calculations.

“We’ve got Trevor Bauer in this clubhouse,” Clevinger said, laughing.

And there was Bauer, in a navy hoodie, hanging over the dugout railing, staring at his buddy on the mound and clapping after the second out in the seventh inning Friday night. Clevinger tossed him the ball, another keepsake for Clevinger’s collection.

Clevinger started detailing his workload ambitions in January, when he traveled to Cleveland for Tribe Fest. He devoted his offseason to bettering his posture and body awareness and learning breathing techniques. That all made his delivery more repeatable and made his mind more at ease on the mound. No longer was he on the verge of hyperventilating when he got into a jam or surrendered a run.

He also made a mechanical tweak this summer to boost his fastball velocity and maintain the life on the pitch through his entire outing. After all, it’s rarely a simple ride to the 200-inning mark. His adjustments have paid off.

“It means a lot,” Clevinger said. “That was a big goal. To go out there and finally do it, it’s been a lot of work, a lot of stuff off the field. But, it’s good to say it’s finally done.”

Kluber has reached that mark for five consecutive seasons, but he’s part robot. Only 12 pitchers in the majors have logged 200 innings this season. Clevinger, in his first full season in the big leagues, is one of them.

In the summer of 2016, Clevinger’s girlfriend met Pestano’s wife-to-be in the family room of the Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre ballpark. Pestano was playing for Scranton; Clevinger was playing for Class AAA Columbus.

One guy was scrapping and clawing to prolong his career. The other was waiting his turn, a bright future ahead.

A few years earlier, Pestano had blossomed into one of the league’s most reliable setup men, a guy Manny Acta could call upon to preserve any lead, to direct the Indians out of harm’s way in the late innings.

Clevinger, meanwhile, underwent Tommy John surgery and, amid some struggles after a challenging recovery, wondered whether a career in wildlife control suited him better.

The Indians helped him overhaul his delivery upon his arrival to the organization, and it quickly paid dividends as he climbed the minor-league ladder. The Indians have a knack for that sort of thing. Their work with Kluber, Carrasco and Bauer — all acquired in trades and requiring some patience — is ultimately how they have built a championship-contending roster.

Clevinger is the greenest of the group, with only 76 outings to his name. He’s also under team control through the 2022 season.

It sure seems as though the Indians made a sound investment. Even the best friend of the guy they traded away would agree.

“To make that one-on-one trade,” Kipnis said, “they did a great job. It turned out to be a great move.”

Mondesi's 3-run HR lifts Royals to 9-4 win over Indians The Associated Press The Associated PressSep 29, 2018, 11:47 PM KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- After losing an inconsequential game to the Kansas City Royals, the Cleveland Indians were relieved catcher Yan Gomes' injury was not as serious as first feared.

Adalberto Mondesi hit a tiebreaking, three-run homer to lift the Kansas City Royals to a 9-4 win over the Indians on Saturday night.

Gomes left the game in the bottom of the third with an injured right hand after he was hit by Alex Gordon's bat on a backswing as he attempted to throw out would-be base-stealer Mondesi. The Indians' training staff led Gomes off the field as Gordon was called out for interference and Mondesi sent back to first. Gomes was replaced by Roberto Perez.

Gomes received two stitches on his hand near his thumb.

''I think we kind of dodged a bullet right there,'' Manager Terry Francona said. ''When it first happened it was bleeding like crazy. He got a couple of stitches, but it's just a contusion. The doctors feel like in a couple of days, he gets the swelling out of there. He could play with the stitches but they feel like they can have them out of there by Tuesday or Wednesday. I'm sure he's going to be sore for a few days, but it looks like he's going to be OK.''

Corey Kluber gave up three runs and seven hits in five innings in his final regular season start for Cleveland. Working with a short pitch count in his tune-up for American League Division Series against Houston, Kluber struck out six while throwing 80 pitches.

''I think there's a couple of times I made mistakes, but that happens every game,'' Kluber said. ''For the most part I executed pitches the way I wanted to. It may not have always gone the way I wanted it to, but that's part of the game.''

Kluber finished the year fifth in the AL with a 2.89 ERA. He walked 34 batters in 33 starts for a league-leading walk rate of 1.42 per nine innings.

''I thought he was actually pretty good,'' Francona said. ''His line's not going to look as good. We didn't finish some plays. Melky (Cabrera) kind of came in and then didn't make the play and that ended up being three. After that the game got ugly.''

After reliever Andrew Miller (2-4) gave up a single to Alcides Escobar in the sixth and a two-out walk to Whit Merrifield, Mondesi hit the next pitch into the left-center stands to break a 3-3 tie.

''Just stay short to the ball,'' Mondesi said. ''I know if I go with that plan, you got time to recognize the pitch. Stay short and put a good swing on a pitch.''

The Royals added another run with consecutive hits by Gordon, Hunter Dozier and Ryan O'Hearn.

Merrifield led off the bottom of the first with a sharp single to center, then stole second and third. He leads the American League with 191 hits and 44 steals. Merrifield, who also had a two-run double in the fourth, has a 19-game hitting streak, tying for the longest in the majors this year and matching his career best set last year.

Jakob Junis (9-12) went six innings, allowing three runs and eight hits with one walk and six strikeouts. Junis has walked just three in his last seven starts, over 56 innings, the best walk rate among American League starters over that span. Junis is 4-1 in 11 starts since Aug. 1, with a 3.38 ERA.

''I got off to a slow start,'' Junis said. ''I was making decent pitches, they were just finding holes. Thankfully, they were just singles and I was able to limit the damage to just a couple runs and no extra base hits or home runs.''

Mondesi has hit seven of his 14 homers in the last 15 games. Since August 25, he is hitting .322 (39 for 122) with 10 homers and 19 RBIs over 29 games.

Rookie Meibrys Viloria had three hits and drove in the Royals' first run with a two-out, second-inning single.

Yonder Alonso and Cabrera gave the Indians a 3-1 lead in the third with consecutive two-out, run-scoring singles.

Jose Ramirez, who had three hits, capped the scoring with a solo homer, his 39th, to lead off the eighth. Ramirez is hitting .177 (25 for 141) over his last 39 games.

TRAINER'S ROOM Indians: INF Erik Gonzalez is under concussion protocol after getting beaned Wednesday. ''He's doing better today,'' Francona said. ''He's actually going to go do some stuff in the weight room, get the blood flowing.'' Royals: C Salvador Perez was held out of Saturday's lineup due to nagging left thumb pain. ''It's been sore all month,'' manager Ned Yost said. ''It's one of those things that he deals with and he's still been very productive.'' Perez is expected to be ready for Sunday's season finale.

UP NEXT RHP Carlos Carrasco (16-10, 3.42 ERA) closes out the regular season against LHP Eric Skoglund (1-5, 5.40). Francona expects Carrasco to throw about 80 pitches before giving way to RHP Trevor Bauer, who the Indians hope will finish from there.

Cleveland Indians' Yan Gomes catches a break; thought for sure he'd broken his right thumb By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com [email protected] KANSAS CITY - Catcher Yan Gomes has been this way before. Not exactly step for step, but pretty close.

In 2016 he was about to come off the disabled list on Sept. 14 when he was hit by a pitch in a minor league rehab game and suffered a broken right wrist. The Indians were headed to the postseason and Gomes made it back in time to make all three postseason rosters as the Indians reached Game 7 of the World Series.

Gomes had to be thinking some of those same thoughts Saturday night as he sat in the X-ray room at Kauffman Stadium waiting to hear the verdict on his mangled right thumb.

"To be honest with you, I'm sitting in there thinking there's no doubt my thumb is broken," said Gomes. "Just by the way it looked."

The Indians, who clinched the AL Central on Sept. 15, played their second last game of the regular season Saturday night against the Royals. In the third inning, Gomes tried to throw out Adalberto Mondesi on an attempted steal of second base after Alex Gordon swung and missed a Corey Kluber pitch. But the ball didn't make it to the mound because Gomes hit Gordon's bat with his right hand.

"I was very worried," said Gomes. "I looked at my hand. Grabbed my stuff and (headed for the locker room). I said to myself, "This is broken. Good thing it wasn't." Said manager Terry Francona, "It was bleeding all over the place, but I think we dodged a bullet."

X-rays were negative. Gomes needed two stitches in the thumb. He left the locker room following the 9-4 loss to the Royals with his thumb bruised and bandaged.

"All I can do is wait for the swelling to go down," said Gomes.

Like most catchers Gomes has been hit by bats on all sorts of back swings. But this was something new.

"It's never happened to me before," said Gomes. "I've never done that on a backswing before. I've been hit with plenty of bats. But I've never hit a bat."

Gomes hit the top or cup of Gordon's bat. Some hitters use bats with a scooped out top. It can leave a sharp edge at the top of the bat.

"He got a couple of stitches, but it's just a contusion and the doctors feel like in a couple of days, he'll get the swelling out of there," said Francona. "He could play with the stitches, but I think they think he can have them out of there by Tuesday or Wednesday."

This has been Gomes most consistent season at the plate. He's hitting .266 (107-for-403) with 26 doubles, 16 homers and 46 RBI. He has a .762 OPS, which ranks second among AL catchers with at least 300 plate appearances. More importantly, he's been a consistent producer at the bottom of the lineup.

The Indians open the ALDS against Houston on Friday at Minute Maid Park. Kluber will be on the mound for Game 1 and if Gomes can't catch, the job will go to Roberto Perez.

Ryan Lewis: A look at Indians’ roster decisions for ALDS Ryan Lewis It was never really a matter of “if” the Indians would play into October this season, but more a question of when and in what kind of shape would they be in when they got there. Now the real decisions begin. The Indians came within one game, one play, of winning the 2016 World Series, but last season experienced a disappointing and sudden end to their playoff dreams. So, after a season void of much need for a sense of urgency, Oct. 5 and Game 1 against the Houston Astros in the American League Division Series draws near. For the most part, the Indians are entering this postseason healthier than they’ve been in their last two trips, but it’s far from a perfect scenario. These are the decisions facing manager Terry Francona and the front office regarding the roster they’ll take in the ALDS. The rotation First, the pitching staff and how they handle their rotation. The last two Octobers, the Indians used a playoff rotation with at least one pitcher taking the mound on short rest. In 2016, devastating injuries to Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar resulted in Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer and Josh Tomlin carrying the load. Last year, roster construction and injuries to outfielders left the Indians wanting more flexibility. Entering this postseason, the Indians can abandon any need or desire to use any starter on short rest, which allows them to use a four-man rotation. Kluber and Carrasco will start Games 1 and 2 in Houston. That much is known. The question is with Games 3 and 4, but it should only be a question of the order, not if anyone goes on three days of rest. Bauer has had a Cy Young-level season and has mostly done well building back up from a stress fracture in his right fibula. He threw 60 pitches in a game Tuesday and, if all goes well Sunday, he could be in line for a healthy workload in Game 3 or Game 4. The other start should be left with Mike Clevinger, who has also enjoyed a breakout season. Number of pitchers Should the Indians carry 11 pitchers or 12? It was 11 last year, though that was partly because of Bauer pitching on short rest in Game 4 and the need for an extra spot because of Michael Brantley’s shaky status. The Indians can employ a rotation without anyone pitching on short rest while still only needing 11 pitchers this postseason. The first three spots for relievers go to Cody Allen, Brad Hand and Andrew Miller. The fourth likely goes to Shane Bieber, who can move to the bullpen and give the Indians some added length and insurance. The fifth should be Oliver Perez, a third lefty who has had a dynamite season while helping to stabilize the bullpen. It’s difficult to ignore a 1.42 ERA and 1.71 FIP. That leaves two spots up for grabs. One can go to Adam Cimber, who hasn’t had the same K/BB rate he did in San Diego but has had a quality September (2.53 ERA) after a rough August (8.10 ERA). The Indians would likely love to bring Josh Tomlin along as a veteran presence and extra insurance, as well as a respected member of the clubhouse. Tomlin could be a free agent this offseason, but he hasn’t corrected his course enough in a disastrous season. He had a 4.15 ERA in September, but he also allowed four home runs in 17 ⅓ innings. The two most likely candidates for spot No. 7 are right-hander Dan Otero and left-hander Tyler Olson. Otero has been only so-so this season (5.25 ERA, 4.77 FIP) but has been better the last month (3 ER in 9 innings). Olson would be a fourth lefty, but he’s been terrific lately, allowing zero runs on five hits and 16 strikeouts over his last 9 ⅓ innings. Unless the Indians carry an extra reliever, though, one of those relievers will have to be left off the roster. The next 10 Assuming it’s an 11-man pitching staff, that leaves 14 spots for position players. Ten should be easy calls — the starting lineup of Yan Gomes, Yonder Alonso, Jose Ramirez, Josh Donaldson, Francisco Lindor, Michael Brantley, Jason Kipnis, Melky Cabrera and Edwin Encarnacion, plus Roberto Perez as the backup catcher. That brings us to 21, including Perez. The bench makeup There are five candidates for those four spots: outfielders Brandon Guyer, Rajai Davis and Greg Allen and infielders Yandy Diaz and Erik Gonzalez. Gonzalez figures to have a place on the roster as a utility infielder, though he must be cleared from concussion protocol after being hit in the head with a pitch Wednesday. Having his positional flexibility would be an asset. That’s 22. Either Davis and Allen will be on the roster as a right-handed (or, in Allen’s case, a switch-hitting) complement to Kipnis in center field, as well as an option for some speed on the basepaths late in games. Allen has played well in the second half, hitting .306 with a .764 OPS after a number of mechanical adjustments he’s made with his swing. The Indians, though, have seemed to go to Davis more in recent games, and they could opt for the veteran presence — not to mention that Davis hit the biggest home run for the Indians in a couple of decades in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series. Is there room for both? Having one would render the other somewhat obsolete in a series. One of them will be the 23rd player on the roster. Which next brings up Guyer, who hasn’t had the best season. He’s been borderline atrocious against right-handed pitching and the Indians probably can’t afford to allow him to log at-bats in any postseason series when a lefty isn’t on the mound. But, against lefties, he’s still been a weapon, posting an .804 OPS even in a down year. He’s also been better overall in September with a .275 average and .795 OPS. Guyer would fill out the Indians outfield with Brantley in left field, Kipnis and Allen or Davis in center and Cabrera and Guyer in right field. Guyer would be No. 24. With Perez, Gonzalez, Davis/Allen and Guyer on the bench, that leaves the Indians with one spot left and two likely options: Diaz or whomever is left over between Davis and Allen. Diaz, who hit .306 with a .766 OPS this season, could be an option to platoon with Alonso at first base, though his splits this year have been reversed — he’s posted an .847 OPS against right-handers and a .645 OPS against left-handers. One of those bench options won’t be suiting up for the ALDS, and that last spot being available is only assuming 11 pitchers are carried. The Indians have had their sights set on a World Series ring and anything less — even the longest winning streak in American League history last season — hasn’t been enough. Starting Friday, the wait to try to atone for the disappointing ends of the last two Octobers begins. Akron Beacon Journal LOADED: 09.30.2018 Ready for October: Will Jose Ramirez snap out of six-week slump in time for the ALDS? Paul Hoynes With playoff baseball right around the corner, cleveland.com is taking a look at the biggest issues facing Terry Francona and the Cleveland Indians. As the 2018 regular season winds down, the answers to these questions will reveal whether or not the Tribe is Ready for October. He's done the Triple 100 - 100 runs (108), 100 RBI (105) and 100 walks (106). He's hit 38 home runs and stolen 34 bases to become just the third player in team history to do 30-30 in one season. "There are guys who go their whole careers and not have a season where they score 100 runs or drive in 100 runs or walk 100 times," said Ty Van Burkleo, Indians hitting coach. "He's done all three in one season. That's pretty impressive." But at this moment, with the Indians set for a date with the Houston Astros in the best-of-five ALDS on Friday at Minute Maid Park, Jose Ramirez watchers inside and outside the organization are concerned. As great a season as he's had, Ramirez is reeling in the midst of a six- week slump that shows no sign of stopping. The two-time starting third baseman for AL All-Star team is hitting .161 (22-for-137) since Aug. 14. His power has vanished - seven doubles, one triple and two homers during the slide - and his average has dropped from .305 to .270. "Guys will go into slumps," said Van Burkleo. "He's a good hitter. Sometimes you get pitched to so carefully that you lose that conviction, that aggressiveness. You get a little passive." Have opposing pitchers found a way to stop Ramirez simply by not pitching to him? Ramirez has walked 49 times, tying him with New York's Aaron Hicks, for the most in the AL since the All-Star break. Overall, his 106 walks rank second in the league next to Mike Trout's 122. Ramirez went into the break hitting .302 (107-for-371) with 26 doubles, 29 homers, 70 RBI and a 1.029 OPS. With just two games left in the regular season, he's hitting .217 (46-for-212) with 12 doubles, nine homers, 35 RBI and a .789 OPS since then. "No one is pitching him in at all," said Van Burkleo. "Everything is soft away, soft away. But he's such a good hitter. On Thursday night he's 3-0 and gets a fastball up, a little bit off the plate. He's able to drive it far enough for a sacrifice fly and get the job done." The sacrifice fly came in the first inning and was the Indians' only run in a 2-1 loss to the Royals in 10 innings. In Saturday night's 14-6 win, Ramirez went 0-for-4 with a run and a walk. "When (reporters) say Josie is struggling, he's struggling to get hits," said shortstop Francisco Lindor. "But he keeps getting walks. He walks almost every game and he has good at-bats. It's just when he hits the ball, they're not (falling). So, he's getting on base. He's still scoring runs. "It's a slump, but it's a slump of hits - not a slump of helping the team win. He's helping the team win on a daily basis. He gets two walks or he gets one walk and then he steals a base and scores." But there is more at work in Ramirez's slump than walks. He's led the Indians in walks every month since April and it never hurt his production before. Here are his monthly batting averages and walks: April .289 with 14 walks; May .336 with 17 walks; June .267 with 20 walks; July .322 with 19 walks; August .245 with 18 walks and September .167 with 18 walks. Ramirez finished third in the AL in MVP voting last year. He hit .318 (186-for-585) with 107 runs, 56 doubles, six triples, 29 homers, 83 RBI, 17 steals and a .957 OPS. This year he's hitting .270 (154-for-570) with 108 runs, 38 doubles, four triples, 38 homers, 105 RBI, 34 steals and a .939 OPS. Fangraphs.com shows that 50.5 percent of the balls that the switch-hitter Ramirez has put in play this year have been pulled to either left or right field. That's a career high and suggests Ramirez has gotten a little pull happy. Ramirez has also set career highs for soft contact (18.3 percent) and infield flies (13.2 percent) on balls he's put in play. That suggests some frustration may have crept into Ramirez's swing because he's being pitched to so carefully. "He's going through a period when it seems like he's 1-2 or 0-2 every time he goes to the plate," said manager Terry Francona. "That will change." The one thing Ramirez has not done is abandon the strike zone. He's struck out 79 times compared to 106 walks. The 79 strikeouts are a career high, but in an era when most power hitters have 100 strikeouts by the break, Ramirez still controls the strike zone. Among the AL's top 12 home run hitters, Ramirez ranks fifth. He is the only one with fewer than 100 strikeouts. Joey Gallo has 40 homers and 207 strikeouts. Giancarlo Stanton has 38 homers and 210 strikeouts. Ramirez was nursing a quadriceps injury early in the season, but he's for all accounts healthy. "I think he's tired," said one scout. "He plays awfully hard. I don't see anything physically wrong with him, but he had such a hot start that there was bound to be a downturn. I think there's been a little bit of a downturn since he moved to second base. There's a little more to think about defensively at second base. "He's had a great season. He's going to finish in the top 10 in the MVP voting. I just think he's tired." Ramirez officially made the move from third to second on Sept. 11, but it had been in the works since the Indians acquired Josh Donaldson from Toronto on Aug. 31. Sources outside the organization felt one of the positives of the deal was Ramirez moving to his natural position at second base. Last season he made 86 starts at third and 65 at second for injured Jason Kipnis. He played so well at second that when Kipnis returned, the Indians moved him to center field. This time around Ramirez has not looked comfortable. He still turns the double play well, but he's had trouble on routine grounders and going back on pop ups. As for Ramirez's attitude, Van Burkleo said, "He's handling this like a pro ... like a pro." Added Lindor, "He's still crazy Josie, loud Josie. He's fine. He's got a few more goals to reach and he'll get those." Last year Ramirez went through an 8-for-60 slump from Aug. 5-23. He finished the season on a hot streak, hitting .400 (46-for-115). In the ALDS, however, he was worked over by the Yankees, hitting .100 (2-for-20) with two runs, no RBI and no extra-base hits. Right now, all the Indians can do is wait. The worst-case scenario is that Ramirez's slump carries into the ALDS against the Astros. The best- case scenario? "It's just a matter of time," said Van Burkleo. "When he comes out of his slump, he comes out. He'll hit .400 for six weeks." Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 09.30.2018 Cleveland Indians' Jason Kipnis replaces his divots, hones swing in preparation for the ALDS Paul Hoynes KANSAS CITY - Jason Kipnis kept waiting for the pain. He wasn't quite sure where it would start, but the ankle, knee, hip or leg were high on his list. But it didn't happen. He had torn a big divot out of center field with his knee while making an aborted sliding catch of Salvador Perez's line drive to center field in the fourth inning Friday night at Kauffman Stadium. "As soon as I rolled over, you're waiting for this big throb that comes after if it's a serious injury," said Kipnis after the Indians beat the Royals, 14-6, "and it never came. As soon as I rolled over I was able to stand on it. It was pretty calming, and I just kept moving around while I was still in the game." Kipnis survived the fourth inning and came back for the fifth. As soon as he did, Kansas City's Hunter Dozier sent a carbon copy of Perez's ball to center. This time Kipnis greased the landing - in other words he didn't threaten dislocation to any major body parts - and made a nice sliding catch. He did chew up center field again, but with only two games left in the regular season, there will be plenty of time for it to heal. "I made a little bit of an adjustment on the second divot," said Kipnis, tongue in cheek. "I like to have the same kind of reaction each time and to be able to come in on it right away. I was proud of that." For the 2018 season Jason Kipnis has amassed 18 home runs and 75 RBI.#RallyTogether y'all pic.twitter.com/v5AkSA5H0g -- SportsTime Ohio (@SportsTimeOhio) September 29, 2018 It's surprising that there haven't been more plays like this for Kipnis as he once again makes the late-season move from second base to center field with Houston and the ALDS at the Indians' doorstep. "Other than he has to replace his divot, he looks more and more comfortable out there," said manager Terry Francona. "He got behind one ball, came in on two balls. He looks pretty good." The same could be said for the way Kipnis is swinging the bat. He gave the Indians a 1-0 lead with a leadoff homer in the third. He has 18 homers and 75 RBI for the season. Remember when fans were screaming to bench or trade Kipnis? The 18 homers are the second most he's hit in a season and his 75 RBI match his career average for a 162-game season, according to baseball-reference.com. He's still hitting only .231 (121-for-545), but over his last 81 games Kipnis is hitting .262 with 14 homers and 50 RBI. "I'm very happy about that," said Kipnis, when asked about his 18th homer. "It's one of those years where I just don't have a bunch of those extra singles to go along with the rest of the hits. ... That's what it comes down to. "I do make them count, it seems, like when I do hit the ball. If that's the route we're taking this year than so be it. For myself and for my team, I'd like to add a little bit more than that, but we all know October is where it really counts. A bunch of hits there and people will forget my (average) for the rest of the year. That would be nice." Terry Francona on Jason Kipnis in 14-6 win over Royals The Indians open the best-of-five ALDS against the Astros on Friday at Minute Maid Park. Speaking of singles, Kipnis contributed just that in the Indians' 10-run seventh inning that turned a 1-0 game into a 14-6 landslide. It was the shortest hit of the game, but Francona called it the most important. Josh Donaldson opened the inning with a double. Yonder Alonso singled to right to make it 2-0. Melky Cabrera added the third straight hit of the inning to put runners on first and second. Lefty Tim Hill relieved starter Ian Kennedy to face Kipnis. Instead of swinging away, Kipnis bunted down the first baseline and beat the throw for a hit to load the bases. Roberto Perez followed with an RBI single. Two more runs scored on Francisco Lindor's bouncer to first that Ryan O'Hearn threw past catcher Cam Gallagher for an error. An RBI single by Edwin Encarnacion and Donaldson's grand slam competed the 10-run inning. "I thought it all kind of started with Kip laying the bunt down," said Francona. "Little things turn into big things. When you play the game right, you get rewarded for it." Mike Clevinger sent 6 2/3 innings to win his 13th game and reach 200 innings for the season. Clevinger and Kluber are just the fourth duo of Tribe pitchers to record 200 innings and 200 strikeouts in the same season. "He's taken the step forward," said Kipnis, when asked about Clevinger. "Any time you see a starting pitcher tally 200 innings and 200 strikes (Clevinger has 200 innings and 207 strikeouts), that's a dependable arm. That's a guy who takes the ball every fifth day and gives you a quality start. ...He's been one of the steadier forces throughout the entire season and he's done a fantastic job." Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 09.30.2018 Cleveland Indians' Yan Gomes catches a break; thought for sure he'd broken his right thumb Paul Hoynes KANSAS CITY - Catcher Yan Gomes has been this way before. Not exactly step for step, but pretty close. In 2016 he was about to come off the disabled list on Sept. 14 when he was hit by a pitch in a minor league rehab game and suffered a broken right wrist. The Indians were headed to the postseason and Gomes made it back in time to make all three postseason rosters as the Indians reached Game 7 of the World Series. Gomes had to be thinking some of those same thoughts Saturday night as he sat in the X-ray room at Kauffman Stadium waiting to hear the verdict on his mangled right thumb. "To be honest with you, I'm sitting in there thinking there's no doubt my thumb is broken," said Gomes. "Just by the way it looked." The Indians, who clinched the AL Central on Sept. 15, played their second last game of the regular season Saturday night against the Royals. In the third inning, Gomes tried to throw out Adalberto Mondesi on an attempted steal of second base after Alex Gordon swung and missed a Corey Kluber pitch. But the ball didn't make it to the mound because Gomes hit Gordon's bat with his right hand. "I was very worried," said Gomes. "I looked at my hand. Grabbed my stuff and (headed for the locker room). I said to myself, "This is broken. Good thing it wasn't." Said manager Terry Francona, "It was bleeding all over the place, but I think we dodged a bullet." X-rays were negative. Gomes needed two stitches in the thumb. He left the locker room following the 9-4 loss to the Royals with his thumb bruised and bandaged. "All I can do is wait for the swelling to go down," said Gomes. Like most catchers Gomes has been hit by bats on all sorts of back swings. But this was something new. "It's never happened to me before," said Gomes. "I've never done that on a backswing before. I've been hit with plenty of bats. But I've never hit a bat." Gomes hit the top or cup of Gordon's bat. Some hitters use bats with a scooped out top. It can leave a sharp edge at the top of the bat. "He got a couple of stitches, but it's just a contusion and the doctors feel like in a couple of days, he'll get the swelling out of there," said Francona. "He could play with the stitches, but I think they think he can have them out of there by Tuesday or Wednesday." This has been Gomes most consistent season at the plate. He's hitting .266 (107-for-403) with 26 doubles, 16 homers and 46 RBI. He has a .762 OPS, which ranks second among AL catchers with at least 300 plate appearances. More importantly, he's been a consistent producer at the bottom of the lineup. The Indians open the ALDS against Houston on Friday at Minute Maid Park. Kluber will be on the mound for Game 1 and if Gomes can't catch, the job will go to Roberto Perez. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 09.30.2018 Cleveland Indians lose to Royals, 9-4, as their time in baseball limbo nears an end Paul Hoynes KANSAS CITY - The Indians played their second-to-last game in limbo on Saturday night and it was one to forget. In losing to the Royals, 8-4, at Kauffman Stadium, Corey Kluber missed a chance for his 21st win when Melky Cabrera turned a line drive to right field into a two-run, game-tying single in the fourth inning. As it turned out a lot of other stuff went wrong after that, but the play set a definite tone to the evening. Catcher Yan Gomes left the game with a bloody right thumb in the third inning after hitting Alex Gordon's bat while attempting to throw a runner out at second. Roberto Perez replaced him. X-rays on Gomes' thumb were negative. He needed two stitches to close a cut on the thumb after hitting the top of Gordon's bat. "I was very worried," said Gomes. "I looked at my hand. I grabbed my stuff and said, 'I think this is broken. Good thing it wasn't.'" Left-hander Andrew Miller, solid since coming off the disabled list on Aug. 3, started the sixth in relief of Kluber and allowed four runs on five hits in just two outs. The five hits, including a three-run homer by Adalberto Mondesi, were the most Miller (2-4) has allowed in an appearance since 2011 in a start for Boston. Cody Allen started the seventh after lasting just one-third of an inning in Friday's 14-6 win. On Friday, Allen struck out the first man he faced in the ninth before allowing two singles and two walks to end his night. All four of those runs scored when Adam Plutko relieved and gave up a grand slam. Manager Terry Francona said he wanted to pitch Allen in consecutive games before the season ended on Sunday. On Saturday, the first three men Allen faced all reached base on hits as Brian Goodwin scored on a single by Alcides Escobar. In his last two appearances, Allen has allowed six runs on seven hits in two-thirds of an inning. That is not exactly the ideal way for a late-inning reliever to prepare for the postseason, but this has been far from an ideal year for Allen. On the plus side, Jose Ramirez finally opened his eyes from six weeks of slumber. Ramirez had three hits, including his 39th homer. It was just his second three-hit game in September and his third homer since Aug. 14. Terry Francona on Yan Gomes, Jose Ramirez, Corey Kluber, Andrew Miller Regarding Gomes, Francona said, "I think we dodged a bullet. When it first happened, it was bleeding like crazy. He got a couple of stitches, but it's just a contusion. The doctors feel, after they get the swelling out of there, he could play with the stitches, but they think they could have them out by Tuesday or Wednesday. "I'm sure he's going to be sore for a few days, but he's going to be OK." Kluber (20-7, 2.79) allowed three runs on seven hits in five innings. He finished the season with 215 innings and 222 strikeouts. Edwin Encarnacion gave the Indians a 1-0 lead in the first with a sacrifice fly off Jakob Junis (9-12, 4.42) for his 107th RBI of the season. The Royals tied the score at in the second on a single by Meibrys Viloria, but singles by Yonder Alonso and Cabrera put the Tribe back in front, 3-1, in the third. Merrifield, with two out and two on in the fourth, sent his liner to right field. Cabrera broke in, slammed on the brakes and tried to retreat, but the ball got over his head as both runs scored to make it 3-3. Kluber, scheduled to throw 80 pitches, worked the fifth before Miller took over. The Indians have been playing baseball in their own version of limbo since they clinched the AL Central on Sept. 15. Getting players rested and prepared for the postseason has taken precedence over wins and losses and it has not been the best brand of baseball to watch. That ends after Sunday as a date with the Houston in the ALDS draws a day closer. "I think everybody is at the point where they're kind of champing at the bit," said Francona. "We're trying to be patient, but everybody wants to get going. "I understand that. I think everyone is a little edgy to get going." What it means Kluber has pitched more than 200 innings and struck out more than 222 batters in each of the last five years. In doing so, he's never had an ERA over 3.49. The pitches Kluber threw 80 pitches, 59 (74 percent) for strikes. Junis threw 104 pitches, 68 (65 percent) for strikes. Thanks for coming The Indians and Royals drew 23,324 to Kauffman Stadium. First pitch was at 7:15 p.m. with a temperature of 72 degrees. Next The Indians and Royals finish the regular season on Sunday at 3:15 p.m. SportsTime Ohio, WTAM and WMMS will carry the game. Carlos Carrasco (16-10, 3.42) will face the Royals and lefty Erik Skoglund (1-5, 5.40). Carrasco is expected to throw about 80 pitches before being relieved by Trevor Bauer as both starters get in their final innings before the start of ALDS on Friday against the Astros. Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 09.30.2018 Real or Not? Christian Yelich's MVP performance sets up Sunday showdowns David Schoenfield Is there anything more magnificent in baseball than when a hitter gets locked in and finds that zone where the sweet spot of the bat connects with the sphere of cushioned cork, winding fabric, cowhide and 108 stitches of yarn time after time after time? Which teams will win the NL West and Central, and which will be wild cards? It's still up in the air, but here's what you need to know as the hunt for the postseason plays out.

When it happens in the finals days of a pennant race, as your team is attempting to dethrone the big, bad bullies a mere 90 miles to the south, it becomes a transcendent moment in a franchise's history.

That's where Christian Yelich is right now -- the bat ripping through the zone with lightning ferocity, the spin of the ball appearing to him in slow motion. They say such a thing doesn't really exist. This is not the time to discuss. The man has put the Milwaukee Brewers on his back and after hitting two more home runs in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Tigers, the Brewers have won six games in a row and are now tied with the Cubs for first place in the National League Central as we head to the final day of the regular season.

All his second home run did was put the Brewers ahead in the bottom of the seventh, sending over 45,000 fans at Miller Park into a frenzied chant of "M-V-P! M-V-P!":

Remarkably, we still have a Triple Crown candidate -- only it's Yelich, not J.D. Martinez. Your NL leaders:

Batting average Yelich, .324 Scooter Gennett/Freddie Freeman, .310 Home runs Yelich, 36 Matt Carpenter, 36 Nolan Arenado/Trevor Story, 35 RBIs Javier Baez, 111 Yelich, 109 At the All-Star break, Yelich was tied for 46th in the NL in home runs -- 13 behind the league leader (teammate Jesus Aguilar). This is now the first time in his career Yelich has held at least a share of the NL lead in home runs.

MVP? Indeed. Dodgers clinch sixth straight playoff trip: The Cardinals had defeated the Cubs 2-1 earlier in the day, but the Los Angeles Dodgers then knocked out the Cards when they beat the Giants 10-6 at AT&T Park, a rare high-scoring game between two teams who had averaged only seven runs per game in their previous 17 encounters. Even stranger: Clayton Kershaw started for the Dodgers. He entered with a 1.30 ERA in 21 career starts at AT&T. He left after five innings and five runs -- the first time he'd ever given up five runs at AT&T.

The Dodgers' offense rescued Kershaw, breaking up a 5-5 tie with a run in the eighth and four more in the ninth. They celebrated in the clubhouse after the game, but then got even better news later in the night: The Rockies lost to the Nationals. Jon Gray had one of his bad games and lasted only two innings, clinching the award for Most Frustrating Pitcher of 2018. That means the NL West, like the NL Central, is now tied heading into Sunday. Yeah, turn the remote away from those NFL games.

Setting up Sunday So, here's the remarkable thing: No NL team is locked into its seed yet. Look at the potential seeds for each team: Cubs: 1 or 4 Brewers: 1 or 4 Braves: 2 or 3 Rockies: 2, 3 or 5 Dodgers: 2, 3 or 5

The pitching matchups for Sunday: • Cardinals at Cubs, Jack Flaherty versus Mike Montgomery • Tigers at Brewers, Spencer Trumbull versus Gio Gonzalez • Dodgers at Giants, Walker Buehler versus Andrew Suarez • Nationals at Rockies, TBD versus TBD Initially, neither the Nationals nor Rockies had announced Sunday's starter, creating questions over whether Max Scherzer could go for the Nationals on his regular turn of his rest. Scherzer sounded excited about the opportunity, saying, "Even though we're playing for nothing, at least we can be able to toe the rubber knowing that the atmosphere here with the crowd and the other team would be playing at probably the highest level of any point I would face this year. Why wouldn't I want to compete in that?"

However, the Nats have announced that they'll go with Erick Fedde. In response, the Rockies will go with Tyler Anderson, who has struggled lately but reportedly threw a good bullpen Friday, but they could turn to Antonio Senzatela or the bullpen at the first sign of trouble.

Of course, all this points to one of the flaws of the division and wild-card setup. The Braves have fewer wins than the Cubs and Brewers, and the same 90 wins as the Rockies and Dodgers, but because they play in a weaker division, they don't have to worry about this mad scramble on the pitching staff the final days of the season.

We also have the potential for two tiebreaker games Monday -- and, remember, if the Brewers end up playing the Cubs, that counts as a regular-season game for Yelich (and Baez), in case the Triple Crown is still up for grabs. Those games would take play at Wrigley Field and Dodger Stadium since the Cubs and Dodgers won the season series.

The four teams potentially involved would have to go with their best available pitcher -- you have to avoid the wild-card game if possible. The Rockies are set up there with Marquez, assuming he doesn't pitch on Sunday. The Dodgers used their three best starters this weekend, so they would presumably go with Rich Hill (and a lot of relievers). After pitching Hamels on Saturday -- and losing -- and Montgomery Sunday, the Cubs could start Jose Quintana or go with Jon Lester on short rest, although they probably want to save Lester for the wild-card game or Game 1 of the NLDS. The Brewers could go with Jhoulys Chacin on regular rest or go with a bullpen game.

But all that is getting ahead of ourselves. Let's get through Sunday first.

There is crying in baseball: David Wright played his final game for the Mets. One of the most beloved Mets in history, injuries wrecked the second half of what could have been a Hall of Fame career. Wright's daughter threw out the first pitch, and when he was removed from the game in the fifth inning, the fans gave him a standing ovation: Yankees set single-season record for home runs: Let's just say it was a tough season for the Mariners. They didn't make the playoffs after a great start. Fans saw the sad spectacle of Ichiro Suzuki struggling and being removed from the roster and then the demise of Felix Hernandez. And now the Yankees have broken the single-season home run record held by the 1997 Mariners. Gleyber Torres did the honors with No. 265: The Yankees beat the Red Sox for their 100th victory, giving us the first league with three 100-win teams. I'm guessing Aaron Boone would have taken that at the start of the season. Alas, the Yankees will have one game Wednesday to save their season.

‘I am ready to go’: Lance McCullers Jr. is sharp once again in relief Jake Kaplan BALTIMORE — Lance McCullers Jr.’s second and final regular-season relief appearance lasted all of seven pitches. Yet they might have been the seven most significant pitches of the Astros’ franchise record-setting 103rd win Saturday night at Camden Yards. By spinning six of his trademark spike curveballs and running his two-seam fastball up to 95.9 mph, McCullers once again quelled doubts about his health and readiness for the upcoming ALDS. And while the starter’s not built up to pitch more than two innings of relief at most, the version of the breaking ball he had against the Orioles would be a weapon out of the bullpen against the Indians, particularly versus their left-handed hitters. “When I stand in front of (the media), or when I tell A.J. (Hinch) and (pitching coach Brent Strom) that I’m ready, I’m not lying. I’m not messing around,” McCullers said. “If I’m going to take that mound in big spots and big moments for this team, I’m not going to go out there with a chance to hurt us. I’m going to go out there knowing I can produce. I’m not saying I’m going to every time. That’s my expectation: to produce every time. But as far as the way I feel, I’m serious when I say that I am ready to go.” McCullers, who returned to the active roster only Monday from the forearm strain he sustained Aug. 4, could enter the playoffs having thrown only 18 total pitches in major-league game action since his injury. He also pitched a scoreless inning Wednesday in Toronto, an outing in which his fastball command wavered but his curveball was sharp. “He’s not built up to do much more than what we asked him to do,” Hinch said Saturday night. “But we’ll see how (Sunday) goes. I’m not eliminating (him facing) a batter (Sunday).” Either way, between his two appearances, McCullers looks ready. And if Saturday is a preview of how he’ll approach the postseason, he will rely heavily on his best pitch. Of the six curveballs he threw against the Orioles, five were either strikes or put in play. Two generated swings and misses. They averaged 85 mph. “They were good,” he said. “They were all good.” Hinch came into the Astros’ 5-2 win Saturday planning to test McCullers out of the bullpen with inherited runners. He didn’t plan the scenario in which he summoned him in the seventh inning, though: bases loaded and one out. “We asked Framber (Valdez) to load the bases for him,” Hinch joked. “We wanted as high-leverage as possible.” The first hitter McCullers faced was Corban Joseph, a lefty. He started him with a backdoor curveball for a strike before throwing one down in the zone for a swing and miss. Catcher Brian McCann failed to block his 0-and-2 curve in the dirt, and it bounced far enough that a run scored. But McCullers came back with a curve that started in the zone and dropped out of it for a swinging strike three. Against Cedric Mullins, a switch-hitter batting from the left side, he stole a first-pitch strike with a front-door two-seam fastball. The next pitch was a curveball below the zone that Mullins fouled off. McCullers’ night ended when Mullins rolled over a 0-and-2 backdoor curve to second base for a routine groundout. “I was happy with the way I got hot (in the bullpen) as quickly as I did, and I was happy with the quality of my stuff,” McCullers said. “It was a good night.” The Athletic LOADED: 09.30.2018 Charlie Morton to start Astros' season finale

Chandler Rome BALTIMORE — Charlie Morton and his wife, Cindy, had just arrived in the delivery room when the iPhone lit up. Morton answered the FaceTime from George Springer. Springer stood inside Rogers Centre's visiting clubhouse where champagne awaited and a celebration would soon occur. The Astros wanted to include Morton, their veteran righthander. So, while Cindy conversed with doctors about their daughter's impending birth, Charlie laughed while his teammates unleashed bedlam. Emilia Noelle Morton was born four hours later, her father proudly recalled Saturday. Charlie rejoined the Astros between games of Saturday's doubleheader and will provide an abbreviated start during Sunday's regular-season finale. After spending 10 days in September on the disabled list with shoulder irritation, Morton exited his last start on Sept. 23 with right shoulder soreness. Morton said Saturday he felt "tight." His fastball velocity was nonexistent, down to 92 mph when it normally hovers around 95-96. "We've had a couple Images done on my arm and I've had several physicians look at it and (say) 'Your arm looks really good for how old you are,'" Morton said. "I think there's some muscle imbalance going on, some muscle tightness that's causing some strange symptoms. It's frustrating, just frustrating, because I didn't feel great. It was harder to let the ball go." Morton has already equaled his career high with 29 starts. His 164 innings are the second-most he's thrown in a regular season. The club always planned to give the 34-year-old extra rest as September neared, but his recent arm trouble accelerated the process. Morton played catch at Camden Yards on Saturday and was "pretty excited" with how he felt. He expects to pitch around two or three innings in Sunday's game. "Part of the difficulty is the mental side of it. Sometimes you just don't feel right, sometimes you feel like something is wrong when there really isn't anything that's really that bad," Morton said. "You kind of just have to accept that. That's part of it, the physical part is part of it, making some adjustments that we'd discuss making — trying to loosen some things up and get into a better spot overall." Houston Chronicle LOADED: 09.30.2018 Astros Balls & Strikes: Dallas Keuchel finishes strong second half Chandler Rome BALTIMORE — Some takeaways from the Astros' doubleheader win against the Orioles on Saturday. Keuchel's year: Dallas Keuchel was aware he'd pitch only two or three innings in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader. Just getting the start in such an influential game for the franchise was sentimental for the southpaw, an impending free agent who made the final appearance of his regular season. "To be able to start this game was really special, knowing we had the chance to get the single-season franchise record in wins," Keuchel said. "It's been pretty special for me here the last three, four years turning the corner in the franchise and getting a whole heck of a lot better. This is definitely something I'll cherish for a long time." Keuchel scattered five hits in three innings. He allowed only one run. The start was his 34th of the season, breaking his career high set during his Cy Young season in 2015. He completed a resurgent second half. In 19 starts since June 16, when he sat at 4-8, Keuchel produced a 3.23 ERA, the fourth-best among American League starters. He is the first Astros pitcher since Roy Oswalt to pitch 200 innings in three or more seasons with the club. "I took the ball every start and threw some quality innings." Keuchel said. "There were a bunch of starts I'd like to have been better — it's tough to please myself when I come out of a game unless I'm throwing a complete game shutout. My competitive nature takes over and I want to be the guy everyone depends on. I thought I did my job correctly, sometimes more efficiently than others, but this game is hard enough as is." Straw bomb: Myles Straw hit three home runs in four seasons of minor league baseball. He earned a September call-up to the major leagues solely for his speed. Playing meaningless games against the Orioles meant he got a start on Saturday hitting second. "We didn't have him in the pool for expectations to get a homer," manager A.J. Hinch said. Straw, all 5-foot-10 of him, muscled an opposite field solo home run off Orioles starter Yefry Ramirez in the first inning, a 395-foot blast to left- center field. "That's usually where it goes for me," Straw said. "When I hit it I wasn't surprised — the home run, I was a little surprised — but where I hit it, I kind of figured I got it pretty well." "That was probably the quickest I've ever gotten around the bases." Straw required just five major league plate appearances before hitting his first homer. It was his first big league RBI, too, warranting a postgame hitter of the game robe and mini celebration in the clubhouse. Straw did get the baseball back from Orioles personnel. "That was nice to see," Hinch said. "These kids that have come up and we can talk about the bigger name players, but there's been a lot of contributors obviously. Straw's obviously coming up to use his legs, play a little defense, but to get his first homer out of the way is pretty cool." About Sunday: Charlie Morton makes an abbreviated start in the final regular season game. Houston Chronicle LOADED: 09.30.2018 Astros sweep Orioles in doubleheader, set franchise record for wins Chandler Rome BALTIMORE — A doubleheader sweep ensured the greatest regular season in Astros history. Their 5-2 win against the Orioles in the second game of the twinbill was the 103rd of the season, breaking a record set by the 1998 Astros. Houston heads into Sunday's regular-season finale at 103-58, already the best regular-season record of any season in the franchise's 57-year history. "It's a great accomplishment and we should be proud," manager A.J. Hinch said. "It's hard to do that and our guys were happy. We did want to be in the record books, and the most wins in franchise history is a big deal to this team." They hit five home runs across Saturday's 18 innings. Myles Straw struck his first major league home run to open game two. Brian McCann and Jake Marisnick added longballs to pad the score. Marisnick's two-run shot in the eighth provided the final score. "It means a lot for everyone in this clubhouse when you talk about a franchise record," said Jose Altuve. "It's crazy to believe that we did back- to-back 100 win (seasons) after a couple years ago we did back-to-back-to-back 100 losses. It means a lot and it's a special day for us." Baltimore never led in either game. They scored one run against Astros starter Dallas Keuchel in the nightcap. As planned, Keuchel threw only three innings, scattering five hits while allowing a lone earned run. To win the first game, Carlos Correa's swings reverted to form. Hampered for so much of this season by oblique and back injuries, Correa crushed two opposite-field extra-base hits in a 4-3, game one win, including a go-ahead double in the eighth inning. In the 36 games preceding this one, Correa mustered four extra-base hits. Saturday was his first game with multiple extra-base hits since May 4. Starter Justin Verlander struck out 11 across six scoreless innings. He departed with a three-run lead which did not survive an inning. Joe Smith, battling for one of the precious few spots remaining in the postseason bullpen, allowed the first three men to reach in the seventh. The sidearming righty specialist permitted a double to Tim Beckham and walked Renato Nunez — both righthanded hitters — before DJ Stewart smacked a game-tying home run from the left side of the plate. In the sixth, George Springer and Correa struck back-to-back home runs against Orioles starter Dylan Bundy. Bundy's 41 home runs allowed are the most of any major leaguer. Springer's was a mammoth two-run shot to the pull side while Correa lofted a 366-foot solo job just over the right-field fence. Houston Chronicle LOADED: 09.30.2018 Peter Gammons / Pitchers like Shane Bieber show why control could be making a comeback over command By Peter Gammons Aug 29, 2018 33 It was the second game of a four-game series billed as an October preview: Au-gust 21, the Indians at Fenway Park. Corey Kluber had won the first game. Next came Shane Bieber, who two years and two months earlier had begun his profes-sional career in the Cleveland organization as an unheralded fourth-round draft pick out of the University of California in Santa Barbara, where he was the No. 3 starter. His scouting report projected him as “fringy” with “a backend starter ceiling,” though with one of the best walk ratios (1.05 per 9 IP) in college baseball and an unusually repeatable delivery. He was the 122nd pick in the draft, far below the 14 pitchers taken in the first 30 picks — six of whom have already had Tommy John Surgery, one of whom has made the major leagues. And here he was on a hot Tuesday night in a sold- out Fenway Park before a national television audience, against the best offensive lineup in baseball, facing Nathan Eovaldi, who hits 100 mph on the guns. The Indians scored two runs off Eovaldi in the top of the fourth, which brought the rookie with a dozen major league starts to a shutdown situation. He got one MVP candidate, Mookie Betts, to ground out to start the inning. Andrew Benintendi singled, bringing another MVP candidate, J.D. Martinez, to the plate. As Bieber began his delivery of the fourth pitch of the at-bat, Lindor broke from his position up the middle for the shortstop hole. “Playing in the middle of the field, I always see the signs and where the catcher is set up and can see hitters’ swingpaths,” Lindor explained the next day. “I knew Martinez was going to try to hit the ball hard and get the run in. I saw that Shane was going to go in on his hands with a running two-seamer, so I played him to pull the ball hard.” Which is precisely what happened. Martinez hit the ball hard to the hole: 6-4-3. Bieber was into the fifth, 2-0. “When you play behind pitchers who can execute, you can do those things,” said Lindor. “Defense and pitchers’ execution go hand-in-hand. Pitchers can help make their defense by throwing strikes and executing their pitches. Bieber has great control. Our whole starting staff throws strikes and makes good pitches, so they’re great to play behind. Bieber throws strikes, he works quickly, he gets us to the seventh inning.” One National League general manager said this past weekend, “I still think the Indians have a great chance to get back to the World Series, and that’s in a league with the promise of an incredible October — Houston, Boston, New York, Oak-land…” Offensively, the Indians probably could use an outfield bat, but they’re still third in the American League in on-base percentage and OPS, and first in stolen base percentage. And, very important for October, their hitters have the lowest strikeout rate of the 30 major league teams. Their pitchers lead the major leagues in fewest walks per nine (2.43). Their pitchers’ strikeout to walk ratio is 3.82, second only to (no surprise) Houston’s 4.04. Kluber is second in the AL in strikeout to walk ratio, behind Justin Verlander. Car-los Carrasco is fourth. Trevor Bauer 11th. Bieber doesn’t yet have enough innings to qualify, but his K/BB ratio is 5.53. That would rank him fifth in the league (tied with Max Scherzer), behind Carrasco. The 23-year-old from Laguna Hills, Calif. is fascinating, because in this era when showcases often rate young pitchers by radar gun readings, and when we are barraged with velocity rates that are often used to rate stuff, Shane Bieber has never dazzled in that area. However, in spring training, Indians officials advised a reporter to look at Bieber’s strikeouts and walks. Indeed, when he was called up from the minors on May 31, he had made 49 starts in what was essentially two development seasons. He was 16-6, fine; his earned run average was 2.24; and in 277 innings struck out 270 and walked 19. 270-19. In 14 starts and 79 2/3 innings in the majors, he has struck out 83 and walked 15, and the Indians are 9-4 in those starts. “It’s remarkable the way he repeats his delivery and executes,” says Indians pitch-ing coach Carl Willis. “People said he needs better breaking balls. I get that, but the way he dots his fastball — which is now up to 94 — he can use his curveball and slider in sequences. He’s working on a changeup, which is going to be a really good pitch for him. He’s so efficient and works so quickly that his defense plays, and he eats innings. He’s a work in progress, but he’s got a chance to be special.” “I never was one of those hard throwers scouts loved to see,” says Bieber. “I could always throw strikes, but I guess I was around 90. But I eventually raised my arm angle a little and picked up velocity. I worked on finding the right arm angles for what I throw. It’s a learning process. It’s a learning process in the big leagues.” Which is why he studies Kluber, one of the most practice-perfect pitchers in the sport. They talk. Bieber watches Kluber’s bullpen sessions, and he appreciates how Kluber went from a minor league throw-in with a 21-32 minor league record to a guy making a run at his third Cy Young Award. Kluber himself says, “I didn’t really have command early on in my career.” In his time in the Padres organization, he had a very good slider. When he got to the Cleveland organization, he made changes in arm angle and discovered the im-portance of fastball movement, and his intelligence and work ethic took him to the level of elite. Zack Meisel wrote an exceptional piece on how the Indians have built their pitch-ing staff, through under-the-radar trades as well as the draft. “The Indians do an exceptional job developing pitching,” says Kluber, ever quick to give credit. The Indians may be the best organization in baseball for developing and empower-ing bright young front office minds, and they have been unusually successful in getting Kluber, Carrasco, Bauer and Mike Clevinger in minor league deals, and finding Bieber in the draft. In an age when teenagers grow up hitting 98-mph fastballs from fellow teenagers, pure velo doesn’t have the same play it used to. The rising rate in surgeries is thought to be enhanced by kids trying to hit 100 before they are physically mature. Hence, the renewed search for command. “I am a great believer in athleticism in pitchers,” says Padres GM A.J. Preller, one of the sport’s best evaluators. “They have to have athleticism to repeat their deliv-eries. I love seeing pitchers who are really good athletes in other sports. I was always fascinated by those great Braves pitchers who were all great golfers.” Zack Greinke can do anything. Watch Clayton Kershaw play ping pong sometime. There was a time when Jim Palmer playing tennis was a sight to behold. Ron Guidry could have played center field. Chris Carpenter could have been an NHL defenseman. Atlanta’s Bryse Wilson, one of three 20-year-old starting pitchers who have made their debuts this season, was an exceptional middle linebacker in high school, and when the quarterback and running back on his team got hurt, he started games at QB and RB and remained the middle linebacker. Marcus Stro-man was the shortstop on a travel team on which Mike Trout played center field. Because the Indians folks put me on to Bieber in spring training, I began following him, and since then, three others: —Chris Paddack, San Diego. Jeffrey Loria wanted a closer, and told his people to get Fernando Rodney. The Pads wanted Paddack. Soon after the deal, Paddack had TJ surgery. Before being shut down for the season, Paddack threw 90 innings in two offense-friendly leagues— California and Texas — and has allowed 60 hits, with a 2.10 ERA and, yes, 120 strikeouts and 8 walks. You read that right. 120-8. You’ll see him at Petco soon. —Brendan McKay, Tampa Bay. He was the fourth pick in the 2018 draft, a first baseman-pitcher from Louisville University (and from, Joe Namath’s Beaver Falls, PA hometown). He hasn’t hit to expectations, yet (.221). But he has made 23 starts in Single A with a 2.29 ERA, 124 strikeouts and 19 walks. Last offseason, the Rays made a run at Shohei Ohtani, but while they fell short of signing him, they spent time with Nippon Ham Fighters executives who had worked with him and helped develop him as both a pitcher and hitter. “We’re still evaluating where we are,” says Tampa Bay’s Bobby Heck. “We’re trying to learn how his hitting is affected by his games and side sessions as a pitcher, and how the hitting affects his pitching. What strains his body absorbs from the two sepa-rate actions. We’ll sit down with him at the end of the season and try to come up with a plan on how we work in the off-season, then the next season. As a pitcher he sits 93-95 with great command and movement. We know he can hit. But this is something new for us, a work in progress.” —Denyi Reyes, Boston. He’s only 21, and in his third year in this country is al-ready in High A (the Carolina League) and has thrown 323 2/3 innings. His num-bers are 32-7, 2.14, 282 strikeouts, 32 walks. “When a young pitcher has this kind of command but not overwhelming stuff, the key to learning what you have is when he gets to Double A,” says one Boston official. The Red Sox pitching analysts like him, a lot. “He’s big (6-foot-4, 209 pounds), projectable, a great delivery,” says one. “He’s gaining velocity, and with his com-mand, he can learn a couple of secondary pitches.” Says an NL scout, “I love his creativity. He pitches not by a script, but he reads hitters and their swings. He’s very instinctual.” Two teams building pitching that are not prisoners of the radar gun lobby are the Braves and Padres. The Braves have several good young arms brought in by John Coppolella. Mike Foltynewicz is already an All-Star. Sean Newcomb is a rotation fixture. Max Fried has the big curveball and flashes of brilliance. Touki Toussaint has come on with his fastball-curveball mix. Luiz Gohara has big power. What the Braves also have is the warehouse of pitchers drafted by scouting direc-tor Brian Bridges. The 2017 No. 1 pick, Kyle Wright from Vanderbilt, should be in Atlanta in September; he’s 22, but called “The Old Man” by some younger pitch-ers. The Braves have had major league debuts from three 20-year-olds this sea-son — Mike Soroka, lefthander Kolby Allard and Bryce Wilson. Soroka is now sidelined, but his name always comes with a “he can really pitch.” Wilson is big and aggressive; in high school in Hillsborough, N.C., he was a very good middle linebacker. And when the team’s quarterback and running back got hurt, he played those positions too. Ian Anderson is 20 and in Double A. Joey Wentz, Kyle Muller and Patrick Weigel are big arms — they’re Bridges’ guys, drafted on athleticism, makeup, deliveries. Alex Anthopoulos was criticized for not trading two or three of those arms for Josh Donaldson or Mike Moustakas, but his Johan Camargo/Charlie Culberson combi-nation gives them middle-of-the-pack third base production. “We don’t want to have to go into the free agent market,” says Anthopoulos. “We need to see these pitchers in the majors and decide on their roles. We want to keep the best and build around them.” Fried or Gohara or Toussaint could end up as closers, for instance. Preller is also very big into human scouting, as well as analytics, and most of his best prospects are athletes. MacKenzie Gore could have been a third-rounder as an outfielder. Cuban Adrian Morejon has a 132-40 K-BB ratio, Logan Allen leads the Texas League in strikeouts and innings per start, Cal Quantrill is the real thing, and their lower minors are loaded. Either of those teams could look to the 1960-71 Orioles as a model. After losing seasons their first five years after moving from St. Louis, the Lee MacPhail/Harry Dalton/Jim McLaughlin organization got to 89 wins in 1960 with 21-year-old Milt Pappas, 22-year-old Chuck Estrada, 21- year-old Jerry Walker and 21-year-old Jack Fisher. In 1964, they added Dave McNally, then 21, and Mike McCormick, 25, and Wally Bunker won 19 games at age 19. Dalton took over as general man-ager, had pitching depth to trade for Frank Robinson, and in 1966, with 20-year-old Jim Palmer, won the World Series. They kept building, and the 1969-71 team was one of the best ever, winning only one championship but 109, 108 and 101 games in consecutive seasons. Some scouts think San Diego has the best system in the majors; maybe Gore becomes their McNally. Others say it’s the Rays; maybe McKay becomes their Ohtani. Last Friday, I watched the 40 best high school players in the Northeast play at Fenway Park, and the most impressive pitcher was a 17-year-old righthander from North Andover, Ma., named Sebastian Keane. He is 6-3, 170 and projects to develop at Northeastern University with Mike Glavine. He threw 95. Great balance, delivery. Keane was originally raised in Sweden, where his best sport was downhill ski racing. Hence, the balance. In four years, when he is drafted out of Northeastern, he could look like Stephen Strasburg. Then maybe, in the name of repeatable deliveries, balance and athletic pitchers, maybe we’ll see some team send pitchers to Park City, Utah for their winter pitchers’ mini-camp, with Jim Lonborg accompanying as team dentist should someone hit a tree. Ridiculous? No more so than Shane Bieber being almost as high in one of the best rotations in the majors as he was at UC Santa Barbara. The Athletic LOADED: 09.30.2018 Nick Cafardo / SUNDAY BASEBALL NOTES / These smaller players could make a big impact in the playoffs By Nick Cafardo There are plenty of big bruisers, such as Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, J.D. Martinez, Manny Machado, and Nolan Arenado, who can impact a game and a playoff series, but it’s amazing how baseball has been transformed by smaller players, who are raising eyebrows with their athleticism and how they could impact the upcoming postseason. The Red Sox have the ultimate little man in Mookie Betts, who at 5 feet 9 inches just became a 30/30 man, is a great outfielder, and who will likely be named American League Most Valuable Player. The Indians have two great smaller players in 30/30 man Jose Ramirez and shortstop Francisco Lindor, while the Astros may possess the best small player in baseball, 2017 AL MVP Jose Altuve, as well as third baseman Alex Bregman, who is listed at 6 feet but we know he’s not. “It’s something you’re seeing more in baseball,” said Betts. “I don’t know the reason for it but there are a lot of really good athletes in baseball now, players who can do a lot of different things.” Jason McLeod, the assistant general manager of the Cubs and a former Red Sox scouting director, thinks we’re seeing smaller impact performers both as position players and relievers. “In terms of straight size, I think you’ve seen an uptick in the relievers who throw from a lower slot with rising fastballs, like a Craig Kimbrel,” said McLeod. “You’ve seen more sub-6-foot pitchers who work the fastball up in the zone. In terms of the position players like Bregman, it still boils down to their ability. Everything baseball every Monday-Friday during baseball season, and weekly in the offseason. “When you’re scouting the shorter-stature player as an amateur, you’re looking at how much physicality he has and how he’ll hold up in the first couple of years in the minors. [Dustin Pedroia], for instance, in college [at Arizona State], when we drafted him with the Red Sox, had uncanny hand-eye coordination and he got the barrel to the ball.” McLeod talked about the Red Sox drafting Bregman out of high school and recognizing his skills despite being a smaller player. McLeod remembers Betts coming out of high school and how “he had incredible hand-eye coordination, but I had no idea he was going to be as strong as he is now.” McLeod also mentioned the Braves’ Ronald Acuna and the amazing skill set he has for a 6-footer (again being generous). Marlins hitting coach Mike Pagliarulo thinks a smaller player who displays durability is huge. “What I find is that pitchers work around the Stantons and Judges, but a smaller guy they’ll just throw it in there and boom, they hit it out,” said Pagliarulo. “There are amazing players like Betts and Ramirez and Altuve, smaller in stature, who just play the game hard and the right way and do the little things to succeed. The strike zone is smaller for those guys. It’s like a postage stamp.” It’s not that there weren’t great small players in the past. We all remember Reds second baseman Joe Morgan, and Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell, as well as Jimmy “The Toy Cannon” Wynn, Kirby Puckett, and Steve Garvey. We can name a lot of them. So let’s take a closer look at some great small players who will be part of the postseason: Khris Davis, A’s, DH, 5-10, 195 — The likely home run king in the AL has 47 homers and 121 RBIs to go along with a .249 average. Talk about impactful and consistent. In each of the last three seasons, Davis has hit 40-plus homers, knocked in 100-plus runs, and hit .247-.249. Davis, despite his stature, is a player who can win a game with one swing. “He’s probably the best slugger in baseball,” said Oakland general manager Billy Beane. “Maybe people didn’t know about him because he played out west, but I think they do now.” Ramirez, Indians, 3B/2B, 5-9, 165 — Another compact dynamo, Ramirez has combined power and speed in an amazing package. Ramirez is hitting .272, an average that has dropped precipitously as a result of a recent slump, but he’s hit 38 homers with 105 RBIs and 34 stolen bases. “How can I describe him?” said Indians bench coach Brad Mills. “The biggest compliment I can pay him is he’s a baseball player. A 100 percent baseball player who impacts the game like nobody I’ve seen.” Lindor, Indians, SS, 5-11, 190 — Lindor is a deadly leadoff man who also boasts power, defense, and speed. In most other years he would be an MVP candidate with his .279 average, 37 homers, and 90 RBIs. A tremendous all-around player who ignites the Indians’ offense. Altuve, Astros, 2B, 5-6, 165 — He has had to battle injuries that have limited him to 134 games, but Altuve is starting to come together at the right time and will likely be a major factor in the postseason. This season, Altuve is hitting .314 with 13 homers, 61 RBIs, an 836 OPS, and 5.2 WAR. We all know Altuve is a big-time player when it counts most. He hit .533 in the 2017 ALDS and .320 in the ALCS. Bregman, Astros, 3B, 6 feet, 180 — A powerful player who is a converted shortstop and former Red Sox draft pick. Bregman generates great power and has become a force in a lineup already packed with top players. Bregman winning a game wouldn’t surprise anyone, least of all Sox manager Alex Cora, who helped shape him as bench coach of the Astros last season. Ozzie Albies, 2B, Braves, 5-8, 165 — Twenty-four homers and 72 RBIs for this diminutive infielder. Former Braves minor league coordinator Dave Trembley said he remembers Albies as a “baseball junkie who loved playing and competing. He made All-Star teams at every level. For a little guy, he had great command of the strike zone. He got big hits. He loves the moment.” Acuna, OF, Braves, 6 feet, 180 — Trembley, who helped Acuna in the minors, isn’t surprised he has made an impact. “Very early, when he was 17 years old, he knew the strike zone,” said Trembley. “Where some kids that age chase after bad pitches, he never did. He didn’t have a lot of movement in his swing, which is unusual for a young kid, and he knew how to hit with two strikes.” Andrew McCutchen, OF, Yankees, 5-11, 195 — The former National League MVP hasn’t had a typical McCutchen season, but the Yankees have been happy with him despite some struggles early in his tenure. McCutchen is another sub-6-footer who has great ability and who has achieved so much in his career. Apropos of nothing 1. If you’re wondering, Chris Sale’s $15 million option for 2019 and David Price’s opt-out both have to be resolved within three days of the conclusion of the World Series. Sale originally had a $13.5 million option, which was bumped up by $1.5 million when he finished top three in the Cy Young voting last season. Price’s 2019 salary rises from $30 million to $31 million, so it doesn’t appear the Red Sox will negotiate anything more for the lefthander. Price can leave the organization if he feels he could earn more on the open market, but it doesn’t appear he’ll do that. 2. Red Sox manager Alex Cora knows he has some tough conversations ahead with players who won’t make the playoff roster. Brian Johnson, Hector Velazquez, Heath Hembree, and possibly Joe Kelly, Bobby Poyner, and Robby Scott may be on the wrong end of those conversations. Cora has said he will go with 14 position players and 11 pitchers. 3. The Marlins messed up their agreement with their Single A affiliate. They’re out in Greensboro, N.C., which was an ideal place for them, and will be playing in Clinton, Iowa. 4. I covered Bobby Witt as a high schooler in Canton, and now his son, Bobby Witt Jr., could wind up being one of the top three overall draft picks in June. Witt Jr., who played for Colleyville (Texas) Heritage, is considered by many the top high school player in the country. He’s a shortstop. His dad, who had a 16-year major league career, is a player agent. How convenient. 5. Right now, we’re looking at managerial openings in Baltimore, Toronto, Texas, and possibly Anaheim and Cincinnati (which is opening up its search despite Jim Riggleman’s nice interim run), and we’re looking at GM/president of baseball operations openings in New York (Mets), and possibly Baltimore and San Francisco. There’s more evidence of a serious chance that Dan Duquette retains his job in Baltimore (with manager Buck Showalter gone), but the sentiment seems to change on a daily basis. 6. While Carlos Beltran’s name is mentioned often as a possible managerial candidate, Cora, who remains one of Beltran’s best friends, thinks Beltran is content enjoying family life. Cora, however, says Beltran watches the Red Sox closely and often chimes in with recommendations for Cora. 7. It was nearly 40 years ago (Oct. 2, 1978) that the Red Sox and Yankees played their famous one-game playoff at Fenway Park. We know how it turned out. Jerry Remy, Dennis Eckersley, Luis Tiant, and Jim Rice were all at Fenway this past week still lamenting the loss. Remy always has fought the rap that the ’78 Sox choked. “It’s pretty hard to say you choked when you won 99 games,” he said. “We had an outstanding team. We just had so many injuries the second half of that year.” Updates on nine 1. Ben Cherington, vice president of player personnel, Blue Jays — Cherington has become a legitimate candidate to run the Mets or Giants. Giants president Larry Baer is looking for a modern-thinking GM to take over for Framingham’s Bobby Evans, who was let go after 25 years in the organization. Here’s why Cherington is ideal for San Francisco: He combines modern analytics with scouting. And he is a New Hampshire native, as is Giants vice president of baseball operations Brian Sabean, who has great regard for Cherington. Two names that have also surfaced for the Giants GM job are Brewers assistant GM Matt Arnold and Royals assistant GM Scott Sharp. Cherington, a former Red Sox GM with a World Series championship on his résumé, also is a good fit for the Mets, who are also seeking someone who can combine old school and new school thinking. Would Cherington take a job knowing that Mets owner Jeff Wilpon has the reputation for being a meddler? It would appear the San Francisco job is more in line with what Cherington wants, but geography may also play a role, as Cherington has a home in New York. And Gary LaRocque, the Cardinals’ director of player development, is said to be a favorite of Wilpon’s. 2. Bryce Harper, RF, Nationals — While handicapping where Harper could wind up next season on a long term deal, the places that appear to make the most sense are Washington, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. All three have the money. The Giants could use Harper as part of a major rebuild to their offense. The Phillies need to do something dramatic with their offense, and the Nationals could have an elite outfield with Harper and Juan Soto. 3. Kevin Cash, manager, Rays — Cash should receive some AL Manager of the Year consideration. He probably won’t win it, but it’s fascinating to consider that if and when Buck Showalter is told he’s not returning in Baltimore, Cash will be the senior manager in the AL East. Prediction: One would think that Cash eventually goes the way of predecessor Joe Maddon after his contract expires after next season, moving on to a team that will offer him a better financial package. 4. Derek Jeter, part owner, Marlins — Those who observe the Marlins believe Jeter needs to hire a GM to bring the organization together. Current GM Michael Hill is not Jeter’s guy, while director of player development Gary Denbo has proven to be derisive and not the GM type. This would be an important role to which Jeter should give serious consideration. 5. Ned Colletti, former GM, Dodgers — Colletti was immediately identified as a possible successor to Evans in San Francisco. The reason is that Colletti was once Sabean’s assistant GM in San Francisco. It appears Sabean will have a big say in who succeeds Evans, but he needs to pick a guy who is a combination of modern and old school thinking. 6. Adrian Beltre, 3B, Rangers — Beltre shouldn’t feel the need to retire, because he’s still really good. The reason he might pack it in, however, is that the Rangers will be undergoing a rebuild with a new manager, and Beltre would like to retire, and then go into the Hall of Fame, as a Ranger. Beltre, 39, is one of only 10 players with at least 3,000 hits and 450 home runs. He’s tied with Frank Thomas for 24th on the all-time list with 1,704 RBIs. Beltre told me prior to the All-Star break that his wife and kids would help decide whether he would retire. At the time he was leaning toward playing another season, but that may have changed considering the Rangers’ circumstances have changed. 7. Bartolo Colon, RHP, Rangers — Colon told reporters in the middle of this past week that he would like to play another season. He’s 44 but feels he could still help a team as a back-end starter. 8. Adam Wainwright, RHP, Cardinals — Yes, that five-year, $97.5 million deal is finally up with the Cardinals. So, where Wainwright ends up next season is anyone’s guess. The Cardinals could bring him back under a shorter term and less money, but after 15 years with the organization the 37-year-old, who was limited to eight starts this season because of an elbow injury, could also call it a career. We’ll likely find out soon. 9. Michael Brantley, OF, Indians — Finally, after two years’ worth of injuries, Brantley had a relatively injury-free season, got his mojo back, and will head to free agency, where he’s expected to be in demand. Brantley could be a major target of the Giants and possibly the Phillies, if they don’t wind up with Harper. The 31-year-old Brantley is hitting .309 this season with 17 homers and 76 RBIs. Mondesi does it again: Royals shortstop’s blast propels win over Cleveland SAM MCDOWELL The call came on June 17, a franchise buried in the standings turning toward its future. The Royals summoned shortstop Adalberto Mondesi, the jewel of its farm system and the centerpiece of a renovation. What’s resulted is this: A 23-year-old man who did not play the first two-plus months of the season is the second most adept home-run hitter on the current roster. He has provided an interruption to the frustrations of a 100-loss seasons. One of his biggest came Saturday. Mondesi barreled a three-run homer off Cleveland’s top reliever, the deciding blow in a 9-4 Royals victory in front of a crowd of 23,324 at Kauffman Stadium. “He’s the most dynamic player I’ve ever seen,” Royals second baseman Whit Merrifield said, later adding, “It’s kind of what he’s been doing lately. That’s a big progression with him in his game right now, and it’s exciting to see.” The Royals (58-103) will close out their season Sunday. When they look back on 2018, they will point toward Mondesi’s progression as a top development. After a shaky start at the plate, he has found a groove, the hits arriving with power. Mondesi has 14 home runs, the second most of any player currently on the Royals roster. Salvador Perez leads with 27, though 11 of those were before Mondesi reached the big leagues on June 17. The three-run jack Saturday broke a 3-3 tie in the sixth inning, and it came against left-handed reliever Andrew Miller, flipping Mondesi to the right side of the plate. “That was a big hit for Mondi — the last six weeks for him have been really special (with) what he’s accomplishing in all phases of the game,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. The home-run ball came off his bat at 102.8 miles per hour and traveled 427 feet, according to Statcast, scoring Alcides Escobar and Whit Merrifield, who frequented the base paths. As did the entire roster — the Royals finished with 16 hits, at least one from every player in the starting lineup. It started with Merrifield. He led off the game with a single, extending his hitting streak to 19 games, tying a career best. He promptly stole second base and then swiped third without a throw, stretching his American League lead to 44. Heading into the final day of the season, Merrifield leads the majors in steals and is tied for first in hits. He has essentially clinched winning the American League crowns in both. “That would be pretty exciting for me,” Merrifield said. “To do it in the whole league, that would be a thrill.” His second hit Saturday changed the momentum of the game, and was a gift from Cleveland right fielder Melky Cabrera, a former Royal. Cabrera misjudged a ball hit directly at him, yet still got his glove to it and then dropped the ball. The play was oddly scored a two-run double. That inflated the line of Cleveland ace Corey Kluber, a 20-game winner who lands in the thick of the American League Cy Young race. In his final tuneup for the postseason, which Cleveland will embark on next week, Kluber threw five innings, allowing three runs and seven hits. Escobar and Royals rookie catcher Meibrys Viloria had three hits. Royals starter Jakob Junis allowed three runs over six innings and picked up the win after the Mondesi broke the tie in the bottom half of the sixth. He will finish the season with a 9-12 record and 4.42 earned run average. He was 3-0 in his last six starts. “I’m pretty happy how I finished this September and the whole season,” Junis said. “I had a bumpy stretch in the middle, but these last two months I can’t complain. I think I finished strong.” The Kansas City Star LOADED: 09.30.2018