ST. PETERSBURG [url=http://www.astrosfanproshop.com/authentic-carlos-lee-jersey]http://www.astrosfanproshop.com/authentic-carlos-lee-jersey[/url] , Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays, who won more games than any American League team that didn’t make the playoffs, have rewarded manager Kevin Cash with a contract extension that runs through 2024, plus a club option for 2025.The 40-year-old Cash had one year remaining on a five-year, $5 million deal he signed when he replaced Joe Maddon after the 2014 season.Financial terms were not disclosed. Both Cash, who had no previous managerial experience when he was hired, and management said it was an easy decision to continue their relationship after a bounce-back season.“Kevin has a long list of positives. … It’s been a joy to see him blossom,” general manager Erik Neander said Tuesday. “He’s very deserving of this extension. We’re excited for the years ahead.”The budget-minded Rays surprisingly won 90 games, finishing third in the AL East behind the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, despite trimming payroll last winter and purging the roster again in July to transform themselves into a young team with a promising future.Cash, who turns 41 in December, has led the Rays to a 318-330 record over four seasons.“There’s reason to be really excited about the way our team played, the youth and the athleticism, and the way these guys really came together in the second half of the year [url=http://www.astrosfanproshop.com/authentic-j.r.-richard-jersey]J.R. Richard Jersey[/url] ,” Cash said.“I’d like to think, other than the teams that are playing playoff baseball right now, we might have been the most talked about team in a positive light at the end of the season,” the manager added during a conference call. “It’s an honor to be a part of that.”The Rays lost 12 of 15 to begin the season, digging themselves into a hole few people thought they were capable of escaping after trading Evan Longoria, Steven Souza Jr., Corey Dickerson and Jake Odorizzi and losing starting pitcher Alex Cobb to free agency.The club chopped more salary in July, trading pitchers Chris Archer, Nathan Eovaldi and Alex Colome, as well as catcher Wilson Ramos and outfielder Denard Span to make way for younger players.With first-time All-Star Blake Snell leading the majors with 21 wins and an AL-best 1.89 ERA and Cash overseeing an innovative plan to use “openers” and “bullpen days” to compensate for a shortage of proven starting pitching, the Rays went 41-25 after the All-Star break, including 19-9 in September.“This is a year we put a lot on his plate,” Neander said. “We made a lot of moves all the way into spring training that left a lot of doubt, potentially within our clubhouse with respect to what we could accomplish this year.“To see him navigate that [url=http://www.astrosfanproshop.com/authentic-jose-altuve-jersey]http://www.astrosfanproshop.com/authentic-jose-altuve-jersey[/url] , to see him navigate the difficult stretch we had out of the gates, the maturity, his approach, the unwavering support he had from our coaching staff … was really impactful” and makes Cash the right man for the job “not only today, but for the forseeable future,” the GM added.Cash doesn’t anticipate the extension creating additional pressure because expectations have remained consistent for an organization that made the playoffs four times in six seasons from 2008 to 2013.“The expectation is to go out there and find ways to win,” Cash said, “and we get to do it with a really energetic group of players.” It is winner-take-all for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers when they meet at Miller Park Saturday night in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series.The Brewers turned that possibility into reality when they scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning and went on to a 7-2 victory over the Dodgers in Game 6 of the series Friday night.Walker Buehler will get the start for the Dodgers in the series finale, while the Brewers will counter with Jhoulys Chacin. That was the matchup in Game 3 at Dodger Stadium, and the Brewers earned a 4-0 victory in that encounter.Chacin has not allowed a run in the postseason in 10.1 innings and has held opponents to a .162 average. Buehler has a 6.75 earned-run average and has allowed nine earned runs in 12.0 innings. Buehler is a flamethrower who has struck out 15 hitters, and opponents are hitting .182 off of him.The winner of Game 7 will face the Boston Red Sox in the best-of-7 World Series, starting with Tuesday night's Game 1 at Fenway Park.World Series ScheduleTuesday, October 23 (Game 1): NL winner at Boston Red Sox, 8:09 p.m. ETWednesday [url=http://www.astrosfanproshop.com/authentic-craig-biggio-jersey]Craig Biggio Jersey[/url] , October 24 (Game 2):NLwinner atBoston Red Sox, 8:09 p.m. ETFriday, October 26 (Game 3):Boston Red Soxat NL winner, 8:09 p.m. ETSaturday, October 27 (Game 4):Boston Red SoxatNLwinner, 8:09 p.m. ETSunday, October 28 (Game 5, if necessary):Boston Red SoxatNLwinner, 8:15 p.m. ETTuesday, October 30 (Game 6, if necessary):NLwinner atBoston Red Sox, 8:09 p.m. ETWednesday, October 31 (Game 7, if necessary):NLwinner atBoston Red Sox [url=http://www.astrosfanproshop.com/authentic-george-springer-jersey]George Springer Jersey[/url] , 8:09 p.m. ETAll World Series games will be televised by Fox.The Red Sox won 108 games during the regular season and earned home-field advantage throughout the postseason.Despite their record-setting regular season, many thought Boston would have difficulties in the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees and the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros.The Red Sox beat the Yankees in four games and followed that with a five-game triumph over the defending World Series champions.They managed to accomplish both of those achievements even though top starter Chris Sale and ace reliever Craig Kimbrel have not been at their best.Sale had shoulder problems during the second half of the season and was hospitalized in the series against the Astros with a reported stomach issue.Kimbrel, a hard-throwing closer, struggled in all of his postseason appearances except the season finale against the Astros. He has a 7.11 earned-run average in 6.1 innings of work, and opponents are hitting .262 off of him.During the regular season, Kimbrel saved 42 games in 47 opportunities, had a 2.74 ERA and limited opposing batters to a .146 average.The Red Sox had the best offensive team in baseball during the regular season, and they have strength up and down their lineup. That is best exemplified by centerfielder Jackie Bradley Jr., regularly the ninth-place hitter in the Boston lineup.Bradley drove in nine runs against the Astros, as he delivered a bases-loaded double in Game 2, a grand slam in Game 3 and a two-run homer in Game 4 to stun Houston.Bradley combines with potential American League Most Valuable Player Mookie Betts and Andrew Benintendi to give the Red Sox one of the best outfields in baseball from both an offensive and defensive perspective.That defense came into focus in Game 4 as Betts made a spectacular throw to nail Houston speedster Tony Kemp as he attempted to stretch a single into a double in the eighth inning. Benintendi made the play of the game鈥攁nd perhaps the postseason鈥攚hen he made a diving catch of Alex Bregman's lined drive with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to win the game.While the Red Sox won the American League East title in 2016 and 2017, they were a different team under first-year manager Alex Cora than they had been under former manager John Farrell. One of the reasons for that was the addition of slugger J.D. Martinez, who blasted 43 home runs and drove in a major-league best 130 runs. Martinez credited Cora for creating a winning atmosphere."Alex gets a feel of the clubhouse and always has an idea of what鈥檚 going on, how guys are feeling [url=http://www.astrosfanproshop.com/authentic-evan-gattis-jersey]http://www.astrosfanproshop.com/authentic-evan-gattis-jersey[/url] ,"Martinez said, per Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe. "Guys want to play for him. That鈥檚 led to all this success.鈥漈he Red Sox are favored to win the World Series, no matter their opponent. The Red Sox are -155 favorites to win the World Series, while the Dodgers are +300 and the Brewers are +350, per OddsShark. Those backing the Red Sox have to risk $155 in order to win $100, while Dodgers or Brewers bettors risk $100 to win $300 and $350, respectively.The Dodgers are -115 favorites to win Game 7 of the NLCS, while the Brewers are +105 underdogs.PredictionsThe Brewers picked up a relatively stress-free victory in Game 6 of the NLCS, and perhaps the most important factor was that manager Craig Counsell did not have to turn to Josh Hader out of the bullpen.The left-handed flamethrower will be rested and strong, and the Brewers will also have the advantage of the confident and razor-sharp Chacin and their supportive home fans. The Brewers and Dodgers will engage in a tense, low-scoring game and Milwaukee will win the National League pennant.The Brewers were magical down the regular-season home stretch to win the National League Central and they have an excellent team. However, it would be a mistake to overlook the Red Sox and their 108-win season.Their offensive strength, defensive skills and pitching depth will allow them to win the World Series in six games. The Red Sox win their fourth World Series since 2004.