December 12, 2018 11:08 PM PST
Two key players who helped propel the Milwaukee Brewers to
the National League Championship Series will be free agents this offseason.Per
an announcement from the
Brewers [url=http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-sonny-gray-jersey]http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-sonny-gray-jersey[/url] ,
third baseman Mike Moustakas and relief pitcher Joakim Soria declined their
player options for 2019.After waiting out the market in hopes of receiving a
long-term contract last offseason, Moustakas returned to the Kansas City Royals
on aone-year dealworth $5.5 million that included a $15 million mutual option
for 2019.Soria was in the final guaranteed year of a three-year deal he signed
in December 2015. His mutual option for next season wasworth$10 million.The
Brewers acquired Soria in a trade with the Chicago White Sox on July 26. They
added Moustakas in a deal with the Royals two days later.Moustakas hit
.256/.326/.441 with eight homers in 54 games after the trade. He also had a
walk-off RBI single in the 10th inning of Game 1 of the NLDS against the
Colorado Rockies.Soria posted a 4.09 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 22 innings for
the Brewers. The 34-year-old is a two-time All-Star and has 220 career saves.The
Brewers went 96-67 during the regular season, winning the National League
Central for the first time since 2011. A look at what’s happening around the
majors today:ON THE CUSPJose Ramirez and the Cleveland Indians can clinch their
third consecutive AL Central crown with a victory at home over Detroit and a
Minnesota loss at last-place Kansas City. Josh Tomlin (1-5) pitches for the
Indians against Matthew Boyd (9-12) and the Tigers. All-Star right-hander Jose
Berrios (11-11) and the Twins face rookie Jorge Lopez (2-4), who took a perfect
game into the ninth inning last Saturday at Minnesota.STROP STOPPEDThe NL
Central-leading Chicago Cubs probably won’t have their closer when they open a
three-game series against Cincinnati. Pedro Strop injured a hamstring while
running to first on a double-play grounder Thursday in just his second at-bat of
the season. Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Strop will have an MRI on Friday. Strop
has served as Chicago’s closer since Brandon Morrow was placed on the disabled
list July 18. Strop has converted 11 of 13 save opportunities in that span and
has a 2.26 ERA on the season.LAST GASPIt might be too late
already [url=http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-luis-severino-jersey]Luis
Severino Jersey[/url] , but Bryce Harper and the Nationals get perhaps their
final chance to at least make a charge in the NL East when they begin a
three-game series at first-place Atlanta. A heavy favorite before the season,
Washington (74-73) sits third in the division, 8½ games behind the Braves with
15 to play. Max Scherzer (17-6, 2.31 ERA) starts the
opener [url=http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-aaron-hicks-jersey]http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-aaron-hicks-jersey[/url] ,
looking to boost his bid for a fourth Cy Young Award and third straight in the
National League. He leads the NL in wins and is 2-1 with a 1.67 ERA and 30
strikeouts in 27 innings this season against Atlanta.SNAKE EYESIf the plummeting
Diamondbacks want to keep pace in the playoff hunt, they’ll have to do it
against a first-place team. Arizona dropped two of three against NL West-leading
Colorado to fall 4½ games back in the division and has lost 10 of 13 heading
into a three-game series at AL West-leading Houston. The Diamondbacks also lost
starter Clay Buchholz to injury during the Colorado series. They do have their
pair of Zacks — Godley and Greinke — pitching Saturday and Sunday. “Time is
running out,” Steven Souza Jr. said. “We are making it more difficult on
ourselves, but it’s not impossible.”TRUE TESTNoah Syndergaard
(11-3 [url=http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-aaron-judge-jersey]Aaron
Judge Jersey[/url] , 3.44 ERA) takes on baseball’s best team when the Mets play
the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Syndergaard is 5-1 over his last seven starts.
Hector Velazquez (7-2, 3.29) gets the ball for Boston, which is closing in on a
third straight AL East title. The magic number for the Red Sox is six over the
second-place Yankees. Boston is the only team in the majors that’s already
locked up a playoff berth.
Two key players who helped propel the Milwaukee Brewers to
the National League Championship Series will be free agents this offseason.Per
an announcement from the
Brewers [url=http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-sonny-gray-jersey]http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-sonny-gray-jersey[/url] ,
third baseman Mike Moustakas and relief pitcher Joakim Soria declined their
player options for 2019.After waiting out the market in hopes of receiving a
long-term contract last offseason, Moustakas returned to the Kansas City Royals
on aone-year dealworth $5.5 million that included a $15 million mutual option
for 2019.Soria was in the final guaranteed year of a three-year deal he signed
in December 2015. His mutual option for next season wasworth$10 million.The
Brewers acquired Soria in a trade with the Chicago White Sox on July 26. They
added Moustakas in a deal with the Royals two days later.Moustakas hit
.256/.326/.441 with eight homers in 54 games after the trade. He also had a
walk-off RBI single in the 10th inning of Game 1 of the NLDS against the
Colorado Rockies.Soria posted a 4.09 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 22 innings for
the Brewers. The 34-year-old is a two-time All-Star and has 220 career saves.The
Brewers went 96-67 during the regular season, winning the National League
Central for the first time since 2011. A look at what’s happening around the
majors today:ON THE CUSPJose Ramirez and the Cleveland Indians can clinch their
third consecutive AL Central crown with a victory at home over Detroit and a
Minnesota loss at last-place Kansas City. Josh Tomlin (1-5) pitches for the
Indians against Matthew Boyd (9-12) and the Tigers. All-Star right-hander Jose
Berrios (11-11) and the Twins face rookie Jorge Lopez (2-4), who took a perfect
game into the ninth inning last Saturday at Minnesota.STROP STOPPEDThe NL
Central-leading Chicago Cubs probably won’t have their closer when they open a
three-game series against Cincinnati. Pedro Strop injured a hamstring while
running to first on a double-play grounder Thursday in just his second at-bat of
the season. Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Strop will have an MRI on Friday. Strop
has served as Chicago’s closer since Brandon Morrow was placed on the disabled
list July 18. Strop has converted 11 of 13 save opportunities in that span and
has a 2.26 ERA on the season.LAST GASPIt might be too late
already [url=http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-luis-severino-jersey]Luis
Severino Jersey[/url] , but Bryce Harper and the Nationals get perhaps their
final chance to at least make a charge in the NL East when they begin a
three-game series at first-place Atlanta. A heavy favorite before the season,
Washington (74-73) sits third in the division, 8½ games behind the Braves with
15 to play. Max Scherzer (17-6, 2.31 ERA) starts the
opener [url=http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-aaron-hicks-jersey]http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-aaron-hicks-jersey[/url] ,
looking to boost his bid for a fourth Cy Young Award and third straight in the
National League. He leads the NL in wins and is 2-1 with a 1.67 ERA and 30
strikeouts in 27 innings this season against Atlanta.SNAKE EYESIf the plummeting
Diamondbacks want to keep pace in the playoff hunt, they’ll have to do it
against a first-place team. Arizona dropped two of three against NL West-leading
Colorado to fall 4½ games back in the division and has lost 10 of 13 heading
into a three-game series at AL West-leading Houston. The Diamondbacks also lost
starter Clay Buchholz to injury during the Colorado series. They do have their
pair of Zacks — Godley and Greinke — pitching Saturday and Sunday. “Time is
running out,” Steven Souza Jr. said. “We are making it more difficult on
ourselves, but it’s not impossible.”TRUE TESTNoah Syndergaard
(11-3 [url=http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-aaron-judge-jersey]Aaron
Judge Jersey[/url] , 3.44 ERA) takes on baseball’s best team when the Mets play
the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Syndergaard is 5-1 over his last seven starts.
Hector Velazquez (7-2, 3.29) gets the ball for Boston, which is closing in on a
third straight AL East title. The magic number for the Red Sox is six over the
second-place Yankees. Boston is the only team in the majors that’s already
locked up a playoff berth.