Top News:
John Hickey / Sports Illustrated:
The Past Doesn't Matter for Athletics, White Sox as They Gear Up for Wild Card Collision — The Oakland A's and the Chicago White Sox play baseball at a high level, but going into Game 1 of the American League wild card series, they don't have much in common beyond that. — The Sox crush the ball.
Discussion:
South Side Sox and Athletics Nation
RELATED:
Matt Loede / Sports Illustrated:
Indians to Host Yankees in Wild Card Round at Progressive Field Starting Tuesday — The Indians comeback on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Progressive Field along with the Cubs win over the Chicago White Sox has netted the Indians home field in the American League wild card round.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, MLB Baseball News …, Pinstripe Alley, Let's Go Tribe, Bless You Boys, Halos Heaven and The Crawfish Boxes
Keegan Matheson / Blue Jays News:
Shoemaker to start Game 1 for Blue Jays — Ryu set for Game 2 and if needed, Walker in Game 3 — In what might be the most surprising move of their season, the Blue Jays are starting Matt Shoemaker — not ace Hyun Jin Ryu — in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series against the Tampa Bay Rays today.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Bluebird Banter and DRaysBay
RELATED:
David Pinto / baseballmusings.com:
Playoffs Today — The Astros and Twins kick off the 2020 post season at 2 PM EDT on over the air TV! I don't remember the last time a wild-card round or LDS game was available via antenna. Zack Greinke faces Kenta Maeda. Greinke pitched better than his ERA in terms of the three-true outcomes.
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Astros Sign Yuli Gurriel To One-Year Extension — 11:10am: Gurriel will earn $250K upon reaching 300 and 350 plate appearances, tweets The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. He'll also earn $350K for reaching 400 and 450 plate appearances as well as $400K for reaching 500 and 550 plate appearances.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and MLB Daily Dish
Max Goodman / Sports Illustrated:
Can Yankees Survive and Advance in Postseason Without Home Run Ball? — NEW YORK — In the clubhouse after an 11-4 win over the Marlins on Saturday, snapping a modest three-game losing streak, Yankees' infielder Tyler Wade picked up his cell phone and began scrolling through his notifications.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Joon Lee / ESPN:
Ron Roenicke won't be Boston Red Sox manager next season — The Boston Red Sox announced Sunday that Ron Roenicke would not return as the team's manager for the 2021 season, with a search for a new skipper beginning immediately. — Roenicke took over as interim manager in February following …
Discussion:
Over the Monster, MLB Baseball News …, Lone Star Ball, Union-News, Sports Illustrated and baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
Mets season ends with well-earned last-place finish — That's all, folks. — The Amazin's final game of the year aptly summarized how unreliable their starting pitchers were in the 60-game sprint. And the final result of those pitching woes, a 15-5 loss to the Nationals on Sunday, put the Mets in the National League East basement.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Amazin' Avenue
Jenna West / Sports Illustrated:
Injured Josh Donaldson Not on Twins' Roster for AL Wild Card Series — Twins third baseman Josh Donaldson is not on the team's roster for the American League wild card series against the Astros due to a calf injury. — The AL Central winners released their 28-man roster hours before the series begins at Target Field on Tuesday.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
ESPN:
MLB Playoffs Daily: Baseball's biggest postseason party ever is here — Sixteen teams are still standing for the expanded 2020 MLB playoffs after a thrilling finish to the 60-game regular season. As the postseason starts up with a four-pack of American League matchups on Tuesday …
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Carlos Collazo / Baseball America:
MLB Mock Draft — Barring a tweak in the draft order process from commissioner Rob Manfred given the shortened 2020 season, we now know what the 2021 draft order looks like. — While most eyes are looking toward the playoffs, here at Baseball America we're constantly looking ahead to the draft.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Lone Star Ball
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Derek Jeter Is Back in the Postseason With a Whole New Perspective — Jeter played 158 playoff games as a Yankee. This week, he'll experience his first as the Marlins' chief executive: “It's completely different, because you have no control whatsoever.” — The chief executive …
Discussion:
New York Post
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves lose finale to Red Sox, finish 35-25 — The Braves might have MLB's best offensive duo in Freddie Freeman and Marcell Ozuna, both of whom made MVP and even triple crown pushes across the truncated season. — Ozuna homered in Sunday's regular-season finale, which the Braves lost 9-1 …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Talking Chop and Cincinnati.com