NEW YORK (AP) — The price of qualifying offers for Major League Baseball free agents rose by $1.1 million to a record $18.9 million. Determined by the average of the top 125 major league contracts this year, the figure announced Thursday is based on full salaries, not the prorated pay that players received in the pandemic-shorted season. The price had dropped last offseason for the first time, by $100,000 to $17.8 million. Among the top players eligible for free agency are pitchers Trevor Bauer, Marcus Stroman, Liam Hendriks, Blake Treinen, Masahiro Tanaka, José Quintana and Alex Colomé; catcher J.T. Realmuto; outfielders George Springer and Marcell Ozuna; infielder DJ LeMahieu; designated hitter Nelson Cruz; and shortstops Didi Gregorius, Marcus Semien and Andrelton Simmons. A qualifying offer can be made through the fifth day after the World Series, and a player has a week after that to accept. If a team makes a qualifying offer to a player who signs a major league contract with another... [More]

A capsule look at the best-of-five playoff series between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves in Houston beginning Tuesday: ___ Season Series: Braves won 6-4. ___ MIAMI MARLINS Record: 31-29. Playoff Entry: second place, NL East. Playoff Seed: No. 6. Manager: Don Mattingly (fifth season). Projected Rotation: RHP Sandy Alcantara (3-2, 3.00 ERA), RHP Pablo Lopez (6-4, 3.61, 59 Ks), RHP Sixto Sanchez (3-2, 3.46), LHP Trevor Rogers (1-2, 6.11, 39 Ks in 28 IP). Top Hitters: 1B Jesus Aguilar (.277, 8 HRs, 34 RBIs), SS Miguel Rojas (.304, 4, 20, .888 OPS). Top Relievers: RHP Brandon Kintzler (2-3, 2.22 ERA, 12 saves), RHP Brad Boxberger (1-0, 3.00). Series Summary: The Marlins are in the playoffs for the first time since 2003, when they rallied past the Cubs in an NL Championship Series famous for the Steve Bartman episode at Wrigley Field and then beat the New York Yankees in the World Series. ... The Marlins topped the Cubs in the postseason again this year, sweeping two first-round games at... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Picture this: The Atlanta Braves winning a playoff series for the first time in nearly a generation. That's certainly worth a few fake selfies. "I’m overcome with joy,” said slugging outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr., who was not yet 4 years old the last time it happened. Acuña did his part to end Atlanta's 19-year run of playoff futility, driving in the first run — the only run that would be needed, it turned out — to spark a 5-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds, completing a sweep of the best-of-three NL wild-card series. “There’s a lot of energy there that’s contagious," Acuña said of his team. There's also a lot of heartbreak for this franchise, which is best known for managing only one World Series title — a quarter-century ago — during its unprecedented run of 14 straight division titles. Kings of the regular season. Chokers of the postseason. No matter where they played, whether it was Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium or Turner Field or their current home, Truist Park, the Braves... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Ian Anderson dazzled in another shutout performance for Atlanta, and the Braves won a playoff series for the first time in almost two decades by sweeping the light-hitting Cincinnati Reds with a 5-0 victory Thursday. Ronald Acuña Jr. had three hits for the NL East champions, including a run-scoring double in the fifth. After winning Wednesday’s series opener 1-0 in 13 innings, Atlanta broke open Game 2 on two-run homers by Marcell Ozuna and Adam Duvall off Raisel Iglesias in the eighth. Anderson struck out nine in six innings as the Braves snapped their record-tying string of losses in 10 consecutive postseason rounds since their last playoff series win in 2001. Atlanta will face Miami or the Chicago Cubs in the NL Division Series in Houston. The 22-year-old Anderson allowed two hits and walked two in his playoff debut after six regular-season starts. Will Smith, Chris Martin and Mark Melancon each threw one perfect inning. Cincinnati wasted a solid performance by Luis Castillo,... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Pablo Sandoval is on the Atlanta Braves' roster for the NL wild-card series against the Cincinnati Reds. The 2012 World Series MVP joined the Braves after being released by the San Francisco Giants a couple of weeks ago. He started at third base in the final game of the regular season, going 0 for 2 with two walks in a 9-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox. Sandoval played 33 games for the Giants, hitting .220 with one homer and six RBIs. The Braves also brought back infielder Charlie Culberson to the big league roster and released left-handed pitcher Tommy Milone, who was acquired at the trade deadline but posted a 14.90 ERA in three starts. ___ The 28-player rosters for the best-of-three series between the Reds and the Braves: CINCINNATI Pitchers (12): RH Tejay Antone, RH Trevor Bauer, RH Archie Bradley, RH Luis Castillo, LH Amir Garrett, RH Sonny Gray, RH Raisel Iglesias, RH Michael Lorenzen, RH Tyler Mahle, LH Wade Miley, RH Lucas Sims, RH Robert Stephenson Catchers (2): Tucker... [More]

A capsule look at the best-of-three playoff series between the Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves beginning Wednesday. All games in Atlanta: ___ CINCINNATI REDS Record: 31-29. Playoff Entry: NL wild card. Playoff Seed: No. 7. Manager: David Bell (second season). Projected Rotation: RHP Trevor Bauer (5-4, NL-best 1.73 ERA, 100Ks), RHP Luis Castillo (4-6, 3.21, 89Ks), RHP Sonny Gray (5-3, 3.70, 72 Ks). Top Hitters: DH Jesse Winker (.255, 12 HRs, 23 RBIs), 1B Joey Votto (.226, 11, 22), RF Nick Castellanos (.225, 14, 34), 3B Eugenio Suarez (.202, 15, 38). Top Relievers: RHP Raisel Iglesias (4-3, 2.74 ERA, 8 saves), RHP Lucas Sims (3-0, 2.45), LHP Amir Garrett (1-0, 2.45, 1 save), RHP Tejay Antone (0-3, 2.80). Series Summary: The Reds took off in early September and earned their first playoff appearance since 2013. Cincinnati won six in a row beginning Sept. 13 and finished the season 11-3, including an extra-inning victory over Minnesota in the finale. The team won its last five series. The... [More]

No need for an asterisk. Defying all skepticism that this was nothing more than a watered-down money grab with little chance of reaching the finish line (yep, I’m raising my hand), Major League Baseball has pulled off its two-month sprint of a regular season amid the coronavirus pandemic. With the playoffs set to begin next week, the 60-game campaign of 2020 certainly deserves a place right alongside those 162-game, six-month-long marathons of past years. “They're probably feeling like they would if they had played 162 games, really, with the mental drain and everything else that was on 'em," said Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker, who guided his team to a third straight NL East title. In many ways, this season was even more demanding than the usual grind. With the most extensive travel of any major sport that’s being played during the pandemic, the odds were stacked against baseball from that very first pitch back in late July. “Oh man, it was a challenge every day — for everybody,... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Don Mattingly returns this weekend to Yankee Stadium, where his best years as a player always ended when the regular season did. Now Mattingly is enjoying perhaps his best year as a manager, leading the Miami Marlins as they try to extend their improbable season into next week. His young team is staggering toward the finish line, with four consecutive losses heading into Thursday night's game in Atlanta. But the Marlins still control their own destiny, and will head to New York for a three-game series hoping to clinch their first postseason berth since 2003. “Nobody picked this club to be able to do anything this season, but we believed in ourselves,” Mattingly said. “It’s easy to be proud of these guys, the way they have dealt with everything.” It would be rich irony for Mattingly’s team to clinch a postseason spot in Yankee Stadium, where he was an MVP, a batting champion and a six-time All-Star — but made the playoffs only in the final season of his 14-year career. Mattingly... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — José Ramírez pushed the Cleveland Indians into the playoffs with one swing and strengthened his case for the AL MVP award. Ramírez hit a three-run homer with two outs in the 10th inning, giving Cleveland a 5-3 win over the Chicago White Sox that clinched a postseason berth Tuesday night. Ramírez’s drive to right off José Ruiz scored César Hernández and Francisco Lindor, setting off a wild celebration at home plate as the Indians reached the postseason for the fourth time in five years. Lindor had pulled Cleveland within one on a two-out double that plated Roberto Perez, who began the inning on second base. After Matt Foster (5-1) walked Hernández, Ruiz entered and gave up the game-ending drive. BRAVES 11, MARLINS 1 ATLANTA (AP) — Bryse Wilson pitched five scoreless innings, Marcell Ozuna drove in five runs with four hits that included two homers and Atlanta clinched its third straight NL East title. Atlanta hit five homers, including drives by Dansby Swanson and Freddie... [More]

Orioles third. Austin Hays doubles to deep left field. Andrew Velazquez walks. Hanser Alberto doubles to deep left field. Andrew Velazquez to third. Austin Hays scores. Jose Iglesias grounds out to shallow center field, Dansby Swanson to Freddie Freeman. Hanser Alberto to third. Andrew Velazquez scores. Ryan Mountcastle out on a sacrifice fly to center field to Ronald Acuna Jr.. Hanser Alberto scores. Pedro Severino grounds out to third base, Austin Riley to Freddie Freeman.3 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Orioles 3, Braves 0.Braves sixth. Freddie Freeman singles to deep left field. Marcell Ozuna grounds out to third base, Hanser Alberto to Pat Valaika. Travis d'Arnaud grounds out to shortstop, Jose Iglesias to Pat Valaika. Freddie Freeman to third. Dansby Swanson grounds out to shallow center field, Andrew Velazquez to Pat Valaika.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Orioles 3, Braves 1.Orioles sixth. Jose Iglesias singles to left field. Ryan Mountcastle flies out to deep left field to Marcell Ozuna. Pedro Severino singles to right field. Jose Iglesias to second. Renato Nunez doubles, advances to 3rd. Pedro Severino scores. Jose Iglesias scores. DJ Stewart called out on strikes. Pat Valaika pops out to shallow center field to Ozzie Albies.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Orioles 5, Braves 1.

Braves third. Ozzie Albies doubles to deep left field. Ronald Acuna Jr. flies out to deep center field to Cedric Mullins. Freddie Freeman doubles. Ozzie Albies scores. Marcell Ozuna pops out to third base to Rio Ruiz. Travis d'Arnaud walks. Dansby Swanson reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Travis d'Arnaud out at second.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 left on. Braves 1, Orioles 0.Braves fourth. Nick Markakis called out on strikes. Adam Duvall homers to left field. Austin Riley singles to center field. Ozzie Albies flies out to deep right field to DJ Stewart. Ronald Acuna Jr. walks. Austin Riley to second. Freddie Freeman lines out to deep center field to Cedric Mullins.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Braves 2, Orioles 0.Braves ninth. Ronald Acuna Jr. walks. Freddie Freeman doubles to deep center field, advances to 3rd. Ronald Acuna Jr. scores. Marcell Ozuna singles to deep left field. Freddie Freeman scores. Travis d'Arnaud singles to right center field. Marcell Ozuna to third. Dansby... [More]

Orioles first. Cedric Mullins singles to shallow infield. Jose Iglesias singles to right field. Cedric Mullins to second. DJ Stewart strikes out swinging. Ryan Mountcastle singles to deep left field. Jose Iglesias to second. Cedric Mullins scores. Rio Ruiz flies out to deep center field to Ronald Acuna Jr.. Renato Nunez singles to shortstop. Ryan Mountcastle to second. Jose Iglesias out at home.1 run, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Orioles 1, Braves 0.Orioles third. Cedric Mullins walks. Jose Iglesias singles to shortstop. DJ Stewart homers to right field. Jose Iglesias scores. Cedric Mullins scores. Ryan Mountcastle homers to center field. Rio Ruiz grounds out to shallow infield, Ozzie Albies to Freddie Freeman. Renato Nunez walks. Chance Sisco pops out to shallow infield to Freddie Freeman. Austin Hays reaches on error. Renato Nunez to second. Fielding error by Austin Riley. Andrew Velazquez walks. Austin Hays to second. Renato Nunez to third. Cedric Mullins singles to right field. Andrew... [More]

Braves first. Ronald Acuna Jr. strikes out swinging. Freddie Freeman doubles to deep center field. Marcell Ozuna strikes out swinging. Travis d'Arnaud doubles to deep right center field. Freddie Freeman scores. Dansby Swanson flies out to deep center field to Victor Robles.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Braves 1, Nationals 0.Nationals second. Asdrubal Cabrera homers to right field. Kurt Suzuki grounds out to second base, Ozzie Albies to Freddie Freeman. Eric Thames strikes out swinging. Carter Kieboom strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Braves 1, Nationals 1.Braves fourth. Travis d'Arnaud singles to deep right field. Dansby Swanson called out on strikes. Nick Markakis doubles to center field. Travis d'Arnaud scores. Adam Duvall lines out to center field to Victor Robles. Austin Riley called out on strikes.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Braves 2, Nationals 1.Nationals fourth. Juan Soto doubles to center field. Asdrubal Cabrera lines out to deep right field to... [More]

Braves first. Ronald Acuna Jr. singles to left field. Freddie Freeman pops out to left field to Trea Turner. Marcell Ozuna singles to center field. Ronald Acuna Jr. scores. Travis d'Arnaud singles to right field. Marcell Ozuna to second. Dansby Swanson lines out to deep right field to Yadiel Hernandez. Marcell Ozuna to third. Austin Riley strikes out swinging.1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Braves 1, Nationals 0.Braves fourth. Austin Riley pops out to Yan Gomes. Adam Duvall doubles to deep right field. Tyler Flowers strikes out swinging. Ozzie Albies singles to shallow center field. Adam Duvall scores. Ronald Acuna Jr. called out on strikes.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Braves 2, Nationals 0.Nationals eighth. Adam Eaton pinch-hitting for Michael A. Taylor. Adam Eaton singles to right field. Yadiel Hernandez strikes out swinging. Brock Holt strikes out swinging. Trea Turner doubles to deep right field. Adam Eaton scores. Juan Soto grounds out to second base, Ozzie Albies to Freddie Freeman.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Braves 2, Nationals 1.

Nationals first. Adam Eaton doubles. Trea Turner walks. Juan Soto doubles to deep right field. Trea Turner scores. Adam Eaton scores. Eric Thames singles to right field. Juan Soto scores. Brock Holt grounds out to shallow infield. Eric Thames out at second. Yan Gomes doubles to deep left field. Luis Garcia pops out to shortstop to Dansby Swanson.3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Nationals 3, Braves 0.Nationals third. Trea Turner doubles to left field. Juan Soto singles to left field. Trea Turner scores. Eric Thames strikes out swinging. Brock Holt grounds out to shallow infield, Ozzie Albies to Freddie Freeman. Juan Soto to third. Yan Gomes singles to shallow center field. Juan Soto scores. Luis Garcia grounds out to shallow right field, Ozzie Albies to Freddie Freeman.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Nationals 5, Braves 0.Braves fourth. Adam Duvall strikes out swinging. Nick Markakis doubles to deep right field. Ozzie Albies walks. Ender Inciarte flies out to deep right field to... [More]

Nationals first. Victor Robles called out on strikes. Adam Eaton singles to deep left field. Trea Turner triples. Adam Eaton scores. Juan Soto doubles. Trea Turner scores. Asdrubal Cabrera triples to deep left center field. Juan Soto scores. Josh Harrison grounds out to shallow infield, Ozzie Albies to Freddie Freeman. Yan Gomes flies out to left center field to Adam Duvall.3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Nationals 3, Braves 0.Nationals second. Michael A. Taylor doubles. Carter Kieboom lines out to deep center field to Ronald Acuna Jr.. Michael A. Taylor to third. Victor Robles lines out to shallow infield to Freddie Freeman. Adam Eaton homers to center field. Michael A. Taylor scores. Trea Turner walks. Juan Soto is intentionally walked. Asdrubal Cabrera walks. Juan Soto to second. Trea Turner to third. Josh Harrison reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield. Asdrubal Cabrera out at second.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 4 left on. Nationals 5, Braves 0.Braves fourth. Ronald Acuna... [More]

Marlins second. Garrett Cooper doubles to left field. Lewis Brinson strikes out swinging. Monte Harrison strikes out swinging. Jorge Alfaro singles to left field. Garrett Cooper scores. Jazz Chisholm triples to deep right center field. Jorge Alfaro scores. Miguel Rojas grounds out to second base, Ozzie Albies to Freddie Freeman.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Marlins 2, Braves 0.Braves second. Dansby Swanson singles to deep left field. Austin Riley walks. Dansby Swanson to second. Adam Duvall walks. Austin Riley to second. Dansby Swanson to third. Ozzie Albies grounds out to first base, Garrett Cooper to Pablo Lopez. Adam Duvall to second. Austin Riley to third. Dansby Swanson scores. Ender Inciarte out on a sacrifice fly to deep left center field to Starling Marte. Adam Duvall to third. Austin Riley scores. Ronald Acuna Jr. walks. Freddie Freeman singles to right field. Ronald Acuna Jr. to third. Adam Duvall scores. Marcell Ozuna singles to left field. Freddie Freeman to third. Ronald... [More]

Braves first. Ronald Acuna Jr. walks. Dansby Swanson walks. Freddie Freeman doubles to deep left center field. Dansby Swanson scores. Ronald Acuna Jr. scores. Marcell Ozuna strikes out swinging. Travis d'Arnaud singles to left field. Freddie Freeman to third. Nick Markakis grounds out to second base. Travis d'Arnaud out at second.2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 left on. Braves 2, Marlins 0.Marlins second. Garrett Cooper grounds out to shallow infield, Adeiny Hechavarria to Freddie Freeman. Jon Berti called out on strikes. Jazz Chisholm reaches on error to shallow infield, advances to 2nd. Throwing error by Ian Anderson. Miguel Rojas doubles. Jazz Chisholm scores. Jorge Alfaro walks. Miguel Rojas to third. Corey Dickerson grounds out to second base, Adeiny Hechavarria to Freddie Freeman.1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 2 left on. Braves 2, Marlins 1.Braves second. Austin Riley lines out to shallow left field to Miguel Rojas. Adeiny Hechavarria singles to third base. Ender Inciarte triples to left field.... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Paul Goldschmidt hit a three-run homer off a struggling Jon Lester, and the St. Louis Cardinals gained ground in the NL Central race by beating the Chicago Cubs 7-3 on Sunday night.St. Louis pulled within 1 1/2 games of Chicago with its third consecutive win over the division leaders. The longtime rivals have one game left in their pandemic-shortened season series on Monday.Dakota Hudson (2-2) worked five innings of three-run ball, shrugging off a shaky start.Chicago dropped to 10-15 since its 13-3 start. Anthony Rizzo and Jason Kipnis homered for the Cubs, but Lester (2-2) lasted just 3 1/3 innings in another lackluster performance.ANGELS 9, ASTROS 5ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Anthony Rendon homered, Jared Walsh and Justin Upton delivered key hits during a four-run eighth inning and Los Angeles swept the four-game series.The Angels have a won a season-high five straight. They trailed by at least three runs in each game against Houston before rallying.Mike Mayers (1-0), the fifth... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Paul Goldschmidt hit a three-run homer off a struggling Jon Lester, and the St. Louis Cardinals gained ground in the NL Central race by beating the Chicago Cubs 7-3 on Sunday night.St. Louis pulled within 1 1/2 games of Chicago with its third consecutive win over the division leaders. The longtime rivals have one game left in their pandemic-shortened season series on Monday.Dakota Hudson (2-2) worked five innings of three-run ball, shrugging off a shaky start.Chicago dropped to 10-15 since its 13-3 start. Anthony Rizzo and Jason Kipnis homered for the Cubs, but Lester (2-2) lasted just 3 1/3 innings in another lackluster performance.ANGELS 9, ASTROS 5ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Anthony Rendon homered, Jared Walsh and Justin Upton delivered key hits during a four-run eighth inning and Los Angeles swept the four-game series.The Angels have a won a season-high five straight. They trailed by at least three runs in each game against Houston before rallying.Mike Mayers (1-0), the fifth... [More]