LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dodgers infielder Enrique Hernandez apologized Tuesday after complaining "the fans had no energy" during Los Angeles' Game 3 loss in the NL Championship Series.Hernandez tweeted a statement claiming his comments were taken out of context. He said he was "really frustrated" following a 4-0 loss to the Brewers on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. Los Angeles trails the best-of-seven series 2-1."We all know Kike is very emotional," manager Dave Roberts said before Game 4. "I know he feels we're all in it together as far as players, coaches, fans. His interaction with the fans is top-level, so I know he felt bad that it was kind of received that way."Hernandez said that "last night felt off" and "was just a weird day overall." He said the Dodgers' play in Game 3 was "unacceptable.""What I said last night doesn't portray the way I truly feel about you guys!" he wrote. "You guys are the best fans in baseball."He also promised to deliver a better effort in Game 4 on Tuesday night.Clayton... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — If Clayton Kershaw is pitching his final games for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the three-time NL Cy Young Award winner isn't saying.Kershaw can opt out of the last two years and $70 million remaining on his contract after the World Series ends. Dodgers ownership has made it clear the team would like its ace to stay."I have not made a decision," Kershaw said Tuesday.Kershaw is set to start Game 5 in the NL Championship Series against Milwaukee on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium.He was 9-5 with a 2.73 ERA in the regular season. After the All-Star break, he went 6-1 with the same ERA.Kershaw admitted after his last regular-season start that he had considered the possibility of it being his last go-round with the Dodgers, the only team the 30-year-old left-hander has played for during his big league career.But trying to stay alive in the best-of-seven pennant playoff has his full attention right now. The Dodgers trailed the Brewers 2-1 going into Tuesday."For me it's just trying... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — If Clayton Kershaw is pitching his final games for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the three-time NL Cy Young Award winner isn't saying.Kershaw can opt out of the last two years and $70 million remaining on his contract after the World Series ends.He says he hasn't made a decision.Kershaw is speaking a day ahead of his Game 5 start in the NL Championship Series against Milwaukee on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium.Manager Dave Roberts says he isn't thinking about Kershaw's future with the team.Kershaw admitted after his last regular-season start that he had considered the possibility of it being his last go-round with the Dodgers, the only team the 30-year-old left-hander has played for during his big league career.Kershaw says he's grateful and that it's been a "great" run during his time in Los Angeles. The Dallas native says he's grown up in the city, noting that he's gotten married and had two children during his years with the team.___More AP MLB: www.apnews.com/tag/MLB and www.twitter.com/AP_Sports

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dodgers infielder Enrique Hernandez apologized Tuesday after complaining "the fans had no energy" during Los Angeles' Game 3 loss in the NL Championship Series.Hernandez tweeted a statement claiming his comments were taken out of context. He said he was "really frustrated" following a 4-0 loss to the Brewers on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. Los Angeles trails the best-of-seven series 2-1."We all know Kike is very emotional," manager Dave Roberts said before Game 4. "I know he feels we're all in it together as far as players, coaches, fans. His interaction with the fans is top-level, so I know he felt bad that it was kind of received that way."Hernandez said that "last night felt off" and "was just a weird day overall." He said the Dodgers' play in Game 1 was "unacceptable.""What I said last night doesn't portray the way I truly feel about you guys!" he wrote. "You guys are the best fans in baseball."He also promised to deliver a better effort in Game 4 on Tuesday night.Clayton... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Clayton Kershaw pounded his glove over and over, yelling "Let's go!" as he walked off the mound.Pretty soon, he was gone.Kershaw was hit hard in the shortest start of his spotty playoff career, and the shaky Los Angeles Dodgers lost 6-5 to the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 1 of the NL Championship Series on Friday night."Got to do a better of keeping the score close for our guys to have a chance there at the end," Kershaw said.Los Angeles committed four errors, including two by catcher Yasmani Grandal in Milwaukee's two-run third inning. But another playoff flop for its ace left-hander might be its biggest concern as it tries to cool off streaking Milwaukee."He's been in the playoffs for a really long time," Grandal said. "He knows what he needs to do to win games and that's all that matters. Game 5 comes around, then he'll be the guy on the mound and he'll be the guy who will get us a win."Game 2 is Saturday afternoon at Miller Park.Kershaw holds the team records for playoff... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Clayton Kershaw pounded his glove over and over, yelling "Let's go!" as he walked off the mound.Pretty soon, he was gone.Kershaw was hit hard in the shortest start of his spotty playoff career, and the shaky Los Angeles Dodgers lost 6-5 to the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 1 of the NL Championship Series on Friday night."Got to do a better of keeping the score close for our guys to have a chance there at the end," Kershaw said.Los Angeles committed four errors, including two by catcher Yasmani Grandal in Milwaukee's two-run third inning. But another playoff flop for its ace left-hander might be its biggest concern as it tries to cool off streaking Milwaukee."We gave up too many bases. We didn't play clean when he was in the game," manager Dave Roberts said. "The errors affected the game. But as far as Clayton, I just think it was poor execution. And I thought the stuff was good, but he just made mistakes in the strike zone and defensively, again, we didn't do him any favors."Game... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Clayton Kershaw pounded his glove with his left hand and yelled "Let's Go!" as he walked off the mound.Pretty soon, he was gone.Kershaw was hit hard in the shortest start of his spotty playoff career, and the sloppy Los Angeles Dodgers lost 6-5 to the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 1 of the NL Championship Series on Friday night.Los Angeles committed four errors, including two by catcher Yasmani Grandal in Milwaukee's two-run third. But another playoff flop for its ace left-hander might be its biggest concern as it tries to cool off streaking Milwaukee.Game 2 is Saturday afternoon at Miller Park.Kershaw holds the team records for playoff wins (eight), starts (21), innings (133) and strikeouts (144), but is just 8-8 with a 4.26 ERA in 26 career postseason appearances. The Dodgers dropped to 13-13 when the three-time NL Cy Young Award winner takes the mound in the playoffs.The 30-year-old Kershaw quieted some of those October questions when the Dodgers won the NL pennant last... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff has connected against Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, becoming the third reliever in major league history to homer in a postseason game.Woodruff led off the third inning with a long drive to right-center, tying Game 1 of the NL Championship Series at 1. Woodruff pumped his right arm as the ball went out Friday night and Kershaw glanced back with an incredulous look on his face.Woodruff is the first Brewers pitcher to homer in a playoff game, according to STATS. He joins Travis Wood for the Chicago Cubs in Game 2 of the 2016 NL Division Series against San Francisco and Rosy Ryan for the New York Giants in Game 3 of the 1924 World Series against Washington as the only relievers to go deep in the postseason.The 25-year-old Woodruff hit his first career homer July 13 at Pittsburgh.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MILWAUKEE (AP) — David Freese is hitting third for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the NL Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, returning to a city where he enjoyed postseason success in 2011.Freese was the 2011 NLCS MVP after hitting .545 with three homers and nine RBIs for St. Louis in the Cardinals' six-game series victory over the Brewers.The Dodgers acquired Freese this season in August from the Pittsburgh Pirates. He hit .385 in 19 games in the regular season with Los Angeles.The right-handed hitting Freese is in the lineup at first base against Brewers left-handed starter Gio Gonzalez. Lefty slugger Max Muncy, who leads the Dodgers with 35 homers, will come off the bench.Chris Taylor and Justin Turner hit ahead of Freese, who is followed by cleanup hitter Manny Machado, Matt Kemp and Kike Hernandez.Cody Bellinger, the only left-handed hitter in the lineup, is seventh. Switch-hitter Yasmani Grandal hits eight, followed by starter Clayton Kershaw.The Brewers are going... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:STARTING OFFClayton Kershaw starts for the Dodgers in Game 1 of the NL Championship Series against Brewers left-hander Gio Gonzalez and — more notably — Milwaukee's deep bullpen. Josh Hader and the rest of the club's lights-out relievers have helped the Brewers win 11 straight games. The bullpen's 3.47 ERA was second in the NL only to the Chicago Cubs, and it began to peak down the stretch. The relievers went 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA in the three-game Division Series sweep against Colorado. Gonzalez probably won't need to go more than four or five innings before Hader and crew take over.Los Angeles' pitching approach will be more traditional. The Dodgers have gotten a higher percentage of outs from their starters this postseason than any other team, led by Kershaw's eight innings of two-hit ball in a 3-0 Game 2 win over Atlanta. Kershaw has thrown 12 consecutive scoreless innings in the postseason dating to last year's World Series.The ALCS... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Friday:STARTING OFFClayton Kershaw starts for the Dodgers in Game 1 of the NL Championship Series against Brewers left-hander Gio Gonzalez and — more notably — Milwaukee's deep bullpen. Josh Hader and the rest of the club's lights-out relievers have helped the Brewers win 11 straight games. The bullpen's 3.47 ERA was second in the NL only to the Chicago Cubs, and it began to peak down the stretch. The relievers went 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA in the three-game Division Series sweep against Colorado. Gonzalez probably won't need to go more than four or five innings before Hader and crew take over.Los Angeles' pitching approach will be more traditional. The Dodgers have gotten a higher percentage of outs from their starters this postseason than any other team, led by Kershaw's eight innings of two-hit ball in a 3-0 Game 2 win over Atlanta. Kershaw has thrown 12 consecutive scoreless innings in the postseason dating to last year's World Series.The ALCS... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Gio Gonzalez will start for the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 1 of the NL Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night.Brewers manager Craig Counsell announced his rotation on Thursday. Gonzalez was 3-0 with a 2.13 ERA in five starts for the Brewers after being acquired in a deal with the Washington Nationals.The Brewers have chosen Wade Miley to start in Game 2 on Saturday, meaning that Milwaukee will open the NLCS with two straight lefties.The Dodgers will line up the same way. They had already picked ace left-hander Clayton Kershaw as their starter for the opener.Manager Dave Roberts on Thursday night said lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu will be his Game 2 starter.Brewers right-hander Jhoulys Chacin will go in Game 3 on Monday in Los Angeles against Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler.Roberts said he will turn to left-hander Rich Hill to start Game 4.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Chris Sale is all set to start Game 1 at Fenway Park. If the Boston Red Sox later need him for middle relief, he's ready. Or a setup spot, sure."I mean, it's postseason baseball. You have to be prepared for anything," the All-Star lefty said.Especially when it comes to pitching, particularly after seeing the likes of Justin Verlander, Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer and other All-Star aces working in unusual roles during recent Octobers.Because as managers' moves this month have proven — some worked, some didn't — the winning strategy might be getting the best guy on the mound at the key moment, no matter when that comes."That's what it is. You're using your team's talents the best way you can to win games," Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said Thursday, a day before the Brewers host the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Championship Series.Sale and the Red Sox take on the Houston Astros in the ALCS beginning Saturday night.Relievers have accounted for 48.8 percent of innings in the playoffs... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Gio Gonzalez will start for the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 1 of the NL Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night.The Brewers have chosen Wade Miley to start in Game 2 on Saturday, meaning that Milwaukee will open up the NLCS with two straight lefties. Right-hander Jhoulys Chacin will go in Game 3 on Monday in Los Angeles.Brewers manager Craig Counsell announced his rotation on Thursday.Gonzalez was 3-0 with a 2.13 ERA in five starts for the Brewers after being acquired in a deal with the Washington Nationals.The Dodgers have already picked ace left-hander Clayton Kershaw as their starter for the opener, but have yet to announce the rest of their rotation.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Gio Gonzalez will start for the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 1 of the NL Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night.The Brewers have chosen Wade Miley to start in Game 2 on Saturday, meaning that Milwaukee will open up the NLCS with two straight lefties. Right-hander Jhoulys Chacin will go in Game 3 on Monday in Los Angeles.Brewers manager Craig Counsell announced his rotation on Thursday.Gonzalez was 3-0 with a 2.13 ERA in five starts for the Brewers after being acquired in a deal with the Washington Nationals.The Dodgers have already picked ace left-hander Clayton Kershaw as their starter for the opener, but have yet to announce the rest of their rotation.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A look at the best-of-seven National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers:___Schedule: (All times EDT) Game 1, Friday, at Milwaukee, 8:09 p.m.; Game 2, Saturday, at Milwaukee, 4:09 p.m.; Game 3, Monday, Oct. 15, at Los Angeles, 7:39 p.m.; Game 4, Tuesday, Oct. 16 at Los Angeles, 9:09 p.m.; x-Game 5, Wednesday, Oct. 17, at Los Angeles, 5:05 p.m.; x-Game 6, Friday, Oct. 19, at Milwaukee, 8:39 p.m.; x-Game 7, Saturday, Oct. 20, at Milwaukee, 9:09 p.m.. (Game 2 Fox, all others FS1).x-if necessary.___Season Series: Dodgers won 4-3.___Projected Lineups:Dodgers: LF Joc Pederson (.248, 25 HRs, 56 RBIs) or Matt Kemp (.290, 21, 85, 115 Ks in 146 games), 3B Justin Turner (.312, 14, 52), 1B Max Muncy (.263, 35, 79, .958 OPS), SS Manny Machado (.315, 24, 65, .963 OPS with Orioles; .273, 13, 42, .825 OPS with Dodgers), C Yasmani Grandal (.241, 24, 68), CF-1B Cody Bellinger (.260, 25, 76, 151 Ks in 162 games), RF Yasiel Puig (.267, 23, 63), 2B Enrique Hernandez... [More]

A look at the best-of-seven National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers:___Schedule: (All times EDT) Game 1, Friday, at Milwaukee, 8:09 p.m.; Game 2, Saturday, at Milwaukee, 4:09 p.m.; Game 3, Monday, Oct. 15, at Los Angeles, TBA; Game 4, Tuesday, Oct. 16 at Los Angeles, TBA; x-Game 5, Wednesday, Oct. 17, at Los Angeles, TBA; x-Game 6, Friday, Oct. 19, at Milwaukee, TBA; x-Game 7, Saturday, Oct. 20, at Milwaukee, TBA. (All games on Fox and FS1).x-if necessary.___Season Series: Dodgers won 4-3.___Projected Lineups:Dodgers: LF Joc Pederson (.248, 25 HRs, 56 RBIs) or Matt Kemp (.290, 21, 85, 115 Ks in 146 games), 3B Justin Turner (.312, 14, 52), 1B Max Muncy (.263, 35, 79, .958 OPS), SS Manny Machado (.315, 24, 65, .963 OPS with Orioles; .273, 13, 42, .825 OPS with Dodgers), C Yasmani Grandal (.241, 24, 68), CF-1B Cody Bellinger (.260, 25, 76, 151 Ks in 162 games), RF Yasiel Puig (.267, 23, 63), 2B Enrique Hernandez (.256, 21, 52) or Brian Dozier... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Wednesday:MOVING ONThe Red Sox are set for a postseason rematch with the World Series champion Astros. Boston eliminated the Yankees with a dramatic 4-3 victory Tuesday night in Game 4 of their AL Division Series, and now rookie manager Alex Cora and his club will wait until Saturday night to open the AL Championship Series against Houston at Fenway Park. Ace lefty Chris Sale figures to get the ball after making an impressive turn in a setup role for the eighth inning Tuesday. It'll also mark a reunion for Cora and the Astros — he was the bench coach during their championship run last season."I've been talking about them the whole season, so now we go," Cora said. "Best of seven. They know me. I know them. It should be fun."The Yankees, meanwhile, begin an offseason that's sure to bring a few changes. CC Sabathia, Brett Gardner, David Robertson and J.A. Happ can become free agents, and New York could be major a player in an anticipated free agent... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Max Muncy is starting at first base and Joc Pederson is in left field for the Los Angeles Dodgers against Atlanta Braves right-hander Mike Foltynewicz in Monday's Game 4 of the NL Division Series.Each sat in Game 3 when manager Dave Roberts started David Freese at first and Chris Taylor in left against left-hander Sean Newcomb on Sunday night.Yasiel Puig is in right field and Matt Kemp returns to the bench for the Dodgers, who lead the best-of-five series 2-1.Left-hander Rich Hill is on the mound for Los Angeles.Roberts said Clayton Kershaw would start on Wednesday in Los Angeles if a Game 5 is necessary. He said the decision was simple even though he chose Hyun-Jin Ryu over Kershaw to start Game 1."I think that we had our reasons why we decided on Game 1 versus Game 2," Roberts said. "But if there's a potential Game 5, we feel very confident that Clayton should be the guy taking the baseball."Braves manager Brian Snitker said he might use Sean Newcomb and Kevin Gausman,... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Dodgers head to Atlanta full of confidence after consecutive shutouts gave them a commanding 2-0 lead over the Braves in their National League Division Series.Now the Braves must win the first postseason game in their new ballpark to extend their season. And they face some daunting history: only three times have teams that trailed 2-0 rallied to win a best-of-five playoff series under the 2-2-1 format.Atlanta was outscored 9-0 and outhit 10-9 in losing the first two games at Dodger Stadium, where Los Angeles slugged five homers.Game 3 is Sunday night at SunTrust Park, with left-hander Sean Newcomb chosen to start for the Braves instead of Kevin Gausman. Manager Brian Snitker announced the change Saturday.The 25-year-old Newcomb came within one strike of throwing a no-hitter against the Dodgers at home July 29. He pitched two scoreless innings in relief of starter Mike Foltynewicz in Thursday's opener."We need to win," Snitker said. "Not that Gausman doesn't give us... [More]