Pirates sign RHP Ivan Nova to three-year deal

The Pittsburgh Pirates announced a three-year re-signing of RHP Ivan Nova on Tuesday.

Overall, Nova went 12-8 with a 4.17 ERA in 32 appearances (26 starts) this past season. He is 58-41 with a 4.30 ERA in 142 appearances (129 starts) over his seven-year career.

Nova was acquired by Pittsburgh on August 1 in exchange for two players to be named.

Indians sign free-agent 1B Edwin Encarnacion to 3-year, $65 million deal

The Cleveland Indians announced on Thursday that they signed free-agent 1B Edwin Encarnacion to a three-year, $65 million deal.

In 2016 with the Toronto Blue Jays, Encarnacion ranked tied for 2nd in the majors with 127-RBI and tied for 3rd with 42-HR. His 127 RBI are a career-high & 5th most in Blue Jays club history and the most since Carlos Delgado had a franchise high 145 in 2003. His 42-HR matches his career best (2nd time, last 2012) and are tied for 6th highest in a season in team history. In fact, the last time a Jay hit that many HR was Edwin in 2012.

76 of his career high 158 hits this season have gone for XBH (34-2B, 42-HR). Against LHPs, Encarnacion has 15 XBH out of 28 total hits (53.6%). On Sep. 20 at the Mariners, he hit his 42nd HR of the season, matching his career high (2012).

Indians invite Chris Colabello to Major League camp

The Cleveland Indians signed free agent 1B/OF Chris Colabello to a Minor League contract with a non-roster invitation to Major League spring training camp on Tuesday.

Colabello, 33, owns a career Major League average of .257 (187-727) with 35 doubles, 28 home runs and 111 RBI in 225 Major League games since debuting with the Minnesota Twins in 2013. His best season came in 2015 with the Toronto Blue Jays, hitting .321 (107-333) with 19 2B, 15 HR and 54 RBI in 101 games and was Toronto's starting first baseman in 10 of their 11 Postseason games.

His 2016 campaign was spent in the Blue Jays organization around an 80-game suspension starting in April for violating MLB's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

GIants sign SS Jimmy Rollins to minor-league deal

Shortstop Jimmy Rollins agreed to a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday.

The deal will pay Rollins $1 million if he makes the Giants' major league roster, a source told ESPN's Jerry Crasnick.

Rollins, 38, signed a minor league deal with the Chicago White Sox last year and made the big league roster. But he was designated for assignment in June after hitting .221 in 41 games. Rollins played for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2015.

Rollins played 41 games for the White Sox in 2016.

Phillies acquire Clay Buchholz from Red Sox

The Philadelphia Phillies have acquired right-hander Clay Buchholz from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for minor league second baseman Josh Tobias, Vice President & General Manager Matt Klentak announced today.

Buchholz, 32, went 8-10 with a 4.78 ERA in a career-high 37 games (21 starts) for the Red Sox last season. In his final 16 appearances of the season (eight starts), he posted a 5-1 record with a 2.80 ERA and held opposing hitters to a .212 batting average.

"We are excited to welcome Clay Buchholz to Philadelphia," said Klentak. "Clay had a very productive tenure with the Red Sox, and we look forward to seeing what he can do in a Phillies uniform. He is a welcome addition to our young starting rotation."

A two-time American League All-Star (2010 & 2013), Buchholz pitched a 9.0-inning no-hitter in his second major league start on September 1, 2007 against the Baltimore Orioles, becoming just the third pitcher since 1900 to accomplish the feat in two or fewer starts.

Buchholz has made six postseason starts in his career, all with Boston, and has gone 0-1 with a 4.25 ERA, including allowing one unearned run over 4.0 innings in Game 4 of the 2013 World Series in St. Louis. The Red Sox would go on to defeat the Cardinals in six games.

A supplemental first-round selection (42nd overall) by the Red Sox in 2005 out of Angelina College, Buchholz had spent his entire professional career with the organization. He compiled an 81-61 record with a 3.96 ERA in 206 games (188 starts).

Tobias was selected in the 10th round of the 2015 draft by the Phillies. He split last season between single-A Clearwater and single-A Lakewood and hit a combined .291 with 31 doubles, nine home runs, 69 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 127 games. The 24-year-old switch-hitter was named to the South Atlantic League's midseason and postseason All-Star teams.

To make room for Buchholz on the 40-man roster, the Phillies have designated third baseman Richie Shaffer for assignment.

White Sox agree to terms on one-year contract with first baseman Jose Abreu

By Chicago White Sox (Press Release)

The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms on a one-year, $10.825-million contract with first baseman Jose Abreu, avoiding arbitration.

Abreu, 29, batted .293 (183-624) with 32 doubles, 100 RBI, 67 runs scored and a .820 OPS last season, his third with the White Sox. He recorded his third consecutive season of 30-plus doubles, 25-plus home runs and 100-plus RBI to start his career, the first player in White Sox history to accomplish that feat.

Abreu also became the seventh player in major-league history to record 100-or-more RBI in each of his first three seasons, joining Joe DiMaggio (1936-42), Hideki Matsui (2003-05), Albert Pujols (2001-10), Al Simmons (1924-34), Pinky Whitney (1928-30) and Ted Williams (1939-49, did not play from 1943-45).

He owns a .299 (537-1,793) average with 91 home runs, 308 RBI and a .515 slugging percentage over three seasons with the White Sox after signing as a free agent out of Cuba on October 29, 2013.

During that span, Abreu ranks among the American League leaders in RBI (5th), total bases (5th, 923), extra-base hits (7th, 198), slugging percentage (8th), OPS (9th, .875), average (T9th) and home runs (10th). His 91 home runs are tied for 10th-most in history by a player over his first three major-league seasons.

Orioles sign C Welington Castillo to a one-year contract

The Orioles today announced that they have signed free agent C Welington  Castillo to a one-year contract with an option for 2018. With this move, the Orioles' 40-man Major League roster is now full.

Castillo, 29, batted .264/.322/.423 (110-for-416) with 24 doubles, 14 home runs, 41 runs scored, and 68 RBI in 113 games with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2016, ranking third in RBI and fourth in home runs among National League catchers. In 2016, Castillo caught 21-of-61 (34.4%) would-be base stealers, the fifth-highest total (21) in the National League. Over 509 career Major League games, he has hit .255/.318/.416 with 96 doubles, one triple, 60 home runs, 171 runs scored, and 230 RBI. Since 2014, his 45 home runs as a catcher rank tied for sixth in the Major Leagues, including a National League-leading 18 home runs as a catcher in 2015.

Originally signed by the Chicago Cubs as a non-drafted free agent on December 8, 2004, Castillo played parts of six seasons (2010-15) with the Cubs and has also spent time with the Seattle Mariners (2015) as well as the Diamondbacks (2015-16).

- Baltimore Orioles

Rockies, reliever Mike Dunn agree on $19M, 3-year deal

By PAT GRAHAM
Associated Press

DENVER (AP) -- The Colorado Rockies shored up their shaky bullpen by agreeing to a $19 million, three-year contract with reliever Mike Dunn on Thursday.

Colorado desperately needed bullpen help after blowing 28 saves last season. The 31-year-old left-hander went 6-1 with a 3.40 ERA in 51 appearances for the Miami Marlins last season. He also had eight holds and four blown saves.

Dunn was to be introduced at a news conference at Coors Field. On his Twitter account, he thanked the Marlins organization and their fans for the last six years and added: "We are ready to start the next chapter in our lives. Denver here we come."

Dunn was picked by the New York Yankees in the 33rd round of the 2004 amateur draft. He is 28-25 over his career with the Yankees, Atlanta Braves and the Marlins.

Dunn becomes the second splashy free agent signing by the Rockies this offseason following a $70 million, five-year deal with All-Star outfielder Ian Desmond, who is switching to first base.

Colorado general manager Jeff Bridich hinted at the Desmond news conference this week that he may not be done retooling the team for first-year Colorado manager Bud Black. The Rockies went 75-87 last season, their best record since 2010, and are trying to close the gap on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.

"We are still focused on if we can add impact pitching to where we are here," Bridich said. "There are still a lot of players out there."

Former top draft pick Phil Bickford suspended 50 games

NEW YORK (AP) -- Milwaukee right-hander Phil Bickford, the 18th overall pick in baseball's 2015 amateur draft, has been suspended for the first 50 games of next season following a second positive test for a drug of abuse under the sport's minor league drug program.

Bickford, 21, is on the roster of Milwaukee's Class A Carolina Mudcats of the Carolina League. He signed with the San Francisco for a $2,333,800 bonus and was traded at this year's Aug. 1 deadline to the Brewers along with catcher Andrew Susac for left-hander Will Smith.

Bickford was 7-7 with a 2.93 ERA in 22 starts and one relief appearance for three Class A teams this year, striking out 135 in 120 innings. He pitched in the All-Star Futures Game in San Diego.

In addition, Toronto right-hander Pedro Loficial was suspended for 72 games following a positive test for metabolites of Stanozolol and Miami outfielder Casey Soltis was banned 50 games following a second positive test for a drug of abuse.

Loficial, 21, was 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA in three relief appearances and 6 2/3 innings for the Dominican Summer League Blue Jays.

The 21-year-old Soltis, a fifth-round pick in 2014, hit .190 this year in 52 games at Class A Greensboro of the South-Atlantic League.

Major League Baseball announced the discipline Friday. There have been 95 suspensions this year under the minor league drug program and 13 under the major league program.

Yankees sign outfielder Matt Holliday to one-year contract extending through the 2017 season

The New York Yankees yesterday announced they have signed seven-time All-Star (2006-08, '10-12, '15) and four-time Silver Slugger Award-winning (2006-08, '10) outfielder Matt Holliday to a one-year contract extending through the 2017 season.

Holliday, 36, batted .246 (94-for-382) with 48R, 20 doubles, 1 triple, 20HR and 62RBI in 110 games with the Cardinals in 2016, hitting at least 20 doubles for the 12th time in his career and at least 20HR for the 10th time. Holliday missed 44 team games on the disabled list from August 13 through September 30 after being hit by a pitch on August 12 and fracturing his left thumb. He returned for the Cardinals' final three games of the year, going 2-for-2 with a solo home run and an RBI single in two plate appearances. In eight games as a designated hitter last season, he hit .368 (14-for-38) with 4 doubles, 5HR and 12RBI.

Among batters who had least 100 batted balls in play in 2016, Holliday ranked third in the Majors with an average exit velocity of 94.7 mph, trailing only Nelson Cruz (95.9) and Giancarlo Stanton (95.1) according to MLB.com's Statcast. Holliday hit the ball at least 100 mph 42.5% of the time, marking the fourth-best percentage among the 247 hitters to put the ball in play at least 200 times.

During his 13-year Major League career, the right-handed hitter has batted .303 (1,995-for-6,538) with 1,104R, 448 doubles, 32 triples, 295HR and 1,153RBI in 1,773 games with Colorado (2004-08), Oakland (2009) and St. Louis (2009-16). From 2006-14, Holliday was the only Major Leaguer to record at least 20HR, 30 doubles and 75RBI each season, and he is one of just 19 players in Baseball history to have at least nine such seasons in their careers. Since 2013, he has batted .349 (148-for-424) with 33 doubles, 16HR, 202RBI, 66 walks and a .442 on-base percentage with runners in scoring position. Holliday has appeared in 72 career postseason games, advancing to the World Series three times (2007, '11 and '13) and winning a World Series championship with the Cardinals in 2011. His 13 career home runs during the playoffs are tied for the 14th-most all time.

With the Rockies in 2007, he won the National League batting title and ranked second in National League MVP voting, hitting .340 (216-for-636) with 120R, 50 doubles, 36HR, 6 triples and 137RBI in 158 games and setting career highs in runs scored, hits, doubles, home runs and RBI. He scored the game-winning run in the 13th inning of Game 163 vs. San Diego to send the Rockies to their first postseason appearance since 1995. He hit a Major League-best 5HR during that postseason and won NLCS MVP honors en route to leading Colorado to its first-ever World Series appearance.

A native of Stillwater, Okla., Holliday was originally selected by Colorado in the seventh round of the 1998 First-Year Player Draft. Among Oklahoma-born players in Major League history, he ranks fifth in home runs behind only Mickey Mantle (536), Willie Stargell (475), Joe Carter (396) and Johnny Bench (389). In 2006, he appeared in three games for Team USA in the inaugural World Baseball Classic.

The Yankees' 40-man roster now stands at 40.

- New York Yankees

AP source: Chapman, Yankees reach deal for $86M, 5 years

ASSOCIATED PRESS

OXON HILL, Md. (AP) — Aroldis Chapman found a spot in a most familiar bullpen — a very rich spot, too.

The hard-throwing closer reached agreement to return to the New York Yankees on Wednesday night with the highest-priced contract ever for a relief pitcher, an $86 million deal for five years.

A person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press that the contract was pending a physical. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was not yet complete.

Once it's done, the 28-year-old lefty whose fastballs routinely top 100 mph would shatter the previous richest contract for a reliever — that was the $62 million, four-year deal Mark Melancon signed with San Francisco just a couple days ago during the winter meetings.

Chapman was acquired by New York from the Cincinnati Reds last offseason, then missed the first 29 games of the season due to a domestic violence suspension from Major League Baseball. The Cuban was traded to the Chicago Cubs in late July and helped them win the World Series, becoming a free agent when it was over.

Chapman went 4-1 with 36 saves and a 1.55 ERA in a combined 59 games for the Yankees and Cubs. He struggled some in the postseason as the Cubs beat Cleveland for their first championship since 1908.

With the Yankees this season, Chapman teamed with Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances in one of the most dominant bullpens in baseball history. Miller was later traded to Cleveland, but Betances is still with New York.

Earlier this week, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said the team was interested in both Chapman and fellow free agent closer Kenley Jansen. The Yankees had already made one deal at these meetings, signing slugger Matt Holliday, before paying a lot more to bring Chapman back to the Bronx.

Fox Sports first reported the agreement.

Report: Chris Sale traded to Boston by White Sox

FOX Sports MLB Analysis Ken Rosenthal reported on Tuesday that the Boston Red Sox reportedly acquire LHP Chris Sale from the Chicago White Sox for INF Yoan Moncada, RHP Michael Kopech, and 2 additional prospects.

Neither club has confirmed the deal.

The Washington Nationals also made offers to the White Sox to land Sale, but Boston's deal must have been liked more by Chicago.

Red Sox acquire right-handed pitcher Tyler Thornburg from Milwaukee

The Boston Red Sox today acquired right-handed relief pitcher Tyler Thornburg from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for infielder Travis Shaw, minor league infielder Mauricio Dubon, minor league right-handed pitcher Josh Pennington, and a player to be named later or cash considerations.

President of Baseball Operations David Dombrowski made the announcement.

Thornburg, 28, set career highs for the Brewers in 2016 with 67 appearances, 67.0 innings pitched, eight wins, 13 saves, and 90 strikeouts. Among National League pitchers with at least 50.0 innings pitched, he finished eighth in ERA (2.15), seventh in WHIP (0.94), third in opponent batting average (.162), and fifth in strikeouts per nine innings (12.09). He limited left-handed hitters to a .130 batting average, the third-lowest mark among major leaguers who faced at least 100 lefties.

The right-hander became Milwaukee's full-time closer on August 1, and in 23 games after that date he went 4-1 with 11 saves and a 1.85 ERA (5 ER/24.1 IP). From May 19-June 7, Thornburg retired 26 consecutive hitters, setting a Brewers franchise record for relievers. During a stretch of 49 appearances from May 13-September 22, he posted a 0.54 ERA (3 ER/49.2 IP) and .116 opponent batting average, allowing zero earned runs in 46 of those outings.

Originally selected by Milwaukee in the third round of the 2010 June Draft, Thornburg has made 144 appearances (10 starts) over parts of five major league seasons (2012-16), posting a 14-9 record and a 2.87 ERA with 220 strikeouts and 91 walks in 219.2 innings. Over the course of his career, he has held opposing left-handed hitters to a .181 batting average and a .253 slugging percentage, having surrendered only six home runs in 364 at-bats against lefties.

In his first full major league season, Shaw, 26, hit .242 (116-for-480) with 34 doubles, two triples, 16 home runs, and 71 RBI for Boston this past year. A ninth-round selection of the Red Sox in the 2011 June Draft, Shaw made his first Opening Day Roster in 2016 and started the season opener at third base for the club in Cleveland. Defensively, he led the team with 105 games (99 starts) at third base, made 50 appearances at first base (28 starts), and appeared in one game in left field. Shaw recorded five RBI in a single game four times in 2016, tied for the most such games in the majors on the year. Over his major league career, Shaw, who is the son of former major league pitcher Jeff Shaw, has hit .251 (177-for-706) with 44 doubles, two triples, 29 home runs, and 107 RBI in 210 games all for the Red Sox (2015-16).

Dubon, 22, played in 62 games with High-A Salem and 62 with Double-A Portland in 2016, batting .323 (157-for-486) with 101 runs scored, 31 doubles, nine triples, six home runs, and 69 RBI between the teams. Named the Red Sox Minor League Base Runner of the Year, he also stole 30 bases in 37 attempts. Following the season, the California native made 18 starts for Surprise of the Arizona Fall League, where he batted .211 (15-for-71) with three home runs. Signed by Boston in the 26th round of the 2013 June Draft, Dubon has hit .306 (388-for-1,268) with a .765 OPS in 330 career games. He has been named a mid-season All-Star in each of the last three years in the New York-Penn League (2014), the South Atlantic League (2015), and the Carolina League (2016).

Pennington, 21, spent his entire 2016 season with Short-A Lowell, going 5-3 with a 2.86 ERA (18 ER/56.2 IP) and .200 opponent batting average in 13 appearances, all starts. The right-hander won each of his final three starts of the season from August 20-30, allowing only two runs in 17.0 innings for a 1.06 ERA in that span. Pennington was signed by the Red Sox in the 29th round of the 2014 June Draft and made his professional debut in 2015, appearing in seven games (six starts) and going 2-1 with a 0.82 ERA (3 ER/22.0 IP). Following the 2015 season, he was ranked by Baseball America as the No. 29 prospect in the Red Sox organization.

- Boston Red Sox

AP NEWS BREAK: All-Star Game no longer determines series start

NEW YORK (AP) -- The league that wins baseball's All-Star Game no longer will get home-field advantage in the World Series, which instead will go to the pennant winner with the better regular-season record.

The change was included in Major League Baseball's tentative new collective bargaining agreement and disclosed early Thursday to The Associated Press by a person familiar with the agreement. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because details of the deal, reached Wednesday evening in Irving, Texas, had not been announced.

In addition, players and management agreed the minimum stay on the disabled list will be reduced from 15 days to 10.

Home-field advantage in the World Series generally rotated between the leagues through 2002. Baseball, led by then-Commissioner Bud Selig, and Fox television promoted the "This Time It Counts" innovation after the 2002 All-Star Game in Milwaukee ended in a 7-7, 11-inning tie when both teams ran out of pitchers. Selig was booed in his own Milwaukee backyard.

"This energizes it. This gives them something to really play for," Selig said after owners approved the change by a 30-0 vote in January 2003. "People pay a lot of money to see that game. They deserve to see the same intensity they see all year long. Television people pay a lot of money for the game. It was not and should not be a meaningless exhibition game."

What began as a two-year experiment was extended. The American League won 11 of 14 All-Star Games played under the rule, and the AL representative won eight World Series in those years.

"It will put back a little of the sizzle," San Francisco Giants executive Larry Baer said in 2003.

As part of the changes for next year, players in the All-Star Game will have the incentive to play for a pool of money.

The DL change will allow teams to make quicker decisions on whether to bring up a roster replacement rather than wait to see whether the injured player would be ready to return to action in less than two weeks.

An international play plan is part of the new agreement that includes a payment schedule for potential games in Asia, Mexico, Latin America and Britain, plus U.S.-based special events such as this year's July 3 game between Atlanta and Miami in a specially built ballpark on a military base in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

A’s Agree to Terms with OF Matt Joyce on Two-Year Contract

OAKLAND, Calif. – The Oakland A’s have agreed to terms with outfielder Matt Joyce on a two-year contract through the 2018 season, the club announced today. To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the A’s designated infielder Rangel Ravelo for assignment.

Joyce hit .242 with 13 home runs and 42 RBI in 140 games with Pittsburgh last year. He started 30 games in right field and 14 in left field, but saw most of his action as a pinch hitter, where he batted .220 with four home runs, 15 RBI and a Major League record 21 walks in 81 appearances. He led ML pinch hitters in RBI and walks, tied for the lead in home runs and ranked second in plate appearances. The 32-year-old left-handed hitter drew 59 free passes overall for a .403 on-base percentage, which was fourth best in the National League among players with 250 or more plate appearances. Joyce made 44 of his 48 starts against right-handed pitching and hit .244 against righties compared to .235 against lefties.

Joyce has spent nine seasons in the majors with four teams. He was originally selected by Detroit in the 12th round of the 2005 draft and hit .252 with 12 home runs and 33 RBI in 92 games with the Tigers in his Major League debut in 2008. Joyce was traded to Tampa Bay following the 2008 season and spent six seasons with the Rays. He batted .277 with 19 home runs and 75 RBI in 141 games in 2011, establishing career highs in all four categories and earning American League All-Star honors. Joyce also played in 93 games for the Los Angeles Angels in 2015 and is a .242 career hitter with 106 home runs and 376 RBI in 958 games.

Ravelo spent the entire 2016 season at Triple-A Nashville, where he batted .262 with eight home runs and 54 RBI in 106 games. He was one of four players acquired by the A’s from the Chicago White Sox in the Jeff Samardzija trade following the 2014 season and hit .277 with 11 home runs and 96 RBI in 165 games in two seasons in the A’s farm system after batting .301 with 18 home runs and 222 RBI in 421 games in five seasons in the White Sox organization.

- Oakland Athletics

Astros and RHP Charlie Morton Agree to Terms on Two-Year Deal

HOUSTON, TX - The Houston Astros have agreed to terms on a two-year contract with free agent right-handed pitcher Charlie Morton, Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnowannounced today.

The signing gives the Astros the top two groundball starting pitchers in the Major Leagues, as left-handed pitcher Dallas Keucheland Morton rank first and second, respectively, in career groundball to flyball ratio among active Major League pitchers (min. 800IP). Keuchel carries a 2.84 career mark while Morton owns a 2.48 mark.

Morton, 33, has spent all nine years of his career pitching in the National League, where he has posted a 4.54 ERA (450ER/893IP) in 162 games (161 starts) with Atlanta (2008), Pittsburgh (2009-15) and Philadelphia (2016). The 6-foot-5 right-hander has posted a 3.97 ERA (283ER/641.2IP) in 111 starts since his breakout 2011 season with the Pirates, when he won 10 games while posting a 3.83 ERA and logging 171.2 innings across 29 starts.

Morton made four starts with the Phillies last year in April before suffering a torn left hamstring on April 23 that ended his season. He struck out 19 batters in his 17.1 innings and posted two quality starts in his four outings with Philadelphia prior to the injury.

Following the signing of Morton, the Astros now have 38 players on their 40-man roster.

Source: Bartolo Colon set to sign with Braves

Free agent Bartolo Colon has agreed to a deal with the Braves, a source told MLB.com's Mark Bowman on Friday. The terms of the deal, which is pending a physical, are not yet known. The club has not confirmed the report.

Colon was an All-Star for the Mets in 2016. He went 15-8 with a 3.43 ERA, leading the team with 33 starts and 191 2/3 innings pitched.

Altuve Earns Two Players Choice Awards

HOUSTON, TX - The Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) announced the winners of their highest honors tonight, naming Astros second baseman Jose Altuve the MLB Player of the Year and the AL Most Outstanding Player. He beat out Mookie Betts and David Ortiz for the Player of the Year Award and Betts and Mike Trout for the AL Most Outstanding Player Award. Additionally, for the second straight year, Altuve earned the Majestic "Always Game" Award, which is given to the player who - game in and game out - constantly exhibits grit, tenacity, perseverance and hustle; all for the benefit of his teammates and fans.

The Players Choice Awards, which have been in existence since 1992, are voted on by Major League players. The players annually honor the outstanding player, rookie, pitcher and comeback player in each league, and name a Player of the Year and Man of the Year award regardless of league.

Altuve won the AL batting title with a .338 (216x640) average, while posting 108 runs scored, 42 doubles, 24 home runs, 96 RBI, 60 walks, 30 stolen bases, a .396 on-base percentage, a .531 slugging percentage and a .928 OPS. He led all Major League players in hits, while ranking third in batting average, fourth in WAR (7.6) and fifth in total bases (340). He also ranked in the top 10 in the Majors in stolen bases, doubles and in OBP.

His historic season is one of the best by a second baseman in Major League history, as he became the first second baseman to reach 100 runs, 200 hits, 40 doubles, 20 homers, 95 RBI and 30 steals in a single season. He's just the fifth player in Major League history to reach all of those marks, regardless of position. By winning the batting title for the second time in the last three seasons, Altuve became the first second baseman to win multiple batting titles since Rod Carew won five between the 1969-75 seasons.

Altuve becomes the first player in franchise history to win the MLBPA Player of the Year and the second to win the Most Outstanding Player in his league, joining Jeff Bagwell, who won the NL Most Outstanding Player Award in 1994. The Astros have had two MLBPA Most Outstanding Rookies in Carlos Correa (2015) and Willy Taveras (2005) and two MLBPA Pitcher of the Year winners in Dallas Keuchel (2015) and Mike Hampton (1999).

Earlier this offseason, Altuve took home the 2016 Sporting News Player of the Year, an award which is also voted on by players from both leagues and given to the Major League player who had the most outstanding season. On Monday, Altuve, Betts and Trout were named the three finalists for the BBWAA AL Most Valuable Player.

In addition to Monday's announcement, Keuchel earned his third consecutive Gold Glove last night, while winners of the Silver Sluggers will be announced tomorrow. The BBWAA AL and NL MVP Award winners will be announced live on MLB Network on Nov. 17.

In his brief career, Altuve has earned four All-Star Game appearances (two starts), two Silver Slugger Awards, a Gold Glove Award, two batting titles and two stolen base titles.

Dickey signs one-year deal with Braves

ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Braves today agreed to terms with free-agent right-handed pitcher R.A. Dickey on a one-year Major League contract for the 2017 season with a club option for 2018. The deal is pending a physical exam and approval from Major League Baseball. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Dickey, 42, owns a 110-108 career record with a 4.01 ERA in 369 games (269 starts). He notched at least 200 innings pitched in five consecutive seasons from 2011 to 2015 and his 1,441 innings pitched over the last seven seasons (since 2010) ranks ninth in the majors, while his 88 wins in that span ranks tied for 14th. All but three seasons (2010-12) of his career have been spent in the American League.

The right-hander went 10-15 with a 4.46 ERA in 30 appearances for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2016, his fourth season with the club and his 14th Major League campaign. He made 29 starts before making his lone relief appearance in his final outing of the season on September 21. He earned the A.L. Gold Glove Award with the Blue Jays in 2013.

Dickey's three seasons with the New York Mets produced a 39-28 record and a 2.95 ERA in 94 games (91 starts). He won a career-high 20 games in his final season with New York in 2012, when he captured the National League Cy Young Award and was a member of the N.L. All-Star team. He also posted a career-best ERA of 2.73 that season, while working a career-high and N.L.-leading 233.2 IP. His 20 wins tied for second in the majors, while his ERA ranked fourth.

A native of Nashville, Tenn., Dickey attended the University of Tennessee and was selected in the first round (18th overall) of the 1996 amateur draft by the Texas Rangers. He made his Major League debut with the Rangers in 2001.

The Braves are Dickey's sixth Major League organization. He pitched parts of five seasons with Texas (2001-06), a year with Seattle (2008), a year with Minnesota (2009), three years with the Mets (2010-12) and four seasons with Toronto.

- Atlanta Braves

Cubs win 1st Series title since 1908, beat Indians in Game 7

The Chicago Cubs celebrate after Game 7
of the Major League Baseball World Series
against the Cleveland Indians Thursday, Nov.
3, 2016, in Cleveland. The Cubs won 8-7
in 10 innings to win the series 4-3. (AP
Photo/David J. Phillip)

CLEVELAND (AP) — Kris Bryant started to smile even before he fielded the ball. And with his throw to first for the final out, the agonizing wait 'til next year was over at last.

No more Billy Goat, no more Bartman, no more black-cat curses.

For a legion of fans who waited a lifetime, fly that W: Your Chicago Cubs are World Series champions.

Ending more than a century of flops, futility and frustration, the Cubs won their first title since 1908, outlasting the Cleveland Indians 8-7 in 10 innings of a Game 7 thriller early Thursday.

They even had to endure an extra-inning rain delay to end the drought.

"It happened. It happened. Chicago, it happened," first baseman Anthony Rizzo said after gloving the ball for the final out. "We did it. We're world champions. I tell ya, we're world champions. I can't believe it."

Rizzo put that final ball in his pocket as the Cubs piled up in the middle of the diamond, David Ross got carried off the field by his teammates and Bill Murray partied in the clubhouse.

And the whole time, blue-clad fans who traveled from Wrigley Field filled nearly the entire lower deck behind the Chicago dugout at Progressive Field, singing "Go, Cubs, Go!" in rain. They held up those white flags with the large blue "W'' on a night many of their forebears had waited for in vain.

Lovable losers for generations, the Cubs nearly let this one get away, too. All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman blew a 6-3 lead with two outs in the eighth when Rajai Davis hit a tying, two-run homer.

But the Cubs, after tormenting their fans one more time, came right back after a 17-minute rain delay before the top of the 10th.

Series MVP Ben Zobrist hit an RBI double and Miguel Montero singled home a run to make it 8-6. Davis delivered an RBI single with two outs in the bottom half, but Mike Montgomery closed it out at 12:47 a.m., and the celebration was on.

"I think about so many millions of people giving so much love and support to this team for so many years," said owner Tom Ricketts, whose family bought the team in 2009.

Manager Joe Maddon's team halted the longest stretch without a title in baseball, becoming the first club to overcome a 3-1 Series deficit since the 1985 Kansas City Royals.

"This is an epic game. It's epic. I can't believe we were able to do it — 108 years in the making," Zobrist said. "We did it."

"They never quit, either," Zobrist said. "They kept coming at us."

Cleveland was trying to win its first crown since 1948, but manager Terry Francona's club lost the last two games at home.

World Series favorites since spring training, Chicago led the majors with 103 wins this season.

The Cubs then ended more than a century of misery for their loyal fans — barely. Bryant, one of Chicago's young stars, began to celebrate even before fielding a grounder by Michael Martinez to third base and throwing it across to Rizzo for the last out.

"It's the best rain delay of all-time," Rizzo said.

Zobrist got a Series-high 10 hits, a year after he helped the Royals win the championship. Zobrist was among the players brought to the Cubs by Theo Epstein, the baseball guru who added another crown to his collection. He also assembled the Red Sox team that broke Boston's 86-year drought by winning in 2004.

From Curse of the Bambino to the Billy Goat Curse, he ended another jinx.

"We don't need a plane to fly home," Epstein said. "It's fitting it's got to be done with one of the best games of all time."

Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward had called a meeting during the rain delay, talking to his teammates in the weight room.

"I just had to remind everybody who we are, what we've overcome to get here," he said.

While Cubs fans hugged with delight, there was only despair for the Indians, who now have gone longer than anyone without a crown. In the Indians' previous World Series appearance, they were a double-play grounder from winning the 1997 title before losing Game 7 in 11 innings to the Marlins.

"It's going to hurt. It hurts because we care, but they need to walk with their head held high because they left nothing on the field," Francona said.

Earlier this year, LeBron James and the Cavaliers ended Cleveland's 52-year championship drought by overcoming a 3-1 deficit to beat Golden State for the NBA title. James and teammates were in a suite, rooting hard, as the Indians absorbed the same blow as the Warriors.

After defeating San Francisco and the Los Angeles Dodgers in the playoffs, Chicago became the first team to earn a title by winning Games 6 and 7 on the road since the 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates.

Dexter Fowler homered on Corey Kluber's fourth pitch of the game, and 23-year-old Javier Baez and the 39-year-old Ross — set to now retire — also went deep for the Cubs, who led 5-1 in the fifth inning and 6-3 in the eighth.

Chapman wound up with the win, and Montgomery got one out for his first save in the majors.

Bryan Shaw, who gave up a leadoff single to Kyle Schwarber in the 10th, took the loss in just the fourth Game 7 that went to extra innings.

Albert Almora Jr., pinch-running for Schwarber, alertly took second on Bryant's long fly to center. Rizzo was intentionally walked, and Zobrist slapped an opposite-field double past diving third baseman Jose Ramirez. Montero singled to make it a two-run lead.

Then in the bottom half, Carl Edwards Jr. struck out Mike Napoli, Ramirez grounded out, Brandon Guyer walked and Davis hit an RBI single. Montgomery took over, and helped set off a wild celebration on Chicago's North Side.

Even a dedicated White Sox fan could appreciate the victory.

"It happened: @Cubs win World Series. That's change even this South Sider can believe in. Want to come to the White House before I leave?" President Barack Obama tweeted.

Twenty-one other teams had won the World Series since the Cubs last were champions. They reached the top again on the 39,466th day after Orval Overall's three-hit shutout won the 1908 finale at Detroit in a game that took 1 hour, 24 minutes — this latest Game 7 lasted 4:24, not including the rain delay.

Back then, Theodore Roosevelt was president, New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska and Hawaii were not yet states, and the first Ford Model T car was two weeks old.

The Cubs were last champions when Joe Tinker, Johnny Evers and Frank Chance won consecutive titles in 1907-08, until now the only ones in team history. The Cubbies had not even reached the Series since 1945.

This one was for Ernie Banks, Ferguson Jenkins, Ron Santo and Billy Williams, who never reached the postseason.

For Gabby Hartnett, Ryne Sandberg and Greg Maddux, whose October runs fell short.

For Lee Elia and the "nickle-dime people" who spent so many wind-swept afternoons in the Friendly Confines watching loss after loss.

For Bill Veeck, who planted ivy vines against Wrigley Field's outfield walls.

For William Sianis, the Billy Goat Tavern owner said to have proclaimed when he was asked to leave Wrigley with his pet during the '45 Series: "Them Cubs, they ain't gonna win no more."

For Steve Bartman, whose life was upended when he tried to catch a foul ball as the Cubs came apart in the 2003 playoffs.

And for Harry Caray, who promised viewers after the 1991 finale that "sure as God made green apples, someday the Chicago Cubs are going to be in the World Series."

Maddon, hired before the 2015 season, won his first Series title after establishing a loose clubhouse that featured at times Warren the pink flamingo, Simon the magician and the motto: "Try not to suck."

"It was just an epic battle," Zobrist said. "Just blow for blow, everybody playing their heart out. The Indians never gave up, either, and I can't believe we're finally standing, after 108 years, finally able to hoist the trophy."

PEN PALS

This was the first World Series in which no starting pitcher got at least one out in the seventh inning, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The only other in which no starter finished at least seven innings was in 2002, when San Francisco's Russ Ortiz threw 6 1/3 innings in Game 6.

UP NEXT

Cleveland's spring training opener is scheduled for Feb. 26 against the Cubs in Mesa, Arizona.

Los Angeles Dodgers RHP Kenley Jansen named NL Reliever of the Year

Major League Baseball today awarded Los Angeles Dodgers RHP Kenley Jansen with the Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year award for the 2016 MLB season.

Jansen has tossed scoreless relief in 14 of 16 career postseason games, while successfully converting all eight save opportunities. His eight saves are the most in Dodger postseason history. he has pitched more than 1.0 inning in four of his six postseason appearances this year. He picked up the NLCS Game 2 save with 2.0 scoreless innings, and, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, only four other pitchers saved a 1-0 postseason game by pitching more than one inning: Al Holland, Phillies vs. Dodgers in the 1983 NLCS (2 innings); Roger Mason, Pirates vs. Braves in the 1991 NLCS (2 IP); Mariano Rivera, Yankees vs. A's in the 2001 first round (3 IP); and Koji Uehara, Red Sox vs. Tigers in the 2013 ALCS (2 IP). In Game 1 of the NLDS, Jansen became the first Dodger since Jay Howell in 1988 (2.1 IP) to record a save while working the final five outs or more. He Established career highs with both 51 pitches and 2.1 innings in the Dodgers’ NLDS Game 5 win at Washington

In the 2016 regular season, Jansen tied with Zach Britton and Mark Melancon for second in the Majors with a career-high 47 saves in 53 opportunities. He was selected to his first-career All-Star game, where he earned that honor by tossing scoreless relief in 61 of 71 appearances. He ranks second among NL relievers in ERA (1.83), limiting opponents to a .150 batting average, which was the best in baseball. His 0.67 WHIP also ranked first in the Majors. He recorded 104 Ks, which ranked third in the National League. He walked just 11 batters, and owned the best strikeout-to-walk ratio in the National League (9.45). Jansen Appeared in three games against the Cubs this season, allowing one run in 3.0 innings while recording two saves. Batters were 1-for-10 (2B) against him.

On June 21 vs. Washington, Jansen established new Dodger franchise marks in saves, finishing the year with 189 after surpassing Eric Gagné (161). He also set the franchise record for strikeouts as a reliever (632), eclipsing Jim Brewer’s mark of 604. He was the only Dodger to record a save this season. The first time that’s happened since the save became a statistic in 1969. He posted a 1.60 ERA (7 ER/39.1 IP) and held the opposition to a .111 average at Dodger Stadium this year
Righties hit just .109 (13-for-119), and was strong against left-handers as well (.191, 22-for-115). Jansen Had a sub-2.00 ERA in every single month this season except for August (3.97). He recorded at least six saves in every month First batters hit .092 (6-for-65) with five walks against him, and batters were just 2-for-25 (.080) against with runners in scoring position and two out.

Baltimore Orioles LHP Zach Britton named AL Reliever of the Year

Major League Baseball today awarded Baltimore Orioles LHP Zach Britton with the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year award for the 2016 MLB season.

Britton recorded 47 consecutive saves this season, going 47-for-47. According to STATS, LLC., Britton has the longest save streak in as many chances to start a season by a left-handed pitcher in Major League history and ranks third all-time. Britton led the AL and tied for second in the majors in saves. His 0.54 ERA (4 ER/67.0 IP) led Major League relievers and was the lowest in Major League history among pitchers with at least 50.0 innings pitched.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, only two other pitchers in Major League history have had an ERA below 1.00 in a season with at least 40 saves: Dennis Eckersley in 1990 (0.61, 48 saves) and Fernando Rodney in 2012 (0.60, 48 saves). Britton ranks third on the O’s all-time saves list with 120 and is one of two left-handers in O’s history with at least 100 career saves (also Tippy Martinez). Britton is the active Major League leader with 49 consecutive saves, dating to October 1, 2015. A total of nine relief pitchers have won the Cy Young Award and the last reliever to win the award was RHP Eric Gagne (Dodgers, 2003).

Indians, Cubs face off in Game 4 of World Series

CHICAGO – Saturday night, the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago Cubs face-off in Game four of the 2016 World Series. Cleveland won Game three on Friday night 1-0 to take a 2-0 series lead.

This is the 87th time in World Series history that the Fall Classic has stood at 2-1 after three games, and it is the 13th time in the last 17 Series (beginning 2000) it has occurred.

Of the previous 86 times that a World Series has been 2-1 after three games, the team leading the series has won Game 4 to take a 3-1 series lead 43 times (50.0%).

Of the 43 teams leading 2-1 to have won Game 4 and take a 3-1 lead, 37 (86.0%) have gone on to win the Series, including each of the last 10 times (Los Angeles in 1988, Toronto in 1992 and 1993, Atlanta in 1995, New York Yankees in 2000, St. Louis in 2006, Philadelphia in 2008, New York in 2009, San Francisco in 2010 and Kansas City in 2015). The last team to take a 3-1 series lead and lose the Fall Classic was the 1985 St. Louis Cardinals.

The Indians improved to 13-6 all-time in Game 3 of a Postseason series, including 7-4 in a best-of-seven. Cleveland is now 4-2 overall in Game 3 of the Fall Classic. The Cubs dropped to 6-16 all-time in Game 3 of a Postseason series, including 4-11 in a best-of-seven. Chicago is now 3-8 overall in Game 3 of the World Series.

This marks the fifth time that the Indians have led 2-1 in any best-of-seven Postseason series. The other instances include the 1948 World Series vs. Boston (won Game 4, won series in 6); the 1997 ALCS vs. Baltimore (won Game 4, won series in 6); the 1998 ALCS vs. New York (lost Game 4, lost series in 6); and the 2007 ALCS vs. Boston (won Game 4, lost series in 7).

This is the eighth time that the Cubs trail a best-of-seven Postseason series, 2-1. They have lost the series in six of the previous seven instances, with the only exception coming in this year's NLCS against Los Angeles (won Game 4, won series in 6). The first six instances include the 1906 World Series vs. Chicago White Sox (won Game 4, lost series in 6); the 1918 World Series vs. Boston (lost Game 4, lost series in 6); the 1929 World Series vs. Philadelphia (lost Game 4, lost series in 5); the 1935 World Series vs. Detroit (lost Game 4, lost series in 6); the 1945 World Series vs. Detroit (lost Game 4, lost series in 7); the 1989 NLCS vs. San Francisco (lost Game 4, lost series in 5); and the 2016 NLCS vs. Los Angeles (won Game 4, won series in 6).

Last night's Game 3 was just the 25th 1-0 game in World Series history, as well as just the second in the past 20 seasons (The deciding Game 4 of the 2005 World Series was a 1-0 White Sox win).

Friday night marked the fifth World Series shutout in Indians history, joining Game 6 in 1920 (1-0 over Brooklyn), Game 7 in 1920 (3-0 over Brooklyn), Game 3 in 1948 (2-0 over Boston) and Game 1 of this series (6-0 win).

The Cubs will start RHP John Lackey. Lackey went 11-8 with a 3.35 ERA (70 ER/188.1 IP) in 29 starts in his first season with the Cubs, where he recorded 20 quality starts and logged a 1.06 WHIP, his lowest single-season mark in his career and sixth-lowest in the N.L. He held opponents to a .218 average, by far the lowest mark of his career. His previous best mark was a .246 opponent average in 2006 with the Angels. His .645 opponent OPS was also the lowest mark of his career.

The Indians will start RHP Corey Kluber. The 30-year-old right-hander is slated to start Game 4 of the World Series at Wrigley Field on Saturday night. He will be starting on a shortened three days’ rest since starting Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday, October 25 at Progressive Field. He went 18-9 with a 3.14 ERA (75ER/215.0IP) in 32 regular season starts.

REVIVAL | 112th WORLD SERIES

» The Cleveland Indians & Chicago Cubs are meeting in Major
League Baseball’s 112th World Series, the first meeting in Postsea- son history between the two franchises...second consecutive series for Cleveland to face an opponent for first time in PS history (also Toronto in ALCS); in ALDS, Tribe faced Boston for the sixth time in PS history.
» The 2016 Fall Classic has proven to be an historic event, as this year’s World Series features pennant-winners with baseball’s two longest championship droughts, as Cleveland is looking for the franchise’s first title since 1948 (68 years), while Chicago-NL is seeking to end a dry spell that dates back to 1908 (108 years)...the Indians last ap- peared in the World Series in 1997, the Cubs in 1945...additionally, this easily signifies the largest combined title drought between two teams facing one another in the World Series (source: Elias).

AIN’T WASTIN’ TIME NO MORE | TRIBE WINS GAME 3

» Cleveland edged Chicago-NL in Game 3 by a score of 1-0 to take a 2-1 lead in the series...the two teams split the first two games, as the Indians posted a 6-0 shutout in Game 1, while the Cubs responded with a 5-1 victory in Game 2...was first Indians home loss this Postseason (5-1 at home)...marks the 5th time for Cleveland to hold a 2-1 lead in any best-of-7 Postseason series (others: 1948 WS, 1997 ALCS, 1998 ALCS, 2007 ALCS); won Game 4 in ‘48, ‘97, ‘07...37 of the 43 teams (86.0%) that have held a 2-1 World Series lead AND then went on to win Game 4 have subsequently gone on to win the World Series overall; last team to take a 3-1 lead and lose the World Series was the
1985 St. Louis Cardinals.

ONE WAY OUT | 1-0 SHUTOUT

» The Indians posted the 25th 1-0 shutout in World Series history last night in Game 3, just the second over the past 20 seasons (2005 World Series G4; White Sox clinched WS with 1-0 win).
» With last night’s 1-0 win in Game 3, Cleveland’s pitching staff posted (a) the team’s fifth shutout of the 2016 Postseason (b) the 13th shutout in Cleveland Postseason history - 5th ever on the road - and (c) the fifth shutout in Cleveland World Series history - first ever on the road - the others coming in 1920 WS Games 6 & 7 vs. Brooklyn, 1948 WS Game 3 vs. Boston-NL & 2016 WS Game 1 vs. Chicago-NL.
» Cleveland’s 5 shutouts have established a new MLB record for a single Postseason, as previous record of 4 was accomplished by the 1905 Giants, 1998 Yankees, 2010 Giants & 2012 Giants.
» Cleveland is the first team to throw multiple shutouts in the same Fall Classic since the Giants in 2012 vs. Detroit (2-0 G3 win; 2-0 G4 win)... prior to 2012, the last team to have multiple shutouts in a single World Series was the 1966 Orioles (3 SHO’s)...the Indians are the first team to have each of their first two wins in a single World Series come by SHO since the 1959 Chicago White Sox vs. Los Angeles-NL (11-0 win in G1, 1-0 win in G5).
» Cleveland’s only previous 1-0 World Series win came in Game 6 of the 1920 Fall Classic at Cleveland’s Dunn Field.
WHIPPING POST | WINS & LOSSES
» Cleveland has a combined record of 103-69 in 2016, as the Indians
are 9-2 in the Postseason after finishing the regular season at 94-67... Cleveland swept Boston in 3 games to win the ALDS before taking 4 of 5 from Toronto in the ALCS...the Indians have won 12 of their last 14 dating back to regular season (14 consecutive games w/o losing 2 straight)... club is 19-7 since Sept. 16, losing consecutive games just twice in that 26-game span.

BLUE SKY | SCORELESS FRAMES

» Tribe hurlers have held opponents scoreless in 81.0 of the staff’s
98.0 innings pitched overall during the 2016 Postseason (82.7%)... the record for a single Postseason belongs to the 2014 San Francisco Giants, who tossed 130.0 scoreless frames.
» Cleveland’s 1.65 team ERA is the lowest figure among all 10 teams in the 2016 Postseason...next-closest team is current Toronto, who fin- ished with a 2.52 ERA...1.65 ERA currently ranks 22nd all-time for lowest team mark in a single Postseason - 6th-lowest in the Expansion Era (since 1961) behind only the 1966 Orioles (0.50), 1963 Dodgers (1.00), 1983 Orioles (1.10), 2014 Nationals (1.23) & 1961 Yankees (1.60).
» Cleveland pitchers saw the staff’s streak of 18.0 consecutive score- less innings come to an end in the 1st inning of World Series Game 2 (was first run allowed since 8th inning of ALCS G4 at Toronto), just 5.0 frames shy of the club’s franchise record of 23.0 - a streak that spanned 1948 World Series Games 2-4.

MIDNIGHT RIDERS | THE ‘PEN IS MIGHTIER

» ANDREW MILLER (15.0 IP) & CODY ALLEN (10.0 IP) have become
just the third pair of teammates to begin a single Postseason with 10+ innings of scoreless relief each...Allen and Miller join Dave Giusti/Bruce Kison (1971 Pirates - Won WS) & Wade Davis/Luke Hochevar (2015 Royals - Won WS)...should Allen make it to 11.0 scoreless IP, they will become the first pair ever to make it that far.
» Since acquiring Miller on July 31 (including Postseason), the Indians are 28-2 (.933) when holding a lead after 5 innings, 2nd-best in MLB (Texas 23-1, .958)...two losses were August 15 & 17...thanks to Aaron Charlton from STATS for research support.

STATESBORO BLUES | TRIBE POSTSEASON HISTORY

» Cleveland has gone 53-44 (.546) all-time in Postseason games, the
3rd-highest Postseason winning pct. of any A.L. team since 1901 & 5th-highest by any team in the Majors behind Florida (.667, 22-11), New York-AL (.590, 223-155), New York-NL (.573, 51-38) & Baltimore (.551, 54-44)...record would be 54-44 if 1948 A.L. Pennant playoff game of cially counted...Cleveland’s 97 of cial Postseason games are 6th- most played by any A.L. team since 1901, T12th-most in the Majors.
» Tribe’s longest Postseason winning streak is 6 games (Oct. 6-17, 2016), as this fall Cleveland became just the  fth team in MLB his- tory to win 6 consecutive games to begin a Postseason run...lon- gest Postseason losing streak is 4 games, done twice (Sept. 29-Oct. 2, 1954 - 4G WS sweep - & Oct. 18, 2007-Oct. 2, 2013).

DREAMS | CLEVELAND FALL CLASSICS

» The Cleveland Indians are appearing in in the franchise’s sixth World Series all-time...Tribe’s 6 appearances are tied with Baltimore and Oak- land for 5th-most in A.L. history behind New York-AL (40), Boston (12), Detroit (11) and Philadelphia-AL (8)...have appeared in the World Series on  ve (5) previous occasions, winning titles in 1920 (5-2 over Brook- lyn Robins) & 1948 (4-2 over Boston Braves)...the Tribe came up on the losing end in Fall Classics played in 1954 (4-0 to NY Giants), 1995 (4-2 to Atlanta) & 1997 (4-3 to Florida)...Cleveland is 16-17 (.485) all- time in World Series games; Tribe’s 33 World Series games played are 7th-most in the A.L. all-time...the 1903 World Series is considered to be Major League Baseball’s  rst modern installment of the event.
» This marks the  rst time for Cleveland to hold home- eld ad- vantage in the World Series...teams with home- eld advantage have won 6 of last 7 (exception: 2014 Kansas City Royals) & 9 of the last 12 Fall Classics.

RAMBLIN’ MAN | TITO IN THE POSTSEASON

» TERRY FRANCONA’s teams are 37-20 (.649) all-time in Postsea-
son play, the highest win% by any manager with at least 50 Postsea- son games managed...Tito’s 37 Postseason wins are tied with Casey Stengel (.587, 37-26) for 6th-most in MLB history after passing Hall-of- Famer Sparky Anderson in the ALCS.
» Francona has gone 10-1 (.909) all-time in the World Series...Tito’s 9-game World Series winning streak came to an end on Wednesday, as he lost for the first time ever in a Fall Classic...Tito is the only manager in Major League history to have won each of his first 9 World Series games...his streak of 9 straight wins was 3rd-longest ever by a manager behind Joe Torre (14) & Joe McCarthy (10).

SOUTHBOUND | CUBS SERIES NOTES

» The Cleveland & Chicago-NL franchises are meeting for the first time in MLB Postseason history...the two clubs have split 18 regular season meetings all-time (9-9), as the Indians have gone 6-5 vs. the Cubs at Progressive Field, while holding a 3-4 mark at Wrigley Field.
» The Indians & Cubs met most recently in 2015, splitting 4 decisions (1-1 in each city)...that season included a memorable trip to the North- side, as a June 15 rainout coincided with Game 6 of the 2015 Stanley Cup Finals - that same night, the Blackhawks defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-0 to win Lord Stanley on home ice for the first time since 1938 and then brought the Cup to Wrigley Field the next day for a pre- game warning track lap prior to first pitch between the Indians & Cubs.

YOU DON’T LOVE ME | INTERLEAVE PLAY

» Cleveland went 13-7 against the National League during the 2016 regular season, going 7-3 at home with the DH and 6-4 on the road... secured club’s first winning season in N.L. parks since 2005 (7-2)...out- scored N.L. opponents by a 113-77 (+36) margin...offense batted .277 (195-703) with 15 HR, a .763 OPS (.346 OBP/.417 SLG) and 5.7 runs- per-game (3rd in A.L., 4th in MLB), while pitching staff registered a 3.68 ERA (74 ER/181.0 IP), the A.L.’s 4th-lowest Interleague figure in 2016... Cleveland is 183-180 all-time in Interleague Play (1997-2016), going 103-77 vs. N.L. teams at home and 80-103 on the road in N.L. parks.

WASTED WORDS | MISC. NOTES

» The Indians have scored first in 8 of their 11 Postseason games thus far, going 8-0 in those contests; club is 1-2 when opponent scores first. » The Indians have struck out 8-or-more batters in 12 consecutive Postseason game dating back to the 2013 A.L. Wild Card Game, establishing the longest such streak in Postseason history (previ- ously mark was held by the Los Angeles Dodgers, who had an 11-game stretch that spanned 2014 NLDS Game 4 - 2016 NLDS Game 5)... Cleveland’s pitching staff has racked up 112 strikeouts across just 98.0 innings during the 2016 Postseason (10.29 SO-per-9.0IP), 2nd-most K’s by any team in the playoff field behind only Los Angeles-NL (113 in 96.0IP)...record for a single Postseason is held by the 2015 Kansas City Royals, who fanned 160 batters across 148 innings.

CLEVELAND ROCKS | THIS DAY IN MUSIC...

» 1971: Duane Allman was killed at the age of 24 following a motorcycle
accident in Macon, Georgia.
» BORN ON THIS DAY: (1946) Peter Green, founding member of
Fleetwood Mac; (1955) Roger O’Donnell, keyboards, The Cure; Kevin DuBrow, Quiet Riot; (1965) Peter Timmins, drummer, Cowboy Junkies; (1970) Toby Smith, keyboards, Jamiroquai.

WHY MUST YOU SHUT ME OUT?

The Chicago Cubs tonight play game four of the best-of-seven World Series against the Cleveland Indians after last night falling in game three, 1-0 ... Chicago, down two-games-to-one, was blanked for the second time in the Series (also a 6-0 setback in game one) and for the fourth time this postseason.
© Last evening marked Wrigley Field’s first World Series game since October 10, 1945, when the Cubs hosted the Tigers in game seven of the 1945 Fall Classic (a 9-3 Tigers win).
© According to ESPN Stats & Info, since Wrigley Field last was the site of a World Series game, 45 other ballparks have hosted a World Series contest.
© Chicago’s most recent World Series win at Wrigley Field was game six of the 1945 World Series, on October 8 ... that was an 8-7, 12-inning win over Detroit.

PITCHING IN

Cubs pitching has held opponents to one or no runs in three of their last four playoff games, including each of the last two games of this World Series ... Cubs starting pitchers have a 2.30 ERA (4 ER/15.2 IP) in the first three games of the Fall Classic.
© Jake Arrieta on Wednesday spun 5.1 innings of no-hit ball, which was the longest no-hit bid in a World Series game since Jerry Koosman of the New York Mets spun 6.0 innings of no-hit ball in game two of the 1969 Fall Classic.
FEAST OR FAMINE: The Cubs have plated five or more runs in eight of their 13 post- season contests this month, but have scored just one run combined in the other five games, including four shutouts.
© Chicago has averaged 6.0 runs per game in its eight post-season victories this
month while averaging 1.0 run per game in its five setbacks ... the Cubs are 8-1 when scoring at least one run this postseason.

QUITE A RETURN

Kyle Schwarber, who missed a majority of the season recovering from a left knee injury, went 3-for-7 (.429) with a double, two walks and two RBI as the team’s DH in the first two games of the World Series ... he is now hitting .343 (12-for-35) with a double, five homers and 10 RBI in 12 career post-season games.

EXPERIENCE ON THE BUMP

John Lackey tonight makes his 23rd career post- season start, the most for any active pitcher in baseball ... tonight’s outing will move him past Whitey Ford for the sixth-most starts in post-season history ... John Smoltz is fifth with 27 career post-season starts while Andy Pettitte holds the all- time record with 44 post-season starts.
© A win this evening would make Lackey the first pitcher in MLB history to record a post-season victory with four teams (Angels, Red Sox, Cardinals, Cubs).

YOUTH MOVEMENT

Wednesday night’s Cubs starting lineup featured six players under the age of 25: Kris Bryant (24), Kyle Schwarber (23), Javier Baez (23), Willson Contreras (24), Jorge Soler (24) and Addison Russell (22) ... that sets a World Series record for one team, surpassing the previous mark of five, done eight times (last by Cincinnati in game four of 1970 World Series).

BACK IN THE FALL CLASSIC

The Cubs this season have captured their first N.L.
Pennant since 1945, and now make their 11th appearance in the World Series ... Chicago won the Fall Classic in both 1907 and 1908.
© According to Elias Sports Bureau, no team in the four major North American sports had ever gone longer than 71 years without an appearance in a championship game/series.
© Including this year, Chicago’s 11 World Series appearances are surpassed by only six franchises: the Yankees (40), Giants (20),
Cardinals (19), Dodgers (18), Athletics (14) and Red Sox (12).
© Chicago now has won 17 National League Pennants ... only three Senior Circuit teams have won more: the Giants(23), Dodgers(21) and Cardinals (19).

A LOOK AT GAME FOUR

The Cubs are 8-10 in game four of post-season series, including a 2-0 record this year and a 1-1 mark in 2015 (won game four of the NLDS vs. St. Louis, 6-4; lost game four of the NLCS vs. the Mets, 8-3) ... Chicago is 4-6 all-time in World Series game fours.

NLCS CO-MVPS

Cubs pitcher Jon Lester and infielder Javier Baez were named co-MVPs of the NLCS ... they are the first NLCS Co-MVPs since Rob Dibble and Randy Myers in 1990 for Cincinnati.

BACK IN THE POSTSEASON

Chicago, who last season advanced to the NLCS, makes consecutive post-season appearances for just the second time since 1909 ... the Cubs made consecutive NLDS appearances in 2007-08.

FLY THE W

The Cubs compiled a 103-58 regular season record, tops in the majors and the team’s most since going 104-50 in 1910.
© With 103 wins, the 2016 Cubs are one of just three major league teams to win 100 regular season games within four seasons of losing 100 contests ... the Cubs, who went 61-101 in 2012, join only the 1969 Mets (100-62 after going 50-112 in 1965 and 61-101 in
1967) and the 1995 Indians (100-44 after going 57-105 in 1991) ... thanks to STATS, Inc.
© The Cubs have now reached 100 regular season wins six times in their 141 seasons dating to 1876 ... they’ve done so in 1906(116-36), 1907 (107-45), 1909 (104-49), 1910 (104-50), 1935 (100-54) and now in 2016.

O CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN

Manager Joe Maddon is only the second skipper in club history to reach the postseason in his first two seasons ... he joins Lou Piniella, who led the 2007-08 Cubs to the playoffs ... this is his sixth postseason appearance as a manager, having taken Tampa Bay to the playoffs in 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2013.

START ME UP

Jon Lester is making his fourth-straight trip to the playoffs ... during the regular season, he went 19-5 with a 2.44 ERA (55 ER/202.IP), the second-best mark in baseball.
© Lester recorded a quality start in all 15 of his home appearances, setting the franchise record (since at least 1913) for the most
home starts in a single season without throwing a non-quality start.
© Kyle Hendricks, the owner of an MLB-best 2.13 ERA (45 ER/190.0 IP), and Lester combined to notch baseball’s top two ERAs,
becoming the first teammate pair to do so since Roger Clemens (1.87) and Andy Pettitte (2.39) did so with the 2005 Astros.

ROUSING ROTATION

Cubs starters combined to allow only 6.91 hits per nine innings, the third-lowest mark all-time and the lowest mark since 1968 ... the Cubs are the first team to have four or more starters win 15 or more games in one season since the 2004 Cardinals ... Elias notes the Cubs have five pitchers with more than 10 wins for the first time since 1945 when Hank Wyse (22 wins), Claude Passeau (17), Paul Derringer (16), Ray Prim (13) and Hank Borowy (11) turned the trick.

THIS IS OFFENSIVE


The Cubs, with 808 runs scored in the regular season, have surpassed 800 runs for only the fourth time since 1938 (855 runs in 2008, 831 in 1998, 806 in 1970) ... overall, the Cubs have reached 800 runs only nine times in modern franchise history starting in 1900.