LEADING OFF: Virus, Gulf Coast storm force sked shuffling
The Washington Nationals play the New York Mets during the third inning of a baseball game at Citi Field Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020, in New York. Michael Conforto and the Mets will start making up the misses this week. The Astros, meanwhile, have reshuffled their series against Mike Trout and the Angels because of Tropical Storm Laura. Chatwood is lined up to start the game at Detroit and Quintana will begin his return in the bullpen. Their weekend series at Citi Field was wiped out when two members of the Mets organization tested positive for the virus.
Tigers load up with more college bats on Day 2 of MLB draft
NEW YORK The Detroit Tigers took a few more big swings at rebuilding their lineup. Ohio State catcher Dillon Dingler led off the draft's second day as the No. 3 overall pick to the Marlins, and they followed with Oklahoma high school lefty Daxton Fulton (No. 1 overall pick for the second time in three years, after taking Auburn right-hander Casey Mize in 2018. With their potential future ace already sailing through the farm system, the Tigers turned to bats this time.
Houston's 'Mattress Mack' lost $13M in bets on the Astros
(CNN) - Houston furniture mogul Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale had a lot riding on Game 7 of the World Series, whether his beloved Astros won or lost. Despite the huge amount involved, McIngvale told CNN that he's not a big gambler -- the mega bets were more of an insurance policy. He had promised to give customers who spent more than $3,000 on certain mattress purchases a full refund if the Astros won the World Series. McIngvale said that if the Astros had won, his winnings would have covered the cost of his customers' free mattresses. The promotion was a huge success and McIngvale said thousands of customers would have gotten free mattresses if the Astros won.
Washington Nationals beat St. Louis Cardinals, reach World Series
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Finally, after 15 frustrating seasons, the Washington Nationals are going to the baseball mountaintop -- the World Series -- for the very first time. Now the team will sit back and wait to see which American League team they'll face. The Nationals beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series and then steamrolled the Cardinals. The only other baseball franchise to never appear in the World Series: the Seattle Mariners. They won the World Series last year, defeating the Dodgers 5-1 in Game 5 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
Houston Astros to extend netting at Minute Maid Park
(CNN) - A little more than two months after a 2-year-old girl was struck by a foul ball at an Astros game, the MLB club announced Thursday it will extend the netting at Minute Maid Park in Houston. In a press release, the Astros said the protective material will go farther down the left-field and right-field lines to cover more seats. "Fan experience is always a top priority for the Astros," the team said in a statement. Calls for increased fan safety at ballparks began in May when a foul ball hit the girl during a game between the Chicago Cubs and Astros at Minute Maid Park. Last year, Major League Baseball announced that all 30 ballparks were extending protective netting to at least the far ends of both dugouts, though there are clubs that go beyond those guidelines.