BRAVES

With Trea Turner off the board, a host of teams are playing a high-stakes game of free-agent musical chairs with the remaining top-end shortstops.

Seattle’s Julio Rodríguez and Atlanta″s Michael Harris II, a pair of 21-year-old center fielders, were voted Rookies of the Year on Monday.

Seattle center fielder Julio Rodríguez was voted American League Rookie of the Year on Monday.

This cheer squad got some extra pep when 2-year-old Liam kept up with their moves and cheered next to his sister on the field in Texas.

Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley flashed his leather in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night, leaving the park stunned.

The Atlanta Braves fell in Game 1 of the National League Division Series but were not going to head to Philadelphia on the brink of elimination.

Philadelphia Phillies reliever David Robertson will miss the NL Division Series after injuring his right calf jumping to celebrate Bryce Harper’s home run in their clinching wild-card victory at St. Louis.

The Philadelphia Phillies are en route to the National League Division Series against their NL East rivals and defending World Series champion Atlanta Braves.

As he was going through the postgame handshake line, Kyle Wright received a request from Braves manager Brian Snitker. Wright became the first 20-game winner in the majors this season and Atlanta beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-3 on Saturday to stop a three-game losing streak. “I don't know if I realized how cool it was until my teammates and coaches congratulated me real quick afterward,” Wright said.

Varvaro pitched for the Braves from 2011 to 2014.

A 20-year-old man has been arrested in the July 2 stabbing death of 44-year-old Hector Armando Alcaraz Rodriguez in Dania Beach, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets mostly ceded the spotlight at the trade deadline.

Former Atlanta Brave Dwight Smith has died at the age of 58, according to the Braves.

The Tampa Bay Rays came into the season with Wander Franco at shortstop, Brandon Lowe at second base and Mike Zunino behind the plate.

The Chicago Cubs became the first team in 23 years to stop a losing streak of 10 or more game while ending an opponent's winning streak of at least 10 games, beating the Braves 1-0 Friday to halt the Braves' 14-game run. Rookie Christoper Morel hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning, helping the Cubs stop a 10-game slide, their longest since 12 straight losses from last Aug. 5-16. Atlanta's 14 consecutive wins were the most for the Braves since their post-1900 record of 15 from April 16 to May 2, 2000.

Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson will serve a one-game suspension for a remark to White Sox star Tim Anderson about Jackie Robinson when New York opens a home series against Tampa Bay after the ban was upheld on appeal.

Shortstop Dansby Swanson beat the Braves in salary arbitration on Wednesday and outfielder Adam Duvall lost to Atlanta, leaving teams with a 6-3 advantage over players this year. Swanson was awarded $10 million rather than the team's $9.2 million offer by Jeanne Charles, Richard McNeill and Scott Buccheit, who heard arguments on Tuesday. Duvall was given the Braves’ $9,275,000 offer rather than his $10,275,000 request by Gary Kendellen, Keith Greenberg and Gil Vernon, who listened to arguments on Friday.

The AL Central-leading Twins start a home series against the AL East-leading Yankees with their rotation in a dire situation.

Minus injured slugger Giancarlo Stanton, the ailing New York Yankees open a four-game series at Tampa Bay — the first meeting this year between the heated AL East rivals.

Adam Wainwright pitched seven innings of one-hit ball, Nolan Arenado hit a three-run shot and finished with five RBIs, and the St. Louis Cardinals routed the Kansas City Royals 10-0 on Wednesday to take their four-game season series. Wainwright (3-3) allowed just a one-out single to Michael Taylor in the third against the weak-hitting Royals, whose only other baserunners against the 40-year-old right-hander came on a fielder's choice, an error and a walk. Tyler O'Neill hit a two-run homer for St. Louis and finished with three RBIs, one of them coming against struggling Royals starter Kris Bubic (0-3), who retired just one batter before he was pulled after 24 pitches.

A seemingly botched third-strike call produced the unusual moment between the ump and Mets pitcher Chris Bassitt.

Miami Marlins right-hander Pablo López will carry a majors-leading 0.52 ERA into his start at Washington.

Ronald Acuña Jr. is not among the Atlanta Braves players who will be missing Freddie Freeman as the team opens its season.

Atlanta's trade for Matt Olson was designed to ensure the defending World Series champion Braves will be contenders in 2022. Signing Olson to an eight-year deal only one day later was the foundation of a plan by general manager Alex Anthopoulos to keep Atlanta competitive through the decade. As soon as it became clear the Braves and Freddie Freeman wouldn't reach a deal, Anthopoulos shifted to a new a long-term strategy.

Many familiar faces with impressive resumes are in new places following one of major league baseball’s wildest free agent frenzies.

It was a 1-2 punch to the gut for Atlanta’s sports fans.

Atlanta outfielder Joc Pederson and Boston infielder-outfielder Kyle Schwarber were among 10 players who became free agents Thursday when they both declined 2022 mutual options in their contracts. Pederson agreed with the Cubs in February to a $7 million, one-year contract that included a $4.5 million salary and a $10 million mutual option with a $2.5 million buyout. Pederson had two homers and five RBIs in the Division Series against Milwaukee and one homer and four RBIs in the League Championship Series vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers, then went 1 for 15 in the World Series against Houston.

Hall of Famer Greg Maddux threw out the ceremonial first pitch for Sunday night’s Game 5 of the World Series. Maddux, wearing his Braves jersey, tipped his cap in response to an ovation from fans as he walked onto the field. Fittingly, he threw the pitch to Eddie Perez, who was often his designated catcher.

A guy who spent most of the season in the minors kept the Braves in it. Just like that, Atlanta is one win from its first World Series title in 26 years. Dansby Swanson and pinch-hitter Jorge Soler connected for back-to-back homers in the seventh inning Saturday night, propelling the Braves to a 3-2 victory over the Houston Astros and a commanding 3-1 Series lead.

Astros rookie Luis García will start against the Red Sox in Game 6 of the AL Championship Series with a trip to the World Series on the line.

Dodgers ace right-hander Max Scherzer is the planned starter for the opening game of the NL Championship Series against the Braves.

Jameson Taillon tries to extend a streak of dominant starting pitching by the New York Yankees when he opposes Dallas Keuchel and the White Sox in the Bronx.

In a scary incident on Monday night, Kevin Pillar was hit in the face by a pitch. He then left the Mets' game against the Braves.

Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly celebrates with the team in clinching a playoff berth after their win in the 10th inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium, Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, in New York. The Marlins earned the Wild Card and beat the Cubs in the first round of the Playoffs. Manager Don Mattingly said Wednesday, “We still have a lot to prove. As for the bullpen, Mattingly says its deep and there are so many guys who can pitch late in games. I talk about grinding it out all the time, everybody in this division is going to give everybody trouble.

Missouri's Jeremiah Tilmon, left, is embraced by teammate Javon Pickett, right, after they defeated Bradley in an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020, in Columbia, Mo. – Jeremiah Tilmon’s three-point play with a second left lifted No. 14 Missouri over Bradley 54-53 on Tuesday night. “They’re a team that grinds you,” Missouri coach Cuonzo Martin said about Bradley, the two-time defending Missouri Valley Conference Tournament champion. Missouri: Martin is off to his best start as a coach since opening 10-0 with Missouri State in 2010.

I’m sure he’ll do that.”The Astros have also had a lousy go with runners on base. THE KID AND THE ACEOff to an impressive start in his first postseason, Atlanta rookie Ian Anderson faces Dodgers star Clayton Kershaw in Game 2 of the NL Championship Series. CHANGE OF SOXAfter ending a 12-year playoff drought, the Chicago White Sox are looking for a new manager. The club announced Monday that Renteria won’t return after guiding the White Sox to a 35-25 record in his pandemic-shortened fourth season. Hahn said Renteria’s replacement probably will come from outside the White Sox.

A look at what's happening around the majors today:___WINNER-TAKE-ALLYankees ace Gerrit Cole and towering Tampa Bay righty Tyler Glasnow will both pitch on short rest in the deciding Game 5 of their AL Division Series. Cole earned the victory in Game 1 despite allowing two home runs, and he’ll appear on three days’ rest after throwing 97 pitches. The 6-foot-8 Glasnow will be pitching on two days’ rest after striking out 10 in Game 2. “I haven’t really talked about innings or anything like that,” Glasnow said after New York won 5-1 Thursday to force Game 5. The Rays are trying to advance to the ALCS for the first time since 2008, when they made it to their only World Series.

Atlanta had lost eight straight Division Series, including in each of the previous two seasons, before outscoríng the Marlins 18-5, including 11-0 in the final two games. The Braves are 5-0 with a 0.92 ERA in the postseason, allowing five runs in 49 innings. Minter, Jacob Webb and Shane Greene finished the five-hitter to give the Braves four shutouts in five playoff games. They’re the second team in history to throw four shutouts in the first five playoff games, joining the 1905 New York Giants. The Marlins, who lost 105 games last season, were the feel-good story of this postseason after overcoming a coronavirus outbreak to reach the postseason for the first time since 2003.

The Braves have pitched three shutouts in four games during this year’s playoffs. Travis d’Arnaud and Dansby Swanson each homered for the second straight day, putting the Braves one win away from a sweep in the best-of-five matchup. “It’s hard to bunch hits together, pitching is too good,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. On a day when Atlanta got only four hits, Swanson and d’Arnaud provided the offense. Swanson’s homer off Pablo Lopez put the Braves up 1-0 with two outs in the second inning.

The Marlins are hoping center fielder Starling Marte can play through a broken bone in his left hand as they try to eliminate the Cubs at Wrigley Field. To do it, the Braves might need to make a whole lot more contact at the plate than they did Wednesday while beating the Reds 1-0 in 13 innings — the first postseason game to be scoreless after 11. They’ll be up against Luis Castillo (4-6, 3.21), who makes his first career playoff start for the Reds. He was out for a second straight playoff game because of a sprained right foot that kept him out of the final three games of the regular season. Wainwright closed out the Padres at Petco Park in their previous postseason appearance in 2006.

A look at what’s happening around the majors today:___NOT JUSTIN, SHANEIt hasn’t taken Shane Bieber long to become Cleveland’s ace — and maybe the best pitcher in baseball this season. Bieber, who is 7-0 with a 1.25 ERA and leads the majors in numerous categories, is already 2-0 against the Twins this year. “We should know more then.”SO LONG, FAREWELLA pair of NL West teams said goodbye Thursday to familiar faces and former All-Stars at third base. FIRST PLACE AND FIRED UPOakland right-hander Mike Fiers (4-2, 4.93 ERA) starts for the AL West leaders when they begin a series at Texas. Fiers has gone 3-1 with a 3.22 ERA over his last four starts and the A’s are 6-2 in his outings.

Bieber, who is 7-0 with a 1.25 ERA and leads the majors in numerous categories, is already 2-0 against the Twins this year. Bieber began last season as Cleveland’s No. Atlanta's beleaguered rotation took another hit when left-hander Tommy Milone was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday with elbow inflammation. FIRST PLACE AND FIRED UPOakland right-hander Mike Fiers (4-2, 4.93 ERA) starts for the AL West leaders when they begin a series at Texas. Oakland took a 6½-game lead on second-place Houston after beating the Astros in four of five at the Coliseum.