Cardinals face future without Pujols, Molina wearing red
Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina have played their final games with the Cardinals, who were eliminated by the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League wild-card series.
Phillies hold off Cardinals 2-0 to sweep NL wild-card series
Aaron Nola pitched four-hit ball into the seventh inning, Bryce Harperโs homer gave Philadelphia an early lead, and the Phillies held off the St. Louis Cardinals 2-0 to sweep their National League wild-card series.
Pujols' 697th HR, moves into 4th, rallies Cards over Pirates
Albert Pujols hit his 697th home run, moving past Alex Rodriguez into fourth place on the career list and doing it in dramatic fashion with a ninth-inning drive that rallied the St. Louis Cardinals over the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3.
Cardinals' Goldschmidt has 2 HR, 5 RBIs in 8-3 win over Cubs
Paul Goldschmidt slugged his 32nd and 33rd homers and had five RBIs, Corey Dickerson set a franchise record for consecutive hits and the St. Louis Cardinals rolled to an 8-3 win over the Chicago Cubs.
Introduction day: Freeman, Suzuki, Bryant enjoy new digs
It may look a little weird for a few days, but Freddie Freeman is officially wearing Dodger blue and Kris Bryant is donning the purple and black of the Colorado Rockies.
![Ohtani hurls 6 innings, doubles in Angels' 6-3 win over Jays](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/wZXEa6N2tXgCkCtmwEhUnVe8rAc=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/BREOGNLIZRET3ESQAUPAJ6PHXI.jpg)
Ohtani hurls 6 innings, doubles in Angels' 6-3 win over Jays
Shohei Ohtani pitched six innings of three-hit ball to win his third consecutive start, and he also doubled and scored an early run in the Los Angeles Angelsโ 6-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.
![LEADING OFF: Ohtani, Schwarber staging own home run derby](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/MTAUiat6UwFKMkfNp8_emUMl12w=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/7GCYU42YFRELDEIHF4TTKND5TY.jpg)
LEADING OFF: Ohtani, Schwarber staging own home run derby
Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani is expected to become the second player and first since Babe Ruth to start on the mound and hit in the top half of the batting order in the Bronx.
![Wright, d'Arnaud lead Braves to sweep Marlins, reach NLCS](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/zNR45xm8X9MYeNxbvdmiqPYD64A=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/WCZIO5KEYJBCNOFH5AIHZCRHFA.jpg)
Wright, d'Arnaud lead Braves to sweep Marlins, reach NLCS
Atlanta Braves players celebrate after defeating the Miami Marlins in Game 3 of a baseball National League Division Series, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020, in Houston. The Braves are 5-0 with a 0.92 ERA in the postseason, allowing five runs in 49 innings. Theyโre the second team in history to throw four shutouts in the first five playoff games, joining the 1905 New York Giants. DโArnaud knocked a double off the bullpen in right-center to send two home and extend the lead to 3-0. The Marlins had a chance to cut into the lead in the bottom of the inning when they loaded the bases with two outs.
![Anderson sharp, Markakis alert, Braves blank Miami, lead 2-0](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/mvDdy9oV5AM1Vv37KCFGH-oJDhQ=/1600x1067/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/TUNM64EEJFDEFICDKCG6RMZRJE.jpg)
Anderson sharp, Markakis alert, Braves blank Miami, lead 2-0
Atlanta Braves' Ian Anderson delivers a pitch during the fourth inning in Game 2 of a baseball National League Division Series against the Miami Marlins Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020, in Houston. Anderson blanked Miami into the sixth inning, Markakis made a nifty play in right field to help preserve the lead late, and the Braves threw another playoff shutout in a 2-0 victory Wednesday for a 2-0 lead in the NL Division Series. โItโs hard to bunch hits together, pitching is too good,โ Braves manager Brian Snitker said. Miami manager Don Mattingly didn't fault Dickerson for being thrown out because he said Markakis could've dived to catch it. On a day when Atlanta got only four hits, Swanson and dโArnaud provided the offense.
![Dickerson homers as Marlins beat Cubs 5-1 in playoff opener](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/l7OM_FDv1an_xlMcrL6g_FAE0u8=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/WYRQXLFB5NGDJH2R7ZHBXHCDKI.jpg)
Dickerson homers as Marlins beat Cubs 5-1 in playoff opener
Corey Dickerson hit a three-run homer off a fading Hendricks in the seventh inning, and Miami beat the Chicago Cubs 5-1 on Wednesday in Game 1 of their NL wild-card series. The Marlins, who rallied past the Cubs in a memorable NLCS that year, have never lost a playoff series. This year's Marlins weren't supposed to make the playoffs, not after losing 105 games in 2019 and dealing with a coronavirus outbreak early this season. Yu Darvish starts for the Central champion Cubs, and rookie right-hander Sixto Sรกnchez get the ball for upstart Miami. โItโs going to be great.โDarvish is making his first playoff appearance since signing with Chicago before the 2018 season.
![Marlins shut down Mets 4-0](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/b8IWqsBrMg2A5UQRHatYmaZzgXs=/1600x1067/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/FOZ4V3JJ6FHNRGMHLWY22PFPOY.jpg)
Marlins shut down Mets 4-0
(AP Photo/John Minchillo)NEW YORK Miguel Rojas two-run single capped a three-run second inning and four pitchers combined on an eight-hitter to lead the Miami Marlins past the New York Mets 4-0 on Tuesday night in the first game of a doubleheader. It was the Mets first game since a player and a coach tested positive for the coronavirus. The Marlins scored all their runs against Rick Porcello (1-4) with a pair of two-out rallies. The Mets didnt pitch deGrom Tuesday because he didnt get his usual between starts mound work in until Monday. Marlins: Elieser Hernandez (1-0, 2.29 ERA) is looking to win back-to-back starts for the first time as a big leaguer.
![As MLB 60-game season draws near, careful optimism prevails](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/nal3tTLwme5e-Hp-w9v_JsN5MFU=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/BFI2SCNXB5GMDO7XR4MZOCSAWY.jpg)
As MLB 60-game season draws near, careful optimism prevails
Several stars chose not to participate from the start, and rarely a day goes by without a positive COVID-19 test in one camp or another. But here we are, mere days from launching a season that's unique in almost every way. But Hyde remains hopeful that the season will start on time and go the distance. While there's reason for optimism, the stark truth is that COVID-19 is not going away. They still have a chance to play this season, manager Don Mattingly said.