(AP Photo/Ashley Landis)ARLINGTON, Texas – The World Series matchup between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays is a rare meeting of baseball’s best for the title, and a matchup of organizations with Andrew Friedman’s imprint. They also won a Game 7, topping Houston 4-2 in the ALCS and earning the second World Series trip in franchise history. “From the moment that we were able to put a season together, once they figured out that COVID thing, everybody was expecting us to get to the World Series. We were expecting to get to the World Series,” said Kiké Hernández, who tied Game 7 with a pinch-hit home run in the sixth inning. Evan Longoria, Willy Aybar and Rocco Baldelli then lost to Philadelphia in a World Series that remains the second-lowest viewed since television ratings are available dating to 1968.

NEW YORK Philadelphia second baseman Neil Walker, Texas pitcher Edinson Vlquez and Pittsburgh pitcher Derek Holland have made opening-day rosters. So have Milwaukee first baseman Logan Morrison, Cincinnati pitcher Nate Jones, Tampa Bay pitcher Aaron Loup and New York Yankees pitcher Luis Aviln. The seven were among the former free agents clubs had to make decisions on by Sunday, five days ahead of opening day. Two players were given $100,000 retention bonuses this weekend, allowing teams to keep them with minor league contracts: New York Mets catcher Ren Rivera and Colorado catcher Drew Butera. Among those released ahead of the deadline were Philadelphia pitcher Francisco Liriano and infielder Logan Forsythe, Mets first baseman Matt Adams and Washington reliever Fernando Abad.

The defending World Series champion Washington Nationals are happy to have their starting center fielder finally in camp and the Detroit Tigers have named their opening day starter. Teams around the league were beginning to make their final preparations Sunday for the start of the abbreviated baseball season. It was definitely very difficult, the fact that I really wasnt able to work much on my swing, Robles said through an interpreter. Pitcher Anthony Bass said Sunday the players have told general manager Ross Atkins theyd prefer to play in a big league stadium if possible. So have Milwaukee first baseman Logan Morrison, Cincinnati pitcher Nate Jones, Tampa Bay pitcher Aaron Loup and New York Yankees pitcher Luis Aviln.