Here are Monday’s Top 5 GIFs, courtesy of @MLBGIFs.
West ‘n’ Wild: Astros, Angels, Twins get W’s
With just six days remaining in the regular season, the races for the American League West and the AL’s second Wild Card are coming right down to the wire, with the Rangers, Astros, Angels and Twins all in the mix. Here’s a look at some key developments from Monday’s action that helped shape the postseason picture:
Astros power past M’s; West deficit 1.5 games
Red-hot slugger Chris Carter homered in his third consecutive game, breaking a tie with a solo shot in the seventh inning Monday night at Safeco Field to send the Astros to a 3-2 win over the Mariners and to within 1 1/2 games of the American League West lead.
Hall of Famer Berra to be laid to rest today
American icon and Hall of Fame Yankees catcher Yogi Berra will be laid to rest today in a private funeral in New Jersey.
Rosenthal’s 48th save sets Cardinals’ record
It took two tries, but Trevor Rosenthal, with a scoreless ninth in the Cardinals’ 3-0 win over the Pirates on Monday, now stands alone atop the franchise’s single-season leaderboard. His 48 saves move him ahead of Lee Smith, who saved 47 games in 1991, and Jason Isringhausen, who matched that total 13 years later.
Tigers send Rangers to third straight loss
Tyler Collins’ three-run homer fueled the Tigers’ five-run fifth inning off Colby Lewis, sending the Rangers to their third straight loss with a 7-4 defeat on Monday night at Globe Life Park.
Manfred talks variety of topics on Kalb Report
Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred spent an hour fielding questions, which ranged from philosophical to pointed, from award-winning journalist Marvin Kalb on the season-opening edition of The Kalb Report on Monday night at the National Press Club.
More postseason spots can be locked up today
The playoff picture has continued to take shape over the last few days, but there’s still plenty of dust to settle. Who will have home-field advantage? Who will step up and clinch the division and who will be left for the one-game Wild Card? Lots of questions to be answered, with plenty on tap for Tuesday. Let’s examine five things to watch for.
Carter’s hot stretch burying earlier struggles
Through it all, Chris Carter’s demeanor has never changed. Maybe that’s why he’s been able to persevere through a season in which everyone wanted him dumped and he wound up having his playing time slashed dramatically as he struggled to put the bat on the ball.
Yankees’ postseason berth on hold
It would have been a tidy wrap for the Yankees to secure their first postseason berth since 2012 on the same night they notched the 10,000th regular-season victory in franchise history, but those plans will have to be put on hold for another evening.
Statcast: Pillar extends for diving gem
Here’s an in-depth look at Monday’s best plays, courtesy of Statcast.
Milone helps Twins keep pace in Wild Card race
Left-hander Tommy Milone was solid while starting on short notice, while Trevor Plouffe hit a two-run homer off Corey Kluber to help the Twins to a 4-2 win over the Indians on Monday night at Progressive Field.
Piscotty carted off after collision; tests negative
Rookie outfielder Stephen Piscotty had to be carted off the field in the seventh inning of the Cardinals’ 3-0 win over the Pirates on Monday night after colliding with Peter Bourjos as the two converged on a fly ball to center. Piscotty suffered a head contusion, but test results for fractures and a serious head injury came back negative, and he will be held at a local hospital overnight for observation.
Rangers see no need to worry despite skid
Jeff Banister’s Rangers still control their destiny in the AL West and they’re not panicking, even after a loss to the Tigers on Monday allowed the Astros to pull within 1 1/2 games of the division lead.
After scary moment, Cards on verge of title
In a game that reflected a National League Central race they are now one big step closer to winning, the St. Louis Cardinals snapped a scoreless tie on a ninth-inning error Monday night and went on to down the Pirates, 3-0, at PNC Park to pull within a win of the division title as the Bucs fell four games back.
Cubs end duel with KC on walk-off HR in 11
Pinch-hitter Chris Denorfia smacked a walk-off home run leading off the 11th inning against rookie right-hander Miguel Almonte to lift the Cubs to a 1-0 victory Monday night over the Royals in a makeup Interleague game.
Bucs set rivalry aside out of concern for Piscotty
Like the rest of the 30,198 people packed into PNC Park, the Pirates went silent when they saw Cardinals rookie Stephen Piscotty collide with center fielder Peter Bourjos in the seventh inning of Pittsburgh’s 3-0 loss to St. Louis on Monday night.