VERLANDER GETS THE BILL FOR SERIES WIN
Pitcher Justin Verlander was a key piece of the Astros’ run to its first pennant and World Series championship in 2017.
At least one fan in Los Angeles — which came out on the losing end of a seven-game fall classic to Houston — apparently has not forgotten about those contributions, even if Verlander was 0-1 with a 3.75 ERA over a dozen innings against the Dodgers during the series.
Verlander, in Southern California with the Astros for a three-game set against the Los Angeles Angels, was having breakfast in the Beverly Hills Hotel on Friday when he was presented when a check which listed a charge for $1 million for “Dodger Killer.”
The right-handed veteran took the prank in good fun.
Brewers send Knebel to Colorado Springs.
The Brewers demoted ex-closer and 2017 All-Star Corey Knebel to Triple-A Colorado Springs on Friday to work on his mechanics.
It’s been a dramatic fall this season for Knebel, who until late July was Milwaukee’s closer.
The right-hander has a 7.24 ERA since the All-Star break that has raised his season ERA to 5.08. In his last seven appearances, Knebel is 0-2 with an 11.37 ERA.
“This isn’t really a demotion. It’s a break,” general manager David Stearns said. “Allow him some time to really work on some things in bullpen sessions. It’s really tough for active relief pitchers at the major league level to do that during the normal course of a season because they need to pitch in games every single night.”
Trout returns after brother-in-law’s death.
ANAHEIM»
Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout was back in the lineup Friday for the first time since the death of his brother-in-law.
Trout hasn’t played since Aug. 1. The outfielder already was on the disabled list with a wrist injury when brother-in-law Aaron Cox died last week.
Cox was the brother of Trout’s wife, Jessica. No cause of death has been given for the 24-year-old Cox, who retired from baseball this month after pitching three seasons in the Angels’ organization.
Giants pitcher apologizes for racially insensitive joke.
NEW YORK
» San Francisco Giants pitcher Derek Holland has apologized after a television interview during which he used a mock Asian accent.
Holland expressed remorse while talking to reporters Thursday in the visiting clubhouse at Citi Field while the Giants were in New York for a series against the Mets.
“I want to be held accountable for everything that I’ve done and caused with all of this. It’s embarrassing what I did,” Holland said. “I was just trying to have some fun.”
Holland made the racially insensitive joke during an appearance Wednesday on MLB Network’s “Intentional Talk.”
White Sox manager back in dugout.
Chicago White Sox manager Rick Renteria has returned to the dugout.
Renteria missed four games after experiencing lightheadedness Monday in Minnesota, but doctors cleared him to return for Friday’s game at Detroit.