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Francisco Lindor Jersey , Ariz. (AP) — Albert Pujols has a bold if unrealistic prediction for his 2019 season.“I’m expecting to play 162 games,” the Los Angeles Angels first baseman said Sunday. “One hundred ninety games I’m going to play this year, including spring training.”A month past his 39th birthday, Pujols is an 18-year big league veteran, 10-time All-Star and three-time MVP.“He will not be playing 190, I promise you that,” new Angels manager Brad Ausmus said.Pujols had knee surgery last August. He appeared in 117 games and had 465 at-bats, his fewest since 2013, while hitting .245 with 19 home runs and 64 RBIs.Because the surgery was in the summer, he was able to have a normal offseason.“If he’s playing well, he’s going to play, it’s as simple as that,” Ausmus said. “The important thing about spring training is making sure he’s healthy going into the season. We certainly don’t want to overload him here and have an issue in April and May. It’s going to evolve as we go. We’ll certainly be cautious out of the gate.”Pujols is expected to play first base and see time at designated hitter until two-way player Shohei Ohtani is given the go-ahead to hit in games following Tommy John surgery.After batting .328 and hitting 445 home runs over 11 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals
Corey Kluber Jersey , Pujols has a .260 average and 188 homers in seven years with the Angels.“My job is to be healthy and help this ballclub to win a championship,” Pujols said. “I don’t think I need to show anybody. I know what I can do when I’m healthy and that’s what I try to do. My main focus is to help this ballclub win a championship. This is not about me.”Pujols does know Ausmus well from his own playing days.“I have a lot of respect for how Albert plays the game, not only the talent perspective but he played the game the right way — just how he carries himself on the field, the work ethic, all of that,” Ausmus said. “He does a lot of things right.” Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesAfter six months and 162 regular-season games, the real action has begun with the 2018 MLB playoffs.The American League bracket had been set for some time with three 100-win teams and two more dangerous squads all having their eyes on a World Series title. On the other hand, the National League playoffs remained a mess until the final day.There are now just two teams remaining. The margin for error at this point is slim, likely creating plenty of drama until a World Series champion is crowned.Here is what you need to know for the playoffs, with a bracket available at MLB.com.2018 MLB Playoff ScheduleTiebreaker GamesMilwaukee Brewers defeat Chicago Cubs, 3-1Los Angeles Dodgers defeat Colorado Rockies, 5-2National League Wild Card GameColorado Rockies defeat Chicago Cubs, 2-1 (13 innings) American League Wild Card GameNew York Yankees defeat Oakland A's
Ricky Vaughn Jersey , 7-2 National League Division Series (Milwaukee Brewers defeat Colorado Rockies 3-0)Game 1: Milwaukee Brewers def. Colorado Rockies, 3-2 (10 innings)Game 2: Milwaukee Brewers def. Colorado Rockies, 4-0Game 3: Milwaukee Brewers def. Colorado Rockies, 6-0 National League Division Series (Los Angeles Dodgers defeat Atlanta Braves 3-1)Game 1: Los Angeles Dodgers def. Atlanta Braves, 6-0Game 2: Los Angeles Dodgers def. Atlanta Braves, 3-0Game 3: Atlanta Braves def. Los Angeles Dodgers, 6-5Game 4: Los Angeles Dodgers def. Atlanta Braves; 6-2 American League Division Series (Boston Red Sox defeat New York Yankees 3-1)Game 1: Boston Red Sox def. New York Yankees, 5-4Game 2: New York Yankees def. Boston Red Sox, 6-2Game 3: Boston Red Sox def. New York Yankees16-1Game 4: Boston Red Sox def. New York Yankees, 4-3 American League Division Series (Houston Astros defeat Cleveland Indians 3-0)Game 1: Houston Astros def. Cleveland Indians, 7-2Game 2: Houston Astros def. Cleveland Indians, 3-1Game 3: Houston Astros def. Cleveland Indians, 11-3 National League Championship Series (Los Angeles Dodgers defeat Milwaukee Brewers 4-3)Game 1: Milwaukee Brewers def. Los Angeles Dodgers
Michael Brantley Jersey , 6-5Game 2: Los Angeles Dodgers def. Milwaukee Brewers, 4-3Game 3: Milwaukee Brewers def. Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-0Game 4: Los Angeles Dodgers def.Milwaukee Brewers, 2-1 (13 innings)Game 5
os Angeles Dodgers def. Milwaukee Brewers, 5-2Game 6:Milwaukee Brewers def. Los Angeles Dodgers, 7-2Game 7: Los Angeles Dodgers def. Milwaukee Brewers, 5-1 American League Championship Series (Boston Red Sox defeatHouston Astros 4-1)Game 1: Houston Astros def. Boston Red Sox, 7-2Game 2: Boston Red Sox def.Houston Astros, 7-5Game 3: Boston Red Sox def. Houston Astros, 8-2Game 4: Boston Red Sox def. Houston Astros, 8-6Game 5: Boston Red Sox def. Houston Astros, 4-1 World Series (Boston Red Sox defeat Los Angeles Dodgers 4-1)Game 1: Boston Red Sox def.Los Angeles Dodgers, 8-4Game 2: Boston Red Sox def.Los Angeles Dodgers
http://www.indiansfanproshop.com/authentic-yan-gomes-jersey , 4-2Game 3: Los Angeles Dodgers def. Boston Red Sox, 3-2 (18 innings)Game 4: Boston Red Sox def. Los Angeles Dodgers, 9-6Game 5: Boston Red Sox def. Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-1Full schedule available at MLB.com. Top StorylinesThe Brewers Finally LostJustin Edmonds/Getty ImagesSometimes, playoff success simply comes down to being hot at the right time, and that was perfectly fine for the Milwaukee Brewers.The squad had seven straight wins to match the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central and then followed it up with a win in Game 163 to avoid the Wild Card game. While the division rivals were eliminated in the sudden-death game, Milwaukee went onto sweep the Colorado Rockies.The 11 straight wins put them in rare territory in MLB history:MLB Stat of the Day MLBStatoftheDayThe Brewers are riding an 11-game winning streak into the #NLCS.Talk about getting hot at the perfect time. HUm9UVJioIThe winning streak grew to 12 games with Milwaukee's victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers to open the NLCS.Alas, the Dodgers finally ended the win streak in Game 2 of the NLCS, when Justin Turner's two-run homer in the eighth inning gave them a 4-3 win.But the Brewers remained one of the best stories in baseball. Christian Yelich was the big star as the likely MVP in the National League, but there were other players who helped put the games in the hands of the bullpen. This is where the real strength of the team was as Josh Hader, Corey Knebel, Jeremy Jeffress and others can shorten any game.While the Dodgers eliminated them, the Brewers were amazing since late September
Kenny Lofton Jersey , even if their win streak finally came to a close. Ultimately, the Brewers just couldn't regain their momentum in time to save their season.Can the Red Sox Avoid a Final Let Down?Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty ImagesThere is something special about a playoff series between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. While the first round was mostly filled with one-sided matchups, the AL East rivals at least held our attention due to the tension in every game.Just like during the regular season, Boston was the better team in the ALDS, winning the series in four games and earning bragging rights for the next five months.The problem is this was just the start of the postseason for the Red Sox.This team won 108 games this year so it is obviously talented, but the players are relatively inexperienced when it comes to playoff success. Most of the roster had never won a playoff series before this year, so winning one over a hated rival is certain to create a lot of excitement.Rookie manager Alex Cora responded, though, and rallied his team for a five-game victory over a very good Astros team.There are still lingering questions about top starters Chris Sale and David Price in the playoffs, so this is no time for Boston to relax. Sale was hospitalizedfor a stomach illness, and Price has struggled in the postseason throughout his career even though he allowed just three hits and zero runs in the closeout game against Houston.Boston was baseball's best team during the regular season. But the Dodgers represent a monumental challenge for the Sox in the World Series.
