NL Central

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich is purchasing 10,000 tickets and will give them away for free for the team's upcoming four-game home series against the St. Louis Cardinals, per ESPN's Jesse Rogers.

"The fans are a big part of what we have accomplished this season," Yelich said. "We want American Family Field to be rocking for that last homestand. And we want to give back in a way that shows how much we all appreciate the enthusiasm and support of the best fans in baseball."

The Brewers play 10 straight home games from Sept. 17-26, including four against the Cardinals on Sept. 20-23, before finishing the year with two road series.

According to the Brewers website, the tickets will be available online on a first-come, first-served basis, beginning Wednesday: "Fans who act quickly can redeem up to four free tickets per game."

Milwaukee enters Wednesday with a 13.5-game lead over the Cardinals in the NL Central, providing an opportunity to clinch the division against St. Louis or potentially the series prior against the Chicago Cubs this weekend.

Next week's series should be even more important for the Cardinals, who currently hold just a half-game lead over the Cincinnati Reds for the final wild-card spot.

The Brewers, oddly enough, have been better away from American Family Field this season, going 40-31 at home (.563 win percentage) and 49-25 on the road (.662).

Yelich, the 2018 NL MVP in his first season in Milwaukee, has struggled since signing a nine-year, $215 million extension prior to the 2020 season, mainly because of an inability to stay healthy. He currently has a .252 batting average with eight home runs in 102 games.   

The ninth no-hitter of the 2021 MLB season belongs to Milwaukee Brewers ace Corbin Burnes and star reliever Josh Hader. For the third time this season, it was Cleveland watching its opponent celebrate the feat.

Burnes was lights-out with 14 strikeouts and one walk over eight innings in a 3-0 victory at Progressive Field. Hader came on to finish the job in the ninth inning, needing just nine pitches to earn the save. Even with the Brewers gearing up for the postseason, Burnes still tossed 115 pitches as he mowed down the Cleveland lineup.

It's the second no-hitter in Brewers history, joining Juan Nieves' effort against the Baltimore Orioles in 1987. It's also the 16th combined no-hitter in MLB history and the second one this season.

Nine no-hitters in one season stands as an all-time MLB record. Joe Musgrove, Carlos Rodon, John Means, Wade Miley, Spencer Turnbull, Corey Kluber and Tyler Gilbert previously recorded no-hitters this year while Zach Davies, Ryan Tepera, Andrew Chafin and Craig Kimbrel of the Chicago Cubs combined to toss a no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers in late June.

Burnes did the majority of his damage with a cutter-curveball combination that had Cleveland completely mystified. Of the 56 cutters thrown, 22 of them went for called strikes of whiffs, according to Baseball Savant. Only four of the cutters were put in play.

The curveball was even more effective, getting 18 combined called strikes and whiffs on 34 pitches with only two balls in play.

Burnes went to his fastball just once in eight innings, deferring to his changeup, slider and sinker when he needed to switch things up.

Hader, meanwhile, was all gas, using a fastball-slider combo that averaged 93.1 miles per hour.

Both pitchers benefited from some extraordinary defense late with Lorenzo Cain making a diving grab in the eighth inning before Jace Peterson landed in the seats to snag a pop-up into foul territory.

It's certainly a low point for Cleveland, which had already punted on the season by dealing infielder Cesar Hernandez within the division to the Chicago White Sox and remains two games under .500 on the year.

The franchise that has tossed 14 no-hitters itself has now been the victim of 12 no-nos against.

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto hosted a special guest during his team's recent homestand at Great American Ballpark.

As reported by Bally Sports Cincinnati, Votto arranged for a 10-year-old Reds fan going through cancer treatment to have the day of the lifetime.

As Bally Sports Cincinnati showcased, Votto arranged for multiple Reds players to talk to the young fan, and he also got a signed photo from the star first baseman. Votto routinely talked to the 10-year-old and even asked for advice before heading to the plate.

Votto has performed good acts for people with cancer multiple times over the years. Earlier this season, he signed a ball for another Reds fan.

In 2017, he gave a ball and bat to a six-year-old fan fighting cancer. He also attended his visitation after the fan passed away.

In sum, Votto is one of the game's top first basemen and humanitarians, and that was evident again this week.

A 23-year-old man was arrested Wednesday for allegedly stealing Mike Moustakas' World Series and American League Championship Series rings he won as a member of the Kansas City Royals.

Cameron Knight of the Cincinnati Enquirer reported police allege Casey Zhang, who was sentenced to three years in prison in 2018 for burglary, stole the rings from the Cincinnati Reds player that are valued at more than $150,000.

Zhang was released from his previous sentence in August and is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday.

Moustakas was with the Royals from 2011 until they traded him to the Milwaukee Brewers in 2018. He made his first of three career All-Star Games during that same 2015 campaign that Kansas City won the championship.

He slashed .284/.348/.470 with 22 home runs and 82 RBI that season and then followed it up with one home run and eight RBI during the postseason.

Moustakas also hit .304 during the World Series win over the New York Mets and was a key figure in the lineup.

Cincinnati signed him to a four-year deal prior to the 2020 campaign, but he has missed significant time this season, appearing in just 47 games. He is slashing .210/.301/.406 with six home runs and 19 RBI in those contests.

The Reds are 0.5 games ahead of the San Diego Padres in the race for the National League's second wild-card spot.

Nick Castellanos is in the middle of a career season with the Cincinnati Reds and will reportedly look to cash in on it this offseason.

According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, the All-Star right fielder "likely" will opt out of the remaining two years and $34 million on his contract to become a free agent after the 2021 season ends.

At 29 years old, Castellanos is in the middle of his prime and made his first All-Star Game this season.

He figures to earn a significant contract this offseason given the fact he is slashing .318/.376/.565 with 22 home runs and 70 RBI while anchoring the Cincinnati lineup in the middle of a playoff race.

His presence is a primary reason the Reds are one game ahead of the San Diego Padres for the final National League wild-card spot.

Castellanos previously played for the Detroit Tigers from 2013 until they traded him to the Chicago Cubs during the 2019 campaign. He signed with the Reds prior to the 2020 season.

While there have been questions about his defense, he has been a productive hitter for much of his career. The shortened 2020 season is the only time in the past five seasons he didn't hit more than 20 home runs, and he sports a career slash line of .278/.329/.481.

It wouldn't be a surprise if a number of teams bid for such a productive hitter this offseason, and Castellanos will likely receive a larger annual salary than what he appears on the verge of opting out of with Cincinnati.

One day after agreeing to a contract extension with the St. Louis Cardinals, Yadier Molina has confirmed that the 2022 season will be his last. 

Speaking to reporters about his new deal, Molina was asked if he planned to retire after next season. 

The Cardinals announced prior to Tuesday's game against the Detroit Tigers that Molina agreed to a one-year contract extension. 

Molina also told reporters he "can't wait to put that red jacket on" in reference to being involved with the organization and working with young players after his playing career is over. 

It seemed unlikely that Molina would ever play for another organization before hanging up his cleats. 

The 39-year-old told the La Vida Baseball podcast in January when he was still a free agent that he would be fine with walking away from the game if it came to that. 

“If God wants me to come back, then I'll come back," Molina said (h/t Corey Miller of KSDK). "And if not I will retire happy with my head held high." 

The Cardinals eventually re-signed Molina to a one-year, $9 million deal. His latest extension will keep him in St. Louis for his 19th season in the big leagues. 

Molina has spent his entire career with the Cardinals. He was a fourth-round pick by the franchise in the 2000 draft and made his MLB debut four years later. 

The Puerto Rican is a 10-time All-Star selection. His nine career Gold Glove awards are the most among all active catchers and ranks third all-time, behind Ivan Rodriguez (13) and Johnny Bench (10).    

Yadier Molina is returning to the St. Louis Cardinals for a 19th season in 2022. 

Per Katie Woo of The Athletic, the 39-year-old agreed to a one-year, $10 million contract extension Tuesday.

There had been speculation during the season that Molina and the Cardinals were working toward a new deal. Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported on Aug. 19 that both sides were "encouraged" by their recent discussions. 

Woo and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic noted Molina was seeking a one-year deal worth more than the $9 million he received in 2021. 

Amid prolonged negotiations last offseason, Molina said he would be willing to retire. 

"If God wants me to come back, then I'll come back," he told the La Vida Baseball podcast in January 2021 (h/t Corey Miller of KDSK.com). "And if not I will retire happy with my head held high." 

The Cardinals ultimately gave Molina a deal in early February, just before the start of spring training. He was named to the National League All-Star team in 2021, posting a .259/.304/.376 slash line in 94 games. 

It seemed unlikely that Molina would ever play for another organization if he decided to test free agency in the offseason. He has been with the Cardinals since being selected in the fourth round of the 2000 Major League Baseball draft. 

Molina is arguably the greatest catcher of this generation and undoubtedly a St. Louis legend. The Puerto Rico native is a 10-time All-Star and nine-time Gold Glove winner, helping the Cardinals win two World Series titles in 2006 and 2011.

The National League conversation has (rightfully) been dominated by the NL West all year. This was expected coming into the season, considering the Los Angeles Dodgers are the defending World Series champs and the San Diego Padres loaded up over the winter with the intent to compete with their neighbors to the north. 

But the San Francisco Giants' ascent was quick and got plenty of people talking. Out east, the New York Mets and their new owner, Steve Cohen, kept things interesting regardless of where they were in the standings, the Atlanta Braves aggressively retooled after losing their best player, Ronald Acuna Jr., to injury and the Washington Nationals tore their 2019 World Series team down to the studs. 

Somewhere in the middle of it all—geographically and standings-wise—are the Milwaukee Brewers, the leaders of the NL Central and the potential World Series team that isn't garnering the same headlines as the others. At the start of the season, much of Milwaukee's attention was on the Bucks' championship run. Now, it's football season in Green Bay. The Brewers haven't had any drastic highs or lows and Wisconsin fans are likely taking in the final days of summer.

But Milwaukee is deserving of some headlines and of its status as a pennant contender. The Brewers execute in all three facets of the game, the front office brought in the right reinforcements at the trade deadline and their organizational depth has helped them withstand injuries to key players this season. 

It starts with pitching for the Brew Crew, something that's been true dating back at least four years. The bullpen was the star in that electric seven-game NLCS loss to the Dodgers in 2018. The Brewers got enough starting pitching, but it was the bullpen that kept them in games. Josh Hader became a household name, throwing 7.2 innings in that series without allowing a single earned run. He didn't allow any in the NLDS, either, and has only allowed two in 12.1 postseason innings. 

Milwaukee had the fifth-best bullpen in baseball that year. This year, its bullpen is the eighth-best in baseball, with a Big Three of left-handers Hader (1.66 ERA, 24 saves in 25 opportunities, 2.0 fWAR) and Brent Suter (12-5, 2.86 ERA, most wins for a reliever in baseball, 12th-most relief innings pitched) and right-hander Brad Boxberger (5-3, 2.47 ERA). 

Right-handers Devin Williams, Miguel Sanchez and Hunter Strickland, a savvy addition made in June, have all helped things down in the bullpen. Jake Cousins was plucked from relative obscurity in independent ball and has yet to allow an earned run in 17 innings. 

Milwaukee boasts the second-best ERA in baseball (3.09), and it's been largely due to the dominance of the starting rotation. Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta have formed an even more dominant trio. 

Burnes had an ERA of nearly 9.00 in 2018, but he saw better results when he increased his cutter usage in 2020: 4-1, 2.13 ERA. Now, he's using it more than ever, more than 50 percent of the time according to Fangraphs, and he complements it with a curveball and a slider. There is more movement on the cutter, more drop on the curveball and his fastball velocity increased this season as well. 

Earlier this month, Burnes struck out 10 straight hitters in a win over the Chicago Cubs. Watching them all back-to-back is sort of mesmerizing. Only two others have accomplished the feat: former Mets hurler Tom Seaver and current Philadelphia Phillies starter Aaron Nola. 

Mets ace Jacob deGrom might not throw another inning this season, which would position Burnes, who has the highest fWAR of all starting pitchers (5.8), as the frontrunner for NL Cy Young. 

Peralta recently hit the IL with right shoulder inflammation, but with the Brewers holding a 9.5-game lead over the Cincinnati Reds, they can use some of their organizational depth to allow him—and others on the IL—to get healthy for the postseason. That combination of depth and sufficient recovery time could be especially beneficial for a team that has seen some of its top talent land on the injured list this season. 

The other strength of this team is its defense, which Fangraphs ranks second in baseball. They've prevented 44 runs this season, which is the seventh-most in the league. Strong pitching and defense can help the Brewers overcome their biggest weakness: their offense. 

General manager David Stearns and his front office made some smart acquisitions at the trade deadline to try to bolster an underperforming offense. 

Between a back injury and a bout with COVID-19, Christian Yelich hasn't looked like himself this season. Though the former MVP is still capable of heating up down the stretch, the club didn't bank on it.

Instead, they acquired shortstop Willy Adames, who has a 150 OPS+ since being traded from the Tampa Bay Rays. They also traded for Rowdy Tellez to get more offensive production out of first base. Tellez gives them a left-handed bat and takes the pressure off of Keston Hiura, who was hitting just .166 before being placed on the COVID IL. 

This is what the best front offices do: Develop enough talent so they have the capital to make trades and fill in the holes without depleting the farm system or even the active roster. That depth is needed to withstand injuries, and it's needed in September to get everyone primed and ready to play deep into October. 

And as of right now, there's reason to picture October baseball in Milwaukee. Fangraphs gives the Brewers a 10.3 percent chance of winning the World Series, the fourth-best odds in baseball. 

It's easy for teams in smaller markets to get lost in the regular-season shuffle, especially once preseason football begins. So while everyone else is talking about Fernando Tatis Jr. playing in the outfield and debating the merits of Zack Wheeler out in Philadelphia, here's some appreciation for one of the steadiest, most consistent teams in the National League.

The Brewers have been just as good as the teams out west, if not better, even if they're not dominating the conversation. 

The St. Louis Cardinals and team legend Yadier Molina are reportedly "in discussions" about a one-year contract extension for the 2022 MLB season.

Katie Woo and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported Thursday that Molina, 39, is seeking a salary that at least matches his $9 million for 2021.

The 10-time All-Star catcher entered free agency after the 2020 season, and there were serious questions throughout the winter about whether the Cards would have the financial flexibility to bring him back.

In January, Molina told Cardinals broadcaster Polo Ascencio in a Facebook interview (via Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch) he wanted to return to the only MLB club he's ever known but was open to retirement if the right offer didn't arrive.

"Getting ready as always and God will tell," Molina said. "If God wants me to come back, then I'll come back. And if not I will retire happy with my head held high."

St. Louis and the future Hall of Fame backstop came to terms in February on the one-year, $9 million deal.

Molina was selected by the Cardinals in the fourth round of the 2000 MLB draft and made his major league debut in 2004. Along with the 10 All-Star appearances, he's also won nine Gold Glove Awards and helped the franchise win World Series titles in 2006 and 2011.

The Puerto Rico native is no longer the offensive threat he was during his prime—he's posted a .681 OPS with eight home runs across 91 appearances in 2021; his career-high totals in those categories are .874 and 22, both in 2012—but he's remained an above-average defender with a plus-five DRS (defensive runs saved), per FanGraphs.

Molina also continues to serve as one of the Cards' clubhouse leaders alongside Adam Wainwright, 39, who also hit the free-agent market before re-signing in late January.

St. Louis doesn't have a clear replacement for 2022, as Ivan Herrera, their top catching prospect, is in Double-A. Herrera has showed promising pop with 13 homers in 79 games this year, but he's hitting .227 and could benefit from more seasoning in the minors.

In turn, it makes sense for Molina to return for at least one more year, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Cardinals keep him around for 2023 to split duties with Herrera, as well.