AL West

Houston Astros catcher Martín Maldonado reportedly used an illegal bat from ex-St. Louis Cardinals star Albert Pujols in Game 1 of the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday.

Tom Verducci broke the news during FOX's broadcast of Game 2 of the Fall Classic.

"Martín Maldonado is using a different bat today here in Game 2," Verducci said. "He found out from MLB today that the bat he used last night was not a legal bat. It was a model that he obtained from Albert Pujols, and he used it because he thought it was very similar in size and weight to his own model. The barrel, he said, was slightly bigger. He also thought it was a way to honor the baseball legend, of course retiring at the close of this season.

"But here's the catch to it, guys: In 2010, Major League Baseball changed the bat specifications, and that bat—that Pujols model—was no longer legal except if you were playing to prior to 2010, it was grandfathered in," Verducci continued. "So Albert Pujols could use that bat, but Maldonado—who began his Major League career in 2011—was not legally able to use that bat."

The concern in question surrounded the size of Maldonado's bat barrel, which was over the maximum limit allowed after MLB enacted a rule change during the 2010-11 offseason.

"Baseball also is changing the specifications for all bats, slimming the maximum diameter of the barrel from 2.75 inches—which had been the standard for more than 100 years—to 2.61 inches," a March 2011 Associated Press report stated.

Talkin' Baseball provided a comparison of the bats between Games 1 and 2:

https://twitter.com/TalkinBaseball_/status/1586524341327597569

Maldonado went 1-for-3 with a second-inning RBI single in a 6-5 loss.

Martín Maldonado brings in another and it's 2-0 @astros!

📺: FOX and the FOX Sports App pic.twitter.com/y5C4Pyrdbs

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 29, 2022

He got the start again Saturday for Game 2.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said he believes the Oakland Athletics will move to Las Vegas in an interview with SiriusXM Radio's Christopher Russo.

Commissioner Rob Manfred tells @MadDogUnleashed that he’s no longer optimistic the #A’s will remain in Oakland (‘It just doesn’t look like it’s going to happen’) and likely will move to Las Vegas. He believes the #Rays will stay put with a new ballpark in Tampa.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 29, 2022

The A's have been in talks with Oakland officials regarding a new ballpark as part of the Howard Terminal project, but a key deadline to get that done passed without any further progress.

Mick Akers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal provided more details on Oct. 3.

"Oakland City Administrator Ed Reiskin said last month that the city and the A’s needed to finalize a development agreement for a proposed $12 billion Howard Terminal project—including a $1 billion waterfront ballpark—by last week. Without that, he said a binding vote this year by the Oakland City Council would be all but out of the question."

"Reiskin cited a tight timeline of other necessary reviews that would have followed between this month and early December as the reason for the deadline."

The issue is that the project appears it will now be delayed until 2023, and A's President Dave Kaval previously said that would hinder the team's efforts to stay in Oakland.

The team's lease agreement at RingCentral Coliseum lasts through 2024.

Oakland was home to three professional sports teams in the Golden State Warriors, Oakland (now Las Vegas) Raiders and A's just three years ago. The Raiders have since moved to Vegas, and Golden State went across the bay to San Francisco.

Now it appears the A's could join the Raiders, ending a tenure in Oakland that featured four World Series titles (1972-1974, 1989) and six pennants (1988 and 1990) in addition to eight straight winning seasons from 1999 to 2006.

A perfect start turned into a nightmare for Justin Verlander and the Houston Astros in Game 1 of the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night.

Speaking to reporters after the Astros' 6-5 loss in 10 innings, Verlander shouldered the blame for not protecting a five-run lead.

"I need to do better," he said. "No excuses. I felt like I had some guys in good situations and just wasn't able to quite make the pitches that I wanted to. A lot of credit to [the Phillies] as a lineup. They laid off some good pitches, and they were able to, when I did execute pitches, they were able to foul it off or put it in play and find a couple hits that way. Then when I did make a mistake, they hit it hard."

The game started in such a way that it seemed like the Astros would cruise to an easy victory. Verlander threw 32 pitches and didn't allow a baserunner through the first three innings.

Meanwhile, Kyle Tucker gave Houston a 5-0 lead with a two-run homer in the second and a three-run homer in the third.

It looked like the Phillies were going to go quietly in the third inning. Rhys Hoskins' one-out single broke up the perfect game, but J.T. Realmuto made the second out of the inning in the next at-bat.

The Phillies were able to string together three consecutive hits to cut the deficit to 5-3 before Jean Segura popped out to end the top of the fourth. Realmuto's one-out double in the fifth tied the score.

Both bullpens combined to allow seven hits in 10.2 innings, and Realmuto's solo homer off Luis Garcia in the top of the 10th provided the difference in the game.

This marks the second time in three playoff starts this month that Verlander has allowed at least five earned runs. He allowed five earned runs once in 28 starts during the regular season.

Verlander has struggled in the World Series over the course of his career, as the front-runner for the American League Cy Young award is now 0-6 with a 6.07 ERA in eight starts in the Fall Classic.

This is Houston's fourth appearance in the World Series since 2017. The team is 0-4 in Game 1 during that span, with losses to the Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers (2017), Washington Nationals (2019) and Atlanta Braves (2021).

The Astros' only championship during this run was in 2017.

Framber Valdez will look to get Houston back in the series when he takes the mound against Zack Wheeler for Game 2 on Saturday night.

The Houston Astros held a 5-0 lead after three innings, but the visiting Philadelphia Phillies scored three in the fourth and two in the fifth before taking the lead for good in the 10th off a J.T. Realmuto homer for the 6-5 victory in Game 1 of the World Series from Minute Maid Park.

THOSE FIGHTINS! #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/tBnyeldpbU

— MLB (@MLB) October 29, 2022

Everything was going right for Houston through three innings. Staff ace and likely American League Cy Young winner Justin Verlander was perfect through nine batters. Kyle Tucker hit a pair of homers, and Martin Maldonado executed an RBI single on a hit-and-run.

Tucker two times. 💪 #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/VpWozEa61a

— MLB (@MLB) October 29, 2022

Disaster struck in the fourth, though, when Philadelphia scored three runs with two outs thanks to a Nick Castellanos single and an Alec Bohm double.

DON'T GO ANYWHERE, FOLKS! We have a game.

Alec Bohm brings in 2 and the Phillies have a 2-out rally!

📺: FOX and the FOX Sports App pic.twitter.com/EUUEDNVzwu

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 29, 2022

Verlander had a chance earlier in the inning to finish the Phils off on a double play after nearly snagging a Realmuto line-drive comebacker with one out and Rhys Hoskins on first, but he had to settle for the lone out on the force.

The fifth inning was not kind to Verlander, either, as Realmuto got back up to the dish and smacked a two-RBI double to tie the game.

The @Phillies have stormed back to tie it!!! 😱 #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/xVazARphGb

— MLB (@MLB) October 29, 2022

For the night, Verlander threw five innings and allowed six hits, five earned runs and two walks while striking out five.

The two teams went scoreless for the next four frames before Realmuto took Luis Garcia deep. Houston got runners on second and third with two out in the bottom half of the 10th, but David Robertson got Aledmys Diaz to ground out to end the game.

The story of the day was Verlander, a surefire Hall of Famer and superstar pitcher who continues to have trouble in the World Series. It appeared that narrative would be chucked in the trash through three innings, but the story remains the same after the star struggled again.

No matter what happens in this game the top story is that Justin Verlander, who needed a World Series with in the worst way, gave up a 5-0 lead, quickly. Teammates going to need to hold him down like Game 1 of ALDS. #WorldSeries #LevelUp

— Landry Locker (@LandryLocker) October 29, 2022

https://twitter.com/TalkinBaseball_/status/1586180754140274690

Through 5 IP so far tonight, Justin Verlander's career ERA in World Series Game 1s is 10.29 (16 earned runs in 14 IP). pic.twitter.com/4cMiU3RMYW

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 29, 2022

The dropped ball by Verlander, which would have been an inning-ending double play, looms huge. Phillies have scored three runs since.

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) October 29, 2022

This is a game. Absolutely unreal. What a disaster by Verlander.

— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) October 29, 2022

World Series Verlander is really a thing. Yeesh.

— Paul Gallant (@GallantSays) October 29, 2022

This collapse is on Dusty Baker. Should have pulled Verlander before he blew the 5-0 lead and let the Phillies tie it. A terrible two innings by Verlander. Bad decision by Baker.

— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) October 29, 2022

The second Verlander starting struggling, Dusty should have went to his deep bullpen. It's a tie game now

— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) October 29, 2022

Justin Verlander:

36 pitches to get his first 9 outs
40 pitches to get his last 3 outs

— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) October 29, 2022

Justin Verlander came into tonight 15-11 with a 3.55 ERA in 33 career postseason outings but 0-6 with a 5.68 ERA in seven World Series starts.

— Erik Boland (@eboland11) October 29, 2022

Game 2 of the World Series will occur Saturday in Houston at 8:03 p.m. ET. Zack Wheeler will take the mound for Philadelphia, and Framber Valdez will do the same for Houston.

Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker is gearing up for a tough battle against the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2022 World Series, but he's thinking about more than just the matchup itself with Game 1 set for Friday night.

This year's World Series is the first in 72 years to not feature a single U.S.-born Black player, and Baker told USA Today's Bob Nightengale that it is "terrible for the state of the game."

"Wow! Terrible," Baker said. "I’m ashamed of the game. Quote me. I am ashamed of the game."

Baker added:

"Well, I don't think that's something that baseball should really be proud of. It looks bad. It lets people know that it didn't take a year, or even a decade to get to this point.

"But there is help on the way. You can tell by the number of African-American No. 1 draft choices (four of the first five picks in 2022). The academies are producing players. So hopefully in the near future we won't have to talk about this anymore or even be in this situation."

Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, also told Ben Walker of the Associated Press earlier this week that having no U.S.-born Black players set to take the field in this year's Fall Classic is "startling."

"That is eye opening. It is somewhat startling that two cities that have high African American populations, there's not a single Black player," Kendrick said. "It lets us know there's obviously a lot of work to be done to create opportunities for Black kids to pursue their dream at the highest level."

Both the Astros and Phillies have a number of Latino and Afro Latino players on their respective rosters, though none of the Black players were born in the United States. Astros second baseman Jose Altuve is from Venezuela, Phillies infielder Jean Segura is from the Dominican Republic and Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez is from Cuba.

Baseball has a lengthy history of racism, and before Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson broke MLB's color barrier when he debuted for the then-Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, Black players were barred from competing in the league, instead forced into the Negro Leagues, which operated between the 1920s and 1940s.

While having no U.S.-born Black players set to suit up in the 2022 World Series is certainly concerning, diversity across MLB is expanding, with 38 percent of players on 2022 Opening Day rosters having come from racially diverse backgrounds—Black, Latino, Asian, Pacific Islander and Native American—per MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince.

However, just 7.2 percent of Black players on 2022 Opening Day rosters were born in North America. That's a decline from 7.6 percent in 2021. Baker and L.A. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts are the only Black managers in the league.

MLB is trying to address the issue at the foundational level, and there is some optimism for the game moving forward. Four of the top five picks in the 2022 MLB draft are U.S.-born Black players, including Druw Jones (Arizona Diamondbacks), Kumar Rocker (Texas Rangers), Termarr Johnson (Pittsburgh Pirates) and Elijah Green (Washington Nationals).

In addition, a number of American-born Black players are listed in MLB.com's Top 100 prospects, including Jordan Walker (St. Louis Cardinals), James Wood (Nationals) and Cam Collier (Cincinnati Reds).

The Houston Astros once confirmed that they had a deal in place to acquire then-Washington Nationals superstar Bryce Harper in 2018 but that it did not go through.

The details of the trade had not been publicly revealed until Thursday, when Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reported that the Astros would have dealt infielders Abraham Toro and Randy Cesar, right-handed pitchers Josh James and J.B. Bukauskas and left-handed pitcher Kent Emanuel.

Harper was in his walk year with the Nats in 2018 and eventually left town for the Philadelphia Phillies on a 13-year, $330 million contract. He and the Phils will be playing the Astros in the World Series starting Friday.

Ultimately, the Astros failed to land Harper because Nationals owner Ted Lerner did not agree to the trade, per Rome. The parameters had been agreed upon by then-Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow and Nats general manager Mike Rizzo.

As far as the prospects go, Toro is currently in the big leagues with the Seattle Mariners. He hit .185 alongside 10 home runs and 35 RBI in 109 games this season. J.B. Bukauskas had a 7.79 ERA in 21 games as a reliever for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2021.

Emanuel is now in the Phillies organization with the Triple-A affiliate. The year before, he pitched 10 games as a reliever and posted a 2.55 ERA. James is still with the Astros and pitched in Triple-A in 2022 after 73 appearances from 2018-2021 (4.64 ERA). César did not get promoted to the big leagues.

The Nationals ended up doing well for themselves by winning the World Series in 2019. They are currently in a massive rebuilding phase, however, with an eye toward rebuilding the farm system and competing in the future.

Harper and the Phillies are looking for the team's first World Series since 2008 and third overall. Game 1 is Friday in Houston.

The average cost for a World Series ticket to watch the Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies play in Citizens Bank Park is over $3,200, per Molly McVety of the News Journal.

The Phillies will host the Astros for Games 3, 4 and 5 (if necessary) in the best-of-seven series at that stadium.

The first game at Citizens Bank Park will go down Monday evening before Game 4 on Tuesday and then Game 5 if needed Wednesday.

Houston is hosting Philadelphia for Games 1 and 2 on Friday and Saturday, respectively in Minute Maid Park. Games 6 and 7, if needed, will occur Friday, Nov. 4, and Saturday, Nov. 5.

Houston home game ticket prices average around $1,500, per McVety, who provided more information on the cost it takes to watch the Fall Classic in person in Philadelphia:

"Philadelphia’s first home game will be played on Halloween night. The cheapest prices for two standing-room tickets are just under $1,000 on ticket resale website Stubhub. Lower-level tickets above the Phillies’ dugout are selling for around $4,000 on the same site. And one pair of Diamond Club tickets are selling for $17,100 each."

The Phillies are in the World Series for the first time since 2009 when they fell to the New York Yankees in six games.

The year before, Philadelphia defeated the Tampa Bay Rays to win their second-ever World Series.

Houston is in the World Series for the fourth time since 2017. The Astros beat the Los Angeles Dodgers that year but fell to the Washington Nationals in 2019 and the Atlanta Braves in 2021.

The Houston Astros are back in the World Series for the second successive year and fourth time in six seasons after completing a commanding four-game sweep of the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series.

The Astros overcame an early three-run deficit and then had an answer for every Yankees rally in Sunday's 6-5 victory. Houston went ahead for good with two runs in the seventh inning after New York had taken a 5-4 lead.

With the ALCS sweep, the Astros remain undefeated in the 2022 postseason with seven straight wins. Fans on social media praised the Astros for their dominant run through the playoffs so far.

The Astros lost Gerrit Cole, George Springer and Carlos Correa in free agency in consecutive years and haven't missed a beat.

Their staying power continues to be incredibly impressive.

— Kyle Glaser (@KyleAGlaser) October 24, 2022

Boo the hell out of the Astros all you want but you have to respect them. Four World Series in 6 years. Dusty Baker can win his first title. No accusations of trash cans or buzzers. Just great baseball. RESPECT!

— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) October 24, 2022

The Houston Astros golden era continues as they head to yet another World Series.

THRILLED for Dusty Baker, a team full of genuinely good guys, loyal fans, and a franchise with people from top to bottom who work so hard. #LevelUp

— Vanessa Richardson (@SportsVanessa) October 24, 2022

The #Astros are 4 victories away from running the table. The only team that won more consecutive games in a single postseason were the 2014 #Royals (8)

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 24, 2022

The #Astros are a perfect 7-0 this postseason, they are the third team in MLB history to sweep the first two rounds of the playoffs en route to the World Series.

— Daniel Gotera (@DTGotera) October 24, 2022

teams to reach World Series undefeated, Wild Card Era:

2022 Astros 7-0
2014 Royals 8-0
2007 Rockies 7-0 https://t.co/XiDTyTPTft

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 24, 2022

The Yankees struck out FIFTY times while being swept in four games by the Astros. pic.twitter.com/ccqMHbYxRM

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) October 24, 2022

First sweep in a seven-game series in Astros postseason history

— Mark Berman (@MarkBerman_) October 24, 2022

Fitting. No cheating in this one. Astros embarrassed the Yankees.

— Moose™ (@MarcMalusis) October 24, 2022

The Houston Astros celebrated a no-hitter AND a trip to the World Series at Yankee Stadium this season.

— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) October 24, 2022

The Houston Astros are everything the Dodgers fans think the Dodgers are.

— Devine Sports Gospel (@DevineGospel) October 24, 2022

The Astros have established themselves as a dynasty in the AL, and their dominance continued this season. Houston is firing on all cylinders and could be on its way to its second World Series title since 2017.

To achieve that, the Astros will have to get past the Philadelphia Phillies, who defeated the San Diego Padres in five games in the National League Championship Series. The World Series will begin on Friday.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. said Friday he suffered a small cut on his pitching elbow during the team's celebration after its ALDS triumph over the Seattle Mariners last week.

Lance McCullers Jr “caught a champagne bottle to the elbow” during the ALDS clubhouse celebration after beating the Mariners. “I’m fine..it was no one’s fault, it was an accident” pic.twitter.com/7D7DQKkzof

— SportsTalk 790 (@SportsTalk790) October 21, 2022

As a result, McCullers' ALCS start against the New York Yankees has been moved back to Game 4. The Astros announced Cristian Javier will move up to take the ball in Game 3 on Saturday.

McCullers delivered six scoreless innings with seven strikeouts in Houston's series-clinching win over the Mariners on Saturday. He hasn't allowed more than two runs in a start since Aug. 19 against the Atlanta Braves, a span of seven outings.

The 29-year-old Florida native compiled a 2.27 ERA and 1.24 WHIP across eight starts during the regular season. He missed a majority of the campaign with a forearm injury.

Injuries have been a concern throughout the right-hander's career—he's never reached the 30-start threshold in eight years with Houston, including Tommy John surgery that forced him to miss all of 2019—but he's been reliable when healthy with a 3.48 career ERA.

There isn't really a drop off to Javier, who posted a 2.54 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in 30 appearances (25 starts) for the AL Central champions in the regular season.

The Astros have also created some leeway for themselves by winning the first two games of the ALCS. So, if they win Game 3 and there's any lingering concern about McCullers' elbow, it wouldn't be a surprise to see a bullpen game in Game 4 as a precaution.

Houston's rotation depth—Javier, McCullers, Justin Verlander and Framber Valdez—is the main reason the club is now the clear World Series frontrunner, and it has Luis Garcia and José Urquidy waiting in the wings should anything happen to that quartet of starters.

The fact the 'Stros also finished eighth in runs scored during the regular season merely adds to the mountain the Yanks must climb if they're going to complete an ALCS comeback.

New York returns home for Game 3 and sends ace Gerrit Cole to the mound, which essentially makes it a must-win situation.

Saturday's game at Yankee Stadium is scheduled for a 5:07 p.m. ET first pitch on TBS.