Freischaltung » Jason Castro was out of the lineup Saturday

WASHINGTON -- Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said he expects Daniel Murphy to be ready for the National League Division Series.I think hes going to be ready for Game 1, and we feel confident about that, said Rizzo, speaking at Nationals Park while his team worked out in advance of Fridays NLDS opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Washington, D.C.During Tuesdays workout, Murphy took live batting practice on the field with the rest of his teammates and also fielded ground balls at second base. Following the team session, Murphy did some running and agility work with trainer Harvey Sharman while skipper Dusty Baker watched.I was late [to the managers news conference] because I was watching him run, which is probably the biggest obstacle that were trying to overcome, Baker said of Murphy afterward. He looked pretty good at second base. We didnt have him range very far right or left, but then I saw him running with Harvey and he looked pretty good.Still, Baker didnt sound quite as confident as Rizzo that his slugger will be good to go Friday.Youre trying to get his legs strong, and then tomorrow well ramp it up some more before we make a true evaluation, Baker said.The Nationals, who finished first in the NL East, have workouts scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday before kicking off their best-of-five series with the NL West champion Dodgers on Friday afternoon.Murphy, who did not address the media on Tuesday, has been dealing with a strained left buttocks and hasnt started a game since Sept. 17. He made consecutive pinch-hit appearances on Sept. 19 and 20, then didnt appear in a game until the final day of the regular season, when he pinch hit again.In his first season with Washington, Murphy, who signed a three-year, $37.5 million deal in December as a free agent, led the National League in slugging (.595) and finished second in batting (.347). In 142 games, he hit 25 home runs and had 104 RBIs, both career highs.Prior to joining the Nationals, Murphy spent seven seasons with the New York Mets. Last year, he helped lead New York to the NL East title, and then set a major league record by homering in six consecutive postseason games.Cheap Jerseys For Sale . LOUIS -- Heading into the final stretch of the season, the issues for the Chicago Bears banged-up defence only seem to be getting worse. Stitched Jerseys For Sale . -- Lou Brocks shoulder-to-shoulder collision with Bill Freehan during the 1968 World Series and Pete Roses bruising hit on Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star game could become relics of baseball history, like the dead-ball era. https://www.jerseysforsalechina.com/ . The 19-year-old Olsen played 34 games with the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL this season. In that time, hes recorded 17 goals and 17 assists with 36 penalty minutes. Jerseys For Sale Outlet . Mitch Holmberg added a goal and three assists. Connor Chartier also scored for the Chiefs (3-0-0). Luke Harrison spoiled Garrett Hughsons shutout bid with a power-play goal at 13:17 of the third period. The Spokane goaltender finished with 28 saves, including a Brandon Fushimi penalty shot in the second period that would have tied the game 1-1. Wholesale Jerseys For Sale . Darren Helm scored on Detroits sixth attempt in the shootout and then Jonas Gustavsson stopped Andrew Shaws shot, lifting the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night.HOUSTON -- Evan Gattis doesnt know why he hits better when he catches compared to when hes the designated hitter.Ive seen the stats and heard its kind of a big split, but I just want to pretend like Im catching when Im not, Gattis said.He was catching Saturday night, and his bat came alive.Gattis had two home runs and four RBI in his return to the lineup, Collin McHugh threw six strong innings and the Houston Astros beat the Los Angeles Angels 7-2.Gattis sat Friday with a bruised right hand after being hit by a pitch Wednesday. He came back Saturday and launched a three-run homer into the Crawford Boxes in left field in the second inning and added a solo shot off the facade in left-center in the fourth to give Houston a 5-0 lead.Glad I got a good pitch to hit, Gattis said. The first one I took I thought I took it well. It was borderline ball/strike away. Just really let the ball travel a little bit today as best I could.It was his sixth career multihomer game and first since hitting a pair Aug. 26, 2015, against the Yankees.For his career, Gattis entered hitting .260 with a .512 slugging percentage as a catcher, compared to .230 with a .422 slugging percentage when hes the DH. Hes also hit 38 homers in 153 games as a catcher, compared to 31 homers in 187 games as DH.Im sure someone smarter than me can figure it out, Houston manager A.J. Hinch said. I dont know if its actually true in the numbers. It feels like it and in all seriousness I think its the result of keeping him occupied, keeping his mind occupied, keeping his mind in the game.Carlos Correa had a solo home run to right in the fifth.McHugh (7-6) allowed two runs on six hits with six strikeouts in six innings. He continued his string of solid outings, allowing two runs or fewer for the sixth time in his last seven starts.I probably could have made some better pitches in better situations, McHugh said. But I think for the stuff we had Gatty did a really good job of guiding me througgh a couple of spots where I just wasnt feeling it.ddddddddddddHouston has won 10 straight against the Angels. It tacked on a run in the third when Jered Weaver (8-8) hit Preston Tucker with the bases loaded, scoring George Springer. Springer knocked an RBI single in the fourth.Ji-Man Choi had a solo home run to the upper deck in right field to lead off the fifth, and Andrelton Simmons hit an RBI single in the sixth for the Angels.Weaver was roughed up for six runs and seven hits in four innings. The right-hander has struggled against Houston this season, allowing 16 runs in 15 1/3 innings.I just think that obviously, I dont have the same (stuff) that I used to have is first and foremost, Weaver said. They have become a pretty patient team. Not as free swinging. They make you work for it. I had to work my (butt) off there in the second and third.TRAINERS ROOMAstros: C Jason Castro was out of the lineup Saturday after being hit on the back of his right hand on a foul tip in the ninth inning Friday. This morning he felt it was OK, Hinch said. He took a few swings and felt a little bit of soreness, so I decided to scratch him.ROSTER MOVESAngels: Los Angeles called up Carlos Perez from Triple-A Salt Lake. Perez started at catcher and went 0 for 3. The Angels optioned C Juan Graterol to Salt Lake.Astros: 3B Matt Duffy was claimed off waivers by Texas. Duffy was designated for assignment July 16. ... Houston announced the signing of 22-year-old Cuban SS Anibal Sierra.UP NEXTAngels: RHP Tim Lincecum (2-3) will make his seventh start of the season Sunday and is looking for his second straight win.Astros: RHP Mike Fiers (6-4) will make his 18th start of the season and look to bounce back from two straight starts of four innings or less, including Mondays outing in Oakland where he was tagged for six runs in 3 2/3 innings. ' ' '