TOKYO (AP) — The Seibu Lions have agreed to post pitcher Yusei Kikuchi
Jhoulys Chacin Jersey , clearing the way for the 27-year-old left-hander to negotiate with teams in Major League Baseball.Since Kikuchi cannot file for
international free agency until 2020, he needed Seibu’s approval in order to use
the posting system to move to the majors.Kikuchi has a 73-46 career record with
a 2.77 ERA in Nippon Professional Baseball. He went 14-4 this year and struck
out 153 batters in 163-2/3 innings.All postings by NPB teams must occur between
Nov. 1 and Dec. 5, with a 30-day negotiating window to follow.Under the posting
system, a Japanese team posting a player to the majors will receive a fee based
on an agreed percentage of the value of the contract, bonuses and incentives.The
fee will be 20 percent of the first $25 million of a major league contract,
including earned bonuses and options. The percentage drops to 17.5 percent of
the next $25 million and 15 percent of any amount over $50 million. HOUSTON —
With the “opener” gambit now influencing postseason strategies in Oakland and
Milwaukee, the pitching matchup for Game 1 of the American League Division
Series between the Cleveland Indians and Houston Astros represents a throwback
in this era of bullpening.The Indians and Astros will turn to tried-and-true
aces aiming to gain an early edge in the series on Friday at Minute Maid Park.
Right-handers Corey Kluber (20-7, 2.89 ERA) and Justin Verlander (16-9, 2.52
ERA) have combined for 16 200-inning and 13 200-strikeout seasons, 10 All-Star
Game appearances, three Cy Young awards, and two ERA titles
Jeremy Jeffress Jersey , with Verlander adding a Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player award, plus a pitching triple crown, to the mix.If
Verlander doesn’t earn his second Cy Young award this season, he is assured of
finishing in the top five in balloting for the sixth time. Kluber finished third
in 2016, two seasons after winning his first Cy Young award and one year before
claiming his second. By every definition, they are workhorses charged with
setting the tone in a postseason series. That both have been here before
enhances expectations of something riveting unfolding when they work in
opposition.Article continues below ...“Well, as far as Klub goes, we love it,”
Indians manager Terry Francona said of relying upon a traditional ace. “I’m sure
they feel the same way with Verlander. I think, as an organization or a team,
you do what you think puts you in the best position. If that’s to have an
opener, OK. But I know how we feel with Kluber pitching
Jesus Aguilar Jersey , and it’s good and he’s earned that. Same with Verlander.”Verlander, having made 90.7 percent of his 419 regular-season starts
for the Detroit Tigers, is intimately familiar with his former division rival.
Cleveland is the only team from the American League Central against whom
Verlander owns a losing record (20-24, 4.71 ERA over 52 starts).Unlike Kluber,
who finished 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA over two starts against the Astros this season,
Verlander did not crossmatch against the Indians, making starts immediately
prior to the series the teams contested in May. Verlander has tweaked his pitch
usage since joining the Astros late last season and is confident those changes
should mitigate any concerns over his spotty record.“I’ve changed a lot. Their
lineup has changed,” said Verlander, 3-0 with a 1.09 ERA over five September
starts. “It will be interesting to see what happens. I just am taking this,
preparing for it as much as I can and know what to expect in a playoff
atmosphere, know what to expect out of myself. When it comes down to it, I just
need to go out there and execute pitches.”Kluber (4-2
http://www.brewersfanproshop.com/authentic-ryan-braun-jersey , 3.54 ERA) and Verlander (11-6, 3.07 ERA) have proven capable of executing in the
postseason, reliability that undergirds the decisions to utilize both with
stakes this high. In some corners, a steady stream of relievers might suffice.
With Cleveland and Houston, tradition rules.“Whether your personnel fits — you
can’t have an overriding philosophy,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “I love
starters. Why? Because I’ve got good ones. I think that’s the easiest way to
fall in love with a rotation and have that mindset do I want my starters to go
deep in the game.“Yeah, they’re good. If not, then I’ve got to have a
contingency plan and it becomes a bullpen day very quickly if you fall behind or
if the starter is not at his best.”
