LEADING OFF: Red Sox and Astros open ALCS, Cards' Shildt out October 15, 2021 sharefacebooktwitterredditlink A look at what's happening around the majors today:___HERE WE GO AGAINFor the second time in four seasons, the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros are set to play for the American League pennant. The best-of-seven AL Championship Series opens in Houston with left-hander Framber Valdez (11-6, 3.14 ERA) on the Jason Castro Jersey mound for the Astros against scuffling ace Chris Sale (5-1, 3.16).Boston beat Houston 4-1 in the 2018 ALCS on the way to a World Series title. That came one year after the Astros downed the Red Sox 3-1 in a Division Series en route to their only World Series crown. Boston manager Alex Cora was the bench coach for that championship Houston club before guiding the Red Sox to their 2018 title. A little more than a year later, he was let go by Boston and suspended by Major League Baseball through the 2020 postseason for his role in Houstons illegal 2017 sign-stealing scheme. Cora was then rehired by the Red Sox in November.Sale said hes been on the mound every day since his one-inning playoff flop against Tampa Bay last week trying to iron some things out. He believes hes rediscovered a changeup that was mi sing against the Rays and that hes solved the problems commanding his fastball. Well see what we get, Sale said. But I like where were at. REMATCHMookie Betts, Cody Bellinger and the Los Angeles Dodgers head for Atlanta and get a day to rest up for their NL Championship Series rematch with the Braves.After barely getting past the rival San Francisco Giants with a 2-1 victory Thursday night in the deciding Game 5 of their Division Series, the Dodgers Willians Astudillo Jersey are still looking to become the first World Series champion to repeat since the New York Yankees won three straight titles from 1998-2000.Even though Los Angeles won 18 more regular-season games than Atlanta, the NL East champion Braves have home-field advantage in the best-of-seven series because they won their division and the Dodgers are a wild card. Los Angeles rallied from a 3-1 series deficit to beat the Braves in last years NLCS, taking Game 7 by a 4-3 score on the way to its first championship since 1988.Its going to be another good one. Its not going to be easy, Bellinger said. We played each other a few times the last few years. So we kind of know what each others got, and really looking forward to it.Max Scherzer came out of the bullpen to pitch a scorele s ninth inning on two days rest for his first profe sional save in Game 5 against the Giants. Hes expected to be ready to start the NLCS opener Saturday night.Thats the plan, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.ST. LOUIS SHOCKERThe Cardinals are in the market for a new manager after firing Mike Shildt over what team president John Mozeliak called philosophical differences.The dismi sal came a week after St. Louis lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers on a walk-off homer in the NL wild-card game. Last month, Shildt guided the Cardinals on a franchise-record 17-game winning streak.Mozeliak told Shildt that hed been fired. When asked about Shildts response, Mozeliak replied: He was very shocked.The 53-year-old Shildt was the NL Manager of the Year in 2019, his first full season leading the team.It is exceptionally rare for teams to fire managers the same day as a playoff game Kent Hrbek Jersey hours later, the Dodgers and Giants played Game 5 of their NL Division Series. But Mozeliak and Cardinals owner Bill DeWitt Jr. decided it was important enough to seek permi Kennys Vargas Jersey sion from Major League Baseball to make the move immediately.Mozeliak declined to discu s po sible replacements, but did say there are plenty of internal candidates. He said the coaches who remain under contract are expected to return next season.WAIT AND SEEThe Braves still arent sure whether outfielder Jorge Soler will be available for the NL Championship Series.Soler tested positive for COVID-19 and didnt play Tuesday when Atlanta finished off Milwaukee in the NL Division Series. Rookie outfielder Cristian Pache took Solers spot on the 26-man roster.The Braves worked out Thursday at Truist Park without Soler, who hit a combined .223 with 27 homers and 70 RBIs with Kansas City and Atlanta during the regular season.Soler has been vaccinated but may not be cleared to return until after the best-of-seven NLCS, which starts Saturday night when the Los Angeles Dodgers visit Atlanta. Manager Brian Snitker said he has not talked with Soler.Weve got to approach it like I dont know if hell be here for the NLCS, Snitker said. Thats how we have to approach it. Until he shows up and is cleared and does everything that MLB needs him to do, were going to look like its like hes not going to be here.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports in this topic American League Major League Baseball Houston Astros Framber Valdez Mookie Betts Jorge Soler Chris Sale Cody Bellinger Max Scherzer Cristian Pache Atlanta Braves Los Angeles Dodgers San Francisco Giants St. Louis Cardinals Houston Astros share Believe the hype, Bellingham is lighting up the World Cup Jordan Henderson knew exactly who to thank after opening the scoring in Englands 3-0 win against Senegal 6 MINS AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS Mbapp is bringing soccer to a new dimension at World Cup Cristiano Ronaldos precision 36 MINS AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS Poland finds its true level at World Cup, beaten by the best Poland heads home from the World Cup as the latest team unable to resist an inspired Kylian Mbapp 36 MINS AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS World Cup fans find booze at hotels Brian Dozier Jersey , Qatar's 1 liquor store Qatar's strict rules regarding alcohol have drawn attention as it hosts the World Cup 2 HOURS AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS Sterling leaves England World Cup camp after home break-in England forward Raheem Sterling has left his teams World Cup camp in Qatar and returned to the U.K. after a break-in at his home 2 HOURS AGO ASSOCIATED PRESS