Neues » Encarnacion underwent a

(SportsNetwork. Custom Shirts Cheap .com) - The Pittsburgh Pirates are assured of going to the postseason, but they face a must-win situation today if they want to go into the playoffs as NL Central champions. The Pirates enter the final day of the regular season a game behind St. Louis for the division lead. The Cardinals play at Arizona later in the day. The Pirates need to win and have the Cardinals lose to force a one-game playoff at Busch Stadium to determine the division champion. The Bucs will either host the Giants in a wild card contest Tuesday or start the NL Division Series at the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday. The Pirates suffered a 10-6 loss yesterday when Cincinnatis Ramon Santiago hit a grand slam in the bottom of the 10th inning. The Cardinals then lost to the Diamondbacks. Gerrit Cole gets an opportunity to keep the Pirates in the chase for the division title. The right-hander won his last start Tuesday in Atlanta when the Bucs secured a postseason spot. He has won each of his last four starts and is 8-1 in 10 career starts during September. Cole suffered a 7-5 loss to the Reds at Great American Ball Park on April 15. Johnny Cueto goes into the final day of the regular season with motivation as well. The righty is 12 strikeouts shy of 1,000 for his career and will try to become the first Reds pitcher to win 20 games since Danny Jackson in 1988 (23-8) and the first Reds righty since Sammy Ellis (22-10) and Jim Maloney (20-9) both won 20 games in 1965. Cuetos career-high 235 strikeouts are the most by a Reds pitcher since Mario Soto had 242 in 1983. A winner in four of his last five decisions, Cueto is 17-4 with a 2.26 ERA in 26 games all-time against the Pirates. Starling Marte has a 12-game hitting streak going into the final day, while Pirates teammate Josh Harrison has a career-high 15-game streak. Cincinnati leads the season series, 11-7. Custom Shirts China . The best round belonged to Pat Perez. Tiger Woods didnt come close to claiming either Thursday in the Farmers Insurance Open, where the seven-time champion failed to break par in the opening round for first time in his career. Best Custom Shirts . TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie tweeted Monday morning that Callahan - who is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, is now open to a six-year contract at less than $7 million per season. http://www.shirtscustom.us/ . Here is a look at all the moves through the first week of NHL Free Agency. The most significant deals will get the full Numbers Game column treatment, like these:Briere-for-Parenteau trade.NEW YORK – As the Blue Jays struggle toward the seasons finish, its becoming increasingly difficult to find something positive to discuss. Heres one: Dioner Navarros play. The 30-year-old catcher told TSN.ca hes proven something to himself during his first year in Toronto. “That I can play everyday,” said Navarro. “I know I can hit. I know I can call a game. I know I can throw but Ive still got it on me that I cant play everyday. Obviously Im throwing the last bullets out there.” Navarro got the start behind the plate on Saturday afternoon, marking the 107th time this season hed caught at least part of a game. The last time Navarro squatted in more than 100 games was back in 2009 when he played for the Tampa Bay Rays. His season has been welcome in Toronto following J.P. Arencibias disastrous 2013. In that regard, it could have been Navarro or anybody else putting on the tools of ignorance for the Blue Jays this season: the replacement was, by default, going to be an improvement over the predecessor. But Navarro is third on the club with 68 runs batted-in, far exceeding his previous career high of 54 set in 2008, the year of his only All-Star selection and the season in which his Rays lost in the World Series to Philadelphia. His 101 weighted runs created plus (wRC+) isnt spectacular but is the second highest of his career. Navarros 12 home runs are one off his career high set last season with the Chicago Cubs. Hes developed a strong rapport with veteran pitchers (Mark Buehrle) and youngsters (Marcus Stroman) alike. While there are rumblings about his defence, specifically getting down on balls in the dirt to prevent wild pitches, Navarro is middle-of-the-pack (21 per cent) when it comes to throwing out base stealers. Navarros enjoyed his return to the American League East, “Where I grew up,” he said. Hes enjoyed proving his doubters wrong. The funny thing is he was among them. “You can talk all you want and obviously my mindset is I can do this, but there was still a little doubt, especially being a backup for four years straight and not having to catch more than 50 games a year and you kind of doubt yourself, like can you still do this?” said Navarro. “When I got the opportunity obviously I jumped in and its just been so satisfying.” Nobody mistook Navarro for Arnold Schwarzenegger when he arrived in Dunedin in February and while itts doubtful hell be chiseled when players report next spring, Navarro will consult with his personal trainer at the end of the season to develop a more comprehensive plan for 2015. Custom Shirts Outlet. He stayed off the disabled list but Navarro did have a minor issue with his quadriceps earlier in the year. “Im going to try a different program this offseason,” said Navarro. “I felt great throughout the whole season but there were days that [it] wasnt as great but weve still got to grind it out so Im going to prepare myself this offseason for those days and hopefully Ill be better next year.” Theres reason for Navarro to be motivated. Next season will be a contract year. Hell also be working with a young pitching staff that has the potential to be elite. “Our future is bright. Our future is really bright,” said Navarro. “Weve got Stroman. Weve got Sanchez, Norris, Pompeys looking really good. Goins is showing some improvement. Everybody, man, everybody. Encarnacion, Bautista, myself, so Im really excited.” LIND NURSING BACK PAIN He wouldnt have started anyway with the Yankees throwing left-hander Chris Capuano on Saturday, but Adam Linds recurring back issues have returned. “Lindys back locked up on him a little bit (Friday) night,” said manager John Gibbons. “Hopefully its not a long-term thing with Lindy but you probably wont see him (Saturday).” Lind has been limited to 91 games this season, largely because of a fractured foot that cost him 28 games in July and August. He did miss 17 games in April and May with a back strain. Used almost exclusively in a platoon scenario this season, Lind has posted a .357/.415/.548 slash line against right-handed pitchers. Thats elite level hitting despite a dip in power (six home runs compared to 23 last season). Linds .398 batting average on balls in play (BABIP) against right-handers this year is higher than his career .315. ENCARNACIONS MRI Edwin Encarnacion is dealing with back pain but it isnt significant enough to keep him out of the lineup. Encarnacion underwent a MRI on Friday afternoon. Manager John Gibbons said the imaging revealed mild inflammation. The 31-year-old homered has shown no ill effects. Playing as the designated hitter, Encarnacion hit a two-run home run in the first inning of Friday nights game and doubled home Jose Bautista in the first inning on Saturday. ' ' '