Author: Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY

The Yankees handed the Twins their 14th straight postseason loss, a major league record, to take a 1-0 lead in the ALDS.

The Twins are playing the Yankees for the sixth time in the postseason since 2003. In the previous five meetings, the Yankees eliminated the Twins.

CC Sabathia, for the first time since his arrival as a free agent in 2009, is not on the Yankees’ playoff roster because of a shoulder injury.

St. Louis’ young right-hander put the team on his back in the second half, and will take center stage in his first postseason.

The Los Angeles Angels fired Brad Ausmus after one season, but Joe Maddon’s return to the franchise is not imminent with other jobs opening up.

The Cardinals had missed out on the postseason the past three years, but clinched the NL Central on the final day of the season.

The St. Louis Cardinals are back in the postseason for the first time since 2015, and clinched the NL Central with a win on the season’s final day.

In five years as the Cubs’ manager, Maddon reached the postseason four times and helped the club break a 108-year World Series drought.

USA TODAY Sports’ Bob Nightengale makes his picks for the 2019 award winners.