The Miami Dolphins are interested in trading for Houston Texans star Jadeveon Clowney and recently met with the pass-rusher, according to ESPN and multiple reports.

Clowney has met with first-year coach Brian Flores and other members of the Dolphins organization, who hope to persuade the three-time Pro Bowler to accept a trade to Miami, according to ESPN and multiple reports.

The Texans have interest in Dolphins left tackle Laremy Tunsil, but Miami is believed to be unlikely to part with him in a Clowney deal, a league source told ESPN's Cameron Wolfe.

There is interest in completing a deal, but a trade isn't considered a guarantee or imminent at this time.

The NFL Network was first to report Miami's increased interest in Clowney. The Miami Herald also reported Tuesday that the Dolphins consider themselves the leading candidate to acquire Clowney, who has not yet signed his one-year franchise tender with the Texans.

Clowney, who was named to his third consecutive Pro Bowl last season, finished 2018 with 47 tackles, nine sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He also had 16 tackles for loss, which tied for ninth in the NFL last season, and he now has 53 tackles for loss over the past three seasons, which ranks third in the league.

Clowney, 26, the first overall pick of the 2014 draft, struggled with knee injuries early in his career, missing 15 games in his first two seasons. In 2016, he played through wrist and elbow injuries, appearing in 14 games and making the Pro Bowl for the first time. Since then, he has missed just one game over two seasons.

If there's one thing we always stress over as fantasy football managers, it's the selection of our annual draft order.

How many times have you opened up your draft room on ESPN, or arrived at your league's live draft table, only to react in horror to learn that you've drawn the final slot in your draft?

"ARRRRRGGGH! I'm picking 10th in my 10-team league, I'm DOOMED!!!"

It's an understandable reaction, considering how much time we put into the draft-preparation process, often going so far as to craft strategies around specific draft slots or individual players we're targeting in the first and/or second rounds. When we're then slotted into a range in the draft where we can't put our much-researched plan into action, it can be frustrating, to say the least.

Worry not, though, as below I've laid the groundwork for you to navigate smoothly through the first two rounds of your draft, regardless of the spur-of-the-moment draft slot you draw. This column solves the proverbial puzzle of Rounds 1-2 strategy from each draft slot, for both 10- and 12-team leagues. Listed at each draft slot is a list of the most likely candidates available to you in both Rounds 1 and 2, as well as any strategic considerations you'll need, including the possible ramifications on your picks in subsequent rounds.

This examination is for an ESPN standard PPR (point per reception) league.

Draft Slot 1

Round 1 (Pick 1 overall): This has to be a running back, considering the massive value relative to replacement that the best at the position provides, and Saquon Barkley, the position's top scorer last season and the man we project to lead it again by 20.3 PPR fantasy points over Ezekiel Elliott (whose holdout lowers his draft value), is the obvious standout among a field of three. Those with particularly strong opinions of Christian McCaffrey (projected 25.3 points behind Barkley) or Alvin Kamara (projected 5.7 behind McCaffrey) could pick either.

Round 2 (Pick 20 in 10-team, Pick 24 in 12-team): Fingers crossed that someone slips in a 10-team league, because I've got a clear top 19 overall before I draw a "tier line," meaning that the dream scenario has Nick Chubb, Dalvin Cook, Tyreek Hill or Odell Beckham Jr. lasting. Mike Evans wouldn't be a bad prize otherwise. In a 12-team league, a running back will probably need to be one of your second- or third-round picks, with Leonard Fournette, Kerryon Johnson or Devonta Freeman the ones most likely to still be around.

Tristan's best start: Barkley/Evans in 10-team, Barkley/Johnson in 12-team.

Draft Slot 2

Round 1 (Pick 2): I've got Barkley as the clear top pick from the aforementioned three-running-back Tier 1, and assuming he's the pick at No. 1 overall, the second pick is simply a matter of your personal preference between McCaffrey or Kamara. I prefer Kamara only because I've got a hair more confidence in the Saints' offense, the height of his statistical floor, as well as my projection that he gets more goal-line carries of the two, but -- again -- the margin is razor-thin.

An aside: If we had a promise that Elliott, last season's No. 5 running back scorer in PPR leagues (thanks in large part to his receiving targets increasing by 150%), would take the field in Week 1, he'd be the guy to get right here. But we don't, and the memories of last season's No. 2 overall pick on average, Le'Veon Bell, holding out for the entire year are still too fresh for most.

Round 2 (Pick 19 in 10-team, Pick 23 in 12-team): I waffle between whether the No. 1, 2 or 3 slot is the most favorable in 10-team leagues, since as mentioned above, I've got that "tier line" drawn in my rankings after the top 19. Here, I'd take whatever is left of those 19 regardless of position: Chubb? Hill? And it's not like those in 12-team leagues are in much worse shape. Wide receiver will probably be the richest position, with Evans, Antonio Brown, Keenan Allen or Adam Thielen available.

Tristan's best start: Kamara/Hill in 10-team, Kamara/Allen in 12-team.

Draft Slot 3

Round 1 (Pick 3): Feast upon the leftovers from the Barkley/Kamara/McCaffrey tier. As the picks pass, however, the less scary taking the chance on Elliott becomes. The 3-slot is a great place to be in a 10-team league this season, because it guarantees you one of the top three running backs, as well as either one of the top seven wide receivers or another top-10 running back in the second round. That's an awfully solid start.

Round 2 (Pick 18 in 10-team, Pick 22 in 12-team): If Travis Kelce went considerably earlier than this in your draft, resist the urge to take either Zach Ertz or George Kittle here (or with the 1- or 2-slots). I've got both graded as third-rounders, and would rather first build with top-12 running back or top-10 wide receiver talent. A McCaffrey/Brown pairing in a 12-team league would be a strong one, giving you a good high-floor/consistent base in a PPR format, thanks to their receiving target total, which should contend for the league's lead.

Tristan's best start: McCaffrey/Chubb in 10-team, McCaffrey/Brown in 12-team.

Draft Slot 4

Round 1 (Pick 4): Now things get interesting, though this might be the toughest of the first-round spots from which to decide. Is it Elliott time, or should he be allowed to slip a few spots further (some offsite ADP sources have his low-end selection at 11th overall)? If a "safe" pick is your aim, then the top wide receiver tier comes into play, including DeAndre Hopkins, Julio Jones, Davante Adams and possibly Michael Thomas. David Johnson has become an increasingly popular pick at fourth overall, for those who worry about Elliott's holdout yet want to begin with a running back. It's probably wisest to take a known Week 1 option here.

Round 2 (Pick 17 in 10-team, Pick 21 in 12-team): If you took Hopkins (or another wide receiver) in Round 1, here's hoping that either Cook or Chubb remains for you in a 10-team league in Round 2, which seems to have slightly greater than 50-50 odds, looking at industry ADPs. Fournette is the most logical running back partner for Hopkins in a 12-team league, but otherwise, it's smarter to go wide receiver/wide receiver with an Evans, Allen or Brown, then take a running back like Freeman, Kerryon Johnson, Damien Williams or Aaron Jones in Round 3. Don't fear waiting on a running back from this slot!

Tristan's best start: Hopkins/Cook in 10-team, Hopkins/Fournette in 12-team.

Draft Slot 5

Round 1 (Pick 5): I've got Hopkins as my No. 1 wide receiver for 2019, and our PPR projections agree, so if David Johnson is gone, this is a wise time to shift to the wideouts and take the top name on the board. Any of the players remaining from the fourth pick makes a strong choice here, but if Hopkins went fourth and David Johnson remains, this is a wise time to scoop up the running back.

Round 2 (Pick 16 in 10-team, Pick 20 in 12-team): There's no reason any of the top five wide receivers should remain at this stage, and if either JuJu Smith-Schuster or Beckham is available, they're slam-dunk picks for those in 10-team leagues (and outrageous steals if somehow there in 12-teamers). This is a good spot at which to grab either Cook or Chubb, otherwise. For those in 12-team leagues, the 5-slot is a rough place to be, unless you're much more confident in Brown's prospects with the Oakland Raiders than I am (not that I'm lacking in confidence, but I don't think he belongs among the top seven at the position). I've got a line drawn behind the top 11 running backs, top seven wide receivers and No. 1 tight end, totaling 19 selections, making the 20th pick overall a toughie. Fournette is the best running back choice here; Evans, Allen or Brown the top wide receivers; and I'd resist taking either Kittle or Ertz this soon.

Tristan's best start: David Johnson/Beckham in 10-team, David Johnson/Evans in 12-team.

Draft Slot 6

Round 1 (Pick 6): Elliott probably shouldn't be allowed to slip much further than this, though looping Bell into the group discussed in the 4-slot still gives a fantasy manager a strong field from which to choose a "safer" option. I'd take the chance on Elliott -- especially in a 12-team league, where the best running back likely to remain at Pick 19 will probably be Fournette. In a 10-team league, that running back could be Cook or Chubb, making a wide receiver more palatable at Pick 6.

Round 2 (Pick 15 in 10-team, Pick 19 in 12-team): Fantasy managers locked into the 6-slot -- or the 4- or 5- or 7-slot, depending upon where Elliott got picked -- need only consider the possibility that the Cowboys back is not available for you in Week 1, which is why going running back/running back makes the most sense for any such team in a 10-team league. It's not outrageous for a manager in a 10-team league to grab either Cook or Chubb, though it's possible that one in a 12-team league could find only Fournette, Kerryon Johnson, Freeman or a lower-ranked running back of their choice as the best available remaining options. Don't pass up the opportunity to pair up Elliott with a rock-solid wide receiver like Beckham or Hill, if your league has drafted running backs heavily up to this point.

Tristan's best start: Elliott/Thomas in 10-team, Elliott/Hill in 12-team.

Draft Slot 7

Round 1 (Pick 7): The best running back remaining on the board is likely to be Bell, an entirely fair selection this soon. If six consecutive running backs (including Elliott) began your draft, though, it's time to shift to those wide receivers. In all likelihood, this will become a decision between Bell, Jones and Adams in most leagues.

Round 2 (Pick 14 in 10-team, Pick 18 in 12-team): What's nice about the 7-slot is that it's the final one that guarantees you a top-nine running back, top-four wide receiver or No. 1 tight end Kelce, all of whom I think should be universally regarded top-15 overall selections in 10-team leagues. In 12-team leagues, the worst-case scenario has you choosing between running backs Cook or Chubb or wide receiver Hill, still solid pickings. This is the latest in a 10-team league that I'd allow Todd Gurley II to slide.

Tristan's best start: Bell/Smith-Schuster in 10-team, Bell/Beckham in 12-team.

Draft Slot 8

Round 1 (Pick 8): The 8- and 9-slots in either 10- or 12-team leagues seem destined for near-identical outcomes this season, with their managers likely picking from among the Jones/Adams/Thomas/Smith-Schuster tier in the first round and a running back from the Joe Mixon/Gurley/James Conner tier in the second. That said, there's still a chance that teams drafting out of the 8-spot could still find Bell there for the taking. Otherwise, this is the first spot where the value margins between the teams' first- and second-round picks are razor-thin; I've got my Nos. 8 through 17 players overall in the rankings valued awfully similarly, and there's no shame in going with your personal preference at either spot. Even if your league has drafted the running-back position aggressively through the first seven picks, resist the temptation to reach for Mixon, Gurley or Conner this early.

Round 2 (Pick 13 in 10-team, Pick 17 in 12-team): An 8-slot team might wind up lucky, getting a preferred running back in Round 1, affording it the choice between either a borderline top-10 running back, a top-five wide receiver or the No. 1 tight end in Round 2. Among the back-half draft slots, No. 8 is probably in the best position to go value regardless of position with the first two picks, knowing that it's still probable that there will be a top-20 running back there for the taking in Round 3. If Bell was there for you in Round 1, I'd consider going for domination at the running back position, pairing him up with Gurley -- it's risky with those two, yes, but think about the upside -- or Mixon in a 10-team league, or Conner, Cook or Chubb in a 12-teamer.

Tristan's best start: Jones/Conner in 10-team, Jones/Chubb in 12-team.

Draft Slot 9

Round 1 (Pick 9): Adams and Jones cannot be allowed to sneak past the 9-slot, gifting two of the three best wide receivers in fantasy football to the No. 10 team in a 10-team league. Take the best one that remains, though this is the spot where top tight end Kelce as well as wide receiver Beckham join the fray. In defense of Kelce's inclusion -- a tight end in the first round might seem like an unusual strategy, considering the history of 21st century fantasy football -- he was the No. 6 finisher overall using value based drafting (VBD) calculations in 2018, and he's still a go-to guy for the game's most talented young quarterback.

Round 2 (Pick 12 in 10-team, Pick 16 in 12-team): Considering the likelihood that teams drafting out of the 9-slot will wind up with a wide receiver as their top option off the board, a running back is a wise target for those squads in Round 2. Gurley has lingered as far as the 12th pick in a lot of early drafts, and as late as the end of the round in a few offsite drafts (judging by ADP results). There's a good chance teams in this slot will be looking at a running back from the Mixon/Gurley/Conner/Cook/Chubb group. In a 10-team league, though, there's a real chance that Kelce or Jones might last.

Tristan's best start: Adams/Gurley in 10-team, Adams/Cook in 12-team.

Draft Slot 10

Round 1 (Pick 10): Here's where the 10- versus 12-team league angle becomes important, because the elite running back pool drains more quickly in the latter than former. That Kelce advantage relative to replacement at the tight end position becomes more tantalizing at the 10-slot in either league type, but taking him there in a 12-teamer might result in Mixon, Gurley and Conner all being gone before Pick 15. I'd rather "reach" for Mixon here, knowing that either Kelce, Gurley, Conner, Smith-Schuster or Thomas is guaranteed to remain in Round 2, rather than take Kelce and feel forced to "reach" for Cook or Chubb at Pick 15. It's different, of course, for those who have a particularly strong opinion about Cook or Chubb.

Round 2 (Pick 11 in 10-team, Pick 15 in 12-team): Fantasy managers in 10-team leagues get their pick from the top tight end (Kelce), a member of the RB1 class (Mixon, Gurley or Conner) or a top-five receiver (probably Smith-Schuster or Thomas), while those in 12-team leagues enjoy the leftovers from any of the top 10 running backs (adding Cook) or top six wide receivers (adding Beckham). It's not a bad place to be, despite having the look of a low draft slot.

Tristan's best start: Kelce/Mixon in 10-team, Mixon/Thomas in 12-team.

Draft Slot 11 (12-team leagues)

Round 1 (Pick 11): Assuming that Mixon went at Pick 10, Kelce is every bit as strong a choice as is either Smith-Schuster or Thomas, especially since you're guaranteed to get either of those wide receivers or your choice between Gurley and Conner at Pick 14.

Round 2 (Pick 14): Leftovers, and warm, delicious, the-day-after leftovers at that. The worst-case scenario for those in the 11-slot is taking a wide receiver in Round 1, then finding that another wide receiver -- Smith-Schuster, Thomas or Beckham -- is the strongest choice remaining. More likely, Gurley or Conner will remain, and while Gurley's injury questions throughout the offseason have lingered, he's still far too talented to allow him to slip much further than 14th overall.

Tristan's best start: Kelce/Conner.

Draft Slot 12 (12-team leagues)

Round 1 (Pick 12): The odds of Smith-Schuster/Thomas bookend picks is excellent, though the danger in it is that 20 running backs go off the board before your third- and fourth-round bookend picks at 36/37 overall, potentially pushing you into "reach" selections of Marlon Mack, James White or Sony Michel. The 12-slot is my least preferred in a 12-team league, an opinion that might seem obvious but more so for what it means in Rounds 3-6 than in Rounds 1-2. If a Gurley or Conner is available to you with either of these bookend picks, take one and don't risk being forced to piece the position together in the later rounds.

Round 2 (Pick 13): Smith-Schuster, Thomas or Beckham should remain available, as should either of Gurley or Conner. Again, I'm against the zero-RBs strategy, especially in this slot in a 12-team league this year.

Tristan's best start: Smith-Schuster/Gurley.

The wife, child and mother-in-law of a Double-A pitcher in the Tampa Bay Rays organization were killed Tuesday in a small Virginia town, with police arresting the brother-in-law of right-hander Blake Bivens and charging him with three counts of first-degree homicide, sources told ESPN.

Matthew Thomas Bernard, 18, of Keeling, Virginia, was arrested after a manhunt that dispatched dozens of police officers around the community near the Virginia-North Carolina border.

Police said they did not know the motive for the killings. Bernard, who was naked at the time of his arrest, led authorities on a short on-foot chase. Police have not named the victims.

In a statement, the Rays said: "Earlier today we learned that Blake Bivens, a pitcher with our Double-A affiliate, the Montgomery Biscuits, suffered a terrible family tragedy in southern Virginia. Our hearts are broken for Blake."

The Biscuits canceled a doubleheader scheduled for Tuesday in Chattanooga, Tennessee, due to what the team called a "tragic event."

CEO Lou DiBella later tweeted a statement.

A statement from CEO & Managing Owner, Lou DiBella. pic.twitter.com/Uocm0juKb7

— Montgomery Biscuits (@BiscuitBaseball) August 28, 2019

Bivens, 24, was chosen by Tampa Bay in the fourth round of the 2014 draft out of high school in Danville, Virginia. After spending most of his career as a starting pitcher, he transitioned to a relief role this year and was 4-0 with a 3.95 ERA.

NEW YORK -- Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, the odds-on favorite to win National League Rookie of the Year, reached another milestone Tuesday night, setting the single-season franchise record by hitting his 42nd home run.

Alonso, 24, took an outside fastball from Chicago Cubs starter Yu Darvish deep to right field to lead off the fourth inning. According to Elias Sports Bureau, Alonso is the first rookie to set the franchise mark for his team since Johnny Rizzo did it for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1938.

"As soon as that ball came off my bat, I knew right away," Alonso said after the game. "I mean it's become a dream come true so far this year and I just feel really blessed."

Alonso received a curtain call for his record-setting blast, which gave the Mets a 1-0 lead.

The previous franchise mark of 41 home runs was set by Todd Hundley in 1996 and matched by Carlos Beltran in 2006.

"It's a pleasure to have a fine young player like Pete Alonso break my record," Beltran said in a statement. "I have not met Pete personally, but people have told me he plays the game with passion and doesn't give up on any at-bat. He has had great success in his first year. Again, my congrats, Pete."

Hundley also praised Alonso.

"To me, he's more than a power hitter, he's a pure hitter," Hundley said in a statement. "I have seen five or six of his games and he keeps getting better and better. He has just had a tremendous year. Congrats, Pete, you deserve all the records you have broken."

Alonso's homer was his lone hit in four at-bats, and the Cubs rallied to win 5-2.

Earlier this month, Alonso set the National League rookie record for homers in a season, previously set by Cody Bellinger of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017. Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees holds the major league record for home runs in a season by a rookie with 52 in 2017.

"It's crazy to think the small selection of people that get to actually play in the big leagues and the even smaller selection of people that get to those milestones and it's mind-boggling," Alonso said. "I just wanna keep being Pete Alonso and just stay true to who I am and stay true to who I am not just as a person but as a player."

HOUSTON -- Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander was ejected from Tuesday night's 15-1 win against the Tampa Bay Rays in the sixth inning.

With one out and the Astros leading 9-0, Verlander yelled at home plate umpire Pat Hoberg after a 2-2 pitch to Tommy Pham was called a ball. Pham doubled to center field on Verlander's next pitch.

After the hit, Verlander yelled at Hoberg at least three times before he was ejected as Pham reached second base.

Verlander continued to jaw at Hoberg while he walked off the field and after he reached the dugout. Manager A.J. Hinch came on the field and talked to Hoberg for a couple of minutes before Brad Peacock took over for Verlander and play resumed.

"I didn't really think it was warranted," Verlander said after the game. "I think as an umpire, Pat needs to understand this is an emotional game. Sometimes when things don't go your way, you kinda let the umpire know it. I thought I did it about as respectful a way [as] I could with where my emotions were at. As the play was developing, I told him I thought it was a strike. He told me he thought it was ball. Went back a forth a little bit. Turned my back and expressed one more time I didn't think it was outside. Probably could have better language when I said that.

"In my history with umpires, I'm turning my back to the situation. I'm trying to just kinda vent at this point. I never called him a name. I never said anything egregious to him. Just expressed my displeasure with the call on the field."

Verlander allowed four hits and struck out four in 5⅓ innings. He is 16-5 with a 2.69 ERA and leads the majors in innings (184.0) and strikeouts (243).

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Kansas City Royals owner David Glass is negotiating to sell the team to local businessman John Sherman for more than $1 billion, sources familiar with the discussions told ESPN.

The potential deal, which multiple sources believe will be finalized, would transfer ownership to a group led by Sherman, who is currently a minority owner of the Cleveland Indians. Sherman would divest himself of his share of the Indians to buy the Royals from Glass, who purchased the team in 2000 for $96 million.

In a statement, the Royals organization said it is "not in a position to make any comments on the published speculation regarding any potential sale of the ball club," adding that no further statements would be made at this time.

The valuations of baseball franchises have skyrocketed in recent years, though the price of the Royals is expected to fall short of the most recent sale, when Bruce Sherman (no relation to John) bought the Miami Marlins for $1.2 billion.

Glass, 84, is the former CEO of Wal-Mart whose son Dan serves as team president. David Glass bore the brunt of criticism locally for his lack of spending until the Royals' ascent five years ago. They reached the World Series in 2014, and won a championship in 2015, the second in franchise history.

The sale could happen around the same time the franchise locks into a new local TV deal with Fox Sports that could pay the team around $50 million a year for a decade-plus, according to a source. That would more than double its current local TV rights fee.

John Sherman, an energy entrepreneur, bought a piece of the Indians from owner Paul Dolan in August 2016. He has increased his investment since but would need to sell it were the deal for the Royals consummated.

The possibility of a sale was first reported by The Athletic.

The best teams in St. Louis Cardinals history -- a history that includes 11 World Series titles, second only to the New York Yankees -- were built around stars: Dizzy Dean, Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, Ozzie Smith, Albert Pujols. When the Cardinals missed the playoffs last season for a third year in a row, the first time that had happened since 1999, a primary reason was the team didn't have a big star. Matt Carpenter led the team with 4.9 WAR, the first season the Cardinals didn't have at least one 5.0 WAR player since 1994, and the first time in a non-strike season since 1990.

So the front office went out and got the team the star it needed: Paul Goldschmidt, who finished sixth in the 2018 MVP voting and had averaged 6.1 WAR over the previous six seasons.

Except ... the best player on the first-place Cardinals has arguably been ... not Goldschmidt, not Carpenter, not Marcell Ozuna, but second baseman Kolten Wong, who led the team with 3.9 WAR heading into Tuesday's game in Milwaukee. In other words, the 2019 Cardinals are much like the 2018 Cardinals, only this team is trending upward at the right time, as their 6-3 win over the Brewers was their sixth victory in a row, ninth in 10 games and 15th in 18 games. After a painful sweep in Los Angeles in early August when they scored two runs in three games, the Cardinals were 58-55 and 3½ games out of first. Now they're 73-58 and three games up on the Cubs in the NL Central.

Wong didn't start on Tuesday, but came off the bench and delivered two clutch hits. In the seventh inning he pinch-hit and delivered an RBI double to give the Cardinals a 4-1 lead. In the ninth, his RBI single extended the lead to 6-3. The two other biggest hits came from Yadier Molina: a home run in the fifth and then a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh. The Brewers tried to make it interesting in the bottom of the ninth as an infield single and a walk brought the tying run to the plate against Carlos Martinez, but Dexter Fowler made a leaping grab at the fence to end the game in heart-stopping fashion:

Has Wong really been the Cardinals best player? His offensive stat line certainly doesn't pop, with a .276/.359/.401 line and 31 extra-base hits. Heck, 18 players have already hit 31 home runs. Wong does all those things that don't necessarily show up in the box score. He has that respectable .359 on-base percentage, so he's not chewing up outs the plate. He has played a terrific second base, leading all major league second basemen with plus-14 defensive runs saved (nobody else is above plus-6) and should be a lock to win his first Gold Glove. He has also been superb on the bases, swiping 17 bases in 19 attempts.

Of course, the big point here isn't that Wong is some sort of MVP candidate or something. He's not. The point is the Cardinals have surged past the Cubs because of solid depth throughout the roster. The Cubs may have Javier Baez and Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, but they're staring up at the Cardinals right now despite their edge in star power.

Two big keys for the Cardinals of late have been starter Jack Flaherty, who is pitching like the Cy Young candidate I thought he might be back in spring training. He's 4-1 over his past nine starts with a 0.80 ERA -- that's five runs allowed in 56 ⅓ innings, as batters have hit just .144/.221/.222 against him. This is looking a lot like that run Jake Arrieta had in the second half of 2015 when he carried the Cubs into the playoffs. Flaherty probably got going too late to have a chance at getting into the NL Cy Young race (his season ERA is 3.32), but he's the hottest starter in baseball right now.

Then there's bullpen, really the team's secret ingredient. The Cards are second in the majors with a 3.64 bullpen ERA (only Cleveland is better) and the relief crew hasn't missed a beat since Jordan Hicks went down with Tommy John surgery. Martinez is 16 for 17 in save chances as closer (he has two other blown saves from earlier in the season as a setup guy) and while he's been bend-but-don't-break at times, he's mostly getting the job done. Manager Mike Shildt even used him like an old-fashioned fireman on Tuesday for a five-out save. Given Martinez's history as a starter, Shildt should consider doing that more often.

The guy nobody talks about is Giovanny Gallegos, acquired last year in the Luke Voit trade -- the one everyone keeps mentioning as some sort of monumental steal for the Yankees. Gallegos did give up a run on Tuesday, but he has a 2.07 ERA with 80 strikeouts in 61 innings. He owns a wipeout slider: Hitters are batting an anemic .133 against it with a 43 percent strikeouts rate.

Anyway, the playoff math has changed very quickly. Before this 15-of-18 stretch, the Cardinals' playoffs odds on FanGraphs were 29 percent overall and 10.5 percent chance to win the division. Now they're at 86 percent overall and 59.7 percent to win the division. Oh, and Flaherty starts Wednesday as the Cardinals go for the sweep of the Brewers.

In other words: Maybe the Cardinals don't need a star to win the NL Central.

Cubs take opener at Citi Field: Buster Olney and I discussed this series briefly on the Baseball Tonight podcast earlier in the day, with Buster suggesting this series has a little "do or die" feeling to it if one of the teams gets swept. I pointed out that the Mets had played really well at home all season until the Braves swept them over the weekend, while the Cubs' road woes have been well documented.

"No way the Mets will get swept in this series," I said. When Pete Alonso rocked Citi Field in the bottom of the fourth with his franchise-record 42nd home run, to give the Mets a 1-0 lead, it certainly seemed like it would be the Mets' night. Instead, Addison Russell and Baez clubbed two-run homers off Marcus Stroman in the fifth and sixth innings. Baez also added an RBI double and made a leaping grab in the field. Yu Darvish settled down after the Alonso home run and pitched eight fantastic innings. By the way, Darvish over his past nine starts: 55 ⅓ IP, 41 H, 3 BB, 72 SO, 11 HR, 2.93 ERA.

Anyway, that's four losses in a row for the Mets, with the offense scoring one, one and two runs in three of those games. The good news: Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom start the next two games. I'll stick to my comment that the Mets won't get swept.

Verlander cruises in Cy Young contender showdown ... until he gets ejected: Maybe Justin Verlander just wanted to go watch some US Open. With the Astros up 9-0 in the sixth inning after routing Charlie Morton, Verlander was cruising along with a four-hit shutout when he voiced displeasure with home-plate umpire Pat Hoberg. Verlander thought he had struck out Tommy Pham looking on a 2-2 fastball on the outsider corner and Pham doubled on the next pitch.

Verlander had just four strikeouts at the time, so his streak of seven consecutive double-digit strikeout games was likely to end anyway. Verlander also may have inched ahead of teammate Gerrit Cole in the Cy Young race, at least until Cole pitches Wednesday:

Verlander: 16-5, 2.69 ERA, 184 IP, 243 SO, 33 HR
Cole: 15-5, 2.75 ERA, 163 ⅔ IP, 238 SO, 24 HR

(This is where we point out that Mike Minor actually leads Verlander in Baseball-Reference WAR and Lance Lynn leads in FanGraphs WAR. Maybe it's more than two-pitcher race. Closer examination may be warranted.)

Don't forget Lucas Giolito in that discussion: The Twins beat Giolito and the White Sox 3-1, but the young right-hander and another superb game, allowed two runs in six innings with nine K's -- this being the Twins, both runs were via solo home runs, from Marwin Gonzalez and Jonathan Schoop, both in the second inning:

A good note here on Giolito's high volume of swing and misses of late:

Lucas Giolito last 4 starts

Aug 11 - 13 K, 20 swinging strikes
Aug 16 - 11 K, 23 swinging strikes
Aug 21 - 12 K, 24 swinging strikes
Aug 27 - 9 K, 18 swinging strikes

— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) August 28, 2019

Giolito is 14-7 with a 3.20 ERA, but began the day fourth among AL starters in Baseball-Reference WAR (behind Minor, Verlander and Lance Lynn) and fourth in FanGraphs WAR (behind Lynn, Morton and Cole). Giolito had two bad outings in July and I was worried that maybe his first half was a fluke, but he has now had a string of six straight quality starts and eight in his last nine outings. Those concerns have been put to rest.

Matchup of the day: We'll get to Bryce Harper versus Felipe Vazquez in a moment. The Pirates scored the go-ahead in the top off the ninth to take a 5-4 lead. Rather, the Phillies gave them the go-ahead run. Hector Neris walked two batters, but appeared to get out of the inning with a double play -- except Rhys Hoskins dropped the throw from Jean Segura, the ball bounded away towards home plate and Adam Frazier scored from second base. An ugly, ugly run given up by the Phillies.

Bottom of the ninth, two outs, nobody on, Harper swinging with all his ferocity to tie the game. Vazquez goes 99 (swing and miss), 101 (swing and miss), 100 (outside), slider (outside), 101 (foul), 100 (foul) ... and then drops in a curveball:

That's not fair. #RaiseIt pic.twitter.com/7qsxJjQxpY

— Pirates (@Pirates) August 28, 2019

I mean, that's just not fair. What a duel. Tough loss for the Phillies. (Oh, and Harper is hitting .179/.319/.354 with the bases empty and .341/.433/.668 with runners on.)

Euan Crumley visits a stunning Algarve location which will provide the stage for a new running festival in November

Picture a typical November day in Britain. Now picture the thought of heading out for your usual run as those dark, damp and cold conditions settle in.

It can be a drudge to train through those winter months. It’s at that very point in the year when summer feels like a distant memory and when most of us crave a little sun on our faces, to escape to warmer climes and find ourselves in an environment which is tailor made for activity and training. Quinta do Lago is just that place.

Just a short flight away from the UK and a mere 20-minute taxi ride from Faro airport, this stunningly beautiful resort in the Algarve will play host to an ambitious new premium running festival, Run Quinta, which will cater for all abilities and allow participants to challenge themselves in truly spectacular, top-class surroundings.

The festival weekend of November 8-10 will see the staging of a road half-marathon (on November 9), followed by 5km and 10km events a day later which travel along the beachside trails of the Ria Formosa Natural Park.

It promises to be a truly immersive experience and an opportunity to sample the kind of facilities to which professional athletes are accustomed.

Run Quinta event HQ will be The Campus, a state of the art multi-sports training hub which is regularly used by elite sportspeople. The Ireland rugby team will be fine-tuning their World Cup preparations there while a number of English Premier League outfits, not to mention Paris St Germain, have taken advantage of the remarkable facilities on offer.

Olympic triathletes Jonny and Alistair Brownlee are no strangers to The Campus either and, as you wander through the impressive grounds which are a hive of sporting activity, it’s not hard to see why.

All manner of sports are catered for – from tennis, to swimming to cycling, while the high performance gyms, exercise classes, sauna and ice baths add a different dimension to training.

The 650m fitness trail which surrounds The Campus will represent the finishing lap to the Run Quinta half-marathon, run on the resort’s wide and welcoming roads which are bordered by some truly breathtaking properties.

Once across the finish line the runners can relax, unwind and celebrate their achievements at Dano’s Sports Bar – a bustling, substantial venue serving excellent food which will host a post-race party that features live entertainment.

The Run Quinta weekend is about so much more than running. Entrants to the festival will have access to many of the facilities
at The Campus, thus making the exclusive feel much more inclusive and adding to the enveloping nature of the experience.

There is the option of attending a charity dinner on the Saturday evening, while the party atmosphere is intended to move on to the Sunday, too, as the running focus moves down towards the immaculate trails surrounding the Ria Formosa – you can see them spreading out beneath you from the plane window as you come in to land – for the 5km and 10km events.

These start and finish at The Shack, another lively, high-quality bar and restaurant which will provide a vibrant and spectacular backdrop to an area which is just crying out to be explored and run on.

During my visit I stayed at the Magnolia Hotel, which is just a short warm-up away from the start lines for the weekend events.

Runners who opt to book one of the inclusive three-day packages on offer (starting from the great value price of £299 per person) will also stay at what is an immaculate, welcoming venue which houses a restaurant, heated outdoor swimming pool, gym, spa and even a cinema which can be booked for groups on request.

As well as the 74 rooms there are also seven cottages available to book on the property.

Every base has been covered for Run Quinta participants and it looks set to be the ideal opportunity for athletics club groups to get away, provide members with an autumn target to aim for and to celebrate all that is great about running.

Temperatures are still expected to hit around 20 degrees centigrade for race weekend and there really can be few better places for some warm weather training. Virgin Radio’s Chris Evans, who recently interviewed AW publisher and event ambassador Wendy Sly, is intending to take part and there are plenty of reasons to join in. This is a festival which really could run and run.