LEADING OFF: Brewers' Williams punches wall, breaks hand

A look at what's happening around the majors on Thursday:

BAD BREAK

This was not the kind of punchout Milwaukee reliever Devin Williams wanted: The valuable setup man could miss the entire postseason after breaking his pitching hand when he punched a wall.

Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns said the right-hander likely will require surgery. He said there’s an “outside chance” the 2020 NL Rookie of the Year could be available for the World Series if the Brewers get that far.

The main setup man for All-Star closer Josh Hader, the 27-year-old Williams is 8-2 with a 2.50 ERA in 58 games this season. He has struck out 87 in 54 innings and opponents are batting .186 against him.

Williams hurt himself on the day the Brewers clinched the NL Central crown.

“After our celebration, I went out to have a few drinks,” Williams said Wednesday. “On my way home, I was a little frustrated and upset, and I punched a wall. That’s how it happened.”

Williams apologized to the Brewers and their fans for the circumstances that led to his injury.

“I’m pretty upset with myself,” he said. “There’s no one to blame but me. I feel like I’ve let my team down — our coaching staff, our fans, everyone. I know how big of a role that I play on this team. There’s a lot of people counting on me. I guess all I can do now is cheer my team on and learn from it and don’t make that same mistake in the future.”

HE’S MADE HIS PITCH

Angels star Shohei Ohtani is finished on the mound this year, with manager Joe Maddon saying it was a mutual decision to have the two-way sensation skip a possible start on the final day of the season.

“There’s really nothing left to prove on the mound,” Maddon said Wednesday.

A strong AL MVP candidate, Ohtani...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/LEADING-OFF-Brewers-Williams-punches-wall-16497848.php