Teams Ready For World Series Tonight – MLB Roundup For Oct. 23rd

BOSTON (AP) — The Cardinals were in Boston for final workouts ahead of today's Game 1 of the World Series. St. Louis and the Red Sox gathered for practice and media sessions at Fenway Park in preparation for the Series opener.

St. Louis will send ace Adam Wainwright to mound in the Cardinals' first meeting with the Red Sox this season. Boston counters with lefty Jon Lester.

Allen Craig will be in the St. Louis lineup as the designated hitter, which will be used in all the games played in Boston.

When the Series shifts to St. Louis, no DH will be used. That has prompted Red Sox manager John Farrell to indicate that David Ortiz will step out of his usual designated hitter role to start at least once at first base for Games 3, 4 and if necessary, 5. Ortiz has only played six games in the field this season, but his 30 home runs and 103 RBIs are too potent an offensive weapon to leave him in the dugout.

UNDATED (AP) — Cincinnati Reds pitching coach Bryan Price is now the team's manager after accepting a three-year deal to replace Dusty Baker. The Reds reached the playoffs three times in the last four seasons under Baker but failed to win a playoff series, prompting his dismissal. Price has been one of the most successful pitching coaches in the majors but has never managed at any level.

In other baseball news:

— The San Francisco Giants and pitcher Tim Lincecum (LIHN'-she-kuhm) have agreed to a two-year, $35 million contract through 2015, pending a physical. Lincecum won the National League Cy Young Award in 2008 and 2009, but he's just 20-29 with a 4.76 ERA in 65 starts over the last two seasons. General manager Brian Sabean (SAY'-bee-ihn) said he wanted to lock up Lincecum's deal before he hit free agency next month.

— The Dodgers have agreed to a $28 million, four-year contract with Cuban prospect Alexander Guerrero. A person familiar with the deal says it calls for a $10 million signing bonus payable upon approval of the contract by Major League Baseball. The 26-year-old infielder defected from Cuba earlier this year and moved to Haiti. He has been training in the Dominican Republic.

— Mets pitcher Matt Harvey has undergone Tommy John surgery that will cause him to miss the 2014 season. Harvey went 9-5 with a 2.27 ERA and 191 strikeouts in 178 1/3 innings this year.

— The Dodgers have declined to pick up the 2014 contract option on bench coach Trey Hillman, although the team is exercising options on pitching coach Rick Honeycutt, first base coach Davey Lopes and third base coach Tim Wallach. Manager Don Mattingly is under contract through next season, although his status has yet to be confirmed.

— The Houston Astros have added four new coaches to their staff. Brent Strom was named pitching coach, Pat Listach first base coach, Craig Bjornson bullpen coach and Ralph Dickenson assistant hitting coach. The team also announced that third base coach Dave Trembley and former bench coach Eduardo Perez would switch positions for the upcoming season.