Pablo Reyes is making the most of his chance to earn a berth on the Pittsburgh

BRADENTON Jung-ho Kang Jersey , Fla. (AP) — Pirates‘ opening-day roster.The 25-year-old is 8 for 28 with two doubles and two home runs going into Friday night’s game against Tampa Bay. He’s had 31 plate appearances in 15 games, starting at second base, shortstop, center field and right field.Every day during pre-game workouts, he takes both grounders and fly balls.“When you are a utility guy, you have to practice at all the positions,” Reyes said. “You take advantage of the opportunities every day and do all you can do so you can help the team. I am working hard with this opportunity to help the team.”Reyes debuted Sept. 2 after seven minor league seasons and hit .293 with three home runs in 18 games.“For him to put up the quality at-bats that he did was impressive,” Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. “He did the defensive work. It was a good show. You only get one chance to make a first impression. He made a very favorable one.”Reyes started 172 games at second base in the minors, 142 at shortstop, 55 in center field and 25 at third base. He played left field and right field for the first time in his professional career after reaching Pittsburgh.Reyes also played winter ball in his native Dominican Republic during the offseason and made starts at second Francisco Cervelli Jersey , third, shortstop, left and right.“I spent my time in the Dominican practicing for all the different positions,” Reyes said. “I know that is what I have to do here. I tried to do everything I could to get ready for spring training. I’m here to help the club win games. I want to be ready. All I can do is go out and play baseball. That’s all I can do. If I can play every position, I’ll have a lot of opportunities to make the team.” A look at what’s happening around the majors today:NO OPENERS NEEDEDCy Young Award winners Justin Verlander and Corey Kluber will start the AL Division Series between the Astros and Indians at Minute Maid Park in a matchup that figures to buck the October trend of bullpen “openers.”Verlander, a 14-year veteran, believes the AL West champion Astros and AL Central champion Indians have the top two rotations in the AL. He thinks the performance of each team’s starters will be paramount to success.“Us and the Indians probably being 1 and 2, however you like to slice it, us and them, them and us http://www.piratesfanproshop.com/authentic-josh-bell-jersey ,” he said. “Pick your poison. We both have very defined starters who have a great track record and have good stuff. This should be a really fun series.”ON SALEChris Sale waited eight years to make his first postseason start and then another 365 days for a chance to put that memory behind him. The Red Sox left-hander will open Game 1 of the AL Division Series against the New York Yankees, one year after he was bombarded by the championship-bound Houston Astros in his playoff debut.“Last year, obviously, I got my feet wet. Didn’t do too well. But sometimes you learn from the bad more than the good,” Sale said Thursday, a day before the AL East rivals open their best-of-five series.He’ll oppose J.A. Happ at Fenway Park as the Yankees and Red Sox begin their first postseason series since the 2004 AL Championship Series.THE ACE AWAITSClayton Kershaw pitches Game 2 of the Dodgers‘ NLDS against Atlanta showing no signs that he’s miffed about being passed over for Game 1. Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts went with Hyun-Jin Ryu in the series opener at Dodger Stadium instead of the longtime face of the franchise, setting up Kershaw to pitch on five days of rest. Ryu responded with seven sharp innings in a 6-0 win.Roberts says the vibe with Kershaw is “great.” Kershaw can opt out of the final two years of his contract after the World Series.“Obviously, it’s a huge sacrifice for him,” Roberts said. “But to not let it influence his mind or psyche, that doesn’t surprise me.”Atlanta will counter with veteran Anibal Sanchez.QUIET COLORADOThe Rockies’ bats have gone mostly silent this October http://www.piratesfanproshop.com/authentic-josh-bell-jersey , a slump try to snap against Brewers starter Jhoulys Chacin in Game 2 of their NLDS at Miller Park. Colorado had just four hits in a 3-2, 10-inning loss Thursday, two days after beating the Chicago 2-1 in 13 innings in the wild-card game.At least they’ll get a respite from Milwaukee’s vaunted bullpen. Relief pitcher Brandon Woodruff pitched three hitless innings as the “opener” in Game 1 and the bullpen cruised until Jeremy Jeffress‘ ninth-inning hiccup. Chacin will be pitching on three days of rest against left-hander Tyler Anderson.FUTURE LOOKThree Cuban prospects, including top international free agent Victor Victor Mesa, will try out for major league scouts at Marlins Park. Also participating will be Mesa’s brother, Victor Mesa Jr., and pitcher Sandy Gaston. All teams are invited to attend. The Mesas, both outfielders, were recently declared free agents by Major League Baseball and can be signed by any team.