The 2014 Major League Baseball Playoffs are only weeks away, and for the first time two NSU baseball alumni are serving as major players in the hunt for a spot in the postseason. J.D. Martinez has been a power source in the Detroit Tigers lineup, and his play has led them to currently taking a 0.5 game lead in the American League Central Division. In the National League, Mike Fiers has solidified himself as a breakout star in 2014. He currently holds a 1.48 ERA and has won six games in seven starts, keeping the Milwaukee Brewers in the chase. They currently trail the Pittsburgh Pirates for the final wild card spot by 1.5 games.

Below are two recent stories from around the web on Martinez and Fiers. Click the links after each excerpt for the entire stories, and check back with NSUSharks.com for more updates as the playoffs approach. 


Tigers Take Division Lead Behind J.D.'s Huge Night
By Jason Beck
MLB.com

The Tigers missed their chance to take first place from the Royals in the American League Central head-to-head two days ago. They didn't have to wait a week for another chance.

Thanks to 7 2/3 innings of one-run ball from David Priceand another big J.D. Martinez home run against the Indians, they didn't let their opportunity pass Friday night. With a 7-2 Tigers win and another Red Sox victory in Kansas City, Detroit sits alone atop the division for the first time since Aug. 10.

They held the lead for a month last time before falling back. They now need to hold it for just over two weeks. For many, though, the key to holding it is to not think about the Royals for a week until they touch down in Kansas City.

ENTIRE MLB.COM STORY



Former Nova SE Pitcher Mike Fiers Sorry for Injuring Stanton
By Craig Davis
Sun-Sentinel

The South Florida native who threw the pitch that fractured Giancarlo Stanton's face expressed his regrets to the Miami Marlins' slugger via Twitter.

"@Giancarlo818 I am deeply sorry about what happened tonight. I can't imagine what you and your family are going through," Brewers pitcher Mike Fiers wrote in a message directly to Stanton's Twitter account late Thursday. "My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. I feel horrible and hope for a speedy recovery."

A Friers fastball struck Stanton in the left cheek during the fifth inning Thursday at Miller Park. Stanton, a leading candidate for National League Most Valuable Player suffered a facial laceration requiring stitches, multiple facial fractures and dental damage.

Fiers, who was born in Broward County and pitched for Deerfield Beach High and Nova Southeastern University, fought tears while discussing the incident with reporters after the Brewers' 4-2 victory.

ENTIRE SUN-SENTINEL STORY

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