Game 7 of the 2014 World Series was the second-most watched MLB game since 2004 - MLB

The early television ratings for this year’s World Series were pretty low, but the Giants and Royals ended up going the distance and we witnessed a very compelling Game 7 last night. It turns out that a lot of folks tuned in to see what the fuss was all about:

52 million people watched all or part of #WorldSeries #Game7. 23.9 million avg viewers makes it 2nd most-watched MLB game in 10 years.

— MLB Public Relations (@MLB_PR) October 30, 2014

Dating back to 2004, only Game 7 of the 2011 World Series between the Cardinals and Rangers was higher (25.4) than last night’s Game 7.

Not surprisingly, the rating in Kansas City was incredibly high. They scored a 58.3 local rating, which is the third-highest for any market for any game since numbers began being tracked. Only Phoenix for Game 7 of the World Series in 2001 (62.3) and Boston for Game 4 of the World Series in 2004 (59) were higher. As for San Francisco, it scored a 38.8 local rating, the best for any game in the city since Game 7 of the World Series in 2002. So basically, casual fans dig the juice attached to a Game 7 and the game is very healthy on a local level. Neither outcomes are surprising, but it’s nice to see.

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ST. LOUIS — Miles Mikolas is sticking with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The right-hander signed a three-year, $55.75 million contract on Friday that will carry through the 2025 season.

The new deal replaces a $68 million, four-year contract signed in February 2019 that covered the 2020-23 seasons and was set to pay $15.75 million this year.

Mikolas will receive a $5 million signing bonus payable July 1 and will make $18.75 million in 2023 and $16 million in each of the following two seasons. Mikolas can earn a $250,000 bonus for winning a Cy Young Award, $50,000 for All-Star election or selection or winning a Gold Glove, $100,000 for League Championship Series MVP and $150,000 for World Series MVP.

Mikolas is scheduled to make the second opening-day start of his big league career next Thursday when the Cardinals host Toronto. Mikolas went 12-13 with a 3.29 ERA last season while helping St. Louis to the NL Central title.

“Miles stands among the top pitchers in the game today, and has continued to provide a steady presence for us both in the rotation and inside the clubhouse,” St. Louis general manager John Mozeliak said in a statement.

Mikolas is 45-40 with a 3.79 in 143 games with San Diego, Texas and St. Louis. He recently pitched six shutout innings in two appearances for the U.S. in the World Baseball Classic.