HOUSTON — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred exchanged a handshake with players’ union head Tony Clark on the field before the World Series opener and expressed optimism about reaching an agreement before the current deal expires Dec. 1 but did not detail any progress in talks that appear headed to a lockout.

“Have you ever heard me say that I’m anything but optimistic about getting an agreement?” Manfred said.

There is no evidence of progress toward an agreement and many are prepared for a lockout.