NEW YORK (AP) — Mets reliever Robert Gsellman has a partially torn lat muscle that puts the rest of his season in jeopardy, a significant blow to New York's improved bullpen as the team chases a playoff berth.Gsellman was placed on the 10-day injured list last weekend, retroactive to Aug. 14, with tightness in his right triceps. But an MRI showed a partial tear of his right lat, a similar injury to the one that sidelined teammate Noah Syndergaard for more than 4½ months in 2017."We don't know how long this is going to last, so it didn't really change our view on timeline or anything like that. It's just unfortunate that he isn't going to be available to us," manager Mickey Callaway said.The announcement was made Tuesday before the Mets opened a pivotal homestand against Cleveland. They began the night two games behind the Chicago Cubs for the second NL wild card."Very frustrating," Gsellman said. "With the way the team's playing, I want to be with them. But I'm still going to be here. I'm... [More]

Using the search engine at Baseball-Reference.com, The Associated Press evaluated each team's draft performance from 1996 through 2018, adding up wins above replacement (WAR) figures for drafted players.For each pick, the player's career WAR was added to the appropriate total for the team, depending on whether or not the player signed with the team after being drafted. Some players had their WAR totals included multiple times, if they were drafted more than once.Stats are through May 25. Compensation picks were considered part of the first round where applicable.___ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKSTotal WAR for all drafted players: 581.8 (MLB rank: 4th)Total WAR for drafted players who signed: 440.1 (rank: 5th)Total WAR for drafted players who did not sign: 141.7Impact players (10 WAR or more) drafted: 17 (rank: tie-9th)Impact players drafted and signed: 13 (rank: 12th)Most recent impact player drafted and signed: Trevor Bauer, 2011, first round, pick No. 3 (15.2 WAR)Lowest pick for impact player drafted... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Turns out Yoenis Céspedes took the fall, not Mickey Callaway.On a hectic afternoon at Citi Field, the slumping New York Mets announced Monday they are sticking with their embattled manager "for the foreseeable future" — and Céspedes broke his right ankle in an accident on his ranch.The oft-injured slugger has been sidelined most of the past two seasons and was home recovering from surgery on both heels. New York had hoped he could return sometime after the All-Star break, but this latest setback certainly puts Céspedes' entire season, and perhaps his career, in jeopardy.General manager Brodie Van Wagenen said the team was informed Saturday night that Céspedes sustained multiple ankle fractures on his ranch in Port St. Lucie, Florida, where the club's spring training complex is located."He had a violent fall in which he stepped in a hole and put his leg and foot in a difficult position," said Van Wagenen, who was Céspedes' agent before becoming GM of the Mets last offseason.The... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Turns out Yoenis Céspedes took the fall, not Mickey Callaway.On a hectic afternoon at Citi Field, the slumping New York Mets announced Monday they are sticking with their embattled manager "for the foreseeable future" — and Céspedes broke his right ankle in an accident on his ranch.The oft-injured slugger has been sidelined most of the past two seasons and was home recovering from surgery on both heels. New York had hoped he could return sometime after the All-Star break, but this latest setback certainly puts Céspedes' entire season, and perhaps his career, in jeopardy.General manager Brodie Van Wagenen said the team was informed Saturday night that Céspedes sustained multiple ankle fractures on his ranch in Port St. Lucie, Florida, where the club's spring training complex is located."He had a violent fall in which he stepped in a hole and put his leg and foot in a difficult position," said Van Wagenen, who was Céspedes' agent before becoming GM of the Mets last offseason.The... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Turns out Yoenis Céspedes took the fall, not Mickey Callaway.On a hectic afternoon at Citi Field, the slumping New York Mets announced Monday they are sticking with their embattled manager "for the foreseeable future" — and Céspedes broke his right ankle in an accident on his ranch.The oft-injured slugger has been sidelined most of the past two seasons and was home recovering from surgery on both heels. New York had hoped he could return sometime after the All-Star break, but this latest setback certainly puts Céspedes' entire season — and perhaps his career — in jeopardy.General manager Brodie Van Wagenen said the team was informed Saturday night that Céspedes got hurt on his ranch in Port St. Lucie, Florida, where the club's spring training complex is located."He had a violent fall in which he stepped in a hole and put his leg and foot in a difficult position," said Van Wagenen, who was Céspedes agent before becoming GM of the Mets last offseason.The 33-year-old Céspedes... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Infielder Jed Lowrie's debut for the New York Mets is being delayed because he strained his hamstring while in the minors to work his way back from an injured left knee.Mets manager Mickey Callaway said before Tuesday night's game at the Washington Nationals that Lowrie will head back to Florida and be reassessed in a couple of weeks.Lowrie signed a $20 million, two-year contract as a free agent this offseason but felt pain in his left knee early in spring training and began the season on the injured list.He's been playing at Triple-A Syracuse and the Mets were hoping to call him up this week. But the 35-year-old Lowrie had a setback with the hamstring over the weekend, and was seen by a doctor Monday."He's down about it. He's frustrated. He wants to come up here and help the team," Callaway said.Lowrie was a first-time All-Star last season with a career-high 99 RBIs for Oakland.In other injury news, Callaway said left-handed pitcher Jason Vargas was scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday as he comes back from left hamstring tightness, while lefty Steven Matz planned to play catch to test his left forearm irritation. Matz went on the IL on May 5, and Vargas a day earlier.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A look at what's happening around the majors today:SEE YOU IN CHICAGOIn their first trip to Wrigley Field this year, NL MVP Christian Yelich and the Brewers face Cubs left-hander José Quintana (4-1, 3.40), who is 4-0 in his past five starts. Gio Gonzalez (0-0, 2.61) makes his third start of the season for second-place Milwaukee, which trails Chicago by one game in the NL Central. The Brewers, who lead the National League with 65 home runs, took two of three from the Cubs at Miller Park in early April after beating them in a one-game tiebreaker for the NL Central title at Wrigley Field last October. Yelich leads the majors with 16 homers, and Milwaukee has won six straight. Chicago has won three in a row and 10 of 11.SHOWDOWN AT THE TROPThe top two teams in the AL East square off for the first time this season when the injury-depleted Yankees play at first-place Tampa Bay. Domingo German (6-1, 2.35 ERA) faces Rays right-hander Tyler Glasnow (6-0, 1.47) in a matchup between pitchers among... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Friday:SEE YOU IN CHICAGOIn their first trip to Wrigley Field this year, NL MVP Christian Yelich and the Brewers face Cubs left-hander José Quintana (4-1, 3.40), who is 4-0 in his past five starts. Gio Gonzalez (0-0, 2.61) makes his third start of the season for second-place Milwaukee, which trails Chicago by one game in the NL Central. The Brewers, who lead the National League with 65 home runs, took two of three from the Cubs at Miller Park in early April after beating them in a one-game tiebreaker for the NL Central title at Wrigley Field last October. Yelich leads the majors with 16 homers, and Milwaukee has won six straight. Chicago has won three in a row and 10 of 11.SHOWDOWN AT THE TROPThe top two teams in the AL East square off for the first time this season when the injury-depleted Yankees play at first-place Tampa Bay. Domingo German (6-1, 2.35 ERA) faces Rays right-hander Tyler Glasnow (6-0, 1.47) in a matchup between pitchers among... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Steven Matz has been placed on the 10-day injured list by the New York Mets because of radial nerve discomfort in his pitching arm.The move was made Thursday, retroactive to May 5. First baseman Dominic Smith was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse ahead of Friday night's series opener at home against Miami.The team is expected to make another roster move Friday to open a spot for infielder Jed Lowrie, who is scheduled to come off the IL and make his Mets debut. Lowrie was injured early in spring training and has been sidelined all season with a capsule sprain in his left knee. He signed a $20 million, two-year contract with New York following an All-Star season in Oakland.Matz had an injection of cortisone and lidocaine early this week after being sent back to New York to have his tender forearm examined. He missed his turn in the rotation Wednesday against San Diego, but the Mets waited a few days before deciding to put him on the IL.The left-hander is 3-2 with a 3.86 ERA in seven starts this year. This is his sixth stint on the injured list in five major league seasons — at least one every year.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

April 141910 — William Howard Taft became the first U.S. president to throw out the first ball at a baseball opener in Washington.1910 — Chicago's Frank Smith pitched a one-hitter in the season opener to give the White Sox a win over the St. Louis Browns.1915 — In the opening game at Philadelphia, left-hander Herb Pennock of the A's blanked the Red Sox 5-0. He gave up only one hit — a scratch single by Harry Hooper with two outs in the ninth.1917 — Ed Cicotte of the Chicago White Sox pitched an 11-0 no-hitter over the St. Louis Browns.1925 — The Cleveland Indians opened the season with a 21-14 victory over the St. Louis Browns, the most runs scored by one club on opening day. The Indians scored 12 runs in the eighth inning when the Browns made five errors. Browns first baseman George Sisler had four errors in the game.1967 — Boston rookie Bill Rohr lost a no-hit bid in his first major league start when Elston Howard singled in the ninth inning for the New York Yankees' only hit in a 3-0... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Oakland Athletics manager Bob Melvin took another step toward finalizing his pitching rotation Monday, announcing right-hander Frankie Montas will be the team's fourth starter.The 26-year-old Montas has had varied success during parts of two seasons with the A's but was dominant this spring after adding a splitter to complement a 97 mph fastball and slider. The new pitch produced immediate results as Montas went 2-0 with a 0.56 ERA in five games with 16 strikeouts and five walks over 16 innings.He joins an A's rotation that includes Mike Fiers, Marco Estrada and Brett Anderson."Deservedly so," Melvin said. "He's had a terrific spring, pitched well whether he was starting a game, whether he was piggy-backing with somebody, and continued pitching the same the entire spring — with some pressure on him knowing that he had to win a job. Proud of him. He deserves to be in the rotation."Melvin didn't use a projected starter in Oakland's 5-4 exhibition win over San Francisco,... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Oakland Athletics manager Bob Melvin took another step toward finalizing his pitching rotation Monday, announcing right-hander Frankie Montas will be the team's fourth starter.The 26-year-old Montas has had varied success during parts of two seasons with the A's but was dominant this spring after adding a splitter to complement a 97 mph fastball and slider. The new pitch produced immediate results as Montas went 2-0 with a 0.56 ERA in five games with 16 strikeouts and five walks over 16 innings.He joins an A's rotation that includes Mike Fiers, Marco Estrada and Brett Anderson."Deservedly so," Melvin said before a Bay Area exhibition game against the San Francisco Giants. "He's had a terrific spring, pitched well whether he was starting a game, whether he was piggy-backing with somebody, and continued pitching the same the entire spring — with some pressure on him knowing that he had to win a job. Proud of him. He deserves to be in the rotation."Montas' emergence this... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — The New York Mets cut five players from major league camp Saturday and informed catcher Devin Mesoraco that he won't be on the opening day roster.The Mets re-assigned outfielders Carlos Gomez and Rajai Davis, infielder Adeiny Hechavarria, and pitchers Ryan O'Rourke and Hector Santiago to minor league camp. All six players were offered $100,000 retention bonuses.The moves trimmed New York's spring roster to 30, with five days to get that number to 25. The toughest calls appear to be at the catching and pitching positions.Catcher Travis d'Arnaud and infielders Todd Frazier and Jed Lowrie could be placed on the injured list prior to the Mets' season opener at Washington.D'Arnaud is working back from Tommy John surgery last April, and it's uncertain if he or Tomas Nido will break camp as the backup to Wilson Ramos. New York has been careful with the 30-year-old d'Arnaud, who caught eight innings over two games Thursday and Friday and has played eight spring games."We... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — The New York Mets cut five players from major league camp Saturday and informed catcher Devin Mesoraco that he won't be on the opening day roster.The Mets re-assigned outfielders Carlos Gomez and Rajai Davis, infielder Adeiny Hechavarria, and pitchers Ryan O'Rourke and Hector Santiago to minor league camp. All six players were offered $100,000 retention bonuses.The moves trimmed New York's spring roster to 30, with five days to get that number to 25. The toughest calls appear to be at the catching and pitching positions.Catcher Travis d'Arnaud and infielders Todd Frazier and Jed Lowrie could be placed on the injured list prior to the Mets' season opener at Washington.D'Arnaud is working back from Tommy John surgery last April, and it's uncertain if he or Tomas Nido will break camp as the backup to Wilson Ramos. New York has been careful with the 3-year-old d'Arnaud, who caught eight innings over two games Thursday and Friday and has played eight spring games."We... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Jeff McNeil will be exchanging the big glove he's been wearing this spring for the smaller one in his locker.And soon.The New York Mets utilityman — an infielder for most of his career — started in left field for Friday's exhibition game against the Miami Marlins. After the 10-3 loss, Mets manager Mickey Callaway said McNeil would get be getting more looks at third base.The move is out of necessity, not because of McNeil's outfield play."He's been taking groundballs and we're going to get him in there at third base on Sunday and start getting him some reps there," Callaway said. "Every other time out, you might see him at third and the other time you'll see him in left."The move for McNeil, who also sports a first baseman's mitt in his locker, was on the horizon. Callaway expected an 80-20 split between time in the outfield and in the infield for McNeil, but those numbers flipped to 50-50 with injuries to infielder Jed Lowrie (knee) and third baseman Todd Frazier... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Jeff McNeil will be exchanging the big glove he's been wearing this spring for the smaller one in his locker.And soon.The New York Mets utilityman — an infielder for most of his career — started in left field for Friday's exhibition game against the Miami Marlins. After the 10-3 loss, Mets manager Mickey Callaway said McNeil would get be getting more looks at third base.The move is out of necessity, not because of McNeil's outfield play."He's been taking groundballs and we're going to get him in there at third base on Sunday and start getting him some reps there," Callaway said. "Every other time out, you might see him at third and the other time you'll see him in left."The move for McNeil, who also sports a first baseman's mitt in his locker, was on the horizon. Callaway expected an 80-20 split between time in the outfield and in the infield for McNeil, but those numbers flipped to 50-50 with injuries to infielder Jed Lowrie (knee) and third baseman Todd Frazier... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — For years, the NL East has been soft as a bunt single.Not anymore.Even before Bryce Harper decided to stay inside the division, four of the five teams spent this offseason swinging for the fences. In addition to defending champion Atlanta, the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals all have enough firepower to potentially contend for the playoffs."This is probably going to be the stiffest competition in a division race in my career," Nationals ace Max Scherzer said at spring training.It's certainly a noticeable transformation.In the past eight seasons, the NL East has won a grand total of two playoff series and produced one pennant winner — with the 2015 Mets responsible for the entirety of that October success.Two years ago, Washington finished a whopping 20 games in front, and no other team in the division was better than 77-85.Last season, Atlanta rolled to a surprise title at 90-72, the fewest wins of any postseason participant. No... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — For years, the NL East has been soft as a bunt single.Not anymore.Even before Bryce Harper decided to stay inside the division, four of the five teams spent this offseason swinging for the fences. In addition to defending champion Atlanta, the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals all have enough firepower to potentially contend for the playoffs."This is probably going to be the stiffest competition in a division race in my career," Nationals ace Max Scherzer said at spring training.It's certainly a noticeable transformation.In the past eight seasons, the NL East has won a grand total of two playoff series and produced one pennant winner — with the 2015 Mets responsible for the entirety of that October success.Two years ago, Washington finished a whopping 20 games in front, and no other team in the division was better than 77-85.Last season, Atlanta rolled to a surprise title at 90-72, the fewest wins of any postseason participant. No... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — The New York Mets hope their hard-throwing pitchers can dominate in the NL East this season.First, they have a little work to do controlling the strike zone.Noah Syndergaard walked five over 2 2/3 innings and Edwin Diaz gave out two free passes in his spring debut Saturday, shaky efforts for two of the biggest arms in the sport.Syndergaard opened by walking Houston's George Springer on four pitches and was charged with an unearned run when Springer scored on a throwing error by shortstop Danny Espinosa."Probably not his best outing ever," Mets manager Mickey Callaway said. "But when it's something not typical of a player like that, kind of scattering the ball around, you don't really worry about it."It's kind of an anomaly in my mind. The stuff was good, the sliders he clicked were really good, he threw some good change-ups and we know the velocity is there and he was feeling good. He just didn't have command of the ball like he usually does."Syndegaard averaged... [More]

Yu Darvish walked off the mound after a bunch of walks, yet wasn't worried. After a rocky first season for the Chicago Cubs full of injuries, he felt fine."No pain," he said Tuesday. "That was a huge part."Darvish walked four in 1 1/3 innings against Arizona and didn't give up a hit. It was his first time facing major league hitters since May — his last minor league rehab outing came in August and he had arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow in September.A four-time All-Star with Texas, Darvish went 1-3 with a 4.95 ERA in eight starts last season with the Cubs, his first since signing a $126 million, six-year contract."This is like my first outing in my life," Darvish said. "I haven't thrown the last seven months. I was so excited."Darvish threw 36 pitches, only 17 for strikes. But he hit 96 mph with a fastball, a significant jump from his final outing in the minors last year."It was a great day for me," Darvish said.The 32-year-old Japanese ace also cracked a couple of jokes in English... [More]